The Standardbred Connection - September 2014 by The Standardbred Connection

The Standardbred Connection -- September 2014 Edition

Table of Contents Features

A Visit with Old Friends...................page 2 Pace On!..............................................page 5 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All About the Elbow Grease........page 9 Smooth Operators..............................page 13 On the Road to the Cure...................page 20 Equine Comeback Challenge............page 24 Departments

Racing Under Saddle.........................page 22 A Look to the Past.............................page 28 Fresh Off the Track............................page 29 Have You Heard?............................... page 31 Special Columns

Global Federation Verified................page 4 Reminders...........................................page 16 Mounted Archery...............................page 17 Dress Up and Ride On!.....................page 26 Contributing Photographers Front Cover - Sue Laney Dreamy Starlet photo - Shutter Shavvy Images Pacing On! photos - Diane Coleman Chester Weber photos - Jennifer Singleton Smooth Operator photos - Jessica Dekovitch and Jane Lutz Have You Heard? photo - Christy Watts Lasso

If you would like to contribute an original articlecfor consideration to The Standardbred Connection, please contact us at KathleenHaak@Ymail.com. We reserve the right to refuse any article. Have club news? Hosting a STB friendly event? Share the news on our Facebook page or drop us an email at KathleenHaak@Ymail.com.

A Visit with Old Friends by Elizabeth Tewksbury

Barbara Livingston photo

re there beaches and ended up in Maine as a broodwhere you can ride mare. Her offspring may have raced often but not profitably. I helped her horses in Maine?” began her third career at age fifteen It seemed like an odd as a riding horse, and we have comquestion. I wasn’t quite sure why peted in nearly every discipline from my friend Ellen Harvey, Executive showmanship, in-hand, equitation, Director of Harness Racing Com- western pleasure, and hunter unmunications for the US Trotting der saddle and over fences. We have Association, wanted to know about also evented through Novice level beaches in my home state, but I hu- and competed in dressage through mored her. And her response sur- First level, as well as sidesaddle, foxhunting, and even team penning! prised me. “Can we photograph you and your horse, Dreamy Starlet, on the beach and put her in a book about Standardbreds over the age of twenty? Oh, and can you bring along your friend Shelly Topham and her gelding McKeever Hanover, too? Well, of course! It always amazes me how my plain little dark bay Standardbred mare has given me so many opportunities. She is not the best horse out there, nor is she even the best Standardbred, but so often she is celebrated and sought out by others. I, of course, think she is remarkable, but I might be slightly biased. Dreamy Starlet was born in 1991 in New York, destined for that state’s Sire Stakes. She had a mediocre, short stint as a pacer on the track

Standardbreds over the age of twenty. It was a joint effort between Ellen and Barbara Livingston. Barbara is the chief photographer for the Daily Racing Form and two-time Eclipse award winner. Her first two Old Friends books featured Thoroughbreds and were very successful, selling 35,000 copies in multiple printings. As Ellen puts it, the books spawned “a new awareness of what happens to our older horses, not just the ones who have distinguished themselves in some way – all of them.” The duo tried a shorter version of Standardbred Old Friends in 2008 with ten horses; the magazine length version won the 2009 World Trotting Conference award for magazine stories. They knew then that a full book would do well.

Ellen penned the wonderful narratives about each of the forty three horses featured in the book, while Barbara used her incredible eye for photography to share each horse’s personality. I was honored to think that Ellen and Barbara wanted my We also participated in four breed little mare alongside the likes of demonstrations at the 2010 World Moni Maker and Mack Lobell. Even Equestrian Games at the Kentucky more exciting was to have my friend Horse Park. To say Dreamy is a ver- Shelly and her gelding McKeever featured with us; the four of us have satile mare is an understatement! been showing and finding advenThe idea behind the book, Stan- tures together for many years! Talk dardbred Old Friends, is to capture about “old friends”! Continued on page 3.... the stories and images of famous

3 Ellen and Barbara felt it was important to find horses other than the standard bay color. And they knew they had to find stunning backdrops for these horses other than just barns, trees, and fence lines.

We spent a gorgeous late afternoon playing in the tide pools, chasing seagulls, and laughing. It was not only fun to ride at Popham, but also very rewarding to share our horses. Ellen and Barbara used a variety of methods to keep our horses’ ears pricked, most notaEllen explains, “We wanted to try to get every Hall of bly a sound recording of a horse whinnying, which we Fame horse that would be 20 or older at the time of pub- believe McKeever is still looking for to this day. lication, which we targeted for July 2014. We both knew how many great post age 20 horses are out there who nevKeeping the Secret er won a huge amount of money or major races, but were blue collar heroes – horses who changed peoples’ lives. We The most difficult part of the entire process was keepagreed we’d include some of those as well.” Here is where ing it a secret. Dreamy and McKeever were the last of the inclusion of Dreamy and McKeever came in. Ellen the book’s horses to be photographed, but we still had says she “knew of Dreamy Starlet and McKeever Hanover to wait until April 2014 when the book was officially from seeing them in trade web sites and publications, released to tell anyone about this cool project! It was marshaling at the Maine fairs. They were a handsome nearly a year from when Ellen originally asked me couple, now in their second careers, third for Dreamy.” about beaches in Maine until we could share our experience. Dreamy is even the book’s “back” cover girl, with Mack Lobell gracing the cover. Ellen specifically wanted a shot of Dreamy cantering through the surf, to further debunk the myth that “Standardbreds cannot canter.”

Goshen Promotion

Barbara Livingston photo

The Photo Shoot Fast forward five months to a perfect fall day in October 2013. Shelly and I trekked to Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, Maine with Dreamy and McKeever to meet with Ellen and Barbara, who quite literally were driving to Maine for the photoshoot and headed straight back home to New Jersey and New York respectively. We were to begin an hour before the 6:05 pm sunset. As Ellen recalls, “We drove in the driveway and there were Liz and Dreamy and Shelly and McKeever, tacked up and ready to go at 5 pm on the dot. From a logistical standpoint, it was a beautiful sight. We had exactly an hour before there would not be enough light and we used every minute of it. By the end of the hour, Barbara and I had both been in the wet sand more than once, her trying to get the right angle, me trying to get ears up.”

Admiring Dreamy and McKeever in the book’s glossy pages wasn’t the end of this neat experience; we also were invited to be guest outriders at Goshen Historic Track for the Fourth of July race card and festivities. Everything about the whirlwind trip was fun and exciting, minus the torrential rain. Barbara and Ellen did a book signing that day at the track, while Dreamy and McKeever marshaled the first five races and then held a meet-and-greet with many adoring fans. We had a reception that night in the museum for the horse owners, including some of the big names in harness racing. There is a video about the making of the book. The featured horse is the only one in the book that did not race. Winnie’s Guy aka Autobahn, was a multiple world champion roadster horse and sadly died six months after the photos were taken and before the book was published. The video can be seen at https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p5-1VTyTzE&feature=youtube_gdata The horses included in the book are: Armbro Feather Cam’s Card Shark Country Kay Sue CR Kay Suzie Dreamy Starlet McKeever Hanover

4 Dust Devil Giant Victory Heatherjeankillean Hot Lead Jate Lobell Keystone Wallis Larks Crown Mack Lobell Miss Easy Monterey Rebel NL Loren Sir Taurus Staying Together Tap In Town Sweetheart Waco Hanover Three Mile Island World Order Winnies Guy/Autobahn

Flat Foot Fluzy Hattie Hi IQ Incredible K Jo Jo Geronimo/Jupiter Lady Ashlee Ann Lilting Laughter Matt’s Scooter Moni Maker Saddle The Wind Oriental Express Stacey’s Echo Supergrit Tarport Mark Victory Tilly Western Dreamer Town Pro Winky’s Gill

The book costs $30, with $10 going directly to charity. It is available primarily at the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen, NY, www.harnessmuseum.com or 845-294-6220. Book sales through the museum will help continue the preservation of the history of the Standardbred in America. It can also be found at the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop and numerous other retail outlets. For more information on ordering the book, please email oldfriendsbook@hotmail.com or call 732-616-6092. Ellen and Barbara will work with equine charities to do signings or give books to sell to benefit their programs.

ongratulations to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF) on their new accrediation with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Verification means that SRF meets the criteria of a true equine sanctuary/rescue and is providing humane and responsible care of the animals. To be awarded Verified status, an organization must meet GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed animal care standards which are confirmed by a site visit, and they must also adhere to a demanding set of ethical and operational principles. “The Standardbred Retirement fills a crucial niche in the equine rescue community by specifically focusing on the needs of retired Standardbred horses, saving those animals from slaughter, educating the public about the need to provide second careers and rehoming opportunities for these amazing equine athletes, and using the benefits of equine contact to connect with at-risk youth in the community,” said Jackie Beckstead, GFAS Director, Accreditation and Field Operations. Beckstead further stated, “We applaud their efforts to constantly upgrade and improve their already outstanding efforts in helping Standardbred horses, both in their care and those still at risk, as well as the at-risk youth who are inspired by the time they spend with the horses who live at the SRF facilities located at Cream Ridge, NJ, Wallingford, KY and Blairstown, NJ.

Pace On! By Mandi Cool

s the Executive Director of Starting Gaits, a transition program for retired Standardbreds, I am always looking for new opportunities to promote the horses in my program and for new outlets for potential adoptions. Here in Ohio, Standardbreds are gaining popularity on the trails as racking horses and even beginning to make their presence known in the show ring under saddle and driving. Organizations like the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization and Ohio Standardbreds

are racking horses. I was told to leave the trotters at home because “if it doesn’t pace, it’s not a horse!” I ended up taking one of my pacing geldings, 8-year old Noble Thought.

& Friends are making huge strides in proving that the Standardbred can be a competitive show horse in all aspects of the show ring! However, in the south, the term “horse show” could take on an entirely different meaning when it comes to Standardbreds.

I promised myself that I would always keep track of him, and in the fall of 2012, I was able to claim him off the track after his last winning race and bring him home to retirement. Noble had been freeze-fired on both front legs leaving his legs bearing multiple scars that most people didn’t understand were the marks of a successful racehorse. Anywhere I took him in Ohio, the reaction was always “poor horse - look what someone did to him” when in fact, the scars are a tribute to caring owners who did their best to take care of his legs and ensure that he would stay sound long after he was done racing.

Over the Fourth of July holiday, I took a trip with a friend to Kentucky for my first “horse show”. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I was advised to just bring a horse to ride around while I was at the show and check things out. I personally own two trotting bred Standardbreds, and two pacing bred horses - all of which

Noble had a fairly successful career, earning just over $78,000 with 81 starts. Noble captured my attention when I began volunteering with New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in 2009. He was in training as a 3 year old, and I was immediately smitten with his beautiful gaits and well-mannered temperament.

6 Rodney breezed past him at full-speed - and just watched the pair blow by pacing as fast as they could. It was another example of why I love this breed of horse - I had no concern with him doing anything silly while we watched the others riding around the ring. He was soaking it all in - just as I was.

We traveled the 4+ hours with our two horses to Prestonsburg, KY, and pulled into Prestonsburg Equine Center at Stone Crest, located inside the Jenny Wiley State Park. The Equine Center consisted of two show rings and beautiful, open stall barns. The main ring at Stone Crest is 300 ft long by 185 ft across, with the track width approximately 30 ft with banked corners. The show we were attending was in the neighboring town of Pikeville, KY but they did not have stabling available, so we planned to keep our horses at Stone Crest and haul in for the show the next evening. Upon arrival at Stone Crest, we settled our horses into their stalls and met a couple people that board their horses at the facility. They were working their horses on the arena under the lights, and happily sharing details about their horses and their plans for showing. Both were riding pacing horses - one a seasoned, push-button horse and a young, new filly just starting out under saddle - but ALL Standardbreds! The kindness and generosity of the people I met on this trip made the experience that much better. Everyone takes pride in their horses, and are eager to know the details and breedings of your horse(s). It was a common occurrence during mid-conversation for someone to jump off their horse and offer to let you try them out. The next day, we loaded up our horses and hauled about 20 minutes to Willards - located just outside of Pikeville, KY. The ring was located a couple miles off the main road down in the beautiful hills. We arrived early afternoon, and although the show doesn’t start until dusk, trailers were already starting to arrive and park. I was told you have to arrive early if you want a spot on the ring to watch! We unloaded our horses, tacked up, and spent some time working in the arena. Noble wasn’t sure what to make of any of it. He racked quietly around the edge of the arena while my friend

One of my most memorable moments of the weekend was a conversation with someone whose name I don’t even remember - about my horse Noble. I was walking him back to the trailer and someone came up and was asking me about him - about his bloodlines and his racing experience. They took one look at his freeze fire marks on his legs, and instead of the normal reaction I was used to, I heard comments like “Wow, he must have been one heck of a racehorse for someone to take care of him like that.” It was a refreshing statement from the usual misunderstood reaction. By dusk, the entire farm was packed with trucks & trailers, and even a few tack vendors. Everywhere you look, there are Standardbreds tied to trailers. Kids racking up and down the driveways and horses pacing and warming up in the arena. Aside from the track, it was the most Standardbreds I had ever seen in one place. The horses were well taken care of, well conditioned, and clearly enjoying what they were doing. And there wasn’t a trotting horse in sight! The showbill had classes listed that I wasn’t familiar with - far from the traditional shows that I am used to in Ohio. Classes like Style Racking, Youth Pacing, Ladies Pacing, Amateur Pacing and Open Pacing - Open being the main event of the night. Some of the classes are based on the way of going of the horse - such as the Style Racking class. Continued on page 8

8 They are judged on the horses’ way of going and overall look under saddle. The gaits called are similar to what I was used to - walk, favorite gait - reverse and repeat. The pacing classes were the popular events of the night.

Most of the other classes had at least 5 entries, but the pacing class numbers were in the teens and twenties. They would run in multiple heats, and then come back for the final run of the class. The first pacing class to run was the Youth Pacing. The gate opens, and in come 6 horses with riders aging from 5 to 15. Leading the pack was a young girl on a large, Standardbred - pacing around the ring and riding her little heart out while her gentle (but fast) gelding cautiously took care of her around the turns. For the pacing classes, riders enter at a walk and line up in a pack. The judge calls for a slow pace, which lasts about as long as it takes to ask your horse for a little speed before he asks for a fast pace and to “turn ‘em on!” Ears forward, the horses run the ring 3 and 4 horses wide around the corners, all the while watching

for the perfect opportunity to pass the horse in front of them. The classes are judged not only on speed but also on the horses way of going - holding in a consistent pace, not breaking gait, and overall movement. After flying around the ring as fast as they can, the judge calls for a reverse and again, horses line up and must patiently wait for the next gait call. Horses have just gone from pacing as fast as they can, to calmly stopping and turning around to prepare to ride the other direction. “Slow pace” and then “Fast Pace” and they’re off - pacing the ring the other direction. Horses are kicking up dirt around the arena under the bright lights and night sky, and the ring is lined with pickup trucks backed up to the rail with family and friends cheering on their choice for the class. The big classes all have payback for the first few placings - and the Open Pacing class that evening had 26 entries running in 4 heats! The winner of the Open Pacing class was a woman in her 50’s riding a big 8-year old off-the-track mare. The pair ran in the Ladies Pacing class just two classes before open - winning her heat and the final heat to take the Ladies Class, and came back to do the same in the Open Class. What an example of the athleticism of the Standardbred horse! Watching this horse show gave me an entirely new appreciation for the Standardbred breed - these horses are bred to be athletes and to pace and that’s just what they are being showcased for! Shows like this are one more place for our retired racehorses to find a new career and ensure a long, happy future! Photos are courtesy of Diane Coleman of Panther, West Virginia and were taken at various horse shows over the summer.

It’s All About the Elbow Grease

by Jennifer Singleton

ou’ve spent hours and hours, weeks, months even, driving and training and practicing; preparing yourself and your horse for the next driving competition -whether it’s your first or your twentieth. And you want your entire turnout -- yourself, your horse, the harness, the carriage-- to look its best, because you know that’s always an integral part of your score or the judge’s decision. But how do you go about doing that? The first step in creating a beautiful, harmonious turnout is, of course, to arm yourself with knowledge. Do you know, for example, the type of harness and what sort of grooms’ clothing is most appropriate for your

carriage? If you have questions in this area, Vicki Nelson Bodoh’s five-part series of articles on turnout (The Carriage Journal, October 2009 through August 2010) is a great place to start, or refine, your research. You can also consult the CAA’s turnout guides and booklets. At the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the CAA sponsored the first-ever (optional) standing presentation competition held at a World Games competition. Each turnout spent three minutes at each of the three judging stations, where every aspect of the turnout was carefully inspected. The judges - George Bowman (Great Britian), Jack Pemberton (Canada), and Steve Holm (USA) - looked at the clothing and the

10 actions of the driver, passenger, and grooms; the fit and cleanliness of the harness; the cleanliness and suitability of the horses; and the cleanliness and completeness of the vehicle itself. In addition, they were looking to see how correct and appropriate the harness and grooms’ clothing were to each carriage. Attention to detail was paramount.

into keeping all three components in tip-top shape. And he emphasized that a clean, beautiful turnout in competition stems from the time and effort spent at home, throughout the year, in taking care of your horses, harness, and carriage.

With an unprecedented score of 49.50 out of a possible 50 points, and a perfect score from one judge, the U.S. driver Chester Weber won the presentation competition. He drove the same vehicle that he would use

In Weber’s stable, the prevailing wisdom says that, althought they want the entire turnout to look its best at every competition, a beautiful award-winning turnout is about far more than getting everything polished or

later for the dressage and cones phases of the driving championships, and he and his staff complemented the vehicle with beautifully turned out horses in formal, full-collar harness and grooms in formal attire.

ready to go in the ring. Their main priority is always the horses, which are well trained, healthy, and kept in the best shape possible with daily work and care. If a horse is not healthy, obedient, and correct, how can he possibly make a pleasing picture for the judge?

Although Larsson works with a four-in-hand team, this basic information can be used for any turnout, from the Judge Steve Holm said it was obvious that the drivers single pony to a team of four horses. With more horswho competed in the presentation competition had all es come more staff, more equipment, and more time worked toward a very high standard, but that the top spent. But, alternatively, the amount of time, effort, and five finishers had prepared so well they were able to sep- equipment described here is greatly reduced when the arate themselves from the rest of the group. turnout in question is a single pony or a single horse.

To get a better idea of everything that goes into creating a beautiful turnout, I spoke with Olof Larsson, Chester Weber’s stable manager. We discussed the three main components of a turnout - the horses, the harness, and the carriage - and the amount of time and work that go

Bearing in mind that Weber’s horses live in Florida and probably do not develop heavy winter coats, Larsson said that he never body clips them because it ruins a nice healthy coat. Their coats are, however, kept looking

It takes a team of people to get a four-in-hand turnout ready for the competition ring. before each show, Weber’s horse are thoroughly groomed and then a little bit of baby oil is rubbed inside their ears and on their noses (above: Madeleine Augustsson tends to one fo the horses) Since the last time it was used, the harness has been taken apart, cleaned, conditioned, polished, buffed, and put back together (above right: Olof Larrson adjusts the harness on one of Weber’s horses).

beautiful with baths and lots of currying and brushing. Before each competition, Amber Evansen is responsible for making sure the horses look beautiful, and at that point they are clipped in a few areas - ears, noses, etc. to keep them looking tidy. Weber’s black full-collar harness is by Freedman’s, and he’s been using this same harness for the past decade. Larsson said that the metal is stainless steel, so there’s not a lot of metal polishing involved in keeping the harness looking beautiful. He does caution against using harsh chemicals on any chrome-plated metal. The grooms’ harness-cleaning regime involves a lot of time and effort, but the results are clearly worth it. After each use, the harness is taken completely apart and cleaned with water. Larsson doesn’t recommend using leather conditioner or oil on the outside of the harness because, he says, it doesn’t actually promote a nice shine. (See the sidebar for more information on what he does suggest.) Each piece is then wiped down and

left overnight to dry. The next day, black shoe polish is applied, and each piece is then buffed to a shine, and everything is put back together. Up until last year’s WEG, Taren Lester was the one who, as Larsson said, “babied the harness,” spending about ten hours on each cleaning session - after every use. Larsson himself is in charge of keeping Weber’s presentation/ dressage / cones carriage looking as good as possible for the show ring. Before each competition in Weber’s case, after the two-week training camp that typically precedes each major competition, in which the carriage is used daily - the carriage is washed thoroughly and de-greased in spots as necessary. Once the vehicle is completely dry, the paint will be touched up as needed. And once the paint is completely dry, Larsson applies a good layer of all-natural car wax. The leather details on the carriage are also polished and buffed. Although waxing the carriage is an extra step, and more time spent, Larsson said, “The protective coat makes it easier to clean, and it really only takes about forty extra minutes once you get used to doing it.”

12 If your vehicle has a bit of wear and tear, don’t be discouraged. Larsson believes that, when they’re inspecting your turnout, most judges don’t really mind evidence of use on a vehicle - it shows that you’re using your equipment, after all - as long as the carriage is well maintained.

Six Helpful Hints

Olof Larsson offered these specific pointers - a few things that they do and products they like Finally, don’t overlook your spares kit. Be sure that it, to use in Chester Weber’s stable - to help you too, is in good working order and it’s clean. You don’t in getting your turnout ready for the show want the judge to find spares that wouldn’t actually work ring. or to find them wrapped in moldy leather.

A presentation competition - whether it’s on the move during a dressage test, the focus of a pleasure-driving turnout class, or subject to the inspection of standing presentation - is an opportunity to show off how well you care for your horse, your harness, and your carriage. Extra time and effort spent in getting yourself and your turnout ready for the show ring may well pay off, but the real payoff will occur when you invest the time and effort every day, every week, all year, to keeping your horse fit and well-trained, your harness clean and conditioned, and your carriage clean and in good repair.

For the horse: Apply Absorbine hoof polish once before each show. It offers a clear coat that dries on the hoof, and dust doesn’t stick to it as easily as it might to some other hoof products. For beautiful tails, try Cowboy Magic detangler. For the harness:

As Larsson reminds us all, “if your horses are welltrained and your equipment is well taken care of, getting ready for a presentation competition doesn’t take much more effort.” Remember that, in the end, the winner is “often the one who’s used the most elbow grease.”

When cleaning harness with stainless steel metal, use Windex on the buckles, to clean them and give them a bit of a shine.

Reprinted with permission from the Carriage Association of America, www.CAAOnline.com. This article originally appeared in The Carriage Journal, May 2011.

To nourish the leather parts of the harness, apply Oakwood Leather Conditioner on the underside and let it soak through.

Additional Tidbit -- Chester Weber’s WEG 2010 team included the French Trotter, Horus Du Bois. His bio includes:

For the carriage:

“This clever and fast French trotter was purchased from the Dutch driver Hans Heus who used him to lead his way onto the squad for the World Championships in Beesd. Originally identified as a star for team Weber by friend and colleague Koos de Ronde, team Weber is hopeful that the addition of this clever leader will compliment the already dominant dressage team through adding more high-end speed and drivability to both the marathon and cones team. Who knows with his nice top line and expressive trot with a little knee movement team Weber might also be able to develop him in to a dressage star like the others in the string? Horus is a very kind and willing horse that not only exhibits the speed to lead the way on marathon day he also has a kind eye that makes him a favorite of those in the stable.”

After the carriage has been washed and dried, apply Zumole (all-natural) car wax, which provides a nice protective coat to the carriage. After the carriage has been washed, dried, and waxed just before the show, wrap the steps and other high-use areas in vet wrap to keep them clean during training sessions and warmups. --J.S.

ne of the most well kept secrets in the Standardbred world is the ability of the Standardbred to perform the smooth saddle gaits. This is the first of a twopart series on how to perform the smooth saddle gaits naturally and humanely. In this column, we will introduce the smooth gaits, and the next column will focus on how to achieve them. What are the smooth saddle gaits? They are the smooth easy gaits seen in other gaited breeds such as the Tennessee Walker, Missouri Fox Trotter, Racking Horses, Icelandic, and Pasos to name but a few. While many breeds have different names for them, there are 5 main smooth saddle gaits: Fox Trot, Flat Walk, Running Walk, Rack, and Stepping Pace. Why perform these gaits?

back legs and see how they relate to the front legs. The timing of each foot determines if the gait is diagonal, square, or lateral. Diagonal Smooth Gaits Fox Trot The Fox Trot is the only diagonal smooth gate. By way of comparison, the hard trot is a 2-beat, diagonally synchronized gait where the opposite pairs move in synch with each other. The left hind moves in tandem with the right front. There is a moment of suspension and then the right hind lands with the left front. It is this hitting of the ground that causes the concussion upon landing. The average horse trots around 4 to 10 mph from the slow jog of the Western Pleasure horse to the ground covering fast trot of longer legged horses. Continued on page 15

Because the smooth saddle gaits make for a very enjoyable trail riding experience, and Standardbreds are making appearances at many gaited shows, including the fairly new sport of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gaited Dressage.â&#x20AC;? The saddle gaits also offer those with back and knee issues a way to continue riding without the concussion of the trot. The smooth saddle gaits come naturally to Standardbreds. The Standardbred has been used by many other breeds to add endurance and gait. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the Standardbred is capable of performing different gaits smoothly and easily. All of these gaits are related. The key is to look at the

Mr Beau Windswept fox trotting at liberty. Jessica Dekovitch photo credit

15 The Fox Trot is also a diagonal gait, but the front feet land before the hinds - the right front will land before the left hind, for example. The footfall sounds like “kaclunk,” since the gait has an uneven four-beat timing. The footfalls are “capped,” meaning the hind foot lands where the front foot used to be, making this a very sure footed gait. Since there is a foot on the ground at all times, there is no suspension (and thus no hard landing), so the Fox Trot falls under “smooth saddle gait.” The Fox Trot averages between 7 – 12 mph. It is a very smooth and sure footed gait that is fantastic on trails and for ranch work.

is that while the Extended Walk is more energetic and forward, and it lacks the increase in over-stride seen in the Flat Walk of the gaited breeds. For example, in Dressage when a horse is asked for an Extended Walk, he will drop his head and move with more impulsion, but while the horse does track more forward and underneath, there is not an appreciable over-stride. In gaited horses, when asked to move from a normal walk or a dog walk into the more forward Flat Walk, there is a rolling action from back to front with distinct overstride seen. The Extended Walk is around 4-5 mph, while the Flat Walk averages around 7-9 mph, with some breeds showing a very distinct head nod at the Flat Walk. Running Walk The Running Walk is also a 4-beat square gait that is a very deep stride with lots of overreach. The hind foot can overreach the front foot over by several inches, with many good confirmation horses able to overreach by up to 12” (4” to 6” is typical). In addition to the signature overreach of the Running Walk, the head nod is another unique trait, with horses nodding in time to their gait. The speed of the Running Walk varies between 8 to 12 mph.

Mandi Cool and ‘Vin’ demonstrate a flat walk. Square Intermediate Gaits The Walk is often called the “Mother of all Square Gaits,” and all Square Intermediate Gaits come from the four beat square walk. In the square walk, each foot moves independently in an evenly timed four beat walk. The average horse walks around 3-4 mph, and while every horse can walk, only gaited horses have extra “gears” inside the walk. Flat Walk The Flat Walk is the first gear inside the walk. The difference between an Extended Walk and the Flat Walk

Dean’s Brite Star demonstrates the rack. Rack The last intermediate square gait is the Rack. The Rack shares the same four beat square as the Running Walk, but the Rack has shorter strides with no over-stride. Instead of capping, under-stride is the norm. The Rack can also vary by breed, some of which have developed their own ideals of the gait. The speed of the Rack varies greatly from slow speeds of 5-8 mph, to a normal range of 8 - 12 mph, to the speed Rack of over 15 mph.

16 Lateral Gaits Stepping Pace The Stepping Pace is the smooth saddle gait related to the Pace. The Pace is a 2-beat lateral gait which, like the trot, has a moment of suspension and then concussion, resulting in a jolting sensation. In the Stepping Pace, the same side pairs of legs (right hind right front/left hind left front) move together, but the hind leg sets down before the front leg, creating an unevenly timed 4-beat gait. The legs setting down without the suspension creates a smoother ride. The Stepping Pace can sometimes have a slight side-toside motion, and it is a ground covering gait on the trails. The Stepping Pace averages 4 to 8 mph and if pushed faster than this, the horse normally converts into a hard Pace. The Stepping Pace is also know as Single-Footing.

Award season is nearly upon us! This means that there are several fast approaching deadlines for breed programs. Additionally, don’t forget club deadlines.

USDF All-Breed Program

• Declare with USDF by Aug. 1 of the award year (horses previously declared remain declared continually). • Fill out the all-breeds declaration form. Submit a copy of your registration, performance or pleasure horse certificate • Horse must have a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration • Owner must be a USDF Participating (PM) or Business Member (BM) in good standing

AERC Standardbred Endurance Award

Yankee Hustler & Hal Kirby take their celeberatory lap at Big Guns Speed 2014. Yankee Hustler is demonstrating a step pace in this photo. The Standardbred is a very athletic, “multi-gated” horse, and these Smooth Saddle Gaits showcase that athletic ability. The Standardbred can perform the Rack, Fox Trot, Stepping Pace, and Flat Walk all with ease and style. In Part 2 of this series, we will examine techniques to encourage the Smooth Saddle Gaits - smoothly, naturally, and most importantly, humanely.

• The AERC keeps track of all limited distance and endurance rides your horse participates in. The horse with the most miles ridden during the season (Dec. 1 through Nov. 30) is awarded. The winning horse receives a commemorative blanket during the first quarter of the next year.

American Driving Society HDT/CDE USTA Award

• To qualify for the HDT/CDE USTA Award, drivers must be a member of ADS and drive their Standardbred in at least two HDTs or CDEs during the show season (Dec. 1–Nov. 30).

National Standardbred Pleasure Horse Awards

• For a National Award you must sign up and participate in at least five events within a division to qualify for an award. Over 20 division awards offered. For additional details visit StandardbredPleasureHorse.org and see the rulebook.

ave you ever wanted to try something just a little different? Might I suggest mounted archery?

I started playing with the idea about a year ago and this fall put on The Battle in the Barnyard at my parent’s farm in New York. The problem came just days before the mounted archery competition my normal archery mount, a Fjord, was going to be unavailable. Standardbred to the rescue! Draken, is a 1992 Dragon’s Lair gelding, who excelled at pleasure driving. While he has been ridden,

not handle the rider shooting off him. Regardless of the quietness of the horse, I recommend spending at least a day, ideally several days, of shooting on the ground before trying it from horseback. The next day we again asked Draken to stand next to me while I shot arrow after arrow. Finally we saddled him up, hoping he remembered what a saddle was. What a champ! Draken accepted the saddle, and as long as I used a stool to get on, was okay with being ridden. Unsuprisingly, he has no

By the end of three days, Drakenhad progressed to walking on his own while I shot. I would like to stress that this was only possible because of his driving training - we gave him voice commands and left his mouth and sides alone. Without that training it may not have been possible to have him walking, without anyone leading him or holding the reins, while I shot arrows off his back so quickly. If you’d like to learn more about mounted archery I recommend visiting www.horsearcher.com. To participate though you just need a simple bow, some arrows and a target. Use regular archery safety

By Kathleen Haak it has only been maybe a dozen times over the years. The last time was probably 2008.

idea what leg signals mean but he is very responsive to voice commands.

That didn’t stop us though. We promptly brought Draken in from his retirement pasture and led him out to the archery range (formerly the driven dressage field) and proceeded to do a full practice while he stood nearby.

This particular competition had a leadline division so that is what we aimed for (pardon the pun). With my Mother leading Draken we rode up and down the shooting lane, just giving him time to get use to the routine. Then it was time to shoot!

Some horses do not do well with archery, various things bother them - the twang of the string, the thud of the arrow hitting the target, or perhaps it is just the action itself. We once tried an experienced show horse, an aged, well-behaved gelding, only to find out that he could

While Draken’s head did pop up he stood while I shot, within just a few arrows he relaxed but then it was time to walk while shooting, would he accept it? He would indeed!

techniques as well as normal archery form. If there is not a club near you don’t worry - there are many opportunities to participate in postal competition. The International Horseback Archery Alliance is a great organizer of postal competitions. Enjoy!

hances are that someone in your life has been affected by cancer. The National Cancer Institue reports, “In 2014, it is estimated that there will be 1,665,540 new cases of all cancer sites and an estimated 585,720 people will die of this disease.” Those are some staggering statistics. But what would you do to make a difference? Many of us participate in Lope for Hope activities, Koman for the Cure events, etc. These activities capture our attention for a day or two and then we move on, going on with our lives until the next event or, tragically, when a loved one is diagnosed. For Ian Retallack, the battle with cancer was originally fought by his Mother on multiple fronts and later his brother. For Ian it wasn’t enough to do the occasional event, he wanted to raise awarness throughout his native Australia. So he decided to travel by horse drawn vehicle all around the continent. Yes, continent! Retallack estimates it will take him about three years (3 years!) to travel around most of Australia. His travel started in Western Australia in September of 2013, and he is currently headed into Victoria South Australia. Ian’s travel companions are Standardbreds - Mattnamaras Band (Matt) and El Padrino (Paddy) given to him

20 by Willis Racing and Pacing. They were chosen in part because of their disposition. Mattnamaras Band (Matt) is a 10-year-old New Zealand bred gelding who raced 113 times before retiring from the track. The bay showed talent and was often in the top six but unfortunately had difficulty crossing the finish line first. With Albatross in his dam’s bloodline, El Padrino (Paddy) was born in 2005 to great expectations. His record is a bit stronger than Matt’s - 16 wins out of 73 starts. The Presidential Ball gelding made over $100,000 before retiring. While the two geldings are no longer racing they are certainly traveling. They average 25-miles a day. Layovers are frequent though with Retallack making many stops along the way to speak about cancer. There are also the unexpected delays, such as a recent three week delay while new wheels were made for the horse drawn vehicle. The geldings take turns pulling the wagon, the spair horse follows along behind the wagon. If you’re used to show harness then Paddy and Matt’s harness may come as something of a shock, however, if you look closer you’ll see the dedication to the horse’s comfort. Retallack says, “the horse’s needs will always

Matt and Paddy receive veterinary care throughout their journey and often receive massages. They’re shown here with some of the staff at Golden Valley Equine Hospital just before their birthday. Standardbreds in Australia celebrate their birthday on September 1st.

21 come first on this adventure.â&#x20AC;? The harness is closely watched and ointments are kept on hand for any potential rub marks that may emerge. The wide, padded breastcollar and saddle makes pulling easier by distributing the weight better- something that is important on such a long journey.

Photos From the Journey

May 20th in Kimba, halfway across Australia!

A more pressing problem has been shoes. The geldings started out wearing boots but quickly wore through them. Even with Ian patching them the cost quickly The Aboriginal community at Yalata included children added up. Now both horses wear regular horse shoes. who were interested in the horses and dog. Notice all Fortune has smiled upon the travelers several times - the signatures on the wagon canvas. bringing farriers who are willing to donate their services for the cause. Retallack has a goal of $1 Million on his fundraising page - http://wa.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?RegistrationID=621703. Thus far he has raised over $40,000 toward his goal but far more importantly he is raising awareness of cancer and how to detect it. His mother would be proud. If you would like to donate visit his page with the Cancer Council Western Australia (Google if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t copy the link above). You can also find all of his donation Support from cancer survivors has been encouragement information as well as pictures from his travels on Face- along the long hard miles. Book at Rattles Ride for Cancer.

22 John-Michael, owned by Terry Miller of New Berlin, New York, went into the final race having earned 21 points. He raced in Afton and Norwich, taking second in both. He also earned a point for showing up for the race in Bath. That race had to be canceled because of rain. Hynes said she has been racing under saddle for three years and has been on a lot of different horses and they are all unique. Although the final was only her third time on the horse, Hynes said she has been able to learn more about him and figure out the best strategies for him with each ride.

f one could have placed bets on the inaugural New York Racing Under Saddle Fair Series Final, most probably would not have had their money on the No. 4 horse John-Michael.

His trainer, Michael Miller, had no intentions of racing the 6-year-old gelding under saddle when the season started and the horse has proven he has a mind of his own when it comes to racing. His rider, Tara Hynes, had only ridden him twice before taking the title at Tompkins County Fair in Trumansburg on Tuesday, Aug. 19. “Winning the final, of course, felt amazing as any win does,” said the 24-year-old rider after the race. “This one was particularly special since John-Michael can be a handful.” The duo got out in front of the rest of the field early and stayed there winning in a time of 2:09.1. Truth in Action, ridden by owner and trainer Karen Isbell, put up the biggest threat for John-Michael by tailing him most of the race and placing second. “Today he was very resistant when I brought him out to warm up,” she said. “I could have really gotten after him and worked him up to make him fly around, but instead we took it easy, kept him calm and I worked with him more on the grass by the trailers trotting and patting his neck just kind of trying to rid him of some of the nerves that could potentially hinder his performance.”

Going into the last two races Hynes kept John-Michael back off the gate a little easing him closer each race. She said by Tuesday she felt confident enough in their connection that she could safely put him right on the gate. Hynes said. “Going into the race my plan was to have a nice safe race. I have learned in my years of racing that you have to be flexible when it comes to ‘the plan’ as there is no way to predict what exactly is going to happen with all other factors. That being said, I just do what feels right and safe at the time and today he felt great so I put him on the front and he was a rockstar for the remainder of the mile,” The victory aboard John-Michael marked Hynes’ 24th start behind the gate. The Freehold, New Jersey resident has done quite a bit of traveling to participate in the series. However, she says win or lose it is always worth it because without miles on the track she would not be able to improve. “I am passionate and determined to be the best I can be,” she said. “Anyone who knows me knows I am always open to suggestions and advice. I have been very lucky this year to have the help and support of owners and also from trainer Paul Fusco who took a lot of these long journeys with me when I was scared to drive to far and unfamiliar places. I am also thankful for his continuous help at the farm and jogging/taking care of my other race horses when I go on these adventures.” Hynes, who also owns a boarding/show facility called TK Equestrian, said support has been remarkably strong from her “farm family” who take care of things such as feedings, lessons and training while she is away. Photo: Michelle Crawford on Vassar Hall. Continued on page 25

Home for Every Horse is excited to announce their second Equine Comeback Challenge to be held at the 2014 Pennsylvania National Horse Show on October 14, 2014. A Home for Every Horse has paired 10 trainers with 10 horses for 90 days of training in preparation for a one-of-a-kind competition. The trainers, who have been working with their horses since mid-July, will converge to compete in versatility trail class. Following the course, each will have an additional two minutes to showcase, in freestyle form, the work theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done with their horses. Following the Challenge event, the horses will be sold privately, by the trainer, to approved homes, and each will be listed as available rescue horses on Equine.com The Pennsylvania National Horse Show provides a spectacular stage at one of the largest indoor horse shows in the United States. The 10 trainers, including; Todd Feaser, Jessica Flaherty, Tammy Marsh, Joel Miner, Missy Morris-Rothfuss, Shane Ogden, Melissa Smithmyer, Kimberlee Strauss, Courtney VanderBrook and Erin Zellefrow, will provide the means for the 10 rescue horses to showcase their abilities. Three of the rescue horses are Standardbreds. For more information on the participating horses or to locate a rescue near you, please visit AHomeForEveryHorse.com. The East Coast Equine Comeback Challenge will take place on Oct., 14, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in the main arena.

Louie

Louie is a four year old, recently gelded, Standardbred from Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester. He is being trained by Courtney Vanderbrook, a young trainer located in Rochester, New York. The two are currently working under western saddle and long lines. Louie and Scarlett were rescued from the same facility.

Scarlett

Scarlett is a three year old Standardbred that was also at Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rocherster. Shane Odgen from Hamlin, New York is her trainer. Scarlet was untrained and was lacking muscle at the start of the competition but she is currently working hard on her trail skills. She currently ground ties and has worked with tarps, balls and the mail box.

Neil

At six, Neil is the oldest Standardbred in the program. It is unknow how far he progressed in his race training but his trainer, Tammy Marshm of Lindley, New York, reports that he has fantastic ground maners. Neilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training includes round pen work with tarps and learning about steering aids. In addition to the actual Standardbreds in the challenge, trainer Missy Morris-Rothfuss also has ties to the industry. She is well-known for her outriding at Standardbred tracks. Her rescue horse is Heston, a a 6-yearold purebred Arabian gelding.

Continued from page 22... The New Jersey horse enthusiast said although she has trotters of her own that she loves to race, she is always open to breaking and racing others. She said Dawn Anderson has allowed her to break and work with some very talented trotters who hopefully will get qualified and be seen under saddle on the tracks very soon.

age valued at more than $1,250. The R&R package includes three treatments in their equine salt water spa and their hyperbaric chamber – the only hyperbaric chamber in all of New England.

Riders in the final race also received gift bags from the sponsors in addition to a pair of riding gloves “All the way around the support has been awesome and donated by Big D’s. A High Point Rider Award was I really see the sport growing in popularity,” Hynes said. presented to Michelle Crawford Tuesday for earning “I am excited and proud to have been the first winner the most points. (of the series) and hope to compete again in this next Crawford earned 78 points riding Vassar Hall. She year.” and the 10-year-old mare trained by her husband John-Michael (DREAM VACATION - IMATAGTOO Brett Crawford won every leg (Afton, Morris and - TAGLIABUE) has a lifetime mark of 1:58.2 on a half Norwich) they participated in going into the final race. The dynamic duo who had been dominating and has earned $38,203 in the bike. His fastest RUS mark came during a qualifier at Monticello Raceway the series placed fourth in the final race. in 2013 with a time of 2:08.1. According to the United States Trotting Association, the bay gelding has earned My Irish Molly, ridden by Jocelyn Lavigne was third. Although the mare only raced in one race (winning $2,200 racing under saddle ($1,800 in 2014). a division in Norwich), she earned a point and qualThe RUS NY 2014 Fair Series featured six race legs that ification into the final for showing up at Steuben were held at county fairs across the state. The final race County Fair in Bath. Bringing up the rest of the field purse was $2,000 along with more than $1,500 in priz- were Jennifer Lowrey on Lemon Pepper placing fifth es from sponsors. In addition to series sponsors Draper and Michelle Miller on Kash Now in sixth. Therapies and Horse Quencher, Hawthorne Products donated a giftbasket and NY Equine Fitness Center at Photo is Michelle Crawford on John-Michael. Story Cleremont Farms is donating a Race & Recovery pack- and photos provided by RUS NY Series.

Dress Up and Ride On!

hippy, a zebra and a cowboy walk into a “Ashes of Phoenix” costume at the IFSHA World & ring....no, it’s not the start of a joke but Grand National Horse Show 2013 won Reserve Champion. Designed by AJ Silva, the outfit consists of many rather the start of a costume class. pieces - the sleeves, main body piece, headpiece, wings Costume classes are perhaps the funest and skirt. All total it weighs about 30 pounds and reclasses around as they allow your creativity to soar while quires the assistance of others to put together. The main showing off your horse. Every once in a while though body piece is built using a swim suit type top and Mandi you see a costume that just goes beyond the norm and wears black pants with it. There are enough feathers and crystals in the wings and headpiece to make a Vegas you wonder “how do they do that?” showgirl jealous. The skirt, which also features feathers, works similar to a quarter sheet, covering the horse’s Ashes of Phoenix back and rump, and fastens around Mand’s waist. Mandi Cool, the director of Starting Gaits, has been fortunate to spend much of her riding career with the Fresians from Dream Gait Farm. In fact, Dream Gait’s

The one problem with the outfit is safety. Once Mandi is on the horse she has to have the assistance of others to get off. Additionally, all those feathers can be scary to other horses. Even experienced Fantasy Class horses sometimes get anxious around costumes of this scale. Blinkers can help calm the horse that she is riding but care must be taken to and from the arena not to scare others.

Father of Horses Maureen Foright of Kentucky was looking for something to honor the mythical Father of Horses, Poseidon, when she came up with her entry into the Carriage Association of America’s costume class. Maureen’s challenge was complicated by the fact that she drives a pair (2) of ponies so she needed to involve both the hroses and the carriage. Her first place entry included two sea horses pulling a turtle driven by a mermaid and featuring Poseidon ‘riding’ on the back of the turtle. This impressive display was all hand created by Maureen and her family and friends. The ponies were transformed into sea horse. As Maureen explains, “The sea horses fins are from hobby kits. They are the plastic “wings” made for the Leonardo Devinci’s “man in flight” kit. I spray painted the “wings” orange. I glued three together to make one large back fin

27 and matched the individual ones for the faces. I zip tied them to the bridle and the saddle respectively. The neck and body were made from a parachute that was orange. I spray pained the “web” pattern that you mentioned onto the parachute. It gave the ribbed image of the sea horse body. Parts of the parachute were fastened to the harness, and the pieces that went under the neck girth and tail of the horse had white elastic bands holding it in place. This held it securely in place yet allowed the movement of the horses to be free and unencumbered. The tail was orange vet wrap. The faces were painted with tempura paint.”

If you don’t have the time, the budget or the creativity to create a costume from scratch you can always combine your ideas with store bought materials that may already be in your home or barn. Some of the best ideas that we’ve heard include:

• • • • • Maureen goes on to say, “The turtle construction is a • base of chicken wire, shaped to fit the marathon carriage, • then insulation spray foam to fill out the bulk. I carved away unwanted extra volume. Then a thin layer of paper • to smooth out imperfections.The paint was a combina- • tion of spray paint, house paint and tempura paints. The • construction made it light, strong and flexible. I zip tied • the parts in place fairly easily and quickly on site. Having • multiple pieces made it easy for travel.“ •

Rocky & Bullwinkle Beanie Baby Horse Shrek and Donkey Rainbow Bright Batman and Joker Alice in Wonderland characters Wizard of Oz (we’ve seen horses as Toto and the Cowardly Lion) Joey from War Horse Safari Explorers Marty from Madagascar (zebra) Circus performers Gumby and Pokey Gary the Snail (Spongebob)

Maureen’s daughter stepped up to help out when time ran short, finishing all the painting just in time for the show. With these big projects it often takes a village to create a lasting impact.

Maureen Foright is the mermaid, trainer Sterling Graburn as Poseidon, and the ponies as sea horses.

very September the Victorian estate currently know as Villa Louis comes alive as the Villa Louis Carriage Classic takes place. Regarded as the second largest carriage horse show in the United States the show is well received by horsemen and tourists alike. Fur trader and entrepreneur, Hercules Dousman first developed the Wisconsin property in the 1840s. The land had not been empty however. The Indians first created the mound upon which the estate sits, with several military instulations following over the years. The mound created a floodproof setting as well as an elegant view of the surrounding Mississippi River and Prairie du Chien landscape. It was Dousman’s son, H. Louis Dousman, that built the present home and stables in the 1870’s. The estate became know as the Artesian Stock Farm. It was named after the two artesian wells on the property. The farm boasted a fine track on which well-bred Standardbred stock were trained. Erelong 1141, Sprague Pilot 2458, Combination 2684, Demander 2685, and Col Brisbois are amoung the stallions listed at the farm as well as the mares, Beatrice, Czarina, and Edwina By July 1883 there was annual racing on the farm track. Unfortunately, the Louis’ plans were cut short following his untimely death in January of 1886. The farm was renamed in his honor. The property became Wisconsin’s first State Historic Site in 1952. Standardbreds still follow in their ancestor’s footsteps. Only now they pull a carriage rather than a sulky around the old Artesian Stock Farm.

A page from the Second Annual Catalogue of Standard Bred Trotting Stock for Artesian Stock Farm. 1885

ave you noticed that your horse is tossing their head more than normal? Perhaps spitting out gobs of feed? It may be that your horse needs their teeth done.

Equine dentists can be found around the country, some do their work by hand while others use power tools. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t brush your horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teeth, rather they help make sure the teeth are wearing well and file off any sharp points caused by irregular wear. Some veternarians also do dental procedures but they usually donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t specialize in the work. Horses younger than 5 years old should see a dentist about every six months. Young horses may have teeth that are coming in wrong and, as they age, they may have wolf teeth that need to be removed.

Tonya Corra is a equine dentist who has found rivets (above) and sticks (below) in the mouths of horses.

Wolf teeth are small teeth that are located in front of the first upper molars. Just like some people need their molars removed, some horses need their wolf teeth removed, Because wolf teeth are small, they can have small, sensitive roots; the combination can be very irritating to a horse when he has a bit in his mouth. After age five, a horse may only need to see the equine dentist annually. However if your horse suddenly starts shaking their head a lot, loosing weight, has a odor from their mouth, or just seems uncomfortable in the mouth area it may be time to have them looked at. Regular dental care is a relatively easy and low-cost way to help your equine stay healthy. (left) Twenty-two year old, Draken, is relaxed but alert as equine dentist Nola Haupert-Keill files down a sharpedged tooth.

The Carriage Journal contained an article titled “Things that go ‘Boom’!” about Standardbred drawn horse artillary at Civil War Renactments. Wendy Flowers and “Pan” had a successful SPHO Endless Summer Show in Maine. They came home with six blues!

The Whip featured Standardbreds in two articles - Gary Pond driving his 4-in-hand dominated half a page while an article titled “A Harry Lauson Yarn” talked about an Australian drive that many STBs were involved in.

Bella Partington’s Standardbred Black Typhoon (Guinness) was amazing and won Champion Standardbred at the Canterbury Spring show! (Australia)

Equus’ feature on Iron Horses included Foiled Again and Greyhound.

Country Folks Mane Stream’s Horse Tales included the stories of Alba and JJ. They are retired STBs who have moved into pleasure careers.

Terry Hobin’s Cannon won a 1st in the 40m class with Sport Endurance (UK)

Yankee Hustler & Hal Kirby won the NRHA Alabama State Speed Class. Veronica Toth and ‘Bo’ were National Standardbred Show In Hand Championship winners. Congratulations to Lanson - Who came in second at the National Standardbred Show in the 2-Gait Rookie class.