Riding Instructor magazine - Fall 2019

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The Official Publication of The American Riding Instructors Association

6

Sport Psychology

Laura’s Process for Creating a Student’s Personal Best

By Laura King , CHt, NLP & Performance Coach

8 Horse-Sense for Instructors

Contents

Is it Time to Leave?

By Jessica Jahiel, Ph.D.

10 The Kelpies of Falkirk, Scotland 12 Musings on the Art of Dismounting

By Didi Arias

14 John Ware

By Margaret Evans

16 Schools, Colleges and Universities with Equine Programs 19 Avoiding Burnout with Equine Enrichment

By Christine Olsen

22 Sponsor Spotlight

By Donna Hartshorn

26 Effective Cost Management of Your Horse Barn

By Nikki Alvin-Smith

28 Introducing Goal Setting to Young Riders

By Christine Olsen

29 Cribbing and Ulcers: Is there a Correlation?

30 Legal Focus

New Cases Show Strength of State Equine Activity Liability Laws

By Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

32 Business Matters

Great Instructors Are Great Students —Here’s Why

By Doug Emerson, The Profitable Horseman

34 Cameo’s Cauldron

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Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

Common Sense

By Cameo Miller

Summer 2013 Published by American Riding Instructors Association 28801 Trenton Court Bonita Springs, FL 34134-3337 Tel 239-948-3232 Fax 239-948-5053 Fall 2019 E-mail aria@riding-instructor.com Published by Web site riding-instructor.com American Riding Instructors Association Editor 28801 Trenton Court Charlotte BraileyBonita Kneeland Springs, FL 34134-3337 editor@riding-instructor.com Tel 239-948-3232 Manager of Corporate Sponsorship Fax 239-948-5053 and Advertising E-mail aria@riding-instructor.com Donna HartshornWebsite riding-instructor.com Tel 407-927-3578; Donna@riding-instructor.com Editor Charlotte Brailey Kneeland Art Director Peter Fryns, PearTree Graphics aria@riding-instructor.com peter@peartreegraphics.ca Member Manager of Corporate Sponsorship American Horse Council and Advertising Donna Hartshorn Horse Donna@riding-instructor.com Publications Tel American 407-927-3578; United States Equestrian Federation Art Director Peter Fryns, PearTree Graphics peter@peartreegraphics.ca Illustrator Susan E. Harris

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5

Sport psychology

performance level they desire, are all crucial to their outcomes. If these thoughts are defeatist in any way, they will adversely affect performance.

2 Determine whether their mindset is fixed or not. If a student has a fixed mind-

set, meaning they think they are unable to change and are hardwired in some way, you definitely have some challenging work ahead. But it’s not futile work.

Someone with a growth mindset—who realizes they can change and improve and grow and keep learning, is always far easier to work with.

Laura’s Process for Creating a Student’s Personal Best

By Laura King, CHt, NLP & Life Coach

Either way, there is so much you can do as a trainer simply by listening and observing. Our words and actions reveal what we think and what we value. And if someone is showing you that their mindset and habits are not what they should be to achieve their personal best, that is invaluable information, and a situation you definitely need to help them change.

3 Use the Power of Modeling and Reframing.

I

hypnotize a lot of very successful equestrians. If I were to ask you what you think the difference is between them and less-successful equestrians, what would you say? Skill? Experience? Native talent? The best training money can buy?

Nope, it’s none of those. The one thing present every time they win, regardless of their talent, training, or skill, is that they are able to achieve their personal best when they need to. And it’s my job to position them to be able to do that. How? By focusing my work in two crucial areas: mindset and habit patterns.

You don’t have to be a hypnotist to use mindset and habit patterns to help your students achieve their personal best. Here’s my 5-step process to get you started with creating personal bests for your students.

1 Assess the quality of your student’s mindset. Early on, survey the landscape of

your student’s thoughts and feelings.

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Get to know the tone of voice and the language they use when they talk to themselves. Assess their mindset.

Mindset is everything you’ve heard it is. It’s a powerful reality of your life that you don’t even notice on a daily basis.

But just because you aren’t noticing it doesn’t mean it isn’t affecting your life, which of course includes any kind of performance.

The beliefs your students hold about their abilities and the stories they tell themselves about how prepared they are, how confident they are, or even about whether they have the right genes for the

One way of helping a student snap out of a negative, fixed mindset, is simply to reframe what they are saying by incorporating the concept of “yet.”

For example: “I am so bad at jumping” becomes “I’m not as good as I’d like to be yet.” Reframing using “yet” creates an opening for continuous improvement. It doesn’t close the door in defeat.

Use the language your student uses to model a different way of framing their progress. The more you reframe the student’s own language, the more likely they will be to adopt the same strategy of reframing.

You can also have students imagine their role models achieving their personal bests, and then have students imagine themselves doing what their role models are doing. If a role model isn’t something a student relates to, you can also have them watch YouTube videos of, for example, the jump they need to master.

After they have memorized every move, they can imagine that they are the person

Sport psychology

4 Be on the lookout for perfectionism. You might be surprised to

learn that people who have a tendency to be perfectionists have just as much difficulty achieving their personal best as people who don’t have any faith in their ability. Perfectionism gets in the way because it prevents people from taking chances or moving outside of their comfort zone. They don’t want to attempt or finish things that they think might not be perfect.

language and habits are able to easily flow and can be sustained. Pay close attention to your students’ mindset and habits—they tell you much of what you need to know about their future performance.

About the author:

Perfectionism is a mindset, and helping your student identify that they have this mindset is key to improving what happens in the ring. Perfectionists usually don’t see themselves as such.

They tend to have low self-esteem and are hyper-critical of themselves, and of course they don’t see this as counterproductive or self-destructive.

Fortunately, your students don’t necessarily need to see their own dysfunctional thought patterns in order to change them.

Identifying the problem and creating the solution is your job.

And it just might be the missing ingredient or that switch that is flipped that creates the space for lasting change and increases the odds of personal bests.

5 Habit patterns. If you analyze your days, you will find a lot

of automaticity built in. What does that mean? That you are automatically doing certain things or making certain choices.

Making healthy food choices is a habit. So is smoking. Ditto for balancing your checking account. Even self-talk and its contents are habits. This is all as true for you as it is for your students.

This point is key because regardless of how different your habit patterns are from your students’ habits, you know exactly what it feels like to have habit patterns; you share that experience with your students.

When it comes to identifying unproductive habits, it’s usually fairly easy for you, as someone on the outside, to quickly figure out where your student’s thinking and acting is faulty.

There are people who are great at noticing what they are doing that doesn’t serve them well and then replacing unhelpful habits with new, more skillful ones. But those people are rare. Most of us are fairly dedicated to our habits (that’s why they’re habits!) and become defensive at the suggestion that we might be taking ourselves in the wrong direction.

What you can do simply by observation, is notice which habits seem to be working for someone and which ones need to be replaced. The same is true for language. You can develop an ear for hearing language that doesn’t serve your students well. And you can work to replace that language and those habits. You can repeatedly reframe their negative talk, and before you know it they will be reframing for themselves.

To learn more about Laura King, go to www.laurakinghypnosis.com or www.summithypnosis.com.

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7

Horse-Sense for Instructors

Your history with your horse sounds admirable to me. Is it possible that your instructor has changed and come to dislike your horse for his size alone? Or could there be something else going on? I’d like to suggest a few things—true or not, you decide—for you to consider as possibilities.

1 Your horse has changed

Is it Time to Leave?

By Jessica Jahiel, Ph.D.

None of us wants to deal with the changes that reflect our horses’s age (physical or chronological), but we need to remember that our old campaigners are just that, and need to have their workloads adjusted accordingly. Sometimes injuries—even a series of minor ones over the years—and minor conformation defects, can begin to create problems in old age. Our oldies reach a point at which their jumping schedules begin to go backward. We need to ask them for fewer and less demanding jumps, less often. We may eventually reach a point at which we focus on flatwork exclusively.

Changes in weather (and who hasn’t experienced those, these last few years?) can put extra stress and strain on aging muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones...not to mention attitude, respiratory capacity, and recovery time. Higher temperatures, harder ground... a horse that handled conditions easily and well at 9 may be struggling at 19.

2 Your instructor has changed I’ve taken lessons from the same instructor for five years, was part of her first lesson program, and I feel like everything has changed, not just her personality but her basic values which were always like mine and were the reason I have stayed with her for so long. Yesterday was my lesson and she gave me a big “you need to get serious” lecture. I was floored, totally did not see or even imagine this was coming, and I don’t know what to do.

Help, please. We’ve had very few talks about any of this, but it’s clear that for whatever reason, she now views my horse as “too small” and “not good enough.” I wonder if she is trying to get rid of me, she has been “collecting” students that have way more money, way more ambition, and are always ready to dump their horses and buy new fancy ones. I feel like everything has changed around here, or did I somehow not notice that this was going on?

I understand that my horse has limitations, but I’m not looking to sell him just because he’s only 15 hands!

