HORSE NATION https://www.horsenation.com horsing around the world Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:33:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.2 Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Horses: Good Grids https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/27/thoroughbred-logic-presented-by-kentucky-performance-horses-good-grids/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:32:41 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168493 → ]]> “It is often the slow repetitive progression through without rider interference that helps them think and slow their brain and thus, their feet…”

Welcome to the next installment of Thoroughbred Logic. In this weekly series, Anthropologist and trainer Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, offers insight and training experience when it comes to working with Thoroughbreds (although much will apply to all breeds). This week ride along as Aubrey shares her logic on purpose and usefulness of grid work.

Earlier this month, I taught a Thoroughbred Logic Clinic here at Kivu Sporthorses. Instead of doing a ground-work demo or the like, I hopped on Wolf (Louisiana Moon) to discuss the challenge of jumping a horse who rushes fences and what to do to help them slow their brain and body down. Wolf had spent the past week working his way through grids to help him both get ready for an upcoming show and this educational class. With each combinations of poles and fences, he showed off his catty enthusiasm, while I kept my tailbone down but stayed quiet in half seat.

Wolf (Louisiana Moon) scoping out some of the auditors a the recent Thoroughbred Logic Clinic. Photo by author.

When it came time for the demo, I warmed him up and made my explanation of what I was going to do and what I was asking of him in the grids and jump lines. I discussed his strong preference to rush the last stride before a fence and then… drumroll… the damn lovely horse didn’t rush a single fence. Not one. He was foot-perfect for the entire demo. And while I was thrilled with all he had accomplished, I had to laugh — that wasn’t exactly the best demo for teaching how to slow down the rusher… but I guess it proved that the tactic — and the grids — worked (at least at home).

Wolf (Louisiana Moon) picking his way carefully through the grid during his “how not to rush” demo at the recent Thoroughbred Logic Clinic. Photo by Pacey Gilham for Cora Williamson Photography.

I spend a lot of time here thinking through and discussing flatwork and equitation. I’m a big believer in the cliché that jumping is just flatwork with fence-based interruptions. As an eventer and in an effort to produce well-rounded horses, my goal with all of the Thoroughbreds who come through my barn (and are physically able to jump) is to create quality gaits on the flat, introduce them to fences and see how they do outside of the arena.

Most Thoroughbreds seem to thoroughly enjoy jumping — and excel at it. That is, once they understand the ask and learn how to tone down the “flight response” that often accompanies getting from one side of an obstacle to another. We as riders are responsible for helping them figure out how to do that — and do it safely and successfully. And for that, I love grids.

Kat Page Dortenzo’s Pederson’s Courage figuring out his footing over an cross-rail. Photo by Pacey Gilham for Cora Williamson Photography.

I’m not going to reinvent the wheel here or claim to have created these exercises. Nope. There are grid experts and grid clinics (locally Beth Stelzleni is great) and grid books. And most of them are amazing, but book-wise, Jimmy Woffard’s “Gymnastics” is a classic and perhaps one of the best.

As with the clinicians and authors, I enjoy grids for likely similar reasons. On one hand, they encourage proper footwork for the horse. On another, they create a repeatable ride which builds confidence for both horse and rider. On another, they can introduce new elements gently — be it a vertical, an oxer or just an increase in height. They can help slow down the horse’s feet and brain and create success, and they give me space as a rider to hold my position, improve equitation and stay out of the way of the horse. OK, I think that set of examples gave me about six hands… close enough.

Aspenfiveoneseven, piloted by Charlotte Pinckney learns to confidently take on fences by walking through the grid first. Photo by Pacey GIlham for Cora Williamson Photography.

While I have grids set in my arena regularly, I often introduce these to my recent off-track horses after I have tackled poles and singe cross-rails. One of the biggest initial challenges in jumping is the horse’s belief that he or she cannot “break the plane.” They’ll look at an ‘x’ and often act like it is a wall to go around rather than through. Walking them over it on the ground or lunging over poles and small cavalettis helps create the confidence that objects can be stepped and hopped over, not just avoided.

Once that is sorted and the horse can quietly walk and trot a small cross-bar, I’ll begin to bring low grids into the picture. Importantly, we break grids all the way down for the greenies — meaning the poles are on the ground. I’ll walk them through first, find the straight line, and let them sort their legs out before asking them to trot through.  Then, to build it up, I’ll usually set the last fence in the line first and then as one progresses through with confidence, I’ll start adding in the other fences working from last fence to first.

Bria Barden and Zeuss (Illustrated) begin their jumping career by slowly working their way through grids both at home and here at the Thoroughbred Logic Clinic. Photo by Pacey Gilham for Cora Williamson Photography.

Importantly, I’ll ask the rider (or myself) to hop in a half-seat on the approach, regardless of whether approaching the grid at a trot or a canter. Once they’re there, they stay there, soft hands and upright. And once straight, I’ll usually be heard yelling to folks to grab mane and stay up and out of their way. As the horse goes through the grid, the rider does not get to adjust with the reins. They can drop their tailbone and use their core to slow the horse down, but they don’t get to pull or half halt with the reins.

If the horse bumbles through, tossing poles around or rushes, we can fix that. It is often the slow repetitive progression through without rider interference that helps them think and slow their brain and thus, their feet. Usually, the less we mess with them in an effort to fix it, the better they’ll head through the next time. In other words, grids are great for allowing errors to happen, and providing soft, accepting space for them to figure it out through repetition without rider micromanagement.

Uno (Hold Em Paul) shows off how grids can help not only footwork but form over fences. Screenshot by Alanah Giltmier.

Here are three of my favorite grids:

1. Pole, 9-feet to a cross-bar, one stride to an oxer. (When building this one, I’ll start with all poles, and then build the oxer first into a cross-rail, then add the first crossrail. I’ll then move the oxer into a vertical on the near pole, and after the horse is successful through the one-stride, I’ll change the last fence into a small oxer. *I use the dots on the edges to symbolize standards.

2. This is an addition on the one above by adding a bounce after the first pole. So: A ground pole, then nine-feet for takeoff to a crossrail bounce (separated by nine-feet) and then a 20-foot one stride to an oxer. The same principle applies here, break it all the way down and start by building it from the back to the front. If the distances are too big for a horse, or way too tight, adjust the fences in or out for success.

 

3. I love this one for fitness and footwork as well as teaching them to slow down and not rush. This one is an alteration of ground poles and cross-rails at consistent nine-foot distances. Effectively, the horse will slowly bounce their way through the grid, thinking carefully about landing and take off.

How to know the grid exercise is going well?

Grids are great when they do what they are supposed to: create confidence and encourage careful footwork and quality form over fences. If a horse is repeatedly blasting through, missing the footwork, or seeming to get faster or less and less comfortable with the ask, potentially stopping or wiggling out of the line, it would be worth while to break it back down to poles and bring the grids up more slowly. Depending on the horse’s stride too, the distances may need to be adjusted to help them figure it out.

