Eventers Chloe Hood, Molly Tulley and Chelsea Brugza join Bill Hawe of Coyote Spring Farm for one more Gangnam – Eventer – Style for the books.  Thanks to Mary for sending it to us!

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Photo by Samantha Clark

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As mentioned this morning, the equestrian world recently lost one of the great eventing horses of his time, Bruce Davidson’s illustrious partner Eagle Lion.  The Thoroughbred/Irish Sport Horse gelding by Gipfel out of Stream Lion and owned by Dr. George Strawbridge was 27 years old.  Eagle Lion wasn’t the flashiest of horses, and he may not have earned the most blue ribbons, but he had an incredibly solid, if not stellar, record.  With him, Bruce became the first American to win Badminton, in 1995.  The bay gelding backed this up with other top-5 finishes at Burghley (1993), Badminton (1994 and 1998), and a win at Fair Hill CCI*** (1992).  He completed Badminton four times with double-clear cross-country rounds; he placed in the top 15 in ten three- or four-star events in all.

On Friday, I introduced my new prospect, “Rich and Creamy.”  But that name’s gotta go and I need something to call him around the barn.  Tack of the Day has generously teamed up to offer a $125 gift certificate for TOTD products to the reader who submits the winning name.  Over 70 names were submitted, and I’ve narrowed it down to the top 5.  Some names were submitted multiple times, but in the interest of fairness I chose the first person to use it.  Thanks to all who participated!

As a side note…  I loved many of the suggestions, and it was difficult to trim the list to just five.  I really liked “Limited Edition,” but a quick search of the USEA database shows a whopping 14 horses with the name, so I had to pass.  I like “Bailey,” as a couple readers thought of “Bailey’s Irish Creme.”  I’m considering the show name “Altitude,” as it kind of reminds me of his grandsire’s name Aptitude…and a reader suggested “Aero” as a barn name, which would fit nicely.  Also, being from the South, when I read the comment of “R.C.”, my mind immediately thought “…and a Moon Pie.”  Chocolate-colored with a dot of white on his face, Moon Pie might also be a cute show name.  Those are my thoughts– it’s up to you now to decide with popular vote!

If you need a little extra help, here’s a brief video of him trotting around the round pen after he first arrived.

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Don’t forget to visit www.tackoftheday.com every weekday at 12 noon when two new products are posted. You can even sign up for daily reminder emails so you don’t even have to think about when the products change!

And now you can save EVEN MORE with TackoftheDay TOO! Just click the ‘TOO tab on the main TackoftheDay.com page for more chances to save every day. TackoftheDay TOO goodies may be encore productions of TOTD (that’s slang for TackoftheDay.com) items, but more often than not, ‘TOO will feature cool things you’ve not seen before. It’s so worth the extra click!

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Connor Husain and Piece of Hope, third at Jersey Fresh CIC**, champion at NAJYRC CCI**, and winner of Fair Hill CCI**

As John mentioned at the USEA Convention, the 2013 Developing Rider/Eventing 25 list will be chosen from rides (maximum age of 25) who have achieved a qualifying result at the CCI2* level.  David O’Connor will lead the Developing Rider program, which will include a classroom component in addition to lessons under saddle.

The following horses and riders have been chosen by the Eventing Selection Committee and approved by the Eventing High Performance Committee, to take part in training sessions in Gilroy, California and Ocala, Florida.   The list has some familiar names (I think Connor Husain was pretty expected!) and some new faces, including “talent-spotted” Lauren Lambert and Honour Mission.

California Training Session
The following combinations have been selected to participate in training sessions generously hosted by Flying Tail Farms at Red Fox Farm in Gilroy, CA January 21-24:

Zachary Brandt (Thousand Oaks, CA) and his own Cavallino Cocktail
Cavallino Cocktail is a 2002 Irish Sport Horse mare

Marc Grandia (Onalaska, WA) and Daniel and Shirley Aronson’s Parker
Parker is a 2001 Thoroughbred gelding

Katherine Groesbeck (Temecula, CA) and her own Oz the Tin Man
Oz the Tin Man is a 1997 Anglo-Arabian gelding

Teresa Harcourt (Penn Valley, CA) and her own Bonza Twist of Fate
Bonza Twist of Fate is a 1999 Irish Thoroughbred gelding

Avery Klunick (Midland, TX) and her own and Chip Klunick’s In It to Win It
In It to Win It is a 2000 New Zealand Sport Horse gelding

Jordan Lindstedt (Redmond, WA) and her own Revitavet Capato
Revitavet Capato is a 2003 Hanoverian gelding

Mackenna Shea (Tacoma, WA) and her own Landioso
Landioso is a 2002 Bavarian Warmblood gelding

Florida Training Session

The following combinations have been selected to participate in training sessions generously hosted by Meredyth South in Ocala, FL January 27-February 1:

Nora Battig (Granite Bay, CA) and her own Steppin’ Out
Steppin’ Out is a 2005 Trakehner/Thoroughbred mare

Danielle Dichting (Roswell, GA) and her own The Graduate
The Graduate is a 1998 Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding

Jacob Fletcher (North Little Rock, AR) and Fletcher Farms’ The Prof
The Prof is a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Connor Husain (Great Falls, VA) and his own and Leslie and Najaf Husain’s Piece of Hope
Piece of Hope is a 1999 Swedish Warmblood gelding

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, VA) and Jacqueline Mars’ Cosima 201

Cosima 201 is a 2005 Holsteiner mare

Lauren Lambert (Goshen, KY) and Sally Abell’s Honour Mission*
Honour Mission is a 2001 Thoroughbred gelding

Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, IL) and her own Pirate
Pirate is a 2002 Thoroughbred gelding

Caitlin Silliman (Chestertown, MD) and her own Catch A Star
Catch A Star is a 2000 Holsteiner/Thoroughbred mare

Lizzie Snow (Milwaukie, OR) and Kathryn Rosson and Diane Snow’s Coal Creek
Coal Creek is a 2000 Thoroughbred gelding

Kendyl Tracy (Aurora, CO) and A Bit of Tack’s Ever So Lucky
Ever So Lucky is a 1999 Thoroughbred mare

Florida Alternates

1. Jenny Caras (Marietta, GA) and her own Fernhill Stowaway

Fernhill Stowaway is a 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding

2. Lindsey Oaks (Lexington, KY) and David Oaks and Bobby Faircloth’s Enchantez

Enchantez is a 2000 Thoroughbred gelding

3. Elinor MacPhail (Bluemont, VA) and Sally Crane’s RF Eloquence

RF Eloquence is a 2005 Holsteiner gelding

4. Kaitlin Spurlock (Lovettsville, VA) and her own Expedience

Expedience is a 1997 Thoroughbred gelding

5. Alexandra Green (Louisville, TN) and Paul Green’s Fernhill Cubalawn

Fernhill Cubalawn is a 2003 Holsteiner gelding

Any changes to this list and more information, about the 2013 Developing Riders/ Eventing 25 Program will be posted on:

 Meet my new project horse: “Rich and Creamy”

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What else could you want for Christmas than a new horse?  This week, I got a new project: a 3 year-old OTTB named “Rich and Creamy.”  Just barely 16h, quite skinny, and a bit neglected, “project” is the key word. I was not especially hopeful at first sight…but I was struck by his calm, likeable attitude and how he used himself at the trot.  Despite kids jumping on a trampoline 20 feet away, he stood his ground and watched them curiously.    Using some imagination, I saw how he could turn into a nice horse with some patience, food, and good care.

The gelding vetted clean, and the price was reasonable.  The former owner delivered him to me in an old stock trailer, wearing 1990s-edition Toklat shipping boots that barely reached from knee to pastern.  The horse loaded and unloaded without a fuss in the old steel step up, ignoring the loosely-velcroed shipping boots falling under his hind heels.  He settled quietly in my round pen, and due to lack of room (and flooded stalls) I soon moved him in to a paddock with my other young gelding.  The two were instant friends, sharing a pile of hay and playing.

Rich and Creamy is by Grey Beard, a forgettable bay son of Unbridled’s Song.  How forgettable?  Almighty Google can’t seem to find a photo, and though the stallion was last known to be standing at Win Rich Farm in Indiana, they don’t have a page or photo of him on their site.  Grey Beard earned $178,000, and his best stakes result was third in a G3 on the turf at Arlington.  With such a record, Grey Beard probably wasn’t popular in the breeding shed, and pedigreequery.com has him listed as siring only 8 foals.  So it appears I have a limited-edition model!  Normally I am skeptical of Unbridled’s Song in a pedigree:  his offspring are notoriously athletic but possibly unsound.  However, Grey Beard seems to buck the trend, boasting 38 starts over six years, showing some durability, and hopefully he passes that on to his get.

Rich and Creamy’s dam, Champagnekiss, is a daughter of Aptitude (by A.P. Indy).  Aptitude used to stand at Juddmonte, but was moved to South America and recently passed away; Rich and Creamy has a fair resemblance to him.  I’ve always been attracted to the A.P. Indy line: many of them are well-balanced, smart, and talented.  Digging back a little farther in the pedigree, Rich and Creamy has some names to suggest jumping ability and athleticism, with Fappiano (through Unbridled), Caro, Northern Dancer, and Buckpasser in the fourth generation.  He’s actually inbred 4Sx4Dx5D to Northern Dancer, and 4Sx5D to Buckpasser.

All that’s nice, but you don’t ride paper.  While a flop on the track ($870 in 6 starts), Rich and Creamy will decide for himself what he can do, when we get to that point.  He appears to be a good mover, with an elastic trot and free swinging back.  Let’s hope he likes to jump!  I’ll be posting updates on his progress as the winter goes on.

First thing’s first: Rich and Creamy needs a name.  Though I try to keep a horse’s registered name, I’ve been blessed with some doozies that just had to go (my old guy is AQHA registered as “If I Had A Rider.” Gee, thanks!).  The best I can figure, “Rich and Creamy” is named so because of his breeder, Richard Pardue of Win Rich Farm, who seems to name his horses with “Rich” in the title.  Ok, lots of breeders have a naming system.  But really… Rich and Creamy?!  Please help me come up with a name for this cute little guy.  At least a barn name.  I don’t want to call him Rich.  Or Creamy.  I might stick with a food-related or chocolate-themed name, or try to work in his pedigree.  Any thoughts?

