ESDCTA Collective Remarks - September 2023

COLLECTIVE REMARKS

WWW.ESDCTA.ORG

September 2023

Dear All,

While it’s back to school time for kids, maybe it’s time to get back to school for us and our horses too. As the heat and humidity of summer leaves us behind, riding will become much more enjoyable again. You’re never too old to learn something new, and as we all know, learning with horses is a continual, never-ending lifetime process. Both the USDF and USEA have many educational videos and articles for your endless enjoyment and learning experience, so take advantage of the many opportunities out there.

The USEA just published a very interesting article “The Importance of Effective Equitation for Eventing” https://useventing.com/news-media/news/drilling-down-on-the-details-theimportance-of-effective-equitation-for-eventing , which I feel can apply to any discipline. This is not about hunter ring equitation, it’s about being in balance with your horse and being effective with your aids – something we all strive for.

Upcoming ESDCTA Events:

• ESDCTA NJ Horse Trials (USEA Recognized) – September 24-25, Horse Park of NJ

• Championships & Open Schooling Show – October 15, Horse Park of NJ

• Turkey Trot – November 20, Horse Park of NJ

I hope everyone has a wonderful autumnal equinox, your horses stay happy and healthy, and I hope you enjoy all aspects of your interaction with horses, whether they be riding, showing, grooming, manure shoveling, or just gazing at these beautiful animals.

Happy Autumn!

President

Jena Rondinelli Jennifer Duelfer

Lisa Toaldo

Janice Pellegrino

Zimmerman

Lemack Gary Maholic

Shilton

datlargeMAL@esdcta.org eatlargeMAL@esdcta.org dressage@esdcta.org

fi nance@esdcta.org

NJEAB Representative crunner141@comcast.net Awards

OFF BOARD COMMITTEE CHAIRS Calendars/Activities Grants

Equipment Newsletter Nominating

Omnibus Show Results

Carolyn Montgomery awards@esdcta.org

Becky Kuc

Mia Zimmerman

Wilma Pfeffer

Meredith Rogers Vacant

activities@esdcta.org grants@esdcta.org dressage@esdcta.org newsletter@esdcta.org nominations@esdcta.org

Mia Zimmerman Lori Kelly calendar@esdcta.org results@esdcta.org

COLLECTIVE REMARKS

CROSS COUNTRY...

News Across Our Region

COMMUNITY NEWS

If you’re reading this, you are probably a member of ESDCTA, but I’m sure you know of someone who rides dressage or events who is not a member. You know all about the wonderful things offered like educational programs, clinics with big name trainers, horse shows, year-end awards, and not least, that sense of being part of a community of likeminded people. The more members ESDCTA has, the better the programs we can offer. Our membership numbers are also important considerations when state and local governments decide on legislature that affects us (like open space), and we advocate for our sports (We helped get better footing at the HPNJ). Please reach out to your equestrian buddies and tell them about all of the benefits of membership and have them sign up. The more the merrier!

WHAT’S YOUR TALENT??

Let us know what you would like to help us with in 2023. All skills and interests wanted. Have an idea? We want to hear about it. Remember, this club is what YOU make it. Contact president@esdcta.org if you are interested.

NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE

Have a great article that you would like to share?

Please send article to: Meredith Rogers: newsletter@esdcta.org

All submissions are due by the 15th of the month. Due to space considerations, the editor reserves the right to edit submitted articles. If necessary, articles will be edited and returned for your review.

AND YOU GET VOLUNTEER HOUR FOR EACH STORY!

Milestone

Please Contact this newsletter if you know any ESDCTA members who have achieved any Milestones. Success at a show, regional/national/international award, new horse, or anything else you want to celebrate.

e-mail: newsletter@esdcta.org

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS

For membership questions including updating physical or e-mail addresses please contact:

Heidi Lemack membership@esdcta.org

2023 ADVERTISING RATES

Deadline: 15th of prior month Email: newsletter@esdcta.org

Please have electronic ads in Adobe PDF or .jpg format You will receive an invoice for ad via email.

