NEW YORK HORSE STORIES. ADVICE. HORSEPLAY.
SUMMER 2016
Foals, Fieldwork Fair AND THE
LINGER OVER PORTRAITS OF SUMMER’S EQUINE SIGNATURES
How to teach your horse courage Get Outside and Ride …
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NYHorseMag.com
PLUS
Make your horse a trail boss Explore a new destination Try equine camping
10 TIPS TO HATS OFF! PASTURE PLANTS HORSE HACKS: SHINE AT LORENZO DRIVING’S THAT CAN THE BRAIDING SHOWMANSHIP RUBY YEAR RUIN SUMMER EDITION
In association with the NYS Center for Equine Business Development
Canterbury Stables … W H E R E Y O U R J O U R N E Y I S O U R D E S T I N AT I O N
A premier riding and boarding experience All amenities for you and your horse … Warm & welcoming Horses are your passion. We understand. At Canterbury Stables, we’re passionate about excellence. Set on 225 rolling acres in the heart of Cazenovia’s horse country, Canterbury offers the finest in hunter/jumper and dressage lessons in a family-friendly atmosphere. We are dedicated to providing quality lessons tailored to each rider’s age, level and goals, and the boarding, care and training of performance and pleasure horses. Three competition-size hunter/jumper and dressage arenas • Dust-free footing • A modern 53-stall barn • Daily turnouts in ½-acre paddocks • Night checks • Farm-grown hay • Three-miles of scenic trails • An outstanding group of lesson horses • After-school program, educational and fun • Summer pony camp • Head trainer, USDF silver medalist Kimberley Dougherty
Canterbury Stables, 4786 Roberts Road, Cazenovia, NY • Online: www.canterburystablesny.com • Call: 315-440-2244
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features 28
The Road Less Traveled
The key to happier trails is in the preparation, for both horse and rider
33
Away Game
From head-mounted flashlights to single-serving grain portions, what you need – and need to do – to go camping with your horse
39
Summer Album: Foals
They are the season’s first creations: spindle-legged, sunny and swift
42
Summer Album: Fieldwork
Would-be teamsters take the reins at a draft horse practicum in Marathon
45
Horse Power vs Horsepower
When the soundtrack of a farm was the jingle of harnesses and the four-beat rhythm of hooves
46
Summer Album: An Enduring Tradition
The Lorenzo Driving Competition celebrates 40 years of excellence and elegance
49
Summer Album: Fair Play
All’s well that ends with blue ribbons and fried dough
56
Beware the Buttercup
Cornell University’s guide to summer’s pasture perils 2 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Guide 55 58 60 61 62
Horse Hacks
Secret shortcuts to braiding manes, from mouthwash to hair gel Informed Equestrian
Brains and conformation – in choosing a sporthorse, you can’t have one without the other Top 10 List
A double handful of tips on mastering the art of showmanship Management 101
Understand horse behavior to stop problems before they start How-To
Protect your horse from West Nile Virus this summer
Departments
59
Tips from a Trainer
Make your horse braver and smarter: Give them the power of decision
NEW YORK HORSE STORIES. ADVICE. HORSEPLAY.
SUMMER 2016
Foals, Fieldwork Fair AND THE
LINGER OVER PORTRAITS OF SUMMER’S EQUINE SIGNATURES
How to teach your horse courage Get Outside and Ride …
$4.99
NYHorseMag.com
PLUS
Make your horse a trail boss Explore a new destination Try equine camping
10 TIPS TO HATS OFF! PASTURE PLANTS HORSE HACKS: SHINE AT LORENZO DRIVING’S THAT CAN THE BRAIDING SHOWMANSHIP RUBY YEAR RUIN SUMMER EDITION
In association with the NYS Center for Equine Business Development
4 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
On the Cover
Judy Goldthwait’s portrait of a high-stepping hackney captures the breed’s elegant lines and signature gait, freezing her subject midstride. Visit her July 16-17 in Cazenovia at the Lorenzo Driving Competition, where she created the Ruby Jubilee poster. Artwork by Judy Goldthwait, online at jgpetportraits.com.
6 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 32 64
Editor’s Note Thanks To Our Underwriters Leg Up
News, Notes and Conversation Starters Calendar
A full slate of shows and clinics; Roadtrip heads west for a polo match to save historic stables Newsmakers
Horses and students walk-trot-cantered away with ribbons at the IHSA nationals EQ Business
Easy and common-sense steps to preserve a legacy of land
Armchair Equestrian
The Essential Fergus the Horse tells all about the original Equus Hilarious Guest Column
Why Equine Avenue and the State Fair should matter to all horse people First Person
A collegiate rider learns: It’s not only about how good you are, it’s about how hard you work Profile
A champion driver’s secrets to successful reinsmanship Off the Beaten Path
A wilderness playground awaits adventurous equestrians in Allegany County Parting Shot
EDITOR’S NOTE
The cluttered cellar chronicles, chapter 1 (in which the heroine admits to a minor problem)
I
n a corner of the official New York Horse basement, there are a pair of field boots. They are tan calfskin, with laces at the ankle. Once upon a time – before English riding boots came with zippers – they went on with the help of two boot hooks and a strong back. They came off only with the aid of someone who did not mind pulling one boot off with both hands while the bottom of the other was braced against his posterior. Those boots will never go on my legs again. Or if, by some cosmic miracle they did, it would require a passing lumberjack and a chainsaw to remove them. Nonetheless, there they sit, collecting dust, next to a moldering Crosby Prix de Nations saddle that cost the once-princely sum of $300 – an entire summer’s earnings as a mother’s helper. Over the years they have acquired company: A box of ribbons from a much-missed Thoroughbred. A velvet hunt cap absolutely guaranteed to scramble the brains of anyone unfortunate enough to be wearing it when they fell off a horse. And a pair of vintage jodhpurs with a waist so small the mere remembrance can still cause me to skip dessert for a week. I would feel worse about this except there is an entire Sisterhood of the Traveling Ill-Fitting Jodhpurs. Take the friend – who shall remain nameless – who cheerfully admits to holding onto more than a decade’s worth of Miller’s saddlery catalogues. (Who could throw them out? The double L was in the shape of riding boots!) They, too, are in a cellar, where they may or may not be holding up the east end of her house. We are unified in our belief that one day there will be a boom market for used ribbons; that one day we will open an Etsy shop called The Hoarded Horse; or, even less likely, that one day we will have a garage sale, dispose of our equine accoutrements and retire on the proceeds. Just to be clear on that last point: It is likely that one day we will have a garage sale. It is even likely that some horse paraphernalia will make it to the $5 table. But put that money sensibly aside rather than immediately reinvesting in new horse paraphernalia? Especially in the summer, when every warm breeze is an invitation to ride and every ride is an invitation to embellish your horse (or yourself)? In a word: Unlikely. It may not be true that the one who dies with the most horse toys wins, but we are ready and willing to accept the challenge. If we could master counting strides, riding without stirrups, falling off and getting back on – there isn’t a credit limit in the land that can hold us back. Enjoy what treasures summer brings your way. We wish you good reading and good riding.
Janis
6 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
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NEW YORK HORSE
SPOTLIGHT
Katie Navarra
K
atie Navarra was raised on a farm in Western New York and has been riding all her life, making her a perfect addition to the New York Horse stable of writers. Her day job is marketing manager at the state School Boards Association, but her byline should be familiar to many readers of horse magazines: Since 2001, more than 300 of her articles have been published, most of them in equine publications. Talking with the Saratogian newspaper about why she loves writing, Katie said: “Everyone has a unique and interesting story to tell … I feel blessed to have the opportunity to meet such interesting people, hear their story and craft it into an article that can be shared with others.” She is a regular contributor to our pages, writing on topics from conditioning to ranch horse. In this issue, her package on trail riding leads our features section.
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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; Nye Auto Group; Blue Ocean Strategic Capital, LLC; New York State Fair; The Beattie Sanctuary; Madison County Tourism; Morrisville State College; New York Farm Bureau; Central New York Dressage and Combined Training Association; Central New York Reining Horse Association; From The Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship and New York State Horse Council.
PRESENTATION
Art Director Darren Sanefski dasanefs@go.olemiss.edu
EDITORIAL Contributing Editor Renée K. Gadoua Contributing Writers Kimberlyn Beaudoin Katie Navarra LA Pomeroy Milton Sernett Claudia Wheatley Contributing Photographers Jessica Berman Lisa Cenis Michael Davis Mitchell Greenwald Wells Horton Richard Juilliart
ADVERTISING
Advertising Director Peter K. Barth advertising@nyhorsemag.com
New York Horse magazine is published quarterly by: Tremont8 Media, LLC Cazenovia, NY 13035 All rights reserved. ISSN 2375-8058. 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 From show jumping to trail riding, reining to dressage, we cover it all with unbridled passion
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NEW YORK HORSE UNDERWRITERS Canterbury Stables W O R L D
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Leg Up
News, Notes and Conversation Starters
Mary Jordan’s Olympic journey continues The 2016 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships wrapped up with Oneida County native Mary Jordan earning third-place overall in the National Division. Jordan, the Grade IV National Champion – the level for athletes with the least severe limitations – rode Rubicon 75, the Oldenburg gelding who’s been her teammate for two years. Riding him, she said in the Spring issue of NY Horse, “is an incredible sense of freedom and expression.” Jordan, who has multiple sclerosis, was born and raised in Clinton. She’s hoping to be part of the four-member US team competing in the Rio Paralympic Games. Watch for updates on her journey on the New York Horse Facebook page.
Madden, Ward awaiting Olympic decision
IDA honors Cazenovia College coach
Two of New York’s finest – Beezie Madden and McClain Ward – have been short-listed for the Olympic show jumping team and await a final decision, which the USEF says will come no later than July 5. Ward, of Brewster, is the current world No. 1, having shot to the top of the Longines Rankings; Cazenovia’s Madden holds eleventh place. The US will send a team of four, plus one reserve, to the Rio Olympics; show jumping will take place August 14-19.
Ann Fowler has been named Intercollegiate Dressage Association Coach of the Year for 2016. The award honors “an individual who represents the ideals of sportsmanship, achievement and dedication to their team and region.” “This is an incredible honor and I am so grateful to receive it,” Fowler said. “The past winners of the trophy are all amazing horsewomen I have known for years and have deep admiration and respect for – so I’m joining very good company!”
