arabian horse MODERN
The Official Voice of the Arabian Horse Industry
ISSUE #1 / 2016
Issue #1 / 2016
arabian horse MODERN
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EDITORIAL
Lady Gaga’s White Pony Dream Come True By Jim Lowe Just a week before this past Christmas, Jim Lowe got a call from a very good friend looking for a “white pony” that needed to be delivered on December 25th. The white pony was a Christmas present for six-time Grammy Award winning artist and Golden Globe winning actress Lady Gaga.
36 Breeders Roundtable: Choose the Right Stallion for Your Mare
Like a conversation with a good mentor, this Q&A features breeders that have all produced multiple national champions. Perhaps the reader can glean insight into producing his or her own dream foal.
44 Mistress of Saddle Seat Gayle Lampe
By Mary Kirkman Gayle Lampe is a household name among American Saddlebred aficionados and has been an integral part of William Woods University’s Equestrian Science Program for more than four decades. She’s judged Arabian Youth Nationals five times (“my favorite show to judge”), including the first one in 1993.
48 AHA Annual Convention: Hear New Ideas, Get a Fresh Perspective By Susan Bavaria The AHA Annual Convention represents a gathering of diverse, sometimes like-minded, often opinionated individuals, and some of the most important decisions in AHA history have been made by AHA delegates.
56 Horsemanship: Simple Exercise Enhances Finesse
By Jessica Cole Ever notice that doing the same thing over and over with a horse, even if it’s basically a good thing, is a recipe for boredom, stagnation, and mediocrity of performance? My favorite training mentor, Ray LaCroix, calls it “getting stuck in sameness.” Repetition is great, but only to a point!
Susan Bavaria. . . . . . . . . . x 581 Editor@ArabianHorses.org Design & Publication Blair Bennink. . . . . . . . . . . . x 582 Manager blair.bennink@ArabianHorses.org Design & Publication Dan Schwab Consultant dan.schwab@ArabianHorses.org Graphic Designers Liz Bilotta. . . . . . . . . . . . x 517 elizabeth.bilotta@ArabianHorses.org Jaime Johnson jaime.johnson@ArabianHorses.org Contributors Jim Lowe, Mary Kirkman, Jessica Cole, Merri Melde Natalee Defee Mendik, Katie Navarra, Molly Benstein, LA Pomeroy To reach an individual, dial (303) 696-4(extension)
SALES arketing Supervisor Eri Hook M & Sales Coordinator (303) 696-4553 direct eri.hook@ArabianHorses.org General & Marge Dixon Commercial Ads (303) 597-8684 cell (815) 440-4035 marge.dixon@ArabianHorses.org General & Lee Courtney Commercial Ads (480) 296-5922 cell lee.courtney@ArabianHorses.org Commercial Ads Jane Young (303) 570-5886 jane.young@ArabianHorses.org Advertising Sales Jenn Trickey Consultant (805) 331-5946 Jenn@arabianhorseglobal.com Subscriptions
For subscription information or an address change, please call (303) 696-4500
60 Countdown to Spring: 10 Tips to Bust Barn Clutter
By Natalee Defee Mendik and Katie Navarra A good way to avoid feeling daunted by clutter-busting is to tackle each task separately, and a step-by-step approach keeps the spring-cleaning manageable. An organized stable is a safe and efficient haven, and inspiration is just a click away on Pinterest.
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EQUUS Film Festival NYC 2015 Proves Force of the Horse Still Strong By Molly A. Benstein & LA Pomeroy Now in its third year, and second consecutive time in New York City, the film festival herded thousands of like-minded creatives and horse lovers from around the world to more than 150 screenings, and Horsefly’s two films put Polish Arabians center stage.
USEF Equestrians of Honor The Arabian horse community is proud that three of its best horsemen were nominated to this illustrious honor: working western trainer Mike Damianos, second-generation professional equestrian Martha Rattner and endurance rider Cheryl Van Deusen.
