Life Size Memorial

Britain’s first life-size memorial of a  war horse  is being unveiled in a park in Romsey, Hampshire this summer.

In World War One the Remount Camp just outside of the town trained 120,000 horses and mules for life on the front, where many died.

After the war the camp was completely demolished, but the remaining hardcore was used to raise the ground level of the War Memorial Park in Romsey.

A group of local people have commissioned equestrian sculptor Amy Goodman to create a statue for the park to commemorate the horses and men who served in the camp.

The commission is a life-long ambition for the 40 year-old Hampshire-based sculptor.

“All my career I’ve wanted to sculpt a life-size horse as a public memorial. It is such an honour to be involved in such a project as this,” she told H&H.

The trooper has a broken arm in the sculpture, to portray the injuries sustained in war, and is depicted holding his other arm out for his horse to nuzzle.

“I wish to convey the powerful bond between horse and soldier, despite their hardship through war,” added Amy.

She started her research in 2011 gaining inspiration from Lionel Edwards’ sketches and Munnings’ renditions of Major General Jack Seely and his famous horse, Warrior.

The project is costing £80,000 with public donations, auctions and local fundraising having raised three quarters of the funds so far.

A local brewer has created “the Romsey War Horse” ale to help with fundraising, and bronze limited-edition maquettes of the memorial project are being sold.

Amy Goodman’s Romsey War Horse maquette won the British Sporting Art Trust best sculpture award at the annual Society of Equestrian Artists “Horse in Art” exhibition in 2013.

The sculpture is being cast in bronze resin and will be unveiled on 3 July.

Winter Blues

Today it is 23 degrees with a wind chill in the single digits. The normal high here today is 52 degrees. I'm beginning to get a little annoyed with this winter weather. I know everyone is suffering this winter and certainly it is far worse in other parts of the country, but I'm still annoyed.

Maybe it's because, for us horse people, winter means we don't get to ride as much, or even spend as much time with our horses, as we do during the warmer months. Caring for the herd is more difficult during the winter months, as well. It's not just turning on the hose and filling water buckets or tanks, no because you have to drain the darn hose and put it inside and then you have to drag it out to use it. Let's not forget that's only if it's warm enough that the pipe isn't frozen. If you live where snow stays on the ground for most of the winter (thankfully it usually melts here, where I live, in a day or two) then it's trudging through snow to get to the barn to feed in the cold. Unloading feed can be a pain in the cold and snow as well. Handling the horses is far more difficult when you're wearing gloves, winter boots and a heavy jacket. Stall cleaning can be a challenge, too, in the winter.

And have you noticed how your horses act during the winter?  They act like they are on a vacation and your job is making them as comfortable as possible so they can enjoy their much needed down time. When you turn them out they gallop around in the snow bucking and kicking then the stop, drop and roll - making snow angels. This is happening while you're dragging the darn hose through the snow, trudging through snow to empty the wheel borrow after cleaning their stalls and your hands are freezing because you had to take them off to be able to lock the darn gait. Of course if the weather is too bad for them to be turned out then they act like children who can't go out for recess. They kick the stall doors and fight with their neighbors just to let you know they are stall wacky and it's only been one day. God help you if you have to blanket one of them some reason (like they are shivering in the cold temps) well where do I start - trying to get the blanket buckled without taking your gloves off? How about trying figure out how they the managed to get the stupid blanket off?

I do have a few things I'm thankful for and that's heated water buckets, tank heaters, insulated boots, gloves and, of course, most of all my horses. That's right winter would be pretty dull without those horses and besides I would never have to go outside all winter. Think Spring everyone!!!

Tennessee Walking Horses...the controversy continues

 This article was written in October of 2004 and won 2nd place in FOSH Investigative Journalism Awards. So much of this article is still relevant  today 10 years later as the battle against Soring is still going on. 


By Cheryl Childs

There has  been controversy  swirling around the showing of Tennessee Walking Horses for many many years,  due the practice of soring these horses for the show ring.  The soring of Tennessee Walking Horses goes back to the 1950’s. This  process became widespread in the 1960’s, when horses that were being sored began to place and win at the shows.
  What is soring? There are two kinds of soring -mechanical and chemical.  The two methods are, at times, used in conjunction with one another. The process of chemically soring a horse involves applying caustic substances to the pastern of the horse’s front  legs then placing plastic wrap on the area and applying leg bandages.  Some of the chemicals used are kerosene and diesel oil, along with more harmful chemicals like crotonaldehyde and mustard oil. The plastic wrap and bandages, essentially, heats the chemical and burns the skin, causing the horse to experience constant and extreme pain.

