EQuine AMerica Winter 2020

EQuine magazine

AMERICAN BRED EQUINE ARTIST JOAN DANZIGER EVENTING AT FAIR HILL & OCALA

NEDA FALL FESTIVAL & DRESSAGE AT DEVON GOOD READS - DRESSAGE FOR NO COUNTRY KAT FUQUA GOES CLASSICAL WITH NEW “DREAM GIRL” DEBBIE MCDONALD & ALI BROCK RUTLEDGE FARM SESSIONS

WINTER 2020 @EQAMMAG

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EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE UNITED BY OUR PASSION FOR HORSES . VOLUME 13 . 2020.

PUBLISHER

CLR Media, LLC EDITOR

Carina Roselli EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Lays Coutinho - Afonso Westphal CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jean French, Dr. Bob Grisel, Lisa Hellmer, Annan Hepner, Lynndee Kemmet, Olivia Lagoy-Weltz, Carina Roselli, Charlene Strickland, Dr. Ashley Wagner PROOFREADER

Meredith Williams GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Afonso Westphal WEB DESIGNER

Chris Roselli COVER PHOTO

Shawna Simmons/SAS Equine Photography COVER MODEL

Horse: Kismet / Owner: Kritin Silon ADVERTISING SALES

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Equestre Americas became EQuine AMerica Magazine in Spring 2018. EQuine AMerica is published four times a year and distributed at horse shows and select tack shops across the USA. EQuine AMerica is also available by subscription for home delivery or digital online viewing. FOR SUBSCRIPTION MANAGEMENT AND ADDRESS CHANGES contact us at info@eq-am.com . SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO carina@eq-am.com

SUBSCRIBE AT WWW.EQ-AM.COM ©2019, CLR Media, LLC. All rights reserved by the Publisher: CLR Media, LLC. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Publisher. Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising.

Publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. Publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. Publisher is not responsible for the opinions and statements expressed in signed articles and paid advertisements. Such opinions are not necessarily the opinions of CLR Media, LLC and its staff. While Publisher makes every effort to avoid errors, we assume no liability to anyone for mistakes or omissions. Publisher will announce corrections when warranted. Kindly direct any corrections to the Editor, Carina Roselli, at carina@eq-am.com.

All submitted materials are subject to editing.

@EQAMMAG Printed in the USA. 4

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

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PROLOGUE

DEAR READER, Thanks for picking us up! This issue has a lot in store for

you’ll learn all about her multi-faceted operation and the role

you, especially if you’re into dressage. As the discipline in

of young horse shows in developing the market. In Annan

focus, we’ve brought you insights from Middleburg, Virginia’s

Hepner’s editorial on multinational Leatherdale Farms, she tells

Rutledge Farm Sessions with Olympian and U.S. Dressage Team

you of the incredible breeding opportunity Leatherdale created

coach Debbie McDonald and Olympian Ali Brock, a story from

by sending some of their top European stallions to live on U.S.

the New England Dressage Association’s famous Fall Festival

soil. Finally, my Q&A with Iron Spring Farm reveals a breeding

and photos from the equally famous Dressage at Devon, and

program so well established that you can literally get to know

the scoop on Kat Fuqua, 12-year-old hunter phenom, adding

your future horse’s entire family tree—because they’re all there

classical dressage to her long list of talents.

in the barn, waiting for you to rub their noses.

On top of that, this issue’s book extract comes from Paul

My number one takeaway from putting this feature together is

Belasik’s “Dressage for No Country,” in which he chased

that American-bred sporthorse performance is in every way equal

true understanding of dressage principles from New York

to, if not superior to, that of international imports. One might think

to Vienna, Austria to Avessada, Portugal. The full text brims

that a self-serving exaggeration by these breeding barns if it weren’t

with Belasik’s observations and insights from studying the

for the European judges that said it… And then there’s Lisa Lourie’s

texts and techniques of the “masters” as he contemplated

final comment of our conversation, “I don’t care who you buy from,

the (in)compatibility of classical and competitive dressage.

I just really want you to start buying American.” Preach.

Our main feature this issue is “American Bred” where

My second takeaway is that breeding in America offers buyers

we explore breeding sporthorses in the United States versus

the opportunity to build real, lasting, trustful relationships with

importing them from abroad. We feature three prominent

breeders, face-to-face, without a passport, language barrier, or

breeding farms, Spy Coast Farm, Leatherdale Farms, and Iron

intermediary. And American breeders want their buyers to know

Spring Farm, and we present them to you three different ways

them, which seems to me the ultimate upside to horse shopping

via conversation, editorial, and Q&A, respectively. Each one

here at home—risk mitigation. Put simply, the closer in proximity

offers up something different.

you can be to a breeder, the greater an opportunity you’ll have to

In my conversation with Lisa Lourie of Spy Coast Farm,

examine everything about them, firsthand, until you know, like, and trust them enough to go all in for your new baby.

All right, I’m done pushing patriotic pedigrees, for now. I’ll let the feature speak for itself, along with all the other great content in this issue. As always, thank you so much for welcoming EQuine

Photo: Claudia Pfieifer

AMerica into your life, and I wish you a great read!

Carina Roselli - Editor P.S. I want your feedback! Contact me at carina@eq-am.com or message me on social media @eqammag.

Carina with Joan Danziger’s “Golden Prince” at the National Sporting Library and Museum.

6 | EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE UNITED BY OUR PASSION FOR HORSES . VOLUME 13 . 2020.

CONTRIBUTORS JEAN FRENCH Jean is the Owner/Instructor/Trainer of The Natural Connection, Inc. located in Linden, Virginia. In operation for over a decade, training in both western and English disciplines, her life has been dedicated to helping thousands of people learn the language of the horse. Accomplishments are measured in the many dozens of horses whose journeys led them to help and growth through Jean’s program.

MEGHAN DE GARAY Meghan has been the breeding manager at Iron Spring Farm for more than 30 years. Over the years, she has bred several KWPN horses of her own. Meghan is also active with the KWPN-NA. She was on the Stallion Committee for many years and and has been on the Board of Directors since 2015. She was KWPN-NA Member of the Year in 2006 and 2017.

DR. BOB GRISEL, DVM Bob graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine with honors and having received multiple awards. Bob’s recent publications focus on lameness, especially the correlation between abnormal gait characteristics and specific sources of pain in the horse. His new book, “Equine Lameness for the Laymen” is excerpted in this issue.

LISA HELLMER Lisa is a USDF bronze and silver medalist on her Oldenburg, Aniko (“Sneaks”), currently competing at Intermediate I. She graduated summa cum laude from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in equine business management and riding. She is now a USEF Silver Para Dressage Coach and recently formed LCH Equestrian in Ocala, FL.

ANNAN HEPNER Annan is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Phelps Media Group’s resident dressage enthusiast with over 17 years experience training and competing up through the levels. A former FEI-dressage groom, board member of the USDF Youth Programs Advisory Subcommittee, and a chapter secretary of the Virginia Dressage Association, Annan now spends her time photographing and writing for PS Dressage, and is a contributing writer for many publications.

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LYNNDEE KEMMET Lynndee started her journalism career as a daily news reporter covering public policy and agribusiness. Her passion for horses led her to become a professional trainer and to expand her journalism career into the world of equestrian sports. She has written for numerous equestrian publications covering such events as the World Cup, the WEG, etc.

OLIVIA LAGOY-WELTZ Olivia is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist. Her earlier experience includes working for and riding at several top barns in Holland and Germany. Olivia is currently competing her own Rassing’s Lonoir (“Lono”) on the CDI circuit in Wellington, Florida and throughout Europe. Most recently, USEF selected Olivia as Team USA’s traveling alternate for the World Equestrian Games, Tryon 2018.

STEVE LONG Steve is an accomplished business intelligence consultant and published technical author with a creative side that includes a passion for producing beautiful images. A photographer since childhood, his love of horses has led him to pursue photographing top-level equine events.

CHARLENE STRICKLAND From Bosque Farms, New Mexico, Charlene is an equestrian journalist, writing about sport horse training, showing, and breeding. She’s earned awards for her magazine work from the US Equestrian Federation, The Chronicle of the Horse, and the Society for Technical Communication. In 2013, she won the Alltech A+ Award for Best Article. She is a member of the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists. Charlene has ridden and shown Western, hunters, and dressage.

DR. ASHLEY WAGNER, PhD Ashley obtained her Doctorate in Equine Nutrition from the University of Kentucky and went on to work in new product development in the feed and supplement industry. She founded Equinutrix Nutrition Solutions to meet what she saw was an industry need for supplements with scientifically proven efficacy in horses. Her involvement in research has led to numerous co-authored scientific articles, abstracts, and speaking engagements.

CONTRIBUTORS

EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE UNITED BY OUR PASSION FOR HORSES . VOLUME 13 . 2020.

68.

• CONTENTS • 14.

Equine Arts - The Glass Sculpture of Joan Danziger In an interesting twist on our usual artist features, read a conversation with Joan Danziger as she leads the editor through an exploration of her works.

22.

Good Reads - Dressage for No Country Read an extract from Paul Belasik’s Dressage for No Country where he leads the reader through historical theories on lightness before telling us of his journey to study the subject under a pretentious Portuguese dressage master.

28.

Natural Horsemanship - Cruisetown, Part IV Jean’s fourth and final installment on the story of rebuilding her Irish Sport Horse “Cruise” from the ground up. Find out what discipline she chooses for him and why.

32.

Equine Vet -

Telehealth, Part III

Dr. Bob Grisel, DVM explains why texting your vet, though easy, is not as simple as we might think.

36.

NEDA Fall Festival Learn why adult amateur Nancy Binter has been coming back to the New England Dressage Association Fall Festival year after year for over thirty years.

10

12.

44.

Dressage - Debbie McDonald & Ali Brock A tag team of dressage Olympians graced Rutledge Farm Sessions and challenged riders to be patient but precise with their horses.

48.

Investment Horses Olivia Lagoy-Weltz tells you her top tips for setting yourself up for success as a rider seeking an investor or an investor seeking a horse.

52.

American Bred A conversation with Spy Coast Farm’s Lisa Lourie, an editorial on Leatherdale Farms, and a Q&A with Iron Spring Farm provides an inside look at breeding horses in America.

72.

Eventing - Ocala Jockey Club 3-Day Event The OJC3D proved another opportunity to showcase American-bred horses as Thoroughbreds took the CCI3*-L and CCI4*-L.

76.

Equine Nutrition - Winter Feeding Tips Dr. Ashley Wagner, Ph.D. gives us her dos and don’ts for feeding your horse this winter.

80.

Show Jumping - Adrienne Sternlicht New contributor, Charlene Strickland, caught up with Adrienne to talk about her desert win on her new mount, Bennys Legacy.

86.

Para Dressage - Hunter Turned Para Rider USEF Silver Para Dressage Coach, Lisa Hellmer, interviews hunter turned para dressage rider, Veronica Gogan, on what it was like to make the transition.

94.

Our World

Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center

Executive Director Brooke Waldron has built an outstanding therapeutic riding program tucked away in the woods in Northern Virginia.

CONTENTS

20.

DIVINE

EQUINE

The finest American equestrian goods, curated for you by the Editor.

LUCCHESE RESISTOL FELT HAT Century-old Texas bootmaker, Lucchese, partnered with another longtime Texas artisan that excels in their trade, Resistol. Together they set out to craft the perfect felt hat.

Resistol has been handcrafting felt cowboy hats since 1927, starting with raw felt and using hundreds of steps to ensure the best fit, smoothest felt, and cleanest design. This one was created specifically for Lucchese and has a modern design for a traditional western style that looks great on any equestrian. The hat features a bound edge, interior leather sweatband, and grosgrain ribbon hatband with

CRESCENT DOWN WORKS DOWN SHIRT Crescent

Down

Works

was

founded

in

Find it at www.lucchese.com, $495.

Seattle,

Washington in 1974 as a custom-order down vest company. Since those early days, they’ve expanded from vests to a complete line of outerwear, all made in their factory in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood. All of their products are made-to-order and crafted with acute attention to detail and the highest quality materials. Their

L.L.BEAN WOMEN’S SIGNATURE WAXED-CANVAS BEAN BOOTS

jackets and vests are insulated with 100% high-grade

These Maine-made classic Bean

ethically harvested white goose down and their fabrics

Boots are sporting retro-inspired

are selected for the best combination of durability and

colorblock that looks great with

performance.

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feather accent; available in black, silver belly, or driftwood.

breeches or jeans. Made as they always have been since

The Down Shirt is a slimmer garment with approximately

1912, they’re expertly crafted—one pair at a time—from

5.5 ounces of 700 fill down. Its slim fit makes it a great

premium full-grain domestic leather with thick rubber

middle-layering piece for colder climates, while still being

outsoles and steel shanks for stability and arch support.

more than adequate as an outer layer for mild climates. It

This version adds a touch of throwback style with a

has a water resistant 60/40 cotton/nylon shell and super

flexible, but rugged, waxed-canvas upper sure to keep out

soft 100% nylon lining, chest pocket, and front snap

the wind, rain, and snow (and the muck and mud that

closure with leather reinforcement. Get yours made at

come with it). Find these and several other versions at

www.crescentdownworks.com, $550.

www.llbean.com, $179.

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

STYLISH IN THE SADDLE BLANKET WRAP Keeping your blankets organized with this leather blanket holder will not only add the perfect touch to any

SILVER OAKS FARMS WEARABLE VINTAGE HORSE ART

guest room, but it will make traveling that much easier

Erin Kate of Silver Oaks Farm designed her own “Vintage

with its convenient grab and go style. It makes bringing a

Horse Art Series” of tees printed with reproductions of charming

blanket to the barn or show a cinch (and stylish) so you’re

vintage artwork. These fit right in with the other stylish and

never caught out in the cold ringside. Made in the USA

adorable offerings found at her Etsy shop—everything from

from recycled leather reins.

her own watercolor paintings to custom, hand-embroidered

Stylish In the Saddle offers unique, quality items

chambray shirts, and of course the vintage art prints themselves.

for sophisticated and stylish equestrians who want to

This boyfriend tee is 100% cotton with distressed detailing

show their passion for horses through their home décor,

at neckline and hem, raw sleeve hemline, drop shoulder detail,

everyday look, or gift giving. You can shop this item and

and is incredibly soft. Fit is loose and true to size. You’ll fall in

more at www.stylishinthesaddle.com and follow their

love with this lightweight tee and will want to wear it all the

Instagram @stylishinthesaddle, $60.

time! All tees are limited run. Check out Silver Oaks Farm on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @silveroaksfarm and shop at www.etsy.com/market/silver_oaks_farm, $44.

LITTLE WAR HORSE TRAVELLER SWEAT SET Established in 2010, Little War Horse is a streetwear brand incorporating history, art, and sport. Their mission is to educate people on the impact horses have had on the growth of civilization and they collaborate with artists from all walks of life to introduce and inspire people to support equestrian sports.

Named after General Robert E. Lee’s famous Civil War horse, the “Traveller” graphic depicts a US Army-branded horse under saddle with backwards facing boots in the stirrups, symbolizing the loss of a soldier. To counter balance the seriousness of their logo, Little War Horse has embroidered it on a super comfy lounge set perfect for winter loafing! Soon to be available in new colorways, it has full back embroidery on the hoodie and a small embroidered image on the pants. Wear them together or not. Check out this little Hawaiian company @littlewarhorse and www. littlewarhorse.com, $125.

13

EQUINE ARTS

Black Star (2016) metal and glass, 32 x 48 x 17 inches

Golden Prince (2017) metal, glass, dichroic glass, and brass wire, 39 x 53 x 25 inches

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| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

THE GLASS SCULPTURE OF

Joan Danziger Washington, D.C. artist, Joan Danziger, is a contemporary sculptor who builds iridescent life out of the hard, raw materials of metal wire and stained glass. At least that’s what she’s creating these days…

As a career artist with a Bachelor’s of Fine

of his paintings. I even have it here with me

Arts from Cornell University, and having studied

to show you. I fell in love with it. But to adapt

at the Art Students League of New York and the

that—this was a very complex sculpture because

Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma in Rome, Italy,

the minute you get two horses together like this

Joan’s work has run the gamut of the fantastical.

they have to work together (pointing at “Riders

For years, she’s created an array of plants and

of the Blue Spirit”). That was a first one. But

animals, and plant-animal and animal-animal

instead of three horses (like in the painting), it

hybrids. But recently, since 2016, Joan has

turned out to be two. That was the beginning of

focused her imagination on horses.

the horse magic and my obsession with horses.

Her vibrant and colorful horses and beetles made up the “Canter& Crawl” installation at the National

It started because of him. So there’s always the motivation for an artist.

Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg,

It’s funny, you look at it, I don’t know if you

Virginia (show ran May 17, 2019 to January 5,

know how complex they are. They’re very complex

2020). This local treat allowed EQuine AMerica a

to do. They look very complex. Because you start

rare opportunity to meet the featured artist and

with the core of wire, and then you build it up, and

walk through her works together. What follows is a

build it up, and build it up. I have an assistant who

conversation between the artist, the editor, and the

does a lot of the wire, and the glass takes as long

museum’s Curator of Art, Claudia Pfieffer, as Joan

as the wire. I always elongate the legs. Here’s how

leads us through an exploration of her horses.

you want them, long. I always cut them and make them long.

EQuine AMerica: What inspired you to sculpt these horses? Joan Danziger: You don’t just say,

Why do you like to make the legs so long?

“Oh, I’m going to do horses.” It has to come out of

It’s beautiful. Just the elegance of it? Elegance

something, some idea.

and movement. Imagine if I shortened the leg. It’s a long body, so proportionally the legs look more

And for you that was Franz Marc? Yes, Franz.

beautiful. And I can take the liberty—they’re not

Blue Horses. He was part of “The Blue Rider”

real. And it always works. I haven’t had a failure yet

group. He’s famous for his horses. I was completely

because you can adapt it. You just cut the wire and

captivated by Marc’s horses after I saw a book

add it. You see there’s all a rhythm of color and line.

15

EQUINE ARTS

Franz Marc’s Grazing Horses IV

Franz Marc’s The Large Blue Horses

(Red Horses), oil on canvas, 1911

(Blue Horses), oil on canvas, 1911

I started out as a painter, an abstract painter,

Which one is your favorite? I don’t have

at Cornell. So in a sense I’m painting with glass.

favorites because they are each challenging and

I always tell people, “I was an abstract painter.”

to get the whole thing to work takes a long time.

If you really look at it carefully and zoom in,

It’s funny, it takes almost as long as making the

it’s almost like an abstract painting, the way

wire. So it’s all kind of related. The wire and the

everything is placed. I see that. And this one was

structure has to work with the color so the color

more complex because they’re two horses so I

glistens.

had to work the colors together so they worked

This is your favorite, I think (pointing to “Red Horses”). Yes. I just can’t get over their manes

together.

But unlike a painter you can’t just paint it out

and tails. This mane is just amazing, and the

if you don’t like it, that’s why it takes a lot of time.

directional fragments… Look at it here. It’s got

Let’s say I put this in but it doesn’t work with that,

some twists. I love the little subtle things you see

then I have to take that out and it’s all attached

when you really look at it. I was thinking about

with little wires. So it’s challenging. I have a big

that, with the way you did the mane sort of

piece of glass and then I cut the pieces. So this is

flopping over on this one. It makes me think

like a symphony of color.

they’re moving and that there’s wind, and it

Riders of the Blue Spirit (2016) metal and glass, 29 x 40 x 29 inches

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| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

The steeplechase illustration that inspired Joan to create Flying Into the Wind. Paul Brown, 1932.

Flying Into the Wind (2018) metal, glass, and copper-core wire in amber, amethyst, antique bronze, black, blue, brown, copper, green, magenta, and peridot, 27 x 30 x 19 inches

just sort of creates this whole environment

didn’t have my painting background, none of this

for the scene. And Franz Marc’s horses also

would work. Because I’m really a colorist. I love

inspired this piece? Yes, “The Red Horses.” He

the wiring on the body (pointing to the bird)

had one of them grazing; I made them a little

because it looks like feathers, the way that

more vivacious.

the colored wire is woven and it’s so varied.

And this (pointing to “Flying Into the Wind”)

The way he floats. He’s so three-dimensional.

was inspired by a steeplechase because of a

That’s why I’m a sculptor. I got bored with

wonderful catalog from the museum featuring

painting and I reinvented myself as a sculptor.

Paul Brown, the illustrator. I happened to be here and I saw it. Wonderful steeplechase horses. It’s

Do you have a separate inspiration for each

a beautiful caramel. I love that color. I’m not as

of them? Well, I have a lot of photographs. I

familiar as I’d like to be. Well we’ll take a look at

decided to do the steeplechase one from the

the catalog. It’s an absolutely unbelievable catalog.

illustration. And I have so many books of horses

Now I have three steeplechase sculptures, so the

always galloping. Originally I was going to

museum influenced me, which is interesting.

do a whole tribe of them—like eight of them

This one was very complicated. I’ll tell you

together—but that got too crazy.

why… because I got tired of glass and I discovered

I have a lot of books on horses. So I go

there’s something different. I found a source of

through photographs and I decide which one.

colored wire, and you have to be crazy… See this

“Jester,” is just so happy. He’s laughing with his

is woven. It’s woven in and out, in and out. This

green hair. And I decided we’ll let him have green

is endless. I mean look at these— I see it’s not

hair. He’s kind of joyous. But again, that came

just wrapped. It’s twisted in the middle of the

from photographs or prints of horses. They have

wire. If you look at it carefully… I’m making you

all kinds of movements, horses do. When I look

look at everything carefully!

at all my books, they’re doing all kinds of things.

And then it was finished, but you see nothing’s ever finished. I realized the horse didn’t work, so

I mean, I could keep making horses because there are so many different ideas for them.

I put this glass in the body. Things sit around and then you adapt it. This glass is very important.

What makes you decide whether to use

If you took that away, it would fall apart. If I

glass or not? Just instinct. I just look at it and 1717

EQUINE ARTS

Demeter and Arion (2018) metal and copper-core wire in amber, antique bronze, brass, burgundy, copper, purple, and white, 38 x 42 x 25 inches

say, “It doesn’t need glass.” I don’t know. It

American Craft Museum and then I had a

talks to me, which is interesting.

big show at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in

I love this one, “Demeter and Arion.”

Washington, D.C. A lot of museums in D.C.

Demeter is a mother, Arion is her son, and I

have my work. The Women’s Museum has three

thought maybe this might be my favorite. I just

and the Smithsonian American Art Museum has

love this movement. And this has no glass. It

a piece. The sculpture garden has two of my big

doesn’t need it. It would take away. Just look at

beetles in the garden. But the horses are new—

them; they’re so strong, the two of them. Look

this is the first show of my horses.

at the back; they’re just thrusting forward. They didn’t need glass. They just needed a complex

I can’t get over the body structure and

arrangement of colors. So the dark and the

how much detail there is in the curves.

light, the shine of copper and this kind of rosy

The shape of their barrels is so right. The

colored wire here. It’s very buried, but if you

shape of their nose and mouth… It’s just

look at it carefully, it’s all mixed up. I see that.

amazing. I’ll make this structure and then I’ll

I can think of the hours I worked, the days

say, “Rebecca, it needs to be bigger here. The

and days. This probably took a few weeks

mouth has to be open. Make a higher ridge

to figure out all the hair. I kept saying to my

over here.” You start with a narrow core, you

assistant, Rebecca, “Make more hair.” So she’ll

make the body, then you make the legs, and

make a piece and I’ll put the wire in and then

then you put them on. Once all the pieces are

try to poke it in here. And again, after it’s

attached, you just kind of turn it into itself.

finished, I adapted it with more color. Yeah, I

It’s all a process. It’s a complex technique. I’m

think I love this one.

lucky to have Rebecca; we work well together.

I’ve always been an artist, since I was nine

18

years old when I used to go to Parsons to do

Wire seems like a hard medium to work

watercolors, and then I went to Provincetown

with. Is it hard on your hands? Oh you wear

to do art. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from

gloves. It’s not hard. What about working

Cornell in painting and sculpture. Adapting

with the glass? Do you just break it or do

to sculpture took a little time. But, the first

you cut it? I cut it. Imagine it would be a big,

sculpture I ever did was in a show at the

flat piece of glass. There’s a place I buy antique

glass. I’m careful of what I buy. The beetle glass is

and reflection. There are so many layers of it.

different from the horses’. Like this is a good example

You have to go layer-by-layer, right? Yes. You

(pointing to “Red Underground”) because this is one

even have the spinal divot in his rump.

piece of glass. This is all from one piece of glass. I take a big sheet of glass and then I score it.

This one was a different kind of challenge because I used colors like purple and blue (pointing to “Golden Prince”). Here I combined the wire and

I’ve done stained glass before, so I wondered if

the glass, because he was a Prince. As I developed

you scored and cut them like that. Yes, exactly.

him, I decided he was going to be male—he was

Then I adapt the shapes. But, I don’t always get the

going to be a Prince. So they’re personal. They’re

right shape. Or the color. I had black here, but I

not abstract to me; they’re very personal. Look at

didn’t like it so I put the red in. I’m always putting it

the way the light hits him. I’m picturing him in

in and taking it out. With “Black Star,” the shards

front of a window. The way the light would hit

of glass almost look like muscle structure.

him throughout the day would be incredible.

Especially in the rump, it’s like sinewy muscle.

This is “Ghost Horse.” Again, a jumping horse.

I’m very proud of “Black Star.” Look at his hair;

This was a study in subtlety. If you look closely at

it’s flying. Have you noticed that? Yes. That was very

the glass, look closely at it— There’s feathering

tricky. It’s gorgeous. That was really hard because

in it. It’s all different kinds of glass. If you come

I had to get my big hand in there. All the wire was

to the back here you’ll see it kind of glistens. He’s

there and I had to go in and attach the glass in

beautiful, too. I mean, they all are. It’s hard to

there. It was tricky. It’s challenging. I never get

pick a favorite.

bored. Every day is challenging, and I love the way the glass just flows. And the tail was tricky, too. See how it’s light and dark? Yes. It’s all to do with light

I’m going to miss it being in here. They should be here forever.

Claudie Pfieffer: I’m going to miss it, too. This

Red Underground (2017) metal, glass, and black wire, 23 x 43 x 20 inches, Collection of Davis-Harris

19

EQUINE ARTS

Jester (2017) metal and glass, 41 x 46 x 16 inches

20

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

EQUINE ARTS

The artist, Joan Danziger, with Black Star.

has been a great opportunity and experience,

something that we’ve moved into, so it’s an

I think, from both directions. We always

exciting time for us. We’re really branching out

contemplate the effect of reaching a little bit

into different directions.

outside of the core idea of horse conformation.

It was exciting to be able to do an immersive

Sometimes it’s not as receptive. I don’t want

exhibition because, historically, our normal

to say not well received, but maybe not as

format is to have sort of an object-based

connecting. But as an equestrian, Carina, you

discussion around a narrative. But, to have sort

connect with them. Right? Yes, quite. Our

of an experiential thing, where you walk into

mainstay group is very excited about them

the room and say, “Wow, I’m transported.” It’s

also, which was a great sort of growth and

a really neat and dynamic turn for us in terms

development, moving forward in the directions

of installations.

that artwork takes. It’s been a broadening

I have met so many people, because I’ve

experience for everyone. Having it here has

been here a lot, and I haven’t met anyone

been a lot of fun.

who doesn’t love it. It’s very uplifting. There’s

Knowing the museum’s usual style of

a joyous feeling walking into this space. It’s

more traditional and realistic art, I thought

difficult to be sullen in here. The colors and

this exhibition was a little unexpected. It

the fantasy of it are very uplifting. People

sounds like that’s what you were going

will come in here after going through the

for. Absolutely. Contemporary topics are

bronzes and say, “Oh my God, it’s magical!”

21

GOOD READS

THE MOST SEDUCTIVE SYSTEM OF THEM ALL:

LIGHTNESS An extract from Dressage for No Country by Paul Belasik Published by Trafalgar Square Books (HorseandRiderBooks.com) Adapted with permission.

I WAS ON ANOTHER PLANE RIDE. I’d found a cheap red-

she was there, she met Sylvia Stanier, an impressive

eye flight from Montreal, Canada, to Lisbon, Portugal. It was

horsewoman who mentioned Nuno Oliveira (and would go

different then when you flew: I was standing in line to check

on to, among other things, write a classic little book on

in, carrying a saddle. In front of me, a man was holding an

longeing). Van Schaik himself was partly to blame for my

Evinrude outboard boat motor. It was leaking oil and smelled

curiosity because he’d shown me films of his friend Michel

of gas. Another man in line carried a rifle—no case, no lock.

Henriquet, a French equestrian scholar and a student of

Apparently you could check in just about anything.

René Bacharach, who in turn was a student of Étienne

The flight was full of Portuguese fishermen. In the

Beudant—both esteemed French classicists. Henriquet

middle of the night, the whole plane suddenly erupted with

became a strong disciple of this man, Nuno Oliveira. And

the sound of unfolding tin foil. It was as if some sort of ritual

along the way, with the name, I heard all this mystical talk

meal had begun. I was already sick with the flu, and then

about “lightness.”

came the overpowering stench of fish, which I can smell to

I thought, I have to learn about this.

this day. My stomach was churning like the air around the

Who could possibly be against “lightness”? No sane

wings of the plane, high above the ocean.

rider was going to deliberately pursue “heaviness.” If there was a tacit agreement among all schools of equitation that

Mystical Talk

we wanted to ride the horse lightly, this idea of “lightness”

It was January. From Lisbon I would travel to the little

being something to achieve seemed to indicate there were

village of Avessada, where I had made arrangements

different ideas of what “lightness” constituted. Obviously,

to train with a Portuguese rider named Nuno Oliveira.

it was about more than weight.

Avessada was so small and the roads apparently so bad that I couldn’t get a cab driver to take me all the way. He

22

Defining Lightness

took me to Malveira, a slightly larger town nearby. I’d have

Since there were no films of, say, French riding master

to make arrangements to complete my journey from there.

François Baucher, whose work was known to have

I was already familiar with the French classicists of

influenced Nuno Oliveira, I had to go to the books, study

dressage, but I kept bumping into more current references

illustrations, and read different accounts and descriptions

to Nuno Oliveira. My ex-wife trained in Ireland at Burton

to get a sense of who he was, how he rode, and if I

Hall with Captain Ian Dudgeon, the Irish Olympian. While

could start to define “lightness”—his concept of it, his

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

Photo: Paul Belasik

Nuno Oliveira and a rider from the Cadre Noir de Saumer.

philosophy of it, and his system for achieving it. In

completely off the ground and balance on his hind

my case, the philosophy of lightness took its lead

legs. My concept of light- ness and the training of the

from the classical masters: Xenophon (The Art of

dressage horse took its lead from the same classical

Horsemanship), Antoine de Pluvinel (The Maneige

place: the horse should be trained to be able to shift

Royal), and François Robichon de la Guérinière (The

his balance more toward the rear, lightening the

School of Horsemanship). France had a long history

forehand, which was by nature over-weighted, the

of riders who were influential in the formation of the

front end usually carrying 55 percent of the horse’s

movements of dressage, the philosophy of lightness,

weight. The balancing and rebalancing must be

and the limits of force. Listen to Pluvinel instructing

maintained by considerable muscular effort, which

the King of France: “The judicious horseman…trains

increased the strength of the horse and contributed

the horse by means of sound judgment, patience,

to his fitness and health. The process was no more

gentleness and tries to reach the mind of the horse.”

or less than the definition of classic collection—the

Travailler la cervelle (“work the brain”), as he puts it.

raison d’être of dressage.

A good horseman must never lose his patience and

What complicated the more current French

be harsh with a horse “for it is much more important

equitation philosophy and particularly the idea of

to train him by using gentleness than by using force,

lightness was, first, the French Revolution. In a matter

for the horse who works with pleasure performs

of a few short years the aristocracy was destroyed

more gracefully than the one constrained by force.”

and classical dressage was associated too closely with

So, the philosophy of lightness was one steeped in mindful- ness. It was a partnership between rider

the excesses of the elite. The trainers of Versailles were forced to flee, and so, the horses disappeared.

and horse, turning away from domination and abuse.

Second, a harsh schism was left in French

The next question was, what were we training

equitation by the appearance of François Baucher

the horse to do? The French had a long history of

and his rivalry with Comte Antoine D’Aure, who

using exercises that led to the supreme collection

became chief trainer at the Cadre Noir in Saumur,

of the airs above the ground—the various jumps

some 50 years afterward.

and lifts, and the ultimate lightness in the forehand

In the competition between these two men,

with the horse eventually able to lift his front legs

one sees the theater of the times, with D’Aure

2323

Photo: Judy Patrick

Not an Angel It is Baucher’s theories and own words that are the most confusing; they eventually condemn him as a false prophet of lightness. Baucher has by now been reinvented so many times by his followers that one might think he walked on air.

Truthfully, he did not write very much himself, but there is enough to provide a more accurate picture than that painted by his acolytes. When one reads his own words, one doesn’t get the sense that he was some angel on the horse. He wrote about complete submission from the horse, and the need to destroy any will to resist. He drove the horse from the

In Portugal, hiking back to the village

legs and spurs so hard that his own legs had to be wrapped

to get some lunch.

in bandages and the horse had bloody flanks. Then, he stopped any resistance or attempt to run through the bridle by inventing and incorporating severe flexions of the horse’s

representing progressive forces of forward riding, outdoor

jaw and neck. Baucher’s own descriptions are compounded

riding, and straightness. Or, as Hilda Nelson, author of

by the eyewitness accounts of a contemporary who actually

François Baucher: The Man and His Method describes, the

saw him work and rode the horses he trained: Louis Seeger

historical and philosophical forces of romanticism. Baucher

tells all in Monsieur Baucher and His Art: A Serious Word

took on the role of classicist, his riding confined and reliant

with Germany’s Riders.

on dramatic movements. The amazing thing was, in this play, the actors were completely miscast. D’Aure came from

Perhaps the linchpin of Baucher’s theory of how lightness

common man who won the heart of the public through his

occurred was his understanding of equilibrium. According

standout performances in the Cirque des Champs Elysees

to Nelson’s François Baucher, he talked about how “formal

of Paris; he had the political clout of a movie star, but not

equitation defined equilibrium when a horse consistently

enough to win the commanding post at Saumur over D’Aure

went on his haunches, giving the impression that they are

(the choice notoriously added fuel to the fire between

nailed to the ground and his forelegs raised considerably.”

them). To further complicate the picture, the circus in Paris

He then explained his equilibrium: “This is a new way of

was attended like the ballet of today: Baucher’s audience

paralyzing the total potential of the horse. Here the weight

was sophisticated, and he was a consummate showman,

and the forces are equally distributed. By means of this just

producing marvelous trick movements on horseback, and for

distribution the different positions, the different paces, and

these he was loved. His theories, as to his ideas of dressage,

the equilibrium that belongs to them are obtained without

and his training methods, were a different matter.

effort on the part of man or horse.” Two simple line diagrams

It was surely an emotionally charged atmosphere replete

in Nelson’s book accompany these words. In one, a line

with two massive personalities—so the “truth” as to

rises up from the horse’s croup to his head, referencing the

whether Baucher or D’Aure was the more profound trainer

imagery of rebalance common to classical dressage history.

probably lies somewhere in the middle. By looking at the

In the other, Baucher’s system is illustrated: the line is straight

source of controversy, maybe one can understand more

from croup to head, parallel to the ground.

about the concept of lightness, the legitimacy of its appeal, and whether it can be a reality.

24

Considering Equilibrium

the privileged class, the elite or noble type. Baucher was the

In her book The Dynamic Horse, Dr. Hilary Clayton defines dynamic equilibrium as a state of equilibrium in which all

GOOD READS

ONE HAS TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT THE DRESSAGE PROCESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT SHOWING OFF SOME TRICK.

“

“

parts of the body move with the same constant

sure Baucher was not talking about the scientific

velocity. An example would be a vaulter maintaining

concept of equilibrium as Dr. Clayton describes it but

a stationary position on a cantering horse. During the

a layman’s balance. Nonetheless, he was confusing.

dismount, however, the vaulter’s body rotates into an

When Baucher discouraged classical collection and

appropriate landing position, so dynamic equilibrium

said he invented something new, he did. He actually

no longer exists. In addition, she explains stable and

tried to redefine dressage by redefining collection,

unstable equilibrium: In stable equilibrium, a bridle

because he simply eliminated it. He encouraged the

hanging on a hook gets pushed, swings a few times,

horse to balance farther to the front, giving the horse

and stops where it was. In unstable equilibrium,

a larger base of support. Balancing the center of mass

a vaulter who is in equilibrium somehow loses her

and finding equilibrium is much easier over four legs

balance and falls off to the side, stopping farther

than over two. Even without video to watch, you can

away from her more stable position on the horse.

prove this was his goal from his stated requirements

There are two more definitions that are important

in different movements: For example, in the piaffe,

to any discussion of lightness: First, the center of

the horse’s front and hind legs should move up and

mass “is a point at which the mass of the body is

down at equal heights—no loading of the haunches.

considered to be concentrated and around which the

Seeger described Baucher’s horses as having no

weight is equal on all sides.” Dressage, in a way, is

impulsion. Yet even if one added more energy to

constantly adjusting the center of mass, and then trying

this frame, the hind legs might flex more, but they

to balance during the process. The word balance is

wouldn’t come under the horse’s body to carry more

used in equitation terminology to indicate that a horse

weight.

performs movements and exercises easily and without

A great part of the difficulty of advanced dressage

any apparent difficulty in maintaining his equilibrium.

is this learning to balance more over the hind legs. One

A balanced horse going into levade shifts his center

has to always keep in mind that the dressage process is

of mass considerably but still maintains his equilibrium

not just about showing off some trick. Since the horse

through the process. In motion, the balance is more

is naturally overweighted to the front, this training

difficult than when standing, because as one of his

becomes an ethical way to help teach the horse’s body

feet moves up and down, faster or slower, the horse’s

to carry the weight of the rider without overburdening

base of support keeps changing. In fact, maintaining

the front end and legs even more. Why this makes

balance is a process of constantly losing balance and

even more sense is because the horse’s powerful hind

finding a new one. In general, the larger the base

end is quite capable of providing this relief for the

of support, the easier to maintain balance, while a

front. So, classical dressage is not training something

levade, in contrast, has a small base of support, and

that is unnatural for the horse—it is, in fact, all about

so balance is difficult. The various exercises of classical

developing something that is very natural. It’s more

dressage are intended to test that a rider has control

a matter of redefining balance that is already there.

over the process of balancing the horse, both over all

Baucher felt the horse could be more like a spider,

four legs at regular paces and at rest, as well as the

more equal in power and flexibility in all his legs, thus

ability to progressively shift the balance more toward

able to move in any direction, but the horse is not built

the hindquarters.

that way. He has limits on the lateral displacement of

Contrary to Baucher’s statement in Nelson’s book, the old masters did not stay in one position of balance,

limbs and has real differences in the power capabilities of the front versus rear ends.

“nailed to the ground,” but shifted and adjusted.

Baucher’s idea that dressage could still be achieved

This “shaping” is the practice of dressage. I’m pretty

by letting the horse go more on the forehand would

Photo: Judy Patrick.

On a steep slope near the village of Avessada [Portugal] lies Quinta Do Brejo, Nuno Oliveira’s school and stables. To feel it, you must imagine the operas of Verdi emanating loudly from the long white building. You come in by rough dirt road; the impression is powerful, but it is even more powerful if you leave at night, on foot, until you can’t hear the music anymore. You could hear it from where this picture was taken.

become central

to understanding a “new school” of

became a disciple, and praised and promoted him. It was as

lightness, which diverged from the de la Guérinière (and

if Henriquet had found a lost tribe in the Amazon, untainted

others) idea of lightness. The latter is about lightness in the

by the modern world. Oliveira seemed to be a direct link to

horse’s front end developed from exercises to increase the

all that was good with French dressage when it was at its

strength of his hind end. The former emphasizes lightness

height, at least in Henriquet’s eyes. There were others who

in the bridle, which becomes much easier if you increase the

were not so convinced. Oliveira, being the showman that

severity of the bit or sensitivity to it, while allowing the horse

he was, let his student run with the publicity. This part of

to use his front legs to help carry the load.

the story I already knew when I arrived in Oliveira’s stable in Avessada, and it was why I felt I needed to see it for myself.

Two Schools

26

There was only one other student at Oliveira’s when I

There are interesting connections between more current

arrived. He was from Paris. He and João, Nuno’s son, helped

(as opposed to the classical masters) Portuguese riders and

me find a room at a boarding house in town. It had a little

equestrian scholars and French riders and equestrian scholars.

heater and was near a small store where I could buy cheese

One of the best books on French equitation, Dressage in the

and bread. I could walk to the riding school from my room.

French Tradition, was actually written by a Portuguese rider:

I was set. I liked João and came to respect him more as

Dom Diogo de Bragança. And beyond what might be termed

time went on. He was in a difficult position, often doing a

“historical associations” between the two countries, a new

lot of hard work and not getting much credit, but he was

merger took place when France’s Michel Henriquet—yes, the

a constant observer of the circus that was his father’s life.

one Henri van Schaik introduced me to—met Portugal’s Nuno

He knew the sycophants, and he knew who could ride.

Oliveira in 1959 and fell in love with his riding and training,

He lived under all the cult-like intrigue. If he had written

GOOD READS

COMING MARCH 2020

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO FREESTYLES a book about his life, that is one I would have loved to read.

Many years later, I was giving a lecture at an Iberian horse event and staying at a hotel near the venue. I was waiting to be picked up for dinner, and before my hosts came for me, I went down to the hotel bar for a drink. There, all alone, was João. I sat down next to him, and we had a nice talk about the new interest in Iberian horses, which was why we were both there. I told him I was a little suspicious because the people now infatuated with this type of horse didn’t seem to care much about the quality of the animal, only that they now had a reason to buy the beautiful outfits traditionally worn by Portuguese and Spanish riders. He laughed, and I remember exactly what he said in his guttural, gravelly voice: “People love the folkloric.”

Yes, João was eyewitness to the whole show, but I also knew he could ride.

The Drama of an Artist In the beginning at Avessada, the rider from Paris and I had Oliveira’s full attention in the lessons. Although Oliveira gave instructions in French, I caught on quickly. I think it was a solid week before he spoke to me directly, despite there only being two students.

Walking to the little riding school, situated on a steep hill, I could hear the opera music he blasted in the indoor from the road.

He rode every single day in a sport jacket and a tie. He smoked constantly and carried himself like royalty. One could pass these

Choreography, music editing, dressage and Western dressage competition, plus liberty and exhibition performances.

things off as eccentricities, the drama of an artist. Frankly, it was a little difficult to get past his narcissistic personality. If a teenager played his music that loudly all day long, the police would show up! Oliveira behaved haughtily, seemed to have little empathy, and required admiration. He was legendary for his inability to handle criticism. Jean-Claude Racinet, a French proponent of riding in lightness, was once asked to write up a piece on Oliveira’s book Reflections on Equestrian Art. Apparently, he wrote glowingly, acknowledging Oliveira as a genius, but made a small criticism, stating that Oliveira flippantly addressed onetempi flying changes. According to a 1995 article in Dressage and CT Magazine, Racinet heard back rather quickly from a very

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH A LEGEND A young man journeys to Portugal to train with the famed classical master Nuno Oliveira.

close friend of Oliveira’s, Jeanne Boisseau: “Your criticism about the tempi flying changes! The whole Oliveira clan is going to be furious. You see, I know them; for them, if you are 98 percent for Oliveira, you are an enemy.”

I saw these traits first-hand, but I kept telling myself that I was not there to judge Oliveira; I was there to try to learn about lightness.

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Photo: Lauren Murphy

N AT U R A L E Q U I N E

REBUILDING CRUISETOWN - PART IV

THE NATURAL CONNECTION, INC. Cruisetown is a bold, beautiful, Irish Sport Horse that I decided to take on as a personal project back in March of 2018. In previous articles, I shared the why and the how of his rehabilitation, hoping that maybe some readers would find tidbits of my process helpful in their own journeys with their own horses.

Sometimes, upper level horses of all breeds and sizes find

environment and from the moment I catch the horse, including

themselves needing to downgrade for one reason or another.

hand grazing, grooming, saddling, warming up, groundwork,

In Cruise’s case, he was dangerously refusing jumps on course

time under saddle, cooling down, untacking, and turning

and “downgrade” meant the need to have time off and then

back out. My last article provided a breakdown of Cruise’s

be rehomed, ideally to a place where he could be restarted

behaviors throughout all these activities, and what some of

and reassessed for what type of work would best suit him

these behaviors translated to in human behavior. I concluded

mentally, physically, and emotionally.

that Cruise went through his day uttering “profanities” from

I love taking on horses that are in need of repurposing, as the challenge is allowing the horse to speak to me through

issues that stemmed from medical, physical, and emotional baggage from his past.

his behavior, his body language, and his overall knowledge.

Although previous owners do often provide me information

So where are we now?

via videos and written documentation, I always allow the

Cruise has made substantial progress in all departments.

horse to speak to me first. I’m of the belief that the horse must

The majority of his behavioral issues have subsided with the

begin again from a clean slate, with no pre-conceived notions

overall care I’ve provided. Here’s a short breakdown:

of who the horse was. I start the retraining from scratch.

1. Cruise has learned to ride on a loose rein, as well as accept contact, but needs constant reminders on not worrying

In the beginning The retraining process includes studying the horse as he

riding on a loose rein to build confidence. Remember, my one

adjusts to his new home, his new herd, his relationship with

year of training does not trump Cruise’s YEARS of being on

his human and how that relationship develops over time. We

contact and fighting it.

observe and consider all behaviors and interactions in his herd 28

about the rider picking up the contact, which leads us back to

2. Cruise’s profanities, such as pinning ears, dipping in the

Photo: Erin Berkery

back, rearing, cow-kicking, bolting, balking, getting behind the bit, etc. have all subsided, as I have retrained him to isolate his body parts more effectively and listen to the cues of my legs and hands slowly, and one step at a time.

3. Many of his profane behaviors were due to his getting in the habit of overreacting to a request he didn’t understand or that he anticipated would lead to pain. Cruise is beginning to better understand what I’m asking of him, and I have learned to anticipate when he is likely to overreact.

4. We are both learning to control our emotions, which is just as important for me as it is for him. My ability to control my emotions (especially frustration) mitigates negative energy that can pass from me onto Cruise. Rest assured, however, that his emotional behavior can and will bubble up (and maybe over) if I become upset, so it’s important for me to remember to train without emotion and be in the moment— to be present—at all times.

We have made much progress, and part of that came from accepting that there are four major things I cannot

Cruise’s left foot toes in.

change about Cruise: 1. Conformational flaws – Cruise’s hoof walls have good

4. Susceptibility to stress – Cruise’s ulcers are mostly under

integrity, but his soles are flat (versus concave) and his left front

control. However, I find that trailering causes flare-ups, which

hoof is naturally turned in or “pigeon toed.” This combination

tells me that trailering causes him too much stress. Hence, we

of hoof abnormality could easily have contributed to Cruise’s

will be looking for a place to board Cruise that has everything

discomfort when jumping over a meter high. Many times I

he needs in order to succeed, and no need to trailer off property.

have seen horses with this combination of hoof traits need

Until we can mitigate/control his susceptibility to stress, Cruise

thicker footing to ride in as they suffer from impact trauma

obviously will not compete.

and pain in their hooves that reverberates to other parts of

Whereas I cannot change these things about Cruise, I have

their body. Even when trail riding, Cruise is better suited to

to learn to work with them. The sooner I accept them, the

rolling hills versus rocky terrain. Bluestone or hard surfaced

sooner I can learn to work with them instead of always trying

arenas are also out of the question. Cruise’s bone structure

futilely to combat them.

and hooves will forever be a contributing factor to my decisions on when, where, and how hard to ride him.

Working with engrained reactive behaviors and a fearful personality rests heavily on prevention. When I say “skillsets that

2. Engrained reactive behavior – Cruise’s reactive behavior

allow me to redirect his brain and his feet” as I did in #2 above,

stems from a spiral of miscommunication likely caused by

those skillsets aid in prevention. To learn them, Cruise first had

humans misreading his body language. In other words, my

to learn them from the ground, then under-saddle at a standstill,

best guess is that someone unintentionally pushed Cruise to

and eventually while moving under saddle in forward motion.

work through pain, which caused him to react (communicate)

Here’s an example of what I mean:

in such a way as to avoid the painful work in any way

In Cruise’s medical records, previous owner testimony,

possible, including dangerous ways. These behaviors are now

and my own experience, we’ve all noted that, when Cruise

engrained. Luckily, Cruise now has skillsets that allow me to

becomes frustrated during a workout, his reactive behavior is

redirect his brain and his feet in moments where I feel he has

to rear—particularly when asking him to go from tracking left

the potential to overreact.

to tracking right. Once I figured out the when (any point during

3. A fearful personality – Cruise is fearful from many

the workout), where (tracking left to tracking right), and how it

things. He may have been born that way. Fear of pain, fear of

felt (it starts like a balk, then his head goes into rollkur to avoid

objects, and fear in general are issues he will always have. I can

the contact, then he spreads his legs in preparation to go up),

desensitize him and teach him to seek security in me through

I was able to anticipate it. The goal was to redirect Cruise into

trust and bonding—over a long period. I can help Cruise with

an exercise so that, in that moment, he would not have the

his fearfulness, but I will never be able to take it out of him.

opportunity to misbehave.

Photo: Lauren Murphy

N AT U R A L E Q U I N E

The main exercise I use to prevent rearing is “disengaging the hindquarters.” Since the hind end of the horse is the engine and where all the power comes from, this exercise teaches the horse to stop using the hind end for forward motion by isolating it from his front end. We can accomplish this by crossing one hind leg over the other hind leg, while pivoting on the forehand.

A horse that rears spreads his hind legs for a good base of stability and uses his powerful hind end to lift up the front end as an evasion/refusal technique. If a rider can feel this coming, then their next step is to ask for flexion right or left then move their same-side leg back and press to activate the horse’s same-side hind leg to cross underneath them and over the other leg, with the goal that he will pivot on his same-side front leg. This forces the horse to surrender the base of stability necessary to accomplish the rear.

Moving Forward

“

Jean and Cruisetown.

IT CAN TAKE A LONG TIME AND SEVERAL RESTARTS

In the professional world, Cruise would be considered

TO TRULY “SAVE” A HORSE THAT EVERYONE

a horse with a lot of baggage, and he has been called “a

ELSE HAS GIVEN UP ON, SO BE SURE YOU ARE

difficult horse to ride.” That said, after more than a year of

COMMITTED TO THE TASK. JEAN FRENCH

limitations. It’s my professional opinion that he has sustained substantial mental and physical damage from being asked

“

re-training and rehabilitation, Cruise is a great horse with

to work through pain when working on and around a jump

focused. Learning to work with obstacles on the ground

course. Cruise reverts back to engrained unacceptable

and under saddle are a great way to ease his fear of new

behavior when he is put in a jumper saddle with the rider

things, engage his brain, and balance the under saddle

seated and their legs placed in position (turning on the

work of his dressage lessons.

“buttons”). It seems that when I work Cruise in dressage

In a recent dressage lesson under the tutelage of my

gear, he is more accepting of soft contact and willing to go

friend Julien Beaugnon, former head trainer of the famous

forward simply based on the rider’s change of seat and leg

horse show Cavalia, Julien said, “Cruise has changed

length in the stirrups.

his attitude radically—it’s beautiful. [He] has so much

Cruise has made it very clear that, with three to four

potential!”

days of work a week (some days including groundwork, some not), he is considerably happier with my aids and my

30

Final Note

requests in all gaits. The unacceptable behaviors subside as

This four part series has told the story of my process

he progresses each week. Catching in the field becomes

for rebuilding a horse from the ground up. I stress the

easy, grooming and tacking up becomes a non-issue, and

word my so that you understand that this is my process,

the grumpiness disappears. As long as he is in his dressage

and it may differ from others’ and it may not be right for

tack and I’m riding in a long stirrup length and an upright

your situation. I share my process for those of you that

position, he is pleased to work under saddle.

have similar scenarios at home and who feel comfortable

I feel low-level dressage is a wonderful starting point

using your experience and knowledge to peel back the

for Cruise’s new discipline, as it will enable him to stretch,

onions of these special needs horses. However, many

use his body more effectively, and hopefully end each

repurposed horses are very complicated onions to peel—

session on a positive note. Knowing the physical demands

sometimes in need of a team of specialists including a

of dressage, I will need to set him up for success every

trainer, veterinarian, farrier, nutritionist, physiologist,

time I pull him out of the field. He will need consistent

etc. It can take a long time and several restarts to truly

sessions, no less than three days per week, and need a

“save” a horse that everyone else has given up on, so be

variety of challenges to keep his mind stimulated and

sure you are committed to the task.

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V E T E R I N A RY

THE VETERINARY OPINION…

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

By Dr. Bob Grisel, DVM Presuming that your veterinarian was generous enough to give you a cell phone number, you could theoretically convey any concerns regarding your horse any time that you want by sending a text message. Everybody texts nowadays; it’s a quick and easy way to diplomatically inject your thoughts into somebody’s schedule regardless of where that person might be or what they might be doing.

From a conceptual standpoint, most equine veterinarians

that there are a few things about the veterinary opinion

like the idea of text messaging because it allows them to

that differ from the casual opinion. Consider the following

maintain constant contact with their clients as well as keep

points:

regular tabs on their patients. It’s a quick and convenient

the

veterinary

opinion

may

be

perfunctory in nature, many years of schooling, hours of

times. In the end, the doctor can provide a better overall

studying, and weeks of hands-on training certainly went

service by employing this modality.

into formulating that opinion. So, although the vet’s

So why aren’t veterinarians spending more time text

appraisal of your case may appear to be spontaneous

messaging with their clients? It would seem as though

and informal, it was most certainly an expensive one to

this strategy would be the ideal solution for any practice

construe.

seeking to offer telemedical (remote) services. After all,

2.

The veterinarian will be held accountable for his/

owners are usually just soliciting a casual opinion about

her opinion. If something conveyed by the vet results in

something that’s currently going on with their horse.

inappropriate treatment, or even a lack of appropriate

In answering this question, we need to understand

32

1. Although

process, despite the fact that it can also be interruptive at

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

treatment, the veterinarian may be held liable for any

resultant damages. Accordingly, there are no truly

any medications for the respective animal. If they do

“casual” opinions when it comes to veterinary

these things, they are at risk of losing their veterinary

comments pertaining to the medical status of a

license. It is clear that standard text messaging

patient.

modalities (such as those afforded by apps like

3.

The veterinarian’s delivery of an opinion is

Apple’s iMessage, Android’s Messaging, Facebook’s

considered to be the practice of veterinary medicine,

Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.) do not take the VCPR

regardless of whether or not there is an associated

into consideration.

consulting fee. In fact, one of the hardest things

b.

The veterinarian must be licensed to practice

about becoming a veterinarian is that any opinion

medicine in the country and state in which the animal

you provide about a specific issue in a particular

is being evaluated. This means that a world-renowned

animal will ALWAYS fall under the practice of

practitioner living three miles on the other side of

veterinary medicine. The days of frivolously blurting

your state line is not permitted to provide you with

out your thoughts about the likely cause or treatment

specific advice in the absence of local accreditation. It

of a horse’s lameness or colic, for instance, are forever

also means that your primary veterinarian of 15 years

over once you obtain your veterinary degree. And,

who recently moved away and no longer maintains a

while veterinary medicine can indeed be practiced via

license in your state cannot legally assess your animal,

telemedical means, certain conditions must be met in

even if personal (on-site) evaluation took place within

the process:

the year. While standard forms of text messaging

a.

The consulting veterinarian must maintain

afford us direct access to experts across the globe,

a valid veterinary-client-patient-relationship (aka

they do not scrutinize nor establish which of those

a VCPR) in order to provide advice relating to the

experts has the authority to consult on your case.

respective animal. This convention requires that

c.

The veterinarian must maintain clear and

your veterinarian physically evaluate the animal, in

precise documentation relating to any consultation;

person, at least once annually. Without this physical

records must be kept secure and remain readily

interaction, veterinarians are not permitted to give

accessible for an extended period of time. An accurate

advice with respect to the animal’s diagnosis or

description of an animal’s medical status is a critical

treatment. They also aren’t permitted to prescribe

component of medical practice, as such an account 33

V E T E R I N A RY

or record may be used for formulating an appropriate

medicine in all its forms (including telemedicine).

treatment plan, providing prescribed medications, and/or

The AVMA always wants to make sure that the

tracking future progress. Accordingly, each assessment

person providing you with veterinary service is an

must be clearly outlined, directly affixed to the respective

accredited professional that has satisfied all of the

equine patient (not the owner), and maintained in a

mandatory obligations accompanying the position.

secure environment. This degree of data management is

Furthermore, the AVMA requires that each and every

certainly not intrinsic to standard text messaging.

veterinary action conducted is valid, equitable, and

Thus, even an activity as simple as text messaging

dispensed in an appropriate manner. As a result,

becomes a tortuous (and sometimes insurmountable)

you as the horse owner can be confident that the

exercise when trying to satisfy all of the professional

veterinary medical industry and all of its professional

obligations that accompany this form of medical

representatives are genuinely advocating your animal’s

practice. For the veterinarian, a 5-minute text dialogue

health and overall quality of life.

takes considerable time, energy, and money (in the

In the end, though, how do you procure your

form of payroll) to process appropriately and within

veterinarian’s opinion via telemedical means? Is there

veterinary regulation. That is presuming, of course,

a solution that satisfies all parties? Certainly the AVMA

that the professional has already assumed the legal

is not trying to discourage the practice of telemedicine

authority to provide a medical opinion on the case.

as a viable service. In fact, it is committed to permitting

The complexity associated with providing a

the inevitable growth of veterinary telehealth for

veterinary opinion may seem excessive, but we should

the betterment of the industry. At the same time,

appreciate the fact that current legislation is in place

the AVMA wants to ensure that the integrity of our

to protect you, the animal owner, from inappropriate

profession continues to prevail. We as equestrians must

and fraudulent veterinary medical activity. Most of

also advocate the appropriate practice of veterinary

the provisions were developed and allocated by the

telehealth because it is in our best long-term interest

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), an

to do so.

organization whose principle goal is to ensure and maintain the legitimate and sound practice of veterinary

At

present,

several

emerging

technological

companies are attempting to solve the issue concerning the appropriate delivery of telehealth services. The vast majority of solutions are human- and/or small animalbased and require that you schedule an appointment and utilize a desktop computer to participate. Indeed this may not be the cleanest remedy for the equestrian nor the equine professional, both of whom spend the majority of their time at the barn. Recently, GetSound® Systems Group, LLC has developed an exclusivelyequine platform that is chiefly intended to replace the standard text message, thereby facilitating our transition into the appropriate practice of telehealth.

The platform was founded and developed by equine veterinarians for the sole purpose of making the regular assessment of our horses instant, easy, and affordable.

In the face of current demand, we can certainly expect the equine telehealth industry to flourish in the coming years. Whatever methodologies arise, it’s clear the purest solution will be one that’s as quick and elementary as text messaging, but that also safeguards the practice of veterinary medicine by affording your professional the tools to meet all AVMA provisions.

34

FEEL THE

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at USequestrian.org

Bringing the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible.

#FeelTheJoy 35

Photo: susanjstickle.com

Nancy Binter on her horse Arend Z

NEW ENGLAND DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION’S FALL FESTIVAL

HASN’T DISAPPOINTED IN DECADES

By Lynndee Kemmet

Adult amateur rider Nancy Binter describes her first participation in the New England Dressage Association Fall Festival of Dressage as one in which she was “totally clueless about everything.” That first Fall Festival was three decades ago, and the experience was so tremendous that Binter has returned year after year to what’s come to be the largest dressage show in the United States.

“NEDA (what most riders call the Fall Festival) has been my window on the world of dressage and the litmus test of how well my training and education has progressed on a yearly basis,” said Binter, 65.

36

grow. This year, more than 650 horses participated in the Fall Festival, up from 600 horses in 2018.

Binter, who has balanced her riding career with her work as a neurosurgeon, has witnessed the growth of the Fall

The Fall Festival of Dressage, held this year September 18-

Festival firsthand. She started competing at the show back

22 at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties,

when it was smaller and held along the coast in Halifax,

New York, is one of America’s oldest and most prestigious

Mass., which means she shared in the challenges of riding

dressage shows. In addition to a regular, open dressage show,

through the remnants of hurricanes, such as Hurricane Floyd.

the Fall Festival also hosts a CDI, para-dressage competition,

Binter was also on hand when the show started right after the

the U.S. Dressage Federation’s Region 8 championships and,

terrorist attack of September 11. She cites that event as one

until this year, a breed show. In 2019, NEDA split the breed

of her best NEDA memories because of the way NEDA, riders,

show into a separate series that ran at a different location

and judges all pulled together to make the show go on after

and time. The change is making it possible for both shows to

such a tragedy.

Photo: susanjstickle.com

DRESSAGE

Binter came to dressage as an adult: “I learned to ride in

who make up this show, but this is the best show in the

medical school and always bought horses that knew more

world for amateurs to see top competition and judging and

than I did, up until my current ride (Arend Z). This of course

not feel so destroyed when what you had at home doesn’t

led to endless humiliation in my struggle to learn not only the

always turn out in the ring.”

subtleties of dressage but also to keep up with my horse.”

While NEDA would like to increase the participation of

Her first ride at the NEDA Fall Festival was on a Fourth-

CDI-level riders and horses at the Fall Festival, show manager

level trained Hanoverian named Kimbell. In the warm-up

Sue McKeown said NEDA is very focused on making sure

ring, she gaped at all the FEI-level horses and all she could

that the show is seen by adult amateurs as that special,

think to do was tell Kimbell, “Up in front, down behind!”

must-attend final season event. “They (adult amateurs) have

Binter admits that if success is measured only in terms of

achieved something by reaching their goal, and it should feel

winning blue ribbons, then she would not say that her years

like it. Adult amateurs are an important, and critical, part of

showing at the Fall Festival have been filled with success. But

the show in terms of numbers and financial break-even, but

blue ribbons aren’t what’s kept her coming back. She comes

most importantly, we need to make sure the Fall Festival is

back because NEDA, the largest single member organization

something they want to return to year after year,” McKeown

within the U.S. Dressage Federation, really cares about the

said.

amateur riders and because the Fall Festival gives a unique opportunity to compete against the best.

The Fall Festival draws not just regional amateur riders

Binter is proof that NEDA has succeeded in making the Fall Festival a show to which riders return year after year, or, as in her case, decade after decade.

but also many of the top FEI and CDI-level horses and riders

“I have come home from the show humiliated and/or

all along the East Coast. Like many adult amateurs, Binter,

elated, depending on the year and the status of my current

who now splits her time between Oldwick, New Jersey and

horse and myself in our educational progression,” she said.

Wellington, Florida, takes her riding very seriously. Over the

“But I have never come home without feeling motivated

years, she sought to train with the best coaches she could

and strongly supported by the show and the volunteers. I

find and currently works with Gabriel Armando, a four-

cannot emphasize how difficult the line is between producing

star FEI Judge who, she said, has really helped further her

a quality show and not crushing the hopes and aspirations

dressage education.

of those of us who are on this endless educational pathway.

What the Fall Festival has given her over the years is an

What other show manager but Beth Jenkins (who managed

opportunity to test her training against the best horses and

the show from 1989 to 2018) would run out and take a

riders in the Northeast and to see how her training is viewed

picture of my horse, my husband and I with our very first ‘big-

through the lens of leading national and international

girl ribbon’ – a sixth place CDI finish. For years the main arena

dressage judges. “Nowhere else could I have seen so many

had the same ring steward who would always give a smile

FEI-quality horses and senior judges. The fact that I could go

and kind word as we entered the arena. Someone picking up

to NEDA every year has kept my dressage progression on

the gate for me to try to ride my dream is such a privilege. I

the right path,” she said. “I look at NEDA as my educational

cannot tell you how much these volunteers help to steady the

benchmark. Maybe I am biased because I love the people

show nerves and always remind us of why we are here.”

37

Photo: Sara Hellner

Kat and Brighton after winning Overall Grand Champion Pony in 2018.

38

DRESSAGE

Kat Fuqua goes classical with new “Dream Girl” Hunter phenom, Kat Fuqua, the three-time USEF Pony Finals Champion and rising Junior Hunter 3.6 foot jumping star, just imported her new horse, Dream Girl, from Holland—but she’s not a hunter horse.

Kat’s adding dressage to her repertoire.

Jason Canton, American FEI Grand Prix competitor

championship: the Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal

and trainer says, “I’ve known Kat since before she was

Finals (a prestigious equitation competition) out of a

born. I gave her first rocking horse to her for Christmas

field of 197 riders. To this, her hunter/jumper/equitation

before she was one. I’ve been training her in the

trainer, the famous Jimmy Torano, said:

flatwork on her ponies and junior hunter horses the last

“She’s a freak. She’s a real talent. She’s got ice

several years, and waiting patiently on the sidelines to

water in her veins. To come in and do what she did was

make her a Junior Dressage Champion! Kat has the raw

unbelievable. To win it last year, you go late, you’ve got

talent and listens to instruction. It’s time!”

your former Grand National Champion mount Brighton coming in behind you, and to be able to nail it the way

A Hunter Champion

she did—It was unbelievable. During the Pony Medal,

Twelve-year-old Kat, from Atlanta, Georgia, has

standing in the lineup, the coaches here were all pretty

racked up a list of national championship accolades

nervous. But I was pretty confident she had won. She

that rival many adult professionals. She has won over

nailed the first round, and put in the second round

200 division champions with her ponies and horses

flawlessly. There was one spot where she could’ve made

since she started showing at the age of five. Kat’s most

an inside run and didn’t but the round was beautifully

prestigious victory is being crowned Champion of the

ridden and so beautifully executed. I was sure she

USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm

won.” And she did.

two years in a row, 2018 and 2019, on two different

The following week, Jimmy took Kat to her first

ponies. Both years, she competed against over 400

International Hunter Derby Championship for which

combinations.

she’d qualified on two of her mounts: Cornell 22 and

In 2018, her pony Brighton won Overall Grand Pony

CupidoZ. Of the experience, Kat said, “It was a real

Hunter Champion in Lexington, Kentucky. She was the

treat to get to compete with all the professionals. I’m

youngest rider with the highest points in the show’s

coming back again next year and hope to ribbon!”

history, and won all three classes to be named Large Pony Hunter Champion. In 2019, Kat moved her green

In the Beginning

pony, Prestige, up to the regular division to compete

Kat was born to Grand Prix dressage parents Jeff

against her former champion pony. The strategy paid

and Shereen Fuqua, owners of Collecting Gaits Farm

off; Kat won the Large Ponies once again and came

and former title sponsors of the Dressage National

in as Reserve overall Grand Pony Champion. Later that

Festival of Champions for nearly a decade, then held

week, Kat and Prestige went on to win a third major

at the US Equestrian Team’s headquarters in Gladstone, 39

DRESSAGE Photo: Andrea Evans/US Equestrian

Photo: Sara Hellner

Kat and Prestige after winning Champion Large Pony Hunter in 2019 (L-R) mother Shereen, competition sponsor Charles Ancona, trainer Jimmy Torano.

Young Kat with Michelle Gibson at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in 2016.

New Jersey. Shereen recalls, “In 2007, I was pregnant with

one thing, so I made sure I supported Kat with whatever

Kat, and was so proud to give the championship awards to

activity she excelled in.” So the journey began with top

Olympian Steffen Peters in Gladstone, and then to him again

trainers teaching Kat how to ride and show in the equestrian

at the Olympic Trials in California in 2008.”

capital of Wellington, Florida for six winter circuits—but not

Of their support for the sport, then-US Dressage Team

in dressage.

Technical Advisor, Anne Gribbons, noted, “For a number of years, Collecting Gaits Farm has been a vital part of the support for the High Performance department of the

The pony sport of hunters took over Kat’s world. The

USEF. The Fuquas have time and again sponsored our most

best trainers did not live in Atlanta, so she traveled to train

prestigious event of the year, the Festival of Champions,

with them. Still, the Fuquas made certain that dressage was

which is traditionally the event used as trials for the selection

the foundational element of all Kat’s riding skills, and quietly

of our US Dressage Team, which represents us in Olympics,

brought in the best dressage trainers to their farm. “We

World Equestrian Games, and Pan American Games.

were always exposed to the best of the best in dressage. My

American Dressage owes its progress to generous and

husband always instilled in me that if you’re going to learn

selfless supporters of our sport . . . Lots of people own and

something, learn from the best.”

operate beautiful farms, but only the very few go beyond their own ambitions to be part of the big picture.”

40

Learning from the Best

In the spring of 2015, Kat’s mom realized she was leased a “stopper” pony by an early then-trainer. Rather than get

Growing up at a dressage barn, Kat started riding

upset, Shereen called dressage Olympian, Michelle Gibson,

at age one with barn managers leadlining her around on

now a family friend and trainer since the ‘90s. Michelle had

her miniature horse, Buttercup, whenever her mother was

moved back to Atlanta after living in Wellington, Florida

riding. In time, she became so mesmerized with horses that

upon winning her Bronze Team Medal at the 1996 Olympics.

her parents could not pull her away from them. “As a child

She came to Collecting Gaits Farm and told Kat, “You have

growing up,” Shereen explains, “my mother made sure I was

to learn to ride a live animal. You can’t let them get away

exposed to lots of different activities like ballet, piano, and I

with stopping or running away with you. You have to let

competed at ice skating. But I was never really good at any

them know you are in control.”

Photo: Carina Roselli

Photo: Shawn McMillen Photography

Kat and recently purchased Grand Remo competing in the Large Junior Hunter at the 2019 Capital Challenge Horse Show where Kat placed 1st in the under saddle.

Kat and her winning wall at 2019 Pony Finals.

Few people know that Michelle is experienced in

She immediately called him and charmed him into coming

eventing, so she understood the jumping skills that Kat was

to teach Kat, nine years after he gave her a rocking horse

required to perform. “If the pony was taking off and pulling

for Christmas. Committed to the Fuquas, and grateful for

me out of the tack, Michelle taught me to stop her and

their sponsorship with his beloved Grandioso, Jason drove

immediately back her up,” explained Kat. “The pony then

three-and-a-half hours each way, from Alabama to Georgia,

started slowing down when I wanted her to. Michelle made

to train Kat after school.

me jump from wherever the mare stopped so that she knew she had to jump.” For the next couple of years, Michelle came and trained Kat every week she and her ponies were not on the road showing.

Horse Hunting Jason worked with Kat regularly, and during that time moved to Athens, Georgia, which put him two hours closer

Meanwhile, Jason Canton left California to develop in

to Collecting Gaits Farm. “I watched the Fuquas purchase

dressage. Jason built up quite a resume, including former

nice ponies and hunter horses,” he said. “I tried to teach Kat

student of US Olympic Coach, Melle Van Bruggen, British

the basics and not mess up the hunter way of going. One

Olympic Coach, Conrad Schumacher, and American bronze

day, I told her mom, it’s time for Kat to really learn to sit and

Olympian, Michael Poulin. In 1992, he was long listed for the

work on more refined detail. So in November (2019), I just

Olympics on his Stallion St. Tropez and won the Six-Year-Old

said I’m going to Europe to find Kat a dressage horse.

Markel/USEF Young Horse Championship in 2007 with his

“I tried at least a dozen,” he continued, “but narrowed

Stallion Grandioso. During that time, Jason was the head trainer

down to three or four. We negotiated for a very fancy

at Collecting Gates Farm, showing their top Grand Prix dressage

Small Tour Champion as well as Grand Prix schoolmasters.

horses and training up their young horses. He later campaigned

But at the end of the day, I recommended Dream Girl, an

another top stallion, Supramat Old by Sandro Hit, dominating

11-year-old Dutch warmblood, 16hh, solid Prix St. Georges/

the 2012 Global Dressage Festival in his divisions. He then

Intermediare 1, competitive and fancy schoolmaster. She has

moved on to Texas before returning home to California.

very good bloodlines, with her father Spielberg coming from

Eventually, Michelle left Atlanta, and Shereen read on Facebook that Jason was driving back to the Southeast.

Sandro Hit, Donnerhall, and Rubinstein. [She’s] a lovely mare and uncomplicated.”

41

DRESSAGE Photo: Sara Hellner

(L-R) Shereen, Dream Girl, Kat, and trainer Jason Canton.

Photo: Sara Hellner

Kat riding Dream Girl.

Dream Girl comes from Stephanie Kok of Poeldijk, the

because I never jumped without stirrups on my equitation

Netherlands where Stephanie’s sister, Danielle Kok, recently

horse Cornell22. He was really good and jumped the last

campaigned her. Dream Girl was bred by the Pernis/vd Kleij

oxer really high. I was so proud of both of us. Mainly I was

family, and Danielle began riding her after she was saddle

proud that Jimmy came all the way to Atlanta to train me

broken and passed her IBOP (dressage test) with 79.5 points.

and my horses. I won the Junior Hunter Champion and

She ranked second at the IBOP test with very promising

Reserve Champion with Grand Remo and CupidoZ.”

comments. Stephanie took her from 2nd level to 4th and

“My goal for 2020,” Kat continued, “is to get a

successfully competed at 4th level and Prix St. Georges.

Championship or Reserve Championship at the Devon

When she became pregnant, Danielle started riding Dream

Horse Show. I’ve won blue ribbons with my ponies over

Girl fulltime and showing her up to Intermediare 1, where

fences, but never a championship there. I also want to win

they won three times in a row in the summer of 2019.

a championship in the Junior Hunters. I came close last year

Jason continued, “The Fuquas were great. I went on

with a blue over fences with Calvaro. I want to qualify for

my own nickel and came back with options, and they said

the ASPCA Maclay Finals and hope to make the top 25, with

OK. Mainly, I know how important the Maclay Equitation

usually over a hundred competitors. I also want to ribbon

Championships are for them. I think they believe that the

at this year’s International Hunter Derby Finals in Kentucky

mare will improve Kat’s equitation and training with Jimmy

so I hope I qualify. My national championship rounds have

Torano. In dressage, Kat needs to learn to sit perfectly in

really improved since Jimmy took me on as a student. He has

the saddle and balance herself through the movements of

taught me so much about jumping equitation that helps my

shoulder-in, haunches-in to lead to half passes. She needs

hunter competitions. And my mom always tells Jason to drill

to learn to collect and lengthen the strides in both trot and

me on my flat work between the cavaletti we have at home.

canter. Our goals are to focus primarily on training, as the

“For Dream Girl, Lendon Gray told us we should try to

dressage shows and ribbons will eventually come. I want Kat

qualify and compete in the newly formed Children’s Dressage

to show when her presence is that of a professional.”

Championships in August. We will see. I can try and qualify for the Junior Dressage Championships in 2021, when I turn 14.

Dressage Meets Hunter

42

Last year, at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Lendon trained me

“Kat loves to jump and do the hunters,” said Jason.

between hunter rounds to help me with my equitation and

“I met Jimmy Torano at the 2019 Atlanta Winter Classic

flatwork. It was pretty cool that she took the time to come over

recently. I had never seen Kat compete and got to watch her

to the hunter warm up area. She put a headset on me and

win the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal. I have to

talked quietly into her mic while all the other kids were warming

admit it was impressive.”

up over jumps. She showed me her Olympic Ring. I really just

Kat was over the moon that Jimmy Torano came to

feel so lucky that everyone is supporting me and teaching me to

Atlanta as her dressage trainer watched on. “I had to ride

be the very best I can be. My heart is always with my horses and

and jump a course with no stirrups for the test, starting

ponies. I love spending time with them outside the show ring,

out in counter canter,” explained Kat. “I was very nervous

but I do dream of one day going to the Olympics.”

DRESSAGE

By Annan Hepner / Phelps Media

Photo: Annan Hepner

Debbie McDonald and Thorsten Kramer on Quistado S.

OLYMPIANS DEBBIE MCDONALD & ALI BROCK

RUTLEDGE FARM SESSIONS Hosted in historic Middleburg, Virginia, the Rutledge Farm Sessions bring exclusive educational opportunities to riders and professionals who may not have access to the top trainers in the sport. Drawing from a pool of Olympic and international champion clinicians like McLain Ward, Phillip Dutton, and Boyd Martin, Rutledge Farm offers monthly clinics throughout the year.

New this year, the event’s founder, Aleco BravoGreenberg was determined to bring world-class dressage

The impressive environment on the first day of

training to his renowned clinic series for the first time.

the session was a lot to take in for event rider Nikki

Last fall, dressage riders and trainers from up and down

Smith’s Salerno, a 5-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sir

the east coast traveled to Rutledge Farm for the unique

Donnerhall. The young horse came in overwhelmed and

opportunity to learn from two of the greats—Olympian

Debbie immediately got to work getting the rider to not

and U.S. Dressage Team technical advisor Debbie

internalize the horse’s anxiety and keep up constant

McDonald and Olympian Ali Brock.

communication. She had the pair ride shallow changes

In September, Debbie hosted a two-day clinic in Middleburg for the first time in her career, bringing

44

throughout the first day’s training sessions.

of direction, serpentines, and transitions all while riding at a pace where he was able to remain soft.

a wealth of knowledge that could benefit riders of

Debbie instructed, “Teach him to take more rein

all disciplines. Welcoming eight riders of all levels,

without throwing it away. You must be able to feel his

Debbie focused on correcting their contact, improving

mouth and they must understand that they have the

their communication, and holding riders accountable

ability to stretch into the contact. When you relax your

Photo: Annan Hepner

“

IT’S IMPORTANT YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR HORSE CAN HANDLE AND PROCESS. YOU MORE, MORE. DEBBIE MCDONALD

Aleco Bravo-Greenberg and Olympian Debbie McDonald.

“

CANNOT BE GREEDY AND WANT MORE,

hands, do you feel him slightly stretch toward the bit?

to ride with independent aids,” she explained. “We

That’s what you want. You need to keep regulating

can’t get on and try to hang on. You can’t shut down

through your contact, but don’t wrestle with him. You

the horse with your contact. Riders have to be aware

have to support with your legs. He must learn to accept

of it.

your aids. Do not overreact to him with your aids. You are responsible for giving him confidence.

“A lot of the problems with the connection can be fixed with your position. Hold your elbow steadier. Keep

“It’s all about being a step ahead of him. You must

your heels down with weight in your legs and your butt

be consistent and ask repeatedly. It’s never a onetime fix

down,” Debbie continued. “Hold your inside bend

when training a horse—it’s constant communication. It

enough that you can feel it on his hind leg. Don’t keep

will become a seamless aid when you’ve taught them

leaning back more, that’s not going to balance him.

through repetition,” she explained to multiple riders

Bring him back and then allow him the opportunity to

throughout the day no matter what level they were

carry himself. You have to find that balance. You have

schooling. “You have to work on the connection before

to bring him back with an upper body for stability, and

you can work on the movement. The minute you lose

you must use more of your core.”

the connection you need to ride forward a bit.”

In addition to being more aware of their position

Debbie emphasized the importance of patience

and aids, Debbie recommended adding more shoulder-

while training, especially with young horses. “Patience

in exercises to their training program as it strengthens

is everything—you cannot hurry a horse. They all learn

the horse and helps keep them more packaged with

at a different pace. It’s important you know what your

a quicker, engaged stride, instead of a big and long

horse can handle and process. You cannot be greedy

gait. As the lessons progressed, Debbie also focused on

and want more, more, more. You have to be sensitive

straightness and bend by asking them to renver a few

to the thought of a horse understanding it and don’t

strides down the long sides before straightening for a

get caught up in giving them too much information at

few strides.

one time. Any sign of a hint that he understands an exercise, move on—never go long enough to lose it.”

Following

her

discussion

on

finessing

Professional athlete Thorsten Kramer rode Quistador S, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding in a session. The

the

pair was successfully schooling all of the Prix St. Georges

connection, she was adamant about the importance

movements correctly, but Debbie wanted to improve

of rider fitness playing a part in an athlete’s success.

the quality of their work by focusing on throughness.

“Riders have to be fit. They must think about their

“I’m from Central Virginia, which is an area that

bodies. It’s up to us to know where our balance is and

is hard to get someone to come to, but I’m always 45

Photo: Annan Hepner

Ali Brock and Renata Petraitis on Rochambeau LF.

looking for help [with training],” expressed Kamer

KWPN gelding Guernsey Elvis schooled Prix St. Georges

following his lessons. “To have Debbie here at this

with Ali during the clinic. “There’s no such thing as

beautiful facility and a perfect set-up—it’s unheard of.

enough coaching for all of us professionals,” Lauren

It’s a once in a lifetime situation and it’s been incredible.

commented. “Isabell Werth has eyes on the ground,

The biggest aspect is that she’s really empathetic to the

Charlotte Dujardin has eyes on the ground, and I can

horse and rider but she’s also demanding enough to

say with 100% confidence that I also need eyes on the

ensure the work is real and honest, especially with the

ground. It’s great to have someone who has been there

connection.”

and done that, well beyond what I’ve ever done, give

Rutledge Farm owner, Aleco Bravo-Greenberg, was

me her thoughts.”

honored to host Debbie at the facility for their first

Lauren added, “We’re just so fortunate here in

session focused on dressage. “Debbie is such a gifted

the Middleburg area to have a venue like this and

instructor,” he commented. “She did an amazing job

an organizer like [Aleco Bravo-Greenberg] that is

honing in on what each horse and rider needed to

committed to bringing in excellent instruction that we

work on, and helping them find tools to improve. It was

might not otherwise have access to. To be able to come

wonderful to be able to have such an amazing clinic at

here and not just do a clinic but really a demonstration

our facility and Debbie was great to work with.”

for some of my students that get to hear that caliber of

Once Debbie returned to her responsibilities developing the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2020 Tokyo

instruction, it’s really a great thing for the community and a great thing for all of us as riders and trainers.”

Olympic Games, Rutledge Farm geared up for their

No matter if they were on young horses or schooling

next dressage clinic with Olympic bronze medalist,

Grand Prix, Ali held each rider to high standards of

Ali Brock. Her theme of effective aids was similar to

accountability of the riders’ aids and did not allow

Debbie’s, but she also focused more on the importance

lazy riding. “Be precise. Be precise. Be precise!” Ali

of balance in self-carriage over the two-day session in

exclaimed. “Be very particular with what he is doing

October. Welcoming eight riders from various levels of

with his body. Do not compromise. If you don’t like the

the training scale, Ali equipped the group with a few

balance, it’s your job to regulate it. Rebalance him so

extra training tools.

that he is not leaning, especially through the corners.

“When I do clinics, I always want to make sure

As a rider, you must be particular about how the horse

they go home with at least one thing [to work on],

is balanced through turns and corners. Be careful not to

and I think the recurring theme of this clinic has been

subconsciously be giving them a constant aid that they

balancing the horse underneath the rider’s seat so

are leaning on.”

that the rider is keenly aware of how to balance the

Regarding the horse’s balance in self-carriage, Ali

horse’s body and not riding off the horse’s mouth,”

also noted, “Expect him to carry himself. You want

Ali explained.

to feel him carry himself differently under you. He

Professional Lauren Sprieser and her 8-year-old

must stay upright between your hand, seat, and legs.

Reiterate to your horse that he needs to lift up and meet your seat every stride. In the canter, he needs to be jumping through himself, not pulling through the reins.”

With her laser sharp focus tweaking the riders’ position and use of aids, Ali could tell immediately which riders were putting too much physical energy into their riding compared to the effort given by their horse. “Don’t work so hard. Do less and be really

Olympian Ali Brock

mindful that you are not overriding,” she reiterated.

“I want him really sharp on your aids so you feel like

At the end of each lesson, Ali summarized the key

you don’t have to work too hard. You shouldn’t feel

points she wanted the riders and the auditors to take

like you have to push every step. It’s about the high

home with them. Instead of laying out specific exercises

level of communication. It’s not like the horse sits up all

to target different issues or weaknesses, she spoke

night and thinks about ways of being bad or how not

about her training philosophies.

to listen to you. Fire up the level of communication with

“It’s not usually the exercise that’s the problem.

your horse. When we talk about communicating with

It’s the correctness of the exercise and the horse’s

our horses our seat is the main point of communication,

acceptance of the shape,” she explained. “Sometimes

their mouth is secondary.”

training rides are really messy, but I’m ok with that if the

Riders in most disciplines use the half-halt as a

end result is good and positive. Some people freak out

tool to rebalance their horse while increasing activity.

in this stage of training because they can’t see the light

Despite its familiarity in most training programs,

at the end of the tunnel, but try to have faith in the

it’s common that riders do not effectively use the

process and have patience. It’s easy to be frustrated [if

half-halt aid, so Ali walked many riders through her

your horse is not picking up on what you want quickly

process when she asks.

or other miscommunications], but it’s ok that mistakes

“My ideal half-halt is one step. I want them to

are being made.

come back in one step and then I allow the forward.

“Dare to let him fall apart. You can’t think about

I’m clear with any horse, young or old,” Ali said. “With

what everyone else thinks; learn to tune everyone

a collecting half-halt, you say ‘woah,’ get a response

else out but your coach. Ignore the mistakes, set

and then give. Recycle the energy. If you tell the horse

them up again, and reward when it gets better. That

to wait, the horse has to respond. You don’t have

way he is one step closer to figuring out exactly what

three steps to make a difference. Every step matters.

you want. Assume nothing when you are training a

For example, imagine you are trotting straight toward

horse.”

a cliff,” she continued. “You would have fallen straight

Ali left riders and auditors with some parting

off the cliff and died because your horse took too many

wisdom: “Take risks in your riding—you shouldn’t

strides to respond to your half-halt aid! Ask like you

back off once you start something,” she explained. “In

mean it. Urgent!”

training, do what scares you the most!”

E D I TO R I A L

By Olivia Lagoy-Weltz

INVESTMENT HORSES In the past year, several friends and clients have approached me asking, “Do you ever do investment horses, and are they a good idea?” The answer is yes, horses can be a great investment, but as with most investments, there is no guarantee of success. It can be a roll of the dice—but there are several considerations that can help set you up for success.

48

There are multiple avenues to invest in horses, and

so the first and best piece of advice I can offer is, don’t

it’s important to figure out which way interests you in

invest money that you can’t afford to lose. Even the

particular. The two main categories are: (1) investing

most seasoned horse sales people are going to have a

with the intent to resell and make money, and (2)

certain number of horses that don’t work out as hoped.

investing with the intent to keep the horse long term

Being realistic and covering your bases with insurance

to achieve certain goals (whether to reach Grand Prix,

and the right kind of paperwork are therefore very

compete in the World Cup, or even become a team

important. Having said that, investing in horses can

horse for the PanAms, World Equestrian Games, or

be a great way to make money and participate in the

Olympics). The two are not always mutually exclusive,

sport.

for example you can invest in a horse, keep if for a few

If you are looking to invest in horses with the intent

years, train it, show it to a certain level, and then sell

to buy them and resell them for a profit, the most

it. There are many roads to Rome, so to speak.

important thing is knowing your market, and being

Before getting into any horse investment situation,

able to pick out appropriate horses for that market.

regardless of which category you fall into, it’s important

In an ideal situation, you have buyers/investors already

to remember that horses are delicate and unpredictable

lined up telling you exactly what they want. When it

animals. Things can go wrong a million different ways,

comes to finding the “perfect” horse, many people

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO INVEST IN HORSES WITH THE INTENT TO IMPORT THEM AND RESELL THEM FOR A PROFIT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS KNOWING YOUR MARKET AND BEING ABLE TO PICK OUT APPROPRIATE HORSES FOR THAT MARKET. OLIVIA LAGOY-WELTZ

“

“

who do this as part of their business model develop

good network. Fortunately, social media has made it

longstanding relationships with contacts in Europe

very easy to reach a much larger audience, so it has

who help them scout horses for this purpose.

become far easier to sell a good horse (or just about

There are also an increasing number of American

anything) without having a big network. Having said

breeders producing top quality horses with whom

that, the reputation someone has for selling nice

you personally can build longstanding relationships

(and expensive) horses often makes the difference

with (see American Bred in this issue). Regardless

in the type of client/buyer that comes to look at your

of where you shop, to be successful, it’s important

horse, so there are many factors to weigh out.

to find the right combination of age, training,

If you are looking to invest in something long

rideability, potential for development, price, and

term to achieve certain goals, the criteria for finding

positive vetting.

a horse is similar, but owning and maintaining the

If you are not a trainer yourself, but want to

horse may be different. You can invest directly

partner with a trainer to invest in horses to resell,

with a rider or through a syndicate. A syndicate

then do your best to work with someone you get

is a mechanism used to jointly own a horse where

along with, whose style you like, and who has a

two or more investors form a corporation (usually

good track record improving and/or selling horses

a limited liability company or “LLC”) around the

(ideally both). While you shouldn’t shy away from

horse and each investor owns a “share” of that

working with an up-and-coming talent, a big part of

horse. Investors typically like to do this to organize

selling horses is a well-developed reputation and a

the details of ownership, provide a tax structure for

E D I TO R I A L

50

GET OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE AND TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE’S GOALS ARE ALIGNED..

OLIVIA LAGOY-WELTZ

“

“

THE BIGGEST KEY IS TO SIT DOWN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO

future filings, and to protect their personal assets in the

who gets to keep the ribbons?), but also for if things go

event things don’t go as planned. Both are good options

wrong (who pays the vet bill or the cost of major medical

depending on your personal situation. The biggest key is to

and/or life insurance?). Having these plans in place can

sit down and understand what everyone is looking to get

make a world of difference if/when the need arises. As

out of the experience and to make sure everyone’s goals

a rider, it’s important to know and understand what your

are aligned.

owners/investors expect to get out of the experience. As

Be sure to put things in writing. Putting things in

an investor, it’s important to know and understand what

writing is a good idea in both types of investing and

your responsibilities are. These situations often come with

any type of co-ownership. While historically, a lot of

high expectations and a lot of responsibility. Of course,

successful deals have been made on a handshake or

it’s paramount for the rider to produce the horse, but it’s

verbal agreement, I recommend at least a basic contract

also important for everyone involved to establish and keep

outlining responsibilities to help everyone navigate the

good communication in order to develop and foster a solid

partnership successfully. In the case of syndication, it’s a

working relationship.

bit more complicated. It may be helpful to consult a lawyer,

Last but not least, you’re going to want a good

preferably one experienced with the horse industry, to help

accountant, ideally one who has some familiarity with the

form the syndicate corporation and draft the “operating

horse industry. In reality, from the perspective of the IRS,

agreement” that will set out ownership details and

it’s technically impossible to co-own a horse with another

parameters.

person other than a spouse. This is where syndicate LLCs

There needs to be a plan for when things go right

become a reality. There are a lot of interesting and complex

(everything from how to split the monetary winnings to

tax codes that surround the horse business, and important

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

“

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO INVEST IN HORSES WITH THE INTENT TO IMPORT THEM AND RESELL THEM FOR A PROFIT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

“

IS KNOWING YOUR MARKET AND BEING ABLE

TO PICK OUT APPROPRIATE HORSES FOR THAT MARKET. OLIVIA LAGOY-WELTZ

factors that delineate your horse business from a hobby farm in the eyes of the tax collector. I highly recommend having a professional on hand to help you navigate this world effectively.

If you’re considering investing in a horse, or seeking out investors for a horse, make sure you set yourself up for success. The key points to success: Don’t invest with money you can’t afford to lose Know your market Be clear on your goals Pick an appropriate horse for your market and goals Put it in writing You may need an equine lawyer Have a good accountant If you check all these boxes, you’ll stack the odds in your favor. Are you ready to roll the dice?

E D I TO R I A L

AMERICAN BRED To learn as much as we could about breeding horses in America, we contacted three farms: Spy Coast Farm, Leatherdale Farms, and Iron Spring Farm. To keep it interesting for you, dear reader, we decided to tell their stories three different ways: Spy Coast Farm via conversation, Leatherdale Farms via editorial, and Iron Spring Farm via Q&A.

In our conversation with Spy Coast Farm’s owner, Lisa

clothesline in order to signal to a whaling captain across the

Lourie, she breaks down how her intricate system of profit

sound in Connecticut where the Redcoats were, what bay

centers supports her breeding operation and how Young

the Redcoats were in. They turned that into... I don’t know

Horse Shows can help the industry. In Leatherdale Farms’

if you’ve ever heard of that TV show “TURN” on AMC? Yes.

editorial, we learn about their German imported stallions

That’s what it was based on. That’s right where my farm was.

and how they offer American breeders a chance at “superior

That’s why it’s Spy Coast Farm. That’s really interesting—

athleticism and talent along with exceptional trainability and

rich in history. Yeah, they call that area the Spy Coast.

rideability.” Finally, let Iron Spring Farms’ Breeding Manager, Meghan de Garay, tell you all about the farm and how you

So, after you had the two thoroughbreds, when did

can often visit a sale horse’s whole family while you’re there.

you decide to go bigger? I was a show mom when my

Three different farms three different ways, but one unified

daughter was showing in the high junior jumpers and I

message: you (yes you) should be buying American!

spent many hours just watching some of the best horses in Wellington (Florida) go around and around with these young kids on them. I just started wondering what happened to these horses when they were done with their jobs. I started teaching myself pedigrees, and when we went over to

A CONVERSATION WITH LISA LOURIE,

Europe to buy another horse, I’d talk to the breeders and

OWNER OF SPY COAST FARM

to the owners about pedigrees and breeding. Eventually, I

EQuine AMerica: How did you get into this? How did

realized that we weren’t using—Americans weren’t using—

Spy Coast Farm come into existence? Lourie: Well, it

the talent and the genetic resources we have available here

started back in about 2003 when my daughter and I had

for breeding. That’s really how I started the program and

just started riding and I had a mare, she was an off the track

it’s also how I started collecting my first mares; they were

thoroughbred and she was just a delightful mare, and when

simply mares that were done with their jobs.

her career was over I decided to breed her. That’s how I originally got into breeding. I actually bred two thoroughbreds

Well, that’s a great second act. Yeah, and I come from a

first before I branched off into the warmbloods.

nursing background so I never really felt that the technical aspects of getting an older mare in-foal were going to be

52

How did you come up with the name “Spy Coast”

insurmountable. Really the question was: could they pay off

Farm? Back in the Revolutionary War, General Washington

their retirement? And, if I paid any money for them at all,

commissioned a spy ring that operated out of Setauket,

which I rarely do, was it going to cover that cost? On average,

New York, Manhattan, and Connecticut, and the story is

if I could get two or three foals out of an older mare then I’d

that a woman hung petticoats and handkerchiefs on her

hit the breakeven point.

Photo: Mary Jane Speer

Photo: Mathea Kelley

Grimaldi SCF NA - 2019 colt by Quidam Junior out of Werly Chin de Muze.

Cold Salt Water Leg Spa at the Spy Coast Farm Rehabilitation and Fitness Center.

Was that your goal, to break even, or were you trying

is on the original 400 acres, and then I built the Rehab and

to turn breeding into a profitable business? Well,

Fitness Center, which is located where the parking area was

eventually I’m trying to turn it into a profitable business.

when the World Equestrian Games were here at the Kentucky

I’ve been going for quite a while now—probably 12 years

Horse Park in 2010. Then we have CEM Quarantine, and the

or so—and of course I keep adding on to what we’re doing,

stallion barn, and we have a show barn where Shane and Ali

but the whole idea is to try and figure out a way that we

Sweetnam come during the summertime—that’s where we

can make this profitable in America so that more people

have the Young Horse Show in the spring. Finally, my latest

will breed. That and I strayed from a single path in order to

and greatest addition is the Equine Education Lab, which is

figure out what is the right combination of income streams.

a whole new concept that seems to be taking off really well.

What is the secret sauce that’s going to make this work?

It’s different for everyone. My goal has always been to try

There are so many pieces! The whole idea is to have

to share whatever knowledge I glean from the process

other profit centers because these young horses have to be

with other people who either want to breed or do breed.

trained for so long and there are not a whole lot of young

I interact a lot with different breeders, especially overseas,

horses being sold in America. I’m talking two, three, four,

and I’m on committees of the U.S. Equestrian Federation

and five-year-olds. My experience is that you need other

and U.S. Hunter Jumper Association and things like that.

profit centers to be able to sustain that training program.

We also have the Young Horse Show Series that breeders

That’s why I started up the CEM Quarantine, the Rehab and

come to and we talk at those events. I’m trying to educate

Fitness Center, and now the Equine Education Lab.

by doing, if you know what I mean.

Can you tell me more about the reproductive program?

As you’ve expanded into new ventures at Spy Coast,

Sure. We have 41 mares to foal on the property, 22 of those

what does it look like today? I have three locations. The

are mine and 19 are my clients’. I’ve found the best ratio,

one down in Florida, I lease that to Shane and Ali Sweetnam,

for me anyway, is about 50/50, so about 50% of the mares

and that’s 20 acres. Then I have a 70-acre farm in Tryon,

and foals are mine and 50% belong to my clients. I hired a

North Carolina and I have two or three men who oversee

reproductive veterinarian so I get the services wholesale and

that, but we usually only use it when we’re there for shows.

I bill out retail, which covers her salary and some of the costs

I specifically wanted it so that, if we went for the season,

for me. I’m not a vet and I can’t put the sweat equity into it,

the young horses could come back and go in paddocks

so I brought in my own vet and those costs get covered. It’s

and graze and just be horses. That’s worked out really well.

one of the many ways to do this—this is what works for me

The big kahuna, if you will, is in Lexington, Kentucky, and

and I think it’s replicable for other people.

we expanded that about a year and a half ago to include another 400 acres, so we’re now at 800 acres in Lexington.

How many stallions do you have? We have six resident

There are several different divisions in Lexington. We

stallions. Three of those are mine and three of those belong

have the Reproductive Division, which is now on the new

to clients. So, 50/50 carries over to them as well. Not

400 acres, we have the Young Horse Training Division, which

by design, and I think the balance is going to tip eventually

E D I TO R I A L

because we’re one of the few places that’s very comfortable

can purchase directly from me that I’ve collected and stored over

dealing with stallions. The whole process of stallion care is

the years. I know how each works and how it doesn’t. Or, I’ll try to

resource intensive considering the people who manage the

get the semen my client’s asking for if I don’t already have it.

stallions and the room that the stallions require, like separate paddocks.

We’ve also created relationships with certain stallion stations overseas, so our clients only pay for the foals they get because those stallion stations want access to our clients. They also want close

How does it work when you stand other peoples’

tracking of the semen to ensure it’s not being used willy-nilly, and

stallions? If you’re a professional with a Grand Prix stallion,

they trust that we’re keeping track of all the pregnancies because

what do you do with that beloved horse when it’s time to retire

we actually have them on our property. It’s been really interesting to

him? Well, you’re a professional so you may not have gobs

work with European stallion owners.

of money, you don’t want to spend money on an expensive retirement, nor do you necessarily want to geld that stallion.

How much would you say is the ratio of American stallions

So, what we try to do is develop a partnership; make special

versus European stallions that you’re using? It depends on the

arrangements for professionals so that we get that great, high-

year. That’s really, really variable. Some years we’re proving out a

end, quality stallion or mare for U.S. breeding programs.

stallion. I think it was last year we did a lot of Chaqui Z (American)

With stallions, we now have arrangements where we charge

because he was available for us to collect fresh and we wanted

a daily board fee for the stallion, but that can be offset by profits

to get a book of Chaqui Z foals on the ground so we knew what

made through our marketing and covering that stallion for you.

he was producing like. We’ve done that with each of my stallions,

The client pays a daily board fee and an annual fee for marketing,

so you’ll see a lot of Diktators out there right now in the five and

which includes my secretary talking to different people on the

six-year-olds because we were really trying to prove out how he

phone about the stallion, print advertisements, social media, stallion

produced six or seven years ago. But in general, I would say it could

cards, etc. Then, we stand the stallion for the client and whatever

be 50/50. My in-house clients tend to want the big name European

profit that stallion makes goes back to the client. In most cases, if

stallions, and they can’t always get them because either, (a) they

your stallion is popular enough, you can cover at least half of your

may not be available or (b) their mare may not do well with frozen

board fee, which then makes it cost more like retiring a normal

semen, which leaves us simply with the intracytoplasmic sperm

horse rather than a stallion. Stallion board is typically considerably

injection (ICSI) option. Some like to do ICSI and some don’t. It’s

higher than retirement board for a mare or gelding.

really very much a preference of the client.

I would say, in larger measure, the outside people who come to

Do you also have a stored frozen semen program? Oh yeah,

us for our stallions want fresh semen. That’s why it’s really important

we’ve got lots of stored frozen semen, but I’m not a broker. For my

to stand fresh available stallions of note because people have seen

clients, I have a whole library of frozen semen available that they

them go in the ring. These are stallions that have typically been ridden by Americans so they know the stallions and they’ve seen

Photo: Lexey Hall

them go. Plus, they’re fresh, and that’s a key thing to have.

Are you trying to promote American stallions versus European to steward the progression of that type of breeding? I typically don’t promote European stallions. If I or one of our clients wants a European stallion, I will help our client access that semen in the best way I can, but at the end of the day, I’m trying to promote American breeding so we really have to have fresh stallions available and frozen semen from our stallions.

How does the process work with other peoples’ horses?

For instance, we handle the frozen semen for Margie Engel’s stallion, Royce. He’s still at work. He’s not available fresh, but I’m still handling that account for Margie because she’s been asked a million times to breed to Royce. She doesn’t want to be dealing

Lisa Lourie and homebred Madagascar SCF (Diktator van de Boslandhoeve x Rolette/Lester).”

54

Photo: Shannon Brinkman

Chaqui Z and Shane Sweetnam competing for Team Ireland at the 2018 WEG in Tryon, NC.

with that—she’s riding. She approached me and asked if I would

for 32 boarders. We have two aqua treadmills; one is cold saltwater

deal with that and I said, “Sure” and we worked something out.

and the other one is freshwater, which we can run at warm or

The barter system usually works well with the professionals and it

at ambient room temperature. Both of the treadmills incline and

works great for me. If I can get Royce babies on the ground, that

they’re programmable up to 200 programs, and the data can be

will be great.

bluetoothed back into the office. Then we have the cold-water spa

I work with mares the same way. It’s why I built the Rehab and

and we have a regular treadmill. We have four treatment stalls with

Fitness Center. The genesis of that concept was to be able to collect

various modalities available. We have hot and cold lasers, magna

stallions while they were out of commission for whatever reason,

wave, shock wave, ultrasound, and more. I’ve hired a vet for the

and the same with mares, so that I could get embryos or oocytes.

Rehab and Fitness Center and she’s certified in acupuncture and

It works much better when they’re off work because many people

chiropractic. We have dental services and an on-site farrier as well.

don’t like to tamper with their animals while they’re in a program.

We are a referral center so that means that your vet is in charge

So when mares come in for care, for whatever reason, I might

of your horse’s program. Our vet is there to oversee that program

ask the rider if I can collect oocytes or embryos for them while she’s

and to confer with your vet. But, let’s say your mare came up

off work. The rider could either give me some of those to offset

lame and your vet said, “Yeah, it’s the right suspensory ligament.

the cost of the rehab or they can just take them and keep or sell

I’m going to prescribe rehab at the Spy Coast Rehab and Fitness

them. The whole idea is to put the mare to work while she’s off

Center.” While your mare is here, we may say to you, “Hey, you’ve

from showing. I have a couple clients that have done that—and

got a really nice mare here. I see she’s won a Grand Prix or two.

I’ve gotten some really nice embryos—and they’ve saved a lot of

Do you want to collect embryos? Are you interested in breeding?”

money on rehab, and the horse has been rehabbed successfully

The same with a stallion, if suitable, for semen collection. It’s on the

and they go back to work. That is a brilliant system.

checklist of what kinds of services we provide and you can either

CEM Quarantine ties into this as well because a lot of times

partake of it or not.

we’ll get stallions that have been imported and we offer the service if they want to collect them for domestic use immediately after

So are you going to expand into more ventures? I really feel

they’re quarantined. Or we ask, if they want to put them in fitness

like the whole thing makes sense now and everybody makes fun

after they’ve completed their quarantine so that they’re show

of me. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ll build something else,” and I’m

fit. Let’s say you’re overseas and you ship the horse over. Stallion

like, “No. I really think that this works.” I just added the Equine

quarantine typically takes about 5 weeks. We’ve got riding and

Education Lab when I was looking for more ways to monetize our

treadmills available to keep your horse fit during quarantine and

facilities to support the breeding program. I got to thinking about

after quarantine, we have the rehab and fitness center modalities

it, and as I was building and putting all the equipment in the Rehab

available. We can collect him too, if that’s what they want to do. So

and Fitness Center, I thought ‘I’m really marketing these pieces

CEM Quarantine flows into the breeding program as well. You’ve

of equipment because of the volume of people and the quality

created multiple profit centers all feeding one big beast.

of people I have coming through here.’ I started going back to

Right, exactly. I may never get back my capital costs, but I’m really

some of the companies and saying, “Why don’t you cut me a deal

working pretty hard at getting to a profit, or at least to break even

because I’m going to be promoting your product if it works well.”

departmentally.

And that’s what led me to think I really needed to provide a facility where different equestrian products, people, drugs, or anything

What is the Rehab and Fitness Center like? It’s a really state-of-

else like that could be further promoted.

the-art facility. Remember, I come from a healthcare background,

Here’s the other part. About a year ago (before the Equine

so it looks like a clinic. There are two barns and we have capacity

Education Center existed), the International Society of Equine

Photo: Mathea Kelley

Rehab and Fitness Center Manager, Alicia Bradshaw, administers laser therapy.

Locomotor Pathology (ISELP), asked me if they could do a wet lab

show series. Why is that important to your breeding

on my property in the show barn. I said, “Sure.” About 80 people

program? I sponsor and encourage the Young Horse Show

came and they were learning how to ultrasound tendons. They

Series and the Developing Jumper Series to try to improve the

loved the facility. Then they asked me if I could bring a mare of

training of—and create more of a market for—young horses.

mine into the ballroom of their hotel for a closed session. I said,

When these young horses get exposure, you’ve got people who

“Sure.” So, there I am with my mare, walking through the kitchen

are willing to buy the five and six-year-olds they’re observing. If

of the Embassy Suites Hotel, down a hall into a ballroom—a legit

they don’t have the opportunity to see the horse go at that age,

ballroom. They had taped a tarp on the floor and there were

they won’t buy at that age.

wires everywhere for the laptops and the live streaming, and all I

At the same time, the horses over in Europe are so expensive

could think was, ‘There’s got to be a better way to do this. Here

that most people can’t afford those made eight-year-olds

in Lexington, Kentucky, where we have probably thousands of

anymore. They need to buy five and six-year-olds. And Europe

equine practitioners, what are we doing?’

has cut its production down significantly, so good ones are

So, I built a facility that has eight wet lab stalls. They’re big.

getting harder to find. And then you have to ship them over.

They have electrical outlets in the front and back of the stall, and

Yeah, if you can find them, you can’t even afford them and then

all the floors are covered in this product called Padenpor Equine

you have to pay to ship them. We’re trying to make it so you’re

Flooring (a terrific nonslip product that they use in vet clinics). Then

really better off shopping for a horse here in the United States.

I built a stadium style seating lecture hall with electrical outlets at

56

each seat for laptops, cell phones, etc. I put Padenpor and drains

To that end, you’ve been working to make showing

in the floor, and projector screens on the wall. I have a separate

more affordable? Ultimately, I’m trying to make breeding

room for the live streaming so there are no cords or wires around

more affordable. I’m a partner in the Winter Equestrian Festival

where the horses will be. Then there’s a ramp that leads from a

(Wellington, Florida) and the Tryon International Equestrian Center

sponsor area into a ballroom. The first quarter of that ballroom is

(Tryon, North Carolina), so I know that costs are high. But, there

Padenpor so you can bring the horse right into the ballroom for

have to be ways to bring these costs down or at least make

demo’s and not mess up the carpeting. I even put in a catering

them not always land on the owner/breeder. For instance, drug

kitchen so you can plug in the catering carts and a little bar. The

companies or equipment companies profit immensely on horse

whole thing is all set up for an equine conference. I had ISELP

sport. If they want to survive and thrive, they should start giving

come this year and their reviews were excellent.

back. Feed companies, for instance. My feed bill is stupid! It’s

Select Breeding Services, Kentucky Equine Education Project,

expensive, so how do we get some of that back from the feed

Hagyard’s, University of Kentucky, and Rood and Riddle have all

company? I’m not trying to put them out of business, but we look

contacted us about bookings, so it turns out I built a facility that

for sponsorship for some of the young horse shows, things of that

was really needed. I just figured it out because I was walking the

nature to help decrease what it costs people to bring their baby

damn horse through the Embassy Suites kitchen. But here’s the

horses to a show where they get the exposure, evaluation, and

important part of that… I can charge for this. And, I can now go

education that comes from being in a show like that. I guess I’m

to Padenpor or some other company and say, “You can further

trying to use my knowledge of the sport to try and tweak it so that

market your product here at Spy Coast.” I’m monetizing my brand

breeders and trainers of young horses aren’t carrying so much of

and Spy Coast has become an influencer, but we’re helping the

the financial burden—so it’s not cost prohibitive to get their young

equine industry at the same time by providing a useful facility.

horses out there in front of people.

You’ve also been working to promote a young horse

My last question is a big loaded question: How do you think

American warmbloods compare to European warmbloods?

Very, very favorably and I know this because I’ve had a number of Europeans who have come over and either looked at my horses or gone to a Young Horse Show or judged at a Young Horse Show,

LEATHERDALE FARMS: BRINGING QUALITY

and I will tell you they’re like, “Holy crap, you are producing horses

BREEDING TO THE UNITED STATES

as well as we do overseas.” There’s actually no question about that.

By Annan Hepner / Phelps Media

For the Young Horse Show Series, we typically have European

In the dressage community, both in the United States and

judges because we’re running it like the European young horse

throughout Europe, the name Leatherdale Farms is synonymous

process. We target yearlings through five-year-olds—some go

with a passion for success and horsemanship. Situated 20 minutes

at liberty, go through the jump chute, do suitability for sport on

from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Leatherdale Farms is a privately

the flat, and things like that. We’ve found that American judges

owned farm founded by Louise and Doug Leatherdale that is

haven’t had much experience judging those classes, but the

committed to providing the highest quality stallions with both

Europeans have and some of them have moved over here so it’s

classic and modern German and American Hanoverian bloodlines.

not prohibitively expensive to get them to judge. They’re adamant

Doug purchased the original eight acres of Leatherdale Farms

about the fact that the quality of the horses is as good as Europe

in 1972. In 1987, upon meeting Louise (who had little horse

now. We just don’t market them as well. Right, I was just going

experience), Doug only waited till their third date to introduce

to say that part of the problem is getting the word out. Yes,

her to one of his pregnant broodmares and Louise dove headfirst

exactly.

into the industry. The two continued educating themselves on German bloodlines by studying stallion videos. In 1993, the

Anything else you’d like to say? I would just encourage people

couple took the next step in their education by completing the

to really look at the cost of bringing horses over here from Europe

orientation course for Warmblood breeders in Verden, Germany.

and add that cost on when you consider what you’re paying for

Upon their return, their interest in dressage was peaked and

horses here. I don’t think breeders over here overcharge for their

they began to build their herd from auction sales in Virginia as

horses. I charge fair market value for a seven-year-old. Let’s say it’s

well as elite mare and foal auctions in Germany.

doing 1.40m. I charge the same as any horse that you’d buy doing

They soon sparked a lifelong friendship with Dr. Barbara

1.40m at seven years old. No matter what it cost me to produce

Schmidt, a Hanoverian breeder and equine veterinarian from

that horse, I’m not trying to recoup it on every single sale. You

Kentucky, who now plays a crucial role in their breeding

recoup it on the ones that you sell for a million, if you’re lucky

operation. Later, Doug began his decade long tenure as president

enough to breed one. Every European breeder knows that, and as

of the American Hanoverian Society alongside Schmidt, who

we get more adept at breeding here in the United States, we will

was also a long-term board of directors member and the current

come to understand that more.

executive vice president.

I think part of the reason Americans buy overseas is

As their interest continued to grow, Doug and Louise

because they want the experience of the buying trip to Europe,

continued to delve deeper into the Hanoverian industry, gaining

like it’s a rite of passage. I think you’re probably right

crucial expertise from their extensive trips to Germany and fully

about that, but I know more than a few people who

engaging in the very selective warmblood approval process.

were hoodwinked in Europe because of their naiveté.

In his biography, High Expectations: The Doug Leatherdale

They went over there for the experience and they got an

Story by Karin Weniger, he explained, “We had ten to twelve

experience they weren’t bargaining for. Right. That is not

years of experience before we bought any stallions. [Once we

to say that doesn’t happen in the U.S., too. Of course we know

focused on purchasing stallions] we always tried to pick the best.

it does, but in the U.S. you can form a relationship with some

You may keep one because of his movement, another because

of these breeding operations. If you’re a trainer, in particular,

of who he can cross well with—the kind of things an owner and

you can get to know the breeder, and then you know their

manager gradually learn. Good judgment about horses does not

process and you can feel a lot more comfortable about buying

come overnight. People in Germany study horses for twenty,

a horse from them. I want the buyers to understand that you

thirty years or more and are part of the horse culture there so

should really give these American breeders a shot because you

when they comment favorably on our horses, it proves to us that

can know more about how the horses were brought up and

we are on the right track.”

you can ride them as many times as you like, typically. They’re

His Highness (Hohenstein–SPS Darieen, Donnerhall), the

right here! I don’t care who you buy from, I just really want you

stunning black stallion, was the first stallion they purchased at the

to start buying American.

Hanoverian stallion licensing auction in Germany in 2002. The final 57

Photo: Annan Hepner

Photo: Annan Hepner

Mike Suchanek on Hannigan L (by EH Herzensdieb).

Vanessa Creech-Terauds (CAN) riding Fleur De Lis L (by First Dance).

sale at 515,000 euros set a record price for a young Hanoverian

December 2015, the equestrian world suffered a significant loss with

stallion in Germany.

his passing on his 79th birthday. Prior to his death, the Leatherdale

“When we saw His Highness for the first time, we looked at

team collectively decided it would be a good business plan to bring

each other and said, ‘That’s the best horse we’ve ever seen,” Louise

a selection of their stallions to the U.S. to provide American breeders

said. “We had no intention of buying until we saw him. Before the

the unprecedented opportunity to breed to the acclaimed stallions.

auction I went into the stall with him and got to know him. His

They agreed that standing E.H. Herzensdieb, First Dance, Hampton,

personality was just perfect, and that’s when I knew for sure this

and Fairbanks at Dr. Schmidt’s Bridlewood Farm in Kentucky was

was the horse.”

the ideal choice, while leaving Damsey FRH in Dorum, Germany, at

With a growing team, the Leatherdales had developed a herd of

Hengststation Jens Meyer.

high performance horses, quality broodmares and premier breeding

“I don’t think we have ever had four stallions of this caliber—

stallions in three countries. They continued to add exemplary sport

proven performance, proven successful offspring—enter into the

horse stallions to their roster including E.H. Herzensdieb (Tambour–

U.S. at one time for breeding at one farm,” Dr. Schmidt explained.

Herzensfreude, Tivano), First Dance (Florestan I–SPS Dorina,

“It is an incredible opportunity for sport horse breeders in North

Donnerhall), Hampton (His Highness–SPS Red Chili, Rotspon),

America. We offer fresh cooled semen and provide a live foal

Fairbanks (Flemmingh–SPS Identify, Inselfurst), Beltano (Belissimo

guarantee. We do everything we can to get the breeder’s mares

M–SPS Heavenly, Hohenstein) and Damsey FRH (Dressage Royal–Ria

pregnant in an easy and uncomplicated way.

Grande, Ritual).

“For our breeders and riders in the U.S., it is important that we

In 2011, Doug received the Hannoveraner Verband golden

have stallions that create offspring with the highest quality gaits

badge, the only American to have received the prestigious award. In

for the professional rider along with the willingness and demeanor for the adult amateur,” she continued. “Herzensdieb, Hampton,

Photo: Kiki Beelitz

First Dance, and Fairbanks consistently produce offspring with that unique and very desirable combination of superior athleticism and talent along with exceptional trainability and rideability. Their stallions have proven successful sires to progeny who not only excel in dressage, but jumping and eventing as well.”

Leatherdale Farms also encourages breeders to take advantage of opportunities to breed to top sport horses in the U.S. by supporting stallion auctions hosted by many organizations including the Oldenburg Horse Breeders’ Society, the American Trakehner Association, the American Hanoverian Society, and the New England Dressage Association.

“It is an honor to donate to the stallion service auctions for the third year, since four of our stallions were imported to the U.S. from Germany,” Louise said. “These auctions contribute to the increase of

Louise Leatherdale with Damsey FRH. 58

exposure and education for American breeders of top sport horses.

stallions as well as our entire Leatherdale Farms team over the years.

It is a great opportunity for breeders to purchase breeding and

Our riders, performance horse managers, coaches, and grooms all

booking fees for some of the most desired stallions in the country

play a significant role in our success due to their excellent work. They

at a discounted price. Any contribution I can make that helps the

outdo themselves each year!”

industry advance is a great one in my mind.”

Driven to continue their legacy of developing dressage horses and offering premier sport horse breeding in the U.S., their team not only focuses on the breeding operation, but they also provide the highest quality training from starting young horses to competing in the international Grand Prix ring. German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg has found immense success aboard their

Q&A WITH MEGHAN DE GARAY, BREEDING

famous stallion Damsey FRH; Mike Suchanek continues his winning

MANAGER OF IRON SPRING FARM

ways developing the young horses; U.S. Olympian Sue Blinks and

EQuine AMerica: What’s Iron Spring Farm’s origin story?

Canadian Grand Prix competitors Diane Creech and her daughter,

Meghan de Garay: Iron Spring Farm started with the purchase of

Vanessa Creech-Terauds, compete the upper level North American

a Trakehner weanling named Jagdgeist in 1974. He became one

horses in Canada and Wellington, Florida; while U.S. Olympian

of the foundation stallions of the American Trakehner Association

Guenter Seidel campaigns Beltano and one of Leatherdale’s mares

(ATA). Mary Alice Malone, owner of Iron Spring Farm (ISF), raised

in California and Wellington.

and trained Jagdgeist. She brought him up the levels in dressage

“Showing for us is more about the horse reaching its potential

and eventing before he became a jumper. His purchase came

rather than winning or competing,” Louise explained. “It is the fact

about because of the lack of availability of specialized sport

that the horse can actually do it that is important, especially if we

horses in the U.S. at the time. In the early 1970s, Thoroughbreds

bred them. It’s like your kids—will they do well at a baseball game?

and Quarter Horses made up the base of American horses. The

You’d like them to win for their sake, but at the end of the day does

Thoroughbreds were mostly bred for racing, and were hot and

the winning make a difference? Not so much, especially at the baby

not always sound for other sports.

stage.

The first imports into the U.S. were Trakehners and Mrs.

“Horses are vulnerable so you don’t put pressure on them or the

Malone was interested in them because of their soundness and

rider,” Louise said of their farms’ philosophy. “You just be there for

athletic ability, especially for dressage, jumping, and eventing.

them and support them. We take them to what we hope is going to

Around the same time, the farm bought and imported Poprad.

be their potential. When you do it that way, then it is just step after

He was a two-time Olympic horse and one of the most successful

step in the dressage pyramid. It’s done for the horses and, in turn,

Trakehner jumpers of all time. He represented Poland in 18

they take us along with them. Everything we do is about the care,

Nations Cups. Another early import from Poland was Boston,

welfare, and well-being of the horse. It is all about the connection.”

a Wielkopolski approved by the North American Trakehner

Even though it’s not about winning, each year their team

Association who competed through Prix St. Georges.

averages more than 100 blue ribbons won around the world and

From the very beginning, Iron Spring Farm always intended to

earns Grand Prix CDI wins in North America, Europe, and Canada.

bring the best bloodlines to North American breeders with the goal

From championship titles at the US Dressage Finals to medals at

to improve rideability and soundness. When the German and the

the FEI North American Youth Championships, Leatherdale Farms

Dutch horses became available in the 1980s, the focus turned to

success is wide spread. In the last few years, the farm has won

those bloodlines. Mrs. Malone imported the Hanoverian stallion

multiple prestigious Adequan/USDF Dressage Breeder of the Year

Grusus and the Oldenburg stallion Grand Slam.

awards, which recognizes the impressive averages earned by their

This was followed by the KWPN stallions Winston; Roemer,

sport horses sired by their stallions. From earning a podium finish

Preferent; Sebastiaan; Consul; Rampal, Crown; and Contango,

at the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals to their youngest sport horse

Preferent among others. In the 2000s, the farm added KFPS Friesians

earning scores up to 83% during her debut season, 2019 has

to the roster with the importation of Erik 351, Sport; Goffert 369,

proven yet again to be a standout year for their team.

Sport; Heinse 354, Sport, Preferent; and Teade 392, Sport.

In addition to their own horses’ performances, Louise and Dr. Schmidt find great joy in watching how their stallions’ progeny

What is the footprint of Iron Spring Farm, as in acreage,

develop in many different disciplines including dressage, eventing,

facilities? Iron Spring Farm is a historic property located in

hunters, and show jumping. “What a joy it is to see young horses

Coatesville, Pennsylvania. It was originally a dairy farm and a day lily

meet their potential at each level they reach in the sport,” Louise

farm before transitioning to a sport horse farm in 1976. Over the

concluded. “I could not be more proud of the progeny of our

years, the farm has grown from about 150 to about 1,500 acres.

Photo: Stacey Lynn

Uno Don Deigo is an FEI winner producing top offspring like Independent Little Me (pictured), who was in the top 8 at the 2019 World Championships for Young Horses.

Much of the land on the farm and surrounding areas is protected

Chesapeake City, Maryland. We process and ship all of the cooled

from development. It is a mix of farmland and wooded areas with

semen out of our lab in Pennsylvania.

healthy streams that are part of the Brandywine Creek watershed.

After weaning in the fall, our mares live out in pastures with

We make our own hay (mixed grass and alfalfa), and bale our own

sheds until it is again time for them to come back to the main farm

straw. We also have pastures for our Birch Run beef and lamb.

prior to foaling. The weanlings move to another property as they are

Most of the farm is dedicated to the raising of horses. At the

about to become yearlings. They spend most of their time outside,

main property, we have a stallion barn, a training barn, and a mare/

but do come into the barns each night so they can be fed twice daily

foal barn. Other facilities include an indoor arena, a covered arena, an

to ensure they are receiving the right amount of nutrients. They are

outdoor arena, and a covered walker. There are many grass paddocks

also handled daily and checked for cuts, injuries, etc. This continues

around the farm, with a network of riding trails throughout so that

into their two-year-old year. As they approach their third year, they

the young horses can have a safe area with good footing to learn

come back to the main farm so they can adjust to a new routine

how to hack out.

before they are started under saddle.

Our breeding shed includes a covered area with a phantom mare, which operates on hydraulics so it can be adjusted for each stallion, plus

What is the size and scope of your breeding program?

a lab to process the semen. There are also several offices throughout

In nearly 45 years, Iron Spring Farm has handled more than 7,500

the barns for the different departments. Visitors are greeted at the

breedings. Currently, we have three warmblood stallions (Sir Sinclair,

main office, a small historic house at the entrance of the farm.

Keur; Florianus II, Crown; Uno Don Diego) and four Friesian stallions

Other facilities include a mare motel for mares who come to

(Teade 392, Sport; Tjalbert 460; Meinse 439; Brend 413, Sport) that

the farm for breeding and a rehabilitation barn. Our frozen semen

are actively breeding. We also have two retired stallions, Judgement

is frozen, stored, and managed off-site at Select Breeders Services in

ISF, Crown and Ulbert 390, Sport. We do have frozen semen from several stallions, including Consul and Contango, Preferent.

Photo: Tricia Booker

At the moment, we have six Warmblood mares and five Friesian mares. Some are broodmares and some are performance mares on which we do embryo transfers. In 2019, we had ten foals. As far as outside breeding clients, it varies, but averages around 120 per year in the last five years.

We obviously cannot keep every horse we produce. In the past we kept all the foals and didn’t sell them until they were started under saddle. Now, we’ve started offering select foals, yearlings, and two-year-olds for sale. We have found that some clients really enjoy developing their own babies, so we want to make sure we have a few offerings for them each year.

60

Judgement ISF, Crown, and Beezie Madden won the $1 million CN International at Spruce Meadows and numerous other Grand Prixs.

Photo: Stacey Lynn

Photo: Tricia Booker

Sir Sinclair, Keur, has been the #1 USEF dressage sire for the past five years. He won through Prix St. Georges and was the MarkelUSEF Six-Year-Old National Champion.

What are some accolades of horses you have produced?

Tjalbert 460 is a dressage winner producing top sport Friesians.

offering educational programs and inspections over the years.

We’ve been very fortunate that our stallions and mares have

Now breeders are much more knowledgeable when it comes to

produced wonderful horses in all disciplines and levels, including

selecting breeding stock. Even the Europeans will tell you there are

Olympic, World Cup, and World Equestrian Games competitors,

many top tier American-bred horses of the same top quality that

advanced eventers, Grand Champions at Dressage at Devon,

they see at their stallion and mare shows.

USDF Horse of the Year award winners, international Grand Prix show jumpers, international Grand Prix dressage horses, and top

What is something you wish equestrians knew about buying

hunters.

American-bred horses so that they would search for horses

That said, our favorite accolade is the feedback we get from clients. When we see how happy they are with their new horses or foals it makes our entire team proud and happy.

here instead of overseas?

It is still an ongoing process to educate buyers that they don’t have to make a trip to Europe to find a great horse. The biggest difficulty is that America is large and travel takes more time in order

A few of our homebreds:

to see a lot of horses. In Europe, the countries are small, so it is

• Judgement ISF, Crown (by Consul): won more than $1 million

easier to view many horses in a relatively short amount of time and

in prize money with Olympian Beezie Madden, represented the

in relatively close proximity. It isn’t a quality difference, but more of

U.S. at the World Equestrian Games and numerous Nations Cups,

a geography/distance problem.

won the $1 million CN International at Spruce Meadows, as well

At Iron Spring, there are a lot of advantages for buyers. Most

as 16 other Grand Prix classes at the biggest shows in the world.

of our sales horses are foaled and raised here on our farm. They

• Ovation ISF (by Rampal, Crown): winning international show

receive a well-rounded exposure from the start, including daily

jumper who competed in Europe with Olympian Markus Fuchs,

handling, grooming, clipping, bathing,

won the Puissance class at Olympia in London, clearing 7’3”, and

and regular farrier and veterinary care.

again in Rome jumping 6’8”.

We know our horses’ histories and

• Andorra ISF, Keur, Sport (by Sir Sinclair, Keur): won through

personalities from birth. Often, the sire,

Intermediate I with scores above 70, was Reserve Grand Champion

dam, and siblings are available on the

at Dressage at Devon, among other championship wins.

farm for buyers to meet. We also

• Evita ISF, Crown (by Ulbert 390, Sport): 2014 National Champion

offer complete veterinary

of the Dream Gait Friesians Driving Cup, IBOP score under harness

transparency,

of 80.5%.

goal of positive, long-

with

the

term matches for our How do you think American-bred horses compare to

clients. We want our

European imports? I think North American horses are on par

horses to go to the

with the European imports. This is due to breeding organizations

right homes.

Meghan de Garay.

61

C R O S S C O U N T RY All photos by Steve Long

CCI4*-L winner Erin Sylvester on Paddy the Caddy.

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Spectators can experience the excitement of the

Mia Farley (San Juan, CA) rode away as the Reserve

competition, view numerous demonstrations, enjoy

Champion aboard BGS Firecracker, her nine-year-

fantastic food, shopping in numerous country and

old Irish Sport Horse mare.

equestrian vendor shops, children’s activities and more.

the leaderboard after each phase for the reserve

The young rider scaled

championship to end on a 38.3.

The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship

Rounding out the top three, Jenny Caras (Cartersville, GA) piloted Fernhill Fortitude, a 15 year-old Irish Sport

Erin Sylvester (Cochranville, PA) and Paddy the

Horse gelding, to an exciting third-place finish. The pair

Caddy, Frank McEntee’s 12-year-old Irish Thoroughbred

sky-rocketed up the leaderboard after a dramatic cross-

gelding, rode to the win in The Dutta Corp./USEF

country phase and a double clear show-jumping round

CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship with a final

to end on her dressage score of 40.0.

score of 34.30. “He felt a little bit tired, but he has

62

endless heart to do the best he can when he’s in the

The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National

ring,” said Sylvester. “It’s been my goal to get this event

Championship

done and done well for a while now. We’ve hit a few

Woods Baughman (Lexington, KY) and C’est La Vie

bumps in the road during the season, so it was great to

135, the 17.2-hand Hanoverian gelding owned by Kim

put that all behind us and have a good weekend.”

and Jay Baughman, claimed the title of The Dutta Corp./

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L Champion, Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135.

CCI4*-L Reserve Champion Mia Farley on BGS Firecracker.

USEF CCI3*-L Reserve Champion and 3rd in The Dutta Corp. CCI3*-L, Caitlin Sillman on Ally KGO.

USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Champion in style ending

USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship and third

on their dressage score of 27.6. “I was so happy when we

in The Dutta Corp. CCI3*-L Eventing Three-Day.

finally made it over the last rail,” said Baughman. “I can

Silliman spent most of the competition tied with fellow

breathe for the first time since yesterday. He was a little

competitor Holly Payne Caravella (Oldwick, NJ) and eight

tired this morning, but then I took him out and rode him

year-old Holsteiner gelding, CharmKing, right up to the

first thing and he immediately snapped back and gave me

last jump. In the end, it came down to precious seconds

everything he had. When I got on him this afternoon, he

on Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course (optimum time

was just right there with me and ready to put it down.”

8:46), where Silliman finished closest at 8:45.

Reserve Champion of The Dutta Corp. CCI3*-L Eventing Three-Day went to Canadian Olympic veteran

Next Year’s New CCI5*

Colleen Loach (Dunham, QC) and Peter Barry’s seven-year-

In October 2020, the event continues its rapid elevation

old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Vermont. The two stood in

in status as the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill (CCI5*) is to be

podium position all week with three foot-perfect rounds to

held at the newly constructed Special Event Zone adjacent

end on their dressage score of 28.6.

to the Fairgrounds. The prestigious CCI5* designation is

Caitlin Silliman (Swarthmore, PA), riding the eight-

the pinnacle of the sport of Eventing and will be only the

year-old Trakenher Ally KGO, finished the weekend on her

second such event in the U.S. (seventh worldwide) with

dressage score of 29.8, earning Reserve Champion in the

this elite classification.

63

P I C TO R I A L

The beautifully lit entrance to Rebecca’s home.

HISTORIC CHAGRIN VALLEY TRAILS AND RIDING CLUB

SHARES THEIR HOLIDAY “DINNER DANCE” EQuine AMerica recently had the pleasure of attending the Chagrin Valley Trails and Riding Club’s annual holiday party, hosted by Rebecca Smith (of Rebecca Ray Designs) in her beautiful, recently renovated, historic farmhouse in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

The Chagrin Valley Trails and Riding Club (CVTRC) was

since, the CVTRC has enjoyed clambakes, pig roasts, and

born in 1946 when Irene Skuse Tripp invited approximately

breakfasts on that same polo field, and for years their main

sixteen friends with a common interest in horses to a

fundraiser was a horse show held there. As time went on,

“meeting.” If you owned a horse and had $5 you could join

the number of shows dwindled, but hunter paces and

her newly imagined club. In the early days, the group met

gymkhana events took their place. These days, the club

at different places and rode in the Cleveland Metroparks.

hosts an almost year-round calendar of events including

Families rode together with groups turning out as many as

trail rides, clinics, and educational events. The CVTRC

50 riders. The club was famous for a three-day overnight

remains highly social, encouraging family activities through

ride from the West Side up through the North Chagrin

trail riding in the Chagrin Valley.

Reservation.

64

The annual Holiday Dinner Dance began in the late

This “members club” eventually acquired for its

1960s and, while no longer a dance per se, it is still a much-

headquarters the brick farmhouse overlooking the

anticipated event today. Held at various places through the

Metroparks Polo Field where, on July 25th of 1965, the

years, the Smith Family began hosting the party out of their

first-ever North American Show Jumping Grand Prix

historic farmhouse two years ago. This year was something

was held—The Cleveland Grand Prix. In the many years

special as the family had just concluded a ten-year renovation

Photo: Steve Long

Rebecca is a collector of many things, including this mega-menagerie of tiny animals.

Photo: Carina Roselli

The dining room dressed lavishly with holiday cheer.

Photo: Carina Roselli

Rebecca’s husband Dennis warms himself by the fire in arm’s length of the tabletop charcuterie.

Photo: Carina Roselli

A table dressed for hard hot cocoa greeted guests upon arrival.

Photo: Carina Roselli

Photo: Steve Long

Guests congragated in the most beautiful room in Rebecca’s newly renovated house, the kitchen. Even the hanging lights are decorated with adorable birds’ nests of sprigs and firs.

A Percheron team offered moonlit rides over the river and through the woods around the Smith’s expansive property.

65

P I C TO R I A L Photos: Steve Long

2

1

3

1. Rebecca and one of her many show dogs, AKC Champion Hemlock Lane Skyfall (aka Clara) 2. Rebecca’s home is tucked so far back that you’d miss it if it weren’t for this sign.

3. Three of Rebecca’s girls (L-R) Ferr-Ever Hunter’s Fancy Vision (aka Moxie), Hemlock Lane Whirly Gig (aka Lilly), and Lilly’s foal MiMi.

of their property. The overhaul started with a new barn to

warm greetings and hot food prepared by Rebecca’s

house their herd of fancy Percherons, continued on to

longtime friend and fellow Percheron enthusiast, Jim

convert the home’s original barn into a large guesthouse, and

Linhart of Lemon Falls Café/Marketplace in Chagrin Falls.

culminated in the massive renovation of their own home.

To fully round out the winter wonderland, a team of black

For this year’s party, the newly reborn house was

Percherons from Kellie and Sam Rettinger’s Whispery

dressed to the nines with holiday cheer, including

Pines Farm was on hand to carry guests over the river and

countless wreathes and seven Christmas trees decorated

through the woods around the Smith’s expansive property.

with antique ornaments. A hard hot cocoa stand greeted

Wrapped up in blankets staring up at the night sky,

guests on the porch before entering the house full of

strangers became friends and friends became family.

Rebecca’s beautiful farmhouse comes with a bit of history. Famous Cleveland Architect, Michael Benes, of the firm Hubbell and Benes, designed Rebecca’s historic home for himself in 1921. Hubbell and Benes are best known for designing the world famous Cleveland Museum of Art, the West Side Market, and several projects with Louis Comfort Tiffany (stained glass artist and designer of “Tiffany” lamps).

66

HUNTER/JUMPER

The 2019 ASPCA Maclay Equitation Championships competitors

NATIONAL

HORSE SHOW

68

2019 marked the 136th year of the National

Foundation National Horse Show 3’3” Equitation

Horse Show. The event, which is one of the most

Championship, Taylor Harris Insurance Services

revered and storied horse shows in America, added

Adult Equitation Championship, Boggs Hill KHJA

to its rich history and tradition by displaying top

National Horse Show Equitation Championship and

professional, amateur, and junior competition

the $225,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping

within

the

Lexington. With the help of initiatives like the

Kentucky Horse Park. The National Horse Show

Junior Leadership Committee, which held events

offered over $700,000 in prize money as an FEI

to promote healthy camaraderie among junior

CSI4*-W

classes

athletes, the National Horse show made sure that

included a $50,000 Hunter Classic, the ASPCA

its legacy is secure and is looking forward to a

Maclay

healthy future in the years to come.

its

home,

the

designated Equitation

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

Alltech

event.

Arena

Headliner

Championship,

the

at

Hamel

NATIONWIDE AND WORLDWIDE Proudly serving all major airports and FBOs

Brian Moggre and MTM Le Vevre after winning the $225,000 Longines FEI Grand Prix of Lexington.

Photo: Georgie Hammond / Phelps Media Group

NATIONAL HORSE SHOW Photo: Georgie Hammond / Phelps Media Group

Erin Floyd and Cleopatra’s Smile.

Photo: Georgie Hammond / Phelps Media Group

Lillie Keenan, Kent Farrington, and Dr. Jen Speisman were the panel speakers at the inaugural event.

Photo: Lenore Phillips / Phelps Media Group

Elizabeth Chenelle and Dimacho took home the top honors in the 2019 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 3’3 Adult Medal.

70

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

Photo: Georgie Hammond / Phelps Media Group

Barn Night Participants.

Photo: Emma Miller / Phelps Media Group

Recipients of the 2019 Leon Conroy Equitation Grant.

Photo: Georgie Hammond / Phelps Media Group

Ava Stearns was crowned the 2019 ASPCA Maclay Equitation Championship winner with Acer K.

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous on the cross country course.

72

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

C R O S S C O U N T RY All photos by Shannon Brinkman Photography

OCALA JOCKEY CLUB

3-DAY EVENT

The Ocala Jockey Club 3-Day Event proved to be another opportunity to showcase American-bred horses—Thoroughbreds.

Concluding with a dramatic show jumping

their weekend off with an 8.1-point lead after

finale in the CCI4*-L, the 2019 Ocala Jockey Club

scoring a 24.4 in dressage and kept it with a clear

3-Day Event (OJC3DE) did not disappoint with

show jumping round. Marilyn detailed her round:

nail biting results right to the last dropping rail.

“[Scandalous] gave me an amazing ride around. I

Rails were flying with only one double clear round

was honestly a little bit nervous; it has been a long

by Ema Klugman (AUS) and Bendigo. However,

time since I’ve gotten to go around a real course. I

with only one rail down, the Thoroughbred,

have only done two Prelims and had a couple little

Campground, ridden by Erin Sylvester (USA) took

schools. But I was coming into it thinking I am just

the win with a final score of 44.8. The pair entered

going to have to trust she knows what she is doing

the ring in 3rd place and, despite the rail in the

and she absolutely did.”

last day’s challenging course, this Thoroughbred reigned supreme.

Show jumping proved to be a challenge for the CCI3*-L competitors with only four pairs producing

In addition to being the overall winner,

double clear rounds. Arden Wildasin (USA) and Il

Campground was also crowned the Thoroughbred

Vici took the win with their double clear round to

Eventing Champion for the CCI4*-L division.

finish on a 34. They were the only pair to finish

In October, Erin won the Fair Hill International

on their dressage score in the entire division and

CCI4*-L aboard her other Thoroughbred, Paddy

started their weekend in 8th place. Arden was

The Caddy.

almost at a loss for words waiting to go into the

Erin explains why Thoroughbreds are top event

awards ceremony and reflecting on the weekend:

horses: “I am a big fan of Thoroughbreds, most of

“I still can’t believe it. It is going to be a great ride

my horses are Thoroughbreds. They think a lot, they

home. The cross-country was one of my best rounds

try really hard for you all of the time. The feeling

on [Il Vici]; I was so in the moment. He saved me

that they give you on cross-country is like nothing

in the show jumping ring multiple times, but hard

else. They want to run as long as you want them to

work and practice definitely pays off and I am so

run and when they get to the bottom of their tank

thrilled to have him.”

you can pep them up again and give them another

Il Vici was not only the overall winner, but he

wind and they just keep on trying. They are such

earned the Thoroughbred Eventing Champion

a great breed for the sport because they have the

Award. Arden shares what it’s like riding a

athleticism, the heart, and the stamina for it as we

Thoroughbred: “Riding him is very special. Every

saw on cross-country.”

single day he wants to try, it is a partnership. Having

In the CCI4*-S, cross country shook up the final

a Thoroughbred is great; they can run and they get

standings with no one finishing inside the optimum

a thrill out of running. But he is so careful and quick

time but Marilyn Little (USA) and RF Scandalous,

with his feet. I am very blessed to have my Mom

whose placing remained unchanged. They started

and Dad to be able to have him.”

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74

Arden Wildasin and Il Vici on track during the show jumping phase.

Arden Wildasin and Il Vici jumping through the OJC obstacle.

Erin Sylvester and Campground under the Spanish moss on the cross country course.

Erin Sylvester and Campground revel in their CCI4*-L victory.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS during their dressage test.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS tackle a water obstacle.

Will Coleman (USA) and Chin Tonic HS lead wire-to-

The Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event at

wire on their 24.2 dressage score to win the CCI2*-L. Will

the picturesque 950-acre OJC facility has established

said: “[Chin Tonic] was great all weekend, honestly. This

itself as a premier fall FEI event in the Southeast, with

is his first long and we have taken a long time developing

riders praising the venue’s footing, galloping tracks,

him, but I think he has a bright future. I really couldn’t be

viewing opportunities, and rolling hills reminiscent

happier with him. He did everything you could ask for.

of the English countryside. For more information visit

He is still young and he was great.”

www.OJC3de.com.

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olympians, champions, all disciplines, all the time

EQUINE NUTRITION

FEEDING THROUGH THE WINTER

By Dr. Ashley Wagner, Ph.D. Depending on where you are located, winter temperatures might require an adjustment to how you feed and manage your horses, even if you fly south for the season. I will touch on some considerations for the warm weather group, but the focus of this article is how freezing temperatures may affect how you care for your horse.

Dos and Don’ts for cold weather horse feeding:

warmth. Forage helps keep your horse warm from the inside out.

Do:

• Consider supportive products based on the quality

• Forage first.

and quantity of your forage source.

The first rule in feeding horses, regardless of climate,

For example, most feed companies sell a hay stretcher,

is FORAGE FIRST. However, pasture is limited to non-

which is a high fiber pelleted product with vitamin and

existent during the winter depending on your location and

mineral fortification meant to partially substitute hay

management practices during the winter months. So, what

when quality or quantity is limited. Other options include

do you do? Supplement your forage source beyond pasture.

supplements that are designed to enhance nutrient

Alternative forage sources may include long stem hay,

digestibility from forage in horses like the scientifically

chopped hay, hay cubes, hay pellets, or soaked beet pulp.

proven Fiber-Power by Equinutrix.

• Feed additional forage.

• Supplement Vitamin E.

Forage is also the key to mitigating winter chills. Feeding

Reduced to no access to pasture alters Vitamin E intake.

additional forage creates more internal energy, and therefore,

Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that is also crucial for muscle

health. Although abundant in fresh grass, Vitamin E is lacking in hay. A number of commercial feeds supply added Vitamin E, but examine your feed tag for the

• Warm your water.

Warmer water will encourage better water intake than water near freezing temperatures.

amount and source of Vitamin E. Natural sources of Vitamin E are ideal, as this is the more bioavailable form.

There are a number of natural Vitamin E sources available in supplemental form, including Equinutrix’s Paradox.

• Record water intake!

Tally your horse’s daily water intake. A typical mature horse is expected to consume 5 to 10 gallons of water per day.

• Feed a balanced diet.

It is easy to offer too few vitamins, minerals, and

• Consider calories.

protein, or feed them in improper proportions. If

Calorie requirements may increase in order to

you are unsure how to balance your horse’s diet,

generate heat. It is estimated that the average horse

consult a nutritionist or your veterinarian.

will need about 25% higher energy intake during the coldest winter months. If you aren’t sure how many

• Monitor your horse’s hydration state.

Try the gum or skin test to determine capillary

calories your horse is consuming, consult a nutritionist or your veterinarian.

refill, a strong indicator of hydration status in horses. Consider a well-balanced electrolyte

• Ensure your horse has access to salt.

supplement that replaces the electrolytes lost in

If palatability of electrolytes becmes an issue,

sweat. The biggest losses due to sweat are sodium,

consider a free choice salt block or paste electrolyte

chloride, and potassium. Some commercially

alternatives.

available electrolyte supplements also contain sugar to enhance palatability. Because many

• Feed under shelter.

horses have metabolic disorders that may limit

Place hay, feed, and water in a sheltered area if

the amount of sugar in their diets, be aware of

the horse is kept outdoors. Make sure to assess the

the added sugar in the electrolyte you choose.

size of your sheltered feeding area and herd dynamics.

EQUINE NUTRITION

“

“

RAMP UP YOUR HORSE’S EXERCISE LEVEL SLOWLY. WHEN INTRODUCING EXERCISE IN WARMER CLIMATES, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR HORSE’S ABILITY TO SWEAT.. DR. ASHLEY WAGNER

Horses that otherwise cohabitate nicely in open spaces

It is our way of comparing apples to apples, so to speak.

may compete for feed or hay if they are in a confined space, leaving those lower in the pecking order without

• Don’t forgot blanketing (some horses) just

enough resources.

because you didn’t clip them.

Blanket your horse if his body condition is a concern

• Perform regular under-blanket inspections.

even if you have not body clipped them.

Take blankets off and regularly assess your horse’s condition to monitor for winter weight loss.

• Don’t use a traditional bran mash on a daily basis to increase water intake.

Don’ts: • Don’t rely on streams or ponds.

Natural water sources your horse drinks from during the warmer months may freeze and make water

Wheat bran is high in phosphorous, which may cause problems due to an imbalance in the delicate Ca:P ratio if fed on a daily basis. Wheat bran is also not a laxative and may cause hindgut upset or microbial dysbiosis.

unavailable.

• Don’t reduce feed concentrate intake just because • Don’t limit forage supply.

your horse’s work level is lighter during the winter.

A normal horse will consume 2% of their body

You must keep an eye on your horse’s weight and

weight voluntarily in dry matter. What is dry matter? Dry

body condition! Make feed increases or decreases based

matter is the composition of a feed/feedstuff with the

on body condition. There are now apps available to help

moisture level removed. For example, when you wet hay,

you assess body condition and weight including one by

beet pulp, or hay cubes, the weight increases compared

the University of Glasgow, “Equine Body Conditioning

to the dry weight. Nutritionists discuss feed in the form

Scoring,” and Regents of the University of Minnesota,

of dry matter in an effort to compare it on the same scale.

“Healthy Horse-Determining a horse’s body weight.”

Please keep in mind that these apps can be great tools, but ultimately, if you need help, consult a nutritionist or your veterinarian.

Freezing temperatures do complicate feeding horses, but if you are lucky enough to travel to a warm climate during the winter months, don’t forget the following quick tips for transitioning to warm weather feeding: •..When traveling to a new region, bring some of your hay and feed concentrate in case a change must be made after arriving. Remember, all feed transitions should occur slowly over the course of two weeks.

•..Keep in mind the stress that transport and adjustment to new management or a new routine may have as stress can lead to ulcers. Consult your veterinarian if you have concerns of gastric ulcers.

•..Changes in feed may impact your horse’s gastrointestinal microbiome. Consider a gut health supporting supplement; keeping in mind the goal of the product and the area of the digestive tract that you are

Equinutrix Nutrition Solutions

is dedicated to creating products with scientific evidence of efficacy to promote overall health and well-being of horses from the inside out.

concerned with. Many products that are tailored for the stomach do not have the capabilities to reach the hindgut.

If you are unsure, consult a nutritionist or your veterinarian.

•..Ramp up your horse’s exercise level slowly. When introducing exercise in warmer climates, pay attention to your horse’s ability to sweat. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you perceive your horse sweating differently or not at all.

•..Keep an eye on hydration. Remember, horses should consume between 5 to 10 gallons of water per day with 82% of drinks occurring within 3 hours of feeding.

In all cases, if you are concerned with your horse’s health, body condition, or dietary changes, consult a nutritionist or your veterinarian.

Gut Health

Muscle Health & Repair Metabolism

Insect Control

Coat & Conditioning

Stress Management

All of Equinutrix Nutrition Solutions products are show and competition safe.

www.equinutrixnutrition.com

DRESSAGE All photos by Hoof Print Images

Lindsay Kellock (CAN) on Sebastien, winner of FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle.

Dressage at Devon 2019

Bigger and Better Than Ever For more than 40 years, Dressage at Devon (www.dressageatdevon.org) has brought something new and fresh to each show, adding classes, bringing in new exhibitions and new vendors, and creating an experience that is always a crowd pleaser. This year, due to our fantastic volunteers, was bigger and better than ever.

The Largest Open Breed Show in the World The first three days of the show featured the largest

Cup with points earned at Dressage at Devon counting towards year-end awards.

open breed show in the world, attracting top breeders from near and far. Pony-only classes mirrored the breed

80

Special Events

division in-hand classes. To support this effort, Dressage

• More than 50 items were on display at the new

at Devon partnered with the National Dressage Pony

Silent Auction. Featured was an original oil painting by

Ladies Hat Day has been a show favorite for years. This year men and children were invited, adding to the excitement!

Friendship Team Vaulters.

Lendon Gray (center), founder of Dressage4Kids, joined the Dressage Explorers on Sunday.

Dutch Harness Horses are a welcomed new addition to the DaD Breed Show.

Shown here is Montour with David Fisher.

local artist, William Ewing, in a custom frame hand carved

• Saddle design expert and owner of County Saddlery,

by his wife Mary.

• Ladies Hat Day, a long time tradition at Dressage at Devon, was bigger and better then ever. The Country Twist theme was enjoyed by the ladies and, for the first time, men and children participated as well.

Gene Freeze, worked through the front, seat, and back of the saddle, explaining precisely how the saddle should be positioned.

• Suzanne DeStefano’s presentation emphasized the need for building sensory awareness both on and off

• The new Diamonds, Denim, and Dressage followed

the horse. “If you can’t get a clear sense of how you’re

Hat Day with live music and gourmet southern style food.

moving, you can’t get a sense of how your horse is

A great start to a new tradition!

moving,” she explained.

Emphasis on Education

Saturday Night Under the Lights

In keeping with the educational mission of Dressage at Devon, Saturday morning focused on education.

• Nancy Williams’s presentation “Mr. Ed Goes to Law School” covered key ideas about equine insurance.

While all of Dressage at Devon is about top riders and their equine partners, Saturday night is truly special and the Canadians made a sweep of it.

The FEI CDI3* Grand Prix Special was all about

81

DRESSAGE

Gjenganger, a 3-year-old Danish Warmblood mare owned by Alice Tarjan, was named Grand Champion of the 2019 Dressage at Devon Breed Show.

Markey the occassional unicorn was a big hit with the Dressage Explorers.

top performances, and Jacqueline Brooks (CAN)

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

took top honors on Westwood 5 (Wolkenstein II x

It’s not often that you see children at a dressage show.

Lindenbluete), a 12-year old Hanoverian with a score

But in 2016, the team at Dressage at Devon created

of 68.426. She was followed by Jessica Jo Tate (USA)

Dressage Explorers to create a great experience for

on Faberge in second place, and Michael Pineo (USA)

children. Dressage Explorers delighted kids with activities

on Farrington in third place. And then, under the lights,

including a ride down the Centerline on decorated stick

Lindsay Kellock (CAN) and her mount Sebastien won

horses, a Selfie Scavenger Hunt, a visit with Markey the

the Grand Prix Freestyle CDIW, followed by Brittany

Unicorn, and a special visit from Lendon Gray, founder of

Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) and All In in second place and

Dressage4Kids. A great end to a great show!

James Koford (USA) and his equine partner Adiah in third place.

82

Shopping is a spectator sport at Dressage at Devon. Unique boutique shopping for the equestrian and nonequestrian alike.

Dressage at Devon 2020 will take place September 22 – September 27 at the Devon Horse Show Grounds in Devon, PA.

a better world for horses, pets and people.

www.marsequestrian.com

SHOW JUMPING

Photo: ESI Photography

Adrienne Sternlicht on Bennys Legacy.

ADRIENNE STERNLICHT

IN THE DESERT WITH NEW PARTNER A New Horse

is not a phenomenon I’m used to. That changed the way that

On November 9th, Adrienne Sternlicht had traveled west

I worked the horses in the morning. I tried to be cognizant of

from Greenwich, Connecticut to Thermal, California’s Desert

the way the heat would affect my horse, and get on when I

International Horse Park to compete her new Oldenburg, Bennys

was eight or nine horses out, with a lot more walking than

Legacy (Lupicor x Voltaire), in their biggest show yet. After only

cantering. That’s how the heat played into my preparation.”

partnering together for just over a month, the pair captured the

She also said the bay gelding reacted to the afternoon

$100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at the CSI3*-W level.

light: “I think the first round rode about two holes bigger

With a time of 39.59 seconds in the jump-off, she bested four

for me than it was, because my horse is so electric with the

other top riders: Adam Prudent (USA), Keri Potter (USA), Jenni

shadows and the time of day. I tried to ride a smooth round

McAllister (USA), and Ben Asselin (CAN).

and take advantage of his stride—to take time where I needed

Though new to each other, both horse and rider have years of

and challenge him in the few places where that worked.”

experience at the top levels. With her longtime partner Cristalline, Adrienne was on the Gold Medal U.S. team at the 2018 World

A New Day

Equestrian Games and placed 11th individually. For his part, Bennys

About the jump-off, she said, “This jump-off played better to

Legacy won many big prizes at FEI shows throughout Europe under

his strengths than the other day. He’s a horse that’s not particularly

Irish rider Jenny Rankin. But this is still early days for their partnership:

used to going fast. He’s incredibly careful.” She was referring to

“This was my third show and third jump-off with him,” said Adrienne.

the $40,000 Desert Classic FEI held two days earlier on November

In October she showed in Tryon, NC and Columbus, OH.

7th. “I had several long runs [on the 7th], and I felt my horse was a little bit disoriented by the pace that I had. Today, I was able to

A New Environment

84

use his stride to my advantage. I did one less stride from fence 1

To combat Thermal’s 90-degree temperatures, Adrienne

to 2 than the other riders, did the turn-back to that vertical, and

had to adjust her riding. “I was seeing stars a little bit, which

hammered on to the last nine, which I think was one less than the

Photo: ESI Photography

Photo: Charlene Strickland

Catherine Tyree on BEC Lorenzo.

Keri Potter on Ariell le Sirene.

Photo: Charlene Strickland

Jenni McAllister on Escada VS.

Adam Prudent on Baloutinue.

other riders. In that sense I think it was a nice jump-off for me. I felt

a foal auction in 2008, and died later that year. Adrienne added,

like I could take risks in places, but also be conservative in places

“He was produced from yearling age up until his eight-year-old

where I needed to hold his hand.”

year by Benny’s sister [Jessica Kuehnle]. It’s a really special story.

My groom and manager Emma Chapman was there that night

A New Year

with Benny before he died. For her, when I got the horse, it was

“This win is huge!” said Adrienne. “The past two or three years, I

a bit emotional. Thursday, I believe that was the anniversary of

loosely aimed for the World Cup Final. The end of the year is hard for

his death.” Thursday was the day of the Desert Classic, which

me as a rider—I put a lot of pressure on myself.” She mentioned part

Adrienne almost won (43.43 sec in the jump-off).

of the pressure is Cristalline being sidelined, and some anxiety about

“The horse is a special character, and those who knew Benny

competing others. “In the past I felt I choked a bit in the qualifiers.

say that he reminds them a lot of him. I think the horse knows

Now, two years later, I feel I have a bit more experience and can handle

he has something special. He loves people. He’s a ham—very

the pressure. I’ve had a bit of four-fault-itis, and I knew if that were to

gentle and sharp. He’s mesmerized by everyone about him. He’s

end, it would be with this horse. He is probably the sharpest horse that

a trier. He wants me to help him to be aggressive and to support

I’ve ridden. I’m very happy to have him in my group.”

him.”

Adrienne trains with McLain Ward, who was currently across the

Adrienne followed her California win by taking her second

country competing in Canada. They’d planned for her to prepare

qualifier on November 16th—the $100,000 Longines FEI

solo for Thermal. “McLain gives me a lot of confidence to prepare

Jumping World Cup Las Vegas.

on my own,” said Adrienne. “The two grooms I have here know me

Other top-placing Americans in the Desert International

and my horses inside and out. As a rider I’ve grown a lot from these

Horse Park’s $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup

experiences of being on my own.”

CSI3*-W included: Keri Potter on Ariell la Sirene, 2nd place

A Real Legacy Bennys Legacy was named in memory of his previous owner, Benedict Kuehnle. The young Irish rider bought the Oldenburg at

Adam Prudent on Baloutinue, 3rd place Jenni McAllister on Escada VS, 4th place @deserthorsepark #deserthorsepark #ridethermal 85

MAKING THE TRANSITION:

HUNTER/JUMPER TO PARA DRESSAGE USEF Silver Para Coach Lisa Hellmer Interviews Para Dressage Rider Veronica Gogan Lisa Hellmer: Please introduce yourself to us!

Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. During my junior

My name is Veronica Gogan. I am 32 years old, a wife,

year, I received the Lauren Burns Sportsmanship Award.

and mother of two boys. I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I

During that time, I lost my two horses about 18 months

ride a wonderful American warmblood stallion, Glenord’s

apart; one to a bloat rupture and the other in a trailering

Christopher Robin, who’s 26 and going strong on his

accident. I purchased an Amateur-Owner eventer-turned-

umpteenth career as a para dressage horse.

hunter who was incredibly talented, but also very, very strong willed. We had a bad crash in 2009 which raised

Tell us about your riding career before para dressage?

doubts about the safety of my continuing to ride.

My love of horses began at age five, on a dude ranch in Arizona. My parents finally caved and got me some riding

86

What caused you to become a para rider?

lessons. On a slaughter rescue pony, I started showed in

I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 2004

the hunter ring locally in northern Virginia. I was a capable

at the age of 17. As the MS progressed, I began to suffer

rider who often found myself infatuated with the most

from fatigue, vision loss, weakness, and drop foot. In 2007,

ornery pony in the barn. As I transitioned from ponies to

I developed spasticity that caused my right foot to rotate

horses, I was dedicated to being my best in the saddle

in and point down. Initially, splinting and taping my ankle

and as a horsewoman. I worked hard to earn time in the

managed the spasticity, but over time it worsened and

saddle; mucking stalls, feeding and turning out horses, and

greatly interfered with my riding. A nerve-release surgery

cleaning tack were the currency by which I was able to ride

was unsuccessful in improving the spasms in my lower right

and show. I found opportunities on horses as I brought

leg. My 2009 crash resulted in selling my Amateur-Owner

along a yearling and six-year-old, whom I eventually showed

prospect to look for something safer. In the meantime, I

in the hunters.

took sidesaddle lessons on a retired jumper for about a year

In college at George Mason University, I was the president

before that was too difficult as well. In 2014, I decided to

of the equestrian club and rode in the Open division in the

hang up my stirrups. I had decided horses would always

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

PA R A D R E S S AG E

be a part of my heart, but I would just have to love them

hunters, jumpers, fox hunting, being a lesson horse,

from the ground.

driving, and now para dressage. My trainer, Ann-Louise Markert, owns him now. For many years, she kept Robin

Can you tell us a little about your disability and how

during his “off season” while his mares were foaling.

it affects your daily life?

When his then-owner passed away, she willed him to

Multiple sclerosis is “a disease of a thousand faces”

Ann-Louise.

and affects everyone a little differently. Balance, fatigue,

I actually first met him in 2006 when my college

and spasticity are my biggest challenges. I am affected on

equestrian team moved barns and ended up at the same

my right side more severely than on my left. The spasticity

place as Ann-Louise. I rode him in hunters and equitation

is velocity-dependent; as my lower-body large muscle

for a few months in 2007, but then our lives split and we

groups work faster and harder, they become more rigid.

met back up again in the fall of 2018 to start riding para.

Proprioception (one’s awareness of their body in space) and

He is a bit of a local legend. At our second show in

faulty sensory input both contribute to my poor balance.

2019, the show secretary rushed after me and asked if it

At home, we have the furniture arranged so I can “wall

was indeed Glenord’s Christopher Robin. I nodded and she

walk” or “furniture walk” around the house. I love to cook,

giddily told me that she has one of his babies. At our local

play with my kids, and to entertain at home. For community

Dover Saddlery, I was checking out and the saleswoman

living, I rely on my mobility scooter or canes. I have a lift

told me that her granddaughter had learned to ride on

on the back of my van and the boys and I go just about

Robin many years ago. His big forelock and gentle giant

everywhere thanks to my arsenal of assistive devices.

demeanor are hard not to love.

At the barn, my scooter and I go just about everywhere too! I groom, tack up, bathe, turnout, and feed Robin.

Robin has never seemed bothered by my scooter and the

What was your initial transition to para like?

In

October

2017,

I

attended

the

Washington

other horses in the barn have grown quite fond of me as

International Horse Show. WIHS is an annual tradition,

“the peppermint lady” and tolerate the wheels that come

something I have attended every year for close to twenty

with the peppermints.

years (except the year I missed it for my honeymoon!)

There was a group from a local therapeutic riding program

Tell us about Robin.

in the handicap box. We chatted and shared stories,

Robin is a 26 year-old American warmblood stallion.

compared scooters, and admired therapy dogs. One of the

His career highlights include eventing, equitation, show

ladies insisted I come try therapeutic riding and that it was

Veronica and Robin warming up for 3’ Adult Equitation Medals at Fox Chase Farm, Middleburg, VA in 2007.

87

Veronica’s first therapeutic riding session at Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center, January 2018.

better than not being in the saddle at all. In January 2018, I

about rewarding the correct reaction, we seem to muddle

started a session of therapeutic riding.

through just fine.

Mounting was so incredibly awkward. Fortunately, they

He is an incredibly clever animal, dead honest, and as

had mounting platform that I could roll up with my scooter.

safe as a horse can be—all this has made our transition

It took four people, but I managed to get on! Magical

really fun and very rewarding. He loves coming to work and

doesn’t even begin to capture the feeling! The power,

has an enormous work ethic. At horse shows, he wants all

the independence, the swing – nothing can replace that

the limelight on him. I feel so privileged to be his rider and

feeling. Before my first trip around the ring, I knew horses

I’m so grateful to Ann-Louise for sharing him with me. At

were back in my life and before the end of that first session

26, walk-trot work is just the right amount of work for him

of rides, I knew it had to be more than just a weekly ride.

and he’s teaching me every day. We’re just the perfect fit

I quickly learned about para dressage as a discipline,

for one another.

something I had never even heard of. I had dabbled in dressage and even showed in some local schooling shows,

How is para dressage different from your riding as a

but never considered myself as a dressage rider.

hunter/jumper? How have you been able to blend the two?

88

What was it like transitioning Robin to para dressage?

Being comfortable with a horse under you is learned

He has been a dream transitioning to para. He doesn’t

in any discipline. Developing a relationship on the ground

seem to mind my scooter one bit and is always a gentleman

which translates to being on their backs is interdisciplinary

at the mounting block. In the beginning, we had some “lost

too, but the depth of the “dressage conversation” with

in translation” moments. For instance, how to get lateral

my horse is unlike anything I ever had while riding in the

work? I had spoken with another para rider who said she

hunter ring. The exactness of the dressage discipline makes

thinks about lateral work as pulling them over with her

my previous riding seem vague and generalized. Even the

shoulder rather than pushing over with the lower leg, so we

minutia of the equitation ring is dwarfed, in my opinion, by

tried it. He would offer me things. Like, do you mean more

the precise riding demanded by dressage. Somedays I find

turn? Lean? Sideways? BINGO! And as long as I’m diligent

the mental aspects of dressage more exhausting than the

| EQUINE AMERICA MAGAZINE

PA R A D R E S S AG E

riding itself. For me, this is the biggest difference between

competition). There were two classifiers who shared lots of

hunters and para dressage.

information about the exam that day and the classification

I showed Robin in equitation when I was in college.

process. The classification itself is kind of like a physical

He was always a wonderful horse to ride. He was well

therapy evaluation. There are several exercises starting at

educated, careful, and correct. He would go correctly

the head, working down the neck, arms, hands, torso,

when ridden correctly. Now that we are doing dressage,

hips, legs, and feet. They test balance too. They scored

I am in awe at how particular he actually is. If I apply an

each part of my body and gave me a rider profile number

aid at the wrong footfall, he won’t leg yield or if I shift my

(there are a few dozen of these). These profiles are then

weight differently when turning left versus turning right,

grouped into the classification grades.

our 90-degree turns don’t match. It is incredible to me.

The classification isn’t official until it’s reviewed and the

And I believe the difference is that I used to ride him by

official classification card is sent from the US Equestrian

strides, not by footfalls.

Federation. A few weeks passed and I received a Grade IV classification. This was surprising as we had expected

What grade are you as a para rider?

In November 2019, I was classified as Grade II.

a lower grade (the lower the grade classification the higher degree of disability). A few months later, I rode at a para clinic and was encouraged to seek reclassification.

What was it like getting classified?

Getting classified into the correct grade was arduous!

This came to fruition in June 2019. It was a very similar procedure and I recently received my Grade II classification.

I went to my first classification in April 2018 at a World Equestrian Games test event at Tryon International

What is your show experience so far? What was

Equestrian Center during a CPEDI (an FEI-level para dressage

that like entering a dressage arena in a totally new discipline?

Robin and I have been to two schooling shows together in 2019. Now that I am classified, we have several schooling shows and recognized shows on the calendar for 2020. I always loved to be in the show ring, and loved every second of getting back in there. The feedback from a dressage test is so actionable, and taking the score sheets home to get to work was so empowering. I am extremely excited to have Grade II para tests to show starting in 2020.

What are your next steps as a para dressage rider?

What are your goals?

This year, we want to get some scores to give us some direction and feedback on what we need to work on.

Robin and I have an amazing relationship and we both like to work hard. The reality is, he is an older guy and we will be looking for a new mount to transition to in the next 1224 months, or whenever Robin wants to retire. Someday I’d love to compete with an American flag on my arm, to represent the United States and the para community.

Mostly, I want to be well-enough to keep riding, strong enough to keep improving, and to be able to love horses from the ground and the saddle.

89

Photo: Equinium

Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Kraut on Confu competing (and winning) the Turf Tour Grand Prix, hosted that week at Black Watch Farm.

90

SHOW JUMPING

By Holly Johnson/Equinium Sports Marketing

THE WELLINGTON TURF TOUR:

A HORSE SHOW FOR THE HORSE Imagine that a horse could create its own perfect horse show. Imagine the horse’s preferences: an idyllic setting, perfect footing, ideal experience. Based on our knowledge of equine instincts and sense of horsemanship, most would think a horse would like wide-open spaces.

Springy, all natural turf footing under hoof. A warm sun and cool breezes. A relaxed atmosphere. Complimentary carrots at the in-gate.

Now add its rider’s preferences into the mix,

competitor friendly horse show, maybe in the

and you merge that perfect horse’s horse show

world. Organized and produced by The Ridge’s

with beautiful venues, gorgeous jumps, friendly

co-founders,

staff. A selection of classes catering not only to

George d’Ambrosio, the Turf Tour is a far cry

green horses and riders, but also to those looking

from the cramped, chaotic show grounds that

for a challenge. Flexible schedules allowing

have become common place, yet its venues are

riders to show when they please. Complimentary

hacking distance from the winter season’s most

breakfast and lunch. Generous prize money.

prestigious and highly decorated equestrian

And, perhaps most importantly, entry fees that

events.

don’t break the bank.

Olympian

Nona

Garson

and

Nona & George’s lifetime of experience at the

Believe it or not, the horse and rider’s

highest levels of equestrian competition drove

perfect horse show exists in Wellington, Florida,

their passion for a show designed for the horse,

right down to the affordable classes and

with amenities to keep the humans equally

complimentary refreshments, including carrots

happy. Their weekly Turf Tours take place every

at the in-gate.

Wednesday through Friday from January through

The Ridge at Wellington’s rated Turf Tour

March. The venue changes each week, offering

jumper series was created to be the most

fresh experiences and locations. Weekly classes

91

Photo courtesty of Nona Garson

Photo: Equinium

SHOW JUMPING

1 1: George d’Ambrosio reviewing the course with grounds crew manager Charlie Hooker.

2: Nona Garson and Rhythmical at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

2

92

range from the .80M all the way up to the $5,000 1.30M

and To-Kalon Farm are just a shortlist of prior venues,

Rising Star Classic and $15,000 1.40M Turf Tour Grand

with many returning to host the 2020 Turf Tour season.

Prix. All of the classes are held on grass or all natural sand

Just riding at these spectacular destinations would be

footing. Complimentary refreshments, snacks, drinks,

surreal for most equestrians. The Ridge at Wellington’s

horse treats, and lunch are served each competition day,

own home farm, which houses their own boarding

and open to everyone from the riders and owners to

and training center, doubles as a venue and recently

grooms and spectators. The surreal event even includes

underwent an expansion of their grass Grand Prix field

adult amateurs competing ringside with Olympians, and

and warm up area to better host Turf Tour events.

offers a dynamic platform for the development of the

“We’ve really gone above and beyond to make this

young horse or green rider and a refreshing change of

an incredible experience for competitors,” said George

pace from the classic horse show vibe.

d’Ambrosio. “Our arenas see everyone from leadline

“We created the Turf Tour, and all of our events,

competitors to Olympic Gold Medalists. In terms of

with the horse as the first and foremost consideration,”

convenience, affordability, and overall experience, the

said Nona Garson, who rode her spectacular Latvian

Turf Tour is one of the most unique and exceptional

gelding Rhythmical for the United States at the 2000

equestrian events in Wellington, if not the United States.

Sydney Olympics. “Riders should be able to show without

Our goal is to provide a platform for people and horses

stress, without massive expense, and in an environment

to really enjoy the sport.”

that is conducive to their partnership with the horse.

During the Wellington season, The Ridge also hosts

Horses shouldn’t feel cramped, rushed, or stressed when

weekly US Equestrian Federation equitation shows,

showing; it should be a positive experience for everyone.”

National and International Hunter Derbies, and schooling

The Turf Tour’s venues include not only Wellington’s

shows, as well as a full circuit of rated events at their spring,

gorgeous polo fields and tropical event spaces; they’re

summer, and fall base in Asbury, New Jersey. For more

also a showcase of some of the most stunning equestrian

information on Wellington Turf Tour and all of The Ridge’s

estates in the world. Black Watch Farm, Mida Farm,

events and services, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com

Tonkawa Farm, the International Polo Club, Carben

or follow them on Facebook (@ridgeatwellington) and

Farm, Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, Polo West Estates,

Instagram (@ridgeshowjumping).

OUR WORLD

Photo courtesy of Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center

SPROUT THERAPEUTIC RIDING

AND EDUCATION CENTER Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center opened its doors in 2011, but Sprout’s roots go all the way back to 1944 when Richard Bacas contracted polio. Richard became paralyzed, but he remained a leader and entrepreneur that served his community, especially those with special needs. Upon his death in 2005, Richard’s family chose to honor his memory by creating a facility that would continue and grow his outreach.

In 2009, Spirit Farm, LLC purchased the land upon

the international regulatory agency for therapeutic

which Sprout now resides. It was soybean crops at the

equestrian activities). By that fall, Sprout was up and

time, but soon Sprout Founder and Executive Director,

running.

Brooke Waldron (then Bacas), moved onto the property and set to work building the organization from the Brooke carefully designed the fully handicapped

“hope, healing, empowerment, and recovery through

accessible facility in 2010. Also during that time,

partnerships with horses” shines through her like a guiding

Sprout

light. You can tell she has invested her whole heart into

filed

its

Articles

of

Incorporation

and

achieved its nonprofit 501(c)3 status. In 2011, they

94

Ethos When you meet Brooke in person, Sprout’s vision of

ground up.

this organization and the outstanding service it provides.

acquired horses and became a PATH Member Center

According to its mission statement, Sprout provides

(Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship,

equine assisted activities and therapies to individuals

This mechanical lift helps riders with mobility issues to safely mount their horses.

The Hippolib can attach to any saddle to provide front and back support.

seeking opportunities for growth. They’ve created a

Sprout’s staff who was struggling to properly fit

dynamic learning environment that offers recreation,

both horse and rider with the equipment they

socialization, and therapy in a safe and rewarding

each needed.

setting that’s equipped to meet the multi-dimensional needs of their students. Currently, Sprout serves 125

Horses Of course the therapy program could not exist

students each week.

without its highly trained professional equines.

Facilities

Sprout currently keeps a herd of 18 geldings of

Sprout’s facilities are set upon 27 beautiful

various ages, sizes, and breeds—everything from

acres. Of that 27, 16 acres of pasture provide

Lucky the miniature horse to Olaf the Norwegian

ample room for their hardworking horses to graze

Fjord to Cody the Oldenburg. Several horses are

and loaf around in their off time. Their state-of-

donated ex-schoolmasters from every discipline and

the-art barn boasts ten stalls, grooming and wash

most are sponsored by generous families, farms, and

stalls, a 140′ x 74′ indoor arena, a 100’ x 200’

other foundations.

lighted outdoor arena, a 1/2 mile trail, a climate

Sprout carefully selects horses that possess

controlled classroom, a therapy room, offices,

the temperament, size, and gait patterns that

and a tack room full of adaptive equipment to

promote independence, physical development, and

meet their riders’ spectrum of needs.

horsemanship in clients of all ages. While visiting,

In the indoor arena, Sprout built a fully accessible

viewing

platform

equipped

Brooke explained the importance of the horse’s gait

with

pattern for equine movement therapy, “Carefully

an electronic lift to assist riders with mobility

modulated, well cadenced equine movement offers

issues to mount their horse. In the tack room,

a highly effective means of addressing impairments

Brooke showed me an innovative device called

of physiological systems, which cannot be achieved

a “Hippolib” that connects to any saddle to

by a machine or duplicated in a clinic.”

provide front and back support and stability.

I was able to experience this firsthand when

This modular apparatus was a real upgrade for

Brooke put me in the electric lift, placed me

95

OUR WORLD

Founder and Executive Director, Brooke Waldron.

Sprout has a beautiful and impeccably clean barn.

Sprout offers both English and Western therapeutic riding.

carefully on an impeccably mannered horse’s back, and

His bio also tells riders, “Listen to Pippin’s input, and

leadlined me around the indoor arena. She demonstrated

you will become a better rider and horseperson.” That

how a horse’s walk can produce forward or side-to-

seems true of them all.

side movement depending on cadence, and how, when modulated correctly to match the rider, it can simulate the movement of the human walk in a way

Brooke is a self-proclaimed “possabilitarian” who

that stimulates the brain and activates lower body

focuses on her students’ abilities rather than their

physiological systems. “We’ve had students who

limitations. Each member of the staff shares her

cannot use their legs get off the horse and be able to

mentality, along with their love of horses and passion

stand or take steps!” Brooke told me with excitement.

for service. Together, Sprout’s team of professionals

It’s truly incredible what horses, and these expert

has over 100 years of horse experience and several

horses in particular, can do for our mental and physical

degrees, licenses, and certifications.

development. Posted to a whiteboard in Sprout’s barn

Brooke is a lifelong equestrian and a Virginia-

is a photo and short bio of each horse in the program.

licensed teacher with a master’s degree in education.

They read like résumés. Horses like Cupcake the

She is certified as an Advanced Level therapeutic riding

Caspian horse, whose bio calls him “The Party Animal”

instructor through PATH International and is a PATH

and says he “reads his riders well and provides the

International Certified Mentor, which allows her to

movement they need for their bodies.” And Pippin,

train new industry-leading professionals.

the American Quarter Horse whose bio calls him “The

96

Staff

Sprout’s

other

highly

educated

professionals

Tester” and says he’s “good at showing riders their

include Sue Schmieg, PT, DPT. Sue is a Virginia-licensed

abilities and shedding light on their areas for growth.”

physical therapist with a Ph.D. in physical therapy. She

is also certified in Level II Hippotherapy Principles by

the

American

Finally,

Sprout

offers

equine

movement

Association.

therapy as a treatment strategy (facilitated

In terms of equine education and experience,

by clinical therapists) to improve the rider’s

Sprout’s Director of Operations, Anna Koopman,

physical functionality. Equine movement therapy,

is another lifelong equestrian who transitioned

also known as “hippotherapy,” is a physical,

from

occupational,

competitive

Hippotherapy

riding

at

Mount

Holyoke

or

speech

therapy

protocol

College to competitive combined driving at very

integrated

high levels. She was recently certified to teach

plan. It uses the multidirectional movement of

therapeutic driving, which brought a whole new

the horse as a catalyst to improve muscle tone,

treatment method to Sprout’s program.

range of motion, timing, behavior, attention, stimulation,

Program Sprout offers therapeutic riding, therapeutic

into

a

comprehensive

coordination,

balance,

treatment

postural

control, communication, and cognitive/linguistic functions.

driving, and equine movement therapy. Therapeutic riding is an equine-assisted activity intended to

Support

improve the cognitive, physical, emotional, and

Richard Bacas would be immensely proud of

social well-being of individuals with special needs.

the good his legacy created and the exceptional

Riders also experience educational and recreational

service Sprout provides his community. For the

benefits that assist them in developing life skills

sustainment of their program, Sprout depends on

and reaching life goals. Sprout hosts four sessions

donors and sponsors to support their horses. Sprout’s

of therapeutic riding per year, ranging from five

donor webpage says it better than I ever could:

to fourteen weeks, where students ride weekly in private or semiprivate lessons.

At Sprout, our horses are the embodiment of hope, the fulfillment of dreams, and the opportunity

Therapeutic driving provides an alternative

for freedom in an otherwise confined world of

to riding that offers the same opportunities

disability. They have a unique gift to transform despair

for cognitive, physical, emotional, and social

into joy, confinement into ability, and isolation into

improvement, as well as education and recreation.

community. Our horses bond with people in ways that

Students interact with the horse, receive similar

change their lives forever.

horsemanship training, and learn to harness and

To donate please visit https://sproutcenter.org.

drive through teamwork. Carriages can even be

To sponsor a horse, please contact Sprout directly at

modified to accommodate wheelchairs.

info@sproutcenter.org or 571-367-4555.

97

EPILOGUE

THE NATIONAL SPORTING LIBRARY & MUSEUM The National Sporting Library & Museum in

Right now, exhibitions include “Canter

Middleburg, Virginia is a too often overlooked gem.

and Crawl,” Joan Danziger’s sculptural artistry

I myself have lived here for five years and seeing

featured earlier in this issue; “Leading the

Joan Danziger’s glass sculptures was my first visit

Field,” a collection of Ellen Emmet Rand’s

inside. I even had the editor’s photo taken in front

lifelike

of its beautiful “Civil War Cavalry Horse” statue, but

foxhunters; and “Pencil, Pen, and Brush,”

I didn’t go in. I should have; it’s marvelous.

the illustrations of Paul Brown, including the

sporting

portraits

of

well-known

Dedicated to “the rich heritage and tradition

one that inspired Joan’s piece “Flying Into

of country pursuits,” it boasts art and literature

the Wind.” And then there’s the permanent

on angling, shooting, wildlife, horsemanship,

collection, including “Still Water” the iconic

steeplechase, foxhunting, racing, polo, and

horse head sculpture, a bounty of bronzes,

carriage driving—its 20,000-strong collection

and paintings from every genre. If you have the

of

everyone,

means and opportunity, you should definitely

especially equestrians. The F. Ambrose Clark

come see it all. At the very least, add “read

Rare Book Room houses 16th-century volumes

16th-century training tips” to your equestrian

on classical equitation!

bucket list.

works

offers

something

for

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NicholasAir.com • 866.935.7771

AN ELEVATED EXPERIENCE Become a Member today and experience the benefits of flying with NICHOLAS AIR.

Personalized Experience

Every flight is customized and catered to your needs

No Hidden Fees

You will never be charged repositioning fees

Unparalleled Safety Record Over 22 years of accident-free operations

Excellent Customer Service

There’s always a friendly voice on the other end of the line

Simple Program Structure

We keep our Jet Card Program simple and cost-efficient

To learn more, visit our site or give us a call.

NicholasAir.com | 866.935.7771 All aircraft are owned & operated by Nicholas Air Inc. Nicholas Air & Innovative Private Air Travel are registered trademarks ®2019 Nicholas Air. All rights reserved.