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Five Fires Equestrian Centre
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Why they chose a fabric covered building for one of the largest indoor riding arenas in Nova Scotia Opened in September, 2013, Five Fires Equestrian Centre is a 135 acre property located in Green Creek, Nova Scotia. Owned and operated by husband and wife team Doug Lynch and Carol Macomber, Five Fires offers a wide range of lessons including dressage, jumping and natural horsemanship, clinics and workshops for various disciplines, including their signature spring event featuring former Chief Head Rider of the Spanish Riding School, international dressage clinician Arthur Kottas. Five Fires also hosts Western and English riding competitions, and is developing a small warmblood breeding program. The Centre has a large outdoor riding ring, twenty 10 ft. by 10 ft. stalls (20 more to be built), jumps, adjustable cavelletti, dressage ring, and one of the largest indoor riding arenas in Nova Scotia: an 80 ft. by 220 ft., steel-framed, fabric covered building from BriteSpan Building Systems Inc. Initially, Five Fires chose a fabric covered building for their indoor arena because it was a cost effective way to achieve the dimensions they wanted, in comparison to traditional steel or wood buildings. They also required some customized elements, as the building has a traditional style roof and wood siding. They were able to customize the building to match the colour scheme of other buildings on their property as well. “BriteSpan was the most open and honest of all of the companies we spoke with when it came to products, services, and pricing,” said Carol.
“The process was seamless. BriteSpan looked after the whole project from start to finish, and even worked with our engineer to provide approved specifications for the stalls that we built off the side of the building.” Working with a local dealer was another reason Five Fires chose BriteSpan. “They knew our industry and region, and were available to us whenever we needed them,” she said. The indoor arena is bright and airy, allows for year round riding, clinics and training, and creates a more comfortable environment for the horses, and the riders. “We are thrilled with our building, and frequently receive compliments about it. It really was the best choice for our needs.”
June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
3
CONTENTS •
18 A Better Life for Canada’s Horses The new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines
46 The Magic of the Horse and Carriage A step back in time to a distant heritage.
HORSE HEALTH 14 Laminitis and Insulin-Resistance Is there herbal help? 16 Mycotoxins in the Equine Environment Reduce the risk of exposure to toxins.
TACK & GEAR 24 How to Select and Fit a Riding Helmet Get a good fit for safety and comfort. 30 When Horses Behave Badly Unwanted behaviour may be caused by your saddle.
58 New & Noteworthy Products A collection of products available in Canada from horse industry businesses.
BARNS & PROPERTIES 36 Turn your Tractor into a Workhorse Innovative accessories and
implements can transform your tractor into a multi-tasking machine.
page
18
June 2014
Departments 1 To Subscribe 6 Editorial 8-10 Hoofbeat 60-62,Inside B/Cover Country Homes & Acreages 63 Celebration of Horses Photo Contest 64 Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association News 65 Ontario Equestrian Federation News
EquiNetwork 66 Hitchin’ Post 67 Classifieds 68 Roundup Tottenham Equestrians Riding Club
page
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PHOTO: ©/S.CARTER/FLIKR
In This Issue
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EDITOR’S DESK Guest Editorial
ON THE COVER Photo: Robin Duncan Photography
During a trip to New York to visit my daughter’s family last month, I took some time to talk to the horse carriage drivers in Central Park. The horse and carriage has been an iconic feature of the park since 1858 and, of course, the horse was instrumental in the early growth and expansion of the city. In our feature story The Magic of the Horse and Carriage, I write about our enduring fascination with the carriage horse and how the industry has moved with the times to offer so many services. Yet movement is afoot to ban horse-drawn carriages from New York streets, and animal activists are picking up the cause in other cities, including Canadian centres, despite the enormous popularity of carriage horses. Our online poll shows 88 percent support for carriage horses. The NY drivers are rightly defending their industry. Despite a carriage horse bolting in downtown Victoria recently, in which the carriage driver and a motorcyclist sustained minor injuries, accidents are extremely rare and the popularity of the rides is as strong as ever. With the summer almost here, maybe you’re thinking of getting a tractor or adding some long-needed attachments to get chores done quickly and effectively. Do you need the tractor to move hay bales or manure with a loader? Or will you need to move much heavier round bales with a bale spear? Do you need to harrow your fields or your arena? What about clearing bush, grading the driveway, or clearing snow next winter? After clearing land, will you need a rototiller to dig out rocks and roots before levelling? What about fencing repairs and the need for a post hole auger? Check out our feature story Turn your Tractor into a Workhorse for valuable information on tractors and all the amazing attachments available to make your life easier and get the job done safely. With show season in full swing, are you in the market for a new helmet or a better fitting saddle for your horse? In this issue, How to Select and Fit a Riding Helmet provides invaluable information on the reasons to invest in an ASTM helmet, or perhaps two, depending on your disciplines. Do you know why your horse sometimes acts up or is prone to so-called bad behaviour? Your saddle could be the culprit. The informative article When Horses Behave Badly provides fascinating information on the horse’s physical structure and sheds light on the instinctive responses to a saddle that doesn’t fit properly. The 2013 Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines released by Equine Canada and the National Farm Animal Care Council last summer is an essential document for anyone concerned about the care and welfare of horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys. As described in our feature, A Better Life for Canada’s Horses, the Code promotes sound management and welfare practices for feeding, housing, feedlot management, principles of training, euthanasia, and other husbandry practices. The intention is to clarify current requirements and recommended practices that lead to a higher standard of care so that the equine industry, as a whole, continues to strive for improvement. You can download the document as an ePub book. For more information on the Equine Code of Practice, and related the scientific research, visit: www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/equine. Happy reading and safe riding! Margaret Evans
6
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
b Your Horse b Your Passion b Your Magazine Published by Horse Community Journals Inc.
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Equine Canada Announces New CEO Equine Canada has announced the appointment of Eva Havaris as their new Chief Executive Officer effective June 9th, 2014. With an executive background in a variety of sports including rugby and taekwondo, Havaris was chosed by the EC Board of Directors for her “strong fit with Equine Canada’s strategic plan One Vision. In addition to her management skills and extensive sport qualifications, the Board was impressed with Havaris’s executive leadership, dynamic vision, and commitment to national sport organization (NSO) success.” According to EC, Havaris comes with a Master of Arts in Sport Management from the University of Western Ontario. In addition to her NSO leadership accomplishments, Havaris was also the head coach of the University of Toronto Women’s Varsity Soccer from 2008-2011.
But the appointment comes on the heels of controversy that has plagued the national organization with the abrupt departure of its two previous CEOs. And the appointment of Havaris, who appears to have no horse experience, has raised questions as to her qualifications to deal with the complex, uniquely-structured, multi-disciplined equestrian theatre. In addition, there will be many critical challenges ahead with world qualifier events and team selection for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Brazil. We wish her good luck and hope that her tenure will be both successful and long term.
Canadian Horse Journal Readers!
Get 10% off tickets to Cavalia by Odysseo
PHOTO: PASCAL RATTHÉ
Cavalia by Odysseo is graciously offering readers of Canadian Horse Journal a discount of 10% off regular priced tickets for their Calgary and Edmonton shows. Enter the Promo Code “GALLOP” online at www.cavalia.net at the purchase page once the show date has been selected, or over the phone with a call centre agent at 1-866-999-8111. CERTAIN CONDITIONS APPLY. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTIONS. APPLICABLE ON NEW PURCHASES ONLY. NOT VALID ON MATINEE SHOWS. PROMO CODE VALID FOR CALGARY AND EDMONTON SHOWS WHILE QUANTITIES LAST.
ANNOUNCING OUR…
Odysseo by Cavalia “Why I Wanna Win” Contest! A unique theatrical production, Odysseo by Cavalia takes spectators to a live Hollywood-style movie set where the touching interactions between human and horse are at the heart of the action. The best of equestrian and stage arts combine with gravitydefying acrobatic and aerial stunts, and mesmerizing theatrical effects, to make this production a breathtaking experience. Odysseo by Cavalia will close its Calgary engagement on June 15th and relocate their 70 horses, 52 artists, and White Big Top tent to Edmonton, Alberta where the show will open on July 9th and run until August 3rd. Our “Why I Wanna Win” Contest offers readers a chance to win tickets to see Odysseo by Cavalia in Edmonton. All you have to do to enter is tell us why you want to see the show. The “Why I Wanna Win” Contest is open to those who have never seen Odysseo by Cavalia, and to those who would love to see it again. A selection of the most compelling entries will be published in the July issue of Canadian Horse Journal. Three pairs of tickets will be awarded, including one pair of VIP tickets, and two pairs of regular seating tickets, with total prizes valued at over $700.
To enter, please visit our website: www.HORSEJournals.com/contests . Contest closes June 16, 2014. 8
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
“I may have cried during the opening scene of Odysseo, just being so over-whelmed by the beauty of it all…and again when it ended. I just wasn’t ready for it to be over! For someone who loves horses, it is a striking display of how amazing, talented, and beautiful horses are. As a rider and a horse person, I know the stunts they perform are very difficult and even dangerous, and I have so much respect and awe for the two- and four-legged performers.” – APRIL DAWN RAY
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
Cowboy Len Crow Embarks on a Year-Long Fundraiser
PHOTO COURTESY OF MANDI HARGRAVE
“Like & Win”
Len Crow, the cowboy with a mission, has embarked on his sixth ride to raise funds for orphans and needy children around the world. On May 1st, Crow left Deadhorse Bay, Alaska, for an 11,000 km year-long ride to an orphanage in Guadalajara, Mexico to raise money for children’s homes in Mexico, Cambodia, Philippines, Guatemala, and India. The Ride for Missions is a series of long distance rides to raise awareness of the plight of children in need of care. Len Crow is the founder of Canadian Pony Express and has been instrumental in helping children in many countries. He lives with his wife Nancy in Orillia, Ontario, where he pastors the North Country Baptist Church. “I’m hoping to raise money for five children’s homes in five countries,” said Crow who, with Nancy, runs the North Country Baptist Children’s Home in Phnom Phen, Cambodia. The desire to help began in 2006 when Crow and his wife were on a ministry trip in Cambodia where they met a 16-year-old girl so undernourished she looked about seven.
“It broke my heart,” he said. “Some of the children come to us naked or barefoot, with parasites and lice, and they’re very sick. We’re making a difference one child at a time. We have 32 children at our home in Cambodia.” To follow Crow’s journey, track his progress on Twitter, @ncbc99. CONTACT INFORMATION: Canadian cell phone: 1-705-330-9602; American cell phone: 1-713-882-4117; Email: ncbc99@yahoo.ca. To donate visit www.canadianponyexpress.com.
