Elite Equestrian magazine Sept Oct issue

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Elite Equestrian Celebrating The Equestrian Lifestyle

Volume 13 Issue 5 Complimentary

Fall Fashion & Holiday Gift Ideas!

Your Favorite National Shows

A Look At The Incredible Equine Hoof

Barn and Footing Highlight NEW! European Section www.EliteEquestrian.us












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Dressage At Devon

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Washington International Horse Show

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Pennsylvania National Horse Show

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Capital Challenge Horse Show Barns And Footing 28: Planning An Indoor Facility 31: Design Your Dream Barn 34: Equestrian Footin 36: New Footing Material 37: The Right Insurance For Your Facility ���������������������������� ��������������������������

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Must Haves: Holiday Gift Ideas

65 Incredible Equine Hoof

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Cowboy Princess Collection

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New Trends

72 Cryopreservation- Freezing Semen

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Penny ShortsChisholm Gallery:

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HIS/HERS Fashion LA Pomeroy and Guy Clark

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Memorable Appraisal Highlights Dr. Lori

56 Franco Tucci: Boot Designer

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Chisholm Gallery: Carolyn Small

58 Tuscany By Horseback

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Artist Highlight: Sandy Graves

62 Artist Highlight: Paula Collewijn

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Equestrian Real Estate

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Art Spotlight: Snowman and Harry

Stress Necessary In Athletic Training

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Supplement For Healthy Skin

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Must Haves: For Your Horse

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Virginia Intermont College A Tradition of Equestrian Excellence

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Revolutionary Bit

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Static VS Dynamic Saddle Fit

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Saddle Fit Q & A

90 Jumping Into A New Approach For Training

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99 Show Snaps



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info@EliteEquestrian.us

Contest Winner

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Editor in Chief: Noelle Vander Brink Marketing Director: Bill Vander Brink Advertising Director, Western Region: Steve Neuman Ph: 303-646-3005 Cell: 303-877-0686 eliteequestrian7@aol.com

Art & Antiques Editor: Dr. Lori Equine Art Editor: Jeanne Chisholm Health Editor: Marilyn Miller-Heath Home Design Editor: Vicky Moon Legal Editor: Avery S., Chapman,Esquire Saddle Specialist Editor: Jochen Schleese Contributing Writers Karen Berk Siobhan English Lauren Fisher Georgia Hickey Michal Hutson Betty Lindquist LA Pomeroy Rebecca J. Walton Contributing Photographers: Alden Corrigan JWM King Construction Shawn McMillan Paws and Rewind Rex Reed

NEXT ISSUE: November/December 2013 Deadline: October 17, 2013 ���������������� Celebrating The Equestrian Lifestyle

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For Media Kit email: info@EliteEquestrian.us

On the cover...

A rider competing at Dressage At Devon Story on page 18.

Fall Fashion & Holiday Gift Ideas!

Barbara Foose From Spring Grove, PA won the contest for this beautiful platter from Beatriz Ball! Here is what Barbara had to say about Elite Equestrian magazine: As a lifetime horsewoman, I have seen and read multiple equine magazines. Many are breed specific and many are dedicated to only training advice or competitive results. I especially like the Elite Equestrian magazine as it appeals to the all around horseperson both pro and amateur, regardless of discipline. Every issue contains a myriad of information that covers topics and products of every possible aspect that could be of interest to a “horsey” person. It keeps you up to date on show schedules and THANKS to your magazine I have even planned my next holiday...to Brazil !!

www.beatrizball.com 504.366.1662

Your Favorite National Shows

A Look At The Incredible Equine Hoof

Barn and Footing Highlight NEW! European Section ����������������������

We can all learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box. Author Unknown

Elite Equestrian is a registered name owned by Elite Equestrian LLC. No article, photo, or part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Management reserves the right to approve or refuse any advertiser or contribution for any reason. EE does not endorse any product or advertiser and is not responsible for accuracy of information provided by advertisers or article content. Photographs are submitted by writers of each article who assume responsibility for usage approval. ©2009

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Watch for future give-aways in Elite Equestrian magazine! Read this, and any past issue, online FREE! Go to www.EliteEquestrian.us All ads and articles hyper-link for your convenience. www.EliteEquestrian.us


www.EliteEquestrian.us

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MUSTGreatHAVES Gift Ideas For This Holiday Season!

Whoa Factor 1

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TAMARA COMOLLI FINE JEWELRY “PAISLEY DROP RING”, $6490 18K rose Gold with diamond pavé, Available At Tamara Comolli Boutique 150 Worth Avenue, Suite 115b, Palm Beach, FL 561-659-3700

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Horse Head Bracelet 14K yellow gold horse heads with sapphire eyes separated by 14K white gold rings set with 3/4 carat total weight bright diamonds. Bracelet weighs a very substantial 44+ grams. Also available all 14K & 18K white gold. MSRP $6,500 www.VanDell.com Wellington Publix Courtyard 561-753-7937 Royal Palm Beach Costco Shopping Center 561-784-5220

Unique Pendants Sandy Graves creates unique bronze and silver pendants hung on exquisite braided horse hair. No two are the same. Sassy and classy, dress them up or dress them down. Necklace with pendant $500. Pendant alone $300. See www.sandygravesart.com for Sandy’s full range of sculpture.

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THE LUCY An equestrian envelope clutch that adds casual sporting style to any outfit! Features a leather top flap hand-perforated with a bit motif. A sporty striped webbing accents the middle of the bag. Zipper top, with leather zipper pull tab detail. Floral cotton lining. Made from beautiful heritage brand Woolrich Fabrics, proudly made in Woolrich, PA since 1830. Dimensions: 8” x 12” Colors: Burnt Orange, French Blue, Hunter Green, Charcoal Grey Price: $99 440-893-9492 www.rebeccaraydesigns.com

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Ranch Hand Rider Our version of the classic “Rider” jacket in 20-ounce 100% heavy cotton canvas, washed and collar-trimmed in washable cowbelly leather. A classic buffalo plaid 100% wool liner is actually a vest that buttons out for separate wear. Lined in authentic tea-dyed mattress ticking with side strap adjustments. Metal stud button front and cuffs. Riveted patch chest pockets with side entry hand pockets below. www.wherebisonfly.com

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Running Martingale Belt by Clever with Leather, now available at Equine Divine. Order yours today in black, dark brown, and medium brown leather with brass or chrome hardware. Call 803-642-9772 or shop online at www.equinedivineonline.com.

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Equestrian Sports Hoody by ZIKY keeps you comfortable and warm this fall. Available in navy blue or purple with a crisp equestrian graphic. Soft ‘eco-smart’ cotton-poly mix, for the Fashion Forward Rider. $39.95 www.ZIKYboutique.com

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Favorites Sampler Combing favorite things with your most popular choices brings together the best of both worlds. Cool Max tall boot socks, scented skin lotions and lip balm for rider comfort, leather conditioner and wipes for tack, a goat hair finishing brush, peppermints and horse favored treats all attractively packaged in Gift Horse Baskets own Kensington tote. A strap goods key fob and gourmet chocolates complete this gift. All quality items carefully chosen and sure to please most any rider. Custom baskets are always available or choose from one of many pictured on the site www.horsebaskets.com

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Chincoteague Pony The revered “Surfer Dude” Medallion, shown in Ancient Casting Bronze on a 8 strand woven leather neck cord. www.tempidesignstudio.com 1-855-KEEPSKE

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Dressage at Devon 2013

Dressage at Devon will take place from September 24 through September 29 at the Devon Fairgrounds in Devon, PA. It is one of the most respected and loved equestrian events in the world, featuring the largest open breed show in the world plus the exciting performance division, shopping for everyone and great food. 18

www.EliteEquestrian.us


And don’t miss the special events including: Ladies Hat Day �������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Lead Line Class ������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ Tommie Turvey ������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������� For more information, visit wwww.dressageatdevon.org. Photos by Paws and Rewind, www.PawsandRewind.com

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Dressage at Devon Spotlight �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Winners

Don’t Always Take Home the Blue Ribbon

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Washington International Horse Show Celebrates 55 Years of Equestrian Competition in Our Nation’s Capital By Lauren Fisher The Washington International Horse Show CSI 3* (WIHS) returns to Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C., on October 22-27, 2013, for its 55th year of competition. The country’s only metropolitan indoor horse show, the Washington International Horse Show hosts one week of competition each year featuring many of the world’s best horses and riders. An equestrian tradition since 1958, WIHS is the pinnacle of the equestrian year. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation competition during the six-day event and many compete all year just to qualify. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, the Puissance (high jump) competition and the Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Donovan Hasbrouck by Shawn McMillen Photography

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arlier this year, WIHS announced the extension of their agreement with Verizon Center through 2016, allowing the show to continue to feature equestrian sport in a high-profile media market and make it more accessible to new audiences. Sponsors benefit from participating in a fantastic sporting and social event, and riders get to compete in front of large, enthusiastic crowds in a city-center sports arena. The opportunity to compete at Verizon Center is a huge draw for competitors, who bring their horses into the bustle and excitement of the city streets to compete in a prominent venue that is home to some of the city’s top professional sports teams and hosts many concerts for chart-topping artists. The spectators and fans that attend WIHS each year are also unmatched. WIHS is one of the most historic and wellknown equestrian events in the world with a significant record of hosting Olympians, national champions, our country’s most talented young equitation riders, and top ranking junior, amateur and pony competitors. This year’s competition features an increase in the prize money awarded in both the

jumper and hunter divisions. WIHS will offer nearly half a million dollars in total prize money in 2013, more than a $70,000 boost from 2012! Nationally, WIHS is rated “AA,” the highest possible, by USEF. On the international level, it has a three-star (CSI 3*-W) rating from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). The ‘W’ indicates the show is one of a select few in the U.S. offering a prestigious World Cup qualifying class. One of the highlight events of the show week is the President’s Cup Grand Prix, which is a World Cup qualifier. The high performance working hunter division will be featured with two classes on the opening night of the show, Tuesday October 22, showcasing the country’s top professional hunters. WIHS will accept more entries this year in the amateur-owner working hunter 3’3” and the regional pony hunter sections as well, offering more competitors a fantastic chance to ride at Verizon Center. In addition to the exceptional competition, the WIHS features many exciting events for the spectators. The popular terrier races will once again return along with many fun equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities such as Kids’ Day,

Barn Night and Breakfast with the Mounted Police. Thursday, October 24, is Barn Night and one of the biggest crowd pleasers with contests and activities. In honor of Halloween, top show jumpers will compete in full costume in the fun Gambler’s Choice class. Barn Night at WIHS is a favorite with local young riders and horse enthusiasts who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win big prizes and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening. Barn Night activities begin on the concourse at 6:00 pm. Enjoy everything the evening has to offer - the exciting and hilarious Gambler’s Choice Show Jumping Costume competition, an entertaining exhibition, a tshirt toss, plus an autograph session with top riders. Barns can register to participate in fun group contests and a chance to win great prizes. Go to www.wihs.org/Barn-Night to sign up to be eligible for this year’s contests and prizes. The Gambler’s Choice Costume Class is always an exciting event at the WIHS, especially with Barn Night and thousands of young fans cheering on the riders. In last year’s class, then 18-year-old Reed Kessler,



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To find out more about the 2013 Washington International Horse Show, please visit www.wihs.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

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of Lexington, KY, jumped to victory dressed as Catwoman aboard her horse Ligist. After competing in her first Olympic Games last summer, Kessler has become a role model for young girls, and the Barn Night crowd was definitely cheering her on.

Commenting on the support of her young fans and the excitement of that win, Kessler stated, “It was amazing. I love Washington, especially Barn Night; it is always so much fun. The stands are packed with horse loving kids and it was a blast.” Kessler then went on to win the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix CSI 3*-W that same week with her mare Cylana. She once again paid tribute to the fantastic WIHS spectators. “There is a great interaction with the audience here,” Kessler said. “Everyone gets really into it. Barn night is genius; they always get a huge turnout. There was quite literally a mile-long line of children asking for autographs after the Gambler’s Choice. It is a great show and the crowd gets really into it. I think it is probably one of the biggest turnouts at a show jumping event in America.”

