Horse Country 7-2013 by Linda Hazelwood

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The View From Here September 27, 2013 Thank you to everyone who voted for Horse Country in the Maggies, People’s Choice Award Category (Manitoba Magazine Publishers Association). We were finalists, but lost out to Covet magazine. It’s a visually fabulous magazine. I took a sample copy and am lusting over the quality of the photography! If only horses could “keep” a pose like a model, or do “still life” in a studio situation! Dealing with capricious animals is so much more challenging than photographing chairs, flowers and plates of food. Just to say, the winner of the People’s Choice garnered 30% of the votes and the second and third place hooked in 26% and 17%. So thank you everyone who voted for Horse Country! I know there were lots of you, from the response when I Facebooked a “thank you” to voters. In the “Best Regular Column or Department” category, Canada’s History took first prize. I am proud that Horse Country was a finalist in the ranks of these great magazines. My mare is still being elusive but I am beginning to figure things out. Body language is a big part of her rehabilitation and am beginning to understand how to speak “horse”. I have gone the rounds of different “nationally-renowned” clinicians for their advice, which in some cases I found quite funny. One big name worked through his multiple demonstrations of “How to catch a horse” with an already-haltered horse. Umm... it’s actually getting the halter on that is the problem! I believe that understanding horse behaviour is what is going to work for her. Last time we were together she wanted to be with me but another pushy horse was always in the way. That’s my challenge - to work on my horse I have to deal with the rest of the herd first. Pyschology will win, I know it! Today I had one of my most interesting horse days yet - but not for the faint of heart. Have you ever seen the inside of a horse. No, REALLY inside? Today, along with a few other fascinated people I saw first-hand how bones, muscles and ligaments slide together under the fascia, how the tendons of the hind leg gives such powerful action. What a big heart - literally! And all the other parts. What moved me most was the inside of the eye. We were all riveted by something as big as a gumball encased in it’s own layer of tissue and linked by the optic nerve. If you are strong, and have the chance to attend the dissection of a horse, don’t pass it up. Enjoy your last rides of summer.

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Editor and Publisher

This issue’s cover.

Ken Grainger of Brandon, Manitoba aboard his 2006 AQHA palomino gelding, Boggies Holiday, sired by Boggies Flashy Dell, out of Remi Holiday, Ken was riding in a Cow Horse Clinic given by Taylor Douglas at the 2012 Horse 3 event in Brandon. Photo by Linda Hazelwood

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 #7-2013: October 14, 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 $15.50, two years $26. 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: Sally Dale, wilf Davis, Gracie Fawns, Margie Forbes, Kathlyn Hossack, Jennifer Hammond, Donna Hunter, Jessica Jahiel, Maura Leahy, Ishbel Moore, Meghan Nicholls, Kenton Nickerson, Sandi Payjack, Marnie Somers, Laura Stock, Dawn Vandersteen.

issue #7 | 2013 www.horsecountry.ca

On the cover 4

Val and Phil Crowe

Spurs and Jingle Bobs

“Pony Club is our Life”

“Watch out – I mean business!”

Wet Work in the Wash Rack Practice safe bathing

Happy Healthy Donkeys 5 tips for proper care

Kathlyn Hossack in the Hunter ring (page 24)

Birthday Prize

Subscriber Draw

Competition and results

The Round Up

1st Annual Non-Fiction Writing Contest

Moyles

Winter Management

10 14

Young Horse Development 2013 Canadian

The Helping Hooves

22 42

MHC East/West Challenge MB Welsh Pony & Cob Assn

Inter-Provincial Equestrian Challenge

Event-Full August

In every issue 36 37 43 45 47

Around and About Horse Nuts Connections/Classifieds What’s Happening? Subscription Draw

Issue #8-2013 is published week commencing November 25, 2013. Deadlines: Business advertisers: space closes October 28; Material closing November 4 . Horses for Sale and Classified line adverts: deadline November 4. Web adverts uploaded weekly. Be early with your stallion advertising booking! Early bird prices will apply - call Linda Hazelwood 204-256-7467 to find out more!

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

The two winning stories

Horses with horns

Jessica Jahiel answers a horse-owner’s question

The Hunter Ring

Technical skill, grace and patience

Hand signals on the farm Learn the universal language

Wormy concerns Taking a fecal sample

New first aid app

Your smartphone can help in an emergency

Twists and turns in the horse world Chase finds Brittany again

What Rodeo means to me Scholarship winner Gracie Fawns

Crazy Court Ruling in the US Judge says horses are naturally vicious

Learning from one of the best Lorraine Wilson rides with George Morris

Sovereign

Reaching new heights

Happy Birthday Horse Country!

It’s Horse Country’s 25th birthday in 2013! 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 204-256-7467 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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Competitions

Val and P h i l C r o w e “Pony Club is our life” by Ishbel Moore.

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In the past thirty-one years, if you or your family have ever been involved with Pony Club at any level, Manitoba Horse Trials, the Brandon Light Horse and Pony Society, Manitoba Dressage or Manitoba Horse Council’s East-West Equestrian Challenge (just to name a selection), you will have come across Val and Phil Crowe running the show office and managing the scoring. Their careers as equestrian volunteers started with Baldur Pony Club, and Val remembers how it all began. “I got into Pony Club when a friend and I, who were running the local 4-H horse club, realized that all but one

of the members really wanted to ride English instead of Western. She had two daughters who were keen to ride English, so we went to a Regional Meeting in Dauphin and found out how to start a Pony Club Branch. Before we could actually get the Branch going, my friend was killed in a car accident and I felt that I wanted to get it going for the sake of her two girls.” That was back in 1982, and 31 years later the Baldur Pony Club is still running. The contributions of Val and her husband, Phil, helped make the Baldur club what it is today, but the list of positions they have held (see opposite page) speaks to their commitment to Pony Club in general. Hard as it may be to believe, neither Val nor Phil had childhoods involving horses. “Phil grew up in Hartney but had no interest in horses,” explains Val. “I grew up in Winnipeg and had no chance to have too much to do with horses, although I read every horse book in the library, such as My Friend Flicka and the Black Stallion. Neither of us belonged to 4-H or Pony Club. I am afraid that I never even heard of Pony Club growing up. I occasionally went riding at a riding stable or rode my cousin’s horses whenever I could.” Val met Phil when they were both teaching in Baldur. Val taught grades 1 and 2 in the K-8 school while Phil This is the nearest we could get to a photo of Val and Phil: hard at work in the office while the show goes on.

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taught physics, chemistry, to attend activities with the math and Phys Ed in the child. For most families, it Val: Past positions high school. The high is an economic requirement school did not have a gym, that both parents work. Thirty District – Baldur, Manitoba so Phil took his classes to years ago, many moms were District Commissioner the elementary school to still stay-at-home moms and Treasurer use the gym. Cupid struck had more time to work with Secretary in the staff room at coffee their kids, attending their Test Chair breaks, and Val and Phil activities.” Chief Instructor married on July 15, 1978. Her years of experience They recently celebrated have given Val a clear vision Provincial – Manitoba their 35th anniversary. of what the children are Regional Chair Although the Crowes enjoying. “I find that about Regional Treasurer did not have children, ninety percent of the kids Regional Secretary Val stepped in to help her enjoy jumping the most, both Regional Test Chair friend run the local 4-H stadium and cross country. Regional Vice Chair chapter which, as noted It is only a small minority National Director in the opening quote, led who prefer Dressage. Because to Val starting the Baldur Baldur Pony Club is a rural National – Canada Pony Club. branch, we find all types of National Dressage Chair Her limited personal horses and ponies being used. National Education Chair horse experience posed In the cities and with the more National Testing Chair no barrier. “I learned a advanced kids, there is a move National Vice Chair great deal working with towards Warmbloods and other coaches, instructors, Thoroughbreds. As well, there Phil: Past position clinicians and examiners. are some people using natural Regional Treasurer By the time I started Baldur horsemanship techniques but Pony Club, I had several it is not very prevalent in Pony Val: Current positions horses of my own and Club in general.” Canadian Pony Club: had had many lessons Although the children have National Administrator and attended clinics with not changed much over the International Liaison some very good clinicians.” 31+ years of Pony Club, Val National A Examiner Shortly after starting the has noted some differences. branch, Val achieved her “There is a lot more pressure, Phil: Current position Level 1 EC Coaching and so many more things Canadian Pony Club Treasurer Certificate. to do, such as sports, music, About Phil, Val says dance. They used to be able with a smile, “Phil’s part to devote more time to horse of working with Pony Club has been on the financial side, related activities. Now we are competing with volleyball, then announcing, then scoring. It is a point of pride that he basketball, skating, gymnastics, and others. There are also worked the Pan Am Games in 1999 and never saw a single more horse shows available, and coaches are encouraging horse compete. He’s not really a horsie guy and just got them to specialize earlier and earlier. In Pony Club we involved so he wasn’t left alone every weekend.” promote an all-round horse person.” Val confides that, “As a teacher, I have found that Val enjoys working with any group of kids from the discipline at home is less consistent, causing problems little D’s to the mature kids going for B and above. Lately, when the kids are at school. However, I have not generally she has moved back to the young ones and says, “I am found many discipline problems in Pony Club. I think having a blast. They are so much fun.” She adds, “We it’s because this is what the child wants to do. They are have had and still have children with disabilities in Pony totally engaged.” She continues, “Pony Club is very much a family oriented activity. At least one parent is expected continued on page 6

continued from page 5

Club. As far as I know, they have done well and we make accommodations* for them, while always keeping in mind the safety of the other riders around them.” This energetic couple did not stop with Pony Club. Val says, “We got involved with Manitoba Horse Trials; I am the secretary and Phil is the treasurer. Together we run the office and do the scoring for all the events. We were quite involved with Brandon Light Horse and Pony Society for several years and I was somewhat involved with Manitoba Dressage for a while. I was a Manitoba certified judge for many years and judged at many of the fairs. I think Swan River was the largest fair at which I was the judge. I also judged a lot for 4-H and did the Regionals and Provincials several times. I did assist in running the office for the Eventing and Dressage portions of the 1999 Pan Am Games. Phil and I have run three National Rallies and two National Quizzes plus a National Show Jumping Championship for Manitoba Pony Club. As you can see, Pony Club is our life. We both love the kids and they are the ones who make it worth our time.” Their involvement has necessitated some long journeys. Va l e x p l a i n s . “We have both travelled quite a bit thanks to Pony Club. We h a ve t wo

National Meetings a year which take us to Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg most of the time, but we have also held them in Ottawa, Vancouver and Edmonton. We have travelled to many, many National Quiz Championships including places in all provinces except Newfoundland.” The Crowes have also been to Lexington, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Washington DC, Minneapolis and Orlando for meetings in the USA. Due to Phil’s present health concerns, their activities are curtailed somewhat. Val confides that, “Currently, it is one day at a time, while we try to keep our lives as normal as possible. There is still some hope for a transplant but if that doesn’t work, we hope to go on home dialysis. As far as Canadian Pony Club is concerned, we both hope to work for them for at least five more years, more if our health allows. Our biggest goal is to increase and maintain our membership. We have a great program but not enough people know about it, so I guess another goal is to increase the profile of Pony Club.” Val sums it up. “I think Pony Club teaches so much more than just how to ride and how to look after your horse. It teaches responsibility, teamwork, dealing with adults, and how to study. I think it develops compassion and understanding, a sense of self-worth and self-confidence. If I had to choose just one, I guess it would be responsibility, for the care and well-being of another life, for their friends and teammates and for themselves.” c *More information about the Accommodations Program is here: www.canadianponyclub.org/Misc/Downloads.html

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A selection of Pony Club riders from 2003 and 2004.

“Spur”: Derived from the Anglo-Saxon spura, spora, related to spornan, spurnan, to kick, spurn; cf. Medieval High German sporn, Dutch spoar. The generalized sense of “anything that urges on, stimulus” is recorded in English from around 1390.

Garrera spurs

Rowel spurs

Spurs and Jingle Bobs by Ishbel Moore.

continued on page 8

Parts of a spur include: Spur strap: A leather strap that goes over the arch of the foot and under the sole. Tiedown: A leather strap that goes over the top, with a heel chain or rubber “tiedown” instead of a strap under the boot. Buttons: Sometimes on the heel band or attached to the heel band, that allow a strap with buttonholes to be attached. Shank or neck: the part that touches the horse. Rowel: a revolving wheel or disc with points, at the end of the shank. Yoke, heel band, branch: Wraps around the heel of the boot. Jingo or Jingle Bobs: Small metal pieces (Pajados) near the rowel to make that cowboy “jingle” when the foot moves.

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There’s something about the clink and jingle of spurs that screams “Watch out. I mean business.” It’s been the same for centuries all over the world. In the film world John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and James Garner, to name but a few, would never be considered “dressed” without their spurs. Even these days, your family cowboys and cowgirls and their fans love the sound of spurs. Designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of your riding boots, the spur is a metal tool for directing a horse to move forward or laterally

continued from page 7

while riding, to refine riding commands and back up the natural aids of legs, seat, hands, and voice.

