Atlanta Horse Connections - 11th Issue

Katya Manjossova Creative Director Katya is an award winning graphic designer, who is very passionate about design and horses. She is very active in equestrian product development market. Katya has started several successful brands for the equine industry and helped many companies to market their products and services.

Katya was born in Russia, where she successfully competed as a junior rider in show jumping, training at the Olympic Complex - Bitsa in the heart of Moscow. She was invited to study in the USA in 1991, and consequently has made this her home.

Originally from England, and a 3rd generation equestrian. At the age of 5 began riding and continued with her love of horses. She moved to USA in 1985, and has lived west of Atlanta since 1999 with her 2 daughters Joanne and Jacqueline, and with her partner Mike since 2007. Their home is a farm in Villa Rica that offers boarding and training. Both daughters are avid Eventers, and Penny has joined Chattahoochee Hills Eventing as one of the organizers for the International 3 star event in May. Her background is engineering, design and advertising sales. She is very excited to join Katya Manjossova in taking City Horse Connections around the country bringing together all equestrians of all disciplines.

CITY HORSE CA

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Penny Morse Managing Director, Sales and Editor

Atlanta Horse Connections magazine is now a part of City Horse Connections an equestrian network bringing equine world together, one city at the time ...

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About the Publishers:

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...more locations are coming - get connected...

For more information or to request a media kit Please contact us at 770-316-8655 /atlantahorseconnections

All articles and pictures are owned and copyrighted by City Horse Connections, a subsidiary of JJP Group, Katya Manjossova, and Penelope Morse.

Reproduction of copyrighted material, without prior permission of the copyright owner, is illegal according to 17 U.S.C. Reproductions of copyright materials apply not only to traditional works such as books, photographs, drawings, etc., but also digital media such as music, movies and software.

what’s inside...

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HUNTER JUMPER

Closing the Discipline Gap

by Harrison Ford • www.hillfordfarmga.com Villa Rica, GA Making the Right Connection

by Jack Flowers Milton, GA

LOCAL NEWS

Philanthropic Gifts Made This Dream Come True!

by June Brewer • www.GAHORSEEVENTS.com Kennesaw, Georgia

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S White Stable From Our Friends in Ukraine

Taken For a Rde in Greece - Part 2 Foreign Judge In Romania

by Carolyn, FEI International Jumping Judge

EVENTING

It’s All About The Ears

by Clayton Fredericks Recognized or Schooling?

by Penny Morse

DRESSAGE

Relax into Winter

By Yvonne Barteau KYB Dressage

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WESTERN

Western Dressage - Winter Wonderland?

Wondering What to Work on in the Winter Wonths?

by Cheryl Pritchard Winter can be fun?

By Heather Johnson • Ringgold, GA

EVENTS

Riding Aside

by Stephanie Hutcherson www.georgialadiesaside.com

ART AND E N T E R TA I N M E N T

What do you remember about your wedding? www.bridalhorse.com Art by Zan Economopoulos Made You Look Jewelry by Dana Clark

WELLNESS

Healing with Magna Wave

By Megan Gosch, Gainesville Florida Can My Horse Be Used in Therapeutic Riding?

By Sara Tradewell, COTA/L PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Closing the discipline gap HUNTER JUMPER

by Harrison Ford • www.hillfordfarmga.com Villa Rica, GA

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For my first article, I want to discuss an issue that I am faced with regularly in the equestrian industry, an issue that I want to work on overcoming: Discipline biases.

We’ve all heard or expressed them. Here are a few that I’ve encountered lately: “Hunters are drugged automatons with clueless passenger riders who perch in a two-point and can’t wait to hop off and throw the reins at a groom;”“Dressage riders are Europhile perfectionists whose horses must have blue blood and passports, and their primary concern is keeping their $500 white breeches absolutely pristine;” “Eventers are adrenaline junky, do-it-yourself-ers, careening around hell-bent for leather on $1,500 OTTBs while bragging about surviving their latest rotational fall.”

While obviously these are gross exaggerations, such stereotypes are quite prevalent, and carrying them prevents us from appreciating what each discipline offers and considering that we might be able to learn a lot from each other.

For the past 12 years, I have operated a hunter-jumper training business which has stood out as somewhat of a rarity in a locale that is heavily populated by eventers, dressage riders, and fox hunters. In that time, I have had numerous calls from riders in the eventing world who were referred to me for specialized assistance in cleaning up their stadium rounds.

First lets take a moment to consider some fundamental trends I see within these two disciplines:

HUNTER/JUMPERS

We instill in our beginners, who often start as young children on school ponies, the importance of a steady, metronome-like rhythm which they count out loud while learning how to adjust their turn, approach, and straightness to poles set on the ground as imaginary jumps. Actual jumps are added only after these fundamentals are firmly established, and they may spend several years showing in the hunter ring over fences under 3’. As teens, they then graduate into the equitation divisions where they must demonstrate more advanced flatwork such as extension, collection, counter canter, shoulder-in, lead changes on a straight line, etc. while negotiating courses up to 3’9”. The riders who continue upward graduate into the junior jumper ring where all of their previous work culminates in the ability to successfully navigate clear rounds over very technical courses at 1.20-1.40 meter heights.

I would love for more hunter-jumper riders to get back to the roots of the sport and experience what it takes to develop a green horse. I think an appreciation of the amount of commitment, time, and effort needed to develop a seasoned mount is essential to understanding the complexity of our sport, and I encourage riders to consider bringing along a youngster with the help of a competent trainer.

HUNTER JUMPER

By this stage in the game, these riders are typically on their fourth or fifth mount, having owned or ridden multiple horses suitable for their changing abilities over the years. In the hunter-jumper world, we are blessed with a network that provides many seasoned school and show horses with a wealth of experience. These horses maintain a useful niche as learning mounts as they age and move back down the ranks. Annual leases of experienced veterans are popular, and allow kids

to gain experience without worrying about outgrowing a horse or pony in their size or ability. The drawback is that we can fall into the trap of fast-tracking an ambitious rider by purchasing or leasing the “next model” every time he or she hits a plateau to compensate for the time and practice it necessarily takes to create a horse of the next level. Here is where the stereotype of the “auto-pilot horse with the big price tag” has a grain of truth. Our young riders are encouraged when possible to choose a mount with more experience who is over-qualified for the task at hand, so they can focus on building their own skills as a rider without the additional struggle of training issues with the horse. Often this results in riders with extensive and impressive horse show records who simply cannot handle a green-broke youngster. It is a trade off, and one that I admit needs addressing. But when the rider’s goals are performance oriented, i.e. “I want to qualify for National Pony Finals or build a resume that gets me a scholarship to ride in college,” these are considerations we have to make.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Usually these are riders who have accomplished a great deal through sheer grit and determination but while ascending the levels of competitions have invariably reached a point where they realize that is not enough to keep the stadium rails from falling. I appreciate this reaching out across disciplines and welcome anyone eager to learn and open to new ideas and training methods, so I would like to focus this and my following articles on my perspective of what the hunter jumper world can offer to eventers and vice versa.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

HUNTER JUMPER

EVENTERS

From what I have seen of the eventing world in my area, beginners are usually started with a dressage focus that establishes a strong, effctive seat and upper body position.

They are taught to connect a horse on the bit, and learn about balance, suppleness, and submission. When they start jumping, some become involved in pony club and fox hunting, and seek trainers with knowledge and experience for the cross country course-negotiating questions that arise.

They have invested good money in dressage and cross country instruction and have made trips to school various cross country obstacles. These riders usually have put in countless hours in the saddle practicing each of these sub-disciplines, and are more hands-on, do-it-yourself oriented than their hunter-jumper world counterparts.

at the same time and rate as its rider. It seems there are much fewer seasoned horses that are being used as teachers to build rider confidence and exposure to positive learning experiences. This can make it very difficult for them to learn the proper feel of a straight, balanced, relaxed, and confident mount that is absolutely essential to creating a quality upper-level jumping performance. They profess a belief that hard work and determination are all they need to succeed, often schooling alone without the assistance of a trainer when practicing at home or warming up for stadium rounds.

Often, by the time they come to me for help, they are frustrated because for all their good intentions and strong work ethics, they are still struggling with rails.

