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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK That Ride at “Kiddyland”
I
I suppose that there are tens of thousands of people in our area in Southeast Texas who had their first ride on a horse at a small kid’s park on Houston’s South Main. I begged my much older sister and her ever patient husband to take me every time I stayed at their house. But the tame and tired amusement park wasn’t my first ride. My love of By Steven Long horse everything horse began with my father’s “field” horse, Old Paint. Old Paint was a working horse who earned his oats by carrying my father around hundreds of acres of our family’s rice fields. The first thing I learned about horses was that Old Paint was not a kid horse. It was decided for me to solo on Old Paint at age 4, an age that tens of thousands of kids have started riding for probably thousands of years. My dad put me on the horse’s back, put the reins in my hand, and mistakenly let go. As soon as my dad let go of the reins as I bravely sat alone in the saddle, the horse ran away with me. I suppose I cried, I don’t remember, but truth be known it was the biggest thrill of my young life. From that day forward my parents kept me off the horse. You see, I was a bit of a precious commodity. My brother, Bill, had been killed in World War II five months before I was born. Needless to say, I was spoiled beyond belief being born five months after his death. My precious wife and family suffer from that to this day. Despite the runaway adventure, my desire to ride was there from that time forward - in spades. I wanted nothing more than to ride a horse. And the advent of television contributed to my passion because in those black and white days, seems like about every other program was a cowboy show. First, Gene Autry was king and then Roy Rogers usurped the title, King of the Cowboys. Needless to say, I got to shake both their hands at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. My hand had a rosy glow for days, of that I am certain. I actually still remember how warm Roy’s hand was when he shook my young hand. Autry’s horse was named Champion, and of course, Roy’s horse was Trigger, and he carried an entourage of horses and people with him. There was also Dale Evans’ Buttermilk, and a slew of other mounts whose names have been washed away with age. I’m sure kids attending the big Texas rodeos get the same kind of thrill as I did in those days immediately following the Second World War. Today, my introduction to horses is repeated hundreds of thousands of times for kids going to their first rodeo. So here’s my point. The first ride on a horse is something a person will never forget. From that first ride of mine, I was compelled to have a horse of my own, and by that I mean, a horse that I owned, not my father’s working field horse, Old Paint. From that, one thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was compelled to own a horse magazine! I’m certain there are thousands of Texans out there who have an almost identical experience with their first ride. So remember this. When you take your kids to the amusement park, and you put them on the gentle ponies who earn their keep carrying kids in a circle, it is guaranteed to give them a lifelong memory. And that memory might be guaranteed to give a good horse a job. You could just be starting something that will last a lifetime. It sure did with me.
On the Cover:
When one door closes another can open for horses of all breeds and disciplines. Retrain for ongoing and lifesaving value.
4 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
April 2016
Cover Story: 14 Second Chances - Jane Meggitt
Lifestyle & Real Estate: 26 Changing a Horses Future Use - Tom Seay 30 Sire - Kelsey Hellmann
Columns: 6 Horse Bites 22 Ride-N-Sync™ - Terry Myers 24 On the English Front - Cathy Strobel 28 Tack Talk - Lew Pewterbaugh 42 Cowboy Corner - Jim Hubbard
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EVENTS EDITOR Leslie Greco
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Hubbard, Steven Long, Vicki Long, Roni Norquist, Linda Parelli, Lew Pewterbaugh, Cathy Strobel, Cory Johnson, Margaret Pirtle, Jaime Jackson Volume 23, No. 4 Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397, (281) 447-0772. The entire contents of the magazine are copyrighted April 2016 by Horseback Magazine. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Horseback Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope. Horseback Magazine is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management. Subscription rate is $25.00 for one year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397. Fax: (281) 893-1029
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 5
BLM ANNOUNCES THREE SELECTIONS FOR NATIONAL WILD HORSE AND BURRO ADVISORY BOARD The Bureau of Land Management announced the selections for three open positions on its nine-member National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. Ginger Kathrens of Fort Collins, Colorado, has been appointed for the category of humane advocacy; Ben Masters of Bozeman, Montana, has been appointed for the category of wildlife management; and Steven Yardley of Beaver, Utah, has been appointed for the category of livestock management. Each individual will serve a three-year term on the Advisory Board. Ms. Kathrens is the Founder and Executive Director of the Colorado-based Cloud Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of wild horses on public lands. Kathrens is an Emmy awardwinning creator of the acclaimed Public Broadcasting System series documenting the birth and life of a Pryor Mountains (Montana) wild stallion called “Cloud.” Her first Cloud film was voted the most popular documentary in the 25-year history of the Nature series on PBS. Kathrens is an honor graduate of Bowling Green State University and holds a Master of Art’s degree in Mass Communications from Florida State University. Mr. Masters, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fin & Fur Films, LLC is best known for his successful documentary Unbranded, an account of a 3,000-mile ride on wild horses that has raised awareness of the BLM’s adoption program and the myriad challenges facing public land managers. Masters holds a Bachelor
6 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and five universities -- the University of “Horse Bites is compiled from Press Releases sent to Horseback Kentucky, Oregon State University, Colorado State University, Ohio Magazine. Original reporting is State University, and Louisiana State done as circumstances warrant. Content is edited for length & style.” University. Detailed information about each project has been posted on the agency’s Website (www.blm. of Science degree in Wildlife and gov). Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. Mr. Yardley, Vice President of Yardley Cattle Company, is a public APHA NAMES TOP PAINT land rancher and private landowner BARREL RACING INCENTIVE PROGRAM who holds grazing permits from the PARTICIPANTS OF 2015 BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. A graduate of Southern Utah University, FORT WORTH, Texas – The top Yardley has been active with the FuPaint barrel racers turned and burned ture Farmers of America, Utah Cattle- their way into the Paint Barrel Racmen’s Association, National Cattleing Incentive Program (PBRIP) 2015 men’s Beef Association, and Southern year-end standings. Throughout the Utah University’s Block and Bridle year, competitors accumulated points Club. Currently, Mr. Yardley serves as at PBRIP-approved barrel races across Vice President of the Western Rangethe country in the hopes of taking lands Conservation Association. home one of four prize saddles and a The National Wild Horse cash bonus. and Burro Advisory Board advises the Karen Orman of Des Moines, BLM, an agency of the Interior DeIowa, and Dalts Superman Design partment, and the U.S. Forest Service, earned the High-Point PBRIP title, part of the Agriculture Department, in addition to topping the PBRIP on the management and protection of 2D and 3D standings. Karen and wild free-roaming horses and burros “Doodle” earned 77 points to clinch on public lands and national forests the titles—including 34 points in administered by those agencies, as the 2D and 36 points in 3D events; mandated by the 1971 Wild Freefor their efforts, they take home two Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Elite saddles, a trophy breast collar, Members of the board, who Gist championship buckle and APHA represent various categories of inyear-end money. terests, must have a demonstrated Doodle is a 2008 sorrel toability to analyze information, evalubiano stallion by Designer Red (QH) ate programs, identify problems, work and out of Ima Bit Easy; he was bred collaboratively, and develop corrective by the Ormans and trained by Karen’s actions. (Information about the board son, Marc. can be found at: http://www.blm.gov/ Based on the 4D system, wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/Advisory_ the winner in each division will take Board.html.) home an Elite Custom Saddle from Among its current efforts APHA’s new official performance to strengthen the Wild Horse and saddle partner. First and second place Burro Program, the BLM has been in each “D” also earned their share of moving forward with a population$2,500 year-end money provided by growth suppression strategy consistent APHA. with recommendations of a National PBRIP is designed to provide Academy of Sciences study issued in barrel racers with a way to be part June 2013. The agency’s new popuof APHA regardless of where they lation growth-suppression research, compete by adding money to special representing an investment of approxi- sidepots just for Paints enrolled in the mately $11 million in 20 research program. PBRIP events can also be projects over five years, will focus on used to qualify for the APHA World (1) developing longer-lasting fertilityChampionship Show, where the best control agents; (2) evaluating the of the best battle it out for more than safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of $10,000 in prize money in addition spaying and neutering on-range wild to exciting prizes and world champihorses; and (3) implementing better onship titles. methods for estimating wild horse and Congratulations to the folburro populations. To achieve those lowing top-placing PBRIP Paints and aims, the BLM is working with the www.horsebackmagazine.com
their riders for 2015: 1D 1. Shez One Slick Angel, owned and ridden by Melinda Houttuin 2. Magnolia Kit Kat, ridden by Jennifer Bruno, owned by Jennifer Bruno and Brock Merriman 3. Winter Apache, owned and ridden by Robin Randle 4. EZ Jet Express, owned and ridden by Montie Ledford 5. First Fire Frost, ridden by Kylee Scribner, owned by Kristy Scribner 2D 1. Dalts Superman Design, ridden by Karen Orman, owned by Marc Orman 2. Hez Aces Maverick, owned and ridden by Abigail DePriest 3. Hit The Fast Fanny, owned and ridden by Crystal Bailey 4. Colonel Tatoos Socks, owned and ridden by Rejane Blackwell 5. Primetime Lexus, owned and ridden by Jean Hovan 3D 1. Dalts Superman Design, ridden by Karen Orman, owned by Marc Orman 2. LLP Susies Witch, owned and ridden by Belinda Wheeler 3. Hesararetreasure, owned and ridden by Eileen Wall 4. Alone N Dirty, owned and ridden by Kate Howland 5. Melodys Coco Rose, owned and ridden by Maty Bagley 4D 1. Bo Ringo, owned and ridden by Lisa Mullinax 2. Smokin Guns N Roses, ridden by Lori Buschbacher, owned by Justin and Lori Buschbacher 3. TJS Flashy Spot, owned and ridden by Jeanette Meissinger 4. Timeto Go Twist, owned and ridden by Jessica Reynolds 5. Rockbottomrudeboy, owned and ridden by Billie Ruth Hankins These outstanding competitors were honored at an awards ceremony at 1:00 p.m. on March 26 during the PBRIP All-Breed Invitational Barrel Race where APHA offered a $2,500 added PBRIP 5D sidepot. The full event ran March 25-26 at Twin Lakes Covered Arena in Fairfield, Texas. To learn more about PBRIP and to get involved, visit pbrip.com or contact program director Karen www.horsebackmagazine.com
Utecht at 817-222-6444.
AMATEUR RIDER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SEEKING JUMPER DIVISION STANDARDIZATION Wellington, FL -- The Amateur Rider Association of America (ARAA) is working on behalf of those who compete in the Amateur divisions at horse shows across the country, seeking USEF recognition and standardization of the three Amateur-Owner Jumper divisions. ARAA founder and president, Ariane Stiegler, who competes in the Amateur-Owner division, hopes to increase safety and fairness for all riders and horses in the amateur division by setting standards for each of the three Amateur-Owner divisions. Stiegler hopes to set low Amateur-Owner jumpers at 1.20m and low jumper Classics at 1.25m. Medium A/O jumpers will be set at 1.30m, medium jumper Classics set at 1.35m and high A/O jumpers set at 1.40m with high jumper Classics set at 1.45m. Setting a division standard will help avoid confusion for riders and trainers as well as for course designers who find it difficult to ride, train and build courses with no set course height. This will also lead to reducing the number of scratches. With a set height, horses and riders will be better prepared for what to expect and will be more likely to enter appropriate classes. Another topic of importance to ARAA is how divisions are split. “Since juniors end at age 18, the A/O division is for riders age 19 and above. We feel that the classes should be split into two divisions - For riders age 35 and under and riders age 36 and older,” Stiegler said. “We feel strongly that juniors should ride in their own division and that no combined junior/ amateur classes should be offered. “We urge all riders who agree that these simple steps will make competitions in the amateur division safer and more fair to speak with horse show managers and ask them to follow the parameters in scheduling their classes. Ultimately, we hope that this is how the USEF will officially structure this division. “Once this is achieved, we hope to host end-of-year championships in each of these 3 divisions for
Horsebites...
the top riders in the U.S.A.” For more information about the American Rider Association of America or to express your support, please contact Ariane Stiegler at astiegler203@gmail.com or visit www. amateur-rider-association-of-america. org. Elite Rodeo Athlete’s Premier Tour Makes History in Redmond, Oregon Top Rodeo Athletes bring their A-Game to a Packed House
REDMOND, OREGON - The much-anticipated inaugural performance of the ERA Premier Tour kicked off in Redmond, Oregon last month. Rodeo fans packed the house to watch history in the making and Elite Rodeo Athletes (ERA) rose to the occasion with a night filled with high scores and fast times. ERA surprised fans by moving the bull riding to the opening event and had eight rides land in 80-point territory. Chandler Bownds from Lubbock, Texas started the night off right with an 86.5-point ride on Sweet Regrets. The Saddle Bronc Riding showed fans what happens when you pair up the most elite animal athletes in the world with the top cowboys. The talent on display from both horse and cowboy was jaw dropping throughout the event. In the end, Bradley Harter, who hails from Weatherford, Texas; claimed first place with an 88.5-point ride on a horse named, Lunatic From Hell. As an encore performance, Harter had fun with the fans when he led them in a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” that had everyone laughing. With two hometown cowboys competing (Bobby Mote and Austin Foss), the Bareback Riding was the final and most anticipated event of the night. Oregon fans are connoisseurs of this event and the athletes and horses put on a show that met their approval. Every athlete turned in a high scoring ride, but it was an 87-point ride by The Woodlands, Texas cowboy, Richmond Champion on a horse named Raggidy Ann that stole the show and brought the Oregon crowd to their feet. The timed event side of the arena also had its share of “did you see that” moments, including a spectacular Steer Wrestling run made Horsebites- Con’t. on pg.12 April 2016 2
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 7
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 9
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PRECISE NUTRITION. VISIBLE RESULTS. 10 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 11
Horsebites...
Farnam Celebrates 70th Anniversary in 2016
P
roud to partner with horse owners in quality horse care for seven decades, Farnam plans to celebrate all year long. Founded in 1946, Phoenix-based Farnam Companies, Inc. grew from a small mail-order business to become one of the largest marketers of equine products in the United States. Serving all facets of the equine industry--from hobby barns to large professional operations--Farnam is one of the most widely recognized names in the equine animal health care industry. In addition to distributors and mass merchants across the U.S., Farnam® products are also sold in Canada, Puerto Rico, Central and South America, Europe, and the
Horsebites- Con’t. from pg. 7
by Stockton Graves from Alva, OK. Graves threw his steer in 3.67, barely nudging out a 3.98 time turned in by Louisiana cowboy, Tyler Pearson. Not one, but three sevensecond runs were turned in during the tie-down roping Friday night. Twentythree time World Champion Cowboy, Trevor Brazile, from Decatur, Texas showed the crowd why he is called “The King of the Cowboys,” when he stopped the clock with a 7.61 time. Close behind him was World Champion, Shane Hanchey with a time of 7.75 and six-time World Champion, Cody Ohl with a 7.77. Team Roping fan favorites, Derrick Begay and Clay O’Brien Cooper, known as “The Legend and the Legend in the Making” wowed the crowd when they stopped the clock with a time of 4.01 seconds. This dream team from Arizona and Nevada is known for their laser-focused style of roping, where they turn in solid runs time after time. Callie Duperier, a World Champion barrel racer from Boerne, Texas and her horse Arson captivated the audience with a 14.60 barrel run. Duperier has dominated the barrel racing world lately and comments
12 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
Middle and Far East. As the leader in quality horse care products, Farnam offers an everexpanding range of equine essentials, including fly control, dewormer, grooming, hoof and leg care, wound care treatments, leather care, stable supplies and nutritional supplements. Extensive research and attention to detail go into every product that carries the familiar Farnam logo. To mark this milestone 70th anniversary, Farnam will be offering
special celebration offers throughout the year on their Facebook page, their free Life With Horses newsletter, and at equine events across the country. The mission of Farnam is to improve the lives of horses, from head to hoof, inside and out. To that end, the company continually strives to create innovative products that support the horse’s overall health and comfort in both the pleasure and performance horse markets. No one knows horses better than Farnam. That’s why no one offers a more complete selection of horse care products. No one. For more information on Farnam® products or to sign up for the free Life With Horses newsletter, visit www.farnam.com
that she loves the format of the ERA Premier Tour, which allows her horses to be well rested and spend less time on the road. Duperier received a helmet from fellow ERA barrel racer and World Champion, Fallon Taylor, to wear for the first time; which replaced her self described “lucky hat.” When asked about the switch she said, “Safety first . . . I am only 23, so I have a long life ahead of me . . . Fallon brought it for me and it brought us luck, so I am liking it!” ERA’s unique format also allowed athletes to invite fans to come early and participate in a meet and greet with all of the athletes on the arena floor. “It’s really been nice to slow down and have time to meet the people who are buying the tickets… it’s been fun,” said 23-Time World Champion and ERA athlete, Trevor Brazile. The ERA Premier Tour had another performance March 26th in Redmond, Oregon before the athletes head to Nampa, Idaho for the tour events that take place April 1st and 2nd. Fans can watch the “Elite Rodeo Championship Race to Dallas” which will air on FOX Sports 2, with the Redmond event airing April 6th
at 7:00 EST and April 13th at 10:00 EST.
Effects of Equine Assisted Activities on PTSD Symptoms, Coping Self-Efficacy, Emotion Regulation, and Social Engagement in Military Veterans Principal Investigator: Rebecca A. Johnson, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP Chagrin Falls, Ohio, University of Missouri-Columbia, College of Veterinary Medicine recently reported on findings from their research related to military veterans with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The study investigated if participation in a structured, six-week therapeutic horseback riding (THR) program decreased PTSD symptoms, as well as improved self-efficacy, emotion regulation, and social engagement among veterans. The project was funded through a grant from the Horses and Humans Research Foundation and was led by Principal investigator Rebecca A. Johnson, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP. Thirty- eight veterans were
Horsebites- Con’t. on pg. 20
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 13
Y
SECOND CHANCES
ou can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. You can also breed a horse for a specific purpose, but can’t make him succeed. That doesn’t mean a horse failing in an intended discipline can’t shine in another. It’s a matter of finding the right fit for the individual animal. Of the thousands of thoroughbreds registered with The Jockey Club each year, only a small percentage truly make money for their owners on the racetrack. A generation ago, many of these “racetrack rejects” went on to stellar second careers in the hunter/jumper ring. Starting in the 1980s, European Warmbloods, specifically bred as sporthorses, began their show ring dominance in this country, and off-the-track thoroughbreds were seldom seen in top competitions. Fortunately, a new generation is discovering the athleticism and heart of the Thoroughbred, and the breed’s versatility is showcased through events such as the Thoroughbred Makeover, part of the Retired Racehorse Project. This year, 480 trainers from 45 states, three Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom are competing former racehorses in one of 10 disciplines for a chance at a $100,000 prize. While some ex-racehors-
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BY JANE MEGGITT es are being retrained for the sports they formerly dominated, others will don Western tack and show their skills as barrel racers and working ranch horses. Last year’s winners of “Overall Most Wanted Thoroughbred,” Lindsey Partridge and “Soar,” excel in competitive trail and will be back to defend their title. At 26, trainer Kait Schultz, Tivoli, New York, grew up in a horse show world that didn’t have much room for a Thoroughbred. With her Thunder Crest Performance Horses, she’s trying to change that. Schultz specializes in retraining off-the-track thoroughbreds for the show ring and eventing, shepherding 15 to 20 ex-racehorses annually into new careers. One horse, who raced under the name “Angel Charge” and now goes by “Blue Bayou,” is heading to the Grand Prix jumpers with his new owner. That’s just one year after he came off the racetrack. She’s also had Thoroughbreds become polo ponies and even therapeutic riding horses. Plenty of them make fine trail mounts. Schultz finds horses that were “no good at the track”
from a network of trainers. She’s gotten horses from the now-defunct Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts, as well as Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania and West Virginia’s Mountaineer Racetrack. She looks for horses with good bloodlines, pointing out “they got great for a reason.” Schultz herself is an eventer, and says while not that many Thoroughbreds are found in the lowest levels of the sport, they’re quite marketable at preliminary and up. Although off-the-track Thoroughbreds have always been well-represented in eventing, in recent years Warmbloods have overshadowed them at the higher levels. Schultz sees that changing, with Thoroughbreds making a comeback. She adds that it’s a “huge misconception” that thoroughbreds are always hot and hard keepers. She does warn that most Thoroughbreds are not suited for the weekend rider. They thrive on regular and disciplined work. Give that to a thoroughbred, and you’ll have a smart and talented riding horse. While Thoroughbreds aren’t the first choice for running barrels, there’s no reason a fast, agile ex-racehorse can’t succeed in the game. Jamilee Bravard, Willington, Connecticut, purchased her horse “Guilty” from Suffolk Downs Racetrack www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
Blue Bayou, formerly Angel Charge in 2007. In the past eight years, the two have competed in all sorts of ventures, including dressage, working trail, gymkhana, hunter paces, calf roping, team penning, mounted shooting, and barrel racing. “While Thoroughbred may not be the typical barrel horse, I accepted the challenge to retrain an off-the-track thoroughbred because of his athleticism, demeanor, and conformation,” according to Bravard. “Guilty has been an exceptional horse for me to train and try multiple disciplines because he is always braver than me.” She adds, “I have been fortunate enough to find that Guilty has a gas pedal, screeching brakes, calm disposition, dressage talent, and brave armor,” that prepares the two for competitions. One of the most versatile breeds, Quarter Horses bred for racing who wash out at the track often segue easily into cawww.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
reers as barrel horses or compete in rodeo events. Andrea Caudill of the American Quarter Horse Association points out that the breed succeeds in nontraditional arenas as well. Perhaps the best example is the offthe-track Quarter Horses mare Dialadream, who went from lackluster racehorse to Olympic competitor – in eventing. With her post-racing owner Kelly Plitz, a Canadian resident, the mare competed on the quarter horse circuit, earning a performance Register of Merit. When Plitz encountered the sport of eventing, she wanted to give it a try. Dialadream had speed in her bloodlines, but it didn’t manifest on the racetrack. On the crosscountry course, it was a different story. The mare was a running and jumping maniac, and that term also describes her often difficult personality. Nonetheless, Dialadream and Plitz rep-
resented Canada at the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles. They finished 25th out of 80 horses, earning them the top spot for the Canadian team. In 2009, Dialadream, who died in 2001, was the first horse inducted into Canada’s Eventing Hall of Fame. Another unsuccessful Quarter Horses racer who made it to the top of an unconventional sport is Mischief’s Last Roll, a daughter of Roll the Cash. She earned all of $410 in her racing days, but found her niche and used her speed as a top polo pony. She was in the string of Argentinean Adolpho “Dolphi” Cambiaso, a 10-goal player ranked number one in the world. Standardbreds are bred for harness racing. “Naked Willow”, better known as “Fiddle,” is a registered Standardbred, designed for the pacing track in Canada, but she was not a April April 2016 2016 2 2H HORSEBACK ORSEBACK M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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good race horse. She ended up with Aarene Storms, Arlington, Washington, in 2006 via the Canadian Standardbred adoption agency Greener Pastures. The two compete in endurance, and Fiddle was the High Mileage Standardbred for the USA/Canada in 2015, with 515 miles in competition. “That doesn’t include training or trail work--she is also my buddy for building and repairing trails, which means she carries me and a bunch of tools up the mountain and then stands tied to a tree for an hour or two while the team does stuff with shovels and rakes and axes and rocks and chainsaws to make a trail,” according to Storms. In endurance, Storms said her horse is faster than some horses, not as fast as others. “In 50 mile rides, we often finish in the top third of the pack. The pack is dominated by Arabians, but also includes mustangs, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Paso Finos, Foxtrotters, grade horses bought cheaply at auction, and other Standardbreds,” she says. When asked if a lot of offthe-track Standardbreds compete in endurance, Storms replies, “There are always some of us competing--sometimes there are lots, and sometimes not so many. Often, other riders don’t necessarily know what those brown sensible horses are....unless the riders fly the Standardbred flag proudly, as I do.” Storms notes that Standardbreds are not bred to please the judge’s eye with some extreme conformation trait, fabulous hair, or exotic color. “They are, generally speaking, brown horses with honest faces. The breed’s unofficial motto should be ‘whatever it is, let’s do it.’” Standardbreds are intended to be functional horses, and the
16 16 H HORSEBACK ORSEBACK M MAGAZINE AGAZINE 2 2 April April 2016 2016
Fiddle & Aerens Storms on Klickikat Trek primary function of a Standardbred is to trot (or pace) in harness. “However, the secondary function of Standardbreds is sensibility. A successful Standardbred can tolerate chaotic crowds, strange noises, unusual vehicles, inscrutable human behavior and weird circumstances, and continue to do the assigned job no matter what else is happening, with careers that often last many years,” she says. The Saddlebred stallion Periaptor was the number one three-gaited sire in the country.
