Elite Equestrian magazine Sept Oct 2018 by Elite Equestrian LLC

lite questrian Celebrating The Equestrian Lifestyle

National Shows Capital Challenge Dressage at Devon

Volume 18 Issue 5 Complimentary

Fall Fashion

Saddle Fit

and your girth

Lameness Exams Is your Equine Activity a Business or a Hobby?

His & Hers Tik Maynard

www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

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9 USEF RATED HORSE SHOWS

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lite questrian

An 10 ni Ye ve ar rs ar y ®

Celebrating The Equestrian Lifestyle

AMERICA’S FAVORITE EQUESTRIAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE!

September/October

2018

Lisa Wilcox on Gallant at Dressage at Devon

Departments Fashion • Home • Art� 20 Must Haves For You & Your Home 46 Must Haves For Horse & Farm Fall Fashion 22 Noble Features 26 Leggings & More 29 Bling for Fall Show Season 30 Equine Art Mare Van Gall 32 Winning Looks Show Ring & Home! 34 Dr. Lori Collecting Wine

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People & Places

36 Artist’s Comeback Story 40 His & Hers Tik Maynard 72 Dude Ranches

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Equine Health

56 Wearable Wellness 60 Wound Care Part 2 64 Lameness Exam

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Training, Tack & Showing

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42 Dressage At Devon A Youthful Experience 44 Capital Challenge Celebrates 25 Years 48 Performance Horses The Right Footing 54 Trailer Safety What’s that noise? 66 Saddle Fit and Girths 70 Reading Your Horse 74 Water A Multisensory Experience

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50 Business or Hobby? 78 Tack Box Retail & Service Source 16

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ELITE EQUESTRIAN

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www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com info@EliteEquestrian.us

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Elite Equestrian magazine is proud to celebrate 10 years of publication in 2018 �� Publisher: Bill Vander Brink Editor in Chief: Noelle Vander Brink Advertising Sales, N.E.Region: Kathy Dress 610-420-9964 kathy@dressmedia.us

Advertising Sales, S.E. Region Karen Eagle 352-812-1142 Advertising Sales, National: Diane Holt 713-408-8114 diane@eliteequestrian.us Editorial Advisor: Rebecca Larkin Art & Antiques Editor: Dr. Lori Verderame Equine Art Editor: Jeanne Chisholm Health Editor: Marilyn Miller-Heath Fashion Editor: LA Sokolowski-Pomeroy Legal Editor: Avery S., Chapman,Esquire Saddle Specialist Editor: Jochen Schleese NEXT ISSUE: Nov/Dec 2018 Deadline: Oct 10, 2018 Editorial Deadline: Oct 1, 2018

Contributing Writers Jessica Cooney Alessandra Deerinck Dr. Amy Hayek Dr. Bill Ormston Lynn Palm Emily Riden Contributing Photographers: Michelle Bloch Hoof Print Images Jump Media Meghan Gurley Photography Timeless Treasures Photography Social Media: Vanessa Ashton Photography: Steven Edward

On The Cover: Sharn Wordley of Wordley-Martin Equestrian riding Casper.

ite EElqu estrian

Celebrating The Equestrian Lifestyle

National Shows Capital Challenge Dressage at Devon

Volume 18 Issue 5 Complimentary

Fall Fashion

Saddle Fit

and your girth

Lameness Exams

Is your Equine Activity a Business or a Hobby?

His & Hers Tik Maynard

www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

BONUS DISTRIBUTION: September/October

HITS: Saugerties Show Series, Culpeper Show Series, Balmoral Park Show Series Pennsylvania National Horse Show • Washington International Horse Show • Dressage At Devon Longines Masters • CP National Horse Show • Capital Challenge Horse Show • VA Horse Trials American Gold Cup • SE Medal Finals Jacksonville FL, • Arabian Nationals • Devon Fall Classic Princeton Show Jumping Lynn Palms Western Dress. & Obst.Chall • Flintridge Autumn Classic FL Reining Horse Asso Show • Baroque Equestrian Games, VA • SW Showdown USEF Nat’l Show GSEC Fall Classic USEF Nat’l Show • Britannia Farm Fall Classic USEF Nat’l Show Jump Start Horse Trials, KY • KY Classic Combined Driving Event • KY Dressage Asso Fall Classic Hagyard Midsouth 3 Day Event • Octoberfest Horse Trials, KY • Dressage Under The Oaks, FL Sacramento Intern’al • Del Mar Intern’al Horse Show • Twin Rivers Ranch Hrse Park, CA

For Media Kit email: info@EliteEquestrian.us

Elite Equestrian is a registered trademark owned by Elite Equestrian LLC. No article, photo, or part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Management reserves the right to approve or refuse any advertiser or contribution for any reason. EE does not endorse any product or advertiser and is not responsible for accuracy of info/opinions provided by advertisers or article content. Photographs are submitted by writers of each article who assume responsibility for usage approval. ©2018

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Maria Taylor, Realtor

Equestrian Property Specialist Providing quality real estate services to buyers and sellers “Let me put my real estate and equestrian experience to work for you!”

6319 Lower York Road New Hope, Pa 18938

215-862-3385 x 7674 Cell: 215-317-3062

Opportunity to start or expand an equestrian business for Boarding/Training/Lessons/Layups/Retirement/Rescue

Ottsville, Bucks County PA

Drone W! Video Property sA Take vailable! A Virt ua Tour Today l !

D L SO

For Lease Only: Private 16 stall barn located at Jentri Stables in Furlong, Bucks County. Separate entrance and private parking! Included in rent: 5 fenced pastures, tack room/viewing lounge, feed room, wash stalls, hay storage and use of TWO outdoor and TWO indoor arenas. Also included: electric, water, sewer, trash, propane, wi-ﬁ and facility/ring maintenance. Tenant is responsible for manure removal. Bring your vision and ideas. Landlord willing to work with you on creative, ﬂexible arrangements. $3,500.00/month

Fashion Farms, Upper Makeﬁeld Twp, Bucks County, PA

Ad Design By Elite Equestrian® magazine

D L SO

Bring your horses! Idyllic property features comfortable, distinctive layout w/ rear fenced deck, water features, barn for horses. Eat-in kitchen w/ granite counters, mosaic backsplash, huge pantry closet, SS appliances, crown molding, desk area. Formal DR. Great Room w/ sky lights & view of 2nd floor bridge hallway w/ 14’ ceiling, beams and two high windows for additional light. Den Sunroom, 3 Lrg Bed, hall bath, Master Bed w/ spectacular private bath. Barn (24 x 66) has water, electric, 7 stalls, wide center aisle, and hayloft, overhang that spans length of barn providing extra shelter. 2 additional grazing pastures. Close to Bucks County Horse Park and Lake Nockamixon trails. Two sheds hold equipment and storage. Lovely plantings and gardens surround the house, pond with waterfall, sensor spotlights, and firepit. Night skies are spectacular; sounds of silence fill the air. Peace, beauty and tranquility in a convenient location. Welcome home! $500,000

Fashion Farms, Solebury Twp, Bucks County, PA

D L SO

Exquisite, steeped in history dating to the original , William Penn Land Grant, with three exceptional homes, this 193 acre working horse farm, located in Solebury Township in Bucks County, PA is the epitome of a distinguished estate for gracious living and entertaining, and for an equestrian or agricultural business.

Part of the renowned Fashion Farms properties, the farm is a compound consisting of a spacious Cape Cod house with long distance views, a caretaker/guest apartment, the main barn, three additional Morton buildings and numerous run in sheds. The 98 acres of beautiful, fenced rolling pastures and open lawns has the potential for subdivision and allows for the building of one additional house, either on the existing parcel or on subdivided land. $3,495,000

With spectacular, panoramic long views and surrounded by beautiful natural features, including two picturesque ponds, this is one of the area’s most prestigious estates. It is an extraordinary compound of homes and outbuildings in an incomparable setting. The epitome of a gracious country estate, the most discerning buyer will recognize its unique possibilities and the joys of its ownership.

Visit my website for more property info, photos and Virtual Tours! www.HomesByMariaTaylor.com Need local equestrian resources? Maria can help with that too! Anything equestrian related... local barns, tack stores, trainers, vets, farriers, etc! www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

UST haves

Portland Softshell Jacket

... for you and your home.

Flexible, breathable and rain proof that looks great in all weather. Featuring a removable adjustable hood, touch close wrist adjusters, thumbhole cuffs and zippered pockets. See our ad page 29

Color Your World

Custom stained glass creations in a variety of themes. www.Philippstudio.com 845-797-1829 See our ad page 80

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Breed Logo Leather Cuff Bracelets Unrestrained Spirit

Custom Horse Hair Jewelry Hand made to order. www.LisaDahlen.com our ad pg 79

...captures the fearless energy and ambition of the eventer in a hollow seamless filigree cast in sterling silver. jenuinelyjeni.com our ad pg 80

Available in Sterling or Bronze, these pieces slide off the medium weight leather, 3/4 inch wide bracelet. Closure is a button stud. Logo piece measures approximately 1 inch tall. Leather colors are Black, Dark Brown, Blue, Red, or Bark.Retail starts at $59. Only at TempiDesignStudio.com See our ad page 79

KONA CAVE® Snuggle Cave Dog Beds Blaze Orange Auburn Leathercrafters’ Sparky’s Center Ring Hunting Dog Collar has a dee-ring near the buckle for tags, leaving the o-ring for leash in the back. Available at fine retailers and CollarsandMore.com, Proudly Made in USA! See our ad page 31

A beautifully designed cave bed. Your dog will love the security and comfort of sleeping in a covered dog bed. Free shipping! www.konacave.com www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

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FALL In Love With

FRESH

Noble Outfitters Styles

Cooler weather is just around the corner. Chilly mornings, inclement weather and tough barn jobs are no match for you, especially when you have the right gear for the job. Noble Outfitters has you covered with stylish, comfortable gear for both horse and rider.

Layer Up

Dressing in layers is the trick to staying comfortable and gives you the ability to adjust on the go. Cleaning stalls? It might be time to remove outerwear as your internal temperature increases. Heading out to the pasture to turn horses out? Be sure to bundle up with more layers and don’t forget your Noble Outfitters gloves! New base layers for this season include the Jamie Long Sleeve Shirt, Athena ¼ zip (shown at right), and our best selling Cozy Cowl in fresh new colors. Deep blue, rich merlot and olive green create a stunning color palette for Fall. These shirts all have a few things in common: luxurious fabrics and a perfect fit! Pair these base layer pieces with a vest and jacket for a functional yet stylish look. Our best selling jacket, the Girl Tough Canvas is now available in Black (see right). The first of it’s kind, the Girl Tough Canvas line is feminine yet tough, with 8.8 oz canvas with a water repellent DWR finish. Ultra soft faux fur lining at the neck and in the hood, internal storm cuffs, and bi-swing shoulder gussets are just a few of the features that set this jacket apart. Or try the new Aspire line, featuring a 200 gram insulated vest and jacket with exquisite detailing. The Aspire collection is available in Merlot, Blueprint, Olive or Black.

