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Cover photo salute to Seasoned Riders!
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WHAT CAN’T WE DO??
Introducing:
Seasoned Rider
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One Horse! One Rider (40 or over)! Any Discipline/Any Breed! Four Phases That Test Your Skills, Your Horsemanship & Your Confidence! Four Phases That Test Your Horse’s Trust and Confidence in You!
Do you and your horse have what it takes to meet the challenge? Phase I Horsemanship - Arena Class Tests your riding skills! Phase II Trail Obstacles - Outdoor Trail Course Tests your trail skills and confidence!
Scan barcode with your phone to visit website:
Phase III Ground Horsemanship/Trust - Arena Obstacles in Hand Tests the partnership you have with your horse! Phase IV Freestyle Use of props, costumes, music and telling a story is encouraged. Tests your horse’s confidence in you!
November 3, 2012 Valley Water Mill Park Equestrian Center Springfield, Missouri www.SeasonedRider.com
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Seasoned
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Volume I Issue 3
2012
“Over 40 Riders Rock” TABLE OF CONTENTS
Feature Articles 8 GETTING BACK IN THE SADDLE AFTER A BAD EXPERIENCE By Cheryl Childs
10 EPM The clinical and personal sides By Cheryl Childs
13 CUTEST COUPLE WINNERS 18
16 STRETCHING THE TRUTH “I didn’t have to stretch when I was 17” By Bob Goddard
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18 MASTERS POLOCROSSE IN AUSTRALIA Fast-paced action-packed sport
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By Amanda Lund
20 CALIFORNIA MISSION RIDE 21 UNIVERSITY RE-TRAINS HARNESS By Cassie Elia RACERS
Departments 6
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
12 THE FEED BAG Delicious Recipes 15 SPECIAL FICTION SERIES Starting Over - Part 1 22 REVIEW CORRAL 100 Years in Harness by Nicole Kraft 23 EQUESTRIAN LIFESTYLE Catering to the Equestrian Lifestyle
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24 HEART AND SOUL What’s Not to Like
25 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT/REVIEW 26 IT GET BETTERS WITH AGE Photos Submitted by Seasoned Riders 28 HEALTHY RIDER Yoga and Horseback Riding? YES! 29 LEGENDARY HORSES 30 TRAVEL ADVENTURES Torres del Paine, Childe
Publisher: Winning Colors Media Editor: Cheryl Childs E-Mail: Editor@seasonedrider.com Associate Editor/Art Director: Cathy Childs E-Mail: Marketing@seasonedrider.com Associate Art Director: Judith Evans E-Mail: PrePress@seasonedrider.com Contributing Writers: Cassie Elia Mark Gochman Bob Goddard Amanda Lund Cassie Mangold Senior Marketing Consultant Cathy Childs E-Mail: Marketing@seasonedrider.com Advertising/Marketing Consultants Western United States (California, Oregon, Washington Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico)
E-Mail: AdsWest@seasonedrider.com Central United States (All other states) E-Mail: Marketing@seasonedrider.com Eastern United States (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida)
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Seasoned RiderTM Magazine is published bi-monthly by Winning Colors Media. Seasoned RiderTM does not endorse the content of any advertisement in this publication, nor does it warrant the accuracy of any advertisement. All photographs and copy are subject to publisher’s approval. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. At no time shall the publisher’s liability exceed the cost of the advertising space involved. © Seasoned RiderTM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.
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From The Editor’s Desk: I don’t know how many of you have read, or have heard of, the children’s book the Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen. It is about about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes made out of the finest cloth money can by and the very vane Emperor who gives them the money to buy that cloth. However, the two weavers don’t spend the money on the cloth so they come up with a rather clever plan. They convince the Emperor and everyone around him that the cloth is invisible to those who are unfit for their position, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes everyone acts as though they can see the clothes, except for a child who cries out "But he isn't wearing anything at all!” Okay, what does this have to with anything horse related? Well I’m about to explain that. I think we oftentimes have Emperor’s New Clothes syndrome in the horse world. We are sometimes convinced by people in our industry that we should see things a certain way and do things a certain way. They convince some of us if we don’t do that it’s because we are not smart enough or savvy enough to understand what they are doing. Not wanting to look foolish, people often go along without questioning what they are being asked to do or what they are seeing - which can lead to problems for the horse and the human. For example, there has been a real trend lately of people standing on the their horse’s back which (unless you have a trick saddle, are a trained trick rider and your horse is trained for trick riding) could very well get you hurt, but nobody seems to want to say that to those people standing on the back of their horses. In other words - let’s not tell the Emperor he is naked, because we might look as if we are not smart enough to understand why people are doing this. People are also riding their horses with no bridle or halter and using a stick to control the horse, which, in my professional opinion is not safe, especially on the trail. We need to tell the Emperor that what he is doing is dangerous. I have seen a video of a clinician, at an event, asking those participating to stand up in their stirrups, put their hands behind their backs and ask their horses for a trot. Thankfully, those participants were wearing helmets. That was a dangerous thing to ask anyone to do on horseback. Those riding in that clinic should have said “ No, are you crazy?”, but they wouldn’t have wanted to appear ignorant or unable to understand what the clinician wanted them do, so they dutifully did what they were asked. Sometimes at these clinics the horses aren’t being treated with kindness and sometimes it borders on abuse, but nobody is willing to stand up and voice that opinion. You know what’s coming - they don’t want to tell the Emperor that he’s naked. This syndrome can be found in showing circles as well, even at the Olympic level. A trainer/rider begins to consistently win and they will become very sought after because of those wins. People don’t concern themselves with the methods that person may be using which could be harming the horse - all they can see is those Blue Ribbons, Trophies and Medals. Again, people don’t want to speak out against these methods. After all, those people are the experts and they certainly wouldn’t want to question them. That would make them appear ignorant. When you see a person doing something that is dangerous to themselves and their horse speak up maybe you can help that person before someone gets hurt. If you feel a horse is being abused speak up, don’t just stand idly by and let it happen. This applies to everything in life - stand up and say “That’s not right!” Go ahead - tell the Emperor he is Naked. yl Cher Cheryl Childs - Editor
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Getting Back in the Saddle After a Bad Experience The most import ant thing anyone can do is admit their fear...... by Cheryl Childs We all know that old saying “If you fall off a horse get right back on the horse,” and that’s good advice, but, honestly, getting back on the horse immediately is the easy part. It is a day or two later that things become more difficult, because that is when fear sets in - after you have had some time to think about what happened. There are also times when you aren’t able, physically, to get back on the horse. When you have to wait to recover from an injury it becomes even more difficult to get back in the saddle. After a fall, whether it’s just a minor one or something more serious, fear can take over and become a huge obstacle to overcome when you’re trying to get back to where you were before the incident. Fear robs you of your confidence, which in turn robs you of enjoying one of your passions in life - your horse. Oftentimes we feel guilty because we don’t want to ride the horse we have enjoyed, trusted and loved to ride so much in the past. We are often embarrassed, as well, not wanting to tell anyone we have lost the confidence to ride because we are afraid that would seem weak or silly to others. Sometimes we begin making excuses not to ride such as “I don’t have the time” or “ I’m too tired today, it was a long day at work” or “The weather is not good for it” and so on. That, in turn, brings more bad feelings - guilt and sadness about not wanting to be with your beloved horse. When you’re having all these feelings your horse is picking up on them. Horses need a confident leader and when you become nervous or anxious your horse loses confidence in you as a leader and more problems can occur. This becomes a vicious cycle - the more fearful you become the less trust your horse has in you, so basically you are feeding off each others’ fear and lack of confidence. The most important thing anyone can do is admit their fear to themselves, to their horse and to the people around them. It can be very 8
Volume 1/Issue 3
difficult to admit to a fellow horse person that you have lost your confidence to ride. Some people will understand while others won’t. Friends or riding companions who advise you to “Just get back on that horse and ride,” aren’t helping you, even though they believe they are helping. In some cases taking that advice may make matters worse for you and your horse. The best advice is to find a friend or family member you can confide in and who will help you work through the problem. If possible find a professional riding instructor who has had experience dealing with adult riders with fear issues. Since you have lost your confidence and your horse has lost his/her confidence in you as a leader you need to do something to start building trust again. Doing ground exercises with your horse can often aid in getting some of that confidence back. Do simple obstacles such as walking around cones or barrels, walking over ground poles or through a labyrinth. These exercises can very easily be transferred to mounted work. You should always work at your own speed and within your comfort zone, whether doing ground work or riding. Again, having a friend, family member or a professional helping you with these exercises is better than working alone. Once you begin working your horse under saddle again you need to work on relaxing in the saddle. As a rider you are always telegraphing how you feel to your horse. Try just sitting on your horse and taking deep relaxing breaths as you would in a Yoga class. You will find that when your body relaxes so will your horse. When you feel you are tensing up while riding just take some deep breaths and relax. Don’t be afraid to take your time and do some ground exercises. Then ride in an arena or an enclosed area for a time - there is no shame in that. When you are comfortable and feeling confident again take a short trail ride with a friend, but again at your own speed. You will find that the sooner you admit to yourself that you have lost your confidence and need help, the sooner you can work through the fear and get back to enjoying your horse again. Don’t let pride or fear (or both) rob you of your passion in life or of the special relationship that has grown over the years between you and your horse. Seasoned Rider
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Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis The Clinical Side by Cheryl Childs Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a disease of the central nervous system (brain and/or spinal cord) that is caused by the protozoal organism Sarcocystis neurona. The main host for this organism is the opossum and horses that are exposed to opossum feces with infective sporocysts can develop neurologic disease. The disease attacks the horse's central nervous system. It is thought that 50 percent of all US horses have been exposed to the parasite that causes EPM. The disease can be found in Canada and Mexico, as well as South America. Fortunately, not all horses exposed to the parasite develop the disease. Horses can come into contact with the parasite while grazing or eating feed or drinking water contaminated by opossum feces. Some symptoms may include: loss of coordination, ataxia (incoordination), spasticity (stiff, stilted movements); abnormal gait or lameness; muscle atrophy, most noticeable along the topline or in the large muscles of the hindquarters, but can sometimes involve the muscles of the face or front limbs; paralysis of muscles of the eyes, face or mouth, evident by drooping eyes, ears or lips; difficulty swallowing; seizures or collapse; abnormal sweating; loss of sensation along the face, neck or body; head tilt with poor balance; horse may assume a splay-footed stance or lean against stall walls for support. They say that Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a master of disguise. The disease can be difficult to diagnose because its signs often mimic other health problems in the horse and signs can range from mild to severe. You should consult your Vet immediately if you believe your horse may have EPM, as treatment should begin as soon as possible. If your Vet suspects EPM, he or she may order blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. In laymen terms - a spinal
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tap. A positive blood test only means the horse has been exposed to the parasite, not that it has or will develop clinical disease. Prompt, accurate diagnosis is essential and treatment should begin immediately. The treatments are most usually with drugs known to kill or retard the reproduction of the protozoa S. neurona. None of the drugs kill 100% of the protozoa. They believe the drugs reduce the protozoa population to a level where the horse's immune system kills the rest. Your Veterinarian may also prescribe the use of an anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant, and/or vitamin E during treatment. Your Veterinarian will suggest that the horse not be ridden or worked for some time, A beautiful, vibrant Katy before EPM dependent on the severity of symptoms. It’s important to immediately to discourage scavengers. keep the stress to a minimum for the Feed heat-treated cereal grains and horse and allow the immune system to extruded feeds since these processes seem recover. While success rates are high to kill the infective sporocysts. Keep with treatment, these days, not all horses water tanks clean and filled with clean, respond positively to therapy and 10-20% fresh water. Maximize your horse's health of horses may experience a relapse. and fitness through proper nutrition, reguOnly your Veterinarian can diagnose lar exercise and routine deworming and and prescribe treatments for this disease. vaccinations. Keep in mind that your There are several treatment options availhorse can be exposed to the parasite while able and you should speak to your grazing, but good horsekeeping practices Veterinarian about what treatment options may lessen the exposure. would be best for your horse. There is The disease was first identified in 1964 currently a vaccine to immunize against by J.R. Rooney, who recognized the proSarcosystis neurona. tozoa in spinal cord lesions in Good horsekeeping practices will disStandardbreds. Awareness among courage unwanted visitors such as oposVeterinarians and horse owners has sums and other rodents from contaminatgrown considerably over the years. There ing hay, grain and bedding, which may is ongoing resarch at the University of lessen the chances of exposure. Keep Kentucky, the University of Florida, Ohio feed rooms and containers closed and State University, the University of sealed. Use feeders that minimize California at Davis, University of spillage and are difficult for wild animals Missouri, Virginia Tech and University of to access. Clean up any dropped grain
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis The Personal Side Maryland and Michigan State University, as well as other institutions, in EPM diagnosis, treatment and the life cycle of S. neurona. Again if you suspect EPM in your horse contact your Veterinarian immediately the sooner it is diagnosed the sooner the treatment can be started.
Katy with EPM I was surprised how many people responded when I asked on Seasoned Rider facebook if there was anybody out there who had dealt with EPM, as I had. I didn’t realize it was still so prevalent. I received an e-mail from Alexis Hutton, who is dealing with EPM for the second time. Four years ago she had an older gelding with EPM. “We caught it really early, in fact, we didn't test for it, we just treated it. It all worked out well, so I didn't think it was that big a deal,” Alexis said. However the horse is now a very hard keeper during the winter. In June of 2011 Alexis bought a new gelding. The gelding had some problems that she
thought were just character flaws. “He came from a feed lot and they are all business, so I thought he just picked up bad habits that I could work through,” Alexis explained. The first thing she noticed was the gelding stumbled a lot, over reached and hit his front feet. She passed that off as a habit from the feed lot. With work that seemed to improve. Alexis noticed his back feet would slide a little when he set them down. She had the gelding’s shoes pulled , since he was having trouble keeping his fronts shoes on anyway. Without the shoes and with some more work things seemed to be improving for Alexis’ gelding. Then one day, in January, she took him on a trail ride. It was a long ride, but an easy trail. “We were about back to the trailer and FreightTrain started to sweat really bad. I walked him out and even got off, his color was bad, he looked like death,” Alexis said. She thought he was just dehydrated, but she soon realized it was more than that. FreightTrain was dragging his back legs very badly and was reluctant to even move. “ I knew something was seriously wrong. I unsaddled him and sent my husband back for the trailer,” Alexis explained . By the time her husband got back the gelding had improved some and was making attempts to eat and drink, but Alexis noticed his bottom lip was saggy and she thought perhaps he had had a stroke. The gelding was never the same after that day. He continued to drag his back feet and act sluggish. Alexis had a chiropracter out who told her it was a stifle problem. She took him to her regular Vet who told her, in a matter of 20 seconds, "That's not stifles, that's neurological." He pointed out how his back end wasn't tracking with his front end, drunk like. That day they tested two out of three of Alexis’ horses for exposure to EPM and two came back positive, which is not unusual - most horses do. While normal levels of EPM are around 250 Alexis’ gelding Freighttrain tested at 4,000 and 5500. Her other gelding tested
at lower levels. They began treatment immediately . They did five days of treatment , three shots a day and NO STRESS. After having both horses back home for two weeks Alexis wasn’t seeing much improvement in their posture or behavior. Alexis didn’t feel her Vet was really educating her on the options for treatment, so she sought out a second opinion from another Veterinarian. The second Veterinarian felt that the treatment Alexis’ horses were receiving was only treating the symptoms of EPM. He suggested treatment with ParaNex, a natural supplement. He also suggested Alexis give her horses other supplements, as well, to help build up their muscles again. She is pleased with results from the treatments with the gelding who had low levels of EPM. She treated him for a month along with the other supplements and he has improved “We've been riding for about a month and he seems to be shaping up nicely, no problems there,” Alexis told us in a recent update. FreightTrain, the gelding with very high levels of EPM, is still recovering. She didn’t see much improvement with the first 30 days of treatment and opted to do another 30 days with ParaNex. Alexis’ Vet told her she should start building him up in the fall when it gets cooler. “I first have to make sure he can back up well and turn tight circles with no problems,” Alexis explained. Most days her gelding seems extremely capable, other days he really seems off. The Veterinarian told her it could be six months to a year of recovery time. Alexis wanted to share her story in hopes this will help make people more aware of EPM and educate them about the disease. My experience with EPM was very similar to Alexis and to others. I never heard of the disease until my mare was diagnosed with it in 1996. At that time there were really no medications for the disease to even aid with the symptoms of EPM. continued on page 14
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The Feed Bag
End of the Trail Beef Patties with Black Bean Salad
End of the Trail Beef Patties 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 pound of lean ground beef 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon of pepper 1/2 cup beef broth 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of cumin 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 2 packages of crescent roll dough ( 8 oz each) 1 large egg lightly beaten Heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in a large nonstick skill over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Stir in ground beef, salt, pepper, cinnamon and cumin. Brown meat well and then stir in beef broth and bread crumbs. Cook for 2 minutes.
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Black Bean Salad Unroll crescent dough. Combine 2 triangles to make 1 rectangle of dough. (2 packages make 8 rectangles) Place filling in dough and fold over. Press edges with fork to seal and brush with a little egg. Repeat with all pieces of dough. Bake at 350 degress for 15 minutes or until golden.
Combine In a Bowl 1 can of Black Beans - drained 3 or 4 large green onions chopped 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts 2 cups of chopped celery Dressing Combine In A Bowl 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup oil 2/3 cup rice vinegar Salt & Pepper to taste Pour dressing over beans, stir, serve chilled.
Cutest Couple Photo Contest
The judges have spoken. The winners of the Cutest Couple Photo Contest are: (shown clockwise from top left) 1st Place - Sheila Christiansen and Cooper (Sheila will receive a Seasoned Rider Tote Bag) 2nd Place - Becky Frakes and Radar 3rd Place - Lucia Reid and Cloud 4th Place - Jim Slaughter and Sammy Thanks to everyone who entered the contest! You all rock! Watch for more contests on
www.facebook.com/SeasonedRiderMagazine
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Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis The Personal Side - continued from page 11 My mare, Katy, had several issues over the summer of 1996. Issues I thought, to begin with, were unrelated. There was a slight change in her behavior over the summer, she seemed to develop back pain, she began dragging her rear hoof and she started stumbling when I rode her. While bathing and clipping her for a show that summer Katy got very nervous, which was uncharacteristic for her. She broke out in hives the following day, so I didn’t take her to the show and I have always been so glad I didn’t. I guess the turning point was in the fall of that year - Katy had a very bad colic. The type of colic where the Vet stayed at the barn instead of treating and leaving instructions. In fact at some point that evening surgery was being discussed, but that didn’t happen as she improved after several hours. After the bout with colic Katy changed. The once bouncing, personable mare seemed to withdraw. When I rode her she seemed off and not interested, which wasn’t like her at all. That fall Katy had two more colics. The Vet checked for worms, which came back negative, and suggested I start using sup-
plements to aid in her digestion and give her pelleted, rather than textured, feed. I took all the Vet’s advice. There were no more colics, but Katy was dropping weight and the rear hoof dragging, as well as the stumbling, got progressively worse. She became more withdrawn, as well. As with many other cases Katy was diganosed with a “stifle problem”. I knew that there was more to it than that. She continued to lose weight, she had taken up cribbing, and her stumbling was getting worse. I had the Vet come out again and explained to her that there was more to this than a stifle, worms, boredom, teeth problems or digestive issues and she agreed. She asked me to walk Katy away from her then towards her and then she took Katy’s rear leg and crossed it in front of her other rear leg. Katy didn’t resist her doing that with her leg and when the Vet set the hoof down Katy stood there without moving that leg. I couldn’t believe it, Katy stood with her back legs crossed. The Vet asked me to get one of the other horses and she tried to do that with that horse, but he resisted and pulled his hoof out of her hand. The Vet had asked me on the phone if I
had heard of EPM and, of course, I hadn’t, but I did some research on it and what I saw wasn’t good. “I could do what is literally a spinal tap on her, but I’m 99% sure we are dealing with EPM,” she said. My heart sank when I heard those words. Katy was diagnosed in late November of 1996 and by February of 1997 I knew the best thing for her was to let her go. The disease had taken such a big toll her. She had lost so much weight her ribs were sticking out, her once shiny chestnut coat was dry and lifeless, she had no interest in me or even her stablemates. There were days I knew she couldn’t see and days when she could hardly walk. On those days I kept in her in the stall for her own good. She would stand in the back of the stall, not even coming up when I called her. My beautiful Arabian mare was nothing more than a shell of the horse she had once been. On March 8th, 1997 I released Katy from her pain and misery. I always try and remember her as that bouncing, beautiful, outgoing and athletic Arabian that I bought as a three year old, trained, bonded with and loved.
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Seasoned Rider Fiction Series Starting Over-Part 1 Jackie nervously twisted her watch on her wrist, waiting for Kelly to come out of the dressing room of the trailer. She kept telling herself to relax and not let Kelly see her nervousness. The first call to the class came blaring across the PA system. Jackie knocked on the door, “First call, Kelly,” She heard mumbling from the dressing room, but couldn’t understand what was said. Kelly stuck her head out of the the trailer and blurted out, “I can’t get into these things,” referring to the jodhpurs she had to wear for the class. Jackie nudged Kelly back through the dressing room door and followed her inside. “ Oh yes you can, they are just like putting on panty hose,” she said, pushing Kelly down on the small stool that was in the dressing room. “ Okay, but I’m too old for this,” Kelly said. “ Too late, my friend, you agreed to this and we are five minutes from the start of the class. It hasn’t been that long anyway,” Jackie said, handing Kelly a pair of socks. “ Oh, no just a damn 20 years since I was in the show ring,” Kelly commented, as she finished pulling on the jodhpurs. Jackie grabbed the riding boots off the floor, “ Kel, you have ridden in 100 mile endurance races, you did 3-day eventing and you ride reining horses - a hunter pleasure class is nothing.” Kelly took the boots, “True. Help me get into these,” she said, struggling with the boots. With some effort they managed to get Kelly’s boots on, “Okay, where’s my jacket?” Kelly said, standing up. Jackie reached around Kelly, grabbing the hunt jacket off the peg it was hanging on. “God, it’s hot in here,” Kelly said. “ Yes. Okay you look good, lets go,” Jackie nodded, reaching over and opening the door. The cool damp air felt good as Jackie stepped out of the trailer. “I hope Gary and Kate didn’t have any trouble getting Bee tacked up.” Kelly followed her out, “Certainly had trouble getting me tacked up,” she said, in the dead pan voice that she always used, not matter what she was saying. Jackie laughed, “Her girth fits better, come on lets head to the arena.” As the two hurried toward the arena a light rain began to fall. Jackie cursed herself under her breath for not thinking to grab a slicker so Kelly’s clothes wouldn’t get damp. Jackie kept scanning the group of people and horses gathered by the arena entrance. For a moment she couldn’t find Kate, Gary or Bee, but finally she spotted them close to the doorway. Bee was standing quietly, even though the horses around her weren’t. “ Okay, let’s do this, “ Jackie said as they reached the doorway. Gary and Kate both turned around with an expression of relief on their faces. Gary started to say something, but was interrupted by the announcement over the PA that class 24 should be at the gait. Jackie motioned for Kelly to get mounted. “ Here I’ll give you a leg up,” Gary said. Kelly took a deep breath and gathered the reins. “Okay.” she said, as Gary gave her a leg up and she eased into the saddle. Leaning down she patted the horse on the neck and said “Bee, we need do to our best to place in the top ten.
by Cheryl Childs We’re doing this for Jackie, you know that, so those people who left to go to Wade’s barn will wish they had stayed with the real trainer.” Jackie smiled. “ No pressure, Bee. Look you do the best you can and have the best ride you can, don’t worry about the rest,” she told Kelly, patting her on the leg. Just then the gate opened and a young woman wearing a baseball cap and carrying a clipboard in her hand asked Kelly what her number was. All four of them answered at once - 17. The woman motioned Kelly into the arena. Jackie watched as Kelly and Bee entered arena, “ I’m asking too much of her,” she said under her breath. “No you’re not Jackie. You know Kelly would do anything for you,” Kate said as she put her arm around Jackie’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go sit down and watch Kelly kick those twenty somethings’ butts.” Jackie nodded slightly, not convinced that she was doing the right thing. She loved her friends for wanting to help after the divorce and after she lost almost all of her clients, but what seemed like a good idea four months ago didn’t seem like it now. Kate pulled her arm. “Okay,” Jackie said. They walked by the box of seats that had the Golden Lake Stables banner hung on it. Several of Wade’s clients were seated there, but, thankfully, he wasn’t. “ There’s some seats,” Gary said, steering Kate toward them. The three of them climbed up the steps. Jackie’s knees were shaking and she felt like jello inside as she sat down in the fourth row up. Gary and Kate sat on either side of her. “ That’s your class, Judge,” was announced and Jackie closed her eyes and said a little prayer. Kate patted her on the knee, telling her Kelly would be fine. Jackie nodded. “ Yes, of course they will, as long as Kelly stays calm.” Jackie sat stiffly in the chair, not speaking, while Kelly and Bee rode the class. After the first request for a canter and a reverse Jackie took a deep breath and relaxed, almost slouching in the chair. It was the canter and change of direction that Kelly and Bee struggled with, but this time they executed both flawlessly. “This is it,” Jackie said when the announcer instructed the class to line up in the center facing the ring steward. She sat up on the edge of her seat. “Good Lord this is a big class,” Jackie commented as the judge walked the line, asking each to back up. “ Yeah, fifteen in there,” Gary said, also sitting on the edge of his seat. Jackie, Gary and Kate sat motionless as they began to announce the winners, starting with sixth place and working their way to first place. Kelly’s name had not been announced and they were down to second place. “ Come on, “ Jackie said. “ Second place goes to......” To be continued!
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Stretching the Truth by Bob Goddard Until recently, I wasn’t in the habit of stretching before riding. My reasoning for not stretching prior to riding is that I didn’t have to when I was 17. And since I’m about the same as I was when I was 17 (except that it doesn’t take as long to wash my hair) stretching seems like a waste of time. That was my reasoning. Actually, I didn’t ride when I was 17. But I played all kinds of other sports. And I never stretched unless I was told to by a coach or other large adult. Now, I have somebody telling me again. This time, it’s my muscles talking and they are less forgiving and a lot meaner than any coach I’ve ever had. No coach ever made me walk like a cross between Frankenstein’s monster and Pecos Bill. Stiff inner thigh muscles do. Another voice weighing in on the subject is that of my daughter, Hiliary. In addition to being an experienced horseback rider, Hiliary is a certified Physical Therapy Assistant. This means she can do everything a Physical Therapist can do except for evaluations. This does not stop her from evaluating her father. In fact, she takes all that pent-up evaluating energy out on me. “Oh. I see you’re limping again today. That’s because your upper thoroxic combutable perratoid is strained.” I can’t understand half of what she’s saying and tell her so. She pulls the time- honored Ignorant American Talking to a Foreign Speaking Person Ploy on me and repeats the same thing only louder: “THAT’S BECAUSE YOUR UPPER THOROXIC COMBUTABLE PERRATOID HAS BEEN IS STRAINED. WHY DON’T YOU WANT TO STRETCH?” “I’m fine. Everyone gets a little stiff after a good ride.” “Not if they warm up properly.” I turn my head away and say “Not if they warm up properly,” in the nasally Mocking Mumble Voice. “Dad, do you realize what you’re doing to your muscles and ligaments when you don’t stretch?” “If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn’t be taking riding lessons in the first place. Now would I?” Hiliary shakes her head. “It doesn’t have to be this way. I can show you how to get those muscles supple and ready for a ride.” Actually, there are benefits to the stiffness and aching. It reminds me that I’ve actually done something and that it’s okay to have a beer or two (or three). But, the problem… (or four) … is that it affects my riding. The stiffness and aching does too. I’m just not in my top riding form when my muscles are bitching at me. We all have our own excuses. Hiliary placed herself parallel to our living room couch and put one leg up on it. She was demonstrating how to stretch my inner thigh muscles. Or the upper interior maxminal incisor. “Above all, don’t bounce. Just go as far as you can go until you feel a ‘good ache’. I don’t know about this. Bouncing seems natural to me. If I’m going through all the trouble of putting my leg up on the couch, I want to get the most out of it. Just standing there seems too passive. And when you’re in that position, bouncing is all you
have. Hiliary continues: “Then hold it for fifteen seconds. Just be still. If you bounce, you cause a rebound reflex in your muscles.” “I like the sound of that.” “It means you’re making little tears in your muscle fiber.” “I don’t like the sound of that.” “When you start to stretch, your muscles initially react by contracting. They actually respond to it as a threat.” “My muscles are paranoid?” “The contraction only lasts a few seconds. Once they figure out you’re only going so far, they begin to relax.” “I’ve always wondered who is really in control… It’s not me, is it?” I really should be taking notes in case I ever get in the mood to write some sci-fi. “Just be patient, Dad. If you stop the stretch too soon, your muscles won’t have the opportunity to relax and you’re not doing any good.” “So, fifteen seconds, then?” “Yes, fifteen seconds is good. And don’t hold your breath. That just increases muscle tension.” “Breath rhythmically, not comically. Got it. Are we done?’ “No, you have to do all your muscle groups. Stiffness in one set communicates stiffness to other groups.” They communicate? And plot? There is definitely some good sci-fi grist here. “You know, Hiliary, people look kind of goofy when they stretch.” “Yes, we do. Your bow-legged, sideways gait and perpetual groaning is way more dignified.” Fine. I’ll keep working at this until they call me Gumby Bob.
Editor’s Note: Bob Goddard is a columnist and author . Watch for more of Bob’s columns about his experiences as a “Seasoned” person becoming a rider for the first time in his life. 16
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Cross Country Trail Ride Eminence, Missouri
An Experience That Shouldn’t Be Missed On the banks of the beautiful Jack’s Fork River Visit us, and you will enjoy three meals a day, horse shows, dancing, swimming, horse sales, tack sales, Nashville entertainers and much, much more! 75 acre campground 63,000 sq.ft. indoor arena Miles of trails
www.crosscountrytrailride.com Hwy. 19 East Eminence, MO 573-226-3492
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Masters Polocrosse in Australia
by Amanda Lund
“Seasoned riders are the backbone of the sport...” Polocrosse is a fast-paced action-packed sport on horseback. It is extremely popular in Australia with hundreds of players travelling long distances each weekend throughout the winter months to play at carnivals throughout the country. With children as young as six up to the Masters of the game aged from forty onwards, it is a true family sport. It is not uncommon to see three generations of one family travelling and playing together. For many families, the highlight of the season is to have all members of the family in one team. Seasoned riders are the backbone of the sport with most continuing to play well into and beyond their forties. Once hooked on the sport most people see it as a lifestyle rather than a hobby. Seasoned riders Lisa and Peter Johnson have both played for Queensland at the Masters level on numerous occasions and still at 50 and 55 respectively travel almost every weekend to compete. Their son Matthew is in the Open Men’s Queensland side and has been named in the Australian team for this year aged just 25. His girlfriend Sydnee Doolan is in the Under 24 Women’s Australian side. Paul (Zoom) O’Leary is known to members of the Cunningham and Queensland players as Father. With a daughter and six sons who all have played or still play the game, Zoom was a member of the 2012 Queensland Masters Men’s Team while his two youngest sons Anthony and Zac were both in the Junior sides. In his sixties, Zoom has played all his life and injuries and age do little to slow the old fox down. Zoom acts as mentor to many young players and is often happy to play “down the grades” to teach new players the finer points of the game. Paul’s Queensland teammate Bill Kerr can often be seen paying alongside his not quite seasoned wife Melissa and they are a formidable team. Every second year national championships are held. The venues rotate between the states. With Western Australia being 4,336 km (2,694 miles) from Queensland and Northern Territory 3,424 km this is a massive undertaking. At the National Championships there are competitions for Sub-Juniors (12 and under), Juniors (13 -16), Intermediates (16 – 21), Open Mens, Open Mixed, Masters Men and Master Mixed. The Masters competitions are every bit as exciting and fast as any other competition. For women, Masters is Over 40 and for men it is over 50. These seasoned riders are fiercely competitive and the title is extremely hard-fought. This year in Brisbane the Senior Mixed competition was won by New South Wales over Queensland 23 – 18 while the Masters Men’s competition went down to the wire 21 -20 between New South Wales and Western Australia. Polocrosse is one of only three sports that can be claimed as uniquely Australian – the other two being campdrafting and
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Seasoned player Kathryn Forster. Australian Rule Football - it was invented in 1938 by Mr and Mrs Edward Hirst who had seen similar exercises being used in a riding school in England to help young riders learn control over their ponies. The sport took a leap forward in 1976 when the International Polocrosse Council was established by Mr Max Walters AM, MBE.Today the sport is played worldwide. The most significant milestone has been the staging of three Polocrosse World Cups in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Australia won the first two World Cups but were beaten by both South Africa and Zimbabwe showing that the sport is now truly international. Polocrosse is played between teams of six players with three from each team on the field at any one time. The players carry a long cane racquet with a net at the end for picking up and throwing the soft rubber ball. The first section of three riders plays for one time period known as a chukka. At the end of the time the other section comes on while the first section rests and then they change ends and repeat for the next two chukkas. There are between four and eight chukkas and each chukka runs for between six and eight minutes. The field is divided into three sections and the players are numbered 1, 2 and 3. The number 1 player is the only person allowed to score a goal, the number 3 players defends the goal and the Number 2 players
Husband and wife team Bill and Melissa Kerr take the ball down the field together. Mother and son Amanda and Charles Lund battle it out as opponents. are the mid field players, delivering the ball to the 1’s and helping with defence in the centre field. Horses used for this sport at the elite level are nearly always Australian Stockhorses. Known for their speed, stamina and agility, they need to be able to spin, turn and accelerate extremely quickly. A number of breeders have developed specialised bloodlines that are highly sought after by the top level players. Unlike Polo, each player may only ride one horse for the duration of the carnival so it is affordable to most as they do not need a string of ponies. The chukka system allows for the horse to recover between periods of hard work. In the upper grades, the horses need to be extremely fit and there is a close check kept on the welfare of the horses with a designated horse welfare officer at every carnival. At the lower more social level, where many seasoned riders play, many breeds of horses can be seen and the fitness requirement is no more than for a Pony Club mount.
A sport for all ages – front row Junior players Sophie Forster and Carly Cooper, back row Seasoned players Amanda Lund and Paul (Zoom) O’Leary.
Join Today! Connect with other “Seasoned Riders”TM Subscription to Seasoned RiderTM Magazine Affordable $1,000,000 Excess Equine Liability Insurance Policy Discount Registration for Seasoned RiderTM Conferences More Great Benefits Local Chapters Forming (or form your own) Subscribe today to join: www.seasonedrider.com Seasoned Rider
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THE CALIFORNIA MISSION RIDE Seven riders take on a 600 mile horseback journey through the past and for the future. Press Release California’s 21 Spanish & Native American missions form the state’s largest attraction, with over 5.5 million visitors each year. Dotting the coastline from Sonoma to San Diego, the missions define California’s first and most significant historic backbone. People once travelled between these missions by horse. Is a horseback journey from mission to mission still possible today? A filmmaker, a writer, a horse trainer, an actor, a high school student, a stuntman, and a wrangler will try to connect the missions on horseback. And from their saddles, they will be filming an exciting documentary about the journey for school-age audiences. Their ride takes place in two phases, starting in the North in 2012 and continuing through the South in 2013. Riders will visit the missions of Northern California, between Sonoma and San Miguel, from August 18 and September 16, 2012. Over the past 100 years, the automobile has reshaped the California landscape. But a horseback approach will view land and culture from angles rarely appreciated since the advent of Ford’s Model T. Riders will dispel myths (No, the missions were not built to be a day’s journey apart on horseback!), and search for links between the mission-era past and current life in each location (Yes, there is a connection between Mission Santa Clara and the global phenomenon that is Silicon Valley!). At each mission stop, riders will team up with locals to present events capturing a community’s past, present, and hopes for the future. The events are as varied as Californians themselves: archeological exploration, ghost stories, hi-tech music, a roundtable look at the Bay Area, visits led by Native Americans, a tour guided by 4th graders, performances and art exhibits, a fiesta, and more. Each event delves into an aspect of mission history that remains alive today, and that is almost sure to shape life and land in generations ahead. The California Mission Ride offers a fresh look at subjects ranging from sports and adventure to history, Native American life, the arts, education, wellbeing, 20
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food and wine, hi-tech innovation, the environment, architecture, water & agriculture, coasts, parks, and tourism. This unique historic journey and its accompanying documentary will highlight yesterday’s influences on current communities – using old-time transportation and real-time technology –to prove that relics of the past illuminate paths to the future in fascinating ways. Website: http://www.thecaliforniamissionride.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TheCalifornia-Mission-Ride Twitter: @RideCalifornia
University in Maine Re-Trains Standardbred Harness Racers
Photos courtesy Schwarcz Photography
by Cassie Elia In most college courses, students are assigned a textbook. For the Equine Management Cooperative class at the University of Maine, students are assigned a horse. This unique course uses donated Standardbred mares as a teaching tool to allow students the opportunity to train a horse and learn hands-on veterinary techniques. Currently, the JF Witter Center (the UMaine livestock facility) houses 13 mares and one stallion that have all been trained for harness racing but now need a new career. Most Standardbred horses are bred and raised to race in sulky races. They race as either trotters (diagonal legs move in unison) or pacers (lateral legs move in unison). Both the trot and pace are 2 beat gaits and the speeds at which they are raced are nearly the same as horses that race at the gallop. Most Standardbred racing is done in harness with the horses pulling a lightweight 2 wheeled vehicle called a sulky. There are a few Standardbred under saddle races around the country, but the sulky races are common sights at fairs, festivals and racetracks. As with any breed of racehorse, there are going to be some horses that are successful and others that don’t have either the drive or speed to be racehorses. These horses, and the ones that were successful but have been retired, need homes and jobs. The breeding business will occupy some of those horses, but the geldings, and horses who aren’t suitable as breeding animals, need another career option. The Standardbred re-training program at UMaine emerged in 1998, developed by Dr. Robert Causey and Dr. Jim Weber. There is a constant source of suitable horses due to the proximity of the Bangor Raceway where sulky races are held. The Equine program accepts donations of Standardbred mares, under the age of ten, that are sound and have a tractable temperament. Most of them did race and have either been retired, or deemed not competitive enough for racing. Every year, one or two of the mares are bred and the foals are sold as harness racing prospects. The breeding presents the Equine students with the opportunity to learn about fertility and parturition. The mares not in the breeding operation are trained as riding horses so not only do the students benefit from the experience, but the horses gain an education as well. Roadshow Hall, the resident stud, raced for 7 years and earned nearly a half million dollars. His lifetime mark is 1:57:2 which is made even more impressive because it was on a half-mile track which means the horse has to 4 turns to make rather than
2 on an mile track. The University has owned 3 race horses (Venus Of Milo, One Vine Lady and Pembroke Whiteout) since the inception of the program. Any winnings the racing mares have procured have gone right back into the program to care for the horses in the Witter barn. Training an ex-harness racer to ride is not much different from training any other horse to ride. The biggest hurdle is that the Standardbred have been specifically trained to not canter so they get a little confused when the trainer begins to ask for it. Standardbreds CAN canter, it is a misconception that they don’t. The breed has been genetically focused to have a strong trot or pace, so the quality of the canter sometimes suffers, but they are all capable of cantering and do so naturally. The UMares, as they are affectionately called, are also used as mounts for the University Drill Team. Riders on the team ride the UMares in performances all over the State at horse shows, racetracks and local fairs. The Drill Team riders and students in the co-op class work in the barn doing daily stable chores. Each week they have training sessions with Cassie Elia, the equine trainer, where the progress of the horse is evaluated and new exercises are assigned for the student trainers to practice during the week. The program’s success is due to the generosity of the donors, and the dedication of the students. Several students have bonded so well with their assigned horses that they have purchased them. UMaine student, Arianna Goulatis, says it is exactly that bond that she likes most about the program. “Its very fulfilling to see the horse you work with succeed because you put in so much time and effort.” Taking a horse from harness racing to being a safe and capable riding horse takes commitment. Kelly Clifford, a UMaine alumnus, now works at the University’s Witter Farm in the horse barn. She has worked with UMare, Lacy, for the past year. “ To see where she was at the beginning of her stay here at Witter to where she is now is a testament to the hard work we all put in everyday. It hasn't always been an easy process, but you learn to work with and around the horses temperament, and to see her performance once she "gets it" (or I "get it") is the best reward!” The Standardbred re-training program not only gives the students hands-on experience, but it benefits the horses as well. They get excellent care while in the program and after 3 years are sold to good homes. What’s better than going to school and doing homework on the back of a horse?
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ReviewC o r r a l 100 Years in Harness by Nicole Kraft Reviewed by Cathy Childs When we received the press release about the publication of 100 Years in Harness (published by The US Trotting Association) I knew I had to have a review copy of the book. I think I was secretly hoping that amid this photographic journey of harness racing I might find a photograph of my Grandfather, or one of his brothers, who trained harness horses in the 40’s and 50’s. They had even travelled from Wisconsin to California for the Santa Anita harness racing season in 1947, but there were no such photos in this book. Even so, I was not disappointed. This coffee table book is full of fascinating photos that show the rich history of harness racing. From the photo at right that depicts the world champion pacer Jimmy Creed as he arrives in New York from San Francisco in 1937 (for a race with a $25,000 purse) on an American Airlines DC-4 to the photo of one of the great pacers of the 1970’s (Rambling Willie) surrounded by fans at the Kentucky Horse Park in the 1990’s. This book chronicles the history of Harness Racing, by decades, from 1900 to 1999. Author/Editor Nicole Kraft, who is executive editor of Hoof Beats, the world’s leading publication devoted to Standardbreds and harness racing, did an excellent job of choosing photographs and anecdotal stories to take the reader from harness racing’s humble beginnings as “the sport of the people” to the golden age of harness racing when 17,000 fans attended The Red Mile on Memorial Day 1982, just 80 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, and a horse named Nihilator had earnings of over $3 million in the late 1980’s. Ms. Kraft also mentions the day, in 1937, that a 12 year old girl guided a trotter, Dean Hanover, to the fastest mile ever contested by a woman and says that “harness racing was one of the first sports to strike a chord for female equality ....fillies won 4 of the first 8 Hambeltonians”. The book is easy to read and full of entertaining facts, such as the term “sulky” (the 2 wheeled cart used in harness racing) comes from the owner’s desire to “ride alone” and the name of person who invented the first starting gate (Steve Phillips). I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in horses or in history.
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100 Years in Harness Nicole Kraft US Trotting Association Hard Cover, 2008, $15.00 ISBN: 0979389119 Available from www.ustrotting.com
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Does your business qualify to be part of the Equestrian Lifestyle Section ? Contact us at: 417-942-1930 marketing@seasonedrider.com
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What’s Not to Like?
H <
Heart and Soul-
Stories from Our Readers
By Cassie Mangold What do I like about my horses? They take me places no one else can go, trail riding with wonderful friends and family, giving kids their 1st ride, telling people about how God used the time spent on horseback to heal the gaping wounds between me and my sister, hanging out in the barn for therapy after a hard day, riding bareback around the pasture, grooming & scratching their bellies and necks getting those soft knickers when they know it's dinner time, the way they smell.....what's not to like? I always dreamed of owning a horse, for as long as I can remember. Everything in my childhood years revolved around horses. The few Barbies we had were used to ride our model horses. My sister and I would spend hours cutting out cardboard barns and fences, crocheting saddle pads and braiding string into bridles. Most little girls didn’t get the way we played but there was no changing our horse crazed minds. We had contact with our family in the country when we were little up to about the age of nine. Our Poppa would let us ride the ponies but not with saddles because he was afraid we’d get dragged. We learned to ride bareback on irritable ponies who taught us well how to be launched over obstacles and swiped off by fences but we kept getting back on every chance we got. Then due to divorces and remarriage we lost these connections and ended up living in the city until we were adults. My sister and I were loving and
Cassie on Tater, her Hancock mare, at a parade in Dec. 2011 civil to each other after many hard years but lacking in the bond that most sisters seem to have because of unknowingly being pitted against each other by our stepfather. It wasn’t until she moved to the country, got horses and invited me and my small son out to ride that we discovered how much had gone on that we didn’t realize and how innocent we both really were of the things we thought the other had done. We rediscovered how much we loved and needed each other on the trails, far from civilization where no one could interrupt our much needed healing time. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would actually own a horse. But, at thirty, I got my first horse after her husband found a mustang for sale cheap and I thought it was a good idea to buy him. I named him Cool Red Dude and that wild creature was like getting hooked up with those ponies again. I worked hard to settle him
down and Dude taught me how to ride all over again. My sister and our kids had many wonderful adventures on the trails, in the creeks, racing across pastures and picnicking under huge trees. Since then Dude has moved on to greener pastures and my sister bred her mare and I now have a wonderful twelve year old half Hancock mare that will go through anything like a bulldozer when we forge our new trails. What a wonderful time the last fifteen years have been. Just last weekend we took two of her grandkids out for a trail ride in the river bottoms and they saw up close a bald eagle, deer galore, two white barn owls, and fish floundering in a shallow, almost dried up pond. It’s joy beyond compare and I hope for many more years of riding to come. It’s been more fun than should be legal but we hope to never stop riding, loving our horses and sharing the joy with others.
If you have a touching, heartfelt story to tell submit it toThe Seasoned Rider E-mail: seasonedrider@gmail.com Subject: Heart & Soul Story should be approximately 550-600 words. You may submit one high resolution color photograph (300 dpi, jpg). Be sure to include the name of the photographer. 24
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By Seasoned Rider Reviewer Arctic White Shampoo did exactly what Espree claimed it would do - it removed dirt and stains from my two grey horses, leaving their coats shiny and soft. I have used other products on my grey horses and they often left the coat dull. Arctic White Shampoo enhanced the color of their coats and left them with a shiny coat. It didn’t leave their coats dried out and dull looking. It did the same for the bays as well, leaving their coats with a deeper, shinier color. I really liked the scent of the shampoo. It also rinsed out very easily, leaving no residue. The conditioner and detangler had a great coconut scent. Like the shampoo it left the coat with a luxurious shine. What I liked the best about it was how it helped eliminate tangles in the horse’s mane and tail. When I combed out the mane and tail they were actually detangled, making it easy to get the comb through. Espree Animal Products is an "animal cruelty free" company. The Espree product line consists of natural, pesticide-free animal care and grooming products to meet the specific needs of your pet safely and naturally. Their products include shampoos, conditioners, and therapeutic products. Their lines also include alternatives to pesticide products, finishing sprays, colognes, perfumes, healthy products, fly and insect products, stain and cleaning products and much more! All Espree products are blended with the finest natural, human grade ingredients. From allergies to arthritis, from insect related skin problems to minor
mishaps, Espree provides a quality natural alternative product for your animal. Check out all their products out at www.espree.com To submit your product to be reviewed contact: The Seasoned Rider Reviewer e-mail: seasonedrider@gmail.com Subject: Product Review
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT/R eview
Espree Arctic White Shampoo & Espree Coat Conditioner and Detangler
Dressage & Equestrian Instruction for Riders of All Levels Horse Training • Instruction • Clinics • Horse Tours Private ~ Semi-Private ~ Group Lessons Mary Rose Member British Horse Society, USDF, USCTA Dripping Springs, TX www.maryrosedressage.com mary@maryrosedressage.com 512-589-3796 Seasoned Rider
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Bett er
! With Age
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HEALTHY RIDER Health, Fitness, and Safety
Yoga improves riding by increasing flexibility and endurance Feeling a little stiff in the saddle? Experiencing pain, fatigue or tension when you ride? Well maybe the answer to that is trying Yoga. I know what you’re thinking - Yoga and horseback riding? Please! - but more and more people are turning to Yoga to help them stay flexible, increase their endurance and improve their overall riding. According to WebMD, Yoga safely stretches muscles, releasing lactic acid (which causes stiffness, tension, pain, and fatigue) as well as increasing range of motion in joints and possibly lubricating the joints. Yoga poses can stretch your muscles to open up shoulders and hips and increase spinal flexibility leading to increased fluidity and grace. If you experience less stiffness, pain or discomfort on those long trail rides or during competition it will be more enjoyable for you and it could even result in a better performance. Yoga classes focus on movement and precise alignment of the body and require that poses be held for relatively long periods of time. When holding a pose you build strength. Some poses require use of arm and shoulder muscles, some demand more of the legs, quadriceps and hamstrings, while almost all Yoga poses require use of the "core" muscles. When your strength increases everything becomes easier and requires less effort. Saddling your horse, mounting without a block, cantering or trotting for long periods all become easier and more enjoyable. With increased strength, particularly in the "core," comes better posture and, therefore, better balance. Having better balance, aside from the obvious of keeping you in the saddle instead of on the ground, allows better control of your horse. Yoga teaches Calm Breath and Quiet Mind which will help you to feel less stress, whether it’s pre-show jitters or trail riding jitters. Transmitting nervousness to your horse can only make matters worse for horse and rider.
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Yoga teaches you to observe, deepen, and control your breathing. The amazing thing is that while normally you might breathe shallowly and quickly when you are stressed or anxious, Yoga teaches you that if you have the concentration and control to breathe deeply and calmly, you make your body believe and behave as if you are calm and serene and pretty soon, you are calm and serene. Control the breath, control the body through Yoga. Control the breath and you can engage in your sport of choice with a clear, quiet mind free of distractions that detract from performance and enjoyment. Control the breath with Yoga and learn to take that trail ride without unnecessary stress and actually enjoy the journey. Free your mind to compete at the horse show and concentrate fully on the task at hand. Deep breathing will also make more oxygen available to all muscles, once again reducing fatigue and increasing endurance. If you seek to be more flexible, be stronger, have better balance and endurance, improve core power, and have a calm, centered mind - try Toga. These qualities will improve your life in general and likely will make you a better rider with more control and confidence in yourself and make your rides more comfortable and enjoyable for you and your horse. Yoga for better horseback riding? Yes! Find a Yoga class near you or attend a weekend or week-long retreat to fully immerse yourself in the experience. You and your horse will be glad you did. Namaste. (Commonly said at the end of yoga practice - it means “the light in me honors the light in you.”)
L E G E N D A RY H O R S E S D a n Pa t c h Wo r l d C h a m p i o n Pa c e r
Dan Patch was foaled at Oxford Indiana and grew up into a fine colt in the stables of Dan Messner. Dan was sired by Joe Patchen. Messner named the colt after himself, “Dan” and Patchen, "Patch". John Wattles was the devoted trainer. Dan Patch was four years old before he was felt worthy of his first race entry fee. The date of birth of Dan Patch was April 29, 1896. In 1900, Dan Patch was sold by Messner for $20,000 to M. E. Sturgis of New York City. Dan was already recognized as a horse of unusual potential and the sum paid for him by Mr. Sturgis set a record at that time. In 1902 a new owner entered the life of this great horse, Marion W. Savage of Minneapolis, who was to guide this horse to the pinnacle of harness racing and to earn for him the title "King of Pacers". Mr. Savage paid the, then fabulous, price of $60,000 for Dan Patch. On Sept. 8, 1906 some 93,000 people gathered on a sizzling hot day at the Minnesote State Fairgrounds. They were all expectant. Mr. Savage had announced in advance that Dan
would try and give a record breaking performance. The crowd sensed that something unusual was about to happen. It did - Dan swept around the 1 mile track in 1:55! (That record has been equaled, but never broken.) The crowd went wild. And Dan himself seemed to understand what both he and the crowd were there for—as he passed the finish line Dan, in his characteristic way, turned his head toward the Grandstand as if to say—"Thanks folks. I knew you were pulling for me and I just had to come through." During his racing fame days (and when he retired) Dan Patch was kept at the famous Savage Racing Stables, 20 miles from Minneapolis. This was a 600 acre farm with a luxurious mansion and several large and handsome barns and two race tracks. In the summer Dan practiced on the one mile outdoor track—in the winter on the half mile track, which was entirely covered by a roof. Dan traveled in a special train car, gaily decorated with pictures of the great horse. Trips were made throughout the United States. Dan went lame after an exhibition mile at Los Angeles in 1909 and was retired the following year. Even though he was a stallion
Dan Patch was known for his gentleness. He loved to be with people, especially the children. It is said at the end of a race he had a way of nodding his head at the crowd to acknowledge the applause that they gave him. Dan Patch passed away in 1916 from a heart ailment, following an attack of pneumonia. His owner, Marion Savage, passed away the next day. Some believe that Mr. Savage’s bond with Dan Patch, his beloved Standardbred, was so great that he died from a broken heart. Editor’s note- Information provided by Dan Patch Historical Society - Videos of Dan Patch racing can be seen on YouTube.
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TRAVEL
D V E N T U R E S
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Riding, Hiking and Kayaking through Torres del Paine, Chile By Mark Gochman
There are times when one dreams of kicking back, relaxing, and having a lazy vacation on a beach somewhere, and there are times when a 12 day hiking, kayaking and horseback riding trek seems like just what the doctor ordered. It was during one of the latter times that my wife and I decided to head out to one of the southern most parts of the world, Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile. Because of our flight schedule we wound up arriving 4 days before the trek started, and stayed at the amazing Estancia Tercera Barranca. This rustic working sheep ranch is situated right near the park, with magnificent views of the snow capped mountains. We had the time of our lives helping the Baquianos (Cowboys) on the estancia herd sheep on horseback, and put green chalk on the sheep for identification. We enjoyed long leisurely walks on the locally bred Criollos, surveying the immense ranch and watching the local wildlife that included rabbits, condors, and guanacos, which are similar to llamas. We didn't want to leave, but after heartfelt goodbyes to our guide, Erigardo, the Baquianos and the graceful owner of the estancia Don Pepe, we headed into the park to meet our group and set up the little yellow tent that would be home for most of the next 12 days. Our group was about 10 people, mostly British and American, most of whom were very experienced travelers. Our main guide Jim was an athletic Californian, well suited to leading a group on a demanding multi-sport adventure. Although we had initially thought about a riding only holiday through the park, we decided to try a "multisport" adventure that included kayaking and hiking with light packs. The kayaking allowed us to travel through fjords right up to glaciers, and the hiking component allowed us to scale extremely steep ascents to view the famed Torres (towers), magnificent rock formations that preside over the park. The weather in Torres del Paine is changeable from moment to moment, and bringing several different layers on the trip is critical. In just a few minutes the
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weather can go from sunny and warm to windy and rainy. We spent a lot of time before leaving outfitting ourselves with several different layers, including capilene, smart wool, fuzzies, and shells, and this turned out to be key to having a great trip. After a few days of hiking we arrived at the location where we were to meet our horses. We were excited to find that our new friends, the Baquianos from Tercera Barranca, were our wranglers for the trip. I had never ridden on such steep, rocky ground, but our horses were sure footed, and ascended and descended with a studied carefulness. After relying on our horses to carry us, it was again time to do more work ourselves, and we started the kayaking phase of the trip. We had not done much kayaking, but after a quick lesson and a little bit of practice we gradually got the hang of how to paddle without using all of our energy. It was amazing kayaking up to the famed "blue glaciers", which owe their blueish color to their oxygen content. We pulled our kayaks up onto one of the glaciers and had our lunch, and then made pisco sours, a wonderful Chilean drink, using ice from the glacier. It was hard to leave this magnificent part of the world. We had made great friends in Chilean Patagonia, our guide Eri, the wonderful Don Pepe, and the lively, cheerful Baquianos. We think of them often, and look forward to returning.
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