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VOL 3 | ISSUE 12 | PRICE 15 USD

GERMAN HORSE INDUSTRY COMBINING FORCES

Navajo Nation eyes agreement reining in slaughter of wild horses

If ultimately approved, the deal, which proposes such methods as birth control to keep wild herds in check, would be the first of its kind on Indian lands and perhaps in the nation, he said.

“The Navajos are the biggest tribe in the country. If we strike an agreement here, it will set an example for other tribes that still slaughter," We need to - said Richardson

"President Begaye wants a little more time to gather the input of grassroots organizations, ranchers and others to determine how best to go forward CONSERVE it! on implementing the agreement," he said.

and SERVE it! www.neeranjali.com Abasta said the nation's newly elected president is seeking feedback from tribal members.

Save Water..... Save Life

LOVE IS MY SECRET… Riding a horse is love, happiness, peace of mind, tenderness: these are the fundamental qualities that every rider should have to be able to call himself a true horseman.

LOVE. A word that often comes up when I speak about horses. A man and his horse should love each other and therefore be happy. They should be mentally and physically relaxed. This is a necessity, if they want to achieve good results.

A good horseman should have self-discipline and self-control. One should never get angry with a horse. One should always have some sugar cubes at hand. If something goes wrong, one should wonder: “What did I do wrong ?” and not: “What did the horse do wrong ?”.

One should grow slowly, physically and mentally, and build. Everything should be done slowly… and sweetly.

It is not by hitting the horse that problems can be solved.

A horse is a living thing capable of love. If the horseman does not respect the soul of the horse, he will never be a champion. One cannot become a champion, if he worries about winning only cups and medals.

Harjit Singh Rai CEO

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HBM TEAM ADVISERS

BARBARA CARMINATI COL. SARPARTAP SINGH SAAB VIRK

EDITOR CREATIVE /DESIGNING HEAD MARKETING HEAD PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERNATIONA AFFAIRS PHOTOGRAPHERS

DARSDIDR SINGH JAGDISH CHANDRA CHIRAGDEEP DUA (WARIS) VIJAY BHINDER RAJBIR BANDESHA DAVINDER SINGH ANKUR THATAI ADRIANO COLOMBO MAX BASSO GINO ROSA ANNAMARIA QUARESIMA SUKHJINDER SINGH SOKHI MARI ALDENI

WRITERS

APURVA SHEEL LAURA ZUCKERMAN DR. NADIA CYMBALUK CHRISTPPHER THOMON Gina Mckight PRIYANKA VIZ

USA MARKETING HEAD

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LISA ULLMAN JONES

CONTENTS 7

German Horse Industry Combining

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About German Horse Industry

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Horse Crazy

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In Danger, The British Horses Losing out to Foreign Breeds

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Eight Unique Horses from Indian Mythology History Cultures

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Fossil of Unborn 4000 Years

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Equine Endocrinology Cushing’s Disease and Metabolic Syndrome

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Excelling in Equestrian

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Hoof Care

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Veterinary Experts Offer Tips for Coping with Mud-Related Health Problems

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Tent Pegging

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Thai Temple Fights Drug Addiction with Horses and Boxing

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Meat Eating Horses

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Utah Ranch Owner Sues for $2m Damages after her Property was Left out of the Credit of James Franco and Robert Duvall’s New Western

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For the Love of Royal Choice

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Rest in Peace Dilbag

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The Adventures of Petey And Cecil

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Maharashtra Horse Show Pune

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German Horse C Industry Combining Forces

ooperation in networks has become a key factor for holding one’s ground under the altered globalized market conditions in terms of customer orientation, speed, flexibility and reduced costs.

Since 2007, GHI has been working at various levels in this context in order to achieve these goals. A look at the operation and effectiveness of the German Horse Industry is rewarding, because it confirms that networking can also pay off in the equestrian industry.

Increase the presence in the political world: There are around 1.25 million riders in Germany, and roughly the same number of horses and ponies.

A scientific study has shown that one horse-related job is created for every three to four horses. This works out to more than 300,000 jobs in Germany due to the sport and hobby, along with breeding and husbandry. More than 3,000 companies in Germany have horses and their riders as their primary business purpose. (Source: FN) These are figures that must be taken seriously. But this branch’s economic influence is often not given the notice it deserves. The ministries of economic and agricultural affairs in the German states are important partners for exchanging information in this regard.

Use synergies: GHI members form a chain of benefits, as this example illustrates: A person who wants to build a riding stable needs a planner, a builder, someone to set up the stalls, floors in the stable corridors and indoor/outdoor riding arenas, trailers or trucks for driving to tournaments, equipment for the horses and riders, feed, a blacksmith, etc. Communication within the GHI network, meaning among the members, plays the most important role here. As a result, contacts are

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passed on without the customer having to pay any commissions.

Simplify access for foreign customers: “Made in Germany� is a sign of quality and reliability throughout the world.

In the equestrian industry, however, the combination of know-how and contacts is often missing. Naturally there are many homepages where customers can find contact addresses, but these are hidden among a smorgasbord of information. And as

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a rule, there is no personal contact for the customer who wants to get information or who has questions.

And yet a face, the personal touch, is particularly important in this highly emotional branch. GHI creates this point of contact. In 2015, GHI attended 12 trade fairs and exhibitions in 10 countries for and with its members.

Save costs: GHI obtains information, observes and, where necessary, opens

new markets, and attends trade fairs and equestrian events, particularly in countries with small or threshold markets. If an individual company had to do all this for itself, the resulting costs would be substantial and sales personnel would be tied up.

At the same time, it is hard to know just what will emerge in Kazakhstan, Korea or India, for example. It is also important to avoid unnecessary costs for the customer. Contacts are

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provided at no cost, and meetings are set up between potential partners.

Network facilitation and internal communication: The problem is simply in everyday life. There is a great tendency for companies to keep focused on only their own business segment. Each productive network needs a facilitator for distributing contacts, news and information on market participants, along with valuable insights from all

the interesting areas, such as new EU ordinances, promotion/funding possibilities or changes in customs regulations. And this information must flow without breaks. Ultimately, however, each individual company is responsible for dealing with information and contacts. And the selection of network participants is crucial here. GHI members are companies who set their standards high, and who see service as more

than just an empty term.

In light of the fact that our European neighbours have been travelling the world for a long time to draw attention to their capabilities and products and to provide their knowhow as consultants, it is high time for German companies in the equestrian industry to combine their forces and follow this positive example.

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About GeRMAN HORSE INDUSTRY the german horse industry is a non-profit association, founded by professionals from the industry. success through quality is the motto of all the companies that are united under the roof of the german horse industry. tradition and a spirit of innovation are the power behind continuously improving products in all fields of equestrianism. companies that equip and attend olympic, world and world cup championships have pooled their knowledge. the german rseindustry choose sits partners with care.

German HorseIndustry Consulting Gmbh Syker StraĂ&#x;e 205-213 27321 Thedinghausen Germany Fon +49 (0) 4204-914035 Fax +49 (0) 4204-91406 E-Mail info@ghi-consulting.com Web www.ghi-consulting.com

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HORSE CRAZY It’s an overwhelming, irresistible force, how a young lady is drawn to her first horse?

The cords of love are like a spiritual tether magically drawing the two together.

Her tender heart will begin to race and a smile will radiate on her innocent face.

The minute she lays eyes on her equine attraction, her dreams are instantly spurred into action.

The happy girl will start to plan a life for two and think of all the things that she must do.

All her other interests will be put on hold as she welcomes her new love into the fold.

She’ll smother her best friend with love and care and talk a secret language only they can share.

This is surely a scene sent down from Above, an astonishing display of trust and love.

Harold Roy Miller 13

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In danger, the British horses losing out to foreign breeds: Native species brought together to highlight their struggle after numbers of some dropped by a fifth last year 1. Rare Breeds Survival Trust says

12 out of 14 native horse and pony breeds are at risk, and five are ‘critical’

2. Native

breeds now make up just one per cent of Britain’s 1.4million horses, despite general population rise

3. Dartmoor

and Exmoor ponies are listed as ‘endangered’, meaning they have fewer than 500 breeding females

4. Trust is now encouraging horse

lovers to do their bit and ‘buy British’ to help replenish their falling numbers

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The wild ponies of Dartmoor and Exmoor and larger breeds such as the Suffolk Punch and Clydesdale are all under threat after their population fell by a fifth last year. Pictured herw in a rare line-up at a horse show near Huntingdon are Britain’s dying breeds

The wild ponies of Dartmoor and Exmoor and larger breeds such as the Suffolk Punch and Clydesdale are all under threat after their population fell by a fifth last year. Pictured herw in a rare line-up at a horse show near Huntingdon are Britain’s dying breeds

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The Fell Pony on moorland in Cumbria is another of the British breeds thought to be in trouble due to falling numbers

W

e marvel at them as we traipse across the moors and fells of Britain.

But experts warn the country’s native horse breeds are in danger of dying out – while those from abroad thrive.

The wild ponies of Dartmoor and Exmoor and larger breeds such as the Suffolk Punch and Clydesdale are all under threat after their population fell by a fifth last year.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust said 12 out of 14 of the UK’s native horse and pony breeds are at risk with five classed as ‘critical’. To ensure the horses do not become extinct the trust is creating a ‘gene bank’.

But it is also urging horse lovers to do their bit to save the ancient creatures and ‘buy British’. The 12 rare British breeds now make up just 1 per cent of the country’s 1.4million horses – 14,000.

They are listed as critical when there is estimated to be fewer than 300 breeding females. Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies are listed as

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The Highland Pony is among the endangered breeds and the Rare Breeds Survival trust is now urging horse lovers to do their bit to save the ancient creatures and ‘buy British’. The 12 rare British breeds now make up just 1 per cent of the country’s 1.4million horses – 14,000.

‘endangered’, meaning they have fewer than 500 breeding females.

If the female population of a breed drops to below 50, there is a strong chance it will become extinct.

20,000-plus years and looked after them for a good reason. It’s only in the last 100 years we haven’t needed them. But people are riding horses now more than ever.

In total across all 12 rare breeds, just 918 female births were recorded last year.

‘However, it’s populations of the wrong ponies that are increasing.

Britain’s horse population has grown hugely in recent years. However, native breeds have lost out to those of other countries, particularly from Poland, as nature reserves have bought breeds such as Konik ponies to graze their land.

Tom Beeston, from the RBST, said: ‘Man has lived with horses for

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‘Nature reserves are meant to be protecting wildlife and biodiversity, but many are using Polish ponies to graze, instead of the traditional breeds.’

Eriskay ponies – which are native to the remote island of Eriskay in the Western Isles of Scotland – are one of the most critical. Figures are only available for Eriskays living on the

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Eriskay ponies – which are native to the remote island of Eriskay in the Western Isles of Scotland – are one of the most critical, pictured right. Dales ponies, left, are also endangered and experts say they are fantastic for conservation and grazing nature reserves

mainland, but just five female births were registered last year.