Otter Creek trails get some TLC from DEC The state Department of Environmental Conservation worked with volunteers this spring to improve several sections of the Otter Creek Horse Trails in Lewis County. Work included clearing trails that were overgrown and maintenance to prevent erosion. “We believe that rider safety is a priority which means that trails must be constantly cleared from storm damage, fallen trees, and washouts,” said Liz Hirschey of Friends of Otter Creek. She said riders “count on well-marked and maintained trails to facilitate a safe and enjoyable ride through this beautiful Adirondack forest,”
The ins and outs of the State Fair LaBarre Dressage moves from PA to Voltra Farm Michelle LaBarre is moving from northeastern Pennsylvania to become part of the training team at Voltra Farm in Verona. There, she joins her mentor and teacher, FEI Dressage trainer Carel Eijkenaar. LaBarre earned her USDF silver medal on her self-trained pony, Miakoda. She has trained and taught in the equestrian program at Houghton College, and was head trainer at the Atlantic Dressage Development Center in Nova Scotia, Canada, before opening her own training center. 10 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
The Toyota Coliseum got a bit of a facelift just in time for show season: As part of the ongoing work at the state Fairgrounds in Syracuse, a new wooden gate has been installed at the entrance to the Coliseum arena from the practice ring. Along with the new gate, fair officials have expanded the size of the show ring and added plank panels along the side walls.
Names in the News
Alexis Carpenter of Morrisville State College, Haley O’Brien of St. Lawrence University and Nick Suggs of Alfred
University have been named 2016 Sportsmanship Award recipients by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association/ U.S. Hunter Jumper Association. Carol Kozlowski is the President Elect of the United States Eventing Association and will assume the role of USEA President in December. Kozlowski’s home base is her teaching and training farm, Mothersfield, in the western New York town of Avon. Dr. Lorin D. Warnick has been named dean of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Warnick assumed the post of interim dean in August 2015, after serving as associate dean and director of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Warnick said his vision is “to excel in our core missions of research, veterinary
education, graduate education and service to the public.” Equine artist Judy Goldthwait of Cazenovia designed the logo for the 2016 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association nationals. This year’s location was Lexington, KY, which Goldthwait said served as inspiration for the work, which features four horses gazing over a classic white fence. Grace Hoey of the Emerald City Equestrian Team in Skaneateles, and Shelby Oshtrom of Heritage Stables, also in Skaneateles, competed in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association hunt seat finals. Hoey competed in Varsity Intermediate on the Flat, while Oshtrom competed in JV Novice on the Flat. Alex Belton of Chittenango won First Level and had the overall high score in the USDF Quiz Challenge at the Interscholastic Dressage Association nationals.
____C N Y D & C T A____ Central New York Dressage & Combined Training Association
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JUNE: 5 Spring Opener Dressage Show at Tanglewood Riding Center 11+12 Bill McMullin Clinic at Deer Hollow Farm 13 Monthly Board meeting at the Manlius Public Library 15 Carol Kozlowski Clinic at Deer Hollow Farm 26 Show & Tell at Whisper Wind Equestrian Center JULY: 10 Jumper & Dressage Show at Marcellus Equestrian Center 11 Monthly Board meeting at the Manlius Public Library AUGUST: 7 Dressage Schooling Show at Tanglewood Riding Center 8 Monthly Board meeting at the Manlius Public Library SEPTEMBER: 11 Fall Wrap-Up Dressage Show at Tanglewood Riding Center 12 Monthly Board meeting at the Manlius Public Library OCTOBER: 15+16 Bill McMullin Clinic at Deer Hollow Farm NOVEMBER: 12 Year-End Awards Banquet & Silent Auction Dinner @ Lincklaen House 12+13 Fall Symposium with Beth Baumert, author of When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics. Auditors encouraged.
For more information on our events please visit our webpage: www.cnydcta.org & Like us on Facebook: CNY Dressage & Combined Training Association
New York Horse honored for excellence New York Horse was honored for writing, photography and general excellence by the Syracuse Press Club. Photographer Jessica Berman took first place for her portrait, “Domino” from Winter 2016. Writer LA Pomeroy took second place in sports writing for “Time and Again” from Fall 2015. Publisher Janis Barth, and art director Darren Sanefski, were recognized for design and content of the Winter 2016 issue.
CarriageForHouse Saddlery All Things Equestrian Ride fashionably, ride better, ride in championship style with English wear and Western boots and hats from Carriage House Saddlery FITS breeches and shirts, Charles Owen helmets, and RJ Classics show coats for the ride of your life Stephens luxury sheepskin saddle pads for him Mary Catt Photo
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Shop Hours: Tuesday and Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4 or call for appointment
LEG UP: CALENDAR JUNE 24-26
Brookfield 50 and 30 mile Competitive Trail Ride and 15 mile Conditioning Distance Ride at Pure Country Campground, New Berlin. Sponsored by the NYS Horse Council, sanctioned by the Easatern Competitive Trail Ride Association. More information: brookfieldctr.weebly.com
24-26 29-July 2 JULY 9 9-10 20-23 31
Clinic with International show jumper Derek McConnell at Rein Tree Stables, Canton. More information at: reintreestable.com. The 43rd Syracuse International Horse Show, sponsored by the American Saddlebred Horse Association, at the Toyota Coliseum, New York State Fairgrounds. More information: ashany.org.
New York Reined Cow Horse Cattle and Ranch Clinic at Quiet Quarters Ranch, Campbell. More info: newyorkrcha.com. Empire State Paint Horse Club “Summer Sizzler” Horse Show at the Toyota Coliseum, NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse. More information: esphc.com. Empire State Arabian Horse Association Region 16 Championship show at the Toyota Coliseum, NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse. More information: arabianhorses.org.
Polo for Preemies supports Crouse Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which cares for the region’s tiniest and sickest newborns. Gates open at 1 p.m. at the Skaneateles Polo Club, 783 Andrews Road, with food, entertainment and activities including pony rides for the kids. The match starts at 3. More information: crouse.org/ give/foundation/events/polo-for-preemies.
AUGUST 11-14 13-14 25-Sept. 6
Classic Horse Show Series “Coliseum Classic” at the Toyota Coliseum, state Fairgrounds, Syracuse. More information: classichorseshowseries.com. Central New York Reining Horse Association “Summer Slidin’ By” show at Morrisville State College. More information: cnyrha.com.
New York State Fair, featuring more than 1,000 horses competing over 12 days. Don’t miss the draft horse competition, including ground-shaking six- and eight-horse hitches, and the Equine Avenue tent located next to the Toyota Coliseum.
27-28 Looking Ahead
Driven dressage clinic, all levels, with PJ Crowley at Logan’s Place Farm, New Woodstock, Sponsored by the Cherry Valley Carriage Association. More information: cherryvalleycarriage.com. Equine Affaire, with more than 230 clinics, seminars, and demonstrations, Nov. 10-13 at the Eastern Exposition, West Springfield, MA.
To submit events for the New York Horse Calendar, in print and online, send an email to: nyhorsemag@gmail.com. 12 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
LEG UP: ROAD TRIP Polo match to benefit restoration of historic WNY stables
O
n July 23, the clink of champagne glasses mixes with the thunder of polo ponies flying down Knox Field. In a golden, bygone era, this is where Seymour Knox II led his Aurora Polo Team to the U.S. Championship. Today, his mansion is the centerpiece of a state park, the stables have fallen into disrepair and the polo being played is a charity match to raise money for their restoration.
The third annual Knox Memorial Cup will take place at Knox Field, Chur Equestrian Center, in East Aurora. Polo begins at 1 p.m.; tickets are available for a champagne brunch at 11 a.m., which also includes music, VIP parking and front row seats for the polo match. Last year’s match drew more than 1,000 spectators. The event is organized by the nonprofit Stables At Knox, Inc.; proceeds benefit the rehabilitation, preservation and reuse of the historic 1927 equestrian stables at Knox Farm State Park.
In 2015, The Stables At Knox donated $10,000 to New York’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The money, matched by another $5,000 from the state, was earmarked for replacing doors and windows in the iconic stables. For more information go to the Stables At Knox Facebook page or stablesatknox.org. For information on the park, which allows riding and driving free of charge on the trails winding through its 633 acres, go to friendsofknoxfarm.org.
LEG UP: NEWSMAKERS
Collegiate riders take Western, reining and hunt seat honors at IHSA Nationals And we salute General Collins and Colonel Peppenator By LA Pomeroy
R A picture-perfect slide caps Dylan Dombrowski’s ride on Peppy at the 2016 IHSA Nationals.
ibbons, special awards and a shot at a national title: It was all in a day’s work for Upstate’s top equine and human competitors at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s national finals in Lexington, KY. For Dylan Dombrowski, a top four finalist in the NRHA Open Reining national championship at IHSA Nationals, there will be no time to slide back on his laurels. His third-place finish earned the Long Island native and Cazenovia College senior a trip to the June 30 NRHA Collegiate Reining Championships in Oklahoma.
PHOTO BY AL COOK/IHSA
14 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
His teammate was another local boy making good: SUNY Oswego’s Quarter Horse stallion Colonel Peppenator, “Peppy,” who was named Triple Crown Nutrition’s High Point Western Horse for the second year in a row. Peppy wasn’t the only local horse to covet at the finals. Cazenovia College’s General Collins and Morrisville State College’s Rex tied for Triple Crown’s High Point Hunt Seat Horse. Dombrowski also received the IHSA Nationals Western Rider Sportsmanship Award – recognized for his team spirit and his “fairness to horses inside and outside the pen” – and a fourth-place finish in Individual Open Horsemanship qualified him for a chance to compete for the title of Intercollegiate AQHA World Champion at the Quarter Horse World Show this November in Oklahoma. Other results: In the program’s first-ever trip to Nationals, Cornell University’s hunt seat riders placed seventh out of 16 teams. Cornell alum Emily Kowalchik took home champion honors in Alumni Fences. Skidmore College’s “one-eyed wonder” Amitelli was named SmartPak Most Popular Hunt Seat Horse. The big bay gelding is a seasoned IHSA horse, but this was his first year competing with only one eye, after losing the other in an injury. Jesse Fortier became St. Lawrence University’s first male rider to win an individual national championship when he took the top spot in Open Equitation on the flat. St. Lawrence hunt-seat riders finished tied for fourth in the Collegiate Cup team competition. SUNY Oswego rider Mary Galway took home a white ribbon, placing fourth in Advanced Western Horsemanship. Cazenovia sophomore Erica Ferreira finished as Reserve Champion in Individual Intermediate over Fences. Alfred University Junior Gabrielle Covert brought it all to the Nationals, and left with one of the IHSA’s coveted titles: Versatility National Champion for 2016. Covert competed at the Nationals as one of an elite few versatility riders demonstrating their aptitude in both Western and hunt seat competition. What’s her strongest point? Says Alfred’s Western coach Harry Hurd: “her confidence.” Covert wasn’t the least bit intimidated riding in what’s called the most exciting four days in collegiate riding. “She doesn’t always practice great,” says Hurd, “but when it’s time to go into the class, she knows how to bring it.”