Friday night is all about power and speed as WIHS salutes the Military on the third annual Military Night. New this year is the Speed Final for open and international jumpers. Then comes the heart-stopping Puissance competition. Horses will jump the great wall until only one horse remains without knocking it down. WIHS is one of the few remaining shows in the U.S. to offer this class and the record to beat is 7’ 7-1/2,” set at Washington in 1986. In last year’s Puissance, then 19-year-old Belgian rider Olivier Philippaerts and Chicago VH Moleneind cleared 7 feet for their win. Philippaerts also commented on the fantastic crowds at WIHS after his win, stating, “I think it’s a great show. The ring and the crowd is really fantastic. The fans are very good here. I am very thankful that they all stayed for the Puissance. It was very nice for us to ride with all of that crowd.” Saturday, October 26, will feature the fourth annual Kids’ Day, a free, fun, family-friendly event created to engage the local community and educate kids and their families about horses and equestrian sport. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both

inside Verizon Center and on a closed city street just outside the arena. Sponsored in part by the EQUUS Foundation, this popular community event brings new fans to WIHS and equestrian sport each year. Along with many of the nation’s top riders and international competitors, local riders hoping to qualify for the WIHS get their chance at the Washington International’s sister show, the WIHS Regional Horse Show, which will be held on October 18-20, 2013, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The 2013 Washington International Horse Show anticipates another great year of competition showcasing top equestrian talent at Verizon Center. The WIHS launched its free live streaming video feed online in 2011, so horse lovers around the world could join in the excitement and watch the competition and special events online from any location and had a record number of viewers from around the world in 2012. The WIHS free live stream will be offered again this year. The complete show will be streamed on www.wihs.org beginning Tuesday, October 22. � �

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destination: harrisburg

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General Admission prices for the first six days: Adult - $12; Students and Seniors - $7 General Admission on event nights (Oct16,17 & 18) Adults - $15 Students and Seniors - $10 General Admission for Saturday, October 19th: Adult - $20; Students and Seniors - $10; Children under 6 years old – Free in general admission seats for the entire show. Reserved seats are available only on Grand Prix Saturday, October 20th Prices: $50, $40 & $25. Parking is Free. Information: Web Site: www.PAnational.org Email: eventinfo@PAnational.org

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SHOW HIGH POINTS Saturday, October 12, 2013 Competition begins at 7:30 AM with Pony Hunters. NEW IN 2013 Leadline will follow the Pony Divisions and the National Junior Jumper Individual Championship will take place in the early afternoon followed by the equitation schooling classes. Outside the Arena, “Discover Day” begins at 10 AM with Seminars presented by Practical Horseman Magazine. 10-11 AM – “Ask the Hunter Judge, 11 AM-Noon “Horses 24/7” Pre-registration is suggested. From Noon till 2PM professional artists and photographers will be on hand for Q&A sessions and from 1-4PM Youth and Family Activities including face painting, behind the scenes tours, a Hall of Breeds and Dress Up Zone will keep young enthusiasts entertained. Wednesday through Saturday, October 16 – 19th Welcomes the Canadian Cowgirls. With flags flying and music playing, this precision drill team will entertain with stunning routines demonstrating their precision and panache and done on therapy horses. Wednesday, October 16th, Military Night To honor those who serve, the show invites First Responders and active and retired Military to enjoy this day with their families. Admission is free with a First Responder or Military ID or be in uniform. Everyone will enjoy the Gambler’s Choice which is scheduled for 7:30 PM and followed by the Canadian Cowgirls Salute to the Military. The Gambler’s Choice is the only class where the riders choose the order of jumps instead of following a fixed pattern. Each jump carries a point value based on its degree of difficulty – the highest score wins.

Thursday, October 17, 2013 Competition begins at 8 AM with hunters followed by jumpers later in the afternoon. The evening begins at 7:30 PM with the PA Big Jump, presented by Wilmington Trust an M&T Company. The PA Big Jump is an FEI World Cup class that has international riders on their best horses vying for the title and $40,000 in prize money. To round out the evening, The Canadian Cowgirls will once again delight the audience with their entertaining performance that requires skill, talent and training. Friday, October 18, 2013 Competition begins at 8 AM with Amateur Owner Hunters followed by Amateur Owner Jumpers. These are non professional riders on their own horses. The evening begins at 7:30 PM with a NEW CLASS: The $33,000 Keystone Classic, an Open Jumper Class followed by another performance by The Canadian Cowgirls and NEW IN 2013, a celebrity challenge 5 drum barrel race. Family Fun events outside the arena include: tours, and a visit with Oreo the pony and JUST ANNOUNCED a chance to meet “Joey” – star of the “Landmark Theater Event” WAR HORSE. Saturday, October 19, 2013 Competition begins at 8 AM with Amateur Owner Hunters followed by North American League Jumpers and the only afternoon performance by The Canadian Cowgirls. The $85,000 GRAND PRIX de PENN NATIONAL begins at 7:30 PM but you’ll want to be there early for the course description and opening ceremonies, and stay after for the final performance of the Canadian Cowgirls as they wave goodbye to Harrisburg. Grand Prix Show Jumping is a unique combination of beauty, grace, athleticism, skill and courage. Some describe it as the excitement of horse racing with the daring of downhill slalom. The jumps are huge: more than 5’6” high and 6’ wide. The course is set to demand extraordinary talent and teamwork between the horse and rider. The test is simple: take all the jumps in the correct order, don’t drop a rail or fall off and do it in the fastest time. It’s a thrill for the whole family.

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Planning & Building an Indoor Arena By Georgia Hickey, Equine Facilities Design, King Construction Company, LLC

An indoor arena is an essential element for the success of a commercial horse operation, but it is also a welcome and useful facility for the smaller, private horse farm.

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www.bluechipstructures.com www.rigidply.com

Why use Blue Chip Structures?

You can sleep at night knowing your building is

designed to industry-leading standards. From the largest truss to the smallest connection, we engage in complete ‘load path design’, insuring the transfer of the applied wind or snow loads from component to component until they are dissipated into the ground. There is simply more lumber and bracing than ������������������������������������������������ performance, longer building life, and greater structural integrity.

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Pioneer Pole Buildings Can

Build Your Dream Barn

For over 15 years, Pioneer Pole Buildings has been building quality structures in Pennsylvania and the surrounding area. Their horse barns, riding arenas and storage buildings are unparalleled. They will work with you to customize the interior and exterior to fit your needs and budget. Pioneer has a range of stock building sizes at affordable prices, and can fill almost any custom storage request. These structures are built to last, designed to be pleasing to the eye and fit within your budget, with financing available on all projects. This reputation of quality has made Pioneer the premier post-frame builder throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. An example of Pioneer’s high standards can be found in their exclusive use of the 29-gauge steel Frontier Panel, manufactured for the company by Everlast Roofing, Inc., it’s the thickest roofing panel in the industry. The hard-wearing steel panel comes with a 50-year, non-pro-rated warranty and has been tested and proven to provide unmatched strength and durability. Pioneer is proud to provide their satisfied customers with the product’s advanced Galvalume coating, superior primer and paint system and a unique heat forming process that creates this unparalleled steel panel. The Frontier Panel has historically been the clear winner in head-to-head, critical performance testing with competing products. Whatever your plans are, Pioneer provides enough options and choices to build the structure of your dreams. Pioneer has a full range of equine options to suit your stable. Seventeen steel panel color choices, board and batten siding, stone facing, and a large selection of vinyl siding colors will make matching your new building to your existing structures a breeze. And, with a variety of sliding, overhead and entry doors to choose from, windows to add, copulas and weather vanes to choose from, customization options are limitless. CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE! Call Pioneer Pole Buildings and talk to them about your needs, and a design will be created just for you. Or, choose from one of Pioneer’s low-priced stock buildings. Whatever you choose, their friendly staff will be glad to help you get the best-looking, most functional building possible, at a great price. “Quality is the most important part of our business,” said Bob Greene, president of Pioneer Pole Buildings, Inc. “We work to constantly improve so we can offer top-quality post-frame buildings at competitive prices, while also providing top-notch customer services. Our employees are dedicated to the simple philosophy that quality matters, and we strive to be the leader in our industry every single day.” Pioneer Pole Buildings is located at 716 South Route 183, Schuylkill Haven. You can also contact them at 1-888-448-2505, visit them online at www.ppb1.com or find them on Facebook. www.EliteEquestrian.us

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g n i t o s o e Not trian F s

e u q E On

If you’re considering a new ring or arena, or a renovation, here are some ideas which derive from many of our clients’ experiences . . . (both good and awful). We’ll address Riding, Therapy, or Dressage surfaces in this discussion. Western cuttinghorse trainer rings, Jump courses, or other high-impact activity need completely different footing mixes. (We can address those issues in a later edition or you can contact us individually with your questions.) ♦ The idea is to afford your horse the cushioning effect of the rubber, but allow him/her an underlying resistance to train properly and maintain conditioning. Another great benefit of the rubber is its embedded fiber. This retains just enough ambient moisture to supress dust, pollen, fungus spores, and insect detritus which can find their way into your horse’s lungs -- a primary cause of eqine allergies.

♦ An excellent choice for your base layer would be blue stone dust (screen #10). It compacts well and sets up hard. Next, add angular sand which mixes well. Avoid river or beach sand -- rounded particles -- they do not. Good sand choices include C-33 quartz or concrete aggregate. ♦ After adding the sand, rake into an inch or so of your stone dust to provide a mix. Finally, add not more than 1½” or 2” of Rubber Footing. Rake and mix this into your sand layer. ♦ A word about non-vulcanized rubber; derivative of athletic shoe scrap cut-offs, rubber roofing scraps, and other non-tire industrials. Too many of our clients have regretted this choice and come to us for remediation. The primary problems are profile and slipperiness. The shape of this footing often comprises thin chips -- which in turn creates a slippery

surface. The chips can easily migrate, can ice up ... and definitely do confound horses. ♦ Vulcanized scrap rubber, by contrast, derives from highway tire and industrial belting scrap. This footing comes in nugget form which mixes easily with angular sand and contains essential embedded fiber. ©2013 Jesse Clear (Rubber Mulch Is US LLC http://www.rubbermulchisus.com/Equestrian_gallery3.html � �

Rocky Ridge Construction Agricultural & Residential Restorations & Renovations 25+ Years Construction Experience

846792-120412

Pole Barns - Horse Barns - Arenas - Timber Frame - Post & Beam

610-383-5047 • 120 Lapp Farm Drive, Coatesville, PA • Fax: 610-383-5578

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Integrity. Honesty.

Craftsmanship.

���������������������������������������������������������

Come Visit Us At Our New Location 3246 Lincoln Highway East (Unit 2), Paradise, PA 17562

1-800-881-9781 www.EliteEquestrian.us

stoltzfusbuilders.com 35


GGT- Footing™ the equine division of Polysols Corporation, is introducing a new blend of material geared towards the Do-It-Yourself Arena Owner.

In the past

our high quality textiles have competed successfully in a market filled with cheaper products. One of the challenges we have experienced is clients who have existing sand that is not up to par for our mainstream GGT Footing Products. This new blend has thirty percent of fibers created by elastic fiber, polyester fiber in a black color. The DIY blend is a multi -colored geo textile that easily blends with most levels of sand products. The elastic allows for more energy and bounce, while also binding and blending to the sand. The same high level geo textile is used and this blend also has the ability to deflect the glare from the sun due to its color scheme. The retail cost is .93 cents per pound which makes it the least expensive GGT Footing textile with 30 Percent fiber on the market. GGT- Footing used a local farm outside of Aiken, SC as the test arena. Christina Jason from Southland Stables in Salley, SC was the first to blend the DIY mix. By using the DIY and a GGT Footing groomer, a rototiller and a good vibrating roller, they were able to blend the GGT Footing product into their existing sand by themselves with beautiful success. Their drainage prior to the installation was very good and afterwards the stability of the sand was greatly improved in many areas that had before felt too deep. Christina and her fiancé run a large scale hunter, jumper and polo sales barn. The option of an arena with great footing helps when Christina is working the sales horses, especially over jumps as there is less concussion than when jumping on the grass area that is used when flatting and schooling the polo ponies. The elastic fiber can also be purchased separately as a component to existing arenas or new installations. We also offer a dust control product called Dust absorber. Not all textiles are created the same.

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GGT- Footing™ Company prides itself on its level of quality control and safety to horse and humans. For more information on GGT Footing T Contact: Cynthia Brewster-Keating at sales.east@polysols.com or call 864-804-0011

www.EliteEquestrian.us

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Does Your Equestrian Facility Have The Right Insurance and Asset Protection?

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Photo courtesy of King Construction, see their ad page 3.

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Continued...

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See Our Ad On Page 87! Mortality • Major Medical Surgical • Air Transit Farmowners Equine Liability Care, Custody or Control www.BlueBridle.com (800) 526-1711 • (908) 735-6362

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fashion

Tamara C omolli introduces the

Cowboy Princess Collection

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Knowing Horses by Heart A Collection of Poems Written with Appreciation for the Horses in My World Discover the joys and challenges of owning horses as you turn each fascinating page of Knowing Horses by Heart. A groundbreaking literary masterpiece, this work shares a myriad of eye-opening revelations about author Barbara Hutson’s passion for equines. Learn the value of patience and respect in this exhilarating collection which brings the richness of her experiences to life. Compelling, this book gives readers an up-close and personal glimpse into the emotional spectrum experienced with a life centered around the love of horses. The realities of daily living with these amazing creatures are showcased using pure and simple artistry in this collection of heartfelt poems. 96 Pages, Trade Paperback: $11.95, Hardback: $21.95 iUniverse, Inc.Toll-free: 1-800-AUTHORS (288-4677) International: 001-812-330-2909

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rending Now: Polka Dots and Lace!

Noble Equine® launches their new apparel line with fun fall fashion colors and prints.