The Suffolk Punch, the oldest breed of heavy horse, capable of working long periods without a break, had just 12. The RBST is building a gene bank, collecting stallion semen from all the rare breeds in case they are wiped out. But the process is slow going and expensive.

Mr Beeston said: ‘Eriskay, Dales and Exmoors are fantastic for conservation and grazing nature reserves, Dartmoors are also fantastic for that work and they’re nice ponies for youngsters to ride.

‘They shouldn’t be overlooked.’

Horses are listed as critical when there is estimated to be fewer than 300 breeding females.

Dartmoor, left, and Exmoor, right, ponies are listed as ‘endangered’, meaning they have fewer than 500 breeding females.

If the female population of a breed drops to below 50, there is a strong chance it will become extinct 19

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Eight Unique Horses From Indian Mythology History Culture India is a nation of stories.

From mythology to religion to history to culture, everywhere you find stories which try to teach valuable life lessons, not just to kids, but also to adults.

From those stories, we have compiled a list of eight interesting and unique horse facts for this Year of the Horse.

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his word itself means “Sacrifice of Horse”. In ancient India, if a king wants to prove his supremacy, he would perform this yagna. He decorated a horse, performed certain religious ceremonies. He then sent the horse to move around, and wherever the horse moves the area belongs to the

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Ashwamedha Yagna

king, even if it strays to a nearby country. If any other king tries to catch this horse, then the original king’s men will fight, recover the horse and continue its journey. This continues for a whole year before the horse returns to the place where it started!

The famous Indian epic Ramayana has an interesting story based on this, where king Rama’s sons are captured by two boys. The whole army of Rama loses to these two boys, and later Rama comes to know that they are his own sons: Lava and Kusha.

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Seven Horses of the Sun In Hindu religious texts, Sun is a god who rides in a special chariot with one wheel. It has seven horses attached to it. Their names are: Gayatri, Brhati, Usnik, Jagati, Tristup, Anustup and Pankti. These are the seven horses that help Sun move fast from one place to another and take care of the whole world!

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Kinnara

This is another human: a horse combination from Hindu and Buddhist mythology. But here, the body is of horse and the head is of a human.

Kinnaras are great musicians!

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Poykkaal Kuthirai Dance This is a specialty in Tamil Nadu (South India). “Poy” means false, “Kaal” means leg and “Kuthirai” means horse. Dancers (men and women) wear dresses shaped like horses, and they dance to various songs. This colorful dance is a part of any southern village festival even today!

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Hayagriva

In Sanskrit “Haya” means Horse. This is a form of Lord Vishnu, one of the three most important gods in the Hindu religion. Hayagriva is respected as the god of knowledge, and he has huma¬n body, horse head!

Vadamugagni

Are you worried about water level in the sea rising and destroying the world? Don’t bother, there is a horse by the name of Vadamugagni sitting at the bottom of the ocean (according to Hindu Mythology) and it releases fire which drinks up the water slowly, to ensure that the seas will never overflow. Wow!

Deity’s Horse Vehicles

In Hindu temples, the main deity is stationed in one place and there is a form of the same deity which comes around the city during special days. For this purpose, there are a set of vehicles (Called “Vaahanas” in Sanskrit) kept in every temple.

Horse is one of the famous Vaahanas!

Terracotta Horses

These are also related to temples, but are for a special warrior god called Ayyanaar.

Every Ayyanaar temple will have one or more terracotta horse. It is believed that the god mounts these horses and roams around the place, protecting good people!

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My image of a normal functional frog is one that is broad and firm, that barely touches the ground when the foot is un-weighted but, as weight is taken on the leg, is compressed increasingly between the digital cushion, as the pastern descends, the ground and the bars. Thus the frog is able to contribute to the anti-concussion mechanism of the foot by its compression, as weight is applied, and by the hydraulic damping effect of the blood as it is forced out of the foot through the veins.

It will also reduce slipping, as a result of increased friction as the foot is weighted.

Fossil of unborn 4000years Fossil of unborn ‘horse’ is discovered still INSIDE the womb 48 million years after mother died before giving birth

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looks remarkably similar to modern mares, suggesting mammalian pregnancies have changed little for millions of years.

Writing in the journal Public Library of Science One, Dr Jens Franzen, from the Senckenberg Research Intitute Frankfurt in Germany and colleagues, said: ‘The specimen of Eurohippus messelensis we describe here is not only the oldest but also the best preserved foetus of a primitive equoid.

‘It represents the earliest fossil record of the uterus of a placental mammal and corresponds perfectly with that of living horses.

‘The postcranial skeleton is virtually complete and largely articulated.

‘This makes it possible to reconstruct the position of the foetus, which was normal and corresponds to late gestation of modern horses.

‘It indicates no problem that could have caused the death of the mare and its foal.’

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he oldest remains of a mammalian womb have been found inside the 48-millionyear-old fossil of an early ancestor of a horse – with its unborn foal still inside.

The remarkably well-preserved body of a horse-like species known as Eurohippus messelensism was discovered at the Messel Pit, a disused shale quarry in Darmstadt, Germany.

Analysis of the mare has revealed she had been heavily pregnant when she died but amazingly the foetus along with some of the tissue from the

uterus and placenta have remained intact.

They say it appears the mare died shortly before she was due to give birth but do not believe the death was related to the birth.

Instead they say the pregnant mare may have been poisoned after drinking from a prehistoric lake.

The researchers used scanning electron miscropy and high resolution x-ray techniques to examine the fossilised remains.

They say the uterus and placenta that

The specimen was discovered by a team from the Senckenberg Research Institute nearly 15 years ago, but its extent was not fully appreciated until it was studied using micro X-ray.

They reveal that, despite great differences in their size and shape, ancient horses had very similar reproduction to modern horses.

These ancient creatures, known as Eurohippus messelensism had four toes on each forefoot and three toes on each the hind foot, and it was about the size of a modern fox terrier.

Soft tissue, such as the uteroplacenta and one broad uterine ligament represent the earliest fossil record of the uterine system of a placental mammal

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The researchers were able to reconstruct the original position of the etus inside the fossilised animal’s womb and found they died shortly before birth but not as a result of birth

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These ancient creatures, known as Eurohippus messelensism (illustrated), had four toes on each forefoot and three toes on each the hind foot, and it was about the size of a modern fox terrier

The researchers were able to reconstruct the original position of the foetus inside the fossilised animal’s womb and found they died shortly before birth but not as a result of birth

The micro X-ray analysis revealed a structure known as the broad ligament that connects the uterus to the backbone and helps support the developing foal.

inches long (12.5cm) was upside down rather than right side up, and its front legs were not yet extended as they should be just before birth.

Remnants of the wrinkled outer uterine wall became visible after the specimen was prepared, a feature shared between Eurohippus and modern horses.

The position of the foetus in the uterus also suggest the two did not die during birth.

The foetus, which was around 5

The specimen was well-preserved due to the oil shales at Grube Messel, which have long been known for their intricate fossils.

Mats of bacteria often coated animals that died and sank into the thick mud of the lake and replaced the soft tissue of the animals, producing what are known as ‘skin shadows’.

Despite being dramatically different sizes and shapes (illustrated), the 48 million year old Eurohippus was found to have a remarkably similar reproductive system to modern horses

1. Fossil

was preserved in the oil shales at Grube Messel in Darmstadt

2. Analysis

has revealed an unborn foetus still inside the fossilised creature

3. Scientists say it is the oldest

example of a mammalian womb yet found

4. It

reveals early horses had a similar reproduction to modern horses

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Equine Endocrinology: Cushing’s Disease and Metabolic Syndrome Introduction With each passing year, horses are living longer lives and their owners are becoming more interested in preserving health, athletic function and quality of life throughout middle age and the geriatric years. This article reviews two related endocrine disorders of mature and geriatric horses: equine Cushing’s disease and

a recently recognized condition that is currently known as “metabolic syndrome.”

Although the two disorders feature some striking clinical similarities— most notably a predisposition to development of chronic laminitis— the underlying disease biology is quite different in each case and

successful management requires that the equine veterinarian distinguish between them. Our understanding of both conditions, especially metabolic syndrome, is incomplete and subject to continuous evolution, but sufficient information is currently available to highlight some important similarities and differences for the interested horse owner.

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What is Equine Cushing’s Disease?

Equine Cushing’s disease is a disorder of the pituitary gland that results in hormonal imbalances, causing a variety of clinical signs: a long, wavy haircoat that fails to shed according to normal seasonal patterns; excessive sweating; lethargy and poor athletic performance; chronic recurrent laminitis; infertility; weight loss; muscle wasting, especially along the topline; abnormal distribution of fat, with accumulations in the crest of the neck, tail head, sheath and above the eyes; consumption of large volumes of water and passage of large amounts of urine; delayed wound healing; and increased susceptibility to infections.

The disease tends to occur in middleaged and geriatric horses, with an average age of approximately 20 years at the time of diagnosis.

Without treatment, symptoms tend to worsen over time and many horses are euthanized as a consequence of laminitis, recurrent foot abscesses or complications related to bacterial infections.

What Causes Equine Cushing’s Disease?

In dogs and humans, Cushing’s disease is caused by a hormonesecreting tumor of the anterior part (pars distalis) of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. In horses, by contrast, the disease involves the intermediate part (pars intermedia) of the pituitary. This portion of the gland is comprised of different

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hormone-secreting cells than are present in the anterior pituitary, accounting for a different hormone profile observed in equine Cushing’s disease as compared to humans and dogs.

In affected horses, the pars intermedia produces excessive amounts of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and several hormonallyactive derivatives, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Function of the pars intermedia is normally kept in check by dopamine-secreting nerve cells arising from the hypothalamus, a nearby part of the brain that regulates a variety of body functions such as thirst, hunger, body temperature, water balance and blood pressure.

In most cases of equine Cushing’s disease, the pituitary gland is not truly neoplastic, but rather enlarged and overactive as a result of faulty regulation by the hypothalamus.

In fact, the most effective available medication for the disease, pergolide, works by mimicking the inhibitory effect of hypothalamic nerve cells on the pituitary. In dogs and humans, the major hormone produced by the abnormal pituitary gland is ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce large amounts of cortisol, a hormone usually released transiently and at low levels to help the body respond to short periods of physical, emotional or environmental stress.

Sustained secretion of excessive cortisol is responsible for many of the clinical signs of Cushing’s disease in those two species. In equine Cushing’s disease, by contrast, levels of cortisol are usually normal or even low, indicating that POMC derivatives other than ACTH play a more important role in disease development. In view of the

significant biological differences between human and canine Cushing’s disease and the equine version, the name pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is now favored among many veterinary scientists to describe the disease in horses.

