Sandhills equestrian Magazine Nov. 2023

November 2023

Mustangs of the Sandhills Moore County Driving Club

Carriage Parade

Jason Jackson

Show Photographer WMF Part 2 | Deworming | Being Prepared

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In this Issue Cover story 26 Mustangs of the Sandhills

Features 12 22

Being Prepared Walthour-Moss Foundation

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Part 2: Where They Stand Now

34 38

Christmas Carriage Parade Jason Jackson Show Photographer

Departments 4 8 10 18 44 46 47 48

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Cold Season Nutrition Deworming Tack Trunk War Horse Event Series Calendar Let’s Find Them a Home Marketplace Advertiser Index

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Publisher Sandhills EQM, LLC Layout and Design Sandhills EQM, LLC Contributors Ray Owen Jan Leitschuh Mary McCashin Fran Severn Cassidy Oeltjen Christina Boucher Reynolds Greg Girard Lynn McGugan Tom Shea Moore County Hist. Assoc.

Diane McKay Lisa Miyamoto Jason Jackson Dr. Cameron Boggs Ines Ritter Jennie Acklin

Hello

Sandhills Equestrians!

Welcome to the fourth issue of our equestrian magazine! This is a month of thanks, with Thanksgiving coming a bit earlier this year on November 23. So I think it is appropriate to give our “Thanks” to our community of readers and advertising supporters, both equestrians and non-equestrians. And Thank You to our team of writers, photographers and designers that pull of of this together every month - we are fortunate to work with an outstanding group of talented individuals, who also are both equestrians and non-equestrians.

Our issues have been warmly received by this community - thank you everyone who picked up a copy to read. Sandhills Equestrian Magazine is published monthly in print and digitally on our website. Follow us on our social media pages and enjoy new information. Register for our emails and giveaways at sandhillseqm.com. Please share the news about Sandhills Equestrian Magazine with your fellow equestrians!

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SEQM Educational Series

Nutrition

Cold Season Nutrition

Consideration for the metabolic horses during the winter

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s the seasons change, I like to look at horses’ diets and management and see what is working and what needs a tweak to serve the next season.

In the fall, we’re thinking about pasture changing, work loads changing, and the seasonal rise of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone).

Pasture changes Once the evening temperatures drop below about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the bermudagrass is going to slow growth way down and then go dormant. The Bahiagrass will stay green a bit longer than the Bermuda, but it is also a warm season grass and ready to enter

dormancy by now. Depending on how much pasture time your horse has, this could make a big difference in the forage portion of your horse’s diet.

To keep the horse’s GI tract and its microbes happy, I like to make sure all dietary transitions are done nice and slow. This allows the microbial populations who do a lot of the horse’s digesting for it to acclimate and reduces the chance of GI upset. This might look like starting to supplement hay before the grass is completely gone so the horse can get used to the hay portion of the diet. If your horse eats hay year-round, this isn’t as much of a concern. For horses predominantly on pasture, they will lose a large portion of their daily calories when the grass goes dormant. Feeding hay can make up for this calorie loss.

Keep in mind, a horse needs to eat 1.5-2.5% of their ideal body weight

daily. For the average 1000 pound horse, that’s 15-25 pounds daily and the majority of that should be forage.

Grass, hay, beet pulp, hay pellets/ cubes and complete feeds can all count towards that number.

Horses on a hay-only diet with no pasture can benefit from supplementation of Vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids, which they usually get from grass. Most feeds provide some amount of Vitamin E, so refer to the feed tag to see how much your horse is getting daily. NRC Requirements list Vitamin E at 1-2 IU per pound of body weight, so most horses just need 1000-2000 IU daily. Many Omega 3 supplements exist on the market, but I am a big fan of ground flax as it is simple to feed and provides some other nice benefits. 3 oz daily will provide the same amount of Omega 3s that a horse would get from grazing pasture.

Christina Boucher Reynolds, PAS Christina is a graduate of NCSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a degree in Animal Science and concentration in nutrition. She has a professional animal scientist certification in equine, beef cattle and nutrient management from The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. Christina has worked in the nutrition and vet med industries in several capacities and currently works for Triple Crown helping horse owners navigate feeding and managing their horses.

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Many people choose to overseed dormant pasture with winter rye to keep pastures green and keep grazing available through the winter. I find that winter rye doesn’t usually provide the same amount of calories/biomass that warm season pasture provides, so you will likely still need to supplement with hay through the winter. Rye does have some other benefits though: enrichment (keeping horses busy and moving around), a source of vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids, ground stabilization, rainwater management, and it looks attractive.

Horses with known metabolic issues such as insulin resistance or equine metabolic syndrome should generally not have rye pasture. The grass tends to be high sugar and can make management of those conditions difficult.

plants don’t get to photosynthesize as much as those in full sun.

Healthy, metabolically normal horses won’t have the same sensitivity that insulin dysregulated horses, ponies and donkeys do, but this is the time of year that previously sub-clinical issues can start to rear their head. If you notice heat or pulse in the hooves, unusual resting stances or other pain indicators, pull your equine off pasture completely and call your vet. An appropriate “emergency diet” for a horse suspected of laminitis is to pull all pasture and feed, and feed solely 1.5-2% of ideal body weight in hay tested to be under 10% NSC, or a commercially available tested product. Laminitis is an incredibly painful condition, and even

Pasture changes for the metabolic Equine Fall is one of the times of the year that we keep an extra close eye on IR, EMS, PPID and laminitis-prone equines.

Sugar content in fall grass can vary wildly and we also must contend with the seasonal rise of ACTH (hormone that is released by the pituitary gland).

The safest grass is taller grass; grass stores its carbohydrates low in the plant, and taller grass has more fiber that helps decrease the blood insulin changes.

Stressed grass has more sugar- drought stress, frost stress and over grazing will increase the sugar levels. Grass is safest from about 3 am to 11 am on nonfrosty mornings because during the day, the plants photosynthesize and store energy in the forms of sugars, and then at night it uses those carbs to grow. On colder evenings, the plants don’t grow, and the plants hold on to those sugars into the next day and also continue to make more. Grass in shade or partial shade is generally lower in sugars as the

good weather and higher workloads, many horse’s calorie and nutrient needs change with the season.

A horse who spent the summer eating pasture and a ration balancer may need more calories as the grass disappears and their workload increases. Depending on the supplemental feed you are using, the horse may need more pounds per day, or it might be more cost effective to move to a higher calorie feed.

When selecting feeds, use the manufacturer’s purpose statement and minimum feeding rates to help you select a suitable feed. Most commercial feeds have a minimum feeding rate of around five pounds per day for the average horse in light work, but some

Fall is one of the times of the year that we keep an extra close eye on IR, EMS, PPID and laminitisprone equines.

“mild” laminitis needs to be treated like the emergency it is. It is never ok or “normal” for a horse to get “footy” or painful each fall.

