US Equestrian Magazine by United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.

Official Magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation | Spring 2021

IN HORSE HEALTH EHV Protection Tips

HORSES IN THE CITY Urban Horsekeeping

#LRK3DE It’s Back!

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CONTENTS

FEATURES 56 #LR3DE

A championship returns

68 CITY LIGHTS

Urban horses

76 SPRING AHEAD

with our gift guide

DEPARTMENTS 6 Partners 8 Sponsors 12 Marketing/Media 14 Letter from the President 16 Snapshot 18 USEF News

26 Seen & Heard Cover: Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF clear a water obstacle at the 2019 LRK3DE. Photo: Alex Banks/US Equestrian

30 How it Works Official Magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation | Spring 2021

34 Learning Center 38 Pro Tip 42 Juniors’ Ring

IN HORSE HEALTH EHV Protection Tips

HORSES IN THE CITY

Urban Horsekeeping

#LRK3DE It’s Back!

48 Trending 452 Horse Health 84 For the Record

2 SPRING ISSUE 2021

PHOTOS: ANDREA EVANS/US EQUESTRIAN

Official Magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation

US EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE Volume LXXXV, Spring 2021 PUBLISHED BY The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. CHIEF MARKETING & CONTENT OFFICER Vicki Lowell | vlowell@usef.org EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Glenye Cain Oakford | goakford@usef.org CREATIVE DIRECTOR Candice McCown | cmccown@usef.org ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kim Russell | 859 225 6938 | krussell@usef.org DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP & SALES Layson Griffin | lgriffin@usef.org ASSISTANT DESIGNER Kate Strom | kstrom@usef.org EDITORIAL STAFF Kathleen Landwehr, Leslie Potter, Kim Russell, Ashley Swift CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Margaret Buranen, Carly Weilminster Equestrian Magazine (ISSN 1548-873X) is published five times a year: Horse of the Year Special Edition, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, by the United States Equestrian Federation®, 4001 Wing Commander Way, Lexington, KY 40511; Phone: (859) 258-2472; Fax: (859) 231-6662. (ISSN:1548-873X). NOTE: Effective Spring issue of 2018, Equestrian magazine will be published and provided electronically and only four editions will have printed copies and be provided by U.S. Mail. The Winter issue will only be provided electronically. The Horse of the Year issue will be mailed only to competing members as of the date of publication and the year immediately prior to the date of publication. USEF is not responsible for the opinions and statements expressed in signed articles and paid advertisements. These opinions are not necessarily the opinions of USEF and its staff. While the Federation makes every effort to avoid errors, we assume no liability to anyone for mistakes or omissions. It is the policy of the Federation to report factually and accurately in Equestrian and to encourage and to publish corrections whenever warranted. Kindly direct any comments or inquiries regarding corrections to Glenye Cain Oakford goakford@usef.org or by direct dial 859-225-6941. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to US Equestrian, 4001 Wing Commander Way, Lexington, KY 40511. Canadian Publications Agreement No. 40845627. For Canadian returns, mail to Canada Express, 7686 #21 Kimble Street Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5S1E9. (905) 672-8100. Reproduction of any article, in whole or part, by written permission only of the Editor. Equestrian: Publisher, United States Equestrian Federation®, Chief Executive Officer, William J. Moroney (859) 225-6912. Director of Advertising, Kim Russell (859) 225-6938. Copyright © 20120 Equestrian is the official publication of the United States Equestrian Federation, the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport in the USA, and is an official publication of USEF.

Published at 4001 Wing Commander Way, Lexington, Ky 40511 USequestrian.org

#JointheJoy Follow us on social media @USequestrian 4 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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PARTNERS Proud partners of US Equestrian

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Title Sponsor of the U.S. Show Jumping Team netjets.com

Official Vehicle & MemberPerk Title Sponsor of the U.S. Eventing Team Title Sponsor of the U.S. Driving Team landroverusa.com

Official Blanket of the U.S. High Performance Teams horseware.com

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Title Sponsor of the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final & Official MemberPerk doversaddlery.com

Offical MemberPerk Gold Level Sponsor of the Learning Center smartpakequine.com

Official Partner of US Equestrian Official Training Support Device of US Equestrian & Official MemberPerk shop.movensee.com

Official Footwear & Apparel ariat.com

Official Partner of US Equestrian marsequestrian.com

Title Sponsor of the USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program discoverdressage.com

Title Sponsor of the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team and Official Joint Therapy adequan.com

Official Pinque Coat, Tail Coat and Show Coat of US Equestrian Teams charlesancona.com

Title Sponsor of the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Program

Official Equine Air Transportation Provider

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Official Hay Steamer of US Equestrian Official Supporter of Equine Respiratory Health of US Equestrian & Official MemberPerk haygain.us

Official Helmet Supplier charlesowen.com

Official Partner of US Equestrian Title Sponsor of U.S. CPEDI Para Dressage Events perrigo.com

6 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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SPONSORS Proud sponsors of US Equestrian

Official Saddlepad & MemberPerk Toklat.com

Official Academic Sponsor upperechelonacademy.com

Official Sponsor & MemberPerk deere.com

Official Performance Horse Boot and Leg Wear equifit.net

Official Sponsor The USEF Visa Signature® Card commercebank.com

Official Equine Ground Transportation of US Equestrian salleehorsevans.com

Official Sponsor & MemberPerk smarthalter.com

Official Tack Locker & MemberPerk flexiequinetack.com

Official Ribbon Supplier hodgesbadge.com

Official Sponsor & MemberPerk ridetv.com

Title Sponsor of the National Championship for Para Dressage and USEF Junior Hunter Finals adequan.com

Title Sponsor of the USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships horseinsurance.com

Official Shock Wave Therapy Supplier of US Equestrian Team Vets pulsevet.com

Official MemberPerk bigassfans.com

Official Sponsor Title Sponsor of the Junior Jumper National Championship nsbitsusa.com

Title Sponsor of the USEF Pony Medal Championship marshallsterling.com

The United States Equestrian Federation does not endorse or recommend any commercial product or service. Therefore, designations as official suppliers of the USEF of any commercial product or service cannot be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by the United States Equestrian Federation.

8 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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SPONSORS Proud sponsors of US Equestrian

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Official Fly Control Products & MemberPerk absorbine.com

Official Jump Company dalmanjumpco.com

Official Barn Management Software & MemberPerk barnmanager.com

Official Training Treat of US Equestrian and Official Supplier of US Equestrian Teams gumbits.com

Official Sponsor Presenting Sponsor of the USEF Pony Finals honorhillfarms.com

Title Sponsor of the Bretina Cup, Junior Dressage Championship, and the Eventing Youth Team Challenge adequan.com

Official MemberPerk choicehotels.com

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10 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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MARKETING/ MEDIA Proud partnerships of US Equestrian

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12 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Equestrian Equals Community The equestrian community is indeed a community encompassing all the diversity, strength, and resilience that the word implies. In this issue, you’ll see all of those attributes on display. The 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EquestrianTM defines community spirit. After the pandemic forced cancelation of the 2020 competition, this most prestigious event returns to the calendar this month, a comeback fueled in part by eventing athletes, horse owners, supporters, and fans. You can learn more about that in our feature story about the famed LRK3DE, which also plays host to the Land Rover/USEF CCI-5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS EquestrianTM. This year’s event has had to adapt—another skill equestrians share—to meet the current environment. Although spectators will not attend the event at the Kentucky Horse Park due to the pandemic, fans watching USEF Network’s livestream will catch not one but two events, thanks to the addition of a CCI4*S competition that will run during the 2021 LRK3DE. The CCI5*-L highlights will also be broadcast on NBC and NBC Sports, showcasing one of equestrian sport’s greatest days to an audience across the country. A community can be anywhere, and equestrian communities are no different, as they can be found on rolling, open land as well as in many urban environs, yet they are all communities. In this issue’s “Urban Horsekeeping” feature, we see how equestrians are bringing horses right into the heart of some of our cities—and opening up a new world for urban-dwellers in the process. We talked to several equestrians about the unique challenges and rewards that come from that effort, as well as some practical tips if you’re thinking about starting one. In the Learning Center department, we introduce our new I Am US Equestrian video series, which launched in our online Learning Center (usef.org/learn) in March. The series is dedicated to sharing stories and celebrating our US Equestrian community in all its diversity. In these pages and in the Learning Center’s debut video, “You Can Do This,” you’ll meet adult amateur dressage rider Chandra Thurman and her half-Andalusian mare, Kassie.

14 SPRING ISSUE 2021

I had the opportunity to catch a few moments out of Chandra’s busy schedule to learn about her love of dressage and heard loud and clear about her love for her horse and equestrian sport. If you haven’t seen the video, go to the Learning Center and watch. It’s a very relatable story for so many of us. We’ve got more of these video stories in the works, so keep an eye on usef.org/learn and on our social media channels for more. We’re also debuting a new department in this spring magazine. Titled “USEF: How Does It Work?” this new column will appear in each issue. Each piece will take a behindthe-scenes look at key aspects of the United States Equestrian Federation’s work, demystifying some of the complex processes that the national governing body works on every day to serve members, promote human and equine welfare, and strengthen equestrian sport in the United States. One of the ways US Equestrian fulfills those goals is by providing information and educational resources for our members. I am excited to say that this issue offers those in abundance, and I hope you’ll agree. At a time when many equestrians are seeking reliable information about equine herpesvirus, our Horse Health column turns to Dr. Nathan Slovis of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for important practical advice to help protect your horse from EHV infection. Then page over to the Pro Tip column, where we dive into the recent 2021 Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week and discover eight helpful takeaways that apply to any equestrian, regardless of your preferred breed or discipline. I hope you enjoy these stories about equestrians being diverse, resilient, and strong, but I think you all know after managing through a pandemic that each and every one of you truly is part of that community.

Tom O’Mara President

PHOTO: TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN

Dear USEF Members,

SUPREMELY LIGHT SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE Ascent Tall

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BEATRICE de LAVALETTE and Clarc helped the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team claim top honors at the Perrigo CPEDI3* presented by Adequan and Nutrena during the Adequan Global

PHOTO: KTB CREATIVE GROUP

Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla.

16 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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USEF NEWS

US Equestrian Welcomes Perrigo as Title Sponsor of U.S. Para Dressage Competitions

Watch USEF’s EHV-1 Informational Webinar On Demand In response to outbreaks of equine herpesvirus-1 in March, the USEF hosted a webinar for members in order to provide information and educational resources about the virus. The webinar, which is available on demand at usef.org/network/coverage/2020webinar/, also answered members’ questions and provided insights about how to prepare for a potential outbreak and best practices for lowering the risk of transmission. The panelists were Dr. William Fisch, Veterinary Manager of Equine Programs from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Dr. Stephen Schumacher, Chief Administrator of US Equestrian’s Equine Drugs and Medications Program; Dr. Nicola Pusterla, Professor of Equine Internal Medicine and Dentistry; and Dr. Craig Barnett, Director of Equine Veterinary Professional Services from Merck Animal Health. 18 SPRING ISSUE 2021

Selection Memo Available for 2022 FEI Endurance World Championship US Equestrian has published a selection memo for the 2022 FEI Endurance World Championship with helpful information for potential applicants. In December 2020, the FEI Board considered a series of key decisions on allocation, cancellation, and reopening of bids for FEI Championships. The FEI Board agreed to allocate the 2022 FEI Endurance World Championship to Isola della Scala in Verona, Italy. Following this decision, the USEF Endurance Sport Committee produced a selection memo for the championship, which can be found at usef.org/ forms-pubs/l92W0Uyt8yY/2022-worldendurance-championship. This preliminary information is provided to assist athletes with their competition planning and is subject to change. Please remember that this information is based upon the recommendations of the USEF Endurance Sport Committee and is subject to approval by the USEF Board of Directors or an Ad Hoc Selection Group approved by the USEF Board of Directors when the selection procedures are compiled. Therefore, the information outlined in the selection memo is subject to change. Please contact Steven Morrissey, Project Director of High Performance Programs, at smorrissey@usef.org if you have any questions. The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.

PHOTOS: KTB CREATIVE GROUP, MARK BALDINO

US Equestrian is pleased to announce Perrigo Company plc as the new title sponsor of all U.S. CPEDI para dressage competitions in 2021 and 2022. The first of these competitions was the Perrigo CPEDI3*, which took place from March 12-14, 2021, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla., followed by the Perrigo Tryon Summer Dressage CPEDI hosted from June 17-20 in Mill Spring, N.C. “We’re proud to sponsor the Perrigo/U.S. Para Dressage CPEDI events and the elite athletes competing this season,” said Murray S. Kessler, President and CEO of Perrigo. “For athletes at the peak of their sport, casual athletes, or individuals looking to better manage their overall wellness, Perrigo is committed to providing quality, affordable self-care products that consumers trust. Our partnership with US Equestrian reflects this vision and our commitment to making lives better.” The Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team and U.S. para dressage program have achieved unprecedented levels of success in recent years, with the U.S. currently holding the top spot on the FEI Para Dressage World Team Rankings. The sport continues to grow at the grassroots level through the U.S. Para Dressage Coach Certificate Program, which has introduced new coaches and athletes to the competitive para dressage arena. “We are so thrilled to have Perrigo join us in supporting para dressage competition in the U.S.,” said Bill Moroney, CEO of US Equestrian. “The future is bright for the sport in America, and our partnership with Perrigo will help maintain this momentum to expand competitive opportunities for our para equestrian athletes.” Watch on-demand coverage of the Perrigo CPEDI3* Wellington, March 12-14, on USEF Network. Perrigo Company plc is dedicated to making lives better by bringing quality, affordable self-care products that consumers trust everywhere they are sold. The company is a leading provider of overthe-counter health and wellness solutions that enhance individual well-being by empowering consumers to proactively prevent or treat conditions that can be self-managed. Visit Perrigo online at perrigo.com.

Central Kentucky’s Horse Farms Hill & Regan Parker 859Ǧ608Ǧ8039 WWW.LEXHORSEFARMS.COM

Real Horse People Helping Real Horse People

487 Carrick Pike, Georgetown, KY A spectacular barn, on a prime horse property, and in a great location close to the Horse Park! This small breeding operation was home to 7 grade 1 winners. The main barn features an interior courtyard, shedrow with huge windows, 34 stalls, office, 3 apartments, hay storage, 2 wash stalls, and multiple feed rooms/ tackrooms/storage areas. Immediately next to the main barn is a European style covered walker. The Stallion barn has 4 additional stalls and another apartment. The main house features one floor living and is situated in the middle of the farm with 2 en-suite bedrooms. The 102 acre farm also has a base for an outdoor ring, double fenced paddocks, automatic waters, and a gorgeous building site overlooking a lake. Development rights sold with the property. $2,995,000 1901 West Lane, Nicholasville, KY Spectacular income producing equestrian estate. Prime location, breath taking panoramic Kentucky vistas on 54 acres. 100 x 200' Coverall indoor arena, 2 barns, 25 Stalls, 7 paddocks, 5 fields. Spacious Executive style home has grand entry w/soaring 18' ceilings, architectural windows, doors, custom millwork, gourmet kitchen, living room is accentuated by coffered style ceilings, a stunning stone fireplace & hardwood floors, tray ceilings in primary bedroom w/pass thru fireplace, luxurious granite, appointed bath w/jacuzzi & tiled shower w/wall jets. Spiral staircase is adorned with a Juliette balcony overlooking the gracious foyer from the second story, a large family room & three en-suite granite bathrooms, all these features are sure to complement many gatherings whether around the heated, salt water pool, gourmet outside kitchen, or fireside lounge area. 1,849,000 4487 Louisville Road, Salvisa, KY This is a gorgeous working farm w/a training track located less than 30 minutes from Keeneland. The farm sports 69 stalls in 3 barns, 2,650 square foot manager's house, covered round pen, dirt training track, turf gallop, & 10 paddocks. 97 acres of gently rolling fields & beautiful vistas w/stately trees. There are 20 platted & recorded lots that can be developed in the future or get a large tax write off by donating the lots. $1,500,000 3330 Houston Antioch Road, Lexington, KY 20 acres of level land in Fayette county. The farm features a 6 stall barndominium with an apartment. Great location approximately 2 miles from the Interstate with easy access to everything. $475,000 2051 Royster Road, Lexington, KY A gorgeous 11 acre tract that is close to town but surrounded by farms. The virtually level land has a slight rise to the rear of the property and a fairytale wooded area. The picturesque setting cannot be beat in this location. Additional land available. $269,900 USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 19

USEF NEWS

NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team Tops Podium in FEI Jumping Nations Cup Wellington CSIO4* The NetJets U.S. Jumping Team bested the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Wellington CSIO4* hosted at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla., topping a field of seven other international teams to capture their first win of the 2021 season. Finishing on a final two-round score of just a single fault, the team edged out Ireland, who completed the evening with a total of four faults for second place, and Brazil, who finished on a final score of 14 for third place. The competition served as the first team outing of 2021 and also the first opportunity for the team to test themselves in a Nations Cup atmosphere since early 2020. All eyes were focused on the young, but talented team led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, which featured Bliss Heers (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Antidote de Mars, an 11-year-old Selle Francais stallion owned by Bridgeside Farms LLC; Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) and Chansonette Farm’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding Fasther; Brian Moggre (Flower Mound, Texas) aboard Balou du Reventon, a 15-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Ann C. Thompson; and anchored by Jessica Springsteen (Colts Neck, N.J.) and Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Stone Hill Farm. “We knew coming in that we had a very young team. When your second and third riders in the order combined have one Nations Cup, it’s not much experience in the heart of the order. It was really nice and exciting,” Ridland commented after the class. “We were up against some real teams. When we saw the Irish starters, on paper that’s a really solid team. I couldn’t be more excited.” “Every time that I get to jump for Team USA, it’s my favorite competition,” rider Keenan said. “It’s something we all look forward to every year. It’s the aim, right? We plan out the year, and the high point is the chance that we get to jump for Team USA. To be able to bring home a win on home soil is thrilling. It’s what we set out to do and we had a plan. I had fantastic teammates, our Chef d’Equipe, Robert Ridland, and our manager, Lizzy Chesson; they do an unparalleled job and we are ridiculously lucky. We’re grateful to rise to the occasion.” 20 SPRING ISSUE 2021

US Equestrian is pleased to welcome Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) as the title sponsor of the Adequan® USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge. The Youth Team Challenge is a new program for 2021 and is open to eventing athletes between the FEI ages of 14 and 25 at the CCI1*, CCI2*, and CCI3* levels. Participants will have the opportunity to experience competing as part of a team and representing their region. “Adequan has supported horses and riders for more than 30 years, and we are excited to continue that legacy,” said Andy Ferrigno, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for American Regent Animal Health. “The athletes involved in this new program will shape the future of eventing and we look forward to moving ahead with them.” The Adequan USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge is modeled after the FEI Eventing Nations Cup series and includes competitions at events across the country. The series will conclude in the fall with the West Coast final at Galway Downs International in Temecula, Calif., and the East Coast final at the Tryon International Three-Day Event in Mill Spring, N.C. “Gaining team experience was integral in my ability to put forward the best performances to secure medals when it mattered most,” said Leslie Law, USEF Development and Emerging Athlete Coach. “We invite U.S. youth athletes to participate in the inaugural USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge season and become a part of creating sustainable success on the world stage for the U.S.” American Regent Animal Health, a division of American Regent, Inc., is committed to advancing animal health with proven FDA-approved products like Adequan. The company’s portfolio is anchored by the only FDA-approved polysulfated glycosaminoglycan products for horses and dogs, which have been relied on for nearly three decades by veterinarians. American Regent, Inc., a Daiichi Sankyo Group Company, manufactures and distributes human and veterinary pharmaceutical products and is committed to providing the ever-changing U.S. healthcare marketplace with a growing and diversified American Regent portfolio. For more information on American Regent Animal Health, visit ARAnimalHealth.com or call 800-458-0163.

PHOTO: TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN

US Equestrian Announces Adequan® as Title Sponsor of the New USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge

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USEF NEWS

US Equestrian is pleased to announce its continued partnership with Neue Schule, the official bit of US Equestrian and title sponsor of the 2021 USEF Junior Jumper National Championships. Neue Schule is a longtime supporter of US Equestrian, having launched the partnership in 2015. “The entire Neue Schule team is thrilled to continue our partnership with US Equestrian,” said Mette Larsen, President of Neue Schule USA. “We appreciate the relationship that helped us all weather the storm of 2020. We look forward to the future and lots of great riding.” Equestrian athletes across all sport disciplines choose Neue Schule bits for their quality materials and innovative designs that are created to meet the needs of horses and riders. Tamie Smith, Kasey Perry-Glass, Todd Minikus, Steffen Peters, Laura Graves, and Kim Severson count themselves among the brand’s ambassadors. Learn more at nsbitsusa.com. The Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships and Prix des States provide an opportunity for U.S. junior riders to compete against their peers over multiple days of competition. The Championships features both the Prix des States Team Competition, with teams fielded by Zone, and an Individual Competition. New in 2021, the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship will offer 20 additional individual invitations to athletes from the Junior Jumper National Championship standings list who have not been selected to their zone team or as the zone’s traveling reserve. For more information on the 2021 Neue Schule/ USEF Junior Jumper National Championships, please contact Erin Keating, Director of Jumping Development Programs, at ekeating@usef.org.

22 SPRING ISSUE 2021

Violet Lindemann Barnett and Picobello Choppin PC captured the 2020 Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper Individual Championship title

PHOTO: TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN

Neue Schule, Official Bit of US Equestrian, Continues Title Sponsorship of USEF Junior Jumper National Championships

USEF NEWS

Honor Hill Farms Becomes Presenting Sponsor of 2021 USEF Pony Finals

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the launch of a new sponsorship with eVet, a cloud-based, mobile-friendly data storage platform offering secure access to equine medical records, including vaccination records, Coggins, veterinary records, microchip numbers, and more. This collaboration will give US Equestrian members access to eVet’s digital services for all their horse and veterinary care documentation needs. eVet, now US Equestrian’s official digital vaccination partner, is HIPAA-compliant and requires a licensed veterinarian to enter all vaccination information, which ensures the stored data is 100% authenticated. A horse profile can include documentation of a Coggins, photo identification and passport information, and veterinary reports, which can be uploaded by the horse owner, trainer, or veterinarian. Horse owners, farm managers, and trainers can easily create multiple accounts to keep individual horse profiles and data organized and streamlined, increasing the longevity of access to horse information and reducing potential over-vaccination concerns with ownership transfers. Account profiles can also be easily transferred after a sale or ownership transition, ensuring the new owner and their veterinarian have access to past health records. Once veterinary and vaccination information is entered into an account profile, health compliance certificates can be produced immediately, simplifying access to records for horse shows and commercial transportation. eVet is integrated with several major horse show management software platforms, allowing individual horse accounts and profiles to be linked with online entry systems, immediately validating updated Coggins and vaccination records associated with the account for the horse show office. eVet also is integrated to one of the leading equine practice management software programs for veterinarians, allowing for seamless connections to many equine veterinary practices. eVet account creation and service renewals will be available through USEF Member Profiles and will be available at a discounted rate for all competing US Equestrian members. Learn more at app.electronicvet.com/show-register?ref=usefaffiliate. 24 SPRING ISSUE 2021

PHOTO: ARND BRONKHORST/ARND.NL, TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN

US Equestrian and eVet Announce Joint Partnership and MemberPerks

US Equestrian is pleased to welcome Honor Hill Farms as the presenting sponsor of the 2021 USEF Pony Finals, which will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., August 9-15. As one of America’s most prestigious events for ponies and their riders, Pony Finals draws youth equestrians and their families from across the country for a week of fun, camaraderie, and competition. “I am committed to providing these children an exceptional experience each year, especially since last year was cancelled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic,” said Shane Guidry, owner of Honor Hill Farms. “This year’s Pony Finals will provide a special memory for each and every participant, and I am honored to be a part of such a great organization.” “USEF Pony Finals is a highlight of our annual competition calendar, and we’re looking forward to welcoming exhibitors back to the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2021 edition,” said US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “We’re thrilled to have the support of Honor Hill Farms in continuing this beloved show and making it a fun and exciting experience for pony riders and their families.” 2021 USEF Pony Finals presented by Honor Hill Farms will be live streamed on USEF Network. Learn more at ponyfinals.org. Honor Hill Farms is Mississippi’s premier equestrian facility, located in the quaint town of Poplarville. Honor Hill Farms offers boarding, training, lessons, and hauling services. Full-time trainers on site are able to assist riders of every skill level. Learn more at honorhillfarms.com.

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SEEN AND HEARD

In & Around the Ring

“I

Right: James Greendyk and Baikals Phoenix on their way to winning the A/ HA/AA Western Dressage Introductory Test 4 at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale, Ariz. Below: Esther Lee and Covergirl participate in the egg and spoon race at the Carefree Farms fun show in Phoenix, Ariz.

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- Roxanne Trunnell on Dolton at the first CPEDI3* of the year at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival

PHOTOS: VELESKA FLEUCHAUS, OSTEEN/SCHATZBERG, TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN

Opposite: Doug Payne on Quantum Leap and Boyd Martin on On Cue share a laugh at the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team’s high-performance training session in Ocala, Fla.

was really happy with how Dolton handled the whole weekend. I think he loves the AGDF show grounds more than his own home as he takes zero time to settle in and he is always as calm as can be there. When I ride him he is 100% focused on what I am telling him; he definitely knows his job!”