Canadian horses in the RCMP Musical Ride? Is Canada’s national horse, the Canadian, part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride? No, according to breeder Gerry Lalonde, who worked part-time for 12 years for the RCMP stables. At one time their horses did have Canadian blood but not now. It seems the Canadian horse breed does not meet the standard that this international icon of our national heritage demands. But several Canadian horse owners and breeders are on a mission to change that. The Canada Day Canadian Horse Show takes place July 1st, 2014, at the new Cowichan Fairgrounds in Duncan, on Vancouver Island,
PHOTO COURTESY OF WOODMONT FARMS
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BC. This year, the show will introduce three new classes which will focus on Canadian horses of the calibre required for police work. The three classes are for Canadian horses suitable to become Mounted Police horses, suitable to be Musical Ride horses, and a split class promoting the breeding stock (one being a suitable producing female and the other a suitable producing male). As an incentive, the show committee offers a $1,000 purse to the winner of each class with the exception of the suitable producing female whose prize is a $1000 stud fee for the black Hanoverian, Hajo. Judging the classes will be Derrick McGougan, a retired City of Calgary police sergeant who introduced the Canadian horse to the breeding program for his mounted unit. Liz Sahlstrom will judge the halter and performance classes starting at 9am in this the first of a threeyear program. The show’s goal is to discover and celebrate a top quality Canadian stallion that will meet the standards to be accepted into the breeding program for the RCMP Musical Ride. That will no doubt make many people proud of Canada’s national horse.
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2014 CANADIAN NATIONAL Arabian & Half-Arabian Championships August 11-16, 2014 Keystone Center • Brandon, MB
Jeff Janson photography
Arabian Horse Association www.ArabianHorses.org/cnl
Experience Canadian Style... June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
11
Notes from the Office
BY AYNSLEY CAIRNS
What Should I Do With My Horse in an Earthquake? • Sedating your horse in an emergency is not always a good idea as the horse may lose its balance and stability, as well as its natural instinct for self-preservation. For extreme cases, have appropriate medication on hand obtained ahead of time from your veterinarian, and be prepared to administer this if sedation or tranquilization is needed. Since you are only allowed to administer medication to your own animals, do not offer to administer medications to anyone else’s horse.
PHOTO: ©ISTOCK.COM/BOOGICH
British Columbia most recently experienced a magnitude 6.6 earthquake just off the coast of Vancouver Island on April 23, 2014. Living on the west coast of Canada, this is a pretty normal occurrence as we are under constant threat of earthquakes in a prime earthquake zone. Many people have undertaken earthquake preparedness for themselves and family members by creating emergency kits and item specific earthquake kits. But with over 95,000 horse owners in BC alone, what should we do with our horses if a big earthquake were to hit?
The following earthquake preparedness information for horse owners was shared by those who have experienced an earthquake: When a horse feels threatened, its natural response is typically one of the following: • Flight • Fight • Freeze Regardless of your own horse-handling abilities and what you believe your horse will do in a difficult situation, your horse can hurt you or a bystander, damage property, and injure itself. A horse is a conditioned response animal. Therefore, the more time spent in preparing the horse to deal with its emotions during a stressful situation, the better it will be able to successfully survive the emergency trauma.
Things you need to know: • Your horse will react to your panic and fear. You must remain calm. • Train your horse to behave well BEFORE an emergency situation arises. Establish with your horse that the human is the herd leader. 12 12
www.HORSEJournals.com www.HORSEJournals.com •• June June2014 2014
• Not all emergencies occur in the daytime, so get your horse used to leaving the barn at night. Horses have better night vision than humans, but familiarize your horse to flashlights and glow sticks. Glow sticks are handy if flashlights stop working. • Can you quickly find your halters in the dark? Keep at least one halter and lead rope per horse ready to use immediately, and practice putting them on quickly in the dark. • Do NOT turn your horse loose to fend for itself outside your property perimeter fence. • Learn various knots so you can safely tie a group of horses together, perhaps on a picket-line or high-line. • Be well prepared if an earthquake or other emergency threatens when you are trail riding. Always carry basic emergency supplies (first aid kit, water, knife, halter, lead rope, cell phone, etc.). Pack a kit and faithfully carry it whenever you are riding out. • Establish your escape route early and have alternate routes planned to move far away from the danger zone, wherever it might be. • Try to move your horse to a safe area with which
he is already familiar. • Trying to load a panicked horse into a trailer is risky and dangerous to you, the horse, your helpers, and to property. Practice loading your horse at night with only the truck/trailer lights, and take a short drive. Do this activity as many times as necessary until you are both comfortable with the process. Repeat this practice periodically. • If you evacuate, leave plastic covered notes nailed to your barn door and house door stating whether animals remain on the property. Rescue and disaster personnel will look for people and animals by going door to door after an emergency situation. They may leave food in a safe location for animals left behind if they know no one is home to care for the animals. • Accustom your horse to drinking from different or strange water buckets, as well as a collapsible bucket. If your horse won’t drink the local water, add flavouring periodically (e.g. 7 Up, popsicles, Hawaiian punch, apple cider vinegar) to get him used to drinking the water in different areas. • Have horse emergency first aid kits in your barn and trailer where they are easy to access and find in the dark. For a complete list and more detailed information check out the booklet, “What Do I Do with My Horse in Fire, Flood, and/or Earthquake?” available for free on the Horse Council BC website at: www.hcbc.ca/disaster-preparedness.html.
How to Reach Us HCBC office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Office Address: 27336 Fraser Highway, Aldergrove, BC, V4W 3N5 • Phone: 604-856-4304 • Toll-free: 1-800-345-8055 • Fax: 604-856-4302 • Website: www.hcbc.ca Executive Director: administration@hcbc.ca Agriculture & Industry: industry@hcbc.ca Membership: membership@hcbc.ca Coaching & Education: coaching@hcbc.ca Marketing & Communications: communication@hcbc.ca Recreation & Trails: recreation@hcbc.ca Competition: competition@hcbc.ca HCBC Forums: forums@hcbc.ca HCBC Bookstore: bookstore@hcbc.ca Finance & Grant Funding: finance@hcbc.ca Harassment Policy: harassment@hcbc.ca
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June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
13
HORSE HEALTH
Laminitis and Insulin-Resistance IS THERE HERBAL HELP? BY DR. WENDY PEARSON, PhD (DR. OF VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY) Laminitis and insulin-resistance (IR) are troublesome conditions in and of themselves; so it is all the more frustrating that they tend to travel together. So while fresh, rich springtime grass beckons winter-weary horses, the insulin-resistant ones must stand resigned and glum on the wrong side of the fence as their wellintentioned owners toss them last year’s browning hay. right: The horse with insulin-resistance should be kept away from fresh spring grass due to its high sugar content.
PHOTO: ©ISTOCK.COM/MELISSAANNEGALLERIES
below: The insulinresistant horse is typically a round couch potato whose diet has included too much starch and sugar.
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
IR can occur in horses just as easily as in humans, and often for the same reasons. The IR horse is typically rather round, has enjoyed too much sugar and starch in his/her diet, is a bit of a couch potato, and may have some mineral imbalances. These predisposing characteristics help the cells of the horse’s body to become resistant to the presence of insulin. This causes the pancreas to produce excessive amounts of insulin in an effort to get cells to respond to the presence of insulin. The clinical signs of IR include rather odd fatty deposits in various places on the horse’s body, excessive drinking and urination and, of course, laminitis. Laminitis is frustratingly robust to the healing hands of time, and it can take many months before the horse returns to his functional livelihood after an episode. To understand why laminitis is so frequently comorbid with IR, we need only look to the diabetics in our own lives who struggle with poor circulation in their feet, hands and legs. This occurs because insulin-resistant cells are also defective in production and secretion of nitric oxide, a key molecule which regulates dilation of blood vessels. When less nitric oxide is present the blood vessels cannot dilate properly, typically in metabolically active tissues like those in the feet — or the horse’s hooves. This creates a breeding ground for fatty deposits in capillaries which cause release of inflammatory compounds which further exacerbate the problem. The most effective method for preventing IRdependent episodes of laminitis is to treat the IR. There are a number of herbs which have shown excellent efficacy in treating IR in humans, one of the most wellstudied of which is fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum). Enriching your horse’s diet with high-quality fenugreek and herbs which promote peripheral circulation such as ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) will help to regulate your horse’s blood sugar, increase circulation to those sensitive bones in his hooves, and may let him finally go where the grass truly is greener. b Dr. Pearson received her PhD from the Dept. of Biomedical Sciences at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, with a specialization in efficacy and safety of nutraceutical products in horses with arthritis. After graduating from her doctoral program in 2007, Dr. Pearson worked for a multinational research and development consulting firm specializing in natural veterinary drug development. She then accepted an NSERC-funded post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Guelph studying the effect of “designer plants” on arthritis in horses.
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HORSE HEALTH
Mycotoxins in the Equine Environment BY DR. WENDY PEARSON, PhD (DR. OF VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY) Mycotoxins are compounds produced by molds and fungi, and can be found in pastures as well as on dried forages, bedding, grains, and complete feeds. Of all the agricultural species, horses are among the most sensitive to toxicosis from mycotoxins. An important reason for this is that horses typically have a much longer lifespan than any other agricultural species and exposure to mycotoxins can take place over many years. Clinical signs of pathological exposure to mycotoxins may include reduced growth rates in foals and young horses, respiratory dysfunction, problems with fertility and reproduction, neurological and/or brain disorders, liver or kidney damage, allergic reactions, anorexia, reduced performance, and colic.
more prone to contamination with mycotoxins, including rye-grass, fescues and white clover. Ideal conditions for the endophytes to proliferate on these grasses are periods of hot, dry weather followed by rains. Toxicosis from these endophytes may present as “ryegrass staggers,” in which horses lose coordination and balance; the condition also causes abortion, headshaking, and collapse. Other conditions include “fescue poisoning,” which presents as loss of appetite, abortion and foaling problems; and “slobbers” (excessive salivation, tears, uncontrolled diarrhea and urination) induced by exposure to slaframine from contaminated white clover. These conditions can also result from exposure to preserved forages prepared from contaminated grasses. It has been reported that approximately 15 percent of Canadian hay is contaminated with mycotoxins. Preservation of high-moisture hay (haylage) may be an excellent strategy to reduce mycotoxin exposure, as commercial inoculants used to facilitate the ensiling process in well-made haylage create conditions that are unfavorable for mold growth and can reduce mycotoxin exposure by about 25 percent.
Grains and Commercial Feeds The type and magnitude of reactions to mycotoxin exposure can vary widely, depending on many factors. These include duration of exposure to the toxin (repeated exposure to low-dose toxins can result in greater sensitivity), previous toxin exposure (single bouts of toxicosis lead to intensified reactions during subsequent exposures), age, breed, workload, immune and nutritional status, and type of toxin to which the horse is being exposed. Furthermore, if the toxins are being delivered in contaminated feed, there is frequently more than one type of toxin present. This often leads to synergistic toxicities, amplifying toxic effects of individual compounds.