Send Payment to: Betty Adduci 3340 Curley Ct, Mullins, SC 29574

Email: treasurer@esdcta.org

Amateur Dilemma

By, Meredith Rogers

Each horse is as unique as each one of us, and we know they each have their own personalities, likes, and dislikes. Leo is sweet but opinioned, my last horse, PJ, always wanted to do the right thing, and my friend’s horse enjoyed making jokes (often taking a whole mouthful of water and dumping it on your shoes). My barnmate’s horse loves bananas and Leo spits them out but he adores peppermints (hint hint in case you see us at a show). We can train 10 horses to do the same tricks using the same basic techniques but each will respond to those methods slightly (or more than slightly) differently, necessitating tweaks to how we approach each horse.

I’ve seen horses’ personalities change. A horse who’s been left to their own devices in a field acts listless until it has someone who doats on it and then it becomes full of life. Training and going places builds confidence. However, I think at the core, they are who they are. Leo has always been spooky, quirky, and too smart for his own good. As I mentioned in our last article, we hit a little bump in the road, which necessitated lots of tack walking. Trying to make the most of the situation, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally get him over the scary corner and all the other things that distract him in the ring. There would be no pressure to perform and lots of time.

Over these past few months I did all the things everyone says to do to get horses over their spooking habits. I have to say, none of it worked. Leo is still Leo, and to be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I love his eccentricities and the fact that he’s super smart, I also have to endure the spookiness. It’s part of what adds spark to his movement, and it has made me a better rider. As he’s gotten older he has gotten better, but I’m sure I’ll still be dealing with some form of startle reflex even as he gets grey around the edges. The secret to our success is that I found a horse who’s personality meshes with my own. Isn’t that the secret to all relationships, whether it’s human and horse or human and human?

Freestyle Fun for All

By, Paige Zimmerman

I am happy to say that this August, I completed my USDF Bronze Freestyle Bar! The award requires 2 scores at a 1st level freestyle, 2 scores at a 2nd level freestyle, and 2 scores at a 3rd level freestyle (all over 65%). I choreographed and edited the music for all of the freestyles, so this was a very exciting goal to complete. Of course I had the help of the fabulous support system surrounding Ducati and I. Last year, our 2nd level freestyle earned us a trip to US Dressage Finals for the first time, which was an unforgettable experience. Riding to music is fun and engaging, and I especially enjoyed the process of curating my freestyles to showcase Ducati’s talents to the fullest. I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in riding and/or creating a freestyle: go for it!

The first step to a successful freestyle is thinking about what music you want to use. It is important that it suits your horse, is complex enough to not feel repetitive, and is of good technical quality. It is also important to use songs that are cohesive and work together, such as following a certain theme, genre, or artist. On my phone I like to keep a list of YouTube links to music, and I feel this has worked out well. For my freestyles with Ducati, I decided to use Earth Wind & Fire songs because I felt they suited his swingy movement, and they are lively and upbeat. I didn’t want something too serious or dramatic because I didn’t want to overpower or scare Ducati, and that type of music doesn’t suit his personality.

The next step is to look on the USDF website for the freestyle requirements for training through fourth level. Here you’ll learn what movements you must show in your freestyle, amongst other important details. The FEI website will have the requirements for the FEI level freestyles. To start thinking about my choreography, I usually draw it out on paper, taking into account where I can highlight Ducati’s best movements. For example, in my third level freestyle I put his shoulder-ins on centerline to show them off. I also made my canter half-passes steeper than they would be in a regular test, and I do three trot extensions instead of just the one that is required. There is a ton of creative freedom to do what works best for your horse. Once the choreography is figured

out, and all the requirements have been fulfilled, the next step is to ride it in a regulation arena, and have it videoed.

Once you have a video of the choreography, it is time to start editing the music. The editing program I use is Audacity, which is free. It does not take too long to learn, and there are plenty of tutorials online. A couple of my takeaways from editing the music are: (1) it is important to not edit the music too much once you have it in the program to avoid the music losing quality, and (2) make sure that you listen to the songs after making modifications to ensure it’s exactly the way you want it. This way, you can go back and make any further changes before getting too far along in the process. For most of my freestyles, I knew exactly what part of each song I wanted to go where, so the process went very quickly. However, if I need to experiment with it to see what fits the best, it can be more time consuming.

