SEQM_May2024

May 2024

Equestrian Magazine

Goals Reimagined

Para Rider Fiona Howard Secondhand, Second Wind Barn Door Consignment

Dressage Duos Saddle Fitting | Spring Pastures | Western Dressage

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In this Issue Cover story 16 Goals Reimagined!

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Para Rider Fiona Howard

Features 12

Secondhand, Second Wind

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Stable Support

26

Dressage Duos

32

Mastering Harmony

Departments 4

Saddle Panels

6

Tack Trunk

8

Pasture Management

30

3 Questions- Marcie Quist

36

Calendar

40

Advertising Index

32

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Publisher Sandhills EQM, LLC Editor: Cassidy Oeltjen Layout and Design Ines Ritter Contributors Ray Owen Jan Leitschuh Mary Kate Murphy Cassidy Oeltjen Sharon Packer Meghan Benge Christina Boucher Reynolds Moore County Hist. Assoc.

Lisa Miyamoto Jason Jackson Candy Allen Janell Cameron Tom Shea Ines Ritter Jennie Acklin

Hello

Sandhills Equestrians!

I think it’s safe to say that the show season is in full swing, and that includes all of you dancing your way down the centerline.

In this Dressage issue, we dive into the mothers and daughters who, it’s probably safe to say, have spent many a Mother’s Day at a horse show. We dive deep into the journey of Western Dressage, and we take inspiration from the amazing Para-Dressage rider, Fiona Howard.

We also look at how we, as stewards for our equines, can ensure we have well managed grazing and a happy veterinarian team.

And finally, we welcome the new owners of Barn Door Consignments, who are taking on a new location after an admirable outpouring of community support when it was announced that its previous location was no longer an option.

Thank you for coming along on this May journey with us!

Cheers!

Cassidy & Team SEQM

Advertising & Subscriptions Jennie Acklin 814-688-0083 info@sandhillseqm.com General Inquiries info@sandhillseqm.com Cover Fiona Howard and Jagger Photo: Sharon Packer Follow us on

www.sandhillseqm.com Sandhills Equestrian Magazine owned by Sandhills EQM LLC P.O.Box 273 Southern Pines, NC 28388 No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the Publisher The Sandhills Equestrain Magazine and Sandhills EQM LLC do not neccessassrily endorse the views of their contributors or advertisers.

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SEQM Educational Series

Tack and Equipment

What’s in Your Saddle?

English Saddle Panel Materials

There are a variety of materials used in modern saddle design which impact the performance of the saddle. These can either exacerbate a challenge or make both the horse and rider’s job much easier. It is important for the consumer to understand how these materials perform both individually, and together, and how they may affect their horse when choosing a saddle.

end flocked saddles use wool that can be adjusted by a skilled saddle fitter.

There are a variety of types of wools used by a variety of manufactures – each having their own reason for

Flocked Saddles A flocked saddle means there has been a material manually added to the panel that can be adjusted as needed. High

sourcing that specific type of wool which can include the longevity of the type of flocking used. A wool flocked saddle does require maintenance to its panels to retain its softness, but a saddle fitter can also custom adjust the panels to the ever changing shape of the horse which is impacted by changes to riding, turn out, feed etc. Some manufactures utilize synthetic wool, where a fitter can achieve the same customization, however, only wool performs like wool.

Flocked panels come in a variety of shapes, but are thicker in comparison to that of a foam panel.

Janell Cameron Certified Saddle Fitter Janell Cameron is a certified Master Saddler’s Saddle Fitter working in North Carolina since 2014. Janell enjoys her horse Rookie, and travels to the Sandhills region frequently.

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Foam Panel Saddles Foam can be very stable to the horse due to its uniformity in shape and does not need annual owner maintenance like a wool saddle (note: this does not

foam or latex, in combination with a closed cell foam as well. Unfortunately, it is not easy to customize foam panels to accommodate typical asymmetry and it is recommended that a sheepskin (wool) half pad be paired with a foam panel saddle. There are various shapes and depths in foam panels, however foam panels typically offer a more close contact feeling for the rider due to the thinness of the foam.

Air Panels

exempt a foam panel saddle owner from annual saddle fitting as recommended by both SMS and MSA). Depending on the type of tree the manufacturer used, the saddle may have memory

Other panel materials that are becoming more common include various types of air bladders which can offer a very dynamic fit. Air bladders can be inflated or deflated based on the shape of the horse similar to the customization achieved with wool.

Air bladder panels tend to be equal in thickness to flocked panels and are sometimes encapsulated by a thin layer of foam to protect the bladder.

Panel materials are only one part of saddle design but have a huge impact on both fit and how a saddle rides.

Not all horses can tolerate all material designs equally and the horse will definitely have an opinion as to which materials they prefer. I encourage every rider to consider that opinion when saddle shopping. Happy riding!

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SEQM Educational Series

Pastures

From the Ground Up: Managing pastures in the Sandhills of North Carolina

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anaging pastures is key to owning grazing species such as horses, mules, and donkeys. Timing is vital when making decisions about your pasture, such as knowing when to take soil samples, when to apply lime and fertilizer, and rotating where you graze your horses.

This can be daunting, but I promise it is easier than it may seem!

Sampling the Soil The first step in pasture management is sampling your soil. This test will tell you what nutrients your pasture needs to flourish. Taking a sample for

the soil test is easy! Having the right tools and getting a representative sample is key to getting accurate results. Sampling is easiest with a soil probe or a sharpened half-inch pipe; however, you can use a garden trowel in a pinch.

Sampling begins by taking subsamples - small cores that take the first four inches of soil. Then, place the subsample in a plastic bucket. Repeat this process 15-20 times per pasture to get a good representation of the pasture.

After you have your subsamples in your bucket, mix it up with your hand and place it in the soil sample test box - this becomes your soil sample. Be sure to label each sample according to where it was taken so you know what nutrients each pasture requires.

These boxes can be picked up and dropped off at your local NC Cooperative Extension office to be sent to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) for testing. NC

Cooperative Extension Agents can also come to your farm to help take your sample! The test takes a couple

Tom Shea Extension Agent, Agriculture - Livestock, Field Crops, Moore County.

Tom comes from a background in small ruminants and beef cattle focusing on pasture management and sustainability. He is also an avid horseman, specializing in moving livestock on horseback and practices roping .

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of weeks to come back. The samples cost $4 per box from Thanksgiving to April 1st and are free after April 1st.

Understanding the Report You will be given overwhelming information when the soil sample results are ready. Luckily, there are only four significant things that you have to focus on: pH, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).