Winter Riding Tights

Riding in cold weather can be a struggle, but with the Noble Outfitters Softshell Riding Tights (shown next page) you can stay warm and protected from the bitter wind. These 4-way stretch pants are lined with micro polyester fleece. Mid-rise with a zip front closure and secure hand pockets, these flattering tights keep warmth in and winter weather out! The lightweight stretch hem at the ankle reduce bulk inside of your boots. These softshell tights are a must have this Fall and Winter!

100% Waterproof MUDS Boots

Whether your terrain is mud, water or snow, the Noble Outfitters MUDS boots are the perfect boot both in and out of the barn. These 100% waterproof boots aren’t just functional either, with a specific Men’s and Women’s line, plus ½ sizes, these boots fit perfectly. A polyurethane insole with contoured Ortholite top layer provides cushion and comfort unlike any other rubber boot. MUDS boots are lightweight and feature an antislip, non-marking outsole with industrial grade rubber. The boots are available in Cold Front, shown right, (for temperatures down to 0 F) and Stay Cool (for temperatures 20 F and above). EE

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Girl Tough Canvas Vest in ďŹ g

Guardsman Turnout

Accessories Cold hands and feet are perhaps the most frustrating part of Fall and Winter. Staying dry is the trick and Noble Outfitters has an arsenal of gear to do just that! Every pair of Noble Outfitters socks features Opti-Dry technology to wick away moisture from the skin. The Alpine Merino Wool Boot Sock has a classic wool feel with modern features like an arch compression band and comfort mesh on top of foot. For riding in tall boots, try the Merino Wool Over The Calf Peddie socks. These innovative socks feature an ultra thin calf, but merino wool padded foot with ankle shield protection. When it comes to gloves, Noble Outfitters has several options with varying levels of warmth and dexterity. For mild weather, the Perfect Fit 3-Season Glove is a great option. The synthetic suede palm and Double layer SureGrip reinforced forefinger, thumb and pink provide grip and durability while the Softshell material on the back of hand protect against wind and cold. The Winter Show Glove is an even warmer option. This 100% leather palmed glove has a waterproof stretch material on the back of the hand and is lined with micro fleece for low bulk and added warmth. Perfect for the show ring or schooling, this glove is comfortable and provides great dexterity. The warmest of the Noble Outfitters gloves, the Dakota Waterproof Insulated Work Glove is made for the most extreme conditions. This glove is great for winter chores!

Cozy Cowl Deep Blue

EQUINE Fashion

For Your Horse Noble Outfitters knows that keeping your equine partner comfortable this winter is important to you. Innovation and problem solving are at the heart of everything we create, and our Guardsman 4-in-1 Horse Blanket is a result of that vision. Horse owners often battle changing climates, and maintaining the appropriate layers for warmth can be a struggle. Many people have to make multiple trips to the barn in one day to remove blankets and add more layers. Say goodbye to that hassle with this solution from Noble Outfitters. The system comes with a 100% waterproof outer shell equipped with patented 360 Quick Connect buckles on chest and belly. These unique attachments allow you to quickly secure the blanket even with gloves on! The back leg straps utilize quick clip hardware. The shell is constructed of 1800D Ballistic Double Ripstop Polyester, with waterproof and breathable coating. The high cut shoulder gusset and scalloped hem allow for increased mobility and the comfort collar with whither padding provides comfort. Once the blanket is on, there is no need to remove it when adding or taking away layers, simply insert or remove the individual inserts provided in the kit! The blanket has a waterproof zipper along both sides where the adjustments are made and the 150 and 250 gram insert can be used together or separately to create a customized level of warmth.

Soft Shell Riding Tights, Dark Navy

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cold Front High MUDS, in blackberry

www.NobleOutfitters.com 24

Perfect Fit Glove in Sunset Horseshoe

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FALL

Fashion

Step

into

FALL

Show Season

...with these sizzling new autumn drops from the equestrian fashion brand, Paragon Equestrian. The Pin Tuck Base Layer is designed for fashion, function and to ﬂatter your curves. Styled in a four-way stretch, technical fabric, this baselayer features a gorgeous pin tuck chevron design at the sides and 3/4th length zip at the front to elongate your torso. Thumbholes at the cuff and their signature branding on the left arm and to the back are all design details to fall in love with this season: RRP: £40 Sizes: XS - L Cobalt Blue

The Paragon Equestrian Pin Tuck Riding Leggings take rider legwear to whole new level: Styled in the same lightweight technical stretch fabric as the base layer, these leggings keep you cool on the move. The same pintuck detail on the thigh is cleverly reduced to the knee to ﬂatter your legs, and the full silicon seat fades into a high cut seam for the perfect derriere ﬁnish! A generous, high stretchy waistband, seamless design over the knees and the inner thigh ensure that comfort need not ever be compromised in the quest for style in the saddle!

RRP: £45, Sizes: XS - L Matching Pin Tuck Faux Fur Silks: RRP: £30 All available in three beautiful shades of platinum, lavender and cobalt.

Platinum

EQUINE Fashion

TECHNICAL

Looking for style, performance and comfort in your riding legwear this season?

Lavender

Terrific!

These gorgeous Paragon Equestrian Technical Riding Leggings are styled in a four-way stretch technical fabric offering outstanding performance and comfort. This stylish legwear features moisture-wicking properties and excellent breathability with flat seams which add style and durability and prevent rubbing. The seam-free detail on the inner legs is another smart style detail. Other functional features include a broad, high stretchy, comfort waistband and pocket on the upper right thigh. These leggings are finished with contrast fabric inserts for unique, sporty and ‘on-trend’ styling, a mesh detail to the thigh and finished with silicon logos, which won’t lift with machine washing. Available in Graphite Grey and Black Sizing Guide: XS 4-6, S 8-10, M 10-12, L 14 RRP: £38

www.paragonequestrian.co.uk

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Taking Stock! With Championships looming add that designer touch to your competition outfit with the stunning collection of brooches, designed to be worn as stunning stock pins & high fashion jewellery from Sylvia Kerr Jewellery.

Beautiful Badminton

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Pearls Of Wisdom ��

Going For Gold �� And as with all the Sylvia Kerr Jewellery Collections, each piece has been thoughtfully designed to work with each other, so you can build your jewellery collection overtime with earrings, necklaces and bracelets to match.

Equestrian jewellery created with a passion by a designer with a love of horses. www.sylviakerrjewellery.com EE

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Marc Van Gall Swiss Contemporary

Life goals,

depending on how far in the future they are set, require a certain speed of action. On the other hand, this speed causes hasty decisions during these actions. The entire process, with time, acquires a certain black and white character.

Full Speed Ahead, Oil on canvas, 31.5 x 39.5 inches, Signed lower right

The beauty of the victory is that it often opens new, bright horizons. Sometimes, despite the great satisfaction that this victory brings to the winner, a small shadow of loneliness is ever present. Game Won, Oil on canvas, 31.5 x 39.5 inches, Signed lower right

Monotony

of the everyday situation sometimes leads to unexpected actions, without any concern for the possible consequences.

http://chisholmgallery.com/marc-van-gall

Wellington Place 13532 Fountain View Boulevard Wellington FL 33414, USA

845-505-1147 • 561-557-3747 www.ChisholmGallery.com 30

Escape From The Ordinary, Oil on canvas, 39.5 x 31.5 inches, Signed lower right www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

At certain times, circumstances create conditions where the only way out of the present situation is to jump into the unknown.

Spoil

your equestrian this holiday, with equine-inspired natural soap from Silver Meadow Soaps.

Brake Free, Oil on canvas 39.5 x 31.5 inches, Signed lower right

Speed 7, Ink on paper, 22 x 30 inches, Signed lower right

Speed 23, Ink on paper 22 x 30 inches, Signed lower right

www.silvermeadowsoaps.com

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With the

CHAMPIONSHIPS looming focusing on your

Storage Solutions �� Home

for the

�� LOOK is easier than ever before with the Equetech Dressage Collection.

If your hallway is home to piles of shoes, coats and other ‘stuff’, then La Di Da Interiors have three new additions to update and tidy your home this autumn.

The Horseshoe & Tweed Coat Hooks give a stylish equestrian twist to your home with their steel plated horseshoe hooks on a beautiful Yorkshire tweed backdrop. RRP: £89

Hot to trot.

The Swedish Style Bench

The Equetech Jersey Dressage Tailcoat is an affordable, timeless double-breasted jacket which brings tgether classic styling with contemporary design and thinking: Wipe clean tail lining, weighted ends to keep the jacket in position and darted contoured sleeves all go towards presenting the perfect tailcoat with an elegant ﬁnish offering the ultimate in stretch and contouring.

is available in three gorgeous shades and is the perfect piece of furniture to sit while you ﬁx your footwear and store away all clutter under the seat. Available in Cream Linen, Dark Grey or Vintage White. Free UK Delivery RRP: £495

Rain or shine,

this Rattan Umbrella Stand is perfect for storing your brollies, walking canes, crops and whips neatly.

EQUINE Fashion

Equetech – Dressing Riders With Champion Style For Over 25 Years.

Styled in natural wicker weave.

RRP: £169.95 Sizes: 8 – 16 Colours: Navy A TAILCOAT FOR CHAMPIONS

www.equetech.com

RRP: £49

www.ladida-andover.com www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Three Tips for Collecting Wine

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One of the most active sectors of the antiques and collectibles market is wine. Recently, wine has become extremely popular with collectors. After the 2008 wine market slump, in the wake of the financial crisis and the revealing counterfeit operation of a major wine collector, today’s wine market is active and exciting. Antique and vintage wine sales are booming and records are regularly set by enthusiastic collectors, including millennials, who love wine tastings, wine touring, and wine pairings. Here is some proof that is in the vineyard rather than the pudding, so to speak. In 2017, the worldwide wine market reached $80 million in auction sales and that doesn’t count wine dealer sales. Many agree with Bacchus’ view on wines… it is the nectar of the Gods. And it isn’t a bad investment when it comes to collectibles either. You must need to get your wines authenticated just as you would any other valuable asset. Authentication is key just as it is with any work of art or antique piece. There are established wine dealers and there are also some folks who are trying to tell you something is good when it is bad. There have been reports of sellers switching wine bottle labels, forging or faking blends, etc. So, when it comes to antique and vintage wines for the new wine collector, how do you tell the good from the bad?