But, if a horse is happily trotting in, popping over the fence(s) and landing in trot or canter and heading out quietly, it can be assumed to go well and over time (perhaps not the first day though), the grid can be built up slowly in height and complexity.

Curry (Curlin Lane) is always careful about his footwork over fences, and grids help him build his confidence as he moves up in fence height. Screenshot by Alanah Giltmier.

Where to stop?

This is always a tricky question. Less is always more. With recent off-trackers or those new to jumping and grids, I try to read the horse and not add too much pressure. Keeping grids positive is one of the most important things. So while there is an idea of a grid as “fully built,” many days with green beans, we’ll just get through the poles and maybe the last fence. As they gain more experience the grid can get built more fully, more efficiently. Overall though, each ride aims for a quiet pace, good, thoughtful footwork, and willing movement over the fence. If you get that, fantastic. Come back around and do more another day until they are well versed in grids and can really think their way through on the fly.

So folks, go build some grids, keep it simple, and enjoy the ride and the fence-by-fence progress.


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The Idea of Order: Show Clothes https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/27/the-idea-of-order-show-clothes-2/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:51:29 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168490 → ]]> Because nothing screams practical like wearing men’s formal wear while handling livestock in 90 degree weather….

Presented by:

This week’s comic is for my fellow horse show enthusiasts. Seriously, whoever decided showing in what mostly amounts to men’s formal wear, and that wearing white breeches while handling livestock was a good idea, was clearly a masochist.
 
Unless you have a herd of grooms and a hermetically sealed bubble to shroud yourself in, you’d better just face the fact that before you ever enter the ring you’ll be covered in a fine coating of horsey grunge. 😅🧐🤔

Morgane Schmidt is, among many things, an equestrian who still hasn’t quite decided what she wants to be when she grows up. Author of Life with Horses Is Never Orderly, she knows all about the madness that comes with the equine territory, having owned and competed horses in eventing and dressage for years. A lifelong fan of the classic equestrian cartoons penned by internationally renowned artist Norman Thelwell, she began her own comic series in 2011, sharing deftly funny reflections on life with horses on Horse Nation as well as her personal website. A native Floridian, she spent a decade in Reno, NV, where she was able to confirm her suspicion that snow is utterly worthless (she has since regained her sense and moved back to the Florida swamp). Though she has run the gamut of equestrian disciplines, her favorite is dressage. She has completed her USDF bronze and silver medals and is currently working on her gold. Generally speaking, her life is largely ruled by Woody, a 14.2 hand beastly quarter horse, Willie, a now beastly 14-year-old Dutch gelding, and Milona DG, a 7 year old KWPN chestnut mare (you can make your own inferences there…). Visit her website at www.theideaoforder.com.

Milona DG and I. Photo (c) Q2 Photography.

 

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Women’s History Month: Five Historic Horsewomen You Should Know https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/26/womens-history-month-five-historic-horsewomen-you-should-know/ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 19:00:26 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168353 → ]]> Equestrian history is full of famous women working in every discipline you can imagine, from rodeo to the racetrack, and even a few disciplines you haven’t thought of—like fortunetelling! Read on to meet five unsung female equestrians who blazed their own trails.

By Jess Bowers

Here are five amazing female equestrians who you should definitely know about.

Lucille Mulhall

“I feel sorry for the girls who never lived on a cattle ranch and have to attend so many teas, and be indoors so much, with never anything but artificiality about them,” said Lucille Mulhall, a St. Louisan rider and rancher dubbed “The Original Cowgirl” by her turn-of-the-century fans and admirers. Tough enough to impress even “rough rider” President Theodore Roosevelt, who deemed her a better rider than his military cavalry,

Mulhall toured the United States with her trick horse, Governor, who could play dead, ring bells, and remove his owner’s hat on command. “Although she weighs only 90 pounds, she can break a bronco, lasso and brand a steer, and shoot a coyote at 500 yards,” wrote one breathless reporter, before marveling that Mulhall did all of the above while wearing a split skirt.

Claudia E. Fonda

This enterprising Virginia farmer turned her backyard-bred mare, Lady Wonder, into a lucrative local sensation. Between 1927 and 1957, Lady Wonder answered questions and told fortunes for more than 150,000 curious visitors using a homemade “typewriter xylophone” to spell out words. The mare even weighed in on a missing person case for the local police department. Fonda’s nigh-telepathic bond with her beloved animal fooled a Duke University psychologist into thinking Lady Wonder actually exhibited extrasensory perception. Unable to see that Fonda’s connection to Lady Wonder was so strong, she could cue her horse to “say” just about anything using subtle body language, Dr. Joseph Banks Rhine went to his grave believing he’d met a psychic horse.

May Wirth

“The Greatest Bareback Rider of All Time,” Australian-born May Wirth rode professionally for Barnum & Bailey’s circus throughout the early 20th century, where she became the first (documented!) woman to somersault from one horse’s back to another. Marveling at Wirth’s athleticism as she tumbled from animal to animal, the artist Marsden Hartley once wrote: “She is mistress of a very difficult art, and yet the brilliancy of her performance makes it seem as if it were but the experiment of an afternoon, in the out-of-doors.” The far more famous artist Alexander Calder also paid tribute to Wirth’s riding stardom in his Cirque Calder, a kinetic sculpture featuring miniature replicas of the greatest circus performers of the 1920s and 30s. A tiny Wirth, immortalized in her signature pink hair bow, balances upon a mechanized white horse.

Cheryl White

The first African American female jockey, Cheryl White was licensed to ride at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio in 1971 when she was only 17 years old. Credited with 226 wins and earnings of $762,624 during her career, White was the first female jockey to win five races in one day, a feat she achieved in 1983. Beyond Thoroughbreds, White also distinguished herself as the first woman to win the Appaloosa Horse Club’s Jockey of the Year award in 1977, reclaiming the title in 1983, 1984, and 1985. In 2011, the Appaloosa Hall of Fame inducted White for her passionate support of the breed. After retiring from competitive riding in 1992, White worked as a racing official until her death at age 65 in 2019. “Cheryl was never a great self-promoter, and wasn’t concerned with the politics of racing,” said her brother, Raymond White Jr. “She just did her thing. She didn’t understand what she had accomplished. I don’t know that she understood her significance, or place in history.”

