Desert Mirage August 2011

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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Publisher’s Letter.....

Volume IV July/August 2011

This issue of Desert Mirage Magazine features a new column written by Monty Roberts...the man who listens to horses. I hope you find the information contained in this article as interesting and useful as I did. Monty Roberts will be a regular editorial contributor to the magazine.

I would like to thank Stuart Sanders of Sterling Bloodstock for featuring her beautiful stallion Echclusive on the cover and interior pages of this month’s issue. The feature article is beautifully written by Arlene Magid.

Marion E. Alteri, a fabulous editorial contributor, introduces subscribers to the Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival - a very interesting article for all Arabian horse admirers.

I wish everyone a wonderful Summer!

Sincerely, Laura Brodzik

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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An Equine Law Practitioner JULY/AUGUST 2011

Who is Responsible When a Trainer is Injured?

Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC

A highly experienced horse trainer, while training a customer’s horse, is bucked off and seriously injured. He sues the customer.

To some, the risk of getting bucked off would seem to be foreseeable for the job of horse training. But to others, this setting is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Over the years, when trainers have been injured while handling or training horses, lawsuits have sometimes followed. Some succeed, some fail.

Do trainers have recourse against their customers for injuries inflicted on the job by the customers’ horses?

The Lawsuits Not only are horses, themselves, unpredictable but the outcomes of lawsuits brought by horse trainers can also have little predictability. Two cases help illustrate this point: * The trainer loses. In a 1984 case from Indiana, a horse allegedly attacked its trainer who was working with the horse on a longe line. Later, the trainer sued her client, the horse’s owner, claiming that the owner was negligent. In the end, the court dismissed the case based on the principle that the trainer was well-equipped to know the risks of working with horses and “assumed the risk” of being injured.

Some years later, New York’s highest court ruled that a case brought by the famous jockey Ron Turcotte, who was best known for riding “Secretariat” to his triple crown victory, should be dismissed. During a horse race at Belmont Park, Turcotte fell and was rendered a paraplegic. He sued several people, including a jockey who allegedly caused the accident and the owner of the horse the jockey rode. In dismissing the case, New York’s highest court stated in part that “professional sporting contests ... by their nature involve an elevated degree of danger. If a participant makes an informed estimate of the risks involved in the activity and willingly undertakes them, then there can be no liability if he is injured as a result of those risks.” * The trainer wins. Some courts have ruled that trainers do Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

have recourse against others. For example, in a 1999 New York case, a horse trainer with 20 years of experience volunteered to help another trainer load a colt into a trailer but was injured when the horse kicked her leg. She sued the horse farm claiming that it was negligent for, among other things, failing to warn her of the colt’s dangerous propensities and administering an improper medication to the horse in an attempt to tranquilize it before the incident. The court held that the trainer did not “assume the risk” of being kicked under the circumstances.

In comparable fashion, in a 1996 Minnesota case, a professional horse shoer was kicked while trimming a customer’s horse and he sued claiming that the horse owner knew, but never warned, that the horse was a known “kicker.” The court held that the horse shoer deserved her day in court so that a jury could decide if the horse owner, by not warning of the animal’s history, created an unusually hazardous situation that endangered the horseshoer.

Equine Activity Liability Laws As of April 2010, 46 states have passed some form of equine activity liability law. The laws differ but many share common characteristics. Most state that an equine professional, equine activity sponsor or “another person” should not be held liable if someone is injured as a result of an “inherent risk of equine activity.” The laws typically include exceptions that could allow certain kinds of lawsuits to proceed. A few lawsuits have been filed under these laws by injured equine professionals. Here are two: * The owner wins. In a Georgia case, a horse trainer was kicked while preparing a horse for a horse show, and the trainer sued the owner. On the strength of Georgia’s Equine Activity Liability Act, however, the trial court dismissed the case. The Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal, finding that the law immunized the horse owner under the circumstances because the trainer qualified as a “participant in an equine activity” to whom the law was meant to apply. Also, in a 1998 Louisiana court case, the equine liability law took credit for dismissal when a race horse exercise rider was injured on the job and sued.

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* The trainer wins. In a Massachusetts case, a horse trainer took a test ride to evaluate a horse for potential purchase but rode the horse on the track opposite the normal course of traffic. The horse threw him, causing injuries. A dispute existed as to whether the horse’s owners warned the trainer that the horse was temperamental and disliked being ridden in the “wrong” direction on a track. Because of this discrepancy, the court ruled that a jury must decide whether the owners complied with a requirement in the Massachusetts Equine Activity Liability Act to “make reasonable and prudent efforts to determine the trainer’s ability” to safely ride the horse.

example, the New Jersey Horse Racing Injury Compensation Board Act, requires trainers in the horse racing industry to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees.

To find out whether you need worker’s compensation insurance, contact your lawyer, state government, or insurance agent.

Who is Responsible?

This article does not constitute legal advice. When questions arise based on specific situations, direct them to a knowledgeable attorney.

As these cases show, the answer can be complicated. Trainers are more likely to lose their cases when the risk was inherent in the activity. This means, for example, that the trainer who is bucked off by a young colt being ridden for the first time would find it difficult to succeed in a case against the owner.

But if the owner neglected to notify the trainer that the horse had an unusually dangerous history, the trainer might have a better chance of success depending on the law.

Self-Protection for Trainers Trainers can buy insurance to protect themselves and their staff. For example: * Health Insurance. These policies can pay for medical attention for injuries or illnesses, work-related or not. * Workers Compensation. Depending on applicable state law, trainers who hire workers or assistants might be required to purchase worker’s compensation insurance. This type of coverage usually provides that when an employee is injured, ill, or even dies in the course of employment, he or she – or their families or dependents – are entitled to collect benefits such as medical expenses and a percentage of lost wages. The laws help prevent litigation against the employer and co-workers.

All 50 states and the federal government now have some type of worker’s compensation law on the books. New Jersey, for

* Disability Insurance. Disability insurance is designed to pay a sum of money, usually a percentage of the worker’s earnings for a certain period of time, if a serious injury or illness renders the worker unable to work.

About the Author Julie Fershtman is one of the nation’s most experienced Equine Law practitioners. She is a Shareholder with the firm Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC. She has successfully tried equine cases before juries in 4 states and has drafted hundreds of equine industry contracts. She is a Fellow of the American College of Equine Attorneys. A frequent speaker, she has spoken on Equine Law in 27 states, including the nation’s largest equine industry conventions. For more information, visit www.equinelaw.net, www.fershtmanlaw.com, or www.fosterswift.com.

Julie Fershtman’s books, MORE Equine Law & Horse Sense and Equine Law & Horse Sense, help people avoid disputes. Order both for $42.90, first class shipping included. Call Horses & The Law Publishing at 866-5-EQUINE. Or, send check or money order to Horses & The Law Publishing, P.O. Box 250696, Franklin, MI 48025-0696.

Attention Lawyers and Paralegals: The American Bar Association published Julie’s new book on Litigating Animal Law Disputes. It covers a wide variety of legal issues involving horses and other animals and includes sample court filings. Horses & The Law Publishing sells it for a large discount off the ABA’s $130 cover price. Contact Ms. Fershtman directly for information.

