ON THE HORSE - May/June 2017

MAY/JUNE 2017 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3

FREE

OTH Feature

HOW TO BRAID A PERFECT MANE PART II OF III

PG.34

Featured Rider

ABBY BRANNEN

PG.18

A SYSTEM FENCING TRANSFORMATION

PG.20

ICE-VIBE C I R C U L AT I O N T H E R A P Y

Ice-Vibe offers everything I am looking for when needing to cool down legs. The vibrations help increase the circulation which, as research shows, is a must when trying to be effective as possible in cooling down tired legs. Anyone can use these boots and any busy competition barn should make them a must have!

Phillip Dutton Two Time Olympic Gold Medalist Olympic Bronze Medalist

WW W .I CEVI BE.COM

Est. 2011 Elevating the sport with fine tailoring and a fusion of high quality traditional and technical materials that transition effortlessly into lifestyle apparel.

ASMAREQUESTRIAN.COM

P O LO S & T E E S | S W E AT E R S | S H O W A P PA R E L | O U T E R W E A R | B R E E C H E S | H A N D B A G S

FEATURED THIS ISSUE

CONTENTS 34 May/June 2017

OTH SERVICES & RETAIL 8 2017 Mckee-Pownall Groom Appreciation Showcase #MPESgroomlife 16

Cadence Therapy: Canada’s First Authorized Equipulse Practitioner

OTH PRODUCTS 14 Butet Customer Review With Eden Pessin 22

Competition Withdrawal Insurance: Don’t Be Caught Off Guard!

BFL Canada

24

Purica’s Newest Equine Supplement Equine H.A 300

26

OTH Summer Product Guide

30

Summer Products From Noble Outfitters

32

Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Marcus Ehning, Cavalier

42

The Story, Philosophy, and Evolution Behind Samshield Helmets

48

6 Illnesses That Thrive On Stress VetCur

50

Sea Buckthorn, Not Your Average Berry!

56

Multi Flex, To Support Joint Health & Mobility

62

The Power Of Omegas Equine Omega Complete

68

HOW TO BRAID PERFECT MANES & FORELOCKS part ii of iii

By Sierra Sneath, a professional braider on the A Circuit, and also the owner of Twisted Tails.

Risk Factors To Equine Respiratory Health Omega Alpha

OTH FEATURED RIDER 18 Abby Brannen

OTH RETAIL 20 System Fencing And Thomas Ridge Stables: From Dream To Reality

OTH RIDER HEALTH 44 So You Want To Try Competitive Distance Riding, Now What?

Sarah Cuthbertson & Ashley Tomaszewski

OTH DRESSAGE 52 Dressage Naturally Q&A Karen Rohlf

OTH VET & EQUINE HEALTH 58 Equi-Bow Explained Julia Merritt 66

What You Should Know About Equine Medication Control in Competition Dr. Dieter Oberbichler

OTH EQUINE HOROSCOPE 70 The Taurus Horse/The Gemini Horse Samantha Marshall

OTH PUZZLES 72 Crossword Samantha Fawcett

ON THE COVER

Cover model “Elly” shows off her Twisted Tail custom fake tail and braids by Sierra Sneath. Elly is a lovely large pony prospect for sale.

Contact Nikita for more information 905 464 8893.

“

Practice like you’ve never won, perform like you’ve never lost.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure

EDITOR Samantha Fawcett SALES Tyler Saik tyler@onthehorse.com / 289-270-0906 DESIGN Navy Blue Stripes Paper Co. CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Dieter Karen Rohlf Oberbichler Julia Merritt Samantha Marshall Sarah Cuthbertson Abby Brannen Ashley Tomaszewski Sierra Sneath Marcus Ehning

that the information in this publication was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

PUBLISHER Horseback Media Inc. Milton, Ontario, Canada www.onthehorse.com

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! ONLINE TODAY. ONTHEHORSE.COM

ONTHEHORSEMAG

4 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

ONTHEHORSEMAG

ONTHEHORSEMAG

VISCERAL+

CLINICALLY PROVEN FORMULA FOR GASTRIC ULCERS

Health and wellness start in the gut and Visceral+ maintains gut health, improves condition and health and is competition safe!

BEFORE

AFTER Endoscopic evaluation of Standardbred before treatment with Visceral+ and again after 60 days of 80 grams per day of Visceral+.

madbarn.com

EDITOR’S NOTE S

how Season 2017 has officially kicked off for most everyone around Ontario; and this has been keeping us very busy here at ON THE HORSE! We have lots of exciting news to share with you about how we have been growing and expanding!

First things first! ON THE HORSE Magazine is in the process of launching a rebranding campaign to become EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO. We have always been focused on the Ontario Equestrian community, and we feel this is a way for us to really become the fore thought in everyone’s’ mind when they think about anything horse related in Ontario! What will NOT change is our dedication to the Ontario Equestrian Community!

With this exciting new rebrand campaign, we will be launching a search for EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO Ambassadors! If you don’t already, 6 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

make sure to follow us on our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) so that you can stay up to date on the latest news AND be ready to enter our Ambassador search! This rebrand will take place within the next month, so the next issue (July/Aug) that will be hitting the shelves will showcase our new brand, EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO! You may have also noticed that our magazines are now available for free pick-up at 38 locations across Ontario!

WOW, what a jump from our humble beginnings! While we are always taking suggestions for new locations in Ontario, we also have received many inquiries on how you can get a hard copy of this magazine if you do not live close to any of our pick-up locations.

So, we are pleased to announce that you can now purchase a hard copy subscription for the year to our semimonthly magazine for $30 annually by visiting our website or Facebook page!

Now, enough of the business talk! Flip the page and enjoy the latest, greatest news and articles that we have put together JUST FOR YOU!

Samantha

OTH SERVICES

2017 MCKEE-POWNALL GROOM APPRECIATION SHOWCASE #MPESgroomlife

We couldn’t do it without them! Grooms are the unsung heroes of many horse show careers. They are driven by a passion for the sport and animals and we would like to acknowledge their hard work. The list of tasks they perform is endless…. grooming, bathing, braiding, lunging, feeding, mucking, riding, tacking up, untacking, cleaning tack, at the ring, at the barn, at home, on the road…. you get the idea!

To show our appreciation to the grooms that make it happen McKee-Pownall Equine Services is proud to announce two Groom Appreciation Initiatives for 2017.

MCKEE POWNALL EQUINE SERVICES 2017 FEI GROOM APPRECIATION SHOWCASE The groom for each winner will receive $200 and a McKee-Pownall Prize Pack.

Each week horses participating in the FEI jogs at the Caledon Equestrian Park will be judged by the ground jury on their overall presentation. The focus will be on the horse but the overall picture including the presenter can enhance the impression of their equine athlete. This a great opportunity for rider, trainer, owner and everyone associated with their horse to show their appreciation to their amazing grooms by making sure they are presented in the best light. Each winner will receive their prize before the start of that week’s Grand Prix.

MCKEE POWNALL EQUINE SERVICES 2017 GROOM APPRECIATION INSTAGRAM CONTEST Enter a photo of your groom in action for a chance for win a $200 cash prize and a McKee-Pownall Prize Pack.

How to Enter • Follow @mckeepownallvet on Instagram • With their permission, post a new photo showcasing your groom hard at work preparing horses for the show ring.

• Use the hashtag #MPESgroomlife • Tag @mckeeepownallvet • Nominate your groom by tagging them or including their name and location to the post.

OR • Email your photo to info@mpequine. com with the subject line “Groom Appreciation”. In addition to the photo please include the name of the groom you are nominating, and your location.

These photos will be added by us to our Instagram account.

See www.mpequine.com/groom-appreciation-contest-rules for full contest details.

8 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

Equine Services Equine Veterinarians

Serving You & Your Equine Partner

• 24/7 Emergency Care • Farm Visits • Lameness Exams • Pre-Purchase Exams • Dentistry • Standing MRI • Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy • Acupuncture

Campbellville (866)856-3260 Newmarket (855)898-0370 Caledon (905)898-9010

info@mpequine.com • www.mpequine.com

EVENT LISTINGS June 2017 “A” CIRCUIT 7-11 • The Erin Welcome @ Angelstone 14-18

• The Headwaters Cup @ Angelstone

21-25

• Jump Into Summer @ Wesley Clover Parks

july

27-2

• Summer Classic @ Caledon Equestrian Park

TRILLIUM H/J 2-4 • Joker’s Hill Summer Trillium 5 @ RCRA [CE] 3-4 [NE]

• Ashland Farm Trillium [EOTC] • Knowlton Ridge Annual Trillium

• Trillium @ Palgrave [CE] • Waymark Farms Trillium [CW] • Highview Farms II Trillium [GB]

10-11

• Westar Farms Trillium [EOTC] • HSE Stables II [SW]

10

• Rockton Saddle Club Show @ Rockton Fairgrounds [English/ Western]

23-25

24-25

17-18

• Dreamcrest Spring HT [OHTA – E, PT, T, P, I]

24-25

• Caledon Horse Trials [OHTA – PE, E, PT, T]

25

• Touch A Rainbow HT [OHTA - PE, E, PT, T]

SCHOOLING SHOWS 3 • Cornerstone Equestrian Centre Schooling Show [H/J] 4

• Old Orchard Schooling Show [H/J] • Schooling Series @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Gymkhana] • Challenge Series Show @ Parish Ridge Stables [Hunter]

8

• Adult Schooling Show @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Dressage]

18

• Challenge Series Show @ Parish Ridge Stables [Hunter] • Schooling Series @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Gymkhana] • Teen Ranch Show [H/J]

22

• Adult Schooling Show @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Dressage]

• Mane Event @ Burbrook Equestrian [SE]

9-11

17-18

EVENTING 11 • Foxcroft Equestrian CT & XC School [SOCTA] • Wits End Eventing Test CT [OHTA]

• Stratford-Fox Run & WCP Trillium [EOTC] • Knowlton Ridge Summer Trillium [NE] • Mane Event @ Burbrook Equestrian [SE] • Eden Ridge I [SE]

OTHER EVENTS 9 • OEF Annual General Meeting @ Caledon Equestrian Park 10

• Pickering Horse Centre Trillium Show [CE] • Twinholm Trillium @ Ancaster Fairgrounds [CW]

• Clinic with Curtis Barbour @ Buxton Equestrian • Carriage Driving Clinic @ Bliss Horsemanship

13

• McCowan Stables I [GB] • Eden Ridge II [SE]

• Liberty Workshop w/ Ron Pyne @ Bliss Horsemanship

21

• Cavalia Odysseo Opening

10 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

EVENT LISTINGS 17-18

• RAM Rodeo Tour @ Orangeville Fairgrounds • Beginner Cowboy Mounted Shooting Clinic @ Orangeville Fairgrounds

18

• Standardbred Showcase @ Orono Fairground

21

• Equi-Health Canada Equine First Aid Course @ Long Run Farm

24

• Ontario Xtreme Cowboy Racing @ Maxville Fairgrounds

25

• Halton Hills Equestrian Park Rider Development Series

July 2017 “A” CIRCUIT 4-9 • Caledon Premier I @ Caledon Equestrian Park 12-16 • Ottawa International Phase I @ Wesley Clover Parks 19-23 • Ottawa International Phase II @ Wesley Clover Parks 25-30 • Equestrian Festival @ Caledon Equestrian Park TRILLIUM H/J 7-9 • Joker’s Hill Summer Trillium 6 @ RCRA [CE] • Camberwell Trillium [CW] • Eastwood Equestrian Show [NE] 8-9

• Westar Farms Trillium [EOTC] • Jack Pine Trillium I [GB] • Mane Event @ Burbrook Equestrian [SE] • London Hunt [SW]

15-16

• Butler Show Horses I Trillium [GB] • Warwick Equestrian [SE]

21-23

• Summerfest Trillium @ Pickering Horse Centre [CE]

Progress always begins where your comfort zone ends.

