The Standardbred Connection May 2018

The Standardbred hConnectiong Focusing on pleasure Standardbreds who are trotting, pacing or racking through the public eye.

The Standardbred Connection May 2018

Table of Contents May Flowers & Foals

2

Gone to Carolina Wins Big in Maine

4

Talavary Mystic - National Sport Endurance Champion

4

New Zealand’s Anything But Standard Challenge

5

Driving the Horse in Harness

7

Shake, Rattle & Stroll

13

Harness Horse Youth Foundation

15

SPHO-NJ High Point Awards

17

Horse Health and You

19

One in a Million

21

Harness Hero Cards

22

North American Gaited Dressage

23

Standardbred Distance Championships

23

Ohio Standardbreds & Friends Visit the KYHP

24

Cover: Kate Kennedy and her horse, Leron Hanover, compete in the first-ever Sam McKee Memorial Standardbred Barrel Race at the DREAM Park of Gloucester County N.J. Mr. McKee, who died in March of 2017, was the Meadowlands Racetrack announcer and a Communicators Hall of Fame member. This event combined two of his passions - barrel racing and the Standardbreds.

Photo by Vicki Wright

May: Flowers & Foals

W

e’ve all heard the poem about April showers bringing May flowers, and its true that some parts of the U.S. the fields are already abloom with alfalfa and clover. At a time when the harshness of winter is fading, the sun is shining longer and the grass is becoming plentiful, May is a natural time for mares to foal. Lets take a look at shining examples of May foals.

The great Hambletonian 10 (also known as Hambletonian or Rysdyk’s Abdallah colt) was foaled in May of 1849. The colt and his dam, Charles Kent Mare (a Norfolk trotter), were purchased by William Rysdyk, a New York farmer, for $125 (roughly $3,922 in 2018 funds). He made quite an impact on the local fair show while still a foal. In October of 1852, as a twoyear-old, Hambletonian won a trial race against Abdallah Chief in a time of 3:03. Abdallah Chief ’s owner, who had said that Hambletonian 10 would only be good as a show horse, was unhappy so another race took place a few days latter. The skeleton wagons flew down Long Island’s Union Course, resulting in a time of 2:48. That was an extremely fast time for the day and Ham-

bletonian was quickly retired from racing, becoming a top sire of what became know as the Standardbred. He is known as the ‘daddy of ‘em all.” He produced over 1,300 foals before passing on March 27, 1876 in Chester, New York.

Standardbred champion Won The West was foaled in May of 2004 at Fair Winds Farm in New Jersey. The third richest pacer in North America, he sold as a young gelding for just $35,000. “W”, as he is know around the barn, is only one of eight horses to ever receive the prestigious Dan Patch Award for Best Older Male Pacer in consecutive years (2009, 2010). Those same years he won the Breeders Crown, his 2009 win being a stakes-record time of 1:47. In 2012 “W” was retired. One of his retirement stops was the 2012 National Standardbred Show before moving on to the Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions where he joined Be A Bono and Mr. Muscleman. If you decide to visit the New Jersey-bred at the KYHP, the staff does accept peppermints and carrots on his behalf.

Both of these champions demonstrate the versatility of the Standardbred – competitive on the track and in the show ring! If you’re looking for future champions be sure

to visit the Facebook pages of Standardbred farms, there are some gorgeous (and funny!) foals already on the ground this year. In fact if you live in Ontario, Canada there is an extra special opportunity to interact with the foals.

The Youth Literary Derby is a horse-themed writing contest designed for 5th-8th graders. There are divisions for poetry as well as essays, the content should be based upon a visit to one of more than 20 Ontario-based Standardbred breeding farms in the midst of foaling season. Can’t make it to the farm due to location? A lovely video of a newborn foal is posted on their website (https://youthliteraryderby.ca) to give youth a virtual experience.

In addition to the experience of visiting a foaling farm, the program offers $2,000 in prizes and free tuition for youth courses from the University of Guelph for Horse Behaviour and Safety for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd

prize winners. The Youth Literary Derby the brain child of industry publicist, Bill Galvin, who remembers the popular literary contests of racings golden age.

“It was a life changing encounter for me,” said Barbara Dutchyn, age 10, who nosed out 614 contestants from Newfoundland to Alberta to capture the 1970 Poetry Derby for Kids sponsored by the publicity department of the Ontario Jockey Club (now Woodbine Entertainment).

Farms such as Mac Lilley Farms in Dutton, Ont. and Tara Hills Stud near Port Perry, Ont., will be opening their farms to the general public for a special Mother’s Day Open House on May 13th, encouraging schools to work the farm visits and writing lessons into their Mother’s Day projects.

