Register Now for August Hunter/Jumper Clinics at the Virginia Horse Center

By Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group Lexington, VA – July 28, 2015 – This August, the Virginia Horse Center is proud to welcome renowned horsemen and clinicians Julie Winkel, Bucky Reynolds and Jack Towell. On August 4, Winkel will host a one-day clinic presented by the Virginia Horse Shows Association … Continue reading →

Jennifer Alfano Wins $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Candid at Week 1 of the 2015 Equifest Horse Show

By Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group Wayne, IL  – SBS Farms continued to shine in the hunter rings this past week at the Equifest I Horse Show held at Lamplight Equestrian Center. Jennifer Alfano put in impressive trips on several horses to earn top ribbons in numerous divisions, yet it … Continue reading →

Delaney Flynn & Quite Quick WIN 1st HIPICO Santa Fe Grand Prix!

By HIPICO Santa Fe Delaney Flynn and Quite Quick triumphed at the $25,000 Century Bank/Kastel Denmark GrandPrix at the Welcome Week of the Santa Fe Summer Series!The Santa Fe Summer Series inaugural show kicked off with a bang! Fourteen-year-old Delaney Flynn took the win with her mount, Quite Quick, in the … Continue reading →

Find Equis Boutique at the 2015 Hampton Classic Horse Show

By Lindsay Brock for Jump Media. Bridgehampton, New York – Equis Boutique, a boutique for the discerning equestrian, is headed to the Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, NY, this August. With a variety of luxury equestrian brands on board, the Equis Boutique mobile store will settle on stable row … Continue reading →

Equifest I Wraps Up with Jumper Classics and Hunter Championships

By Brenda Mueller for Chicago Equestrian Caelinn Leahy and Kaner 88 won the $1,500 Low Junior/Amateur Classic at Equifest I. Photo Lily Kubly Wayne, IL-July 26, 2015- Week one of the two-week Equifest series at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, concluded with the $7,500 Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of … Continue reading →

Zone 8 Shined in Gold and Zone 7 Earns Medals of Every Kind at the 2015 USHJA Children’s and Adult Amateur Jumper Central Regional Championships

By Louise Bowden for USHJA Lexington, KY—-Shining bright with the most clear rounds, Zone 8 riders claimed the Children’s and Adult Amateur team golds and the Adult Amateur individual gold medal, while Zone 7 earned individual gold and team silver and bronze at the 2015 USHJA Children’s and Adult Amateur Jumper … Continue reading →

Jeffery Welles and Broken Heart Claim First in $75,000 AIG Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson V

By HITS SAUGERTIES, New York (July 27, 2015): Jeffery Welles and Broken Heart went fourth in a five-horse jump-off and shaved more than a second off the leading time to win Sunday’s $75,000 AIG Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson V. “He’s 9-years-old, but he’s very green,” said Welles, of Wellington, Florida, … Continue reading →

Madeleine Gastineau Wins $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic in Vermont

By Lindsay Brock for Jump Media East Dorset, Vermont — Madeleine Gastineau of Doylestown, PA, and Limited Edition finished the fourth week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival with a win in the $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Summit Performance, on Sunday, July 26.  The Vermont Summer … Continue reading →

TPH: Riding Outfit of the Day

By Nadia Alani of @perfeqoutfit Get the Look! Noble Outfitters Gwen Performance Mock Ladies $50 Ariat Heritage Contour Zip Field Boot $290 Sperry Top-Sider Ships Helm Earrings $24 Charles Owen SP8 Helmet $370 SSG Digital Gloves $35 Vela Breech B0010 GhoDho $125 Personally Preppy Custom Bridle Plate Necklace $49.99 Hunt Club The Derby Belt ‘On Deck’ $25 Hunt … Continue reading →

Cory Hardy Kicks Off Week 4 at Vermont Summer Festival

By Lindsay Brock for Jump Media East Dorset, Vermont — Cory Hardy of Littletown, MA, got the fourth week of competition underway at the Vermont Summer Festival with a win in the $5,000 1.40 Open Jumper on Wednesday, July 22, aboard Camelot 105, owned by Commonwealth Ventures, LLC. The Vermont Summer … Continue reading →

Team Zone 4 Rules Junior Division, Team Zone 3/5 Earn Young Rider Division Gold at the 2015 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships

By Megan Lacy for USHJA Lexington, KY- Leading the entire Junior team competition, Team Zone 4 took the gold, while the Young Rider team competition came down to the wire with the combined team of Zone 3/5 claiming gold at the 2015 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Show … Continue reading →

Rachel Kruse: Equine Artist

By Rachel Kruse As an artist, people are always asking me about my process, and how exactly it is I do what I do. Normally, my knee jerk response is to say “magic,” which I do more often than not, and leave it at that. In truth, it’s not so … Continue reading →

Old Salem Farm Offering Rated and Regional Competition

By Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media North Salem, NY – July 23, 2015 – While Old Salem Farm hosts some of the best equestrian competition in North America at the celebrated Spring Horse Shows and American Gold Cup, they also boast a full schedule of year-round events that provide … Continue reading →

CP National Horse Show Tickets On Sale Now!

