World Equestrian Center Magazine Volume III 2021

Quality. Class. Distinction.

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VOL III 2021

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A SUDDEN IMPULSE NSBA AND FUTURITY

April 20 th -May 1st, 2022

World Equestrian Center 1750 NW 80 th Ave, Ocala, FL 34482

Produced by: Arena Horse Shows Of Ocala LLC

4,118 ft. above sea level, 675 species of flora and fauna, over 120 unique shops and restaurants, 78º average summer temperature, 90-minute drive from Tryon International Equestrian Center to Cashiers/Highlands.

The number you must be looking for now 877-747-9234

Contents 11

Welcome to WEC

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Stable Spotlight

24

24 Hours in the Life of Amanda Steege

featuring Highlighting the Heart, Art, and Soul of Dressage: River House Hanoverians

by Kara Pinato Scro

as told to L.A. Sokolowski

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Junior Rider Focus

40

Inspiration

44

Dogs at WEC

46

Scene at WEC

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Ocala Breeders' Sales

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VOCAL: Adopting a New Way of Thinking to Solve Pet Homelessness

featuring Dominic Gibbs as told to Tori Bilas

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Spurring the Evolution of Equine Welfare: Days End Farm Horse Rescue

by Kara Pinato Scro

by Candace FitzGerald

by Candace FitzGerald

by Ben Baugh

by Candace FitzGerald

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The Tech Equestrian

76

Equestrian Style

80

Hot Properties

PIAVITA & PIABREED: Digital Innovation that Enhances Equine Veterinary Care & Breeding Outcomes

by Juliana Chapman

24

Safety First

by Rosie Powers

Real estate available now at Golden Ocala

Cover Photo: Shane Rux

52

14

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Welcome to WEC

A

s we get back to the ‘new normal’ of life now, we continue to discover incredible people, animals, places and organizations in our equestrian world.

We're smitten with the stunning gray Quarter Horse gracing the cover this issue. Shane Rux Photography captured the pair beautifully as they competed in the Western Pleasure at our inaugural A Sudden Impulse NSBA Show & Futurity.

Our Stable Spotlight shines on River House Hanoverians of Williston, Florida, where we meet 2019 Pan American Games dressage team silver medalist Nora Batchelder, who has taken the reins of her family’s beloved farm along with its training and breeding program.

We caught up with Amanda Steege, lifelong equestrian and 2021 winner of the prestigious $50,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. Spending 24 Hours in her life, we learned her daily routine, the inside scoop on her amazing partner Lafitte de Muze and her lucky color.

For Editorial: Quality. Class. Distinction.®

Let us introduce you to Dominic Gibbs, an extraordinary young rider who has won nearly all of the nation’s top competitions for equitation riders, along with our own 2021 WEC Premier Cup. We know you’ll agree that this self-effacing young man has a bright future in the sport.

We’re inspired by a trio of animal lovers who founded Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL), a unique animal advocacy organization with a strategic approach to solving the problem of homeless animals in Marion County.

We take an insider’s look at Ocala Breeder Sales, where celebrity trainers bid on their next champion and so much more.

We hope you enjoy the issue.

God bless,

The Roberts Family

Candace FitzGerald | candace.fitzgerald@wec.net

For Advertising:

Karla Campbell | karla.campbell@wec.net VOL III 2021

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NSB A SHO W DAT ES Fall I ..................... 9/29 - 10/3 Fall II .................... 10/6 - 10/10 Fall III ................... 10/13 - 10/17 Fall IV .................. 10/20 - 10/24 Fall V ................... 10/27 - 10/31

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VOL III 2021

Wilmington, Ohio • wec.net

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VOL III 2021

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We take a moment to shine the spotlight on a featured Barn or Stable to learn a bit about their business, their philosophy, and just hear their story ...

TM

By Kara Pinato Scro/JUMP M Jump Media Photos are courtesy of River House Hanoverians

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W

hen asked what her favorite part of her job is, Nora Batchelder, a 2019 Pan American Games dressage team silver medalist and resident grand prix trainer at her family’s River House Hanoverians in Williston, Florida, pauses thoughtfully before responding with enthusiasm, “It’s all fun!” If you have ever chatted with Nora about her business, it’s easy to understand why.

All in

the Family

Nora, originally an event rider, was born into a family of horse lovers and eventing competitors.

Her parents started River House Hanoverians in Piermont, New Hampshire, in the 1980s, primarily as a breeding operation but always played a role in a little bit of everything. The farm sat on 300 idyllic acres and included one full mile of property

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

overlooking the Connecticut River. The farmhouse she and her sister grew up in was quintessentially New England; built in 1796, it had 13 rooms and nine woodburning fireplaces.

In her youth, Nora, who is 37 years old, was exposed to numerous facets of the equestrian business. Her mother, Jeanie Hahn, coached her through pony camps, pony club and beyond. Her father, Verne Batchelder—who passed away in 2019—was a renowned clinician on the East Coast, which often meant he spent a lot of time away from the farm.

However, Nora speaks fondly of their trip to Europe to purchase sale horses, which exposed her to another side of the business that would lend itself to the well-rounded operation she runs today.

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As the years went on, Nora’s family took note of their daughter’s talent and her aspirations to compete at the highest level. With this in mind, they decided it would make the most sense for the business to have a presence in Florida, given the area’s thriving equestrian community. In 2004, they purchased the farm in Williston and began to focus exclusively on dressage at both their New Hampshire farm and the new farm.

As she prepared to head off for her first year at Amherst College, Nora had to make a tough decision. “I had some really great event and dressage horses,” she explained, “but I had to pick one or the other. I had to help pay for school, and I couldn’t take them all with me.”

In the end, Nora chose dressage, in part because her parents had ventured in that direction, but there was also something special about the discipline that called to her. “I love the art of dressage and also the technicality of it,” she shared. “In school, I majored in chemistry and art, and I feel like dressage is the same thing as my academics. I combined something very technical with my more artistic side, so I think dressage really suits me.”

Flourishing

in Florida

About seven years ago, the Batchelders sold the farm in New Hampshire and moved full-time to Florida. Nora jokes that they could’ve renamed the farm “Sand Hole Hanoverians,” but that wouldn’t

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I have a lot of my own horses that I’ve [bred and] trained, and I’m supposed to sell, but I’m not always the best at selling because I like them all!”

have the same ring to it. On 35 acres, it’s considerably smaller than the original farm but also uniquely beautiful in its own right, nestled among oak trees trimmed with Spanish moss.

The farm boasts 23 stalls with an outdoor ring and a covered arena, both with mirrors. Just last year, Nora had a new round pen built to support the starting and training of her 2- and 3-year-old horses.

Now at the helm of the business, with the support of Assistant Trainer Selena Collins, Nora puts her heart and soul into training both riders and horses. “I have a range of clients, including a great young rider and a super group of adult amateurs,”

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Photo: Susan J. Stickle Photography

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Photo: Susan J. Stickle Photography

I love the art of dressage and also the technicality of it.”

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

she said. “I also have a number of schoolmasters that other people can come take lessons on. I find it hard to sell my former show horses, so they live here forever and teach other people how to ride.”

In addition to competing her own young and FEIlevel horses, including her 2019 Pan American Games mount Faro SQF, another part of Nora’s business is taking over training and showing responsibilities on behalf of owners hailing from various parts of the country. In August 2020, Nora had the opportunity to compete WGangster

Girl, owned by Sally Seaver, in the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. Though Nora had just hoped for a solid performance, the pair walked away with the reserve championship. “It’s fun to bring the horses along to where the owners want them to be,” she expressed. “With WGangster Girl [at the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship], we didn’t go in hoping to win. So, to be reserve champion, especially because she is the sweetest horse, was very special.”

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With WGangster Girl [at the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship], we didn’t go in hoping to win. So, to be reserve champion, especially because she is the sweetest horse, was very special.”