An Interesting History:

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Alexander the Great, who established the earliest cavalry, didn’t use spurs, stirrups or bits, although it is believed that the Romans at the time of Julius Caesar did wear spurs as these have been found in England. The Romans needed a way to steer their horses while using their hands for fighting, and so spurs were developed. Despite this, there are no very early Roman, Greek or Byzantine sculptures that portray the wearing of spurs – not until

the 2nd century BC according to Etruscan tombs of that period where archeologists discovered bronze single sharp protrusion-type spurs. The Celts used spurs during the La Tène period (started around 5th century BC). Spurs also existed in the Arab world at that time. Iron spurs with silver inlay dating from the 11th to 13th centuries can be seen in the British Museum. In the 1200s, Genghis Khan and his hordes wore prick spurs. It is believed that the modern western revolving rowel spur (which likely was fixed and did not revolve) originated in France. The Royal Seal of Henry III (1207 – 1272) shows a roweled spur. Prick spurs however were standard form until the 14th century, and despite the rowel’s growing popularity, the design never quite died out. The modern “Prince of Wales” design in English riding is a modification of the prick spur only with a thicker, shorter neck and dulled end. Spurs became a sign of rank during the Age of Chivalry. Only royalty or knights owned gold or gilded spurs; those of the esquires were silver, and pages had tinned ones. An esquire was a valet or page first, and once promoted to esquire, or promoted from esquire to knight, a special ceremony was held to fit him with his new spurs. This is where the phrase “earned his spurs” came from. Spurs told the rank of the wearer very clearly. Knights would spend extortionate sums of money for the most costly spurs, often bejeweled beauties, to show off their prestige and impress each other and the ladies. In rare cases of disgrace, a public ceremony took place in which the spurs were chopped off with a cook’s cleaver. Knights were required to remove their spurs when entering a church. Failing to do so resulted in the knight paying a fine to the

choir boys to get the spurs back. Clergy were not allowed to wear spurs. (And yet members of the Papal Orders of Chivalry today receive gilt spurs directly from the hands of the Pope. The current Queen presents gilt spurs to members of the British Order of the Garter.) In 1302, in West Flanders, 20,000 Flemish men on foot beat back some 47,000 French knights on horses in what is now referred to as the “Battle of the [Golden] Spurs”. The Flemish returned home with their trophies – 700 pairs of gilded spurs. By the middle of the 15th century, horse armor called “bards” was developing. Bards was armor plate lined with leather, and it was introduced one piece at a time until a full set (seven sections) was the standard. One of these sections, called the “flanchard” protected the horse’s flanks. Consequently longer spur shanks were required. Bards eventually declined in popularity and spur lengths returned to normal. According to the records of the Guild of Spur-Makers of Paris in the 14th century, each master craftsman was only allowed one apprentice, who worked without pay for six years to become a master artisan. Meanwhile in Spain, large, ornate rowel spurs were being made, just in time for the Conquistadors to invade the New World. The Conquistadors were often called Espuela Grande, which means the “Grand Spur” and could sport rowels that were 6” around. The spurs of current day Mexico and South America continue to be influenced by these designs, and have become an important part of the vaquero and cowboy traditions. In the days of Colonial rule, the English light spur was used primarily with its slight curve and small rowel. Also common were the straight-shanked hunting spurs. The US Cavalry regulation spur in 1882 was made of solid brass, with black straps, brass buckle and a small rowel. Later a straight shank without the rowel was adopted, and was in continuous use in the military until tanks and other war machines replaced army horses in World War II.

Types of Spurs: Swan-neck: As might be expected, this spur is similar to the neck of a swan, and is often seen in Dressage.

Waterford: This spur is made softer by the round metal ball at the end of the neck, and is less likely to cause spur-rubs.

Round end: A milder spur, it has a small marble-sized metal ball.

Knob end: Squared off at the end, this spur is blunted at the edges.

This commonly used spur has a flat end, that makes it slightly sharper.

Le Spur (English), Barrel Racing Spur (Western):

Instead of having a neck, this subtle spur has small teeth or ridges on the inside of the heel band. This prevents the rider from having to turn in the heel, and consequently is often used accidentally.

Rowelled: With a toothed wheel which spins at the end of it, and teeth that are dulled, this is the most common western-style spur, although it is noted on some English-style spurs. Usually rowels have at least eight teeth. Small teeth on a rowel means it is milder than one with less but larger teeth. The rowel does have variations, including the disc, and the roller. The Disc is preferred by many Dressage riders. A small rolling disc without teeth lets the spur roll when applied to the horse, thus lessening marks, although the thickness of the disc will determine the severity. The Roller is considered to be a very mild rowel, with a plastic “roller” at the end of the neck that rolls when applied to the horse’s side. It can also reduce spur rubs.

Full or Double Mounted: This is spur is also decorated as the half mounted, but on both sides (in and out).

Spur shopping Your local tack shop will supply other kinds of spurs or variations on those mentioned above. Some come with chap guards. You will also hear of Ladies’ Hammerhead, Mens’ Tom Thumb, Motivators, Quick on Wire Formed, Roping spur with Rosebud Rowel, Cloverleaf Rowels, Western Cutting spur, Ladies Humane spur, and Twisted Ss, and others. Most equestrian organizations have rules regarding spur design and use, and have penalties for misuse. It is very important to know the right kind of spur for your riding discipline (Dressage, Barrels, etc), and ensure it is the correct fit (Ladies, Mens and Childrens). Despite the designated purpose of spurs, they are not the first tool you need to motivate your horse; they should be the last. Proper riding techniques, understanding how your horse moves, the emotional and psychological impact of improper spur use, and good training are vital at all times. c

Half Mounted: This spur has one side shiny with silver, copper or bronze decals, logos, images and designs.

office@eldersequineclinic.com www.eldersequineclinic.com

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Prince of Wales:

Manitoba Equine Ranchers and 4-H members:

Text by Marnie Somers. Pictures by Wilf Davis.

Another successful Young Horse Development Project

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The 16th annual presentations of the Manitoba 4-H Young Horse Development Project (YHDP) were held September 2, 2013 at the Westoba Agricultural Centre of Excellence, in Brandon, MB. The project provides a venue for senior 4-H members to demonstrate their knowledge gained

through the 4-H Equine Program, as well as to showcase the stock being bred and raised on Manitoba’s equine ranches. Each year, interested senior 4-H members (14 years of age by January 1 of the current year) apply to the YHD Project’s Advisory Committee.

Yearling presenters: (l to r) Karleigh Lewis, Destiny Sawatzky, Esther Funk, (Evaluator Elaine Hyde), Kaelyn Dreger, and Sara Meisner.

Upon selection, members are given a list of participating MERA and SERA ranchers from whom they may purchase a weanling. Prices are preset and ranchers receive half of the purchase price; the balance is placed in that year’s Project Enhancement Fund. The YHD Project involves a twoyear commitment, and teaches 4-H members valuable life skills about taking responsibility, setting goals, and applying their knowledge gained. Members raise and train their horses with the objective of presenting them as a yearling “in hand”, and as a 2year-old “under saddle”. Members receive payouts through their yearling presentations (1/3 of the Enhancement Fund) and through their 2-year-old presentations, (the remaining 2/3 of the fund), completing their project books, and by adhering to the rules and regulations. Formal placings for the presentations are irrelevant. Members receive an Enhancement Fund payout based on their individual efforts so that the experience of their presentation will be self-achieving.

Yearling Presenters

In 2013, five 4-H members exhibited their yearlings, all Quarter Horses, “in hand”. They were evaluated on the elements of basic showmanship skills, conditioning of the horses, and their abilities to teach their horses to work on a longe line and to load into a trailer. Scores ranged from 190 to 209 points, out of a possible 260 points. The members earned a share of the $583.33 in the 2012 Enhancement Fund. As a group, they accumulated 980 points, averaging 196 each, and will be paid $0.60/point, based on their individual scores. Each yearling presenter received a copy of their evaluation, a tri-coloured neck banner and a Horse Industry Handbook – A Guide to Education, Care and Management, published by the American Youth Horse Council, sponsored by NAERIC. Evaluator, Elaine Hyde of Alida, Saskatchewan advised the yearling presenters, ”You have done a good job with the grooming of your horses, and everybody worked well. You need to pay strict attention to safety when changing halters. Do up one halter before removing the other. Also keep your longe line in hand at all time and be sure to use a longe line versus a

Two-year-old presenters: (l to r): Thomas Coffey, Jenilyn Hyde, Katie Hunter, (Evaluator Elaine Hyde), Kassidy Petruk and Lisa Coffey.

shorter rope so you don’t get kicked. Keep safe. It appears to me that you have all bonded well with your horses as they were all good at loading and unloading from the trailer.” Karleigh Lewis, 17, of Gladstone, MB, is in Grade 12 at William Martin Collegiate Institute. She’s looking forward to a future career in animal or equine science. This was her first year to participate in the YHD Project. She said, “I enjoyed it and really learned a lot. I told all the younger 4-H members

about it. I went to Winchester Ranch and the selection was overwhelming. Mrs. Ginny Collins took pictures of the weanlings that interested me to help me make my choice. Then I went home and went to their website and studied the pedigrees of the sires and dams. I choose CO Dry Doc Fritzy, whose barn name is Bean, based on this research and his conformation. I learned a lot going into this project continued on page 12

4-H Club: Austin Blazing Saddles Austin Blazing Saddles Interlake Trail Blazers Interlake Trail Blazers Happy Rock Horseshoes

4-H Member: Destiny Sawatzky Esther Funk Kaelyn Dreger Sara Meisner Karleigh Lewis

Horse’s Name: CO Shining Luck Smart Leo Sue Dee Hotroddin Zipper Skip The Blue Boy CO Dry Doc Fritzy

Participating Ranchers: Brent & Ginny Collins, Winchester Stock Farms, Arden, MB Kirk & Gail Bridgeman, Bridgeman L & L, Rapid City, MB Kelly & Ruby Stuart, K & R Stuart, Eriksdale, MB Kelly & Ruby Stuart, K & R Stuart, Eriksdale, MB Brent & Ginny Collins, Winchester Stock Farms, Arden, MB

2013 Two-Year-Old Presenters (in order of appearance) MacNutt Light Horse 4-H Club Ethelbert 4-H Light Horse & Beef Club Rapid City 4-H Rodeo Club Ethelbert 4-H Light Horse & Beef Club Graysville Light Horse & Pony Club

Kassidy Petruk Thomas Coffey

Miss Molly Prophets Peppy San

Doug & Deb King, Ravine Ranch Sport Horses, Lenore, MB Kirk & Gail Bridgeman, Bridgeman L & L, Rapid City, MB

Katie Hunter Lisa Coffey

Upset The Shine Hes Major Famous

Kevin & Julie Bridgeman, K & J Bridgeman, Binscarth, MB Kelly & Ruby Stuart, K & R Stuart, Eriksdale, MB

Jenilyn Hyde

Leos Sherry

Kirk & Gail Bridgeman, Bridgeman L & L, Rapid City, MB

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2013 Yearling Presenters (in order of appearance):

contiued from page 11

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as I was not familiar with the needs of a young horse. Nutrition was an eye-opener. I plan to present him next year, and if we get along when he’s a two-year-old, I will keep him. My plans are to use him in anything and everything, as I want a wellrounded horse that can handle trail riding, showing and cows. I really like him and we have bonded. He’s so exceptionally relaxed that trainingwise he was a quick learner. We really

clicked.” Brent and Ginny Collins of Winchester Ranch at Arden, Manitoba were equine ranchers for 20 years between 1992 and 2013. Their three sons, Chase (25), Lane (24), and Ty (21) helped them on the farm over the years. Besides raising horses, they farm 2000 acres on which they grow 1600 acres of wheat, barley, canola and oats, and have 400 acres in hay. Ginny Collins said, “Now that we are no longer equine ranchers, we have reduced our horse herd to twenty of our best mares and one stallion, CO Bobby Du Not. Over the past ten years, we chose to offer foals to the YHD Project. Ben Marcino from Minnedosa participated in this program in 2006 and 2007 with a gelding out of our breeding program. He still keeps in touch with us. He sends us photos of how he is using his horse, including riding in the local community pasture and teaching riding skills to others,” said Ginny. “So we believe it is worthwhile to encourage and involve youth with horses, otherwise where will the industry go in the future? Of course, I was in 4-H myself and understand the value their programs

offer. We were pleased that this year, two of our colts were presented as yearlings at this event.” Five 4-H members presented their 2-year-olds, four Quarter Horses and one Canadian Sport Horse, “under saddle”. Each horse and rider was scored based on their individual performance over a predetermined horsemanship pattern. Scores ranged from 134 to 217 points out of a possible 270. The members earned a share of the $1,400 remaining in the 2011 Enhancement Fund. As a group, they accumulated 906 points, averaging 181 each, and will be paid $1.55/point based on their individual scores. Each member received a copy of their evaluation, a tri-coloured neck banner and a trophy horse cooler, sponsored by NAERIC.

