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INSIDE 6 8 10 14 18 21 22 24 27 28 30 32 34 38 40 42 46 56 60 64 66 70 73 74 78 80 84 86 90 92 94 97 100 102

Hesitant to try breed shows? On The Web A Buyer’s Market Vegas Bound Mare Power Equestrian Mobile Apps In the News... Excalibur: Behind the Scenes SICAB 2013 Andalusian Adventure Canadian nationals The Changing Face of PRE Shows In America el Cid Changes to the Revision Process Winter Tips IMPORTING A HORSE A Guide to Appropriate Tack & Attire The Road to Rio Branding Irons Tips for Keeping Black Coats Black 2013 IALHA National Championship Show Braiding for Iberian Show Horses Events Youth Rider Spotlight FEI Dressage Rule Changes Stallion Showcase Trick Training Celebration 2013 Historical Sires Working Equitation Clinics Happy Ending Q&A Amateur Spotlight Sales Horse Spotlight

On the Cover: As De Copas JM owned by Saul’s Andalusians 4

AndalusianWorld

(805) 467-7325 P.O. Box 56708 Riverside, CA 92517 Publisher/Editor Amber Lentz Asst. Editor Katherine Edwards Design/Photographer Kevin Kidder Advertising Sales Contribute a Story Add Event Have a comment or suggestion? (We would love to hear it)

Contributors Julie Alonzo Susan Ambrose Allison Mathy Elisha Walker Steve Kutie Antonio Topete Diaz Marnie Hoffman Deborah Polec Tracy Lynn Crystal Hemsworth Barb Clark Jill Glasspool Malone

IALHA NATIONALS 2013

Highlights Welcome to the first issue of AndalusianWorld Magazine! We are very excited to share with you our latest venture in promoting the Iberian breeds. So, why a magazine, and why an online magazine at that? In our daily work to bring you the latest news, we come across some extraordinary people, â&#x20AC;&#x153;brilliantâ&#x20AC;? moments, touching stories and adventures that capture the soul of what it means to be part of this industry. To share these stories in a blog would truly do them an injustice! Why online? There are several reasons for this direction. It allows us to distribute the magazine for FREE, worldwide. It provides us the ability to embed videos, slide shows, links, and content not possible to share in print form. With almost 80% of the population viewing the news, facebook, magazines and books on their tablet devices, this was the perfect fit! We are proud to be part of this great community, and look forward to the growth of the breed in the years to come. ~The AndalusianWorld Team AndalusianWorld.com is a website dedicated to the Iberian Breeds worldwide; providing news, information, and live broadcasting of events. AndalusianWorld is not affiliated with any one association or organization, but strives to provide up-to-date breed information and news. IN THE BREED

INSIDE

A Season of Change

What does it take?

MARE POWER

IMPORTING HORSES

VALITAR

Happy Ending Abandoned Show Horse gets new Home

TIPS

Keeping Black Maintaining a black coat

SPOTLIGHT

STALLIONS AT STUD AndalusianWorld Stallions

Hesitant to try breed shows?

Allison also shows him at the breed shows in Sr. Stallion Halter, Dressage Hack, Show Hack, Native Attire and Western Pleasure. Four years ago she took him to The Fiesta of the ow many of our readers have shown in dressage, and Spanish Horse as his first show. He did very well and the rail would like to try a breed show but are hesitant to do classes were ideal for a young horse not quite used to going so, for fear of potentially “ruining” your horse? The into a show atmosphere or show ring. Showing in a group atmosphere and format of breed show classes will most likely gave him the company and confidence to excel at a show. be a little different than what you are accustomed to, but they This positive experience has transferred into the dressage can be such fun for both you and your horse! USDF Gold ring and made competing at his first dressage show a much Medalist Allison Mathy of Lyric Dressage has taken the time easier experience. to share some of her insights into why she feels competing at breed shows have helped her students and horses. Allison’s amateur clients really enjoy the opportunities to Meet Vaquarius CD, a Lusitano stallion owned, trained and show their horses in multiple divisions and are eager to learn shown by Allison and an amazing athlete. He and Allison how to present/show their horses in more ways than just have taken the concept of cross training and versatility to dressage. She feels the “amateur-to-handle” halter classes are another level! “Cielo” as he is known around the barn is especially beneficial for clients with young horses and stalcurrently competing at Third Level dressage and is on track lions, and are a great way to expose them to the show ring for to be a competitive FEI stallion. This is where it gets interest- the first time. ing.... One of her students, Debbie Stuart (2012 Friesian World Champion and 2012 Friesian Horse of the year winner) convinced Allison to try the Western Pleasure division a year ago. She loaned Allison her saddle, bridle, clothes, and taught her the basics. Afterward, she was hooked! Allison says “Cielo took to the style immediately and I felt his connection and balance in the western bridle was better than in my

double bridle. Working on the relaxation and even rhythm needed for a Western Pleasure class really benefited my dressage work and working in a curb bit has helped both his passage and connection in the double bridle.” Allison feels that the friendliness and willingness to share/educate at the breed shows is a welcome change from the dressage world. She was blown away at her first breed show by how helpful and supportive everyone was. She met Tim Keeling and Alexandria Vilardi at her first show and feels so grateful to both of them for helping. “ If I hadn’t met them and if they hadn’t looked out for me so much, I probably wouldn’t have returned. They told me what classes to enter, what I needed to do, and even lent me tack and clothing. The show office at these shows is always very helpful- and I still can’t believe how nice it is to be able to add/scratch classes the day of competition.” In addition to showing, Cielo and Allison also participate in many exhibitions. Dressage in the Wine Country, USDF/ CDS Region 7 Championships, Petaluma Art and Equestrian Festival, Flying Cloud Farm exhibitions, and Lyric Dressage Christmas Spectacular. They also cross train with regular trips to the beach, trail riding and cavaletti work. Allison feels because she primarily trains in dressage, this good base makes all the other disciplines doable. Cielo’s temperament, rideability and trainability are also a key to their success and versatility. Allison looks forward to moving Cielo up the dressage levels and continuing to compete at breed shows for years to come! She is making an effort to reach out to Lusitano (and Andalusian) owners and dressage riders who own/train these breeds to encourage them to attend the breed shows. Sound like fun? Interested in participating with your Lusitano or Andalusian? Find information on breed shows (and clinics) across the country (and world) at: AndalusianWorld Events. Click here for more information on Vaquarious CD

“Cielo took to the style immediately and I felt his connection and balance in the western bridle was better than in my double bridle” ~Allison Mathy

On The Web The concept behind AndalusianWorld is to provide a one stop source for the Iberian breeder, trainer, owner, and enthusiast. In addition to news related to, and affecting the industry, we also want to create a comprehensive directory allowing you to find WHAT you need, WHEN you need it. We know that the sheer volume of information on AndalusianWorld.com can be a little overwhelming, and we are working on ways to make it more user friendly and easier to navigate.

So what is inside?

R B

anches: An international ranch directory categorized by country.

reeding Stallions: Looking to improve your ranch bloodlines? This is where you look!

We have also included a sample Breeding Contract for those who may need it.

ale Horses: In addition to finding horses for sale, you will also find information and forms related to: • Transit/Import Requirements • Sales Contracts • Canadian Import/Export Requirements

hows & Events Need show information? This is the place!

Our comprehensive Events Calendar covers the globe with in depth show information (Dates, maps, contact info). Holding an event? Add it to the calendar! New to showing? See the “Show Requirements” and prepare yourself for qualification. and don’t forget.... The Ultimate Horse Show Checklist Arrive to the show prepared!

ews You guessed it! Stay up to date on all the information relevant to the breed, get Tips & Tricks, new event information, and MUCH more.

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive weekly updates in

your email! (Your information will NEVER be shared or sold!)

ervices & Supplies From boarding facilities to supplements, branding irons to trainers, this is where you will find it! • Boarding Facilities • Branding Irons • Farrier Services • Feed & Bedding • Graphic Designers • Horse Insurance • Photographers • Ranch Products • Tack & Apparel • Trailers • Trainers • Horse Transportation • Veterinarians • Vitamins/Supplements

O I

rganizations Find Iberian organizations and clubs worldwide!

nfo This is much like that junk drawer that you have in your kitchen.

So why have it? This is where we “store” contact and legal information, history and standards for the breeds, as well as some of the services that we offer: • • • • •

Marketing & Design Services Website Advertising LiveStream Broadcasting Magazine information Ranch/Stallion Listings

that requires ry st du in l al sm a is ” The “Iberian World and grow. ALL of us to succeed ure, versatility, at st l ga re e th d on ey B e breed, and intelligence of th it is the “family” envi ronment that makes ly the Iberian breed tru unique. e the Together we improv the quality and success of create the breed. Together we future. sianWorld Our team at Andalu u for all would like to thank yo breed, and that you bring to this bring you the vow to do our part to ies, and coverbest information, stor e of. age that we are capabl y? Have an idea? A stor ar We would love to he

it!

~Kevin AndalusianWorld

FAQs:

Q: Is it free to list my service or ranch? A: Yes, all directories (except sales horses and stallion ads) are free to list. Q: Why isn’t my listing immediately posted? A: We have all seen those Craigslist ads where sellers manipulate listings to make them stand out, and/or post multiple listings. We hand enter each listing to ensure uniformity and accuracy, as well level the playing fields for all. Listings are also added to a database which will allow us to add mapping features. 9

A Buyer’s Market Top 6 Reasons to Buy Horses in the Autumn and Winter Have you been thinking about buying a horse? Autumn and Winter are the ideal seasons for purchasing horses. While it is often thought that springtime is the best time to sell (and therefore, buy a horse) it is a lesser known fact that Autumn and Winter are in fact the best times of the year to buy. In the spring, new babies are being born, summer coats are slick and shiny, and buyers are anxious to begin a promising new show season with a promising new horse. Arenas dry up, jackets are shedded, trails become passable, schedules get busy, and prices go UP. But, what happens in the Autumn? Find out, and start shopping!

These are not hard and fast rules, many sellers are quite unmotivated to get rid of their best stock merely because summer is over. However, having an entire summer of handling under the horse’s belt, and an entire winter to work with your horse before the next show season are our top two reasons to buy in the Autumn and Winter! Remember, just because it is a buyers market in the Autumn and Winter does not mean that you should try lowballing sellers. Remember to be courteous. A seller who might have been willing to part with a horse for a few thousand less than the asking price may become annoyed, and unwilling to work with you at all if you offer too little.

Breeders are in the business of selling horses, and then breeding more of them. They may be more motivated to sell youngstock in the AuAu tumn to make room for the next crop of babies. 2. With the onset of winter, coats become shaggy and dull, and updated sales photos will probably have to wait until the next season. This means that marketing for the sale horse is going to be largely suspended until spring, and the seller is stuck feeding and training their sale horse all winter, which is something they’d like to avoid. 3. Youngsters are more likely to be handled for the vet and farrier by the end of the summer, making less work for you. Their papers may also be processed, and in hand. 4. You may “inherit” the sale horse’s previous show season, and have one more season of experience under that horse’s belt that might not have been there the previous spring.

With all that said, we hope you’ll enjoy checking out some of our featured sale horses!

5. You will have the entire winter to train, evaluate, or fit up your new horse, so that you are more than ready for the http://andalusianworld.com/blog/category/sale-horses/ next show season! 6. Broodmares sold in-foal are often halfway done with their pregnancies already.

Happy shopping! 10

Ashley Waller

16.3 hand revised PRE Spanish Andalusian Stallion “Listo” has impeccable breeding enriched with military lines. Exquisite confirmation,with strong correct structure. National titles ~ Horse Of The Year & Best Of Breed Trained by renowned Hollywood trainers Cari Swanson & Rex Peterson of Swanson Peterson Production Co. Featured in the new Warner Bros movie ” Winter’s Tale” set to be released Valentine’s day 2014. mirabellaandalusians@yahoo.com

Very Limited bookings available.

Vegas Bound

Mark your calendar – September 25 -27, 2014

to attend the “must go” event of the season! Feria del Caballo Español and AndalusianWorld have teamed up to bring you: The Feria del Caballo Español National Championship & Andalusian World Cup Show, held at South Point Hotel and Casino. For those of you who have never attended Feria del Caballo Español, it is an ANCCE sanctioned show that has been held in California since 2008. It is currently the largest PRE show outside of Spain. With other horse shows on the decline in recent years, Feria has continued to grow and have held two shows (Spring and Fall) the past few years. The Fall Show, traditionally held at City of Industry in September, will be moving to Las Vegas.

fered for each division. For example, Hunt Seat Open, Amateur, Jr. Horse, Jr. Rider will all be Standard Classes. After competing in one of these classes, you then have the option to enter the Championship Class for that division. Each Championship class is offering a 500.00 cash prize for first place, in addition to the Championship ribbon and trophy. Extra prizes and /or prize money may be added. Championship Classes will also offer a “bonus prize”. This prize (which could be a bridle, cooler, belt buckle, etc) will be awarded by random draw to any one of the participants in the Championship class, regardless of placing. Even if you don’t win…you still have a chance to win!

orking Equitation will be offered as part of the Andalusian World Cup, which will be eria del Caballo Español National Championopen to all breeds. A saddle has been donated ships (ANCCE sanctioned) are the first to be held in North America, so it will be a great opportuni- by Iberian Connection for the highest scoring Working ty for breeders to be able to compete for a National title. Equitation score overall. There will be a cap on entries for the Working Equitation portion of the show to enMorphology and functionality classes will offered and sure that the show runs smoothly and on time, so be the Spring Feria del Caballo Español Show, which will be held in California, will be a great way to practice for sure to get your entries in well ahead of time! Vegas. There is already talk of horses participating from The Feria del Caballo Español and Andalusian World all over the USA, Mexico, Canada, and perhaps even Cup show committee have several things planned to Spain! make the show an enjoyable one for exhibitors, sponsors and spectators: The Andalusian World Cup are offering both standard and Championship halter and peror Exhibitors formance classes. These class- Each stall ordered es are open to Iberian horses comes with 4 shavings registered with any recognized and you may request your registry. Purebred and partbred stalls be pre – bedded classes will be offered for the - Exhibitor’s dinner on performance and halter move in day (Wed) – divisions, with an this gives everyone a exciting new Supreme chance to get to know Champion halter class each other, show man manbeing introduced. agement and any questions they have can be answered There will be Standard and Championship classes of-

- Easy check in process for stabling and hotel. You will be greeted as you arrive, directed to your stabling area and porters will be available to take your bags up to your hotel room - Inexpensive accommodations - Reasonable entry & stabling fees

or Sponsors

- Attractive sponsorship packages, which give value in exchange for sponsorships - Preferential seating areas for the show - Vendor space (on the concourse at the main arena area) - Advertising in the show program, banners in both arenas and live stream advertising, which reach thousands of viewers world wide

or Spectators

- Comprehensive show program, which also explains what the classes are about - Two arenas with different classes offered in each - Evening entertainment, which may feature championship classes and / or exhibitions - A meet and greet, where they have the opportunity to meet and have photos taken with Iberian Horses and an opportunity to ask questions about the breed The goal of the show committee is to make Feria del Caballo Espa単ol National Championships and Andalusian World Cup a fun and rewarding experience for exhibitors, sponsors and spectators that they will want to participate in year after year. Announcements and information regarding the show will be posted on the AndalusianWorld.com website, Feria del Caballo Espa単ol website and Facebook pages as it is released, so watch for updates. Sponsorship packages are now available! If you are interested in Sponsoring or donating prizes or prize money, please contact us via email and a Sponsorship package will be sent to you.

See you in Vegas!

Ashley Waller

McDowell

Changing Traditions Allow Iberian Mares to Shine Iberian horses owe their millennial existence to stringent adherence to tradition. When it comes to preserving such ancient bloodlines, following tradition is wise. What we actually do with our horses, however, is subject to change. For centuries, it has been traditional within the Iberian breeds to leave the mares at home when it came to actually putting the horses to work. At one time in Spain’s history, there was even a royal decree that stated “all Gentlemen must ride stallions.” As mounted warfare played a prominent role in shaping the Iberian horse, there was even more pressure to ride stallions instead of mares, as it was often impractical to have a mixed-gender cavalry. The time-honored practice of testing mares’ endurance with La Trilla (threshing corn fields with a mare cobra) is now antiquated, leaving the mares with little traditional work to do beyond morphology and mothering. However, attitudes toward Iberian mares are changing, especially in the US, where it has always been traditional to put both male and female horses to work. Our beautiful mares often prove to be exceptional athletes, and times are changing!

Feria del Caballo Español - Functionality Perhaps this year’s most example of a the

noteworthy mare redefining role of Iberian mares under saddle, is Aurora KA, bred by Ketcham Ranch, and owned by Yeguada Alexander (Nick Alexander Phillips). During the April 2013, ANCCE- Sanctioned Feria Del Caballo Espanol, in addition to Morphology, Aurora successfully competed in Functionality against nine other four-year-old Andalusians (all stallions). She scored a 22.917 (out of a possible 25), marking the first time a mare has competed in functionality in this age division (and against the stallions) and won!

Mare Power

This functionality score was also the 4th highest of the entire competition and some of the stallions who rode the same test have competed at Grand Prix level. Congratulations to Aurora KR, Ketcham Ranch, for breeding such an exceptional mare, Nick Phillips (owner) and Lehua Custer (trainer).

Driving Xavier Farms in South Carolina has two Andalusian mares who have made it to the show ring on a regular basis; RA Chacota and Brasilena RM. In addition to a very successful career in halter and some Best Movement awards, Chacota has moved onto driving, and has performed admirably. She began her halter career on the East Coast at the 2010 at the ERAHC Show in Lexington, Virginia, where she won several titles, including ANCCE classes. Later that year she went on to capture several National titles. In 2011, she continued winning in Halter classes before moving onto winning a number of National titles in driving, including Reserve National Champion Andalusian Pleasure Driving Open, Reserve National Champion Andalusian Carriage Pleasure Driving Open, and Reserve National Champion Andalusian Carriage Pleasure Driving Amateur. Chacota also won Reserve USEF Region 6 Horse of the Year Award 2012 in A/L Driving and received fourth place in USEF National Horse of the Year Award 2012 in A/L Driving, as well as more halter titles and and movement awards.

Congratulations to Xavier Farms and Chacota!

Working Equitation Working Equitation is an exciting traditional Iberian discipline, and its popularity is spreading like wildfire worldwide. The US is no exception, and mares are putting their courage and athletic abilities to the test. Meet Alhena REA (photo R) and Bellatrix REA (photo L), both trained and shown by Lexi O’Dell. Since 2009, Bellatrix has won 63 First place ribbons, 17 second place ribbons in in huntseat, dressage, sporthorse, halter, dressage suitability, western pleasure, Jr horse, Jr Exhibitor, Working Equitation and, Show Hack. Alhena, who is just beginning her show career, is already showing tremendous talent as a riding horse. She has accumulated 15 first place ribbons and 10 2nd place ribbons in huntseat, dressage suitability, western pleasure, jr exhibitor, halter, and sporthorse in hand. She was also the 2012 Pin Oak Overall 2nd place Novice Working Equitation horse, despite encountering many obstacles she had never seen before in her life. Congratulations to Lexi O’Dell, Bellatrix and Alhena!

Versatility at the Breed Shows Ucrania do Arete is a thirteen year old Lusitano mare owned by Sierra Nevada Lusitanos, and is a prime example of how versatile and talented Iberian mares can be as show horses. During the 2013 Fiesta of the Spanish Horse in Burbank, CA, she captured the titles of Lusitano mares 6 years and over, best native attire, dressage hack, and dressage hack championship. Additionally, at the Shelley Siegel Show, she received a score of 69% in 2 level 3rd test, as well as the high point award. Congratulations to Sierra Nevada Lusitanos and Ucrania do Arete!

