Atlanta Horse Connections November 2019

29 TH EDITION - 2019

SOUTHEAST SCHOOLING SHOW

THE INTERNATIONAL DREAM PROGRAM

CHAMPIONSHIPS

CHIO AACHEN

Living Reality to Reach the

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LIFEST YLE

Living Reality - Sara Beth Anton When it’s Time to Say Goodbye

INTERNATIONAL 5 Stars Under the Sun

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LOCAL NEWS

Top Picks RevitaVet PollCap Milton’s History with Horses

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EVENTING SESSC 2019

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SHORT STIRRUPS Silly Gil

WELLNESS The Boneyard Mesotherapy

DRESSAGE

What’s it all about, Eberhard?

The International Dream Program

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If you want to be an elegant rider, the HORSE has to do the work.

You can’t be shoving and pulling and steering and expect to get good marks.

©Jennifer Bishop Photography

– Carl Hester

Penny Morse Editor It is Fall ladies and Gentlemen! The heat has left for pastures new and we are grabbing jackets and scarves for chilly mornings! I admit, it is a relief to feel the chill in the air after having endured such a long hot summer.

Heidi Caldwell Creative Director

2019, was an interesting year. There was an increase in parents investing serious amounts of money in a horse that will get their child competing at a higher level than if they had to slowly go up the levels with a greener horse. Granted you still have to ride well, but are these young riders getting the education from having the made horse, than if they had to suffer the normal blood sweat and tears. I am not talking mid 5 figures either. We are now seeing event horses selling for $250,000 so the teenager can get a win. Nice if you have it but what does this do to the sport? Many trainers are jumping on the bandwagon, importing and selling at a high price, with a very nice profit. Parents, buying into the, my teenager could be on the Olympic Team in 8 years or winning Rolex, if I spend $100,00 on this horse.

Maureen Forman Lifestyle Editor

Contributing Writers Yvonne Barteau Heidi Caldwell

The chances are that most teenagers, graduate, go to college and find there is not the time for riding. We lose about eighty percent of our riders every year, and behind them we have a new set of parents with their child’s dreams and determined to make it happen. There are some that are fortunate to have parents with disposable income, who can afford the expensive lifestyle, without having to work. However, they are few and far between.

Jeff Dufresne Carolyn Haward Dr. Aime K. Johnson Penny Morse Lindsay Nieves

So, what happens to the sport? We have 100 young riders with talent and the determination to want to do well, but they are in the low end of the market. Yes, there will always be that horse that is affordable, is athletic and with the right training and some luck, can compete up the levels and go up against the high dollar horses, but that does not happen all the time. Some parents are willing to go into financial hardship to get ‘the horse’ and get the right trainer. I would certainly advise against this! This is not a life lesson any child needs to learn.

Dr. Alfredo Sanchez Emma Sevriens Amber Spiler Bill Woods

So, I will continue to preach to parents, start with a trainer that actually knows what they are doing. They are not always the most expensive either! Invest in a horse you can afford, and remember it is not just the animal, it is everything that goes with it.

Get insurance. Do not consider recognized shows until winning at Training and Novice at the Schooling Shows becomes easy. Find your teenager a job where they can work off their lessons or their board. Yes, it is hard work, and very hot and extremely cold days are not fun, but they will learn that it is not all about the riding. Have them make choices. It is either the expensive prom dress or the bridle you need, but not both. School work must come first, so if there is any failing of any subject, then there has to be a reevaluation of time being well spent.

Contributing Photographers Yvonne Barteau Jennifer Bishop Liz Crawley Photography Nina Fields Carolyn Haward Emma Sevriens Sara Beth Anton riding SPF Vision Quest owned

What every rider does need is dedication, discipline and the willingness to go without and bred by Melissa and Phil Town. now, so they can reap the rewards later. Parents need to be smarter, and stop trying to © Liz Crawley Photography keep their children happy by giving in to every demand. If it ever happens that they come home and announce they are going to go into the horse business, and they have enough money saved up to keep them afloat while they get started, and they have a business plan, then at least they will be knowledgeable enough to give it a good shot.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and see you in December!

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

/atlantahorseconnections All articles and pictures are owned and copyrighted by City Horse Connections, a subsidiary of JJP Group.

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. ©2019.

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Living Reality to reach the

DREAM

Meet international competitor Sara Beth Anton SARA BETH ANTON, is well known in the horse world, south of Atlanta. She looks like a text book eventer! Tall, great figure, pretty, full of energy and looks great on any horse. The most striking thing about Sara Beth, is her personality. She is nice. That simple. The young girl that I can happily go off to Florida with, and have a great time, even though I am old enough to be her grandmother!

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Sara Beth Anton who is 27 works at Starting Point Farm in Moreland, Ga. She produces and develops young horses for the top level of the sport. Sara Beth has the life every horse crazy girl dreams about, but it is not for the faint of heart.

compete at higher levels have many, many hours of work in them, to get to that point. Starting Point Farm, owned by Melissa and Phil Town, are producing their own line of Irish Sport Horse that they hope to see running around Kentucky one day, but it is a long process with many ups and downs. While Sara Beth is involved with every aspect of the breeding program, from dealing with the stallions to caring for the babies, she rides the young horses plus the ones competing, and she also shares her knowledge with her students, who are both young and older!

Sara Beth found horses at an early age and started taking lessons when she was 6 at a local western farm in her home stateMinnesota. Western quickly became jump lessons and it wasn’t long before she knew she wanted to be a professional. Sara Beth chose to apprentice under Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law for a summer. Then spent 4 years apprenticing with 2-time Olympian For the second year, Sara Beth has given the cross-country course Becky Holder. During that period, she brought along her young walk at the Southeast Schooling Show Championships. This 5-year-old gelding from his first horse show at Novice to a competitive CIC*** horse. Their accomplishments include 2 international wins and 3 national wins in the first year at the 2-star level. Along with the training, came the stall cleaning, tack cleaning and doing whatever was asked, from dawn to dusk. Moving down to Moreland to work at Starting Point Farm, Sara Beth was well aware that this was Above: Sara Beth on her horse Quinn. Above right: Sara Beth on HALO Jump owned by Phil Town. not going to be just riding horses for the owners, and competing around the southeast. The involves walking the amoeba course as well as the higher levels with farm has a breeding program and learning those ins and outs the same amount of enthusiasm. Unlike so many, Sara Beth never was part of the job and the journey. forgets that she was once one of those young riders, headed out When it comes to competing, there are no grooms or lavish hotels when travelling off to events. The trailer has live-in quarters and if a friend is available to go along for the ride, there is the groom! Not the image that is portrayed in movies or books, but a lifestyle that will benefit dividends later dwon the road.

on an amoeba cross country course with dreams of competing at a 3-star level.

Sara Beth would tell you how lucky she is to have such an incredible opportunity to live her dream. She takes the erratic hours, lack of a social life, expected by a 27-year-old, and never the best eating habits in her stride, because Sara Beth Anton is not faint of heart!

As she continues to compete the horses from Starting Point Farm, we look forward to seeing her advance and reaching that day when the commentator is saying her name at Kentucky.

The horses that get to

Sara Beth is involved with every aspect of the breeding program, from dealing with the stallions to caring for the babies AHC

LIFESTYLE

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e by d o o G

when it’s time to say

I made the very difficult decision to finally

sell my horse in the month of July. But, truth be

Lindsey Holcombe Nieves

told, the decision had been weighing me down for months.

We had been struggling to find our groove for a long while, but it was really more than that and I just couldn’t let myself give up on him, on me, on both of us together.

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I was not willing to flippantly discard my childhood dream of horse ownership, and so we tried everything; maybe too many things. Ultimately that led me down a road of being plagued with increased anxiety and depression. Every time I pulled into the barn driveway I was filled with a dread and a frustration I could not put into words. I was living a dream and a nightmare at the same time. My middle aged self had everything my teenage self desired – expendable income, a dark bay handsome dreamboat of a horse, and a fancy French saddle. Everything should have been perfect. Except it wasn’t.

being used up and discarded. I also knew that he had to stay in work while he was marketed for sale, so I struggled to decide how to handle his program when I knew could no longer be a part of it. I was faced with a bounty of decisions, none I wanted to make.

We put out an advertisement and in came the inquiries. Some hopeful, some bizarre and some just plain crazy. The internet is a weird place. We had one showing rather quickly and, of course, I was hopeful but it turned out not to be the best match. I realized then that I was unsure if I could handle the ups and downs of the sales process. The hope and the dejection. Rising just as fast as you fall. And then we got lucky. His person came, and she was perfect. She was young and excited – fearless. I couldn’t have picked a better match for him. I thought it would kill me to watch him drive down that driveway in another horse trailer and so I kissed him goodbye the day before they came for him. I thanked him for teaching me all that he did and making a little girl’s dream come true.

Sometimes the heart knows what the head is not ready to accept.

I had come to accept that he was too much horse for me, but I kept trying to get to the place where I was able to overcome my middle aged anxiety and enjoy him as my teenage self would have done. I became angry that I could not reach that place. I felt like I was letting down more than myself. There was a whole barn full of people who adored my horse.

My trainer competed him to great success through Novice level eventing. There were fewer reasons to let him go than to help him stay and so I continued to try until one day I finally reached a breaking point when I almost fell off in a lesson. I wasn’t having fun and I hadn’t been for a long time. I dismounted him for the last time and cried. I knew as much as he was not a match for me, that I was not a match for him. He deserved to have someone fearless Lindsey on Moose. He deserved to have and brave to help him reach his potential. As someone fearless and brave to help him much as it pained me to not be that person, I reach his potential. As much as it knew it was time to let him go.

I’m grateful that this family includes me in their updates in photos. He is beyond loved and adored and has the life he always deserved. Every photo of him that is shared with me eases the pain of letting him go a little bit more each day. The gripping anxiety has steadily subsided and I’m learning to try to enjoy just taking lessons again for a while.

In the words of one of my favorite authors, Paulo Coehlo, “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”

I’m still waiting for my new hello, but hope never abandons you – even if it’s hard to see for a while.

pained me not to be that person, I knew it was time to let him go.

Once the decision to sell him was made, I wearily anticipated a long and arduous sales process. If you look at Facebook there are a thousand nice horses being advertised every day and I was fearful that he would end up with someone who didn’t care about him as much I did. I didn’t want him to become one of those horses who gets sold down the road continuously until they wind up

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Carolyn Haward FEI International Show Jumping Judge, Greece

Under Sun

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IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE VISIT TO DELPHi in the spring that did it. Paying our respects to the god Apollo at the ancient temple on the side of an olive tree covered Greek mountain must surely have pleased the Sun God. He surely had heard our pleas and blessed us with the wonderful respite of much cooler than average weather at the height of the summer season. Late in July was the scheduled date for the much awaited CSIO 5* event to be held in Athens. The temperatures in fact turned out to be lower than even those back in England, which I’d left behind only a day before.

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Above: Sven Holmberg (previous VP of the FEI) in the Judges Box. Above right (and left page): The Athens Equestrian Center AT Delphi Below: The mobile electronic center. Below right: The stewards getting ready for the competition.

This event was to be the final of the Longines Nations Cup 2019 season for division 2. This region includes Central and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

Over a period of five days Athens would host one of the most important equestrian events in the Jumping world, providing an opportunity for nations to qualify for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain, in October. Not only that, successful teams and individuals had the possibility of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. This was going to be a five-star event of the highest standard, a team competition series and it would be held in the beautiful grass stadium of Athens, specially

constructed for the Olympics in 2004.

There was only one little niggling worry that could spoil the excitement.... would it be too hot in this southernmost country of Europe where the normal peak summer temperatures are around 90 Fahrenheit? Horses as well as riders can get heat stroke, which is why national competitions in Greece take a break from mid-June until the end of August.

However, the intense sun of Apollo shone, or rather didn’t shine, on us! The votive offering to him had reaped its reward for us... an unusually cool week at the end of July, perfect conditions for an equestrian event.

In actual fact, the whole equestrian festival was perfect; it all ran like clockwork. What a wonderful experience it was, especially after the trying mishaps of the previous year when a 6-year moratorium was the unfortunate spin off from the painful austere measures imposed on Greece during the world financial crisis since 2012. The country is only now beginning to show the signs of recovery, one of which thankfully being the hosting once again of international events, with its associated higher value prize money.

Permit me at this point to make a slight digression from my main topic to elaborate further on the ancient site of AHC

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After the Acropolis, Delphi is the most popular archaeological site in Greece. Located 180 kilometers from Athens, a trip to Delphi is listed in just about every tour itinerary and is by far the most popular day trip out of Athens.

Delphi before I return to the competition.

It is a glorious site for tourists to visit and can be reached within a 2 hours’ drive from Athens. It makes for a splendid day trip, well worth the journey. After leaving the main Athens to Thessaloniki highway, you wind your way along a road that clings to the side of a mountain. Not too far along the route you come around a bend and suddenly behold the wondrous sight of white marble monuments poking their columns and statues out over the tops of olive trees as they spread up the side of Mount Parnassus. Delphi was considered by the ancient Greeks as the Centre of the World and served as a place of worship for citizens from all the city states of the ancient Hellenic world. Offerings were made to the gods to keep them content and also to ask for their support in political events, namely impending wars.

It was the place of the Oracle Pythia, the High priestess of the Temple of Apollo.

She made prophecies inspired by her god and was consulted from the 7th century BC until the 4th century AD. During this period the Delphic Oracle was the most prestigious and authoritative Oracle The water jump, with the giant screens in the background, giving a close up view of every competitor.

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among the Greeks, and she was without doubt the most powerful woman of the classical world. So, I believe that it was indeed Pythia who played her part in granting us the ideal conditions for success in Athens by turning down the hot flames of Apollo and thereby allowing the sporting event to thrill us all.