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What’s new or recent in your instructor’s life? Bear in mind that you may not know— many individuals prefer to keep their problems to themselves, even life-changing ones. Ask yourself if your instructor has changed—her interests, goals, or financial situation may not be what they were when you began taking lessons. She may be trying to focus on what matters most to her professionally or personally.

If she’s made the shift—mentally at least—from running a kiddie lesson barn to reinventing her facility as an upmarket show barn, she may be in a different place emotionally. Her plans may have changed and she may be expecting her students’ plans to change as well. Would you know?

Can you find out?

Horse-Sense for Instructors

Your instructor may have nothing against say, and the same rider five years later. If you or your horse; she may simply be com- you began taking lessons at age 10, the last municating the changes in herself or her five years represent a huge portion of your situation in an unfortunate manner. If you life. During that time, you have learned two have been close and worked together and developed a philosophy of riding, and well for 5 years, it’s possible that your inter- it may no longer be a good match for your ests and concerns and priorities have sim- instructor’s, especially if your experiences ply diverged. From your description of the have caused your priorities and preferences to develop along other lines. situation, that seems likely.

This is part of growing up; it’s no one’s If what your instructor sees is a talented fault.

Those five years have seen you grow rider on an aging horse, she may honestly feel that your horse is holding you back, and change, and your instructor may also have grown and changed. that this will get worse as It’s possible that your goals you progress, and that you and ideals, along with your need a younger, stronger chosen path to attain those animal to work with. She ‘Keep calm ideals, no longer match your may not understand your instructor’s. priorities—she may think and carry on’ that you just aren’t aware 4 Can you still that a certain type, size, is good advice benefit from or breed of horse will cartogether? working ry you to more, bigger, and for any number better ribbons and trophies The two of you need to talk, at fancier shows—and that of situations. ideally in a location far from if your goals don’t include the barn and at a time when winning at those shows, you you’re unlikely to be intercan’t be really serious about rupted. Is there a coffee shop your riding. in your area, and can you She may think that she is helping you arrange to meet there for an hour or more? become brave enough to make an impor- It’s important for you and your instructant, tough decision. Some riders are lucky tor to understand one another and disenough to have family farms where their cuss your individual perspectives, prioriponies or horses can retire happily; most ties, and plans. Something has changed, don’t have that option, and before they can you are right about that. But you both need begin a life with their second horse, they to understand your own and each other’s need to sell their first one. Financial reality position so that you can continue to work is such that most riders are not in a position together—or part on good terms. to keep more than one horse... YOU, on the other hand, may have considered all of this, 5 Keep it friendly and may feel that doing the right thing for It’s a decision best reached by the two of you your horse is what matters most. If you both together. Your instructor may prefer that listed your priorities from one to ten, there you now go to a barn where your wishes and might be very few matches...but before you those of the resident instructor are a better leave this instructor, please find out! match. I don’t think that your instructor has become a horrible person overnight; 3 You have changed she too is pursuing a dream. Find out what It’s possible that you have changed—your it is, and figure out whether your goals and priorities and practices, your preferences, ambitions can still be compatible with hers. your ideals—during the past years. You Humans, horses, and situations all don’t mention your age, but there can be change with time, and your needs as a a big difference between a rider at 10 or 15, developing rider and horsewoman may or

“ ”

may not be compatible with your instructor’s needs right now. All I can tell you is that good communication can help most people sort out their problems and differences without becoming overly emotional.

“Keep calm and carry on” is good advice for any number of situations. Your situation is difficult, but quiet, calm communication can improve it. If you can come to understand one another, you’ll be better able to work together—or to separate without drama, even if you agree to disagree.

You’re not a problem, and you can refuse to become a problem. Take a deep breath, arrange a meeting, and try to understand your instructor’s point of view. At the end of the day, you may still find that you prefer to leave, but your decision will be more rational and less emotional; less likely to leave you tied in emotional knots for months.

If you find that you still have a lot to learn and would really prefer to learn from your current instructor, again, make a rational decision. Ideally, it will lead to the best possible resolution for you, your horse, and your instructor.

6 Be prepared—have a plan It’s not enough to be leaving a situation that you feel is wrong for you—go toward something that is more suitable for you, your horse, and your goals, both short and long term. Escaping from the frying pan may mean jumping into the fire. Be careful. If you leave, be sure that the move is compatible with your values, your horse, and your plans. Whether you go or stay, I wish you good luck!

About the author: Dr. Jessica Jahiel is an internationally known author, clinician, and lecturer who trains horses, retrains problem horses, teaches, and speaks across the United States, Canada, and England.

She teaches dressage, jumping, and Holistic Horsemanship®, an all-encompassing approach to horse and rider to develop balanced, willing, forward horses and thoughtful, tactful riders.

Readers may access her free newsletter, HorseSense, at www.horse-sense.org.

riding-instructor.com | Fall 2019

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The Kelpies of Falkirk, Scotland

T

he Kelpies are the largest equine sculptures in the world.

Standing 100 feet tall and weighing more than 300 tons each, the Kelpies were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October of 2013. The magical Kelpies are a man-made wonder and a feat of engineering.

The Kelpies are a monument to the horse-powered heritage across Scotland. Built of structural steel with a stainless steel cladding, the Kelpies are located between Falkirk and Grangemouth, in Scotland. The sculptures form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal, and the new canal extension built as part of The Helix land transformation project.

The works of art have become iconic on the landscape after being modelled on real-life icons of times gone by— Clydesdale horses named Duke and Baron. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coal ships that shaped the geographical layout of Falkirk.

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Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

The Kelpies’ name ref lects the mythological transforming beasts that possess the strength and endurance of 100 horses; a quality that’s analogous with the transformational change of the area’s landscapes, endurance of its inland waterways and the strength of its communities.

You can visit The Kelpies free of charge any time of the day, 365 days of the year, due to their prime location in The Helix community park. The area around the massive sculptures has been designed to give access for all, meaning everyone can come and see them up close. You can even go inside a Kelpie on a tour for an exclusive look at their engineering and ingenuity.

riding-instructor.com | Fall 2019

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“I don’t think he meant during your riding lesson”, I assured him.

“Well, I didn’t know that trotting would be so scary and it sure seemed dangerous to me!” he replied in justification of his actions, eyes growing bigger and bluer as he re-lived those first strides.

As is oftentimes the case when teaching children, I struggled to keep a straight face.   

Musings on the Art of Dismounting

By Didi Arias Illustration by Didi Arias

I

“

ncoming!” was the cry, and in a flash, my new student was gone. I quickly stepped to the far side of the horse I had been lunging, thinking I would find him there; instead, I saw the little chap high-tailing it across the arena, headed for the bordering trees. Apparently, he had leapt from the saddle to take cover from an unseen enemy, and as he streaked away, he continued to shout his one word warning. When I caught up with him, I asked him what prompted him to jump off the horse and run away, half knowing the answer as I asked, recalling that his father was then abroad in a dangerous zone in the Middle East. Excited and breathless, he explained to me, in all seriousness, that his Dad told him that when situations got dangerous it was OK to bail out and run for cover.

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Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

That little boy’s dad had a sound idea, as hopping off the horse can be the sensible thing to do when faced with a difficult or dangerous situation. Oddly, many riders are not taught the safety/emergency/quick/ flying dismount; this I know as fact, having never been taught it, nor had the seasoned students that I asked who had previous riding experiences elsewhere. Why this is so overlooked I do not know: maybe because it can be tricky to teach in group classes, or perhaps the instructor assumes that the rider already knows it or perhaps doesn’t feel that there is actually a need to know it? One instructor I spoke to on the subject suggested that in an effort to keep students happy, the focus is oftentimes only on the progress of their technical skills, and not enough emphasis is being given to “the safety stuff.” There isn’t just enough time to teach it. Of course, there are those instructors who feel that if you have any backbone at all you will deal with all troubles from the saddle and not wimp out by bailing. I think they call it “Character Building.”

As I’m a big believer in “the safety stuff”; I like to know that all my riders can get off the horse quickly and safely should the situation deem it wise. Whether a simple and quick dismount or a controlled emergency departure from a moving animal is necessary, it all begins with the teaching of slick and tidy dismounting techniques and of course, lots of practice. No matter what their age or level, I want them to be able to deftly and safely get off the animal as quickly as one, two, three, so I include dismounting drills into my riding program, the level of difficulty (standing vs. moving) depending upon rider ability. It is not just

the kiddos that enjoy these sessions. One adult, lower level dressage student said that this is one skill that has helped her feel more in control and relaxed in the saddle, plus she feels that she trusts her own body more. Another admitted that she is less worried about falling because she knows she can hop off if necessary and this gives her a feeling of greater control.

