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From Horse & Hound: Undercover Air Vest

By on Oct 30, 2013 9:00 am -

Bettina Hoy and Lanfranco TSF at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Have you ever wished you could stuff your Point Two air vest underneath your coat for show jumping? Or dressage … if your horse has a penchant for doing a Black Stallion impression in the little white box. Now you can thanks to Alexander James, a British clothing company that worked with Point Two to create a coat that truly conceals an air vest, Horse & Hound reports. It’s a dapper option for those of us who wouldn’t mind — or whose orthopedic surgeons strongly suggest — a little extra inflatable protection without resembling a beer keg in a blazer.

From Horse & Hound:

“We’ve inserted a side panel made from stretch fabric underneath the arm and in the sleeve,” said Alan. “From the front and back it looks like a traditional hunting coat, although it is made in a slightly lighter weight cloth.”

Duke of Beaufort’s subscriber George Kershaw has had a stretch fabric panel inserted under the arm of a blue and buff coat for this season, having purchased a Point Two Hunter last year.

“I suffered very serious internal injuries after a bad fall in 2011,” said George, who hunts regularly. “I believe it would have been less significant had I been wearing an air jacket.” George’s hunter was unfazed when his air jacket went off last season. “The noise was less than the crack of a twig — and certainly less than the crack of a hunting whip.”

“Hunting is our fastest growing market,” added Lee Middleton, managing director of Point Two. The firm has a special model of the air vest designed for hunt followers, with a flusher fit to the body, and no logo. “Hunting folk tend to be quite conservative and new ideas catch on slowly, but my guess is that in 5 years time these will be as common as straps on hats, especially now they can be worn underneath your hunting coat,” concluded George.

Sleek, classy protection ain’t cheap: the jackets start at $980, plus shipping across the pond. Each one is made to order, as are most of the clothing items the company sells, including tweed sidesaddle outfits (with matching iPhone cases) and white bridal sidesaddle habits. Would you consider purchasing a special coat like this to conceal your air vest?

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Oct 29, 2013 12:17 am -

6'8" in a skirt

Irish rider Susan Oakes and SIEC Atlas sailed over a 6’8″ puissance wall sidesaddle, soaring past the world record by two inches this week in Ireland. After breaking the record, did she pop the cork and raise a glass? Nah. She changed horses to SIEC Oberon and sailed over a 6’5″ triple bar, breaking that world record too. Oakes, an accomplished point to point rider, had never show jumped until 17 months ago when she started training to break the record. She doesn’t ride full time. She’s a business woman. The horses are… a side.

Next year, bareback, side saddle puissance at Fair Hill?

Events Closing Today: Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (California, A-6), Full Moon Farms H.T. (Maryland, A-2),  Las Cruces H.T.  (New Mexico, A-10),  Ocala Horse Properties Fall Event (Florida, A-3), River Glen Fall H.T. (Tennesee, A-3), The Fork H. T. (North Carolina, A-2)

News:

Britain bows out. Great Britain has withdrawn from bidding process to host the 2018 WEG. They said they lacked time to find funding a a venue. Florida and Kentucky are expected to bid as well as Bromont. [bbc]

Skip the mess and the schlep. Tired of fighting with sticky melty clumps of sweetfeed in the summer and frozen chunks in the winter, a Colorado woman’s invented a nifty new sweetfeed delivery system that holds up to 200 pounds of the stuff and measures out a precise portion of grain. [Denver Post]

Nereo named world’s best. The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses named Andrew Nicholson’s mount the Best Eventing Horse for the Year. Clifton promise was runner up. [Horsetalk.co.nz]

Horses as religion. No, really. A Kansas couple runs a ministry that blends equine and Holy Spirit. [Basehor Sentinel]

Timmy’s in the well! Actually, it was a horse that fell into an eight-foot deep concrete well in Colorado. The horse was partially submerged, but his head remained above water. Rescue crews were able to sedate the horse, then extract him while he was upside down, pulling him up and out by his legs. Initial reports said he had few injuries. [cbs]

SmartPak Product of the Day: Trick or treat! My horse will happily run over small children for candy corn. His 17.2 friend adores marshmallows. And if you don’t laugh watching a head that size savor a wad of sugary fluff, something is wrong with you. For healthier treats, however, you can’t beat Uncle Jimmy’s Squeezy Buns. All natural, individually wrapped so they stay squeezy, and so your horse can enjoy the anticipatory crinkling of wrapper, these goodies rock. Plus it’s fun to say; “wanna squeezy bun?”

