The Carolinas Equestrian Spring 2022

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Call Blake Boyd: 803-513-4037

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EST 1898

Aiken, SC

From the whispering pines of America’s storied thoroughbred country... ...to the shores of Lake Toxaway nestled deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

EST 1916

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Lake Toxaway, NC

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YOUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND F O R YO U R S P O RT I N G L I F E P RO P E RT Y IN AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

803-998-0198

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IN THIS ISSUE

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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GRAND PRIX EVENTING

10 OUT & ABOUT

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22 UNDER 21: EMERSON MADONIA 26 A NEW AGE OF NURSEMARES 30 OUT & ABOUT 34 IN PRACTICE: VET ADVICE 38 ALEJANDRO VERGARA 40 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 42 PARTING SHOT

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Spring 2022 Volume 8, Issue 1 Editor Lauren Allen Publisher Pam Gleason Layout & Design Larchwood Productions Contributors Lauren Allen Montana Canter Pam Gleason Tyler Graham Gary Knoll Sharon Packer Jen Roytz Advertising Lauren Allen 803-240-1275 Pam Gleason 803-643-9960 Ashley Haffey 607-743-1309 General Inquiries Lauren Allen 803-240-1275 thecarolinasequestrian@gmail.com Cover Boyd Martin aboard Fedarman B Photo by Pam Gleason

Like us on Facebook: The Carolinas Equestrian Magazine Twitter: TheCarolinasEQ Intragram: CarolinasEquestrianMag The Carolinas Equestrian (TCE) 1176 Old English Road Lugoff, SC 29078 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the copyright owner. The Carolinas Equestrian does not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers. The Carolinas Equestrian is owned by The Carolinas Equestrian LLC.

Spring 2022

From the Editor

WE'RE GLAD TO BE BACK

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s the days lengthen and warm, and the grass greens again, the shift of each season is a gentle reminder of the natural cycles we all repeat: birth, growth, death, rebirth. We are so excited to bring you this new incarnation of The Carolinas Equestrian magazine. We hope to celebrate the amazing horses of the Carolinas and the special people who own, ride and work with them. We want to share everything from the awed wonder of the beginner to the technical skill of the expert. We plan to feature diverse levels and disciplines, because we are fortunate to live in a region with a rich variety of horsemanship. One thing we all have in common is a heartfelt love for this magnificent animal. Featured in the pages of this issue, Grand Prix Eventing highlights a unique Aiken event and fills readers in on the touching backstory of loss and redemption behind Boyd Martin’s win. Of course, the photos of Olympic level horses and riders jumping at the pinnacle of the sport are spectacular. A New Age of Nursemares by Jen Roytz, elaborates a more ethical way to develop adoptive mothers for foals who are orphaned or rejected. An ongoing column will offer practical information on horse ownership and care: this month, in Know your Horse’s Normal, veterinarian Dr. Nicole Swinehart from South Carolina Equine Associates explains what horse owners should know in order to detect if their horse isn’t feeling 100%. The Carolinas are filled with fascinating horse people. For our Under 21 column, we profile a World Champion reiner from North Carolina, and for Equestrians of the Carolinas, an immigrant who has become a proud American citizen through working with racehorses in South Carolina. And in our Out and About photo spreads we feature images from events all over the region. Maybe you will see yourself in our pages! We hope you love these stories and pictures. We want this magazine to blossom and grow as we shine light on the unique and wonderful people and horses in so many different communities and disciplines that make up equestrian sport in the Carolinas. Please reach out to us through our website at TheCarolinasEquestrian.com or on Facebook or Instagram and tell us about people we need to talk to, events we need to cover, or places we need to go see.