Diagnosis of Equine Cushing’s Disease In advanced cases characterized by a long, wavy haircoat and other classical signs of Cushing’s disease, diagnosis is relatively straightforward and may not require any specialized testing. Diagnosis of early cases or those characterized by few obvious clinical signs, however, is considerably more difficult. A variety of endocrinologic tests have been promoted for this purpose, but few have been scientifically validated in horses for which the diagnosis has been subsequently confirmed by necropsy examination. In my opinion, the two most practical and accurate tests currently available are: (1) the dexamethasone suppression test, and (2) measurement of plasma ACTH concentration. The dexamethasone suppression test is an overnight protocol in which a pretreatment blood sample is collected in the late afternoon, after which a low dose of dexamethasone is administered by intramuscular injection. A second sample of blood is collected the following day at around noon and both samples are submitted for measurement of plasma cortisol.

In normal horses, administration of dexamethasone stimulates a negative-feedback response that suppresses secretion of cortisol from the adrenal glands, yielding a much

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lower concentration in the second blood sample. In horses suffering from Cushing’s disease, however, the negative-feedback response is blunted and a lesser degree of suppression, if any, is observed.

Although it is widely considered the most accurate test currently available, the dexamethasone suppression test has two significant drawbacks that limit its use in some cases: (1) it requires two visits to the farm by the veterinarian, which increases its cost to the owner, and (2) many owners and veterinarians fear that administration of dexamethasone might increase the risk of laminitis in a horse that is already predisposed to its development. For these reasons, many veterinarians prefer an alternative test, measurement of plasma ACTH. This test involves collection and analysis of a single blood sample; the pituitary gland in affected horses often secretes excessive amounts of ACTH into the bloodstream as compared to normal horses. While useful, this test is generally considered to be somewhat less accurate than the dexamethasone suppression test, and blood samples must be handled very carefully to avoid degradation of ACTH and falsely low measured values. Stress and pain due to other conditions may also result in falsely elevated values.

Supplemental tests that may be useful in suspect cases include measurements of blood glucose and insulin. Many affected horses are insulin resistant and some are significantly hyperglycemic; early recognition and tracking of these abnormalities will aid in rational nutritional management of the disease and provide additional criteria by which to evaluate the horse’s response to treatment.

Treatment of Equine Cushing’s Disease

is administered daily by the oral route. An initial dose of 0.002 mg/ kg (approximately 1 mg for a 1000lb horse) once daily is recommended; this dose may be gradually increased if clinical improvement fails to occur after one to two months of therapy.

Optimal management of Cushing’s disease involves a combination of both specific medication to normalize the function of the pituitary gland and supportive care to address and prevent complications associated with the disease. In both cases, management will be life-long as there is no way to reverse the disease process. In the early stages, specific medication may not be required and conservative measures such as body clipping to remove the long hair coat, strict attention to diet, and scrupulous attention to teeth, hooves and preventive care may be sufficient to provide good quality of life.

A favorable clinical response to therapy will be associated with improvement or normalization of results in the dexamethasone suppression and plasma ACTH tests.

Early cases or those characterized by seasonal exacerbation of clinical signs may benefit from intermittent courses of therapy, while more advanced cases generally require continuous treatment for the life of the horse. Occasional severe cases benefit from treatment with a combination of both pergolide and cyproheptadine (Periactin®).

Trilostane, an inhibitor of adrenal cortisol synthesis, has shown some promise in clinical trials conducted in the United Kingdom, but this drug is not currently available in the United States.

Since affected horses are often insulin resistant, sweet feed and other feedstuffs high in soluble carbohydrates should be avoided in favor of diets emphasizing fiber and fat. Pelleted or extruded feeds designed specifically for older horses are strongly recommended, but those with high levels of sugar or molasses should be avoided unless needed to encourage the horse to eat.

In both mildly and severely affected horses, the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of bacterial infections cannot be overstated. Medications used to treat this condition focus on (1) reducing the amount of ACTH and other POMC derivatives secreted by the pituitary (e.g. cyproheptadine, pergolide), and/or (2) suppression of cortisol synthesis and release by the adrenal glands (e.g. trilostane).

The drug of choice is currently pergolide mesylate (Permax®), which

In addition to these medications, a variety of nutritional supplements and alternative therapies have been advocated for the management of equine Cushing’s disease. A comprehensive review of these strategies is beyond the scope of this article, but two that may be helpful and are unlikely to pose significant risks include dietary supplementation of magnesium (to achieve a target calcium:magnesium ratio of 2:1) and chromium picolinate.

These nutrients are helpful in the management of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in humans, and may be beneficial in equine cases complicated by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. An herbal product prepared from chasteberry extract (Vitus agnus castus) has also been

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recommended for the management of equine Cushing’s disease, but a recent scientific study performed at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center found it ineffective.

What is Equine Metabolic Syndrome?

Equine veterinarians have long recognized a related syndrome of obesity, insulin resistance and chronic laminitis affecting a somewhat younger group of adult horses. Although these horses were initially suspected to comprise a subset of equine Cushing’s disease cases, a long haircoat is not a feature of the condition and tests of pituitary function (e.g. the dexamethasone suppression test and plasma ACTH concentrations) usually yield normal results. Furthermore, affected horses do not respond to medications such as cyproheptadine and pergolide, which are frequently of benefit in Cushing’s disease.

In the past few years, veterinary scientists have begun to examine this condition more closely and researchers at the University of Missouri have advanced a new name, “metabolic syndrome.” Selection of this name was based on several apparent similarities between affected horses and the human condition known as metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by (1) obesity, especially involving accumulation of fat within the abdomen; (2) elevated blood lipids and reduced concentrations of highdensity lipoprotein (so-called “good”) cholesterol; (3) insulin resistance and hyperglycemia; and (4) high blood pressure. Since affected horses are frequently obese, insulin resistant

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and hyperglycemic, there are clearly some legitimate points of comparison with the human disease. Significant differences are also evident, however, as affected horses usually exhibit normal blood pressure and do not consistently exhibit elevated levels of blood lipids.

The extent to which the equine and human syndromes are biologically analogous remains to be seen and will only be determined through years of careful research. Until further information is available to guide the rational selection of management strategies, it will be important to keep an open mind and focus on therapeutic measures that are truly effective in the horse and not simply assumed to be effective based on extrapolation from the human metabolic syndrome.

What Causes Equine Metabolic Syndrome?

Obesity appears to be the central problem in both humans and horses suffering from metabolic syndrome.

Although body fat is commonly viewed as an inert substance that functions solely as a storage form for energy, nothing could be farther from the truth. Body fat (especially that stored within the abdomen, liver and skeletal muscle) contains cells that are very active metabolically and hormonally, and when present in excessive amounts their effects can trigger a cascade of metabolic disturbances leading to insulin resistance and persistent hyperglycemia. These abnormalities, in turn, exert a variety of deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, cartilage and bone. One of

these effects is increased synthesis and release of cortisol within the peripheral tissues of the body, which may account for the predisposition to laminitis in affected horses.

Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome is usually first recognized when chronic recurrent laminitis becomes evident in fat horses lacking other founder triggers.

Affected horses are often grossly obese, with excessive accumulations of fat in the crest of the neck, over the rump and around the tail head and in the sheath of male horses. There is no single test that can offer a definitive diagnosis of metabolic syndrome at present, but diagnostic tests that are helpful in arriving at a clinical diagnosis include measurements of insulin and glucose in the blood following a period of fasting, the intravenous glucose tolerance test and tests for equine Cushing’s disease (e.g. the dexamethasone suppression test and plasma ACTH concentration).

It is particularly important to distinguish cases of metabolic syndrome from early cases of Cushing’s disease, because the latter horses can be expected to respond to therapy with pergolide while the former group probably will not. In obese horses with advanced metabolic syndrome, fasting concentrations of insulin are almost always elevated, and blood glucose concentrations are frequently elevated. In less severely affected cases, the intravenous glucose tolerance test may be needed to demonstrate insulin resistance.

This test involves serial measurement of blood glucose and insulin following

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intravenous administration of a standard dose of glucose. In normal horses, concentrations of both insulin and glucose rise initially, but return to normal within one to two hours. Insulin resistant horses, by contrast, show greater elevations in both insulin and glucose, and these higher levels are sustained for a longer period of time before returning to baseline values.

Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome At present, treatment strategies for equine metabolic syndrome focus almost exclusively on reversal of obesity and insulin resistance through strict dietary modification and implementation of an exercise program, if possible. Of course, horses suffering active bouts of laminitis cannot be exercised until founder has been brought under satisfactory control. The most important principle of feeding affected horses is strict limitation of soluble carbohydrate in the diet.

Nutritional requirements should be met with exclusively fiber-based feedstuffs such as good quality grass hay; 1.0 – 1.5% of bodyweight per day is a useful guideline for the amount to feed, but particularly thrifty horses may require further restriction before significant weight loss is achieved.

Sources of soluble carbohydrate such grain, sweet feed, carrots, apples and fresh pasture must be

eliminated completely, as even very small amounts are likely to sustain insulin resistance. If horses must be turned out onto pasture, they should be fitted with grazing muzzles that have been partially or completely taped to prevent grass intake. If greater dietary energy is required once obesity has been brought under control and an exercise program has been initiated, grass hay should be supplemented with soaked beet pulp and/or fat (vegetable oil or rice bran) rather than grain. It is likely that a variety of commercial complete feeds targeting metabolic syndrome will become available in the near future, which will greatly simplify nutritional management of affected horses and eliminate the need for feed analysis.

If horses fail to respond to dietary management despite what appears to be an appropriate diet, analysis of the forage by a nutritional laboratory such as DairyOne (http://www.dairyone. com) is strongly recommended, as the nutritional composition and soluble carbohydrate content of grass hay varies significantly, depending on species, geography and environmental conditions during growth, drying and storage. Forage analysis also permits quantification of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which can be used to guide their rational supplementation.

A variety of supplements have been advocated in the management of equine metabolic syndrome, but there is currently little scientific evidence to support or refute their effectiveness.

As with

Cushing’s disease, supplementation with chromium picolinate and magnesium to achieve a dietary calcium:magnesium ratio of 2:1 is widely recommended, and equine nutritionists also recommend that dietary levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese and selenium should be at least 150% of the levels recommended by the National Research Council.

Analysis of the forage is required to balance minerals accurately in this manner. Cinnamon has recently been advocated as an adjunctive therapy; it exerts some beneficial effects humans with type 2 diabetes and is unlikely to be harmful in any way.

One nutritionist has recommended administration at a rate of 4 tsp per 1000-lb horse per day. Owners of affected horses are often tempted to deliver supplements such as minerals, cinnamon, and other medications in a small amount of grain, but this practice is strongly discouraged as it may be sufficient to prevent resolution of insulin resistance.