When Brenda Helt, Allentown, New Jersey, bred her mare Heir Space to Periaptor, she hoped the resulting foal would become a top show horse. “Peaches,” as the chestnut mare with the flaxen mane and tail is known, is on her way in the show ring – but not in Saddlebred shows. Peaches didn’t have the high-headed look prized in her breed, but she did love to jump. Helt gave the mare to her granddaughter, Jordan Ferrier, 13, for her birthday last year, and they are now compet-
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(Continued from Page 16)
ing in the lower level jumpers on the New Jersey circuit and cleaning up. In the late 19th century, the Hackney horse was the “ultimate driving machine” in England and the U.S. The breed’s highstepping action and ability to trot for miles made these horses visually appealing and practical for transportation. The advent of the automobile spelled the end of the Hackney horse for all but show enthusiasts. While some horse shows do offer classes for Hackney horses – not to be confused with their smaller relatives, the Hackney pony – they are few in number. So is the Hackney horse, which is considered a critically endangered breed. In the U.S, annual registrations of Hackney horses remain in the teens, although they are higher in England and Europe. Marcie Quist, Southern Pines, North Carolina, a top combined driving competitor, was introduced to the breed when her trainer, Craig Kellogg, boarded several of them at her farm. She fell in love with the breed she refers to as “the border collies of the horse world” because of their intelligence, trainability and work ethic. Although they were not bred for combined driving – the sport wasn’t in existence during the Hackney’s heyday – they do well in it, but Quist says they are also suitable for dressage and jumping. Her former horse, Halsted’s Shale, went foxhunting with the Moore County Hounds.
Saddlebred “Peaches”
Hackney Foxhunting 18 18 H HORSEBACK ORSEBACK M MAGAZINE AGAZINE 2 2 April April 2016 2016
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Editor’s Note: Many horses are lucky to get that “second chance” in life. One of the most famous of them would be a big grey - eighty dollar plow horse rescued from the kill pen named Snowman. In 1956 a Holland immigrant named Harry de Leyer arrived late to the New Holland Pennsylvania auction looking for a riding horse for the Knox Girl’s School on Long Island where he worked as a riding instructor, as well as maintaining a small stable and training business of his own on the side. Among the horses loaded on the truck destined for the kill pen was a plow horse that appeared beaten-up, open wounds on both knees, cracked hooves, and plow marks across his chest.
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But Harry saw past the gray’s physical appearance and saw something deep in his eyes-calm, trusting, with a sturdy constitution. Harry paid the eighty dollars, and the rest is history. Snowman, (named by Harry’s children), went on to become the “comHarry mon man’s” champion by the summer of 1958 winning a series of east coast shows leading up to the Triple Crown of show jumping; the American Hose Shows Association Horse of the Year; the Professional Horseman’s Association Championship, and
& “Snowman” the National Horse Show Diamond Jubilee. Give a horse a “second chance”. All it takes is finding the right job for the horse others would throw away.
April April 2016 2016 2 2H HORSEBACK ORSEBACK M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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randomly assigned to participate in the six-week THR program, either without a wait control period or assigned to a six-week wait control period prior to the six weeks of riding. As predicted, no significant changes were found for any outcome measure during the wait control period, indicating that changes in outcome measures were due to the THR rather than other extraneous factors. Results of this study provide clear evidence that the THR program contributed to a decrease in PTSD symptoms. Veterans participating in THR had statistically significant decreases in their PTSD symptoms throughout the study period; and the benefit increased the longer an individual was in the riding program. Veterans also expressed great enjoyment when interacting with the horses and learning to ride. They also enjoyed the camaraderie with other veterans and the research and riding center staff. These positive interactions were an enormous advantage in engaging the veterans - especially as compared to frequent resistance found with clinical counseling sessions. It is also worth noting that several of the participants from this study have continued on with THR and others are now doing volunteer work as side walkers or leaders at the center where the study was conducted. There are more than 6000 instructors, therapists and facilitators providing equine- assisted activities across the USA. The majority of these programs are not scientifically evaluated. Without scientific evidence demonstrating the impact of equine assisted activities and without established evidenced based practices, progress and support is often constrained. Strong research findings, like this University of Missouri project, significantly impact the future of equine-assisted programs and their ability to grow to serve more people. Dr Johnson said that “Further investigation is needed to learn more about the changes we saw in self-efficacy and emotional regulation. We continue to analyze the extensive and very rich array of qualitative data from the participants’ weekly riding diaries, which we think may help shed light on the trends we found in these outcome variables.”
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 21
Things to Consider when Buying a Horse
W
hen you find yourself in the market to buy a horse, there is much to consider. Your first decision is defining what your goals are with a horse. Will you be showing and what discipline(s), trail riding, working livestock or do you just want to play and have fun? How much time do you realistically have to ride and work with your horse? Do you have the financial stability to buy and care for your horse as well as purchase all the necessary tack and equipment? What do you need in terms of age and experience in a horse? Do you have the knowledge and “know how” to keep yourself and your horse safe after the purchase? How do you find that perfect horse? We will be addressing each of these questions in the article. In thinking about what type of riding you want to do and what disciplines you will be pursuing, think about what type of riding you want to enjoy and research what type of horse will help you fulfill that goal. This may not always be a simple task. For example, you may start out thinking you only want to trail ride, but end up wanting to participate in some type of competition. Once you know what type of riding you want to do,
you need to search for a horse with that type of experience. Don’t buy a cow horse and try to make a jumper out of him or vice versa. Horses are like children and are time consuming. If your time is limited to a few days per week, be sure that you know how you will be able to provide your horse care and exercise or turn out on the other days. Boarding has advantages for horse owners with limited time. Board can run anywhere from $200 to more than $800 (or more) depending on location and amenities. Horses, again like children, are money consuming as well. At today’s prices, it costs about $1800 to $2000 per year to properly care for a horse at your own barn. And beyond high quality feed and hay or forage, your other costs include skilled farrier and vet services (don’t forget the annual dental needs, a good worming program and potentially chiropractic care). The above costs assume that no major health issues occur. We all know that a horse can find a way to hurt themselves in a padded cell. Add in all the tack and accessories needed and the costs mount faster than our national debt! What type and age of horse do you need? Young is not better unless you are a horse trainer or plan on investing a lot of money in training the horse and yourself. The dumbest thing a person can do is buy a green horse when they are a green rider. Green on green makes black and blue. Because you owned a horse when you were a kid does not mean you retained those skills 20 years later. I tell people to buy a horse with more skills
and experience than they have, then invest the time and money in professional lessons to improve your skills to reach the horses level. Otherwise the horse will come down to your skill level. (If you can’t afford to pay for that experience, do you have good health insurance?) Be sure to buy from a reputable person and look at the horse several times. If you aren’t qualified to make the purchase decision, seek advice. Don’t skip the vet check and be sure that the vet does flexion tests to look for potential lameness. Then be willing to walk away if there are concerns. Never buy a horse because you feel sorry for it, as you may end up feeling sorry for yourself. Don’t be afraid to buy an older horse as long as they are sound and healthy. As with most things, you can never have enough knowledge when buying or owning a horse. Seek out professional advice and support. While it may be expensive, it is a good investment in your own skills and your horses’ wellbeing. When it comes to horses and riding, you can never know enough. There is always more to learn. Lastly, there is no perfect horse. All have strengths and flaws, just like people. Never buy a horse based on color. Understand what skills are your priorities for your new horse and what skills and traits you are willing to compromise. Be color blind when horse shopping. A good horse never had a bad color and a bad horse never had a good color. If you are or will be in the market for a horse, I hope this article has given you some things to think about. Buy experience, skills and soundness. If that means
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saving your pennies for a while, you will be happier in the end. If you can’t afford the type of horse you want, my advice is to take lessons or consider leasing a horse. This will enable you to continue to develop your knowledge and skills, while saving to find your next equine partner. Also, talk to other horse owners to understand the local talent and expertise in your area. Know where to go and who to turn to for instruction, guidance and advice Questions about this or any of our articles can be emailed to us at myers5000@aol.com.
Terry Myers is a national clinician and champion horse trainer with a depth of knowledge developed from over 45 years in the horse industry. Myers has been a popular clinician at multiple expos in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about Myers’ Ride-In-Sync methods as well as clinic and training product/services available, visit Myers at www.tmtrainingcenter.com and on Facebook. www.horsebackmagazine.com
April 2016 2
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 23
English...
“We
had such a good round. Why didn’t we place? It seems like the same horse always wins.” These are words I’ve heard so many times. The complexities of judging the hunter arena can overwhelm novices and even seasoned competitors. Just because a horse has a good round doesn’t guarantee anything. First of all, what qualifies a good round? Was it a good round compared with how that horse normally performs? Or was it a good round by judging standards? Let’s take a minute to step into the judge’s shoes and pick the round apart. First of all, remember that this is a comparison game. The judge is comparing your round to everyone else’s. The initial consideration is major errors. If the horse goes off course, a horse or rider falls, 3 refusals are incurred or the course is not completed, the horse will be eliminated from the class. Trotting or cantering through the in-gate will also cause
24 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
Simplifying the Hunter Arena By Cathy Strobel elimination. One or two refusals will keep you in the competition but weigh heavily. Other major disobediences such as bucking or rearing will also be heavily penalized. Next are mistakes such as breaking to a trot on course or knocking down a fence. Excessive speed is dangerous and should be penalized. Distances are important too. This means that the horse arrives at the jump to take off and land at an even distance on each side so that the peak of the arc is centered over the jump. Chipping in close to the jump or launching from too far away is penalized for safety reasons. Consistency on course is critical. The spaces between jumps on a straight line are always measured and the distances are publicized on the course diagrams for
riders to consider. Typically, horses should travel with 12 foot strides in an average size jumping arena. If a line of jumps is set with 60 feet between them, the horse will take 12 feet to land after the first jump and take off for the second one. Then, there will be four 12 foot strides taken between the jumps. If the horse adds a stride due to taking small strides or leaves out a stride by traveling on too long of a stride, he will be penalized for the inconsistency. Riders should know if their horses can make the twelve foot strides easily or not so they can adjust their horses to make the correct distances or consistently add a stride if it’s needed. In dealing with distances, we also have to consider pace, impulsion and rhythm. Pace is the speed that the horse travels around the course. While
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there is no specific speed that is correct for all horses and all levels of competition, it should be fast enough that the horse clearly has plenty of energy without rushing. Impulsion is thrust or pushing power. The horse should travel with a push that comes from the back end and is achieved through correct balance. Pace and impulsion will result in rhythm. As a horse travels around a course, you should be able to hear a steady rhythm that never changes. When the horse jumps, the rhythm stays the same as the canter and is not interrupted. If you steadily counted 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3… continuously around the course, you shouldn’t detect any change in the rhythm when the horse jumps, turns a corner or travels down a straight line, other than a slightly longer beat when the horse takes a fence. Leads are another important factor. In order to have good balance, horses should always canter so that they are leading with the leg they are turning toward. When the horse begins to canter on course, he should be on the correct lead. As he takes each jump, the lead should be held or changed according to the direction that he will travel after the jump. If he doesn’t change his lead over www.horsebackmagazine.com
the jump before a change of direction, it’s okay for him to do a flying change in the first corner he comes to. Missed leads or cross canters (when the front and back leads don’t match) are heavily penalized. Everything above is about the more significant and obvious errors that can occur. If the round is free of mistakes, the judge can move on to the more subtle nuances that make a fabulous hunter. The frame of the horse can make or break his balance. Hunters should travel in a rounded, long and low frame. That means that his topline, consisting of his back and neck, should have a rounded appearance. When the nose drops and the hind end moves up underneath him as he travels, his back will rise up slightly and the neck will appear somewhat arched, but in a relaxed fashion. Think long neck and low head. A horse that travels around with his head up in the air will hollow out his back and the jumping will lack a smooth appearance. As the horse travels around the course, his body should straighten or bend from head to tail according to the path he is on. When he takes a straight line of jumps, he should travel right down the middle of the jumps with no drifting to
either side. His feet should travel close to the ground without stumbling while using minimal effort. His jumping style should be very tidy with knees lifted up to the height of his elbows, creating a horizontal forearm. His ankles should fold up tightly. The appearance of the horse and rider should be clean, polished and well groomed. The bottom line is the hunter should simulate the hunt field where people gather with their finest horses, dressed in their best attire to follow the hounds as they chase the fox. Their horse should be able to keep up with the hunt without passing the Master of the Hunt. The mount should be safe, reliable and fit. Hunters are about style and finesse combined with athleticism. It’s as much of an art form as it is a sport. When watching hunter classes, keep these things in mind and don’t forget that the judge is a knowledgeable horse professional who is paid to score the rounds and compare them to tell us all who did the best job. Cathy Strobel has over 30 years of experience as a trainer, judge and clinician and can be reached at Southern Breeze Equestrian Center at (281) 431-4868 or www.sbreeze.com April 2016 2
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 25
Trail Riding...