Time to return to the competition. It was a truly international event to remember, since Division 2 includes countries from the farthest corners of Europe, such as: Norway, Denmark, Finland and Portugal in the west; Turkey, Ukraine, Israel and Bulgaria in the East; and Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia in Central

Europe. In this Nations Cup division final, the best 8 nations had qualified to take part while many entrants also participated individually in the other competitions, leading to the Grand Prix and the hope of claiming a ticket for participation in the Tokyo Olympics next year.

The officials too came from a good mixture of nations. Apart from the four Greek judges, including myself, the President of the Ground Jury was from Hungary while the FEI appointed Foreign Judge was from Sweden. He was not just any judge but Sven Holmberg, a previous Vice President of FEI! The Course Designer was from Germany, one of the

Catching up on emails in the Judges Box while the competitors walk the course.

official veterinarians represented Turkey, and last but not least the hard-working stewards’ team included officials from Germany, Portugal, Britain and Belgium.

To top all this variety of nationalities, we had a Slovakian and a Greek announcer!

This was the first time that Greece had the honor of hosting the Longines Nations Cup (Division 2) Final. Alongside that, there was a CSI 2*, a CSI 1* and a CSI Young Horses 1*, thus catering for all levels of competition. All of the 5* competitions were covered by live streaming, the Grand Prix and Nations Cup also transmitted live on FEI television. I had never before seen so much electronic equipment! I think I counted 15 laptops working full time in the judges’ box, not to mention three large trucks of computer systems, satellite dishes and cables at the back!

Allow me at this point to just add a few words about the venue. Even though this event was named the Athens Equestrian Festival 2019, the equestrian Centre itself is actually situated 24 miles south of the capital city in a town called Markopoulo (think of Marko Polo!). Facilities are super modern, being located in one of the most developing areas of Attika, close to Athens airport and not far from the

Aegean coast. It includes two main arenas with Olympic dimensions, one with grass for jumping and the other with sand for Dressage, plus one indoor arena and 10 practice areas. There is an impressive Veterinarian Clinic on site, as well as a stable complex with a capacity for 280 horses. So much for my description but a picture speaks a thousand words. Take a look for yourself.

As for the event itself, it was so well organized that everything ran extremely smoothly. I cannot think of any hitches in the proceedings! The final day featured the Nations Cup team competition in two rounds with Romania, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Hungary and Norway competing in that order. After the completion of two rounds by all the teams Norway came out as the winner with 0 penalty points... what an achievement!!

This set them on their way to Barcelona for the World Cup and then next year to

the Tokyo Olympics. Of rather special and unusual interest was the fact that the Norwegian team was made up of 4 members, 3 of whom belonged to the same family! There was the father Geir Gulliksen, the daughter Victoria Gulliksen and the son Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen!!!

What a proud father Geir must be!

The team in second place came from Portugal and third place went to Poland.

Even the results made life easy for us judges... 0 penalties for the first place, 4 penalties for the second place and 8 for the third place. So often teams in the placings end up with equal scores and we judges then are left with the task of adding up the times of the 3 best riders in those teams, quite a feat of mathematical skill when under pressure to get the results out quickly. I know it is also calculated by computer but we have to do it as a back-up to double check the computer results. After all, we are the judges, not the computer operator.

And so there it was, a wonderful straightforward conclusion to an equally wonderful five days in which all those involved... riders, officials, organizers, and I think even the horses agreed had been blessed by Apollo!

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Heidi Caldwell

In the vast sea of new therapeutic equine products it is hard to believe all the hype, but red light therapy is gaining fans with real results.

RevitaVet™ PollCap I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS a few Facebook posts with photos from people showing a funny looking cap on their horse’s heads.

What I saw was the RevitaVet PollCap, which is a light therapy treatment device designed for the poll area for horses. It helps stressful situations, tense behavior and physical problems in this area. Since I have a horse who is a dedicated cribber, doesn’t like to have his right ear touched (think the character Warren in Something About Mary), holds some tension in the poll and has been known to grind his teeth, I figured this cap may be a winner for him.

The PollCap utilizes light therapy, which has been proven in over 40 years of independent research to provide powerful therapeutic benefits and has been used in the veterinarian field for over 20 years. It is a foam-type piece that fits like a head bumper like you would use for trailering and fits under the halter. It is a hands-free, self contained, AA battery powered and has only and on and off feature, so it’s very easy to use. I was instructed to start with about a 15 minute session and could go up to 30 minutes, but the unit itself shuts off after 30 minutes. No need to worry you are overdoing it or forget it is on. This “thinking cap” as I now call it, is a no-brainer!

I introduced it while allowing him to snack freely out of a hay cart so he would enjoy the experience if it was scary at all. It took about 2 minutes for my horse to figure out something was different. After a few minutes he stopped eating the hay and got very zen-like. I

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have only seen this on him a couple times before (once with a Magnawave™ and the other with an acupuncture session).

So indeed there was something to this! Then I did the UNTHINKABLE – took his cribbing collar off. And nothing, no cribbing, no looking for something, anything, to suck on. Hmm...

I rode him right after this and had a good ride with noticeably less tension and more relaxation. Since then, I have also used it with a shoeing session and my farrier concurred it was a better experience for him too (he can get snatchy with his hind legs).

According to their website, the PollCap addresses these common ailments and problematic areas: stiffness, headache, stress, teeth grinding, behavioral problems, head tension and tilting, TMJ, frontal sinuses, sensitive poll and 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae. Since it really does seem to relax a horse, it is recommended to use before shipping, introducing a horse to a new environment and any other situation that may be stressful for your horse.

RevitaVet also has a full body system, the IR2 Complete (hello, Santa?). Smaller units designed specifically for the back, hock, hoof, ankles and more are also available.

Go to revitavet.com for a full product description and more general information on this technology. On their website are several testimonials and case studies. You can also learn more on their Facebook page.

IN MEMORIUM

Jack Cashin

MAGS MOBILE TACK

He believed ‘life should be led like a Cavalry Charge’, and he led the Brigade.

The life of John Gregory Cashin ‘Jack’, ended the morning of September 14th 2019. Jack, aged 93, lived at his horse farm in Alpharetta. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he moved to Georgia in

The Store that comes to you!

©Nina Fields

1973, claiming his soul was born in the south.

He graduated from Colgate University, received a Fulbright Scholarship, and served 2 years in the

US Army Air Corps. Jack enjoyed a part time acting career, an executive position for

‘I regularly travel to barns and shows around Metro Atlanta’

Business Week Magazine, and he was also the Publisher for the magazine DARE. He raced cars, loved scuba diving, sky diving, and owned a restaurant ‘Cashin’s Place’, and he also owned an island in the Bahamas. Jack was best known for his passion Jack Cashin ©Nina Fields

If I don’t have it on the trailer, I wil get it! !

See me at Chatt Hil s, Conyers and other local event facilities Facebook.com/MagsMobileTack

for playing and teaching Polo at Chukar Farm, and continued to play till he was 87 years old.

The family encourages anyone who would like to honor his memory to contribute to the Alzheimer’s Association or a favorite charity.