By Phelps Media Group for the National Horse Show Lexington, KY – July 21, 2015 – Tickets for the 2015 CP National Horse Show CSI-W 4* are now available online at www.NHS.org or through Ticketleap.com, the official ticket provider for this year’s event. One of the premier indoor horse shows in … Continue reading →

Prize List Now Available for The Ridge at Riverview Summer Spectacular I & II

By Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group Asbury, NJ- The Ridge at Riverview Summer Spectacular announced today that the prize list for the long anticipated two-week “AA” event is available online at their website www.theridgefarm.com. The Summer Spectacular I & II returns to the Ridge at Riverview in Asbury, New … Continue reading →

Thanks, and Quarterly Updates

Thanks for all the kind comments.

The blog will stay up. I will try to update quarterly with doings, what I've been learning and, with a little luck, some photos.

See you all in the fall - I'll plan to post after the end of September - and may you and your horses have a lovely rest of the summer!

Blog Tired

It's time to go. This blog has been running since 2009 - that's six years. The adventures of Dawn, Pie, Red and now Missy (and Lily, Maisie and Norman at Paradigm Farms in Tennessee), will continue, whether there is a blog or not. The blog has been fun - I've enjoyed the writing and the interactions with so many of you over the years. But it's time to live in the real world, rather than on the net - I'm not on FB, or any other platform and have no interest in being there. There's nothing on here you can't find elsewhere - there's good info on EPM and Lyme, and if you want to learn from Mark Rashid, there are his books, and his FB page, and go audit or ride. There's some of you I consider friends, even though we've never met in person.

I'm riding almost every day, and enjoying my time and learning with my horses. I wish all of you the best, with your horses and in the rest of your lives - may you live long and prosper, and may horses fill your dreams.

This blog will be up for at least a while, and then it may go dark. But the light and the life of horses are in the real world - enjoy the sights, smells and touches of your real horses, and be well.

Are You Searching For You Next Young Dressage Horse

Five Phases Farm has a great selection of young dressage horses for sale. One of my favorites is Isabelle. Born in 2013 by her sire Alex and her grand sire is Sandokan. She is a very flashy mare with great gaits that should make her a super dressage horse. Her half sister Emalina, owned and shown by Stephanie McNutt, has won several classes and awards in her first year and second year of showing.
This is your chance to buy a full dutch filly at a great price without leaving the United States. At this time she is priced very reasonably at $15k. We have others that are not as expensive and you can see them on our youtube channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg2lgZl872P1rkInZb7b8FQ

Andrew Sallis: Puppy shows are fraught with danger [H&H VIP]

The painfully eloquent words of an office-weary President Obama reacting to yet another mass shooting may convince the US gun lobby to concede to tighter legislation on gun ownership — a right laid down by the Founding Fathers. However, American sportsmen should have little to fear from restrictions designed to curtail the private armouries.

The chasseurs of the French Fifth Republic are equally protected by law, although anti-hunting groups are beginning to cause much Gallic beating of chests.

Instinctively, we Brits do not like too many laws, preferring to live according to shared values and abide by the simple law of the land with pride.

However, times have changed. European and North American cases have shown us that legislation is increasingly necessary, in part to guard against malicious litigation.

Some people argue that we don’t need a repeal of the Hunting Act. Leave it alone, they say, and don’t make a fuss. But these are the very same people who, right up to the day of the ban, boomed that hunting would never be outlawed.

Since the Hunting Act 2004 — the most controversial of Tony Blair’s 27,000 new laws — most hunting people have craved a repeal, unsure of whether the opportunity would ever arise.

Well, it has — with bells on.

Sadly, straight repeal would offer false hope for the future and leave us unnecessarily exposed to the whims of a future anti-hunting government, which could easily re-instate the ban. Hunting’s political elders need to strike a deal that will enshrine in law our ability to hunt, in a manner as near as possible to pre-Act, but protected from further tampering.

To the lay hunting person, this may not look attractive. It may, however, be the most acceptable option to a majority of MPs, most of whom have no interest in hunting beyond the tone of their constituency mail bag. In modern parlance, MPs are desperate for “closure” on this thorny issue.

The new state of affairs could permit hunting, while protecting masters, hunt staff and farmers against prosecution and safeguarding against animal cruelty. Considering the current situation, no true hunting person could disapprove.

Recent celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta have reminded us how the people’s interests can be better protected from bad governance. We know what we want to achieve and shouldn’t be afraid of this Parliament’s desire to permit, protect and safeguard.

Dangers of the puppy show

After the post-hunting point-to-point, hunter trial and team chase season closes, the focus falls back on the hounds, more specifically, the young hounds.

The puppy show is the highlight of the summer season, but it is fraught with danger and not just for the puppy walker who turned up in the same dress as the lady master. The day is full of elephant traps for master, huntsman, judge and spectator.

Our tea used to be organised telepathically, a system that had worked perfectly well for generations until one year, when someone obviously forgot to feed the mythical carrier pigeon. As the judges set about their important task, the tea tables looked alarmingly bare. Fortunately the 200 guests enjoying the show were largely oblivious to the mad supermarket dash. Since then Mrs Sallis has written to 50 bakers a month before the big day to avoid a similar near-calamity.

To be asked to judge a puppy show is a great honour — there are few greater. To fall asleep during the master’s lunch was not so honourable. When the same judge snoozed during the prize-giving, too, the masters were none too happy.

The judge’s speech is a minefield. Everyone needs to be thanked. Puppy walkers and hunt staff must be duly congratulated. Jokes must be selected with care (a little research on the audience is advisable). A young master must not be too blue for fear of a clip round the ear from the huntsman’s wife.