After finishing the editing process, it is important to school the choreography with the music playing. That way, if the transitions don’t line up like they did with the video, you can go home and make some changes before entering a show or burning a CD with your final version of the music (many shows in the area still require you to bring a CD).

When riding your freestyle in a show, it is common to get a bit behind or ahead of the music. If that happens, you can make a circle a bit bigger or make other slight modifications as needed to speed yourself up or slow yourself down. Freestyles require some quick thinking, but as you ride them more, it becomes intuitive to listen to the music and focus on the ride at the same time. Sometimes it is beneficial to include a “joker line” in your freestyle. A joker line is an unchoreographed part of the ride that the rider can use for any movement they want in case they made a mistake prior. This improves the score for that movement if done well. For example, in the higher levels, this can be an extra line of changes that is either four-tempis, three-tempis, or whatever is needed. At the end of my third level freestyle, I turn

right up centerline and half-pass to the rail, then do a flying change and half-pass back to centerline. However, sometimes if Ducati feels too tight or distracted to make the difficult movement harmonious, I will just do a singular half-pass to the rail and do a change. Either way I still end up going the same direction, ready to trot and then head up centerline.

I certainly am looking forward to making more freestyles in the future! For anyone aiming for awards or just wanting to have fun riding to music, I highly recommend being involved in the process and making your own-- it’s incredibly rewarding to see your vision come to life.

I am also willing to work with anyone interested in making a freestyle! Last year I was hired by our wonderful newsletter editor Meredith Rogers to edit the music for her 2nd level freestyle, with which she rode to the top and earned 5th place at US Dressage Finals. I can help choreograph, choose music, edit music to a video, or all of the above. The only thing I can’t currently do is compose or create original music. Feel free to reach out to me at marketing@esdcta.org or private message my Facebook or Instagram!

News from Outside the Ring

A Critical Review of Alternative Therapy

We all want to do the best for our ponies, which oftentimes means looking outside conventional medicine. One alternative modality that has a lot of anecdotal evidence for providing relief to the stresses of training is pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF). Although it has been shown to promote circulation and decrease inflammation, instead of having standard protocols for specific ailments, it is usually administered at the highest dose the individual horse seems to tolerate. A recent study tested a single administration of a standardized protocol of 5 hertz versus a placebo on two groups of sound Quarterhorses. They performed a bunch of laboratory tests but also had a panel of judges blinded to which treatment group the horses were in to evaluate the horses’ way of going. Bottom line: PEMF had no effect on performance. It should be noted that this was a single application of a dose that may be lower than what is typically given in clinical practice. Further research is needed to determine the effects of different doses and multiple applications. Until then it may be worthwhile to evaluate the outcome of any treatment you administer to your horse with a little more critical eye.

The Science of Whorls

An old cowboy myth links whorl location to temperament. For example, a whorl level with or lower than the eyes means the horse is easy-going and uncomplicated, while a whorl higher on the forehead is difficult. There is now some science to back it up. One study out of Ireland found that whether a hair whorl (also called a trichoglyph) was clockwise or counter-clockwise influenced if the horse was right-lateralized (righthanded, so to speak) or left-lateralized, respectively. Scientists from Brazil found genomic regions responsible for hair whorls and found that they don’t only code for follicle growth but also for neurologic and behavioral traits. One gene they found (KLF5) controls hair follicle repair and regrowth and is also associated with chronic schizophrenia in people. Another gene (SIRT1) has been linked to depression and schizophrenia in people. Future research will look at these genes in relation to whorl location and maybe some day they can relate whorls to performance traits. For now, we just need to love our horses whatever their whorls look like.

Horse Treats

By, Meredith Rogers Horse Treats

Our world is a self‐contained ecosystem, which means what’s here is it and once it’s gone, we can’t get it back. This is no truer than for those animal species that have become ex�nct. When you think of conserva�on you probably jump to animals like the long‐gone Dodo or African Black Rhino, but did you realize that we’ve lost a number of horse breeds? Read below to learn their stories.