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Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

The Advantages of Going Bare

Written by Monty Roberts

Since the late 1940s, I have observed ranchers who wanted to improve the wild horses and release domestic stallions in an effort to upgrade the genetic pool. Most of these horses die in a relatively short period of time and the number one cause of death is the demise of their feet. If the domestic horse is not gradually allowed to go bare and toughen his feet while he is fed and watered regularly, he will probably die within three to four weeks. He will become so sore on his feet that he simply cannot travel far enough on a daily basis to acquire the food necessary to sustain life. Sore feet will kill a horse in the wild quicker than any disease. The sore footed horse is easy prey for the mountain lion or the bear in the western United States.

I have attended many conferences on equine foot care.

I have heard so-called experts give speeches on what angle the feet should be, the best methods of trimming and the proper use of metal shoes. Isn’t it interesting that the best feet in the world of horses are those that have none of these advantages. Nature will dictate the angle that is appropriate for the late conformation that compliments. The surface of the earth will do a better job of trimming than any trained farrier could ever do.

The absence of shoes will tease and condition the foot to grow and produce the strongest possible tissues so as to sustain soundness.

Recently I had an opportunity to put these theories to the test with six American mustangs. I was asked by the Rose Parade Festival to produce a tribute to the American mustang. I agreed to place in training six wild horses captured on the high deserts of the western United States. But three of them were from the Bureau of Land Management, the Federal agency that is in charge of the wild horses on public lands. One of those was Shy Boy All my life I have marveled at the wild horses of the western United States. whom I adopted in 1997. Three were captured on Indian One of the most intriguing facets of their existence is how in the world can reservations and provided to me by the New Mexican they survive on rocky, high deserts with no foot care of any kind? Sure, it is Horse Project. amazing that they don’t die of colic any more often than they do and just as surprising is that they don’t succumb on mass to diseases that the domestic I had twenty-four feet that had never seen a shoe. Not horse is vaccinated against. Drinking from any source of water available to one nail had been driven into any foot that was involved them insures that they have every opportunity to harbor internal parasites in in this project. Five of the six had to be prepared for lethal numbers. These are tough horses that any knowing horseman should this monumental challenge with but six months to acbe in awe of.

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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complish it. This means that many miles were required to assure the riders and the Parade Committee that they would be safe in an environment more challenging than any other I could imagine.

Students of mine trained the horses as I was traveling virtually the entire time of their preparation.

Not one horse missed a day of training because of illness, injury or a sore foot. No violence entered into the training program whatsoever and every horse went through a significant bomb-proofing program. Musical instruments, plastic tarpaulins, firecrackers and every sort of spooky object were utilized in an effort to simulate what they would see in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2003.

As you might well imagine some of these horses had higher energy levels than others. And admittedly Shy Boy was already bombproof at the beginning of the training program. Shy Boy became a role model for the five who were in the early stages of training.

Navajo, the horse I rode, took more work than any of the other Mustangs. For the last 30 days or so, he was cantered more than a mile and one half per day.

Throughout this project, I was adamant upon keeping their feet shoeless. This meant that I had to get special permission from the Parade Committee as they are quite insistent upon specially designed shoes for the parade horses. Some of these shoes are covered with rubber and others equipped with borium, a nonskid metal. I was convinced that the safest way to ride on the tarmac was “bare”. The Committee agreed to give me an opportunity to prove my theory.

We rode five horses in the Rose Bowl Parade and led the sixth.

Shy Boy was my wife Pat’s mount and she depicted a western lady rider of about 75 years ago. Cherokee was ridden by Wayne Robison, an eighteen year old who works as a rider for us. They were equipped with all Hispanic gear as mustangs originally came from Spain. Hondo was ridden by Koelle Simpson, a 22 year old who works on our Flag Is Up Farms. Koelle rode as a young Spanish female in sidesaddle and a flowing skirt. Jason Davis, who portrayed a Buffalo hunter, rode Yellow Bird. He was in an all-leather outfit, with a rifle on his back and leading Chamisa, his pack horse. The pack was covered with a buffalo hide. I rode Navajo and dressed as a gentleman rancher would have in the early 1900s.

As we took our instructions from the various segments of the parade administrators, we were constantly warned of the potential for slipping on the pavement. We were told that part of the parade was on an uneven surface and that many horses had slipped in the past. We were made aware of many instances where thrown shoes created the necessity for horses to be extracted from the parade itself. We were advised of four exit points in the five mile trip where horses could be retired from the event.

psychological of these incredible animals and I want to share their story of achievement with the rest of the world. As horsemen, we would do well to listen intently to Mother Nature. I’m not saying that there is no need for shoes under any condition. That would be silly. There is, however, the need to be aware of how nature intended this wonderful part of the equine anatomy to work.

Conclusion: It should be noted that this six-month test began and concluded with six Mustangs that had never been shod. They have the toughest and most natural feet a horse can possess.

It should be further noted that these animals were ridden on a friendly, stone-free surface throughout the six-month test. Their feet were cleaned daily and Cherokee was treated with iodine for four days for a slight thrush condition. Please note that each horse concluded the six-month trial without a sore step and there were no significant cracks, chips or otherwise damaged areas to any of the 24 feet in question.

This test was not intended to minimize the need for foot care, nor was it conducted to show that there is no necessity for shoeing under any conditions. I believe at the conclusion of this test that the training and competition involved in racing, eventing, show jumping, reining, cutting and many other disciplines would require the use of shoes to accomplish these disciplines.

I conclude from this test that horsemen should become more aware of the value of allowing horses periods of time to “go bare” to allow the feet a chance to seek a natural condition. Typically, most shod horses will migrate to an angle that is far shallower than this test produced. The six horses on test ranged between 50 and 56° at the conclusion. This must be what nature intended for these feet. As I review the thickness of the walls of these six horses, compared to domestic animals often shod, that difference is dramatic. Each of these horses received good quality hay of two types throughout the six months. No concentrate feed or any substance meant to enhance foot health and growth was given them.

This test was conducted on Flag Is Up Farms by our staff. It was not connected to any academic institution nor was it conducted under any scientific rules. I simply suspected that we could accomplish our goals and conducted the tests so as to bring the horse world information about natural feet.

Visit www.montyroberts.com for more information on Monty’s calendar, classes, training tack, books, DVDs and free e.Newsletter.

I can report that we did not have one horse slip one inch during the entire five miles. No horse took a lame step or appeared to be in any discomfort during the entire trip. I examined each foot subsequent to the parade and found no ill effects from the effort.

At the conclusion of the parade, officials present were astonished by the marvelous condition of these six horses.

I’m absolutely amazed by the accomplishments both physical and Page 21

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

Desert Mirage Magazine is proud to present an ongoing Arabian Horse epic storytelling adventure by award winning photographer, novelists, and artists, Celeste Sotola and Earl E. Martin. What waits in the winds of this exciting new series will depend on who the heroes and heroines are and how their characters will shape the story. We are enlisting all Arabian horse owners who feel their horse has that just right “magical star quality” to submit images of their horse to an open casting call. “Mythical Adventures of Arabian Horses” will begin in September, after the “stars” are discovered and photographed for the story, with a culmination of the

collected chapters to be published as a book in the future. There is a $50 USD fee for each horse to be considered with photographs submitted, and those selected to star in the story will receive a full page behind the scenes introduction to the horse and their owners. For more information on “Mythical Adventures of Arabian Horses�, please call or email Desert Mirage Magazine at 248.866.8756 or info@desertmiragemagazine.com.