Polka dots and lace. What might sound like the title of a country song is one of the hottest fashion trends around the country this season! Look on any of the runways in Europe and you will see bright colors and fun prints are all the rage. However, the runways are a long way from your barn aisle at home. For most equestrians, riding apparel has to be extremely functional above all else and that used to mean anything from uninteresting designs to a complete fashion faux pas. So where can high fashion meet high function? Noble Equine! This September, Noble Equine launches their new line of riding apparel. Hot trends pop in the new apparel collection. Drawing inspiration from the current styles and designs in the fashion world, Noble Equine® Director of Design, Kelly Wehner, is finding new and exciting ways to incorporate them into a new line of clothing that is nothing like the equestrian world has ever experienced. “I want to pick up on a few trends like polka dots and lace but in a subtle way to keep it classic,” says Wehner. Colors and patterns can be found throughout the new line from the pops of bright color on the zippers to the subtle print liners, Noble Equine brings fall fashion to the equestrian world in a very wearable way.

The Noble Equine® Essential™ Jacket highlights the new Peacock color while the Josie Quarter Zip Mock in Heather Grey pops with a flash of Persimmon on the zipper. 

Each and every piece of the Noble Equine apparel collection is designed to perform in and out of the saddle. With features like the cutback design of the Pinnacle™ Jacket’s hood for increased peripheral vision to the UPF 50+ sun protection fabric of the Josie Quarter Zip Mock, the entire collection is performance driven in design to give equine enthusiasts a more comfortable ride. All of the seams are flat so that there is less chaffing and distraction while in the saddle. The cut and style of each article of clothing is designed to reduce bulk and increase range of motion for a highly functioning piece of apparel.

Noble Equine believes in exceeding the needs of their customers and the apparel line does just that. They want to offer riders more than just a garment that fits and functions amazingly well. Noble Equine’s apparel collection is ready to hit the streets when the horse work is finished. “There is no reason that functional riding apparel can’t be fashionable,” comments Wehner. She made sure the collection is trendy enough to wear away from the barn as well. The Josie Quarter Zip Mock is the perfect example of this concept. Its design adds adventure and fun with technological advances to riding attire! Offering freedom of movement and lasting comfort, this top features mid-weight performance jersey fabric for a superior feel, thumbholes at the cuff keep sleeves in place, and a dropped back hem for extra coverage. This season, Noble Equine has a color pallet for all tastes and styles. The collection includes classic Black for rider basics and then branches out into Heather Grey, Persimmon, and Peacock Blue. “Peacock was added to the line for pop but the Persimmon is where the real attitude is!“ explains Wehner. The fun, bright color is not just appealing to the younger crowd either. It has developed quite a following with the mature riders as well during product development meetings. It’s a fantastic way to show off a fun sense of style around the barn that will still look good in class or around town!

More...


EVERY PENNY COUNTS!

These cute ‘Penny Patchwork Shorts’ from tweed fashion designers Timothy Foxx combine cute with comfort for this summer’s hottest look. Styled in British tweed, they include a soft cotton polka dot lining for comfort and feature a patchwork pattern of tweeds ensuring they match any one of your Timothy Foxx tweed jackets beautifully! Featuring a signature Timothy Foxx antique finish button, contrast corduroy detailing a slightly longer length and higher waistband that than the brand’s Livibum Hotpants, these shorts are easy to wear (Team with tees, polo shirts or tweed blazers) and worth every penny in the fashion stakes! RRP: £95.00 Sizes: 6 - 12

www.timothyfoxx.co.uk

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Even the highly functional and extremely popular, Noble Equine® Over-The-Calf Peddies™ have captured the fashion bug with the addition of new prints and colors including Polka Dots and Lace. “It’s a sophisticated look,” says Wehner. Nothing beats the combination of great prints and functional style of these incredible socks. The Peddies will also be available in Zebra and Snowflake for fall. No matter if your style includes bright colors, animal prints, classics, or trendy and chic, the Peddies have a color you are going to love!

About Noble Equine® Headquartered in Modesto, California, Noble Equine® creates products that exceed the needs of our customers with quality and function, while delivering exceptional value. Each Noble Equine item is carefully designed in close collaboration with equestrian enthusiasts and professionals. Learn more about Noble Equine’s full line of apparel, socks, gloves, bags and knives at www.nobleequine.com.

The new Noble Equine Fall apparel collection does not just appeal to different generations, it also crosses disciplines. The clothing easily pairs with jeans and cowboy boots or tall boots and breeches. It is classy and elegant enough for English riders while bringing performance fabrics and design to the Western world. The entire collection crosses the rift between English and Western styles effortlessly in a way no other brand has been able to do.

Noble Equine is committed to partnering with and giving back to the equestrian community. In support of these efforts, Noble Equine commits 5% of profits to equestrian focused youth programs that foster equine interest and participation while strengthening values and providing meaningful learning experiences. To find out more or recommend a youth program in your area, visit www.nobleequine.com/kids

Functional or fashionable, English or Western, Noble Equine® has the solution for this year’s fashion trends in the Equestrian World. To view the whole collection visit www. nobleequine.com or your local tack shop, you will not be disappointed!

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His & Hers:

Looking Good, Doing Good ������������������ �������������������������

New York City style and design guru, horse rescuer and Swedish reality TV star Guy Clark takes life by the reins. And by the lead rope. On weekends, he trades midtown Manhattan and a pellmell schedule juggling Guy Clark Interiors, Mr. Guy Bow Ties and guest appearances on NBC’s Today (among others), for Rose Cottage, an 1847 stone house and Hudson Valley farm (formerly owned by the late makeup artist, Kevyn Aucoin) he shares with fashion designer Harrison Morgan and horses saved from slaughter by Equine Rescue Resource, Inc.. The ‘House Whisperer’ as the intererior designer has been called, says simply: He gets happy when he sees horses get better. And since it never hurts to sport a dapper look on the road to improvement, let’s get HIS smart take on looking good while doing good. HERS: “How does a midtown Manhattan boy get bitten by the horse bug?” HIS: “I never got it big but my sisters had it. Horses were part of our summers and vacations.”

flopping about. Do you find folks intimidated about trying to tie one? Do you have a goto how-to?” HIS: “I have a how-to video. In Swedish.” HERS: “Because...?”

HERS: “It’s a big step from seasonal riding to retiring rescue horses, isn’t it?” HIS: “Four years ago there was an article in the Orange County Record about a woman rescuing 170 horses, but where would they go? I called and said we had 60 acres, water and fences. Bring some here. Now we buy horses directly from the slaughterhouse. People have even dropped them off in the middle of the night.” HERS: “So they go from Rose Cottage to new forever homes?”

HIS: “Two years ago, I was one of 10 Americans invited to be part of Sweden’s first reality TV show, All For Sweden. It was traceyour-heritage meets face-cultural-challenges. Thank goodness I already liked fish and potatoes! Since finishing ‘first’ is seen in Sweden as being too aggressive and a bad thing, when I came in second it made me a big star! My face was 20-feet tall on billboards and I was stopped on the street all the time, like a tiny Kardashian only better, everyone liked me.” HERS: “And liked your bow ties...”

HIS: “Mostly. One gelding was adopted out twice but keeps coming back so I think he’s permanent! Nobody is ridden. They’re all retired, but I did teach one to play ball with me.” HERS: “Speaking of teaching, bow ties seem a supremely tidy option for showing a horse in-hand or at inspection, compared to a tie

HIS: “Yes! So I did a how-to video. It’s on YouTube. But there are many good how-to videos, all you have to do is Google ‘bow tie.’ It’s no harder than tying a shoelace. Satin, which I prefer, is hardest but today’s look isn’t about perfection. It’s okay to be a little askew. It should look tied by hand, not clipped on.”

������������������������������������ ��������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ����������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ����������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ��������������������������� ������������������������������������� ������������������� ������������������ www.EliteEquestrian.us

HERS: “What do you suggest to give the look true equestrian style?” HIS: “That’s easy. If your show or racing barn has its own colors, have bow ties to match. It’s a simple, easy way to make a great first impression.” HERS: “I agree, especially if your tie is equally well ‘groomed.’ Satin bow ties of 100% silk I would definitely hand wash, and do the same for nylon or polyester, using warm water and a mild detergent. The trick to preserving satin, since it’s so delicate, is to not wring it dry. Put it in a dryer on the lowest, smallest setting, or iron it dry using the appropriate setting. And don’t try to rub out a stain, you’ll only damage the fabric. Wash it by hand or take it to a professional cleaner. Besides, if the stain comes from a grateful rescue horse’s big wet kiss, isn’t it worth it?” HIS: “Every time.”

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I have been serving as America’s Appraiser for many years now. Many people attend my appraisal events with family heirlooms or flea market finds. My appraisal style is unlike anything you’ve seen in the antiques world or on TV. My audiences partake in my rapid fire, funny, educational, and totally unscripted events. Here are some of the stories that I recall from my latest round of presenting Dr. Lori’s Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show Tour. Some objects are worth big bucks and other objects have big stories to tell. I present about 150 events every year and I am in my 15th year of touring. Yes, I have loads of frequent flyer miles and friends.

�������������������������������������������������� Seattle, WA: Kelly worked as a waiter. On night, he served a big table of diners and did not receive a tip. Instead, the diners left a small bag on the table with a Native American turquoise and silver squash blossom necklace in it. After a month of waiting for the owners to return to the restaurant to pick up the necklace, the owner told Kelly that the necklace was his tip. It was worth $5,000. State College, PA: A gentleman in his 90s

• • • • 46

whose family had links to the Plimoth MA colony brought a teapot that came over on the Mayflower. With significant information and the documentation to prove it, the silver teapot was worth $150,000. Portland, OR: While cleaning out her aunt’s house, Cathy discovered a Walt Disney animation cel from Dumbo, dating to the 1940s. I told her to be sure to keep it somewhere out of direct sunlight as these early animation cels can fade. Appraised value:

$9,000.

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Mt. Carmel, PA: A woman showed me a 1920s platinum, diamond, and sapphire ring that was an anniversary gift from her husband. Her Art Deco ring was worth $25,000. She said that her husband got it from “A guy at the pool hall.” I did not ask any more questions! Would you? Akron, OH: A woman named Ginger purchased a very old sock monkey at an estate

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sale. She wasn’t happy with my evaluation. I told her, “If you can smell it, you can’t sell it.” Value: Smelly! Bloomsburg, PA: I will never forget the man who yelled at me when I told him that his glass Ball jar was not rare. It was marked 1858 on the side (they all are!). The owner believed it was the first one ever made—it wasn’t! Value: $8. Lynchburg, VA: At a corporate appraisal dinner event, a man brought me one of the oldest objects that I have appraised. It wasn’t the oldest, but it was old—really old. The object was a portrait bust from ancient Rome. It was purchased by the man’s mother in the 1950s. Today’s value: $25,000. Note: The oldest object that I appraised at an event was a mascara jar from ancient Egypt that dated back to the time of Cleopatra, circa 50-30 BC. Hazelton, PA: A couple in their 80s brought an American Impressionist landscape painting to my event. While waiting for the event to begin holding their painting, they were approached by two young men who offered to buy the painting on the spot. They offered the couple $8,000 for the painting and urged them not to have me appraise it. The elderly couple rejected the offer stating that the painting had been in the wife’s family for decades and they wanted me to appraise it. I told them it was worth $100,000.

Lewes, DE: A former NASA engineer brought the boot mold that was used to make Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise’s moon boot to my appraisal event. Now that’s what I call a rare object. Unfortunately, he only had the left boot mold. The right one had already sold online. Left moon boot value $10,000. Kansas City, MO: A woman named Joan purchased an ugly drawing of an eagle with a Picasso signature on it that she and the estate sale organizer thought was a print. Joan bought the print at the estate sale for $2.50. It wasn’t a print but actually an original, signed Picasso drawing worth $50,000. Virginia Beach, VA: A few strong members of a military family struggled to bring their object to my appraisal event. It took three big guys to lift it. Why? Because the object they asked me to appraise was a giant piece of reinforced concrete covered in graffiti. It was a piece of the Berlin Wall… Priceless! I have been appraising people’s stuff at a rate of approximately 20,000 objects a year for years. And, once a guy from Wisconsin recognized me for TV and came running towards me in the streets of St. Petersburg, Russia holding up his cell phone with a photo of a vase on it for me to appraise. Everybody’s got something. ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ �

CarouselWorkshop.com ���������� ���������������� � �������������� �������������� ��������������� �������� ����������� ���������� ���������������� ������������������

Creating, Restoring, Buying, Selling Horses since 1987 352-669-6449 Deland, Florida (Just East of Ocala)

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equine art featured artist

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��������������������������������������������������������� An avid fox hunter, Caroline Small rides Jigsaw, her cheeky gelding, just over 14 hands high. Sometimes Jigsaw is a bit too spunky. Earlier this summer, in a tussle with that much loved pony, who was trying to munch through a hedge, her foot got caught in a bramble. Unfortunately, for Caroline, in the ensuing scramble, her entire left leg fell off. ‘It really isn’t as bad as it sounds,’ says Caroline, who is 30, and runs a PR business from her Gloucestershire cottage. ‘My left leg is a prosthetic and it is always coming off at awkward moments. All I could do was sling it over the front of the saddle and head home. Unluckily, a van drove round the corner at that point; the driver took one look at me riding along with a false leg thrown across the saddle and crashed into the hedge too! I felt awful for him, but you have to see the funny side.’ Caroline has been seeing the funny side of a situation that would have taxed the best of us for 20 years. A childhood battle with bone cancer left her with a false knee and shin bone, placed inside her skin. After a series of infections and terrible pain, which went on for more than a decade, Caroline opted for complete amputation in 2007; a further operation this year has left her with just half a thighbone.