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July 23 Ranch Clinic & Show, Kirkville July 24 Summer Slide Jackpot, Kirkville Aug. 13-14 Summer Slidin’ By, Morrisville Oct. 20-23 CNYRHA Fall Classic NE Breeders Trust Futurity & NE Affiliate Regional Championship Central New York Reining Horse Association Promoting the sport of Reining in the NE
Mike and Sue Bednarek, 3614 Henneberry Road, Jamesville, NY Phone: 315-243-4387 www.bednarekquarterhorses.com
Jennifer Hoyt: 682-0592, hoyttrain1@gmail.com
M S C • 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
Experience Morrisville’s unique setting, equine programs and facilities for yourself. Tours, visits, and faculty appointments can be scheduled online at www.morrisville.edu. Look for us at the New York State Fair! Aug. 25 - Sept. 5
an equal-opportunity institution.
LEG UP: EQUINOMICS
Three steps to preserve a legacy that includes land
‘Start with what you want to see happen. What’s important to you?’
I
s land your legacy – or part of it? Then take a deep breath, silence the little voice that says ‘I’d rather not think about this,’ and make a plan. Transition planning should be a key part of any equine operation, whether it’s a small boarding and lesson barn, or a multi-million dollar breeding and training facility. “Everyone has a will. It’s either the one you write, or the one the state writes for you,” Evan Groot of Nationwide said at a workshop at the NYS Center for Equine Business Development at Cazenovia College. “You have to plan.” An effective transition plan, Groot said, is one way to make certain that goals for the future of a farm become reality. Without a transition plan, he said, the state will decide how assets – including land and animals – will be distributed. And, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, roughly 89% of farmers do not have a transition plan in place. “There’s a lot of inertia around this topic,” Groot confirmed. “People know they should plan, but they put it off.” Transition planning may seem like something only the wealthy need to worry about, he said, but it’s really just a way to ensure that your home and other assets are distributed the way you want after you’re gone. Transition plans are especially important in agriculture – and horses are agriculture – because
16 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
many assets are tangible items such as land, livestock, or equipment which may be difficult to divide evenly among heirs or sell to help pay off taxes and expenses. One of the main reasons cited for delaying, he said, is that the process seems complicated. That needn’t be the case – free advice on transition planning is available from several sources, including Nationwide – and the first steps require only honesty and common sense. Start by setting goals and objectives. “Start with what you want to see happen,” Groot said. “What’s important to you?” Maybe the goal is to liquidate and retire. Maybe it’s to pass the farm to the kids. There is no wrong answer; the point is to make a choice and then act on that decision. Next, decide who’s involved in the process and put the planning team together. Then review the current situation, everything from finances to family dynamics. Explained Groot, “Starting with the end in mind, ask: Where are we today?” Finally, consider the options, decide on a course of action and carry out the plan – bearing in mind that circumstances change. “It’s a living, breathing process,” said Groot, so remember to review the plan periodically and make modifications if needed. Although every scenario will have its “pluses and minuses,” Groot said the benefits of succession planning are worth the time expended. A solid plan will: • Preserve your legacy; • Safeguard the value created by your operation; • Set up an orderly transition of ownership and management; • Provide for financial basics; • Turn non-liquid assets into cash to cover taxes and expenses; and • Identify and manage risks. “The most tangible benefit is that you know it’s taken care of,” Groot said. “Your family’s taken care of … That’s the benefit of going through this process.”
WE STAND FOR
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And for making smart choices to ensure safety. Safety is about planning. Taking the time to do it right. And making smart decisions. That’s why DH Insurance Services partners with the nation’s number one farm insurer — because we know safety, and we’re ready to share prevention tips and tools with you. Ask us about Nationwide® farm and ranch insurance today. WS4U.com
Matthew Hunt DH Insurance Services Baldwinsville NY 315-635-9959 huntm24@nationwide.com
Jesse Marsh Don Marsh Agency Oneonta & Richfield Springs NY 607-432-8834 marshj8@nationwide.com
Source: 2013 Munich Re: Report. Based on premium and loss data. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. We Stand For You is a service mark of Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company. © 2016 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Products underwritten by Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company, Farmland Mutual Insurance Company, Allied Property and Casualty Insurance Company and AMCO Insurance Company. Home Office: 1100 Locust Street Des Moines, IA. GPO-0171AO.2 (05/16)
LEG UP: ARMCHAIR EQUESTRIAN
Wisdom and humor from the original equine source Why are horses like therapists? Says Fergus: ‘We listen without arguing and we cost them a fortune’
I
n the late 1990s, a little bay horse with four white socks and a blaze was born. Since then, Fergus has appeared in print, on Facebook and on his own line of merchandise including a coffee mug featuring the mortal enemy of many a supposedly well-trained horse: the mounting block.
Fergus makes us laugh, whether he is bedeviled by flies or explaining to his rider the benefits of falling off: “You wanted to practice groundwork and flatwork and you wanted to practice without stirrups. And there you are … flat, on the ground, and with no stirrups. Looks like a success to me!” Fergus (Equus hilarious) is the creation of artist Jean Abernethy, who brings together the back story of the wise-cracking horse: how he came to be, his early years, the history of his friends and support characters. She combines them with his greatest hits in “The Essential Fergus the Horse, the Life and Times of the World’s Most Popular Cartoon Equine” (Trafalgar Square Books, paperback, $19.95). Abernethy includes some of her most-loved comic strips and cartoon moments, some rarely seen sketches, and brand new additions created exclusively for The Essential Fergus. She also shares some insights into Fergus – he is not meant to represent a
particular breed, nor does he pursue one specific equestrian discipline – which allows him to be an Every Horse to his readers (315,000-plus on Facebook alone). “When fans write, ‘Fergus reminds me of my horse,’ I cannot be paid a higher compliment,” says Abernethy, who has been an equestrian artist and cartoonist for more than 30 years. “When you pick yourself up off the ground, and watch that pony run off — again —something clicks,” Abernethy writes in The Essential Fergus. “You either quit, or you find it funny!” For her, humor was a part of learning to get along in the world, and in Fergus she found the perfect, universal equine foil: “He eats, he spooks, and he really does not understand human logic at all.” Sound like any other horse you know? Then Fergus is absolutely, essentially, your kind of horse.
BITS AND PIECES HIGH FIVE: NUMBERS OF INTEREST THIS ISSUE New York Horse took a spin through the stack of interesting information and news releases that came our way and gleaned these illuminating items of equine intelligence.
$12M 94 The estimated annual economic impact from equestrian events at the New York State Fairgrounds.
The percent of drivers surveyed in the UK who say riders should be required to take a road test before they are allowed to ride their horses in traffic.
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The number of distinct facial expressions a horse has, including creased brows and eyes widened in fear. (Dogs have 26: humans, 27.)
eight 1941 The number of races American Pharoah won, including the Triple Crown, before being beaten in Saratoga, in the 2015 Travers Stakes.
The year Whirlaway became the only Triple Crown winner to go on to win the Travers Stakes, aka “The Graveyard of Champions.” This year’s Travers Stakes is August 27.
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Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association Rides from 15 to 100 miles, one day to three. We ride from Maine to Virginia.
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From the Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship is proud to announce the opening of a second location in Manlius for our equine-assisted activities and therapy sessions.
“Engaging the power of the horse to motivate, teach and heal …” Volunteers needed for barn help and lessons. Contact us: Online at ftguhorses.org
Phone (315) 662-3000
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LEG UP: GUEST COLUMN
Why the state Fair and Equine Avenue matter to horses — and the public
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By Dr. Karin Bump
oday, less than 2 percent of Americans grow up on, or are directly connected to, a farm. So, while county and state fairs have always prowvided folks with an important connection to agriculture and farm animals, the need to make those connections is even more important today. The horse is the most beloved of farm animals and fairgoers – young and old alike – flock to the barns at the New York State Fair to see these magnificent animals. However, given that fewer and fewer visitors have a working knowledge about their behavior and handling, and New York has yet to pass an equine liability act, the Fair has had to limit access to the horse barns. While that action is based on concerns for the safety of both humans and horses, the desire for fairgoers to interact with horses has only increased. Equine Avenue was launched in 2015, as a place for fairgoers to interact safely with horses in a welcoming educational setting. Equine Avenue greeted thousands of visitors, providing ample opportunities to learn about horses while getting ‘up close and personal.’ Owners and professionals enthusiastically volunteered their time, bringing their horses to the venue, answering questions and providing daily talks on topics ranging from business opportunities to equine care and handling. Each day, the six stalls in the Equine Avenue tent housed horses of varying breeds and uses: from miniatures to draft horses, retired race horses to gentle souls used for therapeutic riding. The days were long, the weather HOT, but the enthusiasm and desire to make a difference remained high for all 12 days of the fair. In addition to the horses, a number of educational exhibits and activities were daily features. A kids’ corner provided a place to learn about what horses eat, the tack and clothing used for
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riding, and safety on and around horses. Kids even had a chance to ‘ride’ Brownie and Dexter - nearly life-size model horses that offered an opportunity to see what it feels like to sit on top of a horse. The “Saddle Up, NY” area had large posters documenting the economic impact of horses in the state, while a spinning wheel gave fairgoers the opportunity to win prizes by answering questions about horse care, behavior and use, and the value of horses to New York’s economy. Rounding out the exhibit were spaces to learn about different types of collegiate equine study programs and career paths for horse enthusiasts. A Saddle Up, NY Facebook page was launched along with Twitter and Instagram feeds. These social media sites were used to post pictures of Equine Avenue visitors answering one of two questions: “What do you like best about horses?” or “Why do horses matter?” While all aspects of Equine Avenue were positively received, the photo project was among the most rewarding as it provided an opportunity for the public to voice their views about horses while reaffirming to volunteers and organizers the importance of horses – even to those who don’t have daily contact with them. In the end, it is the ability of the public to interact with and learn more about horses that is essential to our industry; the photo project provided a way to capture why doing so is important for all. A study by the Fair found that 40 percent of 2015 fairgoers were aware of the new Equine Avenue exhibit, with almost three-quarters visiting the tent. Almost all said it was a very positive experience. As a result of the positive feedback, and the ongoing support of the State Fair, the Equine Avenue exhibit will return this year. The organizers are seeking sponsors for the venue, as well as volunteers to interact with the public and share the important story of the equine industry in New York. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved, please email me at Kbump@naeaa.com. And be sure to follow us on social media during the 2016 New York State Fair!