Louisa Woolford

Born to an Irish horse trainer, Louisa Woolford began performing equestrian feats at London’s famous Astley’s Amphitheatre during the Regency era. The most famous circus performer of her day, Woolford was especially renowned for an act performed alongside her husband, fellow equestrian Andrew Ducrow. In “The Tyrolean Shepherd and Swiss Milkmaid,” the talented couple danced atop two cantering horses while reenacting courtship, a lovers’ quarrel, and reconciliation. Another popular Woolford act, “The Flower Girl,” found her pirouetting solo atop a prancing pony while tossing flowers at her astounded audience. According to a quote from Ducrow’s obituary, Woolford “drew crowds by the accustomed gracefulness of her action, and the skillful management of her steed.”


Jess Bowers’s debut fiction collection, HORSE SHOW, features short stories about Mulhall and Fonda alongside other obscure horse history. Find her on X @prettyminotaur, on Instagram at bowersjess, and at www.jessbowers.org.

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‘Run With Me’ Is A Powerful Anthem for Wild Horses https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/26/run-with-me-is-a-powerful-anthem-for-wild-horses/ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:09:44 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168476 → ]]> “’Run With Me’ is a rallying cry for wild horses… Through the power of music, we hope to inspire people to connect with these incredible animals and support our mission to ensure their safe future.”— Jamie Baldanza

Wild Lands Wild Horses, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness for America’s Wild Horses through advocacy, education, film, art, rescue, and adoption, is proud to announce the release of their stirring anthem, “Run With Me.” This captivating ballad aims to raise awareness and support for wild horse conservation.

Composed by acclaimed producers Jared Gutstadt and Bill Markt, “Run With Me” features soul-stirring vocals by JR. Moore. The heartfelt lyrics, penned by Jamie Baldanza and Danielle Cunningham, evoke the unbreakable spirit and plight of the wild mustang, an American icon, urging listeners to join in the effort to protect them.

“We’re thrilled to release ‘Run With Me’ as a rallying cry for wild horses,” says Jamie Baldanza, co-founder of Wild Lands Wild Horses. “Through the power of music, we hope to inspire people to connect with these incredible animals and support our mission to ensure their safe future.”

Proceeds from the sales and streaming of “Run With Me” will directly benefit the Wild Lands Wild Horses Fund Corp, supporting initiatives aimed at safeguarding wild horse populations and their habitats across America.

To download or stream “Run With Me” see the links below:

 

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Tuesday Video: Fantastic Freestyle https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/26/tuesday-video-fantastic-freestyle/ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:41:57 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168051 → ]]> This horse is making her freestyle look easy!

The talent of a horse is really showcased in a freestyle routine. This one is no different. This horse has perfect body position, and the trainer is controlling her by driving her from behind while on a surf board that is sputtering smoke. Cheers to those horses that perform their job to perfection!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by CHIO Aachen (@chio_aachen)

Try new things and go riding, Horse Nation!

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‘Oh Crap’ Monday: Never Give Up https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/25/oh-crap-monday-never-give-up/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:02:22 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168459 → ]]> Monday already is the crappiest day of the week, so it only makes sense that we make things official. Here’s our latest “oh crap” moment.

In horseback riding and competing, things sometimes (often?) don’t go as planned. But when that’s the case, the best thing to do is stick it and then deal with it calmly and professionally. Even though this barrel run was definitely an “oh crap” moment, Joy Wargo handled it with absolute poise. Way to display some incredible horsemanship and way to go Joy!

@joywargo When it doesn’t go as planned! #betweenthereins #barrelracing #bronc ♬ Never Give Up – Motiversity & Coach Pain & Dr. Jessica Houston

Go forth and tackle your Monday, Horse Nation.

Have an “Oh Crap” moment to share? Email your photo/video and a brief explanation of what is going down to deann@horsenation.com. Instagram users, tag your moments with #OhCrapMonday (your photos need to be set to public or we won’t see them!).

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SmartPak Monday Morning Feed: Spring Conditioning https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/25/smartpak-monday-morning-feed-spring-conditioning/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:40:07 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168442 → ]]> Spring has sprung, and it’s time to get those horses in shape. What’s the best way to bring your horse back to condition after a winter off? Here are five of the top answers from our friends at SmartPak.

SmartPak asked their friends and followers on social media “What’s your #1 tip for getting a horse back in shape after a winter off?” and there were so many great tips and suggestions they wanted to capture and share them.

Scroll down through the top five tips riders like you had for bringing a horse back into regular work after a winter off:

5. Check with your vet

In times of change, it’s always a good idea to refer to your veterinarian to ensure your horse is happy and healthy first and foremost. They will be able to visually assess your horse for any areas in need of support and may be able to offer suggestions on a safe, effective conditioning plan.

4. Take it slow

Give you and your horse plenty of time to get back into the groove. That might mean working backwards to plan out the days and weeks you have available to prepare for your first big ride of the year- whether that be an event, a clinic, or a particularly challenging trail.

3. Take it in-hand

In-hand work can be a great way to starting getting you and your horse’s fitness level up. Unmounted work like hand walks and long-lining (not to be confused with lunge lining) can help minimize strain on your horse’s back or legs as they rebuild muscle while also improving your communication from the ground as an added bonus!

2. Take it up hill

Hills, if they’re available to you, are a natural source of fitness-building. Walking hills both in-hand and under saddle can be an effective way to increase fitness without increasing the speed or intensity of your work.

1. Work the walk

Noticed anything our community (that’s YOU!) stressed over and over again? You guessed it: walking! Whether you’re in hand, long-lining, ponying, under saddle, or anything else, spending a lot of time at the walk is the best way to get your horse started after time off. (Not sure how much time to spend? Refer back to #5!)

 

Happy spring, and get in shape, Horse Nation. Go SmartPak and go riding!

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Training in the Right Way: Different TYPES of Equestrian Professionals https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/24/training-in-the-right-way-different-types-of-equestrian-professionals/ Sun, 24 Mar 2024 23:17:36 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168420 → ]]> This week’s article discusses different types of equestrian dressage professionals and what they may be able to offer depending on their expertise and educational background.

Dressage training is supposed to be the process of training ANY horse to be a better riding horse. The more the horse learns, in theory, the easier it is to communicate with and therefore complete more complex tasks with. Although competition dressage training often is more focused on training for the dressage test, that is not what the original intention (and original judging requirements) were for competitive dressage. Initially, it was designed to give riders and trainers a way to determine how their training measured up to the theoretical ideal of the training process. That said, it is critically important to understand the meanings and reasons for some of the terms we use to describe dressage training and what to look for when observing training and competition (and videos and photos), regardless of whether you intend to compete or just train your horse to be a better whatever you do with him. That, ultimately, is the main purpose of my articles. To provide education and knowledge for riders to understand and improve their eye and understanding of what dressage training is supposed to be. While there will always be some differences in practice and theory, good horse training is always recognizable to the educated eye. That said, it absolutely is necessary that we remember and understand that limited knowledge is limited judgment.

