All posts by Associate Editor

Breeds, Wild Horse Sources

Mustang Monument Got Its First Horses!

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Paiute Horses Get Delivered to Mustang Monument!

Dear Friend and Supporters,
Mustang Monument: Wild Horse Eco-preserve made history yesterday! I’m going to try my best to begin to let you know the power of Mustang Monument.

Yesterday, we were blessed with the arrival of the first truckload of the Paiute mares and foals. These are the lucky mustangs that were rescued days from slaughter last December.

During the unloading process there was such a huge windstorm that kicked up. Luckily the dust started to settle as the mares and foals were unloaded into a temporary round pen built with bales of hay. Then, we opened the gates to set them free in one vast, but still fenced off area.

Literally hundreds of acres were theirs for the taking.

As they saw the gate was open, they each were looking around, and very gently the lead mare floated forward with her mane and tail flowing in the wind. Each of the other horses happily followed her lead. They were all now at their forever home. The sight was truly overwhelming. It was so emotional for me with tears of joy and relief streaming down my cheeks.

I cannot aptly describe the experience, but this is definitely a mission driven by God. He has blessed us all with this wonderful gift. I felt that the wind storm was so poignant to this situation, because when God created the earth and man, there was a mighty storm. It’s rather like a birthing. We are so lucky. I am so lucky. I’ve been surrounded by so many supporters and friends and I can’t thank you all enough. I am overwhelmed, speechless, and very fulfilled. It’s a new beginning.

Love, Madeleine and the mustangs

Click here to watch the first horses to set hoof on Mustang Monument!

To Learn More about this issue, please visit our website: www.SavingAmericasMustangs.org
and please join us on Facebook and Twitter!
www.facebook.com/mustangmonument
www.twitter.com/mpickens

Community/Charity, Jennifer Ward

Horseware Ireland Partners with JustWorld in Cambodia

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Tom MacGuinness of Horseware Ireland visits the JustWorld International project site in Cambodia in April of 2011.

June 3, 2011 – Kinston, North Carolina and Wellington, Florida – Leading horse blanket and equestrian clothing manufacturer Horseware Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to JustWorld International, partnering with the not-for-profit humanitarian organization to build another school at JustWorld’s project site, Stung Mean Chey, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

An official JustWorld International sponsor since 2005, Horseware Ireland has committed $25,000 to begin construction on the new school.  Equestrian humanitarian Maria Newman has also donated $10,000 towards the new school’s construction.  In March, Horseware Ireland spearheaded the first annual Strut! Fashion Show held at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds in Wellington, FL.  Proceeds from the fashion show bring the total raised to date to $35,000 for construction of the new school, which will be a three-story facility.

JustWorld currently operates two schools in Cambodia, one located in Stung Mean Chey, and the other at the Borey Keila project site, situated in an urban slum of Phnom Penh.  There are currently close to 600 students receiving instruction in English, Khmer, math, and traditional Khmer culture free of charge.  In addition to education, the schools provide clean water and basic nutrition to extremely poor families and children who otherwise have almost no resources.

Continue reading Horseware Ireland Partners with JustWorld in Cambodia →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Dutch Do the Double at St. Gallen

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L to R: Peter Stoessel, CSIO St-Gallen President; John Roche, FEI Director of Jumping and Dutch team-members Eric Van Der Vleuten, Maikel Van Der Vleuten, Chef d’equipe Rob Ehrens, Piet Raymakers Jr and Jur Vrieling. Photo: FEI/Katja Stuppia.

St Gallen (SUI), 3 June 2011 – The Dutch team recorded a back-to-back double when topping the third leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series at St. Gallen, Switzerland today.  Just a week after sweeping to victory in Rome (ITA), they produced another stunning performance which promoted them to the top of the leaderboard going to the next leg of the series in Falsterbo (SWE) next month.