2016
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LEG UP: FIRST PERSON
The Five Most Important Things Intercollegiate Riding Taught Me Starting with: “Being talented only goes so far”
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By Kimberlyn Beaudoin often hear other equestrians talk about how intercollegiate riding isn’t real life. As you get older, people won’t care that you made it to regionals in open over fences, or that you placed second in your region at upper training level. Although it may not be how the real world does things, there were five very important things that intercollegiate riding taught me about functioning in the equine industry.
1. It’s not about how good you are, it’s about how hard you work: When I stepped onto the college riding scene, I
was mediocre. I had the balance, I could usually put a horse together, but I hadn’t had too many recent riding lessons under my belt. If I had also been lazy, this would have been the winning combination for an exit from the team. At times it
was frustrating. Horse shows would go from sun up to sun down, and we sometimes worked up to 15 hours with few breaks. … After four years, I have seen what hard work does. It makes people respect you; it makes people appreciate you. Not everyone can be an Open or first level collegiate rider, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, I have seen firsthand the success the less-experienced rider can have over the more experienced one, just because they are more motivated. Being talented only goes so far and if you don’t have the work ethic to support it, there is a very good chance you will burn out in a sport where hard work is more than expected. 2. Trying new things isn’t as scary as it looks: It’s not often that we are surrounded by three disciplines under one roof, and some amazingly patient and talented trainers to go along with that. My favorite pastime was converting my Western and hunt seat friends to the dressage ring. So many of us come into college in a box – we do this and only this. That is all good and well, but college is a time to explore different outlets, and getting into a Western, hunt seat or dressage saddle for the first time may be the best decision of your life. People usually have more respect for you if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, and my biggest regret is that I didn’t do more. 3. No horse is created equally: I think the most important thing people need to remember about most college horses is the fact that they have all been donated for a reason. That doesn’t make them any less special, it just means that you may have some things you need to talk with them about in your 10 minute warm up, or before you head into the ring. I often hear people tell me that the hardest adjustment they had to make when joining a collegiate team, was getting used to riding a large variety of horses. … While we often blame sour rides on “luck of the draw,” we can be grateful for one thing: Getting on a horse that you’ve never met, let alone ever ridden, really does take guts. When I traveled back to Maine the first time after I became a college student, I immediately noticed a change. Sitting on so many different horses gave me more tools, more feel, and more bravery. We often get sucked into the daily routine as horse owners. We buy this horse, we pay for this horse, we compete on this horse. Intercollegiate riding has taught me that sometimes you just need some perspective, brought to you by something entirely different. 4. Being too tired to complain isn’t actually a bad thing: This one speaks for itself. There is nothing worse
than someone having a bad test, or pattern, or round, and then coming out and sulking about it. When you are prone to that, you bring the rest of your team down. Sometimes 22 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
morale is low, and negativity only lowers it more. After a long day of working a horse show, everyone is tired and ready to sleep for the remainder of the semester. They don’t care about how much harder you worked, or how exhausted you are. Everyone else is exhausted, too. I think this fact of intercollegiate riding is also a fact of life. Complaining just makes people want to be around you less. It lowers productivity, it brings others down, and it’s annoying. If you complain in the real world, you won’t be doing what you’re doing for very long. Break the cycle now. 5. Good Sportsmanship makes everything more fun: We may compete against one another, but we also encourage one another ... It’s not always easy to place lower than your teammate. It’s not always easy to smile after a bad ride, particularly after they’ve had a great one.
When I look back on my intercollegiate rides, I don’t usually remember how I placed compared to my teammates, or even to the other teams. I do remember laughing with them, making memories with them, and encouraging them. Those are the things we need to become better at in the real world: Lifting other riders up, not tearing them down. Think of how much greater our sport would become, if more people took the time to step back and cheer others on. As Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Kimberlyn Beaudoin competed as a dressage rider on the Cazenovia College Equestrian Team throughout her college years. She graduated in May with a degree in equine business management. Read more of her blog, “Halt at X” at haltatxdressage.wordpress.com.
“If you don’t have time, don’t ride. You need talent, but you also need patience. You must see the horse like a best friend, not a machine.” GEORGE THEODORESCU
At Voltra Farm, we are committed to a friendly and welcoming environment for horse and rider to feel happy and invited to learn the art of Classical Dressage. This summer, we welcome master trainer Carel Eijkenaar and trainer Michelle LaBarre. At Voltra Farm, they will teach a classical system that has stood the test of time. They share, with owner Carin Mei, a commitment to keeping the balance between challenging horse and rider and allowing them the time needed to grow into their potential.
6000 Rock Road, Verona NY • Phone 315-723-0277 • www.voltrafarm.com NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 23
LEG UP: PROFILE
That Championship Season
Elegant yet fiercely competitive, pleasure driving is “a different way to communicate and be a team” PHOTOS BY LISA CENIS/SHOOTTHATHORSE!
By New York Horse Staff
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ole gleams darkly, the refined arch of his neck accented by precise braids, the smart clip of his hooves a counterpoint to the hum of carriage wheels on the road. At the reins, Carol Buckhout is an elegantly turned out study in concentration. From the tapestry jacket to the burgundy driving apron that matches the band and netting on her straw hat, her ensemble is as essential a part of Buckhout’s winning formula as her steely focus on the road ahead. Pleasure driving has been an enduring passion, and on this weekend she will guide Cole around the ring and over the river and through the woods to three coveted championships. She is the reigning Amateur and Female Champion of the 24 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
Walnut Hill Carriage Competition in Pittsford, one of the largest pleasure driving competitions in the U.S.; Cole was the show’s Champion Single Horse in the road cart division. Why choose a sport that requires her to comport herself as if the internal
Come see
combustion engine had never been invented? “It’s a different way to communicate and be a team,” says Buckhout, of Nelson. “In some ways it’s more difficult than riding because you have less physical contact with the horse, so there’s more trust that the horse will do what you want him to do.” As for the sassy chapeau and rose at her neck, Buckhout says dressing the part is one of the attractions of a unique equine sport – one that requires horse and driver to be physically able to deal with both the terrain of a cross-country course and the pressure of the show ring. “There’s a certain level of elegance that you don’t get with other disciplines,” she says. “When carriage, horse and ensemble come together, you feel like you’ve arrived.” And arrive they have, vaulting in one show season from Cole’s first American Driving Society competition to championships at both Walnut Hill and the Silver Shoe Farm Classic in Batavia, where Buckhout was champion of the contemporary vehicle division. For her, the competitive edge begins with “a lot of mental preparation; thinking about what my goals are, what I need to do for myself and my equine partner to make sure we’re in sync. And then a lot of practice.” Maintaining the competitive edge, says Buckhout, is a process of “retooling, reworking and staying in condition. I ride and I drive. That helps keep (Cole) fit in a different way and keeps me engaged. I go to clinics and watch other folks. I always try to continue learning.” If she has a secret weapon, that is its essence, she says: “having the attitude that you can always try again, you can always do better. Never think that you know it all.” The same goes for her equine partner. “The one thing I look for in a horse is a can-do attitude,” she says, “and a little bit of a spark. They’ve got to look like they want to be your partner.”
your future with Haflingers
Our 2016 Babies are here! Showme Haflingers • Brian and Dana Mitteer 2069 Dumplin Hill Road, Moravia, NY Showmehaflingers.com • showmehaflingers@ gmail.com
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MINIATURE HORSES
The small package good things come in
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Watch top teams in action, or give it a try yourself. Here’s a sampler of what’s going on: 40th Annual Lorenzo Driving Competition is July 16-17. Read more about the Ruby Jubilee on page 46. Walnut Hill Carriage Driving Competition, an international competition held in a 19th century country fair setting, is Aug. 10-14 on the grounds of Walnut Hill Farm, 397 West Bloomfield Road, Pittsford. Hosted by the Pittsford Carriage Association. More information: walnuthillfarm.org. Genesee Valley Pleasure Driving Show with dressage, cones and cross-country, Sept. 11, Hideaway Farm, Roots Tavern Road, Geneseo. More information: gvrdc.org. Barneveld Horsemen’s Association Fall Driving Show, Sept. 18, Caernarvon Horse Park, Taylor Road, Barneveld. More information: bhahorse.com. Cherry Valley Carriage Association’s Bruce Haak Memorial Pleasure Drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 8 at Chenango Valley State Park. More information: cvca.org.
Voice trained to drive. Quality conformation. Useful, friendly and affectionate. A few of our registered minis are for sale, by appointment only.
GENE & MARY SMITH Cazenovia, NY • 315-655-9748 Email: spice5@windstream.net Check us out on Facebook and www.hannayfarm.com NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 25
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Summertime, and the riding is easy
New York’s state parks, forests, wildlife preserves and private properties beckon riders of all abilities and interests. A diverse terrain awaits, from stone-dust paths and rolling hills to rugged mountains and wilderness lakes. Get out there and ride! PORTRAIT OF A WOODLAND POND, BROOKFIELD STATE FOREST, BY WELLS HORTON
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All Roads Lead to Roam Whether you’re meandering or competing, trail riding requires preparation for both horse and rider
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K A T I E
N A V A R R A
Summer is the perfect season to saddle up and head out on the trail. The fresh air, the big blue sky and the promise of wildlife sightings all beckon. Whether you’re exploring private trails close to home or discovering the hundreds of miles of public trails across the state, trail riding is an opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation for riding while finding peace and relaxation. In its simplest form, trail riding is a leisurely outing through nearby fields and woodlands or day trips to dedicated horse trails. Even regularly traversing the same trails offers opportunities for new experiences.