Small amounts of soaked beet pulp that have not been treated with molasses are a much better choice.

In humans, exercise and dietary control are frequently supplemented with medications that interfere with cortisol synthesis and increase insulin sensitivity, but these have not yet been evaluated in equine disease.

Nevertheless, such medications represent additional options for valuable horses that fail to respond to conservative management.

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Excelling in Equestrian In the challenging and technical equestrian sport of show jumping, the teenaged Setalvad boys (Kaevaan – aged 19 and Zahan – aged 17) have taken the sport in India by storm!

Kaevaan is the recently crowned Indian National Show Jumping Champion, the youngest ever, at the highest course height (1m 50cm) ever ridden in India, and is the highest ranked rider in India.

Zahan was the youngest ever rider to win a Grand Prix event last year (at age 16) and has the most Grand 41

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Prix victories of any rider in India. A Grand Prix event is the highest category of competition in an Equestrian Show Jumping Competition (presently 1m 40cm).

Although Kaevaan and Zahan were introduced to horseback riding at a very young age, they have ridden competitively only for the past 3 years, during which period they have taken the sport of show jumping to new heights in India.

The Setalvad boys tread a fine balance between their education and their pursuit of show jumping excellence. Kaevaan is a 1st year student of law at the Government Law College Mumbai, and Zahan is in the 10th grade at the Ecole Mondiale World School, Mumbai.

Due to the absence of suitable equestrian facilities at Mumbai, the Setalvad boys travel to Bangalore where their show jumping horses are based under the care of the French trainer, Guillaume Marcotte. They are both now sponsored by CWD – the world renowned French saddle and equipment manufacturer, and will travel to France later this year to compete on the professional circuit, under the guidance of Valentin Marcotte (a top ten rider in France).

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Hoof care

Can Any Foot Problems Be Identified By The shape And Health Of The Frog?

My image of a normal functional frog is one that is broad and firm, that barely touches the ground when the foot is un-weighted but, as weight is taken on the leg, is compressed

increasingly between the digital cushion, as the pastern descends, the ground and the bars. Thus the frog is able to contribute to the anti-concussion mechanism of 45

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the foot by its compression, as weight is applied, and by the hydraulic damping effect of the blood as it is forced out of the foot through the veins. It will also reduce slipping, as a result of increased friction as the foot 46

is weighted.

The ability of the narrow atrophied frog to function properly is greatly reduced because of limited ground contact, and thus frog compression.

contact stimulates frog growth, but is it the lack of frog stimulus in these feet that results in the foot shape and the receded frog, or is it the foot shape that is the primary problem?

It is generally accepted that regular ground

Thin, receded frogs are commonly found in narrow

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upright feet with strong hoof walls.

The extent of the bars can only be seen if the frog is removed, this being done in cadaver specimens, and in this type of foot they are strong and straight. This extreme example, of a foot from a

chronic laminitic horse, shows the shape and size of the bar, and how its length increases from two inches at the heel, to three inches, further forward into the foot.

Cutting off the back of the heel at this site, shows the two

long rigid pieces of horn, the hoof wall and the bar, fixed firmly together by a very deep layer of sole.

With these rigid structures making up both heels, the frog will be suspended and unable to function properly, 47

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the tissues in the navicular region are unlikely to be so well protected in a foot that has reduced anti-concussive function, and could thus be more prone to injury.

Although fitting some form of pad to lie under the frog will increase compression and stimulation, I don’t think we can realistically expect an improvement in the size and function of the frog unless both the hoof wall and bar reduced sufficiently to allow function to return to the heels. receiving reduced stimulation from ground contact.

In this example, the deep flexor tendon has been cut, at the point where it over48

lies the navicular bone. I put this in because, if feet like these are unable to expand, when the pastern descends as weight is applied,

In some cases, it may not be suitable to reduce heel height significantly but, in these, it might be possible to improve expansion by taking more from the bars.

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF EQUESTRIAN ARTISTS

HORSE HORSE BLAZE-2016 BLAZE

Enter in the World of International Equestrian Artists from heart President & Founder Zebrablond Barbara Carminati

Contact No. +39 3292597816

Email: zebrablond@gmail.com

www.internationalunionofequestrianartists.com

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Veterinary experts offer tips for coping with mud-related health problems.

Springtime brings warmer weather, greener grass and longer hours of daylight. It also brings one of the biggest challenges horse owners face: mud. It’s a dirty word, and it makes horsekeeping an ugly task.

Mud presents a range of issues, from lost shoes to actual physical disorders, including skin problems, hoof problems and bacterial infections. Unfortunately, there’s no avoiding the season of mud—which extends to June in some areas.

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Skin Problems Scratches, grease heel, mud fever, rain scald and rain rot all share something in common: They are horsemen’s terms for one disease, dermatophilosis, caused by the bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis.

When dermatophilosis strikes the pasterns, horsepeople often call it scratches or grease heel; when it affects the horse’s body, lay terms for the malady include rain rot, rain scald and mud fever. No matter what body part it affects, dermatophilosis is characterized by scaly, crusty, scabby skin, and it’s a particular problem for horses that are exposed to moisture and muck for extended periods.

When moist, soft skin’s protective layers are abraded by the coarse particles in mud, D. congolensis, along with other bacteria, and even fungi, strike at the opportunity to enter these susceptible areas. From there inflammation begins, and the skin’s normal barrier allows problems to set up on the surface and in the hair follicles. Before scabs develop, the body is already weeping oils (called exudate) as a reaction to the irritation. As the mud accumulates on the skin, the exudate is trapped and scabs form.

“Generally, there is a variety of secondary bacteria that can be involved,” says FEI-licensed veterinarian Duncan Peters, DVM, chair of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Owner Education Committee. Once the primary bacteria take hold, it opens the door for other bacteria and even fungi to enter.

While every horse has the potential

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to be affected, those with white legs, those with either long hair or sparse hair on their cannon bones and fetlocks, and those that are turned out in the elements and not groomed every day are the most susceptible.

These skin problems don’t usually leave any permanent damage. For horses with more aggressive skin issues, though, “the skin can be thicker in some of those areas, especially around the pasterns, and sometimes the hair will grow in funny,” Dr. Peters says.

The best treatment for dermatophilosis is, of course, prevention. When the joys of horse ownership don’t include acres of mud-free turnout, a little elbow grease can go a long way. Daily grooming alerts you to changes in your horse’s skin condition. By knocking off the mud, there’s less opportunity for scabs to form.

Stephen O’Grady, DVM, MRCVS, of Northern Virginia Equine in Marshall, Va., offers another grooming tip for especially susceptible horses: Keep your horse clean, and periodically rub mineral oil into his skin. “It acts as a bit of a barrier to mud accumulation and the scabs that occur,” he says.

If a horse does become infected, treatment doesn’t have to be complicated. The first step is to keep the horse in a dry area, whether that’s a dry lot, a stall or a run-in shed. “Make sure that if it’s a run-in, the manure is removed, because if the horse comes in, having stood in muck and mire, and now stands in feces with all of its bacteria, then obviously, that’s a prime source of infection,” cautions William Miller, VMD, DACVD, professor of dermatology and medical director of Cornell University’s Companion

Animal Hospital.

The second step is to clip the hair around the affected areas and allow those spots to dry; gentle drying with a towel or low-heat hair dryer are other options. “Gentle” is key, however; scrubbing or scorching will only increase skin irritation and compound the problem.

The third step is topical treatment, but no one remedy works in every case. “Treatments will vary based on where the condition is located,” Dr. Peters says. “If there is a crusty condition on the legs, you might use a bandage with some emollient to soften the crust. If a crusty condition is on the horse’s back or high on the leg, bandaging is usually not practical—bathing with medicated shampoo may be appropriate.”

As far as topical treatments go, Dr. Peters says there are some good products out there. “Some have oatmeal or an aloe vera base; some may contain a benzoyl peroxide ingredient; some may be petroleum based, which tend to be excellent at removing scurfiness; some have alcohols or antiseptics as the main effective ingredient.” He says use of these products depends on what condition is being treated and how bad the condition is.

But stay away from ointments, cautions Dr. Miller, co-author of the book Equine Dermatology. “When there’s a condition with bacteria or fungi, if you put too much ointment over it, it’s like putting the lid on the toothpaste tube, then trying to squeeze the tube. Instead of toothpaste coming out of the top and draining away like normal, it blows out the sides of the tube and gets into the skin. Choose your topical remedies wisely and carefully,” he says.

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Instead of a leave-on topical treatment, a mild anti-bacterial wash can be useful, but keep in mind the number-one treatment step: Keep the affected area dry. If scabs are plentiful, a once-a-day washing with Betadine surgical scrub or chlorhexidine, followed by thorough rinsing and drying, can yield good results.

Dr. O’Grady’s mineral oil trick can be put to work for treatment, as well. “Just rub it in on a daily basis. Within five to seven days, using a rubber curry comb these scabs will just come right off.” (The scabs should soften after just a few treatments.)

“As soon as the scab comes off, the moist or irritated areas will quickly clear right up. You’ve taken that covering off that allows the organisms to proliferate and cause problems,” Dr. O’Grady continues.

Regardless of the treatment, if there is no visible improvement after two to four days, or if the irritation begins to emit an odor, veterinary advice and antibiotic treatment may be necessary. “As the infection gets more significant, so does the odor,” Dr. Miller says. “When you start to notice an odor, it’s not a good sign.”

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Beneath the Skin Bacteria also find their way into the skin through minor wounds and set up a subcutaneous infection, or cellulitis. Horses with cellulitis experience swelling and heat in an infected leg. They will show signs of pain and lameness and often have a 102 – to 104-degree fever. The fever is important to differentiate cellulitis from a run-of-the-mill lameness.

Horses with severe infections will go off feed and show signs of serious discomfort. Their legs become extremely sensitive with inflamed blood vessels (called phlebitis).

Although cellulitis isn’t a mud-

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related disorder, mud compromises the skin’s protective barriers against bacteria and keeps wounds soft and open. If you see signs of cellulitis, a vet call is necessary.

Your veterinarian will most likely prescribe a course of antibiotics and instruct you to wrap the affected leg.

If left untreated, the condition can last for months and wind up being very costly to cure.

After the infection clears up, there may still be some residual changes.

Dr. Peters has seen horses left with chronic circulation and performance problems and altered gaits.

Hoof Problems The hoof problems caused by mud vary depending on the type of mud, the length of time the horse stands in it, and—always a variable—the horse itself. Many hoof problems Dr. Peters sees at the LaSalle Equine Clinic in Kalispell, Mt., come from the horse standing in sloppy mud all day and then going into a stall and drying out at night. The wetdry cycle causes brittle hooves that easily crack. Severe drying causes separation of the laminae (the material that links the bone and hoof wall) and opens the door to white line disease and abscesses.