I have yet to encounter an eventer who is not bringing along a project horse that is either very green or gaining experience

FARM 6

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

HUNTER JUMPER

Over the next few months, I’d like to give you some of my personal ideas and techniques stemming from my hunter-jumper perspective that I hope will be helpful to eventing riders looking to improve their horse’s jumping performance. In the next article, I will be sharing my own strategy for achieving clear stadium jumping rounds. It is my hope that we can set aside our discipline biases, and embrace others in our diverse community of horsemen and women who share the desire to work and connect with these amazing animals that are both our athletic competition partners and our friends.

www.hillfordfarmga.com 7

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HUNTER JUMPER 8

Jack Flowers Head Trainer at Hillmar Photo by Doug Derschimer

by Jack Flowers Milton, GA

Quite often, I will see riders in conflict with the horses they are riding. This happens at all levels of riding, so there is no one group that takes full responsibility for this. When I say that a rider is in conflict with their horse, I do not mean that they are all-out fighting with their mount, but that there is a great deal of tension in their connection and the horse is more often than not lurking behind the rider’s leg. The result is usually a horse that is in a false frame and going nowhere, and a rider that is working too hard and getting few or no results for their efforts. The attempt to “manufacture” connection and a horse that is on the bit has resulted in an ineffective ride that will at best keep them out of the ribbons, but most assuredly create a poorly-conditioned horse.

mouth and attempting to force it onto the bit. Not only does this create a horse that is stiff and sits behind the leg, but it creates riders that are too animated and too mechanical.

Simply closing your leg and supporting your horse to a light contact will not only allow the horse to move forward, but will create a happier partnership. When in doubt, loosen the reins and ride forward; THEN take a light feel and re-engage. This allows the rider to lighten their seat and bring fluidity into the partnership, which is what the Forward Seat is supposed to be about in the first place.

HUNTER JUMPER

You cannot effectively connect with your horse if you are interfering with your horse. Somewhere along the way, riders began doing too much. Hunt seat riders became obsessed with the idea of a horse going in a dressage frame and began integrating it into their training programs…poorly. Instead of generating a ride that came from the leg and encouraged the horse to move forward to the bit so that it could become a light and fluid creature, many developed the habit of taking hold of the horse’s

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Making the Right Connection

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

HUNTER JUMPER 10

I am not suggesting that a horse be allowed to run around on the forehand all strung out…far from it.

“Connection” and “on the bit” are terms that are thrown around a great deal and need to be clarified. You cannot simply drop your horse on its front end with a loose, floppy rein. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to start working with a very good friend of mine, against whom I’d competed from time to time as a junior.

Despite my best efforts, I could not convince her to take a feel of the horse’s mouth. She had been taught that any connection whatsoever was wrong and that a hunter should always go around on a “loopy” rein. It ultimately took my putting her on a jumper with a “go” button that was always in the full “on” position to get her to actually take a hold of the reins. Once she actually took a feel of the horse’s mouth, I was able to teach her how to use that connection to ride and school a horse properly. Riding without any connection interferes with the horse just as much as trying to manufacture a horse by cranking down on the bit and trying to force them into collection.

Those who compete in equitation become obsessed with the idea of their horses being on the bit, and to be truthful, a rider in the flat portion of any equitation class puts themselves at a disadvantage if they can’t collect their mount. Unfortunately, it is often in the equitation that I see the worst offenders. It is rare that I don’t see riders in the local equitation and IEA whose first action upon entering the ring for a flat class is to take a hard feel of the bit and saw it back and forth in the horse’s mouth to pull the horse down into a frame.

A rider must develop a strong leg and use it effectively if they are going to present a ride that is soft, fluid, and connected with the horse. Likewise, they must have a soft yet supportive hand and arm if they are going to develop a friendly connection with the horse they are riding. Keeping a gentle bend in the elbow and developing a connection that will allow you to follow the horse’s mouth will ultimately be far more effective than a stiff, straight arm and an unyielding connection.

Only then will horse and rider have a partnership that will create an effective ride that yields results both at home and in the show ring.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

A horse being on the bit comes only from collection, and collection can only come from riding the horse from the leg to the bit in order to engage the horse’s hind end and ask them to stretch out across their topline. It can only come from ounces of leg pressure being matched by ounces of hand pressure (or pounds of leg and pounds of hand if necessary). Only then will you have a horse that is engaged and can actually give you what you want.

HUNTER JUMPER 11

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Philanthropic Gifts Made This Dream Come True!

Story and Photos by June Brewer • www.GAHORSEEVENTS.com Kennesaw, Georgia In honor of their planned March move in date, the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) held a Donor Celebration on February 12 in advance of its Hospital Dedication Ceremony on February 13. The Donor Celebration dinner was held adjacent to the new building in a heated tent, which was filled with elegantly laid tables, an open bar, and happy donors having a good time. Many of the donors were UGA grads, alumni of the veterinary college.

LOCAL NEWS

This very special evening recognized individuals and companies for their financial generosity to this project. It began with personalized tours of the facility, guided by the very students who will be working in the building, allowing donors a firsthand-glimpse into the way their gift has contributed to this project. Everyone was forewarned to wear walking shoes – the building is 300,000 square feet! Both small and large animal veterinary education takes place within the space. The

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two share diagnostic radiology, ultrasound, MRI and CT imaging suites, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery suites, and an interventional radiology room, which are housed between them. In addition to state-of-the-art equipment, each lab area has a “rounds room” situated close by to facilitate teaching and discussing cases.

Located on College Station Road just under three miles from the main College of Veterinary Medicine campus, the entire site is referred to as the Veterinary Medical Center. It includes a new teaching hospital for small and large animals, a covered equine performance arena, a building dedicated to Field Services, Production Medicine and Theriogenology, and an education building for teaching and continuing education courses. Probably the most interesting piece of equipment was the linear accelerator, which will allow for tightly targeted radiation therapy of both small and large animals.

Susan Heuke donated a stall in memory of her first horse Faro D.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

June Brewe and Susan Heuke

LOCAL NEWSNEWS 13

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

To date, building has taken place on about 47 acres of the more than 100 acre site. Dr. Eric Mueller commented that this is a “50-year plan” with plenty of room for future growth. With this new hospital, UGA CVM is focused on enhancing its reputation and expanding on its tradition of excellence as one of the nation’s foremost veterinary universities.

The important part for horse lovers is the new large animal receiving area. The equine receiving area is the area where clients are greeted, patients admitted and outpatient examinations and treatments occur. The area features comfortable seating, a laptop charging station, two client consultation rooms, two large exam rooms, and an animal holding area with six stalls. One fundraising option was to sponsor a stall.

"The biggest advantage is that the whole outpatient receiving area has an easy traffic flow pattern and ample parking," said Dr. Eric Mueller, director of equine programs and chief medical officer of the Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital. "This allows us to separate healthy outpatients from the more seriously affected patients in the hospital. Patients can be evaluated and discharged without having to enter the main hospital."

LOCAL NEWS

The evening included remarks from UGA President Jere Morehead and Hospital Director Dr. Gary Baxter. It was mentioned that this project has been in the works since 1998, starting as an ideal dream, which the donors made into a reality.

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The CVM is still fundraising for this important project to provide advanced equipment for patients and students. If you would like to make a gift, please contact the Office for Veterinary External Affairs at give2vet@uga.edu or 706.542.1807.

www.vet.uga.edu

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Dr. Eric Mueller and Susan Heuke

LOCAL NEWSNEWS

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

From Our Friends In Ukraine As part of our International News section we will be introducing equestrian businesses and clubs from around the world, highlighting their achievements, challenges, ideas and goals.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

In this issue we would like to feature White Stable, located in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

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White Stable is an equestrian club with the infrastructure designed for horse training, lesson program, horse shows and equestrian events. It is also equipped for hippotherapy, offering help from certified instructors and specially trained horses. The club offers a full range of services related to buying and selling horses and can assist customers in this process.

White Stable is actively cooperating with horse professionals from Germany, Holland, Belgium, USA, Russia and other countries. The Club's Head Trainer is Miguel Viana, the current trainer of Portugal National Team brings a world of knowledge to White Stable’s riders.