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“The weather, the season and the amount of sunlight make every ride different for me even though I’m riding the same trails often,” said Dan Gruen, a member of the New York State Horse Council trails council and trail preservation chair for the Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association (ECTRA). But trail riding can be more than a laid-back excursion with family or friends. Riders interested in combining the great outdoors with a competitive atmosphere have several options. The first is an obstacle course set along a dedicated trail. “An obstacle trail course is usually set over three to six miles and includes several obstacles,” Gruen said. Obstacles might include opening and closing a gate, or stepping over marked logs. “The horse and rider are judged on how well they complete each obstacle.” Another option is competitive trail riding (CTR), which “involves riding your horse at an ideal speed, approximately 6 mph, for anywhere from 25 miles in one day to 100 miles over three days,” explained Dr. Pamela J. Karner of Trumansburg, a veterinarian and endurance rider. Riders are given a prescribed time for the specific distance they are riding. For example, a 25 mile ride should be completed between 4 hours, 10 minutes and 4 hours, 40 minutes. Points are added or deducted based on a veterinary evaluation. “The judges take detailed notes about your horse at the start of the ride and again at the end, noting any ‘wear,’ ” Gruen said. A third type of competitive trail riding is endurance riding. Limiteddistance rides may be as short as 25 or 30 miles, but more often, Karner said, “it is a ride of 50 to 100 miles in one day.” Endurance riding is about speed rather than posting an ideal time. Horses are evaluated by judges for soundness at specific checkpoints, and the horse-andrider team that crosses the finish line first – and passes the completion exam – wins. Didn’t come in first? The slogan of many endurance riders is: “To finish is to win!” For both CTR and endurance rides, there are many opportunities for new riders to get acquainted with the sport. There are clinics to help riders understand the sport and get themselves and their horse ready, but Gruen 30 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
suggests “the best way to get involved is to volunteer at an event.” Patti Brooks, an avid competitive trail rider and publicity and education chair for ECTRA, adds that “in the beginning, it’s helpful to have someone act as your mentor.”
Get your horse mentally and physically ready Regardless of which type of trail riding you choose, preparation is essential. All of the sights and sounds of a trail ride may be overwhelming for your horse the first few trips out. Wildlife can unexpectedly dart across your path, and on shared trail systems you may cross paths with bicyclists and ATV riders or hikers
pushing strollers or walking dogs. It’s likely you’ll encounter unfamiliar objects. You may pass trash cans or fluttering flags. It might even be necessary to cross roads, bridges and streams. “If your horse has had little trail experience you will need to include activities to acclimate them to these objects. In your conditioning, prepare your horse for these types of encounters,” said Bill Lasher, who’s on the board of both ECTRA and Saratoga Back Country Horsemen. “Make sure that you are paying attention to your horse,” Karner added. “Try not to ask your horse to do more than it is prepared for.”
“It’s always best to start conservatively and monitor your horse’s attitude and degree of fatigue. If your horse is handling your level well and you want to move up in your conditioning, increase distance or speed or difficulty – never more than one of these at a time,” Karner said
Go-to gear
As you gain confidence and advance to exploring trails farther from home, some additional skills will be needed – for both horse and rider. “If you plan to trailer your horse to a trail ride location, practice the skills such as loading and tying at home,” Lasher said. “Teach your horse to be patient and calm when standing tied to the trailer or a tie rail.” Fitness is another critical component of a successful trail ride experience. “After a long winter, especially if your horse has been confined to a stall and/or small paddock – and you want to ride an hour or more on a trail with a variety of terrain – you and your horse will need to get in condition,” Lasher said. Even trail rides on your own property or nearby land require some level of fitness to avoid overtaxing your horse’s body. “The degree of fitness needed depends on what speed, distance and terrain you are planning,” Karner said. “Age, breed and previous conditioning will all play a part in how quickly your horse can become fit.” Lasher suggests starting with long, slow distance rides. “Start with a half hour walking ride, several days a week, and gradually lengthen the time to an hour,” he said. As your horse gets more fit, start to add in short periods of trotting. (A recommended conditioning program is available on the ECTRA website.)
The most important take-along you can have for any trail riding experience is comfortable equipment that fits you and your horse well. “No one wants to ride one mile, let alone 100 miles, in a stiff saddle,” Brooks said. Avoid using anything – clothing, tack or other gear – that’s new. “If the article hasn’t been used at home for hours/ miles, you take a big chance of it causing a painful issue during the competition. And, yes … that even applies for new underwear,” she said. Depending on the duration of the trail ride and the terrain, it may be necessary to invest in basic equipment such as a safety helmet and a sponge to cool your horse on hot, humid days. “A cell phone, a hoof pick, and baling twine to repair broken equipment, are all helpful on a day ride,” Lasher said. (Carry a cell phone on you, not your horse, the state Department of Environmental Conservation recommends. That way if you part company with your horse, you have the phone.) “Carry a First-Aid kit, and have a list of emergency phone numbers, including your veterinarian.” Snacks for you and your horse, a fly mask, bug repellent and a GPS app for your phone, can all come in handy. Some people also like to pack a small knife, a few large industrial zip ties or heavy string to repair tack, a vet-wrap type bandage, and a hoof boot in case their horse loses a shoe. “Multi-day riders will need a much more extensive plan, which involves food and camping gear for horse and rider,” Karner said.
Know before you go Before heading out on the trail, develop the ability to recognize when your horse is overtired, overheated, and dehydrated. Ask your veterinarian or other experienced trail riders to teach you how to evaluate your horse for signs of stress. Learn as much as you can about
the location you’ll be riding in. “For example, learn all you can about trail conditions, terrain, length. A trail map helps with this,” Lasher said. “It’s also important to know about the availability of trailer parking and water.” If you’re preparing for multi-day rides – competitive or recreational – you’ll also need to know what, if any, camping facilities are available for you and your horse. You will also need to consider any equipment that you’ll need based on the amenities available. “As with any discipline, there will be bumps along the road,” Brooks said. “But don’t get down on yourself. These little bobbles can all be excellent learning experiences.”
THE EXTREME EQUINE
Ready to take trail riding to the next level? Here are two regional events coming up this summer. The Brookfield 50/30, sponsored by the New York State Horse Council and sanctioned by the Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association, is June 24-26 starting from Pure Country Campground, New Berlin. There’s also a 15-mile conditioning distance ride. Trails consist of woodland trails and hard-packed dirt truck trails. Mileage markers are placed to assist in timing. For more information, go to brookfieldctr.weebly.com or contact ride secretary Joanna Lasher at jolasher65@gmail.com. The Hector Half-Hundred 55- and 35-mile endurance ride, a competition sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference and ECTRA, will be Sept. 9-10 in the Finger Lakes region. A 15-mile introductory ride is also offered for newcomers to the sport. The ride starts at the Hector Volunteer Fire Department grounds, and goes into the Finger Lakes National Forest. The trail consists of vineyard paths with lake vistas, dirt roads, and woodsy rambles. For more information go to aerc.org or contact ride managers Pam Karner at drpamkarner@gmail.com or Holly Bailey at hbwrite@zoom-dsl.com.
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Off the Beaten Path Explore Allegany State Park, the “Wilderness Playground” of Western New York
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Allegany State Park GOOGLE MAPS
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ucked into southern Cattaraugus County, along the New York-Pennsylvania border, lies a sprawling wilderness gem, ideal for trail riders. Allegany State Park has 55 miles of trails set aside for equestrian use. They meander about the park’s 65,000 acres, traversing old-growth forest, passing woodland ponds and streams, and crossing by a unique natural treasure known as Thunder Rocks. The horse trails are “on a series of interconnecting loop trails that utilize gravel park roads, abandoned town roads and abandoned railroad rights-of-way,” according to the website enchantedmountains.com, which is part of Cattauraugus Tourism and includes photos, maps and other useful information. “You will ride on hillsides, rolling and level trails (and there is) good footing for horses throughout woodland settings.” The park is divided into two developed areas, Red House and Quaker Run. The Red House area is where you’ll find the historic Tudor-style administration building and natural history museum; Red House Lake, with its sandy beach, good fishing and five miles of paved bike paths; and Stone Tower, offering forested vistas. Quaker Run is known for its lakes and hiking trails and restored Quaker store that serves as a museum about the park’s history as the “Wilderness Playground” of Western New York. Find your way: Download a printable copy of the horse trails map at nysparks.com/parks/attachments/ AlleganyQuakerAreaEquestrianTrailMap.pdf. There is also a free horse trail map available at the park offices.
Map area
Accommodations: The Red House area of the park offers a primitive, non-electric site to camp with horses that does include a portable toilet. There are spots for self-contained trailers and three sets of four horse stalls. Water is available for horses and campers. Reservations may be made for the campsites by calling 716-354-9121; stalls are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. The charge for camping is $22 a night on Friday and Saturday and $18 a night, Sunday-Thursday. There is a $5 fee for out-of-state campers. The Quaker Area of Allegany offers two primitive cabins on Stoney Trail where horses are permitted to be kept near the cabins. Just coming for the day? Parking areas are available in the front section of the horse camp and at a lot near the Bradford, PA entrance to the park on ASP Route 2. Season: Mid-May through October for horse trails and camping. The park is open year-round. Required papers: Current Coggins and rabies vaccinations are required. Out-of-state horse owners will be required to produce a valid 30-day health certificate. Natural attractions: The park is known for its primitive, forested valleys and unglaciated landscape. While you’re out and about, keep an eye open for bald eagles, bluebirds, osprey and great blue herons. White-tailed deer abound, but you may also catch a glimpse of some wilder inhabitants: Black bears, fishers, coyotes and bobcats all call Allegany home. The park has naturalists on staff to offer assistance and answer questions. Don’t miss this: Thunder Rocks is a unique geologic formation – climb it if you dare. The rocks were formed about 360 million years ago from sediment left when New York was covered by a shallow sea. Frost wedging and gravity nudged the giant boulders into their current position. Glaciers had nothing to do with it. The park is part of a very small area of the state untouched by glaciers.
