US Equestrian Magazine

Official Magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation | Winter 2021

GREAT GIFTING

Our 2021 Holiday Guide

IN USEF NEWS

New Membership Tiers

HISTORY MAKERS at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

INTROD U C I N G

BETTER TOGETHER

Introducing the leather dream cream that keeps saddles soft and colors true Visit Farnam.com to learn more

©2020 Farnam Companies, Inc. Farnam with design, Leather New and Your Partner in Horse Care are trademarks of Farnam Companies, Inc. 20-10675

Pyranha Product Timeline Pyranha was incorporated & SprayMaster System introduced.

1972

Insecticide Aerosol Introduced

1973

Pyrethrin Shampoo Introduced

1985

1-10HP & 1-10HPS Introduced

1988

Equine Spray, Wipe N’ Spray, & PonyXP Introduced

1988

Zero-Bite, Stock Guard & Odaway Introduced

2014

Pyranha Rub N’ Scrub Grooming Gloves, Fly Masks & Fly Sheets Introduced Legacy Introduced, Pyranha acquires Barracuda Bottling to bring production back in-house

2016

2017

Pyranha Acquires Adeptus Nutrition

2018

Pyranha Celebrates 50 Years of Protecting Animals Nationwide!

2022

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PROTECTING YOUR ANIMALS! A family-owned company in operation for 50 years, Pyranha® is a pioneer in insect control, grooming products, and barn and residential misting systems. In 1972, Pyranha founders Carl and Lon Cunningham developed the SprayMaster®, the first barn misting system for insect control. Today, David and Greg Cunningham continue the family tradition providing horse owners and caretakers across the country with the industry’s leading spray system, along with the highest quality ready-to-use products available to help protect their animals.

Pyranha offers an array of innovative insect control products, from pyrethrin-based formulas to natural, botanical blends. Pyrethrin is expressed from the Chrysanthemum plant. It has the strongest insect-repelling qualities Mother Nature offers. The Chrysanthemum’s powerful, natural elements vary with each new harvest. These variations are vital for controlling resistance changes, due to immunity.

Pyranha fly sprays contain emulsifiers that allow them to remain distributed within the solution, meaning Pyranha’s products do not need to be shaken and will not separate. Insect control products that separate can be less effective, particularly if not adequately shaken before use. Effectiveness is not an issue in Pyranha’s handheld ready-to-use products, and SprayMaster® system concentrates. Pyranha’s products deliver from the first spray to the last.

Adeptus is now part of Pyranha Animal Health and allows Pyranha to take care of both the outside and inside of your horse!

The Insecticide Aerosol was Pyranha’s first ready-to-use product, and introduced in 1973. Since then their 3 other signature ready-to-use sprays have been added.

The family of sprays is known as “The Ultimate Protection Collection”

In 2017, Pyranha established its own bottling company, Houston-based Barracuda Blending and Bottling, which reduces production costs and increases savings to customers.

In 2018, Adeptus® Animal Health became part of the Pyranha family, now known as Pyranha Animal Health. This supplement and nutrition line serves as an extension of Pyranha’s commitment to care. Founded 20 years ago, these supplements provide several internal health benefits, from digestion and gut function to joint and ligament strength, plus many more area specific aids.

The Pyranha team believes horsemen and women shouldn’t have to pay a premium for highly effective, top-tier quality horse products. For 50 years Pyranha’s commitment to the consumer has been protection for the horse, inside and out. Flies and mosquitoes are more than just pests. They carry infectious diseases, including mosquito-borne West Nile Virus and fly-transmitted Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), that can threaten a horse’s life.

Pyranha partners with various organizations to educate equestrians on the Pyranha Animal Health product line. As part of the Pyranha family we will continue our commitment to the animal, creating only the highest quality products.

We thank you for growing with us for 50 years, and look forward to the next 50. We appreciate your loyalty to our products...and to your animals.

800.231.2966

@PYRANHAINC

MADE IN THE USA

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Pyranha refrains from broad statements about repellant longevity due to outside factors that often influence the duration of protection. Pyranha wants the horse owner observing their horses to look for any efficacy or application concerns. Pyranha customer service is available for conversation at any time. All products are registered trademarks of Pyranha Animal Health.

CONTENTS

FEATURES 62 PARALYMPIC GLORY

U.S. para riders bring

home two golds and

historic team bronze

72 ESTATE PLANNING

And your horses

62

For every equestrian

88 PERFECT WARM-UP

With Ariat outerwear

DEPARTMENTS 8 Partners 10 Sponsors 14 Marketing/Media 16 Letter from

the President

72

18 Snapshot

80

20 USEF News Cover: The U.S. Para Dressage Team on the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic podium.

Photo: Taylor Pence/ US Equestrian

32 Seen & Heard Official Magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation | Winter 2021

34 How it Works

GREAT GIFTING

Our 2021 Holiday Guide

40 Learning Center IN USEF NEWS

New Membership Tiers

46 Pro Tip 50 I Am US Equestrian

HISTORY MAKERS at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

56 Juniors’ Ring 98 For the Record

4 WINTER ISSUE 2021

PHOTOS: TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN, SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF REBAR WORKS

80 HOLIDAY GIFTING

Official Magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation

US EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE Volume LXXXV, Winter 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, Shelly Watts 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 6 WINTER ISSUE 2021

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Official Footwear & Apparel ariat.com

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

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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 Feed of US Equestrian buckeyenutrition.com

Official Ribbon Supplier hodgesbadge.com

Title Sponsor of the USEF Pony Medal Championship marshallsterling.com

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

Official Tack Locker & MemberPerk flexiequinetack.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 Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships and Title Sponsor of the USEF/USDF Emerging Young Horse Program horseinsurance.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.

10 WINTER ISSUE 2021

First of its kind.

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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

SPONSORS Proud sponsors of US Equestrian

Official Electronic Vaccine Records & MemberPerk electronicvet.com

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 Sponsor of USEF Pony Finals and U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions grayson-jockeyclub.org

Official MemberPerk goodyear.com

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Official MemberPerk libertymutual.com

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Preferred Greeting Card and Stationery Supplier of US Equestrian MemberPerk & Competition MemberPerk horseshoegreetings.com

Official MemberPerk usrider.org

Official MemberPerk mdhearingaid.com/usef

Official MemberPerk choicehotels.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.

12 WINTER ISSUE 2021

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MARKETING/ MEDIA Proud partnerships of US Equestrian

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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.

14 WINTER ISSUE 2021

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

A Golden Season Winter might be approaching, but U.S. equestrians are still basking in the warm glow of success, whether that’s a personalbest achieved at a local show, a title earned at one of the many national championships that took place around the nation this fall, or a medal in international competition.

In one of the year’s most thrilling moments, our U.S. Para Dressage Team gave us all a lot to celebrate at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: the United States’ first equestrian Paralympic team medal and a pair of gold medals—and a record freestyle score—for Roxanne Trunnell and her mount Dolton, owned

by Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint.

Relive the U.S. athlete’s triumphs, as well as a few quiet behind-the-scenes moments, in this issue’s eight-page photo feature from Tokyo.

Our U.S. para dressage athletes’ performances were, as Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline put it, “simply mesmerizing.” They also represented a leap forward for the U.S. Para Dressage Team, who have been building momentum and creating fans steadily since their 12th-place finish at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympics Games. You can learn more about the sport of para dressage from Assouline and several of the top U.S. riders, including members of the U.S. Para Dressage Team, in the new Para Dressage 101 video now available for free in our online Learning Center at usef.org/learn.

Throughout the United States, competitions that had been on hold for much of 2020 due to the pandemic returned triumphantly with a rush of energy and enthusiasm in 2021. But even as in-person shows were revived this year, some of USEF’s affiliate organizations—having seen success with virtual offerings, from webinars to competitions—kept some online options available, too. We talked to representatives from the Western Dressage Association of America and the Arabian Horse Association about what virtual strategies worked for them, why they’re keeping them, and what tips they have for others who are thinking about adding virtual events to their repertoires.

The end of the competition season prompts us to turn our thoughts to year-end awards.

While we await final word on this season’s SmartPak/USEF National and International 16 WINTER ISSUE 2021

Horse of the Year Award and USEF Equestrian of the Year Award winners, this issue’s How It Works story provides a primer about the nomination and voting processes for each, plus valuable information on making a nomination.

Continuing the winter issue’s celebration theme, in Juniors’ Ring we also congratulate a group of five high-school seniors who have received USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarships, each worth $1,000 towards education expenses. The five young women profiled are all committed to continuing their involvement in equestrian sport while in college by pursuing an equestrian-related degree, volunteerism, or internship or through another equestrian activity. If you know a student who fits that bill and will be a senior in the fall of 2022, there’s also a link in the story for more details about these scholarships, including how to apply.

Of course, the end of the year isn’t only a time for toasting the successes of the sporting season. It’s also a time for celebrating the holidays with family and friends. If you’re giving gifts this season, why not make our Holiday Gift Guide your starting point? This guide, a winter-issue tradition, can give you a leg up on gift ideas for every equestrian on your list, from supportive coach to trusted groom to helpful barn mate.

Once the busy show season is over and holiday celebrations are past, the relative calm of winter can be a good time to get organized for the future. Our friends at the American Horse Council’s United Horse Coalition sent us a nudge to think about your horse’s future, too, as you embark on any estate planning or establish a trust. Their informative article will help you take steps to ensure your horse’s long-term care, and that offers a priceless gift indeed: peace of mind for you and your family.

Here at USEF, we wish you and your family and friends a happy, peaceful, and joyous holiday season and much success in the New Year.

Tom O’Mara President

PHOTO: TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN

Dear USEF Members,

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18 WINTER ISSUE 2021

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USEF NEWS

US Equestrian Unveils USEF Wallet App, Subscriber Tier US Equestrian has made these and other changes to add convenience and clarity for members

Fan (free) Fans joining at the free Fan level can simply fill out the online form at usef.org/fan to become a Fan. It’s free and easy, and there’s no requirement for a promo code. As a Fan, you’ll receive such benefits as access to USEF Network’s live content and to the online Learning Center, a subscription to the Equestrian Weekly e-newsletter and email news releases, access to Safe 20 WINTER ISSUE 2021

Sport resources, a link to digital versions of US Equestrian magazine, and more.

Your Fan status will renew automatically each year unless you opt out or decide to upgrade to a Subscriber or Competing membership.

Subscriber ($25 a year) The new Subscriber designation replaces the previous “paid fan” designation, offering a clear distinction between Fans who have joined for free and those who have stepped up a level to receive full non-competition-related membership benefits. That includes all the benefits Fans receive, plus the print edition of US Equestrian magazine, both live and on-demand content on USEF Network, health and insurance benefits, and more.

If you decide not to renew your membership after one year, you’ll still continue to enjoy the benefits of Fan status unless you opt out or rejoin as a Subscriber or Competing member.

PHOTO: HOWARD SCHATZBERG

As part of its continual effort to optimize its services, US Equestrian has made some positive changes to its membership experience, including developing a new app, renaming the “paid fan” membership tier “subscriber” to better reflect its offerings, and adding convenience to the sign-up and renewal process for both fans and subscribers.

Equestrian athletes and fans still have three great options to choose from: Fan, Subscriber, and Competing.

Visit usef.org/join to learn more, join, or upgrade your membership level.

FAN

SUBSCRIBER MEMBER

COMPETING MEMBER

Full Search, Rankings & Results Access

x

x

x

MemberPerks

x

x

x

x

x

x

Learning Center

x

x

x

Safe Sport Resources and Educational Materials

x

x

x

USEF Network LIVE CONTENT

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Interscholastic Athlete Program

x

x

Ability to purchase Equisure Insurance

x

x

Mental Health First Aid

x

x

Mailed USEF Magazine Subscription

x

x

Health and Insurance Benefits

x

x

Equestrian Weekly, Other PR News via Email, Digital Magazine

USEF Network ON DEMAND Access to U.S. Center for SafeSport Training

Compete at Horse Shows

x

Earn Points and Awards

x FREE

Competing ($80 a year) The Competing membership offers all the great benefits equestrian athletes have come to expect—full access to live and on-demand USEF Network content, a subscription to the print editions of US Equestrian magazine, access to compete at USEF-licensed competitions, the ability to earn points toward the coveted Horse of the Year titles, eligibility for other awards, and more.