White Stable is a place where everyone can enjoy the great atmosphere and share their love for the equestrian sport with their family, friends and riders.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

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Introduction WHITE STABLE in Kharkiv, Ukraine The investment program to build an equestrian complex in Kharkiv has become one of the links in the chain of cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine. It is an officially registered socially oriented program. White Stable Сlub's President and Founder Yuri Avramenko has noted that the Club’s mission is not only to revive the equestrian sport in Ukraine, but also to introduce it to the broadest public possible.

Current Situation in the Equestrian Sport Unfortunately, the equestrian sport has been going through hard times in our country lately.

And it is not so much for a lack of talented athletes (those are numerous enough), or even a lack of suitable horses – the reason is the absence of a proper modern base for both animal and rider training. What has survived to our days is the remains of the former Soviet Union’s infrastructure, which neither meets the requirements of the times, nor keeps pace with the modern sport trends.

— Of course, there are equestrian schools in Ukraine, — says Yuri Avramenko — but many of them occupy premises that are hardly fit for the purpose. Every now and then their stables are but altered cowsheds. In our Complex everything was originally designed to ensure the comfort of not only the people, but also the horses, everything was done to make their lives full. We have also taken care of the architecture: all building designs are not typical, but custom developed by one of the Kharkiv region’s leading design companies. After all, we are aiming at a great future for our Club, so its structures must fit our ambitions.

Yuri Avramenko evaluates the amount of money invested in the development of the Club as “very significant”. According to its President, the Club is approximately 30% complete. It already has an outdoor arena, stables, stands, administrative buildings, gazebos for club members, and some other structures. Yuri Avramenko claims everything to have been originally built in accordance with the international standards for equestrian facilities. At the same time, he tends to call the investment project itself a non-profit one, explaining that White Stable Club was established to rather boost Ukraine’s international image than to make any profit.

According to the Club’s founder, the project idea came from his childhood passion for the horses, which he had carried through the years.

White Stable Сlub's President and Founder Yuri Avramenko

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

— These beautiful, kind, fantastic creatures awaken true love and allegiance in me. Their nobility and grace win many hearts, and the special energy that is inherent in them inspires the kindest feelings. I have always had a hard time keeping my own horses: I had nowhere to breed them properly, that’s a point where we are lagging behind many countries. It so happened that I traveled the world, and saw many equestrian facilities and the people's attitude to the sport. So I once thought “Why not create something like that here, in our dear city of Kharkiv, to present the people with this wonderful opportunity to be introduced to the equestrian sport and to communicate with the horses?” With this idea Yuri managed to kindle the interest of an American businessman and his friend, who agreed to invest in the project after visiting Ukraine and admitting Kharkiv’s high potential. In his view, Kharkiv deserved to have a modern equestrian facility, so its residents could engage in the sport and opt for a healthy lifestyle.

White Stable Club has already hosted national equestrian competitions. Those were attended by athletes from all over the country. The facility has successfully met the highest demands and has thereby proven its full compliance with the international standards.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

White Stable focuses on jumping, which is considered to be one of the most spectacular varieties of horse competitions. Dressage is only practiced at the basic level being the elements required for the successful completion of a jumping program. Yuri Avramenko and his fellow-thinkers are planning to assemble an Olympic champions’ team and turn Kharkiv into the equestrian capital of Ukraine. The first step towards this ambitious goal was taken on September 1, 2014 with the opening of White Stable Riding School. It is noteworthy that the School is not only intended for children, as it turned out that even those who come to this sport as adults can also achieve significant success (of course, provided that they are talented, determined and patient). The School’s Head Trainer is Miguel Viana, who is Portugal national team coach. The trainers are going to identify the most talented athletes and arrange for their participation in prestigious competitions. The opening of the School was preceded by thorough preparation of the training base and testing of the curricula.

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S 20

Business and Charity One of White Stable Club policy’s cornerstones is its social orientation: kindness towards people and desire to promote the equestrian sport among the widest possible range of the residents and guests of Kharkiv and the region. For instance, one of the stands overlooking the competition arena is specifically designed for the people with special needs: it has wheelchair ramps and everything else to ensure the comfort of the people with limited mobility.

The Club expects to organize hippotherapy courses for those in need of such aid (both children and adults). Hippotherapy (a way of treatment for a range of health issues through the patient’s communication with a horse) is a worldwide trend gaining ever growing popularity. A man’s communication with the nature and animals makes a very useful pastime, which contributes to the improvement of both mental and physical health. And for some people such “horse therapy” becomes a string of hope if not for a full recovery, then at least for a partial victory over the disease. For the time being, the Club executives will not announce any exact launch date for the hippotherapy branch, as the horses themselves require special training to communicate with the ailing people, as sport horses are not fit for that purpose. Yuri Avramenko says that the Club’s plans include building a separate hippotherapy facility and inviting professional physicians to organize the process according to the rules of the medical science. The long-term prospects also include building a clinic for the four-legged athletes themselves.

— Despite the fact that there are veterinary institutes in Ukraine (one of them being in Kharkiv), as well as veterinary training and research centers, there is not a single specialized horse clinic. So if an animal gets seriously ill (for example, requires a surgery), it has to be taken abroad for treatment. In particular, there are good clinics in Hungary, Poland and some other countries. As you can imagine, such trips are very expensive, so it is vital for the development of the equestrian sport that such an institution is created in our country. And we are looking forward to eventually establishing one at the Club.

To promote the equestrian sport, the Club organizes tours for children, equestrian shows, and various events, such as horseback riding lessons for the Kharkiv Golf Club’s guests.

The White Stable Club membership terms are clear and simple: to become a member, one has to own at least one horse and order livery services for it from the Club. Naturally, this level of cooperation is for the wealthy. The cost of a thoroughbred horse potentially capable of winning titles exceeds the cost of an expensive car, not to mention the livery costs, which are no less considerable.

And, of course, the central figures of the Club are its four-legged and tailed athletes, many of whom have decent chances of winning titles and participating in major competitions and championships. The Club workers are always proud to introduce every one of their pets: Napoleon, who has recently had his name changed to Tortik (Rus.: Cake), as he turned out to be not at all formidable, but instead agreeable, and even gentle; Topaz exhibiting excellent qualities as a licensed stud-horse; proud and independent Pasha... Each of them has a story, a character, and a special set of qualities of their own. Of course, not all of these horses are athletes. Some of them are for training, they will be helping those who are making their first steps in the sport. And Napoleon (or Tortik) is but a pony meant

for those guests of the Club who are still too young to mount a large horse.

Experts say that investments in sports always pay off. But they do so not at the commercial, but at the national level. Sport means the country’s prestige on the global scene, and what’s more – it is the health of the nation and the increase in life expectancy. It may take White Stable many years to create a team of champions, but even if, thanks to the Club, at least a few boys and girls develop an interest in horse riding (even if they never win any title), it will still be a huge victory meaning that our society has become a little better, and a little kinder...

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However, the global practice suggests that having once come to love this sport, many people devote their whole lives to it, going to great lengths to find ways to acquire the best horses and create the necessary conditions for them to hone their sport skills.

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TAKEN FOR A RIDE IN GREECE PART 2

by Carolyn, FEI International Jumping Judge

FOREIGN JUDGE IN ROMANIA

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

Most people in the riding world know that an international ground jury must include at least one judge of a different nationality from that of the host country. This is achieved by having a Foreign Judge, always appointed by FEI for 4 star and higher competitions, and for any event which has a World Cup qualifying Grand Prix, even if the event is below 4 stars. On the other hand, 3 star competitions which are not denoted with the W, for World Cup, have a foreign judge who is invited by the Organising Committee. My first experience as Foreign Judge was in 2005 at an event in Piatra Neamt, a sports venue in the north of Romania.

This event was to be a whole new experience for me, a cultural shock. On arrival at Bucharest airport, I was met by Annamaria, a lovely lady, a Romanian International Judge, who spoke no English, just good French. It was not so long ago that international judges were obliged to speak either English or French in order to qualify. That rule has since been amended and it is now compulsory to speak English.

The snag is there are judges speaking only French who qualified under the old system and who might find themselves on a ground jury of English speakers.

Fortunately in this case, I too was conversant in the French language so there was no problem on this occasion... more of that another time!

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Getting to Piatra Neamt entails a further six hours travelling by road....and this one

stretched northward in an almost complete straight line all the way, with just one lane in each direction. Surely the Romans had had a hand in its original construction.

“OH, look!” I exclaimed shortly after starting the road journey,”What a quaint little cart. It's pulled by a donkey!”

It was like stepping back into the nineteenth century. But I was even more surprised when we chanced upon another donkey-driven chariot just a few miles up the road. Then another, and another. I came to realise that this was one of the main forms of transport in rural Romania.

Piatra Neamt is a picturesque small town situated in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains, with the tree lined river Bistrita running through the middle. Beautiful red brick and grey stone houses with silver topped turrets abound, spoilt here and there by ugly communist era matchbox blocks of flats, paint peeling from their walls and several broken windows. Money looked to be in short supply with little maintenance done on the buildings. This was the era before the generous European Community coffers came to the rescue.

The venue for the CSI 2* was, however, the Equestrian Stadium, lush with greenery and flowers, set in a large sports complex near the river. The Judges' Box was a rather incongruously modern cube with large panes of glass on all sides, seemingly precariously balanced upright on one

point of the cube. But from the side it resembled a pyramid! Inside, one had to climb a narrow staircase to reach the judges area at the top. At first sight it reminded me of one of the modern art creations associated more with Tate Modern than Ruritania... a sort of reality Cubism! Little did I know that its design was to cause problems I could never have imagined. Next to the arena the Romanians had built a Disney-like Wild West ranch, all surrounded with a wooden pallet fence. A wood shack stood in the middle, complete with a large barbecue alcove and covered wagon areas for the guests to eat.

The root of the trouble to come lay in the weather. Each June morning broke with a real chill in the air, enough to necessitate a warm jacket, but as the day wore on the weather became extremely warm. Inside the Judges' Box the temperatures rose sharply and, horror of horrors, only one of the panes in the windows in the glass cube would open, and only partially at that! No air conditioning, no fans, nothing! It was fast becoming an oven, making it difficult to concentrate on the competition in progress. My hair was turning lank and I could feel the sweat trickling down my back. Phew... a welcome break for lunch arrived in the nick of time and we all scooted down the narrow stairs into the relatively cooler heat outside our glass prison. Seriously flushed, I followed the others in the direction of the Wild West.

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Under the shade of canvas with some cold water thankfully received, I began to feel more comfortable. The waiter arrived to take orders.

“What would you like to eat?” he asked.

“Traditional Romanian soup or pork chop,” came the answer.

“Chicken?” I enquired.

“No, sorry, only pork chops at the barbecue.”

Quite frankly, the idea of hot soup after experiencing the torture of the Judges' Oven did not inspire me.

“I'll have the chop, please,” I answered politely.

It was a tasty meal, in fact, but I couldn't help gazing in wonder at my Romanian

plumped for another chop. They were very tasty after all.

That was my first lunch experience in Piatra Neamt. After a long rest we returned to the greenhouse in the sky, where the temperatures had dropped a little with the progression of the day. It had all become more bearable. By the evening and after the last class we wearily tramped, hungry once again, towards cowboy land, this time for the evening meal.

At lunch time the next day, I found myself once again under the same canvas cover in the company of my fellow judges, time keepers and course designer. Along came the same waiter and I had an inkling of how the ensuing conversation would go. Sure enough...

“What would you like?” I was politely asked.

“Um, could you tell me what there is on the menu?”

“Yes, of course. We have pork chops or traditional soup with fresh bread.”

In no mood for further argument, I

This time I got an accompanying salad... to ring the changes!

“What would you like?”

“What do you have?”

Suffering from the early symptoms of constipation, I replied in exasperation, “I'll have the soup!”

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

“What do you have?” I responded.

colleagues as they nonchalantly downed bowls of steaming soup, leaving me in awe of their cool insouciant expressions... not a drop of sweat in sight!

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Taken for a ride in Greece - Part 2 FOREIGN JUDGE IN ROMANIA

by Carolyn, FEI International Jumping Judge The steaming bowl duly arrived, smelling delicious... and it was delicious; pieces of meat and lots of vegetables. It didn't take me long to polish off the bowl... and then it started!!! I could feel the heat rising from somewhere deep inside. It spread through my body until it broke free in an outpouring of sweat, yes sweat, not perspiration. This lady was not simply glowing, she was sweating... and profusely!

The trickles that had earlier run down my back now flowed in multiple rivulets, ending at the junction where my body met the chair. Other miniature rivers were making their way down my legs to pool in my shoes. My face was by now a stranger shade of shiny pink, a mixture of hot flesh and embarrassment. In my discomfort, I desperately hoped nobody had noticed my predicament. Worse still, how could I possibly stand up and reveal my sodden clothing underneath? God only knew what people would think!

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

I lingered in the relative shade of the fake wagon shelter for as long as I could. My colleagues had risen and had started to make their way back to the cube.

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“Are you coming, Carolyn?” they enquired.

“Just a moment, I have a phone call,” I lied through my teeth.

Last to go, I stood up, checked that nobody was behind me and slunk off in the same direction, getting many a sideways glance from members of the public as I inched my way through them. I still wonder if anybody in the “oven” noticed my condition but if they did, they were all too polite to mention anything. Seated, soaked in sweat and with pen in slippery hands, I continued my duties as the day progressed and the heat began to recede.

The last class, of course, was the Grand Prix, with three judges in the box and one out on the course at the water jump. The class was proceeding normally until halfway through when things went a little awry. A dog wandered into the arena during the round of a competitor, made a beeline for the water jump in order to slake his thirst and then, finding the water pleasantly cool on this hot summer afternoon, lay down in it! The water jump judge tried to shoo it away but he was

having none of it. The rider had to be interrupted in his round, never a popular decision for a president, or in this case, yours truly as the Foreign Judge, while the water judge and two members of the arena party chased the offending animal out of the water and across the arena, making a hilarious impromptu show for the spectators to laugh at. The rider waiting on the course, on the other hand, was less amused.

With the presentation of the Grand Prix prizes over, it was time to relax and enjoy the cool evening air. My clothes had thankfully dried and my red face returned to its normal color. We could celebrate a successful show. We wandered towards the Wild West to be watered and fed for the last time.

Guess what we ate for dinner!!!

EQUINOX Marketing and Graphic Design for Equestrian Professionals

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katya manjossova | 770.896.3637 | katyamanjossova@gmail.com

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Join Our Winning Team!

Creekside is a world class reining facility in Northwest, Georgia. We offer the whole package, from the first ride to the show ring. We have a great selection of young or seasoned horses for sale. All are welcome!

Training, lessons, sales and breeding services all available.

Training • Breeding • Lessons • Sales Heather Johnson - Trainer Ringgold, GA 706-847-2014 www.creeksidereining.webs.com

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

In quiet places greatness is bred

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EARS

by Clayton Fredericks

In a sport where the partnership and communication between horse and rider is one of the single most important factors of success, how well can you recognize and interpret your horse’s body language?

Everyone probably remembers the first encounter with a horse and the advice that came along with it. If a horse has its ears forward they are happy and if their ears are pinned they are un-happy. While this is true in the most simplistic form, the position of a horse’s ears can tell us so much more. Ears are the single most expressive component in equine body language. Most often, by watching a horse's ears, you can accurately predict what their reaction will be in any given situation.

As an Event Rider it is important to recognize that we are not looking for the same ear position in all phases.

In the Dressage we want the horse to forget about the surroundings and focus all it’s attention on the rider.

They need to be waiting and listening for the tiniest of aids. In this phase the horse’s ears should be relaxed and almost floppy. Any ‘prick of the ears’ or change in attention from the rider to it’s surroundings can result in costly mistakes in your test.

EVENTING

Alternatively, in the cross country and show jumping phase it is important that a horse can focus it’s

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attention on both the rider and the obstacles they are expected to jump. Their ears should be flicking back and forward, indicating awareness of both the rider and surroundings. The biggest mistake I see in cross country riding is when the rider through excessive aids, interferes with the horses attention on the fence.

This is most common seen in accuracy questions such as skinnies and corners. How often do you see riders approaching these types of fences pulling on the reins and trying to ‘wrestle’ the horse over the fence?

When introducing my young horses to accuracy fences, I always work on the principle that they must ‘prick their ears’. It is my responsibility as the rider to present the horse to the fence on the correct line, in balance and at the right distance but the horse must must take responsibility for the obstacle in front of them and jump it. To me this responsibility is indicated through a horse’s ear position. It is the timing of this transfer of responsibility from rider to horse that is crucial for success.

The next time your horse misbehaves in the dressage or has a run-out cross country, try to review it by way of video paying particular attention to what the horse is doing with their ears. It may help you understand why the issue has occurred, which is the first step in fixing the problem.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

EVENTING

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

So why should we compete? I believe competing is the best way to assess your progress. You also learn to lose gracefully, win humbly and meet some great people. The ribbon is not the most important part but there is nothing to beat that feeling of satisfaction being in the winner’s circle. However, taking all all this into consideration, there are factors and circumstances that can cause competing to be stressful and not fulfilling.

Recognized or Schooling?

The cost involved is a combination of entries, memberships, stabling, trainer fees, travel, overnight accommodation, food, proper attire for horse and rider, and those items you didn’t think you needed but everyone else has one so you went ahead and got one too. This is over and above the monthly board, insurance, welfare and training fees. To add to that, there is parental stress, for those who are supporting their child’s horse habit, wanting them to win and having to say the right thing, which is impossible, when they ride the worst ever or expected to win, and it just didn’t happen. First lesson in competing, never go without the trainer. Juniors will listen to the person who is not related to them, much better than the ones that love them! We see it at every event, and one can only shake the head, look sympathetic and quietly wonder what they were thinking. Parents are there to take pictures, cheer, post videos on social media and send copies to grandparents, and get the child to the event at the time given by the trainer. This also applies to the ‘spouse’ of the Adult!

Fetch, carry, know where the concession stand is, say little unless spoken too, and always be smiling!

by Penny Morse, Villa Rica, Georgia Pictures by Reilly Richardson

EVENTING

Whatever your discipline, this is the time of the year when you look at the show calendar and decide on which events you will be competing in. Over the last few years we have seen a decline in the number of competitors at recognized events. The economy has an affect on how we pursue our hobbies, so how do you continue to enjoy competing without breaking the bank.

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I believe you have to take a good hard look at why you are competing, and it differs between children, adult amateurs and professionals and upper level professionals. The upper level professionals know which shows they need to be at to promote their horse and themselves, so they would start at the end of the year and work back to the present. They are in a different league to the rest of us!

If, as a parent, you have a substantial disposable income, which will continue indefinitely, you are in a position to keep your young rider in recognized shows until they lose interest or become self sufficient. Sadly, we are not all in that position!

The difference between juniors and Adults is that usually the Adult Rider enters into competing with available resources, and if things get a little financially challenging they can stop till it becomes less challenging. Children, in most cases, will guilt the parent to finance the entries at all costs!

If you start with Schooling Shows, when do you advance to recognized shows? From personal experience, unless you want to compete at Regionals or Nationals, or are campaigning a young horse that you intend to sell, make schooling shows your main competition, with the possibility of a recognized show occasionally, just for the experience. Concentrate on recognized when you are ready to compete at a level not offered by the Schooling Show. The money you will save will pay for Training fees with your Trainer and visiting Clinicians, or allow you to save toward that new expensive piece of equipment.

You do not have to exclude yourself from the big shows, missing out on the excitement and rubbing shoulders with the well known riders. Take this opportunity to volunteer. Assist the judge, learn what they are expecting and looking for.

Understand the workings of the show so that when it is your turn to be there as a competitor, you know how the system works and you will appreciate what the volunteers have to do and why they do it!

Have a good and honest relationship with your Trainer. Ask what is required of you as a parent or as a rider. How many days a week of riding and training is necessary for the competitor to be capable of competing. Do not be afraid to ask questions and never be afraid to say no. A good Trainer will work with you, and if they do not want to do that, there are others that will!

Choosing a hobby, following a passion or selecting a career that involves partnering with a creature that has a mind of its own, and the ability to hurt you, albeit unintentionally, will teach you humility, patience and determination. When you have learned those three lessons, you are well on your way to your personal goal!

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

So for the average person, what is the alternative? Schooling Shows. These type shows have changed substantially over the years. There are local year end awards that are more easily obtainable. Many levels, in most disciplines are offered. For example in Eventing you can compete up to Training Level.

These shows are significantly less expensive; they are less stressful; they are over in one day! The Dressage Tests are the same, the jumps are of the same standard, the cross country course is the same, the barrel pattern doesn’t change, the rules still apply, and the degree of difficulty is exactly the same. They are the ideal event to take a young horse to, start a green rider, a great confidence builder plus an opportunity to network with other riders.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Relax into Winter

by Yvonne Barteau Winter riding can be vastly different than summer riding for a multitude of reasons. First you may live somewhere where it is cold, you do not have great riding conditions or footing at your disposal, or, not enough daylight, except weekends, to even try to ride. Or, you could have an indoor and good riding conditions. You may even be somewhere where weather is not a big factor but your priority switches from shows to training and improving certain issues. That is why this month I picked a topic that needs reflection regardless of your circumstances.

Relaxation.

One of the most important things we need to keep track of as a rider in our day to day riding is the relaxation of the horse. It is something we need to cultivate with each and every ride. Every ride should start and end with a relaxed attentive horse which is easy to achieve if we make it a priority. A relaxed walk for five minutes before work begins followed by some relaxed trot work where we let our horse prepare himself for the work at hand is an important fundamental that cannot be by passed or overlooked. If it is cold or your horse is fresh you may need to longe or hand walk, or even do some long lining or ground work, so, when you get on, you can start on a relaxed but attentive horse.

It is important to realize that relaxation does not mean your horse does not need to focus, or try, or be accountable to you as a rider. Laziness and relaxation are not the same thing. As a horse trainer it is sometimes necessary to put pressures on a horse either mentally or physically which takes our equine partners out of their comfort zone from time to time. If these pressure spots can be relaxed away from instantly and the horse understands that basically we want him relaxed focused and attentive we are on the right track and the training process is intact. What we need to keep tabs on is the following. If we do get into a difficult or intense moment with our horse can we get back to relaxation relatively quickly?

DRESSAGE

This is an important question and one we should ask ourselves regularly. If the answer is not an immediate yes we need to check on that in our next ride. Does your horse begin every day relaxed in the walk and then trot work. If the answer is no you need to fix that. Get help.

Figure out why your horse is not relaxed and remedy the situation.

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Yvonne Barteau KYB Dressage

Are you relaxed? Do you start every ride with a relaxed clear mind? Do so. It is important if you want to ride well. When things don't go as planned in a ride study what you do right before a correction or as a situation arises. Do you relax and breathe and think? Do you tighten? Get emotional? Freeze? Worry? If you relax, think and then react appropriately you will get the most from your riding experience and so will your horse.

Remember it is only when we are there for our horse with appropriate timing and dosage of the aids can they be there for us. Understanding neutral as a rider which is tall soft correct posture with the ability to apply correctly timed and dosed aids and then return to same quiet neutral is worth whatever time you spend on it. As you push on with your horse through the winter training months remember to set realistic goals, add and release pressure so that your horse has a refresh button, and that you can always bring him back to a relaxed but attentive frame of mind.

Photos by fireandearthphoto.com

She then spent years re training problem horses before moving to the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater where she met husband Kim Barteau and become a principle trainer and feature performer in the enormously popular show. Since leaving the dinner theater Yvonne has focused mainly on dressage and is a USDF Bronze Silver and Gold Medalist finishing fifteen horses to the Grand Prix level. Many students of KYB Dressage the business Yvonne and Kim started in Maple Park Illinois with partner and friend Ginna Frantz of Grand Prix Equestrian, have earned their USDF medals and a variety of other year end awards.

Yvonne is also an award winning freestyle designer and author of two books. Ride the Right Horse, her book on equine personalities won the 2007 AHP Equine Book of the year award and her new training book, written from the horses perspective is being published by Trafalgar later this year.