While out enjoying the May weather be sure to stop and watch the foals, while you smell the flowers.

Gone To Carolina Wins Big in Maine!

Ridden by Kathleen Bailey and owned by Amy Spear Higgins, the talented Standardbred mare captured Year End awards of the Champion 2’9” and Senior Grand Champion in the Maine Schooling Jumper Show Series.

Talavary Mystic National Sport Endurance Champion of 2017!

Talavary Mystic (aka Meg) is the 2017 Sport Endurance UK Champion for 20 fs and 30 fs as well as bringing home awards for Top SE Mare, Top Peak and Forest Champion and Top Senior Competitor! Kathryn Ellis has worked with the ten-year-old mare for the several years, committing to a sound, happy horse that can consistently bring home ‘best conditioned’ type awards. Congratulations to both on a job well done! Photo by Ruth IndiePics Saunby

New

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Anyth But Sta Chall 2017 Wi

Overall The Anything But Standard Challenge - Sponsored by Anything Equestrian Champion - Glenda Thomson & Suvision Runner Up - Jo Stevens & On The Razzle 3rd - Chloe Burgess & My Handsome Rooster 4th - Tanya Grey & Candy Mountain 5th - Jennifer Harris & Great Excuses 6th - Renee Kelly & Scarrymcleary

Best Conditioned Standardbred - Sponsored by Southridge Contracting Shannon Macfarlane & Smoken Roman

Led Showing Challenge - Sponsored by Harness Racing New Zealand Champion - Glenda Thomson & Suvision Runner Up - Zoe Cobb & Miss Conception 3rd - Shannon Macfarlane & Smoken Roman 4th - Chloe Burgess & My Handsome Rooster 5th - Renee Kelly & Scarrymcleary 6th - Tanya Grey & Candy Mountain

Ridden Showing Challenge - Sponsored by Harness Racing New Zealand Champion - Glenda Thomson & Suvision Runner Up - Jo Stevens & On The Razzle 3rd - Chloe Burgess & My Handsome Rooster 4th - Renee Kelly & Scarrymcleary 5th - Jennifer Harris & Great Excuses 6th - Tanya Grey & Candy Mountain

nd’s

hing andard lenge inners Dressage Challenge - Sponsored by JLT Bloodstock Champion - Glenda Thomson & Suvision Runner Up - Jo Stevens & On The Razzle 3rd - Chloe Burgess & My Handsome Rooster 4th - Samantha Mouat & Isae 5th - Tanya Grey & Candy Mountain 6th - Jennifer Harris & Great Excuses

Show Hunter Challenge - Sponsored by Harness Racing New Zealand Champion - Tanya Grey & Candy Mountain Runner Up - Jennifer Harris & Great Excuses 3rd - Glenda Thomson & Suvision 4th - Jo Stevens & On The Razzle 5th - Renee Kelly & Scarrymcleary 6th - Samantha Mouat & Isae

Obstacle Challenge - Sponsored by Alltech

Champion - Jo Stevens & On The Razzle Runner Up - Chloe Burgess & My Handsome Rooster 3rd - Jennifer Harris & Great Excuses 4th - Samantha Mouat & Isae 5th - Tanya Grey & Candy Mountain 6th - Renee Kelly & Scarrymcleary

Driving the Horse in Harness: A Beginner’s Manual

by Charles Kellogg

Driving the Horse in Harness was first published in 1978 and is now out of print. The CAA is serializing parts of it here in The Carriage Journal with permission of Craig Kellogg. Reprinted with permission from the Carriage Association of America.

T

Harnessing

ning driver, unless they have the advantage of knowing a harness expert who can help find a decent used harness, would do well to buy a new one instead.

What To Get and Where The harness the beginner should have consists of a bridle with bit, driving reins, one of two types of check rein, a breast collar, harness saddle and girth, back strap, crupper and breeching with straps. In addition, if the horse is to be put to one of the beginning two-wheeled carts we discussed in Chapter 2, a hold- or tie-down strap will be needed. See the harnessing diagrams on these pages for a better idea of what these harness parts look like and where they go.

Good sources of new, safe, and inexpensive harness suitable for the beginning driver who plans to drive a single horse, to a simple vehicle strictly for his own enjoyment - at least in the beginning - are the harness shops of the "Plain People," the Amish and Mennonites. There is nothing elegant about Amish-made harness: it is strictly utilitarian with no frills. But it is sound, will stand rather hard treatment, and is not costly.