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Horses in constant wet conditions suffer from soft soles and sloughing of the frog, which compromise the strength of the hooves’ support structures and can make the horse more prone to sole bruising.

Thrush, while not caused specifically by mud, is more prevalent during the wet season. That nasty-smelling tar-like substance that indicates that a horse’s frog is rotting is caused by a bacteria common in manure. A mud-and manure-packed hoof is the ideal environment for this bacterial invasion to set up camp.

Aside from keeping your horse out of excessive mud and moisture, maintaining sanitary conditions around the barn is important to limit his exposure to bacteria. Also, a regular four – to six-week shoeing or

hoof-trimming schedule is essential for preventing hoof problems, whether they’re mud-related or not.

Some horse owners also have good results using acrylic hoof coatings and hoof dressings to seal in natural moisture, while sealing out moisture and bacteria from the ground. Going overboard with dressings, however, can actually seal in too much moisture and even trap bacteria inside the hoof capsule. Moderation is key.

Applications of iodine-based hoof preparations toughen up soft soles and draw some of the moisture out of too-soft hooves. Additionally, thrush-fighting products found in tack stores can knock out minor cases of thrush in a matter of days.

If your horse is lame or the hoof problem has continued for a long period of time, you should consult your farrier or veterinarian for additional treatment options, which may include medication, management changes or special shoes.

Of all of the activities horse owners enjoy, dealing with mud is usually not tops on the list. Effective horse and facility management can save much mud-related hassle. With every passing year, gadgets and techniques are being invented to make horsekeeping an easier affair. Maybe a remedy for mud is next. Until then, Dr. Miller says, “You just gotta tough it out in spring and fall and hope for a dry summer and a quick frost.”

Can Mud Be eneficial?

High and Dry Mud management is a challenging task at best.

Here are four low-cost, low-maintenance tips to create some mud-free space:

1. A

pickup-truck load of large wood chips spread around water tanks and highly traveled areas keeps hooves from creating too much muck.

2. Stall mats or crushed gravel in a run-in shed gives horses a place to get out of the wet.

3. Year-round

pasture rotation prevents overgrazing and the loss of ground cover.

4. Gutters on barn roofs can route water away from highly traveled areas.

From years of observing his own equine patients, Dr. Stephen O’Grady, who specializes in equine podiatry, believes mud also provides benefits to the hoof. “When the horse is in mud, the mud will accumulate in the bottom of the foot, almost mold to the shape of the bottom of the foot, and it will dry there. What you’re forming in the bottom of the foot is a dry, protective pad for the structures within the hoof,” he explains.

The “mud pad” engages the natural physiology of the hoof, utilizing the shock-absorbing structures to decrease concussion. In addition, the pad protects the hoof from damaging rocks and debris.

“The mud also acts as a wedge to keep the horse’s heels wide while he has his shoes removed,” Dr. O’Grady continues.

Of course all of this assumes your horse is kept on large acreage, where he is less likely to encounter the harmful effects from standing in mire that contains waste. Leaving a horse to stand in manure and urine only introduces more nasty bacteria into the skin and hoof capsules.

The bright side of mud is encouraging, but Dr. O’Grady still stresses the importance of picking out hooves regularly as part of your grooming routine to monitor their continued health and growth.

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Tent Pegging Definition: tent peg + – ing A sport originating in India of riding a horse at a charging pace and endeavoring to uproot on the point of a lance a tent peg in the ground.

Tent pegging (sometimes spelled “tentpegging” or “tentpegging) is a cavalry sport that a traces its origins to Warfare.

There are several variations to add more challenges for the riders. For example, used narrowly, the riders must spear ground targets. Used broadly, the riders of sword-wielding spear suspended rings or slicing hanging fruits before taking a peg from the ground, which is why this refers to the entire class of mounted cavalry games. The riders have a sharp edged weapon they use in the game, which is how the term “equestrian skill-at-arms” started.

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Origins Tent pegging was founded in 1908 but most equestrian authorities recorded by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) believe tent-pegging dates back to the Middle Ages, and was originated in India. The cavaliers learned this technique to use for generic skills or in the battlefields. The cavaliers would go into the enemies’ camps at dawn and remove the pegs that held the tents up which created chaos. However, the most believable story is that the cavaliers would go on the battlefield against the mounted elephants spearing them behind the toenail where the flesh is highly sensitive causing the elephant to rear up, lose the mounted rider and run free, which can cause trampling of the infantries.

Today, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) officially recognizes this sport as one of the ten equestrian discipline sports.

Rules for Tent pegging The mounted equestrian rides a gallop at a designated speed using a sharp edged weapon to pierce, pickup, and carry away a small ground target, which is symbolic to a tent peg. If the rider goes over the allotted time, half a penalty point is taken away for each second their over. The riders run a straight course of 130-200 meters. The pegs are placed 1 meter or 2.5 meters apart depending on the specific events. Riders earn points for carrying the pegs. When using a cardboard peg the rider earns 6 points if they carry it at least 10 meters and with a wooden peg, the riders have to carry it 15 meters. Four points is earned if the rider removes a peg but does not carry it the full distance. Two points is earned if the rider strikes a peg on the face but not dislodging it from the ground.

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Modern Sport Tent pegging is now a popular equestrian cavalry sport in many countries of the world. Today, it is more popular is India, Australia, Israel, Pakistan, South Africa and the United Kingdom. New and emerging national tent pegging associations have helped spread the sport worldwide.

The United States of America entered this sport in 2009 and the United States Association holds national championships and demonstrations in their respective countries. In Pakistan tent pegging is called Neza Bazi. During the competition, riders wear different Turbans and Waistcoats to identify their club as well as decorating their horses.

Written by; Lisa Ullman Jones

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Thai temple fights drug addiction with horses and boxing

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E

very morning in Thailand’s far north, a convoy of orangerobed Buddhist monks and novices riding on horseback leave their mountain-top temple in the kingdom’s notorious Golden Triangle region to collect alms.

At first glance these equestrian ascetics look like a throwback to a forgotten era – – but they are in fact part of an innovative drive to help young boys in this drug-ravaged region escape addiction through horses, Thai boxing and meditation.

Once famed for its opium and heroin, the main substance manufactured and trafficked through the Golden Triangle – – and the main source if addiction in the area – – is now methamphetamine.

“I barely had food to eat because my dad was a drug addict and didn’t work,” said Ponsakorn Mayer, know by his nickname Tawan, one of the novices who rides along the steep slopes surrounding the monastery every day.

Like many young boys in this mountainous region where rampant drug-trafficking has decimated successive generations, Tawan sought refuge at the “Temple of the Golden Horse”.

Now, his days are packed with meditation, horse riding and traditional “muay Thai” boxing.

Perched on a lush, green mountain in the kingdom’s northernmost Chiang Rai province, the temple sits in the heart of the so-called Golden Triangle – – an area comprising parts of northern Thailand and neighbouring Myanmar and Laos.

The temple’s monks have become social workers of a sort in the isolated region where few government

services reach.

With a Thai boxing champion to provide instruction and a stable of horses to be cared for and exercised, the monastery aims to stimulate the young boys who come from local families hit by drug addiction, alongside the more mainstream classes provided by the temple.

“Without this temple, I wouldn’t have seen how vibrant life can be... my small village is full of drug problems,” said 19-year-old Tawan.

The majority of novices, who often suffer from malnutrition when they arrive at the temple, are orphans or were abandoned there by their drugtaking parents.

“Hill tribe people have tough lives, it’s partly why they often take drugs and struggle to care for their kids,” said Pra Sutipong, the principal monk at the temple.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that each year in this area more than 1.5 billion “yaba” pills – – the Thai name for a tablet containing methamphetamine and caffeine – – are manufactured in the vicinity.

This happens mostly in small mobile laboratories in isolated jungle areas in Shan state in neighbouring Myanmar.

– Ever-younger customers – “Drugs are the big problem in the northern region of Thailand... there are not enough rehab centres,” said Apisak Wittayanookulluk, deputy director of Thanyarak rehab centre in Chiang Mai. “Prevention needs to be developed especially in schools as nowadays users and dealers are getting younger and younger,” he said.

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Many kids who emerge from the temple’s education system, like Tawan, want to take what they have learned back to their communities.

The ultimate goal of the programme,

“At first I just wanted to stay here, but there are many problems in my home,” he said, adding he would like to help local children avoid falling into the drug trap.

children see they are responsible for

“There are still not many alternative jobs. Most people sell and traffic drugs,” he said.

approve of the results.

Tawan says that tending the animals and Thai boxing helped keep the kids happy and engaged, in a way that traditional classroom learning alone might not have.

poor children,” said Suk Namsaeng,

At the temple, the novices spend much of their time on routine daily tasks: feeding and caring for the animals, especially the horses.

ask for alms.

They also study the basics of agriculture and cultivation, and help manage several hectares of cultivated vegetables that feed the residents of the monastery.

temple monks say, is to provide a sense of discipline and help the

their own lives.

And the local community seems to

“The temple helps and supports

39, who lives in a village just a few kilometres from the complex where the monks come every morning to

“Most of the villagers don’t know how severe and harmful drugs are. Their parents have been drug addicts, so their children in the next generation think that it is normal,” he added.

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MEAT-EATING HORSES When HorseBlaze asked me to do research on Meat-Eating horses, it was very intriguing to me. The more I started doing research on my own I found out that the idea of horses being prey animals, who fear conflict, flee from man and also flee from carnivores needs more attention, but not to scare people, just educate them more for what has been going on for over 4,000 years.

Come to find out that the actions done by these horses go back to the Ancient times.

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Alexander the Great also had an eager man-eating horse that he named Bucephelus.

Ancient Times In Greek mythology, they talk about Meat-Eating horses. The King of Thrace owned a horse named the Mare of Diomedes. His mare also killed four men and the King fed his horses’ human flesh

Early 1800’s & 1900’s An Englishman and Journalist William Knighton wrote about an English Stallion in1837 that they called the Man-Eater of Lucknow in India. As he was traveling by horse and buggy to Lucknow, he realized the town seemed to be deserted.

Before he knew it, the Stallion started running towards him to attack. He made it into a gated place to protect himself and his horse from the Stallion. The locals told him of

the killings that the Stallion had done and the people stayed inside for fear of their lives. Later, they captured the Stallion. After the capture of the Stallion, the maharaja Nasir-Al-Din Haidar wanted the Stallion to fight his prize tiger called Burrhea. As the fight began, the Stallion shattered the tigers jaw with one mighty blow from his ironclad hooves. The tiger then fled off terror-stricken with his tail between his legs, which prove horses do not flee from predators.

The Stallion lived out his years in an iron cage never to hurt anyone again.

Britain’s King George IV as a gift,

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gave the Stallion to the maharaja.

As of today, they are still looking for records that date back to the Lucknow man-eating Stallion.