Devon-aire Noble Outfitters Shires IRH

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Kathryn Lilly Stirrups Southern Equestrian

www. m agsmobi l e t a ck. c om MAGS MOBILE TACK info@magsmobiletack.com The Store that comes to you!

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If I don’t have it on the trailer, I will get it!!!

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Jeff Dufresne

MILTON’S HORSES history with

MILTON has a special history with horses.

From Gold Rush to Shakerag

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When gold was discovered in North Georgia in 1829, horses were used to create about 500 mines in 37 different counties across the State. When the Georgia Gold Rush failed to “pan out”, agriculture became the area’s primary industry. In particular, cotton, corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay and peaches were grown on family farms. At the time, horses were working animals generally used for farming, transportation, communication, and commerce.

The area presently known as North Fulton County became a stopover for pioneers traveling between mountain communities to the railroad terminus – later named Atlanta. The time spent traveling was every bit the issue that it is today. In fact, Milton came about, “to allow a man to get to the court house in one day’s ride by horse,” It was not uncommon to see a countryman returning from the Atlanta market, fast asleep, slumped forward over his saddle bag while his horse plodded his own way home.

By 1858, this area became a thriving commercial center with gristmills, sawmills, cotton gins, post office and a general store. This area became the link (via ferry service) between the hill farmers in the north to markets south in Atlanta. In the spring and fall, local farmers on horseback would drive their livestock, potatoes, apples and honey to Atlanta. They would return home with clothing, tools and other big city items.

Cotton gins have long been replaced with development and horse farms but a few historic icons remain.

Thompson On March 23, 1858, Milton County wasRd.

officially created. This new county was named after John Milton, Georgia’s first secretary of state. At inception, Milton County’s population was about 4,000 people. Milton County covered 147 square miles and Alpharetta was designated as the Milton County seat. Milton County encompassed the present day cities of Milton; Johns Creek; Mountain Park; as well as parts of Roswell and Sandy Springs.

From the start, Milton County faced adversity. Within 3 years, the American Civil War broke out. Although there was no fighting in Milton County, a total of 1.5 million horses were killed during the war... more than double the number of human causalities. The only thing worse than being a soldier from Milton during the Civil War was being a horse.

Milton County remained an agricultural economy for the next 60 years. Cotton farmers in the area were always at the mercy of fluctuating cotton prices, weather, and

later, the dreaded boll weevil. The boll weevil was a small beetle which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. It infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the late-1920s, adversely effecting the industry and people working in the American South.

While boll weevils devastated the Southern economy, the stock market crashed in 1929.

The Great Depression further reduced the demand for horses in this area. By 1930, the average size of a farm in Georgia was 86 acres, down from 430 acres in 1860.

Georgia cotton production, which peaked in 1910 – fell to almost nothing by 1945.

Nearly destitute, Milton County merged into Fulton County in 1932.

At the time of the merger, Milton County’s population had grown to 6,730 residents, which was almost double the County’s population in 1860 when it was founded. Shortly after merger, former Milton County residents received more benefits than were expected, in terms of improved roads, new school buildings, and better equipped teachers. After World War II, Ford, General Motors and Lockheed opened manufacturing plants which offered more employment opportunities for local residents. With more discretionary money, horseback riding was becoming a popular recreational activity and competitive sport.

In the 1950’s, local farmers with a nice ring would host one-day shows for saddle clubs, hunt clubs 4-H shows, western shows, and/or other multi-disciplined shows. As equestrian competitions grew in scale and popularity over the following decades, these “mom-and-pop” shows slowly disappeared.

In 1968, Wills Park was created in response to the community’s desire for an equestrian facility. This one-ring facility was located in Alpharetta. The Wills Park Equestrian Center soon became a haven for horse enthusiasts and regional competitions.

Thanks to Wills Park, this area became known as the “horse capital of the South”.

Today, Wills Park hosts over 50 horse shows a year, including jumping competitions and championship rodeo.

Shakerag is the oldest recognized hunt in Georgia and was located on the eastern edge of the former Milton County (near McGinnis Ferry and Medlock Bridge Roads). This hunt group just celebrated its 75th anniversary and like many equestrian organizations, the Shakerag Hounds are passionate about land conservation. Those who enjoy this sport usually have a great love for the outdoors.

From its humble beginnings as a beast of burden, the horse has become a source of pride and beauty throughout Milton’s bucolic countryside.

Jeff Dufresne is a member of the Milton Historical Society For details, visit www.MiltonGAHistorical Society.com

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DRESSAGE TESTS

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HE’S GOT IT ALL...OR

PONY UP

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3

rd annual

Southeast Schooling Show Championships at Chatt Hills the

Penny Morse

Jennifer Bishop Photography

EVERY YEAR THIS EVENT GROWS, from riders and horses and a much larger representation from other states. This was a show with no complaints, just lots of thanks, and many pats on the back. The atmosphere was exciting; the competitors brought the whole family to watch, so there was a fantastic audience all day.

Friday afternoon the facility was busy with trailers coming in and riders schooling or grazing their horses. The vendors were setting up, and the smoothie lady was keeping us all going with extra expresso shots in the ice coffee!

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Awards and Scholarships...

1. Claire Cumbee Robinson receiving the Starting Point Farm Scholarship for 19 to 30 years old group. 2. Kristen Wilson receiving the Champion Award for Beginner Novice 3 Phase 3. KIm Abernathy and Alison Cochran 4. Erika Swales receiving the $500 Starting Point Farm Scholarship from Melissa Town 5. Shannon Brearton receiving her Starting Point Farm Scholarship from Melissa Town. 6. Carla VanEffen with her scholarship award from Melissa Town and Starting Point Farm. 7. Alexis Troutman Training Level Junior Rider, and Sophia King for Reserve Intro C Young Rider 8. Mark Hook receiving his scholarship award from Melissa Town for the over 50 years of age group. 9. Stirling Stephens winner of the Junior Amoeba 3 Phase 10. Amoeba Junior Combined Training Winner Brooke Taylor with Melissa Town

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Sara Beth Anton gave a fantastic course walk, with a large group of riders, followed by a course walk given by Hugh Lochore. The Opening Ceremonies were led by Katherine Johnson on Jeffrey. With Katherine dressed as a southern belle, and Jeffrey looking very regal, they entertained the crowd by working their way down the arena to lead the riders up to the pavilion for the National Anthem. Everyone stood, and once again not a dry eye in the house, but the tears soon dried when pizza was served.

Saturday started with dressage, with stadium and cross country following later in the day. With so many family members there was a continuous sound of clapping and cheering from the pavilion and along the side of the arena. By late afternoon the final rider had headed back from cross country, the last dressage rider had finished and stadium was quiet. Some took their horses home so they could return for the prize giving, and others changed and relaxed while waiting for the last scores to be calculated, in the pavilion. The decorations were so beautiful, but it was still hard to believe it was Fall when it felt like the middle of summer!