“In fact to create a lasting reputation for a PRE mare it is necessary to not only establish her excellence in the breeding shed and document her as Revised and possibly Calificado but to also establish her worthiness in under saddle competition.”

~Terry Waechter 19

Three Day Eventing and Hunter Jumpers Carina HGF is a five year old Andalusian mare bred by Hampton Green Farms in Fruitport Michigan. She is owned by Eric D. Smith, and trained and ridden by his wife, Cindy RamirezSmith. Carina competes in open breed dressage, hunter jumpers and three day eventing, and is a superlative example of the breed’s untapped potential in open competitions. Last year, Carina was the recipient of the IALHA’s Regelado II perpetual trophy for purebred Spanish horses competing in dressage, as well as the IALHA’s open high point award for hunter/

jumpers. This year Carina placed first at beginner novice, and fifth at novice at USEA sanctioned horse trials, where she competed against fields composed almost entirely of thoroughbreds and warmbloods. Later this year, in addition to showing at first level in dressage, she will compete at the Santa Barbara National Horse show in hunter jumpers and the USEA Area 6 regional eventing championships. Carina already has an impressive resume and is certainly one to keep an eye on in the future.

Congratulations to Eric D. Smith and Cindy Ramirez Smith!

Hunt Seat and Dressage Suitability Last and most certainly not least, we have Caraquita RS, bred by Rancho Sueno. Caraquita was purchased as a four year old by the Price family as a future dressage prospect for their daughter Victoria. After taking on the highly competitive California show circuit as an Amateur and Youth team, Victoria and the quirky, but talented and hard working “Quita” set their eyes on the lofty goal of a National title, at a time when Andalusian mares were still quite uncommonly found showing under saddle. With just one chance to win a National title as a Youth rider, Victora and Quita took on the 2008 National Championships with determination, and were rewarded with not one but four National Championship titles! Undefeated, the pair won the very competitive Hunt Seat and Dressage Suitability divisions in both Amateur and Youth. Quita also won a Reserve Championship title in the Hunt Seat Open with trainer Amber Lentz aboard. Congratulations to the Price family, Rancho Sueno, and Caraquita RS

In summation, Terry Waechter has kindly shared some of her thoughts about the changing roles of Andalusian mares in the US, and how she herself has participated with her own mares.“The significance of PRE mares on the American scene has changed since I bred my first baby in 2006. At that time Revision alone separated worthy PRE mares from the others. This designation could be punctuated by a show record in morphology and best movement competition.

An example of a superior mare who dominated the show scene is Galea MHF. This Navarre GF daughter reached her highest award in 2008 when she was selected as Champion of Champions at the Feria del Caballo Espanol Horse Show in City of Industry, CA. In my experience this award typically goes to stallions. Doctora AK topped her other Best Movement Awards by winning Adult Absolute Best Movement Champion. In 2009 the TRC came to the U.S. and offered the Califcado evaluation to PRE breeders. WATCHMAN was fortunate to qualify Doctora AK and Fabulilla MR. Although these two mares were not under saddle, just this designation set them apart in the breeding world. These days it is common to see young mares go under saddle and compete in the dressage ring, working equitation competitions or ANCCE functionality tests.

In fact to create a lasting reputation for a PRE mare it is necessary to not only establish her excellence in the breeding shed and document her as Revised and possibly Calificado but to also establish her worthiness in under saddle competition. Recently ANCCE changed their registration rules for foals to allow each Revised mare to produce one foal per year by the embryo transfer process. In 2011, Galea MHF competed in Functionality against stallions at the Copa California Show. She scored in the mid nineties which was a very respectable score that placed her third at the competition.”

Equestrian Mobile Apps

Mobile devices have become and integral part of our daily lives. Here are a few noteworthy Apps to get you started Note: I left out the “Horse Budget” apps, because nobody wants to track that! :)

EQ Stable free

Allows you to easily manage your horse health needs, while being fun at the same time. Keep track of exercise, deworming, caccina caccination, shoeing and more.

Horse Rider SOS £4.99

The concept is simple. Before you head off for your ride, open the ‘Horse Rider SOS’ app on your Android or iPhone, press the ‘Start button’ and now ‘Horse Rider SOS’ will begin to monitor your every move and track you while you ride.

EquiApps

Rendaivu $9.99 Complete health record keeping for dentistry, leg and hoof care, vaccinations, and deworming Keep track of training, performance, journal entries, and expenses Email reminders for events like deworming, vaccines, and more Horse Box $2.99

Horse Box is your quickest point of reference no matter where you are, you’re only a tap away from the information you need, horse insurance details, horse passport, essential contacts, appointments, photos, weather and much, much more.

Everyone has a different learning style when it comes to memoriz memorizing dressage tests. The EquiTests series of apps allows riders and trainers to review the written instructions, see dressage arena di diagrams that animate through the movements within a test, record and play your own readings of the test...

Horse Sounds free If you want to listen to what a horse sounds like, this app is for you! This app includes numerous horse sounds, just like you would hear on the farm. The sounds can even be used as ringtones!

Stable Mate (free)

And for the kids:

The Stable Mate app, brought to you by Equest & Equest Pramox, makes it easy to manage your horse’s health needs, while being fun at the same time!

My Horse free

Live the dream of owning and looking after a realistic horse, and share the experience with your friends!

In the News...

THE WINNER OF SÚBDITA PI IS… The Winner of the Fabulous P.R.E. Mare Donated by Yeguada Pique Angel for the 2013 Fundraising Raffle is Adina Morando of Star Andalusians in North Carolina. Adina Adopted a Horse from The Foundation’s Rescue Program because she believes strongly in The Foundation’s efforts to Help Horses in Need. She also Purchased $200 worth of Súbdita PI Raffle Tickets as a way to further support the Rescue Program. Adina said that she never expected to win, but she was more than thrilled when she did! Thank You Adina! Your Good Deed… really paid off.

At Play Owning a horse is MUCH more than showing. From training to trail riding, feeding and cleaning, our horses become a big part of our lives. We would love to see what you do with your horses! Submit pics to: submit@andalusianworld.com

AndalusianWorld Shirts Now Available on the AndalusianWorld.com Home Page!! 22

Excalibur: Behind the Scenes Tournament of Kings Excalibur Hotel and Casino – Las Vegas, NV We recently visited Excalibur Hotel and Casino to see the “Tournament of Kings”, one of the longest running “shows” in Las Vegas. Not only did we get to see some great entertainment, but we were also invited to a back-stage tour, where we could interview a few of the cast and performers. After watching the show and being served a delicious dinner, Ivan Caulier escorted us backstage for a behind the scenes look at what is involved in making the show happen. The Excalibur Hotel and Casino now owns a total of three Andalusians, and we will be featuring one of them in an upcoming article. Ivan is the company’s stunt coordinator for the Tournament of Kings, and has been involved with the show for twenty of its twenty-one year lifespan. He has worked with horses for many years, having been involved in similar shows in his native France, as well as traveling the world as a stunt man and show coordinator before coming to Excalibur. Peter Jackson, the creator of Tournament of Kings, first met Ivan when he dropped in to visit some friends from France who happened to be working on the show. Ivan has been with Excalibur ever since, beginning his career with the show as one of the Knights. One of the first things we noticed about their horses was how well they are cared for by the performers, grooms, trainers and everyone else involved. There are 10 – 12 em employees hired exclu exclusively for the care and training of the horses. As we met all of the horses back stage, it was obvious that they really enjoy their work, and the bond between 24

each of the horses riders was evident. While waiting to go into the arena for the show, we saw performers patting and talking to their mounts, all of whom received cookies backstage, both before and after performances. It was very nice to see that they were well rewarded for their efforts. In our interview after ob observing the performance back stage, Ivan relayed to us that he likes to designate one rider per horse, which allows them to strengthen the trust and bond between them, resulting in the best performance from both horse and rider. Ivan has found through trial and error that the one rider per horse system works best and will switch performers around to accommodate the horse’s schedules. The backstage atmosphere, though intense with everything moving at high speed, was also light hearted. Performers joked amongst themselves and told us stories about the show’s horses. Although the show is scripted to some extent, most of the events involve the performers actually competing against each other, which makes each performance unique. Backstage, we were given a new appreciation for the show, as horses were moved in and out of holding stalls and dressed, riders also dressed and mounted in the blink of an eye. We were told on a couple occasions that job applicants had changed their minds about working here after seeing the fast pace and teamwork required back stage. In some cases, horses were required to return to the stabling

area of their own accord after a “dismount” in the arena. Where else do horses get to leave their rider in the arena and gallop full tilt back to the stabling area? It is a horse’s dream come true! It was clear to us that the horses loved being in the spotlight and you could see it during the show – they were ready to go and have fun out there. We were also able to meet Jose Luis Flores, who is the trainer for the Tournament of Kings. He and Ivan gave us some insight into the horses weekly work schedule and routine. Each horse only performs 3 – 4 nights a week and is worked lightly in between those days. If they are off for an extended period (or as a treat) they are taken to a nearby ranch for some turn out and trail riding time. It was explained to us that this is one of the ways that help to keep the horses fresh and happy to do their work. These horses have been carefully desensitized to all sorts of things. They have to learn to cope with lights, pyrotechnics and crowds of cheering people. Not to mention riders in full armor clashing swords with one another while mounted and jousting. One of the horses in particular appeared to love the jousting, you could read in his expression and body language that he was quite eager to take a run at his opponent. The performers who ride in the show come from varied backgrounds. Some have worked for, or as horse trainers, have shown horses, or ridden in rodeo events. They do all have one thing in common; a love and appreciation for horses. Their job is very physically demanding, wielding (real) swords, stage fighting, riding and running around. The performers are also well cared for, working the same schedule as the horses to give them time to recoup between performances. So, what happens to the horses after they retire and are no longer used for Tournament of Kings? When the horses start to become older, are no longer enjoying performing or are otherwise unsuitable to continue working, one would expect that the owners of the show would try to recoup some losses and offer these horses for sale. This is not the case here. Each and every horse that is retired out of the show is adopted to an approved home. The new owners are screened very carefully, their facility is visited and they must prove they have the means and ability to provide a safe, secure and permanent home for the horses. Excalibur Hotel believes that since the horse dedicat has been a dedicated employee who has helped make the show a success, they deserve the best retirement possible. What a great opportunity for people to acquire a horse that has literally seen everything and can serve as a bombproof trail riding mount for a husband or child for their golden years. If you happen to find yourself in Las Vegas, or are planning to go there, make sure you stop by Excalibur Hotel to see some great Andalusian and other horses perform in a fantastic dinner show. For more information visit: Tournament of Kings Website Tournament of Kings Album on Facebook 25

SICAB 2013

at the Pala1 9 9 1 e c in s la B, held in Sevil A IC S Center). t a n r o a ti e n y e v is n th o e C d d a airgrounds an History was m (F s o s re g n o C y iones cio de Exposic breeders com/ s m r fa 0 0 3 n from more tha s e s r o h 0 0 1 1 w sa Champion. B This 23rd year A IC S f o e tl ti oveted peting for the c ent, causing v e is th r fo la il oded into Sev o fl s r o it third largest is e v th 0 0 is ,0 B 0 4 A 2 IC ly S Approximate act on the city. p im l e broadcast. ia v c li o s ia d v n e a id ic w m ld o r n a huge eco lso watched wo a s a w d n a la il ev event held in S r, representa e y is th B A IC ia travelled to S n r fo li a They were . C to m n o a c fr n s r E e l d E e o A group of bre rtin and Ranch a M o h eral famous c v n e a s R , , t) z n e e n e id s m re Ji ing Rancho nde (ANCCE P o C r ie v Ja y b d e USPRE. m o fr r e y o warmly welcom B ly r e f course, Kimb o d n a s r e d e re b urious about c , w o h s e th f o over the course th o o allo Espa単ol b b ir a e C l th e d d e c ia a r r e g F s g Many visitor l Spanish a nd the upcomin r a e v ia e n S r ). fo 4 li 1 a 0 2 C om as Vegas (Sept L the breeders fr in w o h S p u World C s exhibitors. a n w ia s o h lu s a e d n th A g d in an terest in attend in d e s s re p x e s breeder

For the first time, a black horse, Vi単as Jalon (Yeguada Valdevi単as) was crowned SICAB Champion! Fer Gallardo (bred by Juan Jose Montes Sanchez) was Reserve Champion and also Champion of Functionality. Reserve Champion of Functionality was Oleaje De Torreluna (Yeguada Yaco) and Best Breeder was Maria Fernanda De La Escalera (De La Escalera), a great victory after winning Reserve last year in this category. For full results, see: http://www.concursosancce.com/public/concurso/066/ 27

Andalusian Adventure: By Julie Alonzo

hen I announced that I was loading up three of my Andalusians and heading into some of the most rugged back-country in the state of Oregon, acquaintances looked at me in disbelief, family members uniformly cheered, and my closest friends smiled and said, “finally!” For years, I’ve been an avid trail rider. As a child, my pony and I spent most of our non-school hours exploring the redwood forests behind our California home with my sisters and their mounts. As a teen, I trotted endless miles on an amazing BLM mustang mare and an off-the-track AQHA gelding; I rode one and led the other, switching back and forth every thirty minutes or so to let one rest a bit while the other carried me: endurance races and NATRC competitive trail rides were our specialties. My trail riding took on new depth after I graduated from college and began working summers as a back-country wilderness ranger for the United States Forest Service. Under the wise guidance of an experienced packer, I learned the fine art of leading a string of pack animals safely through rugged country and ‘leave-no-trace’ camp-

ing. I spent nine summers as a back-country ranger in Montana’s Gallatin NaNa tional Forest, honing my horsemanship and wilderness skills in the most beautiful landscape I’ve ever known. During those years, I bought my own pack equipment, researched the best trail guides, and began to dream of a great horseback adventure on the legendary Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which stretches all the way from Mexico in the south to the Canadian border where it touches Washington state. And then, life and the responsibilities of adulthood intervened. I took a job that no longer made it possible for me to work for the Forest Service in the summer months. I began breeding horses. I bought property and started boarding to help pay the bills. Yet, each spring as the days began to lengthen, I could feel the long trail calling to me. “Someday,” I told myself, “Someday, I will take that trip.” But I have to admit that there were times in the past twenty plus years when I found myself wondering if that elusive someday would ever materialize. To my surprise and delight, someday arrived the summer of 2013 when my colleague

and friend approached me with a request to help him and one of his best friends attempt an item that they both had on their personal bucket list: a long-distance hike up the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail. I signed on immediately and began evaluating my herd to select the horses to accompany me on the grand adventure.

tional Champion English Pleasure and US National Champion Saddle Seat, to Top Five in the Working Equitation Speed Phase at the 2012 IALHA Nationals and Western Pleasure Champion at a variety of shows), her real athleticism and courage comes out on the trail where she has carried me thousands of miles over the years.

My choice of riding horse was easy: 15-year-old Odalisca GF, my first purebred Andalusian and the lead mare in the herd, has long been a favorite of mine. Although she has amassed a room full of trophies and championship titles (ranging from Canadian National Champion Senior Mare and US Reserve National Champion Spanish Senior Mare to Canadian Na-

For my pack string, I finally selected two other purebred Andalusian mares: 5-year-old CDC Ansia, who had just added 2013 Canadian Reserve National Champion Senior Mare and a variety of wins in under-saddle (English and western) classes to her resume; and Sola, a 13-year-old mare who came to live with me last year, having been taught to lead

ing bags, sleeping mats, camp stove, fuel, exex tra clothing, or food. We started at the Cal-Although I hadn’t thought of it prior to setting out ifornia / Oregon state line, on a section of on the trail, I realized the first night as I was snap- trail that wound through a variety of BLM ping photos and beginning to chronicle the grand and private land, intersected by numerous logging roads and ended 12 days and adventure that my horses were a great representation of IALHA purebreds: one PRE (Lisca), one 280 miles further north near the town of SP (Ansia), and one whose pedigree shows pure Sisters, Oregon. Lusitano heritage (Sola). All three of the mares gave me plenty of opportunities to share the breed We quickly fell into a comfortable routine. I would rise just before dawn to turn the horses loose to with others along our route, as pretty much every back-packer we passed (and we passed many!) graze, then start the water heating on the camp commented on “such beautiful horses” and asked stove for the morning’s oatmeal and tea while we packed up the sleeping bags and tents and loadabout their breeding. ed the panniers in preparation for hoisting them onto the pack horses. After about an hour of The horses and I were responsible for carrying the supplies for the adventure, giving my grazing, the horses would wander back into camp hiking friends (both in their where they would vacuum up alfalfa cubes (certimid-60’s) the opportuni- fied weed-free, of course!) while I saddled them in ty to focus on covering as preparation for departure. many miles as they could each day without having My hiking companions would help lift the panto worry about car- niers (each weighing between 80-100 pounds) into place, two per horse, and then they would jog rying tents, sleep- off down the trail as I finished balancing the remaining items on the top of the panniers, draping a thick canvas cover over the top, and tying it all down with a traditional box hitch. Once the packs were fully loaded and tied down, I would attach Sola’s rope to Ansia’s pack saddle (using a ‘break away’ rope fashioned from baling previously, but nothing else.

string for safety), and would then mount up and head north. We covered, on average, 23 miles each day, starting at 7 in the morning and ending between 5:30 and 7 in the evening. Except for brief pauses for the horses to drink at the rare water sources en route, we maintained a steady walk, nonstop, all day long, each day. Two days, we covered closer to 30 miles. Two days, we made much shorter distances because the trail conditions were so bad. ach day brought its own challenges. Day 1 was the easiest, as the route was mostly flat, and we were able to walk over or around fallen trees and return to the trail without much delay. In the southernmost-section of

Oregon’s PCT, one is never very far from civilization’s impact. The land around the trail has been logged fairly consistently over the years, and the route is very well-marked with PCT placards every few hundred yards. We passed several through-hikers (stalwart back-packers in the fifth month of a seven-month adventure from Mexico to Canada), most from Europe, but some from across the United States as well, as we worked our way through timber land, following the trail as it wound its way between logging roads.

Stay Tuned for Part Two! 29

CANADIAN NA

Canadian nationals

by Crystal Hemsworth

The Pacific Association of the Andalusian & Lusitano Horse (PAALH) celebrated their 10th Anniversary with the Canadian National Andalusian Show & Fiesta of the Royal Horse this past July 26-28 at Chilliwack Heritage Park in Chilliwack, B.C. Exhibitors came from all over Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest to compete and share their love of these talented horses. The Fiesta of the Royal Horse was held on Saturday July 27th and once again played to a full house. Spectators enjoyed returning acts including Paul Dufresne and his stallion Mystiqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Padrino, a musical freestyle Pas de Deux featuring PRE Andalusian Stallion, Bandolero CLXXVI, owned and ridden by Toni Mueller and PRE Andalusian mare, Selene AC, owned and ridden by Linda deWilde Petersen. Newcomers to the Fiesta included Diana Dusevic and her stunning bay Lusitano stallion Ali-Baba who literally sparkled under the arena lights and undoubtedly gained a few new fans with their performance.

An exciting change to the program for 2013 saw the purebred and partbred Supreme Halter Champion titles awarded during the Fiesta. The change gave the audience a chance to see the best halter horses show one last time. Purebred Supreme Halter Champion was awarded to VA Alejo, Partbred Supreme Halter Champion was awarded to VA Sofia; both horses are owned and shown by Dr. Anne Starr of Valhalla Andalusians. For full show results please visit www. paalh.com Each year PAALH awards the Elizabeth Sperline Memorial Award of Excellence to a club member who has gone above and beyond to help promote and support PAALH; this year the award was shared by two very deserving ladies, Dr. Anne Starr of Crescent Valley, B.C. and Anne Volansky of Edgewood, B.C. Each of the Annes

ATIONALS have donated horses to the live Fiesta auction and work hard in the off season to help make each show a success.