Knowing the how is, of course, paramount, yet the student also needs to understand the when. The rider should not make it a practice to part company from the horse at every perceived little danger (or for that matter, to avoid certain work). I once gave a lesson to a rider who was very unclear as to which situations were risky enough to consider an emergency dismount, a fact that she proved by jumping off her confused mare not once but four times during a lesson. The only thing she didn’t do was shout “incoming!” as she did so. A novice rider in her sixties, she had recently taken up the sport while vacationing in Australia, where apparently it is normal—according to her—to leap off every time you felt out of control or in danger (this includes if the horse moves its head at a fly, buckles a fetlock, sees a crocodile, snorts, or for that matter, breathes). This woman had the talent to shoot out of the saddle faster than you could say “Bob’s your uncle”—I swear she had a fighter plane’s ejector apparatus incorporated into the seat of her breeches.

Though her flying skills were impressive, much of the hour’s lesson time was taken up not on improving her riding skills but on remounting (where, by contrast, she lacked all physical ability) and on persuading her to spend more time actually riding the horse than leaping off it. I hope the information sunk in, but at times I entertain an image of her traveling continent to content, sampling the variety of horse breeds of the world whilst gaily catapulting out of their saddles.

Good classes get remembered and the good information gets passed on. During a recent, informal get-together of alumni that rode with me as children, we spoke about the lessons and the subject matter

that stuck with them the most. Every one of them cited the days when they learned the emergency dismounts, and their smiles broadened when they recalled the ones at canter. One student, now an instructor himself, who had been put in charge of the riding program at a prestigious facility, told us that emergency dismounts are part of his students’ curriculum, too. “I was surprised that nobody seemed to be teaching it”, he mentioned, “Those were the best classes when we were kids!”

but this time, instead of taking cover from enemy fire, he stood up, hand to mouth, and giggled.

“I bet I fooled you that time,” he said.

“Yes, you certainly did,” I replied. I saw that there was more work to be done with this one.

About the author: Didi Arias is a Level 3 ARIA Certified Instructor and national dressage judge and teacher, who resides in Almeria, Spain.

Your E-Mail Address is important—for us and for you!

   After some months of making progress with my young Top Gun, he had now mastered the trot as well as self-control with regard to his overly quick desire to jump off the horse, or so I believed. Then the morning came when he was about to ride his long anticipated, first canter. From the end of the lunge I gave the command and the horse struck off at a quiet and slow pace.

Just then I heard the new cry of “Airborne!”; once again, my little rider shot off the horse

ARIA communicates primarily by e-mail with its members.

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If you’re not sure, write to us at aria@riding-instructor.com and let us know your current e-mail address.

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Far left: Postage stamp of John Ware in honour of Black History Month, issued February 1, 2012.

Photo courtesy of Canada Post. Left: John and Mildred Ware with children Robert and Nettie, circa 1896. Photo: Wikimedia.

John Ware

By Margaret Evans Reprinted with permission from Canada’s Equine Guide 2018, a special edition of Canadian Horse Journal.

T

hink cowboy and images come to mind of a rugged man riding a horse across the landscape of a bygone era. While those alluring images and the iconic cowboy lifestyle were glamorized in books, television shows, and movies, the fact remains that cowboys were part of the indelible fabric of the opening up of the Canadian and American west.

But one man stands apart from so many others. He was black. He had been enslaved.

He was tough and a hard worker. In his day, he was the best cowboy that ever sat a bucking horse. He was good-natured in a time when such social graciousness was seldom extended in return to a black man.

He became a successful rancher despite the white-centric society of 19th century Canada. And in 2012 he was celebrated on a commemorative Canadian stamp during Black History Month.

John Ware was born in the mid-1800s and grew up in slavery. The exact details about his early life are not entirely clear.

He was freed at approximately age 20 when slavery was abolished with the ratification of the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution in 1865. Leaving the plantation, he travelled to Texas and pursued a cowboy life, then worked his way north driving cattle to Montana.

According to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, because of prejudice against black 14

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

people, Ware was given the lower level jobs on cattle drives, such as being the cook’s helper or riding drag. A drag rider rode at the back of the herd in the dust and dirt, pushing up the stragglers, but Ware took it in stride.

Good fortune led him to cross paths with a man named Tom Lynch in Idaho, who in 1882 hired him to drive 3,000 head of cattle to the North West Cattle Company, which would become known as the Bar U Ranch in Alberta. The story goes that he was given a somewhat mediocre horse to ride.

But one day Ware asked an innocent question that would cement him in cowboy folklore. He asked his boss for a better horse. He may have had a sense that the horse he’d get wouldn’t prove to be “better” in the way he wanted. But he was used to people joking around at his expense and he would prove his worth.

The “better” horse was an ornery bronc that had bucked off every cowboy who’d

tried to ride it, but Ware sat securely, anticipating every spine-jarring twist, turn, buck, and leap. By the time he dismounted, his companions’ scorn had been replaced by admiration for his skill and courage.

That became Ware’s hallmark. He built an enviable reputation by proving his skills with horses and the use of a lariat, staying on task no matter what was given him, working hard, and remaining true to his principles.

He quickly discovered that skilled, experienced cowboys were in high demand in Canada and decided to stay, finding work on ranches, including the Quorn Ranch west of Okotoks, Alberta. He deflected prejudice and planned to one day have his own ranch.

As the story goes, one day in 1882 Ware’s horse smelled something amiss and refused to drink from Sheep Creek. Apparently, John looked hard at the scum on the water, dismounted, and cautiously tasted it. He definitely agreed with his horse. That scum was oil. Thirty-two years later in 1914, Dingman No. 1 well produced the first oil in Turner Valley.

According to Glenbow Museum, in 1887 Ware started his ranch on the north fork of Sheep Creek in the Alberta foothills. In 1892 he married Mildred Lewis who had come to Calgary with her family from Ontario.

They would have six children, one of whom died at age two.

Ware continued to earn respect among ranchers and cowboys, and that admiration was further endorsed when, according to the Canada Post website, he pioneered steer-wrestling and won his first competition at the Calgary Summer Fair in 1893.

It set a precedent for what would much later become a highlight of the Calgary Stampede.

In 1901, Ware sold his ranch and resettled northeast of Brooks on the Red Deer River. But life began to take a tragic turn.

The following year his home was destroyed by a spring flood. Undaunted, he rebuilt

the cabin on higher ground overlooking what is now called Ware Creek. But tragedy struck again when, in March 1905, Mildred died of pneumonia and typhoid. Ware sent his grief-stricken children to stay with Mildred’s parents in Blairmore. The following September, Ware himself was killed when his horse stumbled in a hole and fell on him.

Ranchers from around the region attended Ware’s funeral in Calgary, the largest funeral the young city had ever seen. Ware had become a symbol of all that it meant to be a hardworking, trustworthy, talented rancher and horseman, qualities other ranchers respected and admired.

Despite the prejudices of the day, Ware was an influential industry builder who took the skills he had and made the best of every situation with humility and good humour.

Today, Calgary is home to John Ware Junior High School. At the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, the John Ware Building houses a student-run retail food market and the 4 Nines Dining Centre. The 4 nines (9999) was Ware’s original registered brand, later changed to 3 nines.

The National Film Board is currently in production on a documentary on John Ware titled John Ware Reclaimed. The director is African-Canadian Cheryl Foggo, who also wrote the awardwinning play John Ware Reimagined. The film’s release date is late 2018 or spring 2019.

“John Ware is one of the people I admire most from the Canadian story, for a number of reasons,” says Foggo. “I was crazy about horses and cowboys as a young girl, but I didn’t see people of African descent represented in the books I read or films and television shows I watched about cowboy culture. Discovering the existence of a great cowboy and rancher of African descent who was instrumental in creating the brand of my city, Calgary, helped me to unify different aspects of my own identity. He met challenges with a combination of astonishing skills. I am also interested in the beautiful family life he created with Mildred Lewis Ware, his close bonds with her siblings and parents, and the pride his children took in his legacy, although he died when they were young.”

For Foggo, the story of Ware’s life connects people from a wide range of cultural and racial backgrounds, occupations, ages, and demographics. Ware would indeed be proud.

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Schools, Colleges and Universities with Equine Programs Name of school: Averett University

What degree or certificate programs are offered?

Bachelor of Science Degree in Equestrian Studies.

There are 5 concentrations to choose from within the degree. All majors take a core of about 30 hours in ES courses and then specialize afterwards.

1 Dressage Instruction: students develop skills and a base of classical theory for eventing, training, competing, teaching, and writing about Dressage.

2 Eventing Instruction: teaches classical theory and practice for competing, training, and teaching eventing.

Students can earn their ARIA certification while in school through an instructor certification course. They also have the opportunity to go through USDF and USEA instructor training programs.

3 Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: Students take courses in

WORLD-CLASS EQUINE AT CAZENOVIA COLLEGE

• Nationally ranked team competing in Hunter Seat,Western Horsemanship, Reining and Dressage • Nationally recognized equine business management program • Ranked one of America’s Best Colleges and a top Best Value in the north by U.S. News

OUR 240-ACRE EQUINE EDUCATION CENTER

Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, N.Y. 13035 www.cazenovia.edu 1.800.654.3210 16

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

psychology as well as participate in practicums learning EAP equine specialist skills.