Although breeding and sales were core services when her parents ran the operation, Nora’s close relationship with her younger homebreds and intended sale horses makes it difficult for her to part ways. “I have a lot of my own horses that I’ve [bred and] trained, and I’m supposed to sell, but I’m not always the best at selling because I like them all!” she laughed.

With a thriving training business and busy competition schedule, Nora is grateful to be situated

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

in an equestrian heartland and in close proximity to World Equestrian Center (WEC) – Ocala.

The pandemic and an injury sustained by Faro SQF threw a wrench into Nora’s 2020 competition plans. However, Nora and Faro SQF are back in action and made their second CDI big tour start at WEC’s inaugural CDI3* earlier this year. “Faro and I are still at half power,” said Nora of Faro SQF returning to the show ring, “but we didn’t

want to miss such an exciting event right in our backyard. I think Faro and I have a lot left to do together, and I have dreams of competing at the World Cup Finals and representing the U.S. at the World Championships, Nations Cup competitions or the Olympics.”

“It’s amazing, and everyone is saying it’s like the Disney World for horse lovers,” stated Nora of her experience at WEC – Ocala. “The rings are

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Stable Spotlight: Title of Article

It’s amazing, and everyone is saying it’s like the Disney World for horse lovers.”

beautiful; everything is so perfect. The barns are so horse-friendly with the cushioned stall mats and fans for every stall. I really look forward to showing there more often.”

Nora also noted the impact of WEC – Ocala on the equestrian community more broadly. “It’s already inspired a lot of people to dip their toes into international competitions,” she said. “It can be hard to get to Wellington over and over again for the international competitions, so I think it is nothing but positive for the horses and riders. Having more places to compete, I think, is inspiring more people to get involved. I feel really fortunate to have such an amazing venue and atmosphere right at our doorstep.”

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WEC 2021 Quality. Class. Distinction.

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IN THE

HOURS LIFE of

Photo: Maven Photo+Film

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STEEG ® ®

24 Hours in the Life of NAME

Left Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography Bottom Photos: Maven Photo+Film

What does great hunt seat riding look like in the 21st century? Catch a round by Amanda Steege, of Ashmeadow Farm in Ocala and Califon, New

EGE Quality. Class. Distinction.®

Jersey, who added two $20,000 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby wins at WEC – Ocala last winter to a mantle of titles that would be downright enviable if not for the fact that this early winner of a Winters Run Sportsmanship Award is just so darn down-to-earth. as told to

L.A. Sokolowski VOL III 2021

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24 Hours in the Life of Amanda Steege

“I decided after being away that this was in fact what I o. wanted to do.

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VOL IIIPhoto: 2021 Maven Photo+Film

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”

24 Hours in the Life of NAME Photos: Andrew Ryback Photography

“I was always afraid of falling off. It’s still not my favorite thing. My mom (Kathy Steege) told me if I wanted to stay on, I should push down on my heels. To this day, my heels are always down. My

”

friends and clients nickname them ‘Steege Heels!

Business. I took a step away from horses during school and would work for my dad in the summer. I decided after being away that this was in fact what I wanted to do.”

I

"

was always afraid of falling off. It’s still not my favorite thing. My mom (Kathy Steege) told me if I wanted to stay on, I should push down on my heels. To this day, my heels are always down. My friends and clients nickname them ‘Steege Heels!’”

“I always knew I wanted horses in my life,” says the $50,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular winner, 2019 National Horse Show Leading Hunter Rider, 2018 WCHR National Champion, eight-time WCHR regional professional champion, five-time Capital Challenge Pro Finals rider, and derby/hunter circuit milliondollar prize money winner.

“I was not convinced that I wanted to be an equestrian by profession. Growing up on my parents’ (Mitch and Kathy Steege) Red Acre Farm, I saw how hard it was. For this reason, I attended Boston College and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Psychology and concentration in

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

What time do you get to the barn? What’s usually the first thing you do when you get there?

On horse show days, I get up 4:30-5:30 a.m.; nonshow days, 6:30 a.m.

On a show day, from 5:30-6:00 a.m., on a normal day, more like 8:00-9:00 a.m. Tatum is always ready to go from the second that alarm goes off! Ben is in charge of everyone and everything at the farm.

He loves to stay at the barn and work on special projects with Tim. The first thing I do when I get there is walk down the aisle and say good morning to my equine friends and the Ashmeadow staff.

I stop at a few stalls to hand out kisses on my favorite equine noses.

Coffee? Breakfast?

Have any routines to start your day?

Yes! But before that ever-important cup is taking the dogs out and feeding them breakfast! We have two, my 11-year-old Corgi, Ben (Benjamin), and my boyfriend Tim (Delovich)’s 4-year-old mixed breed, Tatum, that we got from Danny & Ron’s Rescue. Ben and Tatum travel with us everywhere and are a huge part of daily life! After the dogs are walked, l have my coffee with milk, no sugar.

Historically I have not been a big breakfast eater but I started working with a nutritionist and have been trying to change that. I rarely have time for a sit-down breakfast but have found a few ways to bring healthy things with me for snacks and lunch.

It really helps keep my energy up through the day.

We have a big whiteboard hanging in the aisle and I write down all the things that are going to happen for that day; who is riding which horses, lessons, any farrier or vet appointments.

Let’s spend 24 hours in the life, she laughs, “That rarely gives you a day off!” Unless it’s Monday, that is. “I’m a big spa day girl on Mondays.”

What time do you usually get up?

What’s your morning like?

I get on my first horse 15-20 minutes after arriving at the barn and start working through my list of horses that I need to ride that day (usually between six and 10), as well as giving lessons to my amateur clients and supervising the girls who work/ride for me.

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24 Hours in the Life of Amanda Steege

Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Lunchtime – eat or graze?

I have been trying to bring a light lunch or snacks.

Things that I have found work for me to help keep my energy up, but not make me feel so full that I can’t keep riding, like a wrap with grilled chicken, hummus and spinach, or a wrap with turkey and a slice of cheese. My favorite protein snacks are cottage cheese with pineapple, or hummus singles with veggies. Staying hydrated is very important.

I have a hard time making myself drink water regularly so I keep the barn fridge packed with Perrier and try to drink one between every horse.

How many horses do you school daily?

Are you likely multi-tasking?

On a non-show day, I try to get the majority of my riding done by noon but usually have two or three more to ride after lunch, as well as lessons and overseeing farrier, bodywork or vet appointments.

Once I get home, I do paperwork and billing, and return phone calls and emails.

How often do you get to ‘school’ your own riding? Any riders at WEC whose style/ horsemanship you particularly admire?

I love to get help with my riding! There are so many people who have helped me along the way, either when I catch rode for them or that I have asked to help me with my own horses! Most recently, Tom Wright (2020 National Show Hunter Hall of Fame inductee) has helped fine-tune my skills on Lafitte de Muze.

How do you usually wrap up your day?

On non-show days we try to feed the evening grain at 4:00 p.m. or as close to that as we can. I am generally finished with riding and teaching by 2:30 or 3:00 p.m., then the horses eat at 4:00, and our day at the barn is finished until night check. When we are in New Jersey, I do night check. I love the quiet time with the horses. Once we are finished at the barn, my afternoons always include long walks with the dogs, and when the weather is nice, some swimming! At the end of a long show day, they love to curl up on the couch and catch up on the latest Netflix series with me. They are horse show dogs through and through!

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“I always knew I wanted horses in my life...

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Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography Left Photo: Maven Photo+Film

Advertisement

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There’s a winning theme -

hues of blues - to Amanda’s favorite things…

24 Hours in the Life of Amanda Steege

A “lucky” blue leather DILLEN bracelet, by mother/ daughter artisans, Jan Carlson and Jordan Carlson Dillenberg, goes with “alwaysfor-big-events” blue nails.

