Congrats to Woodge & David on their new puppy! And the engagement. Photo courtesy of Woodge.
Honestly, Stable View, could you get any better? Yesterday they announced that in 2022, they will be providing light snacks and beverages, available in two Riders Lounges, for competitors during recognized events and Eventing Academies where more than 100 riders are present. They sincerely hope the added perk of food and beverages makes competition day that much more enjoyable at Stable View, and honestly, I can say I have never been happier than when I’m receiving snacks and drinks. You can peruse the full menu for future events here.
News From Around the Globe:
For years, Andrea Kutsch filled stadiums with spectators as she demonstrated remarkable transformations in “problem horses” using the Natural Horsemanship training methods she’d learned from leaders in the field. But something was bothering her—a feeling that had been with her since her childhood days, watching Icelandics in a field and coming up through a traditional German riding system. Despite the strides made in improving the horse’s well-being through the worldwide adoption of Natural Horsemanship techniques, she knew that the methods were still missing something. They still trained horses looking at every situation from the human perspective and were dependent on a trainer’s natural feel. This meant that, for the horse, there was stress involved in the training process. In addition, positive results gained by a professional often couldn’t be replicated by a horse’s owner; what the horse learned from one person wouldn’t transfer to others. [The Horse is Right, No Matter What]
In February 2020, a county animal control officer, accompanied by a veterinarian and sheriff’s deputies, served a warrant to seize neglected horses from a property in Winlock, Washington. The scene rescuers faced upon their arrival was nothing short of horrific: Thirteen emaciated horses plus the skeletal remains of three more, including a skull with a halter still attached inside a garbage can. Of the horses officers rescued that day, two were in such poor condition they were later euthanized. Among the 11 survivors, the average body condition score was just 1.5, and experts warned foster caretakers that the animals might not make it. But one year later, Mac Daddy J, a bay gelding rescued on that fateful afternoon, carried his new owner around her first-ever jumping competition and helped her qualify for the Washington High School Equestrian Team State Championships. [From Rescue to Ribbons]
Best of Blogs: Horse Show Reprise (A Redemption Story)
When treating joint pain with injections, practitioners generally reach for the corticosteroids first. But more veterinarians are choosing to treat with non-steroidal intra-articular therapies (NSIATs). That’s particularly the case for those who specialize in horses and primarily deal with lameness issues, according to results from a new survey. Autologous conditioned plasma (also known as platelet-rich plasma, PRP), autologous conditioned serum (ACS), autologous protein solution (APS), cellular products like stem, stromal, and progenitor cell therapy, and polyacrylamide hydrogel are relatively new injectable joint therapies for horses. Scientists still don’t fully understand their use and benefits in the horse, but the fact that increasingly more practitioners are offering them suggests people find them helpful. [Non-Steroidal Joint Injections Gaining Popularity]
Book Excerpt of the Day: The Hairs of a Caterpillar
Please enjoy this extreme throwback to Jackie Kennedy Onasis galloping full speed over some slightly large cross country fences:
