Horse Country 4-2013 by Linda Hazelwood

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

ISSUE 4-2013

The View From Here May 26, 2013

The past six weeks have found me going back in time, poring over old copies of Horse Country (formerly known as the Horse Trader). 2013 marks Horse Country’s 25th year of publication and a dip into any of the issues (see pages 4 and 5) brings a snapshot of horse life on the prairies over the past 25 years. As a treat for those who have read Horse Country since Day One, the middle six pages of this issue are a reprint of The Horse Trader Issue #1. See how much horse you could have bought for $1,000! It was also a trip back in time to see businesses advertised which are still operational today. The quality of the reprint is the best we could do; as you can imagine, the original newsprint paper is now yellowing and does not reproduce well. On page 6 we follow up on the Feller family, whose young son Jamie was featured on a 1990 cover. In the same 1990 issue, 10-year-old Kaili Dale was included in the “Young Rider” writeup, and we caught up with her in Alberta. See page 53. To celebrate Horse Country’s 25th anniversary year, we will be running competitions until the end of the year. See pages 28 and 63. And for those who have been following my progress with Tori, my Rocky Mountain Horse: yes, we have been out on the trail and she is wonderful. Now she is losing weight she is full of energy and it is a beautiful ride. Happy trails and summer showing to you all.

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Editor and Publisher

This Issue’s Cover

Peter Campbell, horseman and clinician during a ranch clinic. He and Tango were riding home on their spread, Hat Creek Ranch, Wheatland, WY. Congratulations go to the Campbell/Franke family: Peter and Trina recently became grandparents to Jesse Charles Franke (May 30, 7lbs 12oz) son of Coralyn Franke and the late Jesse Campbell.

HORSE COUNTRY Publisher: L. Hazelwood Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5M3 Phone toll free 1-866-886-2425. Local 204-256-7467. Fax 204-257-2467. www.horsecountry.ca. ISSN 1193-2163. Volume 25, Issue #4-2013: June 10, 2013. Published eight times a year: every six weeks, February/November. Print subscriptions: one year $29.50, two years $53.50, three years $72.50. Digital subscriptions one year $15, two years $25. All prices include taxes applicable to the province of delivery. Single copy print price $5.25. GST #86303-1456 For US mailed subscriptions add $18 - one year ($36 - two years) CDN, for Europe add $30 - one year ($60 - two years) CDN if airmail is required. Price includes mailing from Canada. An order form is printed at the back of the magazine. US and international subscribers can order a digital version at Canadian prices (no added mailing costs). Please go to www. horsecountry.ca and click on the digital subscription link. Order subscriptions from www.horsecountry.ca/subscribe, or Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R2M 5M3. Phone 204-256-7467, toll-free 1-866-886-2425 or email contact@horsecountry.ca. Pay online, or by mailed cheque, Visa, Mastercard or Money Order. Publisher’s Mail Agreement #40753025. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5M3. Email: editor@horsecountry.ca. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the consent of the publisher, and copyright remains with Horse Country (Woodstock Media Services) unless expressly released. Horse Country assumes no responsibility for claims made in advertising copy and has the right to refuse any articles, stories, advertising copy or photos. It is the responsibility of the advertiser or author to obtain copyright releases for photographs used in advertising or supplied editorial, and to verify the authenticity of information supplied which forms the whole or part of editorial pieces. Manuscripts and pictures are welcomed; please state terms and enclose SASE for return if required. Writer’s Guidelines are posted on www. horsecountry.ca. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. HORSE COUNTRY PRIVACY CODE: A subscription to Horse Country includes a free emailed newsletter which arrives no more than once every three weeks. If you do not wish to receive this e-letter, please advise in writing to the email or regular mail address above. We may occasionally make our database of addresses available to businesses which we feel have products which would be of interest to you. Please advise us if you do not wish to receive this information. Horse Country’s complete privacy code can be found at www.horsecountry.ca/privacy. EDITOR Linda Hazelwood 1-866-886-2425 or 204-256-7467 (local) editor@horsecountry.ca CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Ishbel Moore, ishbel@horsecountry.ca ADVERTISING SALES Linda Hazelwood, editor@horsecountry.ca OFFICE ADMINSTRATION Eldeen Stark, contact@horsecountry.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS contact@horsecountry.ca LAYOUT & DESIGN The Creative Crew. creativecrewcanada@gmail.com ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Casey Little, Ishbel Moore, Paula Nichols, Kim Prinz, Dr. David Snell, Irene Schweckendieke, Cynthia Swensen, Emma Tarvis

issue #4 | 2013 www.horsecountry.ca

Memory Lane 4

Riding Down Memory Lane

The Feller Family

Marilyn Behrsin, Docker and Hunter

Snippets from 25 years of publication From 1990 to 2013

25 years of publishing in 2013

From 2000 to 2013

Kaili Dale

From 1990 to 2013

Mounted Shooting

Something’s stirring in Springfield

Be ready for your clinic

Preparing a horse for counter canter

Rider Weight relative to horse weight

Akhal Teke

Horse 3

Equine Dental Health

Pulling a trailer?

The Last Words(s)

Do you remember this? 29 The Horse Trader. Vol 1, #1, July 1988 28 Horse Country competition

The Round Up Manitoba Horse Council

In every issue 41

Horse Nuts

Around and About

Horse Country Bookstore

* Connections/Classifieds

What’s Happening?

Subscription Draw

Issue #5-2013 is published week commencing July 22, 2013. Deadlines: Business advertisers: space closes June 24; Material closing July 1. Horses for Sale and Classified line adverts: deadline July 1. Web adverts uploaded weekly.

The Agriventure Experience

Special

Items marked with an asterisk have supplementary reading or archived articles at www.horsecountry.ca/archives.htm

10 - The Administrator 11 - A Host 14 – A Participant

Women aim for more involvement Horse property owners worried about municipal plans Make the most of your investment Moving into second level dressage work

Another take on the percentage value discussion

The Golden horses of history The trainers and events of the weekend Evening of the Horse How do your horse’s teeth grow? Do you have a Class 3 Licence?

Happy Birthday Horse Country!

It’s Horse Country’s 25th birthday!. To celebrate, horse for sale text ads and private classifieds will be FREE for the rest of this year. (30 words max, private sellers only). Picture $24 + GST. Businesses call Linda at 204256-7467 or email editor@horsecountry.ca FIND US ON FACEBOOK: Horse Country Horse Country Classified

Check www.horsecountry.ca for Breaking News!

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#1 JULY 1988

Riding Down Memory Lane

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July 1988 Vol 1, #1

Gail Pogson sees a gap in the market and starts a newsprint publication, 8 pages in the first issue, to serve the equine community in Central Canada. For only $25 you could sell your horse, and that included a photographer coming to your barn to take a picture. Gas was only 50c/ litre, so that was doable. The price of the Horse Trader was $1.50 in the store, or $6 for a subscription. It cost 36c to send a letter. You could buy a trailer from one of the advertisers for $2,400: a U-Haul 2-horse trailer with saddle compartment and divider.

July/August 1995 June 1989

The magazine has changed its name to Horse Country in response to the Auto Trader Group’s request. Inside the June issue is a story inside is about the Morgan Horse’s 200th Anniversary, and featured Roy and Candice Kontzie, Morgan Horse breeders, then of Waskada. More than 150 horses turned out for the 1989 Westman Charity Horse Show in June, held by Brandon Light Horse & Pony Club. Gas was 55c/litre, and it cost 38c to mail a letter.

February 1990

A stallion edition. Featured stallions included Major Holiday (Jae Bar Quarter Horse Ranch), Top Quest Bimo (Whispering Willow Appaloosas), Powerful Performer and Jettin Hemp (standing at Friesen Quarter Horses), and Scotto Dee Bar (Thunderbird Horse Center). On a sad note, it was recorded that Chico Pepita De Oro (Kirk and Gail Bridgeman) perished in a barn fire with 58 other horses. Gas was 65c/litre; mailing a letter cost 39c.

To read the whole of Issue #1, please go to page 29 in this magazine. To see digital versions of these and other editions, please go to newsstand.manitobamagazines.ca and click on “Sport & Leisure”.

Twenty-seven individual horses for sale in this issue, plus herd reductions.The cover was James Atkinson, a 1995 Young Rider’s Championship qualifier. Work was underway preparing for the 1999 Pan Am Games, with sites at Birds Hill Park and the Red River Ex being under consideration. The magazine now carries training articles and reports from many regional equine associations. Horse Country was provided as a member benfit to all members of Manitoba Horse Council. A non-member subscription price was $20/ year, cover price $2. Gas was 65c/litre, and a letter cost 45c.

A stallion edition, so large it had to be printed and distributed in two sections. 118 pages in total, including a 32-page Manitoba Quarter Horse Breeder’s Directory in Section I. The name Linda Hazelwood (current publisher and editor ) is on the mailing label of this issue. A Linda Hazelwood photo appeared in one of the adverts. The first Sandey rodeo Clinic was held in Eriksdale. A legacy of the 1999 Pan Am Games was recorded as a new equestrian campground at Spruce Woods Park on the site of Lehockey Barn. A feature article was written about Morey Fisk, an Oak Lake trainer who moved to train in Germany. Breed features were written on Andalusian and Saddle Bred horses. Neil Penner was trail boss of the Manitoba portion of the March West, celebrating 125 years of RCMP. Gas is 76c/litre and a letter costs 46c.

October 2002

The new regime. Gail (Pogson) Campbell sells Horse Country to Linda Hazelwood. The Manitoba Paint Horse Directory listed 18 farms across Manitoba. A “Heart of the Interlake” advert listed 12 farms offering a variety of breeding, training and horses for sale. The Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 Sale & Futurity was offering a $15,000 purse. The Inaugural Southern Manitoba Team Penning e v e n i n g wa s h e l d a t Harder’s arena in Richer. The MRCHBA stallion auction offered 38 stallion breedings priced between $300 and $400. Horse Country cover price is $2.75; a subscription is $22.80. Gas is 75c/litre, a letter is 48c.

November 2006

The magazine is now printed on gloss paper, which allows more colour to be included. It has its own website. Canada Post is threatening to withdraw mailing subsidies from magazines. News was carried from nine regional associations. Coaches Corner featured how to “work in” a pair of expensive dressage boots. The “Spotlight” was turned on Wally and Linda Finnbogason. Dr. Ross McKague retires. A Manitoba-bred Arabian turns in the fastest time ever for a US National Endurance Championship. Horse Country cover price is $4.35; a subscription is $25.50. Gas is $1.13, a letter is 51c.

What a wild ride down memory lane! It’s hard when checking back issues of the magazine for something specific, not to just read every page. They are still interesting. Facebook and Kijiji have taken over Horse Country’s original focus of horses for sale and classified adverts. but magazine content is increasingly health and training-focussed. The magazine is printed all in colour and distributed right across Canada. Digital versions are purchased as far afield as New Zealand, Thailand and Sweden and stored on tablets and readers. If you have a story or a memory from a past issue that you would like to see repeated, please email editor@horsecountry.ca The magazine cover price is $5.25 for print or digital; a subscription is $29.50 (print) and $15 (digital). Gas hit $1.35 yesterday. A letter costs 63c: to mail a single magazine it is $2.52. Here’s to the next 25 years! c

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June 2013

February 2000

Featured on the cover was Kerry Lee Moore from Tyndall, at seventeen months old, waiting for her leadline class at the Selkirk Appaloosa Show. Kerry was representative of the early age that some riders get started.

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Bringing back some memories for the Feller family is the October 1990 edition of Horse Country, and one of the stories inside.

Under the blanket heading of “Young Riders”, Gail Campbell wrote four stories about young people learning to ride, and working around horses. Featured people were Fran Streeter, owner and coach at Hillcrest Equestrian Centre, Oakbank, MB, Jackie Van de Velde (then of Mariapolis) talking about her A Level competition in Pony Club, and Kaili Dale who trained her own show horse at the age of ten years. The Feller family was featured under the heading “Young Children on Old Horses”. It started, “Sheryl was always horse crazy even as a child and although she grew up on a farm just outside Sanford, she didn’t get her first horse until she was eleven.” The article went on to describe Sheryl’s 4-H, Pony Club and CWHA showing career and how she coached and taught lessons while retaining her amateur status.

She married non-horseman Barry Feller and they had two children, Jamie and Lindsay. When Jamie was small, he would scream if placed on the back of a horse. Eight years on, the family moved back to acreage at Sanford. A cousin (Victor Nichols, then owner of Westgates Stables in Headingley) brought a pony out for the kids to play around with. An old retired show pony, Eddie (shown as Mr. Ed by Rick Payne) was just the mount for Jamie, who said back then, “He was fast and bucky!” When Eddie foundered and had to be put down, a shaggy 12.2hh pony named Sparky came along to start Jamie on his show career. A fun show in Teulon where Jamie placed sixth in mostly classes of six led to a Horse Council Benefit show, then CWHA shows and Year End high points in the flag race and poles, with a reserve in

Barrels. The child who screamed when placed on the back of a horse was voted Most Enthusiastic Rider! As Jamie grew taller, Sparky was passed on to 5-yearold sister Lindsay and Jamie started on a different tack with a 15hh chestnut ex-cutting horse. Chic’s Henry (Chic) became Jamie’s 4-H horse and by the end of 1990 they had qualitied for the Provincials in stock seat, basic seat, reining and barrels. In 1989’s CWHA shows Lindsay was named Youngest Rider and in 1990 “ran” her first barrel pattern. At the time of the article, Sheryl said that Sparky and Chic were shining examples of what good horses will do for your children’ts interest. She expected that the family would continue riding and shows, “but only for long as the kids are having fun.”

1990 – 2013

Jamie

of Sheryl’s family to be on the farm. He manages all the farm operations and has horses in training at all times. Jamie has started several of Manitoba’s successful show horses who compete in a variety of english and western disciplines. In 2013, Jamie is competing himself with his reining stallion, “Jacs Lady Got Tagged”, a palomino son of “Whiz N Tag Chex”.

Jamie was a 4-H, paint horse and open show competitor throughout his teen years, qualifying for the 4-H Provincial Horse Show five times with three different All the Feller’s at Jamie and Ashley’s May 26, 2012 wedding. Lindsay horses. At age 16, he was Back row: Barry, Sheryl, Jamie, Ashley, Lindsay Front row: Tabitha, Alexis, “Muddy”. Lindsay rode both contemplating getting into Photo credit Julie Fulsher. English and Western rodeo as a saddle bronc rider and mother said “yes” if he would attend Rick White’s until she was 13-years-old. After qualifying for and saddle bronc school. It turned out that the saddle bronc attending the 4-H Provincial Horse Show in 1997, she school fell on the same weekend as a reining clinic at Neil began to focus exclusively on the hunter/jumper discipline. McLeod’s with Dean Latimer. Jamie chose the reining clinic The horse highlight of Lindsay’s teenage riding was being able to ride and compete on “Artemis” who had been a and his focus has never changed since that time. Today, Jamie and his wife Ashley run BlueBear Farms. former Grand Prix horse earning the Manitoba Horse of The family facility has been developed on the Nichols century farm, and Jamie makes the fifth generation continued on page 8

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When we caught up again with Sheryl and the family this year, it was obvious that the kids have never stopped having fun, as the whole family is still riding or otherwise involved in the horse business, at their BlueBear Farms in Sanford. Sheryl brought us up-to-date:

continued from page 7

the Year title three times and a Canadian Sport Horse of the Year once. “Artemis” was known as “Bo” at home - named for her breeder, the famous Canadian rider, Bo Mearns. Today, Lindsay competes on Bo’s first foal “Unbelievable” (by Oxford) who has won both provincial and national awards in dressage the last few years. Lindsay will also be bringing Bo’s last foal “Rizpah” (by Radjah Z) into the jumper ring in the near future. Lindsay works for Manitoba Hydro and competes as an amateur. Jamie and Jacs Lady Got Tagged. Photo credit Faye Unrau.

Unbelievable and Lindsay. Photo credit Barb Wansbutter.

Sheryl and students at MHJA Victoria Day Show 2012.

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Sheryl

Sheryl competed as an amateur during the nineties and early 2000’s with the hunter “Late Bloomer” and the jumper “Arielle” (who was owned by Marilyn Funk). Her most successful year in the jumper ring was in 2000 where she and Arielle earned several championships. That year, Sheryl and Lindsay competed against each other in several classes and on one occasion, tied for a placing with identical jump-off times! Today, as well as coaching a number of students at the farm, Sheryl still works as a management consultant and serves as Chair of the Board of the Deposit Guarantee Corporation of Manitoba. In 2013, Lindsay will be showing Sheryl’s horse “Full Circle” for her in dressage and hunter competition. “Full Circle” is a QH/draft horse cross - the same breeding as Sheryl’s first horse more than 50 years ago. c

The original 1988 edition of Horse Country can be seen at www.horsecountry/ca/archives.htm Look for “1988_Issue 1” in the list. For another “Young Rider” update see page 53. Do you have an update from a past edition of Horse Country that you would like to share? Please email editor@horsecountry.ca with your comments and suggestions.

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The AgriVenture Experience

Anna-Lena enjoying the Albertan hills.