Video of the Day: Mane -and skirt- fluttering in the breeze, Susan Oakes launches:

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Oct 22, 2013 7:18 am -

Genius.

While the French have been busy this month preparing the grounds for this week’s four-star, the Swedes have been busy announcing winners of the Nobel Prize. The Nobel Prize for Physics went to a couple guys for their “theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass.” We think one should also go to the people who invented this actual hoof pick, which we believe is equally impressive. It picks hooves. It opens beers. Plus, the company’s name is Noble Equine. Hee.

Events Closing Today: CDCTA Fall H.T. (Virginia, A-2),  Poplar Place Farm November H.T. (Georgia, A-3), Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, A-5),

News:

Don’t be recognized. Have fun. Flora Lea Farm in Medford, NJ is hosting an unrecognized starter horse trials this Saturday.  They will be offering training, novice, beginner novice and elementary divisions.  Leave your watch at home (jumping will not be timed).  Organizers say all courses will be very inviting and a true introduction at their level.  The footing’s always good due to the sandy base under the turf and the constant maintenance.  Entry fee is $90 and FLF will take entries through Weds this week.  Info and forms can be found at here  or email directly to secretary at [email protected]

Conan calls a horse race. And not a political one. The late night star will announce a race Friday at Santa Anita. Jon Stewart to announce Rolex? [abcnews.com]

Equine herpes found in Wyoming. Two cases of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 were identified in northwestern Wyoming. The Wyoming Livestock Board reports that seven horses in Teton and Park counties have been affected. One horse was euthanized, the others are under quarantine. [AP]

Barbie gets a pony. What took so long? She had the dream home, the yacht, the corvette. In her newest flick, “Barbie & Her Sisters in A Pony Tale,” Barbie goes horse shopping in Europe with Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt. Just kidding (about her shopping companions). Couldn’t Barbie find a horse in America? [Entertainment Weekly]

Man vs. (police)  horse. A 30-year-old Orlando man was busted after he attacked Mr. George, an Orlando Police Department horse who was on duty performing crowd control. The man yelled an expletive at the horse and “took a fighting stance,” according to police reports. Then, he smacked Mr. George on the shoulder. Mr. George was not amused. Or hurt. [Orlando Sentinal]

SmartPak Product of the Day: Does it freak your housemates out when you put your helmet (and bits) through the dishwasher? No problem! Just spray some of this *magic*  Charles Owen Helmet Cleaner in your stinky hat, let it foam, and wipe away the grime and stink. Easy! Amazing! Enzymes break down the dirt and smell. I want to spray this stuff all over my horse. And my car…

Video of the Day: Thrills and spills – among horse-loving fans – at another world class French event.

 

 

 

(Don’t) fuhgeddaboudit: New research on horses’ long term memory

By on Oct 18, 2013 9:17 am -

 

Photo by Samantha Clark

 

In a study that will shock none of us who have experienced our brave steeds balking at a cross-country fence where a rabbit darted out during an event FIVE YEARS AGO, a new French study confirms that indeed, horses have powerful long-term memories of both positive and negative experiences.

Previous research by Evelyn Hanggi, PhD, suggested that horses are capable of long-term memory of around a decade. But that study only included a few horses. This new research tested 26 “average riding club horses” over two years, Lea Lansade, PhD, behavioral science researcher at France’s National Institute for Agricultural Research told TheHorse.com. The study, “Characterization of long-term memory, resistance to extinction, and influence of temperament during two instrumental tasks in horses,” will be published in Animal Cognition. Other research — and Disney movies– has suggested that horses are unlikely to forget previous owners.

Lansade and her team used a variety of tests to analyze the horses’ memories. In one, the horses learned to back up when told, “Back!” by the handler and received a treat. In another, the horses had to cross an obstacle after hearing a bell ring, to prevent being subjected to a puff of air (Hmmm…similar to an accidentally inflated airvest.). The researchers tested the horses at these tasks two years after they learned them, with no practice in between.

“To our great surprise, all the horses—without exception—perfectly retained the exercise they had learned two years earlier, even though none of them had been trained on those tasks during that time,” said Lansade. “You could almost say it was too easy for them.”

