Horseback Magazine

2 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

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March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 3

AN-49f (0113)

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK What A Difference A Generation Makes!

In

1983 my grandmother’s children gave her a microwave for her 50th wedding anniversary. She refused it, asking for it to be removed from her house, because the way she had been cooking for 50 years was good enough for her and she was not going to change.

I was, at the time, just barely in my

By Vicki Long 30’s, and I simply did not understand how she could not want to use this incredible time saving, make your life easier, appliance. Guess what, I do now.

Yes, I got older, and more and more electronics have been invented to make our lives easier. However, there are so many things that I don’t understand. This realization hit me when I last walked into a Best Buy, and did not know what half the merchandise in the store was. It all seems too complicated and my brain wants to explode. Just buying and hooking up a new TV is daunting at my age.

Yes, I use computers, smart phones, tablets. I couldn’t run this magazine without them, but new things coming in, especially apps that I don’t understand boggle my mind. Do I really want to do all my banking from my phone; and I am terrified my computer will go out and I’ll have to learn Windows 8.

I see now how each generation is born, able to accept the changes and advancement in technology easier than the preceding generations. A microwave to my grandmother was as daunting to her as trying to get used to a new smart TV is to me.

But, that is progress I guess, however it does raise some concerns for me about what the technology is doing to the children.

I traveled with my teenaged niece to Dallas last weekend. I tried to get a conversation going with her. She would answer my questions with just a sentence or two, but boy did she text her friends on her phone. During the four hour drive, she would text away, and I bet the total time she spent in real conversation with me was a mere thirty minutes. It seems her generation likes using their fingers texting to communicate rather than their vocal cords.

Getting my niece away from the Xbox, phone, or tablet and out to see her horse is increasingly more difficult. Once she gets there she is happy, a totally changed person, and I can actually carry on a real conversation. She is outside, with her horse, the machines forgotten just for a few hours. She is getting real exercise, sunshine, relating to an animal that adores her, and she comes home happier and more refreshed, more communicative, until the machines get her absorbed again.

Parents, if you see this happening with your children and you don’t have horses of your own, consider enrolling your child in a horse camp this summer, or find a barn to give them riding lessons.

It’s good for their body, soul, and mind to ride and play with a horse.

It’s a good old fashioned real life outside experience, not a game on a machine. It’s kind of like cooking on a stove rather than using a microwave.

On the Cover:

Novelisto with Rex Peterson and 2014 ArtReach winner from Ronald McDonald House Houston/ Texas Children’s Hospital - Maria de Pilar, “Pilly”

4 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

March 2015

Cover Story: 26 Pin Oak Charity Show - Cathy Strobel

Lifestyle & Real Estate: 16 24 38 44

Secret Life of Horseshow Moms - Margaret Pirtle Legacy of Excellence - Margaret Pirtle Real Estate Roundup Managing the Laminitic and Foundered Horse with Sole Support - Tabb Pig

Columns: 8 Horse Bites 12 Ride Forward - Linda Parelli 14 Ride-N-Sync™ - Terry Myers 22 Tack Talk - Lew Pewterbaugh 32 Hoof N’ Horse - Jaime Jackson 46 Cowboy Corner - Jim Hubbard

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• HEADQUARTER OFFICE (281) 447-0772 Phone & (281) 893-1029 Fax Advertising@horsebackmagazine.com • BRAZOS VALLEY BUREAU Diane Holt (936) 878-2678 Ranch & (713) 408-8114 Cell Dianeh@horsebackmagazine.com • GULF COAST BUREAU Carol Holloway - (832) 607-8264 Cell Carol@horsebackmagazine.com • NORTH TEXAS Mari Crabtree - (216) 702-4520 Mari@horsebackmagazine.com • NEW MEXICO BUREAU Laurie Hammer - (505)315-7842

STAFF PUBLISHER Vicki Long

EDITOR Steven Long

NATIONAL NEWS EDITOR Carrie Gobernatz LIFESTYLE EDITOR Margaret Pirtle 832-349-1427 Horsebackmag@gmail.com EVENTS EDITOR Leslie Greco

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jim Hubbard, Steven Long, Vicki Long, Roni Norquist, Linda Parelli, Kelsey Hellmann, Lew Pewterbaugh, Cathy Strobel, Cory Johnson, Margaret Pirtle, Jaime Jackson Volume 22, No. 3 Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397, (281) 447-0772. The entire contents of the magazine are copyrighted March 2015 by Horseback Magazine. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Horseback Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope. Horseback Magazine is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management. Subscription rate is $25.00 for one year.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397. Fax: (281) 893-1029

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T O W N and C O U N T R Y s h o p b y b r o w n . c o m

LIGHTS • ANTIQUES • CURIOSITIES

2 9 4 O A T

F E R N D A L E

W . A L A B A M A

HOUSTON

7 1 3

5 2 2

7 7 O 9 8 2 1 5 1

f a r - f e t c h e d

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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 5

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6 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

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LOUISIANA Serios’ Feed and Seed Bossier City, LA • 318-746-8559 Atlas Feed Mills, Inc. Breaux Bridge, LA • 337-332-1466 G & H Seed Co. Inc. Crowley, LA • 337-783-7762 Southern Feed & Supply Deridder, LA • 337-462-3333 Thomas Nursery and Feed Farmerville, LA • 318-368-2425 Chastant Brothers, Inc. Lafayette, LA • 337-234-2351 Ranch Outlet LLC Lafayette, LA • 337-235-2163 Currie & Son Feed & Garden Lake Charles, LA • 337-433-2111 Bayou Roberts Coop LeCompte, LA • 318-445-3108 Family Farm & Garden Many, LA • 318-256-3167 Rocking Rooster Minden, LA • 318-382-1400 Valley Farmers Coop Natchitoches, LA • 318-352-6426 T & S Milling, Inc. New Iberia, LA • 337-365-7007 Austin Ag Pineville, LA • 318-466-9538 Landry Feed Store, Inc. Rayne, LA • 337-334-4224 Tommy Feed Store and More Ruston, LA • 318-255-4095 Paul’s Farm and Garden Supply Shreveport, LA • 318-425-2222 Slagle Mall Slagle, LA • 337-239-7611 Taylors Feed and Farm Supply Springhill, LA • 318-539-5818 Joyce’s Farm & Home Supply St. Martinsville, LA • 337-342-2615 DeSoto Town & Country Stonewall, LA • 318-925-0998 Fletcher’s Feed & Farm Supply Sulphur, LA • 337-527-6610 Thibodeaux Feeds, Inc. Thibodeaux, LA • 337-898-1829 Crawfish Center Ville Platte, LA • 337-363-4502 Vinton Feed Store Inc. Vinton, LA • 337-589-3260 S and J Farm and Feed West Monroe, LA • 318-388-5858 Sullivans Winnsboro, LA • 318-435-3104 NEW MEXICO Circle S Feed Carlsbad, NM • 575-885-8369 Bunk’s Feed Hobbs, NM • 575-397-1228 OKLAHOMA AgriProducts Ardmore, OK • 580-223-7355 TEXAS Johnson Feed and Western Wear Alpine, TX • 432-837-5792

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Cook Feed Alvarado, TX • 817-783-2665

Lexington Farm & Feed Lexington, TX • 979-773-2782

Sabinal Grain Sabinal, TX • 830-988-2215

Angleton Feed & Supply Co., LLC Angleton, TX • 979-849-6661

Livingston Feed & Farm Supply Livingston, TX • 936-327-8853

Mummes San Antonio, TX • 830-980-4924

Smith Supply Lockhart, TX • 512-398-3785

D&L Farm & Home - Sanger Sanger, TX • 940-458-0111

Arcola Feed & Hardware Arcola, TX • 281-431-1014

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Lab Supply/Argyle Argyle, TX • 940-241-2444

