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Page 8 FEATUR ... T ES Page 12 our de Bill ... Polly Pu Page 14 ... Budd rebred y’s Tail Page 16 ... Gettin g Pages 1 8, 20, 26 to Know... Kend , 27 ...W a Page 21 ho’s You ll Casaccio ... Altech r Daddy Horse S how
World Hunter e h T r e v Cloud O Ring .Storm he .. T 8 e 2 id e uts Pag .O .. 6 3 3– the Date es Feature Page 3 ian . Save .. 7 3 Equestr .Judg e .. s s 3 e 4 c Pag , c 2 u 8, 40, 4 ct Review - S Page 3 du ry 1 ... Pro Directo Page 4 .. – 46 . eds 4 4 e g Pa ssifi 6 ... Cla Page 4
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Over the Hill Farm Bill Schaub
Hunters/ Ponies/ Equitation
Sales/ Training/ Showing
“We
specialize in giving junior and amateur riders the necessary skills to compete in a quiet and competent environment that is necessary for continued growth.� Many top quality ponies and horses available Sanford, Fl www.othfarm.com wothfarm@aol.com
Melissa VanderVennet and Molly Sewell Assistant Trainers 407-322-1912
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Located at:38 Harbor Rd * Morganville, NJ Tel: (732) 591-9600 www.BaymarFarms.com
UPCOMING “C” Rated SHOWS March 10 April 7 & April 14 May 4 & May 11 June 1
July 28 September 1 October 20 December 7
All Shows USEF “C” Rated Marshall & Sterling NJPHA, NJHSA NAL and WIHS Schooling shows: February 17 and March 24
HUNTERS * JUMPERS * EQUITATION
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Polly Purebred:
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“You didn’t hear it from me...” Speaking of Fair-weather… one …”find none amateur” has finally burned her last bridge with one of her remaining true friends, sad for her but good for her friend, I mean really….running mascara from partying all night and looking like a puffy anime doll is not the London Look…that’s just a hot mess look.
Well
my Dears it seems that the Post-Holiday Season has proven that what goes around comes around….to those who deserve a good Karma Bitch Slap. It seems one trainer is finally getting his just desserts, lying and stealing from clients and selling them horses that are nothing but heartbreak….well the tides have turned downhill faster than Lindsay Lohan’s non-existent career for him, and even his Crude “Stella Dallas” Sugar Mamma can’t help him out of this mess … hope he likes Orange Jumpsuits….you know what they say my darling’s…Karma’s a Bitch! Speaking of Karma, it seems one gossip mongering drama Queen-lett ( Not good enough to be a Queen of anything) has also gotten her Just Desserts….it seems after backstabbing her friends like pin the tail on the donkey games…she has found herself alone and isolated and is literally having a fit….NO one showed up to her New Year’s eve bash to celebrate her new business venture…and sad and on the balcony of her condo…she was slumped over like an overgrown chia pet, drunk, pathetic and pretty useless. Well my Dear what did you expect? How could your friends show up when they were recovering from the mass stab wounds in their backs…? Backstabbing seems to be a renewed pastime in the horse show crowd. One Mid Atlantic loud mouth threw her supposedly dear friend of a decade under the bus and ripped a ride out from under them right before indoors to go with a trainer who she knew was a mess…..turns out her love of drama trumped her friend’s feelings or her horses welfare….now Karma swung back pretty hard and for the horses sake we hope all turns out…trainer was evicted as has been the case time and time again and now said fair-weather friend has the nerve to be angry the former rider will not have anything to do with helping the situation…wow talk about nerve!
It seems some people will never learn their lessons, ever….word to the wise, if you walked out on a mid 5 digit bill from your previous trainer….don’t post all over the internet about your new horses, showing, and partying…you might…and I’m just guessing at this…just might piss off the trainer who you owe a lot of money to…for the past 2 years ... Money, Money, Money, where are Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli when we need them! It seems a rather jaded vet has become desperate in her attempt to patch things up with a large barn that “No longer needed her services” please don’t ever contact us again…after her outrageous price gauging…she parked outside their farm gates and literally drove in front of the mother of the family as she was leaving trying to take her children to school… it was like something out of a bad Hallmark After School Special with Tori Spelling….no word on what the situation is now…but the children were screaming and crying after their Mother had to slam on the brakes and swerve to avoid the deranged vet! My Dear’s… That’s all for this time…I wish I could say That’s all Folks…but honestly that was more than enough for most people’s lifetimes…and remember lying never amounts to anything except more lying…far better to be honest and let the chips lie where they may then find yourself in a tangled web of disaster like one phony trainer did….if you claim to be a grand prix rider…..and have won grand prixs… please be able to ride the made children’s jumper better than the 12 year old owner….and by the way when you claimed you were a working student who “worked” there way to the Invitational Finals….you were working in the wrong direction the invitational was not on the East Coast that year it was on the West coast ... Until next time my Dear’s keep your ears and eyes open…you just never know what you might see and hear.
Polly
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Buddy’s Tail...
Hmmm… do I begin with something good or something not so good this month? Think I’ll start with the not so good so I can end on a happy note.
Lance Armstrong. Need I say more? I have been an avid follower and one of those in awe of Lance and his abilities. I really and truly thought his ability…his hard work…his total devotion and commitment to his sport was what propelled him to the top. I never believed the rumors about him “doping” and cheating. I thought if he was not caught in all these years after being tested soooo many times that he must be clean. That he was one of those people you could look up to and admire… who won because they really were THAT good. Well… sadly that is not the case. He has now admitted to doping. The thing I found interesting in his interview was that he didn’t feel that he really was cheating because…he looked up the definition of cheating and said it was “to gain an advantage over a rival or a foe” and he said he didn’t feel that he was cheating because he actually saw it as a level playing field… meaning everyone did it…therefore they were all competing on even terms. I can understand that in a way. If you are doing a competition, everyone should play by the same rules to make it fair…but how is everyone cheating making it fair? I am disturbed by this situation on a few levels. First, I truly was a Lance fan. I was glued to the TV when he rode in the Tour de France. I believed he was able to do what he did because of his ability, his training, his dedication…I never thought it was because of his connections, his money and his drugs. Sure burst my happy bubble! Now to apply this to the horse industry…how many that I have looked up to over the years also cheat but justify it because “everyone else does it too”? Do they think they are simply leveling the playing field so that makes it right? What are we doing to our sport? Well
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in my opinion we are ruining it! How is there sport in being the best “chemist”? I never knew drugging was a sport. Our industry sure does need a wakeup call in my humble horsey opinion. I know when I showed I did it without illegal drugs. I didn’t lunge for hours- actually when I showed with my mom I NEVER saw the end of a lunge line. I loved what I was doing, was well suited for the job and I excelled at it. What I don’t understand is 1) why do judges reward horses that are zombies, which have no expression, no brilliance in the hunter ring? 2) Why do some trainers try and make horses fit into jobs instead of allowing the horses and ponies to be in jobs that they want to do? Just because you have a good moving, good jumping horse…it doesn’t mean it wants to be a hunter for example. That’s like saying every beautiful woman wants to be a model. What if instead she wants to be a firefighter or a pilot? Why not let the horse find its job rather than making it fit the job you want it to? 3) How do people feel good about themselves when they know they had to cheat to win?
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This line of thinking could go on for some time. I have so many “I don’t get it” thoughts but instead I will just say I really don’t get it and I REALLY don’t get why our governing body can’t do better with drug testing. They seem to pick and choose who they get, they dole out punishment based on who you are and also the time of the year. Seems suspensions don’t often happen during Devon or Indoors for that matter…but hey, I’m just a horse…what do I know? I’d like to see our sport cleaned up. I LOVE our sport but I hate what it’s become. Makes me want to just stand under my tree and reflect on the good old days…except were there any…or has their always been cheating? Ok…to change to a happy topic… I did get a fabulous care package over the holiday from my pals at The Treat Barn; made me feel so loved that they always remember me. The treats were fabulous as usual and Jenny included a handwritten note for me…making me feel oh so special! It’s funny how some people really touch your life. Might be they remember your birthday…or just think to call you or write to you… or just randomly check in with you to see how you are… whatever it is it makes me realize that the small things count. Just knowing someone is thinking of you can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Imagine if everyone in the world tried to do something nice for someone else…never asking for anything in return other than to feel good that they did something that warmed another’s soul. Wow…what a world we would live in! I can’t end my column without mentioning baseball. It’s getting to be close to time for Spring Training to begin and I REALLY hope “my” Red Sox are better this year. I can live with them stinking and losing…what I found so hard to deal with last year is the fact that they played like they didn’t care. They looked like a bunch of overpaid ball players who treated what they did like just another day at the office. They had no spirit, no character. They were no fun to watch play because they looked like they just didn’t care. No team can win all the time but they sure ought to give it their all every time they set foot on the field. Being paid millions of dollars doesn’t seem to have an impact on how hard a player plays. Hmmm…this seems to tie in with horses… a good horse ends up being expensive/worth a lot of money because it wins… but a horse won’t win just because it cost a lot of money. I love when the red sox bring players up from the minor leagues and groom them to be big leaguers…and I wish more horse people took the time to bring horses/ponies up from greenies… the journey, not just the end result, counts. Ok…well that’s that for this issue! It’s exciting thinking of the fact that in April we will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary! I know I’m premature in mentioning it but it’s very exciting to me!! I’m majorly excited!! Looking forward this… to hopefully finding our new farm…to spring…no blankets and lots of yummy green grass! Until next time...be an original and don’t run with the herd!
Buddy
Buddy’s Mail I know this is way after the article was written, but it was December when I received your magazine with the comment in it. Even though it is rather after the fact, I wanted to commend you for your “Buddy’s Tail” column bringing up health insurance. Everything you said was so true and yet, probably got no comment. I read it, applauded you for saying it, and wanted you to know you did a good thing. I have never understood why our governing organization (USEF) with a huge membership, has never gotten into providing health insurance for its members. It would actually be something good compared to many inconsequential things they opt to do with our money. Contrary to what many believe, horse people may now be required to get health insurance, but it will not be cheap. Keep up the good work Peggy Fackrell Horse Show Manager USEF Hunter/Jumper/ Eq Judge USEF Steward From California
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Getting to Know... Kendall Casaccio Age: 17 years old Where are you from: Beesleys Point, New Jersey How long have you been involved with horses? About 13 years, I started riding when I was 4 years old. What made you want to be involved with them? My Grandfather, he took me riding one day and I fell in love, I’ve been riding ever since. What are your horses names? Sabotage Z- 16 year old Zangersheide, Owned by Palermo Show Stable Wilhelm-12 year old Hanoverian Axl Rose-17 year old Dutch Warmblood
What is your favorite subject in school? Cooking Class;) Other favorite things: Movie: The Blind Side Color: Gold Book: The A Circuit, By Georgina Bloomberg What music is on your Ipod: Country What is your favorite thing about competing? Feeding my horses mints! What do you find to be the most challenging aspect? Riding consistently from course to course and horseshow to horseshow. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date? Getting recruited and signing with The University of Tennessee at Martin
What trainer(s) do you work with? Chrissy & Carlos Covarrubias, Eleanor Robinson, and Emil Spadone
What is your goal for next year? To have a successful Medal, Maclay, and USET finals.
Besides horses, what other things do you do for fun? I love to exercise and hang out with my friends.
What are your long term goals involving horses? To hopefully win the Adult and Ariat Medal Finals.
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Judges, Course Designer Announced for Alltech National Horse Show The Alltech National Horse Show, scheduled for the Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 29 through November 3, 2013, today announced the line-up of judges for the Hunter divisions and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship. The Course Designer for this year’s event was also revealed. Invited to judge the highly competitive hunter divisions for the 2013 edition of the Alltech National Horse Show are Linda Hough, of Wellington, Florida, and Joe Darby of Southern Pines, North Carolina. Both Hough and Darby are inductees in the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame and are two of the most popular and highly-rated hunter judges in the United States. For the all-important ASPCA Maclay National Championship, the Alltech National Horse Show has tabbed Chrystine Tauber, the newly elected President of the United States Equestrian Federation and Robert Ridland, who just recently took the reins as the new Chef D’Equipe of the United States Show Jumping team, replacing the legendary George Morris. The Course Designer for this year’s Alltech National Horse Show is Conrad Homfeld. At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, aboard Abdullah, Homfeld was a key member of the Gold Medal United States Show Jumping team and won the Individual Silver Medal as well. He has designed courses all over the world for some of show jumping’s most important events, including the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mason Phelps, Jr, the President of the National Horse Show Association, commented on this year’s panel of judges and course designer, saying, “Once again, we’ve got an all-star line-up for the Alltech National Horse Show. Linda Hough and Joey Darby are two of America’s most respected horse people. They should do a fabulous job with the hunters at this year’s show,” he said. “To secure both
Christine Tauber and Robert Ridland for the Maclay Finals is a real coup. And, when you add in Conrad Homfeld as Course Designer, that makes this year’s event very special.” The 2012 Alltech National Horse Show takes center stage on October 29 through November 3, 2013, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to the top rated hunters and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, the show features worldclass international, open, junior and amateur-owner jumpers competing for the biggest prize money on the United States indoor tour.
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Battlefield Tested
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Storm Clouds Over the Hunter World By Hunter Taylor
When asked to address the issue of drugging horses in the hunter world I was hesitant. In the thirty years I spent around horse shows, primarily involved with hunters, I was aware of much talk about drugging horses. My feeling was that where there is smoke there usually is fire, but I had no real sense of the magnitude of the problem or what I might add to the discussion if there is a significant problem.
My initial undertaking was thus an effort to determine the extent of the problem. My research uncovered an interesting piece in the June 2008 issue of EQUIERY, which pointed out that reported USEF drug violations had increased dramatically over the recent years. According to EQUIERY’s calculation, in February 2004 36% of reported USEF rule violations were drugrelated. In February 2008, the drug-related offenses had risen to 64%. These numbers were based on violations reported in the USEF official magazine. The EQUIERY article was comprised largely of reader responses to the question of whether the rising number of reported violations was the result of increased use of drugs or better detection methods. 80% of those responding expressed the view that drug use in the hunter world is on the increase. My personal survey of trainers and experienced horsemen from the hunter world resulted in an unanimous view of increase in the drugging of hunters: “it is a huge problem”--”the drug situation is far more extensive today than it has ever been”--”if you don’t medicate you don’t win”--”by the late 70’s many who were winning had help from drugs”--”if you want to compete you have no choice”--”remember when you saw a large number of horses and ponies being longed throughout the day at the shows; you don’t see it today and there is a reason”-”when they stopped being judged like a hunter in the hunt field they needed help in becoming what they were required to be.”
The stories I heard all pointed to increasing use of drugs to calm hunters for the show ring. There was the story of the west coast trainer who is known for his drug bag, which is referred to as a mobile equine pharmacy. Another story I heard involved a veterinarian who regularly travels to Europe to obtain the most advanced undetectable calming agents. Multiple stories were told of veterinarians who are available for a charge at the bigger shows to administer calming agents that will not trigger a drug violation. One trainer explained that his clients, while well-to-do, are not super rich. They cannot afford that very rare animal that goes like a robot without help. “Unless you are going to pay an exorbitant price that my clients can’t pay, you must choose between a soundness issue or a quietness issue. I always choose the quietness issue because I can deal with that.” In another part of the conversation, when the issue of injecting magnesium came up, the trainer explained: “When I administer it, I make sure that there are no distractions. Too much or too fast will be fatal.” When asked if the customers knew what was going on, his response was: “it is like don’t ask don’t tell: they pay for it under the bill heading “meds and supplements” --but we don’t talk about it.” A recent article on the front page of the New York Times entitled SUDDEN DEATH OF SHOW PONY CLOUDS IMAGE OF ELITE PURSUIT in the December 28, 2012 edition references a drug crisis in the hunter world, even though the article acknowledges that no evidence establishes that the death of the pony that is referred to in the article was caused by any banned or improper substance. Still, the article states: “While show-horse trainers have abused some of the same drugs that have caused problems in racing, the Equestrian Federation has lagged behind in regulating how they are administered.” The article goes on to discuss Carolina Gold and magnesium sulfate and to paint a generally unfavorable picture of the use of drugs in the hunter world. Obviously the writer and the paper are of the view that drugs are a serious problem in the horse show world.
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Before making any comments or suggestions on drug rules for hunters, I think readers should know the path that has led me to my conclusions, as tentative as those conclusions may be. My introduction to the old American Horse Show Association drug rules was a strange one. My start in the horse show world was with young daughters at local unrecognized shows. At one of these being held at a county fair, one of my daughters was showing in the leadline class. On that occasion our quiet, well-behaved leadline pony was transformed into an unrideable beast by exuberant crowd noise. A local horseman who knew us and the pony said that if we ever had to deal with crowd noise again, a little acepromazine would solve the problem. The next spring we did leadline at Devon. It didn’t occur to me that a little “ace” might be inappropriate for that occasion. My thinking, as faulty as it was, was that leadline was not a recognized division and thus general rules like the drug rule wouldn’t apply. Moreover, it didn’t seem to be a situation to which a drug rule would apply. Thinking back on it, however, my guess is that I didn’t have a clue at that time as to why any rule would prohibit use of “ace”. Little did I know when we did it how lucky we were to not end up on the suspended list. And think of the embarrassment: suspended for drugging a leadline pony! But the result was not unhappy: no ribbon, no drug test but a beautifully quiet pony and a very happy little girl. I have never felt any degree of guilt for this violation. It did not seem ethically incorrect at the time nor does it today. It was important that we have a quiet pony and we gave her a little help in getting that way. However, when I began work on this article, my mindset was negative regarding any use of illegal drugs on horses and ponies, and I favored stiff punishment to discourage such use. Initially at least, there was no link in my mind between my leadline experience of many years ago and the project at hand. Over the years my view had been that neither the AHSA nor the USEF had been very serious about enforcement of drug rules. Historically, both seemed overly lenient in the punishments handed out. Short suspensions, jokingly referred in the industry to as “vacations”, were typical. When timed at the convenience of the offender, as they often seemed to be, the suspensions were hardly more than a slight inconvenience resulting in a friend or associate taking over the offender’s training activities at the shows during the suspension period. Frequently it seemed that suspensions were scheduled so as to not interfere with Devon or the big indoor shows. The horse racing industry is currently faced with a drug crisis involving dermorphin, or what is commonly referred to as “frog juice”, because it comes from a tiny South American frog. This drug, used primarily to mask soundness problems, is said to be 40 times more potent than mor-
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phine as a pain killing agent. An examination of the racing industry’s response to its crisis seemed to be a good starting point for thought as to how to deal with the drug problem in the hunter world. William Koester, member of the Ohio State Racing Commission and former chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, offered a simple straightforward solution to the growing demorphin problem in an op-ed piece published in the summer (2012) issue of NORTH AMERICAN TRAINER. “Let’s send a strong message--we, those empowered to make a difference, will not tolerate blatant disregard for sportsmanship and animal abuse. One and done: lifetime expulsion from our sport.” Initially I sensed that Mr. Koestler’s solution for the racing industry’s “frog juice” problem could provide the answer for drugging hunters. When I posed the “one and done” punishment for drug violations in the hunter world to a long time horseman, the response was both interesting and insightful: “it would likely discourage the use of most drugs--we haven’t had any known killing of horses for insurance money since some were caught and banned for life.” But the horseman did not stop with this statement. She explained that she thought “it almost certain” that the harsh potential penalty would have significant unfortunate effects on show horse well-being, stating: “We need to change the culture of our sport. Medicating has become a form of training in the minds of many. This has to change, but it is not likely to change as long as we continue to view dead quiet as a primary part of excellence. The harsh punishment potential will discourage some, but for others it will simply encourage greater care in not getting caught. Use of substances natural to the horse’s body is likely to be the approach of choice. I’m no scientist or veterinarian, but from what I hear, injecting magnesium is currently on the rise. While dangerous to administer, it appears practically impossible to test for. The approach that will be encouraged by the tough penalty is one of undetectability at the expense of great risk to the horse. At the very least, the harsh penalty will lead to calming through exhaustion. Hours of pre-show longeing or riding will become the calming agent of choice. This kind of preparation, while better than the risk of death through an error in the administering of a drug, does not bode well for the long term health of the animal. We seem to have forgotten our love for the horse in our drive to win. Until we figure out a way to get that key element back in the game, our sport will continue to face a big and ugly problem.
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This conversation led me to look at the stated basis for the USEF drug rules. It is clearly addressed in the 2012 USEF GUIDELINES FOR DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS: “The USEF Equine Drug and Medication Rules are driven by a mission to protect equine welfare and to maintain a balance of competition .... The common thread that binds all of equestrian sport, however, is a dedication and commitment to the health, welfare and safety of the equine athlete, which must take precedence over all other aspects of training, competing and showing.” A clearer mission statement is difficult to imagine: to protect the horse and to level the playing field are the goals, with equine welfare foremost. Thus any set of drug rules needs to be measured against the two stated goals: is each goal being appropriately advanced by the rules? The opinion of the horseman quoted above is that enforcement of strict rules with stiff penalties in the context of the contemporary hunter world is having and is likely to continue to have a decidedly negative effect on the welfare of show horses and ponies. Two articles recently published in THE CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE reflect the tension that exists between the stated goals underlying the drug rules and the actual results realized from their enforcement. On March 12, 2012, a piece by noted pony trainer Robin Greenwood entitled ARE DRUG RULES PUTTING OUR HORSES AT GREATER DANGER? was published (http://www.chronofhorse. com/). Ms. Greenwood, who recently returned to training after being away from it for 15 years, describes the very noticeable difference she found upon her return: longeing is less common today and the way of going is more lethargic. Her effort in this careful and insightful commentary is to balance the two goals that underlie the drug rules. Her starting point is recognition of the problem: “I know that drug and supplement use is still rampant, and I strongly believe that we need to consider reasonable ways to deal with the issue. It is NOT going to go away.” She concludes that new and stricter drug rules are likely to increase the use of intravenous magnesium or “some other new drug I know nothing of.” She notes the irony in the hunter world that many who “verbally” support the stricter drug rules are the same people “who will need to find new ways to get their horses quiet enough to win at the biggest events.” “Perhaps it’s time to consider legal ways to help a horse relax rather than making that completely illegal.” From her perspective, equine welfare would be far better served by allowing “Perfect Prep or even a 1/4 cc of acepromazine,” as opposed to those substances that people are currently “pulling out of medicine cabinets.” Her bottom line is that a small amount of a relatively benign calming agent is far better for horses and ponies that the life-threatening, difficult-to-detect compounds currently being used to get around the drug rules. In other words, in order to protect the equine athlete let’s create a legal path to the desired result that is safer than that which is actually being encouraged by the current rules.
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The second CHRONICLE article was published two weeks later. This one, entitled CAROLINA GOLD IS THE NEWEST FACE OF AN OLD PROBLEM, was written by Dr Steve Soule. Dr Soule has 39 years of experience as an equine veterinarian, having served both as a FEI and USEF veterinarian. He is currently on the USEF Veterinary Committee. In 2009 he was the recipient of the USEF Marty Simensen Award for outstanding commitment to the protection and welfare of horses. In applauding the USEF for banning Carolina Gold (which contains the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid, or GABA), Dr. Soule stated: “Carolina Gold isn’t killing horses like injectable magnesium sulfate, which has been blamed in the deaths of some horses, but it’s not ethically correct.” While there are comments in this piece that suggest Dr. Soule was familiar with Ms. Greenwood’s article and the concern expressed in it, he neither mentions her article nor the concern for horse welfare expressed in it. One can conclude from his statement and from the rest of the article that he is prioritizing between the goals in the context of today’s drug problem as he perceives it. In fairness to Dr. Soule, it should be mentioned that he and Ms. Greenwood seem to view today’s drug problem differently: she rather clearly sees it on the rise, with a visible difference between today and 15 years ago. Dr. Soule, on the other hand, seems to see it as static, with the same “bad apples”, numbering around 10%, who will always try “to bend the rules.” Ms. Greenwood sees a growing epidemic that has to be addressed for the sake of the horses and ponies; Dr. Soule sees an old problem with a constant cast of bad guys who are going to cheat no matter what. Ms. Greenwood offers the suggestion of legalizing a minimum dosage of acepromazine in hope to better the plight of the equine athletes who are going to be drugged. Dr. Soule speaks disfavorably of the use of ace, but without specifics: “I don’t believe that the world was better when the horses were just given a bit of ace.” On the question of inappropriate impairment from ace, he offers a similar opinion: “It’s hard to tell where to draw that line. I think that’s why there’s eternally this drive for zero tolerance, so that everybody’s playing on a level playing field.” Against the background of the differing views of the magnitude of the drug problem, it should be noted that the USEF is implementing much stricter punishment for drug violations in the hunters this year. A first offense gets a trainer a 2-year suspension, with some strict rules as to who can take over the trainer’s training activities during his or her suspension. Ms. Greenwood appears to be of the view that such an increase in the punishment will lead to more widespread use of the practically undetectable, but highly risky, calming agents. Dr. Soule, on the other hand, seems to be of the view that the rule-benders are of a constant number and will cheat no matter what. He does not focus on the collateral damage that the type of cheating has on the affected horses and ponies. In short, he does not suggest that we legalize a well-defined and more benign form of cheating in an effort to protect the equine athletes from the
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more dangerous forms. The main problem with Ms. Greenwood’s suggestion is that in its admirable effort to protect the horses, it is at least a significant partial surrender to the drug culture that dominates the contemporary hunter world. It amounts to both an acknowledgement of the inevitability of some amount of cheating in our sport and an explicit blessing of such so long as it is kept to a minimum: what has long been at least publicly viewed as cheating would now become an accepted norm of the sport. Moreover, success in deterring the riskier forms of drugging is not guaranteed.
One has to recognize the potential negative impact that such a policy is likely to have on the public image of horse showing. While other sports, like cycling, baseball and horse racing are trying to rid themselves of drug-enhanced performances, the hunter world would have to be viewed as making performance-enhancing drugs an acceptable part of the sport. Even though the equine athlete might well benefit from this change in direction, the credibility of the sport could not help but suffer. Notwithstanding the problem mentioned above and the fact that the USEF hierarchy is extremely unlikely to legalize use of any calming substance, Ms. Greenwood has made an important contribution to the drug discussion: she has brought out in the open the fact that the drug rules are exposing horses and ponies to more and more risk as the quest increases for undetectability with little regard for risk. And if you doubt the seriousness of the magnesium sulfate problem, take a look at Molly Sorge’s article INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF MAGNESIUM SULFATE ISN’T JUST ILLEGAL--IT’S DANGEROUS, published July 1, 2011 in THE CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE (http://www. chronofhorse.com/). Ms. Sorge’s carefully prepared piece identifies compounded substances naturally appearing in the equine body, such as magnesium, calcium. thiamine and tryptophan as being today’s calming agents of choice. She focuses on magnesium sulfate which, according to veterinary experts, is highly dangerous to administer and detectable in the horse’s body for only a short period after it is administered. Against this background, one has to give thought to Ms. Greenwood’s suggestion: will the new threat of a two-year suspension curtail the drugging of horses and ponies, or will it encourage use of compounds like magnesium? Both Dr. Soule and Ms. Greenwood are pessimistic that it can be stopped by rules alone. Maybe the best solution is to provide a less harmful path of drugging short of the outand-out legalization suggested by Ms. Greenwood. Perhaps my thought here is simply evidence of moral cowardice and blatant hypocrisy; but what about the creation of two tiers of drug offenses? One category would include the more serious offenses, taking into account the risk to the horse and rider. The second category would involve more of a minor infraction. Better scientific minds than mine would need to work on this, but the idea of 1/4 cc
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of acepromazine crosses my mind. For the lesser violations, the punishment would be considerably less, such as return of prize money and loss of points for the show at which the violation occurred, together with public censure of the trainer and owner. No matter how one looks at it, such a two-tiered approach to drugs has to be viewed as condoning drug use to some extent. Nevertheless, the loophole created by the minor infraction category might do enough to protect horses and ponies from the risk of more dangerous drugs to make it worthwhile. Moreover, I think most of us would agree that there are varying degrees of ethical and moral culpability involved in the administration of drugs to calm a horse or pony. T o me, an easy illustration of this fact would be my uninformed participation in giving a small dose of ace to that leadline pony years ago. To take it out one more step, I think the moral and ethical culpability involved in administering magnesium sulfate to a horse or pony is far greater than that involved in the administration of a small dose of acepromazine. It does not make sense, therefore, to punish them equally. Two things are clear about drug rules for the hunters. First, the current drug rules have not to date prevented the rise of a culture of medicating as an integral part of “training”. Although the new 2-year suspension may change the situation, I doubt it. The syringe has too often replaced the longe line and lessons. Ponies and horses are being transformed into robotic zombies; their riders are becoming mere passengers from a halting 3 to a forward 4 and so on. Second, the horses and ponies are frequently collateral damage in the enforcement of drug rules. In the past, equines were exposed to soundness issues through excessive calming methods like exhausting longeing or riding before showing. The horses and ponies of today’s hunter world are frequently faced with a more serious lifethreatening risk at the end of a needle as part of regular prep for the show ring. Something must be done to change this; otherwise, our sport is very much in jeopardy. Additional negative articles like the New York Times front page article of December 28, 2012 will be forthcoming unless the problem is solved. To build on a thought expressed by a horseman quoted earlier in the article, the problem will not be solved until those involved in the sport love the horses and ponies more than they love winning and money. With the negative public perception of today’s hunter world that seems to be evolving, would you want your son or daughter to be part of it? If you are an adult rider with a love for horses, how long would you want to be part of a world that is viewed like that described in the New York Times article?
Having a horse or pony, learning to care for it and riding just for the fun of it might start looking better and better. It certainly would cost a lot less. And I suspect it would provide a better life for your horse or pony.
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There are those that don’t understand that life with horses isn’t a hobby or a fad, it’s a lifestyle ...but that doesnt mean you have to go through your horsey life just wearing jeans and paddock boots, eating take out and living in an uninspired home! Our new OTR section will feature life outside the ring. Recipes, wine selections, News (babies, weddings, fundraisers, parties), style suggestions, fashion ideas, etc. If you’d like to contribute to this section, email Talia at talia@theplaidhorse.com or theplaidhorse@aol.com
Tenth Annual JustWorld International Gala Proves to be a Night of Enchantment, Raising Record Funds The night of the 10th Annual JustWorld International Gala was alive with mystery as the national and international equestrian communities came together for a brilliant masquerade at Belle Herbe Farm in Wellington, FL. The ambiance of the evening was that of a Renaissance European painting, and the event itself is one for the history books. With over $420,000 raised for the nonprofit organization, the masquerade marks a momentous stride in JustWorld’s history, not only as their most successful gala to date, but also the commemoration of 10 years. The celebratory evening included heartwarming presentations, an elegant dinner with gourmet food stations, a silent auction, and a live auction.
Jennifer Burger was recognized during The USHJA Conference in Miami for her contributions to the sport. Burger helped found the new Brandywine Valley Summer Series horse show, was also presented with the USHJA President’s Distinguished Service Award by Bill Moroney
Carrie Wirth Photo
Bill Rube being awarded The USHJA President’s Distinguished Service Award by Bill Moroney at The USHJA Conference in Miami
Carrie Wirth Photo
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A few of my favorite things... with Talia Piacentine As I get ready to register for my own wedding, I can’t help but look for things that I would love to get as a gift. Here are some fabulous equine related products.
Thomas Paul Thoroughbred Shams. What’s not to love about making your guest room look like this? www.shopthomaspaul.com
For the home decoratorsReal Carriage Doors has a selection to die for! Check out their gallery and fall in love! www.realcarriagedoors.com
Perfect house-warming or wedding shower gift from Sound View Millworks! Prices range from $70-$170! www. soundviewmillworks.com
This Pike Road Pillow Co. Fire Pit is perfect for any outside patio. The best part, it’s only $245! www.pikeroadpillowco.com
Do you have any great horse themed wedding ideas to share with us for our upcoming June wedding section? Email me at talia@theplaidhorse.com
George Hess and Jamie Krauss
George Hess and Jamie Krauss celebrated their wedding party at XL nightclub. Guests were served champagne by Prosecco and bites by Ktchn.
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Incidentally, the OUT hotel, where XL nightclub and Ktchn are located, is owned by Ian Reisner, brother of trainer, Ross Resiner!
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1) Ross Reisner, Keri Kampson, Guest & Julie Ann Orsini 2) Chris Briscoe and Keri Kampson 3) Heather Caristo Williams, Kate Bleich and Michelle Grayson 4) Guests were entertained with a performance by Taryn Manning 5) Mother and daughters looking fabulous: Sarah Krauss, Joan Lunden, Jamie Krauss & Lindsay Krauss 6) Celebrity fashion stylist Phillip Bloch, Jamie Krauss and Joan Lunden, Photos by Sara Kerens
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Save the Date! USHJA/Wheeler Museum Exhibit 2013 ~
Save The Date for the Sallie B. Wheeler US National Hunter Breeding Championships Sallie B. Wheeler/US Hunter Breeding National Championship - West Coast: August 28, 2013; Showpark All Seasons Summer Tournament, Del Mar, CA Sallie B. Wheeler/US Hunter Breeding National Championship -East Coast: August 31, 2013; Warrenton Horse Show, Warrenton, VA
Elegance, Power, and Heart – The Thoroughbred Show Horse ~ Coming this Spring ~ It will be EPIC
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Ask the Judges... Dianne Grod
1) How do you think the show ring has changed over the last 20 years. Do you think the changes are for the better? A) In The Hunter ring? B) In The Equitation ring?
The show ring has changed in so many ways in the last 20 years. The most obvious change is in the addition of so many new divisions. In some ways I realize the economy has had a huge bearing on this. A trainer has to have a huge staff in order to accommodate riders of all levels if they are going to have to split their barn between the big”A” shows and the smaller shows, many times those shows have conflicting dates. Because of the addition of many new lower divisions they can take all their clients to the same show provided those clients can bear the additional costs of competing at the “A” shows. The other noticeable change is the lack of fun at the shows. By the end of a long day created by the longer time schedules, everyone is just too tired to enjoy any camaraderie. There is hardly time to attend any exhibitor’s parties particularly if you have a large barn. Some of the social aspect seems to be missing and it has become all business and no play. I personally miss the shows of the past where everyone got along and was happy to spend quality time with each other. A) The Hunter ring has changed most noticeably by the lack of brilliance in the rounds. The horses are either over medicated or over lunged. Due to the amounts of horse showing, the trainers are not taking the time to train their horses by riding them. The only classes where brilliance is rewarded is in the Derby’s. A lot of the guilt for this falls on the judges who continue to place the mechanical robotically, over prepared horses as opposed to ignoring a little freshness, which contributes to a crisper jump. I personally love to see a horse enjoying his job however seldom you see it. B) The equitation horses have also become too methodical. The horses have become machines and do not show off a rider’s skills. I want to see the rider allow the horses to perform at their best and this includes jumping up and round. There are always exceptions to the rules but we so rarely see it anymore.
2) What are you looking for in today’s rider? A) Hunter rider? B) Equitation rider? I would like today’s Hunter riders to allow their horses to flow around the ring and be soft and effective enough to let their horses jump up and around the jumps, not just over. I still love the Thoroughbred or at least a Thoroughbred type horse. So many of today’s trainers have come up through the ranks with the Warmbloods that they do not know how to ride or train the blood horses. Some or most of the best Hunters of all times have been good old American Thoroughbreds. I personally am happy to see more of them back on the scene. C) I think equitation riders should also be able to show off a horse while they are showcasing their own effectiveness. I want them to follow their horse’s mouths on the way to the ground and allow their horses to “finish” their jumps. I love to see smoothness without the look of stiffness. I am not a fan of a ride that looks programmed and still as a result of trying to create the perfect “look”. 3. As A judge I have many “pet peeves”. A) First and foremost I applaud promptness to the ring. So many times the ones we wait the longest for in the ring come in and “biff ” at the first fence. B) I love to see a rider come in the ring and impress me even in the circle. Slow circles and slow corners are tedious to watch when you are either beginning or ending a long day. C) It is disappointing to see a rider come into the ring unkempt with no hair net, hair sticking out of their net or with dirty boots and/or tack. It shows lack of professionalism, and caring D) I hate it when the kids come in the ring and have to smile and/or stare at you every time they pass the judges booth. I love a pleasant business like expression but while it is paying attention to the job at hand. E) It is completely annoying to hear a trainer giving a riding lesson loud enough for me to hear it while their rider is in the ring. Many times I have sent messages to the perpetrators. Teach them in the schooling arena. Let them show you what they know while they are in the show ring, not let everyone in ear shot get a blow by blow description of their round while they are going around the ring. F) Leg hangers! No one likes to judge these horses. G) Large bows on little girls.
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Shawn Mc Millen Photography
606.356.0518 606.356.0540 shawn@shawnmcmillen.com
New and improved web-site for foxhunting, horse show and racing photos. Offering for Sale...
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Ask the Judges... Paddy Downing Nyegard
1) How do you think the show ring has changed over the last 20 years. Do you think the changes are for the better? A) In The Hunter ring? B) In The Equitation ring? Hunters ~ I started with a long diatribe about what we have done with the hunters in the past 20 years. However everything evolves and things go in full circle.
I miss the good TB horse. I love it when one comes in the ring now or I have to ask is this a TB? On the other hand we have had some amazing hunters over the past 20 years. I think we have watered down the hunters. We have created a place for everything and everybody . The hunter itself. The horses are amazing. They jump and jump. For the most part they take great care of their owners. And their knees get out of their way. They were getting very heavy I remember when the Warmbloods first came to the hunter ring. We wrote on our cards WBWR (warmblood wrong ring). The heavy hunters seemed to take over. Though in the last year or so I am seeing less “heavy” hunters, no doubt they are still giants, they seem to be breeding them a bit lighter. Who knows one day we will see the lighter horses in the ring again. The hunter with scope and grace still catches my breath. The lighter athletic good jumper is going to prevail. The hunter that explodes over a big oxer and lands with that look of “cool” makes me smile. They are there and I think we are on our way back to the right kind of hunter. As long as those of us who still remember can live long enough to tell the younger professional that this is the way it should be. EQUITATION ~ My overview of show riding in the past 20 years is that we have created a huge group of riders and not horseman. A lot of the people I give clinics to will take offence to this. However, I do feel that it is a true statement for the majority of show riders. I asked a question in a medal class once . Could you please name 3 things you do after you dismount your horse and are taking him back to the barn? Thinking in any order... run your stirrups up, reins over the head and loosen the girth. The answer I received was “hand him to Jose.” Now as funny as that was when it happened, it is really a bit sad. I asked a JR rider why they had galloping boots on their horse and she said “I really don’t know, aren’t you supposed to wear boots in equitation” and as honest as she was .... these questions were not asked
at small shows, in fact at a lower level they might have know the answers. Just saying. I think that the Equitation is so technical that we have forgotten what we are looking for. I am a firm believer that we are supposed to be creating horseman and we see way too many show riders riders. Too much blaming the horse, trainer and always the judge. I believe that the warm bloods, as wonderful as they can be, are inherently big heavy horses. I believe that more than not the combination of lack of horsemanship and a heavy horse is creating a stiff rider that is trying to force a ride instead of create the ride. 2) What are you looking for in today’s rider? A) Hunter rider? B) Equitation rider? Hunter rider ~ The round is judged from the time you enter the ring until you leave the ring. As in the eq I want the picture to be correct. An attractive well turned out horse and rider . This starts out the round at 100. After the initial picture, movement and balance.I want to see the hunter rider that continues on the forward canter and is out of the horses way when it jumps the jump. I am not fond of posting the canter, I find it distracting; however, if it makes your horse go better then it is worth the distraction. Hand Galloping in the Hunters (i.e. , the handy) I want the rider out of the tack and to see a lengthening of stride. For me judging is to find the best horse or rider (depending on the class) on that day, in that class, at that show. It is the exhibitors job to show me the best they have . Equitation ~ When I judge the equitation the first thing I see is the exhibitor entering the ring. I want to see an organized picture. To be impressed that the rider/horse is in the ring to show. Weather permitting I want to see a clean well turned out horse/ rider. I start my judging from 100 and go from there. If a rider is dirty, has ill fitting attire, if their horses equipment is improperly fitted, then I start from a lower score. I want to see an workman-like ride. Elastic through the arms and back. Leg long and underneath them. Depending on the level, short release or long release, close their hip angle in the air without opening early. To be effective with attention paied to detail. To see a ride that is on a forward canter step. I want the horse looking where it is going bent in the proper direction. Of course the distances, numbers and leads. It seems lately I am seeing stiff backward riders. The position is correct however extremely stiff. Which makes the horse stiff.
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Product Review We found this saddle pad to be everything it claimed to be and more! We tried the pad on 3 different horses. It is non-slip, provided great cushion for both horse and rider and washed great too. The horses we put in our Success Equestrian saddle pad had very different withers, do 3 different jobs and this pad was comfortable on all of them. We love that these pads come in different styles and in black as well as white. We highly recommend this product. Try Success Equestrian pads, you will love them as much as we did!
Ask the Judges... When a “Hand Gallop” is asked for I want to see galloping position and a diffident lengthening of stride. At a trot jump I want to see a plan. To see riders stay on a track. 3) Please share at least 3 of your biggest pet peeves related to judging. What I do not want to see, unless the rider executes it perfectly, is the sit trot in the warm up circle. It is not required. I feel gloves in the equitation make the picture. We are judging you for 2 maybe 2 1/2 minutes. Make the best impression possible. I think that Karen Healey has taken care of the “bling” issue. NONE in the equitation ring. The show ring is not the place to express your independent personality.
ABOUT: Paddy Downing Nyegard
USEF “R” Hunter Eq Jumper Managed farms and or trained for Triton Stables, Sally Sexton, Otis Brown Jr, Richard Watson, Nina Bonnie Owned and operated Evenkeel Farm Inc Clearwater and Tampa FLorida. Received judges license 25 years ago. Past chairman of the AHSA Pony HUnter Committee Past member/board of directors: PCHA, CFHJA, FHJA Currently living in Burnsville NC with husband Ronald Judging and and teaching clinics.
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Ask the Judges... William Sparks
1) How do you think the show ring has changed over the last 20 years. Do you think the changes are for the better? A) In The Hunter ring? B) In The Equitation ring?
The show ring has changed twofold in my opinion. First, we see many more divisions offered at the rated shows. I remember the time when basically 15 divisions were offered. Those being Low (which was the only warmup division), Pre Green, Limit, three sections of Ponies, two sections each of Juniors and Amateurs, First and Second Year Greens, Regular Working and the Green and Regular Conformations. We now have many more divisions which has opened up more opportunities for riders to compete at many different levels. In the equitation, there were basically the Limit, Pony, Junior split by two age groups with the Medal Class and the Maclay. Today, we see numerous medals for all age groups and divisions. Secondly, courses have become more challenging than the basic figure eight course we saw in the past. I think this is a good thing, as the courses challenge the riders to make adjustments while maintaining an even pace. Are the changes for the better? I am not sure they are or they are not. The show ring has certainly become more of an industry than the leisure sport it was in the past. I do, however, miss being done by 2 PM or if we went later it was because the horse show stopped for a lunch break. 2) What are you looking for in today’s rider? A) Hunter rider? B) Equitation rider? In the Hunter ring, I love to see a rider with very slight loop in the rein and one that picks up the canter and stays on one flowing pace. In the Equitation ring, I prefer a little bit more contact with the horses mouth and still look for that one constant pace from start to finish. Smoothness is key to me in both rings.
3) Please share at least 3 of your biggest pet peeves related to judging. For me, it would have to be the disorganized trainer, who is constantly late to every ring. I totally have no problem with ring conflicts because of multiple rides or trainers with many customers who are split between rings. I guess the best example of this was I was judging a show with three rings going and heard over the radio the other two rings were on hold as well as mine. Each gate person was looking for the same trainer. I decided to take a break and on my walk saw the trainer sitting at a picnic table having lunch. I walked over to said trainer and asked if they were enjoying their lunch, they replied yes, I then casually asked if they knew they were holding up all three rings. The reply I received was a “huh, my kids were supposed to let me know when their classes were.” This was not the correct answer. A second one is the rider that loses their temper and unwarrantedly takes it out on their horse or pony. A third is the rider that gets to in gate and doesn’t know their first course, especially if the first course has been the same all day.
ABOUT: William Sparks Showed competitively in the Junior and Amateur Owners during the 80’s including showing at the 100th anniversary of the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in the Small Juniors and the Maclay medal. At 26, turned professional working with Pine Hollow Farm and then Memorial Park Hunters, with Horse of the Year in the Small and Medium Pony Hunters. Currently judge between 20 and 25 rated competitions each year and is owner of Sparks Body Therapy in Houston, Texas.
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Ask the Judges... 1) How do you think the show ring has changed over the last 20 years. Do you think the changes are for the better? A) In The Hunter ring? B) In The Equitation ring?
invisible. In a jumper type medal class with a time allowed, I want to see an efficient ride, i.e., a track that does not waste time, and a rider who could go on to success in the jumpers. In hunter seat medals, I will be looking for a connected, but softer performance. A smooth, flowing rider from start to finish will always move up my card.
For me, the first, and perhaps most obvious, change is seen in the “type” of horse showing. The American TB has become a rarity, far outnumbered by the high population of european warmbloods.
3) Please share at least 3 of your biggest pet peeves related to judging.
Many judges wrestle with what I would call a “love/hate” relationship with this type when judging the hunter ring. Many of us love how, relative to the American TB, easy the european warmblood can be, generally speaking. Many of us hate how coarse some of the WB types can be for consideration in the hunter ring. In my opinion, this change is, overall, for the better, as evidenced by the increased number of participants in our sport around the country.
2. Heels which are level with, or above the perpendicular to the ground in the equitation ring. When judging equitation, the first place I look is at a riders’ leg!!! It’s your base! It needs to be deep and solid!
J. Richard Wilkinson
In the equitation ring, I judge quite a few riders who appear to be competing at a level which is above their current level of competence. There was a time when equitation riders “came up through the ranks”, to coin a phrase. What I mean by that is they began with maiden, then novice, then limit equitation before “graduating” to the medal classes. This experience, I think, made for a more experience and well-educated rider by the time they began to compete in the 3’6” medal classes I would really like to see more horse shows offer equitation classes for the younger rider, between short stirrup and 3’. California has done well with this, in my opinion. 2) What are you looking for in today’s rider? A) Hunter rider? B) Equitation rider? In a word: FEEL! I judge far too many riders who appear to be “manufactured”, i.e., riding “by the numbers” and not by the feel of their horse beneath them. I look for a hunter rider who is soft, can “float the reins” to the jump and has a sense of what their horse does well and not so well...a plan to maximize/minimize both. The equitation rider I look for varies a bit by the “type” of equitation class I’m judging. I ALWAYS look for a strong connection between horse and rider, where the aids are almost
1. Dirty horses, clothes, boots and tack! NO EXCUSE!!!! A competitor who is not well turned-out lacks respect for the competition and their fellow exhibitors.
3. In the pony and short stirrup classes, a young girls’ braids with ribbons which obscure their back number. If I can’t read your number, I can’t give you a prize!!!
ABOUT: J. Richard Wilkinson Raised in Darien, CT. Buddy Brown’s family were neighbors and his dad, Graham, convinced my mother to give my sister and I riding lessons. Throughout my junior years, I always had a strong interest in judging and, upon graduation from college, approached Victor Hugo-Vidal about learner judging with him. He was an excellent mentor and I got my “r” licenses in 1979. Promoted to “R” status in 1984, I continued to work at “real” (hah!) jobs in NYC and Los Angeles until 1999, while judging on weekends and vacation. I now live in Tubac, AZ. and am beginning my 14th year as a full-time judge, averaging 30-35 shows a year. I love my job and my life!
Thank you to this months judges for taking the time to answer our questions!
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REAL ESTATE Marion Jct, AL: 25 acre farm, 6-stall horse barn, 30x32 workshop, tractor shed, & C.1890 Victorian cottage, 2,00 sq ft, 2 BR/ 2 BA. $179,000. Call Kay Beckett 334-683-8250, BILL MACKEY REAL ESTATE, billmackey.com. Marion, AL: C.1930 charming cottage on 67 acres minutes from Judson College & MMI, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, boat shed. Additional acreage available with horse barn. $231,800. Call Kay Beckett 334-683-8250, BILL MACKEY REAL ESTATE, billmackey.com. Marion Jct, AL: Approx 21 acre horse farm, Centaur fencing, 100x200 ft ring, 60 ft round pen, 2 barns, workshop, fish pond & 2300 sq ft 3/2 home. $290,000. Call Kay Beckett 334-683-8250, BILL MACKEY REAL ESTATE, billmackey.com.
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The Plaid Horse
January/February 2013
We asked about your special lesson horse(s)... All of the lesson horses with Bryan Bradley at Granite Springs Stables (UDET) are special. A lot of them are shown all summer. Marshall, Barbie, Josie, Hattie, Rolex, Sid, Mia, Penny, GT, Confetti, Boo, and Lilly can often be found at an IHSA Show in Zone 4 Region 4. Boo and Lilly have been named All-Around Horse of the Year in Zone 4 Region 4 and Boo has been named the Western Horse of the Year twice. Baby and Poetry have now retired from IHSA showing. Since 2006, the All-Around Horse of the Year has been a Granite Springs Stables lesson horse.
“Boo�
Do you have a wonderful lesson horse or pony you would like to tell us about? If so, please email us at theplaidhorse@aol.com and tell us why they are special. They just might get featured in an upcoming issue of The Plaid Horse!
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The Plaid Horse
January/February 2013
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www.theplaidhorse.com
The Plaid Horse
January/February 2013
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