Two year old presenters Evaluator Elaine Hyde advised the 2-year-old presenters ”It was good to see your yearlings all grown up and being ridden. When practicing patterns at home, be sure to do a circle – not a box. At home, put out an object such as a pylon to mark the centre of your circle and keep it as round as it can be. When putting on the bridle, slip the off side on first, then the near side to clear the horse’s eye. For safety when mounting, be sure to use the off side rein to pull your horse’s front end towards you. When saddling, don’t just flip the stirrup over the seat, hook it over the horn until done saddling. Remember a two-year-old needs lots of guiding, where you look is where you ride. Keep up the good work.” Lisa Coffey, 15, of Ethelbert, Manitoba is in Grade 9 and home schooled. She said, “I haven’t yet decided on my future education but

I’m interested in anything to do with horses, such as being a health tech.” She chose Hes Major Famous (barn name Jack) as a weanling from K & R Stuart, because he was very quiet and the only one she was able to touch. “He was friendly”, she said. “He liked me and I liked him. He stood out because of his personality and I liked his bay colour. He was presented as a yearling at this event in 2012.” She has learned quite a bit and found that the clinics offered by the program each spring were a big help. Clinician Bob Olyarnyk, (Brandon, MB) helped at the end of May with several things. She said, “Jack is lazy and I needed to learn to move him forward off my leg using pressure points. Bob taught us collection begins at the hind end first. I have enjoyed this program. Learning from a young horse made working with older horses easier. I have given up relying so much on my reins. I am planning on keeping Jack for now, and possibly showing him in the future at shows as he is pleasure-bred.” Kelly and Ruby Stuart of Eriksdale, MB, have owned and operated K & R Stuart, an equine ranching facility, for 35 years. They said, “We are strictly horse breeders raising mostly Quarter Horses and a few Paint Horses.” Their herd consists of approximately 75 Quarter Horse mares and 10 Paint mares, plus eight stallions. They have also raised three daughters, Wendy (39), Theresa (36) and Megan (24) who have helped out over the years but now are out on their own. “We have participated in the YHD Program since the very first year, because we have been involved with 4-H forever. We’ve been members, leaders, served on the 4-H regional and provincial committees and we know the value

equine projects were undertaken. The YHD Project’s Working Committee manages enrollment in the project, provides the project materials, and directly administers the project. Meghan said, “The project provides an opportunity for members to establish relations with Manitoba and Saskatchewan equine ranchers and to own and develop a young horse. The members gain advanced skills in selecting, feeding and handling horses, and an increased awareness of the equine industry.” Lynn Coffey, Chairperson of the

Lynn said, “We are grateful to MERA and SERA for sponsoring the fees to cover our project evaluator. We also appreciate the ongoing support of the individual equine ranchers who offer their weanlings and NAERIC for sponsoring the costs of awards, facilities – including the arena and stabling, post-event press releases, and colour photographs for the members and ranchers.” The YHD Project’s Advisory Committee consists of: Lynn Coffey, Ethelbert; Meghan Sprung, Brandon; Chantel Collie and Melanie Collie,

YHD Project’s Advisory Committee noted that there are six senior 4-H members approved to select weanlings in 2013. MERA and SERA ranchers and NAERIC have committed to continue this program through to the 2015 under saddle presentations.

both of Hamiota. c For more information regarding the 4-H Young Horse Development Project, and to view photographs of all the 2013 4-H members with their horses visit www.naeric.org.

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of their programs. We feel the YHD program offers an excellent way to get started with training a young horse. We teach the 4-H members who have chosen our weanlings how to halter break and how to build on what you have done with that horse the day before. In our opinion, this program offers a good structural guide on how to train, it evaluates how the members are doing, and the members receive some reward from the process of evaluation. We were very pleased that this year two of our colts were presented as yearlings and another was presented as a two-year-old at this event.” Meghan Sprung, 4-H & Youth Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Brandon, Manitoba has a total of 2179 Manitoba 4-H members in 2012-13 and 570

2013 Canadian Inter-Provincial Equestrian Championships (CIEC)

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Held September 13 - 15 at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping in Calgary, teams met to challenge each others’ provinces in the fields of Jumping, Dressage and Reining. The strongest teams challenged each other in the Jumping Category. The Gold Medal team came from Ontario: Zoe Meloff and Stella, Christine Carlsen and Cardos (also achieved Individual Junior Bronze), Ariane St. John and VPN, and Jacqueline Chevalier and Catalyst (Individual Senior Bronze). The Silver Medal team hailed from Alberta: Chantelle Moore (Blackwatch); Jessie Prpich (Carat F); Ashley Boone (Stella Artois) and Michelle Gulick (Rockstar) who also achieved an Individual Senior Silver Medal. Manitoba Team riders came home with the Bronze Medal: Erin McPhail (Cameleon), Katelyn Penner (WKM Rascal), Tanis Basaraba-Jones (Ratina VDL), and Izzy Biron (Three Cups Light My Fire), who also achieved the Individual Junior Silver Medal. See a picture of Izzy at the recent Manitoba Horse Council East/West Equestrian Challenge (page 22). Saskatchewan rider Paige Hodson and Zealotic took home an Individual Junior Gold. Her team members were Helen Isle (Grand Slam), and Stephanie Jay (Almar). In Dressage, Manitoba riders Anna Davila (ERs Graziella), Kayla Keubler (Mary Poppins) and Lindsay Feller (Unbelievable) gave great performances. In Reining, the Alberta team romped home with the Gold

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Medal and Saskatchewan riders took home the Silver. Riders from Quebec and the Yukon also competed in the CIEC, which 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. While still a a pilot project, the Canadian Interprovincial Equestrian Championships is a collaborative event between the national and provincial sport organizations governing equestrian competition. It also acts a key event in the development of equestrian’s next generation of national, international and world champions, and is a platform for talent identification for athletes, coaches and officials. Nine Provincial /Territorial Sport Organizations (P/TSOs) were represented by teams of athletes at the inaugural event held in 2012 in conjunction with the Quebec Equestrian Games (Jeux équestres du Québec) in Bromont. Horses were made available for lease where shipping horses was too costly or logistically difficult for a P/TSO. The 2013 CIEC was hosted by the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping and ran concurrent with the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Medal Finals. c

info@gloverequine.com

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Moyles: Horned Horses... New York Times, July 1, 1887: Schenectady, NY: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Among the horses that drew the canal boat, W.H. Seward, of Chittenango, as it came into Schenectady today was one that has between its left ear and eye a horn about three inches long, ringed and ribbed, and resembling the horn of Durham cattle. The horse uses the horn handily in scratching its legs.â&#x20AC;?

...(but not Unicorns)

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by Ishbel Moore.

Carthusian:

Carthusian horses, also known as the CarthusianAndalusian and Carthujano, are a branch of the Andalusian breed. They are often considered the purest remaining strain of the original Spanish horse. Carthusians have been known to have a calcium-like deposit on their skull, but this does not receive much mention in breed books.

Datong:

The Datong breed of China dates back 4,000 years and they are native to the Datong River basin in the northern Qinghai Province. For centuries, the Datong horse was known for its physical connections to the Dragon Horse, a strain with exceptional powers of endurance, and immortalized in ancient Chinese art. The Dragon horses were said to have two small, bony projections on their forehead that resembled horns. The Datong horse can be born with these same bony projections. Today, animals born with the horns are not bred, as this is considered a flaw.

Moyle:

There has been a great deal of speculation about this breed because of its “horns”, known as “bosses”; a prized rare deformity. In all probability it stems from the Datong of China that was later brought to the Iberian Peninsula and introduced to animals there. It’s not hard to imagine how that blood later made its way to the new world and into today’s Moyle breed. The Moyle Horse is named for their Mormon breeder,

Rex Moyle of Idaho. Not much is known about the exact breeds he mixed. One source claims they came to Idaho from overseas and were interbred with mustangs. This new breed became famous for its endurance, speed when pulling buggies, and reportedly were often used for Pony Express. Around the turn of the 20th century, it became against the law in Utah to possess a stallion that was not a registered purebred. Moyle began breeding in the middle of the 19th century but by 1930 he had sold off his original bloodlines of this Mormon horse. Some of the Moyle blood lines are still present in current endurance horses. Matthew Mackay Smith, DVM, knew the family well and rode a Moyle horse in the Tevis to 5th place in 1964. Generally considered a handsome horse, a Moyle has a wide, muscular back, with its forelegs positioned far forward, long elastic hindquarters, and large feet with a wide heel. The average Moyle stands 15 hh, and bay is the traditional color. However, it can come in almost all solid coat colors, and rarely has face or leg markings. Also, many do not have chestnuts. Two horny growths (like a giraffe) can be found on the forehead. Moyle horses are said to have larger ribcages and visceral organs than other breeds. They are known for their good manners, toughness, endurance and loyalty. Almost in its own backyard, Horse Country was lucky enough to find an example of the Moyle in Manitoba. First time horse owners, Shannon and Fabien Defreithas of St. Andrews, MB, bought one for their daughter, Raven, in 2012. They can attest to the above-mentioned traits although they knew nothing about Moyles initially. Bay in color and wide of foot, 25+-year-old* Pablo (originally called Diablo) is the perfect example. He sports one haircovered horn, protruding approximately ½ inch, over his

Hans Klassen of Landmark, MB, Dialo’s previous owner, tells of how he used to go snowmobiling with Diablo across a 40-acre field nearby. Hans would let the horse out of the corral, start up his snowmobile, and off they would go; Diablo running happily in the tracks, without any rope. Hans admits to going only about 12 mph, to doing zig-zags, circles, and other patterns. Also, when he was ready to stop the snowmobile, he would raise his left hand, and the horse would stop. Diablo never deviated from following exactly wherever Hans drove, never overshot him, and never ran off. Such was the connection between this man and his horse.* (Horse Country was delighted to hear this story. However, we are not suggesting that having a loose horse run behind your snowmobile is a good idea. Hans and Diablo are an exception.)

continued on page 18

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There are three horse breeds on the planet that have been sometimes documented as sharing the unique physical characteristics of one or two hornlike projections on their forehead above their eyes: the Carthusian, the Datong, and the Moyle.

continued from page 17

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right eye. Above his left eye there is a distinctly palpable bump. As for Pablo’s character, Fabien says, “He is a cooperative horse. He’s very good when the children ride him.” Working in reverse chronology, a little deeper research revealed that Hans Klassen of Landmark owned Diablo for many years prior to selling the horse to the Defreithas family along with a companion, Charlie, a 13-year-old chestnut Morgan. Hans’ wife had been giving riding lessons to Murray Klassen, so when Murray announced he wanted to purchase a horse from Hilton Fetterly, then the owner of Birds Hill Riding Stable, he had his teacher come take a look. She proclaimed that the horse had horns, and thus was a Moyle, very rare, and that she knew of only one other in Canada at that time. Diablo was thought to be less than 8-years-old. When he was first at Murray’s, Diablo was known to regularly run to the end of the corral and look off in the direction of Birds Hill. After a couple of years, Murray decided to “get out of horses” and traded him to Hans for a snowmobile. Hans reported that Diablo needed two or three years to give his trust and become a reliable trail riding mount and participant in parades. But shortly after arriving at Hans’

APOLOGY FROM HORSE COUNTRY In our last issue we featured the Western Working Morgan Horse and unfortunately captioned a photo incorrectly. S Bar B Chingadero, pictured here, is owned by Lisa WilhelmHammel and her husband, and stands at stud on their Coyote Flat Morgan Horse Ranch in Saskatchewan.

place, Diablo took off towards “home”. He then chose one Boxing Day to jump the fence and try again. Both times he was caught successfully. To help gauge Diablo’s age, we have one solid clue: Hilton Fetterly passed away 23 years ago, and the ranch was sold to new owners in 1993. Hilton’s son, Dean Fetterly (a local farrier), remembers spending many hours with his father at Birds Hill and on the road “gathering horses” from people who wanted rid of them or were selling them for a good price. Other times, they would be approached by men hauling horses to the auction yard if there were any particularly decent horses in the load. Dean recalls that there was one horse with horns in his father’s herd, but that it was an unusual color – a cross between a palomino and a grulla. He did not know if it was a colt or filly. Diablo is [now] a dark bay gelding. Diablo’s age is uncertain, and there are no papers, but there is no doubt he is an old horse. Email contact with breeder Don Moyle in the USA confirmed that around the approximate time remembered by Dean, cull horses had been sent up to Manitoba for meat. No further information has been unearthed. Regardless, how fortunate the Defreithas family is to have such a rare treasure in their keeping. And how lucky Horse Country was to have the opportunity to meet Diablo and track the life of a horned horse. It’s about as close to a unicorn as one can get. c

The Helping Hooves Event-Full August

Notes from Helping Hooves organiser, Pam Glover.

Eddies Sharpening

Parade Marshall Pam Glover at the Kleefeld Honey Festival. Thanks Bob and Val Poole for the picture. Wagon Master was Robert Klassen, from Pansy, MB.

Dimos Ginakes, owner of Bellamyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant in St. Vital, winner of the Afghan donated by Gilda, a Helping Hands volunteer.

One happy guy! Bruce Rose, Executive Director of Manitoba Horse Council won the artwork drawn, framed and donated by Shelly Hayden.