The unpredictability of Nations Cup Jumping has rarely been more graphically illustrated than by the swings of fortune in today’s competition.  There were high expectations for the defending champions from France, but once again things did not go their way and pathfinder, Kevin Staut, was eliminated for the second time in the current series.  The German team withdrew when things fell apart for them in the second round and the Irish, heading the leaderboard, struggled to finish in front of the Danes who slotted into eighth place.

The Swiss were the surprise package of the day.  Relegated at the end of last season, they came out with all guns blazing to finish equal-second with the resilient British while the Americans started strongly, but faded in the second round to finish fourth.

Continue reading Dutch Do the Double at St. Gallen →

Community/Charity, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Publications/Media

Stable Scoop Episode 146 – 99 Ways to Not Kill Your Horse

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A really fun chat with the authors of 99 Ways to Not Kill Your Horse; what an entertaining educational book. Plus, Uncle Jimmy joins us to liven up the day! Listen in…

Stable Scoop Episode 146 – Show Notes and Links:

  • Host: Helena Bee, Glenn the Geek and Jennifer H.
  • Photo Credit: 99 Ways to Not Kill Your Horse
  • Guest: Vanessa Taraba and Susie Lytal, authors of 99 Ways to Not Kill Your Horse.

    • _____________________________________

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Community/Charity, USEF

USEF’s High School Equestrian Athlete Program Kicks Off Third Year

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Lexington, KY – The USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program is officially underway for the 2011-2012 school year!  Students are encouraged to sign up now to count their summer practice and competition hours toward their goal of lettering as a USEF High School Equestrian Athlete.

The USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program is open to equestrian athletes involved in all breeds and disciplines who are enrolled in grades 9-12. The program honors participants who document their equestrian training and competitions with a varsity letterman patch, year pin and certificate commemorating their achievement.  Grants also will be offered for students who complete the program and meet additional requirements.

“This is becoming the new standard of achievement among young equestrian athletes,” explains Lori Rawls, executive director at USEF. “We have athletes who are thrilled to earn their first letter because their high schools don’t recognize equestrian as a competitive sport. We also have athletes who have already earned letters through their school’s equestrian program, but realize this is a symbol of achievement within the national equestrian community. Either way, this is a perfect fit.”

Annual program registration and USEF membership are required to participate. In addition, retroactive applications are available to high school students who are interested in earning their letters for previous school years.  The program – now in its third year – is tracking more than 3,200 students who have earned, or are in the process of earning, their letters and pins.

For more information, or to enroll, visit the USEF website here. You can also visit the Frequently Asked Questions section to learn more.

If you have additional questions about the program or need help signing up, contact Mary Vance at mvance@usef.org or Terra Schroeder at tschroeder@usef.org.

Dressage, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Publications/Media

Dressage Radio Episode 106 – Equine Biomechanics & KDA

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Author Karin Blignault unravels the basic philosophies behind Equine Biomechanics for Riders and we have a report from the Kentucky Dressage Association’s spring show. Plus two new features begin on this week’s episode so take a listen right here.

Dressage Radio Episode 106 – Show Notes and Links:

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*Featured/Spotlights, Art/Photography, Contributors/Press, Events

New Exhibition Set to Open at the Kentucky Horse Park

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“Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands” Will Be Presented by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation

An ornament from Inner Mongolia, third to fifth century BCE, from the exhibition.

LEXINGTON, KY (June 2, 2011) – Continuing its tradition of offering world-class exhibitions to the public, the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate – is making final preparations for its next exhibition, Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, June 24 – Oct. 9.

Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands presents a major sampling of steppe art from the collections of the late Arthur M. Sackler, M.D.  Curated by Trudy S. Kawami, Ph.D., Director of Research for the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, the exhibition presents eighty-five works illustrating the personal decorations and equipment of the horse-riding steppe dwellers of the second and first century BCE.

The Eurasian grasslands, also known as the steppes, cover a region extending from northern China westward through Mongolia, to the plains of Eastern Europe.  This exhibition focuses on the eastern or Asian steppes whose rolling grassy plains are punctuated by snow-topped mountain ranges like the Tien Shan (Heavenly Mountains), and deserts like the Gobi and the Taklamakan.