To learn more about member benefits at each level, visit usef.org/join-usef to explore the full range of benefits for each category, including the discounts available through our MemberPerks program at all levels.

$25/year

$80/year

New USEF Wallet App The new USEF Wallet app for members, available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play, allows you to • easily access your digital USEF membership card and save it on your mobile device • load additional membership cards for easy reference, especially convenient for trainers • search your horse IDs and save their registration cards • quickly access MemberPerks discounts and savings • manage basic account features, such as contact information • contact the Member Services department Download the USEF Wallet app now from Apple’s App Store or Google Play, and start enjoying all the convenience your USEF membership has to offer.

Questions about your membership or about joining US Equestrian? Visit usef.org/join or usef. org/contac t-us or contac t Memb er Services at (859) 258-2472 or CustomerCare@usef.org.

USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 21

USEF NEWS

US Equestrian’s New Campaign: “Ride United. Ride with US Equestrian.”

US Equestrian has kicked off a new marketing initiative: “Ride United. Ride with US Equestrian.” Its goal is twofold: to celebrate the power of the equestrian community and to help members better understand the important benefits provided by US Equestrian, which help participants of all ages and abilities achieve their personal goals in horse sports, from leadline to the Olympic Games.

The campaign features US Equestrian members and a new, educational microsite that highlights the unique role US Equestrian plays in uniting the community while ensuring access, fairness, safety, welfare, and joy for all participants.

With more than 2,300 USEF-licensed competitions, 29 breeds and disciplines, vital safety and welfare initiatives, a comprehensive Rulebook and hearing process, health coverage, MemberPerks discounts, a free USEF Network, and more, the new Ride United microsite offers an easy roadmap for all to navigate the many benefits of US Equestrian membership.

A 30-second member video and digital ads also have launched across social media and equestrian media outlets.

The campaign will expand to include multiple member voices sharing why they value equestrian sport, the equestrian community, and US Equestrian as a governing body that unites us all and provides the framework for organized sport in the U.S. If you would like to share your story about why equestrian sport, the community, and US Equestrian are important to you, please e-mail us at rideunited@usef.org. We are always looking for feedback on how we can do more for members, so we invite and encourage you to visit our Member Feedback Hub.

USEF Provides Name, Image, Likeness Guidance for NCAA Equestrians A combination of new state laws and National Collegiate Athletic Association interim rule changes went into effect July 1, 2021, providing student athletes with opportunities to be compensated for use of their names, images, and likenesses (NIL). As a result, US Equestrian has provided NIL guidance for NCAA equestrian athletes to ensure they remain compliant with both the new NCAA rules as well as USEF rules. A Presidential Modification also was issued to GR1306 in the Rulebook to allow NCAA collegiate athletes to retain their USEF amateur status while participating in their schoolapproved NIL-related activities, subject to certain conditions.

USEF’s NIL Guidance encourages all NCAA student athletes to contact their school’s compliance department to fully understand what is and what is not permitted by their school in relation to NIL-related activities prior to engaging in any such activities.

The Presidential Modification to GR1306 requires that NCAA collegiate athletes remain on a team roster while engaging in any NIL-related activities, that those activities are permitted under NCAA’s interim policy, and that no other breaches of the USEF Amateur Rule occur.

22 WINTER ISSUE 2021

NCAA collegiate equestrians who plan to engage in NILrelated activities and also compete in events outside of NCAA should be prepared to provide proof of NCAA eligibility prior to competing and should be thoroughly familiar with any policies implemented by competition organizers related to logos, promotions, or advertisements.

“US Equestrian is committed to supporting collegiate equestrian activities and promoting athlete opportunities,” said US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “By ensuring our NCAA equestrian athletes are able to participate in approved NIL-related activities without affecting their USEF amateur status, we are able to provide competitive opportunities for athletes both inside and outside the NCAA environment while allowing them to remain compliant under the rules of both organizations.”

Please direct any questions regarding how the new NCAA interim rule changes affect collegiate equestrians to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) by clicking here.

Click here to learn more about collegiate equestrian programs accessible through USEF.

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USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 23

The USEF Amateur Task Force is considering ways to make the amateur rule relevant to today’s environment to allow members to have greater access to equestrian sport.

USEF Amateur Task Force Provides Rule-Change Update and Survey Results US Equestrian held a webinar on September 22 for the USEF Amateur Task Force to update US Equestrian members on recent progress since its initial webinar in the summer. USEF Amateur Task Force representatives Lisa Blackstone and Caitlin Creel presented proposed changes to the USEF Amateur Rule based on the work of the task force this year and member feedback. The team also presented the results of a member survey in preparation for the proposed rules to enter the formal extraordinary rule change submissions process.

Blackstone gave an overview of the USEF Amateur Task Force’s members. The task force consists of nine USEF members from a variety of breeds and disciplines and three USEF staff members. The task force recognized that the equestrian sport environment has changed since the amateur rule was last amended, and the rule needs to be relevant to today’s environment to allow members to have greater access to equestrian sport. USEF membership agreed, with 66% of survey respondents saying the amateur rule needs to be revised.

The task force gathered member feedback through a variety of methods, including focus groups, dedicated email, member webinar, member survey, presentations, and meetings with discussions. The USEF membership showed strong engagement on the topic, with almost 9,500 individuals completing the survey—75% of them amateurs—and a wide distribution of responses across the USEF-recognized breeds and disciplines and from all USEF affiliate organizations.

Using the information gathered, the task force determined it was best to address the amateur rule changes in categories based on its main topics: remuneration and eligibility to compete.

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Remuneration Remuneration involves performing barn duties, teaching beginner lessons, and being a social media influencer and/ or social media brand ambassador.

• Rule Change Proposal One—Amateurs may accept remuneration for barn duties at home and at competitions, including but not limited to grooming, tacking, bathing, clipping, longeing, braiding, and stall and tack cleaning.

Eighty-eight percent of survey respondents supported this rule change proposal.

• Rule Change Proposal Two—Amateurs teaching beginner lessons subject to limitations, which involves nine requirements, received mixed reactions from the USEF membership.

Thus, the task force recommended that this rule change apply only to the groups requesting it: the Andalusian/Lusitano, American Saddlebred, Arabian, Friesian, Hackney, Morgan, National Show Horse, Paso Fino, Roadster, and Saddle Seat Equitation divisions. Other breeds and disciplines may watch and observe this aspect of the rule (if approved) in effect in the future and determine whether they would like to adopt it as well.

Forty-nine percent of survey respondents supported this rule change, while 36% did not support the rule change proposal.

• Rule Change Proposal Three—Amateurs can accept remuneration for posting or promoting products on social media as a social media influencer and/or social media brand ambassador and can wear manufacturer marks, barn or stable branding, or branded equipment required by a class sponsor to participate in competition. Amateurs cannot accept remuneration for commercial brand exposure in competition or on competition grounds.

Fifty-eight percent of survey respondents supported this rule change proposal.

• New Rule Change Addition—Following feedback after the webinar, the proposal to eliminate the “allowance for a non-monetary token gift of appreciation valued at less than $300 annually” was withdrawn because it was determined that receiving any gift or token of appreciation as an amateur would result in a violation without this rule

PHOTO: HOWARD SCHATZBERG

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USEF NEWS in place, which was not the intended consequence. A new proposed rule change will increase the value cap to $1,000.

Amateurs are permitted to accept a non-monetary token gift of appreciation valued less than $1,000 annually.

Eligibility to Compete Eligibility to compete involves a waiting period for professionals to reapply for amateur status and the junior age changing to 21.

• Rule Change Proposal Four—Anyone 25 and under who has been engaged in professional activities may reapply for amateur status after a three-month waiting period. The three-month waiting period is for one-time use, and any subsequent application for amateur status would require a one-year waiting period, as is standard for our rules.

Seventy-six percent of survey respondents supported this rule change proposal.

• Rule Change Proposal Five—The proposed rule change that would change the junior age to 21 and under is on hold.

While there was some support for change, the rule is not ready to move forward.

Thirty-nine percent of survey respondents supported this rule change, while 47% did not support the rule change proposal.

The task force’s supported proposals above will move forward as extraordinary rule changes into the rule-change system, and committees and councils will provide feedback.

The membership will be notified as soon as these rule changes are certified as extraordinary by the officers and posted online for member comment. Following committee and council review, the rule changes were to be considered by the US Equestrian Board of Directors at a meeting on November 22, 2021. The board will review any feedback and recommendations for amendments to these rules.

In the future, such topics as the definition of family; licensed officials; and NCAA name, image, and likeness ruling for amateurs; and interns, students, and apprenticeships also will be reviewed.

U.S. driver Tracy Bowman and her Welsh pony gelding, Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars, had a golden week in Schildau, Germany, at the 2021 FEI Para Driving World Championship. The pair had three exceptional phases to win the championship title for Grade I at the conclusion of competition on Aug. 8.

Bowman and Lars started off strong, landing in third place after their dressage test. They followed up with a masterful marathon phase, moving into first place, and held on to it through the final phase, the cones.

Bowman and Lars got their start together on the recommendation of the world-class father-and-son driving athletes, Bram and Ijsbrand Chardon of the Netherlands. Bowman purchased the gelding with the aim of competing him at the World Championship in August 2020, but plans changed when that event was cancelled due to COVID-19, and she brought him home to California instead.

“I only competed in one unrecognized CDE and one recognized event in California this past winter before we came to Schildau,” said Bowman, of Martinez, Calif. “There was no other option due to COVID. This was our first big show together.

He had experience prior to me at the last World Championship in Kronenberg, so I put my total trust in him and my unbelievable team. I was not ever in doubt of being safe and capable because of those people and my fabulous pony. But to win was not an expectation since I have nearly no experience at that level.”

Bowman spent the unexpected offseason in 2020 mostly self-training at her Kismet Farms in California but credits Lars’s solid training and demeanor for a positive result in 2021.

“My partner in the farm and best of all friends, Jolie Wentworth, would assist me on the ground,” Bowman said. “She sees everything and is the only one that would have no equal for the flat work.

Together I think we kept the dressage improving. [Lars] is a great mover, very Tracy Bowman and Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars in Schildau, Germany.

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PHOTO: PICTUREBLIND.DE - JÜRGEN SENDEL

Tracy Bowman and Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars Win Gold at FEI Para Driving World Championship

Eventing athlete Will Coleman and Off The Record became the first American pair to win the CCIO4*-S at World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen.

NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team, Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Achieve Glory, Make History in Aachen The World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen in Aachen, Germany, proved fruitful ground for U.S. team achievements in September. The NetJets U.S. Jumping Team earned the top podium position after a brilliant display of talent and poise in the Sept. 16 CHIO Aachen Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup CSIO5*. Two days later, U.S. eventing athlete Will Coleman, riding the Off The Record Syndicate’s Off The Record, became the first American to win the CCIO4*-S and led the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team to a second-place team finish, the best result ever for a U.S. eventing team at the prestigious international festival.

The NetJets U.S. Jumping Team of Lucy Deslauriers on Lisa Deslauriers’s Hester, Laura Kraut on St. Bride’s Farm’s Baloutinue, Brian Moggre on Ann Thompson’s Balou du Reventon, and Jessica Springsteen on Stone Hill Farm’s Don Juan van de Donkhoeve produced two solid rounds a piece to finish on a team total of four faults, besting Sweden who finished in second place with a total of eight faults. France rounded out the top three podium positions with 12 faults in total. This is the first time the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team has topped the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup CSIO5* since 2005.

“Winning in Aachen is the pinnacle. It’s as simple as that,” said jumping team Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, after the team’s historic performance. “These were four of our final six riders for Tokyo, so this was pretty simple, we just went straight down the list. We had our Olympic quarantine here, so it gave a good idea as to what to expect a few weeks later.”

The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team consisted of Coleman and Off The Record, Sydney Elliott and Carol Stephens’s QC Diamantaire, Ariel Grald and Annie Eldridge’s Leamore Master Plan, and Tamie Smith and Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell’s Mai Baum. The U.S. team finished on a team total of 116.5, just 0.3 penalties behind the first-place finishers from Great Britain.

In winning the event, Coleman and Off The Record earned a personal best score of 30.50, ahead of second-place finisher Laura Collet and Dacapo of Great Britain.

“I’m very pleased with the results, as we brought a team to test them in a championship environment and see how they would rise to the occasion,” said Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander. “I’m very proud of Will Coleman for winning a class that is extremely difficult to win. It’s encouraging to see that the U.S. is competitive on the world stage and that the riders’ hard work is paying off.”