Cereal grains, especially maize (corn), can be a ready source of mycotoxin contamination. Grains can become infected with mold either in the field or during storage. Common mycotoxins found on cereal grains include aflatoxin, fumonisins, tricothecenes and zearalenone. Aflatoxin toxicosis can result in death, growth suppression, cancer, liver damage, and inhibition of mineral absorption
including iron, phosphorus and copper. Ponies fed diets high in aflatoxin (2 ppm) show significant liver damage, whereas much lower concentrations (0.3 ppm) have reportedly caused death in horses. Poisoning with fumonisins results in a neurological disease called equine leukoencephalomalacia. This disease presents as loss of coordination, depression, muscle tremors, and loss of swallowing reflex. Tricothecene toxicosis causes clinical signs including anorexia, weight loss, immune suppression, poor performance and colic. Zearalenone is a common culprit in horses experiencing reproductive problems.
Bedding Bedding can be an important source of mycotoxin poisoning in horses, and straw is a particular risk because horses are often quite willing to consume it when not offered an alternate forage source throughout the day. A common practice of sprinkling water on straw bedding to reduce dust can accelerate mold growth and encourage subsequent mycotoxin formation.
Summary Mycotoxins are an omnipresent risk throughout the equine environment. While complete eradication is an unlikely scenario, awareness of the risk and mitigation of exposure can result in a meaningful reduction in toxic signs. Tolerance limits of important mycotoxins (see table below) provide a basis for testing for mycotoxin contamination of feedstuffs and bedding, to help horse owners restrict exposure of their horses to potentially dangerous intakes. b Reprinted with permission from www.horseherbs.com
Mycotoxin
Maximum Tolerable Level (ppm)
Aflatoxin
0.02 ppm
T2 Toxin
No effect on ovarian activity when fed at 1 ppm
Deoxynivalenol
2 ppm of total diet or 5 ppm in cereal feed
Pastures and forage
Zearalenone
No effect on ovarian activity when fed at 1 ppm
Most horses spend a significant portion of their days during the growing season grazing on pastures. Certain grasses are
Fumonisins
Less than 5 ppm
Ergovaline
0.3 – 0.5 ppm
16
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
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A Better Life for Canada’s Horses BY JUDITH LAVOIE
It’s raining, with a chilly wind blowing across the open field, and, as usual, the dull-eyed horse is standing at the gate, hanging his head. His ribs are showing, there is minimal shelter and concerned neighbours have reported the owner to the SPCA or local humane society. Until last year, too often, there were times when little could be done to help the animal, especially if the owner resisted education and insisted he was caring adequately for a horse by providing the bare necessities of life. But, last summer, Canada’s new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines was released by Equine Canada and the National Farm Animal Care Council and those standards should help educate horse owners, provide tools to enforcement agencies, and ultimately mean a better life for many horses, donkeys and mules in Canada. The 2013 Equine Code, put together by an 18-member committee of horse owners, horse industry 18
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
representatives, veterinarians, scientists, and animal welfare groups, spells out better standards of care for horses and, when necessary, gives a framework that can be used to prosecute neglectful or cruel horse owners. Although the new Code is not legally binding, it will be used as a reference document, said Bill desBarres, chairman of the Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada. “Provincial organizations have said it will be a valuable tool to assist with regulations and that is as much as we could ever hope for,” desBarres said. In addition to enforcement officers using the Code to educate horse owners, the provisions will be used to show courts the standard of care expected by the horse industry.
PHOTO: ©ISTOCK.COM/MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES
Code committee member Les Burwash, manager of horse programs for Alberta Agriculture, is hoping the new Code sets out requirements that horse owners and handlers will not be able to ignore. “What the Code does is establish a standard of care for horses, donkeys and mules that the industry says is acceptable,” he said. “If everyone lived by the Code, man, our horses would be in great shape.” The new Code, which took two-and-ahalf years to hammer out, replaces guidelines that had not been updated for more than 15 years. It has 75 requirements for equine care, instead of 25 in the 1998 code, and there are numerous recommendations on how to provide good care from birth to euthanasia. In future, the aim is to have the Code updated regularly to reflect new research, information or changing societal attitudes. The Code specifies how horses should be housed and fed, sets out how social needs should be met, details adequate hoof care and exercise requirements, and spells out how to identify when euthanasia is the best option. Recommendations on improving horse care range from minimizing stress during training and providing the best nutrition for your horse to having a handy first aid kit during trailering and checking that blankets are waterproof. In one of the more controversial moves, the Code identifies unacceptable practices and forbids tail blocking, tail docking for cosmetic purposes, and tail nicking – cutting the horse’s tail muscle so the animal carries the tail high. Committee members hope the document will be used not only by those dealing with cases of neglect or abuse, but by every horse owner and those contemplating buying a horse. “We tried to set standards that were easy to understand,” said Jack de Wit of Brooklin, Ontario, chairman of the Code Development Committee and an Equine Canada director. “We wanted to keep in mind that we were not only writing it for professionals, we were also writing it for little Sally Smith in rural Canada and for the people who don’t always have a veterinarian at their fingertips,” he said. The goal now is to pass the information to the wider horse community. Animal advocacy organizations and sport groups across the country are briefing members and encouraging trainers to pass on information to their students. “We’re doing outreach to make sure people know about the new standards,” said Erica Mattson, BC SPCA stakeholder
relations officer. The key is reaching beyond those who turn out for community meetings as they are usually the responsible horse owners, said Dr. Bettina Bobsien, an equine veterinary specialist who represented the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and BC.
above: The Code is meant to provide recommendations to be used not only in cases of neglect or abuse, but to educate new horse owners who may not know the basics of horse care or understand the related costs, as well as to provide guidance to owners in rural areas who do not have easy access to a veterinarian.
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right: Veterinarians see many cases of mistreatment and neglect due to lack of knowledge on the part of the horse owner, rather than deliberate cruelty. Not all neglected horses are starving; many health concerns are related to obesity.
above: It is hoped that the new Code will make cruelty and neglect cases involving horses easier to prosecute. Although the Code is not legally binding, it will be used as a reference document to illustrate the standard of care expected by the horse industry.
20
SPCA on the Code Development Committee. Bobsien would like all Canadian equine owners or prospective owners to read the Code. “This is Horse Care in Canada 101,” she said. The requirements and recommendations are especially useful for new owners who may not know the basic tenets of horse care or have any idea of the cost involved, she said. “As a practicing veterinarian, I get calls to places where the halter still has the price tag on it and the obese horse is standing in a field with two feet of grass,” said Bobsien, who believes lack of knowledge rather than deliberate cruelty is most often responsible for cases of horse mistreatment and neglect. The Code includes a budget template, which all prospective horse owners are advised to study to see if they can afford to keep a horse. The message is clear: If you don’t have the money, don’t get a horse. “We are saying you must have the resources and the knowledge to care for a horse as long as you own it. That seems obvious, but in some of the terrible cruelty and neglect cases we see it seems it is not obvious,” Bobsien said. Some excuses commonly given to enforcement officers will no longer be acceptable because of the prescriptive requirements of the Code. “To say ‘I just can’t afford quality hay or to have the teeth floated’ just doesn’t cut it anymore,” Bobsien said.
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
The requirements set out in the Code will give lawyers and judges a breakdown of normally expected standards of care, making prosecutions less a matter of guesswork if an owner insists that the care he was giving was adequate. Kelly Coughlin, Horse Council BC industry manager, agrees that ignorance, financial strain, and even personal health issues often play a major part in neglect and cruelty. “People often don’t want to admit they either need help from a knowledgeable source or that they need to sell their horses because they honestly can’t afford to have a horse,” she said. There is also the constant problem of bad advice from self-appointed experts or websites. “If you get ten different horse people in a room, you’ll get ten different opinions,” said Bobsien. HCBC strives to help owners weed through opinions and misinformation, but it is a challenge, Coughlin said. “That is why I am excited about the updated Code. Equine veterinarians and industry experts worked together and found a common voice to say this is an acceptable standard of horse care. Less is not acceptable,” she said. “I would love to think that, one day, there will be a copy of the Code in every barn and, more importantly, people will follow the guidelines and recommendations.” An overarching aim was to ensure all requirements and recommendations were rooted in proven science and the committee was helped by a five-person scientific committee, who gave advice on the latest research in equine behaviour and health. “Everything is scientifically based and, in the first Code, that was not done,” de Wit said. The result is a Code that is one of the most comprehensive in the world, he said. “It is perhaps the most important project in recent Canadian history for the health and welfare of equines.” However, the Code was not born without labour pains and committee members struggled to come up with requirements and recommendations that met the needs of horses, whether under the care of feedlots or backyard owners. “When we really hit a wall, we had to sit back and say ‘what is the best for the horse?’” Bobsien said. That helped get over humps such as how to deal with practices commonly used in rural areas that would not be acceptable in more urban areas with easier access to a veterinarian. It also helped avoid getting hung up on the controversial issue of horse slaughter – although the Code applies to horses held in feedlots. One of the most difficult issues was finding a compromise on castrations by a lay person. Castration is specifically exempted from the Veterinary Act in Alberta and Saskatchewan, meaning it can legally be carried out by a lay person. In those areas castration was sometimes carried out without a veterinarian present and with no anaesthetic or pain control. “We took a bold step and said, if you are going to do this, you must provide pain control and we gave very specific ways on how that was to be accomplished,” Bobsien said. Now if someone castrates without pain medication and the case is taken to court, the Code will show that
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above: A common practice in some areas of Canada is to rely on snow to meet horses’ water requirements in winter. The Code specifies that owners must provide adequate clean water to maintain health and, in extreme weather, must pay special attention to how much animals are drinking.