Huntsmen go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that hounds enter the showring in tip-top condition. Imagine the horror of one huntsman, a generation ago, who went in for lunch, happy that everything was ready, only to realise that the hounds weren’t actually singing. They were hunting alone with a glorious cry around the park woods — 35 couples, nicely up together, young entry and all.

The puppy show is a wonderful occasion for the whole hunt and for many, signifies the countdown to autumn hunting. If you get a front-row seat for the judging, make sure you aren’t too close to the fence. Doghounds have a nasty habit of stamping their territory, even the young ones.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 July 2015

Fence type: not a major factor in rotational falls

Rider and horse qualifications are now under scrutiny in the second phase of a far-reaching audit into eventing commissioned by the FEI, with an emphasis on factors contributing to rotational falls.

The first phase looked at statistics to isolate the most troublesome fence types, concluding that fence-related factors accounted for less than 10% variability.

Charles Barnett, who is conducting the audit, said: “The other 90% is therefore due to other factors, so fence modifications may reduce falls — but we need to know more about the other 90%.”

Mr Barnett is a former chief executive of Aintree and Ascot racecourses and was commissioned to lead the study last year by former FEI president Princess Haya.

He presented initial findings to the FEI Sports Forum in April.

“We wanted scientific evidence to support what the sport already suspects or knows,” he said.

The details will not be published until the study is complete in November.

Related articles Eventing safety takes a step forward at Luhmühlen Is the new eventing test ‘a recipe for disaster’?

He added that statistics show that fence types most associated with falls are corners, square spreads, upright post-and-rails, jumps into and out of water, downhill fences, and combinations and approaches ridden either too fast or too slow.

“It is the water rather than the combination aspect that is significant,” he added. “A corner to water with a parallel out has accounted for three rotational falls.”

Mr Barnett’s appointment was aimed at utilising the expertise of a horse industry professional able to bring a fresh eye to eventing — he hunts ex-racehorses, and oversaw the various changes to mitigate risk in the Grand National.

He visited Badminton last month for the first time in decades, and will attend the Pan Am Games and European events.

Separately, the FEI has confirmed that Mr Barnett had no input into controversial proposals to change the Olympic eventing format, for which he has been partially blamed on social media.

Solihull Horse Trials (2): what riders need to know [H&H VIP]

Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics

Date: Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 August 2015

Organiser: Steve Scott and Ginny Townsend
Contact: office@solihullridingclub.co.uk; ginny@solihullridingclub.co.uk
Location: West Midlands

Entries open: 17 July
Ballot date: 31 July at 12 noon
Entries close: 12 August

Link to Solihull (2) entries: www.britisheventing.com/solihull-2

How to get there

Off junction four of the M42 toward Hockley Heath.

What the organisers say

All disciplines are sited within a two-minute walk of the lorry park. Permanent stable blocks with hook up on site. We have brand new facilities for 2015 including a café.

The dressage arenas are on old turf on flat ground kept specifically for this purpose. The dressage warm-up is roomy. Barring extreme weather the going is excellent.

The showjumping is on an extensive outdoor surface with one large indoor arena for warming up.

The cross-country is over mainly flat terrain with some undulations and wooded areas. There is a water complex and the track includes natural water crossings when the weather permits. Fences are a mix of permanent and portable, designed to be inviting and encouraging for all levels.

The ground is old established turf, which will have had the necessary attention dictated by the weather — aera-vating, watering and sand being put down on take-offs and landings where applicable. The light and sandy ground will stand up to heavy rain. It is good in both dry and wet conditions.

What the riders say

For rider comments, see Horse Trials Guide Part One

Percentage of cross-country clears 2014

ON: 71%
N: 64%
BE100 Open: 71%
BE100: 69%
5YO: 85%
BE90 Open: 71%
BE90: 80%

Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two

Fancy a spin? 4 equestrian properties with gallops [PICS]

Have you ever dreamt of taking your horse up the gallops as and when you want? Well dream no more with one of these equestrian properties kitted out to meet your galloping needs.

1. Little Llandeilo Farm, Monmouthshire

For you: a period four-bedroom stone farmhouse with an adjoining barn, which has scope for development into further accommodation (lapsed planning consent).
For the horses: an 800m all-weather steep gradient gallops with Flexiride surface, an outdoor school, horse walker, extensive stabling and cross-country schooling field. Set in around 37 acres.
What’s the damage? £1m
Agent: Grant & Co
Telephone number:  01531 637341
Visit: www.grantco.co

2. Twyford Mill and Race Mill Stables, Buckinghamshire

For you: a Grade II listed six-bedroom mill house complete with an additional cottage and staff accommodation. Race Mill Stables comes with a mobile home.
For the horses:  Twyford Mill has 25 loose boxes with paddocks and just over 42 acres of pasture, while Race Mill Stables has 142.19 acres, stabling for 47 horses, an indoor school, equine pool and three gallops.
What’s the damage? £4.07m for the whole
Agent: Savills
Telephone number: 01295 228055
Visit: www.savills.co.uk

Continued below…

6 equestrian property hot-spots

• 21 September, 2014 - 09:55

Carla Passino tracks down where the equestrian world’s biggest names are based — and discovers why you’ll want to head More…

Fancy living near Hickstead? West Sussex wonders just a stone’s throw away [PICTURES]

• 28 June, 2015 - 12:25

All eyes have been on West Sussex this week with the Hickstead Derby meeting. Why not make it a local More…