Business Matters

by Jennifer Foster

JULY/AUGUST 2011

Improve Profitability With EQ Bookkeeping If you have read any of the other articles I have written for Desert Mirage Magazine, you likely know I always write about business-related issues pertaining to the Arabian horse industry. This month I was asked to write about my business, EQ Bookkeeping, and the services we provide. I have actually never written about myself, so this is a new adventure for me.

• • • • • • •

My standard description of the business is that EQ Bookkeeping provides an accounting business service focused solely on the equine industry. While the services we provide are vast, the primary functions are and include day-to-day accounting, tax preparation services, and consulting. But what does this mean? Shouldn’t that be obvious?

We also negotiate with vendors for better pricing, analyze operations and provide recommendations for more profitable changes. For others, we only provide some of these services.

Well, maybe not. Recently, I was chatting with a judge from the Region 13 show, Brian Ferguson, who was judging the Region 13 show and he asked me if EQ Bookkeeping tracked farm expenses. I said yes. He asked if it managed cash flow.

I said yes. Then he asked me what hardware requirements it had. I was initially confused, and then I realized he thought EQ Bookkeeping was computer software. I was quick to point out that we are not a software program, we are people.

It was at that moment I realized that what I thought was obvious, wasn’t obvious at all.

So what is EQ Bookkeeping?

We are an accounting firm. We have a staff of accountants who work only with horse business owners. Our clientele includes breeders, trainers, farm owners, veterinarians, farriers, and other horse related businesses, including horse shows themselves.

What does EQ Bookkeeping do?

Our services are wide-ranging, varied and flexible. We do not do exactly the same thing for all of our clients. For some, we do EVERYTHING...meaning: • • •

We pay their bills.

Invoice their customers.

Collect money from customers who have not paid.

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

Process payroll and file payroll taxes.

Manage cash flow.

Create budgets.

Give advice about purchases.

Help secure financing money.

Prepare income tax returns at year end.

Give tax related advice.

However, our goal, and THE most important thing we do, is to help the business owner make more money! Believe it or not, horse businesses can be profitable! And our goal is to help them get there.

After explaining this to people, the next question I am always asked is: How do you do that? And I always answer, “It’s simple.” At least for us it is. The typical business owner sees accounting as an annoying necessity and what has to be done at the end of the year to determine how much tax needs to be paid (or how much of a refund they will be getting). Accounting is really a daily process of business tracking which provides factual data that can be used to make all business decisions. Thus accounting is THE most powerful management tool.

Why is this important and why do people hire us?

If you are a horse business owner, you do not have the time to sit in an office crunching numbers. And you did not get into an equine business to do accounting. Your time is better spent working with horses and riders (doing revenue producing activities). And not to mention the vast majority of you HATE accounting so you put it off until absolutely necessary.

It is important for you to know that putting off doing your accounting can be detrimental to your business. Here are a couple of examples of ways how not doing accounting monthly and routinely and understanding the numbers had a huge negative effect on a business. (I will try not to get too “accountant like” in these examples).

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1) It was October 2009 and a breeder in Florida needed a new tractor to mow the hay field. He really did not think he could, but thought about how he really could not afford it at the moment, since he knew he needed to save his cash for his estimated tax payment due in January. He decided to put off the tractor purchase until spring and rent one in the interim.

What he did not realize is that if he had bought the tractor in 2009, he would have been eligible to accelerate the depreciation and actually lower his tax payment in January. He should have spoken with his tax professional. He would have known this had he spoken to his tax professional. He could accelerate his depreciation on the tractor if he bought it in 2009 and actually lowered his tax payment in January. He could have afforded to get the tractor when he needed it. He also would not have wasted his cash on equipment rental.

2) A trainer was charging $0.55 per mile for hauling to and from shows. He had analyzed the cost of fuel and knew the money he was receiving was covering the fuel cost. What he did not take into account were repairs for the truck and trailer or wear and tear on the truck and trailer. When we did a complete analysis, we found just to cover his costs he needed to be charging $0.67 per mile. Because of this oversight, total moneys he lost in 2010 were $3,267. And his cash flow was affected. So when the trailer needed a $2,500 repair, he had difficulty funding the repair cost.

These are only a couple of examples…I could give you many more.

The last of the major services we provide is collections. Yes, we call on your clients to collect the moneys they owe you. It is very difficult for you to be the “bad guy” and collect money.

It puts you in an adversarial position with your client, which is not productive and causes difficulties for you to do work with them and their horses. It is easier for us, an unbiased third party, to contact them on your behalf and they typically will pay us faster. Since we are an accounting firm, and not a collections agency, we do not have the negative stigma associated with collections. We are simply the accountant trying to do accounting.

Earlier this year, we added a new equine mobile veterinary client who came to us with $48,000 in invoices that were over 90 days past due. Within 45 days, we collected $28,000 and within 90 days we had collected over $45,000. Collections is about having a system, and it is very difficult for equine business owners to manage a collections system when they are working with horses in the barn.

How do we actually do the work?

We are very technology driven. We do not use any fancy equine accounting software. We simply use QuickBooks. It allows us to manage all of the accounting functions including segmenting revenue and costs by show, location or other dif-

ferentiators. We host a QuickBooks file for all of our clients and provide online access for easy retrieval of financial information to our clients.

We receive detailed transaction information online from our customer’s bank or credit institutions and pay their bills using online bill payment from their bank.

We receive other information, like show closeout sheets, in a variety of ways. Some of our clients like to fax, some like to email and others upload the scanned documents into our online shared Dropbox. There are also a few who still like to send information via postal mail.

We communicate via phone, email and text messaging. We understand that those in the equine world do not work 8am to 5pm so we are available evenings and weekends (usually from our barns).

Now that you know what EQ Bookkeeping does and how we do it, there is only one remaining question: How much does it cost?

By far, the reason most equine business owners are afraid to call us is because they think they will never be able to afford our services. They have the perception that it will be cost prohibitive. They think, “I pay my tax accountant $150 per hour and I spend 8 hours each week doing my own accounting (or my cousin, mother, friend, etc. spends that much time), so this will cost me nearly $5,000 per month.”

There are two things wrong with this assumption. First, we do not charge $150 per hour. Second, accounting is all that we do and we are very efficient at it; so what may take you 8 hours per week, takes us much less time. It does not take us 8 hours per week.

So how much does it cost? The answer is “it depends”. We analyze each client’s needs individually and provide a free quote in advance so you know what to expect. Our smallest client pays $250 per month for basic service and our largest client pays $2,000 per month which includes all of the services we offer.

EQ Bookkeeping is a business I started to fund our family hobby and has grown into a business filling a huge need in the equine industry. My team and I love being able to bring accounting structure and order to a world where chaos is the norm.

