NEW YORK HORSE SPRING 2017
STORIES. ADVICE. HORSEPLAY.
Must Have SKILLS TO RIDE BETTER, SHOW BETTER
The hearts and hooves of para-reining
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NYHorseMag.com
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From kill pen to national stage, a horse and rider save each other THE ARTFUL HORSE GOES BARNSTORMING
EQ STYLE TRIES RODEO QUEEN CHIC
GIVE YOUR HORSE A TEMPORARY TATTOO
GO TEAM! COLLEGIATE RIDING TURNS 50
In association with the NYS Center for Equine Business Development
Where Your Journey is Our Destination
Canterbury Stables A premier riding, training and boarding facility
All amenities for you and your horse … Warm and welcoming
At Canterbury Stables, we’re passionate about excellence. Set on 225 rolling acres in the heart of Cazenovia’s horse country, Canterbury offers the finest in hunter/jumper and dressage lessons in a family-friendly atmosphere. We are dedicated to providing quality lessons tailored to each rider’s age, level and goals and the boarding, care and training of performance and pleasure horses
Canterbury Stables, 4786 Roberts Road, Cazenovia, NY • Online: www.canterburystablesny.com • Call: 315-440-2244
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features 25
They don’t look a day over 49
As collegiate riding celebrates the big 5-0, advice for riders and coaches from two of the best in the nation, plus must-have show skills and how to embellish a horse
32
‘Let the Horse Figure it Out’
Words to ride by, from one of IHSA’s most famous alums
35
Sliding into the Spotlight
Para reining takes the stage, and new champions take a bow
45
From Bridles to Brides
A 19th century Upstate barn is reinvented as a wedding venue in Texas
49
Veronica and Moonshine
A horse and rider – both with troubled pasts – dance onto the national stage
53
Diva for a Day
EQ Style checks out custommade rodeo queen chaps
39
The Artful Horse
Through the eyes of photographer Wells Horton, the humble barn is a thing of beauty 2 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Guide 58 59 60 61
The Business of Horses
Four-legged thieves can rob any stable’s profits Better Horsemanship
Every horse has to learn that “no” is not an option
60-Second Clinic
Learn from the best: Be persistent and picky The Educated Equine
A herd of Icelandic horses is helping Cornell researchers combat summer eczema
Departments
57
Solid Footing
A horse is all about the hooves – so keep your farrier happy
On the Cover
At every horse show, between the warmup and the waiting and the spotlight, there are the quiet moments. Photographer Gloria Wright captures the behind-the-scenes bond between horse and rider, in this image taken at an IHSA show at Cazenovia College. More of her photos accompany a story on collegiate riding starting on page 25 of this issue.
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6 8 11 12 14 16 20 22 64
Jump Start Editor’s Note Thanks To Our Underwriters Calendar
If you can’t find something to do this spring, you’re not trying; Roadtrip is breezing an easy mile for Equestricon Leg Up
News, Notes and Conversation Starters Guest Column
‘IHSA members learn more than how to ride’ Off the Beaten Path
Take a woodland ramble along old logging roads in Western New York Armchair Equestrian
Talk to every horse in a language they understand – equine Parting Shot
Grace, poetry and music
JUMP START “I was drawn to horses as if they were magnets. It was in my blood. Perhaps there’s a quirk in the DNA that makes horse people different from everyone else, that instantly divides humanity into those who love horses and the others, who simply don’t know.” — Allan J. Hamilton, Zen Mind, Zen Horse: The Science and Spirituality of Working with Horses
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Bright lights, blue ribbons
T
he fifth season is fast upon us. No, not mud, although that would be a good guess considering the weeks that will shortly be consumed trying to keep gray horses from looking like brown horses and brown horses from looking like a walking wetland. Nor is it whoa season – which would also be a good guess – unless your horse has never stepped off smartly for his first ride in the sunny warmth and immediately decided that henceforth his role model shall be Secretariat. (We hear there are such horses, but here at NYH we cannot verify that they actually exist.) Its days stretch from early spring, overlaying summer, before ending somewhere around Halloween. Show season. The very definition of fleeting and allconsuming. When else, in a single weekend, can you: • Hit operatic highs and six-tissue lows • Spend more time on your horse’s grooming than your own • Depending on the class, (A.) wear a black coat and high-necked shirt – voluntarily and uncomplainingly – on a shadeless, 90-degree day or (B.) wear sequins and embroidery and still worry that you are under-dressed • Exist on corn dogs, slushies and fried dough while making sure your horse is properly hydrated and eating a well-balanced meal with plenty of roughage
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• Love your horse, hate your horse, love your horse, hate your horse, love your horse • Finally understand what Charles Dickens was talking about when he wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” In fact, Dickens might well have been talking about our last horse with that line – a Thoroughbred who flew over fences with the greatest of ease but routinely interpreted the words “…and canter” to mean “fly around the ring at top speed.” (Clearly, his Horse-to-English dictionary had a few rogue entries.) George Morris, that sage of all things equine, has said “If riding were only blue ribbons and bright lights, I would have quit a long time ago.” With our show days firmly in the rear-view mirror, this truth has become self-evident: George, of course, was right all along. Lights dim. Ribbons fade. The season ends. At the end, if we are lucky, what remains is the trust of a good horse. Give him a pat on the neck for us.
Janis
SPOTLIGHT
Wells Horton
W
ells Horton is a Central New York landscape photographer who has always known where life’s journey would take him. At age 13, he told his parents that when he retired he would pursue landscape photography. And so he has. New York State offers so many photographic opportunities from Long Island to the Catskills, Adirondacks, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, and Central and Western New York, Wells said, and his photography takes full advantage of the varying terrain. Mixing color, light, and weather, he captures the state’s landscapes in images that have the feel of paintings. His photo essay in this issue of New York Horse turns the humble barn into works of art. “Other parts of the world hold stark beauty, while New York State is filled with subtle beauty,” Wells said. “Think of stark landscapes as beautiful landscape paintings done in acrylic or oil paints where Central New York offers beautiful landscape paintings done in watercolors.” Wells has lived in various places in New York, but for the past 30-plus years he has called the Sherburne area his home. Wells conducts photography workshops and his work can be seen at wells-horton.smugmug.com. His photographs have graced the pages of three issues of NYH, including a portfolio on the hidden beauty of the Brookfield trails in southern Madison County.
NEW YORK HORSE
MAGAZINE
NEW YORK HORSE Editor & Publisher Janis Barth editor@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; Sundman Stables; New York State Fair; The Beattie Sanctuary; Madison County Tourism; Morrisville State College; New York Farm Bureau; Central New York Dressage and Combined Training Association; Central New York Reining Horse Association; From The Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship and New York State Horse Council.
PRESENTATION
Art Director Darren Sanefski dasanefs@go.olemiss.edu
EDITORIAL Contributing Editor Renée K. Gadoua Editorial Intern Kelsey Keathly Contributing Writers Kevin Durkin L.A. Pomeroy Katie Navarra Victoria Shade Contributing Photographers Jessica Berman Tony Parkes Richard Juilliart Wells Horton Gloria Wight
ADVERTISING
Advertising Director Peter K. Barth advertising@nyhorsemag.com
New York Horse magazine is published quarterly by: Tremont8 Media, LLC Cazenovia, NY 13035 All rights reserved. ISSN 2375-8058. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. All material submitted to the magazine becomes the property of Tremont8 Media. Submitted material may be excerpted or edited for length and content and may be published or used in any format or medium, including online or in other print publications. To subscribe: Write to New York Horse, P.O. Box 556, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Subscriptions are $12/year. Please include your name and address and a check or money order for the full amount. For gift subscriptions, include the name and address of each recipient and we will send a card in your name.
Nationally Honored Equestrian Quarterly Web: NYHorseMag.com
10 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
Email: nyhorsemag@gmail.com
New York Horse is a proud member of Farm Bureau and New York State Horse Council
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR
NEW YORK HORSE UNDERWRITERS Canterbury Stables W O R L D
C L A S S ,
M I N U T E S
A W A Y
Address: 4786 Roberts Road, Cazenovia Phone: 315-440-2244 • Email: info@canterburystablesny.com
NEW YORK STATE CENTER FOR EQUINE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
One Strong Voice for the Future of Horses Join today at: www. nyshc.org
Promoting the sport of Reining through shows, clinics and educational seminars
“… Engaging the power of the horse to motivate, teach and heal.” Webber Road, New Woodstock
(315) 662-3000
LEG UP: CALENDAR MARCH 17-18
WNY Equifest brings clinics, vendors and demonstrations to the Showplex at the Fairgrounds, 5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg. New York Horse will be there – stop and say hello. More info: wnyequifest.com
29 APRIL 9
A special exhibit, “Man o’ War at 100,” opens at the National Museum of Racing, Saratoga Springs. More info: racingmuseum.org
Gymnastics Clinic, hosted by CNY Dressage & Combined Training Association. Tune up your horse with master teacher Barb Lindberg. Deer Hollow Farm, 3590 Pompey Hollow Road, Cazenovia. More info: cnydcta.org
22-23 26-30 29 29-30 27-28
CNY Reining Horse Association Spring Ride and Slide, Morrisville State College, Morrisville. More information: cnyrha.net Syracuse Chapter of the Professional Horseman’s Association show, Toyota Coliseum, NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse. More info: syracusepha.org
New York Reined Cow Horse Association Herd Work Clinic with NCHA Hall of Famer Joel Cohen. Auditors free. Highview Farms, Pittsford. More info: newyorkrcha.com Clinic with Olympic dressage judge Gary Rockwell. Auditors welcome. Canterbury Stables, Cazenovia. More info: canterburystablesny.com
National Cow Horse Association sanctioned Silver Spur Classic. Youth, tracking and boxing, and Ranch horse classes. Cazenovia College Equestrian Center, Cazenovia. More info: newyorkrcha.com
MAY 6 18-21 JUNE 3-4 16-18 23-25
Competitive Trail Riding Clinic for new riders, optional 5 mile practice ride. Pure Country Campground, New Berlin. More info: Dan Gruen, BrookfieldCTR@roadrunner.com or 315-749-8086. (Section 1) and 25-28 (Section 2) NYS Horse Breeders Association show, Toyota Coliseum, NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse. More info: nyshba.com
NYS Draft Horse Club two-day Trail Drive at Brookfield State Park. More info: ny-state-draft-horse-club.org National Barrel Horse Association Syracuse Spectacular Super Show, Toyota Coliseum, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse. More info: nbha.com
To submit events for the New York Horse Calendar, in print and online, send an email to: nyhorsemag@gmail.com.
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Brookfield 50/30/15 Competitive Trail Ride sponsored by the NYS Horse Council. Woodland trails in Brookfield State Forest with no blacktop. More info: ECTRA.org
LEG UP: ROAD TRIP
And, we’re off – to New York’s first-ever racing convention
O
nly in one place, in one weekend, can race fans listen in on a Q&A with Three TripleCrown-winning jockeys; get an autograph from Team Secretariat; and learn how to bet from handicapper Marvin Kipness, aka The Wizard. Equestricon, coming Aug. 13-15 to the Saratoga City Center in Saratoga Springs, celebrates the sport of racing with its fans. An international horse racing convention, festival and trade show, it’s the first event of its kind in New York. As one might expect, the schedule bursts with programs featuring some of the best handicappers in the country, including National Handicapping Championship winner
Michael Beychok. Learn some new betting strategies, test your own theories, or drop by the “Betting Basics 101” booth. Put down the Daily Racing Form for a moment and catch the riders of Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed speak about capturing one of the hardest triples in professional sports. Then take a tour of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the company of long-time race caller Tom Durkin, try your hand at a horse racing themed arcade or simply declare victory and gallop over to the winner’s circle for a photo op. For more information, go to equestricon.com.
“If you don’t have time, don’t ride. You need talent, but you also need patience. You must see the horse like a best friend, not a machine.” GEORGE THEODORESCU
At Voltra Farm, we are committed to a friendly and welcoming environment for horse and rider to feel happy and invited to learn the art of Classical Dressage. Our trainers, Carel Eijkenaar and Michelle La Barre follow George Theodorescu’s classical system of training that has stood the test of time. They share, with owner Carin Mei, a commitment to keeping the balance between challenging horse and rider and allowing them the time needed to grow into their potential.
6000 Rock Road, Verona NY • Phone 315-723-0277 • www.voltrafarm.com NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 13
Leg Up
News, Notes and Conversation Starters
Purchase a patch, help NY’s horse trails
NYS requires a lesson about retired race horses
Spend $5, help preserve New York’s horse trails. The Department of Environmental Conservation has released a new Trail Supporter Patch, and each sale helps maintain recreational trails. Find the $5 patches at all sporting license outlets. The patch “is a definite must have for all trail riders,” said Stephen Ropel, president of the NYS Horse Council. “There is never enough money to do all the work we would like on our horse trails, but this program is a nice step in helping us get more done.” Patch sales have helped build accessible mounting platforms at the Brookfield Horse Assembly Area, and erosion control structures at the Otter Creek and Independence River Wild Forest trail systems.
Every professional working with racehorses in New York is now required to learn about aftercare. As of Feb. 1, all owners, trainers and assistant trainers of both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds must watch a 20-minute video about giving horses a good life after they retire from the track. The video was created by the New York State Gaming Commission, which regulates horse racing. View it at: gaming. ny.gov/horseracing.
HITS continues expansion from NY base Horse Shows in the Sun, or HITS, is expanding once again from its home base in Saugerties. The new destination: Balmoral Park near Chicago, which will be transformed from a bankrupt harness track into a venue for show-jumping competitions similar to the ones HITS produces in New York, Florida, California and Virginia. 14 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
Home away from home for horses opens at JFK Now open: The $65 million ARK at New York’s JFK airport, including a stateof-the-art Equine Export Center. The ARK is equipped with 23 individual 12’x12’ resting stalls for horses departing JFK, each with steel-framed open airway front stall doors; non-slip flooring; a dedicated staff of handlers and grooms; and air-side access allowing direct loading of horses from export departure to jet stalls. A veterinarian and vet tech are on call 24/7.
The Wild West rides again Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to spend as much as $32 million to turn the abandoned Frontier Town amusement park in North Hudson into a Gateway to the Adirondacks with “an equestrian camping and trail riding area.” The transformation of the theme park will also include construction of an event center and interactive exhibits in historic structures. Opened in 1952, off Exit 29 of the Northway, Frontier Town boomed during the heyday of the TV western. It closed in 1998.
USHJA Emerging Athletes Program coming to Cazenovia College The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association will hold a regional training session June 1216 at the Cazenovia College Equestrian Center as part of its 2017 Emerging Athletes Program. Geoff Teall – acclaimed trainer and national vice president of the USHJA – will be the clinician. The deadline for applications is April 17; riders can apply online at ushja.org/EAP. Funding is available to help offset the cost of attending. Participants are instructed on flatwork, gymnastics, related distances and course work, and stable management.
Fairgrounds Phase II: Equine venue part of new Expo Center
NY Names in the News Cazenovia College Senior Kristen Wesoja is the overall High Point Western
The $70 million second phase redesign of the state Fairgrounds in Syracuse will include an 80,000-square-foot Exposition Center slated to become the new home for major equine competitions, trade shows and other events. Gov. Andrew Cuomo noted that “existing equine facilities at the Fair do not meet the standards of competing venues.” When set up for horse shows, the center will have a 150’ x 300’ removable arena; 1,500 to 2,000 removable bleacher seats; and 130 horse stalls.
Second Chance Thoroughbreds accredited Second Chance Thoroughbreds, located in Spencer, has been accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The organization is one of 64 accredited Thoroughbred retirement organizations operating in the United States and Canada. Its mission is to provide Off The Track Thoroughbreds with a soft landing after the end of their racing careers through rehabilitation, retraining and a transition to a new career.
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Rider for Zone II, Region II and will represent the Wildcats in the High Point Rider competition at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals in early May. SUNY Oswego’s Danielle Grasmeder placed second and Syracuse University’s Allison Holmes placed third. Maddy Goetzmann of Skaneateles was chosen to participate in the 2017 George Morris Horse Mastership Training Session. Louis Jacobs of East Aurora has been elected a trustee of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation. Jacobs is co-chief executive officer of Delaware North, which owns and operates Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.
One Strong Voice for the Future of Horses…
State and Local Legislation Trail Access and Preservation NYSHC Youth and Scholarships Programs, Education and
Activities to Promote the Equine Industry
Members can receive $1 Million liability insurance policy
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Join today at: www. nyshc.org NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 15
LEG UP: GUEST COLUMN
Collegiate riding is much more than competition
‘Riders loan each other clothing, cheer at the rail for their teammates and revel in each other’s progress and success
I
By Naomi Blumenthal n 1967, Bob Cacchione was a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University and he had a passion for riding. His original goal was to find a way to pursue his desire to ride on a very limited budget. He had a dream, and he nurtured it and labored tirelessly to grow his vision into the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The mission of the IHSA is still rooted in Cacchione’s original hope: to make college riding available to every student with a desire to participate, regardless of skill, gender, race or economic level. Fifty years later, the organization has over 10,000 student riders and countless alumni members at over 400 colleges and
universities. Member schools are located in 48 states and three Canadian provinces. The membership is divided into eight zones and each zone is divided into five regions, in order to make competition available to more riders without overworking the horses. There are over 400 competitions organized and managed by IHSA each academic year. March and April are tournament time. There are 39 regional competitions, from which the top two riders at each level move on to the Hunter Seat Zone or Western Semi-Final competitions; the top riders and teams in each of these events are invited to compete at the IHSA National Championship. This year, May 4-7, approximately 425 riders, their coaches, families and teammates will
descend upon the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for this championship event. Since riders compete on horses that are supplied by schools and horse owners around the country, gathering almost 200 horses for the championship is a major undertaking. New York State is home to several colleges with outstanding horses and, each year, no matter where the competition is held, these schools provide about one-third of the horses. Scholarships are an important part of the IHSA mission. Each year, the Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation, an affiliated arm of the IHSA, awards scholarships to deserving riders. Members are eligible to apply for a scholarship each year that they continue to compete. IHSA members learn more than how to ride; they learn to be good community members. Every IHSA team is encouraged to perform community service throughout the school year. The projects range from working with horse rescues, to tutoring elementary-age students, to keeping highways clean. Some teams raise money for charitable causes. All are encouraged to share PHOTOS (LEFT) COURTESY OF IHSA, (RIGHT) BY KELSEY KEATHLY
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information about their projects on the IHSA website and Facebook pages. Nationally, the IHSA sponsors a program called “Ride for the Ribbon.” A portion of the entry fees from every Novice hunter seat and Western class is donated to breast cancer research. Donations to date exceed $40,000. Seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher receive recognition at the National horse show. IHSA encourages students to perform well in the classroom, but typically these ambitious athletes are self-motivated and carry a desire to do well in all areas. Among the outstanding benefits of participation on an IHSA team are the bonds that develop among the riders. Many riders have never participated in a team sport before joining an IHSA team. On most teams, riders and coaches have an ‘each one, teach one,’ mentality building strong friendships that continue well past graduation. Riders who were alumni of a huge university with no Greek system have told me emphatically that the riding team was their sorority, and these are the friends they’ve taken with them for life. Skilled riders volunteer time to teach the beginner and novice riders. Riders loan each other clothing, cheer at the rail for their teammates and revel in each other’s progress and success. On a personal note, I coached a large team at Cazenovia College for 27 years. We were the smallest college to ever host the National competition, and we did it three times. Riders and coaches who participated are still talking about many of the changes we innovated at those events. Annually, our varsity team not only was among the most successful team at the college, but also boasted the highest GPA of any team. The hunter seat team and the Western team were each National Reserve Champions, and many riders’ names are engraved on the perpetual trophies, including the prestigious Cacchione Cup, given to the top hunter seat rider. Coaching a college athletic team
was an amazing experience. Although I have not been a coach for several years, hundreds of my former team members still contact me with news, updates about their lives and questions I may be able to help them answer. Although I had administered the business of the IHSA’s largest region and zone at the time, when I moved onto the Executive Board and was elected Treasurer, I acquired many new skills. I love teaching, and am fortunate that I am still invited to teach clinics at various colleges and universities. It is inspiring in a multitude of ways to watch these young adults gain skills in the saddle as a rider, as a team member who learns to compete offensively and defensively, and as a focused adult with all of the tools for a successful life. The IHSA is administered entirely by volunteers, which also adds to its uniqueness. This is an amazing operation. The 60 members of the Board of Directors devote thousands of hours a year to this organization, and love of the sport and their riders is their reward. Bob Cacchione has dedicated the majority of his adult life to building the association and truly everywhere he goes, people approach him, ask if he is THE Bob Cacchione, and then relate how they rode in the IHSA. Bob is dedicated to his dream. His enthusiasm is contagious and beware – if you get on the Bob-Go-Round, you can’t get off! Who knows? If all goes according to the Governor’s projections, the IHSA National Championship may return to Central New York as one of the premier equestrian events to utilize the new event center at the NYS Fairgrounds. Plan on attending. Naomi Blumenthal is National Treasurer of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and President of the Professional Horsemen’s Association of America. Her five-decade career includes managing shows for (among others) the New York State Fair, NYS Horse Breeders Association and Syracuse PHA. In 1999, she received the IHSA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 17
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Off the Beaten Path
Enjoy a woodland ramble through Pine Hill and South Valley state forests Editor’s Note: New York’s state parks, forests, wildlife preserves and private properties beckon riders of all abilities and interests. A diverse terrain awaits, from stone-dust paths and rolling hills to rugged mountains and wilderness lakes. Get out there and ride!
T
ucked into the western hip pocket of New York, the horse trails at Pine Hill and neighboring South Valley state forests ramble along 24 miles of woodland in southern Cattaraugus County. The trails were built and are maintained by the New York State Horse Council, and are a mix of easy and more challenging loops, making the system suitable for all levels of riders. The Red Trails north of the power line that bisects the forest are old logging roads, and are wider with minimal elevation change, making them an easier ride. South of the power line, the Yellow Trails are hilly and more challenging. There is a shortcut on the Rocky Top loop, if the trail proves too difficult. Red and yellow discs – the familiar
TRAIL HORSE CLINIC
The program works with horse and rider on a variety of obstacles, using natural horsemanship to instill confidence. It concludes with a trail ride through the Wyoming County countryside. Register by July 17. The clinic is limited to 15 riders, but auditors are welcome and you don’t have to be a Horse Council member to attend. For information, contact Barb Cunningham, Western Regional Director, at 716-735-3529 or email Barbcunningham11@gmail.com.
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be used for camping with self-contained units. There are eight large campsites, each marked with a yellow disc. There are high line poles at each site – horses must not be tied to trees – and a campfire area in the center. Campers must bring their own water; there are no bathrooms or showers. Use only dead or downed trees for firewood and, as per DEC rules, no wood from further than 50 miles away. Note that this is a carry-in, carry-out area, so scatter manure and hay. Keep in mind: Some parts of the trail system may be closed due to muddy conditions or active tree harvest operations. A “trail closed” sign will be posted at the entrance with an alternate route if available. Contact Information: DEC’s Allegany Office is in charge. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondayFriday. Phone 716-372-0645. In case of emergency call 1-877-457-5680 or 911. Be prepared: Sign in at trail registers and carry a cell phone on you. That way if you part company with your horse – beware of equine-eating squirrels – you have the phone. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NYS HORSE COUNCIL
The New York State Horse Council is offering a clinic August 5-6 at Wolcott Farms, Warsaw, on “The Making of a Trail Horse.”
State Department of Environmental Conservation trail markers – are in place to guide riders, along with wooden trail plaques. Riders will also find “you are here” letters that coincide with a map they can easily slide into a pocket. (Download a printable copy at dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/ pinehillht.pdf.) Maps are also available at the trailhead. The footing is natural woodland soil. The Horse Council says shoes are recommended, due to some rocks Keep an eye out for: Pine Hill State Forest has a number of old fields that were planted with conifers in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Grass fires were always a threat to the new plantation, so rock-lined water holes were created to aid in firefighting. One of these water holes still exists. Required papers: Bring a current negative Coggins certificate and proof of rabies vaccination. Out-of-state horse owners will be required to produce a 30day health certificate. Open: The weather may bluster – it is Western New York, after all – but Pine Hill is open for recreation year-round. Fee: Use of the trail and all facilities is free. Camping is also free, but a permit is required to camp more than 72 hours or in a group of more than 10 people, Parking/Camping: A parking lot, with space for large horse trailers, has been constructed at Pineapple Junction off Carr Corners Road. This area can also
LEG UP: THE ARMCHAIR EQUESTRIAN
Have real conversations with horses in their language
I
f there is a horse person out there who has not regularly thought ‘if only I knew what my horse was thinking’ – or better yet, ‘if only my horse knew what I was thinking’ – please raise your hand now. Waiting … Waiting … No hands? Maybe a few? We thought so, and heaven knows we’re right there with you. Beyond ‘Yes, I would like that carrot/peppermint/ molasses treat’ or ‘By all means put me back in my stall so I can continue thinking deep equine thoughts’ having a real conversation with a horse often feels about as attainable as having a real conversation with a teenager. Riding to the rescue of all of us is Horse Speak: The Equine-Human Translation Guide, by Sharon Wilsie and Gretchen Vogel (Trafalgar Square
Books, $27.95, 224 pages with 290 color photos and 50 illustrations). It’s a practical system for listening and talking to horses in their language instead of expecting them to comprehend ours. It promises improved understanding of what a horse is saying, as well as providing simple replies that readers can use to tell a horse you hear him, you get it, and you have ideas you want to share with him, too. The book provides a number of exercises for budding horse speakers to practice regulating their intensity and begin to manage what’s going on inside and outside their body, as both affect equine communication. Ready to start but don’t know where to begin? Also in the pages of Horse Speak are dozens of readymade conversations to have with a horse, set up as step-bystep templates accompanied by instructional color photographs.
The result? Promises Wilsie: Communication with your horse will become a conversation, and the all-toocommon misunderstandings that occur between equine and human will evolve into civil discussions with positive results.
60-SECOND CLINIC The first step to having a conversation with a horse is to understand how the equine universe is ordered. Explains Horse Speak author Sharon Wilsie: “A horse’s pecking order is different from a dog’s, for example, because horses are concerned with how to run and move together in case of emergency. In a horse’s world, any moment could bring danger, and the more alpha a horse is in the pecking order, the more responsible that horse is for fending off attackers. “In dog psychology, the alpha dog calls the shots, but in horse psychology, to lead is to be responsible for the welfare of those that are weaker. The only difference in horse social order occurs between stallions. A herd is typically made up of grandmothers, aunts, mothers, and daughters. There is one dominant stallion, and he not only guards his ladies from other rogue stallions, but from mountain lions, wolves, and bears.”
BITS AND PIECES HIGH FIVE: NUMBERS OF INTEREST THIS ISSUE New York Horse took a spin through the stacks of research, news releases and other nuggets of information that come our way and gleaned these items of equine intelligence.
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The number of removable horse stalls in the new Expo Center at the state Fairgrounds
$65M The cost of the new ARK at New York’s JFK airport, including an Equine Export Center with air-side access for direct loading of horses onto planes
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$32M
Estimated cost of turning the old Frontier Town park into an Adirondack Gateway with horse trails and equestrian camping
$250K The gift from Marylou Whitney, in memory of her late husband, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, for the courtyard renovation at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga
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The percentage of all equine drug and medication violations accounted for by hunters in 2016
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Golden Years In 2017, IHSA marks its 50th anniversary. Starting as a handful of northeast teams, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association today serves 10,000 college riders across the US and Canada, competing in both hunt seat and Western disciplines. In these pages: advice on sharpening the competitive edge, plus must-have skills for the show ring and words to ride by, from one of IHSA’s most famous alums.
STORY BY LA POMEROY
PHOTOS BY GLORIA WRIGHT IHSA Hunt Seat Show At Cazenovia College NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 25
O
ur Oxford English Dictionary defines the cutting edge as a ‘dynamic, invigorating or incisive factor or quality.’ First coined in the 1800s in reference to knife quality, the description has morphed into implying the ability to slice through the status quo to get to the forefront. In equestrian tradition, good sportsmanship is integral to good horsemanship. So aspiring to gain an edge in a sport dependent on the trust of our four-legged partners is best sought – says two of collegiate riding’s most successful coaches – not by cutting the competition down, but by raising personal skill.
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“Over the years, my definition of the competitive edge has evolved,” says St. Lawrence University hunt seat coach Mary Drueding. “It started out that I believed it meant drilling exercises, heels down and work harder, etc. But to maintain a long career I’ve learned you have to invest as much or more mentally.” Believes her longtime rival, Skidmore College coach Cindy Ford: “A competitive edge is what you instill in riders. It’s almost intangible.” One goal. Two top coaches. Two definitions of what constitutes a competitive edge, how to find it and how to nurture it. Between them, Drueding and Ford have won eight Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association national titles. (Altogether their two schools own 11 of the IHSA’s 49 national championships.) In 2013, they achieved what had only been seen twice before in a half-century of college coaching: a tie for the National Collegiate Cup team title. What do they have to say to coaches who aspire to the best for their riders – whether their stage is a 4-H show ring or a national Congress? Be fair. Be consistent. Demand quality. Inspire respect. Drueding rode for Colby-Sawyer College as a student and became its assistant coach before moving to St. Lawrence in 1995. She was recognized with an IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, the same year she became the first hunt seat coach in history
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to win Collegiate Cups with two different teams. To coaches, Drueding says: “Be clear, straightforward. Don’t change the rules for one rider. Always coach for the good of the team over the lure of one powerhouse. “To put a team together, you’ll have kids with natural talent and ambition and those just learning the sport … So to compete as a team, I need everyone to know where they stand. Structure is essential. When a season starts, I outline mandatory attendance and practices, and the ramifications for
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failing to meet them. Stand behind the kids who step up for you. Create the atmosphere where one rider in the ring feels the support of their team ringside.” Ford, who became head coach at Skidmore in 1990, says confidence and strong leadership is a key component to any successful team. She recalled her 2005 team captain, who went off-course during zone competition but went on to win the Cacchione Cup at the IHSA championship, becoming the top Open hunt seat rider in the nation that year.
“A lesser rider could have been consumed with guilt and brought the team down ... She pulled her team up,” says Ford, who received the IHSA lifetime achievement award in 2011. “That’s competitive edge.” Agrees Drueding: “A coach can’t pull a team along. It has to be backed up by its riders, by peers who will say, ‘Let’s do the extra practice, let’s go to the fitness room.’
“It’s interesting to see how some students learn something from everyone while others take longer to trust what they’re being coached,” she adds. “Some come as great riders. Many come without basics. Nine out of ten Walk-Trot riders have never sat on a horse before the team. Making those riders is what makes a team come together.” Identifying attitude is as important as identifying talent for Drueding, who says, “If a student doesn’t make the team one year, it may not be ‘their time’ yet. But if they don’t come back next season and try out again, if they just give up and walk away, then they probably weren’t right for the team.” And finally, it all comes down to this for both coaches: No competitive edge is keener than respect. “It’s hard,” Drueding says, “but if you stick to what you believe, at any cost, you’ll always be respected for that and people will rise up for you.”
WORDS TO COMPETE BY
1.
Keep things simple: Solid, balanced, infront-of-your-leg riding especially to the first fence. Go deep into your corners.
2.
Focus. Don’t get distracted. It’s natural to feel like throwing up at the in-gate. It will disappear once you go in, settle down and start doing your job.
3.
Maintaining an effective canter, track and position are the keys to riding every horse well.
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The Competitive Edge
“What do you consider a musthave skill for the show ring and what is your single best piece of advice about how to get it?”
That’s the question New York Horse put to collegiate coaches in the region. From remembering to treat practice at home as if you’re in the show ring, to developing the ability to “self-reflect,” here is what they had to say. Adam D’Agostino, head coach Cazenovia College IHSA Western team
Personally, I find that a rider has to have a strong sense of self to be successful in the show pen. I have coached many riders in my career that really know who they are as a competitor and what their level of skill is; those people always have done well for me. I think obtaining a strong sense of self comes to a person uniquely, but can be heightened through many different practices. In my experience, a rider must be realistic with themselves and set goals of who they want to be in the pen and what they want to achieve. I also find that a rider needs to really study their discipline and understand how it works. Every competitor has a different approach to the same sport and a rider can truly find who they are as a competitor when they take those differences and make them strengths. Every rider I coach has a different path to the win, but they always get there with an open mind and a sense of humor.
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Stefani Watson, head coach Cazenovia College Intercollegiate Dressage Association team
Joanna Novakovic, head coach Cornell University IHSA hunt seat team
My best piece of advice for riders in the ring is to give your horse the ride they need. It’s not up to the horse to give you a good ride, it’s up to you to give your horse a good ride. IHSA and IEA horses work very hard and put up with a lot. Each time you get on one of these horses, it’s up to you to say to them, “Hey, I know you might have had some rough rides, but you can trust me, I will help you out.” I think the best way to develop this sympathetic feel for your horse is to spend a lot of time caring for horses and to try to think about how your horse experiences the world. The more you can observe and understand horses from the ground, the better you will be able to do the same in the saddle.
As a coach/competitor I believe that the ability to “self-reflect” is a mandatory skill for the competition arena. So often, when we do well or not so well, we tend to give the majority of the credit to the horse: “he was great today,” “he just couldn’t focus,” or “he was awful.” We are quick to put the responsibility for the outcome of our ride on our horses when, in reality, much of what causes a good ride or a bad ride is generated from us. When a rider is not focused, their horse will not focus. They often feel our emotions and respond to them well before we are even aware of them. When you had a great ride, and you and your horse found cohesion, give yourself a pat on the back and try to remember the frame of mind you were in. When you had a less than desirable ride, don’t be so quick to blame it on your horse. They read more from us then we will ever give them credit for.
Serafina Gagliardi, coach Morrisville State College IHSA Western team
The two most important things I instill in my riders are poise and polish. Obviously you need to know how to ride the horse you draw at the horse show, but you are not going to get that blue ribbon if you don’t have the presence in the show pen to attract the judge’s attention. From the moment you walk into that show pen, you need to exude confidence that you already know you have the class won. If you walk in with doubts about riding that horse to the best of your ability, the judge can read that in both your posture and lack of confidence. When I talk about poise, I want my riders to hold themselves in a way that communicates confidence and effectiveness. I want it to look like a flawless partnership between the rider and the horse ... The polish comes not only from the rider’s ability, but also from the complete look that he or she puts forward. No matter how much we might dislike it, the look we have plays a huge role in the judges’ placings. Most importantly, all of this comes with time and practice. Even though it is intimidating, you have to get out there and show multiple times to get comfortable in the pen and be more confident in your riding. Some people have a better ability to be a showman than others, but all you can do is get out there and practice.
Nicolle Madonna Cerio, head coach Le Moyne College IHSA hunt seat team
Ray Whelihan, coach SUNY Cobleskill IHSA hunt seat team
One of the novel aspects of intercollegiate showing is that the format provides the athlete an opportunity to ride and compete on unfamiliar horses ... I encourage my students to appreciate the horse they have drawn and the opportunity the circumstances present. One of the must-have skills for IHSA competition is to recognize that the horse is the teacher, and the horse is never wrong! The horses only go as well as they are ridden. If you want them to go better – ride better. Observe others riding your draw and notice how well the rider complements the horse. The riders who ask the right amount from the horse and perform with synergy with the horse will place higher. Your goal is to give your horse the best ride he has had all day. If the rider has ridden with tact, effectiveness and feeling, and the horse has responded with a pleasant, positive performance, then the rider has learned some of the things their horse had to teach that day. Watch your horse, feel and adapt to your horse, encourage your horse to produce the performance he willingly offers, unencumbered by poor riding. As Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by just watching."
One of the most important tools to have in the show ring is the ability to stay focused – to react and act according to what your horse needs (and) the course demands. Many people go in the ring either with no plan, or with such a set plan that when one little thing does not go how they envisioned, they have no reaction or they are inexperienced and they have the wrong reaction for the situation. The IHSA brings a whole new element to the show ring since you are getting on random horses with no warm up, so being able to gauge your horse’s stride and style quickly is the only way to form a “plan on response.” I always tell our riders that you need to ride the canter you have – the best canter for the particular horse you are on – and ride your planned track to the fences ... If the first “fix” you try does not work, reach into your tool box and try another. You simply cannot get on each horse you draw and try to ride them one way. We try and ride a lot of different horses, courses and gymnastic exercises to help our riders prepare for all different scenarios aboard a variety of mounts. Treating practice at home like the show ring really helps the rider mentally prepare for the type of catch riding that the IHSA demands. NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 31
WORDS TO RIDE BY
‘Let the horse figure it out’ Advice on riding and training from one of IHSA’s most famous alums
B
efore she became that Beezie Madden – four-time Olympian, four-time USEF Equestrian of the Year, owner of a glittering array of medals and cups -- she was Beezie Patton and she rode on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team for Southern Seminary Junior College. Well OK, she didn’t simply ride. In 1984, she won the USEF Cacchione Cup – awarded to the champion hunter seat rider at the IHSA nationals – an early glimpse of what would become showjumping greatness. So in this, the 50th year of the IHSA, New York Horse thought some advice on riding and training – from one of collegiate competition’s most famous alums – was definitely in order. We listened in to one of her sessions this January at the USEF George Morris Horsemastership Clinic in Florida, and gleaned a baker’s dozen of tips: 12 for every rider, and one just for the hunter/ jumper crowd.
1 “You’ve got to set them up to succeed sometimes. That’s the fine line with horses. You’ve got to push them through some things, but you also don’t want to get them so frustrated that they can’t concentrate ... Try to think in your mind when you’re working with horses, ‘Is she frustrated because she’s confused?’ Make sure you keep it very clear what you want.” 2 “It’s unfair to the horse to sometimes train the spur, and sometimes not train it. Be conscious of your leg, and if they’re not attentive to that, it’s all about a progression of aids.”
6 “It’s not enough to just do the exercises. You have to do the exercises as training. Get what you want from the horse … Flying changes should be schooled enough that you can get them anywhere.” 7 “If leg to hand creates energy, relax when he gives in. Create the energy – relax when he gives in.” 8 “You control the rhythm with the hand; you make them push from behind with the leg … The connection is created by leg to hand.”
3 “The horse has to learn to behave and concentrate at the same time.”
9 “Close the fingers. Open fingers don’t make for softness; make the arms supple ... It’s easier to keep the connection with a supple arm than a stiff arm.”
4 “Let the horse figure it out.”
10 “Keep the line from the mouth to the
5 “A little jab with the spur – don’t nag him. Ask and take away … Get the reaction from the spur and then take it away.”
hand to the elbow as straight as (you) can. Otherwise you’re pulling down on
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the horse’s mouth. You don’t want to
pull on the bars of the mouth, you want to keep the bit up in the corners.” 11 “Push your hips forward; that will make your seat a little deeper.” 12 “Every horse is different, one way or the other ... Every person is different on each side, too. For me, when I go to the left, I lean a little left and weight my left stirrup, because it’s much more natural for me to weight my right stirrup.” 13 “I like to practice (jumping) off my instinct and my eye. You get very schooled to sticking to numbers and that’s great when you’re learning to do things, learning the capabilities of the horse and the stride and learning to be competitive and to look for it. But at the same time you’ve got to ride with some feeling and do what you think you need to do best for your horse.”
THE FINISHING TOUCH
Make a show ring statement: Give your horse a quarter mark
T
ack and accessories aren’t the only items that can be personalized for the show ring. With just a few tools and a little time, any horse’s croup can reflect a rider’s individual style, heritage or design whim of the moment. The horse on this page, no surprise, was a member of the 2016 Irish Olympic dressage team and the shamrock on his hip is a quarter mark. It’s a decorative pattern brushed into the horse’s coat – either freehand or with the help of a stencil – and the technique is simple to learn. Start by brushing the hair in its natural direction with a wet sponge or brush. Place the stencil over the dampened area and, using a small stiff brush, brush the exposed hair in a different direction than the other growth. (Backwards works.) Carefully lift the stencil, and seal the pattern in place with hair spray. Try a touch of glitter or paint to enhance the design.
PHOTO BY RICHARD JUILLIART/FEI
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WHEN IT COMES TO EXCELLENCE REINERS STOP AT NOTHING! Catch the action: April 22-23 Spring Slide Morrisville College June 9-11 Ride and Slide Fairgrounds, Syracuse August 12-13 Summer Slide Morrisville College Oct. 20-22 Fall Classic & NEBT Futurity Fairgrounds, Syracuse
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Strong Hearts, Willing Hooves The growth of para reining brings new champions to America’s equine sport
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Story by Katie Navarra PHOTOS BY GLORIA WRIGHT
ash, a humble grade gelding, dutifully followed the horse in front of him along any trail. Every summer he carried his rider, Cole Jacobs, through the countryside close to home in the small Central New York village of Fabius. When arthritis forced Cash into retirement, Cole’s mother, Brenda, started searching for a replacement. NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 35
Cole Jacobs, working with trainer Jennifer Hoyt, has gone from a rider who barely loped to a para reining championship.
“For months we looked for a horse that was as reliable as Cash,” Brenda recalled. “But every horse we found neck reined. Cole has some disabilities and, from early on, he was taught to direct rein. So this was a challenge.” Brenda knew that eventually they would find the perfect horse, but instead of making a hasty purchase, she encouraged Cole to take some riding lessons. “We weren’t really in a rush and thought the lessons could help him develop his riding skills,” she said. The thought would take them on a path neither imagined.
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Five miles down the road were Jennifer and Tom Hoyt, nationally recognized reining trainers. The Jacobs, though, were trail and recreational riders. Despite being nearly neighbors, neither reining nor the Hoyts were part of their universe. But when a mutual friend suggested Brenda inquire about lessons, she sent an email, unsure of where it would lead. For Jennifer Hoyt, too, it was an uncharted challenge. “I had been teaching and training horses for 30 years and had never worked with a rider with disabilities,” she said. Cole had only loped a few strides in his entire life. Within a few rides, he was loping, sliding and spinning with confidence. Trainer, rider and parents were astonished. “I was so impressed with how our horses handled the situation,” Hoyt said. “I realized that reiners are perfectly suited for riders with challenges because they are so responsive to the slightest leg and rein cues.” At the same time Hoyt connected with Cole, she was also serving on the National Reining Horse Association Executive Committee. Discussions were already taking place at the national level about the possibility of introducing a new division, one that made reining accessible to individuals with a variety of impairments. Hoyt was asked to write the original rule for what was initially called adaptive reining. In 2016, para reiner competition debuted to a packed house at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. “There were so many people watching. Everyone was so welcoming and generous,” said Hoyt, who now serves as USA Para Reining Committee Chair.
THREE THINGS At a glance: USA Para Reining is part of USA Reining, the official reining affiliate with the U.S. Equestrian Federation. USA Para Reining is dedicated to creating opportunities for disabled individuals to enjoy the sport of reining and compete at high levels. On line: To learn more about USA ParaReining visit usareining.us Cheer them on: Two para reining events are scheduled for Syracuse, both part of CNY Reining Horse Association shows at the state fairgrounds. June 9-11, catch the competition at the CNYRHA Ride and Slide. Come back Oct. 20-22 for the Fall Classic
Cole Jacobs, many strides removed from the young man who rarely broke out of a trot, took the Grade 3 championship on Pin Stripe Benz. In para reining – the same as in para dressage – competitors must be able to ride independently. The level of competition is divided into different grades, by degree of difficulty: A Grade 1 rider performs only at a walk. A Grade 2 competitor trots the reining pattern, but a few strides of loping are acceptable. At Grade 3, the pattern is shortened but performed entirely at a lope. Grade 4 competitors complete a full pattern. “I think there a lot of riders out there who would really love the thrill of freedom balanced with control in para reining,” said Holly Jacobson, a Massachusetts-based para dressage rider who switched to para reining. Changing disciplines was not in her plans two years ago, when she visited Syracuse to look at a dressage horse. The visit coincided with a Central New York Reining Horse Association show. The night before the show, she was offered the opportunity to compete on a horse owned by one of Hoyt’s clients. She only had English gear in the car but didn’t want to miss the chance, so Jacobson purchased a western shirt and borrowed chaps. After one ride, she was hooked. “I have one arm and no fingers due to a burn injury, which is a huge handicap for dressage, but much less so for reining,” Jacobson said. “I’ve found reining horses are sensitive, kind and so well trained.” In only its fourth year, para reining is quickly gaining attention. There are two organizations, World Para Reining and USA Para Reining, which support and promote the development of programs for riders with disabilities. Both are affiliates of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the governing body for equestrian sport in America. In 2013, the first official demonstration took place at the AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City. Cole was there to participate and
help spread awareness for his sport. “The reining community … across the country is so supportive,” Brenda said. “Cole has had so many people come up to him and say that they recognize him from different events. It’s been really good for his ego.” USA Para Reining has already announced seven approved events from California to Florida, including two in Syracuse. A para reining national championship is on the drawing board. Long term, Hoyt said, the hope is that para reining will be recognized by the Federation Equestre Internationale, the international governing body for all Olympic equestrian disciplines. With FEI recognition, para reining can join para dressage as an equestrian discipline in the Paralympic Games. The first international para reining competition was held last year, in conjunction with the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City. “We’re still on the ground floor,” Hoyt said. “But we’re about half-way up and looking to keep going.”
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Artful orse H The
The Legacy of Landscape
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WELLS HORTON
In its bones – the hand-hewn timbers and weathered sides – a wooden barn says something about craftsmanship and pride in the most humble of buildings. Through a gifted lens, it also says something about the simple beauty of New York’s vanishing rural landscape. Horses seek shelter in a mosaic of stone foundation; graze in the shadow of history. But look carefully at the old barn with its gap-toothed planks and hayloft open to the snow. Someone, once, cared enough to frame the gable end with an arch. Listen closely and you might hear the echo of hammers swinging, the tread of countless hooves. NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 39
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“Inside a barn is a whole universe, with its own time zone and climate and ecosystem, a shadowy world of swirling dust illuminated in tiger stripes by light shining through the cracks between the boards. Old leather tack, lengths of chain, rope, and baling twine dangled from nails and rafters and draped over stall railings. Generations of pocketknives lay lost in the layers of detritus on the floor.” — Carolyn Jourdan, Heart in the Right Place
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“A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life’s true priorities are clear. When you step back, it’s not just about horses — it’s about love, life, and learning.” — Lauren Davis Baker
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Barn Again
A symbol of the Mohawk Valley’s past, the Glen barn is preserved for the future By Kevin Durkin NYHorseMag.com NEW YORK HORSE 45
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he history of the Glen Barn is a reflection of the great cultural changes that took place during the 1800s in America. The town of Glen is located in the Mohawk Valley, a historic region that in the 1700s witnessed many of the major battles of the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War. Barns built at the time of the Revolution were typically under 1,000 square feet, measuring 26 feet wide by 36 feet long. But with the coming of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s, barn sizes grew larger and larger as improved machines for harvesting grain and hay were invented. This process reached its peak about 1870, when the largest wooden barns ever built, like the Glen Barn, were erected with eight times the volume of those earlier barns. The Glen Barn is also unique for its method of construction and length of its timbers. The process used to build the barn is called “timber framing,� an ancient method of building that uses hand-cut mortise and tenon joints to hold the framework of the barn together without any metal fasteners, as opposed to the modern steel fasteners used today. The Glen Barn has massive timbers up to 40 feet long that span its full width. The species of wood used in the framing is also unique. It is hemlock, a conifer that was once a dominant species of tree in the American forest, but was decimated by loggers in the 1800s. Surprisingly, hemlock trees were not cut for their lumber, but rather for their bark, which is high in tannic acid. This acid was used in the tanning process by which raw hides were turned into fine leather for boots, shoes and all types of leather goods. The loggers at that time would clear-cut the hemlock forests of the Northeast and only peel the bark off the felled trees, leaving behind masses of peeled logs. A prosperous tanning industry grew up in the region and shipped its finished leather goods around the world. An after-effect of this logging 46 NEW YORK HORSE NYHorseMag.com
was that farmers had a free supply of ready-cleared land and long, virgin timbers with which to build their enormous barns. This occurred just at the time when this region of New York became the gateway to the American Midwest with the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. The canal passed just a few miles from the Glen Barn, and linked the Hudson River to the Great Lakes. The improved transportation provided by the canal allowed goods and farm produce, especially grains like corn and wheat, to be transported economically for the first time from the rich Midwest farms to the port of New York City, and from there around the world. Prior to the opening of the canal, it cost 80 cents per bushel to ship corn to the East. In the year after the canal opened, this price dropped to 5 cents. This Transportation Revolution led farmers, who had previously grown a diversity of crops, to instead begin to specialize with single crops. The Glen Barn was built about 1870, in response to this market change. It was designed and built as a hay and dairy barn to provide milk products to a distant market. After more than a century of service, the Glen Barn came to stand idle as those market changes, which once made it an innovative barn for its day, moved on to make it obsolete. Modern dairies now house their cows in low metal buildings that cannot compare in craftsmanship or grandeur to the all-wooden Glen Barn. (Three years ago), the craftsmen of Heritage Restorations, based in Waco, Texas, carefully dismantled the Glen Barn, shipped it to Texas where it was cleaned and restored, and re-erected in Kendalia. It has now begun its second life, far from the Mohawk Valley, but appreciated just as much as those earlier settlers did who built it nearly 150 years ago. Kevin Durkin is the founder of Heritage Restorations, which rebuilds and restores historic wood-frame buildings including many New York state barns. Find them online at heritagebarns.com.
The Glen Barn, once a symbol of the Mohawk Valley’s farming prosperity, had outlived its day. In its second life, Heritage Restorations took its magnificent architectural bones and transformed the barn into a wedding and event venue at the Branded T Ranch in Texas. The company has restored over 200 barns from New York, and the Glen Barn is the largest they have ever moved and rebuilt.
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Victoria Moonshine An exclusive excerpt from the true story of how a girl and her horse changed each other’s lives
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hen Victoria Shade meets Moonshine, an ex-racehorse saved from the slaughterhouse, they become inseparable. Victoria teaches Moonshine dressage, and Moony offers Victoria a safe haven from a tumultuous childhood, teaching her the importance of heart and perseverance. In this exclusive excerpt from Victoria’s memoir, “The Tale of the Dancing Slaughter Horse,” she writes about her first show and how riding two school horses — Freddie and Patches — began to change her life forever.
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he morning of my first show was electric. I didn’t understand why so many of the boarders were so excited, since they had shown before. In my mind, I was the only one who was justifiably excited, since it was my first dressage show. “Are you nervous? I’m so nervous!” one of the boarders exclaimed more to herself than to me. “Umm, I don’t know. I don’t think so,” I replied tentatively. “Well, why not? It’s your first show, right? And you’re only twelve years old, aren’t you? I would be so nervous if I were you! Hell, I’m nervous already!” she continued. “Yeah, you sound pretty nervous.” I couldn’t help myself. “How are you not nervous?!” she suddenly fumed at me. “I don’t know. I guess I haven’t had a chance to think about it,” I concluded, dismissively. I didn’t enjoy talking to most of the boarders. Some of them acted like owning a horse made them better than everyone else. I know people thought I was shy and quiet, but really, I just didn’t want to talk to most of them. I hustled through the excitement in the boarder barns, and made my way to the school barn in the back of the property. Freddie stood in his stall, patiently waiting for me, clean and braided. I had bathed him thoroughly the night before, and one of the girls had braided him for me since I didn’t know how to braid yet. “Good boy,” I cooed at Freddie through the bars of his stall, beaming with pride over my little gentleman for staying so clean overnight. I bet he knew it was my first show and it was important for him to stay clean and not rub out his braids. I gave Freddie some carrots since he had clearly already earned them. Then, I went to check on Patches. I had also scrubbed Patches to a gleaming sheen the day before, taking pride in how the blackness of his spots leaped out of his snow-white coat. I even sponged his nose, painstakingly wiping off the dirt and grime, which ultimately revealed a pink muzzle. I finished him off with a coat of clear hoof polish, to let his tan hooves shine in their natural color, rather than stain them black with an artificial black hoof polish. When I got to his stall, the first thing he showed off was a massive manure stain on his right cheek. The dark brown stain was painfully obvious against his white coat. “Patches! What did you do!?” I steamed, before I realized I was talking to a horse.
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THE STORY, THE WRITER AND A NY HORSE GIVEAWAY Victoria Shade, a former national dressage champion, lawyer and member of the ASPCA’s Horse Action Team, is the debut author of The Tale of the Dancing Slaughter Horse (Amberjack Publishing, paperback, $14.99). Victoria earned her USDF Bronze and Silver medals and competed in the Regional Championships. As told in this equestrian memoir, Victoria and her horse, Moonshine, overcome a shared hard past, forge an unbreakable bond, and compete in the Junior Nationals. She lives with her family at Moon Shade horse farm in Goshen. We have a copy of the book to give away. To enter, send an email by April 30 to nyhorsemag@gmail.com with “Moonshine” in the subject line. Include your name and mailing address. We’ll choose a winner at random.
Moony still enjoys the spotlight in retirement on the family farm. He insists on being the first one in from the paddock.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTORIA SHADE
After inspecting my treatless hands and pockets, he turned to his hay in the corner, exposing an even more massive brown stain on his left hindquarter. And finally, the brute turned yet again and showed off his mangled mess of a mane. What used to be braids were now tortured knobs of hair jutting straight up and out, in different directions, from behind his ears, all the way down to his withers. “Oh, Patches,” I sighed, already defeated. Despite Patches’ attempt to win a prize for worst presentation, I was still excited to finally be competing in a show. I was proud to have earned the privilege of riding the most educated school horse, and even more proud to have earned the honor of competing him in a show (despite his appearance). Unfortunately, the judges did not share my enthusiasm. We lost points as a result of Patches’ insistence that he trot around the arena with his nose as high up in the air as he could get it. “Cute horse and rider pair, need to go back to basics,” the majority of the judge’s comments read. We got the lowest scores for submission, mostly 4s (on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the lowest). “Let’s see your score sheet,” my trainer Carol insisted whenever the scores for one of my classes were announced over the loudspeaker. I watched her face as she scanned my score sheets, with the judges’ scores and comments, waiting for the disappointment. But her grin never faded. It was as if she was sharing the fun of my first show right along with me, despite the low scores. I put more hope of doing well at this show into Freddie, but Freddie was stiff and I didn’t know what to do other than to just sit, smile, and steer. I didn’t have Carol in the competition ring telling me what to do. Freddie and I won mostly third and fourth place ribbons, which I expected to get on him. Still, a small part of me was disappointed because after all the love I had showered on Freddie, he didn’t magically transform into a superstar dressage horse on show day. I continued to show Patches and Freddie that summer, in the three shows hosted by the farm, at Carol’s insistence. We continued to collect the pastel-colored ribbons rather than the blue and red ones for first and second place. But I still displayed the ones I had earned proudly in my bedroom. After all, I had beat someone to earn most of those ribbons. I wasn’t the best, but I also wasn’t the worst.
Behind Bling THE
Customdesigned chaps give rodeo queens the royal treatment
Story by Kelsey Keathly
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Patriotic themes are always popular with rodeo queens -- emblazoned on the shirt here and on the chaps worn on this page and the story cover by Emilya Washeleski, Miss Teen Rodeo New York 2015.
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tudded, starred and spangled: A rodeo queen’s chaps should be as show-stopping as her personality and horsemanship. They are, after all, as much a part of the sport’s mystique as fast horses, and bucking bulls. The designs are bold and unique – often passed down from one queen to another – and it takes a bold and unique talent to bring them to life. Enter Jamie Swanson, who turned a love of show clothing into Rodeo Diva Designs, a business whose name perfectly describes what it’s about. Since she opened her business in 2013, Swanson has made rodeo chaps for queens across the United States and Canada, including Miss Rodeo Virginia,
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Miss Rodeo Pennsylvania, and Miss Teen Rodeo New York 2015, Emilya Washeleski of Taberg. Emilya is blonde, pretty and a world champion Appaloosa rider – the classic rodeo queen combination of beauty and skill – and her chaps are the perfect complement. One pair is bright red, embellished with iridescent blue fringe, decorative lettering and Swarovski crystal Conchos centered on cobalt stars. A second, in cream with metallic purple fringe, bears the bejeweled legend “Slow Motion” on the back belt. “From start to finish, a pair of rodeo chaps take about 30 hours,” Swanson says. “All of the fringe are cut by hand, and the writing is laser cut from a local company for accuracy.”
At her studio in Conewango Valley, a hamlet in Western New York, Swanson starts the creative process by having a design consultation with the customer. Ideas are shared and Swanson sketches the design before any work begins. Rodeo chaps are typically made of smooth leather, which is more water resistant and durable than split leather. Typically, two to three colors are used on each pair and the colors are tied in throughout the design – on the yokes, the thigh, the title, and the fringe. Bling is added, either in the form of crystals or metallic leather. Patriotic themes are always popular, Swanson says. In recent years, hair-on hide has been trendy, as well as a metallic acid wash. Swanson’s business started almost by accident. While she grew up loving horses, she never got into showing or rodeos. She attended SUNY Cobleskill
JAMIE SWANSON: FOUR FAVES What is your favorite class to watch at shows? “Western pleasure, for sure. I love the clothes, and how graceful the horses are.” What do you typically listen to while working? “This is going to sound completely stereotypical for a chap designer, but I love country. Garth Brooks and Chris Stapleton are my current favorites.” What was your dream job growing up? “I wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved animals and loved being around them.” If you could ride any famous horse, who would it be? “If I could ride any famous horse, and had the skill to do it, it would be (barrel racer) Fallon Taylor’s horse Babyflo. Fallon is an amazing role model to so many young girls and is such a sweet person.”
for Thoroughbred Management, then shifted gears and became a physical education teacher. But when her daughter began showing 4-H, Swanson fell in love with show clothing and she began creating and embellishing chaps for the show arena. When a friend requested a pair of rodeo chaps and a vest for the Ontario High School Rodeo Association, Rodeo Diva Designs was born. “I really didn’t even sew growing up. If I needed a button sewed on, I’d take it down to my mom,” Swanson recalls. “When I first started, I didn’t have my own sewing machine, I just used one that my daughter had gotten for Christmas. It was a cheap sewing machine, probably the cheapest one you can get. “I learned a lot by trial and error in the beginning. However, I wanted to put out high quality work from the very start. I pushed myself to learn everything I could as fast as possible, which was exciting.” Besides rodeo chaps, she also makes chinks – half-length chaps – and is working on an order of 22 chaps for a drill team. No matter what the project, Swanson says the aim is to make the customer’s ideas come to life and create a true work of art. She’ll be heading to Texas in the coming months to learn filigree, floral, and basket weave leather tooling. “I wish I had thought of this years ago – like just out of high school,” she says of her unexpected business path. “It’s been so great to learn about the horse industry and have this creative outlet.” To learn more: Rodeo Diva Designs is on Facebook or email Swanson at jamie13swanson@ gmail.com.
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GUIDE THE
TIPS. EXPERT ADVICE. SECRETS WORTH STEALING
How to keep your farrier coming back Start with good lighting, no stray kids and a clean horse
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he three most important factors in maintaining a horse’s hoof health? Environment, nutrition and care all hold equal weight in the triangle, says Doug Corey Jr. That means a good farrier is crucial, whether you own one backyard horse, a string of sport horses, or you’re in the business of horses. Keep yours happy and coming back with this advice from Corey, a certified journeyman farrier – the highest level of certification from the American Farriers Association: • Provide a safe place to work and keep distractions – dogs and children, for example – away. • Provide good lighting. • Train your horses to behave and be willing to assist in making them behave.
PHOTO BY TONY PARKES
• Have your horse clean, inside the barn and ready to be worked on when the farrier arrives. “You wouldn’t ask your vet to come see your horse and expect him to go catch your horse outside,” Corey notes. “Don’t expect your farrier to do it either.” • Schedule regular appointments. Don’t forget to let your farrier know if you have to change an appointment. • Have payment ready at the time of service. (From Corey’s hoof health care workshop, presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension in partnership with Morrisville State College.)
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THE GUIDE: THE BUSINESS OF HORSES
Is a thief horse stealing profits and space? Business owners can’t afford the luxury of turning assets into pets By Doug Emerson
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t some point, all professional horsemen realize that they can’t keep every good horse that walks into the barn. Buying and selling horses is part of the business. Becoming fond of your horses is a terrific benefit of being in the horse business. It is also a financial tiedown that can ruin your business. The profitable horseman understands that horses in his or her barn are assets; they aren’t pets. A horse is either appreciating in value or depreciating in value. It is either generating income as a lesson horse, brood mare or stallion, or is inventory for sale. Otherwise, the horse is an ongoing operating expense. The
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horse becomes a financial dependent on your business welfare roll. Not only is it an operating expense, it is also an opportunity cost. Think about it: If a horse occupies a stall and generates no income – or has little or no potential for future income – it is a thief horse. Unlike a horse thief, a thief horse steals your potential to earn profit from the space and resources it occupies. That stall could be used for: • Boarding • A horse for training • A lesson horse • Brood mare • A speculation horse ‘bought right’ • An empty stall for attracting the next opportunity In economic terms, there is an opportunity cost for every decision you make in your equine business. An opportunity cost is defined as the cost of something in terms of an
opportunity foregone. Said a different way, unlike Yogi Berra’s classic line, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” every fork in the road a business owner comes upon requires a choice. The road you choose is the path you follow. The road not taken is your opportunity cost, since you cannot travel two paths at the same time. Choosing the more profitable path that fits your business vision is the choice to make every time. So consider whether or not you have any ‘thief horses’ in your barn and if you do, how to find a new home for them. The horse business is just like any other business, in that assets have to produce revenue. If your assets are non-producing, then it’s up to you, the business owner, to make changes. Doug Emerson of Lockport, consults, writes and speaks about the horse business. He publishes a free electronic newsletter with tips about making money with horses. Visit ProfitableHorseman.com to subscribe.
THE GUIDE: BETTER HORSEMANSHIP
Words to Ride By: Take the long way home
“There are elements in the training of the horse that must progress without a shortcut. If you say, ‘I will take a shortcut to the left, or a shortcut to the right,’ eventually you hit a wall ... By then, the base is so neglected from where you went off the road that you can’t just get back on. You have to go all the way back to the beginning; you have to double your work. “For the horse, no is not an option. That is why it’s so important: Don’t go off the road, because then the horse doesn’t learn that wrong is an option.” FEI Dressage Trainer and Judge Carel Eijkenaar, from his clinic “From Crookedness to Straightness” at Voltra Farm, Verona
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THE GUIDE: 60-SECOND CLINIC
The best riders understand the importance of persistence
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hat separates the best riders from the rest of us mere mortals? “The difference is that the best riders in the world are very, very picky about all the little things,” says Beth Baumert. “They don’t say ‘I don’t have the right flexion, so I’ll just canter.’ People compromise, and you don’t need to compromise. Be persistent and consistent. You may never get out of the walk, but when you get the walk right, the trot will be easier.” Baumert, technical editor at Dressage Today magazine and author of When Two Spines Align, also had these words to ride by at the CNY Dressage & Combined Training Association symposium in Cazenovia: “The first thing the rider needs to do is control the rhythm.” And …“When you get on your horse, he knows within 10 seconds who’s the leader of the dance. Give your horse something to do, and you’ll be the leader of the dance.”
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THE GUIDE: HORSE HEALTH
PHOTOS BY JESSICA BERMAN/ESSENCE OF EQUINE
The Educated Equine
Cornell’s herd of Icelandic horses is helping researchers end summer eczema By Renée K. Gadoua Contributing Editor
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hildren who get mosquito bites may scratch until the spots bleed. Horses affected with summer eczema, a common allergy also called sweet itch, respond in the same way: Some scratch and bite themselves so hard they cause wounds and hair loss. “Very allergic horses lose weight in the summer because they are running around and hiding in the shed,” said Bettina Wagner, an equine immunologist at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “They are trying to get away from the insects.” Wagner, who came to Cornell from her native Germany in 2002, leads a project researching the development of equine summer eczema and how immune reactions prevent the condition. She hopes the research will lead to treatment to ease or prevent the painful ailment. For the study, the lab imported a
herd of Icelandic horses, a population that is immunologically naïve. That means they were never exposed to the allergen caused by midges, small flying insects. Horses born in Iceland are extremely vulnerable if moved to an environment with midges; up to 70 percent of them develop the allergy, Wagner says. But Icelandic horses born outside Iceland are up to 15 times less likely than their parents to develop allergies. “If they get exposed to the allergen early in life, they learn to tolerate it,” Wagner explained. “If exposed to it later as adults, then you can’t regulate it as well and they develop the disease more frequently.” The study includes full-sibling groups bred and born here and horses born in Iceland and brought here as a comparison group. Research includes blood samples and clinical evaluations. Wagner’s lab is also studying equine herpesvirus type 1 and Lyme disease. The research “helps us understand how and for how long horses can develop their tolerance to allergens,” Wagner said. “It gives you a timeframe where you can do preventive treatment for horses at high risk of allergies. It may also have more general applications to allergens in humans.” Icelandic horses have a storied past: The breed evolved from ponies Norse settlers brought
to Iceland in the 9th and 10th centuries. “They don’t need much food,” she said. “Iceland does not have rich pastures, so they adapted to that. That makes them easy to keep.” They’re known for their good disposition and easy-to-ride four-beat lateral ambling gait, known as the tölt. “They have a very good character,” Wagner said. “They connect to people very nicely. In general, they are kind of laid back with good energy.” Wagner, who has two horses of her own, hasn’t been able to ride Cornell’s research horses; it’s not allowed when they’re part of a study. But she plans to adopt two of them as part of a program to find each a new home when they’re too old for the project. Money raised from the sale of the Icelandic horses supports the ongoing research. “Our goal was to look into early development in young horses, so at 3.5 years the horse is done with the project and has given us a lot of blood samples,” she said. “They have contributed much to research. They are ready for a second career.”
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NYH MARKET
The Power of Nature in A Bottle A Healthy Choice for Pets & People!
Sarah Lamanna, Independent Distributor www.nyoilslady.com Phone: 315-243-3782 Email: nyoilslady@gmail.com
PARTING SHOT
“The horse moved like a dancer, which is not surprising. A horse is a beautiful animal, but it is perhaps most remarkable because he moves as if he always hears music.” — Mark Helprin, A Winter’s Tale
PHOTO BY TONY PARKES/ FEI
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