What time do you get home? Do you grab ‘n’ go or cook?

Shoot for the stars?

This little necklace is a great reminder and can play a perfect game of peek-a-boo out of the Fleur De Lis button-down shirts she calls “a staple.”

A Breyer horse painted as Lafitte De Muze by Addison McQuaker and gifted to Amanda.

An Italian-made LAURACEA bag wins “most favorite” status for ease converting into a backpack (in blue, of course).

Among Amanda’s most treasured favorites are a gifted set of earrings and necklace by friend and client, Lisa Arena Davis. “The necklace has the names of all the horses who have been the most influential in my career: Alex, Balou, Bruno, Candle, Lafitte and Spanky.”

I get home by 4:30 p.m. if everything has gone smoothly. I belong to Golds Gym in Ocala and they have exercise classes that start at 5:30, so I try to make a class three or four days a week, then meet up with friends or clients. We really enjoy Ocala because there are so many people to do things with after work. WEC – Ocala has really been amazing, not only as a horse show facility, but as a place to gather with friends and clients for dinner or to listen to live music.

I don’t like to cook at all! Tim is much better at it.

When it’s my turn to be in charge of dinner, I turn to Home Chef. We get two or three meals a week delivered and they are easy to prepare. So I am great at ordering and picking up takeout! I do have a few things I can cook. My favorite is Taco Salad and I make a really good sausage and apple-stuffed acorn squash. But I love to go out to dinner!

What do you do to ‘wind down’ at the end of the day?

I have been watching Netflix. I have a few go-to TV shows, too. My all-time favorite is “Yellowstone.”

Keeping those ‘Steege Heels’ down is easier with good sponsors lifting her up, including: ACE Equestrian @ace_equestrian_ Dillen Jewelry @dillenjewelry Equijet @equijet Equus Foundation @equusfoundation Excel Supplements @excel_supplements Lucky Braids for Top Turnout @topturnout Pony Express Horse Shipping

What’s on your nightstand these days?

The last book I read is “Where the Crawdads Sing,” which I absolutely loved! But when we finished the winter circuit, that was 12 weeks straight of shows, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.

When do you call it a night?

During the show circuit, I am a very early bird. I am thrilled if I am showered and in bed by 8:00 p.m. but 9:00 is probably more realistic. I feel the best if I can get eight hours of sleep.

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VOL III 2021 31 ADVANCED NEW DASH

Top junior rider, Under 25 Grand Prix competitor, and winner of the inaugural World Equestrian Center – Ocala Premier Cup Equitation Championship during the 2021 Winter Spectacular, Dominic Gibbs, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, has created a name for himself among the top junior competitors of all time.

DOMINIC GIBBS D

ominic won the 2018 Hamel Foundation National Horse Show 3’3" Equitation Championship, the 2020 ASPCA Maclay National Championship, and the 2020 NAL Low Junior Jumper Final. Dominic was the only junior to finish in the top-five in all of the “Big Eq” finals last year, also including the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Final and the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals.

These performances earned him a spot in the 2021 USEF Horsemastership Training Session as one of the top 12 young riders in the nation. With less than a year left in his junior career, Dominic spoke with WEC about how he got to where he is and what lies ahead as he looks toward his professional career.

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as told to

TORI BILAS

Junior Rider Focus: NAME

JUMP Media

Photos by Andrew Ryback Photography

in picnics and driving our four-wheeler manure spreader around. From there, we moved to Colorado Springs where we switched to a boarding barn and I started formal lessons.

The rest is history.

WEC

Tell us about your early competition days.

I started showing out West, mostly at the Colorado Horse Park, which became my second home between 2014 and 2018. I showed in the Pony Hunters throughout Colorado, Arizona and a little bit in California, and of course, Pony Finals. I didn’t start competing on the East Coast until I was around 15. My trainer in Colorado introduced me to Katie Prudent and I started doing the 3’6” equitation and Children’s Jumpers under her instruction. She admired my passion for the equitation, so she introduced me to Stacia Madden, who I started training with the summer of my 15-year-old year, so I split my time between Beacon Hill Show Stables and Plain Bay Sales. I pretty much left home at that point and started doing a lot of East Coast shows in the equitation and jumpers.

DG

WEC DG

How did you first get into riding?

I think I was born with the horse bug, because from the minute I sat on my mom’s horse as a baby, I was happiest in the saddle. My mom rode as a child in our home state of Colorado and picked up eventing as an adult, competing through the preliminary level. I was born in Minnesota and we moved when I was about four to a small ranch in Colorado, where I grew up with rescue ponies and horses. When I was little, I just rode around for fun on the property, in parades with my mom and lead-line hunted with the Fort Carson Hounds.

My favorite activities were trail rides with my brother that ended

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

WEC

What horses and people have had a significant impact on your riding career?

DG

The first really special horse I had was my medium pony, GF Elliot. He is this little ball of spunk and energy, and I was always so joyful around him. He really taught me the

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Junior Rider Focus: Dominic Gibbs

love of the horse and we had a real connection. He is now busy teaching the ropes to short-stirrup kids. Some other really important horses I’ve had are my current two, Cent 15, who’s carried me to all my proudest equitation wins, and Delia B, my high junior jumper. There was also Douwe, with whom I won the NAL Low Junior Jumper Final. He was named 2020 USEF Low Junior Jumper Horse of the Year. My sister, Jordan, has the reins on a few of my former rides now, so it’s fun to see her fly. A few of those rides were green projects for me, so I love seeing how well they’ve turned out.

I have had so many great coaches I can’t count them all. But of course, the Prudents and Stacia Klein Madden were game changers for me. I also couldn’t have done any of this without my parents and my first trainers Ann Hanna, Philip Dreissigacker and Karen Catov-Goodell. Julie Winkel, Rita Timpanaro and Nick Karazissis each had a strong influence on my early riding, education and mindset.

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WEC

What are your goals for your last year as a junior?

DG

This year, I want to have top finishes in the fall equitation finals. I’m also aiming for a podium finish in the North American Youth Championships and I want to start competing in two-star grand prix. I really want this year to help set up the next steps toward my future as a working professional in the sport.

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Junior Rider Focus: NAME

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Junior Rider Focus: NAME

WEC DG

WEC DG

What are your goals for your riding career?

I’m privileged to follow in the footsteps of my coaches; both Katie and Stacia won the Maclay Championship during their junior years, and they both inspired me to pursue a riding career where I represent my sport and my country at the highest levels. I cannot wait to be on a U.S. Team! They also set great examples of what’s possible and how to make a difference in the sport. I also want to become a judge and a course designer someday, which I think will help my riding, and someday coaching, too.

spectacularly beautiful. It was a forward and technical course, which was a fun test of skill.

WEC DG

Driving away with a car that night was really exciting. It had been threatening to rain all evening and then down poured during the awards ceremony, so I was soaking wet but didn’t even notice until I sat in the front seat! I could not believe that I was able to drive the car away that night. My parents helped with insurance arrangements and then my sister and I threw our stuff in the back and left at midnight to drive to Wellington, arriving around 4 a.m. I was still wired with excitement. We had our music going and that new car smell — the whole experience made me feel so proud. It was a huge achievement.

WEC

How do you balance school and riding? What are your academic goals?

What was it like competing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in the Premier Cup Equitation Championship?

To compete at a venue like World Equestrian Center – Ocala in its inaugural season was just magical. I think there was a true sense of awe coming to the venue. Walking down the ramp into the Grand Arena was like descending into a different universe. Luckily, a big ring like that really suits my horse Cent and doesn’t overwhelm him. It was really fun to ride in the class with barn friends and now we have this forever-shared experience. The course was a really great test of everything we’d been working on and the jumps were

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

How did it feel driving away with a car?

