U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Gives Strong Start at Rio Olympic Games

RELEASE: August 10, 2016

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Dressage competition got underway Wednesday at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, as 29 of the total 60 competitors representing 19 countries took to the main arena under cloudy skies at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center to perform in the Grand Prix, the first test in the team competition. The U.S. team, going eighth in the order of the 11 nations, finished day one in fourth place after two superb performances from Allison Brock and Kasey Perry-Glass. Leading the team standings is Germany, while The Netherlands sits in second place, and Great Britain holds third.

Allison Brock and Rosevelt (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Brock (Loxahatchee, Fla.), competing in her first Olympic Games, had the position of riding as pathfinder for the U.S. but kept her cool aboard Rosevelt, a 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Claudine and Fritz Kundrun. The pair has had much success at the international level over the past three years, both in the U.S. and Europe, and it clearly showed. With the exception of a mistake in the canter two-tempi changes, they executed a fluid test with several high points. They received many scores of 8 for their transitions and extended work in the walk and trot from the seven judges including Peter Holler (K), Susanne Baarup (E), Gary Rockwell (H), Stephen Clarke (C), Maribel Alonso (M), Thomas Lang (B), and Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode (F). The pair earned a score of 72.686%, placing it tied for seventh in the individual standings.

“Rosevelt felt great as he cantered in and halted, and his first trot extension felt amazing!” said a delighted Brock after her test. “He was trying really hard, and I have to give him a lot of credit as it’s both of our first Olympic Games and it’s a lot to be here, but he handled everything quite well. He has a super walk, and his trot work is really strong, but mostly he’s really fluid and consistent. The mistake in the two-tempis was totally my fault. My mind drifted when I heard the music playing in the background and I lost count. He’s a very sweet horse; he always tries to be a gentleman and is really reliable. He likes it here and likes this venue. I’m really pleased with how it went today.”

Kasey Perry-Glass and Dublet (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Second to go for the U.S. were Perry-Glass (Orangevale, Calif.) and Dublet, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Diane Perry. Going late in the day, the Olympic first-timers made the most of their moment in the spotlight, earning a score of 75.229% to hold fifth place individually. Despite some noise distractions, the pair performed a smooth and elegant test, which earned many high marks, including multiple 8s from the judges for their passage work and flying changes. The pair also scored several 9s for movements including the right canter pirouette, piaffe-passage transition, and the final halt and salute.

“I was really proud of Dublet today,” said Perry-Glass with a smile. “He hung in there really well for me, especially with all the unexpected noise. To be able to keep him focused and together was a challenge for both of us, but he was there and ready to go! I really thought his piaffe-passage tour was really good, as were his two-tempis. We’re just fine-tuning the little things as it’s our first year competing in the Grand Prix internationally, so we’re just thrilled to be where we are!”

Competing for the U.S. in the second half of the Grand Prix on Thursday is Steffen Peters with Legolas 92, riding at 10:54 a.m. ET. Laura Graves and Verdades will anchor the U.S. team, entering the arena at 2:06 p.m. ET.

Leading the Individual standings after day one is Germany’s Dorothee Schneider with Showtime FRH on 80.986%, while countryman Sonke Rothenberger and Cosmo hold second with a score of 77.329%. Great Britain’s Fiona Bigwood and Orthilia are in third place on 77.157%.

Team standings after day one of the Grand Prix

The dressage team competition continues tomorrow, Thursday, August 11. The top six teams from the Grand Prix will move forward to Friday’s Grand Prix Special, after which each team’s top three scores from both tests are added together in order to decide the Team medals. The top 18 competitors from the Grand Prix Special will go on to compete in the individual final, the Grand Prix Freestyle, on Monday, August 15. Only three athletes from each nation are eligible compete in the Freestyle.

Care for equestrian athletes at Rio Olympic Games

The Rio Olympic Games has turned on the best possible care for the horses taking part in the equestrian events, with a hi-tech veterinary facility like no other.

Located at the Deodoro stables, the 1000 sq metre horse clinic features everything needed to keep more than 200 horses from 43 countries fit and well throughout the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with specialists ready to care for every need around the clock.

Manned by a 130-strong team of veterinary surgeons, anaesthetists, imaging specialists and medical professionals from Brazil and around the world, the clinic includes the latest pathology, endoscopy, radiography and ultrasonography technology, as well as a dispensary, emergency surgery facility with padded recovery boxes, and specialist treatment stables.

One horse 9 ambulances on site at the Rio 2016 equestrian center 

The clinic offers routine supportive veterinary care and, should any emergency first-aid be required, the specialists are on-site to treat the horses. Nine specially equipped horse ambulances will also be on the venue if any horses need to be transported to the clinic.