The PAALH Canadian National Show Youth Scholarship Program Award is given each year to a Youth member based on current scholastic achievement and the merit of a short essay; this year’s recipient was Sara Ebl of Condor, AB. Fundraising for the club was front and center with many opportunities for folks to place their bids on a variety of items from weekend getaways to tack room necessities and many things in between. Certainly the most exciting bidding was over the 2013 PAALH Auction Horse - Arrow Harley, donated by Arrow Valley Farms. The winning bidder was Lynn Bissett of Saltspring Island, B.C. We look forward to seeing Lynn and Harley together! PAALH Executive Director, Colleen Pedrotti says: “The success of our association and National Show is really the result of so many remarkable people who donate their time or money – and sometimes both. We have an amazing core group of volunteers without whom the show wouldn’t exist, we have many generous long-time sponsors that step up to support us year after year, we have dedicated and talented participants for our show, and we have the continued support of the people of the Fraser Valley that come out and fill the stands to watch us every July. We recognize how fortunate we are and are so grateful to them all.”

Canadian Nationals Results Here

The Changing Face of... The Changing Face of PRE Shows In America PRE Shows in America Interview with: Lucinda Romero

e recently caught up with Lucinda Romero, who was awarded the prestigious Best Handler award at the Fall Feria del Caballo Español Show. Over the course of the show’s history, this award has almost exclusively been awarded to male presenters. Lucinda represents the changing face of PRE shows in America. Earlier this year at Spring Feria del Caballo Español, a mare (Aurora KR), won the functionality against stallions - a first at this show. At the fall show, there were more breeders (both large and small) participating than ever before. All in all, this has been a year of changes, and perhaps a glimpse into the future of PRE shows in America... Q. How long have you been involved with the breed? Do you work with other breeds of horses? A. I started working with PRE’s summer of 2012 which led me to buy my first--a three year old mare bred by Ketcham Ranch. That opened the door to make contacts in the PRE world and have been working nearly exclusively with them ever since. I have trained all breeds, from gaited horses to Gypsy Vanners and everything in between, but now I am hooked on the PRE! I love their beauty, athleticism, grace, intelligence, and trainability. Q. How many times have you shown at Feria del Caballo Español? What are your thoughts on the 3 judge system? A. This year was my first year at Feria, I showed a few horses at the April show to “get my feet wet” and learn their process, and then returned in September with a larger number of horses. I personally love the three judge system, coming from horse shows that usually only had one judge, sometimes judges can have “their type” and that’s the only type of horse that wins all weekend. The three judge system seems to balance things out a bit more. Q. What is your favorite or most significant show moment so far? A. I love ALL aspects of showing, and I feel fortunate to have already had some great moments. Probably my most proud moment was winning Best Movement with a two year old filly I showed in April at my first Feria. I had picked her out of a herd a few weeks before the show and she hadn’t had much handling, but I just felt like there was something special about her. I was so excited when the judges saw what I had seen! I was pretty much hooked from that point on. Obviously, winning best presenter at my second show was a shock and an honor. I didn’t even realize that I was in the running or what the criteria were. I am very thankful to my clients, who entrusted me with their horses. I couldn’t have been a contender without their faith in my abilities. Q. Do you plan on attending Feria del Caballo Español next year? A. I definitely plan to attend Feria next year and already have several horses I’m working with towards that goal. Q. What are your future plans and goals with horses? Do you ride as well? A. When I bought my first PRE this spring, my plans were to really just focus on dressage, which is still a big focus for me. I currently work a full time job, so training has been something I have done for several years for just a few select clients. As I get more involved with the PRE, though, I can really see myself just focusing on horses in the near future, as it seems to be all I can think about. I am very lucky to get to work with some really great horses, currently, and it is drawing me in even more than before. (I’m pretty sure I was dreaming about horses in the womb, so they’ve always been my first love). With my own horse, I want to train her through the levels 32

of dressage and hopefully, take her to Grand Prix some day. It’s a lofty goal, but one that I feel she and I have the ability to reach. I do ride, and have had the fortune to ride/ compete Saddle Seat, Western, Dressage and in trail/obstacle competitions, so my background fits well with some of the other events that take place at other PRE shows.

I started working with PRE’s summer of 2012 which led me to buy my first--a three year old mare bred by Ketcham Ranch.

Q. What was your first PRE show? Any advice or wisdom you would like to share with new handlers? A. My first PRE show was Feria del Caballo Español, April, 2013. For new handlers, the best piece of advice I can give is that if you’re going to handle PRE’s, truly love what you are doing. They are so sensitive and really will try their heart out if they feel that you care. Oh, and train your horse to run on the line EVERY WHERE, not just the rail. The judges will mix it up sometimes and set up the arena in a manner where you can’t use the rail. If your horse can trot on the line without the use of the rail, you’ll have an upper hand in showing off their gaits. Q. Are there any changes you would like to see with the Feria show, or shows in general? A. Outside of the dressage world, where you have an EXACT time for your ride, I feel that most shows are disorganized on when classes start. It seems that exhibitors have a common theme of “hurry up and wait.” I feel like there must be some way to have a more exact time for when classes will start and finish. That seems to be the biggest issue, but it isn’t a Feria problem, it is common at most shows.

We thank Lucinda for her time in answering our questions and look forward to seeing her competing again soon!

el Cid Do you know the legend of El Cid and his gray Andalusian Stallion, Babieca? The tale is perhaps best described as a story rather than a legend, since El Cid and his famous white steed are not just legendary characters in half forgotten myth. They actually lived and died on Spain’s embittered battlefields during the Reconquista of Andalucia from the Muslims almost one thousand years ago.

l Cid, born Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (1043–1099) was a Castillian nobleman during the reign of Emperor Ferdinand the Great. He is considered to be the National Hero of Spain for his bravery and military genius on the battlefield. Exactly how much of the tale of the two warriors is myth or historical fact is unknown, but we do know that El Cid and Babieca were indeed war heros, and their tombs remain intact to this day. A true man of Spain, during his lifetime he fought against both the Christian kings and the Muslim invaders, most notably, retaking Valencia, and a number of years later, saving it from a siege in his most famous battle. The legend begins with young Rodrigo coming of age. As a gift, his uncle, a Carthusian monk by the name of Pedro El Grande, bade him to select a young colt from his stables. Of all the fine Carthusian colts, Rodrigo selected what his uncle considered to be a weak and inferior animal, and exclaimed “Babieca!”, or “Stupid!”. The name stuck, but the gray colt grew into a fine white war horse, a typical Carthusian horse noted for his docility, loyalty, striking appearance, and nimble feet. This story has some distinctive similarities to the story of how Alexander the Great came to questionably choose the easily spooked and gangly Bucephalus as his own, who also later became one of the most famous war horses in history.

El Cid’s sword, equally legendary, was called Tizona. In an attempt to at least partially authenticate its identity, as several purported Tizonas have turned up over the centuries, the sword has recently undergone metallurgical analysis which confirmed that the blade was in fact made in Moorish Córdoba in the eleventh century and was in fact partially forged with Damascus steel. Damascus steel has its own mysterious allure, as the methods for producing it have disappeared without a trace. Although superficially similar looking steel has been recreated in modern times, it is not the same. The steel is identified by dark ripples and unusual durability of the blade. El Cid was noted for his unusual tactical brilliance. His plans were immaculate, and his ability to inspire courage in his troops and terror in his enemies became famous far and wide. Modern generals describe some of his tactic as psychological warfare, and El Cid used it to great advantage. He insisted upon having Roman books on military tactics read aloud to his unlettered troops, both to boost their morale as well as to educate them. He accepted suggestions and ideas from his troops as well, another unusual strategy. However, the story that truly elevated El Cid and fearless

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Babieca into legends, was said to have happened after the Hero’s death during the siege of Valencia. El Cid was killed, and today it is not known exactly what killed him. Regardless, his men were in dire straits and without their leader to inspire fear in the hearts of their enemies and courage in their

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troops. Drawing from his almost otherworldly reputation, legend has it that they strapped his fully armored

body to Babieca’s saddle, and fixed his right arm pointing into the air, grasping Tizona. The invaders, hearing of his death, boldly amassed their forces to take the city. Babieca understood what was required of him, and led El Cid’s knights on a thundering charge that scattered their enemies in a blind terror, believing him risen from the dead, and saved Valencia. Eventually, Spain was fully reclaimed from the invaders. El Cid’s tomb is located in the Burgos Cathedral, and Babieca’s tomb is in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña ((Left). El Cid so loved his brave Babieca, that before his death, he expressed his wish to be buried with him, though these wishes were not fulfilled. Interestingly, Babieca’s story draws even more parallels to the story of Bucephalus. Like Alexander the Great’s famous charger, Babieca remained strong and fit, and was his master’s favorite and primary charger well into his old age. He outlived his master by two years, and was never mounted again following his legendary charge into the Moorish army, bearing his dead master. He remarkably lived until the age of 40, while Bucephalus lived until 30, both unusually long lived for war horses. El Cid and Babieca are immortalized in several impressive bronze statues, in both Spain and the US.

Changes to the Revision Process

We recently had an opportunity to speak with Miguel Nunez who was helping with the revisions taking place in Southern California to ask about some of the changes to the revision process. As you will see on the right, we have included the score sheet, which details all of the measurements that are taken and how scores are assigned. Each horse receives a score of 1-9 on each of the lineal variables. After all the measurements are taken, the horse is asked to walk in a straight line, then shown at a trot and canter and stood up for the final inspection. At this time, a score of 1-10 is assigned on all three gaits, overall harmony and breed fidelity. There has been a maximum height introduced ofÂ 172cm (approx. 17 hands stallions) and 170cm (approx. 16.3 hands mares), but a horse over the height limit in itself is not a means for disqualification. It is considered a very serious defect, so in combination with 2 other very serious defects could be a cause for disqualification. This could also occur with horses that have 5 serious defects.

- Desensitize your horse to being touched all over and to measuring sticks that will be used to take measurements with. You now have a list off all the areas where the horse will be measured, including the head, so work on this until your horse becomes accepting and will stand quietly while having measurements taken - It will be a great benefit to teach your horse both how to walk on a line (with forward impulsion) and lunge at a trot and canter as they will be asked to do all of these things during the revision process. - Unruly horses, dirty horses or horses that act unsafely can be dismissed and will have to be represented at a later date at the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expense. - To make the best impression, be sure to present a horse in good condition that has had regular shoeing/ trimming and is appropriately clipped and clean. Considering the process can take up to an hour, putting fly spray on your horse will go a long way in preventing them from moving around while measurements are being taken. - Be ready to present your horses (along with their cartas) as soon as the revision team have arrived and are There are some defects that are serious enough that set up. They have a very tight schedule to keep and it is they automatically result in disqualification: considered very rude to keep them waiting. 1. Minimum height of less than 154 cm (approx. 15.1 - Be courteous to the staff, it is a nice touch if you can hands for stallions) or 152 cm (approx. 15 hands for provide coffee/water/snacks at your ranch or farm. mares) - At the conclusion, be sure to thank the revision team 2. Fallen Crest (score of 7 +) and any guests that were present. 3. Ewe Neck (score of 7+) 4. Non - accidental Monorchism or Cryptorchidism Thank you to Meghan Holt of Meghan Holt Training 5. Breed Fidelity (score less than 3) Stables for providing video! 6. Front Profile Score (Head) of 1, 2 or 9 (indicating face is either ultra concave, concave or ultra convex) 7. Proportional Index of less than 90 or greater than 110 We have included a short video of some of the measurements taken during the revision process, which are performed before the horse is asked to perform all three gaits and stand for the final evaluation. As you will see in the video, you can help your horse (and the revision team) tremendously by preparing for revision ahead of time and following a few tips: - Take the time to teach your horse to stand up squarely and quietly. This will ensure accurate measurements and save the person doing the revision the hassle of either waiting for you to move your horse, or having to move the horse to get it square

2013 Revision

(Provided by Meghan Holt Training Stables)

Winter Tips Winter is a great time to catch up on all those chores that we just didn’t have time for during the show season, as well as a great opportunity to prepare ourselves for the upcoming season. Here are a few ideas to get you going...

1. Trailer Maintenance:

Take advantage of the down time and do a thourough inspection of your horse trailer. • Check all lights and replace/repair as needed • Check and replace worn brake parts • Lubricate/grease wheel bearings • Check flooring, doors, hinges and connections for excess rust/wear • Clean out and organize tack/storage rooms

2. Tack

During riding season, tack is subjected to a lot of abuse. We know that we should not do it, but often tack is put away dirty, thrown to the side, or worse. It also is subjected to a lot of stresses from use and the atmosphere. Winter is a great time to organize, clean, and inventory our tack and replace any worn or missing items. Accumulated dirt and the moisture of winter also are the perfect breeding grounds for rot. Last thing you need is a failure in the show ring or out on the trail.

3. Riding Gear

Whether we are looking at show clothes, or trail gear, this is a great time to clean, replace, and repair. Show Clothes: Clean, mend, and stow properly. One less thing you will have to worry about come show season. Check for wear on gloves, riding boots, chaps, spurs, etc

4. Barn

I am sure that this does not apply to YOU, but let your friends know that this is the perfect time to organize their tack room

IMPORTING A HORSE

So you are thinking about...

Acquiring Your Iberian Horse on Foreign Turf By Susan Ambrose There are many well established breeders in the USA offering remarkable Andalusians and Lusitanos. Yet for some, there is also the allure of traveling to the mother countries, for the all-encompassing quest to find their Iberian horse. These adventurous souls are best prepared for the risks and uncertainties by taking heed with a bit of homework. Before embarking on uncharted territory, here are some considerations. Why go to all the trouble of Importing? There are two obvious reasons, the first has to do with breeding stock. All domestically bred Iberians on North American soils owe their very existence to the intrepid pioneers of the 1970s. Yet both the Spanish and the Portuguese horse are still considered a rare breed when compared to the AQHA or Arabian registries. Imagine going to Germany or Thailand to buy a Quarter Horse or Missouri Foxtrotter. Not that you would do this, but when you put it in this context, its unlikely you would choose a breeder with one mare and a couple years experience. Breeding horses is both art and science. Knowledge and guidance from the original source is backed by generations and centuries of expertise. By infusing improvement stock into the North American gene pool, a breeder will continue to enhance the quality of their program. The other obvious reason for importing is training. The increased demand for FEI competition horses has been met with a scarcity in the US and Canada, now that the Iberian is perrecognized as an international contender. If you are in search of a fine tuned per formance horse with FEI potential, there is no question you will find them in greater numbers in their mother countries. And then, there is the sheer sentiment. For some, world travel combined with horse shopping can be quite fulfilling. There is a certain intoxication and gratification of finding a gem among gems. Many breeders and aficionados regularly import their stock. A number of trainers and judges in the U.S. frequently purchase youngsters, complete their training and offer them for resale to the dressage market. The selection is greater and the price point is appealing for upper level dressage trained horses – particularly if they have not yet competed on the international circuit. Many that are in preparation, schooling PSG and higher, can be found from the mid € 20s K to 40s. Once they have competed, expect to pay upwards of € 70K for Grand Prix level horses Once a horse has been on the international circuit and scoring well, is typically priced in the 6 figures. Where do you start? Importing a horse from abroad is a complex undertaking and not unlike a relay race in which the responsibilities frequently change hands, making it difficult to track each step. Experts recommend that you enlist the help of an agent. If you are ready to swim with the sharks, enlist the aid of a reputable guide to navigate you through the process. Many breeders, however well intended, are not familiar with the complexities of exporting. Most often you will find the advertised horses online through a broker or agent. A knowledgeable agent works on commission and will be an asset in orchestrating the search and export process. There are “old school”, multi-generation breeding families in Europe who still observe a tradition of selling horses face-to-face. 42

Many are not internet savvy and access can be difficult but the find is often a treasure. In South America, Brazil in particular, the primary breeders have fine tuned their marketing skills and are very eager to reach the American market. Whether you plan to visit Europe, Central or South America, the best advice is to get a recommendation from an experienced buyer who’s dealt with a good agent. Failing that, place a call to one of the breed associations to ask for a recommendation. Often the breeders and trainers, however well intended, are not familiar or up to date with the complexities of exporting. The international regulations, doc documentation and testing requirements are constantly changing. Your success is greatly enhanced by selecting a bilingual local with referenc references, integrity and breed expertise– a trainer, judge, or breeder–one who un understands bloodlines, conformation and proper training. Above all, some someone with access to reputable partners that are experienced in the process. Pitfalls to Avoid An uneducated buyer is more easily taken by the opportunistic trader. Remember, you are bringing along a stigma with you, whether it applies to you or not… ‘the American buyer… naïve and extravagant’ . You are shopping for a luxury item in a foreign land with premiums attached to its purchase. The cost of transport alone is higher than many horse breeds. lanMany US citizens and foreign breeders & trainers are not bi-lingual so make sure the person working on your behalf has both lan guages. Be aware of false ads, showing horses with flowery descriptions, glorious photos and video, but deeply discounted prices - they usually don’t exist. You can end up with a different animal that the advertised photo, with little to no recourse. Don’t buy sight unseen and never send money to someone you don’t know. Check the references. For your pre-purchase exam, always procure an independent third party vet, not the owners vet. Common sense will tell you the sort of problems to avoid: dealing with a shady seller or agent that toys with pricing, switches x-rays, falsifies the lab test results, or even switches horses. There are also reports of buyers receiving extensive bills for so called prolonged treatment and boarding due to a ‘mysterious last minute life-threatening illness’. And then, there is also the use of narcotics to hide behavior problems. Obtain blood tests, freeze part of the sample for rechecking in 30 days. Another common problem( avoided with DNA testing) is buying a rare color at premium pricing, that later turns grey. Other pitfalls encountered are failure to provide registry papers ; falsified pre-purchase veterinary exams resulting in horses with undisclosed health issues such as unsoundness, founder, bowed tendons, etc. Obtain travel insurance for this process. Everything mentioned here can happen in your own neighborhood, but when working in a foreign country with a language barrier it’s more challenging to spot. The Requirements & Process The USDA regulates the process of importing horses into the USA through three ports of entry, NY, Miami or Los Angeles. Many Canadian buyers use this avenue then bring their horse in after it completes quarantine process in the USA. Essentially, when importing livestock from abroad, you must comply with the established Federal regulations concerning testing for contagious disease and meet all import and customs requirements. Failure to do so will result in having the animals restricted to the entrance port quarantine, where you will not be able to obtain their release. The first step is to have the horse tested for Piroplasmosis, a tick born disease that is strictly prohibited in the USA , Canada, New Zealand and Australia. This is done before completing the purchase. Upon receiving the negative bloodwork, then conduct a pre-purchase exam by an independent vet and forward the findings to your vet. After your vet clears the horse, verify that all the travel inoculations are current. The vaccines should be administered before the horse goes into quarantine, otherwise the testing can be adversely affected and you will pay for extra time in quarantine waiting out the time required.