When the researchers removed the reinforcement (food reward or air puff) , the horses tended to stop performing the tasks, showing that not only do horses have good long-term memories, they ain’t stupid.

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Oct 15, 2013 1:21 am -

Beginner Nervous course map

Clearly, the course map makers and folks at CourseWalkApp.com have a sense of humor. Note Fence 18, Lost, was not, in fact, misplaced. It was actually nicely decorated with a pumpkin and a scarecrow. Oddly, the next division up last weekend at the Colorado Horse Park Fall Horse Trials wasn’t Open Nervous.

Events Opening Today: Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Georgia, A-3)

Events Closing Today: Full Gallop Farm H.T. ( South Carolina, A-3), Galway Downs International Three-Day Event & H.T. (California, A-6),  Pine Hill Fall H.T. (Texas, A-V), Rocking Horse H.T. (Florida, A-3), The Virginia CCI1*, CIC2* and H.T. (Virginia, A-3).

News:

Nobody likes a kid with a pony. (Pardon the irresistible “Seinfeld”  pony remark reference). Of course we love pony kids. Some of the luckier among us were pony kids. The Washington Post features a few on their kiddie page, including a fifth-grade Shetland Pony Steeplechase jockey conditioning his steed, Phunny,  and a teenaged vaulter on the road with Cavalia’s “Odyesseo.” [Washington Post].

Happy National Veterinary Technician Week. Surely, Hallmark makes a card. Or give yours something more substantial in appreciation as they certainly don’t get paid what they’re worth. [NAVTA]

Grim tallies grow in South Dakota. Carnage from the blizzard continues to reveal itself as members of the horse community take stock. The Quarter Horse News tells a gutwrenching story of a father and daughter riding out to count dead cattle. [Quarter Horse News] Read more about the blizzard’s effect on the horse industry on Horsenation.com. Help South Dakota ranchers and horse people here, search “Rancher Relief Fund.”

Got your flu shot? Your horse’s flu shot, that is. Wondering if your horse is at risk for equine influenza? Now there’s an app for that. The free Equine Influenza Calculator app from Zoetis uses your environmental and economic factors to determine your horse’s risk of contracting the virus. [thehorse.com]

Yearling filly breaks record. Relax, they’re not racing them that young. The filly, a daughter of 2001 Epsom Derby winner Galileo, broke the sales record when Qatari Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani paid $8.3 million for her at the annual Tattersalls bloodstock auction in the U.K. [Bloomberg]

SmartPak Product of the Day: The sun setting on your hacks?  Slap on a few fluorescent reflective bands and be sure to be seen by drivers, bikers, joggers and whoever else you wouldn’t like to run into.  Adjustable velcro means you can wear them where you’d like – arms, ankles, even around your horse’s boots.

Video of the Day:  It seemed every cross country jump at Boekelo was a short stumble from a Grolsch beer tent. Well, we Americans have our beer too. And horses to fetch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2AMCcqxUkU

 

Study: Injuries, fitness and the future of sound eventers

By on Oct 10, 2013 5:34 pm -

European studies suggest more research could lead to healthier eventers

In more sobering news from Europe than the fantastic Boekelo coverage, a Dutch study that followed the preparation of 20 horses and nine ponies selected for eventing at the European Championships in 2010 and 2011 found that 45 percent were withdrawn because of locomotor injuries.

The study, supported in part by a grant from the Dutch National Equestrian Federation, was published last month in the journal BMC Veterinary Research (check it out for interesting details about heart rate and other things) and noted on horsetalk.co.nz.

In the journal article’s conclusion, the authors noted that results of another training study in the United Kingdom that showed that 21 percent of horses intended to compete in a CCI did not start because of an injury. Additionally, in another study, also performed in the United Kingdom, 35.1 percent of the 2,138 horses included in the research were not re-registered the next year because of veterinary problems. These published values are somewhat lower than results in the new Dutch study but still “in the same order of magnitude,” wrote the scientists.

“There is urgent need, with the goal of reducing injury incidence, for similar information concerning event animals in other countries to establish whether such high wastage* percentages are universal and to better understand the effects of training methods,” wrote Carolien Munsters, one of the study’s authors.