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AgriVenture: The Administrator

by Ishbel Moore

Trainees are accepted at 18-30 years of age, but the average Allison Saruer’s parents were hosts to trainees from age would be approximately 20. Allison says, “Trainees gain independence and overseas on their beef/crop farm for 11 years while she was growing up in the 1970’s. She says also that, “I was a confidence during their experience. They are exposed to trainee to a New Zealand sheep farm thirty years ago, and various cultures, not just those of their host country, but then I worked in the administration of the International of other participants. AgriVenture opens the world to Agricultural Exchange Association’s AgriVenture them in terms of tolerance and understanding of global issues. Trainees make lifelong programs for five years when I friendships with their hosts returned. My husband was also Skills Learned [in AgriVenture]: and other trainees. They gain a trainee to New Zealand. We Everything between heaven and valuable practical experience keep in touch with our hosts earth. and an understanding of and other trainees we met on Sebastian – From Sweden to Canada 2012. international agricultural AgriVenture.” In July 2011, she issues.” was asked to come back to run Occasionally there can the AgriVenture office again. be personality conflicts and So far she has been involved in differences in expectations between hosts and trainees. the program in one way or another for over 40 years! How does this program work? Trainees and hosts Sometimes a trainee becomes very homesick and returns complete in-depth application forms. Once the trainee home early. “AgriVenture Alumni are designated as Contact Persons gathers references, writes an autobiography, and has had for each match,” explains Allison. “The Contact Person an interview, the host country office is sent the application by the home office. The trainee’s requests for type of farm gets in touch with the trainee and host to evaluate the are considered first, and following that the needs of the placement, usually within six weeks of arrival. The Contact hosts, the date of travel and personal interests are taken Person helps bring any issues to the forefront for discussion into consideration. The trainee file is sent to the host for and if they can’t be resolved, work with a local host rep approval, and if the host would like to accept the trainee, and the AgriVenture office to either facilitate a movement the host information is given to the trainee for approval. or arrange for the trainee to return home. It’s very rare

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different from North America. A that a trainee returns home, and bit reserved at first, but kind of in often the second placement can awe of how we live here with all turn out very well for the host the space, the scenery, the size of and trainee.” the fridge, every family member Participants also get “unpaid owning a car.” vacations” during which the The right kind of experience trainees take responsibility for was necessary. Cynthia reports, themselves while on holiday. “My candidate had to be a good As temporary members of their rider and had to have show host family, they are asked to experience. They had to have the keep their hosts informed of their ability to work on their own, but plans and to contact their hosts also be able to take direction and and the AgriVenture office in criticism as required. Akhal Tekes case of an emergency. Trainees are quite specialist horses in their are covered by a comprehensive mental constitution and I had to travel, medical and baggage have someone who would listen insurance. to me, my partner John, and my Future plans for AgriVenture mom Val about how to handle include growth both in host them and deal with them.” placements in Canada, especially I´ve never met nicer people Reportedly, at first Anna was in the equine and horticulture than the Canadians. It is very strict in her approach to the areas, and in opportunities for unbelievable how friendly and horses. Being from Germany, young Canadians to participate. helpful they are. I was part which has a spectacular equine Placements in Canada for 2013 of the family right from the tradition, she was pretty set in her Spring arrivals will have been beginning. ways having learned her whole Anna-Lena – From Germany to Canada 2012. made by mid-late February this life from that tradition. Western year but there may be opportunities for later arrivals if hosts apply now. Canadian youth can Canadian approaches are a bit different. Cynthia says, “For apply to depart almost any month of the year, but need example, they don’t tie horses to a bar across a truck and approximately 3 months minimum to prepare their pony horses from it, like some of the chuckwagon boys do application, and allow time for AgriVenture to process an here! That was an eye-opener for Anna.” At first, Anna would have nothing to do with Western overseas placement, work permit and travel. tack, but by the end of the summer, if they were going out to pony youngsters or for a pleasure ride, that was what AgriVenture: A Host Cynthia Swensen of Bold Vantage Farm (Canada’s largest she reached for first. After a couple of times of ponying purebred breeder of Akhal Teke horses) was a host for babies in an English saddle, she came to realize that a AgriVenture in 2013. Applicants were screened and when Western saddle does sometimes have a place in your AgriVenture found one they deemed suitable for Cynthia training regime, even if you are primarily training and they forwarded the application to her. Cynthia was able showing English! Also, the principles of ‘natural horsemanship’ were to correspond with her applicant via email before she made a decision. Hosts pay a very reasonable membership fairly new to her. Very few barns or breeding operations in fee to join AgriVenture as host families. Hosts are only Germany incorporate those principles into their practice, responsible for paying the trainee when he or she arrives and so she didn’t quite understand at first how babies and weanlings were handled at Bold Vantage. But Cynthia and throughout their stay. Anna-Lena Baumgardt was assigned to Bold Vantage. adds, “The great thing about Anna was, if she didn’t Cynthia describes Anna as, “a very tall girl, with long understand she’d say so and do some research into what blond hair, really strong. Everyone that met her always we were working on, instead of trying to bluster her way just about had his or her hand crushed by her really strong grip! [She was] polite, but very direct, which is so continued on page 12

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somewhat unique.” Anna’s chores were many and varied. Cynthia explains, “We have two through it to prove how farms, so a lot of time is much she knew.” spent on the road between Cynthia commented that the two if you are just one at first Anna really didn’t person. With Anna, I was like the Akhal Teke horses, able to save a bit of time mostly because she didn’t each day for other things understand them. “I had not having to do chores faith in her though,” admits at the second location. Cynthia, “because she was so Anna was required to feed diligent and knowledgeable horses, groom them, be in everything else. I let her Anna-Lena starts to appreciate the Western Saddle. on foal watch when we find her own way until were foaling, ride several she and the horses started horses daily, usually about working together rather six, work with babies once than how they had been, they were born, handle the which was very much in yearlings, two-year-olds opposition to one another’s and three-year-olds at least ends.” once on a daily basis, help “Akhal Tekes are very take photos, clean tack, smart,” adds Cynthia, “and help breed when we were will take advantage of their breeding, keep an eye out handler if they sense any for the health of the general lack of determination or herd, show horses at horse commitment from them. shows and show horses to Basically they were all Show time! Anna-Lena in the ribbons. visitors and give the odd running circles around her, lesson. Although she was laughing at her for the first few weeks, kind of like a new teacher in a classroom of specifically with us to do horse work sometimes when teenagers, pushing all the time to see just what they could the weather was terrible or I needed a hand elsewhere she became a construction worker for the day. We have been get away with.” Cynthia’s mom, Val, practiced veterinary medicine for in our second farm for two and half years now and there 35 years, so Anna was able to discuss with her the how’s is a lot of clean-up and renovation work still ongoing. and why’s if and when there were any problems. John, Sometimes she got stuck on the end of a paintbrush or Cynthia’s partner, although primarily in business now, was hammer, which may or may not have been a nice change formerly a British equestrian Team member, so Anna could from the horses!” Regarding living arrangements, Cynthia explains, “Our learn valuable tips regarding her riding and schooling house is affectionately known as ‘the shoebox’. Anna had from him. Cynthia was primarily a rider for several years, but is also a licensed appraiser and the number one Akhal a very small bedroom, but lucky for her, it was the only Teke aficionado in the family. Anna was able to use her as finished room in our whole house having been renovated first. The trainee is on a work-study placement, so they a resource when learning about the breed. “We work hard at what we do,” continues Cynthia, “but are required to bring their own clothes as suitable to their we also live well and take time to appreciate other facets work. If Anna needed anything clothes-wise, we just of life, so Anna also had the chance to just experience our bought it for her, if it was relevant to riding. For example, family’s approach to life as opposed to working all the time. All horse jobs are more or less the same at the end of the continued on page 14 day, but our setting and our breed made her experiences

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she needed a new show jacket once she had lost so much weight. I don’t think AgriVenture has too many rules for accommodation except that basic needs must be met, obviously, and that the trainee stays with the family.” Anna had her own bathroom, full high-speed Internet access and a TV in her room. “Anna would not eat anything new or spicy,” Cynthia comments. “I love spice so I had to suffer for a few months while she was here. It was pretty funny once when I put garlic in something and that was deemed too spicy! At our house breakfast and lunch were kind of on a get-asyou-need basis. At night supper would be prepared for everyone. When John was away on business trips we usually ate pizza because that was common ground.” Anna’s wage in Canada was more than she would be paid in the EU for her time. Cynthia says, “It pleased her and it pleased me because it was a wage I could afford. Her efforts were worth every cent paid out. Also, she was a trained and skilled worker with the fundamentals of equine husbandry in place. Anna was super with guests

and visitors; she had such a nice and direct way about her.” Also, she had an FEI class C license to train (coach), so any visitors wishing to do so could take lessons on suitable Tekes, to have both a lesson and experience the breed. “We really had a giggle at the end of the summer. Anna had lost 25 lbs! And I was, and still am, so jealous,” adds Cynthia. “We got so much back from her. The gold standard has been set for anyone else who may apply in future!”

AgriVenture: A Participant

Anna-Lena Baumgardt comes from a reasonably welloff family from Northern Germany near Denmark, the Schleswig-Holstein region. They have a small land holding upon which they have stables and horses in livery. At just 24 years-old, she was the stable manager there in partnership with her father. She explains, “I have a certificate in equine studies and stud farm management and I have a trainer license for giving riding lessons. I have three [of my] own horses, but one is retired. I am not working in the horse business at the moment because I am studying Agriculture.” Her AgriVenture experience in Alberta was just shy of six months; from April to September 2012. Anna-Lena

learned? “The horses reminded me again that every horse has its own individual character,” she says, “and that I have to respect them and I have to listen to them to be a good rider. You never can force a horse, especially not an Akhal Teke, if you ever want to be a team with them. But if you win their heart they will fight for you, always.” In summer of 2013, Anna will finish her Bachelor of Agriculture and hopes to get the chance to do her Masters in Agriculture. She has been invited back to Canada to work again for Cynthia Swensen in Alberta.

Do the participants enjoy their experiences? Here are some comments:

• I’ve found new friends and have worked with people who have different attitudes than me. Felix – Germany to Canada 2012. • I loved how you (AgriVenture office) were all just an email or phone call away if I needed anything. Bridget – New Zealand to Canada 2012. • I am back in Canada and missing Scotland already. I had such a wonderful time on my AgriVenture placement. I met so many wonderful people that I will never forget! I am already planning a return visit to the UK. Alyssa – Canada to Scotland 2012. • I have learned so much about so many different things, although there is tons more to learn! Since both of my host parents have done this sort of thing and traveled lots they have lots of good tips and information on everything!! Kirsti – Canada to Sweden 2012-13. c For more information check out www.agriventure.com/

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says, “To go to Canada was my dream for years. I can´t really tell why I wanted to go to Canada exactly. I guess it was because of all the beautiful landscape I saw a few times on television. But I never thought it [could be] really that beautiful.” Anna admits to some difficulties. “Oh yes, especially the Canadian spring was different with sunshine-snowrain; four seasons in one week. The location was just amazing. It was like in a travel guide, just unbelievable. All the landscape and wideness, but this was exactly what I wanted. It was much better than I ever thought, so it was not the biggest problem. The summer was really hard for me because it was so unbelievably hot. We don´t really know such hot summers in Schleswig-Holstein where I come from.” She adds, “The food was also a little bit different, but I really love Canadian burgers. There is no comparison to them.” Anna reports that she really enjoyed the BBQ´s with the whole family and their friends. She also enjoyed the trail rides into the mountains. At the weekends she often took the car just to drive through the mountains, and states, “It was amazing and very strange to me just to drive straight through this beautiful countryside but I loved it. In Germany it is impossible just to drive miles and miles without meeting somebody or without signs.” She was really thankful that her father had the chance to visit for two weeks. “He had one of the best times in his life and we really enjoyed this time together, with a wonderful family, wonderful people around the family, a lot of new impressions and ideas, and for sure with wonderful horses.” What did she consider the most important thing she

Judy Williscroft successfully shoots the balloon target.

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Mounted Shooting

What is Mounted Shooting

Women aim for more involvement in the sport

Mounted Shooting is one of the fastest growing sports in Canada and the US. It is a fast-paced timed event that requires riders to negotiate a variety of shooting patterns using pistols, rifles, and shotguns. The firearms are loaded with black powder blanks and the key is to run the correct pattern, shoot the target balloons, and do so as fast as possible. It’s an incredible sport that tests both horsemanship and shooting skills. You don’t have to be a cowboy to get involved with this exciting new sport. In fact, more and more women are taking an interest in the sport and even though they don’t always compete in the same category as the men, they can certainly hold their own when it comes to shooting and running patterns.

by Kim Prinz

The Instructor

Back in February, one of the sport’s male rising stars, Gary Couch, held a clinic in High Prairie, AB to introduce it to those interested in learning what mounted shooting is all about. Couch joined the world of mounted shooting in 2010. In 2011, his horse, Jack, was named Horse-of-the-Year, and in the 2012, Couch was named Cowboy-of-the-Year. In his first season, he rose from the Level 1 beginner’s category, all the way up to Level 3. The categories only go as high as Level 6, and no one has achieved a Level 5 or

The process

So just how do you get your horse accustomed to the loud sounds of gunshots going off right next to their ears? “The process involved is merely stepping up the noise level,” says Couch. First the horses get used to the sound of a bullwhip. Each rider is encouraged to get behind an already experienced horse while the bullwhip is cracked at a continuous pace. While some of the horses tend to get a little sideways, being around horses that are accustomed to the sound allows them to adjust very quickly. Next, the horses are exposed to the sound of a starter pistol, then a. 22-calibre pistol, then .45 primers, then partload .45s, and then finally they learn to deal with full-load competition ammo – a really loud gun. “The horses walk among experienced horses throughout the process and the shots are aimed to the side and towards the rear of the horses until they are okay with it,” says Couch. Ironically, most of the riders are wearing ear plugs, while the horses are getting used to louder and louder sounds of gunfire. After the horses become comfortable with the noise, it’s time to set up the balloons. This is another learning curve for the horses and riders. Now the horses have to get used to powder and smoke, and the riders have to get used to running patterns and shooting balloons.

The Students

Of the 13 riders taking part in the clinic, there were four women who wanted to gain more experience and try this new sport.

Leslie Norrie, an accomplished rider in her fifties, has been interested in trying her hand and her horses (she brought two) at this rapidly growing equine sport for a few years. She chose this particular clinic because Couch is one of the top shooters in Canada. “You might as well learn something from someone who has proven they know how to succeed,” she says. Norrie is also very comfortable with firearms. She lives on a large farm and uses rifles to protect her cattle from predators. “I am more proficient and comfortable with a rifle, but know I can learn how to use a handgun as well,” she says. Norrie says she found the clinic extremely helpful. “At first I was mostly concerned about how my two horses would accept the noise, smoke, bursting balloons, and all the excitement,” she says. “But once we got through the first morning, I knew this was a fun horse sport that both my horses and I could do. I was very pleasantly surprised.” Norrie admits her “nerves were on high alert the first morning of the clinic,” and every time one of her horses jumped, she jumped right along with them, but once the horses calmed down so did Norrie and her confidence level rose. “My horses helped me with this more than I helped them,” she says. And while many participants took the clinic merely to become more comfortable with their horses and get them accustomed to loud noises, Norrie says she actually plans to compete in the sport. “I plan to get myself a pair of pistols and begin practicing how to cock and fire quickly,” she says. “This proved to be the most difficult aspect of mounted shooting for me in the two-day clinic. I plan to haul my horses to as many shoots this summer as I can.” Norrie also recommends the sport to anyone, and encourages women to get involved. “It’s always fun to try new things with your horses, and I felt confident that I could enjoy and succeed at mounted shooting. I know a number of my horses are really level headed and I wanted to see how they would measure up with this challenge,” she says. “I would recommend trying a mounted shooting clinic to any woman or man who wants to try something new and challenge themselves.” Judy Williscroft, another experienced female rider looking for a new challenge, says she decided to go to the mounted shooting clinic because it involves two things she enjoys: shooting and horseback riding. continued on page 18

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6 standing in Canada. Couch also went to Nampa, ID, to compete in the Western State Shooting Finals in September 2012. And despite a torn ligament in his shooting hand, he came back to Alberta with the Men’s Overall Reserve Champion title. So in just over two years, Couch went from novice to coach. His clinic was full and of the 13 participants, four were women – two of whom travelled over three hours just to take part in his class. “I was not surprised by the number of women in the clinic at all,” says Couch. “Women are almost half the competitors currently and they compete in the Ladies’ class. The Ladies Level 1 for beginners is one of the biggest classes. Payouts can be the highest in this class.” Couch adds that women do compete with men but the payouts are generally smaller than the Ladies Level 1.

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“It is a challenge, because the better you ride and the better you shoot, the better your score will be and I like a challenge,” she says. “My dad was a big game guide and trapper and I grew up shooting guns and riding horses. I am proficient with firearms and I have hunted big game with larger calibre rifles such as my favorite: the 30-.06.” Williscroft is also used to smaller guns; she belongs to the local gun club and often uses a .22 calibre as well as a .44 Magnum. “I found the clinic very helpful,” she says. “Gary not only explained the sport but rode his own horse to demonstrate how to navigate the patterns for the best results and encouraged us all to compete.” Williscroft adds that she wasn’t really nervous about all the noise because her horse has been exposed to the sound of shotguns, and adds, “We were not shooting over their heads but rather to the side and rear to lessen the sound in the area of their ears.” Williscroft says she was not at all surprised at how quickly her horse adjusted to the noises from bullwhip to handgun fire.

