Jan. Appointments

Appointments The Hoofbeats of the Carolina Foothills

Volume 5 Issue 4

F R E E January 2011

Hail to Odom's mighty Chief

by Barbara Childs

As a child, Charlotte Odom spent every summer with her aunt and uncle in Wendell, N.C., 17 miles east of Raleigh where she lived the rest of the year with her parents.

Odom’s uncle was a vet, and that is where she acquired her great love for animals. She would ride with him as he traveled making vet calls, helping when she could.

Her uncle owned a pinto saddlebred mare, which he bred every year, and he would allow Odom to break the foal when the time came. Her uncle always made sure she had a horse to ride for the summer.

Fast forward to college, marriage and daughter Beth.

One day on the way to having a jumping lesson with her horse, Dancer, Odom passed a small sign on the road that read, “Paint Horses For Sale.”

The man who had the horses was from Oklahoma and came home to visit his mother at the old homestead of his birth. He had a ranch in Oklahoma and raised paint horses. He kept 2-yearolds, yearlings and 23-month-old weanlings.

All these horses were loose on an old stock trailer, going from

Spotlight on local equestrians: Connie Brown, Melissa Hare and Charlotte Odom

Charlotte Odom knew she had something special when she discovered the horse she would later name Hail to the Chief. Here Hail to the Chief shows his extensive abilities through groundwork. (photo submitted)

Oklahoma to Florida. The horse Odom fell in love with looked like a beat-up giraffe among the others on the stock trailer.

Chief was $500, Odom said, “I don’t have $500, but my husband does, and he is out of town.

RVPC hosts Carolina region clinic and rating

So, if you will take a bad check, I’ll take him.”

He took the bad check, put Chief in a halter with a short lead hanging off of it, because Chief had never been touched by humans, and loaded him up.

Green Creek seeks CETA support for trail system

A monthly publication of The Tryon Daily Bulletin

The Oklahoma man backed his trailer up to the stall in Odom’s barn, and left saying, “If your husband doesn’t want you to have him, just take him back out to my

Continued on p. 2

'Then & Now,' by Gerald Pack; 'Carousel Horse,'

by Catherine Macaulay

Chief Continued from page 1 mother’s place.”

That night Odom checked all the stall doors and saw that the horses were safe and comfortable.

The next morning she looked out of her upstairs window and saw Chief out in the pasture with her other horses.

Thinking she may have left a barn door open, she ran to the barn to check and found that all the doors were locked.

Chief had jumped out of a 3-foot square stall window, 4 feet off the floor! Odom was amazed, and it took all her neighbors to round him back into the stall.

Now she needed a name for him, and she chose Hail to the Chief, for what she thought might be a great horse.

Odom spent the next three months sitting in Chief’s stall reading a book with a bucket of feed between her knees three to four hours a day, until Chief came to her unafraid and trusting.

From there, she worked with patting him, brushing him and picking his feet, leading him, tying him, washing him, and loading him on the trailer.

She worked with him on the ground until he was 3 years old.

Then Odom rode him following her instincts, and she and Chief learned together in their partnership for life.

In addition to group lessons, Odom rode Chief in the hunt field. It was there he learned to

Hail to the Chief won wide acclaim as the victor of numerous circuit chamoionships and adult amateur jumper classics. (photo submitted)

deal with everything.

When Chief was 4, she began to show him in local hunter schooling shows.

He was natural for jumping, and they both climbed the ladder quickly and were ready to move up to the A circuit shows in adult amateur jumpers.

Odom began working with Ronnie Mulch and Harold Chopping. They were winning a lot at the AA shows all up and down the east coast. Odom and Chief met Holly Adams at the FENCE

shows, and decided to return to her roots here.

She purchased a little farm on Red Fox Rd. called Charlotte’s Web. She also has a condo on White Oak Mt. Odom brings her horses here to escape the summer heat in Florida.

She has become associated with the Green Creek Hounds where she has made some wonderful friends.

In 1995, Odom and Chief went to the Washington International Horse Show and placed

Samantha Hurst, editor

828-859-2737 x 110 Joyce Cox, advertising sales

828-859-2737 x 114

Continued on p. 3

To reach us regarding: • News items, contact Samantha Hurst, (828) 859-2737 ext. 110, e-mail samantha. hurst@tryondailybulletin.com; or Barbara Childs, barbarachilds01@gmail.com; FAX to (828) 859-5575.

Appointments is distributed on the fourth Thursday of every month (subject to change) in every homedelivered and newsstand copy of The Tryon Daily Bulletin. You can also find them for free each month, as long as they last, in tourism and equestrian businesses throughout the area.

• Advertising, billing or distribution inquiries, please call Joyce Cox at the Tryon Daily Bulletin, (828) 859-9151.

Appointments is a monthly publication of The Tryon Daily Bulletin Inc., 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

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10th in the nation.

In his career, Chief won numerous circuit championships, adult amateur jumper classics and he was zone 4 (S.E.USA) horse of the year three times. His show earnings added up to about $45,000.

Odom retired Chief when he was 17. He show jumped for 12 years and had won all there was to win in his division.

Chief had a wonderful retirement ceremony at the Bob

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 2

Hail to the Chief performing the high jump. (photo submitted)

Continued from page 2 Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa.

Chief is now 25, Odom said and he will live with her until the day he enters heaven.

His main work now is giving rides to Odom’s two little grandchildren.

Odom has brought along other horses since Chief retired such as Jaguar, Killian’s Irish, Glory and Rascal.

She bred and raised all except Jaguar whom she bought from the Deco farm in Virginia.

They have all been excellent jumpers. Odom now brings them all to her Charlotte’s Web farm to spend summers there for hunting

Hail to the Chief • Show earnings $45,000 • Placed 10th in nation at 1995 Washington International Horse Show • Retired at 17, he's now 25 • Zone 4 horse of the year three times and trail riding.

Odom said she has had some wonderful and talented horses, but her heart will always belong to Chief.

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 3

Robert Roffman works to release tension from the neck of an equine client. (photo submitted

Finding healing hands for equines

by Barbara Childs

Robert Roffman grew up south of Boston, Mass. devouring every western movie Clint Eastwood ever made.

He never owned a horse but says he has had a lifelong passion for them.

Roffman didn’t give into his passion until he recently became an equine massage therapist.

Roffman has a master’s degree in criminal justice and counseling psychology from Northeastern University in Boston. He also possesses a national certification from the national certification board for therapeutic massage and bodywork. Roffman is a licensed massage therapist by the state of New Hampshire. He is also licensed as a massage and

bodywork therapist by the state of North Carolina. Roffman is currently working toward earning his certification in the Masterson Method for equine bodywork.

Working in the criminal justice system he held a variety of positions during which he learned a person’s emotional state easily translates into body language.

The outcome was commonly one of negative and violent behavior.

Roffman’s career change was made for him when a car took an illegal left across a double yellow line and came directly into the path of his Harley motorcycle.

Roffman’s petite frame of 6’7” flew over the car and 30 feet down the street. As a result, he was unable to continue his exist-

ing line of work.

From first-hand experience, Roffman learned massage and other forms of alternate modalities have a dynamic and often life-changing outcome.

The common ground for the two paths of his career is interesting and true, Roffman said.

“The criminal justice environment and the world of massage both share the need to understand the body language associated with behaviors that are presented,” Roffman said. “My intuitive insights have regularly

Continued on p. 5

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Appointments • January 2010 • p. 4

The best part ...“is to see the people's expressions when I provide relief to their equine partner.”

-- Robert Roffman

Continued from page 4 paid off when assessing the needs of my human and equine clients.

Both have their own language when expressing discomfort and pain from injury or overworked muscle groups.”

What separates Roffman from his peers is that he not only has first-hand experience from recovering from a traumatic injury, but has advanced his certification in the field of medical massage for his human practice.

Roffman’s method has no forceful or invasive techniques.

His goal with his patients (both equine and human) is to release tension in the muscles and connective tissues.

By learning to watch the horse’s responses in relationship to what the hands are doing, Roffman can facilitate the horse releasing any tensions and stresses which improve performance. His primary goal is to stay 'under the horse’s radar’ so he may achieve these deep releases.

This in turn allows restriction in the muscles and connective tissue to dissipate. The underlying statures then realign and hopefully improve range of motion without tensions or restrictions.

The benefits of equine massage include relaxation of the muscular system and increased muscle flexibility and range of motion. Equine massage also

removes undesired spasms and adhesions from the muscles and it also speeds recovery from muscular injuries and reduces stress to promote relaxation. All equine massage helps to strengthen the human-equine bond and also helps to prevent future injuries.

Roffman also incorporates his knowledge and skills with Reiki.

This word comes from the Japanese “rei” (spirit) and “ki” (energy or life force often written in the Chinese form “chi”). Reiki treatment focuses and directs the universal life forces to support the healing process on physical, emotional, spiritual and or mental levels. Reiki assists with pain management, stress reduction, anxiety and many other issues.

This is not a religious-based concept.

When working on human and equine clients, Roffman allows the energy to flow automatically through his hands. Assessing pressure points in order to get the flight response in horses that naturally have this trait is important in the process of healing.

The evidence is apparent when the horse is licking or chewing, has rapid eye movement and an occasional yawn.

Then Roffman is able to work on the various large muscle groups, including the legs, to begin what he said is an amazing work resulting from a very

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Roffman stretches out the leg of a horse to massage out stress. (photo submitted)

light touch.

Roffman plans to further learn and continue his education with his mentors Jim Masterson and Tamara Yates. He also continues to expand his knowledge with farriers, veterinarians and equine chiropractors.

His dream is to be the “go-to guy” in the Carolinas and beyond

for healing and therapy. Roffman also plans to work in the fields of performance equine massage and will travel nationally and internationally.

The best part, Roffman said, “is to see the people’s expressions when I provide relief to their equine partner, which is truly priceless.”

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Mandy Bilharz rides Thirsty Lil Abbie to the win in the non-thoroughbred division of the Foxhunter’s Cup in the 2010 Block House Steeplechase Races. (photo submitted)

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Entries being accepted for The Foxhunter's Cup

The 65th Block House Steeplechase Races on April 23rd will feature amateur flat races.

Two divisions will be included – thoroughbred and nonthoroughbreds. Started in 2004, this event has remained a crowd favorite.

The race is about 8 furlongs (1 mile) on the flat with a purse of $1,000 (split 60 percent, 30 percent and 10 percent).

Horses 4 years old and up, which have not competed in a ightly sanctioned race since July 1, 2010, will be allowed to race. eekends Horses may be of any breed r onger and will be subject to the same veterinary and drug inspections Trailer Parking as those in sanctioned races.

Hopeful jockeys who have Available for never ridden in a sanctioned race, Horse Lovers and who are at least 18 and not over 59 years old, will be allowed to race. The field will be limited to eight entries.

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more than eight entries, names will be drawn. Additional horses ‘also eligible’ entries will be drawn to fill the race in case of scratches.

Divisions may also be combined if lack of entries warrant.

Attire for the riders must include ASTM-approved protective headgear and body protector, boots, light-colored breeches and a jersey or polo shirt of choice.

The Foxhunters Cup race, though a non-sanctioned race, will be run under the National Steeplechase Association’s Rules of Racing. The use of a whip is strictly forbidden.

In order to be eligible to start, riders must attend two briefings, first approximately four weeks before the race and the second approximately one week before the race.

Enter and become a part of Block House Steeplechase history. Training and conditioning

What's going on?

Robert Arnold, 2010 winner of the Foxhunter’s Cup thoroughbred division, is awarded the marble trophy donated and presented by Warren and Abby Rauhofer along with Bonnie Lingerfelt, one of the race sponsors. (photo submitted)

Past winners 2004 Megan O’Brien with Roll the Dice (TB) 2005 Suzie Kocher with Atticus Finch (TB) 2006 Suzie Kocher with True Phenomenon (TB) 2007 Suzie Kocher with Interpelador (TB) Helen Wilson with Greystone's Squiffey &

2008 Libby Arnold with Betsy's Special Lace (QH) Jordan Hicks with Tiger Lion (TB) &

2009 Libby Arnold with Betsy's Special Lace (QH) 2010

Robert Arnold with Rush to Market (TB) & Amanda Bilharz with Thirsty Lil Abbie (QH)

are imperative so start today.

Entries must be submitted to the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club

by March 10.

TR&HC reserves the right to refuse any entry not deemed safe

or suitable for this race. Entry forms and more information are available on the TR&HC website www.trhcevents.org.

For additional information, call 859-6109.

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 7

Tryon Daily Bulletin subscribers know!

For love of all things miniature

by Barbara Childs

Connie Brown and her husband Jeff are the proud owners and operators of Green Creek Miniature Horses. Since a child, Brown has been an animal lover.

Spotlight When she was 5 years old, her mother on Local and father divorced, Equestrians and the animals became her comfort and passion. Mom and Brown lived for a time with her grandmother in Brooklyn, N.Y. Every afternoon her Nana would leave the kitchen and come upstairs to specifically to watch “Bonanza.”

When it was over, they trudged back to the kitchen.

Ever since that time Brown’s love and admiration grew for horses. No matter where Brown went, if there was an opportunity to ride a horse, whether mechanical or real, she never passed it up.

Brown’s mother enrolled her in the Girl Scouts of America, Connie Brown and her husband Jeff discovered a love for miniature horses they thought they'd never have. where the iron for love of horses (photo submitted) was set in stone. and Jeff were again asked if they During the summer vacation This chance to soar through cious Gift. time, Brown was enrolled in a the air with her partner offered An Ohio friend who bred sport would like to own a miniature six-week horseback riding camp. her the best challenge and part- horses and miniature horses as horse.

Brown soon met breeder LinThat was the beginning of the rest nership she could hope for with well, bred Gracie. At age 3, Grada Kern, who encouraged the of her life with the growing inter- her horse. cie started her dressage life. est and love for horses. Brown At age 4, Gracie grew to Browns to go to the World Show The clinics she attended, the was 10. lessons that challenged her skills 17.2hh, and she decided to be a in Fort Worth, Texas.

There they got the actual Later Brown moved to Florida, with jumping and spending all jumper. married, had a child and a chance her free time with her horses was “Don’t even ask me how I picture of the world of miniature horses and what they do and how meeting with a woman jumper a dream come true for Brown. As found that out,” said Brown. who taught Brown to ride and an anniversary gift, she received With Gracie enjoying a suc- they perform. They quickly realjump. Brown was in her 20s. her horse prospect, named Gra- cessful jumping career, Connie ized these tiny horses were not

www.brhja.com Appointments • January 2010 • p. 8

Connie Brown's miniatures participate in Steeplechase events earlier this year. (photo submitted)

only cute, they were a force to be reckoned with in training.

Brown started with one named Bombay on Fire, now her roadster horse -- driving, jumping, halter obstacles. Her horse Sweetwater’s Little Fantasy became a National Driving Champion in 2000.

“You wouldn’t believe how much fun these little guys are,” she said.

The Browns eventually began a small breeding program. Brown said she feels the breeding of miniature horses should be discreet so as to promote the best bloodlines in a respectful manner for the equine world to admire and enjoy.

Since getting involved with miniatures seriously, Brown has dedicated her efforts to promoting these wonderful horses’ beauty and talents.

“I say, come out and take a drive with me and enjoy this wonderful world of miniature horses through their eyes and

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Jeff Brown walks from a trailer with one of the many miniature horses he and his wife, Connie, own. After years of encouragement from friends, the couple now breed the horses. (photo submitted)

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Visit our new website: www.hissyfithorses.com Appointments • January 2010 • p. 9

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River Valley Pony Club hosts Carolina Region clinic and rating River Valley Pony Club rounded out an event filled Pony Club year by hosting the Carolina Region’s final Regional Clinic Dec. 18-19 at FENCE. River Valley Pony Club also had the pleasure of hosting a club level rating and support seven rating candidates in their successful Rating efforts.

Rating Candidates from Greenville Foothills Pony Club and River Valley Pony Club accepted an opportunity to participate in up ratings on Saturday, Dec. 18 at FENCE. Ratings examiners were Cathy Berlin from Tryon, N.C.; Laurel Murphy, HB with River Valley Pony Club, from Spartanburg,

S.C.; and Abby Moore, C+ with group.

RVPC hosted Deb Willson, River Valley Pony Club, from USPC Level IV national exCampobello.

Samantha Firby, C1 with aminer from Athens, Tenn., as River Valley Pony Club, of Tryon the clinic’s mounted instructor, served as scribe and Robert Wil- providing basic balanced position on the flat, over stadium liams, The Hayloft Farm, fences and in the open Tryon, N.C., served as (cross country) lessons. impartial observer for the Area professionals C1 rating. lent their gifts and talents The weekend of activatings in support of educatities started when clinic ing clinic attendees as attendees, from throughwell. Marilyn Yike of out the Carolinas, began arriving at FENCE on Friday Columbus, former USPC Level evening to se tup stalls and settle IV national examiner and presin for a weekend of clinic fun and ent sponsor of River Valley Pony Club, held sessions on record learning.

John Boyle and Tracie Hanson books, bandaging, safety checks, representing FENCE greeted the introduction to Upper Level Stan-

R

dards and longeing.

Cathy Berlin, presently of Tryon and a Graduate A Pony Clubber from Los Altos Hunt Pony Club (just south of San Francisco, Calif.), after testing the C1 rating on Saturday, instructed clinic attendees in the area of longeing.

Dr. Ashlee Ederer of Tryon Equine Hospital presented lessons on poisonous plants.

Seven Carolina Region Clubs were represented during the clinic weekend including the following club members: Charleston Pony Club - Danielle Howard (Mt. Pleasant,

Continued on p. 12

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Please Call 828-289-4230 Appointments • January 2010 • p. 10

S.C.); Rocky River Pony Club - Mark Davidson (Monroe, N.C.); Greenville Footshills Pony Club - Eliza Culbertson (Greer, S.C.), Sara DePape (Anderson, S.C.), Coley Gibson (Greenville, S.C.), Shelby Ritacco (Greer, S.C.) and Allie Winter (Pickens, S.C.); Bramblewood Stables Pony Club Riding Center - Shady Sayers (Greenville, S.C.); Western North Carolina Pony Club - Millie Hotchkiss (Asheville, N.C.), Tasha Lief (Biltmore Lake, N.C.) and Adelaine McCloe (Marion, N.C.); Yadkin Valley Pony Club Molly Owens (Lenoir, N.C.) River Valley Pony Club - Emily Dingwell (Campobello).

River Valley Pony Club thanks FENCE, local professionals and businesses for the role you played

in making this weekend clinic and Rating a success for its attendees.

River Valley Pony Club presently has 27 members, ranging in age from 7 to 23.

The majority of RVPC’s membership lives in the communities of Tryon and Columbus and Landrum and Campobello.

However, RVPC is also pleased to be the home club for members from Greenville, Pickens, Duncan, Spartanburg and Inman, S.C., as well as Rutherfordton and Hendersonville, N.C., who have chosen to hold their Pony Club membership with River Valley Pony Club.

For more information about River Valley Pony Club, or to schedule a visit during an upcoming meeting, please contact Amy Moore at scmooreclan@ yahoo.com or Robert Williams at Robert@hayloftfarm.com.

Rating achievements The following members were successful in their rating endeavors: River Valley Pony Club: • Maren Daniels, from D1 to D2-HM, daughter of Tracey and Tim Daniels, Tryon • Rebecca Price, from D3-HM to C1-HM, daughter of Laura and Chris Price, Tryon • Amanda Morfinos, from D3 to C1, daughter of Rene’ and Nick Morfinos, Rutherfordton, N.C. Greenville Foothills Pony Club: • Kyley Roberts, from Unrated to D1, daughter of Kimberly and Richard Roberts of Greenville, S.C. • Katie O’Neal, from D3 to C1, daughter of Karen and Craig O’Neal of Simpsonville, S.C. • Bridget Gallagher, from D3 to C1, daughter of Jane and John Gallagher of Columbus • Elizabeth Baucum, from D3 to C1, daughter of Rebecca Baucum of Greenville, S.C.

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Preserving our cherished lifestyle Back in the forties and early fifties, there was only one veterinarian in Polk County. That was Doc Greenway.

He delivered everything — calves, mules, puppies, donkeys and even some human babies.

Back then, medical science wasn’t what it was today and Doc Greenway, like others, served up everything with his own remedies, trying to cure or kill anything.

Following Dr. Greenways' death, there was no one locally.

If you couldn’t manage yourself, you had Dr. Cox in Forest City or Dr. Brown in Spartanburg. Then, in the mid-50s, Harry Brown came down from Ohio.

Harry and his wife were great sports enthusiasts who regularly rode, hunted and showed.

It wasn’t until the early 70s that Tom Black arrived, giving Tryon a whopping two vets.

Things weren’t much different when it came to farriers. Festes Coggins in Mill Spring was the only blacksmith in that area and he didn’t make farm calls. Instead, you had to ride your horse or mule over to his place.

Though, actually, he would make a farm call provided you picked him up and drove him back home. It wasn’t until Huland

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Howard came to town that we had ourselves a real, mobile farrier unit. The price for the privilege was $10, then $15, $20, then a whopping $40. I thought I was truly being robbed at the time.

Now, well, things change.

If Tryon was somewhat lacking in services, we truly lived in a haven of the horse world. We’d earned ourselves the reputation for producing top of the line Then show hunters jumpers, & Now and as well as steeby Gerald Pack plechasers. As competitors, we could hold our place in the U.S., and in the world, and we were a hunt country to be reckoned with.

Bill Bramer and I used to meet where BiLo is now and hunt our chasers all the way to Campobello.

Then, after our run, we’d hack back to where the meet was. Back then, all the roads were dirt except for a few of the main ones, but they all had that wonderful river sand. No gravel — that started in the early 70s.

It was about that time that Jarret Schmid and I did the last chasers with Bramer, who was one of America’s top steeplechase trainers back then.

Our horses went on to win

Continued on p. 13

at the Carolina Cup, the Tryon Block House, the Virginia Hunt Cup and in Saratoga, N.Y. But, ours was a bittersweet victory.

We all knew back home, a way of life was ending.

The land was being carved up into small parcels. People were moving into the area who had no background or interest in horses. I remember working for both Arthur Reynolds and Irene Tripp in the 60s and early 70s.

Both of them had predicted this scenario.

Irene told me if the horse scene ever did make a comeback here in the Tryon area it would never be the same as what I grew up with.

Certainly, I’ve seen that happen.

Today, fully 80 percent of the land that was once owned by riding and hunting people is owned by non-riding people. Even those who do have horses often own small parcels of property with no trails.

Fortunately, some of those property owners have made arrangements for a trail to pass through their land, but not all.

Because of this trend, fox hunting may or may not exist here in the future. If it continues, the face of it will certainly change.

I think, in the end, it all boils down to land conservation.

It is the single, most effective tool we have toward preserving the equestrian heritage that has been so vital here in the Tryon area. Without conservancies to hold the land against over-development, this area will become

little more than a memory of a bygone era.

I remember when Disney came knocking on the door of the Northern Virginia hunt countries, looking to establish a mega theme park in their backyard. They thought they had it made. But thanks to my wife’s aunt and a handful of her friends, the developers were halted with all the abruptness of a bloody nose.

Virginia has long been a model for land conservation. Their methods have not always been perfect, but through it all, they have managed to protect not only the land, the trails and the intrinsic beauty of the Virginia piedmont area, but also a way of rural, equestrian life that is fast disappearing.

Not too many years ago, Betsy and I put a conservation easement on our farm. We felt it important, not only as a means of preserving the beauty here at Stoney Knoll, but also, the heritage of fox hunting that has afforded us such pleasure all these years.

Will Tryon ever be able to compete again in the big leagues?

Will the large land owners ever return — people who were truly great sportsmen? Do I really think so?

I don’t, and I so hope I am wrong. But with the right path and a good leader, maybe we will succeed in another way.

There is always some way to re-invent the past, steering it toward a better future. And with good people behind it, there is no telling what we all can accomplish, in a different way.

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Appointments • January 2010 • p. 13

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January~March 2011 What's going on around here!?!

1/2: River Valley Pony Club Christmas party. Contact: scmooreclan@yahoo.com.

with Annie Maunder and Cathy Berlin. For more information, visit rivervalleypc.org.

1/8: SE Children's Home benefit Hunter Pace & Trail Ride.

This event will take place at Grand Canyon Rd., Inman, SC 29349.

For more information, visit wchpace.org.

1/23: Biltmore West Range Hunter Pace & Trail Ridge at the Biltmore Equestrian Center at 702 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806. For more information, visit wchpace.org.

1/18: RVPC unmounted meeting will focus on "Eye Care, Eye Health and Emergencies," with Dr. Rich Metcalf, DNM. For more information, visit rivervalleypc. org.

2/6: FENCE Spring Hunter Pace & Trail Ride at the FENCE Equestrian Center in Tryon. For more information, visit wchpace. org.

1/19: RVPC mounted meeting will focus on Combined Training

2/11-13: Harmon Classics at Harmon Field in Tryon. For more information, contact Blue Ridge

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 15

Hunter Jumper Association by visiting brja.com.

2/20: Greenville Foothills Pony Club Hunter Pace & Trail Ride. Location to be announced.

For more information, visit wpace.org.

3/18-20: Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association Spring Premier at Harmon Field in Tryon.

For more information, visit brhja.com.

3/20: Green Creek Hounds Spring Hunter Pace & Trail Ride.

Location to be announced. For more information, visit wchpace. org.

Barclay and Perkins say Sal Dali bred to event

by Barbara Childs

Beth Perkins was teaching a cross-country clinic up in Massachusetts when Cynthia Barclay from Cambridge, Mass. showed and presented a picture of a horse, named Sal Dali.

Cynthia had read somewhere that Beth’s all-time favorite horse was Don’t Dali, and she knew the two horses were related.

Barclay invited Perkins to come and take a look at him. Sal was 7 at this time and had not done much jumping.

Perkins tried him for a few weeks, and he learned jumping was easy and fun. Barclay has kept Sal in training with Perkins all this time (five years). She holds down two jobs to keep him in training with Perkins, and she is very devoted to Sal. Perkins says it is only this past year that Sal has gotten really confident in his work because he had a late start with his eventing, but Perkins feels it was really what he was bred to do.

Perkins hopes to move Sal up to the three star level – the advanced level in horse trials next spring.

He handles the cross-country phase well, he is a clean honest jumper in the show jumping phase of eventing, and he is a good mover in dressage. Perkins works on keeping him relaxed.

“Sal tries harder than any horse I have ever had, but sometimes his nerves get the better of

him," Perkins said. "He is sweetnatured and has a lovely trusting eye. I am learning how to manage him better, so I am hoping with a little bit of luck we can keep it together and one day make it to the big time. I used to compete at that level when I was young, and I would like to give it one more shot before I get much older. I plan to take Sal to some dressage and jumper shows this winter to prepare for the advanced level next spring. Our first event will be Pine Top in Thompson, Ga. in February. He will start out at the Intermediate level again, and then if all goes well, move up to advanced.”

Barclay bought Sal Dali as a 4-year-old from Thistledown up in Ohio. Barclay got him started with basic dressage work and low jumps, but Sal proved to be too difficult for her to do much with.

Barclay works full time in the city of Boston, so her time was limited to see and ride him. She knew he was not happy because he got little turn out where he was stabled. Little did she know at the time what a huge commitment she would be making to this horse.

Sal Dali is the brother to Mary Smith’s horse Valmo and Don’t Dali. They have the same sire, Valdali, who was a thoroughbred racing sire in Ireland by Aga Khan.

A man who bred TBs for

Sal Dali was bred from the same sire as Don't Dali, Beth Perkin's favorite horse. (photo submitted)

the track brought him over to the United States and he lived in Fresno, Calif. Smith bought Valmo when she was Perkins' student, and we all still lived in Fresno, Calif.

Perkins liked Valmo so much, that she started looking around for others by the same sire.

Perkins found Don’t Dali whom she brought along to the two-star level and then sold him to Will Faudree of Southern Pines, N.C. Faudree competed him to the advanced level, but

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 16

then he developed soundness problems and was retired back at Perkins’ farm.

Rebecca Holmburg rode Don’t Dali in some equitation classes last year, but now he is permanently out to pasture in retirement.

Sal Dali andPerkins were eighth at Fair Hill CIC 2 star in October, (Elkton, Md.) out of 57 horses from all over the United States, South America and Canada. This is his first season of competing at that level.

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Appointments • January 2010 • p. 17

Horse to good home only Organizations work to countyer negative affects of down economy on abandoned horses Nothing hallmarks the provenance of home quite like Christmas.

A wreath on the door, stockings hung above the hearth, a fir tree crested with ornaments to adorn that gathering place of every heart — home.

The dictionary describes home as being a “house, apartment or other place of residence in which one’s domestic affections are centered,” though personally, I consider home to be a hideout from the struggle

of existence, which, on a good of burden to sport horse and day, is an altogether uncertain pleasure animal. Not that it’s all been a bad ride for them. proposition.

In return for their labors, I suspect the notion of home dates back to our ancestors who, they’ve been fed, shod and prosome 400,000 years ago, suc- tected from the same predators ceeded in warding off the preda- that threatened we humans over tory darkness of the Paleolithic the ages.

And yet, in the night by harnesstransition between ing that wonder of past and present, an wonders — fire. unsettled darkness Spawned from has permeated our the alter of fire, mutual co-existence. horse and human Fast forward to have journeyed in the year 2010, where tandem from the by a down-turned econprimitive into the Catherine omy and the soaring modern world.

Macaulay expense of horse care We omnivores has contributed to migrating from scavengers to hunter-gathers more than 56,000 horses being to agri-cultivators, while our shipped to processing plants in brethren herbivores moving Canada and Mexico this year from food source to high-speed alone, according to Ericka Castransport, to war horse, to beast lin, director of the Unwanted

The Carousel Horse

Horse Coalition, which operates under the auspices of the American Horse Council in Washington, DC. “It is not limited to a single breed or discipline,” said Caslin.

She added the culprits in this grim scenario include indiscriminate breeding, which leads to a glut of unsaleable and unwanted horses, along with the high cost of euthanasia, stringent city and state regulations about disposing of dead horses, and the recent closing of processing plants in the U.S. The result is that horses, particularly those who have outlived their usefulness, are being abandoned in empty fields to starve or shipped the agonizing distance to bordering countries.

None is a fitting end for the near-mythic creature that has

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Appointments • January 2010 • p. 18

“I get calls every day from people who can't afford their horses .... They're responsible people trying to find solutions.”

-- Whitney Wright co-founder of Hope for Horses

allowed us to bridle his maneswept neck.

“Horses aren’t disposable,” said Margo Savage, founder of FERA, the Foothills Equestrian Rescue Assistance organization in Polk County. “We don’t feel you can walk way from any animal.”

For FERA, what began with a starving donkey named Milton Burrow has emerged into a small band of dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to keep Polk County’s horses in their homes and out of worst case scenarios.

FERA’s assistance can be financial at times, or rehabilitative.

Often, it is a matter of educating owners about how to responsibly care for their horses.

“Most people want to keep their horse,” said Savage, “but some don’t understand what you have to do, particularly for the older horse — deworming, floating the teeth, giving them extra food. It’s important.”

Savage allies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, in cases where horses have been abused or abandoned, to ensure rescued animals are restored to health, given new homes and another shot at life.

Continued on p. 21

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 19

Lend a hand to these equine agencies FERA — Foothills Equine Rescue Assistance program, (operating under the Foothills Humane Society).

This Polk County equine sanctuary is in need of foster homes, as well as winter blankets and halters for horses.

Donations for hay are gratefully accepted through The Hay Pledge, where donors pledge a minimum of 10 bales of hay to a horse in need.

For more information, to make a donation, to adopt or sponsor a horse, call FERA founder Margo Savage at (828) 863-4924.

Hope for Horses — a 75acre equine rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption sanctuary located just north of Asheville.

Maintains an online adoption website to help match unwanted horses with new, prospective owners. Also in need of foster homes and people willing to adopt horses. For information, log onto www. hopeforhorses.org Horse Protection Society of North Carolina — China Grove, NC. The first equine sanctuary in North Carolina to provide permanent retirement care for neglected equines. The sanctuary is also available for people who can no longer afford to care for their horse.

For more information, call (704)-855-2978 or www. horseprotection.org/id1. html

The Unwanted Horse Coalition of the American Horse Council — A national, nonprofit organization aimed at reducing the number of unwanted horses and improving their welfare.

The group also provides those horse owners in distress with the tools necessary to help find a new home for their horse.

Call 202-296-4031 or visit www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org The United States Equine Rescue League — A national, non-profit organization dedicated to saving, protecting and rehabilitating equines in need.

Visit www.userl.org for more information.

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 20

Horse Welfare Organizations — the largest online database of horse rescues in the United States. www.horse-welfare.org or w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / horsewelfare Equine Rescue News—an ezine that provides news of rescues, and listings of equines available for adoption. Visit www.equinerescue.info The Humane Society of the United States -- The Humane Society estimates there to be approximately 600 equine rescue groups operating in the country. Research the group of your choice at www.humanesociety.org/equine_adoption_network.

Carousel Continued from page 19

horses,” she said. “Some owners lose their jobs, others have But like all rescue groups, legitimate hardships. They’re FERA’s volunteers must dig responsible people trying to find and root around the limited solutions.”

The extended drought, compossibilities to find the hope. It is a task made worse by a pallid bined with high hay prices and lean times have driven the economy.

“There a lot of horses in unsuspecting homeless to the doorstep of rescue North Carolina groups the country and a lot of peoover, forcing them to ple who want choose among their the best for their numbers. horses, said Kim It is an unenviable Alboum, NC task, deciding which state director by horses warrant the of the Humane Catherine comfort of home.

Society of the Albert Schweitzer Macaulay United States. once wrote, “we must “But the economic downturn has been hard become worthy of each other’s trust.” on them.”

The horse, by virtue of his Whitney Wright, co-founder of the equine rescue group Hope domestication, has given us for Horses, in Leicester, NC, his trust. It remains to us to respond as guardians, forever echoed that sentiment.

“I get calls every day from responsible for the wind we people who can’t afford their have tamed.

The Carousel Horse

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Appointments • January 2010 • p. 21

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Hare's childhood joy transforms into lifelong passion for riding and teaching

by Barbara Childs

Melissa Hare was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Her non-horsey parents were perplexed at her attraction to everything equine, but they were supportive of her interests.

The bookshelves in her room were filled with equine care manuals, Breyer models of horses, equine magazines and all fiction horses stories.

A family friend’s daughter rode saddleseat and Hare remembers afternoons spent at the Ft. Lauderdale Riding Academy watching her rack down the white sand on a stunning fivegaited mare named “Last Minute Love.”

Suzanne gave Hare pony rides on that mare and also her first riding lessons at 6 and 7 years of age. Her dad spent many

Through Hare’s elementary Saturdays with Hare at the South Florida rental stables. Summer and high school years, she studvacations always included trail ied and took lessons with Ian rides and time at the McNair’s Risbridger, Carl Bessette and Country Acres Riding School and Donna Phillips, who all made camp in Raleigh, N.C. This is sure she knew the proper position where Melissa’s friend Suzanne and control on the flat before they aimed her at any boarded her horses jumps. after her family These people Spotlight moved to North were her early inCarolina. on Local spiration, and it Best of all Hare had a school friend Equestrians never occurred to Hare that somewho was just as horse crazy as she was and she day she would be a professional had an actual horse and some- instructor herself.

After attending Pine Crest times two.

Hare and Suzanne rode in the Prep School in Fort Lauderdale, arena, over the outside hunter Hare went on to the University course, under the big Australian of Florida and got her advertispines and along the strawberry ing degree.

Working for the Pine Crest and bean fields. Suzanne’s mom was a stickler for top notch Prep School in the development office, producing most of grooming and tack care.

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 22

the school’s drawn brochures, admission catalogues, alumni and parent magazines, as well as fundraising materials; Hare still had yearnings for riding horses and began helping people ride their horses and giving them lessons.

Hare’s first horse was a Paso Fino, and wherever she boarded she was always giving lessons and helping people ride their horses.

In 1999, Hare took her freelance instruction business full time. In 2001, she was asked to coach the Dickinson College IHSA team, a position she enjoyed thoroughly.

Then a move to Indiana afforded her to study with Michael Kierkegaard, who profoundly impacted her knowledge and riding of dressage.

“Forming a partnership with a horse is so much more than learning how to sit and which aids to use and when to use them.”

-- Melissa Hare

“Forming a partnership with a horse is so much more than learning how to sit and which aids to use and when to use them,” Hare said. “Learning to understand stable management, tack fit, proper nutrition, health/hoof care and keeping up with advances in these fields all expanded my education. People who keep their horses in training barns have the opportunity to rely on the resident pro there, but people who board and keep their horses at home can miss out on the details of good horse health and care that make all the difference. I help my

Continued on p. 24

Melissa Hare has turned her lifelong passion for riding into a career teaching and others to find a similar passion. (photo submitted)

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Proposed Green Creek trail system seeks CETA support The Green Creak area has an opportunity to join the Collinsville Equestrian Trails Association (CETA).

CETA has agreed to accept Green Creek Properties that can offer linked trails to its system.

The goal is for Green Creek trails to meet the current CETA trails at Highway 9, but in the process create trails within the whole area.

Two property owners in Green Creek have begun the process of placing a trail easement on their property. Only one property has completed the process.

CETA has decided to hold off acceptance of other properties until it can be demonstrated that there is sufficient community interest.

CETA has decided to accept, as a group, properties that are linked. There is no benefit to CETA to allow properties that offer no continuous trails and have no link to its system to join.

CETA said the Green Creek community needs to take a hard look at its future. A trail system preserves green space for everyone.

If the area lets the opportunity slip, the only other choice could be complicated and such an involved process that it would take many years to put an independent “Green Creek Trail Association” in place, not to mention the expense involved to go it alone.

The CETA board has agreed

For more information, call the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club at 828-859-6109 or Kelly Murphy, amateur race coordinator, at 864-457-3518. Entry forms and details available online: www.trhcevents.org Appointments • January 2010 • p. 24

to answer questions for interested Green Creek property owners.

Landowners who do not ride but allow CETA trail access through their property get full voting rights at all membership meetings.

They pay no dues but have all the protection offered to CETA members who place easements on their property. Without them it would be impossible to link Green Creek to the current CETA trails.

CETA requires that landowners give a point of entry and a point of exit with a defined trail, but the trail itself may be modified to meet the property owners’ needs. The CETA rules are in place to tell the members who ride the trails what to do and, how to respect the property.

Properties connected with the trails are not open to the general public. CETA does not have open membership; membership is limited to landowners, renters, boarders, certain employees and guests of the landowners.

If you have a trail through your property, if your neighbor can provide a link to another trail, even if it is only 100 feet, it is important to the system.

If you are an interested property owner and would like to learn more, please contact Nancy Owens Willms at 863-4517 or Marion Woodbury at 863-1310.

-- article submitted

Bo Jena leads dressage clinic The Nov. 15-16 dressage clinic with Bo Jena was a great highlight for competitors and auditors.

Jena is an international “I” judge, director and trainer at the National Swedish Stud, the Flyinge, as well as coach of Sweden’s national dressage team.

Jena is well-known for his expert eye with long lining.

Jennifer Baumert and her Hannoverian DeWert benefitted from Jena’s lesson with more engagement in the hindquarters in working with piaffe and the

lovely cadence this horse expressed. Baumert is working this horse at the fourth level in dressage and she has started him with the half steps in piaffe.

DeLorean is an 8-year-old Hannoverian owned by Joy Baker. Jena worked him in long lining, especially to the left.

DeLorean is a sensitive horse with big movement and outstanding gaits and temperament.

Jena also worked DeLorean in the half steps into piaffe on the long line.

See photos on page 27.

HARE Continued from page 23

in Landrum.

“I realize it is the worst economic time in the recession era to be starting my own business, but I am an optimist. Horse people always seem to find a way to incorporate their passion into a budget,” she said.

Since Van Doren and Hare worked at Camp Highlander in North Mills River, N.C. back in the 80s she has developed a love of hiking, especially in the Pisgah Forest and along the Parkway.

Hare said she values the opportunities she has been given, and all the wonderful people who have brought them to her.

Her parents have made it possible for her to be an equestrian and to love what she is doing and she wants to pass that gift on to others. She also values the inherited family trait for teaching.

Through that great gift she has been able to build a career that never feels like work.

make all the difference. I help my students and customers to make good choices to advance their goals. Because I do not operate my own facility, my riders have the opportunity and freedom to do their own thing, and I encourage them to seek good information and responsibility. I give my students riding homework between lessons, and I encourage them to ride with other professionals. To keep advancing in my own disciplines I take clinics. I have ridden with George Morris, Linda Allen, Joe Fargis, Frank Mdden, John Roper, Sue Kolstad, Ed Rothkranz, Walter Zetyl and Christopher Taylor.”

Hare her boyfriend, Eddie Van Doren, are in the process of building a barn and making improvements on their property

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Appointments • January 2010 • p. 25

Beth Perkins leads RVPC in cross-country schooling

by Barbara Childs

River Valley Pony Club had the pleasure of hosting Beth Perkins as the visiting instructor for the club's Nov. 6 monthly mounted meeting. And, an equal pleasure was the hospitality extended to members and their families by the gracious hosts, Helen Elizabeth and Michael Atkins of Long Shadows Farm in Campobello.

The focus of this meeting was basic balanced position in the open. Long Shadows Farm’s cross country course provided a wonderful opportunity for members to school varying terrain and jump obstacles.

Stadium lessons were provided for members not ready to venture into the open, while D2/ D3/C1/C2 members schooled

cross-country ranging in levels from Beginner Novice to Training.

Members in attendance during this meeting were: Sammy Firby, Tryon; Sammie Haase, Columbus; Hunter Metcalf, Tryon; Lorelei Richardson, Greenville, S.C.; Chloe Bosshard, Hendersonville, N.C.; Amanda Morfinos, Rutherfordton, N.C.; Abby Billiu, Campobello; Dakota DePalma, Landrum; Rebecca Price, Tryon; and Krista Just, Pickens, S.C. The club's membership of 27 extends throughout the South Carolina Upstate, reaching into Henderson and Rutherford counties in North Carolina.

If you are interested in contacting Long Shadows Farm

Instructor Beth Perkins looks on as Samantha Firby practices with her riding partner, Dixie. (photo submitted)

to inquire about cross country schooling opportunities for yourself or your group, please visit their website at www.LongShadowsFarmSC.com .

River Valley Pony Club invites you to learn more about Pony Club and the calendar of Pony Club activities available

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in the area, through River Valley Pony Club.

To visit an upcoming meeting, please contact Amy Moore at scmooreclan@yahoo.com.

Visit www.RiverValleyPC.org to see what the club's members have accomplished throughout 2010.

Appointments The Hoofbeats of the Carolina Foothills

Showcasing Local Horsepeople

Bo Jena dressage clinic

Top left: Joy Baker with her horse DeLorean. Bottom left: DeLorean long lining with Bo Jena. Top right: Bo Jena works with DeLorean.

Middle right: Jen Baumert with her 8-year-old horse, DeWert.

Bottom right: Jena with Baker and DeLorean. (photos by Barbara Childs)

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 27

Appointments • January 2010 • p. 28