DEPARTMENTS
BUY & SELL
16 20 24 26 74 76
12 Corporate Partners 82 Marketplace 83 Advertisers Index
4
President’s Letter EVP Letter Ask the Vet AHYA AHA News AHA Listings
Managing Editor
ASSOCIATION Executive Executive Vice President
Glenn Petty. . . . . . . . . . . x 551
Marketing Director of Marketing Julian McPeak . . Marketing Specialist Dana Bechtel . . . Marketing Specialist Mikayla Boge. . . Marketing & Ad Sales Uriah Quezada. . Programs Coordinator Youth & Family
Programs Coordinator
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brenna Whitlock . . . . . . . . x 505
Customer Service Registrar Debbie Fuentes. . . . . . . . . Competitions Senior Director, Leslie Lockard. . . . . . . . . . Competitions National Events Director of National Events Kelsey Berglund . . . . . . . . U.S. Nationals/ Canadian Nationals Sport Horse/ Susan Laessig. . . . . . . . . . Youth Nationals Coord. National Ride Coord. Paige Lockard. . . . . . . . . . . Judges & Stewards Commissioner R. Stanton Morey . . . . . . . Administrative Assistant Pat Thompson. . . . . . . . . .
x 580 x 584 x 569 x 559 .
x 518 x 521 x 541 x 588 x 509 x 538 x 539
On the cover: Amani Al Shahania (Ever After NA x Psyches Amber Dream) bred by Lisa Markley, is a full sister to multiple national champion Pitonisa AS, also bred by Markley. Photo by Cat Mckenna.
MODERN arabian horse • Issue 1 / 2016
For expanded coverage of Recognition Spotlight, Board Minutes, Event Calendar, etc., please visit our web site at ArabianHorses.org
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Renewed Enthusiasm for 2016
Outreach Helps Arabian Horse Sell Itself Happy New Year Everyone! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to 2016. We had a good convention in the second year of Connect, Collaborate and Create — our 3-year strategy to move AHA forward to being the best it can be for all of us. The delegates came to Tulsa with a great attitude to get their work accomplished and share some quality time with their Arabian horse friends. I’d like to again congratulate Stan Morey and Cecile Hetzel-Dunn on their President’s Awards. We have so many wonderful people in the Arabian industry that it is a pleasure to be able to recognize two outstanding individuals each year. Convention will be returning to the newly renovated Denver Tech Marriott Center for Nov. 16-19, 2016. Please plan to join us whether or not you are a delegate. With Connect, Collaborate and Create, we, TEAM AHA (officers, BOD members, staff and many volunteers) have been busy. In 2014, we started with the Connect through our clubs, regions and friends to build a family of those dedicated to sharing the joys of the Arabian horse. During 2015, we expanded that to create a number of initiatives to build a stronger industry and a higher demand for our horses. Many of you stepped up to host an outreach project in your local area. May will once again be Arabian Horse month and we need your help for outreach again this year. A strong belief is that people need to have the Arabian horse experience. In other words, if someone has the opportunity to touch and feel a horse, then they will want one. We are known for the most beautiful horse in the world, but we have added to that image to include the horse that wants to spend time with humans while being incredibly athletic and versatile. In our past owner surveys, it is noted that a high percentage of our owners started with another breed. So they were already “horsemen” yet wanted something different from the experience. This is often where our 6
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horse’s personality comes into the picture. Our horses were bred for centuries by nomadic tribes that needed a horse that wanted to be part of the “family.” Use this to your advantage when marketing. Point out to the new person how your horses come to you from the pasture (or mob you when you walk the pastures), whinny when you come into the barn and just generally enjoy your touch and feel. If they have tried out other breeds, this will be a huge selling point for them. For the individual who wants a companion, the Arabian horse fits that bill. Speaking of marketing your horses, explain to new folks that our horses are different because they are playful. Yes, we love to let them snort and blow, but to someone that comes from a stock breed that seems to be like attempting to tame the dragon. Sure, let the horses play, but be sure to demonstrate how they come back to the gentle caring animal. Also talk about their intelligence and work ethic. Arabians like to learn and really do try to please their trainers. Combine that with a never-ending amount of energy and you have the Arabian horse. Take pride in the fact they aren’t happy locked in a stall 24/7, but instead want to get out to work, play and just enjoy life with their new owners. Sweepstakes has changed over the last couple of years. You might want to take a look. They have redefined themselves to appeal to not only breeders of young horses but also expand the marketability of the mature, amateur horse. They have increased the percentage that is paid back to the breeder. They will be offering Jackpot classes at U.S. Nationals this year in Adult Amateur Owner Western Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure and Country English Pleasure. Look for those rules on the website or in the new 2016 Omnibus. I hope you nominated your in utero foals as that is the only way for the horse to get into the Sweepstakes program. Look forward to seeing you and your new foals. Best wishes for a successful 2016. Regards,
Cynthia M. Richardson AHA President, cynthia.richardson@arabianhorses.org
Arabian Horse Association
CORPORATE PARTNERS AHA Corporate Partners support expanded opportunities for all who participate in Arabian horse activities. AHA would like to thank our 2015 Corporate Partners. By purchasing products and services provided by these companies you are supporting the horse you love—the Arabian!