In addition to the clinic, a network of physiotherapists is on hand to keep the horses in top form, while the horses’ temperatures, food and water intake, and weight are permanently monitored by their grooms and veterinary specialists.

While the Games are taking place in Brazil’s winter season, there can be weather fluctuations, so keeping horses cool in Rio is a major focus. Horses cope with heat very differently to human athletes because of their size but, just like humans, getting their core temperature down after exercise is key.Every day, over 46,000 litres of water and 400kg of ice to chill the water is being used across the Olympic Equestrian Centre just for washing down horses after training and competition.

Tents housing banks of cooling fans, used for both the equine and human athletes, are available at the finish of the eventing cross country phase, and next to the training and warm-up arenas for jumping and dressage, keeping Rio 2016’s most-muscled athletes chilled.

“The health and well being of our horses is the top priority during these Games,” said Brazil’s Dr Thomas Wolff, President of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Veterinary Commission. Many of our horses on site have their own team veterinarians, and it’s great to see how impressed they are with our facilities.”

Wolff, who will be working directly with Olympic Veterinary Services Manager, Brazil’s Juliana de Freitas has been the Brazilian Equestrian Federation’s head veterinarian for the last 15 years. He was Brazilian team vet at the Seoul and Beijing Olympic Games, and runs his own practice in Sao Paolo specializing in horses competing in the three Olympic disciplines – Jumping, Eventing and Dressage – and racing.

“Our horses always deserve the very best, and at these first Games in South America, they’re getting just that,” Wolff said.

“We know everything about every horse on site every second of the day thanks to our monitoring system, and with the world’s best veterinary care on offer for our horses we’re now very much looking forward to seeing medals won and new Olympic records set in Rio.”

Who will take care of your horses after you’re gone?

It would be nice to think that you can get all your affairs in order before you die.

In an ideal world, you could rehome your homes at your leisure and die knowing that they have gone to a good home.

Sadly, not all of us have those opportunities. Sudden or accidental death can leave those you left behind sorting out some very complex matters unless you have given your last will and testament careful thought.

Throughout our lives we occasionally have to make tough calls about horses too frail, ill or injured to carry on. At the time the decision can be very hard indeed, but few owners ever regret ending a horse’s suffering, even though they may sorely miss the animal’s companionship.

Ironically, surprisingly few of us make calls about what should happen to our horses – or cats, dogs, or other pets – in the event of our deaths.

What do you want to happen to your horses?

If you want to provide for the ongoing care of your animals, make provision for it in your will.

It’s important that you do not leave money or assets in your will directly to your horses or other pets.

Almost universally, animals are considered property and not legal entities such as a person, company or trust. You cannot therefore leave money to a piece of “property”.

However, as they are property, there is certainly nothing stopping you making provision in your will for the proper ongoing care, sale, or gifting of the animals.

What you must do is leave the money to meet your wishes to a designated person – or other acceptable legal entity which your lawyer can advise you on – with the instruction that the money be used for this purpose. Be specific and put in writing what you want done with the animals.

You should discuss the situation in some detail with the person you intend passing this responsibility to. What are their circumstances? Where could the horses graze if your property is sold?

The person given the responsibility need not be the executor of the will. It will normally be best to give the responsibility to someone with an understanding and empathy for horses.

Above all else, be realistic. It’s understandably pointless leaving $500 for the ongoing care of a five-year-old horse with potentially 25 years of life left.

Likewise, there would seem little point in setting up a trust with $1 million to care for your small herd, when they may graze away the rest of their lives without fulfilling their true potential as hacks, show jumpers, or whatever purpose you originally bred them for.

If you have limited means, leave a sum for reasonable ongoing care while new homes are found for the horses. Allow a sum for the advertising or marketing of the horses. You can also stipulate what happens to the leftover money, so there be some “change” from this exercise.

Seek legal advice in preparing your will, as how you word your wishes can be crucial in getting them fulfilled.

Finally, don’t forget to revisit and update your will regularly. Circumstances change, people die, horses die (or more arrive).

You need to ensure that your will meets your current circumstances and hasn’t become outdated.

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Lily, the horse that earlier this year was pelted 130 times at close range with a paintball gun, has died.

Lily at the animal sanctuary 

Last month, Lily was sent to a New Jersey farm animal sanctuary owned by TV personality Jon Stewart and his wife, Tracy. Lily died there Monday.

The animal sanctuary posted a statement on Lily’s death.

“It is with the deepest sadness that we share with you that dearest, sweetest Lily passed away yesterday. She went peacefully surrounded by so many that loved her. We stroked her hair and told her over and over again how loved and special she was. She was under her favorite tree on soft grass. She will live on in our hearts and in our fight to protect, love and cherish all animals.”