3. Steart House Racing Stables, Devon

For you: a four-bedroom house, with two en-suites and stunning views over the Exe Valley.
For the horses: an approximately one-mile-long gallop with a wood-chip surface, American-style barns with 40 boxes and a horse walker. Set in around 55 acres.
What’s the damage? £1.25m
Agent: Rural Scene
Telephone number: 01264 850700
Visit: www.ruralscene.co.uk

4. Llwyntidmon Hall, Shropshire

For you: a Grade II listed 17th century hall, with five-to-six bedrooms, its own coach house and plenty of original period features.
For the horses: a traditional eight-box stable yard, an American barn with seven stables, an outdoor school, horse walker and a four-furlong all-weather flat canter loop with a wood-chip surface. Set in 18.5 acres.
What’s the damage? £795,000
Agent: Jackson Equestrian
Telephone number: 01928 740555
Visit: www.jacksonequestrian.com

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 July 2015

Could your equine companion be crowned rescue horse or pony of the year?

Last year's winner Little Ted riden by Lola Fowles and led by Jessica Goodier, niece of Little Ted's owner, Sharon Harris

Does your equine companion have what it takes to be rescue horse or pony of the year?

The RSPCA and PRP rescue horse/pony of the year competition will be held at this year’s Equifest (12-16 August).

The increasingly popular classes are now in their fourth year and will take place on Saturday 15 August at the Peterborough show.

“This competition is a celebration of the rescue horses and ponies who have been through incredibly tough times but survived and flourished thanks to the brilliant work of equine charities and sanctuaries,” said Cathy Hyde, who heads the RSPCA’s specialist equine team.

“It is a testament to those who have rescued and rehabilitated them and those who have given them forever homes, that they go on to recover and have happy, successful lives.”

The classes are open to rescue horses and ponies from all charities and equine rescue organisations.

Last year’s competition included entries from Blue Cross, the Horse and Pony Protection Association (HAPPA), Redwings and World Horse Welfare.

“When it comes to the judging of the classes, the horses and ponies receive marks allocated in relation to performance. However, more importantly competitors are asked to provide a written rescue history including before and after photographs which count for 30% of the marks,” said Ms Hyde.

“Previous winner’s stories have shown amazing transformations. From collapsed, emaciated or abandoned — these are the worst cases of neglect and are often so moving they have everyone in floods of tears.”

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There will be six in-hand and ridden classes for rescue horses and ponies. The top horses and ponies in each class will win a place in the championship class in the evening with the chance to be named rescue horse/pony of the year.

All winners will receive rosettes and prize money donated by main sponsor PRP Horsebox Rescue, as well as products and vouchers from Equine Essential Oils, Carr Day & Martin and Classic Collection Jewellery. The overall champion will also be presented with a bronze statue donated by RSPCA Bolton Branch.

Entries for this year’s competition close on 27 July.

Give a horse a home

The five-day event is also an opportunity for members of the public to meet horses and ponies who are currently looking for new owners.

“I’d encourage anyone thinking of getting a horse or pony to look at adopting one, there are hundreds waiting for new homes, of all shapes, sizes and breeds,” added Ms Hyde.

“We encourage visitors and competitors to Equifest to come along and meet some of our horses available for rehoming, who will be making a special trip to the event.”

A new display ring at the show will feature demos and parades, including a chance to learn about the ‘before and after’ lives of RSPCA rescue horses and ponies.

C&C Horse Transport, Boothroydan Transport and Victor Gache Horse Transport will be providing transport for the RSPCA horses to and from the event.

For more information visit: http://www.equifest.org.uk

Somerford Park International Horse Trials: what riders need to know [H&H VIP]

Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics

Date: Friday 21 – Sunday 23 August 2015

Organisers: Simon and Debbie King
Contact: Debbie 01260 299888; debbie@somerfordpark.co.uk; www.somerfordpark.co.uk
Location: Cheshire

Entries open: 17
Ballot date: 31 July at 12 noon
Entries close: 11 August

Link to Somerford entries: www.britisheventing.com/somerford

How to get there

The event is sited off the A54, midway between Holmes Chapel and Congleton. Postcode CW12 4SW.

What the organisers say

Somerford Park International is a high-profile venue providing exceptional facilities for all.

All international classes’ dressage takes place on a surface, guaranteeing excellent footing from start to finish. National classes are held on a large, flat grass area.

Showjumping and warm-up take place on the Andrews Bowen arena, ensuring perfect going and building confidence for the cross-country.

David Evans designs with DERT/Somerford Park building. Courses are presented to give riders the experience of a championship competition, with the use of large timbers creating a bold inviting track and flowers supplied by Mary Kennerley. All take-offs and landings are man-made with extra sand; and are aera-vated or watered if required. The undulating terrain gives a true test of cross-country riding. There are changes to all courses for 2015 — for a preview see: http://youtu.be/kYwiyei-2j4

What the riders say

Dressage & showjumping — “The dressage is sited on good, flat ground away from the cross-country and showjumping.” “Lots of space to warm up for the dressage.” “The showjumping is on a large, all-weather surface, and is well built and up to height with plenty of questions and technical lines.” “There is plenty of warm-up space.”