Thoughts on changing a horse’s future use. by Tom Seay, Host of Best of America by Horseback
I
was asked to give my personal thoughts on getting a horse for a new life and purpose. Many of us want to adopt a horse from a rescue or to save it from the meat packer, but I suggest extreme caution. While this is a noble and good deed, you must think it through for the purpose you will have for this horse’s continued life with you. Some years ago when we were returning from a trail ride, a lady approached me to ask if I would be interested in buying her horse. She had also just ridden the same trail and told me how horrible the horse was. It stumbled along and seemed overly nervous. It was lathered up and jumpy. I knew this lady as a good person that rode English (nothing wrong with that) - but her career with horses was the show arena and a hunter-jumper world. That is all her horse knew. Now she and the horse were entering the trail ride world. I suggested we go back out for a short ride. My
26 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
suggestion to her was to simply drop the reins and ride behind me. Although the she was sure that would not work, she did the ride and was delighted with the horse and her ride. The problem for both was the simple fact that the horse was not use to a nice walk to enjoy the world around. He was waiting for the next direct leg or hand signal to do this or that. She, too, was micro managing the ride, giving the horse directions (with a tight rein). Neither was thinking or enjoying the trail. After the ride, she was beyond happy as she and the horse began a new career of just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. Most of us fall into getting a horse to do what we want but sometimes we overlook the horse’s nature or history. To buy or adopt a new horse, serious thought of that history is critical to your future happiness and maybe your health as well. My wife’s horse loves be-
ing in the field with cattle. When she is out with the other horses and cattle, we often see her herding cattle on her own. She loves it. Simple observation shows this horse would do well in that sport of team penning. The horse I loved so much and rode from the Atlantic to the Pacific, loved people and trail riding. On one occasion someone left a gate open and midway through a trail ride, we were surprised to see him gallop up past all the riders without hater or bridle and drop in front to lead the ride. He loved it. Despite these examples, we have to look at the background of adopted horses. I have mixed feelings about wild mustangs. A horse that is born in the wild, lived in the wild with predators has had to be able to flee in a moment’s notice of any danger. When you adopt a mustang, this is a serious concern. My late friend Mike Phillips, adopted a mustang that he loved very www.horsebackmagazine.com
much but often said, “he just started bucking and running for no reason or warning”. It was something that triggered a thought of danger. A retired race horse was bred to race, trained all its life to run and when it did not win, it was retired or put out for adoption. While there is nothing wrong with this, it also might not be the choice of horses for your grandchild to ride anywhere near a bell.... Good sources for retired horses may be a mounted police horse which is used to anything and an easy retirement with your children or a nervous spouse might be perfect. The purpose of this article is to simple suggest that you give background thought about trying to “reprogram” a horse or changing its life entirely before you buy or adopt. For me, I do not sell horses. Part is marital intervention and mostly, to enjoy a collection of retired horses that have served us well and their retirement is to simply enjoy the pastures and give us an added feature to watching sunsets. As always, you can contact me directly if I can help you at tseay10@aol.com. If you would like to join Tom and the Best of America by Horseback crew on an upcoming ride or event, visit our website, www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com, and click on the “Rides & Events” tab.
Best of America by Horseback Television Show
Meet Tom Seay
Apr 1-3: Virginia Horse Festival in Doswell, VA
Join Tom Seay at these Upcoming Locations May 13-15: Gathering at the Farm in Culpeper, VA July 23: Day of the Cowboy in Humboldt, KS July 29-31: The Bolo Club in Sherwood, TN Aug 24-28: 300th Anniversary Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Ride in Culpeper, VA Sept 10: Lakota of Ohio Special Event in South Solon, OH Sept 16-18: Jesse James Festival Trail Ride with Clay County in Smithville, MO Sept 18-25: French Broad Outpost Dude Ranch in Del Rio, TN Oct 7-9: Fall Gathering at the Farm in Culpeper, VA Dec 3-10: Cruise to Belize Plus so much more including Cattle Drive Weekends and Cowgirl Weeks at Andora Farm in Culpeper, VA. See our website for our full schedule.
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 27
Tack Care...
Spring Hunting
I
Horseback Magazine’s Saddle & Tack Editor
have never enjoyed hunting animals for sport, but I do love hunting in the spring. I love to find shed antlers. Whitetail sheds are neat to find, but I really love to find a nice axis shed. The whitetails have pretty much shed their antlers by now so it’s a challenge to find them before field mice and other critters eat them for the calcium contained in them. Every time I’m horseback or just walking the dog, I’m always on the lookout for antler sheds. I use the sheds for decoration, buttons, scarf slides, fasteners for all kinds of bags, and even slickers for smoothing leather edges. One of the things you have to be careful of anywhere within the reach of Horseback Magazine, is those shaky tailed snakes. I came back from a walk and saw the horses grazing in the yard on some of that fresh spring grass. When I got up to the house, the horses came out the gate, and my dog went over to investigate where they had been grazing. He came back out by me and I heard
28 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
that distinctive buzz. I went in and retrieved my .357 with shot shells, came back out just as Mr. Snake was going under the house. I got him before he got away. Pretty good sized; five and a half feet, with nine rattles and a button. I skinned him and stretched the hide. I have been putting my solution of snake tan on the hide for a few days now. The hide will make several nice leather items when it has fully cured. I make my snake tanning solution very simply. One part glycerin, one part 90% rubbing alcohol. There is usually some fat along the belly, and if you want to preserve the entire hide, you probably need to scrape the slimy tissue off of the hide after you stretch it. I usually let the flies eat that off for a day before I start applying the tanning solution. Seems to work fine. A customer brought me a fresh killed coral snake, and I used the same tanning so-
lution. I made a hatband for the customer and it came out beautiful. Another customer brought me a frozen coral snake. I thawed him out, skinned him, and the colors were really faded. That has been my only experience with coral snake skins, but from that, I would suggest skinning them while they are fresh, rather than frozen. Another suggestion about drying and tanning the hides, is keep them away from fire ants. Those little boogers will destroy your hide in less than a day. I had one board leaning against a building to catch the sun, and when I came home, there were huge holes all over the hide making it totally unusable. Since this was the eighth rattler I’ve killed here on the ranch, I figured I better keep some kind of defense close at hand, especially when out walking in the rocky hills. The easiest way to do that is with a .38 or
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.357 with shot shells. These are very effective and you don’t have to aim too precisely. Point and shoot. I made a simple holster that is very secure and very easy to use. The pattern was given to me by a former FBI agent who said it was what he carried for twenty five years. I used to make these up when I had Bunkhouse Leather, and two sizes will fit almost any hand gun, from a stub nose revolver to a 1911 semiautomatic. If the anti-gun people ever get their way, I wonder what their solution to predator control will be. I hope we never find out. Besides the joy of walking my dog and enjoying the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, I have to remember to be always on the lookout for antlers, rattlers, and of course, the elusive chupacobras. Be safe and enjoy your spring trail rides.
Bandera’s Lew Pewterbaugh has been called the most knowledgeable saddle and tack authority in the Southwest. For private fitting consultation call (830) 328-0321 or (830) 522-6613 or email: saddlerlew@gmail.com.
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 29
Lifestyle...
It
Making an Impact in the Community
has been said that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. No truer statement could be told when talking about SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship, and Mary Elizabeth and Nils Hugo Sand. Both SIRE and the couple fully understand the impact and the immense benefits horses can impose to the lives of those who have the chance to be around them. That cause is what brought the Sand’s family and SIRE together. After years of volunteering, donating and helping in many ways, the Sands continue to bring assistance to SIRE as co-chairs of the SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship’s annul gala. The gala is something special because it raises funds for the organization to continue allowing horses to influence lives in the greater Houston area.
By Kelsey Hellman SIRE is a therapeutic riding organization with three locations across the greater Houston area. Cindy Lindh, the founder of SIRE brought the charitable organization to Texas in 1983. With the help and support of the community, the base location for SIRE opened in Hockley, Texas, in 1995. Two additional locations followed, one in Spring, Texas, started in 2000, and the one in Richmond, Texas opened it’s gates in 2012. The organization has been working with people with special needs and disabilities to offer a better quality of life through therapeutic horsemanship. Not only has SIRE been helping in improving the lives of special needs or
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disabled individuals, it has also had an impact on the volunteers that have dedicated over 30,000 volunteer hours in the past year. Mary Elizabeth Sand started out as one of those volunteers impacted by SIRE more than ten years ago and has continued to be a part of the organization through the years. She started her involvement with SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship volunteering with the program, helping in the arena with the riders. The riders can range from three years old on up. Sand arrived at SIRE with an exemplary riding career, a degree in Special Education and a passion for the horses and the people they help. Sand has experience in the hunter jumper arena with a National Champions title and earning a ranking of second in the country. That is not all; she has also competed with the American Quarter Horse Association, bringing home two AQHA World Show Championships and ranking number one in the state of Texas and third across the country during her showing career. Sand has taken her love for horses and shared it with the riders, families and caregivers at SIRE. Helping to show the positive effect horses can have on everyone. Sand was elected a board member for a time and now she and her husband, Norwegian National, Nils Hugo Sand are co-chairs of the charitable organization’s annual gala and continue to volunteer when they can. Because they share an interest in horseback riding (as well as many other activities like golf and tennis)-it was only natural for them to help SIRE together. The couple have donated their time to assist in the arena with the riders as well as being monetary donors and www.horsebackmagazine.com
Mary Elizabeth and Nils Hugo Sand.