DG

I think the keys to balancing school and riding are to have clear goals and to make sure everyone around you is on board. I enjoy school and learning, but public school my freshman year was tough because they didn’t support the absences that happened more frequently as I became more committed to training and competing. I switched to an

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Junior Rider Focus: Dominic Gibbs

online school, beginning sophomore year, which came with its own challenges. Junior year, I switched to my current school, Score Academy, and it really changed my whole academic life.

I am graduating with all A’s in tough classes and I recently committed to the University of Miami Herbert Business School in their Honors Program. I hope to take a gap year to start in the fall of 2022, and, during that time, focus on my riding and work for someone to start learning the professional side of the business. I think Miami will really give me the opportunity to ride at a high level, travel, work, study and earn a business degree at the same time.

WEC

What are your hobbies outside of riding?

DG

I am a real nomad now; I’m always on the road, so horses take up the vast majority of my time.

I love coming back home to Colorado. Last year, I only spent a few weeks at home, between the National Horse Show and WEF. It’s the only time I have a break to do other things I enjoy. I love to ski when I’m home, and, if the weather is warm enough, I live close to a great trail system where I love to go mountain biking.

WEC

Who do you admire most in the sport and why?

DG

WEC DG

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It’s so tough to narrow down that list. I really admire my coaches for what they’ve accomplished in their riding careers and what they’re doing now for their students and the sport. I look up to Daniel Deusser and Steve Guerdat for their accomplishments and how they make it look so easy when it is so clearly not easy. I greatly admire McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut. I also admire Brian Moggre for everything he’s accomplished! All of the American riders on the Olympic Short List are truly gifted and I try to learn from each of them. But it’s not all about the riders in the sport; I have huge admiration for the grooms, vets, farriers and barn managers who make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes and that the horses are happy and healthy. Before I was competing at the higher levels, my family and I did our own work with the horses, so I can see the big picture behind what it takes to win a blue ribbon. I’m hugely grateful now for all the work that makes Beacon Hill Show Stables and Plain Bay Sales such incredible operations.

Tell us a fun fact about you.

I speak German, and I ran a half-marathon when I was 12 years old. My favorite snack is spicy Takis.

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SPURRING EVOLUTION of the

EQUINE WELFARE:

I

n 1989, Maryland-based Kathy SchwartzHowe and her then-husband, Allan Schwartz, took note of a young buckskin gelding named Toby while caring for their own horse at the barn where it was boarded. Toby’s health was quickly declining and when the Schwartzes learned there weren’t any state or local resources for owners in need, such as Toby’s, they soon found themselves taking steps to acquire the gelding and rehabilitate him. Mrs. Schwartz-Howe bootstrapped her way through much of Toby’s recovery and Maryland’s legal system, though she credits local experts, welfare professionals and veterinarians for lending critical knowledge related to tending to the unique needs of horses recovering from neglect.

Toby’s case was a success and it ignited a passion in the Schwartzes that led them to buy a small farm and offer intervention and rehabilitation services to horses in need. Bucking the statistic that 70% of horse rescues fail within the first three years, what began as a labor of love grew into a tiny nonprofit organization they called Days End Farm Horse

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DAYS END FARM HORSE RESCUE

by KARA PINATO SCRO

Jump Media

Rescue (DEFHR). Now, 31 years later, DEFHR, based in Woodbine, Maryland, is a successful 501(c)(3) equine welfare facility, sheltering up to 150 horses every year. Thanks to the support of loyal donors, local volunteers, dedicated staff and skilled trainers, DEFHR has rescued, rehabilitated

"Bucking the statistic that 70% of horse rescues fail within the first three years, what began as a labor of love grew into a tiny nonprofit organization..."

and successfully re-homed more than 2,600 horses from across the country.

DEFHR is nationally known for its strong relationships with animal control and law enforcement authorities, as well as with humane agencies across the mid-Atlantic, and it’s through these agencies that horses in need come to the facility. The organization provides intervention support services throughout Maryland and surrounding states, including as far away as Massachusetts and Florida. Because of the organization’s deep expertise in equine rescue and its relationships with local and national authorities and agencies, DEFHR develops and hosts ongoing

®

Left Photo: Days End Farm Horse Rescue is known for its hands-on educational experiences for children and adults alike. Photo: Days End Farm Horse Rescue Bottom Photo: Prince Ali, who enjoys competitive endurance riding with his adopter, Nicole, is one of many DEFHR alumni that have gone on to new riding careers. Photo: Nicole Wiley

educational programming to give investigators and animal control professionals the skills they need to successfully work on equine cases.

REHABILITATION TO SHOW-RING READY

"We always listen to the horse to help us determine what career(s) are best suited for them."

Head Trainer Sara Strauss and Assistant Trainer Leigha Schrader are responsible for working with and training rehabilitated horses and are involved in finding each horse the best match possible in an adopter.

program where they are evaluated by either Sara or me,” Schrader shared. “We always listen to the horse to help us determine what career(s) are best suited for them. While we go in different directions with individual horses, we also like to stay as diverse as possible with their training. We absolutely believe in cross training. Most horses that come through the DEFHR training program will have been ridden both English and Western, and they will dabble in a variety of disciplines. This helps prepare the horses for future careers and allows them to continue to grow under the care of our adopters.”

“When horses are released from our rehabilitation program, they enter into a personalized training

While some horses adopted through DEFHR go on to be companion animals for humans or other

Once horses are rehabilitated at DEFHR, the primary goal is to determine the best adoption scenario for each horse, whether that is to be adopted as a companion horse, or, if ridable, to determine which discipline or activity will enable the horse to thrive once adopted.

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

horses, due to physical or health-related matters that prevent them from being ridable, horses that are able to be ridden have taken in myriad careers, including everything from eventing to dressage, to trail and pleasure riding, and more.

“It is so common to think of rescues as ‘just companion horses,’” said Schrader, “but the truth is, rescue horses can go on to successful careers in a variety of disciplines. For example, an adopter recently shared that she took her horse, Prince

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Inspiration: Spurring the Evolution of Equine Welfare: Days End Farm Horse Rescue

Ali, to his first endurance competition at Fair Hill International. Another adopter has taken their pony, Nike, to show in the rated hunters in Virginia. DEFHR alumni are incredible!”

Much More Than a Rescue Though DEFHR will always support equine rescue and rehabilitation, DEFHR is also dedicated to offering more comprehensive opportunities for learning and engaging with the natural world and how it ties back to horses and their future welfare.

As a result, DEFHR has developed numerous programs designed to teach children and adults not only about horses, but about the environment more broadly and our role in protecting and preserving it. Over time, DEFHR’s educational offerings have grown more robust and diverse to encompass “humane and environmental education.” This idea holds that we can create a compassionate and caring society and end the

"It is so common to think of rescues as ‘just companion horses,’” said Schrader, “but the truth is, rescue horses can go on to successful careers in a variety of disciplines." cycle of violence and abuse by developing empathy, understanding, and respect for animals, people and the environment.

What makes DEFHR special and well-equipped to take on the role of educator is its unique ability and willingness to offer access to the general community.

According to DEFHR CEO Erin Clemm Ochoa, the facility is an “entry point” that allows people as young as 5 years of age to visit DEFHR with nothing more than a general interest in horses, and ultimately, participate in a wide variety of relatively independent volunteer activities.

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Days End Farm Horse Rescue is nationally recognized for its educational programming that gives investigators and animal control professionals the skills they need to successfully work on equine cases.

Photo: Days End Farm Horse Rescue

A Bright Future It’s this kind of access that Ochoa wants DEFHR to capitalize on. She also stresses that DEFHR has reached a critical juncture in its growth and it is time to expand the organization’s critical care and rehabilitation capabilities and dive deeper into the education space. Through the purchase of an adjacent property, DEFHR is doing just that.