“I

love dressage. For me, it is about performance art. I’m an artist, and driving horses is about performance art.” - Phillip Odden, 2021 USEF Preliminary Pair Pony Combined Driving National Champion, drew a comparison between his furniture making and woodcarving with combined driving

Twenty-one-year-old Ben Ebeling was all smiles at his senior team debut with Illuster van de Kampert at the Stillpoint Farm FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ CDIO3* USA in Wellington, Fla. USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 27

How It Works:

USEF GOVERNANCE by Leslie Potter

USEF Board, committee, and council members are volunteers who represent a broad range of equine breeds and equestrian disciplines.

Max Corcoran was a groom working for Olympic eventers David and Karen O’Connor in the early 2000s when she first got involved in governance for equestrian sport. “David became president of USEF while I was working for them,” said Corcoran. “Karen and David both served on boards, and they always told us that if you want to have a voice, be on a committee. I said, ‘I’m only a groom,’ and they said, ‘It doesn’t matter; we need people who are active and current in the sport to get involved.’” Corcoran still works as a groom, now self-employed, but she also has been actively involved in governance with the United States Eventing Association, where she is now president, and at USEF as a member of the eventing sport committee and the International Disciplines Council. “People ask me all the time, ‘Why do you do this?’” Corcoran said. “I don’t know; I just love it. I love getting to know people and talking through different ideas. It’s really cool.” Committees, Councils, and the Board USEF is governed by volunteers. These are USEF members from all segments of the equestrian world who give their time to keep the organization and the sport functioning and adapting to current needs. Governance is

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structured in three levels: committees, councils, and the board of directors. Committees: These are each focused on a specific area of interest within the USEF. The Federation governs 29 breeds and disciplines, and 25 of them have dedicated committees that review rule-change proposals, develop teams for international competition, and support other breed- or discipline-specific programs. There are currently 10 Governance and Administrative Committees, each with a specific focus, ranging from Licensed Officials to Human and Equine Safety and Welfare. Councils: USEF has three councils. International Disciplines oversees sport programs for the Fédération Équestre Internationale disciplines; National Breeds and Disciplines oversees non-FEI sport programs; and Member Services oversees member-benefit functions. Board of Directors: The Board is tasked with managing USEF’s policy and strategy and reviewing initiatives to ensure that the Federation is achieving its goals. The Board is composed of eligible athletes, members of the International Disciplines and National Breeds and Disciplines Councils, independent members, and a representative from the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. The composition and duties of the Councils and the Board are outlined in the bylaws, which

PHOTO: PRETTY PIXELS PHOTOGRAPHY

The Federation’s committees, councils, and Board of Directors are filled by volunteers from around the equestrian world, and they’re eager to hear members’ perspectives.

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“The goal of all the committees is to always have a positive impact on the groups they’re representing,” said Cindy Mugnier (third from left), who chairs two USEF committees.

can be found at the Bylaws link at usef.org/rulebook. Committee charters are available at usef.org/about-us/ councils-committees.

“GET INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED. NO CONTRIBUTION IS TOO SMALL.” — Committee chair Cindy Mugnier

The Work of the Committees

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Board, it’s been thoroughly vetted. So the work that the first committee or task force does in making their recommendation is just as critical as the group that makes the final decision.” Bringing discipline diversity together in governance is an asset to the organization as representatives from different segments of the industry share ideas and perspectives. “I enjoy being on the International Disciplines Council,” said Corcoran. “It’s interesting because you’re working with all the other international disciplines—reiners and vaulters and driving and jumping—and it’s cool to get their perspective on your myopic sport and give your opinion on theirs, and maybe you can help each other out.” How to Get Involved Judy Werner is a breeder and owner of American Saddlebreds and is a past president of the American Saddlebred Horse Association, which is how she got started in USEF governance. She is currently a member of several committees, as well as of the National Breeds and Disciplines Council and the Board of Directors. Her advice for anyone interested in becoming involved in USEF governance is to start with their affiliate organization. “Get involved with whatever your affiliate is and be on a committee there,” Werner said. “That’s how you get on the council. All of those spots are filled from the affiliates.” “Starting at your affiliate level is the best way to get to know people and understand how it all works,” Corcoran added. “Everybody who is on the USEF Board has

PHOTO: TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN

Cindy Mugnier serves on numerous committees, including as chair of the Licensed Officials Committee and the Saddle Seat Equitation Committee. She says the work of each committee boils down to effecting positive change for the sport. “In the Licensed Officials Committee, we’re always working on streamlining the process, being more transparent, and doing our job as ethically and professionally as we can,” Mugnier explained. “With the breed and discipline committees, we’re thinking of governance in the sense of how it can positively impact a breed or discipline. I think the goal of all the committees is to always have a positive impact on the groups they’re representing.” Rule changes and other initiatives at USEF come from the grassroots and work their way up to the Board of Directors. Any affiliate organization or individual with a competing membership can propose a rule change, which is then taken up for discussion by the relevant committee. The committee makes a recommendation to the appropriate council, which reviews the proposal and makes a recommendation to the Board. This structure is intended to get as many perspectives as possible on each proposal. “Each recommendation is a critical part of the process, because each subsequent step is relying on the step before them to have done their due diligence, discussed and deliberated, and made a reasonable decision,” said USEF’s Chief Executive Officer, Bill Moroney. “By the time a recommendation reaches the final binding decision by the

USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 31

“WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS.”

— Board member Judy Werner

"Everyone comes to a committee with experience in a particular discipline or breed, but they have to have the ability to listen, learn, and make decisions that are in the best interest of the sport of equestrian,” said USEF Chief Executive Officer Bill Moroney.

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Contacting Committees Governance in an organization like USEF depends on member participation. But you don’t have to be seated on a committee for your voice to be heard. Members can reach out through their affiliate organizations or contact a USEF staff liaison for the relevant committee. Staff liaison contact information is available at usef.org/about-us/councils-committees. Ad hoc committees and task forces also often have email portals to receive member input on specific topics. “For example, we have an email set up strictly for the Amateur Task Force,” Werner said, a referring to AmateurTaskForce@usef. org. “Those are filtered on a weekly basis, sent out to everyone on the committee. So make sure you’re sending your email to the right place. We do want to hear from members.” “When somebody does have a comment or feedback, it amplifies their comment dramatically if they include the ‘why’ behind their suggestion,” said Moroney. “Why do you think it should be this way? That is so critical, because then the people looking at it have an understanding of the person’s reasoning. It makes the process more efficient.” Corcoran also recommends that when members approach a committee about a problem, they also offer a solution. “Finding a solution is hard,” she said. “But remember that these people are volunteers. They’re giving their time and they’re trying to do what they truly believe is correct for the sport. If you want to change things, be a part of it. Everybody has something that they can share.” “Get involved and stay involved,” said Mugnier. “No contribution is too small. I think that all of us who love the horse have a responsibility to serve in some capacity as best we can to make sure that we are protecting and promoting our equestrian activities.” “I want the members to know that they do have a say,” Werner concluded. “They have to express themselves in a way that we can understand. Our goal is to have welfare for the horse and a fair playing field for the competitors, and we really do want to hear from the members.” Have feedback for USEF? Visit usef.org/compete/feedback. We want to hear from you!

PHOTO: PRETTY PIXELS PHOTOGRAPHY

spent a lot of years down the road, getting to understand and respect the process.” Any member can reach out to a committee through a USEF staff liaison to express their interest in participating. “We’ll have a meeting with staff members, including the staff liaison for each committee or council,” explained USEF President Tom O’Mara. “We keep track of anyone who has contacted us with interest in serving and what their area of interest is, and we’ll pull out that file. Staff can also recommend someone who is speaking up in the field or looking to get involved. “We want to make sure we’re looking through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion when making appointments,” he added. “We also want to make sure that we’re bringing in newer and younger people.” “Generally, the goal in populating a committee is to have a cross-section of people who play different roles in the sport,” said Moroney. “Everyone comes to a committee with experience in a particular discipline or breed, but they have to have the ability to listen, learn, and make decisions that are in the best interest of the sport of equestrian. Their individual experience helps them in the discussion, but it doesn’t override sound judgment.” The time commitment involved in serving in governance varies by committee, but typically it amounts to a base level of an hour or two per committee each month, which can increase with special projects. Committees meet quarterly at a minimum and monthly at most. Meetings take about an hour, and aside from the USEF Annual Meeting, they’re held over the phone. Members will have materials to read and review and some email communication in between meetings to stay on top of current issues.

USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 33

LEARNING CENTER

IAM US EQUESTRIAN Our new video series

The Learning Center has launched a new video series and social media campaign, #IAmUSEquestrian, and we want to hear your stories! spotlight and collect our members’ perspectives and experiences. The series kicked off in March with “You Can Do This,” featuring adult amateur dressage competitor Chandra Thurman and her Andalusian/Thoroughbred mare, Kassie. Check it out at usef.org/learning-center/videos/i-amus-equestrian, and share your own story on social using #IAmUSEquestrian. And keep an eye out for new videos in the series—we’ll be launching more this year! Thurman, who lives in Murray, Ky., has horses in her blood: her parents and

“People are going to judge you, no matter what. I’ve really learned to keep my head high and just know that I’m there for me and my horse,” Thurman said.

PHOTO: JON SIEGEL/PM ADVERTISING

The US Equestrian community is diverse. We represent 29 breeds and disciplines, hail from every part of the country, and represent a wide spectrum of backgrounds, ages, religions, gender identities, body types, physical differences, abilities and disabilities, life experiences, and perspectives. This is part of our great strength. To celebrate our community’s great diversity and its many fascinating individual voices and stories, US Equestrian has kicked off a new video series in the online Learning Center, as well as a social media campaign, to

34 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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LEARNING CENTER Read more about Chandra Thurman and other equestrians in “We Are US Equestrians: In Our Own Words” in the fall 2020 issue of US Equestrian magazine, available to members at usef.org/media/ equestrian-magazine. Learn more about US Equestrian’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan at usef.org/about-us/diversity-inclusion/ action-plan. And visit our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Feedback page at usef.org/forms/ diversity-equity-inclusion-feedback. To learn more about Thurman’s sport of dressage, visit the United States Dressage Federation at usdf.org. And find out about the Andalusian breed, its long history, and its versatility by visiting the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association at ialha.org. We love hearing stories from around our diverse membership community. Share your equestrian story with us on social media using #IAmUSEquestrian or via email at social@usef.org.

PHOTO: JON SIEGEL/PM ADVERTISING

Chandra Thurman and her halfAndalusian mare, Kassie.

grandparents bred and raised Morgans and American Saddlebreds. She first rode and competed in Western disciplines. But after she was introduced to dressage through Murray State University’s equestrian program, Thurman took up the discipline four years ago. Now she competes Kassie at Training level. “I just love the grace of it. It’s kind of fancy,” Thurman said of dressage. “It’s not nitty-gritty like barrel racing or eventing, where you’re jumping big jumps, but I think the grace and beauty of it are special. Someone told me once that it reminded them of ballet, and that stuck with me. It’s so graceful, it’s light. It’s really a dance with your horse, and you can see that with anyone who comes into the arena. I just love the beauty of that. “Competing--going in there and having a goal--gives me confidence,” she added. “I think that’s the main thing I love about competing: having those little goals. It’s the drive to keep doing a little bit better each time.”

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SIX TIPS

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Former U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover shared these pearls of wisdom at the 2021 USEF Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week in Wellington, Fla. Twenty of America’s top young dressage athletes had the opportunity to work with former U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover and other prominent coaches as part of the 2021 USEF Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week, which took place in January at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla. The subject was dressage, but a number of Dover’s tips, including the six takeaways below, apply beyond the dressage ring. 1. Have a vision of greatness. Dover offered this advice to Allison Nemeth of Flemington, N.J., as she worked on an extended trot with Tiko, a 10-year-old Danish Warmblood mare owned by Karen Nemeth: “In every moment, from half-halt to half-halt, you’re seeing a movie in your mind, and the movie is you and Tiko being the most beautiful, grand, fearless, fierce, and invested combination. It doesn’t mean something won’t ever go wrong,

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but it means your vision is clear: your rhythm, your sense of cadence, your sense of your halfhalt, your sense of greatness in every step.” 2. Give the lightest aid possible. “If you touch his side and you think, ‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t go forward or react,’ he’s always going to require that you do more than that to make him do more than what he’s doing,” Dover observed. “You can’t expect him to react in one moment with that amount of spur if, in another moment, he didn’t think that he was required to react.” Horses can feel a fly land on their sides and react immediately with a twitch of the skin, he explained, indicating that they are capable of responding to the lightest touch. “Every touch is training,” Dover told Kayla Kadlubek of Fairfax Station, Va., as she worked with Perfect Step, her 20-year-old Hanoverian gelding. “That’s why you see beautiful dressage riders and their feet are faced [toes pointed in].