Lauren Allen Editor

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Grand Prix Eventing at the Aiken Horse Park A Benefit to the Sport and the Community This year’s Grand Prix Eventing Festival, a unique and spectator-friendly form of eventing, delivered an extra emotional element when Boyd Martin galloped away with the title aboard Fedarman B, formerly owned and trained by Annie Goodwin, who lost her life in a training accident over the summer. By Lauren Allen Photography by Pam Gleason

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Boyd Martin and Fedarman B go into the water outside the main arena at the Aiken Horse Park. 10

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he finale of the $50,000 Grand Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field in the Aiken Horse Park began with a touching memorial for Annie Goodwin, a young professional eventing rider who lost her life in a tragic schooling accident last year. Annie, 32, was eulogized by her friends and family as her horse, Fedarman B was led around the arena. The tribute was made even more special when at the end of the day Fedarman B galloped through the very same arena to win the three-phase championship under the guidance of Goodwin’s friend and mentor, Olympic rider Boyd Martin. Spectators and participants were moved by the story book ending, a perfect finish to an exceptional event. During the awards ceremony, Martin was emotional as he thanked Goodwin’s family for granting him the ride on Annie’s horse, now owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate. Annie started and trained Fedarman B (familiarly known as Bruno) after she found and imported Spring 2022

Above: Annie’s father Putter Goodwin, her good friends Ashley Adams, Caitlin Silliman, Nikki Scherrer, Erin Kanara, and her fiancé Jake Padgett with her beloved horse Fedarman B, known as Bruno. Left : Boyd Martin and Bruno into the water.

him from Europe as a 3-year-old. Martin took over the ride after Annie’s tragic accident, having coached her on the horse for several years. Later, Martin made clear what an honor it was to ride her special horse, whom he describes as a character. “He is very, very quirky; he is an unusual horse—Annie made it look so easy, and it really took us six months to get together. The one thing I realize now is that this horse had been Annie’s special horse from day one and I don’t think too many other people in the last seven years had probably sat on him except Annie. I think it was a big adjustment to Bruno – he was a one-rider horse. Annie and Bruno knew each other and had an unbelievable bond and partnership.” Now he is a barn favorite for his eccentric personality. “He likes bananas, but he hates being caught in the field,” Martin says with a laugh. “If it was up to Bruno he would spend all day in the field. Getting on, he can be a little bit cold-backed. You can’t change your stirrups or tighten your girth or take off your raincoat.” The Carolinas Equestrian

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Above: Caitlin Silliman on Ally KGO over The Willcox in the main arena Below: Boyd Martin on his Olympic mount Tsetserleg take Memorial Gate

Martin hopes to expand the Annie Goodwin Syndicate, which includes her parents, Putter and Tina, and to continue riding the horse that Annie developed to the top of the sport. Bruno wasn’t Martin’s only ride at the Grand Prix, however. He was followed closely in the standings by Martin’s other mount, the Pan American gold medalist, Tsetserleg, owned by Christine, Thomas and Tommie Turner. Tsetserleg took down a rail in showjumping, which cost him the lead he had built in dressage, but he held onto second place through cross country. Doug Payne and Quantum Leap, owned by Jessica and Doug Payne and Susan Drillock, finished third. Payne rode several horses to top finishes: Star Witness (owned by Payne, Laurie McRee and Catherine Winter) was fourth, and Vandiver (which he co-owns with breeder Debi Crowley) was sixth. Colleen Loach filled out the fifth place on the striking Hanoverian gelding Vermont, owned by Peter Barry. The Grand Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field celebrates the sport of eventing in a condensed format designed to appeal to an 12

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Above: Colleen Loach, Canadian Olympian, aboard the spectacular Vermont Below: Doug Payne, American Olympian, dressage on Quantum Leap

audience of dedicated horse people as well as to first time spectators. The dressage and show jumping phases took place on Friday, and the cross country centerpiece was held on Saturday. The event’s location in the heart of downtown Aiken makes it accessible for drawing in a local non-equestrian attendance, and offers a unique visual overview by concentrating the usually sprawling cross country course within the view of fans: the course weaves in, out and around several show arenas. The specially-constructed jumps celebrate recognizable local landmarks, such as The Willcox (an iconic inn) the historic Aiken Post Office, and Memorial Gate, a brick wall in the famed Hitchcock Woods. Spectators had an opportunity to appreciate up-close and personal the speed that the horses travel and the scale of the massive obstacles. The eventing course, designed by the English Olympic gold medalist Captain Mark Phillips, tested the horses’ adjustability as they galloped to stay inside the tight time allowed, going from one ring to the next, alternately speeding to cover ground and then turning sharply back to tricky Spring 2022