Under Starry Skies Above Have you wanted to try camping with your horse? We’ll help you get ready
ILLUSTRATION BY DARREN SANEFSKI
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amping with horses, says Toni Wolf, is a lot like camping with a toddler: “They try to get into trouble, they don’t help out, and you have to bring them food and water.” But camping can be a great way to spend time with your horse. What’s needed, says Wolf, is a little planning to make the trip an enjoyable experience rather than a game of catch-me-if-you-can in the deep woods. Before spending any time or money, start by making an honest assessment of what your horse is capable of handling. Ask yourself: • Will my horse stand quietly while tied? • Will my horse load and unload easily? • Will my horse eat and drink well away from home? “If the answer is yes to all three, you’re ready to go camping,” says Wolf, a long-distance and competitive trail rider from Gasport who has been camping with horses for nearly a decade at parks across New York, including Otter Creek, Carlton Hill and Allegany. “The next question is, ‘What do I do with my horse?’ “ Let’s start with the one thing not to do: make any changes in their feeding routine. Wolf says she feeds her horses the same as at home, explaining “just because they’re being ridden for an hour extra a day, doesn’t mean they need an extra 5 pounds of grain a day.” Her tip: Pack single servings of grain in plastic zip-lock bags. Next, just as there are options for people to camp – from tents and sleeping bags to luxurious motor
homes – there are multiple choices for horses. It all depends, says Wolf, on how much money you want to spend, how much effort you want to put into it and how often you plan to camp. Options include a portable electric corral, portable fence panels, trailer-mount high line, picket line, and tying directly
OFF THE BEATEN PATH: BEAR SPRING MOUNTAIN Located in Downsville, at the western end of the Catskill Forest Preserve, Bear Spring Mountain is an easy destination for trail riders and campers. The state Department of Environmental Conservation took ownership of the area in 1961 and it has been improved and upgraded over the years. In 1994, the Spruce Grove Area with 14 campsites was upgraded to become the Horseman Camping Area of the Catskills. The camping and trail system is a one-ofa-kind facility in the Catskill region. Among the amenities are 24 horse tie stalls and a horse accessible ramp along with 24 miles of multi-use trails to ramble through the woodland. A current negative Coggins is required for all horses entering the campground; out-of-state horse owners will be required to produce a 30-day health certificate. Riders must carry each horse’s
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health papers with them at all times. When you’re not riding, Bear Spring offers a picnic area with tables and grills, a volleyball court, and rowboat, canoe, kayak and paddle boat rentals. Bear Spring opens in early May and closes for the season on Sept. 5. The
camping fee is $18 per night, with a $5 surcharge if you’re not a New Yorker. For more information, call the campground at (607) 865-6989 or visit the website at dec.ny.gov/ outdoor/24454.html, where you’ll also find a map to download.
to the trailer. Many people who camp regularly use more than one method, depending on where they’re camping and how long they’re staying. Each option has its pros and cons, she says: A portable electric corral is lightweight, needs little storage space and is easy to change size, but it requires a battery or solar charger, takes longer to set up, and is difficult to put in place on rocky ground. Wolf said she typically sets up her pen to measure 15’ by 15’ which she described at WNY Equifest as “enough room to get around, but not enough for your horse to get into trouble.” And speaking of trouble, she cautions there should be only one horse per corral, “even if your horse and his buddy have lived together for years.” Portable fence panels are sturdy, good for horses that don’t respect electric and quicker to set up. The cons: they are heavy, more expensive and need lots of storage space. Again, remember: Only one horse per corral. A trailer-mounted high line is easy to set up and requires no storage space but it also limits your location and restricts the horse’s movement. Wolf says to make certain the trailer does not have any sharp metal edges, and suggests installing bucket hangers and hay hooks to the side of your trailer for ease of feed and watering. A picket line needs little storage space and allows multiple horses to be kept together, but it also limits location because the line requires a sturdy anchor like a tree or post and some places won’t allow horses to be tied to trees. Wolf says she always recommends use of a breakaway halter and making sure there is enough line to allow plenty of space between horses. Tying to the trailer is inexpensive, very easy to set up and requires no storage space, but only allows for very limited horse movement. For a direct tie to work, Wolf says, “it’s imperative that your horse will stand quietly for long periods of time. And you will need to exercise them every couple of hours when you are not riding.” When choosing a location, also remember that if the ground is soft, your horse will quickly turn it into a mud hole. Whatever option you pick, practice at home a few times before going out for the first time. “Set up ‘camp’ inside your regular paddock and let them try it out overnight. If you’re using a tent be sure to set that up, too, so the horse gets accustomed to what it looks like and sounds like,” Wolf suggests. Practice at night, in case you have to move for any reason. No one wants to think about the bad things that could happen, but a Plan B is crucial to have in place before an emergency happens. “What are you willing to do if your horse suffers a life-threatening injury?” Wolf asked. “If something happens to the driver, can someone else take over? If severe weather is headed your way, where will you shelter? If your rig breaks down, can someone come to help?” Pack a head-
REMEMBER TO BRING THESE ITEMS
There are plenty of what-to-pack lists on the internet. Here are some items from Toni Wolf specifically for camping with your horse: ✓ First Aid kit, with a thermometer and stethoscope ✓ Single servings of grain in plastic zipperlock bags ✓ Waterproof rain sheet and warm blanket ✓ Spare headstall, reins, girth, pad, halter and lead ✓ Headmounted flashlight and spare batteries ✓ Paper maps (you may not have cell service) ✓ Phone numbers and locations of nearby vets and farriers ✓ Grooming tools ✓ Copies of health papers, including Coggins and rabies ✓ Medications ✓ Fly spray/ mask ✓ Mounting step ✓ Easyboot, or similar, in case you lose a shoe ✓ Wearable horse identification tags, i.e. Velcro bands that go around the feet or tags that braid into the mane or tail
mounted flashlight to leave your hands free, and get your horse accustomed to seeing the beam at night. “If you’ve never approached your horse at night with a flashlight, you may be in for a surprise,” she notes. “You must be able to load your horse in the dark.” If there’s one overriding lesson to take away, it’s this: Camping is a skill your horse needs to learn before you go off for the first time. Bottom line, says Wolf, “Plan to have a good time.” NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 35
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Summer, Snapped This is the season of pony camp, blue ribbons and long afternoons on a long rein. A season of new foals playing in the grass on new little hooves. And old hands hard at work in newly green fields. Summer’s equine pleasures are many and fleeting. In these pages, we capture a few. PHOTO BY JESSICA BERMAN/ESSENCE OF EQUINE
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‘‘
The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why. — Mark Twain
Retreats, Events, Nature 8867 Cazenovia Rd., Cazenovia, NY 13035
’’
www.TheBeattieSanctuary.com (315) 692-8002
SUMMER’S CREATION
In every foal, a new beginning “When you start with a foal, you just want to be able to touch them everywhere. From there, you want them to be barely yielding to your touch – bending their neck, lowering their head, stepping backwards off gentle pressure to the chest or nose, all in baby increments ... If we set it up right to begin with, then when we want more, we can just ask again.” — Patrick King
PHOTOS BY JESSICA BERMAN OF FINN, THE LAST FOAL OF FESTRAUSCH, CAZENOVIA COLLEGE’S WESTFALEN STALLION NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 39
“The ultimate wisdom which deals with beginnings, remains locked in a seed. There it lies, the simplest fact of the universe.” — Hal Borland
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SUMMER’S LABORS
Harnessing horsepower “At the time, I was enthusiastically learning to drive tractors and work with all kinds of farm machinery, but the revolutionary thought that at some future time I might be able to perform all those same functions with a team of horses set something alight in my soul.” — Stephen Leslie, The New Horse-Powered Farm
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DAVIS AT THE DRAFT ANIMAL PRACTICUM, NORTHLAND SHEEP DAIRY, MARATHON 42 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
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When Farm Equipment Ran on Hay
PHOTO FROM THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY DIGITAL COLLECTION
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Reflections on “The World We Have Lost”
he relationship between humans and horses is an ancient one, with both physical and spiritual dimensions. I don’t intend to romanticize the story, for I saw a great deal of horse abuse in my day. Farmers as a species of mankind were no more immune to cruelty toward animals, even animals they depend on for making a living, than the general run of people. But I do think many farmers developed a feeling of kinship with their horses that is impossible to claim today in a world dominated by the tractor. … The onslaught of tractors in the last half century has, I will admit, seriously hurt the working horse trade. The demise of horse power also had a centrifugal and damaging effect on the harness maker, the farrier who specialized in equine hoof care, the maker of horse shoes, the horse doctors, the suppliers of tack, and the old-fashioned horse trader... Horse-trading was an art, not a science. You got a good deal if you felt you got a good deal – even if you bought a lame horse that had been doped with morphine. I hope not to see the day when the traditional horse barn vanishes from the landscape. Many of them have already gone to rack and ruin or been adapted to the tractor age. In my youth, the horse barn was the heart of the farm homestead. Horse barn structures varied widely. Our horse barn was rather typical, though not as well ventilated as Pa thought necessary. The barn had eight stalls, the required mangers, grain bins, tack and harness room, and a mow above. The horses faced in to a central alley that ran the length of the barn. Stepping into our horse barn on a cold and frosty winter morning was a pleasure. The spicy, musky scent of horse dung – mixed with the scent of hay and old leather – was comforting. … I think of sleighing on country roads in the winter, hitching
racks, stepping stones and blocks along main street in town, horse-drawn mowing machines and sulky plows, the horse sheds at country churches, schools and granges, livery stables in town, buggies of all sorts, heavy horse-pulling contests at the county fair, whistling for a horse who invariably stood at the far end of the pasture, taking a horse to the leather-aproned blacksmith for shoeing, and husking corn with a good team of horses that knew instinctively when to move forward. Horses, like people, differ in character and personality. The best ones, those we considered family, did not slack, kick, nip or balk on a regular basis. Even the best of the breed can have bad days. But we knew that if we fed them well, did not overwork them, and took care of their ailments, our horses would faithfully do their share in making the farm sustainable. On the farm of my youth, we had brood mares and raised our own colts. Some of my fondest memories of living with horses are of gangly newborns struggling to get to their feet and nuzzle their mothers in search of their first meal. Until colts had to be broken to harness and bit and learn to pull a cart when they were three or four years of age, we children could pretend that they were our playmates. But as they grew up, the world of work awaited them, as it did each of us. Then they became our partners in the daily struggle to make a living from the land. Reprinted with permission from “The Horse and Tractor Wars: Letters & Lessons from an Old Horseman” by Milton Sernett
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SUMMER’S FINERY
Lorenzo’s Ruby Jubilee The click of hooves, the hum of carriage wheels, the shimmer of sunlight on canvas tents: For lovers of horses and history, the annual Lorenzo Driving Competition has been the jewel of Cazenovia’s summer traditions. It began in 1977, the same year the first Apple II computers went on sale, a gallon of gas cost 65 cents and the original Star Wars opened in movie theaters. It has become a singular weekend, a chance to be transported to a time when road trip meant four legs and a whip, not four wheels and a gas pedal.
The Ruby Jubilee competition, July 16-17, is once again on the central great lawn of the Lorenzo State Historic Site, framed by the neoclassical mansion and the pine-dark waters of Cazenovia Lake. It’s a signature setting, the gentle slope of the ring designed to recreate a traditional driving experience. For spectators, the restored historic buildings provide the perfect backdrop, but the heart of the weekend remains the polished pleasure-driving teams showing off the unique combination of skill, attire and showmanship that defines the sport.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MITCHELL GREENWALD/ROCKDALE PHOTO 46 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
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“When accepting awards, gentlemen are requested to remove their hats” — American Driving Society Rulebook 2015 48 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
SUMMER’S FINALE
All’s Fair
State Fair Proper noun /staˉ t fâr/ Middle English feire, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin Definition of Fair: 1. A competitive exhibition usually with accompanying entertainment
and amusements, “an agricultural Fair”
Examples of State Fair in a sentence: 1. “Excerpt from the Horseman’s Guide to the State
Fair: Competitors should be aware that horses do not have an inborn tolerance for State Police sirens, flashing Midway lights and small children with sticky fingers.” 2. “Restaurant Row is 50 feet away from the State Fair barns, so even if you go off-pattern, topple every rail or forget your canter aids, there is fried dough waiting to set the world right.” PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DAVIS AND NEW YORK HORSE STAFF
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STATE FAIR HORSE SHOW
Stabling area decorated nicer than your living room
TV reporter wearing heels in the barn
Rider late for class frantically stuffing Dippin’ Dots in their pocket
Friend holding 3+ corn dogs for friends who were also late for class
Child on leash. Child who ought to be on leash
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GUIDE THE
TIPS. EXPERT ADVICE. SECRETS WORTH STEALING
Horse Hacks: Braiding edition Horse Hacks is here to help make equestrian life easier, because heaven knows most horses consider it a mission to make life more complicated. This time, the topic is braiding, courtesy of the Cayuga Dressage and Combined Training Club: Add a spray bottle of Listerine – yes, the mouthwash – to your braiding kit. Use it to spray the base of the mane before braiding to keep your horse from getting itchy. (It also makes your horse minty fresh.) An apron with many pockets is a godsend for holding braiding essentials from combs to thread and everything in between. Looking for a cheap alternative? A painter’s apron that ties around the waist works fine. Speaking of cheap alternatives: There’s official braiding spray, and many, many people swear by it. But if you use it by the bucketful and the budget is tight, think about a trip to the beauty supply store. One of the braiding demonstrators swears by a 50-50 combination of water and lowpriced hair gel. Her choice? Dippity-Do. The bridal section of a beauty supply store is also a good place to find inexpensive braiding bling. Look for crystal corkscrew twist-ins for a sparkling finishing touch. Thanks to Jane-Marie Law, Mary Ellen Mulligan and Sue Mulvey for these tips. Do you have a horse hack? Send it to nyhorsemag@gmail.com and we’ll share some in a future issue.
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THE GUIDE: HOUSE CALLS
Not to Be Taken Internally
In any pasture, there are 15-20 plants officially on the poisonous list (Editor’s note: This column is produced at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine with the help of college faculty)
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ummer time, and the livin’ is … weedy. As the weather dries up and the early spring grass is nibbled down to the dirt, horses are going to start looking for alternatives to meet their hard-wired need to graze. Before it gets to that point, take time to patrol your property for plants that can cause illness — even death — and take steps to prevent horses from eating them. 56 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
“There are going to be 15 to 20 plants in any pasture in New York State that are officially on the poisonous list,” says Dr. Mary Smith, who has taught a course on the topic at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine since 1974. “But most are only dangerous if eaten in large quantity.” While it may not be possible to completely eradicate them, it’s relatively easy to discourage horses from feasting on them. The first step, says Dr. Smith, is to feed horses adequately so they are less tempted to eat plants that aren’t good for them. “If a pasture hasn’t been well maintained, it may have weeds instead of grass. If the horses were turned out early in the spring, when the pasture was still wet, the grass may not have had a chance to grow.” Either way, “if there’s not enough grass, you may have to
continue to supplement with hay,” says Dr. Smith. In addition, “make sure horses have salt and minerals so they won’t get pica,” a condition in which animals — including humans — develop cravings for dirt, wood and other non-food items. Double-check your pasture fences for breaks and weaknesses, “so the horse doesn’t get into planted sorghum or buckwheat fields, or the Japanese yew beside the house,” says Dr. Smith. Sorghum grass can cause neurological and reproductive problems. Buckwheat causes photosensitivity with burns to the pink skin under a white coat. Japanese yew, if eaten in quantity, can cause heart failure. Scan the ground covering itself for trouble spots. “It would be good not to have certain weeds in a pasture,” says Dr. Smith. For example, “buttercups
grow everywhere, and every hedgerow has nightshade. Horses won’t eat them if there is plenty of grass.” If there isn’t, they might start to experiment. To learn how to identify the troublemakers, she recommends the Cornell University Animal Sciences website on plants that are toxic to livestock: poisonousplants. ansci.cornell.edu/anispecies.html. While perusing the list, note that even good forage can cause trouble if consumed in large quantities or under certain circumstances. Alsike clover can lead to photosensitivity and liver disease; red and white clover infected with a fungus can cause slaframine poisoning, also known as slobbers because it causes excess salivation. “So if an area has a lot of clover and the horses start to get slobbers, move them to another pasture,” advises Dr. Smith. As the summer rolls on, Dr. Smith recommends “clipping the pasture a couple of times to take out the weeds so the desirable plants come back.” Finally, inspect the trees within your herd’s reach now in order to be ready for autumn. “As trees get leaves in spring, it’s much easier to identify what you have. You can say ‘This is a red maple; let’s be careful about where the leaves go in the fall’,” because the gallic acid in the leaves can cause anemia, says Dr. Smith. Likewise, wilted leaves from cherry trees contain cyanide, leading to severe breathing problems and convulsions. Box elders become problematic in the fall because the mature seeds contain hypoglycin A, which is associated with fatal muscle damage. In addition, “Look for trees that might lose limbs into the pasture, so you know what you might have to remove promptly after a wind storm,” says Dr. Smith. It sounds like a lot of work — isn’t everything associated with horses a lot of work? —but if you take care of your pastures, you are much more likely to have a healthy, happy summer.
Red maple
Red clover
Buckwheat
Buttercup
Box Elder Japanese Yew
The Cornell University Equine Hospital, an affiliate of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, offers state-of-the-art emergency care, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and hospitalization. For consultations and appointments, call (607) 253-3100 (press 1 for emergencies) or email vet-hosp@cornell.edu.
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THE GUIDE: INFORMED EQUESTRIAN
Intelligence and Infrastructure Brains and conformation are both necessary qualities when choosing a horse
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he details of conformation are critical to choosing a sport horse, and Carel Eijkenaar will have more to say on that later. But for now, to start, he is working with a broader brush. “There has to be harmony,” he says. “The proportion must be correct. When you look at the horse, it fits together. It’s a good picture. To me that’s very important.” And he is philosophical. “You don’t buy a horse because he’s nice. I don’t marry a woman just because she’s nice. You want more than just nice.” Eijkenaar, an FEI dressage trainer and judge and member of the International Dressage Training Club, is at Voltra Farm in Verona for a seminar on analyzing the conformation and gaits of a dressage prospect. Everything, he says, begins with the equine brain. Even a horse with optimal gaits and conformation should not be considered if it doesn’t have the correct temperament and a willing work ethic. “The breed, the color, these things don’t
Conformation points to consider include the slope of the shoulder, straightness at the knee, a strong hock and wellattached head and neck.
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matter. The most important thing is the brain – for me there is nothing more important,” Eijkenaar says. “When the brain of the horse is not willing to cooperate, there is always an argument. They are not focused. “That’s why you don’t buy a horse on beauty. They might have beautiful gaits, but then you start to ride and the horse is not willing to cooperate ... and then you have a horse for the rest of your life that doesn’t want to work.” Before he makes a decision on a purchase, Eijkenaar says he likes to see a horse ridden, so he can see the total picture. For example, he said, “If a horse is nervous, is it the horse or is it the rider? Is it something that can be overcome by training?” On the physical side of the balance sheet, he also considers whether a conformation flaw can be minimized by correct training. But there is one point on which he believes there is no compromise: A horse that is built downhill. Very simply put, that is when the top of the croup is higher than the withers in a mature horse. In dressage, he adds, the back end of the horse “has to be as perfect as possible” because in piaffe and passage, “80% of the weight is on the back end.” He looks for a wide back end, a straight hind leg – an imaginary vertical line can be dropped from the point of the buttock, down the back of the hock to the fetlock – and a hock that is wide when seen from the side and thick from the rear. Moving to the front, Eijkenaar says, he looks to see how the head is connected to the neck because when the neck and jaw are too heavy, “then the horse is always in an argument with your hands.” The shoulder should slope considerably forward and should be flat and long. This, he says, is another important conformation point, because a good shoulder gives a horse extension and elevation. In the front legs, he looks for straightness, although being slightly over or forward at the knee, he says, “is not an issue for a dressage horse, but for a jumper it is.” The forearm should be long and the cannon bone short to give spacious movement. The perfect angle for the feet, he says, is 45 degrees; too straight puts “tremendous pressure on the tendons.” And then there are the intangibles: What does the rider want, but also what the rider can do. “When a client comes to me and says they want a Grand Prix horse, the first thing I say is: Do you know what a Grand Prix horse costs?” Eijkenaar says. “People have to know exactly what they want in a horse. They say Grand Prix, but do they want walk, trot, canter, leg yield, a little counter canter? It’s very important when someone wants a horse to know what they want from their horse.”
