The International 2015

Omaha

2015

the international omaha 2015

There are connections that are as natural as breathing. Connections that don’t require reconnecting. Countless days and endless miles have no affect on the relationship. And even though we miss each other, once we share the same space again, nothing is missed, nothing has changed. Because when you know a person, really know them, they become deeply rooted in who you are—no matter where you are. Sharing deep roots cultivated by the good life.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

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the international omaha 2015

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Training and instruction at national level Competing at AA USEF Horse Shows Beginner thru Advanced

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the international omaha 2015

welcome to The International Omaha 2015 one of the most celebrated mid-sized metros in America, one that has been named by various magazines as a Top 10 city in more than 25 categories. Most often mentioned by those falling in love with the city is the vibrant nightlife and cultural scene you’ll find only steps away throughout Downtown Omaha and beyond.

Welcome to Omaha and

what is fast becoming one of the premiere equestrian events in North America. Whether you’re a competitor, horse aficionado, or newcomer to the world of equestrian sports, we believe the stage is set for a weekend you’ll long remember.

Grace, power, precision, and beauty. The airy weightlessness of a champion’s canter. Ultimately, The International Omaha 2015 is a celebration of one of nature’s most majestic creatures.

And be sure to check out The International Omaha Expo, a place for fun activities and learning for kids of all ages. And don’t miss the Gallery of Breeds for up-close and personal encounters with horses.

It is a celebration, too, of the fine arts of the trainer and rider. We think you’ll agree: It’s a celebration of man and horse in perfect harmony.

It is no accident that the CenturyLink Center Omaha has recently played host to both the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. And it’s no accident that, for more than 50 years, you’ve had to travel “The Road to Omaha” to reach the NCAA College World Series.

And, speaking of celebrations, we are proud to announce that The International Omaha will host the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping & Dressage Finals. Leave it to that “can do” spirit of the great people of Omaha to have been selected by the FEI over bids from London, Hong Kong, and the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch for the honor.

Needless to say, we’re extremely excited about The International Omaha 2015 as well as the future of equestrian sports competition in this city. It is truly an honor to share with you our immense appreciation and admiration for the fine animals and athletes you’ll see this weekend.

As part of our preparation for 2017, we are introducing a slate of dressage events for the first time in this, the fourth year of The International Omaha.

Enjoy!

Beyond the arena, we invite you to soak in the charms of the great city of Omaha, increasingly

cover photography by bill sitzmann

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welcome to The International Omaha 2015 horse show here each year, Omaha also was selected from an impressive list of cities worldwide as the site for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Dressage Finals.

That is certainly an accomplishment worthy of the most prestigious of winner’s circles.

Cox Communications is honored to welcome you to The International Omaha 2015! As a proud sponsor of this fourth annual competition, we can assure you that this evening will showcase a world-class equestrian experience to remember. We know you will enjoy watching riders from around the world—including those who have competed in the Olympics, FEI World Cup™ championships, and the Pan Am Games—compete for top honors in this high-level, intense horse jumping competition.

For more than 30 years, the Cox Omaha team has been fully engaged and committed to delivering the services that keep our customers and our community connected. We look forward to playing a valuable role in helping our city prosper and thrive in the years ahead.

At Cox, we are extremely proud to be rooted in this vibrant community that we have called “home” since 1980. Omaha is a city on the move—a city with a proud past and a bright future. The kind of triple-crown drive that powers Omaha to success requires determination and teamwork. We commend the vision and dedication of those who took the dream of hosting an international horse show here in our community and made it a reality.

On behalf of the entire Cox Omaha team, thank you for joining us tonight. We hope you enjoy every minute of this truly unique equestrian experience.

Kimberly Rowell Cox Communications

As we say in Omaha, “We Don’t Coast,” and now you might also say, “we don’t horse around,” either. In addition to hosting an international

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competition schedule competition speed day competition

8:30 a.m.

Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts FEI CDI* Intermediate I Competition

11:30 a.m.

PEM High Child/Adult Jumper Speed Derby

1:00 p.m.

classic prix day competition

8:30 a.m.

Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts FEI CDI* Intermediate I Freestyle Competition

11:30 a.m.

