Become an Eventing Nation Blogger
After taking a brief pause for Boekelo, the Blogger Contest Final Round continues. The competition is fierce, and Leslie Wylie offers us one of her best efforts yet. Without further ado, here is Leslie’s take on the Money in Eventing topic. After reading, please vote in the poll and add your comments.
It’s FRIDAY! Time for the weekend! And time for another contestant in the EN Blogger Finals. Tonight’s episode features Jessica Keating, who is here to give us her perspective on the topic “Money in Eventing.” Enjoy Jessica’s previous contest work by viewing it here. Critique and vote in the poll below.
Money in Eventing
At this year’s AEC’s, the distribution* of competitors was as follows:
3.8% – Advanced
5.3% – Intermediate
11.7% – Preliminary
20.9% – Training
31.4% – Novice
26.9% – Beginner Novice
*Values extrapolated from Chattahoochee Final Scores. Yes, I used the word “extrapolated”
Of the almost 500 entrants, approximately 80% were entered in Beginner Novice through Training. That means that they provided nearly 80% of the entry fees, nearly 80% of the audience for sponsor advertising and nearly 80% of the riders were probably absolutely terrified of the Advanced course and very happily let the 3.8% have a go at it. If you also consider that the lower level competitors probably pay these upper level riders for lessons, training and showing we must consider the very healthy financial backing that is provided at 3’3 and under.
As a lower level competitor I know what I do to fund my very expensive sport: weasel money out of my fianc̩e! Just kidding! Ok Рonly partially kidding. In addition to fleecing funds from my significant other, I have a second job teaching aerobics, I help my trainer at the barn when I can in exchange for lessons, I volunteer at horse trials so I get a free schooling pass and I really only spend money on myself when it involves the horses. Who needs anything other than riding clothes and a saddle, anyway?
In order to get a better picture of what other lower level riders do to sustain their sport, I interviewed some friends and some strangers (thank you!) to find out how they get the most bang for their buck. Ha! I had no idea when I first got the idea to poll some other riders that I would be so affected by the responses. It is amazing to me that we, as a community, will bust our rumps day in and day out just for the chance to compete recreationally. What other sport sees so much commitment, dedication and yes – insanity?
Jamie Carleton, a 16 year old from Connecticut saves her birthday money and plans her show season out carefully with her parents to try and make ends meet,
“We often offer rides to friends so we can split costs. I also attend a lot of (well run) schooling events that offer a true test of the level, as this saves money on entries and still gets my horse and me the experience we need.”
Brianna Caroll Boyle, a 32 year old PR manager and part time grad student calls horseback riding “financially ruinous” in the same breath she admits to taking on freelance PR work to finance her riding,
“My biggest challenge is my fiscally conservative husband, who is (wisely) insisting that I continue to lease and not own a horse right now. In addition to leasing, which slashes costs immensely, I try to purchase most of my tack used. I also scour used clothing and tack sites (Tack of the Day is a fave), hit up tent sales, and spend way more time on eBay and Amazon than is healthy.”
Julia Bitler, a Beginner Novice rider from Debary Fl is a girl after my own heart,
“My mother wanted to buy me an expensive purse. I told her I would rather have an air vest. It’s all about what I make my priorities.”
Crystal Passino, a Consultant from Northern Virginia has a plan of attack (I’m talking bulletized lists, calendars and a five year strategy) for competitions,
“I always hunt for barns within trailering distance from the shows because private facilities are always cheaper than the actual show grounds.”
Kate Wentz, an equine veterinarian from Raleigh, NC saves money by providing all maintenance and care for her horse virtually free. If only my graduate degree had the same payback!
Kate is an avid bargain hunter and, “for the big events I want to attend, I save $20 a week until I have enough saved up to go.”
Jennifer Stout, a 32 year old clinical research coordinator from Durham, NC jokes that “I’m going to start interviewing for a sugar daddy…only I’m not so sure that I’m really joking. ;)” In the meantime she does barn chores, house and pet sitting and runs a concession stand at football games to help finance her three (!!!) ponies.
In the interest of brevity, I cropped out a lot of the content that these ladies shared with me. This is unfortunate, because each of their stories were hilarious, self effacing and effortlessly motivating. You all inspire me. Go Eventing.
Guess what? Tonight brings another installment of our first ever EN Blogger Contest Finals. Only slightly less illustrious than American Idol finals, it is still a notable accomplishment for any aspiring eventing blogger. Looks good on any resume, or your money back. Speaking of MONEY, here is Amy Goodusky’s take on our financially-related topic prompt. Don’t forget to play Simon Cowell (pre-X Factor) at the end and vote in the poll.
You can read Amy’s previous entries by clicking here.
MONEY AND EVENTING
If the economy were cast as an eventing parable, it would look like this: a huge, unfit horse, cantering wobbily downhill to a water complex. Once in the pool it would stop and look around placidly as the rider kicked, spectators hollered and the trainer smacked the water with her whip, accruing 790 time faults, elimination, and the dismay of everyone involved, including the rider’s parents who paid the entry fee.
The problem of how to support our collective horse habit in these times seems insoluble. I asked some people for ideas about how to cope with the mounting costs (really, no pun intended) of eventing competition.
Katie Hill, Trainer, Fadanach Farm, Torrington, Connecticut:
In order to fund itself and grow the sport, the USEA needs to look at itself more like a business and less like a club of like-minded individuals. NASCAR is a great business model. Stock car racing started out as a bunch of crazy guys racing on a dirt track, trying to scratch up enough dough for a purse. (Need I point out the parallels here — racing, bunch of crazies, dirt.) Four years ago Fox network paid $1.76 BILLION for the rights to televise NASCAR for 8 years. And this year, 8.6 MILLION viewers watched NASCAR on TV. It will take a while, and a new attitude, but if we follow NASCAR’s model, eventually the Europeans will be trying to figure out how to afford to come over here to compete.
Eventing needs to start thinking of itself as a spectator sport. It should embrace ABC’s Wide World of Sports’ famous slogan “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Especially the agony of defeat part. Spectators want to experience the thrill of the sport — and some just want to see a car roll over or a horse in a rotational fall. While it would be wonderful if no one was ever injured, and we certainly want to keep working to make the sport safer, danger is in the nature of high-risk sports…from skiing to race car driving to eventing. This danger and those courageous enough to risk it are what could make eventing on TV as profitable as NASCAR. So, more promotion, more TV coverage, exciting stuff.
Creative solutions department: Off track betting on upper level events like Rolex and Burghley with the proceeds going to the events and the eventers. Chief handicapper: Jimmy Wofford, of course. How’s that for “color commentary!”
An anonymous eventer: What if, instead of sponsoring an upper level fence, sponsorship would include payment of entry fees and travel costs for riders meeting certain criteria as a sort of scholarship plan?
Another shy horse enthusiast: We all really like movies about horses, like Hidalgo, Seabiscuit and Secretariat and horses who are in the news, too, like Barbaro and Ruffian. Those horses had tragic ends, but they still garnered national attention. Eventing has Neville Bardos who is not only not a tragedy, but a miracle, but I don’t see any coverage of his amazing comeback outside of devoted web sites and magazines. If we turned the spotlight on our horses there would be more interest, and probably, more money coming in. The Kentucky Derby always has an audience – and that lasts three minutes, not three days. So where is the Over-Fence World of Captain Mark Phillips? We should capitalize on our animal magnetism.
The author’s mother: Disclaimer: My mother has been dead since 2009. Had I asked her, however, she would have winked knowingly and then said this: “Honey- marry royalty.”