The pH levels help to optimize nutrient availability, providing the essential nutrients to the grasses, legumes, and forbs, promoting root development and lush foliage. This enables the forages to use the N-P-K that we provide to them fully. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic the soil is; the scale is 1-14, with one being acidic and 14 being basic or alkaline. On the pH scale, seven is neutral, where we want our soils to be for optimal grass growth.

Unfortunately, in the Sandhills, due to our sandy soil and abundance of pine trees, which thrive in acidic soils, we typically have very acidic soils with ranges from 4.5-6. Any soil below six is considered acidic and starts to inhibit the grass growth and ability to absorb N-P-K, reducing forage availability. pH is raised by adding something basic or alkaline to it to bring the pH closer to neutral; this is most often lime in pastures. It typically takes one ton of lime per acre in sandy soils to raise the pH one point (Mamo et al., 2009). The best time to put out lime is in the fall or spring, in between the growing seasons of cool and warm grasses, three to six months before grass green-up.

Nitrogen is the most common soil amendment to add to forages and crops. Nitrogen is the food and protein for the plants to grow tall and lush.

Nitrogen is used up by the plant very quickly and will dissipate in the soil if not used. Nitrogen must be put out every growing season, ideally several times during the growing season. For Bermuda grass, the growing season is typically May-August, so I prefer to apply nitrogen every 30-45 days to get the most out of the forage.

Phosphorus and Potassium tend to hang out in the soil longer and do not need to be applied during every application once the soil reaches the ideal amount of these nutrients.

Phosphorus is responsible for downward root growth and produces the seed heads of the plants. Potassium is like a multimineral for the plant; it promotes overall well-being and allows it to thrive.

When reading your soil report before applying fertilizer, it is essential to note that the recommendation is for the whole year, not per application. This means if you want to put out fertilizer four times a year, you need to divide the recommended amount of fertilizer on the soil report by four.

is about soil health, it is only part of the story. The other part is grazing management. Grazing has a massive impact on the growth of forages, especially overgrazing. Overgrazing is caused when horses have continuous access to a pasture without the pasture being a place to rest or get a break for a couple of days to several weeks.

Grazing below four inches for most

Grazing below four inches for most grasses causes them to stunt and stop growing.

Know the Timing!

Knowing when to plant will help ensure success when overseeding or planting new grasses. Most warmseason grasses, such as Bermuda or Crabgrass, are best planted between the middle of April and the middle of May. Cool-season grasses, such as fescue or ryegrass, are best planted from September to mid-November.

While much of pasture management

grasses causes them to stunt and stop growing. They begin to use their energy reserves to maintain instead of increase, which is especially detrimental to grasses at the end of the growing season or during periods of drought. When overgrazed during these periods of stress, grasses will die and not come back, leaving room for weeds to come and take over the pasture.

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Temporary fencing can help keep horses from overgrazing.

Moving horses off a specific pasture area to let the grass rest for at least 30 days is the best way to prevent overgrazing. This can be done by having multiple permanent paddocks or setting up temporary electric paddocks.

It is also essential to be aware of your stocking density; in the Sandhills, it is recommended to have at least two acres of well-established grass per horse in a continuous grazing situation.

Are you interested in learning more about pasture management?

Contact Tom Shea, tpshea@ncsu.edu for more information.

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Secondhand, Second Wind:

Barn Door Consignments gets revamped with new location and new owner Mary Kate Murphy

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mong the closely-knit equestrian community, the news of Barn Door Consignments’ peril was a bombshell.

Suzie Jacobson announced in early December that she’d been given two months to vacate the leased property after spending more than a decade building the emporium of secondhand tack, riding apparel and other horsey goods in a tucked-away storefront behind Aberdeen Supply. A chorus of dismay reverberated on social media at the prospect of losing a shop that was both a go-to for horse people hoping to save a few dollars and a favorite place for locals and visitors alike to kill an hour or so browsing.

Barn Door started as an idea hatched between two friends - Jacobson and Debbie Mastrangelo - who were both enthusiastic enough about opening a

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consignment store to see it through. A longtime rider herself, Jacobson had learned a lot about sales working at one point or another in most of the feed and tack stores in Moore County. Retail had become her second career after she opted against keeping up her license in dental hygiene upon moving to North Carolina. Jacobson was working at Aberdeen Supply when the adjacent Knight Street building came up for rent. Despite a configuration of rooms that took some getting used to and a dearth of natural light, Jacobson seized the opportunity to bring Barn Door to life.

“It needed a lot of work. We had stars in our eyes, we just wanted it to work.

I think we started out thinking it would just be a hobby, but then it turned into a whole lot more. When we first opened we thought we had a lot of things but the store was pretty bare. It really just kept building. It was just kind of

magical, people kept bringing stuff in,” she recalled.

Starting a small business at the end of a recession was a bold move, but thanks to the economy there were plenty of consignors selling off things they no longer needed and customers searching for good deals. It turned out that the store had many magical qualities.

Barn Door has a way of proffering just the right item, whether you knew you needed it or not: the used turnout in just the right size for a blanketdestroying horse; the perfect bit to try on a fussy youngster; or a barely-worn pair of favorite breeches that went out of production years ago. Items even extended to Breyer models and books on horse training.

Over the years Jacobson has developed a reputation as one of the most helpful people in the business, with an uncanny way of tracking down hard-to-find

items and an almost photographic memory when it comes to tracking Barn Door’s inventory.

Consignments, and she wasn’t remotely prepared to give up before even really starting.

Even with her background in retail, there was no crash course in figuring out how to determine a fair price for used saddles, let alone things like leather show halters that came in still bearing a beloved horse’s nameplate.

Shipman had moved from Concord to Aberdeen earlier last year with her husband Cory and three daughters.

Shipman herself was five years old when her dad decided to build a barn and buy a few horses, so she grew up riding ponies, then graduating to a Quarter Horse and dabbling in local hunters and decided she wanted her young family to have a similar experience. The Shipman family moved to a friend’s family acreage in Aberdeen, where they live with their four horses.

“When people bring in their prize coolers it’s like oh my God how could you give that up? If I’d won that it would be on my couch,” Jackson laughed. “We did get some coaching lanterns one time and sent them all the way to Australia, and we had people in Hawaii that we shipped to. It’s always different, you never know what people want.”

Toward the end of last year Jacobson started to consider selling the business to someone with the energy to freshen up the store and expand its e-commerce presence. She had some initial interest, but the news a few weeks later that Barn Door would be losing its home stifled most of those discussions.

