Sporthorse Florida
Winter 2011
Magazine
Equine Extravaganza Stallion Issue
Wellington welcomes The Lusitano Collection Vol. 2, No. 2
Florida Sporthorse Magazine 3
Contents
Sporthorse Florida
WINTER 2011
Magazine
4 Editor’s note
More honey, less vinegar
5 ContributoRs The faces behind Florida Sporthorse
6 Higher power
18 The water horse The Chinese Element of Water
20 If the shoe fits
Not all sporthorses are shod the same
22 Rating the pros
Faith, family and Derek Petersen
Rate My Horse PRO aims for transparency
8 perfect fit
28 Put it in neutral
10 equine Affair
32 Best foot forward
Saddle fit and the female anatomy
A neutral pelvis is the key to balance
Lusitanos come to South Florida
A show manager finds perfect footing
14 Canterbury
34 talk to animals
16 higher education
36 ponies and pals
Newberry’s friendly showplace
Working student positions give riders industry experience
Unraveling the complex bond between horses and humans
Pony Club teaches safety, independence and good horsemanship
4 Inside Florida Sporthorse
More honey, less vinegar
I
Christie Gold
magine this: your daughter loves math. She isn’t sure if her love of equations will someday lead to a degree in engineering, but she greets each school year with an eagerness to learn more. As a student in Calculus, she struggles with sophisticated concepts, but she likes the challenge. Every night, she diligently works through problems. She seeks help from her friends. She wants to succeed. In class one day, she is called to the board to work a problem. In the process, she makes errors, that lead to an incorrect answer. The teacher lashes out at her, calls her stupid, and humiliates her in front of her peers. Your daughter arrives home in tears; suddenly, she hates math; she thinks she’s dumb; she wants to drop out of the class. As a parent, you cannot dial the principal’s number fast enough. You are outraged over the teacher’s verbal abuse and complete lack of professionalism, as you should be. Now let’s change the scenario.
Instead of mathematics, it’s riding. The classroom is an arena, and the textbooks and calculators are replaced with your daughter’s beloved pony and her riding equipment. On this particular day, she is having difficulty riding a combination. She misses a stride on one attempt; the horse ducks out of the second fence on another. The instructor lashes out at her, calls her stupid and humiliates her in front of her peers. The parent says nothing. After all, this is a top trainer, and anyone who wants to train with him needs to accept that “this is who he is”, he is “tough,” and he is “not for the faint of heart.” Why the double standard? Of course, not all trainers behave this way, and this type of behavior isn’t isolated to
teacher quality. Every one of the district’s 15,000 teachers is evaluated multiple times throughout the year by both an administrator and a trained evaluator from outside of the school. The rubric used in the evaluation is based on the pedagogical research of noted education consultant Charlotte Danielson. One domain deals with the instructor’s knowledge of his or her subject matter; however, equal weight is placed on the creation of an environment of respect and rapport in the classroom. Danielson believes that this is crucial to learning. “An essential skill of teaching is that of managing relationships with students and ensuring that those among students are positive and supportive. Teachers create an environment of respect and rapport in their classrooms by the ways they interact with students…an important aspect of respect and rapport relates to how the teacher responds to students…In a respectful environment, all students feel valued and safe, and this is essential in order for learning to take place.” Respected. Valued. Safe. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want, what we all deserve from every professional with whom we choose to do business? Imagine that.
It seems when the word ‘teacher’ is replaced with ‘coach,’ the standards of acceptable behavior sometimes make a radical shift. equestrian sport. It seems when the word “teacher” is replaced with “coach,” the standards of acceptable behavior sometimes make a radical shift. They shouldn’t. Teaching is teaching and learning is learning regardless of the subject. This past year, the Hillsborough County School District (Tampa and its surrounding communities) launched a $100 million initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve
About the cover The Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction returns to Wellington in February. Photo courtesy of The Lusitano Collection.
Correction: In the Fall 2010 issue, the stallion Fuego XII was incorrectly identified as a Lusitano in the story covering the dressage phase of the World Equestrian Games. He is a PRE, Pura Raza Espanola.
Editor and Publisher Christie R. Gold
Senior Contributor Jane Whitehurst
Advertising Manager Sara Scozzafava (352) 352-585-6143 floridasporthorseads@gmail.com
Editorial Office 8205 Quail Run Dr. Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 (813) 973-3770
email: floridasporthorse@gmail.com
website: floridasporthorsemagazine.com
Florida Sporthorse Magazine is committed to providing a quarterly publication that presents content encompassing a broad range of topics of interest to Florida’s dressage, eventing, hunter/jumper and sport horse breeding communities. It includes profiles of riders, trainers and breeders who are influential around the state and beyond, as well as product reviews of items of particular interest to Florida equestrians. Florida Sporthorse Magazine accepts freelance material on subjects that support our mission. Submission information is available at www. floridasporthorsemagazine. com or by calling or writing the editorial office.
Florida Sporthorse Magazine 5
Contributors
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2. Amber Kimball is an FEI dressage trainer based in Ocala. In 1997 she began her dressage career as a working student in the stable of Olympic Bronze medalist Gina Smith. In 2001 she travelled to Belgium to hold a working student position in the stable of Grand Prix trainers, Penny and Johan Rockx. In 2002, she returned to the US to ride for American Olympian, Belinda Nairn-Wertman until the spring of 2010. Amber has sucessfully trained and shown horses from Training level through Intermediare II and has earned her USDF Silver medal. She now operates Southern Lights Dressage in Ocala, FL.
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3. Jennifer Bate is a freelance writer and an Arabian horse owner who has been riding and showing at the national level since the age of 12. She and her horses have earned a combined 23 national titles and 36 regional titles with the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
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1. Jane Whitehurst is a 1982 University of Florida graduate from the College of Agriculture where she majored in Animal Science. In 1985, she earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova University. For 20 years she taught high school science. Along with their husband, she recently purchased Nosara Farms in Odessa where she provides boarding, training and lessons. Since 1985 Jane has been an active competitor in the dressage ring and has recently earned her USDF Gold Medal.
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4. Debra Redmond has trained and shown through the FEI levels of dressage and has garnered over 20 regional and national awards. A riding injury led her to seek pain management through Eastern medicine. After experiencing relief first hand, she decided to study the modalities so that she could treat animals. She completed several programs and eventually earned a doctorate. She loves being able to assist owners and animals in restoring health and movement through the modalities of body work, spinal balancing, acupuncture, laser, and homeopathy.
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5. Caroline Morrison is a freshman at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa. She is rated a C2 in the United States Pony Club and a member of the South Creek Pony Club. Caroline enjoys all aspects of horsemanship. Her concentration has been 3’3 hunters, 1 meter jumpers, equitation, and first level dressage. You will rarely find her spending time away from her horses, a nine-year-old Thoroughbred and a five-year-old Holsteiner.
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6. Christina Heddesheimer graduated Fall 2008 with a Bachelors of Science in Equine Industry from The University of Florida. Her most recent riding activities include foxhunting with North Florida’s Misty Morning Hounds and training with eventer Patricia Deasy. Christina recently started law school at Emory University. 7. Jean White is the owner of Hammock Farms in Brooksville, where for the past 25 years she has trained students and horses from the lower levels to FEI. She earned her USDF Bronze and Silver medals, is a scholarship recipient from The Dressage Foundation, and won the Kimball Award at Prix St. Georges/Intermediare 1. Certified by the United States Dressage Federation as an Instructor through 4th level, Jean now teaches just the staff instructors at Hammock Farms. This allows her to use her extensive knowledge of riding to breed and produce the best Welsh Ponies and Andalusians for dressage and competitive driving.
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8. Wendy Low is manager of Canterbury Showplace, Inc. in Newberry, a multi-discipline horse show facility with five outdoor rings and a huge covered arena. Wendy events and rides jumpers and resides in Archer.
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9. Bryony Anderson, RYT, LMT has been riding horses since childhood. She has been practicing yoga for over 24 years, and began teaching in 1997. In addition to teaching yoga for equestrians, Bryony offers massage, Reiki, and Ortho-Bionomy for both horse and rider. She teaches yoga classes privately by appointment. Her Yoga for Equestrians audio CD’s are available at Ocala tack stores and at www.movingintobalance.com.
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6 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Higher Power
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Jennifer Bate
Faith, family fuel Derek Petersen’s success
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Derek Petersen aboard the Holsteiner stallion Cisco. Petersen has won numerous big-money Grand Prix classes. He credits his faith and his family for his success in the sport. Photo courtesy of Derek Petersen. Derek Petersen is a family man, a successful rider, a top trainer and a believer. At seven, Derek and his brother got their start riding horses after hanging out with some cowboy friends who offered to let them ride. “I got addicted,” Petersen said. “My mom had ridden when she was younger but never had a horse, so I figure that was something she wanted to do for us. She got us excited about it.” Around that same time, though, Petersen’s family moved to South Africa to be closer to
relatives. Like most kids, Petersen and his brother did not want to move. So, their mother promised them a horse, and a year later they got Misty. “He was a 30-or-so-year-old stallion of who knows what he was,” Petersen said. “[My brother and I] would tag team on him, riding around the neighborhood and to school. Mom took us to our first show jumping show one day and after watching, she said ‘Doesn’t that look like fun?’ I said ‘No way, that looks scary.’ But when we got home we were piling up garbage
cans and jumping them. It was the beginning of the end.” Today, Petersen’s fences are elaborate oxers adorned with flowers and his rides take him to the winner’s circle instead of around the neighborhood. Last September, Petersen competed in the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on Lazarro, owned by Jordan Coyne, and finished fourth. “I’m lucky to have Derek riding Lazarro,” Coyne says. “I couldn’t get him to go well over a four-foot course, and within a year, Derek
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was winning grand prix classes on him. I’m really fortunate that they get along really well, it’s awesome.” Coyne isn’t the only one feeling fortunate. Petersen says he’s been blessed. Arriving back in the United States at 19, Derek didn’t have a dime in his pocket. To ride and learn, he took on the role of working student before going out on his own. “I told God if he gave me a chance to live my dream, I’d do it for him,” he said. Many of his horses have Biblical names. “I like to name the horses something that people will ask about. One of mine is named Third Day after a contemporary Christian artist whose name comes from the day that Christ rose from the dead. I have another named Axe of the Apostles. One of the first ones was Promised Land. “I brought him back from Germany to be an equitation horse, and it turned out he could jump,” Petersen said. “People offered to buy him, but God said no. He was going to take me to the promised land.” That he did. The horse, originally named Lemon Tree, was eventually sold after Derek was faced with an offer he couldn’t refuse, $1.5 million. Not only did Promised Land take him to the
winner’s circle and help Derek earn the title of AGA Rookie of the Year, but his sale gave him another kind of promised land, an additional 20 acres added to his Archer farm. “I made a promise to God and he let me do what I love for a living. If you seek Him first, all those great things will be added unto you,” he said. “It’s Matthew 6:33.” Today, one of his own sons, Jared, is 19 and riding homebred and imported horses, jumping like his father.