OCALA HORSE RANCHES REALTY 352-857-6820

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Yet throughout, Caroline has retained an optimism that stuns friends and family, organising major fundraising events for the charity Help for Heroes, talking to soldiers returning from Afghanistan as amputees, talking to the public on how it feels to miss a limb. Her work is vital as the number of servicemen and women returning home missing at least one limb is reported to have increased five-fold. Official figures from the Defence Analytical Services and Advice centre (Dasa), part of the Ministry of Defence, show that in 2009 55 personnel suffered the “traumatic or surgical amputation” of one or more limb; in the first half of 2010, that figure was already 38. Yet few of us can ever know how these amputees feel or the challenges they face. Caroline, however, does – even though she insists that the young soldiers who lose a leg are much worse off than her. ‘They go from being really super-fit to this in a milli-second, it is so much harder for them’. She now feels that her life has come full circle: ‘Maybe everything happens for a reason. I can now help raise funds for the soldiers – I’ve already found that if I whip my prosthesis off, it makes the chequebooks come out faster.’

Got Ribbons?

Next year, she hopes to be playing polo again; ‘some of the soldiers are being offered equine therapy now as it’s brilliant for helping build up trust again. I’d certainly recommend riding; if you can walk with a prosthesis, which requires strong abdominal muscles, you can balance on a horse. And it’s a nice feeling to be able to go where you want again, to be free.’

Make A Ribbon Quilt! Be Sure To Visit Our New Web Site!

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Horse Sculpture Takes Sandy Graves on a Wild Ride into Art Fame by Mical Hutson

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hat started out as an accident in art school now has international art collectors clamoring for Sandy Graves’ contemporary bronze sculptures. Her sought-after contemporary pieces almost float in negative space styled by Graves’ masterful touch. Fanciful animals, most notably horses, hold their visual appeal from every angle, making an entirely unique and exciting statement in the world of bronze. But for more than a decade, Sandy left her college accident in the background to focus on realism resulting in life-sized bronze children roughhousing on a see-saw on her county’s courthouse lawn, a contemplative beautiful young woman reading outside her town’s independent bookstore and other memorials and statues completely beautiful in their solid way. Then one fateful day while fulfilling her duties as a co-owner in her local gallery co-op, an international art collector pointed at the “art school mistake”

she had created decades earlier, a stylized contemporary horse, and said, “I want that.” It wasn’t for sale, and at the time, it was the only one in existence. One accident, one art collector and a lifetime of art and horse experience has taken Sandy Graves on a wild international ride into the annals of art history. “I was told to make something hollow out of wax so we could learn the casting process,” Sandy recalls when asked about the art college experience that led to her discovery. “First I made a head. It was a solid wax head and my professor said you can’t cast this, it will weigh 20 pounds. You need to make something hollow. So then I was on a deadline and I had to make something hollow, so I went back to my experience with horses. I had grown up with horses and had drawn them over and over again as a little kid and I just created a thing with a lot of negative spaces.” Sandy pulls out a scrapbook to show her childhood drawings of horses. At age eight, she already knew how to draw a realistic animal, with hocks, knees, shoulders, and the nooks and crannies of their face: all of it proportional and in the right places. Sandy admits she was obsessed with horses and art growing up. It was not so much that Sandy had abandoned her college art mistake style out of neglect, but rather she had been forced to leave it due to the casting process. In bronze casting, there are seven steps from start to finish which usually ends with two halves welded together. Sandy’s contemporary pieces have a lot of interior pieces which don’t translate to regular mold making, making an edition series next to impossible. At the encouragement of the renowned art collector, Sandy pursued her contempo-

rary style professionally, in spite of the odds, creating 15 one-of-a-kind pieces her first year. She quickly realized she couldn’t make a living doing that. Sculpture needs to be replicable for the artist to make a living. As discovery often does, rather than stopping Sandy, it pushed her into creative thinking and innovative action. She found a mold maker with 50 years in the business and together they forged a new mold making process. Through trial and error, they learned how to make casts in multiples. Even so, since Sandy’s pieces are not “halves” but many interior pieces, the procedure still requires that Sandy be present at the foundry for every single piece, from the welding to the final patina. The art world has clearly decided the outcome is well worth Sandy’s extra attention to detail. Her pieces not only rest in homes as far as Dubai, they are displayed in fine galleries where she is one of the very few contemporary artists rubbing shoulders with Picasso and Rembrandt. What else is abundantly clear is that Sandy Graves knows horses. She captures the spirit and imagination of the animal and our relationship with them in a way few sculptors even come close to. We lose sight of the hardness of the bronze to swim in the warm brown eyes we fell in love with, our first horse. Without color, Sandy imparts their warmth, spirit and wisdom. In technical terms, she creates instinctual feelings by refining parts of her piece and softening the focus on other parts by leaving it rougher. In that way, they are very horse-like. Just when we think we know a horse, it can explode or soften and teach us something new. Each of Sandy’s pieces are interesting and pleasing from every angle. But the nontechnical term is

�������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� ���������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������

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As seen on PBSVersions now available for sale for private or public viewing.


magic. She captures the magic of the horse. The horse’s personality, its relationship with us and each other. It is not surprising that Sandy grew up on a hobby farm in Nebraska, essentially raised by retired ranch horses, one of whom gave birth just a few feet from her living room window while she watched. It sounds esoteric, but there is new evidence in the field of biology suggesting that we are sharing DNA with the species around us just by proximity. This could be a clue as to how a sensitive girl raised on the bare backs of these animals can so beautifully capture their spirit. Could it be that not only is the memory of herself standing under a horse and reaching upward to bathe the underside of its belly coloring her artistic renderings, but so is the genetic code of the animal itself? To stand under a horse and have to reach up towards its belly means you

Sandy Graves’ focus continues to expand. Horses are still a prominent theme, but her explorations have led her to other animals that reside in her adulthood home, the Rocky Mountains. And like her horses, these sculptures also make sense on a level that is impossible to explain. But I suppose this is what makes her pieces spectacular. They speak volumes in ways words cannot. The moose are big, calm, capable of so much, yet so still. The deer bounding over things imply the grace and lightness only deer can bring to the experience of bounding. It seems there is nothing Graves can’t communicate about an animal through her choice in composition, implied form and shadow.

Happy accidents litter the records of important discovery throughout history. Thankfully when given the assignment to create a sculpture in art school, Sandy Graves didn’t understand the bronze casting process while fully understanding the animal we so love, the horse. In doing so, Sandy Graves changed the long lineage of sculpture, making her an influential player in the world of art, and most probably art history.

“Storm Cloud” This 23” high bronze sculpture is a favorite of Sandy’s clients

must be very small. In comparison, Sandy’s sculptures tend to have very long legs, and in her early pieces, little girls are sometimes reaching upwards to communicate, offer carrots, and do what big horses and little girls do to be together in the way that only little girls and big horses can. No matter the science, the artistic finesse, the depth of magic, or the memories, the sculptures themselves speak volumes about the animal and our own relationship with them.

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Snowman and Harry de Leyer jump into the International Museum of the Horse An oil portrait entitled “Snowman and Harry” is now part of the permanent collection of the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park. The painting by Joan Porter Jannaman of Lakehill Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee, was presented to the Museum on July 27, 2013 during a ceremony preceding the start of the Rood and Riddle $50,000 Grand Prix. In the rarefied world of 1950s show jumping, Snowman and Harry de Leyer were the longest of long shots and their wins became the stuff of legend. The former plow horse bought by de Leyer for $80 off a truck bound for the slaughterhouse would rise to the top of the show jumping world, winning the 1958 horse show Triple Crown — the American Horse Shows Association Horse of the Year, Professional Horseman’s Association Champion and Champion of Madison Square Garden’s Diamond Jubilee. In 2011, their story became the subject of Elizabeth Letts’ #1 New York Times bestseller, The Eighty-Dollar Champion. “It’s been an honor to have even a small part of celebrating the story of Snowman and Harry,” says Jannaman, who made certain to ask de Leyer for his input once the portrait was well underway. “It brought tears to my eyes,” de Leyer told Jannaman. “You got the slope of his shoulder that made him such a good jumper. And his eyes, they are perfect -- the soft eyes that I first noticed about him. It is exactly Snowman.” Jannaman’s artwork has been published in numerous magazines and publications including The Chronicle of the Horse, Sidelines, Horses in Art, Polo Players Edition, and Steeplechase Times.

Most recently her paintings have been chosen to show in the American Academy of Equine Art’s Fall Open Juried Show and the Best and the Brightest Show in Scottsdale, Arizona. Limited edition giclee prints of “Snowman and Harry” are available for purchase at www.lakehillstudio.com with 100% of the proceeds being donated to support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and The Kentucky Equine Humane Center. For more information, contact Joan Jannaman: 615-822-3124 jpj@lakehillstudio.com www.lakehillstudio.com � �

Horse Radio Network

Listen On The Elite Equestrian Web Site!

The Voice Of The Horse World

The Horse Radio Network is the largest online radio network devoted to horse lovers worldwide. HRN is the home to the most entertaining equine radio shows (podcasts) on the Internet. If it is horse news, interviews and a whole lot of fun you are after, you are in the right place. Many fun shows are currently on the network with many more to come, like HORSES IN THE MORNING, The Eventing Radio Show, The Stable Scoop Radio Show, The Dressage Radio Show, Horse Tip Daily, the Western Radio Show, the Driving Radio Show and Equestrian Legends. Hear them all at www.horseradionetwork.com.

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Maria Taylor, Realtor

Equestrian Property Specialist Providing quality real estate services to buyers and sellers “Let me put my real estate and equestrian experience to work for you!”

6319 Lower York Road New Hope, Pa 18938

215-862-3385 x 7674 Cell: 215-317-3062

Trainers, need room to expand your business? Doylestown, PA - A fabulous opportunity to lease this 25 acre equestrian facility featuring a 24-stall barn with indoor arena, tack room, feed room, viewing lounge and 2 wash stalls. 2nd barn with 6 stalls; and bank barn with 5 stalls and 2 floors of storage. Lighted outdoor arena, acres of fenced pastures...and new fencing coming soon. A 2 bedroom house is included with lease. A must see! Call Maria for more info including affordable lease options!

Ottsville, Bucks County, PA- You can have it all! 3 acres & 3 BR, 2 bath ranch home w/ beautiful oak floors. Huge kitchen, stone fireplace w/wood insert that could heat the entire house and finishged walkout basement with wet bar, laundry/workshop. coverted concrete porch w/ hot tub overlooks a lovely fenced-n backyard w/ in-groulnd pool, 2nd covered porch. Attched 2-car garage AND separate, over-sized garage w/ 2nd story storage and rear addition set up as barn w/ water & electdic, 2 stalls w/ dutch doors lewding out to wide open pastures. Newer furnace, central air, roof, windows and more! $375,000

Plumstead Twp PA ▲ Over 41 acres (two lots) set back more than 1200 ft from the road. 3 Bedroom Farmhouse style home with first floor master (separate entrance), Carriage house with 2 bedrooms, LR, DR; 3rd building used as professional office w/attached garage. Barn w/6 stalls, water, electric. Second storage barn could be fitout for more stalls. Rolling pastures, tree lined fields complete this quintessential location. $1,175,000

Springfield Twp, PA ▲Dreams can come true! 68+ acres of prime rolling hills are available to build your custom dream home/training facility using our builder or yours. Protected land on and surrounding this beautiful site that is ideal for a Gentleman’s estate, farming, livestock, horse or animal breeding, equestrian facility and many other possibilities. It doesn’t get any better than this. Easy access to I-78, Northeast Extension, PA Turnpike, Route 309. Beautiful, tranquil surroundings to live in and proximity to everything else. Call for more info.

Lease To Purchase Option! Springfield Twp, PA - Room enough for horses! Nature surrounds this gracious home situated on 4 level acres. Just add a barn/fencing...and you are ready to go! 6 years young, this home has 4 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths and full, unfinished basement w/high ceilings just waiting to be finished. Close to Rtes 78 & 309 for easy commuting. $475,000

Revere PA - REDUCED to $500,000! Adjacent to the Bucks County Horse Park...just tack up and go! No need for a riding ring or cross country jumps...join the Horse Park to enjoy the many amenities. Authenic stone farmouse on 4.36 acres includes 2-story bank barn and pond.