A building on the new property will allow for a larger classroom which will help expand the demographic that DEFHR reaches by accommodating partnerships with highereducation institutions, such as providing handson or situational learning for veterinary and law students. The lobby of the building will evolve into a welcome center where school groups and public tours will begin. Overall, the vision for the new property is akin to a state-of-the-art destination similar to an aquarium or science center that includes interactive, tactile displays that allow for an immersive, educational experience.

Ochoa also stresses that this expansion will help reach a broader network. “There’s a common misconception that we’re funded by state and federal governments,” stated Ochoa, “but that’s not the case. The services we provide law enforcement agencies are free of charge and we’re privately funded with grants making up just 10% of our budget. Now that we’re at this stage, I think we have a tremendous opportunity to continue on this education-focused trajectory and appeal to a wider audience of supporters.”

While Ochoa is focused on extending DEFHR’s reach, she is cognizant that the organization is only one part of the solution in advancing equine welfare. DEFHR’s strategic plan includes nurturing relationships with other nonprofit groups that share in their mission and will help to build awareness and contribute to the education of equine and environmental welfare.

“Our vision is lofty,” stated Ochoa. “However, I have no doubt that the future of equine welfare is evolving for the better and I’m so grateful that our organization can be an active participant in the solution.”

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Dogs at World Equestrian Center Inspiration: Title of Article

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A

s we reopened our doors in Ohio, and got back to horse showing, we welcomed back some of our favorite guests

— horse show dogs! At the World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Spring Horse Show Series, we saw spotted ones, brown, black, gray, white and multicolored ones; fluff y ones, curly ones, ones with big ears and small ears, long tails, short tails, relaxing, ball chasing and horse loving companions, we missed them all and are so glad to have them back! Hooray for DOGS! Photos by Winslow Photography

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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SCENE AT WEC

NSBA & FUTURITY

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A SUDDEN IMP VOL III 2021

®

W World Equestrian Center – Ocala hosted the inaugural A Sudden Impulse NSBA & Futurity show from April 23-May 2. It was an amazing two weeks of horse showing that included top competition in Western Pleasure, Ranch, Hunter and Youth classes and so much more.

We are grateful for the opportunity to host these wonderful horses, owners, trainers and riders along with a group of esteemed judges and officials. We look forward to seeing you all again at The Championship Show in September!

PULSE

Photos by Shane Rux

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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A SUDDEN IMPULSE

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A SUDDEN IMPULSE

Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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A SUDDEN IMPULSE

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Quality. Class. Distinction.®

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By Ben Baugh

Photos by Andrew Ryback Photography

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Ocala Breeders' Sales

T

hey’re a respected name globally and renowned as the leader in 2-year-old Thoroughbred sales.

The company was founded in 1974 by a number of prominent Florida horsemen. The first sale was in 1975 and the company’s growth has been steady and impressive.

“The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company started from humble beginnings, as a destination to provide a marketplace for Florida-breds, so they wouldn’t have to ship to Kentucky or Miami, and at times, find themselves having to compete against horses with more renowned bloodlines,” said Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales.

“The training sale was started here in Ocala as a way to demonstrate that these horses may not have the Kentucky blue blood pedigrees, but they were athletes in their own right, and showing them under tack was a way for them to showcase their horses,” said Wojciechowski.

“There’s no shortage of great horses that have come out of the Florida breeding program and the Florida training program.”

Florida-breds have distinguished themselves on the racetrack. Names like Needles, the first Floridabred to win the Kentucky Derby in 1956 and who also captured the Belmont Stakes later that year; Dr. Fager, the 1968 Horse of the Year; Affirmed, the 1978 Triple Crown winner; Unbridled, who captured the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull.

“There’s no shortage of great horses that have come out of the Florida breeding program and the Florida training program,” said Wojciechowski.

“Part of that evolution has been Ocala evolving into the winter training capital of the world for Thoroughbred breeding, where something close to 60% to 70% of the horses that race get their early training or their start here in Ocala.”

The 1992 Kentucky Derby winner, Lil E. Tee; the 1997 dual Classic winner, Silver Charm; the 1998 Horse of the Year, Skip Away; the 2012 dual Classic winner, I’ll Have Another and the 2005 Dubai World Cup winner, Roses in May, are among the many successful OBS sales graduates. But the impact of other horses who’ve gone through the sales ring are helping to shape the industry far beyond their time spent at the racetrack.

“Not only have there been great racehorses that have come out of the sale, but now what we’re seeing are horses that have influenced the entire breed,” said Wojciechowski. “When you start talking about Into Mischief, who was a (March) 2007 graduate who has turned into a really great sire. Kitten’s Joy came out of our April Sale, who has been a tremendous sire, and now a son of Into Mischief. Goldencents, who came out of June sale has become a good stallion in his own right.”

There are five sales held each year at OBS: the winter mixed sale in January, the 2-year-old sales in March, April and June, and primarily a yearling sale in October.

Racing prospects, horses of racing age and broodmares are among those that can be found on the catalog pages, attracting many of the industry’s most prominent names.

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“The buyers pick out really nice horses, and in turn, they run well.”

“The buyers pick out really nice horses, and in turn, they run well,” said Francis Vanlangendonck, OBS Vice-President and Summerfield Sales. “We have a nucleus of guys who’ve been doing this their whole life. They’re very good horsemen…they sell a lot of them (the horses) here in town, and when you start producing that many racehorses, that’s where the people come to.”

So much has changed from the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s nascent stages, with its transformation over the past 47 years. The pavilion,

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which underwent a recent renovation, features a state-of-the-art auditorium, video room, horsemen’s lounge with seating overlooking the covered arena and an outside tiki bar and the intertrack wagering facility and Champions Restaurant have made the facility an inviting place that has been embraced by horsemen from all over the globe.

“My first trip to Ocala Breeders’ Sales, I was very young,” said Wojciechowski “It was in the early days, but what I remember was that we drove onto the sales grounds, and when you watched

the under tack show, you pulled your car up to the outside rail and sat on the hood and watched the under tack show, like the county fair.

The original facility was six barns and a 5/8ths-mile track. And now we have 29 barns, a 5/8ths-mile training track and a 1-mile synthetic track, (which is) the main track. And now I don’t know a how many thousand square foot facility.” However, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company is more than just Thoroughbred racing. They’ve been able to successfully diversify and market to others who

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Ocala Breeders' Sales

“What sets OBS apart from the other auction houses is that it’s owned by horsemen.”

participate in equestrian sport through other businesses that they own whose growth has been as significant as that of OBS itself.

“The feed company has really grown in recent years, catering to horsemen outside of the Thoroughbred industry,” said Wojciechowski. “Many of the horsemen from the other disciplines, they now have feeds that are specifically geared toward them as well, that’s been an evolution as well. It’s become a feed

® VOL Distinction.

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Quality.

company that’s just not a little regional operation that feeds a few farms in the county. Now, we’re a multiline feed that caters to a number of disciplines, as well as dogs and other pet-type animals.” The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company serves as an anchor for the Florida Thoroughbred industry, said Brent Fernung, Journeyman Stud. “It gives people a place to sell their horses,” said Fernung. “It’s one of the main reasons we’re able to anchor here and not sell our Florida-breds elsewhere.” What sets

OBS apart from the other auction houses is that it’s owned by horsemen, said Barry Eisaman, OBS Secretary/Treasurer and Eisaman Equine.

“Over the years, it’s really done well, evolving from a regional sales company to being well in control of the 2-year-old market,” said Eisaman, whose graduates include I’ll Have Another. “When you look at the number of 2-year-olds sold, dollars of 2-year-olds sold, or success of 2-year-old grads,

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DO BETTER. VOL III 2021

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OBS has become the worldwide hub for the marketing of 2-year-olds in training.

