All posts by Associate Editor

Championships, Competitions, Events, USEF, Western/Reining

USEF Names List of Qualified Riders for USEF Youth Reining National Championship

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the list of Youth Reining Riders who have qualified for the USEF Youth Reining National Championships to be held in conjunction with the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City on July 2, 2011. The USEF will award Youth National Championship titles in three age categories: 13 and under, 14-18, and 19-21 age divisions.  The Youth qualified for the USEF Championships by earning points in Qualifying Classes throughout the country in 2010-2011.

More information regarding this event, including the prize list is available here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allreining/developingYR.aspx.

2011 USEF Youth Reining Championships Qualified Riders:

13 & Under
Stephen Timberlake
Rylee Justus
S. Alexandra Fuller
Olivia Hartman
Nick Taylor
Caroline Gute
Jordan Eddy

Continue reading USEF Names List of Qualified Riders for USEF Youth Reining National Championship →

Competitions, Driving, Events, Phelps Media Group

The Bromont International Driving: A Unique Opportunity in Canada

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Chester Weber wins the 2010 Bromont International Driving. Photo Credit: Normand St-Jacques.

Bromont, Quebec, June 15, 2011 – The Bromont International Driving celebrates its 10th anniversary and invites you to join us!

On the picturesque setting of the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park in the Eastern Townships, the Bromont International Driving is getting ready for its 10th edition. The only FEI Combined Driving show in Canada, Bromont International Driving is proud to host some of the best drivers of the sports’ elite on one of the best sites in the country.

Last year’s 9th edition was particularly successful: the show allowed participating drivers a chance to qualify for the Kentucky World Games. Moreover, the International hosted a record 8 four-horse driving teams including talented American driver Chester Weber, an honor for the competition.

For its 10th edition, the Bromont International Driving is hoping to host even more driving teams. Amongst our officials this year, we are happy to count FEI Judge Marsoe Larose and returning course designer Gunnar Larsson, who was here in 2007.

Continue reading The Bromont International Driving: A Unique Opportunity in Canada →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

HSBC FEI Classics Leader King Heads for Luhmühlen

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Mary King – leader of the HSBC Rankings - is all set for HSBC FEI Classics in Luhmühlen with Apache Sauce © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 15 June 2011 – The unstoppable Mary King (GBR), who moved to the number one spot in the HSBC Rankings at the beginning of this month, indicated at the start of the year that the HSBC FEI Classics were going to be a major goal for 2011.

The 50-year-old’s plan is certainly going splendidly so far, and she now heads to the third of the five legs, Luhmühlen presented by E.ON Avacon (GER), with a strong 10-point lead in the HSBC FEI Classics series over Mark Todd (NZL), who does not have a ride at Germany’s premier event which starts tomorrow (16-19 June).

King, who has had a storming season so far with a third place at Badminton and a record one-two at Kentucky, rides the veteran Apache Sauce. He is a white-faced chestnut with great character and a definite “sense of humour”, but several of King’s CCI4* placings in the past few seasons, including seventh at Burghley last year, have been thanks to the 15-year-old gelding by Endoli.

King’s compatriots Piggy French and William Fox-Pitt both have a strong interest in earning more HSBC FEI Classics points. Fox-Pitt, the series champion in 2008 and 2010, rides the Argentine Thoroughbred Macchiato, his winning mount here in 2008, and French, runner-up at Badminton, brings the rising star Flying Machine to his first CCI4*.

Continue reading HSBC FEI Classics Leader King Heads for Luhmühlen →

Competitions, Events, JRPR, Products/Services, Show Jumping

Draper Equine Advisory Board Member Michael Tokaruk Dominates Germantown Charity Horse Show Grand Prix

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Grand Prix show jumper Michael Tokaruk, a Draper Equine Therapy Advisory Board member, dominated the Germantown Charity Horse Show Grand Prix, placing first, second and fifth in the class.

Germantown, TN (June 14, 2011) – Grand Prix show jumper Michael Tokaruk, a Draper Equine Therapy Advisory Board member, dominated the Grand Prix ring at the Germantown Charity Horse Show in Germantown, Tennessee. In the $25,000 Grand Prix, Tokaruk placed first on Roger Rabbit owned by Castle Point Farm LLC, second on his own horse Lord Byron and fifth on Gama Righter Z, owned by Peggy Jones of Germantown.

“This is the second time I have won the Germantown Charity Horse Show Grand Prix,” Tokaruk said. “The first time was on Lord Byron in 2005. Germantown has always been a fun event and a highlight on the local calendar.”

Tokaruk added that the excitement of the Germantown Grand Prix was topped off by unpredictable weather. “The weather was very hot all week and severe storms rolled through just in time for the jump-off to begin,” he said. “The rain started when I was on my second jump-off horse, Roger Rabbit, and really opened up for my last horse Lord Byron. We didn’t let it faze us, however, and the weather provided a very dramatic ending. The horses were all fantastic and I am thrilled to have a nice string of mounts to show in the grand prix right now.”