Serenity Ridge Physical Therapy Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Speed Derby

Gallery of Breeds Owner High Child/Adult Jumper Classic

1:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

Ponca Hills Farm High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Speed Derby

Quail Run Horse Centre Low Junior Amateur Owner Jumper Classic

2:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

Deutsche Bank Open Speed Derby

United States Pony Club Jumper Team High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic

4:00 p.m.

Kiewit Open Jumper Classic

Mutual of Omaha Bank Fastest Horse Championship

7:00 p.m.

Omaha Steaks Opening Ceremonies

Burlington Capital Group Grand Prix Evening Competition

7:00 p.m.

Omaha Steaks Opening Ceremonies

7:10 p.m.

Mutual of Omaha Bank Fastest Horse Championship

7:10 p.m.

Burlington Capital Group Omaha Grand Prix

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exposition schedule RFD-TV Equine Educational Expo

Don’t forget that the action at The International Omaha extends far beyond the main arena!

American Paint Association

Mascot “Paint Horse Pete” will delight children when they meet this plush Paint horse.

United States Pony Clubs

An introduction to this exciting sport where you will learn the basics of horse jumping rules, point scoring, obstacles, faults, disqualifications, and types of courses. Measure a horse, and learn about horse management and care, nutrition, grooming, riding safety, and tack.

Gallery of Breeds

Meet a variety of horse breeds including a Percheron, Shire, Mustang, Miniatures, Halflinger, Quarter Horse, Arabian, and Gypsy Vanner. Learn what makes each breed unique in this face to muzzle experience presented by our young horse enthusiasts.

Regulation Jumps

Union Pacific Train Safety

Safety demonstrations for trains and railroad tracks.

Oriental Trading Treasure Hunt

Find all the treasure locations throughout the expo and stamp your treasure map to win a prize.

•

International Video

Learn the history of horses—and how they were used as work horses right here in Omaha—along with an overview of the sport of show jumping and scoring.

International Mini-Jumps

Come have fun and jump over mini-jumps.

Mane Street • Gallery of Breeds Museum •

Introduction by the Blue Ribbon Group of English, Dressage and Western tack and clothing displays.

Touch-A-Tack • Touch and feel a bridle or a bit or a spur. Examine the weight of a horseshoe. See the grains and hay a horse eats, and compare a horse brush to your own.

Horsin’ Around • Have your picture taken in a horse harness, measure yourself in horse hands, try on clothes, and sit on saddles.

Measure yourself up to the height of a real jump used in the official competition and see how high a horse has to leap to get over it!

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CenturyLink Horseless mini-jump competition

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10:00 a.m.

Equine Physical Exam Nebraska College of Agriculture

1:00 p.m.

Horse Braiding Basics Linda Fries & Erin Rowell

11:00 a.m.

Horse Nutrition International Blue Ribbon Group

2:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

Tacking a Horse International Blue Ribbon Group

Basics of Show Jumping Course Design from the Designer’s, Rider’s and Horse’s Point of View, Richard Lamb Coach and Team Manager U.S. Pony Club’s Pony Jumper Team

12:00 p.m.

Grooming Your Horse International Blue Ribbon Group

3:00 p.m.

How to Read a Horse Colleen Hamer

Race against the clock through the mini-jump course and win prizes.

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Bluebonnet Feeds Veterinarian Display • Meet Nebraska College

of Agriculture veterinary technicians and learn about the digestive system and aging a horse through their skull and teeth.

Blacksmith Shop Omaha •

Meet a blacksmith and learn with hands-on experience about such tools of the trade as an anvil, forge, pedal grinder, and bellows.

Name That Breed • After meeting the Gallery of Breed horses, test your knowledge of the horses you met by matching their picture to the correct breed.

Friday Entertainment

4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Eugene Sedletsky

Saturday Entertainment

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Escape from Alcajazz 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Bobby Kunkle

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Pea Pod Productions Face Painting

4:00 p.m.

Trimming and Shoeing Fundamentals Shane Walde, Ferrier

5:00 p.m.

What Makes a Horse Tick Nebraska College of Agriculture

the international omaha 2015

course design, jumps, and scoring

Designs vary, as do the types of jumps the horse and rider encounters. In some ways, riders face the same challenges as pro golfers.

At each new event they confront a different course layout. Within the myriad course designs, though, are the same types of obstacles used in all competitions. The penalties for stumbles along the way also remain the same.