The Saturday award ceremony was quite overwhelming. The pavilion was packed, and the winners were all there waiting for their ribbon and prize, with their families and trainers plus the anticipation of who would be receiving the Starting Point Farm Scholarship awards, generously given by Phil and Melissa Town. It was proud parents, grandparents, family members and trainers raising the roof of the pavilion with their cheers and clapping. The riders all had big smiles, and when it came to the scholarships, the finalists all went home with an award to help with their training. From 12 years old to over 50, all the recipients were over the moon.

Sunday was a much calmer day, but the higher levels certainly rode well enough to impress the judges. Just because it was a schooling show, the cross country was a recognized championship

course and the same with stadium. Seeing quite a few of our local dressage riders and eventers who are regulars at the recognized shows, competing in this competition, proves we are on the same par. The trainers were very complimentary and while we see the recognize entries fall, we predict events like this will continue to grow!

The added bonuses to this event were the photo booth. The riders loved it! Barn pictures, Christmas pictures, horse and rider... you name it, Betty Smith took it with the help of various items such as sunglasses for horses, a unicorn, halo and other props that just make the pictures too much fun!

The pumpkin competition was a huge hit, and not just with the kids! Adults like to carve pumpkins, just in case you did not know!

Saturday evening, we had the relay races with 8 teams of all ages, showing everyone they were not afraid to put on a horse’s

head, and jump rope, attempt to jump over a fence and basically make a fool of one’s self! Congratulations to all of those who took part!

Sunday, we drew the winners of the trainer raffle. There were some very lucky riders who will now get the opportunity to ride with trainers, they normally could not afford or have not had the opportunity to meet.

Why do we need a Championships for Schooling Shows?

With the AEC’s so well attended this year with it being in Kentucky, it would seem there would not be a need for anything else.

But it is not just about those who show at recognized events. 2019 certainly changed the way many think, act and plan their show schedule. Cost was the biggest complaint this year, followed by Safe Sport ruling and, from my own research, so many riders were no longer having fun. There was pressure AHC

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to compete and win, whether riding as a professional or an amateur and from 6 to 60 years old. Many riders over the last few years have modified their competition goals, and schooling shows came into play. There will always be the backyard schooling show that we grew up with, where all the local riders of all ages get together and have fun winning ribbons, but over the past few years the larger facilities have offered their own schooling shows, giving riders an opportunity to show at a recognized facility at a fraction of the price. No longer are these shows just for the professional to take a young horse out before it ran it’s first recognized, but the backyard riders have become regular competitors, along with some of the riders who were just not willing to or could afford to spend over a $1000.00 a weekend to ride 4 dressage tests or

ride a 3 Phase. As some of our riders become older and retired, their income has changes, but their love of the sport has not, so they have crossed over to a less expensive show.

horses, but there are good number of our four-legged friends around that are safe and capable of running around a training course, without causing a possible bankruptcy!

Let’s not forget that the top riders of today, all had to start somewhere, and these are the shows where the talent of tomorrow, is progressing up the levels, preparing for recognized events and hopefully, top trainers looking for talent. Realistically this is not a cheap sport, but these days no sport is cheap.

The days of playing tennis and only having to buy a tennis racquet and a pair of tennis shoes is long gone. Now it is tennis camps, coaches, club memberships, the right clothes, etc. Add it all up, and all sports seem to be on the same monetary level. Granted there are expensive horses and then there are very expensive

So why a championships? The talent we see at the SeSSC is honestly at the same level as that at the AEC’s. The riders are just as dedicated, but one difference with this event, is every rider must have volunteered at a recognized or schooling show, for a minimum of 8 hours. Plus, economically, this event is about a quarter of the cost of the AEC’s or any regional show. The SeSSC also offers dressage divisions, combined training divisions and 3 phase divisions. No other championship offers all three.

A beautiful morning for the Schooling Show Championships.

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Some have questioned why the volunteering hours are necessary to qualify. Well, it is all about economics and appreciation of what is involved to hold a show. If facilities have to start paying people to scribe, steward or pick up poles, those entry fees are going to sky rocket. Sadly, there are few of our recognized riders, young and older, who feel they need to help out. They do not understand that maybe giving some of their time at a show is a wonderful way of saying ‘Thank you for all that you do, let me return the favor,’ or help to keep those costs down.

So, while you may look at events like these and dismiss them, remember that without them, unless your disposable income is going to double in the next few years, you may not be competing as much.

The Southeast Schooling Show Championships has sponsors, offers Scholarships by Starting Point Farm, and big fancy ribbons, prizes and trophies. The whole family attends to watch their child, or sibling, or grandchild, compete and they make a point

of being part of the spirit of the event. The courses are championship worthy and the riders prepare for the competition just as if they were going to Rolex. The difference is, they all get their ribbons, (and they don’t leave them behind) and they appreciate an event that not only recognizes them but also gives them the respect they have earned.

That is what sportsmanship is all about!

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Amber Spiler

Silly Gil

It’s Fall, ya’ll! Or so I’m told.

It doesn’t seem like it because it’s so stinking hot still. It’s me Gil, the cutest pony in the world and I’m suffering a bit because all my leaves are dry and crumbly. They make a weird sound when I try to eat them and they make my tongue feel funny. The good news is that I still have grass even though it’s not as juicy as I like it.

Today my girl has been in and out of the pastures with her grownups getting some of the other horses. I wonder what is going on but I’m not too worried about it because every time she passes me, she gives me a sugar cube or three.

I hear the jingle jangle of the collar of that little Jack Russell terrier mutt. Puck. I try to hide behind a tree because he always seems to get me in trouble and today that is not going to happen.

“Gil!” He is so yappy. “Gil! Gil! Guess what?”

No doubt he will tell me so why guess?

“Gil, today all the horses are getting Fall vacations!” He stops to scratch his ear and I stand there wondering what vacation means.

“It means that all the horses get to rest and go to their favorite place.”

He stands there with those funny ears perked up waiting for me to respond.

Hmmmm. I never work very hard, and my favorite place is right here in my pasture eating my leaves. But my leaves are dry. Also, the grass is not as tasty as usual.

“I think you should go to a green, grassy meadow for your vacation Gil.” Puck gives a little bark. “I want to go to a squirrel farm and chase squirrels all day long.”

Grassy meadow. That sounds fantastic! I bet my girl will know exactly AHC

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right b esid e m e.

The n the vet is sh ots n ow.

I can s m ell the t.

I’m g oing to fain .

I’m g oing d ow n

Then the vet is right beside me. I can smell the shots now. I’m going to faint…I’m going down.

“See that’s all! It’s all done and it didn’t hurt a bit.” My girl is rubbing my neck and the vet is walking away.

I take a deep breath and let out a snort.

I still feel funny but I do have to admit that it really didn’t hurt.

My girl gives me snuggles and kisses my nose.

what type of vacation I will want. She knows everything about me and loves me so much. I am so happy to have such a good girl in my life.

What is she doing here? I get a little queasy because this can’t be good. I look away.

Maybe if I don’t look at her, she won’t see me.

I cock an ear back because even as I’m thinking of her I hear here walking down the gravelly road to come and get me.

I hear footsteps.

I make things easier by meeting her at the gate and sticking my head right into my blue halter.