“It has a lot to do with the rider,” she explains. “If you ride with confidence and let your horse know that he has nothing to worry about, he will usually be calm with anything.” And like Norrie, Williscroft plans to start competing in this rapidly growing equine sport. “I will practice a bit first so that I become faster with the patterns,” she says. “I do enjoy competition and do compete in cutting and other horse events already.” She adds that she wasn’t surprised to see women at the clinic because she thinks “women are even more competitive than males sometimes.” Anyone can get involved in the sport of mounted shooting, as long as they possess a Restricted PAL (possession acquisition licence) in order to own, transport, and use a restricted weapon; a good horse; and a sense of adventure. c Most provinces have their own organizations. The sanctioning body for most groups is the Canadian Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association: canadianmountedshooters.ca Alberta: www.albertamountedshooters.ca Manitoba: www.manitobamountedshooting.ca Saskatchewan : www.saskcowboymountedshooting.com

and it has horse-owning residents worried.

NFR (Non Farm Rural), RMU (Rural Mixed Use), RA (Rural Agricultural), aquifers, water tables. These are phrases well known to any town or Rural Municipal (RM) planning officer. But when the terminologies start being discussed in local coffeeshops and barns, you can be sure there is something stirring. Springfield is Manitoba’s oldest and largest rural municipality (established in 1873), stretching from the eastern boundary of the City of Winnipeg to the Agassiz Provincial Forest on the municipality’s eastern boundary. Birds Hill Provincial Park sits in the northwestern corner of Springfield. The area is said to contain the second highest concentration of horses in Canada, and it is the horse people who are the most worried at the moment. As with any RM, Springfield has a development plan. It

runs to 75 pages, and it is the livestock operation segments which have horse people worried. Current lot size is 5 acres which will accommodate two horses – a horse is 1.33 Animal Units (AU) – but a new lot size is proposed to be 4 acres, which would only support one horse. Current residents with horse operations (whether business or personal) may keep their present buildings such as arenas and stables, but it is said that if a building is taken down it may not be replaced. Variances on the number of horses able to be kept on a property may not be renewed if the property changes hands. Horse-owning residents are carrying out further research to find the full range of limitations proposed by the RM. See the development plan at www.rmofspringfield.ca/_muncipal_services/planning

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Something’s stirring in Springfield...

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Manitoba Horse Council is excited to announce the following results from the 2013 Annual General Meeting:

EQUINE CLUBS For the 2013/2014 Club membership season, currently 30 equine clubs have joined the MHC. 25 of these member clubs participated at the April 27, 2013 AGM - 19 clubs in person and 6 clubs via teleconference.

DIRECTORS The following director positions were filled at the meeting: Secretary/Treasurer – Gina LupinettiSurminski Chair, Coaching – Danae Martin Chair, Athlete Development – Jan Ash-Gross Congratulations! Geri Sweet, MHC President, thanked all of the retiring Board members for their years served: Maureen Demkey, Kris Bhattacharya and Bob Parker.

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2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The MHC is pleased to announce their 2013 Board of Directors. They are as follows: President - Geri Sweet Vice President - John Biron Secretary/Treasurer - Gina LupinettiSurminski Chair, Athlete Development - Jan Ash-Gross Chair, Bingo - Patricia Butterfield Chair, Breeds & Industry - Lisa Rosin Chair, Coaching - Danae Martin Chair, Competitions - Jessica Manness Chair, Equestrian Centre - Ian Brand Chair, Marketing - Patricia Ferguson Chair, Officials - Ruth Hoeschen Chair, Recreation - Carolyn Lintott Chair, Special Events - Stefanie Keller Director at Large - Vacant

SPORT MANITOBA ASSISTANCE AWARDS The following Sport Manitoba athlete assistance award recipients were announced at the meeting: Quinn Brandt James Atkinson Eric Martin Ariana Chia Jennifer McPhail Kassidy Moore Lesa Cafferty Mariah Appelmans Brittany Payjack Jessica Manness Dustin Ardron Marlo Glass Tess Manning Emily Birch Izzy Biron Tom Biron Megan Robinson Micaela Maharaj Kim Maharaj Scott Mackenzie Congratulations to everyone on their successful 2012 competition season!

MHC RECREATION GRANTS The following MHC Recreation Grant recipients were announced at the meeting: Birds Hill Park Winter Grooming Association - $500 Project: Grooming an 8km winter trail for use by riders and drivers. Objectives: Provide winter access to winter trails. Friends of Spruce Woods - $1500 Project: Install 3 steel corrals. Objectives: To create additional safe corrals to accommodate the increase in equestrian camping number and to allow for the safe housing of more horses within the camping area. Recreation Grant Committee - $500 Project: Access to trail maps on the MHC website. Objectives: Have a provincial trail map section on the MHC website. It will provide a service to equestrians and members looking to ride/drive recreationally. Congratulations! Closing remarks were offered by Geri Sweet, MHC President. She thanked everyone for their support over the past season and she looks forward to another successful 2013/2014 season!

August 4 -11

Horse Week is held annually to promote and celebrate Manitoba’s thriving horse industry. A wide range of activities are held across the province, including trail rides, horse shows, charity events and open houses to allow horse enthusiasts and the public alike to celebrate horses! Everyone is encouraged to participate. All events, regardless of size, taking place between August 4 - 11, 2013 can apply for Horse Week status and be promoted through MHC. MHC Horse Week objectives are as follows:

Create Awareness • Promote economic impact and significance of Manitoba’s horse industry • Endorse horse welfare • Promote the variety of breeds and disciplines

Provide Education • Identify the benefits that horses and riding provide • Teach the importance of safety around horses • Recognize the importance of recognized riding schools and certified instructors/ coaches

Increase Participation • Encourage and increase the practice of equestrian sport and activity in Manitoba and Canada • Position the Provincial Sport Organization (Manitoba Horse Council) as the gateway to the practice of equestrian sport and activity Increase memberships To register your event for Horse Week please contact the MHC office at 204.925.5719. To view a complete list of 2013 Horse Week events and activities please visit http://www.manitobahorsecouncil.ca/HorseWeek.

JOIN THE CLUB MHC is now accepting renewals and applications for the 2013/14 Club membership year. This year runs from March 27, 2013 to March 31, 2014. Please visit http://www.manitobahorsecouncil.ca/ClubsClub-Resources/Clubs-Resources-RenewClub-Membership for complete details.

6TH ANNUAL MANITOBA EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIP (MEC) Prize list and entry forms now available for MHC’s 6th Annual Manitoba Equestrian Championship (East vs. West)! The 2013 Championship held September 7 and 8, 2013, will feature the disciplines of Barrel Racing, Competitive Trail, Cutting, Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Western Pleasure / Showmanship, and Show Jumping. Team selection will be announced after the entry deadline on August 26, 2013. To view the complete prize list and entry form please visit www.manitobahorsecouncil. ca/events-competitions.

2013 CANADIAN EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIP (CIEC) It is the goal of the MHC to send a team to the 2013 Canadian Equestrian Championships.

What is the CIEC? The Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships (CIEC) is a sanctioned Equine Canada competition. This team event offers athletes in the Learning and Training to Compete and the Learning and Training to Win stages within the Long-Term Equestrian Development (LTED) model, the opportunity to test their skills against their peers from across Canada. Recognized as a pilot project, the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships is a collaborative event between the national and provincial sport organizations governing equestrian competition, whereby provincial/territorial sport organizations field teams representing their respective province/territory. It also acts a key event in the development of equestrian’s next generation of national, international and world champions. In addition, it is a platform for talent identification for athletes, coaches and officials. The disciplines of Dressage, Jumping and Reining classes for both Junior and Senior riders are available for entry. Please visit the MHC website for the complete qualification, application and selection process at http://www. manitobahorsecouncil.ca/EventsCompetitions.

PROVINCIAL CLINIC SUPPORT PROGRAM MHC is pleased to announce the 2013 Provincial Clinic Support Program: Purpose: To support member clubs with the cost of providing high-level clinicians to both grass roots and elite equestrians in Manitoba. Operation: Manitoba Horse Council will provide grants to eligible clubs selected as part of the program. Grants are intended to assist clubs in meeting the costs of providing clinics; the program is not able to cover fully the costs of clinics. Clubs are therefore encouraged to develop plans for recouping the costs of the clinics they hold. To access a list of program criteria and an application form please contact the MHC office at 204.925.5719.

THANK YOU MHC values all of its members and would especially like to thank those who have offered their assistance in an equinerelated emergency. The response has been outstanding! By simply indicating availability and resources such as land, stabling, or transportation on their MHC membership applications, many MHC members have offered to lend a hand. Likewise, many others have offered assistance the same. All is appreciated! With the current demand for flood evacuation, horses and horse owners in need now have access to MHC’s compiled list of refuge and transportation providers. Locations and help are available throughout Manitoba. Thank you to all - individuals and businesses, MHC members and nonmembers alike - for your generosity and willingness to help fellow horse people in need.

RENEW ONLINE MHC’s online membership system is now accepting 2013/2014 membership applications and renewals. Renew or sign up today at www.manitobahorsecouncil. ca/Membership.

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HORSE WEEK

Be ready for your clinic

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by Casey Little

In the fast paced times we are in, a horsemanship clinic with your equine partner, properly planned, can take you back in time to enjoy the good life! First off, to prepare for a clinic I believe one should do a bit of research on the clinician, the facility, and yourself. These days the clinician is fairly simple to research, even though not all things “Googled” are true. You can find out certain things like how long he/she has been in business, what disciplines he/she has works with and how much do they travel or is their business a home based clinic. As for the facility, again Google is a good way to familiarize yourself with where you are going, what will be there when you get there. Most facilities will give you directions to nearby hotels, restaurants and camping areas. Lastly, research yourself. Are you wanting to “do” a clinic for knowledge for yourself ? Do you have a troubled horse you need help with? Are you preparing for a show or competition? What

expectations do you have for the clinic and/or clinician? Are you wanting private or small group help? Riding with a larger group to ready your horse for the show ring? Most clinics are 3 or 4 days long, so be ready to invest in the complete clinic. If work-related issues arise, try very hard not to join the “middle” of the clinic. Rather, attend the first part of the clinic so you aren’t left in the dark, which will lead you a poor experience. Once you have these things narrowed down in your mind and on paper we can move onto helping you prepare for your clinic! Let’s discuss you and your horse. Most clinics average 4 days, riding anywhere from 2 - 6 hours daily. So, in order for you to be able to have the clinician teach you for that length of time, it’s your duty to do some riding, preferably a month in advance of your clinic date. This ensures you and your horse are “legged” up for the physical part of the lessons! PaulaNichols Now is also the time to

reconfirm which class you have entered – and is it the right class? If you are having real issues with your horse, perhaps starting from the ground would be a better idea, maybe a colt starting or foundation horsemanship class. Maybe you are improving by leaps and bounds and riding in a higher level would be more appropriate? Now you must mentally prepare for your clinic. It is strongly suggested by various clinic hosts and clinicians that you purchase or rent the clinicians DVDs to help you understand their way of speaking, teaching and what might be in store for you once you arrive. It can also help you prepare for the clinic mentally; by watching all the actions on the DVDs you can envision what the clinic could entail. Now as it gets closer to your clinic date we have more preparation in order to ensure you enjoy your four day stay with your teacher, clinic host and hopefully some new friends you will meet! Many people experience the most “stress” in a clinic atmosphere because they came unprepared. Using the previous advice, you have shaped up the mental and physical part of “you” being prepared. Next to consider are the “mechanical” parts to prepare! With over 20 years of riding in clinics, hosting clinics and teaching clinics, I can guarantee that the following tips can truly help you enjoy your clinic and get more value from it.

Be sure you do a general check of your rig

• Check the tires on your truck and trailer AND the spare. • Be sure you have all the tire changing equipment you might need on the road. • Have the bearings in your trailer checked, otherwise a highway fire can happen when your bearings go out. • Check all your fluids, oils etc on your truck…have an oil change completed before you leave for the event. • May sound silly, but be sure your truck and trailer are registered and insured. Check all the lighting on your truck and trailer. • Be sure you check your trailer brakes and the battery for your trailer breakway. • And another one we don’t think of … lift the mats on your trailer and check the floor – no cracks in metal floors or “bubbling” and if it’s wood, no broken, rotten or warped boards.

continued on page 24

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facility and I pour a bit of 7-Up in the water my horses will drink.

continued from page 23

Prepare all your gear

• Call ahead and visit with the clinic host or the office of the clinician as to what is expected at the clinic. For instance, do you need a saddle, rope, flag, bell boots? • Take a moment to check out all your tack for safety. (The best way to do this is clean it.) • Replace any old, cracked, broken, or frayed parts on your saddle, saddle pad, headstall, boots (For you!), halters, leads, lariats. • Be sure you have water buckets, manure forks, feed buckets, a wheelbarrow if necessary. • Take enough hay or cubes for your stay and plan one extra day in case of bad weather, break downs (or an extra hungry horse).

And for you and your horse

A few days before the clinic be sure you have checked in with the clinic host, facility or clinicians office

• Be sure you are paid in full BEFORE arriving at your clinic and know all the stabling, cattle fees, parking fees BEFORE you arrive! • Where is your horse to be stabled when you arrive. • Where do you park your rig. • If you are camping where does one set up. • Where are the nearest hotels. • Is there lunch, breakfast or dinner available at the clinic or near the clinic? Or is it all “brown bag”. • When are you required to sign in for the clinic? For example if the class starts at 9 a.m. are you required to be there by 8 a.m. to learn arena rules, sign forms, receive a name tag, meet the clinician?

It’s the day before you leave

• Pack your trailer with all your “stuff”. QUOTE OF THE DAY! • Check your horse • Be sure you have enough regarding loading in and clothing for the clinic and out. the weather that could • Fuel up the truck and print occur. Especially for out your directions, maps inside an arena - it’s often and other items needed. colder inside than out. Program the GPS! • Be sure you have boots, Peter Campbell • Be sure you have your riding boots that are in health papers, coggins test good shape, safe to ride and any other vet-required in and a pair of muck or papers, as well as brand rubber boots (they come in real handy). papers if in an applicable province or state. • Be sure if your horse is used to a warmer climate you bring a blanket for the evenings or if wet weather is • Be sure to have a game plan to arrive at the facility in the light! Most stressful is trying to unload your ahead and your horse is stabled outside, maybe a rain horse, find a stall, and park in the dark. Also plan sheet. to be there early in case of a trailer loading issue, a • Visit your vet and be sure you are up to date with all truck malfunction, accident on the highway or road shots, coggins and health exams. Have shoes put on construction. This is a big stress reliever! BE EARLY! your horse if he has a tendency to have “soft” feet. Remember these are guidelines to help you prepare • Build an “emergency” box that goes in your trailer. Have bute, bantamine, leg wraps, novasan ointment, for a clinic. After visiting with veteran clinician Peter Campbell, he and probiotic paste. If you don’t like giving needles they make bantamine and bute in a paste. Carry some added some other comments to go with the above. “You SMZ tablets with you in case your horse starts to get aren’t going to get it all from one clinic. Be realistic and a runny nose,), a thermometer, and a sharp knife that take home what you absorbed , and practice. Try to go never leaves your emergency box. I also keep a bottle with a friend so when you leave the clinic you can compare of 7-Up in my trailer. If the water is funny at a certain notes and work on projects together. You have to enter

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A mind changed against it’s will is of the same opinion still!

the arena with an open mind and listen to what is being taught. Leave your cell phone in the trailer until after the day is done: completely immerse yourself in the day with your horse. It is not so much you have to understand what the teacher is talking about but you have to have try, and strive to attempt the exercises being given out. If you are only in one class, stay and watch the other classes, truly involve yourself in the clinic to get your mind thinking. Most good teachers will help you gain ground, exceptional teachers are going to take you out of your box, get you to think and apply yourself 110% to the horse. Be sure to think to yourself, â&#x20AC;?This is an investment in me and my horse.â&#x20AC;? Put your full effort into your clinic, enjoy the new friends you make, learn from everything that surrounds you during the clinic. You will go home a better human and a better horseperson. c

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Casey Little works with her husband and 5 kids on their cattle ranch and manages his equine business. She has worked with horses all her life and as an avid clinic participant for over 20 years, has acquired much knowledge on clinic preparation.

By Irene Schweckendieck, Gestüt Landhaus Schweckendieck, Wietmarschen, Germany, with Emma Tarvis.

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How to prepare a horse for counter canter

You have been working hard training your horse and have successfully completed first level. Now you are ready to begin teaching your horse second level. There are several different movements that are required at this level, such as collection in the gaits and counter canter, and it is important to be well prepared. In this article we will describe and explain a few techniques on how to achieve these new movements. Before attempting the counter canter your horse must first be able to execute a collected canter. The collected canter involves the horse carrying its weight on its hind legs and showing an uphill stride. To achieve this you can do exercises lengthening and shortening your horse. Pay attention that you do not always lengthen on the long side of the arena and shorten on the short side as that will become too predictable for your horse and it will not learn how to collect properly. Another method is to ride the shoulder-in at the canter. This movement will help your horse carry its weight on its hind quarters. Most importantly, you lead. There are a number of ways to teach the counter canter, just as there are in every movement, and much depends on your horse’s temperament and conformation (e.g., a long backed horse or a more compact horse). If you have a hot horse you can teach it the counter canter by riding the true canter on the short side, making a simple change at the beginning of the long side into the counter canter. Maintain this until the next short side and ride another simple change into the true canter. Continue this exercise until your horse understands what you are asking and is able to maintain the counter canter for the entire long side without breaking into the trot or changing leads. The next step will be to pick up the counter canter in the middle of the long side and ride a short diagonal. Gradually you can shorten the angle of the diagonal so that you work up to riding a corner instead of a diagonal. Make sure that you do not ride the corner too deep as this will be too difficult for your horse in the beginning. Once your horse can counter canter the first corner without breaking into the trot you can continue into the second corner on the short side. When

your horse is able to carry the counter canter through the entire short side you can start to ride deeper corners. In order to make the simple change easier you can begin by riding it first through the trot and later introducing the simple change through the walk. The simple change through the walk is another requirement in second level. As an added benefit, riding multiple transitions through the simple change helps to calm down hot horses.