www.marriott.com
www.Adequan.com
www.thehatlady.com
www.markelcorp.com
www.ziagraphics.com
Corporate Sponsors www.allthingsequine.com
www.bennettfinejewelry.com
www.farmvet.com
www.showseason.com
www.deverinc.com
www.friersonssuits.com
www.visittulsa.com
www.arabianhorseglobal.com
www.montanasilversmiths.com
www.arabianresults.com
Affinity Partners
http://www.arabianhorses.org/home/partners/affinityindex.asp For more information, please contact: Arabian Horse Association • 10805 East Bethany Drive Aurora, CO 80014 • 303.696.4500 • 303.696.4599 fax ArabianHorses.org • info@ArabianHorses.org
ASK THE VET
Reproduction DR. SEMIRA MANCILL, WEATHERFORD, TEXAS COURTESY OF AAEP
Is it true you can breed (or inseminate) a small mare to a much bigger stallion? Some say it is dangerous and others say the size of the mare’s uterus will limit the size of the foal to a safe delivery size. If there is a limit in difference of size what is that limit? There was a very interesting study done by Dr. Ginther years back where he put “large” mare embryos into pony mares and vice versa. There was not any appreciable amount of problems with those mares foaling on either side. They then followed the foals out to their 3-year-old years and measured bone sizes, wither height, etc. There were some small changes, but the author felt that they were insignificant in the grand scheme. There are not any “rules” per say on sizes or limits. I would say that common sense would prevail in choices of mare size (probably wouldn’t put a draft embryo in a mini!) but it shouldn’t be a major problem as long as they are standard sized mares. I have bred many standard Quarter Horse sized mares to Friesian studs and not had issues with those foals.
My pastures tested 5-percent endophyte. Is it necessary to remove my mare that is due March 23rd from the pastures completely? And if so, when? I’m concerned the stress of confinement would affect her. To be absolutely safe, mares grazing on endophyte fescue should be removed 45 to 90 days before estimated foaling. Fescue toxicosis in pregnant mares can cause a variety of problems, including prolonged gestation, “red-bag” or premature separation of the chorioallantois, agalactia or reduced milk production with possiblity of decreased amounts of colostrum (critical to the foal’s immunity in those first few months after birth), thickened placenta, retained placenta, among others. If your mare has a friend out in the pasture that could be a buddy in the stall next door, this may reduce her anxiety levels. 8
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Is there an age limit for a mare to be fertile? I have a mare that I am unfamiliar with her history. I am also uncertain that she has had a cycle in the last 4 months. She is eleven years old. There is no set age limit in mares as some mares can be fertile into their twenties. Your mare is not old, by fertility standards. They go into a “quiet” time for fertility, called anestrus, in the winter, when they don’t cycle at all. Then, in the spring as the days begin to get longer, they will transition into cyclicity once again. So, your mare is likely right on track as horses are “long day breeders.” A simple palpation/ ultrasound by your veterinarian can tell you where your mare is in her cyclicity.
Will Equi-Max dewormer be safe for my breeding stallion? On the back we noticed a “Not recommended for breeding Stallions”.... But I want to rotate my dewormers as to be thorough with my parasite program, especially with the weather warming up again. Can you tell me if this product is truly unsafe to use on a breeding stallion or a colt intended for breeding? I have a box of EquiMax by Bimeda here and the label reads “Stallions and breeding, pregnant or lactation mares may be treated without adverse effects on fertility.” So, you should be fine to deworm with this product in your breeding stallion. To be safe with any product, I recommend to always follow the label’s directions.
