Learn Cowboy Dressage with Angie Hughes Farm Spotlight: Aiming High Ranch
Rockwall Eventer Takes on Rolex
Table of
Contents 06
10
Farm Spotlight: Aiming High Ranch
Rockwall Eventer Takes on Rolex
14
24
An Introduction to Cowboy Dressage
Social Media for Your Equine Business
08 Products We Love
30 Alli’s Equine Journey
09 It Begins with the Trim
33 Bluebonnet Horse Expo
18 Unlocking the Dun Gene
34 The Story of Teaspoon
21 Riding with a Legend
36
Piles of Grass Clippings are No Treat for Your Horse Grass clippings and equine nutrition.
23 Horsemanship in Any Discipline
37
Horse Show Directory Events held by local horse clubs and organizations.
28 An Ameristall Story
47 Connect with us!
Handicrafts and art from local artists.
Farrier Ralph Hampton explains the importance of a proper trim. Texas A&M University leads study on the dun gene. Recap of the Gainesville Jack Brainard Clinic. Elise Ulmer-Etzebeth discusses horsemanship versus showmanship. Ro exerovitatem lam, sanim quas non raerum ea enim quam rerum alit volupta ti
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How a young girl worked hard to achieve success. 10th Annual Bluebonnet Horse Expo supporting the Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society. A story of love and loss.
Learn how to get involved with The Northeast Texas Equine.
Word from
The Editor I
t has been an exciting couple of months since the first issue was released. We’ve had a fantastic response and are very excited about the future of The Northeast Texas Equine. To start, we have launched a dedicated website that will function for both information regarding advertising and contributing, but will also allow us to provide you with up-to-date information on the equine community and events that happen between issues. Look for regular contributions from our amazing team of horsemen and women! We have also added an event calendar to the website and will be adding show dates for the local clubs, farms and organizations in the Northeast Texas area. Feel free to stop by the website and send us a message to have your event added! This issue is all about learning something new! I hope you enjoy what we’ve put together for you! Check us out online! http://www.thenortheasttexasequine.com!
Valerie Mellema Chief Editor
The Northeast Texas Equine 3
eNortheast Texas Equine Summer 2016 PUBLISHED BY Gray Horse Publishing & Marketing www.grayhorsepublishing.com CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER/EDITOR Valerie Mellema CONTRIBUTORS Valerie Mellema Linda Stauffer Sheree DeLeon Jennifer Riley, Ameristall Barns Korinne Sharp Ralph Hampton, Double H Horseshoeing Elise Ulmer-Etzebeth, Rancho Del Sol Marea Breedlove Photography Angie Peters Hughes DESIGN & LAYOUT Valerie Mellema COVER IMAGE Alexa Bresnahan Copyright 2016 Gray Horse Publishing & Marketing Find us Online at http://www.thenortheasttexasequine.com
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The Northeast Texas Equine 5
JULIE BAILEY ON WINNIE BRONSON
Aiming High Ranch
Located between Sulphur Springs and Yantis, Aiming High Ranch is the home and training facilities of Julie & Cliff Bailey. liff and Julie Bailey C are well known in East Texas for training and breeding performance horses. Julie’s training focuses on starting colts and training barrel horses. She started riding at the age of 5 and was galloping her father’s Quarter Horse racehorses by 10 years old. Julie showed in western pleasure, reining and halter as a child, but began training barrel horses professionally at 18. In 1991, she met and married Cliff Bailey and has ridden and trained many of his Thoroughbred racehorses since. 6 The Northeast Texas Equine
Julie has many accomplishments under her belt including the 1997 APHA Jr. Barrels World Championship where she won with Doc Mo Money. Julie has also been a finalist in several amateur rodeo associations including the UPRA and CPRA. Julie still competes locally, but mainly focuses on training and starting young horses. Cliff Bailey is a third generation racehorse trainer and true horseman. He has been breeding and training Thoroughbred racehorses for over 30 years. He has been the head trainer for many established Thoroughbred
facilities and has raced across the country. In 1983, Cliff began to make a name for himself in the Thoroughbred industry when he purchased a filly for $20,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October Sale in Kentucky. He sold her 6 months later for $130,000 at the April Kennington 2 Year Olds in Training Sale a very impressive pinhook during this time. Cliff has trained several stakes winning mares including Respository for Rafter L Ranch and the stakes placed mare Go Girlfriend Go. The Aiming High
Ranch facilities include a 13-stall barn, two sand outdoor arenas, two round pens, hot walker and wash rack. They offer full stall and pasture boarding options. Aiming High Ranch has several well-bred barrel horses for sale on a regular basis as well. It’s a special treat to ride a horse that has been trained by Julie Bailey. They exhibit excellent focus, are forward and very sensitive to the aids, as Julie belives in a proper foundation on every horse she trains. For more information visit www.aiminghighranch.com.
Photo: Valerie Mellema
2016 Bay Filly by I Like Hope This bay filly is by Aiming High Ranch’s Thoroughbred stallion I Like Hope (Safado x Agostino by Old Trieste) and out of their mare Cantrell Road.
The Northeast Texas Equine 7
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Artist Amanda Hukill lives in Sulphur Springs, Texas. She has many beautiful pieces of vibrant artwork for sale online at http://fineartamerica.com/ profiles/amanda-stewart.html.
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WE LOVE
IT BEGINS WITH THE TRIM By Ralph Hampton
I
t’s the building block. It’s the foundation of everything we do for Ol’ Thunder’s feet. It’s a basic trim.
Contrary to current wisdom, there are only two kinds of trims. BAD trims and GOOD ones. I know, I know, all the rage is ‘barefoot trims”, which are supposed to be really good trims and somewhat special. Back in the day, we just called them Good Trims! What IS trimming a horse’s hoof, anyway? Trimming is nothing more or less than cutting away excess hoof that isn’t needed, much like trimming our own fingernails. Trimming is shaping Thunder’s feet to be pleasing to the eye and to sculpt his feet in such a way as to get rid of distortions, and flares. Last, but certainly not least is rounding the edges of Thunder’s hoof wall to avoid chipping and splitting. A good trim is balanced, level from front to back and side to side. Good trims aren’t wavey on the bottom of the foot and there are no heel crowns or long blooping toes shaped like boat paddles.