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PHOTO: SHANNON BRINKMAN PHOTO

uphill, was already well schooled, and has a lot of talent. Added to that he is very drivable in the court. He does not tend to spook and keeps a cool head—except in prize-givings!”

With the return of competition and news that the World Championship was back on for 2021, Lars and Bowman returned to training under the Chardons.

“The team in the Netherlands made it very simple to feel secure and comfortable when we returned,” said Bowman.

“Bram and the whole Chardon family are nothing but warm. Bram demands total focus and great attention to detail, which is expected at this level. He also lets you know right from wrong without apology. This makes you feel very assured of the reality of your skills, good or bad; when you keep it honest, it works better for everyone involved. No false hope or inflated ideas—only down-to-earth hard work to improve and understand where you need to focus. It was very correct for me.”

Of her experience in Schildau, Bowman said the competition got better and better each day.

“The best groom in the world, Quint van Rijswijk, was able to get Lars feeling and looking his best,” said Bowman.

“This really helped in the dressage phase, but he took such good care of him the whole show. Winning the marathon was such a great feeling. The obstacles were amazing and so well built. The area they were in made it great for spectators and also made it easy for my obligatory extra safety grooms to get from one to the other with no effort. Since my carriage is adapted for me by the use of a five-point harness, it is required to have safety grooms at gates in case we turn over or have some sort of mishap.

“The whole venue of Schildau is a horse Disneyland,” Bowman continued.

“It could not have been nicer, especially for wheelchair users like myself—it was very level and accessible. The USEF chef Marcie Quist was also pleased. She has been to quite a few of these now is such a great problem-solver and a great help to the USA drivers. Bram and Jolie made me feel they had my back and I never felt on my own. I was free to concentrate on my job. They held my proverbial hand and also kicked me when I needed it. It was a perfect group.”

USEF NEWS

U.S. Junior Jumping Team Wins Gold at FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final

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part of why we invest in bringing future talent to these competitions and why it’s so important for them to experience the successes during the week, too.”

Gochman and Celina BH delivered all clear rounds throughout their week of competition and captured top honors in the Ashford Farm Grand Prix CSIOY in impressive fashion, crossing through the jump-off timers in 42.08 seconds for the win, nearly two seconds faster than the second-place finisher.

Holtgers and Conblue, a 11-year-old Oldenburg Springpferd gelding, took second in the Emmers Equestrian Park Grand Prix CSIOJ, finishing in 42.65 seconds, slightly behind top-placed Aurelia Guisson and No Limit vh Legita Hof Z of Belgium.

Rizvi and Excellent rounded out the top five in the class, adding four faults in their jump-off round and finishing with a time of 42.67 seconds.

U.S. Junior Jumping Team, winners of the CSIOJ Nations Cup (left to right): Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski, Ansgar Holtgers, Jr., Caroline Mawhinney, Virginia Bonnie, Zayna Rizvi.

PHOTO: SPORTFOT

The U.S. Jumping Team fielded two teams at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final in Kronenberg, the Netherlands, with both junior and young rider athletes experiencing international team competition in a championship atmosphere. The U.S. Junior Jumping Team took top honors, earning team gold in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup CSIOJ competition, while the U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team took sixth in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup CSIOY competition. Both teams were led by Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski.

The Junior Jumping Team finished the competition on final team score of four, securing a first-place finish, with Spain taking silver and Belgium earning bronze. The team includes Viriginia Bonnie (Upperville, Va.) and Efodea, an 11-year-old KWPN mare owned by Nina Bonnie; Ansgar Holtgers, Jr., (Wellington, Fla.) and Elina, and a 12-year-old KPWN mare owned by Gut Einhaus, LLC; Caroline Mawhinney (Woodside, Calif.) and Stella Levista, her own 13-year-old Hanoverian mare; and Zayna Rizvi (Wellington, Fla.) and Excellent, an 11-yearold Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Peacock Ridge LLC. Kursinski noted that the team’s performance and learning from the experience will be beneficial for the continued development of the program pipeline.

“The Juniors were extremely motivated and focused,” she said. “They rode well, the horses jumped well, and the best thing is truly experiencing the team experience. At home it’s always individual, but to represent the United States internationally, you really feel it. There were 12 international teams and for them to be out there representing their country and feeling proud of their accomplishments reinforces the model that we’ve seen work for our program. For the future success, it’s about getting them started earlier and into this international environment.”

The U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team riders were Tali Dejong (Golden, Colo.) and Heavenly Star, her nine-year-old KWPN mare; Riley Delbecq (Duck Key, Fla.) and Julesraimus de Barisy, her own 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding; Mimi Gochman (New York, N.Y.) and Celina BH, an 11-yearold Holsteiner mare owned by Gochman Sport Horses; and Caelinn Leahy (Maple Park, Ill.) and Cold Play 31, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Steven Schaefer.

The U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team finished on a final score of nine for sixth place in the CSIOY team competition.

Germany finished in first place on zero faults, with France taking second on four. Sweden earned the bronze with eight faults to round out the top three placings.

“Overall, this team was great, and we just missed the podium by a time fault. It was a tremendous experience for all of them, especially to learn how to deal with their nerves, and there will continue to be learnings from it,” Kursinski said. “Across the board, they’re all taking home an understanding of what they must work on and continue to improve. It’s a wonderful experience and the competition was very strong, and that’s a

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USEF NEWS

The silver-winning U.S. Squad of junior vaulters and Jacqueline Lux’s Goldjunge.

A talented group of U.S. youth athletes had strong performances at the 2021 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors in Le Mans, France, from July 29-August 1. The contingent of U.S. competitors in the individual female, pas de deux, and squad divisions delivered on the world stage under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Emma Seely. The U.S. Squad took home the silver medal against a talented field, while their U.S. teammates put forth solid efforts in the individual female and pas de deux divisions.

“The U.S. vaulters did an awesome job,” said Seely. “It was a huge playing field, a lot of people in the competition, so I’m quite proud of what we were able to do coming out of a pandemic into this big event.”

The U.S. Squad was made up of Melanie Ford (Fort Collins, Colo.), Emma Milito (Brighton, Colo.), Augusta Rose Lewis (Longmont, Colo.), Rhianon Hampton (Greeley, Colo.), Giana Massaro (Costa Mesa, Calif.), and Bryleigh Thornton (Thornton, Colo.). They partnered with longueur Jacqueline Lux and her 2008 gelding Goldjunge and began the competition with a compulsory test score of 6.697 and a free test score of 8.077 in round one. The squad finished on a high note with an excellent free test in round two to score 8.234.

The overall score of 7.669 clinched the silver medal for the U.S. Squad.

In the pas de deux division, Persephone Brown (Brighton, Colo.) and Danica Rinard (Fort Lupton, Colo.) were the top

U.S. pair in sixth place. Brown and Rinard teamed up with longueur Thordis Thoroe and Lightning Jack 12, Thoroe’s 2007 Holsteiner gelding. They scored 7.250 in the round one free test and 7.118 in the round two free test for an overall score of 7.184.

Peyton Daley (San Mateo, Calif.) and Aria Deshpande (San Francisco, Calif.) finished in 13th place in the pas de deux division. They partnered with longueur Carolyn Bland and Icarus, Nienke De Wolff ’s 2013 KWPN gelding. They had some bobbles in the round-one free test, scoring 4.567. They made a comeback with their round-two free test to score 6.042, finishing on an overall score of 5.305.

Three U.S. athletes competed in the individual female division, which included 56 competitors: Hallie Dudley (Elizabeth, Colo.), Melanie Ford (Fort Collins, Colo.), and Kylynn Ghafouri (Murrieta, Calif.). Round one consisted of a compulsory test and a free test, and only the top 15 vaulters moved on to round two. Ghafouri with longueur De Wolff and Christmas PS Z, De Wolff’s 2013 Zangersheide gelding, finished round one in 22nd place on a score of 7.219, while Dudley with longueur De Wolff and Icarus finished in 24th place on a score of 7.151.

Ford was the sole U.S. representative to move on to round two, sitting in 12th place on a score of 7.422.

In round two, Ford with longueur Andrea Boe and Ronaldo 200, Marie Struwe’s 2007 Westphalian gelding, scored 7.569 in the compulsory test and 7.216 in the free test. They finished on an overall score of 7.408 for 13th place.

Correction: In the fall issue, the article “Amateur Task Force Brings Important Topics to the Table” incorrectly described the composition of two focus groups convened by US Equestrian as composed entirely of USEF members. One of the focus group participants was not a current USEF member. We regret the error, which has been corrected in the digital version of the fall issue on usef.org.

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PHOTO: PHOTOS LES GARENNES

U.S. Squad Earns Silver at 2021 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors

Pictured with Paul O’Shea (IRL)

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SEEN AND HEARD

In & Around the Ring

“M Opposite: The NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team won the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup CSIO5* at CHIO Aachen in Aachen, Germany, for the first time since 2005.

y experience at this championship was better than I could have imagined. With only three U.S. starters, we knew we all needed to finish to achieve a team completion. … Training the three horses together and riding with Charlie [Dugan] and Meghan [Wert] this summer made the team completion icing on the cake.”

- Alex Shampoe on the U.S. team’s fifth-place finish and her individual 14th-place finish at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in Ermelo, The Netherlands

PHOTOS: SHANNON BRINKMAN PHOTO, ASHLEY SWIFT/US EQUESTRIAN, DON STINE

Below: Danny Sal Da Na and La Jazz Hot compete at the Western Dressage Association of America World Championship Show in Guthrie, Okla.

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“I

Pat Figueroa and Con Brio’s Rhapsody ringside at the Paso Fino Horse Association Grand National Championship Show in Ocala, Fla.

t’s the atmosphere. I feel like the ponies always step up to their A game here. They know when it’s time to shine.

And it’s fun hanging out with my friends and seeing everyone I haven’t gotten to see all year.”

- Maddie Tosh on what makes the USEF Pony Finals presented by Honor Hill Farms in Lexington, Ky., a special event.

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HOW IT WORKS

International and National

Horse of the Year and Equestrian of the Year Awards The SmartPak/USEF National and International Horse of the Year Awards and USEF Equestrian of the Year Awards are among the highest honors for achievement in equestrian sports. Many members are familiar with these awards through the voting process; all USEF members are able to participate in online voting to select the ultimate winners of these titles.

But there is a multi-step process that takes place before the finalists make it to the ballot. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for nominees from across all USEF breeds and disciplines.

The criteria and selection process for these awards, as well as the other annual awards given out by US Equestrian, are managed by the USEF Awards Committee. This committee also reviews the criteria and, if necessary, makes changes to ensure the awards fit the current needs of the industry.

While the Horse of the Year designation is also used for USEF’s point-based awards program— the SmartPak/ USEF Horse of the Year Awards Program—this article looks specifically at the National and International Horse of the Year Awards, which are a separate entity.

International and National Horse of the Year The SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year and USEF Equestrian of the Year Awards are among the highest honors for achievement in equestrian sports.

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The USEF Horse of the Year Award started as a single award in 2005 and has been presented as two separate titles since 2011. International Horse of the Year nominees come from the eight sports recognized by the Fédération Équestre Internationale, while National Horse of

PHOTO: ADAM BRENNAN/PICTURESBYAB.COM

by Leslie Potter

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HOW IT WORKS

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USEF ID number in order to submit their ballot.

Public voting on the final slate of nominees opens in early December and, in 2021, runs through December 30, 2021. Voters submit a ranked ballot, on which they choose their first, second, and third choice for each Horse of the Year award. Each ranked vote is given a point value: five points for first choice, three for second choice, and one for third choice. The International and National Horse of the Year nominees with the highest point totals at the close of voting will be named International and National Horse of the Year, respectively, with the award presented at the Horse of the Year Awards Dinner at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting.

International and National Equestrian of the Year The USEF Equestrian of the Year Award dates back to 1990 and since 2019 has been awarded to one National and one International honoree.

Criteria: As with Horse of the Year, Equestrian of the Year nominees are evaluated on their achievements in equestrian competition for the current year, though nominations will also include supporting information such as the nominee’s volunteer work and past achievements.

Nomination: The finalists for the Equestrian of the Year award are the winners of the eight Equestrian of Honor trophies. These trophies cover different disciplines and there can be more than one winner of any of the trophies each year.