Change in workload Fall sees the weather improve and lots of folks out riding horses. Trail riding and camping season is in full swing, the foxhunters are in the full season, and there are horse shows every weekend.

Many riders take it easy over the summer, and horses aren’t working as hard in the heat and humidity. With

have higher requirements. Use an inexpensive kitchen scale, fish scale or luggage scale to ensure that you’re feeding the minimum feeding rate per day and then let the horse’s body condition guide you as weather and workload changes as to whether add more or less feed.

Most reputable feed companies have a nutritionist or feed specialist who is available for customers to consult with free of charge. This is a great resource to take advantage of ! They should have options for in-person and phone/video consults.

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Seasonal rise of ACTH

anhidrosis; udder swelling in mares/ sheath swelling in males; and changes in the crest of their neck.

All equine’s baseline ACTH gradually increases each year in August and then retracts in late December. For horses that are clinically diagnosed with PPID (Cushings), that rise can be even more exaggerated and cause issues with blood glucose and insulin that push them to laminitis. Horses who are managed on pergolide (brand name Prascend) still have a chance that the fall rise of ACTH can cause issues if the dose isn’t high enough.

Your vet can test for changes in ACTH in two ways - elevated baseline ACTH can indicate PPID diagnosis, and a TRH Stim test (also called TRH response test) can give you an even clearer picture. For baseline ACTH test, your vet will do a blood draw and send off the sample for testing of the amount of ACTH. In the presence of severe clinical signs of PPID, this test is usually sufficient for diagnosis.

The TRH stim test requires a blood draw followed by an injection of TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone) and then a second blood draw in 10 minutes.

The lab will then analyze these and report back to your vet if your equine’s ACTH response to stimulus is normal.

This test gives a clearer picture for your vet if the horse isn’t displaying severe clinical signs of PPID.

Fall laminitis can be an early indicator of PPID, often showing as one of the first symptoms an owner notices. The long, slow-to-shed haircoat historically associated with Cushing’s is a fairly late-stage symptom. Early red flags for PPID before fall laminitis are: losing topline; recurring skin funk; excessive thirst/urination; recurring suspensory injuries; changes in behavior; unexplained weight loss; full or patchy Albion

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the vet will check the baseline ACTH between 1 and 3 months to ensure the pergolide dosage is correct and working properly. It is important to note that not all horses with PPID have insulin dysregulation, but the chances are higher. Your vet may choose to do a metabolic panel on your equine to find out, or they may just tell you to manage the animal as if it does have insulin dysregulation (IR, EMS).

Understanding how the change in seasons will change the management of your horse can be a simple process if you are proactive about their change in environment, change in workload, and seasonal hormone changes. With a little planning, you’ll be seamlessly enjoying the cooler weather with a healthy, happy horse.

After diagnosis and beginning treatment on pergolide (Prascend),

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SEQM Educational Series

Horse Health

Deworming

Are you on track?

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resent day deworming protocol looks a lot different than that of the past.

Tube deworming, daily dewormers, and rotational deworming are all outdated practices. Current protocols focus more on the individualized needs of the adult horse, creating healthier, more sustainable parasite management.

As veterinarians, our goals are to decrease parasite burden, control parasite egg shedding, and decrease the driving force of resistance that many equine parasites have acquired

due to the outdated over-deworming practices.

The current reported protocol for deworming is focused around a strategic approach to fighting parasites.

Overtime, parasites have developed resistance to many of the available dewormers on the market. This is the driving force for the change. If we continue to perpetuate resistance, we will be left with few options in the future.

It can be very hard for us horse owners to make changes to the practices we have used for years, even when there is an easier way! Currently, the best strategy is to deworm all adult horse either once or twice a year and then any additional times are based on fecal egg counts. This yearly/biyearly deworming targets a handful of parasites like bots, tapeworms, and

large strongyles that often do not show up on fecals, but are always present in the GI tract of horses.

Why are fecal exams important, even if they don’t show us all the parasites?

In adult horses, we use fecals to primarily measure the number of small strongyle eggs in each gram of manure.

Small strongyles are a very common parasite that have developed a high resistance against many dewormers. By performing a fecal egg count on your horse, we can categorize your horse as a low, medium, or high shedder. A low shedder is categorized as less than 200 eggs, while a high shedder is over 550.

Dr. Cameron Boggs DVM, CVA, CVMPP, CERPV

Dr. Boggs is an associate veterinarian at Breezeway Sporthorse and Diagnostic Clinic in Vass, North Carolina, where he has practiced for over 5 years. He has a strong interest in sport horse medicine with a focus on spinal manipulation (chiropractic) and acupuncture.

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So what does this mean?

As a low shedder, we would not deworm that horse outside the once or twice yearly dewormer they already receive. However, if they are over 200 eggs, that horse would need to be dewormed again with an appropriate dewormer and then have their fecal count rechecked ideally two weeks later to insure decreased egg shedding.

Equine small round worm eggs under a microscope

By using this strategic and targeted deworming protocol, most deworming schedules will be limited to less than three times a year.

In the Sandhills, we recommend the primary annual deworming to occur in either January or February. This helps to insure that there has been ample cold weather to reduce the activity of many parasites, especially botflies. Fecals can be collected at any time throughout the year, but a great schedule is to collect and analyze during Spring and Fall vaccinations.

By following these steps as a horse owner, you will do a great job of protecting your horse and also the efficacy of the dewormers we have available to us!

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Preparing for the End:

What Happens to My Horse When I’m not There?

By Fran Severn

W

hen we think about our life with our horses, we think about watching them graze, nickering as they see us, nosing our pockets for carrots, and having them at our side forever.

But within that pleasant daydream there is also the knowledge that there will come a time when we won’t be there. For those of us at that ‘certain age,’ we’re on the downside of the bell curve. But regardless of our age any of us can fall victim to an accident or medical crisis. What happens to our horses then?

Learning the options and developing a solid plan guarantees that your horses are safe and secure when you aren’t around to provide for them.

Of course, the immediate concern is providing care for your horse until the legal process of settling your estate runs its course. If you board that’s easy since the daily routine stays the same. If you are in a self-care situation, it’s more complicated. Someone has to step in and take over. You need to consider whether the horse can stay where he is or if it’s better to move him to another farm or boarding stable.

Whatever is best, you must ensure that the cash is there to pay the bills. Even

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if your friends assure you that they’ll take care of your horse, you must consider their current financial and personal situation. They might deliver on that promise now, but that can all change without warning. In any case, you need a Power of Attorney, which is a document that specifies who may legally make decisions concerning your horse. Make sure you have ownership and registration papers for your horse and that the Power of Attorney has access to them.

Selling your horse or rehoming is an option – maybe. The equine sales market is unpredictable with prices fluctuating like a rollercoaster. The time of year and weather are factors.