Submit your suggestions in the comment section by 12/16/12 at midnight; I’m primarily looking for a barn name, but show names are also welcome.  The winner will receive a $125 gift certificate that can be used for any TackoftheDay.com products, so between your last minute squeeze to get those last few holidays gifts and surviving that final trip to the grocery store you still have to make, get your thinking caps on for some creative names!

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In case you avid EN fans don’t know much about our next generous sponsor, I’m just going to give you the low down on where to find great deals: TackoftheDay.com.

These guys have stuff for prices so low… it should be illegal. I mean, when was the last time you heard of a blanket for under $100 during a time of year your horse actually needed it??

It’s simple…just visit www.tackoftheday.com every weekday at 12 noon when two new products are posted. You can even sign up for daily reminder emails so you don’t even have to think about when the products change!

And now you can save EVEN MORE with TackoftheDay TOO! Just click the ‘TOO tab on the main TackoftheDay.com page for more chances to save every day. TackoftheDay TOO goodies may be encore productions of TOTD (that’s slang for TackoftheDay.com) items, but more often than not, ‘TOO will feature cool things you’ve not seen before. It’s so worth the extra click!

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Here’s a wonderful picture sent to us from Robyn DeVaney.  There’s nothing like a good horse show mom to provide love and support through our sport!

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From Robyn:

I completed my first recognized event just a few weeks ago! I went to the Pine Top Thanksgiving Horse Trial and finished 2nd in the Open Beginner Novice. I wanted to share this picture by Becca Macanas taken of my mom and me after I finished cross country. It was a really special moment for me because my mom is the one who has supported me and helped me along in my horse career. My full recount of the weekend is posted on my blog here but I mainly wanted to share this photo. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Eventing Nation is thrilled to announce some big news from Sinead Halpin Eventing.   In addition to her wonderful group of sponsors, Sinead would also like to thank  Flexineb, the nebulizer that helped Tate overcome a respiratory infection to be healthy at Hartpury and Burghley.  We’re excited to follow Sinead, Tate, and Cue on their journey next year (and beyond!).  If you would like to learn more about the new syndicate opportunity, check out Sinead’s page at ExperienceEventing.com.

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From Sinead:

This year has been a very exciting year for Team S.H.E and the excitement just keeps coming! The highs and lows of our Sport is what build the relationship between horse and rider as well as the relationships within the members of that horse/rider team. One must enjoy the journey but sometimes it’s really nice to get where you’re going!  We have decided to link both ends of that journey by pairing up On Cue and Manoir De Carneville in a truly spectacular syndicate!

I was lucky enough to be meet Tate back in 2007 and to be supported in our adventures by Carrig LLC and Jim Cogdell. Then this summer I was fortunate enough to find On Cue and with the help of Kristin Michaloski and Mrs. Pesce I was able to add her to our Team.  I am so fortunate that in working with Carrig, Kristin and those involved in the Event Owners Task Force we have come up with a model in blending these two horses together. Our goal is to provide the owners in the syndicate the chance to get involved in the exciting changes in our sport at the top level as well as being involved in the journey of a youngster that will hopefully thrive in TEAM USA’s new vision!

I plan on aiming Tate toward Rolex CCI **** in an effort to support USA Eventing and allow our new syndicate a chance to watch their horse up close and personal. I would then aim him toward the WEG test event, Haras Du Pins in France. The cool thing about this is, the organizers of this event actually bred Tate! This year Cue will work solidifying her foundation at the Preliminary level with hopes of by 2014 getting started at the Advanced level. That time line will have her able to compete at the two Nations Cups in 2015, one being Aachen and the next being Boekelo in the Netherlands. This will have her on the path to RIO alongside her seasoned companion, Tate.

These plans are always made in pencil but writing down your goals makes your dreams achievable. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to ride these two outstanding athletes and the possibility of having an outstanding team involved in our journey makes the future look bright!

From Leslie Wylie and our sister site Horse Nation:

It’s mid-December, and while we haven’t had a snowfall yet in Kentucky, the air is getting colder and mornings are blanketed in frost.  While winter isn’t my favorite season, nothing beats a fun ride in the snow.  The horses love it too!  See this silly gelding, who loves to make snow angels!

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Here’s a helmet cam and commentary from Natalie Blundell riding Algebra at Adelaide CCI**** 2012.  The pair finished in second place behind Craig Barrett and Sandhills Brillaire.  [Adelaide CCI4* Results]

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It’s December 12th, and despite Mayan predictions, the world has not yet come to an end.  (Or, maybe it has, but like everything else, we’re 20 years behind here in Kentucky.)  Which means…you still have time to enter SmartPak’s Deck the Halls & Stalls Christmas Contest!  Better hurry, though, as it ends in three days on December 15.

The challenge:  Decorate your halls & stalls with fabulous equestrian holiday décor, take a photo, and send it to [email protected] by midnight December 15.