National affiliate organizations, USEF breed and discipline committees, and the USEF Sport and Communications departments may nominate multiple individuals for the applicable Equestrian of Honor award up until the early November deadline. USEF staff may contact nominees to provide biographical information and highlights of their achievements in equestrian competition for the current year if more information is needed beyond what is on the nomination form.

USEF staff will verify the information and forward eligible nominations to the Awards Committee, which then meets to

PHOTO: ADAM BRENNAN/PICTURESBYAB.COM

the Year nominees are from the remaining USEF-recognized national breeds and disciplines.

Nominations: Each affiliate organization of USEF may nominate one horse or pony for consideration. Each USEF breed and discipline committee may also nominate one horse or pony from their segment of the sport. Under a recent change to the nomination criteria, USEF staff from the Sport and Marketing departments may nominate a horse if there are no nominations from a particular breed or discipline’s affiliate or committee.

This change was in response to memb er feedb ack and provides an additional opportunity for deserving horses to be nominated. All nominees go through the Awards Committee for review, regardless of where they originated.

Nominations are accepted from September through early November. This timeframe is intended to allow for fall championships, while still providing the Awards Committee with enough time to process nominations before member voting opens in December. Breeds and disciplines with late-fall championships may arrange late nominations with the USEF Senior Manager of Awards.

Criteria: While a horse’s full career highlights may be included in the nomination, the primary requirement for an International or National Horse of the Year candidate is an exceptional competition record in the current year. With a few exceptions, a nominated horse must have won a national championship at a USEF-licensed competition, won a three-star or four-star FEI competition, or medaled in an FEI championship during that year. Nominated horses must be at least three years old. USEF staff verify the information provided in the nomination and then forward the eligible nominees to the Awards Committee.

Voting: The Awards Committee, which comprises representatives from across USEF breeds and disciplines, meets to analyze the nominees. It selects up to six finalists—three from the FEI disciplines and three from the national breeds and disciplines—to go to members for voting. All Fans, Subscribers, and Competing members are eligible to vote and must be logged in with their

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HOW IT WORKS select the winners of the eight Equestrians of Honor Awards. Those eight awards are categorized by sport or discipline and are as follows: William C. Steinkraus Trophy: International dressage, eventing, or jumping Becky Grand Hart Trophy: International driving, endurance, reining, vaulting, or para-equestrian Bill Robinson Trophy: National harness/ driving performance Emerson Burr Trophy: National hunter over fences C.J. “June” Cronan Trophy: National, nonhunter, non-show hack, non-western under saddle disciplines Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy: National non-reining western disciplines Norman K. Dunn Trophy: National in-hand/halter Vaughan Smith Trophy: National hunter pleasure, hunter on the flat, show hack, hunter hack, dressage hack, costume, side saddle, or western dressage

Getting Involved If there is a horse or equestrian that you want to see on the ballot, the best place to start is with the national affiliate organization for the applicable breed or discipline. Review the award criteria, which can be downloaded from usef.org/compete/rankings-results/pegasusawards. Providing relevant supporting info for your nomination will make it easier for the affiliate to move forward in the process. You can also reach out to your breed, discipline, or sport committee to recommend a nominee.

Find the committee rosters at usef.org/aboutus/councils-committees.

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PHOTO: ADAM BRENNAN/PICTURESBYAB.COM

Voting: The voting process for Equestrian of the Year is essentially the same as Horse of the Year. The Equestrians of Honor trophy winners will be announced in early December as the finalists for the Equestrian of the Year award. Members submit their ranked ballots online, and the finalists with the highest point tallies are recognized as National and International Equestrians of the Year. The winner is announced at the Pegasus Awards Dinner at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting.

LEARNING CENTER

WINTER SPARKLE

by Margaret Buranen

Keeping horses clean in cold winter conditions can be challenging, but it can be done, our expert says.

Chris Knox, a well-known breeder of Connemara and Connemara-Thoroughbred crosses, knows a lot about keeping a show-ready shine on horses all year around.

A member of US Equestrian’s Breeders, Carriage Pleasure Driving, and Connemara Committees, she has competed in dressage, show jumping, and other equine sports. She has groomed horses of many breeds—and colors.

Over the years the Bancroft, Idaho, resident has developed some tricks to make her horses look their best and save herself time and effort, even when winter sets in.

Cold Water Won’t Wash in Winter “You can’t use cold water on a horse in winter,” so having a source of warm water is “almost imperative,” Knox said.

Many barns have a frost-free hydrant in the wash stall. When the faucet is turned off, water drops below the frost level, so the hydrant never freezes. But without a water heater or separate hot water line, this water is too cold to use on a horse. When Knox and her husband built

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a new barn, they had their plumber install a shower mixing valve at the frost-free hydrant.

He then connected a pipe to the water heater in the heated tack room. The mixing valve combines hot and cold water to deliver water at a preset temperature.

“The water always feels warm to your hand and to the horses,” Knox said.

Installing the mixing valve and pipe to a water heater can be expensive if the existing barn floor has to be removed, though a retrofit can be feasible if you need or are already planning new barn flooring. A less expensive option is a portable hot water heater attached to the frost-free hydrant. These heaters can be moved around on wheeled carts.

“Most people have heated water in their tack rooms,” Knox said. “You can fill a bucket and sponge off the horse’s legs and lower tail.

Some horses will put their feet into buckets of warm water [to soak off dirt].”

Knox also recommends hanging infrared lamps above wash stalls. Heat radiates down, warming groom and horse.

PHOTO: SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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Below Right: Thorough grooming every day is essential when it’s too cold to rinse the horse’s body.

Natural Protection “Unless a horse is old or debilitated in some way, I never blanket an unclipped horse,” Knox

said. “A horse’s coarse guard hair on top of his undercoat fluffs up [trapping air, thus providing] insulation for him. But if he’s wearing a blanket he can’t fluff up his coat, and you’re not there every hour to remove the blanket if he overheats, sweats, and then gets chilled.

People feel cold, so they put blankets on horses who don’t need them.”

But wind and cold rain are a horse’s enemies, so access to shelter, such as a three-sided run-in shed or open stall attached to a paddock, is key. In addition to their hair coats, another natural protection horses have against winter weather is scurf, the combination of dead skin cells and skin oil. “It’s the horse’s natural water 42 WINTER ISSUE 2021

repellant, a good thing [that outside horses need],” Knox explained.

Knox makes a point of not clipping her horses’ legs, even though the extra hair may cause dirt to cling to them and make extra work for her. “They need hair on their fetlocks, because it acts like a rain gutter on a house,” she explained. “It keeps rain from accumulating on the backs of their heels. In winter, leave hair on to protect the horse and to let water drain away.”

Dry Cleaning Thorough grooming every day is essential when it’s too cold to rinse the horse’s body. Knox uses brushes and a vacuum cleaner. She starts with a curry—she prefers a rubber curry comb because it melds to her hand—then follows

up with a dandy brush, a softer one for horses with thinner coats, such as Thoroughbreds.

Knox replaced her small canister vacuum’s original hose with a much longer one, which allows her to operate it with only the hose and its attachment, and not the whole machine, in the wash stall.

Spot-cleaning a few dirty spots keeps them from attracting more dirt and saves work, said Knox, who relies on Grime Boss towelettes.

They’re made to clean mechanics’ greasy hands, and with one smooth and one rougher side they’ll quickly remove manure stains and other dirt from horses.

PHOTOS: SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Below: Adding a portable water heater, an infrared heat lamp above your wash stall, and an extra-long equine vacuum hose can help make it easier to keep a show-ready shine on your horse in the winter.

In winter, Knox sprays warm water only on a horse’s lower legs and lower tail, never on its body. She thoroughly dries any wet area. The fake chamois towels divers often use and microfiber cleaning towels are better than terrycloth towels, Knox believes, because they can be wrung out quickly to absorb more water.

For horses who are damp from exercise, Knox also suggests draping 100% wool blankets or thick fleece throws over them, then moving on to groom other horses; in a while, the blankets will be wet, but the horses underneath them will be dry.

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A fluffy, detangled tail looks cleaner, notes our expert Chris Knox, who recommends spraying the tail with Luster’s Pink before brushing it out thoroughly.

Clean, Fluffy Tails To remove tangles from manes and tails, Knox uses Luster’s Pink, which she says won’t freeze in a cold barn. Even if her horse’s tail is dirty, Knox sprays it with Luster’s Pink before giving it a good brushing. Often the tail gets clean enough that she can skip dunking the lower part in a bucket of water.

“A fluffy, detangled tail looks clean,” she said.

But if the lower part of the tail is extra dirty, Knox dunks it in warm water, shampoos it, and dunks it again in clean water. She applies cream rinse (Knox recommends Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship) and leaves it on for five minutes before dunking the tail again.

Then she sprays on Luster’s Pink.

Warm Spell? Wash Those Whites Keeping a white horse dazzling is always a challenge, especially in colder temperatures. If it’s warm enough to wash a horse, Knox first rinses off the horse with warm water, then mixes bluing (she suggests Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Laundry Bluing) in warm water. Be sure to dilute the bluing with enough water; if you don’t, you will end up with a blue horse!

44 WINTER ISSUE 2021

Knox dips a sponge in the bluing water, adds Orvus paste livestock shampoo to give the mane and coat a good scrub, then rinses the shampoo out with clean water.

She rinses the tail off and puts it into a new bucket of bluing water, sponging this water on top of the tail, then adds the shampoo and scrubs the tail well. She rinses the tail first with the bluing water, then with clean water.

Next, Knox adds OUT’s White Brite laundry whitener to a new bucket of water, sponging it onto the top of the tail and letting it sit for several minutes before rinsing it well.

(Knox notes that she finds White Brite too drying for the horse’s coat but good for the coarse tail hair.)

Knox then applies cream rinse, letting it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. The result is a sparkling white to rival any snowfall.

Check out more grooming, blanketing, and horse-care tips in US Equestrian’s online Learning Center at usef.org/learn. We’ve got 90+ videos and a library of additional resources covering horse care, training, breeds and disciplines, US Equestrian programs, and more!

PHOTO: SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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Virtual Events, Real Benefits

by Glenye Cain Oakford

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many organizations to move shows and other events online, and some saw unexpected benefits.

Two USEF affiliates, the Arabian Horse Association and the Western Dressage Association of America, share what worked for them and why virtual events might be here to stay.

46 WINTER ISSUE 2021

Holding virtual events, from webinars to shows, can help build engagement.

Expanded Opportunities The results were also positive for the Western Dressage Association of America, which saw its membership numbers jump in 2020 despite the lack of in-person competitions. The 2020 WDAA Western Dressage Online World Championship Show was a big hit: in 2020 it attracted about 750 horse-and-rider combinations submitting 2,200 rides. That’s compared to just under 800 rides at the live World Show in 2019.

“Our membership increased 30% because of the virtual events” said WDAA President Cindy Butler,“and you should see the letters we’ve gotten from people thanking us for the opportunity to show.

We’ve gotten letters from people who have older horses, who are older themselves or who can’t travel.

We have letters from people who have a physical disability or who live in the middle of nowhere and don’t have a trailer. We got one letter from a lady who inherited a horse when her friend passed away, and she showed the horse in honor of her friend.

PHOTO: HOWARD SCHATZBERG

It was one of the major business shifts seen during the COVID-19 pandemic: the transition from the real to the virtual world. As in-person activities halted during lockdown, businesses, customers, employees, and managers faced transitions to online operations instead. Horse organizations were no different, and the challenge for many was significant: how to keep events like horse shows going and maintain member engagement when getting together in crowds was out of the question? A number of organizations found surprising benefits in hosting competitions and other activities online and now say they plan to incorporate virtual events in their regular rotation of offerings. That’s not surprising, given enthusiastic feedback from participants like Arabian Horse Association member Amanda Gonzalez, who ended a 15-year hiatus from showing by competing in a virtual show hosted by the AHA. “It was fun and easy, and I loved the judges’ feedback, especially since we are newly back into the show world,” she wrote. “The feedback was great, and it gave me something to work on for my next virtual show.”

“I absolutely love this idea,” another AHA member, Sharon Ford, wrote. “So great to have feedback and get kids back in show mode. … Thanks for thinking outside the box during this situation.”

“Overall, we got a really good response from our membership,” said Brenna Johnson, the AHA’s Youth and Family Programs Coordinator. “Everyone loved that we were trying something different and allowing people to participate at a new level. These shows allowed people to be part of a competition even during the very uncertain times.”