Every rider starts with

A diagram is supplied

to riders of the course they will be facing. The diagram displays the types of obstacles encountered (oxers, triple bars, walls, etc.). Riders are allowed to walk the course prior to jumping. However, horses are not allowed in the arena until competition.

Jumps are marked with red and white flags, which communicate to the rider which direction jumps are to be approached.

The rider must have the red flag on their right, and the white flag on their left.

zero faults.

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First Refusal: Four faults are assessed when a horse won’t jump over a jump.

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Second refusal: Elimination.

•

Knockdown: Four

•

Horse or Rider Falls: Elimination.

•

Exceeding the time allowed: One

faults are incurred when the height of an obstacle is lowered.

fault for every four seconds or part of four seconds over the time allowed in the first round. In the jump-off round, one fault for one second over the time allowed.

In Friday’s speed competitions, winners are determined by first-round action.

In the event of a tie in Saturday’s jumping events, riders advance to a jump-off, which takes place on a shortened course. Just like in overtime in football games, riders in a jump-off prefer going last because they already know the score they must beat.

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Brush Rails

Oxer (#5)

Vertical

Gate

Open Water (#9)

Post Rail

Triple Bars (#3)

Wall

Wall Rails

Vertical (or upright): A jump that consists of poles or planks placed one directly above another with no spread, or width, to jump.

OXER: Two

verticals placed close together to make the jump wider, also called a spread.

• Ascending Oxer: The furthest pole is higher than the first. Often called a Ramped Oxer.

Combination: Usually

two or three jumps in a row, with no more than two strides between each. Two jumps in a row are called double combinations, and three jumps in a row are called triple combinations. If a horse refuses the second or third element in one of these combinations, it must jump the whole combination again, not just any obstacle missed.

• Fan: The rails on one side of the fence are spread out by standards, making the fence take the shape of a fan when viewed from above.

• Liverpool: A ditch or large tray of water under a vertical or oxer.

• Square Oxer: Both top poles are of an equal height. Sometimes known as a Box Oxer.

• Swedish Oxer: The poles slant in opposite directions so that they appear to form an “X” when seen head-on.

• Triple Bar: A spread fence using three elements of graduating heights.

• Wall: Usually made to resemble a brick wall, but the “bricks” are constructed of a lightweight material and fall easily when contact is made.

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East German-born rider Christian Heineking, five-time international omaha winner.

past winners 2014 place horse

1

River Of Dreams

owner

2

Alamo

October Hill Hunters & Jumpers

3

D’Artagnan

MG Partners

Caroline Jahr

place horse

1

River Of Dreams

owner

2

October Hill’s Cancho

October Hill Sales Limited

3

Kvf Tacorde

Klondike Victory Farm

Caroline Jahr

Baird Holm Attorneys at Law - Top Professional Award 2014

Rider

Christian Heineking

Erin Davis Heineking Eric Martin

Rider

Christian Heineking

Erin Davis Heineking Lorrie Jamieson

Christian Heineking

Omaha Sports Commission Leading Amateur 2014

Laura Linneck

Mr. and Mrs. Harley Schrager Leading Junior 2014

Hunter Holloway

UltraAir, LLC - Top Owner Award 2014

Christian Heineking

photography by Lili Weik Photography

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past winners 2013 place horse

1

Winchester

owner

Bridlebourne Stables

Theo Genn

Rider

2

October Hill’s Cancho

October Stables Limited

Erin Davis

3

NKH Selena

NKH LLC

Christian Heineking

place horse

1

River of Dreams

owner

Caroline Jahr

Christian Heineking

2

NKH Selana

NKH LLC

Christian Heineking

3

Caballito

Arao Enterprises LLC

Baird Holm Attorneys at Law Top Professional Award 2013 Omaha Sports Commission Leading Amateur 2013

Rider

Andres Rodriguez

Christian Heineking Laura Linback

Breyer Leading Junior 2013

Isabelle Terry

GGT Leading Owner 2013

NKH LLC

past winners 2012 place horse

1

River of Dreams

owner

2

Happy Z

Wilhelm Genn

3

Alamo

October Hill Hunters & Jumpers

Caroline Jahr

place horse

1

River of Dreams

owner

2

Shea

Blair Cudmore

3

Wurion

Palmer Divide Ranch

Caroline Jahr

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Rider

Christian Heineking Wilhelm Genn

Erin Davis

Rider

Christian Heineking Karen Cudmore Susan Griffis

the international omaha 2015

glossary of terms helmet

saddle

Crop

bridle

bit

hoof

rail

Illustration by kristen hoffman

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the international omaha 2015 Rhythm: The Aids: Signals

or cues by which the rider communicates instructions to the horse. Natural aids include the voice, legs, hands, and one’s weight. Artificial aids include the whip and spurs.