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April 2016 2
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 31
equine donors with SIRE by providing the riding facility with four well-mannered and good-tempered horses to use for therapeutic horsemanship. Natalie DeJong, development coordinator for SIRE, explained that the SIRE therapeutic horses need to have a certain type of temperament, be sound at all gaits and of course they need to like the work. All of those qualities make for an ideal horse for any rider, thus proving hard for therapeutic facilities to find just the right equines. The Sands understood what type of special horse it takes to be at a facility like SIRE and they had four perfect matches. Three of the four horses donated by the Sand’s are a unique breed called Norwegian Fjords. This is not a common breed found in Texas; they are typically found farther north or in Norway and generally used for carriage driving. However, this breed of horse also worked splendidly in the SIRE’s program. Accompanying the short and stout appearance of these horses is a docile temperament and calm disposition. These are all ideal traits for a therapy horse. The shortness helps the side walkers that assist many of the special needs
32 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
riders, while the stoutness can help with developing the rider’s balance. The fourth horse that was donated by the Sands was a grey registered American Paint Horse mare, named Hadley. The mare was bought for Sand’s two daughters to learn to ride once they were old enough. Until that time the couple was going to let the organization borrow the horse-but once they saw the impact that Hadley had on the riders they donated the mare to SIRE. “Finding those four horses that fit the program all from the same person, that is just like a miracle I think,” exclaimed DeJong. SIRE currently has 34 horses in their program and more than 300 students enrolled. At this time they offer therapeutic horseback riding, a military program and a program with a local foster care system. In the works are therapeutic carriage driving and vaulting. They are thriving to help keep the community members healthy, working with students with everything from various handicaps, veterans with PTSD -to students with anxiety and Alzheimer’s. “It’s not just about the riders. It’s also about the families, their teachers, the people they work with everyday
and the caretakers. The skills learned on horseback translate in to everyday living skills, such as learning how to grip the reins…to learning how to grip a blanket and pull it up,” explains DeJong. The impact horses can have on the lives of both special needs and ablebodied individuals is immeasurable. In knowing this, the Sands have become key community members in spreading the awareness of SIRE. Even Mary Elizabeth’s parents and two sisters have become financial supporters of SIRE. “SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship appreciates Mary Elizabeth and her entire family for what they have contributed to the program to help make the community a better place for people with special needs.” – SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship The 2016 SIRE Outer Limits Gala will be held on Friday, April 22, at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston. This year’s title sponsor is Beck & Masten Buick GMC. To find out more about the SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship programs, donating or becoming a volunteer visit Sire-htec.org. www.horsebackmagazine.com
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Lifestyle...
Once Upon a Time...
O
nce upon a time there was a little girl who lived in Chicago, Illinois in a small apartment on the ninth floor in a big apartment building. Every Saturday morning her mother would take her to the park to see the mounted policeman’s horse. The little girl would pet and pat and talk to the horse. She wanted to sit on him, but the policeman was not allowed to let any one do that. So she began to dream of having her own horse to sit on someday. Years went by-as they will, and the little girl grew up. She finished school, got married, had four children and moved to Texas-where she thought everyone had at least one horse. Finally, after 35 years of waiting, Mom got her first horse! The family had moved to one and a half acres of land (right in town!), where her horse could be in the paddock beside the house. She could watch him from her kitchen window. He was a very handsome Bay Quarter Horse gelding, seven years old with a mind of his own, a heart as big as Texas - and barely broken to ride. Actually he was not the ideal first horse for non - riding Mom. He was what she had dreamed of for so long- as they say “Ignorance is Bliss.” His name was Red Cricket - he sized up Mom immediately ... long on emotional attachment, but short on experience (like real short!) Mom hadn’t waited over 35 years to get her horse to be intimiwww.horsebackmagazine.com
dated by a mere 1000 pounds of animal - well, maybe just a little. So she went out and bought a “raft of ‘how to books: There were How to Start a Green Horse, How to Saddle and Bridle, Longeing, How to Understand your Horse - Riding Western and English. She even tried to find How to not get killed in the Process - but it wasn’t in print yet. Granted, this was not your six week session, from longing to loping with flying lead changes in a couple of months. In fact, she used to tie Cricket to the fence, sit on the rail and read parts of the books to him, especially ones that described how your horse would respond to those unfailing techniques listed below. He was probably bored, but he really had no choice but to listen. After four months at las,t the poor nervous girl got up enough courage to get on Cricket’s back. Guess what? She didn’t fall off - he hopped about a little just for effect, but not seriously trying to dump her. Now to all you seasoned horse people and to all you non horse people, this may not be very impressive, but to this city born lady it was a life long dream come true-not just to have her own horse, but to take him from green broke to a great pleasure horse. Cricket was very versatile they went on to trail ride, games, English and Western - even a little Dressage for fun. Some folks cherish a dream their whole lives, but
never have a chance to live it. Mom was truly a very lucky lady. Mom and Cricket have had a long and happy affair. He was impressed with her determination and gentled by her love - she was impressed with his spirit and his kindness. Over the years, Cricket took her on many a trail ride, up and down Houston streets, on canters along Braes Bayou, to horse shows and play days. Mom has a place in the country now, where her equine retirement farm began-The Golden Trail. Cricket was in his late twenties and had become a weekend horse. He stood on his hind legs now and then, and if it was a cool morning he would bow his neck and look wild for old times sake. He was a bit low in the back, but Mom thought he was still very handsome. Their love affair never ended. Postscript: Cricked lived to be 37 years old. He is buried on the farm where he lived out his retirement years. His grave marker reads: “Your Brave Bold Spirit Wild and Free Does not lie here It Runs with Me.”
Dorothy Lahr Crawford Deryni Hill Pony Farm
April 2016 2
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 35
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Custom 4 bed, 4.5 bath Estate Ranch House and Guest House/Office on a 25.5 acre Horse Ranch. Custom Stone home with slate & hardwood oors, vaulted, beamed wood ceiling & interior stone walls. Gourmet island kitchen with slate counters, 6 burner gas range, convection oven, built in bar fridge and wine rack. Guest house/office w kitchen, bath, bedroom and living/dining. Large lighted outdoor arena. Multiple barns, 4 horse walker.
Gentleman's ranch on 30+ acres with panoramic views of the wide open Texas skies includesa custom limestone home, a six stall barn and an additional barn with turn outs, lighted roping arena with 14,000 watts of lighting, a koi pond with waterfall and two large property ponds. Limestone home features Versailles pattern travertine ooring, a vaulted great room with massive wood ceiling beams & a oor to ceiling stone replace
5 acre estate in the heart of Cypress off of Grant between Telge & Cypress Rosehill. 3,465 sq ft 4 bed, 3 bath main house, pool, barn & 690 sq ft 1 bed 1 bath garage apartment. Beautiful Stokes custom home with master retreat, high ceilings & French doors leading to expansive grounds & pool. Large island kitchen with built in desk & fantastic views. Living room with wet bar, dining room & breakfast, office with access from Master . 36 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016 www.horsebackmagazine.com
Stunning Custom Home on 8 acres in River Park Ranch with a 100' X 150' Rigid Bldg Systems covered arena with built up arena pad; 10 stall insulated Barnmaster barn with 12' concrete aisle, auto waterers, y system, hot h20, wash rm & enclosed tack. Fenced and cross fenced. Home features interior Chicago brick walls; a library/oďŹƒce; spacious chef's kitchen with custom cabinets & a large granite island with seating, wine frig as well as gas & elec ovens. Huge master suite w double French doors open to terrace. Apartment over the 3 car detached garage with kitchen & game room.