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People were thanking us because the virtual shows gave them something to do to help get them through the pandemic when they couldn’t go anywhere or see anyone. Or they were thanking us because they got to show for the first time and actually earn points toward WDAA’s awards program, which they’d never had the opportunity to do before.

“People were saying, ‘I could never have shown in a World Show before, and now I can.’”

One advantage to hosting a virtual event is that it can allow an organization to reach a new or broader audience that might not have attended, or potentially even have know about, an in-person event in prior years.

“We were able to get international entries that we couldn’t have gotten before,” Butler noted, adding, “We’ve decided that from now on we’re going to do two shows every year: our live World Championship show in Oklahoma and the virtual WDAA Western Dressage Online International Challenge.”

Another benefit the AHA found, Johnson said, is that virtual shows tempted former competitors to return to the show ring and also opened up a new door for beginners. “I think overall these shows are a great resource for beginners looking to get their foot in the door or those who are trying to get back into showing and would like to get some practice in before heading to a horse show,” she said. “We’re going to continue these for a winter series this year.”

Getting Started If you’re considering adding some virtual events to your calendar, here are a few tips to think about, based on the AHA and WDAA experiences.

Target an audience you want to reach.

Informal virtual shows are an opportunity to expand your reach or re-engage less active participants. Think about who you’re trying to draw in. “Virtual shows are definitely a learning curve and I think are a great opportunity for other groups to specialize them to meet their individual needs,” AHA’s Johnson said. “Our shows have been a great experience for some of our lesson programs and those wanting to get back into showing after a long break.”

Spice up slow times on the calendar.

Virtual events can add interest and fun at times that might traditionally be slower, especially for showing. If your show season ends for the winter, a virtual schooling show series can help whet equestrians’ appetites for competition or practice some skills.

48 WINTER ISSUE 2021

Consider partnering.

Teaming up with a group that has an established virtual track record, reaches a different audience, or can provide volunteers can be helpful. “We are actually working with the American Paint Horse Association for our virtual shows,” AHA’s Johnson explained. “They had already set up the processes and procedures to run these types of shows.”

Vary your virtual offerings.

Quizzes, panel discussions, webinars, Q & A sessions, even a barn tour streamed live on social media can engage your audience.

“We have had a lot of success with some virtual practice hippology and horse judging contests,” Johnson said. WDAA offers a free “Ride a Test” program for their junior members, in which they have a chance to have their videos commented on by a USEF Western dressage judge.

Keep technical requirements and instructions simple for participants.

“The biggest challenges are figuring out what technology you will use,” Johnson said. “For our shows we asked people to send us a Google link or YouTube link to access their videos. Then we utilized Google Docs for tracking entries and sending info to our judges. You also will need to make sure you have the time and point person set up to be able to help people troubleshoot getting their videos uploaded. That is probably one of the biggest struggles.”

To help its virtual show exhibitors, the WDAA posted a video on the WDAA Western Dressage Online International Challenge website that included submission instructions and some videography tips. The AHA also posted its general rules, submission instructions, and more on a dedicated webpage for virtual shows.

Promotion is key.

Social media is a great way to promote virtual events to people who are already online. “Our biggest promotion probably was through social media,” Johnson said. “We made sure entries were open for at least three weekends to allow people time to get themselves recorded.”

Exploring virtual options can be fun, too, says WDAA’s Butler. “And it’s really fun to judge the shows, too, because it’s almost like going on vacation,” she said. “One video will have palm trees or cattle in the background, and the next one will have you in the middle of a forest or the mountains. Some people have a fancy dressage ring and other people just have cones in the middle of a field, so it’s a little bit of everything, and it’s a lot of fun for everyone.”

PHOTO: ASHLEY SWIFT/US EQUESTRIAN

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“I Knew I Needed This in My Life” When Shelly Watts returned to riding, it restored a sense of balance in her life—and led her to showcase the diversity she’s found in the equestrian community.

50 WINTER ISSUE 2021

“We need to do better and showcase the gorgeous diversity that exists in the sport,” says Shelly Watts, shown with her mare, Muirneen.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MUIRNEEN EQUESTRIAN

My amazing little girl is the reason I started riding again after a long hiatus. I never thought I would be an adult beginner re-rider. I am a mom of three, a devoted wife, and at the top of my career as a fundraising executive. The last place on earth I thought I would be is standing next to my ex-racehorse Muirneen, bonding while hand-grazing, and strategizing on my new equestrian clothing brand. My life is not going exactly how I imagined it would.

I started taking riding lessons as a teenager and enjoyed the athleticism involved in the sport. I wore the same tan breeches and black velvet helmet to every lesson. I never tacked up a horse or did anything but brush my lesson horse before riding. I hopped on and off a saintly Morgan before and after each lesson, never learning proper horsemanship or the purpose of a girth.

I felt invincible and did not even know falling off a horse was an option. My lack of true interaction with the horses made it difficult to commit to the sport. After a harmless fall while posting without stirrups, I gave up riding altogether. I never looked back.

Three children and two marriages later, I found myself fundraising for one of the most influential organizations in the country. I had just started the job, but I was already burnt out, stressed out, and questioning my life. I loved my work, but I have always struggled with finding the proper balance between life, career, and family.

It wasn’t until my eight-year-old daughter, JoJo, mentioned wanting to

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USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 51

ride horses that I began the search for a something going on. So that beautiful, I pondered this predicament for quite lesson barn close by our home. I’m not slowed pace is something that I really craved. some time as I eased into the equestrian sure what attracted me to Empire Farms For the first couple of months, I felt world. My journey didn’t stop there. in Chesterfield, Mich. However, as soon like a complete outsider. Even though There were many boarders at our barn as I drove on the property, I was hooked. the trainers and riders were welcomwho owned horses. I didn’t even think The beautiful scenery and sight of their ing, I had stepped into a world I didn’t non-trainers could own horses. Once I majestic horses lowered my stress level understand in the slightest. I couldn’t discovered this simple truth, I knew I after a busy workday. I was mesmerized comprehend the apparel, bits, bridles, or needed a horse. by the sights and sounds of the barn’s anything, for that matter. When I started After a long, arduous horse search in hustle and bustle. doing research, reading magazines, and the United States and Canada, my trainer I thought this was something she and looking at equestrian websites for clothfound this quirky black horse that was I could get into together. I’ve seen her ing, I noticed something very startling good with beginners and needed some self-confidence really soar, she’s become and quite strange. Why did all the riders groceries. I instantly fell in love and more coordinated and better able to follow look exactly the same? No one looked like bought her the next day based on a video. directions. These days, kids are always me or my daughter.

She was the Dynaformer mare named on technology, and that’s what’s suckI have served in Detroit as a profesMuirneen that was sold as a yearling for ing them in. At the barn, we’re not on sional fundraiser for a long time. I am $450,000 and now was an off-the-track our phones; we’re out in God’s beautivery aware of the lack of diversity in most Thoroughbred being sold for one-hunful creation, and as soon as you step into the barn your blood-pressure drops.

There’s something about connecting with nature and being outside and doing an activity that doesn’t have you glued to a device.

My d a u g h t e r h ap pened to be feeling under the weather for one of the first lessons she was supposed to attend. I took her place and rode this amazing lesson horse named Jazzy. She took good care of me and could sense my nervous adult brain. After that, I knew I needed this in my life.

Equestrian sport for me is kind of a bridge between two worlds: the older world where everything was run by horsepower and now, where everything is electronic, automated, and fast, fast, fast. We’ve kind of lost that old-world work ethic. Shelly Watts with her Thoroughbred mare, Muirneen, and daughter JoJo. So for me it’s a beautiful blend of what I love about the past and sports, but this was far more surreal than dredth of her original selling price. what I’m seeking to attain in the present.

I even expected. I would see the same As I continued to wrestle with the With horses, you can’t rush the process figure, face, and skin color on every equeslack of diversity in the equestrian sport, or fast-forward to ‘Okay I’m just going trian model. I was absolutely stunned. My Muirneen and I learned to trust each to do this and then I’ll be a really good barn was filled with diversity. My amazing other. My Dynaformer mare saved me equestrian.’ It takes a lot of time, it takes trainers were covered in tattoos. We had from falls on a weekly basis. She helped dedication, and it takes patience and beautiful black and brown riders. We had me to find balance in a way that I did not understanding with your horse. equestrians in all shapes and sizes. None know was possible. Instead of working I am so busy: I travel for my job, I’m of these riders were represented in the from dawn to dusk each day, I would head always on, I’m on call, there’s always equestrian media. I had to do something. to the barn after work to spend time with 52 WINTER ISSUE 2021

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MUIRNEEN EQUESTRIAN

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my new companion and friend. During my regular trips to the barn, I slowly came to the realization of what I wanted to do. Actually, what I needed to do.

I needed to start an equestrian clothing brand that featured diverse models. I named it after my ex-racehorse Muirneen. I wanted to show the world that our sport was filled with the most incredible human beings, and they did not look like the models in the magazines. I shared the vision to Troxel Helmets and Weaver Leather, and they signed on to be sponsors even before our launch.

I organized a complex photoshoot with 17 human models and 11 horse models with my new clothing line. We had models of color, including Imani and Justin, the most beautiful black models you have ever seen. Imani is a new rider and learning how to canter. Justin is the smallest equestrian at the barn and learning how to trot without stirrups. My sweet model Addie is an inspiring new jumper and has the cutest purple and blue hearing aid. My trainers joined in with their full sleeves of tattoos. We had models of every size and shape, and it was magnificent. I believe that God has uniquely crafted each equestrian, and I am honored to showcase His workmanship in my clothing line.

We need to do better and showcase the gorgeous diversity that exists in the sport. Magazines need to do better and feature equestrians that look like me and my daughter, like Imani, Justin, and Addie. Equestrian websites need to do better and revere riders of all ages and skill levels. Period. End of discussion.

Shelly Watts lives in Macomb, Mich., where she is the founder of Muirneen and a self-described beginner adult re-rider in the hunter/jumper discipline.

54 WINTER ISSUE 2021

“She helped me to find balance in a way that I did not know was possible,” Shelly Watts, a self-described adult beginner re-rider, writes of her mare, Muirneen.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MUIRNEEN EQUESTRIAN

“WITH HORSES, YOU CAN’T RUSH THE PROCESS.”

JUNIORS’ RING

FIVE STUDENTS

In September, US Equestrian announced five recipients of $1,000 USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarships.

US Equestrian awards these scholarships to graduating high-school seniors who are committed to continuing their involvement in equestrian sport while in college through an equestrian-related degree, volunteerism, or internship; by riding on an intercollegiate equestrian team; or through another equestrian-related activity.

The $1,000 scholarship is to be used towards education expenses at the recipient’s college or university. The application deadline for the USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarship is July 31.

Applicants must be active US Equestrian competing or fan members.

For more details about the USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarship, including how to apply, visit usef. org/learning-center/youth-programs/ grants-scholarships/high-school-scholarship or email Emily McSweeney at emcsweeney@usef.org. The five recipients this year are as follows: 56 WINTER ISSUE 2021

SAMANTHA ADAMCZYK (Loxahatchee, Fla.) will be attending the Auburn University in the fall, beginning her studies in the university’s Animal Sciences - Equine program. Adamczyk started riding at 12 years old and through hard work and a willingness to try, fail, and learn, she eventually achieved her goal of competing at an A-rated hunter/ jumper show. Adamczyk also rode for her high school’s Interscholastic Equestrian Association team, qualifying for IEA Hunt Seat Regional Finals in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

“While I was abundantly prepared, it was a learning experience that I will never forget. Going to Regionals has taught me that there will always be a way to improve and learn more. Being a working student and competing in IEA have been fantastic opportunities for me to participate in a sport that I am passionate about and gather a wealth of equestrian knowledge. I want to continue this journey and further my experience by riding at the IHSA level in college,” said Adamczyk. “I also applied for the equine student manager position at Auburn University, my first choice of all the colleges I applied to. I hope to get this student position and expand more on my experience and skill set at the college level.”

Learn more about the hunter discipline by visiting our recognized affiliate, the United States Hunter Jumper Association at ushja.org.

CAROLINE JOHNSTON (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) will be attending University of New Hampshire, pursuing her degree in Equine Studies. Johnston has been riding for 12 years and credits her experiences working with horses as a key component for her love of learning and growth in key skills like patience, empathy, and self-awareness.