The standard Amish-made harness is of black leather with reins which are black at the bit end, but of russet leather in the hands section. This is the harness which can usually be purchsed over the counter (off the rack) at many harness shops. If the beginner has selected a cart or carriage of natural wood finish, he or she may wish to have a complete harness made of russet leather, which fades to a kind of tan; this color is considered more suitable than black for show or competition purposes. Russet harness is seldom stocked in Amish shops since it is forbidden for their own people, but some Amish and Mennonite harness makers will build russet harness on order. Also, the usual, plainer nickle hardware of the ordinary Amish harness can be replaced with brass, if desired.

If your horse is 14.2 and over, most stock Amishmade harness will adjust to fit him or her properly. A considerably out-sized animal might need specially ordered harness. Pony harness, on the other hand, is also available over the counter - at a cost only slightly, if any, less than full-sized.

he beginning driver can get in trouble, before they ever sit down behind their horse, simply by buying a cheap harness.

The word "cheap" in this case is meant to describe a used harness which has been let hanging in a barn, cellar or loft since the horse which wore it last - generally several decades before, was led away for the last time. These often turn up at auctions, some are found in antique barns, some are advertised in the classified sections of equine periodicals and some in the "For Sale" columns of weekly newspapers in rural areas. And some belong to well-meaning friends who should know better.

Old, used harness is a safety risk, no matter how cheap the price. Unused for who knows how long, chances are the leather has deteriorated to the point it is no longer sound or safe. Harness must be cared for constantly: it cannot be hung up and left, nor can it be sotred away in a trunk and forgotten. And once allowed to dry out in whatever place it has been stored, it can never be restored to its proper strength. Even new harness, unless constantly oiled and cleaned, can become dried out and unsafe.

Further, it is next to impossible to find used harness without worn places, pieces missing and buckles which Harness - Piece by Piece don't match. It takes an expert horseman to find and buy a used harness worth the price paid for it; certainly Although harness requirements may vary a bit dethis is a dangerous course for the unknowing beginner. pending on the animal to be driven an the use it's to We can hardly urge strongly enought that the begin- be put to, there are certain basic pieces common to all.

fectly all right for the beginner and for ordinary driving purposes. However, many driving people prefer to use a Liverpool bit for single horses.

This has a straight bar in the horse's mouth, or perhaps a bar with a moderate port (the arch in the mouthpiece of the bit into which the toungue fits), and a curb chain. As the bit diagram (next page) shows the ordinary Liverpool offers the advantage of being able to adjust the bitting in your horse's mouth to varying degrees of severity.

The least severe setting on the Liverpool is less severe than the broken snaffle. This is known as "smooth cheek," and rarely brings the curb chain into action. The next setting, "rough cheek," exerts mild pressure on the mouth through the curb chain. A third setting, "half cheek," should be used only in extreme cases of hard-mouthed or The following on these essential parts will help the be- unruly horses requiring extra leverage. This "full cheek" ginner understand each part's function and know better setting is sometimes referred to as a "dead man's hole" what to look for when purchasing them. A look at the - an accurate, if somewhat wry, description. accompanying diagrams will help too.

The Bridle The Checkrein Amish bridles, with their standard overchecks leading The standard Amish harness comes with an over- to the simulated "figure eight" headpiece attached to check, a strap and headpiece which runs from the bit the bit, do not include the nose strap (or cavesson, as over the head between the ears and then over the top more commonly known on a riding bridle) shown on of the neck to a hook fastened in the middle of the the accompanying driving bridle diagram. Again, most saddle. However, most pleasure drivers perfer side-checkreins. These also attach to the top of the bit, but then run on either side of the head to loops connected to the crown piece of the bridle, hanging well down toward the throat, and then to the check hook on the saddle.

Harness-racing trainers and some of the breed associations use the overcheck, mainly to position the animal's head where the trainer wants it: pleasure-driving people feel that the overcheck works against the roof of the mouth and that the side reins allow the horse to flex his neck comfortably while travelling on the road or cross-country, while still preventing the head from getting too low. But, in the more sophisticated pleasure-driving turnouts, overchecks are not considered proper.

Bits The standard driving bit supplied in an Amish harness is a plain broken snaffle. This is per-

pleasure-driving trainers feel that such a strap, herein called a "noseband," provides more control of the horse.

A simple black strap, 18 inches or so long, will do very nicely if it is buckled snugly to prevent the horse from opening his mouth when he feels pressure from the bit.