Most riders understand that they need to research a trainer/instructor/clinician’s background prior to riding with them. At the very least, they rely on name recognition and fame to give them a sense of whether they want help from a specific professional. But there is more to choosing a teacher than name recognition or assuming that because they ride at a higher level anything they say will be helpful.

In previous articles I have discussed some of the considerations one should take when choosing a teacher, including skill levels, credentials, theory, style, and ability to produce what you would like to learn. In this article, I would like to discuss what different TYPES of dressage professionals are going to focus on and what they likely have to offer you in the way of education, based on their own background and type of education. In other words, depending on what you need help with, you might need to search for someone with a specific type of knowledge base. (While this article is geared specifically towards dressage riders, the idea holds true for most disciplines).

In this article, I want to highlight what a riding instructor, a horse trainer, a judge, a competition rider, and a young horse rider can provide for education as well as note what their limits are. While most dressage professionals are multifaceted and have more than one area of expertise, if you show up to train with an exceptional young horse trainer who competes very successfully in the young horse tests, and is an “L” graduate judge, but has never produced an FEI horse, you will likely have a very hard time getting help starting your one-tempis.

 

Riding Instructor

Photo (C) Gwyneth McPherson.

This category could be an article of its own as obviously there are different types and levels of riding instructors. A riding instructor who teaches children and beginner adults is pretty obviously not the person that you would go to for help with your Third Level horse. However, there are some very advanced riding teachers out there who may have insight into how to better ride your Third Level horse. Most instructors have experience with training and competition, or judging, but not all of them. In general though, someone who is a riding instructor can help the student learn how to ride better. This may include teaching the rider the aids for new exercises, working on the rider’s equitation, and longe lessons. This professional may or may not have the ability to teach the rider how to ride a competitive dressage test or how to train their horse to do flying changes and piaffe, for instance, but it all depends on whether they have been trained and have experience in those fields as well.

Horse Trainer

Photo (c) Gwyneth McPherson.

A horse trainer is a professional that not only knows how to teach a horse what his job is, but also knows how to solve the problems that other riders have with their horses. The horse trainer is a professional that focuses on the advancement of the horse. Depending on their background, they may or may not be proficient at teaching riders how to ride, but they can impart knowledge about how to make your horse better. If you are inclined to ride, train, and/or compete your horse, you absolutely must have the assistance of a horse trainer. No amount of equitation and longe lessons will get you there. If you wish to compete in dressage above Second Level (or at all), you really need a horse trainer involved that has trained multiple horses PAST the level you hope to achieve. It helps dramatically if this professional is also a riding instructor, and has experience in competition and/or judging.

Competition rider

Photo (c) Gwyneth McPherson.

A competition rider is an expert at competing. This does not mean that they are also a horse trainer or a riding instructor. This does not take away from their wealth of knowledge and experience with competition, maybe even through the Olympic level. Here is where a lot of people get confused about what a competition rider can offer them. If the competition rider is also a riding instructor and a horse trainer, then you have hit a gold mine. However, that isn’t always, or even often, the case. In the current state of US Dressage, many of our Olympic level athletes do not train their own horses from the young horse phase through Grand Prix. This does not mean that they aren’t knowledgeable or that they are not good riders—you cannot take away their obvious skill and ability in the competition arena. Grand Prix is HARD, and high-performance competition is HARD, but being exceptionally good at these skills does not also automatically qualify that professional as a trainer or riding instructor. They can convey a great deal of knowledge about competing, preparation of the horse and rider for high level competition, how to ride a top-level test, and they may be very good coaches. But they may or may not be able to teach you how to ride or train a horse from the beginning to Grand Prix. Unless they have a history of actually doing these things, you should not expect them to be able to provide you with that type of education.

Young Horse Rider

Photo (c) Gwyneth McPherson.

A young horse rider is a professional that starts young horses and often prepares them for competition or sales. Their expertise is in making a young horse rideable enough to look good for what the owner needs to do with them. These professionals are usually very fit, well-balanced, and bold. They can stick to almost anything, but they may or may not have knowledge of how to bring these young horses up through the levels past the “young horse” phase. If you wish to ride, train, and compete above Second Level, you will need to ride with a trainer that has experience and expertise in riding instruction and upper-level training. If your young horse trainer has a history of producing upper-level horses and riders, as well as training happy, healthy, well- mannered young horses, then you have hit another gold mine.

Dressage Judge

Photo (c) Gwyneth McPherson.

A dressage judge, particularly an upper-level dressage judge, is a professional with highly trained expertise in watching horses and riders and determining the quality of the riding presented at a specific moment in front of them. Judges have to have achieved scores at levels that correspond with the levels that they are judging prior to becoming a licensed judge at that level, but it is important to note though that judges are not required to TRAIN a horse to that level, nor are they required to TEACH a rider to compete at that level. Many of them have experience in both of these categories however, and some are amazing teachers and trainers. The important things to remember are that not all judges can teach a rider to become an upper-level rider and not all judges can train a horse beyond First Level. What they are very good at is telling you what your dressage test exercises should look like and they can be extremely helpful with creating “the right picture.” This knowledge is very valuable if you are a competitor. However, unless the judge has a history of training horses from the beginning to Grand Prix, and teaching riders through the upper levels, they may not be able to help you with your training problems or riding challenges.

While most dressage professionals are experts in more than one skill category, it is important to gain as much insight as possible into what their greatest expertise is in, and choose accordingly depending on what you need help with. Each of the professionals mentioned can be extremely helpful when they are concentrating on their area of expertise. Unfortunately, many times riders misunderstand what type of information they are going to receive from a clinician or teacher, because they do not understand that each of these skill sets have a different focus. Quite often a rider just assumes that someone who rides or competes at a higher level than them is just simply “better” or more knowledgeable and can thus help them. This can lead to a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. Be certain to choose teachers, trainers, and clinicians that have the specific TYPE and depth of knowledge you and your horse require when choosing who to ride with. It is the student’s responsibility to understand and seek out the professionals that have the history that will help them with their education journey.

Remember: Limited knowledge is limited judgment.


Gwyneth and Flair in competition at Grand Prix. (c) flatlandsfoto.

Gwyneth McPherson has over 35 years experience competing, training, and teaching dressage.  She began her education in in the late 1970s, riding in her backyard on an 11 hh pony. Her first instructor introduced her to Lendon Gray (1980 and 1988 Olympian). who mentored Gwyneth for a decade during which she achieved her first National Championship in 1984, and her Team and Individual Young Rider Gold Medals in1987.

In 1990 Gwyneth began training with Carol Lavell (1992 Olympian) who further developed Gwyneth as an FEI rider and competitor. Gwyneth achieved a Team Bronze in 1991 and a Team Silver in 1992 in the North American Young Riders Championships, and trained her stallion G’Dur to do all the Grand Prix movements while riding with Carol.

