NEW YORK HORSE STORIES. ADVICE. HORSEPLAY.
WINTER 2016
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EQUINOMICS CLASS: BOARDING 101
WHO YOU ARE IS HOW YOU RIDE
In association with the NYS Center for Equine Business Development
At Canterbury Stables WE’RE PASSIONATE
ABOUT EXCELLENCE
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RIDE & BOARD
Set on 225 rolling acres in the hills of Cazenovia’s horse country, Canterbury Stables offers the finest care in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
We offer:
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.
A premier riding experience for hunter/jumper and dressage An outstanding group of lesson horses Three competition-size hunter/ jumper and dressage arenas, two indoors & one outdoors, all with dust-free footing A modern 53-stall barn, daily turnouts in ½-acre paddocks, night checks & farm-grown hay Environmentally-friendly practices Three miles of scenic trails, yours to ride when you board with us
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Features
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Chapter Two
Their races were run, but for these horses the best days were still ahead.
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The Pursuit of Excellence
Andreas Hausberger, Chief Rider at the famed Spanish Riding School, reveals the secret weapons that help every horseman.
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The Healing Begins: ARISE
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Magic in Miniature
Small horses work big wonders with nursing home residents. The Artful Horse photographer Jessica Berman captures the connection.
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Mending War’s Wounds
Through a special program, therapeutic riding helps veterans repair their souls, from the ground up.
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Expansion Plan
There’s more to boarding horses than adding stalls and putting out a sign. What you need to know before taking that step. 2 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
PHOTO BY HEATHER BRAGMAN
At the Farm, success is counted in smiles as horses help children make strides physically, socially and emotionally.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Guide 59
Starting Points
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How To
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NY Horse Holiday Gift Guide
Where to begin when presented with an unfamiliar horse
Tips for choosing the right riding program
Find something to brighten the spirits of every horse lover on your list
Departments 6 9 10
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House Calls
Keep senior horses happy and healthy despite winter’s might, with advice from Cornell University’s equine veterinarians
On the Cover
Ahhh – winter. The one time of year where horse people can look outside and not feel guilty about sitting back with another cup of coffee. The photo/ illustration that graces this cover, by NY Horse Art Director Darren Sanefski, perfectly captures the pale beauty of our snowy landscape. When he’s not turning words and images into a magazine, Darren is an assistant professor at the University of Mississippi’s Meek School of Journalism.
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Editor’s Note Thanks To Our Underwriters Leg Up
News, Notes and Conversation Starters
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Leg Up
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First Person
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Research Center
Calendar Newsmaker
U.S. #1 Beezie Madden starts the journey toward Rio 2016
In her own words, a teen’s journey from homeless to horses
Personality influences how and what we ride
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Insight
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Armchair Equestrian
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Parting Shot
Jeff Gural: For the owner of Vernon and Tioga Downs, integrity is the issue
Cowboy dressage emphasizes partnership. Plus: A 60-second clinic on the warm up
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 5
EDITOR’S NOTE
Here’s to the season of lying fallow and taking stock
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now lies shadowed and deep. Horses drift like continents across a white and flattened landscape. Their breath hangs, frosty question marks in the silvered air. Winter. We’ve yielded the woodland trails to cross-country skiers and snowmobiles, those high-performance beasts of a different horsepower. Summer’s spindle-legged foals have grown sturdy. And, for most, the frantic show weekends – a gauntlet of nerves, grooming, gulped coffee and hastily devoured pre-dawn doughnuts – are also, temporarily at least, in the rearview mirror. Now is the time to take stock, for a contemplative hot chocolate (marshmallows and whipped cream, please), to reflect on goals met and on next year’s dreams. Winter is for the weekly work of riding better. It’s for graduating from cross rails, for spinning faster than a wobbly top, for turning 20-meter ovals into 20-meter circles. It’s for getting your heels down, your eyes up and your spirit to soar. Remember, as the nature writer Hal Borland once observed, “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” Breathe deep. Watch Frozen – again – and be ridiculously pleased with yourself that you know Sitron is a Norwegian Fjord horse. (Feel free to annoy all your non-horsey acquaintances by mentioning that fact several times during the movie.) Read. Stock up on peppermints and sugar cubes and molasses treats and use them in the service of horsemanship. If winter comes, can spring be far behind?
Janis
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SPOTLIGHT
Jessica Berman
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hotographer Jessica Berman, a senior at Cazenovia College, first appeared in the pages of New York Horse in the summer issue with her portrait of an inquisitive foal and photos of Olympic dressage judge Gary Rockwell. She’s majoring in Equine Business Management, but her passion is the camera, and she is the creative force behind the lens at her own Essence of Equine photography. Through her work, Jessie says on her website, she strives “to capture every memory made with your equine and share the pure athleticism, freedom, and elegance within the equine expression.” She also rides, shows, and owns her own horses and believes that her equine experience and understanding has helped her to capture the moments we share with them. In this issue’s Artful Horse, she captured miniature horses visiting a local nursing home. Look for more of her work – including photos of Skaneateles polo – in future issues of New York Horse.
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NEW YORK HORSE
From show jumping to trail riding, reining to dressage, we cover it all with unbridled passion
NEW YORK HORSE Editor & Publisher Janis Barth jbarth@nyhorsemag.com
UNDERWRITING SUPPORT
New York Horse is published in part with underwriting support from: Canterbury Stables; Cazenovia College and the New York State Center for Equine Business Development; Nye Auto Group; Blue Ocean Strategic Capital, LLC; The Beattie Sanctuary; Madison County Tourism; Morrisville State College; New York Farm Bureau; New York State Fair; Central New York Dressage and Combined Training Association; Central New York Reining Horse Association and From The Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship.
PRESENTATION
Art Director Darren Sanefski dasanefs@go.olemiss.edu
EDITORIAL
Contributing Editor Renée K. Gadoua editor@nyhorsemag.com Contributing Photographers Jessica Berman Heather Bragman Kim F Miller Gloria Wright Contributing Writers Jeanne Albanese Barbara Bell Maureen Fitzsimmons Katie Navarra Esther Hahn
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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
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR
NEW YORK HORSE U N D ERWRITERS Canterbury Stables W O R L D
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Promoting the sport of Reining through shows, clinics and educational seminars
Leg Up
N E W S , N O T E S A N D C O N V E R S AT I O N S TA R T E R S Win Beezie’s Olympic saddle and help From the Ground Up
Saratoga Springs to help racehorse retirement
A saddle Beezie Madden used winning her Olympic gold medal will be raffled to benefit From The Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship. The saddle was donated by long-time FTGU supporter Barbara Wolff, who received it from Madden as a gift. “Barb has retired from riding and she thought it would be a great fundraising item. We wholeheartedly agree!” said executive director Andrea Colella. “We are very honored and grateful.” Colella said the donation comes at “a very opportune time,” as they are starting a $100,000 campaign to build an indoor riding arena, allowing FTGU to expand their season and help more people. (Read about FTGU’s program for veterans in this issue.) The raffle drawing will take place at the “Spring and Savor” fundraiser March 10, 2016 at Greenwood Winery in East Syracuse. Tickets are $20 each, available at ftguhorses.org, the FTGU Therapeutic Horsemanship GoFundMe account, by mail and at all of their public events. Discounts will be given for multiple tickets. WIN THIS: From the Ground Up is donating five raffle tickets to New York Horse readers. To enter send an email with your name and address to Editor@nyhorsemag.com and put “Raffle” in the subject line. We’ll choose the winners at random.
New home for Empire Performance Horses Empire Performance Horses has moved to Lone Birch Stable, Route 11, Homer. With the move, EPH head trainer Adam D’Agostino said he was able to expand Empire’s program to include more lessons and offer a greater diversity of training methods. D’Agostino specializes in AQHA and APHA show horses with a focus on all-around and ranch riding events. He said he looks forward to the move allowing him to add training clinics and open shows.
Saratoga Springs has become the first city to address racehorse retirement in an official pledge. Mayor Joanne Yepsen said the city is joining Racehorse Aftercare Charities of Saratoga, an alliance of local charities. “Saratoga Springs is proud to be a racing community and grateful to the Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds who enhance our quality of life,” Yepsen said. “The least we can do for the horses that work so hard for us is embrace the cause of aftercare.” The city will also encourage the Saratoga Springs public school system to include racehorse aftercare as part of a humane education curriculum. “Saratoga is home to breeders, owners, retirement and retraining organizations and horse lovers who are actively engaged with these wonderful horses every day,” said Suzie O’Cain, a board member of the NY Thoroughbred Breeders and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. “We all want to be sure that racehorses have great homes after racing.”
Cornell’s Robert Gilbert receives NYS Horse Council award Dr. Robert Gilbert of Cornell University has been awarded this year’s Youth Advocate Award from the New York State Horse Council. Gilbert is a professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and part of the university’s Equine Park. He’s been a resource, and shared the research facility on tours with many students. “This is a great honor,” Gilbert said of the award, which was announced at the Horse Council’s fall meeting in Binghamton. “We love where we work. Showing it to people, especially interested young people, is a pleasure for us.”
Yearling sale nears $1 million mark The Morrisville State College 26th annual Standardbred yearling sale drew a record crowd and took in close to $1 million. A total of 62 yearlings, including 18 owned by the college, were sold at an average of $15,540, up 43 percent from last year’s average bid of $10,715. The sale topper was Royal Pinot, who sold for $55,000. The sale is also an educational tool for the college’s nearly 250 equine students, all of whom had their hand in some aspect of the auction. Students groomed and prepped the horses, bedded stalls and helped set up the business office. Profits from the sale go toward general maintenance and enrichment of the college’s equine programs, which include breeding, racing, and equine rehabilitation therapy 10 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
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The Show Trunk II designs exclusive custom riding boot Stacy Lowe-Jonas and Lauren Wu – the partners and equestrians behind The Show Trunk II in Dryden – have teamed up with Italian bootmaker DeNiro to create a specialty custom riding boot for their shop. The pair took what they considered the best features of several different DeNiro boots to make “the perfect tall boot.” They’re handcrafted of waterproof calfskin leather, with 13 foot sizes, seven calf widths, and four heights, so they can fit almost every rider. The exclusive design has been christened the TSTII Cavallina – that’s the Italian word for filly – after a ‘name the boot’ contest. The TSTII Cavallina is priced at $799.95 and is available for custom order at The Show Trunk II.