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corner jumps. A narrow fence into the water outside the main arena was an issue for some of the horses, as was the imposing brush jump coming out of the water and into the arena. Another essential element of the Grand Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field is the generous charitable fundraising that is central to the vision of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation, set forth by its founder, the late Bruce Duchossois. A hunter/jumper rider himself, Duchossois also was an early owner for and supporter of Phillip Dutton, an Olympic gold medalist in eventing who relocated from his native Australia to the United States. According to Kate Boggan, the director of marketing and communications at the Aiken Horse Park, “Although the horse park is primarily a hunter/jumper venue, it was always Bruce’s vision to serve the eventing community, as well.” Boggan pointed out that the Aiken Horse Park is itself a 501c3 nonprofit, and that the park requests that “every single event that takes place here has a charitable component of some sort.” The 2022 event raised money for Aiken Above: William Fox-Pitt, British Olympian, on Rock Phantom Below: Phillip Dutton, American Olympian, on Sea of Clouds

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charities such as Brothers and Sisters of Aiken County, Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs, and the Community Medical Clinic of Aiken. Through sponsorships, fundraising and donations, the event raised over $17,000 this year and has, in the course of the four years it has been running, garnered a little more than $44,000 for various charities. Competitors vie for $50,000 in prize money. “The prize money is nice, because that is not something you often come by in our sport,” said Boggan. “But I think the biggest thing we can do for the sport is to try and get it out in front of the public’s eye in a fun and very spectator-friendly format, and create new fans and hopefully new supporters of eventing. We have been fortunate with this event; we have acquired new sponsors who have previously not been involved with the sport, and I think that is important as well.” When asked if the condensed format perhaps represented the future of eventing, as land resources grow scarce, both Boggan and Martin answered with a resounding no. “I personally am an avid fan of eventing,” said

Boggan. “I would hate to see the long formats go, and I definitely don’t think anyone involved with this event wants to see it replace the traditional long format event. Hopefully, by bringing more spectators, maybe we can help create more people who care and support the sport and, in that way, potentially have a small role in preserving the long format events.” Boyd Martin echoes the same sentiment. “The part of eventing that I love is the long five stars, the big four-mile courses… I think the pinnacle of the sport should remain that, where it is a massive test of stamina and endurance, where you need a rider that can pace their animal and conserve energy and have a horse trained to understand all the technical questions and have that bravery, as well. But I do think that the festival structure is a good one. At Bruce’s Field when you are in that iconic horse park and it’s a premier event that attracts horses from all over the country, and some of the riders from all over the world, it’s exciting, and everyone can see the whole course. It’s a fun and exciting way of getting new people into the sport.” Below: Colleen Loach on FE Goldeneye in the stadium

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Rachel Clough De Videla Brooke Thomas

Sharer Dale

Madison McEvoy

Stephanie Slade

We Need Inventory!

What is your "Make Me Move" PRICE? Spring 2022

( 8 0 3 ) 7 6 1 - 0 6 7The 8 Carolinas Equestrian

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Under 21

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Reining Champion: Emerson Madonia

ighteen-year-old Emerson Madonia is already a World Champion with plenty of show miles under her belt buckle. She and her sorrel mare This Chic Is Dreamy, (barn name Maggie, aka Maggie Macaroni) hold the 2021 Limited Non Pro World Reining Championship for money won in the National Reining Horse Association. Madonia’s trainer Sam Schaffhauser, in Tennessee, helped her find her “super sassy” mare. “Maggie gives everything when she is working; she is definitely my heart horse. Every single ride I make sure to thank her. She is a powerhouse — I would never be able to sell her. The running joke in my family is that my father is going to start riding her.” (This is a joke because no one else in the family has horse experience.) “My favorite thing has to be the sliding stops. She loves them —she sounds like a freight train: the build and build and then she just drops her haunch in the dirt and it is an amazing feeling.” Madonia’s family moved to Lincolnton, North Carolina when she was 4 years old. There was an old barn behind their new house, and she begged her parents for a horse for years until they finally broke. Madonia started out riding English with the trainer Carone Stucky, but switched to Western when she was 12, after attending a rodeo at The