In 1908, Sir Ernest Shackleton was the first person to share a meatbased diet with his Manchurian pony named Socks to reach the South Pole.

In 1938, German explorers filmed the Tibetan horses eating a mixture of yak meat, sheep’s blood, and offal, which are the inside organs of an animal and their journeys continued until the early 1970’s. The European explorers rode meat-eating horses to cross Tibet when it was a grass free environment. The Kazakh tribesmens train their horses to eat a meat ration diet to cross the Gobi desert, and explore the North and South Poles. They are still doing this as of today and selling meat-eating horses. Teams taught their horses to eat a meat rational diet to explore both the Artic Circle and Antarctica.

Horses have been terrifying our ancestors for thousands of years and they are still capable of frightening and killing us today, but the findings of the Dark side to their nature has been lost to the people of today

Modern Days Today horses in Arabia consume raw camel meat, horses in Louisiana love live crayfish, the BBC filmed horses eating fish on the beach, and Marwari horses in India are still consuming goat’s head soup. Lord Chamberlain of Bhutan says that the king’s horses are still eating a special meat diet containing tiger’s fat, beef and yak meat to date. Various cultures still feed meat to their horses. Horses have been known to eat varies meat rations such as Antelope, Beef, Birds, Chicken, Fish, Goat, Moose, Polar Bear, Rabbits, Seal, Sheep and

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I’m sure your own horse has taken something from you that you was eating.

To date, horses show aggressiveness towards people by grabbing their throats, arms, and violently throwing them around hurting or even killing them. Years ago, I myself, witnessed a horse grabbing a friend’s forearm, picked him up and threw him like a rag doll leaving his arm disfigured.

Therefore, when your horse has cocked ears, distended nostrils, and glaring eyes and showing equine aggression, just know that this has been going on for Centuries and ask yourself this. . Is your horse a potential Meat-Eater?

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Utah ranch owner sues for $2M damages after her property was left out of the credits of James Franco and Robert Duvall’s new western ӲӲ ӲӲ ӲӲ ӲӲ ӲӲ ӲӲ ӲӲ

Tamara Larsen is the owner of Riverbend Ranch Equestrian Center She claims Wild Horses filmed extensively at her facility and home She was not paid but promised money for renovations and a credit New lawsuit claims she has received neither Larsen is now seeking $2 million for lost publicity Wild Horses was filmed on a low budget and panned by critics It was written and directed by Robert Duvall, who also starred

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he owner of an equestrian ranch in Utah is suing the makers of new James Franco and Robert Duvall movie Wild Horses for $2 million, alleging her property was used as part of the filming but not included in the final credits.

Tamara Larsen is suing for damages in Riverton, south of Salt Lake City, and filed the lawsuit September 11.

She runs the Riverbend Ranch Equestrian Center and claims the $2 million in damages is for lost publicity, with the people who see the crime-drama now unable to identify her center.

Larsen also wants an injunction requiring any further distribution of Wild Horses features her business in the credits, according to The Deseret News.

Larsen claims the movie filmed many scenes at her facility, as well as inside her home, which is also on

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the property, and that she was not compensated.

As part of a contract, she claims she was promised credit rights.

Her lawsuit also says she was guaranteed payment for renovations to the ranch following the filming.

The movie was released June 5 and was written and directed by Robert Duvall, who also starred in the flick alongside James Franco and Penny Dreadful star Josh Hartnett.

It follows a detective who opens a 15-year-old missing persons case and starts to suspect a local rancher, played by Duvall, murdered the child.

An additional 20 defendents who worked for California-based Wild Horses Productions, which was disbanded after the film wrapped, have been listed but not named. ‘During filming, (the ranch) was required to suspend certain

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operations, and Ms. Larsen was required to vacate her bedroom and other living areas,’ the lawsuit states.

‘Without compensation, Ms. Larsen appeared in a Wild Horses scene and spent money and hundreds of valuable hours preparing her home and yard as well as all (ranch) areas for filming.’

Wild Horses was made on a low budget and premiered at this year’s SXSW in March.

Duvall previously said that while the film is set in Texas, they ‘couldn’t afford’ to shoot in the state and so opted for Utah.

Before its premiere, the film was hit with a five-claim Breach of Contract complaint.

Deadline reported at the time that distributors Phase 4 Films claim that producer Michael Mendelsohn’s State of the Union Distribution and Collections last month reneged on a deal for the Toronto-based company to handle domestic duties for the film.

The deal that Phase 4 believed it had with financier Mendelsohn included ‘theatrical, VOD, digital, home video, and television distribution’ in the USA and Canada

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For the Love of Royal Choice An Interview with Dr. Rakesh Pattu DVM

by Gina McKnight

From India, Dr. Rakesh Pattu DVM is an accomplished veterinarian as well as equestrian.

Riding at an early age, his life changed with the unexpected demise of his first horse, Royal Choice.

Besides a horse trainer, riding instructor, and veterinarian, Dr. Pattu is an accomplished rider, taking the title of India’s National Champion in equestrian sports. From there he has traveled the world, keeping his promise to Royal Choice, to serve horses for the rest of his life‌

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GM: What is your horse history?

RP: I have been always an animal

lover and horses came to my life as my Father got posted in New Delhi. He is a retired Indian army officer. My first riding lesson was when I was in the 5th grade. It was wet after a lot of rain and the instructor told everyone that we were only to walk that day. I was on the last horse called Nuri. I remember her; I was sliding off my saddle and was so scared. I never shouted “I am falling!”

After that, I never rode a horse until I was 15, but used to go and meet Nuri all the time.

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I used to play badminton and squash at the Army Club and on my way to the club was the 61st Cavalry (the only horse unit in the army in the world).

I would sit down on the wall with my younger brother and watch all the guys playing polo or show jumping and started loving the sport. I asked dad to get us permission to start riding and he did. That’s when I started riding. I was very curious to see if I could do the same as other riders. It wasn’t as easy as it looked – they all were champion riders. When you sit down and observe the best of the best, you learn a lot. That is the first lesson. I always tell my students never mind what sport you play, even watching badminton, for example, on TV and you observe the court movement the shots and the serve, one can learn a lot. So when you are in the barn or in the riding school and you observe, even

when you are not riding, makes a big difference.

After many months of trotting and cantering on regular horses, I was in a horse show doing gymkhana races. I was offered a horse and some serious training in show jumping and grabbed it.

When I was in high school and my school (The Army Public School, DhaulaKuan, New Delhi)began a horseriding program; there was no looking back. In 1988, in high school, I won a few horse shows, including the prestigious Delhi Horse Show in show jumping.

GM: What career did you pursue after high school?

well. I would take my food and eat in the barn, wake up in the morning, run down to him as if waking him up like a little boy and telling him that we would go for a work out in a bit. I would saddle him to go to my school. I went to school with him talking to him all the way, leave him at the school stables and run to him whenever I would get a chance to just talk to him. Life was good and we had big plans for each other and life.

GM: Sounds intriguing.

Then what happened?

RP: My Exam to join the National

Defense Academy (NDA) to be an army officer was on the 7th December 1988. On the 1st December, 6 am, as we were coming back from morning workout, we met with a road accident. It was a very foggy winter morning and it was all my fault. Whenever I think about it I still feel it. My body still shakes. Royal Choice had a broken shoulder and left foreknee. It was not far from my Father’s Army bungalow. As I was screaming for help, Royal Choice walked a few steps and fell down on the side of the road. I had his face in my lap as he talked. That’s the first time in my life I had a conversation with a horse. He was trying to tell me, “Don’t cry. It’s ok.

Serve horses for the rest of your life. Do something and make a difference…”

RP: I

am son of an army officer (Colonel R K Pattu). Joining the army was in my blood.

But, life took a turn when my Father gave me permission to buy my first horse after seeing me perform in the horse shows from the Delhi Race Track in New Delhi .

Royal Choice, a beautiful 16 hands chestnut gelding, was in my life. He was a Thoroughbred ex-racehorse from the Delhi racetrack where I later worked as a vet and a starter for about five years.

I started training him for dressage and show jumping.

We had a bond like I have had with my dogs. Every horse has their own personality like us and most of the people talk to their dogs and dogs listen and respond. It’s almost the same way horses do. It takes a little bit more effort, but it works so

I talked to my parents, my teachers and friends in school.

They said, “Rakesh Pattu is

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going to veterinarian school and not the Army.” It was a life changing morning for me… to keep my promise to my dying horse. I still remember his eyes looking at me when I was taken away from him by my Mother and Father as the vet was giving Royal Choice his final Injection. It’s still so fresh, like it has just happened I keep him alive within myself.

I remember my promise to him.

That was the turning point of my life. I don’t know the exact spot where they buried him. All I know is somewhere around the polo grounds at the Army Polo Club, New Delhi.

He had a proper burial, even a priest was called upon. My parents took care of it. I will always be there on his grave.

The accident didn’t even leave me with a scratch. It was my fault. I should have been more careful on that foggy winter morning. Royal Choice is still at the Polo Club, so he is still with a lot of horses.

Within a few days, I was buying books to study to be in veterinarian school. My teachers at school (The Army Public School New Delhi) would take out time or stay back after school to prepare me to get admission into veterinarian school.

GM: So sad for your loss. That must have been a terrible morning, not only for you, but your entire community.

RP: The morning Royal Choice died

and I was home sitting in the living room with my Mother as she was holding me. Dad left for his office wearing his Army uniform and I grew up looking up to him and always wanted to be an Army officer. I had been training all my life to be the best of the best officer. While in the United States, I joined the Virginia State Defense Force in Lexington, Virginia, for my love and passion for uniform and service. Major Cartwright was my company Commandant.

But that morning, everyone was gone from the house and in comes my school’s principal Mr. Dang, my class teacher and chemistry teacher Miss Manjodh. I still remember as if it were yesterday. They hugged me and were talking to me. I

horses – with a horseriding course for the vet students.

My then commanding officer asked me to pick out a horse for myself for training. The next year was the National Equestrian Championship.

Since I was already a National Champion, I was made the riding captain. I met Zorawar for the first time; his face was always out of his stall as if he was talking to everyone. I had picked up another horse for show jumping and would see Zorawar, pat him on my way in and out. I saw him with another rider who was using spurs, whips, and using high pitched words to push him.

He was a lazy horse with such bright eyes. There was an issue with my horse and my seniors claimed that the horse I had been training and working on belonged to them, as they had been riding him before me. I was mad, but gave up in front of my fellow seniors out of respect.

remember telling them I killed my horse and he was helpless lying on the road waiting for the vet. Miss Manjodh told me to “Learn something; do what your horse wanted you to be – a medical student! Be a veterinarian. Go out there serve the horses.”

I had two major horseshows coming up and with no horse.