4 Equine Science: Students take a variety of science course to prepare them for graduate studies in veterinary medicine, nutrition, equine reproduction and more.

5 Equine Management: Students take additional courses in the business department to compliment the equine courses, and prepare students for a variety of business and marketing careers in the equine sector.

What riding disciplines are available?

Classes in dressage, hunt seat and eventing are offered at a variety of skill levels.

Are the horses owned by the school, students or others?

The horses are all owned by or leased to the University.

What equestrian-related extracurricular activities (clubs, teams, etc.) are available?

We participate in the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (hunt seat), compete regionally in eventing and combined training shows, work with a local thoroughbred rescue, and have a pre-vet club.

Are there pre-qualifying criteria for students wishing to enter your program?

There are no pre-qualifications for our program. Because our

students go into careers in a variety of equine settings, varying backgrounds and skill levels are all welcomed and valued.

Are scholarships available?

The majority of our students qualify for academic scholarships and we do have some equestrian specific scholarships.

What makes this school special?

Family! We are a small close knit group that is supportive of its community.

What tips do you have for potential students?

Look at lots of schools to be sure you find the one that feels right for you!

Contact information:

Ginger Henderson vhenderson@averett.edu https://www.averett.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/ undergraduate/equestrian-studies/

Name of school: Cazenovia College

What degree or certificate programs are offered?

We offer Bachelor degrees in over 30 programs including a degree in Equine Business Management. We also have many certificate programs, including a Certificate in Equine Reproduction.

Offering concentrations in: Dressage Instruction Eventing Instruction Equine Management Equine Science Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

averett.edu/equestrian • 1-800-AVERETT

What riding disciplines are available?

Hunter Seat, Western Horsemanship, Reining, Dressage and Pleasure Driving.

Are there continuing education or non-degree options offered?

Yes, in addition to being an approved ARIA test center and offering the ARICP testing 1-2x/year, we have an Adult & Continuing Education division where students can take courses part-time on campus, online and at several community college satellite locations. The courses include several non-degree certificate programs.

Are the horses owned by the school, students or others?

Horses used in the program are all owned by the College. Some boarding is available for students.

What equestrian-related extracurricular activities (clubs, teams, etc.) are available?

We have an Equine Ambassadors Club (a service organization) and the Equestrian Team (IHSA Hunter Seat/Western & IDA Dressage), and some clinics/outside shows.

Are scholarships available?

dream up.

Pony Finals Program Full page ad – Due date July 1 Size – 8.5” x 11” Add 1/8” bleed College Guide Program Full page adDue date October 1 Size 4.5” width x 7.5” height

Equestrian Studies An amazing place to ride, explore and achieve since 1925

• 100% career placement five years in a row • Beautiful historic Equestrian Center just steps from campus • Prince of Wales Riding Club, the country’s oldest continuously active riding club

Yes, first-year students receive merit scholarships from $15,000– $22,000 regardless of family income or residency. Other financial aid is also available.

• Hall of Fame faculty focused on your personal success

What makes this school special?

Huntseat, Saddle Seat, Western and Driving

Our small size and distinct blend of liberal arts and professional studies allows for individualized academic programs that are ➢

(573) 876-7207 • stephens.edu • inquiry@stephens.edu

Four Disciplines, One Family

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enhanced by internships and applied learning activities. Our welcoming community makes students feel at home on our small, safe campus and in the nearby lakeside Village of Cazenovia.

job placement. Our Equine Studies program has achieved a 100% job placement rate for more than 5 consecutive years.

What tips do you have for potential students?

Stephens in the news:

Get as much as experience as possible riding all different types of horses, as this will help students both in college riding classes as well as with Equestrian Team competition.

Kelly Hulse, assistant professor of Equestrian Studies, and her family were inducted into the International Saddlebred Hall of Fame.

Stephens alumna Hilary Wilcox just led her team to win double gold at the 2018 Saddleseat World Cup Stephens College is a pet-friendly campus and offers scholarships to students for fostering animals through a local rescue organization, in addition to a wide variety of merit scholarships.

Contact information:

Visit our website at www.cazenovia.edu Call us Toll Free: 1-800-654-3210 or 315-655-7208, or send us an email at admissions@cazenovia.edu

Name of school: Stephens College

What degree or certificate programs are offered?

Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies with three degree track options: Equine Science, Equine Business, and Teaching and Training.

What riding disciplines are available?

Hunter/Jumper, Western, Saddleseat, or Driving courses.

Are the horses owned by the school, students or others?

Lesson horses are owned by the college.

What equestrian-related extracurricular activities (clubs, teams, etc.) are available?

Stephens College is home to the oldest continuously active Equestrian Club in the country; the Prince of Wales Club.

All Stephens students who participate in riding courses are given the opportunity to show at the local and national level.

What makes this school special?

Stephens College’s small size allows students to receive individualized attention by faculty to work on specific goals and skill sets. Our program allows our students to have additional riding opportunities outside of the structured class setting which is imperative to their success in the industry. The low faculty to student ratio allows students to thrive and excel within the Equine Industry. Faculty and Staff are instrumental in securing internships and post-graduation

Other interesting information:

Contact information:

Stephens College Equestrian Studies Office of Admissions 573-876-7207 inquiry@stephens.edu

Name of school:

William Woods University What degree or certificate programs are offered?

Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science, Bachelor of Science in Equine Administration, Bachelor of Science in Equine General Studies, and an online Master of Education in Equestrian Education.

What riding disciplines are available?

Dressage, Hunter/Jumper, Saddle Seat, and Western.

Are there continuing education or non-degree options offered?

Almost all clinics, horse shows, and lecture presentations outside of class are open to the public.

Are the horses owned by the school, students or others?

The horses are all university owned, although students are welcomed to bring personal horses to class or to participate in clinics and horse shows.

What equestrian-related extracurricular activities (clubs, teams, etc.) are available?

Hunter/Jumper Club, Western Club, Saddle Seat Club, Dressage

Find your strengths and pursue your passions 18

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

Club, and Intercollegiate Judging Team.

Are there pre-qualifying criteria for students wishing to enter your program?

Regarding entrance requirements, the interested equestrian would need to make an appointment to visit campus (with Raechel Lindbloom*) and meet with the EQS Program Director, Professor Jennie Petterson. There are, of course, grade point average requirements, and Prof. Petterson could answer many questions about entrance into the program and what is specifically required.

Are scholarships available?

YES, scholarships are available. The prospective student would just need to go to https://www.williamwoods.edu/academics/ undergraduate/programs_and_degrees/ equestrian/index.html to find out more, and then contact the admissions representative: Raechel Lindbloom* at Raechel.

Lindbloom@williamwoods.edu

Christine Olsen and friend.

Photo courtesy of the author.

Avoiding Burnout with Equine Enrichment

What makes this school special?

William Woods is the home of over 150 performance horses. This includes young horses just learning the discipline, all the way to horses who have multiple championships already earned. There are horses to teach you many aspects of each discipline.

By Christine Olsen

N

o one said a lesson horse’s job is easy. Horses are individual characters and some may be more resilient and tolerant than The more you investigate what the horse others. Burnout can cause physical and mental symptoms and industry is all about, the more prepared you will be to take advantage of what an typically happens within 3–5 years. Horses that are suffering from burnequestrian education has to offer. If you’re out do not stay useful at their job and have the potential to be dangerous. interested in teaching or training, spend Providing equine enrichment can help prevent burnout (not only for your some time shadowing someone who is lesson horses, but for all your equine partners). doing that job. If you want to manage a What tips do you have for potential students?

barn or work in an equine assisted therapy setting, volunteer at a facility so that you have exposure to that field. We try to expose students to a wide variety of careers and fields in the industry, but the more you have explored before you get to school, the quicker you can begin to focus on your area of interest.

Contact information:

www.williamwoods.edu/eqs

What is equine enrichment and why is it important?

This term has increased in popularity as more horse owners are becoming concerned about the effects the environment has on their horse’s behavior. Enrichment by basic definition is the improvement of something. In the case of equine enrichment we are offering choices or freedoms to improve the quality of its environment or experience.

Horses are like any other living organism and they have basic needs. When those needs are not met they can become stressed and unwanted behaviors may appear. In extreme cases the health of the horse may also be in jeopardy. Modern time horse stabling and management is often at the convenience of the caregivers while the horse’s welfare is a second priority. Adding ➢

riding-instructor.com | Fall 2019

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American Riding Instructor Certification Program Nationally recognized certification for 35 years 2 National standards of ­excellence and integrity American Riding Instructors Association 28801 Trenton Ct., Bonita Springs, FL 34134-3337 Phone (239) 948-3232 Fax (239) 948-5053 e-mail aria@riding-instructor.com web www.riding-instructor.com

20

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

some basic equine enrichment techniques can help reduce the unwanted stereotypic behaviors and promote healthy, natural behaviors.

