Random: February 2010 Archives

As we grow older and the value of mint condition models becomes apparent, they are delicately balanced out of reach or neatly sealed in the original package in an obscure box in the attic.  But when we're little, models attain the unreal achievements we imagine in infinite detail; the only limitations are those of your imagination.  

At the height of my model horse community overlord phase, I would turn horses out of the miniature eight-stall wooden barn into a comfortable enclosure in the mornings.  Some of the models were tacked up and sent out for a perilous ride amidst the curious house cats while others grazed and stood like stone staring off into the distant corners of the playroom.  At night, I would blanket each horse with his custom homemade blanket (stable colors of course), and tuck them into their stalls for the night.  There was a time that for every birthday or gift-giving holiday, I could expect to receive at least one model horse, each one treasured like an old friend.

Theodore O'Connor became a Breyer model on February 1, 2008.  Teddy was the Best Conditioned Horse at Rolex in 2007.  I can see why.  This model pony is ripped.

Now that I'm all grown up with annoying bills to pay, I can't afford to collect much of anything.  But I still admire the picturesque model horses released by the masters at Breyer.  Last November, Breyer signed on as an official sponsor of the 2010 World Equestrian Games.  Earlier this month Breyer released the official model horse of the Games, Esprit (pictured at the top of the page).  Sculpted by artist Kathleen Moody, Esprit symbolizes the "common spirit" of the horses competing in each of the eight disciplines.  Breyer will release several other WEG products this year in celebration of the "courage, athleticism, and beauty of the horse at its pinnacle of achievement" including an 8-piece Stablemate Set representing horses in each discipline.  According to the Breyer website, an interactive play area for children will be created at the WEG, "incorporating equine-themed activities using Breyer's realistic model horses" and pint-sized jumps for kids!

Bits About Breyer

In 1950, the Breyer Molding Company (before it was Breyer Animal Creations) received an order for a plastic horse to decorate a mantle clock.  Public interest inspired the company to continue creating these realistic models...minus the clock of course.

Men and boys are the fastest growing group of collectors of Breyer Farm Animals and Wildlife Animals.

All Breyer horses have an air hole somewhere so the model can "breathe."  Without this hole, trapped air can cause the model to warp over time.

All Breyer horses are hand painted.

# 57 Western Horse was the first Breyer horse.  So why isn't he # 1?

How Can Your Horse Become a Breyer Model?

Well, you've got a few different options.  You could own a horse that is the finest, ideal example of his breed and then get it noticed by people who can do something about it.  You could also own a top equine athlete in his particular discipline and then get it nominated by the USET to become a Breyer model.  If you think your horse could be a model or you might have a good idea for a product submission, please consult the FAQ page on Breyer's website for reasons why you might want to let the powers that be remain in charge of model selection.

If you happen to hang around Lexington after Champagne Run this summer, or you have a thing for model horses, be sure to check out BreyerFest, July 23-25 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

I collected all types of model horses; I wasn't limited to Breyer.  Did anyone else collect models or another type of equine paraphernalia? 

 

First off, let me say a big huge THANK YOU to all the EN readers who have already participated in our little census exercise.  It has been really interesting reading your comments, getting a true idea of who our "nation" really is, and what you like about the site.  Please keep commenting (positive or negative!), it really helps keep us motivated and focused on what to do next. 


I have spent a portion of this evening playing with Excel, and have a rough tabulation of Census Results as of 6pm EST.  I realize this is not a FULL reflection of our audience, but it's at least somewhere to start.  So, from the preliminary responses we have received...

Most popular location:  Kentucky (5).  (This does my big blue heart proud!)   I know we have TONS more readers from the east coast area, particularly VA (Feedjit does not lie), but until those readers respond we can't count them accurately.  Tied for second: Massachussets, Michigan, and North Carolina (4).  Also shout out to our 5 Canadians and 1 Australian checking in.

Average Age:  The average age is about 33 yrs.  Breaking this down further:  about 19% Young Rider audience (16-21), 35% age 22-30yrs, 25% 30-45yrs, 21% 45-60yrs.

Eventing Experience:  Averages out to about 12 years, but ranged from nearly none to over 40 years.  Quite a diverse group! 

Average Level:  Preliminary was the most frequent response, but here again was a wide range from intro to Advanced and CCI****. 

How long have you visited the site?  Many of you have been reading since the beginning, at Fair Hill 2009.  But there are lots of new readers, who have jumped on the bandwagon within the last few months (we did receive a huge spike in traffic in early January, I think most of you know why).  I hope we can keep growing, but more importantly maintain the quality and spontaneity that keeps people coming back for more.  Speaking of what you like...