Canter: Three-beat

gait of the horse in which one hind leg strides first (the leading leg) followed by the opposite diagonal pair and finally the opposite foreleg. Called the lope in Western riding.

Equitation: The

position of the rider on the horse.

Fault: Knocking

a rail, traveling too slowly, and refusing to jump a fence are all reasons for horses to incur faults in competition.

Gallop: Four-beated gait of the horse in which each foot touches the ground separately, as opposed to the canter, which is a three-beat gait.

Half halt: An

pace and stride length of a horse.

Stride: The

on horseback that help improve balance and confidence in a rider.

Coldblood: Draft

Time Faults: One

Quadrille: Performance given by a team of four, six, eight, or more riders involving riding in an intricate pattern to music.

Colic: General term describing abdominal pain in the horse.

Show Jumping: Riders

who rides horses.

step of the horse; often used as a system of measurement between two jumps. The average horse stride is 12 feet. fault for every four seconds or part of four seconds over the time allowed in the first round.

In the jump-off round, one fault for one second over the time allowed.

gait in which the horse moves from one diagonal pair of legs to the other with a period of suspension in between.

Refusal: When a horse refuses to jump a particular obstacle when asked.

Bit: Metal mouthpiece on a bridle to which the reins attach.

Jump cup: Attaches

that fits around the horse’s head while being ridden.

Bridle: Harness

Oxer: Single

Crop or whip: Long, thick, hand-held device used to encourage a horse forward.

to the wing or standard of a jump and holds the rail in position.

Vertical: Straight

Pace: The speed and way of going.

sport involving gymnastic exercises done on the back of a moving horse.

placed on the ground in front of a fence to help the horse and/or rider judge the take-off point.

Jogs: When

used to indicate the horse’s leading leg in canter, e.g., “right lead canter” or “left lead canter.”

Vaulting: Equestrian

Ground line: Pole

side of the jump used to create height.

Lead: Term

and horses competing over technically difficult jumps with rails that easily fall. The emphasis is on speed and agility.

Trot: Moderate-speed

exercise, basically a “pay attention, please,” used to communicate to the horse that the rider is about to ask for some change of direction, gait, or other exercise or movement. a horse is trotted in hand free from tack to make sure it is sound for competition.

Mounted Games: Games

fence consisting of two elements which make a spread jump.

Farrier: Skilled craftsman who shoes horses.

Standard: The

Halter: Also

called a head collar, it is used in the barn to control or restrain a horse.

up-anddown fence without width creating a difficult obstacle.

Helmet: Safety headwear that must meet certain standards to be worn.

Dressage: Training,

Hoof pick: Grooming tool used to keep the hoof free of debris.

education of the horse through prescribed movements and patterns on the flat (no jumping) from level to level.

Saddle: Rider’s

seat on the back of a horse.

Eventing: Equestrian

Spur: Pointed

device attached to a rider’s boot heel and used to cue a horse.

competition held over one or three days and including the disciplines of dressage, cross country, and show jumping.

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horses which are very strong and often used to pull heavy loads.

Equestrian: One Equine: Anything horse-related.

Frog: The

sensitive, triangular area on the sole of the hoof that acts as a shock absorber.

Hand: How horses are measured. One hand equals four inches.

Hoof: The

horse’s foot, which is hard and round like fingernail material.

Hotblood: Term describing horses of Arabian or Thoroughbred blood; they are speedy and fine-boned.

Junior: A rider under the age of 18.

Mare: Female

horse ages 4 and over.

Pony: A

small horse standing 14.2 hands or less.

reins: Most

often made of leather and attached to the bridle. Used to guide and signal the horse.

Stallion: An

intact male horse often used for breeding purposes.

Warmblood: A

half-bred or part-bred horse, the result of an Arabian or Thoroughbred crossed with other breeds.