Triple Crown partners with US Equestrian Federation
New Equine Avenue tent draws crowds at NYS Fair
Triple Crown Nutrition has been named the official feed sponsor of the USEF eventing, show jumping and dressage teams. USEF CEO Chris Welton said the federation “could not think of a better partner, and looks forward to (Triple Crown’s) continued support.” “Triple Crown is committed to helping horses achieve their potential,” said Triple Crown Nutrition CEO Rob Daugherty. “We know USEF members demand a lot from their horses. We admire their passion for sport and the intimate connection they have with their horses.”
This was the first year for the New York State Fair’s Equine Avenue tent, and it brought the horses to the people. With public access to the stabling area off limits during the fair’s 12-day run, the tent attracted thousands of visitors looking for a chance to interact with horses and learn more about equine careers and education. Equine Avenue was the idea of Fair agriculture manager Mel Chesbro and went from notion to reality with the assistance of horse show superintendent Naomi Blumenthal, equine studies professor Dr. Karin Bump and student intern Kierstyn Duggleby, both of Cazenovia College.
New York Horse is interested in news – including show results – about local riders, horses and businesses for our pages and website. Please send items to: nyhorsemag@gmail.com.
Madison County
CHRISTIAN PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY
Cazenovia | Hamilton | Chittenango | Canastota | Oneida | Bouckville | Brookfield
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NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 11
LEG UP: CALENDAR
N O V E M B E R 20-21 21 21 D E C E M B E R 4-6 5-6
Equus Film Festival, including the new documentary Harry & Snowman with ties to Central New York. Village East Cinema, Manhattan. More information: equusfilmfestival.net.
Closing night of the 2015 racing season at Vernon Downs. Long-sleeve thermal T shirt giveaway, handicapping contest, fireworks following racing. More information: vernondowns.com. Tack and equipment auction to benefit Oneida County 4-H Horse program. Preview at noon, sale starts at 1 p.m., Verona Fire Hall, Verona. More information: CCE Oneida County, 315-736-3394. Dressage Clinic with Felicitas Von Neumann-Cosel at Canterbury Stables, 4786 Roberts Road, Cazenovia. More information: canterburystablesny.com.
Holiday Open House at The Show Trunk II, 2335 Dryden Road (Route 13), Dryden. Refreshments, entertainment and something for every equestrian on your shopping list. More information: theshowtrunk2.com.
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Fall into Spring Show Series, Fairway Farms, Westmoreland. More information: FairwayFarm.net.
Holiday Musical Ride at Carriage House Saddlery, 325 Waterburg Road, Trumansburg. More information: carriagehousesaddlery.com.
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Cheer for the next generation of riders competing with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. Hunt seat shows in the region are scheduled for: Dec. 12 (Co-host is RGB Training and Sales), Jan. 16 and Feb. 7 at Heritage Stables, 681 Franklin St., Skaneateles. More information: rideiea.org.
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CNY Reining Horse Association holds Northeast Breeders Trust Stallion Auction, through Feb.15. Proceeds are placed in the NEBT Fall Futurity held at the CNYRHA Fall Classic in Syracuse. More information: cnyrha.com.
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CNY Dressage and Combined Training Association Year-End Awards Banquet. Luncheon buffet, guest speaker, silent auction, raffle and prizes. 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Lincklaen House, Cazenovia. More information: cnydcta.org.
Looking ahead
Patrick King Horsemanship (read about his Classical Principles for Modern Riders in fall’s NYH) returns April 8-10 to Canterbury Stables, Cazenovia. More information: canterburystablesny.com.
To submit events for the New York Horse calendar, in print and online at nyhorsemag.com, send an email to: nyhorsemag@gmail.com. 12 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
LEG UP: ROAD TRIP From Dressage to Cowgirl Yogalates, WNY Equifest offers something for every horse person The Western New York Equifest expands to two days this year, with more than 100 vendors and events at five venues at the Hamburg Fairgrounds. The show spans a full weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 14, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 15. A full slate of demonstrations and presentations is scheduled, with topics covering all breeds and disciplines, as well as horse health care and practical advice, including a how-to on safe trailer loading. Programs in the Showplex start at 11 a.m. Saturday with a talk on – appropriately
enough – “The Art of the Warm Up” by Mollie Vacco. There’s a dressage demonstration by riders from Houghton College at noon in the Showplex, and a bareback riding show, “The Entertaining Side of Draft Horses,” at 1 p.m. in the same building. Also on Saturday, in the Agricultural Discovery Building, programs include “Cowgirl Yogalates” at 1 p.m. and “Basic Wound Care” at 3. A highlight of the weekend is the Breeds Parade at noon Sunday in the Showplex. The same venue will also be the location for a demonstration of
bridleless freestyle riding at 11 a.m. and a talk at 3 p.m. on “What to Look for When Purchasing a Reiner.” In the Ag Building on Sunday, look for a presentation at 3 p.m. on “Getting That Perfect Picture: Horse Photography.” The more than 100 vendors will have items ranging from trucks and trailers to artwork and hand-made chocolate. For the youngest equestrians, there will be a Family Fun Corral with activities on both days of Equifest. Admission is $1 for those 13 and older. Parking is free at the fairgrounds, located at 5600 McKinley Parkway. Refreshments will be available both days. For a complete schedule, visit wnyEquiFest.com.
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 13
LEG UP: NEWSMAKER
Starting the turn toward Rio BEEZIE MADDEN TAKES A WELL-TIMED VICTORY, WITH THE OLYMPICS ON HER TO-DO LIST
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By Esther Hahn ith the 2016 Olympics only months away, Cazenovia’s Beezie Madden reinforced her ranking as the USA’s No. 1 show jumper and the world No. 2, winning the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup event at the Del Mar International Horse Show. Madden clinched the victory aboard her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Simon, by riding the fastest clear in an eight-rider jump off. Leading the pack is exactly where she wants to be. “It feels great to be at my current rankings,” Madden said. “It’s the highest I’ve been in the world rankings. I’m just lucky to have a string of good horses that can let me be there, and a fantastic owner in Abigail Wexner. It gives me a chance. I’m very lucky to have my whole team.” Staying at the top is especially important this year as Madden hopes to be selected to represent
the United States at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games next summer. “We’re trying to hit the grand prix classes that are high on the list,” said Madden. “We’re … trying to pick the ones that are worth the effort and trying to do well at them.”
With such high stakes on the line, Madden’s ability to focus on the task at hand while competing is both an asset and a testament for one of the country’s most decorated riders. “Anybody who says that they never get nervous isn’t telling the truth,” she said. “I get excited and anxious for sure, and with some nerves. But luckily, when
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FEI PHOTO BY KIM F MILLER
Beezie Madden rides Simon to victory in Longines FEI World Cup Jumping.
I get on a horse, it all goes away.” Madden’s victory follows a flawless round in September at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. The Belgian team won the title – the US came in fourth – but Madden and Cortes C put on a jumping exhibition, drawing gasps from the crowd as they went clear in the final round. Her October win in Del Mar came against a field stacked with seasoned, international competitors. The stands in the indoor venue were packed, as Madden strategically maneuvered Simon to the win in 37.33 seconds. Madden described her horse as “brilliant” in the difficult short turns on the course. “He has a lot of practice trying to do short turns because running isn’t always his best thing,” she said. “Indoors especially, he can be really fast with the short turns. “Simon has been my World Cup Final horse for the last three years,” she added. “He doesn’t really have any quirks except that he whinnies at the in gate every time before he goes into the ring. He’s a pleasure to deal with and to ride.” Jack Towell, who took second with a time that was one second slower than Madden’s, said he “knew from the beginning that Beezie was definitely going to be able to go faster ... I’ve been the bridesmaid a lot in the past couple months, so it is what it is. But having Beezie behind me, you can only do so much, and I was thrilled with my horse.” Madden has a few other stops planned on the inaugural Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League, but by mid-November, she will have the opportunity to rest herself and her horses before returning to competition at the beginning of January. “We’re all competitive people,” she summed up, “and we all love to win.”
The Show Trunk II
Equestrian style for your ride. Fashion for your life!
Join us for our 5th Annual Open House Dec 5 & 6 Food. Fun. Friends. Fabulous Sales & Gifts. Make a Wish List & Have Your Wishes Come True.
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10% off for IEA & IHSA members and Professionals Stacy Lowe-Jonas, Hugh Jonas Lauren Wu 2335 Dryden Road (Route 13) Dryden, NY 13053 607-227-2538 or 607-269-5265
Showroom Open: Monday, Thursday & Friday 11 am — 6 pm Saturday & Sunday 10 am — 5pm www.TheShowTrunk2.com Follow us on Facebook
LEG UP: FIRST PERSON
“I’m here to assure that the horses’ destinies turn out as good as mine did”
ONCE-HOMELESS TEEN WINS AWARD FOR ESSAY ON FINGER LAKES THOROUGHBRED ADOPTION PROGRAM. impacted by a group – like Finger Lakes – that received a grant from the Thoroughbred Association in 2015. “We would like to thank all of the contestants who shared their personal experiences with us,” said Erin Crady, executive director of TCA. “Each essay was a unique glimpse into the tremendous work that our grant recipients undertake each day, and the impact that they have on horses and humans alike.” TCA’s mission is to provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting qualified retirement organizations and by helping the people who care for them. Spring DeFranco is one of them. Here is her winning essay: “As a young child, I didn’t live the best life. I went through many obstacles that most children do not experience. These struggles include five foster homes, at least seven different school changes, and housing issues, all occurring at the ages of 4-11. “On the morning of my 10th birthday, I woke up in a fold-up chair under a bridge in Tennessee and was given a peanut butter and jelly
PHOTO BY JULIE SMITH
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t 10, Spring DeFranco was homeless. Four years later, with new hope and a new family in Upstate New York, she volunteers at a Thoroughbred rescue and has dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Writing about her life, and the role horses played in helping her find her way, DeFranco recently won the third annual Thoroughbred Charities of America Youth Essay contest. DeFranco, 14, who lives in the Wayne County town of Ontario, wrote about her experience as a volunteer with the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program in Farmington. The organization will receive a grant of $1,000 for DeFranco’s winning essay. The teen, who was adopted after years in foster homes, said “I know the feeling of simply wanting to be wanted and, therefore, put in my effort to give all the horses in the barn love and devotion.” Essays were judged by TCA board members and the staff of Blood-Horse Publications. Among the criteria: The writer had to be
sandwich, purchased at the dollar store next door, for breakfast. My brother and I were homeless and lived under that bridge for five days. “It wasn’t until we had spent six months in New York, bouncing between houses and schools, that Child Protective Services showed up and took us into custody. We were placed in a foster home with new, temporary parents and siblings. We
Spring DeFranco and Imposseble Dream, a 4-year-old filly up for adoption at Finger Lakes.