We want horse business owners to focus on what they know best...horses, and let us focus on the day-to-day accounting.

For more information, contact Jennifer Foster, President of EQ Bookkeeping LLC, www.eqbookkeeping.com.

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Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

Written by Sue Adams

Arabian & half-Arabian Reining Horse Division...

A Growing Discipline

TA MOZART KORDELAS X MARIETA

Arabian Purebred Champion futurity - Sliding Owned by Kimberly Tillman / Ridden by John O’Hara

Arabian horse lovers often tout the versatility of our breed, saying Arabians can be competitive in nearly every discipline. Our horses may not reach the height of accomplishment as other breeds who excel in specific activities but count on Arabians to be competitive, determined – and, of course, most extremely beautiful while trying. After all, who doesn’t love a beautiful mane and tail sailing through the air in the home stretch or those huge or expressive eyes shining with every precise dressage move?

trace origins as far back as the vast open ranches that once spanned the borders of the United States and Mexico. Here vaqueros lived lives akin to nomadic herdsman and developed riding skills and maneuvers to quickly control the herds in their care. In various parts of the world, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, any location where cattle grazing expanded over vast land expanses a series of unique, yet similar maneuvers on the part of horse and rider became common for herd management.

That beauty on the surface speaks volumes to the heart of the horse underneath. Give an Arabian a job, work quietly and gently to teach him the job and the horse will not disappoint. Few then would be surprised by the ability of “drinkers of the wind” to become accomplished working ranch horses if given the chance. Arabians want to please their humans and their minds embrace challenges. Combined with their natural athletic abilities and stamina, and handled by the right trainer, Arabians have an edge to excel at any task, especially those that pay tribute to the ranching heritage of the American West.

The settling of western United States blended some of the earlier herding skills with frontiersman style and folklore to define a lasting image of the American West and cowboy culture. While Hollywood glorified the cowboy mystique, the sport of reining pays tribute to the real working skills of both horse and rider.

Origins of the Official Sport of Reining

Arabian breeders and trainers frequently speak of giving the horse “a job” best suited to the body type and abilities of each horse. For some, a “job” that is enjoying a great deal of attention – and prize money – is the sport of reining.

A long-time favorite of the Quarter Horse set, the principals behind reining Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

From this set of working ranch horse skills a more formal riding discipline called reining evolved into a standard of performance required to be the best. Sixty-two years ago the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) officially recognized reining as a sport, as did the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with acceptance in its western division and certain breed divisions. Seventeen years later in 1966 the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) was founded in the United States.

In 2000 the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) accepted reining as a recognized discipline. International reining competitions, including the world Equestrian Games, are regulated by the FEI in concert with NRHA. Globally reining is reported to be the one of most rapidly growing of all

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TA Mozart Arabian PUREBRED CHAMPION futurity $20,000 check presented by ARHA President Eleanor Hamilton of Eleanor’s Arabians in Rogers, MN

equine sports. According to NRHA statistics, from 1997-2007, NRHA grew over 40% to over 15,000 members and from 265 NRHA approved shows to 700. In 1997, a total of 1.3 million dollars were paid out in NRHA competition and in 2009 NRHA paid out over 11 million dollars in competition purses.

Not only does NRHA enjoy global membership but the NRHA Judging System sets the standard for equine events that combine technical specifications with elements of style and appearance measured against the degree of difficulty. Numerous other disciplines have incorporated the NRHA Judging System in their programs.

Reining Competitions and Judging

The judging system for a reining competition is based upon completing a formal pattern set of maneuvers in an arena setting. Included in this set are combinations of small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs over the hocks, turns of 360 degrees done with one rear foot in place and the signature element in reining, a sliding stop from a full gallop known as “the slide.” The athletic abilities of the ranch-type horse are challenged in this setting – much to the delight of any audience witnessing those exciting slides.

Eleven approved patterns are defined in the 2010 NRHA Handbook. The judging team of an NRHA sanctioned event, including the Arabian Reining Horse Association Futurity Show, consists of five NRHA approved judges.

The high and low scores from the team are discarded and the results tabulated from the remaining three score cards.

Reining judging differs from other classes at Arabian shows in that each horse and rider is judged individually one at time. Every class is assigned one of eleven patterns from the NRHA handbook and each pattern contains a combination of specific maneuvers which must be completed in the exact order as described in that pattern. Every competitor in that class rides the same pattern.

The scoring system works from a base score of 70 points as the equivalent of an average ride with a half point to 1.5 point addition or subtraction for maneuvers performed above or below average. An average, correct performance is recognized by a zero score. The underlying principal in scoring is, to quote from NRHA Handbook, “To rein a horse is not only to guide him but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely.”

Arabian & Half-Arabian Reining Make Their Mark

The Arabian Reining Horse Association (ARHA) was founded in 1998 to promote the natural athletic abilities and versatility of the Arabians and Half Arabian horses. The 8th Annual Arabian and Half-Arabian Reining Horse Futurities ran February 17 – 27, 2011 at West World of Scottsdale where the ARHA distributed some $175,000 in prize monies, plus trophies,

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Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

my majec moment DA Napitov X Majestic Ancestry Arabian Purebred champion futurity non-pro owned by silver aspen ranch / ridden by colby powell

buckles and saddles to Futurity winners.

Through the efforts of amateur competitor Robb Walther of Sherwood, Oregon and one of the founders of the ARHA, the group became affiliated with the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) in its infancy. The NHRA’s highly acclaimed judging format for events that include technical and stylistic elements coupled with considerable difficulty elevated the standards of competition and proved a solid platform for growing the Arabian and Half-Arabian event.

Since its founding 12 years ago, the Association has paid some $600,000 in prize monies during the Futurity Shows in additional to prize monies at regional shows. Funding is in part supported by the donation of stud fees to some of the industry’s top Reining horse sires in both Arabian and Quarter Horse breeds. Half Arabians are extremely popular as they combine the best traits of both breeds and make outstanding competitors.

According to Dick Ames, of Cedar Ridge Arabians, “The Arabian-Quarter Horse cross continues to grow in popularity as the best traits of both breeds produce outstanding competitors. Each year we’re seeing better horses and we’re happy to have more Quarter-Horse trainers and breeders participating with us.”

Ames, together with Tom Redmond of Wolf Springs Ranch and Joe Betten are regarded as the organization’s three “founding fathers.” Much of the rapid success of the ARHA can be attributed to the vision of these gentleDesert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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men and their willingness to provide the seed money to fund the Futurity.

They believe hosting a show that is a lot of fun is the best way to accomplish these objectives and they continue to work on new and innovative promotional ideas.

“Reining people allow other people, and not necessarily people who ride reining horses, but simply people who ride well, to get on our horses and give it a try,” comments Joe Betten. “This fact gives us opportunities to do unusual promotions and get people excited about our sport.”