Lone Star Country Store Corpus Christi, TX • 361- 387-2668

Georgetown Farm Supply Georgetown, TX • 512-930-4054

Jakes Feed and Animal Center Longview, TX • 903-663-3139

Tibaldo’s Feed & Supply Santa Fe, TX • 409-925-2735

Adams Feed Arlington, TX • 817-548-8661

Smith General Store Corsicana, TX • 903-874-1372

Giddings Ranch & Pet Center Giddings, TX • 979-542-3188

Lufkin Farm Lufkin, TX • 936-634-7414

American Feed Seagoville, TX • 972-287-5984

Geddie Feed Athens, TX • 903-583-721

DeWitt Producers Cuero, TX • 361-275-3441

Goliad Feed Goliad, TX • 361- 645-3266

Luling Feed & Supply Luling, TX • 830-875-5423

Producers Coop-Seguin Seguin, TX • 830-379-1750

D&L Feed & Home Aubrey, TX • 940-365-3129

Aggie Feed Dallas, TX • 214-391-3595

E-Barr Feeds Gonzales, TX • 830- 672-6515

Mabank Feed Mabank, TX • 903-887-1771

D&D Farm & Ranch Seguin, TX • 830-379-7340

The Feed Station Austin, TX • 512-301-7788

Feeders Dallas, TX • 972-224-5559

J&N Feed Graham, TX • 940-549-4631

Texoma Feed Sherman, TX • 903-436-1685

Bandera Ranch Store Bandera, TX • 830-796-3342

Pasturas Dallas, TX • 214-563-9875

Arrow Feed & Ranch Supply Granbury, TX • 817-573-8808

Standley Feed and Seed, Inc. Madisonville, Iola, Normangee, TX 936-348-5272

Bastrop Feed and Supply Bastrop, TX • 512-321-3700

Damon Farm & Ranch Damon, TX • 979 742-3317

Steinhauser’s Greater Houston Area, TX • 979-885-2967

Bay City Feed Bay City, TX • 979- 245-2712

Chachere Feed Store, Inc. Dayton, TX • 936-258-2670

S&S Ag Center Groesbeck, TX • 254-729-8008

Sam’s Western Store, Inc. Beaumont, TX • 409-842-2625

AgVantage Farm & Ranch Decatur, TX • 940-627-2312

Helena Chemical Hallettsville, TX • 361- 798-3296

Bear Creek - Bells Bells, TX • 972-965 -4900

Del Rio Feed and Supply Del Rio, TX • 830-775-5090

Watson Ranch & Farm Supply Hamilton, TX • 254-386-3717

Linseisen’s Feed & Supply-Bellville Bellville, TX • 979- 865-3602

Stockman’s Seed & Fertilizer DeLeon, TX • 254-734-5088

Maci Feed Hardin, Texas, TX • 936-298-9404

Belton Feed & Supply Belton, TX • 254-939-3636

Denison Feed Denison, TX • 972-465-3143

Lubianski’s Hedwig, TX • 210-667-1145

Howard County Feed Big Spring, TX • 432-267-6411

D&L Denton Denton, TX • 940-891-0100

Mummes Hondo, TX • 830-426-3313

Spring Creek Feed Center Magnolia, TX • 281-252-5400 Mansfield Feed Mansfield, TX • 817-473-1137 Watson Feed Store Mart, TX • 254-876-2501 McGregor General Store McGregor, TX • 254-840-3224 D&L AgMart McKinney, TX • 972-562-9995 Adams Feed-Midlothian Midlothian, TX • 972-775-1005 Walden Farm & Ranch Supply - Millsap Millsap, TX • 940-682-4667 Walden Farm & Ranch Supply Mineral Wells Mineral Wells, TX • 940-325-8500

Wheelers Feed and Outfitters Boerne, TX • 830-249-2656

Martin Farm and Ranch Edinburg, TX • 956-383-4949

Hieden Feed Houston, TX • 281-444-1010

Fannin Ag Bonham, TX • 903-583-7121

United Ag-El Campo, Edna, Eagle Lake El Campo, TX • 979-543-7756

Sam Houston Feed and Supply Houston, TX • 281-591-2443

Berend Brothers-Bowie Bowie, TX • 940-872-5131

Elgin General Store Elgin, TX • 512-285-3210

Cypress ACE Hardware & Feed Houston, TX • 281-469-8020

Brenham Produce Co. Brenham, TX • 979-836-3523

Potts Feed Store, Inc. Emory, Quitman, TX • 903-473-2249

Huntsville Farm Supply Huntsville, TX • 936-295-3961

Brazos Feed & Supply, Inc. Bryan, TX • 979-779-1766

Capps True Value Hardware & Ag Fairfield, TX • 903-389-4504

Lindemann Store Industry, TX • 979-357-2121

Producers Coop Assn - Bryan Bryan, TX • 979-778-6000

Farmersville Feed Farmersville, TX • 972-784-7261

Farm and Ranch Supply Isidro, TX • 956-481-3346

Davis Feed & Fertilizer, Inc. Buffalo, Centerville, TX • 903-322-4316

Noonday Feed Flint, TX • 903-561-5622

H-Brand Feed Jacksboro, TX • 940-567-3794

Hooper Feed Carthage, TX • 903-694-9499

Pecos County Feed Fort Stockton, TX • 432-336-6877

Odiorne Feed & Ranch Supply Johnson City, TX • 830-868-4579

Engledow Farm & Ranch Supply Palestine, TX • 903-723-3210

Bernardo Farm & Ranch Supply Cat Spring, TX • 979- 732-5161

M and M FarmSupply Inc. Franklin, Cameron, TX • 979-828-3516

Cordell Farm and Ranch Kaufman, TX • 972-932-2164

Big Country Farm Center Paris, TX • 903-785-8372

D&L Farm & Home - Celina Celina, TX • 972-382-1197

Lochte Feed and General Store Fredericksburg, TX • 830-997-2256

McDonnell Feed Keller, TX • 817-431-3551

Reeves County Feed Pecos, TX • 432-447-2149

Boles Feed Center, TX • 936-598-3061

Gulf Coast Equine and Pet Center Friendswood, TX • 281-482-7186

Tractor City Country Store Kenedy, TX • 830- 583-2017

Wells Bros Plano, TX • 972-424-8516

Silvers Pet & Feed Cibolo, TX • 210-566-8020

William Gin & Grain Frost, TX • 903-682-2611

Kerrville Ranch and Pet Kerrville, TX • 830-895-5800

Neuhaus & Co. Raymondville, TX • 956-689-2481

Ricks Farm and Home Clarksville, TX • 903-427-3395

Marshall Grain Ft. Worth, TX • 817-536-5636

Hoffpauir’s Ranch & Supply Lampasas, TX • 512-556-5444

Anderson Ag Refugio, TX • 361-526-5018

Lonestar Ranch & Outdoors Cleburne, TX • 817-645-4325

Rendon Feed Ft. Worth, TX • 817-561-1935

Laredo Country Store Laredo, TX • (956) 722-7500

Rockdale General Store Rockdale, TX • 512-446-6100

Close Quarters Feed & Pet Supply College Station, TX • 979- 690-3333

D&L Farm & Home - Gainesville Gainesville, TX • 940-612-1210

LaVernia Country Store LaVernia, TX • 830-779-2600

Round Top Farm & Ranch Round Top, TX • 979-249-5666

Conroe Feeders Supply Conroe, TX • 936-441-5549

Ganado Feed & More Ganado, TX • 361-771-2401

Hill Country Feed Leander, TX • 512-259-1658

Eagle Hardward Farm & Ranch Royse City, TX • 972-635-7878

J&D Country Store Conroe, TX • 936-756-7667

Coryell Feed & Supply Gatesville, TX • 254-865-6315

Bear Creek Store Leonard, TX • 903-587-0385

Holt Ranch & Feed Royse City, TX • 972-365-3695

Beran’s Agri-Center Shiner, TX • 361- 594-3395 Somerville Farm & Ranch Somerville, TX • 979-596-2224 Springtown Feed Springtown, TX • 817-220-7656 Allied Ag Stonewall, TX • 830-644-2411 Taylor Feed Taylor, TX • 512-365-9436 Temple Feed & Supply Temple, TX • 254-778-7975 Three Rivers Coop Three Rivers, TX • 361-786-3242 D&D Feed and Supply Tomball, TX • 281-351-7144 Texas Farm Store Uvalde, TX • 830-278-3713

Scott’s Crossing Murchison, TX • 903-469-3122

Northside Ranch, Pet & Garden Victoria, TX • 361-573-5000

Boles Feed Nacogdoches, TX • 936-564-2671

Waco Brazos Feed & Supply Waco, TX • 254-756-6687

Middle G Naples, TX • 903-575-1869

B&S Farm & Home Center Waco, TX • 254-752-0777

Needville Feed and Supply Needville, TX • 979-793-6141 New Braunfels Feed and Supply New Braunfels, TX • 830-625-7250 Berend Brothers-Olney Olney, TX • 940-564-5674

March 2015 •

Bar None Country Store Waco, TX • 254-848-9112 Haney’s Feed and Supply Waller, TX • 936-931-2469 Ark Country Store Waxahachie, TX • 972-937-8860 Walden Farm & Ranch Supply Weatherford Weatherford, TX • 817-598-0043 Wharton Feed & Supply Wharton, TX • 979-532-8533 Berend Brothers-Wichita Falls Wichita Falls, TX • 940-723-2736 Walker’s Farm & Ranch Supply Willis, TX • 936-856-6446 King Feed and Hardware Wimberly, TX • 512-847-2618 Berend Brothers Windthorst, TX • 940-423-6223 Tri County Enterprise Winnsboro, TX • 903-342-3586 Poole Feed Wylie, TX • 469-323-7814 Yoakum Grain, Inc Yoakum, TX • 361-293-3521

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 7

Horsebites - Con’t. on pg. 10

each horse for its lifetime, thereby adding to their value and distinc“Horse Bites is compiled from Press Releases sent to Horseback tion.

Magazine. Original reporting is • To create and enable humane done as circumstances warrant. treatment and employment opContent is edited for length & style.” tions for horses in need.

ACTHA Commences 8th Year Fellow Non Profits Get Free Ride SPICEWOOD TX - Now in their 8th year of business, ACTHA opens the door wide for all fellow nonprofits in the equine industry. Free memberships await those who work full time or assist part time in and for a registered nonprofit equine concern.

“The process is pretty simple” states Andrew McNeill, who heads up customer support at ACTHA. “Any equine nonprofit may call 877-99-ACTHA or write support@actha.us and I issue the appropriate memberships. A full annual membership for full timers and a 30 day complimentary membership for part timers. The head of the nonprofit need only call and submit their list. What better way to usher in the commencement of ACTHA’s eighth year of serving the equine of America?” The offer is good for the next 60 days or the first 50 nonprofits that contact ACTHA, whichever happens first.

ACTHA has begun 2015 with an unprecedented 500 events already booked for the year in just the first month of the year. If this rate continues over 100,000 rider entries will happen in 2015. That represents a lot of new horse JOBS, and that is what empties the rescues for good. “Am I busy? Oh yeah… but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” concludes Mr. McNeill.

ACTHA welcomes all horses whether of breed or grade. None is more special than the rescue, whatever their life story may be. Over 1,400 of the over 28,000 ACTHA registered

8 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

equines in ACTHA are certified as coming from the rescue environs.

More amazing is that more than 400 have gone on to win very prestigious performance awards. One such award was originated and inspired by ACTHA sponsor Mountain Horse USA. Called the Diamond In The Rough medal. This performance medal earns the horse and it’s rider a wonderful medal and an amazingly beautiful top of the line Mountain Horse jacket (msrp. over $150). Cavallo Horse and Rider has continued the effort for the past year and thanks to both companies ACTHA has enough monogrammed inventory for years to come.

Sponsor inquiries warmly welcomed at support@actha.us or call 877-99-ACTHA, a 501(c) (3) not for profit company. Companies are encouraged to create your own medal award that showcases your wonderful products.

The Mission • To create an enjoyable venue showcasing the wonderful attributes of the great American trail horse and granting them the recognition they so richly deserve.

• To create a registry open to all breeds and a point designation system which will stay with

Charlotte’s Saddlery of Houston Opens New Austin Store AUSTIN, TX - Charlotte’s Saddlery has expanded their presence with a new location in Austin, marking the company’s 3rd store in Texas. Doors opened for business on December 18th, 2014.

Located at the intersection of Hwy 183 N and Hwy 620, across from Lakeline Mall, Charlotte’s Saddlery features over 6000 sq. ft. of retail space, with a full line of English and Western saddles, equestrian clothing, fashion sportswear, stable equipment and accessories, as well as a complete

“ACTHA”

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March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 9

Horsebites - Con’t. from pg. 8

line of healthcare products for the recreational and professional rider.

Charlotte’s team of friendly, well-trained professionals pride themselves in offering the highest level of customer care and service. “We are so excited to be here in Austin, and have received such a warm welcome from our new and returning customers,” said Mark Raisbeck, President of Charlotte’s Saddlery. Mark hopes to build the store inventory based on feedback from the local Austin horse community.

Just in time for spring, Charlotte’s 3 Day Spring Sale Extravaganza is scheduled for Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29. One highlight of the event will be a fashion show featuring such lines as Kerrits, Tailored Sportsman, RJ Classics, Ariat and Pikeur to name just a few. Customers will have the opportunity to visit with sales reps from leading manufacturers such as Bates, Pessoa, Circle Y, Ariat, Kerrits, Sprenger, Pikeur, and many more. Additionally, customers can look forward to a chance to win gift certificates, breeches, chaps and other barn necessities through the daily drawings.

The environment at Charlotte’s is truly unique, offering customers an opportunity to shop in a relaxed, warm and inviting atmosphere.

As a family-owned and operated company for over 35 years, the owners, Mark and Tim, and their

employees at Charlotte’s Saddlery are truly committed to the communities where they do business, and enthusiastically support local clubs, non-profits, and horse-related organizations. charlottes-saddlery.com RODEO UNCORKED!® ROUNDUP AND BEST BITES COMPETITION: A TASTE OF THE UPCOMING HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO™ HOUSTON— Thousands toasted award-winning wines and tasted outstanding food from 91 distinguished Houston restaurants, chefs and caterers to celebrate the 2015 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

In November, the International Wine Competition boasted 2,578 entries, including wines from 43 Texas wineries and 16 different countries.

Medals were awarded to 2,221 wines by 20 panels of judges, consisting of wine experts, collectors and knowledgeable consumers. The champion wines are: • Grand Champion Best of Show – Rombauer Vineyards Diamond Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 2010 • Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show – Charles-Le-Bel, Brut, Champagne, France NV • Top Texas Wine – Driftwood Estate Winery Longhorn Red, Texas 2012 • Top Sparkling Wine – Ricossa Win-

“Pumpkin”

ery Moscato d’Asti, Italy 2013 • Top White Wine – McManis Family Vineyards Viognier, River Junction, California 2013 • Top Red Wine – Antinori Guado Al Tasso, Bolgheri DOC Supierore, Italy 2011 • Top Region Wine – Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale, Australia 2010 • Top Sweet Wine – Yalumba Antique Tawny, Southeastern Australia, NV • Top Value Wine – Fancy Pants Red Blend, California 2012 Best Bites competition contenders presented their unique dishes to an eager audience. The 2015 Best Bites winners are: • Outstanding Showmanship Award Grand Champion – Mister French’s Reserve Grand Champion – Davis St. at Hermann Park Popular Choice Award • Grand Champion – Royers Round Top Cafe • Reserve Grand Champion – Davis St. @ Hermann Park Tasty Traditions Award • Grand Champion – Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks, white chocolate bread pudding • Reserve Grand Champion – Taste of Texas, Certified Angus Beef ® tenderloin Trailblazing Appetizer/Entrée Award Grand Champion – Davis St. at Hermann Park, crispy Thai shrimp Reserve Grand Champion (tie) – • Brennan’s of Houston, turtle soup, and Brio Tuscan Grille, crab cakes Two-Stepping Bread/Cheese/Dessert Award: Grand Champion • Mostly Chocolate & Catering, goat cheese truffle Reserve Grand Champion: • Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks, white chocolate bread pudding • Rookie Award – SWEET, mini pies All champion wines will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction, Sunday, March 1, 2015.

A selection of the champion wines will be available for tasting, by the glass and bottle, throughout the Horsebites - Con’t. on pg. 21

10 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 March 2015

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March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 11

Ride FORWARD

By Linda Parelli

Believe it or not, you can use movement to relax your horse, and even introverts need to move!

Let’s look at how.

H

orses are made to move - they need to move - but often we don’t move our horses enough. I’m not just talking about daily exercise, although that is a factor. It’s also the speed at which they need to move within their gait. It’s important to know that many behavioral, control, and relaxation issues can actually be caused by not moving horses enough to meet their mental, emotional and physical needs.

Being prey animals, horses don’t do well with being held back.

Suppression makes a horse claustrophobic, more tense, nervous, resistant, impulsive… it can even affect the regularity of their stride.

Don’t hold a horse back When your horse needs to move his feet, don’t hold him back, unless of course you need to get control and stop him - which you would do with one rein, bending to a stop. What I’m talking about here is riding forwards, which will quickly take the anxiousness away.

A lot of riders are too tentative in this situation and it is so tempting to hold an impulsive horse back, but it only makes things worse, because now you add claustrophobia to the problem.

When your horse wants to go, simply ride him forwards in a very small circle and almost a little faster than he wants to go. As soon as your horse starts to soften and slow, you soften and slow down too; when he gets stronger,

photo by Jerome Love

12 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

ride him stronger again. Again, it doesn’t take long for the horse to see the goal and want to attain it.

Match the energy: Stronger for extroverts, softer for introverts Some people ride the same way no matter what the horse is doing, but the secret is to match the energy of what your horse is doing. If he is hurrying, ride stronger to match the energy but not add to it. The moment you match it, the horse will get calmer. This is because disharmony is very unsettling for a horse, so when you match him, it feels much better and makes them less emotional. It might take a little practice for you to figure this out, but once you do, it will come easier to you every time you ride.

Thunk-Thunk What if your horse is introverted and just wants to go slowly? The worst thing you can do is spur and spank or keep constantly nudging with your legs. Sure, it might produce a surge of energy, but it doesn’t last and then you end up nagging the horse in an effort to keep him going. Rather than being mechanical about it, use psychology. You have to get into the horse’s mind or it will never be his idea to go forward.

Here’s a great way to do it… I call it Thunk-Thunk. First, squeeze lightly with your seat and thighs, and when you get no response, start tapping with your stick. But how you tap is critical: You’re going to tap him on the shoulder as lightly as possible, and every three seconds, you double it. So first, it’s a really soft tap, then three seconds later double that, then three seconds later double that, then three seconds later double that… do you get the www.horsebackmagazine.com

picture? What’s really important is you don’t get faster as you increase it, because spanking faster brings up emotions, and you don’t want that.

Every time your horse chooses to ignore you asking him to go forward, smile and start your thunk-thunk. Just remember to stop the tapping the moment you feel your horse try to put in effort.

Pressure motivates, release teaches.

Plink-Plink This is almost the opposite of Thunk-Thunk. Plink-Plink is gentle and persistent, like water dripping on the same place on your forehead every couple of seconds! It doesn’t get stronger; it just gets your attention. That’s how you’re going to encourage your horse to put in a little more effort but without bringing up his emotions. Also, unlike Thunk-Thunk, Plink-Plink is on the horse’s hip rather than his shoulder.

Here’s how to do it. Let’s say you want your horse to walk www.horsebackmagazine.com

faster, or trot with a bit more effort. First bring a little more life up in your body and then, holding your stick over your thigh, start tapping the side of his hip, methodically, softly, once every three seconds… and don’t increase the pressure. At first your horse might swish his tail like it’s a fly bugging him, but after several plinks, he’ll quicken his pace a little. The moment he does that, stop the plinking. After several repetitions, your horse will get more in tune with your seat and hold the pace or speed until you ask him to change it.

What speed is right for your horse?

When I watch riders, I really tune into energy. I try to see if the rider and horse are in harmony or disharmony in terms of their energy.

Say the horse is striding strong and energetically but the rider is hesitant or too relaxed, or it’s the opposite: the horse is dawdling along and the rider is using a lot more

energy than the horse!

The first goal is to perfectly match your horse’s way of going when he starts to trot. The next goal is to find the right speed for your horse. When you get the right speed, your horse will stretch his back and lower his neck and that will tell you that you’ve found the right speed for him.

Knowing your horse’s Horsenality gives you a great head start because you can pretty accurately guess which speed is going to be needed, and you will naturally learn to match your horse’s energy and find harmony, right from the start. To learn all about Horsenality, head over to www.parelli.com.

To learn more about the concept of emotional fitness, join Linda Parelli and Dr. Jenny Susser at one of their 2015 Emotional Fitness Super Clinics. Additional clinic information (along with dates, locations, and tickets) can be found at www.parelli.com.

March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 13

Dancing With Your Horse Part I

Y

our horse is your dance partner and if you have poor rider body position, you will step on your horse’s “toes.” When your horse is not performing, ask yourself …is it my horse or is it me? I see it time and time again, people are the road block to their horse’s performance improvement. A horse cannot move properly if the rider is not positioned properly. Because of this, I teach the rider how to ride. While many clinicians teach training techniques, I teach “people” techniques. Over the next few articles, we will be discussing the rider’s position and how it affects the horse. Each month, play with this ideal body position and realize the improvement you and your horse will make. No matter if you ride western or English, trail, barrels, jumping or dressage, learn how to start to be a good dance partner with your horse.

When riding in the ideal body position, it is necessary to first look at the horse. Approximately 60% of the horse’s weight is in the front end, yet the horse is a rear engine drive like the old Volkswagen beetles. As the horse moves, the ideal position for the horse is to shift some of his weight to the hind end in order to push themselves forward.

14 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

If the rider and saddle combined weigh 200 pounds and the rider leans forward, you are adding weight to an already front end heavy horse. Think about how much more difficult it will be for your horse to remain light in the front end if you are shifting your weight forward. Veterinarians will tell you that most horses are lame in the front end due to the repetitive pounding on the legs. The rider needs to sit in the middle of the horse in order to allow the horse to shift his weight to the hind end.

How do you know where the middle of your horse is located? Draw a line from the middle of the withers to the point of the shoulder and another line from the point of the hip to the bottom of the buttocks. Draw a third line from the withers to the hip and a final line along the bottom line – point of shoulder to the bottom of the buttocks. You should have a trapezoid. If you continue the line from the top of the withers and the line from the hip up over the back, following the same angle, you will make a triangle. The point of the triangle is where the rider’s shoul-

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ders should be. If your shoulders are in front of the point of the triangle, your horse will be heavy in the front end and will have difficulty rocking back and elevating for a good canter departure. If your shoulders are behind the point of the triangle, your horse may refuse to move forward.

Ask a friend to help you by watching your body position or video tape you riding. When your horse is refusing or resisting your aids, where are your shoulders?

A balanced rider position is similar to athletic stance and is the same for western and hunt seat riders. The ear, shoulder, hip and back of heel should be in a direct line.

If you envision a basketball player guarding an opposing player, his knees are bent and his body weight is sunk into his hips in an athletic stance. When a ballerina is in a pliĂŠ, the body is lowered while the knees, hips and ankles are used to balance the center of gravity over the heels.

Now, think of your hips similar to a bucket. Your hips should be able to hold water. If your low back is hollow or arched and your hips are rolled forward, water will drain from your bucket. This will cause your horse to be heavier in the forehand because you have shifted your weight forward. Your horse will move with a hollow back, similar to how you are sitting in the saddle. If you sit on your pockets with your legs forward, water will run out of the back of the bucket. Your shoulders will not be in the middle of the triangle discussed above. In this position, if your horse would disappear from under you, you will land on your behind instead of on your feet.

Women have more weight from the hips down so they will naturally sit up slightly more than men, who have more weight in the upper body.

For proper seat position in your saddle, try standing in your stirrups and gently sinking straight

down into your saddle (not back).

If you are still not balanced in the saddle, make sure that your stirrups hang correctly to allow your heel to hang directly under your hips.

Determine whether you are riding in an athletic stance and allowing your horse freedom of movement.

Join me next month to discuss the position of the rider’s leg position.

Happy Dancing!

Questions about this or any of our articles can be emailed to us at myers5000@aol.com.

Terry Myers is a national clinician and champion horse trainer with a depth of knowledge developed from over 45 years in the horse industry. Myers has been a popular clinician at multiple expos in the U.S. and Canada.

To learn more about Myers’ Ride-InSync methods as well as clinic and training services/products available, visit his website at www.tmtrainingcenter.com and joint him on Facebook.

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March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 15

By Margaret Pirtle

The Secret Club of Horse Moms

W

hen you watch shinny faced girls in their fitted coats and riding pants canter around the show ring to the backdrop of cheering family and friends, you never give a thought to the mothers of these riders who are sitting on some hard wooden bench, or in a cracked patio chair counting silently the drop of every horse hoof. And to be honest, why would you? It’s the girls day to shine. But for years I was one of those mom and I find it time to shake the illusion of the pageantry and give a big “Yahoo” to the mothers of all kids that ride and show.

Mothers of children that ride, belong to a secret club that most people don’t know exist. They are the ones who spend hours looking for the perfect color lead rope, a quick stain remover for riding pants, and who learn to braid a horse tail at six in the morning before the first event. They know that any pet never gets sick during the day and have spent hours walking their children’s horse with colic around a covered arena hoping the vet is right and that he will be fine.

While other suburban mothers sit

through a friendly hour of soccer, horse moms are in a barn with fans blowing the hot Texas air, smelling the manure, and oiling down a saddle. It does make you wonder why any mother in the world would allow her child to choose riding for their sport of choice.

My journey as a horse mom began when my youngest daughter was twelve and a small plain coupon arrived in our mail box offering “ “One Free Riding Lesson.” I should have tossed it, but knowing how much my daughter loved horses, I made the big mistake of showing it to her and calling to set up a time for the one time free ride. My husband, being of the school that if you aren’t in a western saddle, then it’s not really riding, laughed at us and said he would come along to make sure we understood that English riding wasn’t really a Texas thing to do.

The horse was named Denver and at one time was probably a striking white mount, but over the years had mellowed into a very gentle ride for beginners. As the lesson finished, my daughter proclaimed she wasn’t leaving. She had fallen in total love with her first horse and my check book. From a thirty minHorse Moms - Con’t. on pg. 18

16 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

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March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 17

Horse Moms - Con’t. from pg. 16

ute free lesson we moved quickly to thousands of dollars in lessons, our own horse, riding outfits and shows.

If you are in the Horse Moms Club, you understand that your life actually belongs to your horse and child. You find yourself

buying loads of fresh apples, carrots and even baking an oat cake for a horse party at the barn. While other mothers are wearing fashionable bling outfits, you are in your oldest jeans, checking tack, and comparing prices with other club members for all the extra’s you hadn’t planned on buying.

Your credit card becomes just a extension of your hand. From farriers, to vets, the fees and costs are endless. The sad part is the misunderstanding of the public who assumes wrongly that if your child is showing Hunter/Jumper, you have money. For those that don’t, yes, it’s expensive but so is any equine discipline. In fact, anything to do with a horse can eat through money like a horse eating hay. So you learn to find deals - you trade with other mothers for outgrown boots, and accessories. All the while your child is learning what hard work really is.

That is the one beautiful upside to riding. Your child doesn’t leave a field of play and forget about the equipment. Their horse has to be

washed and groomed - tack has to be stored and no one leaves until all jobs are completed and your horse is back in his stall.

So while the season of horse shows is in full bloom, and children are sitting on glistening horses waiting their turn, look to the railing to see the line of mothers hoping, not for a blue ribbon, but for their children to return safely to the gate. A club of women who have been up since dawn, with bottles of fly spray and sheen coat getting everything ready for the show.

Riding is fun for kids and the life lessons they learn can’t be measured. For the horse mom, it is also a life changing experience. The secret club of horse moms isn’t registered with any breed or with any style of riding. It is a club without dues and very little fanfare. But ask any mom who has spent the time with their child and horse, and they will tell you it is the most wonderful club in the world.

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Horsebites - Con’t. from pg. 10

the glass and bottle, throughout the run of the Show, March 3 through 22, in the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Garden, located in Carruth Plaza. Times are Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m.; Fridays, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays, noon to 10 p.m. For more information on event times, visit http://www.rodeohouston. com/Events/RodeoUncorked.aspx.

Houghton Honored With Induction Of Horse Into National Hall of Fame HOUGHTON, NY - Houghton College’s Equine program has received a national honor with the induction of lesson horse Pumpkin into the EQUUS Foundation and United States Equestrian Federation’s Horse Stars Hall of Fame for 2015. Pumpkin was inducted at the EQUUS Foundation’s Fete Cheval Etoile on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

Pumpkin was recognized in the humanitarian category in light of the many lives he has enriched and inspired through his years of service.

“We were surprised and delighted to be contacted by Lynn Coakley of the EQUUS Foundation, notifying us that Pumpkin was nominated for admission to the Horse Stars Hall of Fame,” said Houghton College equestrian program director, Jo-Anne Young.

“His consistent kindness, versatility, quietly friendly demeanor, patience, and sturdy build that lets him handle almost any size and weight rider make him worth his weight in gold.”

Pumpkin, a Haflinger pony, was born in 1992 and has been a member of the Houghton College equestrian stable since he was donated to the college in 1997. Recently named the 2014 School Horse of the Year by the Peter Stone Company and the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), Pumpkin is known both for his docile and well-behaved manner and for being the go-to pony for young children or students with disabilities.

The Horse Stars Hall of Fame is a joint program between the EQUUS Foundation and the United www.horsebackmagazine.com

States Equestrian Federation that tells the stories of amazing horses and celebrates the bond between horses and people. The EQUUS Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, promoting the use of horses to enrich the lives of those in need, and educating the public about the horse’s unique ability to empower, teach and heal. Since its inception in 1917, the United States Equestrian Federation has been dedicated to pursuing excellence and promoting growth, all while providing and maintaining a safe and level playing field for both its equine and human athletes.

The Houghton College eques-

trian program prepares students to ride, teach, and train using the principles of classical dressage. Based at Houghton’s 386-acre state-of-the-art equestrian center, the program provides opportunities to equip students with a broad base of knowledge in classical horsemanship.

To find out more about equestrian studies at Houghton College, please visit www.houghton.edu/equestrian.

The Brooke; a Glorious History of Caring for Working Horses in Need Horsebites - Con’t. on pg. 31 March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 21

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Marching Right Along

Horseback Magazine’s Saddle & Tack Editor

W

e’ve had some 80 degree days in February, and some 40 degree days.

The nice days make us anxious for spring, and March will always please and disappoint us, with teasing days, promising an early spring, and then a nasty blue norther blowing in on us, dropping the temperature one more time.

Back in Tennessee, we could never plan on spring to stabilize until the blackberries

22 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

blossomed. There would always be one last cold snap when the blackberries blossomed, and that would be the final cold spell. Luckily, here in Texas, spring comes even earlier, probably pretty stable by the middle of this month.

My old horse is shaggy. He sweats a lot when we head back toward the barn, and that long shaggy hair sure takes a while to dry out, and it’s impossible to smooth out. We have a big horse vacuum and he sure enjoys getting vacuumed. Most horses do enjoy it once they get used to it. Years ago I bought a regular household vacuum at a yard sale, put it up on a shelf in the feed room, just through the wall from our grooming area, bought an extra length of vacuum cleaner hose, and never had to lug the vacuum around. It worked real good. Not as powerful, of course, as the big ElectroGroom, but those big vacs are about $700.00 today. The horses really enjoy

being vacuumed, once they realize that the hose isn’t a big snake that’s going to swallow them.

I’ve been getting some nice antique saddles to restore. The last one I did was heavily coated with lacquer. I was even guilty of putting a lacquer shine on saddles back in the 70’s, but I won’t touch the stuff for saddles anymore. It won’t come off, and you can never clean or oil your saddle again unless you strip the lacquer off of your leather. This requires a nice day outdoors, so you don’t breathe all those toxic fumes. I bought Strypeeze Lacquer Remover and some throw away paint brushes. The lacquer remover is a paste for vertical surfaces. You have to work each area of the saddle, working the paste in all the cracks and crevices, and keep pushing the dissolving lacquer away with the bristles, wiping the saddle, and the brush often with old rags or paper towels, and of course, you better

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wear rubber gloves, and to be on the safe side, you should wear a respirator. It took me three days to get all the lacquer off of this fine old Schweitser saddle. This procedure also takes out some of the old oils, so the saddle lightens back toward its original color. To keep it from darkening again, I use Kali Leather Life a protein conditioner that is quite expensive, but dries back to a clear color. Then, of course, I use my favorite Blackrock Leather-nRich and a toothbrush, getting in all the tooling fissures, using the toothbrush to remove any remnants of Blackrock, and buffing, buffing, buffing.

The tooling on this last old saddle was so much deeper after cleaning, it was amazing how much better the saddle looked. The lacquer had filled in a lot of the tooling, making it look more like embossing, rather than hand tooling.

Buffing the Blackrock brings out a nice soft patina that makes the leather look really good. If you want a gloss shine, I recommend Fiebing’s Saddle Shine, which is a spray on wax. This will give you a shine that will wear off with use, but it www.horsebackmagazine.com

allows you to clean and condition your leather when you need to.

I’m just starting a really nice old 1900 saddle that I would love to know the history on. There is a saber cut all the way through the flap of the attached saddle bag, through the body of the bag, including the gusset and back, and through the edge of the saddle skirt underneath. I presume it was on a horse at the time. So it probably slashed the back of the horse’s rib cage, too. I’m thinking Pancho Villa’s war. The likely scenario would be someone approaching from behind swinging a heavy saber, missing the rider, and slashing the saddle.

Any of you who have ever cut leather know it takes a really sharp knife to cut through one piece of leather. This cut went straight through the flap, the front, the gusset, the back, and the edge of the skirt, the sheepskin lining and the filler leather between the skirt and the fleece.

I cut leather all the time, and I can’t imagine what a swing it took. I’m not going to attempt to fix the cut because it is part of the saddle’s history. It’s too bad

someone didn’t pass the story down with the saddle.

Whenever you buy an antique saddle, ask the sellers to include any history they might have on it. If you are selling a saddle, write down everything you can think of about it. Write down who owned it before, when it was built, how much it cost every time it was sold, really anything at all that may be of interest to eventual buyers or owners.

Written bills of sale, histories, dates, etc., are called “provenance”, and can really increase both the value and the enjoyment of any kind of antique.

I have an old vintage Martin guitar that I bought when I was 14 years old. Thanks to remembering the name of a neighbor that was the leader of the band that told me about this guitar being for sale, I was able to google the history of the group, got the owners name, wrote it all down, and the paper is in the accessory area in the guitar case.

I need to write down the history of my old Heiser saddle, so if I come up on my expiration date unexpectedly, someone will know where it came from, and where it has been.

I love old saddles, especially ones made before the 1960’s. Small saddle shops, even the bigger ones, were using good U.S. Leather, good U.S. labor, and no one was looking to cut corners. Pride was one of the ingredients that made these old saddles stand the test of time.

When you look in an old 1920’s catalog and see saddles that sold for $90.00, and realize how much work went into them, it’s no wonder some of these old saddles are going for lots of money today. If the collector market ever comes back to the point the everyday collector can play in the game, a lot of these old saddles will find new homes. Right now, only the very best are bringing big dollars, but you can still enjoy a nice old saddle with a few bumps and bruises, especially if you know where those bumps and bruises came from.

If you have an old saddle you would like info on, please contact me.

Always glad to see old saddles.

Bandera’s Lew Pewterbaugh has been called the most knowledgeable saddle and tack authority in the Southwest. For private fitting consultation call (830) 328-0321 or (830) 522-6613 or email: saddlerlew@gmail.com.

March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 23

Charlotte’s Saddlery A Legacy of Tradition and Excellence

F

Mark (L) and Tim (R) Raisbeck

By Margaret Pirtle

or those old enough to remember, the community of English equestrians was a tiny segment of Houston riders before the end of the 1970’s. The selection of tack, apparel and accessories to purchase in the area was almost nonexistent. The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show was the only time most Houstonians ever saw riders completing jumps and circuits on strange saddles that were missing a horn, leather tooling, or engraved silver.

Because of this void, Charlotte Raisbeck had a vision. Listening to her daughter’s plight about not being able to find quality English tack since moving to Houston, Charlotte saw a opportunity. Packing up her family and moving from their home in Kansas City, Missouri, Charlotte found a small warehouse off Old Katy Road and set up a business offering English saddles and

24 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 March 2015

tack in “The Bayou City”, a town known for its “western roots”.

Today her sons Tim and Mark, are keeping the legacy alive. What they and Charlotte’s Saddlery have done for English riding in Houston is just short of a miracle.

To understand what they have accomplished you must go back to before the 1980’s in Houston when rodeo and western riding were king. The typical English rider usually lived in River Oaks, Memorial or one of a few vanguard neighborhoods, and they knew how to find the best horses, tack and apparel that normal middle class riders didn’t have access to. Because of the Raisbeck family’s inspiration, a world of English riding opened up to thousands of children and adults who yearned for more than a western riding experience.

A trip to their store was an enlighten-

ment to a new world of hunter/jumper and dressage saddles, bridles and accessories. Houston responded with new riding academies, trainers and students.

What Tim and Mark have given Houston is more than a store, it is a legacy that helped open a whole new equine industry to Houston.

It is weekend horse shows and college scholarships.

It is over fifty local training facilities and camps for handicapped children.

“In our first warehouse store that mom opened up, she walled off the front of the warehouse for the store and I used to skateboard in the back,” Mark told me. “That is a long way from what we have today.” With one store in Houston and one in Tomball, a lot has changed over the years. Now Charlotte’s also carries the best in western saddles and tack and the brothers have opened a new store in Austin.

Tradition is what Charlotte’s is all about. It’s about kids who bought their first riding outfits who are now grown and bringing in their children to be fitted for a saddle and apparel. It’s also the legacy of knowing that ideas with a standard of excellence, can bring about a transition for thousands to the English riding experience. It’s about the dream of a mother and her two sons, Mark and Tim who have carried it on into a new century. It is Charlotte’s - one word that is known statewide for the best in English and western riding saddles, tack and clothing in Texas.

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March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 25

MTM Timon ridden by Tracy Fenny with Spectators

The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Is Not Your Average Show

O

ne of the highlights of the Hunter/ Jumper show world in the southern United States is the Texas High Performance Series held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. In the shadows of the sprawling Houston metropolitan area, the series, which attracts high dollar show horses from around the country, begins with the two week Heritage Classic Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and concludes with the Spring Gathering Show. This year marks the 70th anniversary of this Pin Oak tradition, running from March 18-29.

As you might expect, the show is loaded with exciting jumping classes that test the speed, agility, strength and total athletic ability of horses piloted

26 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

by Cathy Strobel over creative courses by their brave riders. With four Grand Prix classes paying out $110,000 collectively, there will be a total of over $300,000 in jumper prize money and rider bonus awards distributed during the two week show.

In the hunter divisions, the judging is on the style and finesse of the horse’s jumping or under saddle performance. You’ll be sure to find perfectly turned out horses and riders competing for bragging rights and cash. Offering two USHJA International Hunter Derbies and two USHJA National Hunter Derbies, the show will dole out $75,000 in just those four classes. For riders interested in the judge’s opinion of their own capabilities, there are plenty of equitation classes judging the skill of the riders to

sit correctly and communicate clearly with their horses. But beyond the hunters and jumpers there are also a lot of other classes that might surprise and delight you, too.

Did you know that the first week is loaded with breed classes and highlights the Working Equitation Championships? Four levels of Working Equitation are offered to include youth, novice, intermediate and advanced sections. With 3 phases at this show, the dressage phase, ease of handling and speed classes offer some fun and interesting diversity for spectators.

In many Working Equitation shows, there is often a fourth phase that shows the horse’s ability to work cattle. For logistical purposes, that phase is not offered at Pin Oak. Working Equitation can be seen in the Haras Dos www.horsebackmagazine.com

Cavaleiros arena during week one. Haras is a strong supporter of the Working Equitation division and has contributed heavily with $15,000 in prize money for this discipline.

For the gaited horse community, American Saddlebred horses can be seen competing during week one, also.

Three and five gaited sections will perform under saddle in English and Western tack. Shiny, polished rigs will thrill the crowds as these beautiful horses are driven in harness with a total of $35,000 in prize money being awarded in the saddlebred divisions. The Hackney Ponies will also be in driving gear along with the Roadster horses and ponies at this spectacular event.

During week one you will also find the beautiful and majestic Andalusion and Lusitano horses competing in a variety of classes. In-hand classes are held for purebreds and cross bred horses of each breed. The performance classes display their skills in western pleasure, English hunt seat and country pleasure. The Native and Heritage tack and attire classes as well as the driving classes are beautiful to watch and the advanced skills of the dressage suitability and hack classes further demonstrating the versatility of these breeds.

The Pin Oak show is filled with a wide variety of classes to involve more horses and riders than you might think. There are plenty of classes for junior riders to build confidence each year. For the younger riders who are the future of the sport and older riders who want to participate but are not ready to jump big fences, there are walk/trot classes, short stirrup for the 12 and under set, medium stirrup for riders 13-17 and long stirrup for those riders 18 and over.

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Opportunity classes have fences set as cross rails and are open to riders of any age. There are even academy classes for horses used in a lesson program and competition for academy riders who are part of a lesson program.

The “Take 2” division is for retired thoroughbred race horses that have moved on to a jumping career.

They are judged over fences and under saddle for their performance as hunters. In the hunter breeding classes, these thoroughbreds are shown in hand and judged on conformation, way of moving, quality, substance, soundness and suitability to become, produce or beget hunters. These classes are sponsored by the Take 2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders,

28 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

Inc.

On March 22nd, eight riders on college teams from around the country will gather to compete on horses they have never seen before, let alone ridden, as the Pin Oak Collegiate Invitational head to head competition begins. The best riders from Delaware State, Fresno State, New Mexico State, South Dakota State, Southern Methodist, Texas Christian, Louisiana State and Rice University will represent their schools as they take a shot at winning the invitational.

And then there is the social side of Pin Oak. Be sure to enjoy the opening night reception, grand prix gala, ringside dining and a myriad of other happenings centered around the show. Join the Pin Oak Club or step up to the Sponsor’s Club as a prestigious Pin Oak Sponsor for even more

ringside elegance and festive events that set the Pin Oak Show apart.

And why should you join the Pin Oak Club? Because it’s for charity, of course! The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show supports the healing of sick children through financial donations, outreach and volunteer support for Texas Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance. Contributing millions of dollars to charities through the years, Pin Oak continues its proud tradition for this 70th year. Come see this amazing show if you are able to or contribute as a Pin Oak Club member. For more information or schedule of events, download the free app for your phone. Visit the iTunes Store or Google Play and search for Pin Oak. www.horsebackmagazine.com

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+RUVHELWHV

Horsebites - Con’t. from pg. 21

Wellington, FL – It all began with a letter from Dorothy Brooke in 1931. She was the wife of a British army major general, stationed in Cairo, Egypt, just after the end of World War I. She had noticed a number of older, emaciated horses on the street being used and abused, pulling heavily loaded carts through the city streets. As the story is told, she was horrified to learn that many of these downtrodden and spiritless animals were ex-war horses from England, Australia, and the U.S., and that their Eqyptian owners lacked the wherewithal to properly care for and support the horses.

These horses, which had been shipped over for the war, had been sold by the army to local working families as the war died down in 1918. In reality, they had been handed a life sentence of hard labor, being over worked, under fed and literally worked to death. That’s when she wrote her heartfelt letter to the Morning Post, describing the horrors she was seeing. The letter described a fund that was being established to buy up some of these heroic horses; ones who had been part of the fight for their country during the war. In her letter she concluded, “If those who truly love horses, those who realize what it means to be very old, very hungry, very thirsty and very tired, in a country where hard, ceaseless labor has to be done in great heat, will send contributions to help in giving a merciful end to our poor war heroes, we will be extremely grateful and in many ways we venture to think that this may be as fitting a part of a War Memorial as any other that could be devised,” she wrote.

Readers were so moved that over $32,000 was raised – a significant sum in the 1930s. Thanks to those generous people Dorothy and her team of volunteers were able to purchase nearly five thousand of the old war horses. They were in such poor health that most were euthanized immediately, but thanks to Dorothy and the donors, they ended their lives peacefully.

By 1934, there was enough money and support for Dorothy to christen the Old War Horse Memorial Hospital in Cairo, which offered free veterinary care for the city’s working horses and donkeys.

With that, the Brooke was born.

Today, that organization named in honor of Dorothy Brooke spans the globe, working in communities where many people earn less than a dollar a day. The Brooke has improved the welfare of millions of working equines and the people who depend on the animals to survive their daily lives.

Thanks to those generous people Dorothy and her team of volunteers were able to purchase nearly five thousand of the old war horses.

Horsebites - Con’t. on pg. 42 www.horsebackmagazine.com

March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 31

+RRI +HDOWK

Natural Hoof/ Horse Care

W

hen one applies critical thinking to the concept of Natural Hoof/ Horse Care (NHC), and to our model, in particular, I think it is wise also to consider, that nature is neither perfect nor imperfect, but a continuous stream of variation mediated by opposing forces of order and disorder. Existentially, this philosophical “twist” is what enabled me to pursue “vitality” through holistic intervention - based upon NHC’s proven principles and practices while ignoring (and negating) pathology.

Pathology is the path of “fear”, intellectual treason, profiteering, worry warts, and cancer, Vitality is the path of enlightenment and new horizons. The horse world’s obsession with pathology is umbilical to humanity’s own war with nature.

Happily, we can all make choices, and if you’re going to go the route of

NHC, be, above all, clear with yourself on your motivations for being here in the first place.”

For decades, longer than I can remember, I have lectured far and wide; authored numerous books and papers; provided consultations; organized a training program for professionals; provided countless clinics for horse owners, professionals, and others wishing to understand nature’s “grand plan” for the hoof. This “plan”, by the way, is not my idea. I simply reported, and continue to do so, what I saw among thousands of U.S. Great Basin wild, free-roaming horses.

My findings were published by the American Farriers Association Journal in a series of articles over a decade. I spoke before the AFA’s national conference in 1988, joined by my colleague and long time supporter dating to the 1970s, Dr. Leslie Emery (author of the great text, “Horseshoeing Theory and Hoof Care,” widely re-

spect among professional farriers).

As a “method”, the natural trim - one outcome of my research - is a serious and effective fusion of very specific principles and practice – from which the only acceptable outcome for me is a healthy horse with sound hooves. At the AANHCP Field Headquarters, we prove the great value of our “wild horse model” daily.

There is no debating about it. It is a fact. We simply have none of the problems or endless excuses and denial -- none at all -- that we continue to see plaguing so many horse owners across Facebook, in barns and stables and vet hospitals worldwide, and in the thousands of “hoof cadavers” that are supplied to my clinics anywhere in the world I go to teach. A cadaver specimen is one example of what human ignorance and stupidity does to the horse. Each one tells a very specific story about what went wrong.

Paddock Paradise - Con’t. on pg. 34

Healthy, barefoot hooves like these that enable horses to move soundly over rugged and rough terrain are natural for the wild, free-roaming horses in the U.S. Great Basin and easily achievable in domestic horses worldwide if their guardians provide them with species-appropriate ‘Natural Horse Care’ management practices.

Photo by Jill Willis

32 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 33

Paddock Paradise - Con’t. from pg. 32

Eliminating access to most grass pastures is a key to preventing the very common but debilitating disorder called laminitis (Many horse owners are familiar with laminitis by other names such as founder, seedy toe, white line disease or fescue foot). Photo by Jill Willis

People who come to my clinics want to know what went wrong and what they can do to heal and prevent it. That’s what I teach, joined now by others who are convinced from experience that this is the best way to go – that is, if one doesn’t want endless problems in their horse management. Or, their horse’s hooves

don’t end up in my clinics. Skeptics, of course, are free to go their own way, to remain mired in their problems, if that’s what they want to do but the unfortunate result then is that their horses do suffer. But they will do as they please regardless. As I do.

And if my words are incomprehensible to such skeptics, that’s okay too.

There are remedies, of course, such as a dictionary! Or through using a Thesaurus or signing up for classes at a local college. The “language” of NHC is new, different, challenging, exciting, intellectual but certainly not “colloquial”. In my clinics, words have very specific meaning. I discourage “words without meaning” and

No w

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meaningless opinions. Too much is at stake, especially when others are counting on help and understanding.

I demonstrate what I do time and time again and show others how they can replicate the same results. I don’t just talk about it, which is why skeptics, “wannabees”, and internet troublemakers with too much time on their hands wisely stay away from me and my clinics – and the AANHCP Field Headquarters, in particular. My written exams are rigorous – some say brutal – because I demand from students no less than what I demand from myself.

If you want sound, healthy horses like those that walk along the tracks at the AANHCP Field Headquarters here in central California, you should be clear and knowledgeable, and, as I say above, understand “why you are here in the first place”.

Why? Because everyone who has ventured humbly into the wild horse model with genuine interest and determination to understand what it actually is, learns one thing, if nothing else, “nature does not tolerate incompetence”. And a genuine understanding of the natural world requires that we set aside our egos and humble ourselves with the realization that any one of us can provide health and vitality to these animals if we choose.

I always welcome those who truly want to learn. NHC is such a positive gift and I encourage anyone reading this to be positive, openminded, and progressive. But NHC does clash with what shoers do -- I know, because I used to be one.

But thousands and thousands of horse owners have now crossed the lines into NHC worldwide, and the numbers continue to grow. Academics are even taking a strong interest and getting involved. We know this is very threatening to farriers and those horse owners who cling to shoeing and other medieval practices that harm horses.

Shoers are losing clients and horse owners are feeling the “guilt” of causing harm as sound barefoot horses envelop their barns and competitions -- such as the Tevis Cup where

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Paddock Paradise - Con’t. on pg. 36 www.horsebackmagazine.com

March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 35

Paddock Paradise - Con’t. from pg. 35

most of the top winners have stopped shoeing their horses in the toughest endurance competition the U.S. has to offer.

NHC is the future. Eventually, it will reach legislators, country by country, and shoeing will be outlawed along with equestrian practices that break horses down. Here’s a good way to know if you are causing harm.

Have your farrier pull your horse’s shoes. If he is then immediately unable to walk a hundred yards down a gravel road without pain or the hooves

breaking apart, then you are causing harm to your horse. Your professionals have failed you, and tragically they don’t even know why, so they become defensive and angry, like young children who don’t get their way when they have been caught being naughty.

You are also failing your horses if, whether shod or barefoot, he limps at the trot in one of his leads. Or if your horse’s hooves are covered with stress rings or there is blood in his ‘white lines’.

These are things to take very seriously. It is only a matter of time

®

before the major, well-funded humane organizations and their attorneys begin to scrutinize public barns and competitions. It will start there, and then to the courts to set precedence, and then on to the legislators.

Happily, NHC takes you down a positive road that the courts will hold up as the humane way to manage horses.

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+RUVHELWHV Horsebites - Con’t. from pg. 31

Assistance Fund. We thank all of the donors and coordinators of this year’s gala for their support.”

Party goers dressed in festive attire befitting of a Valentine’s Day celebration, while they enjoyed a lovely cocktail hour, dinner, a live auction, and the best seats in the house to watch the Saturday night class. Generously donated by Salamander Resort and Spa, the live auction item, featuring a vacation package at the luxurious resort in Middleburg, VA, directly benefited the USHJA Foundation Horseman’s Assistance Fund.

The WCHR Program not only recognizes the finest hunter riders in the country by offering great competition and prestigious awards, it also benefits the USHJA Foundation Horseman’s Assistance Fund, which offers financial assistance to hunter/ jumper equestrians in times of need, such as following an illness, accident or other major catastrophe.

The fund has come to the aid of nearly 20 hunter/jumper equestrians by assisting them in making ends meet after riding accidents, helping rebuild fencing after a fire, and offer-

Open Hearts on Valentine’s Day Raise Record Funds To Help Horsemen in Need LEXINGTON, (USHJA) – As top professionals, amateurs and juniors faced off in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, more than 460 spectators gathered in the International Club to watch the competition, enjoy great food and drink and raise funds for a worthy cause.

The annual gala raised more than $185,000 in net proceeds, topping the event’s record-breaking fundraising from last year, to support the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Program, a program that in part benefits the USHJA Foundation Horseman’s Assistance Fund.

“We are honored by the scale of this year’s event and humbled by the generosity of those who love this sport,” said WCHR Task Force Chair Caroline Weeden. “Each year a portion of the funds raised to support the WCHR Program goes back to aid equestrians in times of need through the USHJA Foundation Horseman’s

ing financial aid to cover basic living expenses for those recovering equestrians who have invested their lives in this sport.

The Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular Gala comes together each year thanks to the hard work of the Hunter Spectacular Gala Task Force. In 2015, the task force was co-chaired by Jennifer Smith and Caroline Moran, with Bryan Baldwin serving as honorary chair. The task force included passionate equestrians: Margaret Benjamin, Jennifer Burger, Laura Lee Montross, Debbie Perkins, Elizabeth Press, Glen Senk, Lynn Walsh, Tammy Williams and John Yozell.

In addition to the support of the task force, USHJA thanks all of the 2015 $100,000 WCHR Palm Beach Spectacular Donors and Equestrian Sport Productions for their support of the gala.

For more information about the USHJA Foundation Horseman’s Assistance Fund, visit www.ushjafoundation.org.

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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 43

Managing the Laminitic & Foundered Horse with Sole Support

W

by Tabb Pig, Certified Journeyman Farrier

hen an equine athlete experiences an episode of Laminitis or Founder it can be a painful experience. While there are numerous studies and articles on the causes of these two maladies, there is also a general consensus on what the hoof capsule experiences after the episodes occur.

When a horse experiences a bout of Laminitis, whether through injury, overfeeding or metabolic issues, inflammation of the lamina occurs.

The anatomy of the hoof is such that the insensitive lamina is attached to the hoof wall and the sensitive lamina is attached to the coffin bone. In the event of hoof trauma, the inflammation and reduction of blood flow can cause partial or total separation of the lamina, allowing the coffin bone to rotate downward.

Laminitis can show up as subtle lameness in the front feet, external bruising in the sole or White Line Disease.

When this happens, the experience can be compared to pulling off your fingernail in an accident.

The Anatomy of Laminitis and Founder The relationship between the sensitive and insensitive lamina inside the hoof wall are like interlacing fingers in a tight hold; once they start to loosen, it does not take much to pull them apart. At this point it would be described as Founder. In acute stages of Founder, the hoof’s exterior would not show signs or symptoms of the disease. Once the bone has rotated, Founder can be detected by an x-ray.

Because the fragile attachment of the lamina is the support of the horse’s body weight, it is critical to get a hoof care team involved to address the issue fast. Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial to recovery.

44 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • March 2015

Treating Founder Traditional methods of treating Founder have varied and progressed over time. With today’s methods, an equine athlete can be expected to recover to a normal life in most cases. Past methods have included heart bar and egg bar shoes; a shoe nailed on backwards and with wedge pads. The only shoe that truly provides any type of support for a laminitic horse is a heart bar. Application of a heart bar shoe should be a very precise procedure, requiring training and x-rays for proper placement. If necessary, a vet may call for pads. In some cases, pads may allow sand and moisture to collect under the pad, which can be trapped between the pad and the foot. If the horse abscesses, the shoe will have to be removed for treatment. With any of these applications, the coffin bone and sole have limited support. Without solar or frog support, there will still be stress on the interior lamina.

When a farrier shoes the horse, all of the weight is placed on the hoof wall. When the horse moves, the coffin bone and sole are moving downward toward the ground. This creates more stress on the already inflamed lamina. The goal is to minimize stress, and support the bone column and sole. During this phase the hoof care team strives to relieve the stress between the hoof wall and the lamina. The most effective way to do that is to protect the hoof with a pad or a pour-in pad. These packages are designed to increase surface area for weight bearing so that the sole can take on some of the horse’s weight, and not just the hoof wall. Historically, it was thought that anything you put underneath a pad would help protect and cushion the sole

of the horse. This, however, is not always the case. For instance traditional silicone from the hardware store has been used under a pad, despite some of its challenges. Some drawbacks of traditional silicone include: • a long set time of 24 hours • messy application • the acid-base can leave a smelly residue.

• the material does not absorb concussions, sending the pressure up the horse’s leg.

The best alternative to traditional pads and silicone filling is a liquid pour-in pad made of urethane adhesive. Products like Vettec’s Equi-Pak offer a versatile solution that is easy to apply, sets quickly and produces a soft, resilient supportive pad material. Advantages of pour-in pad materials include: • an immediate bond to the sole, sealing out moisture and debris.

• the pour-in pad material can be filled to ground level for maximum support and effectively absorbs concussion, instead of sending it up the leg like silicone products.

• support to the boney column by loading the entire solar surface with a pour-in pad, but also positions the weight-bearing load over the entire ground surface and not just the wall.

This reduces the “pull” on the lamina between the hoof wall and internal structures resulting in a faster recovery and a more comfortable horse.

Modern liquid pad materials come in different levels of firmness so they will match the needs of the individual horse. The pad materials can be poured to ground level.

Even on hard ground, the sole frog and hoof wall bear equal weight. The pads can be customized so that if you do not want to cover an area that may be sensitive, it can be blocked out. Even if the whole sole cannot be covered, a half pad is 50% more support than not having any.

Conclusion Managing a horse’s acute Founder or Laminitis can be a challenge, and it’s important to have a good team in place to diagnose, manage the treatment and ensure recovery of the equine athlete. There are a number of treatments on the market today, but consider ones that will help relieve the internal stresses within the hoof capsule and support the boney column, providing a speedier recovery and a more comfortable horse. Using liquid pad technology, veterinarians and farriers now have the ability to use materials that will bond to the foot and withstand the weight of the horse.

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March 2015 •

HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 45

*HQHUDO

Ain’t My First Rodeo!

Howdy!

Welcome to Cowboy Corner.

M

arch is rodeo time in our part of Texas. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo can only be described as huge. With almost 32,000 volunteers there’s lots of cogs in the big wheel. Attendance was over two million last year, a record breaker, but expected to be more this year. Scholarships are planned at over twenty four million dollars this year, that’s a lot “for the kids”.

Was reminicin’ the other day about the rodeo and remembering the ol’ days. Being born and raised in the greater Houston area allowed early exposure.

During the early 1950’s, at the Sam Houston Coliseum, the rodeo provided personal appearances by the famous cowboys of the silver screen.

Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and many more charmed the fans “up close and personal”. As a preschooler and early schooler I was there, wanting to be a part of it.

Time came to saddle up when I was a teenager and ridin’ the Salt Grass Trail. Was a wrangler on a wagon owned by a life-long friend’s dad. By that time, western television stars were well known and came to the Houston Rodeo. Remember Wyatt Earp (Hugh O’Brien), Matt Dillon from “Gunsmoke” (James Arness), and The Cisco Kid and Pancho, all visiting and riding with the Salt Grass Trail Ride. For a kid from the Brazos bottom to get to ride with those folks was

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a big deal.

In the mid-sixties the rodeo moved to the Astrodome and things got big, really big. Movie stars and television cowboys rode off to make room for the concert entertainers of today. Lots of country music folks have been and are still part of the rodeo, and can attribute some of their fame and fortune to the daily concerts.

My “in the dirt” rodeo service began in the Astrodome as a wrangler on the Grand Entry Committee. Got to work with my life-long friend mentioned earlier on his wagon.

Those were the days when longhorn steers were ridden in the Grand Entry.

The steers were ridden by dignitaries behind the last wagon in the Grand Entry and I was the wrangler on the last wagon. Soon I became the last wagon wrangler, horseback behind the steers. Wranglin’ was from the mid 1990’s ‘til the rodeo left the Astrodome in 2002.

Before leaving the Astrodome I became a Grand Entry Committee Member and have continued since, moving to the new stadium in 2003.

Am still the outrider on the last Grand Entry wagon, the same wagon I started with over twenty years ago. This wagon is also the number

one wagon on the Valley Lodge Trail Ride, which I have also been associated with for over twenty years.

Guess the rodeo is just a habit, but a good habit, and benefiting young Texans. Yes, got some stories and lots of great memories. Last year the Editor of Horseback magazine asked me if I had been in four hundred grand entries at the rodeo. Answer was “don’t know, but have been in over three hundred.” My Horse “Festus” has been in every grand entry since moving to the new stadium and is ready to go again.

Used to say, that “Festus” was worth another hundred dollars every time he went around the arena in the grand entry. Well friends, the brutal truth is the horse ain’t worth that much, been there too many times.

Often say that I could dismount as we enter the arena, and Ol’ Festus would just follow the last wagon without me.

Had a birthday last month and someone asked me when I plan to retire. Well, I retire every day a little after sundown, and thankfully get rehired a little after sun up the next morning. Thank you Lord. See ya at the Rodeo.

Happy Trails...

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March 2015 •

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