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started in another new school and made more new friends, but at that point, it had just become a pattern. “Another six months later, though, we were informed that a family was interested in meeting us. I was immediately stoked and we began visiting them, sometimes staying the night. We even went on vacation for a week before we moved in, but once we had, I settled right in. I was able to have my 11th birthday surrounded by people who I knew would love me as much as they could. “I decided that I wanted to be adopted. It took a year of anxious waiting and preparing, but the day finally came that I was officially made part of the family. “In that year I had learned that my dad worked near horses and that there was an adoption barn for retired racehorses. I have always wanted to be a veterinarian and especially work with horses. Here was my opportunity to help animals through an adoption process like I went through. “I waited and waited, anticipating
the day I could start volunteering at the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program known as The Purple Haze Center. At least four days a week, I go and help out at the barn … I stumbled upon the chance of a lifetime and was lucky enough to be able to take it. Somehow I feel that I can connect to and understand the horses’ situations, and because of this I work especially hard to make sure they get the proper home they deserve. “I help clean their stalls, feed and water them, and even train and exercise them. I know the feeling of simply wanting to be wanted and, therefore, put in my effort to give all the horses in the barn love and devotion. It’s not just hard work that helps to accomplish this, though. “I know from experience that fate has its place in the world, too. I don’t know what else could have positioned me with such a wonderful and beneficial family. I’m here to assure that the horses’ destinies turn out as good as mine did. “Having lost my home and friends so many times, I learned that one
LEARN MORE Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program has been working since 2007 to find new homes for retired racehorses. Located near the Finger Lakes race track, its focal point is the Purple Haze Center, a 10,000 square foot barn that can house up to 16 Thoroughbreds. The program has helped more than 400 horses find new homes. For more information, go to fltap.org.
must simply persevere through the obstacles in life. Volunteering at the adoption barn has helped me realize my potential in helping get these great horses a fresh start. The skills that I have established by working at The Purple Haze Center will help me in the future. “By submitting this essay, I get a chance to possibly repay those who have given me such a rare experience. I know the adoption barn is just the start of the great outcomes to arrive in mine and the horses’ future.”
CarriageForHouse Saddlery All Things Equestrian Ride warm, ride fashionably, ride better with English wear and Western boots and hats from Carriage House Saddlery FITS breeches and shirts and RJ Classics show coats for the ride of your life Stephens luxury sheepskin saddle pads for him
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NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 17
LEG UP: INSIGHT
Who you are is how you ride
STUDY REVEALS THE LINK BETWEEN PERSONALITY AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF RIDERS
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onsider yourself open to new ideas? Dressage might just be your thing. Thrive on being in the limelight? Well, you should consider competing. Get easily upset at your horse? Don’t worry. You’ll mellow with age. Those conclusions come courtesy of a team of three researchers, who set out to determine whether certain personality types are associated with different equestrian disciplines. Their conclusion? Absolutely. “The current study confirms what we’ve suspected for some time: that different types of people are drawn towards different areas of equestrian sports,” said Dr. Inga Wolframm, a sports psychologist. “We now need to build on these results and find out as much as we can about rider preferences and motivations.” The study, said Dr. David Marlin, a physiologist and biochemist, grew out of a conference he attended a few years ago. He was out with some students, Marlin recalled, “and I started to say that I thought horse people were ‘different.’ I expanded on this and one of the students challenged me. “I said they were absolutely correct and that I shouldn’t make such sweeping generalizations without proof.” So the team – rounded out by Dr. Jane Williams, an epidemiologist and equine physiologist – conducted a survey-
based study to determine whether certain personality types are associated with different equestrian disciplines. More than 4,000 English-speaking equestrians completed a short questionnaire based on the “Mini International Personality Item Pool,” which allows for personality profiles to be developed based on the traits of emotional stability, extroversion, agreeableness, openness and conscientiousness. Participants were mainly female (96%). They participated in equestrian disciplines ranging from Western and English pleasure riding, to dressage, eventing and show jumping. Their findings, published in the Journal of Comparative Exercise Physiology confirmed: Personality is linked to the choices riders make. A key finding of the study is that competitive riders are more extroverted and conscientious than their noncompetitive counterparts. Wolframm agrees: “Most competing riders will, at some time in their career, encounter situations that will tax their resolve. Injuries to their horses immediately prior to an important competition, the struggle of combining a competition schedule with family commitments, financial strains – it all adds up. Riders who are conscientious by nature will work very hard at overcoming those obstacles. And riders who are extroverts might even enjoy the challenge of it all.” What is more, the researchers found, competitive riders score highly on the personality trait of openness – for Study: Competitive riders are more extroverted and conscientious.
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example to new ideas, experiences and thoughts – with competitive dressage riders scoring highest of all. “We think that the aesthetic nature of ‘pure’ dressage and the intellectual challenge generally of getting a horse to perform every movement to perfection, might attract riders who thrive on this kind of mental stimulation,” Williams explained. Contrary to popular belief that personality is set in stone by the time you reach your twenties, this study suggests that, at least where riders are concerned, it isn’t true. The study found riders become more genial with age and that riders older than 35 years were less anxious and more emotionally stable, more agreeable, more conscientious and more open to other ideas. Marlin suggested that could be because “horse riding is one of the few sports where performance isn’t hindered by someone’s advancing years.” And he said that suggests emphasizing the role of older riders as mentors. “Current findings help to explain why riders who are kind, committed and empathic can be much more effective at training horses,” he said. “Knowing that these character traits develop with age, we need to encourage any kind of coaching system whereby older, experienced riders take younger ones under their wings.” The authors agree that personality differences might be used to improve rider satisfaction and happiness by helping individuals in their choice of equestrian discipline and level of engagement in the sport. “The study opens up so many more questions,” Marlin observed. “Do horses make people like this or are people like this attracted to horses? “Is it women? Ninety percent of our respondents were women. How do female equestrians compare with women in other sports?” Williams is also excited by the potential for improving horse-rider performance: “Now that we know what makes riders tick, we can help them make the most out of the partnership with their horse.” Added Marlin: “Understanding more about personality can have important implications for how equestrian sports are marketed and how riders are coached.”
MUCH MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
The Ultimate Schoolmaster
Canterbury Stables
Coming to
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4786 Roberts Road Cazenovia • Phone: 315-440-2244 • canterburystablesny.com NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 19
LEG UP: INSIGHT
Vernon & Tioga Downs join Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity
E
JEFF GURAL CALLS FEDERAL LEGISLATION KEY TO “ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS PLAYING FAIRLY”
ver since he was a kid, sneaking out to Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island, Jeff Gural has loved horses and racing. He took over two Upstate New York tracks – Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs – in 2005 and in 2013 added the Meadowlands Race track in New Jersey. This fall, all three tracks became members of the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity, adding to the growing support for national oversight and stricter racehorse doping regulations. “Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs are all known for having the highest testing standards possible,” said Gural, CEO of American Racing and Entertainment. “We currently do our own out-of-competition testing and surveillance at our expense … (and) we have been able to detect illegal performance enhancing medication in horses entered at our facilities.” Gural, who is a supporting member of the Water Hay Oats Alliance (WHOA), is the first Standardbred track owner to join the anti-doping effort that has been spearheaded by the Thoroughbred industry. “We believe that national oversight is the only way to ensure that everyone is playing fairly and that our animals are not subject to potentially harmful medications,” Gural said. “Our tracks are proud to join the Coalition and we hope that our participation will help broaden these positive reforms to 20 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
encompass Standardbred horseracing.” Implementing uniform drug policies across the U.S., he said, will help increase the popularity and credibility of racing and “ultimately establish a level playing field across the board.” The federal legislation supported by the Coalition would appoint the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to create and oversee a national program for horseracing. The USADA runs the anti-doping program – including education, sample collection and results management – for athletes in U.S. Olympic, Paralympic and Pan American sports. The legislation that would give it authority in racing is part of HR 3084, The Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act, introduced in July by Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY), who represents the Congressional district that includes Saratoga race track. The two are co-chairs of the Congressional Horse Caucus. If the bill is passed, the USADA would work collaboratively with state racing commissions nationwide to replace piecemeal rules that vary by state. “Modern horse racing suffers from a patchwork system of out-of-date, state-by-state drug and medication rules set by approximately three dozen
state regulatory commissions,” Gural wrote in a column for the Newark Star-Ledger. “This creates confusion and risk for owners and trainers whose horses compete in more than one state and inconsistency for bettors who want to accurately evaluate horses. “This approach has also left the door open for mistrust to grow around the industry’s ability to rid the sport of performance-enhancing drugs and prevent the overuse of approved medications.” Gural said the bill presented an opportunity for the industry to come together for the betterment of racing
ONLINE Learn more about the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act and the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity at horseracingintegrity.com.
and the protection of its horses. “We believe that national oversight is the only way to ensure that everyone is playing fairly and that our animals are not subject to potentially harmful medications,” he said. Gural’s determination to abolish the use of performance-enhancing drugs at his tracks has drawn praise from the racing community. “All horseracing would be better off if it followed his lead and example.” said Staci Hancock, a founding member of WHOA, a grassroots movement supporting federal legislation to ban performance-enhancing drugs in horse racing. Coalition membership also includes the Breeders’ Cup Ltd., Keeneland race track, the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Veterinary Medicine Association, The Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders. Jeff Gural, owner of Vernon and Tioga Downs, is the first Standardbred track owner to join the anti-doping effort.