“To prevent injuries, it is important that event horses and ponies are sufficiently fit to accommodate the physiological demands necessary for high-level competition. …This study provides preliminary evidence – requiring confirmation in larger populations – that careful monitoring of the horses might assist in realizing this goal.”

 

*”wastage” refers here to loss of the ability to use the horse, not to effects of overconsumption of Grolsch or any other delectable European beverages.

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Oct 8, 2013 12:03 am -

Everybody falls

Ralph Lauren ads a touch of truth to a campaign for his Big Pony fragrance collection with a model sporting a (pristine white!) cast. The plaster “accessory” brings the shot only a tiny closer to horse sport reality – alas,  the volunteers who will chase me down for my pinney this weekend at the Colorado Horse Park will probably not look like these guys.

Over the weekend, Colleen Rutledge fractured her hip during a fall at Morven Park, just as she was poised to ride Covert Rights in his first CCI3* at Fair Hill in two weeks. Instead, she’ll will be recovering from surgery. EN wishes Colleen, and everyone else healing from a (real) horse-related mishap, a speedy recovery.

Events Opening Today:

MeadowCreek Park H.T. – The Fall Social Event (Texas, A-5)

Events Closing Today:

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Georgia, A-3), Heritage Park H.T. (Kansas, A-IV),  Holly Hill Fall H.T. (Louisiana, A-5), Waredaca H.T. and Classic Training 3 Day Event (Maryland, A-2),

News

Shutdown on Chincoteague. An annual roundup of wild ponies on the Eastern shore of Virginia has been cancelled due to the government shutdown. Every fall, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company rounds up the Assateague Island herd for a vet check before winter.  Oddly, moronic government shutdowns were not mentioned in Marguerite Henry’s tale of the ponies’ trials and tribulation in her iconic 1947 book “Misty of Chincoteague.” [NBC12]

And you thought the trakhener was your biggest worry on course.  Horse&Hound offers a roundup of near misses between horses and cars on cross country courses a month after Tom Rowland and his horse were hit by a car during cross country at the Hartpury Horse Trials.  Apparently, Americans are better drivers (or our volunteers directing traffic are fiercer) as a quick search revealed no similar trend of incidents on this side of the pond. [H&H]

Nation’s unemployed masses flock to farrier school? The Minneapolis Star Tribune features the story of Matthew Pederson, who, following advice and testing from his local government WorkForce Center for unemployed residents, went to farrier school and is now transitioning to the industry full time.  “It’s shocking how physical the work is,” he told the paper. [Star Tribune]

Learn stuff (for free!). The USEA’s announced two Future Event Horse Educational Seminars scheduled for High Point Hanoverians in Chestertown, Marlyand on November 16-17 and at DGBar Ranch in Hanford, California on December 14-15. Both will feature presentation by breeders, judges and a biometrics specialists. Open to the public and free to members, the seminars are aimed toward anyone with a passion for young event prospects. [USEA]

Horses have no respect for history, ice makers. Horses  have been running amuck throughout Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado, stomping the park’s famed archeological sites, vandalizing ice making machines in search of water and tearing up the wiring on a weather station. Officials are backing off a plan to manage the 150 wild horses, but not as a result of the urging of horse-advocacy groups who want to see the horses remain as a viable part of the park. They simply lack the staff and funds to manage them. [Denver Post]

SmartPak Product of the Day:

Avoid deciding whether its cold enough for a jacket and make it simple for yourself, go for the vest.  The ELT Scarlett Vest has a snuggly lining, water resistant outer fabric, high collar to hide the dripping snot on those brisk mornings, and two zippered pockets so your phone/sugars/ibuprofen don’t bounce out. Granted, a Hit Air or Point Two vest would better prevent you from needing this feature, but if you do happen to be sporting a sling like the unfortunate Polo model, the Scarlett Vest is a convenient option for layering up.

“In my drunken state of mind the other day, a pony disappeared,” – The Pony Thief.

” That’s life,” – The Pony Owner.

For today’s video, in the spirit of Boekelo, in the Netherlands which is near Denmark, we present one man’s quest to find his stolen, 12-foot tall pink pony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLZwvnU55I

 

 

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Oct 1, 2013 12:01 am -

A new niche for the Witch: Mia Farley and The Good Witch tackle cross-country at the American Eventing Championships. Photo via Mia's FB page.