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Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League The realm of world-class equestrian sports in North America received a major boost last month when the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League was unveiled in Miami at the nation’s premier sports media annual industry convention, SPORTELAmerica.

compete in the new North American League season, will be bidding to be crowned the 2015 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion next week in Las Vegas.

The league will be showcased on a broad range of global media, including live TV broadcasts and streaming services on digital outlets and mobile platforms supported by fascinating behind-thescenes, documentary-style coverage, all while focusing on the excitement of equestrian sports.

The new league kicks off on in August across seven East and seven West Coast venues in three countries—the United States, Mexico and Canada—and brings together the best athletes from the Olympic sport of jumping from North America and the world, all with the goal of qualifying for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final.

The FEI, founded in 1921, is the world governing body for Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving and Para-Driving, Endurance, Vaulting, and Reining. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the FEI celebrated 100 years of equestrian sports in the Olympic movement at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

A total of 14 athletes from the new North American league will qualify for next year’s prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden in March 2016. The top seven athletes from the East Coast division, the top three from West Coast division, and the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico will qualify for Gothenburg, alongside winners from 15 leagues around the world.

Longines, the FEI’s Official Top Partner, timekeeper, and watch of the FEI, is a major global supporter of the sport, and is already title partner, official timekeeper and watch of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League and Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping China League.

And then it will be on to Omaha after the league’s second season of competition when The International Omaha hosts the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final right here in the CenturyLink Center. Omaha was selected by the FEI over bids from London, Hong Kong, and the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

The Swiss watchmaker’s pioneering timing heritage in the United States dates to 1881, when the company’s chronographs were used by people involved in the world of equestrian sports in New York. These chronographs enabled performances to be timed with a previously unheard of accuracy and precision.

In the meantime, the world’s best riders, including many of those that will go on to

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Ballet Nebraska’s Bret Samson atop Vinnie, owned by Missy Fladland.

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dressage for dummies Respect, Patience, Unity First off, yes, the name can be confusing.

This is not equestrian dress-up.

Lead In

the canter, a horse begins each stride with one foreleg accompanied by the opposite hind leg. The forward leg indicates the canter lead.

It is more ballet, perhaps, a pas de duex of horse and rider.

Passage The

horse pauses rhythmically with each step in the movement.

Dressage strives for a sort of zen-like unity of man and horse—two creatures working as one. It is a sport born of Renaissanceenlightened ideas of how to train and interact with animals. Respect and great patience, not brute force and subjugation.

Piaffe While

performing the piaffe, the horse seems to trot in place.

Pirouette The horse moves in a partial or full turn in the collected walk or canter. The animal’s hind legs remain in place as his forelegs form the arc.

As with any ancient art, classical dressage (pronounced like “massage”) comes with its own vocabulary. If you’re new to this landscape, knowing the following terms might help you better enjoy the show.

Posting This is the art of rising in the saddle each time the horse’s outside front leg and inside hind leg step forward.

Canter You’ll

hear this term often. This is a three-beat gait that is central to dressage competition. The horse leads with the inside foreleg. In counter-canter, the horse leads with the outside foreleg.

Transitions Any

gait change, upward or downward, is known as a transition in dressage.

Trot The

equine’s diagonal leg pairs move in unison in a two-beat trot.

Collected When

a horse moves with balanced grace, he is “collected.” His neck is arched and raised and his power comes from the rear of his body. He doesn’t resist the bit and carries himself with lightness.

Walk One

of the fundamentals of dressage, this gait presents four beats as the horse moves each leg individually in rhythm.

Impulsion The

best dressage horses move with great flexibility, lightness, and power. This is called impulsion.

story by Robert Nelson photography by bill sitzmann

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the international omaha 2015

Isabelle Paik, Linda Fries, and Catherine Jones

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the international omaha 2015

the blue ribbon group Horses, Horses, Horses!

Linda Fries’ introduction to

the horse came on her uncle’s Colorado ranch when she was a toddler.

“It was a huge Palomino—just huge— especially because I must have been so tiny,” Fries says. “I wanted to spend that whole vacation—and many more after that—spending all day out in the pasture with that Palomino.

From that moment on I drove my mom crazy because every book, every movie, every piece of everything had to be horses, horses, horses!”