Lily was a 20-year-old Appaloosa/Arabian mix. That breed of horse typically lives to be 25 to 30 years old, according to Rose Nolen-Walston, senior clinician at New Bolton Center.

Earlier this year, Lily was found at the New Holland Auction stables, in pain after being hit by paintballs. “She was tied up in the sales barn and had welts underneath her skin,” said Kelly Smith, director of the Omega Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Airville at the time. “Never in 20 years of going to New Holland Auction have I ever saw anything like this.”

The horse was not registered for sale at New Holland Auction and had no identification when found.

But the horse, which was blind in one eye, was nursed back to help thanks to veterinarians at the New Bolton Center outside of Kennett Square. A team of specialists at New Bolton Center worked through the night to stabilize the horse, later named Lily after the Easter flower.

Coincidentally, the same day Lily was adopted by Stewart and his wife, Phillip Price Jr., 65, of Rhode Island was charged with transporting the equine to the horse sale. He was later convicted on counts of animal cruelty and handling animals without a license.

Tracey Stewart said she and Jon currently have 33 animals that are part of their sanctuary, and as far as farm animals go, they have many goats, many sheep, two pigs and three other horses. She said Lily would be an animal ambassador for the sanctuary, and people would be able to visit her.

At the time Lily was adopted, Stewart said Lily will be living the good life, she’ll get the best of care, and there will be no demands made of her. “From here on out, it’s going to be exactly what she wants,” she said.

Authorities have never found the person or persons who shot the horse with a paintball gun, despite a reward of more than $10,000.

The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club welcomes Olwen Busch of the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.

For equestrian Olwen Busch and her horse Filibuster, a dressage show last weekend held very special significance.

Busch competed in First Level to be officially inducted into The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club, which honors competing horses and riders whose combined age is at least 100 years old.

“Since I am 82 and Filibuster is 20, I figured we should do it now while we are both still sound! Busch said.

Florida Equestrian Society, which manages the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Busch pursued the opening of hiking and riding trails at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center — trails that now stretch on for miles — and has been a generous donor and fundraiser for the Northeast Florida Equestrian Society.

In order to be inducted into the Century Club this past weekend, Busch performed a dressage test before a rated judge. She was rewarded with a ribbon from The Dressage Foundation, and a trophy is to come.

Despite masterfully completing her test (even with Filibuster spooking at a dog that took interest in the pair), the show ring has never been Busch’s favorite place to be. She began riding bareback across deserts in Idaho and Arizona at the age of five, and, throughout the next 77 years, she has ridden throughout the world in disciplines such as hunt seat, cross-country, saddle seat, reining, and dressage. Busch’s experiences on horseback have included international horse safaris with her husband, training sport horses, and riding a stag hunt with the Kermaingant Hunt Club in Normandy, France just five years ago.

Today, Busch enjoys dressage and trail riding with Filibuster.

“The real thrill I have always gotten from riding has nothing to do with competitions won or lost, but with the joy of still being able to handle a horse, keep a tight seat on a lively horse, work the horse in new ways, and explore new country (and new cultures) from horseback,” Busch said.

Busch and Filibuster have proven to be a strong team together.

“As a result of our many different shared experiences, I feel a camaraderie with Filibuster that I never felt with the veteran show horses I rode growing up,” she explained.

For Busch and Filibuster, it was love at first sight. “In 2002, I heard about a lively gray Arab/Hackney gelding that was for sale,” she recalled. Although Busch was advised to watch the gelding’s performance videos before actually seeing him, she insisted on meeting him in person first.

“One moment with him in his stall did it,” said Busch. “I dutifully watched the videos afterward, but they had nothing to do with my decision to buy him.”

Since then, the pair has enjoyed many memories together, and now will be forever listed in The Century Club’s rankings as well.

Now, Busch plans to spend her summer working with her five-year-old Akhal-Teke mare Gulkana. “Filibuster will be Gulkana’s trail companion this summer, and I hope to start showing her myself in dressage. After all, if I can survive the Century Ride class, maybe I am ready to start showing again. One is never too old to have new goals. May the bucket (list) never run dry!” smiled Busch.

And of course, she plans to continue enjoying rides on Filibuster throughout the summer and the years ahead. Busch said, “May we gracefully grow old together, helping each other stay fit, alert, and always curious about what lies beyond the next bend in the trail.”

75-year-old dressage rider ruled out of Rio Olympics

Japanese dressage rider Hiroshi Hoketsu, who at the age of 75 would have been the oldest athlete ever to take part in an Olympic Games, has missed out on qualifying for Rio 2016 after his horse was taken ill.

The nature of the horse’s problems have not been revealed, but Hoketsu, who competed with the late Whisper 115 at both the Beijing and London Olympics, said getting the horse well was his priority.