Cross-country — “The ground is good and the track is varied. At the higher levels they had softened the lines from previous years a little at the combinations.” “The courses flowed well and provide a good, fittening run.” “The courses wouldn’t be a first-time run, but ride well.” “The two-star is a good test and the intermediate is strong. The newer water complex is very busy with lots of fences from other classes that can confuse the horses.”

Percentage of cross-country clears 2014

CIC2*: 79%
OI: 86%
OIU21: 100%
I: 70%
CIC*: 70%
ON: 78%
N: 83%
BE100 Open: 88%
BE100: 85%

Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two

How to trot up your horse for the vet [VIDEO]

Trotting your horse up for the vet for a lameness assessment can be an anxious time, so we asked Fizz Marshall, H&H blogger and manager of the Equine Therapy Centre at Hartpury College, to share her top tips for getting it right.

Standing the horse up

“First of all you want to get the horse nice and square,” says Fizz. “This is so that the vet can walk around the horse and look at it from every angle, looking for asymmetries or any difference in muscles or posture.

Continued below…

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• 29 April, 2015 - 08:55

Follow our handy check list to keep all four limbs healthy

Walking the horse

“Next we move onto walking the horse up and down. You want to make sure you walk the horse away as straight as you can, keeping a nice even rhythm and allowing the horse to have its head so that the vet can see any abnormalities with the way it’s walking or moving,” says Fizz.

“When you come to turn the horse you should always turn the horse away from yourself. This is a safety thing apart from anything else.

“The trick is to pull the horse slightly towards you, swing it out and then turn it around.  You then end up walking back in the same line that you started.

“Then when you’re walking back towards the vet you want to keep yourself really nice and straight and aim for your target.”

Trot up the horse

“The same applies to the trot-up,” explains Fizz. “You need to keep a really nice, even pace and not go too fast when you’re trotting.

“If you go too fast the vet won’t be able to see enough and actually they’ll probably just tell you to slow down.

“Again, give the horse its head so that you can see any head nods or tilts or anything that might give clues to how the horse is moving.

“When you come back up towards the vet, don’t run them over! Lots of vets will actually want to see the transition from trot back to walk, so make that very obvious.”

Farmer thinks pink for charity

Sponsored rides, coaching marathons, balls and raffles are the usual methods of charity fundraising — never before has a farmer wrapped his horse haylage in pink to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Last month Bedfordshire farmer Mark Cooper spent three days wrapping 1,000 bales in pink, finally finishing late on 10 June.

Drivers on the A507 can now see a huge stack of the colourful bales in the field bordering the main road.

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“Too many of our friends have been affected by breast cancer and we thought it would be a great thing to do,” Mark Cooper told H&H.

The original idea came from a farmer in New Zealand.

“I saw he had wrapped his haylage for cows in pink with the manufacturer giving a donation for each roll sold,” said Mark.

“We decided to take this a step further and make a donation from each bale sold.”

For every pink bale sold, £4 will be given to the charity and the manufacturer Volac has also made a donation.

The pink bales cost £37 instead of the usual £35, with the Coopers matching the customer’s £2 donation.

“It’s been brilliant,” said Mr Cooper, who runs the equine feed and bedding side of the farm with his wife Nicola.

The Coopers hope to raise over £4,000 for Cancer Research UK.

For more details visit www.oldmanorfarm.com or to make a donation go to: www.justgiving.com/oldmanorfarm

Ref: H&H 2 July, 2015

Judges and officials to ‘police’ equestrian events

Judges and officials at international shows and events are being encouraged to become “amateur policemen” in the fight against cheating, with the distribution of new “evidence-gathering guidelines” by the FEI.

The FEI ramped up its fight against doping and rule-breaking with a review of legal procedures to close loopholes following the collapse last year of the Sheikh Hamdan/Marmoog horse swap enquiry on a legal technicality.

In a further step, the guidelines emphasise the importance of officials minutely recording dates and times of witnessed incidents.

They recommend carrying resealable plastic bags and labels, a digital camera and disposable gloves, to prevent contamination or accusations of “tampering”.

Judges must not be “afraid” of taking photos, or of recording verbal commentary on video.

Related articles FEI review after horse-swapping case collapses [VIP] Doping ban for UAE royal family member [VIP]

By coincidence, the guidelines come the same week as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overruled the FEI Tribunal and reduced a 27-month ban for doping on endurance rider Sheikh Hazza of Abu Dhabi to 18 months. His horse Glenmorgan tested postive for banned substances in February 2012.

The FEI’s Equine Community Integrity Unit is provided by Quest, many of whose investigators are retired senior Scotland Yard personnel. But the 15-page guidelines say Quest cannot be present at every show.

“So it is up to you [officials] to correctly obtain and record valuable information,” state the guidelines.

“Any incident should be treated seriously and professionally.

“Any matter has the potential to go to the FEI Tribunal or ultimately the CAS, so the correct action at the offset will go a long way to ensure a fair outcome.”