21-23

• Red Ribbon Stables Trillium [CW] • Rick Smith Memorial Show [NE]

22-23

• Butler Show Horses II Trillium [GB]

28-30

• Parish Ridge Stables Trillium [CW]

29-30

• Ashland Farm Trillium [EOTC] • Endless Journey Farms Trillium [SE] • Railside View Equestrian Centre [SE]

DRESSAGE 9 • Schooling Show @ DenMar Farms 16

• Dressage Niagara Bronze/Silver @ Elite Equestrian Centre

21-23

• Summer Festival @ Caledon Equestrian Park (Gold & Bronze)

23

• Oakhurst Gold Dressage Show

EVENTING 5 • Sprucehaven Farm CT & XC School [SOCTA] 8

• Will O’ Wind Summer Horse Trials [OHTA – PE, E, PT, T, P, I] MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 11

EVENT LISTINGS 9

• Stevens Creek Horse Trials [OHTA – PE, E, PT, T, P]

8

16

• Bronte Creek Summer Horse Trials [OHTA – PE, E, PT, T, P]

9

19

• Bronte Creek Equestrian CT & XC School [SOCTA]

22

• Warwick Equestrian CT & XC School [SOCTA]

22-23

• Glen Oro Horse Trials [OHTA – PE, E, PT, T, P, I]

23

• Warwick Equestrian HT 1 [SOCTA]

29

• Glenarden Farms Horse Trials [OHTA – PE, E, PT, T]

30

• Oakhurst Horse Trials [OHTA – PE, E, PT, T, P]

• Rockton Saddle Club Show @ Rockton Fairgrounds [English/ Western] • Teen Ranch Show [H/J]

16

• Challenge Series Show @ Meadowlark North [Hunter]

19

• Lollipop Show @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Gymkhana]

20

• Adult Schooling Show @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Dressage]

22

• Cornerstone Equestrian Centre Schooling Show [H/J]

23

• Summer Competition #3 @ Vector Equestrian [Hunter] • Teen Ranch Show [H/J]

OTHER EVENTS 7 • Kitchener-Woolwich Case IH Ultimate Rodeo @ Calhoun Stables

SCHOOLING SHOWS 2 • Meadowlark North Schooling Show [H/J] • Twinholm Challenge Series @ Ancaster Fair Grounds [Hunter] • Hamilton Hunt Grasshopper/ Jumper Series [H/J] 3

• Old Orchard Farms Schooling Show [H/J]

5

• Lollipop Show @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Gymkhana]

6

• Adult Schooling Show @ Touch N Go Farms [H/J/Dressage]

12 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

8

• Bruce Peninsula Mountain Trail Challenge @ Sticks and Stones Farm

9

• Halton Hills Equestrian Park Rider Development Series

14

• Civilian Service Horse Sensory Program @ REACH Clinton

16

• IMTCA Mountain Trail Grass Roots Schooling Challenges @ Oak Springs Farm

16

• Standardbred Showcase @ Touch N Go Farms

22

• AQHA Trail Challenge @ Happy Trails Horse Park

23

• Halton Hills Equestrian Park Rider Development Series TO HAVE YOUR EVENT FEATURED HERE VISIT ONTHEHORSE.COM/EVENTS

A HORSE’S DAY CAN BE FULL OF STRESS THAT CAN LEAD TO ULCERS.

Day Before shipping to competition

3 a.m. wake up & groom

Grade 1 Ulcer

3:30 a.m. feed & muck out

GASTRIC ULCERS CAN DEVELOP IN AS LITTLE AS FIVE DAYS.1

4 a.m. braiding

6:30 a.m. back to barn to polish up

5:30 a.m. warm up

Use GASTROGARD to stop ulcers before they become a problem.2

GASTROGARD® is the only Health Canada-approved product proven to aid in improving, healing and preventing equine gastric ulcers.2,3 And it’s only available from Merial.

¼ dose per day for prevention.

McClure SR, Carithers DS, Gross SJ, Murray MJ. Gastric ulcer development in horses in a simulated show or training environment. JAVMA. 2005;227(5):775-777.

2 GastroGard Canadian product label.

3 Canadian Compendium of Veterinary Products.

1

®GASTROGARD is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2016 Merial Canada Inc. All rights reserved.

GAST-16-7000-AD XCE249351.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. show time

OTH PRODUCTS

Butet Customer Q&A with Eden Pessin

Eden is 15 years old and lives in Ontario, Canada. She rides with Sherri Whitworth-Denouden and is currently showing a Dutch warmblood gelding, Rookie, in the .90m junior jumpers and CET Mini Medal on the Ontario A-circuit. After noticing Eden sporting her Butet Practice Saddle and Close Contact Saddle on Instagram, we had to ask her about her experience with the Butet product line!

WHAT IS IT THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE BUTET SADDLE? My trainer let me sit in a couple of Butet saddles she had, including the Practice. I am tall with long legs, so finding the right fit was important. At first, I really liked the classic styling of the Butet saddles. I also found the twist was narrower than other saddles I tried and suited my body type. I also appreciated that the saddles were lightweight and streamline in style.

AFTER OWNING A BUTET FOR SOME TIME NOW, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE SADDLE? I mostly like what the fit of the Butet does for my equitation. But I also ride between 4 and 5 horses every day, so I needed something that could fit from horse to horse. Right now, I use my Butet Premium flat seat on everything from a pony to a 17.3hh warmblood.

CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRACTICE SADDLE IS AND WHAT YOU USE IT FOR? The Practice saddle is a modified reduced flap. It has no knee rolls or blocks. It is designed to improve your natural balance and strength because you don’t have any artificial support.

When I first rode in it, it was hard work. One of my goals this year was to be more centered and improve my leg strength, I definitely saw a difference quickly! I will also be using my Practice saddle while showing this year too!

WHAT OTHER BUTET PRODUCTS DO YOU OWN, OTHER THAN THE SADDLES? IS THE QUALITY CONSISTENT ACROSS THEIR PRODUCT LINE? Other than the Premium and Practice saddles, I also have stirrup leathers, a girth, a bridle and a martingale. The quality is very good in all of them. I really like how they are designed. The style of the Butet tack is classic, but with the fit and features of modern technical tack. It is the best of both worlds.

BUTET SADDLES ARE VERY WELL KNOWN AT A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND BUTET FOR RIDERS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE SPORT? Absolutely! I think a lot of young Equitation and medal riders would like Butet. The fit of the twist allows me to have a longer, straighter leg, which means I am able to sit taller and ride more elegantly overall!

14 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

BUTET SADDLES CANADA ALAN LE LOUEDEC alan.lelouedec@butet.fr (1) 519 215 1474 www.butet.fr

OTH SERVICES

CADENCE THERAPY Canada’s First Authorized EquiPulse Practitioner

Hannah Taylor is the Owner and Authorized EquiPulse PEMF Practitioner for Cadence Therapy.

After graduating with a B.Sc. Honours in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph and then, discovering the benefits of PEMF therapy while in Wellington, Florida - Hannah knew she wanted to bring this alternative form of treatment back to Canada for others to experience!

In order to understand the technology, it’s necessary to briefly explain the bio-electric science behind it and how ALL living cells work.

The movement of ions in and out of the cell membranes creates a natural electric charge and if it’s compromised; through injury, toxicity or oxygen/nutrient deficiency, the ion movement is altered and the charge of the cell membrane changes. Such a change to the ions can profoundly affect the metabolism of a healthy cell and its ability to absorb oxygen and nutrition while releasing waste and toxins. Ultimately, this change can result in energy loss, pain, inflammation, swelling and in extreme cases, disease.

The PEMF device creates a series of safe, gentle magnetic pulses that travel through the 12’ copper coil through to the loop. As it’s placed on or over the body, you will hear a soft clicking sound as the electro-magnetic field pulses ON and OFF.

While the magnetic field is pulsed ON, the electrons are ‘excited’ and the cells expand and become ‘exercised’. The electrically charged cell membrane is gently pulled by the pulsation and the cell is ‘recharged’. When the pulse is OFF, the cells relax. It is through this profoundly beneficial cellular exercise that the cells can recharge themselves, rehabilitation can occur, and they can return to optimal health.

While this cellular ‘exercise’ helps to increase blood flow to the area, it also increases the permeability of the cell wall. Thus, nutrients and oxygen are readily absorbed and proteins are more efficiently metabolized for use within the cell and surrounding tissues. Also, damaging toxins and cellular waste can exit the cell more efficiently through the lymphatic (detox) system, resulting in pain and inflammation reduction and an improvement in the overall healing capabilities.

The power of PEMF is measured in gauss, like distance is measured in metres. The cells need at least 25 gauss in order to effect cellular repair, while it is believed that 50 to 85 gauss is considered an optimal level. As the magnetic field travels away from the coil or through denser tissue such as bone, the power

Just 10 minutes of treatment will help those stubborn abscesses drain up to 75% faster!

diminishes. So it is important to be able to deliver the right level of power to the damaged areas. EquiPulse is an easily adjustable device that provides gentle, but optimal levels of power to a specific area in order to achieve immediate results.

PEMF works to INCREASE: • Circulation • Energy • Cell hydration • Flexibility • Immune System • Bone Density • Lean muscle mass • Range of motion • Stamina • Strength • Endurance • Neuromuscular response • Cellular Metabolism • Utilization of Nutrients PEMF works to DECREASE: • Pain • Stiffness • Inflammation • Edema (Swelling) • Spasms • Stress • Bruises • Contusions • Toxins & Cellular Waste • Build Up of Lactic Acid

PEMF Therapy also has the ability to detect where a horse is sore or injured because areas of soreness will twitch or pulse in a certain way, which can be recognized by a trained PEMF practitioner. PEMF is non-invasive, safe, and effective! NO sedation is required, and horses quickly relax, thoroughly enjoying the treatment. By optimizing cellular function and enhancing the body’s natural ability to heal itself, PEMF can reduce pain and improve the quality of life and performance by allowing a body to function as it was designed to!

Cadence Therapy provides onsite treatment at your house, farm, and on the show grounds! Treatment is also available for humans and dogs, not just horses! For more information on PEMF Therapy and other products offered by Cadence Therapy, please contact Hannah directly.

WWW.CADENCETHERAPY.CA CONTACT@CADENCETHERAPY.CA

|

905.467.2693

MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 17

OTH FEATURED RIDER

Abby and HP Portland posing with their prizes after winning Champion at JD Leap Into Spring!

Abby and Mr. Luke 2 U.

ABBY BRANNEN May/June Featured Rider

DATE OF BIRTH July 24, 2001

HOMETOWN Grimsby, ON

BASED OUT OF Collingwood, Ontario

FAVOURITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE “In the end, we only regret the chances we did not take.”

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS? I see myself studying at university riding for the equestrian team and spending the summer at the barn.

M

y name is Abby Brannen, I am 15 years old and I ride at Grandview Farms in Pelham, Ontario. I am currently competing with HP Portland in the Modified Children’s Hunter division on the Central West Trillium Circuit.

I started riding when I was 6 years old.

My mom put me in horse camp and I was immediately hooked! After that I started to take some lessons. I began to compete at the age of 8 in some local schooling shows and the Challenge Series. I really started to get

18 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

into showing in 2014 when I began showing on the Trillium Circuit.

I showed in the Medium Pony Hunter division for 2 years. I had so much fun showing during the summers, and even attended Trillium Championships both times! I rode a great pony named Mr. Luke 2 U, who taught me so much and led me to many victories. He knew his job and he taught me so much about the show ring. He was such a fun pony to ride and show. I learned that this sport isn’t just about the victories, but the memories and lessons you learn from these amazing animals!

Some of our greatest success together was qualifying for Trillium Championships two times and being Reserve Champion overall of our division. Sadly, after two great years on Luke I had outgrown him and I knew it was time to move up to a horse.

I moved on and eventually found Porter. I started to ride him last August when I moved to Grandview Farms. Porter belongs to the owner of Grandview, John Donker. He is a great young horse who I spent the winter

learning and growing with. Porter is a bay 16’3 thoroughbred who is hard working and a great hunter. I love going on hacks with Porter and spending time with him. Porter is a very sweet horse who always tries his best and he loves his job.

Over the winter we trained and prepared for the upcoming show season with my coach Julienne Marr. She helped challenge us and prepare us to show. She is such a great coach who cares about all her students and pushes us in order to prepare us for showing.

Porter and I wouldn’t be where we are today without her. We worked hard for both of us to be able to show 2’9 for the first time! This year is only his second year showing. He competed last year in the 2’6 Adult Division on the Trillium Circuit, and he qualified for Trillium Championships, too! He is a very quick learner and I am so lucky to be able to ride him.

Our first trillium show together was the JD Leap Into Spring Show. We came out Champion of the Modified Childrens Hunter Division, and I couldn’t have been happier.

I didn’t expect us to win as it was our first big shows together, and he is a young horse in a large division. It was such a great day and I was so proud of Porter. I couldn’t have done without the support of my coach and the Grandview team! Everyone is so helpful and encouraging. I love spending the day with my team and Porter!

Photo Credit: Karie Elizebeth Photography

This sport teaches us that hard work and dedication pays off. It also shows us that there is always room to grow and improve.

It teaches us to enjoy success but to always stay humble. I really enjoy riding, learning, and growing with Porter. He has taught me so much and he has made me the rider I am today! I am looking forward to the rest of our first show season together, and I am very excited to see how far Porter and I can go!

HP PORTLAND aka porter

BIRTHDATE February 16, 2011 PEDIGREE Thoroughbred HEIGHT 16.3 h LOVES Treats and cuddles

HATES Being brushed IF HE/SHE WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL,

HE/SHE WOULD BE If he was

in high school he would be: The football player who tries really hard to hang out with the popular crowd and bullies the nerds.

MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 19

OTH RETAIL

SYSTEM FENCING AND THOMAS RIDGE STABLES From Dream to Reality

Every day in our showroom here in Rockwood, Ontario you will find a variety of equine contractors, owners, trainers, and caretakers; all with two things in common: a passion for horses, and a dream of having their ideal equine facility. Many have had their dreams become reality thanks to our team here at System; whether it is a project beginning from scratch, barn improvements, or a complete renovation.

In the fall of 2016, Steve and Heather Miller along with their three young children came into our showroom; they had fallen in love with a photo they had seen of our Tuscany stalls and knew immediately that it was the perfect design for their vision. They had recently put in an offer on a farm that was move-in ready and had just found out it had been taken off the market. They then decided to take their chances on farm just minutes from System; the property was lovely, but the house required updates, and the barn was in need of some major renovations. Built with full-front paneling (and without a doubt much love) in the 1970s, the barn offered many surprises on demo day.