He had been training in The Netherlands and Germany, but is now unable to take part in Japan’s qualifying trials. “To my regret, I gave up on my dream of competing in the Rio Olympics,” he said.

Had he competed at Rio, Hoketsu would have overtaken the previous oldest Olympian, Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who participated in the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72, winning a silver medal. Austrian dressage rider Arthur von Pongracz de Szent-Miklós und Óvár was also 72 when he competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics, placing fourth in the Men’s Team Dressage.“I don’t want to push the horse, so unfortunately I have given up upon the dream of competing in the Rio Olympics,” Hoketsu said. “There’s nothing decided about the future. First I’d like to prioritize getting the horse well again.”

Hoketsu was the oldest sportsman at the London 2012 Games, aged 71. His appearance four years earlier was one of the longest breaks between Olympic appearances for an equestrian, after he went to his first Games in Tokyo 1964, competing as a showjumper.  

His previous mount, hanoverian mare Whisper 115, formerly named Wanessa, was euthanised at the age of 15 in late 2013. She had suffered a cracked pastern not long after the London Games which was operated on, but unfortunately it became infected. A further operation in late November 2013 failed to save the mare.

Born in Tokyo, Hoketsu learned to ride at the elite Tokyo Riding Club and earned a spot on the 1964 Olympic show jumping team, where he finished 40th. He then moved into the commercial world,  following a graduate degree in Economics at Duke University in the USA he worked with the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann La Roche before becoming Manager of the Tokyo subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

It was his wife, Motoko, who introduced Hoketsu to the charms of the dressage arena having enjoyed watching the sport herself in Europe. Fascinated by the detail and precision of the sport, he began to ride again in the mornings before going to work and, arriving home from trips abroad, would rush straight to the stables to polish up his technique. His efforts earned him a spot at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 when he was 47, but his dream fell apart when his horse unexpectedly failed quarantine tests due to a respiratory problem. So he decided he would concentrate on competing at home in Japan where he won five national championships in a row between 1988 and 1992.

But the dream of returning to the Olympic spotlight had never gone away, and following his retirement from Johnson & Johnson in 2003, Hoketsu flew to Aachen in Germany to meet dressage trainer Ton de Ridder. Under de Ridder’s tutelage he qualified for the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2006 only to be disappointed again when his horse, Calando, was unsound but Hoketsu would still not admit defeat. And then Whisper, the chestnut horse with an unusual taste for bananas, came into his life. They gelled into a great partnership and the rest is history.

The next oldest Olympic equestrian competitor is believed to have been British dressage rider Lorna Johnstone. Born on September 4, 1902, she enjoyed a long career, competing at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956, in Mexico in 1968 and, at the ripe age of 70, in Munich in 1972 where she was uncharitably called “The Galloping Granny”.

Tom Thumb Snaffles a Harsh Bit?

People will tell you that a Tom Thumb Snaffle is a very harsh bit because it is a leverage bit. They will tell you because of the broken mouth and the shanks it can be painful for the horse. They will tell you a horse will open their mouth to evade the pressure and pain. All of this is certainly
true, but if you have very soft quiet hands this is not a issue.

For many years people have told me that the Tom Thumb that I use is a harsh and serve bit, but I don't  find that to be true. My gelding Omar never had any issues with his Tom Thumb Snaffle. I switch him to that bit from a curb and rode him Western with that bit for 20 years.  That was the Western bit I chose for both of my Arabian mares that I trained neither one had any issues. I started both mares training with a plain snaffles of course, but transitioned them to the Tom Thumb. When my sister bought her Paso Fino gelding she found he didn't care for the bit he had been ridden with, so we tried the Tom Thumb and he has been happy with that bit for the last 16 years.

Al the Paso Fino being ridden with a Tom Thumb 

You might notice in the photos neither one of the horses are attempting to evade the bit by opening his or her mouth. They have a lovely head set and are collecting  their gaits. Both horses have a pleasant expression on their faces not painful or worried expression.

The truth of the matter is any bit can be harsh in the wrong hands , even the most mild snaffle . The moral of this story is you need to have soft quite hands when you ride and you need to learn how to ride with your seat, legs and hips along with your hands. Remember what counts is what is on the other end of those reins-you.

Feds on path to get tough on soring, says HSUS

Thermographic image showing excessive warmth (seen as red and orange colors), which may be caused by inflammation from soring. The pattern seen is consistent with soring using a chemical agent. © USDA

Federal authorities are making moves to ban the stacks and chains that are an integral part of soring walking horses, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) believes.

Its president and chief executive Wayne Pacelle, writing in his blog, A Humane Nation, says the Obama Administration has signaled its readiness to crack down on the illegal practice of soring.