“Of course I was devastated because I didn’t think we could pull it off and move the shop. We loved being next to Aberdeen Supply, they were always a great neighbor to have and their traffic would come over to our shop,” she said.

“I just thought ‘that’s it, we’d have to close.’ But the more I thought about it, the more I didn’t want it to close. I guess we just felt like we couldn’t see it go down the drain.”

At first glance, the possibilities were endless: supporters suggested open storefronts in Vass, Southern Pines, even Cameron and West End. But upon investigation much of what was available on short notice was too small for the store’s extensive inventory, or too expensive to make sense.

Elaina Shipman, was brand-new to the adventure that is Barn Door

Elaina Shipman and Suzie Jacobson

“My first job was teaching lessons to little kids on our horses so I always was involved with it and loved it,” Shipman said. “We just kind of wanted a more outdoorsy, slower pace of life for our kids. So when the opportunity came up, we jumped on it.”

She first contacted Jacobson about Barn Door with the idea that taking over the business might take some pressure off of her husband’s contracting business and allow him to spend more time at home.

At first, the process almost seemed too good to be true.

“I reached out to her and we just kind of stuck with it and it went through,” Shipman said. “In the beginning I was

like gosh, this is really easy. I went in to shadow Suzie, I loved it. I was working through trying to figure out how to purchase it so when she called and told me about having to get out of the building on very short notice I was like ‘there it is.’”

But the store’s period of limbo was mercifully short. Within two weeks of the notice to leave the Knight Street store, a location on U.S. 15-501 next to Burney True Value Hardware was theirs for the taking. Burney owner Jim Ransdell cleared out a storefront just over Pee Dee Road that he was using for storage to accommodate Barn Door.

“It was really hectic there for a while,” Shipman said. “Then it was kind of more of an issue of how do we handle the logistics of the move. The old store was kind of more compartmentalized, so because of that there was a lot of wall space. The new store has an open floor plan.”

The move took a month between Barn Door’s final day of business in its original location (February 10) and its reopening in the new store on March 11. Cory Shipman moved shelving from the old store and reconfigured it for the new one, added countertops and even built an eye-catching orange sign for good measure.

Shipman is now channeling her love of horses into a vocation for the first time. The bulk of her professional experience was in sales and marketing for a safety equipment company that sold to distributors nationwide. So she’s used to learning about specialized technical gear on the fly. Learning the wide range of tack and equipment that comes in from participants in various equestrian disciplines has been a similar experience. Jacobson will be staying on to help out for the foreseeable future, lending her expertise and familiarity with the community as Shipman takes the reins.

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“You learn something new every day when it comes to horses. Suzie knows so much so she’s been really really critical in helping me if somebody comes in and asks for something and it’s not something I’m familiar with or seen before,” Shipman said. “I am used to being in an atmosphere where I know that I don’t know everything, but it’s important to be able to find out to get your customer the right information.

It’s not something to fudge through.”

Since reopening last month, Barn Door’s loyal clients have been quick to follow the store an extra five minutes out of town. New consignors have been a daily occurrence. Opening just in time for show season to kick into full swing, the store is conveniently en route to the Carolina Horse Park. The

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now-ample parking allows out-of-town competitors to pull their trailers in and park while they browse.

As the new location takes off, Shipman hopes to expand the store’s customer base with an expanded online presence.

So the store will continue to play its unique role serving riders in transition — new riders, riders with a new horse, riders changing disciplines — for years to come.

“I’d never thought about such a strong need for places like Barn Door, but your kids grow up and need new gear, or your horse changes or you get a new horse and need new gear,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I was so attracted to Barn Door when Suzie offered it up — this is such an awesome community if you’re passionate about

horses. You have all this great stuff coming in, so we’re never digging around for inventory. Barn Door really is Suzie and she’s very deserving of that, so I don’t want to change things to where Barn Door is different. I just want to help make it better if that’s possible.”

Barn Door Consignments is now located at 11815-A US Hwy 15-501 South in Aberdeen.

The shop is open from noon until 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Wednesday and Sunday.

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Photo: Al Shaqab/ Stefano Grasso

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Goals Reimagined:

How para dressage re-ignited international dreams for Fiona Howard Cassidy Oeltjen

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n the fast paced, perfectionist oriented world of dressage, it’s easy to feel like missing a few days of training or competing as a set back. Every ride is an opportunity to get better, improve scores, increase strength, or fix a weakness.

As an active, determined, and accomplished young equestrian, 16-year-old Fiona Howard found herself in a position where she thought she was facing an unfortunate pause in her schedule. Up until then she had amassed experience competing around the world... ...“I started riding horses at around 3 years old and rode in both England and the Southern Pines area. My first ever competition was actually near the Southern Pines area and I still have my first two blue ribbons I won at that show on my wall today!” she explained. “I grew up doing dressage, show jumping and eventing in England as well as some of the hunters when in North Carolina.”

“Around the age of 8, I also began showing quarter horses in England,” she continued. “As I entered my teenage years I primarily focused on reining and competed at the FEI Junior European Reining Championships winning a team bronze medal for Great Britain as well as multiple National titles in the Youth and Non Pro divisions.”

As her teen years approached, she began experiencing trouble with things like cutting her food and began picking up random injuries. Fiona’s parents couldn’t shake the feeling that there

was more to the injuries of their active, athletic daughter, than just ‘growing pains’. She was struggling more and more with fine motor skills, and by 2016, she was only able to get around with the use of crutches.

After stumping the doctors in England, the family headed to Boston Children’s Hospital where they initially planned for an intense, 8-week stay.

Fiona riding at Muddy Creek NC

“Those 8 weeks turned into months and then into years and I ended up having to move to Boston,” she reflected. “I was diagnosed with a genetic condition that affects my entire body. I was also diagnosed with dystonia which progressed causing severe bilateral leg deformities as well as affecting my arms and spine.”

“My digestive system was also severely affected which left me hospitalized throughout 2018, 2019 and 2020,” she continued. “My entire digestive system was shutting down and I was left unable to eat. I ended up on TPN, which is nutrition that is administered straight

into your veins via a line going into your heart.”

In 2019, two of her doctors took a chance with a major surgery with the hope she could have a better quality of life. While the surgery was successful, the recovery was not without complications.

“In fact, I had multiple ICU admissions where the doctors told me to prepare for the worst but my medical team never gave up on me and they didn’t let me give up,” she said. “It was during one of those ICU admissions that I said if I made it out of the hospital I wanted to get back to riding horses.”