Florida Sporthorse Magazine 7 circuit champion for two years in a row on Cisco. “Sometimes we go against each other; he’s hard to beat. He’s fast. Hopefully, he’s the one I’ll be setting jumps for one day. I wouldn’t mind that at all.” Coyne notes similarities between father and son. “You can tell Derek taught him, they ride very much alike,” she said. Derek’s wife no longer rides and though his younger son Joel, 16, showed talent he’s doing something else he loves: music. “He had more talent than any of us,” Petersen said of his youngest. “It was too easy for him, I guess. He’s a drummer, though. and he loves it. My wife doesn’t ride much anymore but she does everything else. She takes care of it all from the paperwork to grooming and cheering,” Petersen said. “I couldn’t do it without her, she’s great.” While horses are important nothing is more important to Petersen than family. “There was a $100,000 class last weekend, but I had promised Joel we would go to a concert. We stayed home and took a group of 15 or so kids,” he said. “I’d rather be here with my family doing that any day.”
“I made a promise to God, and He let me do what I love for a living. If you seek Him first, all those great things will be added unto you. It’s Matthew 6:33.” Jared is a clear part of the family business, breaking his own young horses and riding in the big arena, finding success on the Petersen’s stallion. Cisco is an approved Holsteiner by Concerto II that has produced many winners, including Derek’s current grand prix mount Eli that he will show in the $100,000 class at HITS this year. “It’s fun to see Jared coming up; he’s been
8 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Perfect Fit
In this first article in a series, George Gullikson discusses body types and saddle fit.
Saddle construction for the female frame Jane Whitehurst Twenty-some years ago George Gullikson committed a seemingly unspeakable act: Using a carpet knife, he took apart his wife’s dressage saddle. A mechanical engineer by trade, Gullikson was used to solving problems and finding better ways to make stuff work. Now a problem was unfolding at home. His wife, Carol was coming dangerously close to giving up on riding. She was on her umpteenth saddle, had been through several saddle fittings and things still weren’t right. No matter how hard she tried, she was always fighting her position, a challenge many women, especially in dressage, face. Gullikson configured his video equipment to watch streaming videos of two different riders simultaneously. One of the riders was his wife and the other was German Olympic rider Nicole Uphoff. Uphoff was in what Gullikson refers to as her “aerobic frame,” meaning that she was in a correct position that allowed her to accomplish anything within that sport. His wife was not. It was clear that if he removed the horse from the Uphoff, she would land solidly on her feet. If his wife’s horse was to suddenly disappear from underneath her, she would surely fall splayed-out on the ground. His wife knew how to ride and she was physically quite fit. He knew her frustration had to be with the saddle. With his crude tool he went into the saddle and carefully made the seat more open. Next, he made longer stirrup bars that extended back. With those two adjustments, Carol was able to get her leg back underneath her and her pubic bone no longer jammed into the pommel. Suddenly, Carol was able to get into her “aerobic frame” and ride comfortably. Her girlfriends noticed too and they all wanted Gullikson to do the same thing to their saddle, minus, of course, the carpet knife. The problem was so obvious, Gullikson found it hard to believe it hadn’t already been addressed: Not everyone’s anatomy is the same. Men are very different from women, and there is a wide discrepancy between the body types of the fairer sex. Everyone knew that fitting the saddle to the horse was imperative, but except for seat size, the different riders’ body types were not always considered in saddle construction. Armed with this information, Gullikson set off to visit saddle companies throughout
George Gullikson (right) working with dressage trainer Tom Noone (left) and his student, Ila Handy. Handy was having problems with her horse sitting down too much on his collected work. Gullikson says that after he adjusted her saddle for her ‘aerobic frame’, she was able to use her core strength, which allowed that gelding’s gait to be more relaxed and animated. Photo courtesy of George Gullikson. Germany, England and Canada. At each company he pitched his ideas and designs to no avail. The companies were not interested. They told him they didn’t get any complaints and that customers were satisfied with their products. Gullikson found this puzzling, so he began to look at genetic lineage and came up with the ‘North of the 50 Degree Parallel Rule.’ This rule implies that women riders north of 50 degrees north latitude, such as the British Isles, northern Germany and Scandinavia, the places where riders who often shine at the Olympics call home. These are the same countries where most saddles are manufactured.
This led to the question: Are the people in these countries good riders because of their physique or good riders because most saddles are made for their physique? Gullikson’s theory is that all women with the right saddle can become accomplished riders. Gullikson now divides women riders into three categories. The first group of riders are typically the women and men who are trainers and international riders. These people rarely have saddle issues. The saddles are already made for their build. Their anatomy is characterized by a straight back, straight, short and closed pelvis, and
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a small bottom which allows them to easily pivot on their seat bones. At the risk of passing judgment, the women in this group might not always be the best dancers or the most elegant in high heels due to their tight calves, but they can ride. The second category is where Gullikson believes that 90 percent of American women riders fall. They have a slight lordosic frame (sway back), a longer and more open pelvis, and a femur that is longer than the lower leg. They have strong muscular quads due to holding with their knees, larger bottoms, and they tend to walk on the balls of their feet and in more
of an anterior position by leading with their pelvis. High heels are not be a problem for these ladies and they have a much better chance of being good dancers. The third category is almost nonexistent because these women often give up on riding early on.In this group of women there is a much stronger Mediterranean influence. Jennifer Lopez would be a beautiful representative in this category. The characteristics are similar to the second category only exaggerated. For instance, their pelvis is so open that the pubic bone in these women could actually be lower than the tuberosity (seat) bones. What about
Florida Sporthorse Magazine 9 dancing? Just remember who is in this group. Although Gullikson’s clients consist of some very notable riders, he says his greatest satisfaction comes from making a saddle or adjusting a saddle to fit a woman who has been struggling with her position. “I love to see the attitude of the women when they start moving up the levels after being caught in training Level for years,” he said. He describes them as being happier, more confident, even a little cocky. That’s the upside. The downside is all the women who haven’t been helped, who beat themselves up after every ride. Adding salt to the wound is the trainers who can’t always empathize with these women. They have no idea what their clients are going through, and their comments often solidify what the rider is already thinking: They are not good enough and they do not try hard enough. Throughout Gullikson’s words a sincere frustration reverberates. “It could be so easy.” It’s simple to spot a rider not comfortable in the saddle. A tense neck is a tell-tale sign along with legs creeping up or shooting out in front of them. When put in this chair seat position, they are not able to use their abdominal muscles and instead are forced to incorrectly use their back often causing serious back issues. Taking the stirrup bar back allows them to get their legs underneath them and to use their abdominal muscles. Another problem stems from placing women in saddles with too large of a seat. Contrary to what most people think, the seat size has nothing to do with the length of the femur but instead the circumference of the pelvis. When a woman is placed in these big seats they are pressed to the back of the saddle and cannot sit comfortably in the proper place on the horse which is at thoracic vertebrae 13. A rider sitting behind this vertebrae on the horse will cause much discomfort to her mount. The majority of women riders have an open and longer pelvis. For these riders an open seat, not a V-seat, is imperative. This will alleviate jamming her pelvic bone into the pommel because the pommel is lower and at more of an incline. Gullikson has heard from many women who claim they have never not felt themselves hitting the pommel of the saddle. Over developed quadriceps from gripping with knees is another common problem women with lordosis face. Correct rotation of the flap and placement of the thigh roll allows the rider to relax and therefore utilize the whole leg placing them in a better balance. Women riders who are struggling with their position in ill-fitting saddles can rest assure they are not alone. While strength and cardio are important components in being a fit rider, all the exercises in the world will prove to be futile if the saddle doesn’t fit their body type.