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Ponderosa in Lincolnton. “Mommy, I want my spurs to jingle” she said, after she saw the flashy boots and spurs. Madonia trained with Roy Blanton in Morganton until she began to focus on reining, which took her to Huntersville to train with Kevin Shaw. Madonia credits Shaw with taking her all the way to Youth Worlds, and helping her to find a horse named Lena’s Best Gun, also known as Yogurt, as well as a horse named Electric Performance with whom she qualified for the FEIs. Madonia moved on to work with another trainer, Peter DeFreitas who she says taught her the mechanics of reining. “I am so thankful for all of the trainers that I have had. They taught me so much, and I still talk to all of them today.” In addition to her NRHA showing, Madonia won Intermediate Reining as part of the 2017 National Champion Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Team with trainer Jenny King, and in 2018, was the Individual National IEA Champion in Intermediate Reining. Madonia has committed to attending University of South Carolina in the fall and will be riding on the USC NCAA Equestrian Team. While she hasn’t really decided what she wants to study, maybe physical therapy, accounting, sports management… she hopes to become a horse trainer someday herself.

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Reba Ellen Hicks Spring 2022

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DANIEL GEITNER (803) 270-5420 CATHY GEITNER (803) 270-0574

AIKEN, SC OCALA, FL

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

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A New Age of Nursemares Nursemares provide a vital service in the breeding world, but the way they have traditionally been obtained is controversial. All of that is changing now that hormonally induced lactation is becoming more widespread, allowing nursemares to supply milk for their foster foals without giving birth to a foal themselves.

Gary Knoll

By Jen Roytz

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hen a new foal is born into the world, the ideal scenario is that it is healthy, bonds with its dam and nurses within its first few hours. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes a mare is injured or dies while giving birth. Sometimes she can’t produce enough milk to feed her newborn adequately or she simply rejects the foal. When scenarios play out that prevent a mare from caring for and nursing the newborn, the need quickly arises for a nursemare, a surrogate mother, to step in and take the place of the foal’s actual mother. For decades, the nursemare business has been a vital part of the breeding industry, providing a life-saving service at a critical time. But it has also been rife with controversy. Traditionally, in order to ensure the nursemare had milk, the mare was bred, and then her biological foal was taken away from her so that she could care for a different newborn instead. In the best operations, the artificially orphaned foals were bottle fed and lovingly raised. But an unknown number have simply been thought of Spring 2022

Bonding between mare and foal is just as important to normal development as the nutrients in milk. Nursemares furnish both.

as a byproduct of the business, and ended up in auctions, or worse.

Hormonally Induced Lactation In the past decade an alternative method has been developed; one that can bring a nursemare into lactation without the need for her to be bred and without creating an unwanted “byproduct” foal. This new method is called hormonally induced lactation. In the simplest explanation, hormonally induced lactation tricks a mare’s body into producing milk without the mare having to be pregnant. Hormonally induced lactation (HIL) only works on mares that have had foals in the past, but it has been a game-changer in the breeding business. Lactation is regulated by a hormone called prolactin. In order to induce lactation, veterinarians administer a drug called Domperidone, causing prolactin levels to increase. In mares who have had foals before and have fully developed mammary glands, this leads to milk production. The drug needs to be administered over the course of approximately a week, and then the mare must be hand-milked. The Carolinas Equestrian

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Pam Gleason

Just before introducing the mare to the orphan foal, vets use other drugs and methods to trick the mare’s body into thinking she has just given birth and to enhance maternal bonding. Lauren Phoenix, who is the owner of Nursemares of the Northeast and Nursemares of Kentucky, provides hormonally induced nursemares for Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Her company can also make special accommodations for farms outside of their regular service area, or can refer people to other providers throughout the country. “Typically, through hormonally induced lactation, we can get a mare to produce really good milk within 11 to 14 days,” said Phoenix. “Every mare is different and it’s a very regimented process to get them induced to lactate and often we need to adapt to the individual and think outside of the box.” Phoenix and her team take a hands-on approach, managing and overseeing the 30