Once the horse is transported to the quarantine facility (via ground transport), for European horses, a second piro test is verified through the official EU Lab in Germany. You are well advised to have a third piro test run through the USDA approved lab in Aimes, Iowa . Piroplasmosis is a tick born illness and exists worldwide. The US, Canada, NewZealand and Australia do not allow horses with positive piro tests within their borders. It is widespread in Portugal and parts of Spain, which has “red zones”. Some horses have natural immunity, but the “antibodies” showing up as titers in their blood will appear the same as the actual disease. The lab does not have a sophisticated testing system to differentiate from healthy or infected horses. The levels in the blood determine ‘pass or fail’ and they have a tendency to rise in the presence of stress, caused by cortisol production in the bloodstream. Travel causes stress and a rise in cortisol. So the test results prior to departing the mother country must have a very low factor, to allow for the natural rise from the travel. Upon arrival in the USA, the horse enters quarantine and is re-tested. The horse is not allowed in the USA if their levels exceed the limit. Sadly, the options are to return the horse or euthanization. A third option is to have the documentation arranged in advance for ownership and destination of Mexico, then after the horse settles in there, retest and ship up to the USA or Canada. This is a dreadful situation, since the horse may be immune and just carry antibodies which means he can never get the disease. C.E.M. Testing Contagious Equine Metritis, or C.E.M. is a venereal disease caused by the bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis and is spread through breeding. Ultimately, C.E.M. results in a mare’s inability to conceive. Stallions can carry the bacteria, but do not show clinical signs. Federal law requires all breeding horses over the age of two traveling to the United States must undergo rigorous testing at a certified facility. C.E.M. testing will generally extend the time in quarantine to two to three weeks in Spain and an additional two to three weeks in the US. The regulations regarding CEM testing are not much better. A horse showing CEM symptoms is treated by swabbing/cleaning the genitalia area for five days with two readily available products – chlorhexidine surgical scrub and furazone (Nitrofurazone). Yet the testing process can cost an additional $12K USD for breeding animals. Of course, by acquiring young, unbred stock there is no C.E.M. testing, which shortens quarantine by six to seven weeks and you can apply the thousands you save toward the horse. There is one exemption with the USDA for PRE stallions in Spain over the age of 2 carrying a certificate of virginity. Unfortunately it does not apply to Lusitanos. The quarantine facility handles the documentation and is current on all regulatory policies, in a perfect world. Your agent should be in contact on your behalf to verify that the documentation is in order, and keep you up updated on the status. CRECE, a quarantine facility in Toledo Spain, maintains an internationally complaint lab and employs a federally approved veterinarian. The facility has expansive grounds for pasture and training as well as offering full service reproductive services. If you are buying a stallion and want it gelded, they offer this while in quarantine with daily vet care. This facility is exemplary and what you would hope to find in any country. Upon completion of testing and documentation completed with a federal seal, your horse is ready for sealed ground transport to Amsterdam . Once in Amsterdam, there is a two-day hold for verification of the animal’s health, testing and authentication of the documentation provided. An important benefit of this temporary stay is the horse receives rest in preparation of the second leg of travel. In the Amsterdam quarantine, the horses are provided a three-by-three meter (almost 10 feet square) box stall. Now your horse is ready for the transatlantic flight. The horses are loaded into the three-stall pallet, which is their sealed container. Depending on the equipment, the container is either lifted inside the airplane, or the pallet may be rolled to fit the container which is already inside the plane. The process takes about fifteen minutes. A professional groom is provided by the airline for every pallet of three horses. The cost is included in the export fee. The horse is headed to one of three U.S. ports of entry, New York, Miami, Florida or Los Angeles, CA. Flights to NY from Amsterdam are the most frequent and least expensive. What are the costs? Typically the cost to import to the USA from Europe runs about $10K - $12K USD for an unbred mare or stallion. If the horse has been bred in the past, the USDA requires additional testing which can take from 4 up to 8 weeks of additional quarantine time, depending upon holidays and other factors, at a cost of $12K USD. This applies to the breeding age stallions and mares with the exception of an exemption for PRE horses in Spain with documented proof of virginity. 44

Expect to spend $12K on the quarantine and transport process, if the horse is unbred, and an additional $10K - $12K for quarantine testing on breeding stock. If importing from Brazil, only a few years ago we enjoyed a lower import fee of around $5-$6K USD. However this figure is now closer to the cost of bringing horses in from Europe and now runs approximately $10K USD. The cost of quality horses with training has more than doubled, from 7-8 years ago as the American market has become more established. The international shipping container has three compartments and has a flat rate fee. If you purchase one horse to ship alone, you could end up being billed for the empty slots as well, tripling your cost. Your shipping agent can coordinate the shipment with other horses departing at the same time, which will save approximately two thirds of your shipping cost. If you are bringing a horse into Canada, you will save a considerable sum by importing through the U.S., and after release from quarantine, then shipping on to Canada. It is highly recommended that the buyer obtain shipping insurance in the event of any problems arising. Arrival in the USA Port of Entry and Quarantine Facilities Upon arrival, the sealed container goes directly into U.S. quarantine. Tests for dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, and EIA are conducted by U.S.D.A. during quarantine. Test results from National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) are generally available three days after the arrival of the horse. Horses that test positive for any of these diseases will be refused entry into the United States. You can elect to use the port of entry facility in New York, Los Angeles or Miami, or choose from one of approximately 60 approved U.SD.A quarantine facilities in the U.S. The latter alternative could be advantageous if you wish to visit the horse or have him near your trainer while in isolation for CEM testing. Perform a thorough investigation of the facility, as each site is unique and privately owned. The U.S.D.A. requires that quarantined horses remain a distance of at least 30 feet from other horses, but there are no absolute standards regarding type of fencing or other facilities, so you will want to ensure the site meets your standards. The horse leaves the port of entry in a U.S.D.A. sealed van that cannot be opened until arrival at the quarantine facility. Many facilities offer direct shuttles as an optional service. Once your horse has completed quarantine, you can have your transport company deliver him/her to you. A more complete snapshot of the requirements is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov. In summary, enhance your success and select a knowledgeable insider with references, integrity and breed expertise– a trainer, judge, or breeder–one who understands bloodlines, conformation and proper training with access to reputable partners. This expertise is invaluable in accomplishing your goal.

About the Author:

Susan Ambrose is a breeder and owner of Andalusians de Mythos. She partners with Susana Rodriguez in Spain (breeder, trainer and judge) to market PRE and Lusitanos for export. Visit http://andalusianimports.com for details. 1-888-8MYTHOS 45

A Guide to Appropriate Tack & Attire a shaven forelock, and a shaven and shaped mane. Tails of both sexes are shaven in weanlings. The tails A Quick Guide to Appropriate Tack and Attire of the fillies either shaven with a small bob at the tip, at Andalusian/Lusitano Breed Shows or shaven past the vulva and banged above the hocks, and weanling and yearling colts have their entire tails With winter training season upon us and a full calenshaven. Two year old fillies and older may often dar of breed shows for 2014, we thought it would be be shown with a forelock if desired. great timing to publish a guide to appropriate tack and Mares showing in performance attire. classes may be shown with With a dazzling array of performance classes available or without a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mare clipâ&#x20AC;?, but to exhibitors at Andalusian/Lusitano breed shows in do not the US, it can sometimes be confusing to know which mix tack and what clothing are appropriate for each class. styles. A Taking cues from other exhibitors may not be an ideal plan, as other competitors may be ill informed, or only mare with a shaven guessing! In order to maximize your chances of doing well in the class (and avoid being potentially excused), mane should it is important to understand appropriate turnout for both yourself and your horse before you hit the in-gate. always have a shaven tail as Note: The following guidelines are intended as well, and visa versa. general advice only. Be sure to carefully study the rules for the specific show you are attendIt is advisable to ing. clip the legs, ears, jaw, and muzzle of all show horses for verall Indications neatness. Shoes are not permitted for weanlings and yearlings. Turnout: Horses should be sound, and should always Feet should be scrubbed and sanded, and either clear be free of any signs of lameness or discomfort. Open or black hoof polish should be applied (Warning! wounds, welts, or blood should never be present. IALHA classes forbid hoof black). Never apply hoof They should be in good physical condition overall, black on white feet, even at venues where hoof black is with healthy muscling and conditioning. Manes, tails, allowed. White feet require clear polish. and coats should be clean, shiny and well cared for, and horses should have any clipping done just a few alter Classes days before the show, and not any longer in advance. Remember, a good grooming program starts at home, months before the show! Turnout: Clipped, or full manes and tails for the appropriate age and gender. Braided manes and tails Traditional Andalusian and Lusitano Clipping Indicaare not prohibited, but typically horses are shown tions without braids. The exception to this being Sport Horse In Hand classes. Mares are typically shown with a shaven and shaped mane, and a tail neatly shaven just past the vulva. The end should be banged for neatness. Stallions two years Tack: A headstall with a throatlatch is required. Depending on the breed organization, and older are left with a full mane and tail, which may be braided for performance classes, but never for halter current show-ring fashion, and personal preference, exhibitors may use a serrata, arabian style, saddleseat or morphology classes, with the one exception being style, or Spanish style headstalls. Spanish style halters SportHorse in hand classes. Pulled and/or banded manes are always discouraged in every aspect of Iberi- are presently in vogue. If using a serrata, the noseband should be wrapped in leather. Be sure to snugly adjust an showing. Weanlings of both sexes are shown with

the serrata to avoid injury to the horse, and make sure the horse is familiar with this equipment before showing. All whips must be under 6 feet long, including lash. Attire: The handler should be neatly dressed in a suit and tie (a bolo tie or kerchief may also be appropriate) for daytime classes. Jackets are optional for daytime classes, but long sleeved shirts are required. Authentic Spanish or Portuguese attire is optional in most breed organizations, but should always be paired with authentic halters and turnout. Denim is never appropriate in the show ring. A tuxedo may be worn in evening classes, but this is optional and tuxedos are not approappro priate in daytime classes. Clean, well fitting leather dress shoes or similar, as well as gloves should be worn. Clothing should be clean, well fitted, and professional looking.

E C

nglish Pleasure: Saddle Seat Horse See above

ountry English Pleasure

Turnout: Full mane and tail, but mares will not be penalized for having a traditional clip. Braids are not appropriate. Ribbons braided into the forelock or mane are not appropriate. Tack: A show type bridle; either a double bridle or pelham, or a single snaffle or single curb. English cutback or dressage saddles are both allowed, but hunt saddles are not acceptable. Spurs and whip are permitted. Attire: Informal saddle seat attire only. No hunt or dressage attire. It is recommended to select modest colors. Contrasting ties and vests are acceptable. Helmet may be worn without penalty.

Long hair should be neatly braided or tied back as close to the back of the head as possible. Tuck away all loose ends, and if desired, apply a hair net for extra tidiness.

nglish Pleasure: Formal Saddle Horse

Turnout: Full mane and tail, but mares will not be penalized for having a traditional clip. Braids are not appropriate. Ribbons braided into the forelock or mane are not appropriate. Tack: A show-type double bridle or with a curb and bradoon, or a pelham must be used. Junior horses may be shown in a snaffle. A cutback english saddle is REQUIRED. Spurs and whip may be carried. Attire: Daytime informal saddle seat attire is required, with jodhpurs, a vest, jacket, and either a soft hat or a derby hat. Formal attire is discouraged or disallowed before evening sessions. Do not wear hunt or dressage attire into saddle seat classes, you will be asked to exit the ring. Helmet may be worn without penalty.

nglish Pleasure Hunt Seat Turnout: Manes and tails should be braided. Mare clips permitted.

Tack: Bridles including a snaffle, Pelham or kimberwicke bit are required. A cavesson type nose band shall also be used with the above bridles. Saddles should be of hunt seat type, although dressage saddles are also permitted. Spurs and whip are permitted. Attire: Riders should wear coats of conservative color and are generally paired with light tan colored breeches. White breeches are not appropriate for this division. A shirt with a collar and stock pin is required. A helmet is also required.

ressage Suitability and Dressage Hack

Turnout: Manes should be braided, but tails traditionally are not. Mare clips are permitted. Tack: Snaffle or double bridles are permitted and flash nose bands are permitted with snaffles. A dressage saddle is required for these classes, hunt seat saddles or cut back saddles are not permitted. Spurs and whip are permitted. Attire: Riders may choose to wear either a jacket with helmet OR a shadbelly with a top hat. You must not “mix and match” these two. A shirt with a stock and stock pin is required.

S W

how Hack See Above – with the exception of flash nose bands. Flash nose bands are NOT permitted for this class. estern Pleasure

Turnout: Western Pleasure horses are shown with a full mane and tail or a mare clip. Tack: Curb type bit, except for Junior horses (5 & under) which may be shown in a snaffle. Western saddle Rules can be found online at: USEF.org for USEF sanctioned shows, if the show you are attending is not USEF sanctioned, rules can normally be found on the website of the host organization. If in doubt about tack or attire, please ask the ring steward or other staff member for guidance. They are there to help you get the most out of your show experience!

is a requirement for these classes, either working or show type. Barrel saddles, reining saddles, etc are not appropriate. Attire: Western style show shirt, jacket or shirt and vest may be worn. A pin, bolo tie or kerchief is required. Jeans (any color other than blue) or pants may be worn under chaps. A hat is required, but helmet may be worn without penalty.

riving:

Turnout: Driving horses are shown with a full mane and tail or mare clip Tack: See rule book regarding appropriate vehicles and harness for the specific division you are showing in. Vehicle and harness should be in great condition and clean, with any brass or other fittings polished and “show ready”. Attire: A skirt or dark pants and jacket or shirt and vest are required for most driving divisions. A hat should be worn in all classes. Helmets may be used without penalty. A “header” (a second person on your team, who will appear at the line up) will be required for driving classes and must be dressed in appropriate attire. The header must wear a “duster” - a long jacket that looks similar to a Doctor’s lab coat, and will be required to stand at the head of the driving horse in the line up. It is important to know that they are not permitted to touch or restrain the horse until after the class has been judged and placed.

ative Tack and Attire As this section is highly specialized and universally agreed upon, we have included a direct excerpt from the specifications required for a USEF class for both Spanish and Portuguese Native Tack and Attire.

Entries shall be shown under contemporary Spanish or Portuguese equipment. There are different styles of Spanish and Portuguese tack and attire, which are traditional and correct for the Andalusian horse. It is not correct in either of these two countries to mix attire and equipment (saddles) and should not be acceptable here in the U.S.

Spanish Saddle 1. For the Spanish, there are three major types of saddles: vaquera, royal or sidesaddle (vaquera or English), with variations of them all. The vaquera (albardon, jerazana) and vaquera sidesaddles are identical except the sidesaddle has leaping horns which may be on the left or right to the preference of the rider. The saddle is rectangular in shape covered with sheepskin, having a raised,rounded cantle at the back. It has a canvas under side and is placed directly on the horse without saddle pads. The colors of the leather showing at the cantle or pommel may be dark brown, black or natural. The stirrups are blackened steel, triangular in shape. Crupper strap to match. 2. The royal saddle (includes espanol and portrera) faintly resembles a dressage saddle from the side, but it has a raised cantle and pommel, the overall length exceeds the width of a dressage saddle. It is traditionally, not necessarily, covered in sheepskin. The stirrup is the triangular blackened steel. Crupper strap to match. Breast collars are only used, but not always, with side saddle and royal saddle, plain or covered with sheepskin. Silver is not used. Plain leather is preferred in Spain, though decorative tooling can be used with the Gala event attire.

Bridle and Bit 1. The type of bit used is a blackened steel bit in snaffle, pelham, curb (shank), with low, medium or high port. In Spain, two sets of reins are used for the younger horse, one set attached to the leather covered or wrapped serreta at the nose band (serreta is a curved metal nose piece that is always covered with leather or wrapped to cover the sharp metal points and attaches to the noseband with two rings to attach reins), the top rein coming from the nose band

pad may be used but must conform to the outline shape of saddle. e. Dressage (Portuguese) to be advised. f. Campino equipment to be advised. 2. Bridle and Bit

The bridle is a flat, brown, natural or black leather, with and the regular reins coming from the mouth (snaffle wide buckles of brass or silver or shanked blackened solid bit) or with the pelham. (chrome, nickel) at all adjustA leather-covered muscarola (serreta without ring ment points. There are differattachments) may also be placed on the nose band ent styles of bridles, flat plain depending on the training level of the horse. (simple), half-presentation (a little fancier) or full presentation 2. The bridle leather is dark brown, natural or black (very decorative and ornate with to suit the horse with or without throat latch. Vaquera feather penacho). A white leather bridle is used for without throatlatch, royal and sidesaddle with or without throat latch. Plain leather is preferred in Spain, exhibition only. No mosquero or fringe is allowed. The bit to suit the horse. Stylized brass and chrome bits are though decorative tooling can be used with the Gala used to match with presentation equipment. event attire. All hardware is of blackened steel. With each of the three types of saddles, an appropriate bridle Attire will have a brow band with a mosquero (fly screen) made of long leather fringe or of horse hair (having 1. Spanish three circles in a pyramid at the top and tassels) not to extend below the nose band. a.Vaquera, Feria, Gala or Exhibition: the attire for the rider in the vaquera or royal saddle, male or female is Portuguese almost identical. 1. Saddle a. For the Portuguese, there are three major types of saddles: Portuguesa (bullfight style), Dressage (Portuguese or English style) or sidesaddle (Portuguese or English style) with variations of them all. The Portuguesa (bullfight) saddle has a high cantle and pommel in the front. The front and back slope in wings down to hold the leg firmly in place. This is a bull fighting saddle made to hold the rider in place. The seat of the saddle may be rough-out leather of varying colors or smooth leather. b. The Portuguese saddle will at least have a loin pad of leather (or animal skin) between the saddle and the crupper. If the rider is in eighteenth century attire, the saddle covers (silk) will have great embroidery in designs to suit the riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attire. c. The stirrups are either brass or chrome, oval shaped under the foot or close-toed, rectangular (box) wooden stirrups with brass or chrome overlays in varying degrees of intricacy to match the leather accessories. d. Breast collars and crupper to match bridle. Saddle 50

Traditionally the high waisted short jacket is of conservative colors, dark or light grays, blues, burgundy, greens browns and tans. May be solids, hounds tooth or faintly striped. Black jackets are generally for evening events. The jacket ends above the waist and has five buttons on each sleeve angled from the wrist lightly back towards the elbow. If the jacket is that of vaquero style, it has five buttons down the front and two side pockets. The jacket is worn open for the women and buttoned at the top button for the men. It has no collar and no cuff. The female style may have a small collar. Some exhibition and gala jackets do not have buttons, they may have black or contrasting trimmings, embroidery, and a vest may be worn. 2. The pants rise high into the waist and have suspenders to hold the pants at this height. The pants are of the color that compliments the color of the short jacket, dark gray with a black stripe, brown stripes, green stripes, navy stripes or solid colors. The pants are of two different styles, pantalon and calzona depending on the discipline in which the rider is riding. Pantalon style ends with a turned up white cuff and the calzona at mid calf panel with buttonholes, in which dangles a grouping of silver

or natural material ornaments, called cariles. There is no belt worn. A colorful scarf or sash is worn around the waist and tied on the right side. 3. The shirt is plain white with a turned down collar (not button down), for the men and lightly ruffled for the women. 4. The hat is flat crown, with flat brim. Conservative color to match the attire of the rider. The hat should be a darker shade of color. Black and shades of rays are the most used. Protective headgear may be worn without penalty. 5. There are two styles of boots. Boto compero are tall, rough out, low heeled boots and worn with pantalon style pants (white cuff). Botins are ankle height, rough out boots always worn with half-chaps called polainas and these are worn with the calzone style pants. Boots are of natural leather (brown) never black. The polainas are plain or tooled to varied degrees with fringe at the top of the spat (which is worn under the pant). For the side saddle rider (Amazona) 1. Wears the same styles of jackets as described above.

shoulder or be completely contained in the front and in the back. She will sit fully to the left or right, putting her right or left arm around the waist of the male; with her left or right hand under the tiers of flounces holding onto the crupper. She is sitting on a small pad, which is held in place by the crupper, which passes through the under side of the pad. Feria (Flamenco) dress is not permitted to ride astride or sidesaddle. It is not native to Spain. 2. Portuguese. a. Bullfighting and Haute École Exhibition. The coat, called the casaca, reminiscent of French court of Louis XV and Louis XVI is traditionally of rich and vibrantly colored satin or silk but may also be of fine velvet, heavily embroidered along the front, at the cuffs, and down the back. Attached to the cuffs here is deep lace. There is a black ribbon from the top of the coat at the center of the head. There is a single vent in the back. The rider wears a vest embroidered to compliment the coat. 2. The shirt is white and plain with lace showing at the ollar.