She praises me by giving me even more sugar and scratching my favorite spot beside my ears.

I take a peek at her and she has something in his hand.

Ahhh! Needles! I hate needles!

I’m starting to feel dizzy now, I try to pull back but I feel so wobbly that I kinda sit on my rump.

She hops on my back and I give her a ride up the trail to the barn.

“Gil, it’s okay.” My girl is trying to comfort me but this is a dirty trick. Who tells someone they are going on fall vacation then calls the vet?

There is a funny white truck parked in front of the barn. It smells familiar and I don’t really like it but maybe it the vacation truck?

I’m pulling and struggling but it’s hard to fight when I’m literally sitting on the ground like a donkey.

My girl gets off of me and tells me not to worry. Worry? Why would I worry? Fall vacation sounds like a great idea!

“Gil, it’s time for your fall vaccinations.”

I hear the truck door slam and…. oh no!!!!

It’s the vet!

I look over at Puck who is slinking away like a large rat.

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Vaccinations?

“I love you so much, you silly pony.

Your vaccinations will keep you from getting sick and needing even more visits from the vet.” I rub my head on her.

She climbs on my back again and we walk down the trail back to my field.

I can hear Puck jingling behind us.

Silly mutt.

She tucks me away for the day and gives me a big, red, juicy apple. I slurp it up and even share a tiny bite with Puck.

As my girl and Puck walk to the house, I think to myself that even though I didn’t get a vacation to the meadow, I still have a pretty good life.

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1/18/17 7:34 AM

THE

BONE YARD

Rain arrived in pitiful condition

JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO I did not know that a group of emaciated horses of various ages and breeds, would steal my heart, the hearts of my staff and clients, and capture the interest of thousands of folks on social media. Nor would I realize that all of these horses would rise to hero status, simply by surviving. They refused to allow one of the worst forms of torture to kill their spirit, even as they stared death in the eye, and hung on hopefully.

Yvonne Barteau

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The first sight of these kind souls, gave my often-said words, “those with no voice of their own, deserve the fairest counsel of all,” a stark new meaning.

JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO I did not know that a group of emaciated horses of various ages and breeds, would steal my heart, the hearts of my staff and clients, and capture the interest of thousands of folks on social media. Nor would I realize, that all of these horses would rise to hero status, simply by surviving. They refused to allow one of the worst forms of torture, to kill their spirit, even as they stared death in the eye, and hung on hopefully.

Starvation. Prolonged food deprivation is a horrible form of abuse. The time it takes to cripple a horse by denying it of a basic need, such as food, is almost too cruel to comprehend. The first sight of these kind souls, gave my often-said words, “those with no voice of their own, deserve the fairest counsel of all,” a stark new meaning.

It was a Sunday. Horses without Humans had gotten a message on our Facebook page. Not long after that, I received a phone call. A woman who I now realize was posing as a Good Samaritan, said she “knew” of some horses who were in pretty bad shape and wondered if my rescue would take them in. Details were vague and sketchy and started to raise suspicion. I had Jenn email some surrender forms to her and then waited to hear back.

That night, just after dark, a small beat up, two horse bumper pull trailer, pulled into the driveway with four horses crowded in it. That moment was the beginning of a realization that grew to horrific proportions.

Cash

14 yr old quarter horse mare who stole everyone’s heart

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The Bone Yard horses continued to progress and their characters started to emerge. Small but precious victories would surprise us daily, like Rain standing up by herself and for herself.

I met Eddie, Rain, Lulu and Frosty as they unloaded in our driveway. Jen Dan, Kassie and I got them settled in and fed them a gruel sort of mix. One that is usually safe to give to horses who are in such dire straits. The four ate ravenously and gratefully. Sweet souls each one. As we gathered information which proved to be full of even more holes, Jen and Dan decided to take information from the driver’s license we had made a copy of, and do a little investigating. They soon learned a sad truth.

This person, the one who had called, and then delivered these near-death individuals, was only a Good Samaritan in the sense that she did not want horses to die... on her property. There were more. In fact, there were fifteen more. Not all as badly off as the first load. However, only the mini mule could be considered healthy, by any stretch of anyone’s imagination. The veterinarian who helped us acquire the rest of this sad lot said she had never seen as many horses with a 1 or 1.5 body score in her life. She told me to expect that some of the group would not make it.

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I was not okay with that. For horses to go through what they had endured I could not let any of this herd die... on my watch.

I felt it was now my responsibility to ensure that my new four legged friends, did indeed get to have their own version of happily ever after. I was determined to do all I could, to see them through to the other side of their distress. Our staff, our facility, and our resources, were all stretched to their collective limits, as we mixed wheelbarrows full of edible mush, monitored intake, separated the bullies from the meek, so all could eat. We devised a way to pick little Eddie and Rain back up when they were too weak to get to their feet.

We cried, we prayed, we worked and finally we smiled. Social media wept with us, added their prayers to ours, donated, and sent supplies, as they followed along, around the world. The herd was quickly and lovingly dubbed as The Bone Yard, and the nickname stuck.

Two weeks passed and none of the herd succumbed. Thoughts of worming,

vaccinations and the care of horses who might actually recover began to take shape.

I began to breathe easier and started sleeping again at night. As The Bone Yard horses continued to progress their characters started to emerge. Eddie was a

Lulu quarter horse mare in her early 20s

charmer, Trooper was... just that. Soldier, well him too. A true Soldier stuck in a war for survival. Lulu formed an endearing attachment to her caretaker Mike. Rain started to stand up by herself and then for herself. Small precious victories defined our days. I started recording a morning update on Facebook and thousands checked our Horses without Humans page to see how their favorites were faring.

A few moments... kept haunting me. When we went to pick up the remaining horses after receiving confirmation that all 19 would be surrendered we learned a few things. As Dr. Latcher and I studied the forlorn souls we would inherit, we noticed one, with a noticeable gait abnormality. We both suspected neurological problems and questioned, their now questionable owner.

She replied. “Oh no he is fine; he was just accidentally dragged by a truck.” Who says that? Fine, and accidentally dragged by a truck, do not belong in the same sentence as far as I am concerned. I also realized I did not belong anywhere near the sort of people who could feed themselves day after day, knowing that they were systematically torturing some of the kindest horses I have met in a very long time.

The other sad reality was that even though these horses all lived together on the same property she had chosen to feed four of

them. They were her favorites, and ones that she initially wanted to keep. I talked to the officer there and said if she let any horse much less 15 get into the shape these were in she should not be allowed to keep even one of them. I was willing to bring the news onto the property and have them document and publicize this story if she did not legally surrender all of the horses she was supposed to have been caring for.

The horses who had been fed were still in poor shape but they were not terrible.

They earned their nickname of “The Chosen Ones”.

I will end this piece with good news. As my initial agreement to take in these horses sank in I cannot say that I was not worried that we could handle the financial strain the Bone Yard horses would put on our fairly new rescue. I am a horse trainer and not independently wealthy. These horses needed a lot of things. I take my responsibilities seriously and I knew I would find a way.