We began the quoting process knowing that many things may need to change once the Millers gained possession of the farm. If you’ve ever seen a renovation reality TV show you can surely relate to the changes that may need to happen once you begin demolition.

BEFORE: Built in the 1970s, this outdated design left much to be desired.

THE VISION: Heather’s sketch of her vision after finding out that the Tuscany design would not work.

20 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

Sure enough, we later found out with much desolation that the Tuscany stall series that Heather and Steve had their hearts set on from the start—a beautiful stall with wings on each side of a low door which allows horses to relax and socialize with their heads out— simply would not work due to the poured curbs dictating where the stall doors had to be.

“

The barn also presented other challenges, the most notable of which was the discovery that the posts providing structure to the barn were inadequate, and all had to be replaced. However, this presented a unique customization opportunity. Steve, Heather, and System Account Manager Sarah worked together daily redesigning the Tuscany. With brothers and founders Kevin and Dwayne Job and their 30 years of experience visiting the site and making a number of modifications on the spot, no detail was overlooked.

What began with a rough conceptual drawing sent to Sarah by Heather turned into a beautiful, completely custom stall we are now calling the Thomas Ridge stall series.

AFTER: The final result is the Thomas Ridge stall series, a completely custom stall named after its designers.

Here is a quote from Heather and Steve Miller from Thomas Ridge Stables:

Thomas Ridge Stables was excited to select and work with System Fencing in Rockwood, Ontario to transform our new equine training facility. The facility was well built but had not been updated in many years leaving it with an outdated look and ‘cold’ feeling. Our vision was to create a facility that showed warmth, openness, and would make people feel welcome. The team at System Fencing worked closely with us over several months as we planned in great detail the components of the transformation. One of the best parts about working with System Fencing was the ability for the team to adapt to our needs. The flexibility the team showed in working with us and creating the “Thomas Ridge Stall” was a definite highlight of the project. We loved seeing our initial hand drawn concept come to life with the custom build. The end result is a testament to great collaboration and team work.

Let us help you turn your vision for your own perfect barn into reality—just like the Millers did!

SYSTEM FENCING LIMITED 14321 Fifth Line Nassagaweya Rockwood, Ontario, N0B 2K0 SYSTEMFENCE.COM • SALES@SYSTEMFENCE.COM • 1-800-765-7324

OTH PRODUCTS

COMPETITION WITHDRAWAL INSURANCE Don’t Be Caught Off Guard!

BFL CANADA Nobody wants to learn the hard way that not all competitions refund you for your entry and stall fee if you’re forced to scratch; BFL’s Competition Withdrawal Insurance can help ensure you’re not stuck paying out of pocket for your non-refundable expenses!

This coverage protects against unexpected costs resulting from scratching your horse from competition prior to leaving for the showground. If your horse incurs a sickness or comes up lame and you are forced to scratch, you can claim under this insurance. Be sure to check your policy to ensure you have this useful coverage, as it is not offered by all insurance providers!

Should you find yourself in a position to make a claim, it’s extremely important to notify your insurance broker as soon as possible. First, attend to your horse and call the vet. Once your horse is tended to, find your emergency claim number to contact the company you are insured with.

In the event that you cannot reach the insurer, follow the veterinarian’s recommendation and continue calling the emergency number until you reach someone.

Through BFL, so long as your withdrawal is supported by a Veterinary Certificate deeming your horse unfit to compete, simply provide your receipts for expenses, as well as confirmation from the biller that the stated expenses are non-refundable. It is important to note that the following exclusions apply to this coverage: • The endorsement does not apply to horses used for flat racing • The endorsement does not apply to withdrawal from competition due to previously diagnosed Navicular Disease, Degenerative Joint Disease, Arthritis, or any other chronic illness or injury.

In order to learn more about this coverage, including limits and deductibles, contact BFL CANADA’s equine department for further information at equine@bflcanada.ca.

Protect your investment by insuring your horse today. Speak to your broker about your options.

22 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

WE INSURE MORE THAN JUST HORSES! BFL CANADA offers outstanding products for: • Farms • Coaches • Clubs • Competitions • Farriers • Grooms • Horse trailers

 Follow our Facebook page at BFL CANADA Equine equine@bflcanada.ca | 1 800 668-5901

 bflcanada.ca

BFL CANADA is a registered trade-mark of First Lion Holdings Inc. used under license by its subsidiaries, which include BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Inc., Financial Services Firm, BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc., BFL CANADA Insurance Services Inc. and BFL CANADA Consulting Services Inc.

OTH PRODUCTS

Purica’s Newest Equine Supplement

Equine H.A 300

What is Equine H.A. 300?

Equine H.A. 300 is a high potency Hyaluronic Acid product that also features high levels of Vitamin C (in the best form), with a small dose of Tasty Fibre. Generally, H.A supplements have 100mg of H.A per maintenance dose, although some may contain 200-300mg per serving.

Equine H.A 300 has excellent value as it contains 300mg of H.A per serving, as well as 7000mg of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). Equine H.A 300 is a powder supplement that is available in two sizes 330g (30 day supply) or 990g (90 day supply).

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid is a substance that is naturally present in both the human & animal body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids of the eyes and joints. In humans, the amount in the body is 50% less than optimal by age 40! This is why it is a key ingredient in Recovery Extra Strength. H.A is safe as it is naturally occurring in the body, and is especially beneficial as we age, or if we are under a heavy workload/prone to injury.

Benefits of H.A. include: • Cushioning joints and nerve tissue • Stabilizing fluid breakdown within joints Everything Purica does is based on Nature, but also backed by Science. A few recent studies on the benefits of oral administration of H.A. have been published on pubmed. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3512263

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4729158

Why add Vitamin C? Vitamin C is well known for it’s immune benefits. But did you know it is essential in the production of collagen, which is the main structural protein found in skin and other connective tissues? It is also widely used in purified form for cosmetic surgical treatments. Vitamin C is another key ingredient in Recovery, and is the best available human grade Ascorbic Acid form.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that blocks some of the damage caused by free radical substances that damage DNA. The build up of free radicals over time may contribute to the aging process and the development of health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.

Benefits of Vitamin C include: • Essential for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body • Needed for healing wounds, and for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth • Helps the body absorb iron from non-heme sources 24 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

w ne

fr om

equine

h.A. 300 Extra strength hyaluronic acid Supports joint health and function each serving contains:

hyaluronic acid 300 mg

Natural lubricating compound for joint and skin health.

vitamin c 7000 mg

Necessary nutrient for the development, maintenance and healing of connective tissue throughout the whole body.

Vegan

Gluten-free

Non-GMO

Available in 30 or 90 day supplies.

GEORGIA HUNT RIDING FOR FOXSTONE VENTURE

Vegan

Gluten-free

Non-GMO

Nature. Science. Your Horse.

A healthy horse is a happy horse

OTH PRODUCTS

Summer

PRODUCT GUIDE BRUNO DELGRANGE BRIDLEWORK retail: starting at $450 cad Discover the range of bridles designed by Bruno Delgrange! Each bridle is distinguished by its carefully selected full-grain leather and demanding level of finish. Carefully crafted in plain leather with the quality Bruno Delgrange is known for, this line of bridles will stand up to every day use and also suit your showing needs. The ergonomic headpiece avoids placing pressure on the horse’s ears and makes the horse feel more comfortable. Three styles of bridles are currently available: Snaffle Bridle with Flash Noseband, Snaffle Bridle with Figure Eight Noseband, or the newest Hunter Snaffle Bridle. With plain leather, fancy stitching, and a wide calf noseband; the Hunter Snaffle Bridle is an instant classic of the Delgrange collection! www.brunodelgrange.com 26 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

KEYSTONE CROPS | retail: starting at $75 cad Tired of losing your plain black crop around the barn? Or perhaps you would just like to rep your show/barn colours? Whatever the reason, Keystone Farms can help you create a high quality, fully custom crop! All crops are hand made with the best materials to last you many years! Choose the length of your crop, the handle size, thickness, flexibility, feathers (or no feathers), popper style, popper colour, and shaft colours and styles! The possibilities are endless; make it as extravagant or classic as you wish! Crops take 2-4 weeks to arrive once the order and payment has been received! Order your crop now and enter the show ring in style! www.keystonefarms.ca/custom-whips

NOEL ASMAR PERFORMANCE SUN-SHIRT retail: $108 usd The Asmar Performance Sun-Shirt is a must have piece for any Equestrian’s wardrobe! With UPF50 sun protection, you won’t need to worry about applying and re-applying sunscreen multiple times throughout the day to avoid burning. The Performance Sun-Shirt has a modern silhouette with a flattering fit so you will be comfortable and able to move around as you ride and work with ease!

Featuring ruched cuffs and thumbholes, a ¾ zip up mock neck, Asmar Equestrian branding along the left sleeve and front chest, and subtle contrasting details along the zipper and inside collar. The ultra breathable technical fabric is lightweight and moisture wicking to keep you cool on warm days! Available in a variety of colours to suit your preference! www.asmarequestrian.com MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 27

FLEX-ON STIRRUPS |

retail: starting at

$325 cad

Distributed by Equus Integral Made in France, the FLEX-ON concept was entirely conceived, designed, and built for Equestrian sport. This innovative stirrup with a strong, lightweight ergonomic design and elastomer springs provides dramatically improved technical performance in terms of shock absorption and connection with the horse. “Grip” tread technology optimizes adhesion and helps provide maximum stability for the rider. The “Ultra-Grip” tread has the addition of crimped pins made of hardened steel to better grab the boot. You can also select whether you would like a MIXED tread with a double slope, or an INCLINED tread with one slope. The customization options do not stop here! From Hunters to Jumpers, you can make your stirrups as traditional or extravagant as you wish! www.equusintegral.com

ECOLICIOUS EQUESTRIAN retail: starting at $4.95 - $89.95 cad Have you ever wondered what’s in your horse’s grooming products? Certain products in our grooming totes can be outright hazardous to the health of our animals, our earth, and even our own health! To stop the toxic overload, we need to be more aware about our everyday choices. EcoLicious Equestrian horse care products are here to help you detox your grooming routine! Made with 100% naturally derived and organic human grade ingredients sourced from renewable resources. EcoLicious products are free of nasty chemicals, silicones, and parabens.

They are biodegradable and Earth friendly, and even packaged in 100% recycled bottles! Our products are so delicious you’ll want to share them with your horse – and you can! Good to your horse. Good to the planet. www.ecoliciousequestrian.com 28 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

ZENA-MIN: A NATURAL VITAMIN & MINERAL retail: starting at $55 cad (3 month supply based on maintenance dose) Developed and manufactured in Ontario, ZenA-min is a unique blend of quality minerals combined with Canadian kelp, high-grade vitamins, enzymes, and anti-oxidants to form our 16-year-old formula! ZenA-min is GMO free and is safe and legal for showing and racing. Soil deficiencies, over grazing, environmental pollution, and weather extremes can compromise hay and grass quality, leading to deficiencies in your horse’s diet. Using the latest and most up to date ingredients, ZenA-min has proven to be extremely bioavailable to the body. Benefits include better respiration, healthy foot growth, more manageable energy, and improved coat and skin. ZenA-min is also beneficial for overweight horses, or those on stall rest as it supplies necessary nutrients WITHOUT the calories! Request a free sample online and find out for yourself how ZenA-min can benefit your horse! www.zenamin.com

GIDGEE EYES EQUESTRIAN SUNGLASSES Distributed by Southern Equine Distributing retail: starting at

$120 cad

It can be difficult to find eyewear that stands up to the demands of riding and handling horses, especially for the professional who spends most of their day out in the sun. And, with the reality that sunglasses can be as useful, and provide as much protection as a hat, it’s imperative to find a comfortable, yet durable pair that’s functional for all riders. With many style options to choose from and interchangeable features, you will be able to find a pair of sunglasses that suits you and all you do!

• Polarized • Tested across a range of disciplines • Range of styles and colours • Strength and flexibility with minimal • Targeted to the requirements of the weight performance horse rider • Interchangeable lens technology www.southernequinedistributing.com MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 29

OTH PRODUCTS

SUMMER PRODUCTS from Noble Outfitters

The versatile Brooke Tank has a unique racerback with cascading fabric designed to wear over your favorite bra without your straps peeking out.

Perfect for layering or adding a burst of colour to your summer outfits.

In or out of the saddle, hot summer days have never looked or felt this this good. Great for those high activity days, opti-dry technology wicks moisture away from your body and reflective logos help to keep you safe. Complete your show outfit with any of our riding tights or more specifically the matching Printed Balance Riding Tights.

The new Printed Balance Riding Tight is loaded with features that make them a favorite. The fun print styling in a vertical stripe is aesthetically pleasing, while flat seam construction guarantees comfort in and out of the saddle. A high-recovery Booty Boost Technology fabric holds and moves with you with no sag and no bag, while the Never Fade Fabric is engineered to never fade with wash and wear. With Opti-Dry Technology and UPF 50+ sun protection; these are the perfect riding pants for a hot summer day.

Lightweight stretch hem reduces bulk inside a tall boot or half chaps and silicone knee patches keep you secure in the saddle.