DRESSAGE

Happy Riding!

Yvonne Barteau is a lifetime horsewoman with a unique and varied background. She started out in the hunter jumper world but after high school moved to the standardbred racetrack for a total of six years, starting as a groom and eventually becoming a trainer. Her time on the track taught her much about horse care, lameness and fitness.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Make sure when you are checking on relaxation in general that you check yourself as well. In my experience most tension in horses other than initial new stuff comes from the rider or past riders.

Of course the horses personality is always a factor but any type can come around in a good program.

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Western Dressage - Winter Wo

Wondering what to work on in the winter mon

by Cheryl Pritchard The 2014 Show Season is over and the 2015 Show Season will be starting soon. Even though we live in the southern US, the weather still does not cooperate some days. When the weather is not suitable for riding your horse, it is the perfect time to work on details of Western Dressage such as a square halt.

There have been countless times I have seen a wonderful dressage test end with the horse not stopping square or stepping forward or worse, sideways at the halt. All of the Western Dressage tests (and Classical dressage) call for a Halt; this can be the first and more importantly the last impression that you make on the judge. The Western Dressage definition of a Halt is �Balanced in the downward transitions; square, straight halt; immobility; willingness when asked�.

Having your horse halt squarely is important for many reasons. One of course is the test. More importantly, as your horse stands, it will be balanced. This is similar to driving your car. When you stop, if the wheels are turned to the left, you will have to straighten the car before going forward or to the right. Also, If you pull to a stop at an angle, it is harder to maneuver your car straight.

In working with your horse, the halt and standing square can start on the ground. Use this winter to make sure that anytime your horse stops; in the grooming bay, taking them into their stall, standing next to a mounting block, that they are stopping square. This will seem like a very large task when you start, but you will begin to see that your horse will eventually square themselves.

Instead of letting your horse stop and stand how they would like, ask them to square on all legs.

Each time they step out of place, put them back into square and tell them Whoa. If it is a small movement, then your correction needs to be small but effective. Your horse will start to learn that it is easier to stand squarely than to move, thus making it easier for you as the rider.

WESTERN

Once you are working with this on the ground, you need to re- enforce this under saddle. If your horse stops and moves out of alignment, put them back into the same spot. If your horse only moves one leg, only ask them to move that one leg back into position.

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Also, you need to practice walking and stopping.

In Western Dressage, the call to halt for 4 seconds is in multiple tests. Make sure that your horse will stop and stand still for at least 6, then, they will be glad to stand for 4 seconds.

nths?

If you cannot feel when your horse is standing square under saddle, get a friend to tell you when they are correct. Once you learn how your horse feels when standing squarely, you will be able to quickly tell when they are incorrect and which leg is out of alignment.

Teaching your horse to square on the ground and under saddle during winter months will make sure your horse always steps off on the correct hoof.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

onderland?

Until next time - Enjoy the Journey!

Meet Cheryl Cheryl Pritchard has combined her background in Classical Dressage with Reining to excel at Western Dressage. She owns and operates a successful Show Barn. Her clients compete at the local and National level. Her clients range from adults to children, advanced to beginner and also Special Needs Riders. Cheryl’s training methods encompass both Classical Dressage and Western Horsemanship to ensure lightness, willingness and a well rounded trained horse.

She is also an accomplished clinician and a National Breed judge. Her website is www.SimplyDunFarm.com.

Cheryl can be reached at (404) 583-6066 or Cheryl@theHorseBusiness.com.

Western Dressage Association of Georgia wdageorgia.org Find Us on Facebook: Western Dressage Association of Georgia

WESTERN

Western Dressage Association of America www.westerndressageassociation.org

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Winter can be fun?

By Heather Johnson • Ringgold, GA

Winter. It’s pretty much a swear word for me! I have never enjoyed the cold; it’s just something to be endured until the spring arrives.

As much as I love my job, it can still be a struggle to get motivated some days. So how do we make it fun to go out in the cold? The slower months are a great time to refresh ant rusty skills or build new ones.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite winter exercises.

Trail Riding. Get out of the arena! Bring a friend. Bonus points if you have some hills to ride on. This is great for building endurance and freshening up the attitude. For reining horses it may be necessary to remove or replace their sliding plates with regular shoes if the ground is really slick or steep. That goes for their turnout fields as well.

Working over ground poles. I’m a big fan of teaching my horses to jog and lope over poles. It’s a great way to teach them to be careful of their feet position and build hind end strength.

WESTERN

Try a new discipline. Many of my students use the winter months as a chance to take a lesson learning ranch pleasure, cow horse events or even dressage.

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Participate in a clinic. This is a great way to meet other trainers and experience their different methods.

Trailer your horse somewhere to ride in a different arena. Lots of facilities have open riding time for a small fee. Look around your area, and don’t forget to check out places that cater to other disciplines, besides their own.

Many places only advertise within their own ‘realm’ and you can miss out on a great place by only searching for your discipline.

What if the weather is really bad? The first thing is not to panic about missed riding time. A couple of missed rides is not the end of the world. However, know your horse. If he has a tendency to grow wings on his feet after a few days of being up, be smart and lunge him before you get on. In the meantime, spend some extra time on the grooming and maybe ground manners, especially with a young horse.

The key to winter riding is to use your imagination and keep it fun. Your workout might not look the same, but it is a great opportunity to bond with your horse and keep yourself in shape at the same time!

Heather Johnson began riding at the age of seven and discovered her abiding passion for horses. With over 14 years experience training and showing horses, Heather invests her considerable knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport with every horse she trains.

A champion herself, Heather understands the discipline and dedication required to achieve the competitive edge of a winner.

Having spent many years as a all-around trainer before devoting her time exclusively to reiners, she has a unique approach to training a reining horse.

Her accomplishments include: 10 Time Congress Champion 7 Time Res Congress Champion 2011 NRHA Novice Open Level 1 World Champion 2011 NRHA Novice Open Level 2 Res World Champion 2009 NRHA Novice Open Level 1 World Champion 2009 NRHA Inter Open Res World Champion 2004 NRHA Inter Open Res World Champion NRHA earnings of $174,000+

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Meet the trainer

Trainer: Heather Johnson Photo by: Boss Mare Photography

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Georgia Ladies Aside member Duffie and her horse Chelsea at Newnan Christmas Parade.

Photo by Steve Hutcherson.

From Georgia Ladies Aside w w w.g e o rg ia la d ie sa side. co m

by Stephanie Hutcherson

EVENTS

Sidesaddle? Who rides sidesaddle?

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Sidesaddle organizations are across the United States on national, regional and state levels – in addition to organizations in many other countries. Sidesaddle riding has actually been on the rise since the 1970’s. More recently – through the connections enabled by the Internet and Facebook – sidesaddle riding has grown significantly as riders can connect with one another and find camaraderie and resources such as saddles, attire, and instruction.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Why ride aside? Ladies ride aside for various reasons.

Many are drawn to the sidesaddle as a way of trying something new and different with their horse. Want to stand out in a crowd? Ride aside. Some are attracted to sidesaddle because of the elegance, style and grace it conjures, reminding one of the beautiful habits and hats women have worn through the ages. Physical handicaps, injuries and various religious beliefs are other reasons people choose to ride aside.

EVENTS

Georgia Ladies Aside was founded in 2005. We are a group of sidesaddle enthusiasts of all ages who ride aside for both pleasure and competition.

It is our goal to promote awareness of aside riding and to educate the public about the beauty, elegance and tradition that continues to live in side saddle riding.

Jennifer Ride Aside Historical Winner

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Stephanie Hutcherson riding Romeo at the Kentucky Horse Park's Sidesaddle Weekend.

Photo by Steve Hutcherson What can you do while riding aside? Almost anything you can do while riding astride! There are English and Western sidesaddles. Riders ride in many disciplines and events for pleasure and competition, including jumping, dressage, saddle seat, western, cattle sorting, reining, eventing, trail riding, parades, hunter paces, fox hunting, costume classes, and more!

Stephanie Hutcherson running the cross country course at Ashland Farm's Haunted Hunter Pace on Romeo.

Photo by www.SRDphoto.com

So how do you stay on? Sidesaddles have “pommels,” which are similar to extended “horns.”