Chains are then fastened around the horse’s pasterns, after the chemicals are applied, which causes the horse to jerk his painful leg up off the ground  and throw his weight back onto his rear legs, making the horse appear to be high stepping with lot of action. This is what is called, in the industry,  a “ Big Lick” show horse. These horses have an exaggerated gait when being ridden and look as if, at any moment, their rear ends will give way and they will fall to the ground. The same holds true where mechanical soring is concerned. Mechanical soring is just as painful for the horse as chemical soring and can cause just as much damage. Padded shoes are put on the horse’s front legs. These shoes, also called “ Stacks”,can be as high 5 inches and, in some cases, are filled with substances for added weight. These shoes are never removed from the horse and they cause the horse to stand in unnatural position . Some trainers and owners will also have the horse’s  back hoofs trimmed very short to help accomplish  high action in the show arena.
  In the 1970’s, due to public outcry over this abusive
practice the Horse Protection Act (HPA) was passed. The HPA is in place to prevent cruelty and abuse of any horses being shown, but it was the abuse of Tennessee Walking Horses that set  it into motion. It passed in 1970 and was amended in 1976. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is the USDA agency charged with enforcing the HPA.
 According to the HPA soring is a cruel and abusive practice used to accentuate a horse’s gait. The HPA is a Federal law that prohibits horses subjected to the practice of soring from participating in shows, sales, exhibitions or auctions.
 The HPA ensures that responsible horse owners and trainers will not suffer unfair competition from those who sore their horses and that the horses will not be subjected to the cruel practice of soring. According to the HPA the responsibility for preventing sored horses being exhibited, shown or sold rests with owners, trainers, riders, sellers and managers of events. It states that managers have the major legal responsibility to exclude or disqualify sored horses from their shows, sales, auctions or exhibitions.
 To assist in enforcement of the HPA the Designated Qualified Persons Program (DQP)  was established.   DQPs are USDA accredited veterinarians with equine experience, or farriers, horse trainers, or other knowledgeable horsemen/women who have been formally trained and licensed by a USDA Horse Industry Organization (HIO). The managers of a show may contract with an HIO to hire the DQPs to assure horses that have been sored are not allowed in the ring. At a show or event the  DQP is responsible for physically inspecting every Tennessee Walking Horse and racking horse before they may be shown, exhibited or sold. They must report any horses that do not meet Federal regulations, under the HPA, to show management. It then becomes  the show management’s legal responsibility to disqualify the sored horses.  Show management , however, is not required by the HPA to have a DQP present at the show, but they have the major legal responsibility if horses being shown are sored.
 The USDA makes every effort they can to enforce the HPA despite the fact that  they have limited funding. According to  Todd Behre, DVM, The Horse Protection Coordi-nator of the USDA the USDA attends 4% of the horse shows nationwide. They go to the shows unannounced. Dr. Behre says that once competitors are made aware  of the presence of the USDA at a show many will simply load up their horses and leave,  sometimes up to 30% to 60% of competitors present. “The violations rate (number of violations cited divided by the number of entries)  is much greater when the USDA is present than when USDA is not present,” Dr. Behre stated.  The USDA is working on new techniques to detect chemicals on the horses. One such technique is Thermography, which detects heat and another is is  Chromatography, that can actually detect the presence of  chemicals on the leg of the horse.
 Even though the Horse Protection Act was passed over thirty years ago it seems the abuses  of Walking Horses still goes on. Many people believed that, after the passing of the HPA the abuse stopped, but the evidence  that it hasn’t stopped can be seen at shows today. Some of the  photographs featured in this article were taken recently at a local show. The fact that the Pony Press photographer was questioned by the show management about what she was photographing  (an experience the photographer has never had at any of  the horse events we have covered) is evidence that the people involved in these abuses are well aware of the fact that it is illegal.
 The goods news  is that there are breeders, trainers, and owners out there that are unquestionably against the act of soring these wonderful horses. There are also organizations working hand in hand with those breeders, trainers and owners to end this abuse of their beloved Tennessee Walking Horses.
 Schemel Stables, located in Perryville MO, is one such breeder of Walking Horses that is against the soring of horses. The Schemels have bred Walking Horses for nearly 30 years and they breed for the natural gait. They believe in the natural qualities of the horse, not abuse or mechanical devices, when training their horses. The Schemels stand several stallions and they have shown them. In 1998 they  showed at The Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration (held each year in Shelbyville,TN)  but unlike many of their fellow competitors they showed their horses without soring them. “Of 23 stallions being shown only 2 were shown clean (not sored)” says Rick Schemel. The Schemels hope that the soring of Walking Horses will some day come to end. They completely and openly support the end of this abusive practice.
The National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) is an organization that is against the soring of Walking Horses. NWHA was established in 1998 by a small group of people who wanted to offer an alternative to those opposed to soring and to eliminate the stigma that has affected the Walking Horse breed for so many years.
The NWHA now has 800 members with 50 affiliated horse shows a year. Every show is in compliance with the Horse Protection Act. Soring is absolutely not allowed at any NWHA show. NWHA members have also voted to eliminate the use of pads and action devices at any NWHA affiliated show. The NWHA feels that their organization is having a positive impact on the Walking Horse breed.
  NWHA President Don Bell, who trained Walking Horses for 28 years,  feels that the sored Walking Horse is a dinosaur, but it’s extinction will come slowly. Bell stopped training Walking horses because of the methods used in the industry. He sees problems with the Horse Protection Act and the Designated Qualified Persons program. “It’s like the fox guarding the hen house” he says. He feels that many DQPs are too closely involved in the industry. He also feels that this issue is political, with lobbyists working in Washington on behalf of people who stand to benefit from the continuation of these abusive practices. That is the reason Bell is involved in the NWHA. Bell feels that NWHA will continue to grow.
 Sherie Beatty, who was also once active in the Walking Horse industry, but, like Don Bell, made the choice to get out of the business, also feels there are problems. Beatty, an outspoken advocate against soring, and a founding member of the Friends of Sound Horses organization is also concerned about the problems within the DQP program. She feels that the industry is “policing itself”. Like others Beatty hopes to see an end to soring horses, but doesn’t see that happening in the near future, because high stepping horses make for a better show and more spectators, which brings in more money.
  Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) is another organization who’s goal is to help end the soring of Tennessee Walking Horses by making the public aware of the inhumane practices in the industry. They want to promote the showing of flat shod Walking Horses at competitions designed to showcase the naturally gaited pleasure horse. FOSH takes an activist’s role in the fight against the soring of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
 The one thing that FOSH, NWHA, USDA, and many others have in common is a goal to put an end to the cruelty and abuse of these wonderful horses. In describing the Tennessee Walking Horse words such as “docile”, “even tempered”, “resolute” and “amazing” were used. Like the members of all these organizations, the Pony Press hopes that, in the very near future, no Walking Horses will be forced to suffer for a rib

Appeals Court Rules Against USDA on Soring Penalties

The 5th District Court of Appeals in Texas has ruled that the USDA does not have the authority to require horse industry organizations (HIOs) to impose minimum penalties for Horse Protection Act (HPA) violators.

The HPA forbids soring and tasks the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) with enforcing the act, certifying HIOs, and training designated qualified persons (DQPs). The HIOs hire DQPs to carry out HPA compliance inspections on horses presented for exhibition at the horse shows. Under existing HPA enforcement regulations, violation penalties can be set by either the HIOs or USDA-APHIS.

In 2012, the USDA-APHIS required HIOs to impose minimum penalties for HPA violations as identified by DQPs. Penalties included a lifetime suspension for anyone who received three HPA violations under USDA-APHIS inspection rules.

Subsequently, in a complaint before the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, the HIO that manages the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration—Sound Horses, Honest Judging, Objective Inspections, Winning Fairly (SHOW)—challenged the USDA rule. That court found that the USDA acted lawfully when it required minimum HPA enforcement rules.

However, on Feb. 19, ruling on an appeal by Contender Farms, LLP and exhibitor Mike McGartland, the 5th District Court of Appeals in Texas overturned the lower court's decision.

“A broad grant of general rulemaking authority does not allow an agency to make amendments to statutory provisions,” the ruling said. “The HPA authorizes the USDA to develop a private inspection system carried out by DQPs who are certified by HIOs, but it does not imply that the USDA may then establish a mandatory private enforcement system administered by those HIOs.”

Walter Chism, acting executive director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBA), applauded the decision.

“TWHBEA is a proponent of objective, science-based inspection protocols to eliminate any soring that remains in the industry (and) the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agrees that today’s subjective inspection protocols are 'more art than science' and 'yield a large number of false positives,'” Chism said in a written statement. “We are hopeful this decision will lead our industry to predictable preshow inspections.”

Meanwhile, Walking Horse advocates Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) and the American Horse Protection Association (AHPA) believe the decision threatens horse welfare.