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introduction of the foal to the nursemare and troubleshooting any potential issues. “We go through the same procedures and precautions for each mare, whether it’s her first time being a nursemare or she’s been doing it for years. It’s an intricate process and we wait for certain signs and signals at every step of the introduction before proceeding,” said Phoenix. “Thanks to these decisions made in the moment and based on what I’ve learned over the years, we can pretty much get any mare not just to take a baby, but to love, protect and care for it as if it’s truly their own.” According to Phoenix, she and her team have a near 98-percent success rate. In the event that issues arise, they consult with the foal owner to either work through the challenges or deliver a replacement mare from their herd.

Finding the Right Mares It is important to have the right type of mare to serve as a nursemare. Phoenix looks for mares that have had a few foals in the past, have proven Spring 2022


Pam Gleason

to be good mothers and have seemed to enjoy raising a foal. “Many of our mares are on their second, third or even fourth careers. Some we get from clients and some are rescues,” she explained. “We look for mares who are kind, easy to handle and don’t have any major bad habits or dangerous behaviors. While we serve major breeding operations, we also provide mares to private people as well, so it is important for the mares to be safe and easy for anyone to handle.” The majority of the mares in Phoenix’s herd are adopted from previous clients or from rescues or Thoroughbred aftercare organizations. “The business of providing nursemares used to be rather secretive due to what happened with the nursemares’ biological foals. They often weren’t cared for very well and there was no honor being given to these mares who were literally saving lives,” said Phoenix. “We take very good care of our mares. They’re vaccinated, well-handled and loved, and it shows.”

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Changing the Industry Phoenix began Nursemares of the Northeast in New York, and the farm serves as her homebase to this day. As demand grew, she decided to open a satellite facility, Nursemares of Kentucky. “When I started in New York, my goal was to perfect the practice of inducing mares to lactate through hormones, and over the years we’ve also perfected how we introduce the mares and foals,” she said. Phoenix says she and other hormonally induced nursemare providers have seen a steady uptick in their business in recent years. People are eager to learn more about her approach and, when the unfortunate need arises, use a more ethically-produced nursemare. “One day I was in the stall with one of our mares and was thinking about that saying, ‘Blessed are the broodmares,’” she recalled. “Then it hit me, and in that moment I thought about the follow-up, ‘but heaven-sent are the nursemares.’”

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In Practice

Know Your Horse's Normal With Dr. Nicole Swinehart

When people call the veterinarian with an equine emergency, there are a number of standard questions that they should be able to answer. Dr. Nicole Swinehart of South Carolina Equine Associates outlined some of the general markers that horse owners should evaluate to recognize their horse’s normal behavior, and know when something has gone wrong. • What is your horse’s temperature? Normal horse temperatures can range from 98 to 101.5 degrees — there is usually variation based on the ambient temperature and/ or recent exercise. Owners should have a thermometer and know how to use it. Dr. Swinehart recommends having more than one digital thermometer in the barn; she says that they can vary some from one to another, and they tend to stop working inconveniently. However, they are inexpensive and vital to have on hand. In the event of almost any equine disorder, one of the first questions the vet will ask is does the horse have a fever? “Fever” would be any temperature above 101.5. A low fever may indicate a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, while an acute-onset high fever could suggest a viral respiratory disease. It is also extremely important for owners to take their horse’s temperature before administering any anti-inflammatory medications which would mask a fever. Horse temperatures are taken rectally: the thermometer is inserted several inches and held in place until it beeps to indicate that the temperature has been registered. It is nice to put a little Vaseline or KY Jelly on the tip of the thermometer to make it more comfortable for the horse. • Another question horse owners should be prepared to answer is “What is the horse’s resting heart rate?” The resting heart rate should be somewhere from 36-42 beats per minute. To check a horse’s resting heart rate, make sure that the horse is thoroughly cooled down and fully 34