22
the horse industry deems it unacceptable. Another potential problem arose over whether snow should be allowed as a water source, a common practice in some areas of the country. The Code now specifically notes that “snow alone will not meet their water requirements.” Instead, owners must provide enough clean water to maintain health and, in extreme weather conditions, whether hot or cold, special attention must be paid to water availability and how much animals are drinking. For years there has been growing frustration among animal welfare organizations and concerned members of the public over the difficulty of pushing cruelty or neglect cases through the legal system. Even in cases where there have been successful prosecutions, sentences have often amounted to a slap on the wrist. Some of those problems should now be eased because of the clearly prescribed requirements of the Code, said Erika Paul, BC SPCA Animal Protection Officer. “The old code was quite silent. The new one is more black and white on the care standards,” Paul said. Bobsien agrees it will make SPCA investigations easier and pointed to a case, which galvanized animal lovers in Victoria, when an owner starved a 27-year-old Appaloosa gelding and then hung the elderly horse from a backhoe instead of having the animal euthanized by a veterinarian. In that case the judge found David Whiffen and Clayton Cunningham guilty of causing unnecessary suffering, by failing to provide food for the horse. However, to the outrage of concerned horse owners, the judge granted a stay of proceedings on charges that the two men had
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
caused unnecessary suffering by hanging the animal. Largely because of that case, the Code now spells out exactly how a horse can be euthanized, Bobsien said. The Code says that a suffering animal should not be left to die of natural causes and acceptable methods of euthanasia are a lethal injection administered by a veterinarian, a free bullet deployed by a skilled individual, or a captive bolt. That means that, in a case such as the horse hanging, the prosecutor will have ammunition to show the judge that the approved methods are the only ones the horse industry considers minimize the animal’s suffering. Many horse and barn owners are applauding the detailed standards of horse care spelled out in the new Code. Deborah Marshall, who runs a barn near Nanaimo, BC with 16 horses and two donkeys, and also travels throughout Canada for equine facilitated wellness work, said the new Code will help her when she is in different parts of the country. “Being unfamiliar with common practice in different climates and terrain, it’s really helpful to have this document for my own information and as a place to begin discussions,” she said, adding that it is helpful that the document is practical and specific. “Looking after horses is a lot of work. People get overwhelmed and don’t know how to manage. This should help.” b For more information and to read the Equine Code of Practice, and Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues, please visit: www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/equine
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June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
23
HOW TO
Select & Fit a Riding Helmet
PHOTO: ROBIN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
BY JESSICA ADCOCK
24
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
As an experienced rider, you know that falls and injuries are a very real possibility whether you are training or competing. However, statistics on head injuries are pretty sobering. In the report “Ten years of major equestrian injury: are we addressing functional outcomes?” published in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of Trauma Management & Outcomes, lead author Jill Ball and a team of health professionals with the University of Calgary, the Foothills Medical Centre and the Calgary Health Region explored the outcomes of severe and serious equestrian injuries. Selecting a study period from 1995 to 2005, they reviewed all trauma patients and identified 151 injured when horse riding. Ten died, all from catastrophic head injuries. Of the remaining 141, all had a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 20 (major trauma) as a direct result of their injuries. According to the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky, hospital emergency rooms in the U.S. treat approximately 70,000 equestrian related injuries, three of every five equestrian accident deaths are due to brain injuries, and there is a four-fold increase in mortality for injured, non-helmeted riders. Of all injuries caused by large animals that are treated by trauma units, horses are responsible for more than half, and approximately one-third of these are brain or head injuries. According to Horse Council BC, a human skull can be shattered on impacts of 7 to 10 kilometers per hour (kph) and a horse can gallop at over 60 kph. A fall from just two feet can cause brain injury, yet when sitting on a horse, the rider’s head is at least eight feet above the ground. If a horse bucks the rider off, she is often torpedoed head first to the ground. A study published in the journal Nature in 2002 stated that head injuries outnumber spinal injuries five to one. A proper helmet can drastically reduce the chance of a head injury. When the United States Pony Club tightened its regulations for headgear, concussions were reduced by
PHOTO: ©ISTOCK.COM/HORSEMEN
above: Three out of every five equestrian accident deaths are caused by brain injuries. A proper helmet can greatly reduce the risk of a catastrophic head injury.
PHOTO: TROXEL
��������������������������������������� hair is part of your head measureleft: Your ments, and if you compete in multiple disciplines each requiring a different hair style, you may need to purchase a helmet for each discipline.
29 percent and head injuries by 26 percent during the following two years. Although a helmet cannot protect the rider from injury under every circumstance, the benefits of protective headgear cannot be discounted. However, for helmets to function as intended, they must: • Fit properly • Receive proper care • Be replaced when needed
Fitting a Helmet Because a helmet must fit properly to provide adequate protection, a helmet should not be used by more than one rider. The first step in purchasing a helmet is to take accurate measurements of your head. Use a measuring tape that is marked in centimeters as this yields the most accurate results. Be
sure to write down the measurements as you take them. Having someone else assist you can make the task easier. Remember to take into account that helmet sizes are like shoe sizes and can vary among brands. Measuring your head may give you a guide as to the size you need, but it will come down to the specific fit when selecting the helmet in the store. Style your hair just as you wear it when you ride. Different competitive disciplines have different dress codes, and if you compete in multiple disciplines and wear your hair differently in each, you may need to purchase a helmet for each. This is especially important if you have long or thick hair that is tucked under the helmet for one event, such as jumping, and then worn in a bun when you compete in dressage. Remember that your hair comprises part of your head measurements, so if you go from long hair to short or vice versa, your helmet might fit improperly. Hair needs to be styled in a manner in which the safety factor of the helmet is the top priority. Full hair crammed inside a helmet can jeopardize the fit, therefore your protection. Find the widest part of your head, which will include the prominent rounded area on the back of the head. Typically, the widest part of the head will be about an inch above June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
25
PHOTO: ©RIAAN LABUSCHAGNE/FLICKR
right: When horse and rider part company, the rider’s head is usually first to hit the ground.
integrity of the materials that absorb shocks. Make sure your helmet is dry before you put it away. If the outside is wet from rain or the inside is damp from perspiration, let it air-dry in a location away from artificial heat. When dry, store your helmet in a hat or helmet bag. These come in a variety of styles, but all of them are designed to protect your helmet from dirt and damage. Use a cleaner specifically for your helmet, and give your helmet a thorough cleaning at least once every week. Household cleansers are too harsh to use on helmets, and the chemicals they contain can compromise the effectiveness of the materials used and also compromise your safety. If your helmet has a removable liner, wash it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you wish, you can use an antibacterial spray made for helmets to eliminate odours.
Replacing a Helmet
above: Concussions were reduced by 29 percent and head injuries by 26 percent when the United States Pony Club tightened its regulations for headgear.
the eyebrows. Run the measuring tape just above the ears, making sure it encompasses the back “bump.” Using the measurements you obtained, look up the size conversion chart prepared by the helmet manufacturer. Once you have your helmet in hand, you must try it on to ensure it fits properly. Helmets should not feel uncomfortable, but they should fit snugly enough that they do not slide out of position when riders shake their heads, bounce, or make other vigorous movements. You may need to try several different helmets from different manufacturers to find the perfect fit. Some helmets are designed to fit more of an oval shape head, while others provide a better fit for round shapes. The helmet should have about the same amount of pressure all round. Some helmets have to “settle.” Your helmet might feel tight when purchased and first used, but the padding still has to mold to your head. If it feels too comfortable the first day out, it could be too big. A helmet that is too big can be hazardous and cause more harm, especially in the event of a fall. The visor should fall just above and parallel to the eyebrows. There should not be a gap between your chinstrap and your skin, but the strap should just touch the skin, not pinch or chafe it. Make sure that the chinstrap and suspension do not pinch your ears.
Helmet Care and Cleaning To keep a helmet functioning properly, you must take proper care of it. Never store your helmet in your car or a location that is not climate controlled. Temperature extremes, whether hot or cold, can compromise the 26
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
The protective core in your riding helmet is not indestructible. Once it absorbs an impact, it could be completely compromised, even if you don’t see any cracks or visible damage. This means that it can no longer offer you maximum protection. Whether you take a spill while making a jump, or drop your helmet on a concrete floor, you need to replace it promptly. Since there is no way to verify if the helmet core’s integrity is still intact, it is not safe to buy second-hand helmets no matter how gently worn they appear to be. Even if your helmet never comes into contact with the ground, you should replace it at least every five years. The materials used in helmets will degrade over time. As it deteriorates, it will become more ineffective at absorbing impacts and protecting you. In addition, manufacturers are constantly researching new materials and production methods to improve equestrian safety, so you can also take advantage of any technological advances made. You also should replace your helmet if it no longer fits as it should. This can happen if you change your hairstyle, but it is also common among younger riders who are still growing.
Helmet Styles and Options Specific events or disciplines can have a narrow range of acceptable helmet styles. For example, English competitors must wear English-style helmets that are covered with a black cloth or velvet, while Western inspired helmets are available for gymkhana events and other Western classes. You will need to review the regulations for your event to select the correct helmet to use in competition, but you have many options when selecting a helmet for recreational or practice riding. One option you will need to consider involves the type of venting system in the helmet. You can find passive and active venting systems. The active vent system is typically preferred by riders in warm weather or during outdoor events. This system offers greater ventilation as it allows air to pass through. In colder temperatures, passive vent systems are a popular choice. You will also need to decide on the exterior material. Equestrian helmets are available in velvet and velveteen, leather, suede, and molded plastic, to name just a few. Keep in mind that the choice of material can limit or expand your colour choices. For example, most
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June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
27
PHOTO: TROXEL
above: If your helmet fits well, it should feel snug with the same amount of pressure all round, and the visor should fall just above and parallel to your eyebrows. There should not be a gap between chinstrap and your skin, and you should feel no pinching from the chinstrap and suspension.
manufacturers produce velvet helmets in black, navy, brown, or gray. Plastic helmets can be found in all of those colors, plus pink, green, purple, white or patterns, such as whimsical prancing ponies or stars-and-stripes designs. Traditional riding helmets were modelled after the hunting caps worn by English fox or stag hunters. This design features a full, rounded brim or visor. These are still commonly used for dressage competitions as well as other English riding events, and dressage riders are required to wear approved helmets in all competitions. Riders can also find helmets that echo a Western theme, with attractive patterns and overlays that look stylish in and out of the show ring. Hunter-jumpers sometimes opt for a plastic shell helmet featuring a decoratively designed ventilation strip running along the center. Eventing riders often choose a brimless “skull cap” that is typically worn with a silk or nylon helmet cover that has a built in flexible visor. Plastic schooling helmets are a popular choice for trail riders and those who are just starting out.
About Helmet Manufacturing Standards Every competitive organization issues guidelines regarding the standards to which helmets worn by riders must conform. Many nations, states, and provinces issue regulations to ensure that equestrian helmets comply with standards and are worn by competitors at 28
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
specifically sanctioned events. In North America, the most prevalent performance standard is written by the American Society for Testing and Materials, and referred to as ASTM F1163. The standard does not deal with design, focusing instead on testing methods and performance criteria. The actual testing falls to the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) which takes samples provided by manufacturers of every design in every size, and tests them. Helmets are subjected to rigorous testing, such as being dropped from different angles onto an extremely hard surface. Helmets are normally subjected to falls of at least six feet during testing, and some tests involve dropping them onto a sharp edge. Equestrian helmets that pass the testing may be labeled as ASTM/SEI certified. Most government regulations or competition rules require that helmets carry this certification. The label has been used fraudulently in the past by unscrupulous manufacturers, so SEI continuously monitors the helmet market to identify illegally labeled helmets. SEI maintains a list of all the models and sizes it has certified, so if you have any questions regarding the authenticity of any manufacturer’s product, you can verify certification with the SEI. The second most common certification in the U.S. comes from the Snell Memorial Foundation (SMF). This organization has traditionally focused on motorcycle helmets, but it also has testing standards for riding helmets. The equestrian helmet standard from SMF is known as the E2001. However, ASTM F1163 is the standard chosen by the overwhelming majority of equestrian organizations across North America.