10 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
A celebration de eqinos Lusitano auction comes to South Florida Johnny Robb The Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction has been called the “most exciting sport horse auction in the United States,” and fans of the Lusitano breed are already gearing up for the 2011 festivities. The 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction is scheduled for February 23-26 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, during the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival season in Wellington. The auction draws Lusitano fans and interested buyers from all around the world for a weekend filled with excitement, ranging from agala dinner to the exhilaration and pulsating moves of Samba dancers. Topping off the highly- anticipated weekend is, of course, the presentation of the horses. The auction gives Lusitano enthusiasts a chance to share a memorable experience while having the opportunity to take home some of the world’s finest Lusitano horses. Interagro Lusitanos, the largest Lusitano breeder and exporter in the world, will again have horses in the 2011 auction, giving new owners the chance to take home their dream horse. During the 2010 auction, dressage rider Kate Saunders and her father Tim Bettis both took home Interagro horses. “We didn’t go to the auction to buy horses, we just thought it would be a fun event centered around horses that our family could attend,” Saunders said. Saunders bought a stallion named Boicote Interagro and her father purchased a mare named Carmelita Interagro. “Because of the way Boicote was raised and his personality, he’s just a dream to handle even as a stallion,” Saunders said. “Boicote loves to play in the paddock with all his toys, just like a little kid, but then when you tell him it’s time to work, he focuses on you and tries his heart out. He’s one of the most trainable horses I’ve ever met.” Cathy Cooper, of Smyrna, Georgia, also took home her dream horse during last year’s auction. “Baluarte Interagro is not only my dream horse and future champion, but I have fallen in love with him and the Lusitano breed as well,” Cooper said. “After years of riding I was ready to become a horse owner and I picked the Lusitano specifically.” Cooper’s trainer, Lisa Evans, showed Baluarte in three training level classes at the Atlanta National Dressage Show in Conyers. “He scored above 60 in all three, with a 67.857 in his last class. He’s not even in full training
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Florida Sporthorse Magazine 11
The stallion Xerxes Interago (opposite page and above) is representative of the blockstock available at The Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction to be held in February. Cathy Cooper (left) purchased Baluarte Interago at last year’s auction. The horse performed well at last year’s Atlanta National Dressage Show with Cooper’s trainer Lisa Evans. Beyond the horses, the auction features a gala dinner and showcase of the show horses (left). All photos courtesy of The Lusitano Collection. yet, so we are very proud,” said Cooper. Katherine Cook, the owner of Legendary Lusitanos, said she felt in her heart that she found her breed when she attended the 2008 Lusitano auction. “Aesthetically speaking, I wanted a beautiful and balanced horse with a long, thick mane and tail, both powerful and stately. Personality-wise, I wanted a horse that was comfortable to ride, personable and pleasant to handle. I was looking for a horse that could compete in dressage, do some jumping, and who I could take on trail rides,” Cook said. “In my mind, I was looking for a horse that was the perfect composition in intelligence, athleticism, and beauty. And it was at that first Interagro Auction held in the US in 2008, I felt in my heart
I had found my breed.” Although she wasn’t planning on purchasing a horse, by the end of the evening Cook was the owner of not one, but two Lusitano stallions – Xisto Interagro and Zola Interagro. Cook returned to the Lusitano Auction in 2009 and 2010 and now owns five stallions. Dressage trainer Gary Lane, of Boynton Beach, Florida, is also sold on the Lusitano breed. “I absolutely adore the Lusitano breed. They are bright, willing horses and possess an incredible work ethic. I believe my future will rest with the Lusitanos. I love the two KWPN geldings that I have but feel that I will stay with the Lusitanos from here on out. I won’t say that
I would never buy another warmblood because I’ve had and still do have some incredible warmbloods, but my heart tends to lead me to the Lusitanos,” Lane said. Lane said he had been interested in Iberian horses for quite some time. When he decided to sell one of his warmbloods he decided to look into the Iberian horses more seriously, “I contacted my friend Heather Bender, who’s the Director of USA Training for the Interagro Farm Export Program. She took me to their farm in November 2009, and I’ve been hooked ever since. We now have eight Lusitanos in our stable,” Lane said, adding that the horses are owned by Carlene Blunt. The Lusitano breed is renowned for their willingness to please and owners of Lusitano’s believe they possess a higher than average intelligence. The Lusitano’s generous temperament and ease under saddle makes it an attractive prospect for amateur and professional riders alike and the 2011 auction promises to feature Lusitanos aimed at all levels of riders. While word has been spreading about the 2011 Lusitano auction, which promises to be the most exciting auction to date, the Lusitanos themselves are the true ambassadors for the upcoming auction. Two Lusitanos, driven in tandem by Cherri Reiber, kicked off the holiday season in style at the Holiday HorseFest at the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach’s downtown waterfront. “The crowd really enjoyed the tandem driving exhibition and the two Lusitanos, Vistor Interagro and Zerbino Interagro, piloted by Reiber put on a fabulous performance,” said Peter Van Borst, the United States representative for Interagro Lusitanos. “Following the exhibition, we had many, many people wanting to know more about Lusitanos and the auction.” The Lusitano breed was also in the spotlight at the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention in Jacksonville, when dressage rider Leah Winston showed the sixyear-old Lusitano stallion Amintas Interagro, owned by Al and Sherie Zobec of Z Stallions in Palm City, Florida, in the USDF symposium. Winston has found success with Amintas in the FEI Six-Year-Old division and believes the stallion has Grand Prix potential. In addition to spending an amazing actionpacked weekend in sunny South Florida during February, the auction also gives attendees the unique opportunity to purchase Brazilian horses without the hassle of import fees or quarantine periods. The horses are all pre-vetted, and their complete medical histories are documented for prospective buyers. “The buyers have a wonderful advantage of knowing that these are some of the best Lusitanos we have to offer. Interagro has over 800 horses and we have known the horses we send to auction since they were born, and have been with them every step of the way,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, the Managing Director of
Interagro Farm in Brazil. Interested buyers can ride their dream horses in advance by taking part in the horse tryouts on Wednesday, February 23 and Thursday February 24. Veterinarian checks will take place on Friday, February 25 followed by a horse showcase at 6:00 in the evening, featuring professionals riding the auction horses and showing their training, temperament, and natural gaits. The weekend will culminate with the gala dinner and auction on Saturday, February 26 beginning at 5:00 pm. The auction will offer something for
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everyone, including vendors and booths. Sho Clothes, a premiere dressage boutique, will be on hand as will the United States Dressage Federation and the Dressage Connection. These offer finery for horses and riders, as well as provided the commemorative halters for each horse in the auction. International Horse Auction’s charitable partner, The Equestrian Aid Foundation, will also have items available to bid on to raise money for their important cause. New this year, the high-selling horse at the auction will receive a custom made saddle from Custom Saddlery.
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14 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Canterbury
Christina Heddesheimer
Two decades after a class project turned into an equestrian showplace, the Newberry facility continues to evolve
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hen Canterbury Equestrian Showplace first opened its doors in January 1991, the reception was overwhelming. Their first event, a dressage show followed by performances from various equestrian acts entitled, “Night of the Horse,” was standing room only, and the event caused a traffic jam from the facility in Newberry all the way to Gainesville. Founder Carlie Evans describes the traffic as so bad that some of the judges had difficulty getting to the facility to judge dressage classes. “It was just such a huge support that we did not expect, it was tremendous,” she said. This support has continued throughout Canterbury’s history and remains strong today. The facility, a 60-acre showground complete with five show barns, three outdoor rings, cross country courses, and an indoor arena with seating for 2,000 spectators, hosts an estimated 54 shows annually in a variety of disciplines. Events include everything from breed shows, hunter/jumper shows, dressage shows and three-phase events, to mounted shooting, barrel racing and driving competitions. In addition, the facility hosts some nonequine events including fundraisers for local charities, political gatherings, weddings, church functions and even Karate dojo classes in the clubhouse. The idea for Canterbury began while Evans was taking an animal science class at The University of Florida and had to design a horse farm as a semester project. While Evans attended local dressage shows during college, she noticed that most of the shows were
inconvenient and lacked many of the amenities needed at a good show facility. The local shows were held at small farms in the area, and Evans felt that the area needed a large, comprehensive show facility. In 1988, Evans compiled a business proposal that she distributed throughout Florida to see if there was sufficient interest in a new showground to make it financially viable. With the positive feedback she received, Evans flew to the United Kingdom to pitch the idea to Len Shaw, a family friend who financed the $3 million project. Construction began in February 1989; less than two years later it opened to the public. Canterbury has three full-time employees including its manager, long-time friend of Evans and co-developer of the property Wendy Low, and two maintenance employees, Lee Ferguson and Jim White. The maintenance employees keep the facility running smoothly by repairing fences, cleaning stalls, grooming rings, mowing grass, maintaining paddocks and building and repairing jumps. Although events are held primarily on the weekends, the work to prepare for each event occurs throughout the week. Mondays and Tuesdays are used to clean the facility from the previous event, Wednesdays and Thursdays are devoted to mowing and repair work and by Thursday the facility has to start preparing the grounds for the upcoming show as competitors begin to arrive for weekend showing at noon on Friday. When an organization rents Canterbury for a show, they pay for the amenities they use. There are grounds fees for things such
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The clubhouse and show office at Canterbury (top) hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Canterbury founders Wendy Low and Carlie Evan with Pez at one of the facility’s early dressage competitions. as arena use, stall use, jump use and camper fees. These fees in turn are passed on by the show organization to competitors. Canterbury decides which shows will be successful by looking at the history of a show series. For smaller shows, it is also possible book two shows for the same weekend. Canterbury’s history is marked with major successes, along with significant changes and challenges. In 1997, the property was auctioned off by the UK investor to pay off private debts. After the sale, Evans left the facility to open a vet clinic in Chiefland, while Low remained at the facility as its full-time manager. The years following the sale proved to be some of the facility’s most successful. The new owners renovated the showgrounds by paving roads, upgrading the covered arena, planting trees, and generally giving the facility a clean, refreshed appearance. This new look resulted in more business for Canterbury. In 2004 the facility was sold again to local
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Florida Sporthorse Magazine 15
Jumper riders compete “under the lights” in the main arena during one of Canterbury’s hunter/jumper shows. All photos courtesy of Wendy Low. businessman Gary Weseman, who made the decision to take 100 acres of Canterbury’s cross country course and turn it into housing developments, reducing the property’s acreage from roughly 160 acres to 60. This change meant that Canterbury could no longer host recognized three-phase events, which
were responsible for a significant amount of the facility’s revenue. Prior to the housing developments, Canterbury’s property was classified as agricultural, which limited housing to one dwelling per five acres. Through applications to the city, developers were able to amend the Future Land Use Plan Map of
the City of Newberry to change the land use classification from agricultural to residential low density, allowing a maximum of four dwellings per acre. In the minutes for a Newberry City Commission Meeting dated July 9, 2007, one such classification change can be seen in a unanimous vote to grant the developer’s application to re-classify 33.17 acres of Canterbury’s land from agricultural to residential low density. According to a North Florida Herald News article dated Dec. 12, 2008, the City of Newberry was “calling all horse lovers to join a committee or donate money to help keep Canterbury Equestrian Showplace open forever.” City Manager Keith Ashby says the city is still very much interested in purchasing the property, but they have been unable to raise sufficient funds to do so. Ashby said, “We did form a committee of like minded individuals and institutions that have attempted to raise money in order to purchase Canterbury. Times are fiscally constrained and we have only raised a small amount so far. We have been trying to get Florida Trust involved in the process but so far cannot accumulate enough points to get a good grant application going.” The recession has also impacted Canterbury, and Low estimates that they have seen about a 35% reduction in show entries for all disciplines across the board. Despite these setbacks, Canterbury remains a vibrant and important part of the horse show community. Low has developed some creative ways to generate revenue, such as distributing a fiber footing called Fleet Footing, selling hay and shavings, and renting space to RVs who want to camp-out on the property for nonequestrian purposes. As of February 2009, Ocala.com estimated that Canterbury alone has an economic impact of between $2 and $4 million annually. Low’s description of her two favorite Canterbury memories captures its energetic, friendly atmosphere enjoyed by both humans and horses alike. Her first was the thrill of jumping in a mini prix one night beneath the bright lights of the huge indoor arena, a memory shared by many Canterbury competitors. Her second is a less traditional memory for a showground filled with horses and competitors. Recently, during the Holiday Show, in the midst of a bustling competition, a large crowd sang Happy Birthday to Low’s 95 year-old grandmother. Low believes that the warm atmosphere of the facility is what makes it special. “I’ve been blessed to have a lifestyle I love and the horses and people make it all worthwhile. I am still making favorite memories.” For more information about Canterbury, please visit www.canterburyshowplace.com
16 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Higher Education Working students spend long hours gaining industry experience
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Amber Kimball Have you ever wondered if a full time career in horse training is for you? Or have you always wanted to know what it was like to ride in a top training barn? Being a working student is a great way to find out. A working student is an employee of a stable who works for limited or no pay in exchange for experience and instruction. Every situation is different. Some offer horse board, some offer room and board for the working student, some offer all of the above plus a stipend. Increasingly in this downtrodden economy, positions in the highest level stables actually require the working student to pay for their opportunity to work. A working student will gain skills including horse training, stable management, grooming, show and sales preparation, dealing with clients and general business management. One can choose to be a working student at any age. Typically though, it is a position chosen by younger people due to the physically demanding nature of the job. Applicants should be energetic, work quickly, be detail oriented, humble,
hard-working, and take instruction well. Anyone who is set in their ways or ego driven need not apply. Top trainers have strict stable management standards and expect horses to be trained using a defined system. Students are expected to abide by all directives. All positions are different but from my experience a typical day includes the following: Working students get up before the sun to feed horses, scrub buckets and turn out horses. Tacking horses up for the head trainers usually begins when the chores are finished. The majority of a working student’s riding time is spent warming up and cooling out the trainers’ horses. Usually any instruction the working student receives is during this time. Sometimes the working student will also receive instruction on their own horse or on a young horse they have been given as a project. Private lessons are rare unless the student pays an extra fee. Another feeding and more turnout rotation follow the morning riding. On a good day the working students will get a 15 to 30 minute break after the horses have lunch but it is never guaranteed. The afternoon includes more riding as well as a thorough grooming
session for every horse, hand walking or grazing horses and general chores such as laundry, picking manure from paddocks and raking arenas. The horses eat again in the evening and the barn is swept and closed up until night check. Working students have a few hours of freedom for dinner then around 9 pm they return to the barn. Night check usually includes topping off water buckets, changing blankets according to the weather, picking the stalls and giving the horses their final hay and grain for the day. Most working students maintain this schedule six days per week and have one day off. If you are just starting out in the working student world it may be wise to begin the journey under a local trainer on a part time basis. Once you are sure that it is the way you want to go you can jump in with both feet. Often if you start in a top trainer’s barn, more experienced working students will be your teachers. It may take a while to get instruction from the head trainer of the barn. Basic horsemanship, strong stable management, braiding, bandaging skills will be helpful. Also, the ability to drive a truck and trailer, tractor and manure spreader or lawn mower will
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come in handy. Some positions require a larger base of experience, some require less. All positions require a neat and tidy personal appearance at all times including keeping hair contained, shirts tucked in a boots polished. If you decide to be a working student it is helpful to know that many working student positions are not posted on job sites or in classified advertisements. Most trainers hire by word of mouth. Put together a written resume and a short video of yourself riding and make sure to include references from previous employers and coaches. Send your resume to trainers you admire but remember the biggest show barns don’t always equal the best learning opportunities. You may get more riding time and instruction in a smaller stable. If possible, present your application packet in person. Top trainers receive employment applications frequently so make your packet stand out with a smile and a handshake, even if it’s only the stable manager that you meet. A working student position is a significant step into a full time career as a horse trainer as it gives a candid view into the day to day workings of a training facility. Being a working student isn’t for everyone, but it can be a very rewarding and educational experience.
Private Lessons: Amber Kimball shares her experiences as a working student In my first weeks as a working student I was overwhelmed. I knew that life as a working student would be unlike anything I had done before but I had no idea how much different my life would become. Every day as a working student held a lesson, but those lessons weren’t necessarily learned in the saddle. My first morning was spent with a bucket in one hand and a scrub brush in the other. I was perched on a wobbling step ladder scrubbing fly poop and horse sneezes from stall ceilings. Most of the dirty water found its way down my arm and onto my shirt. I missed lunch that day because I was too timid to ask for a break. That first day taught me the value of a hot shower and a warm bed. The lessons kept rolling in one after another and my wrist watch became my best friend. Chores were done at a speed I could barely keep up with. Horses were moved from the stable to the arena like planes to a runway. A white board dictated each horse’s arrival time to the indoor and I learned bringing a horse too early would get me in just as much trouble as bringing a horse too late. I began to hone the skill of time management. Tasks were assigned to me by other working students. I wasn’t sure how I always
ended up with the most mundane chores such as scooping the sludge out of the wash stall drain or crawling inside of a hydroponic barley grass machine to scrub a week’s worth of algae growth from the sides, but I regularly found myself in smelly situations. Eventually I found out where the chore lists were posted. Not only did the early bird get the worm, she also got the choice of the cleanest, least physically demanding chores. Two weeks into my working student career I was thrust into full duty. I was assigned as my employer’s groom for a long weekend show. Hardly managing to maintain my underling position at home, I was suddenly solely entrusted with the care of two grand prix horses. One of the horses had recently competed in the Olympic Games, the other was on the road to the World Cup. It was a tough weekend for me as the only shows I had experienced in the past had been local club competitions. I got a crash course in show grooming for an Olympian and somehow stumbled through the show. That weekend taught me just how resilient I really am. We made it home no worse for wear and I had learned one more thing. That was to never, under any circumstances, take a leisurely weekend off for granted.