“I plan to major in equine studies, as well as ride on the IHSA team at the University of New Hampshire. After college, I want to work as a hunt seat show trainer. My ultimate goal will be to open my own barn. I am eager to guide equestrians through their journeys in horse showing, proudly watching them excel as my students. Introducing first-time riders is also an exciting prospect. Eventually, I would like to also offer equine therapy in my barn. My goal is to spread the wellness that horses can offer. Bringing awareness to horses’ therapeutic abilities is incredibly important to me, as many people are unaware of how life-changing riding horses can be,” said Johnston. “I believe everyone deserves a chance to work with horses. With this scholarship, I can become a successful show trainer and barn owner, cultivating a new generation and community of riders.”

PHOTOS: SARA MALANAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY, JENNIFER JOHNSTON

Awarded USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarships

GRACIE LYNCH (Berea, Ky.) is a dressage rider and will be pursuing degrees in Equine Rehabilitation and Pre-Veterinary Medicine at Midway University. Lynch started riding at seven years old and has spent that time developing her horsemanship skills both in and out of the saddle. Even if Lynch was not able to ride during any given week, she was still at the barn watching and learning, particularly the young horses in training.

“Though the common term is industry, I liken the equine industry to more of a community. It is a community that may seem to be made up with people that have nothing in common on the outside, but the love of the horse connects us all,” said Lynch. “This love of horses has taken me on a journey unlike anything outside of the equine industry. I have learned important lessons, had unique experiences, and met some amazing people. This has not only impacted who I am today, but also what I want my future to look like.”

Learn more about the dressage discipline by visiting our recognized affiliate, the United States Dressage Federation, at usdf.org.

58 WINTER ISSUE 2021

MAGGIE SHEEHAN (Perkinsville, Vt.) is an eventer and plans to attend the University of Vermont, pursing a major in Animal Science with a pre-equine veterinarian track. Sheehan loved everything about horses and riding from the very beginning, and said pursuing a career to give back to the animals who gave her so much was a no-brainer.

“I went from a shy, unconfident little rider to a well-rounded person who’s able to speak for myself, solve problems, think ahead, and keep pushing no matter the circumstances. Now, I navigate new life challenges with a steady demeanor, patience, and grit,” said Sheehan. “Every day I’m reminded of everything my trainer and each horse that comes in and out of my life has taught me. So I wasn’t really surprised when at the end of one day, sweeping the aisle while the late afternoon summer light danced through the barn, the thought crossed my mind: I could do this for the rest of my life. I want to help each horse as much as they’ve helped me. So, I’m pursuing a career in equine veterinary medicine.”

Learn more about the eventing discipline by visiting our recognized affiliate, the United States Eventing Association, at useventing.org.

EMMA TEFF (Renfrew, Pa.) will be attending the Purdue University this fall to pursue a degree in Engineering. Teff is a committed dressage rider and has spent weeks away from home for athlete development programs caring for her horse, maintaining her own physical fitness, and preparing to pursue a rigorous undergraduate academic program.

“The determination, perseverance, and positive attitude I learned growing up with horses will serve me well as I take on college and my future career.

My ultimate professional goal is to be an engineer and an entrepreneur with at least a master’s degree,” said Teff. “I have chosen this path because I see it as the best way to utilize my strengths and interests to help other people. At its core, engineering is the practice of doing good for the world by putting problemsolving skills and an innovative mindset into practice.”

Congratulations to the US Equestrian Higher Education Equestrian Scholarship winners. Learn more about the youth programs offered through US Equestrian.

PHOTOS: CHRISTIE LYNCH, JOAN DAVIS/FLATLANDSFOTO, NINA TEFF

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Title Sponsor of the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program through the United States Equestrian Federation Sponsor of Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida "2020 Sponsor of American Equestrians Got Talent", for the benefit of the United States Equestrian Federation.

HISTOR

PARALYMPIANS MAKE

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RY

IN TOKYO

Left to right: Rebecca Hart, Kate Shoemaker, and Roxanne Trunnell celebrate their historic team bronze medal, the United States’ first para dressage team medal at a Paralympics.

The U.S. Para Dressage Team brought home three medals from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: the United States’ first equestrian Paralympic team medal and a pair of golds and record freestyle score for Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton.

The U.S. Para Dressage Paralympic athletes—Bea de Lavalette, Rebecca Hart, Kate Shoemaker, and Roxanne Trunnell—rode into the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games from a year of strong competition results, ready to fight for medals and with high expectations from Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline. They competed with confidence and achieved those goals in thrilling style, earning a team bronze, two individual golds, and a Paralympic-record score of 86.927% for Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton’s FEI Grade I Freestyle to Music performance. These were also the first individual Paralympic equestrian medals for the U.S. in the modern era of Paralympic athletes riding their own horses, rather than borrowed mounts, noted US Equestrian Director of Sport Will Connell.

“We were prepared, but so were the other nations, and on arrival I quickly realized that the top European teams had come up another notch,” Assouline said. “This was going to be a battle, for sure, but we had great unity in our team riders, with trust and confidence in place, which meant that with drive and resilience we could push another notch, too!”

In fact, the U.S. riders reached the Paralympic podium for the first time as a team, securing team bronze with a total score of 224.352 in the FEI Team Test to Music, a moment that Assouline called “simply mesmerizing.”

The achievement was the latest in the U.S. Para Dressage Team’s steady rise after a 12th-place finish at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games in 2016, Assouline noted.

“We already had a phenomenal climb to fifth position at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and it was just about battling and continuing our upward trend,” he said.

Riding Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint’s Dolton, Trunnell kicked things off with an early gold medal in the FEI Grade I Individual Test, the United States’ first equestrian Paralympics gold since the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. The pair then made history with their stunning Grade I Freestyle to Music, breaking the previous Paralympic record set in 2012.

These were, as Assouline put it, “historical and magical Team USA endeavors” that can set these elite para dressage competitors up for even more success in the future.

“Coaches and riders came home stronger, knowing that strong mindsets and work ethics in sport get you there in the end,” Assouline said.

“It’s all about believing in yourself and your team, and delivering with precision judges’ expectations.”

PHOTOS BY TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 63

Top to Bottom: Bea de Lavalette plants a kiss on her mount Clarc, owned by Elizabeth and Nicholas de Lavalette.

Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40, the gelding she owns with Deena and Craig Shoemaker, on their way to a strong fourthplace finish in the FEI Grade IV Freestyle to Music.

Roxanne Trunnell celebrates the coveted gold medal after setting a Paralympic-record score of 86.927% in the FEI Grade I Freestyle to Music.

Opposite: The stadium was largely empty during these unusual pandemic-era Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, but that didn’t stop para dressage athletes like 2020 double gold medalist Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton, shown here, from shining brightly.

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Far Left: Kate, Craig, and Deena Shoemaker’s Solitaer 40 accepts a sugar cube from groom Alexus Sisley.

Left: Grade III para dressage athlete Rebecca Hart and Rowan O’Riley’s El Corona Texel trot in the heat of competition during the FEI Grade III Team Test to Music.

Top to Bottom: Rebecca Hart, with Rowan O’Riley’s El Corona Texel and coach Jennifer Baumert, acknowledges her supporters at the 2020 Paralympics para dressage competition.

Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40, whom she owns with Deena and Craig Shoemaker, enjoy a light moment with Shoemaker’s coach, Lehua Custer.

Team USA’s fans offered enthusiastic support from the “kiss and cry” box for team connections.

“Roxanne and Dolton are one in a million as a partnership and it is always wonderful and emotional to watch them in action.”

— Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline

Left: Roxanne Trunnell pats Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karen Flint’s Dolton for a job well done after their FEI Grade I Freestyle to Music, which set a Paralympic record score of 86.927% on the final day of para dressage competition.

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Clockwise: Rebecca Hart flashes a joyous smile as she and Rowan O’Riley’s El Corona Texel ride down the center line in their FEI Grade III Team Test to Music performance.

Team bronze medalists (left to right) Roxanne Trunnell, Kate Shoemaker, and Rebecca Hart on the podium in front of their mounts (left to right) Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karen Flint’s Dolton, with groom Angela Baugh; Rowan O’Riley’s El Corona Texel, with groom Kjersten Lance; and Kate, Craig, and Deena Shoemaker’s Solitaer 40, with groom Alexus Sisley.

Bea de Lavalette, on Elizabeth and Nicholas de Lavelette’s Clarc, and coach Shayna Simon. De Lavalette has said that representing the U.S. at the Paralympic Games helped motivate her return to the saddle after she sustained near-fatal injuries in a 2016 terrorist attack at the Brussels Airport in Belgium.

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Clockwise: Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint’s Dolton and groom Angela Baugh share a moment during the medal ceremony as Roxanne Trunnell receives the gold for Dressage Individual Test - Grade I. The U.S. Para Dressage Team Tokyo 2020 pose for a portrait at the equestrian venue.

Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40, whom she owns with Deena and Craig Shoemaker, in the dressage ring at Tokyo’s equestrian venue.

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Y O R K

CUSTOM FIT & DESIGN

United States Equestrian Team Foundation Philanthropic Partner of US Equestrian

Supporting Athletes Promoting International Excellence Building for the Future

GO TEAM USA Where Olympic & Paralympic Journeys Begin

Support your team at USET.org Photos by Shannon Brinkman and Phelps Media Group

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PHOTO: THESE SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE GUTTER, BUT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS IN FEATURES TO CREATE LEGIBILITY

The United Horse Coalition guide strongly suggests consulting an attorney to help you make a plan that will ensure that your horses are taken care of if they outlive you.

ESTATE PLANNING for Your

HORSE

PHOTO: SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY

When you sit down with an attorney to make your will or trust, remember to include your horses.

If your horse should outlive you, how will you provide for his or her care? It’s a question that keeps many horse owners up at night—especially if they don’t know where to begin to make a plan for their horses. We turned to the American Horse Council’s United Horse Coalition, which has produced a guide for horse owners.

The following information is intended to be a general guide for estate planning as it applies to your horses. The UHC recommends contacting a knowledgeable attorney to guide you through the details of estate planning involving your equine.

While it’s common for people to regularly think about what they need to do to establish their will and ensure that their property and belongings are taken care of in the event of their death, it’s not common that their horses are included in this process. Without a will, your horse could become the property of your heirs, and these family members may have no interest, or even the required knowledge, to inherit and care for your horse.

Some owners might just elect to have their horse sold at either a private sale or a dispersal sale at an auction. However, some owners may also be wary of this, as once a horse leaves an auction, its fate can sometimes be unknown, and the horse may end up in the wrong hands. Additionally, horses who are retired or have special needs might be more difficult to sell or place in a good new home.

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How Do I Protect My Horses if They Outlive Me? One of the first things to consider when estate planning is “who”: who do you know among your equine contacts, friends, or family that has the knowledge, and, most importantly, the desire to care for your horse after your death?

Will this person not only be able to care for the horse, but also be able to successfully sell or rehome him or her?

Another consideration is “how”: how does this person you have identified take ownership of your horse? Here there are two options: Naming the horse in a will or creating a trust for the horse.

Naming the Horse in a Will A will is a legal document that allows you to leave property to certain individuals and organizations. Many owners will take the simplest option and state in their will that the horse must be given to this specific person. Some owners even leave a bequest of a specific amount of cash or property (if the horse is stabled on the owner’s property) to help cover the costs that will be associated with the care of the horse. However, it is also important to note that a will does not automatically give your estate away the minute you die. It must go through probate, which means it is filed with the court and becomes a public document that can be seen by anyone who looks up the file. Probate can take anywhere from nine months to several years, depending on the complexity of the estate and whether challenges arise from family members to the will. A will may also require the payment of estate taxes. In conclusion, if you haven’t made other plans for the probate period, your assets are not available to pay for horse’s needs, such as board, feed, and farrier care, leaving your beneficiary on their own to incur the costs for caring for your horse.

Additional note: while probate assets are tied up during administration, the executor has a fiduciary responsibility to take care of estate assets, which would include making sure that the horses who are part of the estate are cared for.

PHOTO: SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Creating a Horse Trust A trust is a written statement that allows you to leave your estate to certain individuals or organizations. In this case, it can also explain how the horse owner wishes their horse be

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Having a list of your horse’s tack and equipment and its value is also helpful in the planning process.

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cared for after their death. One advantage of a trust is that funds to care for your horse are available automatically, because trusts do not go through the probate period that a will does.