COTH features a happy story about Jennifer Wooten’s four-star veteran mare, The Good Witch, whom she retired from international competitions a year and half ago. Knowing the fiesty “Pooh” wouldn’t be happy out in a  pasture, Wooten and the horse’s owner and trainer found a match for the 17-year-old mare in a 13-year-old girl. Mia Farley, who rode her new mount last weekend at that AEC’s, agrees they’re perfect for one another. “We both have our sass parts!” she said. [COTH]

Events Opening Today:

Full Moon Farms H.T. (Marlyand, A-2), Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (California, A-6), Ocala Horse Properties Fall Event (Florida, A-3), River Glen Fall H.T. (Tennessee, A-3), The Fork Horse Trials (North Carolina, A-2), Las Cruces H.T. (New Mexico, A-10), Grass Ridge H.T. (Arizona, A-10), “The Event” at Kelly’s Ford (Virginia, A-2), Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (California, A-6)

Events Closing Today: The Virginia CCI1*, CIC2* and H.T. (Virginia, A-2. Registration for 3-day only closes today), Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event & Team Challenge (Kentucky, Area 8), Paradise Farm H.T. (South Carolina, A-3), Fair Hill International Three-day Event (Maryland, A-2), USEA XENTRY Demo Event (Arizona, A-10)

News:

Forget Obamacare, the government shutdown could impact the horse industry. And not just the postal service delivering your horse’s new blanket. The American Horse Council outlines an overview of potential problems, including freezing USDA quarantine facilities, blocking access to public lands for riding and halting processing of temporary worker visas for the thousands of people our industry relies on. [AHC]

Metallic eyeshadow in eventing? Luxury designer label Polo is bringing the new International Horse Trials to Johannesburg this weekend and the local press offers some tips for spectators at horsey happenings. “Overly glamorous and over-the-top dress codes at a polo match or horse show are a sign that people are not understanding the brief,” one fashion consultant says. “It’s a fashion lifestyle event, not a red carpet event. People need to not only distinguish between day wear and evening wear, but must also make an effort to look more polished by knowing the difference between day make-up and night make-up. No metallic eye shadow, please.” He means for spectators, of course. If you can find matching saddle pads, boots and helmet cover, we see nothing wrong. [SundayWorld]

Flies croaking, but WNV and EEE cases creeping up. Even though some of the nasty little devil’s spawn are freezing to death and we’re trading fly spray for clippers, horses around the country continue to test positive for both Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus, reports thehorse.com. As of last week, there were 139 cases of EEE, and 157 cases of West Nile reported. The totals remain lower than last year. [thehorse.com]

Find a ShowReady Ice System in your trailer when you were unpacking from Texas? Alas, this was not part of an Oprah Winfrey style “Look under your seat! Everyone gets a car!” type- promotion from ShowReady. A helpful friend of vet and instructor Cynthia Wiseman carried the unit back to the trailers and put it in what she thought was Wiseman’s tack room. However, it was the wrong one. If you found one, please let her know at [email protected]. She says her pony is really missing his spa unit.

SmartPak Product of the Day: Is your horse’s blankey still bearing the “customization” scars he and his pasture pals incurred last season? Time to face one of life’s saddest truths: Duct tape is not forever. Instead, the Horseware Blanket Repair Kit comes with everything you need to fill those holes in your pony’s insulation. If only they made a similar kit that would fill the holes in your horse’s training. Or in your memory of exactly what you said three glasses in at the competitors party.

Video of the Day: 

Not seen on the drive back from Texas:

Apparently Baseball Players Are Tougher Than Football Players

By on Sep 30, 2013 10:30 am -

Forget the Gold Watch, Rockies Star Gets Horse as Retirement Gift

 

Unlike fellow pro athlete Eric Berry, (captured quaking in his cleats, muttering “I don’t fool with no horses, boy,” as his equine team mascot trotted by) Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton’s not scared of horses at all.

Which is good, as the team gave him one as a retirement present in a ceremony at his last home game in Denver this week. (VIDEO)

After his daughter threw Helton the ceremonial first pitch of the game, officials walked champion American paint horse A Tru Bustamove down the third based line. Helton, his wife and daughters (who seemed far more excited about the horse than the baseball player) have a ranch.

“We all know that you need more than one horse,” said the announcer, as the gelding approached the Heltons.

And with career earnings of approximately $161,490,00 over 17 seasons, Helton can afford it.