The prizes: Grand winner receives free month’s supply of SmartPaks valued up to $75, and the runner up will receive a free month’s supply of SmartPaks valued up to $50!

Don’t get Grinched this Christmas… go decorate your stall and send in the photo!

Lisa Bauman sent us a link to her helmet cam schooling cross-country with Arvo at MeadowCreek Park.   Thanks, Lisa!  

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From Lisa:

This is Arvo aka Giving You The Business schooling Training/Prelim at MeadowCreek Park in Kosse, Texas (Area V). Arvo is a 7 yr old saddlebred gelding bred by Audrey Miles. He is ridden/owned by Lisa Bauman of Austin Eventing.

Arvo has competed at Training and is excited to move to Prelim this coming 2013 show season. Arvo is a barn favorite and quite the character. His work ethic is one of the finest I have had the pleasure to be partnered with. In case you were wondering, his XC colors are black and yellow.

While schooling XC in December is fabulous, we are all looking forward to the 2013 show season and the fun times that will be had!

Look for the black and yellow out on course this coming year! Ride on!

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EN blogger finalist Yvette Seger is back with more Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City.  Yvette will always be remembered for the famous Insane Walmart Ride, and we welcome her contributions to Eventing Nation.

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From Yvette:

Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City:  The Single in the Stable Edition

Priorities, people…priorities!

Hello Eventing Nation!  Hopefully all of you who were able to venture out to Colorado for the USEA Annual Meeting have made it home safely and are getting back into the groove.  Me?  I spent the weekend hanging out here in DC enjoying one last free weekend before …

The Great Onslaught of Holiday Parties.

Now, now…before you all proclaim me as the Uncle Scrooge of Eventing, let me clarify.  I like parties as much as the next Eventer, and find myself with plenty of party options each holiday season.  And, here in the Nation’s Capital, we get an extended party season every four years, so lots of opportunities for food, drink, and funtivities (yeah, I totally made that up).  But we all know that holiday parties come with their own social landmines for eventers.    For example, I present Exhibit A:  The Barn Party.  While it’s nice to see everyone all cleaned up and in less revealing pants, I always find it a bit challenging to identify people without their helmets.  And if there’s dancing involved?  Seriously, after seeing some of the videos to come out of the Annual Meeting, USEA really should consider requiring medical armbands for the jumping phases AND dancing!  But I digress…

My biggest beef with the holiday season?  The dreaded “Dr. Seger and Guest” invitations.

Before I go any further, let me reassure all of you fine EN readers that I am a-ok with being single.  As an only child, I’m pretty cool about hanging out with myself and have come up with some interesting ways to keep myself (and let’s face it, you guys) entertained and, quite miraculously, out of jail (Exhibit B:  Wal-Mart Cross Country).  I also realize that I’m a workaholic pain in the rear who is either in the office, the car, or the saddle with the few hours in between those activities spent walking courses (I’m a little obsessed) or maybe sleeping.  To put it bluntly – I’m just not dating material.

Anyway, any party that comes with the “and guest”  invitation is usually one of which I am wary.  Does the organizer think the shindig will be so boring that I need a guest to keep me from spiking the punch?  Or are they just curious to see who I’ll cajole from the deep dark depths of my Facebook friends list to attend with me?  And what if I just show up with only me, myself, and I?  Is it rude?  Is it scandalous?  Can I eat and drink two people’s worth?

Upon hearing these concerns, my well-meaning friends are quick to suggest individuals with whom I might have some “chemistry” (translation:  “we don’t think you’ll scare him off in 2 hours”).  And while it would be nice to have my own little Equestrian Ryan Gosling to pay the entry fees and wipe my boots before trotting up the centerline, let’s face it, the only thing that’s getting hitched in my world is the horse trailer.  Which leads me to this week’s tip:

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Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City #19:

If you’re a single eventer living in an itty-bitty apartment in the city, you undoubtedly have family members, friends, coworkers, etc. who are OBSESSED with setting you up and getting you to settle down. One solution is to give your horse a “human” name (if it doesn’t have one already), so that you start talking about this fabulous “guy” or “girl” who just makes you really, really happy and then everyone will back off and leave you alone.  Just be sure to leave out details like, “I had to beat Roger over the coop” or “I had to spur him on to make sure we finished in time,” or else people will just think you’re in a freakishly abusive relationship.

From Lauren:

Your Weekly “Why Does My OTTB (insert weird quirk here)?” Q&A

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I sit here, damp around the edges, wet pony trial dripping onto my shirt, having just come in for a brief reprieve from another day of pouring Kentucky rain.  That Elvis Presley song of the same name really didn’t do justice to the cold, dreary dampness that is liquid sunshine in the bluegrass.   Neither here nor there, though. We are t-minus 11 days from the fables Mayan end of the world and, assuming we survive that, only FIFTEEN days away from Christmas.  I hope you have all of your shopping almost done and hopefully it even includes something new with a set of hooves.  Now that you hopefully have a newly minted OTTB in your barn, ask all the questions your mind can drum up, enjoy the latest reader quandaries over a tall Gingerbread Latte, and try to stay warm and dry out there.