Meet the most innovative and comfortable waterproof boot on the market! The MUDS™ 6” Boots are engineered with a completely unique design, to keep you ultracomfortable and 100% dry. Constructed with a rubber bottom, neoprene top and an ultra-breathable and moisture wicking lining. The removable, shock-absorbing, anti-microbial insole fights odors to keep your feet dry and happy. A reinforced toe and heel is made for added protection and reinforced structure.

The durable anti-slip, non-marking outsole has reliable traction and an easy clean tread design. Now Available in the NEW Noble Gold Print!

30 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

OTH PRODUCTS

Veredus Carbon Gel Vento

BY MARCUS EHNING

T

he first boots that guarantee double ventilation for your horse’s tendons and fetlocks! Made with the quality and attention to detail Veredus has provided since the 90’s!

Meticulous attention to raw materials, employment of the most cutting-edge technologies. and an obsessive attention to every small detail is the foundation of our success. Above all, though, there is the collaboration with top riders of the sport who are involved in the design and testing phases, thus guaranteeing total reliability of the product.

The signature of Marcus Ehning on the Carbon Gel Vento and of Scott Brash on the Grand Slam line, are not simply signatures, they are true guarantees of the performance and quality of the product.

The Cabon Gel “Vento” line is the first of its kind to guarantee Double Ventilation. The heat released from the horse’s leg passes through the micro perforated neoprene layer and is then distributed in the 3D Mesh Ducted Fabric. As a result of the horse’s movement, fresh air enters through the air inlet and directs the heat accumulated in the ducted fabric upwards to the outlet of the grille. Ventilation is therefore horizontal – from the inside outwards, and vertical – from the bottom upwards; an innovative technology never tried before!

The anatomically shaped shell ensures excellent conformity to the horse’s legs for a high quality fit Veredus is known to provide! The quick release tip is user friendly and easy to put on and take off. Plus, there is no risk of Velcro getting wet and/or wearing out, rendering the boots useless!

The carbon combined with a nitrex gel shock absorber film ensures tendon and fetlock protection for your horse!

Every rider wants the best protection available on the market for his/her horse; one simply cannot settle for anything less! This is why Veredus has been able to win the trust of champions like Marcus Ehning, Scott Brash, Steve Guerdat and Adelinde Cornellisen. They have done the research and experimentation, so you don’t have to!

Available in sizes Medium and Large. Colour options are black or brown. Carbon Gel Vento Front Boot: Retail $299.95. Carbon Gel Vento Rear (Fetlock) Boot: Retail $269.95.

Veredus products are distributed by Cavalier Equestrian. To find a dealer near you visit www.cavalier.on.ca 32 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

/// CARBON GEL "VENTO" THE FIRST FETLOCK BOOT THAT GUARANTEES DOUBLE VENTILATION. • Double ventilation • Fetlock protection in Nitrexgel • Quick-release tip • Anatomically-shaped shell

Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Front Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Rear

Colours: Black or Brown Sizes: M & L 717582

Colours: Black or Brown Sizes: M & L 717583

Distributed in Canada by Cavalier Equestrian www.cavalier.on.ca • info@cavalier.on.ca • 519-273-3122

OTH FEATURE

HOW TO BRAID PERFECT MANES & FORELOCKS PART II of III SIERRA SNEATH

profes sion a l ‘a’ circ uit br a ider a nd ow ner of t w is ted ta il s photos by cassandr a belisle photo gr aphy

B

raiding manes and tails has been done for many years. Foxhunters would braid their horses to keep manes free from burrs and branches while out on the trails. Today, it is has more aesthetic purposes that are used to showcase a horse’s topline and enhance their overall look. It is also done out of respect for the judges, as it is considered part of the “uniform” for hunter and equitation classes. Many jumpers also braid, but it is not required and does not factor into a judge’s overall impression, and thus, score of the horse!

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED • Step ladder • Rug Hook • Mane Comb • Quality pair of Scissors • Bucket of water • Brush or Sponge for wetting hair • Strong Yarn (note: Sierra uses a brand called Big Twist from the US. Vanna’s Choice, sold by Michael’s, would be her next pick. Choose yarn that is hard to break, but not so thin that it will slice into your fingers! This is very important as it will enhance the quality of the braids, and ensure they last for at least as long as your classes!)

BRAIDING THE MANE 1.

Start by wetting the mane with your wet brush/sponge. Make sure to wet the underside as well as this will help with frizz and braid tightness. Wet 8-10 inches of mane at a time – the wetter, the better! Depending on how fast you braid, you will need to re-wet the mane as you go along. Professional braiders may wet the hair every 6-8 braids, but beginners may need to wet the hair every 3-4 braids.

2.

Place your ladder next to your horse in a position that allows you to begin braiding at the poll. Make sure you are at a comfortable height, as having to reach too far up will tire your arms quickly!

3.

Make a part for your first braid sectioning out a chunk of hair that is 1-2” wide. Thin manes will need slightly larger sections of hair than thick manes. When you part your section, make sure the part is nice and straight so that your braids will look neat and tidy.

4.

Use your comb, or a hair clip to keep the mane you aren’t currently braiding out of the way. Using the comb will cut down on the items you are juggling in your hands, and allow you to work quicker if you have multiple horses to braid! Sierra’s trick for having the mane comb stay in place to pull the hair away is to have ¾ of the comb hanging out on the opposite side of the neck, with the first ¼ tucked into the hair I’m keeping out of the way! (as shown on opposite page)

5.

Section your chunk of hair into three even parts to begin your braid. For the purposes of this guide, start the braid by crossing the right side over the middle, and then the left side over the middle. Each time you cross one piece of hair over another, is 1 crossover. The key to even braids is to COUNT EACH crossover!

36 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

6.

After you have made your 5th crossover (which should be from the right hand side), you will add your piece of yarn.

Hold all three strands in your left hand using your thumb and forefinger to keep the braid in place, and make sure to keep each strand separated as best you can.

7.

Grab a piece of yarn in your right hand, holding it in the middle with both ends hanging even in length. Lay the yarn over the braid placing it so the next piece of hair you cross into the braid will cross over the yarn and anchor it.

Here you can see how Sierra tucks the comb in the mane to keep hair out of the way. As well, you can see how she places the yarn to add into the 5th crossover

8.

Continue braiding down until you have 21 crossovers in total. Try to keep your yarn in the first sections of hair that you initially added it to.

9.

Once you have completed 21 crossovers, grab the yarn with your left hand and gather the ends of the hair with your right. Use your right forefinger and thumb to hold the bottom of your braid from undoing/unraveling. If you have counted correctly, your yarn should be on the left hand side.

10.

Once you have separated your mane from the yarn (yarn should be in your left hand) you will wrap both pieces of yarn around the bottom of the braid. Before the yarn is fully wrapped around, pull it through itself to secure. (Similar to doing a quick release knot, but pulling the ends all the way through!

How to secure the braid as explained in steps 9 and 10

11.

Pull down each piece of yarn to make sure it is as tight as possible, and then knot once. (For this knot, think of the first step you make when tying your shoes.)

12.

Once the mane has been completely braided down, pull all of the yarn through to the top of the braid. Start at the withers and moving towards the poll. Pulling the yarn through all at once is a simple step to both save some time and maintain a rhythm, which creates a more pleasant experience for the horse! Insert your rug hook through the top of the braid at the MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 37

crest. Make sure you are in the middle of the braid and that it goes straight through, or else you will have crooked braids. Keep the braid itself straight while pulling yarn through to the other side, and let the ends of the yarn hang on the left side of the neck out of the way.

How to pull yarn to the top of the braid as explained in Step 12

PULLING THE KNOT THROUGH Once the mane is completely braided, I start to pull the braids up into a loop in order to pull the knot through and secure the braid. You will have just finished pulling yarn through at the poll, so this is where I recommend beginning this step!

1.

Hold the bottom of the braid where your knot is with your left hand. Grab the ends of the yarn that are hanging on the left side of the neck with your right hand.

2.

Start to loop your braid by pulling the yarn all the way through so the bottom of your braid (the knot) is snug to the base of the crest.

3.

Use your left hand to help guide the braid straight into the loop and direct the ends of the hair that are below the knot to the right side of the loop, and pointing towards the ceiling.

4.

Once snug at the base, use your thumb and forefinger on your left hand and place them on either side of the loop (braid). With the yarn still in your right hand and your left fingers guiding the braid, pull the knot that tied the bottom of your braid through the top/crest.

If you do this slowly, you will hear/feel a bit of a tug/tear noise. Once you do, stop pulling the braid through.

38 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

Pulling the knot through is a trick that helps to anchor the braid. You should not see any hair sticking out the top of the mane, just the yarn. If you find that you are pulling through the hair, make sure to put the loose ends to the right of the mane before pulling the knot through. If your braid has pulled through crooked, pull it back out straight and try again.

TYING OFF THE BRAIDS 1. Take one piece of yarn in each hand. Cross the yarn underneath your braid. Do NOT knot here, only cross the yarn over. Have it snug to the crest/base, but not super tight. It will be tightened on the next step.

Here, the surgical knot is shown.

2.

Tie a surgical knot – this knot is very important. (A surgical knot is like the first step of tying your shoes, but instead of looping the yarn once, you loop it twice.) This knot helps to hold the braid in place better until you are done tying it off. You will want to guide this knot across the top of your braid, to approximately the 6th/7th crossover (just below where you first inserted your yarn into the braid). As you tighten the knot, use your fingers to adjust the braid slightly to make it straight and even to the other braids as you go along. It is very important to pull as tight as you can here, without breaking the yarn.

3.

Once you have tightened and adjusted the braid to the desired position, make another surgical knot. This time, directing it to go underneath the braid. Pull tight and evenly from both sides.

4.

Tie two regular knots below the braid.

5.

Place all of the yarn to either the right or left side of the braid, and after all braids are tied off, cut the yarn off all at once.

All finished!

FORELOCK BRAID 1. The forelock is French braided until all hair is in a braid.

2.

When there is no longer any hair to add to the French braid, add your yarn the same as when you were braiding the mane, in the 5th/6th crossover.

3.

Braid 9-11 more crossovers, and then tie.

4.

Take the remaining ends and twist them around into a tight little curl (think rolling a hose).

5.

Insert the pull through at the top of the French braid (by the bridle path) and slowly push it down until it comes out the bottom.

6.

Add yarn to the rug hook and close.

7.

Slowly pull the end of the braid through the French braid. Keep the ends that are rolled into a curl twisted up and tuck it into the French braid as you pull through the French braid.

Pull the string all the way through to the top.

8.

40 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

9.

Insert rug hook horizontally from the right ear to the left ear at the top of the French braid by the bridle path.

10. Grab 1 piece of yarn and pull it back through to the right ear.

11. Knot on top.

12. Cut so the ends are approximately Ÿ-½ cm long.

Finished Forelock

Sierra Sneath is the owner of Twisted Tails, and a Professional Braider on the A Circuit. For more information on braiding at shows or purchasing a custom fake tail, contact Sierra through her Facebook page, Twisted Tails @CustomTwistedTails.

OTH PRODUCTS

The Story, Philosophy, and Evolution Behind

Samshield Helmets

Samshield is the result of a mix between a young professional rider’s needs, a young designer’s creative energy, and an engineer’s technical vision. Modern riding demands innovation, Samshield added elegance and distinctiveness.

OUR STORY The creator of Samshield, Sam Maloigne, started out as a motocross/supercross international professional pilot from 1980 to 1990, and then became Sales Manager at Oakley eyewear. He began riding in 2003 with friends who rode competitively in CSO. After buying his first riding helmet, which was the flagship product of the time, he was immediately disappointed by its technical failures. He found that other professional equestrians were also unsatisfied with current products on the market.

Passionate about beautiful products, and especially helmets, he decided to start a project that would create riding helmets made with high quality materials that were comfortable, customizable, and had increased active and passive security.

Sam combined his passion and talent with those of Olivier Taco, designer student and creator of Iguaneye shoes; and three young future stars of the CSO, Nicolas Delmotte, Simon Delestre, and Kevin Staut in order to help him to develop his product. Strongly influenced by Jim Jannard, the creator of Oakley, Sam kept in mind the philosophy of the American genius for the other products that he will create: “Launch a product only when you are sure that it will be the best of the market!”

42 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

PHILOSOPHY Samshield’s philosophy is to always propose advanced products in terms of active and passive security, comfort, hygiene, material, customization, and finished quality.

EVOLUTION Driven by the passion to provide the highest performance products, Samshield always has and will always make professional riders such as Kevin Staut, Stever Guerdat, or Adelinde Cornelissen test products before launching them on the market. Samshield has been able to create helmets which are spescifically adapted to show jumping, dressage, racing, polo, and eventing activities in terms of protection and comfort.

Samshield launched its first range of riding gloves in 2012 with the V-Skin, designed for competition and professional riders. In 2014, Samshield developed a winter high performance model glove: the W-Skin.

The Samshield R&D office works with the determination to generate the best products of the market and to constantly improve its existing range.

For more information on Samshield products, visit our website www.samshield.com

MODERN RIDING DEMANDS INNOVATION, SAMSHIELD ADDS ELEGANCE & DISTINCTIVENESS Samshield is the result of a mix between the young pro rider’s needs, the young designer’s creative energy and engineer’s technical vision.

Samshield’s philosophy is to always propose advanced products in terms of active and passive security, comfort, hygiene, material and finish quality as well as customization.