2. The skirt is to match the jacket in conservative colors or in black, long full skirt with large pleat, buttoning 3. The pants are white, beige, blue or black to complithe back for walking. ment the jacket. 3. The shirt is white as above or with stand up collar and ruffles. The rider wears conservative single stud earrings. 4. The flat hat as described above to coordinate with the jacket worn or the Calanes hat, with the hair covered with colorful scarf in a hair net (madroero). Protective headgear may be worn without penalty. 5. Her boots are dark boto compero or black. 6. She will carry a whip to the off side absent the leg. The overall look is subdued elegance. For “A La Grupa” 1. The male rider wears the attire of the above vaquera riders. The feria dress is worn when the woman is riding a la grupa only. She should have flowers in her hair, bracelets of the color of her dress on her arm, earrings also matching the dress. Gold and diamonds are not appropriate. Colorful plastic is in order. She should have a fringed scarf, which makes a “V” at the back of the dress emphasizing the plunge of the back (and pinned into place), and pinned in the front of the bust. The fringe should either lightly flow over the ruffles of the

4. The boots (Frederica) extended in height to the knee the front of the boot is cut in a “V” shape. The shelfheel on which the spurs rest and square toe. White stockings are worn above the knee. 5. A black tri-cornered hat, edge trimmed in white feathers, is worn. Protective headgear may be worn without penalty b. Women’s attire riding sidesaddle or astride (Amazona propriamente dita or para esarranchar). 1. Jackets have various characteristics. The main characteristics are two-pointed lapels, two fitted pockets with vertical openings, top of sleeves near the shoulder full (almost ballooning), cuff-less and silk lining in tone with color of jacket. Colors of jacket somber colors in nature, browns, beige, greens, burgundy, tweeds and black. It is sometimes adorned with trimmings around the

edges and designs on the back. Material is usually of wool, raw silk or fine velvet. No buttons on the jacket for the side saddle rider but the astride rider may use a cavaleiros style jacket if they wish. Trims and designs are of a contrasting or a coordinating color. 2. The skirt is to match the jacket in conservative color or in black, long full skirt with large pleat, buttoning in the back for walking. The astride rider has a split skirt that covers the riding patalone (breeches) of the same color as skirt. The skirt fits snuggly on the hips and may have a high waist, buttoning on the side or in the middle, slit from the top of the thigh front and back in a way to open over the saddle when riding and conceals the breeches when dismounted. 3. Shirt with a small collar embellished with a jabot of lace or cotton. Collar is decorated with a brooch or black satin bow. Two or four buttonholes are at the collar and are closed with collar links. A variety of styles may be worn by the astride rider. Cuffs may be plain or lacy. Shirt must always be white. Satin cummerbund with horizontal pleats complimenting the outfit is worn; also acceptable is a satin or cotton sash wrapped around the waist as in the cavalerios dress. A waistcoat (vest) may be worn but always the cummerbund or sash to harmonize with the outfit or in black. Gloves must always be worn with these two outfits. 4. Amazona hat has an upturned brim, a slightly indented convex crown and is adorned with two silk pom poms (country hat). Astride rider may also wear the cavalerios style of hat. Protective headgear may be worn without penalty. 5. Boots may be that of the cavalerios or above ankle boot with button or lace closure. Black or brown. Horsemen’s Riding Attire. (Caveleiros) 1. The jacket is cropped short at the waist or slightly below, cut straight across the back at the waist. A variety of collar styles: shawl collar, two-pointed lapels, polo type, round band. Double breasted lapels or simply collarless. Two-pointed lapel collar frequently has velvet or velveteen on the upper half. Material is also varied from fine wool and velvet to cloth of various textures and ranging from light to dark colors of somber tones. Some jackets have applications of different fabric and color on the front (pockets, etc.) and elbows of the sleeves. The jacket has two breast pockets; edges bound or trimmed and show a glimpse of the lining. Sleeves are cuff-less and plain or may have a stripe of fabric with buttons mounted. Buttons (if used) are of silk braiding, silver braiding, glass, horn, wood, bone, silver or modern materials usually with a foot (not holes) or frog and loop. 2. The Portuguese pants are straight cut without cuff falling to the ankles. The waistband is high snuggly fitting button of fly hidden with flap, but three buttons visible rising above to the waist. Two small horizontal pockets at the waistband. Buttons to attach suspenders. Material of pants should be of wool or cotton blend and of the same tone or lighter tone than that of the jacket. Breeches can also be worn of the same or lighter complimentary tone of the jacket; buttons are usually sewn along the lateral seam to the taste of the wearer, with long stockings showing above the boot. 3. The shirt is plain white with a turned-down collar, fastening could be single or double closures of plain or covered buttons or collar links of enamel up to a gold or silver, with or without precious stones. Also “Sunday best” has a wide ruffled front with or without pleats or with or without lace. Buttons may be plain or decorative. Sleeves are large and roomy ending in simple or double cuff. 4. Waistcoats have different shapes of neck to suit the wearer. Can be single breasted, double-breasted, with or without collar as the jacket dictates. Usually the front is made of the same fabric as the jacket. Some have pockets. The sash is placed over the waistcoat and the waistband of the trousers. The color is black for cavalerios. Silk, wool or cotton wrapped snuggly around the waist with fringed amount to the left. The sash is two meters long and 30 cm wide. No scarves or bandana. Gloves are optional. 5. The hat, two styles are predominant. “Mazzantini”, flat brimmed cylindrical crown straight across the top, wide ribbon band, decorated with three buttons placed vertically. “Portuguesa” soft wide brimmed 9 cm, indented convex crown 10 cm, encircled by a 2 cm ribbon band, so as it may be held between the thumb and middle finger. Colors in black, gray or brown. 52

The Road to Rio

Paraequestrians and their Iberian Horses

he much anticipated 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games are to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. While that may seem like a long time from now, the game is already on for para-equestrians vying for a chance to ride in Rio. Three of them have chosen Iberian horses as their partners, and their best chance at winning Olympic Gold. Meet Iana Gonzalez, a Paralympic hopeful from Murrieta, California. Iana suffers from a serious leg injury with lasting damage, but that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her dreams in dressage. “I had to change my riding focus to dressage. Dressage has provided me a wonderful opportunity to continue my equestrian pursuits. I’ve grown to love the sport of dressage for its focus on the horse and its harmony between horse and rider.”

PRE stallion.

ana doesn’t just compete on the weekends, horses are quite literally her life. She is employed by a large Andalusian breeder in Southern California, where she works as both head trainer and as an instructor. Currently, she competes in Regional Breed and Open competitions on Relampago ARM V, a

As to how she got her start in the Paralympic world, Iana says “Early in 2012 a great opportunity presented itself as I was assisting with a US Para-equestrian competition. The team doctor inquired about my disability and asked if I was interested in competing as a para-equestrian. I had never thought of myself as ‘disabled’ and was surprised to find out I qualified as a Grade IV para-equestrian. I began competing with the para-equestrians in mid-2012 and have set my sights on the 2014 World Equestrian Games and the 2016 Pan American Games.” Iana has a special relationship with a horse called Relampago ARM V. He is a majestic being, full of personality and get go. She met him 3 years ago when she started working with his owner and breeder Raul Armendariz, owner of Rancho Armendariz. Raul has the distinction of being named the “Best Breeder of the PRE (Pura Raza Española) for the last 7 years here in United States. Achieving this title is no easy task, for he must present his own stock at the horse shows. Everybody can buy a Champion, but to make one is a whole different story. Apart from being the Best Breeder, Raul has made history by producing the only American bred horse to have won the title of “Champion of Champions” three indi56

vidual times with Distinguido ARM. “When I first met Relampago ARM V, he was very much a handful, in fact I could not get on him easily, he would scoot away every time I tried, hence his nickname “Scooter”. But over time, Iana and Relampago ARM V have achieved a special relationship that has produced a bond where “Scooter” feels completely safe and loved. This has let him develop and shine into the horse he has become. Believe me, if I win the lottery tomorrow, I would offer to buy him immediately” she says. There are not many times that a bond like this is created.” When I am on him, I forget everything, I don’t even feel pain. Thankfully, I have known Raul Armendariz and his family for over 10 years now, and they are my biggest supporters. Raul has always encouraged me to become my best. Obviously without Raul’s blessing and sponsorship I would not be riding Relampago ARM V. Raul encourages everyone to work as a team. We each have our individual roles in which compromise to make his breeding ranch produce the champions he has. I’m very excited to work with the next up and coming youngsters that are designated for dressage.”

ictoria Davies, a lifelong lover and aficionado of the andalusian horse, was born to parents already raising PRE horses in New South Wales, Australia. Her passion for the horses blossomed under such ideal circumcircum stances. “I could ride before I could walk and have won countless awards for my riding at National and Royal level. When I was a toddler my mum spent most weekends competing and I would be close by in my pram cheering her on. That was just our life – horses & competing. When I was younger and before I fell sick I rode at pony club for many years with the Shoalhaven Club and begun riding dressage in junior competitions.” That was before she fell ill. “At age 9 I was struck down by a virus that left my body shutting down and this is when the fighting begun. Beating all odds I managed to survive yet, my body had been left damaged and was still fighting, however instead of fighting the virus my body had started to attack it’s

self. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid with negative RIO and show the world exactly how magnificent the PRE Rheumatoid factor and later in my teens re diagnosed, nega- Andalusian is. Over the last few months I have done an array tive Rheumatoid factor with onset Juvenile.” of advertising promoting myself and Eddy with reference to the breed. The feedback and support from the public has “My immune system is very weak and the smallest cold can been truly amazing.” be life threatening. I am on many medications – chemotherapy, steroids and a monthly IV biological injection, which is “After months of ups and downs, we finally did it! As of Ocone of the newest treatments for autoimmune diseases. I call tober 2013, Eddy and I were selected for the Australian Para these my ‘poison tablets’ as reality is, they do have Equestrian Futures Squad. We showed them what we could some nasty side effects; It is a ‘darned if you do do and the hard work paid off. Eddy is the first PRE in Ausand darned if you don’t’ situation tralia to be selected for any type of high performance squad.” as without these medications my quality of life would be bleak. “ ur final Paralympic hopeful with Iberian inclinations is Susan Treabess. Susan is a grade IV para equestrian, the least disabled desVictoria’s illness has left her with a slew of other serious ignation. She was born without her problems, but that has not left hand, but as we are seeing with prevented her from forging our other athletes, this has not ahead and turning her life slowed her down. Growing up in into an inspiring success story. the Lake Tahoe area, Susan has always had strong athletic abilities, “There were long periods of times where I was unable to ride and I would spend and has participated in a variety hours watching my mum from my chair, training and of competitive sports, including skiing, softball, soccer, and basketshowing our horses; when I was too sick to go outside I would study and research everything about the breed. I have ball. She rides without the aid of a specialized prosthetic. always found researching pedigrees interesting & my knowl- She uses “Just a good old hook!” which is able to open and close on the reins, but does not have any riding-specific atedge of the breed is quite advanced. I have traveled to Spain to see many studs and my plan in the future is to learn Span- tributes. Susan was quick to emphasize that para-equestrians are not afforded an “easier” way out of serious competition, ish and travel again. The PRE Andalusian breed & riding as some laypeople may believe. She went on to explain that in has always been in my blood, a raging passion! Even order to be considered for elite para-equestrian teams such as after my first hip replacement I was back riding those that compete at the Paralympics and World Equestrian a month later and the drive to compete was Games, you must be actively competitive in Open (or able always fierce!” bodied) dressage at the Prix St. George level. The riders vying Victoria rides a very special 7 year old PRE for a shot at the Paralympics are nothing short of the cream of the crop in an already elite sporting event. “Para-Dressage stallion named Eligido, or Eddy. “Due to riders are commonly mistaken for able bodied Grand Prix my disabilities my aids are quite different and when I ride there are many restrictions. riders.” Additionally, she explains that it is very expensive to particiI have little use of my legs and my stirrups have a habit of falling out, I have no movement pate in these kinds of events, and that the more backing these riders have from the Iberian community at large, the better in my feet, which is difficult for legs aids, howevthe breed will be presented in the international spotlight. “I er Eddy has learnt the different touches of crops on his shoulders or rump and knows exactly what aids I am asking had to raise one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the 2010 World Equestrian Games on my own. It’s no less expenfor. Being a horse for a disabled rider is challenging. They sive for a Para-Dressage rider to ship their horse to Europe must do certain actions perfectly and there is no room for than it is for an able-bodied Olympian. We need to show the errors. Eddy has leant to stand still like a soldier while I get on & off which takes time and usually I have to slide off slow- world that Iberian horses can be world-class athletes as well as family horses. They can do both, and that is good for proly or climb on with legs rolling over his rump. If I lose my balance he has learnt to stop until I correct myself. All of this motion. Get behind the riders and support them.” has been learnt by praising him and of cause food! On the Susan got her start in the highly competitive Grade IV Para ground Eddy is a perfect gentleman, I walk very slowly and with aids so all my horses have been taught to wait and walk dressage when in 2006 she was approached by international Grand Prix rider Dennis Callin in regards to participating slowly. in the 2010 World Equestrian Games (Think Olympics on steroids, and inclusive of virtually all equestrian disciplines). “My goal is to compete nationally and internationally to She was warned that it would be extremely difficult, but it qualify myself and Eddy for the 2016 Paralympics Games in

was the warning of a serious challenge that piqued her interest. As she was already showing Open dressage competitively, the possibility that she could in fact accomplish this feat was too tempting. She attended a USEF training camp and spoke to coaches and scouts, and the journey to the World Equestrian Games was under way. It was there at the 2010 games in Kentucky that she spotted the Andalusian horses. First it was a German para-dressage rider in the warmup ring. The horse’s elasticity caught her attention, and she thought to herself “I want to ride that horse.” Later on during the Games, she would encounter Fuego de Cardenas, and like all who witness the horse going through his paces, she was mesmerized. Later she told her husband Scott, “I really think I want to try these horses out, I really like these horses”. Susan was a convert. “I still love warmbloods.” She insists. “My business partner Eva and I have many in the barn now.” However, the trainability, intelligence, and character of the Andalusians ultimately won her over when it comes to her favorite mounts. “Warmbloods tend to need repetition. You don’t have to repeat things with the Iberians.” Regardless of this common observation, she reports that despite what others might have initially told her, she has found that the same training techniques can be used with both breeds, with a twist. “We have the same training system for our PRE’s as we do for our warmbloods. The fundamental thing with the PREs is that because of the high intelligence the rider must be fair. If they get it right, let them quit and walk. Warmbloods tend to need more repetition. ” She finished by saying, “There’s also this weird connection with the PRE’s that makes you really attached to them. They are just the horse for me, they are the horse I will ride the rest of my life.” In searching for an elite athlete that was mentally and physically capable of competing at the international level, she searched for the more “modern type” Iberian horses, capable of participating in competitive mainstream dressage. She says while they may not be the typiest of specimens, they have the ability to put the breed on the map in an elite international sport, which will benefit everyone in the community. “The more we can showcase this breed, the better. The bigger the market, the better for all of us.” She found Fugitivo XII, owned by Terry Waechter of Watchman PRE. A Calificado PRE, he and Susan bonded quickly, and he had what it took to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics 58

in London. But, life is full of surprises, and Susan withdrew from the Selection Trials to have a healthy baby boy. In 2013 there was a very unhappy surprise, and Fugitivo XII unexpectedly passed in a tragic accident. His death was more than just the loss of a competitive mount; he and Susan had deeply bonded, as Andalusian horses tend to with their riders and caretakers. “I still think about him every day.” She says. “I can tell you the time, the date, and where I was when it happened. He was incredibly special to me. He was more than just an award winning stallion, he was my part partner and friend.” In order to continue on her path to the next World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, 2014, Susan was forced to look to a much younger stallion, Kamiakin, a 16.2 PRE bred Su by Ami MacHugh, owned by Susan in partnership with Katie and Scott Hill. Kamiakin had been selected as their next rising star and a potential backup horse. Kam, as she calls him, has oc admirably risen to the occasion, and his elastic gaits have caught the attention of a few judges as well. His career was fast tracked and the young stallion is drawing attention wherever he goes. In 2013, Susan and Kam have claimed the following victories: - USPRE High Point Open horse/rider @ Starr Vaughn May - Golden State Dressage High Point CPEDI 3* - 2013 Qualifications met for 2014 World Equestrian Games - 4th Place California Dressage Society Horse of the Year Third Level Open - California Dressage Society Tambu Memorial Trophy - High Point Stallion of CDS Championships She reports that she has bonded with him closely, and that she enjoys his personality and temperament. “I personally like riding stallions and mares. Not necessarily the easiest horses to ride. Kam is unbelievably dependable. He is hot blooded, and definitely a stallion. But he is MY horse and I love that connection. He gets a little funny with other people, and I like that. That way I know he is my horse.” With the WEG’s in 2014, Susan will be primed for the next round of qualifiers for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. They already completed round 1 of qualifiers last year, and the next two will be in California and Florida in the spring. Susan plans to fly Kam to Florida and participate in both events. After that, there will be a selection trial in May or June. She will not know if she has made the team of 3-4 riders until later in the year

AndalusianWorld wishes all of you the best of luck!

Branding Irons

Ap p l i c a t i o n , H i s t o r y, a n d C r a f t s m a n s h i p

Brief History of Branding

Andalusian horses, while still considered rare, are simultaneously a highly visible breed due to their popularity in film and photography. This leads to much curiosity and many questions about some of the more unconventional traditions associated with their husbandry, such as the clipping of manes and tails. One of these traditions is branding. While other breeds are in fact commonly branded, regardless, it is rare or even unheard of to see a brand on many different types of horses in the US, and can be viewed as antiquated or a means of identification best reserved for cattle. The act of creating and using a brand on Iberian horses carries with it a rich culture of tradition. The practice of taking a hot, sculpted metal instrument and leaving a permanent and unique marking on property (not limited to livestock) is many thousands of years old, as old as the Iberian horse itself, though it is thought that branding irons first originated in ancient Egypt. The use of brands became especially widespread in Spain during the Middle Ages, as the region was primarily utilized for cattle farming and large herds grazing over wide areas necessitated branding. Subsequently, it was the Spanish who introduced brands to the New World, and gave rise to the American Cowboy’s cattle branding traditions, which we tend to associate with America as much as we do apple pie!

In antiquity, the word brand (originating from the Old Norse brenna) could have referred to any number of flaming or smoldering items, such as torches. Human slaves and criminals were branded from Roman times right up until the Civil War era in the US. Thankfully, the world is now a kinder place and branding is now primarily associated with livestock, and it continues to be a useful practice in agriculture. Today, brands vary in style and placement among various breeds of livestock. The advent of readily available super-cold materials such as liquid nitrogen have given us cold or freeze brands, which are less painful and thus more popular for use in horses than hot brands. BLM mustangs, standardbreds, warmbloods, quarter horses, and a variety of other breeds regularly utilize branding as a means of permanent identification.

randing Iberian Horses

As with many facets of Iberian horse-culture, branding traditions are very old, and very specific. Spanish Stallions are always branded on their left hindquarter, and mares on their right. Some breeders choose to mark their horses with an additional miniature brand under the tail and on the buttock opposite the main brand, with the smaller marking (perhaps the Breeder’s ancestor’s brand) being the breeder’s personal reflection on the horse’s origin. It is customary in Spain for a father’s youngest son to inherit his brand, as presumably the older sons will strike forth and create their own brands first, but despite this, it is not uncommon for brands to be bought and sold as status symbols. When modifying or creating a family brand, elements of older brands are often incorporated, and the evolution of a brand is nearly as interesting as the evolution of a bloodline itself. There are varying regulations from country to country and state to state regarding the registration of brands with the department of agriculture, and brands must also be registered with ANCCE and IALHA if applicable. The point being, make sure your paperwork is in order before permanently marking your livestock. Your brandmaker may be able to help you with the regulations and paperwork associated with your breed and your state, so it is important to work with a brandmaker who is familiar with YOUR breed!

pplication of Hot Brands

The photos below left illustrate the application of a hot brand to a young warmblood pony. The brand is heated, and applied to the left haunch with the animal’s individual number, and the oak leaf assigned to all inspected RSPI ponies. The same brand is shown 5 days later, beginning to neatly heal. While some experts are able to effectively utilize a hot brand on a fully conscious horse (as seen here) it is advisable to sedate all horses in preparation for branding, as this will greatly reduce pain, and the likelihood of distress related errors and injuries to both man and beast. A veterinarian or someone experienced in branding horses should apply the brand.