In 2008, while Head Trainer at Pineland Farms, Gwyneth began training with Michael Poulin (Olympian 1992). Michael was trained by Franz Rochowansky (Chief Rider for the Spanish Riding School 1937-1955). Michael has shared much of Rochowansky’s knowledge and wisdom with Gwyneth, completing her education as a Grand Prix rider, trainer, and competitor.

Gwyneth’s teaching and training business, Forward Thinking Dressage,is based in Williston, FL. In addition to teaching riders and training, Gwyneth also loves sharing her knowledge of the sport and art of dressage as well as discussing relevant topics pertaining to the training itself and the current competitive landscape.

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#goriding Grams of the Week https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/22/goriding-grams-of-the-week-246/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:26:27 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168416 → ]]> Another week of horse life, rounded up in your images.

 

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Join the conversation! Follow us on Instagram at @go_riding and tag your public photos with #goriding. We’ll share our favorites daily.

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Weekend Wellness From Kentucky Performance Products: Feeding the Overweight Horse in Spring https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/22/weekend-wellness-from-kentucky-performance-products-feeding-the-overweight-horse-in-spring/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:10:35 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168413 → ]]> Earlier this year we discussed healthy spring feeding tips for the underweight horse. Now it’s time to address how to feed the overweight horse when the grass starts to come in and there seems to be food to be had everywhere.

Canva/CC

Use the following strategies to decrease calories in your horse’s diet. Remember to keep checking your horse’s condition frequently so he doesn’t lose too much weight!

Step 1: Evaluate how much hay your horse is eating.

  • Consider changing the type of hay you feed. Mature grass hay has fewer calories than straight alfalfa or a mixed hay.
  • Feed several times per day to limit the amount of time your horse goes without hay between meals.
  • Horses need at least 1.25% of their body weight in hay per day. You can cut back on any extra.

Still need to shed calories? Move on to step 2.

Step 2: Cut back or stop the amount of concentrate you are feeding.

  • Concentrate is meant to be fed at a minimum level, usually 3 to 5 pounds per day.
  • If your horse isn’t getting the recommended minimum level of concentrate (refer to feed tag), you can add a daily vitamin and mineral supplement.

To see how spring pasture affects overweight horses, move on to step 3.

Step 3: Consider that spring pasture can be dangerous for your overweight horse.

  • Additional sugar and calories from spring pasture can put stress on the digestive and metabolic systems and can cause colic or laminitis.
  • Consider limiting pasture entirely in the spring if your horse is overweight.
  • Turn out in a dry lot or use a muzzle to reduce the amount of grass consumed.
  • Reintroduce pasture very slowly and in small amounts once your horse loses the desired weight.
  • One hour of grazing on good pasture = eating 1 pound of good grass hay.

Supplements for overweight horses

Elevate® natural vitamin E and Contribute™
Providing vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids if grazing is limited.

Micro-Phase™
Providing needed nutrients without extra calories. Micro-Phase can replace the concentrate portion of
the meal for overweight horses.

Click here for a printable version of this infographic.


About Kentucky Performance Products, LLC:

Choose Neigh-Lox® Advanced when digestive health is a top priority for your equine athlete.

Neigh-Lox Advanced provides a scientifically advanced blend of ingredients that work synergistically to maintain your horse’s digestive tract in peak condition by supporting both the gastrointestinal tissues and the beneficial bacteria that populate the gut. Maintaining a healthy digestive tract reduces the risk of colonic and gastric ulcers, colic, laminitis related to hindgut acidosis, and oxidative stress that damages digestive tract tissues themselves. Horses with a well-balanced GI tract have good appetites, absorb more nutrients from their diets, maintain a strong immune system, and stay healthier.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com

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Weekend Challenge: Look, Ma. No Hands! https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/22/weekend-challenge-look-ma-no-hands/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:49:06 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168409 → ]]> Instead of offering up a pattern to work on with your horse this weekend, we’re laying down this challenge: hands free mounting!

Getting on your horse with no hands… We’re going to guess this equestrian challenge (presented by @maddieequestrian) is much harder than it looks. And we super hope you’ll catch your attempts on camera and share them with us.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • A mounting block
  • A tacked-up horse who stands at the mounting block (or at least a friend to keep your horse at the mounting block)
  • Someone to catch the attempts on camera
  • A sense of humor

Get to it, Horse Nation — and good luck!

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Fantasy Farm Friday: Cavallino Ranch https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/22/fantasy-farm-friday-cavallino-ranch/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:16:04 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168376 → ]]> Welcome to Cavallino Ranch, an 11-acre oasis in North Carolina for $5.75M.

If you love water-based activities AND horses, Cavallino Ranch in North Carolina might be the place for you. For a cool $5.75 million, this hidden oasis in the exclusive Heritage Pointe offers the best of all worlds—a secluded sanctuary, access to a ton of water features and the convenience of modern living. It is spread across 11 sprawling acres, and is a harmonious blend of open meadows and verdant woodlands, all graced by the serene presence of a pond in your backyard.

What we absolutely love about this listing is its focus on the English-style barn, a structure that transcends the ordinary. Normally the listings we see focus a lot on the main house and not enough on the equestrian facilities. Not in this case — the barn is the centerpiece. Named in homage to the regal Cavallino horse, this estate is the embodiment of rustic luxury and contemporary comfort, making it a haven not only for horses but also a retreat for their owners.

The barn was designed with careful attention to detail, aimed to provide both beauty and function. It has four spacious stalls, each equipped with padded floors, custom steel windows, and automatic waterers. There is a state-of-the-art feed room and wash stall shine with modern amenities.

The lifestyle at Cavallino Ranch extends far beyond the stables. The attached living quarters are a testament to its luxury. The English cottage style structure features sloped rooflines, copper exterior lighting, and custom steel windows and doors.

Every corner of this space is adorned with custom finishes—white oak, solid brass, steel, and quartzite. Tall windows frame breathtaking views, inviting the beauty of the outdoors into the living spaces. It offers views of the pond and woods beyond, handmade galvanized countertops, and outdoor access through the double doors.

You can get more information and the full listing hereAll photos are from HorseProperties.net.

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I Spy Horses: East Union Presbyterian Church https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/22/i-spy-horses-east-union-presbyterian-church/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:34:24 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168283 → ]]> During my adventures and travels I always take photos of the horse-related items I see along the way. Enjoy these photos of horse-related pieces spotted at a rummage sale at East Union Presbyterian Church.

East Union Presbyterian Church is located approximately 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. The church serves those in need and individuals seeking to further connect with their spiritual being. East Union Presbyterian Church is involved in providing a place and items for their local food bank and have active mission partnerships with churches in northern Haiti, Malawi, Africa and rural West Virginia.