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I’ve had several Thoroughbreds over the years. All were off the track, but I didn’t get them directly off the track. I’m now planning to get an OTTB, directly (or nearly so) off the track. Should I go to an auction? Or use the CANTER type websites? Where do I find auctions? How do I find racetracks? Can I just go to the backside and ask if anyone has a horse for sale? (contributed by an EN reader Longing for Answers)

While auctions offer the lowest prices to be found on OTTB’s, you often are forced to buy with no knowledge of that horse’s history, soundness, or demeanor.  Vetting is typically not commonplace and I really try to discourage anyone from buying any horse without vetting it first.  It always seems that the free horses end up costing the most money in the long run, especially when it comes to keeping them sound.  Auctions, especially those notorious for selling to killer buyers, are primarily located in New Holland, PA , Cranbury, NJ, and Sugarcreek, OH however auctions can be found in almost every state with enough sleuthing.  Again, I do not recommend going this route but I certainly know of nice horses acquired in this manner as well.  I do recommend websites like CANTER, New Vocations, The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and The Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.  One of the hazards of buying from the above organizations if you are not located near their home bases is that the buying must often be done sight unseen.  I do not think this is necessarily a bad thing or ill-advised but extra precautions must be taken to ensure that the horse fits your needs from a soundness and personality stand point.  Reaching out to individuals that are in the area (via COTH, Facebook, or the organization itself) is the best course of action when considering a purchase sight unseen.  Also be aware that adoption may require the signing of a contract that may limit your ability to resell the horse.  Again, I do not recommend going this route (sight unseen) but I certainly know of nice horses acquired in this manner as well.

There are several organizations that profit to one degree or another off of rehoming horses from auction such as AC4H and Camelot Horses Weekly.  Proceed with caution when dealing with these organizations but they are a resource for finding cheap horses nonetheless.  There are racetracks in almost half of the states and a map of their locations can be found HERE.  Some racetracks will allow you to visit the backside in search of horses for sale and some will not.  If you do, especially with trailer in tow, expect to be inundated with prospects and swarmed by desperate people trying to unload horses.  This practice is really rather commonplace, especially if you know someone at that racetrack, and often produces great results but again, VETTING. IS. A. MUST.  If the owner and/or trainer will not let you vet the horse or attempts to discourage your from doing so, there is a reason.

Another resource is your local CraigsList.  Here in Kentucky, there are literally at least one hundred posts of horses for sale per day but a quick search of (your non-horsey location’s) CraigsList returns 31 results when the term ‘Thoroughbred’ is searched and 1500 results when the term ‘Horse’ is searched.  There are even notification applications that you can download onto a smartphone that will alert you when new listings with those keywords are posted.  Often, auctions will be posted on CraigsList as well or you can post a query about when and where auctions will be occurring and often get a prompt response.  Really, great horses can be found in every nook and cranny of the horse world.  Auctions do not necessarily only house broken down horses but be prepared to take a vet with you if you are serious about pursing this option.

Be advised that CANTER and similar organizations ARE NOT rescue operations.  The horses that they list, unless otherwise specified, have simply lived out their usefulness as racehorses and are searching for new homes.  Most are not in any sort of “danger” and are not destined to end up on a plate or in a can.  Camelot Horses Weekly and AC4H are more ‘rescue type’ organizations as those horses are already at auctions where killer buyers are usually present.  However, these organizations have often times already purchased the horses that they list and are reselling them for a small profit.  Bottom line, the best place for an amateur to look for an OTTB is through a REHOMING organization (not to be confused with RESCUE) such as CANTER or New Vocations.  If you are going to pursue another option such as actually at a track or an auction, I highly recommend hiring your trainer and vet for the day and having them advise you throughout the search process.

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The other day I met a TB currently being boarded at my barn.  She is being used as a broodmare because she isn’t sound enough to be in regular work. I was told she had been “pin-fired” on the track due to an injury. Both her front cannon bones had little hairless circles all over them. Is this a common procedure? I’ve heard of nerve blocks for people with chronic back pain, is it similar? (contributed by EN reader Curiosity Commons) 

Pin-firing, or “thermocautery,” is a procedure that involves inserting a red-hot metal poker into an injured area, typically the “bucked” shin of a young racehorse, and thus creating a significant inflammatory response that is considered to speed healing negligibly. It is a practice that was as common place 20 years ago as the administration Lasix is today and it generally felt to be archaic, barbaric, and ineffectual and has duly fallen out of favor but does still happen from time to time. These days I see perhaps 1 in 100 young horses pin-fired and that is still too many but the old timers refuse to let some traditions die. However, AAEP’s official position on thermocautery is that it “may have therapeutic value for certain conditions in the horse. When applied judiciously and in conjunction with appropriate analgesia and aftercare, the AAEP considers the modality an acceptable form of therapy in cases that have proven refractory to conventional treatment.”  Thankfully, most pin-fired horses have no long-term soundness effects from the practice. I would suspect that the broodmare at your barn was unsound for riding for another reason. While symmetrical patterns of scarring on the shins are often the biggest indicator of pin-firing, scarring can also be found on hocks, splints, and other bony areas. Hairless circles are not often seen and may indicate recent or incorrect pin-firing. Pin-firing does not have any analgesic effects and is often far more painful than the injury itself. Bottom line, pin-firing is, in my opinion, a bit of an eyesore but should not be seriously considered as a negative when looking to purchase or campaign an OTTB. However, in purchasing a horse for resale keep in mind that it may be off-putting to some buyers.