Helton patted the horse with his baseball glove and high-fived teammates.

Then he hit a home run.

Who’s the fool?

Maybe Berry should find a 12-step program for equiphobia.

Best Idea Ever: Presenting Remote Control Jump Cups

By on Sep 29, 2013 9:00 am -

 

Jump alone? Lack working students, a boy/girlfriend eager to build biceps while eating dust, or simply lack the oomph to haul yourself on and off your horse? Then this just might be the high-tech advancement of the century. Or at least the week.

Callum Hunter, a 17-year-old British student, designed a prototype of a motorized jump cup you can adjust with a remote control, reports Horse & Hound. “I spent last summer working for event rider Tom Rowland, and I realized how much time is wasted getting on and off changing jumps, if you don’t have help on the ground,” Callum told H&H.

Officials just announced recipients of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant. How’d they miss this kid? Is it high tech rocket science? Nope. Chains and sprockets, people. Just like the ones I’ve always envisioned automatically raising and lowering standards from the ceiling of the indoor.

Callum’s still working out the bugs, mainly the fact that the motorized contraptions don’t fare so well if your horse repeatedly knocks the pole out of the cup. Surely he’ll have that one solved in time for next year’s grants.

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Sep 24, 2013 12:01 am -

Symphony in B Major

This masterpiece of a new jump at the Alcoa Fairbridge CNC in Perth, Western Australia, leaves us wondering about the A element. World’s largest clarinet? This piano looks like way more fun than the giant F.A.O. Schwartz piano Tom Hanks danced on in “Big.”   Thanks to reader Glenys Davies for sending in the photo. Have a photo to share? Send it to [email protected].

Events Opening Today: MeadowCreek Park Horse Trial (Texas, A-5)

Events Closing Today: Colorado Horse Park Fall Horse Trial (CO, A-9), Greenwood Farm Inc. Fall Horse Trial (TX, A-5), Radnor Hunt Horse Trial (PA, A-2 ), Pine Top October Horse Trial (GA, A-3), The Maryland Horse Trial at Loch Moy Farm (MD, A-2), Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials (TN A-3)

Your Tuesday News: 

New national team competition for grown ups. For those old enough to drink/senior riders, a new national team championship will debut next year along the AECs in Tyler, Texas. The Chronicle of the Horse/U.S. Eventing Association Adult Team Challenge is adding a national party/final to the Challenge, which has been around for longer than many of the junior competitors (20 years). Each area can qualify as many as eight teams to send. [COTH]

Help overcome water obstacle. The USEF is asking fellow horse lovers to help those members of Colorado’s horse community devastated by the recent flooding by contributing to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund. The fund was set up after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina to “help ensure the safety and well being of horses in trying times.” Donations may be made online here, or by mailing a check to to: The United States Equestrian Federation, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.

Waking up naked. Though he may no longer rip the crossties from the walls and head for the hills, your horse may still find body clipping every bit as stressful as those who do act like you’re trying to remove their skin with the Wahls, according to a new study from the U.K. “Quiet acceptance (in well-trained horses) has been rewarded in the past and will tend to override their desire to escape and avoid whatever we are doing to them,” Carol Hall, PhD, researcher and principal lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, told thehorse.com. If “quiet acceptance” is not your steed’s modus operandi, a little cocktail from the vet is a safe way to ease them into a nap, from which they can wake up naked. Or at least trace clipped. [The Horse]

My little (vicious) pony. The Connecticut state supreme court is set to hear a case that could result in horses being classified as a “vicious” species. A few years back, a horse named Scuppy repeatedly bit a kid on the cheek. His father sued the farm’s owners, but lost in a New Haven court. An appellate court overturned the verdict, finding that Scuppy belonged to “a species naturally inclined to do mischief and be vicious.” If upheld by the state’s supreme court, the verdict would be the first in the country to classify horses as a vicious species and could deal a blow to the insurance industry. [BBC]

Sending our Get Well Soon! wishes to Bea diGrazia.  Bea suffered a fall this weekend, but it sounds like she’s on the mend.  From her husband, Derek: “Bea was released from the hospital this evening after having a much better day today. While she has broken her clavicle and a few ribs she remains in good spirits and I know that once some of the pain subsides she will be hard to keep off of her horses.”  