When making an enrichment plan it is a good idea to have goals, write down observations, and evaluate. Start small and build from there instead of starting at the big picture. Don’t be afraid to mix things up either. Make sure what you introduce to your horse is safe. New foods should be safe and in appropriate amounts. New toys should be chosen with care and not cause harm. Don’t forget adding new things to your horse in general can cause stress on its own. If what you have added is stressful to the point that the horse cannot cope, you have observed the enrichment is not suitable and it’s time to change things up.

north, building a snowman for your horse to play with can be a fun activity for both you and your horse (don’t forget the peppermint eyes and carrot nose!). Adding diversity to your horse’s environment can be fun for them but also a fun way to observe how your horse reacts. You can try hanging blocks of ice with treats inside, wind chimes, use essential oils, a radio, a scratching post and other toys to keep your horse engaged. Have you ever seen horses play on keyboards or even paint?

Last but not least, we must recognize that horses are gregarious. Having social contact is essential for healthy behavior but is sometimes difficult to achieve. Other horses are the best option, but other animals can be friends as well. For stalled horses, a mirror can even bring the horse some social enrichment.

What types of enrichment can you provide for your horse?

Take Home Lesson

Think about the needs of your horse and if those needs are satisfied. Some basic needs of all horses are food and water, a safe environment, and friends. There are some other subcategories that can come from these basic needs.

Addressing the need for food is an easy way to improve your horse’s environment.

Horses are grazing animals with a digestive system set up to eat 16-18 hours a day.

Hay nets or other slow feeders help prolong roughage delivery time. Spreading out hay in a turnout can also provide movement to mimic grazing. Providing novel treats can also enrich their environment. There are some horses with dietary restrictions so it is a good idea to talk to your vet before changing your horse’s diet.

Creative thinking can help find solutions for that horse that seems to gain weight by breathing.

Your horse’s environment must be safe, but can also be an environment for discovery and learning. Imagine the wild horse that has diverse, seemingly endless acreage to roam. Hills, barriers, water, and footing can be enriching (sand, soft stone, mulch).

In the winter months for those who live up

Any new experience can be a form of enrichment. What fun activities can you do with your horse? Remember to think about safety and to always allow the horse to back away from any new activities it might find stressful. Do things slowly and monitor your horse’s response.

Teaching equine enrichment strategies to your students is also a valuable lesson for your riders. My students have been very imaginative and I’ve found that they are the most creative in coming up with ideas (a picture of a purple pony in the stall might not be the best idea, but the kids sure had fun making one for their favorite lesson horse). This activity can provide valuable equine science and behavior education for riders of all ages while giving them a task that will make them feel like a valuable part of the team.

About the author: Christine Olsen has 15 years of experience in the industry as a rider, trainer, clinician, and instructor.

She manages a private farm in Richmond, Illinois and enjoys sharing her passion for horses with her students.

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Sponsor Spotlight

By Donna Hartshorn

EQyss Did you know that 90% of horse owners own one or more dogs, too? EQyss Grooming Products knows and loves your horses and your pets… that’s why they’ve made human grade formulas with human grade and natural ingredients for over 25 years now.

If you have a dog, or dogs, treat them to the good stuff! EQyss won the 2018 Editor’s Choice Product of the Year Award from Pet Product News for their ELITE Anti-Itch Shampoo. It’s a safe, non-toxic, all natural (and even Vegan safe) shampoo that works as well as Micro-Tek for your beloved house pets. Try some out today! www.EQyss.com

One K Helmets Did you know that One K Helmets offers two helmets for smaller riders? The Junior Helmets offer the same protection, quality and comfort as the current One K helmet range, but with smaller internal helmet diameter, a thicker padded liner, and a smaller chin strap which is 15mm shorter in length than the adult sizes.

Visit https://bit.ly/2wGyTAY to find the right helmet for your little one! #JuniorHelmet #StyleMeetsSafety Visit www.onekhelmets.com

CEECOACH The CEECOACH is the perfect companion for equestrian trainers and students, allowing them to communicate effectively and easily during lessons. There is no need to yell or wait for the riders to be near the trainer. With CEECOACH’s private wireless network, people can communicate up to 500 yards away by simply talking into their connected headset without the need of any additional hardware or mobile phone networks. The Bluetooth headset connection on the CEECOACH 2 works great for headsets, wireless speakers during clinics or direct connection to hearing devices. CEECOACH devices and accessories are available at www.ceecoach-us.com Follow @CEECOACHUSA. 22

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

Stephens College We would like to welcome Stephens College as a returning sponsor of ARIA!

Founded in 1833, Stephens College is proud to be the second-oldest women’s college in the country.

From the beginning, Stephens has developed a tradition of cutting-edge educational programs that today provide young women with classroom and experiential learning opportunities like no other institution in higher education.

The Stephens College Equestrian program prepares students to achieve their unique career goals through a Bachelor’s of Science in Equine Studies with emphasis options in equine science, equine business, and teaching and training. The College is also home to the oldest continuously active Equestrian Club in the country, the Prince of Wales Club.

Stephens College offers a pet-friendly campus and a commitment to tuition affordability.

Stephens College—Learn, Grow and Lead. Explore more at stephens.edu/academics

SSG Gloves Equestrian Lined Barn Glove Style 8100 Ideal for barn chores, it is fully fleece lined for warmth. This glove has a knit back with Nitrile palm. Hand wash in cool water and air dry.

Unisex Sizes: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Color: Black www.ssgridinggloves.com

GGT Footing We are Excited to offer you A GGT-Footing Gold and White Overstock Sale!

This is priced at $0.65 per pound. The Gold Geo Chop is dust free, will aide in moisture retention and blend nicely into any existing arena to offer additional cushion.

The white geo and fiber help to bind the material into your sand! We have many footing blends and GGT Groomers available. Our GGT-Footing sales team will prepare a personalized quote for you! Contact the GGT-Footing Sales Team today. Call 864-579-4484 or email us at ggt-footing@polysols.com GGT-Footing—Good Footing is Safe Footing.

Visit our website at www.ggtfooting.com

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Cazenovia College We would like to welcome Cazenovia College as our newest sponsor!

Wintec Wintec Stud Guard Attachment The Wintec Stud Girth Attachment is a lightweight, flexible attachment designed to convert any straight girth into a stud girth. Designed to protect the horse’s sensitive belly area when jumping, the cushioned stud girth attachment is useful for training horses to tuck, as its anatomical shape provides freedom of leg mobility and allows the horse to breathe deeply and recover quickly.

Perfect for your students who find the rear of their stud girth hangs down too low, or for those who simply prefer to use one girth for all disciplines. The two strong, triple-Velcro attachments allow riders to secure the stud girth attachment in a central location prior to tightening the girth, and the innovative clip is useful for attaching essential training equipment. Specially placed ventilation holes and the easy-care, mud-proof synthetic materials make this stud girth attachment an extremely practical addition for any jumper’s tack room. www.wintec-saddles.com

Want to advertise your service or product to riding instructors, stable owners and barn managers?

Contact ARIA’s Manager of Corporate Sponsorship and Advertising, Donna Hartshorn, at 407-927-3578 or Donna@riding-instructor.com 24

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

One of the Premier Equine Education Centers in the Northeast, Cazenovia College is a small, co-educational college, located in upstate New York, which offers a liberal arts and professional studies education with over 35 academic programs. Cazenovia’s 240-acre Equine Education Center is home to the nationally ranked Intercollegiate Equestrian Team and the IACBE accredited Equine Business Management program. Their Equestrian Team is one of the best in the region, with a long history of success at intercollegiate and rated competition in Hunter Seat, Western Horsemanship, Reining and Dressage. The team competes in IHSA and IDA sanctioned events. Cazenovia’s world-class equine facility houses over 70 horses, a large, heated indoor arena, multiple grass and sand outdoor riding areas, and turnout paddocks. www.cazenovia.edu

William Woods William Woods University Equestrian Science (WWU EQS) faculty, students, and alumni had a great showing at the Missouri State Fair during the Society Show July 31 through August 3.

It was a successful week for WWU equestrian riders who attended the local and historic show.

Due to the proximity, WWU faculty were able to attend and cheer on the competitors. In the stands, Jennifer Petterson, Laura Ward, Liz Haben, Bailey McCallum, and Michele Smith cheered on fellow WWU riders.

Sarah Track, WWU Saddle Seat instructor, along with four other horse and rider combinations, brought home three Champion, two Grand Champion, and one Reserve Grand Champion placements to name a few. The university’s American Saddlebreds received the championship titles in Park Pleasure and Five-Gaited classes.

Track, riding WWU gelding “Designed by Fancy,” captured a Champion and Grand Champion in the Park Pleasure division. WWU graduate assistant Alix Polydoros won Champion and Reserve Grand Champion in the Open Three-Gaited division on “Sir Mambo.” Additionally, Polydoros showed “Loaded Question,” and brought home both Championship and Grand Championship titles in the Open Five-Gaited division.