PHOTO: ANNAN HEPNER/PHELPS MEDIA GROUP

Lexie Kment, riding Montagny von der Heide, with former U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover at the 2021 USEF Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week in Wellington, Fla.

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3. Praise your horse. “Don’t forget to tell him when he’s a good boy,” Dover told Kadlubek. “Say to yourself, ‘I don’t need to keep this all together. I just need to ride, keeping my legs beautiful, keeping my hands beautiful, riding the half-halt that makes them come up to that beautiful spot. And then the key is, ‘Good boy! Good boy! Keep doing it yourself! Keep being motivated so that I don’t have to work so hard!’” 4. Use your breath in three steps. Dover helped Lexie Kment of Palmyra, Neb., and Montagny von der Heide, Laureen Van Norman’s 16-year-old Trakehner gelding, hone their precision in the location of each movement and transition. The movement should begin when the rider’s body is aligned with a transition point, such as a letter in a dressage ring. Using breath to prepare and execute a movement can help. “When the horse’s nose arrives at the letter is the beginning—the breath in,” Dover said. “Close your legs, close your fist. Then the breath out. It’s three steps: breathe in, bring your aids on and say, ‘This is where we’re going now,’ and as he starts into his half-halt, you breathe out and he goes there.” 5. Have a purpose for each part of your warm-up. While working with Hannah Irons of Queenstown, Md., on her warm-up routine with her own Scola Bella, a 13-year-old

“Don’t forget to tell him when he’s a good boy,” Dover reminded attendees at the 2021 USEF Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week in Wellington, Fla. (Inset) Former U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover coaches Averi Allen at the 2021 USEF Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week in Wellington, Fla. 40 SPRING ISSUE 2021

Hanoverian mare, Dover illustrated the need for a mindful warm-up. “One of my students was an Olympic rider who’d had loads of training,” he recalled. “She would get on every horse and go through the exact same training [routine]. …There is a lot to be said for doing that, provided it all brings the horse to a perfect place to do the next thing. But she had one horse that got better and better that way and another horse that, by the time she did all that, was exhausted. By the time she went into the ring, instead of having the most brilliant animal, he was brilliant 20 minutes ago.” If you get the leg yield that you want in three steps, you don’t necessarily need to continue all the way across the diagonal, Dover said. “Every step that you’re going around where you’re not creating something are just steps,” he explained. “You’re either making it better or you’re just going around for the sake of going around. So when you get great feelings, when she’s done what you want, you don’t need to keep doing that. One half-halt that brings her to a perfect state of balance and attention, and you say, ‘Thank you. Now we can go on to some other things.’” 6. Throughness is a solution to spookiness. Early in their session, Allison Nemeth and Tiko had some trouble when Tiko wanted to shy away from the video camera at the end of the arena. Dover explained that while spookiness is an innate part

of horses because of their evolution as a flight animal, it doesn’t mean that spooking is inevitable. “When a horse is out in the field, they look around, because they’re animals of flight. Their head and neck are in constant motion,” said Dover. “Except when they—stallions especially—start to show off, and then you’ll see them go on the bit with no bridle at all. They’ll arch their neck and start passaging around, floating all over the place. … They’re concentrated in that moment, and they’re not spooking or shying and jumping away from things. And when that moment, under saddle, becomes the way they’re trained such that their brain is always going, ‘I’m on the aids. Allison is talking to me. We’re having this conversation back and forth, totally balanced, I have no other thoughts other than what Mom wants and I’m waiting for her next cue.’ That’s when spookiness goes away.” Watch the USEF Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week’s 2021 sessions on-demand on USEF Network, thanks in part to a grant from The Dressage Foundation. The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.

PHOTOS: OLIVIA AIRHART/PHELPS MEDIA GROUP, EMMA MILLER/PHELPS MEDIA GROUP

You don’t see a lot of spur. … Even the thought of the touch is more than enough. The spur is a refinement. It’s a tool, for sure, if they don’t listen to the lightest possible aid. But the more you use it, the more problematic it is.”

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JUNIORS’ RING

An American Saddlebred Helps Young Rider Bloom by Jessica Cushing

42 SPRING ISSUE 2021

Aislyn’s mother is tremendously grateful to the team of instructors, trainers, and lesson horses from MillAgain Stables who have paved the way and help her daughter grow as a rider and, most importantly, as a person. Christina also has a special message to the horse at the heart of her daughter’s happiness. “Big Dipper, thank you for giving my daughter back to me!” she said. “Thank you for making her smile and giving her confidence no one else could! You give her wings and give her a chance to be free every time she is with you!” Christina also had some advice for parents of daughters. “Let your daughters ride,” she said. “Let the American Saddlebreds teach them to fly! Give them a sense of self through this amazing animal. Your daughters will have something to talk about, they will have friends for life, and they just bloom and burst with confidence! It is amazing to watch them c o mp le t e ly t ra ns fo r m through these truly beautiful horses!” Aislyn’s story reminds us that the lessons we learn with and through horses are just as powerful outside of the ring as they are in it. To learn more about the American Saddlebred, visit the American Saddlebred Horse Association at asha.net.

Aislyn Shumway and her American Saddlebred, Big Dipper.

PHOTO: EVENTMIX/PHOTO BY JOHN

Aislyn Shumway is a young rider from Texas who has been empowered to overcome many challenges outside of the ring with the help of the American Saddlebred. Aislyn started riding at the age of five-and-a-half years old. Her family started her in horseback riding as a therapy to help her with some disabilities and issues in school. The time in the barn and with the horses has served Aislyn well, as her family soon noticed their daughter’s increased social skills and improved behavior. In the strangeness of the past year, the Shumway family thought it the perfect time to bring a joyful surprise into Aislyn’s life to help keep her progress going: her own American Saddlebred, Big Dipper. Biggie was more than a gift or reward; he has increased Aislyn’s confidence and independence. “Before Biggie, Aislyn was not committed to school, and it was hard for her,” recalled Aislyn’s mother, Christina. “She was also having so many breakdowns mentally. Her sense of worth was really low. I can now say she has something to love and keep her from suffering from those thoughts. We are seeing so many more days that are positive! I love Biggie for giving my girl her life back!” Big Dipper isn’t just impacting Aislyn’s life positively; he’s brought joy to the whole Shumway family. “Our family is more bonded and shares in the love of all the horses,” Christina said. “Big Dipper has made us even closer as a family! He gives us something to all talk about as a family. I have also never seen my daughter smile so big as when he walked off that trailer! She has such a sense of pride now. Before these horses were brought into Aislyn’s life, I wasn’t sure of her future. Now I’m so excited to see what doors open for her future!”

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In a magnanimous gesture, the Muzzy family and their MZ Farms have established a five-year $100,000 grant to assist the Interscholastic Equestrian Association and help qualified riders who demonstrate financial need to attend the National Finals competitions. The National Finals Travel Grant allocation is $20,000 to be divided among approximately 10 riders in each of five years, beginning with IEA Hunt Seat Finals in April 2021. Each rider will receive up to $2,000 in grant money. The initial estimated distribution of the ten grants will be six for Hunt Seat Finals (April 22-25 in Perry, Ga.), two for Dressage Finals (May 15-16 in Tyler, Texas), and two for Western Finals (June 30-July 1 in Ft. Worth, Texas). The Travel Grant will provide funding to support expenses related to an individual rider, plus a guardian and a coach, to travel to IEA National Finals, in addition to related entry fees for any individual and team (if applicable) classes. Travel Grants will be awarded on a need basis with consideration for seniority of rider, years of IEA participation, and Sportsmanship Awards. An applicant must be an individual National Finals qualifier; complete a general application; submit a parent/guardian 2019 or 2020 tax return; and include a coach recommendation letter. Deadlines for submission requests are: Hunt Seat, April 6; Dressage, April 20; and Western, June 8. Full instructions and application form will be available on the IEA website at rideiea.org by March 1, 2021. “Steve and I are so very pleased to support the IEA,” said Cathy Muzzy. “Our daughter rides in the IEA, and she has had the most wonderful experience.” Through its draw-based format, the IEA levels the playing field for each of these young equestrians and provides the mount and tack for every ride at each event. That means no rider needs to own a horse. Yet even with this support, many good riders cannot afford the cost associated with travel for shows out of their own geography. “We hope this Travel Grant will help a rider make it to Finals without burdening their family,” said Muzzy. “The Muzzy family has supported the annual IEA Zone 10 (California/Arizona/Hawaii) Senior Scholarship awards for several years, as well as the IEA Benevolent Fund,” said Roxane Durant, IEA Co-Founder and Executive Director. “Their latest generosity in offering this National Finals Travel Grant is just thrilling! We have always known that the success of our organization comes from the IEA community of riders, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, and, most importantly, our families. This grant by the Muzzy family and MZ Farms will help young riders who might not otherwise attend the epitome of our season—The National Finals. This gift is so very much appreciated and is an extraordinary example of support from an IEA family.” For more information and to apply, visit rideiea.org. 44 SPRING ISSUE 2021

PHOTO: WALTENBERRY

New IEA Travel Grant

Essential For Every Ride. EQUIFIT.NET

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ARIAT

TRENDING

46 SPRING ISSUE 2021

Transportation Company of the USEF

TRENDING Hot to Trot As spring competition season heats up, you’ll stay cool and protected from damaging ultraviolet rays with the legendary Sunstopper 2.0 ¼-zip base layer. It brings a host of high-performance features, like cooling technology and Sun Protection Fabric™️ with an excellent UPF rating of 50+. But it’s all about feeling good, too, with raglan-cut style and breathable tech mesh paneling. Lightweight piqué knit, with a fabric finish that inhibits odor-causing bacterial growth. Pair it with the mid-weight stretch knit Tri Factor KP breech (shown in ebony) for a show-ready look. The Tri Factor breech’s many attributes also include cooling technology, plus innovative compressive fabrication that provides superior fit and retains its shape ride after ride. Splash of Color Waterproof has never looked so good. Ariat’s Wexford waterproof boot arrives in a new color for spring: chestnut (shown). The Chelsea-style ankle boot is a best-seller with good reason. It has all of the all-day comfort and stability you expect with a waterproof leather finish that’s built to hold up to the elements— even late-spring snow or slush—so you can wear them rain or shine. Barn-Friendly Casuals If your day goes from reining and roping to running errands and barn meetings, Ariat’s hard-working style makes the transition easy. The M8 Modern Slim straight-leg jean has Ariat’s lowest rise and slimmest fit for a bit of urban flair that goes perfectly with postride sneakers or casual shoes like the Fuse waterproof sneaker, designed with waterproof mesh and waterproof construction. Shown with the men’s Hybrid jacket. All-Day, Everyday Ease Spend all day at the barn with the Wilde full-zip sweatshirt, the ideal mid-layer for changeable conditions and a variety of activities, and the Halo denim knee-patch breech. The performance fleece sweatshirt is packed with ultra-convenient features including a two-way full zip, hidden zip hand pockets, a removable hood, and a drop-tail hem. The breech, which is also available in full seat, has Ariat’s famed silicone grip print, performance stretch, and Core Control Technology™️—plus a back pocket design that’s flattering and functional. School in Style Give your tall boots a break and meet your new standout schooling pair: the Ascent paddock and chap. The revolutionary Ascent paddock delivers comfort, stability, and style—on the ground and in the stirrup. In addition to Ariat’s hallmark ATS® Technology, Duratread™️ outsole, and fexlible, lightweight construction, the Ascent paddock also has a breathable, water-resistant knit collar and advanced cushion and rebound technology. The Ascent chap pairs perfectly, for grip, comfort, and protection from calf to toe. Shown here with the Tri Factor KP breech. 48 SPRING ISSUE 2021

Great achievements involve great passion Pablo Gomez Molina and Easy Di Fonteabeti Ymas 2020 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Championship: Five-Year-Old Division

Photographer: US Equestrian

Alice Tarjan and Gjenganger 2020 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Championship: Four-Year-Old Division Photographer: US Equestrian

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HORSE HEALTH

SIX TIPS on Preventing

and Treating EHV-1 by Dr. Nathan Slovis

Equine herpesvirus can be transmitted when horses cough, snort, or touch noses. It can also be transmitted via human contact.

Dr. Nathan Slovis of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute has this advice to help protect your horse from infection with equine herpesvirus, which can cause respiratory and neurological disease, as well as abortion in mares.