Helmet Shadowmatt blue, Flower Swarovski top, chrome blue trim Gloves V-Skin Swarovski blue Down Vest Limited Edition Swarovski model Sweatshirt Limited Edition Swarovski model

www.samshield.com

OTH RIDER HEALTH

SO YOU WANT TO TRY COMPETITIVE DISTANCE RIDING, NOW WHAT? SARAH CUTHBERTSON & ASHLEY TOMASZEWSKI

Photos by Wendy Webb

Last issue in our series about Competitive Distance riding, we spoke about the many benefits that a Competitive Distance event can offer your sport horse. Hopefully, our plan worked and you are now thinking… that sounds great but where do I start?! Here are some things you can do to prepare for your first event.

THE PAPERWORK To enter in any event offered by The Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association (OCTRA) or similar distance riding club, you will need the following memberships and documentation: • OCTRA Membership (or pay a day rate) – find this at www.octra.on.ca If you are considering riding multiple events – your best buy is to go for the full membership and opt into the mileage programs. Only members can win year end awards.

• Liability Insurance – easily obtained by purchasing an OEF membership • Certificate of negative EIA within 1 year (however individual events may vary – check the ride flyer!)

• Entry form – find this and ride flyers at www.octra.on.ca Here is my tip: put all your documents in one binder to bring to the rides. I also put my vet cards from previous rides, other insurance certificates, veterinary records and my horse’s passport and registration.

THE RIDER Competitive distance riders are more than just jockeys – they are complete managers. This is part of what makes the sport such a good learning tool whether you want to continue on to longer distance endurance rides or just improve your horsemanship. Here are some things you should do to prepare: • Volunteer at an OCTRA ride as a pulse-taker or scribe • Read articles on distance riding, in particular what is involved in a vet check. There are lots of great articles on OCTRA’s website.

• Listen to your horse’s heart regularly and practice taking and assessing the other vitals.

Know what is normal for your horse. Listen to other horses too and see how they compare.

• Read the rules! They are posted on the OCTRA site – whether you are entering a Set Speed, Limited Distance, Competitive Trail, Ride N Tie, or just mileage ride - your rules will vary.

Make sure you know them in and out because they do not become less confusing after many hours of riding on a hot day! You wouldn’t go to any of your other shows without knowing the rules right?

• Ask questions and reach out to a mentor. The OCTRA site has a list of phone numbers and emails of people who volunteer to help newbies. Don’t be shy! We want to hear from you!

THE HORSE This is going to be a strange experience for your partner whether they have been to a million off-site shows, or never seen anything past your driveway. Here are a few things you can do to prepare them for their first ride: MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 45

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• •

•

Practice taking their vitals. Have friends and strangers do this too so the horse can get used to new people poking around them.

Practice your trot out. Your horse should trot beside you with a loose lead – never pull your horse along.

Get out on the trails with friends and practice leaving each other. Not everyone will be going the same pace in competition, so your horse will have to be passed without falling into panic mode.

Learn to cool properly. Practice sponging your horse to make sure they are not afraid of the water. Remember when you cool, put the water on, then scrape it off almost immediately.

Leaving water on too long can actually heat the horse up!

Learn about what your horse is eating and become involved in the feeding plan so you can properly feed your horse at the event.

Do a training ride. Two weeks before the event, hit the trails and do half of the distance you plan at the same speed you will in competition. Do everything the way you would do during competition from equipment to electrolytes. Monitor your horse carefully and use the results to tailor your approach to competition – have you supplemented with electrolytes correctly? Did a piece of equipment cause rubs? Did your horse lose impulsion too soon?

How did they react to the other trail users? How do you feel… are you ready yet?

If you are planning to stay overnight, make sure you have practiced containment in a safe location before bringing the horse to the ride.

SHOPPING I am happy you are keen to try our sport, we are keen to have you! Often however, we get the question “what sort of_______ should I buy?” (Insert here – saddle, trailer, gps, helmet, shoes, horse… really anything and everything). I always find my way into there to answer, don’t buy anything! The beauty of this sport is there is no wrong equipment (provided it is safe and humane). You CAN ride in your current saddle and you CAN do it with your current horse. My best advice is to show up in what you have and make sure you 100% love our sport before committing to buy new stuff for it (and isn’t that good advice for all sports too?). However, there are a few things you must have or want to consider in order to compete.

Required (Hint, you should already have all of these!)

• A certified helmet – we like ones that have lots of ventilation, but careful if they have fabric mesh covering vents – tree branches can still get in there!

• A saddle that fits both you and your horse • Boots with a heel or caged stirrups • A bridle – bitless and rope halters are ok, but make sure your horse will obey it in a strange environment.

• Sponges and buckets for cooling, feeding, and watering (Bonus points for colour coding!)

• Electrolytes – make sure to get ones made for Endurance – not the racetrack! They are different! We use MadBarn Performance XL which is easy to find in Canada but there are several other options on the market too.

WORTH INVESTING • Riding tights – jeans and traditional breeches can still rub over many miles. Most of us 46 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

• •

•

• •

prefer tights (and bright colours at that!)

Endurance Stirrups – these have a wider footbed and thicker cushioning which will help save your body!

Hydration pack and/or saddle bags with water bottles – the longer you go out, the more you should take with you. General rule of thumb – pack it on you if it’s for you, pack it in your saddle bags if it’s for the horse. Should you happen to separate, you will be happy to have water and a phone on your person (and maybe a first aid kit?). If your horse wants to bugger off with his hoofpick… ok, so be it.

Portable containment – if you plan on staying overnight, you will want to invest in either a hi-tie or portable corral (physical or electric). There is no one size fits all approach to this, but ALWAYS limit one horse per corral. Make sure to thoroughly test this at home and maybe a quiet visit to somewhere offsite.

Good Stethoscope – almost mandatory, get one now and get listening to those heart rates and gut sounds! You will be happy to take the guess work out of vetting.

Biothane bridle – these are priced around $100 or so and hold up to the rigors of the sport. Just swish it in a bucket after your ride to get it clean. Plus they can be made custom with all sorts of wild colours!

NICE BUT NOT NECESSARY • A fancy trailer – camping in a tent is fine and quite romantic. However, those who travel a lot swear by their comfortable beds, fridges, and showers. Save this for down the line!

• A GPS watch – use a running app on your phone for now. Yes, it is wonderful to look at your wrist and know your speed or use it to track back when you are lost, but for the first little bit, you can get by with your phone.

• A Heartrate monitor – get working with that stethoscope first! Down the line if you want to be more competitive, go for this, but save those dollars now and do some hands on learning!

• An “Endurance” saddle – yes, for sure get one of these in a year or two once you are madly in love with the sport, but for now, use what fits. I rode 5 years in a cross country jumping saddle and my only complaint was the wear and tear was too much for it. You will see endurance riders in everything from dressage to western saddles, even treeless saddles. Whatever you get, make sure you get a professional to confirm it fits!

• More boots, saddle pads, matching shirts, fancy anything really – ok, I love to wear all matching gear and I have a good collection myself, but if you need to save some dough, put it toward the necessities before building your colour collection!

• A new horse – Assuming you actually enjoy the company of your current horse, use them! While Arabs are predominant in the high ranks of endurance, crosses and other breeds can successfully complete and even be competitive.

The bottom line here is work with what you have got! It’s easy to fall in love with the sport fast, but be smart where you are spending those dollars.

Talk to your mentor and find out what works for them and use that as your starting point for your training and your shopping. We are looking forward to seeing you at this year’s OCTRA rides!

MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 47

OTH PRODUCTS

6 Illnesses That Thrive on STRESS

Leaky Gut Syndrome Equine Cushing Syndrome EMS- Equine Metabolic

Syndrome, Founder/Laminitis IR- Insulin Resistance Lyme Disease/Borreliosis

WHAT DO ALL THESE HAVE IN COMMON? Stress is a physiological condition induced by unmanageable circumstances and is activated by hormonal reactions triggered by a physical or mental strain. It enables horses to perform at high levels and/or react quickly, but is a threat to the equilibrium (homeostasis) if it is prolonged.

Stress activates two neuroendocrine systems: the sympathetic nervous system and the hormonal/ metabolism, and thereby the HPA- axis.

CRH, ACTH and Cortisol are the three most important hormones to the dynamics of the Axis. CRH stimulates the exertion of ACTH, which again simulates the production of Cortisol inhibiting the production of both CRH and ACTH. In the case of incessantly higher levels of stress, the dynamics of the HPA axis is fundamentally disturbed. When stress is prolonged, the HPA axis is subjected to hyper stimulation, by which the natural hormonal balance is rendered inoperative. A continuously raised level of Cortisol can trigger the 6 listed, stress-lying ailments.

Cortisol; increased levels of Cortisol impedes the immune system and affects the central nervous system by inhibiting sensory perceptions. Cortisol increases the oxygen and glucose supply to the brain and muscles thereby disengaging the entire digestive systems resulting in a tendency to gastric ulcers, and adversely affects the power of concentration and cognitive abilities; which can cause paranoia and anxiety. It causes liver overload due to its enhanced attempts to eliminate toxins and can stimulate obesity and cause abnormal fat pouches in lower back, belly, and neck areas. Prolonged stress weakens the Cortisol response causing the body to be more susceptible to disease and infections.

VetCur Supports the Bodies Systems With: Light degree- DiVet and 10 Good Reasons Medium degree- DiVet, NeVet and 10 Good Reasons Severe degree- The Red, Nut Power, 10 Good Reasons, The Green All combinations should be supplemented with ViVet for optimal supply of all essential, natural vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and electrolytes.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW VETCUR CAN HELP YOUR BEST FRIEND, AND LET THE HEALING BEGIN‌.

VETCUR.CA | 705 835 0620 48 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

OTH PRODUCTS

SEA BUCKTHORN NOT YOUR AVERAGE BERRY! 2,000 YEARS LATER SEA BUCKTHORN IS STILL THE LEADER IN NUTRITION AND HEALTH. Often called “The King of Superfruits” or referred to by Tibetan natives as “The Miracle Fruit”, Sea Buckthorn has withstood the ultimate test of time. With ancient medical texts referencing Sea Buckthorn as far back as two thousand years, it’s hard to deny the benefits and one-of-akind nutrients found in this magical berry.

Sea Buckthorn berry skin, seeds, and pulp are not only loaded with nutrients but are bursting with essential and non-essential fatty acids. The majority of these are Omega-3, Omega-6, and the new leading omega: Omega 7. The typical Western diet has an extremely high Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acid ratio, which is reflected in the diets of humans and animals alike. This elevated ratio is linked to autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Sea Buckthorn berries contain a proportionate Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acid ratio, promoting potent anti-inflammatory effects and other health benefits for your pet.

BREAKTHROUGH OMEGA-7 FATTY ACIDS Omega-7 fatty acids are less well known than the other omegas but are just as important to our pet’s health, if not more so. Recently, the anti-inflammatory properties of Omega-7s have caught the attention of researchers, especially regarding its potential use in treating many ailments, including obesity, diabetes, skin problems, and cardiovascular disease.

Omega-7s are found in certain foods such as coconut, palm kernel oil, macadamia nuts and milk, but sea buckthorn remains the highest known source in the world. Approximately 50% of the oil fraction of Sea Buckthorn berry pulp is Omega-7!

RADICAL PROTECTION FACTOR™ Bursting with vitamins and antioxidants, the little sea buckthorn berry holds an astonishing variety of free-radical fighting compounds. Free-radicals can be harmful to cells if they accumulate in large amounts or are not kept in check by antioxidants. Stress-induced physiologic changes and increased free-radical damage are common causes of painful gastric ulcers in horses. Recent research has shown that the high levels of Omega-7 along with the antioxidants in Seabuck 7™ Equine significantly shorten the healing time for horses with gastric ulcerations!

A MEDICINAL MIRACLE FRUIT As you can see, Sea Buckthorn is indeed a medicinal miracle fruit! The health benefits are not only for people, but for our four-legged friends as well. As you will discover, this is just an introduction to the many uses of Sea Buckthorn berry in the promotion of animal health!

50 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

THE POWER OF SEABUCK 7 A Natural Equine Health Product

Numerous studies have confirmed that the easily absorbed SeaBuck 7 supplement promotes healthier internal functions, maintains optimum weight, and improves skin texture, coat shine, and luster. SeaBuck 7 liquid supplement contains only the goodness of the entire Sea Buckthorn berry, purified water, and nutrient stablizer. There are no additional additives, just natural food-based nutrition!

“I am truly excited and impressed with the results I and my clients have experienced with the introduction of Sea Buck to the feeding program. From foals, to horses in training/ competition, I have seen significant results to the overall health of these horses – they look better, feel better and perform better. There is a ton of research behind this product so perhaps I should not be so surprised with the results I am seeing.”

Vet – Kentucky

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OTH DRESSAGE

DRESSAGE NATURALLY Q&A K AREN ROHLF cre ator of dres s age n at ur a l ly

Karen Rohlf is committed to empowering students to learn and make progress on their own. Her on-line programs are designed to give you the information you need and teach you how to use it to problem-solve with your horse. Here Karen shares with us a couple of the most common questions she gets and her answers!

CONNECTION WITH THE REINS

Q: In my dressage lessons I am told to be light with my hands, but then I am told I need to keep a contact and that my horse should ‘fill it up’, but then he isn’t light… Can you explain?

