The property boasts five buildings, each taking full advantage of its bucolic hilltop location and caters to the equestrian heart. The 6-stall horse barn was designed by Morton Buildings and offers a classic style with modern technology standing as a testament to equine comfort and care. The barn is equipped with climate control, overhead ventilation, overhead sprinkler system, auto filling water bowls, and drainage in each stall. In addition to the barn, there are three fenced in verdant pastures providing ample grazing land, and adjacent to the barn is an indoor riding arena providing a sheltered space for training to ensure a seamless blend of passion and practicality.
From its commanding vantage point, the residence offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The spectacular 4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom home has been built to showcase the postcard perfect views from nearly every angle. Inside, heated travertine floors gleam across the light-filled interior with an astounding volume of space, double height ceilings and magnificent windows framing the idyllic scenery. The open layout is ideal for entertaining from the spacious living room with its massive double-sided stone fireplace shared with the dining room, sitting room and light filled family room. The kitchen is well-appointed with high-end appliances, granite counters, extensive custom cabinetry, multi-level island & breakfast bar.
Lastly there are two sizable showcase garages, each with the space to house 25-50 cars, perfect for your collection! Don’t have that many cars, then the garages can also be used for storage or perhaps converted into additional stables for your horses.
The fusion of luxurious living and equestrian passion is a symphony that resonates throughout every corner of the property. Contact Chirstian for more information and to schedule a private showing.
• 4 Car Attached Garage | 2 Detached Showcase Garages
• GSMLS# 3852924 | Listed $6,000,000
Chris�an Kuzemczak, Sales Associate
Cell phone:(973) 714-4381
Email: ckuzemczak@kw.com
Gordon Crawford, Sales Associate | Team Leader
Cell phone: (973) 615-1567
Email: info@crawfordlorenzoteam.com
At the Crawford Lorenzo Home Selling Team, we believe that when it comes to finding a home, what’s outside the front door is just as important as what’s behind it. That’s why we go above and beyond when helping our buyers and sellers throughout their process, by sourcing insights straight from local market reports and offering more than 100 years of combined experience in the real estate field, to give our clients a deeper understanding of the buying and selling process. We’re committed to helping you discover the place where you will love to live and where you will feel more connected to your community.
Elite Equestrian magazine has the best variety of editorial that readers find to be educa�onal as well as relevant.
Elite Equestrian’s hard copy distribu�on is na�onal and includes top rated shows and venues.
Elite Equestrian’s bi-monthly publica�on means YOUR AD IS CURRENT FOR 2 MONTHS, maximizing your investment.
Elite Equestrian offers discounts for mul�ple ad inser�ons.
Every issue is also produced as a digital on-line version, and every ad has a FREE HYPER LINK
Elite Equestrian’s Must Have feature gives adver�sers addi�onal promo�on and also hyper links to their web site. Ask for details.
Banner ads are available and browsers will find THOUSANDS of ar�cles on our web site to maximize viewing �me. Our web site averages 250,000 views/week.
Banner ads are FREE with an annual contract.
Reach out
Ralph Waldo Emerson
HAVES Must
Reading for Riders Great equestrian novels and books for all ages!
EZ SIGNS
Free shipping! 1-800-640-8180
See our ad on page 29 www.EZSignsOnline.com
DRESSAGE HORSE BUCKLE
New dressage horse buckle in a lovely floa�ng trot. Hand cra�ed-only at www.tempidesignstudio.com
See our ad page 66
Horse Books Plus
See our ad on page 67
horsebooksplus.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 57 800-232-2365 www.4source.com
Saddler’s Preserva�ve Protect and restore your valuable leather for years to come.
See our ad page 25 www.jmsaddler.com
EQUINE CONSIGNMENTS!
EQUINE CONSIGNMENTS!
Great selec�on of saddles, tack, boots,home items and more. Free trial on saddles. See our ad on page 66 www.GoodAppleEquine.com
WIN!
Win Four Months Of Fabulous Hoof Growth with this month’s Aloeride feed supplement draw. To enter, go to: www.aloeride.com/ elite-equestrian-magazine-aloeridecompe��on
See our ad on page 51
RANGE DAY COLLARS and Leashes.
Genuine easy to clean US Made Biothane stands up to dirt and water with ease. Ma�e black hardware for an understated look. Available at www.auburndirect.com/ range-day-collars/ Retail: $24 - $29
See our ad on page 24
EQUINE HEALTH PRODUCTS Liniment, Hoof Care, Hoof Soak
See our ad page 37 www.Vetericyn.com
A Piece Of Your Favorite Horse Can Go With You Everywhere
Quality fashionable jewerly made with your horse’s hair.
See our ad page 23 ponylocks.com
StressLess™ Hot Horse Supplement
Helps promote calmness and focus in horses experiencing stress related to training, showing, racing, or travel. StressLess™ is non-herbal, all natural, and show safe. See our ad on page 2 HotHorseSupplement.com
Great selec�on of saddles, tack, boots, home items and more.Free trial on saddles.See our ad on page www.GoodAppleEquine
GUMBITS 100% FEI legal. See our ad on page 67 www.GumBits.com
Hats With Equestrian Flair!
Riata Designs, where performance meets style. See our ad on page 23 riatadesigns.com
Anni Lyn Sportswear
Anni Lyn Sportswear
Spirited F/S Denim Breech. Kids and Adult sizes. www.anni-lyn.com
See our ad on page 21
Hoof Pro
mounts to cart or vehicle.
ATV trailer cart assembly available. Proudly made in the USA by our team of cra�smen!
Protect and maintain your horse’s hooves in great condi�on! Created by a Master Farrier and Veterinarian. See our ad page 49 www.echoranchproducts.com
“Derma��s Goes Away!” Vet Recommended, Owner Referred, Horse Approved Worldwide See our ad on page 49
See our ad for a coupon code!
See our ad page 33 BigSprinkler.com
BOMBSHELL
Bullet Blues jeans are made in the USA with American made material. Featured in this picture are the popular “Bombshell” bootcut jeans for ladies in the indigo and light washes. See our ad on page 21 BulletBluesCa.com
ID FOR YOUR ANIMALS
Pyranha® Wipe N’ Spray® BOV
Pyranha’s world famous oil-based and lanolin fly spray is now in a BOV, 360 degree con�nuous spray, no harmful propellants, 99% emptying rate
100% recyclable.
See our ad on page 7 www.pyranhainc.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 33 www.EquestriSafe.com
FOR NON SWEATERS
Enables your horse to sweat naturally. Show safe www.nonsweater.com
See our ad on page 51
Please tell our adver�sers you saw them in Elite Equestrian magazine!
BEST ON-THE-GO Hay Feeding System! Less waste, be�er diges�on for your horse. See our ad page47 2www.NibbleNet.com
LAY-FLAT HOSE QUICKREEL
Espoir Equestrian offers equestrian lifestyle and competition clothing for the discerning rider and equine enthusiast.
Our fall Collection includes a beautiful new Shadbelly in super soft lightweight coolmax fabric. Ladies’ sizes xs-xxl in Navy or Black with reversible points in gold or grey. $500.
Cosy And Chic With A Conscious
Combining innovation with enduring design appeal and quality, the new Equetech A/W23 collection focuses on bringing together exquisite riding wear and accessories championing functionality & sustainability.
Equetech is synonymous with las�ng quality and �meless design, and this season, it’s less about ‘new’ and more about ‘the best’ as this season’s sustainable style mo�o. Highlighting the autumn/winter basics which Equetech riders loved last autumn with a sprinkling of valuable new addi�ons that stylish equestrians will love and wear for this season and many more seasons to come.
Equetech’s long-term commitment to the planet also means that since 2022 they have pledged tree plan�ng on every single order across their en�re collec�on. Alongside this ecoini�a�ve, the company have rolled out en�rely recyclable packaging. They con�nue to lead the way with their crueltyfree bio-down, as featured across their coats and gilets, ensuring that warmth and morals are never compromised. Talking about the new collec�on, Equetech Designer and MD Liz Hayman says;
“More than ever, riders seek value for money and las�ng quality. Buying a new riding wardrobe every season is only an op�on for some riders. We’ve taken the ini�a�ve to reintroduce the styles riders love and built a smaller capsule collec�on of new garments that sit harmoniously around these wardrobe staples and rider’s exis�ng wardrobes. It’s not just about new; it’s about innova�ve clothing design, performance fabrics, and las�ng quality – that’s the trend for this season and beyond. Many of our customers s�ll have heritage Equetech pieces they s�ll enjoy wearing and riding today, which is something that we are extremely proud of.”
Your winter warrior has arrived to do ba�le against freezing temperatures and riding in adverse weather condi�ons.
The aptly named Equetech Warrior Long-Line Waterproof Padded Coat is cut from a waterproof, windproof, durable stretch fabric, giving you freedom of movement with 300g of bio-down filling for central hea�ng on the move! And because, as horse owners, we know that taking your coat off and pu�ng it back on seems to be all we ever do at the stables, we’ve included interior shoulder straps, which means you can easily remove your coat and wear it like a backpack when undertaking stable chores un�l you’ve cooled down and need your duvet back on! No more trying to find somewhere to hang your coat in the middle of a poo-picking session in the fields this winter or leaving it ‘somewhere’ in the yard and catching a chill.
The detachable hood and faux fur trim give you greater flexibility in wear, and an internal zip pocket and two outer zip pockets with a cosy thermal lining give cold hands extra comfort this winter. Two-way three-quarter length zip to the front and zip to the back creates a skirt to allow you to ride. Finished with our signature snaffle bit zip pulls in rose gold, this riding coat is everything you could wish for in a quality riding coat with enduring appeal.
RRP: £209.95 XS -3XL
This stylish jacket meets Bri�sh Dressage criteria for permi�ed use in wet weather condi�ons at BD compe��ons. Created with the modern rider in mind, the Equetech Imperial Waterproof Hybrid Jacket is a short waterproof and breathable jacket with a comfortable and cosy 100g of bio-down fill. Prac�cal details you’ll love include a zip inside pocket and dual deep zipped front pockets with Equetech Signature snaffle zip pulls in chrome with a cosy hand-warming thermal lining.
Inner storm cuffs, double concealed zip vents to the back and a concealed adjustable hood with a contoured peak allow you to wear with confidence over your precious riding hat in bad weather. The sturdy two-way zip front is finished with a magne�c overlay to protect you from the elements and ensure you look as smart as you do in your compe��on jacket.
IDAHO EQUESTRIAN DREAM PROPERTY!
One-of-a-kind Equestrian Estate located in town in the heart of Hayden, Idaho on 14.27 acres. This magnificent estate property offers a 6,537 sf main home and 1,544 sf guest home, both built with uncompromising quality, a 21,000 sf barn w/indoor radiant heated lighted riding arena, including 11 stalls w/runs and full living quarters/meeting room, additional 50’ x 60’ barn w/studio apartment, and many other outbuildings for office, equipment, & hay storage. Charming guest house, secondary barn, outdoor arenas, shops, hay shed, bird pen, water feature, and large storage building complete this legacy property. Property has multiple pastures and is exquisitely landscaped for ultimate privacy. Enjoy a rural lifestyle in an urban setting!
Equetech 2-In-1 Long Line Quilted Coat/Gilet showerproof addi�on which crosses over perfectly from chic equestrian style for trainers to enjoying city life with the versa�lity to be worn as a longer length cosy gilet or full toasty winter coat. This unique equestrian garment features an incredible feather light but extremely warm, technical bio-down fill and design details to love; A handy treat pocket to the upper arm with Equetech embossed poppers, zipped chest pocket for your phone, and two zipped deep hip pockets, all finished with our signature snaffle zip pull.
A hidden zip-under-the-shoulder seam allows you to remove the sleeves, and the removal hood also has detachable plush faux fur to transform this gorgeous equestrian fashion piece into a stylish longerlength gilet, which can be worn alone or a warm mid-layer in cold temperatures. Featuring a sheen outer with a designer quilt s�tch, this coat/gillet offers the cross-over versa�lity and designer looks that modern equestrians demand from their wardrobe.
RRP: £184.95 XS – 3XL
A stunning tailored jacket you can enjoy at the yard, during training and schooling sessions and compete in, make it a versa�le choice for all riders looking for a one jacket solu�on to keeping stylish, dry and comfortable at home or away.
RRP: £174.95 XS -3XL
This season’s highlights also include the Utopia Long Waterproof Stretch Riding Coat in a new wearable colourway, Khaki Green, the reintroduc�on of their signature base layers, riding �ghts and cosy gilets with a range of coordinated accessories to keep riders warm and stylish in and out of the saddle.
is a gorgeous new showerproof addi�on which crosses over perfectly from chic equestrian style for trainers to enjoying city life with the versa�lity to be worn as a longer length cosy gilet or full toasty winter coat. This unique equestrian garment features an incredible feather light but extremely warm, technical bio-down fill and design details to love; A handy treat pocket to the upper arm with Equetech embossed poppers, zipped chest pocket for your phone, and two zipped deep hip pockets, all finished with our signature snaffle zip pull.
A hidden zip-under-the-shoulder seam allows you to remove the sleeves, and the removal hood also has detachable plush faux fur to transform this gorgeous equestrian fashion piece into a stylish longerlength gilet, which can be worn alone or a warm mid-layer in cold temperatures. Featuring a sheen outer with a designer quilt s�tch, this coat/gillet offers the cross-over versa�lity and designer looks that modern equestrians demand from their wardrobe.
RRP: £184.95 XS – 3XL
A stunning tailored jacket you can enjoy at the yard, during training and schooling sessions and compete in, make it a versa�le choice for all riders looking for a one jacket solu�on to keeping stylish, dry and comfortable at home or away.
RRP: £174.95 XS -3XL
This season’s highlights also include the Utopia Long Waterproof Stretch Riding Coat in a new wearable colourway, Khaki Green, the reintroduc�on of their signature base layers, riding �ghts and cosy gilets with a range of coordinated accessories to keep riders warm and stylish in and out of the saddle.
One false accusation can destroy a lifetime of work. So, when your personal or professional reputation is at risk from an agenda-driven “investigation”, call us.
Our nationwide team of retired senior FBI and DoD investigators works for you (or your counsel) to uncover all of the facts, the agendas, and the truths behind any attack on your livelihood. We enjoy a national reputation for excellence. We are BartlettJames, LLC. We understand the equestrian world.
The Equetech 2-In-1 Long Line Quilted Coat/Gilet
BEAUTIFUL SCENIC EQUESTRIAN CENTER ON 45.82 ACRES WITH LARGE ARENAS Catawba, Roanoke County, Virginia
$1,500,000
Main barn is 75x150 ft. 18 stalls, 2 heated tack rooms, wash stall, grooming stall, hay and bedding areas, office with restroom. Newly renovated outdoor arena 210x130 ft with excellent footing, jumps, plus lights for night riding. 2 run in sheds. Equipment building with 6 stalls, club house, bathroom. This is a well designed Virginia Equestrian property situated on 45. 82+/- open and wooded acres.There are expansive mountain views, green pastures, small creek, 24 hr. surveillance cameras and long frontage on 2 state roads.
Benedicte Gele
France based artist, trained as a graphic designer - she paints horsesabstracted with just the essential to express movement and expressiveness.
Alecia Barry Underhill
A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design - “I like to paint close-up views that arrest the viewer and perhaps make you see something that you wouldn’t ordinarily notice.”
“Profile with Full Cheek Snaffle” by Alecia Barry Underhill. 10×20″ oil on canvas. $1100.00
“Expression 21t” by Benedicte Gele. 25 1/2 x 20″ Acrylic and black chalk on canvas. $775.00
“Glow” by Alecia Barry Underhill. 20×20″ oil on canvas. $1500.00
“Equine Nude 62t” by Benedicte Gele. Unframed 16.5×12″ mixed media on paper. $275.00
The Poetry
ELEGANCE
What characteristics spring to mind when you are asked to describe a horse?
Athena, who was born in Iran, is a professional sculptress based in southern France since 2003. Before moving to Paris to pursue her doctorate in plas�c arts at the Pantheon-Sorbonne University, Jahan�gh acquired a master’s degree in applied arts in Iran. Athena creates animal sculptures, mostly from clay and metal but some�mes in porcelain. They seem to have a clear and simple look, but complex conceptualiza�ons.
Although Athena makes contemporary sculptures, we can s�ll feel the Iranian iconography’s vitality and scent of ancient rock pain�ngs in her work. It’s dis�nct and unforge�able because of its exaggerated propor�ons with a sensuality of form.
Elegance, beauty, grace, nobility, splash of vitality, delicacy, charm, power and many more. That’s why the horse has always been a source of inspira�on for various ar�sts throughout history. The horse was portrayed by early people in prehistoric rock carvings and pain�ngs, featured in Greek myths and tales, and the subject of numerous an�que sculptures of equestrian figures.
Today, we cordially welcome you to experience these feelings through the works of 3 contemporary sculptors who are represented by the KATERINA MORGAN HORSE POLO ART GALLERY, a unique art space wholly inspired and dedicated to horses, riders and various equestrian disciplines. The gallery’s goal is to connect the brilliant equestrian ar�st from all over the world with the collectors and horse enthusiasts.
We have chosen a selec�on of par�cularly feminine and elegant equine sculptures made by Ninon Art, Athena Jahan�gh and Marie Ackers to indulge your sight. Ninon, Athena and Marie work with bronze, a very hard and dac�le metal. But what makes their crea�ons delicate and aesthe�cally dis�nc�ve is the so�ness, delicacy and femininity of the shapes.
Marie Ackers
Marie Ackers is a well-established French ar�st whose work can be found in galleries around the UK and Europe.
Mary’s sculptures capture and honor the animal in its whole, including its nature, a�tude and movement. They convey the intrinsic essence of the subject and the force of movement with a help of strong lines and clean forms, free of unnecessary details. Marie has always been fascinated by horses, and many of her works are dedicated to this noble and elegant animal.
Ini�ally influenced by the “French Animalier,” Mary is also inspired by ar�sts such as Francois Pompon, Calder, Marini, Lynn Chadwick, as well as Henry Moore, Dick Marcusen, and Picasso.
Athena Jahantigh, Polo Art Gallery
Ninon Art: Star Red
Athena Jahantigh
Athena Jahantigh: Cheval
Marie Ackers: Elegantia
Ninon Art
Ninon, who represents the Northern Europe, works with bronze and polyester sculptures, giving them delicate, harmonious, so� forms that are impossible to look away from. In addi�on to her ar�s�c talent, Ninon speaks six languages and is fascinated by Tibetan philosophy, yoga, poetry, photography, and horseback riding.
When we think about bronze sculptures, we frequently visualize massive pieces with rigorous clear shapes. Bronze is very strong, it lasts forever. However, Ninon’s work includes sculptures of different sizes that are linked together by the smoothness of curves and the grace of shapes. It’s fascina�ng to observe how Ninon combines the rigidity of the material with the grace and delicacy of the pa�erns. She uses the an�que technique with the ‘Cire Perdue’, when the ar�sts s�ll cast bronze sculptures en�rely by hand, as they did thousands of years ago.
It’s no wonder that such a strong and majes�c animal as the horse is one of Ninon’s key letmo�fs. A horse is a combina�on of extreme gentleness and power. ‘For my art, only nature and my a�empt to connect with nature in the widest sense influences my crea�ons,’ – Ninon says.
You can find more about the ar�sts and their crea�ons on Katerina Morgan Horse Polo Art Gallery website h�ps://katerinamorgan.art/
Marie Ackers: Extended Trot
ART ANTIQUES&
By Dr. Lori
Two Types
Part 1 Jadeite of Jade:
By Dr. Lori Verderame
Jade has been a longtime symbol of status in China since the ancient times. Jade is an important material and it is often used in carvings, jewelry, screens, decorations, etc. Jade is held in high regard as valuable and culturally and artistically significant too.
Jade symbolizes success and good luck and it comes in two forms. In part 1 of this column I will discuss jadeite and in part 2 of this column I will tell you about nephrite. Both beautiful and related. Jade comes in two distinct forms: jadeite and nephrite. These two forms –jadeite and nephrite-- are similar in that they are both stones that are formed by a grouping of interlocking microcrystals. Each piece of jade is one of a kind and has a definite character.
Both jadeite and nephrite are hard stones and both are called jade, however there are differences in the chemical composition. Jadeite is a silicate compound of sodium and aluminum. Nephrite is a silicate compound of calcium and magnesium.
Most jade traded today is jadeite jade. It is harder and more dense than nephrite jade. It is more expensive than nephrite jade too. Jadeite comes in many colors of green. Jadeite does not have layers the are visible.
Jade has many imitators. Many stones look like jade but are not real jade. For instance, Aventurine, a type of quartz, is a green stone that is also known as Indian jade or Australian jade. Greenstone is a green stone and it is a jade look alike too. Serpentine is the name for many types of stones and they all resemble jade. Serpentine is waxy, green stone which is not as smooth as jade but sometimes is mistaken for jade. Chrysoprase imitates jade’s two forms also. Jade can be mistaken for green quartz or prehnite and vice versa. These various jade look alike stones are good-looking stones but are not as beautiful or valuable as jade.
Fake jades can be susceptible to chemical bleaching, color dying, and doubling, also known as layering. Some fake jade items are treated to look more translucent. Some fake jade items are treated to accept a plastic coating to enhance the object’s look. Natural, authentic, real and untreated jade is usually only treated with a plum juice wash or beeswax polish as it then will retain its true and natural color.
Jade is the stone that is used in special jewelry pieces such as the Bi symbol disc pendants that represent the Chinese symbol for eternity. The Bi symbol has a great spiritual significance. The Bi symbol is often presented carved in jade. Butterflies symbolize long life and they often carved into pendants, pins, earrings, etc. made of jade. Other symbols that are important to Chinese culture which are often represented using jade include: the bat, a symbol of happiness, the dragon which shows power and prosperity, the peach which references immortality, and the circular disc with a central hole which references happiness and heaven.
Jade mirror, late 19th Century Photo by Staff of www.DrLoriV.com
HIS HERS &
Scott Beckstead: Wild Horses Can’t
Drive Him Away
with L.A. Sokolowski, equinista
When it’s �me to speak up for horses -- and all animals -that voice probably belongs to Sco� Beckstead of Sutherlin, Oregon, director of campaigns for Animal Wellness Ac�on and The Center for a Humane Economy. The lifelong horseman is renowned for his special exper�se in the field of animal law and has lectured on the subject at the University of Oregon and as adjunct Professor of Law at Willame�e University. He is also co-author of ‘Animal Law,’ the first (1999) casebook ever published on the subject of animal law. “One only has to glance through the Table of Contents to realize the varied roles animals play in our lives and many contexts in which courts have considered animals. I use ‘Animal Law’ in the seminar I teach at Georgetown (Law Center),” Valerie Stanley, senior staff a�orney with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, said. Sco� operated a private law prac�ce for 17 years, and served as Mayor of Waldport, Oregon for five (2002-2007) before leaving to work in the animal protec�on sector. Because of his familiarity with horses, livestock and farm animals, he provides training to law enforcement agencies on how to handle and work with animals, and how to inves�gate equine and livestock cruelty and neglect. Back at home, he says dogs Divvy and A�cus are happy to nurture his delusion that he and his wife Jacqueline are in control.
HERS: What do you remember about your first horse or pony?
HERS: Who has inspired and/or mentored your wild horse advocacy?
HIS: My first pony was a P.O.A. (Pony of the Americas) gelding named Flash. He was not particularly kind to me yet I worshiped the ground he walked on. He carried me on some amazing adventures.
HERS: What do you like best in a horse?
HIS: Confidence.
HERS: What do you like best in a person?
HIS: Kindness.
HERS: What was your first job and how old were you?
HIS: When I was eight my dad bought me and my brother 30 heifers and an Angus bull. That was our job. I remember fixing a lot of fences.
HERS: If you worked outside the horse world what would you be doing?
HIS: I was built to be an advocate. So I’d be doing something like advocating for marginalized communities.
HERS: Favorite quote?
HIS: Lots of them but I really like Confucius: ‘If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.’ I believe in keeping a beginner’s mind. Others are here to teach me.
HIS: First and foremost, Laura Leigh (WildHorseEducation. org). She is the prototype for wild horse advocacy. I can still picture her battling breast cancer, chemo bag hanging on her truck’s gun rack, following wild horse roundups.
HERS: How do your dogs, social media darlings Divvy and Atti (Atticus), keep you grounded while doing what must often be emotionally draining work?
HIS: Atti’s zoomies are so joyful he teaches me how we can all learn to celebrate life a little more. And Divvy, because she judges me harshly, keeps me humble and promising to do better. My daily hikes with them are how I stay sane and connected to a larger world. I always come back rejuvenated.
HERS: Where do you hope to see our wild horses and burros in 10 years?
HIS: I hope wild horses are restored to their rightful place on our American West and that the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) becomes run by horse people, not cattlemen. That explains a lot of the callous treatment we see of horses in the BLM round-up mentality. They hew to the wishes of ranching, which are never in the best interest of the horses.
Scott and Cheyenne, a rescue and ex-racehorse he calls among his “best friends.”
Scott addressing audience at the film debut of ‘Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West’
Scott in his early animal advocacy days, meeting the legendary Jane Goodall.
Scott and his canine social media stars, Divvy and Atticus
Photos by Scott Beckstead
CRAFTING
reestyles F
By Anna Buffini and Collier Wimmer
How did you and Anna meet and how did you two start working together?
Collier - We met through my mother, Ashely Wimmer, who is also a dressage rider. My mom had the good luck of stabling with Anna at a show years ago, and a few months a�er, she introduced the two of us down in Wellington, Florida. Once I found out Anna was not only a BTS fan (A K-pop super group) but that her freestyle was also to BTS, I decided we were going to be friends. As for us working together, we’d been friends for a while, but then last fall Anna texted me that she needed a freestyle for Diva with the goal to take it to FEI Dressage World Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska. Anna - We met through Collier’s mom, who I was lucky enough to stable with one year in Wellington. Once we found out our mutual love for horses, BTS, & music, we became friends for life. We started working together when I was a li�le stuck with my Top Gun: Maverick freestyle in mid 2022 and she came in and brought my vision to life.
What is at the heart of Diva’s Top Gun: Maverick freestyle?
Collier - I’ve always been a fan of the movies, and like Anna, I saw Top Gun: Maverick several �mes and le� the theater crying a�er the first watch-through. The Top Gun score is so familiar and evoca�ve. The score from beginning to end tells this incredible story and so the ques�ons became, “how do we translate the feeling you get watching this in the theater into the freestyle arena?” and “how do we take that story and condense it down without losing the integrity of the movie?” At the heart of this freestyle is a thunderously heroic and emo�onal story that mirrors the trajectory of the movie. From the opening sec�on to the final passage line our goal was to grab the audience and judges, pop them in that cockpit, and not let them go un�l Anna’s final halt. Anna and I both have personal a�achments to this score and these movies. My fiance is a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force (he’s a Goose doppleganger!), so I really wanted to create something that the pilot community could be proud of and that would be an amazing tribute for Anna to carry into compe��on, represen�ng the United States. Anna - There’s so much heart wrapped up in this freestyle, it’s unbelievable the journey it’s taken us on. I was so moved by Top Gun: Maverick and went on to see it seven or eight more �mes in theaters. I knew from the first viewing that it was going to be my freestyle. My grandfather was in the Air Force for his en�re career and this freestyle was the last thing I ever got to show him before he passed away last fall. I wanted to honor and represent him and all the men and women who have fought for the freedoms we have today which allow me to perform this freestyle and do what I love every day. Also, Collier’s fiance is a fighter pilot, so I knew she was the person who could really understand the heart of this freestyle and tell this special story through the music.
What is your working relationship and process? How do you two collaborate to create the final product?
Collier - Our working rela�onship is very close. Anna and I’s musical brain and the way we approach the work has a 90% overlap. It’s created such a great founda�on for our professional rela�onship. In order to make this freestyle the best we could, we created about 15 different versions, with the final being the one the audience saw at 2023 FEI Dressage World Cup Finals. With each version, there’s a lot of back and forth, emails, texts, FaceTime, and voice memos between us. Because we have such a solid founda�on, we’re able to give each other crea�ve space to try out different things out with the freestyle, pu�ng different sec�ons of songs to different movements and seeing how things flow. We’re also honest with each other. If either of us think something in the newest version isn’t fi�ng, we’re up front with each other about it. There were many hours where we would hop on video chat together and live edit. If you think about it, soundtracks have anywhere from 40 minutes up to two hours of music and whi�ling that down to a seamless five and a half minutes without losing the story takes an enormous amount of brainstorming and trial and error. I am truly blessed to partner with a rider that is so musically oriented. Anna has an incredible ap�tude for music and then pu�ng it all together made this freestyle so much fun to create.
Anna - Collier is one of the easiest people I’ve ever worked with. It’s very rare to find someone who makes you feel so heard. We’re both very musical, so it’s also quite collabora�ve every step of the way. We mostly work remotely through a ton of texts, videos, voice memos and FaceTime calls. We made countless versions but didn’t stop un�l it was totally perfect.
Continued...
TRICE STUDIO DeWolf
Personalized Residential Interior Design
CREATING INTERIORS THAT DELIGHT YOUR SENSES AND CELEBRATE YOUR STYLE
Linda has extensive experience in equestrian themed designs.
“Linda has worked with us designing 3 different homes. She remains a joy to work with and I can’t imagine collabora�ng with anyone else on a “house project!”
R.A. Carithers
passionate interpretation of your tastes, your needs, and your desires -
Anna and Collier, how do you put together and prepare the freestyle? Do you work on sections at a time with that music and then puts the pieces together?
Collier - I start with the beginning and the end. Those are the book ends to your story and where we’re going to capture the viewers the most emo�onally. From there, it’s finding music that naturally connects, and ebbs and flows – not only with the sec�on that you’re a�aching it to, (i.e., what music do I want to use a�er the halt, salute? What is a natural jumping off point from there?) - but also the floorplan as well. So, in that sense, it’s very sec�onal. Anna would send me her ideas for what music she wanted for certain movements and then I’d pop that idea into the so�ware and start building around it to see how it would work, or I’d send her over an idea for a sec�on and she’d ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ it.
Anna - Once I pick the music, I always look for the hit of the group of songs I’ve picked. If it’s a movie soundtrack, it’s the theme song, if it’s an eigh�es freestyle, it’s the most famous or popular song on that list of eigh�es songs. A lot of �mes I put the hit song at the beginning and the end and then weave the theme throughout the rest of the freestyle with strong enough music to carry the front and back end. Other �mes the hit song will be for the canter or trot work depending on where it fits best. I listen to all to the songs I’ve picked on repeat and then have a loose layout of what sounds good with each of the movements. Then the real work begins making the music fit to the pattern of the test. We usually work on one sec�on at a �me. O�en, when we work on one sec�on, it changes another so the whole thing is constantly changing as it goes on. My ideal freestyle is that the choreography is based on the music as much as possible, not the other way around, so that way we can keep full phrases of music and make the flow beau�ful and seamless.
With the more complicated upper-level freestyles’ floorplan, Anna do you get a section of required moves that you really like and that flows for you, and then are there other sections that you feel need to be reworked and are more difficult?
Anna - There is a list of required movement you have to include in the floorplan based on the level you’re riding or compe�ng at. There’s a degree of difficulty scale that you can increase or decrease based on the movements and how you put them together. I try to make the freestyle difficult, yet symmetrical and flowing. My trainer and I make the floorplan together so it highlights each individual horse’s strengths and it makes the whole ride quite fun when you’re pu�ng together very difficult movements but your horse likes them too!
Do you ever change their mind about music and switch it out?
Collier - All the �me. If you’re constantly ques�oning the music and transi�ons in certain sec�ons that ul�mately leads to a be�er freestyle. If you pop in a different piece of music that sets up the final center line be�er than it did before than that’s worth the ques�oning. A lot of �mes I like to put a freestyle I’m working on away for a day or two and then come back and watch it with fresh ears and eyes. Stepping away for a bit helps me to be more cri�cal and ques�on it later. Once you know something is “it”, you know. It’s a gut feeling. For example, Anna’s passage music right before her walk, I popped that sec�on in on a whim, simply because I loved the horns and it �ed into the song Anna sang for the walk. Sure enough, I sent that over and we were both said, “That’s it. That’s the passage sec�on.”
Anna - Constantly! I think we changed music out un�l the week I performed the freestyle for the first �me.
Anna, do you find music you like and that i nspires you and works the required moves in, or Collier do you look for music that you thinks will showcase her horse best for specific movements?
Collier - For me, it’s a bit of both. While I will always pull music that inspires, I’m also looking for music with movement, with natural transi�ons, with ebb and flow, with emo�on, and with themes we can repeat throughout. I always want to showcase the horse, in every movement. Freestyles are a story, and you have to create music that communicates that story.
Anna - I always start with music I’m inspired by. I believe that if you’re inspired by it, everyone else can be too. Then I start to think about how my horse will look with the music, if it fits their movements, and personality, or is it too heavy or light for them, does it make their movements look bigger or smaller etc. Thankfully there’s a lot you can change with pitch and tempo and even remaking the song to fit your horse, so the music op�ons are not quite as limited nowadays. I also think that a fun challenge is catering to the audience and the range of genera�ons of people that are watching. I need to entertain and relate the music to both the seven-year-old girl and her mom or grandmother who came with her to the compe��on. Familiarity is key for people being locked in immediately and not overusing music that has been used too much.
What is it like watching and riding to this freestyle?
Collier - Watching it has been such a highlight of my career for me. Especially at FEI Dressage World Cup Finals. To have achieved the goal we set out to for (props to the ENTIRE Buffini team) and to hear Anna’s freestyle in the arena with that amazing sound system; I was crying as soon as the music started. I have to say, Anna is one of the few riders that knows how to embody a freestyle in the arena, and I swear her horses know it too. I really don’t worry about her competing in the arena. I’ll give her a hug for good luck earlier on and will be there as much as she needs me, but she’s so on it. It’s hard enough to keep on �me to the music, but then take it to the next level and become the visual representa�on of that music for a full six minutes, is truly special and a gi�.
Anna - I love riding this freestyle. You can’t help but feel a li�le of what Maverick felt in his cockpit while compe�ng it. It’s very intense and I think you have to embody the music when you ride to it. My mare Diva and I definitely turn up the intensity to fit the music. I feel like a storyteller while I’m out there to make the audience feel like they’ve seen the movie again by the �ne we’re finished. It’s a 10 out of 10 on the difficulty scale so it requires an extreme amount of focus, but my mare has such a huge heart she’s always up for it and I absolutely love performing it because it was designed to show off her strengths.
What is your favorite part of the Top Gun: Maverick freestyle?
Collier - Oh jeez. I love Diva’s passage sec�on right before the walk. Those soaring horns to the theme of “Hold My Hand” right before Anna sings it herself is one of my favorite sec�ons. The music just floats off and gives you chills! I also love the final passage line, it just brings it all home.
Anna - I really can’t pick just one, but the reason I knew Top Gun: Maverick was meant to be our freestyle was the very first day I decided to play around with it. I put the new main theme song over a video of Diva doing the last center line of the freestyle and it fit perfectly to the very last second without tempo changes, edi�ng, or any effort and that sealed the deal for me.
What is the qualification process for an FEI Freestyle?
Collier - Anna, I’ll let you take this one.
Anna - You’ll have to fact check me on this one, but I believe a rider must score at least a 60% in the declared freestyle level at a na�onal show to qualify for the FEI levels.
What can you tell the readers about any upcoming projects you two have coming?
Collier - We have a lot of exci�ng things in the works. I was just out in California visi�ng Anna and we’ve been spending �me on upcoming projects. Though it may be hard to top Top Gun, I hope everyone looks forward to what we have coming!
Anna - I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am for Diva’s next freestyle! I’ll give a small hint that it’s going to be totally nostalgic for millennials, but everyone will know it and love it. I haven’t heard an en�re freestyle made from this music so I’m very excited. My other Grand Prix mare, Fion�ni, has a very special one coming up too, and then a�er that I have about 20 other ideas ready to go, so stay tuned!
Photo by Lily Forado
Aiken EVENTS
September 2- 8:00 am - 5:00 pm CT, Dressage, Jumper, $100 XC Derby Spor�ng Days Farm 3549 Charleston Highway, Aiken, SC
September 6- 8:00 am - September 17 5:00 pm Aiken Fall Fes�val I & II USEF AA Rated. Lev. 4 Jumpers Aiken Horse Park- Bruce’s Field 931 Powderhouse Rd. Aiken, SC
September 13-17- Na�onal Youth Tournament Series Championship September 13-17, New Bridge Polo 862 New Bridge Rd. Aiken SC
September 20- October 8, USPA Northrup Knox Cup 8 Goal. Wild West Fall Fest Fundraiser October 8th New Bridge Polo 862 New Bridge Rd. Aiken SC
September 22-24 Aiken Fall Fes�val PSJ Series - C series Highfields 147 Warehouse Rd. Aiken, SC
September 23- 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Derby Cross and Show Jumping The Vista Schooling and Event Center 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC
September 27- 8:00 am - October 8 5:00 pm USPA Governor’s Cup 6 goal Aiken Polo Club 420 Mead Ave. Aiken, SC
November 3- 8:00 am - November 5 @ 5:00 pm Aiken Fall Classic PSJ Series - C Highfields 147 Warehouse Rd. Aiken, SC
THE EQUINE HOOF
Story and Photos by Alessandra Deerinck
Fact is that the way we keep horses deeply influences their health and mind. Horsemanship always plays a determinant role in any moment between human and horse, but along with horsemanship, horse owners can provide a better way of living to their partners if they learn the basic elements of the equine anatomy and physiology.
The hoof is a very important part of the equine body and its health and soundness have a big impact on the general health, the behavior and the ability to perform in any horse.
In nature, horses live in herds, are always able to move and adapt to any place they find themselves, if there is food, water and other individuals that they can socialize with. Giving horses a way to live that is as close as possible to their natural way of life would definitely be the best way to keep them healthy and happy in a domes�cated environment.
The gateways through which informa�on from the surrounding gets to an animal of any species are its sense organs, located in the head, with the excep�on of the touch, that in most species is everywhere on the body. The hoof is what horses stand on, and through which they touch and perceive the ground, which can span from sandy to hard rock and all in between and cons�tutes a large por�on of the environment where a horse lives. In our �me, most domes�c horses are shod and therefore par�ally or completely insulated from the ground, but it is very likely that they have learned to compensate for the lack of feel for the ground through other senses.
The choices people make about their horse’s hooves are based on personal preference, cultural ma�ers, and tradi�ons. Shoeing is a prac�ce that was established in an effort to protect the horses from what the ac�vi�es we engage them in would do to them. This noble quest was the original reason for shoeing, also called the “necessary evil”. There is nothing wrong with proper horseshoeing, but there is nothing wrong with barefoot horses, as long as, shod or barefooted, the hoof can func�on properly, and the horses are comfortable with their status. An alterna�ve to horseshoes is the use of hoof boots, that get removed a�er the horse is done working, allowing the hoof to be in its natural state. Not all the hoof boots are well designed and truly help the horse therefore it is necessary to do some research before applying them on a horse.
Being barefoot allows the horse to use the sense of touch in regards to the ground, which provides him with informa�on that makes a horse more comfortable, a�en�ve, less prone to limb injuries, and this definitely affects the horse’s health and behavior in horsemanship. No foot, no horse, no fun! It is sta�ng the obvious, but it is very surprising to see how many people s�ll do not take proper care of their horse’s hooves, shod or barefoot. Hooves are a very ac�ve part of the anatomy of the horse. Domes�c horses, nowadays, live in an ar�ficial
environment where their movement is limited so their hooves, that con�nuously grow for the whole life of a horse, do not naturally wear out, and do not hydrate by ge�ng wet while the horse steps in a body of water to drink. The ideal care of the horse’s hooves should include daily a�en�on and balanced trim to maintain an efficient, smooth hoof edge, consistency, and the physiological angles of the horse’s limbs. Another important part of husbandry is le�ng the horse stay on ground that has proper consistence, because just like for humans, when a horse walks on a ground that is not solid his body is subjected to stress, and when this happens con�nuously it can result in lameness.
A correct trimming procedure works on the hoof by keeping it as long as it would be in a horse in the natural state, but strong and smooth so it does not create cracks that can let infec�ons happen in the hoof. A good hygiene of the hoof with or without shoes, is a prac�ce that can make a real difference in the quality of life of any horse. How o�en we clean the equine hoof is very important. Most o�en, the place where our horses live is very limited in space, and far from what would be natural. It is very likely for the horse to step in manure, urine or wet bedding, even when the stall gets cleaned mul�ple �mes a day. In the domes�c environment a body of water is not available for the horse to step into it to clean its hooves, and horses cannot pick out debris from their hooves. Manure, mixed with soil, sets in the frog and promotes the growth of microorganisms that cause disease in the hoof, weakening the protec�on of the inside parts. If we disrupt the accumula�on of this material with frequent cleaning, we do not allow enough �me for the pathogenic process to happen. If we simply use a hoof pick to remove what is packed under the hoof, and use a hose to wash the hoof wall, and its bo�om surface we can achieve a sufficiently thorough cleaning, and at the same �me maintain the physiological level of protec�on and hydra�on of the hoof �ssues.
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 absorp�on, trac�on, and secure foo�ng. Another very important func�on 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 �ssue that encloses and protects bones, car�lages, ligaments, tendons and a net of capillary blood vessels, but is also flexible. When the horse bears weight on a limb, the hoof expands, adap�ng to the ground and the pressure that the frog exerts makes so that the lateral car�lages, 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 bo�om along the frog area, which is surrounded by the sole that is concave, with the highest part at the �p 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, forming an angle of about 30 degrees with the ground line of the hoof. When a horse is shod, the hairline o�en becomes curved and uneven. The coffin bone is parallel to the ground and has an angle of 45 to 50 degrees in the front limbs that are round in shape and are structured to bear weight, while in the hind limbs that provide propulsion and are oval, the angle is 50 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 pu�ng a horseshoe as protec�on on it and leaving it on con�nuously does not allow the hoof to wear out naturally, but also changes the angles in the joints and stresses the �ssues of the leg causing changes in shape and hardness. Along with this, a s�ff protec�on does not allow proper circula�on, shock absorp�on, adapta�on to the surface of the ground, and adds to the problems created by the lack of wear. When horseshoes are removed and a horse gets to be barefoot it is mandatory to evaluate the changes that the shoe made to the limb and to give the horse �me to repair his hoof and readapt to his natural state. This process can be easy, but can also be difficult and can even result in an abscess that happens because the horse needs to eliminate all of the changes that happened in the deeper parts of the hoof because of the shoe. Wellbeing is something we should provide to our horses, so let’s make informed decisions about hoof management!
ABOUT HUMAN HORSE SENSING
Human Horse Sensing is dedicated to enhance horsemanship potential to support the interaction between human and horse, keeping their wellbeing in mind.
Our method can be taught through private sessions, workshops, online classes and clinics, at our location, or anywhere you desire. You can find our published book Human Horse Sensing Horsemanship on Amazon, videos on YouTube, and bimonthly articles in print or online at EliteEquestrian.us
With Human Horse Sensing solid horsemanship foundation you will have the chance to be successful in any equestrian discipline, and to take challenges that you would not imagine being possible even with good traditional training.
With Human Horse Sensing, human being and horse work together freely with or without tack, through how they perceive the situations. Human and horse establish an active and dynamic dialogue, where you and your horse can exchange information or execute without being submissive, and you can become a leader of leaders. www.hhsensing.com Email: hhsensing@icloud.com Phone:+1(760)715-1554
Our large animal doctors are also available Mon-Fri for routine on-site or in hospital calls.
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Equine Asthma Syndrome:
Manage the Environment to Help Manage the Disease
Equine respiratory issues can lead to decreased performance and difficulty breathing, even when at rest. That’s why horse owners need to take a three-pronged approach to managing the disease: environmental control, use of glucocor�coids to reduce inflamma�on and if needed, administra�on of bronchodilators.
Equine asthma ranges from mild-moderate to severe. A horse suffering from severe equine asthma experiences a narrowing or obstruction in the airway passages. Most often, this narrowing manifests itself in coughing, wheezing or labored breathing even at rest. Identifying and managing equine asthma early is important because without diagnosis and treatment, the condition can have a long-term impact on the lungs.
Most equine respiratory diseases are caused or exacerbated by the inhalation of airborne dust. A horse can inhale 4.6 million dust particles in a single breath. The dust particles contain allergens and when exposed to those allergens, the airways can become inflamed.
Managing the environment is an imperative practice whether the horses living in the barn have respiratory disease or not, but it’s especially important when trying to manage severe equine asthma.
Steve Grubbs, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Technical Services Veterinarian, Boehringer Ingelheim, provided some tips to help keep the barn environment as healthy as possible.
“Diet and bedding are the primary source of dust in the barn,” says Dr. Grubbs. “For the horse with severe equine asthma, managing those should be addressed first.
“The best solution, if the asthma is barn-induced, is to provide pasture turn-out full-time, eliminate round bales and decrease dust associated with hay,” he adds.
Where 24-hour turn-out is not available, Dr. Grubbs suggests the following:
•Keep horses in a clean, well-ventilated, low-dust environment
•Feed a cubed or pelleted diet
•Soak hay
•Avoid storing hay above stalls
•Minimize sweeping or blowing of floors while horses are in stalls
•Allow time for airborne dust to settle before returning horses to stalls
•Use low-dust bedding
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: ASERVO EQUIHALER has not been evaluated in pregnant or lactating mares. In a large clinical field study, the most common adverse reactions reported were coughing, nasal discharge, sneezing and nasal irritation/bleeding. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
“While these environmental management efforts won’t always eliminate respiratory issues, they can help minimize the impact,” says Dr. Grubbs. For more information about severe equine asthma syndrome, visit bi-animalhealth.com.
ROBERTS, DVM
Animal Hospital, Polo, Illinois with Memphis Slim, Rescue.
“I feel like the ASERVO EQUIHALER gave him his life back. Truly, he was probably a few hours away from being euthanized when I saw this product, so I feel like the ASERVO EQUIHALER definitely caused him to feel much be�er and has given him some quality of life.”
What were Memphis Slim’s symptoms?
His main symptom was severe dyspnea, and he did have some bilateral frothy nasal discharge when his symptoms were at their worst.
How has the Equihaler helped him long-term?
The EquiHaler has definitely helped him long term. His respiratory effort is minimal on most days, and he no longer has any nasal discharge. I have been able to reduce his dose to alternate days for the most part, especially in dry weather.
Learn more about Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA at bi-animalhealth.com.
SHAUNA
Polo
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Story
and Photos By
Bill Ormstrom
What Benefits Does My Horse Get from Being Well Adjusted?
Improved Natural Defense System. Every adjustment provides a boost to your horse’s Immune System. Studies have shown that well - adjusted pa�ents have as many as 4 �mes the number of circula�ng cells that help fight disease.
Nervous System Op�miza�on. The nervous system controls every func�on in your horse’s body and the goal of the chiroprac�c adjustment is to detect and remove any impingements to op�mal func�oning of communica�on between the brain and the rest of the body. Realiza�on of Full Biomechanical Poten�al. Movement of your horse’s spine begins at the base of the skull. If this joint is not moving properly, it blocks proper mo�on in other joints of the spine, especially in the neck. Without proper mo�on of the spine, your horse is unable to express its full athle�c poten�al, even it that is just walking around the pasture.
Posi�ve Brain Changes Experienced. The chiroprac�c adjustment improves the brains’ ability to handle ac�vi�es that are occurring in the background or subconscious of the horse’s brain. This includes func�ons like breathing, diges�on and just the ability to interact with gravity in an appropriate manner.
What Happens when My Horse is Out of Alignment?
Altered Body Func�on. Any �me movement is reduced, the body automa�cally goes into protec�ve lock-down measures to prevent further injury. These include swelling, heat, loss of func�on, redness, and pain. Research studies have shown that the weight of a feather on a nerve root may cause 40% loss of func�on within a few minutes. Unbalanced Nervous System Ac�vity. The autonomic nervous system that oversees priori�zing func�ons of the body gets unbalanced. The fight and flight side gets excited and doesn’t allow the rest and relaxa�on side to do its job. This makes learning and reac�ng to the environment difficult.
Muscle Asymmetry Develops. One normal step for your horse requires that every muscle and joint move correctly. This movement requires balanced symmetrical muscles. Muscle loss occurs when the muscle isn’t being used or the muscle loses proper innerva�on. Being out of alignment causes a decrease in innerva�on which leads to lack of use.
Timely Rechecks Are Important for Health and Well Being.
Realizing everything that happens when your horse gets analyzed for vertebral subluxa�ons will help you understand the need for rechecks. Vertebral subluxa�ons are vertebra that are not moving correctly and causing interference in the nervous system. The frequency of visits will depend on a variety of things that include the goals you have for your horse. High performance or just a high quality of life. Subluxa�ons can be caused by traumas (small or large), thoughts (what’s stressful for your horse) and toxins in the environment. Exercises and other modali�es will help, however once subluxa�ons are present the only way to remove them is via a very specific adjustment.
How can I tell if my horse needs an adjustment?
Use a neck stretch. Check for bilateral symmetry and the ability of your horse to bend the side of its face to its rib cage. Encourage your horse to extend its neck and to flex to the chest for a treat.
Poor lateral flexion in the picture on the left shows that the first vertebra is out of alignment. The first movement should look like the photo on the right.
This is good flexion and extension and indicates that the top of the spinal column is moving correctly.
Butt tucks are a reflex action that require appropriate communication and proper joint movement from approximately the middle of the back through to the coxofemoral joint.
Look at the top of the hip bones, they should be level and shouldn’t move when you move your horses head from side to side.
Any problems with these movements warrant a visit with chiropractor to improve health and vitality.
NECK STRETCH
Expect the Best at the PNHS
Highlights of the 2023 Pennsylvania National Horse Show
Since 1946, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show has brought the biggest names in equestrian sport to the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA, and this year is set to be no exception. From October 12-22, 2023, the PNHS will welcome top show jumping, hunter and equitation competitors, and spectators can expect no less than the best.
Here is just a taste of what attendees can look forward to this year. A New Schedule, Chock-Full of Championships
For the first time, the PNHS has expanded to 11 days of competition (up from 10 days in 2022), with highlight events of this year’s show including the:
• Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final
• USEF Prix des States and Junior Jumper National Championships
• USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East
• Penn National Hunter and Jumper Championships
• $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National
• and much more!
More Ways to Get Involved
New to the show this year is Team Night, to be held on Friday, October 20! The special evening, held concurrently with a $30,000 Grand Prix, will offer prizes for groups across a number of categories, and barns and sports teams
alikeare encouraged to gather for what is set to be one of the most exciting nights of the week!
From riding to baseball to soccer and more, no matter the sport, all teams are invited to participate and to find out more at PAnational.org/special-events.
Current or prospective high school and college students are also invited to attend the second-annual PNHS Education Fair, to be held Friday, October 13, through Sunday, October 15, and featuring dozens of secondary schools and universities.
That same weekend, spectators are encouraged to bring the whole family for the Celebration of the Horse from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday. The special, free afternoon will feature pony rides, wagon rides, arts and crafts, behind-the-scenes tours, face painting and more.
McLain Ward and First Lady.
Photo by RandolphPR
finale,
In addition to top-caliber competition and activities for all ages, there is something even greater at the heart of the PNHS: the PNHS Foundation.
Established in 1999, the PNHS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides support for therapeutic riding programs and equine rescues.
In 2022, the PNHS Foundation awarded more than $50,000 in grants to nonprofit recipients both locally and across the nation. These grants provide scholarships for therapy students, facilitate care for therapy and rescue horses, allow for the purchase of equipment for horses and riders and much more – they are all only made possible thanks to exhibitor, sponsor and spectator support of the 11-day PNHS.
This year, the PNHS Foundation hopes to allocate more grant funding than ever before! In addition to giving back to non-profit organizations, the PNHS Foundation is proud to host “Foundation Friday,” featuring the the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships, each year. This year’s Foundation Friday will take place on October 20 and will offer two therapeutic riding championship divisions. Riders qualify for these year-end championship classes by competing in any one of the qualifying competitions held throughout the summer months at local horse shows, and the PNHS often marks a highlight of the year for each of these riders.
To learn more about the PNHS Foundation and all that the PA National Horse Show has to offer, visit PAnational.org.
National Horse Show offers top hunter competition, in addition to highlight jumping and equitation events.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Tickets for the grand
the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National, are available at PAnational. org. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Trailer Driving 101 Gooseneck vs. Bumper Pull
Story and Photos
By Tom Scheve
A gooseneck trailer owner will most likely swear that a gooseneck drives better, while a bumperpull trailer owner will likely swear it doesn’t.
If you’re racking your brain trying to choose between a gooseneck and a bumper pull, let me say right from the get-go, if hauling more than two horses is in your plans, I strongly suggest a gooseneck because of the additional horse(s) weight. Simply put, a gooseneck can handle more trailer and tongue weight, which is conducive to better tracking and eliminating sway. For more details about the safety issues of towing three (or more) horses in a bumper pull, please review the 2022 January/Feb article in Elite Equestrian magazine.
But suppose it’s a two-horse trailer you’re considering. In that case, you are not compromising safety when choosing one over the other as long as they are both hitched correctly. And it’s not that one drives better than the other; they just drive differently. By differently, I mean how each trailer tracks behind the tow vehicle.
The learning curve is understanding how each trailer reacts when turning. Simply put, a bumper pull will follow the track of the tow vehicle more closely on turns, whereas a gooseneck will severely cut corners.
A bumper-pull follows the path of the tow vehicle reasonably close, but it still cuts corners somewhat when turning. If you’re not paying attention, you might scrape a curb rather than roll over it as you would in a gooseneck. To clear the curb when turning right, you must drive the bumper pull straight forward into the street before turning. When the trailer is a quarter to halfway past the curb, you will escape bouncing over the curb. Turning left is not a problem because there is no curb on the driver’s side. The same principles apply when driving through a farm gate or out of a barn or overhang. ILLUSTRATION 1: Bumper Pull Turning
A gooseneck sets on a ball over the axles in the truck bed instead of behind the tow vehicle, making a huge difference in how the trailer reacts when turning. A bumper pull stays closer to the path the tow vehicle takes, but a gooseneck does not. The truck pulls a gooseneck trailer sideways when turning, severely cutting corners.
To negotiate a right turn without bouncing your horses over a curb, approach the intersection while staying as close to the painted centerline (or driver’s side lane line) as possible before turning. Keep an eye on your side view mirror and head straight out into the intersection, making sure the rear axles are either even with the curb or past it before starting to turn. You may have to swing over the centerline as you turn into the intersection so always check for oncoming traffic before pulling out.
When driving through an open fence gate, the gooseneck trailer axles must move past the gate posts before turning, or you will be looking at purchasing a new fender.
ILLUSTRATION 2: Gooseneck turning
A common misconception about goosenecks is that the truck and trailer can turn 90 degrees (which is true) and thus make sharper turns. However, there is a point when turning that the wheels are no longer rolling forward and start dragging sideways. This places tremendous pressure on the tire and wheel and you’re apt to pop the outer portion of the wheel off the inner rim or at the very least, damage the tire. Never turn so sharply that the gooseneck wheels stop rolling forward.
ILLUSTRATION 3: Sharp Gooseneck Turn
When backing a bumper-pull or a gooseneck, it can be confusing which way the trailer will go when you turn the steering wheel. An easy way to solve this is to place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. When you move your hand to the right, the trailer will back to the right; move your hand to the left, and it will back to the left.
ILLUSTRATION 4: Steering Wheel
Continued next page...
JMO STABLES JMO STABLES
Partial Board
vehicle options.
• Large Riding Arena
• Round Pen
• Concrete Block Barn.
• 5 Turnouts
A gooseneck has additional space in the gooseneck area for extra gear or for sleeping. It weighs more, which provides a better ride for your horses if your truck is extra heavy-duty.
• 2 Washracks
• Separate Feedroom From Barn
We Drop Your Am And Pm Feed
Tom Scheve, with wife Neva have been advocating horse trailer safety since 1984. Both have given safety clinics at many hose expos around the country and have written numerous articles for articles for national magazines, bout horse trailer safety. Their nationally acclaimed textbook, The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining and Servicing a Horse Trailer and Equine Emergencies on the Road (with Jim Hamilton DVM have been adopted by most National Horse organizations. Tom is also owner of EquiSpirit Trailer Company with corporate offices in Southern Pines, NC. For more information on horse trailer safety, visit their website equispirit.com or email Tom at tom@equispirit.com. Toll Free number is 1-877-575-1771.
Partial board means you are in charge of doing your own work. Cleaning your stall, setting up your own feed, and taking care of your horse. Horse owner provides their own feed, hay & shavings. Dumpster is picked up regularly for fly control management.
We are a short, ridable distance to Walsingham Horse Park, which has approximately 60 acres of trails.
https://www.facebook.com/JMOstables
RIDER Biomechanics
Story & Photos By Stephany Fish Crossman
Accredited RWYM coach, Stephany Fish Crossman reviews a rider to help the team improve their ride!
For this issue I veered off the traditional Dressage rider analysis and went with some pictures of a young lady I worked with while on Maui. There are approximately 500 horses on the island of Maui, so many of them have an extremely varied resume, from being cow ponies to dressage horses to barrel racers and more! This young lady had the good fortune to ride this lovely mare, who is one of her trainer’s personal mounts. She is learning to do ranch horse stuff and some barrel racing, and her trainer thought it would be a great idea to make sure she was balanced from the start!
One important thing to know when working with riders in Western saddles is the differences in the basic make up of the saddles. As there is either more speed or more slack in a western rider’s discipline (from cow work to pleasure riding, for example), there is more of a tendency to build saddles that encourage riders to sit in the back of the saddle. A major part of this is the positioning of the stirrup bars; they tend to be more forward on a Western saddle than on an English saddle, so creating a balanced line up can be challenging. The square shape of the seat, combined with no real place to put the thigh/knee into can also lead riders to fall into the back of their body, cushioned comfortably in the back of the seat but not in a great place to help balance the horse’s body. One more thing to consider when working with Western riders – you need to know what their basic discipline is. The balance that we put a Dressage rider or a Hunter/Jumper rider is going to be too far forward for the quick stops and starts on a working cow horse, for example. However, no rider is always doing the same thing, so we gave this young lady a good balanced place to sit for when she is working on the flat or on a trail.
In our first picture, you can see that she is a long-legged teenager, with a really lovely length of thigh, a shorter torso and a good length of arm – perfect rider body! When I start with the basic idea of “if I magically pulled the horse out from underneath her, would she land on her face, her feet or her fanny?” it is easy to see that she would land on her fanny, and that her body is going backwards as she asks the horse to go forwards. Note the different length of her torso front to back – if you used 2 equal pieces of string from the base of her throat to her pubic bone in front and from the knobble where her neck meets her back down to her tailbone, it is easy to see that her back line is significantly longer and more in use than her front line. To compensate for the torso being long behind and shorter in front, her legs are the opposite – with her toe down in the stirrup, you can see that the front line of her leg is longer than the back line of her leg. This compensation pattern will, when the horse moves off, put her farther back into the saddle, which will cause her to brace in the stirrups and the reins in order to stay on the horse – a not good scenario. It is interesting to note that her hands are open and her fingers “soft”; this is the result of having been told not to pull, but having no real understanding of how to set herself up so that she doesn’t need to pull.
BEFORE
So, let’s get started!
Because I believe the position of the leg is in part compensation for the upper body and in part stirrup bar position, we go to the top half to start our fix. To get the torso in the best possible alignment, we want to position the collarbone over the sternum, then the sternum over the belly button, then the belly button over the pubic bone; this will get her front line and her back line matching. Looking at our rider, you can see that she will need to bring her collarbone and her sternum pretty significantly forward to get over the belly button, but then we will also need to bring the belly button back and the pubic bone up. These last two corrections can be achieved by thinking of your pelvis like a bowl. When the belly button is out, the bowl is tipping forward, down onto the pubic bone. When we think about drawing the belly button back toward the spine, it automatically brings the pubic bone up and the pelvis into a more neutral balance. To get the collarbone over the sternum and the sternum over the belly button, think about pushing into a force, like the wind, which is pushing you back. If you look down the front of you and you can see your belly button or your belt buckle, you haven’t gotten your collarbone and sternum in line enough yet! Maintaining this position is going to take a lot of focus, as it probably does not feel right (maybe more like falling off the front of the horse!) I had her note the feeling (good or bad) that the correct alignment created in her – our rider said that she felt hunched over when she was in the proper position! It is always interesting to see how proprioception can be faulty.
Once we lined up the front and back of her torso, it was time to address the legs. Remember that the thighs are part of the seat, and therefore need to have the ability to bend at both the knee and the hip to remain mobile yet stabilizing. To accomplish this, we shortened her stirrup up TWO holes – it felt crazy short to her at first, but she adjusted quickly and realized how much more accessible her legs and the stirrups were! The shorter stirrup gave her a better bend at the back of her knee, which allowed
her to bend and flex her hip, knee and ankle joints more effectively. The ability to bend and flex your lower joints creates a suspension effect in your body, much like the suspensions system in your car or truck. Without the ability to flex and band the lower joints, the upper body has no chance of maintaining its balance without bracing. I adjusted her leg to hang slightly further back than she had been positioned, so that her shoulder-point of hip-ankle line is on point.
When driving through an open fence gate, the gooseneck trailer axles must move past the gate posts before turning, you will be looking at purchasing a new fender.
ILLUSTRATION 2: Gooseneck turning
common misconception about goosenecks is that the truck and trailer can turn 90 degrees (which is true) and thus make sharper turns. However, there is a point when turning that the wheels are no longer rolling forward and start dragging sideways. This places tremendous pressure the tire and wheel and you’re apt to pop the outer portion of the wheel off the inner rim or at the very least, damage the tire. Never turn so sharply that the gooseneck wheels stop rolling forward.
ILLUSTRATION 3: Sharp Gooseneck Turn
There are two more things to observe in the before and after pictures of our rider this month, one good and one a work in progress. The work in progress is her foot. While her leg position is better, you may notice that her toe is still somewhat pointed down. This is something that is going to take more time – if I asked her to put her heel down now, she would brace the foot in the stirrup and open the knee angle too much, pushing herself back into the saddle. When making biomechanics changes in a rider, we search for Causes and Symptoms, with causes being our main focus to change. As she learns to draw her foot back underneath her to improve her balance, her ankles do not have the habit of flexing without bracing, and her hamstrings are working hard to keep her leg back more and her knee flexed. As the hamstrings become more familiar with this movement, our rider will be able to let her ankles flex without the loss of engagement in her hamstrings. The second thing to notice is her hands…remember when I said that her hands were open in the first picture? Note how her hands are more closed in the second picture! Hands are generally a symptom, not a cause. Think of the extremities of the body like the ripples of a pebble going into a pond – the hands and feet are usually the farthest out ripple, therefore not the creating factor. After moving our rider into a better alignment, her body no longer feels the need to let go of the reins, as she is riding more toward the bit instead of away from the bit – magic!
When backing a bumper-pull or a gooseneck, it can be confusing which way the trailer will go when you turn the steering wheel. An easy way to solve this is to place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. When you move your hand to the right, the trailer will back to the right; move your hand to the left, and it will back to the left.
I hope you enjoyed our rider biomechanics review for this issue, and that you picked up some helpful hints from it! If you would like to be one of our reviewed riders, drop me a line at stephany@serendipitydressage.net. Happy riding!
ILLUSTRATION 4: Steering Wheel
Continued from previous page...
Besides how they drive, there are other benefits to owning one or the other. A bumper-pull is shorter if space is a problem, it’s less money, a bit easier to jack up and down, and it can hook up to an SUV or a truck, giving you more tow vehicle options.
A gooseneck has additional space in the gooseneck area for extra gear or for sleeping. It weighs more, which provides a better ride for your horses if your truck is extra heavy-duty.
Tom Scheve, with wife Neva have been advocating horse trailer safety since 1984. Both have given safety clinics at many hose expos around the country and have written numerous articles for articles for national magazines, bout horse trailer safety. Their nationally acclaimed textbook, The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining and Servicing a Horse Trailer and Equine Emergencies on the Road (with Jim Hamilton DVM have been adopted by most National Horse organizations. Tom is also owner of EquiSpirit Trailer Company with corporate offices in Southern Pines, NC. For more information on horse trailer safety, visit their website equispirit.com or email Tom at tom@equispirit.com. Toll Free number is 1-877-575-1771.
Elite Equestrian does not endorse or confirm content suggestions in any articles. See credit page for disclaimer.
WHEELS MOVING FORWARD
WHEELS DRAGGED SIDEWAYS
Backs left Backs Right
Capital Challenge Horse Show elebrates 30 Years of Memories
Story and Photos By
Sabrina Brashares/ Jump Media
CThree decades ago, Oliver Kennedy and Billy Glass created the Capital Challenge Horse Show at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The event went on to become one of the country’s most esteemed horse shows and the first stop on the elite fall indoor circuit. On September 28-October 8, 2023, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will celebrate its 30th anniversary by once again hosting the country’s best hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.
In honor of this special occasion, we spoke with several prominent riders and trainers who have long histories of attending the Capital Challenge Horse Show to find out what makes the competition most memorable for them.
Prestige and Atmosphere
Accomplished hunter rider and trainer Amanda Steege, who won the $50,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Challenge at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in 2018, is a longtime supporter of the horse show because of the high level of competition it provides across the hunter divisions.
“Capital Challenge is so special because it is one of the few horse shows of the year where hunter people from all over the country come to compete,” shared Steege. “Capital Challenge is also the home of the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals and Challenges as well as the North American League finals, the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) Children’s Medal Finals, and the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals. It is the culmination of the year for a lot of people and brings with it a lot of great energy.
“I enjoy the atmosphere and the excitement of the WCHR program and all of the finals,” continued Steege. “The WCHR Professional Final is always a fun class whether I’m lucky enough to be in the top six and compete or if I’m in the stands cheering on my friends. I also love Capital Challenge-style presentations and the amazing awards and trophies that are given out every year. It’s so special getting to show over beautiful courses and jumps designed by the best in the business. The hunter divisions tend to be very large and are some of the most competitive classes we see all year.”
Augusta Iwasaki had a successful junior career showing at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in the equitation as
well as pony and junior hunter divisions. The upand-coming amateur rider received Grand Junior Hunter Champion honors in both 2017 and 2021. She also won the THIS National Children’s Medal Final in 2017 along with numerous top placings throughout her junior years.
“Capital Challenge is such a special horse show because of its atmosphere and prestige,” described Iwasaki. “Everyone competing has worked year-round to be there, and it shows in the level of competition. I really enjoy showing at Capital Challenge for many reasons, but the WCHR competition really stands out for me.”
Andre Dignelli, owner and head trainer at Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY, has produced national hunter, jumper, and equitation champions for nearly three decades. Dignelli has had many students in the winner’s circle at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in all divisions and levels of competition.
Archie Cox with student Emily Williams who earned the Grand Junior Hunter Championship in 2019 aboard Beach Boy. Photo by Jump Media
“Capital Challenge is the biggest indoor show for hunters in the country,” commented Dignelli. “I think the head-tohead competition for those top hunters is what makes it unique. The show also does such a good job with awards and prize-giving ceremonies. They make a real effort in having the presentations be special. At Capital Challenge, you get to see everybody come together with their best horses, trying to put in their best rounds. It’s exciting to have such high-level competition.”
Throughout his career, Archie Cox, owner and trainer at Brookway Stables in Lake View Terrace, CA, has taught many of the nation’s top hunter horses and riders and captured championships at every major competition, including the Capital Challenge Horse Show.
“Capital Challenge is truly amazing,” said Cox. “Many of the best horses and riders come together to compete against each other. Hunters take center stage for an entire week, which is very special.”
“ “Everyone competing has worked year-round to be there, and it shows in the level of competition.
Early memories and favorite moments...
Early memories and favorite moments...
Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze claimed the WCHR Professional Challenge and the Grand Green Hunter Championship in 2018. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Early Memories
“My first memories are from back in the early 2000s,” explained Steege. “I was a young professional and mostly had Future or Pre-Green hunters to show. I was always so happy to just win a ribbon. The first time I won a blue ribbon and the coveted Capital Challenge medal in The Show Place Arena with Balou, owned by Lisa Arena Davis, in 2012 will always be a highlight for me.”
Iwasaki began her showing career at Capital Challenge in the pony hunter divisions.
“My first memory of showing at Capital Challenge was competing in the Small Pony Hunter division,” shared Iwasaki. “I remember being so nervous to show there. I was so excited when I earned seventh place in the last over-fences round of the division.”
Early memories for Dignelli include helping fellow Heritage Farm trainers in the professional hunter divisions.
“In 2007 and 2008, Heritage Farm had some pretty fancy hunters,” commented Dignelli. “Patricia Griffith was showing Vida Blue and Kirsten Coe was showing Heartfelt in the professional divisions. They were two high-level riders with two high-level horses. They won the WCHR Professional Challenge in consecutive years, with Kirsten winning in 2007 and Patricia winning in 2008.”
Favorite Moments
“I have so many favorite memories,” said Steege. “The top three favorite ones are my first time competing in the WCHR Professional Finals, winning with Balou in 2012, and my most favorite memory is from 2018 when Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte De Muze was undefeated over fences in the Green Hunter 3’6’’ division and we won the WCHR Professional Challenge. It was his first year competing in the United States, and many people had never seen him show in person before. It was a huge thrill. I’m looking forward to making more memories in 2023!”
“One of my favorite memories at Capital Challenge was my first time winning the WCHR Junior Hunter 3’6” Challenge with Small Affair,” described Iwasaki. “It was in 2017, and we were also Grand Junior Hunter Champion that year.”
“One memory that sticks out is when I flew in the night before the North American Junior Equitation Championships to help Lillie Keenan in 2012, and she won,” shared Dignelli. “That memory always stood out, because most of the time on that weekend, I would be training at home for the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East; other members of my staff would go to Capital Challenge, and we’d split up. On that occasion, I got to enjoy being at the show and having Lillie win.”
Cox has been a longtime supporter of the Capital Challenge Horse Show and after so many memorable years, it is difficult to pick just one moment.
“It makes me smile thinking of the 30 years I’ve competed at Capital Challenge,” said Cox. “A lifetime of memories has been created there with everyone coming together to share their mutual love of horses and the sport. Those memories last forever.”
To learn more about the Capital Challenge Horse Show, please visit
www.CapitalChallenge.org
Andre Dignelli (second from left) with Lillie Keenan in the winning presentation for the 2012 North American Junior Equitation Championships. Photo by Jump Media
Augusta Iwasaki and Small Affair were crowned with the Grand Junior Hunter Championship and won the WCHR Junior Hunter 3’6” Challenge in 2017. Photo by Jump Media
48
48 Years of Innovation and Education with Dressage at Devon
As Dressage at Devon approaches its Golden 50th Anniversary, the now world-renowned event which casts its magic once a year for six action-packed days of competition, camaraderie, and education, looks back at its grassroots beginnings, embracing the forward thinking mentality that has helped the show evolve and thrive as one of the only dressage USEF Heritage Competition in the country.
The original idea
that eventually led to the founding of Dressage at Devon was born in 1965 when riding enthusiasts begged the question, “How come the kids get to have all the fun?” Their vision to form an adult pony club caught on and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association or “DVCTA” was born. The mission of the club was to provide instruction and training for members and to educate and demonstrate dressage to the public. Dressage at Devon “DaD” credits the late Pat Franco with the idea of hosting DaD at the Devon Horse Show Grounds in 1975.
The three cornerstones of the event draw on every level of equestrian enthusiasts. From the world-class dressage competition for the advanced rider and spectator, to curious families in the area wishing to take their kids on a trip they will never forget, Dressage at Devon prides itself on having an event for each and every attendee. In their effort to continuously host a better and better event each year that outdoes the last, this year the Dressage at Devon schedule is more exciting than ever before.
The action kicks off at Dressage at Devon, presented by Kingsview Partners, on Tuesday, September 26th, with the Breed Division. Drawing on breeders, handlers, and some of the best bred horses in the United States and Canada, the DaD breed show is one of the largest dressage-based open breed shows in the world offering Individual Breed Classes “IBCs” as well as foal, filly, stallion, mare, pony, and many more divisions. Each class and division leads to the highly-anticipated overall Grand Championship. The Dressage at Devon Breed Division is both a USDF Breeders Championship Series Qualifier and East Coast Final with each day of breed competition providing another opportunity to vie for a championship spot in the USDFBCS East Coast Final.
Classes on Thursday and Friday lead up to the highlight class of the week, the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday night set under the lights of the iconic Dixon Oval. Serving as the first World Cup qualifier of the season, the energy of the Grand Prix Musical Freestyle at Dressage at Devon is like no other in the U.S. More closely related to that of European-style competition, the night class is not only a crowd favorite, but also a competitor favorite drawing in legendary riders such as Ashley Holzer, Michael Bargdell,
Jacqueline Brooks, Lindsay Kellock, Jessica Jo Tate, Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, and Alice Tarjan to name a few.
As the Breed Division competition closes out on Thursday, the buzz and electricity of the Performance Division sets in, opening up one of the most exciting weekends in the sport of dressage. Including CDI and national level classes, as well as classes for Children, Ponies, juniors, Young Riders, Under 25 (U25), Adult Amateur, and CDI 1*, 2*, 3*. The Performance Division is four days of some of the best dressage competition in the country set with the historic Devon Horse Show Grounds as a backdrop.
While the competition serves as the backbone of the horse show, the specialty events add a new and exciting layer of entertainment for all exhibitors - aiding in what makes up the “magic” of Dressage at Devon. This year, DaD is thrilled to announce the return of the Master Class following last year’s inaugural eventwith Olympic silver medalist, Sabine Schut-Kery. Unlike a traditional “clinic,” the Dressage at Devon Master Classes are hosted by Olympians, while fellow top international athletes serve as demo riders in this elite-level educational event.
This year, Dressage at Devon is thrilled to announce The NorCordia Dressage at Devon 2023 Master Class Presented by Running ‘S’ Equine Veterinary Services, hosted by Danish Olympian and World No. 2 Rider, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour. On Thursday evening, Sept. 28th, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, who is a favorite for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games, will teach this year’s round of demo riders including
Catherine Haddad Staller, Lauren Sammis, Hope Cooper, Hope Beerling, Lindsay Kellock, Natalie Pai, as well as the wild card, three-time Olympic Eventer, Boyd Martin.
In addition to The NorCordia Dressage at Devon 2023 Master Class Presented by Running ‘S’ Equine Veterinary Services, DaD is introducing a new event this year, the Dressage at Devon Dance Off. On Friday September 29th, pairs of elite Grand Prix dressage riders will “battle” and “dance off” to live music! Sure to bring new meaning to competing under the lights in the Dixon Oval, horse-and-rider pairs will go head-to-head in a new and innovative breakdancing competition – for horses. The pairs will duel against one another to contemporary, LIVE music, with a panel of cele-
brity judges providing numerical marks and live commentary to determine the victor. Each round of battle will result in a winner who will proceed to a one-tempi challenge, which will determine our 2023 Dance Off Champion. Unofficial spectator judging will also be offered as a way of engaging the already excited and electric crowd.
The final pillar of the foundation of Dressage at Devon is one near and dear to the hearts of those that have helped make the show what it is today: education. DaD has always made it a core mission to educate the public and the equestrian on the art of dressage and horsemanship. This year, Dressage at Devon is hosting countless educational opportunities including talks and lectures such as: Training Your Eye to Evaluate the Horse’s Biomechanics with Hilary Clayton, Positive Reinforcement for dressage horses with Shawna Karrasch, and a special appearance by the New Bolton Center who will speak on the path to vet school during Dressage Explorers Day, sponsored by the Grier School on Sunday. Other educational opportunities include a tour of the cutting-edge New Bolton Center mobile vet truck, as well as the New Bolton Center Vet Forum.
Beyond the impressive educational opportunities and world-class competition , With the stage set on the country’s most historic showgrounds, Dressage at Devon is all about FUN. From the beloved Fall Festival, to nightly cocktail parties and receptions, to the Hat Contest, and Dressage Explorers Day, sponsored by the Grier School, each day at Dressage at Devon is as well-rounded as it is entertaining.
For more information on Dressage at Devon, presented by Kingsview Partners visit, https://dressageatdevon.org/.