Generally speaking, the driving bridle is fitted a little tighter than the riding bridle. Agains, this is for safety's sake. The throat latch should be kept as snug as possible without choking the horse. The nose strap would also be snug. The reason for this snugness: consider the danger threatened by a harness horse rubbing off his bridle agains the point of the shaft or pole! Disaster would be imminent: the best the driver could do would be to unload fast and try for the horse's head. The ridden horse has nothing about him to rub on in the same way, unless his rider is so unwary as to go to sleep in the shade of a tree. Care should also be taken to have the cheek straps tight enough, holding the bit up against the bars of the horse's mouth on the one hand but not allowing the blinkers to be pulled away from the sides of the face on the other. A glimpse of the carriage behind him, hitherto hidden by the blinders, has been known to frighten more than one driven horse ordinarily believed to be a model of manners.

The Breast Collar - or Round?

Pictured here is the breast collar, which, because it was looser fitting than the round collar, can be used successfully by a number of similarly-sized horses. Beginners favor it for this reason. The round collar (shown on next page) requires a rather close fit for each horse, often involving a number of collars for a more-than-one- or two-horse barn.

The Girth and Tie-down Some Pennsylvania harness makers include a double girth with connections to the tugs (leather loops) through which the shafts pass. These connections are designed to keep the shafts from rising up when the horse is working against the breeching to hold back the carriage. In a four-wheeled vehicle such rising is more of a nusisance than a danger, so the Amish harness makers, whose home clients use mostly four-wheeled vehicles, make the restraining straps rather loose.

But, with a two-wheeled cart, there is much more danger that rising shafts could result in the cart tipping over backwards. Thus many people augment the double girth with a tie-down strap which attaches to both shafts, passing under the horse. It is a simple device with a buckle at each end. We recommend it highly from the point of view of safety. Also, with some of the more elegant carts, the breeching is discarded and is replace by brass stops on the shafts at the shaft tugs. These work to hold back the forward motion of the vehicle.

With this arrangement the tie-down strap provides a double safely factor.

The Martingale Another piece of harness you might want is a mar-

tingale. Martingales are sometimes used if the horse's head's carriage is too high. They are available in the Amish harness store and are used on the Amish horses, as well as on some horse in breed show rings. However, most pleasure-driving people feel that the martingale is no substitute for proper training and should be dispensed with as soon as possible. More commonly seen is a false martingale used with a breast collar, they are more familiar with the heavier type of harness using a round collar.

These do little except to keep the collar from riding up too high on the chest and are mainly for decoration - certainly, they are not a necessary part of the light single-horse driving harness.

"Dressing" the Horse {For the purpose of the CAA Proficiency Program, it is recommended that the collar be put on first.

However, if you should chose to vary from that recommendation it is important to understand when and why variations might happen.} 1) First the saddle-crupper As to the proper order, it makes little difference whether a breast collar is put on over the horse's head before or after the saddle-crupper-backstrap combination - though when putting on a round collar, that must be the first thing because the breast plate must be fastened to the girth. The important thing is that it be done the same way each time.

However, we prefer to work from back to front. This means that we put the saddle-crupper-backstrap on first. The harness saddle should sit behind the withers by several inches - in the middle of that area behind the withers by several inches - in the middle of the area normally covered by a riding saddle. It is held in that position by the girth, and by the backstrap which attaches to the crupper under the horse's tail. The girth must always be taken up slowly for there is just as much chance of a "cold-backing" (sensitive) horse resenting the abrupt tightening of the harness girth as there is when saddling a riding horse. The safety strap, or belly band, can be left loosely attached at this point. The backstrap should be taut and the crupper should be snug against the root of the tail. Nothing looks worse than a crupper dangling below the root of the tail or a loose backstrap bouncing up and down on the horse's spine.

Caution is taken when placing the crupper under the

tail to make sure that none of the tail hairs are caught in it: this to avoid any irritation or soring of the under part of the tail. A helpful hint: if getting the tail through the crupper opening proves difficult, the tail can be neatly folded, pulled through and then straightened out when through.

2) Next the breeching Once the saddle-crupper-backstrap combination is secure it is the time to run the breeching straps through the backstrap; there is a specific slot for this. The breeching placement must be neither too high nor too low.

The horizontal breeching strap should rest just where the rump curves into the leg. Have it too high and the breeching strap tends to ride up over the rump toward the root of the tail; have it too low and the weight of the carriage inhibits the freedom of action of the hind legs, and on some steep grades actually exerts a lifting pressure against the hind-quarters.

3) Next the breast collar The collar goes on with the traces (the heavy leather straps which run alongside the shafts and serve to attach the vehicle to the horse's collar) already in place.

Its fit is very important: as the harness image shows, it should rest a finger or two below the very base of the neck, but in no case lower than the middle of the shoulder - any lower than that will interfere with the free movement of the forelegs which is so necessary. As we said earlier, if we were using a round collar, the order would be reversed, with the collar going on first and

then the saddle-crupper combination.