Summary Wearing your helmet at all times while on horseback — and not just during competitions — can help keep you safe from head injuries. Ideally, it should also be worn all the time when working with your horse on the ground including lunging, grooming, picking feet, trailer loading and unloading, working in a confined space such as a stall, or at any time when a sudden movement by the animal could put you in danger. You should keep the following information in mind: • The helmet must fit properly to provide maximum protection. • You must take accurate measurements to obtain the correct fit. • Protect your helmet from damage and clean it regularly. • Replace any helmet that suffers an impact. • Replace your helmet at least every five years. • Select helmets that have been certified as meeting the correct performance standard. • Seek qualified, professional help at your tack store when fitting a helmet. As the use of equestrian helmets increases, it is hoped that fewer riders will suffer severe head injuries. You have only one brain, so it is important that you protect it as best you can. b Jessica Adcock is a lifelong equestrian and a member of the e-commerce team at Dover Saddlery, a leading retailer of quality English horse tack, supplies and riding apparel for horse and rider at any level.
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When Horses Behave Badly Unwanted behaviour may be caused by a poorly fitting saddle.
PHOTO: ©/S.CARTER/FLIKR
BY JOCHEN SCHLEESE, CMS, EQUINE ERGONOMIST
30
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
There have been an abundance of articles discussing such problems as how to slow down the rushing horse, how to ride the stumble out of your horse, or how to make your horse go forward. Often rider error is perceived to be the cause, addressed by suggesting ways to change rider behaviour. In some cases, consulting a veterinarian is suggested. However, these negative and unwanted behaviours may actually be caused by something as simple as an improperly fitting saddle. A saddle that does not sit correctly impacts the reflex points and causes basic instinctive reactions in the horse, rather than conscious behaviours. Sometimes there are health reasons at the heart of negative behaviour, such as illness or lameness. However, before calling the vet, consider investing in a simple diagnostic evaluation of your saddle. A qualified saddle fitter understands equine biomechanics and anatomy, as well as the ramifications for your horse if the saddle does not fit properly. It is widely accepted that horses do not consciously behave badly; rather, they react to outside stimuli. A variety of unwanted behaviours can be caused by a poorly fitting saddle or an incompetent or untrained rider, or both. How and where a rider’s weight is carried on the horse’s back can make a huge difference to the horse’s comfort level, and the horse can develop resistant or evasive behaviours when a rider’s aids are misunderstood or mishandled. Frustration mounts when a rider does not get what she is asking for, and an unpredictable or dangerous situation could be the result. Some of these adopted behaviours become stereotypical. They are not vices, as vices would infer that the horse is at fault; instead, their reactions are responses to an external stimulus, such as a poorly fitting saddle.
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PHOTO: ©/S.CARTER/FLIKR
right: The white chalk drawing shows the actual saddle support area and where the saddle should lie. The red triangles on the withers area show the highly sensitive area where a saddle should never ever lie.
Cranial Nerve 11 (CN11)
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHLEESE
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
If the saddle puts pressure on the reflex points along the spine because of a gullet channel that is too narrow, or the saddle twists during movement because of natural asymmetry, the horse will reflexively lower its back to escape the pressure or pain. The goal to have the horse engage its back becomes unachievable. The forward impulse and momentum is lost, the rider is out of balance, and the horse becomes defensive and won’t go on the bit. The result is a frustrating experience for both horse and rider. The horse would like to respond to the rider’s aids, but the pressure on his reflex points inhibits his ability to do so. Think about your own reflexes. Even when your doctor asks you to refrain from kicking out when he taps your patella, your reflexes instinctively react with leg movement which you are unable to control. A saddle that consistently puts pressure on the horse’s reflex points, known as cranial nerve 11, is not only uncomfortable for the horse but could eventually cause injury. For example, what happens when you give your horse the signal to move forward? If the saddle tree angle is too wide, or the tree width is too narrow, the tree is putting too much pressure on the reflex points and the horse cannot really comply. When the saddle hits the reflex point it hinders the horse’s ability to move. The horse’s actual instinctive reaction at this point is to drop his back, locking the shoulder, and rotating the pelvis. Despite best intentions, the horse instinctively will not, and more importantly, cannot move forward. He wants to obey his rider’s desire to go forward but needs to obey his own instincts to stay still. It is a losing proposition for the horse physically and psychologically as the rider thinks his immobility is simply stubbornness and starts using spurs and whip. Horses evolved in North America over millions of years, adapting and evolving with their habitat. As climates cooled, forests retreated and grassland dominated. Horses became grazers and learned that herding and living in small groups enhanced their chances of survival. Social behaviours developed as well as combative behaviour among stallions. To protect harems and defeat opponents, stallions developed the instinct to bite their opponents in the wither area and literally bring rivals “to their knees.” Stallions will also bite mares in the same area in preparation for mating – to stop them from moving
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCHLEESE
above, left: This saddle has slipped to the right and is lying on the vertebrae on the left hind. Pressure here will often cause symptomatic lameness in the right hind. above, right: The saddle should never lie on the lumbar vertebrae with their long transverse processes. These “floating ribs” cannot support any weight very well.
forward in order to mount them safely. Predators will also attack in this same region of the neck to hinder the flight response and bring the prey down. This reflex point in the wither area is known as cranial nerve 11 (CN11), and nature has determined three survival mechanism reflexes for this vulnerable spot. If the mare or the rival horse is bitten at that point, the nerve sends a signal to the brain that the movement in the upper arm and shoulder blade be blocked. The second signal ensures that the longissimus dorsi muscle (the long back muscle the saddle sits on and the largest muscle in the horse’s body) contracts, dropping the horse’s back so that the vertebrae fall into each other as in kissing spine syndrome. Kissing spines constitute a condition in which sections of bone attached to the vertebrae are too close and rub together causing pain. The third response is that the pelvis will rotate forward and open as a result of further contraction of the longissimus, opening the area in preparation for mating. Improperly placed pinching gullet plates, lunging girths, vaulting girths, driving harnesses, and foregirths will achieve the same result as the stallion’s bite by acting like a vice grip upon the muscles in the wither region. All three of these reactions will result in instinctive immobility for the horse. In nature these reactions are
critical for survival and allow the stallion to mount the mare without being kicked, or ensure that the rival is immobilized during a fight for dominance. The paradox is that we as riders want to achieve exactly the opposite. We want a horse with a loose, supple, and engaged back, with the ability to step under with the hind end. We want to take pressure off all the ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones of the horse in order to keep it healthy and sound for a lifetime of enjoyment and harmonious riding. To achieve this we must ensure that there is no pressure on cranial nerve 11 from an ill-fitting gullet plate.
Bucking Reflex This reflex point is located over the fascia behind the 18th lumbar vertebra. The fascia is the large sheet of connective tissue draped over the horse’s back and loins, and aids the abdominal muscles in supporting internal organs. The horse’s first reaction is to try to get rid of pressure from a saddle that is too long and pressing on the fascia over the transverse processes. These are the bony projections on each side and the top of the vertebrae which are sites for ligament and muscle attachment. Further indications of a saddle that is too long are the horse doing a pace during the walk (both front and hind legs on one side move together rather than diagonally
BRING THEM BACK TO THEIR FORMER GLORY BY MANAGING PPID
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHLEESE
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with the opposite side), dragging the hind legs during the trot, or showing a four-beat canter.
PHOTO CREDIT: LIV GUDE
Girthiness When using a short girth, watch that the buckles do not press on the edge of the pectoral muscles. For a long girth, attention must be paid to the same issue, but at the edge of the latissimus dorsi. The buckles can cause concentrated pressure points in these areas causing the muscle fibres of the triceps to contract as they try to avoid the pressure and soreness that often lead to rub marks. It is an instinctive, self-protection measure. The rider will have difficulty finding a good extension in the trot and will experience poor transitions between the gaits. The pectoral muscles need full range of contraction and relaxation to allow huge and natural extension. Only with complete freedom will the biomechanics work the way they should. If either the panel points or the billets exert pressure on the subscapular and thoracodorsal nerves, the natural reflex from both or either of these nerves will also cause the triceps to contract, inhibiting movement in the front. The horse moves like a “sewing machine” (on the spot, more or less) and tripping or stumbling can also result. b
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June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
35
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
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that was operating were tractors and heavy duty machinery, none of which we owned. My husband and I agreed that it was time to buy our own equipment. So began our life on the farm with equipment that met every specific and seasonal need. We started out with a Ford tractor, upgraded to a Massey Ferguson, then traded that in for a 60 horsepower June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KUBOTA CANADA LTD.
above: Moving round bales two at a time with a loader and bale spears. near right: Moving square bales on a pallet with a pallet fork. far right: Moving square bales with claw grapples.
Kubota 5030 shuttle four-wheel drive tractor. That four-wheel drive option has been the most valuable feature of the tractor which we’ve now owned for almost ten years. But tractors by themselves are limited without attachments. Deciding on what attachment to purchase will be driven by your needs and priorities of use. Ask yourself the following questions: Do you need the tractor
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAND PRIDE
PHOTO COURTESY OF KUBOTA CANADA LTD.
Horse people move a lot of hay, and with the right tractor attachment the chore will be fast and easy.
to simply move square hay bales and manure with a loader? Or will you need to move much heavier round bales with a bale spear? Do you need to harrow your fields or your arena? Do you need to clear bush with a rotary cutter, grade your driveway with rakes, or clear snow in winter with a blade or a blower? Are you planning to put up your own hay? Will you mow, tedder and windrow, then have a local farmer custom bale, or
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will you bale the hay yourself? After clearing land, will a rototiller be needed to dig out rocks, roots, and sticks before levelling and sowing to pasture, and then will you need a seed spreader? What about fencing repairs and the need for a post hole auger? Over the years, we gathered all these attachments and learned to appreciate all their specific uses. We learned the importance of matching the class of tractor we had with the class of implements we needed; inappropriately matching a tractor with overheavy attachments or those that do not match the engine power can cause excessive wear or damage. But once appropriately sized implements are attached, they are really easy to use and open up a world of opportunity for land improvement and maintenance. “For small farms, hobby farms, and acreages, we really look to the needs and applications of the property,” said Adam Haney, senior marketing specialist with Kubota Canada Ltd. “For instance, if they are not actually harvesting crops such as hay and only need to move materials around (hay, shavings, earth etc.) then a smaller frame tractor with excellent maneuverability is more ideal. If the tractor is going to be used as a loader tractor only, then there is no need for a mid PTO, and thus a less expensive model can be selected. If this is a one tractor operation then it would need to be used for multiple applications (such as) moving materials, cutting, mowing, mid or three point loader work, snow removal or blower/blade/ sweeper work.” The PTO, or power take-off, on a tractor is an output shaft at the rear that allows attachments to be secured and driven by the engine. As Haney pointed out, there is no one simple answer as to what implements are the best. That is why talking to a dealer trained and experienced in tractor uses and their appropriate attachments is a valuable investment of time. We discovered that attachments have their greatest value according to season (snow clearing in winter, harrowing and grass cutting in spring and summer, barn cleaning and fence repairs year round), and like most acreage owners, we bought new attachments as needed. Given all the brush that had to be cleared, we used a Land Pride rotary cutter, which worked well on all the tractors we upgraded to. According to Haney, Kubota has partnered with Land Pride Implements to offer more options in three-point attachments — from box scrapers to mowers, post hole augers, and compact drills.