Next time your farrier comes, take a look. See what he or she does and watch closely. Ask questions. Ask him or her to show you what is happening with your horse’s hooves. Good farrier work is a team effort! You, your horse and the farrier working together to achieve balance and a thing of beauty!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ralph Hampton in the owner of Double H Horseshoeing. Double H Horseshoeing travels around Texas and Louisiana helping equines of all types. You can find them on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/DoubleHHorseshoeing/.
It takes practice for a farrier to do a good trim. It takes practice to be able to SEE a good trim when it has been done. To make this point, think of this. Rasping or nipping off as little as a quarter inch at the toe will RAISE Thunder’s hoof angle as much as 3 degrees! On the other hand nipping or rasping off his heels will LOWER your horse’s angle by as much as the same amount. Side to side? What if your farrier raised or lowered the sidewall a quarter inch? You guessed it. Thunder would walk crooked, not land flat and put enormous stress on his ligaments. The Northeast Texas Equine 9
By Valerie Mellema
Rockwall Eventer Takes on Rolex
Ellen Doughty-Hume Competes at Prestigious Kentucky 3 Day Event
O
ur community is full of amazing equestrians and one of the highlights of starting this magazine is finding people like Ellen Doughty Hume-taking on events that I dreamed of just attending as a child much less ride in. The first issue of The Northeast Texas Equine was just released when Rolex weekend came around April 29thMay 1st. I was like a fan girl watching Ellen and her horse Sir Oberon, aka Obie, compete throughout the weekend and even more thrilled that they are from Rockwall. As soon as Ellen got home to Rockwall from Lexington, Kentucky, she was right back at it with lessons and preparing for shows. I caught up with Ellen via email for her thoughts on her second trip to the prestigious Rolex Three Day Event, the only 4-star event in the United States. For those of us who couldn’t be in Kentucky, we were able to watch it on the USEF Network online. Every three-day event starts out with “the jog.” This is when riders jog their horses in front of the judges to ensure that the horses are sound and fit for competition. Eventing is a very intense three-day competition, particularly at this level. It’s vital that the horses are sound and ready for the work to come.
Q: Are you ever nervous in the jog? It seems like it would be exciting but nerve-wracking at the same time! A: Ever since Rolex 2014, where Obie and I were spun at the first jog, I do get nervous in the jog! I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear “Sir Oberon, accepted!” You just wonder if they see something that I don’t see. I would never present a horse I thought was not fit or sound enough to do the job at hand, but what if they’re a bit stiff or the ground is a bit hard. There’s a million things that can go wrong with horses!
Q: Your dressage test looked great! What were your thoughts and would you have done anything different? A: I thought Obie was super relaxed this year in the dressage at Rolex, especially in the big atmosphere. I was 10 The Northeast Texas Equine
pretty happy with everything except our last flying change. He changed early behind. Something that many people don’t know about Obie is that he broke his pelvis as a baby. As a result, he is very asymmetrical and the more collection required, the more uneven he looks behind in the trot work. I think the judges definitely saw this in the trot work and it affected our score. I am working with my vets and farrier on some different shoeing methods to help with this and we work every day on getting him stronger and more even behind.
Q: The cross country was so wet. It rained again this year. You were one of the first few on the course early that day. How was the footing? A: The footing was pretty good, a bit greasy, but was holding up well despite the rain. I ran last year in the pouring rain and when it started to rain this year, I was like, “Seriously! Again!?” Luckily, I had the experience from running in the rain last year and knew I needed to be bolder and kick on instead of riding timidly, as I did last year. I also had my farrier drill a 3rd stud hole in my hind shoes, which helped with grip on the course.
5 Facts About Ellen She studied in Northern Ireland at Enniskillen College. Started Pegasus Eventing in 2008. Found Sir Oberon in 2008 as a 5 year old. Started on an Off the Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) Married her husband at Rolex in 2015
Q: I tuned in right as you were in a bit of a predicament at fence 7a, but you held fast, let your horse do his thing and stuck the landing. What goes through your head in a moment like that? The Northeast Texas Equine 11
A: Honestly, I didn’t know he hung a leg at fence 7a until I saw the pictures and video. I just thought we had a big landing off the big drop in. I just sat up, kept my eye on the B element, as did Obie, and we flew over it like nothing had happened. I think he saw the water at the last second and just dropped his left shoulder. Fortunately, he is very quick on his feet and got the leg snapped up and landed on the one leg on the other side! I thank that “fifth leg training”!
Q: I saw you credited CrossFit Rockwall on Facebook for why you were able to stick that jump. How has Cross Fit helped you prepare for eventing in general as well as Rolex? A: My husband and I started working out at CrossFit Rockwall in December, less than 6 months ago, and I’m addicted! I can’t wait to see what I can do a few years from now after doing CrossFit all that time. I really enjoy CrossFit because they can tailor the program for anyone. Every workout can be scaled and it’s something different every day. I grew up doing athletics. I rode horses, but I was also Varsity Captain of my softball and swim teams in high school. I have lifted weights and done cardio my whole life. I like CrossFit, because it is challenging, but never boring. There is something different to do daily. I LOVE the Rockwall location. They are like a second family. They even sent me to Rolex with a huge goodie bag filled with healthy snacks, reading material and a neck pillow! It is an awesome group of people. My only regret – why didn’t I start doing this years ago?! I have always been a big advocate of being fit to be able to compete in event. You can’t expect your horse to be fit and carry you around cross country if you are not equally as fit. I thought I was fit before CrossFit, now I see that I can be so much better.
Q: What did you think of the cross country course overall? I know there’s a lot of “discussion” in the eventing community about the safety of the courses. Do you think that Rolex is generally a safe course? How do you prepare for those types of questions at home? A: I thought the cross country course rode great. I felt like my horse and I came off the course more confident and knowledgeable than when we left the box and I think that is all you can ask of a course designer. I don’t 12 The Northeast Texas Equine
back to work! We have been hard at work on our dressage and are gearing up for Rebecca Farm in Montana next. Then I am aiming for a three star (or possibly four star – I have applied for an overseas grant), so we’ll see what happens!