Ref: H&H 2 July, 2015

Millennium Farm Focuses on Teaching Horsemanship: Team Approach Builds Competent Riders

By Elizabeth Stein Mundelein, IL- June 30,2015 – Sue Leverick’s Millennium Farm in Mundelein, IL, caters to all levels of clients from beginners to Grand Prix. Leverick and her daughter Katie, have combined their expertise to create a family friendly, team oriented experience for all. The focus of Millennium Farm … Continue reading →

The Bookstore Plus Wins Lake Placid Horse Shows’ Window Decorating Contest:Win Fourth Consecutive Win for The Bookstore Plus

By Marty Bauman Lake Placid, New York-July 02, 2015 – For the fourth consecutive year, The Bookstore Plus has been selected as the winner of the Lake Placid Horse Shows’ Window Decorating Contest. This is the 28th year that the horse shows have hosted the window decorating contest. Each year, local Lake … Continue reading →

Amanda Flint and VDL Wittinger Jump to Victory in Vermont

By Lindsay Brock East Dorset, Vermont – Amanda Flint of Long Valley, NJ, won the $10,000 New Balance Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, aboard VDL Wittinger on Thursday, July 2 during the first week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The Vermont Summer … Continue reading →

HITS to Offer Four $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derbies

EDITED PRESS RELEASE SAUGERTIES, New York (July 3, 2015): Beginning this fall, HITS will host four $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derbies at its circuits throughout the country as part of the 2015-2016 USHJA International Hunter Derby series. “HITS is fully committed to the USHJA and especially this program,” said HITS … Continue reading →

9 tips for travelling in the heat with your horse

When temperatures soar, knowing how to keep dehydration at bay when your horse is on the move is more important than ever.

World Horse Welfare — with the help of veterinary organisations and welfare groups — has launched new guidelines to help owners safeguard their horses against dehydration.

“When travelling horses, keeping them hydrated is one of the most important aspects in ensuring optimum health, behaviour and performance,” says World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers.

“While it is not always easy to spot signs of dehydration, the consequences can be devastating,” he says.

“From fatigue, loss of performance and abnormal behaviour to serious illnesses like colic and in the worse cases even death, it is a key consideration for anyone involved in travelling horses by road whether it’s a quick trip to a local pleasure ride or a full day journey to a four-star event.

“From lead rein ponies to international eventers, the risk of dehydration is just as prevalent so we’ve produced these guidelines to provide a clear and practical point of reference for anyone involved in equine transport.”

Travelling horses in hot weather

World Horse Welfare campaigns officer for research and education, Hannah Westen, gives her top tips for keeping horses hydrated when travelling by road.

1. Do your homework

If at all possible try to plan your travel around the weather conditions and avoid travelling during high temperatures and high humidity. If it is unavoidable pick the times of day when it’s likely to be coolest – setting off a bit earlier or later will make the experience much more pleasant for both you and your horse.

2. Plan ahead

Before setting off, it’s important to ensure horses are fully hydrated by providing them with unrestricted access to forage and water for at least six hours with plenty of space to rest and relax.

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3. Prepare for the worst

Whilst it sounds pessimistic, when travelling by road you just never know when or for how long you might get held up, so make sure you have plenty of forage and water on board to keep your horses happy and healthy.

4. Provide good quality forage

Access to quality forage will not only maintain a healthy digestive system and provide an ongoing source of energy but also creates a small reservoir of fluid in the horse’s gut to help keep them hydrated.

5. Stick to frequent watering intervals

Horses should be offered water at least every four and a half hours whilst travelling, or more frequently in hot weather conditions.

6. Make water tempting

Anyone who has offered their horse a drink in an unfamiliar place will know that horses can be choosy about the type of container they will drink from and the taste of the water, but it’s important to stress that this doesn’t mean they’re not thirsty. If possible, try and take water from home and provide it in a bucket they are used to drinking from. In addition it’s always beneficial to familiarise them to different containers in case you can’t take your own. You can also try flavouring the water with apple juice.

7. Minimise stress

Horses can become dehydrated more quickly when they are stressed or unsettled so try to minimise this wherever possible. Loading and unloading are two of the main stressors for horses when travelling so make sure you do as much as you can to keep the process calm and relaxed. Practicing often without the pressure of heading to a show or event will help it become second nature and when you are on a schedule leave plenty of time to load. Ensure the vehicle is well ventilated and drive carefully to make the journey as comfortable as possible.

8. Prepare for the arrival

As with pre-planning before a journey, it’s just as important to give plentiful forage and water upon arrival at your destination. If you’re travelling to a show or event then make sure your horse has time to relax, eat and drink before competing or beginning exercise.

9. Know the signs of dehydration

Whilst a dehydrated horse can deteriorate quickly, dehydration can be very hard to spot so make sure you know what signs to look out for and can act fast if required. Indicators include depression, lethargy, dullness in eyes, decreased appetite, lack of or infrequent urination or defecation, licking surfaces, abnormal drinking behaviour such as drinking for extended periods of time, taking long draughts or gulping water.

Find out more at www.worldhorsewelfare.org

Shelford Manor Horse Trials (2): what riders need to know [H&H VIP]

Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics

Date: Wednesday 19 – Thursday 20 August 2015

Organisers: Stuart and Anna Buntine
Contact: 01949 829061; info@bedeltd.co.uk; www.bedeltd.co.uk
Location: Nottinghamshire

Entries open: 15 July
Ballot date: 29 July at 12 noon
Entries close: 9 August

Link to Shelford Manor entries: www.britisheventing.com/shelford-manor-2

How to get there

East of Nottingham, three miles from the A52/A46 roundabout.

What the organisers say

Shelford has flat, level dressage areas. The showjumping, designed by Beau Woods, is held in a large arena on well-draining ground on old turf.

The cross-country runs over flat terrain and includes water and some woodland. The ground is light and sandy and will stand up to heavy rain. It is good in both dry and wet conditions. Fences are a mix of permanent and portable, designed to be inviting and encouraging for all levels.