In counter canter right, nearly perfect. A little bit too tight and the neck is not really at the highest point. Emma’s left leg is perfect lying backwards. Hands are deep and nicely together.

If you have a lazy horse you can teach the counter canter by riding a tear drop in the corner and riding the counter canter to the short side and then making a simple change. You can ride the size of the tear drop according to your horse’s ability. For example, if your horse has a hard time carrying itself or has a longer back you can ride a larger tear drop. If you want your horse to carry its weight more on its hind quarters you can ride a smaller tear drop. You are also able to choose the line back to the wall. Riding a longer line helps the horse maintain the counter canter. Alternatively, riding a shorter line means the horse has to carry itself and maintain the counter canter on the wall. As a rider you can help your horse by riding with a lot of outside flexion according to the lead you are on. This will make a clear distinction to your horse between the true

canter and the counter canter. You must also make sure that you keep your outside leg back, giving your horse a strong canter aid. For example, if you are riding the right counter canter keep your left leg back and your right leg forward, on the girth. This can be slightly exaggerated in order to make it clearer to your horse which lead to stay on. Having a strong inside leg will also help support and balance your horse during the counter canter. As a rider, it is very important to pat and reward your horse. This will tell your horse that it has done what you asked correctly and will encourage it to continue doing so. Once you have achieved a correct collected canter and are able to ride the counter canter you are on your way to teaching your horse flying lead changes. You are, in effect, preparing your horse for even more advanced movements that will eventually allow you to strive for even higher levels. c

Teardrop in the corner with a really good bend. Neck is at the highest point in a perfect flexion. Emmas body (shoulders) are in a similar bend to the horse.

It seems like rider weight in relation to horse weight is a hot topic! In Issue 2-2013* we published details of two studies (from the UK and the US) which proposed that rider weight should be no more than 10% or 20% of their horse’s weight, respectively. Now a new study from Japan (using Japanese native horses) says that this breed can carry up to 29% rider weight. The study measured gait symmetry—the evenness of a horse’s left steps to its right during various gaits. Gaits that get sufficiently out of sync, they say, are a strong indicator of how much is too much. Akihiro Matsuura, PhD, lecturer in the department of animal science at the Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine in Aomori, said, “Scientific analysis of accelerometer readings revealed certain ‘peaks’ that could be defined as the symmetry of the gait.” Matsuura’s colleagues from Kitasato University and the Towada Riding Club studied six mares—relatively small Hokkaido native horses—which averaged 14.1 hh and 340 kilograms (750 pounds). They were ridden by the same 66-kilogram (145-pound) rider in all tests, but researchers loaded the horses progressively with more and more weights, to a maximum of 130 kilograms (287 pounds) total weight. Researchers evaluated the horses with an accelerometer as they moved in a straight line at predetermined, fixed speeds.

Their results showed that the horses appeared to manage loading relatively well up to 95 kilograms (209 pounds). At 100 kilograms (220 pounds), the horses showed a significant lack of symmetry as represented by uneven peaks in the acceleration readings. In order to leave a safety margin for tack, equipment, and clothing, Matsuura said he and his colleagues recommend keeping weight load under 100 kilograms for these horses. “In light of the safety of the rider and horse, we speculated that 100 kilograms, which is 29% of body weight, is an appropriate weight for the maximum permissive load weight,” he said. Riders who are unbalanced due to excess weight or lack of skill will affect the weight-carrying ability of the horse. Will all horse breeds follow the same trend in regards to how much weight they can comfortably carry? Probably not, Matsuura said. Certain types of horses can handle more (or less) loading than others, he noted, so ideally different breeds should be evaluated for maximum weight loading recommendations. c *Issue 2-2013. Rider weight in relation to horse weight. www.horsecountry.ca/archives.htm “Method for estimating maximum permissible load weight for Japanese native horses using accelerometer-based gait analysis,” published January 2013 in the Animal Science Journal.

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

Rider weight in relation to horse weight. Here comes Study C

COMPETITION Answer the question below correctly and you will be entered to win one of these great prizes! “When Horse Trader was first published, how many issues were produced each year?”

n sheet

red cotto

Embroide

Thank you to our participating retailers: Champion Charms, Canada West Boots, Front Runner Feeds, Landmark Feeds, BlueBear Farms, Miracle Ranch Equipment, Glover Equine Products, Horse Country Bookstore, and others. Prizes may not be exactly as shown. No dollar value applies to prizes.

ANSWER: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ YOUR NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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MAILING ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ POSTAL CODE: ________________

DAY PHONE: ____________________________________ EVENING PHONE: ___________________________________ Contest deadline is 5:00 p.m. on July 1, 2013. No purchase necessary. The winner will be drawn from all correct entries received by the deadline. Entries must be marked “Horse Country 2013 competition” and mailed to Horse Country, Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB R2M 5M3. Entries may also be emailed to contact@horsecountry.ca but MUST include all the information requested above. Subject line should be “Horse Country 2013 competition”. Employees or sub-contractors of Horse Country and participating sponsors are not eligible to win. This information is used only by Horse Country and is not sold, bartered, traded or given to any other parties. If you do not wish to cut your magazine a photocopy entry of the page is acceptable. One entry per household.

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“The June 2000 issue featured a photo of my gelding “Dry Doc McKee”(Docker ) and a little girl named Hunter on the cover. I had sent the photo in for a contest that was being held earlier in the spring and had the honor of placing first. It was a wonderful gift seeing that on the cover, as only two months prior I had been in an unfortunate accident with Docker and at the time of publication was recovering from multiple fractures in my pelvis and spine. Docker was unhurt and I was back enjoying our time once again

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During a search for a past Horse Country article, editor Linda found herself admiring the beautiful cover from the June/July 2000 issue. Serendipity struck: Linda had just posted a call on Facebook for anyone who had a favorite issue or article from the past to let Horse Country know and it would be rerun. One of the first people to respond just happened to be Marilyn Behrsin, the owner of the horse on that 2000 cover. What are Marilyn and Hunter are doing now? Marilyn told us,

riding by that fall. I have this awesome husband that has supported me so strongly with the horses even as he watched me go through some pretty rough times while in the hospital recovering. Hunter is playing hockey and going to school in Alberta. She’s grown up to be an absolutely beautiful young woman! I’m still very much involved and even more in love with horses than I was in 2000. I showed Quarter Horses at Halter with a close friend, Dennis Witherspoon, for five years and for the past six years dedicated the summers to trail riding. Although we try to entice others out with us, Dennis and I average 350500 km each summer, riding the old bush roads and trails close to home. We’ve ridden along picturesque beaches, high above cliffs, past huge beaver dams, through huge open sand pits and come across beautiful little hidden lakes and beaches. We’ve enjoyed every season, the ground filled with lady-slippers, mushrooms, spring streams and fall leaves. I do love trail riding. I’m 58. I love life and am thankful that I’m healthy. I have four grandchildren that I hope one day I will be able to get out on a trail ride with me. My “little bucket list” thing for this summer is a 100 mile ride on horseback. Certainly not a huge feat, but a dream for me. Docker, my wonderful first horse (the horse that brought me to feel the way I do), unfortunately passed away a year ago. Although it was because of riding that I was in an accident, it was also the love of horses that made me heal so quickly. Thanks so much for the interest and as always the fantastic work you do for Horse Country magazine. Thanks again!“

(Left to right): Ovazli Gul, JBK Andyn (currently competing in endurance in ON), and Mahiar (all mares) with the Swensen/Kidd family.

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by Ishbel Moore

Reputed to be the superhorse of prehistory, the Akhal Teke is one of the oldest and purest breeds, responsible, though not recognized, for the development of light breeds such as the Muniqi (or Munaghi) Arabian, the Thoroughbred, the Trakhener and others. The Akhal Teke name came from the Akhal oasis of the Teke tribe. They evolved in what is now modern Turkmenistan, an area that stretched from the Gobi Desert to the Caspian Sea, Siberia to Pakistan, and the horses were reputed to be important to the Scythians and later the Persian cavalry of King Darius, Alexander the Great, and the Romans. Tall and often with a golden sheen in their coat, quick, prized for their toughness, speed and endurance the Akhal Tekes were very different from the stocky horses of the steppes. Their mystical allure was enhanced by the appearance of small droplets of blood, called ‘blood sweating’ thought to have been caused

by a parasite in the local water sources at that time. Now they are one of the most talented and least recognized breeds, and are considered rare. Pale gold is the preferred colour, although all colours are known. The Akhal Teke typically has a marvelous metallic glow to the coat. This is caused by the structure of the hair; the opaque core is very reduced in size and may in areas be altogether absent. The transparent part of the hair (the medulla) takes up this space, and acts like a light-pipe, bending light through one side of the hair and refracting it out the other side, often with a golden cast. This is a unique genetic feature developed as a cooling mechanism to cope with extreme heat conditions. The champagne gene which may cause a similar effect in other breeds is not present in Akhal Teke horses. The average height for an Akhal Teke is 14.2 – 16 hh. Built from those ancient times for stamina and speed, they are sure-footed, with strong soft

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gaits. The head is long and light were when I was involved in on a slender neck. The eyes are polo. I thought there had to be large and expressive (sometimes a native breed somewhere that also referred to as ‘hooded’, a was tough, comparably small, genetic trait develped to help spare of body, agile and fast that their travel through wind and could be bred into polo mares sand), and the mane is short and to add some native hardiness to fine. The breed is narrow in the their special attributes for that chest with a long back, and long, discipline.” slender legs. There should be no She became interested in excess fat, and the muscle mass the Akhal Teke in the early should be long, well-defined and 2000s, with her first breeding unpronounced. pair arriving from Russia in Ashkabad, the capital of early 2004. She says that “They Turkmenistan, remains a major look totally different with their breeding centre, but they are long backs, narrow chests, also bred in Russia, Kazakhstan, short angular croups, very long Dagestan, the northern Caucasus, gaskins. Now that I am used to Ovazli Gul, the first Akhal Teke ever to show at and in small pockets in the seeing them, all other horses in Spruce Meadows. UK and a few other European my eyes look like tractors. I have countries, USA, and Canada. never met horses as intelligent. Bold Vantage Farm in Alberta is home to Cynthia As sporting animals they are very quick. They are amazing Swensen and her partner, John Kidd, a former British at indoor courses like jumping because they can do inside equestrian team member. They are Canada and North turns that bigger horses just can’t do. As saddle horses America’s largest breeder, having consistently put more they are great because they really think about what they foals on the ground than anyone else in the breed for the are doing. They are very self-preserving, which means a last five or so years. Horses are available from weanlings reliable mount. They are also extremely comfortable to ride. to proven show horses and they are trying to sell stock at They just about float at the trot and canter and you never accessible prices so that have to have pounds The Akhal Teke in history. people actually have a and pounds of contact The breed is hardy and can endure severe climactic conditions over chance of being able to to hold onto them.” afford one instead of just long distances. The most famous proof of this was an 84-day ride from According to Ashkhabad to Moscow, in 1935. Total distance was 2,580 miles dreaming about it. Cynthia, “They can (4,128 km); 600 miles (960 km) was through desert and the horses Cynthia says that be easy to train, or travelled most of the way virtually without water. there are 70-75 purebred stubborn, or both. It is Akhal Tekes in Canada. their intelligence that At Bold Vantage Farm can make them difficult they have 25 purebreds and one sport horse (50% Akhal and they differ incredibly from other breeds in this feature. Teke x 50% another breed). “I love the purebreds and really If they are started correctly, they’ll do anything for you. believe in them,” she says, “but I feel it will be the sport They have long memories and if you insult them or use horses that sell the purebreds to people.” As well, they them badly they are really hard to bring back. That said, I have bred Quarter Horses, Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, have very seldom seen an irredeemable Teke.” Arabs, Irish Draught and Welsh pony crosses. “Obviously a young unbroken Akhal Teke is not for a How did Cynthia’s passion start for the breed (also beginner rider,” says Cynthia. “I’d advise getting one that known as ‘Heavenly Horses’ or ‘Golden Horses’)? “I have has been brought up correctly and has seen some work. been riding most of my life,” she says. “I was primarily a They have a remarkable ability to judge who is on their show-jumper and rode at Spruce Meadows for a number back.” Cynthia tells of one mare that responds according of years. At home we just had Quarter Horses and off-thetrack Thoroughbreds, which is what my horses always continued on page 40

continued from page 39

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to the talents of who is riding, be it a 13-yearold amateur, a professional rider, or a 76year-old man who has been a long time out of the saddle. She mentions that they will also challenge an experienced rider, who thinks they know more than they actually do, just like any horse. Cynthia explains that she is part of a multidisciplinary family. “We ride Western for pleasure and do a lot of riding and packing in the mountains. This is the foundation of our training program and philosophy; to expose future competitive horses to as many experiences as possible before they hit the show ring. Ultimately we are raising our horses for show-jumping and Eventing though. I’d like to include Dressage because some of these horses do have the movement for it, but the perception is that they are too small. However, we did just sell a horse that is heading to Florida to go into Dressage training with a classically trained rider, so perceptions may change over time.” She mentions that between 2 and 4-years-old they will drop in condition. “It is a feature of their growth cycle. You have to feed them and feed them and feed them some more to make them look half well. They don’t really come into full maturity until they are about six, so it takes a long time to have a nice round, fully fleshed out body, which these horses are very capable of achieving, though people seldom think of them that way.” When asked if Akhal Tekes require any special tack, Cynthia said that her bit of choice is a 5” French link for English. “They like narrow bits, not too large in diameter. Really, any loose ring snaffle-type bit with at least two joints in it is best. Pelhams are asking for trouble because

Seljuk, a homebred 3-year-old gelding.

as soon as a curb chain comes into contact, heads come up! Some Western saddles tend to be fairly wide so sit quite low on them. A blanket with the withers cut out underneath a normal blanket usually addresses this.” In closing, Cynthia adds, “The Akhal Teke is a badly misunderstood breed. Most people think of them as weird looking skinny things with an incompatible head-set for any kind of competitive discipline. There are very few out and about, so a badly shown or presented one tends to stand out in peoples’ memories more so than the few that are doing well. They are very versatile and, with exception of the cattle-based Western events, are capable of anything. I’d love to see lots more people have them, as competitive mounts and as pleasure horses. And they can do so much more than endurance. People tend to think of them in a very small window of ability, which just isn’t true. I think people should try something different. They might just be surprised!” c Bold Vantage Farm: www.boldvantage.ca AkhalTeke Sport Breeders Alliance: www.atsba.ca The Golden Horse of Turkmenistan, by Jonathan Maslow, 1997.

E S R O H Nut s

The page for kids who are just nuts about horses! We welcome stories, drawings and photos from young readers. All entries published will win a prize so make sure you include your name, address and age on your entry.

Word scramble

Can you sort out these horse-related items? FITSLE

HEADSHY

LOSSMASE

BMROO

PFORKTIHC

THLARE

DELSAD

RECTS

TENSHUCE

ONMPLIA

LGULTE

MPLEHA

ALGITO

UGDLBOL

LIGGNDE

TONNED

Note from the Editor: From this chart, my 9year-old Rocky Mountain Horse would be named “Couldabeena Naughty Mover”. As a Rocky Mountain Horse, she certainly has some unusual moves that I am learning to work around. For now, I think I’ll just stick with “Tori” (short for RVFs Victoria Queen). The chart is fun, though!

YOUR NEW HORSE NAME LAST DIGIT IN YOUR PHONE NUMBER 0 Wannabea

1 Heza

2 Gonnabea

3 Ima

4 WishIwasa

5 Youra

6 Sheza

7 Couldabeena

8 Wasa

9 Likea

MONTH YOU WERE BORN January Spicy

February Smooth

March Naughty

April Sweet

May Zesty

June Snarky

July Snazzy

August Foxy

September Lazy

October Snippy

November Splashy

December Hot

YOUR FAVORITE COLOUR Red Machine

Yellow Winner

Green Diva

Blue Slacker

Purple Speed Demon

Orange Knucklehead

Brown Mover

Pink Superstar

Fuschia Hero

Teal Slopoke

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

Thanks to the American Paint Horse Association for helping find an alternative name for your horse.

Answers to Word Scramble HOCK HAYSHED BROOM HALTER CREST PALOMINO PELHAM BULLDOG TENDON

KOCH

PINTO STIFLE MOLASSES PITCHFORK SADDLE CHESTNUT GULLET LATIGO GELDING

POINT

NAERIC representative Jim Pollock presents the Trainer’s Buckle to Jon Ensign, winner of the Horse 3 Trainer’s Challenge, while contenders Cain Quam (left) and Aaron Ralston (right) look on.