Sure enough, a way through emerged as folks who had read, or heard of, our situation, started stepping forward.

Donations, volunteers, Amazon gifts of shampoo, fungus medicine, wound treatment and wormer, started to show up at the farm. Every day began to feel like a sort of Christmas, for these horses. A

group who had been denied so much, but were now basking in the kindness of a nation.

I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to get to know these horses and being part of their journey back towards health. I have learned much from them. I will say that seeing this herd rise from the ashes of their despair and nicker as I show up to feed them in the mornings are now some of my most precious memories. I thank all of the new friends and old who stepped up to help lighten my load. Life truly is about what we can do for those with no voice of their own and I am lucky to have met The Bone Yard when I did.

I encourage any of you reading to reach out if you can with donations through our feed store in Fort White, Florida. They have a list of what the Bone Yard eats.

Their number is 386-497-1366. Also, you could go to our website www.horseswithouthumans.org and donate through there.

Oh, and a documentary is in the works...

Thank you and cheers all!

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A PAIN IN THE

NECK

can Mesotherapy help your horse?

Alfredo Sanchez, DVM, MS, DACVIM Associate Professor, Equine Field Service, Dept. of Clinical Sciences Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine

MESOTHERAPY IS A THERAPEUTIC treatment technique for horses that are experiencing chronic back and neck pain. Mesotherapy involves the use of multiple microinjections of a combination of products into the mesoderm (middle layer of the skin) with very fine, short needles to relieve muscle pain, by stopping the pain spasm cycle and decreasing inflammation. This middle layer of the skin has large nerve fibers that run directly from the spinal cord. The nerve fibers are stimulated by the treatment, which results in a decrease of pain and consequently improve healing.

There are several theories about why mesotherapy works for pain relief. One theory is that by physically injecting the dermis, there is stimulation of the inhibitory nerves which will break the pain-spasm cycle.

Another theory is that by using multiple microinjections at the site, the drugs will stay for a longer period of time and will be released slowly into the area of pain or muscle spasm. Another benefit of locally delivered medication is that side effects such as stomach ulcers and kidney toxicity, encountered when systemic antiinflammatories are administered, are avoided.

Mesotherapy is a technique that has been used for many years in human medicine, since it was developed by Dr. Pistor in France in 1952 to treat inflammation caused by arthritis.

In horses, this technique is used to treat neck, back and pelvic pain caused by arthritis or other causes of chronic pain. Some of the conditions that mesotherapy has been used to treat in horses include

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sacroiliac pain, back pain associated with ill-fitting saddles or overriding spinous processes (aka “kissing spine”), unilateral neck stiffness, generalized back discomfort, tail swishing or pain secondary to lameness.

Horses with a sore back usually are very stiff in their movements, are reluctant to saddling, are short- strided, and are generally uncomfortable when worked or exercised.

Horses could also start developing some behavioral changes including avoiding contact during grooming of the back and sides of chest, rearing and bucking or resist backing up. Depending on the discipline and use of the horse they may have some specific behaviors they can start developing.

For example dressage horses may resent lateral work in one direction more than the other or act stiff and reluctant to engage their hindquarters.

Jumpers, may act in general very tense and unable to focus, and will either rush to the fences or may refuse to jump combinations.

Trail horses will usually try to escape their back pain by rushing up or down hills and they will also go sideways to minimize pain.

It is important to perform a complete physical examination on the horse to determine the potential causes for the behavior the horse is exhibiting. A thorough physical examination and evaluation of trimming and shoeing are necessary before starting therapy, as there could be several contributing factors for cervical and back pain. Diagnostic imaging (radiographs and ultrasound) may be necessary before initiating mesotherapy treatments to evaluate for other potential causes that could explain the symptoms, such as neurologic conditions or arthritic changes that would require different management. It is important to

Since medication is being deposited in the dermis, small bumps will be present at the end of the procedure, but they will resolve within a few days.

The majority of horses will show improvement within 5-7 days after treatment with repeat trEAtments possible every 6-12 months. know that mesotherapy will not be the cure for every cause of back or neck pain.

Mesotherapy may need to be used in combination with other modalities such as chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture, shock wave and laser therapy. If needed adequate trimming and shoeing may also be needed to correct other causes of discomfort. In some cases medical management with pain medication and anti-inflammatories may also be required.

For the procedure, the horse will be sedated and the affected area will be surgically prepared for the injections to minimize the risk of infection. Since medication is being deposited in the dermis, small bumps will

be present at the end of the procedure, but they will resolve within a few days. It is recommended that the area is not washed and refrain from placing tack on the horse’s back for two days, to minimize the risk of reaction at the injection site. The majority of horses will show improvement within 5-7 days after treatment. Depending on the response of the horse to the treatment, it may be required to repeat the treatments every 6-12 months. It is important to remember that this therapy is not intended to reverse or heal the changes that are already present in the horse’s back, but to provide relief by decreasing muscle pain and inflammation.

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what’s it all about,

Eberhard?

CERTAIN THEMES BUBBLE UP again and again in the great wide world of dressage instruction. You’ve got your bio mechanists, your “position-is-everything-ers,” your dominators, Dressage-Lite proselytizers, and practitioners of at least a zillion more flavors of training. I’m a “Form Follows Function” guy. I urge my students never to lose sight of the basic question–what did we come here to do in the first place? Robert Dover once defined our task as “behavior modification and body building.”

Believe me, if you’ve set out to do either of those things with a thousand pound (or sixteen hundred pound) animal, you had better figure out how to maximize your communication skills or you’ll be talking to a brick warmblood!

Helping a rider identify her priorities–what to be thinking and what to be doing–is always a big part of every instructor’s job. The problem is further complicated when we face a rider who’s new to us, and she arrives with her own baggage and a preconceived vision of what she should be about.

Along these lines, I met a new student in Costa Rica–an American travel writer living there and employed by a website whose clientele is comprised of U.S. citizens shopping for vacation opportunities.

As much as I always want to “get something accomplished” in the limited time I have, I try to let things develop gradually. Over the hour the student and I can find our way to a solution that helps

Her horse, a former jumper, was pleasant enough, i.e. not likely to cause her serious injury, but when asked to show me what she’d been working on, she rode him around in total passivity–no energy, no meaningful contact, no attempt to produce any kind of frame or balance. Alfie, you see, had ridden (equitation) as a child, then, prior to acquiring this new horse, had been away from the sport for fourteen years.

As much as I always want to “get something accomplished” in the limited time I have, I try to let things develop gradually.

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Bill Woods

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DRESSAGE

Over the years I have discovered that to blurt out, “Oh, my god!

What in the world are you doing? Ride him on the aids!” doesn’t usually send a new student rushing back for more lessons. Nor does shredding her dignity and self esteem by pounding her in the first five minutes with a recitation of all the things she’s doing wrong.

her go away with an insight into the scheme she should follow in her training. So in this case I opted to try a mechanical approach: “feel a heavier contact,” “push him into a more alive connection,” “get him coming off your inside leg more promptly,” but nothing changed very much.