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The The Lions Club in the town of MacGregor hosted a Pancake Breakfast and Pink Horseshoe Sale, assisted by the Northern Lights Drill Team. The Pancake breakfast raised nearly $650 and their pink horseshoes sold about $190! Way to go ladies! Great job! The winners of the Raffle Draw made on Saturday, August 31, 2013 were: Artwork - Bruce Rose; Layette Set - Doris Dzuba; Afghan - Dimos Ginakes. Congratulations to all the winners and HUGE thanks to the few people who Stepped Up and sold tickets! Even more thanks to those of you who bought as many or more than you sold! The raffle raised $933 for Helping Hands for Manitobans with Breast Cancer. Manitoba Horse Council donated the the proceeds from the Sponsored Ride and Games day on August 11 to Helping Hooves. The total donation for the day was $400. A huge thanks goes to Crystal Crilley Neudorf for hosting the Helping Hooves Tack Sale on August 25, and to all the vendors who came out and supported us. Helping Hooves was represented by Pam Glover as Parade Marshal at the Kleefeld Honey Festival Parade on August 10. A huge thunderstorm meant the advertised evening concert was cancelled (donations from which would have gone to Helping Hooves). In total, the August events raised more than $2,300 for Helping Hands for Manitobans with Breast Cancer. c

Jessica Jahiel answers:

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Winter management

Last fall I moved from BC to the central prairies and have a question about how horses cope with the cold weather. At the barn where I board, on the coldest days, the horses were blanketed, stalled, and the owner even had an industrial-sized heater warming the barn. But at the barn a few doors down, blanketed and unblanketed horses were left outdoors in their individual paddocks, each with a 3-sided shelter. Both sets of horses had plenty of hay and access to water and none of them, as temperatures fell, immediately seemed any worse for the wear. I understand that horses aren’t people, and that they are comfortable at much colder temperatures than most people will tolerate. However, at such low temperatures, exposed skin can freeze - and while my horse does a marvelous impression of a polar bear, the tips of his ears, his nostrils, his lower legs, and his genitalia do not have a thick covering of hair to protect them. Everyone I’ve spoken to has a different opinion. What course of action do you suggest when temperatures drop into the -20/-30 Celsius and below? Vanessa

Hi Vanessa I understand your concern, but don’t worry - horses are very good at handling cold temperatures, even VERY cold temperatures. Minus 20 and 30 Celsius are temperatures that seem very cold to humans, but not to healthy horses. If horses have good winter coats, lots of good hay around the clock, and access to water, they will be fine. The way horses are managed in winter has to depend, first and foremost, on the educated eye of the horse owners and/or the barn manager. Horses are indeed much more comfortable than humans when the temperatures get cold. Healthy, well-fed horses with good winter coats will come through even a vicious winter in fine form, provided that they have quantities of hay to keep them fed and warm and occupied, water to keep them hydrated, salt to keep their body chemistry in balance, and some sort of shelter or windbreak, whether that takes the form of a three-sided shed or a thick stand of trees. Horses are good at conserving heat. Winter is usually easier for them than summer, when they typically have much more trouble dissipating heat. It’s natural to worry that horses’ ear tips, eyes, nostrils, lower legs, and your gelding’s external genitalia would all be at risk, but if the provisions in the above paragraph are met, that just doesn’t seem to be a problem under normal circumstances. Horses are very good at protecting themselves, and unlike humans, they’re well-designed to withstand cold weather. Those lovely furry eyelashes, and the thick hair that grows in and on their ears - including at the tips - in winter are quite effective at protecting eyes and ears. Plus - and this applies to genitalia as well - those bits are kept well out of the way of the wind. If the horses are outside in the wind, they’ll have their backs to the wind and standing with their heads low. This posture causes some people to exclaim “Oh, the poor horses!” but there’s nothing pathetic about it. Standing this way effectively protects their necks and heads, and the geldings’ sheaths, from the wind. If you walk behind horses when they’re standing with their backs to the wind, you’ll see just how nicely their tails serve to protect their rear ends. The shorter hairs on the dock fan out and deflect both wind and snow. The lower legs don’t even feel the cold particularly; they are primarily

a heater in the barn. When you shut your horses into the barn, you’re effectively using the horses to heat the barn. Just don’t close the barn too tightly. Horses need fresh air, and no barn should be closed to the point where fresh air can’t get in. Healthy horses with free-choice hay produce quite a lot of heat, and do a very good job of warming the air around them. This doesn’t mean that you’ll never bring the horses in during the winter. There may be times when bizarre weather conditions can make it a very good idea to put even the most tough and self-sufficient outdoor horses indoors for a few days. People who don’t keep horses often laugh at the attentive way that horse-owners track the weather. We are constantly preoccupied with precipitation and wind direction. But if a freak winter storm produces enough freezing rain that blows into the horses’ outdoor shelter, or if that same freezing rain coats the paddocks and walkways with sheet ice, bringing the horses indoors for a few days may make them cranky, but it will protect them from breaking their legs. For instance last winter there was a period of just-abovezero temperatures, high winds, and heavy snow. My windows were rattling, snowdrifts were rapidly blocking my driveway and making local roads impassable, and my idea of comfort was to be indoors with a blanket and a hot drink. My horses had other ideas. From the kitchen, I could see three of them in the turnout paddock. The barn door was open and they were free to walk inside at any time, but they chose to spend their time outside. All had heaps of snow on their backs. The one that loves to eat snow had a white muzzle; the one that loves to roll in snow had white sides. They weren’t soaking up the sun because there wasn’t any; the day was dark and overcast and very cold, and from their point of view, entirely enjoyable. I let them spend their time where they wanted to spend it. When the temperature rose to to just-below-freezing and began to climb and the sun was out, the horses were in. Not because they wanted to be, but because their turnout areas were unsafe. The snow was followed by freezing rain, and the turnout areas and walkways all became ice rinks. The horses would much prefer to be outdoors, but turnout simply became too dangerous. When it was safe again, they went out, no matter how cold it was – and they were fine.

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bone and support structures, and don’t require much in the way of winter weatherproofing. Tiny foals shouldn’t be out in extreme winter weather, because foals shouldn’t BE tiny and new during those months (and nature does her best to arrange things so that foals are born into the late spring and early summer, NOT in winter - that’s why it’s so much easier to get mares in foal during the summer months), but well-fed weanlings with thick coats do very well indeed. Arthritic and/or elderly horses can certainly be brought into stalls if the winter weather is extreme, but most would do just as well, and be happier, if they could remain outside with their friends. With a good winter coat covering a layer of winter fat, even an old horse can enjoy being out in the cold. Just like young horses, what old horses need in winter is access to water (warmed, if possible) and full-time access to hay, for warmth. Many owners like to feed grain because it conjures up images of bowls of oatmeal and makes the owners feel warmer, but the horses get their warmth from the process of digesting hay, so hay is much more valuable. And unlike grain, hay won’t challenge the horses’ digestion or promote the development of gastric ulcers. So when winter weather becomes extremely cold, and you want to help your horses stay warm, resist the temptation to blanket the horse and lock him in the barn with a feed tub full of grain. None of that will help him stay healthy or happy. Instead, check the pasture water tank to be sure that the de-icer is working, see to it that your horses have hay around the clock, and save the oatmeal for yourself. As at any other time of year, it’s the horse-owner’s responsibility to pay attention and take action if and when action is required. WATCH your horse. Do you have a wet horse? Sick horse? Thin horse? Shivering horse? Blanket it, or bring it in, dry it off, give it warmed water to drink, check its vital signs, feed it, and call the vet if necessary. In other words, be sensible and careful and do what you would usually do if there were something wrong with your horse. If, during a hard, cold winter, a horse doesn’t have a good winter coat, (e.g. if its coat has been clipped, or if it has just arrived from Florida) then if it’s turned out, it will need a suitable blanket to replace its own coat. If a horse is ill or thin or weak, then it will probably need to be blanketed so that it can stay warm without using up so much of its own energy. But all of this is just common-sense horse management. If your horses don’t have access to any kind of shelter in pasture, and need to be brought into the barn during extreme wet winter weather, you still shouldn’t need to put

Manitoba Horse Council East/West Challenge

All pictures on this page by Linda Hazelwood. See more at www.horsecountry.ca/gallery.html

And the result is: Team Eastman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 60 Team Westman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 51

Team Eastman won another Manitoba Equestrian Championship the weekend of September 7-8 at the Manitoba Horse Council Equestrian Centre, Birds Hill Provincial Park. Team Eastman give themselves a rousing cheer after being presented with the Trophy (held by Abby Manness, youngest competitor and winner of the 40km Endurance Race.) Riders from seven disciplines participated in the team challenge: Barrel Racing, Cutting, Competitive for their exciting demonstration on Saturday. The MHC Board of Directors and Staff would like to Trail, Dressage, Driving, Endurance and Eventing. Congratulations to all the athletes who participated. A thank all the supporting member clubs and volunteers for special thank you goes to to the Northern Lights Drill Team their continued support of the Council. Great job!

Barrel Racing: (left) unknown; (above and right) Debbie Champagne; Eventing: (below left) Izzy Biron; Dressage: (below right) unknown.

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Linda Hazelwood

Thanks to Maura Leahy for sending these pictures for the Endurance category. Left, top to bottom: 80 km Endurance 1st: Angela Lavalee 2nd: Darice Whyte 3rd Jessica Manness 4th (opposite, centre, Wendy Carnegie)

Abby Manness: 1st in the 40km Endurance, being met by her groom.

(Above) Iris Oleksuk coming off trail from checking the markers

Wendy Carnegie: 4th in the 80 km Endurance.

While East and West riders were battling it out, the Polo players were going hard and fast on the other side of the berm.

(Right) Helping the cattle settle before the Cutting starts.

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(Right) Stan Banasiak at the vet check with official vet Dr. Glenn Sinclair.

The Hunter Ring – technical skill, grace and patience

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Imagine a beautifully turned out horse and rider floating into the ring. They pick up an easy going pace that looks slow, but retains a ground-covering momentum. Both rider and horse look relaxed as they reach the first fence and none of this changes throughout the course. The rhythm and flowing movement continues between jumps, and each take-off appears to be part of the fluidity of the horse’s gait. Through the arch of the jump, as the horse brings his shoulders and knees up towards his neck as he reaches around the jump, using his back to create a picture perfect arch over the obstacle, the rider maintains slow body movements, taking nothing away from the grace of their mount, only following the movement. After completing the set course of jumps, seeming to end so quickly but all at once too soon, the team transitions to a relaxed and forward walk and exits the ring. This is a picture that every hunter rider hopes to paint when they enter the ring and the judge’s gaze turns to them. To be successful in the hunter ring, a horse and rider need not only the ability to look the part, but also the technical skill, grace, patience, and style that is depicted in the above scene. Each team is judged on their ability to keep a consistent flowing pace throughout the course, meet each fence at an appropriate distance, while being the epitome of balance and fluidity and, of course, being turned out appropriately. The effortless look that comes with achievement in any athletic performance is precisely what the judge is looking for. As a rider progresses in the sport of Hunter Jumpers (as with as any equestrian discipline), they realize that there is only more to learn. The details you once thought

Text by Kathlyn Hossack. Photos by Margie Forbes.

Kathlyn Hossack demonstrating title qualities.

were insignificant become the focus of your every action. There is a constant pattern of achieving and setting new goals, higher standards. The only way to become a master in this discipline is to be forever a student. As George Morris states in his book, Hunter Seat Equitation, “the rider must allow himself the discipline of letting things happen and not be in a hurry”. Once the rider is able to wait, to not interfere, that’s when things start to come together. The riders who you see having the most success are very often those who have spent time riding through many situations, on many mounts, developing muscle memory and the patient approach to every aspect of riding a course. These are the riders who were seen riding in the $5,000 Jump Canada Hunter Classic Sponsored by the Marcy Schweizer Memorial Fund at this year’s Heart of the Continent horse show. As a competitor in the hunter ring myself in recent years, I’ve only just begun to realize what it takes to be good at this discipline. In my experience, the hunter discipline is often seen in Manitoba as simply a stepping stone to the jumper ring, rather than a place for competitive riders to excel. Hunter Classic Placings; 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Cheers QV & Kate Curry Shazaam & Ashley Buss Caspian & Hannah Loewen-Clarke Lord Connery & Hayley Alfonso Image & Haley Stewart Martini Time & Ashley Buss Levi Struts & Ashley Pobereznek Austen & Shawna Sawatsky

Hand Signals on the farm or equestrian property When working with others to move livestock, hitch up a tractor or baler, or navigate a large load such as a round bale of hay, hand signals are an ideal communication tool. The hand signals shows here have been adopted by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers for agricultural safety. The signals help everyone to communicate in the same language when machinery noise is so loud it is impossible to hear, or you are too far away to yell and make your needs known. A full size version of this poster can be downloaded from the home

But seeing the hunter ring at the Red River Ex grounds surrounded by spectators in anticipation for the start of the Hunter Classic on Saturday at the Heart of the Continent added to the excitement for riders competing in the class. It was one of the most competitive hunter classics Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever seen, let alone be a part of, and it was a thrill to watch some of Manitobaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most accomplished riders duke it out in the second round. All those imperative aspects of an effective hunt seat rider were shown, with great style, as the top 10 rode. Competitions like this one make it more attractive for riders to pursue excellence in the hunter ring. c Kathlyn Hossack competes in hunter/jumper events on her 12-year-old Thoroughbred, WKM Time Will Tell. She frequently blogs about riding, student life and life in general at: www.katmah.wordpress.com

Kenton Nickerson, Media Repreentative for Manitoba Hunter Jumper Association (MHJA) commented, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The MHJA was very honoured to stage this Jump Canada class. We strive to put on the best Equine Canada sanctioned events throughout our show season and for Jump Canada to offer this class to us, as a smaller province, shows how dedicated they are to improving the quality of show jumping in Canada. Allowing us to hold the $5,000 Jump Canada Hunter Classic sponsored by the Marcy Schweizer Memorial Fund, pushed our entries at Heart of the Continent to the highest we have ever had. It also allowed us to be host to horse and riders from Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta. We saw a lot of new and returning faces in the hunter ring, some serious hunter competition and new hunter jumps. The MHJA cannot thank Jump Canada enough for this opportunity which brought life back to the hunters in Manitoba. c

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Horse Country competition and birthday draw results Answer the question below correctly and you will be entered to win one of these great prizes! Question: “Which horse has a horn, but isn’t a Unicorn?” (Answer found in this issue.)

n sheet

red cotto

Embroide

Double winners this issue! Congratulations to Danna Shannon of Teulon who won $50 worth of Front Runner Feed, and Carrie Smith of Ninette who won a set of Champion Charms. The correct answer to the question “What month was Event-Full for Helping Hooves of Manitoba?” was “August”. The next contest deadline is 5:00 p.m. on November 4, 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”.

