Check Out Our New And Improved Website: www.theequinereport.com Therapeutic Riding...................................16 Equine Health by Neely...........................18 Cattle Producers of Louisiana...............................................24 4-H..............................................................34
FEATURED ARTICLES Go West, Young Man!........................ Cover Effect of Absorbine Bute-Less/LSU...........................................2 Justify Conquers the Curse of Apollo.......................................................5 Miss Rodeo Mississippi Taylor McNair.............................................8 Photos By Ann Switalski...........................12 Every Horse’s Nightmare: Trapped by Fire.........................................13 Foster Bridewell and The Equine Sales Company.............................25 Dentists Of Early Mongolia....................26 Three Little Words: It Doesn’t Matter.......................................37
Go West, Young Man! Ellis Racing Expands to Ruidoso Downs by Barbara Newtown Trey Ellis has always had a race training business in Louisiana. In 2018, he started his two-year-old racing Quarter Horses as usual in Shreveport. He then tried his luck in Oklahoma and, when those horses did well, he decided it was time to hit Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, the Mecca of Quarter Horse racing. When the news got out that Trey was thinking of expanding west, some of his clients called him up and asked him to take their horses, too. Trey arrived at Ruidoso with high hopes for these four: Eagles Fly Higher (One Famous Eagle – Lone Bet, by First Down Dash), a two-year-old sorrel Oklahoma colt bred and owned by Texans Vernon Harnan and Robert T. Moudy. Trey says, “He’s an easy colt. He’s professional and smart. Consistent, too: he’s won almost every time he’s run. He’ll be a nice sire prospect down the road.”
No Mires a La Luna (First Moonflash – Dont Looke Ethel, by Genuine Strawfly), a two-year-old bay New Mexico colt bred by Byron R. Woodard and owned by Woodard and David Valdez. “He’s a high-strung horse,” says Trey. “He and Far Right are similar in temperament… they’re just wide open. Not crazy, just a handful and ready to go!” (“No mires a la luna” translates as “Don’t look at the moon.”)
Trey had to fly back and forth between New Mexico and Louisiana all summer, since he still had horses training in Louisiana… and a family living there. His family Fly Baby Fly (One Famous Eagle – Higher Fire, by Walk came out for big races on the weekends, but often he Thru Fire), a three-year-old sorrel Oklahoma filly bred would finish work in New Mexico, hop on a plane in the by Julianna Hawn Holt and owned by the Fly Baby Fly afternoon, and be at work in Louisiana early the next Partnership. She won last year’s All American Futurity day. “It’s been a long summer, but I love it. Years of at Ruidoso. hard work have paid off. Our horses qualified for five Far Right (Apollitical Jess – Kansa Chick, by Chicks Grade 1 races.” Beduino), a two-year-old grey Texas colt bred and Continued on page 10... owned by Bennie and Terri Jeter.
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The Louisiana Equine Report • September | October 2018
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Justify Conquers the Curse of Apollo—And More by Barbara Newtown
Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown champion, has shattered a 136-year-old curse: In 1882, Apollo, unraced as a two-year-old, won the Kentucky Derby. Until Justify came along, 61 other Thoroughbreds had tried to ace the Derby without competing during their two-year-old year. Add to Justify’s Derby accomplishment the horse’s capture of the Triple Crown, and you have the ultimate icing on a pretty tasty cake.
the horse versus the track. Justify was tested by extremes: the Derby and the Preakness were run on sloppy, wet tracks; the Belmont’s track was fast, sandy, and dry. The consensus is that Justify is not inherently a “mudder” – a horse who likes to run through slop. His natural speed and his natural competitive streak put him ahead of his challengers, even when the surface was something he may have disliked. The most astonishing fact about Justify’s accomplishment is that ALL his racing took place in 2018. His raced/won ratio is 6/6: 1) 7 furlong maiden special weight race (February 18, 2018) 2) 1 mile allowance race (March 11, 2018) 3) 1 1/8 mile Santa Anita Derby (April 7, 2018)
I asked Glenn Delahoussaye, renowned Louisiana Thoroughbred trainer, for his take on Justify’s blazing-fast rise to stardom.
4) 1 ¼ mile Kentucky Derby (May 5, 2018)
How did Justify pull it off? The first place to search is his pedigree. Glenn doesn’t look for esoteric “nicks” as much as he looks for general quality. The bottom half of Justify’s pedigree boasts not only big earners like his damsire Ghostzapper ($3,446,120 in 11 starts), but also spectacular breeding-shed stars like Pulpit. On the top half, Justify’s sire Scat Daddy shows strong influence from Mr. Prospector and the Storm Cat line. Scat Daddy was the top freshman sire in both North America and Chile, and in 2015 the horse set the North American record for siring juvenile stakes winners. Two-year-old winners and late maturing winners are all represented in Justify’s lineage. The quality throughout the pedigree, top and bottom, is undeniable.
6) 1 ½ mile Belmont (June 9, 2018)
In 2016 Justify sold at the Keeneland auction for $500,000. Those who bid on the colt saw what Glenn calls the “it” factor: presence. Glenn says, “Justify, as a yearling, was a magnificent physical specimen. He’s eye candy! We look too much at what we read—the pedigree—and we forget what we’re looking at, actual flesh and blood. That’s what does the running. You could say that Justify outran his pedigree.” Glenn compares racehorses to human children: the most athletic parents can produce a kid who prefers to lie on the couch and read… and the laziest parents can produce an All-American athlete. Always consider the individual. Pictures of Justify as a youngster show a handsome horse with strong, well-muscled hindquarters and solid bone structure with excellent angles. By the time of his Triple Crown win, his shoulder and withers had matured, and he stood at 16.3 hands – an inch taller than “Big Red,” Secretariat. Observers have remarked on Justify’s long, efficient stride: his muscles and tendons are flexible enough to reach farther with each step than his competitors can reach. Does the training make that much of a difference? Glenn offers a guarded yes. Bob Baffert is the best of the best. Justify had some minor foot problems during his two-year-old year and Baffert resisted the temptation to put the very expensive horse into a race. Training continued, though: gate work, responsiveness to the rider, general fitness. Since Justify didn’t have to recover from races during that year, his training could proceed without interruption. However, Glenn points out that Baffert did nothing different than what he would do with any of his horses. “There’s an old saying: a loaded gun is dangerous in anybody’s hand. Trust me, Justify was a loaded gun! Baffert’s a great trainer, but Justify is an exceptional horse.”
5) 1 1/8 mile Preakness (May 19, 2018)
It took less than four months for Justify to reach the pinnacle of Thoroughbred racing. Justify retired to the breeding shed after Baffert noticed some swelling in his left ankle. Fans of Thoroughbred racing will always wonder: which horse is better, Justify or American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner? American Pharoah went on to run three more races after the Triple Crown: the Haskell, which he won; the Travers, which he lost by ¾ of a length; and the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic, in which he competed against a field that included older, more experienced horses. He retired sound. It’s possible that excellent veterinary care would have made it possible for Justify to race more… particularly as an entry in the Breeders’ Cup, thereby producing more data for the armchair arguments. But a comparison between the two horses is skewed by economics. The owner of American Pharoah had sold the breeding rights; the only way he could keep making money from his horse was to continue racing him. Justify, on the other hand, at the time of the Belmont was owned by a group populated by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing, and, according to The New York Times, George Soros. They will earn far more from Justify the stud than from Justify the fan-pleasing racing hero. As Glenn says, “It’s all about the return on investment—the ROI.” At this point, the ROI shifts to the babies. American Pharoah’s first crop of weanlings hit the sales last fall. Bloodhorse magazine reported that the youngsters have athletic physiques and good minds. The horse world awaits the offspring of Justify.