For more on the William Woods Equestrian program, please visit https://www.williamwoods.edu/academics/undergraduate/programs_and_degrees/ equestrian/bachelors_equestrian_science.html

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an hour a day because they are at your barn after hours, may end up being more expensive than a paid employee.

Insurance

Effective Cost Management of Your Horse Barn

By Nikki Alvin-Smith Photos courtesy of the author.

W

hen you operate a horse farm, the first thing that probably comes to mind is boosting your income. The two-way street of basic accounting means that the other side of making money is saving on expenses. Things change—what might have been a great deal or price on something two years ago may now be an expensive option, which you don’t realize because you have not kept up with the changing times.

In any event, if you take a good hard look at least once a year at exactly where your hard-earned dollars are going, then you are on the right track.

Success stems from always being on point with everything you do. If you are training a horse and he is off color you know right away that you need to look at his temperature, respiration, soundness, and analyze what is wrong. If you applied the same practice to your business you would be cantering in the right direction to profitability.

Busy horse owners often prefer spending time with horses rather than tackling mathematics or accounting, but it is important to take the time to evaluate where dollars are going and always seek to improve profits.

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Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

Let’s take a look at some key areas where you can possibly improve that bottom line.

Labor If you are paying for help around the barn, look at bartering services where you can to save money. However, if you offer a board discount or free board to someone in exchange for barn work, do the math and make sure that you are truly saving money.

A boarder with free access to bedding, hay, and supplies, or someone that rides every evening using the indoor lights on full for

Insurance should always be shopped around every year. Markets change, underwriters change, and so does the law. The loss experiences of an underwriter in any given year will directly affect the next year’s premiums for everyone. Why accept these increases, which may seem minimal but may indeed add up over time? When you see any increase always call your agent and see if it can be minimized in any way.

Minimize your exposure by providing waivers, good signage about expected behavior, and certainly about barn rules (for example, Protective headgear must be worn at all times). Follow as many safety practices as you can with your barn.

Monitor riders, address security of the tack room and other high value/high risk areas with cameras, and require absolutely everyone that comes on the property to sign a solid waiver drawn up by an experienced equine attorney.

Always follow good safety practices to avoid damage to equipment, buildings, people, and horses. A great safety record can save you money on premium prices. Follow smart safety practices for fire by cleaning cobwebs, use commercial grade fans in summer, have electric wiring in conduit to prevent rodents chewing through wires, etc.

If your business has changed significantly, always check your insurance policy to ascertain that you have the coverage you need but nothing more. For example, if you used to own 30 lesson horses and now have only 20, your policy should reflect the downsizing with a lesser premium.

Supplies One of the biggest budget items when you operate a horse barn full of beautiful equines is hay. If you provide high quality hay your horses will waste less, with the added bonus that you will have less hay to handle. Quality versus quantity is very important in minimizing expensive vet bills because of colic, saving extra labor

to clean up spoilt hay, feeding fewer supplements, and achieving better health of your horses. For example, a big round bale may seem cheaper overall, but when you take into consideration the wastage, the need for special containers, and equipment to move it around, it may not prove the most economical choice.

Correct storage of hay in addition to having plenty of storage space also affects the bottom line. You can save money if you buy well-cured hay off the wagons at time of harvest at a discount price. Store it correctly so there is no spoilage or wastage.

If you keep your supplies stocked up you won’t be chasing around for hay later and possibly need to pay higher prices if there is a market shortage.

With bedding supplies, buy in bulk as this will also save money. Tractor-trailer loads can be brought in and split between your barn and your neighboring horse owners if you cannot store it all or afford the whole trailer load. You can even make a profit by charging a bit extra per bag to other buyers as a fee for organizing and receiving the trailer on your property, to offset your own bedding costs. This is an awesome idea as the neighbors can also come in and help unload and provide some free labor.

Every year there are many new products that hit the bedding market, so check out all the options and add mats to the stalls to save on both labor and money on the amount of bedding that is used. Regular mucking out will also save you money on bedding in the long run.

For supplements, tack, and equipment remember that good tools make a job faster and more effective. Take your grooming kit, for example: old tired brushes will make your work harder and the results less spectacular. Find the right brushes for the job in the right sizes to fit your hand so that you are not wasting any time and effort. The same goes for all equipment: muck forks with tines missing waste time, tractors that aren’t well maintained gobble up more fuel.

Buy used tack and equipment where it makes sense, especially if the equipment will be slightly abused by other users.

Saddles can be picked up very cheaply second hand, as can tall boots, horse boots, and any equipment you might possibly need. Keep all your leather goods clean and well maintained. Clean tack is not just a safety issue. When you clean equipment it gives you a chance to check for loose stitching or cracked leather that might break under the stress of riding, but this effort will also ensure your tack lasts longer.

When you buy anything, from supplements to a new tractor, always shop around.

Be certain to get a Sales Tax Exemption certificate if you are a qualified horse business, and use it for all your purchases including your own riding attire and personal equipment that you need to do your job. The costs for these items can also be deducted from your end-of-year taxable income in some instances. Consult an accountant for best advice.

Accounting Smarts Consult a professional accountant who has experience in farming and/or equine business to ensure you are depreciating everything you can, from the new well for the barn to the cost of new fencing or a piece of farm equipment. In the long run, smart accounting can save you money. For example, using the accrual method versus cash method may save you taxes if operated professionally.

Utilities Another large bill can be the electric bill for those costly lights, especially if your facility is of older construction. Contact your local electric company and ask for an

in-person audit to see where you can save energy. Many energy companies will offer grants toward the purchase price of new energy-efficient lighting or even replace old energy-wasting lights in an indoor for free.

It always pays to ask.

Consider insulation for all indoor areas you need to heat, such as the tack room or office, and add automatic door-closing devices to the doors so they shut themselves. This will not only keep heat in but it will keep pesky rodents out.

Roof insulation and wall insulation costs may also be eligible to be deducted on taxes. Work you do now will save you money in the long run.

For your fuel needs such as diesel, the installation of a large tank and an annual contract with an oil company that provides a capped fee on the price per gallon can save you money over the year.

Fencing and Buildings Keep fencing and buildings well maintained. It is cheaper to have a routine maintenance program for both these items as well as all equipment so that you are not stressed over costly breakdowns or damages. Horses that escape from poorly maintained fences can cause expensive vet bills, equipment will break down just when you need it most, such as in a snowstorm. A leaky roof will cause major long-term damage to any structure. Fix it now or pay more later. Clean windows improve natural light, which equals less time spent with the lights on.

If you have space to add more fencing to provide additional pasture for your horses it is well worth the investment. Horses do very well turned out, and when they are grazing grass they are not using bedding or noshing down on hay or requiring as much labor to take care of them.

Vet Bills Spring vaccinations and check ups for your herd can be expensive. See if your vet offers spring clinics where they discount rates on teeth floating, vaccinations, and farm call fees when they do a round robin call day in your area. ➢ continued on page 29

riding-instructor.com | Fall 2019

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Introducing Goal Setting to Young Riders

By Christine Olsen

S

etting goals is an important skill to develop not only for riding aspirations, but for all aspects of life. I start teaching goal setting techniques to my young riders for them to get the most out of their weekly lessons and also to achieve greatness in the show ring. Teaching the concept of long-term planning to younger riders can be challenging, so I will share a technique I have had great success with.

I first talk to my riders about goals they can control. These goals are based on their behavior and their performance. For example, a goal focusing on behavior can be “I will come to my lesson ready to work with my horse”, and the goal “I will keep my heels down” is based on performance.

I discourage riders from setting goals such as “Winning at the horse show”.

The outcome to win is a goal that cannot be controlled and will often lead to disappointment.

There are a few other rules I set into place when students are goal setting. Goals have to be positive - no self-shaming! This means instead of writing “I will not forget my pattern” they must write, “I will remember my pattern”. The riders are then asked to start thinking about a goal for themselves. You may find some students will find this easy while others will need help identifying a goal. Spend some time with them reviewing some skills they are currently working on in their lessons.

Once each rider has identified a personal goal I use construction paper cut-outs of a star or ribbon for them to write it down. On the back they will write three action steps they will take to achieve that goal. I do this exercise with them to provide an example and when everyone is finished, we share our goals with one another. Sharing goals can make riders feel vulnerable but it is an important step of accountability. Goal setting, along with goal achieving, takes practice and time. Keep this activity as fun and light-hearted as possible.

A performance goal I often use as an example is:

Keep my right shoulder back • Do warm up exercises before getting in the saddle for my shoulder 28

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

• When mounted, do a self-awareness check every time I pass the

letter ‘C’ • Be aware of how I carry my shoulders in other activities outside

of the barn I like these pieces of paper to stay with them, maybe in their barn bag or tack box. A club room wall might be a great display area for completed goals. This is a way to show success and inspire other riders. They are encouraged to reward themselves when a goal is achieved. Rewards don’t have to be extravagant. A victory lap, round of applause, a barn chant, a special privilege at the barn… be creative with what motivates your students. Prepare them to set another goal.

I do this exercise for my adults as well but without the fun shapes.

They might keep their note card at the desk at work, a table at home, a post-it card in the tack trunk, or a memo on their phone - anywhere they will see it.

Teaching riders how to set goals is not only a valuable lesson to improve their equitation and general horsemanship, but it is also a valuable tool in all aspects of life. Try this exercise with your students and have fun doing it with them. I have enjoyed watching riders participate in their lessons more actively with a goal in mind. Additionally the clear action steps help them focus on achieving their goal. As I am writing this, I am thinking of a goal I can set today.

I will be prepared for today’s lessons • I will review my notes from last

week • I will check for any messages on changes to the schedule • Any additional tack or equipment needed will be set out ahead of

time

Stress-free grocery shopping • Write a list • Check for any coupons I’ve kept • Go during off-peak hours

Have fun helping your riders (and yourself) create good habits that will stay with them in and out of the saddle.

About the author: Christine Olsen has 15 years of experience in the industry as a rider, trainer, clinician, and instructor. She manages a private farm in Richmond, Illinois and enjoys sharing her passion for horses with her students.

Cribbing and Ulcers: Is there a Correlation?

➢ continued from page 27

Ask. Ask. Ask. Ask industry colleagues for recommendations for vendors for all your needs. When you network with other horse owners you can gain much information about the best sources for products, the best deals, and garner much useful knowledge from their input.

Keep Accurate Business Records

D

“

on’t let him near my horse,” is a common response one might get if they say their horse is a cribber. Why? Because it is a common thought in the industry that the act of cribbing is a learned behavior. Is this correct? Maybe, but there could be a physiological reason behind the act that may make more sense.

What if there is a correlation between cribbing and gastric ulcers? Studies show there could be. One conducted at the University of Bristol tested 19 young horses that had begun developing cribbing tendencies alongside 16 non-cribbing horses for 14 weeks and then gathered their results.

Those that were cribbers showed significantly lower—or more acidic—fecal pH levels than the non-cribbers. This means the cribbers’ stomachs were more acidic, making it more plausible for them to be suffering from gastric inflammation (Nichol et al., 2002).

Although the direct cause of gastric ulcers remains unclear to veterinarians and industry professionals, it is often thought to have something to do with the acid in the stomach. Cribbing, or the act of using objects such as a fence or bucket to suck in air, works to inflate the stomach. By expanding the stomach, the horse creates more room inside and simultaneously shifts possible lesions up and away from the acid residing inside the stomach.

Smart, right?

If your horse is a cribber, ask yourself: does he or she also show signs of gastric ulcers? Some symptoms include:

• Negative behavior • Unthrifty appearance • Decreased appetite • Decreased performance • Girthiness/cinchiness or sensitivity to

the flank • General discomfort

If these signs sound familiar, consider making an adjustment to your horse’s diet to win the game against digestive upset (and maybe even cribbing). Implementing a daily gastric health supplement such as Vitalize® Alimend®, with ingredients that have been proven in clinical trials, will help repair, maintain and soothe the stomach lining of the horse by coating it in a mucoadhesive manner.

It is also important to note that even though acid is thought to have something to do with the creation of ulcers, it is not a bad thing. In fact, acid is necessary for digestion and without it, there is a higher risk for colic or digestive upset. This is why Vitalize Alimend does not disrupt the secretion of stomach acid, and instead works with the stomach to prevent and soothe gastric problems. With Alimend, your horse will not have an “acid rebound” like many other products create, but instead your horse will maintain a steady good gut feeling. Learn more about our full line of natural, gut health supplements at www.VitalizeEq.com

Although you may prefer to be outside working with horses rather than inside with a computer screen for company, it is necessary to keep accurate business records. Not just because the government requires them, but because when you use an accounting program and carefully upload all your checks written, reconcile bank statements, and record cash payments you will have a quick and easy expense report at your fingertips. Always require and keep a receipt for every purchase. Accounting programs even have an option for you to put an item under “ask my accountant” so you can simply send your end-of-year accounts directly to your tax advisor to review.

Due Diligence Saves Money Horse barn owners are always busy people, often operating in survival mode, especially in hard winters. The long winter nights and end of year tax time provide the perfect opportunity to check your budget and improve your bottom line. Take a diligent and honest look at every outgoing expense of your business.

You will be surprised where you can save real hard dollars and build your bottom line.

About the author: Nikki Alvin-Smith is an international Grand Prix dressage trainer/clinician who has competed in Europe at the Grand Prix level earning scores of over 72%.

Together with her husband Paul, who is also a Grand Prix rider, they operate a private horse breeding/ training farm in Stamford, NY.

riding-instructor.com | Fall 2019

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Legal focus

New Cases Show Strength of State Equine Activity Liability Laws

By Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law

Currently, all states except for California and Maryland have some form of an equine activity liability act (“EALA”). Since the first EALA was enacted thirty years ago, courts have evaluated numerous cases involving these laws. In two recent cases, lawsuits that had been brought by people injured in horse-related activities were dismissed.

Maine Case In July 2019, Maine’s Supreme Court in the case of The case of McCandless v.

Ramsey, Maine Supreme Judicial Court (July 11, 2019), dismissed a case based on Maine’s Equine Activity Liability Act. The case involved a plaintiff who was standing within an indoor arena. In the arena at the time was a horse ridden by the defendant’s 10 year-old daughter. This horse passed plaintiff three times, but during the horse’s fourth pass, it apparently came too close and struck the plaintiff, causing injuries.

Directly at issue was Maine’s EALA, which provides protection from liability (subject to possible exceptions) if a person was “engaged in an equine activity,” qualifies as a “participant or spectator,” and was injured from “the inherent risks of equine activities.” The plaintiff considered herself to be a “spectator” at the time (a designation with which the court disagreed), and argued that issues existed as to whether her injuries resulted from “inherent risks of equine activities”; in addition, her case raised exceptions of (1) “reckless misconduct” by the defendants’ daughter, and (2) plaintiff being in an area where horses would not be expected or a protected area for spectators.

Affirming dismissal of the case, the court found that the horse’s unanticipated resistance to the rider’s directions was “part and parcel of the ‘propensity of an equine to behave in ways that may result in … injury,” which was part of the definition of 30

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

an “inherent risk of equine activity.” The court went on to state that plaintiff’s interpretation of the statute “would thwart the entire purpose of the law to curtail liability for injuries arising from risks that are ‘impracticable or impossible to eliminate due to the nature of equines.” It found insufficient evidence of reckless misconduct on the rider’s part because the rider was unable to steer the horse to avoid a collision. As to the second EALA exception at issue, the court found no liability because the incident occurred in an indoor arena where equine activities were occurring.

Finally, the court did not consider plaintiff to be a “spectator” under the law because the incident occurred in an area where people were riding horses, as opposed to an observation area.

Wisconsin Case A September 2018 Wisconsin case, Dilley v.

Holiday Acres Properties, Inc., 905 F.3d 508 (7th Cir. 2018), consolidated two equine liability cases. In one of them, Brown v.

Country View Equestrian Center, Inc., the plaintiff was taking a riding lesson on her own horse when the instructor allegedly allowed a “high-spirited” horse to enter the arena. That horse allegedly collided with plaintiff’s horse, and she was injured.

Her lawsuit raised the Wisconsin EALA exception of “providing a horse and failing to make reasonable and prudent efforts,” but the court found it inapplicable because

the plaintiff was riding her own horse at the time. The plaintiff also argued that the defendant instructor “exercised control over the lesson and plaintiff’s behavior with respect to her horse,” but the court disagreed and noted that the instructor never made the horse “available” for her use.

The Dilley opinion also evaluated a second case. There, during a guided trail ride, the horse the plaintiff rode tried to pass the trail guide’s horse, which kicked at plaintiff’s horse, causing injuries. Her lawsuit argued that the defendant’s trail operator failed to adjust her stirrups or provide her with a helmet; also, she allegedly told the trail guide that she lost control of the reins to which the guide allegedly responded: “Don’t worry; this horse knows where it wants [to] go.” The court found that plaintiff’s claims resulted from an “inherent risk of equine activities” under Wisconsin’s EALA. Also, the court found evidence of the defendant’s “reasonable” assessment of the plaintiff’s ability to ride a horse and safely manage the particular horse assigned, but it found no evidence of faulty tack or equipment or willful or wanton disregard of her safety.

Dismissal, the court ruled, was proper under Wisconsin’s EALA.

Conclusion Please keep in mind that all of the 48 EALAs differ. Whether or not a case succeeds depends on the law and each case’s facts. Read each law carefully in the states where you live and do business and seek advice from knowledgeable legal counsel.

This article does not constitute legal advice. When questions arise based on specific situations, direct them to a knowledgeable attorney.

About the Author Julie Fershtman is one of the nation’s most experienced Equine Law practitioners. A lawyer for 32 years, she is a Shareholder with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, in Michigan. She has successfully litigated equine cases in 18 jurisdictions nationwide and has tried equine cases in 4 states. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and is the recipient of the American Bar Association’s “Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award.” Her speaking engagements span 29 states. For more information, please visit www.equinelaw.net

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riding-instructor.com | Fall 2019

31

Business matters

Great Instructors Are Great Students —Here’s Why

By Doug Emerson, The Profitable Horseman

Y

our financial success as a riding instructor is directly related to your teaching effectiveness. Students come back for repeat lessons and refer new students to you because they enjoy learning with you and get measurable benefits. Riding lessons are a choice, not a requirement.

As you keep students engaged, encour- mentally exhausting, competition became aged and achieving progress, your busi- highly rewarding.

I attribute the success of the team to ness grows. Think back about your favorite the coach, Dr. Gordon Jones. He did three school teachers and riding instructors. They taught you in a way that was challenging things the best coaches do well: 1. He was a polished teachand at the same time they made learning fun. After the er and speaker. Instead of class or lesson was over, you an easy answer of “because” wanted more.

If a student was he offered a bushel basket Thinking back to my colfull of “whys” one animal lege days as an agri-business was superior to another in putting in full student, I did well enough in a variety of ways for better a livestock evaluation class understanding. He engaged effort to learn, to be asked by the professtudent concentration and sor to join the intercollegiate focus with his dynamic he put in full livestock judging team. We teaching style. judged cattle, sheep and 2. He never got angry. If a effort to teach. hogs, but unfortunately, team member “busted” the horses were not included. placing order in a class, he The team travelled all over methodically reviewed the the U.S. competing with strengths and weaknesses of other schools in placing classes of livestock each animal and explained the reasoning and then giving oral reasons to a judge as for the correct placing of the class. He to why we placed the individual animals in understood all students have an occathe class in the order we did. sional train wreck to laugh about later.

Initially, we practiced for hours at a time If a student was putting in full effort to with classes on the school farm. Much like learn, he put in full effort to teach. learning to ride, it took full concentra- 3. He had a sense of humor. He would crack tion and offered a good dose of frustraa joke whenever comic relief was needtion. Eventually, the team became skilled ed to break tension. Sarcasm and negaand proficient and we scored well in our tive commentary were never offered. As competitions. Though at times judging was he sensed a student’s frustration was

“ ”

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building or focus was dwindling, he knew how to tell a funny one-liner or relate a quick story. He understood learning did not have to be entirely drilling and drudgery. A smile got better results than a drill sergeant’s scowl.

Granted, you’re not a livestock judge and most likely don’t want to be, but the above story makes good points about the styles and natures of all the best instructors. Yes, adequate technical knowledge is the foundation of all good instructors but knowing it is not enough. Delivery of the knowledge is equally important to the student.

When you recall learning from your favorite teachers, most likely they used the same approach as the three points in the story above.

In this back to school season, you may want to consider strengthening your skill set by doing the following: • Become a polished speaker as you teach.

Teaching is predominantly talking and no doubt you’ve had the ability to talk for a number of years, starting in childhood. But, speaking with a developed “way with words” is a skill that requires study and practice. Have you ever noticed how some people excel at getting a message conveyed and understood with just the right amount of words and no more?

Toastmasters International is a global

organization with local clubs everywhere for you to hone your speaking skill in a friendly and supportive environment.

I’ve seen fantastic results for improved speaking by Toastmaster club members.

The Dale Carnegie Training organization also offers courses in public speaking which have helped people for decades become skilled at holding the attention of listeners.

Night classes are available everywhere for

public speaking.

• Audit a clinic or an admired instructor’s

lessons, for the sole purpose of picking up alternate teaching styles that could work for you. Take note and take home different phrases, speech tempos and body language you can experiment with as

Business matters

you teach. Repetition is a fundamental of teaching horses and humans and being able to say the same message three ways with different wording will help you become a highly sought after instructor.

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• Record one of your lessons to review later.

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• Collect and use anecdotal short stories

about things that happened to you or others that will break tension and draw a smile. When you think about it, funny things happen all day long.

• Be aware of your building anger or frus-

tration during a lesson where things are not going well. Anger is always detrimental when training horses and humans.

Develop techniques to shake off anger when it appears.

Staying fresh and sharp is a challenge for all professionals. Your teaching methods will remain stagnant in the realm of your comfort zone unless you push yourself to look for and implement new and better ways of teaching. As you improve at instructing, your students improve at learning. That will bring a smile to everyone’s face. Why not start today?

About the author: Doug Emerson, the Profitable Horseman, consults, writes and speaks about the business half of the horse business. He enjoys working with small groups of professional horsemen and women in one day workshops to help them organize their business for profit and less stress. Find out more at www.

ProfitableHorseman.com

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Application for ARIA Membership Name American Riding Instructors Association 28801 Trenton Ct., Bonita Springs, FL 34134-3337 Phone (239) 948-3232 • Fax (239) 948-5053 e-mail aria@riding-instructor.com www.riding-instructor.com Membership Benefits • Riding Instructor magazine • Monthly ARIA E-News • Insurance Discounts!

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33

Cameo’s cauldron

… in which Cameo Miller stirs her thoughts and ideas to see what rises to the top.

Common Sense

By Cameo Miller Illustration by Bethany Caskey

I

t seems to me that common sense is a rarity these days—maybe one of those things old folks talk about that they used to see in their grandparents.

Now things are handled differently. Laws get written to cover things that should be common sense. Do you know that it’s illegal to tie your alligator to a parking meter in Detroit? Can’t you just see how that happened? Hey Jake, you can’t tie that there!

Jake: there’s no law against it is there? Then there are all the “CYA” (cover your a**) laws that go ridiculously overboard in their detail about what is no longer allowed, or in stating that you can’t sue them for any reason whatsoever.

Recently, people have risen up against abuses that have been going on for many years (sometimes hundreds of years); have shouted that enough is enough, and have held perpetrators accountable. Even more, those who should have been overseeing these perpetrators and stopping them, but 34

Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor

who did not, are also being held accountable. E.g., Catholic priests, the Larry Nassar scandal, school shootings and gun laws, polluted water supplies everywhere, the Me-Too movement.

Over the years I have seen and heard more than my share of abuse incidents of all sorts.

So very many of these have been passed off for any number of reasons that had nothing to do with the issue at hand and everything to do with maintaining the status quo, not “rocking the boat”, “that’s the way it’s always been”, “just get over it” or “ignore it” with no recognition of what common sense would dictate as right and fair.

I have heard from a couple of people who are upset about the new USEF policy about Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention (MAAP) https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/ usef-minor-athlete-abuse-prevention-maap and https://www.usef.org/compete/resourcesforms/rules-regulations/safe-sport. Not because they don’t want to see minors protected, or see minor abuse stopped, but because they recognize the distance this creates between truly caring adults and their minor charges. The instructor who rests a reassuring arm across the shoulders of a nervous rider, or who gives a big hug in joy for a special accomplishment, or in comfort for not doing as well as hoped—without getting written approval for this in advance from the parent.

I also thinks it’s important for us to recognize that there are differences of opinion as to what is “acceptable behavior”. We have a plethora of churches and religions because people have different beliefs. Are skirts above the knee beautiful and freeing or revealing? Are men who wear a tank top in public “relaxed” or “slovenly”? Differences give everyone space to be an individual— their own person.

Citizens of several countries are not happy with the policies of their leaders. The medical system in the US is very broken (although there are still many good people trying to help others). This list could go on for pages and still not include the things that you think are broken or in need of remedying. It should not be that everyone

has to believe and act the same way. It should not be about trying to protect the guilty or those who looked the other way for years while abuses were happening— they should be held accountable. It needs to be about that accountability rather than about trying to codify behavior that should be common sense, or writing laws or making policies that have a debilitating effect on honest behavior. I applaud all who make any effort, large or small, to stop abuse in any of its forms, but an over-reaction is just as bad as no action at all. It doesn’t protect those who are truly in harm’s way and it leaves open the possibility of false accusations. If it’s a “CYA” solution, it does not address the proper problems. Fighting over details instead of using common sense ignores what is truly important.

This article is also not about the USEF policy, although reaction to it is what initiated it. There are many issues which have gone on for a very long time without common sense solutions to remedy the problem. But if there are things in the new policy that concern you, write them a letter which hopefully would contain your own common sense revisions to make it better. Help them to make the policy effective without limiting caring behaviors of adults towards minors. Children need to see and experience how to be good, caring adults.

Maybe what “the best” solution is—is an opinion, a value judgment. But maybe, if the right people come together, a common sense solution that works well for everyone can be found. If there are environmental organizations who can find solutions that involve big business, and actually increase business, while protecting the environment, then there should be ways to resolve other major problems just as inclusively. We desperately need middle of the road people with a ton of common sense right now.

About the author: Cameo Miller is a Masters-level clinical psychologist and a Level IV ARIA Certified Instructor based in Michigan. She is a member of the ARIA Evaluation Panel and National Riding Instructors Convention Staff.

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Fall 2019 | Riding Instructor