(Photos of an RSPI Branding compliments of Audrey C. Crosby Photography)

pplication of Freeze Brands Today, Iberian horses are typically freeze branded. Freeze brands are not only less painful for the animal, but they actually function in an entirely different manner than traditional hot brands. When properly applied, freeze brands, rather than forming a scar, actually cause hair follicles to turn white, leaving a more aesthetically pleasing, detailed and crisp design on the animal’s hide than a hot brand. They are typically applied for approximately 25 seconds (for dry ice) or 6-12 seconds (for liquid nitrogen) to achieve the desired results. Timing must be precisely customized depending on the animal’s color and the coolant used. To super cool the branding iron to the required 160-180 degrees below zero, liquid nitrogen, or dry ice (used in combination with 99.9% alcohol) must be used. The “irons” themselves are typically made of brass (a copper alloy) due to the metal’s capacity for holding onto its temperature. Therefore, hot and freeze brands are not interchangeable items. Greater care must be used when handling liquid nitrogen, as it tends to be 240-250 degrees below zero, much colder and more dangerous than dry ice and alcohol. To prepare your horse for a brand, the branding site must be shaved to the skin and sterilized, and the animal sedated to prevent movement and discomfort during the application process. As with hot brands, a veterinarian or someone experienced in branding should apply the brand. The photos below illustrate the application of a dry-ice cooled freeze brand to an Iberian filly. Compliments of Felix Prieto.

art Two - Craftsmanship in Modern Brands

Behind every great tradition there is a craftsman at work, and branding is no exception. Be sure to watch for our next article about the interesting and precise art of brand-making! More information about Felix Prieto...

Victoria Davies

Need a Calm, Willing, Focused Partner? Give Your Horse a FOCUS Biscuit Then Discover What You & Your Horse Can Really Achieve! 62 888.917.8565 EquineScienceSolutions.com

Tips Black CoatsCoats BlackBLACK Tipsfor forKeeping Keeping Black by Elisha Walker If you own a black horse, there’s a decent chance you’ve encountered the annoyance of fading. It can take only weeks or even days for a glossy black coat to bleach anywhere from a subtle chocolate brown to a yellow bay color. “Is he black or bay?” others might ask you. “Are you sure he’s black? Have you had him tested?” Many a black horse owner has agonized over this issue, scoured the Internet and heard some swear by paprika and others insist that the solution lies in shampoos. How can one fix a sun-bleached coat? The best remedy is prevention, and some methods are more effective than others for certain horses. A horse’s coat goes through two normal growth cycles each year: summer coat growth and winter coat growth. These will be your two opportunities for a clean slate where your horse’s coat is concerned. Be wary of starting a product shortly before new coat growth is slated to show; if you start feeding a blackening supplement to your bleached horse late in August and find that in September he has a rich black coat again, you are likely looking at the results of new growth, not a “fix” born of outside influence. The coat that grows in usually around September or October in fall and the coat that’s left after spring shedding is fresh, unbleached hair. If the horse’s diet is balanced, then this is the color that your horse’s genetics have given him and there is not much that can be done to change it. Some horses are a deeper black than others, but the best way to keep your horse as black as possible is to protect this new growth and not allow bleaching to occur in the first place. Paprika is one of the most common suggestions that crops up time and time again when dealing with a fading black horse. Most people advise others to start feeding it in winter, a couple of tablespoons in your horse’s feed every day, and in spring your horse will be blacker and not fade—or fade less, at least.

Paprika is one of the most common suggestions that crops up...

There is a grain of truth to this, but not for the reason that most people think: paprika does not have any inherent hair-darkening or hair-protecting properties. Rather, it addresses a copper deficiency. Copper-deficient horses have coats that are dull and brittle in comparison to their non-deficient counterparts, and paprika is a good source of copper. (Note: it does test positive at shows due to its capsaicin content and takes about ten days to leave the horse’s system). If the horse’s new coat growth generally looks rich and glossy, the chances are that he is not deficient. However, paprika can be bought in bulk relatively cheaply, so feeding it from winter through shedding season is a good test. Paprika is the main ingredient in most commercial blackening supplements. If the horse is deficient, paprika will bring out a richer pigment in the coat, but while a healthier coat can better withstand the ravages of the sun, it cannot resist them on its own. Black oil sunflower seeds are another common suggestion to prevent sun-bleaching, one that I suspect may stem more from their name than their sun-defying properties. Black oil sunflower seeds (commonly abbreviated as BOSS) are high in fat and omega-6 fatty acids, which can add shine to a poor coat if the horse’s diet is lacking, but, like paprika, will do absolutely nothing to protect an already-healthy coat from the sun. Next up: sunscreen. There are many different sunscreens marketed toward horses. This is an external and thus generally more effective way of keeping a healthy coat from bleaching, though collected anecdotal evidence would suggest that most sunscreens are not as strong or capable 64

as their bottles’ labels would have you believe. Wiping or spraying sunscreen on every few days can help manage sun-bleaching, though it likely will not eliminate it entirely. UV sheets are another tool that can greatly decrease fading. They do tend to leave “tan lines” on the areas of the horse’s body that they do not cover, and none are 100% effective against the sun. However, for a horse that is pastured 24/7, a UV sheet with a neck cover used in conjunction with a strong wipe-on sunscreen—especially on areas the sheet does not cover—is the best protection against the sun. There is only one method that is almost completely preventative and effective against bleaching, and that is to keep the horse out of the sun entirely. Many barns opt to do night turnout during the summer. For badly fading horses, night turnout is the only real solution to bleaching. If the horse’s stall is well-lit enough to still trigger his normal shedding cycles, night turnout can be started in the spring, shortly before shedding season, to best preserve the new coat growth. Otherwise, it’s best to start as soon as the horse is finished or almost finished shedding. Unfortunately, the sun is not the only thing that causes fading: sweat also bleaches hair, and even a horse who is stalled during the day will likely sweat during the summer and can still bleach. A fan in the horse’s stall is advisable along with frequent rinses. Rinsing the horse off after any work is imperative to prevent bleaching. “But what if my horse is already bleached?” This is a question that gets asked frequently, and the above suggested methods are often proffered—to no avail, as the damage has already been done. “But is there a way to fix hair that is bleached now instead of waiting until the next coat growth cycle?” The short answer is no. If you are looking at all-natural, dietary or regimental solutions, you are stuck with a bleached coat until the new black coat grows in when the season changes, period. If you truly feel the need to fix a bleached coat immediately, you’ll be taking a trip into dye territory. Some people insist that blackening shampoos make a difference. Some are said to be regular shampoo with minute traces of black dye, but most actually contain bluing, which leaves a slight blue tint in its wake. A cooler tint does trick the eye into thinking that an object is “blacker” than an object with the same darkness but a redder cast, so with repeated washes, it is theoretically possible to notice a slight difference in the cast of a horse’s coat. Overall, though, bluing is much more effective on fabric

than it is on hair, and anecdotally, owners tend to be very disappointed with the lack of results that blackening shampoos provide. Others may be advertised as containing henna or indigo, but the herbs tend to be so diluted within the shampoo that most of their dyeing ability is lost. To dye hair jet black with indigo requires a henna base and a thick paste that must often be left on for hours—to use it at its full strength to correct bleaching a would not be a realistic option for the vast majority of horses. Other black horse owners have been known to mix Condy’s crystals (potas (potassium permanganate) with water and spray the mixture on to darken a coat semi-permanently, but Condy’s crystals are caustic and can irritate the skin, so this method is not recommended. To alter the pigment of already-bleached hair, the most reliable option is an animal-safe dye such as those sold by Lucky Pony or Show Pony Colour. They are designed to be low-irritant, but a patch test to make sure your horse is not allergic to the dye is a must. The process is relatively straightforward: coat the entire horse in dye, carefully excluding white markings; wait the allotted time; and rinse the dye out. It’s always a good idea to re-hydrate the coat afterwards with an oil or conditioner. Healthy HairCare is a popular choice in many barns. Also, be sure to check regulations on your given show circuit, if applicable, about altering coat color. Many organizations only have rules about altering a horse’s natural coat color, e.g. covering white markings or taking a horse from bay to black. Restoring a sun-bleached coat to its original state—black— does not violate this category of rule, contrary to popular belief. Whether you decide to go with dye or change your turnout routine or pick up some sunscreen at your local tack store, there are steps you can take to help minimize the damage the sun does to your horse’s coat and improve his appearance. Keeping a black horse black can be a lot of work, but you may find that the end result makes it all worthwhile.

2013 IALHA National Championship Show by Julie Alonzo The IALHA National Championships returned to the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, TX, October 13-19, 2013, with a full array of classes and competitors from as far away as Connecticut, Florida, and California joining with their peers from Illinois, Texas, and parts in between to celebrate the multi-talented Andalusian and Lusitano in competitive classes as well as entertaining Saturday night exhibition performances. In the Dressage Sport Horse in Hand division, both the Fillies 3 and Under and Andalusian Stallions 4 and Over had more than 10 entries. Hats off to Fabulila WAE, Nicole Hill handling for Terry L. Waechter of Watchman PRE Horses, for her win in a very competitive field of 11 fillies and to Fainero ADP, shown and owned by Nicholas Phillips, for taking the top prize

out of 12 in his stallion class. This year’s Working Equitation division, sponsored by Sierra Nevada Lusitanos, saw 21 riders compete, with the most popular level being the lowest one offered, with 12 entries. Interestingly, none of the first place winners in any of the three levels offered this year were IALHA-registered horses. Kudos go to Sandhaven Pagan Dancer, ridden by Tarrin Warren for owner Kellee Campbell, DVM, for taking the top honors in the L2 class of 12, to Sharp Dressed Man ridden and owned by Rebecca Algar, for their win in the L3 class, and to Carbon and rider/owner Randy Byers, who won the L4 class, with 8 entries. There was good participation in both the Lusitano and Spanish Specialty halter classes, but the largest numbers were found in the halter classes with all three bloodlines combined. The winner of this year’s National Grand Champion Andalusian Senior Mares 5 & Over, RA Dulcineya, not only won her 12-horse halter class under the expert guidance of Howard Peet handling for owner Kimberly Ann David, she took home the National Champion Andalusian English Pleasure Hunt Seat – Amateur title with youth rider Keegan O’Brien, in the largest Amateur class at the show, with 12 entries. 66

This year’s National Grand Champion Andalusian Senior Stallions 5 & Over, Acertijo Jim, earned his title by beating 10 other horses with trainer Howard Peet, handling for owner Adrienne La Far. Another of Adrienne La Far’s horses, Deleite MA, won the prestigious National Champion Andalusian Best Movement honor in a field of 13, with Erica Peet handling. With 14 entries, the National Champion Andalusian Dressage Suitability class, won by As De Copas, Howard Peet riding for Sandra and Saul Aguayo, was a real crowd pleaser. The largest class in this year’s show, National Champion Andalusian English Pleasure Hunt Seat, with a field of 16, was won by Corredor II, Shelley Van Den Neste riding for owner Sandra L. Werner. One of the most anticipated parts of the National Show is the opportunity to browse through the fine tack and attire offered by two of our most long-standing vendors: The Iberian Connection and El Sueño Español. Flanking both sides of the arena, their booths offer a tantalizing array of hard-to-find Spanish and Portuguese finery.

The event also offers the chance to connect or reconnect with others. This year, both the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse and USPREA had booths, giving those in attendance the chance to learn more about the groups, and providing an opportunity for representatives from both organizations to discuss potential for future collaborations. We hope to be able to offer Revisions from both of these P.R.E. organizations as well as APSL inspections for Lusitano horses at the 2014 National Show. In addition to the many spectators who were on hand to cheer on their favorite horses in person, 26,629 people watched all or part of the show online. The importance of this online presence can not be over-emphasized. Live-streaming the performances helps provide exposure to thousands of people, worldwide, and friends and family members who are unable to attend the show in person can still be part of the excitement by participating through their online presence. Show Chair Amy Star, assisted by Show Manager Dian Seabury and a large cadre of volunteers (Kay Laake, Gary and Lisa Camp, Dartanyan Star, Alex Dees, Deb Turner, Terrye Branson, Karin Hansen, Julie Alonzo, Becky Brok, Melissa Masters, 67

Karen Sausman, John Rock, Walter Henslee, Malen Dell, Howard and Erica Peet, Katie Berger, Dawn Griggs, and many, many others!) helped keep things moving throughout the week. Special thanks and a hearty “good job!” are owed to John Rock, who pulled together a really nice Saturday evening performance when he was asked to step in just a few weeks before the show, as well as to Terrye Branson and her husband Joel Staner, whose hand-crafted keepsakes made this year’s patron gift bags particularly memorable. And speaking of patrons... the show would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. The IALHA would particularly like to thank Nadine Tilley of Tilley Andalusians, Sierra Nevada Lusitanos, Alex Dees of Cavalo Real Lusitanos, and Francine Dismukes and Malen Dell of FHD Training Stables for their extreme generosity in under-writing significant portions of the show. Other notable sponsors include Judy and Walter Henslee of Rancho del Lago, Sharon Mohr of Asmohr Stables, Karen Sausman of Kingsmark Farms, Terrye and Joel Staner of 3Y Ranch, Dree Ward of Equine Science Solutions, Rebecca McGaughy and Michael Aulick of Oak Song Farm, Mary Claeys of Bridled Passion Farm, and Nicole Hill of Suspension Sporthorses. Additional class sponsors include Dawn Griggs of Gloriosa Farms, Leesa Ann Nero of Rua Y

Nero Andaluz, Kay and Jim Laake of Ottertail Farm, Joanne Asman of Asman Associates, LLC; North Americal Lusitano Breeders Association, Sue Watkins of the United States Working Equitation Association, Colleen Pedrotti of Keilen Ranch, Musa Lusitana, Miguel and Robbie Casas in honor of Terrye Branson, Linda Graham of Runaway Farm, Julie Tupper of Tupper Farms, Lanys Kaye-Eddies of Gremlan Farms, Two Socks Design Custom Embroidery, and Cynthia Spanhel of Blue Fire Moon Farm. Plans are already underway for the next IALHA National Championship show, which will return to Fort Worth once again October 13-19, 2014. In addition, the IALHA Show Committee and Board of Directors have begun discussing possible sites for the 2015 National Show, which will be held somewhere in the Eastern part of the United States, and the 2016 National Show, which will be held somewhere in the Western part of the United States.

We hope to see you there! Looking for show results? You can find them HERE! 68

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Braiding for Iberian Show Horses

Show season also means it is braiding season, which can be a nightmare for owners (and grooms) of Iberian horses with long, flowing manes and tails. Luckily for us, Cesar Lerias, (Portuguese rider and trainer) has published YouTube videos on how to braid Lusitanos in the traditional style (links at end of article). For those of you who own a Lusitano, or compete in Working Equitation, Doma Vaquera, or Native/Heritage Tack and Attire classes, instructions on how to put up the tail may be of particular interest to you. For those of you who show your horses at dressage shows and don’t want to cut or pull your horse’s mane, a running braid as demonstrated can be the perfect solution. If your horse has thick mane, it will make it very difficult to get a nice, smooth single running braid, so it is best to split the mane in half and do a braid on each side. For dressage, the tail is normally “banged” flat at the bottom and the hair around the top of the tail is trimmed or pulled to give a nice, neat appearance.

If you are attending breed shows, here are some general rules on braiding protocol for the different types of classes offered:

Halter Classes - No braids in mane or tail, unless you are showing in a Sport Horse In Hand class Dressage Classes - Such as dressage suitability, hack, etc - braided mane and forelock, but not tail Hunt Seat Classes - Braided mane, and tail, braided only part way down as traditionally done in hunter classes Working Equitation, Doma Vaquera, Native/Heritage Tack and Attire - Braided mane and tail to match whichever “style” you are representing. Western Pleasure, Saddle Seat, Driving - No braids in mane or tail

Although there are no “rules” as far as braiding is concerned, it is considered an unwritten rule that you braid for specific classes. Failure to do so most likely won’t result in penalization from a judge, but does not help to create that “polished” look you want for the show ring.

The secret to braiding well is practice, practice and more practice!

How to braid the mane and tail part 1 How to braid the mane and tail part 2 How to braid the mane and tail part 3

Events

Check out the Events Calendar for the latest shows and events Have an event to share? You can add it HERE

Youth Rider Spotlight

Sydney Croasmun Interview with Youth RiderSydney Croasmun Sydney resides in California and competes in a huge variety of disciplines on various breeds of horses. Although fairly new to the Andalusian breed, she has done remarkably well, winning several titles at the 2013 Western States Regional Championships. It is very rare to find a rider that not only shows in several different disciplines and breeds, but does everything well. Sydney competes in everything from Dressage to Western, Saddle Seat, Hunters and Jumpers. When not riding, she also enjoys photography and video production and has launched Sydney Croasmun Equine Photography and Equitation in Motion Equine Media Services. We wish her the best of luck in the upcoming show season and hope to see her in the show ring for years to come!

Q: When did you start showing Andalusians? Did you show other breeds before? For how long? My very first show was ETI Convention in 2010 on my older half Arabian, Trippit. I’ve shown in hunters, jumpers, gymkanah and English equitation, but never in a breed show. The first time I rode an Andalusian was in November 2012. 6 months later I started showing Fabuloso AF.

Q: When did you start riding? And how long have you been riding for now? I started riding in 2009 when I was 11 at a small family owned farm. I cleaned stalls and babysat for the occasional riding lesson, but for the most part, I learned to ride on the trails in Acton on a spunky Nationals Show Horse gelding and a lazy Quarter Horse gelding.

Q: When was your first Iberian breed show? Any special or funny stories to share about it? A: My first Iberian show was Fiesta of the Spanish Horse 2013. At the time, my trainer was 9 months pregnant and we were hoping the baby could wait until after the show! Thankfully she did! It was my first high level show and my first time showing a stallion. Fiesta was a great experience for me! I had so much fun competing in dressage, hunt seat, and country pleasure on Fabuloso AF! When we were packing up and getting ready to load up the horses, my trainer, Lauren LaVine came back from the office with a ribbon and a small box… I had won Youth High Point! It was a huge surprise and the perfect end to an amazing show!

Q: What has been the highlight of your show career so far? The highlight of my show career, honestly, has been the whole thing. I really do enjoy riding and showing and it’s rare to catch me without a smile! I’m very lucky to show on such a nice horse with such a great trainer and I’m very thankful for that. My favorite part would be a tie between getting Champion in English Equitation and the Hunt Seat Junior Exhibitor class at Western States Championships 2013! It was my last class and so far I had 4 Reserves and a Top 5. I was shocked I was there in the first place! I’ve never done well in Equitation classes, so I was expecting another Top 5,

but when they called it, it wasn’t my number. Then Reserve wasn’t me… If you can imagine, I was beyond surprised! (There’s a video of it on youtube) The most fun I’ve ever had at a show was the Hunt class though! In the last show, Fiesta, Jr was a little lazy into the hand gallop, so this being our first class, I gave him quite a bit more energy and he gave it right back. We crossed the equidome in 12 strides! It was the fastest I’ve ever gone on that horse and it was one of the greatest feelings ever.