2011 “Slide” Excitement

A new event launched in 2010 proves the accuracy of Joe Betten’s observation with the launch of the “Wells Fargo Advisors Celebrity Slide.” The idea is simple, find a group of a half dozen or so willing participants from other show disciplines who have good basic riding skills, assign them to a reining trainer for a few sessions of intense training and let them compete against each other. But then heat up the action with little twist by auctioning each rider-trainer team in a Calcutta with 65% of the auction total awarded to the buyer of the winning team and the balance donated to ARHA. This year’s winning team was Michael Byatt, of Michael Byatt Arabians, Inc. in New Ulm, TX, best known for his success in halter training, and Scottsdale reining trainer, Crystal McNutt of Crystal McNutt Performance Horses. And did Byatt get hooked by participation in this event? “I now have three horses with a reining trainer back home,” he responds, “and yes,

jackie o whiz Jumping Jack Whiz x c-l rafika half-Arabian champion futurity non-pro owned & ridden by kevin rosenbaum

I am going to do this!” Indeed he did.

The Byatt-McNutt duo were first on the Calcutta and Tim Anderson of Amani Reiners of Milbank, South Dakota, got the deal of the evening. His $900 bid paid a handsome $6,955 of the total purse of $10,700. This just adds to the list of reasons that Scottsdale is one of Tim’s favorite shows of the year. Asked why he bought the team, he simply smiled and said, “I just liked the way I saw him ride. And then I have a couple horses with Crystal.”

Futurity sponsors also joining the “Slide” fun included Markel Insurance and Iron Horse Jeans who provided opening entertainment with a country music performance by rising Nashville star, Brian Mullen. Iron Horse staged a “dress for success in jeans” fashion show of their handmade jeans prior to the riding competition.

2011 Arabian & Half-Arabian Futurity Classic Results

The team of well known Arabian breeder and cow-horse girl, Shelia Varian Arroyo Grande, CA and Russ Brown of Diamond B Training Stables in Newberg, OR brought the highest bid at $3,000. They finished only a few points behind. Other teams included Kim Diercks of Kim Diercks Reining Horses, Coloma, Wisconsin and John Rannenberg, trainer at Rohara Arabians, Orange Lake, FL; Tyson Randle of Randle Performance Horses, Kiowa, Colorado and Wendy Potts, trainer at The Brass Ring, Burleson, TX; and LaRae Fletcher Powell of Silver Aspen Ranch, Auburn, WA and Brian Murch, trainer at Strawberry Banks Farm, East Aurora, NY; Brian Welman of Goodwin Stables, Hastings, MN and Mary Trowsbridge, Trowbridge’s Ltd, Bridgewater, CT.

Scottsdale’s famous desert winter suffered some of the unusual weather conditions experienced across the nation but competitors worked through elimination classes that tested horses and riders alike. As people monitored record breaking snowfalls and cold temperatures back home everyone good naturedly made adjustments and simply continued to have a great time.

Equally excited are the folks from Wells Fargo Advisors. “It was a great event for our clients and employees. Everyone enjoyed the great barbeque along with the Celebrity Slide Event. We look forward to next year’s show,” said David Kistner, Managing Director for the Northern Arizona market.

The big money finals weekend brought the best of the best starting with Friday night’s purebred Arabian Reining Futurity Classic competition.

After all competitors had spun through their performances, TA Mozart (Kordelas x Marieta), owned by Kimberly Tillman of Tioga, Texas, and ridden by John O Hara was declared the winner, sliding into a check for

As required by NRHA, the Classic was judged by a five member team of NRHA certified judges. This year’s judging team included Pete Kyle of Whitesboro, TX, Carlton Crowe of Gainesville, TX, Butch Carse of Orlando, FL, Drake Johnson of Wray, CO and Bob Kail of Scottsdale, AZ.

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jsn whizzin Jumping Jack Whiz x everything xen half-Arabian champion futurity owned by jensen arabians / ridden by crystal mcnutt

$20,000. Reserve Champion honors went to Move It On Over ridden by Jesse Chase for owners James and Susan Meyer of Raleigh, North Carolina.

The following afternoon Markel Insurance sponsored a Reining Demonstration and good horsemanship clinic. Gil Merrick, most recently the Director of High Performance Dressage for the US Equestrian Federation, and Frank Costantini, President of the Reining Horse Sports Foundation and an equine specialist for Markel, along with Don Faison, Managing Director of Markel’s Agriculture Division jointly conducted the program.

Demonstrations included Paige Montgomery riding Rooster’s Impack, Cotton NcNutt on Lone Star Desperado, and Kim Niven on SAS Satin.

“Everyone thanked us for the program and said how much they appreciated the chance to learn more,” commented Gil Merrick. “Good horsemanship principals are universal, they apply to all breeds and all disciplines.

We had people in attendance who were gathering information about horse ownership but do not yet own a horse so this was a great audience mix and a great location for bringing interested people together.”

Fundraising and fun followed on Saturday with the Half-Arabian Futurity Classic and selection of the winning raffle ticket for a potential competitive reining horse generously donated by ARHA President Eleanor Hamilton, of Eleanor’s Arabians in Rogers, MN. This year’s Futurity Raffle horse, Hesa Mr Melody (Hesa Zee+/ x Surprisn Miss Melody), is a full brother to the 2010 raffle horse, also donated by Eleanor, who became the Region 14 HA Reining Junior Horse. Mr Melody’s reining training had been started by Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011 Desert Mirage Magazine

Hamilton’s trainer, Gary Fergason, and his interest in continuing to train the horse was announced as Eleanor reached in the large container to pull the winner. Fergason’s wish came true, as his son had purchased the winning ticket. Given that Eleanor’s 75th birthday was the following Monday it seemed the perfect gift for her support of the ARHA. Eleanor’s enthusiasm for reining is engaging. “Reining is a wonderful family sport,” she says. “Thanks to these wonderful reining horses and our exciting events I have friends all over the world. The classes include competitions for professional trainers, amateurs – we call them non-pros – and both young horses and the seasoned reining horses. In only eight years we’ve amassed significant Futurity monies and more people are participating in reining with each Scottsdale Show.”

NHRA rules specify that once a class begins it must finish in the same arena and a storm appeared to be moving in so the crowd shifted to the adjoining covered arena for the Half-Arabian Futurity Reining Classic. With a lot of spirited encouragement from the audience a total of 21 competitors rode their best for the five member team of NRHA certified judges. In the end the highest score went to JSN Whizzen (Jumping Jack Whiz x Everything Xen) and trainer Crystal McNutt. Bred and owned by Jensen Arabians Inc. of Blair, Nebraska, the winners took home a top-prize check of $36,000.

Reserve Champion honors and a check for $15,000 went to went to trainer Tyson Randle riding Chic Magnet for owners Jennifer and Jason Earles.

One only needed to stand back and observe the amount of laughter and

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chic magnet

DREAMN BOUT CHICS x DAKAREE half-Arabian Reserve champion futurity owned by jason & jennifer earles / ridden by tyson randle

good natured humor flowing around the arena to appreciate what Joe Betten said about producing a good time as the best introduction to reining.