Soring is the use of chemical and mechanical irritants to encourage the high-stepping favored by the so-called “Big Lick” segment of the Tennessee walking horse industry.

Pacelle asserted that the “Big Lick” segment had so far shown no willingness to root out abuse in the industry.

Pacelle said the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent a proposed rule late last week to update its existing Horse Protection Act regulations to the Office of Management and Budget for White House clearance – a key step before a proposed rule is released for public comment.

For some time, the HSUS has urged the USDA to take greater action against soring.

In February last year, the nonprofit animal advocacy group filed a rule-making petition with the USDA for a rule to ban the “stacks” and chains used in soring. put an end to industry self-policing; and crack down on violations by extending disqualification periods.

“At this stage of the review process, the text of the USDA’s proposed rule is not yet public. But to be effective, the proposed rule should include all of these commonsense, long-awaited reforms,” Pacelle said.

“It’s been a federal crime since 1970 to show horses who have been sored. But cruel, unscrupulous trainers exploit regulatory loopholes, and the corrupt industry self-regulation system allows the perpetuation of what amounts to organized crime, all for the sake of show ribbons.”

Pacelle noted that the USDA had stated publicly in separate Federal Register notices, in 1979 and in 2011, that if soring persisted it would consider banning the chains hung around horses’ legs and the tall, heavy stacks nailed to horses’ hooves.

“These devices exacerbate the pain of caustic chemicals on the skin, conceal hard or sharp objects jammed into the tender soles, and make the hoof strike the ground at an abnormal angle and with excessive force,” he said.

“It’s way past time to eliminate the use of these instruments of torture, as a majority in Congress recognizes.”

Pacelle reiterated his support for the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which enjoys wide backing across the entire US political spectrum but has yet to be brought to the floor of the House or Senate for a vote.

It enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress from more than 300 Senate and House cosponsors and a wide range of endorsements from respected bodies.

“There is no question the current regulations are failing to protect horses from a core group of scofflaw trainers and owners in this industry,” Pacelle said.

“Their denials are hollow and their cruelty is incontrovertible. At this stage of the debate, this Administration has an opportunity to fix this broken system before President Obama leaves office, and here’s an issue where nearly the whole of Congress agrees with needed reforms.

“The agency action we’re pressing is urgently needed. We’re going to put our shoulder behind this rule-making to put an end now to both the lawbreaking and the scourge of soring.”

Man Charged With Animal Cruelty In Case of Abused Horse

A 65-year-old man has been charged with animal cruelty for transporting a lame horse to the New Holland Sales Stables for auction, in a case which gained international headlines.

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said Phillip S. Price was charged on Wednesday with five summary citations over his handling of Lily, a pony mare.

The horse, seemingly left at the saleyards in Pennsylvania following the auction, was reported to be in poor condition, but what shocked the horse community was evidence the grey mare had been hit up to 130 times with paint-ball pellets.

However, authorities stressed that they have yet to make an arrest in connection with the paint-ball matter.

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that New Holland police Detective Lieutenant Jonathan Heisse had filed the charges against Price, which will be mailed to him.

The Lancaster County SPCA investigated the case. Police, after consultation with and approval by Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson, filed the charges.

The injured horse, since named Lily, was very thin and blind when she was dropped off at the New Holland Sales Stables on West Fulton Street on March 14.

Price, of East Providence, Rhode Island, is charged with three counts of animal cruelty, a single count of dealing and handling animals without a license, and a single count of importing animals without an interstate health certificate.

The horse was allegedly transported from a location in New Jersey to the auction site.

Each summary citation carries a maximum fine of $300, plus additional court costs, which will be ordered by District Judge Rodney Hartman if Price is proven guilty. At that point, restitution for the horse’s care may also be ordered.

Six Words No Instructor/Trainers Wants To Hear

by Cheryl Childs/Cheryl Childs Horsmanship

There are six little words that can strike terror in the heart of a trainer/instructor. You ask what those six little words are - well they are  "I was talking to a friend,". You see those six words are generally followed by "and he said I should......" and with those few words uttered in a matter of seconds months of hard work by the rider, the horse and  myself are undone. When those words come out of a client's mouth I brace myself for a deluge of advice from that friend who apparently believes they know more than a professional trainer/instructor. It also seems that this friend doesn't support their friend (my client) in her need to improve her horsemanship, build a better bond with her horse, become a more confident rider or improve her horse's overall training. This friend seems to be opposed to their friend (my client) expanding her horizons and trying something new with her horse as well.