“… Engaging the power of the horse to motivate, teach and heal.” At our farm in New Woodstock, we offer Equine-Assisted Therapies to persons of all abilities, life challenges and stages. It is our mission to facilitate all that is possible through the partnership between human and horse. Programs include: • Groundwork and Therapeutic Riding • Common Ground Natural Horsemanship • Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning • Equine Services for Heroes: military, vets and families Learn more about our programs & volunteer at ftguhorses.org
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LEG UP: ARMCHAIR EQUESTRIAN
The cowboy way enters the dressage ring GROWING DISCIPLINE EMPHASIZES PARTNERSHIP, NOT MASTERY
T
he discipline that has come to be known as cowboy dressage was born out of a desire to meld the best of Western riding traditions and classical dressage. The goal in both is the pursuit of a harmonious relationship with a horse. Intended to be accessible to everyone, cowboy dressage is open to all breeds and all levels of riders. There isn’t a set frame for the horse’s
60-SECOND CLINIC A horse needs to be warmed up before he is asked to perform any demanding maneuver. This begins with walking, which allows him to loosen his muscles and focus on the task. If you walk at the beginning of the lesson, a horse will be ready to learn. Later, the walk serves as a break between lessons and maneuvers, and a cool down after the day’s work. At any time during the ride, the walk brings both rider and horse to a state of mind that facilitates communication and partnership. From Cowboy Dressage
overall look, head carriage, or action. The over-arching goal is to consider the horse’s potential at all times and to achieve a subtle and relaxed flow of information between horse and rider. In Cowboy Dressage, Riding, Training and Competing with Kindness as the Goal and Guiding Principle (Trafalgar Square Books. Paperback, 224 pages, $29.95) lifelong horsewoman Jessica Black traces the evolution of the discipline back to its roots. Black shares the story of Eitan and Debbie Beth-Halachmy and the Morgan horses that have served as the movement’s ambassadors. With the help of 170 color photos and 20 diagrams, she goes on to provide an engaging and thorough explanation of the discipline. Chapters cover the philosophy of cowboy dressage; expectations of the rider; what a participant needs in terms of equipment; and how the most important element — the horse — should be trained and prepared for competition. The book offers practical, hands-on advice for riders of every level. Sections on groundwork, as well as specific training advice for achieving engagement, finding a “soft feel,” regulating the gaits, smoothing transitions, and balancing bend and straightness, get the reader started with a solid foundation. The book provides additional tools for riders and trainers interested in competition, including rules, divisions,
and how to execute and judge tests. Specific descriptions and diagrams of cowboy dressage tests and “court” — the training area designated for practicing the tests — are provided. There’s also a chapter on the history of cowboy dressage, acknowledging its roots both in classical dressage and the traditions of the American Old West. Part story, part how-to manual, Cowboy Dressage gives readers the information they need to become fluent in the discipline. As the founders of the movement say in the book, cowboy dressage is more about a way of life than a rulebook. And with that as its premise, one can see how it can show the way to true partnership with a horse.
BITS AND PIECES HIGH FIVE: NUMBERS OF INTEREST THIS ISSUE New York Horse took a spin through the NY Equine Industry Policy Priority Survey for this quick snapshot of the state’s horse people. The full survey is online at cjcadventures.com.
1st
Where hunt seat ranks as a discipline among New York riders (25.5%). Western, including reining, was second (22.4%).
/8
3
The slice of the respondent pie statewide that said they think of horses as livestock.
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1,628 The number of people – out of 1,860 responding – who said they “consider the equine industry to be part of agriculture in NY.”
55%
Respondents who said the “expansion, improvement and maintenance of horse stables” at the state fairgrounds is a critical or high priority.
31
The percent who say it’s a critical priority to develop a program to accredit equine rescue facilities.
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Lost Found SECOND-CHANCE HORSES AND THE PEOPLE WHO SAVED THEM
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 25
Perfect Man’s
race didn’ t end at the
finish line
LEVEL-HEADED AND KIND, HE WAS A PERFECT MATCH FOR THE STATE PARK POLICE
T
he crowds press up close, several deep, surrounding Manny in a State Fair tidal wave of tie-dye, stuffed animals and plates of fried dough. It’s late and hot, asphalt melting hot, but Manny is cool and sweet as an adoring assortment of hands – many of them sticky and belonging to small children – pet him on the nose and the neck and the chest. He started life as Perfect Man, a racehorse, ending his days on the track both sound and in need of a new job. He came to Central New York’s Sunshine Horses, which retrains and finds new homes for horses, many of them Standardbreds like Manny. They pick up his journey from harness horse to mounted patrol:
From being born in Maryland, to racing, to retraining for a second career, to being selected for the New York State Park Police highly competitive training class, Perfect Man is having an interesting and fulfilling life. Perfect Man made over $225,000 and had 22 wins out of 160 starts. Owned by Howard Ouriel, he was retired sound and entrusted into the care of our totally volunteer organization – dedicated passionately to ensuring safe passage for retired Standardbreds
26 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
– where he was retrained under saddle. Over 100,000 horses go to slaughter every year over the Canadian and Mexican borders where they suffer an intolerable trailer ride and horrific death, many of them Standardbreds. Perfect Man will not be one of them. There is nothing standard about Standardbreds, an often overlooked breed, passed over for colored breeds and prestigious Thoroughbreds. But Standardbreds are level-headed, kind, energetic, playful and proud, and excel at many disciplines, such as English and Western pleasure, pleasure driving, hunter/jumper, dressage or just plain loving pets. They just need to be given the chance; they deserve it. The Hudson Valley District State Park Police gave Manny that second chance, and we thank them for their interest and willingness to give him an opportunity few get. It took multiple trips, patience, compassion and professionalism from the officers and many hours from the volunteers who trudged through a horrible winter to help prepare Manny for his new career while caring for almost 30 other horses sheltered by Sunshine. Whenever we see a Sunshine Horse find its own family, our hearts swell with pride, love and tears. We wish you the best of luck Perfect Man, and please keep those Saratoga Parks safe!
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 27
In the
Nick
Time
of
SHAVER, AN ORPHANED NURSE MARE FOAL, JOURNEYS TO A NEW LIFE
S
haver was the cover boy for the second issue of New York Horse. He and two other nurse mare foals were rescued by Barb and Kaytlin Bell of Springerle Stables outside Auburn. Nine years later, all three are happy and healthy. Barb tells their story.
“Hey Kaytlin what do you think about a road trip to Ohio tonight?” That’s how it started. My daughter is a farrier, and the call she received in the summer of 2005 was from Sarah and Mike Seamans of Last Chance Corral in Athens, Ohio. They had just rescued two foals and wanted to familiarize them with having their hooves handled. When she asked their ages, Kaytlin was surprised by the answer: They were 3 weeks old, rescued nurse mare foals. A year later, we were on our way to Ohio to bring three other foals – Shaver, Levi and Paloma – to their forever home at our Springerle Stables Farm. All three were nurse mare foals. When a quality Thoroughbred mare gives birth, so that she can be rebred immediately, her foal is taken away and placed with a nurse mare. But what happens to the nurse mare’s foal? It becomes an orphan and might be killed or left to starve. Last Chance Corral is a non-profit that rescues nurse mare foals and finds homes for them. It pays the breeding farms for the foals, so they are given a chance at a happy and productive life. They take the foals to their 1-acre farm and teach them to drink mare’s milk replacement from a little bucket. We had just finished construction on our farm; horse stalls and indoor arena were completed and there was plenty of space available for a cute little foal. I called LCC and was disappointed to find that we were too late for the 2005 foals. I hung up the phone thinking ‘maybe a project for the following year.’ 28 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
As things go, time moves on and the best ideas start to wane until one day in May, while sitting at your desk, you check the LCC website and see there are some foals that may be a field hunter down the road – or maybe just loveable pasture ornaments – and figure why not hook up the trailer and go. It’ll either be a mother-daughter adventure or one of us won’t make it home! My husband had the trailer hooked up for us, and the truck filled with snacks, and we were on the road in minutes. We drove most of the night, and were parked in front of Last Chance when they opened. Over 20 foals were wandering around the enclosure. We went in and scratched and snuggled with every foal multiple times until we finally had to decide who would make the trip home. How do you pick just one or even two? Well, we picked three and my husband was just happy we didn’t fill up the trailer! They looked like little aliens putting their feet cautiously on the ramp as they climbed into the trailer. We had loaded hay around the walls to keep them close to each other and piled more on the floor to keep them comfortable. Every two hours we’d stop at a rest area to check on them and give them milk replacer. Shaver was the oldest at 2 weeks; Levi was 5 days old and Paloma 3 days old. We made the journey safely and, as we approached the farm, we noticed something floating up from the mailbox at the end of our driveway. There were three blue balloons and three signs that said “It’s a Boy!” to welcome the new arrivals. (When we called home from Ohio, we said we selected three colts, hence the blue balloons and the sign. But when Pablo Picasso exited the trailer, we realized he had to be renamed Paloma Picasso! Guess we got caught up in the excitement of bringing home foals.) We backed the trailer into the indoor arena, let down the ramp and the little aliens walked off, still figuring out where their legs were. They were home.
PHOTO BY SARAH JEAN CONDON
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 29
Lap of Learning In the
AFTER INJURY ENDED HIS CAREER, MODERN DESIRE – MD – BECAME THE DOCTOR OF SWIMMING
T
he pool at the Morrisville State College Equine Rehabilitation Center is a brisk 70 degrees, chilly unless you are an injured horse – in which case it’s perfect. Swimming gives a healing horse the chance to exercise without putting pressure on its limbs, but today’s four-legged paddler is perfectly sound. Modern Desire, a Standardbred gelding, has been a distinguished equine member of the teaching staff at Morrisville since the center opened. He swims purposeful laps, training the students – two at his head and one at his tail – to guide him around the pool at a constant two feet from the concrete sides. This is MD’s second life, a post-racetrack chance to help other horses. ERC veterinarian Dr. Erin Morgan-Paugh and then-manager Mike Bednarek, owner of Bednarek Quarter Horses in Jamesville, combined to tell his story:
“He was a pretty good racehorse in his day. He won about $150,000 and then he was retired from racing because of a tendon injury in his front leg. He was sent to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation where they train them to have new jobs … They train them to be riding horses, even to be pasture pets. They just try to find them new jobs. He was trained to swim … and that’s
30 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
how he came to be here. We were looking for a horse that could swim and train the students. “As we were getting our pool built (in the winter of 2011-12) we were in touch with them. The pool that they have at the farm was the design we used for this one, and that was the connection. He’s 11 now. He was eight when we got him. His official name is Modern Desire – MD. We call him the Doctor of Swimming. “Primarily he teaches our students how to swim, but we also use him to train on the underwater treadmill. He’s such a good boy about both of them. He loves to swim; he would probably do it on his own if I let him … He’s easy to swim. He goes at a slow speed, so he’s manageable. He’s got a great temperament, a great attitude. He’s just very easy-going, very willing to do whatever you ask ... “His job is teaching the students, to build up their confidence so they can move on to other horses that aren’t so easy. Two to three times a week we swim him; the other days he typically does the treadmill. We use him in all the rehab courses, in all three levels. His best attribute is that he can teach. “I think having him goes along with our fundamental principles of rehabilitation, to want to improve the lives of horses, to give them a new possibility. I think he represents that.”