SmartPak Product of the Day: Your riding gloves are for riding. Moving jumps or unloading bales (and bales and bales …) of hay? You want a pair of Heritage Ranch Work Gloves. Made from tough cow leather, these gloves are sewn together with thread made of Kevlar, the key component in U.S. military helmets and vests. The rough suede palms are extra grippy so you can hold your horses – and everything else. [SmartPak]

Arial Grald and Fernhill Cove at Plantation Field from The Horse Pesterer

Pony Shaming: ‘Fess up

By on Sep 23, 2013 9:00 am -

 

 

 

We love them.

Even when they shred their brand new blanket, remove a shoe in the trailer on the way to the show or bite the farrier in the butt while getting their pedicure.

With a (very big) nod to Pascale Lemire and Dog Shaming (the blog! the book!) …

 

… we present Pony Shaming. Send us a snap of your pony coming clean. It’s easy. It’s cathartic. And we are certain in the knowledge: No equine is innocent.

Get out the Sharpie and email your best/worst to [email protected]

A couple examples to get you started:

 

SIGN SAYS:  I destroyed 7 flymasks  this summer. (They’re just not flattering) – Puppy

(Paint) Like a Pony, Moneigh, Moneigh

By on Sep 20, 2013 5:45 pm -

 

Like the best horse people, they just couldn’t limit themselves to one discipline.

The people at ReRun, Inc., who auction off Moneigh paintings by famous racers to raise money for their Thoroughbred rehab, retrain and adoption program, will start offering paintings by equine artists beyond the homestretch.

“We are stepping out of the box and making other breeds and disciplines available to all horse lovers out there,” Mary Simons, Moneigh project coordinator, told COTH. Until now, all of the non profit’s artists have been Thoroughbred racing champs like Cigar and Zenyatta.

Apparently at work in their studios are Rox Dene, a Dutch Warmblood who was Jumper of the 20th Century; Hanoverian dressage star Rosmarin; and Mexican Sport Horse HH Rebozo, who placed fourth in the 2011 World Equestrian Games with Rodrigo Pessoa (who will not be painting). The horses’ paintings can be viewed and bid on from Oct. 1-27 at www.ebay.com; search “moneigh.”

No event horses have taken up the paintbrush yet, but a horse named Rolex W, part of an international champion carriage driving team, is currently working on pieces to be auctioned in October.

 

After Fires, Floods, Colorado Awaits Plague of Locusts

By on Sep 18, 2013 9:00 am -

Rowing across Sally Dalton's cross country course

Colorado eventer Sally Dalton — and her horses — watched in horror as floodwaters tore through the cross country course she had completed just weeks earlier in Longmont, Colorado. Fortunately, her family and animals are safe. “Bye bye cross country course,” she said. “I looked out our window this morning and couldn’t believe when I went down to the field and saw a lake instead.” Left Hand Creek, usually lazy and slow, roared from 20 feet across to 500 feet wide and angry.

The flooding was dramatic and dramatically random. Farms and subdivisions along usually pokey creeks were far more likely to be washed out, though which direction waters rushed was unpredictable. Hardly a mile from Dalton’s course, the Rocky Mountain Horse Trials’ Silo Farms cross country course is merely soggy. “It didn’t even fill the water jumps all the way,” said Course Manager Gayle Udall. Yet another mile away, the footing and fencing at Green Tree Farm’s lower arena are miles downstream, along with eventer Kristie Hunziker’s set of jumps. Who knew you needed to put your name and phone number on your standards? All horses, dogs and chickens there are safe along with the people.

Green Tree outdoor arena "footing"

The rain pummeled Boulder County “in biblical proportions,” according to the National Weather Service. A biblical dose of fire (more “hellfire” then “burning bush”) singed us earlier this year. Why can’t we get biblical proportions of the funner Old Testament faves, like wine, rejoicing and “begetting?”

As we’ve seen across the country when the horse community faces mind boggling events (Super Storm Sandy, FEI rule changes), we rally and help one another. The same’s been true here in Colorado.

At X, Halt, Tread Water.

Area IX eventers are a rugged lot, what with the rocky mountain footing and a competition season that’s 10 minutes long. This year’s season opened with Abbe Ranch Horse Trial, where you could smell the smoke from the massive forest fires incinerating acres upon acres of nearby Black Forest horse country. It will close in a few weeks with championships at the Colorado Horse Park, where Education and Entertainment Director,Vivien Van Buren, said they “were very, very lucky, and hardly had any damage at all.”