No horses, hounds, or huntstaff required. Stirrup cup optional.
And this isn’t an isolated incident. Seen again here and here. I wish I had a trampoline as a kid!
Our quest for the ultimate blogger continues. Contestant Chesna Klimek has survived the cliffs of insanity and the ROUS’s in the fireswamp to find herself responding to the same prompt of “Write about money in eventing.” Here is her entry; please rip her to shreds rate nicely in the poll following the essay.
Local Eventer Seen Panhandling, Cardboard Sign Reads “Know Horses, No Money”
Just browse the latest equestrian catalogues and the truth is written on the T-shirts…
“I used to have money, now I have a horse”
“I show, therefore I spend”
“Horses, the best way to turn money into manure”
No matter how many layers of psychological denial you have in place, we all know that horse ownership and 3DE is an outrageously expensive pursuit. However, it’s also a lifestyle decision that arguably keeps most of sane (you think I’m bad without coffee? Try me without horses!). I did some research, budgeting, and yes, even math, and let’s just say that somewhere your credit card is crying. In 2006 Denny Emerson calculated costs and reported that, “it’s pretty likely that one season of non-recognized eventing will cost about $7,500, bare minimum, for one horse and one rider. It goes up from there” (Chronicle of the Horse). In a 2009 article, British Eventing “reckons that it costs about £5000 per year to keep a Novice horse, £7000 for an Intermediate and up to £12,000 to keep an Advanced horse competing through the season” and that’s pounds, not dollars.
So, we’ve accepted that we are hooked on an expensive sport in a time of rising costs, now what?
The answer lies in the people. I asked a cross-section of industry insiders, “What’s your secret or suggestion(s) for offsetting the rising costs of three day eventing?”
A groom: My first victim, I mean interviewee, was the famous (or infamous?) Meg Kep, EN comedic guest blogger and head groom for Sinead Halpin Eventing. Besides getting other people to pay for things and setting out to win (cash and prizes!), Meg’s mantra is “generic all the way!” That is, you won’t find many brand name equine products in her grooming bucket. She uses “rubbing alcohol instead of liniment, palmolive for shampoo, and ACE bandages for tailwraps. I don’t buy any of the expensive ‘primping stuff’ because that’s where a lot of people let it bleed.” If you travel to shows with Meg, be prepared to sleep five to a bed at the hotel and survive on cheese-its and diet coke. Meg reminds us that “professionals are just as broke as amateurs. One time we had to go to an event and we couldn’t afford bedding. So, I bagged our bedding from home into trash bags and brought it with us.” Always one for creative solutions, you might find Meg at horseshows offering her expert braiding services to desperate fat-fingered folks like myself. Her reasoning: “Capitalize on your skills!”
A horseshow mom extraordinaire: Kathy Bodner is the proud mom of Jessica Bryant and HPB Black Magic, last year’s USEA Novice Rider national champions. Besides packing her own food to shows (and let me tell you, her homemade guacamole is second to none) Kathy’s secret to showing on a budget: “Go to a really good tack store. Try on all the boots, helmets, jackets, shirts and breeches on your dream list. Write down the prices of the names and sizes that fit great and you love the most. Then shop, shop, shop around, either online or at tack sales. By knowing what something is worth retail, you can spot a really good deal and scoop it up!” Proof of this wisdom? Kathy found her first Tipperary event vest at a Western tack sale–she paid a whopping $25.
A coach/trainer: Jessica Heidemann’s distinctive voice can be heard in warmup rings across Area VII, coaching Team Heidemann and Cain Lake Stable students through the levels. Jessica boasts an impressive riding record herself, having completed Rolex in 2004 and 2006 on French Twist (and instilling in other Washington State riders the belief that maybe they can go big too!). Jessica’s #1 tip for keeping costs down is preventative care for joints and teeth–whether she’s referring to the horses or riders here is unclear. To riders, Jessica suggests “asking your local instructor if they offer lessons in packages for cheaper,” and “see if you can trade work. If you have no time, see if you can take the work home, like tack cleaning or advertising work.” Nothing like some good old fashioned elbow grease!
A pro rider: Karen O’Neal of O’Neal Farms was USEA Area VII’s 2010 Rider of the Year. Her tall stature, blonde hair, and talented riding at the upper levels make her a recognizable force at west coast events. “I offset my costs by riding a lot of owner horses as well as coaching. I also do hauling for other people, which helps my horses haul for less” and she is sure to pack her own hay to shows. A Best Western sponsorship is probably not in her foreseeable future, because Karen “always camps!! No Hotels for me.”
An anonymous significant other of addicted eventer: Their suggestion for cutting costs? “Easy–switch sports! Sell the horse and all the horse paraphernalia. Sell the truck. Sell the trailer. Sell the clothes. Sell it all. Then, burn the barn so you won’t be tempted to fill it again. Even if you have to see a therapist once a week for the rest of your life about it, you’ll still be money ahead.”
Whatever your tactics may be for offsetting costs–competing at unrecognized shows, shopping at the dollar store, or stripping–we’re in this together, so share your knowledge! The way I see it, if all 20,000+ of us eventers put in our 2 cents for cutting costs, we should have around $400 worth of saving ideas. Go eventing!
Sometimes, your horse just doesn’t read a jump correctly and it can end in disaster. Luckily, they are also amazing athletes with the ability to act “on the fly.” Major props to this rider, who let her horse do his thing and just be awesome. I would advise readers to please put down any spillable items, and swallow your beverage completely before viewing this video; EN is not responsible for any damaged computer screens.
[via Suzannah]
From TheHorse.com, researchers in Austria have conducted a study to determine the best material for our horses’ backs. The results are in, and the answer is: Reindeer fur. Not gel pads, not foam, or leather, but reindeer fur. According to the Movement Science Group of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, the fur demonstrated the best shock absorption properties of the materials tested.
So Santa, skip the saddle pad this year. I want Rudolph’s pelt under the tree, please.
Still struggling to get over your post-Rolex hangover? Fill your void this weekend with the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby! As everybody knows, the Derby is run every year on the First Saturday in May, also known as the Saturday After Rolex. Preceding that Saturday is “Oaks Day,” the premier race for 3-year-old fillies. Colts race for roses, fillies race for lillies.
And guess what, EN? Yours truly has a connection to one of the nation’s top fillies, running in the Kentucky Oaks- a Cinderella story, if you will. I work on the farm where Daisy Devine was bred. I was there when she was born, played with her as a baby, and prepped her for the yearling sales. And now she’s earned her way into the Oaks. I wish her connections all the best, and hope to see her in the winner’s circle!
Daisy Devine, just hours old. Daisy at 4 months of age
For all your Derby and Oaks news, check out www.bloodhorse.com or www.thoroughbredtimes.com. The Oaks will be broadcast on the Versus channel (run by NBC) from 5-6pm EST. Actual post time is 5:45pm. The Derby will be shown on NBC from 5-7pm EST, post time at 6:24pm.
Obviously, Daisy is my sentimental pick in the Oaks. Joyful Victory, however, is a super nice filly and deservedly the odds-on favorite. Then there’s chef Bobby Flay’s filly, Her Smile, if your tummy wants to bet on a winner.
As far as the Derby goes? It’s a wide-open race. Uncle Mo, the undefeated 2-year-old champion, was everyone’s pick up until a few weeks ago, when he finished a deflated 3rd in the Wood Memorial. He’s still a good horse, but a mysterious “gastrointestinal infection” could be a likely excuse for a sub-par performance. Dialed-In, a lightly-raced but highly-regarded colt trained by Nick Zito is the morning-line Derby favorite at 4-1. Archarcharch and Mucho Macho Man have feel-good owner/trainer stories. Master of Hounds shipped over from England; he’s never raced on dirt, and he’s not too proven, but hey, let’s send him to the Derby anyway! For sheer name purposes alone, I like Pants On Fire. How can you not?
Regardless of who wins, it is always the most exciting two minutes in sports. The entire country, and much of the world, will turn its eyes to Kentucky and the amazing Thoroughbred. From the wild infield parties, to the celebrities on Millionaire’s Row, to all the little girls glued to their TV sets gawking at the gorgeous horses prancing their way to the track. It’s the Derby, and there’s nothing else quite like it.
Greetings, friends, it’s been far too long since I last blessed this dear blog with my presence. I doubt you’ve missed me though…John has been doing an exceptional job (as always) and the content has continued to improve. Still, I’ve missed my rambling writings, and hope to be back on a more regular basis!
Sorry for the absence, but you know life just sometimes gets in the way. In the past 7 months, I’ve gotten married, moved once, and then back again, started a new job (a “promotion” of sorts) and gone to a whole lot of Kentucky basketball games (life ain’t all bad, is it?!). I’ve survived the most brutal Kentucky winter anyone can remember, and just starting to get ready to compete again (though the “real job” makes it difficult). I’ve been in the far reaches of eventing’s Outer Loop and trying to work my way back into orbit. It’s tough!
For one thing, I have a lot of responsibility on my plate. I’ve managed horses for most of my life, some pretty nice horses too. I’m quite comfortable caring for the best of upper level eventers; and now I’ve been around the TB business for three or four years. But let me tell you, it’s very different when you have about $7M worth of Thoroughbreds to check over every day. Right now is the busiest time of breeding season, full of hope, promise, and lots of calls to the repro vets (I just checked my phone– I have 16 vets saved in my address book). Which leads to calls to the breeding sheds, calls to the van company, and follow-ups with owners. Kind of like an event organizer, actually– it’s all great when things go to plan, but the real job is handling the unexpected and keeping everybody happy. Oh, and a lot of boring, but necessary, paperwork.
It’s exciting, being around such classy horses, and among these connections. But it has limited time with my own horse; for the first time in ten years, I don’t get to see my horse all day at work. For the first time in ten years, I have to “commute” to the barn to ride after work each day. Man, it sucks. All you ammies out there– I feel ya pain, y’all!
And so, I’m gradually settling in to this new life. Things are evening out; it’s always rough in transition, but my life should soon get back in balance (with a regular dose of EN writing). One thing’s for sure, I’ll have a bit more free time when basketball season ends this weekend. Mr. Visionaire has scored Final Four tickets and a trip to Houston…I guess I’ll have to force myself to go and keep him company. Married life has its perks!
We have had wall to wall eventing coverage for the last five days so John asked me to change things up in this post for variety’s sake. Friday night, I was lucky enough to talk my husband into (another) trip to WEG, in hopes of watching the best dressage horses in the world (for the third time). We were supposed to have free tickets, but that deal fell through. The event was completely sold out, and attempts to find tickets online resulted in prices well beyond our budget. We resigned ourselves to watching it on the big screens outside the arena. Luckily, we happened upon a nice lady outside the arena willing to part with a pair of tickets for $100 total. SCORE! We were in!
The seats were fairly good, in the main grandstand about five rows up in the upper tier, about even with letter F. Hubby knows next to nothing about dressage (but learning quickly), and we settled in to enjoy the first few rides. During the first break, a large group of people shuffled past us to their seats, dressed quite fancy and clearly European. I caught a glipse of one of their badges as they squeezed past us…it said “HORSE OWNER” at the bottom. The country code was “DEN.” I couldn’t believe it…were we actually sitting next to the owners of The Horse? I scanned the competitor list…there was one other Dutch horse performing. I nudged my husband and mentioned “I think we’re sitting next to celebrities.”
Not one to be shy, he turned and asked the gentleman to his left, “Do you own one of the horses here?” The man smiled and nodded. “Which one?” (I held my breath!) “Totilas,” he said. We both broke out into huge grins and blabbered how much we loved that horse. “We think he’s pretty special, but of course, we’re the owners,” the man said. He was extremely nice, happy to talk about his horse, and giving huge credit to Edward for his patience and riding style. It was such an honor to sit with dressage’s “royal family,” and learn a few traits of the hottest dressage horse in the world.
After a while, Mr. Totilas (as I now call him) excused himself to go watch his horse warm up. Hubby and I enjoyed the rest of the horses– especially Fuego, who was seriously rocking the Spanish dancing. Then came Totilas… it wasn’t his best performance, but that horse at only 80% his best can beat anyone else in the world. Mr. Totilas returned to his seat, pleased with the score (91%!!), and talked us through the final rider of the evening, another lovely Dutch pair. He complimented her riding– the mare is difficult, he said– and told us her music (which was BEAUTIFUL!) was especially written and performed by a famous Dutch pianist for her kur. It showed!
Hubby and I hadn’t planned to stay for the medal ceremony– but when you’re sitting next to the gold-medal winning horse’s owners, how can you leave early?! Mr. Totilas grinned when we laughed at the gold bell boots– “We thought it was a good joke,” he said– and the smile on his face watching the victory lap was priceless.
Totilas entering the arena… I wish the gold bell boots showed up better!
Mr. Totilas
Other highlights from the night:
–The Spanish horse, Fuego, got robbed. Yes, he had some technical mishaps (his pirouettes were a little big), but he stole the audience from the start. The music was absolutely perfect, and the showmanship (one-tempis one-handed!) had the crowd on their feet. Truly a performance to remember for a lifetime. The 81% score was LOUDLY boo’ed by the entire crowd… I half expected a “B-S” chant to begin. Link to video.
-Another score that seemed a little low was the final Dutch rider. Her ride was (to my eye) quite smooth, with few flaws. It perhaps wasn’t as challenging as some, but there were no obvious mistakes. The artistic portion of it was spectacular– not as much as Fuego, but I’d say second-best of the evening.
-I thought the top 3’s scores were a bit inflated. Not that I’m complaining, those WERE the best three horses all week. But I don’t think any of them gave the performance of their lives. Totilas video.
-Best non-dressage moment of the night: Mr. Totilas gettin’ down dancing to “Cotton Eyed Joe.” Picture an immaculately-dressed man in suit and orange (Dutch) tie, wearing a $50,000 Rolex watch, boogie-ing to redneck remix. I nearly fell out of my chair.
Hello EN fans,
It’s been a very long day for Endurance horses, riders, crew, and volunteers. I spent eleven hours today as part of the veterinary team, serving as horse transport at Loop 3 and 5. I’ve done this for Rolex several years, but I admit I knew very little about Endurance when I began the day.
I learned quite a bit. I was stationed at a check point, where the crew members had opportunity to briefly cool the horses. It was very similar to a C-Halt on a full-format three-day. Riders could spend as much or little time as they wanted. Some just did a quick “splash-n-go” on the move, others dismounted and offered food to their horses.
Here are some other observations…
-There was a mad rush when horses entered the check area. Crew members swarmed the horses, pouring bottles or jugs of water all over them (more on this in a bit). At times, there were four or five horses in at a time, stacked together, and all completely surrounded by people. I was impressed by the horses’ tolerance to the crowds, completely undisturbed and remarkably relaxed.
-Speaking of water: most teams used bottled water to cool out the horses. The US team literally had pickup truck beds FULL of cases of water. While they were setting up, I thought it was for drinking…turns out, it was to pour on the horses! Cases, and cases of bottled water were used. Bottles and caps littered the ground. I think enough fresh water was used to hydrate a small desert nation. And I’m not an extreme recycling fanatic…but the sight of all that empty plastic literally overflowing a large dumpster made me a little sick.
-Not all of it was bottled water, though. Seven water troughs held water, and teams filled buckets, pitchers, and (yes) laundry detergent jugs. After cross-country, I’m used to “sloshing” the horse with water; in endurance, clearly “pouring” is the preferred method. I suppose it helps keep the rider and tack dry! Riders were also handed jugs or bottles, and they dumped it down the horses’ necks as they rode away.
-The US team had a HUGE crew. At least thirty people in USA t-shirts and hot pink hats. I hate to say it, but I was a little bit disappointed by their demeanor. Most countries were relaxed, having a good time, and very courteous. The US crew came off a bit self-important, in a huge rush (for no apparent reason), and pushy. They cleaned up part of their mess, but still left a lot of trash behind (later cleaned up by Canada and Argentina).
-Speaking of other nations… Argentina’s crew was very polite, and seemed to be a big family. They seemed quite prepared, arriving early with their equipment and assured of their roles. Canada had several team members competing; one of theirs was near the last of the pack. The crew members stayed behind and cleaned up much of the leftover trash, including countless bottle caps left all over the ground.
-Costa Rica also was thoroughly enjoying themselves. They posed for photos all over the place, waving their flag proudly. I don’t think they ever stopped smiling.
-A Guatemalan crew member offered their last piece of cheesecake for lunch– GREATLY appreciated, as my station was somehow skipped by the food wagon. It was delicious. Thumbs up for Guatemala!
-I saw more gray Arabians today than I have ever seen in one place. At least three-quarters of the entrants were gray. Also, lots of nylon tack. Neon, bright-colored, nylon tack. It was a little tough for me to observe as a traditionalist groom…but I understand its purpose, and with the amount of water splashed on the reins, bridle, and breastplate, I can appreciate non-leather equipment!
-It was amusing watching teams loading and unloading their water supplies. Most had pickup trucks, some had rental cars. You could tell some nations were not quite comfortable driving on “the wrong side” of the road, as they backed their vehicles up to park. Others seemed to have trouble with their automatic key remotes; several car alarms were accidentally set off, instead of the doors unlocking!
-Endurance horses eat Oreos and CornFlakes. At least, that was a favorite energy snack for some teams. Others offered freshly-picked grass, alfalfa, carrots, and electrolytes. Most of the horses drank very willingly, from buckets shoved in their faces, or from the large troughs. Again, I was struck by the horses’ professionalism about the whole whirlwind of activity around them.
-I have to give another shout-out to Team Canada. Their crew was very enthusiastic, cheering every rider coming and going (all nations, not just theirs), and offering assistance whenever needed. Some of the smaller countries’ individual riders had very little personnel, but the Canadians jumped in with their own water bottles and carrots to help out. The Canadian crew also offered food to us poor starving volunteers who’d had no food all day. We went over to ask for a carrot…they came back bringing us fruit, yogurt, granola bars, rice krispy treats, and chocolate. One of their riders was the last of the day, and the Canadians never lost their great attitude. Count me in as a proud supporter of the Canadian team!
(It’s pretty sad when you’re bumming carrots off foreign nations because your own nation won’t feed its volunteers…but we did get an awesome dinner eventually!)
Most horses looked quite good, though obviously tired near the end of the day. I really enjoyed being part of the WEG today, and learning about the sport of Endurance. I’m not sure it’s something I’d like to try, but it was certainly an interesting day.
Tents in the holding area, between loops. Horses rested between 20-50 minutes, depending on the section of the course.
Team Canada: After Dark
FAQ: FEI WEG
With WEG opening ceremonies mere hours away, it’s time to answer a few common questions you may have about what could be the largest single sporting event in the US this year.
What is the Alltech FEI “WEG”?
The acronymn “WEG” stands for World Equestrian Games, presented by Alltech, sanctioned by the seventh circle of hell FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale, or the International Equestrian Federation for those of us who speak English).
“WEG” sounds like “wag.” Like a dog’s tail.
Perhaps, but this has nothing to do with dogs. It’s a horse event, seven of them actually.
Oh I like horses. They’re cool. Is this like the Kentucky Derby? I got really drunk there last year. We were mudwrestling and having portapotty races. It was awesome dude.
Uh, this is not quite like that. Horse racing is not one of the seven FEI disciplines. Instead, you will see reining, endurance, vaulting, dressage & para-dressage, show jumping, eventing, and combined driving.
When does all this happen? Where?
The 2010 Alltech FEI WEG takes place September 25 – October 10, in Lexington, Kentucky (also known as The Horse Capital of the World). This is the first time the WEG has ever been held outside of Europe. All the events will happen at the Kentucky Horse Park, which is also home to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
So this is like a big deal then.
Yes, you could say that. Over 750 horses from 60 countries will be competing throughout the sixteen-day event. It is expected to have a large affect on the local Kentucky economy (hopefully for the better).
Can I ride in the Games? I want to be on the US jousting team. My horse rocks the drapes.
Sorry, the Team selection process is very thorough and complicated, with qualifications, mandatory outings and strict performance and soundness requirements. And unfortunately, jousting is not an FEI sport.
But I’m ranked in the top 5 of my county jousting society. Thats like really good.
I’m happy for you. Good luck with that.
So I can go see all these different horse sports. Is there anything else to do?
I’m glad you asked. Local Lexington radio has been bombarding the public with the enticement that the WEG is “More than just horses!” There will be a world-class trade fair (shopping is always good), along with a host of entertainment options. Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital will be presenting a variety of veterinary topics (including the chance to ultrasound a “phantom” uterus…I’m sure that line will be out the door). Also not to be missed is the Newport Aquarium shark petting zoo.
A shark petting zoo? Are you serious?
Yes. Kentucky tax dollars hard at work.
I’ll be sure to pack my chain mail shark suit, and replica Discovery Shark Week diving cage.
I doubt those items will be allowed through security. But being prepared is always advisable. Kentucky weather is quite unpredictable; right now temperatures are in the 90s, but it could be cold and rainy by next week. Pack accordingly!
Alright, you talked me into it. I’ll go see this WAG games event, since it seems like it won’t happen again for a long time.
Glad you could come. You won’t be disappointed. World-class horses and riders, along with some of the most beautiful horse country you could ever hope to see. Have patience with the parking, and you’re sure to have a good time!
I know it’s Sunday, and time for the regular Jog-Up column (and I know I promised to de-mystify the gobbledegook known as FEI qualifications), but the month of September is a busy one for me. Not only are the World Games less than two weeks away (!!), but UK football is in season (and I have tickets, my most prized wedding gift), and there’s this little thing that happens in Lexington, KY every fall. Over 4,700 yearlings will pass through the Keeneland sales ring, hoping to bring their owners and consignors a profit to keep them running another year.
The actual sale begins with Book 1, selling Sunday and Monday nights at 7pm. View live video here. These 200 horses are (hopefully) the best of the best, with blueblood pedigrees and flawlesss conformation. I’ve handled about 27 of them over the last few days, and the ones I’ve seen are simply fabulous. In this weak market, though, it will take a special horse to top the 7-figure mark. There are some good ones out there, but will the buyers take a big risk on them?
The rest of the sale begins at 10am each day. I wish I started at 10am…instead, I’m in the barns at 5am: walking, mucking, filling water buckets, and grooming. The rest of the day is spent walking horses, showing them to potential buyers, and trying not to get kicked, bitten, struck, or otherwise injured by excitable baby Thoroughbreds. So far, so good.
One of the best things about working sales is meeting some fantastic horsemen and women. I’ve worked alongside some real “horse whisperers,” with a chain shank and chifney instead of carrot sticks or roundpens. I’ve met hall of fame trainers, multi-millionaire owners, and so many people who honestly love the animals and the business. It’s a tough job, not for everyone, but you can learn a lot if you’re willing to work for it.
I promise to report more, and Jog-Up will resume as soon as possible. Hope you enjoyed the AECs!
With Burghley last week, we missed our regular Friday Lower Level Rider Profile. To make up for it, we bring you a special Wednesday edition of LLRP! If you would like to be featured in an upcoming profile, please fill out the Questionnaire and email it to [email protected]. Thanks again to all our participants!
FEATURED RIDER:
Name: Cindy Wood
Age: 49
Location: Newark, MD
Primary horse’s name: Unbelievable “Lee”
Age, breed, pertinent info: 8yr conn/tb gelding by Erin Go Bragh out of Goldrock by Rockpoint
Level currently competing: preliminary
Short term goals this spring/summer: better up the flatwork in preparation of him moving up to intermediate
Year-end goals: accomplished the 2010 goal by wining the P3D at VAHT in May finishing on the dressage score! doesn’t get any better than that 🙂
Overall goals? See how far he can go, will be placed with Carol Kozlowski for that goal, I am a permanent prelim and below rider.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently? That you can condition a horse on flat ground and be successful at it (won best conditioned at VAHT)
Any big epiphany or light-bulb moment? Ride the horse you have today!
What are your strengths/weaknesses? not enough time in the saddle and far away from good instruction.
Favorite eventing moment/story? Watching the 1978 World Championships in Lexington KY and deciding that I wanted to do a 3 day sometime, took me 30 years but I did it, with a homebred, that is very special!
“Lee” has a special story in that his mother colicked when he was a day old and required surgery, therefore he came home and was raised as an orphan foal with the help of a pony mare named “Pantyhose” and my husband and I bucket feeding him. I have done all the riding and training of him and he is the perfect amateur horse in that he takes care of me as I have taken care of him, it was very hard not to go to fast with him as he was so willing and capable of the questions asked, He has been described as a young horse with an old soul, as you can tell I love him and I am looking forward to see how he does with Carol!
Do you ever stare in awe at the sleek shiny horses, the glistening brass, perfect braids, and dazzling white marks at a CCI trot up? Do you ever wonder how they get that way? (LOTS of hard work is the correct answer!) Each Sunday morning we will bring you a little insider info on how the big-time grooms manage an upper level event horse. Feel free to email or comment with specific grooming questions if you have a topic in mind!
Three-day Preparation Step 1: Passport
With the coming of autumn, that can mean only one thing: time to prepare for a fall three-day! In the coming weeks, we’ll explore the ins and outs of CCI preparation, including my favorite subject: the (REAL) ten-minute box. But before we can get to the groom’s shining moment, let’s take care of some little stuff.
Besides a qualified rider and a good groom, any CCI horse needs a passport. At the CIC* to CCI** level, a national passport is sufficient. However, at the CIC*** and above, an international (FEI) passport is required.
What is a passport? Essentially a “mandatory donation” to an equine governing body ($50 for USEF, $300 for FEI). In actuality, it is a booklet recording the horse’s identity, ownership, influenza vaccination records, and travel/competition history. It expires every four years (requiring a $175 renewal fee).
To be elligible for a passport (USEF or FEI), the horse must be life recorded ($200) with the USEF. The owner should be an active member of USEF, and a US Citizen.
Have you noticed this passport deal is an expensive process? And you thought the CCI entry fee was the big ticket item! Luckily the lower FEI levels can get by on a national passport, and the international booklet lasts for four years.
How to fill out your FEI passport: (from the USEF site)
Familiarize yourself with the passport, the horse identification booklet (if you can’t find this, you can go get the information from the FEI web site), and the passport directions provided. Make certain that these documents are then given to the veterinarian for use in completing the passport. The cover page of the passport has the horse’s name, passport number, and the issue and expiration dates. This passport will remain with the horse for the remainder of its life but must be revalidated every four years. The next area to review is the Details of Ownership section. The owner is responsible for filling out a portion of the Details of Ownership page; this is explained in the directions.
Next, a licensed equine veterinarian must examine the horse and document their findings in the passport itself. At this point, it is imperative that all material sent with the passport be read carefully – especially by the veterinarian, but also by the owner. Passports are often returned for corrections because the directions were not followed completely and correctly. On the last page of the directions, there is a sample diagram sheet that the veterinarian can use to practice before permanently marking anything in the passport.
Filling out the passport, especially the horse identification diagram, is extremely particular.
The markings, which must be accurately drawn in red ink, together with the description of the horse must be dated and certified with the stamp and signature of the veterinarian approved by the NF.
From the passport directives:
Complete “Outline Diagram” using a red ball point pen to outline white markings. There should be no shading, but it can be lightly hatched. A black ball pointe pen should be used to indicate whorls and other markings. Particular attention should be paid to whorls (show “x”) on the head, neck, and jugular region, and to rear view of fore and hind legs. A permanent scar is indicated by an arrow pointing to the site. A depigmented area on a hoof is indicated by a sketch and colored in red. Horses without any markings and with only three or less whorls must have the outline of each chestnut drawn on page 9.
Influenza Records
Besides drawing a pretty picture of your horse, the main purpose of the passport is to record flu vaccinations. From the USEF site:
When the veterinarian has completed the diagram and description pages, they must document that the horse has had its primary series of influenza vaccinations. The primary series consists of two influenza vaccinations using the same method of administration (IM or IN) given between 21 to 92 days apart. A booster vaccination must be administered within every SIX MONTHS following the primary series. The booster can be intramuscular or intranasal. This information must be entered in the passport on the influenza pages: date of administration, place, country, name of vaccine, batch number, vet stamp and signature. All details must be recorded in order for the vaccination(s) to be considered valid. Only the veterinarian who administers the vaccine to the horse may record the inoculation in the passport. Transferring vaccines on behalf of another veterinarian is not acceptable. Make sure the veterinarian signs and stamps the passport in the appropriate places (see directions sent with new passports for examples).
So now you have a completed passport…now you must send it back to the FEI (via USEF) for validation and approval. Do not wait until the last minute! This process may take 4-6 weeks, so start well in advance of your FEI competition.
And just when you think you’re done… remember that horse and rider must be registered with the FEI (yes, this is separate from the passport!). This is an annual recording, $25 each, renewable every year. If needed, this registration can be completed in a very timely manner…like the week of the event, when you realize you forgot to do it at the beginning of the year.
So now the USEF and FEI is many dollars richer, but you are up to date and legal in all registries. Next week we will (attempt) to dissect the murky region of FEI qualifications. Bring a flashlight and a snorkel, as the rulebook can be difficult to navigate. When all else fails, call the USEF office and ask for help!
Do you ever stare in awe at the sleek shiny horses, the glistening brass, perfect braids, and dazzling white marks at a CCI trot up? Do you ever wonder how they get that way? (LOTS of hard work is the correct answer!) Each Sunday morning we will bring you a little insider info on how the big-time grooms manage an upper level event horse. Feel free to email or comment with specific grooming questions if you have a topic in mind!
How to Remove a Shoe
We’ve all been there: a sprung shoe, horse steps on the clip, and you’re desperate to get the shoe off. Or, he suddenly comes up lame with an abscess, and you have to remove the shoe for treatment. In these emergencies, it is most helpful to have the tools and skill to pull a shoe yourself, instead of waiting hours (or perhaps even days) for a blacksmith to arrive.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have some wonderful farriers help me through the years. They’ve taught me an awful lot about feet, shoeing, and mechanics. They felt it was very important to teach me how to properly remove a shoe–because it helps them, and helps the horse. Ideally, the shoe should come off cleanly and leave the hoof wall intact. With the right tools, this isn’t too difficult.
I did not have the right tools early on in my “emergency farrier” career. Armed only with an old dull rasp, scissors, wire cutters, and needle nose pliers, removing a loose shoe was a definite challenge. With enough sweat, patience, and perserverence I did get the shoe off. My farrier took pity on me and gave me something no (shod) horse owner should be without: nail pullers. Nail pullers are specialized pincers designed to grip the nail head, allowing you to wrench it out with relative ease (compared to my needle-nose pliers).
Along with the precious nail pullers, your basic kit should also include a good rasp (it doesn’t have to be newly sharp, but some life left in it), and shoe pullers or nippers. You can get by with the rasp and nail pullers alone in many instances,
if you can get your hands on some nippers they are helpful (necessary if glue is involved).
PROCEDURE:
Pick the foot out. Rest the horse’s foot on your knee, as the farrier does.
Using the fine side of your rasp, file down the nail clinches–the folded-over part that actually anchors the shoe. If the clinches are loose and popped (at the end of a shoeing cycle), you may be able to cut them off with nippers (or wire cutters). If they are still tight, just keep rasping until the clinch is flush with the hoof wall. There should be very little left of the clinch, so that it will pull safely and easily out through the nail hole.
Pick the foot up and hold it between your knees, as the farrier does. If your nails are pretty loose, you can probably go ahead and pull them straight out with the nail pullers. However, they often stick pretty tight, and it is easier to loosen them first. Using your nippers or shoe pullers, grasp one branch of the shoe. Yank sharply down and in, towards the shoe, to lift the branch of the shoe slightly. Do the same for the other branch of the shoe.
Tap the shoe back down, flush with the foot, and you will notice the nail heads pop up from the shoe. Now it is very easy to grab them with your nail pullers, and pull them out. Sometimes it takes a bit of twisting to get the nail completely removed, but it should not be too difficult. If the nail won’t budge, check your clinches again–they probably need more rasping. Start with the heel nails on each side, and work your way towards the toe (often the hardest to get).
Once all the nails are out, tap the heels of the shoe with your tool and it will slide right off. The whole process takes just a couple minutes (seconds for a good farrier!), but it can be incredibly helpful in an emergency.
Alternate method: it is also possible to remove a shoe simply with the shoe pullers. Grasp each branch of the shoe, keep pulling down and out sharply, alternating sides working towards the toe. This can be a bit rougher on the clinches, sometimes taking a bit of hoof wall with the nails as the shoe loosens. I’ve had much more luck with nail pullers when it comes to taking the shoe off quickly, easily, and safely.
Once again, it is time to meet a fellow member of our Eventing Nation. To see previous rider profiles, click on “Rider Profiles” in the Categories sidebar. These features have been interesting and insightful– I am continually impressed and humbled by our readers as the emails keep pouring in. You guys rock!
If you would like to be featured in an upcoming profile, please fill out the Questionnaire and email it to [email protected]. Thanks again to all our participants…there are many profiles to post, and hopefully we will get to yours soon!
Name: Erin
Age: 40
Location: Durham, NC
Primary horse’s name: Codachrome (Cody)
Age, breed, pertinent info: 18 year old Paint/QH Gelding
Level currently competing: BN & N
Short term goals this spring/summer:
Goals for this summer are to live through the heat in NC, and gear up for Novice events in the Fall. We were able to complete one BN and one Novice event early this year, but were sidelined from our first recognized novice by a wrist injury (not horse related).
Year-end goals: To complete at least one recognized Novice event.
Overall goals?
I have had Cody for 2 years now, he’s only been eventing for 3 years, and while the dressage is a work in progress, his SJ is great, and he’s a machine on XC. I have yet to find a fence he isn’t willing to jump, and he’s smart and brave on top of that. I just started evening 5 years ago, after a 10 year break from riding. I grew up riding jumpers in Northeast Ohio, with a few hunter paces thrown in, but had never heard of eventing till a friend introduced me to the sport here in NC. My first horse decided XC wasn’t for him, and Cody started out as a lease, but quickly proved to be my perfect horse so I bought him. This year I was lucky to be able to attend Denny Emerson’s Adult Rider Camp in March, and we rode BN at Deep Run HT after that. We would have been in 2nd place except for an unfortunate wrong jump mistake by me in SJ. We will continue to compete at BN and Novice and enjoy learning new things together!
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently?
We had two great moments so far this year. At camp in March, we finally learned to halt and stand, a very bid deal for a horse who would never stand still once mounted. Our dressage lesson that day consisted of 30 minutes of walk-halt transitions, but boy has it paid off since! He will now stand in lessons, to have his girth tightened, and when I adjust my stirrups. Our second light bulb moment came recently in another flat lesson when I was finally able to feel him stretch over his back and round up from my legs INTO my hands…what a fabulous moment! We have continued to work on that feeling, and it’s really coming together! It’s taken a lot for an older rider and horse to learn these new techniques, but we have had so much fun doing it together.
Favorite eventing moment/story?
Our dressage test last year at BN Deep Run HT. He was just foot perfect the entire test, and when we were done, I had tears in my eyes, and the hair on the back of my neck was standing up! We finished that day on our dressage score with a fabulous SJ round and a clear XC to win the blue ribbon and a pretty silver platter…best day ever!!
Once again, it is time to meet a fellow member of our Eventing Nation. To see previous rider profiles, click on “Rider Profiles” in the Categories sidebar. These features have been interesting and insightful– I am continually impressed and humbled by our readers as the emails keep pouring in. You guys rock!
If you would like to be featured in an upcoming profile, please fill out the Questionnaire and email it to [email protected]. Thanks again to all our participants…there are many profiles to post, and hopefully we will get to yours soon!
FEATURED RIDER:
Name: Lindsay
Age: 34
Location: Kuna, ID
Primary horse’s name: RPS Reveille, or just Reveille
Age, breed, pertinent info: 5 (6 in September!), blood bay with 3 white socks and a huge blaze, 15.0 hh grade mare. Her dam is supposed to be a registered Quarter Horse; I met the dam, and I’d believe it. Her sire is supposed to have been Izar, an Orlov-Rostopchin dressage stallion. Because she’s developing tiny white spots and has white hairs in her mane and tail, I begin to wonder if I got told a tall tale when I bought her and her daddy was actually a Paint. I’ll settle for “her mama was a Quarter Horse and her daddy was a sailor.” Whatever breed she is, she’s got fancy gaits and is a great little jumper.
Level currently competing: Cross-rails/Intro
Short term goals this spring/summer: Get MUCH more confident about jumping; expose Reveille to new places and situations; overcome my own nerves at exposing my green mare to new places and situations!
Year-end goals: Participate in each Event Derby in my area (shout-out to Idaho Dressage and Eventing [www.idahodressageandeventing.org] for putting them on!), and complete each derby without any mishaps. Break 60% on Training level dressage tests without the judge being generous.
Overall goals? Take Reveille as far as she can go through the eventing levels – I have no idea how far that’ll be, but I suspect she could at the very least go to Training. I think it’ll all depend on our dressage, in the end, since Rev’s pretty brave.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently? Any big epiphany or light-bulb moment? What are your strengths/weaknesses? Two major things, that I learned and then keep having to re-learn, almost every lesson, because they’re so big and deep: First, ride every step. I can’t sit back and just think “gosh, this is pleasant” and do nothing on this horse. She’s got a beautiful canter for jumping out of, but if I don’t pay attention and keep riding, she’ll fall out of it or get strung out. Second, it’s okay to be scared. What I have to do is acknowledge the fear, then focus on what I have to do on course, rather than focusing on being afraid. That was the big epiphany of the summer: after I fell twice in one day at event camp, I was pretty scared to ride the full course the next day. I rode it anyway, of course, after telling one of my teachers a couple of times that I needed her to remind me why I shouldn’t be scared. And yknow, I realized the answer for myself as I rode through a spook and a “wait, what?” from Rev on course: I shouldn’t be scared because if even if I have a problem, I’m going to ride through it. That was a huge epiphany! It’s also one I need to remember, as we go into our very first off-site event this weekend …
As for my strengths, three things: my refusal to quit, even though it would be understandable if I did, after getting bucked off and shattering my collarbone a couple of years ago. My talented little horse. Even though she’s green, she’s awesome, and she’s helping me re-learn how to jump after 20 years of not jumping. And mainly, my incredibly patient and knowledgeable teacher, Gary Mittleider! I chalk my success so far up to him and his family, Sara and Brenda, and their invaluable help. My weaknesses? The fact that I have to keep a full-time job! I’m also not the fastest learner, athletically, so I compensate with excellent teachers.
Favorite eventing moment/story? (can be anything, something you did, felt, witnessed, realized…?) At this summer’s event camp at Mittleider Eventing, I mentioned that I fell twice in the same day – both falls were a result of the same mistake on my part. The next morning, I had to really cowboy up, since my back was killing me. All the time that I was driving to the barn, tacking Reveille up, warming up, jumping in the warmup arena, etc, I was thinking “Oh gosh, how can I get out of jumping this course? I have got to get out of this!” And yet, while I was thinking about how to get out of it, I was going through with it! I worried until I got into the start area, and then I just rode. I think that’s my favorite moment of my own. There’s also the realization that yknow, I can DO this. It’ll take me a while, and I’ll have ups and downs, but it’s not impossible for me to one day compete at recognized events and actually be competitive. All I need to do is commit to the work involved, and I can eventually get there. I realize this every time we have a successful jump, actually.
Link to blog or website, if applicable: http://reveilleandrinsie.blogspot.com Nana korobi, yaoki.
Do you ever stare in awe at the sleek shiny horses, the glistening brass, perfect braids, and dazzling white marks at a CCI trot up? Do you ever wonder how they get that way? (LOTS of hard work is the correct answer!) Each Sunday morning we will bring you a little insider info on how the big-time grooms manage an upper level event horse. Feel free to email or comment with specific grooming questions if you have a topic in mind!
How to Wrap a Foot
Anyone who has ever dealt with an abscess also knows the value of a good foot wrap. There’s no real “wrong” way to do it, but with experience and practice you will learn techniques to create the most durable, effective wrap. I learned from a farrier, on a retired upper level horse who required hind foot wraps daily, or semi-daily, for three months. Did I mention he was also a tasmanian-devil stallwalker? If you didn’t wrap it right, he would destroy it in a couple hours. You learned pretty quickly what worked and what didn’t!
MATERIALS:
-Padding. This can be thick bandaging cotton, or disposable diapers (my favorite). Be sure you are using appropriately-sized diapers… newborn size is tiny, but there is such a thing as too big!
-Vetrap. For horses living outside, I like to use a full roll. If the horse is “gentle” on his feet, in a stall, you could get by with just half a roll per foot.
-Duct tape.
-Medication (optional). I like to use Magic Cushion to help reduce inflammation and relieve bruising. It’s helpful for a variety of foot maladies, and always good to have around! Use rubber gloves to apply, as it is EXTREMELY sticky.
-Rasp (optional). A shoe-less hoof often has sharp edges or chips in the wall; this can crack or chip farther. But rounding the edges lightly with a rasp can help prevent excess damage, and also keep a sharp wall from cutting through your padding.
PROCEDURE:
Clean the foot and check for any irregularities (cut heels, sole punctures, etc). If desired, lightly rasp the edges of the hoof wall. Apply medication as desired.
Hopefully you have set out all your materials within easy reach. And tied up the horse’s tail, if you’re working on a hind foot. Wrap padding across the sole; if using a diaper, pull it snug and fasten it in front on the coronary band. If using plain cotton bandage, smooth it out and tuck the corners in well.
Begin the vetrap near the coronary band, going vertically down the toe and across the sole towards the heels. Turn the vetrap sideways, go across a heel, and “grab” the tail end of vetrap near the coronary band. Continue across the other heel, diagonally down towards the toe. Continue in this diagonal figure-8 pattern, until the whole sole is covered. If the horse is tough on his wraps, or will be living outside, I use the entire roll of vetrap. A horse living in a deeply-bedded stall (and/or very lame from an abscess) can probably get by with only half a roll.
Top off your vetrap with three or four layers of duct tape strips. Alternate horizontal and vertical patterns for strength. You can lay each strip individually on the foot, or create a “patch” by sticking the tape to something else (like the leg of your jeans), building your layers, and then sticking it to the sole. For an antsy horse, it’s handy to make up the patch beforehand, so you don’t have to hold the foot up as long.
The finished wrap should be very snug around the hoof horn, but still have some flexibility around the pastern (fit a finger beneath).
It’s Friday! What does that mean? Just a few more hours of daily grind until you are free for a glorious weekend. I hope. Or, just another day spent feeding and caring for horses. But, Friday also means another opportunity to meet a member of the EN family. Today is Risa, from St. Louis, MO.
FEATURED RIDER:
Name: Risa
Age: 25
Location: St. Louis, MO
Primary horse’s name: Trembling Tyrant (Ty)
Age, breed, pertinent info: 14, OTTB, 16.2 Bay. Will be for sale next year.
Level currently competing: moving up to Training this month 🙂
Short term goals this spring/summer:
Compete successfully at training level and attend AEC’s for novice. Keeping Ty sound!! He was raced until he was 6, so he has a lot of wear and tear on his hind end. We qualified for the AEC’s last year and were prepared for our move up to training, but he went lame.
He is on Royal Champion supplements and gets regularly adjusted by the chiropractor, and those two things have kept him strong and healthy so far this year!
Year-end goals:
Take my young horse to her first event. TNT Fancy Free, 5yo TB. owned for 1 month.
Oh and I also am taking name suggestions, for her stable name?? Please help!
Overall goals?
Work on training my young horse and eventually competing at Prelim. I want to rescue and train OTTB for eventing.
I am also going to school to become an equine chiropractor. If you have never had your horse adjusted I would highly recommended, it can make an incredible difference. ( I will be expecting all you EN supporters as clients in 4 years 🙂
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently?
I’ve just really been working on myself and getting my position and aids fine tuned, so I can help my horses as much as possible. I have finally realized the importance of dressage, so although I jumping will always be my first love, I am learning to like dressage as well.
Favorite eventing moment/story? Winning IEA last month. First time winning a recognized HT.
Do you ever stare in awe at the sleek shiny horses, the glistening brass, perfect braids, and dazzling white marks at a CCI trot up? Do you ever wonder how they get that way? (LOTS of hard work is the correct answer!) Each Sunday morning we will bring you a little insider info on how the big-time grooms manage an upper level event horse. Feel free to email or comment with specific grooming questions if you have a topic in mind!
Previous entries: All Wrapped Up: Polos
All Wrapped Up: Stable Bandages
To see all previous entries, click on the “Sunday Jog-Up” category in the sidebar to the right.
Playing with mud: How to poultice your horse
Poultice is essentially wet clay used to draw heat and inflammation from a horse’s legs. It may be used alone, or (most often) under a standing bandage. Some people may say that “mud” doesn’t do very much…but having used it on myself for a severe bone bruise, I can assure you that it does work! It feels like a soothing ice pack for about three hours, absorbing heat and swelling as it dries.
Frequently, poultice is used after a strenuous workout (like a gallop or cross-country), or as part of a treatment regimen for an acute injury (bowed tendon, etc). It should be applied about an eighth- to a quarter-inch thick around the desired area. It can be irritating to broken skin; check your horse’s legs thoroughly after cross-country, and do not cover any cuts or scrapes with poultice (or you may have a hugely-swollen leg the next morning!). Use a wound ointment, like triple antibiotic, to protect the wound from any accidental poultice coverage.
When used under a standing bandage, wrap the leg with wet paper on top of the poultice. This keeps it moist a little longer so it won’t dry out too quickly; and it keeps your wraps clean. Brown paper (often cut from a feed bag) is the traditional material, but it can be stiff and wrinkly when dried. Instead, I prefer to use disposable blue shop towels— they conform to the leg nicely, are pre-cut in a good size, and come off in one piece for easy removal. In a pinch, any paper product will work…normal paper towels (the Quilted Quicker Picker Upper rocks), and even ripped pages from your event program can be used (though the newstype may rub off on white legs).
To remove the poultice, it can often be brushed off with a soft curry when dry. If it is still wet, just hose it off. For Sunday jogs, shampoo the legs thoroughly to remove any leftover white poultice dust… very tacky on dark legs! If your horse has white legs, though, poultice dust leaves them extra bright and sharp. (Thank goodness for small favors!)
Poultice comes in many different brands and varieties; some have additives like alcohol or menthol to induce an extra “cooling” sensation. Some of these extra ingredients, however, may show up in a drug test (there was a scandal about this several years ago). Your best bet is to use a plain, simple white clay poultice. Uptite and FinishLine (blue lid, non-medicated) are my favorites. They go on creamy smooth, and are pretty easy to remove the next morning.
Other poulticing hints:
–Wet your hands before grabbing a glob of mud. This keeps it from sticking to your skin, and so is more likely to stick to the horse’s hair, and not glop on the ground. Dunk your hands often into a bucket of water to keep them moist, and dripping a bit of water into the poultice tub is a good thing, keeps it “slippy” and from getting too dry.
-For less mess, use latex gloves. This will avoid the “crusty white leftover-nail-polish” look on the cuticles of your fingernails.
-Scrape excess poultice off your hand (or glove) onto the rim of the poultice bucket; it cleans your hands and you can re-use it without wastage.
–Tie up the horse’s tail BEFORE you start! Inevitably, you will forget this step when you begin to poultice the horse’s hind legs. And the tail will swish right into the poultice, becoming covered in sticky white mud. Knot it well!
-I usually apply the poultice in pairs and cover with paper, then wrap both. I’ve found this the easiest way to avoid a big mess. I hate when shavings sticks to the poultice leg, so I try to finish it quickly.
-Speaking of shavings…another big pet peeve is shavings/hay in the poultice bucket! Keep the lid on it as much as possible, to prevent irritating debris from contaminating your clay. Horses will stomp at flies, sending footing flying like a magnet to your tub of poultice.
It’s finally Friday! And time for another Lower-Level Event Rider Profile. We’ve met Nation members from all over the US and the world, and today we’re paying tribute to Montana (tip of the hat to Rebecca Farm) to meet Brigit. If you wish to be featured in an upcoming profile, fill out the Questionnaire and email it to [email protected]. Have a happy weekend!!
FEATURED RIDER:
Name: Brigit
Age: 15
Location: Montana
Primary horse’s name: Amstel- “Dawkins”
Age, breed, pertinent info:
2002 (7 coming 8) Thoroughbred gelding. Has competed Prelim and (before I bought him) was ready to go CCI*. I bought him almost exactly 1 month ago. We bought him from Hawley Bennett, and he is already a strong eventer although he’s only been competing for a year and a half. He LOVES jumping! Dressage he will tolerate and can actually be a quite nice mover if you ride him right and get him going. But jumping is really his strong suit, particularly cross country because he can, and likes to, gallop fast.
Level currently competing: Training
Short term goals this spring/summer:
Move up to Prelim, continue to go clear at all events at Training level and Prelim, and I’m really hoping to do really well at Rebecca Farm at Training level this year! Since it’s my only “local” (3 hours compared to 11) event, and it’s such an amazing one, I would really like to do well!
Year-end goals: Compete in the CCI1* at Galway Downs in November
Overall goals?
I want to compete in the NAJYRC at 1* and hopefully at 2* as well. I know Dawkins has the potential to go VERY far in eventing, so I want to get myself going at a high enough level to get HIM there. I want to improve our dressage, and not have ANY stops. Obviously, there’s the classic overall goals every 15 year old eventer has as well, which are all my goals. Rolex, Olympics, etc.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently?
I spent all of last winter riding dressage. I didn’t have a horse to ride, so I was taking 2-3 dressage lessons per week on dressage horses at my barn. Although I didn’t jump a fence for 8 months, when I finally had the chance to jump again (when trying out Dawkins), my jumping was 1000 times better than it had been. Dressage really is the foundation for everything. A solid dressage base will improve stadium and cross country and you’ll do so much better in eventing!
Dawkins also settles in to dressage better if I sit the trot rather than post. I have no idea why, but when he starts getting tense and flipping around in dressage, if I sit the trot he settles down almost instantly.
Favorite eventing moment/story?
My favorite moment so far in eventing happened just this past weekend at Inavale Horse trials! I was out on the cross country course, and we were coming to the jump that I had been nervous about since I had walked the course, the Trakehner. Until I jumped it in the event, I had not jumped a trakehner on Dawkins, and had only jumped one twice before on a horse who had no business jumping something that size and I actually ended up falling off. So I was NERVOUS. I had been reassured by Hawley that he did FINE at trakehners, but I was still so nervous, especially because so many people had fallen off at that jump already! So as we came up to it, I was already putting my leg on, probably a lot more than I should. I know I was tense and not riding as well as I should have. But Dawkins just headed up to the trakehner and popped over it without a second of hesitation or a peek into the ditch. It’s one of my favorite moments because I know he really will do anything on the cross country course!
Link to blog or website, if applicable: http://eventer4life.wordpress.com
Photos or videos: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_dzYj91uh8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKdy2me0Zlg&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jK1SUyXH_E&feature=channel – after owning him for 1 week. My second course on him ever.
