The Post Summer 2010 by The Post

A MEDIA GENERAL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2010

VI RG I N IA HOR S E P EOP LE AN D P LACE S

To serve, with love Page 8

Training exercise Page 10

Who helped with this? Page 12

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT SPONSORED BY THE VIRGINIA HORSE INDUSTRY BOARD

The upside of sidesaddle Page 13

WELCOME

THE POST SUMMER 2010 Virginia Bred Program

PHOTO BY LUIS LECHE

Virginia Horse Industry Board Program Manager Andrea Heid with her three dogs Chu-Cho (from left), Amigo and Tess.

s a horse person, you relish the warm sunshine, abundant grass and blue skies that summer brings … and the fact that horse activities kick into high gear. Trails are lush for riding, horse shows abound and state fairs, local shows, big-name competitions and small clinics offer numerous opportunities to be with our horses. Whether you’re working, training, learning or simply enjoying—these activities are all appealing to horse owners. And so is the social aspect of days and weekends at horse events with friends—both two-legged and four-legged. The Virginia Horse Industry Board has been in high gear as well. With this summer issue of The Post—our seventh—we would like to bring you up-to-date on some of the VHIB’s main activities. The board has just announced the 2010-2011 grant winners (see “Grant winners” box). The VHIB, via its

grants program, has reinvested more than $1.4 million back into the industry since 1995. Funds have also been distributed to the eight Virginia breed associations that applied to participate in the inaugural year of the Virginia Bred Program. (See “Virginia Bred Program” box.) And, with the fast-approaching World Equestrian Games in the fall, the Horse Board has partnered with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to develop a Web page, www.VirginiaHorseTours.com. Virginia equitourism businesses can have a free listing on this page as well as on the VTC Web site, www.virginia.org. (See “New Web page” box.) We hope you find the Virginia Horse Industry Board’s efforts to promote the equine industry here in the commonwealth to be of value to you in your horse endeavors. And, whatever your equine activity, enjoy the summer and this issue of The Post.

New Web page VHIB Program Manager Andrea Heid and Virginia Tourism Corporation representatives Judy Watkins and Dave Neudeck worked together to develop a “landing page” for the Virginia horse industry on the VTC Web site, www.virginia.org. This page, www.VirginiaHorseTours.com, is designed to promote the Virginia horse industry to tourists, particularly international visitors here for the World Equestrian Games this fall. It includes information on activities, events and locations related to the Virginia equine industry. Any Virginia equitourism business can place a listing on the page for free.

Here’s how: Information on the www.VirginiaHorseTours.com page is compiled from the database of the Virginia Tourism Web site, www.Virginia.org. To add your equine business (farm, stable, boarding facility, etc.), register for a free account to access the Virginia.org administration tool by going to https://www.Virginia.org/admin. Once your account has been approved, you can log in and add your business to the site. It can then be found through the www.VirginiaHorseTours.com page as well. For technical assistance contact Virginia Tourism’s Casey Higgins at chiggins@virginia.org.

Recognizing the difficulty horse owners and breeders are having with the economy and the fact that other states are offering financial incentives to promote their horse industries, the Virginia Horse Industry Board announced the inception of the Virginia Bred Program in 2009. Breed associations were told of the program and eight submitted applications explaining how they intend to develop and conduct their Virginia Bred Programs to foster interest in their breeds and promote Virginia horses. Earlier this year, the VHIB reviewed the proposals and awarded funds to the following eight associations: Virginia Arabian Horse Association, $1,000; Virginia Rocky Mountain Horse Breeders Association, $1,000; Central Virginia Paint Horse Club, $3,000; Old Dominion Morgan Horse Association, $3,000; Virginia Appaloosa Horse Club, $3,000; Virginia Horse Shows Association, $4,000; Virginia Pony Breeders Association, $5,000; Virginia Quarter Horse Association, $5,000. The Virginia Bred Program awards totaled $25,000 for 2010. The VHIB will announce application dates for the 2011 program in June.

Letters to the Editor To The Post: A friend of mine picked up a copy of The Post for me. I absolutely loved reading and seeing pictures of local horse people. What a great venue! Just thought you may also be interested in a Powhatan horse trainer, Doug Minton, who just received an award from Virginia Reining Horse Association for 2009 Professional Trainer of the Year. He helps a lot of horse people, not just reiners. Thanks for the great Post! Sharon Brown Evington

To The Post:

Grant winners The Virginia Horse Industry Board reviewed 32 grant proposals and awarded $151,846 to 22 projects in the areas of education, research, and marketing. Education grant winners are: Virginia State 4-H Horse Show, $5,000; State 4-H Horse Show/Drill Team Competition, $2,000; Living History on Horseback, $3,000; the Art and Science of Judging a Reining Horse Pattern, $1,600; Virginia Quarter Horse Association Open Show & Clinic Program, $6,000; Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Horse Literature Project, $5,000; Assist With Sending Virginia Representatives to Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference 2010, $1,500; Scott County Regional Horse Association Youth Academy Awards Program, $4,925; Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training, $3,500; From Breeding to Blue Ribbons: Making a Successful Equine Athlete, $500; Virginia Forage/Grassland Council & Virginia Cooperative Extension Winter Equine Forage Conference, $2,375; Christopher Newport University Dressage Association, $1,000; Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia Statewide Educational Seminars, $400; EQUI-KIDS Mobile Equestrian Outreach, $1,900; Development of EquineBased Learning Modules for Virginia 4-H Cloverbuds & Kindergarten Through Third Grade Audiences, $7,600. Research grant winners are: The Role of the CD14 Receptor Molecule in Equine Endotoxemia, $6,850; An Investigation of the Aerosollized Delivery of Immunoglobulin G Derived From Equine Rhodococcus Equi Hyperimmune Plasma to the Lungs of Horses, $9,864; Using Platelet Rich Plasma to Promote Healing in Horses, $20,222; Evaluation of a Selective Deworming Program in Horses Based on a Classification System of Low, Moderate, & High Strongyle Egg Shedding, $5,840. Marketing grant winners are: Virginia Horse Council: Serving the Horse Industry Across Virginia, $30,000; Expanding Virginia Thoroughbred Association’s Service to the Equine Industry, $30,000; Marketing, Promotion & Awareness—Building for the New Laurel Hill Equestrian Center, $2,770.

In looking through The Post, I thought it might be interesting to readers and beneficial to the community if we could detail Oakland School’s equestrian program. Oakland School is a year-round school for students with learning differences. We also offer a six-week summer camp. Both programs have a strong individualized academic foundation that allows students to work at their own level and pace to reach their potential. In addition, we have an equestrian program that allows every student the opportunity to ride, groom and care for the horses. Students absolutely love to be at “The Barn.” It is important to note that our students come to us often defeated from the struggles of prior schools and limited success. The horse program encourages responsibility, cooperation, teamwork, friendships and hard work and is often the first place where students gain self-awareness and self-confidence. Oakland’s riding program is a vital component of our overall program, ensuring the overall academic and social success for each of our students. Amanda Baber Admissions/Marketing Director Oakland School Boyd Tavern Keswick

THE POST SUMMER 2010

WELCOME

VIRGINIA HORSE PEOPLE AND PLACES Vol. 3

SUMMER 2010

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The Post is a publication of Media General Joan Hughes Editor (804) 512-4373 jchruby@msn.com Send your editorial comments and story ideas to Joan. Contributing Writers: Deborah Rider Allen Andrea Heid Joan Hughes Daniel Neman Janet Showalter Pamela Stallsmith Andy Taylor

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AT WORK

THE POST SUMMER 2010

Meet two Virginia equine attorneys Some of the things they say may surprise you By Joan Hughes

elly LaPar and Bruce Smith are equine attorneys. LaPar is a member of Sands Anderson PC’s business and professional litigation division in Richmond. Smith is the solo practitioner of Bruce Smith Law in Springfield. So, what makes a person an equine attorney? “Every attorney has one or more areas of practice but in Virginia we don’t certify specialties the way doctors do. When people describe themselves as an equine attorney it means they have experience with horse cases,” Smith said. And, according to LaPar, when a client hires an attorney with knowledge of the equine industry “you’re hiring someone that doesn’t have to spend client money essentially boning up on the general basics of horses.” To find an equine attorney, LaPar suggests Web sites such as Martindale.com and word of mouth. Smith also suggests searching online for an equine attorney. He added that you should ask the attorney how long he/she has been practicing and about their experience with horse cases. LaPar and Smith answer some questions from The Post. Q. Explain how you came to be an equine attorney? LaPar: My involvement with horses for almost 20 years, whether it be for pleasure or show, has driven my practice of equine law. This background with horses has been invaluable in that I understand the language of horses, which, as horse people know, comes from an entirely different dictionary. I first began practicing law in Colorado in 2006, where my primary equine-related legal experience involved defending horse owner clients against claims for personal injuries caused by horses on their property. In 2007, following a job opportunity for my husband, the whole clan, including my horse Sshamey, relocated from Colorado to Virginia. I soon began practicing in Richmond at the law firm of Sands Anderson PC. Virginia’s vibrant equine industry and Sands Anderson PC’s talent and resources have provided me with an opportunity to expand my equine practice to handle

More on Kelly LaPar PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY LAPAR

Kelly LaPar and Sshamey after their win for Arabian Hunter Pleasure Amateur Owner to Ride at the Arabian and Half-Arabian Region 8 Championships at the Denver Coliseum in 2006.

comprehensive legal needs, which, for equine law, is really a must. Smith: I knew I wanted to be a lawyer and since I liked horses I decided to make equine law one of my areas of practice. Right out of law school I moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and practiced there for about 10 years. Whatever equine discipline you are in, it has some presence or event in Lexington, so I got exposed to all ends of the horse industry and learned an awful lot. Equine matters are only part of my practice. I also litigate non-horse cases, represent landowners in condemnation suits when their property has been taken by eminent domain, and help families with farm, trust and estate matters.

Q. As an equine attorney, what do you do? LaPar: Equine law includes all legal aspects of the horse industry. The practice involves horse-related business transactions, such as buying and selling, breeding, boarding and leasing. It also involves assisting business clients in evaluating the appropriate way to organize, whether it be a limited liability company, partnership or corporation. In addition, the practice also includes representing clients in contract disputes, real estate transactions, and trust and estate matters. There are also legal issues and laws that are specifically applied to the equine industry. For example, certain statutes apContinued on Page 5

Born: Annapolis, Md. Current residence: Charlottesville. Family: Husband Damien; mother Kathleen and stepfather Ray; father Richard; sister Joy and 2-year-old niece Lydia; and mother- and father-in-law Duane and Shirley. Pets: German shepherd Tally (as in Tally Ho); cats Mimah and Lady Sassafras. Horses: Sshameless Knight, better known at the barn as Sshamey. Hobbies: Spending time with my family, riding my horse and reading. Philosophy on life: “When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have.” —Sir Winston Churchill. Best horse advice ever received: Try to aim for the softest spot to land when falling off your horse. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I was Region 15 unanimous champion in my riding division with Sshamey in 2008 and also a division finalist at the 2008 Arabian and Half-Arabian U.S. National Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

AT WORK

THE POST SUMMER 2010

From Page 4

ply to horse-related activities and the liabilities stemming from those activities for personal injuries. There are also livery lien laws governing the rights and remedies of stable owners and the services provided, land zoning laws and specific requirements for lawful fencing. These are, of course, just a handful of examples of the different legal issues that arise. Smith: I have represented owners, trainers, breeders, agents, farms, veterinarians, sales companies, syndicates, racing partnerships, and insurers. I handle disputes and lawsuits involving fraud, sales problems and liability issues. I also draft agreements—sale contracts, boarding agreements, leases, releases, etc., and form and advise equine businesses. Q. What general advice would you give to horse people? LaPar: Get it in writing. Even though a transaction taking place is fairly substantial in nature, many people in the horse industry do business on a handshake and a smile. You can save a lot of headaches, and possibly money, if you have the transaction in writing and the document is reviewed and revised, if necessary, by your attorney. Smith: In Virginia there are things you can do to protect yourself against liability but most people don’t know what those things are. You need to decide what it is you want to do with horses and then you need to talk to a good lawyer to learn how you can reduce your risks and stay out of trouble. Q. What is the biggest misconception regarding equine law? LaPar: One misconception in the horse industry that I often run into is with Virginia’s Equine Activity Liability Act. The erroneous belief is that the act prevents all liability for horse-related activities, but this is not so. Instead, the act only limits liability in certain circumstances, and

More on Bruce Smith Born: Pittsburgh, Pa. Current residence: Fairfax Station. Family: Married to Laura Williams Smith, father of Maggie (10) and Stuart (8). Pets: Dog Ella, a Lab mix from the pound. Horses: A chestnut quarter horse named High Tech Redneck and a gray Welsh pony for the kids named Princess Buttercup. But we do have an empty stall, and you know how that goes. Hobbies: Horses, golf, history and travel. Philosophy on life: I like Micah 6:8 which says do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God. Best horse advice ever received: I heard John Lyons at a seminar say all horses have one of two problems—either they won’t go or they won’t stop. He said you only want to buy ones that won’t stop, because you can work with that problem. What would people be surprised to learn about you? That’s hard to say. It would depend on whether people know me socially or professionally. Sometimes people who know me socially are surprised at how serious I am in the courtroom and in negotiations. I am definitely more fun out of the office. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRUCE SMITH

Bruce Smith with his faithful dog, Ella.

those in the horse community need to seek guidance on this legal issue. Smith: That it is too expensive to get a lawyer’s help with things like contracts. The truth is a good contract often can prevent a really expensive dispute. Some folks are penny-wise and pound-foolish. That doesn’t work well with horses and it doesn’t work well with legal issues either. Q. Describe the most interesting or unusual case you’ve been involved in as an equine attorney? LaPar: I am still waiting on Mr. Ed to call for consultation, but, typically, I find

that all of the clients I work with have interesting or unique components to their specific case or legal issue. Smith: I have had a few very colorful fraud cases. Unfortunately, most of a lawyer’s best stories he is not allowed to tell. One story I can tell without violating confidences involved the sale of a young racehorse. It was a very, very high price even for a Thoroughbred and the seller was delighted. The deal had been negotiated and was all wrapped up—or so they thought. I had the seller and the buyer’s agent on the phone getting the final details to write

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ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

THE POST SUMMER 2010

Warsaw man finds his calling PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

Bill Northern takes a moment to greet Malibu Barbie, owned by Karin Mustoe, before he starts his communication session with her.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the Virginia Horse Industry Board. The board is allowing The Post to run the article to illustrate the diversity of Virginia’s horse industry. By Dan Neman

cientists don’t believe it. Veterinarians don’t believe it. But the people who hire him believe Bill Northern can talk to horses and other animals. And that they talk back to him. Northern, 72, is an animal communicator—or, as he puts it, a horse psychic. He closes his eyes, dangles a small pendulum from his right hand, and telepathically asks a horse if anything is bothering it. It’s the kind of occupation that invites

skepticism. Bonnie Beaver, executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, said, “Most of the ones that claim to be communicators probably are not, any more than palm readers are palm readers or fortune tellers are fortune tellers.” But horse owners pay attention to Northern and other animal communicators because they seem to be accurate. A lot. On a recent Saturday, Northern was at a farm owned by Karin Mustoe near Nokesville, in Prince William County. Mustoe mentioned that one horse was balking at being loaded into a trailer. Northern closed his eyes and telepathically talked to the horse, a mare named Gracie. When finished, he told Mustoe that Gracie would

like one of Mustoe’s ponies to be loaded alongside her. Mustoe did not look surprised. “That’s just what I had to do the last time, after 30 minutes of struggling with her,” she said. This was the second time Northern had been to Mustoe’s farm. The first time, she had him come up from his home in Warsaw mostly out of curiosity, as a birthday present to herself to see what animal communicators do. “I was skeptical in the beginning,” she said, but when he started to work, “he knew things he couldn’t know.” Now she listens carefully to what he has to say—or rather, what he says her horses have to say. Continued on Page 7

More on Bill Northern Born: 1938, Warsaw, Va. Resides: Lexington, Ky.; Warsaw, Va.; and Rakaia, New Zealand. Family: Married 51 years to wife, Ann. Adult daughters Debbie and Cathie. Pets: None, after a beloved dog died. Occupation: Animal communicator, dowser. Former owner of Wardico, an office and janitorial supply products company. Education: One year at Lynchburg College, studying business. Best horse advice ever received: “Don’t take it so seriously. Just enjoy your horse.” People would be surprised to know: Although he doesn’t like to communicate with cats because they lie to him, “I don’t really hate cats.”

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

THE POST SUMMER 2010

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

Bill Northern communicates with Malibu Barbie as his wife Ann Northern watches and listens outside the stall. From Page 6

Gracie in particular has been obstinate; she acts up and gets on Mustoe’s nerves. Northern said that apparently the feeling is mutual. Gracie told him that she doesn’t think Mustoe takes riding seriously enough and that she doesn’t try hard enough, he said. And he said she would much prefer to be ridden by a male who is strong and wants to ride. “She’s not a bad horse. She’s just bad with you,” he said. One more thing: Gracie is a little jealous of the attention given to the horse in the next stall, Malibu Barbie. She thinks she is every bit as pretty as Malibu Barbie, he said, and part of the problem is that she doesn’t think her name befits her beauty. Mustoe thought for a second and suggested Tinkerbell. The horse liked that name better, but was happier when it was shortened to Belle. Gracie is now known as Southern Belle. Nonbelievers might think this is hogwash, but Mustoe listens intently because Northern has been right in the past. The first time Northern was out to see them,

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

Bill Northern uses a pendulum to help him communicate with animals.

Malibu Barbie told him, among other things, that she was uncomfortable because Mustoe leans to the right when riding her. Mustoe confessed that yes, she does tend to put more weight on her right side when she rides that particular horse. Beaver acknowledges that it cannot be definitively disproven that a few people do communicate with animals, but she has a theory for how most animal communicators work. She said that they are expert at reading the owners’ body language and take their cues from that. Or they speak in general terms, she said, and pursue a particular line of thought when they see the owner agreeing with them. “They’re using some very basic knowledge and relying on feedback for the rest,” she said. Many people who are righthanded often tend to sit on the right.” But people who have seen Northern in action trust him. Jackie Box, of Manassas, boards a couple of horses at Mustoe’s stable. Her horse Pebbles has always been skittish about trail rides, but Box remembered something she had heard Northern tell Mustoe about a similarly nervous horse: The horse just wants everything

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

Bill Northern talks with Karin Mustoe about her horses Frankie (left) and Sarafina (in the background).

explained to her and to be reassured that the experience will be fun. Box tried it herself on Pebbles, explaining that they were going on a trail ride and promising that she would be perfectly safe. She told the horse where they were going to go and how long it was going to take, and she assured her that they were then going to come back home. “We had the best trail ride ever. It was amazing. It really made you believe,” Box said. Northern became interested in communicating with animals when he took a course in dowsing at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vt. Dowsing is the centuries-old and scientifically inexact art of finding water or objects underground, traditionally by using a forked stick and the dowser’s own psychic senses. “When I went to dowsing school, I found out you can use those same senses to listen to anything. You can listen to plants and animals,” he said. At first, he had difficulty communicating with animals, but he got better with a few months of practice. At that point, in 1994, he sold his janitorial supply dis-

tribution company and took up animal communication as a career. It wasn’t that much of a stretch. For 25 years, he had owned Standardbreds and had grown tired of paying veterinary bills for work that failed to improve the horses. He thought, why not just ask the horses themselves what is wrong with them? And he doesn’t even have to be present to communicate with the animals. From his home in Warsaw, he can do a remote reading of a horse in New Zealand, where he spends much of his year. “You have a model [Northern uses the commercially available anatomy model called The Visible Horse] and you use your pendulum. You give that model the horse’s name, and it’s like you’re there. You can touch it and know.” But remote readings aren’t quite as simple as that. He compares the process to trying to listen to AM radio. You tune into one station, and another station soon comes in. So you twist the dial to find the station again, but then a different station comes in. If there are animals near the one he is trying to communicate with, “all the other animals want to be heard.”

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Therapeutic riding By Andy Taylor

hen Mary Jo Beckman co-founded a therapeutic riding program for wounded GIs four years ago she decided to waive military protocol. Beckman dropped the commander title from her name and had the riders call her Mary Jo. “I didn’t want them to feel like they couldn’t talk to me,” said Beckman, a retired Navy commander who has turned her love for horses into a mission to help restore the bodies and confidence of disabled military veterans. All the riders in the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs are disabled and many are amputees who lost limbs in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Beckman and program co-founder Larry Pence arrive at Fort Myer at 8 a.m. every Thursday to meet patients from Walter

Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and put them on the backs of sturdy draft horses, the same horses that haul caskets to gravesites at military funerals in adjacent Arlington National Cemetery. Even without the military title, make no mistake, Beckman is in charge. She’s neither loud nor talkative but when she speaks people listen. Dressed in a floppy blue hat with a dangly chin strap, blue jeans and a blue polo shirt bearing the program’s logo, Beckman’s eyes are focused intently on every move of horse and rider. She knows what she’s looking for. Beckman, a native Texan who grew up on horseback, is certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association as a master therapeutic riding instructor. She is also a certified driving instructor for people with disabilities who are unable to ride but can be

Program at Fort Myer driven by a passion for horses, the military and helping others trained to drive horse drawn carriages. Pence, a retired Army command sergeant major, began riding horses in 1997 with his wife, Peggy, after he ended his 28-year military career. He acknowledges that Beckman is the program’s riding leader but he does a lot of the organizational planning and also works with the soldiers and horses during the classes. On this brilliant April morning, Beckman, Pence and about a dozen active duty soldiers and civilian volunteers work with three women riders, two of whom are amputees. Two are military and one is a CBS News radio reporter who lost her leg in a roadside explosion last year on assignment in Afghanistan. The horses and riders work through nonstop drills in a narrow corral situated between two large brick stables that house the approximately five dozen horses of the U.S.

Army Caisson Platoon, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. A reporter casually comments to a program volunteer that Beckman is strictly business. “Absolutely, but she has to be.” said JanaLee Sponberg, of Alexandria. “She cannot afford to lose her focus.” Beckman said her biggest fear is having a rider hit the ground. That has happened only twice. Everything goes smoothly in this session. The riders, relatively new to the program, sit on horses as soldiers in blue jeans and black T-shirts serve as lead and side walkers. Beckman, Pence and the other volunteers are also on foot. Beckman and the riders appear oblivious when ceremonial cannons boom nearby. The horses barely blink and continue to walk and turn on command.

More on Beckman Mary Jo Beckman assumes she’s always been a rider. She said there is a family photo of her sitting on a horse when she was a year old. That was in Austin, Texas, where she grew up and where her parents were professors at the University of Texas. Her father had ridden horses when he was younger and decided to get horses for some family land outside of town. She said her brothers began riding but after some mishaps, her mother insisted the kids get riding lessons. Beckman said that was the beginning of her love affair with horses. In high school she showed English on her beloved quarter horse hunter, Tom. Beckman stayed in Austin for college, graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in history in 1973. After college, she joined the Navy as a commissioned officer. Her first duty assignment was Oahu, Hawaii, where she met her husband, Bob, also a Naval officer. Beckman doesn’t hesitate when asked why someone from a landlocked place such as Austin would join the Navy. “To get out of Texas,” she said with a slight smile. She didn’t totally leave Texas behind. She had Tom shipped to Hawaii, where he stayed in stables on base. She then had him transported to California when she was reassigned there. When she transferred to Washington in 1984, Tom went back to Texas. He died at age 24 while she was serving in Greece. Beckman retired as a commander in 1994 and now lives in Falls Church. Beckman said she doesn’t own a horse these days and doesn’t have much time to ride because she is so busy volunteering. In addition to the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs she runs with co-founder Larry Pence and teaching therapeutic driving, Beckman works with disabled children. She also volunteers with the Red Cross at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where, in addition to other things, she changes bedsheets, gathers dirty laundry and talks with the wounded veterans.

The class ends with a trail ride—actually on pavement—through a hilly section of Fort Myer. The entourage walks alongside the horses, with Pence up front and Beckman bringing up the rear. They keep their eyes focused on the riders to make sure they are maintaining proper posture and balance. Pence said there is a reason the riders sit on thick pads rather than in saddles. “The way horses walk is basically the same as you and me,” he said. “We want the riders’ hip movement to be synchronized with the horses. . . . This allows muscles remaining in the legs and in the core and hip girdle to be worked and retrained.” Back in the corral, the volunteers help the riders dismount and serve up pretzels and peppermints as treats for the horses. As soon as the riders from the first class board the van to return to Walter Reed, the second session riders arrive, creating a buzz in the corral. “The Mikes are here,” a volunteer said enthusiastically. They are a couple of outgoing wounded war veterans who are greeted with handshakes, laughter and some goodnatured teasing. The Mikes are Mike Cain and Michael Blair. With them is Jessica Mullen, an Air Force dependent, who has an ailment that has weakened her left side. Cain, a medically retired Army staff sergeant, lost his right leg in Iraq in 2003 when the truck he was driving hit a land mine. He also suffered other serious injuries, including being shot in the head, in the incident. Blair, a Marine Corps sergeant, had shrapnel tear through both knees in Iraq in 2006 when the truck he was driving hit explosive devices. He has had more than 60 operations to repair damage to his legs.

The Mikes are good friends and have been in horse riding therapy with Beckman and Pence for about three years. Cain immediately asks for Bud, a big, dark horse that he said he loves and hopes to adopt and take home when he leaves the Army. Beckman told him Bud was being saddled for him. In the end, the program’s co-founders were pleased with the day’s work. The riders received muscle strengthening workouts and there were no incidents. They are not paid for their work but feel rewarded in other ways. “It’s both humbling and inspirational being around these young men and women,” Pence said. “It’s an opportunity for me to give back and do what I can for our wounded soldiers.” He feels his strength is being able to talk soldier to soldier with the disabled GIs who come through the program. “Larry has been the backbone of the Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs. His vision has always been to educate people about the benefits of the equines. He particularly wanted to reach wounded warriors and veterans when they return home. He has been an outstanding spokesman for equine assisted activities to numerous military conferences,” Beckman said. Beckman said her pay is “Seeing the horses do what they do that benefits the people. My empathy is with the horses.” “She’s extraordinarily dedicated,” Pence said of Beckman. “She’s totally able to focus on those riders and horses once the lesson begins and extremely able to help the riders do the things to challenge them and give them the therapy they need.”

PHOTO BY ANDY TAYLOR

More on Pence

PHOTO BY ANDY TAYLOR PHOTO BY ANDY TAYLOR

Minnie is one of the horses with whom Mary Jo Beckman frequently works.

A patient from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center rides a Caisson Platoon horse during a therapy session at Fort Myer. Soldiers assigned to the Caisson Platoon serve as side walkers.

Larry Pence’s philosophy on life says a lot about how he became a co-founder with Mary Jo Beckman of the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs. “There are people who go through their entire lives and never help another individual,” he said. “Don’t be one of them.” He’s not one of them. He gave 28 years to the U.S. Army, retiring at Fort Myer in 1997 with the rank of command sergeant major. Now, at 63, he’s still giving through his volunteer work with wounded GIs. Beckman came up with the idea for using the Army’s Caisson Platoon horses as therapy for the war wounded but it was Pence who had the connections to get them an audience with the post’s military leadership to sell the idea. Pence said he has been riding horses with his wife, Peggy, since he retired. She was the connection who brought Beckman and Pence together to form the Equine Assisted Programs. The arrangement has worked out well with the Army providing the horses and the lead and side walkers for the therapy classes. In addition to Pence and Beckman, the program uses volunteers who love horses and want to help wounded veterans. The Pences now have four horses that they ride on their 26-acre farm in Stafford County. When he is not riding or volunteering, Pence is a consultant on Army training issues for defense contractor CACI Inc. Pence said the best horse advice he ever received is “Never underestimate a horse.”

10 GRANT RECIPIENT

THE POST SUMMER 2010

Equine 911

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MARE CENTER

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue program participants learn how to guide a horse in the water using an inflated fire hose strapped around the animal’s body to help support it and prevent fatigue as the horse swims.

Helping people prepare for horse emergencies By Janet Showalter

he horse trailer was on its side on Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County when rescue workers arrived. The horses trapped inside wanted out. Nearby, smoked billowed from smashed cars. Bloodied motorists needed immediate attention. “I don’t want to say we had no idea what we were doing, but we had never dealt with anything like that before,” said Capt. William Tydings, head of the Animal Control Division of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Department. At the end of that day about 10 years ago, all the horses had survived, but motorists suffered serious injuries. The accident taught Tydings a valuable lesson: His staff needed to be better prepared for horse-related emergencies. Enter Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE Center). In 2008, it began offering an educational series designed to prepare

fire and rescue workers, police, animal control officers and veterinarians for emergencies involving horses and riders. Emergencies can be anything from an overturned horse trailer to a barn fire. “I had heard stories about horses loose on the highway and how police tried to corral them—the horses ended up running into oncoming traffic,” said Dr. Shea Porr, superintendent of the Dr. Shea Porr MARE Center. “Both horses and humans suffered injuries.” The emergency rescue training is part of year-round educational opportunities offered by the MARE Center. The facility, on 420 acres a mile south of Middleburg, also conducts seminars on horse nutrition, basic first aid, pasture management, lameness issues, breeding and other topics.

Last year, the center received a $1,400 grant from the Virginia Horse Industry Board for “Fire, Water, Wind & Ice: Equine Emergency Preparedness in Virginia.” The all-day seminar at the MARE Center was filled with horse owners wanting to know the best ways to prevent horse-related emergencies. “We are trying to make people aware ahead of time of what they can do to prevent an emergency from taking place,” Porr said. “People are becoming more aware, especially after things like Hurricane Katrina.” Experts, from veterinarians to barn managers, offered tips on such topics as how to keep your barn from becoming a fire hazard, how to have a backup plan for water in case power goes out during a storm, trailer safety and equine emergency kits. “I tell those who come [to the seminars] that I really hope this is the most wasted Continued on Page 11

More on Dr. Shea Porr Born: Feb. 22, 1967 in Ohio. Current residence: Charlestown, W.Va. Family: Husband Smitty. Pets: Cats Fafnir and Kismet. Education: B.S. in animal science from Texas A&M (1990); master’s in equine nutrition from the University of Florida (1993); Ph.D. in equine nutrition and exercise physiology from Virginia Tech (1996). Hobbies: Reading science fiction and fantasy. Philosophy on life: Life is meant to be enjoyed. You need to like what you do. If not, why are we doing what we are doing? Best horse advice ever received: Patience. What’s the one thing you can’t live without? “My husband. He supports me. He’s not the same as me, but we blend and we mesh.”

GRANT RECIPIENT 11

THE POST SUMMER 2010 From Page 10

time of your life,” Porr said. “But it is so important to be prepared.” While the emergency preparedness class was geared toward horse owners, the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue programs are designed for veterinarians and rescue personnel but are also open to horse owners. These programs are partially funded by additional VHIB grants. Porr said she became aware of the need for the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue programs after the MARE Center conducted a survey in 2007. The survey was sent to police and fire and rescue departments in six counties in Northern Virginia. Sixty percent of those responding said they had been called to a horse-related emergency, but only 20 percent had ever had training in handling such an emergency. “It may not happen a lot, but it does happen,” said Tydings, who estimates Spotsylvania responds to at least a couple of horserelated emergencies a year. “So when it does happen, you want to be prepared.” The seminars teach, among other things: how to properly approach and handle a horse during an emergency, what equipment to use to pull a horse and rider from a ravine and how to properly round up horses that are loose on the highway. “We had a horse and rider down a ravine not too long ago,” Tydings said. “They must have slid down there. If we didn’t know what we were doing, it could have ended badly. We had veterinarian, fire and rescue personnel on site to pull them out. It was a successful rescue.” Those are the stories Porr loves to hear. “There is nothing more important than being prepared,” she said. To find out more about the MARE Center’s educational offerings, visit www.arec. vaes.vt.edu/middleburg/.

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue program participants learn to assemble and utilize an A-frame to lift a horse out of a simulated ditch and maneuver the animal onto safe ground. The A-frame is assembled and uses a pulley system to lift the animal from the ground. Once the horse is lifted, the A-frame is shifted, gently swinging the horse out of the ditch and over more solid footing. The horse is then safely lowered to the ground. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MARE CENTER

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MARE CENTER

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue program participants learn to work together and use a snow fence to corral loose animals without having to actually catch the animals individually. Sometimes it may be too difficult to approach loose animals or the location may make it dangerous. Using a portable fence to guide the animals to a safe location and allowing them to calm down may be the best option.

Program participants learn how to remotely clip a line to a horse’s halter while the horse is in a simulated overturned trailer. The red line on the ground indicates the trailer and an area that emergency responders shouldn’t enter for safety reasons. Horses often travel in trailers with a lead attaching them to the trailer wall. Here, a lead rope is clipped to the horse’s halter using a long pole with a modified snap on the end. Once the horse is secured, a safety cutting device is used to release the horse from the lead that is holding him to the trailer and the horse is led out.

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12 WINNING COMBINATION

Just the ticket

THE POST SUMMER 2010

Virginia Lottery employee-horse racing fan contributes his two cents to new game

and producing motion graphics. But he could participate by helping to devise the new game’s prizes. “It was exciting learning about how new games are developed and the thought process,” Nicolls said. “We like to pull in individuals from other departments with areas of expertise who can contribute to the success of our games,” Dean said. “Ben was a key player and a strong PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VIRGINIA LOTTERY contributor.” Ben Nicolls enjoys spending time at Colonial Downs. The Winner’s Circle game is a collaboration between the By Pamela Stallsmith state lottery and Colonial Downs. hen Virginia Lottery officials “The Winner’s Circle game benefits the wanted help developing a new Lottery by giving us a product that apgame related to horse racing, they peals to horse lovers and also leverages had to look no further than colleague Ben the name recognition of Colonial Downs Nicolls. in Virginia. We think it will be an excitNicolls, a media production specialist, ing game that will help us raise money for is known for his keen interest in playing Virginia’s K-12 public schools,” said John the ponies. So Gwen Dean, director of Hagerty, Virginia Lottery spokesman. marketing, asked him to join their develThe standard $2 scratch ticket was opment meetings. scheduled to launch June 1, with a top “They knew I was a horse racing enthu- prize of $10,000. But it also offers a secsiast, and they wanted the input of some- ond-chance cash prize and points for body who was into horse racing. So I gave prizes, and that’s where Nicolls became them my thoughts, my feelings about the involved. prizes and what would really be inter“They’re prizes that horse enthusiasts esting for the horse racing enthusiast,” would like to win,” he said. Nicolls said. “I was honored to be asked to When a player receives a non-winning be part of the committee.” ticket, he or she can enter it to win a secAs a media production specialist, ond chance cash prize or play a Web game Nicolls isn’t involved in the creation of and collect points prizes. With the ticket, new games. Rather, he’s part of the lot- players would go to the lottery’s Web site tery’s news crew, providing video services —www.virginialottery.com—enter the code on the ticket and get awarded points. Those points can be cashed in for a variety More on Ben Nicolls of prizes. Born: Richmond, 1973. “Most players play for cash,” Nicolls Current residence: Quinton. said. “The second chance prize [and Family: Wife Candace. points for prizes] is a way to keep people Pet: German pinscher Rocky. involved. The prizes are very exciting.” Horses: One day. The fi rst major prize is “owning” a Hobbies: Horse racing, exercise, racehorse for a day. A winner and seven playing drums. guests will be treated to a premier day at Philosophy on life: Work hard, try not the races, complete with a limo; meetto be cynical and things will work out for you. ings with the actual owner, jockey and Best horse advice ever received: stable staff; tours of the track and stable; Don’t be suckered in by high-speed a meal in the Turf Dining Room; $100 for ratings all the time. wagering; $200 for track souvenirs, and What would people be surprised to other perks. If your horse wins, you win learn about you? I’m really into art. the purse.

There’s the guaranteed betting bonanza where the winner receives a $10 win ticket on every horse for every race in a single day at Colonial Downs. “You’re guaranteed to have at least one winning ticket in every race, but if a long shot comes in, that would be great,” Nicolls said. Also there’s a $2 win bonanza, where winners score $2 for every horse in every race. “We were pushing for more fantasy-type of prizes,” Nicolls said. Nicolls is a lifelong racing fan. “I’ve always been into horse racing, by virtue of the fact that my dad had all these photos of a trotter my grandfather used to have, Wee Willy Winkle,” he said. Nicolls grew up in the town of Onley on Virginia’s Eastern Shore and became a frequent visitor in college to Delmarva Downs, now called Ocean Downs, near Ocean City, Md. That’s where Wee Willy Winkle used to race. “As a teenager on the Eastern Shore there wasn’t a lot of entertainment, so me and my buddies would drive up to Ocean Downs at least once a week. We had the goal of winning back gas money and getting something to eat. More often than not, we came back with more than we took.” After graduating from James Madison University with a degree in mass communications in 1995, Nicolls took a job as a director at Harrisonburg television station WSHV-TV. After about four years, he moved to WVEC-TV in Virginia Beach, where he worked for seven years. He came to Richmond as a government contractor working for Fort Lee doing video services for the U.S. Army Logistics Management College. Three years ago, he landed a job at the Virginia Lottery. During this time, he continued to visit the track. And still does. When he visits the Eastern Shore, he takes his mother to Ocean Downs. “She’s got the gift—she can look at the [Daily Racing] Form and pick a winner. All she

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VIRGI

NIA LOTTERY

does is give it a cursory look. I don’t question it.” He also visits Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland. Nicolls learned how to handicap from his father. “I would bring back programs from Ocean Downs, show him what I did or didn’t do, and he showed me how to improve what I was doing.” Nicolls didn’t start betting on Thoroughbreds until he moved to the Richmond area eight years ago. It helps that he lives just three miles away from Colonial Downs in New Kent County. “I go to both seasons, Thoroughbred and trotter. They are beautiful animals, amazing to watch.”

What’s the one thing you can’t live without and why? “I would probably have to say exercise. I exercise five or six times a week. We all have things in our lives that may stress us out. Exercise is a good way to clear your mind. You can put your frustrations into that instead of dwelling on them. I don’t think I’d be too happy if I couldn’t exercise.”

STYLE 13

THE POST SUMMER 2010

Brown, who rides a 12-year-old Tennessee walking horse, Mountain Shadow Delight (or Shadow or Doe for short), is a sidesaddle instructor, participates in shows, parades, trail rides and demonstrations. Her showing achievements include ISSO 2007-2008 National Champion, 2009 Reserve Champion, 2009 Champion Red Hat division (over 55), 2009 Champion Equitation Division Rider, and 2009 Champion Costume Division Rider. For several years she was a regional representative for ISSO and ran Victorian Ladies Aside, a Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania group that primarily does demonstrations at Civil War re-enactments. In Bumpass woman and 2006 when the current ISSO president reher family hooked on signed, Brown was asked to take over. “I have a lot of nonprofit experience and riding sidesaddle ISSO is a nonprofit, so they asked me,” By Deborah Rider Allen said Brown, who took office in April 2007 hose who ride sidesaddle will tell you and was re-elected in 2009 to another three-year term. it’s easier than riding astride. Formed in the 1970’s, the ISSO is one of “It is not harder, it is just different. And sidesaddle is more comfortable,” said the world’s oldest formal groups devoted 57-year-old Janet L. Brown, president of to the promotion and preservation of ridthe International Side Saddle Organization ing aside (as riding sidesaddle is called). The group provides information, resourc(ISSO) and a sidesaddle rider since 1993. Brown got interested in riding sidesad- es and education to riders, instructors and anyone interested in dle when participatthe sport. There are ing in Civil War reWhy do you like ISSO regional repreenactments with her sentatives in 25 states husband. As a female riding sidesaddle? as well as Canada, The she was not allowed to “It is just exactly what they Netherlands and Ausride horses astride. call it—the saddle of queens. It tria. There are four “I got tired of watchdoes something to you. You sit regional representaing and sitting in camp straighter and feel elegant.” tives in Virginia. The so I asked the com—Janet Brown group also runs Sidemander how I could “To prove to people that it can Saddlery (visit www. ride, and he said only be done. I would rather ride sidesaddle.com and if I rode sidesaddle. I sidesaddle than astride any day.” click on The Side Sadhad no idea of what —Kathleen Bowman dlery), an online sideI was getting into,” “I like it because it is different.” saddle supply store. said Brown, who got a —Abby Bowman “We want to educate few books, bought an “I like to wear pretty dresses.” people that sidesaddle old Civil War-period —Lilly Bowman is not just for the show sidesaddle and set out ring; that it has benefits to learn. “After doing it for seven or eight years with for today’s riders and is not just an old-fashsome success, I found someone to give me a ioned way to ride,” said Brown. “We have lesson and it made all the difference,” she said.

Life aside T

PHOTO BY BHS PHOTOGRAPHY

Continued on Page 14

Janet Brown on Shaka Zulu at the USET show in September 2007.

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14 STYLE

THE POST SUMMER 2010

PHOTO BY BHS PHOTOGRAPHY

Janet Brown’s granddaughter Abby Bowman and her horse Chickadee at Woodwind, a historical home in Finksburg, Md., at an ISSO clinic last June. From Page 13

More on Janet Brown Born: Janet Smith, 1953 in Little Rock, Ark. Current residence: Bumpass. Family: Husband Mark Bailey; daughter Kathleen Bowman, 35; granddaughters Abby and Lilly. Pets: Cats Caesar, Sunkist, Nip, Ices, Bink, Brother and kittens Gandolf and Winnie. Horses: Seven on the farm: Mountain Shadow Delight; MacGregor’s Smoke (Mark’s horse); Teddy Bear and Bocs Rare Jet (granddaughters’ horses); Sundance (brother’s horse) and two borders, Diesel and Freckles. Occupation: Sidesaddle instructor, Instructive Visiting Nurse Association administrative services coordinator. Education: UCLA, history major. Hobbies: Sidesaddle, anything to do with horses, Civil War re-enacting, Renaissance fairs and Celtic gatherings. Philosophy on life: The Golden Rule: Treat everyone like you want to be treated and 99 percent of the time you get treated with respect in the same way. Best horse advice ever received: There are those that have been off and those that are coming off. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I am a Druid Priestess.

people who do just about anything that you can do astride. And some people, who have physical disabilities that cannot ride any other way, can ride sidesaddle.” For Brown, riding sidesaddle is not only her passion, but a family affair. Her daughter and two granddaughters all compete riding aside in ISSO events. Her daughter, Kathleen, was 2008 Reserve Champion, 2009 Senior Division champion (19-54), and 2009 Ninth Place Top 10 Riders. Granddaughter Abby, 12, was 2009 Fifth Place in Top 10 Riders, Youth Division Champion, and her horse, Chickadee, was the 2009 Grade Horse Champion. Granddaughter Lilly, 7, was 2008 Seventh Place in Top 10 Riders, 2008 Youth Division Champion, 2009 Eighth Place in Top 10 Riders, Reserve Champion in Youth Division, and her pony, Teddy Bear, was the 2009 Reserve Champion Grade Horse. Brown once did a demonstration at the Virginia Equine Extravaganza in Richmond. “We put cabbages on the top of the jump standards and I rode by and used a sword to chop them up,” she said. “I like to show people that basically anything you can do in a regular saddle you can do in a sidesaddle. And besides, it is just fun.”

PHOTO BY BHS PHOTOGRAPHY

Kathleen Bowman, Janet Brown’s daughter, at the Woodwind house, a historical home in Finksburg, Md., at an ISSO clinic last June. Kathleen is riding Brown’s horse Mountain Shadow Delight, a Tennessee walking horse.

PHOTO BY BHS PHOTOGRAPHY

Janet Brown’s granddaughter Lilly Bowman was the 2008 ISSO National Youth Sidesaddle Champion. Here she is riding Teddy Bear during an ISSO clinic last summer.

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOTS 15

THE POST SUMMER 2010

PHOTO BY KIM CHEWNING-MCCARTHY

The book jacket for “Secretariat’s Meadow — The Land, The Family, The Legend,” by Kate Chenery Tweedy and Leeanne Ladin, featuring a painting of Secretariat by Jamie Corum, was revealed during Secretariat’s 40th birthday celebration in late March at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell. The book is expected to be published in September.

During Secretariat’s birthday event in late March at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, people could visit Rainaway, Secretariat’s great grandson and current resident of the park.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HELEN MESSENGER

Jordan Thompson rides Snoopy during a Special Olympics Virginia competition. PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY MASTERS

Students from Lexington’s Stone Bridge Farm’s Interscholastic Equestrian Association Middle and Upper School teams, and their trainer Lilly de Sousa, are seen prior to leaving their homes in southern Virginia to try to win top honors at the Zone III Finals in Maryland in early April. De Sousa and stable owner Katrina Weinig were to accompany the young teammates, ages 11 to 19, to the two day hunter/jumper competition where they would be judged by Eddie Federswisch of Church Hill, Tenn., on their skills in the saddle against 10 other IEA teams. Upper School team made it to the IEA finals at the Georgia International Horse Park. In addition, riders Madison Macher and Carly Williams qualified as individuals for the finals.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HELEN MESSENGER

Six athletes from Chesterfield, Henrico, and Midlothian competed with their coaches and instructors from Mesa Vista Therapeutics, a nonprofit therapeutic horse riding center in Powhatan, in the equine competition portion of Special Olympics Virginia. The event was held at the end of March at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. Cadets from VMI, where the rest of the competitions were held, assisted all the different groups of athletes in the competitions. The athletes, volunteers and coaches are pictured with their VMI volunteers. First row: Jordon Thompson and volunteers Kaitlin Radican, Halay Creasy and Alexa Romano. Second row: Helen Messenger (founder of Mesa Vista Therapeutics), Kenneth and Kaitlin Williams and Rachael Duncan-White. Third row: Ryan Smeltzer, VMI Cadets and Kathleen Jones (NARHA instructor and coach). Missing from the photo is Davis Thompson.

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