Selling a horse is difficult when winter is coming on or when droughts push the cost of hay to stratospheric levels.

A healthy, trained horse is always saleable, particularly if a horse-savvy friend or trainer handles the process.

However, old horses or those with chronic medical conditions probably won’t find new homes.

Often people assume that someone will be willing to take in a pasture ornament, especially if it’s ‘free to a good home.’

Non-horsey spouses frequently fall into this category. Convincing your spouse that no one wants to take a 22-year-old,

retired Dutch Warmblood with EPM is an assignment for a career diplomat.

Rescues and equine retirement centers are stretched to their limits and rarely have the financial or physical resources to provide for another horse. Donating your horse to a therapeutic center or an equine studies program at a college or university is another option, but those have very specific requirements, and few horses meet them.

Beware of individuals who advertise as private sanctuaries. Many of them are sincere safe landing spots for horses.

Sadly, many are also stopping off points for a journey to the auction. And those that are sincere often are rarely wellfunded and the horses do not receive proper care. There are many stories of horses needing to be rescued from the rescue.

As grim as it sounds, if other options fall through, euthanasia is a kinder choice for an aged, ill, or infirm horse, especially if the other fate is going to an auction or ending up someplace where he is neglected or abused.

To make the best decisions, you need to understand the legal and financial maze that’s involved in settling an estate.

The first step is to have a will. Often where animals are concerned, you must

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also need a trust. There is lot of legalese involved but it’s not difficult to decipher.

A Will is a set of instructions that spell out how you want your assets distributed. These instructions are carried out by an ‘executor.’ That can be a friend, family member, lawyer, or someone else who you trust.

None of those instructions are carried out or bequests delivered (be they money or material items) until the will has gone through ‘Probate.’ That’s another bit of legalese. It means that all of the estate’s financial obligations have been met.

Depending on the situation, it can take a few months to several years for a will to go through probate. Some states set an arbitrary minimum time for probate, which can be as long

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as a year. If you don’t have a will and die ‘intestate’ (legalese for ‘without a will’), then the court takes over and distributes everything according to state law, which might not be what you want.

“Taking the time now to plan the best future for your horse may be the best gift of love that you can give him.”

This is particularly important if you owe bills, taxes, or other financial obligations. In the eyes of the state, your horse (and pick-up, trailer, and tack) are just more assets to be sold off. If the fastest and easiest way to settle your estate is to sell your horse at auction, that may well happen.

It’s tempting to bequest your horse to a friend in your will.

Undoubtedly you do that thinking it’s a kind gift to your friend and the best thing for your four-footed partner. The court is obligated to maintain

any property or asset (like a house, car, boat, or horse) while the will is going through probate, so the new owner will be compensated for the basic care of the horse. But remember that as far as the law in concerned, the horse is just another asset. If the money in the estate runs out and selling the horse is necessary to pay outstanding debts, that may well happen.

A more secure way of providing for your horse is a Trust. This is a separate fund to which you dedicate a set amount of money. Trust Fund money is separate from the will and is not involved in the probate process. You allocate the money from your existing bank accounts or investments. It is available immediately.

The assets are distributed over time, according to your instructions. Those instructions are carried out by a trustee, who is usually a family member, lawyer, or financial planner.

A typical example of a trust is a teenager who inherits money from his grandparents, but the trust limits how much he receives each year and what he can do with it. When you hear about the crazy cat lady who leaves a million dollars to Fluffy to continue living in her late mistresses’ mansion and being fed lobster three times a week for the rest of her life – that’s a trust.

Two other bits of legal paperwork, while not directly related to horses, should be part of your planning.

A Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to take charge of your financial and legal matters if you are not able to do so. The Power of Attorney can be very broad to cover many situations or very specific, called a Limited Power of Attorney. The POA mentioned before that allows someone to care for your horse is a Limited POA. It does not give the person named to care for your horse any other privileges.

Someone else, a spouse, relative, or financial manager, can have a POA that allows them to control other aspects of your life. A Living Will allows you

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to direct what happens to you in case of a severe medical situation. You can spell out your wishes and also appoint a surrogate to make medical decisions if you can’t.

There are several popular myths about preparing a will without a lawyer.

Unfortunately, they are not usually valid. One of them is to write your will, sign it, and send it to yourself via registered mail. In most states, a will must be signed by two witnesses and possibly a Notary Public. Some states do accept handwritten wills (more legalese: these are called ‘holographic’ wills.) Visit the Register of Wills website in your state to learn the specifics.

Don’t rely on the ‘fill in the blanks’ templates available online or in doit-yourself kits. The forms are very general and often do not cover things you need to consider. Generally, they do not allow for personalization. In addition, each state has its unique legal tweaks that these forms do not address.

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If you want to ensure that your wishes are honored, your best course of action is to work with a lawyer.

If you have never settled an estate, you will be stunned at how much paperwork is involved. Give your heirs a gift and organize your important papers and files. Buy a “When I’m Gone” workbook. There are several versions available. It includes pages to list business, professional, and personal contacts; medical, legal, and financial documents; lists of loans or bills you must pay and debts owed to you, a ‘who gets what’ page, and instructions for your pets.

Buy an ‘address’ book designed to keep track of your computer and internet information: websites, user names, URLs, and passwords. Lack of access to bank accounts, credit cards, association memberships, subscriptions, email, online courses, mortgage payments, and utility accounts complicates settling the estate, not to mention the

headaches and frustrations caused by dealing with customer service clerks.

There’s one more step in preparing your end-of-life paperwork. Make a big pot of tea and settle in for an evening or two of completing a Letter of Last Instruction. While not legally binding, it is a comprehensive document that spells out your desires and instructions in great detail. Sign and date the letter.

Give copies to your attorney, CPA, financial planner, family members, whoever you have named as Power of Attorney, and the person listed as your medical surrogate in your Living Will. Keep it in your safe deposit box and update it annually. Do a search for “Letter of Last Instruction” and half a dozen samples appear. The University of Idaho has an excellent downloadable letter that covers everything you can think of and then more!

Taking the time now to plan the best future for your horse may be the best gift of love that you can give him.

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War Horse Event Series

By Shannon Habenicht

T

he Southern Pines Equine Associates War Horse Event Series (WHES) presented by Adequan at the Carolina Horse Park has steadily become one of the top eventing series in the sport. From the start, the goal for this series was to offer horses and riders at every level the building blocks needed to expand their skills. To this day that remains the focus of the series. Young horses seeking experience can learn in a safe environment with a show atmosphere while seasoned competitors can take advantage of more challenging options. The Carolina Horse Park is proud to be a competition venue that provides opportunities for people and horses to achieve their personal goals.

This year, the SPEA WHES once again partnered with the United States Eventing Association (USEA) to gain classification as a registered schooling show.