Lady Gaga’s
WhitePony”
Dream Come
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BY JIM LOWE
True
iving just outside of Los Angeles for the past 13 years has brought some unusual situations into my life. It’s a lifestyle with a diverse blend of people that is much different than what I was accustomed to growing up in Michigan. Some of the people who have come through my barn have been Hollywood movie producers, actors and actresses, reality show and commercial producers, musicians, professional athletes and big corporate brand owners. My ranch was once owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor and a neighboring property is the old Binglin Stable — once owned by Bing Crosby and Lindsay Howard and the home of Seabiscuit — so perhaps acquiring this farm with its Hollywood connections was a foreshadowing of things to come. Just a week before this past Christmas, I got a call from a very good friend of mine. She has been a treasured friend for over 30 years so when she calls and asks for help, I’m happy to oblige. She is a “top dog” at one of the major record labels and also a “horse girl” which is how we came to know one another decades ago. She and her husband have bred and shown many notable champions in the Arabian and HalfArabian industry. Her call was somewhat typical. She was looking for a “white pony” and needed it delivered on December 22nd which gave me five days to find, buy and deliver. But there was something a little more notable to this request that I was not able to disclose — the white pony was a Christmas present for the six-time Grammy Award winning artist and Golden Globe winning actress Lady Gaga. The request came to my friend through Lady Gaga’s management team. Gaga had expressed her desire for a “white pony” and they set out to make this Christmas the most memorable and impressive one ever. But for the corporate executives at her record label, the challenge in finding a pony was equally impressive as most of them were not fluent in anything equine. They browsed through Craig’s List (yes, I cringed) and found a few options, but they had no guidelines for finding a suitable match for the megastar. It was at the corporate Christmas party that a team executive remembered that my friend had horse connections and asked her for some help. She then called me and, never being shy of a challenge, I was ready to work on “Operation: White Pony.”
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Jim Lowe and his daughter Venzia on the “white pony” Bailey Ann
I wrote a simple request on Facebook asking if anyone had a white pony that I could buy and needed delivered before Christmas. I got several leads and with great luck, a long-time client of mine, Deanna Scanlan, from the Bay Area, had a “white pony” she was using in her lesson program. Bailey Ann (Tif-Ef Kings Ransom x Amberabba) is a 16-year-old Half-Arabian mare and one of the prettiest and smallest Half-Arabians I’ve ever seen. She looks like a small and refined purebred Arabian and would certainly pass the white pony test. I sent a photo to my friend, worked out the sale specifics and had her on the trailer heading for Somis the night before her special delivery. Also the night before, my wife Shawn was working with Gaga’s assistants on getting all of the details organized to make for a paramount presentation. A new red halter and lead, a big red bow with a large card attached and a red bucket with grooming supplies. This was going to be Gaga’s first horse, so we felt we should get her a few basic essentials before just showing up and handing her a horse. I also felt that this project served a bigger purpose than just being a Christmas present for a celebrity. The morning of delivery day, I saddled up Bailey Ann 12
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and put my six-year-old daughter Venzia on her just to make sure she wasn’t going to do anything silly. Venzia was glowing, smiling from ear to ear and sitting up proud in the saddle as I led her around our property. Bailey Ann was the perfect size for her and I could see a confidence in Venzia that I hadn’t seen before. I have to confess, I wished I was giving the horse to my daughter. We untacked Bailey Ann, loaded her in the trailer and headed for Malibu. When we arrived outside of the gates of Gaga’s ocean-front property, we connected with her staff and made our final delivery plan. My eight-year-old daughter Arista hand walked the horse just steps away from her front door and was accompanied by Shawn and my 11-year-old son Slayde. I’m pretty sure when she opened the door, she thought she was being punked. There stood a little girl and a white pony adorned in red details. When Gaga read the note attached to the ribbon, it finally hit her that “Santa” had arrived with a very special gift. The surprise, excitement and delight on her face was just like that of an entranced young child’s, even though she’s a 29 year old super-star. She spent the rest of the day riding bareback and barefoot. News of her Christmas gift hit the world the next day after she