1. Monitor your horse’s temperature twice daily. Even if your horse has not been exposed, start recording their temperature now to understand what their normal baseline temperature is. A horse’s temperature will usually spike prior to shedding significant amounts of the virus, and typically anything greater than 101.5°F should be considered a fever. If a fever is noted, you should isolate the horse to the best of your ability until a veterinarian can assess. It is recommended that any horse with a fever have both a whole blood sample and nasal swab submitted for PCR assessment for EHV-1 and EHV-4. 2. Limit exposure to any stressful situations that are not necessary. Examples of unnecessary stress can include elective surgeries and other medical procedures. Minimizing stress will help protect the immune system so it can better fight off infection. 50 SPRING ISSUE 2021

3. If your horse requires the use of corticosteroids, either systemically or intra-articularly, consult your veterinarian to see if it is feasible to stop administration. The continued use of corticosteroids can suppress the immune system and could hinder their ability to effectively fight off an infection. 4. Increase biosecurity measures, because humans can inadvertently spread the infection on their hands, grooming equipment, etc. EHV-1 can survive on inanimate objects like halters, lead ropes, and tack, but is easy to kill on surfaces with disinfection. Therefore, these simple biosecurity measures can help stop the spread: •

Wash or sanitize your hands between interacting with each horse.

•

Take care when filling water buckets and feed tubs – neither the hose nor the feed scoop should have contact with the bucket or tub.

•

Minimize the use of shared equipment, disinfecting tack (bits, bridles, etc.) between horses. Items like water buckets and feed tubs should not be shared.

There are a multitude of safe and effective disinfectants available. A few I recommend are a 1:4 ratio of bleach to water,

PHOTO: PAULA DA SILVA/ARND.NL

Equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) transmission occurs via the respiratory system, with droplets of the virus being spread by mucus, via snorting, coughing, and human contact. If you are in a high-risk area where there’s a greater incidence of EHV-1 cases, the following tips may help ensure your horse is protected from infection. These precautionary strategies come directly from Dr. Nathan Slovis, DACVIM, at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. As an Internal Medicine Specialist and the Infectious Disease and Biosecurity Director, he has implemented the current Infectious Disease and Equine Emergency Response Programs at Hagyard.

First of its kind. Still one of a kind. After 30 years, Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) is still the only FDA-Approved 1, 2 equine intramuscular PSGAG joint treatment available. And still the only one proven to:

Reduce inflammation Restore synovial joint lubrication Repair joint cartilage Reverse the disease cycle Adequan® i.m. actually treats degenerative joint disease, and not just the signs. Ask your veterinarian if Adequan® i.m. is the right choice for your horse. Learn more at adequan.com.

www.adequan.com BRIEF SUMMARY: Prior to use please consult the product insert, a summary of which follows: CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. INDICATIONS: Adequan® i.m. is recommended for the intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses. CONTRAINDICATIONS: There are no known contraindications to the use of intramuscular Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan. WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. PRECAUTIONS: The safe use of Adequan® i.m. in horses used for breeding purposes, during pregnancy, or in lactating mares has not been evaluated. For customer care, or to obtain product information, visit www.adequan.com. To report an adverse event please contact American Regent, Inc. at (800) 734-9236 or email pv@americanregent.com. Please see Full Prescribing Information at www.adequan.com. 1 Adequan® i.m. Package Insert, Rev 1/19. 2 Burba DJ, Collier MA, DeBault LE, Hanson-Painton O, Thompson HC, Holder CL: In vivo kinetic study on uptake and distribution of intramuscular tritium-labeled polysulfated glycosaminoglycan in equine body fluid compartments and articular cartilage in an osteochondral defect model. J Equine Vet Sci 1993; 13: 696-703. All trademarks are the property of American Regent, Inc. © 2020, American Regent, Inc. PP-AI-US-0373 03/2020

HORSE HEALTH

5. Keep your horse up to date with their EHV vaccine schedule. If your horse has not been vaccinated against EHV three months prior to traveling into an area that has a high incidence of EHV, then I would recommend vaccinating your horse. If you are in a high-risk area, consult your veterinarian about the use of vaccines that have a high antigenic load for herpes virus so you can get a robust immune response. Remember, there is no vaccine on the market that can prevent the neurological form of EHV-1. The goal of vaccinating is to reduce the severity of clinical signs and reduce shedding of the EHV-1 virus if a horse does get sick. Some inactivated vaccines with the highest number of antigens for virus neutralization include Calvenza ® , Pneumabort- K® and Prodigy ®. Other vaccines like Rhinomune® are a modified live vaccine, and also have a high virus neutralization response. 6. If your horse is exposed or gets sick, contact your veterinarian to see what course of action they recommend. As mentioned, diagnosis requires the detection of the virus from either whole blood or nasal swab samples via PCR testing. If you are in a barn with a horse that has EHV-1, the use of the antiviral drug 52 SPRING ISSUE 2021

valacyclovir may decrease virus shedding and may help your horse from acquiring the infection. Veterinarians have also discussed the use of lysine to theoretically reduce viral replication. Horses can be administered safely 12 grams orally once daily in their feed. This has not been proven to prevent neurological forms of EHV-1. In the neurologic form of EHV-1, the virus interacts with the blood vessels that supply the spinal cord. This inflammation in the blood vessels can cause a stroke-like

Keep your horses up to date with their EHV vaccine schedules.

event (blood clot), resulting in decreased blood flow to that portion of the spinal cord. To potentially prevent this from happening, veterinarians may prescribe anticoagulants like aspirin and/or heparin to prevent this from happening if your horse becomes clinical. To learn more about EHV-1, refer to the American Association of Equine Practitioners website for accurate information: aaep.org/guidelines/infectious-diseasecontrol/equine-herpesvirus-resources.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about EHV-1 and biosecurity, check out these resources: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTITIONERS aaep.org/guidelines/infectious-disease-control/equine-herpesvirus-resources EQUINE DISEASE COMMUNICATION CENTER equinediseasecc.org USEF VIDEO: BIOSECURITY MEASURES FOR HORSES AT HOME AND AT COMPETITIONS usef.org/learning-center/videos/biosecurity-measures-for-horses-at-home-at USEF WEBINAR FOR MEMBERS: EHV-1 OUTBREAK INFORMATION usef.org/network/coverage/2020webinar/ USEF WEBINAR FOR SHOW ORGANIZERS: EHV-1 OUTBREAK INFORMATION usef.org/network/coverage/2020webinar/ HAGYARD EQUINE MEDICAL INSTITUTE hagyard.com HAGYARD PHARMACY hagyardpharmacy.com

or accelerated hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectants (like Rescue™) since they are safe for both human and animal use.

Equine herpesvirus can cause neurological disease, as well as respiratory disease and abortion in pregnant mares.

PHOTOS: FRANK SORGE/ARND.NL, PAULA DA SILVA/ARND.NL, AMY DRAGOO/ARND.NL

Diagnosis requires the detection of the virus from either whole blood or nasal swab samples via PCR testing.

Congratulations Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton on setting a new world record at the Perrigo CPEDI3* in Wellington with a 83.334% in the FEI Para Dressage Individual Test.

Bringing the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible. Become a member today.

#JoinTheJoy

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ONLY ONE TIRE BRAND IS TRUSTED WITH THIS KIND OF CARGO. Goodyear and the USEF are teaming up to reward you with 20% savings on passenger and trailer tires purchased on Goodyear.com. There you can find the right tire, schedule an appointment for installation and pay—all in one place. Must purchase on Goodyear.com before 5/31/19 with applicable promotional code to get this offer. Discount does not apply to installation, taxes, or fees where applicable. May be used in combination with manufacturer’s rebate offers. May not be combined with other promotional codes. Limit one redemption per transaction. Cannot be applied to previous purchases. All other standard terms and conditions apply. Offer may be modified or cancelled at any time without prior notice.

L R K 3 D E

56 SPRING ISSUE 2021

A year after the pandemic forced the cancelation of the 2020 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EquestrianTM, the prestigious event returns this year with an extra twist: a CCI4*-S.

PHOTO: ALEX BANKS/US EQUESTRIAN

Worth the Wait

Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby fly over the Land Rover fence at the iconic Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian, one of horse sports’ most prestigious competitions.

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ is back! After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a groundswell of support from the eventing community and its devoted fans brought the 2021 event—and the prestigious Land Rover/USEF CCI-5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian™—back to the Kentucky Horse Park. This year, with pandemic-related restrictions still in effect, the Lexington, Ky., competition will not be open to spectators on the Kentucky Horse Park grounds. But there will be even more eventing action than usual for those tuning in to USEF Network’s LRK3DE livestream and broadcasts on NBC and NBC Sports Network and following #LRK3DE on US Equestrian’s social media platforms. The NBC broadcast will take place at 1 p.m. ET on May 2. Bringing the 2021 LRK3DE back for competitors and fans was a genuinely inspiring community effort fueled, in part, by a fundraising effort launched by athletes and strongly supported by grassroots eventers and fans. LRK3DE’s producer,

Equestrian Events, Inc., partnered with the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, and thanks to the support of US Equestrian and longstanding sponsors Land Rover, MARS Equestrian™, and Rolex, the group not only secured LRK3DE’s CCI5*-L competition, but they also announced a new event that will run alongside it: the CCI4*-S. Both competitions will take place April 22-25 at the Kentucky Horse Park, and both will be streamed live on USEF Network. US Equestrian members can access the streams at usef.org/network. Not a member yet? Join US Equestrian as a free fan member using the LR3DE promo code LRK3DE21 and start enjoying world-class eventing! USEF Network isn’t only live streaming the 2021 event. You’ll also find special features, including historic NBC broadcasts from as far back as 1998, Karen O’Connor’s classic cross-country performance on the legendary pony Theodore O’Connor, a selection of individual rides from past competitions, and top eventing athletes’ favorite LRK3DE memories.

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PHOTOS: TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN , ANDREA EVANS/US EQUESTRIAN , ALEX BANKS/US EQUESTRIAN

Tamie Smith and Wembley tackle the legendary Head of the Lake combination. Opposite: (top) Bruce Davidson and Park Trader at LRK3DE in 2019. (bottom) Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF won theLand Rover/USEF CCI-5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian in 2019.

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headquarters at the Kentucky Horse Park. US Equestrian also presents a silver picture frame and a navy cooler to the national champion. The 2019 national champion, Boyd Martin, finished second aboard on Tsetserleg TSF, owned by Martin and Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner. The 2021 event could see Martin and Tsetserleg TSF attempt to defend that title; they were among the early LRK3DE entries. For up-todate entry information for both the CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S, visit KentuckyThreeDayEvent.com. Though the event is running without on-site spectators, you can get a front-row seat to all the action on USEF Network. And there’s also a way to be present in the Rolex Stadium for the dressage and show jumping phases, too— not in person, but in cardboard. EEI is offering fans the chance to have a cardboard photo cutout of themselves displayed in the stadium seating during LRK3DE. The weatherproof fan cutouts are $75 each and can be ordered at KentuckyThreeDayEvent.com/cutout. One rider who particularly is looking forward to the 2021 LRK3DE is Fylicia Barr, 25. The Pennsylvania-based eventing athlete was among those who had been set to make their LRK3DE and five-star debuts at the 2020 event before the pandemic shutdown intervened. It might have taken Barr a

PHOTO: ALEX BANKS/US EQUESTRIAN

“Seeing the athletes, community, our sponsors, and these two organizations—the KHP Foundation and EEI—come together in a united way to allow the CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S to go forward despite the challenges presented by the pandemic is nothing short of remarkable,” said US Equestrian Chief Executive Officer Bill Moroney. “This will allow our athletes and horses aiming for the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer the best opportunity to qualify and prepare, while ensuring the safest possible environment for participants seeking to complete a CCI5*-L or CCI4*-S. “We extend a huge thank-you to all involved, especially to our sponsors, for their flexibility and continued commitment to this event,” he added. “We are humbled and honored by the response of the eventing community as they’ve stepped up in a mind-blowing way enabling us to go forward,” EEI President Mike Cooper said. The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ is one of only seven five-star eventing competitions around the globe. It also serves as the Land Rover/ USEF CCI-5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian™, collected annually by the top-placed U.S. rider. The national champion will receive the Roger Haller Perpetual Trophy, which is maintained at US Equestrian’s

Fans won’t fill the stadium at LRK3DE this year, but they’ll flock to the event’s live stream on USEF Network, broadcast coverage on NBC, and special event content on US Equestrian’s social-media channels.

year longer than she expected to bring Galloway Sunrise, the mare she owns with Shannon and Daniel Barr, to the Kentucky Horse Park, but it has been worth the wait, she said. And she feels fortunate that the pandemic’s disruption in her life was relatively minor. “I was still able to keep working, and there were a lot of people who were affected by the pandemic in very serious ways. So that kept everything in perspective,” she said. “I know a lot of families were really impacted so negatively by the pandemic, so I consider myself pretty lucky.” After the cancelation of the 2020 LRK3DE and other threeday events, Barr was determined to make the most of the enforced downtime. “I used it as an opportunity to train her a bit more so that when 2021 came around we could hopefully be even more prepared and even more competitive when our time finally came,” said Barr. “I tried to keep giving myself goals. I’m a very goal-oriented person. For the first few months, I found something I could perfect and really worked toward those mini-goals with the horses. It was tricky not having any competitions to work backwards from, but it gave me a little more time to step back and get to know all of the horses’ personalities a little better and create a program that is going to make them better, without a strict timeline.”

