A great looking collar with all the durability and prac�cality an owner hopes for. Machine washable premium nylon and handwoven co�on with a prac� cal side release buckle and solid brass hardware. www.auburndirect.com
SOURCE micronutrients providing a unique spectrum of support vitamins and minerals plus, diges�ve enzymes, beneficial microbes, an�-oxidants and essen�al fa�y acids.
See our ad page 55 800-232-2365 www.4source.com
ONE-APPLICATION-DOES-IT-ALL SOLUTION
Urad leather cream is easy and natural. Clean, polish, protect, condi�on and extend the beauty and life of all your leather goods. See our tall boots “Before /A�er” on our web site. URAD.com
Saddler’s Preserva�ve
Protect and restore your valuable leather for years to come. See our ad page 29 www.jmsaddler.com
LAY-FLAT HOSE QUICKREEL
Mounts to cart or vehicle. ATV trailer cart assemble available. Proudly made in the USA by our team of cra�smen! See our ad page 37 BigSprinkler.com
EQUINE HEALTH
CONSIGNMENTS!
EQUINE CONSIGNMENTS!
Great selec�on of saddle boots, ms and more.Free trial on saddles.See our ad on page www.GoodAppleEquine
Great selec�on of saddles, tack, boots,home items and more. Free trial on saddles. See our ad on page 68 www.GoodAppleEquine.com
A must have for traveling and evacua�ons. Available for dogs and farm animals. First Aid kits and more. See our ad on page 61 www.EquestriSafe.com
www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
Saddle Fi�ng For Kids!
Now available on Amazon!
See our ad on page 31
Gi� Baskets Make The Perfect Gi�! Something for everyone!
See our ad on page 68 www.horsebaskets.com
See our ad on page 15
CUSTOM STALL SIGNS
Ships Free Anywhere in USA www.sawoodcra�ing.com
See our ad on page 68 for a discount code!
MORE THAN A PLACE TO PUT YOUR FOOT!
Fabulous selec�on of colors and designs for western s�rrups. See our ad on page 35 ne�les-s�rrups.com
GET READY BLANKET Light weight, rechargeable over 1600 LEDs
See our ad on page 51 www.revitavet.com
IRH: INTERNATIONAL RIDING HELMETS
Family owned for 3 genera�ons of Safety & Style! Gi� Cards available See our ad page 29 www.IRHequestrian.com
CUSTOM DRESSAGE ARENA LETTERS
This perfect Trainer’s gi� shows barn pride by displaying their colors & logo in style. DecoPony.com
CHILDREN’S COUNTING BOOK
Unique concept of repe��ve coun�ng with fun themes and colorful graphics to teach your child numbers like no other book! 8.5 x 11”. 168 pgs
See our ad on page 59 www.amazon.com search under NUMBERIFIC OR h�ps://books.by/noelle-rose
WEEKLY PLANNERS
Appointments, important calls/emails. Shopping list. Note weekly priori�es, goals, & best memory of the week. General note pages included. Our whimsical cover will be a joy to open every day! A handy 5 x 8” fits perfectly in your purse or backpack. 60 pages
See our ad on page 57 www.amazon.com/author/noelle-rose h�ps://books.by/noelle-rose
INTO THE
SEASON with Ruby Roo Saddles, LLC www.rubyroosaddles.com
HOLIDAY ORNAMENT w ith a Jumper Horse, fine detail in raised profile. Many other designs! www.tempidesignstudio.com
See our ad page 71 DA BRIM
Equestrian themed hats. See our ad on page 27 riatadesigns.com
Equestrian Endurance Helmet Brim
See our ad on page 69 dabrim.com
Record expenses/visits from vet, farrier, den�st. Keep lesson and show records, your goals and awards, all in one place Space for 3 horses, or 1 horse for 3 years. 6x9”, 60 pages, $7.99 See our ad on page 57 www.amazon.com/author/noelle-rose h�ps://books.by/noelle-rose
See our ad on page 53 Bitlessbridles.com
W inter Show Season
Stirrup Leather Belt
Genuine leather belt with Equetech exclusive s�rrup buckle. This is an exquisite belt, to add a stylish accent to your wardrobe, for compe��on and casual use. Perfect for dressage, show jumping and for everyday glamour! (Measurements are from the buckle to the middle hole).
Sizes: XS - L RRP: £39.95
Frock style coat with a waisted seam incorpora�ng double concealed zip flap pockets. Made from the finest quality 640gsm Twill wool mix. Features front flap zip pockets, ta�ersall check lining, lower waterproof skirt lining, single inset whistle pocket in the seam, storm tab collar fastener, inner storm stretch cuffs and double vents to back. Dry clean only. Generous fit. If in between sizes, go down a size.Ideal for warmer layers.
Navy or Black
Sizes: 32 - 44
RRP: £345.95
Grip Seat Breeches
Con�nentally styled breeches, perfect for showing and general riding with a unique grip to keep your bo�om connected with the saddle! Super stretch with 5% elastane for ul�mate stretch and shape reten�on. Features a Lycra® hem leg panel and silicone grip. Machine washable.
Beige, Black, Canary, Champagne, Coco, Navy, White
Sizes: 24 - 38
RRP: £66.50
Ladies Hunt Wool Frock Coat
HOW DO YOU MAKE A DECISION
about which
Equestrian Riding Helmet To Purchase?
By Nina Howie
Safety Comfort & Style
Let’s talk about helmet safety first, since the most important function of a riding helmet is how it will protect the rider in the event of a fall. The safest helmet is the helmet that fits you best, not the most expensive or trendy.
The importance of having a helmet certified by SEI to meet the ASTM testing standard F1163.23 is significant.
SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) is the organization that certifies protective equipment for a number of industries, including the equestrian industry. SEI selected the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) Standard F1163 to evaluate most of the helmets sold in the US. In 2023 the standard F1163 was updated to include an additional helmet compression test.
IRH resubmitted all of the models in 2023 for the new testing standard, and all passed without any change in manufacturing, so regardless of the date of manufacture, you can be assured that all of the IRH helmets are as safe as any IRH helmet tested in 2023.
Comfort & Adjustability:
Each Premium IRH helmets comes with 2 “CoolOn” moisture wicking liners to create 2 helmet sizes within one helmet purchase, giving the rider the option to wear their hair down in a ponytail or up inside the helmet with a hair net. IRH prides themselves in designing helmets that fit a variety of head shapes, using the liners to offer the best fit for each rider.
The liners are well padded with foam thicknesses 2 mm - 8 mm to create a custom-like fit. The liners are secured with hook & loop to reduce the bulk of snaps, and for making it easy to remove to wash, or just dry out in between rides.
The School/Camp/Trail styles have single thickness removable liners, but they also have a Dial Fit insert that adjusts the inside circumference of the helmet to fit 3-4 head sizes.
The light weight of the helmets (between .75 lb & 1.3 lbs) with many ventilation ports to allow heat to escape from the inside of the helmet keeping the rider cool out for a long ride on the trails, or during a full day of training horses and riders.
Continued...
Style and Design:
Fashion meets functionality as IRH helmets latest designs combine great looks with superior comfort and fit. The line consists of 8 different models, 4 finishes, and 32 different color combinations, making it likely that every rider in every discipline will find a model and color to match their personal style.
All IRH helmets can be embellished with Swarovski Crystals. International Riding Helmets is the only US Helmet company with a license to use Genuine Swarovski Crystals, and every helmet is embellished by hand by our talented artists. The customer chooses the crystal colors and the placement of the crystals to reflect their signature look, and each crystal is meticulously placed by hand.
Brand and Reviews
International Riding Helmets has a solid reputation in the equestrian community, particularly for offering affordable, safety-certified helmets that cater to a wide range of riders, from beginners to experienced equestrians. IRH helmets are known for their practical features, including effective ventilation systems, lightweight designs, and adjustable sizing options which make them comfortable for long period use. IRH is well regarded for providing reliable protection and comfort at more accessible price points. This makes IRH a popular choice among riders who want a good balance between safety, comfort, and affordability. Overall, IRH helmets are seen as a dependable option that deliver good value, making them a trusted brand in the equestrian world.
Replacement Policy
It is a fact that any time a rider has been in a fall with (any) helmet, the helmet should be replaced. IRH has a unique replacement policy to make it easy for riders to replace the damaged helmet with another IRH. See our website IRHHelmets.com for more information under Helmets>Helmet Registration and Replacement Policy>Accident Replacement Policy.
www.IRHHelmets.com
Soopa Selection Box
This gi�-ready selec�on box features a delicious combina�on of superfood dental s�cks and healthy bite-sized pieces of fes�ve joy in the award-winning Bri�sh brand’s best-selling flavour combina�on: Cranberry & Sweet Potato with added natural flaxseed for happy tummies. Grain-free, with nothing ar�ficial added, low calorie, hypoallergenic, and 100% plant-based ingredients - they’re...
www.soopapets.com ... a ‘pawsome’ Christmas gi� your pooch will love!
RRP: £6.99
►Can reduce your horse’s athletic ability by 15-20%
►Can endanger your horse’s life during stressful training schedules in heat and humidity
►Safely balances your horse’s chemistry enabling it to sweat, naturally cooling it down.
►No side effects.
►Does not register positive on drug tests,making it ideal for performance horses.
Ros Beck Art
Equis ar�st from New Zealand, Ros Beck is a breeder of Appaloosa horses and a passionate Greyhound lover. “I have been pain�ng most of my life. I love acrylic pouring and mix this with tradi�onal pain�ng to create unique, one of a kind pieces.”
Kenna Al-Sayed
“When I was 8 years old, my parents signed me up for riding lessons and it was the start of my absolute passion of knowing all things horses.
Growing up between Abu Dhabi, where my father is from, and Indiana, where my mother is from, I traveled quite a bit as a child and visited many museums and horses around the world that have influenced me both as a person and as an ar�st.”
“From being confident in my ability to accurately depict horses, I started playing around with only wan�ng to create what was needed to express their movement, the ethos of the horse. I started using ink as a means to express the movement of horses; being able to make sweeping lines that mimicked a horse’s stride became a signature feature in my artwork.”
Sketch IN48 by Kenna Al-Sayed. 5×7″ mixed media on paper. $40.00
Peaceful Percheron by Ros Beck. 12 x 12″ acrylic pour on canvas. $400.00
Sketch IN94 by Kenna Al-Sayed. 11×14″ mixed media on paper. $110.00
Quiet Gentleman by Ros Beck. 12×12″ acrylic pour on canvas. $400.00
ART ANTIQUES&
By Dr. Lori
Vintage Holiday
Brooches
By Dr. Lori Verderame
When it comes to dressing up, holiday season requires your best ou�its and accessories. During the holidays, we dress in our best clothes, shoes, and hats. Yet, when it comes to jewelry, albeit fine or costume, a big statement piece makes a holiday ou�it stand out. Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are the must-have accessories for holiday style, a brooch tops off any blouse, blazer, sweater, shirt, or coat.
When it comes to evaluating holiday brooches, there are some aspects of the popular keepsakes that should not be overlooked. Gemstones like rubies and emeralds are often the choice of the season because of their red and green colors. Precious metals like silver jewelry is popular during the winter holidays. It’s true that if it’s good enough for the bells then it’s good enough for the bling. Of course, gold jewelry pieces including rose gold, yellow gold or white gold, are always in fashion. These pretty and precious metals are the basis for any goodlooking brooch.
Settings
When choosing a holiday brooch, the importance of a brooch’s setting is important. Look for classic settings like wreaths, circles, or natural forms such as poinsettias, holly, evergreen trees, etc. Prongs are a quality indicator for both fine and costume jewelry brooches. Remember, the more prongs on a brooch to hold a gemstone or faux gemstone in place, the better. Most faceted cut gemstones are set with at least four prongs. It is better to have six or more prongs. Prongs should be curved and tightly secured to the gemstone on a brooch. Like prongs which come in various types, pinback clasps come in a variety of types too. Some typical pinback clasps are c-clasps resembling the alphabet letter “C”, trombone clasps, barrel clasps, and rotating clasps. All are made to secure a fancy brooch to any garment.
Styles
For holiday brooches, some of the most popular styles are those that resemble wreaths, candles or winter themed objects like sleighs, snowmen, or snowflakes, to name a few. Figural brooches of Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, Hanukkah menorahs, dreidels, and other seasonal objects are popular. Collectors know that brooches are making a big come back on the vintage fashion scene. Today’s holiday fashion demands that a bigger vintage brooch is a better brooch. These big brooches, called statement brooches, command high values on the market. Vintage brooches from the mid-1900s to the end of the twentieth-century enjoy a very active resale market online on platforms like eBay.com, Etsy.com, ShopThrilling.com, and Poshmark.com among others.
Gemstones
The most popular gemstones or faux gemstones used in holiday brooches are red and green stones. Red stones such as garnets and rubies and green stones like emeralds, peridots, and jades highlight the holiday color scheme. These color pairs attract the eye using the law of complimentary colors from color theory. Red and green are complementary colors which stimulate the optic nerve and attract one’s eyes to look at the color pair. The introduction of colorless or white gemstones such as pearls and diamonds are used by holiday jewelry designers to recall a wintery mood suggestive of white snow, crystals, or angels sparkling wings. Diamonds, rhinestones, and crystals are used in holiday brooches to give a look of snowy landscapes. Blue topaz and aquamarines are often paired with pearls in holiday brooches to give the feeling of the colors of the season’s cold and icy wintery weather, too. In addition to these precious gems, faux gemstones are integrated into holiday brooch design like blue Austrian crystals or carved cabochon stones like carnelian, calcedony, and aventurine. When it comes to fine jewelry, look for high quality materials, gemstones, and stunning modern designs by some of the most impressive designers like David Yurman, Chanel, Cartier, etc. For vintage costume or faux jewelry collectors, brooches by Hattie Carnegie, Miriam Haskell, Ben Amun, Trifari, and Eisenberg have good value and strong market interest.
Happy holidays.
Assorted holiday brooches
Photo by Staff of www.DrLoriV.com
BOOKS �����������������
Wild Horses of Skydog: Blue Zeus and Families
A searingly beau�ful tribute to wild Mustang family groups that have been reunited a�er suffering roundup and separa�on in the American West.
The Horses Who Made Me
YouTube sensa�on Alizée Fromont, known for startlingly beau�ful liberty performances, now tells her personal story and those of her horses in this lush coffee table book.
A Horse By Nature
The first complete reference to help equestrians make the changes needed to ensure social license and the ability to ride and compete horses for years to come.
Your Complete Guide to Equine Arenas
A “wish book” for horse people dreaming of perfect foo�ng and professional-grade rings, pens, and arenas.
Find them at TrafalgarBooks.com.
The life of an equestrian is strewn with many commonali�es. Nonetheless, the personal lives of the women in this story vary greatly. This novel touches on the individual inner workings and desires of the characters.
Kelly is an independent woman who has inherited her family’s horse farm and runs it me�culously. She has been successfully on her own for as long as she can remember. Now in her for�es, she has found herself yearning for companionship. Her Sco�sh nature has dictated that she forge ahead with strength, all-the-while feeling that something is missing in her life.
Francheska has newly discovered a connec�on to horses. With her parent’s approval, she is taken under the wing of Roger, a local horse trainer, who teaches her the many facets of the horse world. Her mother, Marisa, decides that Francheska’s new found horse interest will allow her to return to her long-missed career in fashion journalism.
Olivia and Lorinda are boarders at Shadybrook who spend �me going on weekly rides together throughout the Rus�c Hills countryside. Lorinda is blessed with a loving husband, Olivia, not so much.
For More Informa�on or to order a book, contact: B.L. Clark at bmlabradors@yahoo.com
Far from a standard dog training manual, Tender Paws explicitly applies paren�ng wisdom and best prac�ces used with special needs kids to a cross-sec�on of scenarios, from recognizing developmental trauma and unmet core needs, to making decisions about appropriate equipment, to responding to difficult behavior, to understanding the paren�ng style from which we approach our dogs.
Tender Paws takes a deep dive into the prac�cal benefits of applying therapeu�c paren�ng best prac�ces to dogs in our care.
www.hcibooks.com
Photo by Nancy Guth
With The Right Equestrian Partner
Developing Young Sport Horse Prospects, Training Sport Horses For Their Next Level
New Prospects Arrive From Germany Several Times Each Year
New Prospects Arrive From Germany Several Times Each Year
Equine Performance Partners is the perfect source, whether you are looking for a Hunter/Jumper or a Dressage star, to find your new equine partner, or have your horse’s training advanced. There are lush pastures for young horses to graze, socialize and exercise. Every prospect receives thedevelopemental training that young horses need.
New prospects are imported from Germany several �mes each year.
Horses are developed with an individualized program to build their strength, suppleness, and condfidence.
You are welcome to come for a trial with one of our sale horses for several days to engage in a repoir building experience, allowing you to fully familiarize yourself with a prospect.
www.equineperformancepartnership.com
Located in Ocala, Florida, 5 minutes from World Equestrian Center. Email FalkPeter@me.com or call 352-409-6616 to find your perfect equine partner.
Rudi has a super personality and work ethic. He is amateur friendly with pro quality. Rudi is very sweet and cuddly, loads well, no vices, great family horse with poten�al for upper levels.
Price Range: High Five Digits
www.equineperformancepartnership.com
Located in Ocala, Florida, 5 minutes from World Equestrian Center. Email FalkPeter@me.com or call 352-409-6616 to find
GOLDEN WINGS
HORSE SHOES
By Alessandra Deerinck
The equine health and mind are very influenced by how we take care of horses, and knowing how the body of a horse functions is one very important part of the necessary knowledge. The equine hoof has an important influence on the equine body and his health and soundness.
At the present time, most domestic horses are shod with metal shoes and therefore partially or completely insulated from the ground and their hoof cannot expand and contract, but it is very likely that they must compensate for the lack of feel for the ground through other senses.
Shoeing is a practice that was established to protect horses from what the activities we engage them in would do to them. Shod or barefooted is good as long as the hoof can function properly, and the horses are comfortable with their status.
The hoof is the part of the equine body that touches the ground. The support of the equine body is important, but because of its anatomy, the hoof provides also shock absorption, traction, and secure footing. Another very important function of the hoof in the physiology of the equine body is related to its anatomy and movement. The external part of the hoof is made by a hard tissue that encloses and protects bones, cartilages, ligaments, tendons and a net of capillary blood vessels, but is also flexible. When the horse bears weight on a limb, the hoof expands, adapting to the ground and the pressure that the frog exerts makes so that the lateral cartilages, the coffin bone and the hoof capsule push the blood through the network of micro vessels up the leg and back to the heart.
The hoof has an outer hard wall that is thicker in the toe area and protects all that is enclosed in it. The wall turns on itself in the back of the hoof where the heels are, and forms two bars that run on the bottom along the frog area, which is surrounded by the sole that is concave, with the highest part at the tip of the frog. In a natural hoof the horn meets the skin area that is covered by hair in a line called the coronet, which runs straight from the toe to the heel. When a horse is shod, the hairline often becomes curved and uneven. The coffin bone is parallel to the ground and has an angle of 50 to 56 degrees in the front limbs that are round in shape and are structured to bear weight, while in the hind limbs that provide propulsion, the angle is 55 to 60 degrees.
The natural hoof keeps growing throughout the life of the horse, and grows more in the toe area than in the other parts because the toe gets worn out more, so putting a horseshoe as protection on it and leaving it on for a long time does not allow the hoof to wear out naturally, and increases leverage, but also changes the angles in the joints and stresses the tissues of the leg causing changes in shape and hardness. Along with this, a stiff protection does not allow proper circulation, shock absorption, adaptation to the surface of the ground, and adds to the problems created by the lack of wear.
The Goldenwingshorseshoes.com in the USA has designed a horseshoe that can be very helpful for horses. The
“Mystic was wearing Goldenwings horseshoes when he won at Mohawk. I reallu like them!”
-Susie Kerwood
horse shoes that they designed have the purpose of solving hoof & quarter cracks, avoiding long toe and low heels, interference, protecting the sole from stone bruises, and preventing causes of lameness from hoof to spine. Goldenwingshorseshoes promote mustang-brumby barefoot hooves avoiding injuries and lameness.
Goldenwingshorseshoes are flexible, make horses comfortable, and protect the sole from stone bruising. Goldenwingshorseshoes are fabricated with resettable & flexible material that can outwears metal shoes and saves 30-40% time to shoe every horse.
Goldenwingshorseshoes are HISA approved at Los Alamitos & Oaklawn Quarterhorse & Thoroughbred Racetracks and offer a better way for every horse, especially racehorses that with this kind of shoes can stay sound and race longer.
Reviews On Golden Wings Horse Shoes
Barbara Whiteis
I have a 10 year old AQHA gelding. He was diagnosed with a navicular cyst about 3 years ago, so he had shoes and pads on all the �me. I use Destry for Cowboy Mounted Shoo�ng. He was sore with regular shoes, within 1 month of wearing Golden Wings shoes he was back to competing and winning buckles. Thank you very much. Great product, a few weeks ago I added the back shoes on my horse and he is doing even be�er.
Sound navicular horse
You had shared with me your studies about angles on front hooves being more in between 55 to 60 degrees. I got this par�cular horse to a 58 degree angle and put on your shoes. This horse had done well in your shoes before but, because of the tendon issue he was s�ll off for about a week a�er. A�er using the Golden Ra�o Measuring & Trimming Protocol on the website, steepening the angles to 58 degrees he is finally sound! Thank you so much for your advice willingness to consult and your wonderful product! It’s the first �me in 6 months this horse has been comfortable right a�er a shoeing!
Jane in Los Angeles with Roxie my Norwegian Fiord pony. I’ve had her since she was 8, she is now 23, only light work, & she has Ringbone. She hadn’t been shoed since April of last year. I have tried different supplements, different shoes, & a series of shots, but nothing worked as well as golden wings horse shoes. I wanted her comfortable & she certainly is now. Her shoes are working out extremely well. She’s going very well. I can’t say enough good things about your shoes, it’s helped her immensely. A�er 4 weeks I had her shoes reset on Wednesday. My farrier Is impressed.
The Journey from Ireland:
An Overview of Importing Horses
Story
and Photos By Stephanie Swites
I remember how imposing the idea of importing a horse from Ireland felt at first. The processand the expenses seemed overwhelming. To be honest, if I hadn’t already been in Ireland on vacation and fallen in love with a horse I rode there, I’d probably still be calling it a lofty dream!
But 12 years ago, with the help of a wonderful new Irish contact, I imported my first horse. Since then, Irish Manor Stables has been importing quality Irish Sport Horses, Irish Draughts, and Connemaras each year and matching them with a variety of adult amateurs: eventers, foxhunters, hunters, jumpers. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job!
However, I do remember how overwhelming the importing process was at first, so I’d like to share the steps with you in hopes of making it a little less daunting.
Once you’ve selected your dream horse from Ireland, through an online ad and videos or a reputable representative, your first step is to arrange a vetting with a local, reputable vet. I personally arrange for a 5 stage vetting, which includes a physical exam including flexions, an exercise phase (ridden or lunged), and a second exam after exercise to evaluate any potential issues that may arise. You may ask the vet to take radiographs which you’ll want to review with your vet in the States. I have a list of x-rays that I ask to be taken on all of our imports which includes back, feet, etc.
Assuming the horse has passed the vetting, your next step will be to arrange for a shipping company. The shipping company will work with the local vet and the owner of the horse to ensure the horse has its blood tested prior to departure. Blood tests include Dourine, Glanders, and Equine Piraplasmosis. You will also share with the Irish shipping company the contact information of the importing agency in the United States. While each shipping company varies slightly with their process, the following is the procedure followed by the shipper I use for my imports.
On the day before departure from Ireland, your horse will be collected and delivered close to the Dublin port to stable, so he embarks on his journey fresh and rested. There will be a final vet check by the Department of Agriculture, and then the health papers are completed for export.
Horses are fed plenty of hay during this travel time and also a gastric-buffering, low starch pelleted feed. The horses then sail from Dublin to Holyhead (Wales) and make a direct drive to Dover, England to rest for ten hours. Upon departing Dover, they sail to France and drive to Belgium for rest for 24 hours prior to going to the Liege airport.
When the horses fly, they have qualified professional grooms who stay with them on the tow out to the aircraft. They will also stand with them for take off and landing, and check on the horses regularly throughout the flight to make sure everyone is comfortable, drinking, and eating their haynets, which are topped off as needed.
Your horse will be landing in the States at one of four ports that accept horses: MIA (Florida),ORD (Illinois), LAX (California), or JFK (New York). Upon arrival, your horse will be quarantined at a USDA quarantine facility. The quarantine release date will be dependent on the gender of your horse (stallion, mare, or gelding); geldings are released in 3 days, while mares and stallions require additional testing for Contagious Equine Metritis and will stay approximately 17 and 31 days respectively. During quarantine, your horse will be monitored for fever and general signs of illness in addition to testing for Dourine, Glanders, Equine Piroplasmosis, and Equine Infectious Anemia. The importing agency you chose will keep you updated on your horse’s health during quarantine and let you know when your horse is expected to be released. Prior to release from quarantine, you’ll be responsible for arranging tran sportation with a local shipper, or you might decide to pick up the horse yourself from quarantine. The importingagency you’ve used can recommend local shippers if you need suggestions.
Your new horse will arrive with any gear used for travel (sheet, rug, or boots) and the health papers. Don’t expect to receive the passport with your horse though; USDA holds it for processing and will mail it to you in a few days.
I hope this helps make the importing process seem a little less daunting! Irish-bred horses are well-known for their dependability, versatility, and athleticism, making them an excellent choice for both amateur riders and professionals. Going abroad to shop is such a treat because you can tailor the experience to your liking from trying ten horses a day to adding in some sight-seeing and taking in the local culture. The people are friendly and welcoming, the countryside is gorgeous, and the trip is not to be missed!
To Order: www.bitlessbridle.com Or Call: 877.942.4277
Broken Branch Broken Branch
Ocala’s Most Exclusive Prep School For Young Equine Atheletes
Located just North of Ocala in Starting Point the Broken Branch specializes in starting young hunters and jumpers under saddle as well as raising weanlings and yearlings properly to maximize your goals whether it be in the show ring, investments or for hobby.
Contact: 860-990-1175 For More Information
• We monitor our young horses growth stages with survey radiographs so we can offer advice and interventions to prevent skeletal issues down the road
• Our under saddle breaking and training is based on patience, kindness and creating a good solid base to promote the horse’s ability mentally and physically
• 24 hour staff on site
• Acres of grass turnout
• Available for any and all post operative care including 24 hour eye lavage system
• Patent pending bone supplement included in board to help prevent OCD’s or any other skeleton abnormalities
Over thirty years experience with hunter futurity winners, Derby winners and World Cup Grand Prix horses.
HIS HERS &
Cormac Kennedy
with L.A. Berry, Equinista
Cormac. A fine Irish name. Meaning, among other things, “son of a charioteer,” a more than appropriate appella�on for the fourth-genera�on horseman behind Mor Linn Farm, the boarding and hunter/jumper show barn in Walpole, Massachuse�s that is also the training facility for the Stonehill College Sky Hawks intercollegiate riding team. It’s a classic coming to America story for Cormac, who managed the riding school and young horse side of the yard at Kennedy Equine Centre before he and wife Catherine put new roots down in New England a decade ago. When we caught up with him, summer was turning to fall and the future was looking as bright as the foliage.
HERS: Do you remember your first horse/ pony?
HIS: Glidawn Diamond, a gray Irish Draft (King of Diamonds x Kildalton Countess) stallion myparents bought when I would have been 10 or 12. He was combination sport and breeding stallion. We had him for 30 years and my parents stood him. He was really the foundation of our Kennedy Stud Farm. My brothers and sister, and I broke, trained, and competed his progeny.
HERS: What did he teach you that can still apply?
HIS: Keep my eyes open at all times when around horses. Anything can happen at any time and to anyone.
HERS: Qualities you like best in a horse?
HIS: Their “try.” They don’t have to be too fancy or too brilliant, they just have to try for you. Some have all the ability but no heart. Some don’t have all the ability but try hardest. Horses that compete above their natural ability are those with that genuine try.
HERS: Qualities you like best in a person?
HIS: With kids, it’s effort. Even if they are nervous, just make an effort. With parents, it would be letting the people you’ve employed do the job that you hired them for.
HERS: First job and how old were you?
then I was too old for the age group on the contract. I ended up staying in Ireland to work for my parents’ stud farm and show jumping yard, then emigrated to America at age 30. Funny, once I got to America and started our farm, I became close friends with an executive at Reebok who offered me what would have been my dream job at 18, but I turned it down to stay in the horse business. Timing is everything!
HERS: Favorite quote?
HIS: From a poem by Irish poet, Oliver Goldsmith, called Deserted Village: “A youth of labor and an age of ease.”
HERS: Who/what was your introduction to jumping?
HIS: As a lad of 8, my parents loose schooling three-yearolds over fences in the field.
HERS: You can spend a day with any horseman/horse in history. Who would it be?
HIS: My first non-horse paying job was working for my Dad’s dairy co-op, loading milk bottles onto delivery vans in the mornings, after school and weekends (summer, too). I was 13 and made 30 pounds a week.
HERS: If you had to work outside our horse world what would you be doing?
HIS: I’d still be in sports. My ambition in high school was to work for one of the big brands, like Reebok, Adidas, or Nike in merchandising or sales. I was a offered a contract to play Australian rules football (like a cross between soccer and rugby) at 18 in Australia, but before I left there was a lockout and the players were on strike for a year and by
HIS: Eddie Macken and Boomerang. Ireland in the 1970s had two TV channels and Eddie was a national hero. You’d see him on TV competing at Dublin, Millstreet or Hickstead – he was like Elvis. I met him for the first time last year in Wellington.
HERS: Best and worst things about having your spouse as a business partner?
HIS: The best is the 95% that goes well and then it is fantastic because we live and breathe it, and have raised our children and built our business at Mor Linn Farm together. The worst part is the 5% when you lose together or things go wrong. There is no getting away from it, you don’t leave it outside when you get home from work, you live at the farm and have to deal with it 100% of the time.
Cormac Kennedy with son Aidan at Wellington, ’24. Photo courtesy Mor Linn Farm
A youth of labor and an age of ease.
HERS: Over the next decade, how would you like to see our h/j worlds evolve?
HIS: To not forget about the little guy, that the kids that have the pony in the backyard can go on and have a horse and be competitive. I hope that it can be more like Europe, where people on a carpenter or nurse or teacher’s salary can have horses, enjoy them, and be competitive.
HERS: You can invite 3 guests (past or present, real or fictional) to dinner. Who’s at the table and what’s served?
HIS: My dear old friend, John Joe Sommers, a great supporter when I came to America, who died of cancer a few years ago. His attitude was when you’re winning, don’t get too cocky and, when you’re losing, just get up and face it. He also came to America from Ireland and, when we bought our farm in Walpole, turned out he lived across the street. Roy Keane, a famous Irish soccer player I have never met and would love to. And Lee McKeever is the most incredible horseman, I would love to pick his brain. Served is bacon and cabbage, potatoes, and Guinness, (of course).
Horse power couple: Mor Linn Farm’s Cormac and Caroline Kennedy. Caroline is founder of Elevate E quine, LLC, wellness and lifestyle services for riders and farms.
Cormac with the youngest (age 7) member of the Kennedy riding family, Lucy Rose. Photo courtesy Mor Linn Farm
Luxury Ranch Riding Vacation Come Ride Wyoming The Hideout at
to ride The Big Horn Mountains and the wide-open spaces in Wyoming, on one of our quarter horses or gentle mustangs. All well-trained and adapted to riding this challenging terrain. Relax in comfort, take in the views, and enjoy our ranch property with manicured lawns, looking out at our herd of 100 well cared for horses in the pastures. We are in Shell (popula�on 84), East of Cody and Yellowstone Na�onal Park.
Our ranch is all-inclusive, upscale, focused on riding and horsemanship, limited to 25 guests weekly for a 6-night stay, with riding access close to 650,000 acres. Elevations in our backyard range from 4200 to above 13,000 ft, and the area enjoys a seldom seen diversity of scenery, microclimates, and terrain. The Hideout offers a very personal, small, and intimate Western riding experience, surrounded by a peaceful, calm, exciting and breathtaking environment. Our ranch is more of a riding destination than your typical dude or guest ranch.
Taking a break from horseback riding, you can enjoy nonriding activities such as trap shooting, archery, fly-fishing, a soak in the hot tub, biking, hiking, take a dip in our heated lap pool, or just relax and take in the views. Many take a self-guided driving tour to the nearby dinosaur sites, The Town of Greybull and The Greybull Dinosaur Museum. A visit to Cody and The Buffalo Bill Museum of The West, The Cody Rodeo or exploring the many Western shops in Cody is also on the agenda of many of our guests who do not want to spend continuous time in the saddle. And of course, many of our visitors add extra days to explore Yellowstone and Teton National Park, Jackon-Hole and other exciting places in Northwest Wyoming and Southern Montana.
However, most of our guests ride every day for several hours and join our daily cocktail hour to exchange the experiences of the day with the other travelers. After dinner they enjoy sitting outside taking in the stars in this area with little light pollution, listening to the silence, the voices of nature, and breeding in some of the purest air in the nation. They are totally relaxed and ready to enjoy a good night’s sleep in the well-appointed log cabins. Our new and
ever-growing number of repeat guests have found shared experiences and intimate connections with guests and riders from around the world, different walks of life, and all backgrounds.
On the contrary to what a lot of people believe, most of our guests have an English riding background. Travelers come from different origins to stay together at our ranch, creating shared memories and forging new friendships. Riding, dining and spending time together with people they would never encounter in their daily lives at home. We accommodate beginners in good shape, intermediate and advanced riders, which makes this a great active outdoor vacation for mixed groups and families. Being surrounded by breathtaking views in all directions. Enjoying horses and nature is about using all senses.
A stay at The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch is for many of our guests like a unique wellness retreat. Both mentally and physically. Refreshing and Energizing, full of positive vibes surrounded by horses and riding horses. For these travelers, wellness means a healthy holiday, they return from The Hideout feeling fresher and fully rejuvenated.
A common statement at the end of the week is “You guys deeply and authentically care and have a great thing going on here! We will be back!
Email info@thehideout.com or call 307-765-2080 to learn more about your unique Hideout experience. We look forward to welcoming home to The Hideout!
www.amazon.com/author/noelle-rose
Great gift for your barn family and horsey friends!
Accommodates Records For 3 Horses, Or 1 Horse For 3 Years! Vet/Den�st/Farrier visits & cost. Feed/Hay/Bedding Board/Lesson Expenses. Training/Lesson progressrecord your “aha” moments! Goals, Awards, Show Records. All In One Place!
www.amazon.com/author/noelle-rose
This is a versa�le planner for your weekstate your priori�es and weekly goal. Schedule your appointments, note important calls and emails. Jot down items for your shopping list and note your best memory of the week. General note pages included. Our whimsical cover will be a joy to open every day! A handy 5 x 8” fits perfectly in your purse or backpack.
www.amazon.com/author/noelle-rose
HOW HORSES CONCEIVE TIME
Story and Photos By Alessandra Deerinck
Time is an entity that we humans measure, and that we let it measure our life. Sometimes we have too little of it, and we have to divide it between necessary and non-necessary activities.
The time we spend with our horse is never as much as we would like, and we often decide to spend it on activities that the horse does not appreciate, but tolerates. In the time spent together, during which he can perceive us with one of his senses, we have the opportunity to communicate spontaneously with him. Being aware of this fact can give us great advantages.
It is always a good idea to dedicate at least part of the time spent together in activities that the horse understands, such as those that allow us to establish a social relationship with him. This time ensures that, when we enter his space, he doesn’t just see us as a nuisance to avoid. Among the interactions that a horse can appreciate there is grooming, which allows him to learn communication through touch, which is so important when we get into the saddle. Communication is the necessary prerequisite to establish a relationship with a horse, otherwise our interaction, sadly, is reduced to our request and his execution of conditioned actions.
Another activity that the horse understands is the one linked to food, which often has hierarchical implications that would require separate treatment. In short, if the horse respects us in the presence of food, we can safely use it in our interactions, when this is not true, it is better not to use it.
Have we ever wondered how the horse understands time. Asking the horse to give us a detailed answer would require a precision in communicating that is still a long way off in horsemanship. However, by observing the horse it is possible to see that time is not a concept foreign to him, even if, unlike man, his time is marked by his vital needs, and not by the clock and the agenda.
The time that depends directly on the organism of each individual is not under our control and depends on the length of the days. For the horse, for example, reproductive functions and some other seasonal changes are connected to it, such as the length of the hair and its density, which
increases as the days shorten. Or the fact that he is hungry and needs to eat, or thirsty and needs to drink, or he feels lonely and needs company. This is the time the horse really takes into account!
If we are an early riser, it is always better to make sure that the horse has had time to eat before offering him the “job”. If this is not the case, a good idea would be to bring him breakfast and wait for him to finish, keeping him company, adding an element to our relationship makes immediate sense and is pleasant for the horse.
If meal time is near, it is better to let him consume it, even in our company, and then return to what we want to do together. In nature, the horse eats when he feels the need, while at the domestic state he goes long periods without being able to eat, so the digestive system is constantly under stress due to lack of food. The horse’s intestine provides the entire body with energy to function and therefore it is good practice for it to function as continuously as possible. If we plan to go out riding for a long time with the horse, we must also count on allowing him to feed and drink to renew the energy available to him during our ride. However, if he has to carry out strenuous but short-term activity, it is better to do it away from the meal, so that during the effort his body is not also busy digesting.
Another form of time that is important in horsemanship is the one used in communication, when you convey something to the horse and give him a moment to understand, to process, and to learn the action. The more these technical times are taken into account, the more the horse will benefit from them and will be able to learn what we want to convey to him. Each individual has different learning times and methods. Horses that are confident learn much faster than those who are always alert, because the ones that are always alert cannot concentrate on a situation for significant periods of time.
CHILDREN’S COUNTING BOOK UNIQUE REPETITIVE NUMBER COUNTING
NUMBERIFIC teaches numbers with repetitive counting. Fun themes including forest animals, birds, bugs, sports, flowers, etc with beautiful color graphics that engage your child and ingrain numbers and their values. NUMBERIFIC is a truly unique presentation for teaching numbers. Copy ready worksheets included. 8.5 x 11”, 168 pages of learning fun!
NUMBERIFIC SINGLE DIGITS focuses only in numbers 1-10. 8.5 x 11”, 72 pages Copy ready work sheets.
NUMBERIFIC TEEN DIGITS focuses only in numbers 11-20. 8.5 x 11”, 72 pages Copy ready work sheets.
Order at www.Amazon.com, search NUMBERIFIC or www.books.by/noelle-rose
The time we spend with the horse
Man and horse have a long history in common, during which the horse has served man, both as a necessary support for our life and as a necessary support for our pleasure. In both cases, the horse had to work and perform without having a choice in participating in the action. Have we ever wondered what happens if instead of offering him things that he must accept, we give him the opportunity to express himself about them.
Obviously, the real obstacle is communication, a knot that I always aim to resolve, even when I find myself at an event, when I have to expose and convey to others the possibility of “speaking with horses”, as someone has defined my work.
What I want to demonstrate and convey is that the possibility of communicating spontaneously with the horse truly exists, but to do so it is necessary to give him the opportunity to express himself openly and to accept the possibility that he may say “no”, and then have the time and a reason to change his mind and say “yes”. The time it takes to do this is relative to the quality of communication that we offer the horse and that we are willing to accept from him.
How to open communication immediately
The way I begin to relate to a horse starts on neutral ground, with the horse at liberty, immersed in the dimension of real space and time. Who is present must not be quiet and calm, concentrated on watching and not “disturbing” the work being carried out with the equines. We and the horse are equally immersed in the reality that surrounds us. In some of my clinics, which was a demonstration of communication through HH Sensing, I even had difficulty making the organizers understand this point, since they could not imagine “showing” the public how to teach how to “play with the ball” or how to pass a difficult obstacle, such as a tarp on the ground, without “cheating”. They thought I should bring a horse that knew how to do it, while, in the events I hold, I work with horses that I have never seen or approached before. Time can definitely be a limiting factor, when I teach people how to build a relationship with the horse from scratch. Every time I let a horse free, allowing him to use the language of space and movement, following the principles I use in HH Sensing, I immediately obtained his availability. Giving the horse time to decide whether or not to participate in the action always repays our work in a positive way. If we then give him the opportunity to completely understand what is happening and a reason for doing the action, which is not the fear of pain, we often manage to quickly establish a collaborative relationship, which we can then find again in other circumstances, because the horse has certainly the ability to relate a situation to an individual, and also to do so across time.
The time we have, even if it is little, we can plan in order to make the most of it. By this we mean that “at best” is the same for both the human being and the horse.
Cross-training with Western Dressage Let’s get ready to show & grow!
Palm Equestrian Academy™
Building a Partnership with your Horse by
Lynn Palm
Are you passionate about becoming a true partner with your horse? I know I am, and I’m here to help you achieve that goal. Training for Western Dressage will help with any western discipline with or without cattle!
For this next series on training, you’ll be your own trainer for 80 to 90 percent of the �me. You will learn to find those remarkable feelings when both you and your horse come into balance, regardless of discipline. Being in the Dressage Court (arena) will help you a�ain that balance. We all want those feelings with a horse, regardless of what saddle you’re riding or what breed of horse you swing a leg over. We all dream of moments of being in synchroniza�on with our horses. These moments keep us hungry to learn more and achieve more difficult tasks with our horses. Remember, this Western Dressage discipline will steal your heart and create a passion for riding in harmony with your horse. Remember, dressage is simply the founda�on to ride correctly, and for the horse to be confident and willing with whatever performance you choose!
I’m looking forward to the next several months, when I’ll share �ps and guidelines for understanding the simplicity of learning (in written format, at least) Western Dressage training from Introductory Level to Level 5. Could be the start of my new book…..!
Western Dressage Level Requirements and Advancing Your Training
Starting Levels
All the levels in Western Dressage are a systema�c, progressive training that produce a horse that is physically strong, balanced, supple, and flexible. This equine athlete also demonstrates a calm, confident, a�en�ve a�tude and is willing to do their job — whether performance in the show ring or a safe weekend trail ride.
Tests provide an introduc�on to the discipline of Western Dressage wherein the horse performs only at the walk and jog. The rider should demonstrate correct basic posi�on, use of basic aids, and understanding of the test figures. The horse should show relaxa�on, and harmony between horse and rider is essen�al. The horse accepts the aids and influence of the rider. The jog should be a natural gait within the horse’s scope and should demonstrate a swinging back.
Introductory Levels: Gaits and Definitions
Working Walk — Four-beat, ac�ve, energe�c walk with resolutely forward reaching steps. This horse has a confident stretch to the bit. His head and neck should swing naturally as a result of a relaxed back and shoulder/front legs alignment to the hip/hind legs. The horse’s hind feet should touch the ground into or beyond the prints of the forefeet.
Free Walk — A relaxed walk with unconstrained, forward reaching steps where hind feet touch the ground clearly in front of the footprints of the forefeet. The horse must be relaxed and be allowed through a loose (no contact) of the mouth, the freedom to lower his head and neck to stretch forward and down and out with the nose. The length of stride, rhythm, the relaxa�on and swing through the back of the horse is of great importance. The stretch of the horse is very important to allow the body to lengthen and stretch the top line muscles. The stretch also allows reaching of the hind limb joints to develop the strength and flexibility to compact his body for future direc�on and requirements and for developing collec�on.
Working Jog — An energe�c, regular, two-beat jog. The horse must go forward with even and elas�c steps. The hind legs step ac�vely up under the horse with obvious push from the hindquarters as demonstrated from a relaxed top line – thus a swinging back, and reaching for the bit with freedom in the shoulder movement. The horse must be in proper balance and maintain a light contact with the bit. The horse’s nose must be on or slightly in front of the ver�cal. In Introductory and Basic Tests, the Working Jog may be ridden either pos�ng or si�ng.
Halt — At the halt the horse should stand a�en�ve, engaged, mo�onless, straight and “square.” Square means the horse’s legs are square with the weight evenly distributed over all four legs. The neck should be raised with the poll as the highest point and the head slightly in front of the ver�cal. The horse should remain “on the bit” by maintaining a light and so� contact with the rider’s hands. The horse may “mouth” the bit during the halt, but should be ready to move off at the slightest indica�ons of the rider.
For the halt at the beginning and ending of a test, a horse should be immobile at least 3 seconds. In Introductory l Levels, a halt should be at least 4 seconds.
20 meters X 40 meters is most popular 20 meters X 60 meters can also be used Learn sizes of figures by doing the geometry Learn the “math” of the Dressage Court (arena) by walking it on foot to find the distances that the figures call for in each test.
This is really a fun challenge — riding your figures to an exact size or path! Riding with accuracy will teach whether you are doing something correct, or you need to improve on this task. Riding with precision will always help you recognize how your horse understands your communica�ons (aids). The goal is that no one can see you “talking” to your horse! Light and invisible aids is the aim.
First learn how to ride the rectangle arena. The long side of the arena is 40 or 60 meters in length. Then there are two short sides of 20 meters in either official arena size. Not only can either arena feel small or difficult to ride along the rail (tangent to the rail — 1 meter is 3.3 feet from the rail) you also have four corners to learn to ride! In the corners you must show that your horse is bending correctly in order to be balanced, as well as going straight a�er and before each corner. Start with learning this.
Make your own arena! It’s simple and inexpensive. Set it up in your arena or pasture, but please make sure you have as level and as good a foo�ng as possible.
I know you will not regret these arena boundaries for learning how much fun it is to ride with accuracy and precision!
Trailering Climate Change in
By Tom Scheve
The safest way to trailer horses in severe weather condi�ons is “don’t”.
That was sound advice in the past but now with incessant days of unchanging, uncompromising weather, we may not have a choice. So, what do we horse owners do? What we always do, accept and adapt. Here are some tips that can help your horses better tolerate the trips to where you need to take them.
If a new trailer is in your sights, add climate control to your research list. Ask ques�ons such as: How does it handle hot weather, cold weather, wind, rainstorms, and fire condi�ons? What materials best protect against heat, cold, and inclement weather? For instance, aluminum is a conductor of heat, which is why it is used in cookware. If you live in an area of extreme heat, avoid aluminum floors, sidewalls, and roofs (pre-painted white or silver aluminum skin is okay).
When it’s hot, dual Insulated side walls will keep the interior of the trailer about twelve degrees lower than the outside temperature over a single wall. When the sun heats the outer wall of a single-walled trailer, it is also hea�ng the interior wall since it is one and the same.
On chilly or cold days, insulated side walls keep the heat that is generated by the horses from escaping out through the walls, such as insulated walls in a house.
If the stall area has lots of opening windows with screens, you can adjust the openings to where the stalls are not too cold or too hot. The more windows in the stall area the easier it is to get to a safe and comfortable stall temperature. If you already have a trailer with single walls, no insula�on, or has slats instead of windows (stock type trailer) there’s not much you can do other than use warm blankets and leg wraps when it’s cold and keep all the windows open and if possible, install two to four fans to keep the air circula�ng in the stalls.
But what about those extreme temperatures that reach one hundred degrees or more? No amount of insula�on and open windows will be enough to keep your horses comfortable and safe. However, if you don’t mind inves�ng more money into your horse trailer you can now add air condi�oning to the stall area. An electric air condi�oner can be mounted on the roof over the stall area and operate off three ba�eries, producing nine hours of cooling �me before they need recharging. Solar panels can be added to the roof that con�nually charge the ba�eries and a 110-breaker box with a shore cord that plugs into a 110 outlet to charge them when the trailer is not in use. It doesn’t produce the degree of cold air an RV air condi�oner would, but it doesn’t need
the degree of cold air an RV air condi�oner would, but it doesn’t need to. It cools enough to significantly reduce the stall temperature, especially if the side walls and roof are insulated to keep the cool air from escaping.
Rain, windstorms, and flash flooding have also become more the norm than the excep�on. Most safety-glass sliding windows along the sides of the stalls and in the back will not leak. However, sliding windows in the nose of the trailer will when facing a driving rain. Since your tack is most likely stored in a front tack area, one-piece glass crank-out windows are useful because they seal shut when not open preven�ng leakage.
If you live in a fire area where you might have to evacuate, the ideal situa�on is to have a trailer that can carry all your horses and close �ght to keep out the smoke. I was recently asked how many horses can be put into a two-horse trailer if a fire is raging towards your farm. My answer was, if all the dividers are quickly removable, take them out and put in as many horses as you can. Try to avoid that situa�on if you can, by making sure you have safe trailer space for each horse you are responsible for.