Fries never grew out of her obsession with the most noble and storied of beasts, and now she helps head a group of young ambassadors in the Blue Ribbon Group. The organization is a cadre of high school and college students that acts as The International’s junior Board in educating the community on horses and horsemanship.

You’ll find the group’s members staffing and running events and demonstrations in the Gallery of Breeds throughout this event. In the days leading up to The International Omaha, busload after busload of school children visited the Gallery of Breeds space located

in the street level, northernmost hall of the CenturyLink Center.

know much about riding and it’s fun to share my enthusiasm with others.”

“You might be surprised how many kids have never seen a horse in real life,” Fries says. “They’ve all seen them in cartoons, on TV and movies, and in books, but when they come face to face with a horse for the first time, just like I did on my uncle’s ranch, they get this wide-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look on their faces that is indescribable. It’s just priceless.”

Look for Izzy’s horse, S.S. Air Strike “Job” in the Gallery of Breeds.

Formed in 2012, the Blue Ribbon Group consists of young riders who spend the remainder of the year visiting hospitals, assisted living facilities, and schools in teaching about and sharing their love of all things equine.

Blue Ribbon Group member Isabelle “Izzy” Paik, a senior at Bellevue West High School who has been riding for 11 years, had just brought home a pair of 1st Place ribbons from an event the day before being interviewed for this story.

“I get pretty competitive when I’m on a horse,” Izzy explains, “but being in the Blue Ribbon group means that I get to share that passion with the community. A lot of people don’t

Catherine Jones, also a Bellevue West senior, shares Paik’s devotion to the sport.

“It’s just simply breathtaking being on top of a horse,” Catherine says. “It’s the same sort of adrenalin rush that all athletes feel, I suppose, but I always think about it as something of an extra rush. Have you ever watched crazy extreme sports like the X Games on TV? It’s like that kind of rush for me.

That’s what it’s like when you have that perfect feeling of you-and-horse” as one.

“Our group is exciting, too, but in a different way,” adds the urban cowgirl and 4-H member who plans to study agriculture in college. “We get to work in the horse industry and make it fun and relevant for the entire community. It’s every girl’s dream to get a pony for Christmas. I get to live and share that dream through the Blue Ribbon Group.”

Makayla Burg Bellevue West High School

Lauren Franzen Elkhorn High School

Hayley Kastrup Blair High School

Anna Camden Metro Community College

Gabriella Goetzinger Central High School

Sydney Kelley Blair High School

Kayleen Camden Blair High School

Kailey Gettman University of Nebraska-Omaha

Anna Naumann University of Nebraska-Omaha

Alysa Dail University of Nebraska-Omaha

Sami Gochenour University of Nebraska-Omaha

Isabelle Paik Bellevue West High School

Kari Fossum Duchesne Academy

Kirsten Hall Bellevue West High School

Emily Smith Blair High School

Rachel Fowler University of Nebraska-Omaha

Catherine Jones Bellevue West High School

Maria (Lola) Vieyra University of Nebraska-Omaha

story by david williams photography by bill sitzmann

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Elisabeth White Blair High School

Randy Brown Linda Fries, Group Leader Linda Mercuriali Jennifer Tudor Cathy White

the international omaha 2015

gallery of Breeds

American Miniatures Beasley & Goldie, owned by Pam Seefus

American Quarter Horse Boudicca (aka Boo), owned by

Miniature horses rarely top 38 inches in height. The breed has been used as service and companion animals akin to assistance dogs, but this pair has earned celebrity status for donning adorable Santa get-ups when visiting assisted living facilities during the holidays.

Kay Brown Known to enjoy gazing at her own reflection in a mirror, this vainglorious beauty from the breed known for its sprinting ability is quick to strut her stuff in area parades and other public events. Turn-ons? Peppermints.

Turn-offs? Sugar cubes and marshmallows.

HAFLINGER Izzy, owned by Sherry Stone This golden charmer with a flaxen mane and tail is of a draft breed that originated in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria and northern Italy. Izzy enjoys Western trail challenges and is a proverbial smash when nuzzling kids at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo for Kids with Autism.

Percheron Cedar Woods Luke Skywalker (mostly just Luke),

owned by Shelly Rowell This sturdy Percheron is known for its tireless strength and is trained for cart class, riding, and show. Don’t let Luke’s imposing stature fool you. Sure, he’s a towering standout only three inches shy of the world record for height, but this gentle giant with the dreamy eyes is a snuggler who loves to be petted with tender caresses.