WATER
18 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
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Part five Annie Horneland
The Chinese Five Element of Water is the final element we’ll be exploring in this series. When we began our exploration, we noted that all sentient beings display qualities of each of the elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The Chinese elements correlate with the cycle of growth and development. We’re born into a Wood state which gives us the necessary courage and curiosity to explore and learn, which aids in learning to live in our environment. We move into the element of Fire when we become aware of needing and wanting others to connect with which generally coincides with puberty and the rise of hormonal influences. We move into the element of Earth when we settle down and raise a family, sacrificing our individual needs for the needs of the group. We move into the element of Metal when we are middle-aged and have made our way in the world. We’re secure in our knowledge of what we’re able to excel in and resist change in our environment. Finally, as we’re nearing the end of our life cycle we move into the element of Water. We accept that we can no longer dominate and direct every aspect of our life and seek to connect with a spiritual higher purpose. We accept what we cannot change and place a greater emphasis on non-physical accomplishments. When we label a human or an animal as predominately a “wood” we’re referring to those characteristics of the element which are prominently displayed in a repeated manner, in numerous situations. This label may not reflect the being in all situations but it gives those with a knowledge of the elements a better understanding of a person’s or animal’s inner nature and how it might be played out in many situations. The Chinese element of Water is not an element that is common among horses. In the wild, horses have to depend on one another for survival. The average lifespan of a horse in the wild is six years. Any horse that shows signs of weakness is an easy target for predators. Because the element of Water tends to be a solitary, it’s unusual to find this element as a
dominant element in the horse kingdom. In general, it would be far more likely to find the element of Water as a constitutional element among the rabbit population than among equines. Rabbits tend to spend the majority of their lives alone, trying not to be noticed. Those whose dominant element is Water aren’t comfortable with multiple relationships and usually rely heavily on their own knowledge and experience to make decisions. In group situations they tend to hang back and try to
Characteristics of the Water Horse >>Solitary >>Sensitive >>Honest in his work >>Tends to be anxious >>Enjoys games >>Clever and thoughtful >>Forms deep bond with owner blend into the background. Water can assume any shape. It flows into any unoccupied area and fits into any vessel. The element of Water is known for its ability to be a shape shifter. For this reason, those horses whose dominant element is Water are not always easy to recognize. One might observe a horse that in certain situations can appear to display the dramatic reactions of a fire, in other situations their curious nature might lead the observer to categorize the horse as a wood. In yet another situation the horse might be as agreeable and compromising as an Earth or as solid and steady as a Metal. What generally leads to the conclusion that a horse’s dominant nature is a Water is their display of fear. Prey animals generally flee in a situation that engenders fear but nearly all animals can be desensitized to objects, sights and sounds that they are initially unfamiliar with. The Water horse seems to cling to their initial fear or at the very least remain cautious
regardless of their training. They also exhibit an exaggerated startle response and are always on the lookout for a potential threat. Anything new or different is unsettling and the Water horse may flee first and evaluate the situation later. When unable to flee, the Water horse may tremble or cower. He may also try to flee a situation without regard to anything in their path. A fearful Water is the type of horse that might try to jump an obstacle that is too high for him to physically be capable of clearing, he might run over a handler or a pasture mate. They aren’t being mean or vindictive. They’re simply so scared they need to flee no matter the cost. The Chinese element of Water is also known for its spiritual and ethereal qualities. Many great artists and philosophers have had Water as their constitutional element. They tend to have little regard for material possessions and are clever and creative. This trait can be seen when a healthy Water horse ignores his favorite treat when nervous or concerned. The Water horse may become the proficient at opening his stall door or the gate to his paddock. The Water horse is a natural for the use of clicker training and often enjoys games and problem solving. When healthy and secure in their environment the Water horse is clever and thoughtful. The element of Water doesn’t form partnerships or trust as easily as many of the elements but when they form a bond it is magical. The Chinese element of Water is the most devoted of all the elements when a partnership is formed. When a Water forms an attachment to an animal or to a human there is a truly magical quality to their relationship. The element of Water is associated with the meridians of the Kidney and Bladder and is associated with the tissues of the brain, the spinal chord, the pupil and the inner ear. Reproduction is also greatly influenced by these meridians and therefore a healthy Water can become a wonderful stallion or broodmare. The unhealthy Water will often experience difficulty with infertility. Some of the other
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common physical problems associated with the element of Water are urinary problems, stunted growth or crooked limbs as well as an inability to generate enough vital heat to warm the body. This can result in becoming chilled or excessive hair growth. Arthritis is also a common malady of this element when enough joint fluid isn’t produced to protect the joints of the body. My experience with Water horses has been that they either captivate their owners and end up becoming a permanent member of the family, or they’re thought to be too sensitive to perform the job they were purchased for. I’ve worked with several horses that fit the element Water. One of my first horses as a young adult fit the pattern of the element of Water. He was an off-the-track thoroughbred named Reason with good conformation and a super inexpensive price tag. He was never a successful track horse and had suffered no injuries during his time in training or at the track but he didn’t seem to be as settled at the barn I boarded him at as I thought he would given his prior experience. He enjoyed the opportunity to be turned out each day, but never seemed to have a buddy no matter who we turned out with him. He wasn’t particularly aggressive nor was he the shy type that took a long time to venture near the herd. He truly seemed to be content on his own, grazing at the edge of the field. When one of the horses from the herd would saunter over
Reason either acted as though the other horse didn’t exist or he’d dash away. Many times the herd members tried to investigate the new guy but he usually ended up running laps trying to keep the others at bay. Eventually there was a quiet acceptance of the group toward Reason. The horses would allow him into the herd when sought the safety of numbers but he never seemed attached to any horse in particular. When a horse left the boarding facility it would often cause the remaining members
As we’re nearing the end of our life cycle, we move into the element of Water. We accept that we can no longer dominate and direct every aspect of our life and seek to connect with a spiritual higher purpose. to jostle for position. It didn’t seem to phase Reason. Very early on in the process of working with Reaso,n it became apparent that he was easily distracted by any perceived danger. Windy days were especially trying. He startled at anything that blew into the round pen. He startled when the when the wind gusted and blew up his back. He seemed spookier than any
Florida Sporthorse Magazine 19 horse I’d previously handled and so I sought help from many natural horse handlers. After numerous sessions in the round pen it was apparent that Reason was smart and wanted to communicate. He enjoyed learning to jump and seemed willing to play this game when he wasn’t distracted by something he perceived as a threat. Eventually, I found someone that helped to teach Reason to trust him in situations that normally caused a melt down or an attempt to exit. Reason bonded with him so completely that I ended up selling him to the trainer. They accomplished a lot more together than I ever would have imagined possible. Together Reason and Joe became quite successful at lower level jumping and eventually competed in three-day-eventing. The atmosphere at the eventing competitions suited Reason. Although there were other horses around he never had to be in close quarters with them. Out on the cross country course he could enjoy the course on his own. He trusted his rider and enjoyed the opportunity to run flat out without someone chasing him. The Water horse isn’t the choice for an inexperienced horseman but when trust is developed and a mutually enjoyable career choice is made the Water horse can be a super partner and performer forming a lifelong bond.
20 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
For want of a shoe... Performance shoeing includes dozens of options Jean White Have you ever ordered shoes for yourself? Unless you are familiar with that brand of shoe and the sizes and widths that shoe is offered in, you could be in for a big surprise. A size 7 in brand X can be very different in length and width from a size 7 in brand Y. This is why I tend to stick with the brands of shoes that I know will fit my feet. Now, think about your horse. What size shoe does he wear? Well, it depends. Horseshoes are similar to our own shoes in that there are many brands, sizes, stocks, lefts, rights, amount of traction, material, and nail position and type just to name a few variables. Then we have to mention shoes with toe clips, side clips, quarter clips or the farrier will draw his own clips. To top it all off, sizes of each brand can be different just like in our own shoes. Let’s explore what your farrier goes through each time he goes shopping at the local (or sometimes not-so-local) horse shoe store. The first consideration is the size. According to Florida farrier Kenny Mead, the choice of brand your farrier picks has to do with the terrain your horse works on, the discipline or sport that your horse does and the familiarity your farrier has with that shoe. Once he picks the brand then he picks out the size. Shoes come in pony sizes from eight aught (aught meaning size 0) to 000 (triple aught). Saddle horse sizes range from 00 (double aught) to five, and draft horse sizes start at four. Just to be clear, a size 4 saddle horse shoe is not the same size as a size four draft horse shoe. Now, your farrier must choose the stock size. The stock size is the thickness and the width of the steel. Thickness usually ranges from 6-12mm with 8mm being most common thickness. So a size two shoe may come in four different thicknesses and 5 different widths. The width of the shoe is also referred to as the web. A wide web shoe loses in traction but gains support in the hoof wall and leg. The wide web doesn’t sink into the ground as much as a narrow web. Narrow web (as well as traction devices) give better traction but can cause more torque on the hoof and limb as the shoe sticks to the ground. Another consideration the farrier has is the material the shoe is made from. Steel, aluminum, and plastic all have pros and cons that your farrier will have to consider before applying shoes to your horse’s hooves.
Steel shoes are readily available and are hard wearing, usually lasting for more then one reset. Aluminum is light weight but has a shorter
Digging In What about traction devices? There are many different ways to increase traction. Here are a few. Screw in studs: The benefit here is that you can have traction when you need it by screwing in a stud. The studs can be taken out when not needed thereby saving wear and tear on your horse’s hooves and joints when the surface doesn’t call for added traction. Studs can also be different lengths and shapes to accommodate many different terrains. Weld borium: The benefits here are being able to weld any shape you want. The biggest drawback is not being removable. Creaseing: The crease in the shoe (the crease is the indentation in the shoe where the nail holes are) can be extended to create a slight traction benefit in dirt. It is not as effective on other surfaces. Caulks: Caulks are squares welded or forged on the heels of the shoe. The biggest drawback again is that they are not removable. Toe grabs: Toe grabs are used on many race horses. They are not commonly used on sport horses. An overreach injury from a toe grab can be serious.
life span then steel. Plastic shoes can be either the glue-on variety or they can be held onto the hoof with nails. The glue-on shoes can be hard to keep attached to the horse’s hoof but can be a lifesaver for a thin shelly hoof that cannot take nails. The nail-on plastic shoes can tend to shift on the hoof but, with adequate attention, can be useful to horses that work on hard surfaces. The farrier still has more to think about! Shoes come in left and right fronts, left and right hinds, and compromise shape. A compromise shape can be shaped by the farrier to fit for a front or hind. The compromise shape is the most common economy shoe used in the United States. A draw back to the compromise shoe is that it only comes in a few stock sizes (thickness and width). A shoe is made to fit either a right foot or left foot by the outside branch of the shoe being longer to better fit the foot’s longer outside wall. Therapeutic shoes are also available. If your vet determines that your horse needs help or support because of a conformation or soundness issue then the farrier will shop for, or forge, a shoe especially to fit the horse’s needs. Two of the most widely applied therapeutic shoes are egg bar and heart bar shoes. Egg bar shoes are most commonly used for horses with heel area lamenesses, sheared heels, suspensory problems, and for navicularlike symptoms. The heart bar shoe can be a help to laminitic horses or horses with “wing” fractures of the coffin bone. Heart bar shoes may also help relieve the pressure on quarter cracks. You can see that picking out the right shoe for each horse is no easy matter. There is no perfect shoe…just the right shoe for each horse according to his conformation, movement, job, and environment.