Continue reading Draper Equine Advisory Board Member Michael Tokaruk Dominates Germantown Charity Horse Show Grand Prix →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Brave Heart Claims 24th Grand Prix with Win in the $25,000 Holiday Inn Grand Prix

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Lindsay Gersoff Has Children’s Hunter Classic Hat Trick

Bjorn Ikast and Brave Heart win the $25,000 Holiday Inn Grand Prix. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Bjorn Ikast and Brave Heart, frequent Grand Prix winners, led the victory gallop during the first week of the expanded Colorado Summer Circuit in the $25,000 Holiday Inn Grand Prix. This win brought Brave Heart’s career victories to 24. Riders universally praised Hector Loyola’s technical course, saying that he asked all the right questions at the right times.

“I thought this was a fantastic Grand Prix course,” Ikast said. “It has a lovely international flavor; you really had to ride this course.” Ikast was pleased with his elastic, seasoned horse over Loyola’s track that included two combinations away from the in-gate and two back-to-back liverpools. Ikast credited the course and the footing for providing spectators with quality riding throughout the class. He explained, “We saw only good show jumping. This is the best we’ve ever felt this footing. With the rain we got a good spring [from the ground].”

To keep Brave Heart fresh, this was his first and only class during the show. The strategy clearly worked; the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding bucked and played around the course. Ikast said it may have been one of Brave Heart’s best Grand Prix. “He didn’t even touch one rail; he felt really good,” he said.

Continue reading Brave Heart Claims 24th Grand Prix with Win in the $25,000 Holiday Inn Grand Prix →

Rescue/Protection Sources

Horse Slaughter Group Launches Bizarre “Know the Facts” Campaign as Vote Nears in House

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Chicago (EWA) – United Horsemen (UH), a 501c3 non-profit organization that promotes horse slaughter, has launched an advertizing and editorializing campaign that defies credulity. The campaign is an obvious attempt to derail the Rep. Moran (VA) amendment to the agriculture budget that continues a policy of defunding horse meat inspections.

Horseback Magazine <http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/9390/comment-page-1> has recently run a series of these self-contradictory articles from the group that has stunned readers. The most glaring inaccuracies are those on food safety. U.S. horses have no production records since they are not raised or regulated as food animals and often contain prohibited substances.

The spin started by calling horse slaughter opponents “anti-horse” and then by firing off euphemisms like “horse processing” and slogans like “taking back the reins of the horse industry”, it pirouettes into a frenzy of reality bending distortion not seen since Alice ventured down the famous rabbit hole. In many cases, a paragraph directly contradicts the preceding one.

The articles claim that slaughter opponents have misrepresented a recent European Union (EU) report on drug residues in horses. It then sites the wrong report as proof. The sited report was for drug residues found in European raised horses under their strict micro-chip based “passport” system for tracking medications.

Continue reading Horse Slaughter Group Launches Bizarre “Know the Facts” Campaign as Vote Nears in House →

Competitions, Events, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

It’s Show Time at the June 21-25 Fairfield County Hunt Club Horse Show in Westport, Conn.

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Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward aboard Vocas owned by Louisburg Farm, winner of 2010 Fairfield Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.

WESTPORT, CT – June 14, 2011 – It’s Show Time! Experience the thrilling sport of show jumping at the Fairfield County Hunt Club Benefit Horse Show on Tuesday-Saturday, June 21-25, 2011 at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut.

This exciting five-day AA-Rated show is fun for everyone, a great family activity and offers free admission to all throughout the week. The event showcases the full range of equestrian competition, from lead line toddlers to Grand Prix Olympic Gold Medal riders. In addition, numerous fashion boutiques will be on sight throughout the week selling one of a kind clothing, jewelry, accessories, gifts, and household items. There will also be a display of Buick and GMC vehicles. Some additional activities include the Fashion & Art Show on Wednesday, the “Horseless Horseshow” on Thursday, and the Pet Parade on Friday. Spectators are welcome to take advantage of the full service food and beverage concession offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Amore dei Cani, Bella Tu, Charles Ancona New York, Laszlo Accessories, Preppy Player, Skid Row, The Snappy Gator, Stella Dot, True Blue, and Voltaire Design Inc. will joining us in the Paddock Boutiques this year, along with Beval Saddlery Ltd., Agriventures Agway, Official Feed & Bedding Supplier, and Reflections Photography, Official Photographer, in Vendor Row.

Continue reading It’s Show Time at the June 21-25 Fairfield County Hunt Club Horse Show in Westport, Conn. →

Contributors/Press, Equine Assisted Therapy, Publications/Media

Equine Therapy: Rapport with a Horse? by Claire Dorotik

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While the concept of rapport is not at all foreign to therapists, counselors and psychologists, for some the notion that horses are equipped with the mental hardware with which to communicate emotionally is pretty tough to swallow.