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 31
PHOTO COURTESY OF MORRISVILLE STATE COLLEGE
From solace, came new purpose IN 2013, THE RESCUE OF 14 MALNOURISHED AND MISTREATED HORSES CHANGED A FARM FOREVER By Renée K. Gadoua Contributing editor
W
hen Marion Secor started Skanda Equine in August 2012, she planned to offer boarding and riding lessons at her Cazenovia farm. In February 2013, rescuers with the SPCA rounded up 14 horses from a field in the town of Onondaga. Secor didn’t hesitate to accept the call to help the severely malnourished and mistreated animals. As she and her staff worked day and night nurturing the horses, the team grew in its appreciation and understanding of the human-equine connection. As Secor retells the story, she talks about how she shifted the farm’s focus to rescuing horses and offering programs to help people learn from animals:
“We have seven horses left from the rescue. Some we’re a little more protective of. Horses work themselves into your heart. They can have trauma and come out of it. They are innocent and trusting. Humanity can learn from them. They don’t need shrinks. Wouldn’t it be great if we could work out our traumas that way? “The ones that were the most aggressive are now so gentle. The ones I’m most drawn to, are the ones that are most wounded. One of the stallions had to protect the babies. Now he’s able to find himself, and he’s amazing. We’re letting the animals be who they are. We support them
32 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
finding themselves. They’re a huge gift to us. “Rescue horses are the only ones we will take in. Those horses are in danger. I don’t just adopt out to anyone. I’m careful. I have to see a real connection. My standard is that they are gentle and loving. They come a couple of times. If they’re not really serious, they’ll drop off and we know adopting is not a priority for them. We look at how the horses respond. If they go to the back of the stable, they don’t like them. “Our shift to rescuing evolved. We didn’t plan on it. Is it a good business decision? Maybe not. Is it bringing us money? No. Are we going to do it? Yes. If we’re about loving the animals, it’s a natural progression. Our whole goal is to take the animals to the fullest place with people. “Horses are an open book. They don’t put up the barriers, we do. If they can trust, why can’t you? It shows you don’t have to hold onto stuff. There’s an innocence and purity in their eyes. A lot of the traumas they hold, we’ve given to them. “Horses have innocence and wisdom. It’s inherent in them. They know if a horse is coming too near them. They give them a little kick. They don’t have to be real aggressive. They know how to ramp it up if they need to. We’re all drawn to the innocent. It’s taken from us very young. We’re taught very early to protect ourselves. “I love all animals, but horses particularly have my heart. They’re so loving. They don’t hold anything back. They show what they feel. We can learn that we can live without fear. We all have traumas and we’ve all learned to protect ourselves. They teach us a new way of being. If they teach us to let down our barriers, how wonderful is that?”
PHOTO BY HEATHER BRAGMAN
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 33
Sunshine Horses founder honored NYS HARNESS HORSE BREEDERS SALUTE HER WORK FINDING HOMES FOR RETIRED STANDARDBREDS
K
ate Starr, founder of Sunshine Horses, has been chosen for the Bruce Hamilton Award, given annually to an individual who has displayed outstanding integrity in the sport of harness racing and has given back to both the sport and their community. The award is given by the Harness Horse Breeders of New York state who said of Starr: “For over a decade, her daily efforts have exemplified all the merits this award espouses while working toward a singular goal: to find homes for our retired Standardbreds.” Since 2003, Sunshine Horses has rehabilitated, retrained and found homes for more than 150 horses. The all-
34 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
volunteer organization stables up to 40 retired racehorses at the state Fairgrounds in Syracuse and its home base in Central Square. All of the money it raises goes to the care of their horses. Starr had been working a regular day job before deciding it was not for her. She wanted to be around horses and make that her life’s work. She went back to school and graduated from Morrisville State College in 1985 with a degree in Equine Science. Starr then proceeded to race her own stable of Standardbreds at Pocono Downs from 1991 to 1993. After seven years away from the horse business, Starr was reunited with her passion in 2000, when she started work with the Harness Horse Retirement and Youth Association as their Central New York placement coordinator. Starr had long been troubled by the fate of too many former track stars and wanted to do what she could to change as many of their endings to happy ones. Her experiences rehabbing and
placing horses with Harness Horse Retirement was the springboard to her next endeavor: starting Sunshine Horses in Syracuse. Since its founding in 2003, Sunshine Horses has made it their mission to take in horses that can no longer race – for whatever reason – and find them a ‘forever home’ where they can be cared for and loved. After coming to Sunshine Horses, some of the horses are trained to be ridden and others are used to pull light carts or carriages. The goal is to make them more desirable to a potential adopter and for them to excel in their new careers. So far in 2015, 21 horses have been placed. Although the majority of their horses are Standardbreds, Sunshine works with all breeds. Said the Harness Horse Breeders: “Over 150 horses that may have met a very different fate had it not been for her efforts, are now securely placed and reaping the benefits of their years of hard work.”
The Sweet Taste of Success CONCENTRATE ON YOURSELF, ANDREAS HAUSBERGER SAYS: PERFECT THE BASICS, SUPPLE YOUR BODY AND INVEST IN SUGAR FUTURES.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK CHAVES
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 35
A
PHOTO COURTESY OF NIHAL DHANOA
t the far end of the arena, Andreas Hausberger tucks his whip under one arm, clasps his hands in front of him and takes in the full sum of horse and rider. Before him, on this sunlit morning, the pair bend into a 10-meter circle. Stay supple, Hausberger says. Pay attention to his neck. Pay attention to his carriage. Don’t block the motion with your seat. Maestoso Marina, a Lipizzan stallion with a classic head and definite opinions, upshifts flawlessly from collected to working trot. “Super,” Hausberger says, drawing out the syllables into an extended dollop of praise. “Super, yes, suuuper. Now praise him.” “Good boy,” Sarah Casey says, reaching down for a pat on the neck. “Good boy.” Hausberger, Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, is charged with preserving the continuity of the school’s training program, passing on to new riders its 450-year-old tradition of classical dressage. The key, he told The Vienna
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT Praise your horse often, every time they do what you ask of them. Pat them on the neck and tell them they’ve done a good job.
Review in 2013, is how the information is passed to each student. It is a philosophy that travels with him to the very few clinics he teaches each year in the United States. In this five-day clinic at Voltra Farm in Verona, he works with riders and horses of all levels. With each he shares his passion for the discipline, a love of the partnership between horse and rider, and a classical dressage training style that emphasizes correct rider position, impulsion – and sugar. Ah yes, sugar cubes. Hausberger’s secret weapon, the one he keeps at the ready in a red pouch strapped around his waist. He praises horses often, every time they do what he asks of them, and sugar is part of that frequent praise. By the time most horses have finished their time in
Concentrate on yourself, Hausberger tells riders, here Sarah Casey on her Lipizzan stallion.
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the arena, they are frothy; as if they’d just spent an hour dipping their nose in meringue rather than stretching the limits of their own – and their rider’s – abilities. “I’ve never met a horse that didn’t like sugar cubes,” agrees Casey, trainer/ manager of Waltzing Horse Dressage at Voltra, who counts Hausberger as one of her mentors and instructors. “It’s positive reinforcement. It teaches horses so much faster than negative reinforcement. If every time they move in the right direction, you reward, they will start to answer on their own.” It’s a progression for the rider, too, built on the basics. For all, the seat must be correct, Hausberger teaches, or there can be no expectation of the horse having correct balance. Sit still, he says, and allow the movement to flow through your body. Stay supple. “It’s not about the exercise, it’s about the preparation,” Hausberger tells one rider as he asks for a lead change, then a second. “The flying lead change was perfect because the canter was perfect. The contact was perfect, soft and steady. The body position was perfect ... Concentrate on the basics.” Ask properly, he tells a second. “Whisper with your aids,” he says. Use only what you need to achieve the
correct answer from the horse – no more no less. “Don’t shout, don’t shout. Whisper with your upper body. Whisper with your hands ... The whip is there to support the leg, not to hurt the horse. Don’t hit her – touch her.” Remember who’s in charge, he tells a third, whose horse has decided this is her day to forget she has ever worked under saddle. Don’t let her ignore you. She must listen. “You are the pilot, not the passenger. You show her the way to go,” he says. “Concentrate on yourself, not the horse. Concentrate on yourself from the very first touch of the reins … You need to work on yourself before you work on your horse.
On yourself, on yourself. Where are your hands? Where are your legs? Where is your upper body? Concentrate on yourself and she will be fine.” And after five days, there is change. Seats have been suppled. Riders are whispering. Horses are listening. At the far end of the arena, Hausberger remains the center point of the circle, hands clasped behind his back, whip tucked under his arm, sugar cubes ready for every apt equine pupil. For the riders, the reward is no less sweet. “Good job,” Hausberger says as he brings each ride, no matter how bumpy the middle, to a positive end. “Super.”
READ ALL ABOUT IT The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is celebrating its 450th anniversary this year, and a new book celebrates its centuries of excellence. 450 Years of the Spanish Riding School (Trafalgar Square Books. Hardcover, 208 pages, 112 color photographs, $65) illustrates a rich and celebrated past devoted to classical equitation and beautiful Lipizzan horses. From foals cavorting with their mothers, to riders in training and stallions performing the famous figures and jumps, the slip-cased book delights in the whole story.
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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
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The Healing Horse “In recognizing that animals have much to teach us – that they have, as the recent research suggests, been tutoring, empowering, healing and transforming us all along – we will have to let go of the idea that we are the only intelligent species on the planet.” — Linda Kohanov The Power of the Herd NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 39
A Fuller Life AT ARISE, HORSES MAKE A CONNECTION AND A DIFFERENCE. “KIDS, WHO MAYBE HAVE NO OTHER CONTROL IN OTHER AREAS OF THEIR LIVES, CAN SIT ON A 1,200 POUND ANIMAL AND STEER IT AND MAKE IT STOP AND IT OBEYS THEM.” Story by Jeanne Albanese PHOTOS BY HEATHER BRAGMAN
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hen Aria VanDreason was younger, she’d often play games atop her horse.