There are two types of trusts that are available to the horse owner: testamentary and inter vivos.

Testamentary trust: This type of trust is a trust document that is created when the horse owner passes away, as laid out in his/ her Last Will and Testament. Because the establishment of a testamentary trust does not happen until death, it is by nature irrevocable.

Inter vivos trust: Also known as a living trust, this is a trust document created for the purpose of estate planning while the horse owner is still living. An inter vivos trust is drafted as either a revocable or irrevocable living trust, and it allows the individual for whom the document was established to access assets such as cash, investments, and real estate property named in the title of the trust while they are still alive. Inter vivos trusts that are revocable have more flexibility than those that are deemed irrevocable, but both types of living trusts bypass the probate process once the trust owner passes away.

If you’re considering placing your horse in a retirement facility as part of your estate planning, research operations carefully and set aside funds for your horse’s care.

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It is important to note that each type of trust has its own specific considerations and should be considered in connection with any type of estate plan.

Generally speaking, in the trust, the horse owner names a trustee that will carry out their desired wishes for their horse, as well as a back-up trustee should the primary trustee become incapacitated, become unable to fulfill the requests in the trust, or die. The trust also

PHOTOS: SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY

A will may contain more than one testamentary trust and may address all or any portion of the estate. There are typically four parties involved in a testamentary trust: • The grantor, also referred to as the settlor.

This is the individual who specifies that the trust be created, usually as a part of his or her will, but it also may be set up during the person’s lifetime.

• The trustee, whose duty is to carry out the terms of the will. He or she may be named in the will or may be appointed by the probate court that handles the will.

• The beneficiary or beneficiaries, who will receive the benefits of the trust.

• The probate court. Although not a party to the trust itself, it oversees the trustee’s handling of the trust.

provides information and instructions on how the trust funds should be distributed for the horse’s care. Typically, the trust will dictate how the funds in the trust are to be managed and where any remaining assets should go if the horse should also pass away (it’s also important to note that the trust terminates upon the death of the horse). The trust can contain information about anything from how the horse should be taken care of, to any health issues it may have, to feed/hay preferences, riding or turnout schedule, and more.

The trustee will care for your horse in accordance with the guidelines set within the trust. Ideally, the individual named as trustee will either have a horse of their own or have plenty of experience in caring for horses.

Trust or Will?

When trying to decide whether to create a horse trust or put your horse in your will, it’s important to consider both the pros and cons of each. However, if you intend to leave the person who will take care of your horse the necessary funds to ensure its proper care, a trust offers more structure and oversight.

Trust assets must be separated from the trustees’ personal assets and must be used for the horse’s care as directed within the trust document. If money is given outright to the horse’s new owner upon your death, it can potentially be used by that person however they choose; there is nothing that guarantees, or holds them to, using that money for the horse’s care as intended.

A trust also allows for succession of the horse guardian. For example, if you leave your horse to someone as a bequest in your will and that individual dies, that person’s estate determines what happens to the horse. If the horse is left in a trust and the trustee becomes incapacitated or dies, the individual you name as a back-up trustee will take over and continue care of your horse.

Retirement Facilities and Donation Another vehicle that a horse owner may wish to consider when thinking about the horse’s future is a retirement home. You will need to have funds set aside for board and care, and think about what happens should your horse outlive those available funds.

Depending on your horse’s training and suitability, you may be able to donate your horse to a 501(c)(3) program, such as a therapeutic riding or school program.

Your donation of the horse (if it is accepted into a program) is considered a tax deduction for the fair value of the horse.

Depending on your horse’s training and suitability, you may be able to donate your horse to a 501(c)(3) program, such as a school or therapeutic riding program.

In Conclusion As previously mentioned, the UHC strongly suggests that you sit down with a knowledgeable attorney to help you figure out what is best for you and your horse’s future. The time and effort to think through and plan a complex issue like this will ensure that your equine family is taken care of after your death. In connection with the planning meeting with an attorney, it is very helpful if the horse owner were to prepare an inventory with specific information as to the equine assets owned. This would include the horse’s name, cost, date of purchase, gender, and the estimated value of the horse. The more organized the information is when the horse owner provides it to the attorney, the less time (and expense) the attorney will need to spend on such preparation matter.

A special thank-you to Peter Ecabert, general counsel for the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, on his assistance with this guide.

Disclaimer: The UHC’s Estate Planning Guide should not be construed as, or is intended to constitute, legal, financial, advisory, investment, legal, tax, accounting, regulatory, insurance, or other professional advice to you or any other party. Nothing mentioned in the Guide should be acted upon without first obtaining professional advice from a qualified professional with regards to your own objectives and needs.

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Don’t Forget To Consider These As you incorporate your horse or horses into your estate planning, remember these considerations, too: Registration Papers and Medical Records In the case that your horse is registered with a breed registry, or any other registration based organization for that matter, it’s important to ensure that all of the horse’s registration papers are in order and included with your will or trust. This will not only be helpful to the trustee when dealing with what you have left behind, but will also be helpful in the case the horse is sold to a new owner. Additionally, ensuring that the horse’s medical records are in order will be helpful for both the trustee and potential new owner in becoming knowledgeable about the horse’s current and past health status and issues.

Your Land It’s become increasingly common that farmland is bought up by developers to build houses, shopping centers, strip malls, and more. If you own the land that your horse was on, you may want to ensure that your property doesn’t end up being bought and turned into one of those shopping centers. One way to do this is with a conservation easement.

A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement that limits certain types of use or prevents development on the land. Essentially, you can specify what you want your land to be used for in the future.

Conservation easements can be tricky as they can potentially decrease your property value, make your land more difficult to sell when the time does come, and limit future land use potential. However, some perks include income and estate tax benefits, along with agricultural land conservation.

The Equine Land Conservation Resource is an excellent organization and resource for any questions you may have as it pertains to conservation easements and ensuring the security of your personal land.

Your Equine Business If you own an equine business, you have the added challenge of determining who you want to leave in charge or what you want to happen to your business upon your death. The UHC suggests working with an attorney to help you determine and document the business’s future.

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PHOTO: SHELLEY PAULSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Your Belongings We all know horses come with a lot of things! So while you plan for your horse’s future, you should also consider what to do regarding who will inherit your belongings. It’s also important to know how much those items—such as saddles, harnesses, or even farm maintenance equipment—are worth. Getting these potentially valuable items appraised will be helpful to your beneficiaries or trustees.

To most people, this is a sign of good luck.

To us, it’s how it all started.

We’ve been helping you care for horses since John Deere, himself, fitted his first horseshoe. His passion for the perfect fit and unrelenting pursuit of quality lives on today. We are still dedicated to finding the perfect fit for you and your land. All so you can get back to doing what you live for—your horses.

Find out how you can save up to 28% on new John Deere equipment, as a member of a qualifying equine association. Call us at 1-877-576-6872 or visit JohnDeere.com/Equine for details.

JohnDeere.com/Equine John Deere’s green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol, and JOHN DEERE are trademarks of Deere & Company.

81504

That nip in the air holds a hint of promise: the holiday gift-giving season is right around the corner!

We collect gift ideas all year to give you some shopping inspiration, whether you’re seeking gifts for a friend, a groom, a coach, or a family member— or adding something to your own wish list!

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Show-ready? Check!

Know a barnmate who always gets to the show and has to run straight to the nearest mobile tack shop because they forgot something?

Give them the gift of stressreduction with View Halloo’s Horse Show Checklist. With 25 tear-off checklist sheets, your barn pal or student will be good to go for the 2022 show season (and beyond).

Sized 11” x 8.5’’, printed on heavystock paper, and made in the USA. $10. view-halloo.com

Perfect Circle The EQUUS Ring is beautifully crafted in solid 18k yellow gold and enamel with hand-cut coin edges. An eternity design featuring the Latin word for horse, EQUUS, snaffle bits, and star motifs. 9 mm wide.

Available in midnight black or lapis blue.

Handmade in the U.S. $3,450. savenac.com

Fashion Meets Function The women's Ariat EOS tight offers flattering support and 21st-century style-meets-function details like a grippy knee patch and conveniently placed pockets: one on each thigh and a zippered pocket in back. AriatTEK® Heat Series technology adds literal coolness to this great look. Compressive polyester/spandex fabrication provides sleek fit and retains its shape. Ariat® Hex Silicone Grip knee patch gives optimal grip in the saddle. $125. shopusef.org

A Little Aroma(barn)therapy Scripted Fragrance’s Horse soy wax candle comes in a reusable rocks glass featuring a black horse silhouette. Designed to capture the spirit and personality of a horse, the fragrance is a strong sandalwood wrapped in warm shea, with a touch of bright almond. A portion of proceeds from each candle sold is donated to charity. $36. scriptedfragrance.com

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Bag It in Style The JBG Tote and Saddlebag by Rebar Works: a meticulously handcrafted set befitting a day at the barn or a night at the opera.

Clipped inside each tote is a matching, removable “saddlebag” with a detachable shoulder strap. Available in chestnut or havana leather.

Offered as a limited edition. $1,900. rebarworks.com

Step Up Schooling Cavaletti are schooling essentials!

Dalman Jump Co.’s aluminum cavaletti are durable yet light, allowing for easy transportation, adjustment, and storage.

Cavaletti have three different settings: upside down for a low rail, set at a midheight when flipped once, or set at full height when flipped twice. Aluminum construction makes for a long-lasting product that can weather all the elements. Featuring a modern design and available in a variety of colors. $375 each. dalmanjumpco.com

Safety’s in Style Safety is always in good taste, especially when it looks this good!

Designed for everyday riding, Charles Owen’s Luna helmet offers low-profile styling, three international safety standards, plus innovative 360° ventilation and a padded headband to ensure a comfortable ride. From $275. charlesowen.com

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This Bangle “Nails” It The Blacksmith Bangle is hand-cast and hand-textured. Styled as wraparound horseshoe nail cast in brass, then plated with sterling silver and polished to perfection. Pliable to make a custom form fit, these bangles look amazing stacked. $99. urban-equestrian.com

Give Peace of Mind For the horse-owners and managers in your life—or for your own horse. NIGHTWATCH® is the complete equine healthmonitoring service. View, manage, and share real-time and historical insights, receive automated alerts, and remotely monitor a horse’s distress, rest, and recovery. From $49/month. smarthalter.com

Training Tracker Ridely features hundreds of training videos and an innovative digital journal that allows anyone to plan everything around their horse. Log daily training with as many horses as you want, upload photos and videos to watch your progress, track your rides, and get your stats. US Equestrian members get a 30% discount for Ridely PRO. Download Ridely now free from the App Store or Google Play and then visit Ridely’s website to upgrade with the discount code USEF30. pro.ridely.com

Fringe Fun Handcrafted in Germany and made of vegan techsuede, the Hunter Brown Fringe Beltbag is full of spirit, as is the flashy horse on the front corner.

Features a silk inner lining.

Durable for daily use at the stable, easily attachable at the belt. Can be personalized on the back. $390. annaklose.com

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Barn to Office and Back The Delaire backpack and Delaire large backpack feature a padded helmet compartment, as well as a padded laptop compartment. The Darius zip pouch comes in black, gray camo, and yellow and can fit inside the backpack or attach outside for immediate ringside access. Responsibly made from recycled, waterresistant materials, they also sport waterproof zippers to help protect electronics.

Backpacks: $228 and $258.

Pouch $28. veltrisport.com

Chewing Gum for Horses All-natural, bite-sized GumBits pieces are the perfect blend of treat and training tool. Intended for use with or without a bridle, GumBits naturally promotes chewing activity, activates salivation, and eliminates teeth-grinding. Dubbed “chewing gum for horses,” GumBits are currently used by a selection of the world’s top competitors. $40. gumbits.com 84 WINTER ISSUE 2021

The Power of the Pers In the age of texts and e personally handwritten more than ever. Show h you care with a handwr in a card by Horseshoe the premier provider of and pet-themed greetin Festive holiday designs to delight, and a portion purchase supports US E $1.05 per card/envelop horseshoegreetings.com

sonal emails, a n card means how much ritten note Greetings, f equineng cards. s are sure n of every Equestrian. pe. m

Signature Silk Talk about timeless: J. Coffey and Company marries the classic denim jackets embellished with designer silk for a unique (and versatile!) equestrian style statement. Each one-of-a-kind jacket incorporates equestrian-inspired scarves on the collar, cuffs, and back panel. Choose from light or dark blue denim.