Suggestions: a huge number of responders simply said "Keep up the good work!"  We appreciate your attention to our efforts, and we'll do our best to produce more of the same.  The Training Sessions clinic reports have also gained a great response...I admit, I love them too!  Also, there were many readers that requested lower-level rider profiles and inspirational stories-- this is a GREAT suggestion and I promise we will work on it soon.  We'll keep on going with the humor, funny videos, and grooming tips, and we'll try to expand our coverage for more West Coast and International views.  I loved everyone's ideas, and we will try to incorporate them as we can. 



Thanks again for your participation.  The number of comments we've received to this point has far exceeded our expectations.  I can't stress enough how much we appreciate your feedback, and getting to know you will help us better to provide the content you crave.  Please keep responding to any and all topics you like (or don't like); send us emails, photos, stories, suggestions to make the site better.  We're just everyday eventers running this site for fun, and we don't pretend to know what we're doing...we need your help sometimes!


If you haven't added your comments to the Census, it's never too late.  I expect many more responses in over the next few days, and I'll still be compiling the results. :)

 

One of the things I have enjoyed most about developing Eventing Nation is watching how different members of the equestrian media have responded to our presence.  Some folks, such as EventingUSA, Samantha Clark of the HRN, the Chronicle Forums and now Fran Jurga have been extremely generous and have dramatically helped our growth, but other people have chosen to ignore us completely.  Understand that I don't have any ego in this respect; some people are just not comfortable with a site that covers eventing news in real time, or that does everything possible to get the fans involved, or that mixes humor with news, etc.  Of course, these are the same people who think newspapers will still be around in 20 years.

Dick Francis, popular best-selling author of mostly crime/suspense novels, passed away on Sunday, February 14.  A former British steeplechase jockey, he wrote with a real inside knowledge of racing and horses, beautifully interwoven within the story's plot.  He published 42 novels; I think I've read at least half of them, and it's hard to name a favorite.  Tales ranged from insurance fraud, to kidnapping, to wine, to gold...but almost all of them related to horses or racing in some way.  The Francis books truly are a must-read for horse lovers-- entertaining, fun, will keep the pages turning, but won't bore you with dumbed-down horse scenes. 

I've re-read some of them five or six times.  I think it's time to read one again.  Here's to you, Mr. Francis.  You will be missed by many.

 

I only have enough computer battery for a very short post.  Aiken has gotten 4-6 inches, and, at least where our barn is, we have completely lost power.  I can only imagine what Pine Top is getting right now, because the idiots weather men predicted zero precipitation for us and 2-4 inches for them.  I have heard that the competition has been delayed and they are pushing the jumping back, but if it looks anything like what it does here they are really going to have trouble getting eventing in this weekend.  Scroll down for a link to the pine top homepage for more info as they post it.  Stay warm everyone, the horses look happy and I am bedding down under some horse blankets for the night.  Go eventing.

This article was written by Mike Huber and originally appeared in the November/December 1997 issue of USCTA News.  The decision to move up a level should always be approached with safety and preparedness in mind...but sometimes it is hard to define "ready" or not.  Although it was published nearly 13 years ago, the advice from this article still rings true.

 

Photo by Hoof Pix Photography

 

Four Steps to Moving Up:

Mike Huber, past president of the USCTA, acclaimed USET international rider and coach, and member of the USET Selection Committee, agreed to share the criteria he uses to determine whether his students and their horses are ready to take the next step.  Mike has developed four points to take into consideration when making the decision:

 

1.  Determine whether the horse is suited to the competition at the next level.  Does he have the talent, brain, and ingredients necessary to handle the complexities to be faced at that level.  Ask a professional for an opinion of the horse's athletic ability.  There are people who do not ride with me who will call and ask for my opinion of a horse's ability both mentally and physically and I consider it part of the service I will offer to give them assistance.  We will check to see if the horse will cope with water, ditches, and combinations.  Some horses will reluctantly trot through a water splash, but will NOT jump down into it.  Some horses cannot handle a one stride triple combination with a couple of oxers in it.

Riders should not be disappointed if the horse that has given them a good start at novice is unable to move to the next level.  It is very likely that there will be several horses in a rider's eventing career, and they shouldn't let one horse slow them down or even determine how far they will go.  I often hear riders who find thier horses are unsuited for training level say that they will just stay at novice or do dressage.  If a rider really wants to move up and enjoy competition at the higher levels then he or she should consider another horse.  A horse that has been a good servant to them will be very happy to do the same for someone else.