This advice giving friend always seems to have the answer to any problem someone is having with their horse. Their answers are usually as follows "you just need to ride him longer and harder on the trail" or "you need to get spurs - he's just lazy" or "you're wasting  your time with that stuff like collection or balanced horsemanship because you're just a trail rider - just ride", but wait my favorite of all of them  is " just get back up there, he's fine, let's go". That last word of advice is probably the most dangerous piece of advice anyone can give you. All joking aside if you have a friend or friends who gives you advice like that you need to find new friends.

I have heard it time and time again, "My horse spooked and I got nervous, but my friends told me to just ride it out and that's when I came off,".  My advise as an equine professional is if your horse is spooky or acting strange do not be too proud to climb down - it's always about your safety and also your horse's safety. There is no shame in walking your horse home or back to the trailer and arriving in one piece. I have had clients who were seriously hurt when someone told them to "ride it out". I have also had clients who didn't get physically hurt, but had their confidence was shaken so badly they almost gave up riding.

As for that friend's advice about not needing to improve your riding skills because you are a trail rider, well I say that's a load of manure. Every rider, whether they are on the trail or in the show ring, needs to be the best rider they can be, so their horse is the best he can be. You need to be balanced in the saddle when you ride on the trail for your safety and your horse needs to know how to change leads and collect on the trail. There is nothing wrong with improving your horsemanship and your horse's training - even if you are a trail rider.

So to all those friends out there with all that good advice here is some advice for you - if your friend wants to take lessons to improve her riding skills, wants to work with a trainer or wants to try something new encourage her - don't undermine her. Don't give her advice that might get her hurt and shake her confidence so badly she stops riding. Be a real friend and encourage her to dismount and you do the same. Lastly please don't give her advice contrary to the instructing and training she is receiving from me.

Paint-ball victim Lily: Surgeon explains her eye operation

The mare shot up to 130 times with a paint-ball gun is recovering following her eye operaton, with her surgeon confident she will bounce back well.

Lily, who is believed to be aged about 20 and with Arabian and Appaloosa bloodlines, has been under the care of veterinarians after being found in poorly condition at the New Holland Sales Stables in Pennsylvania this week.

Lily was not part of the day’s sale and it is surmised she was abandoned there by her owners. She was found to be underweight and suffering from eye issues which required surgery.

However, it was the sight of her grey coat, stained from the impact of up to 130 paint-ball pellets, that has shocked the wider horse community.

Lily, now under the wing of the Omega Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, was stabilized by the saleyard veterinarian, which enabled her to be transported to the New Bolton Center, the large animal hospital which is part of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

She was assessed and underwent an hour of surgery on Thursday to remove her right eye and treat her left eye.

The eye conditions were chronic and were not caused by the paint-balls.

Lily is now resting comfortably in her stall in the Moran Critical Care Center, part of the New Bolton Center. She remains in quarantine in the isolation wing.

Her surgeon, Dr Nikki Scherrer, an ophthalmology resident at the New Bolton Center, says her prognosis is excellent.

“Removing the eye doesn’t change anything for her at all except she will be a more comfortable horse. She is already adjusted to not having vision in that eye.

“The ulcer in the left eye we expect to heal in two weeks. She does have vision in her left eye. It’s not normal because of a positioning abnormality. She has limited vision.

“We did a cytology of the ulcer in her left eye, which means we looked at the cells where the ulcer was and they did not show any signs of infection. So we did a debridement procedure to help stimulate healing, which means we removed the cells that were no longer healthy.

“We ended up removing almost the entire top layer of the cornea. So because the ulcer was so big we decided to place a catheter to help medicate her, which will be a more comfortable way for us to give her medication.

“We removed the right eye and she has a head bandage covering that site to make sure it doesn’t swell and that the incision stays clean.

“We will look at the incision tomorrow to make sure it is healing appropriately. We will put on another bandage for two to three days, and then we will remove it and she’ll just look like she has skin there instead of an eye. We took the two eyelids and sutured them together so there is just skin there now.”

Scherrer said it was decided to remove her right eye because it was going to be a chronic long-term problem for Lily. “The eye was permanently blind and no use to her. This way we make sure that she won’t be in pain.”

Women accused of slapping police horse outside Trump rally last week

A 29-year-old woman has been charged with abuse of a police horse after allegedly slapping the animal during an anti-Trump protest just over a week ago in Kansas City, Missouri.

The woman, arrested on Friday evening, was released after posting a $US500 bond.

The incident happened outside a rally last weekend for Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

The horse, named Dan, was allegedly slapped in the face as two mounted officers tried to control protesters outside the Trump rally.

The woman in question could not be found in the crowd following the alleged slap, and police had been searching for her since.

Reports suggest she was identified by a caller to a police hotline.

Trump’s Kansas City rally was a day after he was forced to cancel a gathering in Chicago because of violence.