“We are concerned that these elements will use the decision not only to avoid punishing people who abuse horses, but to redouble their efforts to resist USDA’s efforts to end soring,” FOSH President Teresa Bippen and AHPA Executive Director Robin Lohnes said in a joint statement. “In that sense, this decision is a travesty for the welfare of the horse and a major blow to the interests of all owners, breeders, trainers, and exhibitors who have fought for so many years to ensure that show horse competition is both humane and fair.”

Heart & Soul Story From A Reader- Esperanza Prima Mia

By  DonnaJean Peterson  

I went down to the barn this morning, and, like every morning for the last 7 years, I take the halter off the peg by the little bay mares stall, and slip it gently over her head and lead her out to the tie post to began the task of grooming her beautiful dark red coat. With every stroke of the brush, I once again admire the taunt muscles that lay just beneath the surface. I smile with appreciation and pride at the strong veins as I carefully brush every hair whorl into place, and that my now, I know by heart. Every little scar and imperfection on her beautifully strong body, and like everyday before, I once again thank God that he chose me to be the one to look after this very special creature. 

I reflect back 7 years to the day I first saw this mare...........I had contacted a Peruvian Horse breeder here in town and described to her exactly what I was looking for. An older bay gelding, well broke  Well a few weeks had past, and the breeder, A gal named Bonnie Gjerseth, called and said.. "Heeeey! I think I found your horse! Now its not a gelding like you wanted, but I think you will like her. Come take a look!" So I went to her barn, knowing I would NOT like this, this,.. THIS MARE!. I mean seriously. Everyone knows that geldings are the best. Right? I got to the barn and as I was walking down towards the stalls, I saw a lovely little bay mare standing so nice and quietly in cross ties and as I approached, she lifted her head to look at me, and all I could say is. "Ohhhh! I'll take Her!!" It was love at first sight. 

At 14.2 hands she was a shorty, and I loved her the moment I saw her. Bonnie, who is now a good friend of mine has an uncanny knack for picking out just the right horse for whoever it is looking for their perfect riding companion. And she really did pick the most perfect horse for me.

Today was much different then those other days, and my heart was heavy and I had to fight back the tears with every stroke of the brush. Today would be the last time that I would share this moment of bonding with this mare. This mare with whom I rode many glorious miles on. For 7 years I rode this little bay mare on some of the most beautiful winding trails all throughout Wisconsin and So. Dakota. Getting lost from time to time, only to give her, her head and she would eventually find our way back from where we started. My little bay mare, my pride and joy, who would make me laugh at her silly shenanigans as she would take that agile upper lip of hers and wiggle it onto the top of my head or my back, INSISTING that I stop with raking her stall in order to give her a good scratching around her face and ears..... This mare, who I would bury my face into her neck and breath deep the scent of horse that only an Equestrian can fully understand. This little bay mare who would bravely take me over creaky old bridges, foraged deep river crossings, who would take me up steep rocky trails and carefully carry me down the other side. This beautiful dark bay mare, My Esperanza. Her name meant joy, hope, and happiness. A name for which she lived up to, for she truly was my joy, hope and happiness. She kept me sane in this increasingly insane world, Never had I known such a sweet creature. My "Espy" my partner, was given back to God today. My Girl had nerve issues all along her back and neck, that sadly, could not be resolved. She is with God now, running in His green, lush pastures along side all the other noble horses that have gone before her. No saddle to bind her, and no bridle to hold her back.  To all of my friends who knew my Espy and me as a team, Thank you for all the great times we shared out on the trails. To God, Thank you for the time I had with this little bay mare. I know you will look after her until I get there. And to my Espy.... It was a great ride Girl. See you at the "Gate" on the other side.... 

                       

Editorial Paddock by Cheryl Childs

Dick Francis, a former jockey in Britain and mystery novelist, is one of my favorite authors. In one of his novels the hero is attempting to find information about something in Russia and when he gets the information he is asked how he got it. Our hero informs them “I knew the magic word,” and when asked what the magic word is he responds, “ Horse,”. I love that line because it’s so true. Only a horseman would have written that line and only horse people
understand the meaning of it.
 It seems to me that horse people, on the  whole, are a  little different than the rest of the people in the world and we see things differently, even when it comes to literature, art and film.
 I remember going to see Mask Of Zorro and when Antonio Banderas’ character says to the horse “ I’m  going to give you the great honor of being my horse,” there were just a few people in the theater who laughed slightly - horse people of course. Then when he says “ I’m warning you I will get another horse,” when the horse won’t come when he is called, a few of us  laughed out  loud. Of course, that had to be the horse people in  the theater, because we all knew that threat wouldnever phase a horse. Non-horse people, well, they didn’t really get it.
 In the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance   Kid in the scene where Butch trys to run off the  posse’s horses, and they don’t move, we all know how silly the line “ Some one sure trained them good,” is. Please... that’s standard horse behavior - if you are trying to run a horse off to get them out of your way to do somethingthey just plant themselves in front of you, but if you are out there trying to catch a horse  he will gallop off.
 If you look at the bookshelves of a horse owner chances are  you won’t see a lot of self-help books, unless they apply to training or riding. You might find authors names like Mary Twelvepony,  Monty Roberts, or Gawani Pony Boy. You  might find titles like Cross Training Your Horse or Training The Reining Horse.
 Another thing I have noticed about us horse people  is the photos  we carry in  our wallets may often times be of our beloved equine friends. Family photos often will include horses. Photographs on the wall, as rule,  are photos of horses.
 We tend to buy art work that is equine related. Home decor is often equine related as well and should everyone in the house be a horse person then chances are the entire house may done in “horse”.
  If you look at our movie collections they may not all be horse movies, but most do have horses in them. When flipping the televison channel we just automatically stop when we see  a horse, whether it’s a horse race, rodeo, 3-day eventing coverage or old an western movie or TV western.
 Of course you never see a horse parked outside a  psychiatrist’s office. Okay, well, maybe a pick-up truck with a horse bumper sticker on it.
 I think horse is a magic word  and it  really  is an international language that we all speak whether we talk in English, Spanish, French or German, because we are all horse people.