1. Establish the provenance. As with any valuable collectible, provenance or the history or lineage of an object or collectible is very important to establishing value and background. So, look for wine auctions that offer original sales receipts for the wines that they are selling. Documentary images or period photographs that can help you identify and document the lineage, background, or provenance of a particular bottle of wine are very helpful in identifying a wine’s history and background. This is most important.

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2. Select single owner bottles Unlike the art market where a painting that has been part of more than one high-proﬁle or prestigious collection is a very good thing, that isn’t the case when it comes to wines. In fact, when it comes to wines, collectors prefer a bottle of wine or a collection of wines from a single owner. That’s right, just one owner is seen as better. Why? These wine bottles were probably housed or dare I say resting in a single wine cellar instead of traded here and there upsetting the delicate balance of the wine within the bottle. Of course, such movement can greatly impact a wine’s condition, taste, and value. So, one owner is desirable. 3. Don’t drink at the auction You’d think this would be common sense but this has become quite a problem at the trendy wine auction held in places like New York and Bordeaux. You heard me, don’t drink the wine just yet. At least don’t drink it during the wine auction. I know, it sounds crazy but you don’t want to drink yourself into a bidding war. The results from Sotheby’s, Zachys, Acker’s and other well-known wine auctions continue to be sky high for various wines from all over the world. The main reason for this is because more often than not, auction bidders are enjoying the wine in each auction lot so much that they bid up the lots to the point where they are paying as much as double the high estimate for a good bottle of wine. Like anything else you are collecting, investigate the wines you are interested in collecting and research the integrity of the sellers. Do your research to get the best deal. This new and active collecting category of wine promises to make collectors feel warm inside.

Arena Irrigation Systems Benefits: • Easy To Use • Customized To Fit Any Size Arena • Easy Self Installation • No More Harmful Chemicals • Eliminate Need For Footing Material Additives • Runs Off Standard Wells • Requires Minimal Water Pressure • Designed To Prevent Freezing ��

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Contact Equi-Rain vancelfrey@yahoo.com http://equirain.com

My Comeback Story

�� I was born into the horse world where my mom, Judy Garfield, was a trainer in Westport, Connecticut at Nimrod Farms owned by Ronnie Munch, and where I learned to ride at the age of three. We later moved to Woodstock, Vermont where my mom got a training position at a small horse farm. My father, Lee Garfield, ran my grandfather’s advertising agency HirshonGarfield in New York City, and returned on weekends to be part of our horseshow life. I competed at the Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) in South Woodstock, Vermont (currently run by Denny Emerson) and rode with the Upper Valley Pony Club. My first full horse trial was at the age of eight at the GMHA. I had a promising riding career as an eventer and show jumper.

Rachael at the Carolina Horse Park Nine months after the accident.

However...

Julia and Charm Right after the accident

my riding career came to an abrupt halt when I had a serious fall in the cross-country phase of the horse trial, and my horse nearly died. I realized I had put my horse in harm’s way by pushing him too hard that boiling hot day- the horse of my heart, the horse whom I loved and who got me through my childhood. I carried much guilt after that event and retired from a great riding career at 16. Something I regret doing to this day. To deal with the loss of my riding career, I began focusing on painting (my other passion). I had planned to go to Parson’s school of design in New York City to study art, but instead went to college at Colby-Sawyer in New London, New Hampshire and studied arts management. I also studied art and art history on a gap year in Cannes, France, as well as in Paris. Time passed and I had two amazing daughters. Charlotte is worldly and artistic, and we share a love of painting. I taught her to paint at the age of three. My youngest daughter, Julia, has a passion for horses, just as I do and just as my mother before me. Seeing Julia’s passion for horses stirred up my deeply buried feelings of childhood. I could no longer avoid facing the grief associated with the loss of my riding career. And so, my daughter and I started riding together. We both rode the most challenging horses because that was all we had access to ride. 36

At age 12, Julia was such a strong rider with so much natural talent. I wanted so much to fulﬁll her biggest dream and buy her a horse. That was not a realistic possibility until an opportunity came up to work with a young horse who belonged to the barn owner’s friend. I saw this as my chance to give my daughter her dream and planned to get a stall for the horse in that same barn. On January 7, 2015, I was riding the young horse on an especially cold day. The ground was frozen and the instant I mounted, the horse bolted and began bucking before I had even gotten my feet into the stirrups. I was thrown into the air and slammed down onto my back on the frozen ground. I lay staring at the sky, thanking God I was alive, but I knew I was seriously injured. My sweet 12-year old daughter ran to get my phone and catch the horse that had run off. She managed to lovingly place a horse blanket over me and simultaneously direct EMS to the remote North Carolina horse pasture. It turned out I broke my back- a compression fracture of my thoracic spine (T12), as well as a broken sacrum (S2 and S3), herniated lumbar spine in two places, and an injured right hand requiring surgery.

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More...

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So much fear and worry about being able to take care of my two daughters! The medical team who supported me was wonderful, helping me stay strong and positive. I was in a full back brace for months and spent hours each week in physical therapy. This may sound cliché, but my healing went much deeper than just the physical body. I healed on all levels when my body broke. In June 2015, with clearance from my spine doctor at Raleigh Orthopaedic, I got back on the horse and regained some conﬁdence. Nine months after breaking my back, I returned to competition along with my daughter. I became an exercise rider for a wonderful horse named Vida- a 17’2 powerful grey event horse with a heart of gold. The owner, Carey Adams, who was my riding mentor, helped me push past my fears and dust off from my original fall at age 16.

I have come to realize the difference between a disaster and a blessing.

My passion for eventing and combined training was reignited and my love for the sport far outweighed the fear from my fall. I am eternally grateful to Carey for her help. Most importantly she sold us “Primetime” (“Charm”), a lovely bay registered Holsteiner mare, and helped me make Julia’s dream come true.

We have all come so far in three years. During my time out of the saddle when I was in the brace shortly after my fall, I reclaimed my passion for painting and now specialize as an equestrian artist. In addition, I ﬁnally did a combined test last year and placed second. My book called “The Price of Fantasy” about being the daughter of an “original Madmen” series advertising agency owner is expected to be published this year. We have a long way to go to reach our ultimate goals. but we have come so far from where we started. Like me, both of my children put their whole hearts into whatever they do. They were a huge part of my healing process and inspired me to push through the hardest times. My children and friends have been so wonderful through it all and I am very grateful. Most days, I have zero pain and more energy than anyone I know! I attribute this to my strong faith, wonderful children and belief in miracles. I have come to realize the difference between a disaster and a blessing. It turns out my accident was a blessing in disguise and the catalyst for ﬁnally accomplishing my biggest goals and dreams.

EE 38

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Welcome to Rolling Acres Estate,

a picturesque Equestrian property

��

$899,000

www.vermonthouses4sale.com Great American Dream Realty

��

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& �� Tik Maynard: A Good Use of Pent-Up Energy ��

It’s been said that Tik Maynard’s marrying of natural horsemanship principles with competitive goals could

“profoundly change performance riding for the better”

and if anyone can do it, he will. His family history goes five generations deep in Vancouver, Canada, where his grandparents had horses, his dad began a grand prix show jumping career before coaching the 2012 Modern Pentathlete Olympic team, his mom rides Grand Prix dressage, and together, his parents were the first official photographers at Spruce Meadows. Tik represented Canada at three World Championships and on the 2007 Pan American Modern Pentathlete team before a broken collar bone at the 2008 World Cup put him on a different course: horses. He went from working student to Assistant Trainer with 5x US Olympic Show Jumping (2x Team Silver medalist) rider Anne Kursinski, then head trainer at Bow Brickhill Stables, marriage in 2014 to US Eventing team rider Sinead Halpin and the start of Tik Maynard LLC eventing and natural horsemanship training in New Jersey and Florida. Between strides he is an author: twice shortlisted for the CBC Literary Awards for non-fiction, winner of the Malahat Review Open Season Award, and in 2018, Trafalgar Square Books released his book, ‘In the Middle are the Horsemen,’ chronicling the highs and lows of his journey into horse –and human – nature.

HERS: What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? HIS: I’m not a morning person. It takes me a good hour to get going. The initial bit, about getting out of bed? Probably guilt. HERS: If we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great 12 months it’s been, what do you hope you achieved? HIS: That I have a healthy, happy baby, a healthy, happy wife, and healthy, happy horses. HERS: What would the closest person in your life say if I asked what characteristic they totally dig about you and which one drives them insane? HIS: My wife might say my joy of living, and the part that drives her insane - when I’m doing too many things at once and I’m not paying attention. HERS: If I were to ask your friends, ‘Give me three adjectives that best describe you,’ what would I hear? HIS: It would be an interesting experiment to see if what we answered would actually be true.

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HERS: Tell me something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on. HIS: There is very little that I would say is true in this world. HERS: What as the last costume you wore? HIS: A cow costume. HERS: If you worked outside the horse world what would you be doing? HIS: Hopefully writing. HERS: Tell me about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about that and what you did instead of giving up? HIS: I run and during almost every run I feel like giving up. What I do instead is just keep putting one foot in front of the other. HERS: What would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse? HIS: Try to get as far away from major cities as possible. Bring some good books. HERS: How would you describe yourself in one word? HIS: I’ll pass on this one.

��

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Dressage at DEVON

Equestrians Take the Lead

A Youthful Future It’s not unusual to see children racing Shetland Ponies, dressed up for a costume class or hugging their stuffed horses. These sights are common – at hunter/jumper shows. Dressage is a bit different. The atmosphere is quieter, more subdued so as not to distract the horses. Young children are a rare sight at a dressage show. But, like any other sport, the future of dressage lies in the young people and people in the world of dressage have taken important steps to include children in the sport.

David Ziegler is making history.

Competitions open to youth are offered and the USDF also recognizes youth success with many awards and recognitions as well as scholarships and grants. https://www.usdf.org/education/youth.asp

Youth Takes Center Stage at Dressage at Devon Sunday, September 30

SHOW Feature

In 2016, the team at Dressage at Devon (www.dressageatdevon.org) decided that it was time to create a great experience for children, to allow them to view world-class horses and their riders, learn something about these magniﬁcent animals, and have fun. Dressage Explorers was born. “We wanted to create an environment in which kids could participate, learn and have fun,” said Sally Hibbert, DAD Secretary and creator of the Dressage Explorers program.

For instance, the USEF National Young Adult “Brentina Cup” dressage program, named after the striking Hanovarian mare who, with rider Debbie McDonald, won many international honors at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and more, was designed to help young riders become successful Grand Prix competitors. The National Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage Championships bridges an important gap between the young rider ranks and the Grand Prix level, according to the USEF. People like Lendon Gray have devoted their time, skill and energy to helping young riders excel. To encourage young riders, Lendon established the Youth Dressage Festival (formerly known as the Northeast Junior/Young Rider Championships) in 1999. Then, with the formation of the Youth Dressage Festival (YDF) came the creation of the organization Dressage4Kids. Originally just the name of a website, D4K has blossomed into a full-fledged non-profit. (www.dressageforkids.com) Today D4k offers a number of programs including their flagship event, the Youth Dressage Festival for riders from ages 4 through 21. https://youthdressagefestival.presencehost.net The United States Dressage Foundations offers many educational opportunities for young riders. These include: • USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program (Ages 20-28) • USDF Sport Horse Youth Handler/Judge Seminar (Ages 14-27) • USDF Dressage Sport Horse Youth Breeders Seminar (Ages 14-27) • USDF Jr/YR Clinic Series (Ages 14-21, and 12-14 FEI Pony riders) • USDF Youth Outreach Clinic Program (Ages 10-21) • Discover Dressage USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program (Ages 25 and Under)

• Make and Take Stick Horse: We supply the “horse” and all the trimmings to deck-out your mount for a ride in the famed Dixon Oval – with professional announcers and judges. • Selfie Scavenger Hunt – Play detective and find the five yellow signs posted throughout the show grounds and take a selfie with each sign. Then head over to the Souvenir Shop to receive an exclusive DAD prize. • For kids who want to learn what really goes into a great performance, special pricing for headset rental ($10) is available to all participants. And over-ear style personal receive allows you to follow all the commentary of some of the foremost experts in the world of dressage. • Plus, the day’s performances feature the sport’s rising stars, young riders from 16-25. These include the FEI Pony Freestyle Test, the FEI Young Rider Freestyle and much more.

This year, Dressage Explorers will take place Sunday, September 30, and will feature:

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Stick Horse Lots of fun

Future Stars

There are many talented young people who show great promise for their individual future as well as that of the sport as a whole. David Ziegler is one. David has been around horses his whole life growing up on his family’s farm outside of Calgary, Alberta. He fell in love with eventing and began his competitive riding career in 2005. His riding endeavors ultimately brought him to Unionville PA in 2011 to train with Missy and Jessica Ransehousen. Under the tutelage of Jessica, herself a 3x Dressage Olympian, International Judge, and former US Chef d’Equipe; David found himself training and competing in the pure Dressage as well. In 2014 David became the only rider in the history of the North American Young Riders Championships to medal in 2 disciplines in the same year - taking home Individual Gold in Eventing and Individual Silver in Dressage. He has since gone on to compete at the Advanced level in Eventing, and to Grand Prix in Dressage. Tori Belles represents the third generation of her family to show at Dressage at Devon. Her grandmother, Judy Reggio, began showing horses here in the Breed Show when it ﬁrst started in 1989 and has continued to attend every year. Her mother, Suzanne Reggio-Belles, continued the tradition. Also, they have shown six generations of horses they have bred here. Tori made her Devon debut at the age of 6 in the leadline class. After graduating from leadline class, she volunteered at Devon and helped her mother while she showed. In 2016 Tori’s mother was helping the 12-year-old at her ﬁrst CDI — all with good results. Tori won the Dressage Seat Equitation for Juniors class, riding Good Grace, an 18-yearold Welsh Cross pony, with a score of 80. She also won the FEI Pony Freestyle CDIP, the FEI Pony Team Test CDIP and FEI Pony Individual Test CDIP. Her accolades and awards have, and will, continue.

Never Too Young Children who are too young or not ready to ride or compete should have a positive view as well, according to Klaus Schengber, head trainer at High Point Hanovarians and who has experience with the often more friendly show environment in Europe. “The industry in general has begun to understand that our future is in our children’s hands and has made signiﬁcant strides in this area. It’s been a good start. But the industry needs to do more to encourage children to enter the world of dressage,” said Schengber. Getting an early start will help to ensure many generations of dressage stars.

Calendar details:

What: Dressage at Devon When: September 25-30, 2018 Where: 27 Dorset Road, Devon, PA 19333 General admission tickets sold on show grounds: $10/day ages 13 and up. Ages 3-12 $5; Children under 3 are free. For reserved seating, visit https://www.dressageatdevon.org/ index.php/box-office For more information, visit www.dressageatdevon.org

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EE 43

YEARS of apital hallenge

C C

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In 1993, Oliver Kennedy was visiting Upper Marlboro, MD, to watch horse racing when he noticed that an equestrian arena was being built on the premises. Kennedy, 56, was running a horse show at the Columbia Horse Center in Columbia, MD, at the time, and his interested was piqued. He soon sought out the venue manager, and in 1994, Kennedy’s horse show would be the first one held in The Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center. Today, Kennedy’s first Show Place Arena event has evolved into the Capital Challenge Horse Show known and loved by top hunter and jumper riders throughout the U.S., and on September 28 – October 7, 2018, the show will celebrate 25 years of top competition.

Maverick Helmer, photo by Jump Media

Hosting the Hunter World From the beginning, Kennedy saw the opportunity for something special at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center, and he immediately invited Billy Glass to partner with him to grow the new horse show. Together they quickly saw another great opportunity: hosting the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals. “The World Championship Hunter Rider program had been at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) at the time,” explained Kennedy. “However, it didn’t necessarily ﬁt with what they were doing already, so WIHS wasn’t really looking to continue to host the program. “Louise Serio, who was on the board of the American Hunter Jumper Association and involved with the WCHR, happened to be showing at our horse show and said, ‘This is great,’ ” continued Kennedy. “So, Billy and I walked over to her and said, ‘We have an idea. We think you should move your show to our new show, and we’ll base the whole show around a lot of your program.”

SHOW Highlight

The team behind the WCHR program agreed, and soon after, the Capital Challenge Horse Show, with many of the same classes for which it’s known today, was truly born. “We created all of the WCHR Challenge Classes that they never had,” said Kennedy, referencing the special, yearend classes for which the top ranked riders in each WCHR category – including amateurs, adults, juniors, children, ponies, developing professionals, and professionals – are invited to compete. “Billy and I lost a lot of money the ﬁrst year we did it, but we knew we had a hit! Everybody loved it; they had a great time, and we knew that if we survived that ﬁrst year, things would work out.” 44

Things more than worked outthey continued to grow each year, and rapidly, with the Capital Challenge Horse Show quickly becoming one of the most popular and competitive hunter shows in the country. The show offers innovative Oliver Kennedy, photo by Jump Media feature classes, including the $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge and the $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals, in which the top six hunter riders in the country go head-to-head. However, Glass and Kennedy did not stop there.

Expanding Exhibitors’ Options

As Capital Challenge continued to grow, Glass and Kennedy made it a point to listen to what exhibitors were saying about what they liked and what they wanted more of. One of the things that Glass recognized riders, owners, and trainers wanted more of was an opportunity to spotlight young and green horses. So, the Future Hunter Championship was born. The championship – now called the $25,000 North American Green Hunter Championship and sponsored by the Wheeler Family – provided the first major year-end championship for horses that fit the US Equestrian pre-green hunter qualifications. Today, it continues as an extremely popular showcase and proving ground for young horses, with approximately 150 entries contesting the 3’ and 3’3” Green Hunter divisions at the 2017 Capital Challenge.

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Hunt Tosh and Liza Boyd, photo by Jump Media

“The Future Hunter [now 3’ and 3’3” Green Hunter] division is amazing, and I’m truly impressed with how it has grown over the past few years,” said three-time United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Champion Liza Boyd in a previous interview. “I think it’s the best thing that has happened to our industry because it has made people want to go out and buy young horses. Horses from this class have gone on to be famous horses, and that is something really special.” With the WCHR year-end ﬁnals and the 3’ and 3’3” Green Hunter divisions and championship, Capital Challenge has set itself apart as a—if not the—premier hunter horse show. However, from the beginning, Capital Challenge has also been an important destination for equitation competitors, and that’s something that has only continued to grow. “Billy had the idea for a children’s medal, and we started that from the very beginning,” said Kennedy of the popular Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Final. “Originally, we thought we were going to try to be the warm-up show for indoors; by probably the second or third year, everybody was like, ‘No, this is part of indoors.’ ”

Jennifer Bliss and Sugarman

In 2017, Capital Challenge also hosted the inaugural USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final – East, and, following rave reviews, the show will do so again in 2018. Also new for 2017 was the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper division, created following requests that the division be added to Capital Challenge’s jumper schedule, which already included a $10,000 North American Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic, a $10,000 Children’s Jumper Classic, and a $10,000 Adult Amateur Jumper Classic. For Kennedy, who still manages the horse show today, it’s now fun to look back over the past 25 years to see how far the show has come and to remember that it started with one chance visit to the Upper Marlboro racetrack. “There’s something about being lucky enough that you’re in the right place and the right time and destiny kind of takes you somewhere,” said Kennedy. “We had people who saw Billy and my vision for the show that we put out there, and they were willing to take a shot on us – and it’s worked.

Popeye K, photo by Michelle Bloch “The 25 years of this horse show wouldn’t be

Like the other shows in the prestigious fall indoor season, including the National Horse Show, the Washington International Horse Show, and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Capital Challenge hosts a prominent junior equitation ﬁnal – the Palm Beach International Academy North American Junior Equitation Championship. However, unlike other indoors, Capital Challenge also offers major equitation ﬁnals for all ages and levels, hosting both the THIS National Children’s Medal Final and the Ariat Adult MedalFinal.

possible without those people and the exhibitors, sponsors, and staff who support us and believe in the next 25 years of Capital Challenge!” Learn more about Capital Challenge at

www.CapitalChallenge.org

�� www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

EE 45

MUST haves

�� Your Horse will love a softer cookie that is wheat, corn, soy and alfalfa free LOW CARB LOW SUGAR GREAT FOR THE MATURE HORSE AND THE YOUNGSTER MADE WITH HUMAN GRADE INGREDIENTS A2ZHORSECOOKIES.COM See our ad pg 33

... for your horse and farm. ��

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... the veterinarian approved way to aid your horses digestive health while eliminating hay waste. It is made of knotless nylon netting with 1 and 1/2 in openings, closes with a patented safety fastener and is available in all bale sizes. One year warranty www.bigbalebuddy.com or tollfree: 866-389-9952 See our ad pg 63

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A new all-natural spray for sore, tight, and strained muscles. Release back, hock, stifle in minutes (without heat/No Menthol). Reduces inflammation. From the Makers of NO THRUSH powder.” www.NoThrushShop.com See our ad pg 61

...by Back on Track are made from a therapeutic material equipped with Welltex technology which uses the horse’s own body energy to create long infrared waves which increases blood circulation. Helps decrease inflammation, keep muscles supple, help with arthritic joints. Pair with the therapeutic Mesh Sheet to help your horse prepare, perform, and recover. See our ad pg 39 BackonTrackProducts.com/EE Mesh Sheets are available in Black, Navy, Burgundy, and Hunter Green. Quick Wraps are available in Black and for a limited time in Navy, Burgundy and Hunter Green.

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...at your farm entrance with a beautiful and affordable customized farm sign. Our website will guide you through a unique step by step process.Build your sign today at www.EZSignsOnline.com 800-640-8180 See our ad page 41 46

�� for use with HW Brand Round Pens, are available in 40’ and 60’ six-rail and are made of 16 gauge oval tubing. Flex Strap Connectors are safer and more versatile than other connecting systems. See our ad on page 2 for more details. www.hutchison-inc.com

�� The Lay-Flat Hose QuickReel has mounting holes on the bottom side of the frame panels for mounting to a cart or vehicle. The reel is also available with an ATV trailer cart assembly. Proudly Made in the USA by our team of craftsmen at BigSprinkler.com!! See our ad page 31

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GGT -Footing™ will now be importA sound hoof ing a new groomer series specifically requires a wide designed for use with Textile footing. range of nutriThese new groomer are designed to ents for optifit a variety of machines to pull them mum growth, and they are affordably strength, priced for the arena texture and reowner! silience. FOCUS Call 864-804-0011 HF provides the www.ggt-footing.com most effective See our ad page 14 nutrient building blocks to help support superior hoof condition including biotin, zinc, methionine, lysine, organic iodine, chelated trace minerals and viable yeast culture. 3.5 lb., 25 lb. 800-232-2365 www.4source.com See our ad page 57

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Fine used French saddles bought, sold and consigned. Free shipping and 7 day trail. See our ad page 73 914-621-6814 www.olddominionsaddlery.com info@olddominionsaddlery.com

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CONSIDER to be KEY PRIORITIES when producing What do you

PERFORMANCE HORSES

Top of the list is certainly choosing the right trainer, facility, equipment, vet and nutritional program for your equine partner. As a dedicated owner, you spare no expense or effort in selecting the best formula for success in getting your horse to the show ring.

But this perfectly laid plan can quickly dissolve if you suddenly have a lame horse. That is why keeping your horse sound and happy is Priority #1! Educated owners and professionals know that THE key factor in executing a successful training program is to work your horse on proper footing. GGT-Footing™, the equine footing division of German based Polysols, Inc. opened their US based plant 9 years ago to meet the growing demand for quality footing in this country. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, GGT-Footing™ offers a full line of footing, textile additives and arena products. GGT-Footing™ has aligned their business with top arena construction companies in this country, those which are educated on the correct method of preparing a base and installing the footing. One of the companies that GGT chose to work with is Wordley Martin Equestrian, based out of Wellington, Florida. Wordley Martin Equestrian was founded by two top international show jumpers, Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin, who understood the importance of training horses on top class footing. They recognized the opportunity in the US market after riding and competing on varied surfaces in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Being consummate horsemen and entrepreneurs, Sharn and Craig wanted to bring quality footing and arena construction to North America. For over a decade, Wordley Martin Equestrian Surfaces has been installing custom designed arenas for private clients in Florida and throughout the coun-try. Craig runs the operations of the company, while Sharn competes exten-sively on the Grand Prix circuit in preparation for the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Craig is one of a select list of arena professionals worldwide who is qualiﬁed as a FEI Approved Footing Specialist. Sharn’s networking within the industry and natural ability to consult to fellow horse owners has been in-strumental to the growth of Wordley Martin Equestrian. 48

Their partnership with GGT-Footing™ has formed the perfect match. Together they are educating horse owners on the importance of training on a proper are-na surface! All of GGT’s footing products are custom tailored to the specific needs of the client. GGT’s quality product line, combined with the installation expertise of Wordley Martin Equestrian, has resulted in the perfect arena solution for cli-ents based on their personal preferences and desired training goals. The most popular blend is the “Jumping” blend, which has a higher fiber con-tent. Irregardless of this product’s name, this formula is helpful for all high performance facilities with multiple disciplines. The Fiber works well with multiple types of sand, especially when binding with a less desirable type of sand, aiding in the proper fusion of all the components. The “Jumping Elastic” product line contains elastic fibers, offering a cushion like feel to those who may be moving from a Rubber textile surface. In addition, there is a pre-blended mixture available to ship and install on your fresh laser graded base. Remember, if you don’t have a proper base, you will degrade the performance and lifespan of your footing and compromise the soundness of your horses. Wordley Martin Equestrian, together with GGT, offers free arena estimates and sand consultation, so your installation is a success. They have installed arenas at facilities ranging in type from private farms to World Class Olympic level venues.

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Lovsta Farm, Wellington, FL

Your horse’s health, soundness and longevity depend on the quality of your daily training surface. Whether your discipline is jumping, dressage, eventing or hunters, our arenas provide your horse an ideal environment to train and compete safely and confidently.

For more information on Wordley Martin Equestrian please visit: http://wordleymartin.com/ Contact: Craig Martin craig@wordleymartin.com (561) 328-9770 For more information on GGT Footing ™ please visit: http://www.ggt-footing.com/ Contact: Cynthia Brewster-Keating cynthia.keating@polysols.com 864-804-0011

GGT would also like to congratulate Sharn Wordley and the Sky Group’s Barnetta and Casper on making the long list for the 2018 WEG New Zealand Show Jumping Team!

Sharn Wordley aboard Barnetta in the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix, at HITS Post Time Farm, Ocala, FL, March ‘18.

EE www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

THE

9HORSE activity

IRS TO DETERMINE IS A BUSINESS OR A HOBBY.

CRITERIA USED BY THE

IF YOUR

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For nine years Betty and John Taxpayer owned a farm breeding Arabian horses. However, despite their intention to create their horse activity as a profit making business, between 2004 and 2009 they lost millions of dollars. The IRS took the position that any enterprise that lost that much money over so many years could not possibly be a profit motivated enterprise and, therefore, characterized their horse enterprise as a hobby and not a business. As a consequence of the IRS’s decision, deductions Betty and John took for all the years between 2004 and 2009 was disallowed by the IRS resulting in the imposition of thousands of dollars of past due taxes and penalties by the IRS. �� 50

�� www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

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More...

LET US TAKE THE

TAX TIME

STRESS OUT OF

SO YOU CAN DO

BUSINESS

Save time, ride more We do your bookkeeping so you can do business. ��

Pam Morrison, Owner/President, Equine Bookkeeping Solutions LLC 248-613-5898 info@equinebookkeeping.com www.equinebookkeeping.com

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�� 52

��

Balancing of personal pleasure with the pure work aspects of the venture is examined and measured very carefully by the IRS. �� www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

��

SAGGING GA TE? Stressed Gate Posts?

THE SUPPORT SYSTEM

that allows you to have total control of the gate at all times. No more sagging ugly gates that puts stress on your gate posts. Prevents gates from swinging and works on uneven ground!

Double Gate? No Problem!

406-250-7934 4dgatessupport.com

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LUNK! ��

If you are in a tow vehicle pulling horses, that is the wrong answer.

If you hear a clunk or strange sound while you are towing your horses, clunks, rattles, vibrations can be a number of things that need attention. Here is what you need to do. Make sure you are in a safe place to pull over. I suggest you check the horses first, making sure they are calm and comfortable. Next, check the trailer coupler, making sure that the locking mechanism is secure.

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TRAINING & Showing

Next, check the coupler size in relation to the ball size. There are various types of couplers for bumper pull trailers, but they will all be either 2” or 2 & 5/16th”. Same with the hitch ball. The hitch ball will be either 2” or 2 & 5/16th”. The size of the ball is located on top of the ball – the size of the coupler is located 2” Coupler behind the coupler mechaINCORRECT 2 5/16th” nism. Be aware that a 2&5/16th coupler can easily fit over a 2” ball (but not be Shaft secure) and make a “clunk” sound when the trailer weight shifts forward or 2 5/16th” INCORRECT 2” back from stopping and starting. If this is the case, do not continue driving until you correct this. A good “bump” will bounce the trailer off the coupler and disengage from the tow vehicle. If you are not sure, with the trailer tires chocked and the safety chains in place, you can raise the nose of the trailer with the jack to make sure the ball coupler does not raise off the ball. Be sure to raise the jack up when you are done. Also,, note that a 2” coupler will not fit over a 2/5/16th ball. It will rest on the top of it so pay attention when you hitch up. You can easily see how it is sitting on the ball. Make sure the coupler is all the way down on the ball. See illustration. If not, it will also bounce off and disengage the trailer from the tow vehicle. The “clunk” could also originate from the ball mount. The ball mount is the steel tube (it could be solid) where the ball is mounted. The shaft Incorrect of the ball fits into a hole on the ball mount and is secured by a washer and nut. The shaft (threads) part of the ball should fit Correct snug in the hole so that there is no “play.” If not, the weight of the trailer can move the ball around in the hole creating a clunking sound. The ball mount slides into the receiver tube of the frame-mounted hitch and is held in place by a pin inserted through the receiver hitch tube. When installing the ball mount, it is possible to install the pin through the frame mounted hitch tube behind the ball mount instead of through it. See Illustration. If the ball mount is not secure, 54

it could warn you by making a “clunking” noise. If it is not secure, it will likely slide out, disengaging the trailer from the tow vehicle. While you are out of the vehicle, check the tires for proper inﬂation. 99% of all trailers now have rubber torsion suspension, and the independent suspension makes it almost impossible to tell if a tire is ﬂat by sight. If you don’t have a tire pressure gauge, press on the tire with your foot to determine if it feels hard rather than soft. Correct A very likely source of a “clunking” sound is a loose nut on the shaft of the ball mount that holds the ball tightly in place. If the bolt Incorrect has come loose, it can work its way down the threads on the shaft of the ball. When you hit a small bump, the ball and shaft would bounce up and back down, making a distinctive clunk. It the nut works its way off the shaft, the trailer will disengage from the tow vehicle. Before leaving on a trip, always check the ball and nut for tightness. While you are checking, make sure that the breakaway cord has no obstructions from where it attaches to the breakaway switch, and the frame mounted hitch. If the trailer were to break loose, the breakaway cord will pull the pin that inserts into the breakaway box, which will engage the brakes, bringing the trailer to a stop. The cord should be long enough to prevent the pin from pulling out under normal turning and driving conditions but not so long that it will entangle or drag on the ground. It is wise to make up a checklist just for your hitch and coupler and check off each item before you are ready to head out. Have it laminated the next time you are at Staples or a print/copy store. It is not expensive, and they can do it while you wait. Here is the list. 1. Check the hitch rating to make sure it is equal to or greater than the loaded weight of the trailer 2. Check the ball mount rating and the ball rating to make sure they match. 3. Make sure the ratings of the ball mount and ball are equal to or greater than the hitch rating.