Q: What were your overall thoughts on this year’s Rolex? Do you have plans for next year? A: I thought we improved great from our performance from 2015 and hope we will just continue to keep improving. The more experience Obie and I get at this level, the better we will be! I thought he was super in each phase and I look forward to tacking the course next year. My goal is to be in the Top 10! think cross country courses will ever be “safe.” Sports in general are not “safe,” especially when it involves a 1200 pound animal. I think we need to do our best to minimize risk and educate riders, but at the end of the day, accidents do happen. Humans make mistakes, as do horses, and when you’re jumping solid objects, the results could be catastrophic. I know the risks and I love the sport. I do my best to minimize the risk by making sure I am educating my horses and not taking them beyond their skill or education level. I also try to do my part as a coach in educating other riders to be as safe as possible and teaching them all the basics so that they have a proper foundation.
Q: You were spectacular in the show jumping. One rail down is not bad at all! It looked like Obie handled all of the jumps quite well and you could see he was very responsive to you on the course. What happened at the triple combination?
Ellen and Sir Oberon finished Rolex 2016 in the Top 30 with a placing of 26. Sir Oberon is a bay Holstein/Thoroughbred cross gelding. Ellen is the owner of Pegasus Eventing at Rockwall Hills. Ellen is originally from Michigan and was first introduced to horses at Girl Scout camp. During her last semester of college at Michigan State University, she participated in a study abroad program in Northern Ireland where she took courses in equine nutrition, equine sports medicine, dressage equitation, and jumping equitation. When she returned from Ireland in 2006, she landed a job in Texas, teaching lessons and training horses for two years before branching out on her own and starting Pegasus Eventing. Ellen found Obie as a 5-year-old in 2008 and knew he was something special. Look at them now!
A: Thank you! I am still kicking myself for that rail. Obie jumped out of his skin and the triple combination was all my fault. He had the C element down because I didn’t sit up and balance him back enough before it. I had thought it was going to ride more forward, oxer to oxer, but I opened up his stride too much and got him long to the C element. Had I just sat up and held for a split second, we would have been double clear. Oh well, that’s how we learn! I was overjoyed with him and how he jumped though, especially considering how tired many of the other horses were and the course we had run in the rain the day before!
Q: What do the next few days look like from a train perspective for Obie after an event like this? A: He had three weeks off and he was ready to go The Northeast Texas Equine 13
S O C
I
A L
HOW TO UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FOR YOUR EQUINE BUSINESS
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Photo: Valerie Mellema
E
quine businesses are the perfect candidates for social media marketing. You’re in the “field” every day and you have the opportunity to take pictures and videos regularly and quickly. Because these can be easily shared with a variety of social media outlets, you are just a few clicks or finger touches away from sharing with your audience. However, just because you can post to social media at all hours of the day doesn’t mean that you should. In this article, we will discuss best practices for using social media.
WHERE TO POST Facebook is a definite must. There’s a huge equine audience on Facebook with hundreds, if not thousands, of groups for horses, tack, trailers, farms, different counties, regions of states, etc. If you’re going to be on any social media sites, Facebook is where you should be. Saying that, there’s also quite a large equine audience on Twitter and Instagram. Other sites you might want to consider as well depending on your business are Pinterest and YouTube.
BUSINESS PAGE VS. PERSONAL PAGE ON FACEBOOK It’s vital that you know the difference between a business page and a personal page on Facebook. One of the biggest mistakes many people make when marketing their business on Facebook is not setting up a proper business page. By posting your business information and posts only on your personal page, you are limiting your audience significantly. If you’re using a personal page, people have to “friend” you to see your posts. This isn’t the case with a business page. A business page allows people to “like” your page and then as you post, they see your updates. It’s important that you properly set up a business page (it’s free) and post there if you want more than your friends to see your updates.
80/30 CONTENT SHARING Once you have a proper business page established, you can start planning when and what you’re going to post. When posting, it’s important to follow the 80/30 sharing rule. This means that 80% of your content posted and shared should not be of a promotional nature. Post non-promotional company information as well such as pictures or videos that share the work you’re doing without being salesy or sneak peeks at what goes on behind the scenes of your business – anything to promote the culture of your business and helps build your brand. Only 30% of the content shared should be promotional content. Using “adjacent content” keeps your page interesting because it’s related to your busiThe Northeast Texas Equine 15
ness and aligns with the interests of your audience.
POST TIPS & TRICKS Everybody loves to learn something new, particularly if it makes their lives easier! Photos and videos are great ways to share these ideas. It’s a bonus for you if they involve using your products or services!
BE RESPONSIVE! Social media is all about conversations. Converse with your audience when they post comments. If someone sends you a message, respond quickly!
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU POST? There is no right or wrong answer here. However, it is a good idea to spread your posts throughout the day or week so that you don’t overwhelm your audience. At the same time, you want to keep a consistent flow so that you are staying in front of your audience without being annoying.
MONITOR AND LISTEN TO YOUR AUDIENCE Your audience are your customers. If they are happy with your services, they will often tag your page in the conversation. Listen and respond to those posts. Sometimes this also means doing a bit of reputation management and putting your best customer service foot first. If the conversation is particularly negative or challenging, you can always take the conversation into a private message to avoid creating a long and negative post.
BE CONSISTENT! Most equine businesses aren’t going to have “brand guidelines” for their marketing campaign, but you should have a logo and a consistent voice in your posts. Try to stick with a set of particular colors that you use across your accounts so that your audience and fans will be able to easily recognize you. Be human in your posts, but stay on brand. Remember to always represent your business in a professional manner and present yourself as a professional. This will help to drive your messages home and ensure you look like a reputable business that someone should use. This also means being careful in the language that you use and ensuring that your spelling and grammar are correct.