Just south of Navasota is this lovely 35 Acre ranch with custom limestone one story home with pool & hot tub, 6 stall barn with tack room, wash rack & equipment storage. The stallS open up into turnouts that also open into one of the three pastures with round pen. Fenced & cross fenced with pond & custom iron gate, the property currently produces hay & is AG exempt. The home features a private oďŹƒce with french doors, an open plan with split bedrooms, limestone replace in a vaulted, wood beamed ceiling living room, a granite kitchen with large breakfast/serving bar.
Wonderful 33-acre property in Hempstead. All new construction. 122x36-foot barn with 16 stalls, radiant barrier insulation, air conditioning, automatic waterers, bathroom, vet room, tack room, saddle wall, rotating tie ring, pasture feeders, wash rack and insemination/palpation chute and porches. 130x70 arena and round pen with water. Property has been cleared. Newly fenced and cross-fenced. Three bed, two bath manufactured home - perfect to live in while you are building your custom home & then use as a guest house. New well & septic. Mosquito mist system.
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 37
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HILL COUNTRY EQUESTRIAN ESTATE T hi s Hi l l C o u nt r y e s t at e i s l o c at e d j u s t 1 5 mi nu t e s f ro m d o w nt o w n B o e r n e , Te x a s . 5 0 ± a c re s o f b e au t i f u l l y m ai nt ai n e d g ro u n d s c o v e re d i n o a k t re e s s u r ro u n d t hi s e s t at e w i t h a p r i v at e g at e d e nt ran c e . T h e m ai n h o u s e c o n s i s t s o f a p p rox i m at el y 6 , 5 0 0 ± s q u are f e e t o f ai r- c o n d i t i o n e d s p a c e w i t h e n o r m o u s c o v e re d p o rc h e s a l l o w i n g a c c e s s t o t h e p o o l an d o u t d o o r ki t c h e n . T h e p ro p e r t y o f f e r s a 1 2 - s t a l l h o r s e b ar n c o mp l e t e w i t h an a p ar t m e nt , t a c k an d f e e d ro o m s . A l ar g e 2 0 0 x 3 0 0 f o o t l i g ht e d r i d i n g an d ro p i n g are n a i s c o nv e ni e nt l y l o c at e d n e ar t h e b ar n an d h o r s e w a l k e r, p l u s t h e re are p l e nt y o f c o v e re d p ar ki n g are a s f o r t rai l e r s .
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40 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
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THE DIAMOND D RANCH A premier p race horse training facili one hour east of Dallas on 184 acres near Lone Oak, TX. 3 superior concrete barns totaling 84 concrete stalls, office, auto-waterers, tack and feed rooms, wash racks and covered walkers. 2 Austin stone homes, manager’s home and worker’s dorm with 10 apartments. State of the Art licensed 5 apa furlong race track, 16 paddocks, double fenced and 7 pastures. Hay/equipment barns, outdoor arena and 10 miles of pipe fencing. Sandy loam soil.
$3,495,000
Brian Smith with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (972) 588-8300 or visit www.CountryConnection.com
Get to know the
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Diamond D Ranch!
full Service, year round training center, the 185 acre farm in Lone Oak, Texas, about an hour east of Dallas, focuses primarily on the breaking of 2 year olds. The training facility was established in 1981 by Ed and Caroline Dodwell. Experienced riders and staff offer top notch care at the Diamond D Ranch in all phases of training, sales prep, layups, rehabilitation, boarding and foaling. Today the facility serves customers from 14 racing states across the United States. The facility can handle up to 190 horses and includes a five furlong track, which is watered and groomed daily and is licensed by the Texas Racing Commission to record official works and gate cards. The Diamond D Ranch features three barns with a total of 84 stalls, 16 individual paddocks, and 7 pastures. Each barn is equipped with an indoor walker, two indoor wash racks, a vet room, a www.horsebackmagazine.com
covered round pen with shredded rubber footing, and “B” barn has a therapy room. The barns have rubber paver block hallways and each 12x12 stall has rubber mats, automatic waters, and automatic fly systems. With Ed having retired in 2004 and his passing in 2011, his son, Jimmy “Scooter” Dodwell, became the head trainer after serving 17 years of working as his father’s assistant. Scooter, Caroline and Jon, as a team, work together to continue the Diamond D Ranch “Winning Ways”. Jon Newbold, the assistant trainer, brings 37 years of training experience and oversees the day to day operations assisted by Martin Ramirez. Jon Newbold is on a pony horse for every set that goes to the track to assist young horses. A staff of 20 people keep the operation running smoothly.
The Diamond D program has produced: 28 State bred Champions, 336 Stakes Wins, 162 Individual Stakes Winners, 308 Stakes races combined through July 2013, 892 Stakes placed 3rd or better. Several multiple Graded Stakes Winners and placers are: Rachel Alexander, Amie’s Dini, Livi McKenzie, Shesakitty, Morris Code, Rapid Proof, Devious Intent, Gold Edge, Taptam, Flashy Gray and Rapid Proof to name a few. Brian Smith with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate - 972-588-8300 or visit www.CountryConnection.com April 2016 2
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 41
General...
Trail Ride Readiness Book Howdy!
Welcome to Cowboy Corner.
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ell, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR), which I call the “Greatest Show on Earth”, has been over about a week. One more year “for the kids” is now history. Had the pleasure to participate another year on Valley Lodge Trail Ride the week before the rodeo and parade in downtown Houston on Saturday prior to the rodeo start on Tuesday. The trail rides - thirteen in all, come from all directions around Houston and have for many years kicked off the rodeo season and helped promote the “Greatest Show on Earth”. The trail ride tradition started in 1952 with the Salt Grass Trail and Valley Lodge started in 1959. Sixty five years of tradition is a bunch, and may the tradition and promotion go on forever. Had the good fortune over twenty years ago to join Valley Lodge Trail Ride Association and after serving as assistant trail boss and vice president, became trail boss and president three years ago. My term ended in 2016 and I will become Chairman of the Board of Directors, for the next three years. As the trail boss whistle is passed to my successor, am reminded of a great story.
42 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
Over fifty years ago I was graduating from the School of Agriculture at Texas Technological College-now Texas Tech University. Speaker to the graduates was a well-known alumni and spoke of graduation as a time of being both happy and sad. The story was that two ol’ cowboys were out lookin’ for strays and talkin’ ‘bout where they were going to spend the night along the river. As they rode closer to the river, suddenly a voice was heard sayin’ “boys when you get to the river, dismount for a drink, and kneel down along the river bank, pick up some sand and put it in your saddle bags. Tomorrow you will be both happy and sad.” Well the ‘ol hands talked about what they had heard ridin’ along, and decided to try what the voice had instructed. At the camp site each one as they knelt down along the river bank to get a drink, picked up a handful of sand and put in in their saddle bags. As the sun started up the next morning the ‘ol hands were sittin’ around the camp fire drinkin’ coffee and got to talking about the sand in the saddle bags and being happy and sad. Wasn’t long before the saddle bags were brought to
the fire and opened as per the voices’ instruction. Low and behold the sand had turned to gold, and the ‘ol cowboys were both happy and sad. Happy that they had picked up a handful, but sad they hadn’t picked up more. So passing the trail boss whistle is kinda’ like graduation. I am both happy and sad. Happy that as head of the management team, and all working together, needed changes have been made in the way Valley Lodge Trail Ride Association does business. Also during the last three years Valley Lodge was awarded three trophies from the Trail Ride Committee of The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Valley Lodge is especially proud of the trophies, we deserve them, we worked for them, with a great team effort. Sad that more did not get done. Improvements can always be made as times change. Thanks team members for your input, advice, and counsel. Thanks to Valley Lodge for the opportunity to serve, it’s been a helluva ride. Thank you Lord for the strength and resources to serve.
Happy Trails...
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 43
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44 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 April 2016
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