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Continued...

4. Determine the ball size and coupler size. Make sure the sizes match. 5. Make sure the coupler is latched. 6. Check that the breakaway cord is correctly attached to the frame mounted hitch. 7. Make sure the ball mount is secured by the pin in the receiver hitch. 8. Make sure the breakaway battery is fully charge 9. Check that the nut holding the ball on the ball mount is tight. 10. Make sure the trailer is level 11. Make sure the safety chains are crossed and connected to the frame mounted receiver hitch. A lot of incidents and accidents do happen from not paying attention when hitching up. Things can get hectic the day you are heading out, so I suggest that you check everything the day before. You will be less anxious and have plenty of time to ďŹ x or change things if needed. EE

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Wearable Wellness:

Modified to be Revolutionary ��

Have you ever needed a product for your horse, but found yourself faced with the challenge of sifting through the seemingly endless number of alternative therapies on the market? That problem is all too familiar to Kat Chrysostom, founder of Benefab® by Sore No-More®, a company crafted for the wellbeing of horse and rider. Kat spends much of her time educating horse owners on how to sift through the multiple, often incorrect, therapies. She believes that with the right therapy, both horse and rider can experience better performance, less pain, and more happiness in their everyday lives.

Kat Chrysostom, Owner & Designer, Benefab® by Sore No-More® Photo by Meghan Gurley Photography

Across different platforms including speaking and her book, Broken to Branded, she shares the lessons she learned through her journey from paralysis due to a severe riding accident to restored health to establishing and building a successful company. Her path has led her around the world in search of products that would help not only heal herself, but her beloved horses. On this journey, she “stumbled” upon the fabrics that inspired the research and development of her company, Benefab®.

EQUINE Health

The Benefab® line of products offers a fresh face in the therapeutic market— featuring unique products with healing properties that lie within their high-tech fabrics and versatile designs. The products in the line feature a wearable form of far-infrared therapy. This therapy can supply an effective natural remedy to muscle and joint stiffness, soft tissue ailments, and edema (an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body). These benefits are delivered from the bioceramic material by increasing blood circulation and Oxygen flow by up to 56

Information overload is real—not just in the corporate world, but in the equine world as well. As a horse owner striving to enjoy more time in the saddle and make the correct decisions for your horses’ wellbeing, you know the frustrations of trying to discern hype from reality. This is something Kat strives to improve within the equine world every day.

eighty (80) percent during use. This increase in circulation ultimately decreases the span of recovery time for healing injuries and helps prevent future soreness and injuries when used on a regular basis. The therapy can also reduce joint and muscle pain in many cases, especially for those suffering from arthritis, neuropathy, and past injuries. Permanent Infusion Every product is infused with a bioceramic thread. This thread is derived from a powder containing up to thirty (30) Lead-free minerals; featuring those such as Silica [SiO2], Magnesium [Mg], Calcium [Ca], and Aluminum [Al]. The Ceramic materials (often referred to as far-infrared clothing) emit far-infrared wavelengths that penetrate down to the deep tissue level, which causes vibration of the Oxygen atom within the water molecules (H2O). As the Oxygen vibrates around the Hydrogen atoms, the water molecules begin to shrink in size, which then stimulates the increase in blood circulation, as well as the dilation of blood vessels. This process lends a helping hand to animal and human bodies in developing new capillaries www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

for treatment of deep muscle lesions and/or soft tissue injuries. The special method used to weave these minerals into the entire product provides permanent infusion that never washes out. Research Driven Wellness Far-infrared therapy is a well-researched alternative modality with published studies in the National Institute of Health. Far-infrared studies have shown signiﬁcant increases in wound healing, as well as an increase in collagen content. A sense of soothing comfort is commonly reported in circulatory disorders such as Neuropathy (the dysfunction of one or more of the peripheral nerves, typically causing numbness or weakness) and other disorders categorized by muscle and joint pain with the use of this therapy. Narrowing Down the Endless Options When ﬁnding the right ceramic-infused product for your situation, sifting through the many options on the market can seem defeating; but rest assured, there are reliable options. When purchasing ceramic-infused products, there are a few things to keep in mind for the well-being of you and your

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Read Kat’s inspiring story, Broken to Branded, in the May/June 2018 issue of Elite Equestrian on our web site under Previous Issues. www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

horse. To assure the comfort of the user, it’s important to ﬁnd products that are tested and proven, can be used year-around, will hold up to the rigors of daily use, and come backed by a dedicated support team. Below is a list of a few key beneﬁts of the Benefab® line. • Research-backed and science based (with published studies, to boot). • Supported with a dedicated and educated customer service team. • Breathable with wicking qualities to ensure comfortable use in all climates, hot and cold. • Machine washable. • Backed by an unbeatable customer promise of increased mobility and less pain in three weeks, guaranteed.

EQUINE Health

Proven Effectiveness By narrowing down the key elements needed in a reliable and effective product, the Benefab® line has been incredibly successful. After having success with their first ceramic products, experts behind the brand developed a new, patent-pending, dual-therapy system by incorporating medical grade magnets sewn over pre-determined acupuncture points in addition to ceramic-infused fabrics. Their revolutionary combination of the bio-ceramic material and magnets targeting those key points, through published clinical data from a third-party study, has been proven to significantly reduce back soreness in moderate to high exercise horses with their flagship product: The Rejuvenate SmartScrim. Now, Benefab® by Sore No-More® products are the only ceramic and magnetic wearable therapy on the market backed by published clinical data. Designed to mimic traditional Chinese acupuncture, a practice which involves injecting your own blood over acupuncture points for stimulation of those areas, the magnets mimic that affect. Their polarity draws blood to each specific point for a targeted therapy. Depending upon its location, each specialized magnet has a surface strength of 1100-2400 GAUSS. The magnets are placed to help further oxygenate the muscles, stimulate blood flow, and harmonize bodily functions safely and naturally. As the clinical data and testimonials rolled in, the SMART (combination of the bio-ceramic material with magnets targeting the acupuncture points) line began to grow. The SMART product line now consists of the Rejuvenate Smart-

Photos this page byTimeless Treasures Photography

Scrim, SmartHood, Smart Hock Boot, Smart QuickWrap, and Smart Poll Pad. All of which have shown to be effective for hundreds of stables across North America and could be just as effective for your chronically sore, stiff, or injured horse. Straight from the Horse’s Mouth “This SmartScrim is amazing. My horse had an SI injury a few years ago, so at times during training, he will have some back discomfort and stiffness. His comfort level and flexibility increase has been obvious since using this. I also use the Sore No-More® products underneath the scrim as well as on his arthritic knee and he will lick his lips in agreement for the Benefab® products. I am very happy with it all!” -Natalie “I use the Therapeutic VersiWraps the most. These are made from my favorite material to wrap with. I have visibly seen them reduce the amount a horse was stocked up, multiple times, within just hours. They do not get hot underneath like other brands of therapeutic wraps that I have tried—not even while left on overnight.” -Micaela “I got this for my mare, who sees a chiropractor regularly, and she always mentioned that her poll seemed very sensitive and tight. I got the therapeutic poll pad hoping it would help her accept the contact and be more willing to bend. I’ve noticed a huge difference since riding with it! Can’t say enough good things about it.” -Nicole Prevention is key when it comes to keeping your horse sound. Be proactive and start helping your horse today by ordering online at www.BenefabProducts.com or visit the tack store nearest you. If you ever have any questions about the therapy, our team is readily available via Facebook, email, or phone to address your specific situation and find a customized solution. E

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EQUINE WOUND CARE PART 2 – THE DRESSINGS ��

Horses are curious and with that curiousness along with their fight or flight tendency, they tend to routinely aquire an assortment of wounds. Statistically, this makes the horse the number 1 animal for accidental injuries. With that kind of track record, it becomes important to know when to call the vet and when to treat it yourself. Part 1 of this article discussed the basic types of wounds and the first aid options. Part 2 will discuss the immediate after care of the wound in order to have a well repaired wound. Part 3 will consider the bandaging aspects.

WOUND CARE MANAGEMENT - Cleansing Initially, the wounds are cleansed and cleared of any debris and foreign matter. The veterinarian will determine whether to wash out the wound with an antiseptic wash (e.g. Chlorhexidine, Betadine solutions, etc.) or a rinse with saline. If clipping the hair is to be performed, make sure the wound is protected by placing a glob of KY jelly in it to keep the loose hairs from getting into the open wound. Once the loose hair has been wiped away, a flush with saline will dislodge the KY and reopen the wound. Do not scrub the wound. Cleansing is a gentle procedure so as not to destroy fragile tissue, which will be needed in the healing process. Contaminated wounds not only heal slower but can result in major complications, which can be far more reaching than the initial injury. A key concept of wound healing is the notion that a wound kept moist will most likely heal quicker and have fewer complications than a wound left open to the air and allowed to dry out. While healing, the body discharges fluid like products called exudate into the wound. This exudate contains not only supports the growth of healthy tissue but helps the horse fight infection.

DRESSING TYPES - Moist Open Wounds

Healing wounds is not as simple as it was years ago. The days of a spritz of a blue colored spray or a dab of a yellow cream followed by a prayer that it wouldn’t become proud ﬂesh are past. New technology and wound healing studies have drastically transformed the process and have resulted in better and quicker healing as well as allowing the wounded area more routinely become fully functional again.

EQUINE Health

The most commonly used dressings fall into four major categories: Debridement, moistening, granulation, and epithelialization. Debridement dressings are utilized in order to get rid of bacteria and any dead or dying tissues within the wound. This type of dressing can be traumatic to the wound itself and be used only when necessary. This is a decision to be made only by your veterinarian. Once the wound is cleared of any bacteria or dead tissue, this type of dressing is discontinued immediately and another dressing type put in its place.

A moistening type dressing allows the wound to regain a moist aspect is used in wounds that appear to be dry. This type of dressing generally consists of a mix of glycerin and water and must be carefully observed as they completely seal off the wound and healing cannot continue as needed. Once the wound regained its moisture, this dressing is discontinued. Granulation and wound contraction dressings allow for the early stages of healing. This type of dressing encourages wound granulation and contracture or shrinkage of the wound. It creates a mild inflammatory response while allowing cells in that fight infection to the site. Granulation tissue will then begin to fill in the void area. Once granulated in, the dressing will be switched to an epithelialization type, which will allow for skin formation. These dressings are intended to increase the surface temperature of the wound by approximately 2 degrees. This allows the skin cells to move across the wound in the healing process. The veterinarian will determine which type of dressing and for how long for it to remain in contact with the wound itself. As the specified times, take a picture of the wound and send it to the veterinarian for analysis. They will determine when to stop that type of dressing and what to replace it with. Additionally, systemic antibiotics may be warranted as well as medication for pain management. These could be potentially administered orally or by injection depending on type and need.