Horse 3 (head, heart, hooves)

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Brandon, Manitoba, April 12-14, 2013

Jon Ensign of Belgrade, Montana, was the winner of the 6th Annual Horse 3 NAERIC Trainers’ Challenge in Brandon, MB, April 12-14. Three professional horsemen each select a green horse from a group of five, and in four hour-long sessions over three days, aim to bring the horse to a level where it can be ridden over a mini-challenge course of pylons, ropes, a bridge, a ball, and other obstacles. It was the second time at the Horse 3 Trainers’ Challenge for Jon Ensign. In 2011 he went up against Aaron Ralston (that year’s winner) and Cain Quam. This year, he met the same two trainers but came out victorious. Ensign picked 2011 AQHA NAERIC dun filly Dreamin About Money by the barrel stud MRH Fancy Money, and commented, “My filly was very willing from the minute I laid hands on her. I don’t usually have a plan because I find I would work too hard to keep with the plan. Instead, I work on the horse’s time. She tells me what to do and where she’s at.” Ensign was able to ride his filly at the end of the first hour, and in subsequent sessions worked with a tarpaulin, a flag and a bridge, taking small steps to prepare Jon Ensign, winner of the 6th Annual Horse 3 NAERIC Trainers’ challenge.

her for the final challenge. Each trainer demonstrated his individual approach to earning respect, gaining control, and forming a mutual relationship built on trust. The final hour of the Trainers’ Challenge contained a number of mandatory maneuvers for the horse and trainer. The panel of judges consisted of Bob Kaufman, Taylor Douglas and Heather Davey, who scored in categories such

mentally attached but physically she’s in a flight zone. But when I touch her, she’s okay.” When asked if he had a schedule for progress, he said, “Of course, I’m always hoping that I would be further along than I was in the last session. But you can get a completely different horse each day. I’ve made an incredible amount of progress with this filly.” At the end of Hour 2, he was very happy with his achievements. He also said, I don’t mind if a horse doesn’t ‘get it’ the first time. I like a horse that makes it harder to get there.” He was extremely confident about his horse at the end of Hour 3 “because of how confused and unconfident she was in the beginning”. He added, “It’s fun to see the changes in her, and everyone else’s horses.” One of the judges noted on his comment sheet, “A novel use of pool noodles.” But there was no swimming involved: the horse had been

Aaron Ralston

Cain Quam.

great way for people to meet the contestants in a relaxed atmosphere and discuss horse training and techniques. In 2011, Jon Ensign was a judge at Horse 3. This year, he was back as a challenger. He commented, “It’s easy to judge what someone else is doing but when you’re thrown out there in the middle it’s different!” If he was judging himself this year? “I’m my own worst critic. There are always things I wish I had done differently.” Jon doesn’t set out with a purpose or a plan; it’s not the competition but the outcome of what he can do with the horse, pushing to it’s mental limits. He rode his filly in the first hour. He said, “She accepted well, so today [third hour] I backed up and worked on the tarp, the flag and the bridge, preparing for the next stages. “Each time I leave her, she comes back better. She goes back to the stall and thinks about what she’s doing.” Aaron Ralston picked his filly from D5’s band, and commented that she was very guarded. “She wants to be

unhappy about having a rider higher than her head, so Aaron got her used to the sensation by fixing a blue pool noodle to her saddle. He also fixed a noodle in the girth area to accustom her to being touched there. Cain Quam (winner of 2010’s Challenge) was happy to relax and chat at the Meet and Greet. He said the Trainers Challenge was fun because the other two trainers have become good friends, supporting and cheering each other on. He had great respect for the judges, “it’s a tough job for them.” He commented that it’s not the same as judging a competition like reining or cutting, there is no structure and no rule book. “You have to have an open mind and also have a good eye for the horse and its’ interaction with the trainer. “ He laughed when it was suggested that maybe he had picked a larger challenge with his horse than the

continued on page 44

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as the trainer’s ability to read the horse and willingness to change if necessary; the confidence level of the horse with the human and his tools, whether the trainer was sufficiently gaining control of the horse’s feet, and whether the trainer could hold the crowd’s attention and convey what he was doing at any time, and why. Kirk Bridgeman, Bridgeman Land & Livestock, breeder of some of the colts on offer to the trainers, commented that the trainers do a great job. “It’s what we breeders do at home to prepare the colts for life.” He adds, “But these guys are professionals, and know exactly when to make their moves. That’s why they can do it in the time.” Dean and Debbie Fenty (D5 Performance Horses) also supplied colts for the trainers to choose from. We caught the three Trainer’s Challenge contestants at the Saturday evening “Meet and greet”, which was a

continued from page 43

other two guys. “I’m always open to challenges!” Did he ever worry that he would pick the ‘wrong’ horse? “This week is a good example. I knew the horse would be dominant, but she’s more confident and strong than I expected. I just do according to what the horse can manage, just as I would at home. Just because it’s a competition doesn’t change what I do. It’s harder to ‘paint the pretty picture’ that allows you to win the money.” He relies on his program and experience, making the small changes as fast as the horse will allow him to. “In the end,” he said, “It’s doing what’s best for the horse.” The discussion flowed into whether he had advice for a trainer starting out in the Challenge Circuit. “Make sure you’re confident in your program,” was his first comment. “You should have worked as a trainer long enough and can adjust in changing in little ways to work through and

solve any horse dilemma. Don’t be scared to step out, challenge yourself, make yourself better. Stick to your program, change and adjust to fit any horse. Be true to that.” On the actual competition activity, he said, “Don’t let the pressure of the competition throw you off. Even veteran horse trainers meet challenging horses and have to be flexible in their program. Also, don’t worry about what you’re going to say: just talk about what the horse is trying to tell you.” Quam walked the talk when it came to the final obstacle challenge of the competition. He missed demonstrating trailer loading, and when it came to the final few minutes was riding the filly at a lope and realised she was aimed straight for the open trailer: she wasn’t thinking about stopping or turning. He made a fast decision: flatten out or go for it? He went for it, rode the horse up the ramp into the trailer and lifted himself out of the saddle to hang on the roof as she went in. He left the audience open-mouthed, wondering ‘did he do that on purpose?’ It made great showmanship. c

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Things you can teach your horse in 5 minutes or less – Neil McLeod

Neil McLeod, manager and head trainer at Thunderbird Horse Centre in Brandon, discussed “Defining Modern Horsemanship” and also demonstrated simple training activities that a rider could teach their horse in 5 minutes or less. One of the training activities was spot training – to encourage the horse to recognize that standing on a “mat” puts him in a safe, comfortable place where they can take a break. The first day, if the horse only gets within 10’ of the mat, you’ve created a point of reference for tomorrow. Neil asked for both front feet on the mat, then let the horse chill. He asked, “Can he hold it Neil McLeod demonstrates asking a horse to back up.

together and stay there? It’s okay if the horse is inquisitive and plays with the mat. But of course, they do get bored just standing there.” Neil added, “I never lead him off the mat – step up and ask him to back away.” Neil suggested that as the horse becomes accustomed to the mat being a safe, comfortable place, you could cut a piece off and keep it in your pocket or saddle bag. Whenever you want to take a break, take out the mat, put it on the ground and the horse will stay there. “Find he mat, take a break.” Never ask him to do anything while he’s on the mat. If it’s close to what you want, leave it for the day and improve it tomorrow. If the result you get is opposite to what you want, rethink your approach. c

(Above) Heather Davey and 19-year-old Quarter Horse Little Country Girl (Kitten). Kitten is at total liberty but responding to Heatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cues to walk around her in a circle. Heather is working at Level 4 in Parelli Natural Horsemanship. (Right) BJ Graham represented the Clydesdale breed with Cooper, his barrel racing buddy. Looks like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a blast to ride a Clyde flat out!

Evening of the Horse Horse 3 was a full weekend of equine activities, with lectures and demonstrations offered on such wide ranging topics as Equine First Aid, Mounted Shooting, Vaulting, Acupuncture for horses, Confidence training for riders, Working Cow Horse, Natural Horsemanship, and Jumping. The Evening of the Horse on the Saturday night demonstrated the skill and beauty of such breeds as

(Below right) Kevin and Julie Bridgeman (K & J Bridgeman) are preparing their horses for the Canadian National Appaloosa Show in Brandon, July 2013. They have been members of the Manitoba Appaloosa Association for the past 50 years.

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(Below) The Hawreliuk Racing Company wind up their miniatures.

Andalusian, Clydesdale, Bashkir Curly Horse and Appaloosa. Heather Davey showed the beautiful partnership between horse and owner as she performed a liberty session with her barrel horse, and the evening was rounded out with The Hawreliuk Racing Company thundering their miniature horses around the chuck wagon pattern. Which wagon won? Who cares! It was a great spectacle!

(Right) The Andalusian breed was represented by Crystal Harper and her 7-year-old Andalusian stallion, VMF Gitano De La Noche. Andalusians are noted as the horse of kings, are very sensitive and extremely intelligent. An average height is between 15.hh and 16hh; they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t finish growing until they are 7-yearsold. Gitano is showing 2nd level dressage, and schooling 3rd. He is broke to drive and also goes out on trail rides.

(Left) Taylor Douglas doubled as judge of the Trainers Challenge and Working Cow Horse Trainer. He gave encouragement to riders in the clinic such as Ken Grainger (below).

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Bashkir Curly Horses were presented by Sarah Southwell and Taylor McEachern from Hi Point Horsemanship.

Tara Reimer teaches vaulting at Cloud 9 Ranch in Pansy, MB, in its newly-built arena. Bucks Mortamer (Guido), the vaulting lesson horse, is calm and patient as his two new vaulters work out their routines. (Left) Riley Loewen is 6-years-old and has vaulted three times previously to her Horse3 appearance. Tara Reimer on the longe line. (Right) Erica Hiebert (and Abbe Turner, not pictured) are both 12years-old and have each vaulted about 6 times. They said they fell in love with something they could do on a horse that challenged their balance.

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Equine Dental Health:

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

Is your horse in need of maintenance?

Many issues that we see in our horses today, both performance and health related, can be linked to oral health issues. A reasonable understanding of how a horse prehends, chews, and processes it’s food will allow us to better comprehend why dentistry is such an integral part of a horses life and longevity. There are often warning signs that your horse may require dental care, but just like any aspect of veterinary medicine prevention is the key to avoiding future problems. Spring vaccination time is a great opportunity for your veterinarian to give your horse a dental exam to determine if a dental float is required.

by Dr. David Snell Central Veterinary Services

The first thing we should know about our equine companions is that they are not born with teeth. Deciduous teeth are the first to arrive and are replaced by permanent teeth as the horse ages. Deciduous teeth and permanent teeth follow a specific pattern of eruption at predictable times in a horse’s life. This unique pattern of eruption allows us to accurately age a horse based on their dentition for the first five years. After this time all of the permanent teeth have come in and age can be estimated based on wear patterns on the teeth or related features of the incisors such as Galvayne’s groove. The phrase “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”

Common age of tooth eruption Deciduous (Baby Teeth) 1st incisors (centrals)

Birth or 1st week

2nd incisors (intermediates)

4-6 weeks

3rd incisors (corners)

6-9 months

1st, 2nd, & 3rd premolars (cheek teeth)

Birth or first 2 weeks for all premolars

Permanent (Adult Teeth) 1st incisors (centrals)

2 1/2 years

2nd incisors (intermediates)

3 1/2 years

3rd incisors (corners)

4 1/2 years

Canines (bridle)

4-5 years

Wolf teeth (1st premolars)

5-6 months

2nd premolars (1st cheek teeth)

2 1/2 years

3rd premolars (2nd cheek teeth)

3 years

4th premolars (3rd cheek teeth)

4 years

1st molars (4th cheek teeth)

9-12 months

2nd molars (5th cheek teeth)

2 years

3rd molars (6th cheek teeth)

3 1/2 - 4 years

www.aaep.org/health_articles_view.php?id=29

refers to the fact that you can age a horse by its teeth, but bear in mind at best this is only an educated guess. Each horse will wear differently based on a variety of anatomical differences and environmental factors. A horse’s mouth is made of four distinct types of teeth as depicted on the cutaway above: incisors (A to C), canines (D), premolars (E to G), and molars (H to J). Incisors and premolars start as deciduous teeth and are replaced by permanent teeth as discussed above. Canines will sometimes have a deciduous tooth but it will not be visible and stays below the gumline. Molars do not have deciduous precursors and will erupt from one to four years of age. To better understand how dental issues arise a basic understanding of the anatomy and function of the equine head and jaw is necessary. The shape of a horse head and structure of its teeth is ideally adapted for chewing harsh forages. A horse has an anisognathic jaw conformation, which means the upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw and the chewing process is such that the mandible moves in a circular fashion first in one direction, then the other. This chewing motion necessitates that the teeth contact each other on an angle, with the upper arcade angled down toward the cheek and the lower arcade angled toward the tongue. Equines have also evolved a specific type of tooth known as hypsodont which continuously erupt over the

CBA

incisors

canines

E to G:

premolars

H to J:

molars

course of a horse’s life. (Human teeth are are described as brachydont.) The portion of the tooth above the level of the gum is known as the crown and the portion below known as the root. The occlusal or chewing surfaces of the teeth are extremely rough and are made up of ridges of enamel and cementum. Teeth erupt at a rate of about 2-4mm per year and have, on average, a root of approximately 100 mm. This means the typical lifespan of a horse’s tooth is approximately 30 years. The incisors’ primary function is the prehension of food; they are very sharp and allow the horse to grasp forage almost to ground level. Congenital issues such as overbite (parrot mouth), underbite (sow mouth) or wry nose and conformational issues such as ventral curvature (smile), dorsal curvature (frown), or diagonal wear (slant) affect the bite and wear pattern of the horse’s incisors. Stereotypical behaviour can also cause problems. Windsucking or cribbing can cause inappropriate wear to the point at which the horse will require special dietary changes, and environmental enrichment for prevention. Vets also commonly see traumatic injuries from kicks or collisions which are treated on an individual basis. Since the incisors are easily visible a quick look will make most of these issues apparent. However, it is continued on page 50

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A to C:

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continued from page 49

important to note that the mouth works as a unit and issues with the incisors can correspond to more serious problems farther back in the mouth. Lateral excursion, or the measure of lateral distance the jaw will move unimpeded, can be measured with the incisors and can indicate proper occlusion of cheek teeth. Incisor imbalance can greatly affect lateral excursion and the proper motion of the cheek teeth during mastication. Premolars and molars constitute the upper and lower arcades of the mouth, commonly known as the cheek teeth. Issues with oral discomfort and pain can start at an early age and are often associated with these teeth as they erupt and as deciduous teeth are shed. Shedding deciduous teeth are referred to as caps and occasionally these caps are not shed at the proper time leading to discomfort, infection, or inappropriate wear and necessitate removal. The first premolars, more commonly known as wolf teeth, can also be very problematic due to their location. These teeth are located at the front of the upper arcade where the bit is normally seated. Although these teeth are much smaller than other premolars they can often rub against the bit inciting inflammation and discomfort, causing issues when starting a young horse. It is advisable to remove these teeth at the time of gelding or under sedation in a mare or stallion before beginning training. The result of this angiognathic jaw conformation, the normal mechanism for chewing, and the continuous eruption of hypsodont teeth results in the formation of sharp enamel points along the buccal (cheek) surface of the upper arcade and lingual (tongue) surface of the lower arcade as the horse ages. Left unchecked these points can cause significant damage to the oral cavity. One of the most common issues that equine veterinarians encounter is unchecked growth of enamel points causing ulceration of the cheek or tongue. Ulcers can be painful and lead to further damage and infection. The common use of snaffles or bits that have large rings that pull the cheek toward the teeth can exacerbate these issues. The procedure known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;floatingâ&#x20AC;? horse teeth is the removal of these enamel points. Dental floating can be done by hand or with electrical or pneumatic mechanical floats. Palpation of the most rostral cheek teeth can often give us an idea of how long or sharp the enamel points are and anticipate the need for a dental float.

Other problems of the cheek teeth include rostral hooks and caudal ramps which are extra large points in front of the upper arcade and rear of the lower arcades. Wave mouth, shear mouth, step mouth, abcesses, fractured teeth, diastemata, and periodontal disease can also be found in individual horses at varying degrees. Floats usually require standing sedation, a speculum to hold the mouth open, and a good oral rinse that allows for the veterinarian to examine the oral cavity. This allows the veterinarian to examine, diagnose and treat these conditions. If there are concerns about specific teeth we now have access to advanced diagnostics such as digital radiology that can aid in diagnosis. So how do you use this information to determine if your equine companion needs dental care? Here are a few signs that your horse may require some attention:

1. Head tossing

An easily recognizable sign of oral pain could mean your horse may show resistance to bridling. Tossing and shaking may become pronounced when riding with a bit. If the horse is head tossing with a bit try switching to a bitless bridle. If the condition disappears itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for an exam.

2. Change in behavior or performance

Attitude plays an important factor in any health issues in your horse and dental issues are no different. A horse with dental problems will often be more irritable, resistant to training, and difficult to work with.

3. Neck pain or stiffness

Problems with chewing can also have an effect on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) causing pain to extend into the caudal head and neck. This is sometimes more noticeable in athletic animals who are regularly collected as part of their training and routines. If you have used a chiropractor or massage therapist and they often focus on the neck region, some focus on dental health should also be in your plans.

4. Halitosis (Bad breath) Odour is often an indicator of infection, ulceration, abscessation, and foreign bodies. The most common foreign body encountered in western Canada is foxtail whose awns can easily embed in the mucosa of the mouth and cause extreme pain and irritation. Usually foxtail lesions are encountered more in winter due to accidental baling into round or square bales.

5. Quidding

Dropping food from the side of the mouth while masticating, or chewing with one side of the mouth is a sign of oral pain or inappropriate contact of teeth while chewing.

6. Weight loss

Oral pain will decrease food consumption, increase quidding, and result in improperly digested food.

7. Recurring bouts of colic

Often poor oral health is implicated as a cause of recurring gas colic or even impaction colic due to forages entering the hindgut with longer stems and less surface area for bacteria to work on.

8. Facial swelling or asymmetry

May indicate tooth root abscess and be accompanied by foul nasal discharge since maxillary molars can extend into the nasal sinuses.