Subscriber Draw (see page 47)

Congratulations to Dawn Streeter of Saskatoon, SK, whose 1-year subscription will be doubled to two years.

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: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

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YOUR NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________________

EMAIL: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ POSTAL CODE: ________________ DAY PHONE: ____________________________________ EVENING PHONE: ___________________________________ Contest deadline is 5:00 p.m. on November 4, 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.

Wormy concerns

WARNING!

Equine Guelph has launched a new 2½ minute video to help horse owners with parasite management. When a growing resistance to dewormers is cited as a major issue concerning horse owners today, a fecal exam to see if your parasite control program is working makes sense. Collecting a manure sample is easy, but it must be done properly to ensure accurate test results.

Rotate or rest?

How to Collect Manure for a Fecal Egg Count (FEC)

1) Write the date and horse’s name on the front part of one ziplock bag. 2) Take another zip-lock bag and turn it inside-out over your hand. 3) With your hand inside the bag, pick up a fresh fecal mass. 4) Use your other hand to pull the zip-lock bag over your hand, turning the bag right side out. Squeeze out as much air as possible. The fecal matter is now in the bag. 5) Zip up the bag. Place the bag into the labelled bag. 6) Store in a cool place, such as a refrigerator but not in the freezer. 7) Deliver your fecal sample to the vet within 48 hours!

Do not place the sample in the freezer or leave it in your car. Extreme cold or heat can kill parasites, defeating the purpose of collecting a sample. Be sure to request feces are examined for a strongyle egg count in horses aged 2 years-old and up.

Ontario Veterinary College researcher Dr. Andrew Peregrine says, “Less than three percent of horse owners perform fecal exams and to date this is the only way to find out if your horse is carrying an unhealthy parasite burden.” He recommends all horse owners get in the habit of performing a fecal at least once a year. Peregrine advises horse owners to discuss the right parasite control program with their vet to be sure they are following an individual program that is right for their horse. Rotation of deworming products (not just switching brands but switching drug classes) should not be the only point of conversation. Environment and stage of life plays a key role in determining what measures can be taken to keep the parasite population in check. And of course, the starting point is a fecal exam to learn if the egg count warrants action. If the fecal egg count is high - another exam two weeks after deworming will let the horse owner know if what they are doing is working. c The full article can be read at: equineguelph.ca/news/index.php?content=364. Watch a video outlining how to collect a fecal sample: EquineGuelph.ca/videos.php.

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oneinsurancegroup.ca

In our July issue we announced an exciting collaboration between Horse Country and The Writer’s Collective of Manitoba: The 1st Annual Non-Fiction Contest for Adults and Teens Adult Category Theme: The Life in my Horse

The brief was, in 1250 words or less, to tell us about your life with your horse, the life in your horse. What makes your time together so special?

The winner in this category is Dawn Vandersteen from Alonso, MB.

Dawn has won $125 plus publication of her story in Horse Country, a 1-year subscription to Horse Country and a 1-year membership to The Writers’ Collective of Manitoba. Honourable mentions go to Elizabeth Simms, of Minnedosa for her story about Buddy, a rescued horse, and Haille Emms of Stonewall, MB, who described how her love of horses helped her get through a difficult time.

The Life in My Horse

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by Dawn Vandersteen

What?! That’s a silly topic. I’d rather write about the life in my girl. You see, she’s not just any old girl – she’s a cowgirl! That’s right, a genuine, certified cow girl. I’m not just saying that because she carries a rope sometimes, and I wouldn’t call her a roper – just a cowgirl with a rope. My girl was the first actual human I seen when I was born. I wasn’t even a couple hours old when I felt my Ma’s fidgety excitement. I looked at her to see what had caught her attention; she was gazing over at the fence. There stood the prettiest girl I had ever seen. Keep in mind, she was also the first and only girl I had seen at this point. She stood there lookin’ at me, lookin’ at her. Ma wasn’t too keen on that kind of surveillance, and when my girl crawled through the rail fence she became downright agitated. But my girl kept her distance, just kind of circling around us, ducking her head down in a weird way, which I realized later in life meant that she was checking me out to see if I was a colt or a filly. I’m a colt, by the way. Well, I was till the vet came, but I don’t want to talk about that. I would have made a great stud. Anyway, after a bit I think Ma must have given my girl permission to come closer because before long she was all over me. Petting me, cuddling me, she couldn’t get enough of me, and heck, I liked the attention! We bonded right then and there. That was over eight years ago and we are still the best of friends. Partners, she calls us. Lots of stuff has happened to us over the years, some good, some bad. I lost my Ma when I was just a couple weeks old, hence the name Rocky.

Well, my girl took care of me; I needed milk and lots of it! Where she got it from, I’ll never know, but there was my pail of milk, several times a day. I liked it best when she warmed it a little. I had the run of the barn. No other horse was ever allowed to come and go like I was. I was special. She didn’t spoil me though. If I put my ears back at feeding time and pushed at her to get the milk, whoa! I got a good smack! I wasn’t allowed to kick either. I may have raised my leg a time or two, just to warn everyone to stay away from my milk. What can I say? I was hungry! I can still remember the first time she put a saddle on me. I was good, and she was so proud of me. It wasn’t long before she was on top of me! That was weird, but kinda fun, in a way. She would take me places, and while at first I was reluctant to leave the safety of the arena, I started to enjoy going down the trails in the pasture. We live at a community pasture where there are thirty-four thousand acres of bush and prairie to ride through, so I am never bored! Sometimes we even get to chase cows, so that would make me a cowhorse, right? Then there are always the really slow rides, looking for sheds, or when my girl picks saskatoons along the trail, and I have to be reminded to be patient. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but rocks scare me and even though I see lots on a daily basis, I can’t seem to get over my rock phobia. My girl understands though, and doesn’t get too mad at me. She has her quirks and downfalls too, and I help her through her trouble spots.

I’m not above giving her a little buck every now and then just to help her focus. Yep, my girl and I are partners. A couple years ago, she started entering me in competitions. Barrel races! I must say, I am very fast, and very quick on my feet, so not surprised she chose me. The trailer rides can be pretty long and monotonous, but usually there are other horses along, some I know and some I don’t. Seems these barrel racers like to travel in groups, which suits me just fine. I like company too. The most exciting races are the rodeos. The announcers, the music, the bulls, the excitement in the air - wow! I just keep watching those bulls, hoping they don’t get out! I run fast for my girl, and I try really, really hard. She’s very competitive, I know, and she always says the same thing before our run. “Let’s rock and roll, Rocky.” Sometimes we win, sometimes we don’t, but what I like best about my girl is that she always loves me, win or lose. She tells me all we can do is our best, and that sometimes it’s okay to make mistakes. If I mess up and say, knock a barrel down or something silly like that, she forgives me, and if she does something crazy like not giving me

enough room to turn properly, I forgive her too. Partners don’t hold grudges. We’re a lot alike actually. We both love to eat. We are both friendly, and play well with others, but we need our “space” and we will do what we have to, to keep it intact, although I have never seen her kick anyone. She really pays attention to my wants and needs; she has an uncanny ability to know how I’m feeling. I’m a good listener to her too, she shares her hopes and dreams with me, and trusts me enough to cry if she’s sad. I never interrupt or give her unwanted advice. That’s what friends are for, right? We don’t necessarily share the same goals, though. While she wants to win the rodeo, I just want to get a feed of oats at the end of the day. She wants to be a champion barrel racer, I just want to graze the delicious green grass all day in the pasture. Friends look after each other, and we compromise. My girl feeds me and loves me and for that I carry her down the trails, and for that I run my heart out for her. My girl and I are partners. c

Students (Grades 9-12) Category Theme: My Gift Horse

The brief was, in 750 words or less, to tell us about your horse. Whether he was given to you as a gift, or is a gift in your life, we wanted to hear about it!

The winner in this category is Jennifer Hammond from Boissevain, MB.

Jennifer has won $75 plus publication in Horse Country, a 1-year subscription to Horse Country and a 1-year membership to The Writers’ Collective of Manitoba. An honourable mention goes to Kayla Morgan Machlan of Winnipeg for her memories of Eclipse, her once-in-alifetime horse.

My Gift Horse Any person with a soft spot for animals knows of the close attachment that can form between humans and their pets. No matter how strong the bond, sometimes unpredictable circumstances can take a companion away from its owner, but they will always know how fortunate they were to have such an animal in their life. They know that their animal was a gift in their life that would never be forgotten. Two years ago, when I was fourteen, I sold my pony Rainy in order to move up to a taller, more experienced mount that would better suit my riding abilities and ambitions. After two visits, we brought home Imp, a bay half Arabian gelding who stood 16.2 hands high. Although

Imp was considered a senior horse at twenty years of age, it was simply just a label. He was lively, even more so than my pony before him, who had only been six years old! Imp, registered as Rhythm N Rhyme, was full of intelligence and personality; it was impossible not to fall in love with him. I soon realized I had found the perfect horse for me. Imp became my team mate, my best friend and my teacher. Only a few weeks after buying Imp, we entered five classes at the local fair. It was a fantastic day. I remember feeling surprised, yet ecstatic, when our names were continued on page 30

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by Jennifer Hammond

continued from page 29

called for first place in four out of our five classes. Our success proved just how well we were coming along as a partnership. In the year and a half following the local fair, we entered five other shows, placing in the majority of our classes and making plenty of smile-worthy memories along the way. Imp also helped me pass my first three riding levels in Pony Club. This enabled us to compete in a three-day event; dressage, cross country and show jumping all as one weekend long competition. Competing in this discipline was one of my long-time dreams. It was a wonderful experience and I think it’s safe to say we both had a blast. Besides competing, I spent many hours with Imp, strolling down the road in the hazy glow of dusk, brushing him until he was spotless, or nearly so, depending on how filthy he was to begin with! We cantered through fields and perfected our skills in lessons. I spent many hours scraping scabs off his legs when he was infected with mud fever, as well as treating the occasional wound he somehow managed to acquire. Overall, we learned from each other, and I enjoyed being in his company. I like to think he enjoyed being around me all the time, but I bet some days he would have preferred to continue grazing.

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New first aid app puts life-saving help on your phone

The Canadian Red Cross has launched a first aid app to increase the skills and confidence of Canadians to intervene in health emergencies. Life-threatening injuries and emergencies can happen any time and anywhere, and the Red Cross wants Manitobans to empower themselves to save lives. “This app will allow people to learn what to do in multiple medical emergencies, from severe bleeding to broken bones to heart attacks,” said Don Marentette with the Canadian Red Cross in Manitoba. “Knowing how to recognize the signs of a medical emergency is not enough; people need to know what to do.” According to a recent poll on behalf of the Canadian Red Cross, nearly 40% of Canadians say they’ve been in an emergency situation where they’ve had to perform first aid. Although more than two-thirds of Canadians say they can recognize the signs of a life-threatening health emergency like choking or a heart attack, only half are confident in their skills to help.

Out of Imp’s many good attributes, most of all, he was great at being my safe haven. In times of distress, all it would take was one quick trip up to the farm and I would feel at peace. With my fingers twined in his mane or my head resting against his unusually soft coat, all my worries would slip away. It got to the point where if I hadn’t seen my horse for a few days, I would feel almost panicked. I craved the peaceful farm atmosphere, the dusty yet sweet smell of the horses and the comforting feeling of stroking Imp’s velvety muzzle. I’ll readily admit things weren’t always picture perfect. Some days Imp was the source of my stress, but we worked through it. Most likely, I was the root of the problem to begin with anyway. I tried to be patient, which was often necessary, considering working with an animal many times my size using silent communication was often a challenging feat. However, no matter what trick he pulled, maybe he would not let me catch him (which happened daily), maybe he wouldn’t load in the trailer, or if he somehow managed to escape my hold and take off down the road, I didn’t love him any less. On October 19, 2012, Imp passed away due to complications from colic. I didn’t get nearly the time with him that I hoped I would have, but I’m very thankful for the time we spent together. I will forever treasure my memories of him. I knew then and I still know now, that he was definitely a gift in my life and I was lucky to call him my own. c

The free app is available for Android, iPhone and iPad. It can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching “Canadian Red Cross.” It is also available on the Red Cross website at www.redcross.ca/apps. Users can sharpen their skills through interactive quizzes and videos, or access simple step-by-step advice to help them respond to an emergency. “Although full of useful information, the new app is not a substitute for training,” adds Marentette. “The best way to be prepared for a medical emergency is still by taking a Red Cross first aid course, supplemented by this easy app in your purse or pocket.” The Canadian Red Cross is a leading provider of first aid and CPR programs and has been offering first aid and CPR training to Canadians for more than 50 years. For more information or to find a course near you, visit www.redcross.ca/findacourse. c

Twists and turns of the horse world Sun Chasers Quest’s current rider.