Text by david williams Illustrations by kristen hoffman

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the international omaha 2015

Arabian S.S. Air Strike “Job,” owned by Isabelle Paik This spirited breed from the Arabian Peninsula dates to at least 2,500 B.C.E. and is one of the most easily recognizable—and fastest—horses in the world. Don’t take offense if Job sticks his tongue out at you. It’s not for lack of manners. He’s just rather shamelessly begging for treats, treats, and more treats.

Gypsy Vanner Flynn, owned by Tracy Helget Stout of build but serene of spirit, Flynn’s distinctive markings suggest a regal bearing. Reminiscent of the great jousting breeds of Merry Olde England, Flynn is a sucker for getting a tingly back-scratch administered by the tines of a pitchfork

Pure Mustang Little Bitty, owned by Maddie Cutler Rescued from the Great Southwest through the Bureau of Land Management’s efforts to battle wild horse overpopulation— and with an assist from the Nebraska Humane Society’s Star Equine Rehabilitation Program—this modest-sized stunner likes both kinds of music; Country and Western. Her fave twangy tune? Alan Jackson’s “Little Bitty,” naturally.

Shire Jenson Diplomat Emily, owned by Clark Jensen Shires have at various times held the world records for both largest overall horse and tallest horse. Throughout its history, this powerful breed has been popular for pulling brewery wagons.

But don’t get the wrong idea about Emily; she never touched the stuff when she was carrying the foal that joins her in this stall.

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history is made in these boots The Dehner Boot Company company president Jeff Ketzler, the Dehner ethic quickly becomes apparent. Artisans cut and shape leathers with hand tools smoothed and patinaed from decades of use. Leather uppers are sewn to soles with antiquated, belt-driven, black-enameled machines. Indeed, the factory floor could just as easily be a living-history museum of the cordwainer’s art circa 1930.

Although their professions and proclivities may

differ a bit, astronauts, bikers, cops, movie stars, presidents, fighter pilots, polo aficionados, members of San Francisco’s leather subculture, tank commanders, and Teutonic toughs all seem to agree on one thing—The Dehner Boot Company of Omaha makes one fine custom leather boot.

But Dehner continues to exist precisely because most of the world has passed the company by.

“We refuse to change how we do things,” Ketzler says. “We are known for craftsmanship and quality. I would close this

Walking through the factory near 36th and Martha St. with

English

Nasa

story by Robert Nelson photography by bill sitzmann text Originally published in OMAHA MAGAZINE, march/April 2014

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factory before I allow us to become just another company that cranks out junk.”

If it’s a Dehner, you will be comfortable in this timeless piece of footwear long after your other shoes have turned to scraps.

Little has changed during Dehner’s 130 years of existence. The tech revolution never happened here. The equation is simple: Determine exactly what the footwear needs to do. Take exact measurements of the feet the footwear needs to service. Once you know these details, find strong, supple leather and have men and woman, most with decades of experience, use heavy-duty materials and mostly centuries-old techniques to craft the final product.

Using this formula, Ketzler and his father and grandfather before him have built a resume unmatched among American shoe manufacturers.

NASA turned to the company to build some of the first boots to go into space. General Curtis LeMay looked to Dehner to design and build the perfect boot for the quick-strike flight crews of the Strategic Air Command. Horse buff Ronald Reagan often talked up his Dehner >

Blue Angels

brad pitt FURY (2014)

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< riding boots. James Dean wore Dehner boots.

Leaders throughout World War II, including Gen. George Patton, wore Dehners. The Thunderbirds. The Blue Angels. Ketzler recently shipped off a pair of militarystyle boots for Brad Pitt to wear in an upcoming movie. In time, you realize an impressive chunk of 20th century American history was made in Dehner boots.

Ken Hedrick, owner of Stompers Boots in San Francisco, one of the largest retailers of Dehner Boots in the world, explains why Dehners are sought when the best is needed.

“There are really only two makers of very serious custom boots left in this country—Wesco and Dehner,” he says. “With the Dehners, what you come to realize—and what a lot of people have come to realize—is that nobody anywhere makes anything as good. They have some secret sauce or something. People have tried to copy them, but nobody can pull it off.”