When a rider is passive to begin with and has grown up in a tradition of keeping the aids invisible (whether she’s doing anything or not) and of avoiding getting scolded rather than discovering ways to be creative, the challenge is obvious. It’s all about changing her goals.

So we took a “study break” and conferred in arena center.

“Alfie, tell me what you’re thinking while you’re riding,” I proposed.

“Well,” she offered rather tentatively, “I’m thinking of keeping my wrists ‘like this.’ I’m trying to keep the rhythm of my posting steady, and I’m trying to keep my weight down in my heels and not lean

forward from my hips.”

Her answer didn’t surprise me at all. But how to get her to re-prioritize and see things differently?

Keeping her “other life” in mind, I suggested this scenario: “Imagine you’ve gone off to survey a new resort... you’ve tried all the amenities... you’ve sampled each of the main dishes at the restaurant... and you’ve gone home to write it up for the website. You’re sitting at home on your deck by the pool, and forsaking your laptop, you’re writing up your review on an old fashioned, lined tablet with a pencil in your hand. And I interrupt and say to you, ‘tell me what you’re thinking about.’

“If you answer I’m thinking about holding the pencil just so between my thumb and my index finger, keeping the proper angle but not putting too much pressure on the point, then it’s OK to address your riding that way, too!”

“But you’re in the business of communicating, and that’s the essence of how we try to ride as well. If that isn’t your focus, if all the window dressings and mechanical details aren’t designed to facilitate that one over-arching goal, then all those efforts won’t amount to anything in the long run!”

I’m happy to say that Alf caught the drift of my message, and she began to really ride. By focusing on what she was saying to her horse, in the span of two days she was able to establish a contact, start to shape his topline, and make use of his potential.

She’s still near the beginning of the road, and yes, she should check in on her wrists and her heels and her hip angle periodically.

But now she has found a thread of interaction to explore between her horse and herself, step by step, second by second.

That relationship is what will make her riding less rote and end up producing real dressage results as she goes on.

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Emma Sevriens

T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L D R E A M P R O G R A M

CHIO AACHEN FOUR VERY LUCKY and deserving young dressage riders get the trip and experience of a lifetime. Local rider Emma Sevriens was one of the lucky ones and shares her experience with us.

BY MEANS OF THE generosity of the Dressage Foundation, I was able to go on a trip of a lifetime and experience CHIO Aachen. With the International Dream Program, we arrived in Germany on July 16th and headed home on the 22nd. Four young dressage riders were selected; Sophia Chavonelle from Maine, Bridgid Browne from Kentucky, Raissa Chunko from Colorado, and myself. The process of applying for this program included questions about our goals and aspirations in the sport, how we have contributed to the sport, etc. We also had to submit a few essay questions, a video of our riding, and it was required that we have ridden at fourth level or higher. Aachen is a horse show like no other.

The riders are all of the best of the best, the facility is top-notch, and the atmosphere is unbelievable.

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Our chaperones, Reese Koffler-Stanfield and Bill McMullin did a wonderful job of filling our week with worthwhile meetings with judges, riders, and other professionals in the sport. While meeting and speaking with everyone, I noticed that there were some common themes that I think are important to share with others who love this sport like I do.

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Syndicates and Sponsors This was a common topic of interest between our group of young riders. We spoke to Adrienne Lyle about this quite a bit; she explained to us all of the work and management that goes into putting a syndicate together. A syndicate basically allows investors to bear the financial demands of owning a horse. The risk is shared between a group of owners rather than a single owner bearing the entire expense. Adrienne’s current top horses, Salvino and Harmony’s Duval, are both owned by syndicates. This is an important stepping stone in an aspiring young professional’s career; having a strong team around you is crucial. More information on acquiring or participating in syndicates can be found at experiencedressage.com and/or ahtf3day.org.

Ups and Downs Many of the riders spoke about this, and I found it very reassuring that even the best of the best goes through ups and downs, but this is a part of the sport and perseverance is key. For instance, when we met with Kathrine Bateson Chandler and Carl Hester, they told us how important it is to believe in yourself and in your horse.

Katherine said, “you have to make your horse feel like he’s a genius.” According to Carl, it is our job as riders to make our horses into the best versions of themselves.

The topic of mental health was highlighted in our discussion with Steffen Peters. He explained that how we program our minds to think greatly

impacts our health as well as our performance in the saddle. Continually, he stated that meditation has made a tremendous difference in how he handles the stress that goes along with competing at this level.

3 Keeping Your Emotions in Check The way you present yourself plays a huge role in one’s success. Your image is very valuable. Besty Juliano stated that when she is looking for a rider to sponsor, she looks at how the rider deals with success as well as failure. A rider needs to be able to lose, and react accordingly. It is also crucial that the rider is able to keep his/ her emotions in check while in the saddle.

Debbie McDonald advised us to always value and protect our reputation. The image you portray can make or break you.

The stands are full of so many knowledgeable spectators, so when a rider makes a mistake you can hear the crowd sigh with disappointment.

The Best of the Best Aachen is a very unique show for countless reasons. It has a long-standing reputation for being a prestigious event, and for having a great quantity of topquality riders. It has been happening since the 1920’s, as a result, it has a great impact on the city of Aachen’s culture.

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Furthermore, the atmosphere at Aachen is very special. The stands are full of so many knowledgeable spectators, so when a rider makes a mistake you can hear the crowd sigh with disappointment. Also, if a judge rewards a movement with a 9 or 10 on the scoreboard, the crowd mumbles with satisfaction.

For many professionals, Aachen is truly an event to look forward to. Top riders in many disciplines–dressage, jumping, eventing, driving–are there. One special celebrity sighting we had was George Morris, who we spotted at the hotel’s breakfast. Of course, we snagged a quick selfie.

Facing page: 1. Visiting the “social media lounge” on the show grounds... #chioaachen! 2. An unexpected but super cool sighting was us finding George Morris in our hotel at breakfast! This page: 3. Enjoying a bit of shopping at the Blue Hors tent 4. The group chatting with Juan Matute Jr.

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The judges want to see that the whole picture appears effortless. These are the rides that give the judges goosebumps and garner the top marks and scores.

Harmony We spent a large portion of the trip meeting with FEI 5* judges, including Janet Foy, Magnus Ringmark, Maria Colliander, and Elke Ebert. While their points of view all varied, they all agreed that what they’re looking for is harmony between the horse and rider. They want to see the whole picture appear effortless. These are the rides that give the judges goosebumps and garner the top marks and scores.

I want to thank everyone at the Dressage Foundation for making this trip possible. It was such a privilege to be able to see such a countless amount of great riders in person, and to experience that atmosphere at CHIO was incredible. The International Dream Program is a wonderful program, and I believe that it is so important for our American Young Riders to experience this kind of competition first hand–there is nothing else like it.

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4 1. Dining in the beautiful old town of Aachen 2. Spotted Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester while shopping! 3. Buying some sweets at a cute little bakery in Aachen 4. The group meeting with US Dressage Chef d’ equipe Debbie McDonald

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