Even with most of her energy being consumed by healing, Fiona was also attending Northeastern University throughout the process. It was at the barn where the riding team was based that Fiona found her way back onto a horse.

“We took it slowly and they let me tell them what pace I wanted to go,” she explained. “Despite having ridden for the majority of my life, I was now having to learn how to ride with a very different body. I no longer had the same aids I did when I was younger so I had to adapt. This is when I decided to look into para dressage and knew I wanted to get back to competing. I was now balancing my senior year in college, major health challenges and riding horses but I was the happiest I had been in a very long time.”

With her first rides accomplished and a completed college degree, Fiona moved on to get classified as a Grade 2 para dressage rider.

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In para dressage, the rider’s mobility, strength, and coordination or visual impairment are assessed in order to classify their grade. The Grades range from I (most severe) to V (least impaired). The athletes compete based on their classification grade, and then based on their skill level within their grade classification.

After a few trips down center line at the national level in para dressage, Fiona found her way back to the FEI level, competing at the Tryon Equestrian Center in June of 2022. She had begun training with Tokyo Paralympian Kate Shoemaker, and with Katie’s help, they found Jagger, Fiona’s current top horse.

Fiona at the Garden Of England International Show, July 2016.

“My coach Kate had known of him for a few years,” Fiona reflected. “We were actually not even actively looking for a horse but a couple days later I went over and rode him. I competed with him the next day in a couple para classes and it just all clicked. I came out of the ring saying ‘this is my horse!’.”

Fiona’s intuition definitely didn’t fail her. She and Jagger’s bond developed quickly as they traveled the world together.

“We had an incredible 2023 competing in CPEDI competitions all over the world, always placing in the top two,” she recalled. “We started 2024 by winning all our classes at the Al Shaqab CPEDI in Doha, Qatar. Jagger has been based at Hof Kasselmann in Germany this past year to allow us to compete at European competitions.”

“Jagger has really taught me so much, he is the type of horse that if he trusts you, he will do anything for you,” she continued. “He also has a huge personality! He is very food motivated and definitely a little cheeky. I love just hanging out with him, in his stall, hand grazing or grooming. He knows when we are entering the competition arena and always tries so hard. His nickname in the barn is Mr. Perfect! He really is the definition of a ‘heart horse’ for me.”

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While Jagger gave Fiona the confidence to get back into the big rings, he also imprinted the personality and skills that are necessary for a successful para dressage horse… traits that she has found in the newest addition to her string, the 11-year-old Hannovarian gelding, Diamond Dunes.

“Francois Kasselmann (Hof Kasselmann) messaged Kate a couple weeks ago and said he thought he might have a really great para horse for me,” Fiona explained. “He was in Florida for the winter season which made it easy for us to drive over and try him. After the first ride on Dunes, I told Kate I thought he could be one of those special horses that we are always looking for in para and she agreed.”

Just like Jagger, Fiona and Dunes wasted no time in solidifying their partnership.

“We decided to enter him in the CPEDI at World Equestrian Center - Ocala after only having him for about a week,” she said. “We went into the competition just wanting to have a good experience but Dunes exceeded expectations and was just incredible, sweeping the Grade 2 classes and scored a personal best of 79.9% in the freestyle!”

Fiona and both horses have a big 2024 planned, with CPEDI competitions in Europe and the hope of being selected to represent the USA at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games!

“My health challenges will always be there but I don’t want to waste a single moment of life,” she reflected. “We don’t know what the future holds but I will ride horses for as long as possible.

The freedom and happiness horses give me is hard to put into words. My health has taken so much away from me but when I sit on a horse, I feel like I can move again. I’m reminded of the little girl who just loved horses and won her first blue ribbon in North Carolina.”

Photo: Sharon Packer

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Stable Support: Taking initiative to ensure you always have vet coverage Natalie Radel

I

n owning a horse, there are certain people that you need on your team - a farrier to maintain their feet, feed suppliers for hay and grain, and a veterinarian for both routine care and also the inevitable emergency. Just like a sports team practices together and gets to know one-another’s strengths and weaknesses, the same goes for the team surrounding a horse.

For those who own a horse and haven’t ever experienced the turmoil of making an emergency phone call to your vet… go buy yourself a lottery ticket because you are definitely lucky.

But for everyone who has, you know they agony of waiting to hear just how fast the vet can get to you, and their fastest never seems quick enough. It’s easy to feel helpless in these moments, but putting both good horsemanship practices in place and cultivating a good team relationship can both be beneficial when each minute is critical.

Looking at the statistics of the veterinary industry, the prospect of not having vet coverage is very real and very daunting. Of all veterinary school graduates, only 1-2% of those go on to be practicing equine vets.

And of those, 50% switch to another sector (like small animal) or quit practicing all together within the first 5 years.

Things like low compensation compared to other veterinary fields, high student loan debts, and long working hours all make the field less than desirable.

The numbers are a little overwhelming. The average student loan debt that veterinarians graduate with is $154,048 (including those who are lucky enough to not graduate with any debt and not including undergrad). This is a large jump from the $60-80,000 vets could graduate with as recently as fifteen or twenty years ago.

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With the rate of student loan interest, and the cost to operate as a mobile equine veterinarian, this means that many of these graduates may never pay off the cost of receiving their degree.

And that is for sure not because they are spending money in their free time!

Many vets are still on-call even on their days ‘off’, meaning they may go weeks without having a day that they don’t respond to farm calls. Full-time equine veterinarians have reported working more hours - particularly in the last 3 years - than all other veterinarians in private practice.

Since 2020, full-time equine vets are expected to work approximately 51 hours per week, whereas all full time veterinarians in private practice work approximately 43 hours per week.

Perhaps most concerningly, the AAEP reports that six out of ten equine veterinarians who graduated in 2000 or later are considering leaving equine practice with about half of these having graduated in 2020 or 2021.

There is some hope on the horizon.

First off, the average salary of veterinarians is trending upward - from $65,000 in 2021 to $95,000 in 2023 (still not close to a rate to successfully pay off debt, but at least it’s something!).

Secondly, the American Academy of Equine Practitioners has identified five areas of sustainability that it is actively researching and looking to improve. These include: • •

Compensation Strategies for effective emergency coverage

•

Veterinary practice culture

•

Internships

•

Supporting the growth and development of the equine vet student

It’s so easy to look at the facts and figures from a distance and feel like you won’t be the horse owner struggling to find coverage in an emergency. But talking with local veterinarians brings a whole new, very real, feeling to what could be a dire situation.

“The whole industry is reeling with the large animal veterinary shortage, and all of us are scrambling to think outside of the box on how to care for

the population of animals without running ourselves into the ground,” reflected Dr. Stephanie Freese, owner of Polaris Equine Mobile Vet Clinic out of Pittsboro, North Carolina.

“This has meant some practices are teaming up to help cover each other’s emergencies, some veterinarians are trying to establish emergency only practices, some are requiring haul in for all emergencies, and others are becoming more creative in their scheduling to leave space for emergencies to pop up.”

“All of the above solutions unfortunately are likely to drive the cost of care up,” she continued. “It will be especially important for all clients to remember to be courteous and appreciative when they are receiving treatment for their animals, as anyone who is less than kind will likely be the first not to receive assistance when we are overwhelmed.”

Dr. Daniel Fordham of Fordham Equine Mobile Veterinary Services encourages his clients to also think outside the box when it comes to planning for care, especially in emergency situations..

“One of my things that I tell people is to have a relationship with someone other than me as a veterinarian,” Dr Fordham emphasized. “I love the loyal people. I love them. I mean, they’re wonderful. But when there

is one doctor on call, and they get six emergencies. And you’re number seven. It would be nice if you had a relationship with someone else that way. You’re never left in a bind and if you’re honest with people, no one gets offended.”

“When talking to the new veterinarian, as a horse owner I would say, ‘Hey, I’d like to establish some type of relationship with you. What are your requirements for that relationship, and how can I meet them?’” he advised. “And maybe I have to pay for an exam or whatever the requirement is, but then I have backup coverage.”

Dr. Freese sees geographic considerations when looking at how the industry may develop and how horse owners will need to adapt.

“Each area of the country is likely to solve this situation differently,” she said. “In areas like Kentucky and

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Florida where the horse populations are extremely dense, emergency hospitals are likely to pop up. In areas like Montana and Oklahoma that are more diffusely spread out, these will likely not be feasible from a practice management setup. Here in NC, we have a large population of hobby horse owners that are not as experienced in handling a horse in pain and equally uncomfortable hauling, so it is likely that emergency haulers are going to be a possible business growth area or the call sharing between practices will grow.”

Both veterinarians agree on a few key points that horse owners can practice in order to ensure proper care for the equines and to keep their veterinarians happy.

Communication. Talk with your vet early in the relationship to understand their policies, expectations etc…

•

Let them know about potential problems early on. This means not waiting until 11pm on a horse that’s been not quite right all day.

By letting them know early they can have it on their radar, and possibly come by when they are close in the area.

•

Know what drugs they’d like you to have on hand, how to administer them, and make sure they are not expired.

•

Work with your horse before they are in pain to make sure they are well behaved. Adding in the pain aspect can make a horse behave differently, but at least starting out with a horse that has good manners will increase the safety of everyone involved.

•

And, of course, the normal good practice of paying your bill on time and having good communication beforehand if that might be an issue.

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Dressage Duos: Horses bond these mother-daughter equestrians Mary Kate Murphy

Photo: Jason Jackson

A

pony ride at the fair, a glimpse of competition on television - a life with horses can often begin with such moments. For many equestrians, it’s easy to recall the equine encounter that led to that initial riding lesson.

Beth Parsons Bird and Heather Hamilton Boyer are both exceptions.

For one thing, they were probably too young when they first sat on a horse for the experience to be retained in memory. For another, that first ride in itself wouldn’t rank highly as a formative equestrian memory for either of them.

Long before it occurred to them to dream of competitive glory - before they even understood the arrangement of letters around a dressage arena they learned the day-to-day work of horsemanship and relentless pursuit of improvement that drives good training — through their mothers.

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Bird was in first grade when her mom, Lucy Parsons, started training at the former Westmoreland Davis Equestrian Institute in Virginia. Being up well before dawn was the norm in the comprehensive program, led at the time by Olympic gold medallist Tad Coffin and Raul de Leon. Parsons was typically on a horse by 6:30 a.m., hours before schlepping her daughter to the school bus stop.

“Beth went literally to Westmoreland with me every morning and they were very helpful in letting me drive her through the back of Morven Park Foundation to catch the bus,” Parsons recalled. “I felt stressed about the fact I didn’t get to take her to school the first day. She went with some unknown person on a bus.”

With horses on both sides of her family — Tennessee Walkers and reining horses on her father’s side — it was

inevitable that Bird would make it to the saddle before her first birthday.

“If it wasn’t for horses I literally wouldn’t exist,” Bird quipped. “My father’s mother hired Mom to run their farm back in 1969 so that’s how my parents met. I pretty much was raised in a professional barn.”

“My grandfather was a cavalry officer so I grew up learning to ride and walk at the same time and Beth did the same thing,” said Parsons. “In fact I bought a miniature horse for her to keep her off of my school horses. Naming that pony was the first word she said, which was ‘Buddy.’ She didn’t hit ‘mom’ or ‘daddy’ or anything; it was naming the pony.”

Boyer was just a year old when her parents Jim and Kris Hamilton bought the Hoke County property that’s now Heather Ridge Farm. At the time, it

was about the only thing on Horace Walters Road — the Carolina Horse Park wouldn’t be dreamt of for another decade.

Boyer’s earliest memories are of her mom working two jobs: building her farm and business by day before heading into town to wait tables until 11 p.m. As soon as she was old enough, Boyer had designated horses to feed first thing in the morning before school.

Though it would be a few years before she began to grasp the fundamentals of dressage training, going to shows was just part of life — even if it meant, as on one trip to Dressage at Latta, driving through an ice storm with Hamilton’s horse Fharoh in tow.

“It was absolutely terrifying driving on the roads, there was ice and snow and it was freezing. I remember continuously getting hot chocolates all weekend,” Boyer said. “I remember going to clinics down in Florida with my mom. I didn’t understand anything. I wanted to go look at the ponds and stuff.”

But something about the experience sank in. In a way, both Bird and Boyer grew up in front-row seats as their

mothers strove to become the best professional horsewomen they could be. Maybe thanks to the perceptiveness that can come with being an only child, they learned a lot about life as well as horses in the process.

“If I’d had a second child, daycare would have had to be in there and both of us would have missed a lot,” Parsons said. “One day I was teaching this lady who was extremely difficult and on the way home Beth said, ‘Mom, why do some people grow up and some people grow down?’ I’ve been finding examples of that ever since.”

Both of the younger women are now accomplished dressage riders in their own right with USDF Bronze and Silver medals to their credit. Not that it was preordained to work out that way.

