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AJ Dyer
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AJ Dyer

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About AJ Dyer

Visionaire is one of the foundation writers of Eventing Nation from the very early days in 2010. She has ridden up to Advanced level and spent six years as head groom for Dorothy Crowell. After a few years in the Thoroughbred industry, she now spends her time writing for EN, riding a few nice OTTBs, and working with her husband's hay business, A.T. Acres Farm.

Latest Articles Written

McDonald’s to Offer a Hitching Post in Cave Creek, AZ

By on Nov 23, 2013 4:00 pm -

In Cave Creek, Arizona, the town’s council members approved a site plan for a new McDonald’s…that includes a hitching post and enclosure with equine access.  Nice to see a town embrace its horse culture; I wonder if they’ll offer carrots on the dessert menu?

From The Arizona Republic:

Councilman Ernie Bunch said horse owners in the area will utilize the proposed additions.

“I live in that area and I can guarantee that you’ll see horses at that hitching post, probably on Saturday nights while residents are inside getting a milkshake or — one of my favorites — the fish sandwich,” Bunch said.

Councilman Adam Trenk requested the additions to bring a little bit of Western flair to the cookie-cutter franchise location.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Lindsey Epstein Pottery

By on Nov 23, 2013 12:00 pm -

Joan Davis of Flatlands Foto passed on a tip to us about a fabulous gift idea: beautiful sculptures and mugs created by Lindsey Epstein.  We asked Lindsey to introduce herself and her unique designs, which could make a great Christmas present for any horse enthusiast.

From Lindsey:

I’m not really sure where to start, but I suppose the beginning is as good a place as any to begin a little story about myself and the work I make. I started working with clay in high school and continued working with it in college. The University of Vermont has a special community studio within the school where anyone (students or non-students) can come take classes and use the facilities. I ended up working a lot in the studio (in case you didn’t know, Vermont is COLD in the winter and not too much fun for riding…so it was nice to do something inside for a change) and ended up finding out that I didn’t want to be a veterinarian, but that I liked working in clay. So I graduated from UVM with my animal science degree and moved back home to Massachusetts to learn more about clay at UMASS Dartmouth.

During this time, I got slightly distracted with more eventing and riding and I was trying to do pottery and ride as much as possible. Unfortunately both of these activities are time consuming and require a great deal of work. A couple years ago I began selling more of my own work which led to a shift in my focus with less on riding and more on working with clay. Last summer I made a big leap and decided to get my own studio space. Naturally, I picked a dilapidated convenience store in the little town of Rehoboth, MA.

Renovating the space was a project in itself- two and a half months of demolition, painting, cleaning, painting, building and more painting gave way to the studio that I now call my own. It’s a good little sanctuary with a waterfall, small jungle, my koi fish (named Papaya) and lots of blue things.

In my studio I make all sorts of items from clay. Most of them are functional and serve a specific purpose- bowls, cups, plates, butter dishes, sponge holders, jewelry holders, etc, but I do have two specific horse-themed items: mugs with horses painted on them and sculptures of horses. The horse mugs come in various colors and this year I’ve expanded the line to include many new designs.

I began experimenting with sculpture at UVM and the horses I make now have developed and grown over the years. The horses are made with a special formulation of clay (which I make in the studio) and are finished with a process called “raku’ which gives them their metallic shine and color variations. After the horses are made, they must fully dry and are fired once in a traditional kiln. I then apply special raku glazes and fire the horses outside in my handmade raku kiln. When the pieces are red hot, I take them out of the kiln and place them in a can with leaves, newspaper and shavings which all catch on fire for about 30-60 seconds. I place a lid on the can and that is when all the magic happens changing the colors on the horses. After the pieces cool, they are cleaned and ready for their new homes.

 

Horses are amazing creatures. There is something very fragile about their elegant strength and that is something that I try to put into each one of my sculptures.

If you’re interested in purchasing work, you can see some of the horse mugs for sale here, and the current horse sculptures are listed here: www.etsy.com/shop/Crystallinehorse. I do take custom orders, so if you like one of the designs but are looking for another color, I can do that. Names can also be added to your mug for an additional fee. Or, if you’d like your barn logo on the mugs, that is also an option (depending on the complexity of the design). In order for any custom orders to be guaranteed for Christmas, they must be placed by December 5th. Shipping is available worldwide. Please contact me if you have any questions : [email protected] and like Lindsey Epstein Pottery on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindseyEpsteinPottery to see all of the current projects.

Thank you for reading, happy riding and Go Eventing!

  

Sara Kozumplik-Murphy: Coaching at the Bolivarian Games

By on Nov 23, 2013 10:45 am -
Sara Kozumplik-Murphy is at the Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru to help coach Team Venezuela riders Natascha Barrientos and Maria Suarez Garcia (“Gaby”).  The Bolivarian Games are a mulit-sport event among six nations held every four years to honor El Libertator, Simon Bolivar.  Bolivar was credited with starting the fight for independence for six South American countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, and Venezuela.  The Eventing portion of the Games is a CCI* championship.  Many thanks to Sara for writing, and thank you for reading.

Sara with Natascha and Gaby

From Sara:

Buenos Dias from Peru!

 

It is cross-country morning here at the Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru, where a strong team of riders, horses, coaches and support team have come together to be a part of Team Venezuela. This includes Peter Gray, Kyle Carter, Barry Thomason and Dougie Hannum to name a few. We are not messing around!