Dehner once hovered around 40 employees in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The company has tended to employ closer to 20 in recent years, but they are doing much better than many other small custom shoe companies.

“We are doing pretty well while so many other companies like us around the world have gone out of business,” he says.

Still, Ketzler does have plans to explore new markets. His latest idea came to him last year after his father passed away.

“It got me looking back, thinking how much he had been involved in, how much the U.S. had been involved in through that time,” he says. “It seemed like a history that should be celebrated.” So Dehner boots now has a Reenactment Line. If you or a group wants the exact boots worn by any number of historic figures, Dehner can make them for you for somewhere between $500 and $1,000 a pair.

President Ronald reagan

“We still have all the designs in our files and we still use all the same equipment and all the same leathers,” he says. “You get the exact same boot.”

In the front office of the Dehner building sits the lineup of Dehner products past and present.

Here, longtime company everywoman Mary Rushing provides the tour. In her 18 years

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WHERE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS BEGIN.

here, she has run done everything from finishing boots to running the shipping department and front office.

Today she gives a detailed, insidethe-craft, foots-on tour of a dozen or so of Dehner’s most historic artifacts.

The black and white NASA boots worn in space by astronauts such as John Glenn are, back here on earth, just about the coolest things ever.

Few facilities can match the partnership-building opportunities you and your horse can enjoy at Ponca Hills Farm. From beginner lessons for children to advanced training for Hunters, Jumpers and Eventers, you’ll find it here. Join the tradition of great horses and riders who have proudly called Ponca Hills Farm home.

Call Lisa at 402-453-4000 or visit us at poncahillsfarm.com

“I’m pretty proud to be a part of all this,” Rushing says. “It’s a unique company with a great history that stands for quality. You can feel like you’re doing something pretty cool here.”

Proudly celebrating our 50th year!

The trick moving forward, Ketzler says, will be to stay true to the company’s history while trying to grow— carefully—in a world that “may not appreciate what we do as much as in the past.

“This company has a 130-year history of making a superb product,” he adds.

I’m just not going to be the guy who destroys that kind of legacy.”

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402.895.6660 bobcat.omaha-tractor.com

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special thanks Special thanks to world-renowned

artist Matthew Placzek, who created the Grand Prix trophy.

Carmen and John Gottschalk Foundation Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation Mike and Gail Yanney Baird Holm LLP, Attorneys at Law HDR, Inc. The Heider Foundation SilverStone Group 3M Corporation America First Foundation Anonymous Antarès Sellier France Baird Holm Attorneys at Law Bio-Vi Bloom’s Florist Blue Ribbon Group Bluebonnet Feeds Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts Burlington Capital Group CenturyLink Clark Creative ConAgra Cox Communications CWD Sellier Robert B. Daugherty Foundation Debby Durham Foundation Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Elmo Diaz, Blacksmith Shop Omaha Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund eCreamery Ice Cream & Cakes Ed Wilson Trucking ESI- Equestrian Services International Flynt Hylls Gypsy Horses

Gallery of Breed Horse Owners GGT Footing HDR, Inc. The Heider Foundation Hilton Omaha International Volunteers J. Skinner Baking Glenn Jackson, DVM,PHD - Nebraska College OF Technical Argiculture JC2S Ranch Clark Jensen,Whispering Pines Jensen Shires Kiewit Companies Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, LLC Lawlor’s Custom Sportswear Luitpold/Adequan Mainfreight MG Jumps McGowan Family Foundation Mutual of Omaha Bank Nebraska Office of Tourism Northwest Feed and Grain Company Omaha Magazine, LTD Omaha Public Power District Omaha Tractor, Inc. Omaha Steaks

Omaha Magazine, LTD omahamagazine.com

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Omaha Sports Commission Oriental Trading Company PEM Surfaces Ponca Hills Farm Premier Equestrian Quail Run Horse Centre RFD TV S&W Fence Harley and Beth Schrager Seefus Riding Stables Serenity Ridge Phyiscal Therpay SilverStone Group SmartPak Towne Productions Travel & Transport Tree House Acres Triple Crown Nutrition U.S. Strategic Command Joint Color Guard Union Pacific Railroad Company United States Dressage Federation United States Pony Clubs University of Nebraska Medical Center Willrowe Acres Loren Winkler, PC Professionals, Inc. Wood Run Farm

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