When Bird started her competitive career in eventing, she was just another one of the girls under Parsons’ instruction. The rest of her mother’s students were at least eight years older, since at the time Parsons directed the eventing program at Averett University.

Bird devoted more energy to tennis once she reached high school and outgrew her

show pony, and becoming a professional rider was never her goal. After college Bird started working in sales for an oil company. She still balances that career with two competition horses, a behind-the-scenes role at Parsons’ Fair Day Farm in Southern Pines, and her own children Holland and Harrison.

Though she’d continued to ride as an adult, Bird usually kept a horse boarded and pursued dressage more casually. It wasn’t until Parsons moved her business from South Carolina to Southern Pines and imported a mercurial Dutch gelding named Fahrenheit that everything fell into place.

By then Parsons had refocused her program from eventing to pure dressage. Arguably the most artistic form of riding, it fit with Parsons’ college training in piano performance, and she’d always figured it to be the most influential phase of eventing.

Parsons spontaneously embarked on her first horse-finding trip to Europe in 2016 and returned with Fahrenheit, a horse who would push Bird’s riding beyond either of their imaginings. After a rough start to their partnership, Bird and Fahrenheit won the Third Level Freestyle at USDF Finals in 2019, and

Beth Bird and Lucy Parsons ca. 1989 and April 2024

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returned in 2021 for a Top 10 placing at Fourth Level.

a host of Fair Day Farm students and clients.

“When I bought Fahrenheit, who was as quirky as any horse could possibly have been, she really, really committed,” Parsons said. “It was climbing from the bottom because she had just had two children and a couple of surgeries.

She hadn’t seriously ridden in over six years, so that was a struggle to begin with but she was absolutely committed to excellence and she got there.”

On a daily basis, Bird acts as Fair Day Farm’s unofficial barn manager, keeping track of staff, feeding programs, vet and farrier schedules. Her flexible day job allows her work in her own lessons around Parsons’ other students. By the time Bird returns in the evening to ride and keep an eye on evening chores, her own children are usually around riding their ponies too.

“It’s become a really good family weekend because we’ve got a camper,” Parsons laughs. “Beth and I used to stay in a large dressing room in our previous trailer, but when she got married and had children it got a little crowded.”

“Fahrenheit was really the horse where my goals started to evolve as I went along with him. I certainly didn’t think I would go and do what I did with him,” said Bird. “My goal was just to get back in the show ring. I needed one more score for my Bronze medal at the time so I guess I started working towards that. Mom picks a good horse and basically I’m told to ride them and it’s just how that goes.”

“Good horse” might be an understatement, considering what Fahrenheit achieved and Bird’s more recent accomplishments on Falkor. The 11-year-old Oldenburg won a Third Level reserve championship at the USDF Region 1 Championships last fall.

On the business side, social media outreach is Bird’s domain. So is the planning of fun barn activities like Halloween costume parties — yes, the horses participate — and summer camp games. Horse shows are a family affair, but the family now extends to Bird’s husband John, two grandchildren, and

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Boyer and Hamilton now share Heather Ridge Farm. Their respective equestrian careers share other strands too. Both earned their USDF Silver medals aboard Fharoh: Hamilton in 2010 followed by Boyer three years later. When they dipped their toes into eventing several years back, they even shared a cross country vest. At the farm they’re two parts that make up the whole, each with a niche among the students. Boyer focuses on younger and novice riders and Hamilton instructs more competitive adults. The farm is home to about 30 horses, so it’s all hands on deck — including Jim and Boyer’s husband Jason — for morning and evening chores.

Boyer didn’t always intend to join her mom at the barn professionally. She originally went to school to become an Xray technician and still maintains her certification.

“When Heather went off to school, I actually didn’t know she was going to come back. Then, when she did come back, it was beautiful because she chose it,” said Hamilton. “Instead of the pressure of ‘you have to come back and run the farm,’ she picked it. It’s just sort of blossomed from that moment and it’s never been a weird decision, it’s always just been the right thing.”

Boyer experienced a lightbulb moment of sorts in 2016 when she returned to the USDF L Education Program, the first step toward becoming a dressage judge.

That’s when she discovered German trainer Johann Heinemann, who she says “transformed” her approach to

dressage. Boyer recently took the exam for her “r” licensure. Hamilton, already an “r” judge, is working toward the “R” license.

Whether judging schooling shows or hosting their Picnics n Ponies series, both Boyer and Hamilton strive to help competitors have an encouraging, “cup half-full” experience.

“We want to encourage people and let the numbers and what they mean get the message across. We want to see a happy horse and a happy rider and something that looks like a partnership that’s moving forward in the right direction. We really want people, when they come here to our shows, to school our cross country course, to feel they’re in a safe and friendly environment where they’re learning,” said Boyer, who describes herself as an “all-out organizer.” She thrives on show day, managing all the moving parts of a competition. She’s also more businessoriented when it comes to things like staying on top of release forms, the farm website and social media.

“She knows how to take the business and run with it and I’m still that person figuring out horses, that’s just what I do,” Hamilton said. “I think this was my calling my whole life. Gifts don’t really come from us, they come through us, and I think I have a little gift of trying to understand the horses.”

“My mom has the ability to press people outside their comfort zones.

She’s willing to get on more horses than I am, she is able to tell what basics are missing a lot faster than me, and I think that’s just the experience part,” Boyer said. “The dedication and understanding that mom would put into each and every horse - every horse has always been an individual to my mom. That is the best gift I have ever gotten from her.”

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3 Questions M

t s i u Q e Marci

arcie Quist is an American Driving Society, USEF and FEI licensed Judge and Technical Delegate plus a FEI Steward - all in Combined driving. She is also this year’s Chef d’equipe for the four-in-hand USEF team at Aachen, Germany and the World Championships in Hungary.

1) What was it that originally drew you to driving and then becoming licensed?

I was an Eventer when I moved to Southern Pines in 1988.

While I had driven ponies as a teenager, I had never before seen the sport of Combined Driving. When I saw the first course set up and decorated at Yellowframe Farm on Tremont Road here in Southern Pines, I wondered if it was modern art! I had a small 15.2 hand Eventing horse that would do anything I asked, so I taught him to drive. After he became proficient, we went to a riding Event one weekend, fox hunted during the week and then the following weekend he did his first combined driving competition. Since it is so much like Eventing, I was hooked.