Training Clinics Today

  A number of years ago when someone said they were attending a “ Clinic” 

it usually meant they took their horse to a trainer for an intense one or two days of training and education in a particular discipline- whether it be dressage or reining. Today, however, things seemed to have changed greatly.  Now people attend clinics by sitting in bleachers watching the person giving the clinic work with a horse in the arena. Todays “clinics” have  turned into entertainment for the masses.
 I see all the photographs of horses jumping over chairs and barrels and through hoops. I have seen videos of these clinicians standing on a horse’s back cracking a bull whip. This brings to mind the historical posters of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show or the great entertainment at the rodeo. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for those trick riders, stunt riders and entertainers, but  they don’t bill themselves as horse trainers. Of course they have worked hard and trained their horses to perform, but being able to stand on a horse’s back and crack a bull whip is certainly not a requirement for a good trail, endurance, pleasure,
driving, hunter jumper, dressage etc. rider or horse.
  Personally  I can not think of a time when I wished my horses were trained to allow me to stand on their backs  and crack a whip or swing a rope, unless I wanted to be a trick rider.  I have no need to have my horse jump over a chair or any other non-traditional item, again unless I want to start a new career as a trick rider or my horse wanted to audition for the circus, rodeo or films.
 At these “clinics”, as they are referred to, a horse has been pre-selected for the demonstration. The horse has met certain requirements for height and age. According to some “clinician’s” websites you will be notified if your horse is accepted as the “ demo horse” after you have submitted your information. Somehow I don’t feel that’s quite right.
 I think what actually bothers me the most is that some people who attend come away feeling inadequate - as if they just aren’t bright enough to get it. Some, who do take their horse, also come away feeling as though it was their fault that they couldn’t make the horse do what the trainer had done. A good trainer/instructor should educate, train and work with both horse and rider, so they come away from the clinic with some knowledge. The instructor shouldn’t make the rider feel as though he/she is incapable of understanding  what they are teaching and, therefore, it’s the rider’s fault.  If you speak to someone who has taken , say, a dressage clinic they will tell you “ Oh I really learned a lot and I’d take the clinic again, because the trainer is so good,” they won’t say “well I’m just too nervous or I don’t have the intelligence to understand what she was teaching me”.
 I know I have been on this soapbox in the past, but I feel it’s an issue worth addressing again. Over the past 17 or 18 years we have seen more and more of these people giving “clinics”  across the country.  In that time we have also seen an increase in horses with problems and more fearful riders - think about it!
 I will state again there are people like Monty Roberts and Linda Tellington Jones, to name a few, that I respect.  I also respect many people who give traditional clinics who help horses and people.
  I just believe if you want to see trick riding you can attend a rodeo or circus and enjoy the show. If you want to further your education or seek the help of professional then it’s not about entertainment - that’s bad for everyone, most importantly the horse.

Longeing for Riders: A Useful Tool in Finding Balance and Seat

by Faith Meredith
Longeing without stirrups can be a wonderfully useful tool to help riders learn to relax, ride in balance, and follow the motion of the horse as they work toward developing an independent
seat.
  Longeing allows the rider to concentrate on her seat without worrying about controlling the horse's pace, direction or speed. With someone else handling the horse, longeing removes the fear factor. When the rider feels safe, it is easier to relax her muscles so that she can feel and follow the horse's motion in
balance.
  The horse handler also provides the rider with an observer whose feedback can be enormously useful. The rider may feel she is balanced but the handler may note that she is leaning backward or forward rather than being positioned correctly over the horse's center of gravity. The handler can remind the rider to breathe or provide other verbal cues to help the rider match the horse's rhythm. The handler can help describe the movements of the horse's feet so that the rider can begin to feel them for herself through her seat
bones.
  Longeing is a skill that must be mastered by both horse and handler before they can work safely as a team to help riders develop good seats. A longeing schoolmaster is a special horse. This horse must be in good condition and able to carry himself in balance on circles in either direction. He should have an excellent sense of rhythm and if the rider loses her balance, he should not get flustered or change his rhythm. The longeing schoolmaster is able to stay focused and relaxed regardless of anything else that might be going on in the vicinity. He is very aware of the handler's body language and responds predictably and smoothly to her requests for up or
down transitions.
  The handler should be familiar with the horse and sure of her ability to communicate clearly with it before putting a rider up. She should know how to keep the horse moving forward in a steady rhythm and how to ask for smooth up or down transition.
  While some instructors like to use longeing cavessons, many people do not have them. A simple snaffle bridle is sufficient. Slip a halter over the bridle and fasten the longe line to the halter ring. We like to use side reins whenever we longe riders but if the horse is comfortable working on a circle they are not always necessary. It is better not to use side reins than to use them incorrectly. Boots or bandages protect the horse's legs from accidental dings and provide tendon support when working on a circle. A riding helmet and gloves are standard safety equipment for both rider and handler.
  To help the beginning rider, we fasten a "grab strap" to the dees on the front of the saddle. The rider can hold onto the strap until they develop good balance. A rider can also use these straps to pull her seat deeper into the saddle. This opens her hips and tips her pelvis up. Crossing the stirrups of an English saddle over the pommel also creates a grab strap of sorts. Pull the buckle down 5 or 6 inches away from the safety bar before crossing the leathers to eliminate awkward lumps under the
rider's thighs.
  The longeing arena should never be less than 20 meters in diameter. Anything less is too hard on the horse's legs. Longe lessons should end before horse or rider become too tired. A half of an hour is long enough. Change direction once, spending half the time in each direction. When changing direction, the horse should stop on the circle and handler should approach it and reposition the longe before working in the second direction. A beginning or muscularly weak rider may need frequent walk breaks during a half hour lesson. With more advanced students, one way to get more out of a longe lesson is to let two students take turns as rider or handler while the instructor watches and
teaches.
  Beginning riders working on a longe should concentrate on relaxation, balance and finding the proper position in the saddle. They can first practice relaxing different groups of muscles, then relaxing all of their muscles. We do not ask beginning riders to hold their heels and toes in a riding position at first. A loose, relaxed ankle helps them move around and experiment with their position. The initial goal is to help them find a correct position with their body aligned from shoulder to hips to heels, shoulder back and open, head and neck straight, and thighs relaxed and flat against the saddle. They should not be gripping with their thighs and their lower leg should rest softly against the
horse.
  As riders progress, there are many balance exercises that can be added at the walk, then trot. Riders can dangle their legs or ride with legs held out away from the saddle. They can change their arm positions to challenge their balance – arms crossed in front, held on top of their head, stretched over their head, or held out to the sides as they twist in either direction. They can count the horses's strides out loud to help them develop a sense
of rhythm.
  Transitions from gait to gait are excellent exercises to use on the longe. As riders continue to progress, they can try to ask for up or down transitions before the handler intervenes. As their balance and muscle strength increase, they can graduate from a sitting trot to a posting trot without stirrups. The instructor/handler needs to be a good observer and choose exercises that will help individual riders work on their particular issues.
 

Faith Meredith coaches riders in dressage, reining, and eventing and has successfully trained and competed horses through FEI levels of dressage. She is the Director of Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre

The Lone Pacer

This photo postcard 

shows Jack Clark’s 8 yr old son with

“Midget-The

Lone Pacer”

circa

1922

 She was billed as “ Midget the  Lone Pacer” on the Fair bill and she a was Standardbred Pacer. She was an attraction at local Fairs in the  1920’s. Midget would come out  onto the race track, with her trainer, wearing a white harness and she would pace completely around the race track alone. She wasn’t harnessed to a racing sulky and no one drove her around the track,  she went all alone. Midget would pace around the track one time and return to the spot where her training was standing .
 She was called Midget due to her small size. It is said she fit into a Market Basket when she was a foal. Her trainer, Jack Clark, raced and trained Standardbred Harness horses. He trained her to pace around the track alone and Midget loved to do it.
 Midget also enjoyed being ridden bareback by the children in the family. She had wonderful temperament, allowing several of them climb up on her back. She didn’t mind if they walked underneath her while she was being bathed. Midget also didn’t mind if, once in  a while, the kids would race her against another horse.
 The little mare was a bit of an escape artist as well, but everyone always knew where to look for her when she got out. They would find her at the  local Fairgrounds in town pacing around the track, of course.
 Midget is still fondly remembered and missed today by all her knew her. The little mare left her hoofprint on the hearts of many.
  This memory of Midget isn’t exactly mine, it was told to me by my Mom and also by my Aunts.  Jack Clark was my Grandpa and he trained Midget The Lone Pacer. My Grandpa passed away long before I was born so I never had chance to meet him or find out how he trained Midget to pace around the track alone.

Editor's note:
My uncle seen in the photograph here passed away since that was original published 2004. My Aunts who shared those memories with me are all gone as well.  I cherish that photo and those memories even more now. My Mom is still here and she still shares those great horse memories.

By Seasoned Rider Reviewer Cheryl Childs

   The Monty Roberts Dually Schooling Halter is a gentle and effective training tool to have in your tack room. The Dually Training Halter, designed by Monty, is a patented schooling halter which effectively rewards horses for acting in partnership with the handler. This useful training aid will help get the most out of your work when leading, loading, long-lining, as a bitless bridle and more.
     I was graciously given  the Dually halter after my gelding was used in a Farrier’s Demo at a Horse Expo. I have always been a Monty Roberts fan and respected him as trainer so I gladly accepted the halter. I took it home and hung it up in my tack room, not giving it much thought again, until I started training a 4 year old mare who had a bad habit of gettting ahead of you on the lead or planting her feet and not moving. I went and got the Dually halter out  of my tack room. I carefully read the instructions that came with it then slipped it onto the mare. After about four sessions with the Dually halter the mare changed her attitude when being led.
  What I like about the Dually halter is the fact that it does not cause the horse pain. As Monty puts it - the Dually is uncomfortable for the horse when he is being uncooperative and comfortable when he is being cooperative. Pain is not involved with the Dually halter at all. The horse really is training himself with the Dually. I  used it on the 4 year old and even a couple of times as a refresher for my trained horses  when  they would rush out the gate when being led.  You can use the Dually when lunging a horse or long-line lunging or even when you ride your horse - it has so many uses. I would highly recommend the Dually Schooling Halter.
     The Dually halter comes in four sizes (Pony-Small-Medium-Large) to fit all horses. I have the Medium and it fits my Arab, 1/2 Arab, Paso Fino and Rocky Mountain Horse so that gives you some idea about the sizing.  It comes with instructions or you can go to Monty’s web page and watch a video of Monty himself explaining the uses for and use of the Dually halter.

For information go to http://www.montyroberts.com/ and click on the store.  

Second para-reining contest added to US series

A second show in the inaugural series of World Para Reining (WPR) approved classes has been scheduled for Florida later this month.

The Florida Reining Classic at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa, on February 21 and 22, follows the first show in the WPR series, at Scottsdale, Arizona at the end of January.

Overall Champion at the Sun Circuit show in January was Briana Bartlett and her horse Chromed Tejon. Standing with her are her mother, Kathleen Beck Tischler, and WPR President Lisa Coulter.

For the Florida competition, the WPR will offer $500 in prize money and the champion from each WPR class will receive $250. The competitors will include many accomplished riders, including a Champion Para Dressage rider, and a Champion Para Reining rider.

The WPR is a new organization dedicated to fostering competitive reining events for disabled riders around the world.  The scores from each WPR event will go towards end-of year-awards including a championship saddle, a world champion title, and top-10 awards.

The four riders at the first show – Briana Bartlett of Lincoln, Nebraska and Chromed Tejon; Erin Alberta of Seattle, Washington riding Berry Shiney ;  Catherine Sherwood of Seattle, Washington riding Hollywood Aces; and Lara Oles of Heber City, Utah riding Smart N Shiney – all had extensive training in English riding, but became interested in reining in 2013 when Para Reining was demonstrated at the AQHA World Show.

Briana Bartlett and Chromed Tejon came in first both days, clinching the overall Champion title.  Erin Alberta and Berry Shiney executed two solid runs winning the overall Reserve Champion prize.

All four riders demonstrated their determination to learn the sport of reining, and have come a long way in a short amount time.  While none of these women can run on their own due to their various disabilities, reining horses allow them to transcend their physical limitations and run, slide and spin as well as many able bodied riders.

HERO DOG SAVES 17 HORSES FROM FIERY DEATH & GETS INDUCTED INTO THE ANIMAL HALL OF FAME

In Montreal a Neapolitan Mastiff named Popeye, was inducted into Quebec’s Animal Hall of Fame this Sunday for saving the lives of 17 horses from a stable fire.

The fire took place on October 8th, 2013, at an equestrian center, just east of Montreal. The owner Gilles Godbout tried to get the horses to move but they were too frightened.
“Popeye knew what to do. I opened the stalls and sent him in to nibble on the horses’ legs. He saved 17 that way.” Godbout told QMI Agency at the awards ceremony.

 Popeye continued evacuating horses until the roof collapsed, the last horse leaving with its mane on fire.

Photo by Cathy Childs 

By Seasoned Rider Staff Member

Winter is not the easiest time to ride, but if you make the right preparations,  take precautions and warm down, riding in a winter wonderland can be beautiful and fun. Consider these tips and enjoy your winter ride.

Getting Started

   Be sure your horse is fit and healthy for the ride in the cold weather. Be sure to check your tack and make sure it doesn’t need any repair, that it is clean and oiled. You want to warm your horse’s bit before placing it in your horse’s mouth. This can be done by rubbing it between your hands, placing it under your coat or your arm or putting a warm, but not hot, gel pack around it. You can give your  horse's hooves a coating of petroleum jelly to prevent snowballs from forming and you should carry a hoof pick. Your horse will need extra time to warm his muscles up and so will you. Some people will put a quarter sheet on their horse to keep his muscles warmer. You should make sure you dress warmly, as well, and in layers, but make certain you can move easily too. Hat and gloves are must, of course, and a warm jacket. You should make sure the boots you are wearing will slip out of the stirrups/irons easily.

For the Ride
 
    It's harder work for your horse to ride in the cold and or snow - just like it is for you. Riding time should be adjusted for the cold and  adjust your speed to the environment, meaning you will mostly be walking, or only trotting, on safe level terrain. Make certain you have checked the terrain and that it isn’t too icy or that the snow is not too deep . Remember a horse can get stuck in a drift. If you walk and just trot a  little  your horse doesn't sweat as much. If you ride a lot during the winter, ask your farrier about shoes with pads and ice caulks.
  Choose where you ride carefully  and choose the safest places to ride. Remember there could be unseen hazards under that snow. Wearing brightly colored clothes will help people see you if you are riding on or near a road.
Warm Down After the Ride

   A wet horse can catch a cold, so take extra time for your warm down. Dry your horse thoroughly after riding. You can towel him off. Be sure to clean the horse's hooves so you  can check for cracks or loose shoes. You may want to cover him with a blanket for extra warmth.

Stable Care

  Make sure your horse has fresh, clean, ice-free water. Install water heaters in troughs. Horses drink less if the water is too cold and this can lead to colic. Consider bedding stalls a bit deeper so horses are not standing on cold floors. Blanketing for extra warmth doesn’t hurt either,  especially if the temperature  really drops. Senior horses often need a blanket during the winter months. If you live someplace where it gets cold and rainy remember a horse will be much wetter from rain than from snow and a wet horse can’t stay warm, so a water proof blanket may be in needed. Be sure to give your horse lots of good hay  during those cold months.

   If you decide you don’t want to ride in the cold weather just give your horse a treat then head back to the house and have a cup of hot chocolate or tea, sit by the fire  and dream about spring (or a warmer
climate).  
 

From The Editor’s Desk: Horse Abuse By

The cruel Rollkur method of Dressage training.

Proper, humane dressage training.

A lovely, naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse

There has been a lot of conversation this past couple years on the topic of horse abuse, whether it was soring of Tennessee Walking Horses, Rollkur training methods for Dressage or the how the Bureau of Land Management has been dealing with and treating the Wild Mustang herds lately.  Horse abuse, sadly, is not just limited to a certain breed or certain discipline of riding it can be found across the board.
   Soring is a process of intentionally causing pain to a horse's front legs and hoofs to enhance a gaited horse's gait for the show ring.  Soring is illegal and inhumane, but for many, many years people looked the other way. Luckily for the horses involved there were people out there willing to stand up and fight against soring of these horses. Friends Of Sound Horses (FOSH) has done so much to bring this problem to light and are working to strength the laws to put an end to this cruel method of training. With FOSH and others who are behind stopping this cruel practice of training we might see an end to the soring of Tennessee Walking Horses sometime in the future. (See the article by Roy Exum on page 30)
   The Rollkur method of training Dressage horses has just recently come to light outside the Dressage world. What is Rollkur? The term originated in Germany, and refers to the technique of working a horse with an excessively rounded neck, so that the horse's head is brought down and back towards it's chest (often called 'hyperflexion', or 'low, deep and round” ). The horse is held in this position by means of an extremely forceful use of the bit, using the double bridle whose considerable leverage on the horse's jaw and poll permits the rider to use it to position the head down and greatly behind the vertical. The breathing, blood circulation and cervical spine is effected by this method. There are photographs and videos of horses being ridden with this method with their tongues sticking out and it is a blue grey color. The movement of the animal may be permanently impaired by this method. It’s not only used by dressage riders/trainers, but also is used by Western Pleasure rider/trainers as well.
  I have seen some methods of training that I would  most definitely call horse abuse. I have seen abuse at Arabian, Quarter Horse, Morgan and Saddlebred shows. I have seen it in both Western and English disciplines. The one simple answer to abuse in the show ring is for judges to stop placing people who use those abusive methods. That would end those abuses very quickly.
   I have seen horse abuse outside the horse show ring as well,  abuse is not confined to the show ring. I seen some horse trainers who conduct clinics who, I believe, use rather abusive methods and are teaching others to use those methods. We need to speak out against horse abuse - no matter who is doing it.
  Why the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has resorted back to cruel techniques in rounding up Wild Mustangs is beyond me. The Wild Mustangs are a living history of the American West and what makes our country so unique. Herding them with helicopters and four wheel all terrain vehicles is inhumane and cruel and should be stopped. Leaving horses without shade or shelter in the hot summer sun with little water is even more inhumane. Allowing horses to be herded in such a manner that they are injured is cruel. We need to step up again and voice our concerns, as people in the past have done, to stop this cruelty to these magnificent horses.
    In closing I would like to say that sometimes people will condemn a certain breed or discipline when they hear about abusive training methods, but we shouldn’t do that. It’s not the horse’s or discipline’s fault but rather humans who use the abusive training methods who should be condemned.  Tennessee Walking horses are lovely horses and there are many, many people who would never sore their Walking Horse. There are many, many Dressage riders who are against the Rollkur methods and would never use that method on their horses. Not everyone showing their horses use abusive training methods. Not everyone shows just for the glory of the win, but because they enjoying being with their horse and enjoy the challenge of showing. Let’s not paint everyone with same brush.
  We need speak out about horse abuse and do whatever we can to stop it, no matter where it takes place, for the good of our horses and the equine industry.

Second EHV-1 case confirmed in Virginia

.Press Release:

Authorities in Virginia have confirmed a second horse in the state suffering from equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy – the neurological form of equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1).

The most recent case is in Loudoun County, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reports.

The first case, in western Albemarle County, Northwest of Charlottesville, was confirmed by testing 10 days ago. The horse first showed signs of the disease on January 31.

Both horses are recovering from the infection.

The department said the horse in the Loudoun County case was exhibiting a fever and was not eating or drinking. Even though it never showed neurological signs, the owner took the horse to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) in Leesburg.

There, staff tested the horse and quickly diagnosed EHV-1. The horse is under quarantine there. A second horse from the same farm exhibited a fever but no other signs. As a precaution, it is also under quarantine and tests are being run.

Dr Richard Wilkes, state veterinarian with the department, stressed that the horses were admitted directly into the isolation area at Marion duPont Scott. At no time were the horses in the general hospital area. The center is confident that their biosecurity protocols will contain the virus to the isolation area.

Thirty-three other horses from the same farm are under quarantine on the property in Loudoun County. None of them has shown any signs of EHV-1, but will be monitored at least until February 26.

No horses from this farm have been at events during the incubation period for the virus.

There is no known connection between the Loudoun and Albemarle horses, according to state officials.

Happy Snowy Monday all. I guess winter isn't ready to call it a year yet. Hope if you woke up to winter weather this morning it wasn't too bad.

Don't forget we are stilling asking you Seasoned Riders to post those winter photos of your horse until the end of the month on our Facebook. So get those cell phones and cameras out there and starting taking some great photos of your horse(s) in the winter weather. We love seeing your photos. 

Happy Monday all and enjoy the winter weather if you can. 

HAVANA (AP) -- Already renowned for fine rum and fancy cigars, Cuba is carving out a new luxury niche that is attracting Latin American elites to the communist-run island: elite jumping horses.

By importing colts and fillies from the Netherlands, Cuban trainers are creating prized competitors capable of fetching more than $40,000 from buyers at private auctions, with much of the proceeds going back to the government-led equine enterprise.

At an auction last month at the National Equestrian Club, well-heeled horse collectors gathered in the tropical air to sip wine and raise their bidding paddles, hoping to find a champion among the Dutch Warmbloods paraded before them.

By evening's end, 31 horses sold for a total of about $435,000 to buyers from Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, the Netherlands and Mexico.

"The great advantage is that they are already in the Americas," said Cecilia Pedraza, a Mexico City collector who bought several of the Dutch Warmbloods. "In addition, they have been trained very well. They are advanced for their age, very well-behaved, perform concentrated jumps and have excellent blood lines."

Rufino Rivera, from Xalapa, the capital of Mexico's Gulf coast state of Veracruz, paid about $17,000 for a horse he hopes will follow the path of Aristotelis, a prize-winning jumper he bought at the club's first auction six years ago.

Cuba's tradition of horse breeding and training dates to the 16th century, but after the 1959 communist revolution, Fidel Castro's government banned horse racing along with gambling and professional sports. Cuba continued to participate in amateur equestrianism, producing top-notch horse riders and trainers. But the costly sport slipped into decline in the 1990s, when the fall of the Soviet Union provoked an economic crisis that made it hard to care for the animals.

Then, starting in 2005, Cuba began seeing horses as a way to gain badly needed foreign currency. It began to import Dutch Warmbloods around age 1½, then train them for competitive jumping before selling them at age 3.

In the days before an auction, jockeys and trainers like Jose Luis Vaquero can be seen brushing their purebred wards' coats and braiding their manes so that "everything is perfect."

"You have to take care of the horse, look after it every day," Vaquero said.

The National Equestrian Club is run by Flora and Fauna, a state business that promotes the island's natural resources. It keeps 117 horses in stables in Lenin Park on the outskirts of Havana.

Cuba, which splits proceeds from the auction with a Dutch equine company, uses much of its share to fund a new initiative to breed the horses locally rather than have to import animals at great expense.

Willy Arts, the head of the Royal Dutch Sport Horse association's North American wing, said there is growing demand for high-quality show horses and Cuba's program could be important to people in the Western Hemisphere looking to purchase them at more accessible prices.

Cuba complains bitterly about training world-class athletes who leave to make millions for themselves in other countries. If successful, the new equine initiative would produce four-hooved performers whose success only means more revenue for the program that produces them.

Nearly two dozen mares currently are part of the breeding effort. Last year, three horses born through the insemination program were sold at prices ranging from $39,000 to $50,000, said Maydet Vega, a veterinarian who oversees equine programs at Rancho Azucarero, the horse-breeding center west of Havana where the artificial insemination program is being developed.

Breeding foals in Cuba has the additional advantage of allowing horses to adapt to Cuba's sweltering heat and humidity from birth, she said.

"It's important to be able to produce them on the continent," Vega said. "They can adapt to the tropical conditions of our climate so people can have them in all countries in the Americas."

Horse Rescued From Bath Tub

.

Rub-a-dub-dub, there’s a horse in the tub. An elderly palomino-appaloosa cross named Phantom has been rescued by firefighters from a sorry predicament in California.

Phantom, 30, was in his enclosure in Orangevale, in Sacramento County, when it appears she tripped and ended up in the bath tub, which is used as her food trough.

Phantom was totally stuck, with her legs in the air.

Her owners sought help from the Sacramento County Metropolitan Fire District.

Last Wednesday’s rescue was possible in just 20 or so minutes.

With a few tools, and a little muscle power, the bath was gently pushed on its side, and Phantom was able to regain her footing.

She was OK after her ordeal.

The Natural Hoof Trim

The specialised "barefoot" trim allows optimal hoof mechanism (expansion of the hoof), superior circulation, traction, shock absorption, and much more for your horse. It also allows healing of any damage caused by lack of hoofcare, incorrect hoof trimming, or shoeing of any horse, irrespective of background, current condition or breed.

Effects of Shoeing
  Shoes do not allow your
horse's hooves to properly expand when weightbearing. This impaired expansion of the hoof reduces circulation and shock absorption, and promotes incorrect hoof form, causing many hoof and general health problems.

Unshod vs Barefoot - there's a big difference
 Simply removing the shoes or
applying a conventional pasture trim is often not enough to allow horses to be restored to optimal health and ridden without shoes successfully and to their full potential. This is because conventional ideas about hoof form are not based on the natural hoof form of a wild horse.

Conformation
 Natural hoof form is essential
for optimal equine health and performance. Hoof problems, such as cracks, brittleness, seedy toe, thrush and navicular are the result of incorrect hoof form. Horses that don't have natural hoof form will not be able to perform to their full potential and often have problems such as poor health and condition, poor conformation  muscle tightness and back and joint pain.

Transition To Barefoot
 All horses can be ridden as
usual without shoes once the hoof is returned to it's natural form. Depending on the condition of the hooves, some horses will need special management during transition to barefoot. This includes a programme of regular correct barefoot trimming, use of hoof boots while riding to prevent incorrect wear, and possibly some form of natural therapy. Once the hooves have returned to their natural form, (which can take weeks to years), the horse can be ridden over any terrain it is conditioned for with superior balance, traction and performance.

Can Horses Really Perform Barefoot?
 Most horse owners understand
that metal horse shoes are damaging to the hooves and the rest of the horse - horseshoes are traditionally considered a "Necessary Evil".

However, as many horse owners around the world are discovering, there is a way to successfully go without horseshoes and have your horse perform in any discipline - usually with much better results than when shod.

Horses Can Perform Without Shoes
 In the past, it was traditionally
thought that horses could not manage the work we asked of them without horse shoes because their hooves would wear excessively. Hence the theory that "if a horse is in work, it needs to be shod". This is probably true in many cases if you keep your horse traditionally and give it a hoof trim meant for the application of a shoe.

 If, however, you give your horse a barefoot trim by a natural hoofcare professional, and provide correct living conditions that meet the basic biological needs of the horse, you can successfully return your horse to full health, and go barefoot over any terrain that you condition your horse for, with improved overall health, traction, movement and performance.