The yearling and broodmare sales still have pretty much a regional appeal to them. But the 2-year-old market has worldwide appeal.”

OBS’ economic impact is far reaching and their sense of pragmatism and purpose is a testament to the entity’s planning for longterm growth. Altruism and giving back are also endemic to the sales company that’s become a global leader.

“Altruism and giving back are also endemic to the sales company that’s become a global leader.”

“Not only do we sell horses here; we actually have become a hub of commerce for the county and the industry,” said Wojciechowski. “People come here during the sale and a lot of business takes place. It may not necessarily be buying and selling a horse that particular day, there’s commerce being conducted during the sales.”

Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, achieving optimal results.

“As far as the growth of the selling of horses, the bottom line is, there’s no sales company that sells more 2-year-olds in the world,” said Wojciechowski.

“We are the world leader in selling 2-year-olds.

Nobody sells more than we do. We don’t just sell domestically, we sell internationally.

An emphasis on excellence had led to critical acclaim and buyers come from near and far to buy tomorrow’s champions. OBS sales graduates can be found racing in the U.S. Territories, Europe, Saudi

Ocala Stud, a breeder of a horse named Asia Express, was champion 2-year-old in Japan (in 2013). A number of Japanese winners and graded stakes horses have sold through here that are now

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in Japan, and I’ll have Another, who is over there as a stallion. It is fun to watch that growth, the international growth.”

“The two highest money earners in history in South Korea were purchased at OBS. It’s not just Florida, it’s not just the East Coast. It’s East Coast, West Coast and beyond our borders.”

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The Art of Horsemanship To learn more about SCAD equestrian or explore other award-winning programs, visit scad.edu Quality.

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Distinction.or email admission@scad.edu. ®

World-class equestrian center. Exceptional equestrian studies program. National championship team. Your future is bright at SCAD.

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ADOPTING a New Way of Thinking to Solve Pet

Homelessness Meet three dynamic women who sought to affect change by bringing a new way of thinking to the problem of homeless pets in Marion County.

By Candace FitzGerald Photos by Maven Photo + Film

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H

ow do you solve a problem like pet homelessness in your community?

Linda Norman, Kate Rengel and Lauren Carpenter are using passion, innovation and an army of committed volunteers to make it happen. Together, the trio of animal lovers founded Voices of Change Animal League or VOCAL that employs a strategic, multipronged approach with unique programs aimed at solving the problem of homeless animals in Marion County.

“We had experienced firsthand the situation for homeless animals in Marion County. We realized we could not ‘adopt our way out of the problem.’

There needed to be new solutions and new ways of thinking brought to the table for animals living in this community.”

We sat down with Lauren Carpenter to discuss the organization, their milestones and what the future holds.

THE EVOLUTION OF AN IDEA “At the time when VOCAL was founded in 2015, easily accessible and affordable spay/neuter services were not available. Our original goal was to open a low-cost spay/neuter clinic to prevent unwanted litters of cats and dogs being born into our community. We began fundraising to build our clinic the year we were founded.”

What started out as an idea for a clinic, evolved over time to myriad innovative programs designed to allow pet owners to keep their pets.

“Throughout our first few years of existence, while we were fundraising, we realized that the need for other resources such as fostering and rescue, financial assistance for food and medical care and affordable veterinary services beyond just spay and neuter were an essential part of the puzzle.”

Quality. Class. Distinction.®®

In order to determine local needs, the partners engaged with the community.

They dove in “feet first” and started interacting with the community through social media, telephone calls and email communications.

Firsthand conversations with individuals identified the need for financial assistance, foster homes and low-cost veterinary care, including affordable sterilization surgeries for both owned cats and dogs and feral/community cats.

THE BIRTH OF PROJECT FEED In a fortuitous turn of events, Florida-based online pet food/supply retailer Chewy contacted VOCAL in 2018. They asked if the organization would be interested in receiving their damaged/overflow food and pet products.

The partners quickly mobilized to address the issues. “We developed our programs not only based on need in the community, but also based on what our animal welfare partners were able to provide as well. We wanted to be able to work together and offer services that complemented each other. For example, our specialty services that our clinic offers, including dentals and x-rays, is something no other nonprofit in our community is offering,” Carpenter explained.

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VOCAL's Pet Food Bank

“We didn’t really know what we were getting into, but we jumped in and said ‘SURE!’” explained Carpenter. “We leased a warehouse space and teamed up with logistics expert, R+L Carriers, who provided us with a semitruck and driver to deliver the products weekly to our warehouse, where they are distributed to individuals and to other shelter and rescue groups.”

• Provides pet food to over 100 other nonprofit organizations, including our local HSMC, MCAS and Sheltering Hands • Started in 2018, runs completely off volunteer labor, with no weeks off • Processes over 1 million pounds of food and other pet items per year • All product is transported weekly from the Chewy distribution center to our warehouse by R+L Carriers

The program took off, and to date, VOCAL has processed more than a million pounds of food, providing an invaluable service to a network of more than 100 rescue groups and shelters, ultimately feeding thousands of animals in need in Marion County.

Carpenter is effusive about the program’s impact.

“Project FEED has positively impacted so many animals and individuals. It has allowed pet owners to keep pets in their care that they may have had to consider surrendering due to lack of funds for food.

In many cases, the assistance with the food now allows owners to allocate money towards more routine vet care for their pets.”

“The food distributed to rescues each week majorly impacts the bottom line for rescues and shelters.

We developed this part of our program and formed partnerships with rescues to receive the food so they could have more funding to focus on other needed things at their shelters, instead of just food.

At Marion County Animal Services, for example, this program has allowed them to save thousands of dollars on food costs and reallocate that money to other areas of their budget that needed attention.”

THE CORONAVIRUS PROMPTS A PIVOT When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it brought new difficulties for many Marion County pet owners, causing income reductions and job loss. Realizing this, the VOCAL partners pivoted, innovating to offer new ways to help those pet owners.

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• Typically receives 2 semi-truckloads of product per week, or 40-50 pallets • Each group pays only a $25 fee per pick up and receives a custom built pallet of dry pet food, canned pet food, medical food, litter and other needed items • There is currently a waiting list for groups interested in joining the program

“We have learned it's a multifaceted approach, there isn’t just one solution to solve the problem. We need everyone to be aware of the reality of pet overpopulation and homelessness in our community.” ® ®

VOCAL: Adopting a New Way of Thinking to Solve Pet Homelessness

“Our clinic also expanded services and started drive-thru vaccine clinics. We offer vaccines, preventative products and an exam. There is no charge for the exam. The focus of the vaccine clinic is to offer baseline care for pets (vaccines, microchips and monthly flea/heartworm prevention) at an affordable price and also in a convenient manner.

Carpenter continued, “We also reevaluated our rescue program and shifted back to a foster focused model. At the peak of the pandemic, we moved over 50 animals into foster care. Our foster network grew and adoption numbers increased. We were able to find homes for so many of our cats and dogs. It was a great situation for animals up for adoption.”

VOCAL “By the Numbers” 1,629

Nearly

spay/neuter surgeries and

1,000

animals adopted out since 2015

757

115

specialty surgeries since 2019

feral cats trapped, sterilized and released back to their colonies.

Pet Food Bank services

1,000

animals in Marion County Left to Right: Linda Norman, board president and co-founder, handles development and fundraising, as well as volunteer coordination.

Lauren Carpenter, co-founder & Board VP and also a co-founder. Handles administrative functions and Foster Program coordination.

Kate Rengel, co-founder. Oversees community outreach programs, specifically through the Pet Food Bank.

“We shifted our business model to really focus heavily on community outreach. Animals that were already in homes were a focal point. We wanted to help people keep their pets in their homes and offer as much assistance as possible to keep families together,” shared Carpenter. “For instance, our Project FEED operated throughout the entire pandemic. We transitioned to full curbside service for this program and we continued to feed thousands of pets in Marion County throughout 2020.”

Quality. Class. Distinction.®®

$1 million dollars raised since 2015

IT TAKES A VILLAGE VOCAL operates with a tidy staff of five, two administrative specialists and three technicians (clinic and kennel). As is typical in any entrepreneurial organization, most everyone wears many hats. Karen Lancaster, for example, is VOCAL’s Operations Manager, overseeing staff at both the rescue and clinic, along with managing both programs. She also acts as head veterinary technician in the clinic.

1 million

pounds of food delivered to rescues and individuals in need impacting more than 100 rescue groups and shelters

30-50

animals in foster care

15-20

dogs at VOCAL kennels

25+

Volunteers

Lead Veterinarian Natalie Isaza plays a critical role at the clinic. Her background is in shelter medicine and she worked at University of Florida for a number of years. Carpenter calls her expertise and experience “unmatched” and notes the partners are “extremely grateful for her.”

However, it is the volunteer brigade that keeps the day-to-day programs ticking along. To start, VOCAL has a core group of volunteers who run the Project FEED program. They come twice a week, every week, and operate the handover of pet food to the public.

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“At the peak of the pandemic, we moved over 50 animals into foster care. Our foster network grew and adoption numbers increased. We were able to find homes for so many of our cats and dogs. It was a great situation for animals up for adoption.”

The Pet Food Bank warehouse, where all the food is delivered and sorted from Chewy, is 100% operated by volunteers. They unpack and organize 40-50 pallets of supplies every week. There are three key volunteers for the program; two that oversee the physical unpacking and distribution of product, and one that handles all the administrative tasks of the program.

A group of five to 10 volunteers trap cats for VOCAL’s TNR program. Carpenter explains the vast scope of the key project. “Last year, they trapped 757 cats for the program. Transported them to surgery at our clinic and released them

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back to their colonies. We have two administrative volunteers who oversee the program applications and logistics and schedule the TNR volunteers at the caregiver’s colonies.”

Carpenter provides perspective on how much VOCAL depends on volunteers. “The entire VOCAL adoption program is operated by two women who handle all of the applications. One focuses on dog adoptions, while the other deals with cat adoptions. There is also a team of three women who handle the adoption follow-up program. They touch base with adopters as a point of support and resource for the adopters during the

first few months. We do this program to make sure the animals transition well and the adopters have a contact, once their animal is home.”

There are dog walkers and shelter buddies to make sure the shelter dogs are happy and comfortable. They currently have around 15-20 dogs at the VOCAL kennel property. There is also a team of volunteers who tend to the Kitty Cabin, where 4-5 cats can cohabitate and socialize together prior to adoption.

Lastly, the VOCAL foster team consists of around 30 active foster parents for both cats and dogs.

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VOCAL: Adopting a New Way of Thinking to Solve Pet Homelessness

The focus is on putting the animals into foster homes to keep them the most comfortable while also preparing them for adoption. At any given time, VOCAL has an average of 30-50 animals in foster care.

POST-COVID-19 PLANS As the world opens back up, future plans are well underway. “We want to continue expanding our clinic services and adding staff to support that.

We currently offer services 2-3 days a week but would like to get to five days a week and be able to handle more volume with our specialty services.

Eventually, we would love to have after-hours care and low-cost emergency care for pet owners who work during the day and have trouble making daytime appointments,” shared Carpenter.

As things slowly get back to normal, there is hope that the support will continue for VOCAL’s work.

“Of course donating to our programs so we can continue to serve the animals in our community

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Community Clinic & Resource Center • Offering veterinary services to both 501c3 secure organizations and public clients at an affordable price • Services include spay & neuter, wellness care, vaccinations and preventatives, mass removals, heartworm treatment, dentals, x-rays and various other specialized surgeries • Drive thru vaccine clinics offered the first Friday of every month, from 10am-12pm • If your pet has a medical issue, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will work with you as best we can to help your pet • Appointments are scheduled Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some Fridays. We are unable to provide after-hours emergency care at this time

who need us the most. Our Tammy Green Daniels Fix the Future Fund is what we use at our clinic to offset medical costs for families who are not able to afford the full cost of care, whether its wellness, specialty surgery, spay/neuter or TNR, this fund makes a huge impact.”

Carpenter adds thoughtfully, “But aside from donating, we would ask people to advocate for pets in need. Whether they do that through adoption, volunteering or simply educating their family and friends on the importance of spay/neuter and proper routine vet care, everyone can play a role in helping solve the homeless pet problem.

“We have learned it's a multifaceted approach, there isn’t just one solution to solve the problem. We need everyone to be aware of the reality of pet overpopulation and homelessness in our community.”

Visit vocalforpets.org for more information or to donate.

“We had experienced firsthand the situation for homeless animals in Marion County.

We realized we could not ‘adopt our way out of the problem.’

There needed to be new solutions and new ways of thinking brought to the table for animals living in this community.” ® ®

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PIAVITA & PIABREED: DIGITAL INNOVATION THAT ENHANCES EQUINE VETERINARY CARE AND BREEDING OUTCOMES

By Juliana Chapman

hen Piavita, an advanced patient monitoring system for veterinarians, came onto the global horse tech scene in 2019, they soon became a game-changer. Their solution, which leverages the power of big data and artificial intelligence, has already garnered impressive strides in advancing how veterinarians diagnose their four-legged patients by monitoring their vital signs, which can trigger alerts and increase the accuracy of treatment.

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Tech Equestrian: Title of Article

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Tech Equestrian: Piavita & Piabreed: Digital Innovation that Enhances Equine Veterinary Care & Breeding Outcomes

A Natural Fit

“The Tech Equestrian” caught up with Dorina Thiess, CEO and co-founder of Piavita — a name that combines PIA (Precise Invisible Analytics) + vita which means “life,” — to see how her MedTech startup is transforming veterinary horse care.

“We launched in March 2016 with the mission of

providing vets with better insights into the health of their equine patients, especially when they can’t be with them,” she shared. “What makes our equine companions different than at-home pets is that horses are relatively on their own most of the day, in a paddock or stall. Tech advancements are now changing the way we monitor, care and train our horses. Technology is a natural fit for the veterinary industry and our product is having a positive impact,” said Dorina.

The Piavet Platform: Optimizes Time and Delivers Accurate Results

There are three hardware components that make up the solution, a sensor-enabled measuring device, a comfortable surcingle that houses the device, and a base station for wireless data transfer. But the main product lies in the software platform, which enables users to perform efficient, objective analysis of the medical data captured by the measuring device’s noninvasive sensor technology.

The beauty of this type of solution is the ability to monitor heart rate, ECG, RR intervals, body temperature, respiration rate and activity 24/7. “If you think about a typical vet visit, your horse gets nervous naturally — humans influence horses — so

Piavita's mission is to provide vets with better insights into the health of their equine patients.

It is a cultural shift, she added, but once they realize the benefits, it will be hard to turn back.

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Tech Equestrian: Piavita & Piabreed: Digital Innovation that Enhances Equine Veterinary Care & Breeding Outcomes

The Piavita solution tracks heart rate, ECG, RR intervals, body temperature, respiration rate and activity 24/7.

their heart rate increases. Now think about those vitals in the absence of humans and you may get a completely different picture.”

Even though there are numerous benefits to using Piavita, change is hard. “We don’t want to change their (vets) habits or their profession, we want to give back their time by optimizing it,” Dorina explained. “It is a cultural shift,” she added, “but once they realize the benefits, it will be hard to turn back.”

A Journey Unfolds

“The first two years of Piavita was focused on development and beta testing that involved an artificial intelligence team and a software team given the complexity of creating this type of product,” she said. The past two years have been about increasing adoption across the country.

“We enjoy the process of educating vets because we want to take part in the journey with them

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and advance the industry,” Dorina cited. A key area of focus for the team is the user experience.