Then Zorawar came galloping into my life. I always use to talk to my horses, never mind who I am riding. My friends and the whole university campus started calling me HORSE in Hindi. I would take Zorawar out for long walks, grazing, lazing around and now when I look back what I was doing when I was 18 makes sense to me. I think I was trying to go to his level and start all over fresh with him. It paid us both good, we were National Champions the next year.

I would leave my hostel room

GM: Where did you attend Veterinary College? Did you continue your riding career?

RP: I

joined the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, PAU, Ludhaina, India. The first place I went was the stables at the college. We have an Army unit there with

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as soon as I finished with my studies. I was in my breeches with my saddle on my left shoulder, walking to the stables to sleep there with Zorawar. I would wake up, get us tea. That was his treat; he always loved tea and licked it from his cup every morning.

I would make his stall, clean him up and off we went for our training in Dressage, Hacks & Show jumping . He was picking up so well. Of course we have had our bad days as well but we were a team and understood each other. He was a lazy horse at times but when we are in a show, God he was the best of the best. Yes he was slow in jump-offs; it makes me feel so good thinking about him and the shows and the travel we did together in the open trucks and trains. We were a team.

It was a joke in my class as I would go to my classes straight away from the barn and in my breeches. I was running to my first class at 9 am, and was late by five minutes. Dr. Roy my teacher of Anatomy told me “Pattu, why don’t you get your horse in the class as well so you won’t be late?” The same Dr. Roy when I was leaving my college as a veterinarian hugged me and told me he was proud of me. I was awarded the University’s Equestrian Sport Roll of Honor twice.

Sometimes in life when you have the passion and you hold onto it, never thinking about the future, money, fame, etc., heals you as it rewards you. I am not a rich vet or a horseman because I remember I promised Royal Choice. Every time I save a horse I look into the sky and tell him I am trying

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to keep my words.

GM: Did you and Zorawar make it to the National Championships?

RP: I was travelling with Zorawar

on a train for the National Championships in 1992, along with a few more riders and their horses. I was with a friend, Satinder, talking about the championships. He was telling me he wanted a medal or a position in his event (Dressage), as he was going for the Army interview and it would help a lot. I told him he was good and sure would get a medal, but he was feeling low and told me if he had a horse like Zorawar he could win. We were at the show and were giving our entry to the events and I asked Zorawar if Satinder could ride him as he needed a champion horse that would help him. I had a good feeling about it as if Zorawar said “Let him ride me.” I remember taking Satinder to the Dressage arena that night.

It was humid and we were just running and doing the test over and over again. I wanted to make sure he didn’t forget the test. The next morning I saddled Zorawar for Satinder.

I rode Satinder’s horse. It’s a feeling I can never forget when you want your horse to win, never mind you are in for quest for the championship.

Zorawar didn’t let him down and won the Gold in Dressage.

I was I think 4th or 5th, but we did win the Gold & Bronze in other events in the same

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championship. When you have a bond with your horse and you are a team it’s an amazing feeling to see him beat you with another horse. It was an awesome moment seeing him getting the red ribbon.

GM: What brought you to the United States?

RP: I

have my permanent United States residency. It has been a long ride though; I got it in 2008. Virginia was my home before I packed and moved on. I coached polo to the Washington and Lee University polo team in Lexington, Virginia.

GM: You lived in Columbus, Ohio, for a while. Did you attend the Quarter Horse Congress, Ohio’s great horse event?

RP: Yes,

I loved it there in Columbus and had some wonderful friends. I was living with a buddy, he’s a cowboy.

What an experience. We went out for shows and camping; it was just awesome. I love going to the shows. It’s an awesome feeling and the atmosphere.

GM: And you are a horse trainer as well?

RP: I have been National Champion

here in India and I don’t know how it came to me to educate

people about horses. I never went to any school or training to be a clinician. When I was in vet school it started as I use to train horses and my fellow team members. Much later I was called to help a team for the National and International show and I did very well, maybe one of the best performances by a team. When I was with Monty Roberts at his farm in California, we would discuss horses. I spent a month with Monty, his trainers and students. It was getting clear that I could teach and educate riders or people involved with horses…it’s been a journey.

Now I am setting up an equestrian center along with an equine rescue rehabilitation and equine hospital in India. I think I can contribute a little to the community by education besides making champion.

Also to try and do something for the handicapped people; horses can do wonders. I have been to one such facility in Ohio and quite a few in the Netherlands. I still need to do some more homework and funding. We don’t have such centers here in India to my knowledge.

GM: Do you have any other horse anecdotes to share?

RP: In

2000, I was called by a school (Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty), a beautiful hill station in South India, to check their horses. It was then the leading show jumping stables of India. They didn’t want me to go back to the States, and I ended up working

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there. It is just a wonderful place; perfect for horses and with awesome riding school and cross country. They also had a small set of Veterinary Hospitals. I was very happy with all the horses. They were all just great, but, Dancing Lord, a seven year old dark bay gelding Thoroughbred, was the greatest. This horse was gifted to the school. He had come straight from the Pune race track. He wouldn’t let anyone come near him, always ready to bite and kick. When saddled he was rearing to go as two grooms would hold him. When you did get a leg up, he was gone with the wind. After a few days, I had a meeting with the School Board and they asked me about him. I told the Board it would take a long time; he’s just a race horse. It was decided to load him and send him back to the track before he gets hurts or hurts someone real bad. The same night as I was in bed, I was thinking about him and thinking he is such a beautiful horse and what a waste if he can’t be in the team.

I went to the barn and was just talking to him like we talk to all the horses and he seemed least interested as if telling me to go away,as he stood in his corner. He would charge at me from time to time. I did spend a few hours standing there and talking to him. He was not a bad horse. I guess he was just a racetrack horse. I wondered how he must have been trained and handled. I decided to work on him and asked the school to give me four weeks on my responsibility. And all I did was spend as much time as I could to be with him; took him out

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for grazing every morning at 11am with two grooms with me. It took a while to get his confidence. I later took him out for walks on the trails and talked to him during our rides and mixing our trail rides with some trotting at the school.

At times you have to read the horses mind and to divert his attention it may take a bit of extra time in making the horse ready for training. I had to change his mind set to what he thought was running – and maybe not enjoying. I made him just enjoy the time under saddle; that’s what we say a happy horse under saddle.

It was then time. I would saddle him and just walk off from him. Dancing Lord would walk behind me to the riding school, which is about a ten minute walk. That was what I was hoping for, that he would not only calm down but get eager to become a horse to ride. I had never thought he would become a show jumper.

I was looking for a Dressage horse in him. He would take off even seeing a single ground pole. The more I was working with him just for Dressage, the better he was becoming. I knew he had a big heart. Never once I remember him being scared or shy away from water, rain, or ditches, but I never made him face any form of jump.

In few months’ time as I was coaching the team for Cross Country, I made a new water jump. I was trying to teach them about the strides. I was on Dancing Lord and not even making him face the jump.

Dancing Lord had enough

watching the other four horses doing all the Cross Country jumps. As a rider you feel it so strong – it’s like getting some kind ofvibrationand at times they are so strong.That afternoon I got Dancing Lord to face his first brush jump and he was so delighted after doing it; he was like a kid getting a treat he had been waiting for. Maybe it was the same concept what Monty Roberts had taught me in 2006 at his farm about loading of horses in the trailer...you show them the trailer and as soon as they reach you stop and back them off till they are so curious or not bothered as they walk in the trailer.

The next morning it was time for Dancing Lord to learn show jumping; it was a treat to teach him just the concept.

He would drop the fences but never refuse. As the National Equestrian Championships were getting close and I had to make the team, the first horse I picked up was him. No one including me ever thought he would even be around.

He was getting better and better. It was time for me to let the team start riding him.

In all the events, he was just a champion, never mind the medal.Everyone wanted him for their events. I had 11 horses and 14 team members and Dancing Lord was in a lot of entries from Dressage, Hacks, Show Jumping every division, one day event…this horse was doing it all. I had other horses as well all champions. I was very confident that with my team of riders and every horse would perform very well and a lot of

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chances of winning medals.

I was hoping for about ten medals at least. It was Dancing Lord’s first championship.

When I recall the show now, I was more like a vet and a manager running around.

Dancing Lord was the busiest horse for days. He would finish his dressage and he was going for show jumping. He was so happy and so fit. I remember on the second day riders were already talking about him.

He won almost everything he was entered except the one day event which was his best shot; my rider took the fence at an extreme bad angle when she had all the time to get him straight. He had a refused as there was no way he would have jumped that drop fence.

Dancing Lord won over thirty medals; my team won over 30 medals with a medal in every event Dancing Lord entered, including the International Show Jumping Championships. He made us so proud when he was picked up by the Equestrian Federation of India for the International show jumping Championships.

During the draws, a rider from the UK team got him. He didn’t let her down. Dancing Lord, the horse not even a year back was almost been rejected, was standing tall winning Gold medal for the UK team.

GM: Do you work with India’s indigenous Marwari?

RP: I

do love the Marwari. They are very loyal and intelligent.

When you read the history of

the Mugal invasion and you read about all the wars the states have fought, there are stories of the Marwari that makes them such a back bone of our inheritance.

GM: What about your current facility.

What programs do you offer there?

RP: The

NGO facility where I am working is in Udaipur. The Equestrian Center is a place called Sela Qui near Dehradun about 250 km up North of New Delhi. I am working on this project for equine rescue rehab with an Equine hospital and another Equestrian center. I teach natural horsemanship, team development and leadership, Equine assistant education, join ups, show jumping dressage, and polo clinics. I am training young veterinarians and veterinarian students. Also, from race track, I will be training the upcoming riding boys who are working on becoming jockeys. So, a lot on my plate at this moment.

I already have one project going on wellness program for working equines.

train a horse for any event or even pleasure ride it makes all the difference since every horse, like us, has its own personality. To know your horse before you put him in any form of training helps to a great deal, both for the rider and the horse.

I have always told my students that every horse is a champion and when you come to the barn get blinkers on your eyes; think about your horse.

Don’t waste your time and your horse’s time. You can be a champion rider but to be a champion horseman you have to learn your horse before you set a goal. Remember Sea Biscuit. That movie had a few scenes which are so touching to see how this jockey knows his horse…when he tells the

GM: What training methods do you recommend?

RP: To

get to know your horse, ground work is very important.

It’s a start to a bond between you and the horse. Even taking your horse for grazing, you get to know your horse. When you see him in the barn alone, you see his personality. When you

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other jockey as he lay in the hospital ‘’let my horse have a good look in the other horses eyes.’’ He can’t be beaten.

It’s a very fine example of horsemanship. How a rider knows about his horse. He could even tell when to break his stride, when to push him, when to let him do it for you.

Another one from the same movie is when the horse had injured his leg. The vet almost said to put Sea Biscuit to sleep.