A correct, safe sidesaddle has an upper pommel and a lower pommel. The lower pommel is called a leaping head, and was added to the saddle around 1830 so women of royalty could safely go leaping (jumping) or foxhunting, thus giving the sidesaddle its nickname of the “saddle of queens.”

Even if your plans don’t include jumping, a leaping head is a must for safety. The leaping head curves over the rider’s left thigh, and then the left leg is in the same position as an astride saddle with your foot in the stirrup. Your right leg wraps around the upper pommel.

EVENTS

Stephanie Hutcherson riding Romeo.

Photo by Julie Richards

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Correct leg position. Toe of right foot is up, heel down

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Mrs. Esther Stace riding sidesaddle and clearing 6'6" at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, 1915

Georgia Ladies Aside members ride and show aside on many breeds of horses in hunter/jumpers, dressage, combined training, western, trail rides, hunter paces, foxhunts, pleasure riding, parades and historical costumes.

We have members in Georgia and throughout the Southeast.

Sidesaddle

EVENTS

Stephanie Hutcherson and Romeo

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Photos at the Chick-Fil-A Bowl Parade.

Photo by Steve Hutcherson

Pam Hicks and Sue Duncan.

One does not sit sideways, as only the right leg goes to the left side; the rider’s body will sit facing the front of the horse. The rider must stay centered in the saddle with her weight carried along her right thigh rather than her hips, especially the left hip. It may sound a little complicated, but it’s not that difficult. In fact, it was the primary way women rode until mid-last century!

EVENTS

You may sit the trot or post the trot, unless you are showing and a posting trot is required. When posting, one does not push up and down out of the saddle, but instead the rider rocks forward onto her right thigh. This can take a little practice.

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We love a parade! Georgia Ladies Aside members have participated in many parades throughout Georgia.

So, do you want to learn to ride “in the saddle of queens”? Have you always wanted to give sidesaddle riding a try?

Georgia Ladies Aside invite you to a sidesaddle clinic June 6, 2015 at the lovely Sonora Creek Farm in Canton, GA. Come as a rider, as sidesaddles will be provided to fit to you and your horse. Or come as an auditor. Explore why to ride aside, who rides aside, showing aside, saddles, history, attire, and so much more.

The clinics are always informative, fun and well attended – with riders coming from Georgia and other states. The event will be held rain or shine, as there is a covered arena. Please email galadiesaside@aol.com for your registration forms.

Charlotte Greaser riding Guiness.

Photo by Stephanie Hutcherson

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

Georgia Ladies Aside is a group of sidesaddle enthusiasts of all ages who ride aside for both pleasure and competition. It is their goal to promote awareness of aside riding and to educate the public about the beauty, elegance and tradition that continues to live in side saddle riding. You can also find them on Facebook.

Lisa Doker riding Ike. Photo by Steve Hutcherson

Ride Aside!

Join Us for Sidesaddle Clinic

w w w. g e o r g i a l a d i es as id e.co m

EVENTS

Saturday, June 6, 11:00am - 6:00pm Sonora Creek Farm 1937 Gaddis Rd, Canton, Georgia 30115 galadiesaside@aol.com call (770) 908-9031 or (404) 354-8235

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

What do you remember about your wedding?

What plans are you making for your perfect wedding day? Will you get married in the church and have a traditional wedding or will you step outside the box? This is a question that takes a great deal of thought. More and more couples are wanting to be unique and creative when it comes to that special day.

A R T • E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Wedding planners are always trying to outdo one another to try and achieve that perfect balance of beauty and style. When you ask most people about what they remember about their wedding day, most do not remember much but will always have those memories captured on video or camera.

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Horses have been classified as “God’s most magnificent creature” with their grace and beauty. Adding that grace and beauty to your photos or videos can be as easy as renting a horse for the day.

Whether you want to ride a horse down the aisle or just stand with one for the pictures, horses definitely add beauty and style.

Outdoor weddings have increased over the years and more couples now want to use various farm style venues to make that perfect day special. You don’t have to be a rider or own a horse to make them a part of your special event. Go ahead and “step outside the box”, you will be a trendsetter!

www.bridalhorse.com

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

A R T • E N T E R TA I N M E N T

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A R T • E N T E R TA I N M E N T ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

A R T • E N T E R TA I N M E N T

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS • 11TH ISSUE

If you have been on Fine Art America you have seen some of my work. I am also on Facebook ( Zan Economopoulos) and my website is www.whymzee.com. Although I have recently changed my website server, it does not have some of my most recent paintings.

ART by

Zan Economopoulos I've painted horses for the better part of my life, but on and off and only consistently for the past 4 years.

Committing to painting full time was part of "re-inventing" myself after the turn down in the economy forced an end to my position as a Director of a not-for-profit organization. I developed a whimsical stylized horse (hence the name Whymzees) primarily for the Arabian horse market and they have sold all over the world.

A R T • E N T E R TA I N M E N T

In the Atlanta area, I have an agent Catherine Kelleghan who handles my work. The large (4' x 5') buckskin on Fine Art America was painted for one of her clients, the highest positioned woman in Delta airlines, and I am currently working on a commissioned portrait of a Thoroughbred, Douglas, also through Catherine.

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I also paint dogs and other animals. I have been the artist for Markel Insurance company for the past two years. Markel held drawings for personalized dog portraits at several of the major Arabian shows. Two years ago Markel commissioned me to paint Sylvia Zerbini, formerly of Cavalli fame, surrounded by some of her white Arabian stallions. It was auctioned off in center ring at the U.S. Arabian National Championships and brought $12,000.00 for charity.

I have attached an image of one of my latest pairings and 2 images of my giftware.

Thank you for your inquiry and I hope to hear from you.

Warmest Regards, Suzanne 'Zan" Economopoulos www.whymzee.com 770-377-4363

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In addition, I make giftware: hand painted wine glasses and other items. It has been a great source of constant income for me. I have done literally hundreds of wineglasses.

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Dana Clark

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Jewelry by Dana Clark Owner of Made You Look Designs

Gemstones have a special significance to me. Just like someone who has a beautiful closet full of shoes or handbags, I love opening my tiny jewelry cabinet to brilliant gemstones, pearls and precious metals. Every gemstone has an individual personality, luminance, and origin. This enchants me.

Collecting and creating interesting and one of a kind equine focal pieces to accent my gemstone chains, has opened up a whole new layer to my jewelry designs. The wonderful character of the gemstones coupled with valuable and unique centerpieces, are the icing on the cake, and a good investment.

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A pair of ear bobs and a string of gemstones can brighten and frame my entire appearance and even change my spirits. There is something so innocently sexy about pearls, and so romantic about garnets... Amethysts are a passionate gemstone and aquamarine has a crisp elegance. Emeralds and sapphires have a thoughtful timelessness. Opals and moonstones are inspirational, and turquoise makes me playful and outgoing. Tigers eye gives me insight especially next to smoky quartz and obsidian.

Copper has a warmth that radiates from the skin like a suntan, and silver illuminates the eyes. Gold feels like a hug to my skin.

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Designed by Dana Clark

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HEALING with Magna Wave

By Megan Gosch, Gainesville Florida

We’ve all been there, you can tell that your horse is uncomfortable, you have done everything you can think of to try and make things better, but you wonder if there is something more you could do. Have you thought about giving Magna Wave therapy a try to help with these issues? I’m sure you are now thinking the same thing I was when I first heard about it, what in the world is this Magna Wave thing? Magna Wave PEMF is a high voltage Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Frequency therapy, which uses a powerful electromagnetic field to provide natural energy to cells throughout the body, allowing the cell membranes to be more permeable. This additional energy opens cell channels and enhances the synthesis of protein, increases oxygen absorption at the cellular level, improves circulation, and reduces overall body stress.

Common uses of Magna Wave PEMF include: regenerate damaged or diseased tissue, repair tendons, fractured bones, reduce swelling, increase range of motion, decrease muscle soreness, and improve the overall healing ability of the body.

Does your horse show signs of mysterious soreness or just not seem quite right? The machine can be used to identify these as well. Horses will react differently when the pulses are sent through the problem areas. This can help to identify if saddle fit or other reasons may be the cause for the soreness. Magna Wave PEMF has also been shown to help with pulling hoof abscesses out in one or two sessions.