THE GUIDE: TIPS FROM A TRAINER
Help your horse to develop courage “Giving the horse the power of decision makes them more intelligent”
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he tarp is big and blue and it crinkles and flaps and Celeste wants nothing to do with it. She does not mind checking out the Western boots and lead rope lying just outside the ring. She will even take a deep snort of the red flag on a stick next to them. But the tarp? It isn’t hard to read Celeste’s equine mind: That strange blue thing on the ground in her arena spells nothing less than certain death. There aren’t enough incentives in the world to get her to set a hoof on it – much less walk across it, as the man at the end of her lead rope clearly wants her to do. So Patrick King waits. He works the 3-year-old Oldenburg patiently, guiding her toward the tarp, closing off her escape routes, but letting her circle and sniff and back off and approach and piece it together at her own pace. And soon the light bulb goes on between Celeste’s pricked ears: It’s a tarp, not a horse-eating monster, and her fear drops away. By the end of her 45 minutes with King she is bounding across the tarp, trotting with it draped across the lead rope, and itching her face in its c rinkly blue folds. “Horses develop courage very differently than humans,” says King, whose Ohio-based Patrick King Horsemanship sets classical principles
for modern riders as its cornerstone. He is at Canterbury Stables in Cazenovia to work with Celeste, her younger brother Chaperone, and a 1-year-old Hanoverian, Starbuck, who is the baby of the barn. “Giving the horse the power of decision makes them more intelligent,” King says. “It increases the neural pathways to the brain. “…Through exposure to the scary situation – anything that’s challenging to a horse, anything that we help them through mindfully – we help them to develop courage. A horse can take so much courage from a rider or handler, but only so much. You have to get the mind there first, and then the body follows.” The broader lesson to take away is about knowledge, confidence and trust. Riders must understand how the horse processes the world and then have confidence in themselves and their ability. Horses must have confidence and trust in their riders. “It’s unrealistic for us to ask a horse never to be worried about something. It’s a survival mechanism. Their species would never have survived if they didn’t get scared,” King says. “What we can do is say, ‘When you’re worried, here’s how to think; here’s how we can help you.’ It’s all about us helping to engage the brain. “You have to communicate to the horse that it doesn’t matter if the world blows up: If I ask you to move your shoulder over, you have to do it regardless. And your horse should just say, ‘Well if you say this is the way it should be today, then I believe you.’”
PATRICK KING ON … Starting a young horse: “My approach is, generally by the time you get to Ride No. 6, you won’t be introducing anything new to the horse. We may not have any flying changes, but we’ve introduced all the ingredients ... If we set it up right to begin with, then when we want more, we just ask again.” Giving a horse treats: “I’m the same way with horses as I am with dogs as I am with my daughter. I’ll probably give you one. But the minute you ask for one, the deal is off.” The best horsemanship advice he ever got: “It’s all about the feet.”
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THE GUIDE: TOP 10 LIST
Shining at showmanship is all about the details
From good grooming to perfect posture, it all matters to the judge
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his, says Tiffany Shank, pointing at the team making a precise circuit around the show ring, “is what you want to see in a showmanship class.” The human half of the equation has her hair in a bun, not a stray wisp out of place. “Everything is tight and crisp and clean. That’s what they want in showmanship.” Shank works her way along, pointing out the pluses: “She’s looking ahead. She’s looking confident. She’s smiling ... You constantly want to be in position; you get points off for looking down.” Shank, who coaches and trains out of a barn in Eden, near Buffalo, has been showing horses since she was a kid. She’s competed in showmanship, so she knows firsthand as well as from a professional perspective, what the judges want to see. It comes down to three things, she said at a clinic at Western New York Equifest: how competitors present themselves, how they present their horse, and their performance in the showmanship pattern. For anyone interested in starting out or advancing in showmanship, she offered this advice: Match your pace to the horse. “Keep your body tall and move in the same rhythm and speed as your horse. Everything should be in unison. If your horse has a bigger stride, you’ll want to trot bigger. If you have a pleasure horse, you’re going to want to take smaller strides. Listen for your horse’s hoofbeats; you can hear them when you’re running. And you want to be in rhythm with that. Otherwise it doesn’t look natural – it just doesn’t look right.” Dress to impress. Your outfit, says Shank, should be “neat, clean and presentable.” Many competitors will wear fancy and colorful Western pleasure clothing in the ring, but Shank says it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on an outfit to have success in showmanship. “If you don’t have one, a black shirt and jeans are acceptable. It’s not all about the glitz ... You don’t need to buy the $2,000 outfit if you don’t want to or can’t afford to.” Posture counts. Never slouch. Never. “Remain 60 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
tall in your body. Horses in showmanship should work off your body. Carry yourself in an upright position and show confidence,” Shank says. “It’s super important.” Success is in your hands. In the show ring, it’s all about proper position. “Your leading hand is going to point toward the horse’s mouth,” Shank says. “Your hand goes right below where the chain links are, and your hands aren’t going to move much. If your hand is on the chain links, it’s a disqualification.” Think inside the box. Once your hands are in the right spot on the lead, “keep your hands square. That’s very important. Keep your hands in the same box all the time, with everything you do.” Remember: A clean horse is a successful horse. From hoof to tail, a horse should literally shine in the show ring. “We want them very clean,” Shank says. “Any whites, we want bright.” And speaking of tails, if the one on your horse is less than luxurious, it will need enhancing to hit today’s showmanship standards. “Generally, we use fake tails. It’s a fad.” In the beginning, go slow. If you have a green horse, or you are just starting as a competitor, take your time, Shank advises. “You want to take everything a little slower. Take a deep breath after everything you do … Judges in beginner classes want you to take your time, to pay attention to what you’re doing.” Don’t let a mistake throw you. When you stop your horse in showmanship class, he should set his feet. If he doesn’t set up right away, Shank says the best course is to “move on to the next thing.” Mind your (horse’s) manners.
A misbehaving horse is a going to be a disqualification, Shank cautions. “A horse that’s being unruly? That’s it. You’re done.” Above all: Practice makes perfect. With
showmanship, when you’re learning, “it’s all about repetition,” Shank says. “Do it, do it, do it. Then it becomes habit.”
THE GUIDE: PSYCHOLOGY 101
Use equine behavior to your advantage 18 management tips based on how a horse thinks and acts
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rom knowing their herd’s hierarchy to appreciating their sociable side, horse owners who have a sound understanding of equine behavior can use their knowledge to help prevent behavioral problems. Cooperative Extension of Orange County offers these management tips based on horse behavior: 1. Design horse housing so that horses can see other horses. 2. Feeding horses individually will reduce aggression and allow slow eaters to get their full ration. 3. Whenever possible, the main portion of the horse’s diet should be made up of forage to reduce digestive and behavioral problems. 4. Feed stalled horses small, frequent meals rather than several large meals to reduce boredom and digestive problems. 5. If horses are fed in groups, provide more feeders than the number of horses in the group and distribute the feed rapidly so that all horses can begin
eating at approximately the same time. 6. Practice good pasture management to encourage horses to graze the majority of the available forage. 7. Make fences and other barriers easily visible to the horse. 8. When putting horses in a new area, give them plenty of daylight hours to locate new fencing and pasture hazards. 9. Closely monitor new horses when introducing them into an established herd and be ready to separate horses if they become too aggressive. 10. Be observant for signs of unwanted contagious behaviors – alarm reactions, running, etc. – and do not allow these behaviors, inadvertently, to become the normal reaction of the horses to management procedures. 11. Be aware of the horses’ dominance hierarchy, and watch for signs of aggression when working in a group of horses. 12. Keep feed rooms and gates securely fastened, and fence horses away from dangerous areas. 13. Separate foaling mares from geldings and stallions. 14. When moving mares with foals, make sure the foal is awake and alert before moving the mare. 15. Be careful separating horses that are accustomed to being housed together. 16. Give stalled horses opportunities for free exercise and socialization. 17. Use safe, sturdy fencing between groups of horses. 18. Remove halters when horses are stalled or turned out. If halters cannot be removed, use a break-away safety halter. Prepared by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County. For more tips and expert advice, please visit cceorangecounty.org.
THE GUIDE: HOW-TO
Nine ways to reduce the risk of West Nile virus From fans to vaccines to removing old tires, here are steps to protect your horse – and yourself
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ince first being recognized in the United States in 1999, West Nile virus has posed a serious threat to horses and humans alike. It’s found in all areas of New York State. In the equine population, the virus is transmitted when a mosquito takes a blood meal from a bird infected with the virus, then feeds on a horse. While many horses exposed to West Nile experience no signs of illness, the virus can cause inflammation of the
brain and spinal cord. In some cases, especially in older horses, it can be fatal. Prevention is the key to reducing your horse’s risk of contracting West Nile virus. Follow these guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners to protect your horse: 1. Consider vaccinating your horse against the disease. A vaccine was approved in 2003 by the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics for use in healthy horses as an aid in the prevention of West Nile. Talk with your veterinarian about the most appropriate vaccination schedule for your horse. 2. Eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites. Dispose of old receptacles, tires and containers and eliminate areas of standing water. 3. Thoroughly clean livestock watering troughs at least monthly. 4. Use larvicides to control mosquito populations when it’s not possible to eliminate particular breeding sites. Such action should only be taken, however, in consultation with any local mosquito control authority. In Onondaga County, for example, the health department is responsible for mosquito control. 5. Keep your horse indoors during the peak mosquito activity periods of dusk to dawn.
CLEAN UP MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES...
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GOOD TO KNOW The American Association of Equine Practitioners has more information for horse owners at: aaep.org/ horseowner
6. Screen stalls, if possible, or at least install fans over your horse to help deter mosquitoes. 7. Avoid turning on lights inside the stable during the evening or overnight. 8. Use insect repellents on your horse designed to repel mosquitoes. This can help reduce the chance of your horse being bitten. 9. Remove any birds, including chickens, located in or close to a stable. If you find a dead bird, the state Department of Health says to wear disposable gloves to pick it up, then put the bird in a plastic bag – double bag it – then throw it in your garbage can. And finally, don’t forget to protect yourself. When outdoors in the evening, wear clothing that covers your skin, and apply plenty of mosquito repellent. Portions of this article are reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners
NYH MARKET TRACEY WRIGHT Animal Communicator shining CLARITY on your animals
Reiki Master 315-455-6765
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tracey@beaconoflightcny.com beaconoflightcny.com
PARTING SHOT
PORTRAIT OF STRONG HANDS AND A POWERFUL HEART BY MICHAEL DAVIS
Celebrate their strength Never forget a debt owed Echo the great beasts that work among us — Jim Carruth, The Kelpies
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