The opportunity to compete at LRK3DE has arrived, and though it will be different from its pre-pandemic editions, Barr says she’s excited—and grateful—for the opportunity that 2021 offers. “I really appreciate everyone’s efforts to make it happen this year,” she said. “It really was devastating to hear of the cancelation. To see the fundraising effort and see other upperlevel riders that I look up to reaching out to their owners and sponsors—I’ve always felt eventing was a community, but to see that effort and to actually have that happen was really incredible. “I went and watched with my mom for as many years as I can remember. Feeling that electricity, being at the Head of the Lake and hearing the crowds, that was always something I looked forward to. Obviously, because of the coronavirus we don’t get that this year. But I’m still looking forward to running the cross-country, and what they’re doing with the cut-outs of the fans in the stands is going to be really awesome. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a little kid,” she added. “Obviously, I’d love to go and be competitive, but mostly I just want to go and have a really good experience. I want to give my horse, Sunny, a really great ride and let her come out of it feeling like she’s conquered the world, as well.”

USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 61

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF earned the Land Rover/ USEF CCI-5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian at the LRK3DE’s most recent competition in 2019.

PHOTOS: ALEX BANKS/US EQUESTRIAN

Opposite: The competition kicks off on April 22 with two days of graceful and technically demanding dressage tests, followed by CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L cross-country on April 24, and jumping on April 25.

62 SPRING ISSUE 2021

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LRK3DE Provisional Schedule Times subject to change. Visit up-to-date schedule. See KentuckyThreeDayEvent.com for the complete event schedule, entries, and more. Times listed are Eastern time. Wednesday, April 21 3 p.m. First Horse Inspection; CCI5*-L only Sponsored by Hagyard Pharmacy

Thursday, April 22 8:00 a.m. Dressage Test Ride 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. CCI4*-S Dressage Tests 1:30–6 p.m. CCI5*-L Dressage Tests 6:15–8 p.m. Arena Familiarization Friday, April 23 8 a.m.–Noon CCI4*-S Dressage Tests Resume 1–5:30 p.m. CI5*-L Dressage Tests Resume Saturday, April 24 8:30–11:30 a.m. CCI4*-S Cross-Country 12:45–5 p.m. CCI5*-L Cross-Country Sunday, April 25 7:30 a.m. CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L Horse Inspection Sponsored by Hagyard Pharmacy

10 a.m. CCI4*-S Jumping Test 2 p.m. CCI5*-L Jumping Test

The USEA Foundation’s Frangible Fence Technology Fund is just one way the USEA Foundation is helping advance safety.

64 SPRING ISSUE 2021

THE USEA FOUNDATION: Advancing Eventing

Formed in 1991, the USEA Foundation (formerly the USCTA Endowment Trust) was created to raise funds to build the United States Eventing Association Headquarters in Leesburg, Virginia. With the completion of the headquarters in 1996, the Foundation then set about creating an Endowment that would safeguard the USEA and the sport of eventing through whatever challenges may lay ahead. The Foundation had a true commitment to the future and continues to this day. In addition to those accomplishments, the Foundation began to secure funds for the USEA’s educational programs and horse welfare and rider safety research studies. One of the early studies funded by the Foundation was the Equine Physiology Study conducted in the lead-up to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. A team of veterinarians and scientists was commissioned to study the effects the heat and humidity of an Atlanta summer might have on the horses. This vital work protected the world’s top sport horses as they competed for Olympic glory and resulted in technology and improved practices that have benefited not only event horses, but also those competing in all disciplines. Thanks to work funded by the USEA Foundation, not one horse suffered any heat-related issues at the 1996 Olympic Games. More recently, the Foundation’s Frangible Technology Fund was established and to date more than 350 frangible fences have been constructed on courses across the country using the funds raised since March 2020. Additionally, earlier work raised funds for research by the Engineering Department of the University of Kentucky to help advance the safety of horses and riders on cross-country. Lovers of eventing donated to these efforts, resulting in the Foundation raising more than $650,000 for frangible technology. Research is ongoing through the USEA’s Safety Subcommittees, and the work will continue as long as necessary. A major focus of the USEA Foundation has been the administration of grants to help young riders, developing riders, amateurs, officials, and more advance in eventing. Some lucky recipients of USEA Foundation grants have already taken their places at the top of podiums and international leaderboards. Thanks to the Haller Educational Fund, many officials have received scholarships that have helped them become FEI officials – such eventing officials are essential for the future of the sport. As successful as the Foundation has been in supporting education, safety, and horse welfare programs, there is still much to do. Educational programs, like the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program, will need to continue as long as riders compete. Securing the future of the USEA and the sport through the Endowment Fund is unending. Equestrians, eventers, and the public have helped the sport achieve great things, and with your help, the USEA Foundation can continue advancing eventing indefinitely. To learn more about how the USEA Foundation is protecting eventing’s future, visit USEAFoundation.org.—Rob Burk

PHOTO: LESLIE MINTZ/USEA

usef.org/network for the most

USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 65

Operating a stable in a city can be challenging, but it offers great opportunities to make equestrian sport more accessible, these urban equestrians say.

PHOTO: RICKY CODIO PHOTOGRAPHY

STORY BY ASHLEY SWIFT

Erin Brown, executive director of the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy in Pennsylvania, says her urban equestrian facility enjoys “the best of both worlds.”

66 SPRING ISSUE 2021

Close your eyes and think about a stable. What does it look like when you turn into the property and head down the driveway? While the facilities for properties specializing in a given discipline or breed may vary, for many a typical scene would involve acres of sprawling land, rolling hills, and horses dotted across pastures in a rural area. Picturesque, to be sure, but it is not the only option for people interested in owning and working with horses. Urban horsekeeping might not typical for equestrians today, but it certainly is doable and can yield benefits for both the horses and the local community. Cities offer a unique set of challenges for barns, from government regulations to the increased importance of being a good neighbor in close quarters, but they also offer unique opportunities. We asked three experts what it takes to maintain high standards of care for horses and run a successful riding program in urban areas. // INSIDE THE BARN According to Erin Brown, executive director of the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy in Pennsylvania, urban horsekeeping is absolutely possible, you just might need to get a bit creative. Brown grew up in Philadelphia, and that’s where she learned how to ride and care for horses. “When people find out that there are horses in the city, and not only in the city but in a residential neighborhood, it’s alarming at first—but not in a bad way,” said Brown. “A lot of the inner-city stables in Philadelphia were old warehouses and garages first, so they have a different kind of structure that we have to work with.”

PURA currently is converting an old recreational center into a barn for its horses and developing the property so that it fits PURA’s riding lesson program. “It’s a unique lot, because it’s in a residential neighborhood, but it also backs up into Cobbs Creek Park, so it has woods and trees behind it,” said Brown. “Once it’s finished next year, I think it’ll be the most unique stable in the city, because we get the best of both worlds.” In addition to being a top trainer and USEF ‘R’ hunter and hunter/jumping seat equitation judge, Susie Schoellkopf is executive director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Once known as the Saddle and Bridle Club, the BTRC was built in 1922 on the site of the 1901 World’s Fair, because of its proximity to Delaware Park. Now in a highly developed residential area, this urban equestrian property is tucked away in between the surrounding neighborhoods. Schoellkopf grew up riding at the facility and when she returned to grow her own training business, SBS Farms, the indoor spaces needed significant rehabilitation. “The ring is 200’ by 120’ and was flooded,” Schoellkopf said. “The ceilings are very high and were falling apart. Kids were throwing rocks and breaking panes of glass on the building.” There was a lot of work involved, but this enabled Schoellkopf and her partners to create exactly the kind of facility they now need, almost 100 years since the original construction. “I luckily had a group of people that came together, some pretty heavyhitters of business in Buffalo, and they wanted to preserve this place,” Schoellkopf explained. “So we started from the ground up. We have 110 stalls, an outdoor ring, and paddocks and were eventually able to start our own therapeutic riding program with all this well-designed space.” USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 67

// WORKING WITH THE CITY Maintaining strong relationships with decision-makers in the city is essential to successful urban horsekeeping. David Silver, executive director of Detroit Horse Power in Michigan, has skillfully navigated working with government officials in Detroit, a city with relatively restrictive laws regarding animals, particularly livestock. “The ordinances are really restrictive compared to a city like Philadelphia, which has a long legacy of urban horsekeeping,” said Silver. “When we got started in 2015, we didn’t have a lot of great options. There were some permissible use categories for livestock to be in the city, but it was for circuses and laboratory research. Over the years, I’ve done a lot of introducing of myself and Detroit Horse Power’s current work and our plans for the future. We have good relationships with all nine Detroit City Council members and the mayor’s office, which drives a lot of the city’s business. And there are a lot of different city departments to work with, whether that’s the Planning and Development Department or the Law Department or the City Planning Commission, and, probably most importantly, the Detroit Animal Care and Control departments.” Silver has used these relationships and outreach to support legislative change in order for Detroit Horse Power’s mission to become reality. “There was an existing effort to overhaul the animal control ordinance,” he said. “As part of that legislative change, the city council adjusted the language around permissible use categories for livestock with Detroit Horse Power in mind. Now there is a fourth permissible use category for nonprofits for educational purposes which can be approved by the city as of 2017. So we’re moving forward with all those partners in city government, and now that we have a particular site, we can go through the process and become approved.” Detroit Horse Power is now in the process of developing a 14-acre vacant property within the city limits. The property is being leased from the Detroit Public School district, and Silver has worked closely with education officials, the neighborhood, and others to collaboratively create plans that will protect the horses while also serving the community.

Turnout is a common concern when considering horse care in urban areas. For PURA’s Brown, the most important component for a happy horse is creating a routine and activities that keep a horse mentally and physically active. “I believe in providing as much outside time for my horses as they can get. If you don’t have a lot of fenced-in space, rotate the horses out while you’re cleaning stalls,” said Brown. “Figure out some kind of exercise regimen throughout the week, whether it’s riding, longeing, hand-walking, or some kind of game. It all depends on the horse, really. And their job. There are some show horses out on large acreages that don’t get much turnout time, for example.” SBS Farms’ Schoellkopf echoed the importance of balance and managing timing. “In the spring, summer, and fall, when we have the grass paddocks, that’s not a big deal,” she explained. “We have the horses out. But in the wintertime, we’ll sometimes cancel lessons because of cold temperatures and can divide our indoor ring into three paddocks. We’ll do turnouts at the two ends and take breaks so that some of the more advanced riders, both kids and adults, can come in and ride in the middle paddock.” Schoellkopf also leans on the expertise of her staff and emphasizes that teamwork across the entire community of employees, boarders, lesson students, and volunteers ensures the best for every horse. “I think the main thing is working as a team. If you don’t have the team situation, then it becomes difficult to manage all aspects of horse care here,” said Schoellkopf. // BEING A GOOD, ECOFRIENDLY NEIGHBOR Manure management is a significant concern for neighborhood residents around urban riding centers. Proper disposal of manure and other waste also is essential for horse welfare at any stable in order to maintain the quality of pastures and mitigate parasites. When you live in close proximity to your neighbors, the importance of this task expands to human welfare, as well. “Keep a lidded and properly sealed dumpster on the property if you can, and get it dumped regularly, “ advised PURA’s Brown. “Overflowing manure is just not good for anyone. If you don’t have access to a dumpster, I would recommend putting it in contractor bags and taking 68 SPRING ISSUE 2021

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF DETROIT HORSE POWER, TRICIA BOOKER PHOTOGRAPHY

// MANAGING LIMITED TURNOUT

Above: Urban equestrian programs make the benefits and delights of the horse-human connection more accessible to city-dwellers like Detroit-area student Destiny, who attended an after-school barn trip hosted by Detroit Horse Power. Susie Schoellkopf (right, with Jennifer Alfano) emphasizes that building an effective team, reaching out to community partners, and finding the right horses for an urban setting are key to her program’s success in Buffalo, N.Y.