Perkasie, PA --3 Bedroom Ranch w/2 bedroom in-law/guest apartment w/separate entrance on 10+ acres. Inground heated pool w/spa. Newer 5 stall barn w/wash stall, tack and feed room. 2nd barn with 2 stalls, tack room and dutch doors to 2 pastures. Pole barn for hay and equipment, 4 additional pastures w/no –climb fencing, fenced arena and grass jumping field. Country setting with perennials, vegetable garden, hay field and vineyard! New roof installed. Too many details to mention! $675,000 / $3,500

Plum Broke Farm is the quintessential equestrian property in beautiful Hunterdon County, NJ. 97 acres of gently rolling land w/pond & stream, 30 have 7 fenced pastures, 5 run-in sheds, 7-stall barn w/European-style courtyard, riding arena, cross-county course w/100+ jumps. Historic stone house, circa 1709, has distinctive antique features w/modern amenities. 3 BR, 2 BA, 4 fireplaces, random width wood floors, deep sill windows. 1850 Victorian house w/3 BR, 2 BA, porches, Chestnut detailing & amazing gardens. Separate carriage house 1 BR apt. Zoned for Horse Shows & additional residence. Near hunts, Princeton, NYC, Philadelphia. $3,750,000

Visit my website for more property info, photos and Virtual Tours! www.HomesByMariaTaylor.com Need local equestrian resources? Maria can help with that too! Anything equestrian related... local barns, tack stores, trainers, vets, farriers, etc! www.EliteEquestrian.us

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Introdcuing...

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Europe

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elcome to our newest addition to Elite Equestrian magazine! In our effort to provide our valued readers with inspiring, relevant and unique content, we will be featuring people, places, shows, and products from Europe. Equestrians from across the pond are just as eager to be up on the American equine industry, and to reach American audiences. So we thought adding features from Europe for our readers to enjoy would make a sensible fit. Please enjoy Elite Equestrian Europe, and be sure to send us your comments at info@EliteEquestrian.us. Cheers! Noelle Vander Brink, Editor

Franco Tucci Tell us about the fall fashion trends and how your new collection represents them. I want our collection to represent an equestrian flavor and the zest of fashion in a highly technical product. We have creating a collection with the highest technical standards to meet the demands of our riders. It can be difficult to strike that perfect balance of technical detail and style, but we start out by using several different types of leather in many different configurations to give riders the perfect fit. To appeal to the fashion-conscious rider, we add special patent leather and crystal details.

How do you get your inspiration for your designs. Do you seek out suggestions and feedback from top riders? My inspiration also comes from people who don’t ride horses; for example, people who love the style of our boots and want a pair but just want to wear them for walking.

Tell us about how you have developed as a designer and what or whom has been your greatest influence in your career and in your designs.

Your website explains that one of your boots is designed with pros who ride six to seven horses a day in mind. How does that affect the boot design? Do you also design with certain disciplines in mind? Our boots are highly technical and created with a number of advanced materials. They must be comfortable and flexible for riders yet snug enough to deliver good contact between horse and rider. Our boots are made from very durable leather in the most technical configurations to meet all these demands. We design for the jumper as well as for the dressage rider. We work to meet the unique technical demands of both these disciplines.

My origins are my greatest influence; my inspiration comes from my family. Together with my dad we designed fashion footwear for women. My passion for fashion design grew from this, and I began developing footwear for the fashion-conscious rider by listening to their requests and incorporating them into my designs.

Tucci Boots are available in the U.S. at Malvern Saddlery, Ltd. #1E King Street, Malvern, PA 610-695-9980 www.malvernsaddlery.com

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ITALYis one of the most romantically beautiful countries in the world, and there is no doubt, that after one visit you will be well and truly in love. Add horses to your itinerary mix, and your holiday will be a spectacular adventure.

Nestled in the Tuscan Hills, some 40-minute drive from Pisa is Castellare di Tonda, a luxury resort specialising in horseback riding vacations - western style. Run by the husband and wife team of Stefano and Alessandro Scotti, it is particular popular with Italians, but also attracts tourists from across mainland Europe and beyond. In the stables there’s everything from Argentinean Appaloosas, to Paint Horses, to Fjords – the variety is endless. Fjords, I was told, handle the ‘sometimes rocky’ terrain far better than the quarter-horses which have been associated with the stables for years through Stefano’s love of reining. Stefano is a former champion, but now only rides at his leisure, and instead lets his top horses enjoy their retirement on the 800-acre estate which boasts accommodation for up to 300 people. Guests can either avail of a full-furnished apartment, or a luxury farmhouse, depending on the size of the group. All accommodation blocks have a swimming pool, and most are within walking distance from the beautiful spa, which boasts a sauna, and jacuzzi, amongst other facilities. You can also take in a good massage to unwind. Radji, the resident masseur at Castellara di Tonda, will have you sorted in no time! As well as the fully-functioning vineyard on the estate, there’s golfing and tennis near58

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by, with the opportunity to partake in cookery schools, as well as truffle and mushroom hunting, just a handful of the countless other activities on offer in the area. The estate also has its own church, and therefore makes a perfect location for an all-inclusive wedding package. In my opinion, there’s nowhere more romantic than Italy to tie the knot, and Castellare di Tonda has it all! From one who has experienced it first-hand, mushroom hunting on horseback is not to be missed - and the chance to sample the many varieties which can be found in the woodlands over dinner is even better. Guests can also take in day visits to many of the surrounding sights, including Siena – home to the famous ‘Il Palio’ horse race which dates back to the 13th century. If stopping off in the gorgeous medieval town of San Gimignano, don’t miss the chance to dine at the award-winning Cum Quibus. Rated No 1 of 79 restaurants in the area, it will not disappoint. www.EliteEquestrian.us

At Castellare di Tonda guests of all levels have the option of doing short rides for one or two hours, or full-day rides, which can be fantastic if you also take in a stop-over at one of the local sights such as the famous San Vivaldo Monastery. No matter what time of day, the scenery is breath-taking as the landscape constantly changes with the light. In the summer temperatures can soar into the 40s, so autumn is a good time to visit, though the amazing colours associated with Tuscany make their appearance in the spring. Only between October and December, however, can you experience truffles, and this is a luxury item not to be missed on your visit to Tuscany. Truffle hunters are a special breed of men, and even more valuable are their trufflehunting dogs. These highly-trained dogs can be worth anything up to €30,000, but when you are searching for truffles worth several months’ wages, they are worth their weight in gold.


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Truffles themselves are highly-valued and are very much in demand from the top restaurants in Italy and beyond. On departing Castellare di Tonda, and before you leave this gorgeous country, be sure to visit Venice and Florence – two of the most beautiful cities in Italy. From Castellare di Tonda, Florence can be easily reached by car, or train, while Venice is a further two-hour train journey from Florence. It’s going to be a fast one though - Le Frecce reaches speeds up to 155 miles an hour – so be sure to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

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WHERE: Castellare di Tonda, Tuscany, Italy CONTACT: www.castellareditonda.com/uk/home-uk WHAT: Fantastic horseback vacations in Tuscany WHEN: Spring or autumn is best. The summer months are extremely warm for riding and may be uncomfortable for some people WHY: Gorgeous scenery, excellent facilities and activities, and well-schooled horses to suit riders of all levels HOW TO GET THERE: The estate is located 40 minutes by car from Pisa or Florence Airports COST: Packages start at $300. This includes two nights’ accommodation, breakfast, dinner, access to spa, a onehour western riding lesson and two hours of horseback riding across the estate � �

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equine art

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The A rt Of Paula Collewijn

Horses are my greatest inspiration because of their beauty, strength, dynamic and sensitivity. I paint with passion the movement and emotion of these noble creatures. My work is “free expression” done in a realistic / expressive style by individual assignment. The “free expression” takes definition on the canvas whereby the horse becomes “alive”. This “alive” on the canvas is realized through a feeling brought about from a created image. For me, the horse takes the main focus and the “inspiration” coming from the horse makes the canvas complete; a mix of the horse’s soul and my emotions. My name is Paula Collewijn, Equine Artist, born in 1978, year of The Horse. My specialism is painting and drawing of horses; horse portraits and free expression. Mostly without armour, the influence of the human being. I do also draw and paint dog portraits, cat portraits and wildlife. 62

The main emphasis of my collection of Free Expression Artwork is to bring the Best of every horse on canvas, the soul and body together, with a strong expression.

A “Symphony” of movement, feeling and beauty- art is an expression of the heart and an image of the soul; horse power and horse emotions can be felt on the canvas.

The horse to me is flowing manes, a mythical gracious body and mesmerizing eyes. I use a baroque - style by which the horse appears to come forward in a mural.

By assignment, I create in a 17th Century painting technique. The technique gives an authentic characteristic to the work, a portrait with history. The final result is derived by building various layer upon layer of paint which in the end becomes a “live” realistic portrait on canvas, painted so realistically that each muscle appears to be touchable. The eyes are the mirror of the soul and here I apply intense expression.

This type of work fits in a modern as well as classical interior. I am inspired by the work of the old masters, they do fascinate me; Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Theodore Géricault. The title which I give to describe my work is ~The Art of Horses~, Souls of Art; in other words- the horse is art for me, with a profound soul. It is so that I give each work its own title and poem which is inspired by the character of the horse and my emotions during the design of the painting. www.EliteEquestrian.us

For an assignment I use various techniques such as graphite, acrylic and oil paint. It is also possible to make an assignment in my free expression style.


For assignments I will gladly come to take pictures of your horse and observe the horse closely. Sending a serial of photo’s in various positions is also possible. My work is shown at various horse related exhibitions such as Jumping Amsterdam, Horse Event, Iberian Horse Days as well as Championships and Campeonatos in various galleries and countries.

BEAUTY THAT’S MORE THAN SKIN DEEP!

“A Manuscript of The Horse”, otherwise a by the hand made script, explained by imagination. The Power and Emotions of The Horse, touchable and forever on canvas. I also make sculptures, commissions and free expression.

With winter fast approaching, looking after your horse’s skin becomes imperative to avoiding seasonal issues. Alongside a change of coat, reduced grooming time and long periods of time spent with rugs on, skin welfare can often be compromised. Now, alongside daily grooming and good hygiene practices, Aloeride is a supplement, which can help maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat from the inside out. Aloeride is a totally palatable natural, certified organic aloe-vera supplement, which not only helps to promote healthy skin, condition hooves, encourage great coat shine and glossy locks, but also supports the immune system as well –another key factor to consider over the winter months. Each box of Aloeride contains 30 sachets (30 days worth) equaling over 12 litres of aloe vera juice and its great to know that its also been tested by an accredited Newmarket laboratory and does not contain any synthetic compounds. So for beauty which is more than just skin-deep -choose Aloeride!

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RRP: £55.20 (1 x months supply)

www.aloeride.co.uk 01858 464550 � �

A SUPPORTING ROLE! When it comes to looking after the competition horse’s legs this season, The Kentucky Horsewear Collection goes beyond just offering state of the art leg protection.

Horse rug protection at its best!

Protect your investment! The Original Rug Bag has been rigorously tested and will protect your rugs from dust, dirt, bird droppings, creepy crawlies etc. It’s 100% British design, made from strong, waterproof/breathable fabric which will protect 4 rugs or more, it quickly and innovatively doubles as a Travel Rug Bag and can be easily rolled or folded making transporting rugs easy and compact. Available in Red or Blue in sizes Small, Medium, Large.

www.theoriginalrugbagcompany.co.uk

Prices from £80

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The Kentucky Horsewear Recuptex/Texishield Stable Wraps are therapeutic stable wraps which not only help to protect your horse’s legs in the stable, but also actively support and encourage positive limb vigour post exercise, also a safe and easy solution to bandaging. RRP: £130.00 Per Pair Colour: Black Size: One Size Only

Buy on-line: www.kentucky-horseshop.com 63


equine health

THE INCREDIBLE EQUINE HOOF �������������������������������

As we turn the horse loose in the pasture or saddle up and go riding, we hear the ever present clip clop sound of the horse’s movement and for the most part, take it for granted. It is not until the clip clop becomes a clip thump that we even take notice that something might be wrong. Throughout history, myths and curses have defined the hoof and yet as modern science progresses, some of the answers are found but only to lead down the path to more questions. Figure 1

Anatomy: A Look Inside Out Understanding the anatomy of the hoof can make everyone’s life easier. When to call for help, when to trim, and when to do preventative maintenance are just a few of the non physical tasks surrounding taking care of the hoof. Putting the anatomy into a 3D mindset is a good start to understanding the hoof. Starting from the inner hoof are the bones, which actually shape the hoof (Figure 1). The bones articulate or fit together resulting in a joint. The actual shape of the joint depends on how the bones fit together and the resultant movement allowed. Ligaments hold it all together (ligaments hold bones to bones) and basically control the range of motion. To this mix, add muscles and tendons, which are defined as the pulley system of the hoof, and the horse now has the ability to move as well as to stabilize the joints. Each joint has a joint capsule surrounding it, which contains fluid that lubricates the joint. The joints of the lower limb/hoof include the pastern joint, the coffin joint and the navicular joint. Any disruption in the alignment or an injury to any of these structures can be detrimental to the hoof. As in any living tissue, the nervous and circulatory systems are present. The nervous system controls the movement (via the muscles) and provides feedback to the brain for such things as pain and as to where the foot is landing thus allowing for proper placement. The circulatory system delivers the nutrients and disposes of the waste to allow the tissues to function. There are some unique structures in the hoof (Figure 2 Collateral Cartilages green and Digital Cushion red).Collateral cartiages attach to the sides of the coffin (the bone closest to the ground) and act as an extension of it. The thinner upper edges of the cartilage can be felt above the coronary band while the thicker edge is toward the bottom of the foot. Their purpose is to allow the foot to expand slightly when weight bearing. If abused by repeated concussions, these cartilages become hardened and are known as sidebones. On the top of the frog (toward the inside of the hoof) is the Digital Cushion that helps absorb the shock of 64

weight landing on the foot. Horses with sound feet have both thick collateral cartilages as well as the digital cushion. The lower the heel and flatter the sole, the thinner the cushion and cartilage. Going outward in the 3D hoof is the laminae. These are interlocking leaf like structures that surround the coffin bone and attach it to the hoof wall. There are 500-600 primary laminae and 150-200 secondary laminae all working toward attaching the hoof to the bone. The attachment is so strong when healthy, that it achieves the coffin bone suspension even with 2000 pounds of force landing on the forefoot when running. These laminae can be weakened with repeated injury or disease resulting in inflammation, pain and coffin bone movement.