 

After a few days of adventure trying to get the best food possible for our horses (have you ever stuffed bales of hay into a taxi with you?) here is a quick synopsis of the last couple of days.

 

All the horses jogged up well on Wednesday, and yesterday’s dressage phase brought personal bests for a few of our riders. Miguel Sarmiento got us off to a super start putting in a steady, accurate test, which scored 52.7. It really set the tone for us.

 

He was swiftly followed by Maritza Trujillo who kept up the trend on her lovely French horse to put in a 49.4, and Alvero Lozado, whose powerful mare looked lovely as always.

 

As for my girls on their superstar horses, they both managed to get docked 2 points each. Natascha Barrientos for halting in the wrong place on the centerline, and Maria Suarez Garcia (“Gaby”) for saluting with the rein in her hand! Ahhhhh! (Kyle says it is down to bad coaching?!?)

 

However,f I am so proud of them as despite this, Natascha and Clifton Peekachu are in the lead with a 44.4, and Gaby was cool under pressure to score a 51.9.

 

Finally, the experienced pair Elena Ceballos and Nounours Du Moulin rounded us off with a 55.8, giving us a solid start for the competition.

Jose Ortelli’s cross-country course will be a real test today. I am glad we have a couple experienced riders (and definitely some fantastic horses) to take on the challenge.  However, we came here to fight so stay tuned!

Lionheart to Allison Springer

By on Nov 18, 2013 10:35 am -

Lionheart and William Fox-Pitt at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark.

William Fox-Pitt confirmed via Twitter that his four-star mount Lionheart is coming to the USA to be ridden by Allison Springer.  An 11-year-old gelding by Lancer III, Lionheart finished fourth at Luhmuhlen CCI4* this year, and was William’s ride for the 2012 British Olympic Team. He also placed third at Pau in 2011.  This is a huge get for Allison and the USA team looking forward to WEG at Normandy next year!

From William’s website:

Judy and Jeremy Skinner’s Lionheart is sadly leaving Fox-Pitt Eventing to compete in America with Alison Springer. It was a very hard decision but we are very happy that he is joining such an accomplished rider. Lionheart was known particularly for his spectacular jump and has been a joy to work with over the last six years, he will be very hard to replace but we wish Alison and Lion every success for the future.

More details to come.

 

 

Brian Ross Says Goodbye from C

By on Nov 17, 2013 4:35 pm -

After many years signing his name at the bottom of dressage tests, Brian Ross is hanging up his pen and retiring from the booth at C.  His wife Penny Ross sent us this note along with a couple photos as Brian said goodbye to his final ride as a dressage judge.  I always appreciated his fair, consistent scores and helpful comments– he will be very missed those who rode for him!  We wish him all the best in the future, and look forward to Brian and Penny’s continued efforts with the Virginia Horse Trials.

 

From Penny:

In the photo above, Brian stands with his last Dressage Ride of his officiating career. After 35 years serving USEF and  25 years as a FEI official, he is saying goodbye from “C.” Brian is looking forward to his alternative life style on his farm, he will also dedicate more time to the Virginia Horse Trials as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of its origin.

Brian, saying goodbye from Full Moon Farm in MD. A bittersweet moment.

Groupie Doll Gets Ready for the Cigar Mile

By on Nov 17, 2013 3:17 pm -

Just days after her repeat win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Groupie Doll went to the Keeneland November Sale.  Trainer/owner Buff Bradley was sad to see her go, but admitted it was a necessary part of staying in business.  As the champion mare was hammered down at $3.1M to Mandy Pope, Bradley extended an offer to keep the 5-year-old mare in training for one final race, the Cigar Mile.  Mandy Pope purchased the mare strictly as a broodmare prospect– her Whisper Hill Farm has been snapping up high profile racemares like candy lately, including $14.2M for Harve de Grace and Plum Pretty last year.  However, after seeing Groupie Doll’s many fans and discussing it with Bradley, she opened up to the idea of keeping her in training.  With a thorough vet exam by Rood and Riddle’s Dr. Larry Bramlage, Groupie Doll was deemed 100% sound and fit, with no reason to retire.

 

Groupie Doll is back with Bradley in training at Belmont, aiming for the Nov. 30 Cigar Mile (G1).  Last year, she finished second in this race against males, losing to Stay Thirsty by a nose.  Win or lose, Mandy Pope deserves a lot of credit for sending the fan favorite out one more time as a final curtain call.  Best of luck to Groupie Doll!

 

A Note for EventEntries.com Users

By on Nov 17, 2013 11:36 am -

DSCN6053.JPG

EventEntries.com has made entering an event a much easier process– all your information is stored, you simply select a horse, rider, choose an event, and in a snap your form is all filled out and you can submit it electronically if you like.  It takes the hassle out of remembering USEA, USEF, and FEI membership numbers, and filling in all those address blanks.  Just like the “set it and forget it” infomercial, you rarely have to think about the work involved.

However, is your personal information currently accurate?  Sandy Uhler from Fair Hill International sent us a little reminder to keep your EventEntries profile up to date.

 

From Sandy:

Top Five Reasons to keep your EventEntries.com profiles up to date (taken from actual experiences).

  1. Update your address: Someone might be sending you PRIZE MONEY!
  2. Someone might be sending you a REFUND!
  3. Someone might be trying to contact you regarding a passport that you FORGOT to pick up at a competition!
  4. Update your email: You will receive your ride times by email – instead of having YOUR MOTHER send them to you!
  5. You will know that you owe money to the competition BEFORE you arrive!  Maybe save a late fee??