How about the talents of the jockey? Mike Smith is a veteran rider. He’s at the stage of his career where he can pick and choose. “His nickname is Big Money Mike,” says Glenn. “He’s a good Christian man, he has no flaws. He gets along with horses, he’s got beautiful hands and balance, and he’s a tactician on the track. He can figure a race out: he can watch the competition and decide where he needs to be.” Glenn points out that Mike got his start in New Mexico racing Quarter Horses, “which makes him a very good gate rider today. People with Quarter Horses in their roots understand you’ve got to get away from the starting gate!” Trainer Bob Baffert also got his start in Quarter Horse racing. How stiff was the competition? Justify’s Triple Crown victory was well earned. The horses which challenged him in the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont went on to win big races after Justify retired. There’s another form of competition:
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6 The Louisiana Equine Report • September | October 2018
“Cowboys gotta ride” – Review of The Rider [2017] by Barbara Newtown
hearing about Brady’s adventures with horses and he loves watching videos of his own rides, when he was a cocky, glorious rodeo star. Lane Scott plays himself. In real life, Lane isn’t confined to a wheel chair, but his vibrating body and his inability to speak are true. Brady Jandreau points out in interviews that Lane was injured in a car crash, not a rodeo. The other emotional center of the film is the sweet, loving brother/ sister duo of Brady and Lilly. In the film and in real life, Lilly is on the autism spectrum. She is a happy young lady who sings her way through the day and who doesn’t want to be 15 years old if it means having to wear a bra. One of the funniest moments occurs when the audience realizes she’s attacking her brand-new bra with scissors - as she sings.
Saddle bronc competitor Brady Blackburn, skull crushed by a hoof and repaired with a metal plate, checks himself out of the hospital against medical advice. He walks home to the trailer he shares with his widower father and his sister, Lilly, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. His father’s lust for drink and video poker adds to Brady’s misery: their ramshackle horse operation is on the way down, and the only way up seems to lie in selling off the stock. Battling headaches, depression, and partial seizures in his right hand, Brady finds solace in his ability to communicate with horses. He knows that another bad fall will result in even more severe brain damage, but he still struggles to let go of the idea that excelling in the rodeo arena will give him a livelihood and prove his worth. Training horses requires tact, consistency, and respect; as Brady has more and more success with “problem” horses, he begins to realize a new definition of what it means to be a cowboy… and a man. Writer/director Chloe Zhao met Brady Jandreau, the untrained star of the film, when she was working on another film on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Songs My Brothers Taught Me [2015]. When the real Brady suffered a head injury during a saddle bronc competition and slowly began to put his life back together, she asked if she could tell his story—with him in the lead. Jandreau’s own father, sister, wife, and friends acted in the film. Jandreau has said that 40% of the film is true, and the rest is tweaked for dramatic effect. In real life, Brady’s mom is very much alive, and Brady and his father amicably run Jandreau Performance Horses. They breed and train American Quarter Horses in the Western disciplines. Brady says he wouldn’t mind doing some more film acting. The performances that Zhao brings out of her Pine Ridge amateurs are magical. A movie that could have been a simple tale of giving up a dangerous dream instead turns into a meditation on friendship, love of family, and the miracle of communication between species.
The shots of Brady Jandreau working with horses are as true as is possible in a film. The horse playing the role of Apollo is really unbroke and spoiled; we see Brady trying to get the horse to pay attention without getting either person or animal hurt. The balance between kindness and firmness is so clear that non-horse people can understand what Brady Blackburn/Jandreau is trying to accomplish. Zhao uses long takes to good effect: you can appreciate that training is a lengthy process. Nevertheless, an uncut version of elementary horse training would take 90 days! Zhao has found a good balance. The Pine Ridge scenery qualifies as a character in The Rider. Zhao credits the influence of Terence Malick’s Days of Heaven [1978] and the films of Werner Herzog for the brooding, expansive feel of the unspoiled West that she and her cinematographer capture. Endless vistas are broken by the raw upthrusts of the Badlands, by distant lightning and by looming black clouds. The grass is sparse, but the horizon is so far away that the horses are in heaven. Zhao was born in Beijing. Fascinated by American culture, she finished high school in Los Angeles and majored in political science at Mount Holyoke College. After graduation she held odd jobs in real estate, party promotion, and bartending. She studied film production at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Like The Rider, her first full-length film Songs My Brothers Taught Me also employed Pine Ridge amateurs. In an interview Zhao estimated that 80% of that film was drawn from the real-life relationships she encountered there. “We’re capturing truth – because truth is the only thing we can afford.” May she continue to blend the best of fiction and documentary. What makes her method of turning people’s lives into artistic expression is the permission and trust that her performers give to her. The Rider is rated R for tense, emotional moments and frequent use of the F-word. That said… I would not hesitate to let a young teen watch the film. It is sensitive in its treatment of disability, inspiring in its portrayal of the West, knowledgeable in its exploration of the love for horses, and heartwarming in its scenes of friendship.
The heartbreaking scenes of Brady visiting his disabled friend Lane Scott in rehab are part of the emotional center of the film. Brady holds the “horse” end of a pair of reins and Lane, with his motor deficits, tries to hold on. Brady says, “Now whoa… now back up… now let go!” and Lane grins in delight. Lane never shows self-pity; he loves
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“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37 Taylor McNair, from Learned, Mississippi, is the 42nd young lady to have the distinct honor and privilege of wearing the crown of Miss Rodeo Mississippi. She was crowned on January 13, 2018 and has represented Mississippi at all Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) events statewide and several abroad, as well as compete for the title of Miss Rodeo America, in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 2018. A recent graduate of Mississippi State University (MSU), Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in AgriBusiness with a concentration on Policy & Law, and Minors in both Business Administration and Economics. While at MSU, she was a member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society, Chi Omega Sorority, Toastmasters, Freshman Council, Foundation Ambassadors, MSU Rodeo Team, and MSU Equestrian Team. Her future educational goals, include: obtaining a J.D. from the University of Mississippi Law School and LL.M. in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas. Being both a rodeo competitor and enthusiast, Taylor was an active competitor throughout junior high and high school in the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA), Mississippi High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA), and Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association (MQHYA). As a past Mississippi Beef Ambassador, Hinds County Outstanding 4-H’er, Mississippi’s Star Junior Cattleman, and Horse Public Speaking Champion, Taylor has received numerous scholarships, 4-H livestock exhibitor awards, and community service awards. She also garnished several rodeo queen titles, including: Miss Dixie National 2014, Miss Crossett PRCA Rodeo 2015, and Miss Rodeo of the Mid-South 2016. When Miss Rodeo Mississippi is not promoting the sport of rodeo or the agriculture industry, she enjoys riding horses, running, working on her family’s farm, and traveling. Taylor is excited to spend this year encouraging the next generation of rodeo athletes and queens, promoting the sport of professional rodeo, and educating the public about agriculture. For more information concerning Miss Rodeo Mississippi or the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation, log on to www.missrodeomississippi. com, or visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation Gold Buckle Sponsors Boots and More • Arrowhead Cowboy Supply Mississippi Cattlemen’s Assn. Jackson, Mississippi • Claremore, Oklahoma Jackson, Mississippi Miss Rodeo Mississippi’s Personal Sponsors Bronze:Turnage Family Dentistry & Farr Animal Hospital Silver: Philip Dale Soignier CPA, Merchants & Planters Bank, Diversified Pest Management, & Mississippi Ag Gold: Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance, Taylor’s Flying Service, CoBo’s Boutique & Nutrena Platinum: Crop Production Services & Frederick and Beckers Litigation Attorneys
8 The Louisiana Equine Report • September | October 2018
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Continued from cover page...