9. Type of feed

It is important to remember that proper dental care begins at birth and continues throughout the course of a horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Annual or bi-annual examination of the oral cavity is ideal and a float should be performed every one to two years. Certain pathological conditions that are recognized by your veterinarian may require more frequent maintenance. Tools used in equine dentistry are evolving, and allow for more serious conditions to be readily treated by your veterinarian on-farm versus having to be referred to larger centers. Dental health checks should become a regular part of routine and maintenance for our equine friends. c

Thank you to Dr. David Snell of Central Vet Services for this article on equine dentristy. Contact him at (204) 275-2038 or www.centralvet.ca

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Due to the way a horse chews, longer stemmed forages such as hay or pasture stimulate a larger range of motion which improves wear. Pasture forages and hay also accumulate a small amount of fine grit that helps to wear down the teeth over time, somewhat like the rough surface of a dental float. Easy-to-chew forage such as grains result in a shorter stroke of the mouth and will result in uneven wear of the teeth and the requirement for more frequent dental care.

Around... and About... Have you, or someone you know, won an award, been nominated to a Board, done something special? Do you know of something you think other riders would be interested in?

Let us know what’s happening in your neighborhood. Send comments and web links to editor@horsecountry.ca.

From the April Edition of the Quarter Horse Journal.

Dressage Canada Announces Bursary Recipients

Congratulations to 2012 SK Youth Rookie of the Year, Amanda Drake, and SK Amateur Rookie of the Year, April Wooster! April was also 3rd in the nation in the Select Division of the Rookie of the Year! Read more about these two fabulous girls in the last SQHA newsletter. www.sqha.org

Congratulations to Manitoba riders who went down to the MQHA State Show, Fergus Falls, MN, at the end of April.

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Christine Little won the Trainers Challenge Calcutta, plus wins in trail and western riding with Rodney and Rudy. Nancy Dawert showed Rodney in the NA classes and placed in every class and had wins in HMS and trail. Courtney Penner and Rudy had some great rides including an awesome winning pattern in HMS, and wins in HUS and Trail. Liz Penner and Marilyn Lindenschmidt went along to groom and support.

The Program was developed to encourage athletes to accomplish their goals in the sport of dressage, and is funded by a Dressage Canada $7 levy fee on each horse entered in an Equine Canada sanctioned Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Dressage competition. Each receipient received $2,500. • Allegra Hohm, of Edmonton, AB, a 23-year-old university student enrolled in the Masters of Science in Engineering program at the University of Alberta, currently riding at the FEI PSG and I1 level with Rowan, her 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding. • Brooklyn Mcdonald, of Olds, AB, a 14-year-old high school student with aspirations of attending the University of Calgary’s Veterinary Medicine program with a focus in equine medicine. In grade nine she and a friend invented a natural product to treat thrush in horses’ hooves winning a Silver medal at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Charlottetown, PEI. • Bryelle Steffen, of Kingston, ON, an 18-year-old high school student who hopes to attend university in either Kingston or Ottawa to study Psychology and Criminology. Her future goals include getting her coaching levels so she can share her love of the sport through teaching other children to ride.

Ex-Manitoban Morey Fisk (now living and training reining horses in Germany) does it again.

Proud Mom Darlene Fisk let us know that Morey just won the 2013 NRHA European Futurity Open Level 4 champion for the second year! Morey’s run (scoring 226) on Shiners Party Dress: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uP7usziI9WQ#! Interview following his win: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj868zHXQQQ Morey also has a Facebook page.

Congratulations to the Canadian Western Horse Association: they will be pulling their show equipment in this spiffy new trailer this year.

More from October 1990

Pulling a horse trailer: DID YOU KNOW?

In Manitoba you must have a class 3 drivers license in order to drive a truck with more than two axles, including any combination of vehicles, OR a truck with two axles towing a vehicle with a registered gross vehicle weight of more than 4,540 kilograms (10,000 lbs) (but does not include a semi-trailer truck). Saskatchewan’s requirement is almost the same: “Trucks with more than 2 axles that have a trailer or vehicle in tow, where the gross weight of the towed units do not exceed 4,600 kg.

There is a metal label on your horse trailer where this information is listed, along with the serial number, gross vehicle weight etc. This means even if the trailer is empty the fact that it is rated for GVW of more than 10,000 lbs means you must have a class 3 license. However if your vehicle is licensed as a farm vehicle there are exceptions. Check out the details yourself at mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/ClassLicenceSystemBrochure.pdf www.sgi.sk.ca/individuals/licensing/classifications/class3.html

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Kaili, still riding and smiling.

When featured in Horse Country’s “Young Rider”pages in 1990, Kaili Dale was ten-years-old and had been riding since the age of two. Not surprising, as she comes from a family smitten with the horse bug: with Mother Sally and Grandma Lawlor raising Welsh ponies, and Grandfather Dale showing and breeding Percherons. When Kaili’s pony died accidentally, Grandma Lawlor gave her one of her untrained fillies, which Kaili proceeded to train by herself. They became something to contend with in the local show ring, and Kaili’s riding skills took her as far as the Toronto Winter Fair when she won a first in the large Showmanship Class with Brenda Rudd’s pony. The small cowgirl dessed in western boots, pants and shirt and grinning from ear to ear surely impressed the judges. Kaili and L.S. Tiffany went on to have a very successful showing career that ended after many show seasons, simply because Kaili outgrew Tiffany. Although Kaili continued on showing, branching out into the Quarter Horse world, Tiffany remained on the Dale farm where she had several foals out of prominent Canadian Stallion, Windsmore Bracken. Tiffany was 21 when she died in 2005. As well as horses being a huge part of Kaili’s life, so were sports where she excelled in basketball, volleyball, and fastball. This kept her busy during her high school years until she went to university where she continued on playing basketball alongside older sister Tara. She attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree and upon post graduation she moved west. Now living in Alberta, Kaili is employed in the oil and gas industry. Here she found a love for running, completing her first half marathon in 2008. Travelling also remains a constant in Kaili’s life with vacations to London and Rome, and several trips home where her connection with horses first began. c

Storey’s Guide to Training Horses $43 By Heather Smith Thomas. ISBN 978-1-60342-544“Thomas is truly comprehensive in her approach, drawing from the very best aspects of various training methods.” – Equine Journal The Horse Nutrition Handbook $29.95 By Melyni Worth. ISBN 978-1-60342-541-4 Worth has everything you need to know about equine nutrition from start to finish. How to Think Like a Horse $29.50 By Cherry Hill. ISBN 978-1-58017-835-8 Best-selling author Cherry Hill discusses how horses think, learn, respond to stimuli, and interpret human behaviour. What Every Horse Should Know $29.50 By Cherry Hill. ISBN 978-1-60342-713-5 Cherry Hill explores how horses learn, with a focus on the knowledge every horse needs to live safely and confidently in the company of people. Games on Horseback $34 By Betty Bennett-Talbot. ISBN 978-1-58017-134-2 Full-color; photographs and illustrations throughout.

in-depth information on every aspect of selecting, maintaining, and operating tractors and horse trailers – essential equipment for horsekeepers. Trail Riding $32 By Rhonda Hart Poe. ISBN 978-1-58017-560-9 Fundamental instruction and detailed advice on every aspect of trail riding, the most popular activity on horseback. Horse Hoof Care $29.50 By Cherry Hill & Richard Klimesh. ISBN 978-1-60342-088-4 Good hoof care is key to every horse’s health and performance. This complete guide explains hoof anatomy, the farrier’s role, and the importance of daily routines and consistent care – if it affects horse foot health, it’s explained in this book. Competing in Western Shows & Events $29.25 By Charlene Strickland. ISBN 978-1-58017-031-4 Horse Health Care $29.95 By Cherry Hill. ISBN 978-0-88266-955-7 Packed with useful advice on mastering dozens of essential healthcare skills and illustrated with step-by-step photographs, this volume covers wound care, leg wrapping, injections, dental exams, basic restraint, and more.

HORSE COUNTRY BOOKSTORE

We have many more books available. Please go to www.horsecountry.ca and click the BOOKSTORE link to see the full range. Call 1-866-886-2425 to order. All prices include taxes.

Horse Showing for Kids $38.50 By Cheryl Kimball. ISBN 978-1-58017-501-2 Full-color; photographs and illustrations throughout . Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage $34.95 By Cherry Hill. ISBN 978-1-58017-535-7 Provide the best equine care while maintaining responsible land practices. Cherry Hill shows how in this thoroughly updated, fullcolor edition of her best-selling classic on Horsekeeping. Pony Play Games & Puzzles $13.50 ISBN 978-1-60342-063-1 Jackie the Jack Russell terrier and Barney the barn owl are in-theknow guides for a puzzle-packed tour around the horse farm.

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Horse Games & Puzzles $13.50 ISBN 978-1-58017-538-8 More than 1,000 riddles, quizzes and games will keep young horse lovers happy for hours. Children aged 8-12.

Easy-Gaited Horses $29.50 By Lee Ziegler. ISBN 978-1-58017-562-3 Discover the pleasures of riding a horse that is calm, obedient, relaxed, and sure-footed. Lee Ziegler provides a comprehensive guide to using humane methods to train a horse that’s comfortable to ride. From defining various gaits to explaining equine anatomy to training a variety of horses in specific gaits, this is the definitive guide to good gaited horsemanship. Equipping Your Horse Farm $29.50 By Cherry Hill. ISBN 978-1-58017-843-3 This companion volume to Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage offers

101 Drill Team Exercises for Horse & Rider $42.95 By Debbie Kay Sams. ISBN 978-1-60342-143-0 Practice exercises are crucial for all drill team riders. The exercises developed for this Read & Ride Guide progress from basic skillbuilding drills to challenging synchronized formations. 101 Jumping Exercises for Horse and Rider $42.95 By Linda L Allen. ISBN 978-1-58017-465-7 This must-have workbook provides a logical and consistent series of exercises with easy-to-follow maps and instructions for all riding abilities. 101 Dressage Exercises for Horse and Rider $42.95 By JEC Aristotle Ballou. ISBN 978-1-58017-595-1 For dressage riders at all levels, here are 101 exercises featuring fullarena diagrams and step-by-step instructions. 101 Arena Exercises for Horse and Rider $42.95 By Cherry Hill. ISBN 978-0-88266-316-6 Hill presents recognized classic exercises for both English and Western riders, plus her own original patterns and maneuvers. Useful for riders interested in improving their own and their horses’ skills and for instructors looking for new drills. 101 Horsemanship & Equitation Patterns $42.95 By Cherry Hill. ISBN 978-1-58017-159-5 Learn the moves that make judges take notice. Even if you don’t compete, this guide to the essential patterns for Western Horsemanship and English equitation competition will sharpen your skills.

Connections:

the economical section for buyers and sellers.

Trinder’s Bear

Registered Tennessee Walking Horse gelding, Black with star, born 2003. Gaited Trail Horse, familiar with PNH, parades, wildlife, rugged terrain, cattle. Contact Marsha Trinder, TW Ranch, Russell, MB. 204-773-2711, trinder@ xplornet.ca www.twhorse.com www.facebook.com/twranch www.youtube.com/twranch

Canada West/Brahma Boot: Winnipeg Trinder’s Makwa

Registered Tenessee Walking Horse Gelding, 15.2 hh, Chestnut with left hind coronet, born 2003. Gaited Trail Horse; experienced with cattle, rugged terrain, PNH, parades. Contact Marsha Trinder, TW Ranch, Russell, MB 204-773-2711. trinder@xplornet.ca Website: www.twhorse.com, www.facebook.com/twranch, www.youtube.com/twranch.

Call 204-633-8132 Ask for Arlene.

TRAILERS

Advantage Auto & Trailer Sales For all your trailer needs! Featherlite, Titan, Interstate, Load Trail, Aluma, Duralite. Specializing in affordable living-quarter horse trailers. Sales, leasing, rental & financing. FINANCING! 0% down with extended terms up to 20 years! Toll free 1-888-571-8899, local 204-729-8989. 770 Highland Ave., on the TransCanada Highway, Brandon, MB. www.aats.ca. (1-14)

EQUINE THERAPY FOR SALE: Registered Miniature Horses for sale. and Registered Sheltie pups. Call Barb Glover, Boissevain, MB 204534-6008.

Start a career with horses at the Academy of Equine Assisted Learning, 306-763-0386, www.cartierequinelearningcenter.com. (8-13)

continued on page 56

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Horse For Sale advertising Horse Country’s gift to you - July 22 edition: horse for sale text advertising is FREE! Picture $24 + GST. (25 words maximum, private sellers only.) Deadline is July 1 - don’t miss it! Businesses - call for economical rates. Email: contact@horsecountry.ca Phone: Freephone 1-866-886-2425 Local: 204-256-7467 Fax: 204-257-2467 By mail: Suite 203, 23-854 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB R2M 5M3.

Seeking part-time help. Knowledge of western wear clothing and tack an asset.

Connections:

the economical section for buyers and sellers.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Harness and saddle repairs. Pat Lynch, Prairie Enterprises. 204-7522162 (8-13)

PROPERTY

Training Facility for Sale or Rent. 80x200 Indoor arena with attached heated 12 box stall barn, two tack rooms, meeting room, washroom, many pens with waterers, 1000 sq ft house, hayshed, 76 acres of pasture, outdoor arena (115x230). Located near Erickson, MB. Call 204-636-2153 or email wkboles@gmail.com

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

HORSES FOR SALE

FOR SALE: 3 yo registered Quarter Horse gelding, 15.3hh, UTD on shots, worming, farrier. Good looking, good natured, well broke, trailers well. Asking $2,250. 204-763-4794. FOR SALE: 17.1hh, 11 yo OTTB,. Dark brown, handsome big-boned gelding. Used as a trail horse. No buck or rear and sound. UTD on farrier, vaccines, deworming. Ties, loads, not suitable for children. $1,500 OBO. Call 204-281-1015. FOR SALE: 6 yo green broke black/white overo gelding. Very calm, great with kids and used to all types of recreational vehicles and heavy farm machinery. Asking $1,500 Aussietrip05@yahoo.ca. 204-433-3355. FOR SALE: 2011 silver buckskin QH filly. Well started on ground work and under saddle. Great mind, polite on lead, ponied on trails and 12 rides english and western. $1,500 OBO. 204-330-4460 FOR SALE: ‘Izzy’ Beautiful bay 16.2 hh 7 yr old Thoroughbred gelding. Show experience in Hunters, Jumpers & Cross Country. Has shown up to 2’6” & free jumped to 3’6”. Very brave & LOVES to jump. Loads, bathes and clips. Excellent on trails. Talented athlete with huge potential needing development to take him to next level. Intermediate rider or above only. Price reduced as we have no time to ride him. $3,200. 204-444-5252. FOR SALE: 7 yo Foundation bred Rocky Mountain Mare. Chocolate with flaxen mane and tail. 15.1 hh. Nice smooth, slow gait. Started as a 2 yo and has 90 days professional training. Light, sensitive in the bridle, works well off her leg aids. Very nice responsive mare. Very quiet, easy to handle and catch. UTD with feet, shots, worming and teeth. In your pocket type of Rocky. Rides well with other horses. For intermediate/ advanced riders. Wonderful trail horse with more hours of riding. Only selling as my job interferes in my riding time. 807-274-2361, or cell 807275-6534. Leave a message. ckreger65@yahoo.com FOR SALE: 2 geldings: 12 yo APHA, shown and works cattle. $3,800 obo. 16 yo grade QH x App x Arab, trail horse. $1,500 obo. Both sound, broke. Email alnmart@mts.net or 204-766-2728 for more info. FOR SALE: Oosa Temonic (2001) aka Sugar.Shown in Youth, Amateur and Open division at AQHA shows, numerous all around and circuit champions in all three divisions. Has 28.0 open points, 12.5 Amateur, Novice youth 40.5 and Youth 63.0. Amateur Performance ROM, Open Performance ROM, Youth Performance ROM. Also shown (and won) at local shows and fairs in Showmanship, Halter, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, English Equitation, Hunter under saddle, Trail. AQHA and NAERIC Incentive funded. 204-866-3042. FOR SALE: 2011 AQHA NAERIC dun filly Dreamin About Money by the great barrel stud MRH Fancy Money. Is the 2013 trainers challenge champion at Horse3. She’d make an excellent barrel prospect. Morden, Manitoba. email: tjfehr69@gmail.com or call 204-362-7830. FOR SALE: Magical Mystery Ride. 2012 Bay Overo Filly. Sired by 1D Barrel Stallion Smokes Remedy. Full sister to 1D Barrel Mare “Memphis. Very sweet and pretty! Awesome barrel prospect. $3,000. Contact Dream Chaser Ranch. 204-371-6489. FOR SALE: Smokem Olympic Style. 2012 Bay Overo Colt. Sired by 1D Barrel Stallion Smokes Remedy. Dam’s sire is Judys Lineage (Progeny race earnings $4 million +). Barrel/stallion prospect $4,500. Contact Dream Chaser Ranch. 204-371-6489. FOR SALE: Bangup Fannie Dancer. 1998 Solid Sorrel APHA Mare. Sired by Judys Lineage. Broke to ride and competed in hunter/jumper. Good broodmare. $4,000. Contact Dream Chaser Ranch. 204-371-6489. FOR SALE: Indian Smoke Signals. 2013 Solid Bay APHA Colt Sired by 1D Barrel Stallion Smokes Remedy. Dam is daughter of Indians Image (APHA Running World Champion). Awesome Barrel Prospect.