STITCHED WOUNDS These wounds are considerably less care although they still need daily or twice daily observations and sometimes topical antibiotics. The wound has been closed by either stitches or staples and must remain closed until suture/staple removal, which is generally within 1-2 weeks depending on site and closure type. The wound edges must remain clean and closed as well as the seepage minimal. Any swelling or excessive seepage should be noted and the veterinarian called immediately.

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More...

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Chewing, rubbing and licking the wound area should not be allowed as it not only tears out the sutures but can reopen the wound allowing for infection to potentially begin. Keeping a horse from chewing or rubbing the wound can be a challenge. Physical restraints or gadgets can be employed as well as “pharmaceuticals” as supplied by your veterinarian. Muzzles, neck cradles, cross ties, etc. usually lessen the ability to turn the head toward the wound; however, I have seen equine Houdini’s twist like a rubber band and somehow get to the wound. Observations are the key to success. Prevention is golden. The main thing is to DO EXACTLY WHAT THE VETERINARIAN TELLS YOU TO DO. No short cuts, no excuses, no exceptions. Take the horse’s vitals and record them at least daily. Any deviation should be immediately reported to the veterinarian. Observe the wound, horse temperament, and behavior. Anything out of the ordinary should also be reported immediately. The only certainty in wound closure is that Murphy’s Law is always present. If something can go wrong, it will. The care from you and your veterinarian will determine the fate of the wound.

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Part 3 will discuss the types of bandages that may be employed during wound closure.

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Phantom Brook Farm offers assisted veterinary care/convalescent services as directed by your own veterinarian and performed by a certiﬁed veterinary technician. Those services include but are not limited to: • • • • •

Wound care Foaling and mare care Hand walking Leg injuries Clinical lab test performed on site

• • • • • •

Medication dosing Ice water system therapy Postoperative care Lay-ups Eye treatments In-stall camera monitoring

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EQUINE health

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Veterinarian vs. Chiropractic Lameness Exam Part 2

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Using a variety of surfaces can offer clues as to the lameness. ��

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Saddle Fit and Girth Choices The Two Go Hand in Hand! ��

A Q:

What do you recommend as far as girths? I have heard string girths usually work for even the most sensitive horses, but there are so many options out there now that it’s hard to make the right choice. Accessories such as the girth can affect not only the feel of your saddle but how the saddle fits the horse. However, one cannot really discuss girths without consideration of how the girth is attached to the saddle – billet alignment is a crucial point I would like to briefly address first.

Ask yourself... Does your saddle slide forward no matter what kind of girth you use? Have you ever had to stop in the middle of your ride and reset your saddle because it has moved forward onto your horse’s shoulders? If you answered “yes” to either of the above questions, you may be faced with a billet alignment issue – which is a crucial consideration regardless what girth you choose.

Unless the billets on your saddle are positioned correctly, your saddle will not stay in its proper place on your horse’s back. And no matter how many times you stop and reset the saddle, or what type of girth you use, your saddle will continue to slide forward. How do you know if the billets on your saddle are aligned properly for your horse? Place your saddle on your horse’s back, making sure that it is correctly situated behind his shoulder. The billets should hang perpendicular to the ground in the girthing area. If they hang too far back, gravity will pull them forward into the girthing area, which will pull the entire saddle forward.

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TRAINING & Showing

The girth will always ﬁnd its position at the narrowest point of the rib cage behind your horse’s elbow, and the unfortunate result is that the saddle either gets driven forward into your horse’s shoulders, or is driven clear on top of his shoulders. Why does this matter? The horse’s shoulder blade (scapula) consists of both bone and cartilage. At the very least, a saddle that is pulled forward onto his shoulders acts like a straitjacket: your horse will be unable to move freely through his shoulders and his movement will be compromised, sometimes severely. At worst, a saddle that constantly drives into your horse’s shoulders ﬁrst will produce a buildup of scar tissue on his scapula. If the problem persists over the long-term, the

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tree points of the saddle will begin to actually chip away the bone and cartilage. Horses with this kind of irreversible damage often have telltale “holes,” particularly on their left shoulder blade. If the billets hang too far forward into your horse’s elbow area, they may make him sore in the elbows. And once again, gravity will drag them (and the girth and saddle along with them) back into the girthing area. You might think that this is not a problem because now at least your horse’s shoulders are free. However, there will be too much pressure on the panels at the rear of the saddle. Too much of the rider’s weight will be on the horse’s lumbar and kidney area. This is especially problematic when your mare is

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Continued...

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is in season, since this excess pressure on her ovaries may cause her to show extreme discomfort or resistance when being saddled and ridden. What causes improper billet alignment? Frequently, the problem is that either the width or the angle, or both the width and the angle of your saddle tree is not the correct size for your horse. There are many sizes, shapes and designs of girths. When you girth a saddle with long billets, the girth should be at the last 2-3 holes of the billets. One of the highest points of heat and friction occurs where the billets lie against the edge of the horse. Less distance between the bottom of the ﬂap and the top of the girth means less irritation. Every saddle has a different ﬂap and billet length depending on the manufacturer. Try different lengths, shapes, and materials to see what girth works with your horse.

ribcage room while keeping the saddle stable. Watch for fraying at the elastic and buckle attachments. The girth is the most important saddle accessory as it directly affects saddle ﬁt and how it feels to your horse. Whether or not a saddle ﬁts properly and lie balanced on the horse’s back has a lot to do with both the girth and the saddle pad. Some slipping or instability issues are caused by these accessories. The function of the girth is to keep the saddle in place within the saddle support area. There are many different types, lengths and versions of girths available. They have different forms and functions, paired with saddle billets in their necessary length. A girth has the potential to put immense pressure on the horse’s musculature therefore, it should displace this pressure as evenly as possible along its length. This girth is too short for the horse; you can see that the girth buckle will irritate him at the leg and elbow during movement. This is easily tested when positioning the leg as if the horse were in motion. Photo courtesy of Dr. Joanna Robson. DVM.

A common mistake is not considering the shape of the girth. A horse has a curved shape with relief needed in the Girth B is preferable to Girth A. elbow area, an area easily chafed by the girth. It is necessary to have a girth that has an area cut out behind the elbow. Girth B is preferable to Girth A.

Be aware the girth can be a signiﬁcant cause of skin irritations, which can occur when:

This allows the horse to move the front leg without being inhibited by the girth itself. Girth A is very straight with only one strip of hard leather through the center, putting all of the pressure onto that thin leather strap and acting like a ‘knife’ across a horse’s sternum and pectorals. Girth B has cut-outs for the elbow. The stiffer leather goes all the way out to the edges with a soft leather backing which disperses the pressure over a much larger surface area, making the horse more comfortable. The wider center also helps stabilize a saddle from slipping side to side or going forward. A correctly shaped girth should displace pressure as evenly as possible along its length. Ideally, it should have a wider surface area along the sternum of the horse, which is the strongest point of contact. These ‘diamond’ girths are anatomically accommodating, narrower at the ends where it sits under the elbow area, and widening to between 4-8 inches at the sternum to displace the pressure evenly.

The area where the girth is positioned and buckled is an area where several muscle groups converge and have their sensitive points – an area we should avoid irritating. The longer girth used with jumping and eventing saddles is usually bucked on the sweat ﬂap, which means there is a relatively thick second leather layer protecting the horse’s ﬂank from the buckle.

Elastic or no elastic girths on the ends? With no elastic there is no give at all once a saddle is girthed up. This means that we have a solid leather band around the horse’s ribcage and around the horse’s lungs. A horse may be short of breath or irritable after being ridden in this type of girth because of breathing issues. A girth with at least one side elastic is both better and worse. The advantage is that the ribcage has room to expand; the downside is that give is only on one side and therefore can pull the saddle off to that side and cause unevenness in the horse’s movement and development. Best is a girth with both sides elastic. If the elastic is too weak or too long the girth loses stability and stretches, allowing the saddle to move around on the horses back. On a short girth the elastic should be maximum 1” long and on a long girth the elastic should be maximum 2 ½” long. This gives the 68

• the billets are not in the right spot • the girth is the incorrect shape • the girth alignment does not match up

Where the two yellow lines intersect is where the triceps and the latissimus muscles cross. There these two lines cross and behind the red ‘X’ is the best spot for the girth buckle to be (the right back region of the “X” as per the arrows shown on the diagram. Photo courtesy of Schleese Saddlery.

In dressage, short girths with long billets are the rule. A huge advantage is the girth’s buckles don’t bother the rider at his thighs and allow the saddle to be fastened more securely. However the girth buckles are located at a very sensitive area of the horse’s rib cage. A short girth is buckled directly on the side of the horse, so the buckle (which may be protected minimally with one layer of leather) may cause pressure. The girth should be buckled to the billets as close to the widest part of the horse’s side as possible (as high up as possible) so the buckles are ‘pulled away’ from the rib cage and won’t put unnecessary pressure on his side and the insertion points (edge) of the M. Pectoralis profundus, but rather on its mass (ﬂatness) – for example, the pectoralis or latissimus. The buckles should never cause pressure points to the horse or rider or interfere with riding and moving freely, without pain.

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Continued...

This girth is too short for this horse because the buckles are sitting at the edge of the pectoralis muscle. The hand shows where the buckles should ideally be sitting.

Here the buckles are located correctly; they do not interfere with the pectoralis muscles (shown by the hand). Photos courtesy of Schleese Saddlery.

The more a girth is able to distribute weight and pressure over a larger surface area, the more comfortable the horse will be. These are all examples of BSE (both sides elastic) diamond girths with 4, 5, 6 and 8 inch sternum shields. Photo courtesy of Schleese Saddlery.

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Reading Your Horse �� Palm Partnership Training™ Building a Partnership with Your Horse Before we start training outside the box (a confined area), it is important to recognize and learn how to read the horse to tell if he has inner energy and playfulness that needs to be released through forced exercise like longeing.

Many riders do not realize that any healthy, ﬁt horse has some level of inner energy that must be released before he can concentrate on the task the rider will be asking him to do. The level of inner energy can vary among horses, but is always there. It may be present in a healthier dose in higher strung or sensitive horses. Most riders will also face another issue when training outside the box. Their horses may be overly sensitive and more high-strung than usual when taken into new surroundings. Riders tend to expect that the horse will work and perform in new surroundings in the same way as he does at home. They do not realize that a horse will nearly always be different in a new and different environment. This is especially true of horses that are not ‘seasoned’ - - those who have not become experienced in going different places and traveling many miles over many years. Probably one of the hardest, but most important, things to learn is how to read a horse to know if he has inner energy that should be released or is calm and ready for schooling. One of the most obvious signs of inner energy are his ears moving very fast and his head moving side to side. Under saddle the ears and head are an easy indicator to observe because they are right in front of the rider! We can see tension or relaxation of the horse’s mouth while on the ground or hear him be nervous under saddle with noises like grinding his teeth. Relaxed and soft eyes indicate acceptance, while bulging eyes show alarm. His breathing is an important indicator, especially when riding outside. A horse will always try to smell with big breaths if he is unsure or afraid, before he spooks. His skin, whether it is relaxed or tensed tight and twitching like there is a ﬂy on it, communicates his mood. Also, another very obvious indicator of alarm in your horse is his tail. If the horse is wringing or switching the tail, he is irritated or frustrated.