those to your local recycling center. They’ll take the bags for free, treat it however it needs to be treated, and they can sell it. It’s like sustainable composting.” “Recycling” manure is something Detroit Horse Power’s Silver also plans for his urban operation. “Detroit has a vibrant urban agriculture community, and we hope to provide as much manure as urban farmers will be willing to take,” he said. “But we know that being a good neighbor to folks in the surrounding community is essential. Worst case, we’ll pay to haul it away. In better scenarios, we hope to look into synergies with organizations like the Detroit Zoo. They have invested in a digester, turning their herbivore waste into energy. We’re looking into collaborations there, trying to find processes that allow us to be good neighbors, control odor, and control pests.” Urban riding centers also are contributing to a positive impact on the city through the use of rain barrels. Harvesting rainwater is good for the environment, and the water collected can be redistributed back to maintain the health of the horses’ paddocks and support their grazing supply. “Detroit Horse Power will have a storm water management plan involving rain barrels and harvesting rainwater from the rooftop as much as we can and to reapply that in our paddocks,” explained Silver. “It’ll look like a water feature, but it’s a place to drive the rainwater on site.” USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 69

// SECURITY AND VETERINARY CARE

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Brown has used the same veterinarian and farrier for about 20 years, so they know her and they know her horses. “We have that open relationship, and they coordinate with each other,” she explained. “And if the vet thinks this horse needs a shot differently because of whatever issue, then we will adjust. Every horse is an individual. It’s like a child, and you want to have a relationship with your primary care physician for your child.” // FINDING THE RIGHT FIT Urban horsekeeping has evolved over the years to provide and maintain a high quality of life for the animals’ welfare, but not every horse is suited for city life. Horse owners, barn managers, and trainers must select their horses carefully and monitor the way they are responding to the urban environment if they are new to the stable. “We have 22 lesson horses, and all of them are donated,” Schoellkopf said of her Buffalo, N.Y., program. “People want to donate to us because they know the therapeutic and lesson horses are treated like show horses at my place. But I will not accept potential donations if I don’t feel like they’re the right fit. Whether it’s how they’ll respond to being in the city or how they’ll respond to our kids in the therapeutic program, if I don’t believe they are right for our place, I recommend the owner reach out to one of the nearby colleges with an equestrian team.” Silver agrees that finding the right fit for a horse is important. “It’s got to be a combination of physically sound and sound temperament, of being a rock-solid horse for beginning riders, because most of our participants will be having their first experiences with horses through us,” said Silver. “The Detroit Mounted Police have been a great resource for us when it comes to desensitization work.” The sounds of the city are an inevitable part of life for these horses, and when they are thoughtfully introduced to that environment, they can emerge as solid mounts for a variety of equestrian activities. “When I’m competing, my horses will see jump standards with sharks and whales and lots of bright colors. But my horses never blink an eye,” explained Brown. “That’s because they’ve seen it all at home. They’ve seen and heard everything from ambulances and cop cars flying by with sirens blaring, to kids on dirt bikes ripping through the trails in the woods. Besides that, they pretty much live a normal life. That’s just a plus.”

PHOTOS: RANDI BYRD, COURTESY OF DETROIT HORSE POWER

Being in close proximity to other people naturally requires enhanced physical responsibilities, too. Security measures for horses living in urban areas will vary stable to stable, but Brown, Schoellkopf, and Silver all recommended having someone on the property throughout the night. “We have to have security at night,” Schoellkopf said. “ I have a man who’s there for about five or six hours every night, walking through.” “We will have somebody there 24/7 and will strategically lay out the site’s access points and visibility, lights, and cameras,” said Silver. “I think those are all good, and we’ll be glad we have them, but our hope is that we’re addressing issues before they come up by having a welcoming environment that people want to preserve and be a part of. That way, if folks are up to no good or are struggling and have bad intentions, then we’re able to be aware of things before they happen.” When it comes to the horses’ physical health, Brown spoke to the importance of being proactive about routine care and emergency care contacts. “Even though they’re not typically doing business in the city, I’ve had no problem having farriers, veterinarians, and dentists come down to see us,” said Brown. “For an emergency vet, you have to get a bit lucky, but relationships with those professionals goes a long way. A lot of backyard stables in the inner city may have a harder time finding an emergency vet, but if you’re a known and reliable stable, and depending on your relationship with that veterinarian, they’ll be more inclined to get over to you.”

// MAKING THE HORSE-HUMAN CONNECTION ACCESSIBLE After you’ve found the right horses for an urban stable and ensured their welfare is prioritized and managed appropriately, soon everyone will be able to soak in the positive impacts of the horse-human connection. Horses need a certain amount of space, and that can often make them inaccessible to people living in urban areas. One of the most limiting factors preventing city-dwellers from interacting with horses is access to transportation. These urban stables eliminate that barrier. “One of the best parts about our location is that it’s very accessible to the bus routes,” SBS Farms’ Schoellkopf said. “Having students in the therapeutic program, in particular, able to come here from within the city and without driving is hugely important. “Our horses love being part of the therapeutic program, they really do,” she added. “I’ll tell people when they donate their horses that they might see them back in the show ring if they’re capable of doing that, because those horses earn money to make our program sustainable. There are a lot of our therapeutic students who can’t afford lessons, so we offer scholarships. And those horses are the ones who really give these kids that opportunity to ride, in more than one way.” The physical and emotional benefits of interacting with horses are often limited to those who can drive to a farm or pay for riding lessons. Not-for-profit urban riding centers not only make horses geographically accessible, but often they offer services for free and will integrate themselves as part of their communities. “Thinking ahead to more challenging training opportunities for our advanced students, we do have good relationships with some horse rescues in our area,” Detroit Horse Power’s Silver said. “We see powerful synergy in providing a safe home for these horses that have experienced tough circumstances and for our students to be a part of that healing process and giving a horse the kind of support and community that they’re trying to have for themselves.” “One thing I’m really proud of is that, since COVID hit us and things started to open up again in June 2020, we were the only therapeutic service that was open to these kids,” added Schoellkopf. “No other services were available. They didn’t have swimming, they didn’t have gymnastics. But they had us, and that means a lot to me.” Brown has seen similar mutual benefits in Philadelphia, too. “I’ve seen that horses draw in kids from the neighborhood,” she said. “They’ll just wander into the barn and become part of our little stable family. Horses do change lives, and especially in the inner city where recreation is limited and you can reach a larger, more diverse group of people. I’ve seen it over and over and over again, and it never gets old.”

Opposite: Detroit Horse Power’s David Silver (far left) gets some time in the saddle at Michigan’s Rach Riding Academy with friends Shamarrah and Brianna. Urban facilities with limited turnout can require creative solutions, like rotating horses’ turnout time or supplementing turnout with longeing, hand-walking, or other exercise.

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Operating urban equine facilities, also called UEFs, can bring challenges. No one knows that better than Gibran Stout, the head coach at the non-profit OC Vaulting, which is based at the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Stout, an urban equestrian in Los Angeles and Orange Counties since 1970, is also a licensed real estate broker/ lender who has been active in preserving equestrianism and trails in her area. She also runs the Facebook page Urban Equestrians & Friends. “Urbanization or development of an area also drives up property values and demand for space which means that the amount of space equestrian facilities require, by nature, make such endeavors very difficult as a profitable business,” Stout said. “High property values, rents, taxes, insurance, and waste removal and water-quality issues generally make it an extreme financial challenge in an urban setting.” But there are some strategies that potentially can help keep UEFs in urban settings. 72 SPRING ISSUE 2021

EDUCATE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ABOUT UEFS AS COMMUNITY RESOURCES. “We all need to shift to thinking of UEF’s as resources like parks and libraries, which require a lot of financial resources and provide passive and free enjoyment,” Stout said. “What if we had equestrian centers that actually generate income from users and the potential for self-sustainability with programs for the surrounding non-riding, non-horse-owning population? “The science clearly shows the countless and tangible benefits horses bring to our communities,” she added. “An equestrian facility also means less asphalt and concrete. That improves air and water quality, which potentially reduces global warming. And especially during these trying times, we all can see the healing horses bring to everyone whose lives they touch.” Detailing the benefits of equestrian sport and equine therapy for a range of citizens—from budding young athletes and after-school programs to therapy for first responders, veterans, and others—can help build the case for UEFs as community resources.

PHOTOS: IVAN MCCLELLANIG/@EIGHTSECS, COURTESY OF DETROIT HORSE POWER

FACING CHALLENGES

“Horses do change lives, and especially in the inner city where recreation is limited and you can reach a larger, more diverse group of people,” Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy’s Erin Brown, shown here with Pretty Boy, said.

Urban lesson horses must combine physical soundness with a rock-solid temperament for beginning riders like Corey (shown), says David Silver of Detroit Horse Power, “because most of our participants will be having their first experiences with horses through us.”

BUILD TOWARD PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC LANDS. UEFs on public lands can benefit from lower or even no rent, lower property taxes, cheaper insurance and inhouse waste removal, and large assets and resources for water quality. Seeking out potential public lands sites and partners can open possibilities for both a community and a UEF—and help horses reach new, urban audiences. USE YOUR UEF’S PROXIMITY TO THE PUBLIC TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL AMBASSADOR. “Our facility is on state-owned fairgrounds, home to the largest fair in California,” Stout explained. “Four weeks a year we have a noisy fair with a 150’ ferris wheel adjacent to the main riding arena and barns. We also have year-round events such as police motorcycle training, car shows, concerts, political rallies, concerts, and more. There’s a constant flow of members of the public, curious visitors who often need to be educated on how to act around horses. If we are to endure, we need to be open and sensitive to their curiosity and their needs, as they rarely understand ours and outnumber us, by far!” BE A CONSIDERATE NEIGHBOR—AND MAKE IT VISIBLE. “There’s often a misconception that equestrians do not care about pollution or their horses pooping everywhere,” said Stout. “We all want to do all we can to prevent pollution into the watershed and natural waterways, and we all want to be good neighbors. I personally think that having horse ‘diapers’ similar to those driving horses use could be a great solution out on trails, for example.”

BE MINDFUL OF CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION REQUIREMENTS AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR STABLE. Waste removal on small sites can be challenging. Current Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFO, regulations cover equestrian facilities just as they do as animals in large commercial and industrial farming facilities, Stout cautions, even though large animal feed lots and recreational riding facilities operate differently. Stout urges urban equestrians to familiarize themselves with CAFO regulations and also to support efforts to revise the law’s application to recreational horse operations. For info on CAFO regulations, visit epa.gov/npdes/ animal-feeding-operations-regulations-and-guidance. GET INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL UEF. Are you an urban equestrian (or potential equestrian!)? Googling or searching your neighborhood social media pages can help you find a UEF near your community. “Once you get a toe in, you will tap into the wonderful community of horses—a safe place, where we all are one in our affinity of one thing: horses,” Stout said.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? URBAN EQUESTRIANS & FRIENDS FACEBOOK PAGE facebook.com/groups/urban.equestrians CAFO REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE epa.gov/npdes/animal-feeding-operations -regulations-and-guidance OC VAULTING ocvaulting.com USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 73

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A Statement in Black and White The Khumba halter’s combination of black and white leather makes this a one-of-a-kind accessory for your horse. Finished with a brass nameplate for a personal touch. $120. ateliercg.com

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INTO

SHOW SEASON Celebrate the spring thaw at home, at the barn, and at competition with our curated collection of gifts for the equestrian in your life—and for you! From the fun to the fashionable, these ideas get top marks from casual equestrians and serious competitors alike.