$1500. Contact Dream Chaser Ranch. 204-371-6489. FOR SALE: The Midnite Mist. All round youth or amateur horse. Shown in Western Pleasure, Trail, Halter. Four Top Tens in open reining at Canadian Nationals (Royal Red) contact c.cross@sasktel.net FOR SALE: 2006 PB Arabian Chestnut Gelding Crabbet/Khemosabi bloodlines. Trained in Reining, shown at Scottsdale. Great disposition. Asking $15,000 OBO. 780-791-4104 or vpeach13@gmail.com FOR SALE: 2008 PB Arabian Grey Gelding. Has had 4 months reining training with the McLean Girls. Awesome disposition and lots of try. Asking $3,500 OBO. 780-791-4104 or vpeach13@gmail.com

TACK

FOR SALE: Eamor team roping saddle, 15½” seat. Asking $1,200 OBO. Phone Allene at 204-467-5911. FOR SALE: Vintage Carriage with Canopy for sale in excellent condition. Asking $2,200 OBO. Phone Allene at 204-467-5911. FOR SALE: Vintage 2-Person Cutter for sale with padded seat. Asking $1,700 OBO. Phone Allene at 204-467-5911. FOR SALE: Complete set of black show harness for team. Fits 9001100 lb horses. asking $1,500 OBO. Phone Allene at 204-467-5911. FOR SALE: International Riding Helmet, new - comes with box. Black w/ white stripe, ready for the show ring. Size 7 5/8s. Asking $85. 204-444-3557. FOR SALE: Stubben Tristan dressage saddle, with stirrup leathers and stirrups. 16 1/2 inch seat. Very good condition. Asking $500. 204-895-0916.

ATTENTION BUSINESSES!

Do you want to reach the heart of Canadian horsepeople? The CONNECTIONS section is an economical way to get your business or service noticed. Call Linda at 204-256-7467 Publication Schedule 2013/14 (8 issues - every six weeks) Issue Space Material # booking closing 5-13 June 24 July 1 6-13 August 5 August 12 7-13 Sept 16 Sept 23 8-13 Oct 28 Nov 4

Published week of July 22 Sept 2 Oct 14 Nov 25

Send your show and clinic dates to contact@horsecountry.ca for free insertion. (Limited to date, association, event and contact details.) Other events and additional information can be inserted at a per-word rate. Editor’s decision is final. Call for advertising rates for display insertions. Non-profit rates available. Please note deadline and publishing dates on the opposite page. 1-866-886-2425 or email editor@horsecountry.ca

ALBERTA JUNE 14-17 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Rainer. 403635-3328. tami.plumb@xplornet.com

ADMC BLHPS DSC DW E/CT MAHA MCHA MDS MHT MMHC MPC MPHC SAHA SIRAS SPC

AUGUST 17-18 ADMC. Tees Longears Days, Tees. Longest running Mule and Donkey show in Canada. Russ Shandro 780-632-7510. www. albertadonkeyandmule.com

JUNE 22-23 Wild Rose Welsh & Open Pony Show #1, Westerner Park, Red Deer. piper_p13@ hotmail.com. 780-850-1101. Facebook www. facebook.com/WildRoseShow

NOVEMBER 2-5 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Cochrane. 403-246-6205. scrawford@blgcanada.com

JUNE 15-16 ADMC. Mule, horse, donkey show. Nanton. Show Chair Alice Todd, 403-646-2624. www. albertadonkeyandmule.com

JUNE 14-15 Ninette (Pelican Lake) Fair. Jennifer Forsyth. 204-523-4313. pelicanlakeagsociety@hotmail. com

JUNE 28-30 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Fairview. 780835-1167. rtcshaw@hotmail.com

JUNE 14-15 Lundar Fair & Exhibition. Plus Horse Show. Cynthia Wirgau. 204-278-3255. lundarfair@ hotmail.com www.lundarfair.com

JULY 6-7 Stone Bridge Carriage Driving Club. Wild Rose Classic Driving Trials, Kevisville. Leanne 403-578-3111.

MANITOBA

JUNE 14-23 Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg. 204-8886990. info@redriverex.com

JULY 5-14 Calgary Stampede.

JUNE 15 Ninette Fair includes Hunter/Jumper.

JULY 20-21 ADMC. Annual Club Trail Ride at the Hummingbird, west of Rocky Mt. House. All equines welcome. Keith Kendrew, 403-8433293. www.albertadonkeyandmule.com

JUNE 15-16 MCHA. Harvey Penner’s Show, Giroux. www.mbcutting.ca, chelseycoulter19@gmail. com

JULY 26-28 Miniatures In Motion Horse Club: 18th Annual Horse Show, Thompson Country Pony Club, Rocky Mountain House. Open to Registered and Unregistered miniature horses 38’’ and under. Prizelist www. miniaturesinmotion.ca or contact Bonnie at jbh@echoveiw.ca JULY 27-28 ADMC. Bruce Stampede and Great Canadian Mule Race. Russ Shandro. 780-632-7510. www.albertadonkeyandmule.com AUGUST 17-18 Stone Bridge Carriage Driving Club. Eagle Ridge Driving Trial, Kevisville. Leanne 403578-3111. AUGUST 9-11 Wild Rose Welsh & Open Pony Show #2. Westerner Park, Red Deer. piper_p13@ hotmail.com. 780-850-1101. Facebook www. facebook.com/WildRoseShow AUGUST 16-19 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Olds. Eagel Hill Equine Arena. 403-996-3105. kimbaerg@ hotmail.com

Alberta Donkey & Mule Club Brandon Light Horse & Pony Society Dryden Saddle Club Dressage Winnipeg Endurance/Competitive Trail. Manitoba Arabian Horse Association Manitoba Cutting Horse Association Manitoba Driving Society Manitoba Horse Trials Manitoba Miniature Horse Club Manitoba Pony Club Manitoba Paint Horse Club Saskatchewan Arabian Horse Association South Interlake Rockwood Agricultural Society Springfield Polo Club

JUNE 15-16 Wheat City Reining Derby. NRHA Approved. Westoba ACE Arena, Brandon. Contact Sherry Gruhle, ccrhashowdirector@ccrha. com. Entry forms available @ www.ccrha.com JUNE 15-16 Capt. DeKenyeres Memorial Competition. Karine Duhamel, Show Chair: karine@ dressagewinnipeg.com JUNE 21-23 Chris Irwin “The Language of the Horse” clinic. Rocking Q Thoroughbred Farm, Stonewall. Demo evening Friday 7-10 pm. Linda Ridley at thelevelheadedhorse@yahoo. ca. 204-694-3844 or 204-807-4222. JUNE 21-24 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Russell. 204773-3371. rvfarms@mac.com JUNE 22 Rapid City Fair. Myrna Bayes. 204-826-2273. JUNE 22 Miami Fair Horse Show. Halter, English and Western events including Gymkhana. New Walk/Trot Classes added. Judy Elliott 204435-2840.

JUNE 22 Endurance 15/25/50 miles. CT 15/25/40 miles. Birds Hill Park. Pot Luck Saturday. Jen Simon. Diane Borger 204-233-1190. dborger@mts.net. JUNE 22 Horse Agility Introduction and Training Day, Brandon. Jocelyn Kish. horseaddict@yahoo. com JUNE 22-23 MHJA. Summer Smiles. Birds Hill Park. JUNE 22-23 Turtle Mountrain (Boissevain) Fair. Nicole Fordyce. 204-534-0857. nicolekyle_88@ hotmail.com JUNE 22-23 Miami Fair & Rodeo. Jan Moody 204-4352288. janmoody@mymts.net JUNE 23 Endurance 15/25/50 miles. Birds Hill Park. Jen Simon. Diane Borger 204-233-1190. dborger@ mts.net JUNE 27-29 Light Horse portion of Dauphin Fair. Horsemanship clinics, colt starting demos, 4H Day & fun show, MGRA. Entry in a horsemanship clinic gives you 3 - 2 hour sessions with Adam Teeter plus exhibitor meal on Friday night. Enter before Monday June 24th and receive a free weekend pass for each horse/stall (up to 6 passes!). There is limited space in the clinics. Check Susan Green Zurba on Facebook.or Sherry Beyak. 204-638-4428. Fax 204-656-4540 dauphinagsociety@hotmail.ca JUNE 28 - JULY 1 MHT Summer Horse Trials. Birds Hill Park. Val Crowe. 204-535-2368 pvcrowe@mts.net JUNE 29 Endurance 15/25/50 miles. CT 15/25/40 miles. Souris Bend. Myna Cryderman 204-534-2390. myna@goinet.ca Pot Luck Saturday. JUNE 29 MacGregor Fair. Jim Klywak. 204-274-2273. Jim Klywak. macgregorfair@hotmail.com JUNE 29-30 The 39th Welsh Pony and Cob Association Show, Virden. Marg Allen 204-352-4324 or Donna Hunter email kenview@inethome.ca

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What’s Happening?

What’s Happening continued from page 57 JUNE 29-30 Treherne Fair. Josie Robinson. 204-723-2275. Fax 204-723-2144. JUNE 29 MQHA Manitoba Summer AQHA Trail Challenge. Outdoor trail pattern. Horses In Motion, Edwin. Registration 9:30 - 11 a.m. Judges/Riders Meeting: 11:30 am. Competition: 12:00 noon to 5 pm. Supper to follow. All Breed, Youth, Adult/Training, Intermediate, Master. $25. (Includes insurance and office fees.) Shelley Minaudier 204-749-2316, shelmin@mymts.net

REGULAR EVENTS SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB Season starts the May long weekend and ends September 15. Practice games are every Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Formal games are Sundays at 1:00pm- 4:00pm. JULY 5 MMHC. Prairie Winds Summer Show - Miniatures and American Shetlands. Westoba ACE arena, Brandon. Start time 8:30 a.m. Contact Holly Pierce at prairiewindssummershow@gmail.com JULY 5-7 Carberry Fair & Races. Alex Christison. 204834-3772. Alex Christison. carberryagsociety@ hotmail.com

JUNE 30 - JULY 1 SPC. Springfield International Tournament. Springfield Polo Club, Birds Hill Park. Spencer Smith. 204-782-3252.

JULY 5-7 Portage la Prairie Industrial Exhibition. Velma Nicoll. 204-857-3231. www.portageex. com

JUNE 30 - JULY 1 Glenboro Fair. Geraldine Kovar 204-827-2661.

JULY 5-9 All levels - Building Blocks to the Foundation for Performance Don and Randee Halladay. Horses In Motion arena. Crystal 204-252-2179 or email neu@mts.net

JULY 4-7 MHJA. Beach Party. Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg. (Silver.) JULY 5 Crystal City/Clearwater Fair. Dean Buchanan. 204-873-2661. deankb@mts.net

JULY 6-7 Manitou Fair. Hugh Waddingham. 204-2462105. manitouagsociety@hotmail.ca JULY 6-7 Rossburn Fair and Exhibition. Brian Brown. 204-859-0051. JULY 7 MMHC. Manitoba International Show Miniatures and American Shetlands. Westoba ACE arena, Brandon Start time 8:30 a.m. Contact Mary Ann at bartk@inetlink.ca

JUNE 30 Endurance 15/25/50 miles. Myna Cryderman 204-534-2390. myna@goinet.ca

JULY 2-3 Rivers Fair Alice Fast or Hazel Moyer 204328-7512 or 204-826-2810 .

JULY 6 Interlake Riding Club Horse Show, Teulon Green Acres Park. Contact interlakeridingclub@live.ca. 204-641-4455.

JULY 6 Teulon Horse show. JULY 6 DW. 1 Day Gold Midsummer Madness: (Prior to Camp). Karine Duhamel, Show Chair: karine@dressagewinnipeg.com

JULY 7-9 DW. 5th Annual Dressage Winnipeg Development camp with Birgit Valkenborg and Sue Leffler. Pineridge Equine Park. ashley@dressagewinnipeg.com JULY 11-13 Carman Fair. Janessa Unrau. 204-745-2226. carmfair@mymts.net www.carmanfair.ca JULY 12-13 CWHA, Selkirk Triple S Fair and Rodeo. Please note you will need to attend 4 of the 6 shows in order to qualify for year end awards. Show secretary: Naomi Sinkarsin. Phone/Fax 204-878-9673. www.cwha.ca. cwha@mymts. net JULY 12-14 2013 Triple S Fair & Rodeo 2013. Jackpots 13th and 14th. $6000 added cash and prizes. Pat Pennington. 204-485-4854. Pat Pennington. ppen@mts.net. selkirkfairandrodeo.com

The Helping Hooves Ride Route for 2013 Friday Aug 9 - Meet and Greet! Kleefeld Manitoba

Friday Aug 16 - Ride to St Andrews Stables

Saturday Aug 24 - Ride to Horses in Motion

Saturday Aug 10 - Official Kickoff of 2013 Trail Ride - Kleefeld Manitoba. Watch for news of the big event!

Saturday Aug 17 - Ride to Oak Hammock Marsh and back to St Andrews Stables

Sunday Aug 25 - Horses in Motion Arena, Tack Sale

Sunday Aug 11 - Trailer to Manitoba Horse Council Facility - Birds Hill Park. Guided Trail Ride in the park with Deb/Bruce Champagne Monday Aug 12 - Ride to Hazelridge

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

Tuesday Aug 13 - Ride to Beausejour

Wednesday Aug 14 - On way to Selkirk Thursday Aug 15 - Ride to Selkirk

Sunday Aug 18 - Trailer or ride to Grosse Isle Monday Aug 19 - Ride to St Francois Xavier Tuesday Aug 20 - Ride to Dakotah Wednesday Aug 21 - Ride to Elie Thursday Aug 22 - Ride to Fortier Friday Aug 23 - Ride to Oakville

Helping Hooves’ Pink Trail Ride will kick off in Kleefeld on August 9, On Sunday, August 11, Helping Hooves will be a part of MHC’s Horse Week Activities at Birds Hill Park. The day will include guided ride in the park, Pancake and Sausage breakfast, games afternoon and BBQ burgers for supper. All money raised by MHC’s sponsored ride on that day will be donated to Helping Hooves! The remainder of the trek will wind a long trail around Winnipeg,

Monday Aug 26 - Ride TBC Tuesday Aug 27 - Ride TBC Wednesday Aug 28 - Ride to Bagot Thursday Aug 29 - Ride to MacGregor Friday Aug 30 - Ride to Austin Saturday Aug 31 - Windup in Austin with demonstrations by the Austin Hick Chicks, Barb Fenwick Horse Agility and many others.

ending on August 31 at the Austin Agricultural Museum. You can join the ride for a day, a weekend or for the entire three weeks! All money raised through Helping Hooves activities will be donated to Helping Hands of Manitoba, an organisation which helps Manitobans with breast cancer. To sign up for the ride, sponsor, or get more information call Pam Glover at 204-422-8076, email pam@helpinghoovesmanitoba.com. Follow on Facebook or www.helpinghoovesmanitoba.com

Classified Advertising Rates All rates are prepaid. Add GST or HST as applicable in your home province. (No PST.) CONNECTIONS SECTION Horses For Sale valued over $750. Picture section. $48: Picture and 30 words text. Guaranteed 1/9th page entry. $24: 30 words text only. Guaranteed 1/18th page entry. Horses valued less than $750 will be placed in the line adverts as below: Email: Send write-up - no more than 30 words, and picture no smaller than 3” x 2” at 300 dpi - high resolution. Please do not sharpen or crop the file. Pictures from web sites, video cameras or smart phones are not acceptable. Photographers proofs not accepted. Please send picture as an attachment, not inserted into the body of the email or Word document. If using Kodak Share or other email program, click on “keep original size”, NOT “email”. Regular mail: Send photo and maximum 30-word write-up, with an SASE if you want your picture returned. Paid adverts will be uploaded to the web each weekend. For security, please phone credit card details, don’t email. Email: contact@horsecountry.ca Phone: toll-free 1-866-886-2425, local 204-256-7467. Fax: 204-257-2467. Mail: Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street,Winnipeg, MB R2M 5M3 Line Advertising FREE: Subscribers’ personal line adverts, four times each year. Maximum 30 words per advert. Email to contact@horsecountry.ca or call 1-866-886-2425. $1 per word: Business adverts. $11: Add a picture to any line category. Bonus web: Horses for sale, line ads and small box ads in the Connections section include at least ten weeks on horsecountry.ca. Call for annual display rates in this section. Web and print packages available from $250. NB - Insertions not restricted to the current headings. We welcome new categories. ADVERTISERS PLEASE CALL: Linda Hazelwood 204-256-7467 or 1-866-8862425; contact@horsecountry.ca.