My retired OTTB eventer Skye Masterson (aka Victor) has always displayed an interesting ‘quirk’ especially at shows. Luckily, he always waited until his tack was off, but I recall many-a-time when we were walking over to check scores and all of a sudden I would feel a tug on the lead rope. Yup, there he was, happily rolling around in the only mud on the whole property, on the path to the secretary’s office. Lots of concerned bystanders would shriek “omg, is he colicking?!”,  I could only laugh as he would stand up and have a shake, and then happily continue down the path, now a lovely shade of muck. Have you met other horses with this weird habit?  (contributed by EN reader Laura Aird)

You are not alone.  My Intermediate horse WILL act like he is colicking until allowed to roll after each and every ride. The groundsmen at the KY Horse Park hate to see him coming and aren’t thrilled about the footing damage that his always-present digging dance inflicts prior to his ceremonious flopping and rolling. Often, racehorse training centers will feature either sand pits or simply round pens with sand footing that racehorses will be led to after exercise to roll around.  It is a common belief and one that I share that it is good for their backs and necks to spend a few moments non-vertical and be allowed to stretch and cavort as they see fit.

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I do hope that some of my answers to the questions above been enlightening and even a little laughter-inducing.  I encourage you (PLEASE! Even if you think they are stupid questions!) to send any further, horse-specific or general-knowledge questions to me via email ([email protected]) for more in-depth and on-point answer.  The EN response has been great and I look forward to fielding more thought-provoking questions each week!  Go Eventing and go gallop a former racehorse.

Who knew you could suffer a rotational fall while trying to trot over a rock?    Think it’s easy trying to make a horse walk?  Try this game, and appreciate how coordinated they really are.  Use the “H, J, K, L” keys to control the legs.  Impulsion and balance will seem very important!   After hours of playing, I have only once climbed the Big Mountain– and it only got worse from there.  How far can you make it?? Let us know in the comment section!

Click here to play: http://www.foddy.net/CLOP.html

Warning: EN is not liable for decreased productivity at work!  

I seem to have the most luck using a trot or passage sequence (HJ/KL), though I am always foiled by the rocks on the mountain.  Long live the tranter?

Enjoy this combo speed class: a grand prix show jumper paired with a pony jumper in a race against the clock.  Ponies speed show jumping?  Just look at those cute little knees!
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“And it’s RUDOLPH by a NOSE!”  See what happened on Nov 28 when three deer wound up in the middle of the track at The Meadows as a harness race was about to begin.
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EN blogger finalist Yvette Seger is back with more Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City.  Yvette will always be remembered for the famous Insane Walmart Ride, and we welcome her contributions to Eventing Nation.

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From Yvette:

Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City:  The Lunch Lady Edition

This poster is the reason why Pony Clubbers are awesome!

(Photo courtesy of Seneca Valley Pony Club member Hannah Recknor, captain of the “Hairnetting Hipsters” team at the 2012 Capital Region Dressage Rally)

WHAZZZZZZZUP EVENTING NATION??!!!???

Erm…sorry…I must have hit the caffeine a bit hard today at the office.

Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m 5 weeks out from my last competition of 2012, and I’m much closer to attaining insanity that I was when I was galloping at solid objects framed by red flags on the right and white flags on the left.  See, for nine months of the year, “I’m starting a new project,” means that someone’s handed me the reins to a nice beastie that is a little short on work.  During the dark, dreary days of winter, however, that phrase usually translates to, “Hey, we’ve got this big mamma-jamma contract that needs to be fulfilled, and oh, by the way, the client is expecting 50 gajillion data points in two days.” *Sigh*  Makes competing a stubby-legged pony in an Open Novice division here in Area II look like a cakewalk.  (And yes, my dear Twix-pony, mommy loves you…stubby little legs and all!)

To keep myself from going totally bonkers, I use this downtime from events to get everything organized for next season.  Thus far, I’ve managed to get all the competition saddlepads washed and put away (read: stuffed in a bag in the corner of my apartment), cleaned and stored what seems like 50 pairs of brushing boots (really, only 8 pairs, and they’re stuffed into the trunk of my car), and taken the obligatory end of season shower with my cross country vest (hopefully the apple scent will fade a bit, otherwise I fear that the aforementioned stubby-legged pony might confuse it with a treat.)

With my dressage coat at the cleaners until I scrounge up enough cash to pay the piper remember to actually pick it up and my first competition of 2013 a few months away, I figured it was safe to venture into (dum-dum-duuuuuum) the garment bag Pocket of Doom.  (Don’t judge, people – you KNOW have random/unidentifiable crap in your garment bags, too!)  This year’s adventure into the Pocket of Doom yielded 1 abandoned sock, a balled up pair of gloves, 11 safety pins, and 7 hairnets.

Ahhh, hairnets!  The bane of my existence!  The ones that are small enough actually fit my miniscule cranium are too wussy to hold up to a rider’s demands, while the overpriced versions sold in tack shops seem to be made to accommodate a Hollywood starlet’s head full of hair extensions (yes, I’m self-conscious of my scrawny locks).  Throughout my riding career, I’ve tried to contain my wispy blonde ponytail using pretty much every hairnet option on the market, with mixed results.  Which brings me to this week’s tip…

Tip for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City #18:

While it’s true that hairnets are an essential part of every long-haired eventer’s existence (or should be, you sloppy punks), I strongly recommend that you do not engage in conversations with food service personnel (aka “lunch ladies“) about hairnet brands, durability or fit. Trust me, they will think you’re mocking them, and it won’t end well for you (or your food).

I hope everyone is able to enjoy this unseasonably warm weather!  Here’s a video from a clinic with Stephen Bradley at Spring Run Farm in Prospect, KY.  The jumping portion begins at about 2:10. (Day 1 was featured in this morning’s News & Notes.)

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From Lauren:

Your Weekly “Why Does My OTTB (insert weird quirk here)?” Q&A

Where did the year go!?  I am absolutely stunned to be sitting here on DECEMBER FREAKING THIRD.  We are only five months away from Rolex!  The Kentucky Derby winner is out there somewhere with only six months until his (or maybe even her) big day.  Christmas, assuming the Mayan’s weren’t correct all along about that whole December 21^st thing, is only twenty-two days away.  In the spirit of the year coming to a close, I have finally caught up on my email answering this week and all of the questions from this this column that found their way to my inbox have finally been answered.  Thank you for your patience, keep those inquiries a-coming, and enjoy the latest reader quandaries over a tall glass of Eggnog, or Peppermint Schnapps, or whatever it is you drink on Monday mornings.

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Chompers likes to put everything in his mouth, including people (working on that problem) when he is bored, and I’m looking for ideas to keep him entertained in his stall at night this winter! He lives out spring/summer/fall but I’m in Canada and once the weather gets bad here he’ll be staying in at night since it just can get too cold and miserable to have him out at night. Any suggestions on keeping his boredom at bay would be great!  (contributed by EN reader Jackie Bradshaw)

Stall toys are very common at the track and serve many purposes from curtailing boredom to discouraging cribbing, to providing an outlet for frustration and aggression.  Sometimes they are hung on the outside of the stall, sometimes in the center or back of the stall, and sometimes they are thrown on the floor.  Their location seems to vary most based upon the structure of the stall. Some stalls at training barns have solid metal screen doors and do not allow for the horses to stick their heads out, thus negating a front-of-the-stall placement.  I have found that jolly balls thrown on the floor often get trampled upon and ultimately deflated so it is my suggestion that they be hung somewhere in the stall if at all possible.  Some other variations of stall toys include milk jugs with holes cut in them strung upon a stall chain, one of Uncle Jimmy’s Hangin’ Balls hung in the middle of the stall as rafters allow, knotted ropes similar to dog toys attached firmly to the wall, used jugs with treats in them and holes just barely big enough for one treat to escape occasionally, and even items like the Likit Tongue Twister.  Good luck in busting your pony’s boredom this winter and for the sake of your boredom, I hope the NHL gets things worked out!!

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Dirt Squirrel just adores getting dirty!  The quirkiest part about his dirt obsession is that whenever you put him in a new stall–whether it be at a show or a new stall ‘at home’–he must roll in it. This is doubly true if put in a stall after getting off the trailer. Neck slinkies and sheets have saved me a lot of time grooming before shows but it’s still hard getting the shavings out of his ears at times!  (contributed by EN reader Danielle Heidt) 

It sounds as though Mr. Dirt Squirrel may be sort of ‘marking his territory’ but rolling to ensure that his scent is plastered on every stall surface available.  Stallions will often immediately roll when turned out or brought in and can even been observed rubbing their sides against walls in the stalls and gates and fences in the field to mark their territory via scent.  We have all seen our horses blow into each other’s nostrils like fire breathing dragons even if they have known each other for years and the role that smell plays in a horses environment is often downplayed and nearly forgotten.  It is not surprising that your pony is even more compelled to spread his scent around when arriving at a new location.  He just has to make sure that any resident horses know that His Royal Highness has entered the building.  Good luck keeping Mr. Dirt Squirrel clean and keeping those ears shavings free!

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Thing One and Thing Two have both always been nuts about taking the bit in a good way! As soon as you pick up the bridle, both horses are hunting for the bit with their mouths wide open. It’s great because you never have to get your finger slimy begging them to take the bit, but they can be slightly hazardous in their enthusiasm. They came from different barns, so I don’t think it was a barn specific training. Is there something track wide that would cause this behavior? (contributed by EN reader Melinda Sadler)

There are certainly worse problems to have with OTTB’s! Some readers write in complaining that their horses are so staunchly opposed to taking the bit that they have had to take up yoga to master the contortions necessary to achieve bit placement.  While most racing barns don’t do anything special to encourage horses to take the bits, there are a couple of practices that could have encourage your critters to be so enthusiastic with their bit acceptance. Firstly, most tack is kept in a climate-controlled tack room.  Warm bits in the winter make ALL the difference when is comes to how much resistance a horse will put up before being bridled.  I swear I have seen bits get so cold that horses tongues have stuck to them before.  It reminds me of that kid in A Christmas Story only with a bridle hanging out of the horse’s mouth by the bit!  Also, as silly as it seems, some barns will cleanse their bits with those anti-bacterial, peppermint-flavored wipes that they make like these Horse Amour Bit Wipes or they will dip the bit in Chlorahexidine solution to cleanse it and then wipe it with the inside paper of an empty feed bag giving it sort of a molasses flavor.  Beyond flavoring the bit, it is possible that once upon a time you horses were both a bit resistant to taking the bit and that fed-up grooms used whatever tactics necessary to discourage your ponies from wasting their precious time at 4 or 5 am.  Both positive and negative reinforcement are commonplace on the race track and both seem to be equally as effective in encouraging recalcitrant horses to accept bits NOW not later.  I hope this helps and maybe put some of those wipes on your Christmas List!

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I do hope that some of my answers to the questions above been enlightening and even a little laughter-inducing.  I encourage you (PLEASE! Even if you think they are stupid questions!) to send any further, horse-specific or general-knowledge questions to me via email ([email protected]) for more in-depth and on-point answer.  The EN response has been great and I look forward to fielding more thought-provoking questions each week!  Go Eventing and go gallop a former racehorse.

View from the front door, photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

My husband and I recently moved from a Lexington townhouse to a small apartment inside a hay barn.  To some, this may seem like a downgrade in living arrangements.  To us, it’s paradise.

Anyone that knows me knows I’m not too picky about my living space.  For six years, I lived happily in a single wide trailer with “critters” in the walls…but I got to live and work with my horses.  Nothing beats the view out your window with your horse grazing happily under a tree.  Rolling out of bed in your pjs to do morning chores, the ability to check on them any time of day… I love the convenience and peace of mind living on the property with my horses.

This particular property is not ours…we’ve leased it all summer for the hay, and this fall the owner has allowed us to move in and bring the horses along.  We were worried about the size of the apartment– it’s very small– but it’s beautifully finished with interior woodwork.  After settling in, you don’t feel cramped in any way.  There is a mysterious lack of kitchen sink (?!!) which means you must plan ahead for cooking and cleaning (and use lots of paper plates and plastic forks).  Still, all that is forgotten when you have 400 acres to play, work, and care for.

My horses have taken a similar drop in digs, not that they mind.  No fancy stalls, no indoor (though it was tiny), no run-in shed, no auto waterers.  There is a small barn with two stalls and a tack area, but it desperately needs a roof (it leaks like a sieve).  I carry buckets of water, water jugs, and drag long hoses…this will not be fun as the winter gets colder, but I’ve done it before.  I’m working mostly out of my trailer; you don’t realize how much stuff you have accumulated until it’s time to move!

The horses have settled in fine.  They have paddocks and grass and that’s all they care about.  They also have excellent hay, conveniently!  Since the space is available, I welcomed back my old one-star horse, now 20, who has been leased for the last 8 years.  His rider is off to vet school and misses him very much, but it’s nice to see his happy face again every day and he makes a great babysitter.

Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

What I’ve had to give up in barn amenities is more than made up for in the place I get to ride.  Over 400 acres of rolling terrain, mostly open fields with some wooded trails.  Of course I have to stay off the hay fields during the summer, but I can ride lightly anywhere throughout the winter.  My young horse really needs the hacking experience, and there’s no better place to do it than here.  In my mind, I’m secretly building a cross-country course all over the place…that won’t happen, but I’m sure I can arrange for a few logs here and there on the field edges.

Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

Of course, living with horses isn’t easy.  And it means that you don’t take vacations…I won’t be able to make trips south with my husband on our Florida hay deliveries, and our holiday family visits will have to be short.  But there’s nothing better than looking over your horses in the morning, riding whenever you like, and maybe going fishing at the end of the day.  It allows my husband and I to spend all day together– for some couples, that may not be a good thing, but it works very well for us.  It’s so nice not to have to drive anywhere twice a day– especially when gas prices get to $4/gal.  Occasionally you miss walking across the street to the gas station to grab a gallon of milk (the nearest grocery store is now 25+min), but we’re the type of people who can live on the farm and not go anywhere for days…there’s no reason to leave when you’re happy where you are.

Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

All photos kindly taken in August by Shelly at Ivegotyourpicture.com.

It’s a wonderful thing that Youtube now allows uploads greater than 10 minutes…and even better that it now hosts full-length movies.  When I was about eight, I remember having a sleep over at my friend’s house, playing with our Breyers, eating ice cream, and watching all sorts of horsie movies.   We spent hours “racing” our Breyers (Secretariat vs Man O’War) around the house with makeshift bridles and arguing over whose turn it was to use Brenda as the jockey (Barbies just aren’t made for riding!).  While I don’t race my Breyers anymore, it’s still nice to watch an old movie now and then… like this one, Phar Lap.