Easy Organization The Accessory Keeper is the ultimate option for neatly storing phone chargers, earbuds, stock pins, etc. It can be clipped onto belts, purses, backpacks, and even saddles. $35. oakbarkandchrome.com

Fly Your Flag Being a horse girl is something to be proud of—fly your horse girl colors! The Horse Girl mini-pennant is 4” x 9” and comes in three different colorways. Frame it, hang it, or lay it on a coffee table. $18. callingallhorsegirls.com

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Red on Right Ride Heels Down’s exclusive sterling silver jump flag earrings are the perfect accessory for eventers and show jumpers. $20 (or $15 if purchased with a Ride Heels Down shirt). rideheelsdown.com

Spring Suds The Dapple Up® equine shampoo is a small-batch concentrated formula that enhances the coat, protects the skin from unnecessary chemicals with added essential oils, and is mild enough for everyday use. Gently cleans and conditions without stripping your horse’s coat, leaving it shiny and healthy. $40 (one gallon). dappleup.com

Bejeweled Bring colorful sparkle to your show-ring presence with this gorgeous saddle seat show set. Each nine-piece set in a deluxe organizer case includes number magnets, lapel pin, bun barrette, earrings, and collar bar. Choice of silver or gold setting in 25 crystal colors. Pick your collar bar, earring, and lapel pin style. $99 and up. showringoutfitters.com

Keep Bevvies on Course With places to go, things to do, and fences to jump, equestrians need drinkware that can keep up. Hunt Club’s 18-ounce, double-walled, vacuum-sealed tumbler with a soft-touch coating and non-slip bottom is ideal for drinks on the go. $29. shophuntclub.com

Tee for You Make your friends chuckle and show your dedication to the horses with this relatable t-shirt. It is soft and lightweight - great for days at the barn, out with friends, or cozying up at home. $39.95. equestrianinspirations.com

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The Complete Package Ariat gets you show ready from head to toe. The Galatea Asteri show jacket’s elevated details make it a showstopper. It’s made of stretch double-knit fabric with 3D contrast paneling and double-vented back hem, and it’s machine washable. $399.95. The Tri Factor X Grip Breech has all the technical features of the original Tri Factor Breech, but with added bling detailing at the pockets, a full seat, and a higher rise. $179.95. The Showstopper Show Shirt keeps you cool, dry, and sun-protected—and features an odorresistant finish. Performance fabric features jacquard construction—the pattern is woven into the fabric to beautiful effect. Rhinestone buttons add just the right touch of showy shine. $74.95. The Kinsley Dress Tall Boot is expertly handcrafted from rich, full-grain leather inside and out. Close attention to protection for the back of the knee and ridertested traction zones add an extra touch of security. Finished with an elegant cuff line, this boot is perfect for stepping out into the show world. $399.95. ariat.com

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Team Spirit Caps off to the USA! This 100% cotton, six-paneled hat comes with an adjustable back and US Equestrian interior ribbon detail. Wear it proudly! $30. Can be personalized for $10. shopusef.org

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Wild About Western The CR Western Pro Wild About Leopard shirt in dark red will make you a cool standout—literally—in 100% cotton. Made in the USA. $189. crranchwear.com

Well Groomed Complete your grooming tote with personalized brushes from Wellesley Equestrian. Engrave your barn name or horse’s name so your brushes don’t get lost. Made from highquality wood, stained in dark walnut, and handcrafted in the USA. Set includes one soft brush and one hard brush. $70 and 10% off with code USEF2021. wellesleyequestrian.com

Gloves That Pay It Forward Clovis Riding Gloves are handmade from 100% cow leather and feature double-stitched elasticized wrists and adjustable Velcro straps. They have reinforced grips where it counts, are buttery soft, and meant for all-season use. Designed in Boston, they’re available in classic colors and fun prints. For every pair purchased, Clovis donates a pair of leather work gloves to a barn in need (while supplies last). $40-$42. clovisequestrian.com

Back to Schooling The versatile, bold Sophie schooling shirt pairs with your favorite riding pants for a fashionable, everyday look you’ll love for its comfort. It’s easy to stay cool in the light and breezy long-sleeved fabric of this garment, and the technical fabric will make it so comfortable to ride in any weather. $105. crinierelife.com

Be a Charmer Custom bridle charms aren’t just pretty—they help prevent your tack or blankets from getting lost in the shuffle. Available with or without a colored gem. Each hand-stamped tag is aluminum and lightweight, so it won’t jingle around or rust. $3-$5.75. etsy.com/shop/EmilyEquineCreations

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Stick Up for Your Fave Adorn your tack trunk, trailer, or just about anything with your favorite equine. These stickers are fully custom and waterproof. Emily can recreate just about any photo or coat pattern/color. Set of 3 stickers for $15. etsy.com/shop/EmilyEquineCreations

History in Jewels A Pony and Pearls presents “Jewelry with a Storied Past”: pieces that incorporate a vintage equestrian coin, pendant, or other element. $200-$1,000. aponyandpearls.com

Prolete™ for Performance The new Prolete™ hind boot with elastic strap meets the latest FEI Hind Boot Criteria. This neoprene-free boot offers the protection and flexibility top equine athletes need. A low-profile anatomical shell provides impact protection while allowing for greater flexibility. High-density foam liner is antimicrobial and breathable to keep legs cool. $200. equifit.net

Wear Your Halo The Charles Owen Halo helmet represents true innovation in style and technology. It’s a real statement in the show ring without compromising safety. Comfort is a priority with the unique 360° ventilation system under the halo ring and luxury padding. $540-$580. charlesowen.com

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Maximum Cool The Oxford Coolmax Sweater is your easy-care quarter-zip staple that you’ll reach for first, for years to come. Coolmax is perfect for every season in every city, from coast to coast. Highly breathable and ultra-soft. $148. noelasmar.com

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FOR THE RECORD

Penalties for Rule Violations OFFICIAL NOTICES Contributed by the Regulation Department unless otherwise indicated. The following official notices are only intended to give penalty information for a given case and not to disclose the factual basis for each violation or penalty. For matters heard by the Hearing Committee, a Hearing Panel decides each case based on the evidence presented at the hearing and takes into account many factors that may raise or lower a given penalty. For example, the Hearing Committee takes into account such things as whether the violation was intentional or unintentional, the nature of the violation, the credibility of witnesses, Penalty Guidelines, penalties in similar cases, past violations of Federation rules by a respondent, and many other mitigating factors. US Equestrian members can access and search the United States Equestrian Federation Ineligibility List online at usef.org. Hover over the Compete tab on the homepage. In the menu that appears, click Ineligibility List under Rules, Regulations, and Grievances. KEVIN ADELL of Bloomfield, Mich., violated Chapter 7, GR 702.1d and GR702.1e, of this Federation in connection with the WEF 6 Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC Horse Show held February 11-16, 2020, in that he contributed to others’ violations with threatening communications to Licensed Officials and by casting aspersions on the judging, the Federation, and the sport as a whole. For his violation of Federation rules, the Hearing Committee members present directed that KEVIN ADELL be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. JOELLE ADELL of Bloomfield, Mich., violated Chapter 7, GR 702.1d and GR702.1e, and Chapter 13, GR1304.13 and GR1304.26, of this Federation in connection with the WEF 6 Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC Horse Show held February 11-16, 2020, in that she approached the Judges without the permission of the Steward and impugned their judging through loud, accusatory, and threatening comments. For her violation of Federation rules, the Hearing Committee members present directed that JOELLE ADELL be fined $4,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that JOELLE ADELL be found not in good standing, suspended from membership, and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for four months, and is excluded from all competition grounds (cannot be on grounds from the time participants are admitted on the competition grounds until the last time for departure. For example, suspended individuals may not be on competition grounds during 84 SPRING ISSUE 2021

schooling or other such days prior to the start of the competition for any purpose, including such things as coaching riders, training or schooling horses, or trailering horses on or off competition grounds) during licensed competitions for that period as an exhibitor, participant, or spectator, and are barred from: (1) participating in all Federation affairs and activities; (2) holding or exercising office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (3) attending, observing or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities.

GR703.1a, and fined $1,500 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by HE’S A GALE FORCE at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

The four-month suspension shall commence on January 1, 2021, and terminate at midnight on April 30, 2021. Any horse or horses, completely or in part owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation, or stable of hers, or shown in her name or for her reputation (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c, for the same time period.

For this violation it was determined that LUCY RACHEL DONOHUE be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. This fine was enhanced due to the level of flunixin detected. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by DIOR DN at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

NANCY BRANNON of Midway, Ky., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with the Lexington Junior League Horse Show held on July 6-11, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse HE’S A GALE FORCE after it had been administered and/or contained in its body flunixin in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level and phenylbutazone. For this violation it was determined that NANCY BRANNON be censured pursuant to Chapter 7,

LUCY RACHEL DONOHUE of High Falls, N.Y., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with the Vermont Summer Celebration Show held on August 5-9, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse DIOR DN after it had been administered and/or contained in its body flunixin in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level.

GARY DUFFY, of Palm Beach, Fla., violated Chapter 7, GR 702.1d and GR702.1e, and Chapter 13, GR1304.13 and GR1304.26, of this Federation in connection with the WEF 6 Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC Horse Show held February 11-16, 2020, in that he approached the Judges without the permission of the Steward and impugned their judging. For his violation of Federation rules, the Hearing Committee members present directed that GARY DUFFY be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined

$4,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. KRISTI ANDERSON FRISHMAN of Toluca Lake, Calif., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with the Temecula Valley Summer Series – Week 1 Horse Show held on June 24-28, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse I CLAUDIUS after it had been administered and/or contained in its body methocarbamol in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level and guaifenesin. For this violation it was determined that KRISTI ANDERSON FRISHMAN be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $750 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by I CLAUDIUS at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g. LINDSAY KELLEY of Middleburg, Va., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with the Waredaca Farm Horse Trials held on August 15-16, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse SYDNEY after it had been administered and/or contained in its body dexamethasone in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level. For this violation it was determined that LINDSAY KELLEY be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $750 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by SYDNEY at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

VIRGINIA KLECKER of Jefferson, Wis., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with the Champagne Run at the Park Horse Trials held on July 10-12, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse DAUNTLESS DIDO after it had been administered and/or contained in its body flunixin in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level. For this violation it was determined that VIRGINIA KLECKER be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. This fine was enhanced due to the level of flunixin detected. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by DAUNTLESS DIDO at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g. ALLISON KROFF of Scottsdale, Ariz., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with Temecula Valley Summer Series – Week 1 Show

held on June 24-28, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse CASTELLO after it had been administered and/or contained in its body flunixin in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level. For this violation it was determined that ALLISON KROFF be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $750 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by CASTELLO at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g. DAVID MAY, of Temecula, Calif., violated Chapter 13, GR1306.4f and GR1306.4g, of this Federation in connection with the Desert Circuit IV Horse Show held February 4-9, 2020; the Desert Circuit VI Horse Show held February 25-March 1, 2020; the Desert Circuit VII Horse Show held March 3-8, 2020; the Temecula Valley Summer Series - Week 2 Horse Show held June 30-July 4, 2020; and the Showpark Racing Festival Horse Show held July 22-26,

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FOR THE RECORD 2020, in that he exhibited as an amateur although he had engaged in activities which deem him a professional with the Federation. Specifically, Mr. May was riding and exhibiting horses owned by clients of his cohabitant. Mr. May admitted to the violation and fully cooperated with the Federation’s investigation. Accordingly, for his violation of Federation Rules, it was directed that DAVID MAY return for redistribution all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by him at the above-referenced competitions and must pay a $300 redistribution fee to the competitions in connection with this penalty pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g. Furthermore, DAVID MAY shall forfeit his amateur status for the period of one year from December 21, 2020, at which time he may reapply for amateur status if he becomes qualified for such under Chapter 13, GR1306. CATHY RHEINHEIMER of Zionsville, Ind., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with the Lexington National Horse Show held on

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August 5-9, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse FIREBIRD after it had been administered and/or contained in its body methocarbamol in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level and guaifenesin. For this violation it was determined that CATHY RHEINHEIMER be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $750 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by FIREBIRD at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g SHARI ROSE of Toluca Lake, Calif., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation in connection with the Desert Circuit V Horse Show held on February 18-23, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse CROWD PLEASER after it had been administered and/or contained in its body methocarbamol in a plasma concentration exceeding the maximum permitted level and guaifenesin. For this violation it was

determined that SHARI ROSE be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $750 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by CROWD PLEASER at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g. EILEEN WHITTEN of Lexington, Va., violated Chapter 4, GR410-411, of this Federation in connection with the Sporting Days Farm March Horse Trials II held on February 29-March 1, 2020, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse MUDVILLE after it had been administered and/or contained in its body cetirizine. The facts and mitigating factors in this case supported the following penalty even though it is below the suggested range for Category II Violations outlined in the Drugs and Medications Penalty Guidelines. For this violation it was determined that EILEEN WHITTEN be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and fined $1,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It

was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by MUDVILLE at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g. ROWAN WILLIS of Wellington, Fla., violated Chapter 4, GR410-411, of this Federation in connection with Ocala January Festival Horse Show held on January 21-26, 2020, in that, he, as trainer, exhibited the horse DIABLO VII after it had been administered and/or contained in its body acepromazine and 2-(1-hydroxyethyl) promazine sulfoxide. For this violation it was determined that pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1b and GR703.1f, ROWAN WILLIS be found not in good standing, suspended from membership and forbidden from the privilege of taking any part whatsoever in any Licensed Competition for one month and is excluded from all competition grounds during Licensed Competitions for that period (1) as an exhibitor, participant, or spectator; (2) from participating in all Federation affairs and activities; (3) from holding or exercising

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FOR THE RECORD office in the Federation or in any Licensed Competition; and (4) from attending, observing, or participating in any event, forum, meeting, program, clinic, task force, or committee of the Federation, sponsored by or conducted by the Federation, or held in connection with the Federation and any of its activities.

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The one-month suspension shall commence on January 1, 2021, and terminate at midnight on January 31, 2021. Any horse or horses owned, leased, or of any partnership, corporation or stable of his, or shown in his name or for his reputation (whether such interest was held at the time of the alleged violation or acquired thereafter), shall also be suspended, pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1c for the same period.

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ROWAN WILLIS was also fined $2,000 pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1j. It was further directed that for this violation of the rules, all trophies, prizes, ribbons, and monies, if any, won by DIABLO VII at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

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