Remember that social media isn’t just about
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marketing. It’s about engaging with your audience and sharing. Your goal is to help your audience learn, improve, discover and receive answers to questions – even if they don’t know they have a question yet!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Valerie Mellema is the owner of Gray Horse Publishing & Marketing and the President of Words You Want, a highly successful content marketing agency. She holds a BS in Equine Business & Industry from West Texas A&M University. She has several self-published books and has been published in equine magazines and websites. Learn more at http://www.grayhorsepublishing.com and on the Barn Chat blog at http://www.grayhorsepublishing.com/blog.
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Unlocking the Dun Gene Texas A&M University Leads Study
W
hile horses come in a variety of colors and all can equally be stunning, the dun gene has researchers looking at the genetic roots of the dun pattern and why it is rare in most domesticated horses.
“Non-dun1 horses still show the primitive markings similar to dun horses.”
The study, led by Texas A&M University Institute for Advanced Study (TIAS) scholar Dr. Leif Andersson, is the result of a collaboration between Texas A&M, Uppsala University of Uppsala, Sweden and the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama. The study was published in Nature Genetics. The dun pattern consists of a dark dorsal stripe along the back, zebra-like stripes on the legs and often a light coat color. In the wild, this pattern helped protect wild horses from their predators. However, through domestication and over many generations, these patterns show up less often and instead our domestic horses tend to have very intensely pigmented and brightly colored coats. According to Dr. Leif Andersson, “Dun is clearly one of the most in-
18 The Northeast Texas Equine
teresting coat color variants in domestic animals because it does not just change the color but the coat pattern. We were really curious to understand the underlying molecular mechanism of why the dun pigmentation dilution does not affect all parts of the body.” Freyja Imsland, a Ph.D. student in the group says that the dilutecolored haired of dun horses are not evenly pigmented. “They have a section of intense pigmentation along the length of the hair, on the side that faces out from the body of the horse, whilst the rest of the hair has more or less no pigmentation. The hairs from the dark areas of dun horses are in contrast intensely pigmented all around each individual hair. In spite of scientists having studied hair pigmentation in detail for a very long time, this kind of pigmentation is novel to science and quite unlike that seen in rodents, primates and carnivores.” Through genetic analysis and DNA sequencing, researchers found that the dun color is determined by a single gene. The gene codes for the T-box 3 (TBX3) transcription
Photo: Valerie Mellema
factor. Researchers measured the TBX3 distribution in individual hairs relative to other molecules known to regulate pigmentation. The researchers suggest that the signals where the TBX3 transcription factor is expressed could help explain the appearance of zebra stripes. Kelly McGowan, a senior scientist in Barsh’s lab explains, “In growing hairs, TBX3 mirrors the distribution of melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment. Our results suggest that TBX3 affects differentiation of specific cells in the hair, creating a microenvironment that inhibits melanocytes from living in the ‘inner’ half of the hair.” The research team also found that there are two forms of dark, non-dun color: non-dun1 and nondun2. Non-dun1 horses have darker coats and less contrast between stripes and the rest of the body. Non-dun2 horses have no stripes at all. Non-dun1 horses still show primitive markings similar to dun horses, while non-dun2 horses don’t show primitive markings. Because the non-dun1 horses tend to have these markings, horse owners and breeders are often tricked because they think their intensely pigmented non-dun1 horse is a dun, when it is not at a genetic level. The non-dun2 variant occurred most likely after domestication according to the study, while dun and non-dun1 variants predate domestication based on ancient DNA evidence of horses that lived about 43,000 years ago.
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Riding with a Legend Judy Limsky shares her experience at the Gainesville Jack Brainard Clinic.
U
pon entering Craig Johnson’s Three Circles Ranch in Gainesville, Texas you see well-manicured grounds and arenas. Excited to be there, I was greeted by Craig’s firm handshake and told where to stall my horse. Everything was taken care of by Bonnie and Bugsy at the check-in table and we were told that Sarah’s Restaurant was a great place in town to eat dinner. The clinic started on time the following morning with Jack instructing Ranch Pleasure and Craig instructing Ranch Riding in separate arenas. An hour and a half later another session started with Jack instructing Ranch Dressage and Craig instructing Ranch Trail. After breaking for lunch the sessions repeated in the afternoon giving everyone an opportunity to get instruction from both Jack and Craig. My first session was Ranch Pleasure with Legendary Horseman, Jack Brainard instructing, and Trainer, Donna Duvall on horseback showing us the maneuvers. Each rider took a turn performing the pattern and were critiqued by Jack and Donna. It’s exciting and somewhat terrifying to perform in front of such greatness! After my pattern Jack said to Donna, “I was so busy admiring the horse I forgot what he did. You have to tell me.” What an honor to have such a horseman think so highly of my horse.
Judy Limsky of Forney, TX riding Picasso (APHA, Seco Johnie Wolf)
My second session was Ranch Trail with International Trainer, Craig Johnson. On horseback he took us through each of his obstacles. We then were able to ride and practice the various obstacles and work on our weaknesses. The next day was show day. With more riders hauling in to attend the show, excitement grew. It was time for us to put what we learned to the test. I think that we all learned that we NEVER STOP LEARNING! We took home some valuable training tips and we know that we have to practice those tips and apply what we learned. According to Jack Brainard a rider must have control of six things: Relaxation (both horse & rider), Control Forward Motion, Collection, Control Front & Back, Straightness and Transitions! I highly recommend that if given an opportunity to be instructed by Jack, Craig and Donna… jump at the chance!!! The Northeast Texas Equine 21
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By Elise Ulmer-Etzebeth
HORSEMANSHIP in Any Discipline
Elise Ulmer-Etzebeth of Rancho Del Sol discusses the importance of horsemanship in light of new AQHA rules.