Narraganse� Pacer: Developed in Narraganse�, Rhode Island, in the late 1600s by John Hull, it was the rst horse breed created in the United States. They were a mix of the best European and Spanish horses, and were known to be sure‐footed, reliable, and could comfortably carry their riders over rough terrain. They were also used to race. They ranged from about 13.2 to 14.1 hh, and were commonly sorrel. Although it’s called a pacer, historians are unsure if it truly paced. George Washington owned two, and it is believed that the horse Paul Revere rode on for his famous midnight trek may have been one of these. The last purebred Narraganse� Pace is thought to have died around 1880 but their blood lives on in the modern Standardbred, American Saddlebred, and Tennessee Walker.

Abaco Barb: These were feral horses who lived on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Although no one really knows how they ended up there, it is thought that they may have swum to shore from Spanish shipwrecks or they could have belonged to Bri�sh Loyalists who moved there a�er the American Revolu�on. They may also have descended from the Cuban forestry horses at the start of the 19th century. This was the only breed developed in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, they went ex�nct in 2015, but some �ssue from that last horse was saved, so maybe you’ll see a clone someday.

Old English Black: This breed came about in 1066 when William the Conqueror brought his army of European horses to England, where they were interbred with local mares. The breed was not restricted only to black horses as there were also browns, bays, greys, roans, and chestnuts, but a bald face and four white stockings were the characteris�c chrome. They became ex�nct due to interbreeding near the end of the Middle Ages, but several of Britain’s dra�  breeds, including the Shire and Clydesdale, can name them as ancestors.

Norfolk Tro�er: This Roadster had its origins in the 15th century. It was a large harness horse that had the Suffolk Punch in it’s lineage, but was lighter and a faster tro�er. Henry VIII helped perpetuate the breed, ordering the aristocracy to maintain a minimum number of tro�ng stallions, which were the direct forerunners of the Norfolk Tro�er. However, they only became a dis�nct breed in 1750. For a while, it was the most popular breed in England, with the ability to carry a rider over a long distances at the speed of 17 miles/hour. It became ex�nct during the 20th century because of mechaniza�on.

Turkoman Horse: This was one of the rst horse breeds in history, and was developed on the steppes of the Turkoman desert. They were tall and athle�c, ranging in height from 15 to 16 hh, with a metallic sheen to their coats, similar to a modern Akhal‐Teke. They were used for racing, they were gi�ed to royalty, and were highly sought a�er. They are one of the founding breeds of the modern Thoroughbred. It is not known how or when they went ex�nct but most likely they were integrated into other breeds, and a horse with this name can s�ll be found in Turkmenistan and Iran, although it’s not the same, it is probably a descendant.

Anglo-Norman Horse: This breed was started in Lower Normandy, France, in the early 19th century and became ex�nct in 1958 when the decision was made to merge the Anglo‐Norman horse with other French breeds to create the Selle Français. In between it became one of the most popular horses in France, being used for gh�ng both World Wars. The Anglo‐Norman Horse’s legacy can be found in numerous European and Asian breeds, including the Hungarian Nonius and Swiss Freiberger.

Galloway Pony: These hardy ponies, which were about 13 to 14 hh, were used in the 18th century to haul lead ore in Swalesdale, North Yorkshire, England. They were originally developed in Scotland where they were used for border raids and by ca�le drovers for herding their stock. Coming from the harsh Sco�sh highlands, they were robust and able to travel long distances through difficult terrain. Shakespeare men�oned “Galloway nags” in Henry IV, Part 2. Interbreeding with other breeds, such as Dale, Fell, and Highland ponies, led to their demise; they also inuenced the development of the Narraganse� Pacer. Australia s�ll uses the term “galloway,” which they use to refer to horses between 14 and 15 hh.

Charentais: This breed originated from the French Poitevin Horse, and during the 18th century they were used to drain swamps in Western France. In 1780 a program in France was launched to breed cavalry horses for the military by introducing Norman and Thoroughbred blood to the Charentais, which eventually led to its ex�nc�on. In 1900, the Haras Na�onaux (Na�onal Stud) merged the Vendeena and Charentais registries to create the Selle Français, later adding the Anglo‐Norman.