4) Next the bridle and reins Our next step is to run the driving reins through the saddle terrets, letting the bit ends hang loose but not low enough to be stepped on; the hand ends are looped around the backstrap using a slip knot which can be pulled free instantly, when/if needed. Next the bridle goes on then the bit ends of the reins are attached to the bit in the proper setting of severity. Then the throat latch, noseband and curb are fastened and the position of the blinkers are checked.

5) A final check When the work at the front end is finished, we return to the mid-section to recheck the girth and to make sure it is pulled up to its regular snugness.

Right: Breastcollar with false martingale Below: Breastcollar without false martingale

The Way Back the paintings of george a. weymouth

A Brandywine Valley Visionary

January 27 – June 3

Route 1 Chadds Ford, PA

Standardbred the Shake, Ra

Dakota Fricks- 3rd in Rack N Rattle, Juvenile

Photos provided

Johnthan Banks with Rocket

ds Shake It at attle & Stroll

Hal Kirby & Yankee Hustler

d by Kari Kirby

Laila Buggs on Flicker.

HARNESS HORSE YOUTH FOUNDATION

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he only thing that might be better than a summer with horses is a summer with horses and a group of eager youngsters ready to learn about harness racing! That, in a nutshell, is what the Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF) has been providing for more than 40 years!

HHYF travels with a trailer full of Trottingbreds (a breed of racehorse that must measure under 51.5 inches in order to compete competitively and whose races are half mile dashes) and their equipment plus teaching materials each summer. Racetracks and training centers act as host for the week in various locations throughout the midwest and east coast (see sidebar for 2018 schedule and details).

HHYF signature “introductory camps” are 5-day/4-night events for ages 12 to 14 years of age; no previous experience with horses is required to attend.

By Tara Ellen Taylor Safety, routine barn chores and grooming as well as harnessing, hitching and driving alongside professional trainers/drivers are all part of the program – with lots of hands-on time with the HHYF stable.

The Leadership Program, developed out of necessity for those young people who wanted more exposure to the industry, is designed for 14 to 16 year olds who either have attended an introductory camp or have prior horse experience.

Suzanne D’Ambrose has volunteered at HHYF events and who was recently elected to its board of trustees explains “HHYF camps are not just for kids interested in racing. They can offer another, sort of unique chance for any youngster interested in improving their horsemanship and learning to drive. The topics covered and practiced through the week are applicable to any kind of driving with the added element of camp fun.”

HHYF is dedicated to its mission of providing informa-

tion and experience about harness horses to the next generation of fans and participants. Other educational efforts include publications including HARNESS HERO trading cards and Careers in Harness Racing and administration of the Curt Greene Memorial Scholarship (for students with a passion for racing) and the Sweet Karen Scholarship (for former participants of HHYF programs). In addition, HHYF often assists with curriculum for local field trips and instructive materials for use at horse fairs and open houses.

2018 HHYF Schedule

July 4 – 7 Leadership Program Goshen Historic Track, Goshen NY

July 10 – 14 Introductory Camp Goshen Historic Track, Goshen NY

July 17 – 21 Introductory Camp The Downs At Mohegan Sun Pocono Wilkes-Barre PA

July 24 – July 28 Introductory Camp Gaitway Farm, Manalapan NJ

August 3, 4 Finals (by invitation only) The Meadowlands, East Rutherford NJ Applications are available at www.hhyf.org and should be submitted by May 15, 2018. Registration fee for each location is $150 per child which includes all instruction, meals and lodging. For further information, please contact the office at 317-908-0029 or ellen@hhyf.org.

2017 Standardbred Pleas of New Jersey Hi

O

Laura Harbour and HeavyMetalThunder

n Sunday (Feb. 18), the SPHO-NJ celebrated their 2017 high point riders and Standardbreds with a “Red, White & Blue” themed awards banquet. The festivities were at the Holiday Inn’s, Windsor Ballroom, in East Windsor, NJ.

Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of NJ has a mission to educate and make the general public aware of how versatile the Standardbred can be off the racetrack. All the donations help fund events, shows and other activities all geared towards showcasing Standardbreds.

The award winners and sponsors can be found at the website: www.sphonj.org. The club offers high point year-end awards as well as special awards that are based on specific criteria.

The overall grand champion High Point Horse for the Mid-Atlantic Region was 9-year-old Jersey Bred gelding, HeavyMetalThunder (Real Artist – Five Star Comfort) along with Laura Harbour from Austin, TX. The pair compete at horse shows, and many other disciplines. Laura and her husband recently relocated from Stamping Ground, KY, along with HeavyMetalThunder.