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39
right: Designed for use on any tractor equipped with a threepoint hitch, Conterra’s Arena Max is useful for arena, ground, and shelter belt maintenance.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CONTERRA INDUSTRIES INC.
right: A grader for road maintenance and to level land is often a priority with property owners. This grader from Conterra uses the weight of the material being graded, which is collected between the blades, to maximize downward cutting pressure and improve levelling and floating performance.
“Since 2007, Land Pride has had a marketing alliance with Kubota,” said Dee Warren, marketing manager with Land Pride. “The Land Pride/Kubota Tractor Corporation Marketing Alliance has allowed us to team up with most of the Kubota dealers across the U.S. and Canada to offer Performance Matched products for Kubota Tractors and SVLs. The relationship has been mutually beneficial for both companies.” There has never been a better time for consumers to select farm products to match their needs. “The tractors most suited for acreage use usually fall in to the 25 to 60 HP range, have a three-point hitch, and a rear PTO,” said Dave Heaton with Conterra Industries in Strathmore, Alberta. “If you plan on running a mid-mount mower, or a front-mount snowblower, you will need a mid PTO as well. The biggest mistake most tractor purchasers make is not identifying what they plan to do with the tractor today and in the future, and then having an educated conversation with their dealer to select a tractor that best fits their needs.” An example of that, said Heaton, are the challenges that come with moving large round bales with the loader. “You will need a loader with a lift capacity of over 680 kg (1,500 lbs). If you plan on hauling round bales with your three-point hitch, the hitch will need a lift capacity of 680 kg (1,500 lbs). It is also very important to factor in the weight of what you are lifting plus the weight of the attachment and compare the total to the lift capacity of the tractor.” He said that the most important thing is to match
When deciding which attachments to purchase, carefully consider your needs and priorities, then discuss them in detail with an experienced tractor dealer who can help you choose the best options for your requirements. DISC HARROWS
ROTARY TILLER
ALL-PURPOSE SEEDER
GROOMING MOWER
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAND PRIDE
OFFSET ROTARY CUTTER
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
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PHOTO COURTESY OF LAND PRIDE PHOTO COURTESY OF KUBOTA CANADA LTD.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAND PRIDE
Keeping ahead of Mother Nature is a huge task in winter months. Fortunately, snow removal accessories come in a variety of sizes and options.
the operating specification of your tractor to the operating specification of the attachment. “This is very important for their safe and efficient operation. For example; running a rotary tiller attachment that is rated for a tractor between 30 and 40 HP on a 50 HP tractor is asking for trouble. The attachment is not designed to handle the additional power and will eventually fail. Another major problem is exceeding the lift capacity of the three-point hitch or loader. If your tractor is rated at 2,000 lbs, yet your bale spear is only rated at 1,300 lbs, this could lead to 42
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
problems lifting a 1,500 lbs bale. Our most popular attachments by sales volumes are rotary mower, Conterra Road Graders, Conterra Arena Max, bale spears, and either front or rear-mount snow blades.” Heaton said that the most common attachments by task are feed transport (loader with bale spear or grapple, three-point bale spear, or feed wagon), arena grooming (flex harrows, three-point harrows, cultivator or disc harrows, or the full array of arena grooming attachments), pasture/manure maintenance (flex harrows, seeders/spreaders, aerators), road maintenance (rear blades, box scraper, or dedicated road maintenance products like the Conterra Grader), lawn and brush care (rough cut mowers, finishing mowers, mid mount mowers), snow removal (rear mount snow blade, front mount or loader mount snow blades, and rear and front mount snow blowers), material handling products (pallet forks, bale spears, manure grapples, brush grapples), and fencing products (pull-type post pounders, or three-point PTO drive earth augers or loader mount hydraulic driven augers). Heaton recommended that, when buying a tractor with a loader, get one with the universal skid steer quick attach. He said that most tractor manufacturers have their own mounts, which can be limiting. “If you get a loader with a universal skid steer quick attach system you will have access to hundreds of attachments on the market,” he said. “The mount gives you the ability to rent some skid steer attachments for use on your tractor, which could save you money moving forward. The skid steer quick attach makes it very easy to change from one attachment to another.” I can relate to that. While today’s modern tractors are so much easier to work with and hook up, older equipment comes with outdated systems that can turn the experience of attaching equipment into a fingercrunching, curse-peppered event. Though we had bought mostly new attachments, some were used equipment including the Massey Ferguson baler (think Jurassic vintage here). Every July, I crawled underneath to thread the baler twine through guides and eyeholes before attaching it to the rear of the frame. It never ceased to amaze me how all those moving parts between the plunger pushing the dried grass into the front and the knotter assembly bundling it into bales and pushing them out the back actually worked. “One of the most popular attachments we sell are the Paynes Forks (which are) clamp-on pallet forks,” said Brian Goodfellow with Mohawk Equipment in Brantford, Ontario. “These easy-to-attach forks are mounted on the bucket and are a labour and back-saving device for many lifting and loading jobs. There are several capacities to choose from depending on the size of your tractor and the weight you are lifting.” Goodfellow agrees with the need to have devices that make hookups easier and therefore safer. “When it comes to three-point hitch attachments, the Pats Easy Change Hitch system is one way to make hookups easier. This system changes your tractor lift arm to a hook for faster and safer hook-ups as well as release of three-point implements. It works on all
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KUBOTA CANADA LTD.
The Kubota RTVX900 features hydraulic cargo bed dumping as a standard feature. The cargo bed, which holds a round bale, has a 1500 lbs payload.
44
tractors and implements and prevents strains and injury from trying to position the attachments.” The three-point hitch is a triangle, or a three-pointed letter A, so that the three arms orient the attached implement with the direction of the tractor. That orientation prevents it from being dragged uncontrollably behind and swinging into the tractor’s rear wheels. “A must for most horse farms would be the time tested chain harrow,” said Goodfellow. “Chain harrows can be pulled by tractors, ATV/UTV, and lawn tractors, and are ideal for pasture renovation, arenas, race tracks and fields.” Some of the reasons for harrowing are ripping out moss, spreading manure, aerating soil, dethatching, and levelling ground. Their simple concept of interlinked chains goes back over a century to when Daniel Hackett initially produced the tines on an open hearth fire in 1892 in Cherry Orchard, West Midlands, U.K. Land clearing and cleaning can also be done with another attachment suggested by Goodfellow. “The Ratchet Rake is a patented, multi-purpose implement that quickly attaches to loader buckets. The two rows of angular teeth projecting out and downward enable it to rip out brush and vegetation like no other. It can also be used for removing rocks, preparing gardens, and maintaining driveways and paths.” When we moved to our 24-acre property south of Cultus Lake, Chillwack, very little of it was usable. It was overgrown with brush, blackberry, and alder. After logging and stump removal, the tractor equipment allowed Tom to get onto the property, cut out brush and
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
clean, groom and level the land. Fencing was re-arranged and post holes dug with an auger. The gravel driveway was graded, and more road crush purchased and moved with the loader to fill potholes, then bladed to make it level. At the end of the day, when the shows are over and the trailer is about to get some downtime, there is a simple way to place it in storage. “There is an inexpensive way for moving your trailer to and from storage,” said Goodfellow. “It is the Adams hitch, which is a three-point hitch frame that accepts a Reese type trailer hitch. With the Adams hitch on your tractor you can back up to the trailer and use your hydraulic system to lift the front of the trailer and easily manoeuvre it in or out of parking spots.” Also of great versatility on acreages and horse farms are utility vehicles. Kubota’s line of RTV vehicles offer both a smooth ride and a hydraulic cargo bed useful for cleaning stalls, transporting tools, hauling shavings, or moving a few hay bales. Having a tractor opens up enormous possibilities and the right attachments can transform it into a true workhorse. b Thank you to our supporting businesses for their assistance with this feature: Kubota Canada Ltd. • www.kubota.ca Mohawk Equipment Ltd • www.mohawkequipment.ca Conterra Industries Inc.•www.conterraindustries.com Land Pride • www.landpride.com
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June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
45
THE MAGIC OF THE
PHOTO: ROBIN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Horse & Carriage
Visitors to Victoria enjoy a tour that passes the British Columbia Parliament Buildings in Victoria’s Inner Harbor.
46
BY MARGARET EVANS
The sandy-coloured mare stands quietly. The man slips the rawhide, bitless bridle over her head. He watches the mare’s eye, seeking her trust. The wildness has not left but the animal has learned to allow touch. The man, a Botai village horse herder, slips the circular rawhide thong over the mare’s neck so it rests at the shoulder. A young boy holds the bridle while the herder attaches the rough leather traces to the wooden frame covered in hide. He whistles softly. The mare moves forward, pulling the travois for the first time. In that moment 5,500 years ago on the high grassland steppe in Kazakhstan, the little harness mare walks onto the pages of history.