Every year, to raise money for the church, members donate items for the annual rummage sale. Most items are only a few dollars and on the last day they have a brown bag sale. This is where you stuff your brown bag with as much as you can fit for five dollars.

While perusing the tables, of course I had to take photos of all the horse-related items. Here’s what I found.

All photos by Marcella Gruchalak

This is a great candle holder or could maybe be a creative pot for succulents:

What this picture doesn’t show is me taking this baby for a test ride around the church hall. Yes, I embarrassed my niece.

Who doesn’t love the Budweiser Clydesdales?

This little horse actually made its way into my brown bag and now lives on a shelf in my house.

Looking at this one again, it should have made it’s way into my brown bag. It’s kinda odd and the more I look at it, the more I like it.

I actually have this in the mounted shooting version to hang hand towels on in one of my bathrooms.

I tried to get my niece to think this was cool to take her school lunches in, but this lunch box was a hard no.

This horse is awesome with his gaping mouth, wild hair, and crazy eyes. What’s not to love about this one?

Find the horses around you and go riding, Horse Nation!


Have you spied horses in your adventures and travels (specifically horses that aren’t, you know, in a barn or pasture)? If so, send your photo/s with a brief explanation to deann@horsenation.com with the subject line “I Spy Horses.” You might see your photo featured in a future edition of I Spy. Remember, you need to own the rights to all photos you send, otherwise we can’t share them. 

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20 Horse-Related Tattoos for World Tattoo Day https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/21/20-horse-related-tattoos/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:50:19 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168355 → ]]> Yes, that is a thing! Celebrated around the globe, World Tattoo Day honors and celebrates tattoos and body art. Aiming to strengthen the relationship between body artists around the world and to bring the tattoo lifestyle to the mainstream, the two main pillars of the day are freedom and tolerance.

Today — March 21st — is World Tattoo Day. Why March 21st, you may ask. Well, it’s also the International Color Day and the spring equinox. Each of these days relates to tattoos and body art in its own way. Many tattoo artists look to make the world a more colorful place — so International Color Day is totally fitting. Also, on the spring equinox, day and night are of equal length, so that’s a symbolic references the relationship between light and shadow in art.

So, in recognition of World Tattoo Day (and — hey! — why not?), we’re presenting you with these 20 horse-related tattoos:

10 Tattoos In Black and White:


 

10 Tattoos In Color:



We hope you’ll share your equestrian-related tattoos with us on our social channels. Share a photo in the Facebook comments, or use the hashtag #goriding on Instagram or Twitter.

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Reader Photo Challenge: Palominos https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/21/reader-photo-challenge-palominos/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:16:01 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168334 → ]]> Enjoy these 12 photos of palominos!

This week we asked to see the yellow horses. Enjoy these 12 photos of palominos!

Photo by Karen Bulzacchelli

Photo by Natalie Leighton

Photo by BearLee Photography

Photo by Rich McCarthy

Photo courtesy of Karen Scott

Photo by Jenna Stauder

Photo courtesy of Kersten Flodin

Photo by Nancy Black

Photo courtesy of Kerry Pinelli

Photo by Mollie Himes

Photo by Equinery Images

Photo by Kristin Matheny

Keep an eye out for next week’s photo challenge! We announce challenge subjects on Monday around the end of the day on both Instagram and Facebook.

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Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Lifting the Core & the Ruler Metaphor https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/20/thoroughbred-logic-presented-by-kentucky-performance-products-lifting-the-core-the-ruler-metaphor/ Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:28:23 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168309 → ]]> “Simply put, to ‘come over its back,’ a horse must engage its core.”

Welcome to the next installment of Thoroughbred Logic. In this weekly series, Anthropologist and trainer Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, offers insight and training experience when it comes to working with Thoroughbreds (although much will apply to all breeds). This week ride along as Aubrey shares her logic on getting horses to engage their core.

One of the most lovely progressions that off-track Thoroughbreds go through is moving from a slicked out, greyhound-like 2×4 to a softer, bungee-er, sporthorse. This early-on process (and how long it takes to really see progress) depends on the horse’s conformation, how tight they are from the track and how their body handles the let down. It also depends on how they are ridden as they transition into their second careers.

In the past month, I have been extremely fortunate to be able to host two Thoroughbred Logic Clinics and get to travel to Maryland to teach another one (one upcoming in NY in a week as well). The wonderful part of getting to teach all of these different horse and rider pairs is that I get to think through the commonalities. While folks often bring in vastly different Thoroughbreds at different stages of their careers, there are a few concepts that apply to most of them. Things such as “go forward” and “widen your outside rein” have broad application that I’m sure I’ll circle back around to in other articles soon.

Sarah Williams finishes up a productive ride on green-bean Felix (Feliciano) at the Thoroughbred Logic Clinic in Harwood, Maryland earlier this month. Photo by Rayna Erasmus.

In addition, the idea of convincing the horse to lift its core is essential — and that is where I want to focus today. Simply put, to “come over its back,” a horse must engage its core. While the neck arching and the head descending are tells that the horse *might* be using its back, the real measure is if it has stepped under itself, is pushing up with its hind legs (not just pulling itself forward). If a horse does this, its head and neck naturally will come down. From the side, the horse’s shape will resemble more of an arc than a straight line.

Uno (Hold Em Paul) trying his best to use his core at Stable View in January. Photo by Adela Narovich.

With green Thoroughbreds (or hell, even many not-so-green ones), they usually prefer to poke their noses out and pull with their shoulders and leave their hind ends hanging a bit out behind them. I joke and call them lazy when they do this, as it is easier for them to just paddle along than to get themselves together and push. Lazy? Not really… most Thoroughbreds are not truly lazy… but efficient? Yes. When they raced, most pulled their stride forward from their shoulders, digging in behind and shoveling the dirt out of the way. A big, bounding, round, core-engaged stride will rarely get them around the track and to the finish line first.

So when they come off the track and a rider feels like they’re riding a singular 2×4 from nose to tail, one needs to not only train this hind-end and core engagement, but build their strength to be able to hold it. To get a horse to “sit” and engage behind and lift their core, they need enough leg to figuratively kick their hind end into gear and step under themselves, and enough direction with the rider’s position and hand to keep them from just running onto their forehand.

Ramen (Plamen) trying very hard to learn to lift early in his second career. Photo by Alanah Giltmier.

Either way, a rider must be balanced in the saddle and generally upright in quality equitation — heel-hip-shoulder is sure old-school, but it is helpful. Too much leg and the horse just leans and runs. Too much hand and they slow down and take choppy steps behind, refusing to engage. But if you can balance between the amount of forward leg (usually with the lower calf and ankle), supporting and lifting leg (with the mid calf up to the thigh), core engagement in staying upright, and light but steady hand to encourage that momentum to become impulsion, they will try to lift and bounce over their backs.