The overall grand champion High Point Horse for New Jersey was Jersey Bred gelding, Styled N Misty (Albert Albert – Styled N Gray), a

Nicole Bursac riding Styled N Misty

Joanna Ricci with JR Grin

Shyanne Sheard, Christie DeBernardis and Destiny Sheard at the awards banquet.

sure Horse Organization igh Point Awards 21-year-old gelding owned by the Voight family, and ridden by Nicole Bursac of N. Brunswick, N.J..

“Misty” is far from slowing down while he and Bursac compete in horse shows and pleasure driving.

The Treacherous Cat Work Ethic Volunteer of the Year Award, is awarded every year to a club volunteer that has gone beyond means to help out at functions and the horse shows. Treacherous Cat, or “TC” is owned and handled by Kelly Marshall-Conn of Vermont. The award went to both Mike and Karen Fagliarone this year, who have always been there for anything the club needs at events.

The junior riders who received awards at the banquet were, Nicole Bursac, Joanna Ricci, Mark Rodriquez, Shyanne Sheard, Madison Lofgren, and Sawyer Baker.

Every year the SPHO-NJ holds a National Standardbred Horse Show. It is presented in the heart of New Jersey with purse money and a substantial amount of classes of all different disciplines. The 2018 show is scheduled for August 10-11-12 and it will be the 24th annual show. The horse show is held at the Horse Park of NJ.

Submitted by the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey.

Photos by Vicki Wright.

Madison Lofgren riding Syenite

Maria Buchanan with Chocolate Delight

Mark Rodriquez at the awards banquet.

Lella Montgomery with Blake

Horse Health and You:

Thoughts on Keeping Your Horse Healthy

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aces Canceled seemed to be a constant headline in January when a contagious equine herpes virus ( EHV-1) swept through Pennsylvania and Ohio, effected travel of horses in several states. This is an important reminder that regardless of where your horse is traveling – from the racetrack, sale barn or a show – biosecurity measures are important. And make no mistake about it, just because your horse isn’t ill doesn’t mean they can’t be affected. In one area of Pennsylvania over 190 horses were put into quarantine to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease. In March, after an horse showed symptoms following a barrel racing competition, all attending horses were closely monitored (temperatures taken at least daily, etc.) for 14 days.

So how do you keep your horse healthy? The Michigan State Extension Office offers these basic tips as a starting point:

with Kathleen Haak following the previous event. This is absolutely the most crucial step in ensuring a clean area. Other precautionary measures, such as spraying down the stall with a broad-spectrum disinfectant, can also eliminate some germs on surfaces. Additionally, if the stall or area includes buckets, feed pans, etc., those should ideally be removed and replaced by your own.

3.

Maintain separate traveling items and home items.

If you’re looking for an excuse to buy new, shiny brushes, sheets, blankets and buckets, here it is! Keeping these items separate and used only for traveling purposes (store them in your trailer when not in use) is a good way to keep germs out of your barn and away from your other horses. Another benefit is having all of your traveling equipment matching, and therefore more difficult to misplace or leave behind. Along those same lines, thorough cleaning of your own apparel (boots, jackets, gloves) will help prevent the spread of germs from place to place. You should be cautious of any clothing that you wear at the off-site event and then wear into your own barn. Simply taking off your jacket or spraying the organic matter off your boots is a great first step.

1.

Be sure your horse is healthy before leaving.

Consult your veterinarian and be sure that your horse has had its complete suggested immunization protocol.

Additionally, pay close attention to your horse’s behavior, as well as the behavior of the other horses at your barn, to be sure that no sudden changes in appetite or energy level are missed. If your horse is showing any 4.

Minimize the amount of feed and bedding signs of illness, you should never travel off the farm. that returns to the farm.

It’s commonplace to bring extra hay, grain or bedding 2.

Clean the stall or area that your horse will be to the show or event with you, but be careful to not housed in at the show/sale. unload everything upon arrival. Leave the hay stored Upon arriving at a show, trail ride, exposition or sale, be in your trailer until feeding and then you’ll have less sure to inspect the area that your horse will occupy for concerns about packing up any unused hay at the end of the next several hours or days. The first step would be the event. Although it may be tempting to bag up any to remove any and all organic matter (feces, bedding, clean, unused shavings or bedding at the end of a show, feed) that may have been missed by the clean-up crew it is not ideal to take that back to your farm.

5.

Keep traveling horses and on-farm horses separate, if possible.