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recovered from any exertion, and then use a stethoscope or feel for the hearbeat behind the elbow on the left side of the horse’s body. Some horse’s heartrates can be seen or felt in their facial artery or you can take their pulse at the jugular vein. Listen or feel for the heartbeat, counting how many times you hear it for ten seconds. Then multiply that number by six to determine how many beats per minute. An elevated heart rate could mean trouble. • What is the horse’s respiratory rate? A horse that is in pain may have increased respiration, and the more elevated these numbers are the more they might indicate distress. Resting respiratory rates can also differ based on the Spring 2022


weather; high temperature and humidity can affect respiratory rates as horses struggle to cool themselves. To determine your horse’s breathing rate, watch their sides and count their breaths for ten seconds, multiplying that number by six to determine how many breaths per minute.

• Another element to pay attention to is your horse’s mucus membranes and capillary refill time. If you press your fingertip into your horse’s gums and then remove it, you should see the area whiten briefly until the blood returns. The amount of time it takes for the color to return to the gum is called the capillary refill time. Two seconds or less would be normal. Slow refilling or dry, tacky-feeling mucus membranes indicate dehydration. Yellow, pale or purple gums might indicate a serious condition. • Check his legs. Dr. Swinehart stressed that it is important to know your horse’s legs and to be able to recognize if a joint is swollen or if there is unusual heat present anywhere. Knowing your horse’s normal lumps and bumps will help you recognize if there are any new ones. If you find a bump that wasn't there before, examine it carefully: is it hot or cold? Soft or hard? Spring 2022

•When assessing any problems, it is also vital to be familiar with the details of your horse’s maintenance schedule. If your horse comes up suddenly and severely lame, knowing when he was shod can help determine the likelihood of an abscess or a “hot” nail (one that is too close to, or hitting, sensitive structures.) Owners should know when their horse’s teeth were last floated, when they were vaccinated, and any changes to their environment such as the introduction of new hay, grain or a new horse on the premises.

• What about diet? Dr. Swinehart suggests that owners should also be attentive to what their horses eat, what supplements they get, as well as how the horse eats: Does he normally eat voraciously or is he a picky eater? Does he drop food or quid his hay (make little balls of the hay as he chews it?) Does he tilt his head to one side? How much water does your horse typically drink in a day? Does he love to take naps in the morning or does he almost never lie down? Would you recognize it if your horse’s normal was abnormal? Knowing when there is a problem before it has become obvious can save time and money. It could even save your horse’s life.

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Equestrians of the Carolinas

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Alejandro Vergara

lejandro Vergara, known as Alex, was born who shares his passion for horses, and he is also proud in Jalisco, a small town about an hour from to be an American. Guadalajara, in Mexico. He grew up in a “One of my proudest days was getting my green family of four brothers and three sisters on a farm card. It took a long time and cost a lot of money. with cows and horses. He thought about going to Some of the lawyers did things wrong and it took 14 school to become a veterinarian, but in Mexico jobs years, but finally I was blessed to get my green card. for veterinarians were scarce. I was doubly proud because “I enjoyed the horses but it was very So when one of his brothers my wife got hers on the same found his way to South hard. I didn’t speak any English and they day.” Vergara later took his Carolina to work with horses, citizenship test and is now an didn’t speak any Spanish. . . . Every day Alex followed. American citizen. we would go to the cafeteria and every “My brother came here in Vergara has worked as day I ordered a cheeseburger because it 1994, and I decided to come foreman for the Camdenwas the only thing I could pronounce.” in 1995. We tried to get a visa, based racehorse trainer but it was impossible. We paid Donna Freyer for many years. someone to help us cross the border. We had to get He supervises the other employees and helps with across the river. We walked for ten hours.” starting the young horses, doing the groundwork and Alex found work as a groom for a South Carolina breaking. Vergara thinks that he has probably started jumper trainer and it wasn’t long before he was sent a thousand horses in his career, and he attributes his to Florida for the horse show circuit. “I enjoyed the success to the fact that he respects and likes horses and horses but it was very hard. I didn’t speak any English that he continues to learn. and they didn’t speak any Spanish. It was very hard “I tell my guys to always pay attention. Be careful to understand each other. Every day we would go to every time. You never know, even the horses that are the cafeteria and every day I ordered a cheeseburger really nice, you never know, they can spook, you can because it was the only thing I could pronounce,” he get hurt if you don’t pay attention because anything said, laughing. can happen.” It was a lonely life, and in 1997 Vergara went back to Vergara mentioned two people in Camden who were Mexico and married a girl he had kept in touch with especially helpful to him: the late, legendary farrier from before. They came to America a year later, and Willie Locklear and the longtime South Carolina began a family while Alex found work with horses. Equine veterinarian Dr. Jeff Witwer. Travelling with the show horses was hard on a young “Dr. Witwer has taught me so much over the years family, so Vergara started working for a racehorse and Willie Locklear was a good friend. He showed me operation based in Camden, South Carolina. Paul how to shoe horses, and taught me a lot, too.” Vergara and Robin Smith’s River Run Farm employed Alex for worked alongside Locklear in the hours after his other seven years until the owners retired. job, and today he continues to trim and shoe horses Meanwhile, the Vergaras had their first daughter. It for clients as a side job. was a stressful time, since the baby was premature and “I probably could have made more money. Friends had to stay in the hospital for a month. “My English tried sometimes to get me to work in construction, was still not very good. I didn’t have any family here but I enjoyed the horses and it was more important and it was a very hard time. It was terrifying.” Now to me to be able to enjoy my work. I tried to always be Vergara is a doting father to two daughters and a son learning, always getting better.” 38