Anatomy: A Look On The Outside The coronary band (where the hoof meets the hair) should be straight when viewed from the side or with a very slight arch upward. Since it is a living tissue, unequal weight bearing can influence its shape. Sheared heels will often affect the symmetry, as will coffin bone or navicular bone problems. Additionally, the hairline should lie flat on the hoof wall. Hair in an outward direction could indicate excessive ground forces on the hoof wall. The hoof wall (Figure 3) should be smooth and symmetric with a natural sheen. It is a skin like shell that wraps the internal structures. The wall should not have rings, ridges, cracks, flares, bruises or any other irregularities. Presence of these irregularities can indicate excessive overload on the hoof wall, systemic disease conditions, diet Figure 2 changes, acute or chronic trauma, or exercise intensity. The hoof wall contains 2 layers with the outer layer pigmented and harder. The inner layer is called the white line which containing no pigment. (Figure 4) The frog is a changing structure, which transforms according to the terrain and hoof use. The width should be 50-60% of its length and the point should be significant enough to have contact with the ground. Additionally, healthy frogs have a shallow central indent

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that should be wide enough for an index finger to fit in. If contracted, it can create a nidus for anaerobic bacteria to hide in thus inducing thrush. The frog functions as a shock absorber as well as a traction aid. It acts similar to a hinge allowing the hoof wall to flex and expand. Beside the frog are structures called collateral sulci, which are grooves adjacent to the frog itself. They run parallel to and a fixed distance from the coffin bone in the hoof front and the collateral cartilages in the rear part. Any variation of the collateral groove depth can lead to problems and should be evaluated by the veterinarian. The bars that lie on the outer sides of the grooves are a continuation of the hoof wall originating from the heel area and running approximately halfway down the frog. The sole should appear hard and waxy in appearance after trimming while a shod or overgrown hoof will have a more flakey and chalky look. The surface should be concave, calloused and about as long as it is wide. This protects the coffin bone from trauma.

Next Steps Take pictures of your horse’s feet from front, back, side and under. This is the baseline from which you will determine any changes. Every six months take another set for the archives trying to keep consistent photo angles and distances. When lameness occurs and the problem seems to originate with the hoof, those pictures may convey the problem by revealing subtle changes that have occurred.

Figure 4 Figure 3 Routine farrier care is important to hoof health. Performing your own routine care of the feet, using farrier and veterinary expertise, and having good hoof genetic basics can result in you and your horse enjoying many sound years together. ������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � �

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Stress is Needed in Athletic Training By Betty Lindquist

HorseCoursesOnlne.com Instructor For Equine Massage

Athletic training develops a body’s muscles and the coordination that enables it to perform and excel in a chosen sport. And athletic training is about adaptation – the body adapting to the new demands that are placed on it by “work”. It is stress placed on a body that builds muscles and strength.Physical stress is necessary. The key to making stress good for the horse, is in determining the right amount of stress--- it has to be appropriate for the horse’s age, ability and condition; and it has to be increased gradually. Too much stress, too soon, can, at the least, cause soreness; at its worst it can cause lameness or breakdown in the muscle structure. The other side: without stress the body will not fully develop its athletic ability. How does the process (stressing the body) work? When muscles are asked to work in new and unaccustomed ways, or simply to work harder or longer, micro-tears occur in the muscle fibers. As these micro-tears heal they strengthen the muscles by forming scar tissue. Muscles do not gain mass by adding more muscle fibers, but by the muscle fibers that are there increasing their mass. It is the scar tissue that creates bulk in muscles and strengthens them.

Say, “stress” when talking about horses and most immediately think of mental anguish and abuse. Most horse owners view “stress” as harmful. But there are two sides to the coin. There is another kind of stress, and this stress is crucial in training athletes, whether human or equine.

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These micro-tears need 48 hours to repair themselves. If given that time, the process of muscle building progresses normally. But without time to heal, more tears occur before healing has taken place and there is a multiplying build-up of unhealed micro-tears that causes inflammation and leads to pain and even lameness. (Bucked shins in young race horses is a good example.) There is no adaptation without stress, but the stress has to be appropriate. Effective stress will be regular enough and strong enough to stimulate the adaptation of the muscles and internal body systems, but will be gradual enough to allow healing between sessions.

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How do you know when to increase your demands on a horse in training – to up the stress level? Your first indication will be when what you have been asking your horse to do (the miles you trot, the dressage movement you’re trying to perfect or the height of the jump you’ve been jumping) becomes easy. This means that the horse’s body has made its adaptations to the training, and no further adaptation will occur without increasing the stress.

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In human sports massage the rule of thumb when increasing the work is to step up the demands on the body in 10% increments. Your 10 mile training ride will become 11 miles. You can increase the number of times you practice that dressage movement by 10%, you can raise that jump by a few inches. Correct stress and adaptation rides a fine line between doing the right amount, but without sliding over the line into over-training - which is always a possibility. So how can you recognize when training has become over-training? What signs will tell you that is happening? Deteriorating performance is a major sign of over-training; unfortunately, many trainers see this as a sign to push and demand more when in fact they should be easing off.

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Other signs will be muscle soreness, lethargy, attitude changes, weight loss and even colic. Good training involves managing the stress on the body for maximum results without damaging the systems. The good trainer knows how to increase the demands on a horse’s body gradually so that athletic ability is developed without soreness, discomfort and mental stress. This approach to training takes time, but it will pay great dividends: a horse that is comfortable in its body, has a good attitude and stays sound long into its older years. My own horse is 31 years old and he is still healthy, sound and ridden at least twice a week.

Betty Lindquist, a licensed sports massage therapist for humans (license #9165), teaches Equine Massage as a personal enrichment course and for credit in earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies or Professional Certification as a horse trainer, riding instructor or stable manager. For course description, outline and enrollment see: http://www.horsecoursesonline.com/index/index_massage_description.html

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ryopreservation...

Freezing Semen By Karen Berk

Equine Cryopreservation is the process of collecting, processing, freezing and storing a stallion’s genetic material. It is perhaps the most misunderstood and therefore backed away from technology in advanced equine reproduction. Research is continuing at numerous universities and private enterprises to advance our current knowledge, and smooth out what has become recurring problems.

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At this time, conception rates with frozen semen remain at about 50%. Even with this, there are many critical factors for success. There must be proper collection techniques, with a close to sterile environment. The stallion should have a progressive motility, upwards of 50% (bare minimum). Middle to high concentration is also preferred. Many aged stallions, beyond 13 years, while developing varying degrees of testicular degeneration, produce larger volumes of fluid with less sperm cells. It is from this group we receive the most requests for freezing. Owners of young, virile stallions are not as concerned at the moment for saving their

stallions genetic material, thus insuring their future. Often when we are called, it is too late. Many aged stallions can continue to be successful with live cover, and even ship well with the aid of a centrifuge, but lose potential to freeze enough straws per collection, to make it economically feasible. It is therefore imperative to decide on banking semen while the stallion is in his prime, if circumstances permit. Many stallions are not suitable at any age. Young stallions may exhibit poor seminal quality due to other factors such as: medications, physical condition, nutrition, over breeding, testicular size, overwork, and heredity, to name a few.

The freezing process begins similarly to a normal collection. We are using some form of sperm counter to assess concentration, and preferably a phase contrast microscope with a heating stage, centrifuge, incubator, liquid nitrogen tank, and waterbath. We start by washing the stallion thoroughly, making certain he is dry. If using anything other than warm water for cleaning, it is imperative to rinse thoroughly, making certain there is no residue. I recommend doing this type of washing, the day before collection, and washing with warm water only, prior to collection. A mild detergent such as Ivory

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works quite well for removing smegma, as well as the sheath cleaning product, Excaliber. Remember, be gentle. Do not force or pick off scales. Excaliber can be left on for an hour, and when you return to finish the job, the scales are easily washed away, leaving the penis non-irritated. And always, rinse, rinse, rinse, and gently towel dry. After collecting, the ejaculate is evaluated as to concentration and motility, and extended in a centrifuge medium. Centrifugation time varies, by the individual animal’s ejaculate. A good base to start at is 10 minutes at 400 G force. The centrifuge spins at extreme speed, separating the liquid from the cells. The liquid is then aspirated off leaving a sperm pellet on the bottom. It is important to leave a small amount of seminal fluid, as this appears to be necessary to the cells survival. The new concentration is then re calibrated by means of a hemocytometer, and re extended in a freezing medium. This freezing extender is a base extender with the addition of glycerol, egg yolk, and a food detergent, Equex. Straws are then filled depending on their size. If macro straws, 5 ml., are used, they normally will accommodate 600 to 800 million progressively motile cells per straw, or 1 dose. Half ml. straws are also common, but take 3 or as many as 10 straws, to support a dose. Straws are then placed on a freezing rack set just above a level of liquid nitrogen. This allows the straws to initially freeze in the

vapors, producing less shock. After 20 minutes they are placed directly into the liquid nitrogen which completes the freezing process. ½ ml straws may take less time in the vapor. The straws can now be transferred into a liquid nitrogen tank for storage. Properly cared for these will last forever. Regular checks and maintenance of the tanks are a priority. In evaluating frozen semen, we can only test for post thaw motility. Unfortunately, this does not mean fertility. Even very high

Decide on banking semen while the stallion is in his prime. motility is no guarantee for conception. One of the problems being researched is that freezing tends to destroy 1) the cells abilities to adhere to the egg, and, 2) the enzymes needed to penetrate it, for capacitation and conception to occur. At this time there is no test to confirm or deny wether any damage has occurred, but research is currently being conducted to produce a test. Breeding a reproductively sound mare, with a sampling of your straws is recommended. A positive pregnancy test is your only warrantee. If purchasing straws, always ask if they have had a successful test, and for numbers and references.