Continue reading New Exhibition Set to Open at the Kentucky Horse Park →

Community/Charity, Dressage, FEI

In Memoriam: Henri Chammartin (SUI), 1918-2011

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Henri Chammartin (SUI) and Woermann during their winning test at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games

Lausanne (SUI), 2 June 2010 – Olympic and European Dressage champion Henri Chammartin (SUI) passed away this week at the age of 92. A legend in the Dressage world, he competed in five consecutive editions of the Olympic Games – Helsinki 1952, Stockholm 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, and Mexico 1968 – winning a total of five medals.

During his first Olympic participation in 1952, Chammartin was a member of the Swiss team that claimed team silver. He received his second Olympic medal – a team bronze – in 1956.

Henri Chammartin became Olympic champion in 1964 and also won his second team silver that year. He rode the 13-year-old Swedish-bred Woermann which had travelled to Tokyo only as a reserve horse to his stablemate and reigning European champion Wolfdietrich, which was unfortunately lame.

Tokyo 1964 was the first Olympic Games to which horses were flown by aircraft. The Swiss team departed from Amsterdam on 28 September at noon and arrived, with a stop-over in Anchorage, Alaska, on 29 September at 3pm.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 3

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USA HEADS THE START-LIST FOR ROUND THREE AT ST GALLEN by Louise Parkes

L to R - Peter Stossel, President CSIO St Gallen, John Roche, FEI Jumping Director and Henk Nooren, Chef d'Equipe for the French team. Photo: FEI/Katja Stuppia.

St Gallen (SUI), 2 June 2011 – The American team will be first into the ring for tomorrow’s third leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup at St Gallen, Switzerland.  A total of nine nations will compete, as the Swiss, who were relegated at the end of last season, join the eight Top League countries for a guest appearance on their home ground.

And the host nation looks strong, with Steve Guerdat (Jalisca Solier), Werner Muff (Kiamon), Jannike Sprunger (Uptown Boy) and Pius Schwizer (Carlina) ready to show that their country is still a force to be reckoned with.  The teams will start the first round of the competition in the following order:  1, USA; 2, Denmark; 3, Germany; 4, The Netherlands; 5, Ireland; 6, Belgium; 7, France; 8, Switzerland; 9, Great Britain.

BIG ATMOSPHERE
The generous dimensions of the St Gallen arena helps create a big atmosphere and tremendous competition at this popular annual fixture, and, as Dutch Chef d’Equipe, Rob Ehrens, said last week after leading his team to victory in Rome (ITA): “It will be great to be back jumping on grass again at St Gallen.  When the footing is good on grass, then there’s nothing better!”

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 3 →

Rescue/Protection Sources

The High Price of Horse Slaughter

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Chicago (EWA) – The Equine Welfare Alliance and Animal Law Coalition applaud Rep. Jim Moran and House of Representatives Appropriations Committee members who stood up for the horses this week. Rep. Moran introduced an amendment to the proposed agriculture appropriations bill to make sure commercial horse slaughter in the U.S. remains illegal.

The amendment was accepted by the Committee on a vote of 24 to 21 and it’s now on to a vote by the full House on the agriculture appropriations bill on June 15.

The amendment de-funds (prohibits funds from being spent on) ante-mortem inspections of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. Without these inspections required by federal law, horses cannot be commercially slaughtered for human consumption in the U.S. The inspections have been de-funded since 2006. http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1809

The next step must be a ban on exports of U.S. horses for slaughter for human consumption. More than two thirds of Americans support a ban on horse slaughter. Proponents have avoided discussing what is clear to most Americans – the inherent cruelty of horse slaughter. As Dr. Lester Friedlander, DVM & former Chief USDA Inspector, told Congress in 2008, “The captive bolt is not a proper instrument for the slaughter of equids, these animals regain consciousness 30 seconds after being struck, they are fully aware they are being vivisected.”

Continue reading The High Price of Horse Slaughter →