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22 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Promoting ethical equine professionals Rate My Horse PRO aims to add transparency, accountability to industry Christie Gold From corporate America to government to education, the buzzword of the decade is “accountability.” As consumers demand more transparency in these areas, the internet has become a resource for rating services. Shopping mega giant Ebay asks buyers to rate their transactions; Angie’s list allows customers to rate a variety of professionals from plumbers to pediatricians; Ratemyprofessor. com allows college students a venue for feedback on their instructors. So why not a rating service for the horse industry? Rate My Horse PRO is a new company aimed at promoting quality services and encouraging ethical business practices through the rating of barns, trainers, farriers and competitions. “The site was initiated in 2008 by horse owners and professionals to improve industry ethics,” media relations director Debbie Hanson said. Its cornerstone, a system where consumers can rate equine professionals, will go live in mid-February.
Rate My Horse PRO (www.ratemyhorsepro.com) is a site that aims to improve the horse industry through increased accountability and transparency. Photo courtesy of Rate My Horse PRO.
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Florida Sporthorse Magazine 23 Hanson’s involvement with Rate My Horse PRO is personal as well as professional. When her daughter outgrew her pony and the search for a new horse began, Hanson got a firsthand glimpse of the ugly side of an industry that she says has “no regulations to protect horse owners.” Her daughter’s pony was sold after going on trial, but she was not informed of the sale— or the $18000 asking price. Her daughter’s trainers, who negotiated the sale, told her that the pony didn’t sell and that the farm would like to purchase her as broodmare. When Hanson discovered what had happened, she filed charges. The FBI became involved in what would be the first federal case of its time, and the story gained national media coverage. As it turned out, the trainers had a string of victims across the country. Ultimately, they were arrested, served time in federal prison and were suspended from USEF. Once released from jail, however, they resumed their work in the horse industry and can petition to have their memberships in USEF reinstated later this year. Hanson is not only interested in exposing industry bad guys. “You hear horror stories but there are some great people out there, too, who do a good job, who have high standards,” she said. She believes the site can combat the “bad rap” that the horse business gets. Rate My Horse PRO’s rating system will enable consumers to rate equine professionals. So that the site serves the community and is not just a forum for the venting of disgruntled customers, Rate My Horse PRO has built in several layers of credibility. First, anyone who uses the site must pay a $5 verification fee. This security measure attaches a name to a credit card in order to ensure the fidelity of the rating system. The ratings, however, remain anonymous. Hanson says that it takes time to rate a professional. The questions are specific and are divided into many categories. These details serve another purpose: matching customers with barns, trainers or farriers. The system uses PRO Match , a proprietary tool to match consumers with horse professionals based on the consumers’ preferences. A visitor to the site can put in certain preferences that will help generate a list of equine professionals within a certain radius of her zip code. Looking for a kid-friendly barn? A blacksmith that specializes in corrective shoeing? A trainer that travels Florida’s competitive winter circuit? Rate My Horse PRO will find appropriate matches. Hanson says some horse people are skeptical about the rating system. “There are some critics. Anytime there is something new, it happens. People don’t like change,” she said. Other professionals see the site as another potentially useful marketing tool of the digital age.
24 Florida Sporthorse Magazine Dressage trainer and judge Sandra Beaulieu believes that the site will help her business. A resident of Maine, Beaulieu spends her winters in Tallahassee. “I love things online,” she said. “In Central Maine, you don’t know where to find people. Not only does it help when I’m there, but when I’m in Tallahassee, people can find me here, too.” In addition, Beaulieu believes the rating system will enable her to grow in her profession. “I want to be able to look at my ratings and get an idea of what my weaknesses are, and what I should work on.” Beaulieu feels the site can help set her apart from other instructors. It’s this positive attitude that Hanson hopes will fuel the website’s popularity. The long term goal is to help put the industry in a better light and promote those who do a good job. “It’s too easy to get stuck in the negative,” she said. “We want to educate the consumer and promote the positive. There is a standard phrase in the industry that ‘it’s always been done this way’; I’ve heard that more than I’ve heard ‘thumbs up, heels down.’ Just because it’s always been done this way doesn’t mean it’s right, that it’s morally correct.
Dressage trainer and judge Sandra Beaulieu spends her winters in Tallahassee. She welcomes Rate My Horse PRO’s services. Photo courtesy of Sandra Beaulieu.
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28 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Put it in Neutral Pelvic alignment key to stability in the saddle Bryony Anderson
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eutral alignment of the rider’s pelvis provides the foundation for balance, stability, and a powerful connection with the horse. As upright beings, we humans are physically oriented in a manner that is unique among vertebrates: while most animals’ bodies are aligned horizontally, ours are aligned vertically. While standing or moving about, our two feet create a foundation upon which the rest of our structure is stacked. While seated, however, such as when riding a horse, our pelvis becomes the base for our entire structural alignment. This article will focus on developing a neutral pelvis, the necessary starting point for a good seat and proper alignment throughout your body while riding. In the next issue of Florida Sporthorse, we’ll develop these concepts further to help you learn to use your seat with greater precision and control.
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Anatomy 101
The pelvis is a bowl-like structure formed by several bones, some of which are fused together. When you place your hands on your hips, the bony protuberances you feel are the front top edge of the ilium, the largest of the pelvic bones, which join with the thigh bone to form the ball-and-socket hip joint. Fused with the ilium are the seat bones beneath you and the pubic bone in front. At the back of the pelvic bowl is the sacrum, a large triangular shaped bone at the base of the spine; the sacrum is not fused with the ilium, but is stabilized by many strong ligaments that permit a slight rocking movement between the sacrum and ilium. The pelvic bowl can be moved as one unit, but each side can also move independently, as in when we are walking. As the leg comes forward during walking, the ilium on that side of the body goes into a posterior (backward) tilt; as the leg moves back behind you, the ilium tilts anteriorly (towards the front). You can feel this if you place your hands on your hips as you walk: notice how your front hip bones lift up and back as you step forward and drop towards the front and down as your leg moves back.
Fundamental Foundation
Sometimes, the ilium on one side of our bodies or the other (occasionally both) can become stuck in either an anterior or posterior
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A balanced pelvis creates a stable position for the rider and a more comfortable horse. All photos by Caralee Gould. tilt. This can lead to back pain, sacro-iliac discomfort, sciatica, and uneven leg length, as well as creating unnecessary riding challenges and frustration. A pelvis tipped habitually in one direction or the other can make it difficult for us to obtain proper body alignment and use of our hip and leg, and limits overall mobility. The rider with an ilium stuck in an anterior tilt may struggle to keep her upper body from falling forward, and may also have difficulty getting the horse to step under himself. This rider may also experience back pain during or after riding. A posterior ilium rotation may cause the rider’s legs to swing forward and make it difficult to take the leg back to give correct aids (for a canter depart, for instance). And since the rider’s pelvic alignment informs the horse about what he is to be doing with his hind end, when our pelvis is out of alignment we can be sending mixed signals to our equine partners without realizing it. Since our pelvis is our main point of connection with the horse,
it is very important to have correct alignment and full mobility in this area. Neutral pelvic alignment provides the fundamental foundation for the correct alignment and use of our entire bodies while riding, and allows us better range of motion to go with the horse’s movement. The ideal is not to be stuck in any position- neither anterior or posterior tilt, or even in neutral alignment itself- but rather to have full range of motion. When we are “stuck” in any position or tension pattern, we greatly limit ourselves; but when we begin in a neutral place, we have a greater range of possibilities available to us.
Check Yourself
Sit upright and place your hands on your hips, the heels of your hands on your front hip bones and your fingertips at your pubic bone, forming an inverted triangle. Tilt your pelvis forward and back a few times, noticing the changing position of the triangle. When your
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pelvis is tipped back (posterior tilt), the point of the triangle will aim forward. When your pelvis is tipped forward (anterior tilt), the point of the triangle will aim towards the ground behind you. When you are in a neutral pelvic alignment, the triangle will point straight down and your hands will be perpendicular to the ground. The next time you are on horseback, do this same self-check to gain awareness of your habitual position and recognize how much you may need to work at developing a more neutral alignment.
Just BE…
Neutral pelvis, aside from referring to a specific position between the two extremes of anterior and posterior tilt, can also refer to a way of BE-ing in our seats while on horseback. “Neutral” implies an attitude of allowing, accepting, of going with the flow. Right now, as you read this, bring your awareness to your pelvis: do you get a sense of tension, of holding yourself up, or do you feel like your pelvis is “dead weight” sinking heavily into the surface beneath you? Can you find a sense of ease, of fully trusting the support of the surface beneath you? Can you allow your pelvis to soften into that support without being overly heavy? While riding, is your pelvis sending messages of tension to the horse, micromanaging every movement he makes, or do you feel a sense of openness, of union, of trusting your equine partner to support your weight and do his job? Note that, though subtle, these attitudes make a difference in how you feel in your body, and in how your horse feels when you ride.
Neutral Mind
In dealing with horses, the mental version of “neutral seat” is just as important as our physical postures. This state of mind is referred to as equanimity: an even-minded, non-reactive way of responding to the ups and downs of life. A neutral mind allows us to be better partners and leaders for our horses, and to respond clearly and appropriately to them instead of getting caught in reactivity or emotions. The following story is an old one, but wonderfully illustrates the quality of equanimity. A man’s son finds a beautiful horse and brings it home. All of their neighbors say to the man, “How wonderful! You are so fortunate!” The man simply replies, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?” Soon after, the man’s son is riding the horse and falls off, breaking his arm. The neighbors all say to the man, “Oh how terrible! How unfortunate that your son ever found this horse!” The man replies again, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?” While the son is recovering from his injury, the military comes to take all the able-bodied men off to fight a war. Because the son has a broken arm, he is left home. To quote Yogi Amrit Desai, “when we can stop reacting to what is present, we can be present to what is.” From a position of being fully present to whatever arises, without judging it, grasping
onto it, or resisting it, we find that the appropriate solutions to whatever we face naturally flow forth from that place of inner stillness…that place of “neutral”. In working with our horses, this allows us to be the calm, confident leader they need us to be. When we begin from a neutral place, in our bodies and in our minds, we have a wider range of possibilities available to us in terms of how
Florida Sporthorse Magazine 29 we respond to our horses and to the events in our daily lives. The following practice includes Ortho-Bionomy self-care and yoga postures to bring your pelvis into balanced alignment and center your mind, so that you can more easily find your “neutral place” when you ride.