CJ’s Empire rocking the core engagement. Photo by Alanah Giltmier.

In watching riders sometimes struggle with this, I have come to explain it like an old plastic ruler from elementary school. Yes, I’m somehow aging myself with that comment. If you lay a ruler on a table and put one finger at either end, you can do a few different things: move it left, move it right, push the ends towards themselves in a small arc, push the ends towards themselves until it snaps. So what the hell does this have to do with riding?

Amazon apparently carries these in all colors these days… 

Well, if you imagine that one finger — your right– on the ruler is your hand while riding and the other — the left — is the leg. The ruler mimics the horse. Too much pushing with your left finger and no right finger to contain the ruler, and it will simply slide across the table at whatever speed, unchecked. That is what happens when a rider puts leg on without a seat or hand that contains the momentum or lifts.

On the flip-side, if a rider puts heavy hand on to try to round a horse, AKA all right finger on the ruler and no left finger to push it forward or up from the leg, the horse will slow, stop, lift its head and protest the heavy hand. But if you add just enough encouraging forward and lifting leg (left finger pushing the ruler) and just enough containing and gently lifting hand (right finger), the old-school plastic ruler will begin to lift its middle off the table and create an arc. Of course, too much pushing from both sides — aka kicking and pulling all at once — and that arc will get too big and snap (rear, buck, kick out or generally communicate that the ask is too much).

My badly-done drawing of the ruler concept.

Thus, it is a finesse game. Each horse will require a bit of a different balance of leg to seat to hand. And if they understand the process and ask enough, the hand can become extremely secondary to the rider’s seat and core — or disappear, as in quality bridleless riding, etc. However, working through the usual, fully tacked process, horses will need a bit of both to get started. Importantly, the leg needs not only to encourage the “forward,” but also it needs to lift from the calf up into the seat — so a rider needs to be quite upright and balanced over the saddle.

The hand, equally, does not pull down, wiggle, see-saw or break at the wrist to get the horse’s head down. Instead, maintaining a straight, elastic line from bit to elbow, it lifts and supports from above the wither. Wide hands help the greenies here immensely. Doing so with light contact and a bunch of leg will encourage the proverbial ruler to create an arc and begin to engage the core. Yep, you read that right — even green Thoroughbreds need a whole bunch of supportive leg.

Clark (Louis) being a perfect kiddo for his first post-track ride and sorting out how to move forward in balance from his hind piece by piece. Photo by Alanah Giltmier.

Like anyone who has had to ‘plank’ in pilates or done any new-to-them core-engaging exercise, your fit, fast, former racehorse will not be able to hold this position for long. Reward all efforts in the right direction by softening the inside hand a tiny bit forward (like an inch) toward the bit. If you reward with the outside hand, this isn’t going to work as that one is your main support onto the hind legs —  so inside hand slightly forward and praise, scratch, pat, verbally tell them they are good. Hold the position for a bit and then let them relax. I will usually ask a little more each day I ride until this becomes something they can do easily and willingly — and they become able to lift and carry themselves over their backs.

Lad (Megan’s Lad) has been making stellar progress with core engagement. Photo by Cora Williamson Photography

For some horses this proverbial arc and act of de-2×4-ing takes a few weeks. For some it is a few months, and for those who struggle, it may be years. There is no forcing this — but encouraging it productively can create not only the right visual shape but a whole positive domino effect. For with the right shape comes the building of the muscles needed for a Sporthorses career and healthy movement, soundness and topline. Therefore with time and good training, a rider helps strengthen a horse who is more capable of moving with balance, power, adjustable speed, and the ability to stay in front of a rider’s leg (therefore able to half halt or move out as asked).

So go ride, folks  — and aim little by little for that slightly arc-ed ruler.


About Kentucky Performance Products, LLC:

Choose Neigh-Lox® Advanced when digestive health is a top priority for your equine athlete.

Neigh-Lox Advanced provides a scientifically advanced blend of ingredients that work synergistically to maintain your horse’s digestive tract in peak condition by supporting both the gastrointestinal tissues and the beneficial bacteria that populate the gut. Maintaining a healthy digestive tract reduces the risk of colonic and gastric ulcers, colic, laminitis related to hindgut acidosis, and oxidative stress that damages digestive tract tissues themselves. Horses with a well-balanced GI tract have good appetites, absorb more nutrients from their diets, maintain a strong immune system, and stay healthier.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com

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The Idea of Order: Spring is HERE! https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/20/the-idea-of-order-spring-is-here/ Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:26:00 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168263 → ]]> Sort of. Maybe for a moment?

Presented by:

The Good News: Spring is *mostly* here!
 
The Bad News: She’s a rotten tease. 🫣😅🧐
 
While I can’t complain too much these days, having retreated to the Swamp where actual Snowmageddon is highly unlikely, this weekend it was in the 80s and this morning it’s in the 30s. So that’s fun.
 
Also, I do feel for my less fortunate friends (who still haven’t gotten a clue and escaped the doom of winter).😂😉

Morgane Schmidt is, among many things, an equestrian who still hasn’t quite decided what she wants to be when she grows up. Author of Life with Horses Is Never Orderly, she knows all about the madness that comes with the equine territory, having owned and competed horses in eventing and dressage for years. A lifelong fan of the classic equestrian cartoons penned by internationally renowned artist Norman Thelwell, she began her own comic series in 2011, sharing deftly funny reflections on life with horses on Horse Nation as well as her personal website. A native Floridian, she spent a decade in Reno, NV, where she was able to confirm her suspicion that snow is utterly worthless (she has since regained her sense and moved back to the Florida swamp). Though she has run the gamut of equestrian disciplines, her favorite is dressage. She has completed her USDF bronze and silver medals and is currently working on her gold. Generally speaking, her life is largely ruled by Woody, a 14.2 hand beastly quarter horse, Willie, a now beastly 14-year-old Dutch gelding, and Milona DG, a 7 year old KWPN chestnut mare (you can make your own inferences there…). Visit her website at www.theideaoforder.com.

Milona DG and I. Photo (c) Q2 Photography.

 

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Op-Ed: BLM Removes Beloved Foal to Send a Message to Advocates https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/19/op-ed-blm-removes-beloved-foal-to-send-a-message-to-advocates/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:34:23 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168258 → ]]> Thora, the popular foal born to the McCullough Peaks herd has been captured by the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management. Scott Beckstead offers his take on why this foal has been removed. Read on for more:

By Scott Beckstead

The Wyoming Bureau of Land Management has thrown a giant middle finger in the face of the American taxpayers who support wild horses on public lands by trapping and removing Baby Thora, a six month-old pinto filly who is arguably the most famous wild horse on the western range. Thora is so beloved because she is the spitting image of her father, Thor, who is also uniquely marked, hugely popular, and beloved by his fans across the world. When Thora was born it was a foregone conclusion that the BLM would conduct its bait and trap removal operations to drive the McCullough Peaks herd to eventual extinction, despite receiving overwhelming public opposition to their plan, which benefits just six ranchers who graze their livestock on the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Herd Management Area. The BLM saw all the photos and posts about Thora by photographers and advocates who were elated at her birth, just as they saw that from the moment she was born people were pleading with the BLM to allow her to stay wild and free on the range with her family.