I became an official in 2005 at the urging of a fellow official. I was also hooked! The chance to be a part of the competition and see some really great driving is the reward for all the time spent traveling, the money training, and the small frustrations with a very few people who are not having a good time. I love the rules so that is the part I enjoy the most. (Being a lawyer makes it easy to love rules.) But now that I have retired from competition, I love the opportunity to give back to the sport and the drivers in it.

2) In your experiences as an official, what has been the most interesting?

The behind the scenes are so much different. It is really great to see how much everyone is having a great time with their

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FEI Combined Driving Judge , Steward and Technical Delegate

animals. For me however the best part of being an official, is the travel. Because I had the opportunity to live and compete in Germany and Europe, and now have three different FEI licenses in Combined Driving and I am a Chef d’equipe (team manager) for the four-in-hand USEF team, I have the gift of being an official at some of the most interesting places in europe like Aachen and Windsor. But I also get to go to smaller local competitions in Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands and England. These smaller shows are the best gift ever as I live and eat with the locals. I get to meet very interesting people who eat and drink some really different stuff!

3) How did becoming an official change your perspective as a competitor?

When I became an official, my entire competition changed and improved. I quickly learned that some of the things I was focused on did not translate to points in the arena or on the course. I became more focused on the foundations and basics of dressage because I came to understand that all horsemanship starts with good riding or driving principles. I have also learned there is no replacement for basic training and hard work. As an official, I see so many competitors try to skip the basics of training and conditioning their animal.

It never works out in the end. While there are a few who might win now and then, the most consistent winners are the hard workers who develop a program of training and fitness and stick to it. And the final key - they are always having fun!

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Mastering Harmony: The Fusion of Western Riding and Classical Dressage Cassidy Oeltjen

F

our years ago marked a change in all our lives. It was the reign of the Tiger King, the rise of sourdough bread, the culmination of crafting, and the explosion of western dressage.

While many barns operated on skeleton crews and show facilities were ghost towns, there was one young discipline that came out of the pandemic more popular than it ever had been before.

By bucking tradition and foraging their own way through the unknown time that was a lockdown, the Western Dressage Association of America series of shows have now become a constant on more and more competitor’s calendars.

The idea seed for developing western dressage was planted in 2007 when a group of prominent trainers got together to discuss some of the successes and failures they’d had with horses, and where there might be holes in the

32

training system. The ideas became more formal in 2010 when the official 501(c)(3) application was submitted for the Western Dressage Association of America.

Since then membership has grown steadily, expanding to around 1500 members in 2019 and then nearly doubling that by 2022. The number of in-person recognized shows has also grown steadily, from 172 in 2019 to 258 being held in 2023.

Although the WDAA is an organization that recognizes competitions, it’s central focus (as stated on their website) is to “honor the horse in its rightful place as the living symbol of the American West, value the partnership between the horse and rider, and also celebrate the American West as the beautiful and legendary place where it all began and continues today.”

In order to facilitate the building of a vibrant western dressage community, the organization’s mission is to focus on: the importance of the horse and the unique training journey of each horse/rider pair; providing affordable education and competition opportunities; inclusivity of all breeds of horses; celebration of the American West; multi-level entry and advancement opportunities; and, most importantly, horse welfare.

While the training basis for western dressage revolves around the principles of classical dressage, the discipline has revamped some of the traditional cornerstones in order to better align with their mission.

Take, for example, the rules regarding equipment. The western disciplines have traditionally been fairly fluid with regards to equipment, and western dressage is no different. Classical

dressage maintains a much longer list of what is prohibited and what is permitted. For western dressage, there are basic guidelines, but because there are so many more options allowed, the rules tend to favor using whatever the rider is comfortable in and what allows the horse to perform its best (including bitless bridles!)

The organization has also restructured the classical training pyramid. The theory behind the traditional pyramid is that by installing the base (basics) of rhythm, moving up through relaxation, establishing connection, and developing impulsion, straightness, and collection, a horse will become obedient and in harmony with the rider. This also tends to favor the expressive moving horses when being judged.

There is a similar feel to the skills asked at each level between the two disciplines.

“Climbing up the levels is a similar path, with that emphasis on harmony rather than suspension,” explained

“Again, the emphasis on a well-trained and willing partner is paramount,” she continued. The western dressage tests are interesting and unusual from the perspective of classical riders; the horse is expected to go right into harder movements as the levels progress. I find that the western dressage tests are challenging in intricacy rather than repeated emphasis on more and more spectacular gaits, which is refreshing!”

Not only is Bruekman a judge for both Classical (“S”) and Western (“R”) Dressage, but she is an avid competitor in both disciplines. She is an USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist, and has represented the United States internationally, in addition to competing at the highest level (5) of western dressage.

Comparison: Traditional Dressage Training Pyramid vs.

Western Dressage Training Wheel

Western Dressage has adapted the pyramid into a wagon wheel. This wheel culminates with the ultimate centralized goal of “lightness and thoroughness in harmony”. The spokes of the wagon wheel are made up of collection, impulsion, straightness, rhythm, suppleness, and connection. These represent the basic elements of training, with the acknowledgement that some may be weighted more heavily depending on the level being ridden.

This difference carries over into how the tests are scored. In classical dressage, for example, the gaits score is compared to a single, desired standard. The gaits score in western dressage is developed by classifying what type of mover the horse is, and how that compares to the ‘ideal’ of that type of mover. In other words, a Quarter Horse-type should move to the best of its ability, rather than being expected to move like a warmblood. This puts the importance more on rideability and harmony for western dressage competitors.

classical and western dressage judge, Robin Bruekman. “The levels are not precisely aligned. Flying changes are introduced at Level 4, rather than Third Level, but the lateral work is similar in progression. Intro and Basic correspond in difficulty to Intro and Training Levels; Level 1 has turns on the forehand and haunches as well as leg yields and lengthenings. Canter (lope) lengthenings are often on a circle rather than a straight line [in western dressage].”

“I have been involved in western dressage from its inception!” she emphasized. “I think it’s a fabulous way for us older riders to stay in the game on horses whose best attributes are harmony and suppleness, without the ‘classical’ emphasis on spectacular, i.e. hard to sit, gaits.”

Although she has been involved with the discipline as an official for over a decade, Brueckmann began competing in western dressage in 2020, when the organization embraced the conundrum of lockdown, and began producing top-level online competition.

While many shows have moved back to an in-person format, the WDAA International Show has stayed online.

The original 2020 show boasted well over 2000 entries. In 2023, this show had 259 horses, riding a total of 1005 tests, and had 67 horse breeds represented.