Ferghana: This Chinese horse breed started before 200‐100 BCE, which is when the Han Dynasty of China imported a large number of these horses from the Dayuan na�on in central Asia. But, the Dayuan people wanted to protect their breed, so they stopped trading them with China, which triggered the War of Heavenly Horses. The Chinese won the war and took most of the horses from the Dayuan na�on. Although they were popular war mounts and riding horses in China for a 1000 years, in the early Middle Ages they were replaced by larger and stronger horses, which were be�er suited for combat. Interes�ngly, people thought they sweat blood when they worked hard, but later scien�sts discovered it was an illusion caused by P. mul papillosa, a blood‐sucking parasite, which burrowed into subcutaneous �ssue and caused blood to mix with the horses’ sweat.

Neapolitain: This breed was developed in the Kingdom of Naples, Italy, between the late Middle Ages and the Enlightenment era. It was a popular focus of Italian literature from the 16th the 19th centuries. They were originally used for transporta�on and as heavy cavalry horses, so they were short, heavy, and coarse in appearance. With the introduc�on of rearms, they were replaced by lighter and quicker steeds. They excelled at airs above ground, with their deep chest, short back, round hindquarters, and high‐set, crested neck. Their numbers fell sharply in the 20th century when they were crossbred to create the Lipizzaner and Napolitano breeds, and are thought to have gone ex�nct shortly before 1950. It’s descendent, the Napolitano is considered a rare breed and was listed as close to ex�nc�on by the Food and Agriculture Organiza�on of the United Na�ons in 2007. One was imported to the United States by Claudia Gaspa‐Ward.

Jenne : A popular light riding horse during the Renaissance, it is hard to say when this gaited Spanish breed rst appeared. The term “jennet” was used in the Middle Ages to describe an Iberian‐type horse that was o�en gaited. The breed was characterized by being small, compact, well‐muscled, with good conforma�on. You can see Jene�s on frescos in the Venafro castle in Molise, Italy, which was occupied by the Spanish in the 1500s. The Spanish supposedly used them as light cavalry horses. They disappeared when they were merged with PREs. However, breeders in the United States have tried to recreate the breed and the modern type is gaited with pinto or leopard spots and is based on the Paso Fino.

AEA WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW I

2/11/2023

Judge: Breann Dipietro, L

AEA WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW I

2/11/2023

Judge: Breann Dipietro, L

AEA WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW I

AEA WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW II

2/25/2023

Judge: Heidi Lemack Beck, L

AEA WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW II

2/25/2023

Judge: Heidi Lemack Beck, L

AEA WINTER SCHOOLING SHOW II

2/25/2023

Judge: Heidi Lemack Beck, L

Bit O Woods Farm Dressage Schooling Show 8/5/2023

HJS Schooling Show

8/5/2023

Judge: Torrey Wilkinson, L*

Name of Show Sara Schmitt Dressage Schooling Show

May 31, 2023

Name of Show Sara Schmitt Dressage Schooling Show

Date August 23, 2023

Name of Judge Erin Laurent L*

Jersey Palms Farm

177 S. Stump Tavern Road Jackson NJ, 08527 609.213.5745

KWLYNX@comcast.net

www.jerseypalmsfarm.com

Irish Manor Stables

718 Sergeantsville RoadStockton, NJ 08559 908.237.1281

info@irishmanorstables.com

www.irishmanorstables.com

Good Times Farm

278 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold, NJ 07728 732.409.2882

gtts@optonline.net

www.GoodTimeFarm.com

Rhythm and Blues Stables

108 Old York Rd. Hamilton, NJ 08620 609 306-8221

RBLStables@aol.com www.rhythmandbluesstables.com

Anjelhart Equestrian Center

38 Millers Mill Rd, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 609.758.7676

lacavacreations@aol.com www.Anjelhart.com

Heart’s Journey Stable

425 Kromer Road Wind Gap, PA 18091 610.730.8016

mmorehouse07@gmail.com www.heartsjourneystables.com

Equisential Equine LLC

111 Snyder Ave Bellmar NJ 08031 717.649.4799

bryner.2@gmail.com

https://www.esdcta.org/home/omni-calendar/