Women’s sizes XS-XXL. $185. etsy.com/shop/jcoffeyandcompany

For the Littlest Equestrians The Little Friends Happy Horse Riding Stable has the most contented horses, because it has everything any equestrian’s partner could wish for: stables with a constant supply of hay, grain, carrots, grooming facilities, and more—there’s even a jump! $80. habausa.com

New Look for a New Year The Caroline sweater is the perfect base layer, with mesh details on the side that make the garment breathable.

Match it with Tanya riding tights, high-waisted with a flattering wide, comfortable waistband. Hybrid grip makes them perfect for both dressage and jumping. Lisa socks are a soft material that shapes nicely around your legs.

Sweater $99, tights $169, socks $39 for two-pack. psofsweden.com

A Bag for Everyone They’ll trust the Muirneen Barn Bag with their keys, helmet, horse treats, barn snacks, even supplements. It’s big.

It’s machine-washable. Need we say more? Made from durable, soft, Oxford polyester for a woman-owned, minorityowned, and veteran-owned company. $32. muirneen.com

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USEQUESTRIAN.ORG 87

Ariat always brings a bit of color and warm cheer to the holidays, without sacrificing the performance and durability equestrians require.

The equestrian lifestyle is about passion, performance, and grace under pressure. Why not look good at the same time?

Now that the holiday gift-giving season is here, we asked Ariat for some of their favorite ideas for equestrians of all stripes— pleasure riders, upper-level competitors, and horse-show moms and dads—to help them keep going in comfort, warmth, and style, whatever the weather. Ready to shop?

Find your local Ariat retailer here: ariat.com/retailers

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Southwestern Spice Top off your layers with the dusterlength Katharine coat in fluffy jacquard sherpa fleece with lined sleeves and pockets. Paired here with the Cotswold Beanie and Wythburn II waterproof boot for maximum warmth.

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Ahead of the Game These winter hats are cool in style but warm and cozy to wear. Take your pick: the Azelujo beanie features geometric intarsia knit, a cozy fleece lining for extra warmth, and a faux fur pom. The classic Cable style has a cloud-soft chenille lining and a faux chinchilla pom.

Bright Holiday Lights Bring some sparkling holiday cheer in colors from classic black and navy to more iridescent shades.

The Ideal down vest and jackets warm you to your core with AriatTEK® Cold Series technology and premium down, and there are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from. Moving from cold outdoors to climate-controlled indoors? No sweat: the Ideal vests fold easily into an attached pouch for added convenience.

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Western Flavors Lightweight warmth, flattering fit, and super-practical features like zippered hand pockets, an interior pocket, ribbed inner storm cuffs, and more? You’ve got it all in the R.E.A.L. Crius jacket, which has Zoned Climate Cool Insulation™ for warmth that doesn’t weigh you down.

Pair it with these two popular staples: the R.E.A.L. Enchanting shirt in the brilliant hues of a winter sunset—perfect for adding color to the transition from autumn to winter—and the Sidewinder skinny jeans, with ultra-stretch fabric and the perfect rise. And finish it off with boots that really are made for walking—and working, shopping, or socializing. The comfortable Heritage R Toe boot has spirited look steeped in cowgirl country tradition, combining a classic four-row stitch pattern with real durability, because, as all equestrians know, pretty is as pretty does.

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High and Dry Here are five good reasons to love the season. Ariat’s boots are famously durable and eyecatching, too. From laces and hooks with back zippers to easy pull-ons, they’ll keep you cozy and protected from the weather. Here are some highlights from this all-star lineup, from left to right:

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the Coniston Pro Gore-Tex® boot with Thinsulate™ for warmth with less bulk four outdoor living and working

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the Langdale waterproof boot with Waterproof PRO™ construction and Duratread™ outsole for all-day comfort and all-weather protection

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the Berwick Gore-Tex® insulated and waterproof boot that features an extra-luggy Duratread™ outsole (with an easy-off “kick heel” feature) and ATS® technology for stability and comfort all day

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the Wythburn II waterproof boot with Waterproof PRO™ construction a stirrupfriendly Duratread™ outsole, all-day cushioning insole, and moisture-wicking lining

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the Belford Gore-Tex® boot, as waterproof as it gets with an entire shaft lined with Gore-Tex, plus ATS® Pro technology for advanced stability and superior comfort, maximum wear resistance, and a Duratread™ lug sole to defeat winter’s slippery mud.

All-Weather Friend The aptly named Prowess jacket is sleek and sporty, but it’s not a mere fair-weather fashion statement. It’s a rain-buster, too. The EcoDryTM waterproof fabric is augmented with waterproof seam sealing and a removable hood. The saddle vents and performance stretch construction make it saddle-friendly, too. And you can take your tech with you safely, thanks to an internal tech pocket. Speaking of pockets, you’ve got even more options with zippered hand and chest pockets, too.

Heavy-Duty, Light Weight Need warmth that doesn’t get in your way with a lot of bulky layers? The Men’s Crius Insulated Jacket fits the bill. Its zoned Cool Climate Insulation™ is warm but light, so you can go about your life and work. Ariat’s Greater Arm Mobility seam construction frees you up for everything from roping to reining to stacking hay. And the ripstop shell has a water-resistant coating for those inclement cloudbursts on the trail.

Perfect for layering as weather and activity require. Need pockets? There are zippered hand pockets and an interior pocket, too.

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New Spin on a Classic The Province jacket’s stylish update to the traditional barn jacket adds more fitted styling, a pretty print lining, tab neck closure, and a horseshoe pendant detail at the back of the neck. But it keeps our functional favorites from the English countryside classic: generous patch pockets (but with new multiple entry points), quilted stitching design, and a snap-closure saddle vent. Shown here with Ariat’s Lowell 2.0 ¼ zip shirt and Premium high-rise skinny jeans.

A Bit of Charm Ariat’s Woodside vest is a class act whether you’re halting at X or grabbing a quick lunch with friends at your favorite local spot. The diamond quilting with print lining and a snafflebit detail flatter your sense of equestrian style, but this refined look is also your go-to for a reliable layer of warmth.

Pendleton Patterns Ariat’s collaboration with Pendleton® combine’s Pendleton’s iconic prints with Ariat’s most beloved styles, resulting in a boot that’s unique and uniquely comfortable, in and out of the saddle. The men’s all-leather (and leather-lined) Circuit boot features a selection of Pendleton prints, like noon brown (shown here). The Circuit Pendleton brings style and substance to the show: it features a 4LR™ lightweight stabling shank for support, a removable cushioning insole, Goodyear welt construction, and a Duratread™ heel tap for wear resistance.

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Chill-Fighting Fleece Ariat’s creative collaboration with Pendleton® has married the best of both worlds. The Pendleton fleece jacket is the perfect example. Its sunny hues bring to mind a bright winter’s day, but the luxurious sherpa fleece banishes any chill.

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Get It in Black and White What’s black and white and comfortable all over? Ariat’s Pendleton® insulated shirt jacket, men’s Crius insulated vest, women’s Dilon reversible vest, and men’s Circuit boot. Fear no chill in these layerable pieces, which are warm enough for outdoor work and sharp enough for a trip into town.

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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 Suspension List online at USequestrian.org. Hover over the Compete tab on the homepage. In the menu that appears, click Ineligibility List under Rules, Regulations, and Grievances.

This is official notice of actions taken by the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc., Hearing Committee on June 18, 2021.

P E G G Y FA C K R E L L , o f Shasta, Calif., violated Chapter 7, GR702.1d, the USEF Social Media Policy for Licensed Officials, and the USEF Licensed Officials Code of Ethics, in that, as a Federation Licensed Official and Competition Organizer, she made improper public-facing social media posts and comments relating to the USEF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan. In addition, Fackrell sent offensive emails to the USEF President, CEO, and Staff in relation to the USEF DEI Action Plan.

The Hearing Committee gave consideration to the evidence submitted, as well as the testimony provided by Fackrell and the witnesses participating in the hearing.

Fackrell was given proper notice of the Complaint and she participated in the Zoom video hearing.

In determining the proper penalty for the above violations, the Hearing Committee noted that the crux of this case centered around the delicate issue of when and how a Licensed Official may properly disagree with an important initiative of the Federation in a public forum. In this case, the Hearing Committee concluded unanimously that Fackrell crossed the line between the competing objectives of (1) the Federation being able to hold Licensed Officials accountable for the manner in which they publicly attack an important program of the Federation and (2) the Federation allowing proper dissent and objection by Licensed Officials that can be a healthy way to ensure that initiatives or actions are well-founded.

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Based on the evidence, the Hearing Committee ruled unanimously that Fackrell sent offensive and inappropriate emails to the USEF President, CEO, and Staff.

The Hearing Committee found that Fackrell can hold or express a different opinion and question an initiative of the Federation, but the manner in which Fackrell chose to express her opinions and question the DEI initiative resulted in these violations.

Fackrell testified that she did not violate the Social Media Policy by stating her personal opinion, as she did not make her comments while acting as a USEF Licensed Official. The Hearing Committee found that the Social Media Policy applies when you can be perceived as acting as a USEF Licensed Official and Fackrell’s Facebook post perceived that she was speaking from her perspective as a Licensed Official.

Based on the evidence, the Hearing Committee Panel ruled unanimously that Fackrell violated the Social Media Policy, GR702.1.d, and the Licensed Officials Code of Ethics (which requires Licensed Officials to abide by the Social Media Policy and to act in a “positive and professional” manner that reflects the Licensed Official’s “integrity, character, and respect for the sport and the [USEF]”) by acting “in a manner deemed improper, unethical, dishonest, unsportsmanlike or intemperate, or prejudicial to the best interests of the sport and the Federation.”

The Hearing Committee found in Fackrell’s favor that she was evidently unskilled in social media interactions, which contributed to her blundering into publicfacing communications when she thought she was communicating with a more supportive group. However, her public-facing comments were inappropriate

for a Licensed Official, and her comments directed to the USEF Officers and Staff were unnecessarily abrasive and rude.

Accordingly, for these violations of the rules, the Hearing Committee members present directed that PEGGY FACKRELL, as a Licensed Official and Competition Organizer, be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and that her current judging and steward’s licenses be rescinded beginning on September 1, 2021, and continuing through November 1, 2022. After November 1, 2022, Fackrell will be eligible to renew her licenses, assuming she meets the requisite qualifications.

LAINE ASHKER of Midlothian, Va., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation, in connection with Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials held on February 26-28, 2021, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse CALL HIM PADDY 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 LAINE ASHKER 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 CALL HIM PADDY at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

ALEXANDRA CORTESE of Middleville, Mich., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation, in connection with the Ohio HalfArabian Horse Association Horse Show held on April 2-4, 2021, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse ADRIANA LC 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 ALEXANDRA CORTESE 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 ADRIANA LC at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

CAROLYN DUNCAN of Woodstock, Ga., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation, in connection with the Tryon Summer I Horse Show held on June 18-20, 2021, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse BIG BEN 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 CAROLYN DUNCAN 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 BIG BEN at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

HEATHER IRVINE of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., violated Chapter 4, GR410, of this Federation, in connection with WEF 5 Show held on February 9-14, 2021, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse GERONIMO VAN BERKENBERG 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 HEATHER IRVINE 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 GERONIMO VAN BERKENBERG at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

EQUINE UNDERWATER TREADMILL SYSTEM Through the control of warm and cold water temperature, water height (to control buoyancy and resistance), speed and duration, equine trainers and veterinarians can better treat, train and condition equine athletes:

KRYSIA NELSON of Keswick, Va., violated Chapter 4, GR410 of this Federation, in connection with the Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC Spring 1 Horse Show held on April 7-11, 2021, in that she, as trainer, exhibited the horse ADVOCAT 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 KRYSIA NELSON 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 ADVOCAT at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

STEVE SCHAEFER of Maple Park, Ill., and REBECCA LANNOYE of Geneva, Ill., violated Chapter 4, GR410-411, of this Federation, in connection with the WEF 2 Horse Show held January 20-24, 2021, in that they, as trainers, exhibited the horse HAPPINESS after it had been administered and/or contained in its body hydroxyzine and cetirizine.

For this violation it was determined that STEVE SCHAEFER and REBECCA LANNOYE be censured pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1a, and collectively 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 HAPPINESS at said competition must be redistributed pursuant to Chapter 7, GR703.1g.

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