The event will go on as scheduled. Between then and now, no doubt, riders will have much more practice riding through water.

Know a direct link to help Colorado’s horse community? Please send it and we’ll post it. In the meantime, ways you can give to HelpColoradoNow.org, a partnership between the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (COVOAD).

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Sep 17, 2013 1:00 am -

Insanity - and a river - in the middle

Colorado eventer Sally Dalton – and her horses – watched in horror as floodwaters tore through the cross country course she completed just weeks ago in Longmont, Colorado. As chinook helicopters continue continue to buzz back and forth from rescue missions, like massive black flies, plucking residents stranded by the 500-year flood, people are just beginning to comprehend the damage. Sally, her family, horses, dogs and chickens are safe. Our hearts go out to those who have not yet reached higher, safer, ground and to those in Washington, D.C., who never will.

Ease random violent acts of mother nature and humanity with non-random acts of help. This week’s news begins with an opportunity for one that probably includes a free sandwich, and definitely includes a great view.

Events Opening Today: Full Gallop Farm Horse Trials (South Carolina, A-3), Galway Downs International Three-Day Event & Horse Trial (California, A-6), The Virginia CCI1*, CIC2* and Horse Trials (Virginia, A-2), Rocking Horse Horse Trials (Florida, A-3), Pine Hill Fall Horse Trials (Texas, A-5).

Events Closing Today: Fair Hill International Three-Day Event (Maryland, Area II), Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event & Team Challenge (Lexington, Area VIII)  CCI, P3D and T3D close today.

News:

Feel powerful. Wear a walkie talkie. Judge champions. The Morven Park Fall Horse Trials in Leesburg, Virginia needs jump judges. The Area II Championships, running beginner novice through advanced, will be held Oct. 4-6. [Volunteer Here]

2013 FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors and Young Riders. “Appalling” weather conditions in France didn’t stop the French from claiming the Junior Individual and Young Rider Team titles. A brave Irish steed named Chuckelberry was part of the Junior Team that splashed through to grab gold. [Horse Canada]

Aussies ban shots. Shots of anabolic steroids, that is. Suggesting they’d ban shots of the alcoholic variety, or bar imbibing of the alcoholic sort is sillier than George Morris on a unicorn. The Australian Racing Board threw down a total ban on the use of anabolic steroids both in and out of competition. Currently, in Australia, anabolic steroids are prohibited in horses only on race day. The new ban, which starts Nov. 1, applies to all thoroughbreds from the age of six months. [Horsetalk]

Forget bareback puissance. How about jump-n-strip? Blenheim riders lose their shirts in masters’ gate jumping challenge. Alas, co-winner Mike Jackson was only made to strip to the waist by the final round, in which he and co-winner Alice Dunsdon (shirted).  Both cleared 5 feet, 8 inches. [Horse & Hound]

Navajos oppose slaughter. This week Navajo Nation elders and medicine people unanimously approved a resolution opposing any action that leads to the slaughter of horses. The resolutions states “The Great Horse Nation is a part of the Great Covenant, as a supernatural being, it possesses incredible power, it is inextricably tied to our spiritual way of life and our cultural traditions… and must be given respect and honored for their sacred place within the Creation as they possess the same fundamental right to Life as we, Five Finger Ones, do.” Navajo Nation. Great Horse Nation. Eventing Nation. If only our groups of five finger ones had more power. [Horsetalk.co.nz]

SmartPak Product of the Day: Yeah, yeah, yeah it’s super-sturdy, spacious, and comes in fashion colors, but a critical feature SmartPak doesn’t mention about the Burlingham Pony Sport Trunk is that it floats! For example, on the off chance floods of biblical proportions roiled your farm’s lazy little stream into a 250-ft. wrath of mud with Class II rapids that surged through your barn, it’s not those lovely, wooden trunks crafted by master cabinet-makers that will be bobbing around in the barn aisle/creek like turds in a toilet when you finally force the barn doors open. It’s the plastic ones. Plus, they make swell life boats for barn cats. Designed for a padlock. Or a rope to tie them to the barn in high tide.

Video: Much more cheerful footage of horses & friends in water than what we’ve been seeing from Colorado:

Thanks HunterJumperBudd!