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My introduction came after several frustrating years trying to heal a fistula, a constantly draining hole, on the side of my mare, Olivia’s, face. After riding one evening, I noticed her showing signs of colic which was shortly followed by a nose bleed. We were able to take care of the colic, but the nose bleed then transitioned into a serum drainage from her left nostril that was continuing as the days went by. After trying several things, we could still see that there was a shadow on the x-ray of her sinus cavity. My vet then suggested an exploratory surgery to find out what was going on and causing the constant drainage. A grapefruit-sized mass extending to the brainstem was found and removed from her left maxillary sinus cavity.

Megan Gosch and her mare Olivia.

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Several months went by and it looked like things were healing nicely. Then, the fun part started. The bottom corner of where the incision for the surgery was would swell up and then drain. After several months of trying to keep this closed we discovered that Olivia had a fistula and that the bone over her sinus cavity would not close.

The wound would try and heal from the outside instead of from the inside out and the same outcome would occur, constant drainage. You name it, I tried it. No matter what I did, there was always a small hole that would drain down the side of her face. Although I was able to continue riding and competing Olivia, I could tell that she wasn’t 100% comfortable. After almost 2 years of this, my friend suggested that I give Magna Wave PEMF a try. We performed 2 sessions, done 2 weeks apart and a month later there was no more drainage!

During Olivia’s ordeal, I mentioned Magna Wave therapy to my friends Kathy and Todd Clark, whom I have known for years from their time taking lessons from my grandmother, Nancy Gosch. Kathy and Todd came to visit me in Florida to see the results for themselves. Not only did they see how much Olivia’s face had healed, they also observed a huge difference in her overall relaxation and freedom in her gates. While in Florida, the Clarks met the practitioner who worked on Olivia, learned more about the therapy and witnessed a session. After returning home to Georgia, they decided to open their own Magna Wave PEMF business.

“This was a 5 day old injury that despite cold hosing 3 times a day, bute, and antibiotics the inflammation continued to increase at an alarming rate. I was shocked to see the swelling down by 50% just 5 hours after the initial magna wave session and then the results above the next morning. Thank you guys so much for helping to get my boy comfortable and healthy!”

Interested in learning more or scheduling a treatment for your horse? Contact Kathy or Todd with Horses ’n Motion, LLC. They are both certified practitioners located in Villa Rica, Georgia and provide mobile Magna Wave PEMF therapy.

Magna Wave is also great for our bodies too. Riding can take a toll on our backs and its electromagnetic frequency can help to reduce these symptoms in addition to all of the other aches and pains we have from riding or everyday life.

Certified Practitionrs Located in Villa Rica, Georgia K) Phone: 404-309-1175 T) Phone: 404-457-3067 E-mail: horsesnmotion@att.net For more information please visit our Facebook page at Horses 'n Motion LLC - PEMF Therapy

WELLNESS

Kathy & Todd Clark

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By Sara Tradewell, COTA/L PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

Can My

HORSE

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Be Used in Therapeutic Riding?

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Many people ask themselves this question when a horse reaches an age where he can no longer be shown or ridden heavily. A second career in equine-assisted activities is a great way for some horses to remain useful and active through their later years, but it’s not something every horse can do.

In this article, we’ll explore the qualities of a good therapeutic riding horse, and some of the ways therapeutic riding centers evaluate and choose horses for their programs.

Excellent therapeutic riding horses come in many shapes, sizes, ages, and breeds.

What they all have in common, and what is most important, is a good temperament.

The horse needs to be calm, accepting, well-mannered, and not too concerned by new or unusual things. He needs to not be overly defensive of his personal space; at any given time, he may have a rider on his back, a leader at his head, and a side-walker on both sides of his body. If he does spook, it needs to be in a limited and controllable way. A look and a snort are perfectly acceptable; a full-gallop bolt is not. He needs to be tolerant of human error and clumsiness. A rider may accidentally plop onto his back while mounting, or kick him in the hip when dismounting. The rider might kick and pull the reins at the same time while learning to coordinate the aids. The rider might scream and throw a tantrum, or have a seizure. The therapeutic riding horse needs to be able to handle these things without too much physical or mental stress. For some horses, this is second nature; for others, it’s a very tall order. During the evaluation period, instructors will spend a great deal of time getting to know the horse’s personality and assessing his temperament.

Conformation is directly linked to

Height matters in a therapeutic riding horse. The ideal candidate is generally between 14 and 16 hands.

These “mid-size” horses can accept the greatest variety of riders. Smaller ponies are sometimes acceptable for therapeutic programs that cater to children, but they often possess a quick, choppy gait that can be difficult for a child with special needs to handle. Horses over 16 hands make it difficult for side-walkers to provide assistance to a rider. The side-walker must hold his or her arm(s) in an elevated position, which can result in less security for the rider. However, large horses have a definite place in therapeutic programs that serve adults, most specifically Horses for Heroes, the Wounded Warrior Project, and other veterans’ services.

Draft horses and draft crosses tend to be favorites. Shorter, more compact weight-carriers, such as Haflingers and Norwegian Fjords, tend to find themselves at home in almost any therapeutic program.

Age is important only as it relates to the overall behavior and soundness

of a therapeutic riding horse. Horses under the age of 4 are usually not considered appropriate due to lack of training and experience. A very old horse, even if sound, might not be chosen due to the limited amount of time he will be able to sustain the workload of a therapeutic riding program. That said, most programs are hard-pressed to turn down a 22 year-old schoolmaster. Again, the acceptable age range will vary depending on the needs of the individual therapeutic program.

Mares and geldings both make suitable therapeutic riding horses.

Stallions, as a rule, do not… for obvious reasons.

Therapeutic programs acquire horses in a variety of ways. They may purchase, adopt, or lease a horse.

Often, there is a trial period involved prior to a permanent commitment being made. Inevitably, the time will come when a horse must retire from therapeutic riding. Some therapeutic facilities are able to accommodate retirees, but many have limited space that needs to be dedicated to active program horses.

Such programs will look for someone to adopt a retiring horse, and for this purpose, a previous owner is ideal. A happy retirement is the least a therapeutic riding horse deserves, and a reputable program will work hard to ensure this.

Can your horse be a therapeutic riding horse someday? Hopefully, after reading this article, you will have a better idea of whether or not it’s a possibility for him. The work of a therapeutic riding horse is not necessarily light or easy, and he will need to be well suited to it both physically and mentally in order to make it his next career.

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Functional soundness is necessary. A lame horse that limps is obviously not a good candidate for any type of riding, therapeutic riding included.

On the more subtle end of unsoundness is the arthritic horse whose stride may be shorter on one side. He might still be suitable for therapeutic riding if given exercise and maintenance, especially if he meets all other criteria. It’s important to consider how much the horse will be asked to work, and at which gaits. Therapeutic programs vary widely in this regard, and tend to choose horses to suit their clientele. One program might use a horse four hours per day in walk, trot, canter lessons, while another might use a horse mainly at a walk, or for un-mounted activities.

The individual needs of a program will dictate the types of horses they choose, but in general, very unsound horses are rarely appropriate.

movement and soundness, and while a therapeutic riding horse need not be a model of perfection, he should be free of major faults.

Straight legs with moderately sloped pasterns are ideal. Long, low pasterns might make a horse comfortable to ride, but are not conducive to long-term soundness.

The opposite extreme, very upright pasterns, tend to deliver an overly jarring ride that can cause unsoundness in the horse as well. A strong back that is not too long or swayed is less likely to become sore under a potentially imbalanced rider, and is more likely to fit a variety of saddles.

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Good movement is another important criterion for a therapeutic riding horse. He needs to move in a straight, symmetrical manner at the walk, trot, and sometimes canter. At the walk, he should track up (hind foot stepping into the print of the front foot) or over-track (hind foot stepping beyond the print of the front foot), and he should do so equally on both sides of his body.

Tracking up indicates good engagement of the hind end, which promotes long-term soundness, and tracking up in a symmetrical way means the rider will remain balanced. A horse whose movement is big, bouncy, or disorganized might prove too difficult or uncomfortable for many riders with physical limitations.

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