Q: Who is your favorite horse and why? A: Fabuloso AF is defiantly my favorite! I have learned a ton from him! Coming off my quarter horse, he was a huge change. He’s very sensitive, and knows exactly when to challenge me. We always have a great time together and there’s always something to learn from him. In close 2nd would be “Grandpa” Trippit! He is the spunky half Arabian that I learned to ride on. He’s always up for a long trail ride and can still out run most horses at the age of 30! He still teaches me something new with every ride and if it wasn’t for this horse, I probably wouldn’t be riding.

Q: What are your future plans involving riding and showing? A: IALHA Nationals is a huge goal for me. Coming from being a trail rider, competing at a National show is huge for me! I don’t even care how I place… just riding there is enough for me! Until then, I’ll be mainly be competing in Intro and Training level Dressage along with Andalusian shows.

(626) 786-9475 77

FEI Dressage Rule Changes by Deborah Polec, Tracy Lynn, & Marnie Hoffman The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has made some changes to its dressage tests starting January 1st 2014. The biggest addition being two brand new tests for the “medium tour” with hopes that it will bridge the gap between Intermediare 1and Grand Prix. However, only slight changes have been made to the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, the Piaffe has been awarded a double coefficient which will highlight the strengths and talents of Iberian horses. While this seems like a minor revision, the Iberian horse could gain a full percentage in their overall of it. For us, as score because Riders and Trainers of Andalusians and Lusitanos, this gives these breeds the chance to compete on a more even playing field, being that Iberian horses excel in certain areas and other breeds may excel in others. However, if riders and trainers don’t focus on the basic training of dressage when the horse is young to develop the proper muscles and conditioning for athleticism in the dressage court, the scores will not improve. Riders and trainers must be responsible for teaching the young horse to develop all three gates. In traditional dressage the horse must be through, forward, straight and have the correct rhythm in the lower levels before it moves on to the higher levels. If the trainer isn’t responsible in training the horse to perform these steps properly, their dressage careers will be short lived. The Iberian breeds are known for having extreme talent for the collected

movements, i.e.; Piaffe, Passage and canter pirouettes. The gap between Intermediare 1 and Grand Prix has always been a big leap for many horses and riders. The addition of the A and B tests are strong indicators for the horse’s aptitude for the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, due to the frequent transitions. The new tests are challenging, however they pave the way to earning the opportunity to compete at a Grand Prix level. Some horses don’t have the ability or talent to go all the way to Grand Prix (but they may become good schoolmasters at Intermediare 1) and the medium tour will allow horses that need more time to refine their training to get to the Grand Prix levels. Tests A and B bring about some new challenges that have not yet been dealt with, one of them being the walk to Piaffe transition. Whereas, this may be easier for the Iberian horse to go from a 4 beat walk to a diagonal movement (the Piaffe) it may be challenging for other breeds. Traditionally the Iberian horses are taught collected movements like Piaffe and Passage from a young age because of their natural ability and ease. However, riders and trainers are tempted with the Iberian horse to skip the basic level training because of the talent the horse has for the higher level movements. This can also cause problems. Any horse, Iberian breeds included, will

Variations on the Gaits: never reach their full potential to complete the levels without basic dressage training. The new tests contain consecutive transitions between collected trot, extended trot and passage, unlike its precursor, Intermediare 1. None of which can be done without good basic training. This will show the proper training sequences for these movements to be executed correctly, working toward the Passage being forward and collected at the same time. Although these tests introduce more difficult movements then Intermediare 1, they allow the horse and rider the time to develop the movements correctly, instead of trying to rush through the levels when they may not be ready. The Iberian horses are so talented in collective movements; what they need to work on is their extensions, lengthenings and being truly through in their body and connected in the bridle. What riders and trainers need to be aware of is without proper basic schooling in the lower levels, they will not be able to achieve this goal and progress. If the horse is wellrounded, starting from training level to Grand Prix, he will be able to correctly perform the movements asked of him in the upper levels. These new tests should not intimidate or worry but encourage us all as trainers and riders to perfect our horse’s ability in its movements and progression up the dressage “pyramid”. Overall, we believe that the changes to the “medium tour” will allow all breeds to progress in a positive training direction and because the Iberian horses are so adept in these movements, it will allow for the opportunity to improve their scores.

We wish everyone in the Iberian horse world much success in mastering these new and challenging tests!

assage - This is a very collected, cadenced trot

that is characterized by elevated movement of the knees and hocks, as well as a defined engagement of the quarters. The toe of the raised foreleg should come to the middle of the cannon bone of the opposing foreleg. The horse should remain calmly on the bit with a raised arched neck and head close to vertical. The poll should be the highest point of the arch.

iaffe - This diagonal movement is highly collected

and cadenced as with the passage; however, it is done “in place.” The horse’s raised foreleg should again be raised to the middle of the opposing foreleg’s cannon bone. The raised hind leg’s toe should be slightly above the fetlock joint of the opposing hind leg. The piaffe should always remain lively and animated with the horse’s body moving up and down in a relaxed, supple and cadenced manner. As with passage, the horse’s neck should be arched with it’s head in the vertical position.

ounter Canter - Cantering deliberately on the lead opposing the circle direction (i.e. - right lead canter while riding a circle to the left or vice versa). This is often used to balance the horse because he is maintaining his natural flexion at the poll to the outside of the circle and positioned to the side of the leading leg.

hange of Lead - Horse is brought from a canter to a few strides of trot and then asked to canter again on the opposite leading leg.

imple Change of Lead - The horse is brought back to a walk immediately asked to show a few clearly defined walks strides and then asked to depart in canter using the opposite leading leg.

lying Change of Lead - The horse changes leading legs closely following the moment of suspension after each stride. This can also be executed every 2nd, 3rd or 4th stride, as well as when changing direction on the circle.

Provided by the Dressage Academy 79

Stallion Showcase

Fainero ADP Birthdate: 3/11/2009 Sire/Dam: Noble GF X Joya D Color: Black Height: 16.1 hands

Stud Fee: 2000.00 / PRE Mares 1000 / other

Andaluz ANG Birthdate: 6/14/2002 Sire/Dam: Jocoso XXXI X Andaluza LXXIII Color: Grey Height: 16.1 hands Stud Fee: 1700.00 / purebred

800 / other

Debitoso PM Birthdate: 15/10/2010 Sire/Dam: Divo PM X Delita PM Color: Buckskin Pearl (One of only two in the U.S.) Height: 15.3 h and growing! Stud Fee: $4000.00 / $2000.00 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Approved Mares Only

Estupendo PM Birthdate: 1/5/2008 Sire/Dam: Revoltoso XXIX X Estupena XV Color: Buckskin PRE Height: 16.2 hands Stud Fee: 2500.00 80

Fauno VP Birthdate: 6/29/2007 Sire/Dam: Dante V x Casiana Color: Buckskin PRE Stallion Height: 15.3 hands Stud Fee: 2000.00

Magiar MAC Birthdate: 2002 Sire / Dam: Legionario XIX X Palmera V Height: 16.2 Color: Grey Stud Fee: $1500/$1000

Legacy’s Conquistador Del Sol Birthdate: 3/2/2000 Sire/Dam: Ebanisto X Galuza Color: Black (homozygous) Height: 16.2 hands Stud Fee: 2500.00 / 1500.00

Ciclon VIII Birthdate: 2/4/2003 Sire/Dam: Jaranero XXVII X Limonera XXIII Color: Black Height: 16 hands Stud Fee: $1500.00 LFG

Obelisco MAC Birthdate: 1/14/2004 Sire/Dam: Clasico – MAC X Donana MAC Color: Grey Height: 16.2 hands Stud Fee: $2000 LFG 81

Peregrino De Fraile III Birthdate: 08/25/2007 Sire/Dam: Utebo II X Peregrina de Fraile Color: Grey Height: 16.2 hands Stud Fee: 2500.00 LFG

Vaquarius CD Birthdate: 06/12/2002 Lusitano Stallion Sire/Dam: Quarteto do Top X Rainha E Color: Rose Grey Height: 16.0 Hands Stud Fee: $1500 pure bred/ $1000.00 part bred

Zutano EDA Birthdate: 1/27/07 Sire: Dominante XIXX Qualified X Santana MHF Color: Bay Height: 17 hands Stud Fee: $2000/$1000 part bred

Bocelli Birthdate: 7/2/2005 Sire/Dam: Camaron IX x Anarosa De Teodoro Color: Bay PRE Stallion Height: 16.3 hands Stud Fee: $1500 Pure Andalusian/$800 Non-Andalusian

Faralay II Birthdate: 4/2004 Sire/Dam: Ebanisto X Galuza Color: Bay Height: 16.2 hands Stud Fee: Contact for 2013 Fees 82

Glorioso YR

Birthdate: 05/27/2009 Sire/Dam:Romerito II x Fantasia PMF Color: Black (E/E, a/a) Height: 16.2 hands Stud Fee: $1,750 Purebred / $900 outcross

El Rey Sol – aka “Chacal”

Birthdate: January 3, 1997 Registry: IALHA Registered Pure Spanish/Portuguese Sire/Dam:Mosquetero Del Viento x Faranoa II Color: Heterozygous Gray Height: 16.1 hands Stud Fee: $1,600 Purebred / $1000 Out

El Chupacabra

Birthdate: 2007 Sire/Dam: Sandokan X Mitotera MA Color: Grey Height: 16 hands Stud Fee: 1500.00 / purebred 750 / other

Son JIM

Birthdate: 2010 Sire/Dam: Remador II X Zorzalena V Color: Grey Height: 16.o hands

Stud Fee: 1500.00 / PRE Mares 900 / other

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by Antonio Topete Diaz

Trick Training

itting, kneeling, laying down, counting, solving math problems, acting shameful, praying, posing for pictures, answering questions etc. These are just some of the many tricks a horse can learn to give his human friends joy, happiness and a form of entertainment. If you have had the opportunity to watch a trick horse perform; whether it was on television, in a circus, or in a training facility, you cannot deny that it takes a high level of dedication to achieve the training of tricks with a horse. Trick training is one thing, and High School (airs above the ground) is another, and we must be careful not to confuse the two.

Just as in a human’s education, a student must first attend a low level school, kinder, elementary, middle school, and finally high school Let us talk a little about this. First of all, High School means just like the name says; High School, or a High Level of Schooling. Just as in a human’s education, a student must first attend a low level school, kinder, elementary, middle school, and finally high school. Then the student graduates to his or her career through a university or the like. Likewise a horse must learn to be handled in and out of his stall, to be groomed and cared for, to be backed and directed, etc., until one day the horse will graduate and go to his University where he will be specialized in Dressage, Bull Fighting, Working Equitation, Circus performances or High School. So, with this in mind trick training cannot be called High School because proper application does not require a high level of school for the horse, nor does it require as much experience on the part of the handler. A High School horse and handler must both have a high level of educa education. For a horse to reach High School, he must be a minimum of six to ten years of age, and he must have a minimum of three to six years of training. The trick training horse can start his/ her training from birth and it could continue for the rest of his life, or end after a single trick learned hence the term “a one trick pony”. Now that we know the difference, let us turn our focus back to trick training. As previously stated, the horse can begin to learn tricks almost from birth, starting of course with simple tricks and working its way to more 84

intricate and complicated tricks. The benefits of teaching tricks (in my opinion) outweigh the disadvantages, but only when done systematically and with a set goal in mind for the future of the foal. For example; when at play, if a young horse shows potential for high school work or classical dressage, I do not even think of teaching a Spanish Walk until the horse has learned all of its basic and intermediate work, for fear of interfering with the natural gaits that nature has given such a horse. I can however, teach a Polka which will help me teach other tricks in the future if I wish to do so, which gives a naturally stiff horse a bit more freedom of the shoulder. In the same way, I like to teach a young baby to sit on my lap, or to sit on a bale of hay for example because I will use this in the future so that in motion I ask for the same horse to sit down and give me a sliding stop, or to sit on his/her haunches during the forward impulsion of the trot. Almost every trick we teach to a horse can lead us to more complicated tricks or it is nothing more than a representation of what the horse already does by

nature. For example, a horse already knows how to kneel down. He does this every time he feels like he wants to roll to rid himself of sweat, or when he is itching on the withers and can’t scratch himself with ease. The Stallion, when he fights with his brother in the wild, will bite his brother’s knees to ask for submission, the younger or less dominant stallion goes down on one knee to show submission. The broodmare in the field that gets bitten by a mosquito shakes her head to rid herself of such discomfort. We in turn use these natural behaviors to teach a horse to say no, or on the contrary to say yes. The gelding in his stall paws the gate when the barn manager shows up to feed. Hence the talent showed for Spanish walk, Jambett/Spanish Greeting, counting, solving math problems ect. The horse that is trying to reach the grass on the other side of the fence kneels down and stretches his head forward. This talent can be converted into a camel stretch or to teach the horse to pray. We teach a horse tricks to rid him of boredom from the everyday working routine. For horses that are very high strung and learn easily distracted, learning tricks can be a form of reward after a comcom plex lesson on flying changes, or piaffe for example. In contrast, those horses that may be a bit more lethargic and are prone to be more difficult to teach, I use the training of tricks to awaken in them the desire to please their rider and thus become more exer apt to learn exercises that would be difficult for them otherwise. If given enough time, I like to incorporate the training of

tricks with classical dressage, and Spanish doma vaquera for a more complete method of both mental and physical endurance, strength, stamina, and soundness much like some masters of the past were accustomed to, such as Nuno Oliveira, Angel Peralta, and James Fillis to name just a few. In training a young horse, or any horse for that matter, we must be sure we know exevery actly what we are doing. Trick training, just like everything else, is an art form of some sort which could do more harm than good if done without responsibility and a clear knowledge of what the horse’s future might be like. None of us can say for sure what a horse will be good at just by watching him play, although some have a very accurate eye, which is a gift. As we said before, training a horse to perform tricks cannot be confused with high school which is an art form in itself and which is more closely related to classical dressage than trick training. Trigger, the famous Palomino mount of Roy Rogers was clearly a wonderful example of the art of trick training and just like him, many others have been able to train their horses with tricks without disturbing their end goal. In closing, friends, trick training is nothing more than a way to have fun with our horses, and for our horses to stay fresh in their training and learning life, the level of tricks depends in large part on the level of our own skill and imagination, and the way we take advantage of these tricks is also only limited by our experience and the kind of training we have personally had.

Antonio Topete Diaz

is a rider, trainer and clinician of the classical forms of riding from Spain, trained by a Classical Master of the Spanish Riding School in Classical Dressage, and by other masters of various equine disciplines including mounted bull fighting (rejoneo), trick training, doma vaquera, alta escuela, and polo. Antonio also comes from a long line of horsemen, riders, bull fighters, military cavalry men, cowboys, and saddle makers. The author of a book in Spanish, entitled “El Caballo De Baile” in which he explains the do’s and dont’s of piaffe training. The book is directed towards Latino horse trainers, to provide a better education, and to reduce abuse and wrongful training in horses.

PRE National Horse Show

Celebration 2013 by Barb Clark Ultimate P.R.E. Challenge Winner Congratulations to Favorita CCLII, the sole Ultimate P.R.E. Challenge winner for 2013, owned and bred by Ariel Martinez of Rancho El Encanto. Favorita was the only horse to win a major category at both The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse 2013 National Celebration Show held in Santa Barbara, CA and at the Feria del Caballo Espa単ol held the following weekend at City of Industry, CA. This magnificent gray P.R.E. filly caught the eyes of four judges to win her title. Congratulations to Ariel Martinez for producing such a spectacular horse that is American Bred! Exhibitors came to Santa Barbara, CA from all over the USA to participate in The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse National Celebration 2013 show. People brought horses from Oregon, Illinois, and even from Wyoming! The performance division highlighted the talent the P.R.E. horse has for versatility with classes in Carriage Driving, Western Riding, Western Equitation, Prix Caprilli, Ranch Pleasure, Dressage Suitability, Fantasy Costume, Doma Vaquera, and Native Tack and Attire.

In addition to all this we also had a triple rated Dressage and Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Show judged by the famous Hilda Gurney. The In-Hand (morphology) competition had spectacular horses representing the breed. The Champion Stallion award was won by Ciclon IX, a magnificent dark colored P.R.E. horse, bred in Spain and owned by Rancho El Encanto. The Champion Mare was Hilandera II, also owned by Rancho El Encanto. Are you sensing a trend? Rancho El Encanto also won the coveted Best Exhibitor award because of the quality of horses Dr. Martinez brought to the show. The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse would like to congratulate him for his unwavering dedication to produce excellent examples of the breed. It is through this type of commitment and attention to detail that improves the breed. Our congratulations also go to Ami McHugh of Jackass Mountain Ranch, whose horses were well represented in the awards arena too. Her horse Denali AK won the coveted prize of Absolute Champion of Functionality and also Reserve Champion Stallion. Her colt Kilimanjaro AK won Champion Colt and Adult Champion of movement (3 year old stallions compete in the Adult Movement category) and then went on to win Absolute Champion of Movement in hand. Jr. Champion of movement in hand and the Get of Stallion awards went to two more Jackass Mountain Ranch horses, Kalypso AK and Kianto, respectively. Congratulations, Ami MacHugh and Jackass Mountain Ranch! To view some of the thousands of photos and relive the fun please visit the following URL: http://prehorse.org/Horse_Shows/results.lasso On Saturday evening the show culminated with exhilarating performances during the Extravaganza expertly managed by Sharon Hittner from Blue Moon P.R.E. Ranch. The audience was treated to beautiful riding demonstrations as well as operatic singing performances. Medieval Times never fails to astonish the audience with their dramatic costumes and expert horsemanship.

National Celebration 2013 was not just a show for horses! Everyone who came to the popular event was a huge winner because of the parties, awards, seminars, and good-natured fun that dominated the space in between classes. One of the show highlights for even Celebration show veterans was the “learn to drive a P.R.E.” impromptu experience provided by Howard Peet. Every day about 4:00 pm Howard harnessed a beautiful P.R.E. gelding and provided free driving lessons for anyone on the show grounds who wanted to learn. The beaming smiles on the faces of judges, exhibitors, members of the public, and even the newest Foundation staff member were Howard’s reward. It was hard to tell who had the most fun! Seminars were held when there were no classes so that everyone could attend. Fernando Pique from Yeguada Pique Angel and Colonel Zapatero presented an informative talk about the Cría Caballar breeding and selection program. They provided information new to their audience of veteran P.R.E. enthusiasts. Dr. Alberto Rojas gave a fascinating presentation about how to look at a P.R.E. using his book published in 2012. Howard Peet demonstrated how to show a P.R.E. in a morphological class using the magic techniques he learned in Spain. Manuel Trigo did double duty and spoke first about new rules for Doma Vaquera and Alta Escuela, both sports that are gaining popularity in the USA. Then he also explained the concept of riding in lightness and his new popular lightness tournament. Seminar attendees were then treated to a photo presentation of the beautiful horses appearing in the newest book by Spanish expert photographer and Flamenco Dancer, Paco Rey. Orders for the newest book are being taken now by The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse. Call 505.294.0800 to order yours. Many awards were given out at the Annual Meeting, which was broadcast live over the web by Andalusianworld.com during National Celebration. The King Felipe II International Award for extraordinary service went to Dr. Alberto Rojas for his many years of devotion to the P.R.E. Breed. The King Felipe II award for domestic service to the breed went to Esther Con-

way for her many years on the Registry Oversight Committee for the P.R.E. Mundial Registry and the help she regularly provides to breeders. Trainer, rider and Coach Jutta Heinsohn was awarded the Champion of the Breed Award for all she has done to showcase how talented the P.R.E. Horse is in the dressage arena. Kip Mistral was recognized with an award for producing THE P.R.E. HORSE magazine and taking it to another level of excellence and professionalism. Linda Nickerson was given a Friend of The Foundation Award for her contribution of graphic arts expertise. The many sponsors and volunteers who worked so hard and provided exceptional services to make the 2013 National Celebration such a success were also publicly thanked. First time exhibitor Cali Tanguay of Dancing C Ranch said “Most of all, Celebration 2013 was a fantastic learning experience. An excellent opportunity for my horse to be exposed to this environment but even more so for me to gain a better hands-on understanding about the P.R.E. breed and those who actively participate in its promotion (trainers) and breeding circles. Of course once you are in love with an Andalusian, it is dedication that is bound to last a lifetime…..and it is a wonderful thing to know that a team of people such as those at The Foundation, made up of people who love, respect, and understand this amazing breed are there to support us in our adventures as we grow and learn.” She also commented “As this was the first show for Quitasueña KDF and I, we were exceptionally nervous… and we need not to have been. You and your team went way out of your way to make us feel comfortable.” Show Chair Maria O’Brien made it her principal mission to make the show so festive that it felt like a constant celebration. There was a party every night after the conclusion of the classes and everyone had a great time socializing and relaxing. Job well done Maria! We can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next year! Celebration Show Results HERE!