While this may not be the easiest tip to implement, it is ideal to keep horses that often travel away from horses that remain on the farm. The traveling horses are going to be exposed to a variety of germs throughout the traveling months, where the non-traveling horses may have immune systems less prepared to handle the new pathogens.

Additional tips from MSEO include: √ Clean before you disinfect: dirt and manure need to be removed prior to the use of any disinfectant.

√ Use disinfectants safely: disinfectants should

It is important to for event organizers to play always be used under the direction of an adult their part in keeping horses healthy. They should be and follow the directions on the label. requesting a Coggins for every horse at their event.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, most States require that horses be individually identified and accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

Specific requirements, such as proof of negative EIA testing, or other restrictions of movement based on regional or national disease conditions such as neurological Equine Herpes Virus, equine piroplasmosis, or Contagious Equine Metritis, are dictated by each importing state. Essentially this means if a event has interstate competitors then event organizers also need to see health certificates (CVI).

There is an argument against health certificates because they are good for 30 days and while the horse may be healthy on day two, they could be sick on day 19.

Regardless of how you feel about the documentation it is still in your best interest to have a the paperwork ready. Law enforcement personnel in every state have the authority to examine horses’ documents for compliance at points of state entry, at state parks, horse shows, or for probable cause.

While we all should comply with the law, an even more important reason to have the proper vaccinations and health papers is to just keep horses healthy.

We have the knowledge, we have the technology, we just need to all play a part in making it happen.

√ Clean common areas: scales and wash racks should be cleaned daily during the event.

It’s best to clean wash racks at night, to allow them to dry. Scales should be cleaned in between groups when animals are being checked-in. √ Limit the sharing of equipment: exhibitors should be discouraged from sharing equipment. If equipment is shared, it should be disinfected between groups. √ Disinfect before and after: equipment and facilities should be cleaned and disinfected before and after use at events. √ Designate “clean” and “dirty” areas: when equipment is being disinfected, designate a clean area to prevent items from exposure to hands, boots and other items that are dirty.

√ Pay attention to contact times: every disinfectant has an amount of time it takes in order Looking for resources? Equine Disease Communi- to be effective. Disinfectant do not instantacation Center (EDCC) is an industry-driven initia- neously kill germs. tive which work to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. You can find information on outbreaks, up-to-date disease information (significantly more reliable that Facebook advice!), and more biosecurity information. Their website is http://www.equinediseasecc.org. They are also on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/EquineDiseaseCC/.

One in a Million

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he Cherokee Stables Drill Team really is one in a million...that is their Standardbred horses have won a combined total of over a million dollars. Combining that winning speed with grace and agility, the group of ex-racehorses pivot and pinwheel their way through an entertaining program choreographed to music. The group is pleased to announce their engagement at the Kentucky Horse Park, May 25th, 26th and 27th. The fast-paced demo will happen twice daily as part of the Park’s Parade of Breeds show.

The horse’s expected to perform as part of this all-Standardbred drill team are:

Jo Pa’s Shark (Little Brown Jug Contender)

Warning Zone

Cam’s Best in Motion

ZipSnapNDrop

Moonlight Fantasy

Moonlight Arty

Norma Jean Ryder

Our Sugar Baby

McDermott

Lace N Ribbons

TNT(Timothy) Deena

This talented group of horses are testaments to why Standardbreds transition well after racing. From trail rides, lesson horses, show horses, parades and 4H projects and fast paced drill team, this group of Standardbreds can do it all.

Cherokee Stables located in Grove City, Ohio, owned by Brian and Trina Clouser, is home to fourteen off the track Standardbreds.

Photos by Trina Clouser

The 2017 Harness Heroes Cards Are Ready To Go!

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he Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s 2018 set of Harness Heroes trading cards is now available. This year’s 35-card set features many of the stars set to race in 2018, including Hannelore Hanover (2017 Dan Patch and Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year), the undefeated Manchego, Downbytheseaside, Marion Marauder and many others. Human honorees include trainer Brian Brown, drivers Yannick Gingras and Doug McNair, as well as the newly inducted Hall of Famers Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg and Jules Siegel, just to name a few. As customary, all 2017 equine divisional champions in the United States and Canada are showcased on these collectible cards.

The front of each card features a photograph, while the back includes statistics and biographical information, similar to trading cards seen in other sports today.

This year’s card sets were assembled by various Delaware 4-H clubs who earned community service hours for their assistance with the project. HHYF graduate Maddy Lester from the Holler-NHooves Club spearheaded the organizational effort in which more than 20 volunteers participated.