“Our role as a provider has shifted. We are not just selling a solution; we want to be a consultant and resource to the equine veterinarian community.”

The company wanted to focus its goals in 2020 on penetrating the U.S. market, and while the pandemic made this a challenge, Piavita was able to continue along this path productively. “Whenever safe and possible, we proceeded with on-site demos, but most of our awareness efforts shifted online with stronger social media campaigns, digital demos and participation in virtual events.”

Piabreed – A New Birth Monitoring Tool for Breeders

As advancements in technology have started to penetrate the traditional veterinary industry in the last few years, one area that is keen to have more digital software solutions available is the

breeding industry. Currently, breeders monitor foaling largely with behavioral monitors such as devices to detect sweat or how often a horse is getting up and down, usually in addition to livefeed cameras. Another standard alert system is a sewn-in vaginal sensor that detects when the vulva opens, just before birth. But Piavita felt that

Technology is a natural fit for the veterinary industry and our product is having a positive impact.

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Tech Equestrian: Piavita & Piabreed: Digital Innovation that Enhances Equine Veterinary Care & Breeding Outcomes

a completely safe, noninvasive, medical-grade solution was missing on the market.

Enter Piabreed — an advanced birth monitoring and alert solution set to provide the earliest foaling indicator on the market with predictions up to two hours in advance. The solution went through a rigorous clinical study and datacollection phase in the 2020 foaling season and is now in a second-wave market trial with 12 breeders in Europe and the U.S.

The Tech Behind the Solution

If you think about a typical vet visit, your horse gets nervous naturally — humans influence horses — so their heart rate increases. Now think about those vitals in the absence of humans and you may get a completely different picture.

The focus of this solution is early detection to give the breeder more insights during the process and more time to come check on the mare. And importantly, to do it in a noninvasive way without the need for any medical procedures or extra handling.

The Piavet System is the core product used to gather the data; therefore, no new hardware was needed to perform the study. The main development is in a new proprietary algorithm based on the collected foaling data. Piabreed is supported by a Swiss innovation program called “Innosuisse,” which enabled a close collaboration with the University of Bern (for data collection and veterinary/breeder feedback) and machine learning algorithms (Zurich University of Applied Sciences).

Our role as a provider has shifted. We are not just selling a solution; we want to be a consultant and resource to the equine veterinarian community.

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Users can set alerts and receive notifications to their mobile device.

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PREMIUM EQUINE SUPPLEMENTS Quality. Class. Distinction.®

VOL III 2021 73 Learn more at www.lifeforcehorse.com

Tech Equestrian: Piavita & Piabreed: Digital Innovation that Enhances Equine Veterinary Care & Breeding Outcomes

With the new algorithm, Piabreed provides a birth alert that gives the breeder a probability of the onset of birth based on the analysis of the mare’s vital signs and other data. On the Piabreed Platform, the user will be able to see live vital signs, as well as an indication of the onset of foaling. Users will be able to set alerts and receive notifications to their mobile device.

One of the advantages of this solution is that fewer physical checks will be required, which would equal time savings, less disturbance of the horses, and better overall peace of mind.

Data to Help the Overall Breeding Industry

In the first equine birth study of its kind, the collected user data — which is never shared and is securely stored and encrypted — will give unique insight into the vitals and behavior of mares which will also help enable future research endeavors.

The Piabreed System is currently available for preorder and the company is offering deep discounts for those who get in line to be the first with their new solution for birth monitoring and alerts. “This is a one-time offer, so those who want to monitor mare health before, during and after foaling and be alerted in advance are encouraged to go to our website and learn about the offer before the discounts are gone!”

Unlimited Possibilities

As Piavita continues to educate and penetrate the marketplace in an industry that is not well known for innovation, Dorina is confident their solutions will become more accepted around the world.

The tech transformation will largely come from

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owners and the economics of care. With offices in Zurich, Germany and North Carolina, and a strong, dedicated team, Piavita is feeling wellprepared to continue forward, building a strong customer base and offering a game-changing product line. “Our employees are globally distributed and the product is available in eight countries, including in more than 60 clinics. We’re also backed by passionate investors, so we are in this for the long-run,” she said confidently.

This startup has already garnered many accolades including "Forbes” list of most innovative DACH region AI startups in 2019, third place in the TOP 100 Swiss Startups and named a World Shaper of Tomorrow by VentureLab in 2020, and this year Dorina was named HSG Founder of the Year.

Juliana Chapman Palm City, FL

Juliana is a technology marketing professional and lifelong equestrian who grew up in Rhode Island and showed in the pony and children’s hunter divisions and later rode adult hunter in the Bahamas. She is the founder of The Tech Equestrian, a technology and lifestyle blog that is designed to provide insights on the latest technology solutions in the horse world. Juliana has written articles for Horse & Style and The Plaid Horse and recently was a speaker on the STRIDER 101 Webinar series.

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Although there is no guarantee of safety while riding, more riders are taking personal safety into their own hands, with products designed to protect.

by Rosie Powers

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Safety Photos: Katherine Hay Photography

FIRST

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Equestrian Style: Safety First

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Safety Vests Consideration

n a sport where riders compete while riding an animal that can weigh more than a ton and have its own brain and opinions, safety is often taken for granted. After all, these animals have been domesticated and trained to jump fences and they are our best friends, but what happens when the others to do the same. The majority of his original plan goes awry? Although there barn went and purchased safety vests as a is no guarantee of safety while riding, result. According to Jonathan, “The more more riders are taking personal safety juniors and amateurs see professionals into their own hands, with products wearing vests, the more inclined they will designed to protect. be to wear one themselves.”

Safety vests are one such product, Corrigan’s fiancé, Devon Degan, wears making a more prevalent appearance in a vest in the amateur divisions as well. all divisions of the hunter/jumper sport.

In fact, after doing her research, it Professionals are wearing them and was her idea to get a Helite vest for encouraging their both herself and clients to get Jonathan. Devon on board in an found that she liked THE MORE JUNIORS attempt to make the technology, the traditional weight and slimness AND AMATEURS hunt coat worn of the brand and SEE PROFESSIONALS with a safety vest has a personal the new normal. reason she found WEARING VESTS, THE Although it wearing a safety MORE INCLINED THEY may be hard for vest important. “My WILL BE TO WEAR some to grasp uncle, who passed that there will recently, was a ONE THEMSELVES." be a vest atop quadriplegic due to the sleek clean a driving injury, so look of a show coat, many vests are now it was important to my family and I that designed so they are barely seen and I do whatever to protect myself while blend seamlessly with the rider’s attire. riding,” she explained.

While the products themselves may The hunter ring has been known for its seem high in price, that is, around $600 classic, clean look and beautiful style to $800, it’s a purchase that will help of the horse. But we have to remember prevent serious injury to all competitors. that safety is important as well. During Jonathan Corrigan, trainer at Twin Oaks the ESP Spring Series, Devon was one Ventures, finds it important to lead by of very few Amateur Owner Younger example. At the beginning of the 2021 riders sporting the vest. She emphasized Florida season, he sent out his scheduling that [amateurs compete] for fun, for the email to clients. Within that email, sport, mistakes will be made, and any he informed his barn he would start small thing that can be done to protect wearing a safety vest and encouraged ourselves as riders is a smart move.

FOR

Avery and Alexa Mallard getting ready to show in their Helite safety vests.

Helite Costs around $750 with outer layer options sold separately Company offers airbag and compatible zip in outerwear such as zip in show jackets and vests Partnered with Dada Sport and Freejump’s Oscar and Gabrielle Collection for more outer layer selection

Freejump Costs $784 First debuted by Swiss Olympic Showjumper Martin Fuchs Can be worn alone or with Freejump airbag compatible jacket approved clothing

Horse Pilot Cost $600

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