TRAINING & Showing

While doing a forced exercise, like longeing, a horse will tell you if he is playful and has inner energy to release through these common signs: (1) shaking his head, like he is saying “no”, (2) ﬂicking his ears with tight or tense muscles in his neck and body, (3) drastic loss of attention, and (4) wanting to run, buck, kick up heels, or kick at you.

If the horse is communicating with one or any of these actions, it is important to work him to release his energy, instead of trying to calm him down. Working him means making the horse go forward, but not running like a maniac. While longeing, if he starts to run out of control, put both hands on the longe line, lean back and use a checking pull, instead of a constant pull, to bring him back to a controlled speed and keep his head to the inside. Get him to exercise at the trot, then walk, back to the trot, then back to canter. Trot should be a square trot, not a jog. Do not let your horse cross-canter (left lead in front, right lead behind). If he does, bring him back to trot, balance and get organized, then go back to canter.

Let the forward motion help you evaluate his level of inner energy. When the horse begins releasing it, his stride will become smoother. The tenseness in his body will relax. His tail will relax and swing with his gait. His nostrils will flare and the veins in his neck will pop out, even in cool spring weather. These are signs that inner energy is releasing. His head, eyes, and ears will lose their tenseness or quick movement. When one ear cocks toward you, his concentration is coming back to you. He will begin to respond quicker to commands. When you think his inner energy is released, test him by stomping your feet or clap your hands while he is longeing. If he shows any of the four signs of inner energy, he needs more work to get it out before schooling. Your Next Step… If your horse’s past reactions or behavior while schooling outside the box surprised or concerned you, prepare to deal with them by bringing longeing gear along on the next ride. Attach the longe line to the saddle, leave the halter on the horse, stick a shorter 3-foot longe whip in the back of your pants or some other place where it will be safe and easy to carry. As soon as the horse shows signs of nervousness, or becoming high strung or distracted, get off, control him on the ground, and longe him when you can find a safe place on the trail. Lead him to an open area where he can be worked. Don’t worry that getting off will cause him to repeat a misbehavior just to get you off his back. This will not happen if the rider has a plan to take this action. However, if the rider jumps off in fright or worry, the horse will sense it. This will reinforce to the horse that misbehaving will intimidate the rider. Remember, a horse knows what we are thinking. We are all afraid of falling off; it is a natural reaction. Get the horse’s inner energy out first. If you are worried or frightened in the saddle, get on the ground and take charge of the horse. Riding with a friend on a very seasoned horse will help your ‘green’ horse on the trails. It will make schooling outside the box safer and more fun for you and your horse. Lynn’s Training Tip… If you are planning on training “outside the box” (a confined area) or out on the trails, longeing is one of the best ways I know to help the horse to release his inner energy so he can safely concentrate on the lesson.

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REASONS

an Rancho de los Caballeros

Arizona Dude RanchVacation should be in your future!

Arizona is a wonderful place to vacation, especially to beat the winter blues. With a consistently warm and predictable climate, it’s no wonder people ﬂock to Arizona during the winter months to enjoy the outdoors. On a ranch vacation you’ll enjoy horseback riding, ﬁne western dining, perfectly appointed accommodations and many other western lifestyle activities. Here are four reasons Arizona winters are great for ranch vacations.

USA 50 Best Years

1. Beautiful Weather

Obviously, the weather is one of the most popular reasons you might want to go to Arizona during the winter. The sun shines most every day (300+ days a year) and temperatures average about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though you can ﬁnd snow-covered mountains, the central to southern parts of the state often enjoy mild weather in shorts or t-shirts. At the Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch, you’ll get to enjoy spectacular sunsets late into the evening comfortably around a camp ﬁre.

2. Culture of the Southwest

With a combination of historical native American and Hispanic cultures, the atmosphere in Arizona is unique to the rest of the country. These cultures blend in with the history of the cowboy at some of the most famous locations. At Tombstone Monument Ranch you can relive what it was like to live in an old Southwestern Town like famous western characters did. Rancho de la Osa is off the beaten path near the border of Mexico and immerses guests into a different world. Want to learn about the local fauna and ﬂora, then you will want to be at Circle Z Ranch where local Naturalist, Ethnobotanist, and Survival Expert Vincent Pinto leads their guests on a 1-hour Nature walk. His expertise is inspiring, as he discusses birds, a variety of rich habitats, edible plants, and Arizona’s famed Sky Islands.

Places

3. Outdoor Activities

Outdoor Activities

4. Family Time

With the beauty of the outdoors you’ll want to spend as much time outside as you can. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching and cattle drives are some activities you can do to enjoy the mountains or deserts in Arizona. The Flying E Ranch offers all of these adventures and more in an area that’s just minutes from Wickenburg, Arizona on 20,000 acres to ride and roam. Tee up your western vacation at Rancho de los Caballeros. The golf course located on the ranch was designed by Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin, the Los Caballeros course is a Golf Digest top-ﬁve rated course and a top 100 course nationally. Featuring rolling terrain, two beautiful lakes, bunkers and ﬁve sets of tees, this challenging course can be set up for a variety of playing styles and levels. What about rock climbing, have you ever tried it? If you’ve never tried climbing before, here’s your chance to experience it in an incredible setting. If you’re 72

an experienced climber, you will be wowed by the climbs at White Stallion Ranch. Their AMGA, PCGI Certiﬁed Climbing Instructor will guide you climbing boulders and faces on the East end of the ranch. He has designed beginner, intermediate and advanced climbs.

You’ll want to take the whole family with you on vacation. From babies to grandma and grandpa everybody will enjoy a wonderful winter getaway. You’ll be looking for a nice swimming pool, an ample supply of board games, tennis, basketball and kid’s counselors for the youngest ones. Elkhorn Ranch provides everything you need for a successful and unforgettable multi-generational vacation. Another great option with an excellent kid’s program is the Tanque Verde Ranch their activities will engage, educate, and entertain, in addition to teach kids the importance of working together. Their caring and knowledgeable team will ensure a safe and fun experience for your child. For more information contact The Dude Ranchers Association at www.duderanch.org 866-399-2339

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WATER a multisensory experience

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Naturally, horses love to play with water. Everyone has seen domestic horses standing in the rain, and getting wet, pawing at the surface of a body of water, rolling in puddles, or even swimming. Nevertheless, one of the simplest, and most common situations that can present difficulties is to give a horse a shower with a hose. Being showered can be a pleasant situation for the horse, especially in hot weather, or after working out. As it is true for anything in horsemanship, even a simple task can become dangerous, and create behavioral problems, if we do not consider how the horse perceives a situation.

positive, because it has served their purpose at the time. Unfortunately, when the horse does something out of fear, he has been pushed beyond his conﬁdence, and this needs to be seriously considered in the relationship between man and horse.

I TRAINING & Showing

In terms of sensory perception, the horse can feel the water with sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste, just like we do. The water can provide different sensory information depending upon the forms in which it is presented. Examples of how the water can be experienced by a horse are the rain, a simple puddle, a moving body of water, the ocean, a lake or, more commonly, the trough that we give to the horse in the space where we house him. The form of water that a domestic horse “knows” best is often the container where he drinks, or the rain, both situations where the horse can have the chance, and enough time to experience the water by himself, with freedom of movement, and choice in his actions. Experience enables individuals to make memories on which to build the choices for future behavior, and it is essential in the relationship between man and horse. Along with the memory of the common experience, we must keep in consideration the experience that the horse can have, and that’s unknown to us, along with the component of the emotions that always accompany individuals, and color situations. To act as leaders, individuals should have the ability to set an example to follow for others, at the time of the behavioral choice. In horsemanship, it is allowing the horse to cognitively learn directly through his senses about a situation, instead of always being under the inﬂuence of conditioning. Forcing the horse to do a certain action by using fear can achieve a quick result that some consider 74

Going back to water…normally, during the operation of showering a horse, the water comes out of a hose, a source of water that may not be familiar for the horse. The water stream is directed at the horse, with the intention to wash his coat, and the horse is hand-held with halter and rope, or tied. The situation can be dangerous, if the horse has no ability to move, the surrounding area is slippery, and he ﬁnds the experience too intense for him. In such situation it is important to minimize the risks, making sure that the horse cooperates with us, without resistance. Horses learn from every experience, and a bad initial one can create problems that will persist. The pictures in this article were taken during one of our clinics, hosted by Bruno Dorigo at Nidodelfalcone, in Italy. We tackled the topic of showering a horse. The work was done in an arena by the participants, and with horses not contained. All of the horses had the opportunity to avoid the water, but instead they chose to take the shower. Every sensory perception that the horse experiences when struck by water from a hose can instinctively lead him to distance from it. This is even more likely to happen if the horse has never seen a water hose. Going in detail about the sensory perception: - The sight of the jet of water directed to his body drives a horse to escape from the stream. - The sound of the stream of water stimulates the horse to moving in a position where he can see what produces the sound that attracted his attention. - The jet impact produces a pressure that can push the horse to move away from it. - Taste, and smell are not generally the senses a horse uses in the ﬁrst approach to something unknown, because they try to stay far from it. When the horse chooses to use taste and smell voluntarily, he will stand still, and approach to touch the water with his muzzle, and even try to drink it. Continued...

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All of the horses had the opportunity to avoid the water, but instead they chose to take the shower.

When we first introduce a horse to being showered with a hose we need to: - Carefully consider the place where we will work, providing the opportunity to work freely on a non-slippery surface. - It ‘s a very good idea to start again from the beginning, assuming that the horse does not know what we want to do, and perform the action as if it was the ﬁrst time the horse experienced it. - Using a water hose we should show the horse how it works without involving him directly. This procedure allows the horse the chance to gain knowledge of what we intend to do. After then, we will be able to handle the water hose, and aim the stream close to him, or at his body. The transition to direct the jet of water to the horse must be done gradually, adapting our actions to his response. This means that if we approach the horse, and he moves away we have to stop, and wait for him to remain still. As a result of this interaction horses that are free to move learn to stand while we shower them, and will also stand when they are being showered while tied. �� E

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