Former USET Coach, Jack Le Goff, used to say that you don't go to college with your kindergarten teacher, and while he was referring to instructors, it does apply also to your horse.  The horse that teaches you the ropes at novice is not going to be the horse that takes you advanced.  In the same way that the advanced horse is not always the right horse for a novice rider.

 

2.  Winning a novice event is not an indicator that it's time to move up.  A lot of novice events are won in the dressage with horses just getting by on cross-country.

I hear people say they can't move up until they have won an event.  Roger Haller's Golden Griffin, who was a memeber of the USET Three-Day Event Team in the 1970s, although often well placed, never won an event until he reached the advanced level.

Some riders believe they should stay at each level a year before moving up.  However, a year can mean different things to different people.  Some riders can complete 14 novice events in one year, others just three or four.  The experience comes with the number of events, the amount of exposure both horse and rider have, arather than the length of time spent at one level.  This will of course vary depending upon the number of events available in your Area and your personal circumstances.

 

3.  The quality of the cross-country performance is most critical.  Was the clear round smooth and confident?  Did the rider come off the course feeling the jumps could have been bigger and more difficult today?  Or did the horse feel green?  Was he hesitant, crooked, or stuttering in front of fences?  Did he barely get through the water?  Do not be blinded by the "0"s on the scoreboard.  Realistically analyze your round.  This is when it is helpful to have your coach or a fellow rider watch your round and tell you if it looked smooth, controlled, and positive.

 

4.  Preparation is the vital key to moving up.  There is a significant difference between novice and training and not just the three inches in height.  Yes, you have to learn a new dressage test, but can you handle the triple combination?  Can you be effective or are you just hanging on as the horse goes through?  Some competitors never even get to the cross-country when show jumping comes first because they can't handle the more technical requirements.

You should be comfortably schooling training level courses at home.  Yes, your horse might be happy splashing through water but is he ready to jump down a drop into water, or handle the difficulty of a small coffin and other combinations.  There are schooling days and clinics which will give you an opportunity to jump some combinations on actual courses.  You will have professional help on the ground to advise you.

A professional knows what a horse has to face when he moves up a level.  Often amateurs don't know what they are going to be asked to do.  Read the rule book for the types of fences and specifications permitted at each level and then do your preparation so that you can tackle that level confidently and successfully.

 

USCTA News - Volume 26 - Issue 6 - November/December 1997

Edited by Jo Whitehouse

Thanks to regular EN reader Yvonne Lucas of Red Moon Farm for sending this report in, and thank you for reading.

"In my area, we had 36" of snow on 2/6/2010, with drifts to 50". (In Eventer terms, that's Novice height, with drifts to above Advanced.)  

 

It's clear my 2WD 45hp tractor can't handle driving through anything much over about 6" of snow, at least not with ME driving! (I'm pretty good with equipment, but 36" of snow is been beyond my skills!) I keep getting it stuck!

 

I happened to meet someone, a complete stranger, at the feed store this AM who volunteered to come over and get my tractor unstuck from where I'd lodged it on Sunday trying to move some snow with the front bucket. Which he did! He then used it to scoop out a path to my barn so I could unload all the feed. *He* had no real problem doing that. *I* would probably have made a mess of it. That was humbling.  

 

A bit later, I got the same tractor stuck again trying to put out a roundbale. (Many bad words were "uttered".) I obviously lack certain skills in driving a 2wd tractor on the snow ;->! But I think you need to be born here to acquire them, and I'm handicapped by my California heritage. Perhaps if *I'd* been driving a tractor since I was old enough to reach the pedals.... Excuses, excuses.

 

My neighbor came to my rescue with his John Deere 120hp 4WD enclosed cab tractor (one of his many toys!), and towed me out of the HUGE (rolls eyes) 18" snowbank my *one* front tire was "mired" in, the one that had caused my rear tires to spin helplessly, both in forward and reverse. Sigh. He plowed me a path to drop the round bale over the fence, which I managed to do without getting stuck again! Yay! And waited around to make sure I could be "Mr. Balky" back up the little hill and back into the equipment shed, which I did. Yay!