Go West, Young Man! Ellis Racing Expands to Ruidoso Downs by Barbara Newtown
Eagles Fly Higher came in third in the August 18th $8,000 All American Futurity Trial and earned $800, but he didn’t compete in the Futurity two weeks later because his time put him in eleventh place among all the trial horses. Nevertheless, in five starts, Eagles Fly Higher has taken 3 firsts. Keep your eye on him!
The 2018 Ruidoso summer meet came to a head on Labor Day weekend. Fly Baby Fly entered the $1,238,655 All American Derby Grade 1 on Sunday and zoomed to 2nd place, .052 seconds and a neck behind Hotstepper (One Famous Eagle – Pandorum, by Tres Seis), despite drifting slightly at the start. Her share of the purse came to a sweet $222,958. On Monday, Far Right came in fourth in the $200,000 All American Juvenile Stakes and brought home $16,000, a nice consolation prize for being bumped at the start and forced to the outside. The big one came later that afternoon: the $3,000,000 All American Futurity Grade 1, which boasts the largest purse for any 2-year-old race in North America. No Mires a La Luna came in third. He was bumped by his neighbors out of the gate but still was only .107 seconds behind the winner, Apocalyptical Jess (Apolitical Jess – Cassandra Crest, by Holland Ease). No Mires a La Luna took home $255,000, sweet indeed. Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo brought home the bacon in all three races. Trainers, jockeys, fans, owners, and breeders know that a Quarter Horse race can be a wild scramble. Make a mistake out of the gate? There’s no time to grab the race back. 440-yard races like the All American Futurity, Derby, and Juvenile last for approximately 21 anaerobic seconds. There’s no time to maneuver for the trip-saving inside track around the turns: everything takes place on a straight line right in front of the grandstand. Although gate training is key to winning, your horse can be the straightest in the world out of the gate and still get bumped by his neighbors. Your hopes can evaporate in a tenth of a second… but your dreams can come true just as fast. Trey loves the explosive speed of Quarter Horse racing. “The adrenaline rush! I’m on the pony every morning, taking the horses from barn to track and back. I even ride the racehorses sometimes, whenever I can. People think I’m crazy!” Trey Ellis, only 28 years old, is now standing 9th out of 1,451 Quarter Horse trainers in North America in 2018. His total 2018 winnings as of Labor Day weekend are $1,024,120. Trainers customarily take home 10% of the purses, but the meat and potatoes of their business plans are the training and boarding of the equine athletes. Trey says, “I feel blessed to be able to work with the caliber of horses my clients have offered me.”
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New Louisiana-Bred Award To Be Offered At 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced today that a new special award will be offered at the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America and taking place Oct. 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) is sponsoring a $2,500 cash prize for the top-placed Louisiana-bred at the competition. Ten Louisiana-breds took part in the 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover, competing in eventing, dressage, show jumpers, show hunters, and polo. Louisiana was ranked eighth among states and Canadian provinces for the most horses entered. “The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association continues to make an investment in the future of our Thoroughbreds by helping our former runners secure a beautiful life after their time on the racetrack is done,” said Roger Heitzmann III, secretary-treasurer of LTBA. “We believe that by assisting the Retired Racehorse Project, former racers have the ability to show to others the true beauty of the Thoroughbred, as well as their continued usefulness.” Shadwell Farm The LBTA award will be presented to the Louisiana-bred that earns the highest percentage of the total possible score in any of the 10 disciplines offered. Almost 800 trainers have been accepted to compete in the 2018 event. Many trainers have not yet purchased the horse they intend to compete, and the cash award will offer an extra incentive to shop for an eligible mount bred in the Pelican State. “I am very excited about multiple awards being added to the Makeover this year. I’m especially enthusiastic about the LTBA providing an award for Louisiana-breds,” said retired jockey and RRP board member Rosie Napravnik, who is based in New Orleans and markets retiring Thoroughbreds for second careers. “This will boost the market for horses in Louisiana, considering that there are currently no organizations in the state for retraining or adopting Thoroughbreds.” Any Jockey Club-registered Thoroughbred that raced or had a published work on or after July 1, 2016, is eligible to compete in the Makeover, as long as the horse did not start retraining for a second career prior to Dec. 1, 2017. The Thoroughbred Makeover is the flagship event for RRP, a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to increasing the demand for and value of Thoroughbreds in their careers after racing. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover. New to the Paulick Report? Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry. Copyright © 2018 Paulick Report. This entry was posted in Horse Care, NL List and tagged kentucky horse park, Louisiana, Louisiana breeding, louisiana thoroughbred breeders association, retired racehorse project, roger heitzmann, rosie napravnik, thoroughbred charities of america, Thoroughbred Makeover by Press Release. Bookmark the permalink.
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PHOTOS BY ANN SWITALSKI
Ann Switalski snaps pix of horses and horse people all over Northwest Louisiana. She works for Hodges Photography as an official photographer at Louisiana Downs. The Equine Report is proud to feature her work! RACING IN THE RAIN
ANN AT THE TR AC K
OP HE DR T R E E OV BRAV
ARADE POLICE P
G WORKIN
ALONE
ALL DONE
ING TRAIN RLY S EA START
THE SCIENCE OF EXERCISE
12 The Louisiana Equine Report • September | October 2018
HORSE PERSON, DOG PERSON
Every Horse’s Nightmare: Trapped by Fire
Horses threatened by the Creek fire were taken to the Pierce College Equestrian Center in Woodland Hills, the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in Sylmar, the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster, and the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.
by Barbara Newtown
For a map of fires in Southern California, go to: http://www.fire.ca.gov/ general/firemaps
Southern California was burning at the end of 2017... People lost their homes, their livelihoods, their lives. People know what to do when their world is aflame: flee. Or, if they are trained and have the right equipment, they face and fight the fire.
Containment is the only the beginning. Dale Gibson vows to rebuild the structures at his ranch, but that will take months. And owners, trainers, grooms, jockeys, and riders will never forget the horses that died horribly.
The irony is that the land around Los Angeles and San Diego has always Horses seek safety. Unfortunately, the safest place they know is the stall, suffered wildfires. Yes, people can be careless or intentional with the where they can find the comforts of home: food, water, bedding, and power of fire, but fire in Southern California has been sparked by lightning and fanned by 70 mph Santa Ana winds for eons. When people suppress protection. fires and allow underbrush to take over, nature insists on clearing it out. The Lilac fire in San Diego County swept through the San Luis Rey Downs training center on December 7th. Cliff Sise, a racehorse trainer, Fire is inevitable, so be prepared. Even wet climates have fires: a stupid visitor can light up near the hay bales; bad wiring can spark. A tried to convince the two-yearpamphlet and PDF published old Thoroughbred filly Scat by the Monte Nido Mountain Home Lady to leave her stall. Ridge Riders in 2004, after the He couldn’t, and she died where Malibu fire, has essential advice she felt safest. Elizabeth Chou, a for horse owners everywhere, reporter for the Los Angeles Daily whether their property and News, heard him say, “She was equines are threatened by fires, one of my favorites...” floods, or earthquakes. Chapter Leo Tapia, a groom at San Luis Two, “Horse Behavior and Horse Rey Downs, kept his cell phone Handling in an Emergency,” has recording the scene at the training valuable insights into controlling center as the humans tried horses in a crisis. For instance, desperately to calm, corral, or lead horses respond to danger in three the panicked horses. possible ways: fighting, fleeing, or freezing. All of these reactions You can watch Tapia’s video on can hurt horses and people. The YouTube: https://www.youtube. Monte Ridge PDF recommends com/watch?v=lx_rQ3nDc7I ways to deal with such dangerous responses: 1) you must remain Officials say that 46 horses calm, because horses can sense perished at San Luis Rey Downs. fear; 2) try not to sedate your A few more escaped into the hills horse, because the horse may lose his equilibrium; 3) make sure your and were not found for days. Rescued horses were taken to the stabling horse knows that YOU are the herd leader, and that YOU must be obeyed; at Del Mar racetrack. 4) train your horse not to be alarmed by flashlights; 5) know where to The Lilac fire, as of Saturday, December 10th, had burned 4,100 acres grab halters and leads if the lights cut out; 6) if fire is coming, TAKE OFF and was 50% contained. blankets and leg wraps, which are flammable; 7) know several methods The Creek fire, in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, killed of restraining a horse or tying a few horses together; and 8) make sure at least 29 horses. Elizabeth Chou reports that, at one stable, several neighbors and first responders know how to access/unlock your property. horses died because their stalls were padlocked... and owners or trainers The pamphlet does not sugar-coat: at some point you may have to “let left no instructions for getting the horses out. Breaking the locks took go of the horse and save your own life.” valuable time; the stable roof collapsed before all the horses could be Go here to read What Do I Do With My Horse in Fire, Flood, and/or released. Earthquake?: The Creek fire jumped the 210 Freeway and partially destroyed Gibson http://www.t-cep.org/pets/Red%20Bookhorses2004.pdf Ranch, owned by stunt man Dale Gibson. The ranch, a popular spot for lessons, trail riding, camping, and competitions, has often been a movie and TV location. Kari Digerose, an employee at the ranch, said that Gibson Ranch usually was considered a safe location for owners who needed to evacuate their horses...