A: This for sure is a big subject! And if it was easy, more people would be getting it right! The concept is full of paradoxes...

Paradox 1: We feel everything through the reins, but we do almost nothing with them.

The reins primarily are the receivers of connection, of information. As such, the reins have 3 purposes: 1.

2.

3.

Subtle communication about the position of the head and neck.

Receiver of information about the body Another point of connection with the horse (like the frame of a ballroom dancer)

If you are actively using your reins for anything other than these three things, you are misusing them and decreasing your chances of having a harmonious connection with your horse, as well as hindering his healthy biomechanics. Because we feel everything, we will feel different pressures in our hands, especially during different movements. But we are still receiving these pressures, not taking them! I feel my horse in the outside rein more in a bend, not because I added pressure, but because his body filled up the outside rein and I was there to feel it!

Not every thing we feel in the reins must be corrected with the reins. You must learn to be an excellent diagnostician of the sensations that are coming from them.

The better your freestyle, the more your reins will be free to do what they are for - those three things listed above.

Paradox 2: The horse must respect the length of the reins, but be confident and trusting of the hands enough to reach into them and establish the connection.

52 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

You must be able to do these two things: 1. Be able to give one, or both reins forward in a way that puts a loop in the rein for 3-4 strides and have nothing change: this is Ultimate Self-carriage.

2. Be able to cause the horse to stretch and confidently take his neck longer without the rider needing to let go. The horse stays in connection all the way as he stretches.

The first one doesn’t mean he has a ‘head set’ and the second doesn’t mean he gets to pull the reins.

The horse needs to be stretchable and looking to reach with his neck, yet respect the length of the reins. How can he do this? This happens by creating a balanced body (through finding the sweet spot of Relaxation, Energy, and Balance). A balanced body will naturally be able to relax the top line, creating a horse who is looking to reach forward and be stretchable.

The rider’s body is what tells the horse when the reins will yield to him and allow the full stretch, or whether there is a limit. Most of the horse’s spine is in the body. The neck is just an extension.

Ride the body well and you will have the neck. Be ultimately trustworthy with your hands and make sure he understands the communications that speak directly to his head and neck.

Paradox 3: The posture creates the connection and the connection creates the posture.

There is a sweet spot of a certain energy, a certain balance and a certain level of relaxation where the horse can find his best healthy posture. It is different for each horse and each moment. By experimenting and being curious, we can find this sweet spot where the horse is moving in a way that allows his back muscles to move freely. When this is able to be fairly consistent, we can connect with it and enjoy a harmonious connection with the reins.

A harmonious connection with the reins can be part of being able to find the sweet spot. The reins give us information and can help indicate some possibilities to the horse. The trick is to do this while only using the reins for their three purposes.

I develop free-moving, balanced horses. Then I check that I can take the slack out of the reins without creating problems or confusions. At first, nothing needs to change when I pick up the reins ... don’t hide, don’t lean on them, don’t worry about them. If I want a better posture, I talk to the body and wait. If the problem is really with the position of the head or in the actual jaw, or height/length of the neck, then I will talk to it using the communications I already established.

But if the problem is in the reins because the problem was really in the body and it ended up in the reins ... then I have to talk to the body.

• • •

If my horse is heavy because he is going faster than me, it is not a rein problem.

If he is heavy because he didn’t turn, it is not a rein problem.

If he is hiding from the contact, I have to ride the body and show him that my hands will not ‘take’.

My hands belong to the horse. The energy must reach all the way to the front (see page 7 of my book, Dressage Naturally ... Results in Harmony, for a description of the circuit of energy) and MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 53

my hands must wait there to receive it and not block or go against it. What I do with my reins will for sure affect the horse’s posture and the horse’s posture will for sure affect what I am feeling in my reins.

STRETCH VS LOW HEAD

Q: Can you explain the difference between an engaged stretch and a horse just going with their head down?

A: There is a big difference between these two! Riding could be so much less confusing if horses didn’t have necks...

Necks are so beautiful and easy to see, but they are often a distraction from the real issue, which is what is going on in their bodies. But the neck also gives us a lot of information about their body, which we might otherwise miss.

There can be a BIG difference between a horse moving with a low head, and a biomechanically beneficial stretch of his whole body (including his neck). The more I learn, the less I worry about putting the neck in particular places and the more I just use it as a gauge of the whole horse. But, paradoxically, placing the neck in a particular place can have a huge effect on the whole body.

We are seeking to have a horse that feels relaxed, balanced and supple enough to be able to stretch his entire spine, and we don’t want to make a horse put his head low if his body doesn’t feel balanced or loose enough to do it. They will be even less balanced that way. I look for a stretch, set up the circumstances for a stretch... But the stretch is a result of balance (trust and calmness), keeping in mind that adding energy may be what creates the balance!

I have met plenty of horses who are flexible enough to go low with their heads, even at a canter, but it doesn’t feel good (stumbling, pulling, heavy or just disconnected). In these cases I just say: “Thanks for showing me you can do that, now let’s get our longitudinal balance better in our body before we continue with that!”

There is an emotional component to this posture and for a valuable stretch the horse needs to be emotionally calm (trusting). If it feels like the horse is pulling his head down in order to ‘take over’ - that is not a valuable stretch. Also on this note, if you simply ask the horse to put his head down but he doesn’t feel trusting or safe, it will not feel good, and he could feel less safe. ‘ I used to teach horses to stretch by talking directly to their heads/necks but I rarely do anymore.

It started to feel like they were ‘ducking’. I don’t want the horse to stretch unless he feels safe, calm, balanced, energized and loose.

The exception is when I have a horse with a lot of ‘history’ and perhaps he doesn’t know that he is allowed to make such a bold a move as lowering his head... even if he feels like it... But in this case it is very gentle and just to show him the possibility and that he will be safe to do this. I also may do it if a horse is really scared of his environment and I want to show him something he can do to feel calm.

54 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

The same way you feel better if you make yourself smile... But it is important that your intention while asking for the low head is: “Hey, friend, take a deep breath and relax” and not: “HEY, submit to me and get your head down!”

When a horse stretches because he is let loose, balanced, energized and calm, then the whole body releases, including his back, under where you sit. This is when you will see the base of the neck change, as it is really a change in the whole body.

When a horse stretches like this it looks less like a neck going down, and more like a back raising up... and that is the gold! When it happens like this you can see the stretch even without the head lowering that much! In fact we want to keep that quality of a stretch-able body even during collection. That is really when we need the horse to have this ability, because it is so easy to create tension and contraction in collection. So we want to use a stretch to: • Show the horse he can find freedom inside his own body • To supple and loosen the top line • To help show them how they can carry our weight in a more healthy way • To dissolve tension • To check/challenge/develop their balance.

When a horse is stretching their back up, they will feel more comfortable to sit, because the feeling of being glued to their backs is partially due to us sitting deep and close, and partially due to their backs coming up to meet us. That is why it is so important to prove to our horses that we have athletic seats that can rise to the occasion... literally!

It is our ability to lighten our seat that can give the horse confidence to bring their backs up, which in turn will help us sit deeper - believe it or not!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BEST WAY TO BEGIN KAREN’S PROGRAM: DRESSAGE NATURALLY FROM PARTNERSHIP TO PIAFFE, VISIT DRESSAGE.ONTHEHORSE.COM Karen Rohlf, creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. Karen is well known for her student-empowering approach to teaching and her ability to connect with a wide range of horses. She believes in getting to the heart of our mental, emotional, and physical partnership with our horses by bringing together the best of the worlds of dressage and partnership-based training. For more information on Dressage Naturally and online virtual courses, please visit www.dressagenaturally.net

MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 55

OTH PRODUCTS

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M

ulti Flex is our best-kept secret! Armed with Glucosamine and Chondroitin (the building blocks of cartilage), along with MSM, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and DMG. Multi Flex provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, improving joint health, enhancing tissue repair, as well as reducing muscle and tendon soreness from hard training, competition, injury, age-related arthritis, and Epiphysitis.

Intense exercise and competition not only increases compression and workload on joints but the energy demands, increased circulation and blood supply to deliver oxygen and nutrients to working muscles can result in lactic acid production and free radical reactions; both of which contribute to reduced performance, damaged tissue, and muscle soreness.

Multi Flex is an excellent source of Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (MSM), a naturally occurring Sulphur compound that is easily assimilated. Sulfur enables all cells to produce the protein required for many biological processes by forming the disulfide bonds that bind the individual amino acids together. Cells will be able to differentiate and produce the various proteins such as hair, skin, hooves, connective tissue, cartilage, bone, tendon, ligaments, hormones, enzymes and many neurotransmitters.

Sulfur ensures the production of the strong collagen fibers, enabling cartilage to withstand the compression and strain of everyday training. Sulfur also has a critical role in proper digestion, central nervous function, hormone regulation, and many enzyme functions.

Glutathione is found in every cell and is composed of three amino acids- cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. In a study with 24 thoroughbred racehorses, glutathione levels were enhanced when horses were supplemented with MSM, therefore enhancing recovery post exercise.

With the inclusion of MSM, Vitamin C, and DMG, Multi Flex increases production of glutathione (GSH), helping to neutralize oxidative damage and inflammation.

For regular training or competition, Multi Flex will provide all around benefits to enhance recovery, reduce soreness, and improve joint mobility.

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56 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

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OTH EQUINE HEALTH

EQUI-BOW EXPLAINED JULIA MERRITT

B

www.firehorseperformancebodywork.ca

odywork is an important component of maintaining and improving the performance of the Equine athlete. Even if there is no acute injury, too much tension in one area will cause compensation in others, creating discomfort and often-undesirable behaviour. Bodywork is thus essential in releasing restrictions and creating a balanced body that the athlete can use to perform even better. Equi-Bow Canada is an innovative bodywork modality that incorporates techniques from Bowen, Cranio-Sacral therapy, Feldenkrais, myofascial release, and more. EquiBow is a neuromuscular re-patterning technique that affects circulation, fascia, muscles, and organs. The result is a bodywork method that is both gentle and profound, and that works with Equine physiology in an integrative way as a complementary support to veterinary medicine.

THE TECHNIQUES With Equi-Bow, the practitioner uses their hands to generate a piezoelectric charge within the tissue that travels back to the nervous system, and influences the body to re-balance and heal. The movements are often described as “rolling” and are performed in precise locations on the body depending on the issue being addressed: muscle interfaces, fascial connections, tendons, or muscle bodies.

Cranio-Sacral techniques also work with the connective tissues of the body, using a light continuous touch to bring the body’s awareness to an area of restriction, and facilitating the movement of the cranio-sacral fluid. In response to the contact of the practitioner’s hands, the body will often release tension or “unwind”. Feldenkrais and myofascial release techniques are additional bodywork variations, all with the goal of gently guiding the body towards a healthy state.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Equi-Bow acts primarily on the nervous system, which has both a voluntary and an involuntary component. The voluntary portion, or somatic nervous system, logically, is associated with the movements that we choose to control. The involuntary portion, called the autonomic nervous system, is further broken down into two parts: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.

The sympathetic system mobilizes body systems during physical activity, such as increasing the heart rate and air intake, while constricting blood vessels and movement in other systems like the digestive tract. By creating the ideal conditions for movement, the sympathetic system turns the body into an efficient athlete. This system can also be activated by stressful situations and is responsible for the “fight or flight” response.

The parasympathetic system acts as an opposing mechanism to the sympathetic. It conserves energy and promotes the physiological functions of resting and digesting: reducing the heart rate and air intake, dilating blood vessels, and relaxing the digestive tract. In the parasympathetic state, the body processes its food and undertakes cellular repair, healing and fueling itself for the next time it is called upon to move.

Equi-Bow works with the parasympathetic system to promote healing and well-being. As it is surprisingly easy to trigger the body to enter a sympathetic, “fight or flight” response, it is necessary to use a gentle touch in order to bypass the body’s instinctive resistance to force. This gives the body maximum opportunity to use the parasympathetic system to heal and re-pattern the neuromuscular connections. The benefit of using techniques that address the nervous system is that because the nervous system so profoundly affects everything that a body does, changing the way that the neurons fire will result in both emotional and physical responses.

FASCIA Equi-Bow uses fascia as the main conduit to access the nervous system. Fascia is connective tissue made of collagen that wraps around every part of the body: muscles, organs, and joints. It blends with ligaments and even provides attachments for some muscles. Fascia is everywhere in the body and is completely interconnected in one piece from head to foot. Equi-Bow works by stimulating neural receptors in the fascia, encouraging the nervous system to enter the parasympathetic state where it can rest and process.

Fascia looks like a densely woven spider’s web and is filled with nerves, blood and lymph vessels, and fatty tissue. It provides support, protection, and shock absorption, and it also acts as a medium for cells to communicate with each other. Depending on its location, it can be thick or thin.

To protect the body, fascia remodels itself in response to physical stress, dehydration, and even emotional trauma. For example, a horse that overexerts itself may strain a muscle beyond what it was comfortably capable of at the time. The fascia will stiffen around the muscle to support it as it heals, and to protect it from potential future injury.

Even after the muscle is healed, the fascia will stay tight, because it doesn’t know that what happened was a one-time accident. When ridden, the rider may find that the horse struggles to MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 59

improve, and may show uneven movement in another area of the body, as it attempts to function within comfortable limits and compensate for the original restriction. Consequently, addressing the health of the fascia allows the body to return to a state of balance and function optimally.