The same little girl with Theo.

www.greendirections.ca

www.equinebodybling.com

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Sandi Payjack wrote to share a most amazing and interesting story. When her daughter, Brittany Payjack, was a little girl her first show pony was “Two Socks“, later purchased by Cheryl Wishart. Sandy says, “Then we bought a liver chestnut Morgan named Sun Chasers Quest but we called him Chase. Brittany showed Chase in the hunter ring. When she felt ready for the jumper ring she made the tough decision to sell Chase, whom she had loved as a mother would love a child.” She purchased two Thoroughbreds and now rides Socrates and Theo in both the jumper and hunter rings. Theo was the MHJA Starter champion for 2012. As the years have gone by the family always wondered what had happened to Sun Chasers Quest as they lost track of him through the years. Well, Brittany has now moved to Alberta and is training young horses for a prestigious facility. She took Socrates and Theo with her to Alberta with hopes of selling or leasing them out as this first year will be too difficult to work and show. The first person to come and try Theo out was an 11-year-old girl and as she rode, Brittany spoke with the mother and the coach. As the horse trial continued and the conversation went on it was discovered that this very girl currently does the Hunters on Sun Chasers Quest! Her mount is Chase! How bizarre and absolutely wonderful for all! It’s definitely a small, small, horse world. c

Text and photos by Meghan Nicholls.

Wet Work in the

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Wash Rack

The panic snap connects to the halter, not the wall, for safety.

Edward is facing the opening of the wash rack, giving him an out.

Our four legged equine partners are notorious for finding the nearest mud puddle even on the driest of days, and becoming a whole new texture with the ease of a roll. You may have years of trial and error, so what do you follow for your bathing ritual? Do you get your step-by-step from the internet? Or perhaps a fellow boarder at your barn gave you the low down? Finding what best suits you and your horse is key. With a bit of time and patience you will develop the skills needed for this task. After countless wash rack visits, I found that by simply following a few guide lines, bathing became easier and more practical in very little time.

hitching post for tethering. I personally never actually tie my horse, not even with a quick release knot. I prefer to loop the lead over the post, doubling back over itself so both my horse and I can easily adjust the tension in either direction. If you are bathing outside with nowhere to tether safely, a second pair of hands will become very useful. Hello horseshow moms and dads! If you are bathing in a well equipped wash rack, access to warm water won’t be an issue but if that isn’t the case, a few pails of cold water left out in the sun for an hour or two will warm to a comfortable temperature. I calculate my pail count on the size of horse being washed. For a pony I use two pails prerinse, two pails suds and two or three pails final rinse. Last but not least, my golden rule for footing; whenever I am bathing a horse, if I feel uneasy on my feet and think that I might slip, my horse is going to feel the same way. The only difference between us is that I only have two legs to worry about, and my horse has four. If you’re bathing on concrete, try to aim for a brushed area, or an older worn, slightly uneven area. Grass is very slippery when wet, sand gets tacky and black dirt gets sticky.

Assess your area

Are you using a wash rack, or a hose behind your house? Do you have access to hot water? What is the footing like? Wash racks are normally equipped with cross ties, which should have panic snaps on either end that connect to your horse’s halter. The snap will break free with a quick jolt or with heavy pressure. Some wash racks also have a

Give an out

Now you are ready to bath, the next guide line to follow is one that is used not only in the wash rack but every aspect of ground work you will ever do with your horse; “Give an out”. Having a bath can be just as stressful for you as it is for your horse if you don’t permit an “open door”. If a situation arises, even out in the pasture, where your horse is cornered and has nowhere to go, what happens? He or she will either fight to get their opponent to back off, or attempt to run away. If you are bathing in a box style wash rack, face your horse towards the opening and maybe have the door open in the distance so that the illusion of having an out is right in front of them. The same aspect comes into play if you’re bathing outside. Have your handler stand off to the side of the horse’s face, so the horse has a better view of the person. This opens the door in front of them; horses want to run forwards to escape a high pressure situation, so the best out you can give them is in front. Finally, roll up your sleeves and throw on your muckers. You are ready to get that horse squeaky clean.

Shower Effect

Using the next guideline, “shower effect”, clean your

horse in the same way you would want to have a personal shower. You wouldn’t jump in without testing the water first, correct? Granted that you are using a hose, have the stream trickling quietly. Start slowly at a front hoof and work your way up their shoulder to their body and finish with their necks. Avoid the face altogether with the hose. If you don’t, you will be closing the door or attacking them from the front. Once the horse is saturated, use a mild soap and scrub against the grain with a rubber curry. Moving the hair in the wrong direction allows the suds to get right against the skin. When you are satisfied with your scrubbing and no further dirt is evident, rinse the body generously, as well going against the grain. I find that with a really soiled body I might have to repeat this more than once. Finish off by removing excess water with a sweat scraper and apply moisturizer to the hooves, just like you would moisturize your own skin to prevent dryness and cracks. With a couple of of practise sessions in your wash area, before you know it, bathing will have become a fun, bonding time for you and your horse. Enjoy the little moments and try and stay dry! c

lteetaert@pennerfarmservice.com

www.pocorazzfarm.ca shapiro@pocorazzfarm.ca

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www.pennerfarmservice.com

What Rodeo means to me an essay by Gracie Fawns

My name is Gracie Fawns and I am 12 years-old. I am

of practice. I see how well my horses and I do when we

in grade 6 so this is my first year of high school rodeo. I

practise hard and regularly. I feel really good about myself

love it! I have so much fun travelling Manitoba with my

and my horse when we do our best. I am new to the sport so

family to all the rodeos. Sometimes we will have a friend

I try really hard to beat my personal best at every rodeo.

will jump in with us for the far away rodeos. We have so

MHSRA gives students the opportunity to try new

much fun torturing my Dad as we drive down the road.

things. I have tried every event so far except team roping

A truck load of girls can be hard on a Dad.

but my sister and I plan to finish off this season as a team.

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My favorite part is when we get to the rodeos I get to

I am a little nervous about dallying.

meet lots of new people and make new friends from other

Another very important way to enhance the membership

communities. The community that my family lives in is an

experience is to volunteer. At each rodeo each of us has

area that not many people have interest in horses and even

our own duties to help the rodeos run smoothly. We

more, don’t understand much about the sport of rodeo.

can volunteer to be event directors, or sit on the student

I really love the Manitoba High School Rodeo program

executive. As barrel racers or pole benders we each take a

because this is where I find lots of girls just like me that

turn to help mark the patterns and put up banners. Each

love to compete in the arena. I have noticed over the winter

of these duties are important and although they are kind

through facebook, clinics and other horse activities I have

of like having extra chores I really like it when it is my

attended just how many good friends I have made and how

turn to help out. I like to help when I can and it is really

much I miss hanging out with them. I am very excited to

fun to work together knowing I am doing my part to run

get back on the road to catch up!

a successful rodeo.

I think being a member of MHSRA is also important

My goals for my time in the Junior High division of

to me because there is tons of opportunity for me to learn

MHSRA are, with a ton of practice, in the near future I can

and develop. My mom says that I am learning about the

be successful and make it to Canadians and maybe even

joys of success and unfortunately, the frustration from the

qualify for Nationals eventually.

challenges I face in the rodeo arena. So far I think she is

There are so many reasons why I love to rodeo and I

right because sometimes my horse RV and I do the patterns

have really loved my time so far in MHSRA and can’t wait

really well and other times we both mess up. Because of

for the spring for the next rodeo to do it all again.

this I have figured out, through experience, the importance

Horse Country was proud to offer a scholarship package to

Gracie Fawns was one of two runners up and won a $50

Manitoba High School Rodeo Association riders for the 2012/13

scholarship with her essay published above. Gracie is in her

season. Students were asked to use their creative writing skills

first year of rodeo and is looking forward to future years.

and write about rodeo. For example, to write about the effort it

Congratulations to all entrants and good luck in the next season

takes to compete in MHSRA – the trials and tribulations, etc.

of rodeo.

Crazy Court Ruling in the US After a horse named Scuppy bit a boy in the face, a Connecticut court came to a conclusion that threw animal lovers: Horses are a naturally vicious species. Horse owners and farmers are mobilizing as the state Supreme Court hears an appeal in the case. Farmers and horse owners say such a classification — the nation’s first, if it stands — would make owning horses uninsurable and jeopardize the state’s sizable horse industry, . When the boy tried to pet the horse at Glendale Farms in Milford in 2006, according to court papers, the animal stuck his neck out from behind a fence and bit the child on his right cheek, “removing a large chunk of it.” In February 2012, the mid-level Appellate Court overturned a lower court ruling, saying that testimony demonstrated that Scuppy belongs to “a species naturally inclined to do mischief or be vicious.” Although he had no knowledge of Scuppy biting anyone before, farm owner Timothy Astriab testified that Scuppy was no different than other horses that would bite if a finger was put in front of him. “Significantly, Astriab acknowledged his concern

www.tackinthebox.ca

that if someone made contact with Scuppy, whether to pet or feed him, they could get bit,” the justices said. The Appellate Court ruled that the injury suffered by the boy was foreseeable and the owners of the farm had a duty to use reasonable care to restrain the animal to prevent injury. If allowed to stand, Connecticut would be the first state to consider horses as inherently dangerous. Horse farmers and equine enthusiasts, are asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the Appellate Court’s decision. The Connecticut Farm Bureau and Connecticut Horse Council filed a friend of the court brief saying that, under common law, viciousness generally is judged individually according to age, breed and gender, not as an entire species. Astriab had won at a lower court in 2010, when a New Haven judge sided with the horse’s owner and ruled that the child’s of previous incidents of aggression by Scuppy. The Superior Court judge said Astriab testified that neither he nor anyone else had ever seen Scuppy bite a person before and that in 28 years, none of the horses at the farm bit or injured anyone. Judge Robin Wilson ruled that “Cats have a tendency to scratch and horses have a tendency to bite, but the plaintiffs have failed to show, as they must, that the defendants were on notice that Scuppy specifically, and not horses generally, had a tendency to bite people or other horses.” c

www.ferrisfencing.com info@ferrisfencing.com

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father, Anthony Vendrella Sr., failed to prove the owner knew

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.

Oliver Agricultural Society’s Show Grounds were recently vandalized and their three flags representing Canada, Ontario and Manitoba were all stolen. The Canadian and Ontario flags were replaced by an anonymous local donor, and Horse Country was happy to supply the cost of a replacement Manitoba flag. Each year the Oliver Ag Fair has up to 30 ranch rodeo competitors enter from Manitoba. c

The 2014 Equine Canada Annual Convention is set for February 5-9 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The host hotel, Radisson Hotel Winnipeg, is located in the heart of downtown, only blocks from the Winnipeg Convention Centre, MTS Centre and many other attractions. Members of the equestrian community from across Canada are invited to participate in a variety of meetings and clinics tailored to address the unique needs of participants involved in equestrian sport, recreation and industry. The convention will also play host to the 2014 Equine Canada Awards Gala which consists of an evening of dining and entertainment in honour of the successes of 2013. Awards presented include Equine Canada’s coveted Equestrian of the Year, Junior Equestrian of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Horse of the Year, Canadian-bred Horse of the Year and Media Award to name a few. c

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Manitoba Horse Council (MHC), in partnership with Dressage Winnipeg, was awarded a $5,000 grant and Canon Powershot camera from the Canon’s Take Root Program, presented by Evergreen for their “Birds Hill Provincial Park Equestrian Site Tree Planting” project. On September 7 a team of volunteers planted native tree and shrub species as a much-needed buffer zone along the edge of the main dressage ring. Lunch was provided by volunteers, and there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony later in the afternoon. c

AQHA 2014 Scholarship Application is now available. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is December 1, 2013. Available scholarships range from $500 to $25,000 and vary in length from one to four years, and recipients will be required to renew their scholarship annually. Applicants wishing to obtain scholarship funding for the 2014-2015 academic year can download the scholarship guidelines for a complete list of criteria and requirements. To be considered for a Foundation scholarship, students must be AQHA or AQHYA members, and complete and return the current scholarship application and required support material. Find out more at http://aqha.com/foundation c

On September 27, Trails Manitoba and Mrs. Laureen Harper officially opened a new section of the TransCanada Trail, the Border to Beaches Trail in the Whiteshell, between Old Pinawa Dam Provincial Park and Whiteshell Provincial Park. The Trail passes the Manitoba Hydro Dike and Seven Sisters Generating Station, Ironwood Trail, Pinawa Channel and the Pinawa Suspension Bridge. Mr. Ian Hughes, president of Trails Manitoba said trails encourage exploration and this one provides unprecedented access to Manitoba’s beautiful wilderness as well as its parks, towns and natural wonders. The new section of Trail is designed for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and horseback riding as well as snowmobiling in the winter months. c

ACROSS

2. Cart you fill when you clean a stall 4. Name for saddle, bridle, etc. 7. Cloth used to wipe down a horse 9. Basic headgear a horse wears 10. Used to spread shavings and smooth dirt 12. Riding aid 14. Used to lead a horse 16. Oats, barley, corn 17. Holds water for a horse to drink 19. Parts of a bridle 20. What a rider sits on 22. Has a mane and tail 23. Bedding that’s very absorbent

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.

DID YOU KNOW?

DOWN

Although the terms ‘blacksmith’, ‘farrier’ and ‘horseshoer’ are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually refer to different – although related – functions. • A blacksmith is someone who makes things out of hot iron. In the past, horseshoes were an important part of a blacksmith’s production. • A horseshoer is, as the name suggests, someone whose main job is installing shoes on hooves. Most horseshoes today are machine-made. • A farrier is concerned with the understanding and care of horses’ feet, including the correct installation of shoes.