posted a few images on social media. There was an internet explosion of questions and comments, likes, shares, tweets, and it was at that moment that I felt I had contributed to something bigger than just finding and delivering a horse. Over the past 20 years, we (as a horse community) have seen a decline of the “white pony dream.” It has been replaced by the younger generations’ desire for phones, tablets, video games, computers — anything to keep them sitting on the couch. They now use electronics and social media to feel connected to others while those of us from the older generations made our connections and friendships through the horse community. When I was growing up, I was mesmerized by the book Black Beauty and the TV shows with Roy Rogers and Trigger and Zorro and his horse Tornado. These figures helped to keep the white pony dream alive because they played a big part in developing my attraction to horses and my hunger to ride. But horse figures haven’t been seen
much since The Black Stallion in 1979. The movies Seabiscuit and Secretariat were extraordinary stories and loved by viewers, but they didn’t have the same allure because the racing industry rarely escalates children’s desire to ride. With Lady Gaga’s new love interest and her social platforms that reach millions of people, I’m now hopeful that we might see a resurgence of the white pony dream. Those of us who are living it understand the mental, physical and emotional benefits of horses and I hope, with the debut of a little 16-year-old Half-Arabian mare now owned and loved by a highly influential celebrity, we will see a reignited passion for horses. This was not only good for the Arabian and Half-Arabian industry but for the horse community as a whole. And if anything can start a movement to get people thinking about horses and the great outdoors again, it is, perhaps, our unusual situations with acquaintances in Hollywood. Jim Lowe is a professional horse trainer and owner of Lowe Show Horse Centre and the Lowe Riders Riding Academy located in Somis, California. www.loweshowhorsecentre.com, www.loweridersacademy.com Issue 1 / 2016 • MODERN arabian horse
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Countdown to Spring:
TIPS 10 to Bust Barn Clutter Keep white-board messages current so everyone checks in often.
A tack cleaning hook in a convenient spot makes daily bridle care a breeze.
T
he New Year is here and spring’s right around the corner — it’s the time for ‘out with the old, in with the new.’ Make no mistake: getting organized can be quite satisfying. Now that your horses are ditching their blankets and shedding out their winter coats, it’s time to give your barn a spring make over, too. An organized stable is a safe and efficient haven. A good way to avoid feeling daunted by clutter-busting is to tackle each task separately; a step-by-step approach keeps the spring-cleaning manageable. Once you’re organized, you can look at the big picture — and enjoy the results! So what are you waiting for? Turn those horses out, roll up your sleeves and get to work. Follow our ten easy tips for streamlining your stable: 16
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TIP 1: TOSS IT! Tough love is the name of the game when it comes to getting the barn in order: toss out accumulated junk like worn-out tack, expired medications, empty fly-spray bottles, old towels, and broken equipment. Don’t be afraid to let go of items you won’t use anymore. Yes, that includes your enormous stockpile of baling twine (there will always be more). Not sure you’ll ever fit into extra-small chaps again? Pass them on to a teenager at the barn. She’ll be glad and you’ll have less stuff to manage.
BY NATALIE DEFEE MENDIK A stall-door card with instructions and contact information, along with a photo of the horse, keeps confusion at bay.
Stall doors are kept tidy with a blanket bar and halter hook.
Each horse/ rider should have their own saddle rack and bridle hook in the tack room.
TIP 2: CLEAN IT! Sweep out and wipe down everything. A broom or leaf blower removes dust and cobwebs, which are not only messy but a fire hazard as well. Empty out and wipe trunks and cabinets. Clean out corners of tack and feed rooms. Sweep up rodent-attracting grain spillage and crumbs. Keeping the stable swept out is a task that’s much easier to keep up with once there’s less clutter in the way. TIP 3: STORE IT! Having a convenient place for everything goes a long way to keeping things in their place. There should be a designated area for all barn tools, with frequently-used tools easily accessible. Keep the rake, apple picker, and broom hung neatly on hooks — where everyone will take advantage of using them! If possible, keep bathing items such as
sweat-scrapers in an organizer in the wash rack. At cross-tie grooming stations keep a collapsible saddle-rack for people tacking up. Have a muck bucket and manure fork by grooming areas. In the tack room, each horse/rider should have designated bridle hooks and saddle racks, along with a tack locker or space for a tack trunk.
TIP 4: LABEL IT! Make the humble labeler your buddy during your organizational campaign. Everything from feed bins to Issue 1 / 2016 • MODERN arabian horse
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Create a system for managing each horse’s supplements.
Neatly hung bridles help keep the tack-room clutter-free. bridle hooks look tidier with uniform labels. Boarders, students, and staff will be able to clearly see what belongs to whom and goes where. No more “Where’s Sport’s bridle?” questions while you’re in the middle of a lesson. A Sharpie® is your go-to tool for putting your initials on items that tend to go astray, such as hoof picks and brushes.
TIP 5: RECORD IT! Don’t forget the ever-present white board for messages and reminders. Large stables do well with a wall calendar marking upcoming events, lesson schedules, vet visits, farrier appointments, and so on. Access for all to important details such as turnout and feeding schedules goes a long way toward keeping everyone happy. Prominently display emergency contacts. Keep this space up-to-date, erasing old messages, so everyone’s in the habit of looking in for new information. TIP 6: HOT SPOT— FEED ROOM Remember those labels and that white board? The feed room is a great place to employ these organizational tactics. Create a chart detailing what each horse gets at each feeding. Label feed bins, buckets, feed scoops, and supplements to avoid confusion. Create a system for storing supplements. Be sure grain bins are rodent-proof and the feed-room door remains securely closed. 18
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Hooks in cross-tie areas make tacking up a snap.
TIP 7: HOT SPOT— MEDICINE CABINET Decide whether tack room, office, or feedroom is the most logical place for your medicine cabinet. Store items in some sort of actual cabinet to avoid dust accumulation on your medical supplies. Make sure medications haven’t expired and that you have all essential items on hand. TIP 8: HOT SPOT— OFFICE The paper-chase may not be the most glamorous aspect of barn life, but accessible information is a must. Whether
your barn has a full-fledged office with a computer or a little table in the corner of the tack room, certain documents and details must at your fingertips. Find a system that works for you, whether storing data on a laptop, in a binder, or in a filing cabinet. Use that system to keep horse health records and phone numbers of important individuals such as owners, veterinarians, insurance agencies, and farriers handy.
A manure tub, shovel and broom in grooming bays serve as a gentle reminder to clean up after each horse.
A whip organizer in the arena saves riders a trip back to the tack room.
poles, cavalletti, barrels, and cones when not in use. Keep a basket near the entrance for cell phones and other items you don’t want in your pockets while riding. A whip organizer accessible from both ground and mounted heights can save a lot of hassle when you realize you need a whip. Station a muck bucket and manure fork in a convenient spot for riders to pick up manure on their way out.
TIP 9: HOT SPOT— STALL DOORS Store blankets in daily use neatly folded on blanket bars on each stall door. Store out-of-season blankets on shelves (preferably clean and in bags) in the tack room. Blanket hooks up high in an empty spot in the barn are a great way to hang wet blankets by the chest straps to dry. Each stall door should have a halter hook and information card. TIP 10: HOT SPOT— ARENA To keep clutter in the arena to a minimum, store jumps,
THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR Once the big job of creating an orderly stable is complete, a few minutes of straightening up each day will keep it that way. Make it a team effort with all the barn’s ‘regulars’ pitching in to keep the stable nice for everyone. An organized stable looks nice, provides a healthy environment for the horses, and allows you to spend your time riding rather than hunting around for missing items. Natalie DeFee Mendik is an award-winning journalist specializing in equine media. Her personal horse passions include dressage and vaulting. Visit her online at www.MendikMedia.com. Issue 1 / 2016 • MODERN arabian horse
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GET INSPIRED TO GET ORGANIZED Cut down on clutter around the barn and regain control of your tack room. BY KATIE NAVARRA
G
etting started can be overwhelming, but inspiration is only a click away on Pinterest, a visual discovery tool that you can use to find ideas for all your projects and interests. Use Pinterest on your phone, tablet or computer to find budget friendly, do-it-yourself organization ideas. Pinterest users create boards and “pin” images. With more than 50 billion pins to explore you’ll find at least a few ideas to help you get organized. Pinned pictures offer a glimpse of what the finished project should look like. Fully detailed instructions may not always be available so it may take some experimenting to achieve the desired outcome. To begin, search words or phrases related to the barn and storage. Search: Tack Room Organization Tack Room Tack Room DIY These results highlight projects posted by other stable owners, businesses that specialize in organization systems for barns and other pet specialty sites. For example, the Savvy Horsewoman (savvyhorsewoman.com) pinned a solution for organizing sports medicine wraps and bell boots. “Attach industrial strength Velcro strips to a solid wall. Then, stick your horse’s sports medicine boots, bell boots and other wraps that will adhere to the Velcro. For less than $10 you have a quick, easy solution for corralling boots.” Then, get creative and search on non-horse related terms. Search: DIY Organization Garage
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These organization tips are not specifically designed for a stable, but with minor modifications they can be as helpful in a stable as they are in a garage. For example, one user repurposes muffin tins for organizing screws, nails and other small hardware. In a barn, this could be a great solution for controlling English bit hangers, Chicago screws, rein holders and other small pieces that can easily be lost. Another simple solution was pinned by TheFamilyHandyman.com. Hang a basic coat hook in the barn, cut a piece of chain to length and create a quick and inexpensive way to keep extension cords neat and accessible.