Taking a look at...

Historical Sires Legionario III is arguably one of the finest, and certainly one of the most famous

Andalusian stallions to set foot on North America in the history of the breed. But, who was he? Who bred him? Bred by the acclaimed Terry Stud in Spain, Legionario was a magnificent gray Cartujano boasting some of the finest bloodlines we have ever seen in the breed. He was born in 1966, at a time when Spain (which at the time was controlled by its last Dictator, Francisco Franco) was just beginning to reconsider its policy forbidding the exportation of its horses. The Terry family was a dynasty of Irish-Spanish brandy makers, whose horses and brandy were both considered the gold standard in Europe in the 20th century. The Terry’s famously took over the world renowned Carthusian brand, adding a “c” for Consuela Terry, and picked up the torch that the Carthusian monks had passed to them. Today, Terry horses are practically synonymous with Cartujano bloodlines. How did he come to the US? Legionario III was one of the first Andalusian horses to be permitted to leave Spain, though there was considerable resistance to his leaving. Purchased as a two-year-old by Greg Garrison, an agreement was forged; he would only come to the US after one year of showing at all the major shows in Europe. After a successful year of winning many prizes and trophies, suddenly he became “unavailable” and the deal was in peril. Before a major lawsuit developed, he was covertly whisked away to France and then Mexico City where he was cared for by Enrique Alvarez, before finally arriving at the Garrison Ranch in California in 1971. Why was he so special? Legionario was truly the epitome of the true Carthusian horse, and there have been very few horses of his caliber in the US since. He was a Champion in Spain, but was not shown in the US due to an injury. performHowever, he appeared in countless exhibitions, and was a perform er in the Rose Parade for 15 years! He sired 32 fillies and 22 colts, and was producing offspring right up until his death at age 27. Hundreds of horses can trace their lineage directly back to Legionario III. He was also the inspiration for the very first Breyer Andalusian model horse, named (of course) Legionario III. Truly, this one of a kind stallion paved the way for the Andalusian breed to blossom in the US, and his incredible legacy is very much alive.

Historical Sires

sin Andalusianworld would like to extend its most sincere thanks to Pat Garrison for providing us with the story of her special friend, Legionario III.

Legionario III 90

Rope Halters Rope halters have been around for a long time and are a good alternative to traditional halters since there are no buckles or snaps to break or bend. Learning how to properly tie a rope halter will always allow you to loosen the halter if your horse pulls the knot down tight and show you how to keep the tail of the halter from poking your horse in the eye, which I am 100% sure your horse will appreciate. Steve Kutie from Kutie Performance Horses demonstrates how to properly ties a rope halter.

Working Equitation Clinics December 7 & 8 was a weekend of fun and education for attendees of two clinics, one held in Georgia and one in Southern California. The clinic in Southern Georgia was hosted by Working Equitation Georgia and was ex explained as wet, cold and wonderful! Eight riders and fifteen auditors braved the elements to learn what Working Equitation is about from clinician Tiago Ernesto. cur Tiago graduated from the Portuguese School of Equestrian Arts with honors and is currently employed as a trainer at Haras Dos Cavaleiros. The clinic brought together riders and horses of different breeds, styles of riding and experience levels. Participants left the clinic with new skills, a better understanding of what is required to compete in Working Equitation and had fun in the process. Thank you to clinic organizers: Malinda Edwards de Mata, Pablo Mato of PM Bishop Farms and Jill Glasspool Malone, PhD, of Cielo Azure Lusitanos. Working Equitation Georgia, LLC hopes to have another event soon and is planning a show for the fall of 2014.

AndalusianWorld.com sponsored two Introduction to Working Equitation clinics in Southern California, with people traveling from as far away as Utah to attend. Barbara Price hosted the December 7th clinic at Torre Pinon Farms in Valley Center, CA. AlAl though the weather wasn’t ideal, the riders and auditors learned the basics of Working Equitation from clinician Julie Alonzo. Saul’s Andalusians and Peet Equestrian hosted the clinic the following day at their facility in Mira Loma, CA. There were a large number of Iberian horses in attendance, as well as an Arab and Appaloosa. Riders and horses from many different backgrounds, from polished show combinations to trail and endurance riders, had the opportunity to practice their Working Equitation skills. Julie’s excellent demonstrations and power point presentation gave the participants and auditors a great base to start their Working Equitation adventures. A second clinic and / or schooling show in Southern California is in the Face works. Check the AndalusianWorld.com website or Facebook Page for announcements. This second clinic will be great practice for the Andalusian World Cup Show, September 25 – 27 2014 at Southpoint Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, which will be offering Working Equitation. This competition is open to all breeds and a saddle will be awarded to the highest scoring Working Equitation team, donated by Iberian Connection. 92

There will be two WEIAUSA Judge Training Seminars and Clinics (with clinician Jorge de Sousa) held in 2014. Spring Session March 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 16, Haras dos Cavaleiros, Magnolia, TX (near Houston) Summer session (July, August, or September) in the Pacific Northwest Either Eugene or Sisters, Oregon Cost, TBD For more information on these clinics, or about Working Equitation, visit: For more information on Working Equitation, visit: www.facebook.com/WEIAUSA

Happy Ending

Just over a year ago, performers of Valitar (an equestrian circus type show) arrived back at the San Diego location after a weekend off to find horses and tack missing. They were notified by text message that after only a few performances, the show was being cancelled. Many of the performers (and their horses) were left stranded, having traveled across the country to be a part of the Valitar show. They had not been paid in the weeks lead-ing up to the cancellation of the show and did not have the means to make it “home”, wherever that may be. Not only were the performers and their horses abandoned, but some of the horses owned by the show were also left with nowhere to go. With feed and supplies running out, Del Mar Fairgrounds stepped in to give emergency temporary food, water and shelter to the horses. The community of San Diego rallied to find housing for the displaced performers. Many businesses and private citizens worked together to help raise money to feed and house the performers, both human and equine. Eventually, the perform performers banded together, renamed the show Liberté and held a fundraiser Dec 8th. The performance raised enough money to get the remaining performers and their animals home. Equustria, the company formed by Mark Remley to produce the Valitar show, declared bankruptcy on Dec 14th 2012. Of the reported fifty four horses used or involved in the show, over half were owned by Remley and / or Equustria. There was a huge dispute over horses owned by Mr. Remley personally and horses owned by Equustria. While this was all being ironed out, the horses were left waiting, held in bankruptcy court at a facility in Lakeside, CA. Over a course of months, the horses, along with equipment were sold in a series of auctions. Juan Pablo (registered as Son JIM) was one of the last of the Equustria assets to be auctioned in early August 2013. He waited eight long months to find a new home and caring owner. Melissa Beck filled us in on how she came to own this stallion she has named Juan Pablo… Q: How did you find out he was being offered at the auction? A: I have been interested in the Valitar situation since last fall. I am on the board of the Del Mar Charity Fair Horse

Show and a group of us had tickets to see one of the performances last November. I was unable to attend since we had horses competing at the American Royal during that time, but I found out about the cancelled performances and bankruptcy. I know several people who graciously helped out at the fair grounds when the performers and horses were abandoned. I had read that the performers and the horses belonging to those performers had been returned to their homes, but I knew the remaining horses belonging to the Remleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, who owned Valitar, were going to be more difficult to help. I just kept an eye out for any information on the horses or updates on the situation. I had heard rumors that there would be an auction, and then I saw some information on Facebook about it. I decided that I needed to see for myself what kind of condition the horses were in. Q: Were you able to see him before the auction began? A: Yes. The preview was Monday and the auction was Tuesday. I talked two friends of mine into going with me to look at the horses. My intention was to see if there was anything that would make a nice trail horse, but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go necessarily with the intention of purchasing a horse. However, once we got there, and I saw the Andalusian stallion, I was in love. I called a local vet, and he met us there so I could better assess the horse. Q: Did you go there and bid on him in person, or did you have someone go on your behalf? A: The auction was about 2 hours from where I live, so I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to go back the next day. I bid online. Q: What made you decide to purchase him? A: Well, it was definitely not a well thought out plan! There was just an instant connection with him. He was so majestic, but a little sad. I just wanted to help him. I have always liked Andalusians. My first job out of college was in France, and some business acquaintances let me ride their Andalusian mare on the trail. Her name was Tequila, and we had an amazing time galloping through the French countryside! I also had the opportunity to see the Iberian horses perform at Chateau Cham Chambord, which was wonderful! I have liked the breed ever since. Q: Do you own other Andalusians? A: Well, I have since purchased another Andalusian stallion. We currently also raise and show American Saddlebreds and Morgans at the world and national level.

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Q: How old is he? A: I believe he is 12. Q: Do you know much of his history? A: I knew nothing about him when I purchased him. After contacting Meghan Holt, I found out much more about him. Apparently, his name is GuiterSon JIM, and he is a registered PRE stallion. According to Maureen Guiter rez, he was a nice horse when the Remley’s purchased him about a year and a half ago, and he has had some nice colts. He was a breeding stallion at Rancho Sol Del Pacifico and then owned by Lorrene Norris. Not knowing he had a registered name, we decided to call him “Juan Pablo” after the good-looking Latin soccer player from The Bachelorette. Q: What are your future plans for him? Do you plan to show him? A: I am going to let Juan Pablo tell us what he wants to do. We are hoping to show him in western pleasure this year. Meghan has done a wonderful job of getting him in shape and being patient with him. We recently had him collected at Giacapuzzi’s vet clinic. He is very well bred, so we will also stand him at stud. Thus far, his abilities have completely surprised me. Both my daughter and I have ridden him and are enjoying his entertaining personality! He has exceeded my expectations so much at this point that I am just delighted! We wish Juan Pablo the best of luck in his new home and hope he brings many years of joy to his new owner, Melissa.

Q&A

Teaching Your Horse to Spin, it’s EASIER Than You Think.

I’m trying to figure out how to teach my horse to spin, what is the easiest way to get them started? I’ve been having trouble with them wanting to suck back and hop with their front end and not staying on their inside pivot foot.

I’m sure that everyone has seen a reining horse spinning like a top and thought “How did they teach them to do that”? To be truthful the spin is really simple and easy to teach if you follow a few simple steps. The spin is just a basic cross over step done multiple times. The first thing that we need to think is that the spin is a maneuver that has to be done with forward impulsion.

The key to teaching your horse to cross their outside leg over their inside leg is to keep the forward motion The thought I have is that we are going to work on controlling the shoulders; I tend to not worry about the position of the hips or pivot foot, as it will tend to take care of itself as the horse learns to cross over and move their shoulders. I personally don’t think a horse has to keep his inside pivot foot planted in one spot without picking it up. If a horse is driving forward and moving their shoulders correctly, I think that sometimes they need to reposition their foot. I by no means want a horse to be swapping ends and doing a belly spin. The key to teaching your horse to cross their outside leg over their inside leg is to keep the forward motion. Watch the outside shoulder leg and every time it steps under your outside leg say “Step”, As the horse’s outside leg is under your outside leg it is in the perfect position to influence the next step, which will be a forward cross over step, with the horse’s outside or right leg crossing over their inside left leg. By using this “Step” theory, we ask our horse to step over one step and then push them forward and back out onto a ten foot circle. We then just keep repeating the sequence of steps until our horse is willingly crossing over one step and then walking them out. Now we ask for two cross over steps and again push our horse out onto a ten foot circle. Keep repeating the sequence so that we will have our horse willingly spinning. The aids and positioning for the spin are the same as the aids we use while circling (see sidebar). Our outside leg is back by the rear cinch helping to drive the horse forward and holding their hips to the inside of the circle. Our inside leg is at the front girth holding the shape of our small circle. As you release your inside leg, it allows your horse to step over into the spin, rather than staying on the circle. Our outside rein is pressed against the horse’s neck, NOT PULLED ACROSS THE CENTER LINE. Pulling the outside rein across the center of the horse’s neck will cause them to tip their nose to the outside of the spin and drop their shoulder to the inside. Our inside rein will be slightly lifted to help position the horses nose to the inside of the spin. Remember this sequence will take some time and will not happen overnight or in a couple of days, be patient and focus on making small steps everyday, your horse will thank you. Sidebar: While we are walking our horse on a ten foot circle to the left, we need to have the horse’s body following the shape of the circle, our outside leg is driving our horse forward while your inside leg is maintaining the position of our horses ribs by keeping the arc of the circle and not letting them drop their shoulder into the circle. As we continue to drive our horse forward we turn our upper body slightly toward the inside of the circle as if we have eyes on our chest, this will naturally help to put our bodies in the correct position. Hand Position

As always; Ride Hard, Be Safe and Have Fun. www.stevekutie.com

Regional Champion Pure Spanish Andalusian at Stud

El Chupacabra

Sandokan x Mitotera MA

Inqui For S

ries I

ale -

Priva

nvited

te Tr eaty

Stud Fees 1500 Purebred 750 Others

- Shannon Pagliuso - 951-203-5457 - johpag2001@aol.com 98

El Rey S l

National Champion S/P Andalusian Stud Fees: 1600 Purebred 1000 Outcross Samantha Kirkeby 1(310) 505 - 0676

16.1 h Heterozygous Gray AI Only Live Foal Guarantee IALHA Registered S/P

Mosquetero Del Viento x Faranoa II

- National Titles in Halter & Saddle Seat - Trained in Alta Escuela 99

Amateur Spotlight Amateur Rider Profile: Kim Johan – Nass Photo Credits: Flagtwet Photography and Rob Hess

Kim Johan – Nass grew up in Woodside, CA riding every day after school and during the summers. After spending time being a wife, mother of three (and grandmother of four) she finally got the opportunity to rekindle her love for horses in 2006. She began taking lessons and was soon back into horses in full force. She feels blessed with a great family, even though they are not horse people, they understand her passion and try not to get offended if she schedules visits and phone calls around horse events. Two horses, two dogs and two cats also help to make up her family, with the cats occasionally using the horses as cat beds! Kim now resides in McArthur, CA and purchased Vendito RJ, her first Andalusian about a year and a half ago. She was so smitten, she recently added another Andalusian to her “herd”. The best compliment she has ever received was when she volunteered to help paint the outfield signs for little league and the person in charge remarked to her husband “She’s a machine!”. She gives 100% at whatever she does, evidenced by her making the 200 mile round trip drive to take dressage lessons.

Q: How long have you been involved in the breed and how did you become involved? A: I have only been involved with the breed since purchasing Vendito RJ, so for about 18 months. My dressage trainer recommended this breed as a way to progress up the levels in dressage. And after working with Vendito, I bought another Andalusian last week. Q:When did you start showing and what has been the highlight of your show career so far? A: I started showing a little, (a couple of shows a year,) in 2006. But I have taken Vendito to four recognized shows since owning him, and have been having a great time in the process. We’ve also done a few schooling shows and play days just for fun. I have done some triple rated dressage shows in the past, but never done anything in the scope of Fiesta or Regionals - wow! I hope to make these shows annual events. I would say the highlight of our show career, so far, would be the training, cross-training and growth we experience in our day to day work. Having the breed shows gives us a goal and fun outlet for all our hard work. Q: What is your opinion on what can be done to encourage more people to participate in breed shows? A: I would love to do more shows if they were closer. I have to travel over to get to a breed show, so for me, that is the biggest issue. I suspect I am (even 400 miles is a lot easier to travel). have received from people has been phenomenal, but the show schedule

600 miles not an isolated case Once at the show the help that I can be intimidating. The scheduling doesn’t allow you to enter all the classes you want, especially if you are showing alone and have to prepare your own horse and yourself. Sometimes there are almost impossible tack/attire changes, so that can be pretty intimidating. 100

The scheduling doesn’t allow you to enter all the classes you want, especially if you are showing alone and have to prepare your own horse and yourself. Sometimes there are almost impossible tack/attire changes, so that can be pretty intimidating. It bears repeating, the staff, volunteers and gate personnel are the BEST! Q: How do you find Andalusians compared with

other breeds you have ridden?

A: After having Vendito, I am sold on this breed! He is smart, talented, willing, athletic and so versatile! I cannot say enough nice things about this horse. And from seeing more of the breed at a couple of the shows … this seems to be the breed standard. After having so much fun with him over the last 18 months, I just bought another! Q: What is your ultimate goal with your horse? A: I love dressage, and will continue with that, going up the levels as we can. But having Vendito has opened new avenues to enjoy, like Doma Vaquera … so I think the sky’s the limit… Q: Besides showing, what other types of things do

you do with your horse?

A: We trail ride, doing some advanced trail challenges up the mountain. We clean the woods at home, this involves breaking and piling large branches, knocking over and dragging dead trees. We have ‘played’ with cows and Vendito loves it, so I will look for more of those opportunities. We have also participated in play days … he is such a fun horse, and enjoys whatever we do - we’re up for just about anything!

We look forward to seeing Kim and her horses at the dressage and breed shows next year!

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Sales Horse Spotlight “I listed my mare on AndalusianWorld.com and she sold within a month. I didn’t have to deal with any of the hassle associated with selling. I was very happy with their professional and prompt customer service and am overjoyed that my mare went to a great home. I highly recommend the AndalusianWorld.com for listing your horse!” ~Corona Real Show Horses

Xar Pei V.O.

HUGE variety of disciplines! Birthdate: 10/12/2002 Color: Palomino Height: 15.2 Price: $ 25,000.00 Registration: IALHA & PSL Location: California

Diamante XLIII

High School Trained Birthdate: 7/10/03 Color: Black Height: 16.1 Price: $ 60000.00 Registration:ANCCE Revised Location: California

Tio Pepe TA

Res Champ 1st Level Dressage Birthdate: 4/21/2006 Color: Grey Height: 15.3 Price: $ 15,000.00 FIRM Registration: IALHA Location: California

Novillera XXIII

Buckskin PRE in foal Birthdate: 2007 Color:Buckskin Height: 16 Price: $ 70000.00 Registration:ANCCE Location: So. California 102

SFA Zaphora

Romero Benitez Bloodlines Birthdate: 6/12/2013 Color: Grey Height: Price: $12,500 Registration:ANCCE Pending Location: Illinois

Heroico TFA

Huge Dressage Potential Birthdate: 2010 Color: Grey Height: 16.0 Price: $25,000 Registration:ANCCE Revised Location: Minnesota

Sierra Rose

Schooling 3rd Level Birthdate: 6/28/2004 Color: Bay Height: 16.3 Price: $19,500.00 Registration:ANCCE Revised Location: British Columbia, Canada

Nicholasa III

VERY well Bred! Birthdate: 2012 Color: Bay Height: 15.0 Price: $15,000 Registration:ANCCE Location: Minnesota

Janto JV

Great Price! Birthdate: 2013 Color: Grey Height: Price: $7,500 Registration: IALHA Eligable Location: So. California

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H idden P ond F arm

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