It’s easy to understand how this mix of casual western clothing, boots and LF Morning Star hats and great love for horses brings this group of people back together Makhnificent KA x LF Evening Star by Thee Desperado again and again to enjoy each other’s company and talk horses. And the ability to reap significant cash rewards for participation doesn’t hurt either…planning to make 2012 even bigger and better is well underway. Perhaps a reining Arabian or Half-Arabian is in your future.

www.arha.net Page 31

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Echo Magnifficoo x JJ Ali Baska by Ali Jamaal

Written by Arlene Magid Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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According to dictionary.com, exclusive is defined as “limited to the object or objects designated”. Thus anything exclusive is a limited edition and highly sought after. The Arabian stallion Echclusive was very aptly named, as he is now the ONLY stallion at stud who is by multi-National Champion Stallion Echo Magnifficcoo out of a daughter of multi-National Champion Stallion Ali Jamaal. Even though Echclusive offers a unique opportunity to breeders, he is “inclusive” as his owner Stuart Sander of Sterling Bloodstock delights in getting newcomers involved with the breed. “This industry brings me so much joy and I am honored to share my life with both these incredible animals and the people who love them.”

Echclusive’s heritage is truly exceptional. He is a full brother to U.S. Top Ten Jumper MA Alis Gold. The Echo Magnifficoo/Ali Jamaal nick has also produced the National Champions in halter Echo Magnolia and Magnifficaa FA (also the third dam of multi-National Champion Stallion DA Valentino). Echo Magnifficoo has sired 53 National winners and 30 producers of National winners through the end of the 2010 show season. Echclusive’s dam JJ Ali Baska has produced 8 champions, among them U.S. Top Ten Futurity Filly MA Sonata, and 2010 Egyptian International Gold Champion Filly Ghaniyah Athbah, who was exported to Kuwait. JJ Ali Baska is a paternal sister to 29 North American National winners including U.S. National Champion Stallion and National Champion sire *Dakar El Jamaal and U.S. and Canadian National Champion Mare Europa El Jamaal. 27 Ali Jamaal get have produced North American National winners. Ali Jamaal is the grandsire of World Champions MA Shadow El Sher and Robin K. Echclusive’s success as a sire can be attributed not only to his ability as a breeding stallion but also to the good business practices of his owner Stuart Sander of Sterling Bloodstock of Portland, Oregon.

Sander has been involved with Arabian horses professionally since 1980, when she accepted a job at a now defunct breeding farm in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a groom. She recalls, “I lived with 5 people in a one bedroom house and worked 60 hours a week, but loved every minute because I was working with my greatest love, Arabian horses, and actually getting paid to do it!”

From this humble beginning Sander worked as a trainer for such noted farms in the Pacific Northwest as Patterson Arabians and Twin Fir Farms. She was fortunate to handle some of the greats, including multi-National Champion English Pleasure WN Astra and multi-National Champion Park MHR Nobility in their early training. She also worked with the world-renowned Monogramm to train him under saddle so he could get the performance ribbon then required to compete in halter at the national level. However, Sander realized if she wanted to go into business for herself that dealing in performance horses might not be the best route for her. “The carrying costs of being a performance trainer are very high. You have to wait until the horses are three years old to start them, and then work with them for months to know what you have. The performance market is smaller than the halter one as it’s limited pretty much to the U.S. and Canada, whereas halter horses have worldwide appeal. Halter horses can be enjoyed by people who have a passion for Arabians and want the joy of them in their lives but who aren’t particularly interested in

riding. The market for halter horses is much bigger.” Thus Sterling Bloodstock was born. “Of course now I realize how wonderful it is to own one’s own business,” Sander comments. “I wouldn’t change it for the world!”

Sander has owned Echclusive since 2003. “Around 2002 I transitioned completely over to the halter end of things since it was so much more profitable. You don’t have to ride to enjoy horses. So I needed a superbly bred halter stallion for that market. And Echclusive has done the job for me in an exciting and extremely high quality way.”

Previous to her ownership, Echclusive had sired just three registered get. He was a hidden treasure. Sander fondly recalls her first sight of him and the challenges involved: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw Echclusive. I wanted an Echo Magnifficoo bred horse since his blood is not common, he sired a lot fewer foals than some of the other major halter sires. I also valued Echo breeding because my history is with English horses and I just had to have a great neck on my stallion. I wanted a beautiful face too, and I knew that with an Ali Jamaal daughter as a dam he would have that too. Ali Jamaal blood is relatively rare in North America because he only stood at stud here for one year after his U.S. National Championships before being exported to Brazil, and he was never available to outside mares after being exported. So, Echclusive’s pedigree made him really intriguing to me, and I had heard rumors he looked just like his ancestry.”

Meeting Echclusive for the first time turned out to be far from simple, however. “I called his owner, who lived on a remote island in the San Juan Islands. Her place was so far out of the way that you had to take a ferry to get there and there are only two sailings a day, so I asked her to meet me halfway and bring him to the mainland for me to see. The moment she took him out of the trailer there was no question that he was the stallion I had been looking for. He was majestic, imperious, stunning, hair-on-the-back of the neck gorgeous with the most sweeping seahorse neck, and at the end of it was a face that was even more beautiful than I’d expected. His ears were tiny and amazingly tipped and his face was so typey and chiseled. He took my breath away, and he STILL does, even after all these years I love looking at him just walking down the barn aisle. And I’m not the only one. I get calls all the time from trainers who want to campaign him at Scottsdale or the National shows but I can’t do without him for that length of time. He has a job to do here as a breeding stallion.”

Echclusive has done his job as a breeding stallion very well indeed.

His percentage of champions from his registered get is high and he has sired regional, Scottsdale and National winners. They include U.S. Top Ten Half-Arabian Sweepstakes Colt C Cinco Caballo, multiregional halter champion and Scottsdale Top Ten Halter Echcalibur, 2010 Scottsdale Top Ten Two Year Old Colt TS Echlipse, 2009 Scottsdale Top Ten Half-Arabian Yearling Gelding Mocha Motion, regional halter champion SS Echxstasy and regional halter winner DN Champagne Bey. Sander explains, “You can always tell an Echclusive foal when it hits the ground as it is so typey with huge eyes and a tiny muzzle. My vet says she can tell which babies are Echclusive’s since they all have tiny tipped ears and beautiful faces. I love that!”

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Echclusive get have proven very popular with overseas buyers, with 5 sold abroad as well as 14 mares in foal to him. Sander believes that a number of the mares sold because of the Echclusive foals they are carrying. “He really is unique on the overseas market,” she comments. “Especially in the Middle East, the industry focus that drives our market is the beautiful face. And these days, in addition to the pretty face, you have to

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

have pretty much a great everything else too! A stallion who has and can sire these attributes is hard to find. Echclusive is all about that, I count myself so lucky to have him. There’s no denying the pedigree power of Ali Jamaal and Echo Magnifficoo (whose get win more titles each year, the 2011 Scottsdale Champion Mare French Psylk is by him). And what a superb outcross Echclusive is for Padrons Psyche and Magnum Psyche

Echclusive Page 36

bred mares! French Psylk represents this cross as she is out of a Padrons Psyche daughter.�

Echclusive has not been overbred so the market is not flooded with his get, which makes him more in demand as a sire, particularly with overseas buyers. “Just in the last 2 years, 14 mares in foal to him have

traveled overseas-three to Kuwait, five to Saudi Arabia, two to Bahrain, one to Thailand and three to China. Five of his babies have been exported as well, including a weanling to Colombia, a weanling filly and a regional champion two year old colt to Bahrain, and two two year olds to Thailand. And I have three additional mares who will go to the Middle East once they are checked in foal to him, and I am negotiating on the

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sale of two more. That speaks well of the quality of our American bred horses-they are in demand all over the world. There are so many people out there who want to share in the wonderful experience of owning and breeding Arabian horses, and I’m very happy to bring that special joy and amazing experience to the lives of others. It has been such an incredible and wonderful journey for me the past thirty years and I hope

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

to make it a wonderful journey for others too.”