Longtime Title Sponsors Dr. Tom Daniel and Dr. Jim Hamilton of Southern Pines Equine Associates can be seen at every leg of this series, their distinctive grey vehicles always at the ready. Daniel and Hamilton have truly gotten behind the War Horse Event

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Series recognizing it as an important series to host for riders of every skill level. As Tom Daniel says, “we are proud to have helped develop the WHES into an experience for the horse and rider that is founded on the concepts of accessibility, safety and education.

Most significantly, this series provides the horsemen who form the base of the sport of eventing opportunities to move up through the lower divisions at an appropriate pace that is both safe and a memorable amount of fun. If you want to see the highest level of competition in the country in the lower levels of our sport, come to our Championship in November. It is electric.”

Eventing first took shape from a comprehensive cavalry test that required mastery of several types of riding. This all-encompassing outlook is how the sport of eventing evolved to a single horse and rider partnering to compete against other competitors across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

Given the rich history of the sport, the “War Horse Event Series” name provided organizers an ideal way to honor soldiers that bravely fought for America as well as recognize the equine athletes that compete in the discipline .

Each year, the WHES runs 6 events over 7 months from May through November. The finale for the season is the November Championship where the Park awards over $10,000

in cash plus extensive prize packages.

To qualify for the November 10-12 WHES Championship, a rider/horse combination must place 1st – 6th at any of the first five WHES events OR enter all five WHES 2023 events prior to Championship. This year’s Championship will bring in over 400 pairs of horses and riders vying for the top spots and thus the biggest rewards.

In addition to the Championship divisions at the November event, there are also non-championship horse trials running all weekend.

Divisions offered include green as grass, starter, beginner novice, novice, training and modified horse trials and combined tests (CTs) as well as Intermediate and Advanced CTs and dressage tests of choice. Every WHES incorporates a Saturday schooling day where riders can pay to school any of the 3 phases – dressage, show jumping and cross country. Competition day follows on Sunday. Food trucks and vendors are on site each weekend providing an inviting atmosphere to spectators wanting to check out the action.

Professional rider, Andrew McConnon with McConnon Eventing based locally in Vass, often brings his horses and students to the WHES. Says McConnon, “I feel very fortunate that such an exceptionally well-run unrecognized competition series is held locally. The series is run in a relaxed horsemanship focused way at a world class facility with friendly volunteers & officials, and top-notch courses.

The WHES has been instrumental in helping me produce young horses while also schooling my upper-level horses.

The series has been a great boost to the community and allows me to coach students in a very educational way.”

WHES weekends are full of excitement and anticipation and Championship weekend is no exception, as the grounds almost vibrate with the thrill of the chase! Riders will start arriving at the Park on Thursday afternoon

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to prep for show time with divisions running Friday, Saturday and wrapping up with Championship Show Jumping on Sunday, November 12. On Sunday there is also an Awards Ceremony and Volunteer Luncheon following the completion of the event. The Carolina Horse Park relies heavily on volunteers to successfully run the 32 weeks of events each year and WHES is no different. Over 70 volunteers help each of the events run smoothly. The WHES Luncheon is a great way for the Park to recognize our volunteers and thank them for their constant support and hard work.

OTTB (off-track Thoroughbred) The Thoroughbred Incentive Program Champion and Reserve Champion in each Horse Trial level of competition will receive a ribbon.

The Jockey Club presents year-end awards to the top two horses in each HT division.

The Over the Moon Award sponsored

by Southern 8ths Farm recognizes WHES amateur competitors, age 50 and over, who continue to compete at the Park.

The top placing Junior or Amateur in each level of the Championship War Horse Event classes will receive a total of $1,000.

Series Awards If a Junior/Amateur comes in third place, and is the highest placing Awards (based on qualifying points for Junior/Amateur, CHP will augment HT competitors only) presented at the their $400 prize with an additional WHES Championship include: $600 for a total prize of $1,000. If The Team Championship consists of the highest placing Junior or Amateur teams of 3-4 rider/horse combinations, places fourth behind 3 professionals, that Junior or Amateur will take riders can compete in various levels. home $1,000.

The Second Chance Award is open to any rescue horse with adoption papers The Claire Bruno and Bugsy from a recognized organization OR Memorial Award was founded and

Longtime Title Sponsors Dr. Tom Daniel and Dr. Jim Hamilton of Southern Pines Equine Associates with WHES competitors

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sponsored by CDP Stables and honors adult amateurs riding at the Beginner Novice and Novice levels.

New for 2023, the Sgt. Reckless Veteran Award was founded and sponsored by Mabus Farm and General Contracting and honors veterans and active-duty military WHES competitors.

There is no fee to visit the Carolina Horse Park and leashed dogs are welcome. To learn more about the War Horse Event Series and the Carolina Horse Park, please visit www. carolinahorsepark.com. If you would like to volunteer at the Carolina Horse Park, please contact Maggie Cline at volunteers@carolinahorsepark.com.

If you are interested in donor and sponsorship opportunities at the Park, please reach out to Shannon Habenicht at Shannon@carolinahorsepark.com.

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21

Walthour-Moss Foundation

Part 2: Where They Stand Today

By Ray Owen

T

he Walthour-Moss Foundation was established upon the death of William O. “Pappy” Moss to ensure the preservation of the open land that he and Virginia Walthour Moss so treasured.

The Foundation is located in the Sandhills of North Carolina, one mile from the town of Southern Pines. It occupies over 4000 acres, virtually unspoiled by progress and development. – The WalthourMoss Foundation Southern Pines ranks as one of the top equestrian destinations and a place of ecological beauty.

This is in no small part due to the conservation ethos of the Walthour-Moss Foundation.

Widely known for its equestrian use, the Foundation has implemented proper forest management practices that have made it a true environmental preserve. On any given day, a visitor may experience its natural history and significance – as a keeper of the namesake forest of Southern Pines.

The Foundation’s conservation efforts were inspired at least in part by the Boyd family from Southern Pines who were pioneers in the American forest preservation movement. Lovers of foxhunting, the family’s former recreational hunt lands are now encompassed by the preserve.

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Great footing is a hallmark of the Sandhills as though the land was made for horses. This distinctive geographic region meandering through eight of

the state’s southeastern counties is a wonderful piece of freedom for any equestrian discipline. It is a place of amazing and subtle beauty. On warm days in the Foundation a faint aromatic smell exudes from the pines and fills the air, and if you listen closely the wind through the trees sounds like ocean waves. It’s the perfect place for equestrians – the sand bone dry just an hour after the heaviest rain. No wonder that the land was saved by sportsmen.

Rigorous stewardship practices have resulted in a pristine longleaf forest.