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
No animal so profoundly changed the human way of life as the horse. Once they were harnessed for work, horses gave the hunter-gatherers a major shift in mindset and world view. They could settle, travel, trade, expand social contact, and return home. Their needs drove innovation as, over the centuries, the travois became the cart, the war chariot, the tram, the buggy, and the carriage until cars, trains, and planes pushed them aside. Today in noisy, vehicle-cluttered cities, a ride in a horse-drawn carriage is a unique step back in time to a distant heritage – and a step forward in an unrealized appreciation for the skilled, dependable harness horse. While horse and carriage rides have traditionally been tours around city parks, carriage operators also offer their services for weddings, festive and ethnic occasions, parades, movie shoots, and funerals. Each has its special needs and the horses used in harness
PHOTO COURTESY OF CALEDON HORSE & CARRIAGE PHOTO: ROBIN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
must match that need, even down to their colour. The draft horse breeds are used for carriage work and the most popular are Percheron, Belgian, and Clydesdale, as well as the Friesian. While soundness and a calm nature are priorities, experience and training are equally important when purchasing new stock. “We look for some form of work experience in downtown traffic,” said Emily May, human resources manager with Victoria Carriage Tours in BC. “Our last three horses were parade horses. We (also) buy from the Amish people. We have found through experience that Amish horses are superbly trained and very gentle. The Amish are incredibly good horse trainers.” Victoria Carriage Tours has 22 working horses ranging in age from pre-teens to mid-twenties and they operate eight vehicles, the majority of which are Robertson carriages as well as one Hawaiian and one Landau. They also have six trolleys that are pulled with two-horse teams and which can accommodate up to 20 passengers. May said that they do some training themselves before taking customers on tours. “Horses with less downtown experience start on a two-horse team vehicle paired with an experienced horse to build their confidence downtown before training them ‘in single’ (on a single-horse vehicle). The first time we ask a horse to pull in single we do so without customers until it is clear it has the confidence to continue as a single horse.” Colour can play a major role, especially for carriage operators focusing on specific festive occasions. “We want white horses and usually Percherons that turn white,” said Louie Reale, owner of Caledon Horse & Carriage in Toronto. “The original Percherons were white. Because horses take anywhere from eight to twelve years to turn white, we get them fully grown.” Reale started his business 24 years ago and specializes in weddings year-round, including ethnic weddings. Many of his clients are East Indian but he has also catered to Greek, Portuguese, and Italian families. He has 12 horses, mostly the white Percherons he favours, as well as two black Friesian horses. His 12 horse-drawn vehicles include not only carriages but chariots, wagonettes, covered wagons, and trams. Using the black Friesian breed, Reale is planning a breeding program to start offering funeral services. “For those who love horses and pass away, we will use Friesians,” he said. “We will have a hearse, a flower car, and carriages for the family so there will be several units following each other in a cortege. It will be for people who have grown up with horses and want to leave this world in that way.” “We don’t acquire our horses too young,” said Gerry O’Neil, owner of Stanley Park Horse Drawn Tours who offers services for weddings, proposals, anniversaries, birthdays, parades, funerals, and visits to seniors’ homes with individual horses. “Generally the age bracket is seven to ten years. At that age they have had a fair amount of mileage and training.” Each new horse is on a one-year probation and paired with one of O’Neil’s “anchor” horses, which has proven to be consistently reliable. All his horses are geldings in accordance with the City of Vancouver regulations.
above: Colour is an important consideration for carriage operators who cater to specific occasions. While Caledon Horse & Carriage prefers mature, white Percherons for many of their services, owner Louie Reale is also planning to use his two black Friesians to offer funeral services. left: Carriage horses in training are put through their paces at a farm near Victoria, BC. June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
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PHOTO COURTESY OF CALEDON HORSE & CARRIAGE
right: Specializing in weddings year-round including ethnic weddings, Caledon Horse & Carriage has many East Indian clients and has also catered to Greek, Italian and Portuguese families.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CALEDON HORSE & CARRIAGE
PHOT0: ROBIN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
below: A Percheron waits patiently for passengers under the spring blossoms in downtown Victoria, BC.
above: In addition to carriages, the horse-drawn vehicles at Caledon Horse & Carriage include chariots, wagonettes, covered wagons, and trams. While draft breeds are known for their calm nature, each breed has its own characteristics that can subtly influence the ride planning. “The Percherons are the quietest and the slowest,” said May. “Clydesdales are quite calm but more alert and a little quicker on response and pace. Our 45-minute tours are designed to match the Clydesdale’s pace. Belgians are quite fast so we add extra length to the tour to make the ride 45 minutes.” Meticulous care, feeding (grains and high quality hay), grooming, regular farrier work, and regular veterinary checks and vaccinations oversee the wellbeing of carriage horses. In addition, the carriages, trucks and trailers receive regular maintenance checks and are scrupulously cleaned. For carriage drivers on public display, their turnout for rides is akin to being show ready. In Central Park in New York City, carriage horses have been giving rides to tourists and residents since 1858. Almost 220 licensed carriage horses pull 68 carriages driven by close to 170 active licensed Teamster (Local 553) drivers. Their direct economic value is close to $19 48
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
million annually with additional spinoff value to local businesses benefitting from the tourist trade. The horses receive excellent care, feeding, shoeing, and twice-yearly veterinary exams. Carriages are inspected three times a year by the Department of Consumer Affairs. However, New York carriage drivers are facing harsh criticism from animal rights activists and the recently elected Mayor Bill de Blasio who has made it a priority issue to ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park and replace them with electric vintage-looking cars. But with a huge push-back from New Yorkers, leading influential newspapers, and the Teamsters Union, he’s finding that it isn’t that simple. “The Mayor has acknowledged that banning carriages is much more complicated than he thought, and there are many factors that are slowing down the process,” said Christina Hansen, communications liaison, Historic Horse-Drawn Carriages of Central Park, LLC. “That being said, he says that he is just as committed as ever to banning carriages because they ‘don’t belong.’ He says he expects action on the anti-carriage-horse legislation sometime this year. The problem for the Mayor is that
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49
PHOTO COURTESY OF STANLEY PARK HORSE DRAWN TOURS PHOTO: ROBIN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
above: The Wagonette carriage seats up to 12 passengers who enjoy an unobstructed view of the sights in Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver.
above: The draft breeds are popular for carriage driving. Percherons are considered the quietest and the slowest. Clydesdales (shown) are calm but with a faster pace, and Belgians are considered the fastest.
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the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers do not support a ban of the carriages which has made support for a ban very shaky in City Council. At the moment, he does not seem to have the votes to pass a ban - and in fact legislation has yet to be drafted that would ban the carriages and replace them with electric cars.” While the animal activists claim it is cruel to subject horses to work in the Manhattan core and have jumped on the mayoral bandwagon to ban them from the park, the reality is that the land the stables occupy is prime real estate that developers have eyed for some time for condo/hotel development. Banning carriage horses in the park would, in the opponents’ minds, force the hand
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
of the drivers to sell the stables. “We have powerful allies in the Teamsters union, the Central Labor Council, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and the New York Times,” said Hansen. “The more people investigate the issue, the more it becomes clear that this is not about horse welfare but about radical animal rights, real estate, power, money, and politics.” Carriage drivers are extremely visible to the public and activists try to take advantage, more often than not with actions that underscore reckless and irresponsible behaviour. According to Hansen, they will routinely shout and scream, waving their signs near the horses and pursue drivers to provoke a reaction, potentially dangerous, which can be filmed out of context. She mentioned one incident in which screaming protesters forced a driver to urge his horse into a trot to put distance between the activists and his carriage that carried a family with small children. His horse rounded a corner, then slipped and fell on a manhole cover. As the driver and other nearby carriage drivers rapidly unharnessed the horse and got him safely to his feet unharmed, the protesters continued screaming their verbal abuse. No doubt the young family was terrified and the whole episode would have been a frightening experience for the children, not to mention potentially dangerous had the carriage tipped. “The drivers love their animals,” said Teamster driver Kevin Houwigan while feeding his chestnut horse Bailey in one of the tourist staging areas. “They take good care of them. We aren’t going anywhere.” The care that the animals receive is evidenced by their
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right: Fairytales can come true… in the Cinderella Pumpkin Coach at Stanley Park Horse Drawn Tours. ideal body weight, shining coats, and often colourful turnout in clean, attractive carriages. Animal rights groups also make their presence felt in Canada and protesters will heckle carriage horse drivers at similar tourist staging areas. Reale recalls an incident in Toronto when some teenagers with balloons in hand approached his tethered horse and untied it, yelling that horses should be free. They had no concept of the danger they exposed the horse and the public to, especially given that some horses may be spooked by balloons. Caught in the crossfire between misinformed activists and the drivers who staunchly defend a much loved tradition are the tourists who see in the horse and carriage a time long gone. “Older people say they used to live this life and don’t see it anymore,” said Reale. “The horses trigger nostalgia and fond memories and people love to see them around.” O’Neil would agree with that, adding that even people who have never been around horses find them an irresistible lure and have endless questions about their care and feeding. “We get quite a lot of questions from tourists as we see ourselves as ambassadors for the park and the city and (we are) always willing to help out visitors. Some of (their questions) are ‘Can I feed the horses?’ (No, they have a special diet), ‘Will the flash bother the horses?’ (No, they love the attention), ‘Can I pet the horses?’ (Yes, please do so on top of their noses not underneath so they don’t think your fingers are carrots), and ‘Can I bring my dog on the carriage ride?’ (Yes, if it is well-behaved).” May emphasized that people usually cannot say enough about how impressed they are with the expert way the horses do their job. Tourists frequently comment that the horses are much more intelligent than they had previously thought. The historic value of the horse and carriage is what motivates many customers to take the tour and that promotes many more questions. “They ask what the specific breeds used to be used for, where they originated, and appreciate any history we give them about carriage horses generally,” said May, adding
PHOTOS COURTESY OF STANLEY PARK HORSE DRAWN TOURS
facing page: Stanley Park Horse Drawn Tours offers services for a wide range of occasions including funerals, for which their immaculate vintage horse-drawn hearse, built circa 1880, is pulled by a polished team.
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PHOTO: MARGARET EVANS
above: Carriage horses line up quietly at the curb of a busy Manhattan street next to Central Park waiting for fares. In New York’s Central Park carriage horses have been giving rides to tourists and residents since 1858.
PHOTO: MARGARET EVANS
below: People enjoying a New York, Central Park carriage ride on a beautiful spring day. Horses are well used to all forms of traffic and people-power activities.
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
that tourists want to know everything about the horses, from “Do they like their work?” to “Can they read traffic lights?” (They read the lights based on symbol recognition not colour), “Do they have best friends?” (Yes, often their teammate will be their closest horse buddy), “What are they afraid of?” (They seem to fear nothing downtown), and “Can they lie down?” (They lie down often, particularly when they feel safe, and we see them napping happily in the sun.). Questions are always fun, immensely varied, and can be curiously different. But then, they are catering to a wide variety of clients, especially in the busy season when, May said, they often have up to 156 passengers on the road in their vehicles all at once. “During the season we can see in the neighbourhood of 15,000 to 18,000 guests,” she said. Almost always the conversations lead to work schedules, time off for the horses, and their retirement planning. “Our customers really appreciate hearing that our horses’ retirement is taken care of,” said May. “They like to know that we take the responsibility for continuing to give our horses a good home once they retire and that they get to stay with the herd of working horses they have bonded to over the years.” Since they are able to rotate their horses’ work schedules year round, May said that they get two to three days off each week in the busy season and a six to nine month holiday covering the slow season. After every shift they are turned out into large paddocks with free-use shelters. Reale’s horses have 30 acres in the Toronto area where they can get out, graze, and relax together. “They are enjoying themselves,” he said. “It’s the best way to keep them, I find. Having them out is the healthiest thing for them as they have a natural life. We let them do what they want most of the time and they go to work once or twice a week.” O’Neil’s horses get a lot of pasture time between the tourist seasons. Some finish the season after Labour Day and
PHOTO: ROBIN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
A carriage horse in Victoria, BC, deftly negotiates downtown traffic with a bus following behind.