The courses will regularly change route and direction to provide variety at each event. They are designed to encourage all levels. Reduced grazing in 2015 will allow good grass cover at both events.

What the riders say

For rider comments, see Horse Trials Guide Part One

Percentage of cross-country clears 2014

ON: 55%
ONU18: 69%
N: 77%
BE100RF: 79%
BE100 Open: 88%
BE100: 77%
BE90: 81%
4YO: 79%

Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two

Germany’s young riders take gold in Vidauban

Germany dominated the first two days of competition in Vidauban (1-2 July), winning authoritatively in the junior section and imposing themselves over Holland in a closely-fought battle for gold in the young rider division.

The brand-new German team, led by last year’s European pony gold medallist Semmieke Rothenberger, included three of the top four-placed combinations (as well as Semmieke on the Gribaldi mare Geisha, Hannah Erbe/Carlos and Paulina Holzknecht/Wells Fargo, with Kristin Biermann/Zwetcher as discard score).

“This is very special for us, as we are a very young team: it was a lot of fun and we are very happy with the way it ended,” said Semmieke, who led the individual rankings with 76.35%.

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Holland took silver and Denmark bronze. The GB team, composed of Chloe Vell/Kaja Di Valentina (67.67%), Erin Williams/Bolsan B (69.62%), Amber Barton/Labiat (67.83%) and Charlotte Dicker/Sabatini (63.86%) finished in eighth place overall.

In the young rider division things were much tighter, with Germany and Holland on very close scores and the team ranking decided by the countries’ last rides.

With Germany having the edge after the first three riders, Holland’s Dana Van Lierop and Equestricons Walkure produced an assured test to win the class with 76.5%, putting enormous pressure on Bianca Nowak and Fair Play RB.

The German did deliver (75.26%), although only 0.3% ultimately separated the two countries.

“I tried to calculate what I needed to score after Dana’s ride, and that wasn’t a very good feeling,” said Bianca.

Her teammate Vivien Niemann added: “We felt sick after Dana’s fabulous ride, but we really believed Bianca could get us gold. It was incredibly nerve-wracking trying to calculate the scores, with Bianca coming out of the arena and looking at us interrogatively.”

“This is a silver medal with a golden edge: we really fought for it and couldn’t be more delighted with our rides and our horses,” said Dana Van Lierop, promising revenge in the individual tests.

Bronze went to Sweden – their first European medal in 14 years.

The GB team of Lottie Fry/Z Flemmenco (69.21%), Robyn Smith/Foold Uz (68.13%), Claire Gallimore/Annette Ballerina (66.78%) and Rebecca Edwards/Ufano (66.52%) finished 7th.

USEF Names Athletes For Hermès Show Jumping Team At CSIOs In Falsterbo And Mannheim

The U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced the following athletes have been named to Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Teams competing in FEI Nations Cup events at CSIO***** Falsterbo (Sweden) and CSIO***** Mannheim (Germany). Robert Ridland will serve as the chef d'equipe at both events.

The following athletes will represent the U.S. in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Falsterbo, July 9-12:

Heather Caristo-Williams (Saugerties, N.Y.)

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Kentucky Horse Park Transitioning To Black Fencing

The Kentucky Horse Park will soon be transitioning almost 30 miles of white plank fencing to black fencing. The white fencing has been in place since the iconic facility opened in 1978. The park, which hosts the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** every year, is making this transition due to the economic and operational realities of maintaining white fencing versus black fencing.

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Fizz Marshall’s therapy centre blog: A matter of time and patience

This week I would like to start at the end. As we operate within a college environment, we tend to think in academic years as opposed to calendar ones. Summer is therefore always the time of year when we have to say goodbye to the outgoing crop of students and also to our interns too, who are based with us for a year.

One of these is Kate Lefrancois who has been working with us as graduate assistant over the past year, a role designed to allow Hartpury Masters students work alongside their studies.

Kate has not only conquered the quite incredible feat of completing a two-year MSc course in a single year, but also worked to become a huge asset to our team since she moved over from Canada to join us. She will greatly missed by everyone.

We had a nice official end to Kate’s year here in the form of Hartpury’s Summer Fair (6 June), during which we had the most amazing haul of volunteers involved to make the day go as planned (pictured top).

Every year we seem to accumulate greater numbers of work experience students within our ranks, and in a wider society where young people often get a bad rap, our acolytes are definitely bucking the trend.

Our regular student volunteers were joined on the day by my boss’ two sons, Max and Eddie, who were on hand for all manner of things. They finished their shift by getting the chance to help Grace – one of our canine hydrotherapists – swim my dog. Essentially this meant a bit of instruction, and then them racing Damson up and down the pool! The children and the dog were all elated as each other, resulting in a whole load of laughing, splashing and basically two under 10s having had the best time ever.

Ed and Damson hacing a paddle

Feeding matters

Feeding horses who are on a combination of box rest and controlled exercise is one of the greatest challenges we face on a day-to-day basis.

Our in-patients generally come in one of two forms: they are either slightly on the portly side having done quite well during field or stable rest prior to starting work, or they are atrophic and need to build muscle and gain condition.

We have a weighbridge to help monitor the horses; sometimes they appear to be dropping weight by eye but actually they’ve lost it on their tummies and put it on as muscle on elsewhere.