JULY 13-14 Minnedosa Fair. Bruce Sharpe. 204-867-7503. minnedosaagsoc@gmail.com JULY 13-14 Souris/Glenwood Fair. Jennifer Skiehar. 204721-4168. Jennifer Skiehar. sourisagsociety@ gmail.com JULY 14-15 Oak River Fair. Ashley Black. 204-566-2281. ashbla2@hotmail.com JULY 14-20 MPC Camp. Portage Fair Grounds. Leslie Wishart. 857-3311. lwishart@bdo.ca JULY 16 Strathclair Fair. Keri-Lyn Rothnie. 204-3652579. krothnie@hotmail.com JULY 17 Shoal Lake Fair. Cory Luhowy. 204-759-2280. cluhowy@hotmail.com JULY 18 Hamiota Fair. Linda Wilson. 204-764-2642. gkwilson@mts.net JULY 18-21 Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition, Morris. Malissa Dreger Lewis. 204-746-2552. vas@ mts.net

JULY 19 Harding Fair. Bonnie Kent. 204-838-2241. hardingfair@inethome.ca JULY 19–20 MCHA. Morris Stampede. www. mbcutting.ca, chelseycoulter19@gmail.com JULY 19-21 Arborg Fair & Rodeo. Lenore Olafson. 204642-2700. lenoreolafson@hotmail.com JULY 20 Oak Lake Fair. Pat Baker. 204-855-2030. oaklakeagsociety@yahoo.ca JULY 20 Springfield Country Fair. Lise Seadon. 204-755-3464. ldseadon@mts.net. www. springfieldagsociety.com JULY 20-21 Cypress River Fair. Valerie Truelove. 204743-2123. truelove@mts.net JULY 20-21 CCRHA Rudko Summer Slide. NRHA Approved. Pineridge Equine Park, Oakbank. Contact Sherry Gruhle, ccrhashowdirector@ccrha.com. Entry forms available @ www.ccrha.com JULY 19-21 Arborg Horse Show, Rodeo and Fair. Horse Show. Selena. 204-641-1909. selena _ann96@hotmail.com

JULY 21 Arborg Horse Auction. 12:00 noon. Inquiries contact Joy 204-376-5130. zajajoy@gmail. com or Selena 204-641-1909. selena_ann96@ hotmail.com JULY 20-22 MDS. 20th Annual Birds Hill International. www.manitobadrivingsociety.com JULY 23 Elkhorn Fair. Sharon Henry. 204-845-2622 or 204-748-5131. sherry@flbsd.mb.ca JULY 25-28 Swan River Northwest Roundup & Exhibition. Light Horse Show. Colleen Immekar. 204-734-3718. chamberofcommerce@chamber8.ca JULY 27 Showing Up Cancer Horse Show. South Interlake Agriculture Society Ag Grounds, Stonewall. All money raised will go to the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada and CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. smarlys@ mts.net. 204-383-5492. JULY 27 Plumas-Lansdowne Agricultural Fair. Wendy Denbow. 204-386-2670 or 204-386-2881. cdenbow@hotmail.com

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JULY 12-14 Gilbert Plains/Grandview Fair & Rodeo. Lori Bremner. 204-638-7268. gp.gv.agsociety@live. ca. www.gpgvagsociety.mfbiz.com

What’s Happening continued from page 45 JULY 27-29 Northfield/MHJA. Derby, Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg. (Silver.) JULY 31 - AUGUST 4 MHJA. Heart of the Continent, Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg. (Gold.) AUGUST 2-3 Birtle Fair. Jim Lane. 204-842-3685. AUGUST 4-5 Eriksdale Horse Show. AUGUST 4 -11 Horse Week. All events, regardless of size, taking place between August 4 - 11, 2013 can apply for Horse Week status and be promoted through MHC.Register your event for Horse Week at the MHC office at 204.925.5719. Complete list of 2013 Horse Week events and activities at www.manitobahorsecouncil. ca/Horse-Week AUGUST 8-9 (tentative) Interlake Classic Quarter Horse Shows. Eriksdale Arena, Eriksdale. Karen Emms. kaemms@mts.net AUGUST 9-11 Winkler Harvest Festival & Exhibition. Peter Penner. 204-562-8444. stanleyag@hotmail.com AUGUST 10 Turn N Burn barrel racing, Birds Hill Park at 1 pm. AUGUST 10 Teulon Fair. Ralph Trombo. 204-886-2098. jtrombo@shaw.ca AUGUST 10-11 Gladstone Fair. Tara Fulton. 204-870-9524. clay@mymts.net AUGUST 10-11 MCHA. Meadowview Ranch Show, www. mbcutting.ca, chelseycoulter19@gmail.com AUGUST 10-11 Roblin Fair. Leroy Wandler. 204-333-2189. roblinag@live.ca AUGUST 12-17 Canadian National Arabian Championships, Keystone Centre, Brandon.

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

AUGUST 15-18 Hanover Ag Fair. Wayne LeMay. 204-4346773. info@hanoverag.com

AUGUST 16 CWHA Hanover Ag Fair Grunthal. Please note you will need to attend 4 of the 6 shows in order to qualify for year end awards. Show secretary: Naomi Sinkarsin. Phone/Fax 204878-9673. www.cwha.ca. cwha@mymts.net

Sheets) starting at 11 am, Poker hands, kids games, Kids entertainment, Pig and chicken Roast, Auction, and Barn dance to finish off the day. AUGUST 17-18 CCRHA PineRidge Summer Sizzler. NRHA Approved. Pineridge Equine Park, Oakbank. Contact Sherry Gruhle, ccrhashowdirector@ ccrha.com. Entry forms at www.ccrha.com AUGUST 22-25 MHJA. Fall Harvest & Derby. Birds Hill Park, Winnipeg. (Bronze.) AUGUST 24 Ashern Horse Show. AUGUST 24-25 MCHA. Virden Show. www.mbcutting.ca, chelseycoulter19@gmail.com AUGUST 24-25 Horse Agility and Trail riding, Seasons Ranch, Sprucewoods Park. Liberty & Wild Agility training/playday. Sunday, Competition in Liberty and Wild Agility. Barb Fenwick , barbandspirit@gmail.com AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 2 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Winnipeg. 204-222-6295. gailcornock@yahoo.ca AUGUST 31 Austin Rodeo/Museum Grounds - Austin, MB - Pink Ride Windup Event - Horse Agility Demonstration - Barb Fenwick - contact Pam Glover skcricket@hotmail.com AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 2 The Pas Chuckwagon Races & Ranch Rodeo. Stan Wilson. 204-623-6284, or cell 204-6209623. AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 1 DW. Manitoba Provincial Championships. Karine Duhamel, Show Chair: karine@ dressagewinnipeg.com AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 1 Endurance 15/25/50 miles each day. Turtle Mountain. Pot Luck Saturday. Myna Cryderman 204-534-2390. myna@goinet.ca AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 2. CWHA South Steinbach Tour (August 31st Tara Reimer, Sept. 1st Patrick Enns, September 2nd. Saskia Reutter). Please note you will need to attend 4 of the 6 shows in order to qualify for year end awards. Show secretary Naomi Sinkarsin. Phone/Fax 204878-9673. www.cwha.ca. cwha@mymts.net SEPTEMBER 1-2 Selkirk High School Rodeo. Pat Pennington. 204-485-4854. SEPTEMBER 6-8 SPC. Wind’er-up and Shut’er-down Tournament, Springfield Polo Club, Birds Hill Park. Spencer Smith. 204-782-3252.

SEPTEMBER 7-8 Manitoba Equestrian Championship. Birds Hill Park. Endurance 15/25/50 miles. CT 15/25/40 miles. Jessica Mannes 204-330-1773. northranch@hotmail.com Maura Leahy 204795-1915. Maura.Leahy@live.ca SEPTEMBER 7-9 MRCHBA Classic Quarter Horse Shows. WACE Arena, Brandon. Eryn Butterfield 204853-7376. erynbutterfield@hotmail.com

AUGUST 16-18 MHJA. City. Red River Exhibition, Schooling Show.

SEPTEMBER 6-7 Beausejour High School Rodeo. Craig Boitson. 204-755-2924. doublebrodeo@highspeedcrow.ca

SEPTEMBER 7-8 Beausejour Double B Rodeo and Country Fair. Trevor Proutt. 204-205-0723. Trevor Proutt. doublebrodeo@highspeedcrow.ca

AUGUST 17 Kelwood Fair. Donna Gilmore 204-967-2131. Horse Show Alison Gilmore 204-967-2380.

SEPTEMBER 7 The Pas Mud Bog. Stan Wilson. 204-623-6284, or cell 204-620-9623.

SEPTEMBER 13–14 MCHA. Brandon Show. www.mbcutting.ca, chelseycoulter19@gmail.com

AUGUST 17 Ride for a Child’s Wish, Peltier Farm, Woodlands. Horse Trail Ride (with Pledge

SEPTEMBER 7-8 3rd Annual Manitoba Equestrian Championships. Multiple disciplines. www. manitobahorsecouncil.ca

SEPTEMBER 13-15 MHT. Derby. Birds Hill Park Grand Prix. Winnipeg. (All.)

Open Show. 16 Willow Ridge Stables, Saskatoon. Stephanie McMillan. 306-3672158 www.saskpainthorseclub.com

SEPTEMBER 15 Ride-A-Thon. Birds Hill Park; Khartum Shriners Arabian Horse Guard. Paul Kohlmeier; 204-467-2553. paulb.kohlmeier@ gmail.com

JULY 12-14 Carrot River Valley Arabian Horse Ass’n. Western Canadian Breeders Show. Saskatoon Prairieland. Cheryl Sproule rocher.r@sask.net

SEPTEMBER 20-22 Central Canada Slide N Spin and NRHA Western Canada Affiliate Finals. NRHA Approved. Westoba ACE Arena,Agricultural Center of Excellence, Brandon. Contact Sherry Gruhle, ccrhashowdirector@ccrha.com. Entry forms available @ www.ccrha.com

JULY 11-14 SQHA. Summer Slide N Celebration Quarter Horse Show. Golden Mile Arena, Moose Jaw. Split Combined Format. Double Judged 11th-12th, Triple Judged 13th-14th. Mel Burns 306-693-1808 or Nikki Beatty 306-641-4106. www.sqha.org

SEPTEMBER 21-22 Endurance 15/25/50 miles both days. CT 15/25/40 miles. Bel Air. Tanya Tabin 204771-4701. anyatabin@gmail.com. Pot Luck Saturday. Iris Oleksuk 204-792-4125. irisolek@ rainyday.ca

JULY 20-21 SPHC. Trail ride and Outdoor Challenge. Trails End Guest Ranch, Aylesbury. Open to all breeds. Saturday: trail ride, registration 9-10:30 am, ride 11 am. Preregister by June 15 - $15, after June 15 - $20. Family (3+) - $30. Other activities after the ride. Sunday: trail challenge. Registration from 10 - 11 am. Multiple classes to suit all. Register by June 15 $20/ class, after June 15 $25/class. Laura Martin 306-397-2775. Pregister www.saskpainthorseclub.com

SEPTEMBER 21–22 MCHA. MHC MEC Show. www.mbcutting. ca, chelseycoulter19@gmail.com SEPTEMBER 27-29 MHJA. Jump into Fall. Red River Exhibition Schooling Show. OCTOBER 11 MQHA/AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Show. WACE Arena, Keystone Centre. Larry Clifford at 204-727-3661 or email: scotiaopt@ wcgwave.ca OCTOBER 12-14 MQHA Thanksgiving Classic Quarter Horse Shows. WACE Arena, Keystone Centre, Brandon. Larry Clifford 204-727-3661. scotiaopt@wcgwave.ca OCTOBER 25-26 Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 Sale & Futurity. Keystone Centre, Brandon. OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 2 Manitoba Livestock Expo, Brandon. Karen Oliver. 204-726-3590. info@brandonfairs.com NOVEMBER 23-24) Provincial Exhibition Schooling Show. Keystone Centre, Brandon. (Bronze.)

ONTARIO JUNE 14-16 DSC. Cain Quam Horsemanship Clinic, DDAS Fairgrounds. Erin Watt, erinwatt@ hotmail.com or 807-216-8724. SEPTEMBER 14 DSC Horseshow, DDAS Fairgrounds. One Day show with both Performance and Gymkhana events. Becky Hoedl, rrhoedl@ drytel.net or 807-216-6283. SEPTEMBER 15 DSC. Della Cryderman Clinic, DDAS Fairgrounds. Becky Hoedl rrhoedl@drytel.net or 807-216-6283. NOVEMBER 1-10 Royal Winter Fair, Toronto.

SASKATCHEWAN JUNE 15-16 SPHC. Loud & Proud Youth/Amateur/SHF

AUGUST 3-4 DJ Cairns Dressage Clinic. Hidden Meadows Ranch. North Battleford. www. hiddenmeadowsranch.com. $250 + GST per rider. Riders who participate in the clinic receive a $10 rebate on entries to the show. AUGUST 5 SAHA Dressage Show. (Heritage Circuit, Prairie Cup & EC Bronze). Hidden Meadows Ranch, North Battleford. www. hiddenmeadowsranch.com. Dressage Show will offer EC Tests and is open to Western Riders too. AUGUST 9-10 and 11-12 Saskatchewan Cowboy Dressage. Cowboy Dressage clinic with Eitan Beth-Halachmy. $550, ($250 deposit). Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds. Stabling, camping. Auditors welcome. Contact skcowboydressage@ gmail.com or see facebook page: Saskatchewan Cowboy Dressage. AUGUST 10-13 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Eastend. 306-295-3844. highcountry.qh@sasktel.net AUGUST 17-18, Coteau Range Equine Classic. AQHA approved VRH and AQHA ranch horse pleasure (pending approval). Moose Jaw Golden Mile Arena. Moose Jaw. Sherry Clemens. 306-692-8393. email: sherry@ sherryclemens.com AUGUST 23-26 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Jansen. 306-364-4735. aorchrd@live.ca SEPTEMBER 14-15 SAHA. Fall Classic & Prairie Harvest Arabian and Open Breed Shows. Moose Jaw. OCTOBER 5-6 SPHC. Harvest of Colours Saskatoon Show. Kerri-Anne Boxall 306-873-5123. Ronni Nordal 306-731-7573.

Here’s the line-up of advertisers for this issue. When you contact any of these businesses, don’t forget to tell them, “We saw you in Horse Country!” (Even if you saw their advertising in many other places too.)

Adequan

Agriventure

Canvasback Pet Supplies ..

CQHA

Diamond A Training & Tack

Diamond Shelters

Dodge Ram

Dust Off

Eddies Sharpening

Elder’s Equine Vet Service

Equiline Horse Feeds

Ferris Fencing

Front Runner

Glover Equine

Happy Trails Ranch & Feeds

Helping Hooves Route ..

Integrated Bio Systems ..

Miracle Ranch Equipment

Mountainport Tack N Stock

North West Round-Up ..

One Insurance

Parkland Ranch

Penner Farm Services

Peter Campbell Horsemanship 60 Poco-Razz Farm

Ride & Drive Horse Supplies

Stone Creek Western Shop

Tack in the Box

Twin Valley Ranch

WW Stables

NOVEMBER 9-11 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Saskatoon. 204-842-3851. coyoteridge@xplornet.com NOVEMBER 19-24 Canadian Western Agribition. www. agribition.com

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

SEPTEMBER 14-15 Russell High School Rodeo. Lynda Witty. 204773-4743. lwitty@mts.net

. . . ) s d( r o tW s a L e h T

The things non-horsepeople say! “Ponies and horses are two different species, right?” “Ponies are baby horses who will grow more.”

Chain Letter for Horse Owners Dear Horse Owner: Are you experiencing too many second and third finishes behind inferior horses at horse shows? During a trail ride, does your horse forget everything he was bred to do?

Well, this simple chain letter is meant to bring

relief and happiness to you. Unlike most chain letters, it doesn’t cost any money.

“Oh, so you do equestrian riding, huh?”

who are dissatisfied with the way that their horse is

“Do you ride western or equestrian?”

behaving. Also, bundle up your horse and send him/

A small Pony Clubber, when asked, “What does ‘gone to ground’ mean?” replied, “That is when you fall off your pony.”

name to the bottom of the list. Do not use a return address or the post office may try to contact you.

“So you do that hoppy thing with the horse where you go up in the air and run around, right?”

In one week you should receive 16,436

horses, and at least one of them should be a keeper. issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

“My snobby neighbour visited another friend of hers that has a horse and was really impressed with the horse. The next time she was saw me she was raving about how well trained and awesome the horse was. I asked what breed it was. She said “It’s a Chestnut Walker”. Thinking she was talking about a TWH that is chestnut I said “Oh you mean a Tennessee Walker” She replied “No, it’s a Chestnut Walker. You know. The kind that picks up its feet when you squeeze its chestnuts.”

Simply send a copy to six other horse owners

her to the horse owner at the top of list, and add your

“My non-horsey but extremely nice and reliable neighbors occasionally look after my horses if I am out of town. Once, when the weather changed unexpectedly, I got a call asking me if they should put on the horses’ winter coats instead of their windbreakers. “

Have faith in this. Do not break the chain.

One owner broke the chain and got his own horse back. Good luck!

The city lady was all ready to take a horseback ride and said to the cowboy, “Can you get me a nice gentle pony?” “Shore,” said the cowboy. “What kind of a saddle do you want, English or western?” “What’s the difference?” asked the lady. “The western saddle has a horn on it,” said the cowboy. The city lady complained, “If the traffic is so thick here in the mountains that I need a horn on my saddle, I don’t believe I want to ride.”

It’s Horse Country’s 25th birthday this year.

Celebrate with us just by renewing your subscription, or becoming a new subscriber. Horse Country will say, “Happy Birthday” to someone every six weeks. If we pull your Account Number* from our draw, we will DOUBLE your latest subscription term. For instance, if you renew or sign up for one year: we will double that to TWO years. You renew or sign up for three years: we will add ANOTHER three years to your subscription term. Happy Birthday from Horse Country.

*Your Account number is found on your mailing label here: 25879 EXPIRES 5-13 John Horsekeeper PO Box 2915 Barntown, MB R9Z 4X9

You can subcribe or renew online at www.horsecountry.ca/subscribe Enter your Account Number and your mailing information will fill in automatically. Or call (toll-free) 1-866-886-2425 for immediate attention.

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 Credit card only: I don’t want

to miss an issue, so I authorise Automatic Renewal on my credit card. Future subscriptions will always renew at $2 per year below the price current at the time of renewal. I will receive a receipt for my renewal, and may cancel the renewal instruction at any time.

Mail to Horse Country, Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5M3.

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

YES! START MY HORSE COUNTRY SUBSCRIPTION NOW!

issue 4-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca