Elite Equestrian magazine Jan Feb 2023 issue

www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com info@EliteEquestrian.us Main Office, Ocala, Florida

PUBLISHER Bill Vander Brink Bill@EliteEquestrian.us

Published since 2008

Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor-in-Chief: Noelle Vander Brink

Creative Editor: RSD Media Group, Raymond S. Di Maria

Art & Antiques Editor: Dr. Lori Verderame

Equine Art Editor: Jeanne Chisholm

Fashion Editor: LA Sokolowski

Legal Editor: Avery S. Chapman,Esquire

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Stephany Fish Crossman

Alessandra Deerinck

Kat Fuqua

Patricia Hechter

Jacquelynn Holly

Lynn Palm

Tom Scheve

Pie Truono

Collier Wimmer

Ralph Waldo Emerson

ADVERTISING

Advertising Sales, N.E.Region: Kathy Dress 610-420-9964 kdress@ptd.net

Advertising Sales, S.E. Region Karen Eagle 352-812-1142

Advertising Sales, National: Diane Holt 713-408-8114 diane@eliteequestrian.us

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Julia B. Photography

Annan Hepner

Eileen Johnson Andrew Ryback

On the cover...

GGT Foo�ng® Ambassador

Ansley Wright with her beloved horse, Dynasty, in loving memory of him.

www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

PASTURE VACUUMS

Anni Lyn Sportswear www.anni-lyn.com

See our ad on page 27

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www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com

questrian Extraordinaire

JESSIE BONNEAU

Rocks in Anni Lyn Sportswear

Dressage  Western Dressage Hunter/Jumper  Arabian Shows English and Western Pleasure

Jessie Bonneau was bitten by the horse bug early in life. Born in the USA, she grew up in France, where she rode her first horse at two years old. By the time she was six, she was riding in a local pony club. She competed through university, where she earned a degree in Sports Management and Marketing before becoming an independent trainer and instructor.

Jessie loves horses in general and enjoys multiple disciplines; she’s ridden, trained and competed in dressage, showjumping, eventing, vaulting, horseball, and traditional Spanish horsemanship. While not the biggest fan of dressage at first when she was a kid (“Too boring and slow!”), she realized its im-portance later on, while competing in eventing. Although she placed well in competitions, Jessie began to realize the importance of the dressage phase overall. She started to refine her dressage skills alongside her partner, her beloved National Show Horse, Skies the Limit +++.

In 2007, Jessie started a new adventure when she moved back to the United States. Stateside, she rode and trained in showjumping in Wellington, Florida for a year. Soon however, a new opportunity knocked, when Jessie was offered the opportunity to become the head trainer for the “Tournament of Kings” show at the Excalibur Hotel. It was an offer she couldn’t (and wouldn’t) refuse; in 2008 she relocated again, this time settling into life in Las Vegas, and remained with the show for the next three years. Jessie loved the show, and it gave her the opportunity to mix Western riding skills with jousting, sword fighting and javelin; she was also exposed to the beauty of the Andalusians and Friesians on the show and worked on upperlevel movements with them, including piaffe, passage and levade.

Jessie is a brand ambassador for Schleese Saddles and is excited to be a new brand ambassador to Anni Lyn Sportswear (featured here). She found the company by accident on a hot day in Vegas, while searching for a new sun shirt. She came across Anni Lyn’s multicolored sunshirt and fell in love at first sight. “The shirt was so flashy and vibrant - it exudes so much happy energy that I immediately bought one not only for myself, but for my best friend,” she said cheerfully. “I want to promote the beautiful, fun brand that Anni Lyn is. It’s a huge pleasure and honor to represent the brand, and I can’t wait to see it expand.”

Georgina Rago

CREATING INTERIORS

THAT DELIGHT YOUR SENSES AND CELEBRATE YOUR STYLE

My design work is all about making people’s lives be�er! Everyone wants “fabulous”, but going well beyond simply crea�ng an a�rac�ve space, my goal for each project is to design spaces that func�on be�er for my clients to save them �me and help reduce their stress. Equally important to me is designing spaces that feel be�er, incorpora�ng color psychology along with contemporary and ancient design principles to interpret the client’s personality and style as an integral part of the interiors. When spaces func�on be�er and feel be�er, then life is be�er and more beau�ful!

Linda has designed the interior of our 90 year old remodeled home and did so with excellent detail and a�en�on to our tastes. We have subsequently had her design and decorate our second home condo and even brought her to Texas to do our townhouse in Dallas. She is currently redoing another condo in Florida and she is the only person we will consider engaging for this type of service. Her sense of style, selec�on of quality materials, and use of colors is exemplary and makes each of our homes unique yet familiar and comfortable. She’s the best. - Mike Sweeney

352-694-6294

Linda Trice Dewolf, ASID Florida License: ID4975 Studio:

WINTER  

   

HAS ARRIVED AT EQUETECH!

The new A/W 22 Equetech Collection is here, leading the way in equestrian fashion and design innovation.

EQUETECH REVERSIBLE WATERPROOF RIDING SKIRT

This unique waterproof riding skirt has been developed for riders by riders to keep them dry throughout the year, without restric�on.

Featuring a quick release waterproof zip to the front, leg straps (to keep the skirt in place during all weathers) reflec�ve stripes, comfort waistband and 150gram fill for extra warmth this winter. This clever design also features a reversible op�on of fluorescent yellow inner for increased visibility out hacking.

“Purchasing a riding coat is a considered investment for most riders so I wanted to create a garment that offered riders the versa�lity of a long waterproof coat style, but something that they could team with their exis�ng shorter style coats and use as and when they needed it. The new skirt design was trailed with riders extensively before launch and rapidly became a firm favourite with busy riders due to its versa�lity and ease of wear.” – Liz Hayman, MD & Designer

Designed to accommodate riders who prefer shorter length jackets, this skirt offers versa�lity and more waterproof to your winter wardrobe!

Small/Medium: Sizes Waist: 24” – 28”, Large/X-Large: Sizes Waist: 30” – 34” RRP: £109.95

New for this season is an exci�ng alliance with BLUESIGN with the launch of a new garmentUTOPIA LONG WATERPROOF STRETCH RIDING COAT

The Utopia long riding coat is Equetech’s most technical, innova�ve coat to date! It is the culmina�on of years of development and innova�on to bring you a truly superior winter waterproof coat.

A stylish design, with all the quali�es of their best seller ‘Venture Long Coat’, but with added stretch for ul�mate movement and comfort in and out of the saddle.

“Riding this winter can be fun when you have the right gear, and this coat will not let you down! This coat is the first equestrian garment of its kind to marry BLUESIGN with equestrian fashion and fabric technology. We already use cruelty-free down fill in our clothing, incorporate recycled fabrics and pledge to plant a tree with every sale through our partnership with Ecologi, but BLUESIGN is a new and exci�ng development for us and supports our con�nued vision to do be�er.” – Liz Hayman, MD & Designer

Versa�lity and performance are at the heart of Equetech’s design principles as this new waterproof skirt demonstrates.

Made from BLUESIGN fabrics and manufacturing processes. BLUESIGN is a system that provides safer and more sustainable environments for people to work and live in. Powered by a holis�c approach, BLUESIGN traces each tex�le’s path along the manufacturing process, making improvements at every stage from the factory floor to the finished product. BLUESIGN changes the environmental impact of tex�les for good.

Perfect for riding, training, dog walking and all equestrian pursuits, this coat features a twolayer storm flap which conceals our easy wear durable zip to front, for simplicity and durability whilst other features include; a back gusset with opening with reflec�ve stripes - allowing you to ride comfortably in a saddle, double front pockets with zip with Equetech snaffle zip pullers and magne�c closures, reflec�ve spiral seams to the sleeves, Velcro leg straps and cuffs with inner storm cuffs.

XS – 3XL RRP: £199.95

New addi�on winter riding �ghts that combine good looks, comfort and performance.

EQUETECH AQUA-SHIELD™ WINTER RIDING TIGHTS

These new addi�ons are set to become your winter ‘go-to’ riding �ghts. Featuring Equetech’s signature comfort waistband, these toasty fleece-lined riding �ghts boast AquaShield™ technology, crea�ng a water-resistant coa�ng your legs will love!

“Our winter riding �ghts have always been popular but this season I wanted to go one step further and create a warm fleece lined, water resistant style. It took twelve months researching and trailing fabrics un�l I was en�rely happy that the fit, performance and comfort were excep�onal and the Aqua-Shield are unlike anything else on the market.”

– Liz Hayman, MD & Designer

Integrated with a technical 4-way stretch construc�on, they allow total freedom of movement without compromise. Other features include silicone FULL Seat, wide suppor�ve waistband with belt loops, flatlock seams to deliver a comfortable chafe-free fit, Equetech logo to back and thigh pocket (large enough for a smartphone).

Winter riding �ghts just got elevated in design!

HIS HERS &

At Liberty with

Dancin’ Pete Rodda

with L.A. Sokolowski,

equinista

Ocala, Florida horseman “Dancin’ Pete” Rodda earned his nickname in college thanks to his fancy footwork on some ballroom and swing dance floors. But forget what you think you know about box step sheets for the waltz and start humming a li�le Johnny Cash, because for the last 15+ years this founder of Complementary Horsemanship has been bringing horses and their humans together as partners, under saddle and at liberty, through his own outside-the-box Ten Block educa�onal system, called Walk The Line, that encourages four founda�onal C’s: calmness, connec�on, confidence, and communica�on. In fact, he says one of the best compliments a horse can communicate to its person is to be calm and confident enough in their presence to buckle those knees and get down for a good roll: “I teach how to get a willing horse, not just an obedient one.” So let’s have a dance with this crea�ve and talented trainer.

HERS: What do you remember about your first horse or pony?

HIS: I got my first horse in college, a three year-old Quarter Horse mare named Dollar because that’s what I paid for her. She taught me a welcome lesson to always get a vet check and x-rays. There is no such thing as a free (or nearly free) horse.

HERS: What do you like best in a horse? In a person?

HIS: In a horse? Everything. Every horse has something to offer. In a person, truthfulness (because that’s how horses are) and willingness for self-improvement. Most people would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

HERS: What was your first job and how old were you?

HIS: A cashier at 16 at a chicken fast food restaurant. I tried to be a cook but they said I was too short. I loved my job! I’m a numbers person and liked meeting people.

HERS: If you worked outside the horse world what would you be doing?

HIS: I’ve been told I missed my calling as a rodeo barrel clown. For show-and-tell in first grade I got a lot of laughs from thumb puppets and fart jokes, so I might have been an entertainer… But since I love teaching people and creating better teams, I’d probably still be a teacher.

Learn

HERS: Favorite quote(s)?

HIS: My own. Get excited about your mistakes because that’s how you learn. And when I was 11 -- obviously listening to [radio DJ] Casey Kasem who said, “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars” – I came up with, “Reach for the stars and, if you only reach the tree tops, that’s still higher than the bushes.”

HERS: What’s changed about our relationship with horses since you started riding?

HIS: Now, natural horsemanship is about using the horse’s language and thought patterns as best we can, not just our own.

HERS: Where do you hope Complementary Horsemanship will be in 10 years?

HIS: It has always been my dream to see Complementary Horsemanship as the true fundamentals for horses and humans. I called it ‘complementary’ because having this down well will enhance what other top trainers do and teach in any discipline. Dressage. Eventing. Reining. Trail riding. My dream is that everyone who wants access to my program can have it.

HERS: You can invite three guests (past or present, real or fictional) to dinner. Who joins you and what’s on the menu?

HIS: Nuno Oliveira. Mark Russell (who studied with Nuno). Mark Rashid. I want some old masters, like OrdeXenophon or Tom Dorrance. Can I have five? I’d do an open buffet because – like horsemanship – why limit anyone to just what I want?

Follow Dancin’ Pete Rodda and Complementary Horsemanship on FB and start a better relationship with your horse now!

Share suggestions for His & Her guests with award-winning equinista L.A. Sokolowski at latheequinista@gmail.com.

Warmth Comfort &

Stay cozy and comfortable while doing your barn chores in winter weather!

Outscape Pull On -

The Hale boots are perfect if you’re looking for sporty, mul�seasonal boots that are also perfect for general everyday use. These women’s boots are designed to provide versa�lity with their everyday style and prac�cality with their self-cleaning outsole and breathable mesh lining, allowing these boots to draw moisture away and your feet to breathe on warmer days. Fully insulated with 5mm neoprene, these boots provide op�mal comfort and waterproofing whether you’re walking the dog or out about town. MSRP: $145

The Muck Outscape was built to provide 100% waterproof performance and versa�lity for ac�ve outdoor work and explora�on, no ma�er if the task at hand is working in the garden, in the barn or out hiking with the dog. Available in two different heights (ankle and low) for all genders, the Outscape offers easy on/off and features a Dual Density Comfort footbed with an�microbial protec�on. While self-cleaning outsole lugs allow for op�mal trac�on, a Guarded Rubber toe and heel provide durability for more extensive wear. Performance and versa�lity are key when on the go and need to get the job done; be it in the garden, working in the yard, hiking with the dog or for those days when you can’t decide between the waterproof boot you need and the lightweight sneaker you want to wear. The Outscape is the lightweight, 100% waterproof shoe designed to keep you comfortable and enable you to get more done every day. MSRP: $115

www.muckbootcompany.com

Hale

ANTIQUES&

By Dr. Lori

CHINA

CHINA

and other

By Dr. Lori Verderame

Kitchens are one of the best places to spot valuable collectibles. From antique fine china to vintage appliances, kitchen collectibles can hold their value for generations and serve as wonderful accessories in the most popular place in the house during the holidays. The kitchen and its collectibles are on display in the room where everyone gathers especially at holiday time.

Kitchen collectibles range (pardon the pun) from aprons to zesters and all of these objects are making a strong market impact. Utensils, cookie jars, bowl, trays, cookbooks, coffee pots, and sterling silver flatware have always been available to estate sale and yard sale shoppers, thrifters, and collectors. Now with much of the collectibles market online, everyone can find vintage holiday kitchen stuff.

Have you heard that entertaining is a dying art form? Not true…not by a long shot. In fact, young adults enjoy the art of entertaining and are actively collecting barware and vintage kitchen items for parties, gatherings, and social events. Everything from 1960s martini shakers to Sunbeam Mixmasters are in new 21st century kitchens assembled in groups by 20- and 30something aged collectors.

Collectors with an interest in the history of cooking look for items like cookbooks, antique utensils, and Victorian food processors. Despite the varied collectibles from the kitchen, when it comes to value and high style design, some of the most coveted collectibles are also the most common. When it’s all said and done, dishes win the day.

Collectors and shoppers look for fine china, holiday patterns, and established brands as they are desired by collectors. Fine china serving sets are not as fashionable as they once were but collectors in the know are still collecting china services from big names in fine china like Meissen, Spode, Haviland for Limoges, Lenox, Herend, Royal Copenhagen, Royal Doulton, etc.

My video call appraisals with clients reveal that folks are busy searching online, thrift stores and estate sales for fine china pieces. Seasoned collectors are telling their grandchildren about the value in fine china and the family history that goes along with it. As a result, many fine china sets are staying in families for the next generation and hopefully, generations thereafter, too. This is wonderful!

Mfg. Co.,

Collecting a few individual fine china pieces is very much in style now. Fine china items used as accent pieces in a kitchen and around the home are bringing new collectors into the fold. And, mixing and matching is totally acceptable unlike the tables set by our grandmothers, where a match or die attitude was the only way to entertain. The kitchen mix or match idea harkens back to the 1990s when variety in dishware was embraced. There are collectors who seek out specialty pieces of fine china like oyster plates, celery dishes, platters and trays or bone dishes from the past. China is sought after with today’s collectors and they are paying good money to get the style and pattern they want and values vary based on manufacturer, color, pattern, condition, etc.

Today’s resellers are grabbing fine china off the estate sale, yard sale, and thrift store shelves and reselling it online for top dollar.

While collectors amass kitchen objects in bulk, the trend for resellers is to find the bargains and market the stuff on YouTube Thrift with Me channels, social media groups on InstaGram, and Facebook and by old fashioned word of mouth. These are just a few of the trends that I see in the market and are discussed with my fans, clients, and followers on my You Tube show and social media pages. It goes to show you that cooking collectibles are still very hot.

*Photo by Annan Hepner

*Photo by Andrew Ryback

*Photo by Andrew Ryback

*Photo by Andrew Ryback

*Photo by Andrew Ryback

*Photo by Julia B Photography

*Photo by Julia B Photography

*Photo Courtesy of SEMF *GGT

Official footing of Los Angeles Equesetrian Center

GGT FOOTING SUPPORTS SHOWS AROUND THE COUNTRY. SINCE 2009, WE ARE THE PREMIERE SUPPLIER OF ARENA TEXTILES.

Ansley Wright on Dynasty at the Maclay Finals, on GGT Footing at the Kentucky Horse Park.

International of Omaha

GGT Footing, used at Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage Festival from 2009 to 2019.

Richard Spooner on GGT Footing at the Longines Sacremento Interational Horse Show by Julia B Photography*

Great

Karl Cook racing to the win on GGT Footing at Murieta Equestrian Center.

*Photo by Andrew Ryback

Photo By Andrew Ryback*

Equine Hanna Somatics® Overview

By Patricia Hechter

Equine Hanna Somatics@, EHS, is a technique used to re-educate the horse’s nervous system to release chronic contracted muscles that cause discomfort and limit natural movement. To change this condition EHS is used to trigger a natural reflex that prepares the body for optimal performance.

The majority of movements performed with a horse during an EHS session are Voluntary Pandiculations. (Pandiculation is the natural reflex that all animals, including humans, are programmed to do to restore the original length and flexibility of the muscles). We achieve this relaxation and restoration with EHS, by emphasizing movements that activate the ability of the motor-cortex in the horse’s brain to reduce muscular tension. The technique is simple, slow, and the results are profound.

There is a huge difference between stretching and pandiculation. When using pandiculation to cause a lengthening of a muscle (or a group of muscles) we use a very slow movements. First, we invite the horse to create a contraction, remaining within the comfort level and current range of motion of the horse. Then we guide the horse through a very slow lengthening contraction, often thought of as the “release”. With the slow and luxurious “release” of the contraction, you encourage the horse to change the tension levels in their own muscles to be more supple and ready for action.

In contrast, when a muscle is stretched, another natural reflex is triggered, the ‘stretch reflex’. When triggered, the stretch reflex causes the muscle to return to its original length, AND it can re-contract the muscle making it shorter.

The stretch is involuntary, occurring at the spinal cord level (not in the brain), and it is completely out of the horse’s awareness. There are times stretching may be very beneficial, however stretching is not part of the EHS protocols to achieve naturally supple and lengthened muscles.

Another technique used in Equine Hanna Somatics to assist in the process of restoring relaxation is called Kinetic Mirroring

In the September/October 2022 issue I authored an article about Kinetic Mirroring of the Ribcage. In that article, I describe how to use kinetic mirroring to relax the intercostal muscles between the ribs to assist in:

• Maintaining a centered saddle,

• Lateral flexion of both sides,

• Clean canter departs,

• Deep full breaths.

This is a great technique to use both before and after a ride. Below I’ll describe a modified way to position your hands while offering your horse the same benefits. Both versions are very effective.

Begin by standing on the left side, facing your horse’s ribcage. Place your flat right hand, behind and slightly below where the saddle pad ends. Place your left hand behind and slightly above the horse’s armpit.

Using little to no pressure, very gently guide your hands slightly together, on the diagonal (usually only a few millimeters); think about moving an egg yolk. Your horse will feel the energy and tiny movement, and may even participate by bending toward you a bit!

Just as slowly and gently return your hands to neutral. Your horse will feel the invitation to return to a neutral resting posture, and the muscles will be triggered to lengthen a little bit. Do not widen your hands more than your starting position - this is a shortening, and an ‘un-shortening’ not a stretch.

Repeat this gentle process 3 -5 times before repeating on the right side, see the photo to the right.

In the four 2022 Elite Equestrian articles about Equine Hanna Somatics movements, (Initial Pick-Ups, Lateral Neck Flexion, Kinetic Mirroring of the Ribcage, and Tail Flexion) the reader is advised to gently guide the legs, neck and tail without using any pulling or stretching of the horse’s body parts while performing the EHS movements.

When we invite our horses to participate in the EHS voluntary pandiculations and do kinetic mirroring, we are able to access many muscles and groups of muscles with each movement, even the deep muscles that are nearly impossible to influence from the outside.

The tail flexions directly include 6 muscles.

The hind limb initial pick-ups directly engage 18 muscles.

The forelimb initial pickups directly affect 15 muscles.

The lateral neck flexions directly involve 7 muscles.

There are many more muscles and muscle groups that are indirectly altered. When learning and performing EHS sessions we learn everything is truly connected to everything else.

“

your toe bone connected to your foot bone... Your ankle bone connected to your leg bone

Your leg bone connected to your knee bone

Your knee bone connected to your thigh bone

Your thigh bone connected to your hip bone

Your hip bone connected to your back bone... Your neck bone connected to your head bone...” -Lyrics to Dry Bones sung by Delta Rhythm Boys

Some important concepts to remember when speaking, thinking and performing Equine (or Canine and Human) Hanna Somatics are that we are re-educating the body and mind at the same time, to remind each individual how to move with relaxed and supple muscles.

While we are educating, we are working WITH the horse not “working on” or “doing to”.

The horse has a say in how he participates. The human invites and listens. The work is about the horse, on his schedule; it is not about our schedule or, what we want to accomplish.

EHS works with both the deep and superficial muscles of the body, and because we are using the horse’s own central nervous system to access them, we can potentially restore relaxation to every single skeletal muscle in the horse!

In upcoming issues I will have articles with an equine dentist and a farrier discussing how EHS supports healthy feet and mouths. I will introduce you to Eleanor Criswell Hanna, the creator of EHS and more Voluntary Pandiculations to perform with your horse. Additionally, I will introduce a 20+ year old Hanoverian who has been in my daily care for almost a year. They will qualify for the Dressage Century Club in 4 years! We will be following his amazing transformation thanks in large part to EHS.

To learn more about Equine Hanna Somatics, and to find an equine educator near you, please visit www.EquineHannaSomatics.org.

Why Fitness for Riders?

As a professional dancer, I took ballet class every day before going to my “job” which was rehearsing with a dance company. Sure, I was a professional, but to keep up our technique and fitness as professionals, we took a dance class to conBnue training to keep our skills sharp for learning the choreography in rehearsals and then performing. Rehearsals and performing required us to be in peak condiBon, not just so we could be beDer on stage, but also so we could prevent injuries. And indeed, in the past 20 years, dancers not only take their dance class, but they are also now cross training so they can be stronger and ward off injuries.

Story and Photos Provided

By Janice Dulak

The idea of being conditioned and fitter for a selected activity isn’t just a concept owned by professional dancers. It is common for anyone who performs a physical activity regularly. Cross-training their body means they can enjoy their sport even more! It is strange however, that I find equestrians don’t seem to think along the same lines. More often than not, riders finish work, head to the barn, saddle up and ride. After all, it is supposed to be our time to relax and destress, correct? Riding is supposed to make us feel good! And who doesn’t want to hug a horse after a stressful day? But, let’s put ourselves in our horses’ shoes.

Horses are living, breathing beings who also have a physical job to do. We ask them to bear the weight of our bodies and carry us around while we pursue our goals. Riding a trail, jumping jumps, performing skillful maneuvers in a dressage ring or one of the many other areas of riding. If we are diligent horse owners, we take the time to condition our horses. We do groundwork with them, we lunge them or circle them, create bend and flex in their bodies as they walk, trot and canter. In dressage, the “workout” is in the ride itself, with all the lateral movements that create strength and flexibility. We work them over ground poles or cavalletis. Most riders certainly take care of their horse’s conditioning, and I am confident the horse appreciates we help them to be fitter and stronger. After all, it makes it easier for them to do their job when we ride, but what about our own fitness and strength?

As riders, we need to ask, are we taking the time to condition ourselves? Are we aiming to be better riders for our horses? It is a question I have been posing for over a decade. Are we being responsible enough for our job as riders? Again, from the horse’s perspective, wouldn’t a fit,

As a dancer, I could not walk up to the ballet barre just as I would a bar in a restaurant. I had to lift my core, elongate my body, and be ready for the exercises. Riding requires us to do the same. How many times have we put a foot in a stirrup, swung a leg over and plopped down in the saddle without a thought to the weight we were landing on the horse’s back? If you consider the horse’s perspective, I think you will agree there is a responsibility on us to learn to be stronger and more nimble if we are to ride a horse.

agile rider be much easier to carry around than someone who sits on their back much as one would sit in an easy chair?

A mat class for dressage riders.

Janice has a very engaging teaching style

Janice training.

Janice teaching ridden work.

Janice competing in dressage. 

Now, what kind of exercise is appropriate for equestrian sport? Another good question. Just as an American football player’s skills differ from a ballet dancer’s, so too does their style of training. Football requires a different type of strength and agility. Gym workouts are essential so they can do their job on the field, but that type of workout would hinder a dancer. Gym workouts develop bulky, strong muscles that would not allow a dancer to do their job at all well.

This is the reason dancers have been flocking to Pilates as a cross-training method over the past decades. As a former dancer turned dressage rider, I noticed that Pilates not only served dancers but was a great way to create the fitness and agility needed for riding horses. Not that it is the only path for riders, but in my experience, it is a complete fit for equestrians.

What Pilates is can be explained in three words: Strength, stretch and control. The benefit of this concept, of placing equal emphasis on becoming stronger and more flexible, is that it balances out the musculature in the body. Both dancers and riders share this need in able to be fit for their activity.

You learn to be flexible where you are stiff, and stable where you are too flexible! The ability then, to control the use of strength and flexibility is a perfect fit for the rider. You no longer just sit on your horse like a moving sofa, but you learn to engage your core, elongate your body and find how to move with your horse in a way that helps him do his job.

Gaining the required knowledge of WHY you should be fit and agile, while also HOW will help you in your riding goals. Researching what style of fitness suits you and your interest is also important. It can help you find a program that serves you well and helps your horse do his job of carrying you on his back!

www.pilatesfordressage.com

Janice teaching at a clinic.

Author submited article including photos and is responsible for permission for use. See credit page for disclaimer.

Veterinary Rehabilitation Academic Education

Goes Global

The Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning (VAHL) has become the exclusive global marketing and education partner for the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Program (CCRP), the Certified Equine Rehabilitation Program (CERP) and the Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT) as well as all other vet rehab programs developed by internationally recognized academic experts and practitioners of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

VAHL has successfully grown and established the international market for the University of Tennessee veterinary rehabilitation courses over the past 17 years, starting with the introduction of the CCRP in Europe in 2005. The new partnership, which went into effect July 1, 2022, expands to include the United States and Canadian market in addition to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia/NZ, Middle and South America, making it a worldwide approach.

“Together, our high standard of continuing education courses taught by internationally leading experts, who not only do the research and publishing but also actively work in this field, will allow our students to become the most sought-after rehabilitation specialists in the world,” said Dr. Beate Egner, VAHL chief executive officer.

“Being a veterinarian myself, it is my utmost desire to best serve and help the veterinary community by combining state-of-the-art science with modern teaching methods, interactive tutorial books, and ongoing coaching support,” Egner added.

The CCRP and CERP offer a series of postgraduate courses in canine and equine rehabilitation for veterinarians, physical therapists, and veterinary technicians. Participants are required to participate in a supervised clinical experience and take a cumulative examination. The courses guide the practitioner from the theoretical foundations through the clinical applications of rehabilitation.

With the new agreement, the University of Tennessee’s recognition will continue to increase globally and benefit from the global academic and business network that VAHL has developed over the years. VAHL further achieved accreditation of the CCRP as a university study in different countries, making this university-based course recognized as an academic education.

UT and VAHL will update and further improve the blended learning courses to remain the global standard of highest education in veterinary physical medicine, rehabilitation, and sports medicine, Egner said.

“We are excited to launch this new endeavor with VAHL. Combining both the U.S. and international courses will enable us to deliver equine rehabilitation information in a more timely and thorough method with the same curriculum worldwide. We look forward to instructing individuals across the globe and make them part of a strong community,” said Dr. Steve Adair, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, CERP, Head of Equine Surgery, Director of the Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning (VAHL) to deliver the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and the Certified Canine Fitness Trainer programs globally,” said Dr. Darryl Millis, CCRP, DACVS, DACVSMR, Acree Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine, and Director of the Canine Arthritis, Rehabilitation, Exercise, and Sports Medicine Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “This partnership over the past 17 years has proven excellence in delivering our programs outside of the USA, and now it will allow a seamless delivery of the internationally known programs throughout the world. This new venture will add coaching, webinars, newsletters, new courses, and many other exciting things to make our academic education a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Millis added.

VAHL currently collaborates with over 100 internationally leading experts to produce advanced literature, including Essential Facts of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine in Companion Animals, Essential Facts of Equine Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, and many others.

Furthermore, VAHL’s excellent network includes involvement in various single and multi-center studies, as well as powerful relationships to universities and veterinary associations all over the world.

“The Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning cares for its students and certified specialists, offering them continuous support,” Egner said. “But you are not forgotten after the courses. We will continue to provide support throughout your career.”

The online portions of the CCRP and CERP are undergoing major revisions to incorporate the latest in rehabilitation academic education under the respective leadership of course directors Adair and Millis.

“Not only are the newest scientific findings, state-of-theart modalities, and rehabilitation of other species being updated, but the courses are being altered to enhance student learning and application of information,” Egner said. “We also offer coaching and continuous support after the formal course has concluded.

VAHL is also investing in the future of veterinary rehabilitation by sponsoring two annual awards that honor and support distinguished researchers and projects.

For more information, please visit www.vahl-academy.com, www.utvetrehab.com or www.vahl.vet

• Range 100% Grass-Fed Beef: With no added nitrites and no sugar, this pure jerky is made from perfectly seasoned, pasture-raised beef sourced exclusively from SunFed Ranch and marinated in a red wine vinegar. Flavors include Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Chipotle, and Chile Cayenne.

• Premium Handcut Jerky: Cut extra thick from solid strips of beef like the cowboys did, this jerky has a steak-like quality that highlights the natural flavor of the pasture-raised, grass-fed and grain-finished beef, which is sourced exclusively from seventh-generation Five Dot Ranch. Original, Black Pepper and Mesquite are smoked in-house on hickory wood.

• Classic Cut Beef Jerky: This traditional, old-fashioned flavored jerky is made from solid strips of corn-finished beef that are marinated in apple cider vinegar and a special blend of spices. Original and Black Pepper varieties are sugar free, and there is also a sweet and savory Teriyaki flavor made with brown sugar.

• Extra-Thin Cut Beef Jerky: Made from solid strips of cornfinished beef marinated in apple cider vinegar, this traditional, easy-to-chew jerky is brimming with old-fashioned flavor. Original, Black Pepper, Hot Pepper, and Mesquite flavors are smoked in-house with real hickory wood are each free of sugar, plus a Teriyaki flavor rounds out the lineup.

• Extra-Thin Cut Turkey Jerky: Crafted from solid strips of antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed Mary’s Free-Range Turkey Breasts, this lean jerky choice is 96% fat free. Flavors include Honey Pineapple and Sweet & Spicy.

• Naturally Smoked 100% Beef Sticks: Uniquely crafted in the style of European smoked and dried meats, these better-for-you beef sticks are naturally smoked with real hickory wood and feature a satisfying snap in every bite. Original and Spicy varieties are sugar free, and a Teriyaki flavor is also available.

HORSES and SLEEP

The equine natural behavior, is profoundly free and flexible, and so deeply rooted in its genetic code that even the most ingenious genetic selection only scratches the surface. We have proof of this in the populations of the “wild horses” spread all over the world, which actually came from domestic horses that broke free, and were able to readapt to live in the wild. Horses adapt to where they live and they do not build anything to protect themselves while sleeping. They are prey animals, and whether domestic or wild, any horse is always alert and completely immersed in the surrounding. When they get to a new area, they explore it and then adapt to the situation and they do so even when we move them to a new place, but we need always to keep in mind that a horse may not sleep well when traveling or arriving in a new place, and we need to help him get comfortable and rest. Horses are herd animals, and within each herd there is a “pecking order” based on alertness that protects the entire herd. As prey animals, horses cannot lay down and sleep for long periods of time, because that would make them vulnerable to predator attacks, but in a herd some individuals will be resting while others will be alert and watch out for the safety of the whole herd. Because of their anatomy horses can also sleep while standing, but the sleep phase with rapid eye movement (REM), that should amount to at least thirty minutes, cannot happen without recumbency because during REM sleep the horses loose muscle tone. However, if comfortable and safe, horses will lay down to do this stage of sleep. Any disruption of their sleep will result in sleep deprivation which is not a sleep disorder, but causes behavior such as nervousness or irritability and decreases physical performance. Affected horses may transition into REM sleep while standing and partially collapse before suddenly waking up.

The conditions that can cause sleep deprivation for horses are many and range from environmental to physical and it is possible to address them and make it possible for horses to properly sleep. Some known primary factors that always affect the quantity and quality of equine sleep are limited space, adverse weather conditions, the risk of predation, the gestation period in mares, the animal body mass, the encephalization, and the basal metabolic rate.

When the goal is to improve performance and welfare in domesticated horses, along with proper exercise, the considered factors often are sufficient air and light, food and water, adequate space for movement and contact with conspecifics, but another very important topic that is often not considered is creating environments that facilitate optimal sleep for the horses. Sleep is a biological need for mammals, because it provides rest and has a role in building memory. All mammals sleep, but in different ways according to their species behavior and the environmental factors that surround them. What we know at this moment is that horses are polyphasic sleepers, with several short periods of sleep that amount to about 3 to 4 hours. There are levels of sleep variation between individual horses, probably connected to age, sex, breed and emotional state, but in any horse the sleep time is distributed throughout the 24 hours divided in periods lasting a few minutes, and most of it happens at night.

Two Friesian mares are resting in a covered area. Theses horses are housed in a large uncovered area and provided with a covered area that they can access when they need it

Ensuring adequate space for horses to lay down comfortably for at least 30 minutes every day is definitely necessary to improve the welfare of horses, along with addressing medical problems that can limit their ability to lay down to sleep. Overweight, but healthy horses may also find it difficult to lay down and stand up, and this can be a limiting factor for REM sleep. Knowing that horses will only lie down and allow themselves REM sleep if they are completely comfortable in their surroundings is the reason why we should always ensure to create a quiet, safe environment where we keep horses. Whether inside a barn or outside in small paddocks or pastures, in single enclosures or in a herd, the instinctual behavior of a horse is always there and we should learn it and always keep it in mind. Most adult horses, other than very large size ones, can lay down in a 12’ x 12’ box stall, however they need to feel comfortable and able to get up. Horses have to learn to lay down not too close to a wall or fence, because in this case they will be cast and will need help to stand up.

We need to always keep in mind that the kind of enclosure where a horse is housed has always an impact on its comfort, in a way that is related to how they can perceive the

Story and Photos By Alessandra Deerinck

This is a group of young horses between six and twelve months of age, with an adult mare that are housed in a large paddock and that are laying down while the older mare is watching out for them.

surrounding area. If they are cooped up in a stall or a paddock where they cannot see around, but they can hear noises that come from outside, they can become anxious and not sleep comfortably. A bare concrete floor is not adequate for a horse to lay down, unless we provide straw or shavings that need to be of adequate depth to let the horse rest and stand up comfortably. The bedding needs to be managed daily in order to eliminate the urine and manure that would not be inviting for a horse to lay down and sleep, and can even create a serious problem in terms of infection for the hoof.

Horses are very sensitive to the presence of light or darkness that regulates their sleep cycles, and we need to let them be able to perceive the light according to the time of the day. If we house horses in a barn, we should not keep lights turned on at night, because we can impair their sleep as well as affect a mare’s reproductive system. Foals are generally born during the dark hours in order to have some safe time to get on the ground and stand up, and keeping light on can cause mares to retain the foals in their womb for longer time.

When we keep horses in a pasture, they can easily have a good night’s sleep if they lay down on grass or dirt. Protection from the elements is an aspect to consider for horses kept in a pasture, and providing them a covered dry area that they can access if needed is a way to safeguard their sleep. Being aware of any situation at the moment it happens, and work to make horses comfortable is something we need to learn how to do and always do it, if we want to truly take care of the wellbeing of horses, domesticated or wild.

FREESTYLE

A&

So this is really a personal preference (both on the rider side and the judges side). Some judges will like to see mirror pa�erns and some won’t mind if you do the other direc�on of a movement elsewhere. Some riders really like to have mirrored pa�erns (they can be easier to remember) and others want something totally opposite. Try to find a balance between a nice, balanced (not necessarily mirrored) choreography, and one that has crea�ve lines built in.

By Collier Wimmer

At the heart of a freestyle you’re telling a story, so when we try to drill down to one piece of advice for riders that are new to freestyles, I believe the story should be at the heart of it. And to tell a good story, my best advice is to find a freestyle designer that wants to work with you and help bring that story to life. Talk with mul�ple freestyle designers, understand their working style and processes and see who synthesizes with you. Some ques�ons to ask yourself: Is this a freestyle designer that you can work with mul�ple �mes? Is this a designer I can freely collaborate with? Am I afraid to ask them ques�ons that I don’t know answers to?

Your partnership with your freestyle designer should be a mutual collabora�on and one where you both walk in lockstep. I believe the best freestyles are designed with a 50/50 split between the rider and the freestyle designer. My best freestyles are produced by partnering with my clients and going through long working sessions, feedback sessions, and mul�ple mul�ple version updates. A freestyle is a living story, and to be able to tell it correctly you need that partnership; so finding someone that can be your ally and story builder is cri�cal.

Ruby Roo Saddles, LLC Ruby Roo Saddles, LLC A Sprinkle Of Happiness For All Kids All Purpose, Event, Hunter, Dressage, Western

www.rubyroosaddles.com info@rubyroosaddles.com

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Ruby ROO Saddles, LLC @coolponysaddles

Photo by Sanne Wiering

What is one piece of advice to riders thinking about trying a freestyle?

When performing the required movements, ie 20 meter circle both directions at canter or trot, is it important or necessary to do mirror patterns? Or is it OK to do one circle at B-E and the circle in the opposite direction at A or C?

The Art

Lungeing: Part 2 of

Palm Partnership Training™ Building a Partnership with your Horse

Story and Photos By Lynn Palm

of the Whip

Initially, I have my students practice with the whip without the horse. This way you can learn how to use the whip without confusing the horse or the horse ignoring the whip because it’s not used properly. The first thing to remember is that the whip is to be held in front or to the side of the handler, not behind your body.

Here’s how to use the whip in order to encourage forward motion:

1. The first step is to raise the whip’s end, keeping it positioned behind the horse. The horse sees the whip and moves forward.

2. If you need more response, swing the whip toward the horse’s hindquarter. Keep your whip level as you swing the tassel.

3. If you need yet more encouragement to get the horse to move forward, swing the whip with more action and make the whip movement faster.

4. If the horse needs more encouragement, make a snapping noise with the popper at the end of your whip. To do this, you must move your wrist forward and back very quickly, keeping the whip level, creating the popper to snap and make a noise.

5. If your horse needs more, swing the whip and touch the horse.

Practice these steps without the horse, and when you are confident with the whip, use it with your lungeing lesson.

bring the head straight or inward and then send the horse out on the circle. Do not pull the head to come in, as the horse will just come in more and more and not improve his balance!

Here’s how to recognize a horse falling out. The horse will start to pull you, his head comes in too far, and his body swings out. The horse will slow down, break gaits, and the hind legs will lose power from swinging out. To improve this falling out posture you have to send the horse forward! This will straighten him out.

Falling In / Falling Out Tips

Remember where on the circle (or other configuration) your horse falls in or out. Improve the horse’s forward motion before he gets to this place by asking him to move out to improve falling in and forward for falling out!

Let’s lunge your horse! My Golden Rule when lungeing a horse:

Do different size circles then go straight and start a circle at another area. Do NOT lunge the same size circle over and over, making your lungeing session a monotonous drill. Horses hate that!

All horses will fall in more than fall out. Falling in is recognized by the horse’s head positioned to the outside and the horse is leaning in, speeding up his legs to keep his balance.

The only way to get your horse to straighten himself is to make the circle larger, making the horse move out. I use the lunge line and toss it toward his head to

Change gaits often. Change the size of the circle. Go from a circle to a straight line, keeping the triangle configuration*. Go from a straight line to a circle. This is a great exercise for improving self carriage. (*To form the triangle: Stay parallel to the horse and make one side of the triangle with your lunge line. The horse is another side of the triangle, and the whip is the third side of the triangle. You are in the middle of the triangle.)

Voice Commands While Lungeing

Your voice is very important in influencing how the horse responds to lungeing. Horses don’t know words, but they know tones of words. A deep tone is a comcommand. The longer you stretch out the tone of the word, the more you want the horse to hear you and stay smooth and relaxed. A short word could be for the horse that is laid back or loses his attention easy.

A soft or mellow voice rewards the horse after a proper response to signals, and then helps him relax. Again, a word with a long, drawn out annunciation is very meaningful to the horse. A short word is also important if his concentration is on you! I use the words Walk, Trot, Canter, Whoa. If you over-use your words, your horse will ignore you. Remember, where the horse’s ears are moving or focused is where his eyes are looking. If you want a responsive action from the horse, you have to read where he is looking before you give him a cue!

Controlled Play On The Lunge Line

This is something for when your horse lunges very, very well and you are confident that you can keep your horse in control. I like controlled play for when I take a horse to a show, where they are animated because of a new surrounding. I always work on my In Hand and Lungeing when I go to a new place with my horses. This is the way I will ask for play. I always walk a circle first when lungeing. When the horse is ready for play time, I lunge to the left to get some exercise. When I go to the right, I walk and trot for a while. Then I take the lunge line into two hands and make some sounds, or clap my hands. When the horse starts to run, buck, toss the head, jump up and down, I have my two hands on the lunge line, lean back to anticipate him trying to pull me, and use a give-and-take motion on the lunge line. I do not hold the line steady, as the horse can brace against me. If he braces against me, he could capture control from me. I will ask him to play at least three or four times. When the horse shows me that he is not playing any more, I go back to the walk. I will do a short lunge to the right to get him to be obedient and responsive on command before I end my lungeing lesson.

Palm Equestrian Academy generalinfo@lynnpalm.com

Cyril and Lynn offer clinics throughout the country and abroad as well as online coaching. Join them on their teaching tours or their Palm Equestrian Academy European Journeys.

International Horse Sales and Choice of Law, Jurisdiction and Venue ����������������������������

It is high Season again and everyone is looking for a new equine partner for the big dance. Bags are packed and riders and trainers, professional and amateur, are flying to Europe and elsewhere outside the U.S. to go horse shopping. Also, U.S. agents of foreign sellers are representing horses in the United States, and folks are buying them here. So far so good. But once you find the horse of your dreams one place or the other, the choice of law, jurisdiction and venue that you select for your contract matters.

What’s the difference between choice of law, jurisdiction, and venue, and why do they matter? Let’s unpack the concepts: “choice of law” means what location’s law applies to your horse transaction? The law where the horse was purchased? The law where the horse is being shipped, or where you reside? The law where the contract is executed? The law where the agent which represented the horse resides? The law where you sent the purchase money from or to? The answer is not so clear, and so you should spell out the choice of law in your Bill of Sale or Purchase and Sale Agreement. Many sellers want to apply their local law because they and their attorneys are familiar with that law. However, the law of all locations is not the same, and some laws have more or less advantages than others, should a dispute arise. For example, Florida has laws regarding required disclosures, while other states do not have those laws. In contrast, certain laws in Europe and certain international codes allow for unwinding a sale in the event of non-disclosures. Not certain which law to select? Talk to a legal professional.

“Jurisdiction” is closely related to choice of law, but is not entirely the same thing. Jurisdiction means the selection of the courts that will have the agreed upon power over the contracting parties to enforce the contract and resolve disputes regarding the contract. The jurisdiction could be where the horse was purchased or sold, or another mutuallyagreed upon jurisdiction. Other than agreeing to the jurisdiction of a court, the parties could agree to an arbitration, a private organization providing a final proceeding before an arbitration tribunal or single arbitrator. The parties specify the arbitration organization having jurisdiction in place of a government’s court system. This is sometimes very helpful when the purchaser, seller and agents are all over the World. Whatever court or tribunal you select as the authority with jurisdiction, you can then specify what law that authority then applies, and then the choice of law considerations kick in.

“Venue” is the actual, physical location where the dispute resolution proceeding before the court or tribunal or arbitrator will occur. There can be numerous venues within a jurisdiction, so be specific where you want your proceeding to occur. Considerations which tend to predominate selecting a venue include convenience and cost to the parties, language of the proceeding, likelihood of speedy resolution (also a jurisdictional consideration), amongst others. Specifying the agreed-upon, sole proper venue helps smooth the logistics planning if a dispute transitions to the need for a formal proceeding.

Typically, choice of law, jurisdiction and venue are set forth near the end of a contract, and are often overlooked by one side or the other Whether or not you or your attorney is preparing the Purchase and Sale Agreement, or form of Bill of Sale, pay particularly close attention

to these closing provisions, otherwise you might wind up in a location, under foreign law, which you do not understand, or which are not in your best interests. Sometimes parties will recycle an old contract, not consult an attorney, and wind up inadvertently specifying inconvenient locations or inapplicable law in one or more of these provisions. In such a situation, a court will not save the parties from a bad contract, so do not think that a court will fix the details of your contract later for you. You are presumed to have read and understand what you sign, so take the time to read and understand the equine sales contracts you execute.

With respect to international horse sales, if you use a simple Bill of Sale that specifies none of these provisions, then the law might gap fill, stepping into designate the law that applies, but how that works out may or may not help you. For example, some states of the United States apply the lex loci test, meaning a contract (and the law that applies to the contract) is determined by the location of the last act necessary to form the contract. That is form, not perform, the contract, so when or where you pay is not the determinative factor, because that is performance. The location of an agent signing on behalf of the purchaser or seller may also affect the choice of law. Where the last signatory executed the contract may wind up being the deciding factor in selecting the law which applies. For example, if an international equine purchase and sale contract that contains none of the provisions we discussed above is executed by the seller in Europe and then counter-signed by the purchaser in Florida to complete formation of the contract, then Florida would consider that a Florida contract. However, a purchaser purchasing internationally might nevertheless want European law to apply, and not local law, and so that choice of law must be specified in the relevant contract.

If you have read this far, now you are thinking you are happy you just get to ride horses for a living or a hobby and do not have to think about these things every day. However, every day, disputes arise about international and domestic horse purchases, and then these submerged issues rise to the surface and become very contentious. Our advice? Do what you do best on a horse, and employ the right legal counsel to help you with the contracts and sales before they become issues

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Nancy’s dedication to horsemanship and the health and wellbeing of our youth riders creates a positive environment for growth and success. Lessons and coaching are available at her facilities in New Hampshire (summer) and Florida (winter), or remotely via phone or internet.

ide Saddles

Believe It Or Not!

Story and Photos By Pie Truono and Jacquelynn Holly

Gymnasium?

In 1912 an exercise machine such as this was on the Titanic and other cruise ships of the �me. This photo can be found on page F9 from Dr. G. Zander’s medico-mechanische Gymnas�k Book published in 1892 courtesy of the Smithsonian Libraries.

It has been recorded in the Guiness World Records that Susan Oakes cleared a 6’5” triple bar with Oberon and a 6’8” puissance wall with Atlas in Ireland on Oct 24, 2013. This makes her the world record holder for highest jump by a horse ridden side saddle for both types of jumps

This picture captures the truly amazing Oberon and Susan Oakes clearing a 6’5” triple bar. Photo courtesy of Noel Mullins

DID YOU KNOW? The USEF rules in the Ladies Side Saddle Division require each lady to possess a sandwich case and flask on the offside of her sidesaddle.

It is checked for historical accuracy. The sandwich should be made with white meat, and the bread is required to have the crust removed. The sandwich must be cut on a diagonal and wrapped in linen or wax paper. It is said that wrapping the sandwich in this unique and specific manner prevents the scent of the meal from throwing off the hounds while hun�ng in the field. Tea or sherry are the only two beverages permi�ed to fill the flask. Judges will check these appointments as it is a por�on of the overall ranking within the class.

Stock �es are also a requirement of the Ladies Side Saddle Showing a�re and have an important history as they were o�en used in the hun�ng field in case of injury. Stock �es could be used in a variety of ways including a sling for a rider, a bandage for a horse or even a tourniquet. A stock pin resembling a safety pin should be gold and neatly pinned horizontally.

Pie Truono proudly shows the contents of her side saddle case containing a correctly made and wrapped sandwich and sherry filled flask. Here you can see her smartly �ed stock �e and pin. Photo by a friend

Did you know Titanic had a mechanical side saddle in its First Class

Mexican Saddle

Did you know Mexican sidesaddles, known as “albarda” sidesaddles used by Escaramuza Charras, are built unlike any other sidesiddle? The saddles are built on bars, similar to western sidesaddles, but the seat is built up in a sling-like fashion, so the rider is suspended about 6-8” above the tree bars! These saddles are also built with two s�rrups, like an astride saddle. This allows the rider to prac�ce her precise drill maneuvers astride, before compe�ng en�rely aside.

English Saddle

Did you know English, Western and Mexican sidesaddles are all rigged differently? English sidesaddles use the billet system, similar to an astride English saddle, but with a tri-fold leather girth, an overgirth and a balance strap reaching from the front nearside to the back offside.

Double rigged Western sidesaddles feature two billets on the nearside and two la�gos on the offside.

Both English and Western sidesaddles are cinched and adjusted on the offside.

The Mexican sidesaddle, however, is cinched on the nearside and features one la�go on each side.

Photo by Jacquelynn Holly

Susan Oakes and Altas clear a 6’ 8” Puissance wall for a Guinness World Record. Photo by Noel Millins