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New Recovery Stalls at the LSU Equine Hospital Julie Thomas Public Relations Coordinator LSU School of Veterinary Medicine
Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM) | LVMA Equine Professor and Director, Equine Health Studies Program Louisiana State University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital Baton Rouge, LA. Because of a generous donation for a donor, the LSU Equine Hospital renovated the horse surgery recovery stalls. The Equine Health Studies Program and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine completed renovations and updates of their horse surgery recovery stalls. The renovation began in the early summer months and was completed in January. The original equine recovery stalls were installed during the original construction of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the early 1970’s and although innovative and functional at that time, those stalls were in need of renovation.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
The new recovery stalls are state-of-the-art and will modernize the process by which horses are anesthetized, moved into the surgery room and recovered. The surgery recovery stalls have innovative antimicrobial resistant sealed non-slip padding on the floor and walls, which ensure a safe and secure recovery of horse patients undergoing surgery and other procedures requiring anesthesia (Figure 1). A new 4,000-pound capacity monorail system was installed in each recovery stall that seamlessly connects the surgery suite with the recovery stall and provides a smooth ride for the horse, once anesthetized (Figure 2). In addition, the recovery stalls were fitted with new doors with 3 large windows and an exit door that will allow the clinicians, technicians and students the ability to continuously monitor the patient while the animal is undergoing a “rope-assisted” recovery (Figure 3). Cameras were installed in each recovery stall and HD Monitors were installed outside of the recovery so that the horses can be seen by the personnel involved in recovery (Figure 4). continued on page 15....
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continued from page 14.... New Recovery Stalls at the LSU Equine Hospital The surgery recovery stalls were completed this January and are fully functional. The recovery stalls will be named after the donor, Ms. Pfeiffer-Burt, who also donated funds to build the Pfeiffer-Burt Lameness and Performance pavilion at the LSU Equine Hospital. “Through this generous donation we have a state-of-the-art modern, safe and biosecure areas to anesthetize and recover horses before and after surgery. In addition, we want to thank Ms. PfeifferBurt for her commitment to LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine.,” says Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Internal Medicine), professor of equine medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, LVMA Equine Committee Professor and Director of the Equine Health Studies Program. Figure 4
For more information about the recovery stalls, please contact Julie Thomas, public relations coordinator, at 225-578-0110 or jtho279@lsu.edu or Dr. Frank M. Andrews (fandrews@lsu.edu).
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 30 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. The LSU SVM is dedicated to improving the lives of people and animals through education, research and service. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.
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Equine Health
by Neely
Ed Twidwell: Extension Specialist & Neely Walker Equine Specialist LSU AGCENTER
WATER WORKS: EQUINE CONDITIONING TECHNIQUES Physiological conditioning is one of the key factors in obtaining peak performance in horses. Ensuring your horse is conditioned prior to competition is important to reduce the chance of injury and increase your opportunity for success. Basic conditioning principles require addressing multiple physical systems including: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, muscular anatomy, and fitness of tendons, ligaments, and bone. Typical conditioning protocols that address these physical systems include 3-4 months of slow, long distance work, followed by an additional 1-2 months of speed and skill training, depending upon discipline. Traditional methods of conditioning include mechanical walkers, treadmills, and riding programs. However, underwater treadmills and swimming programs have recently become more affordable and available to the equine community. Underwater or partially submerged treadmills combine the buoyancy of a swimming pool and the mechanical advantage of a treadmill. There are two types of underwater treadmills available; in ground units; which require the horse to walk into a treadmill that is already submerged, and an above ground unit; which a horse is walked into a fiberglass tank that contains a treadmill and then the water is added. Both types of submerged treadmills are used primarily in rehabilitation conditioning. The benefit of an underwater treadmill is the water increases the buoyancy of the animal, reducing the amount of stress placed on the legs and back by up to 45%. Research has shown that horses exercised on an underwater treadmill have an increased stride length and decreased stride frequency suggesting that the water increases resistance and provides an effective method to increase cardiovascular, respiratory, muscle, and tendon conditioning. While underwater treadmills are appropriate for horses returning to conditioning following an injury, limitations in the variability in speed and slope of the treadmill prevent underwater treadmills in being effective at conditioning horses without injury.
beats per minute; similar to the 200 beats per minute experienced by breezing a horse on the racetrack. It is estimated that swimming a horse for 15 minutes is similar to hand-galloping a horse for 5 miles. While swimming is a great conditioning technique for fitness and rehabilitation, it is not recommended for horses with back or rear limb injuries. Horses must arch their neck to breath while swimming, which in turn hollows their back out and compresses their spine. Horses also must rely heavily on their rear legs to propel them through the water, which can potentially worsen any lameness issue. Advances in technology continue to offer unique opportunities to assist in conditioning horses during the rehabilitation and performance phases of their career. No one exercise is adequate to replace a traditional well planned conditioning program, however, underwater treadmills and swimming are two additional ways to reach the level of physiological fitness and conditioning needed to increase your chances for success in the show pen. References: 1. Nankervis, K.J. & R. J. Williams. 2006. Heart rate responses during acclimation of horses to water treadmill exercise. Equine Exercise Physiology 7:36(2006) pgs 110-112.