Chris Burton Wins 2013 Adelaide CCI4*

By on Nov 17, 2013 9:14 am -

 

 

In  performance similar to Mark Todd’s catch-ride win at Badminton in 1994 on Horton’s Point, Chris Burton stepped in the irons of TS Jamaimo and came away with a victory at Adelaide CCI4*.  Show jumping proved to be quite the test today, with only three double clear rounds. Chris and Jamaimo finished on their dressage score of 49.7 to take the win.  Sonja Johnson, also double clear with Belfast Mojito, moved up to second.  Craig Barrett and Sandhills Brillaire dropped one rail to finish third.

 

None of the top 5 after cross-country went clear in show jumping today; 8-fault rounds moved Shane Rose and Stuart Tinney out of the top three.  Taurus dropped to fourth, just ahead of Pluto Mio who had a time fault along with two rails.  Shane Rose’s other ride, CP Qualified, had two time along with two rails to finish seventh.  Seumas Marwood and Wild Oats delivered the only other double clear round to finish the event in sixth.

 

AI3DE Links: [Website] [Schedule]  [Final Scores] [FEI TV] [CrossCountry App]

 

John Kyle reviews the show jumping:

What the Hay? Part III: By the Numbers

By on Nov 16, 2013 3:30 pm -

 

In Part I of the series, we covered the whats and whys of getting forage into a bale.  Last week, Part II explained several varieties of hay and what to look for when you buy.  Now, let’s delve into the numerical side of things: Hay Analysis.

 

What is hay testing?  Why should hay be tested?  Hay analysis can be used to quantify nutritional value or “feed value” of your hay.  Knowing this nutritional value can help a horse owner develop a balanced ration for their animal, filling in gaps with additional calories, proteins, vitamins, or minerals that may be lacking in the horse’s forage.  Analysis can also be used to grade different lots of hay, to determine which to buy and which to avoid.

 

How to sample:  using a thin, sharp metal probe and drill, a representative sample from 10-20 bales should be taken.  Insert the probe deep into the short side of the bale (12″)  to get a core sample; empty the contents into a large ziploc bag.  Add in core samples from at least 10 other bales, chosen at random– don’t just find the good ones.  Shake the bag and mix the samples well.  Send this off to a lab for analysis; contact your local agricultural extension agent for suggestions, or see this list of certified forage testing labs (NFTA Certified Lab Facilities – PDF).  Some universities offer testing for free or at very low cost; other professional labs will be more expensive, or charge by the depth of results desired.

 

You will receive results in the form of a printout sheet; a complex array of abbreviations, acronyms, and numbers.  It can be overwhelming, like trying to read a racehorse’s past performances or trying grasp qualifications for an FEI event.  Here’s an example analysis sheet– I’ve highlighted a few of the terms for discussion.

 

Definitions of terms:

DM = Dry Matter.  Forage contains some amount of moisture, even when dried in a bale.  Live, fresh growing grass is 70-80% moisture; fully-cured hay is generally around 10% moisture.  “DM” is everything in the hay that is not water (protein, fiber, minerals, etc). Percent dry matter is 100- %moisture.  On an average bale of hay, you would expect it to be about 90% DM.

As Sampled refers to the nutrient content on an “as fed” basis, including the moisture content.  100% Dry Matter basis is the easiest way to compare feed values, as moisture content can vary among forages (particularly when accounting for fresh pasture).

DMI = Dry Matter Intake.  This is the amount of dry matter a horse will consume.

–
DE = Digestible Energy (Mcal/lb or Mcal/kg).  This is the calories the horse will consume per pound or kilogram of hay.  An average horse in light work may have DE requirements of 20.5 Mcal/day.  Hay may range from 0.76 to 0.94 Mcal/lb or higher of DE (as fed).  As an example: if a bale of hay has a DE of 1.0 Mcal/lb, the horse in light work must consume 20.5 lbs of that hay to meet his caloric needs.

TDN = Total Digestible Nutrients.  This is a measure of the total digestible nutrients (good stuff) in the hay, including its energy value; this can be used instead of DE or along with DE.  TDN is calculated from subtracting the %ADF.  It may range from 40-55%.  Higher quality hay will reflect with higher TDN.  (Higher number is better)

CP = Crude Protein.  This is the total protein concentration in the hay; as mentioned in Part II, grass hay will average 8-10% crude protein, while alfalfa can be up to 20% or more.  A higher % protein is not always better, as it depends on your horse’s needs (growth, maintenance, pregnancy, etc) and consumption.  Protein can be converted to use as an energy source, but it’s an inefficient metabolic process; excess protein will be excreted in urine by the kidneys.  (You may notice a strong ammonia smell in your horse’s stall if he’s being fed excessive protein.)  Most average sport horse rations (grain and hay) are balanced around 11-12% protein.

NDF = Neutral Detergent Fiber.  NDF measures the plant’s cell wall content; a higher percentage of cell walls corresponds with less digestible fiber (more filler).  Mature, overripe hay will have a greater %NDF…a high NDF means horses will eat less of it.  When you see NDF, think “intake.” (Low number is better.)

  • NDF >65% is bad= horses won’t each much of it.  NDF <41% is excellent.

ADF = Acid Detergent Fiber.  ADF is a subset of NDF, measuring cellular fiber.  As ADF increases, the digestibility and nutrient availability of the hay decreases.  Good quality forages will have a lower ADF.  When you see ADF, think “digestibility.”  (Low number is better.)