 

I also shoveled walking paths, thawed the 100' hose, and dragged it here and there over 5' drifted snowbanks to fill the tanks for three fields (11 horses). During which I discovered that some horse had snapped off, at the stem, the drain plug deicer in one of their two water tanks, so I had to dump it and put in a regular plug, as I'm out of heaters. Sh*t-head. Sweet, innocent-faced sh*t-head -> Yes, I know who you are!

 

Oh, and then there was getting the sliding doors open to access to round bales in my hay barn. Another neighbor had cleared as much in front of the doors as possible on Sunday, just after the snow, but dummy me, I didn't immediately shovel away the rest of the snow around the doors and runners. So on sunny Sunday and Monday, all the snow melt from the roof had dripped down and re-frozen around the doors, and I had to break it up with a MATTOCK!! That'll teach me for spending the time shoveling off my back deck so it wouldn't collapse!

 

I'm learning a *whole* lot of lessons about dealing with a farm in heavy snow. Not things I would've known, being a California girl, or that living in Virginia for 10+ years had taught me yet. "Yay" for learning new things ;-> Yay, yay.

 

I learned:

• Getting a 4WD instead of a 2WD tractor is a worthwhile expense.
• Don't put sliding doors under the eaves of a roof - use roll-ups instead.
• A snow-blower is NOT a luxury item.
• Have a way to put chains or weight on the rear tires of your tractor.
• Shovel the snow while it's SOFT. Pay someone if you can't get to it yourself.

I hope everyone affected by the snow is OK, and I feel for those who lost power for extended periods. Usually that would be me, so I'm knocking on wood that my good luck will continue.

 

For those that don't know mw, and have read this far, I run a 28 acre, 11 horse facility all by my lonesome. It's peaceful in the good times, but overwhelming when things get tough.

 

Which I why I bless and treasure my neighbors and local folk: I'd be in a world of trouble without them."

Here are some photos that readers have sent in from the blizzard that has much of the eastern US shut down.  From the reports I have heard, electricity has been off in many regions and the snow is very deep, but the horses are doing well and have a positive attitude despite the conditions, as always.  

This winter has had some extraordinarily bad weather for many of our readers, culminating in a blizzard that is currently hitting the northeast and mid-atlantic US.  Click here for video of the storm.  At my home in Virginia, a few inches of snow per winter has been the norm over the last few years, and this winter has already seen several feet of snow.  One reader sent us the following description of the situation at her farm:

 

On Wednesday morning, we linked to an article in the Horse and Hound announcing Great Britain is unlikely to send a full Driving team to the WEG in Kentucky due to the high cost of transporting the horses and equipment.  Competitors are permitted to raise their own funds for the trip, and Great Britain will be sending full teams to the WEG in all other disciplines. 

While at Poplar Place Farm's January HT last weekend, I heard a rumor from several concerned competitors about Sore No More liniments.  Competitors had  heard a particular ingredient could reach a horse's bloodstream and thus test positive on a drug screening.  EN has also received a couple of emails on the topic.  As I and many fellow competitors use Sore No More products regularly, I felt it was important to find out the truth post-haste.  

I spoke with Tracey Freeman of Equilite, the makers of Sore No More and related products.  According to Freeman, Sore No More brand products will NOT test positive on a drug screening if administered topically as it is intended to be.

ADMINISTER PRODUCTS APPROPRIATELY

One ingredient in Sore No More, called lobelia, was questioned by some equine professionals.  Lobelia can be used to treat asthma and other respiratory symptoms in humans.  According to Freeman, less than 1% of lobelia is present in Sore No More, and it cannot reach the bloodstream of a horse unless ingested or otherwise improperly administered. 

THE OTHER SORE-NO-MORE

Freeman informed me of a company in Moab, Utah also called Sore No More.  This company produces products for human use, and some of these products contain capsaicin, an ingredient used for pain relief.

Capsaicin is present in some equine liniment products, as is its derivative, Capsicum Oleoresin (found in Equi-Block).  According to a USEF document, "there were four drug violations associated with the detection of capsaicin in the blood following topical administration at the 2008 Olympic Games."  Please be mindful of the ingredients in the products you use on your horses.  It is not recommended to use a topical product containing capsaicin or capsaicin derivatives within seven days before competition.  

SORE NO MORE IS SAFE, SAFE, SAFE

Freeman stressed if there is anything else Equilite can do to answer questions about their products, do not hesitate to contact the company.  Equilite is "happy to support the Eventing community," said Freeman.

Please refer to the important documents linked below for more information regarding topical liniments.

D&M Program Notice Regarding Use of Liniments by Dr. Stephen Schumacher