To order your complete set of Harness Heroes cards, send a (suggested) donation of $20 ($30 Canadian) per set along with your name and address to: Harness Horse Youth Foundation, 217 E. Main Street, Sudlersville, MD 21668. HHYF also offers packs of 10 random cards as handouts for youth groups, farm tours, and other promotional events. A limited number previous years’ card sets are also available for a similar donation. For more details, please e-mail Ellen Taylor at Ellen@hhyf.org.

Congratulations to 2017 USTA Roadster Classic Winner

Lima Duke (Genesis) driven by James Nichols, owned by Joseph O’Brien

Get Two Free Virtual Test Entries for Your Gaited Horse with North American Western Dressage

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ressage is for every horse—even gaited breeds!

For a limited time, gaited horse owners receive two free virtual test entries for North American Western Dressage through an innovative partnership between NAWD and Friends of Sound Horses.

A special coupon code gives gaited horse owner “one to get ready, one to show” when it comes to NAWD virtual testing—one free test can be redeemed for NAWD 24/7 virtual coaching anytime in 2018, and one free test can be redeemed for the NAWD Gaits Wide Open Virtual Show, which takes place October 1–15, 2018.

Sign up for the “One to Get Ready, One to Show” promotion at https://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com/ride/gaits/. Then, you’ll select the number of tests to purchase for NAWD 24/7 virtual coaching and the Gaits Wide Open Virtual Show, and then your special coupon code for one freebie ride in each. Then, just video your test, upload it to YouTube and send the video link to northamericanwd@gmail.com.

Gaited horses can participate in special gaited dressage tests from FOSH/IJA, NAWD Western or traditional dressage, WDAA Western dressage or USDF/USEF tests—for tests without gaited horse specifications, just substitute your horse’s gait for the jog/trot portions of the mainstream tests.

The GWO2018 offer is open to the first 50 participants who sign up in 2018 and is courtesy of FOSH.

Want more info? Visit https://www.northamericanwesterndressage.com/ride/gaits/.

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Standardbred Distance Championships - New for 2018

ny registered Standardbred is eligible to compete in the Standardbred Distance Championships. There will be two events, a West Coast Championship held over the 2018 Labor Day weekend and an East Coast Championship held over the first weekend in May 2019.

The West Coast Championship will be held at the Crazy Daze of Summer Ride, Spokane, WA on September 2, 2018. The location and time for the East Coast Championship will be announced soon.

The following requirements are for the Standardbred Distance Championships (50-mile ride):

- All entrants must be current, full members of AERC.

- Horse must be a registered Standardbred.

- Pre-registration is due one week in advance of the ride.

- The horse/rider team must have completed 200 lifetime miles together, which must be verifiable by the time pre-registrations close, with at least two 50-mile rides completed with AERC; miles from EDRA and ERABC will be counted for the West Coast Championship.

The Standardbred Distance Champions (1st, 2nd and 3rd place across the finish) will be crowned from those competing in the 50-mile ride.

Completion awards will be given to any Standardbred (registered or not, but must be declared Standardbred with AERC and on the ride form) competing that weekend.

To enter the West Coast Championship, register with Crazy Daze directly and be sure to list that your horse is a Standardbred on the form. No extra sign-up or fees required.

Ohio Standardbreds and Friends Visit The

Kentucky Horse Park

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pril 21 and 22nd saw the Ohio Standardbreds and Friends demonstrating the diversity of Standardbreds at the Kentucky Horse Park (Lexington, Kentucky). This year the ‘friends’ are members of the Blazin’ Bridles & Buddies 4-H Club. Together they performed at the park in the Breeds Arena twice a day with a total of eleven horses, two of which were non-Standardbreds.

The group is highlighting the different gaits horses can perform and have invited Y Not Kiss the Bride, an American Paint, and Johnny Cash, a Tennesee Walker to help them. OSAF showed that their Standardbreds can trot and canter and be competitive in the show ring.

Several horses with OSAF have won local, regional and national awards.

Standardbreds Allamerican Legacy, Stud’s Hooligan, and Silver Match (shown above with Chris Glover

performing Gaited Western) are all pros, having demonstated at the KY Horse Park many times before. Combak Fox, Beware Of Our Party (shown above demonstrating dressage), Cool Muffler, Skiff, and Powerlifer are quickly gaining experience in the spotlight while showing just what Standardbreds are capable of. Thank You Sam came out of retirement, at age twenty, to be presented by one of the Blazin’ Bridles & Buddies members.

In addition to different gaits, the horses will showcase English Pleasure, Showmanship, Leadline, Gaited Western, Hunter Under Saddle, Parade, Dressage and Jumping.

OSAF will be back at the Kentucky Horse Park July 13-15 for Breyerfest 2018. They will be joined by very special guest, Foiled Again.