The Carolinas Equestrian

Spring 2022


Lauren Allen

Spring 2022

The Carolinas Equestrian

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Pam Gleason

Index of Advertisers Aiken Horse Park Foundation

17

Aiken Polo Club

43

Camden Horse Blanket

37

Camden Hunter/Jumper

37

Carolina Horse Park

16

Carolina Trailer Sales

4

DFG Stables EMO

2

Henn Automotive

25

Highfields

20

Meybohm RE: Sullivan/Turner

5

Meybohm RE: Suzy Haslup

25

Middleboro Trailer Sales

37

Naomi Race Group

25

Retired Racehorse Project

36

South Carolina Equine Associates

40

24

5

Second Mouse Media

41

Shangri La Equestrian

37

Sharer Dale Group

21

Stable View, LLC

44

The Tack Room

24

The Willcox/Greystone Inn

3

Tryon Equine Law

41

The Carolinas Equestrian

Spring 2022


2nd Mouse Media Web Development & Design 2ndmousemedia.com

WWWW DD I GG? Horse Show Time Estimates whendoigo.com

Courtney Disposti 828-290-9282 Courtney@2ndmousemedia.com

Spring 2022

The Carolinas Equestrian

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Pam Gleason

Parting Shot

That Winning Feeling Quinn Larimar aboard Olympia Van Het Eikenhof flies over the final fence of the jumpoff in the $25,000 Carolina Company Grand Prix at the Aiken Spring Classic Finale the first weekend in May. She knew the round was clean and fast. Did she know she won? The smile says it all. 42

The Carolinas Equestrian

Spring 2022


Spring 2022

The Carolinas Equestrian

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2022 HUNTER/JUMPER CHALLENGE SERIES at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina

$350,000+ in Prize Money Register at HorseShowsOnline.com

JUNE

2-5 || Summer Classic I

JUNE

9-12|| Summer Classic II

JUNE

30-July 3 || Summer Classic III

AUGUST

4-7 || Fall Classic I

SEPTEMBER

29-Oct 2 || Fall Classic II

NOVEMBER

3-6 || Fall Classic III PLUS Challenge Bonus* *Must compete in four of six events to qualify

A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE WITH SUPERIOR AMENITIES 15 Miles of Trails • 4 Rider’s Lounges • 261 stalls • 61 paddocks 22 Professionally Decorated Accommodations 5 Outdoor Arenas and 1 Covered Arena by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces featuring GGT-Footing

44

The Carolinas Equestrian

Spring 2022

117 Stable Dr, Aiken SC || 484 356 3 3 || info@stableviewfarm.com || svfe estrian.com ||

StableViewHJ


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