“People visit our forest and they’re often taken back,” says Foundation Executive

Director, Landon Russell. “Many have never experienced a real longleaf forest, its open beauty full of life. Rare species include the federally endangered redcockaded woodpecker.” The land is also home to many other varieties of birds, deer, raccoons, opossums, red and grey foxes, rare fox squirrels, and over 650 plant species.

While you might think these woods are something that a fire shouldn’t touch, it’s fire that keeps it alive.

Historically, lightening strike fires swept through every one to three years, clearing out the underbrush. Not only is this critical for the pines, but for ecosystem as a whole.

Fire provides a foundation of mineral soil required for longleaf seeds to drop, germinate and grow new trees.

It is also needed for the wiregrass and herbaceous plants in the understory to flower and propagate.

In a well-managed open forest, all that’s needed is a low intensity burn that races across the ground at a very fast rate. You can actually walk along with the fire and hop over it from time to time. But in fire-suppressed areas a more intense burn is needed to remove brush and oak trees that have grown too closed.

There, the flames might easily reach 10-12 feet tall. At the end of the burn

it’s very quiet, the landscape rendered in surreal shades of black and brown – the charred soil smoldering and full of embers.

“My most vivid memory is when they used to do night burns,” says Russell, a Sandhills native raised on a farm adjacent to the Foundation. “You could see it lighting up the sky. Going in just a week after, you the wiregrass is growing up. I’ve even seen deer coming through or wild turkeys going through on the day after a burn. People think fire can be devastating, clearing everything, but life comes back so quickly in the pine forest.”

Especially after a rainstorm, new growth is sprouting as the trees and grassy understory feed on all the nutrients released by the flames. “One thing I like to do is show people where we have and haven’t burned,” Russell adds. “You can easily see the difference in the lush grasses – there’s no contest, you can’t compare.”

“The context for a forest is not just 10 years, it’s a lifetime,” says Russell. “We currently operate according to a 50year management plan that involves prescribed burning and some clearing to convert stands back to longleaf pines.

We’re also installing artificial cavities to

restore populations of red-cockaded woodpeckers.”

A big challenge is how to balance the use of the land and at the same time preserve it. There are lots of dedicated biologists, land managers and scientists helping to guide the process. It’s critical for the public to understand what’s involved, particularly the necessity of prescribed fire. It’s always difficult to burn without putting smoke on somebody, which is a real concern for people with health problems.

Folks might not be aware that the Foundation is important part of the largest contiguous block of ecosystem remaining in North Carolina, including Fort Liberty, the NC Sandhills Gamelands, numerous private tracts, and Weymouth Woods/Sandhills Nature Preserve. People are flooding into area and segmenting the land.

The integrity of the woods is based on having large enough areas to withstand tornadoes, hurricanes and ice storms.

If the forest is expansive enough, it can replenish itself after these catastrophic events. But if we only have small tracts of biodiversity here and there, the ecosystem will ultimately start to fail.

Ironically, in 2004 the Foundation was threatened by an NC Department

of Transportation plan to create a “bypass” around Southern Pines to handle high-speed traffic. A possible route for the thoroughfare would have cut a wide swath through horse farms and Foundation land. Such fragmentation would have destroyed decades of conservation efforts and resulted in great financial loss to the community, since horse farm owners pay a premium in annual property taxes. Their activities attract thousands of visitors, from day-trippers to seasonal residents, who patronized local businesses.

Opposition to the bypass was swift, creating alliances between horse enthusiasts and Southern Pines residents. Their united voice made an impact and plans for the bypass were ultimately dropped.

Around that time, the WalthourMoss Board began protecting critical trails and access points through a system of easements. By the early 2000s, large-scale farms were being subdivided. This resulted in an influx of newcomers who were often unaware or failed to understand the culture. The very fabric of Southern Pines horse country became endangered by smaller farms denying access across their land.

To counter this trend, the Foundation

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developed a strategic plan to address this threat and other issues of concern.

Now, more than 100 easements branch out from the Foundation, forming a fabric that ties the community together.

In 2013, 2,500 acres of the Foundation were placed on the National Register of Historic Places as nationally significant due to its long history of conservation and the integrity of the landscape. In 2021, the Foundation donated a conservation easement on 3,946 acres to the US Forest Service to protect wildlife habitat, water quality and the rural character of the land.

It is a voluntary legal agreement that restricts property development in order to preserve its conservation values. The land remains owned and controlled by the Foundation and open to the public for equestrian use.

This conservation easement is a component of the Foundation’s longterm plan to protect the land and ensure that it permanently remains intact and available for equestrian use. Many people have contributed their time and resources to assemble and preserve this forest over the past century. In a real

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way, the easement is an expression of gratitude for their commitment.

Today, the Foundation is one of approximately 400 land trusts across the country accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. Their lands have also been declared a Significant Natural Heritage Area by North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, and in 2017 the preserve was recognized by both the US and NC Forest Service for its outstanding resource management.

Open year-round from dawn to dusk, Foundation visitors are asked to sign a risk/release waiver available at kiosks near the main park entrances.

For safety, it is strongly recommended that folks carry a cell phone and wear protective headgear. There are 911 location markers at major intersections in case EMS or emergency personnel are needed. Restrictions include: no alcohol or picnicking; firearms, fishing, boating, or swimming; unauthorized vehicles; dogs; and smoking or fires of any kind. And no trailer cleaning or manure dumping in parking area allowed.

There are some who say that Southern Pines is at a crossroads, challenged by urbanization that eats away at its woodlands. “It is no secret that our community is growing. Our goal is to make sure that we have open space for people to ride horses into the future,” says Russell. The Foundation continues to implement their long-term forest stewardship plan and communicate such activities through their newsletter, website postings, and on Facebook and Twitter pages. They also send emails to neighbors alerting them to current projects.

Since its inception, the WalthourMoss Foundation has been a guardian of the forest and helped to shape the fate of our natural heritage. Thanks to their preservation efforts, their land will continue to be protected for the enjoyment of future generations. For anyone who values and enjoys the land, please support the Foundation – your gift is a gift of life to the longleaf pine forest.

PROTECTING WHAT YOU L O V E

580 SW Broad St., Southern Pines NC 28387 910-687-4899 1222 Rockingham Rd, Rockingham NC 28379 910-997-4581 204 W North St, Albemarle NC 28001 704-983-0907

www.northstateins.com

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s g n a t s u M Sandhills of the

By Cassidy Oeltjen Photos: Lisa Miyamoto 26

C

ar enthusiasts know the mustang stands for power. The entertainment industry mirrors their free-spiritedness. Sports teams emulate their strength and tenacity.

publicly with the mare, Cinnamon Girl. Cinnamon exemplifies the well roundedness of the mustang breed and the trust they can have in people when given the opportunity.

But equestrians know that the BLM Mustang is a master of adaptability and versatility.

Cinnamon and Justin have traveled the country together, giving clinics and demonstrations, including five years as a feature for the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in Denver, Colorado.

They competed in the Mustang Magic and did six years of a camp for children afflicted by cancer. They have been wonderful ambassadors for the breed by appearing on the television shows, Best of America by Horseback (RFDTV), and RIDE TV.

Originating from Spanish horses, crossed with horses brought with settlers from north Europe, the American Mustang is known for its small stature, endurance, surefootedness and tenacity.

They range widely in appearance, and different herds have varying genetic makeup that can be traced back to breeds that were introduced to specific areas in the western United States.

Cinnamon has also received viral fame with Justin’s daughter Emma - a video where toddler Emma is leading ‘her horse’ Cinnamon down a snow covered path, capturing the precious partnership between the two. The video has been used several times in advertisements, including international companies such as Rolex.

Cinnamon’s ability to stay calm in all the situations is a reflection of the breed’s gentle demeanor - a trait that surprises some of the people who attend his school and are unfamiliar with the breed. “Many people come with a preconceived notion of what horses are

The Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 calls out the mustang as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West, which continue to contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people”.

On average 2500 mustangs are adopted out each year, making their way to a variety of futures, including those who now call the Sandhills region home. Noted by their distinct freeze brand on the left side of their neck, these mustangs are making a name for themselves in a variety of disciples.

For Justin Dunn, owner of the American Mustang School, his wild horses are partners in a business that covers everything from helping combat veterans to horsemanship courses. Justin has dedicated his life to understanding how these wild horses enrich the lives of humans, how they provide a mirror for our thoughts, and how they require their handlers to be completely present and ‘in the moment’ in order to communicate.

While both domestic horses and mustangs play important roles in his school, Justin most often partners

Justin Dunn and Cinnamon

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and how they behave, but that follows the domestic horse,” Justin reflected.

“They get around the mustangs and connect with them and are like ‘wow, I never knew horses could be this calm’, but it’s because they command you to be right there with them, in the moment. “ In contrast to Justin’s years of experience, Marissa Mullany is reviving her childhood love of horses by adopting her mustang, Bertie, through The Santana Center. Marissa had just started volunteering at the center when Bertie arrived, guarded and learning to trust humans after a traumatic introduction into the domestic world.

It wasn’t exactly love at first sight for the pair, but having the opportunity to work nearly daily with the mare meant their partnership could grow organically. “She acted like she tolerated my presence and it’s hard to feel a connection with a horse who could care less,” Marissa reflected. “But as the days went on, and the more we learned together and the more firsts we celebrated together, I began to invest my heart and soul into her training.

After a couple of months of working with her, I knew I couldn’t let her be adopted to someone else.”

Marissa is using the expertise of the trainers at the center, along with other knowledgeable professionals in the area to continue to gain Bertie’s trust and ‘become one of her herd’. Eventually Marissa would like to use her experience in yoga and Physical Therapy, and combined it with horsemanship to create a holistic healing center with Bertie. But in the meantime, she’s just enjoying the journey.

“My goal for Bertie has always been for her to be a safe family horse that I can enjoy with my kids,” Marissa reflected.

“I just began backing her on our first year anniversary, and would love for my kids to be able to ride her one day too.

But honestly we all love working with

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Bertie, BLM mustang and Kill-pen survivor.

her from the ground, so riding is just extra.”

Just like Bertie and Marissa, it wasn’t necessarily love at first sight for Ines Ritter and her dressage mustang Reno.

After she initially found his videos quite appealing but life got in the way and she moved on thinking the opportunity had passed. Five months later, the unassuming gelding was back on the market, and this time he was close enough for her to look at in person.

At the time, Reno had training to second level, but did also have some

‘unfortunate’ chapters of his life, like when he’d been basically abandoned in a field, covered in lice.

“Unfortunately along the lines of changing partnerships he had developed some trust issues,” Ines reflected. “We spent the first year getting him to trust the process and to build our partnership and eventually I started showing him at training level.

I have been the only one riding him since I got him, as we were not sure if changing riders would set us back as his reaction to changes wasn’t always the best.”

Reno 19-year old BLM mustang and FEI Grand Prix competitor.

Walking the show grounds, Reno is a striking contrast to the large warmbloods, some who look like they may be set off at the slightest paper rattle. His small stature and quiet demeanor make him look like he might become the next leadline champion, but Ines has tapped his talents perfectly, and climbed through the dressage levels.

“I remember saying to my husband ‘all I want to do is get my Bronze medal,’” Ines recalled.

“We clearly went further than that and I could not or would not have done without the training and coaching from Koby Robson, who saw Reno’s potential early on and has been along our side this whole time. I know for a fact a lot of people thought I was crazy and some just gave me the ‘suuure’ look, when I told them that the goal was to get him to Grand Prix especially when they realized he was a mustang...but here we are with Reno being the first ever BLM mustang to show at this level.”

From the dressage ring to the hunt field, the mustangs of the Sandhills really show the breed’s versatility.

really not sure what I wanted his job to be. Unlike any other horse I have, every time we tried something new, he was just amazing at it. He was happy to trail ride, fox hunt, or go to War Horse [Event Series]. I would say that one job that he really enjoyed was fox hunting. He was able to immediately go into first flight, running and jumping behind the huntsman and hounds.”

Traveling through the terrain at speed has really let Wyatt’s natural talents shine. “Unlike other breeds, Photo: Hightime Photography as mustang Wyatt is able to out there on the trails jumping and Junior rider, Amara Baker, and her running without shoes because his feet mustang Wyatt share a love for the are so tough,” Amara said. “Also, any thrill of the hunt - a bond that started jump he was pointed at, he was gonna when Amara was a working student do it; he has no fear. He is very calm at Huntleigh Sport Horses and Wyatt when we are walking and trotting. came in for training.

When the field really takes off and gets going fast you may not think this little “My relationship with Wyatt began mustang can keep up with the bigger to develop even before I had bought horses but you would be wrong. He is him,” Amara recalled. “I had never fast! He jumps anything he is pointed owned a mustang before and I was at, whether it’s 2’3 or 3’6.”

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Amara and Wyatt a 7-year old BLM mustang.

Wyatt also likes to keep Amara on her toes with his playful attitude. “He always wants to surprise me with a new skill and sometimes he likes to surprise me with a few bunny hops when he hasn’t been out in a bit!”

Just like Wyatt, another area mustang has found a junior rider to share their love for the outdoors. Smiling Little Leela and her young rider, Gabrielle “Pook” Edgerly, have jumped into the world of eventing, using all the elegant, nimble, and surefooted attributes of the mustang breed to conquer the triathlon discipline.

Since purchasing Leela at the 2019 Georgia T.I.P Challenge, Leela and Gabrielle have utilized the access to wonderful training that the Sandhills area supplies. They are successfully competing at the beginner novice level, producing some impressive results in all three phases.

Leela even has her own Facebook page (Smiling Little Leela, The Little Mustang That Can), where followers are treated to images of her signature smile, the turmoil of keeping a grey mare clean, and other adventures of Gabrielle and her little mustang.

No matter what the breed, having a horse that lets us handle and ride them

30

is a special partnership, but those who have that connection with a mustang who once felt the true meaning of being feral is a remarkable experience.

Gabrielle probably echoed all Mustang owner’s feelings when she said, “Leela and I have had all sorts of adventures!

She is a great teammate and I am fortunate to have her.”

Smiling Little Leela, 14-year old BLM mustang and Eventing competitor.

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Moore County Driving Club’s Annual Christmas Parade

A Southern Pines Tradition

By Ray Owen Photos: Diane McKay

F

or more than 30 years, the Moore County Driving Club (MCDC) has decorated their carriages for Christmas, continuing the parading tradition that began when Southern Pines was chartered in 1887. This annual holiday parade is a much anticipated event for townsfolk and visitors alike, attracting hundreds of people who line the sidewalks to enjoy the procession.

Every year the crowd grows larger as more people join to kick off the holiday season.

Visually striking, the parade is indeed a spectacle to behold, like something straight out of a Currier and Ives print with beautifully designed vehicles and wonderful costumes. Everyone makes a huge effort to adorn their rigs, and many

34

of the carriages are actual antiques or historic replicas – a defining feature of this time-honored event. Over the years, the attire and decorations have exhibited a variety of holiday features – Santa hats, elf attire, multi-color glitter, penguin and reindeer get-ups, sleigh bells, ribbons, garlands and poinsettias.

The MCDC was established in 1980 by a small group of carriage enthusiasts.

Skill levels range from newcomers to veteran competitors and everyone with a sincere interest is welcome.

Their specific purpose is to promote interest in the sport and offer training in its various aspects. At this point, it’s the largest horse-driving club in the country with over 200 members. Not all of them actively drive but they’re all actively interested in driving. And

while the general public might think of carriage driving as something you do when you’re too old to ride a horse - it’s a very dynamic and lively discipline.

Horse-drawn carriages have been part of the Southern Pines landscape since the days of colonial settlement, and the MCDC helps to sustain this legacy.

Today, there are likely more horsesdrawn vehicles in the region per capita than any other place in America. Some of the greatest figures in competitive driving live in the area along with a flood of followers, making this one of the most important districts in the world for the sport.

Some people in the MCDC do it just for fun, while others participate competitively, such as Combined Driving Events or CDEs. The club

sponsors one CDE each year and is heavily involved in two others. They also host an annual pleasure show that’s judged on skill and ability, authenticity and polish of the carriage, and cleanliness of the equine. Usually two or three judges adjudicate these competitions.

There are also all sorts of clinics, social outings and events just for fun, including a Safari Drive where they hunt for “seasonal items” rather than animals. The variety of events make the group accessible for all driving enthusiasts.

According to club member and parade organizer, David Cohen, the Christmas drive has grown along with the club.

“Initially, it was a bit more extensive,” he says. “It went through Penick Retirement Village before heading into downtown Southern Pines. It’s been shortened for a variety of reasons, but it’s still a lot of fun for participants and spectators. People love decorating their carriages for Christmas and sharing the holiday spirit. We even have Santa and Mrs. Claus rounding out the end of the parade.”

As far as turnouts go it’s usually around 15 to 18, depending on who’s in town. The same people tend to do the members-only event each year.

Sometimes folks need to drop out at the last minute because their horse goes lame or other unplanned events.

Participants include all shapes and sizes of equids, including horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys. “Some people who do this have minis,” says Cohen.

“Last year we had a beautiful four-inhand with four paints. We like to have a lot of participants, since it’s not a good parade if there’s only three or four people.”

The event is difficult and not all ponies, horses and mules are up to the task.

“It’s just about the hardest thing for them to do,” Cohen explains. “We have to school club members about

the requirements for equines, preparing them for standing still two or three minutes at a time with spectators along the sides.

The ability to go at slow pace or trot on command is critical, and the equine has to be immune to things, like a dog running out in the middle of the street. It’s very important that they start training for the gaits they need beforehand. You can’t just take an equine out of a barn and go to the parade.”

“I’ve been organizing it for the last five years,” he says.

“A good amount of planning is involved with this type of event, and all the costs are underwritten by the club. We get a permit from the municipality and arrange for a police escort, both requiring separate paperwork.

Believe it or not, we even have to notify the North Carolina Department of Transportation. It’s no longer necessary to meet with the police in person because the same people do it every year. They like being involved and they seem to compete for who gets to help us.”

The route has to be understood by everyone. The club selects a leader who knows the itinerary and can go at a steady gait so they don’t lose people along the way. The total distance from the staging area on Youngs Road through the town and back is 3.2 miles. “Without a staging area, it would be impossible to do this,” says Cohen. “Fortunately, Tom and Eleanor Gallagher let us use their Stoneybrook Farm on Youngs Road.”

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The parade requires approximately 25 volunteers, many of them serving as crossing guards at intersections and in various other roles. Youngs Road and Ridge Street is an important crossing where four roads meet. They need two volunteers at this intersection along with a police officer, if they can muster an extra patrol car. At the back of the parade two volunteers ride along in the ‘poop wagon’ to clean up after everybody.

freight train,” Cohen expressed. “They don’t run on a regular schedule, and are required by federal law to blow their horn at every intersection. That loud noise sometimes frightens an equine.

If a pony or horse gets really upset, we direct participants to head down

Driving is challenging for the younger generation because of the expense.

Cohen’s wife, Aggie, works very hard to ‌‌introduce young people to the sport by inviting them to the couple’s farm. “She takes them out in a carriage and gives them the reins,” says Cohen. “We have a pony that is extremely reliable, he’s practically on autopilot. Still, the big problem is the cost. It’s much more expensive than just getting a saddle and a bridle.”

The Cohens have been joined in their efforts to A fun aspect for sustain carriage driving participants is the in the community by a decorating contest number of world-class - an underlying professionals who have competition that called the Sandhills home, garners fiercely including Bill Long, Megan kept secrets for Binge, Keady and Randy Bill Long, driving a four-in-hand during the Christmas Carriage parade, ca. 2007 the most elaborate Cadwell, Fonz Hargrove, Photo: Jeanne Paine. display. As the Steve Holm, Craig Kellogg, participants parade and Marcie Quist. Such along, a secret judge observes the a side street and return to the lineup a constellation of stars has always decorations and selects the participant when things calm down. The weather been present in the area, coaching with the best theme, such as most is another concern, but you can’t do and guiding students, and lending elegant, beautiful, fun-loving, or useful. anything about it. encouragement or advice – guiding the future of carriage driving.