The woman will appear in municipal court on May 4.

Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forte, in a blog published the day after the protest, said an estimated 500 people had gathered in downtown Kansas City outside the Trump rally.

Of those, a small number showed up intent on antagonizing and breaking the law, he said.

He continued: “Police were dealing with a bomb threat reported inside the Midland Theater as the rally started. At about the same time, I heard officers on the radio saying they were starting to get surrounded by the people outside.

“The Trump protesters were on both sides of Main Street. They started encroaching onto the street. The opposing sides periodically tried to come together, and officers found themselves breaking up more and more disturbances.

“The officers called in our Mounted Patrol for back-up to break the two groups apart and get them out of the street. In the course of that, a police horse was assaulted.

“More officers were called in to help maintain safety and order. Some of the people gathered outside began to put on personal protective equipment (gas masks). Several of them tried to rush the front doors of the theater, blocking Main Street in the process.

“Police issued repeated commands to stay out of the street. They warned that pepper spray would be used if those gathered didn’t follow the commands. People had ample opportunity to back up or disperse. Police tried to get them out of the street for three minutes. Those three minutes were just when they were in the street itself. Tensions had been building before that on the sidewalk. They blocked traffic and compromised safety. Some cars caught in the back-up were surrounded. When the crowd refused to obey police commands, officers had to deploy pepper spray on two occasions throughout the evening.

“A total of four people were arrested. Given the circumstances, our officers exercised great restraint. And this morning, no windows are boarded up downtown. No one suffered any injuries beyond the temporary discomfort of pepper spray. The National Guard is not in Kansas City today to restore order.

“People in the United States certainly have the right to peaceably assemble and express their views. And police were there to ensure that last night. Citizens do not, however, have the right to put others’ safety at risk, destroy property or violate the law.”

Pony Shot 130 Times With Paint Ball Gun

Animal cruelty officers in Pennsylvania are appealing for information over the apparent shooting of a grey horse with a paintball gun.The Lancaster County SPCA wants the public’s help in finding the horse’s owner.

It said its cruelty officers received a call from the management of the New Holland Sales Stable after they discovered an abandoned horse left on their property this week following its normal horse sale.

The pony was found at auction yards after a regular livestock sale. Photo: Lancaster County SPCA/Facebook

The condition of the horse prompted the stable management and stable veterinarian to contact the SPCA for help.

It transpires the horse was not originally checked in as a “horse for sale”. It appeared to have been dumped at the stable property after the sale was finished.

No identification on the horse could be found.

SPCA officials say the horse is aged about 20 and is an Arabian/appaloosa pony cross.

It has a low body condition score and it was found to be blind in the right eye.

“It was apparent the pony had been shot with a paint gun nearly 130 times,” the charity reported on its Facebook page.

The pony, it said, was sore to the touch.

“The sales’ stable veterinarian evaluated the horse and provided treatment and pain medication in order for her to be transported to New Bolton Center by Omega Horse Rescue.”

The New Bolton Center is the large animal hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

“We are asking for anyone who would know the owner or their whereabouts, or who have any information in regards to this horse, to please contact the Lancaster County SPCA at 717-917-6979 or email information to info@lancasterspca.org.”

All calls would be kept anonymous, the charity said.

Premier CTR Organization Offering Free Memberships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Premier CTR Organization Offering Free Memberships

Sedalia, Colorado, USA - March 9, 2016 - For the first time in its 55-year history, the

North American Trail Ride Conference is offering free 2016 memberships to people who

have never been NATRC members.

Executive Administrator, Laurie DiNatale, explains, “We are a distance competitive trail

ride organization that values conditioned, sound, trail savvy horses that are a pleasure to

ride. We value light and balanced riding and encourage the good care of horses over the

distance and in camp. We want to share that with people.”

Camaraderie, fun, beautiful scenery, exhilaration, pride in accomplishment, confidence,

overcoming disappointments, stretching our abilities, and deepening partnerships with

our horses, are offshoots of the experience of riding in NATRC sanctioned competitions.

Says DiNatale, “There is nothing like miles to cement the bond between horse and

rider!”

As a non-profit educational and distance CTR (competitive trail ride) sanctioning

organization, NATRC education takes on many forms. The most unique of these is the

direct feedback to competitors of scores and comments on their veterinary and

horsemanship scorecards, which each rider receives at the close of a ride competition.

Other resources include clinics, a new competitor section on the website, mentoring new

competitors, informative articles in regional and national newsletters, an introductory

video, social media, and the soon to be published second edition of the “NATRC Rider’s

Manual, A Complete Guide to Competitive Trail Riding.”

For more information on the free membership offer, go to www.natrc.org.

