New York Horse: Winter 2014-15

NEW YORK HORSE Reining CENTRAL NEW YORK EDITION

WINTER 2014

Slide into Excellence

Set Goals For Yourself and Your Horse Why Girls + Horses = Self Esteem NYHorseMag.com

Stories. Advice. Horseplay.

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Features

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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28

29

36

Let it Rein

Off the Beaten Path

Field Goals

Pony Tale

It’s America’s equestrian sport and it’s the world’s fastestgrowing discipline.

In this issue: insights, advice and secrets worth stealing from a top judge and a gold medal winner.

NYH trots south to Cortland County and the familyfriendly horse trails at Tuller Hill State Forest.

Want to take yourself and your horse to the next level? Remember the basics, don’t skip steps, and recognize when you’ve aimed too high.

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Whoever said “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” got it all wrong. A horse shines brighter.

Stable Investment

Seven steps to turn your dream of a horse business from a backyard vision into a financial reality.

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New York Horse Road Trip

Maple season is all the sweeter at Yancey’s Sugarbush in Lewis County, where the horsepower comes with four hooves and a whinny. Plus: the nosher’s guide to Croghan. Hand-dipped Kahlua truffles anyone?

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Guide 49

60-Second Clinic

50

Secrets Worth Stealing

52

Buy Local

54

By The Numbers

55

Good Horsekeeping

Show jumping legend George Morris on brainwashing, patience, and why a little cowboy is good for everyone

“Learning and the desire to improve” is vital to every rider, Olympian Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz says at Dressage at Canterbury.

Make it a horsey holiday for every equinaficionado on your list

These 12 riding habits topped the equestrian to-don’t list.

It takes more than hay to keep a horse healthy through the winter.

Departments 4 7 8

21

Leg Up

Introducing New York’s new rodeo queens

On the Cover Sarah Condon’s portrait of two horses perfectly captures the icy beauty of winter’s equine landscape. Find more of Sarah’s work in the Artful Horse, page 32. And read about her journey from horse-loving girl to equine photographer in the NYH Spotlight, page 6. Photo by Sarah Jean Condon Photography of Skaneateles, online at sarahjeancondonphotography.com/.

Note: A credit line did not appear

with two photos that accompanied the story on Limestone Creek Hunt.

The photographer is Gloria Wright.

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10 12 14 16 19 56

Editor’s Note Thanks To Our Underwriters Leg Up

News, Notes and Conversation Starters Leg Up

Armchair Equestrian Leg Up

Calendar Leg Up

Newsmaker catches up with Beezie Madden Leg Up

Equinomics looks at trust funds for horses Leg Up

Mythbusters takes on the Loomis Gang and the bob-tailed nag Parting Shot

EDITOR’S NOTE

Why Horsepower means so much

To Girl Power E

veryone has to start somewhere. Like a lot of kids who later graduated to the real thing, I started on a rocking horse that went nowhere, except in my imagination. Even then, as this picture shows, I displayed the ‘Look Ma, no hands’ approach to life that – in hindsight – explains a lot about my decision to launch a magazine when I could be doing something a lot more prudent. Swimming with sharks, perhaps. Or skydiving without a parachute.

But horses will have that effect on girls; even on those of us who can barely glimpse girlhood in the rear-view mirror.

On a horse, you were eight feet tall. You learned about falling off and getting back up and that forces beyond your control – say, four extra legs and a brain hardwired for fight or flight – can and will shape your fortunes. (Ask me about why there’s enough metal in my left wrist to build a small aircraft carrier.)

Horses were the great equalizer, teaching that skill and dedication mattered, not who owned the most expensive pair of boots. Horse shows taught that skill and dedication sometimes weren’t enough: The best horses stumbled, the best riders had off days, and the kid who never practiced turned in the ride of her life and went home with the blue ribbon.

We believed in horses and, because of them, we believed in ourselves.

As Jeanne Albanese’s wonderful story in this issue shows, those truths still hold strong. And what we knew instinctively has been confirmed by research: Riding a horse has a positive impact on a girl’s self-esteem.

Also in this issue, read about reining, America’s contribution to equine sports; learn how to set goals for yourself and your horse; and visit a sugarbush in Lewis County that only employs four-legged horsepower.

Above all, however you celebrate the holiday season, remember what it felt like to be a very small child on a very big horse, and let your spirit soar.

4 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

SPOTLIGHT

Sarah

Condon

I

started photographing horses in 2000; I was probably around 14 years old. I was using disposable cameras at the time, but I had learned about photography from my dad, using his old Minolta film camera from the 70’s. I was in love with horses and I just had to document everything about them. I had one photo of my quarter horse, Chips Ahoy, that was taken in an indoor arena with one of the large doors open, allowing in the light from the sunset. It was gorgeous, we called it ‘Chip’s Golden Moment.’ It was just a simple head shot, but with the light highlighting his handsome face and contouring in the shadows I learned I could make something beautiful — art.

I rode and showed almost every weekend in the hunter/jumper/equitation circuit in Central New York and the Rochester area. I basically lived at the barn.

I took photography classes in high school and my photo teacher really encouraged me to explore my surroundings and play with light. … After taking classes for two years I knew I wanted to go to college for photography.

I got into RIT and started as a photography major in the fall of 2004.

At RIT we were transitioning from film to digital formats; it was an interesting time to be studying photography. We had to do a lot of studio work. I appreciate it now as it has helped me to understand lighting better, but … I loved natural lighting and candid photographs, as opposed to staged scenarios.

I finally knew I wanted to go into photojournalism at the end of my sophomore year, when I met a professor whose entire class focused on documenting a community. … This was the kind of photography I wanted to do. I documented the riding community, mostly barn girls and the horses they loved. The project was a hit! I was inspired and I got an A in the class. I had a future as a photographer after all.

I graduated in 2008. In the recession. With a photojournalism degree in a changing industry. I freelanced here and there, but there were no job offers, so I continued to photograph horses.

In 2009, one of my photographs was published in National Geographic as part of the “Visions in Paradise” contest. It was of my horse Chip rolling in the dust as the sun was setting. Once again I knew I was on the right path.

For the summers of 2010 and 2011, I pursued a photography project at Saratoga Racecourse and expanded my portfolio, rising before the sun every morning to catch the mist over the track. It was magical, allowing me to find the type of photos I wanted to make.

November 2011, I was offered a job at The Citizen, a daily newspaper in Auburn. I am currently working there and love what I do every day.

But I still take time to photograph for myself and document the horses and the people that love them. I believe there is no stronger bond.

6 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

NEW YORK HORSE Editor & Publisher Janis Barth jbarth@nyhorsemag.com

UNDERWRITING SUPPORT

New York Horse is published in part with underwriting support from: Canterbury Stables; Cazenovia College and the New York State Center for Equine Business Development; Blue Ocean Strategic Capital, LLC; Morton Buildings; Morrisville State College; The Beattie Sanctuary.

PRESENTATION

Art Director Darren Sanefski dasanefs@go.olemiss.edu

EDITORIAL

Contributing Editor Renée K. Gadoua editor@nyhorsemag.com Jeanne Albanese Ciara Bowen

Contributing Writers Russ Tarby Catherine B. Eberl Dr. Madalyn Ward Katie Navarra Melissa N. Subjeck

Contributing Photographers David Blatchley Heather Bragman Sarah Condon

ADVERTISING

Advertising Director Peter K. Barth advertising@nyhorsemag.com

New York Horse magazine is published quarterly by: Tremont8 Media LLC 3461 Janet Lane Cazenovia NY 13035.

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. All material submitted to the magazine becomes the property of Tremont8 Media. Submitted material may be excerpted or edited for length and content and may be published or used in any format or medium, including online or in other print publications.

To subscribe: Write to New York Horse, P.O. Box 556, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Subscriptions are $12/year. Please include your name and address and a check or money order for the full amount. For gift subscriptions, include the name and address of each recipient and we will send a card in your name.

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NEW YORK HORSE U N D ERWRITERS

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Leg Up

N E W S , N O T E S A N D C O N V E R S AT I O N S TA R T E R S New president takes reins of NYS Horse Council Trending: Holiday gifts for fourlegged friends and family No real surprise here: During the holidays, horse owners love to give gifts to the equines in their life.

According to a survey conducted by Manna Pro Products, an animal care and nutrition company, 98 percent of horse owners give their horses a gift at Christmas, and 74 percent of horse owners give their horses gifts for special occasions.

The most popular gift is a package of horse treats.

Steve Ropel of Glenfield was elected president of the New York State Horse Council at the 2014 General Meeting, held this year in Liverpool. Ropel is a longtime NYSHC board member, a member of the Farm Bureau’s Equine Committee and Friends of Otter Creek horse trails. He succeeds Marsha Himler as president.

In an interview with the Farm Bureau, Ropel said challenges faced by the equine industry include increasing taxes, and rising feed and fuel charges, which “make it difficult for start-ups and stress expansions.” Land use issues are another challenge, Ropel said, along with questions of “how to deal with unwanted and unneeded” horses.

Sara Chevako of New Woodstock, treasurer of the Horse Council, received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement award.

Considering a change of address? Introducing .horse A new domain name – .horse – offers a new way for a website address to display an affiliation with the horse industry and the equine community. “.horse has been created to specifically serve the equine industry – breed registries, riding organizations, farms, tack suppliers, pharmaceuticals, non-profits … and all those who are passionate about riding,” said Cyndi Greathouse, director of marketing for the domain. (A domain is the letters to the right of the dot in a web address.)

The launch of .horse is part of a restructuring of the Internet’s naming system by ICANN, its governing body. Web addresses with the .horse domain can be registered at sites like godaddy and network solutions.

Filly wins at Devon for Canterbury Stables Celebration, a yearling Hanoverian filly owned by Kimberley Dougherty, head trainer at Canterbury Stables, Cazenovia, won the yearling filly class at Dressage at Devon with a score of 84.4.

She was fifth in the Oldenburg class, out of all age groups, and also received a ribbon of recognition in the Born in the USA yearling filly class. Born in the USA, always a favorite at the show, was developed in 2003 by the Dressage at Devon Committee to recognize and reward the achievements of American sport horse breeders.

To be eligible, horses must be conceived and foaled in the USA. Celebration was bred by High Point Hanoverians, Chestertown, MD. “Celebration was a star at Devon this year, handled herself as if she had been showing her whole life,” Dougherty said. “We look forward to returning to Devon with her next year along with her full brother, Chaperone, also bred by High Point Hanoverian.

I can’t wait to watch these future dressage stars develop!”

8 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

Story update: Waltzing Horse farm is moving

Ithaca College Equestrian Team gets corporate sponsor Kentucky Performance Products, an equine supplement company, will sponsor the Ithaca College Equestrian Team.

In a statement, the company said it “realizes that the young people of today are the horsemen of the future and that it is imperative that they have the opportunities to learn and train with experienced professionals. Intercollegiate programs across the nation, under the umbrella of IHSA, offer riders of all skill levels a chance to learn more about horsemanship while attending college.”

The Ithaca College team has more than 30 riders, ranging from beginner walk-trot to former Grand Prix competitors. In the 2013-14 season, Ithaca ranked fourth among 13 teams competing in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone II Region I. The team trains at If Only Farm in Freeville, and is coached by Audra Ravo Putnam, an alumna of the team.

In the premiere issue of NY Horse, you read about Sarah Casey and her Lipizzans.

This winter, Casey is relocating the training and lesson portion of the business to 6000 Rock Road, Verona, where it will be known as Waltzing Horse Dressage, LLC at Voltra Farm. The original stables will be maintained as home to the foundation Lipizzaner breeding stock.

The new training center, Casey said will offer “customized care and training for the horses participating in the program, as well as instruction for riders at all levels who are interested in the classical art of dressage.”

North Country farrier part of international championship Ben Mangan of Carthage, Jefferson County, was part of the American Farrier’s Association team that took third place in the International Team Horse Shoeing Championship this fall.

Team members are chosen each year based on points earned at the North American Forging and Horse Shoeing Competition held in conjunction with the AFA’s annual convention.

The two-day competition, held in Stoneleigh, England, requires team members to complete specific shoeing assignments accurately and within an allotted period of time. American farriers face the additional challenge of working with a coke forge, rather than one that’s propane fired, as normally used in the US. First place went to England.

Is riding good exercise? That depends on how you ride It’s a cinch that riding is good exercise for the horse, but how about for the humans on their back? (We’ll get to driving in a moment.) Turns out there’s a study on that very question and the answer is: It all depends on how you ride.

According to the Compendium of Physical Activities, horseback riding in general has the same MET (metabolic equivalent) as badminton. Jumping provides the most intense workout, about the same as rollerblading or playing basketball.

Then comes cantering or galloping (think kickball or rock climbing); trotting (cheerleading); and walking (bowling).

Bad news for pleasure drivers. The Compendium says that’s about the same workout as sitting on a horse, or slightly less intense then playing darts. But all those horse chores – including harnessing – provide a moderate workout, about the same as playing golf.

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 9

LEG UP: ARMCHAIR EQUESTRIAN

Make room on your rider’s bookshelf for this problem solver

G

NOT THE HORSE YOU WANT? CREATE HIM FROM WHAT YOU HAVE

ot the perfect horse? We didn’t think so. But according to Doug Payne, author of The Riding Horse Repair Manual (Trafalgar Square Books. Paperback, 224 pages, $29.95) there are foolproof ways to solve any horse’s bad behavior under saddle.

Whether it’s bucking, rearing, bolting, refusing, grinding teeth or running out – to name just a very few – Payne has tips and techniques for correcting some of the most common problems riders experience. The book explains

WIN THIS We have a copy of The Riding Horse Repair Manual to give away to one of our readers. To enter, send an email with your name and address to editor@ nyhorsemag.com and put BOOK in the subject line. We will select one winner at random from the entries we receive.

A horse is said to be “strong” or a “puller” if he leans on your reins and is just dull and unresponsive to your aids.

This is usually a learned behavior, although some horses are predisposed to pull. Classic pullers are not your “sensitive” type of horse and have learned to rely on the rider for support.

Solution 1 Transitions will help this horse. Seeing that he is generally dull to your hand, it’s important to teach him to be more responsive to your other aids. Your weight is probably the most under-utilized aid: Pay close attention and don’t allow your upper body to lean forward because this tends to place your horse more on the forehand, furthering his need to hang on you.

Solution 2 Horses that appear strong can actually be quite weak.

Their fitness plan is vital. As your horse becomes physically fitter, he will become lighter — that is, less strong. Hills are your best friend. If you are lucky enough to have a hill nearby, go out and work on it at least twice a week.

Solution 3 the causes for problem behavior – from physical issues and poor riding to holes in a horse’s education – and offers dozens of solutions and step-by-step exercises.

Curious?

Here’s a sample of Payne’s advice in the Repair Manual on how to fix a horse that pulls:

10 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

Take advantage of a ground person — or a mirror, if available in an arena — to determine if your horse is truly straight or not. Many horses turn their body into a “pretzel” with their haunches in and their shoulder “popping” out.

This lack of straightness inevitably creates a very unstable position, where the rider ends up supporting the horse’s weight.

Performing straightening and suppling exercises will be of help.

LEG UP: CALENDAR DECEMBER 7

Fairway Farms “Fall Into Spring Series” hunter show. Opportunity to compete through CNY’s snowy months. Fairway Farms, 7025 Fairway Drive, Westmoreland. Call ahead or check on Facebook for cancellations due to weather. More information at fairwayfarm.net.

13

Cheer for the next generation of riders competing with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. Hunt seat shows in the region are scheduled for: Dec. 13 and Jan. 17 at Heritage Stables, 681 Franklin St., Skaneateles. IEA Zone 2 semi-finals for New York are March 14 at the Alfred University Equestrian Center. More information: rideiea.org.

J A N U A R Y 15

CNY Horse Club meeting. Competitive trail rider and trail riding judge, Dr. Elaine Larsen from Skidmore College, will speak. 7 p.m. at the JM McDonald Center, Fairgrounds Avenue, Cortland. More information: cnyhorseclub.org or cnyhorseclub@gmail.com.

31

CNY Reining Horse Association annual banquet. NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter will speak. More information: cnyrha.com.

CNY Dressage and Combined Training Association, Year End Awards Banquet.

11 a.m. at the Lincklaen House, Cazenovia. More information: cnydcta.org.

F E B R U A R Y 21

Intercollegiate Horse Show Association hunt seat show. 9 a.m. start at Cazenovia College Equestrian Center. More information: cazenovia.edu.

Cherry Valley Carriage Association sponsors Carriage Association of America workshop on the driver proficiency exam by CAA evaluator Jerry Trapani. 9 a.m. at the Homer Senior Center, 31 N. Main St., Homer.

More information: Carol Ilacqua at cilacqua@twcny.rr.com.

Editor’s Pick Dress warm and enjoy an open air, horse-drawn sleigh ride through Highland Forest’s winter woods. Rides by Highland Outfitters are available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends, Dec. 13-Feb. 28, and all week between Christmas and New Year’s. No reservations; rides are on a first come, first served basis. Cost is $6 per person; $3 for children 5 and under. More information: highland-outfitters.com.

12 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

LEG UP: NEWSMAKER

In sensational style, Beezie Madden and Cortes C clinch win at the National

By Kendall Bierer

A

fter leading Team USA to the FEI Challenge Cup with two flawless clutch rides, Beezie Madden and Cortes C outgunned teammate McLain Ward in November at the 131st National Horse Show in Lexington, KY. In a sensational jump-off, Madden edged out Ward by a single second to claim the $250,000 Canadian Pacific Grand Prix. Madden had the advantage of going last and ripped across the finish line in a blistering 34.71 seconds to nail the win. Ward and Rothchild, his 10 year old chestnut gelding, posted a time of 35.73 seconds and settled for second place.

“I didn’t think I left a lot out there, but I wasn’t confident I was going to win either with Beezie coming behind

me,” Ward admitted. “Maybe if I had gone after her, I would have tried to do the impossible, but I did about all that I could. My horse doesn’t have quite as big a stride, but he jumped super.”

Ward’s ride set the stage for Madden and her always ready-to-go partner. She matched Ward’s track step for step, but Cortes has the bigger stride and the pair raced home with a clear to clinch.

“I knew McLain was very fast.

My husband John told me that,” Madden said after the win. “I knew that I would have to pull out all the stops. He also told me to take a risk and use his scope at the last fence.”

Of Cortes C, her magnificent black Belgian Warmblood, she said: “He’s been amazing all year. I’m really happy that he came back and did well. This is his first competition back in the states. I’m really happy he’s still on form and doing well.

“He’s like a big puppy dog. He loves attention from people. He’ll put his head right in your lap. I think he’d love to be a lapdog in his next life,” she smiled. “He’ll let you know if he doesn’t like something though. He’ll make that very clear.”

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• Equine Feed – Agway, Nutrena, Purina • Animal Healthcare Supplies • Authentic Walls Outdoor Clothing • Rocky, Muck & Georgia Boots • Birdseed, Feeders, Rock Salt & More Winter Essentials

In Our Garden Center & Gift Shop • Greeting Cards, Garden Flags, Fairy Garden Supplies • Local Honey & Maple Syrup • Vegetable & Garden Seed • Puzzles & Many More Gift Items

LEG UP: EQUINOMICS

Does your horse need an Estate Plan?

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR EQUINE FAMILY IF THEY OUTLAST YOU

Y

By Melissa N. Subjeck and Catherine B. Eberl

ou’ve just finished your morning barn chores. The horses are fed, their stalls are clean. As you start your second cup of coffee, a news article catches your eye: “Horses Seized after Owner Dies.”

You read on. Twenty horses were seized after the owner’s unexpected death. The owner’s widow, not a horse person, asked for the horses to be taken away. The horses will be sent to auction. The horses that don’t sell may be euthanized if they cannot find other homes. You wonder: How can this happen? Will these horses really be euthanized? Will others be sold to killer buyers? Looking out at your small herd, you realize this could happen to them. You don’t have an estate plan, you’ve never even thought about a will. If something happened to you, your horses could meet the same, sad fate.

If owners don’t take appropriate steps to provide for their horses, the consequences can be dire. Without a will, your horse will become the property of your heirs, in accordance with New York state law. These family members may have no interest in inheriting your horses, and no knowledge of how to care for them or how to go about selling them.

16 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

What can I do to protect my horses if they outlive me?

Horses can be protected with careful planning and sound legal advice. The first consideration in estate planning for your horse is ‘who’: Who among your family, friends, or equine contacts has the desire and knowledge to care for or sell your horse?

The next consideration is ‘how’: How should this person take ownership of your horse? The simplest option is stating in your will that the horse be given to a specific friend or relative. You may want to consider leaving a bequest of cash or other property to that person to help cover the care of the horse. If your will gives specific horses to different people, remember to revise your will as horses are bought, sold or die.

Another option is to create a trust for your horse. An increasing number of horse owners are opting for a trust, which is a written declaration of how the owner wishes their horse to be cared for after their death. A trust can also ensure care for the horse if the owner gets sick.

In a trust, you name a trustee who will carry out your

wishes for the horse and provide detailed instructions for the distribution of trust funds for the horse’s care. The trust will mandate how the funds will be administered, and where the remaining assets should go after the horse dies. The trust can contain information about your horse’s conditioning, health issues and food preferences. When selecting the horse’s guardian, you ideally would want a person who owns a horse or has cared for horses in the past. The guardian will care for your horse in accordance with the instructions set forth in the trust. When preparing the trust, carefully consider the cost of care for your horse, and fund the trust accordingly.

A horse trust terminates upon the death of the animal. If the trust is established to provide for the care of more than one horse, the trust will terminate upon the death of the last surviving horse.

guardian. If you leave your horse to someone as a bequest, and that person dies, their estate plan determines what happens to your horse. If the horse is left to a trust, and the trustee dies or becomes incapacitated, the person you name as the back-up trustee will take over and continue to carry out your wishes.

Although proper estate planning can be daunting, having a knowledgeable equine attorney to guide you through the process will relieve much of that burden. The time and effort to think through and plan these complex issues will assure that your equine family is protected after your death.

Melissa N. Subjeck and Catherine B. Eberl are attorneys at Hodgson Russ LLP, located in Buffalo, and members of the firm’s Equine Practice. Reach them at msubjeck@hodgsonruss.com and ceberl@hodgsonruss.com.

What are the benefits of establishing a trust, as opposed to making a simple bequest of a horse in your will?

If you want to give the person who will care for your horse money to pay for expenses, a trust structure offers more oversight. Trust assets must be segregated from the trustees’ personal assets, and must be used for the horse’s upkeep as directed in the trust document. If money is given to the horse’s new owner outright, as a bequest, it can be used by that person however they choose, without limitation. You take your chance that the horse will receive proper care.

In addition, a trust allows for succession of the horse

Melissa N. Subjeck

Catherine B. Eberl

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NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 17

LEG UP: MYTHBUSTERS

A Legend Dispelled FLORA TEMPLE HAS TIES TO CENTRAL NEW YORK’S NOTORIOUS LOOMIS GANG AND PORTRAITS DONE BY CURRIER & IVES. BUT SHE’S NOT STEPHEN FOSTER’S BOB-TAILED NAG.

G

By Russ Tarby

oogle “Flora Temple” and “Camptown Races,” and no less than 21,200 hits show up. Each of those sites and sources – including the New York Times, the Baltimore Sun, britannica.com and Morrisville State – insist that Flora was the “bob-tailed nag” immortalized in Stephen Foster’s song.

Sired by a stallion owned by the horse-thieving Loomis Gang, Flora Temple was foaled in 1845 near the Oneida County village of Waterville. Within an hour of her birth,

her breeder docked her tail with a jackknife, a common practice for driving horses in the 19th century as it prevented the tail from getting tangled in the harness or soiled.

As a youngster, Flora frustrated owners with her “willful” attitude, and she was sold several times. But at age 5, after some Downstate turfmen recognized her potential and put her under harness, she trotted swiftly into history.

Flora Temple won 92 of 111 races between 1850 and 1861 and equaled or lowered the world record six times while becoming the first horse ever to break the 2:20 mile.

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 19

LEG UP: MYTHBUSTERS That much we know is true.

As often happens with legendary sports figures, however, the little bay mare’s story is marked by myth. For decades the tale was told that Flora Temple was not only associated with the notorious Loomis Gang – Grove Loomis bragged about it his entire life – she was also the inspiration for a famous line in the minstrel song, “Camptown Races:” I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag Somebody bet on the bay.

Well, Flora Temple was clearly bob-tailed, and at 14 hands high she was surely small enough to be labeled a “nag.” But Foster, who lived in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati when Flora Temple began racing in New York, was wholly unaware of the horse’s existence.

Musicologist Ken Emerson, author of the definitive Foster biography, Doo-dah! Stephen Foster and the Rise of American Popular Culture (1998), meticulously researched the tunesmith’s life and work. “I never found any reference to Flora Temple,” Emerson said. In fact, the biographer found no evidence that Foster ever frequented racetracks at all.

The song in question was published in Baltimore on Feb. 19, 1850 – months before Flora ran a race. In fact, when the song was published, Flora was still working at a livery stable in the hamlet of Eaton. Rescued from that life of servitude in June 1850, Flora ran her first race – an informal, half-mile affair – later that summer at the Red House track in Harlem. By that time, “Camptown Races” was already being performed by minstrel troupes.

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Foster likely composed it in 1849, three years before Flora Temple wowed the harness-racing world by besting Brown Jim at Long Island’s Centerville Track. Both the song and the horse grew wildly popular, as Flora Temple began out-running all comers at tracks from Maine to Michigan.

The little mare’s image adorned vases, bonnets and whiskey bottles; babies were named after her and Currier & Ives immortalized her on dozens of lithographs. She was dubbed “Queen of the Turf” by the New York Times.

The champion trotter outlived the composer who never knew her. Foster died Jan. 13, 1864, at age 37.

Flora Temple died on December 21, 1877, at age 32.

New York’s new rodeo royalty AFTER TWO DAYS OF RIDING, SPEECHES AND INTERVIEWS, A QUEEN IS CROWNED. They rode, they spoke and they appeared in evening wear and cowboy boots. After two days of competition, Cheyenne Shufelt of Ghent was crowned Miss Rodeo New York 2015 and Emilya Washeleski of Taberg took the title of Miss Teen Rodeo New York 2015.

Shufelt will go on to compete for Miss Rodeo America in Las Vegas, NV, in December 2015. She will attend a portion of this year’s Miss Rodeo America Pageant as a Lady-in-Waiting to help prepare for her run at the national title.

The competition, held Nov. 7-8 in Glens Falls as a feature of the Adirondack Stampede Charity Rodeo, attracted seven young women from across the state, who were judged on appearance, personality, rodeo knowledge and horsemanship.

Each submitted a written application, essays,

professional photographs, and letters of recommendation. At the competition, each contestant gave a speech, answered unrehearsed questions on rodeo and themselves, took a written test, and showed off their horsemanship skills. The judges – who included CNY’s own cowboy poet, Mark Munzert of Tully – also conducted interviews with each candidate on topics including current events, rodeo and equine knowledge.

Runner-up for the Miss Teen Rodeo title was Brianna Felton of Binghamton. Justine Hutchins of Boonville was runner-up for Miss Rodeo New York 2015.

Divisional winners selected by the judges were: Personality winner, Cheyenne Shufelt; Appearance winner, Rebecca Gates of Kendall; Horsemanship winner, Alyssa Volkmer of Herkimer; Speech winner, Emilya Washeleski; Photogenic winner, Brittany Rondeau of Oneonta.

Emilya Washeleski, left, and Cheyenne Shufelt are New York’s 2015 rodeo queens.

Morrisville State College Experience Morrisville’s unique setting, equine programs and facilities for yourself. Tours, visits, and faculty appointments can be scheduled online at

www.morrisville.edu.

• Equine Science, Breeding, Racing, Rehabilitation, and Business Management Options • Largest Breeding Program in the Northeast • State-of-the-Art Equine Rehabilitation Center • Four Indoor Riding Arenas facebook.com/morrisvillestatecollege

www.morrisville.edu an equal-opportunity institution.

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22 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

PHOTO COURTESY FEI

Reining Supreme

“This is an awesome horse,” Shawn Flarida says of his World Equestrian Games gold medal partner Spooks Gotta Whiz. “I trust him completely, and I know that he is very talented, so I was afraid to be the one to make a mistake.”

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Judging the PERFORMANCE HORSE

IN 35 YEARS, MIKE BEDNAREK HAS JUDGED HUNDREDS OF SHOWS. HE SPOKE WITH NYH ON EVERYTHING FROM WHAT HE LOOKS FOR IN A HORSE TO WHAT SETS A WINNING RIDE APART – AND TIPS ON HOW TO GET THERE

W

hen he’s not showing a horse, training a horse or judging a horse, Mike Bednarek is helping horses as manager of Morrisville State College Equine Rehabilitation Center.

His experience in the equine industry spans more than 35 years. At Bednarek Quarter Horses in Jamesville, he specializes in training and breeding Western pleasure, reining and working cow horses. He also shows in halter, Western and English pleasure, reining, trail, hunterjumper, showmanship and hunt seat equitation.

Mike holds five judge cards, judges about 25 shows a year, and is one of only three judges in New York qualified to judge any Quarter Horse class. He also trained a world-champion halter horse and several top 10 national Quarter Horses.

New York Horse spoke to Mike about judging reining horses and we started with the question almost every competitor has wondered at one time or another:

FEI / ARND BRONKHORST

Canada’s Cody Sapergia and Nu Chexomatic fly at the World Equestrian Games. Speed increases the difficulty, and the score, of a maneuver

24 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

FEI PHOTO

Reining is an international phenomenon. At the FEI Euro Championship, Enrico Sciulli of Italy took the Junior Individual Gold.

What is the judge really thinking?

You’re rooting for them to do well. I judge from the positive rather than the negative. I’m always looking for them to do well … Every class is a new class and I score what I see. There’s a clean slate with each horse.

What do you look for in a horse?

I’m looking for a horse that’s very responsive but very obedient. I want to see a horse that’s happy doing its job. I’m looking for a horse that wants to do what he’s doing, that’s comfortable doing what he’s doing. Anything that deviates from that, detracts from the total score.

We don’t judge style, we judge maneuvers. Some horses show with their head low, others with a more natural headset.

As judges, if a horse can do a 20-foot slide, whether the horse has his head down, or his head is in a more natural position, you’re supposed to score them the same.

To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely.

— The first principle in the NRHA Rules for Judging, called the A. General NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 25

NRHA judge Mike Bednarek says practice is key to success in the show ring.

Then what separates a winning ride from one that’s not so successful?

You’re judging against an ideal. Excellent doesn’t mean it’s perfect. But when you see someone doing a pretty, pretty maneuver, you score them where they belong.

I’m looking at three things. First, are they on pattern? Second, I’m looking for correctness in the maneuvers. There are seven or eight maneuvers depending on the pattern and they are scored on every maneuver. If they commit no mistakes, the score is zero. Everyone starts with a score of 70, so if they leave with a score of 70 that means they did every maneuver correctly with no penalty points. Especially for novice riders, that’s a good goal to aim for – and that’s not easy.

Third, I’m looking at degree of difficulty. What does that mean? For example, in a pattern with two large, fast circles and one small, slow circle, if there’s a guy going hell bent for leather on the fast circles who brings the horse back to almost a Western pleasure lope in the small circle, now you’ll get a higher score because you’ve increased the difficulty.

Some tips from your years of judging to help the novice competitor improve?

Especially for beginners, I’d say read the rule book. Know where the penalties come from. Know your pattern. For beginners, their goal should be to perform the pattern correctly.

Don’t do five spins instead of four. Two of the biggest mistakes I see are marker penalties and spin penalties.

Break them down, and some tips to correct each.

If you’re doing four spins, count four spins. As a judge, I count out loud so I don’t mess up. When I’m riding, I count in my head. There are so many things going through your mind

when you ask a horse to spin, you have to count. You can’t do it without counting. If you do what figure skaters do and mark a point with your eyes that signals one complete spin, it helps.

Avoiding marker penalties starts with this: Know your pattern so you can stay on pattern. A pattern might say ‘run to the far end, past the marker, and do a sliding stop.’

Always keep your eye on where you started and where you have to stop. Going off-pattern is very common.

And the solution is?

If you’re having pattern penalties, you haven’t practiced enough. You have to practice. You’re going to be nervous. If you’re serious about it, you’re going to get nervous when you get in the pen.

Try not to let the nerves take over because your horse picks up on that. If you get nervous, you get jerky with your hands – quick with your hands – and it makes your horse get quick.

Some tips for the pros?

Don’t exaggerate style. Don’t ride with the head so low and the reins so loose you couldn’t take hold of the horse if you had to.

As judges, we’re not supposed to judge style, but if it’s so far gone, it will hurt you.

Final thoughts?

Remember that the judge is human; he’s trying his best, but there could be something that he misses. And remember that it’s our opinion. If you don’t win, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come back and show another time.

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NYH CONVERSATION: SHAWN FLARIDA

Insights into why he’s good as gold THE BEST ADVICE THE REINING CHAMP EVER RECEIVED WORKS FOR ANY RIDER, IN ANY DISCIPLINE The legend came to Syracuse for the CNY Reining Horse Association Fall Classic, and NYH sat down with Shawn Flarida for a picnic-table conversation about riding, horses and competing for the U.S. team.

Flarida was fresh off an unmatched ride that led the United States to its fourth consecutive gold medal in reining at the FEI World Equestrian Games.

He performed an outstanding Pattern No. 6, receiving a score of 229.5, a mark that remained unbeaten to the end of the competition. Flarida is the National Reining Horse Association’s only $5 million rider and a 2011 inductee into the NRHA Hall of Fame, but it was the cheers of the international crowd that still rang in his ears.

What’s it like competing for the U.S. vs competing for yourself?

It’s the element of emotion. It brings a whole new feeling and emotional level to be a member of the team and compete for the United States.

There’s nothing better than being able to stand up on that podium and hear them play the national anthem.

You said after the FEI win that the crowd was wonderful. How does that factor in as a rider?

There was a great crowd and from a rider’s standpoint, we love it.

Shawn Flarida and Spooks Gotta Whiz wrap up their goldmedal pattern with a seemingly effortless sliding stop.

Showing in front of such an enthusiastic audience is great. They absolutely love the sport in Europe. … It was crazy, and it meant a lot to us as teammates how much they love our sport.

When did you know you’d nailed the ride?

Riders performed Pattern 6, shown here, at the World Equestrian Games. It includes: 8 spins, 4 left and 4 right; 3 circles — 2 fast and 1 slow — on each lead; a flying lead change in the center of the arena; right and left rollbacks; and a sliding stop.

You don’t really know until that last stop is done and the crowd is cheering and you’ve finished your maneuvers. I knew then that my horse had done everything he could do, that I’d done everything I could do.

Start

What makes this horse (Spooks Gotta Whiz) so good?

Finish

His brain. He’s smart, but it’s also his trainability. When you want something – and when you don’t – he reacts in a positive manner all the time. … When you get a horse, you can’t tell at first. You have to be around them for a while and ride them before you know which ones want to be good.

Turning to the part of the team with two legs: What’s the best advice you ever received about riding?

(Laughs) It didn’t come from a rider. It came from Michael Jordan, the basketball player. He said: You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.

What does that mean for me as a competitor? When you go in there, put everything on the line. Push yourself to

the limit, push your horse to the limit. At this level of competition – at any level of competition – you won’t win if you don’t.

Advice for riders on getting there?

Go ride. Practice. There’s no substitute for riding time to get better.

You said it takes three years to make a good reining horse. What’s the most important part of that process?

Consistency. Being consistent in your training. Consistency is something that’s accomplished every time you get on a horse.

I try to have a game plan, something that I want to accomplish, every time I get on a horse’s back. It might be something I want to accomplish that day, or something I want to accomplish in a week or a month. You have to have a plan. The training may not go exactly according to your plan, but have a plan.

The last word is yours –

The last word for me? I’ll say it again: You miss every shot you don’t take. Take your shots.

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Off the Beaten Path

T R A I L S AT F A M I LY- F R I E N D LY T U L L E R H I L L W I N D T H R O U G H W O O D L A N D S Editor’s Note: New York’s state parks, forests, wildlife preserves, and private properties beckon riders of all abilities and interests.

Diverse terrain, from stone-dust paths and rolling hills to rugged mountain trails, await you. Get out there and ride!

By Katie Navarra

S

outh of the city of Cortland lies Tuller Hill State Forest, a 2,440-acre family-friendly woodland in the town of Virgil, near the Greek Peak ski area.

Trails: Approximately 19 miles of multi-use trails are available, sheltered by conifers and northern hardwoods. The 12 miles of trails

specifically designated for horseback riding can be found in the northwestern section of the forest. For the eagleeyed trail rider, the state Department of Environmental Conservation notes on its website that “there are many types of ferns, lilies, clubmoss and even orchids in the forest. A wealth of mammals, song birds, amphibians, and

If you’re not in the mood to ride:

Tuller Hill was designed with family recreation in mind. It’s a popular area for hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and geocaching.

Contact: The State Forest Office is 607-753-3095 ext. 217. For maps and information including trail etiquette, visit dec.ny.gov/lands/37111.html.

Members of the NYS Plantation Walking Horse Club clear and restore the trails at Tuller Hill.

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PHOTOS BY DAVID BLATCHLEY

raptors are all waiting to be seen.”

Special notes: Horses must stay on the DEC designated trails and are prohibited on trails designated as foot paths. There are eight miles of cross-country ski trails throughout the forest and riders also are asked to try to avoid those trails when there is a snow on the ground as this may detract from the experience for skiers.

Special thanks to: Volunteers and members of the NYS Plantation Walking Horse Club have signed an “AdoptA-Natural Resource” agreement with the DEC for Site 10 and have worked to clear and restore the trails in this system. Work funded by a grant through the New York State Horse Council helped create an off-road parking area for trucks and horse trailers.

Horse accommodations: None.

Human accommodations: A lean-to campsite along the Finger Lakes Trail is available for users based on seasonal availability and on a first come, first serve basis. Camping for more than three nights, or in a group of 10 or more, requires a permit from a Forest Ranger. Camping is prohibited within 150 feet of water, roads or trails.

Fees: None.

Season: Horseback riding is only allowed from May through October to limit trail erosion. Riders are also asked to stay off the trails when wet conditions are present.

Recognize when a goal is too challenging, Dr. William Day tells riders.

That’s when they lose balance and control. Remember: hands-seat-legs.

Riding

TAKE

Horse Next Level YOUR

AND YOUR

TO THE

BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION THAT’S ALREADY THERE AND AVOID THIS MISTAKE: DON’T CONFUSE YOUR HORSE’S GOALS WITH YOUR OWN

By Ciara Bowen

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ith more than 30 years’ experience around horses, Dr. William Day has worked as everything from a groom to a breeding attendant and farm manager.

Now an assistant professor in the equine science program at Morrisville State College, teaching classes including stable management and breeding, Day says his top goals include helping students succeed by grounding them in sound management practices. An accomplished horseman, who rides both English and Western, his methods and techniques stress skill, not force. He spoke to New York Horse about the best ways for riders to set goals for themselves and their horses.

When it comes to setting goals, where – on the ‘big picture’ level – should you start?

Start just by stepping back and looking at any foundation that already exists: Basically, the sum total of the history of

the horse and the human as individuals. Have I had a horse like this before?

What worked? Then simply set goals that are consistent with your own experiences.

A lot of us get caught in the trap of confidence. While it is key to success, trainers too often make a big mistake in pretending to be confident.

Even professionals in our industry need to reach out and ask for help. Sometimes it’s important to take a step back and just look at your problems with horses and then look at your network.

PHOTO BY BOB GATES

How should one assess where they are as a rider?

The first thing is to try to understand where the horse is and his current abilities. Know his level of training and look to build that. Riders need to understand that they need to take baby steps. Most conflicts arise because people skip steps with their horses. Some NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 29

“Most conflicts arise because people skip steps with their horses,” Dr. William Day says.

PHOTOS BY NICOLAS MURPHY

horses will let you, but others test their boundaries.

The best thing you can do is to give your horse routines.

Then always work to improve your balance through each routine you build. It’s important for both to be consistent.

Recognize when the horse asks you a question about your boundaries – and don’t get angry when they push.

Horses don’t need their riders to be so anxious.

How should one set goals that are challenging but still achievable for themselves and their horse?

Recognize when things get too challenging. Generally this is when you lose your balance. When balance changes, most riders do not realize how much they lose with regard to the control of their horse. Remember: hands-seat-legs.

On this point, speaking as a rider with scoliosis, it’s unfortunate that many instructors are so determined to get riders to fit a preconceived picture. It’s important to understand that not everybody fits into that mold. Just as we do with all of our horses that have less than ideal conformation, we can use the classical picture of alignment as a goal, but we must realize that our own natural conformation, such as pelvic tilt, may affect our seat. Everybody is different, so the mold doesn’t work for everybody.

In the end, the most important goal is to recognize and consistently combine or separate the influences of your hands,

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seat, and legs, and remember that the moment you lose your balance is the moment you lose the independence of those.

What are some examples of what those goals should be?

The goals should be progressive. Work on the independence of hand-seat-leg, as I said before. I like to recommend the “Secure Seat Method” by Jan Dawson, to build fundamentals. Mounted exercises start while standing still. Then once standing skills are comfortably achieved, riders progress (or graduate) to exercises while walking and then trotting. These exercises can be self-taught and are very appealing for those without instructors.

After a secure seat, riders need to be able to feel the footfalls of the horse. Balance yourself so that you are able to feel each leg lift and foot strike the ground, and influence them as you’re riding. You can feel the way the horse balances on any incline, whether it is to the left, right, or straight, then you can recognize the horse’s rhythm and finally coordinate the rhythm of the way you maintain your balance with that of the horse. When you can do this, you’re connected.

How do you assess where your horse is and set goals that it can achieve?

Know the signs of anxiety. Your horse needs to be kept in a mental state between apprehension and control.

If it goes to anxiety, your challenge is too advanced.

If your horse is bored, he may start pawing or dancing around. This may mean that he needs to be challenged more. Return to routines that you’ve established with him, and give him sub-routines within these. Remember that it’s often easy to make simple things too complicated, so try and recognize a balance between complex and simple. Influence the horse to change their balance, bend, direction, and rhythm in that order. When you can make a habit of consistently building those four components, you will have everything.

What are the biggest mistakes you’ve seen in getting horse and rider to the next level? And how do you recommend avoiding these mistakes?

Misinterpreting the horse’s goals to be theirs. Many riders make the mistake of thinking that a connection with the horse means that the horse has the same goal they do. With horses, their goals are more immediate and “in the moment.”

Maybe this would be a way of illustrating how to interpret horses’ goals: When you start a new job, no matter what it is, there’s usually a period of time where you have someone in charge of you looking over your shoulder to supervise everything you do. After a while, you will gain their trust and become authorized to perform each task without micromanagement. The horse’s goal is to – and they seem to be happiest when – they become like authorized personnel.

You’re still the boss, but if he’s capable and has been well prepared, he will be comfortable and know what to do. You should appreciate that status and not take it away from him.

Don’t micromanage him. For instance, set him up to perform

a maneuver, and then let him carry it out on his own.

What are your top tips for every horse and rider?

Have patience, with yourself and your horse. And also have integrity. It’s the same as it is with people: Horses need to know what they can expect from us both in terms of the routines we ask them to follow as well as what we will not permit while we are with them.

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 31

Artful orse H The

A WINTER’S TALE: EQUINE LANDSCAPES

BY SARAH CONDON

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NYH: Help our readers to take great equine photos. What advice do you have for amateur photographers, and specifically about horses?

SC: When it comes to photography in general, my best advice is to take a lot of photos. There are no limits like there were with film.

You almost have unlimited frames with digital, so shoot away!

Don’t be aafraid to explore, play with perspective, get low, get above things, get up close, get far away, and look around you. You will start to see things differently.

Horses are unlimited in what they offer photographically. They are beautiful creatures to begin with. You can look for quiet moments in the stable or pasture, between horse and human. They offer great opportunities for action – jumping, racing, reining, barrel racing – or just them alone in the pasture. Some of my favorite photos are from just being alone in the pasture with the horses.

34 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

They are curious, but once they know you are nonthreatening, they become relaxed and allow you to be part of their herd and move around freely.

And don’t be afraid to get dirty, sit in the pasture, get a different angle; use your surroundings to create layers in the photos.

NYH: Follow up question.

Action photos are often the most difficult, what tips can you share?

SC: I have photographed a lot of sports, everything from basketball and football to swimming and bowling.

I have also grown up photographing horses so I know their movements, especially jumping. A lot of people have the super-expensive cameras that can shoot multiple rapid frames per second.

I still choose to take one frame at a time, especially regarding jumping photos – there is something to be said for waiting for the perfect moment. It takes a lot of practice, but don’t be afraid to take a lot of photos until you get the timing right.

One trick is to push down the shutter just before the moment of peak action, so you technically don’t see the photo you want in the viewfinder, but when you look at the photo the timing should be spot on.

Another thing to remember with action photos is that you have to have the ISO, shutter speed and F-stop all working together to attain the focus and crispness in the image. If you are just shooting on action/sports mode or auto on your camera, try branching out and experimenting using manual mode and really understand how your camera works so you can get the most out of it as possible.

Sarah Condon started photographing horses in 2000, a girl in love with her subject. A staff photographer at the Auburn Citizen, her work has appeared in National Geographic. Find Sarah online at sarahjeancondonphotography. com and read more about her in the NYH Spotlight on page 8.

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Why the

outside of ais good horse for the inside of a girl THEY’RE A 1,000-POUND CONFIDANTE WHO TEACHES PATIENCE, STRENGTH AND THE CONFIDENCE TO TRANSCEND THE TURBULENCE OF ADOLESCENCE.

By Jeanne Albanese PHOTOS BY HEATHER BRAGMAN 36 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

Jenna Gere shares a moment with her appaloosa, Joker. “It’s just peaceful when you ride,” Jenna says.

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 37

M

any secrets have been whispered into the soft, alert ears of the horses at Denise Vespa Stables. Some have never been uttered elsewhere.

Stories of fights with friends, problems with parents and struggles with school have been spoken ever so gently into those ears by hundreds of girls who have learned to ride, care for and show horses at Vespa Stables on Onondaga Hill, just outside Syracuse.

These girls know a horse can’t possibly repeat their secrets, but that logic hardly matters. Having

such a confidante helps build the trust needed for rider and horse to work in harmony. But that outlet and bond also helps girls navigate the tricky world of adolescence outside the barn.

“You feel like they understand,” says 13-yearold Chenzie Diglio, “but no one else could ever understand how you feel.”

A constant and trustworthy friend – albeit a 1,000-pound one — is just one of the many benefits girls derive from riding and showing horses. By caring for their horse and communicating with it, girls learn a host of life skills, from patience, confidence and independence to timemanagement, team work and leadership.

“They learn so many skills they will use later in life, they don’t even know they are learning them or absorbing them,” says Jean T. Griffiths, retired Cornell University Cooperative Extension Horse Specialist, and the person responsible for the New York State 4-H Horse Program for 21 years. “They are just doing it for the passion of the horse.

The horse is a wonderful magnet.”

More than half a million youths nationwide are involved with horses at some level, according to a conservative estimate from the American Youth Horse Council. Though horses appeal to both girls and boys at young ages, as children hit adolescence, experts say the appeal wears off for boys, and girls are the predominant riders. At the 4-H horse show at the 2011 New York State Fair, 388 youths participated – 349 were girls.

“The horse has a heartbeat, and I think that’s different for girls,” says Denise Vespa, who has owned and operated her stable since 1980.

A 2006 study by the AYHC found that among

Horses teach girls life skills, from patience, confidence and independence to team work and leadership.

38 NEW YORK HORSE

participants (86.9 percent of which were girls) there was a significant positive relationship between learning horsemanship skills and succeeding at life skills. The more time a young person spent learning horse care, riding skills, communication and safety at the barn, the better their skills became in decision-making, goal-setting, problemsolving and communicating. Local girls and their parents agree that the list of positive attributes they learn from riding rubs off everywhere else – in school, with friends and at home.

That’s why, despite the significant investment involved (from roughly $1,500 annually for weekly lessons to more than $10,000 for horse ownership), parents say the benefits make it a priceless investment. Kathy Gere’s daughter, Jenna, rides at Vespa Stables and Kathy works part-time, in part to help cover the expense of riding.

“I wouldn’t trade what she’s come into for anything,” says Gere, who works as a midwife.

When Jenna Gere was little, she never talked except to her family at home. She wouldn’t raise her hand in kindergarten, order for herself in restaurants or make eye contact with anyone.

It took eight months before she responded to a “yes” or “no” question from her kindergarten teacher. Her parents had her screened for speech issues, but none were found. The doctor’s advice?

Have her do things that encouraged her selfesteem and put her with people she could trust.

A few years later, Jenna met her first horse.

She fell in love, but still kept mum. When she started at Vespa, she’d ride and leave. Kathy had to speak for her. But as Jenna got more serious about riding, her shyness became an issue.

“When we first started here, it was difficult because they would ask her things that they needed her to answer for safety reasons,” Kathy says. “Is it too fast? Are you scared? Do you want to slow down? And we kind of said, ‘You’re going to have to talk or you’re going to have to get off.’ ” So Jenna talked.

“They couldn’t hear me,” Jenna, now 12 and in seventh grade, says of not only her instructors, but her horses. “I had to speak up.

And now I talk to pretty much everyone here.”

“If you don’t believe in yourself, the horse won’t believe in you.”

– Sarah Schwartz, age 12 Though Vespa and some of Jenna’s instructors say it took up to a year for her to talk to them, they agree that she has become a different person.

She now owns three horses, Gwynn, Joker and Brutus, and considers Denise, the staff and her barn friends like family. She cracks jokes, does silly karate moves and follows Denise nonstop. She also works non-stop, spending every free minute at the barn helping with chores, including helping show new riders the ropes.

Vespa says that when girls develop the self-esteem and self-confidence to deal with a 1,000-pound animal, people become much easier to deal with. Griffiths adds that riders must constantly observe and learn to read their horse’s behavior and movements, some as subtle as a twitch of skin.

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“Those girls have a hand up on the others their age because they are so perceptive, they are so observant,” Griffiths says. “If they are not observant, they might get their head kicked in or their ear bitten off.”

Morgan Karagosian, 31, remembers how she felt so at home around horses and how horse people helped her deal with outside peer pressures. She recently returned to riding and showing her horse, Addie, out of Daniluk Farm and Stables in Camillus.

“You become so close with people at the barn, you aren’t so dependent on ‘so-andso doesn’t like me,’ ” says Karagosian, who lives in Camillus. “You come into yourself and realize who you are in terms of riding and your connection there; it boosts your confidence everywhere else. So, you aren’t so worried about that stuff in middle school and high school.”

In the tween and teen world of instant gratification and information via texts, tweets and posts, riding and caring for a horse is all about timing, patience and persistence. Girls handle these great beasts with a mix of grace and force, using

their entire bodies to nudge them where they need to go, while softly cooing or scratching their noses.

A group of “barn rats” can always be found at Vespa Stables, especially over the summer, where girls like Chenzie and Jenna spent their entire days. The girls feed and water the horses, clean their stalls and turn them out to pasture. They organize the tack room and grooming boxes. And they do it with very little assistance from adults.

Katie Bartlett of Camillus rides at Fuller Riding Instruction in Bridgeport.

There, the 12-year-old does it all.

“She goes to the barn and she lets me do absolutely nothing,” says her mom, Colleen, who also grew up riding horses. “She’s teeny but she does everything herself. Tacks herself. Grooms herself. She does everything. She wants very little of my help.

She takes a lot of pride in knowing what to do.”

Before tacking a horse for a ride, the horse must be brushed with three different brushes and then dirt and rocks must be picked out of its feet.

After a ride or a lesson, the horse must be brushed and have its feet picked again and if it is sweaty,

Chenzie Diglio and Tucker practice jumps during a lesson at Denise Vespa Stables.

“You feel like they understand,” she says.

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LOST AND FOUND Teen’s winning essay describes how rescued Thoroughbreds “helped me through the lowest points in my life” Editor’s note: Mary Eddy won this year’s Thoroughbred Charities of America Youth Essay Contest. Eddy, 16, of Wilton, wrote about her experience as a volunteer with Old Friends’ Cabin Creek facility in Saratoga Springs. Old Friends will receive a $1,000 grant for Eddy’s essay, which talks about how she was saved by her relationship with their rescued horses.

My second home is Old Friends at Cabin Creek in New York, a small satellite farm branched off of Old Friends in Kentucky. The volunteers at Old Friends along with its 15 equine residents have become a second family to me. I started volunteering in February of 2012 and have been there ever since. I am so grateful to be a part of an organization that does so much for these beautiful and sentient beings.

it may need a hosing or sponging off. Then, the girls must put all of their equipment away.

This very prep work has taught 12-year-old Sarah Schwartz – among other things – patience.

Spyder, the horse she rides at Vespa Stables, never liked to be bridled, especially when the bit went in or out of his mouth. So, Schwartz would give him two treats to chew on while she tried to sneak the bit into his mouth. She rewarded him with a third if things went smoothly. Now, it is no problem.

“I’ve learned to be patient with people who refuse to do things,” says Sarah, who is in seventh grade.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits for these girls is the sense of calm that comes over them when they get on their horse, helping to even out the turbulent emotions that can come with adolescence.

“I just feel like I get a break (when I’m riding),” Jenna says. “It’s just peaceful when you ride.”

Girls say their attitude adjustments happen almost instantly upon greeting the horses they ride, as the horses are always happy to see them.

But they also know they don’t have a choice when they climb up on the horse’s back.

“If you don’t believe in yourself, the horse won’t believe in you,” Sarah says. “They say your fear and worry telegraphs down the reins into the horse’s mouth. If you had a bad day and you’re upset, your horse probably won’t have a very good day either. It all goes into one. You kind of have to

Three months before I started volunteering, my mother left my family and my parents divorced.

It was one of the most unexpected and difficult events I have faced. I started volunteering because I thought it would be something fun to do and somewhere to spend the weekends. As I became more involved, I realized that this wasn’t just a side thing for me to do. It was serious. There are thousands of horses in danger and my job as a volunteer is to educate the public as well. While volunteering is fun, it also requires a true passion and concern for the well-being of horses everywhere, not just the few in our care. Horses teach us so much and we should allow every horse the opportunity to share its world with us.

This idea resonated with me when one of our stallions passed away.

His name was Key Contender. He arrived at the farm about two weeks after I did. He was so gentle and kind-hearted. We became very good friends right away and we had a relationship that was different than any of my relationships with the other horses. We were learning together.

In late June of 2012, Key Contender suddenly colicked and died early the next morning. My reaction wasn’t one to be expected. I did not immediately feel sad and I did not feel despair. I only felt gratitude. Key Contender taught me so much. He taught me that many people hide behind masks, shielding their insecurities and worries from the world. Key could see right through those masks and saw the real me when many others didn’t. I had been wearing a mask ever since my mother left. I had been hiding how truly shaken I was (and am) about my parents’ divorce.

But Key understood me. I used to talk to him and he would stand at the fence and nuzzle the hair on the top of my head. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I was wearing a mask to hide how truly sad and disappointed I was (and still am). Even when I wrote a “eulogy” for Key’s funeral explaining how he could read through masks, I still didn’t realize that I was one of the people.

But I do now. And I finally understand the relationship we had.

Old Friends at Cabin Creek has changed my life because it has given me hope when I had no faith and has raised me up high when I was low.

They have saved horses that have taught me valuable life lessons that have helped me through the lowest points in my life. Had it not been for Old Friends, I most likely wouldn’t be as collected and sane as I am today. Old Friends has been my therapy and has gotten me through the hardest time of my life. I still struggle with depression and anxiety almost every day, but I am so lucky to be loved by not just one family, but two.

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let it go before you get there and just say, ‘OK, I’m going to be happy. I’m not going to be grumpy.’ ” Chenzie Diglio, in eighth grade at Bishop Ludden, agrees that riding puts her in a different world, where stress melts away. Her parents, Lisa and Tony, say she’d rather be DID YOU KNOW? at the barn than anywhere A study by the American Youth Horse else, even the mall, and that Council and Pennsylvania State Univershe’s quit other activities sity found equine activities had a meato spend more time with surable impact on youth development. horses. They say Chenzie A sample of 982 kids between the gets her homework done ages of 12 and 18, all active in youth and keeps her grades up equine organizations, was surveyed. so she can go to the barn Those surveyed said that while workevery day after school. ing with horses they “often” exhibited Chenzie says her bond life skills relative to decision making, with Tucker, the horse communicating, goal setting, probshe leases at Vespa, has lem solving, and critical thinking. A helped her through many “significant positive relationship” was trying times with friends found between the development of or school.

In fact, her horsemanship skills and life skills. worries used to keep her up at night, sometimes in tears. That doesn’t happen anymore.

“My mom would rub my back and calm me down and that would help,” she says. “And that’s kind of like what the horses do.”

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Equinomics 101 LOVE HORSES? LOVE THE IDEA OF YOUR OWN HORSE BUSINESS? START WITH THESE SEVEN STEPS TO TURN YOUR DREAM INTO REALITY

By Janis Barth

A

riding stable, a breeding operation, an equestrian center: It’s been the dream ever since loving horses became wanting to earn a living at doing what you love. But how to turn a passion for riding and a mild but manageable obsession with equines into a viable business enterprise? That requires combining horse sense with business sense.

The starting point, says Amy Sherrick-von Schiller, is a business plan. That’s where dreams get introduced to such terms as profit margin, earning potential and organizational flow charts. It’s unfamiliar territory for many, but Sherrick-von Schiller, a professor of equine business management at Cazenovia College, has a simple blueprint for would-be equine entrepreneurs to follow.

“A business plan, generally speaking, states your objectives and the steps needed to achieve them,” she said. “The process of writing one gives you a roadmap. You may decide at the end that it’s not going to work, or the plan needs some

tweaking to be viable.” That’s the reason for writing it – to assess the idea before any dollars are spent. Later, when the business is up and running, it will become a blueprint, and a guide to follow for expansion and development.

So begin with research, lots of research. Conduct interviews with people who are already in the equine industry. Ask them how they started their business and why. How did they decide they could make a living at this and, Sherrickvon Schiller said, “if they had to do it all over again, what would they do differently?” Remember that there is as much to be learned from failure as as there is from success so ask about that, too: What didn’t work, and why.

While there’s no one way to write a business plan, there are some universal do’s and don’ts. It needs to be organized and professional which means, Sherrick-von Schiller said, “it needs to be written in the third person.” Once the plan is completed, read it over to make sure there are no spelling errors, typos or grammatical errors. “Attention to detail is important,” she said. “The final draft needs to be error free.”

But don’t mistake professional for dull and boring. “You have to stand out. Who you are, your personality, should come through, because lenders see a lot of business plans.”

Each plan should begin with a Table of Contents and include an appendix at the end that includes resumes of all the principals and an inventory and appraisals of horses,

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Here’s where organization comes into play. The body of the plan should include these sections: An introduction. This is the quick overview. Describe your business touching on these details: Is it a startup or expansion? What products or services are you providing?

Hours of operation. Seasonal factors, for example, how you will get through the CNY winter if your business is trail rides. “You can’t dodge all the risks and pretend you’re going to avoid them,” Sherrick-von Schiller said. “Address them. Maybe you’ll do some clinics in the winter.”

Management. This section should include an organizational chart with job titles and job descriptions for each person who will work in the business. Descriptions are key because the job of a barn manager in one business may be vastly different someplace else. Here’s the place to talk about your, and any partners’ expertise in the horse industry and other relevant fields.

Goals/Objectives/ Strategy. What are your goals,

especially financial goals, and how will you achieve them? All of these “need to be clearly stated, with a time frame,” Sherrick-von Schiller said. “It isn’t enough to say you will be training more horses in year two than year one.” Put specific numbers to everything: How many horses and how much will be charged for training and board. And remember, she said, “strategy includes addressing potential bumps in the road.”

Operation. Facts about the horse industry and your specific niche go in this section. Include information about the business climate,

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A business plan should cover finances, goals and strategies but also “stand out,” Amy Sherrick-von Schiller says.

trends and any other conditions that affect the profit potential.

Facilities. Do you have a barn? What’s the appraised value? If not, how will the right property be found? Will it be leased or purchased? How about equipment? If renovations are needed, include estimates. Tuck in a few photos, too.

Marketing/Advertising/Promotion. Identify the target market for your business – who and where they are – and outline a plan to attract customers. Set an advertising budget.

Make sure to answer this question: How will you be more effective than your competition? ”Make sure you’ve identified your competition,” Sherrick-von Schiller said. “Who’s two miles down the road and how are you going to beat them?”

Financials. In real life, unless you have an accounting background, this is where you may need help. It’s available, for free, at places like the Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College, Syracuse. Lenders want to see if the start-up costs (barn, horses, tack, equipment etc.) and operating costs (feed, salaries, utilities etc.) are justified by the projected income.

Be prepared to have those numbers for 1-5 years and to say when you will break even and when you will make a profit. “Knowing what those numbers are is your job as the business owner,” Sherrick-von Schiller said.

Finally, write an executive summary. It’s written last, but

it goes at the front because it is the condensed version of the business plan, hitting the highlights and summarizing the key points. Be concise, be smart and wow the lenders.

Then keep the plan nearby and update regularly. “It should be evolving,” Sherrickvon Schiller said. “Don’t just put it in a drawer and never look at it again.”

FLASHPOINT PHOTOGRAPHY

tack and other equipment. The body of the business plan should include all the specifications and details of the operation, emphasizing the profit motive and leaving as few questions as possible in the minds of bankers and potential investors. Think about word choice. Choose active, positive verbs.

“You have to sound confident,” Sherrickvon Schiller said. “Use words like ‘you plan to,’ ‘you will,’ ‘you intend to,’ and avoid words like hope, might, wish and pray.” Avoid jargon; the people reading your plan might not be horse people.

Think about adding a glossary if there’s no way to avoid horsey language.

The Sweet Life AT YANCEY’S SUGARBUSH, THERE’S ONLY ONE KIND OF HORSEPOWER ALLOWED: THE KIND WITH FOUR HOOVES

By Janis Barth

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T

he taps have been in the trees for weeks. It’s early March, deep in sugar season, that short North Country sprint between tundra and mud, when sap rises in the maples, drips into old metal buckets or high-tech miles of plastic tubing, and is alchemized by fire into syrup.

The day begins early for the veterans of these woods. A little past noon, and a jingle of harness signals Dick and Doc are back from morning rounds, hauling a red metal tanker filled with sap. They pause at the bridge, a short steep hill that leads to the peak of the sugar house. From here, gravity will feed the sap into holding tanks.

The horses strain for a moment against the harness, then find their footing on the snow-slicked hill. A cloud of thick maple steam, sweet with burning wood and boiling syrup, pours from the window. For a moment they are ghostly, no more than a faint outline, an echo of horse in the shroud of stream.

They work in the long shadow of

history; horses have gathered sap from this sugarbush near Croghan for over 170 years. Dick and Doc, an Amish-raised team of Belgians, work along trails worn by countless hooves and five generations of the Yancey family.

“The horses do less damage to the woods than a tractor,” says Haskell Yancey, who took over Yancey’s Sugarbush from his uncles and now is in his 33rd season. The horses belong

to his son, Tim, 30, who is steward of the evaporator this day, minding the transformation of clear, thin sap into amber syrup.

In a good year, the business will produce 800 gallons of table-grade syrup, and the horses are at its heart. Dick and Doc know their job. They know to stand and wait while the men gather the sap, and they know to walk forward when called to the next batch of buckets. They

WHILE YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Yes, we know, it’s hard to imagine there’s any reason to stop in Croghan other than to avoid hitting the stray pedestrian crossing Route 812, but you’d be wrong. Most are a good excuse to continue wrecking your resolve to eat healthy and lose weight. Trust us, this is the voice of experience speaking.

Croghan Candy Kitchen

Croghan Meat Market

Good Ol’ Wishy’s

American Maple Museum

9740 State Route 812.

Phone: (315) 346-1591

9824 Route 812. Phone: (315) 346-6613. Online: croghanmeatmarket.com

9779 Route 812. Phone: (315) 346-6728. Online: goodolwishys.com/

9753 State Route 812. Online: americanmaplemuseum.org

Carnivore? Then this is your stop, the home of Croghan bologna – an extremely red and alarmingly addictive ring of beef smoked over native hardwood. Peel off the casing and serve it the traditional way: sliced on a buttery cracker with sharp Cheddar.

Feeling non-traditional? Add a dollop of Nance’s mustard.

While you’re there, toss in some Croghan smoked pork sausage links and try them smothered in maple syrup.

The market’s been making both since 1888 from a recipe that came to the North Country from Switzerland.

Spoiler alert: Don’t look for Wishy’s in the winter. For now, settle for thinking about a warm-weather road trip, when you can climb up on one of the stools at this oldfashioned ice cream parlor and be transported back in time. Better hope your teenage metabolism has made the trip with you because Wishy’s is the home of the “Adirondack-sized” cone – the scoops are the size of softballs – there are three dozen flavors of ice cream, and the 20-plus sundae flavors include autumn-in-a-dish Caramel Apple (Southern Apple Pie ice cream, hot caramel topping, whipped cream, and a cherry).

Look for the green awning on Route 812, Croghan’s main drag, and prepare to invest heavily in hand-dipped chocolates made entirely in the shop kitchen. Put together a box of assorted chocolates from a case holding more than 45 flavors including maple creams, caramel squares, and Kahlua and dark chocolate truffles. Then throw in some of their specialties including the Bacon-Potato Chip Cup (crumbled chips and real bacon drowned in milk chocolate with sea salt sprinkled on top), chocolate-covered Oreos and giant peanut butter cups because, you know, it’s a long drive back.

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Ready for some food for thought? The museum has three floors of exhibits on the history of maple syrup including a replica of a sugar house, exhibits of syrup-making techniques from Native Americans to present day, and the American Maple Hall of Fame.

There’s also a reproduction of a lumber camp and a gift shop with maple products, tees, totes and jewelry.

know to stay on the road. They know they are trusted.

“You can talk to a horse. You talk at a tractor – and usually if you’re talking at a tractor, it’s not good,” Haskell says.

This horsepower lacks only a threespeed transmission. A team of horses has one speed – extremely slow – and so the woods have been sculpted around them.

The sugar house is in the middle of the 6,000 trees the Yanceys tap, placed there deliberately to minimize the distance the team travels each day. It’s the one advantage a tractor has over the pair, but the pace has its own reward.

“It’s really nice being in the woods with them,” Tim Yancey says. “The horses are quiet. You’re not having to listen to an engine running all the time.”

Nor do tractors enjoy being petted, hanging out with the dogs or visiting with the families who arrive steadily during sugar season. Dick is all business

IF YOU GO …

Where: Yancey’s Sugarbush, 7981 Long Pond Road, Croghan NY Open: March 28-29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for NY Maple Weekend, but visitors are welcome throughout the season. Feel free to call to make certain they are sugaring.

Phone: 315-346-6356 At a glance: The Yancey family has tapped the maples in these Lewis County woods since 1844. The 6,000 tap operation uses traditional methods, including horse-drawn wagons to gather the sap and a wood-fired evaporator. Fresh syrup is available for purchase along with maple cream, sugar cakes and granulated maple sugar.

Directions: From Route 812 just north of Croghan, take the Belfort Road (County Route 10). Travel to the end of the road, about 4 miles. Turn right on Long Pond Road. The sugar shed is at the intersection of Long Pond and Fish Creek Roads.

“for the most part,” Tim says, but Doc “is a total ham. He likes his attention and he’s a little more of a brat.”

The tanker is empty and the horses ease gingerly down the bridge, hang a right and head back to the barn for lunch. Soon now, the days will lengthen

and turn warm, the taps will come out of the trees and Dick and Doc will settle in for the equine equivalent of spring break.

Extended spring break.

What do they do in the off season?

Haskell shrugs and smiles.

“Not much.”

NYH MARKET

GUIDE THE

TIPS. EXPERT ADVICE. SECRETS WORTH STEALING

PHOTO COURTESY OF AULLMYN PHOTOGRAPHY

Wise counsel: George Morris on show jumping An Olympic medal winner in 1960, George Morris was the coach in 2008 when the US won team gold in Beijing and Cazenovia’s Beezie Madden went on to win the individual bronze. Morris coached top young riders this summer at USEF Gladstone clinics.

Here’s some of the advice he gave them:

It’s only natural. “Jumping is a reflection of the walk, trot, and canter. It is the horse’s natural ability. If the horse is supple and loose, then they will use their natural ability to jump as best they can … Calm, forward and straight is what we need to work a horse. If we are missing one we can’t have the other.”

Take your time. “There is no rush in horse training. You don’t cut corners. You cannot properly train a horse doing horse show after horse show, and riding 20 horses a day. Everything you learn is important in every step of horse training. It is all about progression for the horse and rider.”

Add dressage. “You have to respect classical dressage. Even if it is just from the soundness perspective. Dressage helps to make horses sound; it also makes them mentally more adaptable, emotionally content and more obedient. You need classical dressage in every horse’s training.”

Go west, young rider. “If you don’t have

a little cowboy in you, you won’t make it.”

Repeat performance. “I call repetition,

brainwashing ... Repetition is how you get what you are trying to teach in their subconscious.

Once they do it right, you do not over jump.

That is one of the fastest ways to ruin a horse. If possible, you always want to end on a good note.

Hug your horse, pat your horse, love your horse.”

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THE GUIDE: SECRETS WORTH STEALING

School your dressage horse like an Olympic rider “LEARNING AND THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE IS VITAL.”

By New York Horse staff

T

he commands come steadily, supportive but insistent.

“Not too much with the hands, more with the body.” ”Shorten the rein.”

“Sit in the middle of the saddle.”

“Use more of your back. Assert the rhythm with your back. … Keep the rhythm.”

The horse and rider work circles around Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz, moving from a collected canter, to more forward, and back to collected. “Use less of your hand, more of your body, your leg,” he tells the rider, true to his reputation as being direct

and objective, a clinician who can easily spot the problems and potential of each horse and rider.

And then the praise: “Very good position. Relax. Good, good.”

Canterbury Stables brought the Spanish Olympian to Cazenovia for a weekend of dressage clinics. Competing at the London 2012 Olympics – his second games – Munoz and his gray stallion Fuego rode into the Top 10 dressage pairs in the world.

To get to that level, Munoz said in an interview with Eurodressage, he had to ride every day with “perseverance (and) dedication and push myself to be a part of the big game.” That ethic was reflected in the clinic style he brought to Canterbury.

“Learning and the desire to improve is vital to the sport,” he has said, and no matter the level of the horse and rider, the cornerstone of each lesson was core principles:

Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz, pictured here with Fuego in the 2012 Olympics, says balance and talent makes a great dressage horse.

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Munoz transformed those values into motion when he took the reins of Fiti, a 10-year-old stallion who – like Fuego – is a PRE (Pura Raza Espanola/Spanish Purebred). He believes in work, dedication and discipline and his demonstration ride offered a glimpse of how an Olympic rider translates those values into training, beginning with a warmup and transitioning into ever more difficult requests of the horse.

Munoz started Fiti at a walk on the rail and then moved him forward into a trot. At this beginning point, he works to find the sweet spot where the horse is comfortable – but connected and true, usually with a long neck.

Transitioning into the canter, he uses the long side of the arena to work on keeping the horse straight, stretching him but also working to get Fiti “more active behind.” Next Munoz lengthens the canter, working shoulder forward – “a very good canter for warming up” – still

PHOTO BY BOB LANGRISH EQUESTRIAN PHOTOGRAPHY

• Bend around the inside leg.

• Shorten the rein.

• Maintain impulsion.

• Keep contact.

• Sit heavy – deep and relaxed into the saddle.

stretching the horse but encouraging him to reach forward into contact on the bit.

Now Munoz follows a piece of the exercise he has done at every gait with each of the students in the clinic: Repeated transitions from collection to moving forward. Munoz, it’s explained, likes to do a lot of transitions in the gaits, which allows him to work on lengthening, flexing and collecting the horse. One of his key goals in this exercise is to keep the horse responsive to the aids.

movement where the horse executes a collected trot in place, or nearly in place. Fiti is still learning this move and when he is done being schooled, Munoz lets the stallion stretch and move forward.

The pirouette is next. No easy task, Fiti needs to keep the same canter in the pirouette as in the collected canter. Again, when the response is correct, there is a reward. “After the pirouette, the horse tends to get a little tense,” so Munoz lightens his hands and lets the horse go forward.

“The union with the horse is like a marriage.”

— Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz, to Eurodressage And this, too: When he lengthens the canter, his purpose often is to make the horse cover more ground so he becomes more true in the back. Asking for more collection in the canter, he looks to create more activity behind.

Moving back into the trot, he allows the horse to stretch a little bit and relax. It’s time to ask more of Fiti, keeping the rider’s contact in the hand “always supple and light.” And remember to do as Munoz does when the horse’s answer to the request is correct: As soon as Fiti does a few steps of what he’s asking, he rewards him.

Munoz asks for the piaffe, the dressage

But even the best student misbehaves, and Fiti proves he’s only human – well, equine – when he doesn’t respond when Munoz asks for the halfhalt. So here is the final teachable moment for the demonstration: Munoz stops and backs him up to get him to listen to the aid, rather than run through it.

Interested in learning more? Check out the official website for Munoz at juanmanuelmunozdiaz. com/ingles for photo galleries and videos of some of his top competitions including the freestyle performance at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, that earned Fuego the nickname “King of Hearts.”

Come for a day, a weekend or a lifetime • Enjoy our fine inns and restaurants.

• Browse the unique shops along Albany Street’s historic business district.

• Glimpse a time when elegance was the order of the day at Lorenzo State Historic Site.

• Experience art in nature at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park.

• Or simply relax and take a stroll in Lakeland

Park, with its ever-changing views of Cazenovia Lake and the surrounding hillsides.

Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce 59 Albany St., Cazenovia • Online at www.cazenovia.com Email: info@cazenovia.com • Phone: 315-655-9243

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 51

THE GUIDE: BUY LOCAL

CNY shops have holiday ideas

for every equinaficionado AND DON’T FORGET TO GIFT YOURSELF

Eq-wine aficionado on your holiday shopping list?

Noble Outfitters has a new twist on the hoof pick: A corkscrew wine opener concealed in the wood handle of a stainless steel pick. Here at NYH, where we think a horse and a bottle of red match perfectly, The Wine Down Hoof Pick is a hands-down favorite. We like it as a hostess gift, too. It’s $19.95 at The Show Trunk II, 2335 Dryden Road (Rt. 13), Ithaca.

Pair the corkscrew with a bottle of equine-inspired wine for more holiday cheer. The

inspiration for 14 Hands wine comes from the days when wild horses roamed Washington state, where the vineyard is located.

The bucking horse on the label of The Show Malbec has its roots in the gauchos of Argentina, the wine’s home. Find the Malbec and 14 Hands Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, about $10 a bottle, at Pascale’s Liquor Square, 3150 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse.

Is your little equinista also a fashionista? She can be comfy, cozy and horsey in this knitted hat with cuteness to spare from Joules. The

Nutmeg horse hat ($32) is machine washable and sports tasseled ear flaps – or are they reins? Make it an outfit with an applique-horse top and printed leggings, also from Joules, all at Lillie Bean, 57 Albany St, Cazenovia.

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Beautiful and unique, hand-painted wooden frames by artist Judy Goldthwait give every photo a signature equine touch. Corral a few

into an elegant display for a wall, table or mantle.

Frames and other handpainted gift items – including decanters, vases and wine glasses – start at $25 at Judy Goldthwait Equine Art, jgpetportraits@hotmail.com.

Make your holiday memories ironclad with this hand-crafted ornament from farrier Matthew Rice. Each

small horseshoe, dated ’14 and strung with sisal twine for hanging, is forged using centuries-old techniques in his Auburn shop. Ornaments are $10 each (with custom stamping available) at Finger Lakes Forge, (315)-224-5218 or matthewrice@fingerlakesforge.net.

We have just the gift, whether your kid loves horsepower, or horse power (or both). The John Deere Animal Hauling Toy

Set comes with pickup truck, trailer, two horses and a Skid Steer loader. Not only can we guarantee this will keep them busy, we can guarantee these horses are easier to load than any we’ve ever owned. It’s $20.49 at Cazenovia Equipment, with locations in Cazenovia, Chittenango, Clinton, Cortland, LaFayette, Lowville, Oneonta, Sandy Creek and Watertown.

WIN THIS: We have one ornament to give away. Send an email with your name and address and “Ornament” in the subject line to: info@nyhorsemag.com. We’ll pick a winner at random from all entries received.

Holiday gift, conversation piece and landscape focal point: An equine topiary is all three rolled into one. This big

guy, who stands about 10 feet tall, lives at Crawford Farms in Durhamville, but there are more to be had. Hounds, foxes and other animals can also be ordered – put together a complete hunt with enough space and cash. Horse topiaries average about $800; prices vary by size and style. Available at Chuck Hafner’s Garden Center, 7265 Buckley Road, North Syracuse.

Show your Western pride with the Alex and Ani cowboy boot charm bangle and feel good about the indulgence: 20% of all sales goes to

Farm Aid, with a minimum donation of $25,000. Available in gold or silver finish. It’s $32 at Cazenovia Jewelry, 49 Albany St., Cazenovia or 533 Towne Drive, Fayetteville.

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 53

THE GUIDE: BY THE NUMBERS

Riding’s Dirty Dozen THESE ARE THE TOP 12 HABITS YOU’D LIKE TO KICK What’s the biggest bad habit riders want to fix?

Nearly one-fifth of riders said tipping or leaning forward was the riding habit they most wanted to break.

“Looking down” was the top choice, beating out “leaning forward” by a nose in a survey by HonestHorseRiding.com. Nearly one-fifth (19.6%) of riders surveyed said that looking down rather than ahead was the most important thing they wanted to fix in their riding, while 18.7% of riders wanted to stop leaning and tipping forward when they rode.

The sample was small – more than 100 riders from different countries – but the top 12 most common riding bad habits sounded a lot like many an equestrian to-do list we’ve heard over the years.

Looking down Stop leaning and tipping forward when they rode Holding tension in their body and forgetting to breathe when they ride Riding with straight arms Rounding and hunching shoulders Heels lifting up Toes pointed out Lower leg position too far forward Sitting crooked in the saddle Not focused on the horse (talking and day dreaming) Hands too high or too low Slouching

1.9%

3.7% 3.7% 3.7%

8.4% 8.4% 7.6% 7.5% 6.5%

10.3%

19.6% 18.7%

And one other result that also rang true: 21% of all riders surveyed said the most important change they wanted to make in their lives was to ride their horse more often.

SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS WITH AN AD IN

NEW YORK HORSE Whether they canter or lope, go around barrels or over them, we reach horse people. If that’s your target market, your ad belongs in our pages.

And our readers aren’t just crazy about their horses. From dining to shopping to entertainment, they’re looking for the best the region has to offer. Reach them with New York Horse.

54 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

THE GUIDE: GOOD HORSEKEEPING

Time to plan for that dreaded word – winter FEED YOUR HORSE RIGHT TO KEEP HIM HEALTHY AND IN GOOD SHAPE COME SPRING

By Dr. Juliet M. Getty

H

orses enjoy cold weather and the relaxation that winter brings, but it takes more than hay to keep them healthy during the colder months. Optimal nutritional planning will help them enjoy the season and emerge in good condition when spring arrives.

Hay is not enough Hay cannot compare in nutritive value to fresh grass. Once grass is cut, dried, and stored, it begins to lose vitamins C, D and E, beta carotene (for vitamin A production), and omega-3 fatty acids.

Normally, your horse produces vitamin D when he is exposed to sunlight. But spending more time indoors, combined with shorter daylight hours, can induce a vitamin D deficiency that leaves

bones, joints, and muscles unprotected.

Therefore, a vitamin supplement, along with ground flaxseed (to provide omega 3s), will fill in the nutritional gaps created by hay-only diets.

Consider alfalfa Contrary to popular opinion, alfalfa is not higher in sugar than grass hay. It is high in protein, but this is a good thing.

At a moderate intake (approximately 10 to 30 percent of the total hay ration), it boosts the overall protein quality of the diet, keeping your horse’s muscles, joints, feet, skin, hair, and bones fed, and protecting his blood and immune function. Alfalfa also serves as a stomach buffer against developing an ulcer, a common occurrence when a horse is stalled during the winter after being used to full-time turnout.

Offer hay free-choice Cold weather increases the metabolic rate, which means that horses need to burn more calories to maintain a normal internal body temperature and a consistent weight. When you provide hay free-choice, you will notice that your horse naturally consumes more to help stay warm and account for his higher energy need. Free-choice is always best (regardless of the season or condition of your horse) because it allows your horse to self-regulate his intake and eat only what his body needs. Consider testing your hay; choose hay with low sugar and starch levels for the insulin resistant, laminitic, or overweight horse.

For more calories, add concentrates

Water your horse; don’t rely on snow.

For many horses, hay will not provide enough calories to maintain normal body condition. A high fat commercial feed is fine for healthy horses. For the easy keeper or insulin-resistant horse, avoid sweet feeds and those that contain oats or corn. Beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, or low starch commercial feeds are excellent

alternatives. Fatty feeds such as rice bran, ground flaxseed, or chia seeds offer the most concentrated source of calories. Avoid corn or soybean oils, since they promote inflammation due to their high omega-6 fatty acid content.

Older horses need special attention Your older horse may need a joint supplement along with vitamin C to help produce collagen (the protein found in bones and joints), since less vitamin C is produced by the body as horses age.

For the aged hard keeper (or any hard keeper, for that matter), be sure there is no competition from more aggressive horses for hay. Feed a senior feed, along with added ground flaxseed.

And be sure to check your horse’s teeth.

Poor dental health is the number one reason for weight loss in older horses.

Other tips When feeding bran mashes, or any added feed, feed it every day. Consistency will prevent colic. Keep in mind, however, that bran (rice or wheat are most common) is very high in phosphorus in relation to calcium. Therefore, use a commercial product with added calcium or feed alfalfa to counteract the elevated phosphorus content.

Provide fresh, temperate water. Never rely on snow to meet your horse’s water needs. Water should be kept at a palatable temperature to encourage drinking and prevent dehydration.

Remember to provide salt. Salt blocks, free choice granulated salt, or adding two tablespoons of table salt to your horse’s meals per day (divided between meals) will keep his body in proper water balance.

Dr. Juliet M. Getty is the former Contributing Nutrition Editor for Horse Journal, and the author of Feed Your Horse Like a Horse. Find her online at gettyequinenutrition.com/

NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 55

PARTING SHOT

Portrait of a working horse at the CNY Draft Horse Club annual corn harvest, Tully.

“No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No stream or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled.

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.”

— Harry Emerson Fosdick

56 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com

Canterbury Stables W O R L D

C L A S S ,

M I N U T E S

A W A Y

Set on 225 rolling acres in Cazenovia, NY, Canterbury Stables offers the finest care, state-of-the-art facilities and structured training programs to help every rider reach their potential. Canterbury Stables is owned by Nancy and Jim Asher and their recently-married daughter Kimberley Dougherty.

Whether it’s English riding, jumping, dressage or simply learning to ride a horse safely, lessons can be tailored to your equestrian goals in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. At Canterbury, we are dedicated to providing quality lessons – on your horse or ours – and the boarding, care and training of performance and pleasure horses. Head trainer, Kimberley, has developed a strong program for riders of all ages and levels, and an outstanding group of lesson horses.

W

E

An after-school program supervised by Canterbury trainers, where students balance fun and hands-on learning. Private riding lessons can be included.

O

F

F

E

Two indoor arenas: a new 100' x 225' dressage arena with enclosed viewing area and a 100' x 200' hunter-jumper arena. Outdoors, find a 100' x 230' arena and three miles of trails.

R A modern, 53-stall barn with two tack rooms. Treat your horse to best-in-show care, with daily turnouts in half-acre paddocks, blanket changes and night checks.

Environmentallyfriendly practices including farmgrown hay and green cleaning supplies.

4786 Roberts Road, Cazenovia Phone: 315-440-2244 Email: info@canterburystablesny.com

Q U A L I T Y .

C A R I N G .

C A N T E R B U R Y .

YOUR JOURNEY = OUR GOAL