“Classical Dressage had dabbled in online shows for a number of years, but WDAA really got the formula

33

right,” explained Brueckmann. “They really made this show appealing with great prizes and of course huge classes, sometimes over 100 entries in one class!

Just wow! And now there are different platforms giving lots of options for online showing.”

“Online shows are easier, in that you don’t have to travel to a show,” she continued. “It’s harder in that everyone has the opportunity to do each test over and over until it’s as good as it’s going to get. Everyone has that chance! Note to anyone doing the online show - review your video before submitting it! I’ve had videos to judge where the videographer missed the entire movement and all I can see is footing!”

Beyond competing, western dressage places a strong emphasis on education and transparency. All members have access to the online “Learning Management System”. Not only does this resource contain tips and tricks, like how to improve your videoing for

online show submission, but also an inclusive look into the rule development, organization management, and courses from experts in industry on a variety of topics such as “How to Market Your Horse Business”.

The website even contains a “Scoring Guideline” which lists each movement that may be asked in a test, each of the score numbers that could be given, and a description of what is required to get said score.

So, in order to receive a score of an 8.0 to a 10.0 in the halt, the pair would be “Balanced on all 4 legs, straight and square, attentive, and maintaining immobility. Prompt obedient transitions in and out.” That score would be lowered to a 6.0-6.5 if they “May not be on centerline or quite straight, but immobile” or “Straight on centerline, but one leg out in halt” or “Slight leaning on bit into fairly straight halt.”

It’s basically a cheat sheet!

The number of riders in North Carolina and the surrounding area who are taking advantage of all western dressage has to offer is quickly growing.

Not only does the state have several judges like Brueckmann, but also world champions, clinicians, trainers, casual participants, and options of competitions.

“It’s really fun for all participants! Give it a try!” concluded Bruekmann. “Read the USEF/WDAA rule book carefully, to see what’s expected and what’s allowed and not allowed as far as tack and presentation. It’s a lot of fun!”

For more information about giving western dressage a try, visit www.wdaa.com.

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Find out more at: www.sandhillseqm.com/ media-kit

English: Dressage and jumping options Stubben, Prestige, Custom, HDR, Black Country, Pessoa, Frank Baines, Devoucoux, Butterfly, WOW, Wintech, Albion - and several more!

Western: Circle Y, Bob Marshall, Hilason, Blue Ridge, Crates, and Royal King - and several more!

We have children and adult size options in both Western and English.

New Location! 11815 A US Hwy 15-501 S Aberdeen, NC • (910) 944-5011

barndoorconsignments.com Open Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 12-5, Sat 9:30-1:30

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Calendar Saturday Portofino Jump Show Portofino Equestrian Center, 2 13 Portofino Dr, Clayton, NC 27527 Saturday Triton Stable Show C 2521 Baptist Road Durham, NC

June 13-15 Thu-Sat Capital City Classic (Saddle seat) Hunt Horse Complex, 4601 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607

June 19 Wednesday HRF D/CT/HT/WD Heather Ridge Farm, 875 N Horace Walters Rd, Raeford, NC 28376

June 22-23 Sat-Sun NCAHA Open (Arabians) Summer Extravaganza Hunt Horse Complex, 4601 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 Sat-Sun Dressage at the Park Carolina Horse Park 2814 Montrose Road Raeford, NC 28376

June 29 Saturday Buckhorn Farm D/CT 434 Youngs Rd, Vass, NC 28394, USA Thu-Sun NCHJA Annual Show A Carolina Horse Park 2814 Montrose Road Raeford, NC 28376

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HEY!

Do you have an important event coming up?

e-mail us at: info@sandhillseqm.com

Powering More Than Just Your Home!

910-722-1311 www.GeneracNC.com

FREE Consultations Extended Warranties Maintenance Plans Low Interest Financing

Customer Satisfaction One Job at a Time!

“Customer Satisfaction One Job At A Time” Free Estimates

We Retu All Callsrn

Fully Insured

29 Ye Experieanrs ce

- FREE Estimates - FULLY Insured Asphalt • Cedar Shakes • Colored Metal Roofing • Slate We Return ALL • Synthetic Slate • All Types of Flat Roofing & New Construction Calls Serving Moore County and Surrounding Areas - 29 Years of VISIT OUR SHOWROOM AT 301 FIELDS DR. ABERDEEN, NC EXPERIENCE 24 Hour Emergency Service

910-757-0505

RV/LQ Sites Full Hook Up 1 mile from Carolina Horse Park Exhibitor Discounts!

idlewildfarmstays.com For reservations: michelle @ idlewildfarmstays.com • text 201-317-9774

We Have What You Need, Simple or Elegant.

Let us design your next project.

461 Carolina Road • PO Box 547 Aberdeen, NC 28315 jamie@barnware.com

910-944-8110 • 888-684-6773 • barnware.com

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Advertising Index ABERDEEN SUPPLY COMPANY AP HASSINGER ARTISTIC KITCHENS ASHTEN’S RESTAURANT & BAR AUDREY WIGGINS REAL ESTATE BARN DOOR CONSIGNMENT BARNWARE/ INDUSTRIAL METAL PRODUCTS CANDY ALLEN DRESSAGE CAROLINA POWER & GENERATORS DYNAMIC EQUINE SADDLE FITTING

ELITE ROOFING FAIR DAY FARM

FLOWLAND COUNTER-CULTURE OUTLET FREEDOM FARM PEMF HARDY’S EQUIPMENT HASSINGER EQUINE SPORTS MEDICINE HEALTH INNOVATIONS PHARMACY IDLEWILD FARM STAYS JASON JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY KNOWLBROOK FARMS, INC. M&M TACK SHOP MABUS FARM AND GENERAL CONTRACTING MAKANA PHOTOGRAPHY MOORE EQUINE FEED & PET SUPPLY PONY TAILS GO BAR RED’S CORNER

REVITAVET THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS STACKHOUSE & ELLIS THE COUNTRY SADDLER

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We don’t just build Farms, we build your Future!

2023 Home Builder of the Year

Moore County Home Builder Association’s 2023

Home of the Year

Our Team serves Moore, Hoke, Cumberland, Harnett, Lee, Chatham Counties, Fort Liberty and the surrounding areas.

RESIDENTIAL EQUESTRIAN FARMS COMMERCIAL

Concept • Design • Build MA AB BU US SG GC C .. C CO OM M M

P.O. Box Box 400 400 •• Vass, Vass, NC NC 28394 28394 •• 910-992-8180 910-992-8180 P.O.

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