The sale and purchase of equine frozen semen, is also a new avenue for most breeders. Frozen semen can be banked by the purchaser for any length of time, including years. Live foal guarantees become difficult to promise, if not impossible. The added expense of freezing and banking, is usually compensated in the breeding fee, by being paid for up front, in full. The straws are then released to the purchaser. Most stallions offering frozen semen also limit the amount of straws, or cycles, of the breeding. If the mare has not settled, additional straws can be obtained at a pre arranged cost. There are also stallions, including some deceased, that charge another full stud fee, should the mare not conceive on the allotted straws. There are pros and cons on both sides. Considerable time and cost are engaged by the stallion owner, yet the mare owner can pick and choose the right moment for insemination. The cost of shipping, and the dry shippers themselves, specific nitrogen containers for shipping, are costlier then shipping fresh chilled semen. But, you don’t have to worry about timing your mare’s ovulation. The straws are available whenever you choose, and your mare is ready. Always get thaw instructions, specific for the straws you have purchased, and a contact number for the company who froze the semen. Only a few degrees, or 2 to 3 seconds, too long or too short, will damage or destroy

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the cells. Competent companies, with positive pregnancy results, are happy to give references. Always discuss the purchase of frozen semen straws with your veterinarian. He or she may not be experienced with working with frozen. It also is necessary to have a liquid nitrogen tank available to either yourself or your vet to store the straws. A waterbath, and straw forceps are also necessary to handle and thaw. Insemination with frozen has it’s own specific needs. The mare must be carefully observed during her estrus. Monitored by ultrasound throughout, and at least twice daily after reaching a 35 ml. follicle. Ultrasound needs to be utilized every 6 to 8 hours, nearing ovulation, in order to decide the closest point, prior or post ovulation.. Most straws need to be administered within 6 hours of ovulation. The ultrasound gives us a clear picture of the follicle beginning to lose shape, just prior to ovulating. With most mares, ovulation occurs between 4 AM and 10 AM. This can be an added burden on your veterinarian’s time. Semen previously frozen, does not have the life span of fresh chilled, within the mare. Thus the need for insemination within minutes of thaw, and perfect timing of the ovulation. A new protocol was presented this year at the International Reproduction Symposium at Solvang, California. It has been researched and found effective, and simplifies the insemination timing. The mare is observed at the start of estrus, and when ultrasounded at a 35 follicle, larger for certain breeds, HcG is administered. The mare is then inseminated at 24 and 40 hours post HcG. One can then determine once a day, utilizing ultrasound, the progression of her ovulation. This will definitely cut cost to the mare owner. It is actually the European, Iberian, and South American markets, that have pursued the American breeders to become more adept in the use and marketing of Equine Cryogenics. In Europe, the use and shipment of straws, are as commonplace as fresh

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chilled is to us. For 20 plus years it has been an accepted and successful practice. Recently they lobbied the American Quarter Horse Association, so successfully, that at the AQHA convention, they passed the usage of frozen semen, beginning in 2001. Because of international customs regulations, fresh chilled was often unable to be delivered within 48 hours, diminishing sperm quality severely, if not entirely. To maintain a global genetic bank, readily available and accessible, their reasoning won out. This is also an excellent way to secure healthy semen, for both exportation and importation, while also expanding your client base, or, as a mare owner, expanding your genetic pool. Each country has their own requirement for the importation of horse semen. A quarantine is generally needed, along with a health certificate. The stallion while quarantined, may use that time to be frozen. This ranges from 30 to 60 days. A quarantine may be arranged at your own barn, a specific reproductive facility or University, through your vet and the USDA. Semen frozen within the USA and shipped within the country does not require a quar-

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antine. Heredity is a severe problem we have created in the industry. In cattle, regardless of quality, show career or breeding, a reproductively inferior animal is eliminated. As horse breeders we continue to breed both stallions and mares with poor reproductive histories. Using the advancements of veterinary science, we make up for what nature has tried to cull. The result is a growing number of reproductively defective, yet outstanding, show horses. Perhaps we need a wake up call to breeders, owners, and horsemen, to recognize our responsibility to perpetuate our breeds. Our standard must be as high for producing reproductive efficiency as it is for creating an otherwise athletically and physically, superior specimen. Finally, the future of our industry to grow and be financially healthy, on a global basis, is the utilization of the many advanced reproductive techniques, such as freezing, embryo and oocyte transfer, gender selection and frozen embryos. We as responsible horsemen, must continue to educate ourselves, ask questions, and select our breeding horses responsibly. � �


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Slow Feeder Buddy Incorporated is pleased to introduce their new and improved Slow Feeder. Now larger, stronger, preshrunk and reinforced at all the seams and Bindings, the Slow Bale Buddy eliminates waste and mimics grazing so your hay lasts longer and your horses are happier. Made from tough knotless nylon netting with 1 1/2 inch holes, closed with their patented safety fastener and covered by a one year warranty, it will pay for itself many times over in saved hay. www.bigbalebuddy.com 866-389-9952

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EponaShoe introduces the “Sizing Gauge” which makes it easy for you to determine the proper size EponaShoe for your horse. There are two clear plastic gauges - one for the Narrow (N) sizes, and one for the Wide (W) sizes. Just hold the gauge up to the underside of the hoof and see which contour line best fits your hoof. The gauge is available for only $5 (plus shipping) from our web-site. Visit www.EponaShoe.com for more information.

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training & showing

H

orses have been part of Virginia Intermont’s story for more than a century. Founded in 1884, the College offered equitation classes that were at one time required of all students, and horses were stabled in a red barn just a stone’s throw from student dorms. In 1974, Virginia Intermont (VI) became one of the first colleges to offer a four-year program and bachelor’s degree in horsemanship.

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Virginia Intermont College: A Tradition of Equestrian Excellence ‘Horsemanship’ at Intermont evolved into Equine Studies with increased emphasis in Equine Science and Stable Management. Both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies are offered. Longtime faculty member Dr. Patty GrahamThiers, who has been instrumental in developing the curriculum, was recently named Director of the Equine Studies Program. She established the equine studies minor and an undergraduate research program in which students participate in ongoing projects. Thiers’ research is published and presented internationally. “My goal is to stay active in equine health and research, and I want to offer students the hands-on experience and enlighten them to various career options in the equine world, including but not limited to Veterinary Medicine, Horse Training and Stable Management,” says Thiers. As a small liberal arts college, VI continues to provide unique learning opportunities in traditional academic majors and innovative programs such as Cultural Heritage Studies and Equine-Assisted Therapy – one of few programs in the nation endorsed by the Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association.

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VI equestrians have achieved record success in intercollegiate competition, with an excellent team of coaches in hunt-seat and dressage. Led by Head Coach and Equestrian Center Director Lisa Moosmueller-Terry, VI dressage teams have won three national IDA titles, a reserve champion and multiple top-five finishes at Nationals. Hunter-seat equitation teams have claimed three national titles in IHSA, as well as nine Tournament of Champions Series titles. VI also holds a national and reserve championship at American National Riding Commission (ANRC) shows. In addition to coaching, VI students are quick to recognize the benefits of practice on high caliber schooling horses, including favorites “Le Beau” and “Cattani,” former competitors in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Competitive riding is available to all students regardless of their major, and riding classes are now taught as a P.E. elective. With a restructuring of the equestrian program this year, the riding teams are administered by VI’s Department of Athletics, allowing student-athletes more opportunities for scholarships, athletic training and organized community outreach that is a hallmark


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of VI Athletics. New events planned include a hunter derby, additional in-house shows, and Classics classes at the Campus Cup sponsored by the East Tennessee Hunter/ Jumper Association. “These events and our annual VI Classic at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, which our students manage, offer invaluable hands-on experience,” says Moosmueller-Terry. “Our equine programs bring countless opportunities for inquiry, self-discovery, and relating real world situations.”

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OLYMPIC RIDERS AMAZED AT REVOLUTIONARY AWARD WINNING BIT

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a multi award-winning inventor, (winning 10 prestigious international awards and the best invention five years running) has developed another winner. His latest invention the WTP (Winning Tongue Plate) bit is the only bit in the world to win a prestigious Australian and international design award. There are two unique patented revolutionary designs which consist of the normal plate and extended plate. Both designs have many impressive endorsements and proven benefits, including reducing bit pressure by about 85% with no pinching. Furthermore, the extended plate is the only bit in the world proven to stop displacement of the soft palate and other breathing issues. These benefits can make the difference between winning and losing an event. Extensive research and development, has produced the new and improved 2013 designs, which has proven outstanding results in the equestrian and racing industry. Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith says it’s “The Bit of the Future.” Olympic rider Megan Jones states “It is amazing.” Kevin Babington “The transformation was unbelievable it has worked miracles with the horses.” The WTP bits transform horses that have poor bit contact and were leaning on the rein, pulling the reins through your hands, not using their shoulders or hindquarters, fighting the bit, head chucking, rearing, bucking, pulling and more. It is well documented that jointed snaffle bits cause roof rubbing and bit pinching, causing pain signals to spread to any other branch of the same facial nerve and resulting in pain in areas of the face that have no direct contact with the bit. This results in head shaking, pulling, rearing, bucking, mouth opening and overall poor performance. Exposed jointed snaffle bits create up to 650 pounds of pressure, pinching the tongue down to centimeters, causing horses to evade the pain by withdrawing the tongue or placing it over the bit. Tongue ties can also be painful, causing horses to fight them and bulge their tongue back to escape the pain, resulting in displacement of the soft palate. The patented WTP encased joint design prevents the arms folding down, preventing pain to the roof, tongue and bars. The 6.5 square cm low profile center plate creates a softer surface area, reducing the bit pressure by about 85%. The WTP center flat plate is up to 14mm lower than other bit joints, allowing more room between the tongue and the roof of the mouth, preventing roof rubbing and mouthing issues. Additionally, the WTP bit arms have limited travel to reduce outer ring pressure to the cheeks and lips when working a horse in a straight line. The only time cheek pressure is required is when turning your horse. This revolutionary plate design prevents the horse from 82

WINNING TONGUE PLATE BIT pushing the plate upwards or sideways, keeping the tongue in the correct forward position and stopping displacement. The best test to demonstrate how it stops displacement is by laying two fingers flat on your tongue. The result, you can’t bulge your tongue back. This is the same result for the horse. Here’s what is being said by leading industry experts. Show jumping riders and Olympians Janelle Waters, “Absolutely amazing. I have replaced all my bits.” Keli Rowe, “Your bit has stopped her bucking and rearing.” Rachel Jones, “He went from rearing and out of control to an angel winning 5 ribbons on the day.” Tara Brough, “He stopped fighting the bit and is now soft and round. Totally amazing.” Iconic trainer Henry Moreno, “After 63 years, I have changed to these bits; they are the best bits I’ve ever put on a horse. Revolutionary; no more tongue ties and the horses and riders love them.” Champion trainers Paul Jones, “This bit is impressive.” Doug O’Neil, “It is a huge breakthrough for USA racing.” Jeff Mullins, “Amazing results! “ Juan Aleman, “Big difference with the horses, stops displacing, and they don’t need tongue ties.” Cody Joiner, “The horses are a lot more comfortable” Champion jockey Eddie Garcia, “Horses can now perform with confidence, and to their full ability because they are not displacing or fighting the bit and tongue tie. It’s revolutionary!” Leading colt breaker Julien Welsh, who breaks in 500 horses a year for Darley and other leading trainers, purchased 25 WTP bits. Julien stated that the normal plate design as the, “Best bit on the market and like having power steering, kind and soft on horses and transforming difficult horses.

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Static and Dynamic Saddle Fit by Jochen Schleese Certified Master Saddler, Saddle Ergonomist

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tatic fit means is fitting a saddle to a horse when he’s standing still, and dynamic refers to fitting a saddle to a horse when he’s moving. It sounds simple, but there are several things that you want to ensure are taken into consideration during fit to both phases, because many times a saddle which has been fit to the horse standing in the cross ties will result in problems once the horse begins to move.

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he saddle needs to fit properly not only over the withers (and all around the withers) in width and tree angle, but also needs to have enough gullet channel width (3-4 four fingers all the way from pommel to cantle!) and lie within the saddle support area of the horse’s back (which ends at the top of the last floating rib). This needs to be confirmed for both phases – static and dynamic.

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here are different opinions in how a gullet plate needs to be fit, but just like buying a properly fitting shoe for yourself - it comes down to comfort and whether or not it works. You don’t want it (or the shoes) to be too tight, pinch, or too big – or you will not be able to walk properly. Same with the gullet plate. Verified long term damage to the horse’s back has been proven to result from incorrectly fitted gullet plates (the

plate that fits under and across the head or pommel of the saddle and ends at the tree points). Fibreoptic cameras, MRIs, thermography, laser sensors, 3-D animation, andcomputerized saddle pads have made it very clear that the A-Frame withers of the static horse becomes an U-Frame in motion. In diagram A this is illustrated with the broken green line representing the wither shape in motion. Symptomatic white hairs will show up at the top of the side of the

Diagram A withers, where the gullet plate generally pinches if doesn’t fit. It is necessary to match both angle and width of the gullet plate and tree points to the horse’s conformation at the withers and shoulder muscles. Only in this way will the shoulders have enough freedom to ‘slide through’ the tree points during motion – otherwise they will hit the tree points which can cause damage to the

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sensitive cartilage at the tip of the shoulder blade. As well, the saddle will slide back over the end of the saddle support area if the shoulder continually hits the tree points and pushes the saddle back.

T

he gullet plate shape and size has to be set to accommodate the moving horse. Many saddle fitters can fit an English saddle to a horse which is standing still in the crossties. There are traditional points of reference for static fit; wither clearance, panel touching evenly all the way down, etc. Where it becomes interesting, and where it becomes difficult beyond the ability of many saddle fitters, not to mention the capability of the saddle construction itself, is fitting the saddle so that it works when the horse begins to move.

A

tight V-shaped gullet plate results in pinched muscles, tight neck, and tight back. (See Diagram B). A gullet plate that too closely follows the shape of the static wither can also cause this problem. (Diagram C).

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f you take your hand and pinch the horse on either side of the withers, in most horses the back will tighten and drop, and the head will come up. This is not what we want to occur when riding – and is another


Diagram B reason why we want the U-shaped gullet plate fit to the moving horse, and not the static V shape. This is where the stallion bites the mare during mating to immobilize her – same effect with a pinching gullet plate, which some veterinarians refer to as the ‘vise grip’ of the saddle. The intuitive reaction of the horse is to stand still, drop the back, and (in the case of the mare) rotate her pelvis in preparation for mating. The rider on the other hand is on her back urging her forward. So what to do? Often times this is translated as being “reluctance” or stubbornness on the horse’s part and is punished with spurs and whips – while it really is only a natural reaction to a pinching gullet plate! (As often noted – horses cannot consciously act out poor behaviour – they can only react to external stimuli!)