Practice
Begin with a few moments of self-awareness, in a seated position (either on a chair or on the floor). Bring your attention to your pelvis. Imagine it as a bowl filled with water…first, just observe it in a non-judgmental way without making any changes. Notice whether the water would seem to spill out the front or back, or perhaps to one side. Then make whatever inner shifts are needed to position your “bowl” so that no water spills out. Be still for a few moments, feeling what this alignment is like in your body.
Ortho-Bionomy Ilium Releases
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b. Try both positions with each leg, to determine which position is most comfortable. Relax in the preferred position for a few minutes, as long as it is comfortable for you. Come out of the chosen position slowly, so that you do not reestablish the tensional patterns you are working to release. a) “Frog Leg”- lay on your abdomen and slowly bend your knee, bringing it out to the side. Turn your head to the same side. b) “Leg Lift”- lay on your abdomen and place a pillow or folded blanket under your thigh and knee for support.
Simple Abdominal Strengthener
This effective abdominal exercise is also one of the safest and will not strain an inexperienced or sensitive back. Lie on your back with your legs together, toes pointed, and hands at your sides (palms down). Slowly raise one leg as high as possible, and then slowly lower it back down. Repeat with other leg. You can continue alternating leg lifts in this way, working up to 5-20 lifts on each side. If you want more of a challenge, you can hold the lifted leg up for 30-60 seconds, then lower it to 2” above the floor and hold again before lowering it all the way down.
30 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Boat Pose
Begin in a seated position, legs bent and feet flat on the floor in front of you. Rest your hands on your knees or shins. Lean back slightly, lifting your feet a few inches off the floor. Lift your chest and draw the lower back inward to maintain a neutral position for the spine and pelvis. If you are a beginner, master this version of the pose before progressing to the full pose. If you are comfortable here, you can challenge yourself more by taking your hands behind your thighs and bringing your shins parallel to the floor. When this becomes easy, move into the full pose, straightening the legs and reaching the arms forward, parallel to the ground. Whichever version of Boat Pose you choose, the inner action is the same: lift the chest and maintain a neutral position of the spine and pelvis, do not let the chest collapse, and do not round the back. Hold for 15-30 seconds. Repeat.
Wide-legged head to knee Stand with your feet wide apart. Turn your feet, hips and shoulders to the right. Press back strongly with your back leg, and press into the heel of that foot. With your hands on your hips, bend forward from the hips, hips moving back and spine lengthening as you come down. Place your hands on your leg or on yoga blocks. Keep the hips moving back and the abdominals lifting. Hold 30-60 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
Downward facing dog Start from a position on your hands and knees, hands under the shoulders and knees under the hips. Spread the fingers and press into the palms. Curl the toes under. Press the hands forward, sending your hips back towards your heels as you lift the knees off the floor and begin to straighten your legs. (If your hamstrings are tight, keep the knees slightly bent.) When you are correctly aligned in this pose, there will be a straight line from your wrists to your hips. Hold this phase of the pose 15-60 seconds. Then shift your weight into your right foot, and lift your left leg- be sure to lift from the heel and to keep the hip down, level with your right hip. Hold 15-30 seconds, and then change legs.
Locust
This pose can be done as an additional pose, or as a substitute for Downward Dog with Leg Lift. Locust pose is especially useful for riders with back problems. Begin lying on your belly, legs straight and strongly extended out behind you. Place your hands beside your chest, keeping your elbows drawn towards each other. Press your hips into the ground and do a slight pelvic tilt, sending your tailbone towards the ground and lengthening your lower back, then lift your right leg. Keep extending out through your right toes, and focusing on the tilt of the pelvis. Hold for 10-30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
Child’s Pose
Finish your practice by resting for up to 5 minutes in Child’s Pose. This calms the nervous system, relieves the low back, and releases the hips. From a position on your hands and knees, separate your knees and push your hips back to your heels. A pillow or folded blanket can be placed under your chest for support.
32 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Talk to the animals Communication strategies deepen horse-human bond Diane Molony
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nimal therapy is not new, for dogs and cats and even birds have been used for many years as “little healers.” Horses are now finding their own place in this field. Over the past 15 years, Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning has rapidly grown throughout Europe and the United States. My own experiences with this work moved me beyond the subtleties of dressage and truly opened my eyes to what lies behind the soft dark eyes of the horse. I pursued two years of training as a facilitator in Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning through Epona and the work of Linda Kohanov, author of The Tao of Equus and Riding Between the Worlds (wwwtaoofequus. com), and many other talented people. I found that the beauty of this work with horses not only enhances the physical, emotional and spiritual lives of many people, but also allows many non- horsey people to perceive the horse as a truly sentient being. As animals who are preyed upon, horses are masters of living in the present moment, a carry over from their ability to survive in the wild. Their keen sense of awareness to their surrounding environment and their ability to detect changes in heart rate, body temperature, body stance and respiration in those around them are all part of the horse’s
innate survival characteristics. Horses read body language and will often tune into the more authentic emotions which underlie our behavior for this is the essence of the horse’s communication system within the herd. How many of us have felt the need to privately tell our horses our deepest, inner feelings and felt comforted and consoled? Equally, our four legged friends will tell us clearly when we are frustrated, angry or are being a non-supportive partner and have not admitted that fact to ourselves. The horse will often actively mirror the emotion(s) we are not willing to own and are then accused of behaving poorly. Into this picture can be added resonance. Resonance is when a person of a particular temperament is strongly attracted to a horse whose characteristics they unconsciously identify with. This can be disastrous in the cases where a nervous and flighty person is attracted to a nervous and flighty horse. In order to create a safe and harmonious partnership, both require a grounding element which unfortunately neither can provide for the other. The more I recognized this element of the horse, the more fascinated I became. My first encounter with Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning was some years ago at a workshop in California. I sat outside the 20 meter round pen while a young horse cavorted around the confines of the pen with enthusiastic joy. She moved from an easy trot, into a loping canter, amid
a series of boisterous leaps and bucks. A gentleman stood with his back to her, some distance from the enclosure, as a facilitator gently encouraged him to connect with and consciously stay present to the emotions and feelings flowing through his body. There was apprehension on his face as he turned to face the horse and walk towards the gate which separated him from the animal. This was to be his first close up encounter with such a powerful creature. I leaned forward in my chair, holding my breath as the gentleman gingerly stepped into the large pen with the horse and the facilitator closed the gate behind him, leaving the two alone together. The frisky four-year- old mare slowed to a halt and took steady stock of the man who stood before her. With a snort, the horse lowered her head and walked to the center of the enclosure where she remained for the entire session. Some minutes passed before the gentleman recognized he was not in any danger of being trampled to death by the large animal before him. With extreme caution, he took several steps away from the gate, moving slowly along the railing, never once taking his eyes off the mare. In turn, the mare stood her ground, watching him from the center of the enclosure. As my group, observed the human and horse negotiate their ground together, it seemed an eternity before the man developed the confidence to approach the horse. I felt myself breathing out a long sigh while my
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Participants in Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning gain a deeper understanding of cross species communication. Photos courtesy of Diane Molony. heart softened as he tentatively reached with an outstretched hand and touched the shoulder of the animal, gently caressing her glossy coat. The horse responded with a soft eye gaze in his direction….and then a miracle happened! The mare wrapped her head and neck around the gentleman’s shoulders, much the same way as a mare does with her foal; a very protective gesture. The rigid body language of the gentleman dissolved and to my astonishment, he buried his face into her shoulders and sobbed. The sadness in his tears was tangible. I felt as though my eyes were intruding on a very private scene as the two remained entwined together for some minutes. Finally, the man turned slowly and indicated to the facilitator he was ready to return to our small group gathered outside the enclosure. He later spoke of the experience which he stated simply as life changing. He shared that he was an engineer, as was his father and his grandfather. From childhood, it had been expected he would follow in their footsteps, upholding the respected family name, which he had fulfilled without question. It was in that 15 minutes with the horse, as he faced an array of emotions, he realized wholly that in honoring the wishes of his family, he had foregone his own underlying passions, and had ignored
his inner needs. Although engineering had more than paid his bills it had done little to fulfill him. He now asked himself how many years of his life had he dedicated to a profession which amounted to pleasing and satisfying the dreams and desires of others. So what happened in the round pen? Prior to entering the enclosure with the horse, the gentleman had been shown techniques which could help him identify his habitual emotional responses to life. Once in the round pen with the mare, he was asked to acknowledge, as simply information, each of his emotions as they arose, using the horse’s reactions, or lack of reactions, as biofeedback. This afforded the gentleman a resource to work his way through his initial responses of fear, intimidation and the many components of ego. Initially the mare showed no inclination to interact with him. She mirrored the man’s body language by cautiously keeping her distance, much as he was doing in relationship to her. She remained aloof until his body language was truly in accord with his deeper emotions and only then did she welcome his approach and allow him to touch her. In that moment, both beings were deeply authentic within themselves and to each other. The mare’s compassionate
response to his touch gave passage for the gentleman’s the long suppressed sadness and disappointment to bubble forth. In the 15 minute exercise with the horse, he came to know the source of his long term discontent and inability to find peace within himself. Since that time I have witnessed many inspiring interactions between horses and participants in this work to confirm to me that this was no one out of the box event. Horses have much to teach us if we take the time to listen. Unless a horse has been trained into a state of helplessness, distrust or dissociation through past human handling, these wonderful animals can be superb at mirroring our strengths and weaknesses. This ability of the horse makes them wonderful experiential learning partners. They offer us biofeedback, at a nonverbal level, as to our own self awareness. They can be wonderful, non judgmental and patient partners when we take the time to be present to each and every moment while in their company, to slow ourselves from our fast paced lives, observe our feelings, emotions and be open to some healthy and honest self reflection. We offer one and two and half day workshops in Tarpon Springs working with the horses in this manner. Contact Diane Molony 727.938.4477 for information.