A TYPICAL SESSION Equi-Bow practitioners are trained to assess horses based on their physical presentation, and make note of specific areas of concern for the horse. After assessment, the bodywork begins. The practitioner will make a series of moves in a specific area of the horse’s body, and then step back to allow the horse to “integrate” the work. After this pause, the practitioner resumes work on the next section of the body.

In the integrative state, horses will often become quiet and still. They may display signs of deep relaxation including closed eyes, droopy lips, or lowered head and neck. If a protocol is particularly profound, they may yawn, snort, stretch, or experience sweating or respiratory drainage.

Horses that are acutely sore or emotionally compromised may display anxious behaviours while they release, such as fidgeting or mouthing a lead rope. These behaviours frequently lessen during the course of a session, or over multiple sessions as the underlying issues are addressed.

The first session is always the same, addressing the main muscle groups of the body and creating a baseline balance from which to work with in future sessions. It is important to do this preparatory work to avoid overwhelming the body and contributing to overexertion as the nervous system incorporates new patterns of movement. Subsequent sessions are longer and incorporate additional bodywork specific to the horse’s needs.

As with any bodywork, after a session, it is important that the horse be allowed time to rest and integrate the work that’s been performed.

60 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

EFFECTS OF EQUI-BOW The effects of Equi-Bow techniques are varied and will depend on the individual horse. Common effects are: Improved Posture By balancing and relaxing the fascia and muscles, Equi-Bow allows the horse to resume a normal, neutral posture. When standing in neutral posture, all four cannon bones are perpendicular to the ground.

The head and neck will be lowered, and the muscles will appear rounded and relaxed.

Improved posture will often have the effect of diminishing the appearance of conformational flaws. Many things commonly identified as conformational may in fact be related to posture and can be improved. Conformation refers to the skeletal structure of the horse, while posture is the stance the body adopts as a result of muscle development, injury, and habit.

So, a ewe neck may be the result of neck muscles that are short and tight, while the appearance of cow hocks may be the effect of underdeveloped hindquarters.

Higher Quality of Movement Mobilizing the pelvis, spine, and neck allows the body to have a greater range of motion.

The increased balance allows the horse’s movement to be more functional, which allows for the full expression of their ability.

This may mean more impulsion, a larger stride, a better jump, and so on. In turn, a higher quality of performance is achieved.

Improved Proprioception Re-setting the nervous system will affect the horse’s proprioception, and if it has been compromised in some way, this will result in more correct movement. Gait abnormalities such as crosscantering, late lead changes, and rope-walking can be minimized or eliminated altogether once the nervous system has the opportunity to learn or remember the correct patterns.

Improved Attitude Owners and riders of horses that have received Equi-Bow work frequently comment on the improvement in their horse’s behaviour and attitude. They may be more interested in people, less reactive under saddle, and easier to train. As attitude and behaviour are often indicators of pain, Equi-Bow’s ability to address global physical discomfort makes it a useful tool in improving equine behaviour.

Pain Reduction Reducing inflammation is a key component of pain reduction. By increasing circulation and balance, non-affected muscles and joints are then better able to support the weaker areas.

Relaxing the nervous system also interrupts the body’s perception of being in crisis, allowing for healing to take place sooner. This means that Equi-Bow can be useful in acute pain situations such as laminitis or colic, or chronic pain such as arthritis and old injury.

Combined, these changes can result in dramatic improvements in performance and behaviour. It is very gratifying as a practitioner to see horses improve in health and well-being - that’s what it’s all about!

The Equi-Bow community is small and committed to the holistic well-being of horses. In addition to bodywork, the curriculum includes workshops on saddle fit, balanced feet, and anatomy.

As the faculty is dedicated to the expansion of knowledge about equine anatomy, soundness and well-being, classes are open to all interested horse people. For more information, see www.equi-bowcanada.com.

MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 61

OTH PRODUCTS

THE POWER OF OMEGAS

O

mega-3 fatty acids are considered essential, meaning that the body can’t make them itself, so they must be obtained in sufficient amounts from the diet. They are necessary for the body’s functions; for everything from taking inflammation out of the body and creating better blood circulation, to repairing and healing joint inflammation improving digestion.

Equine Omega Complete is a specifically formulated blend of all-natural, GMO-free, mechanically expelled soybean oil with added, human grade, deep water, wild caught fish oil and nonsynthetic vitamin E through d-alpha-tocopherol. It is designed to supply a balance of omega-6 and omega-3fatty acids and is a good source of LA, ALA, EPA and DHA. We also recommend feeding Equine Omega Complete with a low-fat, complete grain. Since our product is an oil and nearly 100% crude fat, mixing it with a low-fat complete grain ensures that we know where the majority of the fat in the diet is coming from. Since Equine Omega Complete is an allnatural, healthy option for fat supplementation, owners can be sure that they are supplying a good source of healthy fat when pairing our product with a lower fat grain option.

Equine Omega Complete can be top-dressed over grain or directly over your horse’s hay. We recommend a daily maintenance dose of 4 ounces for a 1,200 pound horse (1 ounce for every 300 pounds) to be given in one sitting or split into two servings of 2 ounces twice daily.

Equine Omega Complete has a loading dose of 4 ounces twice a day for 10 days. Maintenance dose is 4 ounces or 4 pumps a day. Travelling or competing dose is 6 to 8 ounces a day.

Using Equine Omega Complete can greatly benefit horses in these areas; • Joint & Inflammatory Support • Can Increase Oxygen/Blood Flows • Can Help Reduce Colic Symptoms • Ideal for Breeding Stallions & Mares • Helps Grow Healthier Hooves • Aids in Cell Function • Hair Coats that Glow • Helps in Faster Recovery • Supports a Stronger Immune System • Has Natural Calming Effects • Promotes Better Gut Health • Helps Delay Lactic Acid Buildup TRY IT TODAY SOUTHERNEQUINEDISTRIBUTING.COM

62 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

|

905-691-5141

SIGNIFICANTLY

LESS CHANCE OF

COLIC AND DID W E MENTION SUPER B JOINT SUPPORT AS W ELL?

OTH EQUINE HEALTH

What You Should Know About Equine Medication Control in Competition

BY DR. DIETER OBERBICHLER

F

www.oberbichler-equine.ca

inally, warm weather, blue skies, and green grass! Show season is here! In addition to planning what classes to enter, transportation to and from events, and what grooming supplies to pick up, horse owners, trainers, and riders also need to carefully plan their horse’s health needs over the season.

The drugs that we commonly use in our horses may have effects on horse performance in the ring, and more importantly test positive on a drug test at a show. Regulatory bodies control the use of drugs in athletes (both human and horses) at events to help ensure fairness in sport and to preserve animal welfare.

This is the Equestrian Canada (EC), statement about medication control: “First, the program is meant to protect the health, welfare and safety of the horse and rider. The rules allow for legitimate and humane use of medication to protect the horse’s health, while ensuring that the horse does not compete with any serious underlying lameness or illness. The second purpose is to guarantee fairness of competition by detecting instances in which the horse’s performance has been modified by administration of medication (“doping”), and deterring the abuse of medications.”

EC is our national governing body for the Equestrian sport and industry. The FEI (Federation Equestrian International) is the international governing body for dressage, jumping, eventing, driving, vaulting, reining, and Para Equestrian sports at the international level. The FEI rules differ significantly from our national rules. Similar to many countries in Europe the FEI has a basically zero-tolerance -- zero drug policy.

Although the majority of teams don’t intentionally cheat, many common drugs we use routinely are restricted in an athlete during competition. If one of these substances is detected during a drug test it will cause a doping violation. It is very important not to take these rules lightly, as these violations can result in disqualification, fines, suspensions, and the loss of your hard-earned awards and season points.

When you enter an EC sanctioned show, you must follow their guidelines and rules. AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) and the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) rules are also significantly different from EC rules. Some discipline or breed rules (e.g. endurance) have additional restrictions. When in doubt, check the rulebook applicable to your sport!

64 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

Here is a summary of EC rules regarding drugs: • Only permitted medications (listed in the chart below) are allowed to be present in a horse during an EC sanctioned event • Some permitted non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can only be present under certain plasma/serum levels at the time of competition • Only ONE NSAID of those permitted can be present in a horse at the time of competition • Shockwave cannot be administered on a horse within 96 hours of competing • Intrasynovial injections ( joint, tendon sheath, or bursal) are prohibited within 96 hours of competition.

• Drugs may be therapeutically administered to a horse at the competition for the reason of acute injury or illness, and are to be administered by a licensed veterinarian. An Emergency Medication Report is to be filled out in this instance. These horses are not permitted to compete FOR MINIMUM 24 HOURS after being treated.

So what does this mean for you and your four-legged teammate? You horse’s body must be completely free of all drugs, other than those permitted, at the time of competition. All drugs administered to an animal have a specific DETECTION TIME and a WITHDRAWAL TIME. The detection time is the time a substance can be detected in either blood or urine after administration. It varies from horse to horse, it also depends on the laboratory and it depends if there is an interaction with other drugs or supplements given at the same time.

The withdrawl time is defined by EC as: “the period of time that a competitor should allow between the time the drug was last administered and the time the horse can compete with minimal likelihood of incurring a medication violation.

If you read the fine print: It says SHOULD allow! In the next sentence it says: “However, it is advised that this time period should be longer than what is considered the typical elimination guideline in order to have a safety margin.”

We (vets) are always asked about how much of a certain drug can be given before a show. The accurate answer should be “I don’t know,” ….but of course that is not what I say.

I have no idea how long the actual DETECTION time is for a specific horse and drug at a specific time, because as a living organism, there is a huge individual variation depending on the horse’s metabolism and other factors like hydration status, body temperature, exercise levels, other drug and supplement interactions that we might not even be aware of!

The good news is, we have a pretty good idea about it, thanks to published data and drug elimination studies. The Canadian PariMutuel Agency (CPMA) is a federal agency and publishes a “Schedule of Drugs”. Thanks to this information we get an idea of how long it takes for a certain drug to be eliminated from the body. It is a guideline only; in order to be safe it is highly advisable to add some additional time to it.

MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 65

The following chart outlines all the permitted drugs, permitted plasma/serum levels, and a general pre-event administration plan. The plasma levels are not very practicable as a guideline, how can we know your horse’s plasma levels? Fortunately, EC does the math for us:

PERMITTED DRUG

COMMON NAME

INDICATION /APPLICATION

MAXIMUM SERUM LEVEL

PRE-EVENT ADMINISTRATION/ 1000 LB/454 KG

Flunixin Meglumine

Banamine

NSAID

1.0 microgram/mL

500mg/ ever y 24h

Ketoprofen

Ketofen

NSAID

0. 25 microgram/mL

900mg ever y 24h

Phenylbutazone

“Bute”

NSAID

15 .0 microgram/mL

24h – 2g max preferably less/24h

240 nanograms/mL

57mg/ 24h

Acetylsalicylic acid

NSAID

Firocoxib

Previcox

NSAID

Altrenogest (only in mare)

Prascend

Cushing ’s treatment

Pergolide

Regu-mate

Estrus Suppression

Cimetidine

Tagamet

Ulcer treatment

Ranitidine

Zantac

Ulcer treatment

Omeprazole

Gastroguard

Ulcer treatment

Antimicrobials (antibiotics and antiprotozoals) with the exception of Procaine Penicillin G, Antiparasitic products (dewormers) with the exception of levamisole and tetramisole, Hyaluronic Acid administered intravenously, Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycans (Adequan) administered intramuscularly, and fluids are not listed in the EC permitted medication rules, but can be used during an EC-sanctioned competition.

Certain supplements, herbal products, tonics, nutraceuticals, etc. usually do not include a quantitative analysis of their ingredients and restricted substances might be present, which puts you unknowingly at risk for violating the EC rules. Therefore it is strongly cautioned against using these types of “supplements” or “natural treatments” in a competing horse.

For example, Devils Claw, which is present in may joint supplements will for example cause a positive drug test.

Compounded drugs are products that are specially formulated by a pharmacy for a specific horse or case. When Health Canada approves a veterinary drug, the product must meet standards of efficacy, safety, composition and stability. The same level of government control does not exist for compounded products! For example, one might choose to use compounded phenylbutazone or 66 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

flunixin meglumine. If the compounded product has a greater concentration than the labelled concentration, your horse could have a positive test by exceeding the allowable plasma/serum concentration. The same can happen when the product is contaminated with another drug.

Therefore, I recommend avoiding compounded formulations, and suggest sticking with the licensed drug during competition.

As of last year, Previcox can be used during competition. However, because of the extremely slow elimination (14 days), do not switch to another NSAID like “Bute” or Banamine, before the show. This could create a drug violation, because only ONE NSAID is allowed!

EC recommends 28 days withdrawal time. In case of a medical emergency, an Emergency Medication Report must be properly filed prior to the administration of the second NSAID. (For example, administering Banamine due to colic.)