If you can’t get access to a weighbridge, a really useful way of monitoring at home is to take pictures of the horse every couple of weeks, as well as measurements of the thickest point of the neck and around the barrel. You can of course use a weightape, which are pretty accurate for well-proportioned horses but your long-backed tubular varieties can deceive the tape!

I think the most important thing is just that you give yourself something measurable to go by, whichever of these means you chose.

If we do have a good-doer on our hands we follow really simple principles. We weigh their hay and trickle feed it to them throughout the day, and often use treat balls to keep them amused.

Those who are allowed out in the field can go in our bare grass pens, but for horses who are on box rest this is obviously not an option.

The trouble with overweight horses who are carrying an injury is that it can put more strain than desired on the affected structures. Horses with back pain can also be adversely affected by being too hefty — the abdominal muscles need to be tight and strong to allow a horse’s back to remain supple and fully supported.

I very firmly do not believe in starving horses however; it’s not how they are designed to eat and so I’d rather soak the life out of hay just to give them something to chew on than succumb to risk factors such as gastric ulcers.

Weighing a horse

A horse will always look its best when it’s living a normal life in work and going in the field, but while injured, you just have to manage them the best you can.

In some ways horses who need to gain weight are easier to feed, provided they like to eat of course! If they don’t, as anyone who has a fussy horse knows, it can be even more stressful. It can also be difficult to resist the temptation of feeding these types of horses too much too quickly.

We do get horses coming into us who look poor despite their owner’s best efforts because they are out of work and not doing well on it. This type of situation takes time and patience, but you cannot build muscle by feed alone. Our job is to make sure we give the horse enough fuel to build as they progress in their work, but not overcook them. Supplements such as Equitop Myoplast can be really useful in these types of cases, which is for all intents and purposes an equine protein-shake.

Baileys supply our feed and we must consume literally tons of Topline Cubes every year, while Lo-Cal Balancer is really useful for those who need a lower calorie intake but all to still meet all of their daily nutrient requirements. In terms of chaff we range from using alfalfa to a light chaff, and dried grass too. I also feed a lot of unmolassed sugarbeet and soya oil up to amounts of around 60ml per day.

I am fascinated by the whole business of feeding horses and long has rumbled the debate of science vs art when it comes to this subject.

I personally think it is a combination of the two. In the past I’ve worked in places where we only fed straights, with the horses receiving a combination of oats, rolled or naked, broad bran and barley boiled with linseed.

In New Zealand I worked on a stud where it was a case of “one coarse mix fits all”, which was formulated specifically to address the nutrient deficiencies of their land.

Feeding is essentially largely down to preference, economics and situation. On our yard all the horses will have their rations decided on by discussion with their owners and possibly the vet in charge of the case, the latter of which is essential in post-operative cases. The art comes in knowing when to alter things in light of the horse’s daily work or in response to a change in its development or demeanour.

Fizz

Rider dies in ‘freak’ accident at racecourse

A 25-year-old track rider has died in Australia after falling from her horse during work yesterday (Wednesday 1 July).

German-born Friederike Ruhle was involved in a “freak accident” at Caulfield racecourse, south of Melbourne.

Friederike was working for local trainer Byron Cozamanis.

The accident happened at around 5.30am. She was attended by emergency services and taken to Alfred Hospital where she later died.

“It is with great sadness that I express my condolences to Friederike Ruhle’s loved ones on their tragic loss,” said chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club Mike Symons.

“I have enormous respect for the significant contribution that our track riders make in preparing our equine stars for racing and the inherent risks that comes working with horses.

“On behalf of the Committee, staff, and members of the club, our sincere sympathies go out to Friederike’s family, friends, colleagues at Byron Cozamanis Racing, and all of the racing community at Caulfield during this very sad time.”

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The club is conducting a full investigation into the circumstances of the accident in conjunction with Victoria Police and Work Safe.

However, it is unclear how she fell.

“You know tens of thousands of horses are worked every day of the year around the world and accidents like this are very minimal,” one trainer told local press.

“But when it happens, it’s tragic and heartbreaking but more so a stark and cold reminder of what dangers lie ahead for those who handle racehorses.”

Lizz Rice a British work rider died in January after suffering serious head injuries in a fall at Caulfield.

She was taken to Alfred Hospital after the accident on 12 January but had medical support withdrawn later that month after she showed no signs of recovery.

Lizz had worked at Oxfordshire-based trainer Lawney Hill’s yard before moving to Australia.

Last October two jockeys, Caitlin Forrest and Carly-Mae Pye, also died due to racecourse accidents in Australia.

Nineteen-year-old apprentice Caitlin died after a pile up during a race on 15 October. A day earlier Carly-Mae died falling during a barrier trial at Queensland racecourse.

Veterinarians Seek Survey Respondents For Study On Horse Collapse And Sudden Death

A group of veterinarians and riders affiliated with the University of Bern (Switzerland) are interested in improving horse health and safety. They’re studying collapse and sudden death in horses in order to design strategies to prevent these episodes.

If you’ve ridden, trained or treated a horse that collapsed or died during or near exercise they’re hoping you’ll fill out a questionnaire.

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Grant Fund in Memory of Veronica Holt to be Established at The Dressage Foundation

The Veronica Holt Dressage Technical Delegate Fund is being established in memory of Veronica, who was a dedicated Technical Delegate (TD) and FEI Steward, providing training and mentorship for many Dressage TDs and apprentice Dressage TDs.

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