A

crucial point in fitting the gullet plate and tree points properly is to consider the horse’s natural unevenness. Over 70% of horses are muscled more strongly on the left

Diagram C

side, which means that this asymmetry should ideally be reflected in the shape of the gullet plate. If the tree does not fit over the wither/shoulder area taking this into consideration, then during motion the saddle will naturally get pushed to the right. The left rear panel will then press onto the sacroiliac joint, possibly causing problems here – but at the very least, the saddle will be out of balance, which means the rider will try to correct this by altering their position to accommodate this ‘twisting’. This situation becomes even more serious if the saddle is already too long for the saddle support area (which ends just before the lumbar vertebrae at the top of the last rib in the rib cage and is easy to detect by following the line where the two hair directions converge at the flank all the way to the spine). Logically, it then becomes even more of an issue when the horse tries to do circles in all of the gaits – in either direction!

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I

t is important to note that how a naked tree sits on the horse’s withers when standing is not necessarily indicative of how it actually fits when the panel and stuffing are added. Often times inexperienced saddle fitters will attempt to make a point about saddle fit by showing the rider how the saddle tree fits – but without the panel, the tree would crush the withers and the tree points would dig into the horse’s back. With the panel on, the stuffing clears the horse’s withers and lifts the tree higher. It will actually protect the withers and the tree points rest in an area where the side of the withers becomes narrow – behind the shoulder. (but tree points are themselves the topic of a whole ‘nother article!)

S

uffice it to say that saddle fit needs to work at all times – not just in that moment when you have put the saddle on his back in the crossties. You want to be able to ensure that fit is maintained once you actually � � begin to ride!

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Many saddles at first glance look like they’re fitting really well, but when I turn them over, the gullet width is too narrow - maybe 1-2 fingers. A saddle with a channel or gullet that is too narrow (or too wide!) can cause permanent damage. The width of each horse’s spine will determine how wide his saddle’s gullet must be, and the width of the gullet should be the same throughout the entire length of the saddle. Some saddles may have gullets that are the appropriate width at the front, but then get progressively narrower towards the back. The horse’s spine and surrounding ligaments do not get narrower over the length of his saddle-support area, and neither should the gullet of the saddle.

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A saddle that is too wide in the gullet will have inadequate weight-bearing surface, may start to strip muscle away from the top of the ribs, and the back of the tree may actually rest on the spine. A saddle with too narrow a gullet will sit on the horse’s spine and/or ligaments. This is especially noticeable when the horse goes around a corner: if the horse is tracking to the left, you will see the saddle shift to the right, so that the left-side panel rests on the horse’s spine/ ligaments. This will cause him to tighten his back muscles and hollow his back, producing exactly the opposite of the nice rounded back that we want to see.

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Jumping Into a New Approach Two horses, a barn, a couple of clients. Those were the humble beginnings of Palms Stables a little more than a year ago. Owners Kelly and Mike Wiener smile as they remember the days of cleaning stalls, feeding horses and taking care of their fledgling barn located in the heart of Wellington. “We believed there was a market for people of all ages who wanted to ride, and be in a barn with a low key, family approach to horsemanship” says Mike. Kelly adds, “first and foremost, we want riding to be fun and safe.” Fast forward to the present-more than 14 horses, a full roster of clients, lessons and training.

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s a result of that growth, the Wieners have purchased their own property in Wellington that will allow Palms Stables to expand in a facility that will continue to make riders and their families comfortable. “We are remodeling and building a new state of the art facility that will continue to offer top notch boarding, providing everything from a friendly staff to a relaxed, clean, organized and well maintained barn and grounds,” Kelly says, adding, “our timetable is to be up and running by November 1st,-just in time for season!” Wiener went on to explain that the new property will have 2 large air conditioned tack rooms, a spacious air conditioned lounge with adjoining covered patios ringside. Horses will have ample, shady turnout. In the meantime, operations continue at the present stable on 55th Street in Wellington.

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he accolades continue when it comes to Palms Stables well-respected and experienced trainers. Wendy Ballard and Rosemary Bertin oversee Palms Stables’ training and lesson program and together offer more than 50 years experience with impressive resumes and extensive winning records. And the growth of Palms Stables isn’t limited to the new facility; Kelly and Mike are pleased to announce the addition of Kate Turner to the training staff at Palms Stables. Turner adds to the resume numerous wins riding and her diversified training and experience include: hunters, jumpers, polo and eventing. This wide range of training available offers the ability to teach everyone from beginners up to top Amateur and Junior Hunters and Jumpers. Whether a rider

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shows at the Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association shows during the summer, trains for the Winter Equestrian Festival, or simply wants to hit the trails, the trainers work with riders every step along the way to help them attain each and every goal. The possibilities are endless! “Our goal is to break the mold of the traditional training program,” says Ballard. With that, she explains a training program will be instituted at the new facility aptly named, The Saddle Pad Advancement (S.P.A.) program. It begins with a training evaluation, and will continue to advance riders, while encouraging and motivating riders to achieve specific goals. Ballard explains, “ It is of utmost importance to us that our riders feel that they are part of the barn, and that entails being a integral part of their training programs.” Kathleen and Jac Alvarez have watched their 8-year-old son, Jaxon; grow through his experiences at Palms Stables. “We’ve seen Jaxon grow from his first “pony ride” to www.EliteEquestrian.us

winning at horse shows,” says Kathleen. Jac goes on to add, “Our son has learned not only about horsemanship, but responsibility and accountability that comes from working with horses in an environment that is very ‘hands on’ yet well supervised.”

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ther clients include Ross and Candyce Lewis who were thrilled to find Palms Stables so they could ride together and share their love of horses. “At Palms Stables we can trail ride or work in the ring on horses that are good natured and well disciplined, says Candyce, saying she and Ross look forward to their weekly ‘together time’ riding. Candyce adds, “The horses and ponies at Palms Stables have that special “show” quality which makes our riding experiences more enjoyable”. The Wieners point out that not having to own a horse is what makes Palms Stables standout from other stables in the area. “We have horses that can be leased to clients for a weekend or more so they can go to a show, Mike notes. “Ross


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and Candyce are an example of our clientele who simply want to ride several times a week, and are a part of our family through their trail rides on our horses.”

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ne of Palms Stables first clients, Wellington resident Roxanne Stein, is quick to point out that Palms Stables fulfilled a dream of hers…and it can be the same for others as well. “I had stopped riding for 25 years, and didn’t think having a horse, riding, showing and being a part of a barn would ever happen again.” “I met Kelly and Mike, and now, I have all of it-a great horse, we have fun at shows, and we have even more fun at home with everyone at the barn, all thanks to the concept that Kelly and Mike put in to Palms Stables.” Stein continues, adding, “our new barn takes us to a new level for all the clients, while still maintaining a low key, friendly atmosphere.” Another distinguishing factor that sets Palms Stables apart from other stables in the area is that when most stables are closed for the summer, Palms Stables remains a hub of activity. “This summer, our farm offered nine weeks of camp that included everything from hands on learning with the horses and ponies, riding, arts and crafts, field trips into the horse community, equine veterinarian visits, and horse and tack education,” Kelly Wiener states. Wiener, whose background entails working with children extensively in legal and fitness areas, strongly believes that children must be provided with a non-stress, hands on learning environment while still emphasizing

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Palms Stables invited 10 children and their competitiveness. Wiener also ensures that siblings to attend camp this summer at no parents feel that their child’s safety and cost to their families. Kelly says, “These sumwell-being are the foremost priority when at mer camp Palms Stables. Children must be provided with a non- scholarships Perhaps the allow our barn most rewarding stress, hands on learning environment family the part of the sumopportunity to create positive memories at mer camp program is seen in the affiliation such an inconceivable time in the lives of that the Wieners and Palms Stables have these children. Throughout the upcoming created with a local charity – the Kids Canyear, our barn will be hosting events such cer Foundation. This not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) as seasonal/holiday horse shows and family charity provides hope and support to the socials with the proceeds being donated to families of children diagnosed with cancer the foundation. We are hopeful that comin Palm Beach and surrounding counties. Compassionate, accessible, and supportive munity awareness of The Kids Cancer founcare services are provided regardless of the dation and its work will grow as a result.” ability to pay.

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wners, Kelly and Mike Wiener have created a unique, family-oriented environment that truly sets Palms Stables apart from other equestrian facilities in the Wellington area. Kelly Wiener says, “We are ecstatic to see what the next year holds for our barn. Our horses and clients always come first, a philosophy that we hope carries over twofold to our new facility!” The entire Palms Stables family encourages horse lovers of all ages and riding levels to come and experience the joys of horsemanship at their friendly farm located at 13345 57th Place, Wellington, Florida. Additional information may be attained by calling (561) 252-2121 or going to www.palmsstables.com.

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Capital Challenge Horse Show

Looks Back on Their History and Looks Forward to Bringing Together Top Equestrians For Their 20th Year By Lauren Fisher

Annie Finch, photo by JWM

The 2013 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS), presented by The Gochman Family, will host its 20th Annual competition this fall at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The competition begins with the Equitation Weekend, presented by BigEq.com, on September 28-29, and continues on September 30 through October 6 with the USEF “AA” rated event.

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www.EliteEquestrian.us

Continued...


Premier Equestrian Facility Located In Palmerton, PA

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Peter Pletcher and Sambalino at the 2012 Pro Challenge

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Show snaps

Agatha D’Ambra scored her second grand prix win ever at HITS Saugerties this July. She and her mare Udiana were one of four to advance to the jump-off in the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, and walked away the winners with an impressive payday. ©ESI Photography

Peter Wylde spent some time in the hunter rings at HITS Saugerties and piloted Eternity to a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Wylde and Eternity, owned by Ann Dotoli, were the ones to beat in both rounds and, according to Wylde, the horse has what it takes to be successful in the year-end Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. ©ESI Photography

The $5,000 Precise Buildings Speed Stake at at Princeton Show Jumping was won by Athletic Lady and Colin Syquia. Photo by Paws and Rewind

After being imported from France four days earlier, Love, a nine-year-old Selle Francais carried McLain Ward to a win in the $50,000 Horze-Equestrian Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties. The duo topped an impressive field of 22 starters and led the jump-off with more than three seconds to spare on the clock. ©ESI Photography

Fifteen-year-old Lillie Keenan and Pumped Up Kicks rode to a win in the $125,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties. The win marked the first grand prix victory for both Keenan and the 10-yearold gelding she calls “Kicks”. After purchasing the horse as a High Junior Jumper mount at the beginning of the winter, Keenan is well on her way to a celebrated grand prix career with Pumped Up Kicks. ©ESI Photography

Abigail Heffern won the High Children’s Adult Jumper Classic aboard Lacongo at Princeton Show Jumping Photo by Paws and Rewind

Margie Engle and Indigo were the first to go clear in a nine-horse jump-off in the $100,000 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. They held the lead for two more trips to win the big-money class and close out the final week of summer competition at HITS Saugerties. ©ESI Photography

Lillie Keenan accepts top honors after winning the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup during the U.S. Junior Hunter National Championship - East Coast. She is pictured with her work-off mount Levkoi. ©ESI Photography

Heather Caristo-Williams and Cornetto Royal picked up their first hunter win at HITS Saugerties. They rode to the top in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. After showing as a jumper last year, Caristo-Williams is confident that Cornetto Royal has found a home in the hunter ring. ©ESI Photography

Bull Run’s Becky Blue and Megan McDermott Winner of the $30,000 Grand Prix of Princeton Photo by Paws and Rewind

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive jumping their way to overall Grand Champion honors during the U.S. Junior Hunter National Championship - East Coast at HITS Saugerties. ©ESI Photography

Princeton Show Jumping’s $5,000 Future Jumper Classic was won by Vantina HPF owned and ridden by Linda Sheridan and bred by Hidden Pearl Farms. Photo by Paws and Rewind

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Show snaps

Little Tom and Patricia Hennessey bested a field of 31 in the High Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic at Princeton Show Jumping. Photo by Paws and Rewind

Brianne Link and Zycarla Z Winner of the $5,000 Low Jr/Amateur Jumper Classic, Princeton Show Jumping. Photo by Paws and Rewind

Ramiro Quintana capped off an exceptional week by finishing first and second in the Grand Prix at Princeton Show Jumping. Photo by Paws and Rewind

The Low Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic was won by Kendall Milkey and Valencia. Second Photo by Paws and Rewind

Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association Show: Julia Lane on Absolute Envy winning ribbons in every class - Children/Adult Jumpers

Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association Show: Carson Wiener on Hampton winning in the Junior/Adult Hunters

Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association Show Roxanne Stein on Eternity - Champion Junior/Adult Hunters

Jaxon Alvarez on Shimmy Shimmy Coconut - Ribbons in Cross Rail Hunters at the Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association Show.

Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association Show: Whitney Ballard on Prada - Champion Children’s/Adult Jumpers

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101



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