Swimming is an excellent conditioning activity that allows a horse to exercise in a completely 2. Scott, R., Nankervis, K., Stringer, C., Westcott, K. & D. Marlin. The effect of water height on stride frequency, stride length and buoyant environment reducing the heart rate during water treadmill exercise. Equine Vet. J. 42:662-664 weight bearing activity. Swimming has been part of conditioning 3. Adair, H.S. 2011. Aquatic Therapy for programs since the early 70’s. Conditioning and Treatment of Tendon and Recent research has indicated that Ligament Injuries. 2011 AAEP Annual Convention Presentation. swimming horses for 5-8 minutes can increase a horse’s heart rate from 34 beats per minute to 175
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Oil Helps Things Run Smoother by Dr. Kelly Hudspeth, DVM
We oil our cars, our machines, and a lot of other stuff to keep them running smooth. What about our horses? For many of you who know me on a personal basis or visit the clinic, you know that I have developed a love of essential oils. For those who do not, this is how essential oils made it into my veterinary clinic. It did not really start in the clinic. It actually started with my feet. About two years ago, I walked in some really bad shoes up and down our gravel driveway and ended up with what felt like multiple stone bruises that night. The next day the pain in my feet had not subsided and to cut the story short, my sister, a pharmacist, told me about an oil she had used for her feet and I purchased it that day. I have been exposed to essential oils since 2007 but had always attended continuing education classes on acupuncture and did not ever research the oils. I had a few sitting around my house and intended to use them for air fresheners. I bought the oil she used and I applied the oil that night and the next morning – Happy Feet! It actually was pretty amazing and I had no anti-inflammatories on board so the oil got the credit. That is the beginning. I still did not know enough about oils to bring them into the clinic but I started reading about the use in animals. I am constantly looking for new technology or substances that improve health with no side effects. Also there are some things that conventional medicine simply has nothing to offer. For example, my daughter was about to embark on her senior year in high school rodeo, and although we had a seasoned roping horse for her to use, she decided to compete on her home grown soulmate that had developed definite issues in the roping box. Lelo had been Bethany’s all around horse for ten years. She started riding her as a three year old and had used her successfully in breakaway. But as time passed, Lelo would get anxious in the box after about 3-5 consecutive weeks of roping and it would end in front feet off the ground which is unnerving for the rider and parents. We had bought her an older horse for breakaway and she only used Lelo occasionally for roping. To try to get Lelo ready for the senior year, all the training techniques and possibilities of injury had been ruled out and we were searching for something to reduce anxiety. And I did not want a drug. She
was perfect at home in the practice pen – the problem only came up at the rodeos. I had already started looking “outside the box” (pardon the pun) and had moved from acupuncture needles to patches that were helping with anxiety. After the episode with my feet, I started researching anti-anxiety oils and essential oil use on horses. Another long story short, I found some and with the oils and patches combined, Bethany not only competed on Lelo her entire senior year, but also made it to the National finals and ended up 29th out of 179 breakaway ropers. She was two for two at the finals and fell short by nine spots to make it to the short go. She got to do it on her horse that she had owned since birth and grew up with.
Both of these two experiences opened up my love of essential oils not only for myself and family, but also for my animals. “My animals” refers to mine personally and my patients. The method I chose to use on Lelo was extremely simple and cost effective. I simply used my personal oil kit that was stocked with a lot of anti- anxiety oils already plus a variety of others. I opened a bottle of oil and offered it to Lelo as soon as she unloaded at the rodeo pen. By offering, I mean opened the bottle and put in front of her nose – not letting her touch it but very close so she could smell. If she immediately turned her head away, I put that oil up. If she smelled the oil, I left it there for her until she turned away. By turning away, I mean completely turning her head away from me and the oil. Then I would offer another oil until she had accepted five oils. Continued on page 22...
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Continued from page 19...
Oil Helps Things Run Smoother by Dr. Kelly Hudspeth, DVM If needed, I would wait at least 20 minutes and repeat the process. I never did it more than twice. The response to the oils would vary from a quiet response of simply smelling it to a dramatic response of literally trying to eat it by taking it out of my hand. If you try this, be sure to hold on solid to the bottle!!! Afterward she would do anything from shake her head, stomp her feet, snort, or chew, to multiple yawns. Once she literally yawned 11 times in a row! Her eyes would also change. For horse people, you can tell by looking into your horse’s eye to get a hint of how they are feeling. I call the relaxed look a soft look. As a result of allowing her to basically choose her own oils, our horse went from anxious on arrival at the rodeo pen to relaxed. Sometimes she would actually yawn when she unloaded before the oils were introduced. I considered it to be similar to the “Pavlov’s Dog” behavior. Although we were also using patches that were applied before she loaded, the oils worked well with them.
Another important aspect of essential oil use is to get a therapeutic grade. Other grades may only contain 3% of the essential oil and be 97% synthetic products and still make a claim of pure on the label. So research the company. The bottles should be dark. Once the oil is applied, your skin should not be “oily”. Essential oils are absorbed really fast. I personally would never use anything less than 100% essential oil with my animals.
Some might worry that for a performance horse, too much relaxation would not be good. That was not the case for us. She had plenty of fire in the box, just not the negative kind.
Exploring the use of essential oils can be exciting and fun for you and your horse. Talk to your veterinarian for further information.
With all that being said, it is really important to research the essential oils before using them on your pets. There are numerous ways and techniques to use. They can be diffused, applied topically, given orally, and simply smelled out of the bottle which worked great for us. I have since used the oils topically also. Everyone at the clinic loves to get the oils out when we have a horse that is anxious over being in the stocks or getting blood drawn. Some horses respond great and others not so much. We have only had one occasion when the oils were not accepted by the horse at all. Because oils are not regulated and anyone can purchase these oils, you really need to educate yourself. There are some good books available, but my favorite so far, is the Animal Desk Reference on essential oils for animals. This book is written by a veterinarian, Dr. Melissa Shelton, DVM. The most important thing to remember is that you should read, read, read! Oils are expensive and range from $10.00 to over $100.00 a bottle with most falling in the $25.00 range. The good thing is there are virtually no side effects but you want to get good results.
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Catahoula Veterinary Clinic: 2606 4th Street | Jena, LA 71343 318-339-9643 DISCLAIMER:
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this article is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various topics, included but not limited to health and other essential oil benefits. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this article.
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THE HARVEST IS HAPPENING!! by Dave Foster
Farmers and Ranchers are “hooked up” during September. Farmers are busy trying to get a crop harvested and ranchers are weaning calves to go to market, preg checking cows and hoping they have adequate moisture to plant rye grass. The calendar says the first day of Fall is the 23rd of September, however, the weather probably will not feel like Fall. Speaking of weather, Ma Nature continues to remind us that she is still a major force in agriculture. Rains during August in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle have perked up the interest in planting wheat, which in turn will help spark demand for our calves that started moving to market a little early this season (late July). The big numbers of finished cattle coming out of the feed lots since April are about over, so backgrounders, stocker buyers as well as feedlot buyers are looking for replacements. Remember, when you go to market your calf crop compare current prices to what you received last year at this time not what the market was in June. Oh, and more importantly contact your marketing agent BEFORE you decide to sell to get posted on the market. The cull cow market is still limping along with an abundant supply available to processors so prices have not and probably will not improve this year. Let’s review our lesson on cull cows, replacement cows and heifers! Now is not the time to sell cull cows if you have the space, forage and hay to winter them over until Feb./Mar. All the states that experienced severe drought this year and had to sell a part of their cow herd will be looking for replacements early next year. If you
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have some available, wait until next Spring and you may be happy with the price. Demand for beef in the retail sector continues to be good which will help us in the cow/calf states. Hay is in very good demand in those states, so if by chance you happen to be lucky and have an abundant supply you may have a good market. Keep all options open, keep in touch with the market and always remember Agriculture is what keeps our country going. So, after a long hard day fighting machinery breakdowns or lower prices remember you are the backbone of this Great Nation! Contact Cattle Producers of Louisiana at lacattle.org or call 888-528-6999. Enjoy the beginning of a new season and give thanks we made it through the Summer. Contact us at CPL via our website, lacattle.org and/or phone 888-528-6999.
Foster Bridewell and the Equine Sales Company by Barbara Newtown
In 2010 a group of professional Thoroughbred breeders and owners banded together to start a centrally-located, first-class Louisiana site for auctioning Thoroughbred racing stock. Equine Sales Company of Opelousas, Louisiana, and General Manager Foster Bridewell have been together since April 2012, before the facilities were finished and before the first auction took place. The members of the Board of Directors of Equine Sales knew Bridewell as a knowledgeable horseman with a lifelong attachment to the Thoroughbred industry. His father had operated a full-fledged training center in North Texas. Eventually the family moved to Louisiana and developed Wraparound Farm, a licensed training center next to LA Downs with official workouts and which was home to some prominent trainers. “My mother operated that training center,” says Bridewell. “We broke horses, raced horses, prepped horses for the sales, stood some stallions, and had pastures for broodmares. I was around pretty much every aspect of the Thoroughbred industry.” What really interested Bridewell was the sales side. He attended the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. After graduation, he worked as an independent contractor with different auction companies before he was approached by Equine Sales. Hired first as Sales Manager, Bridewell was promoted to General Manager a couple of years ago. He still auctioneers, too. He says, “We’ve had ups and downs, as you do when you are growing. Our catalogs are getting better and better, and with each sale we seem to gain another buyer or customer or two. We are trying to move forward.” He points out that a successful auction has many moving parts. “We have great people that help us conduct the sales.” Continued on page 27...
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Dentists of Early Mongolia by Barbara Newtown
Mongolian horseman on the steppes:
the same reasons: the herdspeople of the steppes developed metal bits for more refined control. The wolf teeth got in the way and had to go. One of the interesting theories about the dentistry discovered at Deer Stone – Khingsuur is that the development of the bit is now understood to have occurred much earlier than was thought before. There is another advantage to removing the wolf teeth: a horse can be an easier keeper, since the horse doesn’t Wolf teeth in the equine jaw: feel discomfort while eating. Migrating across vast distances and waging war against other cultures required healthy, responsive horses.
Science Daily reports that scholars from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History have found the earliest evidence of equine dentistry. The Deer Stone – Khingsuur culture of Mongolia buried horses in large numbers -- even thousands -- near ceremonial stone mounds during the first millennium BCE. The research findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2018. Wolf teeth can cause pain when carrying a bit. The Mongolian skeletal remains show that extraction of wolf teeth three thousand years ago was not done very differently than it is done today—and probably for
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Nicole Boivin, Director of the Department of Archaeology at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, says that, “in many ways, the movements of horses and horse-mounted peoples during the first millennium BCE reshaped the cultural and biological landscapes of Eurasia. Dr. Taylor’s study shows that veterinary dentistry -- developed by Inner Asian herders -- may have been a key factor that helped to stimulate the spread of people, ideas, and organisms between East and West.” Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180702154739.htm
buyers from Kentucky and, especially, Florida come to the Equine Sales auctions to pick up horses to run in Louisiana as “LouisianaFoster Bridewell and the breds” and earn benefits from the state’s breeders’ program. These Equine Sales Company out-of-state buyers also know that Louisiana quality can run in other by Barbara Newtown places, too. A recent Louisiana-bred that went North and “made good” Bridewell explains that the key to making a sale a success is, first is Classy John, who sold for $12,000 at the Equine Sales 2-Year-Olds and foremost, building a quality catalog of nice horses. Variety and in Training Sale and won an $85,000 maiden special race in Saratoga. a choice of different stallions lure buyers from out of town. Expert medical advice must be available. “We have veterinarians on grounds Bridewell sees improvement in the horse economy, both regionally working for both consignors and buyers. Many of the horses have and nationally. “People are sincerely trying to breed a better horse, already been x-rayed and scoped; those results have been turned into because racing has become so competitive. It takes a commercial the repository. Potential buyers can also employ a veterinarian on horse to sell for a high sum. We all know that a good horse can come their behalf. That’s how they start narrowing down which horses from anywhere, but it takes a commercial horse to attract that high number. Three years ago a colt sold at Equine Sales for $180,000, they’ll bid on.” and two years ago a filly sold for $110,000. I am optimistic that a Equine Sales believes that first-class surroundings also make a sale a horse will break the $200,000 mark in the near future.” success. Bridewell says that most people come to do business: they’re out in the barns looking at horses. Still, there are lots of places to take The national Thoroughbred community respects what happens in a breather or get some sustenance. There’s a bar and a restaurant Louisiana, says Bridewell. There is a great tradition in the state. where you can get Louisiana fare like pork sandwiches and red beans Prominent trainers, jockeys, and farms are here. The breeders program and rice. Outside, there are spacious walkways where grooms can is doing well. He also sees increasing quality in the bloodlines: good show off the horses. For the 2-year-olds in training sales event, buyers stallions are moving around to different markets. can watch the breezing at the Copper Crowne Equestrian Center training track, which is right next to the Equine Sales barns. And, The next Thoroughbred auction at Equine Sales will be the 2018 Open when it’s time to make decisions about the horses, buyers can take Yearling/Mixed Sale on October 28th. The 2019 Two-Year-Olds in a seat in the air-conditioned sales pavilion. The Equine Sales Event Training Sale is scheduled for April 2nd, with the breeze show (on Coordinator arranges rental of all or part of the facility, for groups the Copper Crowne track) happening on March 31st. The 2019 date large and small. Although Equine Sales was created as a permanent will occur more than a month earlier in the year than previous TwoThoroughbred auction site, the surroundings are flexible enough to Year-Olds in Training Sales. The Board of Directors responded to the accommodate weddings, meetings, and the Louisiana Quarter Horse consignors and buyers, who were interested in having more time to train their horses for early summer races. Breeders Association Fall Mixed Sale. Continued from page 25...
The latest auction at Equine Sales was the September 6, 2018, Consignor Select Thoroughbred Yearling Sale. 219 youngsters were listed and 93 stallions were represented. 206 went before the crowd and eleven horses brought $50,000 or more. Two of the high sellers were sired by Goldencents; the other nine were sired by Palace, Lea, Midshipman, Shanghai Bobby, Jimmy Creed, Apriority, Mucho Macho Man, Afleet Alex, and Half Ours. An unnamed colt by Palace out of Sheer Speed was the highest seller: $105,000, consigned by 4M Ranch, Agent VI, and bought by J. Stevens Bloodstock, Agent. The highest-selling filly was Sail On Baby (Shanghai Bobby, out of Clear Sailing): $67,000, consigned by Select Sales, Agent for Coteau Grove Farms, and bought by Mintmere Thoroughbreds, LLA. In an interview with The Paulick Report, Bridewell pointed out that the 2018 yearling sale exceeded the 2017 yearling sale by 9.6%... and 2017 was better than 2016. Bridewell said, “Our consignors really brought some quality stock, and our buyers stepped up to get those individuals.” (https://www.paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/ palace-colt-tops-equine-sales-co-consignor-select-yearling-sale/)
Visit Equine Sales Company’s new website to see who’s on the Board, to find results of previous auctions, and to enjoy the racing accomplishments of “sales graduates.” The website makes life easy for buyers and consignors by offering downloadable forms and catalogs. The “Links” page has a wealth of hot buttons: associations, race tracks, industry news feeds, feed and tack stores, and local lodging and restaurants. http://equinesalescompany.com Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC 372 Harry Guilbeau Road Opelousas, LA 70570 (337) 678-3024
Bridewell is high on the Louisiana Thoroughbred scene. He says that
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Equine Sales Company Posts Big Gains for Consignor Select Sale
2018 Event Schedule Visit Our Website at:
WWW.FPARENA.COM for upcoming events.
Equine Sales Company’s Consignor Select Yearling Sale, held Thursday in Opelousas, Louisiana, recorded significant increases in gross sales and average price compared to last year’s auction, which itself posted big increases over the prior year. All told, 150 of 206 yearlings sold this year for a total of $1,949,900 with an average of $12,999 and median of $6,000. A total of 138 of 193 head sold last year. This year’s figures marked an 19.2% increase in gross sales from last year’s $1,636,400 and a 9.6% jump in average from $11,858. This year’s median of $6,000 was down from last year’s $7,000, and this year’s buyback rate was 27.2% compared to 28.5% last year. “We had a very strong sale last year, so we were extremely pleased to exceed those numbers this year,” said Foster Bridewell, sales director. “The fact that we had 10 horses go for $50,000 or more proves that our consignors really brought some quality stock and that our buyers stepped up to get those individuals. “There’s a lot of money to run for in Louisiana, and Louisiana-breds have proven again and again that they can win anywhere, most recently with Classy John, who sold here as a 2-year-old for $12,000, winning an $85,000 maiden special at Saratoga last month by daylight.” The sale was highlighted by two Louisiana-bred colts who hit six figures, topped by a February foal from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Palace. Consigned by 4M Ranch, agent, the colt went to J. Stevens Bloodstock, agent, for $105,000. He is out of the winning Kafwain mare Sheer Speed, whose first starter, by Redding Colliery, is a two-time winner. Close behind the sale-topper was a March foal by Grade 1 winner and first-crop sire Lea who sold for $100,000 from Red River Farm, agent, to Carl Moore Management LLC. The colt is out the unraced Corinthian daughter Beat the Street, who is the dam of four winners from as many to race including stakes winner Kylie’s Cutie and stakesplaced Blue Ribbon Girl. Full results of the sale are available at www.equinesalescompany.com.
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Trainer Jose Sanchez III Has a Quartet of Quality In LQHBA Sale Futurity on Saturday Jose Sanchez III’s Rl First Dash was the fastest qualifier for Saturday’s $434,538 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
by Martha Claussen NEW ORLEANS, LA—SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 –Saturday’s $434,538 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots could easily go down in the record books for several noteworthy events. Due to tremendous interest from horsemen, including five supplements to the August 17 trials, it is the richest purse in the history of the stakes. It also marks the debut of 23-year-old trainer, Jose Sanchez, III, who won five trials and qualified four to the final. And one other very significant mention is that each of the Sanchez trial winners were ridden by Jose’s younger brother, Eddie. Jose, known as “Joe” is a third-generation horseman. Growing up in Laredo, he learned from his grandfather, Luis, and father, Jose. Other family members with strong racing backgrounds include uncles, trainer Angel Sanchez and former jockey, Luis Ramirez. Joe is a quiet, thoughtful young man with a tremendous instinct about horses, matched with a tireless work ethic. With his father serving a suspension, Joe, who had always been a central figure in the success of the Sanchez barn, thought long and hard about getting his trainer license.
© Hodges Photography
© Hodges Photography
Jockey Eddie Sanchez chose fifth fastest Jose Sanchez’ second fastest qualifier, qualifier Mr Coahuila from three other Amending The Bar, will start from Post #8 mounts to ride back in the LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) final “Our grooms are with the horses 24-7 and Jose Arriaga breaks all our babies,” said Eddie. “We “It was a big step and I was nervous about would not be where we are without them!” making the decision, but I am happy to be training these great horses,” he said. LQHBA 2017 champion owner Rogelio On Friday, August 17, the Sanchez brothers Marquez, Jr. has two juveniles in the final. teamed up to win five of the 11 trials. It was a Rl First Dash won the fourth trial in :17.352, rainy day and each of the trials were run on a which held throughout the afternoon as the sloppy track. At the end of the afternoon, the fastest clocking. His filly, Zoom By Me, a Sanchez brothers had four finalists heading sister to 2015 Lassie and Lee Berwick Futurity back to New Orleans for the rich final. Rl Fast champion Jessa Louisiana Zoom, set the fourthDash, Amending The Bar, Zoom By Me and fastest qualifying time. Mr Coahuila came out of their trial wins in good order and returned to the Sanchez farm in Rl First Dash, bred by Weetona Stanley and Stockdale, Texas. Raymond Loup, is a son of Jess Louisiana Blue out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Pyc First “It was a great day for us,” said Sanchez. “The Prize Dash. He was a $17,000 LQHBA Yearling way they all handled the sloppy track was really Sale purchase and earned a career-best 101 speed good.” index in his LQHBA Sale Futurity trial. Eddie acknowledged the hard work of those behind the scenes that rarely get the credit they deserve. The brothers appreciate grooms Sergio Lira, whose nickname is “Chino” and Gregario Reyes Lopez, also known as “Gollo”
“We liked him at the sale and everyone on the farm felt he would be a good one,” said Marquez. Zoom By Me was a $68,000 purchase, but the April foal impressed Marquez with her conformation. Lisa and Stephan Ralston bred the filly by Heza Fast Dash out of the Azoom mare Zoomin for Cash. Continued on page 32...
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Continued from page 31...
Trainer Jose Sanchez III Has a Quartet of Quality In LQHBA Sale Futurity on Saturday The Sanchez brothers teamed up again for a sharp win by Amending the Bar for owner Julio Caesar Ramirez, who won the tenth trial of the afternoon in :17.374, which was the secondfastest clocking of the day. A filly by Five Bar Cartel bred by Ray and Brenda Trahan qualified for the Lassie Futurity, running sixth in the final. They also qualified Lee Berwick runner-up Mr Coahuila who won the fifth trial in :17.454 for owner Emmanuel Villarreal. The son of Game Patriot was bred by Roy Simon, purchased for just $13,500 at the LQHBA Yearling Sale. Villarreal, who lives in Washington state, has only been a Quarter Horse owner for the past three years. He had success with Katharsis, a filly trained by Joe’s dad, Jose. The Texas-bred won five races, including the 2016 Gillespie County Fair Futurity. Last year marked his first visit to the LQHBA Yearling Sale in Kinder. “I am relatively new to Quarter Horse racing and was looking to buy a yearling,” said Villarreal. “When I saw Mr Coahuila in the sale ring, he just blew my mind and I had to buy him! He’s very sound and his last two races have been outstanding. Plus, we believe he will be really good at 400 yards.” Eddie had the very tough decision on which of his four mounts to ride in the final and decided on Mr Coahuila. “It wasn’t an easy decision,” said Eddie. “But Mr Coahuila has the experience and ran big in the Lee Berwick.” It was up to Joe and the owners to choose riders for the other three finalists. “Right after the last trial, I got calls from all the agents,” said Joe. Saul Ramirez, Jr., who recently returned to the saddle, has the call on Rl Fast Dash; Luis Vivanco, a veteran jockey on the Texas circuit who finished second in this year’s Delta Downs meet, rides Zoom By Me and Jorge Linares, another experienced rider, will pilot Amending The Bar.
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well as Rf Fast Dash N Blue, who set the tenthfastest time on August 17. Robicheaux Ranch is represented by four stallions. Five Bar Cartel, whose daughter, Amending The Bar enters the final off the second fastest clocking; Heza Fast Dash, the sire of Zoom By Me and Logans Fast Dasher. Mr Coahuila is sired by Game Patriot and “There’s only one horse that can win,” stated Jet Black Patriot, who also stands at Robicheaux Joe. “But is sure would be nice to run 1-2-3-4!” Ranch produced ninth-fastest qualifier Tan Jet. Tate Farms stands Sir Runaway Dash, who sired Joe and Eddie are very close, but personality- Guidry Pride II and first-crop sire Highest Fire, wise, they could not be more different! sire of seventh-fastest finalist, Tdz Slinkys Fire. Louisiana Center For Equine Reproduction Eddie is 5’10” tall, confident with an engaging stands Fast Prize Dash, whose son, Tetris B set smile. the sixth-fastest qualifying time. It will be a huge opportunity for Joe Sanchez to saddle his first futurity winner, even though he knows the drill with many past champions trained by his father, including 2017 LQHBA Champion 2-year-old filly Dashnunder Afullmoon.