Be aware that anyone can be tested at anytime during the competition. Horses can be randomly or specifically targeted for drug testing. Filing an Emergency Medication Report for example can get you selected for a drug test. Horses can also be chosen for drug testing if they have withdrawn from the show within 24 hours prior to the competition.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THESE DRUG TESTS? • The “person responsible”, (defined as: “an adult who has, or shares responsibility for the care, training, custody, and performance of the horse and who has official responsibility for that horse under EC Rules” as per EC glossary of terms) will be notified by the technician or licensed veterinarian at the competition.

• The person responsible (or an appointed representative) will accompany the horse to a testing stall and witness the sample collection done by the technician or veterinarian.

• The person responsible must sign all documentation provided for the drug test.

• The sample is sent to and processed at an approved test facility. Sample collection and testing is done in a systematic and highly regulated manner to ensure in fair testing. If anyone tampers with the process of drug testing, including the competition facility and appointed veterinary team, they will suffer the consequences of the specific violation.

Now while this might sound overwhelming and intimidating, as long as you take responsibility of your horse and play by the rules - you shouldn’t have any problems through your show season.

Full rulebooks and guidelines can be downloaded from any of the organizations’ websites for free. Please, err on the side if caution, when it comes to drug use and withdrawal times and as always: Talk to your horse’s vet about it!

SOURCES https://www.equestrian.ca/cdn/storage/resources_v2/ax5Db4765zHEzywYo/original/ax5Db4765zHEzywYo.pdf https://www.equestrian.ca/programs-services/equine-medications http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/about-us/partners-and-agencies/canadian-pari-mutuel-agency/canadian-pari-mutuelagency-equine-drug-control-program/elimination-guidelines-2016-1-of-5/?id=1454071417865 MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 67

OTH PRODUCTS

RISK FACTORS TO EQUINE RESPIRATORY HEALTH

T

LAUREN MARLBOROUGH B.Sc, Certified Equine Massage Therapist

There are a variety of risk factors that can contribute to respiratory health problems in horses. Often it is not just one factor that causes pulmonary issues, but a combination of one or more potential risks that should be reviewed and corrected if necessary.

These primary risk factors are usually found to involve environmental factors, diet and nutrition, hygiene, and the overall health of the horse, and should all be examined closely.

This article will focus on environmental factors.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS In order to prevent or reduce the risk factors contributing to respiratory disease, several important steps can be practiced at a horse facility.

• Maintaining air quality should be the first priority as a preventative measure in respiratory risk factors • Horses should spend as much time outside as possible • Institute an ideal ventilation system in the barn to bring in fresh air and to exhaust stale air by installing fans and vents, or simply by opening windows and doors of the barn • Machinery, such as tractors, driven in and out of barns to assist with stall cleaning or raking of the arena, contributes to build-up of carbon monoxide fumes within the stable.

Minimize the use of these machines within the barn and arena, and if possible, use wheelbarrows or muck buckets to remove manure from the stalls.

• Minimize dust accumulation within the barn by using a good quality, dust-free bedding • De-cobweb the barn regularly, and minimize human activity, such as raking and sweeping while horses are inside • Ensure the area where horses are exercised is maintained and dust levels are kept to a minimum. This can be initiated by maintaining the type of footing in the arena with the use of harrowing, watering, or oiling.

It can be said that humans have worsened the overall respiratory health in the equine population.

Such man-made scenarios like outdoor pollutants, indoor horse boarding facilities, as well as poor hygiene, and lack of barn maintenance have introduced several allergens, congenital abnormalities, inflammatory conditions and infectious respiratory problems. These conditions and diseases infect horse populations through methods of airborne transmission, and indirect and direct contact, thus management practices should be developed and initiated in order to prevent, or at least decrease, the spread of such respiratory diseases and conditions amongst horses.

This is an excerpt from the full article that can be found on the Omega Alpha website omegaalphaequine.com.

68 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

OTH HOROSCOPE

THE TAURUS HORSE April 21 – May 20

T

he best way to think about horses of this sign is to think about the bull, which is the symbol for the sign. Lazily eating grass and pretty mellow – until it is annoyed; then it can plant its feet, snort, give a “Watch out!” look, or even charge! This character prefers to do things its own way so pushing or rushing just won’t work. Patience is required. If you are a person who is always in a hurry, this is not the horse for you. If, however, you are looking for the steady-as-you-go type of a ride, the Taurus horse will work out fine.

Food, security, comfort, and stability are the main requirements for the Taurus horse. They are averse to change, so avoid moving them from stall to stall, or stable to stable. You will need to be able to keep a schedule, because these guys like to be fed at the same time each day, with the same feed, in the same container, and in the same place. Make sure that you provide healthy and balanced nutrition.

“

A regular massage — especially on the neck and shoulders — will keep them happy.

70 | ON THE HORSE MAY/JUNE ‘17

Although they love sweet treats, giving too many may cause insulin resistance!

The Taurus horse loves being touched, as sensual pleasure is one of the necessities of life for them. A regular massage – especially on the neck and shoulders – will keep them happy.

These horses are uncomplicated, consistent, straightforward, and trustworthy. They can be stubborn at times, but they are the rock solid ones of the bunch.

They do, however, require the ability to be in touch with nature. Take them out on the trail or let them graze in the pasture. They gain strength from the earth and need to smell the flowers. This will keep them calm and in good health. This is the type of horse who will go over the same trail day after day, and be very happy to do so! I’m sure you are getting a clear picture by now: they thrive on routine and consistency; they dislike and WILL resist change. So, if you like adventure and variety find another horse!

They are quite robust and generally are healthy.

If they become unhappy with their environment they can develop sinus problems or retain fluid.

Watch for swollen legs or a runny nose! Other than those few challenges, Taurus horses are very sturdy and enjoy good health.

THE GEMINI HORSE May 21 – June 20

T

he Gemini horse is so different from the Taurus, it’s hard to believe that they are the adjacent sign! Here we have an air sign that is mutable, or “all over the place”.

These horses are very intelligent and love variety! In fact, if you don’t keep something going on in their life all the time they get bored and start finding their own entertainment, like chewing on wood, or figuring out how to escape their stall.

Unlike Taurus, these guys love change, will get bored with routine or the same-old-same-old.

They love to mix it up and go to new places and see new things. When training them you will need to teach new things and keep it short. They have a short attention span, and any kind of diversion will catch their eye. They love people and other horses, for this will bring them the social activity that they crave. They are fickle, however, so don’t be surprised if they turn their attention to anyone and everyone, and make it seem like they love them as much as they do you. The Gemini is not a one-person kind of a horse!

Your biggest challenge will be finding enough new experiences to keep this horse happy and thriving. They rarely have the patience for grooming or just hanging out. You must be constantly

on the move and you must keep them in them in a very active environment. They love to jump into a trailer, eagerly looking forward to a new adventure. Introduce this horse to new friends, new places, new skills, and teach them new tricks. They are not only mentally active and adept, but physically qualified too: quick in both areas.

Sometimes owners are puzzled by how it appears that their horse spooks easily or seems jumpy. If this is the case it means that the horse needs to have all of that nervous energy channeled into a productive activity. These horses would be good on the polo field or in a cross country event, but not for dressage, since it requires concentration and there are too many distractions going on around the arena to catch its eye, causing the horse to lose focus.

Gemini rules the lungs, limbs and nervous system. These horses are susceptible to being overactive, and sweating (which depletes electrolytes). Be sure to have a salt block available and try using lavender to help to keep them calm. Watch for dust in the hay, as they’re not going to be happy inhaling it. These guys seem to stay young forever, so enjoy all of the excitement they provide!

My website is: equineastrology.com and email is samantha@equiserene.com. For information about the coaching I do with horses as co-facilitators go to equiserene.com. Look for an upcoming article to explain the process of Equine Gestalt Coaching.

MAY/JUNE ‘17 ON THE HORSE | 71

OTH PUZZLES

ON THE HORSE Crossword DESIGNED BY SAMANTHA FAWCETT 1 2 3

4

5 6

7

8

10

9

11 12

13 15

14

16

17 18 19 21

20

22

ACROSS 3. Worn on a horse’s face.

4. Part of a hunter horse’s “uniform”.

6. Definitely a factor in show jumping.

7. Major show jumping venue in Alberta.

12. Often referred to as flatwork.

15. Get your horse ready to work or show.

17. Type of class in both hunters and jumpers.

18. Condition that affects the hoof.

20. Handy _______ class.

21. _______ Country.

22. Perfect score on a movement in dressage.

DOWN 1. In dressage, you ride a _____.

2. Worn under a helmet: ____ net.

5. Colour of 1st place ribbon.

7. Type of jumper class.

8. Commonly fed to horses in the summer to “replenish”.

9. Another name for a rider.

10. Worn under a show jacket.

11. Walked by jumpers before the class.

12. Mother of a horse.

13. Saddler in French.

14. Blanket commonly used in the summer to keep off flies.

16. Your horse typically does this in 19DOWN right after you bathe him.

19. Your horse’s favourite place to 16DOWN.

Bahr Saddlery Event 4 6th Anniversary Saddlery Bahr Saturday July 15th 8Event -6 Anniversary 4 6th Saddlery Bahr Bahr SundaySaddlery July 16th 9 - 4 Saturday July 15th 8Event -6 Anniversary 4 6th Anniversary Event 4 6th Sunday July 16th 98- -46 Saturday July 15th Saturday July% 15th 8-6 20% 70 *OFF Sunday July 16th 9 Sunday July 16th 9 -- 4 4 20% 70 % *OFF PLUS: 20% --70 - PLUS: Door Prizes PLUS: 20% 70% %*OFF *OFF

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Remember Remember we will be closing at 3 pm on Friday July 14th to get ready for the sale!

Remember we will be closing at 3 pm on Friday July 14th to get ready for the sale!

Ber nie’s Famous Bar gain Bin -- PLUS: Door Prizes -- PLUS: V endor Displays Ber nie’s Famous Bar gain Bin -- Door Prizes Door Prizes Charity BBQ Vendor endor Displays --- V Displays Ber nie’s FFamous Bar gain Bin Ber nie’s amous Bar gain Bin V isit-- www .bahrsaddler y.com for more info Charity BBQ Charity BBQ Displays onendor prizes and in-store specials -- V V endor Displays V isit- www .bahrsaddler y.com for more info - Charity Charity BBQ BBQ on prizes and in-store specials 13329 Steeles Ave. West, Hornby, ON L0P 1E0 V isit www .bahrsaddler y.com for more info Phone: (905) 878-8885 - Toll Free: 1-866-667-2247 (BAHR) - Email: info@bahrsaddlery.com V isit www .bahrsaddler y .com for more info you for for respecting ourand no returns returns orin-store exchanges policyspecials onW Julyelcome!

15th and and 16th, 16th, 2017 2017 ThankMail, on prizes and Phone Email Orders you respecting our no or exchanges policy on July 15th Thank onused prizes and in-store 13329custom Steeles Ave. West, West, Hornby, ON ONGPA L0Pspecials 1E0 *Discount excludes saddles, orders & equipment, Helmets, Super Specials, Tailored 13329 Steeles Ave. Hornby, L0P 1E0 Thank you for respecting our no returns or exchanges policy on July 15th and 16th, 2017

Phone: (905) 878-8885 878-8885 Toll Free: Free: 1-866-667-2247 (BAHR) Email: info@bahrsaddlery.com Sportsmans, Blundstones, and selected new saddles. Discount is not applicable to previously purchased Phone: (905) -- Toll 1-866-667-2247 (BAHR) -- Email: info@bahrsaddlery.com Not in conjunction with any or other specials, promotions and 15th discounts. for respecting our no returns exchanges policy on July and 16th, 2017 Thank you items.

All specials areno available while quantities No our returns orWest, exchanges policy on July 15th and 16th, 2017 Thank you for respecting 13329 Steeles Ave. Hornby,last.

ON L0P substitutions.

1E0 *Discount excludes used saddles, custom orders & equipment, GPA Helmets, Super Specials, Tailored Tailored *Discount excludes saddles, custom orders & equipment, GPA Helmets, Super Specials, 13329 Steeles Ave. West, Hornby, 1E0 Phone: (905)used 878-8885 - Toll Free: 1-866-667-2247 (BAHR) - L0P Email: info@bahrsaddlery.com Sportsmans, Blundstones, and selected selected new saddles.

Discount isON not applicable to previously previously purchased purchased Sportsmans, Blundstones, and new saddles.

Discount is not applicable to Phone: (905)Not 878-8885 - Toll Free: 1-866-667-2247 (BAHR) - Email: info@bahrsaddlery.com items. conjunction with any other other specials, specials, promotions and discounts. discounts. items.

Not inin conjunction with any promotions and All specials specials are are available available while while quantities quantities last. last. No No substitutions. substitutions.

All *Discount excludes used saddles, custom orders & equipment, GPA Helmets, Super Specials, Tailored Sportsmans, Blundstones, selected neworders saddles.

Discount is not to previously *Discount excludes usedand saddles, custom & equipment, GPAapplicable Helmets, Super Specials,purchased Tailored items. Not inand conjunction otherDiscount specials, ispromotions and discounts.

Sportsmans, Blundstones, selected with new any saddles. not applicable to previously purchased items. Not in conjunction with any other specials,last. promotions and discounts.

All specials are available while quantities No substitutions.

All specials are available while quantities last. No substitutions.

Mail, Phone Phone and and Email Email Orders Orders W Welcome! elcome!

Mail, Mail, Phone and Email Orders Welcome!

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