Knowing When To Let Go and Retire Your Horse

by Cheryl Childs
    As your beloved horse reaches his late teens and early twenties there is a nagging question in the back of your mind that you try to ignore, but can’t - “ Should I retire my horse from riding?”.   There are signs your horse will give when it’s time to retire him- reduced vitality or chronic lameness that worsens with work. Lack of enthusiasm for work  and activities that formerly interested him. Swaying as you mount, indicating weakness and/or loss of balance. Stumbling on smooth footing, or other signs of reduced coordination.
    I strongly believe, from experience, that making the decision to retire your horse is almost as hard as the decision we  all face at the end of the horse’s life. So we tend to avoid the decision and we just keep telling ourselves our horse is still fit and ridable, but the truth of the matter is that if we are telling ourselves that it may already be past time to retire that horse.
  Facing the realization that the horse we have logged so many miles on the trail or in show ring with over the years may no longer be able to do that with us is not easy. Our faithful old friend, that we have logged all those miles on for all those years, has become  like Linus’s security blanket for  us. We don’t want to give up the security we have found in that relationship. We trust that horse with our life and we aren’t prepared to give that up, but for our old friend’s sake we have to. I know from experience how difficult it is to let that old trusted friend go into retirement
    It was a nice fall day back in 1995 when I saddled up my gelding Omar to go for a nice fall trail ride. We started down the gravel driveway in front of the barn and Omar stumbled. He went down on his knees, but because he had so much heart he scrambled back to his feet. My heart sank at that moment.  I dismounted Omar and I knew that was the last ride for us. I gave him a tearful pat on the neck and said to him “ I know, I know Omar it’s alright we won’t do this anymore, you’re a good horse”. Omar had never stumbled before in his life, even on  rough trails, so I knew  it was time and there would be no more rides. The truth of the matter was I knew before that day, but I just didn’t want to face it.
   One of the reasons I couldn’t face that reality was Omar was my first horse. I had been riding him since I was 12  years old and  he was my security blanket. He was the horse that I could do anything with -from riding with just a halter on the trail, to riding down a Parade route, to ponying young horses off to being able to unload him from the trailer on a road trip to stretch his legs at a Holiday Inn parking lot  - he did it, did it all, and I trusted him.  Even though at the time I had a young Arabian mare  I was training to step in for Omar, that I thought the world of, she still wasn’t Omar.
    We all need to keep a couple of  things in mind as we face that decision. First you need to consider your horse’s health and well being. You don’t want to cause your horse pain, discomfort or injury.  If you’re not sure consult a Veterinarian and have them examine your horse. A Vet can give you an idea of  your horse’s overall health and should discuss whether retirement is the best for your horse or not. Your retiree will need to be with horses that don’t harass him, have plenty of room to exercise himself without over doing it, a shelter and, of course, a good nutritional feed for his age. Retirement doesn’t exclude some quality time with your old friend - grooming, in hand exercise or even an occasional ten minute ride at a walk around the stable yard, just don’t over do.
     You need to remember that building a relationship and bonding with that younger horse will take time, so be patient and don’t  expect it to be the same as it was with  your retiree. It can be difficult bonding with a younger horse, but it will come and, while it may not be the same type of relationship as with your retired horse, it can still be a good. Try not to make comparisons  to your retiree. You just have to realize that, like humans, horses are all different with different personalities, weaknesses and strengths. Sometimes finding something new and different to do with your new horse will help you bond. Take your time and don’t forget it’s alright to miss riding your retiree, just make sure you don’t get  caught up in that to the point that you stop riding entirely or make a bad choice. I found myself in that place and I almost made a really  bad decision and sold a great Arabian mare who I trained myself. That mare found a place in my heart along with Omar.

   “ No ride is ever the last one. No horse is ever the last one you will have. Somehow there will always be other horses, other places to ride them.” - Monica Dickens.

Another Seasoned Rider's Story

by Cheryl Childs

  Pat Ross is an owner and trainer at Foxwin Farm located in Elmira, New York. At Foxwin they raise and show Morgan horses, train, and give riding lessons as well as board horses and even at 73 years of age Pat still does it all and doesn’t plan to retire any time soon.
  Pat jokes that her first word as a child was “ horse”. Her father, who passed away when she was only three years old, shared her love of horses and would always take his daughter around horses whenever he could. Pat’s first real exposure to horses came when she was a kid and found a hole in the back fence at Yonkers Race Track. She would crawl through the hole and hang out in the stable area of the track. Pat claims “the trainer put me to work so they weren’t tripping over me all the time”.
  When Pat’s Aunt bought a farm in upstate New York the opportunity presented itself for her to have a horse of her own. “I talked my Aunt into buying a horse,” Pat explains.   Owning a horse was a dream come true and Pat Ross has been living that dream ever since.
   When Pat reached a point in her life where she could go out horse shopping, as it were, she first looked at the Arabian breed, but at that time Arabians were a little out of her price range. It would be the Morgan Horse that Pat fell in love with. It was in 1962 that Pat purchased her first Morgan horse-Monarch's Ladson (a 2 yr. old) and the rest is history, as they say.
   Pat  formed a breeding partnership in 1974 with David F. Fors, Sr. and  Ethel Fors and Foxwin Farm was born. In 2007, sadly, David lost a battle with cancer and passed away. In 2009 Ethel made the decision to retire, but Foxwin Farm is still going strong with a new generation. Trish Pierce, a boarder at Foxwin, and her husband, Marty, stepped in to help keep the farm running smoothly during David’s illness. It was the Pierces, Pat realized , who should become her partners and represent the next generation of horsemen and stewards of the land. They, of course, were honored by the opportunity.  In 2009 Foxwin celebrated 25 years in business.
   Pat has a passion for the sport of Dressage. She was bitten by the Dressage bug after seeing  J. Cecil Ferguson's stallions, Parade and Broadwall Drum Major, on tour in the United States with the Spanish Riding School  back in 1973. She had a rather humble beginning in Dressage. She bought a book about it and would place the book on the fence rail and read it while she rode her horse. Of course Pat later found a good instructor who gave her a solid foundation in Dressage. Today Pat  is a Dressage instructor herself. She prides herself in using time-tested, classical methods of instruction. Pat offers traditional schooling for riders in all disciplines and she specializes in longe-line lessons to help riders at all levels develop, or improve, an independent seat.
   Pat is still active in the show ring with the Morgans that she has raised. Last September Pat took her young stallion Sonny (the horse she is riding in our cover photo) to New York State Morgan Horse Society Regional Show. It was the first
first  show where he competed under    saddle and he did very well.  Pat was quite satisfied, given Sonny's inexperience. Pat not only bred Sonny she trained him as well. “ I love working with the young ones” Pat explains. While some her age might be considering stopping training  young horses - Pat is definitely NOT. When people comment to her that she could get hurt she says, “I could get run over walking to the mailbox,”.  Safety  when handling  young horses is, of course, the utmost consideration in Pat’s mind - as it always has been.
  Pat is still active in breeding and showing her Morgans

and doesn’t plan on slowing down. Like so many Seasoned Riders Pat feels the horses keep her young and that she has  a lot of knowledge to offer to people.