“Winners take home token prizes, As much as Cohen plans for adverse maybe a couple bottles of wine,” says situations, there can always be Such generosity of spirit has helped Cohen. “The same people don’t win unexpected occurrences when drawing make this the place to be for anyone every time since judges tend to spread such a large crowd. Although it’s never serious about the sport, from beginners it out among participants. We have an been a problem, things like children to world champions. And in turn, announcer, Dave Frump, who’s been getting excited and running into the these equestrians have shared the doing it for years. He sets up downtown, street are always a concern. The club traditions of horse country with the right outside of Sweet Basil restaurant has insurance for any mishap, just in rest of the community through their on Broad Street.” case.“The children’s faces light up annual Christmas Drive – a thoughtful with big smiles as the carriages pass by, reminder of our equestrian heritage “For anyone who doesn’t know, train they’re just amazed. They really loved and a wonderful gift to everyone to tracks go through the center of town, the presentation of the horses,” Cohen enjoy. so one of the things I worry about is a says.

Join the Annual Carriage Parade

• December 9th, 2023 • Downtown Southern Pines • www.moore countydrivingclub.net 36

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Jason

Jackson Capturing the Grace and Power of Horse Shows

T

he entry has been sent in. The trailer has been packed. The horse is loaded in the trailer before the glint of sun comes up over the horizon. We arrive at the show, control our nerves, and conquer our fears. We do all of this for a few minutes of show ring fame, before loading everything back up and heading home.

Having those few moments of glory captured in images helps to justify the blood, sweat, and tears (and money) that were shed. Posted to social media, framed in the living room, and analyzed over and over on your phone - these freeze frames allow us to relive our greatest (and not so great) memories.

For photographer Jason Jackson, a fascination with the power and grace of horses combined with a chance to learn the industry in a low-key environment has led him to a career in capturing these memories for horse show competitors.

“Heather Boyer, of Heather Ridge Farm, really taught me the ins-and-outs of what horse shows are. Her shows were the perfect way for me to grow and understand this community,” he reflected. “I’m deeply appreciative of her and her family for the opportunity and soon found myself taking every opportunity I could to photograph a show.”

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Just as competitors form family-like ties with their peers, the horse show photographer community supports one another and welcomes new members with open arms and helpful tips.

reach and quality are the primary reasons for buying that gear, certainly a hurdle worth jumping,” Jason explained.

“Weather resistant equipment is important. I still need to perform well in the worst conditions.”

“I learned quickly that the toughest part of learning to shoot Dressage is timing the foot falls,” he explained. “John Snyder of Hightime Photography gave me the best tips on how to time those.” Jason now gets to give back to Snyder, stepping in as an additional photographer for some of the bigger shows that Hightime Photography is contracted to shoot.

Jason uses the time before the show to ensure he and his equipment are ready to handle anything that show day may bring. “Every night prior, I make sure all my lenses are clean. I charge the batteries for all my cameras, and format all my cards,” Jason described. “I make folders on my 4tb external drive to store all photos from the day. I also bring an external drive to make a second copy of all photos. I do this for that one chance that my 4tb external goes bad.”

Understanding how the logistics of horse show photography works sounds strangely familiar to the organizational skills of a busy trainer.

First up is getting all the necessary equipment and making sure that it is maintained. There are basics, like lenses and cameras and storage - and then there are backups, the additional lenses, and the equipment necessary for working outside in all sorts of weather conditions.

The financial investment of photography equipment *almost* makes saddles and riding boots seem affordable, but having the proper equipment makes the job easier and maximizes the quality of the final product. “Weather,

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Just like a trainer planning a day full of students riding in different rings at different times with different warm-up needs, Jason balances pre-orders, sign-ups, multiple rings, changing light conditions, and other photographers who may be shooting for him.

All the pre-planning helps to ensure that horse show mornings have limited surprises or moments of panic.

Jason arrives at the show long enough before the first rider to get an updated order-of-go and to scout the best locations to shoot. While it helps that the subject matter is beautiful horses and riders, there is a long list of things that a photographer must consider when choosing a location.

“It’s typically best for a photographer to have the sun to our back, so the light is on our subject. However, some shows, the best angle for horse and rider expressions will force me to shoot back-lit,” Jason explained.

The perfect horse show shots don’t always rely only on the traditional rules of photography or even always happen in the actual show ring. The shooting location also needs to allow him to be on the lookout for candids and other special moments outside of the show ring, stay out of the way of spectators and avoid having unexpected photobombs.

After capturing the last competitor as they smile and pat their horse, the work for Jason is really just beginning.

Depending on the size of the show, there may be hundreds or thousands of photos to organize, edit, and publish, all within a timeline that doesn’t leave the competitors thinking they’ve been forgotten. For a small show, this process might be as short as six hours while a large show might be more like sixty.

“I like to process my photos myself using minimal editing - cropping, straightening, adjusting exposure, contrast, white balance, and sharpening. I do more extensive editing upon request such as removing distractions, enhancing colors, applying filters, effects, or creating composite images,” Jason described. “I work hard for my editing to suit my client’s needs while still leaving room for me to express my own vision and style - good balance between personal preference and professional judgment.”

Technology has made a huge impact on how horse show photographers operate. Long gone are the days of sample photos being mailed weeks after a show. It’s expanded editing abilities, shortened publishing time and allowed photographers the luxury of capturing many more moments per competitor.

But technology hasn’t come without some downfalls. For Jason and most every horse show photographer, the issue of people posting images they haven’t purchased to social media is an issue that is larger than the money they spend on equipment or the hours spent braving the weather.

“So many times I’ve come across my image on someone’s page with my watermark plastered across the front. Many times it’s altered for crop and compressed in ways that degrade the quality and integrity of my original,” Jason explained. “All I can think to myself is ‘people are gonna think that’s the quality of my work’”.

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While it’s frustrating to feel disrespected and lose out on income, Jason tries to use the times he finds someone posting un-purchased pictures as an educational opportunity.

“I’m actually quite forgiving in that aspect because I know 90% of people don’t mean to [be disrespectful]. They see their photo, and in the moment they get that itch to capture it right then. They don’t realize how it affects me, as well as other photographers,” Jason reflected. “I think it’s best to just educate our clients, as well as others, about the importance of respecting and supporting photographers’ rights and work. This can help create a culture of awareness and appreciation for photography as an art form and a profession.”

Jason’s commitment to his art and all those long hours spent braving the elements at equestrian events are now leading him on a path around the world. He has recently been invited to be an Official Photographer at the Polocrosse World Cup in South Africa, where his attention to detail and gift for capturing the power and grace of horses will be on display worldwide.

jskphotodigital.com

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NOVEMBER November 3-5

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Saturday Mythbusters Clinic: Pleasure Driving Shows Moore County Driving Club with Don Stewart

November 30

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Calendar

Thursday, DUE: NCDCTA Annual Scholarship Application

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