August/September 2013

THE

a r a b i a n SPORT HORSE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Oz Poof of Purchase with Katy Groesbeck

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Introducing 2

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Audacious Dream BR 2011 Arabian

by Audacious PS out of Blackberry Dream BR

Introductory Stud Fee $1,500

BittersweetArabians.com At Bittersweet Arabians, we breed for excellence.

Audacious Dream BR has character, athleticism and versatility with a World Class pedigree.

Sweepstakes Nominated • SCID and CA Clear

CONTACT:

(612) 710-6730 Jordan Simons, Trainer (406) 531-5330 Lan LaRocque

a r a b i a n

THE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

SPORT HORSE

a r a b i a n SPORT HORSE

an

entice design llc publication

entice-design.com

Publisher Cassandra Ingles

M AG AZ INE

CONTENTS 14 made ya look A Big Heart in a Small Horse

20 breeder q&A: playland farm Breeder Profile

30 andy go dandy Combined Driving Success

Editor Peggy Ingles Advertising (410) 823-5579

36 renaissance horse The horse that does it all

42 katy groesbeck & the oz brothers Cover Story

48 Kestrel’s calling Website TheArabianSportHorse.com

A horse that wanted more

54 Healing hazen

By Elizabeth Coffey-Curle

Email

info@thearabiansporthorse.com

64 eventing stars: sparky & jane

By Kat Walden

Submissions & Story Ideas Welcomed!

69 PL irish thunder A Half-Arabian Changing Minds

Copyright 2013 All rights reserved.

No reproduction without written permission.

Please see our contributors’ bios on our website at thearabiansporthorse.com/features.php

6

From the Judge’s Booth

52

10

Despite the Odds

60 Profiles in Courage

18

Biomechanics

62

Huadoresya

26

Conformation Clinic

72

Reading Reflections

34

Lec

78

Bits & Pieces

40

Worth the Work

80

Classifieds & Service Listings

46

Samantha Hodgson

82

Upcoming AHA SH Shows

Details in Dressage

4

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Mirage V

++++//

ghter Mirai C, proudly owned

ional Reserve Champion dau Mirage V++++// with his Nat

by Karla and Mimi Stanley

Celebrating the Achievements...

Mirage V++++// Offspring Shine

Both National Reserve Champions Maska C (out of Evening Star RR) and Anna Miriah C (out of Windsong Bey) have gone on to win more honors and are SHN bound. Watch for Maska C in Dressage and SHUS Jr Horse with owner Megan Frantz and Anna Miriah C in SHIH Mares with owner Lynn Tucker

The uber-beautiful Ammiraj (x Rajima Black by Klint Black+++//) is SHN bound! “Ammiraj is fifth generation of my breeding and the fiftieth foal that I have bred, so I am especially excited about showing her in the 2 Year Old SHIH Filly class.”

Sue Eves, Charming Meadow Farm, PA

Miraggio (x Yankee La gelding, will make his s with owners Tina and Purchased as a weanlin this boy is family affair smarts, even temperam movem

Catori Creek Arabians • Beth Conti • www.miragev.com • 1miragev@gmail.com • (916) 752-9480

Celebrating the Beauty of Sport... and More August/September 2013

5

By any measure, last year was an extraordinary one for Mirage V++++//. Here’s what he’s accomplished: Two National Championships, a Reserve National Championship, Legion of Masters Honor, and the special distinction of being named Sport Horse of the Year by Arabian Horse Times Readers’ Choice. I am honored he’s received recognition by both the Sport Horse and the Arabian horse community. I am grateful for and humbled by the respect and appreciation given to my special boy …. Mirage V++++//.

Mirage, the ONLY Arabian to achieve National Titles in Sport Horse, Dressage,and Working Western, is a talented athlete blessed with an exceptional temperament and an incomparable work ethic. His personality, kindness, versatility and athleticism set him apart and explain his frequent appearances in show winning circles.

These qualities account for an impressive book of 25 mares this year. Mirage, on a well deserved break from showing, accommodated a wonderful group of mares representing a wide range of disciplines, and diverse pedigrees, from National Champions to treasured companion mares. I am heartened by the confidence and trust mare owners and breeders have invested in Mirage and welcome them into our Mirage family. Thank you all for allowing me to share in your journeys.

And the Mirage V++++// journey continues … exciting news coming in September.

Celebrating the Magic of Foals...

Introducing a few fabulous foals.

Thank you to the mare owners who placed their trust in Mirage V++++//. We wish you a lifetime of happiness with your beautiful babies.

PB Grey Filly - Miraluna Lady (x CDB Aluna) “‘Paisley’ is thriving and level headed. Her personality abounds affection, trust, acuity and intelligence.” Connie Arnold, WA

ady FHP), yearling show debut at SHN Neil Stoernell, VA. ng by the Stoernells, and Tina praises his ment and beautiful ment.

PB Filly - Mirabella Bey (x Kholela Bey+++// ) “I adore my Mirage babies! Mirage has bred athleticism, movement, and type in his babies.“ Megan Frantz, PA

MP Pandora (out of the Trakehner mare Ehrlichkeit), with in-hand wins and now under saddle as a 3 year old.

“MP Pandora is one of the most intelligent, athletic, and even-tempered horses that I have had the pleasure to train. Impressive stature (16.1 and growing), proving to be a delight under saddle, with potential for hunter, dressage, and possibly jumping.” Erica Morgan, CA

© www.entice-design.com

HA Filly - Mi Raajha (x Mi Luna by Toskbria) “Mirage V is the epitome of what we are looking for. We are proud to be showing him off through his kids!” Darson Arabians, TX

Cinzana C (out of MP Nefret by Enzo) This yearling filly has it all... brains, beauty and athleticism. Shown once, she was T5 (ranked 3rd) at the competitive Silver Sire Futurity and Region 3. Tall, leggy and feminine, she is a Nationals caliber filly. Multi-program nominated and star quality.

Available with incentives to the right show home.

6

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

From the Judge’s Booth

By Ashley Wren

Paddy Downing-Nyegard

Liza Dennehy

I had the great privilege of interviewing a couple of the nation’s

Carol Dean Porter

Hunter Over Fences:

best hunter judges about what they look for in the horse and rider while they judge. I asked them questions regarding Working Hunter,

Question: In order of importance, can you list what you judge a

Under Saddle, Equitation, their advice to competitors, and much

hunter horse on during a course; i.e. form over the fences, pace, lead

more. Their answers may surprise you or confirm your showing style

changes, distances, etc.?

for the rest of the 2013 season and show seasons to come.

Paddy: I judge from the moment the horse enters the ring

Carol Dean Porter is an USEF ‘R’ rated judge in Hunters, Jump-

until it leaves the ring. It is a jumping competition, therefore, the

ers, Equitation, Hunter Breeding, is a certified Schooling Supervisor,

jumps are very important; then movement, pace, forward without

and has been a professional hunter/jumper trainer more than 40

running. Distances go with consistency. I think where people get

years. Carol is also one of the principle judges on www.judgemyride.

confused is when a horse that jumps a 10 and has a few “minor”

net. She is available for teaching clinics, and her next Arabian Sport

mistakes and still beats a horse that does not make any mistakes

Horse clinic will be in Tulsa in September.

but jumps a 5. It is a jumping competition.

Paddy Downing-Nyegard has been an USEF ‘R’ rated judge in

Liza: All of the above are important, as are others not men-

Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation since 1989. Paddy was the head

tioned. I place the highest emphasis on “jumping style” or “qual-

hunter judge at the 2012 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals held in

ity” and “overall performance.” Ultimately, it’s the judge’s job to

Nampa, Idaho. She is also available for clinics.

sort out all of the mistakes and balance them with the quality of

Liza Dennehy is a USEF ‘R’ rated judge in Hunters, Jumpers, and

the horse.

Equitation. Liza grew up riding at Arapahoe Riding Club, under the

Carol: Hunters are judged on way of going, style of jumping,

guidance of her parents, Wilson and Sandy Dennehy, both of whom

manners and smoothness around the course. Hunter courses are

are in the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. She has been a judge

generally about 8 jumps and we usually see a couple changes of

for 20 years and D licensed for 27 years. Liza will be one of the judg-

direction. I would love for a horse to enter the ring and pick up his

es judging the 2013 Sport Horse Nationals located at Virginia Horse

even hunting pace, never changing the rhythm all the way around

Center.

the course. He should move with flowing strides, jump in good form with knees tucked up nicely and neck lowered. He should keep a good expression and be relaxed all the way around the course. Penalties include poor jumping form, pace changes, tense-

August/September 2013

7

way to the end of the ring should be sufficient time to establish pace and a circle should not be required. I don’t necessarily penalize a circle in that case, but it is somewhat annoying to waste the time.

Lynn Kaufman Photo

Hunter Under Saddle:

Question: When judging a hunter under saddle class, do you prefer a rider to ride the canter in a full seat or half seat?

Paddy: I prefer somewhere in the middle. Light seat. However, if your horse moves the very best with a full seat or half seat ride, then do it. It is all about being the best in the class in the ring on

Ideal form over fences ness, mouth opening, head throwing, rough or no changes, taking off, rushing the jumps and of course the major faults: refusals and knock downs.

Question: In handy hunter rounds can a rider ride the course too handy? Any tips on getting a better score?

Paddy: The “Handy” must be efficient and done well. Directly to the first jump and exit directly after the last jump (if the course allows it.) HAND GALLOP if the course asks for it. It is important for me to see a true change of pace.

that day.

Liza: A rider should use the seat he is most comfortable with, for his horse. I usually prefer a half seat.

Carol: I prefer “light” seat, but two-point is acceptable. Heavy driving-type full seat is too much.

Question: Do you want to see the horse on the bit in a perpendicular frame or with their nose slightly out? What amount of contact do you prefer to see the horses shown in?

Paddy: Light contact, balanced, relaxed nose slightly out. Not on the ground. Light contact, it is in our rule book.

Liza: I like the nose poked out. Light or even a loop in the rein.

Liza: Choices and consequences. Really handy turns can be

Carol: The rule book says the rider should have “light contact”.

risky. If they’re done well, the result will be a higher score. If the

I prefer horses to be slightly stretched forward. Head carriage ver-

turn is not executed well, the result will be a lower score.

tical is acceptable, inside the vertical never acceptable. The poll

Carol: In the handy course, I expect to see a more “brilliant” pace, economical turns, smooth rollbacks and still jump in good

should be the highest point. We often see horses break at the 3rd vertebrae, not the poll, which is incorrect.

Tracy Kelsey Photo

style and keep an even pace.

Question: When a course starts with a fence coming towards the in-gate, how do you prefer a rider to approach it - down the rail or crossing the diagonal? Do you count off for a rider circling at the other end before approaching the fence?

Paddy: Any of the above. When a rider circles and it is not necessary, it makes us wonder why. Anytime you can keep us from asking “WHY” you should.

Liza: The entrance and approach should make sense and be fairly prompt. ONE circle is allowed.

Carol: When a course starts coming back towards the in-gate, I don’t really care how the rider gets there but I think a trip all the Good example of a hunter on the flat.

8

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine Question: Do you change your placings if a horse gets antsy in

or I will penalize you!

the line up?

Paddy: Antsy, no. Rude, yes.

Liza: Not usually.

Question: Are there any simple tips, the “little extra things,” on how to get your hunter horse to stand apart from the rest?

Carol: Most of the time, I have my class pretty much pinned by

Paddy: It is a “SHOW,” no excuse for ill-fitting tack, dirty hors-

the time they line up. I do generally wait to see if they will stand

es, dirty boots, messy hair, etc. Be sure that when you walk in the

quietly before handing in the results. If someone squirms just a

ring you look like you should be there.

bit I probably won’t mind too much, maybe use it as a tie breaker.

If someone refuses to stand, yes I penalize heavily. Kicking out at other horses is absolutely unacceptable and I will eliminate a horse with such bad manners.

Liza: A well turned out horse is always the first thing a judge notices.

Carol: Remember that you are being judged from the minute you enter the ring until you leave, so enter the ring ON TIME, ORGANIZED, with a plan! Don’t dawdle; get to work. In my flat classes,

Tack:

I am putting your number on my card from BEFORE the class is officially “called to order” so be aware! DO NOT spend lots of time

Question: Do you care what kind of bit a horse has in their

circling and cutting across the ring. Stay out on the rail and be

mouth, any type of bit that you dislike? Would a horse get favoritism

smart about using your corners to space yourself. If you are good,

for going in a bit like a loose ring verses a Pelham if they had equal

I will find you!

rounds?

Paddy: In a perfect world, no, as long as the horses go the

Equitation:

same: relaxed in a “soft” balanced frame.

Liza: As long as it is a conventional hunter bit, use what you like and your horse goes well in.

Carol: I despise kimberwickes. Other than that, anything is ok.

I prefer not to see twisted wire snaffles, but those are legal. I pe-

Question: In order of importance, can you list what you judge an equitation rider on during a course; i.e. position, execution, distances, etc? When you test an equitation rider, what is the main thing you are looking for that sets a rider apart from the rest?

nalize a tightly adjusted martingale. I might place a snaffle over a

Paddy: Your job is to show me that you are capable of execut-

pelham in a pleasure class, but in over fences classes, it does not

ing what the course asks for. I look at the rider’s position, knowl-

matter. Just keep that light contact and don’t get a death grip on

edge of horsemanship and ability to work with their horse, not

your horse’s mouth!

against it.

Liza: I always take note of the general position of a rider and

Question: Your thoughts on martingales? Better score if a horse

then judge the performance. It is important in equitation that a

does not need one in over fence class? Do you count off if they are

rider is in control of his horse at all times. Horsemanship and skill

too tight or loose?

flawlessly demonstrated.

Paddy: Not a better score from me. Too tight is a big NO NO for

Carol: Fence classes: riders are judged on their ability to es-

me. Too loose makes me wonder why. Equipment must fit prop-

tablish and maintain an even hunting pace over the course of the

erly.

fences. The position is inclined forward, not vertical. As the rider

Liza: Sometimes a horse just looks better in a martingale. I

approaches the fence, his release begins first, before the break

think it’s impressive when a horse goes nicely without a martin-

over. The rider should hold his jumping position on the approach

gale. In the end, I really don’t think it matters as long as the mar-

and let the horse jump up to him, not throwing himself at the

tingale is not too tight.

horse. The rider should maintain his position and release until the

Carol: Martingales are permissible and it does not matter to

horse lands on the other side of the jump. Smooth lead changes

me whether a horse wears one or not (always nice to see one with-

are important. Soft and following hands are important. The ability

out, but does not matter score-wise). DO NOT adjust it too tightly,

to ride the track to show the horse off to the best of the rider’s

August/September 2013 ability is paramount. I want to see the rider who is in communica-

and then regain the canter (sometimes I ask for halt/back and then

tion with his horse and keeping the animal between his hand and

canter). Basics are important! In flat classes, I almost always ask for

leg.

sitting trot and halt. In more advanced classes I ask for lengthening of stride.

Question: When an equitation rider comes in for an over fence

round, do you prefer or care if they sit or post the trot in their cour-

Arabian Sport Horses:

tesy circles?

Paddy: If a rider sits the trot they better be able to do it better than the top dressage riders! Why start with a negative.

Question: Many readers are wondering your opinion on the Arabian sport horses and if they could hold their own in the open

Liza: At this point, impression is key, show off only what is worth showing off!

hunter circuit. What challenges does the smaller purebred Arabian horse face when being judged against the larger breeds, and is there

Carol: I don’t care if the rider sits or posts the trot, but remem-

consideration of size when a horse has to lengthen more to get down

ber that the purpose of the circle is to establish pace. It makes no

the lines? Is there any preference on the breed of a hunter horse in

sense at all to trot the majority of the circle and then finally canter,

the open circuit?

Paddy: Yes, the Arabian sport horse is more than able to com-

as I so often see.

pete in the hunters at a recognized “USEF” show. I believe there Question: What is your favorite USEF equitation test to ask riders

were some at the finals I judged in Nampa last year that cross over.

That does not mean that all of them are able to do both.

and why?

Paddy: If I shared that I would have to kill you.

Liza: The obvious challenges would be length of stride and

Liza: New lines (not previously walked). To see the rider’s abili-

jumping style, both of which would certainly be taken into con-

ty to ride off their eye. New, inside or shorter turns. To test a rider’s

sideration while comparing Arabian sport horses against a more

skill in turning, either for Handy Hunters, tight Time Allowed or

typical Warmblood or TB hunter.

Jump Offs. Ridability exercises! Good flat work and broke horses

Carol: Plenty of them can be and are very competitive in open

produce better performances, therefore it is important to practice

shows. Now that said, if you are going to show at the open show:

such exercises on a regular basis.

try to come to the ring in a traditional way. Trim the tail neatly above the fetlocks, don’t show up with it dragging on the ground.

basics! I ask for hand gallop to a fence, trot a fence, halt in a line

Don’t shave your bridle path back 8 inches, leave just enough

David Grenland Photo

Carol: I like to ask for BASICS, because so many riders lack

width for the crown piece of the bridle (about 2 inches is sufficient). Pull the mane and braid with traditional braids, not the long running braid.

Remember that your horse may be smaller and have a shorter stride (NOT ALWAYS!) than some of the other competitors, so don’t enter him into a class where he does not belong. He will probably be more comfortable jumping 3’ or 3’3” and where the lines are set on an 11’ 6” or 12’ stride rather than a 12’ 6” or 13’ stride. If you encounter one of those, I prefer to see your horse jump the line in 7 strides rather than run for the 6. In a combination of 24 or 36 feet, you need to get the one or two strides, UNLESS your horse is very small, then you may need to add. In that case, it is unlikely you will beat the bigger horses. But remember that judging hunters is comparing one horse in the class to the others, not

Correct equitation over fences

to a perfect score.

9

10

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Despite the Odds

By Katherine Pfeil As I sit here writing the story of my

Dreams of owning one of these beautiful

and it was there that I learned the basics of

horse, and I cannot help but feel an over-

creatures became my reality when I was

riding. I quickly progressed and eventually

whelming emotion come over me. As a

six years old. My mother wanted a horse

became the owner of an 18-year-old Ara-

young girl, I loved looking outside my car

and bought a two-year-old paint mare

bian named Ty. We all have that one horse

window and watching the horses play

named Dream. We quickly enrolled our-

that is just beyond perfect, and that horse

in the pastures as if they were dancing.

selves in a riding facility in my hometown

was Ty. He was great and taught me everything I needed to know at the time.

When I was eleven, I wanted a horse that I could show so I could wear the cute clothes I saw in the Dover magazine. I tried out a few horses but I wanted a bay with a blaze just like Ty. Finally, I found the perfect fit and his name was TLA Alioop. My mother was worried about the challenge of having an eleven-year-old child on a green three-year-old, and frankly those same thoughts were going through my head as well.

Al was the complete opposite of Ty. Ty took care of whoever was on him, but Al’s goal quickly became to throw off anyone who was on him. He used to throw me up against walls, kick and bite me, and I became extremely afraid of him. Who knew that this little guy had so much personality in him? He was quite obvious about the fact that he just wanted to be left alone, but I was determined to make him my show horse.

From ages 11-14, I was still trying to figure out how to ride Al. He was scary, un-

August/September 2013 predictable, and we were both “green.” I

the change from hunt seat. He was quick

with Ty. I spent a lot of alone time with him

learned about hunt seat at that time, and

about learning it and did his job well with

on the ground, just trying to figure him out.

Al did not like just going around in circles.

no complaints. We had finally found our

He was complex, and I did not understand

He put a fear in me that I did not have with

niche and really grew to love one another.

him.

Ty or any of my other horses. Al was too

A life changing moment happened

Al had finally realized that being a

young at the time to do really any damage

when Ty passed away from colic when I

dressage horse was his new job and he

to me, and thankfully my trainer was very

was 15. Ty’s death was one of the hardest

had to accept it. He had had his guard

safe with us.

things I have had to deal with in my life.

up for so many years, but finally broke

I finally got to buy all the cute hunt at-

Some people may say that he was “just a

through with me on a more emotional

tire from the magazine and rode Al in his

horse,” but they are so wrong. Ty had been

level. He is an incredibly sensitive horse,

first show. I got to the gate, and Al ended

the perfect horse and my escape from my

and he needed patience to help him un-

up stepping on me during my showman-

difficult one. Ty taught me to be confident

derstand all of these new movements. So

ship class, which resulted in me face plant-

and brave while Al could shatter my con-

many people told me to give up on him,

ing. I was a mess, and Al was the worst be-

fidence with an asking of the trot. After

but we just needed time to figure each

haved horse at the show. I kept riding him,

Ty’s death, I was determined to make Al

other out. I needed to believe in him, and

and our lessons would just grow longer

my new Ty. Though no other could ever

he needed to believe and trust me as his

and longer. We had a lot to work on before

replace that precious horse, that was my

rider. I still have my doubts about myself

I went into any of the big Arabian shows.

thought process at the time.

as a rider, but never in Al. He carries me

We eventually got better and grew to like

Years passed with countless hours in

each other a little more each day. I gave

the saddle and more progress was hap-

him plenty of apples, and I think he actu-

pening. Missing proms,

ally enjoyed my presence because of my

homecoming and so-

strategy. Showing eventually became sec-

cial events were my

ond nature for us, but then Al got ring sour

norm in high school

from showing hunter pleasure.

along with many other

My mother and I decided to bring Al

competitive riders my

home for a couple of months to let him

age. Lessons would go

“grow up and be a horse.” That was a poor

on for what felt like

decision, and Al was a wild man. He even

forever at the time, but

had dreadlocks, and tried kicking us when

I had no other option

we went out to the pasture to catch him.

for a new horse. I put

He needed to be back in training as soon

the time and effort into

as possible.

him, and I was going

We found a nearby trainer that spe-

to perfect riding this

cialized in Arabian Sport Horses. I had

horse. I would have

never heard of that at the time, and I was

never gotten to have

intrigued to find out more about it. She

this breakthrough with

worked with him during the worst of his

him if I was just having

times and I was right there alongside him.

the trainer do all my

It was there that we decided to find out

work for me, just as I

more about the art of Dressage and sport

would have never had

horse. We started Al out slow, and he loved

a relationship like I did

and reminds me to trust him every ride we have together.

11

12

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine We started going to Regionals for sport

and he will have more confidence in you.”

having a breakthrough with your horse is

horse and dressage and doing really well,

I cried after reading this remark because

so much more worthwhile.

to my surprise. Who knew that my green

the words could not have been truer. Al

I was at a horse show recently, and we

14.2-hand horse could do so well against

and I did have the odds against us, but if

were stalled next to a young girl and her

well-seasoned horses?

we had confidence in ourselves, no one

father. She loved Al, and would give him

could stop us.

treats when we would leave to watch the

A few years

passed, and I really wanted to work my way up in levels. So I started working and

Later that week, I won a National

show. She asked me questions about Na-

showing in first level dressage and eventu-

Championship and made Top Ten in every

tionals and she would come out and watch

ally wanted to go to Nationals.

class I went into. The moment I won, I ran

me show him. She had her older horse

In 2009, I attended the Arabian Sport

back to Al’s stall and gave him Fritos and

with her that was just like Ty in everyway.

Horse Nationals in Kentucky and I was

Sprite (our favorite snack), and cried for

When I watched her show, I could not help

petrified. Looking around at all the beau-

hours. We had a breakthrough that week,

but have tears in my eyes when she placed

tiful horses, I lost all hope in myself as a

and that came right after my first class. I

2nd in her dressage test. She reminded me

rider and doubted my horse’s ability and

trusted my horse, and he trusted me. He

so much of Ty and me and how we started

strength. My first ride was pretty rough,

knew his job and looked to me as a rider

out: hair undone, number not pinned cor-

and the one of the judges wrote on my

for guidance. I loved what our relationship

rectly, missing classes and having the pa-

card, “Have more confidence in your horse,

had grown into. Ribbons are great, but

tient and forgiving horse right along side of her.

This girl also had a younger horse that was green and had that same wild look in his eye that Al did. He was pretty, but had a lot of growing up to do and you could tell she was afraid. My mother was actually the one who pointed out how similar our stories were. I wanted to watch her show her young horse, so my mother and I headed to the arena. This girl left the ring crying after her class because she got the gate in her under saddle class. The horse was stubborn and had no respect for his little rider. I felt the need to say something to her, “This may seem like a big deal now, but it will get so much better. I promise; just don’t give up.”

I think God taught me a lesson that day that no matter what people say, we should never give up even when it seems tough at the time. A cliché perhaps, but I have changed my life with this motto. I wasn’t given the $50,000 dollar horse and the trainer that did everything for me. I had to

Continued on page 17

August/September 2013

www.arabianheights.com

13

Made Ya L

last several years, and he even has a fan club cheering him on. Made Ya Look, or Milo as he’s known, and owner Lisa Levine are having a blast doing it.

The 14.2 hand Morgan/Arabian cross was intended as a driving partner for his half sister, BW Peekaboo, and was registered as BW I See You. Alas, Milo did not agree with that career choice and was sent to Kari Mulherin Briggs and her family to find a job that met with his approval. So, Milo fox hunted with the Rocky Fork Headley Hunt in Gahanna, Ohio, and did some trail riding and eventing.

Lisa was living in Ohio and training with Kari when she began having issues with her 16.3 hand Thoroughbred. Kari suggested Lisa ride Milo. Lisa recalls, “Milo taught me how to trust a horse, when to push, and when to be patient, and that is absolutely crucial in eventing.” She leased him to begin with, even before deciding to pursue eventing.

When Lisa moved to California in 2005, she was looking for a new equine partner but soon realized that it had to be Milo. The Mulherins had not planned to sell him, but graciously agreed, and he moved out west.

Continued on next page

Olga Antipova Photo

Look

There’s a cute little bay rocking around the Preliminary events in California for the

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine “I bought him when I was going begin-

in the Preliminary division is at least 16

sage for the year after his rehab, earning

ner novice so I could have a safe novice

hands and everyone is jumping the same

Lisa her USDF Bronze Medal in 2011. “Just

horse,” says Lisa, “but when I began riding

size, 3’7”. He gets great dressage scores

like in eventing, it was great having the ‘lit-

with my first trainer in California, Laura

because of his consistency and relaxation,

tle horse’ going Third Level against all the

McEvoy, we realized he could be so much

jumps his heart out cross-country, and

warmbloods and placing and scoring right

more.”

then tucks his knees to his chin in show

up there with them,” says Lisa.

They moved him up from Novice after just a small handful of competitions at

jumping to get the job done on the last day of competition.”

Milo’s heart and determination put them back on the eventing field in 2011,

that level, breezed quickly through Train-

The pair had planned to compete at

where they completed four times, finish-

ing level, and settled in at Preliminary in

Intermediate, but suffered a setback in

ing in the top ten three of those four. They

2007, where he won his very first event at

2009 when Milo suffered a suspensory in-

continue today with Milo in Prelim, plac-

that level at the Ram Tap Horse Trials.

jury. This was just after placing third at the

ing well and thrilling his “Super Pony” fans

When asked what makes him so good

inaugural 2009 Preliminary Challenge at

along the way.

at this sport, Lisa said, “He has the most

the Woodside Horse Trials, as well as third

They currently train with Yves Sau-

amazing amount of heart! In addition to

in the Area VI Preliminary Championships.

vignon at Oakridge Training Stables in

being an ‘unconventional’ breed for jump-

He was also the Second Level Regional

Sebastopol, CA for the jumping as well

ing or dressage, he’s also an unconven-

Champion at Pacific Slopes.

as Emily Giammona of Petaluma, CA for

tional size. At 14.2 hands, his competition

Lisa and Milo concentrated on dres-

dressage. The pair have also worked exMary Beth Elze Photo

16

Woodside Horse Trials, May 2013

August/September 2013 have had the good fortune to clinic with

and is insanely photogenic and knows

Stables in Santa Rosa and Kari Briggs at

several other wonderful trainers including

when the cameras are clicking,” says Lisa.

Otterbein College in Westerville Ohio. “I

Jimmy Wofford, Jane Weatherwax, Erica

About the future, Lisa says, “I will con-

Poseley, Matt Brown and many others who

tinue to listen to Milo to determine our

have helped me along the way,” Lisa adds.

future plans. For now, he is happy and

When asked about what his Arabian

healthy enough to continue competing

blood has lent to his success, Lisa says,

Preliminary in eventing and Third Level

“Intelligence, guts and endurance, which

dressage, and we continue to challenge

are imperative in three day eventing. He

ourselves with that. At 18 years old, he

has a huge heart and is ready to tackle

does not owe me anything; he has already

anything I put in front of him. It’s also

done so much for me. Whether we spend

very encouraging to have that extra bit of

the rest of his years jumping and compet-

cockiness when you’re galloping towards

ing or just playing and galloping on the

a huge table jump or drop into the water!”

beach, whatever he wants to do is fine

Keri Simpson Photo

tensively with Laura McEvoy at Idylwild

“Milo is smart, inquisitive, patient and ,most importantly, ready to handle any challenge I put in front of him. He is always eager to be the center of attention

Despite the Odds

great success in his show career, and

Continued from page 12

I am blessed just to own this lovely

work for what I wanted, and I was bound

animal. My childhood dream horse

and determined to prove those people

has officially become my reality. Al

wrong – and after years of hard work, we

still has the odds against him, but he

finally did – not by winning a National

amazes me every time we enter the

Championship, but actually having a rela-

ring. He still is short, pigeon-toed,

tionship that is so much more meaningful

and grouchy, but I would not trade

than a rose garland.

him in for the world. I have learned

Regardless of my future with Al, I have

so much with this horse, and we have

come away from this journey having a new

a deeper connection than just a rose

perpective on life and how much these

garland. He has been one of my big-

animals have a part in mine. They are so

gest lessons, but also one of my big-

much more than a blue ribbon; they are

gest blessings.

life long teachers. They are teachers of

*Special thanks to my past and

patience, strength, endurance, courage,

present trainers; it has taken a village

bravery and many other characteristics. I

to raise this horse. My parents who

am beyond blessed to ride this breed, and

have supported me throughout the

I cannot wait for what the future holds.

years, and I could not be more blessed

Al is now 14, and I am still riding and showing him at Second level. He has had

to have you as my Mom and Dad.

with me!”

17

18

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Biomechanics Motivation for Change A Series by Lisa May

Forty years ago, Mary Wanless set out

to ask the horse to go. Unless a horse has

from what was said at the beginning of the

to discover what makes riders ‘talented’.

been trained that way the result isn’t actu-

line!

With six books, multiple DVDs, and clinics

ally what the rider wants!

Imagine a long line of riders descend-

worldwide, her “Ride With Your Mind”™

It’s relatively easy to shape a person

ing from a successful rider generations

(RWYM) coaching method explains how

who has no prior training by describing

ago. That person gave guidance that im-

any rider can learn to shape the horse’s

the horse’s instincts, the signals he has

proved a rider’s balance, influence and

athletic use of his body. Her pioneering

been trained to understand, and how to

sympathetic contact with the horse. Yet,

work has seeped into that of many others

give those signals. It’s much more psycho-

through the generations of Chinese Whis-

who refer to “rider biomechanics.” Wan-

logically challenging to change ingrained

pers, the communication has been sepa-

less’s strategies can be understood most

habits that we have worked hard to build.

rated from its original meaning – with

clearly from the source.

Neuroscientists have shown that all brains

less-than-humorous results. We can get

When a person mounts a horse for the

virtually shut down when confronted with

into a lot of trouble atop a half-ton living

first time, they typically have few expecta-

information that contradicts the ways we

creature with its own perception of what is

tions about what their body should do. If

have made up our minds. Becoming moti-

correct in its world.

they watched westerns on TV, saw friends

vated for change is a psychological obsta-

Many riders I meet have been through

on their horses, or went to the county fair

cle for riders. When we sweat to practice

different schools of instruction that con-

to experience barrel racing, bucking hors-

and pay money to learn patterns, it is hu-

tradicted each other: Being taught “You

es or team penning competitions, they

man nature for the brain to become wed-

must have your knees off” – “No, you must

have unconscious instincts stemming from

ded to those strategies even if they don’t

have your knees on” without success with

what they’ve watched. Even in today’s very

work.

either version has driven some people to

urban environment, I see unconscious in-

Sometimes, those learned habits were

give up riding. It can be a huge psychologi-

stincts play out when people mount up for

a misunderstanding. Remember the game

cal challenge to alter habits and try differ-

the very first time. Some of these instincts

of Telephone or Chinese Whispers? At

ent interpretations once we have invested

may come from other relationships with

one end of a line, the first child whispers

our time, money and effort into “They said

animals and people. Some come from our

a sentence into the ear of the child next

I have to sit tall, lean back, drive with my

experience of riding a bike, a skate board,

to her. As that sentence is repeated down

seat, push my heels down, not grip, and

or watching people navigate moving ob-

the line, it is partially heard and partially

use more leg.”

jects – like motorcyclists or water-skiers.

lost. Substitute meanings slip in each time

Mary Wanless continues to explore

It’s common for first-time riders to lean

the message is repeated. The child pro-

what teachers and riders actually may

toward the side they want to travel and

ducing the sentence at the end of the line

have intended when they said, “heels

shake the reins or pump with their seats

says something that is hilariously different

down, sit up, brace the back, drive, relax

August/September 2013 your legs, match your shoulders and hips

be dependably consistent.

words for the feeling can blossom into

to that of the horse, inside leg to outside

We achieve skills that benefit the rid-

very personalized language that is satisfy-

rein,” and so on. Like a chef figuring out

den horse through awareness of where

ingly successful. From the unique starting

a lost recipe, Wanless has retranslated to-

our bodies actually are in space and by

point of each rider’s body and mind, these

day’s language to restore the essence. She

building the physical control to direct our

coaching methods enable us to map the

has brought coaching around full circle to

body parts in the ways we intend. By virtue

territory we ourselves have to cross to ar-

a functional meaning of language, guid-

of the leverage angles of our lower body

rive at good riding.

ing riders on the direct route to learn how

joints, we can be live weight rather than a

to sympathetically balance and influence

burden. By securing our thighs and pelvis

chologically difficult step.

horses.

to the horse’s barrel with a low center of

From Poet Portia Nelson: Autobiography

For a horse to move athletically with a

gravity, we can minimize our interference

in Five Chapters:

load aboard, the load needs to be secure

with the horse’s center of gravity. By alter-

1) I walk down the street. There is a deep

and predictable rather than highly mov-

ing muscle tone and joint movement to

hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost...

able. It needs to be positioned so that the

finely tune body coordination, we can lead

I am hopeless. It isn’t my fault. It takes for-

horse’s limbs, neck, abdomen and back

the horse’s energy, carriage, tempo, length

ever to find a way out.

can function easily. We want to minimize

of stride, and direction – transcending the

2) I walk down the same street. There is a

the interference of our weight and balance

role of pack or passenger.

deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I

The first step toward change is the psy-

on the horse’s balance. We want to posi-

RWYM coaches guide riders into re-

don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe

tion ourselves so that he can use his mus-

lationships with their horse and with the

I’m in the same place. But it isn’t my fault.

culature without interference. Different

intended meaning of trainers’ instruction.

It still takes a long time to get out.

from a packhorse, the ridden horse must

Rapid improvement can be made in the

3) I walk down the same street. There is a

also process intentional signals from a rid-

brain’s control of the body when riders

deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there.

er. Whenever possible we want our signals

choose their own precise trigger words to

I still fall in... it’s a habit. My eyes are open.

to make intuitive sense for the horse’s use

name a change. As a coach works with the

I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out

of his body. We want our trained signals to

learning style of an individual, the rider’s

immediately.

4) I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.

As athletes we can use our own anatomy to communicate an optimum framework for the horse’s movement. Find out more about strategies for using the brain to communicate with horses through behavioral science and biomechanics at www.Mary-Wanless. com and www.RideWithYourMindUSA.com.

Lisa May is an accredited RWYM coach working with Wanless since 1997. Also a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International instructor, she travels for clinics from her home in MaryThis feels like home, like normal to me

In order to be upright like this I have to feel that I’m leaning back to the cantle

land www.IdylwildFarm.com.

19

20

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

We have bred and registered 169 horses that are on file with the Arabian Horse Registry.

Breeder Q&A

Playland Farm

Charles and Diane Player own Playland

were married in December, 1965, and

Alexandretta), and she began to breed

Farm, a boarding, training and breeding fa-

my father says he was only able to get

Daphne to Al-Marah stallions and contin-

cility in Union Bridge, Maryland. With their

my mother to go out on a date with him

ued to do so for many years along with the

daughter, Glenda, as manager and trainer,

by inviting her to take a tour of Al-Marah

female offspring as they reached breeding

they breed, train and compete Arabians and

Arabians.

age.

Arabian/Irish Draught crosses.

That started it all and led to the beginning of Playland Farm. My mother loved

What attracted you to the Irish Draught/

How, when and why did your family get

horses and was quickly addicted to the

Arabian cross?

involved with Arabians?

Arabian breed.

My father, Charles Player, was the accountant and advisor to Bazy Tankersley

When did they breed their first Arabian?

My parents had met and become friends with John Shortill of Maine who owned Irish Draughts.

John visited the

and Al-Marah Arabians in 1964. At that

Shortly after they were married, my

farm and saw the beautiful Arabian horses.

time, he was dating my mother, Diane,

father gave my mother an Arab mare, AM

My mother had been looking for a quieter

whom eventually became his wife. They

Daphne (Brumarba Rahdames x Al-Marah

and sounder horse than the Thoroughbred

August/September 2013

21

I had been riding to compete in the sports of eventing and show jumping. I had also ridden our homebred Arabians for pleasure, but to compete in show jumping and eventing, I had Thoroughbreds.

John talked to my mother about leasing his Irish Draught Stallion and crossing it with the Arabian mares to produce a horse that was sound, athletic, quiet, graceful and has the amazing jump athleticism of the Irish Draught coupled with the endurance of the Arabian.

So, we

leased the stallion It’s the Luck of the Irish and started crossing him with her Arabian mares. She loved what the cross was producing! Later, It’s the Luck of the Irish was

Diane and Charles Player

sold, and my parents purchased their current stallion, PL Diamond Hill.

in the farm house years ago.

How many Arabians/Half-Arabians have

es that get sold in utero, or before registra-

you bred?

tion, or are only Âź Arab and, therefore, not

When you first decided to breed Arabian

We have bred and registered 169 hors-

eligible for registration within the Arabian

horses, what were your goals?

es that are on file with the Arabian Horse

Horse Association. We have also dabbled

The original goal was to produce a

Registry. 79 of the 169 are purebreds,

with some Irish/Connemara and Irish/

beautiful horse that was easy to handle

while 90 are Half-Arabs.

Thoroughbred crosses.

and train with good conformation and dis-

Out of those

I have no doubt

Half-Arabs, some have been crossed with

that over 200 horses have been bred and

Saddlebreds to make the National Show

born here on the farm throughout the

Horse, but most have been crossed with

years at Playland Farm.

the Irish Draught to make a sport horse.

Our actual number of horses bred is

Some of our records have been lost through computer crashes and a fire with-

position.

Over the years, the goals and focus have somewhat changed to also include increasing size and performance capabilities, including jumping.

Maya Kuntze Photo

even higher. There are always a few hors-

22

1

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

1

2

44

7 6

7

August/September 2013

3 3

1

PL Lucky Darby

(Its The Luck Of The Irish x PL Eladdinns Lite)

2

Glenda as a teenager with home-

bred Arabian PL Jazzy at a Pony Club inspection.

5

3

5

PL Empress (Its The Luck Of The

Irish x PL Indian Queen) who was also chosen at age 5 to do a demonstration at the 2010 WEG.

4

PL Black Diamond as a yearling.

5

PL Lucky Tammy (Its The Luck Of

The Irish x PL Shirley) doing a demonstra-

7 Tracy Kelsey Photo

tion at the 2010 WEG.

8

6

Arabian PL Eladdinns Lite with

Half-Arabian foal PL Layla

7

Playland Irish Flash

(Its The Luck Of The Irish x PL Daphnes Flash). Four-time Reserve National Cham-

Red Horse Images

pion Hunter Hack.

8

Competing at the Irish Draft Na-

tional Show: PL Catnip, PL Regina, PL Cha Cha. All with wins in stadium jumping.

23

24

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Why do you think this Irish Draught cross

and disposition to be a lifetime friend,

horse to do something it does not want to

athlete, and competitive teammate?

do. The horse must have the desire to per-

works so well?

form in that sport just as much as the rider.

The Irish Draught cross works well because it is a back cross on the typical Irish/

What do you consider your greatest

That is where each horse’s personality be-

achievement in breeding horses?

comes a factor. I get to know my horses

Thoroughbred cross. Thoroughbred blood

Playland Farm’s greatest achievement

and figure out which sport would suit it.

was highly refined from the influence of

in breeding horses is without question

Then I market it accordingly, and watch the

Arabian blood.

The typical Irish Sport

the number of successful and happy PL

horse’s response as it feels each potential

Horse cross is ¼ Irish and ¾ TB. We feel

horse owners out there! For us, it is not

“candidate” that test rides the horse.

that upon limiting the Irish blood you limit

about creating that one horse that goes

the wonderful traits of the Irish Draught.

to the Olympics. Instead we strive to cre-

When matching a stallion to a mare, what

We wanted to produce a horse first of all

ate a sound, quiet, and athletic horse that

do you consider their most important at-

that has excellent soundness and feet – as

is both versatile and willing. In order to

tributes in order to produce a successful

we have with our purebred Arabians. By

achieve such a horse, it not only has to be

sport horse?

crossing the Irish Draught with our Ara-

conformationally correct, but has to have

bian broodmares, we have added refining

a great temperament.

blood to the Irish Draught.

There is no one stallion that is suitable for every mare, despite what any stallion

We regularly get e-mail, facebook, and

owner (including myself!) wishes. Picking

The Arabian not only adds refinement

post (including Christmas cards!) updates

a stallion to match a mare with, to me, is

and endurance but also is a fantastic com-

from our extended family – current PL

about finding a match that will comple-

pliment of soundness and excellent feet.

horse owners stating what they have been

ment each other, and not detract from

The Arabian also adds more suspension to

up to with their PL-bred horse. Everyone

each other. Correct conformation is huge.

the Irish Draught’s trot. The Irish Draught

has different goals: some just want a trail

Correct conformation leads to a sound

has a larger size and substance, quiet

horse, husband/grandchild horse, pony

horse that can easily perform – that finds

easy going disposition, fantastic canter,

club mount, and some are quite competi-

work easy. If performing and working is

and supreme jumping ability. Overall, we

tive in eventing, hunter/jumper, dressage,

easy, it no longer seems like work, and that

couldn’t be happier with the progeny that

polocrosse, and competitive trail riding. It

assists in a quiet, willing and strong work

this cross is producing!

is amazing all the different sports that the

ethic. Performing becomes fun and easy,

various PL owners do with their horses.

not physically challenging and damaging

Who or what was your biggest influence

But, yes, we feel the greatest achievement

to the equine athlete’s body.

regarding your breeding decisions?

is the great number of successful matches

When I evaluate the potential of a cer-

we have found for our horses, and their

tain stallion for a specific mare, I take a

both guided and inspired my mother

happy owners!

detailed look at conformation, movement,

through her breeding decisions. Playland

What characteristics do you consider

personality, performance and what that

Farm would not be where it is today with-

“must haves” in a breeding animal?

sire/dam combination has produced previ-

For many years Bazy Tankersley has

out this influence.

Over the years, as I

matured in the horse industry and in competing, my own goals and aspirations with

1.) Soundness

ously, both separately and together if that

2.) Willingness, work ethic, excellent

is an option.

disposition

horses became more of a guiding light for

3.) Athleticism

the direction of our breeding program.

I

I look for the above characteristics in

often ask myself, what kind of horse do I

that order. An athlete can go nowhere

want to ride for the rest of my life? Does

if it is not sound nor has ambition, drive

this horse have the soundness, athleticm,

and heart. Riding is not about forcing the

Do You Want...

August/September 2013

25

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26

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Conformation Clinic With Elaine Kerrigan, Judy Hedreen, and Peter Mileo ment of muscles in the back and saddle fitting. The back looks

Purebred #1

strong with a good connection through the loin. However the L-S joint is behind the point of hip which, coupled with the angulation of the hind leg, may not provide sufficient strength from behind to lift the front end. With this conformation, this horse appears suited for the hunter ring.

Peter Mileo: Lovely, long, well-set neck and pleasant head. Shoulder is of good length, maybe a bit straighter than ideal, which is reflected in pasterns that appear to be a bit more upright than ideal. Excellent Elaine Kerrigan:

cannon to forearm ratio matching front feet that are on the same

Beautiful head with an alert, attentive expression. Good length

axes as the pastern. Short back. A big longer in the loin, but it

of neck, however in this photo, the neck looks thick at the throat

looks to be a strong loin. Excellent angles in the hind end and

latch and a bit over developed on the underside. Fairly smooth

good slope to the croup and ilium, as well as good depth to the

connection of the neck to the withers, tying well into the back.

hindquarter. Well-placed stifle and low-set hocks. Back legs are

Ideally, would like to see a little more slope to the shoulder,

very well angled. Overall a very pleasing picture.

though the angle and length of the humerus lead me to believe there is freedom and scope in the forehand. Nicely developing loin and hindquarter muscling for impulsion and carrying power.

All legs look in proportion to the body, but would like to see a little more bone in the front legs. Great candidate as a sport horse.

Judy Hedreen: This photo shows a horse with an alert look and an intelligent, soft

Purebred #2

eye. This chestnut is an attractive and useful horse. The head attaches well at the poll to a slightly too long neck that comes out a little low in the chest. Thus the horse has more weight on the fore-

Elaine Kerrigan:

hand. An ideal body type has the horse divided into equal parts:

Pleasant, attractive head set on a nicely shaped and developed

1/3 poll to wither, 1/3 wither to point of hip, and 1/3 point of hip

neck of good length. Neck ties smoothly into well-set withers cre-

to point of buttock. The length of the shoulder is good and the

ating a good saddle position, though back is a bit longer than ideal.

angle adequate. The humerus is long but could have a more open

Shoulder is a little steep. Adequate development of the loin and

angle. The front leg looks quite good with adequate bone and

adequate length of hip. From this photo, it seems to appear that

good pasterns and hoof angles. The withers are long enough but

the front legs are on the short side in comparison to the length

could be more pronounced. Higher withers will help with move-

of the body and the length of the hind legs. Front pastern angle

August/September 2013 appears to have a more desirable slope than the shoulder. Hocks

low-set hocks. Good angles to hind legs. This horse does not have

seem a tad too straight and the fetlocks look a little dropped.

the good overall symmetry of the first horse. Mainly due to the

Pleasing horse.

shorter shoulder and longer back and loin. This makes the horse look short-legged.

Judy Hedreen: This horse has a pleasing and kind expression. The head is well shaped and joins the neck cleanly. The neck is long enough with

Half-Arabian #1

a nice shape. The shoulder angle could be more sloping; it appears to connect with the humerus at a 90째 angle which will not allow for enough forward reach. The forearm could have a little more bone for the size of the horse, and joins a good cannon. The fetlocks, pastern and shape of feet present concern for the comfort of the ride and soundness. The feet have a broken-angle in relation to the pasterns, which are quite short. This combination usually makes for a jarring ride and places extra pressure on tendons and ligaments. In this photo the fetlocks look to be enlarged, which may come from the concussion caused by the conformation

Elaine Kerrigan:

issue. The withers extend far enough into the back, which appears

Keen expression on a handsome head. Neck appears a little short-

to dip quite a bit (the ground looks uneven, so this may be an illu-

er than ideal and care should be taken to be sure to develop a

sion). The hind end and the angles of the hip look fairly good. The

stretching top line of the neck. Good shoulder angle and long

lower hind legs appear to have short pasterns and steeply angled

humerus should allow a free and scopey forehand. Supportive

hooves, again causing concern for comfort and soundness. With

withers reaching well into the back for a good saddle position

the help of a good farrier and management, this horse could easily

and stability. Loin is developing well to offer a good connection of

compete at the lower levels for its owner.

the hindquarters that show good muscle development and good length of hip. Hocks are set rather high. Seems a bit tied in at the

Peter Mileo:

knee on the left front. Pasterns show the angle of the shoulder

Nicely shaped neck and pleasing head. Good front leg ratio of

and care should be taken to ensure that the toes do not get too

cannon to forearm. Nice pastern angles. Shoulder is a bit straight

long and heels do not get too low. Nicely presented.

and short. Back is longer than idea. Loin is long and appears weak. Hind end could be longer to match the other two sections

Judy Hedreen:

of the horse. Good angles in the hind end. Well-placed stifle and

In looking at this horse as an open sport horse, we see an attractive bay with a harmonious topline. A pretty head attaches cleanly

Submit Your Horse Would you like to enter your horse into our free Conformation Clinic?

to a very well set neck. The shoulder is long with a good angle and attaches to the humerus creating an open angle. This combination should allow the shoulder to move freely and give a long stride. The front leg is set well under the shoulder, is correctly shaped and has adequate bone. The angles of the pastern appear

Please email your submission to: info@thearabiansporthorse.com Subject: Conformation Clinic Submissions will be featured at our discretion.

Photo credit must be provided.

long and gently sloped, although the hooves cannot be seen. This front-end should prove elastic and allow a comfortable ride. The wither is high and extends well into the back. This should allow the back muscles to contract and lengthen with training. The back is a good length and flows into a strong loin. The L-S joint looks

27

28

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine to be fairly even with the point of hip making a good connection.

be longer especially in the poll, which would allow more stretch

The hindquarter looks strong and is more open than desirable be-

into the bit and over the topline. While his wither is high enough,

cause of the angulation of the hind leg. The hind leg is over angled

it is paired with a short, steep shoulder. This creates a nearly 90°

– commonly called sickle-hocked. All in all this is an attractive

angle similar to Purebred #2 above. The foreleg has good bone, is

sport horse type that should do well in dressage.

correct, and the pastern angles appear good with correctly shaped feet. His pasterns could be just a little longer to add to the comfort

Peter Mileo:

of the ride. The withers could be more defined and extend further

I’ll start off by saying a very nice picture. The neck could be longer

into the back. This would help with saddle fit and the position of

but the horse is in balance front to back. Pleasing head. Nice fore-

the rider. The back connection with the loin looks little long, and it

hand with good shoulder angle, length of shoulder and good ratio

could be stronger. The hip and hindquarter appear short and not

of cannon to forearm. Short back and strong loin. The hind end is

large enough for the rest of the horse. However, the hip leads to a

of good length and deep. Hocks could be set a bit lower. Overall

gaskin and hind leg with good bone and angles. This horse looks

this is a nicely put together horse.

young so may look entirely different in the future.

Peter Mileo: The head and neck are both a bit coarse. Shoulder is well developed and so is the wither as this is the most prominent wither of the 4 horses. Back is of good length. Loin and coupling are a bit longer than ideal and the loin doesn’t appear strong. The hindend is not nearly as developed as the forehand. Hind legs have low set hocks but from this photo appear to be set behind plumb.

Half-Arabian #2

Elaine Kerrigan: Alert expression on a pleasing head. Neck could be a little longer, but appears to be correctly developing the topline of the neck This is important to keep in mind to be helpful for the shoulder that is a bit steep in angle that might restrict the appearance of a free moving forehand. Prominent withers for saddle stability.

Loin coupling is fairly strong, connecting the back of appropriate length and a hip of appropriate length. Front-leg pasterns mimic the steepness of the shoulder and a slight over at the knees is apparent. Well-placed hocks on the hind legs promise to compliment the carrying power of the hindquarters. Overall uphill balance is shown and nicely presented.

Judy Hedreen: It may be the angle of the photo, but this horse appears too compact to be a sport horse type. He has a pretty head and a prominent eye with a soft expression. His neck, which is well set, could

email

August/September 2013

About Elaine

About Judy

About Peter

1970 saw the beginning of Kerrigan

Judy has been breeding sport horses

Peter Mileo has been breeding Arabian

Bloodstock, with the goal of producing Ara-

since 1981. She is the breeder of Far Star

horses since 1990. He started with Fadjur

bian sport horses. With that I pursued dres-

that represented the USEF and American

line horses and evolved toward CMK horses.

sage, endurance and a little jumping. With

Hanoverian Society (AHS) in the 2003

After several conversations with Sandy War-

a special interest in the bio-mechanics of

World Championships for Young Jumpers in

ren of Warren Park Stud hoping to breed a

horses and riders, I also have an extended

Belgium, ridden by Laura Kraut; Animation,

mare to Aulrab he discovered a coming 2

education as a large animal veterinary tech-

winner at Spruce Meadows and Champion

year old colt by the name of Magic Aulrab

nician and as a graduate of the USDF judges

at Indio; Agincourt, winner at Spruce Mead-

and purchased him. After a short show ca-

learner program. KB Omega Fahim++++//

ows and Champion at Indio under Hap

reer they started riding endurance where

is a stallion of my second generation. He

Hansen; and USDF Horses of the Year Ghita

Peter feels he learned about what makes

has achieved 4 USDF National Champion

and Coco Chanel.

a good horse. “Regardless of bloodline or

awards at FEI level dressage, and 4 AHA

Judy was a USEF ‘R’ dressage/sport

even breed a horse needs to have balance,

Sport Horse National Champion awards

horse breeding judge for 14 years, a mem-

well let down legs and solid legs and feet.”

at FEI level dressage. He has offspring that

ber of the USDF Sport Horse Committee for

Peter has studied many videos of horses

have also attained USDF and AHA Sport

10 years, and is a current member of the

under saddle and at liberty from Arabs,

Horse National Championship awards. KB

USHJA Breeder’s Committee. In 2007, Judy

Warmbloods and the great Standardbred

Omega Fahim++++// has been inspected

was appointed as a judge to the Hanoverian

mare Monimaker. This has given him a well

and approved for breeding purebred Shag-

Mare and Stallion Committee.

rounded knowledge of what a good athlete

ya-Arabians.

is and why.

29

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Pics of You

30

Andy Go Dandy When you hear the saying “The best

The Coxes showed Arabians, then start-

Having moved to Florida, the Ocala

things in life are free,” you think about in-

ed driving an Arabian/Percheron cross that

area residents weren’t really looking for a

tangibles such as health, family and hap-

they bred back in the 1980’s while living

new horse. But the ad they saw in July of

piness. John and Margy Cox would prob-

in Washington. Around 1983, they began

2010 for a free pony on Ocala4Sale.com

ably add their Half-Arab gelding, Andy Go

competing on the West Coast in Combined

intrigued them.

Dandy to that list.

Driving Events {Sidebar on page 33}.

Andy was 7 years old at the time, bred

August/September 2013

31

by Julane White, sired by Saddlebred Sultan’s Great Day and out of Arabian Colleen V (by Traditio out of a Bay-Abi++ daughter). His sire was a two-time World Champion in fine harness and was owned by William Shatner.

Andy had never been ridden and was barely broke to drive. The poor guy had a sad story - he had suffered a flip-over accident that resulted in a broken tail and

returned. It was apparent that he had no trust of humans and that made him very difficult to work with. His hindquarters

Pics of You

had already been given away twice and

were very weak and he would not let anyone near his right hind. To add to the fun, Andy also did not get along with other horses!

The owner hooked him up to a training cart and down a lime rock road John and Margy took him. They noticed that Andy was very forward and light, even performing serpentines while being driven onehanded. The Coxes decided he was worth an attempt at becoming a driving horse.

Andy was smart, but the first order of business was earning his trust. They sent him to a very good friend who was a great horseman to solidify their new pony’s ground work. “He sent Andy back to us and told us to get rid of him,” recalls John.

That first year little progress was made with Andy and his issues. The Coxes sent him to their friends Gary and Marsha Yeager, who helped them get Andy more relaxed in the carriage, but he still had trust issues.

Then one evening, Andy colicked. Their vet, Dr. Anne Christopherson, spent the night there, giving Andy fluids and taking

was like a miracle. We had a new horse,”

Pics of You

turns walking him. “The next morning, it

32

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine says John. Andy had perked up and would

seat and John navigating, this team won

at Region 12 Championships, earning Re-

nicker at his owners, even letting them

the Intermediate Marathon phase this year

serves in Carriage Obstacles, Reinsman-

handle him easily.

at the Live Oak International CAI Com-

ship and Working. They plan to attend

bined Driving Event, placing 4th overall in

Sport Horse Nationals and hope to see old

“Dr. Anne said that Andy realized that somebody was there for him

friends from their Arabian show

and cared.

days.

The moral is do

not give up – sometimes it can

The Coxes also have an Ara-

work out,” John says. “Now,

bian/Warmblood cross that they

Andy is an exceptional driving

have just started competing in

horse and a very good friend.”

Combined Driving. “There are

From there, trainer Fred

not a lot of Arabians in the ad-

Merriam got Andy started in

vanced FEI level of Combined

Combined Driving, along with

Driving.” explains John. “The Eu-

their current coach, 2011 FEI

ropean warmbloods, Dutch Har-

World Pony Combined Driving

ness and Morgans are the major

Championship Silver Medalist

players. But I feel as though Ara-

Suzy Stafford.

bians can lend a lot to the sport

Today, Andy is very competitive in the

Single Pony. They were also crowned the

by way of their intelligence, endurance

Intermediate Level in Combined Driving,

2013 Florida State Single Driving Pleasure

and beauty.”

as well as being competitive in Pleasure

Champion.

Carriage Driving. With Margy in the driver’s

The Coxes also competed with Andy

Don’t you just love a happy ending?

Combined Driving

from the American Driving Society Website Combined Driving is one of eight equine sports governed at

Having proven their mettle in the control of Dressage and

the international level by the FEI and at the National Federation

the jubilation of Marathon, pony or horse and driver must fi-

level by USEF. Nationwide, the American Driving Society provides

nally find that combination of boldness, agility, energy and

for graduated levels of experience – Training, Preliminary, Inter-

precision that is Obstacle/Cones driving. In this competition,

mediate, and ADS-Advanced levels for both drivers and equines

drivers and their steeds drive between precisely spaced pairs

as they begin and as they become more adept at the sport on local

of cones over a prescribed course of up to 20 “ obstacles” driv-

and regional levels, perhaps even on to participation in national-

en in correct sequence and direction and within an allowed

level events.

time based on the size of equine and level of advancement.

Sometimes likened to a team triathlon, a Combined Driving

Here again, as drivers and horses develop and move up in “lev-

Event consists of three competitions – Dressage, Marathon, and

els,” speeds increase and clearances between cones decrease,

Obstacle/Cones -- that are held over one, two, or three days. The

making for challenges and fun that never stop. Cones may be

sport is intended to showcase the versatility, training and talents

seen as that meld of elegance and thrills that consummates

of both horse and driver. Through participating in ADS events,

the competition set to demonstrate the fitness, mind and

drivers and horses or ponies may develop in increasing levels of

training of the horse following the more physical challenges

proficiency.

of the Marathon.

The Dressage competition can be said to be the foundation for the rest of the sport. In Dressage, horses or ponies and their drivers drive individually in specified patterns and gaits to demonstrate the skills, obedience, and development appropriate to their levels of training before the watchful eyes of one or more judges.

Dressage develops and displays polish, discipline, and athleticism of equine and driver dancing together.

After the showcase of beauty and control that is Dressage, the next competition is often the cross-country Marathon. Here, the driver tests his mettle and that of his horses or ponies in control of paces and speeds, agility, obedience, and endurance over distances of eight to eighteen kilometers. Not only do competitors cover distance, they also negotiate challenge “obstacles” every kilometer or so, in which they choose their paths to go through “gates” in the correct direction and sequence. At Training level, these marathon obstacles are geared toward being a learning experience, and as levels of competence increase, so do speeds and numbers of obstacles and gates. It is in this competition especially that the partnership of the “navigator” becomes critically important, as this competition requires thinking. In this competition as in Dressage, ADS rules encourage a careful development of horse and driver as each level brings new and greater challenges in speeds, distances, and complexities. It is on Marathon that Dressage training really pays off, and thrills abound.

fbochan@fastq.com

34

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

A

t the age of 24, one would

Schmitt. I came across Lee shortly after

out of our old rig and into a huge three-

expect most horses are

from a newspaper advertisement. She was

horse with a brand new truck to pull it. No

hanging out in a field, liv-

up for lease as her owner was pregnant

longer did I make Mom park in the back of

ing a life of leisure. With Arabian horses, it

and had no time to ride anymore. I fell in

the parking area at shows!

isn’t unusual to see them still being ridden

love with her and told Dr. Schmitt over and

We had some great rounds and wins

regularly in their later years. Amazingly,

over that if she ever wanted to sell her, I

in the Large Pony Hunter division and my

others are at the height of their high-per-

wanted first dibs.

equitation classes. The judges loved her

formance careers into their twenties. Lec is

Luckily for me, that day finally came.

form over fences, but every now and then

My parents agreed to buy her for me, and I

there would be a judge that wouldn’t even

Lec (Divine Prophecy x Silver MA) was

had never been happier. She was the first

watch our course due to her breed. That

bred by Sherry Zollinhofer and was born

horse I had ever owned. We had this old

was very frustrating. I feel that no matter

in May of 1989 in southern Maryland. Her

late ‘70s ghetto straight-load pony trailer,

the breed, a judge should still watch and

name is pronounced “lee-ess,” which is

but she walked right on. I remember how

analyze the round.

Russian for forest, but is called “Lee” by all

nervous Mom was driving that thing over

and continuously ended up with multiple

who know her.

the Solomon’s Bridge with Lee’s tail hang-

year-end and perpetual awards. If peo-

ing over the back door.

ple didn’t know her already, they quickly

one such Arabian pony.

Before she came into my life, Sherry

Lec exposed Lee to so much of the world. “I

We’ve pretty much done it all. I used her in pony

Still we pushed on

learned who she was.

Lee and I held the Championship title

club,

in

in the Arabian/Morgan classes at MSA for 3

which

we

years in a row. We were the ones to beat.

By Julia P. Humke evented, did

That’s one heck of a feeling when you hear

dressage,

people whispering, “That’s Julia Milligan.

show jump-

That pony always wins this class.”

ing and even

Lee tried her heart out for me from day

played polo-

one, and she still gives it every ride. Under

was with her from her first breath and be-

crosse. She loves the polocrosse because

USEF rules, only Junior riders can show a

gan right away with all of the hands-on

she gets to gallop and be competitive. Lee

pony in rated shows, so when I turned 18,

stuff you can do with a baby: walking her

loves to go fast! After Pony Club, I decided

it was back to the schooling shows for us.

through streams, over bridges, over the

I wanted to focus more on showing, so we

We figured we would give jumpers a go

stacked irrigation pipes; everything we

pulled her mane and clipped her up for

and, thereby, forgo the strictness and poli-

could find that might challenge a young-

the local show circuit. My little brother,

tics of the hunter ring we had dealt with

ster. “She never hesitated going over ob-

sister, and I all showed on her at Mounted

for so long.

stacles; she simply did everything I did,”

Wanderers 4-H, Southern Maryland Horse

At first, she was confused as to why

Sherry recalls. Thanks to all of Lee’s ground

Shows and Maryland Saddle Association

we were jumping the jumps at such a high

training, breaking her to saddle was sim-

shows. We won almost all the divisions we

rate of speed, but she did it. Our first sea-

ple. They knew and trusted each other.

competed in at the local shows. I remem-

son was rough, but after that, we were in

Sherry showed her in Pleasure at her

ber one year, between the three of us, we

the placings as normal. Our show sched-

first show and Lee placed first and sec-

had something like 16 year-end awards –

ule slowed down a lot when I was accept-

ond, a trend that would be repeated many

from Model (halter) classes, to Lead Line,

ed to Kansas State University. I left, and

times. Lee continued to travel around Mar-

to the Over Fences.

Lee became a lawn ornament, giving the

yland partaking in endurance rides, hunter paces, and various judged trail rides.

In 2001, Lee was sold to Dr. Cheryl

My brother and sister eventually

occasional pony ride to cousins or family

stopped showing, but I pushed on to the B

friends. When I came home on breaks, I’d

and C-level rated shows. By then, we were

ride her and even fox hunt her if it was the

August/September 2013 season. She loves fox hunting and every-

Sometimes, it still doesn’t feel real that

one in DeLa Brooke loves her.

she is actually mine.

She got body clipped again that winter and I swear she knew something was

One year at a hunt, there was an elder-

Upon arrival, I moved her from my

up. I body clipped her in high school be-

ly man who rode up next to me and asked

trainer’s barn to the barn where all my ro-

cause we were showing year round but

“Miss, is your pony’s name by any chance

deo friends are. She lived there because

she had been fuzzy for a few years. She

Lec?” I said yes. Turns out he hadn’t seen

board was $150 a month versus $700,

loves to show and enters the ring with a

her since she was like three or something,

and I only made $350 a month working

“look at me” attitude. Lee knew I was back

but he said he knew he instantly recog-

out there. Lee quickly learned how to push

and that things were about to get rock-

nized her, almost 21 years later!

cattle up the alley to the roping chutes and

ing. I took her to a show and entered the

My dad was forcing me to sell Lee in

to accept ropes flying around her head.

3’3” jumper division. She walked around

the summer of 2010 due to her sitting idle

There aren’t many horses out there that

the grounds like she was there last sum-

plus he wanted a trail horse. After mul-

are as versatile as Lee.

mer. We pulled two rails in a total of three

tiple failed trials and test rides, she was

I began to notice her flying lead chang-

classes, for which I was a little bummed,

still in her field. I left in August to begin

es and scope over the fences weren’t what

but she hadn’t shown in 3 years and was

my Junior year of college, and in October,

they used to be. So I hauled her two hours

now 22. We had done really well!

I got a call from my mom saying that Dad

to Kansas City to my equine vet. He in-

My rodeo club went on a trail ride

was getting ready to give her to his non-

jected her hocks, and after coming off stall

at the state park one weekend and Lee

horsey friend for $1,000 as a lawn orna-

rest for three days, I had my pony back! We

showed all those Quarter Horses up when

ment. So, I emptied out my emergency

could jump and gallop to our heart’s con-

it came to the hills and rocky inclines.

savings account and bought her from my

tent. I would go out every day and clean

She’s still wicked fast to gallop.

dad. Luckily, my trainer in KS was at the

her stall and give her treats; she secretly

That same year, my trainer, Mary Ann

Washington International Horse Show

loves to be with her “person.” There were

Funk of Ashwood Farm, was interested in

with some ponies and had an extra spot in

freezing-cold nights where I’d go out to

Lee for her daughter, Abby, who was 10

her van heading back West. She agreed to

check her blankets and I’d be all bundled

at the time. She showed Lee in the Pony

ship her for me. Next thing I knew, Lee was

up in my coveralls. I’d just sit on her bare-

Jumper Division and 0.90m-1.2m classes

in a box stall on a van, with ponies worth

back, lay back, and look up at the stars

at the big A shows. She had finally made

upwards of $75k, on her way to see me!

while she munched her hay.

Continued on page 74

35

36

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Renaissance Ho It takes a special horse to be a member of a law enforcement

patrol unit. It takes a special horse to ride in the Rose Parade. It

on Grand Prix level. They show mainly on the open circuit due to the lack of FEI classes at the Arabian shows.

also takes a special horse to take their amateur rider up to the

Suzi and Justin are also volunteers for the Rancho Cucamonga

FEI levels of dressage. But it takes an EXCEPTIONAL horse to do

Police Department’s mounted patrol unit. It is not unusual to find

all three.

them at a horse show one day and out on patrol the next.

Arabian gelding Just In Kayce+// (Showkayce x Kaitana by Kai-

They started competing at First level in 2009 and never looked

youm) is that sort of exceptional horse. When Suzi Lanini bought

back. First level was fun and exciting, serving as their introduc-

him as a green broke eight-year-old after graduating from vet

tion to the sport. “I realized at that time how challenging and truly

school, her plan was to show him in working hunter. They started

training-centric dressage is. I think that’s how I got hooked on it,”

out in Hunter Hack, saving his green status until he was more solid

says Suzi. “ It is funny looking back at some of my videos and real-

over fences. When Justin developed a quarter crack, she switched

izing how much work has been done since my first dressage test

him to dressage while he healed with every intention of returning

back then.”

to the hunter ring.

In spring of 2010, they had the once in a lifetime experience

Justin lives in Suzi’s backyard and is trained by her, although

of riding in the California Dressage Society’s Adult Amateur Clinic

they do trailer out for weekly lessons from Sarah Lockman. They

with Olympian Debbie McDonald. At that time, Suzi and Justin

are currently showing Prix St. Georges with their sights firmly set

were riding 1st level and working on 2nd. “I took a lot of notes

Mounted Patrol

orse

August/September 2013 over that weekend. I had participated in clinics in other disciplines over the years but never a dressage clinic,” recalls Suzi. “It is so amazing to go to your first clinic and be able to see the

progression of training through the levels. I remember working really hard at riding straight and with appropriate bends in the lateral movements.”

They found Second level was like an awkward adolescence stage – with the tests getting more difficult and the counter canter being introduced. “A properly ridden counter-canter is very hard, and it’s a tough concept to grasp at this stage. I definitely didn’t understand the full purpose of the counter-canter and maintaining the engagement of the hindquarters,” Suzi remembers.

In the fall of 2010, she took Justin to the Sport Horse National

37

Mounted Patrol The entire process of becoming a member of the mounted patrol took about 6 months to complete. The requirements included having a wellmannered a mare or gelding; ability to pass a background check, passing the Citizens Patrol Academy and field training; ability to devote 12 hours to mounted patrol per month; attending training opportunities and monthly meetings and participating in unit sponsored activities when possible.

Their specialized training consisted of use of police radios and field training rides. The horses have to pass HARMs training: static situations that are recreated and may be encountered during a regular patrol, such as: • Walk over a bridge • Open and close a gate while mounted • Side pass • Back between obstacles

Championships at First and Second level. At that time, they were

• Walk over obstacle

schooling for Third but had not introduced changes yet, in order to

• Pass by, pick up and carry a mounted unit flag

keep Justin from offering the changes during the counter-canter

• Pass by a trash can, blowing trash bag, leaf blower and balloons

work. The pair earned six Top Ten titles, two of them in Sport Horse

• Be able to perform all gaits (walk, trot, canter)

Show Hack.

• Be able to pony another horse and be ponied

Third level was fun and exciting because they had now graduated out of Second and into flying changes and half passes. Their first test was in January of 2011, happily leaving Second level

• Walk in close proximity to a road flare • Be able to be ridden within 25 feet of a fire truck with full sirens, lights and horn

behind. “You get tested on the center line with changes at the

• Be able to be ridden within 25 feet of other vehicles used within the department such as motorcycle, off road vehicles, car unit

judge which is a little stressful, like taking your driver’s license

• Walk through running water or stream crossing

test behind the wheel. Justin thankfully does clean changes and

• Be able to be ridden in and around crowds • Be able to perform formations with and without unit flag The mounted patrol’s duties are: • Be the eyes and ears for law enforcement • We do not take enforcement actions, carry weapons or make arrests o We do write parking citations and report any suspicious activity • Mounted Patrols of the approximately 150 miles of trails within the city of Rancho Cucamonga and the equestrian area of the city • Participation in city and local events – Parades, Mounted Color Guard, events, ALERT (Alta Loma Emergency Response Team) • Report local trail and city maintenance needs to the city • Support other police division needs from regular patrol, reserves, Citizens Patrol (car) o Community events o Parking control o Thoroughbred Christmas lights o Clerical support for the station

Pirouette at a recent dressage show

38

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine is fairly straight, naturally, so the changes were easy,” says Suzi

said Suzi. “Once I was done with veterinary school, it took me a

about this level.

few years to realize I had the time. When we moved to a horse

Fourth level was quite challenging but also exciting because of the tempi changes. To Suzi, it was a level where she knew they

property and I found the unit at a local arena event, I started the process immediately.“

were so close to FEI yet still had so much to perfect to be solid.

Once past Fourth Level, Suzi found Prix St. George a sigh of re-

“The tempi changes I found particularly challenging because I

lief. She and Justin had finally made it to FEI levels! Their first test

would work so hard at maintaining engagement and riding them

was ridden at the large open show at the Flintridge Riding Club

straight it was hard to count. And I still have difficulties some days.

in May of 2012. The judge was Lilo Fore, and Suzi admits she was

The test was not symmetrical which made it a bit more of a chal-

intimidated by all the big fancy horses while sitting on her Arabian

lenge to ride, also.” She notes that they started Fourth level in

that is just an inch shy of being a pony.

March of 2011.

She needn’t have worried, they scored a 66%, earning third in

During 2011, Suzi and Justin started the process of joining the

a class of 8. “PSG is very symmetrical and an easy ride. The objec-

Rancho Cucamonga Mounted Patrol, which took about six months

tives are clear as you ride each movement, which makes it very

to complete. “I knew a deputy, Fred Hoffman, who did mounted

helpful during the test,” comments Suzi. To add to the rewards,

work when I was a teenager. Since that time, I had always wanted

Suzi earned her USDF Silver medal with their first two rides at PSG.

to do mounted work but didn’t have the time available to commit,”

Going through the levels has been challenging, but it has also

Mounted Patrol

At the Rose Parade

August/September 2013 gone relatively smoothly considering the difficulty of both horse and rider learning simultaneously. Suzi credits Justin’s kind and caring personality with giving her the ability to progress so quickly.

39

The Rose Parade The Rose Parade is an amazing experience.

“Teaching Justin to transfer more weight to the hindquarters

Wells Fargo put on an equestrian participant dinner at the Get-

and truly coming through in the connection has been our biggest

ty Museum. The entire museum was open for participants and their

challenge. I first recognized this as a challenge at Second level and

guests only. They had music and plenty of food and dancing. We also

it has been more and more challenging as we move up the levels,�

could take a picture in front of a miniature Wells Fargo Stagecoach.

said Suzi. It is her understanding that this is actually a commonly

Each participant also goes home with a commemorative pin and a

encountered breed challenge due to their conformation. Getting

Wells Fargo stuffed horse.

the engagement, impulsion and true connection has been one of their biggest hurdles of late.

The parade started the night before on Dec 31st. We left my house at 5 pm and headed to the LA Equestrian Center. We arrived just before

Riding in the Rose Parade this year was another unique experi-

7 pm, and the horses were allowed out of the trailers and could use the

ence these two shared. Their earlier training for patrol duties no

arena as needed. We ate dinner and had a mini-meeting. We loaded

doubt came in handy for safely negotiating the sights and sounds

up at about 10 pm and moved to the staging area, which was the north

(See Parade Sidebar).

bound 110 Freeway median. The Rose Parade organizer had devoted

Continued on page 50

just enough space for our rigs and just enough room to get the horses out of the trailers. (there was no room for extra rigs or vehicles). They had self-serve hot cocoa and coffee for most of the overnight hours.

The horses spent the night in the trailers and we got up about 5 am to start getting ready. It was so cold that I did as much as I could inside the trailer before going out to get Justin. They wanted us in the saddle and ready to move at 8 am. Once we left the trailers, our rig drivers had to immediately move the rigs to the end of the parade route.

We were staged on a side street, and they fed us into the parade route behind the floats. The very next side street the bands came out and got fed in front and behind us. That was quite the shock to the horses to see the bands come unannounced out of a side street in such large numbers and followed by a whole section of twirling flags.

It is a very intense start to the parade and just as the horses settled into the crowds, the floats and the bands, we went into TV corner. The cameras are all over the street. Some stay at street level, some are on big arms and some overhead. The stands on TV corner are also 2-3 times as big as the rest of the parade route. The parade is long but every minute of it was fun. There were so many people, and they really enjoyed the interaction with me as a rider and looking at such a beautiful horse.

At the end of the parade route where we disbanded, there was an In and Out truck that served us hamburgers and cheeseburgers and their delicious french fries.

Justin was perfect in every way and better than I could have ever imagined. I even got teary-eyed a few times thinking about having

At the Rose Parade

such a dream horse to ride in the Rose Parade. I never imagined getting the opportunity to ride in the parade and then to have such a dream horse to ride was truly special.

40

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine the Southwest Dressage Championships

Worth The Work

for the experience, thinking that the mare would probably not do well enough to ribbon or even receive a medal. We just wanted for her to have the experience as she was only four years old. After 18 entries with fabulous horses and some very talented kids, they did in fact win the Bronze Medal. Her loyalty to Gaby was beginning to show; Mystic now had a great work ethic and would try hard to please all of her humans!

During her 4th year, she also began to

By Cheryl Stephens

get some light jump training. My daughter did all the work in the beginning, teaching her to wait and go over jumps and worked on gymnastics. She took to it well, but over-

The most challenging horses are often

As the months went on, we were hav-

jumped almost everything. Gaby pressed

the ones that give us the most. Arabian/

ing medical issues with the older mare and

on, and in the same year (2011) had done a

Irish Draft cross Glenlord’s Mystique is just

decided to send Mystic to be backed as a

few USEA Young Event Horse shows, again

that type of horse.

three-year-old by a friend. She spent four

to just get the experience. She wasn’t quite

“Mystic” came to us in June of 2008,

months there, learning how to accept a bit

ready to be competitive at horse trials, so

at just 14 months old. I acquired her from

and rider and being exposed to traffic and

this was an easy and inexpensive way to

my good friend, her breeder Kelly Jones,

trail rides. When she came back, she was

get her some show miles and exposure.

in Leander, Texas. She had not been han-

a different horse, and my daughter began

At the first one in March of 2011 at the

dled much, so she was a bit of a challenge.

to take dressage lessons on her. Of course,

Meadow Creek Horse Trials in Kosse, Texas,

She did not like people and it took several

right away, we noticed she had some dres-

Mystic won. She then went on to win again

months of us working with her to get her to

sage talent. Shortly after she began with

in May of 2011 at the Greenwood Horse

greet us at the gate for handling.

lessons, her trainer thought we should

Trials, competing in the Young Event Horse

Once she finally did, she was still a

enter her in a USDF recognized show and

Series as a 4-year-old. Mystic also com-

little standoffish. She did not like to be

thought she would be competitive at train-

peted that year in the Greenwood Horse

handled and was a loner horse even with

ing level enough to maybe qualify for USDF

Trial in Beginner Novice. Her progress as an

other horses. We had her older half sister

Region 9 Championships and Southwest

eventer was really beginning to take form.

(same sire, TB dam), and I eventually put

Dressage Championships.

them together.

In her 5th year (2012), we decided to

The older mare was my

After that first show in April of 2011

send her to a trainer in Louisiana for some

daughter’s future horse and eventer. We

(she had just turned 4), she did qualify for

cross-country training. She had begun to

figured that we would just get Mystic some

Southwest Dressage Championships to be

stop at the jumps, and Gaby was only 15

basic training and then sell her, as we were

held in November. She had only missed

years old at the time and not able to help

not sure she would handle the demands of

qualifying for Region 9 Championships by

her. She was gone for 5 months. I had pur-

eventing. She was a lovely mover, but she

less than a tenth of a point but we did not

chased an off-the-track racehorse that had

was spooky and did not want to be around

do another USDF show in order to get the

been around the block and could give Gaby

people much.

final qualifier. We decided to compete in

the confidence that she needed when Mys-

August/September 2013 tic came back.

Training Junior Division and finished 3rd.

petitions throughout the US. Camp provid-

I figured we would need a school-mas-

She has started 2013 at Training level

ed them with the opportunity to fine-tune

ter for a while and that Mystic would still

and has done well. She finished on her

some of the skills needed to compete at

take several months until she would be

dressage score in March again at Texas

the international level.

ready to be Gaby’s full-time horse com-

Rose Horse Park and finished 9th out of 25

They will continue to train with the Area

peting at horse trials. Once again, she de-

kids. She was entered in two more shows

V Young Rider Coach Mike Huber and they

fied the odds and began to take Gaby to

this spring, but we had to withdraw as Mys-

are planning on doing clinics with Olympi-

the jumps and really enjoyed her job. She

tic had an infected tooth that needed to be

ans such as Boyd Martin.

had competed in a couple of Young Event

removed. She had started being winded

I would say that before being blessed

Horse Shows and once again did well. She

after cross-country for the first time ever,

with this amazing mare, I wouldn’t have

was the 2011 USEA Area V Young Event

as an abscess from the tooth had blocked

shopped specifically for an Arabian cross

Horse Champion 4-Year-Old. She was also

one nostril.

since it is not a usual breed for eventing.

the 2012 USEA Area V Young Event Horse

Gaby and Mystic went to USEA Area V

I certainly would now. They are graceful,

Young Rider Camp for the second year in a

athletic and have fabulous stamina. These

In the fall of 2012, Gaby competed her

row. This year it was held at the site of the

three things are what is needed in eventing

at Area V horse trials in the Novice division.

2013 American Eventing Championships at

in order to be successful and competitive.

She competed in just two horse trials; in

Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas. Gaby

They are loyal and have a work ethic that

the second one, they placed second and

and Mystic have qualified for this year’s

is amazing!

finished on her dressage score. She also

AEC’s at Training level. This year at camp,

I am often approached by people who

qualified for the American Eventing Cham-

they were in the prelim group as they con-

comment on Mystic’s beauty and grace.

pionships for the first time! The following

tinue to prepare to move up to the higher

Most are in awe when they see her jump, as

show, her trainer, Mike Huber, moved her

levels of their sport.

she is quite scopey! I think she and Gaby

Champion 5-year-old.

up to Training Level. This was the Holly Hill

Gaby and Mystic are aiming for the

will have many more years together and

Horse Trials in Louisiana in October, and

North American Junior and Young Rider

will continue to go where no one thought

she finished 5th. That same month, she

Championships in July 2014. They must

they would go.

competed at Texas Rose Horse Park in the

qualify at the one-star level at select com-

Photos Courtesy of Cheryl Stephens

41

42

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Cover Story:

Katy Groesbeck &

The Oz Brothers One of eventers listed on the 2013 USEF Developing Rid-

Having grown up with them, Katy says she is also aware of

ers list is a young lady who competes on her family’s homebred

the distinctions between them, “I know them really well, so they

Anglo-Arabians. Katy Groesbeck and her parents, Jim and Teresa,

seem very different to me: their movement, their temperament,

owned the Arabian stallion Sidi of Magic (*Sidi-Brahim x Fadjurs

even their size and shape. Magic is the perfect blend of his moth-

Magic) and bred him to a former racehorse Regalbatim (Regalberto

er and father, but Wort is very much built like an Arabian, round

x Vowel) they owned.

and petite. Poof is the biggest and built much more like a TB. Many

The three geldings that resulted from this cross are bay, athlet-

mistake him for a Warmblood cross.”

ic and have great dispositions. Oz Magic Act (“Magic,” 14), owned

After being started under saddle, all three schooled and com-

by Jim, spends his time doing a little bit of everything, including

peted at lower level dressage. From the time Poof began show-

ranch work. Oz The Tin Man (“Wort,” 16) is Katy’s horse; he has

ing, he scored in the high 60s and into the 70s.

done ranch work, endurance, and upper level dressage in addi-

competed at lower-level eventing and completed two limited-

tion to eventing. Oz Poof of Purchase (“Poof,” 18) is owned by Te-

distance endurance rides.

Poof had also

resa, and has the same background as Wort. All three were bred

Of the three, Wort (Oz the Tin Man) has traveled and competed

by Katy’s mother, started under saddle by her father, and have all

the most. At the age of two, he underwent inspection to receive

benefitted from growing up learning how to be working horses

ISR Oldenburg approval as a stallion, but the judges asked to see

first and performance horses second.

him when he was older and more developed.

Teresa took him

Katy’s appreciation for the brothers is unmistakable. “They are

back for inspection at the age of 5, but unfortunately he missed

all total gentlemen and love to please. They would die trying be-

approval by only half of a point. After being used as a ranch horse

fore they would give up. All three are very sensitive, responsive,

by Jim up until that point (aside from showing in-hand as a sport

and have charming personalities that make them a pleasure to be

horse), Teresa began showing Wort at training level and first level

around,” says Katy.

dressage.

Then at the age of 13, Katy began riding him. As he

August/September 2013

Katy’s appreciation for the brothers is unmistakable.

Oz Poof of purchase Photo by Sherry Stewart

matured and they moved up the levels together, Wort’s striking presence and steadiness began leading them to considerable success in the dressage court.

him as well.

Like his two brothers, Wort’s talents were not limited to the dressage court. When Jim first began riding him, he was actually

In 2006, Wort and Katy were the 3rd Level Jr/YR Champions

schooled as a cow horse. Wort and Katy also showed in jumpers

at the Golden State CEI*** and 3rd Level Reserve Champions at

and even completed two 50-mile rides in 2004 (winning one) and

the FEI Jr. Individual test, with numerous scores in the high 60s,

several limited distance rides.

several bordering on 70% and four scores of 9 from three differ-

But as Katy got a little older, she started craving the diversity

ent judges. Katy earned her USDF Bronze Medal Rider Award on

of skills and the challenges that 3-Day Eventing required; both she and her horse were drawn to it. “Since I was on a budget, I prioritized spending money on events rather than horse shows.

Eventually I was hooked and I have been seriously competing since 2007,” explains Katy.

She has done the majority of her competing on Wort, with a 4th, a 5th and a win at Ram Tap in 2008 at Training Level. In 2009, they were in the top five at Preliminary in three outings and finished fourth in their first 3-Day at Galway. In 2010, they were top 5 in five runs at Prelim, and placed 1st, 2nd and 4th in three 3-Day CCI* events!

The pair ran four events at Intermediate in 2011, placing 1st,

Oz The Tin Man, “Wort”

2nd, 4th, and 11th. They ran the 3-Day CCI** at Galway and fin-

Photo by Alaina Hower

ished 15th. The 2012 season started out with a 3rd at Intermedi-

43

44

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Oz The Tin Man

Oz The Tin Man

Photo by Mary Starling

Photo by Nancy Dein

ate, a win at 2*, a win in Advanced, a fabulous 2nd at their first 3*, and they finished the year with a 3rd in Advanced. Katy considers that 3* placing the highlight of their career together thus far.

When asked what her biggest challenge with Wort is, Katy responds, “He is an overachiever and a perfectionist, even more so

And he just keeps getting better!”

Katy had planned another 3*, but their season was cut short when Wort developed white line disease, requiring a partial hoof resection. While he was recovering, big brother Poof was called upon for Katy to ride.

than me. Some days, I just wish I could find the ‘off’ button! As I

Poof had been competed by Katy and a few other riders over

have matured as a rider, however, I have learned how to channel

the years, with a win in Intermediate and a 2nd in a 3-Day CCI* in

his excess energy into extra performance. He is like riding elec-

2010 with Katy; a win in a 3-Day 2* and 7th in a CIC** with Amber

tricity – there is nothing quite like it. You never even really feel

Levine in 2011; another outing in May 2012 and that was it. Katy

him touch the ground, and he has a determination about him that

managed to dust him off and get him in shape enough to place

is unparalleled to any horse I have ridden. Every time I canter

10th at the 3-Day 1* at Galway in November.

down centerline or leave the startbox, I know I am in for the ride

So far in 2013, Poof and Katy finished 13th in Intermediate,

of my life. At the USEF Developing Rider/Eventing 25 training ses-

and they were leading the Advanced at Galway International until

sion in Gilroy, David O’Connor noted that he has a lot of try and a

Poof pulled 5 rails in Stadium Jumping so finished 4th. In April,

huge heart; I think he would do just about anything I asked of him.

Katy and Poof won the 3-Day CCI** at Twin Rivers., which they

Oz The Tin Man Photo by Brian Schott

August/September 2013 entered just to meet new FEI requirements.

“Show jumping has been a particularly difficult struggle for us, and I think it is partly due to the fact that I began riding and

did much more than that! Wort won the Intermediate, after being tied for 2nd after dressage, then went double clear on crosscountry and stadium to win the division.

jumping Poof at an age when I was good but not experienced or

Poof, not to be outdone, was 3rd after dressage, went double

skilled enough to help him improve his own technique,” explains

clear cross country and had one rail in stadium, also finishing 1st

Katy. “But now, with the help of Hawley Bennett and Buck Da-

in Advanced.

vidson, I have learned how to improve my own jump riding and

With her sights firmly set on The Event at Rebecca Farm in

consequently his jumping style. Our biggest victory to date was a

Montana in July, Katy was thrilled to be named a recipient of one

double clear show jump round to take the win in the CCI** at Twin

of the 2013 Rebecca Broussard Travel Grants. The USEA Endow-

Rivers in April. It was his first on record, and I feel like I have really

ment Trust awards the Grants to event riders presently competing

accomplished something in that.”

at the advanced level to assist with travel expenses to compete in

Katy describes him, “Poof is a goofball. Wort is like the preppy kid in high school who takes himself very seriously and wants to

the CIC*** division at Rebecca Farm.

At the world-class competition, Poof was 7th and Wort was

have the best test scores and get into the best colleges (and does),

10th after dressage, to which Katy exclaimed, “I’ll take it!” On

but Poof is the class clown who goofs off and somehow still man-

Continued on page 70

ages to ace the tests (which annoys his brother, to be sure). He is more challenging for me because he takes quite a bit more discipline in my riding to get the same level of focus and performance as Wort, but once you tap into that, you get amazing results. He can be a handful sometimes but only because he LOVES to run and jump. At 18, he feels like a 4 year old some days.”

Katy currently is a working student for Olympian Hawley Bennett, residing there in the living quarters of her horse trailer, absorbing all she can. Over the season, Katy and Poof were participants in the USEF Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program Training Sessions with USEF chef d’equipe David O’Connor.

In June at the Copper Meadows Horse Trials, Katy competed

Oz Poof of Purchase

on both geldings. This was Wort’s first event since his layoff, so

Photo by Bill Olson

her plan was to just tune him up for a big event in July. Well, she

Oz Poof of Purchase

Oz Poof of Purchase

Photo by Bill Olson

Photo by Samantha Clark

45

46

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

by 16. A few years later, she began showing Arabian Scrabble+//

Samantha

(Monopolii x *Saletra), earning scores as high as 77.50% at Grand

pare it to the difference of driving a sports car and driving a bus.

Prix and winning many championships.

Of course the sports car is more fun to drive.

S

amantha Hodgson started riding at 5 years old and began showing in dressage at 10. With her mother as her trainer, she schooled Arabian Kalabask (Cash-

van Baskin x Somali NA) to second level by age 11 and trained her mare EA Helen+ (EA Tspartacus x TC Special-K) to Grand Prix

Samantha currently trains at Superior Dressage Horses in Southampton, NJ with her mother, Dawn.

What are their strengths and weaknesses for the sport?

I would say their strengths are definitely their stamina and

What attracted you to Arabians as dressage mounts?

ability to stay sound through the hard work. They are highly in-

I’ve always been attracted to the beauty of the breed, but the

telligent and are amazingly fast learners that seem to advance

real reason I started riding Arabians in dressage was due to their

through the levels of dressage quickly with correct training. I don’t

size. When I was 10 years old, my mom wanted to buy a dressage

necessarily think the breed has any specific weaknesses, as long

schoolmaster for me to learn on. We tried many horses, mostly

as you pick an Arabian with solid and correct confirmation. I tend

warmbloods, but I was tiny and all the horses were over 16 hands,

to like Arabians with Polish, Russian, and Crabbet breeding. Most

so it was not a good match. They were too big and difficult for me

of the successful dressage Arabians I have ridden have *Bask in

to ride. So, we decided to start looking for an Arabian instead. We

their bloodlines.

took a trip down to Everglade Arabians in Micanopy, Florida and found the perfect horse, an Arabian mare named EA Helen+ that

Do you do anything different when training an Arabian?

was trained to Prix St. Georges. Because of her size, she was super

I don’t do anything different when training an Arabian. If any-

easy for me to ride. I grew to love the breed and have decided

thing, I find Arabians are easier to train than other breeds. They

over the years that their size really suits me. For me, they are just

seem to grasp new concepts easily and quickly. For instance, when

plain easier and more fun to ride than a bigger horse. I would com-

I teach an Arabian a new movement, I usually only have to go over it a few times, they grasp the concept, and then we move on to the next. After that, we just practice the movement to make it better, but I never have to go back and reteach it. With other breeds I have found that I have to go back and reteach a lot. Almost like

EA Helen+ Photo by David Adams

Sure Is Bright+++// Photo by Stacy Lynne

August/September 2013

a Hodgson I have to remind them of something they have already learned.

My biggest influence has been my mother and trainer, Dawn Hodgson. She has been my biggest supporter and has pretty much taught me everything I know. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment so far?

My greatest accomplishment so far would have to be earning my USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals by the age of 20 years

What Arabian-breds do you compete currently?

old riding three different purebred Arabian horses. Winning the

I am currently competing two of my own FEI dressage horses,

2007 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals at FEI Grand Prix and Interme-

BeyMoon Zela+/ (Bask-O-Zel x Mar Abie) and Sure Is Bright+++//

diate II with Scrabble+// was also a great accomplishment. Com-

(Diamond Jimm x Bright Lights). BeyMoon Zela is a Purebred Ara-

peting at Dressage at Devon with both BeyMoon Zela and Scrab-

bian stallion I have competed with at FEI Grand Prix for the last

ble was also a great experience that I will never forget.

6 years. We have competed together at many different competitions, both National and International, including competing three

What are your future plans?

times at the prestigious Dressage at Devon International Horse

I plan to continue to compete BeyMoon Zela and Sure Is Bright

Show. I also currently compete Sure Is Bright, a Half Arabian geld-

at the FEI levels in Open Dressage competitions. My goals for this

ing at FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Intermediate I. Both BeyMoon

year include competing both horses at the Arabian Sport Horse

Zela and Sure Is Bright are *Bask Grandsons.

Nationals. I fully believe that the Arabian breed can hold their own in Open Dressage competitions. I plan to continue to show and

When choosing an upper level dressage prospect, what do you

train Arabians in FEI dressage and also plan on continuing to pro-

look for?

mote the Arabian breed at Open Dressage Competitions.

I look for a horse with three solid good gaits, and with a talent for extension and collection. The horse also has to have a great mind and a good work ethic. A horse can have all the natural talent in the world, but without a good mind, it’s hard to teach them anything.

Who has been your biggest influence?

BeyMoon Zela+/

Scrabble+//

Photo by Stacy Lynne

Photo by Bob Tarr

47

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

WNC Photo

48

Kestrel’s Calling Horses always know what they want

or dressage training, she decided to also

placed well in three Novice events before

to be, if only we’d listen to them. A horse

take lessons in that discipline. They shortly

being sidelined by a suspensory issue.

born with as big a personality as IB Kestrel

realized that Hunters were not going to be

Kestrel won his first event back in

could not be limited to the confines of a

Kestrel’s “thing” and gave eventing a whirl.

2009 and continued the trend with a 4th

dressage court. No, he demanded some-

The first couple of years were not easy.

and 5th place at Novice before moving up

thing more exciting, and eventing has

“Kestrel is very intelligent and likes to test

to Training. “Training was not a huge jump

proven to be just the ticket!

my ability everyday. He loves to work and

for him. I couldn’t have been happier with

gets very upset when he doesn’t.

the rate we were progressing,” says Joa.

Sired by the imported Trakehner Kar-

He is

neval and out of an Arabian mare by All

a brave horse with most things that most

They stayed at that level throughout

The Gold, Kestrel was bred by Jessica Riley

horses would find scary, but then scared of

2010, despite leaving their trainer halfway

to be an upper-level dressage horse. He

stupid little stuff. He has one of the most

through the year. “After we left, everything

was trained up to Third level before she

active personalities I have ever seen in a

just fell into place. He started cleaning

decided to sell him as he was small and

horse,” says Joa.

up at Training level and growing in con-

too much horse for her. Kestrel was also

They showed a bit in dressage and

fidence,” recalls Joa. “ I didn’t have a set

Novice level eventing with mixed results.

trainer anymore. I take a couple lessons a

Eleven-year-old Joa Sigsbee bought

In the beginning of the 2007 show season,

year with two different trainers in my area,

him with the intention of competing in

Kestrel pulled a tendon, the first in a series

one for Dressage, and another for Show

Hunters and Equitation. Because of his pri-

of unlucky injuries. The following year they

Jumping, but at events I do everything

very bored with dressage.

with him myself.”

The next season, Joa and Kestrel start-

49

WNC Photo

WNC Photo

August/September 2013

30s. After another injury from a kick in the

even stronger than it was before. Sadly,

paddock, Kestrel sat out the rest of 2011.

the day of stadium he was tired and hit 4

ed doing some Preliminary/Training com-

The next summer in 2012, they de-

rails, dropping us from 1st place to 4th. I

bined shows with him in preparation for

cided to try competing in Area 1 Prelimi-

was utterly devastated with myself,” re-

Area 1 Training Championships. In Kestrel

nary Championships. Again, Kestrel was 6

calls Joa.

fashion, they flew through the champion-

points ahead after dressage, made more

Joa took Kestrel to college in Virginia

ships with no problems at all; even with 1

amazing that, even in the pouring rain,

with her last fall. This spring, without hav-

rail down in Stadium they still won. It was

the horse loves what he does. The cross-

ing had any lessons in a year, they decid-

then that Joa knew that they were both

country was nothing like they had ever

ed to tackle a couple of events at Prelim,

ready to move up.

done before—pushing the limits on them

placing first and fourth, proving once again

both, considering it was technically just

that Kestrel loves his job.

At their first competition at Preliminary, Kestrel tackled everything in stride,

their 2nd full Preliminary event.

In July, Joa headed to the Area 1 Preliminary Championships again, hoping to

out the show. He was an amazing 7 points

der time, and he jumped everything with

better last year’s finish. They were in 2nd

ahead after dressage. According to Joa,

no problems cross-country. “He truly took

place before stadium, but finished 6th af-

Kestrel has such solid dressage scores, it

care of me throughout the course, mak-

ter pulling 2 rails.

is very rare for him to ever be in the mid

ing our bond and my appreciation for him

Joa credits his heart and strong will to WNC Photo

WNC Photo

Kestrel was one of the only horses un-

WNC Photo

keeping them in 1st place again through-

50

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine succeed for all of their success. “He loves

diate level event and continuing at Prelim

a new learning experience for the both

to work and truly enjoys it. He always has

for at least another year or two. They may

of us. The bond I share with him is why

a great dressage score, which I find so im-

compete in dressage after retiring from

we make such a great team. He tries his

portant. With his stamina and speed, we

eventing.

heart out to do well and to keep me safe. I

never have any trouble making time cross-

“I am hoping that my next horse will

country. We don’t have to fly to make time,

have some sort of Arabian in it. I truly en-

and he knows when he needs to listen to

joy the Arabian cross, and I know that they

me. Kestrel can be a little lazy with his

can succeed well in eventing. They enjoy

hind end in Show Jumping, but when he

working and are very athletic. I person-

wants to, he can clear everything no prob-

ally like the smaller, more agile horses

lem,” says Joa.

because I have found they are easier to

Lest you think it is all work and no play

handle and can make some harder turns

for Kestrel, Joa trail rides him a lot and has

cross-country than some of the other big-

done western work, including running bar-

ger horses,” Joa comments.

rels. He is also trick-trained. “Kestrel bows

About this horse of a lifetime, Joa

at the end of every dressage test and can

says, “Kestrel has taught me so much

answer simple yes or no questions along

more than any other horse ever has. He

with lying down, pushing a ball, etc.,” ex-

not only is everything I could have ever

plains Joa.

hoped for in an event horse, but every-

Their future plans include an Interme-

Renaissance Horse Continued from page 39 Suzi and Justin attended the California Dressage Society’s Adult Amateur Clinic

thing he does, every time I ride him, is

it as smooth as possible by being consistent with their weekly lessons and always having specific homework. They practice every week despite the weather.

again this year where the clinician was

Creating a proper balance in Justin’s

Sabine Schut-Kery. “She really helped us

life has also been a hurdle. “If it were left

get closer to finding that true engagement

up to me to decide, I would practice every

and connection. She was very patient and

day. I have learned that Justin really pre-

encouraging of him coming through in his

fers an every-other-day schedule and a

connection, and Justin was very receptive.

day of just trail riding each week. Often

She rode him for a few minutes at the end

our trail rides are patrol rides,” admitted

of our last ride. She is such a talented rid-

Suzi.

er, and she made Justin look so fancy and trained,” Suzi commented afterwards.

Learning dressage at the same time as Justin, Suzi believes, has been to his disadvantage, but she has tried to make

With this kind of focus and dedication, added in with the versatility of this breed, what will they tackle next?

couldn’t ask for anything more!”

August/September 2013

51

Available for Purchase

Spin Doctor

2007 Arabian Stallion • 16 hands • Perfect Candidate for Dressage Falina Des Fabries (Dormane) x Smokey Rose (K A Czubuthan)

Breeding national and international quality performance Arabians for racing and other disciplines

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52

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

By Janet Bellows

are key. These are what separate an ad-

trainer Patience Prine-Carr of

Walk, trot, canter a few 20-meter cir-

equate performance from one that earns

troville, Ca. “They tend to be tight in the

cles, throw in a stretchy trot circle and a

good marks AND builds a foundation for

back,” she added, as a result of being held

few halt/salutes, and you’ve got yourself a

future success as the horse moves up the

in a static position by the rein. “Getting the

Training level dressage test. How hard can

levels.

horse swinging and free in the back with

that be?

The simplicity of the Training and even

Cas-

relaxation would add extra points.”

Well, let’s put it this way. I can look

First level tests is both a blessing and a

Prine-Carr’s thought was echoed by

through the choreography for “Swan

curse. Many people who are steeped in

Greta Wrigley of Alachua, Florida. Wrigley

Lake.” I can have it diagrammed for me,

the AHA “oval-ring” disciplines watch

is another well-known trainer with a long

and I can watch someone dance a scene

what happens in that 20 x 60 meter rec-

and successful history training and com-

and try to recreate what I see. I can run and

tangle across the show grounds and find

peting Arabians in dressage. The two most

spin and jump across the stage, precisely

themselves intrigued and wanting to try it.

common problems she sees are horses

as directed in the choreography, but will it

And that is a wonderful thing!

that are not honestly accepting the bit, but

be pleasant to watch?

No need for you to answer. I already know.

But what does it really take to ride those tests and ride them successfully?

rather are stuck in a frame, and horses that are laterally stiff and not bending.

The test instructions are deceptively sim-

“The horses need to follow the bit,

There is a parallel to dressage here.

ple, while the test directives offer insight

and learn to bend evenly through their

Most anyone can muddle their way

into the qualities actually being assessed

entire body. This is where good instruc-

through the movements described in a

during the prescribed movements. Those

tion comes in,” Wrigley noted, “so that you

Training level test and even do a fairly

directives and the quality of the move-

know when you are correct and can re-

passable job. But understanding the nu-

ments, not just the fact that you did them,

create that when working alone.”

ances, the directives and the objectives

make up the difference between a 5 and

Prine-Carr made the same point and

a 7, or between a cumulative 55% and a

emphasized that one of the harder things

65% score!

for riders coming from other Arabian dis-

We asked a group of experienced and

ciplines is to learn to memorize tests and

highly successful dressage trainers and

to ride between the movements, not just

competitors to offer up their observations

movement to movement. “They need to

and pointers to help those just starting out

think for themselves while in the arena

or crossing over to the dressage arena so

since there isn’t any announcer telling

that they might have a positive experience

them where to go. Of course, they can

and want to keep going on their dressage

have a reader but I tend to want them to

journey.

learn their tests and ride from memory be-

Each of the trainers commented on the

cause it will make them a better rider and

need for riders to learn how to correctly

they will learn to ride the whole test, not

ride their horses from back to front, and

just the movements.”

NOT the other way around.

“Most often I see the new or crossover MaryJo Hoepner’s Arabian/Saddlebred gelding Milleniums Treasure is enjoying the switch from hunter pleasure to dressage. Here he shows the balance, submission and forward attitude so crucial to dressage success.

riders not having their horse ‘through’ and really ‘on the bit’,” said noted dressage

Up-and-coming young dressage trainer Mimi Stanley of Bismarck, North Da-

Janet Bellows grew up in upstate New York eventin Arab mare. She is passionate about dressage , and t and continues her education with Inga Janke and W ing, GA Ehstaire. An award-winning documentary a extensively in pr

August/September 2013 kota, has been involved in all aspects of

notes, “but there could be some confusion

you need to align yourself for the center-

the Arabian horse world and has trained

when a ‘quiet’ transition where the horse

line,” which is essentially a half of a ten-

with some of the world’s best dressage

‘keeps his head down’ isn’t well rewarded.”

meter circle, and the very important first

mentors. She notes that, for many horses

This can be because, as she notes, new

and last impression of your test!

coming over to dressage from other are-

dressage riders might not understand the

And as Prine-Carr noted, with three

nas, there is much ingrained training to

nuances of each movement and what is

rider scores, it becomes even more critical

overcome, as well as them learning to un-

desired in the schooling. “Those new to

to ride correctly and use your seat and aids

derstand and accept a more “layered” and

dressage need to familiarize themselves

effectively. Checking yourself for position

complicated set of aids.

with the other components such as relaxa-

flaws not only benefits your test score, but

As she has observed, “Many of these

tion, impulsion, straightness, balance and

your horse as well. Do you sit more heavily

horses from other disciplines can end up

eventually engagement. The ‘modifiers’

in one seat bone than the other? Do you

in a very different place” than what one

describe what happens before, after and

hollow your back or grip with your thigh

desires in a dressage horse. “With the

within the movement that affect the final

or tilt your head or shoulder to one side or

more severe bitting, and gadgets such as

score.”

the other? All these subtle things will be

draw reins and such, these horses gener-

Wisdom elaborated a bit more on these

noted by a judge, and more importantly,

ally require a good deal of re-schooling”

points, noting that another challenge is

will have an impact on your horse’s bal-

in order to really work over the back and

riding the test itself accurately. “Again, the

ance and straightness.

relax into a correct pace and tempo for

elements and figures are well described

While this may seem like a huge laun-

Training level and obtain the foundation

either on the sheet or in the USDF test

dry list, it really is quite manageable, par-

to move beyond those levels.

booklet. Geometry, alignment, and good

ticularly with good instruction to get you

When listening to all the trainers, it be-

preparation are keys to success at any

started in the right direction. And after

comes apparent that, in addition to the is-

level but are too often not given enough

a few lessons, you will find that the only

sues of correct schooling and understand-

practice – at home AND in the ring.”

thing really daunting about riding your

ing the goals of Training level and how it

Just as you don’t slam on your car

forms the foundation for the levels that

brakes when you are next to the stop sign,

follow, the other main issue is understand-

but rather prepare for

ing how to apply that knowledge in riding

what is coming, the

a well-executed test.

same holds true in

“Possibly the biggest issue is under-

riding your dressage

standing how each movement is scored

test. A well-planned

- both the movement itself and the modi-

test, with properly ex-

fiers,” said noted trainer Jessica Wisdom.

ecuted, geometrically

Best known for her ground-breaking suc-

correct figures, will

cess with the Grand Prix Welsh Cob stal-

help you add many

lion North Forks Cardi, Wisdom, of Ridge-

points that can all

field, Washington, has also trained and

too easily be thrown

ridden numerous Arabians and part Arabi-

away.

ans to USDF and AHA/Sport Horse Nation-

“Know your ge-

als wins. “The directives for each move-

ometry!” added Wrig-

ment are described on the test sheet,” she

ley. “Understand the

ng and doing dressage and Pony Club on her Anglotrained with Tracey Lert and Charles DuKunffy in Ca, Wanja Gerlach, and competes on her purebred geldand broadcast news producer, she has also worked rint journalism.

placement of circles,

53

first dressage test is putting on the white breeches!

3/4 Arabian HERMANO ROJO (El Hermano x Bint Sabo Meadow {Arab/ and how much bend QH}), formerly a winning WP horse, shows the forward attitude, length of stride and acceptance of the aids that earned him a Top Ten in Training level dressage at the 2012 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals. (He is ridden by his owner, Pip Sumsion of British Columbia.) Photo by Bob Tarr.

54

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Healing hHazen

By Elizabeth Coffey-Curle

You hear stories where people say that

from the hunt field last fall. Well, he didn’t

ple-chasing sire, Hazen didn’t have the

the horse picked them. I wouldn’t say that

have the speed she needed for the hunt

speed the Red Rock Hunt needs in their

happened here, but I would say that our

field, so he was for sale. I did have a jun-

whip horses because of the type of terrain

meeting was by chance and unlikely to re-

ior rider that was looking, and I needed

and the size of territory it covers. Were we

sult into a long relationship.

something very, very quiet. I watched the

still looking, they asked. They were tak-

I had taken a group of children to ride

now five-year-old canter around a couple

ing him to a show near my home and they

out with the Red Rock Hunt, north of Reno,

of courses and said I’d be back to try him.

could stop in on the way home. I figured

NV. I had been a whip in a hunt back in MA

We set a date for two weeks time, and I

he’d be a bit tired but I agreed to the plan.

and felt that the local pony club needed to

started to plan a training/muscling pro-

Watching his soon-to-be new rider have to

get out of the arena. It was on the return

gram for the still ewe-necked, cow-hipped

kick him into the canter, I figured I’d found

trip back to the hunt kennels when I rode

rangy creature. Two weeks came, we drove

the suitable match. We vetted him and he

up to one of the whips. I told her I liked

to give the horse we now knew as “Hazen”

moved in immediately.

her horse, he’d caught my eye. She gave

a test drive and the barn was empty. Fi-

And that’s where the fairy tale ended

me a fairly hesitant look and said I was on

nally a groom arrived and said the horse

for a while. Hazen didn’t get sold because

a much nicer horse, why would I like hers?

was no longer for sale. He’d done well at

he was slow. He got sold because he

Did I notice his hips stuck out like a cow’s?

a baby novice event and they wanted to

bucked. And he bucked and he bucked.

I responded that he was a bit of a diamond

keep him. Figuring it wasn’t meant to be,

During his first test at his first dres-

in the rough and I was always looking for

we drove home and started looking else-

sage show, he bucked his junior rider off,

somewhere to hang my coat. We intro-

where.

so I ended up grabbing show clothes and

duced ourselves, but I was still on pony

We looked and we looked but nothing

riding his sorry butt down center-line

club duty so not much more came of that

was a match for this particular junior. She

wondering what I could get for him at the

other than learning he was only 4 years

was sweet as the day was long but a bit

knackers. He won his test and the judge

old and an Anglo-Arab.

spacey, so I needed a quiet horse with a

took the time to speak to me. She wanted

Fast forward to the next spring and

good sense of self-preservation to save

to make sure I knew that she saw an FEI

I brought a couple of students to a local

them both in any situation. Out of the

horse in the making. She told me he had

hunter/jumper show. The whip recognized

blue I got a call over Labor Day weekend.

the gaits and the spark it takes at the up-

me and asked if I remembered the horse

Hazen wasn’t working out. Unlike his stee-

per levels and to not give up on him. She

August/September 2013 saw something very special in his very

serve Champion Fourth Level Freestyle

fresh, very naughty face.

award and the CDS Reserve Champion

Over time, muscle formed where bones stuck out and he started to get pret-

Fourth Level Freestyle award at the California Dressage Society annual show.

ty. His junior rider liked to jump, so Hazen

Two weeks before the 2009 Sport

would show as a child’s jumper, winning

Arabian Championships in Idaho, Hazen

his speed classes and ripping at least one

strained his lateral collateral ligament in

buck a round (his teenage rider got real

his left fore playing in the pasture. It was

sticky in the saddle) and at the child’s par-

a disappointment to have to stay home,

ents’ request, I showed him in dressage

but up until this point, we had been injury

because they felt that was the best train-

free, and I just figured it was our turn.

In an instant, I knew something was very, very wrong.

ing for the naughty beast. We hit Third lev-

I have always been competitive and

el when his rider went off to college, and I

enjoyed showing, but the responsibili-

purchased him from the family.

ties of a young family and full-time job

In October, I handed the reins over to

We moved up the levels like most rid-

put showing on the back burner. Hazen

my then 12-year-old daughter Cyd to ride

er/horse combinations and were lucky to

continued to show and train through In-

in her first third level test. She had out-

avoid any major soundness setbacks. As a

termediare I including a fun I-1 freestyle.

grown her little Arabian whom she had

result of a skiing accident, I had to have my

Snowy winters and two more minor hu-

shown through Second level. That first

wrist re-built which required multiple sur-

man surgeries probably contributed to

test had a bunch of us laughing. Cyd took

geries and six months of non-riding time,

Hazen staying fairly sound through all of

the extended canter to mean gallop like a

but my horses often sit out the winter due

the work. He has a very straight gaskin so if

wild brumby and watching Hazen collect

to our snowy residence and I always figure

there’s ever a bit of unsoundness, it’s in his

himself before the corner was priceless.

it gives whatever strains and sprains we

hocks. I have had them injected only twice

Everyone pointed out the grin both horse

aren’t even aware of time to heal.

in his 18 years, so I’m getting a lot of miles

and rider had from ear to ear through out

per injection.

the entire test.

I sought the help from FEI trainer

55

Volker Brommann. At this point, Hazen was

Last summer was a big step forward;

And then things went bad. I could start

still very hot to show and the FEI work was

although I did not show due to financial

the story with “It was a dark and stormy

continuing to heat him up. Volker’s calm

reasons, he was ready for I-2. With the

night,” because, well, it was. Mid-Novem-

approach was a huge turning point in Ha-

help of FEI trainer Michael Etherly, I could

ber on a Friday night, snowing, wind howl-

zen’s career. Hazen’s trot has always been

start and stop the one tempis on com-

ing, and temperature in the teens, I went

his weakest gait as he has more knee ac-

mand and his passage was nothing short

out to feed at 5:30 PM. Hazen normally

tion than reach. Volker saw that as a po-

of just plain fun. If anything, the strength

meets me at the gate but instead he was

tential gift for the piaffe and passage work.

required to do the very collected work

standing near his shelter and his pas-

He really gave me the confidence that we

made Hazen even sounder. Physically, he

ture buddy was galloping madly around.

could go all the way. Hazen, in turn, taught

was massive. You could play chess across

I called to Hazen thinking he didn’t see

Volker that non-traditional dressage hors-

his topline. And yet, he was still just our

me. He didn’t move. In an instant, I knew

es can be very successful. Volker still to-

family horse living life like other normal

something was very, very wrong. I ran out

day calls Hazen “Big Man” because of the

horses. He lived out in the pasture most of

and there in the bit of light from the back

size of his heart, not his stature.

the time with his best friend, “Roc,” going

of the barn, I could see he was three leg-

In 2007, Hazen earned the USDF Half-

for swims at a lake near our home and trail

ged, non-weight bearing.

Arabian/Anglo Arabian All Breeds award

riding with our dogs down to the creek

for Fourth level, the Region 7 USDF Re-

most days.

I couldn’t see the extent of the wound, but his knee was ripped open and already

56

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine huge. Later, we were able to time the injury

not one to cry wolf. I told the service that

the night. On the way to my home, a truck

between 4:15 and 5:30 because Cyd had

I had a probable broken leg and for the

had hit a wild stallion shattering his hind

actually spent time with him in his pasture

on-call vet to stop at the hospital on their

legs and the vet was two cars back. She

between 4:00 – 4:15. Standing with Ha-

way to my stable to get whatever medi-

had to stop and, with the aid of police

zen three-legged, I admit I just started to

cine they would require for such an emer-

and firemen, euthanize the stallion. When

cry into his neck. In my heart I knew the

gency call. Then, I ran to the house to get

she finally arrived at my stable, she was in

leg was broken. I put my hands on him

Cyd and a flashlight. I quickly told Cyd the

shock from the situation she had just left

and said goodbye. I had always assumed

situation and handed her the phone since

behind. Seeing my family standing around

Hazen would grow old in my pasture and

the phone signal doesn’t carry out to the

Hazen who was eating hay out of a wheel-

instead, I would be putting him down that

pasture. I grabbed a flashlight and headed

barrow in the middle of the barn aisle was

night. I was probably there all of about 15

back to Hazen.

almost more than she could take. I had

seconds but the things that ran through

The next hour was agonizing. Cyd and

packed Hazen’s leg in ice and a makeshift

my head were what every horsey parent

I took turns with Hazen. He was standing

splint to stabilize his leg. I still had little

agonizes over. He’s not insured. How to I

100 feet down a small hill from the barn.

faith that he’d see Saturday morning, but

replace him for Cyd? How do I tell her that

His now stabled pasture mate would call

Hazen was standing so quietly under the

we just lost her horse? She grew up with

out to him and Hazen would sit back like in

aisle lights now on four legs, maybe there

Hazen. Her first word after ma-ma and da-

a levade and launch forward landing all of

was a chance after all.

da was “Hay-ZA”.

his weight on his one good front leg. This

After a thorough examination, the

I caught his pasture mate, the obvious

went on for an hour. Roc would whinny,

vet thought we were okay. A severe deep

offender in this situation, and ran him up

Hazen would rock back and leap forward.

puncture to the knee joint, yes, but Hazen

to the barn. The weather was so foul and

When thirty minutes turned into an hour, I

allowed her to poke and prod the joint and

he was still galloping around. I didn’t want

couldn’t help but wonder what happened

leg completely free of any sedation. She

him to run up to Hazen not realizing that

to the vet.

felt there was no way he’d allow that if

Hazen would not be able to get out of his

At the hospital, the first on-call vet

there was a break. We applied a soft cast

way. I called the local vet hospital. I gave

was preparing a horse for colic surgery.

and, since the portable x-ray machine was

one clear message that the vet who re-

The responding vet, Sadie, ironically the

on the blink, we agreed to meet in the

ceived the message from the on-call ser-

vet assigned to our stable from the group

morning at the hospital. I was to call if, in

vice said when she got it, she knew I was

practice, was actually second-on-call for

the morning, I felt that he would not tolerate the trailer ride. Sadie climbed back into her truck and drove to assist with the colic surgery that was awaiting her return to the hospital.

The next week is a bit of a blur. Hazen had obviously laid down during that first night and was back up on four legs.

He was very sore walking to the trailer which we had driven practically to his stall door, but he was at least weight-bearing.

Hazen leaped three-legged into our twohorse and slid down the ramp with both front feet on the ramp to unload. He would continue to use this method for future

Young Cyd playing with Hazen

August/September 2013 trips. Saturday morning x-rays and joint

things into the sink!” they said. “Oh, that

kinds of cases and no case had a better

fluid checks were clean. As horrific as the

was just a bit of horse humor. He did that

result than any other so I was to take Ha-

wound looked, he would be okay. Sunday

to make you crazy,” I explained.

zen home and put him loose in his stall.

night we hosted a barn party and while I

After his duration in ICU, Hazen once

No pen attachment, just his 12x12’ indoor

usually empty the barn of all equine resi-

again came home with a prescription of

stall. We’d start him on Shock Wave Ther-

dents for these parties, Hazen on stall rest

medicine and hand-walking. Another week

apy in three weeks. If he was going to sur-

was the guest of honor.

went by and at this point, I knew what 80

vive, it was all on Hazen now. Shane said

I changed his dressing twice daily and

(yes, 80) x-ray views over two weeks had

he’s watched him in the hospital while he

hand-walked him for five minutes twice a

failed to show. Hazen was in too much pain

was in ICU and thought that Hazen had

day per his prescription. It was the follow-

when I changed his dressing. He would ex-

the common sense and attitude it would

ing Monday night that I saw swelling that

tend his leg outward when I went to put

take to survive the confinement. “Okay,” I

hadn’t been there that morning. I made a

the bandage back on that was supporting

said. “I’ll take him home.” It was then that

mental note to call the vet the next day

the dressing over the knee wound. I called

two other vets started to panic – I had to

and since I had Wednesday off, I could

the hospital and said I was bringing him in

“trailer” him home. Of course, that is how

haul him in to the hospital then. Tuesday

the next day and I was going to show them

he got here. “But he has a BROKEN LEG!,” I

morning arrived, and with one look at the

where the fracture was. I’m not usually

just laughed and shook my head. I remind-

leg, I had him loaded in the trailer before I

that insistent but I knew I was right.

ed them that not only have I been hauling

even called the hospital to tell them I was

After a couple of “Dr. Curle” jokes by

this horse back and forth to the hospital, I

on my way. They could look at him when

the vet team, I pointed to the place where

had been hand-walking him twice a day! I

they had a break in the action and I’d pick

I felt was the fracture point. It was on the

loaded him back up and went home.

him up after work.

radius above the knee. The vet team in-

What I didn’t know was that using

Hazen was diagnosed with a cellulitis

cluding a surgeon did a full examination

Shock Wave Therapy for a break was as

infection and the request to keep him 24

of his leg including lots of manipulation of

new to them as it was to me. Thanks to

hours turned into 8 days in the ICU on an

his knee joint without any response from

the race track, there is a lot of documen-

antibiotitic IV. They continued to hand walk

Hazen. They did agree that there was point

him in the hospital and as the only over-

tenderness and took him back for more x-

night horse in ICU, he was quite miserable

rays. Jokes ended, and the vet team and

and stopped eating anything except horse

techs got very somber, very quickly. A

cookies. Feeling sorry for the old boy, the

shadow was present on a film. Now they

vet techs let him loose one day while they

needed to follow the shadow and see

were cleaning his stall, thinking he’d just

where it led. A three-inch clean straight

walk around a bit. Hazen proceeded to

line fracture was present on the x-ray. We

knock everything off the shelves, knock

were at day 24 post-accident. X-rays taken

things into a sink, turn on the water and

at days 14-18 did not present any fracture.

start a flood – all to the amazement of the

All of the vet school teachings that if you

staff. When I heard the story, I reminded

do not have a fracture after day 14, you are

them that he lives in a barn that is always

in the clear, went right out the window.

full of children. Children mean food. Any

Still in the x-ray room, standing with

horse worth his weight knows that there’s

the vet team, a plan was formed. The

food stashed in the grooming box or on a

fracture was clean and unless it started

shelf, you just have to look for it. “But he

to split, he’d avoid surgery. The surgeon,

turned THE WATER ON after he dumped

Shane, said he’d tied, slung, etc. these

57

58

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine tation on its use for soft tissue injuries

that his training would over ride his exu-

I thought would never happen again. I en-

but it wasn’t until the vets found a study

berance and it would be calmer and safer

tered him and Cyd into a dressage show

where it had been used on a rabbit with

in the saddle than on the ground. Two

in June.

a broken leg did they have any research

weeks later we got the “all-clear” to start

Today I wish I could say that whole ac-

for the machine settings for healing bone.

trotting and when I felt he was strong

cident is ancient history but it is going to

Three sessions, three weeks apart was the

enough, we could start to canter.

take a bit more time before I don’t worry

prescription. I augmented the Shock Wave

Miraculously, Hazen was sound. I com-

about him constantly. He is back in the pas-

therapy with Accuscope therapy sessions.

pletely cheated and I would admit to do-

ture during the day but spends his nights

We needed to treat Hazen’s entire body

ing so in emails I would send the vet. My

in his stall. He has a new pasture mate –

while the bone re-modeled under the skin.

theory was she could rant and rave, but I

this one is 13 hands, no hind shoes, and

Hazen was an amazing patient. I

was 20 minutes away and couldn’t hear

runs away at the mere twist of one of Ha-

learned that most of these patients are

her. I had actually already trotted the day

zen’s ears. I worry watching him load and

put down approximately six weeks into

before we got the go-ahead to do so and

unload our four-horse step-up trailer but

the recovery process because they sim-

more than that, I asked the old boy to pas-

he lands up and back down on his right leg

ply start to jump around in their stalls and

sage and he handed it to me right off my

first, always. Cyd trail rides him now where

shatter their leg. Hazen was not a full time

aid. The first day we cantered, I did a sim-

just a month ago I still worried about hard-

“stalled” horse prior to his accident, but he

ple change each direction. The next day I

packed footing. We haven’t taken him back

quickly settled into the routine. My daugh-

did a line of 3 tempis. Canter day three, I

to the beach yet because I’m worried that

ter hung a few toys around his stall, but

picked up the canter and without so much

the deep sand will strain his leg, but by the

our family became his favorite play toys

as a single change warm up, I did a line of

fall, our favorite time to hack on the beach

and he enjoyed the time we spent in his

two’s followed by a short line of 1’s. Call

and into the water, we’ll be back there.

stall.

me horrible for pushing him or what ever

Cyd and Hazen have qualified for

Four and one-half months after the

but I wanted Hazen feel “normal” again.

the CDS Junior Third Level Champion-

accident, we were given the go ahead to

He still wasn’t on any kind of turn out yet

ships, and they have a darling Third level

hand walk Hazen. That quickly turned into

and between the months of stall rest and

freestyle set to “We Belong Together” by

walking under saddle because Hazen was

now being 18 years old, gravity had taken

Randy Newman from Toy Story and “Bear

so explosive, I felt he was going to injure

its toll on his topline. We had a lot of work

Necessities” from the Jungle Book. They

himself or one of us. I convinced the vet

to do, but Hazen was back. Then I did what

received the last-needed score for Cyd to earn her USDF Bronze medal at the age of 13 years. Cyd would like me to show him again. She says she wants me to get my USDF Gold medal. She has him for one more show season and then, who knows, maybe I’ll put him back into the show ring in 2015 and Hazen and I will get to earn our USDF Gold Medal together.

As a result of Hazen’s remarkable recovery using Shock Wave Therapy, his vet team have documented his case and made it available for other equine practitioners to review.

August/September 2013

www.tranquillityhorsefarm.com

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60

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Profiles in Courage

Building a Bridge

By Karin Foley

It occurred to me over coffee one day that Arabian horses have

five minutes to find each other. Linda said that through her horse

been the impetus for many major relationships in my life. I met

Pietra she has “met so many other fabulous women, young and

my husband, Will, because of a Straight Spanish Arabian stallion

‘vintage’ who have taught me so much. It is a wonderful commu-

named Destinado and so began the relationship with two loves of

nity that I am proud to be part of… strong women.”

my life, Will and Arabian horses. Many of my closest friends have

There are all kinds of courage and sometimes the bravest peo-

come into my life via Arabian horses. I think of Arabian horses as

ple are the most unassuming. To meet Linda you would not realize

bridge-builders because a particular Arabian horse or just Arabian

what tough stuff she is made of. Linda is one of those smiling peo-

horses in general will bring together the most unlikely people.

ple who can always find something nice to say about every one in

They provide the bridge to people we may otherwise not have

every situation. She is the kind of person you want to be friends

met and to experiences we most likely would not have had with-

with because her positive attitude and kindness are a pleasure to

out them.

be around. She inspires you to be a better person.

If there are two people at a horse event with horses of Arabian

Sometimes having courage has more to do with taking on a

blood, they will find each other. I met Linda Ward a few years ago

challenge that is incomprehensible enough that it even seems

at dressage camp in Ohio. She lives in Hamburg, New York, and I

crazy. Linda learned to ride at age 45 on a purebred Arabian mare

was two hours away from her in the Finger Lakes. Since Linda was

named Pietra. Pietra was a horse that had a past and was a bit

the only person at camp with an Arabian horse, it was just a mat-

of a rehab project. While I support the conventional wisdom that

ter of time that we would meet. I don’t think it took us more than

green riders should begin on saintly horses, sometimes courage

Linda Ward getting her Western New York Dressage Association year end award

August/September 2013

61

outweighs sense or as my grandmother, Grace Edna, used to say,

What makes someone decide to just take up horseback riding

“Courage takes having more strength and less sense.” Learning to

in midlife – a sport which most people who become really good

ride on horses with issues takes more strength and less sense for

tend to start as kids, Linda said, “It is nice to have something that is

sure and maybe a touch of insanity.

all mine after raising two fabulous daughters and then to see how

For Linda, learning to ride at forty-five and ride Pietra was a

proud they are of their old mom.” Women of any age can do any-

journey for the brave. Forty-five is about the age when midlife

thing we set our minds to do. It takes grit to decide to learn some-

horsewomen start to feel every childhood fall. Falling at 45 can

thing and achieve a certain level of success at it during a time in

be deadly. Pietra had serious baggage that made her dangerously

life when most equine athletes are slowing down and beginning to

spooky at times. Linda said, “ Pietra and I struggled for many years

spend more time on the ground teaching than in the saddle riding.

as she carried with her some horrid baggage. A ‘cowboy’ trainer

What made it work? My niece Mary Elizabeth says that some

had tried to cure her of her spookiness and really messed her

people have a “whatever” button meaning some people just don’t

up.“ Since Pietra came with all her western tack, Linda tried rid-

sweat the small stuff. If you are the kind of person who suffers with

ing western first. Then the pair switched to dressage when Linda

every little setback or inconvenience, you are unlikely to ever be-

figured out that it teaches you to use all of your rider aids and also

come a really good rider. You certainly won’t be able to enjoy the

makes the horse a fine athlete progressively.

ride. I think Linda has that “whatever” button that has allowed her

About her and Pietra’s journey, Linda will tell you that, “ We

to master horseback riding at a challenging point in life. She says

have a wonderful history together and hopefully it is inspiring

it is because of her journey with Pietra that she can now ride just

to other women. You are never too old to realize a dream, never

about any horse.

too old to try something that is hard but so satisfying. “ One of

It does not take much to get Linda talking about her desert

the best things about riding a bit later in life is that there are of-

princess. Watching them ride, it is not hard to imagine Linda as the

ten many other women at the same point in life doing the same

musician she is. Linda said, “ I always thought music was my pas-

things. Some will have a lifetime with horses. Some perhaps gave

sion and now I find Pietra is.” Music and riding are a lot alike. They

up riding for a while to raise a family or have a career. Life takes up

both take patience, commitment, gentleness, spirit and cadence to

time and sometimes dreams get put on hold.

Continued from page 71

62

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine she knew it, even if many in the crowd weren’t believers.

One believer was 3-time Canadian Olympic rider, Robin Hahn. Robin saw Annie in one of his clinics and felt that she be

m y

was an Advanced-level horse. She may

choice of trainers for her. I began

well have done so if she hadn’t taken time

her early under saddle career doing hunt-

off for maternity leave, although she did

er pleasure and western pleasure. Annie

compete to the Intermediate level. I re-

allowed that hunter pleasure was okay,

member standing at the start for Interme-

Her name, Huadoresya, is an amal-

but western pleasure was way too boring.

diate at The Event at Rebecca Farm and

gamate of her dam (Lei Huua) and sire

When she was 5, we met trainer Nelson

hearing people chuckle about the crazy

(Retador) and is pronounced “Who adores

Mittuch whose expertise was in event-

rider (Nelson) on the little grey Arab. They

ya.” Better known as Annie, she had ador-

ing and show jumping. Annie found that

were no longer chuckling when the pair

ing fans through out the US and Canada.

eventing was just the ticket for channeling

came galloping around to the finish with

her need for adrenaline.

no jump penalties.

ll rsha a nM we G By

She began her show career by win-

very

careful

in

ning a Region V Top Five as a yearling, with

Nelson rode her in several schooling

The year Annie was to be bred, Nelson

trainer Mitch Sperte on the lead. Mitch

and lower-level events with the idea that

and I decided to do only show jumping, as

was the first to say that Annie would al-

I would take over the reins once she knew

she wouldn’t have to be so fit and might

ways give way more than 100% of effort

the game. I rode my first novice-level

make conception easier. We had planned

to what is asked of her and that I should

event at the age of 50. It was soon clear

to take her to Spruce Meadows, but they

that Annie was

had overbooked and were taking only

getting

bored

horses competing in the whole series (we

novice

were going for just a week). She competed

level, and I had

in the International Arena at Thunderbird

NO desire to go

Show Park in British Columbia, Canada.

with

up the levels, so

Again, there were doubters as she

Annie again be-

strutted into 3’9” and 4’ classes, but by

came

the end of the week, Annie had many

ride.

Nelson’s He

very

new fans. She came second twice at 3’9”,

carefully moved

leading one class until the very last horse

her up the lev-

that went just a touch faster. After tak-

els, never allowing her to think she couldn’t do it. A trademark of hers was the way she sauntered into the Annie and Nelson Mittuch – Intermediate at Deep Creek Horse Trials photo by Ken Hornung

show

jump-

ing arena. She was good and

Annie and Amber, with teammates Lexi Funk and Candy at Galway Downs, Temecula, CA. West Coast YR championships.

August/September 2013

Huadoresya as a yearling

Annie and Nelson at Thunderbird Horse Park, British Columbia, Canada (2nd and 3’9’’) Photo by On Site Digital

ing time out to have her son, Corre Con El

Arabian and came home from KY to be-

Viento (his Trakehner registration has WB

come a broodmare.

in front), Annie began a new career as the

Sadly, we lost her at the age of 17 to

mount for Young Rider Amber McCluskey.

leukemia. She was a rare treasure through-

They worked their way up from Novice to

out her life and she died of a disease that

Preliminary. At 14 years old, Amber was

is very rare in horses. Her son, Corre Con

too young to ride Intermediate. A second

El Viento (Vinnie), is now 7 years old and

place in Prelim at the Whidbey Island

is just about ready to let the world know

Pony Club event earned them the chance

of his presence. By the Trakehner Windfall,

to compete with the Area VII Young Rider

Vinnie is considered Trakehner because

Team at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA.

Annie was inspected and approved for

They started the weekend in 20th

the Trakehner Stud Book (PSB) and Half-

place of 20. This was not unusual, as Annie

Arabian. His foals out of Arabian mares are

considered dressage to be on a par with

registered as 3/4 Arabian.

western pleasure and pretty much never

When the inspecting veterinarian first

gave her best during the test. She saved

saw Annie, his comment was a very heart-

her best for the two jumping phases. They

felt “Now there’s one that stands out in the

finished the weekend in seventh place,

crowd.”

earning a trip to Lexington, KY to compete

Vinnie thinks that eventing is fun,

at the North American Junior and Young

but he will probably make his mark in the

Rider Championships. What a great thrill

Show Jumping Arena. Robin Hahn thinks it

to be able to compete at the home of the

won’t be long before he’s winning at the 4’

legendary Rolex, where the World Eques-

level, despite the fact that he is the same

trian Games were to be held the next year!

size as his dam – 15’1”. Vinnie is also mak-

The Area VII team finished a respect-

ing his mark as a sire. His first foal, the now

able 6th place, and Annie made many

3-year-old First Legacy GM, was the Re-

more friends as the little grey Arab flashed

serve National Champion 2-year-old Half

around the cross-country course. Other

Arabian Sport Horse Filly in Nampa, Idaho.

than the endurance horses, Annie was the

“Ginger” is now started under saddle and

only purebred Arabian competing at the

early indications are that she’s got that

NAJYRC. Annie finished her competitive

need for adrenaline and will find eventing

career as the highest ranked FEI eventing

her cup of tea.

“Vinnie” Corre Con El Viento (Windfall x Huadoresya)

“Vinnie” Corre Con El Viento and Nelson Mittuch during a Robin Hahn clinic

First Legacy GM with Dannelle Haugen Photo by Sherri Sauter

First Legacy GM Res. Nat’l Champion 2-year-old Half-Arabian SHIH filly 2012 Photo by Don Stine

63

64

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

EVENTING STARS Sparky & Jane

By Kat Walden

Kat Walden Photo

Several years later, as a working student at San-Ray Stables, she was assigned to ride an Arab-Quarter Horse mare named Faela.

Faela did everything from jumping picnic tables in the park to barrel racing to egg and spoon. Jane rode her in Open Hunter shows and 4-H. After San-Ray closed, Jane and her older sister Debbie began riding Thoroughbreds for neighbors who wanted to recycle their unsuccessful racers into hunters and pleasure mounts. Then in college, Jane rode on the Northwestern University Equestrian Team. After graduation, she moved west and learned eventing while riding at Half-Halt Farms in Martinez, California. She met Te-

Jane Mendelsohn schooling Sparky in dressage at

resa Trull, and in the summer of 1992, formed a partnership with

Bright Future Farms, Walnut Creek, California.

her to work for Sierra Moun Arabians training their young horses.

Eventing, formerly known as Combined Training in the United

It was here that Jane met Sparky, a four-year-old gelding who

States, with its tests of dressage, cross-country and stadium jump-

attracted her immediately. Sparky was foaled on May 13, 1988,

ing, forges an intense bond between horse and rider. In order

a light bay with a star, strip, snip and sock on the right front who

to move up through the competition levels of the United States

matured to 14.3-hands. (Jane’s amusing comment on his height:

Eventing Association, USEA (formerly the USCTA – United States

Honestly he is 14.3. Just always put him down as 15 to make me

Combined Training Association), each must develop deep trust in

feel braver jumping the big jumps!) His dam was Inca Magic (Bakk

the other along with strength, agility, stamina and the ability to

Talk x Halali Inca Gold by Gdansk), a mostly Polish-bred mare line-

solve ever-more complex jumping problems. Jane Mendelsohn

bred to Ofir PASB through Witraz and *Witez II. Inca Magic was

of Sunset Valley Farm near Brooksville, Florida, and her purebred

a bold jumper and outstanding Pony Club mount. Sparky’s sire,

Arabian gelding, Starsearch SMA—known to everyone as Sparky—

Starbounde+/ (Spellbounde x Elkontessa by SX El Kobarh), was a

were a team that met this challenge.

Polish-CMK stallion with two lines to the Crabbet stallion *Serafix.

Jane has loved horses for as long as she can remember, and

Starbounde competed up to Intermediare I levels in dres-

her passion for riding was so strong when she was a child that

sage, had regional and national honors as a hunter over fences

even the family Beagle was not safe. Her earliest training at Red

and placed well at CTETA Horse Trials, Novice Division in his only

Raider Farm in Ohio consisted of a kind of private Pony Club-type

venture into eventing. He also performed Musical Freestyle exhi-

education in horsemanship and hunt seat equitation. Later, she

bitions with well-known West Coast rider-instructor-judge Creeky

began showing and training hunters and jumpers at the Hunt Club

Routson, including at the 15th Annual Dressage In The Wine Coun-

in Hunting Valley, Ohio.

try in Santa Rosa, California. (Starbounde’s younger full brother,

Her first exposure to the Arab breed occurred when her family

Edict—owned by Debbie Mendelsohn—competed very success-

attended an exhibition and sale at Locust Farms in Kirtland, Ohio.

fully in hunter, 1st and 2nd Level dressage, sport horse breeding

August/September 2013

Kat Walden Photo

Shannon Brinkman Photo

65

Sparky and Jane cross country at CTETA. classes and Novice Division events.) The family blend of Polish, Crabbet, CMK and Rogers desert import bloodlines obviously includes the athletic talents requisite for good sport horses.

Both Sparky and Starbounde survived emergency colic surgery and recovered well enough to compete at high levels of performance. Starbounde continued to have recurring bouts of gas

Sparky and Jane winning the Poplar Place Horse Trials

colic, although he is healthy enough at age 30 for children to ride.

Preliminary Division on May 10, 2002.

Sparky’s colic was caused by ingestion of a foreign object which

Note their harmony in balance and confidence in this.

ultimately encrusted into a seven pound tummy-ache. Although

vision at the CTETA recognized Horse Trials (near San Francisco)

Sparky never quite showed the physical bloom his diet and con-

the same summer. CTETA is popular with world-class eventers, so

ditioning should have produced, he had never shown any other

competition there is never easy in any division. When Nancy Get-

signs of distress and continued to compete successfully until he

man dispersed most of her horses in the Fall of 1994, Jane and

colicked in February, 1995. Veterinarians at UC Davis were sur-

Teresa, doing business first as Equine Grammar School and later

prised that he had shown so few symptoms and that such a large

as Tandem Training, moved on to Carol DiMaggio’s Bright Future

enterolith did not rupture his intestine.

Farms in Walnut Creek, California. Through Nancy’s generosity,

The irritant for the enterolith remained unknown until Jane

Sparky went, too, with his teacher and friend, now a half-owner.

and her husband Neil Williams moved from California to Florida

After Sparky colicked, Jane assumed full financial responsibility

at the end of 1999 to be closer to her parents. Neil balked at

for him, and Nancy transferred sole ownership to her.

the idea of shipping the enterolith, which had lain frozen in their

During a long rehabilitation period, Sparky developed a

freezer since the surgery, across the country. Accordingly, Jane

roundness and muscling that he had never shown before—as well

and the author thawed and dissected the thing. At the center was

as a mirror-shine to his coat. He and Jane returned to eventing in

a length of about 18” of some kind of rope, heavier than baling

the summer and fall of 1996. They won their Open Training Divi-

twine but lighter than a lead rope. When and where—not to men-

sion at the AHSA/USCTA recognized American Valley Horse Trials

tion why—Sparky swallowed it remained a mystery.

at Quincy, California, which earned them the Arabian Sport Horse

Jane and Teresa recognized Sparky’s potential very soon after

Association, Inc., Year-End Combined Training Fifth place. Memo-

starting him under saddle in 1994. They encouraged owner Nan-

rial Day Weekend, 1997, Sparky and Jane placed 4th at the CTETA

cy Getman to event him, with his first competition being an AHSA/

Horse Trials, again in Training Division. Both times, Sparky was the

USCTA recognized event at Milfleur Farms in Livermore, California,

only purebred Arabian competing in his division. Although Sparky

that same year, where he took a 2nd in the Open Novice Division

was qualified to move up to Preliminary Division, Jane elected to

with Jane riding. He followed up with a 7th in Novice Horse Di-

give him more experience and conditioning at the lower level.

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Kat Walden Photo

Kat Walden Photo

Kat Walden Photo

66

Schooling session at Bright Future Farms in Walnut Creek,

California. In preparation for the move from Training up to Preliminary Division, Sparky needed practice in jumping taller and wider fences. Around 1998

At the CDS East Bay Chapter Annual Freestyle Dressage Exhi-

A jump-off for time at an early Pacific Coast Arabian Sport Horse Classic show at the county fairgrounds in Vallejo, California 1997.

H.T.; and Flat Creek H.T. He placed Third in the USEA Region III Year End Awards in 2001 and was Reserve Champion in 2002.

bition at Walnut Creek, California, in November, 1996, Sparky and

The Florida Winter eventing circuit is tough at all levels, be-

Jane took part in a unique presentation. With Jane’s sister Debbie

cause the top event riders in the country follow the warm weather

on “Uncle Red,” they performed a musical pas de deux at speed

south to keep their experienced event horses fit and tuned up and

over jumps to the Pointer Sisters’ “Jump (For my Love),” which was

to start young horses. At any given horse trial or 3-day event, one

enthusiastically received by the audience.

may find oneself riding against Olympians with decades of expe-

As a change of pace, at the 2nd Annual Pacific Coast Arabian

rience. To place well in such company is a real accomplishment,

Sport Horse Classic held in Vallejo, California, June 6-8, 1997,

one that Sparky and Jane achieved repeatedly in the years after

Sparky won the Purebred Regular Working Hunter Under Saddle

they left California. They might even have inspired internation-

class. He also won the Purebred & Half-Arabian Training Jumpers,

ally known eventer Karen O’Connor to give super pony Theodore

2’9”-3’3” and Purebred Jumpers, Open 3’3”-3’6” with the fastest

O’Connor his chance to excel in the sport, since she also compet-

clean rounds. In the Purebred Jumper Stake, 3’3”-3’6”, Jane let

ed in Florida when Sparky and Jane were at their peak!

him get flat to one fence, and they had a rail down, dropping them to 4th. Although jumper was more to Sparky’s liking than hunter, they also took a 4th in Purebred Regular Working Hunter Stake,

Continued on page 71 Theresa Vandenheuvel Photo

3’-3’3”.

Before the move to Florida, Sparky did get his chance at Preliminary Division competition. Sparky and Jane competed at the Pebble Beach H.T. in June, 1998, where Sparky lost Jane when confronted suddenly with another competitor in his path on the cross-country. Bad luck! In September, 1999, they placed 8th at Murieta Equine Center H.T., 9th at Whiskey Hill H.T. and finished at Ram Tap in October, placing 7th. By 2001 they had mastered the division. Between January of 2001 and May of 2002, Sparky and Jane placed in the Top Five in Preliminary Division at horse trials nine times. They won five of the horse trials: Canterbury H.T. & C.T.; Basingstoke Farms H.T. & C.T.; Pine Top April H.T.; Poplar Place

Sparky at age 25 during a dressage workout in June, 2013

August/September 2013

Competing at North American Junior & Young Rider Championships

By Rebekah Savage

Photos courtesy Cindy Lang

cool dude,” said Lang. “He’s a Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore kind of guy. He’s laid back.

He likes his food and his mud. He’s a good traveler.”

Blue’s former owner, Jessica Zoskey, had competed with him in the Young Rider

Imagine, at just 17 years old, representing your country against the best international junior dressage riders. Katie Lang did.

At the recent North American Junior and Young Rider Champi-

Championships two times. Zoskey trained Blue herself and had owned him since he was 5 years old before selling him to Lang.

Zoskey was the one who mentioned the NAJYRC to Lang.

onships (NAJYRC), Lang and her noble steed, Half-Arabian FA Pa-

“I thought it would be really cool to be under 18 years old

triot (Flurry of Ca-Lyn {Friesian} X La Sada Mega) scored 63.486%

and compete at the international level and represent my country,”

in their team test. Overall, Lang and her teammates ranked fourth

Lang said. “I competed under judges from Sweden and France.

place out of eleven teams. The team was just .5 of a point away

This is a stepping stone for kids for the Olympics and the inter-

from receiving the bronze medal.

national level.”

During the individual test, Lang and “Blue” scored 61.132%.

The pair did not advance to the next test, but Lang is still very

Not only was Lang impressed by the competition, the location of NAJYRC also gave her chills.

pleased with their results and just being a competitor. “It was cool

“Just being in Rolex stadium was just a crazy feeling,” she said.

to meet everyone from different countries,” said Lang. “I couldn’t

“Edward Gal and Totilas won three gold medals here. It’s the real

believe I was there. We were so, so, so close.”

deal. I am normally a very calm person when competing, but I was

Lang’s trainer, Kathy Rowse of Silverleaf Dressage in Suffolk,

nervous going down centerline, then I was fine.”

Virginia, was proud of her student’s accomplishments. “This is the

Lang plans on continuing her pursuit in dressage. Her longterm

third time I have gone to NAJYRC,” said Rowse. “Katie and Blue

goal is to receive her USDF Silver medal, while her short term goal

were uniquely prepared because Katie has done so much compe-

is to compete in Fourth level at the Great American Insurance

tition in ice skating, so the competition at this higher level really

Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championship. After watching the

didn’t phase her. She went in to absolutely enjoy it and get the

freestyle tests at NAJYRC, she “really needs to ramp up my cho-

most out of the experience. The whole family just really enjoyed

reography” for her

the trip, so that made me feel very much a part of it, and I liked to

own freestyle.

see the team spirit that most students really exemplified.”

Despite

what

Lang started riding in 2006. Her dad asked if she wanted to

she would like to

visit a nearby barn, and the rest, as they say, is history. Just a few

work on, Lang is still

months after starting at Silverleaf, she became the owner of Blue.

awed by competing

Blue is a 15-year-old, 16.1-hand gelding. He received his barn

at NAJYRC. “It was

name “Blue” due to

probably the best

his steel gray/blue

experience of my

color. He has since

life,” said Lang. “I

grayed-out and be-

really liked being

come

a

on a team, we got

gray.

This

flea-bitten coming

close, had fun and

October is the two-

it made it less of an

year mark that Lang

individual competi-

and Blue have been

tion.

a partnership. “He’s a

67

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

PL Iris

Brant Gamma Photos

68

August/September 2013

sh Thunder A Half-Arabian Changing Minds

By Rosa Lehnig

As a young hunter rider, I worked with

score of 67.1 and 69.6, respectively. We

for the VHT CCI1* next May, and we are do-

a few Arabians, but overall was not im-

worked lightly through the summer mov-

ing the Hagyard Midsouth Three Day event

pressed – they seemed very high-strung

ing up to Novice. With Flynn, I began to

in Kentucky this October.

and not at all cooperative. A few years ago,

realize, that if I wasn’t 100% ready to say

I can always trust that when we are

we purchased a young Welsh-bred pony,

“Yes” when he would ask, “Is this what you

jumping, we are going to land well. Flynn

who was also a part Arabian (1/4). She was

want?” then he would find another way to

is incredibly athletic and crazy careful. He

a lovely pony and great to work with; giv-

do it. He is really smart and as many no-

does not want to hit the jumps, and that

ing me a much better experience than be-

tice, pretty arrogant at times. When teach-

shows. As well as being careful, Flynn can

fore. My takeaway was I truly believe it’s

ing him something new, Flynn wants to

compact himself for the jumpers so that we

all in the proper breeding. Bad breeding

learn how, but I better show him the cor-

can make the tighter turns and still keep a

makes bad horses whereas well thought

rect way, or he will find a “better” way to

good rhythm. He is extremely adjustable,

out breeding makes nicer prospects.

complete the task.

in every “arena.” Flynn also possesses the

When I bought PL Irish Thunder, an

In October, I began training with Kim

stamina to make cross-country seem like

Irish Draft/Arabian cross, bred by Playland

Severson. She really likes Flynn and she

a leisurely ride, with little speed bumps

Farm, I wanted a horse that would go Ad-

has helped to take our competitiveness

along the way (better known as jumps).

vanced level in eventing. From day one,

to a whole new level. We finished up the

The first time out cross-country, I wasn’t

Flynn has been a gem. Within just a few

2012 season with a 4th place finish in

sure he had a good gallop. Well, he proved

days of bringing him home in May of 2011,

Novice at CDCTA. I began the 2013 sea-

me wrong! I wasn’t even paying attention

shortly after he turned 3, I backed him and

son in Aiken, where I stabled at Stableview

to our time and we were very close to the

slowly began his introduction with flat-

Farm for a month, competing every week-

“speed fault” for going too fast.

work. By late fall, I was beginning to lightly

end. The first event at Paradise brought us

In addition to all his physical attrib-

jump him. Every new question was met

our best dressage score and a wakeup call

utes, he is one of the most level-headed

with bravery, willingness, and honesty.

for us to get our jumping back in order.

horses I have worked with. He thinks about

I’ve never seen a horse look so intently to

As someone who rode jumpers for many

everything he does, but does not get over-

where his feet are going, the result being

years, that is our best area. From the first

whelmed when introduced to something

that Flynn goes to every jump with careful-

event until now, our season has gone re-

new, nor does he get nervous when com-

ness, precision, and eagerness.

ally well - we’ve finished on our dressage

peting. He has nearly fallen asleep in the

score at 7 events this season so far.

cross-country starting box, but the second

In April of 2012, I took him to his first Horse Trial at Beginner Novice. We finished

We moved up to Training this April at

I say “Go,” we are off at full throttle. Flynn’s

on our dressage score and placed 6th in

CDCTA, and placed 2nd, followed by an-

movement has really developed in the last

our division. We then went to a USDF rec-

other 2nd place finish at Redland HT in

few months as he has grown. He has a far-

ognized show in late April and placed 1st

Training. We hope to move up to Prelim by

reaching hind-end and is becoming very

in both Training 1 and Training 2, with a

the end of this season in order to be ready

strong in the front, making all three of his

69

70

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

PL Diamond Lily, half sister to PL Irish Thunder gaits lovely.

who doesn’t ride, but

dressage, the stamina needed for cross-

Flynn finds a way to

country and the athleticism for jumping. In

bond with all of us. I

eventing, you want a horse that can think

can rely on Flynn to

for themselves because there are mo-

give me all he has, in

ments, especially cross-country, when you

the most consistent

don’t have time to tell your horse what to

way.

do. You want a horse that can figure out

The Irish-Arabian

how to get through an obstacle on its own.

cross is a unique one,

Arabians, being very smart and quick-

but what the Irish

minded horses, make them a great partner

brings in hardiness

for eventing.

and jumping ability,

We are still on track with our ultimate

the Arabian match-

plan of making it to the CIC3 and 4 Star

es with quickness,

levels, including the great Rolex Kentucky

brains, and physical refinement.

I love

3-Day, though I try to keep it one step at

Flynn is also inquisitive and extremely

this cross so much that I bought Flynn’s

a time. I want to make sure that we don’t

sweet. If my young children walk up to

2-year-old half-sister, PL Diamond Lily,

skip anything that would later keep us

him, he nuzzles their cheeks and will hug

who placed 2nd in the Young Event Horse

from reaching our goals. My trainer Kim is

them with his neck when they hug his

Championships last year.

exceptional in that no detail is overlooked

chest. Flynn likes being part of our fam-

I think the Arabian blood really helps

and she ensures that we are completely

ily and is especially fond of my husband,

in the refinement needed for nice gaits in

ready when moving up through the levels.

Katy Groesbeck’s Anglo Brothers Continued from page 45 cross-country day, Katy and her two boys managed two of only

to finish an amazing 3rd place overall. Poof, for whom stadium is

three double clears in the 3*, moving Poof and Wort up to 1st and

not his strong suit, had four rails and four time faults to finish a

2nd respectively! This course took down Olympic riders that day,

very respectable 8th place.

it was so challenging.

“I could not ask for better horses to start my upper level career

The final day in stadium, Wort had one rail and four time faults

with. They are the hardest working and most willing horses I know.

They bring 100% every time,” Katy said afterwards. “Although it would have been thrilling to keep my top two spots at Rebecca Farm, I am thoroughly pleased with their performances the entire weekend. Many thanks to Teresa Groesbeck and Cedarhaven Performance Horses for breeding these amazing athletes!”

What are Katy’s future plans for these two boys? “I am going to take them as far as they can go, and right now the sky is the limit.

I would love to see at least one of them make it to the 4* level in the next couple of years.

We’ll be cheering them on!

Oz Poof of Purchase at Galway Downs Photo by Liz Hall

August/September 2013

Profiles in Courage: Building a Bridge Continued from page 61 achieve harmony. “The joy I get from playing a Chopin Prelude or

tience, unconditional love and most of all trust.”

riding a lovely extended canter is what makes this world beautiful.”

We all take different lessons from our horses. For Linda and Pietra, “We travel together, have conquered training and first level beautifully and now trail riding has become an added adventure.”

Like most owners of Arabian horses, Linda has had to deal with her share of skeptics. “It seems that people either love Arabs or hate them.” I can relate. It is an experience we share. Whenever non-Arab people tell me that my horse is pretty cool for an Arab it reminds me of a comment Gloria Steinem made on her 50th birthday. People kept telling her she looked great for fifty. Her response, “This is what 50 looks like.” I want to tell people that this horse that they like so much is what an Arabian horse is. More importantly there is such an amazing bridge to be built with an Arabian horse and with people who love Arabian horses. Linda says, “If they dislike them, that means they don’t understand the special bond that can be made between two spirits – human and equine. From Pietra I have learned about honesty, persistence, pa-

Eventing Stars: Sparky & Jane Continued from page 66 The best event horses have strong

“I learned so much from her and hear her

potential might have predicted. Neverthe-

personalities, and Sparky is no exception.

voice in my head when working horses all

less, they were respected ambassadors for

He has always had a mischievous streak,

the time even still.” Excellent dressage

Arabian sport horses and a pair to watch

and he liked to throw in the odd buck

skills are vital, because one can not have

wherever they competed!

from time to time, but he cheerfully car-

a bad dressage test and expect to place at

Although long retired from eventing

ried Jane around the flanks of Mt. Diablo

horse trials or 3-day events. All the hard

and going grey around his head, Sparky

on his days off from other training, often

work over the years paid off when Jane

is fit and healthy in 2013 at age 25. Still

bareback. Sparky and Jane always shared

recently earned her USDF Silver Medal rid-

working, his current career is school mas-

a special friendship that was readily seen

ing a friend’s Lipizzaner gelding at Prix St.

ter. Jane’s children have honed their riding

in the way they responded to one another.

Georges.

skills on his back, and he happily carries

To her strong jumping experience, Jane

Jane never had a rich patron or corpo-

a young friend named Skyler Wilkerson,

worked diligently to improve her dressage

rate sponsor. Also, Sparky’s training and

who is a budding horsewoman. Jane says,

technique.

She rode horses for Creeky

showing had to take a back seat to that of

“He’s great with kids, still naughty with

Routson in return for lessons and took

clients’ horses. So Jane and Sparky did not

me!” and he’s “my life time greatest horse

clinics from the likes of Charles de Kunffy.

move up in the world of eventing as fast or

and friend Sparky.” That sums it all up

Of working with Creeky, Jane recently said,

as far as their solid background and strong

nicely.

71

READING REFLECTIONS A Series by Dawn Jones-Low Books have always been important

trian skill.

core principles in Bill’s book.

Working

to me. As a child, I spent countless hours

True Horsemanship Through Feel by Bill

on the timetable the horse needs rather

reading at home and at the public library.

Dorrance and Leslie Desmond addresses

than imposing a rigid time frame for any

Growing up in the suburbs in a non-hors-

the basic foundation of horsemanship

particular training goal is just one expres-

ey family, books were also my main entry-

as a dialogue of “feel” between horses

sion of the theme of respecting what the

way to the world of horses and provided

and people. This book was published in

horse can offer at that moment rather than

fuel for my dreams. Several decades into

1999 when Bill Dorrance was in his 90s

imposing expectations that may be out of

adulthood, books are still a treasure to

with a lifetime of working with horses.

sync with the horse’s physical or mental

me as they continue to inspire and inform

Bill’s unique vernacular and the candid

capabilities at that moment – or with the

all areas of my life – including riding and

biographical anecdotes that he shares of

rider’s ability to make a clear request to

horsemanship.

learning “a better way” to ride and han-

the horse.

Quite often the focus of books about

dle horses are integral to the book’s mes-

“What a person has in his mind to pre-

riding and training is directed at the me-

sage that anyone who wants to improve

sent to the horse needs to be something

chanical aspects of riding and/or a set of

their interactions and communication with

that’s possible for the horse to actually

systematic exercises described in a man-

their horse on the ground AND in the sad-

do. Then the person has to be able to un-

ner much like a recipe book. Little atten-

dle can do so.

The content of this book

derstand it themselves, through feel, and

tion is given to how to address any con-

is not discipline specific, but it touches on

apply it in a way that the horse can under-

fusion, evasion, or resistance that arises

the universally powerful notion that, by

stand.” Page 15

because the assumption is that the book

communicating with your horse through

“…punishing a horse when he doesn’t

is providing touchstone information that

a dialogue of empathetic “feel” conveyed

understand what you want him to do is a

will be augmented by access to a skilled

through both body language and physical

real direct route to a whole list of other

instructor who can mentor the rider

contact, you can achieve a higher quality

problems that are based on his confusion.

through the more complex nuances of the

of work, performance, and basic interac-

This is caused by a misunderstanding of

real life application of the principles and

tion with your horse. The concept that

the feel you present and when that horse

techniques. While studying with skilled

building understanding and skills piece-

has no knowledge of your intentions or

equestrian mentors remains essential to

by-piece with a reliance on basic princi-

desires. Some people say that the horse

developing both riders and horses to their

ples that hold true from the foundation

knows what the person wants, ’but he just

maximum potential, books that explore

to the highest levels of refinement will be

won’t do it.’ When he understands what

the subtleties of the communication be-

familiar to anyone involved in the sport

you want him to do through feel, he will

tween horses and their human partners

horse disciplines.

do it. I haven’t seen any exceptions to this

can help illuminate enriched pathways of

“Listening” to the horse and setting

progression of horsemanship and eques-

things up so the horse can succeed are

yet.” Page 330 Bill spends a lot of time outlining some

exercises on the ground because – like

ducted carefully and sympathetically. For

photo and in the interior photographs is

many of the classical masters – he under-

instance, avoid making one request after

ABF EnchantedFire, a 1989 Half-Arabian

stands that groundwork carries over under

another in quick succession. Instead, allow

owned by the book’s designer, Mercedes

saddle. Underneath the seemingly basic

him to try and carry out your demands as

Clemens, who was also a student of Mr.

exercises is a commitment to create and

best he can. Be somewhat indulgent, al-

Westfall when the book was published in

maintain mental and physical balance in

lowing him to make minor mistakes, and

1994.

the horse because if the horse is out of

then correct them.” Page 96 Plenty of practical examples are in-

as an individual is also found in the 2012

cluded in the text with all of the usual

book, Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect

A similar thread of horsemanship based

topics covered thoroughly – handling,

Horse: Riding through the Levels on the Pe-

on effective communication derived from

leading, lunging, introducing tack, backing,

culiar, Opinionated, Complicated Mounts

studying the nature of the horse is found

and mounted work, all with variations of-

We All Love by Janet Foy. This book is full

in Educating the Young Horse: the Thinking

fered to suit the range of responses that

of practical descriptions of how to ride/

Trainer’s Guide by the UK-born dressage

can occur with young horses. Significant

train various dressage movements from

and show jumping trainer Julian Westfall.

attention is given in the first quarter of the

the most basic to Grand Prix with clear

The choice of the word “educating” rather

book to how horses perceive the world,

explanations of how to address individual

than “training” in the title is indicative of

how they learn, how differences in tem-

horses’ challenges, whether those chal-

the author’s emphasis on establishing a

perament affect learning, how the trainer’s

lenges are physical or mental. In addi-

cooperative rapport with each horse as an

demeanor influences the horse, and basic

tion to well laid out chapters on specific

integral part of the foundation and contin-

principles of reward and correction.

The

movements, there are personal vignettes

ued development of the horse. Detailed

responsibility of the trainer to the horse

showcasing real-world examples of riders

descriptions of the elements of a young

to provide tactful support and thoughtful

helping their horses to overcome a chal-

horse’s education and of the guiding prin-

guidance to the equine student is contin-

lenge via careful consideration of the un-

ciples applied to that educational process

ued throughout the book.

derlying cause(s) and a systematic plan

and behavior are less than optimal.

are utilized to assist the trainer in under-

“Cultivate equestrian tact so you get

adapted to suit the individual case. Janet

standing how to tailor a program to fit the

a feeling for knowing when to bend the

Foy’s expertise as an FEI rider, trainer, and

individual horse and how to respond to is-

rules to make your horse a happier, and

USEF S and FEI 4* dressage judge allows

sues that will invariably crop up.

not ungrateful, partner.” Page 96

her to clearly explain technical details of

“Introduction to training can be overwhelming for your youngster if not con-

The lovely chestnut mare in the cover

training and executing movements while

Continued on next page

Mike Baird Photo

balance, then performance, soundness,

The theme of working with the horse

74

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine also providing insights addressing com-

over!” Page 107

mon challenges that are encountered. Her

References to many of her personal

joy of teaching riders and horses shines in

horses are scattered throughout the book,

her writing. There are many books that in-

and the afterward contains detailed pro-

clude excellent descriptions of riding and

files of some of the horses she rode over

training the dressage movements, this one

the years, including the Anglo-Arab Bright

stands out in the level of consideration

Owl and the Arabian Ta-Aden (among oth-

given to the horse’s individual tempera-

ers).

ment, intelligence and moods.

which is at the heart of good horsemanship whatever the discipline or level of expertise.

Each of these books challenges the

“It is very important that the horse is

equestrian reader to act from a sense of

kept happy and involved with his training.

responsibility to the horse to listen and

I see many riders who just ride around in

adapt our expectations, plans and ap-

the same trot, in the same direction, doing

proaches to suit the horse on any particu-

the occasional movement. The horse ‘falls

lar day. Ultimately, the more we operate

asleep’ in these situations. Creative rid-

through feel and understanding, the more

ing is important for the dull horse because

harmoniously we can communicate with

you can keep him ‘awake’ with your re-

our horses to support them and guide

quests for reactions from him. In the case

them in their athletic development as well

of the very smart horse, you keep his brain

as in their basic interactions with people.

engaged with your requests rather than

Cultivating a partnership with our horses

letting him get creative and possibly take

leads to a rewarding journey together,

Lec Continued from page 35 it to the top and has now shown in more

ing Lee because of how fast she is. I’m so

states than I have! Abby showed her for a

glad someone is still able to enjoy her and

season and had a great time before mov-

I know she’s happy she gets to horse show.

ing up to the Junior Jumpers on a horse.

Lee is amazing. She’s 24 now and nobody

Lee stayed at Mary Ann’s awhile and I am

ever knows it. Her spunk and fire never

so grateful for everything she’s done for

quit. She has quite a quirky personality.

my pony and me. I was able to ride her

She sucks her tongue, drinks juice from a

and take her to shows whenever I wanted.

straw and gives kisses.

Last year was my senior year in col-

Lee is by far the one horse I have rid-

lege, and I started to worry about what to

den that I have had “the connection”

do with Lee. Mary Ann came to the rescue

with. She has never done me wrong and

again and found her a family in Texas that

I am forever grateful for everything she’s

needed a pony jumper for their 10-year-

taught me. She is the first Arab I’ve owned,

old son. Michael Binder has had her this

but I wouldn’t hesitate to get another one.

year and has learned a lot showing her.

I can’t wait until I can have her home again.

It is his first time doing the jumpers, and

Her drive, personality, will and talent will

when I met them at the Capital Challenge

never be matched.

this fall, he said he has so much fun rid-

Michael Binder, Lec’s current jumper rider

August/September 2013

Century Club

Riding at Ninety

By Rebekah Savage

Children often dream of hard days spent in the saddle, dust

bay Arabian gelding by Romeo VF+/ out of Krystal Charm from Pat

billowing from their horse’s sturdy galloping legs, with a wide

and Pam Livecchi. In April, at the Palm Beach County Mounted

open prairie stretching for miles, but not everyone has the oppor-

Posse’s Super Show, the pair was awarded the Dressage Founda-

tunity to follow through with their dream.

tion’s Century Club Award.

Ninety-year-old Sy Budofsky, is an exception. As a child, he

The Foundation awards the Century Club membership to se-

was among those that wished to become a cowboy. Despite his

nior dressage horse and rider partners with the combined age of

dream, Budofsky did not start riding a horse until he was in his

100 years or more. Budofsky and Romeos Krystalbay are among

thirties. Budofsky did not want any hand outs, he wanted to earn

the 126 other horse and rider competitors to have received this

his right for time in the saddle.

award. The combined age of the pair during the competition was

“I wanted to be able to pay for it, to do it without asking for money,” said Budofsky.

After establishing a career as a successful mechanical engineer and raising a family, he decided it was time to fulfill his

105.

“It was wonderful to receive the award. I was just happy I remembered all of the movements,” said Budofsky. “We received a great deal of applause at the end of our test.”

dream. Instead of donning a Western hat and chinks, he rode and

Now, even at 90 years old, Budofsky continues to ride three

competed on hunters on Long Island for several years before set-

times a week. He winters in Florida and escapes the humid months

tling into the mechanics of dressage. “My family figured out I was

by residing in Vermont, where he continues to ride. When he is

too old to jump,” said Budofsky.

not riding, Budofsky can be found on the golf course, strumming

Despite the exhilarating thrill while jumping, Budofsky enjoys the challenges of riding dressage. He considers dressage to be a

on a guitar, on the tennis court, carving wood, playing the piano and more.

“wonderful challenge. I always have to be on alert. There are so

Budofsky has defied what others would say is impossible. Age,

many different maneuvers asked of the horse, but there is still a

a career and family have not stopped his desire to ride a horse.

thrill of accomplishing maneuvers.”

Not bad for a child who dreamed of being a cowboy.

Desert Rose Ranch in Jupiter, Florida provided a noble steed for Budofsky to compete on. He leased Romeos Krystalbay, a 1997

75

76

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

BITS and pieces

EVG Allon Dunit

Mssofie

HUNTER & JUMPER NEWS

FRISKY (Donnar x Cinnamon {Gr}) did just that at Spruce Meadow

Kristin Hardin had a triple threat at the Brookside Equestrian

Farm open show.

Park’s June jumper show. Arabian HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL &

Cami LaLone and her Half-Arabian TALK ABOUT CLASS (Ibn

Half-Arabian ABILITY won their respective classes with Kristin in

Hask x Uptowns Classic {NSH}) have worked their way to the top

the irons.

of 4-H’s Platinum Hunt Seat Equitation Medal after two more wins

The Half-Arabs dominated the $3K Jumper Speed class at

last weekend.

Brookside Eq. Park. EVG ALLON DUNIT (Saladins Allon x Jundunit

It is judged on a standard like dressage, and it takes a mini-

{QH}), owned by Elaine Enick and ABILITY (MHR Nobility x Niki-

mum of 8 perfect rides to get to Platinum. Once there, you can

ta {KWPN}), owned by Nancy & Gregg Shafer, were 1st and 2nd

make up your own pattern and perform it to music!

place. Ridden and trained by Kristin Hardin.

Video of her ride - note she rides entirely without stirrups! http://youtu.be/YrR-w17rMg8 Christine Lonsdale and her 3/4 Arabian pony MA WINDS OF MAGIC (Moment of Magic {NSH} x RAS Wind Dancer) won the 1.0m Adult Amateur Jumper class at Swan Lake Horse Show in a class of 19 big horses! They were featured in our last issue.

The cover boy from our last issue, Anglo Arabian POEME D’AMOUR DE BUISSY and his owner/rider Misti Cassar won the 1.40m Jumpers and placed 11th in the $25K Grand Prix at the Huntington Beach Surf Classic Show last weekend.

Anne Alden and her Anglo Arabian MSSOFIE (Mousse x Seattle Gift {TB}) on their recent successes in open shows at Woodside

Half-Arabian EVG FINALE (Saladins Allon x Jundunit {QH})

Circuit &Bay Area Festival. They were Champion and Reserve

and Natalie Grammer (above) won the Pre-Childrens Hunter Clas-

Champion in Baby Green Hunters and Champion of Long/Rusty

sic and placed 2nd in the M&S Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic at the

Stirrup. These were Anne’s first shows in many years.

Gladstone Horse Show. Finale is a full brother to EVG Allon Dunit

Alexandria Desiderio, after winning all 3 of her Hunter Seat

and EVG Gee Dubya - all bred by Harold & Elizabeth Green of

Equitation classes at Youth Nationals last week (for the 3rd year

Evergreen Arabians.

in a row!), headed to the USEF Nat’l Junior Hunter Championships,

Is there another breed of horse that can do Leadline in the morning and win the Jumper Speed class in the afternoon? Aimee Pahl, her son Nicolas and her 23 year old Half-Arabian KIND A

where she won the WIHS Equitation Classic out of 44 entries.

August/September 2013

77

Donna & Norm Brown with Amie Phoenix

Courtesy Pip Sumsion

Meghan Scott Molin Photo

BITS and pieces (continued)

Hermano Rojo and Pip Sumsion ley and her Half-Arabian pony WR ROGUE (Kakeenya {Pin-

DRESSAGE NEWS

to} x M D Negia) competed in Walk-Trot and rode an Intro A

Amie Phoenix - Century Club Ride #3

Dressage test from memory at the NJ HAHA show in June.

It’s never too late to pick up were you left off. Twenty-five

Elizabeth Coffey-Curle’s Anglo gelding HAZEN (Silveyville’s

years have passed since knee problems stopped Donna Brown

Love {TB} x Fasach Banrion) is shown here with 13 yo Cyd Curle

from riding, but on June 29, 2013, she completed her Century

in June at an open dressage show, where they earned 4 scores of

Club ride an her daughter’s 30-year-old Arabian gelding Amie

65+ in Third Level.

Phoenix+.

The dressage show was part of the 65th Estes Park (Colorado) Arabian Horse Show. After “retiring” from actively showing in

More remarkable is that this 18 yo horse is just 7 months out from a severe long bone fracture of his left radius!! (We have his incredible story on page 54)

the dressage arena, “Phoenix” has now carried his third rider to

Pip Sumsion and her 3/4 Arabian HERMANO ROJO (El Herma-

the annals of the Century Club. Norm Brown, Donna’s husband,

no x Bint Sabo Meadow {Arab/QH}) competed at an open dressage

rode Phoenix in 2011, and friend Jim Snook completed his Cen-

show in BC, earning a 68.44% to win First Level (from a tough

tury Club Ride in 2012. Phoenix, a great grandson of the Phoe-

judge) and a 67.32% in Training. He was the only Arabian in a

nician+++, was shown to first level in dressage by Trisha Swift,

sea of Warmbloods! Hermano Rojo was a Western Pleasure horse

Donna’s daughter. He earned two Regional Championships in

before learning dressage and still shows Western.

dressage and competed in the first two U.S. Sport Horse National

They also competed at the Mid Island Cadora Summer Dres-

Championships. At age 19 Phoenix learned to jump and he com-

sage Festival in BC - a Gold and a Bronze show run concurrently

peted successfully in open Two-Phase events. He has also been

(Gold is the higher level shows in Canada), in open competition.

used as a lesson horse; teaching countless children how to ride.

The judge for the Gold show was FEI 5* Axel Steiner.

Donna literally grew up with horses near Sedgwick, CO and

They were named high score of both shows combined with a

owned a pony when she was six years old. She got her first Ara-

73.94% in the Gold Training level division and high point for that

bian, “Buster” in 1951 and showed him in 4-H. Donna went on to

division. They were also First level Bronze Champion.

show in English Pleasure and side saddle along side her mother, Marie Welch, before being side-lined with knee problems.

Part of her success in returning to riding was a successful double knee replacement eleven years ago. Today she can ride without pain, which plagued her for much of her riding career.

Samantha Hodgson and her Arabian stallion BEYMOON ZELA+/ (Bask-O-Zel x Mar Abbie) who started their show season last month by qualifying for the ECRDA Championships in FEI Grand Prix by earning a 63.617% at Saddlebrook Ridge.

Katie Lang and Half-Arabian FA PATRIOT (Flurry Of Ca-Lyn {Frie-

Donna is looking forward to continuing to ride either Phoenix

sian} x La Sada Mega) earned a 63.486% in their FEI Team Test

or her daughter’s Norwegian Fjord. You may even see her in the

to place 21st of 40 at the North American Junior/Young Riders

show ring again.

Championships. Katie’s Region 1 Team finished in 4th place, only

Sarah Duclos’ 8 year old daughter Josephine Sedg-

0.5 from a Bronze Medal. See our story about them in this issue.

78

The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

BITS and pieces (continued)

Josie Sedgley & WR Rogue

Sophie with Lendon Gray

DRESSAGE NEWS

a great job controlling their ponies. Josie really stepped up her

Dressage 4 Kids - Sarah Duclos

game and finished in 5th in the Equitation portion. At the end of

Whoever thinks that kids can’t do dressage, or don’t like to

the day all the scores are combined and ribbons given to 10th

do dressage needs to come to watch Lendon Grey’s Dressage 4

place. Josie pulled off a 9th place finish! She was so proud of her

Kids Youth Festival in Saugerties, NY in July.

accomplishments.

My two daughters, Josephine, age 8, and Sophie, age 5 along

Sunday was a more leisurely day – started off with a Dres-

with their fantastic pony Half-Arabian pony WR Rogue (aka Ren),

sage Trail class and ended with the super cute Leadline class. The

packed up the truck and trailer and headed north for a fun week-

trail was challenging with barrels topped with flakes of hay and a

end of camaraderie and some pretty stiff competition.

bunch of carrots that needed to be moved from one hay topped

The show starts at Leadline and includes tests up to the FEI

barrel to another (many a pony had a snack!). They kids also had

levels. Josie entered the 9 and under Walk Trot division, along

to pick up a ball and trot a one handed 20 meter circle before

with 13 other kids and 13 of the most adorable ponies you have

dropping the ball in a bucket at C. This was Josie’s high point of

EVER seen. The Festival is composed of three separate portions

the weekend – a 2nd place finish!

– a written exam, a dressage test, and a group equitation class.

Lendon Gray herself judged the Leadline class. It was held in

Scores are calculated in each section and then combined to

the main arena area and was the pinnacle of cuteness! Little tiny

decide the division winners.

kids on ponies of all sizes and colors maneuver through the pat-

This year everyone 10 and under read the US Pony Club D

tern. Lendon spoke with each participant and asked a few horse

manual for their written test. Josie was a bit nervous, as we had

knowledge questions. She asked Sophie what color her pony

not finished reading the entire manual, but she did a great job

was…I held my breath I was sure Sophie would never come up

finishing with a score of 88 and a 6th place finish.

with “tobiano” and would be disappointed to get it wrong. Well, I

Saturday was time for the dressage tests. Josie and Ren had a good ride for a 61%, but it was not strong enough for a ribbon.

should have more faith – Sophie looked up smiled at Lendon and said, “He is brown and white.” Lendon chuckled out loud at that!

These Walk Trot kids were very talented! They knew how to use

It was a wonderful weekend with a good mix of down time

their corners and rode very clear circles and solid transitions. To

and competition. Each competitor is required to do two hours

be honest, I have no idea how the judge decided who would win!

of “volunteer” work – everything from running tests to checking

All the kids rode really well.

portapots! Josie and Sophie both had a wonderful time and we

Later that afternoon was the group Equitation class. They rode in an enormous outdoor arena and every one of them did

are looking forward to next year!

August/September 2013

79

Tamara Torti Photo

BITS and pieces (continued)

Figjam & Haley Miller DRESSAGE NEWS

RF {ASB}) and owner Tami Pacho went double clear XC and Sta-

Para-Dressage

dium to finish 4th in Beg. Novice at Copper Meadows Horse Trials.

ParaEquestrian Ashleigh Flores-Simmons and Rita Mason’s

Anglo Arabian ROCK WITH BACH (Harriman {TB} x Family Star

Anglo-Arabian ATHENA+++// (LS Zane Grey x Little Badger Baby

{AA}) and his 14 year old owner Taylor Blasey competed at the

{TB}) competed in June at the 2014 World Equestrian Games

Midsouth Pony Club Horse Trials & Regional Rally in June. They

Qualifier for Para-Dressage at Golden State Dressage Classic

won the Rally and placed 3rd in the Trials.

CPEDI3*.

In July, this pair competed at the US Pony Club Champion-

The 21-year-old California equestrienne trains with Col-

ships, placing 11th in Open Novice. Rock With Bach is a second

leen Reid and has always competed against able-bodied riders.

generation Anglo Arabian bred by Sharon Jackson/Larapinta Sport

Ashleigh and Athena made their debut in ParaEquestrian tests at

Horses.

the CDI 3* at Rancho Murieta in April of 2013 with a first score of 69%.

Arabian BF AMIGO (NV Congo x Tema Amira) and junior owner Hayley Miller have had a great season so far. They were 2nd

At the Golden State show, their first ride garnered them a

at River Glen in Junior Novice; 3rd at May Daze; they finished in

qualifying score of 60.833% for WEG. In her Musical Freestyle

12th place at the Chattahoochee Hills HT in Novice Rider and 4th

test - her first ever - they received a combined score of 64%

at Champagne Run in July! The horse competes under the name

with a 68% from one judge.

“Figjam.” Haley recently purchased him from Elisa Wallace who

Athena was competed with her owner up to Grand Prix dressage, then went on maternity leave, coming back as Ashleigh’s new mount.

had competed him up to Preliminary.

Anglo Arabian VERMICULUS (Serazim x Wake Me Gently {TB}) and rider Lauren Kieffer placed 5th in Preliminary at the MD Horse

Ashleigh amnd Athena did a Freestyle performance at the

Trials. Lauren and Vermiculus also rocked around the Preliminary

Region 3 Championships. There is a video of their freestyle ride

courses with double clears at Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials to finish

here: http://youtu.be/g7H-m6uKG-U. View a video interview with

in 3rd place on their dressage score.

Ashleigh here: http://youtu.be/kCiQd7tNo80. Follow Ashleigh’s

Half-Arabian PL IRISH THUNDER (PL Diamond Hill {ID} x PL

journey to 2014 WEG and 2016 Olympics on her Facebook page

Eladdinns Lite) and owner Rosa Lehnig placed 4th and 8th Open

“Team Ashleigh.”

Training in back-to-back weekends at the MD Horse Trials. His half-

EVENTING NEWS Congratulations to Half-Arabian GLENLORD’S MYSTIQUE (Bridon Glenlord {RID} x Mlladyoftheknight {Arabian}) and owner/

sister PL IRISH PEARL (x PL Shirley) placed 7th in Beg. Novice with Glenda Player.

Sandra Schwinzer competes her 2 full brother Anglo-Arabians

rider Gaby Stephens for their 2nd place finish in Jr. Training at the

TRILOGY and MAJORITY RULE (Pojar x Nenita {TB}), usually at the

Texas Rose June Horse Trials. They had double clears in Stadium &

same shows! Trilogy finished 8th at the Horse Park of NJ and 11th

Cross Country to finish on their dressage score of 31.40.

at Fitch’s Corner, both in Training level. Majority Rule was 7th in

Half-Arabian WALL STREET STATUS (Back Street x Sea Symbol

Training at the NJ Event.

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The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

On The Market PHOTO CLASSIFIED ADS - $10 per ad per issue BLUE MOON ZAMBRA: By talent, temperament, breeding, conformation, movement and upbringing, Zambra is a “horse of a lifetime”, promising to be a star in dressage as she moves up the levels; she also has the looks, stride and jumping ability to excel as a hunter or in eventing. She is a 2010 15.1h mare (shd grow 1-2”); registered w/ AHA & IALHA; she is by Grand Prix Andalusian, EXCELSO (known for collection, flying changes, temperament, movement, and soundness), out of an RPSI approved SH Arabian (Barbary+++, Rathkateer++, and Bay el Bey++ bloodlines). She is 1/2 sister on dam side to FEI level dressage phenom Ruby Del Sol (winner of many USDF championships; schooling Grand Prix after just 5 yrs training). At 3 yrs, Zambra has been in drsg clinics, shown in hand, has nice lengthenings, shoulder in, travers, counter canter, and has started half pass. She loves to hack out and is starting to jump cross bars. She is beautifully balanced, with a lovely steady feel in the contact, nice forwardness, and natural rhythm; she is also incredibly comfortable. (Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHG8YDvoDHE) Serious inquiries only. Sophie H Pirie Clifton, Blue Moon Farm & Training Center, 828.863.4756; Sophie@montana.net.

PL Diamond’s Inspiration half-Arab/half Irish Draught (PL Indy x PL Diamond Hill) bred by Playland Farm. Beautiful 2012 filly incredibly sweet! Placed in her first FEH at Loch Moy/The MD Horse Trials. Trailer loads, w/t in hand, stands for farrier/vet, cross ties. Well mannered & friendly. Wants to please & is quick learner! Will mature to between 15.2-16h. Will make a great amateur horse in eventing, hunter/jumper or dressage! She has a full sibling PL Black Diamond that placed in top 3 of their USPC championships division! $6,500 www.playlandequestriancenter.com • glendaplayer@gmail.com • 301-788-1188

PL APACHE - Apache is a 12 yr old, 15 h chestnut tobiano, National Show Horse broodmare that is confirmed 30 days pregnant to PL Diamond Hill. She is being offered for sale with a live foal guarantee and discounted breed back rights. She has lovely floaty movement that passes on to her offspring. She has already produced lovely foals from PL Diamond Hill that are competing successfully! $8,500. www.playlandequestriancenter.com • glendaplayer@gmail.com • 301-788-1188

PL CATNIP- Catnip is a beautiful 15.3 hand Bay mare that is 9- years-old. Catnip is registered with both the Arabian Horse Association and The Irish Draught Sport Horse Society of North America. She is a great broodmare or trail horse that is walk/ trot sound. Check out photos from her competition days to see the qualities she can pass along to your next foal!! Priced to sell at $1,500. Serious inquires only. Full pedigree upon inquiry. www.playlandequestriancenter.com • glendaplayer@gmail.com • 301-788-1188

August/September 2013

81

SUREFIRE CSF is available for purchase. If you thought he looked good then -- you should see him now! See him in the Two-year-old HA Gelding Class at SHN -- or see him at the farm and get him now for you chance to bring home the roses! By the top producing Hanoverian stallion Sinatra Song, and out of the champion SH and jumper mare Enjoli Bey, this youngster has great gaits and wonderful character. He will mature in the 16.1 range.

Contact Janet at coldspring1@gmail.com or 703.431.4807

Services Our Services Directory is available for just an annual fee of $25 (6 issues).

Subject Headers created as needed. Not for Stallions or Horses for Sale.

FARMS RIMROCK EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Ashley Wren, Billings, MT• Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation www.RimrockEquestrianCenter.com • rimrockequestrian@yahoo.com MYSTIC RANCH ARABIANS, Karen Ernst, Herald, CA • Breeders of Arabian Sport Horses www.MysticRanchArabians.com • mysticrch@softcom.net Blue Moon Farm & Training Center • Sophie H. Pirie Clifton • Training, Clinics, Instruction thru the FEI levels Tryon, NC • sophie@montana.net

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The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine

Upcoming AHA Shows W Region 1 N/A Region 2

Sept. 6-8 Pacific Slope Sport Horse Offsite Championship Burbank, Calif.

Nov. 8-10 American Cup Championship Scottsdale, Ariz.

Region 3

March 28-30, 2014 Golden Gate Arabian Show Santa Rosa, Calif.

Region 4 N/A Region 5

April 12-13, 2014 Pacific Rim Arabian Sport Horse Show Elma, Wash.

Region 6 N/A Region 7

Sept. 13-15 SAAHA Silver Buckle Tuscon, Ariz.

Nov. 8-10 American Cup Championship A Concurrent Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dec. 5-8 Saguaro Classic Scottsdale, Ariz.

Region 8

Aug. 31 One Day Show at Latigo Elbert, Colo.

Region 9

Sept. 21 Fall One Day In Hand Show Terrell, Texas

Sept. 26-27 Tulsa State Fair Tulsa, Okla.

Nov. 7-10 NTAHC Shootout Glen Rose, Texas

March 20-23, 2014 Alamo Arabian Fiesta San Antonio, Texas

April 13, 2014 Fairfield SH and Dressage One Day Show Denton, Texas

May 16-18, 2014 Ark Arab Victory Challenge A/B Concurrent Texarkana, Ark. Region 10 N/A

August/September 2013

With Sport Horse Classes Region 11

Sept. 6-8 ABU All Arabian Springfield, Ill.

Sept. 19-21 American Royal Arab Horse Show (dressage suitability) Kansas City, Mo.

Sept. 29 Ozark Heartland Arab Fall Classic II ODS Mt. Vernon, Mo. Region 12

Aug. 9-11 Georgia AHA Summer Classic Conyers, Ga.

Aug. 24-25 Arabian Fall Festival Newberry, Fla.

Sept. 6-8 Annual Magnolia Summer Sizzler

Oct. 13 NC State Fair Horse Show Raleigh, N.C.

Nov. 1-3 Western Carolinas Fall Show Clemson, S.C.

Nov. 27-30 AHAF 44th Annual Thanksgiving Tampa, Fla.

March 15-16, 2014 Ocala 19th Annual Amateur Show Ocala, Fla. Region 13

Aug. 17-18 AHAM Summer Show Mason, Mich.

Aug. 18 ASAAD Summer Fun One Day Show Valparaiso, Ind.

Sept. 14-15 Indiana Arabian Pro Am Show Rochester, Ind. Region 14

Oct. 19-20 PMHA Annual Morab Championship Lexington, Ky. Region 15

Oct. 25-27 Heritage Arabian Classic II A/B Concurrent Lexington, Va. Region 16

Aug. 30- Sept. 1 Silver Spur All Arab Hamburg, N.Y. Region 17

Sept. 13-15 AHABC Annual Fall Frolic Langley, BC Region 18

Sept. 28-29 AHAEC Fall Festival London, ON

83

The StallioNS OF

Sycamore Hill Farm BG Maasai Thee Desperado x DM Mimosa

by AK El Maalouf

Abraxas Halimaar

PROPHEcY OTF

El Halimaar x SF Moon Maiden by Nabiel+/ U.S. and Canadian National Champion Stallion Halter AO Multi-National Top Ten Halter Stallion Open Egyptian Event Supreme Champion Stallion

BG Maasai x Sagali by Maar Ibn Ali

Oracle OfthewindS Orashan x Laayla Gamira by Shaikh Al Badi

Patriot Ofthewinds

Imminent Heir Imperial Imdal x Sabreenaa by Abraxas Halimaar

BG Maasai x Fareed Amira by Anaza El Farid

Oracle Of The Winds stands at Vintage Valley Sport Horses with Bill Payne (540) 607-0711 Introductory stud fee Barbara Bach Sycamore Hill Farm Milford, VA 804.633.2020 cell: 240.353.7800 bjbach@msn.com www.sycamorehillfarm.net