Record Purse Reflects LQHBA Yearling Sale Success The LQHBA Sale Futurity had its first running in 1984 with a $87,970 purse. Due to the growth of the LQHBA Yearling Sale and five $11,000 Joe lost his hand in a farm accident when he was supplements, the finalists will compete for just 3-years-old. It was a tragedy that could have a record purse of $434,538. The winner will scarred him more emotionally, than physically. receive a check in the amount of $195,542. But, with the support of his family, a very sharp mind and undeniable determination, he “What a great field for this year’s LQHBA Sale persevered. v “He played football and the coach Futurity!” said Tony Patterson, executive director told the rest of us to quit complaining and look of the LQHBA. “The record purse and the fact at the mental toughness of my brother,” Eddie that so many different breeders have finalists is said proudly. “I love him to death, and am very very impressive. We love the pride that owners proud of his success just beginning his career as take in their horses and the excitement they a trainer. He’s learned so much from my dad and have in running them right here in Louisiana. grandfather, but he’s not afraid to do it his way.” With four additional undercard stakes prior to the LQHBA Sale Futurity, Saturday will be an The Sanchez brothers are not the only family exceptional day at Fair Grounds!” affair to root for in the September 8th final as Guidry Pride II, with a qualifying time of :17.409 The countdown is on for Saturday’s final and the seconds, is trained by Wendy Garcia and will be crowning of yet another outstanding Louisianaridden by her husband, Modesto Pina. Bred by bred Quarter Horse champion! Johnny and Cynthia Guidry, the colt is sired by Sir Runaway Dash out of Guidrys Boodie Doo, Here is the field, in post position order, with riders a winning homebred daughter of champion and morning-line odds, for the LQHBA Sale Panther Mountain, and was purchased for just Futurity (RG1) to be run as race ten, with a post $6,500 at last year’s LQHBA Yearling Sale. time of 4:33 pm on Saturday, September 8: He was the winner of the $294,292 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) at Louisiana Downs last March Martha Claussen served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years and continues to be for owner Edmundo Juarez. “I am tall, but can get really small on the back of a horse,” he explained. “I’ve heard the comments about my height being an issue, but love to prove those people wrong!”
Eight Stallions Represented in This Year’s Final Louisiana breeders are well-represented in this year’s LQHBA Sale Futurity with progeny from eight stallions qualified for the final. Jumonville Farms venerable stallion Jess Louisiana Blue is the sire of fastest qualifier Rl First Dash as
The Louisiana Equine Report • September | October 2018
active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.
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DELTA DOWNS RELEASES STAKES SCHEDULE FOR 2018-19 THOROUGHBRED SEASON - THE 84-DAY MEETING GETS UNDERWAY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17 -
VINTON, LA. –Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel today announced its 2018-19 Thoroughbred stakes schedule. The track will offer 28 stakes races during an 84-day season that runs from October 17, 2018 through March 9, 2019. The schedule includes $2.175 million in total purse money. The stakes activity will kick off with a quartet of added-money events on opening weekend. On Friday, October 19 the track will host the $100,000 Magnolia for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares and the $50,000 My Trusty Cat for open-bred 2-year-old fillies. Delta Downs will close out the weekend on Saturday with the $100,000 Gold Cup for Louisianabred 3-year-olds and upward and the $50,000 Jean Lafitte for open-bred 2-year-olds. On Saturday, February 9 the track will host another edition of Louisiana Premier Night featuring 10 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses. The highlight of the program will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles. The Louisiana Premier Night card will offer a total of $895,000 in stakes purses. Delta Downs will race Wednesdays through Saturdays during the upcoming season. First post time each evening is scheduled for 5:25 pm Central Time. For more information about the upcoming season at Delta Downs, including the complete stakes schedule, visit the track’s website at www. deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information on Facebook with the track’s page ‘Delta Downs Racing’ and on Twitter with the handle @ deltaracing. Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting fun, casino action, live horse racing and great dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
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THREE LITTLE WORDS: It Doesn’t Matter by Bill Woods
We welcome Bill Woods, “R” Dressage Judge, to our stable of bloggers on our website, https://theequinereport.com . Bill is famous for his classical approach to dressage and his metaphors that make everything clear to his students. Enjoy! Three Little Words No importa. Mittel nichts. It doesn’t matter. In every riding language these phrases remind the student of an essential fact of training. When something goes wrong, be careful your “cure” doesn’t make things worse than the original problem! This is the Law of Unintended Consequences as it applies to dressage. Example: I was helping a woman with her sensitive FEI horse as she tried to teach the mare her one tempis. She could do “over and back” pretty well, but when she wanted to add the third sequential change, the mare would make a mistake and then hollow and retract. It reminded me exactly of a horse that nips at you and then immediately flinches and draws back, knowing that a whack on the nose is about to follow. This horse knew that a mistake would be punished by a sharp check with the rider’s hands and often an abrupt halt. That expectation practically assured that the third or fourth change would fail. Yes, we all know there are behaviors that need to be punished. A “gangster” who is trying to take advantage or intimidate his rider needs to be reminded of just where he stands on the food chain—presumably somewhat below his trainer. But very often a mistake is simply a mistake. Gloss over it and repeat the request, and many times the horse is happy and relieved to get the answer right. The less fuss this rider made, the more she just continued to ride the canter rhythmically forward, the more the mare regained her confidence and was able to make the 3rd, 4th, and even 5th and 6th change in a row. One of my favorite images which I inflict without remorse upon my students is “make your horse like a vending machine.” Make him universally prepared to instantaneously dispense whatever movement or figure you wish to execute. If he’s on the aids in shoulderin, you aren’t supposed to have to write him another whole treatise just to make a canter depart or a medium trot. Everything is supposed to be percolating right under the surface awaiting your permission to come out. On the subject of unintended consequences, note that your horse’s vending machine has one unusual feature. Ironically, when it comes to restocking it, you don’t have to reload the items that you have used. You need to replenish the ones you haven’t used enough! Continued on page 38...
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Continued from page 37... THREE LITTLE WORDS: It Doesn’t Matter by Bill Woods This is particularly the case as you proceed into more advanced work. If you only practice the fancy stuff, the “tricks” may work, but their quality will inevitably diminish. I remember one Prix St. George horse who would get late behind in his changes, especially in a line of fourtempis. Over-riding him in the change didn’t help, but if I’d go back and make sure his trot-to-canter transitions were prompt, clear, and through, the flying changes would immediately be better. The Law of Unintended Consequences lesson: what you don’t do can hurt you! In a related matter, I met another talented mare being prepared for the FEI Five Year Old Test. She had plenty of animation, suspension, and a high, round frame. But her rider explained that the mare ground her teeth, didn’t like the sitting trot, and had difficulty making fluid transitions. Here the issue was another rider too eager to practice the “finished product” without stepping back to solve the original causes of those behaviors. This was a hot horse who ran against the hand and internalized her tension. For ten or fifteen minutes I asked the rider to forget all about impulsion and the volume of trot. Keep the horse in front of the leg but slow her down enough to relax and learn to wait for the pushing aids. I asked the rider to be able to stabilize her in a trot without constant restraint, even with her frame open like a hunter’s. “No one is judging this part,” I kept reminding the owner. “Establish a different relationship now and it will be easy to put the extravagance back into her. Fail to do this, and the two of you will always be at odds.”
Yes, it takes self discipline and some faith in the system to go back to basics, especially if your friends are watching and they expect to see you doing all the fun stuff. But I’ve discovered this Dressage Fact by watching TMZ . . . I now know that those celebrity babes from the magazines don’t look like movie stars when they’re at the Safeway or picking up their kids at daycare. On the wide screen or on the red carpet are the only places where “the look” matters. The rest of the time—did you know?—they’re at home practicing transitions like everyone else.
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Louisiana Equine Report :
Mike @ 225.229.8979 | Email: mike@laequinereport.com | www.theequinereport.com