The rider took Sea Biscuit out for grazing and then decides to put the saddle on, and then he was talking to the horse. Then Sea Biscuit won the race. It’s all so perfect. It works very well.That’s the relationship between a rider and a horse we should be looking for.

Training with a happy horse makes the advanced training easy, simple and fun. It’s long hard work with a lot of patience and there all your work in starting a horse comes in hand. I have trained many horses and have started a lot, but I have always taken it dayby-day. On many occasions we have to start all over again you see its the connection and many times we feel the disconnection and instead of pushing your horse its time to release the pressure and go back to the basics .

GM: What are your thoughts on therapeutic riding?

RP: Horses

heal. They healed me from stress, anxiety attacks, and a broken back way back in 2008. It’s all about the training

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Horsemanship is a passion to learn about horses. It’s the quality time one spends with a horse no matter what we are doing around them and or with them. I always tell my students not to waste your time or a horse’s time even if someone else is riding, lounging, and even grazing.

Observe horses and they teach you. A lot of trainers do say to build up a relationship with your horse, it’s the connection we call “Equus language.”

Horsemanship is to go with the horse, make your horse comfortable and having you around.

and finding a horse with a heart. When we are looking for a horse, we ride and check the horse. I am sure every rider has their own liking or to some extent it’s the connection.

Once you sit on a horse you can feel it...it’sthe vibes you get straight away.

Every horse is different and so is the starting of a horse. I personally feel and think one has to understand his or her horse. I have seen many riders training their horses in almost the same way; it’s like when we go to school, it depends a lot on the teachers. If my English teacher is good and understands me, and gives me all the comfort in the class, I am bound to fall in love with English. It’s just a very simple concept. Same is with the horse. It can be a show jumper, dressage, polo or a racehorse.

Making your horse fall in love with the event you want to train him for is important. It makes the two happy in the training and competing. Of course the blood line matters, but that’s the difference between a well-trained and schooled horse. I would call them a happy horse when we see a horse and rider enjoying what they are doing.

GM: What does horsemanship mean to you?

RP: Horsemanship

is the connection you have with a horse; it comes with time and learning horses. I don’t know how really to put it in words, but I would say it’s an art.

For example, my mare was injured bad many weeks back and I had no clue when she will be ready so can start working on her. A few guys asked me when she would be ready, and I told them I didn’t know. Last night I had dinner at the barn.

My grooms cooked for me and I went to her. I was getting ready to leave she was happy, excited it was very clear to me she wanted me to take her out.

It’s not the language or signs a horse would show you like wanting to go out for grazing, it was a different look in her eyes, her face was very clear to me. She was ready. I got her out on the halter asked my groom to give me a leg up and we went for a walk in the Dressage arena…it was just moonlight and all dark. We walked and talked. My champion gal is back. That’s horsemanship in one way, to be connected to know a horse; to go with the horse and it will never come without love and passion.

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Rest in Peace Dilbag 86

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Dilbag a beautiful blue horse which was in service as the Sacred horse and kept as Second Throne horse honoured with Silver Saddle of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Tenth Guru of Sikhs) at Takhat Sri Hazur Saheb Nanded (Maharashtra, India) has breathed his last at the Gurudwara Stable today in the morning. Dilbag was from India’s finest bloodline Marwari horse Adam. These sacred horses here are never ridden and not to be ridden till they live. They are just for the Devine ride of Sri Guru Gobind Singhji with honour.

He was taken to the Gurudwara for the last prayers to be performed and “Antim-Sanskar” (Funeral) was done with the Sikhism Rituals which is a mark of respect towards the soul who served in God’s order.

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UNIVERSAL STUD FARMS

PROP. JITENDRA SINGH PAHADIYA +91 96653 99999 89

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THE ADVENTURES OF PETEY AND cECIL

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On a Ranch 1971

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i friends: It’s me PeteyMcGuillicuddy and my sidekick Cecil and we are back at it. Some of you may know of us from our previous writings in the book Somewhere Outwest: Petey and Cecil. And some of you know that Cecil and I work for a grazing association in a wide open, cold blowing mountain park. Our main job from early springuntil late fall is taking care of cattle. But the term cowboy is used very loosely by our cow boss Buster, because it seems like Cecil and I get a lot of time in building and fixing fence. Along with having to work on windmills (You know what a pain in the neck that is) oh you don’t well it is!

We were done shipping cattle and had been working on some new corrals we had the posts set and the poles cut to the length we needed. So Cecil and I took a break and made a trip to the sale barn in the county west of where we lived. To a horse sale to buy a couple of colts each, which we would break through the winter and sale them in the spring and maybe make a little extra money. I had bought a nice three year old sorrel gelding and a four year old bay gelding that had never been messed with. (Are you thinking this boy isn’t very intelligent) But in 1971 it was normal to find four and five year old colts of this nature. Cecil bought a dun and a buckskin both geldings and three years old. We had figured that if

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we worked on the corrals until early afternoon then rode colts after we were done.

We would have the corrals done and the colts broke by early spring just before we started getting in cattle for the summer.

Since we were in the mountains we had a wee bit of a problem known as snow and also minor things such as high winds and below zero temperatures.

So there would be days we couldn’t work outside but there was an old barn that was forty feet wide and eighty feet long. Although it wasn’t heated and not much snow could blow in it would work to ride colts in. (Hey that was better than sitting in the house listening to Cecil entertain himself) The barn was open on the inside except of two rows of four pillars supporting a loft about twelve feet above the ground. My sorrel colt and Cecil’s colts were easy to handle and were halter broke so we would saddle them and tie them up, while we worked on the corrals. My bay colt was a different story, we had to rope him to get a halter on him and I used my black gelding to drag him up to a stout post. And would tie him up for the day, each day it was a little easier, but he had a lot of fight in him.

Everything was going good, we were making progress on the corrals and Cecil had started riding his two colts.

I was riding the sorrel colt a little and in just a few days they were coming along nice with very little fighting or bucking.

My bay horse was still fighting me on everything Idid so things weren’t going too smooth. Then it happened (Give you three guesses) yep it snowed

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and I mean a blue norther. The wind blew and snow piled up and it was so cold there were icicles on icicles! So we had to abandon the corral building so we decided to do some serious colt riding. The three colts we had started were coming along real nice, but that hammer headed, cold hearted bay was giving me fits.

(He was kind of like old Barb and Alice at the community café) He had a mean nasty attitude, one morning I decided to saddle him, so I tied him to one of the stout pillars in the barn and the fight was on. He bucked my saddle off, tried to paw and kick me at the same time. I had ridden and handled a lot of colts but never one like this one. I told Cecil I would let the bay wear the old saddle a day or two before I got on him. Now once in a while Cecil shows a little intelligence and actually say’s something smart, he said maybe we shouldsnub him with another horse. My horse Squirrel and Cecil’s old Yellar were not very dependable and both would buck, so we decided to use my black horse to snub on. After three days of being tied up with a saddle on the bay colt was getting wore down, he still resisted and fought though. I told Cecil I just as well get on him, so Cecil saddled my black horse and dallied the halter rope with the bay horses head against Cecil’s knee. After three days the colt was still snubbed but would trot and lope alongside my black horse. I had been expecting Cecil to let the halter rope go just to see if the bay could buck me off, but Cecil never did. We did this for three days and on the third day the bay was moving out without any tension on the halter rope. I told Cecil to unhook the halter rope and we made one circle around the barn with Cecil alongside of us.

When we got to the front of the barn

we stopped and I touched a spur to the bay’s side and he started bucking.

Talk about a bronc ride, I was dodging pillars with my knees and ducking rafters and between the two I was taking a pretty good beating. When we got to the end of the barn the bay hit the doors head on breaking the door latch, and we went out into a big trap. There was a windmill with a water tank on the south side and it had overflowed and there was a patch of ice thirty feet wide and about forty feet long. When the bay hit it he slid and then went head over heels, throwing me over his head. I landed on my belly and slid the whole length of the ice, hitting a post and knocking me out. When I came too Cecil was standing over me and white as a ghost, he helped me up and outside of my coat missing all the buttons and my face skinned up I was fine.

The bay colt was laying on the ground just as still as could be, Cecil said “Petey there went your profit down the drain”. All of a sudden the bay started moving and we helped get up, I led him into the barn and Cecil wired the doors shut. After a little while the colt quit shaking and I told Cecil even though I was hurting I better get on him again, I tightened my chinches and stepped on. That colt just trotted out and after we loped around the barn a time or two I walked him around cooling him off and unsaddled him. The funny thing was that colt never bucked again and I ended up keeping him and he was one of the best horses I ever owned!!!

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Maharashtra Horse Show PUNE

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Maharashtra Indigenous Horse Show recently held on 2-3 april 2016 was organised

by Indigenous Horse Owners Association of Maharashtra at Jappaloupe Equestrian Centre, Talegaon, Pune (Maharashtra) India.

This Horse show was the first of its kind in Maharashtra. 100+ horses participated under 6 categories like• Milk teeth colt • Milk teeth filly • 2 teeth colt • 2 teeth filly • Stallions • Mares

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ach category had 3 prizes for Winner, 1st Runner-up and 2 Runner-up.

Animal of the show was a special award.

All the Winners were awarded with Cash prize, Trophy and a Certificate.

Rest of the participants were also received the appreciation certificate.

This Show was successfully led by Jayesh Pekhle, Secretary of the Association. He brought all the equestrians of Maharashtra under one platform to organise and successfully complete the show to give international recognition to the Indigenous horses. Honourable Udayan Raje Nibalkar ji was the Chief Guest of the Show and Hon. Dhaval Sinhji Mohite patil , Shri Vikrant Rawalji , Shri Ajay Nenseeji , Shri

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Jayesh Pekhle shared the Dias.

Opening Ceremony of the show was held on 2nd April 2016 at 3pm.

Ribbon cutting was done with the sovereign hands of the Honourable Chief Guest Shri Nimbalkar ji assisted by special guests with other association members Shri Ashish Borwake ji, Shri Vikas Boyatkar ji , Shri Mansoor Khanji, Harwardhan Taware ji and many others.

Programme started with the felicitation of the guests. Competition was started with The Milk-teeth Filly category by 4pm and ended with Milk-teeth Colt category in which 15 and 10 animals participated in each category.

On 3rd of April , programme started with Two Teeth Filly category , Two Teeth Colt category , Mares Category and ended with the Stallion Category.

Full fledge stables were arranged for all the participant horses at the venue Jappaloupe farm with all the necessary facilities.

A Souvenir which was full of equine knowledge and the details of various stud farms and horses in and around maharashtra was also distributed among the participants.

The Show has got overwhelming response from the participants and the spectators. Huge number of spectators witnessed the show and appreciated the well organised system of the association.

Breeders and owners of Finest Marwari breed horses of Maharashtra and Telangana participated in theshow.

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+91 9876718711

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BULLSTON Designed in Italy, Made in India

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