Contact: Bev Roberts

matefey@gmail.com

870-420-3244

Horse riders have the “right stuff”, a German study suggests

Horse riding builds character and promotes social development, European research suggests.

A study commissioned by the German Equestrian Federation investigated what character elements were engendered through horse riding.

The study involved 411 riders aged 14 to 65, 91% of whom were women and 9% male.

For comparison, the researchers surveyed 402 non-riders who collectively met the same gender distribution, age and income bands of the riding group.

They all participated via an online tool.

Riders, it was found, were generally more determined, enthusiastic, structured and balanced than their non-riding counterparts. They also showed greater leadership, were more assertive and competitive, and demonstrated greater resilience.

“We have always been convinced of the positive impact of the horse on the development of children and adolescents, because it corresponds to our experiences and observations,” the federation’s secretary general, Soenke Lauterbach, said.

The federation commissioned the study because it wanted to find out if that anecdotal evidence was borne out in a study, he said.

Equestrian associations and clubs now had solid arguments on the personal character-building benefits of riding, he said.

The results, he said, were especially interesting for parents who wanted to find a meaningful sport for their children. Most parents wanted their children to follow a healthy pursuit that helped them develop as individuals.

Clear interpersonal differences were found between riders and non-riders.

“The close contact with the animal requires a high degree of empathy and sensitivity to the subtle body language of horses,” Lauterbach said.

“This especially benefits young people.

“The horse is not only a friend to whom they can tell their concerns and needs, but they can also learn from him ‘for life’.”

Why you should start out with a quiet horse, not a fixer-upper

A friend of mine recently bought a stock horse mare at the local horse sale. “I got a bargain,” he said. “She’s only seven years old and she goes great. Let me show you.” He rode the mare around and she danced and pranced and jigged and jogged and was very nervous and worried. She didn’t know how to relax. The fellow thought this was great. “She’s got plenty of go in her,” he told me. I didn’t answer.

I looked in the mare’s mouth. “Looks more like 17 than seven,” I told him.

“They said she was only seven,” he replied. Again, no comment from me.

“Have a ride and see what you think.” When I politely declined, he said “She’s gonna be great. You’ll see.”

The sad fact is, I’ve ridden hundreds of horses like this poor mare –horses who are worried and frightened every time anyone goes near them. I didn’t particularly want to ride another one. It gives me no pleasure to ride such horses.

There are thousands of horses like this mare, who’ve been badly handled and mistreated for years on end. These horses expect a bad experience every time they’re handled and ridden. They’ve never been taught to be relaxed and confident with people. All they’ve ever known is conflict and bad experiences.

Through no fault of their own, such horses make unreliable riding horses. Whenever something out of the ordinary happens, they expect trouble and immediately panic. Instead of stopping and thinking, they bolt or buck or pull back or kick or rear. This is very dangerous for an unsuspecting or novice rider. Let me repeat: Horses like this are dangerous.

Every day I receive emails and messages from people who have horses like this. People with the best intentions, who think they can ‘fix’ horses with these issues. Yes, every horse can be improved but you must always remember that no-one can erase a horse’s memory. No-one can make a horse forget the bad experiences he’s been through.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is well recognized these days. People who’ve been through traumatic experiences are affected for the rest of their lives. They never forget. And it’s exactly the same with horses who’ve been frightened. They’re affected for the rest of their lives.

Regardless of what anyone tells you, a horse four years or older who’s been frightened and mistreated and doesn’t trust people, can’t be made reliable. And the older the horse is, the more difficult the task of gaining his trust becomes.

I find it very worrying that so many inexperienced horse people think they can ‘fix’ a frightened, older horse. People with very little skill and experience go out of their way to find a mistreated horse and then wonder why they can’t overcome all the problems they encounter. The most worrying part of all this is that it’s very dangerous and they can be badly injured.

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It takes years of experience for a novice horseperson to develop the necessary skills to handle a frightened or mistreated horse. Nobody can give you that experience and nobody can give you a magic formula to ‘fix’ a horse.

When you buy a horse, your safety must be the first and foremost consideration. Don’t put yourself at risk by starting with a horse that’s too difficult for you. Find a quiet, safe, reliable horse to start with. People are injured, and worse, by horses every day. Please don’t be one of them.

Meanwhile, what happened to the mare that my friend bought at the sale? After about a month, he quietly sold her to another unsuspecting person. And so the problem continues, not only for the new owner but for the poor mare as well.

Neil Davies began training horses full-time in 1977. Over the next 15 years, he started more than a thousand horses under saddle and trained thousands of so-called ‘problem’ horses. [read more]

He is the author of Fear-free Horse Training – every step of the way.

Visit Neil’s website at www.fearfreehorsetraining.com.