REVISIT PINS LATER
When you create a Pinterest account and find storage solutions you don’t want to forget, you can “pin” them to your Pinterest account for later viewing. If you find a particular user is full of useful advice you can “follow” them and see everything they post. n
AHYA
RAFFLE
Tickets only $50 Support AHYA
Buy your ticket now for a chance to own this all-terrain vehicle Contact Brenna at 303.696.4505 or youth@ArabianHorses.org Only 400 tickets will be sold
AHA NEWS
New Year, New AHA Website
AHF Research Projects
AHA launched the guest user portions of its newly designed, customer friendly and highly efficient website on January 11, 2016. The website’s domain name remains www.ArabianHorses.org and features a sleek and modern look and feel, with new colors, bold pictures and easy to read formats. The ease of navigation is extremely improved, with most pages requiring only one or two clicks to retrieve desired information. The launch included only the guest pages and portions of the new site. Guest pages can be accessed without a password or login. Some of these new pages include the homepage; the Discover and Youth portals; a leadership section; a Judges and Stewards portal; a Get Involved section and Get Local map for AHA clubs to use as outreach tools, a newly designed Event Calendar and much more! Current member/ customer interaction with the website has changed slightly regarding password requirements for member/customer login. For increased security and customer protection, AHA will no longer utilize a PIN system for login. Rather, a password, created by the member/customer, will be required. A current email address will need to be on file with the AHA office and associated with a member/customer account in order to use the new online ‘Password Help’ feature to reset a forgotten password. Once logged into their account, the member/customer portal pages will remain the same as they are now — the old design and layout. New and old website pages will be intertwined, creating a user experience that shows off the new website portions but is still fully accessible and functional to members and customers. AHA’s new website rebuild is part of a three year plan for AHA business transactions and financial system infrastructure upgrades, known as ‘Future State.’ (See more in Annual Convention article, p. 52) If you are a current member or customer and find that you need assistance with changing your PIN to a password, please call our customer service representatives at (303) 696-4500, option #2. Continue to look for updates and communication regarding the progress and status of AHA Future State via AHA Insiders, e-blasts, social media and more.
The Arabian Horse Foundation has announced $11,000 in equine research funding for support of projects studying Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Juvenile Idiopathic Epilepsy, and hoof imbalance and lameness. This latest round of equine research funding brings the total given by the Foundation in the last eight years to over $65,000. An award of $6,400 will provide continued support for two projects headed by Dr. Samantha Brooks at the University of Florida (Gainesville): one project researching Equine Metabolic Syndrome in the Arabian horse, along with an additional project to expand studies of heritable disease in the Arabian horse and investigate the genetic basis for Juvenile Idiopathic Epilepsy. Beth Minnich, who chairs the Foundation’s Equine Research Advisory Panel, said, “It is very gratifying to see the progress that has been made with the Foundation’s research program, particularly in the area of genetic disorders. This progress has only been possible with the support of our donors and through those efforts the Arabian horse community is able to have more of a direct voice in equine research.” The $6,400 award to Dr. Brooks is for continued work on an Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) project which the Foundation has been supporting since 2010. This study has the potential to assist owners in more readily identifying horses at greater risk of EMS — allowing for improved management of these individuals, especially in regard to feeding and exercise programs. A frequent complication of EMS is laminitis, which is one of the most common causes of lameness and death in horses. In addition, Dr. Brooks is continuing a project started in 2014 to study the genetic basis for Juvenile Idiopathic Epilepsy (JIE), a seizure condition that can affect very young horses. The goal of this project is to identify the genetic cause of JIE in the Arabian horse and ultimately develop a diagnostic test to assist owners and breeders in identifying carrier breeding stock. The lab group is actively seeking additional samples from horses who have been diagnosed with JIE (either active cases or in the past), as well as unaffected relatives of these horses to serve as controls.