Sometimes, she would have to dip a fishing pole down to the ground, pull up a magnetic fish, pass it from one hand to the other, then ride over to a bucket where she would drop in the fish. Other times, she’d have to ride to a mailbox, open it and insert a cookie. Aria thought she was just having fun, but in reality, the games were all forms of therapy to help her regain strength and motor skills diminished after two surgeries to remove a brain tumor. Now 9, Aria focuses more on core and arm strengthening exercises – like leaning forward on her arms or twisting her trunk while she rides – or on riding patterns that help stimulate the different sides of her brain. Other days, Aria rides purely for the enjoyment. It’s all part of the work at ARISE at the Farm, which offers adaptive and therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities. For many children like Aria, whose favorite horses are Cooper, Dorrie and Moose, the lure is simply the love of the horse. They don’t realize that on top of the fun, they’re building core strength, using muscles they might not use otherwise, or improving their head control. These are just a few of the numerous physical benefits children can derive on the back of a horse. “She’s basically excited to be on a horse,” says Aria’s mom, Amy VanDreason. “Her plan is to ride every single horse in this barn. She doesn’t care who she is on. As long as she is on a horse, she is happy.” Therapeutic riding involves physical, occupational or speech therapy that
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Leo True-Frost’s saddle has bicycle handlebars attached to the front, which help him to sit up.
utilizes the natural stride, dynamic movement and warmth of a horse. The horse’s natural gait simulates human walking in the trunk and pelvis of a rider. For riders who have difficulty with their gait, or don’t walk at all, this stimulates muscles they don’t normally use. Additional therapeutic benefits
come from caring for the horse; a child in a wheelchair, for example, has to stretch and reach to groom properly. Add to that the natural bonding that often occurs between child and animal, and the results speak for themselves: In the smiles and laughter of children who are otherwise non-verbal. In the hugs,
Therapeutic riding allows children with physical challenges to build core strength, using muscles they might not use otherwise.
kisses and pets the children shower upon their horse after a ride. In the many gains children in the program have made physically, socially and emotionally. “The horses make a lot of difference,” says Laura Little, manager at the Farm. “They’re a living breathing thing. They connect. And our horses are very intuitive – the good ones are. These kids, who maybe have no other control in other areas of their lives, can sit on a 1,200 pound animal and steer it and make it stop and it obeys them. That’s really
empowering for some of these kids.” ARISE at the Farm, a program of ARISE Child and Family Service, began in 1998, after veterinarian Dr. Jim Marshall donated a 77-acre farm on New Boston Road in Chittenango to the agency. Marshall, who wrote a book about how animals helped him survive suicidal depression, felt strongly that children with disabilities benefitted from exposure to animals and that they needed more opportunities for recreation. At first, the agency, which promotes independent living for people with
disabilities, wasn’t sure what to do with the donation, or how exactly to run and afford such a program. But Nancy Kern Eaton, ARISE Director of Development & Public Relations, said the agency quickly became committed to developing the farm program. “We became very committed to this as a piece of thinking about people with disabilities leading full and independent lives,” she says. “And a full life includes recreation and fun and adventure.” Now the Farm’s stable boasts more than a dozen horses, and it features
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outdoor riding trails, an outdoor ring and an indoor arena built in 2001. The riding program now runs six days a week, March through December, and serves more than 100 riders — and there’s a waiting list. Once a year, it also offers a 21-Day Challenge: 21 straight days of riding intended to change pathways in the brain to lead to increased strength and endurance. The Farm also offers a fishing pond, ropes course, various programs including cart driving and hand cycling, and several summer camps, including a horsemanship camp. The latest addition is a 16,000 square foot, fully inclusive playground. It is home to one pig, one dog, several cats and most recently, a disabled goat named Dazzle who died in September. The Farm aims to be welcoming to all — disabilities or not — and the staff and dedicated volunteers reflect that lowkey, accepting and caring atmosphere. The bond participants make with the volunteer side walkers, leaders and instructors rivals the connections they make with the animals. One participant, a young adult woman with autism,
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told her mother that the Farm is the only place where she felt like she could be herself and where people didn’t treat her like she needed to be fixed. The ability to serve both those with and without disabilities is invaluable to families like the VanDreasons and the True-Frost family. Aria’s little brother Elias, 7, takes riding lessons alongside his big sister, as does Phoebe True-Frost, 3, who recently joined her brother, Leo, in weekly lessons. Leo, 6, has cerebral palsy and has done therapeutic riding for several years. “This enables them to ride at the same time, which is great,” says dad Jim True-Frost, “because a lot of the time with adaptive activities, it is exclusively for the kids with disabilities, which is great that it is possible, but it separates them.” Though the program costs $100,000 a year beyond Farm revenue, the agency remains committed to continuing its work. Kern Eaton says the agency would love to build another indoor arena to serve even more riders. ARISE executive director Tom McKeown says the agency is working on a three-year plan to help make the program more financially stable and that, while it is one of many programs run by ARISE, it seems to be the most well-known. “When I describe myself as from ARISE, people say, ‘Oh, you’re the guys with the farm,’” McKeown says. “It is under 5 percent of our budget, but it is so popular and attractive, that’s what we are known for.” The farm’s occupational therapist, Nikki Dandignac, grew up volunteering at the Farm. She always knew she wanted to work with children, and the Farm gives her the ability to provide therapy in a unique environment. The therapeutic benefits on the farm are many: the sensory aspect in the sights, smells and sounds; the social aspect of interacting with the volunteers; the emotional bond with the horse; and finally, the physical piece of staying on the horse, which requires muscle strength, coordination and balance. “A lot of these kids are in therapy several hours a week. Sometimes they do outside therapy, but this is something fun,” Dandignac says. “By riding the horse, they have to keep themselves
STUDY: EQUINE THERAPY HELPS CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY A new study by Central Michigan University found that therapeutic riding improved balance and gaits in children with cerebral palsy. The trial assessed the effects of adding 12 weekly sessions of hippotherapy to the children’s usual therapy routines. A control group included youngsters who did not have hippotherapy. Children with cerebral palsy, ages 3 to 6, participated. The team assessed balance, gait, participation and quality of life of each youngster, before and after adding riding to their routine. Researchers conducted follow-up exams 12 weeks after the therapy sessions ended, to see if improvements were maintained. Researchers found that only the group receiving hippotherapy demonstrated statistically significant improvements on measures of balance, participation, and quality of life. The project was funded through a grant from the Horses and Humans Research Foundation, based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. For more information visit horsesandhumans.org.
on, and use their muscles, and they are on a moving surface. It is hard to recreate that on a ball or a swing in the therapy room. This is way more motivating to have them reach and hold and let go. So, they’re having fun and they don’t know they are working.” Horses used in the program are specially trained to deal with noise, wheelchairs, ramps and other things that might normally frighten them. And then horses are matched with riders based on the horse’s temperament and the rider’s needs. Sometimes, in place of a saddle, riders sit on a thin pad that allows them more connection to the warmth and movement of the horse. Other times, riders use adaptive saddles that allow them to sit sideways or sit up more easily. Leo’s saddle has bicycle handles attached, which help him to sit up. Stories abound from program participants deriving physical, emotional and social gains on the backs of these horses. One child with cerebral palsy gained enough strength and control to
hold his head up, enabling him to see his classroom at school for the first time. Another group of children with emotional traumas exhibited dramatic behavioral improvements after several sessions with the horses. Aria VanDreason feels so at home on the horses and with the volunteers, she’s able to express emotions and worries while riding that she otherwise keeps inside. And then, there are the intangible gains. For Leo True-Frost, “it is just a confidence in doing something different and something a little dangerous,” his father says. “He’s up in the air and he’s sitting up by himself and he’s riding a big animal so I think it is a confidence-boosting activity for him.” The program also gave him a voice where he hadn’t had one before. Leo uses a communication device attached to his wheelchair and did adaptive riding when his family lived in Boston. When he first came to the Farm, Dandignac figured out how he could use his device while he was
TO LEARN MORE Find out about the many programs offered through ARISE, including mental health services, support groups and independent living skills, go to ariseinc.org. The website includes information on how to volunteer in the therapeutic riding programs.
riding. Now, from atop his horse, he is able to say things like, “Let’s go,” or “Go, Clyde.” For Leo and his family, this meant the world. “It is one step to do the activity, and there’s another step to be fully involved,” Jim True-Frost says. “If you’re non-verbal or non-speaking, the activity is very limited if you can’t incorporate your speech into the activity. So having him be able to bring his voice with him on the back of the horse was pretty unusual and very meaningful. It was very important.” For the folks at the Farm, it was all in a day’s work.
For many children like Danny Bayardi, 9, of Syracuse, the lure of riding at ARISE is simply the love of the horse
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MINIATURE MAGIC, THROUGH THE LENS OF PHOTOGRAPHER JESSICA BERMAN
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Wrinkled hands reach out to a velvet muzzle. And the caramel-and-cream horse closes his big liquid eyes and nuzzles back. Barely waist high at the withers, the miniature horse is just what the doctor ordered, bringing smiles and laughter to residents of the Crouse Community Center in Morrisville. Touching his soft coat, hugging his neck, brings back – for many – a flood of memories. “A lot of our residents are from rural farm families,” says Julie Davis, director of activities at Crouse. The minis, owned by Cazenovia College and wrangled on this day by the college’s Equine Ambassadors Club, visit the nursing home a couple of times each year. “The horses bring back a lot of good memories … A lot of our older residents can remember the horse-and-buggy days, their dads out working in the field with horses.” Miniature horses were bred as pets for nobility, but were also used as work horses in English and European coal mines. Today, their only job is to spread happiness, one small hoof at a time. And this they do. “Our residents love them,” Davis says. “It’s very beneficial.” 48 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
“No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.” — Herman Melville
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HORSES HEALING HEROES AT FROM THE GROUND UP, A THERAPEUTIC BOND BETWEEN EQUINE AND HUMAN HELPS THE MENDING PROCESS FOR VETERANS
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P H OTO S B Y G L O R I A W R I G H T NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 51
The human-horse bond helps Army veteran Michael Scott through Equine Services for Heroes.
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By Maureen Fitzsimmons
t’s a cool morning for July, and a light rain is falling. Inside the barn at From the Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship, Ray Nicholas is leading Ivan, a retired show jumper who found a second calling as a gentle, healing presence. Nicholas, a Navy veteran, and Army veteran Michael Scott, are part of Equine Services for Heroes, a therapeutic program for military veterans and service members facing physical and mental challenges resulting from their service. “Horses are very intuitive and accepting animals, which makes them perfect for therapy,” FTGU Executive Director Andrea Colella says of her equine staff. At her barn in New Woodstock, at the foot of Mystic Mountain, much of the therapeutic work for the veterans involves groundwork and safe handling. Some of the veterans are not medically cleared to ride. But for Colella, there’s a better
“Whatever you bring to the horse, it gives back,” says Andrea Colella, executive director of From The Ground Up. 52 NEW YORK HORSE
reason: “It really is the best place to start.” Learning about all aspects of horses and horsemanship, the veterans develop mutual respect with their equine partner, which gives them a sense of self-discovery and accomplishment. Together, they create a therapeutic bond that helps the vets to heal from such emotional issues as anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Today, Nicholas and Scott are working on a basic: how to lead a horse using a rope halter. “What we’re going to work on is getting the horse to pay attention to you,” Colella explains. “They just have to see you as the leader. If they don’t, they’ll take over as the leader, and you don’t want that.” “How do I get him to move?” Nicholas asks. “Don’t pull on the rope,” Colella coaches. “You want him to watch your body and do what your body does. A little flip of the rope. That’s it.” Scott takes over for Nicholas, leading Ivan and
turning him around in the barn. At one point, Ivan raises his head, and Scott pulls gently but firmly on the lead; the horse lowers his head. “Good. Very nice,” Colella says. “I would have done the same thing.” The confidence the veterans gain is a key benefit of the program, says Maryann Piazza, coordinator for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Recovery Center, a treatment program within the Veterans Administration Behavioral Health Department that serves vets living with mental illness. “The horse program at FTGU is ideal for supporting veterans who want to try something new, in a safe environment, and develop a sense of competence,” Piazza says. They feel they have something to contribute to the world, and “the horses themselves provide a therapeutic environment, in that a veteran can care for a horse without the stigma of judgment.” Some veterans, she adds, have said “their chronic anxiety and depressive symptoms decrease when they are working with the horses.” Colella says she sees this firsthand. “Therapy with horses is far reaching, as far as the benefits are concerned,” she says, citing physical, mental, cognitive and social benefits. “The horse is nonjudgmental. Horses take their time. Usually, whatever you bring to the horse, it gives back.” Colella began working as a volunteer in therapeutic horsemanship in the late 1990s, when she and her family were living near Philadelphia. A part-time personal trainer with knowledge of anatomy and physiology – and a lover of horses who has been riding since she was a child – she immediately saw the benefits. “This brings all my worlds together,” Colella says. She decided to become a certified instructor and make therapeutic horsemanship her career. From The Ground Up is accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. In addition to the veterans’ program, which began in 2012, FTGU offers programs for children and adults with cognitive, emotional, physical and learning challenges. Last spring, Colella teamed with volunteer Paul Caldwell, a professor of social work at Syracuse University, to teach an introductory course in equine-assisted activities and therapies. They also began a mobile program that brings horses to the Elmcrest Children’s Center in Syracuse, serving 12-15
HOW TO HELP Programs at From the Ground Up require 50 to 60 volunteers, who can help with lessons or work in the barn. Learn about volunteer opportunities and other FTGU programs – including therapeutic horsemanship and equine-assisted activities for at-risk youths – online at ftguhorses.org.
youngsters on average over an 8-10 week cycle. Time slots are reserved for the Heroes program, and veterans don’t have to be connected to the Syracuse VA to participate; all they have to do is download a registration packet from the FTGU website. On this Tuesday morning, Nicholas and Scott, both Vietnam vets, are thrilled to be working with FTGU’s equine “co-therapists.” After working with Ivan, they’ve spent some time outside in a small paddock leading Mike, a 14 year old Haflinger. Mike came to From The Ground Up in 2008, through Oprah Winfrey’s “Big Give” program which invited non-profits nationwide to write an essay. “We wrote about why we needed money to start a new program for veterans. We wrote that we needed a very strong horse who could carry more weight than our other horses,” Colella recalled. They were chosen to receive enough money to buy Mike and a saddle, and the sturdy chestnut has become a perfect therapy horse. “Haflingers are known for their calm and gentle nature,” Colella notes. “Mike is very attentive to a human’s needs … He’s very good at carrying riders of all heights and sizes, and he’s also very good at teaching people to care for horses.” And on this day, he and Ivan have worked the magic of equine mending once again. “That felt good,” Nicholas says as the two veterans get ready to board the van that will take them back to Syracuse. “I think the horses were good.”
Ray Nicholas of Syracuse and John Stevens of Elbridge groom Tina. NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 53
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ave you dreamed of operating your own stable and decided this is the year to transform that dream into a reality? Or, do you currently run a boarding operation and are interested in growing? Regardless of whether you’re establishing a new stable or expanding an existing barn, there’s a lot to consider, starting with:
Do your homework Begin by creating a business plan. A business plan allows you to identify short and long term goals and requires you to develop a strategy to achieve those goals. A well-developed business plan will account for all of the costs associated with running a barn and ultimately its profitability. “A business plan is indicative of an operation having a profit motive, which is important to the IRS, and it is essential for securing funding. Lenders will want to see one with any type of business loan application,” said Amy E. Sherrick-von Schiller, associate professor of equine business management at Cazenovia College. Early on, consider what type of insurance is required for the services 56 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
you plan to offer. “Typically some form of commercial general liability policy is required as well as a Care, Custody and Control policy, since the facility will have other people’s horses in its care,” Sherrick-von Schiller added. If you already operate a stable, but are planning to offer new services such as clinics or shows, additional insurance may be required in addition to any existing policy. Inviting outside trainers or instructors to use the facility may also require additional coverage. Policy rates vary by discipline, and by the level of risk associated with the discipline. Experts recommend businesses also safeguard themselves with liability release forms that each client is required to sign. “Arrange it so that clients sign a standard release form for riding their own or another’s horse on the property,” said Jill Paxton, Director of Equestrian Studies and Equine Management at the University of Findlay in Ohio. “A release should also address what happens if the horse is injured.” Create detailed contracts for all of your services and require clients to sign before any services are provided. “Contracts may be needed for the boarding agreement, training agreement,
shipping, sales or anything else the farm may offer,” Sherrick-von Schiller said. “Ask your attorney to review the contracts to make sure they are effective and follow the applicable state laws.”
By the numbers Boarding facilities operate on slim profit margins. Successful stable owners skillfully interact with clients to keep them satisfied, while diligently watching the books. “By the time costs are considered for hay, grain, bedding, labor for feeding, cleaning stalls, doing turnout etc., the board fees typically do not leave a lot left over,” Sherrick-von Schiller said. Calculate anticipated expenses to maximize profits. Depending on the size of the facility, there may be opportunities to negotiate savings on bulk bedding or grain to increase profit margins. Don’t forget maintenance: Include the costs associated with mowing, plowing, arena upkeep, utilities and manure storage/removal. Consider the impact of each additional horse on the facility as a whole: Will your feed and hay supplier be able to handle the increase or will a second supplier be required? Will
Thinking about boarding? Start with a business plan, decide what will be included, and see what other area barns are charging.
you need more paddocks or arenas to accommodate more riders and horses? How about increased labor costs? “A small barn with a couple of horses may not need extra labor,” Paxton said. When a facility reaches 10 or 20 boarders, she said, the question becomes how much labor you will need to hire to get the job done. “Often people think adding two to three stalls will increase profits, when it actually increases the need for labor and may not pay for itself.” Adding too many extra responsibilities to existing barn staff can lead to overworked employees and burnout as well as low morale, all of which are bad for business, Sherrick-von Schiller added.
The Going Rate In large part, your rates will depend on the amenities offered. Facilities that offer extra touches such as heated wash stalls, bathrooms, heated viewing areas and indoor arenas, are in a position to command higher rates. Not only do the higher rates cover the expenses associated with those luxuries, but the additional fees create an opportunity for increasing profit margins. Depending on your location and target market, clients are willing to pay significantly
more to have access to those comforts. “Do a market survey and see what the barns around you are charging so you’re not out of the ballpark,” Paxton advised. Decide what you expect from your clients and what you will include in your regular boarding fees and services. For example, will you require all clients to follow the same deworming regimen? If so, the cost of medication and your time to administer the dewormer should be calculated in the monthly board fee. However, if a regimented deworming program is not mandatory, offer to administer the medication for a nominal fee. If rough board is an option for clients, will there be times in extreme weather that the horse will need to come in out of the elements? “Spell it all out ahead of time, so the owner is aware that the horse will be brought in for its own protection and that it will cost extra,” Paxton said. Before jumping in and expanding your list of offerings, ask horse owners which services they would be willing to pay for if they were offered. Depending on the approach you take, the cost of additional services can be included in monthly board, or can be outlined on a separate fee schedule. Such services
include, but are not limited to: • Changing blankets • Wrapping/unwrapping legs • Caring for injuries • Soaking legs/hooves • Making a video of a sale horse • Administering medications • Accommodating special turn-out requests Fees for this type of service increase the barn’s margin if charged separate from basic board. “Holding clients’ horses for the vet or farrier, medicating, grooming, etc. add up and do make a big difference,” Sherrick-von Schiller said.
Listen to your clients Find out what services clients want, but can’t find. Take time to consider each additional service and whether or not you have the facility and/ or staff to follow through. Lessons, training, sales, trailering and/or hosting events all offer opportunities for growth and additional revenue. “Ask around and see why local boarders are happy where they are or why they are not,” Sherrick-von Schiller suggested. Talk to tack shop owners, farriers and other people who regularly deal with horse owners NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 57
The Bottom Line
to see what is needed in an area. Decide which group of horse owners you can best serve. Recreational riders will likely demand fewer extras than upper-level competitors, but competitive riders and those who keep their horse in regular training are also willing to pay for extras like having someone else ride on days they can’t. Then determine the going rate in the area for providing those services.
Operating a successful boarding operation is a delicate balance between equine expertise and business skills. Cultivating proficiency in both areas can be challenging, but it’s necessary for long-term sustainability. An important part of that equation is communication. Define barn rules for ring use, turnout, maintenance and any service that may result in an additional fee. “The more specific you are ahead of time, the happier everyone will be because they know the expectations,” Paxton said. “When you are vague, or the rules are undefined, people assume things from their own perspective and can become unhappy.” “At the first of January each year, send a list of charges for the year and that should remain consistent for 12 months,” she added. Include any anticipated increases in fuel or feed costs to avoid raising prices part-way through the season. If you’re planning to expand, share
those plans with current boarders. Inform them about changes in turnout or location of their tack and other equipment. Allow them to be a part of the change; don’t simply move their personal belongings and allow them to find out when they show up for their next ride. “Be sure the existing boarders aren’t ‘losing’ anything they are paying for and are happy with the new boarders when they come in,” Sherrick-von Schiller said. Remember: While plans for expansion might look good on paper, it’s most important to make sure current clients are happy with the services provided, and are an advocate for your business. “Networking and word of mouth are the most effective means of getting the information out there in the horse industry,” Sherrick von- Schiller said. “If current boarders are having a positive experience, they will share it. If current boarders are unhappy, they will most definitely share that, too. So before expansion begins, make sure your existing boarders are happy.”
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60 Second Clinic: Starting points If a horse comes to you and you don’t know anything about him, where do you start?
“How do you know how they look at you?” asks Mary Maitland, equine and animal science teacher at Madison-Oneida BOCES in Verona. “How do you know how they think about you?” The starting point says Maitland, is to be open to what the horse is saying, to their body language and other cues. “No. 1, you need to be in the horse’s world. Not because they are stupid, but because (a horse) remembers everything that was done to him, both good and bad. “So you have to build,” she says, showing the horse patience, caring and consistency. “Replace the things that were bad that were done to him with things that are good.”
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THE GUIDE: HOW TO
Guidelines for choosing a child’s riding program THE RIGHT BARN WILL BE SAFE, PROFESSIONAL AND CHALLENGING – NEVER SCARY
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hat to look for in choosing the right lesson program for a child? Start with the professionalism and qualifications of the riding instructor and the standard of quality set by the barn, says Ray Whelihan, associate professor in the equine program at SUNY Cobleskill and head coach of the hunt seat equestrian team. Remember, your child’s safety and well-being is placed under the guidance and supervision of the riding instructor. “The instructor and the technical skill of the instructor is key,” Whelihan says. An instructor should display riding skills well above the level of their students; possess knowledge of horse behavior; and demonstrate technical skill in the care and management of horses. Not all instructors have formal training to teach riding, so ask: “Do they have instructor certification through the Certified Horsemanship Association or another group? How do they present themselves? How a person dresses, their professional demeanor, is important.” Then, Whelihan says, take time to observe the facility and the way it operates. Watch a riding lesson to see how
the instructors interact with students. Check out the overall condition of the property, as well as the condition of the horses. A stable should be clean and well organized, with stalls that are well bedded and with fresh water and hay, and horses that appear relaxed and content. At the top of the list, he says, watch whether safety is a priority. “Where people tend to get hurt is in the barn, so you need to determine: Is this going to be a safe environment?” Whelihan says. Helmets are an obvious point on any safety checklist; make sure that all kids are wearing them whenever they are around a horse, not just when they are riding. Look to see if kids are tacking up in the aisle, while the instructor is in the arena, he says. “Is the riding instructor always observing your child interacting with the horse? Again, is this going to be a safe environment?” A red flag is an instructor who puts a release form in front of you and says ‘Sign here.’ To Whelihan, “That’s another key indicator. Tell them you need the time to read the form before you sign.” Other things to look for, according to Wayne G. Hipsley, Chairman of HorseSafetyUSA and author of Equine Risk Management & Safety: • Inspect the tack, looking for worn leather and buckles that do not fasten correctly. • How does the instructor speak to the students? Is the instructor’s full attention given to the lesson? Is the instructor on a cell phone at any time? • Is the area large enough for the student(s) in the lesson? • Is there a sufficient number of instructors to monitor all the mounted students? • Are different levels of horses available to students so they can advance in their riding ability? “The suitability of the horse is important,” Whelihan says. Especially for beginners, a well-trained and well-behaved lesson horse is necessary to provide a controllable, safe ride. On the adult side of the ledger, set a realistic riding goal for your child, Whelihan and Hipsley agree. Riding offers a child the opportunity to build self-esteem while participating in a sport that improves balance, coordination and strength, in addition to teaching decision making, discipline and dedication. “Horseback riding should never be a scary experience,” Whelihan says. “It should be a challenge.”
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THE GUIDE: HOUSE CALLS
Winterize your horsekeeping routine
PHOTO COURTESY OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY
AND REMEMBER: PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE COLD-WEATHER NEEDS OF OLDER HORSES
Keep your horse healthy this winter by providing shelter from the wind, additional calories, and limited turnout on especially cold days.
(Editor’s note: With this issue, Cornell University joins the pages of New York Horse. Each column is produced at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine with the help of college faculty.)
I
f you live in Upstate New York, you probably have had a taste of winter already. If you live downstate, you know cold weather is on the way. Winter is a good time to review your horses’ nutritional needs, and this is especially important for the senior citizens in your herd. The Cornell Equine Hospital in Ithaca often experiences an uptick in patients with impaction colic a few days after a cold snap. The culprit is usually inadequate hydration. “A lot of horses won’t drink very cold water, and can’t drink at all if it’s frozen,” says Medical Director Dr. Gillian Perkins. Insulated buckets, a teaspoon of salt mixed into feed and other measures may help encourage horses to drink, she says, but “you really need to have heaters in the water in Upstate New York,” where temperatures can remain below 20 degrees for weeks at a time. In cold weather, horses burn calories just to keep their bodies warm. Blanketing, shelter from the wind and limited turnout on especially cold days all help them conserve heat. Additional calories may be in order, as well. Eva Conant, an equine biologist at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, recommends feeding more hay before increasing grain or fats. The added fiber gives the microbes in the large intestine more material to ferment, creating heat that the horse can generate without having to burn calories. When consumed with plenty of water, the added fiber also helps prevent impaction colic. Older horses may need a different strategy. If they’ve lost body condition, thermoregulation (the ability of an
animal’s body to retain heat) “becomes a challenge,” says Dr. Perkins. “Check underneath the blanket now and then to check their weight; you may need to feed them more.” Increasing hay won’t help much if an older horse has trouble chewing, so look for forage with shorter fiber lengths such as alfalfa pellets and well-soaked beet pulp, says Conant. A horse’s small intestines start to lose their ability to absorb protein and fats at about age 15, she adds. Feed with a higher protein-fat content helps older horses keep warm. Dr. Perkins recommends increasing equine senior rations, which provide a balanced diet. A hot mash now and then couldn’t hurt, she adds. Conant suggests dividing an older horse’s daily rations into more meals so she can get what she needs without overfilling her stomach. Winter poses environmental challenges as well. An arthritic horse is less inclined to search for food, so try to put feed in areas that are easier for him to access. Make sure his pasture mates aren’t pushing him away from food, or that his slower movement doesn’t cause him to arrive too late to get his fair share. If his neck is arthritic, raising his food will make it easier
for him to eat, and keeping his water warmer will encourage him to drink. If your senior citizen seems colicky, feverish or off his feed, call the vet sooner rather than later. “Old horses are stoic,” says Dr. Perkins. “They don’t show discomfort until the problem is advanced.” Pay special attention if an older horse seems to be spending more time than usual standing up or lying down. “Horses with arthritic joints won’t want to lie down because it’s hard for them to get up,” Dr. Perkins explains. “So when they finally do lie down they are exhausted and may lie down too long. Then they can’t get up again because their legs are sore.” Above all, “have an annual wellness exam to look at your horse’s diet, vaccines, and teeth, and to evaluate him for parasites,” says Dr. Perkins. “If you’re keeping up with that, you’re in good shape.” 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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NEW YORK HORSE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Searching for the perfect present for your favorite equinaficionado? AREA SHOPS HAVE IDEAS FOR EVERYONE, FROM STOCKING STUFFERS TO SPLURGES. (AND DON’T FORGET TO TREAT YOURSELF!)
HOW IT’S MADE Horse hair pottery, handcrafted by the Navajo Indians, was originally made to honor a fallen horse. The fine lines in the pottery are created with hair from the mane, the thick lines from the tail. The hair is placed on the surface of the pot after it’s fired in the kiln and allowed to burn into the still-hot surface. As the hair burns, it creates scribbly lines and smoky grey colors. Sculpted horse head, $108, other pieces starting at $30 at Oneida Sky Gallery, Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona.
Wrangle your morning cuppa in a travel mug that says you’re not horsing around about caffeine. Wild Chestnut Ceramic Coffee Cup, $15.99, Colgate Bookstore, Utica Street, Hamilton.
If your gift list needs a little giddy up, try these Montana Silversmiths spur earrings with a gold rowel that actually spins. $42 at Runnings, stores on Route 31, Clay and Taberg Road, Rome.
Paint horse? No, The Painted Horse. Signed and numbered giclée print by watercolorist Bob Ripley, $90. Other prints, cards, also at Cazenovia Artisans, Albany Street, Cazenovia.
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Like your horses spirited? Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon sports a distinctive equine stopper. $51.99 at Liquor City, Wegmans Plaza, DeWitt.
Give your old footwear the boot and treat yourself to stylish new paddocks designed specifically for a woman’s foot. Hoof & Woof 903 zip-front boot, $169.95 at Jack’s Turf Goods, Ruth Street, Vernon. The perfect sweet something for barn friends, coaches and instructors. Dark Horse Chocolates are $10.95$30.95 at The Show Trunk II, Route 13, Dryden.
Have horse, will travel. It’s always happy trails with this RockFlowerPaper overnighter. $60, Lillie Bean, Albany Street, Cazenovia.
14K gold with a dancing diamond: Now this is our kind of horseshoe. $599, Hannoush Jewelers, Destiny USA, Syracuse.
Everyone who has ever owned an opinionated mare, raise your hand and repeat after us: These are the socks for me. BlueQ Socks, $9.99, Colgate Bookstore, Utica Street, Hamilton.
If horses are the apple of your little one’s eye, then Big McIntosh – complete with collar – is a gift they’ll really bite into this year. $12.95 at Barnes and Noble.
Curb our enthusiasm for riding? Never! Curb chain silver bracelet by Michel McNabb, $69.95 at The Show Trunk II, Route 13, Dryden.
The hunt for the perfect gift is over. Decanter and wineglasses by Cazenovia artist Judy Goldthwait. Hand-painted glassware, picture frames and other gifts starting at $20. Phone 315-6554820, online at jgpetportraits.com.
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PARTING SHOT
“In the falling quiet there was no sky or earth, only snow lifting in the wind …”
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PORTRAIT OF DOMINO, LIGHTLY FROSTED, BY JESSICA BERMAN
— Truman Capote