Thora and her father, Thor. Photo by Sandy Sisti.

Last week, horse lovers around the world who loved and followed Thora and her family were devastated to learn that the BLM had trapped and removed her and three other young horses from their families and home. Thora and the others were driven hundreds of miles to the corrals in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where BLM photos show her standing in muck, looking sad and confused. The Rock Springs holding facility has a record of fatal disease outbreaks, the horses have no shelter from the elements, and the conditions are filthy, barren, and depressing. It’s noteworthy that in their gather report, the BLM referred to Baby Thora as a “mare” – a mature female – even though she is a foal who was still nursing on her mother every 30 to 60 minutes, and even though the BLM’s own animal welfare guidelines state that mares and foals should not be separated.

I believe the BLM intentionally targeted Thora for two reasons. First, they resent the American taxpayers who vehemently oppose their plans, and they have a history of punishing those who love and support wild horses by targeting animals they know are especially popular and loved. We’ve seen it with popular herds like the Pine Nut horses in Nevada and the Onaqui horses of Utah. If you are an America taxpayer who supports wild horses and burros on public lands, this is how the BLM is responding to you — by targeting a beautiful foal for extreme cruelty in separating her from her parents and her family. The BLM sees our anguish and our outrage and I believe they relish it, as do the ranchers and other BLM supporters who hate the wild horses and want them all gone.

In the post below, the top photo show Thora and two other young horses removed from the McCullough Peaks HMA:

But I believe the second reason the BLM is so elated that they trapped and removed Thora is because they can’t wait for the bidding war that is sure to happen when she is put up for adoption. It has become customary for pro-BLM plants, people who despise wild horses and who actively seek to thwart efforts to save them, will log onto the online auction and bid up her adoption price, putting more money in the hands of the BLM and causing financial hardship to the nonprofit rescues and sanctuaries trying to make sure Thora has a safe place to land.

This outrage is being perpetrated by federal officials against our publicly-owned wild horses on our federal public lands. Aside from committing acts of cruelty against the animals they are charged with managing humanely, BLM officials are demonstrating an arrogant disregard and outright hostility for the will of the American people who pay their salaries. Congress, are you paying attention?


Scott Beckstead is a lifelong horseman and lecture outlaw at Willamette University. 

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Women’s History Month: Anne Blunt, Lady of the Horses https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/19/womens-history-month-anne-blunt-lady-of-the-horses/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:38:57 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168027 → ]]> Lady Anne Blunt was a trailblazer in the world of Arabian horse breeding and preservation.

Anne Blunt, British Library, Public Doman, Creative Common License.

Born in 1837, Lady Anne Blunt’s fascination with horses began at an early age. Her father, William King, was a renowned horse breeder and enthusiast, and her mother, Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the famous poet Lord Byron, shared her husband’s passion. After the death of her mother, Anne travelled extensively with her father and in 1869 met and married Wilfred Blunt.

Together with her husband, she travelled through Europe, India, and the Middle East. It was in the deserts of Syria, Egypt, and Arabia that Anne became fascinated with the Arabian horse. She immersed herself in Bedouin culture, learning the intricacies of Arabian horse breeding and forging relationships with local breeders. Anne’s diaries reveal she met with sheiks often, critiquing the horses she saw before buying or contracting breeding rights with only the best.

Photograph of Anne (AB) and Wilfred Blunt (WSB) on horseback, British Library, Public Domain, Creative Common License.

One of Lady Anne’s most significant contributions to Arabian horse preservation was the establishment of the Crabbet Arabian Stud in England. Founded in 1878 on the Blunts’ estate in Sussex, the Crabbet Stud became a breeding ground for purebred Arabian horses, with Lady Anne overseeing the program and meticulously documenting the lineage and characteristics of each horse. The Crabbet Stud played a crucial role in preserving the bloodlines of Arabian horses in Europe and America, ensuring that the breed’s distinctive qualities were passed down through generations. A majority of Arabian horses today have at least one Crabbet ancestor.

Diary of Anne Blunt from 1881, British Library, Public Domain, Creative Common License.

In 1882, she opened a second stud farm outside of Cairo called Shaykh ‘Ubayd. It was there she began compiling a book on the Arabian horse, and her notes were later used in her daughter Judith’s volume, The Authentic Arabian Horse (1945).

Photograph of Anne Blunt on horseback taken by Gertrude Bell , British Library, Public Domain, Creative Common License.

After divorcing Wilfred in 1906 and temporarily living with her daughter, Lady Anne permanently moved to Shaykh ‘Ubayd in 1913. She died in Cairo in 1917.

Lady Anne Blunt’s legacy as a pioneer in Arabian horse preservation continues to resonate in the equestrian world today. Her efforts to safeguard the purity and integrity of the Arabian horse breed ensured its enduring popularity and recognition as one of the most esteemed horse breeds in the world. Through her passion, dedication, and adventurous spirit, Lady Anne Blunt left an indelible mark on the history of horsemanship, earning her a place of honor among the great equestrians of all time.

Watercolor by Anne Blunt, British Library, Public Domain, Creative Common License.

Go riding.

Amanda Uechi Ronan is an equestrian, author, and wannabe race car driver. Follow her on Instagram @amanda_uechi_ronan.

Sources:
Blunt, Lady Anne. A Pilgrimage to Nejd. London: John Murray, 1881.
Blunt, Lady Anne. The Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates. London: John Murray, 1879.
Archer, Rosemary. The Arabian Horse: History, Mystery, and Magic. London: Quartet Books, 1986.
Wentworth, Judith Anne Dorothea Blunt-Lytton. The Authentic Arabian Horse and His Descendants. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1945.
Blunt, Wilfrid Scawen. The Arab Horse. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1906.

 

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Tuesday Video: The Sonogram Doesn’t Lie https://www.horsenation.com/2024/03/19/tuesday-video-the-sonogram-doesnt-lie/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:25:31 +0000 https://www.horsenation.com/?p=168046 → ]]> Here’s a fun one to kickstart your Tuesday!

These sonogram photos are totally authentic. It’s hard to question this relationship after seeing them! You know what they say, “If it’s on the internet, it must be true!” However, the user warns us in her caption when she says, “Hater’s gonna say it’s fake.”

Enjoy this silly video and go riding, Horse Nation!

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