Sander is one of the first people in modern times to successfully market horses to China and Thailand. “The new owner of the Chinese group has such a strong passion for the horses and just last month sent me photos of one of the brand new Echclusive babies, out of a Magnum Psyche

Echclusive Page 38

daughter, “ she says. “My new owners in Thailand couldn’t be happier. I have visited most of the farms and have been impressed with the care of the horses. I get photos and news all the time from the new owners telling me how much joy the horses have brought into their lives. That’s important to me! I love being on the cutting edge of a new and growing trend in an emerging country. I feel like my horses and I are part of his-

tory in the making. I hope I make it into the history books there when articles are written about the Arabian horses coming into China and Thailand. I hope to be the Crabbet Stud or Homer Davenport of Asia!

Sander’s success is a direct result of her good business practices. She explains: “I know what sets me apart from other marketers and stallion

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Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

owners is that I take good care of my clients, both overseas and here at home. Whether it’s breeding or purchasing or managing their horses, I’m always there to provide advice or services and support in case of a loss. I generally offer rebreeds to Echclusive or do whatever I can to help the client recover from not just an emotional loss but a financial one.

Historically I have offered rebreeds to people who have lost a foal at 6 months to a year. A client’s challenge is an opportunity for me to develop a stronger relationship. Many of my overseas clients have not been treated well by trainers and stallion owners in the U.S. and once they find me they won’t deal with anyone else. That alone has been important in my success. It may cost me a little to provide extra support for a client but what it brings me in client loyalty is priceless. Because I breed to outside stallions in addition to Echclusive I know how challenging and expensive it can be to get viable semen in a timely fashion. It seems some stallion owners in the U.S. are not service oriented once you have paid the stud fee. I don’t know why this happens, especially in the current market.

One would think that they would want repeat customers. For me, if you

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

buy a breeding from me, your breeding is good pretty much until hell freezes over. I’ll collect any day of the week and put it on a plane if you need me to, and the semen is superb. And we have enough frozen semen on hand to cover anyone who might need semen if Echclusive should be unavailable for some reason. For me, service is the key!”

Good service is crucial to the success of Sterling Bloodstock, but Stuart Sander always remembers the reason behind that service. “Echclusive has made it all possible for both me and the new, passionate Arabian owners overseas-I couldn’t have done it without him!”

www.sterlingbloodstock.com

Echclusive Page 40

About the Author: Arabian horse consultant Arlene Magid has loved horses since infancy. Her 30 year career with horses was nearly derailed before it began when she was a toddler as she kept trying to escape her car seat and hurl herself into any horse trailer that went by!

Arlene started studying the Arabian breed as a child in the 1960s and visited many important breeders and shows. This gives her perspective on the horses of the past to help advise people on purchases and matings today. As an Arabian industry professional, she has had articles published worldwide, as well as researching and editing the book “Arabian Legends”. She now publishes her own online newsletter with in-depth pedigree information, rare photographs and insights on current horses and the greats of the past.

Arlene’s services include seminars, assisting with purchase decisions, advising on matings, insurance and sales appraisals, digital pedigrees with achievement comments and family strains, hand printed wall chart pedigrees, and promotional writeups which are used to educate owners and sell horses and breedings. Prices are surprisingly affordable. Contact her if you need to learn more about your horses and want to promote them with fact, not fiction.

Arlene’s email is Arabbits@aol.com and her website is www.arlenemagid.com. Also visit her Facebook page for information not available elsewhere, including bloodline analysis of winners at major competitions worldwide shortly after they occur.

Stuart Sander’s Sterling Bloodstock

P.O. Box 820027 - Portland, OR 97282 - 503.309.9773 - Sssstuart@aol.com

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Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival:

Where Beauty Meets Unbridled Speed

Photos by Cathleen Duffy

Written by Marion E. Alteri The Middle East is the birthplace of many beautiful things, but perhaps none as intriguing as the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival. At least one of the royal reasons for creating this Festival is noble, indeed: Sharing the vision and beauty of the purebred Arabian racehorse, humans from all cultures can come to understand each other because…whatever our country of origin…we all speak Horse.

I wonder often, how many people think about esoteric questions that swirl through my brain. Maybe it’s me. But I consider things like the fact that horse racing is the one athletic endeavor in which competitors from all around the Earth come together to meet in the spirit of mutual respect and friendly rivalry. Have you ever heard of fans of two rival horses, beating each other senseless at the end of a race?

With the exception of infield excesses, most fans maintain at least a modicum of decorum when at the track. (And those infield revelers at the Kentucky Derby aren’t race fans, let’s face it: they’re there to say that they got drunk at the Kentucky Derby.) By-and-large, horse Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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racing in America involves teams from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America—and we are welcome there, as well.

The epitome of this sporting equine (and human) egalitarianism is found in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, a spectacular event that brings together the greatest Arabian equine athletes, racing at many tracks around the world.

HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Among his many other roles are those of the Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority and Chairman of the Emirates Arabian Horse Association. He created his namesake Festival in 2009 in response to his own profound love for Arabians and passion for the sport of racing them. An underlying goal of the Festival is to present purebred Arabians racing in a variety of diverse settings. His Highness may very well be proving that Arabians are the world’s-most versatile breed of horse.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prix April 22, 2011 Carthage-Hannibal, Toulouse Racecourse, France

In a nutshell, the Festival aims to: * Keep alive the efforts of the late, great Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in the preservation of Emirati heritage and traditions, specifically to preserve equestrian sports, including Arabian horse racing; * Introduce Arabian horses and their profound importance in the rich heritage in the UAE to the people of the world; * Preserve the most important purebred Arabian horses in the Arabian Peninsula, and assure the continuation of their progeny; * Promote Arabian horses throughout the world, including the West; and * To encourage citizens of the UAE to breed and buy purebred Arabian horses, specifically the “UAE breed.”

The best and most…reverential…way to achieve these goals is this series of races, divided into two sections: both sections are under the auspices of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup. The first section is local to the UAE: the Wathba Stud Farm Cup is a series of ten races, open only to UAE-bred Arabians. The races were organized by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

The second half of the Festival is truly global in scope: Nine races in 2011, at nine racecourses around the world. This year’s schedule included the following exciting races:

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup June 19, 2011 Duindigt Racecourse, Netherlands Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup July 2, 2011 Delaware Park, Delaware, US Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Listed Cup July 24, 2011 Berlin Racecourse, Germany Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Listed Cup August 14, 2011 Frankfurt, Germany Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Negroda Europy August 21, 2011 Warsaw, Poland Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prix Cheri Bibi September 4, 2011 Craon Hippodrome, France Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prestige Cup November 6, 2011 Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi One of the many gifts that HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has given to Americans is that, via his Festival, he has shown his faith in our Arabian racing community. He shares with Americans the bond of absolute love for the Arabian horse—and he desires strongly

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup April 9, 2011 Sam Houston Race Park, Texas, US

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to see Arabian racing grow and flourish here in the US. Working with his associates at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage; Wathba Stud Farm; the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Arabian Horse Society, His Highness brings the finest Arabian racing to international tracks—and acknowledges that American race courses are part of that global community.