A
fter seeing a post on Facebook, I felt a need to touch on the subject of fine horsemanship in the equestrian world. The article that first caught my attention was posted by the AQHA stating new rules allowing judges to disqualify exhibitors for equipment or attire that gives an unfair advantage. The main point of the new rules seems directed toward the use of magnetic devices. Those rules can be found at the AQHA website. These new rules raised some questions. Has winning become so important, we are willing to compromise horsemanship? As an equine professional, do we teach showmanship for the win or horsemanship for the win? Winning as a showman or winning as a horseman are two totally different views. General showmanship is defined as a theatrical producer or someone that has the ability to present something in an attractive manner. Winning, as a showman is simple - get the prize. Be first in your class. Defining horsemanship is a little more difficult. Everyone has a little different view on fine horsemanship. The general definition of horsemanship is advance knowledge of horses, with the needs and well being of the horse being of the most importance. Horsemanship is taught, passed down from mentor to student. Winning as a horseman may not be getting the prize or being first in your class. Winning is what you make of it: perhaps a personal best, having correct lead departures and changes, proper form over every fence, or correct position during your level test. Winning as a horseman or woman comes in many forms when you are riding for your horse and not a prize. More and more, it is evident that shows are full of showman and not so many people are working to achieve fine horsemanship. This is true regardless of breed and discipline. For any horse enthusiast, there is a wealth of information available to better the horseman or woman. There are many routes to take, find a professional for
lessons and coaching. Make sure to do some research and find a professional that has a resume that fits the goals or views that fit best. Maybe pick up a book like “Why Do Horses Sleep Standing up?” ,“Evidence-Based Horsemanship”, or “How Do Horses Think?” Plenty of books are available for any equine enthusiast. The industry is also having a technological boom with numerous online video tutorials from leading professionals for every level, breed, and discipline. A few of these sits are: VirtualHorseHelp.com, GoHorseShow.com, and CompetitorCentral.com. My fellow equestrians, let’s not be a theatrical producer or showman/woman, but rather let’s strive for knowledge, patience, and dedication to our equine companions. Let’s put away the magnetic devices and other gimmicks and train for the sake of the horse. To make a better rider, makes a horse better. Don’t be discouraged, don’t give up, and don’t fall into the “quick fixes”. Remember horsemanship takes time and patience, not only toward the horse, but also inward toward yourself. Success in the show ring is directly related to the dedication in the practice pen. As an equestrian, remember the words of Bob Avila, “When it comes to horsemanship knowledge and ability, everyone starts out equal, at zero. How far a person goes from there is entirely up to that person. Winning is what you make of it”.
About The Author Elise Ulmer-Etzebeth was raised in a family of dedicated horsemen. She was riding horses before she could walk, started training with her father at the age of 16, and now has her own training facility in DeKalb, TX. Elise has won multiple national titles in reining, working cow, and cutting. She is also known around the globe as an international clinician.
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An Introduction to
Cowboy Dressage
By Angie Peters-Hughes
B
orn in the American West this quickly growing discipline has been changing lives and catching the eye of the horse industry for the past few years. Cowboy Dressage™ is the brainchild and lives’ work of Eitan Beth-Halachmy and his wife Debbie of Grass Valley, California. Together they have set the world on fire; building a competition that reflects the values we all seek; Where the good guys wear white hats and ride off into the sunset on a good and trusty horse.
COWBOY DRESSAGE™ THE COMPETITION Cowboy Dressage™ is the Competition that was built to celebrate the horse and rider relationship. Times are changing, these are the years that true horsemanship skills will reveal the best in people. “The revolution in horsemanship that occurred at the end of the twentieth century had, at its heart, a simple theme: that horses can be controlled more effectively without the use of force.” The Revolution in Horsemanship and what it means to mankind (2005) by Dr. Robert Miller a leading expert on the humane trainJudy Limsky & Picasso
ing of horses. Cowboy Dressage™ is a competition where partnership and harmony take center stage and are rewarded in the reflection of the soft feel belief. A unique competition and revolutionary in the way it encourages the rider to let their horse settle and allows time for a friendly rub on the withers, signifying a job well done or reassure a nervous horse. While judges are trained to recognize the slightest ‘try’ in the horse and respond with helpful (encouraging) comments on the score sheet. Cowboy Dressage™ the Competition allows the relationship to take center-stage as you navigate the test of maneuvers, allowing your training to shine with the governing philosophy of soft feel infused in your ride.
SOFT FEEL Soft feel (or Fresh Rein) a name born from Cowboy Dressage™ a mission with no end, a concept around since man began to seek the horse out as his trusty partner in the fields, across the plains and even in battle. A goal, a dream and aspiration to be one with our equine partners. It is deep and vast, a wordless dance, a lasting connection that occurs between horse and rider, who communicate in a language of lightness. Infusing harmony throughout their ride with finesse and partnership first and foremost. Soft feel is a feeling that leaves you in awe of your horse; and inspires you to saddle up and carry-on searching for ‘more’. Soft Feel is a perfect fit for Resistance Free™Riding and Training methods. The journey is rewarding and encourages you to grow as a horseman and a good citizen of our world. Although born from a separate cloth Resistance Free™ Riding and Training is the lives’ work of Richard and Leeann Shrake of Sunriver, Oregon. Angie along with her California based teaching partner Nancy Williams both Accrediated Resistance Free™ Personal Riding Coaches & Trainers marry Soft Feel and Resistance Free™ together to use a proven system to develop quality horseman & fine horses and a revolutionary competition that allows the horse & rider relationship to shine. It’s a perfect match, creating horses who are
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Resistance Free™ The principles are deeply rooted in working with the horses body with an understanding of the how’s and why’s of training. Developing rider awareness to set your horse up for success both physically and mentally allowing you to streamline your learning curve and builds a lasting partnership of trust. When Soft feel and Resistance Free™ training principles unite their is no end sight on your journey through horsemanship. Wondering where to start? Start anywhere. Start where you are, we will help you find your way. Lessons at Yellow Pony Arena & Hay Company outside of Leonard, Texas with Angie are scheduled for July 2nd & 16th, Contact Angie @ FromBeginnersToWinners@gmail. com or AngieHughesHorsemanship.com
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? You’ll find some friendly faces where ever you find Cowboy Dressage™
Sarah Hoffman & Lily Sarah Hoffman and her Paint mare, Lily, practicing their Cowboy Dressage at the Time to Shine Clinic with Angie Hughes at Windhaven Ranch in Sulphur Springs, Texas. happy and look forward to their jobs and riders who are confidence and secure in their horses. “One plus one equals one. One horse and one rider, both resistance free, equal one working unit, a relationship unique to horse and human. No other domestic animal has served man in so complete a manner, as servant, companion, and tool. In return we owe it to the horse to achieve as complete a relationship as we can, one in which complete communication becomes possible, and thus, complete trust.”