34 Florida Sporthorse Magazine
Best foot forward Show manager finds solution to footing woes
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Wendy Low No hoof no horse. We’ve all heard that saying before. There has been a huge amount of interest in recent years to improve the surface that our horses perform and train on. A plethora of articles on this issue have been written, many of which I read when I started my quest to improve footing at our facility. With fortyfive to fifty horse shows booked a year, we needed something that could take the heavy traffic. I wanted something that had high impact absorption and stability to lessen wear and tear on horses’ legs. I had a limited budget and three rings to resurface. I also wanted something that would bring our maintenance down to at least half of what we were currently doing. The sand we had was of good quality, there was a base of compacted lime rock, and the slope was adequate for drainage, so I had a good start. I visited other facilities to see what they were using to get an idea of what might work and what wouldn’t. Then I consulted with representatives of various companies. Quotes rolled in, and I felt the pressure of making a difficult and expensive decision. I also had to be able to recoup my cost within three years or I couldn’t make the investment. The numbers weren’t working. I put the project on hold for thirty days while eagerly hoping to find a source on my own to get it done for less. I finally found the best substance to mix with our existing sand arenas. I talked with the company director, and we forged ahead. It took only a day to unload, spread, and then till the fibers into the sand. A little water and a roller compacted it to a level, pliable surface. The results were miraculous! Local trainer, Henriette Borst tested the surface, and her horse floated with great suspension across the diagonal. The next day, a few other people came over and rode a dozen horses. Everyone was amazed at the difference and commented on the way their horses felt. Then came the real test: a dressage show hosted by Southeast Horse Shows. Our foreman, Lee Ferguson put up the dressage ring, prepared it as usual for the competitors arriving. Mother nature had other ideas of preparation and by four o’clock Friday afternoon the heavens opened up and it rained like nobody’s business. A deluge, one could safely say, dumped two inches on the show grounds. Saturday morning I sat with the judge as a scribe, watching the horses in different levels handle the ring. Bill Solytjes was impressed and later remarked, “After an all night rain and well into the morning, riders at the Canterbury show
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When show manager Wendy Low needed to upgrade the footing in the arenas at Canterbury in Newberry, she chose a product made from carpet fibers. Shipped in bales, it was easy to install, mixed easily with the facility’s existing sand arenas, required little watering and held up to Florida’s unpredictable weather. Competitors say that the footing is springy and easier on their horses’ legs. Photos courtesy of Wendy Low. found the footing to be secure. The fiber seems to soak up the moisture and keep it’s integrity. Not one horse slipped, and I was able to give many 8’s and even some 9’s because of the resilient and safe footing. Horses stayed soft in the back and showed elastic gaits.” Riders from that show have called me about installation at their farms and I have been able to help the smaller backyard folks set up very affordable options for their rings. Shortly after that show we leased part of our facility to Ga-
reth Selwood of Selwood Park Stables. He told me we have the best footing he’s ever worked on in the 30 years he’s been in the horse business. It is easy to install. Maintaining the rings is also easy with the right equipment. Not long ago I made the trip to south Florida to the Martin Downs Equestrian Center where we put fifteen bales into their covered ring, which receives a good number of horses training daily. Here is what their head trainer Heather Bender
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had to say, “I am thrilled with the improvement the fiber has made for my horses. It is clear that it makes a huge difference on the concussion that my horses absorb with regular training. I feel much safer working on extended gaits; they are not pounding on a surface that will be too stressful for their joints. It feels padded, adding a ‘spring’ to my horses’ step. I also love that it takes less maintenance time. Our concrete screening/sand footing was impossible; it had become too packed and very uneven, requiring hours a week of maintenance with special tractors and drags to make it even ride able. Our new footing needs far less work. The trick is keeping the moisture level correct. We only need the tractor once every few weeks.
It has been a great solution for us at Martin Downs Equestrian Center.” I have enjoyed this learning process of building and construction of horse arenas. The rewarding part of this endeavor is that I’ve learned so much about different types of aggregates, compaction, grade percentages, drainage, weight and shape of sands, particle adherence factors and moisture distribution. Not only that but the biomechanics of horse movement. The stress and impact that the foot takes with a rider doing jumping or high level dressage proved to me the importance of providing our clients with good footing to ensure their safety. This single upgrade has benefited us
Florida Sporthorse Magazine 35 the most, providing a durable, elastic, easy-tokeep, solution for us and a great riding surface for the horses. I made an agreement with the provider for this footing and can now offer it at a very affordable price to the smaller stables and riding schools or academies, even individuals who want a good arena surface for their personal horses. As a distributor I will be glad to set up an order for your schooling or show arenas. Fleet Footing is suitable for dressage, jumping, and performance training. Call Wendy at 352-3286112. Consulting available at your farm.
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Ponies & pals Pony Club emphasizes horsemanship, teamwork
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Caroline Morrison Pony Club is a great organization which teaches young “up and coming” riders the foundation of horsemanship. Many people think that they need a horse to join Pony Club, but they don’t! Pony Club teaches the basic horse management skills, like how to tie a quick release knot to wrapping a spider knee bandage. Pony Club can benefit any one who has an interest in horses. As a pony clubber since age nine, not only did I learn from Pony Club, but my parents did too. My mom and I are weekend warriors, we trailer our own horses, we go to shows, we do it all ourselves. We could never have done all of this without the fundamentals from Pony Club. My mom took me to a club meeting and while I was off playing with my friends, my mom was talking about rallies with the other adults. She was so excited because rallies are basically shows but a lot cheaper and a team atmosphere. We had never shown before and we had just purchased a trailer. Then we learned that parents are not allowed to help their child at a rally, unless they are a volunteer. This turned out to a very beneficial thing, because although we were both nervous, I learned to tack up, ride, and un-tack independently. In rallies clubs have teams of four or five people, one horse manager, who does not have a horse at the rally, and three or four riders. One of the riders serves as captain of the team; the captain’s responsibility is to help the horse manager and all the other riders on the team. So even though the parents cannot help, there are teammates to help out and contribute to a fun filled weekend. The captain and horse manager make sure everyone is safe and having fun. After six years as a pony clubber, I am a C2, with a goal of rating up to my C3 this year. Pony club has ratings, you must pass certain standards and meet expectations to earn the title of a D1, D2, D3, C1, C2, C3, HB, B, HA, or A. Most people do not reach their A until they are in their 20’s. A D pony clubber must know 10 to 20 parts of the horse, and a D3 is required to jump 2’6’’ (stadium and cross country). In contrast, an A Pony Clubber is required to get on any horse and improve it by the time he or she has dismounted.
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Writer Caroline Morrison at one of her first Pony Club rallies with her pony, Brownie Point (above). Caroline schooling cross country at The Oaks in Lake City as part of a Pony Club clinic (right). Photos by Diane Morrison. All ratings require a certain amount of knowledge too. For my C2 I had to know how to do a shipping, polo, and standing wrap, I had to know all the farrier tools. I also had to know the digestive system, which I can now recite whenever need be! It is really fun to pass a rating because you, as a horse person, know that you have learned new things and have become a better rider. It is also fun to rate up with your friends, because ratings could be stressful without a little comic relief. In Pony Club it is not a competition to see who is rated the highest. All Pony Clubbers root for each other, and they want everyone to stay safe. Pony Club is full of horse lovers just like me, so obviously I have made so many friends through Pony Club. Some of my best friends are from Pony Club. As an example I attended a D rally (only D rated pony clubbers can ride in it) as a “C Advisor.” The horse manager of the team was so cool, and we really got along well. We spent all day together, I had never met this girl before, and to this day we are best friends. I have met so many people form all over the United States and I look forward to meeting more as I continue my journey with Pony Club. In Pony Club we are all one big family spread across the world.
Pony Club also offers great clinics with amazing trainers from all over the United States. I have gone to many of these clinics and camps. Two years ago Pony Club brought in a three-day event trainer from California. She was fantastic and really helped me with crosscountry; I had never done training level crosscountry until that weekend. Another great clinician that Pony Club brought in was a former Pony Clubber himself and the Olympic coach, Daniel Stewart. During the 2010 South Region C camp Daniel was the clinician for stadium and dressage. That weekend was so special to me because I had my horse, Encore, on trial at the camp and Mr. Stewart told me how nice the horse was and how much he liked him! It was also very special because I got to reunite with my best friends! A new horse, a
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great trainer, and best friends…sounds like a great weekend! I learned so much and I would have never had the chance to ride with someone of his expertise without Pony Club. Pony Club teaches you the basic horse management skills that everyone should know, it makes you an independent rider, a confident horse person, gives you the chance to ride with great instructors, and a big plus is you have the opportunity to meet new friends. Check out the website for more information on the Florida Sunshine Region Pony Club. Sunshineregionponyclubs.org
Like Writing? Love Riding? Florida Sporthorse Magazine is looking for young riders to contribute their stories about their experiences in dressage, h/j, eventing or combined driving. For information contact Christie Gold floridasporthorse@gmail.com
Call 352-895-0116