1. Used to lift and throw hay 3. Used to sweep the tack room 5. A male foal 6. Bedding that looks like hay 8. Newspaper, sand, peanut hulls etc. 11. Something grain is stored in 13. Wood product used for bedding 15. Individual enclosures inside a barn 18. Leather riding apparel 19. Placed under a saddle Answers are on page 47

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HORSE Nuts

by Ishbel Moore.

Learning from One of the Best – George Morris Lorraine Wilson spent time with legendary George Morris this past Spring at the Mane Event in Red Deer, AB. She says, “I attended this clinic because it is a once-in-a-lifetime

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opportunity to have not just one, but three lessons with the number one instructor and rider in North America. George is by far one of the most influential horsemen in the horse industry!” Perhaps you have not heard of George Morris, so here is a little about him. He won the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Maclay Horsemanship Finals and the American Horse Show Association Hunt Seat Equitation Medal Final at Madison Square Garden when he was 14-years-old in 1952 – the youngest rider to ever achieve this. Between 1958 and 1960 he rode on eight winning Nations Cup teams, and went on to train winning riders at his stables in New Jersey. His students have won medals in several Olympic Games (1984, 1992, 1996, 2004). His credits include more feats. In the Pan Am Games of 1959 his team won Gold, and in the Rome 1960 Olympics he won a Team Silver. He has represented the USA in many international equestrian competitions as a rider and a coach. He was Chef d’Equipe for the 2005 champions

www.canvasbackpets.com

of the Samsung Super League and for numerous other winning teams, as well as the US show jumping team, and for many Nations Cup events. Individual and Team Silver medal winners at the Fédération Équestre Internationale, FEI, World Equestrian Games were coached to this glory by Morris in 2006. And in 2008, at the Hong Kong Olympic Games, he coached the team that won Team Gold and the rider who took the Individual Bronze Medal. He is president of the US Show Jumping Hall of Fame, and serves on the USEF National Jumper Committee and Planning Committee. He is known to be the founding father of Hunt Seat Equitation, and equitation is very important to Lorraine Wilson. By day, 32-year-old Lorraine is the receptionist at Reactive Massage Therapy and Brandon Acupuncture. Although she lives and works in Brandon, her horses are kept on her parents’ farm just east of there. “I have two horses,” she says, “A retired purebred Arabian named Cadillac that I was successful with as a youth competitor, and my new four-year-old Hanoverian mare, Quintina. My plan is to start her under saddle this summer in hopes to be ready to compete at the Dressage shows next summer in preparation for her show jumping career.” Lorraine explains further, “I mostly ride Hunter-Jumpers and Dressage horses now, but I have competed extensively and very successfully in Western Pleasure, Saddleseat, Reining, Showmanship and horsemanship. As a youth, I even drove Hackneys for two years for my uncle.” Lorraine trains horses and gives lessons out of the 4B Ranch owned and operated by Scott and Raegan Byrnes. “I was lucky to be born into a family of horse enthusiasts,” she says. “My parents and grandparents, actually almost my entire family is involved with horses in some way or another, from competing at the World show to trail riding.”

(Olympic Coach). She adds, “When I saw that George Morris would be the Hunter-Jumper Clinician, I just had to ride. This was the opportunity of lifetime!” Lorraine joined one of the two groups of six riders. “George was very specific, stern, and to the point with what he expected out of us or any rider for that matter,” says Lorraine. “There is only one way to ride a horse and that is the correct way. He would tell us that practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect!” She says the most important thing she learned is that your equitation is everything to the horses’ ability to perform to their full potential in a happy mannerism. She says, “George’s riding style has improved my equitation and focus on the course to ride a smoother more polished ride.” In her very last lesson with George Morris she rode a short course and was awarded an almost-perfect score of 94! She admits she was honored and impressed with her improvement throughout the clinic. “All the riders were very excited about the lessons, she adds, “and even more excited when George Morris rode some of our horses. George twice rode my mount that I took, declaring that he didn’t want to give her back.” Lorraine had taken a 14-year-old Warmblood mare, named Paguera, owned by Joy McKinnon and Dennis Karras that she had campaigned last summer and this winter. Lorraine repeats George’s philosophy, which is, “I’m a great stickler of horses with discipline. There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors and over-petting of horses with sugar. That’s not how to work a horse. The horse is happiest when he’s fairly treated and fairly trained and fairly handled.” Great philosophy from a great horseman. c

wrobinson17@shaw.ca www.wwstables.ca

Stallion Owners & Horse Breeders The time is coming to book your space in Horse Country’s Stallion edition, published at the beginning of 2014! Call 1-866-886-2425 or email editor@horsecountry.ca to make sure you are on the mailing list for information about special advertising rates.

info@ride-n-drive.com www.ride-n-drive.com

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Lorraine has attended The Mane Event in Red Deer, AB for the last 10 years, ever since the event set up in the city. The Mane Event is still also held in Chilliwack, BC. “This is an auditing clinic,” she says, “but the riders lucky enough to ride in them still get an amazing lesson. You are watched by a large crowd. It is a very large event, consisting of two large rings, both having instructors actively coaching in them all day and into the evening. They have a round pen with a trainers’ challenge, two lecture halls where each instructor talks about different topics, and also vets and nutritionists, and a trade show the size of the Keystone Center with all sorts of great buys.” She has been fortunate enough to have audited some amazing coaches and riders including Tim Grubb, Frank Madden, Jay Hayes (Olympic rider) and Greg Best

by Laura Stock.

Happy Healthy Donkeys 5 tips for proper care It is a common misconception that donkeys don’t require as much care as horses. They get turned out into a herd of cattle or flock of sheep to be a guardian and are seldom thought about after. Donkeys, however, are equines just like horses are. Yes, they differ from horses in their interactions with each other, their nutritional needs, and even in the way their hooves are clipped, but they still require the necessary care to keep them healthy. Besides, a healthy and loved donkey is a lifelong companion.

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Nutrition.

Donkeys are desert animals and foragers. They don’t require a diet as high in nutrients as horses do. Feeding a donkey a nutrient rich diet can make them become obese and, as such, put undue strain on their joints and result in issues such as laminitis. Donkeys don’t show their weight as horses do. They store their fat in their neck crest which can become very painful when the animal is overweight. A good diet for a donkey is what would be considered a low quality diet for horses. The high protein and energy pastures suitable for horses can cause a donkey to become obese. Donkeys survive very well on good quality grass hay or a high quality oat straw. They can also maintain good health on wheat bran, crushed barley, linseed, sheaf oats, clover, alfalfa hay, and small quantities of corn. They can digest a much higher fibre diet than a horse can and use all the nutrients available while horses have the potential to become emaciated on such a diet. It is also important Horton.

for donkeys to have access to loose salt as opposed to a salt block as they tend to consume more salt when it is in loose form.

Environment

It is extremely important for a donkey to have access to a good shelter all year round. Donkeys don’t shed water as horses do as they don’t have as much grease in their hair. A donkey’s hair traps the water against the skin and can result in issues such as pneumonia should they be out in a rain shower with a cold breeze blowing, without a shelter. In the winter months when the donkeys grow their winter coats they often lack the protective undercoats that horses grow during the winter. As such, they have a tendency to become chilled more easily should they be out in extreme weather.

Donkeys, being desert animals, need a pasture or paddock that is dry and has good drainage. If a donkey is kept in moist conditions over an extended period of time, this can cause serious issues with their hooves. Abscesses can form in their hooves as well as thrush and other fungal infections. Not only is a dry pasture necessary for healthy feet, they also love to create an area where they can have dust baths. You will never see a donkey shake the dust out of his coat after rolling. They use the dust to fluff up their hair to help regulate their body temperature on hot summer days.

Companionship

Donkeys need companionship. They are not solitary animals and need a partner they can bond to. Donkeys prefer other donkeys but if that isn’t an option a donkey will bond with another animal you put it with, including horses, sheep, goats and the like. Donkeys form very deep bonds and will do anything and everything, including giving up their life, to protect the one it has bonded with. If a donkey isn’t given a companion to bond with, the donkey can become very depressed to the point of starvation. They are very affectionate animals and need a partner on which to lavish that affection. A donkey will bond with its handler and owner, however they thrive best with a constant companion to occupy their time.

Training

Another common misconception with donkeys is that they are stubborn. What people don’t realize is that the donkey isn’t a flight animal like a horse. If they feel they are in danger, a donkey will freeze. Once a donkey has frozen in fear you could beat the animal to death before it would go near, or do whatever it has perceived as a threat. A donkey also learns differently than a horse. Donkeys require things to be broken down into the smallest steps possible to let them process everything. Donkeys don’t just worry about what is happening right this moment. They worry about what repercussions this action they are being asked to do will have in the future. Donkeys need their owners to take their time while training them. Donkeys love to please but can become confused if the trainer tries to teach too fast. A great training tool with donkeys is rewards such as carrots, alfalfa cubes, or horse cookies. Never use the food as a bribe, but use it as a reward so that the donkey knows that what they are doing is what you want them to do. Donkeys love to learn and

The author’s “boys”: On the left is Chocolate Puddin’ (a small Standard), and right is Apple Jack (a large Standard). These 2-year-olds are inseparable and are rarely seen very far from each other.

if you can get past the stereotype of them being stubborn you’ll have a very willing participant on your hands.

Hoof and Dental Care

Lastly is hoof and dental care. This is where donkeys and horses are the same. Both require regular dental and hoof maintenance. It is important to have a farrier who is knowledgeable about donkeys. A donkey’s hooves are much more upright and don’t chip or wear like a horse’s hooves. They need to be clipped every 6-8 weeks just like a horse. It is very important to train your donkey, from the get go, to pick up his feet and stand calmly for the farrier. If a donkey’s hooves are left to grow, very painful and abnormal growth can happen. This can result in arthritis or even worse conditions, and leave your donkey unsound and in pain for the rest of its life. Dental care is just as important as regular hoof care. If a donkey cannot chew then it cannot acquire all the nutrition it needs to maintain optimal health. Just as with horses, a donkey’s teeth need to be floated by a vet once a year. They will wear down leaving sharp points in the enamel, wave mouth, or periodontal disease. If the donkey’s teeth are left with sharp edges there is the potential of rubs against its cheeks leaving wounds and leading to abscesses. It is true for any animal that if their mouth is painful they won’t eat. A donkey will live anywhere from 35-45 years if cared for properly. Just like any other animal, their needs must be looked after to keep them healthy and happy. Donkeys are some of the most loving, and forgiving animals you will find. We need to do our part to make sure they live full and healthy lives while they are with us. c

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The Manitoba Welsh Pony and Cob Association

from Donna Hunter

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The 39th Annual All Welsh Pony and Cob Association Show was held in Virden, MB, June 29-30, 2013, under beautiful sunny skies after many wet days. Cornelia MacLeod of Brookdale, MB, was our capable judge, with Sherald Joynt of Virden assisting as ring master. Julie Gibson of Virden was our recorder and announcer, Sally Dale from Hamiota our photographer. Quality ponies and cobs were shown from Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan in a full slate of classes. As usual we had delightful young people showing. Three little boys took part in their first show. Lane Rossnagel of McGregor at 2-years-old, led his trusty Welsh steed in showmanship. He was not much interested in his ribbon but his lollipop was a different story. Rylan Reader of Taber, AB, at 1year-old claimed a ribbon for costume with his partners Lane Rossnagel and Eric Mooney in a tie. It’s great to see our future showmen in the ring for the first time. Next year we celebrate our 40th anniversary. We have great plans already to celebrate BIG ! Plan to join us in the ring or in the stands – we will welcome you! c

Results: Supreme and Grand Champion: JMR Narcissus Section B stallion shown by Lionel Allen, owned by Marg Allen from Glenella, MB. Reserve: Crystal Spring’s Classic Cameo owned and shown by Natalie Hastings from Weyburn, SK. Grand Champion Section A: Crystal Springs’s Classic Cameo owned and shown by Natalie Hastings of Weyburn, SK. Grand Champion C/D: Kahlua McNally owned by Julie Foot and shown by

Depicted are a selection of images from show day, all taken by a very capable and experienced Sally Dale.

Joanne Reader both of Taber, AB. Part bred Champion: Crystal Springs Buff Twiggy owned and shown by Hayley Moats of Riceton, SK. Champion Riding: Crystal Spring’s Buff Twiggy owned by Hayley Moats. Champion Driving: Crystal Spring’s Classic Cameo owned by Natalie Hastings. Junior High Point: Hayley Moats of Riceton, SK. Senior High Point: Duane Stewart of Kelwood, MB.