- Resistance Free Riding (1993) Richard Shrake
I’ve ridden with, shown under, watched and been mentored by some of the greatest trainers but nothing compares to the easy systematic approach to training horses and developing riders like the Resistance Free™ way. Although my background in horses varies from the show ring riding all around horses to cutting horse and dressage and jumping in US Pony Club at the core
Photo: Sarah Hoffman
Lily is a sweet 4 year old mare that is coming along nicely in the walk/jog tests. Sarah and Lily attended the Ardmore, Oklahoma Wild West Regional Cowboy Dressage™ Show this May. The Northeast Texas Equine 25
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On the web: 1. Join the no-cost, Handshake Membership at CowboyDressageWorld.com and while you are there check out the test rules and judging guidelines to see the difference Cowboy Dressage™ has to offer. Locally in Northeast Texas: 1. Join Northeast Texas Dressage Club - A grassroots club who celebrates all forms of dressage in a friendly & low-key environment. Perfect for those first timers, anyone returning to their passion or even schooling horses. For more information please visit NETXDressageClub.com. Clinic’s and local educational opportunities: November 19/20 Strides2Success Clinic with Angie Hughes & Nancy Williams. 2 days focused on setting you and your horse up for success. Perfect for those that want to start experiencing the Resistance Free™ and soft feel that Cowboy Dressage™ is known for. Location: Northeast Texas Facility: TBD LearnCowboyDressage.com AngieHughesHorsemanship.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Angie Peters-Hughes is a sought after instructor of advanced riders looking to improve their horses and sharpen their overall performance. Being a fully Accredited Resistance Free® Instructor, Trainer & Riding Coach, a money winning rider, an AQHA Professional Horseman and a US Pony Club Alumni has qualified her for multiple Open Horse Show Judges’ Cards & Licenses. And as a founding partner of LearnCowboyDressage.com Angie conducts Cowboy Dressage™ clinic’s and horsemanship workshops focused on improving the horse and rider relationship.
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AN AMERISTALL
STORY
By Jennifer Riley
Helping you go from dreaming to living out your dream is what sets us a part as a company. When we hand you the key and you tell us where your dream began and how your new facility has changed your life for the better, we beam with joy. Here’s an AmeriStall Story we thought we’d let the Customer share! Read their story below. “Southwest Metal Systems built our barn a couple of years ago and just recently finished a two-stall addition. It’s perfect and you can’t tell it wasn’t this size from the beginning. We needed a barn after moving our horses here and it is a fantastic barn – beautiful, perfectly laid out and easy to maintain. They think of everything. I love it. Dealing with Johnny and his crew, as well as everyone else at Southwest Metal, was just wonderful. Having this barn gives me peace of mind that my horses are safe in their stalls when we have frigid or bad weather. My horses all love their stalls as much as I do. I wanted this barn primarily for my mare who is now 31 and needs a stall when it is cold. Now, I don’t have to catch her – I open the gate and she walks straight to her stall! I boarded my horses for years and had seen a lot of nice barns in various constructions. After we built our house, we decided to move the 28 The Northeast Texas Equine
horse here and I started looking at barns. I had already contacted some other barn companies when I saw a billboard for AmeriStall. I discovered their location was just right down the road. I had seen their stalls and loved them. This barn is exactly what I had in mind and I have not found a thing I would change. It is beautiful and practical. Plenty of lighting, plugs, and room in general. They pay attention to every detail! If something needs fixing, they come right back and fix it!
prove on their service. I really had no complaints at all. Johnny was great to deal with and I really appreciated him taking me to see another AmeriStall barn. He was also very knowledgeable about the product. He knew right where the plugs, lights, etc. should go! I might add that the electrician they used was awesome!” - Deborah
It would be hard for them to imAt AmeriStall, we build horse barns with form and function that transforms your dream into a reality. We offer a variety of features that other barn manufacturers simply don’t offer. Our designs are distinctive and stylish. So, whether you’re looking for an equestrian event center, riding arena, or a backyard horse barn kit, we are your builder of choice. Dream. Design. Build. Live. Visit www.ameristall.com and build your dream barn today.
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Alli’s Equine
JOURNEY E
veryone has different path that led them to their passion for horses. Alli Olsen was a 12 year old homeschooled girl when she was invited by a friend to the local horse therapy center. She was told that if she helped care for the horses, she could ride one. She reasoned this was a good way to meet new people and learn about riding. After cleaning stalls for 3-4 hors, she was allowed to ride one of the therapy horses for 30 minutes.
She was hooked on horses and didn’t mind cleaning stalls as long she was able to ride. She didn’t even get discouraged that her training was in now way professional and did not build up her self-esteem. Riding became part of her homeschool assignments and filled the physical and character building component. While she was building callouses and was no longer affected by the smell of the barn, she was slaving to ride. And even though she was yelled at 3 days a week, she stuck with it even if it meant coming home and crying afterwards. She just tried harder. All of her hard work paid offed and she was offered a place on the show team where she received professional training. She began riding and learning on a horse named Bell. She liked Bell and her confidence and abilities grew. She began winning ribbons. In this world, as wel all know, that if you do well, you have more challening opportunities. You may not embrace them at first, not wanting to leave your comfort zone. That’s how Alli felt when it was suggested that she try another horse named Lilly. Lilly was unruly and had bucked with one of the therapy students. She was happy with Bell, but a friend talked her into giving Lilly a try. She still loved Bell and Lilly was stubborn. Somtimes it’s best to back up and start from scratch. It keeps you from getting hurt and it can be a good relationship building exercise. Alli spent time with Lilly in her stall, hanging out getting to know her and started building trust and respect. She taught her how to give hugs and kisses and even how to bow. She then transistioned their budding friendship to under saddle training. As she began working with her, it became apparent that Lilly’s antics stemmed from back problems. A horse chiropractor was called into help. Even though Alli couldn’t afford regular treatments, the chiropractor showed her several techniques she could use to build up Lilly’s back 30 The Northeast Texas Equine
By Sheree DeLeon
strength. As Lily imporved, Ally began working more with her, realizing patience and not pushing got the results she was trying to achieve. Another epiphany was working with Lilly gave her insight on her relationship with her five year old brother, Briceson. Briceson is a high functioning autistic with ADHD and ODD. She understood his handicaps, but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with on a day-to-day basis. When he is drawing on the floor with a crayon and getting into mishchief continually, it would overwhelm her and frustartion would set in. Working with Lilly’s stubborness helped her identify and be more patient with her brother. Briceson was put on a horse, but didn’t want directions or help, however, within 30 minutes he had fig-
Alli (age 12) with Bell
Alli when she first began working with Lilly.