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MODERN arabian horse • Issue 1 / 2016
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The Legacy of Afire Bey V
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riders and their Arabians in the 2016 Rose Bowl parade.
Interested owners are encouraged to contact the Brooks Equine Genetics Lab for more information on participating in this study, (352) 273-8080, equinegenetics@ifas.ufl.edu. A $4,700 award is going to Dr. Babak Faramarzi at Western University to study the effect of hoof imbalance and lameness. Minnich states, “The results of this study will provide data on load distribution at different regions of the hoof in response to regular trimming. Minnich adds “this study may also lead to additional work to evaluate the effects of different trimming and shoeing practices currently used in the show ring.” The Arabian Horse Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Arabian Horse Association. Donations can be made by using the donation check box on the AHA membership form when renewing or joining. Donations can also be made online with PayPal at the Foundation’s website or by sending a check to the Foundation at the AHA offices. Donors can also designate if they want their funds directed toward a specific area of Foundation activity, such as research. The Arabian Horse Foundation is a 501(c) 3 and as such all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information about the Foundation and becoming a donor, please visit www.thearabianhorsefoundation.org.
Region 5 Northwest EquestFest a Model for Community Involvement After nearly a 10 year hiatus, Region 5 held a miniconvention called Northwest EquestFest in Bellevue on January 9, 2016 at the Courtyard By Marriott. The event brought in 10 lecturers on various equine topics to the community for free that ranged from sport horse trends to the art of clipping. Both Stan Morey and Cynthhia Richardson were guest speakers. “We pulled in not only Arabian members but other breed competitors such as 4-H members, Pony Club, and people just starting out with horses,” said organizer Michelle Pease-Paulsen. “We had an AHA booth displaying pictures of our versatile horses competing in all the classes and tables of donated silent auction items from local and national businesses.” Lunch featured a fashion show including fun ideas of what to wear to the barn for practice along with
Packed lecture halls and a luncheon fashion show delighted the attendees during Region 5’s EquestFest
trends in all the Arabian classes and was sponsored by a local realtor. They wrapped this event up with the inaugural Region 5 Awards Banquet and hoped to sell 90 tickets to the event. They ended up having to open a second room for a total of 140 attendees! “Awards were given out to the winners of the Arabian Region 5 High Point Program,” said Pease-Paulsen. “Each Champion received a perpetual trophy, blanket bag donated by Schneiders and Champion ribbon. The Reserve Champion received a garment bag and ribbon with awards given out through eight places.” The winners of the Open High Point Program also received their awards which recognizes people that show their Arabians in open shows. A Youth and an Adult Volunteer of the Year award went to McKenzie Miller and Lenora Callahan with the Sportsmanship awards going to Cristi Knittle and Maddy Knittle. The highlight of the night might have been Ron Copple Jr. talking about his involvement with the Arabian Horsemen’s Distress Fund. This introduced the organization to everyone and gave attendees the chance to raise money for a wonderful cause. The AHDF Cake Auction raised $3,359.01,” said Pease-Paulsen. Silent auction items raised $1,420 for the Region 5 Youth and $1,581 that will be split between the AHDF, Region 5 Youth, and a local therapeutic riding center, Little Bit. This event would not have been possible without the wonderful committee of Michelle Pease-Paulsen, Carrie Olson, Shannon, Bedell, Erika Snell, Joyce Thomas, Pat Hough and MC Ian Sage. Check out more of this event at the Region 5 website and Facebook. Issue 1 / 2016 • MODERN arabian horse
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