For centuries horses have served us — in military pursuits, farming endeavors, and now today in the show ring and on the race track. To be sure, the inequality displayed in thoroughbred racing is one of the most atrocious sins of our relationship with horses today. Let’s compare, for example, the median price of a yearling at the Keeneland Thoroughbred sale — one of the nation’s most prestigious marketplaces for young thoroughbred stock — which is $200,000, to the median price of a thoroughbred that can no longer run, which is $600. And the second figure of this comparison does, of course, not reflect the astronomical number of thoroughbreds who are donated, given away, and hauled away to slaughter. The number of thoroughbreds whose fate goes down this road is evidenced by the fact that finding an adoption program with room and funding to take and care for a “used” racehorse is a near impossibility.

And yet, for all this use the horse provides, many of us still shirk at the possibility that he too has emotions. But the horse can give rise to a powerful emotional response in a person, and anyone who has felt this would attest to its feeling of awe. So how can we be so quick to assume that the horse doesn’t feel the same way we do? How can we be so certain that the emotion we feel when around a horse doesn’t rely wholeheartedly on expressed emotion from him?

Continue reading Equine Therapy: Rapport with a Horse? by Claire Dorotik →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Publications/Media

NO SECRET SO CLOSE excerpt #23, by Claire Dorotik

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NO SECRET SO CLOSE is the story of a the most unthinkable betrayal humanly possible — at only 24 years old, Claire Dorotik’s father has been murdered, her mother arrested, and now, in a sinister twist of fate, Claire’s mother points the finger at Claire, accusing her of killing her own father. Battling the feelings of loss, abandonment, terror, and dissociation, and also learning about them, Claire struggles to stay in her master’s program for psychotherapy. However, when Claire’s brothers also betray her and side with her mother, Claire is left all alone to care for the 18 horses she and her mother owned. As the story unfolds, what is revealed is the horses’ amazing capacity for empathy in the face of human trauma, and the almost psychic ability to provide the author with what had been taken from her. Arising from these horrifying circumstances, the most unthinkable heroes — the horses — show Claire that life is still worth living.

Excerpt #23 from NO SECRET SO CLOSE:

“Okay, well find out and get back to me. I’ll have Lewis bring the papers over.”

I hung up the phone and rested my forehead against my hands. I knew we’d have to sell the house — my mother’s severance wouldn’t last more than six months, and I had no income, my attempts at selling horses not proving  profitable — but I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I especially didn’t want to become my mother’s power of attorney. The thought of it made me feel more like a criminal than I already did. I’d already been using her accounts at the feed stores to buy hay for the horses. I was already paying her bills. I was already driving her car, having sold mine for money. I was already living in her house. I was already accused of her crime.

Continue reading NO SECRET SO CLOSE excerpt #23, by Claire Dorotik →

Contributors/Press, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Products/Services, WHIN

Catherine Masters of the Women’s Horse Industry Featured on “Movers and Shakers of the Horse World”

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Everybody loves the How to Market Your Horse Business (HTMYHB) “Movers and Shakers of the Horse World” chats. On June 15th at 8pm EST (USA) 5pm PST, Catherine Masters, founder of the Women’s Horse Industry, will be featured!

According to Randi Thompson, founder of HTMYHB, (http://www.facebook.com/howtomarketyourhorsebusiness) is the hottest social media network for horse business owners and professionals who want to know more about marketing on Facebook, social media and beyond. “The advantage of using Facebook is that we can use viral marketing.  When a new comment is started, anyone who posts on it will appear on the newsfeeds of everybody else who comments on that post.  This allows us to reach out across social media networks as we promote horse business owners.  As an added advantage, each new comment that is started becomes a URL address which shows up in the search engine results. Since we are using a chat, our members also join in the conversation with their questions.”  This makes the chats fun and informative. Are you using social media for your marketing yet? If not, you should be!

If you are on Facebook please join the Women’s Horse Industry Fan page. All you need to do is “like” our page and you will be one of the WHIA fans! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Womens-Horse-Industry-Association/160555221411.

We would also like you to share the notice about this event on your Facebook walls and profiles so we can get the word out even more about the Women’s Horse Industry.  To do that go to the WHIA fan page and click on the top comment us being featured for the “Movers and Shakers of the Horse World”. You will see instructions on how to share the comments on Facebook there. To share a notice on Facebook that somebody has made all you need to do is click on the share button under the comment.  That will open a new window where you can copy and paste the message from the original copy, or add your message.  Then click the submit button and it goes right on your profile wall.

You can also join the Women’s Horse Industry linked in page at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/womenshorseindustry.

We are on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/WOMENSHORSEIND.

Thanks so much for your help on this!

CM

For additional information visit the Women’s Horse Industry Association or call us at 615-730-7833.