ured out how to get it to walk, trot and gallop. He was very good and patient with the horse, but was not enamored like his sister.
portunity. It’s a good thing. Her own horse was in her future.
Alli’s journey continued. The next show season, Alli and Lilly hit the show ring participating in halter and showmanship. Alli did well in showmanship, but poorly in halter. She wasn’t concerned though. She would stick with showmanship, that was until she was told it wouldn’t earn her any points. She was able to get more weight on Lilly and their reguluar riding routine had built Lilly’s msucle mass. Much to her surprise, she got 3rd in halter! Then she decided to work on halter. That winter, she roached Lilly’s stringy mane. When it grew back healthy, she was able to band it and make her look more professional.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sheree DeLeon lives in Wichita Falls, TX. She is a retired teacher and mother of five. She enjoys gardening, crocheting while listening to audiobooks, reading, researching various topics and riding or just spending time with her three horses, two Dobermans, cat and Amazon parrot.
All alone, Alli continued to learn through video, books, magazines, other horse enthusiasts. She kept pushing herself at becoming a better horsewoman. As she few in her abilities, she decided she didn’t want anyone to go through what she went through learning to ride. When one of the ladies that gave lessons was leaving for college, she asked Alli if she would take over the lessons of two young ladies. Alli jumped at the op-
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10th Annual
Bluebonnet Horse Expo 2
016 marks the 10th year for the Bluebonnet Horse Expo, an annual educational event put on by Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society in Austin. This year’s event will take place on October 22, 2016 from 9AM to 7PM at Travis County Expo Center at 7311 Decker Lane. Horse-lovers from across the state of Texas – and beyond – will come together in Austin to learn about horse training and care from some of the finest trainers, veterinarians, and alternative caregivers in Texas. The event is also home of the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. At the Challenge, professional trainers and non-professional horseman and horsewomen compete over an obstacle course and show off their horses’ skills in a freestyle competition. Before the competition, professional trainers have four months to start BEHS horses under saddle or work through behavioral problems while non-professionals work with a horse for four months who was previously trained to ride or work with a horse on the ground. The Challenge horses, as well as other BEHS horses, are available for adoption at the event.
Bluebonnet Booth
The Expo includes a horse/western/ranch-themed art show and sale, silent auction of home décor, jewelry, and clothing that is horse-related, live auction of saddles and other tack, tack sale, and vendor area. Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society is a non- profit organization that helps rescue horses, ponies, and donkeys from negligent and abusive owners. Not only is the event educational, but all funds raised at the event help Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society alleviate the suffering of horses throughout Texas.
Dan Keen Clinic
There are still sponsorship and vendor opportunities available, and the organization needs donations of horse equipment and farm/ranch/western themed artwork, jewelry, and home décor for the live auction, art show, silent auction, and sale area. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, visit us http://www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com/ or (888) 542 5163. Art Show
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The Story of
Teaspoon
By Johanna Wilson
I
work with the Humane Society of North Texas as the Equine Assistant to Dawn Foil. She is the Equine Coordinator. I have a small boarding business on 40 acres. We call it Six D Ranch, because we have 6 daughters. Many people tell Dawn and I that we ought to write a book, or make a television show..... and I don’t know if people are really ready for that! We are much akin to a ranch version of Lucy and Ethyl; and Dawn is definitely Lucy. We work hard. We do our best. In the end, that has to be enough. We see a lot of stories and many stories that we will never know the rest of, so to speak. However, one story that rests on my heart today is Teaspoon. The kill pen horse that stole everyone’s heart. I had arrived at the Bowie Kill Pen, a sale barn that ships and auctions horses for sale, to pick up a horse that had been purchased by a group of ladies and released to HSNT. The horse was thin, aged and quiet. She had the feel of a horse who had served her owner well. I shook my head sadly and said out loud, “ I just don’t understand why.” No matter how many I see, I still say that to myself over and over. The gentleman there said, “you ought to see the one who came in today.” He went down the alley and disappeared. In a bit, he came back ever so slowly with a large frame of a sorrel gelding. Ribs and hips protuded as he painfully made his way. I took pictures and sent them to a group of ladies Dawn and I have in a perpetual ever on going chat about these kill pen horses. My phone blew up with pleas of “Don’t leave him!” “How much?” Well you get the picture. There was a freeze brand of 01 on his left butt cheek, and 11 on his right, so that was the tag number he was given in order to purchase him. (Every horse gets a tag number.) I gave him the name Teaspoon, and that’s another story for another day. He was paid for within the hour by SOS, a rescue created by Joy and Shelly, whose last names I’ll with hold for privacy sale, and ladies who donated to them. There are many rescue networks that bail (meaning 34 The Northeast Texas Equine
to pay the slaughter buyers online price) to keep a horse from going to slaughter. A group of women mostly, that ban together, each putting in what they can to purchase the horse. Then, often times to make sure the horse lands in a safe spot, that will not end back at the kill lot, they will release the horse to HSNT. That is what happens often. However, in Teaspoons case, a group called SOS had bailed him, and HSNT took the horse to rehab only. Helping the horse is the most important issue at hand and Dawn was happy to take Teaspoon and rehab him. Teaspoon had a look of a horse who had given life long service and a kind eye, sweet spirit that one could not help but fall in love with. Saddle marks decorated both sides of his withers. We shared every step of his journey with us on Facebook. Pictures are worth a thousand words in this case. We washed the years of dirt from his body. Gave him a comfortable stall and started to refeed. The first thing we found was that Teaspoon could not get up by himself. He was too big for Dawn and I. Even with the help of Terrell, our employee that helps us in the equine department. So we created a sling and got a truck, lacing the straps over the support beams in the barn, and attaching to a truck, we got him up. Then we went back to our little chat group of women who make things happen and a sling was fundraised for. We aquired a sling and found that Teaspoon also needed cool air. We went back to our miracle girls and we got a PortaCool for his stall to combat the Texas heat. Meanwhile the farriers and the vet were seeing to his source of pain. Teaspoon had suffered a severe founder in his past. His coffin bones were coming through his hooves. We made the decision to euthanize him. Most people understood and some did not. There were those that wanted him to make it so badly, could we try one more thing? One has to ask themselves at the critical decision to euthanize, do you keep them alive because it makes them feel better, or yourself. It is never easy. This was not easy. But it was right. A mentor once told me, “ Do the right thing, because its the right thing to do. It’s that simple and that hard.” Dawn and I took Teaspoon out of his sling that night.
We let him and his little buddy Tiny Trinket ( he will be another story another day) out on the tall grass under a starry Texas sky for one more time. He ate his last meal there and grazed. We had given him some pain meds to help him enjoy his time. He laid down in the wee hours of the morning to rest on the cool grass. Early as the sun came up, Teaspoon raised his head and lay in an upright position, happy to munch the grass around him. He made no effort to rise. I gave him hugs and kisses from all the ladies who waited in other states and cities to mourn him. Mid morning as he decided he would lay his head down to rest, stretching his legs out, he lay flat and peaceful. Dawn gave him a seditive and Terrell administered the fatal injection. I stroked his neck and called Shelly so she could be with us all as we said goodbye. Teaspoon took our hearts like a gale of wind on the ocean. He left like a soft whisper. He should never be forgotten.
The Northeast Texas Equine 35
By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.
Piles of Grass Clippings Are No Treat for Your Horse A
re you tempted to cut your grass, then rake it into soft, fragrant, tasty piles of clippings for your horse to nibble? According to equine nutrition expert Dr. Juliet Getty this should be the last thing you encourage your horse to eat. It has to do with that extra step: raking. Grass clippings that stay on the pasture after mowing, where they can dry in small amounts, are generally not a problem. But never gather them into piles to feed them to your horse. Here’s why: Clippings are too easy to over-consume, and eating large amounts at one time can lead to excess fermentation in the hind gut, potentially causing colic and laminitis. Piles of clippings can rapidly invite mold to form (especially prevalent in hot, humid environments), which can lead to colic. Because there is no air inside a dense pile, botulism can develop, which turns this “treat” absolutely deadly. Three really good reasons those pretty piles are no kind of treat for your horse!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a wide U.S. and international following. Her research-based approach optimizes equine health by aligning physiology and instincts with correct feeding and nutrition practices. Dr. Getty’s comprehensive resource book, Feed Your 36 The Northeast Texas Equine
Horse Like a Horse, is available at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com - buy it there and have it inscribed by the author, or get it at Amazon or other online retail bookstores. The seven separate volumes in Dr. Getty’s topic-centered “Spotlight on Equine Nutrition” series are available with special package pricing at her website, and also at Amazon in print and Kindle versions. Dr. Getty’s books make ideal gifts for equestrians. Find a world of useful information for the horseperson at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com: Sign up for Dr. Getty’s informative, free e-newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com. She is available for private consultations and speaking engagements.
Horse Show Directory
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Connect with Us! Like us on Facebook to stay up to date with what’s happening in your community! https://www.facebook.com/The-Northeast-Texas-Equine
Contribute! We want to hear about what’s happening on your farms, with your businesses and the successes that you’ve had in the show ring! Share our magazine with your equestrian organizations and clubs. Send your show photos, ribbon pictures and moments of success! We want to celebrate and recognize our local equestrians and encourage more people to take part in our equine community. Have a story to tell or tips to share? We accept all types of contributions and in exchange you receive free advertising, a bio and a profile picture! Letters to the editor or suggestions? We’re all ears! Let us know what you think and we’ll publish your thoughts and ideas. Have a unique product to share? Each issue of The Northeast Texas Equine will feature products from local tack shops, stores, artists and handcrafters that we love and find unique. Send an image and a short description of the product and the creator/seller as well as contact information. Like to read? Share with us your book reviews! We’re always looking for ways to improve our riding, horsemanship, barn management and relationship with our horses. Let us know what you’ve read and what you think! Add to our horse show and summer camp directory! Send your prize/class lists and summer camp information for free inclusion.
Mission
The goal and mission of The Northeast Texas Equine is to promote our local equine economy. We are located in one of the most robust equine communities in the state and there are no other publications that focus soley on this area. It is the goal of this publication to introduce new businesses, farms, trainers, equestrians, and industry professionals to the vast opportunity that is available, while also encouraging economic growth by introducing the North & East Texas equestrian community to new individuals, riders and organizations.
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Advertise! The Northeast Texas Equine is operated completely on operating dollars, volunteered time and contributors. Our goal is to help the local equine economy grow. We depend on our advertisers to help us achieve this goal. We offer several advertising options at very reasonable rates.
Contact Valerie Mellema at valerie@grayhorsepublishing.com to advertise.
Check Out Our New Website! In an effort to provide ongoing coverage of events happening in the North and East Texas equine industry, we have created a new, dedicated website for The Northeast Texas Equine. This will provide our contributors the opportunity to provide articles and event coverage as it happens between each magazine issue. We will feature new content on the website, while the magazine will continue to provide exclusive coverage and features. Plus, advertisers will automaitcally receive free online advertising as well! Visit us http://www.thenortheasttexasequine.com.
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