  • ADF >45%  is bad= low nutritional content.  ADF <31% is excellent.

RFV = Relative Feed Value.  RFV is not particularly useful in balancing a ration, but it can be used to compare various forages when selecting hay to purchase.  It combines estimates of digestibility and intake to produce a number reflecting the estimated overall quality of the hay.  For reference, full-bloom alfalfa has an RFV of about 100; early-bloom alfalfa will be higher than that (perhaps 120 or greater).

 

 

Quality Estimates for Types of Hay for Horses (100% Dry Matter Basis)

High Quality
Average Quality
Low Quality
Legume
Crude Protein (%)
18-23%
16-17%
Below 15%
Total Digestible Nutrients (%)
60-65%
56-66%
Below 55%
Digestible Energy (Mcal/lb)
1.2-1.0
1.0-0.90
Below 0.90
Mixed Legume/Grass
Crude Protein (%)
15-18%
11-14%
Below 10%
Total Digestible Nutrients (%
57-62%
55-57%
Below 55%
Digestible Energy (Mcal/lb
1.0-0.95
0.95-0.85
Below 0.85
Grass
Crude Protein (%)
12-14%
9-11%
Below 7%
Total Digestible Nutrients (%)
57-60%
54-57%
Below 50%
Digestible Energy (Mcal/lb)
0.95-0.90
0.90-0.85
0.80 or less
Estimated Daily Intake
(% of body weight)
2.0-2.5
1.5-2.0
1.0-1.5

 

The Hay Market Task Force of the American Grasslands Council has developed a chart to grade hay on a quality standard system.  Most grass hays will naturally fall towards the “4” category, while alfalfa/grass mixes will grade out a 2 or 3.  Top-quality straight alfalfa will make it as a 1 or Prime.

Quality Standard Crude Protein  (CP) Acid Detergent Fiber  (ADF) Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) Digestible Dry Matter Dry Matter Intake as % of Body Weight Relative Feed Value (RFV)
Prime >19% <31% <40% >65% >3.0% >151
1 17-19 31-35 40-46 62-65 2.9-2.6 151-125
2 14-16 36-40 47-53 58-61 2.5-2.1 124-103
3 11-13 41-42 54-60 56-57 2.0-1.7 102-87
4 8-10 43-45 61-65 53-55 1.6-1.3 86-75
5 <8 >45 >65 <53 <1.2 <75

 

NSC = Non Structural Cabohydrates.  NSC has become a buzzword lately in equine nutrition; high NSCs in a horse’s ration has become associated with risk of colic, laminitis, and ulcers.  Horses with Cushing’s disease, EPSM, or insulin resistance do best with a lower NSC in their diet.  Grass hay is generally lower in NSC compared to alfalfa (15% to 20%, respectively).  Not all labs offer NSC analysis.

 

Hopefully this helps clarify some of the confusion about hay analysis.  Keep in mind that the analysis is only as good as the sample provided; the larger the representative sample (20 bales or more) the more accurate it is likely to be.  There will always be some variation among bales, even from the same field.  However, having some values to use as a guideline can be very helpful in selecting what hay you buy, and in knowing what grain or supplements to provide for your horses.

 

Shoutout to the Goresbridge Go for Gold Sale

By on Nov 16, 2013 12:41 pm -

The Goresbridge Go for Gold Sale in Ireland has a reputation for producing outstanding sport horse prospects.  Kylie Lyman Demody sent us an email noting the sale’s success this year– and her own, as she produced this year’s sale topper.  Congrats, Kylie, and good luck to all the new prospects!

From Kylie:

Just wanted to share for those who didn’t see that the Goresbridge Go for Gold Sale in Ireland broke all sorts of records Wednesday night. I was fortunate to have produced the highest priced horse from this year’s sale, he broke the previous records by 17,000 Euros, and I had the ride on two others including the top priced four-year-old mare. Martin and Mary Frances Donohoe do a fantastic job and attracted buyers from all over the world. It was a fun experience and something we don’t get to see in the US. They have seen a huge majority of the best Irish Sport Horses in the world go through their sales. My old ride Trading Aces came through them as a 3-yo along with Imperial Cavalier, Lenamoe, Ballynoecaste RM, Mr. Medicott and Springalong among many others.

Mr. Medicott (photo by Jenni Autry)

Trading Aces (photo by Kasey Mueller)

Cross-County Results from Adelaide CCI4*

By on Nov 16, 2013 8:56 am -


Adelaide enjoyed a great day of cross-country today in the CCI4*.  Two-time winner Stuart Tinney leads with Pluto Mio, moving up from second place after dressage with a clear round just one second over the optimum time.  Shane Rose and Taurus moved up to second with the same 0.4 time added; his dressage-winning partner CP Qualified was 16 seconds slow and sits in third.

 

While there were 16 clear rounds, only two riders made the time: Sonja Johnson with Parkiarrup Illicit Liason, and Chris Burton with TS Jamaimo.  Four riders had one stop each, and four others did not complete the course.  All in all, it appears it was a very successful day; the top 6 are separated by less than a rail going into show jumping tomorrow.

AI3DE Links: [Website] [Schedule]  [Live Scores] [FEI TV] [CrossCountry App]

 

John Kyle of FEITV reviewed the day’s action, noting that Chris Burton has ridden TS Jamaimo for less than a week!  Not a bad catch ride to go double clear at a CCI4*.