In concert with the Arabian Jockey Club (AJC) in the US, the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival will continue its mission of educating Americans about the joy of Arabian racing—and welcoming new participants on all levels. By bringing at least two Festival races to the United States every year, His Highness and his colleagues will continue to encourage the

growth of the American fanbase and around the globe. His Highness’ patronage of this series is a gift to world horse racing, but it is oh-so-much more: It is a metaphor for the world community that we can create—one horse, one human at a time. His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a strong leader in his homeland, the United Arab Emirates, and an influential contributor to the American Arabian racing scene. The potential for his Festival, and for the future of Arabian racing cannot be measured. So much good can come of this celebration of life, shared equally and without prejudice.

What a grand idea: Shukran, Your Highness, and Salamu Alikum.

For more information; become a fan—or to begin racing your own Arabian horses, please check out: www.sheikhmansoorfestival.com www.arabianracing.org

Marion E. Alteri loves horses: At age four she began riding Quarter Horses - the same year she went to a track and got a girly crush on Thoroughbreds. She’s written about Thoroughbred racing since 2003 when Penny Cherney encouraged her to go for it. June 2008 brought a startling revelation, when the mystical Arabian breed began calling to her and she fell in love. She serves as Head Writer and Editorial Director at Equicurean Magazine and is a popular blogger on www.equicurean.com and www.saratoga.com. She’s working on an equine-themed youth book series and editing a book on the history and majesty of the Iraqi Purebred Arabians. In March, Galopp Magasinet (a beautiful Swedish horse racing mag) will feature her 2,500 words on the late, great John Henry. One of the things she hopes to achieve through the Power of the Pen is that Arabian Racing will become fully integrated into American Thoroughbred tracks--sooner rather than later. She is thankful that we asked her to write for “Desert Mirage--”...an extraordinarily beautiful publication--Arabian- themed or otherwise.”

You may contact Marion Alteri at ThoroughbredWriter@yahoo.com.

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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A desire to create 100% natural and organic ingredients was the inspiration behind NutriHorse Cookies. The founders of Nutrihorse are horse owners themselves and wanted the best nutrition for their horses...especially organic!

Ever wondered what those strange names on food labels mean? It’s no secret! Additives, fillers and synthetic chemicals are creeping into our food and destroying the nutritional value. Nutrihorse Cookies was created with the horse’s health in mind. Their mission is to provide a wellloved, high quality, and 100% Organic treat for our special friends.

When it comes to our horses, we want what is best for them whether it be their home, training, or their health. Get the most from your horse by giving them the best nutrition. Just like humans, we feel energized, happy & healthy when we eat healthy organic foods. Why give your horse synthetic, chemical-laden, animal-quality products?

Give them what they deserve, the best nutrition. NutriHorse Cookies are made with high-quality, 100% certified Organic ingredients chosen to create a complete and balanced nutritional treat - free of toxic chemicals. Our delicious cookies are handmade with love and care and slow-baked to retain all the vital nutrients.

NutriHorse cookies are specially formulated to include: Flax Seed Oats Apples Carrots Wheat Bran Molasses These specially formulated treats are filled with omegas, selenium, manganese, vitamins, minerals, iron, and fiber insuring they are tasty as well as healthy.; as well as supporting: a shiny healthy coat, digestive system, preventing sand colic, and having a happy horse!

Discover the benefits of 100% Organic Ingredients today! Enjoy a peace of mind knowing there are no pesticides, preservatives, or fillers to supplement your horses diet. Our NutriHorse Cookies are the most nutritious organic horse treats on the market, we guarantee it!

NutriHorse Cookies www.nutrihorsecookies.com

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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Whether exercising her powers to capture the Spirit of Arabians, Ro-

mance of the Renaissance, classic sensuality of femininty, the universal bond between mother and child, JDC delivers striking depth and passion.

Paintings that radiate a glow that mesmerizes the viewer, a comforting warmth that evokes the passion within us all. Her work can be seen in select galleries around the world, with over thirty sell-out shows abroad as well as dozens of American exhibitions.

Janice Darr Cua’s collectors include: Ajman Stud, Ajman, UAE / Usahmah Kazemi, Ezzain Arabians, Kuwait / His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman Governor DIFC Dubai, UAE / Paradise Arabians, Georgia, Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

USA / Bebo Stud, Egypt / Fine Touch Acres Arabians, Canada / Falconwood Arabians, USA / Gemini Ranch, Duke Mendel, USA / Hawks Flight Farm Arabians, USA / The Pyramid Society, USA / Texas Arabian Breeders Association, USA / Caesars Palace, USA / Anderson Thoroughbreds, Australia / Mustang Ranch Wild Horses, USA / Designer Gianni Versace, Italy.

Shows since 1997 through 2011 extend from the Grand Ball Room at the Ritz Carleton in Laguna Niguel, California, to the shores of Japan, the breathtaking city of Paris, France, Beverly Hills, California, Las Vegas, Nevada, the Hawaiian Islands, the exclusive Ritz of Newport Beach, Georgia, as well as a refined group of sophisticated galleries throughout the United States.

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Cua is approached regularly to arouse emotion for worthwhile benefits such as Retun to Freedom, proceeds for retired race and show horses, Audrey Hepburn Association in Beverly Hills, California, benefiting UNICEF, and the renowned Laura’s House and Laguna Association benefiting battered women and children. Janice also works in support of the preservation of the Egyptian Arabian with the Pyramid Society through donations and limited editions.

Cua’s talent was recognized early in youth and she began the study of oils at age eight. Commissions followed swiftly, painting murals in churches up to 30 feet in height, murals in private estates and commercial facilities. She is primarily self-taught and has intensely studied anatomy with live models for over 30 years. Cua has been moved by

the Masters and great artists Alma Tedama, JM Waterhouse, Carvaggio, Bernini, Mucha, Rembrandt and other artists with these qualities. She has studied their work, compositions, the beauty of depth and light, the emotional magnetism; and through endless hours, years that fell into decades, has arrived with her own unique, thought provoking style,, which is undeniably recognized as her own.

Janice has worked with top publishers in Japan, Museums of the UAE, Royal Families worldwide and galleries throughout the United States.

She prefers overlooking the quality and distribution of editions, and therefore is now self-published and represented by reputable, exclusive galleries throughout America and abroad.

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www.janicecua.com Desert Mirage Magazine Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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Janice Darr Cua

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Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011

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Janice Darr Cua 949.374.9726

janicedcua@yahoo.com

www.janicecua.com

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Desert Mirage Magazine - July/August 2011