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Friesian Horses PHOTO COURTESY OF STANLEY PARK HORSE DRAWN TOURS
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www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
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above: Carriage rides in Vancouver’s famous park are a long tradition. This 1902 photograph “Tallyho in front of the Hollow Tree” shows the Vancouver Transfer Company’s horse-drawn sightseeing wagon in front of Stanley Park’s landmark hollow tree, which is believed to be up to 800 years old. some at the end of October. All the horses get November off as well as the period right after Christmas through to March. “In the off season and after their retirement, the horses go to a farm in the Fraser Valley to spend their time in their own stables and frolic in the fields,” he said. The New York carriage horses work an average eight-hour day and they must, by law, spend at least five weeks’ vacation outside the city on a farm with daily access to pasture. “For most horses, they (actually) get four to six months’ vacation,” said Hansen. “If
the horse is spending his vacation outside New York State (most go to Pennsylvania), the horse will also be seen by the vet an additional two times per year in order to get a health certificate for shipping to and from the farm. So all the horses see the vet at least two, usually four, times a year when they are perfectly healthy.” The carriage horse industry is unique. And those in it are dedicated and compassionate people who love their work, love their horses, and know every nuance of their animals’ characters, personalities, likes and dislikes.
“I know 22 horse personalities more intimately than I know 22 people personalities,” said May with a chuckle. Few sounds in today’s cluttered, stressfilled cities soothe the soul like those of the steady, rhythmic clip-clopping of horses’ hooves, the subtle chink of harness, and the amiable creaks of a carriage. They murmur of simpler times gone by and of a distant time when a man reached out to a horse in an ancient land and began a union that continues to promise a future. b EDITOR’S NOTE: On the eve of going to press, an incident involving a horse-drawn carriage, two vehicles, and a motorcycle occurred in Victoria, BC. The motorcyclist and carriage driver had minor injuries, the passengers were unhurt and the Clydesdale horse, which was apparently spooked, did not suffer any injury or trauma. While an animal rights group Carriage-Free Victoria, is renewing calls for a ban on carriages, incidents like this in the city are extremely rare. Investigations on what spooked the horse are ongoing.
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CANADIAN THERAPEUTIC RIDING ASSOCIATION NEWS
BY DAPHNE DAVEY
A Caring Canadian PHOTO : MCPL VINCENT CARBONNEAU, RIDEAU HALL
PHOTO: SARAH LAWRENCE
Dr. Gillian Lawrence receives the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award
above: Lelia
Sponsel, representing CanTRA, with Dr. Lawrence at Rideau Hall. Lelia was a founding board member of CanTRA and chaired the Certification Committee in its pioneering years. above: Dr.
Lawrence receives her award from Governor General David Johnston.
The contribution Dr. Lawrence has made to the therapeutic riding movement in Canada and internationally is both long-standing and vast. Without doubt she is more than deserving of this prestigious award and such recognition is long overdue.
Regional Mingling her passion for children, horses and medicine, Dr. Lawrence started a therapeutic riding program in Amherst, Nova Scotia, that ran for more than 30 years. She was a founding member and first president of the Nova Scotia Riding for the Disabled Association, which helped to strengthen fledgling programs and develop the expertise of their instructors and helpers. Therapeutic riding cannot truly be learned from books. Hands-on training and practice are essential to development of a successful program. Before CanTRA was formed and when other training options were out of reach, Gillian generously shared her knowledge, time and facilities for workshops for Maritimers.
National Gillian was a founding board member of CanTRA and later served two terms as president. The first program developed by CanTRA was Instructor 64
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
Certification, for which a training manual was needed where none previously existed in Canada. At that time, when few local programs were in operation and almost no one knew where the others were, a great learning process was occurring across the country. Gillian chaired the CanTRA Medical Committee that wrote the Instructor Certification Manual. Today, all trainees and graduates use this manual as their main study and reference guide.
International
Gillian served as president of the Federation of Riding for the Disabled International [now HETI] from 1997 to 1999. Her budding interest in elite paraequestrian sport led to her becoming an International Classifier, serving as an official at the debut of Paralympic Dressage competition during the Paralympic Games in Atlanta (1996), and again in Sydney (2000). Largely due to Gillian’s leadership, Canada’s first venture into international competition was at the second World Dressage Championships for the Disabled in Denmark in 1991 when she served as chef d’équipe. The results spoke for the major role she played: an individual gold medal and a team bronze. She later served as chef d’équipe at the third World Dressage Championships in England in 1994 when Canada won the team silver medal. CanTRA warmly congratulations Dr. Lawrence on this award! b
This article is adapted from the citation submitted by CanTRA on behalf of Dr. Lawrence. The award was presented to her in Ottawa in April 2014.
For more information on CanTRA and its member centres, visit www.cantra.ca, or email ctra@golden.net. Please make a difference to a child or adult with a disability by donating to CanTRA at www.cantra.ca or www.CanadaHelps.org
ONTARIO EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION EQUINEWS
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHEVALIER FAMILY
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHEVALIER FAMILY
BY MELISSA KOSOWAN
left: The
2013 gold medal dressage team, coached by Simone Williams (left), consisted of (L-R) Peter Chiddy, Natalie Tourikian, Vanesssa Creech-Terauds and Georgia Wade.
board member Grant Fields (white hat) and coach Danny Foster (black hat) with the 2013 gold medal jumping team (L-R) Ariane St. John, Zoe Meloff, Christine Carlsen and Jacqueline Chevalier to a team gold.
Ontario Seeks Top Riders for CIECs The Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) is now accepting applications from riders who want to represent their province against the nation’s best up-and-coming riders at the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships (CIECs), which will take place from October 3 to 5, 2014 in Blainville, QC. “We had a team of exceptionally talented riders who turned in outstanding performances last year. We want to continue to build on that momentum,” says Dianne Graham, the Executive Director of the OEF. “This is a great opportunity for riders to get a taste of national competition and we encourage everyone who meets the requirements to apply.” Competitors interested in declaring for Team Ontario in jumping, dressage or reining must submit a completed Athlete Declaration Form and official class results to the OEF by August 18, 2014. Each team per discipline will have a maximum of two junior and two senior riders. The CIECs is a collaborative event between the national and provincial sport organizations governing equestrian competition. A multi-discipline competition represented by jumping, dressage and reining, it is a key event in the development of the next generation of national,
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHEVALIER FAMILY
above: OEF
international and world champions. Last year, Ontario took home gold medals in team competition in both jumping and dressage and also secured a bronze in reining. In individual competition, Ontario’s riders also made it to the podium, scoring enough points to win a silver medal for Ontario in the overall standings. “We look forward to another great show this year,” says Graham. “There are some great riders in this province and we hope they will put their names forward for consideration. Let’s make this the best show yet!” For more information, visit www.cec-en.ca. Athlete declaration forms and discipline coach application forms for Ontario riders and coaches can be found online at b www.horse.on.ca.
above: The
2013 members of Team Ontario.
June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
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Deadline to place Photo Ads or Classified Ads in the July issue is June 15th. Index to Advertisers 5 Star Equine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Absorbine — ShowSheen . . . . . . . . . 11 Absorbine — UltraShield . . . . . . . . . 27 Advantage Trailer Sales . . . . . . . . . . 38 AFAB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Allan Dale Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Andis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Arabian Horse Association . . . . . . . . 11 B&W Trailer Hitches . . . Outside B/Cover Boehringer Ingelheim . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Bonnie View Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Britespan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Buckeye Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Canadian Agri-Blend . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Canadian Horse Journal . . . . . . . . . . 1 Celebration of Horses Photo Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Chrysler — Dodge Ram . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Cloverdale Pharmasave . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Conterra Arena Rakes & Groomers . . 37 Country Homes & Acreages . . 60-62 Dalhousie University . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 drySTART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Ecolicious Equestrian . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Econets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Equiade Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Equine Rehab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Ferris Fencing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 First Place Feeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Fraser Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Gardner Fence Systems . . . . . . . . . . . 39 General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 GGT Footing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Greenhawk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Herbs for Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Horse Council BC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Horse Store, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Integrated Bio Systems . . . . . . . . . . 49 Intercity Insurance Services . . . . . . . 37 Island Morgan Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Jonathan Field Horsemanship . . . . . 55 Joseph Rae Equestrian Academy . . . 55 Jurek. David — Remax . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Kastle Rock Gypsy Farm . . . . . . . . . . 51
Kubota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lakeshore Sand Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Landucci, Ali — Sotheby’s Realty . . . 61 LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 McKitrick, Mercia — ReMax Treeland Realty . . . . . . . . . . 61 Medicine Hat Ex— Open Horse Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Medicine Hat Ex — Ranch Horse Competition & Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Mountainside Sales & Rentals . . . . 45 Myristol Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Neogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 OnceUponA Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Otter Co-op . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 PAALH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Paddock,The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Piercy, Scott & LeBlanc James —Sotheby’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Platinum Performance . . Inside F/Cover Purica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Purica Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Pyranha Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Ride N Drive Horse Supplies . . . . . . 59 Robin Duncan Photography . . . . . . . 39 Schleese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Seablend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Stampede Tack & Western Wear . . . . 52 Star-Gro-Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Straight Arrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Strathcona Bedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Traill Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Tribute Equine Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . 17 Twin Valley Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 UFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Victoria-Saanich CADORA . . . . . . . . 57 Warman, Darrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 We Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Winther, Karren . . . . . . . Inside B/Cover Woodguard Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Wrayton Transport Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Zoetis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
June 2014 • Canadian Horse Journal
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How to Reach Us In Mono, Ontario, the Tottenham Equestrians Riding Club organizes horse shows for all levels of riders who want to compete in English hunter/ jumper classes and Western performance and speed event classes. Horses and horseback riding are an important part of rural living, and the experience and commitment to learning how to ride and care for horses teaches youth responsibility, trains them in leadership, and builds their confidence. Founded over 30 years ago, the Tottenham Equestrians Riding Club has grown to over 300 members. It hosts five horse shows a year, all of which attract about 200 entries and each show includes classes in Western Performance & Speed Events, as well as English Hunter and Jumper. Every year, the Tottenham Equestrians Club sends a team to compete at Ontario’s Equestrian Youth Team Tournament in Paris, Ontario. Their mandate is to provide an annual horse show series with subsidized fees to make entries affordable for everyone. The shows, held at the Orangeville Fairgrounds, are organized and set up by volunteers. 68
www.HORSEJournals.com • June 2014
The club relies entirely on their tireless volunteers and local sponsors to keep entry fees affordable for all riders, many of whom do not own a horse. The club provides shows where riders display their riding abilities in friendly competition and where parents, grandparents, and family members enjoy spending the day in a neighbourly atmosphere to support the riders, sometimes competing themselves. One does not need to become a member in order to be able to compete and day riders are also welcome. The generosity of sponsors has enabled the organization to attract riders from South Simcoe, King, Dufferin, and Peel. Businesses sponsoring their shows continue to help them provide this fantastic opportunity to local rural communities. Sponsors are featured on their website, in their show program, and in their annual awards banquet program. For more information on this dynamic club and to enquire about sponsorship, visit www.tottenhamequestrians.ca. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOTTENHAM EQUESTRIANS RIDING CLUB.
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