 

Emily Daignault: Tips for Buying at the Track

By on Nov 14, 2013 3:00 pm -

Emily Daignault was a finalist in the 2012 EN Blogger Contest and is part of a Facebook group called OTTB Connect. With many years in the racehorse business combined with her eventing experience and success on the Thoroughbred show circuit, Emily can speak to both sides of the equation in the OTTB market. Looking for your next sport horse off the track?  Here are some shopping tips to keep in mind. Many thanks to Emily for writing, and thank you for reading.

Photo by Emily Daignault

From Emily:

So it occurs to me that maybe I should discuss what can be very bad moves for the average horse owner, especially those buying off the track. Let’s discuss how to acquire your future horse so that it’s a win win for all.

First off….I know it’s tempting when you see the drool-worthy horse that falls inside your price point to run to the track and be the first trailer there with a fistful of cash and you feel like “I Won!!” But this isn’t a wise move a lot of times. There’s a reason that folks like me preach to have a vetting of some type done. There are issues you may not see on the surface that can destroy your future goals with a horse of your dreams. Even if you just pay a vet $50 to make sure his heart, eyes, lungs and legs all work in the right ways… it could save you from a lifetime of heartache, not to mention the abuse your wallet could take.

Second….”But Emily If I don’t buy Dobbin RIGHT AWAY someone else will get him!! And I want him”

This is VERY common. This also can lead to disaster. I get that we all WANT a pretty and nice horse to love on. But sometimes it’s best to remember to think with your mind, not your heart. Is this horse a good match? Are you truly ready and able to take a TB off the track? Do you know what all is involved in the retraining process? Do you know what Racehorse crashing looks like? Do you have a vet who is able to help the animal with his transition if meds are needed? Do you have a trainer who can help you navigate this process? Do you have a farrier skilled in helping a racehorses feet get put on track for the optimal results and health? Do you have a barn to keep the horse at the has people experienced in handling horses that could become high strung or may need reinforcement of the basic ground manners?

All of these need to be a yes. Not some. All.

Now here’s why this is important. Take a look on any Craiglist site near a track and look how many ads there are for horses off the track 3-18 months with an owner that can’t ride it or deal with it anymore. This btw for those of us looking for nice horses dirt cheap is where I tend to wade around. Because someone who is ill suited for a TB will figure it out and want that horse gone and people like me know how to get it back on track. That said… don’t be the person to buy it and have a bad time, lose a years worth of board on a horse you don’t get along with and who made you miserable because your reality with it was not that of National Velvet, Black Beauty, or Phar Lap. (See Wikipedia if you don’t get that reference.)

Now the Do’s:

1.) Do the research. READ their ENTIRE race history.

2.) Where possible watch Videos of their races.

3.) Ask any friendly more knowledgeable Thoroughbred person to look at their records with you and help translate what you don’t understand.

4.) Ask the trainer logical TB questions. Do not embellish into Show questions.

Example: Track Question: “Has this horse been sound for you the entire time you’ve had it? If not, why not?
Show Question…”What kind of a mover is he?” (The answer will always be good. LOL)

Track Question: “Can I talk to his exercise rider to discuss how he goes in the mornings?”

Show Question: “How fast do you make him go?” (This is usually where the trainer starts counting how many toenails he could pull out and how it would hurt far less.)

5.) Vet the horse. (Yes even the freebies.) If it works for you, Buy the horse.

6.) Do not worry about papers. In the grand scheme of things they mean nothing and while it’s a nice novelty to have, you having the papers means to the trainer that the horse could end up back on the track, which they don’t want. As a compromise, ask for a photocopy of the papers, so you have it for your records and so they know the horse will never run again.

(Sidenote: Writing “Horse not to run again” or whatever on the papers doesn’t work to keep them from running. The actual reality is that by “defacing” the papers this way you have in fact created a situation where the Jockey Club will issue new papers [for the horse to run] because the old papers were considered defaced. IE, not usable. Horse keeps running and all you did was waste some ink.)

7.) Don’t be afraid to say no. To the price, to the purchase, to anything. If your body is telling you “uhhhh I don’t know about this…” LISTEN to it and walk. As we all know sadly there are always more horses coming down the pike.

IF you have questions… feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer.

Australian Race Horses Get Wet From Sprinklers

By on Nov 13, 2013 6:00 pm -

Deadspin recently posted a story and video of a race held earlier this month at Bathurst Racecourse in New South Wales, Australia. As the horses rounded the final turn, the track’s sprinklers suddenly erupted. The jockeys kept riding right through the spray, and Path to Freedom emerged the victor. All non-winning tickets were refunded. Yikes!

[Australian Horse Race Interrupted By Sprinklers]

Best of Craigslist: Looking for a Horse Trainer?

By on Nov 10, 2013 2:56 pm -

Do you need your horse broke to ride upside down? Here’s your guy…

 

 

D.J HORSE BREAKING Offers Training , Exercising , Lessons , And Breaking . I have been training and exercising sense i was 8 years old and love what i do . I also have been running the national barrel horse association (NBHA) circuit sense i was 8 . I have been to Lexington Virginia world nationals and won . I also trained a 12 year old girl last year and she took 1st in the blountstown saddle club and won a saddle an also now starting to run NBHA and has been winning on her horse . It doesn’t matter if the horse is wild , crazy , bucks we know how to handle them , So If you need a horse trained to run barrels , just to ride , trail horse , or just a tottally bomb proof horse that will do what ever you ask we are the people to call . We can do Hourly , Weekly , Monthly or what ever we negotiate.

 

 

A Virtual Horse as Art?

By on Nov 10, 2013 12:15 pm -

 

Wired.com recently brought to my attention a new work of art– a virtual horse that takes shape as more people stop to view it.  The piece, titled Looking at a Horse, just finished a showing at a digital arts festival in Brighton, England.

From Wired:

You walk into a dark room and projected on the wall in front of you is a frenzied mass of dots. A friend walks in and the dots are connected by a wireframe body–the thing you’re watching, you realize, is a galloping horse. As more viewers trickle in, the horse continues to evolve, adding polygonal musculature and a shimmering skin. Eventually, when enough people are watching, the beast transcends its earthly form and transforms into some other ghostly, ethereal thing entirely. Then, as people filter out of the room, it goes through the same process in reverse, dissolving back to the elemental cloud of points.

What you’re seeing is Looking at a Horse by Evan Boehm, an artwork that becomes more beautiful with each new pair of eyes trained upon it. It’s a clever piece, pairing striking animation and some simple body-tracking software to investigate a very basic question: What does it mean to look at a piece of art?

(read full article)

 

While I suppose it’s cool to have horses (and anatomically-correctly-moving ones, at that) included in a nouveau art display, it doesn’t quite inspire me.  Because as we all know, nothing beats looking at a horse– a real one– even if he’s just standing outside eating grass.  As much as it tries, this art has nothing on real life.

And So God Made the Horse

By on Nov 10, 2013 10:43 am -

This was posted on the Chronicle of the Horse Eventing Forum last week, by corgigirl14.  It’s too good not to share.

 

 From Corgigirl14:

After making the little girl, God said:

“You’ll need something to lean on. Something with substance that will teach you the value of hard work, perseverance, and to never give up. A thing that won’t cast judgment when you mess up in life. Because you will often, it’s just part of growing up and becoming a decent human.

“You’ll need something whose impressive physical presence must be respected at all times. A being who could break your bones in a whisper but will never break your heart. A creature who will be there for you when you cry for hours after someone you love lets you down. An unspeaking breathing being that will teach you to check all the noise in your head and completely listen to what he is saying.

“Sometimes in life you need to let go and just hang on. I call this trust. The terrifying ability to follow something blindly out of the conviction of only your heart. It will keep you centered and restore your faith when life happens. When you realize that you are forgettable to the world you won’t be to this creature.

“Something that will keep you truly humbled yet teach you how to fly!

“You need to understand the painful reality of death. Sometimes it’s ok to let go. That kindness will always be rewarded before the use of force. And that courage means trusting him to get you safely to the other side.

“Something to get you out of bed in the trying times. When you feel like you have nothing he will remind you that you are still wanted. Something to give you perspective about what’s really important in life.

“You’ll need a best friend. Do not take this relationship lightly. It just might save your life someday when you see no out. Treasure it always I’m trusting it to you to take care of for a reason.

“A creature who will restore your faith about all of the goodness in the world even when you are so broken down that you cast Me aside.

“In turn with time and healing he will bring you back to Me. Know that your struggle won’t be made alone, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.

So I will make a horse.”

Denya Massey: William Fox-Pitt’s Ontario Clinic

By on Nov 9, 2013 12:00 pm -

EN reader and Canadian correspondent Denya Massey was in attendance at the William Fox-Pitt Clinic on November 4, in Newmarket, Ontario.  The clinic was sponsored by Albion Saddlemakers and Stringer Equestrian Co.  Denya sent us an awesome clinic report last year from Clayton Fredericks, and she doesn’t disappoint with the WFP clinic either!  We’ve heard so many good things from Wiliam’s clinic in Virginia, and it seems the Canadians were treated to the same wonderful opportunity.  Thanks to Denya for writing, and thank you for reading.

—-

 

William with April Simmonds, Bronze Medal winner at the NAJYRC 2013

From Denya:

 

On a crisp, clear day in southern Ontario, the eventing community was really psyched about seeing William Fox-Pitt in person.

 

His clinic was quickly sold out, and had to be expanded to accommodate the demand; it was sponsored by Stringer Equestrian Co. and Albion Saddlemakers, who also organized William’s appearance at the Royal Winter Fair Horseware Indoor Eventing classes. While William is gracious and unassuming in person, not seeing himself as “famous,” there’s no denying it or being cool about it — we were plain old excited! With a limit of 18 riders (6 per group, 2 sessions each), and a full house of spectators, the arena at Grass Stables in Newmarket was buzzing.

 

Jessica Stringer (right) is the President of Stringer Equestrian Co with Sherry Belton, Managing Director of Albion Saddlemakers Company Ltd from the UK.

 

Once William was underway, he was all business, bringing a sense of calm to the ring, being direct but kindly, being clear and focused but not intense. The riders themselves were anxious, of course, but he has a way of spreading his energy quietly, so he draws the riders into his space, to listen to him, to absorb what he’s saying, to translate it back out to use it. Jessica Phoenix, gold medalist at the 2011 Pan Am Games, said what she really appreciated was his horsemanship, and his explanations about how to relate to your horse, to imagine how your horse sees and feels what’s happening, and how to overcome their instinct to flee rather than be submissive. Other clinics are often more about tools the rider could use for schooling, but this was more about the development of a successful positive partnership with an animal of flight.

 

Selena O’Hanlon, a team silver medalist with Jess at the WEG’s in 2010, commented that William managed his nerves when competing better than anyone else, and she enjoyed his quiet style in the clinic, but especially noted, “the horses loved him too!”  Selena was the first to demonstrate how to jump with one arm behind her back, and later hanging loose by her side, to slow a rider’s shoulders in the air. And, one-handed on a young mare, she jumped a three fences all on an angle in one line smoothly!

Selena with her hand behind her back, jumping a difficult line of three fences on a young mare; the little block by the jump was my 'office' - fortunately no one sent my notes flying!

 

There’s always something special that resonates after a clinic –  that ah-ha moment, something clicks, a novel approach. After distilling so much in one day as the amateur chilly chinchilla who gets to hear all six sessions, scribbling madly with frozen fingers and taking photos, I reflect on what floats to the top. Several key statements/ideas stick with me.

  • William said he was not there to train your horse, but to train you; sharing his theories.
  • The walk is terribly underrated, yet it is about 1/3 of the marks.
  • We need our eventing horses to think, which is why they are imperfect dressage horses – the most clever are often not the best in dressage, because the next day, they must think and think fast when on cross country, yet still listen to the rider.
  • And speaking of cross country, ALWAYS have a neck strap. He does.
  • For a “buzzy” horse (no explanation needed, we all get what a “buzzy” horse is like!), his credo is: “slow, low, go,” and give them the parameters that are acceptable, using two hands and two legs – all four parts.
  • Finally, “when things go wrong, the leg stays on.”

(more…)

What the Hay? Part II

By on Nov 9, 2013 10:30 am -

Neverending windrows. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

Timothy’s the best.  Alfalfa will make your horse hot. Hay should always be green.  You’ve probably heard statements like these before.  Are they true?
Timothy is a common grass hay; it’s pretty easy to identify with its stove-pipe shape and has a recognizable name, so it’s often propelled into the “hay of choice” for many horse owners.  “My horse won’t eat orchardgrass!  He only eats timothy!” is something I’ve been told several times.  Depending on the individual, I may try to explain this phenomenon…or sometimes it’s best just to smile and nod, knowing some people will believe what they want and ignore what the rest.
So, what’s the difference between timothy and orchardgrass?  Nutritionally, not much.  Both are cool-season grasses, meaning they grow best in spring and fall, and may go dormant during the heat of the summer.  Like any grass, they should be harvested in the “mid boot” stage, or before going to seed.  Every spring, a plant has two goals in life: grow and reproduce.  While growing, the plant has nutrients concentrated its leaves.  Once the plant is into the reproductive life stage, most of its energy and nutrients go towards budding, flowering, and making the seed; the stem and leaves become fibrous as the protein and sugars go to into the seedhead.
What does this mean to your horse?  If the grass is too mature when cut, those stems and leaves won’t taste so good, and you’ll see a lot of wasted hay trashed around his stall.  He’ll eat the seed tops and pick through the rest.  Have you noticed in a pasture, your horse eats one area down to the nubs, while seemingly ignoring the tall, lush-looking grass on the other side of the field?  What looks tall and lush to us is actually just a lot of tasteless fiber.  The horse wants the tender young shoots with sugar and protein.
So why would a horse choose timothy hay over orchard, or vice versa?  Likely it had to do with when the hay was produced by the farmer; overripe grass of any species will never taste as good as early-cut hay from another variety.  Horses are browsers, and most of them will select the most tasty (nutritious) forage available.  This could be timothy, orchard, brome, bluegrass, fescue, or a number of other varieties.  I’ve yet to meet a horse with such a refined palate that he eats only one type of grass; it all has to do with the growth stage of what’s offered.
So how do you know if your hay was cut on time?  Look for the seedheads.  Since timothy is so easily identified, many horse owners choose the bale with a lot of seedhead hanging out…and then wonder why the horse wastes most of it.  If you see a lot of long timothy heads and stems, that means the rest of the plant is mostly fiber.  Instead, look for timothy with small, short seedheads, possibly still wrapped a bit in a leaf blade.  That’s early-cut, and will still have lots of nutrition left in the stem and leaf.  Orchardgrass is similar, though with a different seed top; look for lots of blade, and bushy seed heads packed tightly, not open that have already dropped their seed.

Note the leaf on the timothy stem; a sign of early maturity and good quality.

Second (or fall) cuttings may not have the grass seedheads.  The cutting (1st/2nd/3rd, etc) of hay doesn’t matter much, so long as it was properly managed and produced.
Now, the A-word: alfalfa.  Alfalfa is the source of many myths…some won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole, others (out west, especially) feed it exclusively.  Most horses find alfalfa to be very tasty, so palatability is rarely an issue.  Alfalfa is a legume, not a grass; it is in the same family as clover and soybeans, and it can fixate nitrogen from the air. It has about twice as much protein as grass (20% or more compared to 8-10%), and is a good source of calcium.  Straight alfalfa is excellent for broodmares making milk– and dairy cattle, where the prime crop (25%+ protein) ends up.  It provides more calories and can be a good choice for weight gain; this means it may not be the best for a fat “air fern” horse, but maybe for your skinny OTTB.

Happy 60th Birthday to Lucinda Green!

By on Nov 7, 2013 12:00 pm -

Eventing Nation would like to join in the celebration of Lucinda Green’s 60th birthday today. Lucinda won Badminton six times on six different horses: Be Fair (1973), Wideawake (1976), George (1977), Killaire (1979), Regal Realm (1983) and Beagle Bay (1984).  he won Burghley with Beagle Bay in 1981. Through her clinics and teaching, she has truly left a mark on so many eventers worldwide. appy Birthday, Lucinda, and we look forward to many more!