Connections:

the economical section for buyers and sellers. Horsemanship Manager Camp Arnes is presently seeking a knowledgeable full time Horsemanship Manager. We offer a rewarding work environment, benefits package, salary and housing. Applicants must demonstrate interpersonal skills, knowledge of herd management, passion to share the gospel and a love to serve others. Camp Arnes is a year round Christian Camp & Retreat Center. We are committed to presenting opportunities for children and adults to experience adventure while being invited to hear the message of Jesus Christ.

www.topspotstables.com

thetopspot@mac.com

Chocolate Palomino 2013 Morgan Colt. Big, athletic, upright colt with great hip and shoulder. Mature to 15hh+. Well handled, halter broke, good with farrier, UTD on worming and shots. Registered, color tested. Weaned and ready to go ! More photos at www.couleebendmorgans.com Email: lcdietz@cciwireless.ca or phone 780-583-2128

Please forward your resume by email to mhardy@camparnes.com Contact 1-888-642-7618 for details. Or check out our website to learn more about us at www.camparnes.com

DRIVING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Harness and saddle repairs. Pat Lynch, Prairie Enterprises. 204-752-2162. (8-13)

www.bluebearent.ca bfeller@mymts.net Horse drawn wagon c/w double tree & yoke; all new. $3,200. 204-898-4067 drafthorse28@hotmail.com

TRAILERS

trinder@xplornet.ca www.twranch.ca www.twhorse.com

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

FOR SALE: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arthurâ&#x20AC;?. 17 y.o. 12.3hh Registered Welsh Gelding. Broke to ride English and Western and to drive. Currently being schooled up to 3 ft. Also used for polo, roping and western. Rider just completed D2 Pony Club level on him. At Spring Classic this year, placed in top 3 in all his classes, was also reserve champion in one division. At Manitoba Horse Trials Derby in June, got a first. Has been shown at fairs in western classes, did very well. He needs to work! UTD on shots, teeth. Has fantastic feet, is good for the farrier. Super easy keeper, lives outside 24/7. Easy to load and just all around alot of fun! Please email horsecrazey@hotmail.com or phone 204-482-1061 for more information. Serious inquiries only please. FOR SALE: Weanling reg. Sec. A Welsh colt. bay. Ties and leads. Quiet fellow. Would make a wonderful herd sire or performance pony. Have too many ponies. Marg 204-3524324. FOR SALE: Miniatures de La Rose Jaune. Miniature horses and equipment. Various colours, ages, level of training. Singles, teams, agility. Great for folks of all ages. Grandora Saskatchewan. 306 668-4521. g.e.labelle@sasktel.net

continued on page 44

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HORSES FOR SALE

continued from page 43

FOR SALE: 3 y.o. Reg. Sec. B Welsh gelding. Bay. Had 2 months driving training. Would also go well under saddle. Sensible, quiet pony. UTD on shots and farrier. Loads and hauls well. Haven’t time to do him justice. Marg 204-352-4324. FOR SALE: AQHA Reg. buckskin, weanling stud colt, good minded, big and strong. $700. He will ride and chase a cow. Halter broke, trimmed, farrier’d & dewormed. BC Oakie Doakie Drift (pending). 204 824-2571 e-mail: chorses@mts.net FOR SALE: AQHA Reg. Grullo Stud Colt. BC Smokin Bo Drift (pending) $700.Very handsome, great disposition. Halter broke, farrier’d, dewormed, trimmed. Calf roping, working cow prospect or going down the trail. 204 824-2571 email: chorses@mts.net FOR SALE: JWH Color Peppy Star. 7 y.o. bay mare, reg. Quarter Horse. 15.2hh. Started on barrels, cattle and roping. Great on trails. Experienced rider only. $2,500. 204-482-4856. Winpy’s Peppy. 8 y.o. bay mare, registered Quarter Horse. 15.2hh. Will work cattle, trail ride, barrels. Very athletic, needs confident rider. Indoor riding arena available. $2,500. 204-482-4856. FOR SALE: JJS Playgirls Got Pep. 14 y.o. Buckskin mare, 14.3hh. Registered Quarter Horse. Cutting trained, competed in Team Penning, Reining. Great on trails. Quiet. $3,000. 204-482-4856. FOR SALE: Little Cojo. 10 y.o. mare, 14.2hh. “Silver Dapple” brown with grey mane and tail. Registered Quarter Horse. Works cattle, excellent show horse, schooling, all around horse. $6,000. 204-482-4856. FOR SALE: Appaloosa registered 4 y.o. stallion, loud color, from world champion bloodline. He has sired colored foals, and could continue to sire good colorful foals. We are no longer breeding full sized horses, and are moving, so he must sell. Will consider taking reg’d mini mares on trade,

asking $2,000 or best offer. Located south of Regina, SK. Please contact for more info. 306-459-2885. FOR SALE: Appaloosa broodmares, 2 direct daughters of World Champion Appaloosa “TAX MAN”. Good natured mares, sound minded, both have given us colored foals. These mares sell as broodmares, they were never broke to ride. Open for breeding. We are no longer breeding full sized horses and are moving, so they must sell. $2,000 each, or both for $3,000. These are very good mares, an asset to any breeding program. Located south of Regina, SK. 306-459-2885. FOR SALE: “Hugs” Two Blazing Swift, 2003 AQHA Bay Mare. 15hh. $5,500. Jansen, SK. Ccurrently being used at a 25000hd feedlot. Works cattle, gates and has done some roping. A “jump on and go” type. Had a year off (rider’s maternity leave), went back to work with no issue. Loads, ties, stands good for the farrier and bathes. Rides saddled or bareback, with a snaffle, hackamore (bosal) or halter. First job was calving season, covered lots of miles each day, roping and tagging calves. Has an excellent long trot. Has been ridden by kids in the arena and round pen. Has been used by an 8 y.o. beginner for 4H, last summer was started in English and over jumps. Email aorchard@live.ca or phone 306-3644735. FOR SALE: “Vegas”. 2003 Red Roan Mare. 15hh. $4,500. Jansen, SK. Has been used mainly at a 25000hd feedlot. A friendly mare, easy to catch. Loads, ties, bathes, and is good for the farrier. She works cattle and gates and and is good to ride on her own. I ride her under saddle or bareback, with a snaffle, hackamore(bosal) or halter. Phone 306-364-4735 or email aorchard@live.ca FOR SALE: 1- Apx 15.3hh TB/QH mare 8 y.o. Bay; 1- Apx 14.1hh Trakehner X mare 6 y.o. Bay; 1- Apx 15.3hh Trakehner X mare 7 y.o. Chestnut. All have been worked on the ground, round penned, quiet and soft. Must go to good homes. Open to reasonable offers. dkhunter@goinet.ca 204-480-5329. FOR SALE: 2005 Trakehner gelding. 16.2hh. By Sporthorse approved stallion Liebreiz, out of CWHBA premium mare

Classified Advertising Rates

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All rates are prepaid. Add GST or HST as applicable in your home province. (No PST.)

CONNECTIONS SECTION Horses For Sale: Until the end of 2013, text horse for sale ads are FREE (private sellers only). Add a picture for $24 + tax. 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 1-866886-2425. $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 10 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 1-866-886-2425; contact@horsecountry.ca.

Serene Sunday. Has been professionally trained. Very uncomplicated horse. Trailers, ties,and is not a one person horse! Has been in German Baca clinics for 2 years, and comments are highly positive, whether he is packing nervous amateur trying to regain confidence or a trainer. Loves the trials too. $10,000 + GST. Open to serious offers, this boy deserves his own person. Video and undersaddle photos available. apexfarms@ sasktel.net Charmaine Bergman 306-7647148. FOR SALE: 4 y.o. Registered Warmblood. Brave 16hh grey mare, beautiful mover, sound mind and good form over fences. VERY athletic young horse ready for a rider to take her to the next level! Asking $6,500. For more info phone 306-883-3992 or email dawnfriesen@hotmail.com FOR SALE: Paint weanlings/yearlings, all tobianos (buckskins, sorrels, blacks). Sire: QSR Thatsasweetrolex by A Tru Rolex, dams ranch bred. Call or email for pictures and pedigrees. sandramanz65@gmail.com or phone 306-692-0990.

TACK

FOR SALE: Fabtron Extra Wide trail saddle in excellent condition. Extra wide 7 1/2” gullet, 16” suede, padded seat, 7/8 position double conventional rigging, heavy stainless steel dees, leather finished in a show brown, Cordura skirts, fenders & housings, approx. 22 lbs. Asking $400. Winnipeg. Email for pictures. stesch@thesoccerpatch.com FOR SALE: 15.5” Big Horn Show Saddle - Gently Used. Gorgeous show saddle light tan in color with lots of silver. Asking $2,000 OBO. Comes with quilted zip-up saddle bag (has carrying strap). This saddle was only used to show in, NEVER for training. It is in EXCELLENT condition. 204-803-3977 email brett.budge@hotmail.ca for pictures. FOR SALE: 16” Collegiate English Saddle. Used. Dark brown, in good condition. Comes with zip up saddle bag and cinch. Asking $375 OBO. 204-803-3977 or email brett.budge@hotmail.ca for pictures.

Horse For Sale advertising Horse Country’s gift to you November 25 edition: horse for sale text advertising is FREE! Add a picture for $24 + GST. 25 words maximum, private sellers only. Deadline is November 4 - don’t miss it! Businesses - call for economical rates. Email: contact@horsecountry.ca 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.

What’s Happening?

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

ALBERTA NOVEMBER 2-5 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Cochrane. 403-246-6205. scrawford@blgcanada.com JANUARY 10, 2014 32nd Annual Horse Breeders & Owners Conference and Annual Stable Owners Seminar, Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer.

MANITOBA OCTOBER 11 MQHA/AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Show. WACE Arena, Keystone Centre. Larry Clifford 204-727-3661 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 26-27 Bluebear Farms Halloween Show. Contact Sheryl at bfeller@mymts.net for information. OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 2 Manitoba Livestock Expo, Brandon. Karen Oliver. 204-726-3590. info@brandonfairs.com NOVEMBER 8-12 Certified Horsemanship Association instructor certification clinic (Western & English). Contact Sheryl at bfeller@mymts.net for info and to register either as a participant seeking certification or as an auditor. NOVEMBER 8-12 Bluebear Farms Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) instructor certification

Country!” (Even if you saw their advertising in many other places too.) Bluebear Farms

Camp Arnes

Canvasback Pet Supplies

CQHA

Diamond Shelters ..

Dodge Ram

Dust Off ..

Eddies Sharpening ..

DECEMBER 13 International Day of the Horse

Elder’s Equine

Equiline Feed

FEBRUARY 5-9, 2014 Equine Canada Annual Convention, Radisson Hotel, Winnipeg.

Equine Body Bling ..

Ferris Fencing

Glover Equine

Infrared Heating Panels

Miracle Ranch Equipment

One Insurance

Penner Farm Services

Poco-Razz Farm

clinic (Western & English). Contact Sheryl at bfeller@mymts.net for info and to register either as a participant seeking certification or as an auditor. NOVEMBER 23-24 Provincial Exhibition Schooling Show. Keystone Centre, Brandon. (Bronze.)

APRIL 18-20, 2014 Horse3, Keystone Centre, Brandon.

SASKATCHEWAN NOVEMBER 9-11 Peter Campbell Horsemanship, Saskatoon. 204-842-3851. coyoteridge@xplornet.com NOVEMBER 19-24 Canadian Western Agribition. www.agribition.com DECEMBER 13 International Day of the Horse.

INTERNATIONAL AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2014 World Equestrian Games, Normandy, France. MANITOBA: CHALANCHUK TEAM SORTING Winter Series Practices start October 27, 1:30 p.m. and every Saturday after that. Jackport starting November 23 and every 3rd Saturday of the month. Betty or Eugene, 204-824-2571.

www.cqha.ca

marnie@horsescoops.com

Ride N Drive Horse Supplies ..

Stone Creek Western Shop

Tack in the Box

Top Spot Stable

TW Ranch

Western Working Morgan Horse

WW Stables

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

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Nov 25 Feb 3 Mar 17 Apr 28 June 9

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issue 7-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

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

With files from the Daily Mail.

Growing to be a record-breaker. Meet Sovereign.

Sovereign with owner Paul Evans.

Already Europe’s largest horse, Sovereign is still growing! At only 4 years-old, he is 21hh (7 ft) and measures 10 ft at the tip of his ears. Two years ago Paul Evans of Werrington in Staffordshire,

She started to neglect him out of fear.

England, got a call from a friend who knew he had

Paul paid ₤200 (around $365) for Sovereign, but shelled

experience with Shire horses, and who told him that there

out much more than that in vet bills to fix the teeth and the

was a Shire in need of a rescue home.

feet, plus a better diet.

Paul went to investigate and found 2 year-old Sovereign

He didn’t think anything about Sovereign’s height when

in a sorry state. Already nearly 17hh, he was badly

he bought him, as the average height of a Shire is 16 – 17hh.

malnourished, in need of urgent dental care and suffering

But once Sovereign overcame his poor physical condition,

from abcesses in his feet. Sovereign had been bought

the better diet kicked in and he started to grow. At one vet

for carriage driving but as he got bigger and bigger, he

visit, they ran a tape just to see where he stood, and came

started pushing back when his lady owner tried to hook

up with 20.2hh.

him to the cart. It became a vicious circle with the owner

Even though Sovereign was shod when they measured

becoming more afraid as Sovereign got older and stronger.

him and all record heights are measured without shoes, at that height he already beats out Europe’s largest horse, a 19.3hh Clydesdale named Digger who was serving with the Queen’s Household Cavalry. Sovereign is only ¾” short

issue 7-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

of the current Guinness world record held by Big Jake, an

11 year-old Belgian from Wisconsin. Sovereign has already surpassed the two previous world records held by first Goliath and then Cracker, who topped out at 19.2hh. Given that Shires can continue growing until past their Sovereign and Daily Mail Reporter making a phone booth look like it belongs in Toytown.

seventh birthday and Sovereign is still only 4 years-old, it seems like the world record is set to be broken.

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

Answers to Crossword on page 37

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