Alandra Halem: Things Don’t Always Go As Planned

By on Nov 4, 2013 4:30 pm -

Thanks to Athletux, we had numerous guest bloggers bringing us all the action from Galway Downs. Alandra Halem, a former California native, groomed Copycat Chloe for Allison Springer, and it’s been great to have a groom’s perspective in our Galway coverage. Thanks to Alandra for writing, and thank you for reading.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe at Richland. Photo by Jenni Autry.

From Alandra:

Things don’t always go as planned. Unfortunately, that’s the way the world works. After a long day of hurry up and wait (one can only take so long setting up the vet box, walking, hand grazing, fussing over the horse, setting out racks, etc.) we finally made it to cross-country time!
Chloe was brilliant most of the way around a tough track. Allison and Chloe had a little bit of a bobble at the second water and then missed the gap going to the next fence. She had to circle before continuing to the sunken road, and while they had a good jump in, they did not have enough canter to jump out. Chloe stopped and Allison popped off and landed on her feet.
It’s difficult for me to be in the vet box and be able to hear the announcing but unable to make out what they are saying. It’s hard to look out and see your rider walking home. But all you can hope for is for horse and rider to come back safe and sound and ready to ride another day. Both Allison and Chloe are totally fine and were disappointed not to be show jumping.
It was great to be able to come back out to California and see all of my horse show family for the week. There are so many wonderful people in the eventing community out here that I miss. Now it’s back to Virginia to see all my ponies and my dog back at home.

Buck Davidson and Petite Flower win Galway Downs CCI3*

By on Nov 3, 2013 6:03 pm -

Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty, photo by Bill Olson

By half a point, Buck Davidson and Petite Flower have won the CCI3* at Galway Downs.  Buck had a rail in hand– barely– over Jolie Wentworth and Good Knight, and he needed it.  Jolie jumped a beautiful clear round, and the pressure was on…Petite Flower had one rail down, but it was still enough to earn her the win.

There were three clear rounds today– Jolie Wentworth and Good Knight (second place), Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley (third place), and Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against (fifth).  Emilee Libby and Nonsensical had two rails down to drop from third to fourth.

Kristin Schmolze had two rails as well, moving from fifth to sixth.  Helen Buscaren and Ben dropped only one rail to finish seventh. Buck’s other ride, The Apprentice, didn’t have such a good day today; 12 jumping and 3 time moved him down to eighth.

 

Jolie Wentworth and Good Knight, photo by Bill Olson

 

Elisabeth Halliday Sharp and HHS Cooley, photo by Bill Olson

[Full Results]

 

Emilee Libby and Nonsensical, photo by Bill Olson

 

Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken, photo by Bill Olson

Denya Massey: Indoor Eventing at the 2013 Royal Winter Fair, Part II

By on Nov 3, 2013 3:22 pm -

Canadian reader Denya Massey is in attendance at the 2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, in Toronto, Ontario.  Each year the Royal hosts an Indoor Eventing competition that’s always a big hit, and this year is no different.  Waylon Roberts (again!) won the challenge this year.  Many thanks to Denya for writing, and thank you for reading.  [Read Part I]

Waylon, 1st place - looking back to make sure the last jump stayed up!

Winner Waylon Roberts, looking back to make sure the last jump stayed up!

From Denya:

This was the second night of Horseware Indoor Eventing and the excitement of the first night was doubled the second night with a packed house. Under the lights in the Horse Palace, Waylon Roberts had a pole down to put in him in the middle of the pack on the first night, and he came out with guns blazing last night. There was no room for error if he was going to win the championship yet again. And the crowd was ready…Waylon came in the ring, with his domination of this class announced to the audience, and the noise ratcheted up another notch!

 

His horse, Bill Owen, a Standardbred/TB cross, came out like a gunslinger – fast, furious, focused and a straightshooter….. but on a hard rollback, Waylon almost jumped the timer and two stewards….. they said later they weren’t sure what to do – it happened so fast, but the horse barely managed to skip past them safely, and galloped the two corner jumps dead straight, the only pair to do that – much to the amazement and delight of the audience. That probably won the class, and, ultimately, the championship for them. We were all hard pressed to figure out who was happiest, Waylon or his mother Kelly Plitz, a top eventer in her time. Waylon’s father Ian put in a great showing on his horse, holding up the older generation admirably with 3rd place.

 

Not that Friday night’s leader Kendal Lehari didn’t give her all, and almost made it, missing the top prize by 1.26 seconds! Daily Edition was foot perfect, and their partnership showed. The crowds were on their feet for Waylon’s round, which left us breathless, and jumping up again for Kendal. Lindsay Beer used her Friday night 2nd place time to keep her in the ribbons for 4th, with William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend coming in 5th and 6th on their borrowed horses. Both UK riders were exceedingly gracious about the loan of such good horses.

 

The Saturday night crowd really appreciated the handsome course, and showed their appreciation for every round – one spectator made a point of telling me that her group thought this was by far the most fun class at the Royal. Another comment I heard several times was noting how cool it was that Capt Mark Phillips was the course designer, it added cachet to the event – and the riders all agreed Capt Phillips had built two excellent courses. Remarkable too was the speed with which the courses were both built and then dismantled…an admirable feat given the size and heft of the jumps.

Go Royal! Go Eventing!