All posts by Associate Editor

Stransky Mission Farm’s Team Step by Step Riders Top Competition at Kentucky Spring Horse Shows

Trainer & Teens Champion Children’s Charity & Take Lead in $30k Challenge & Junior Competitions

Hector Florentino piloting Ultimo to victory in the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. Photo by Rebecca Walton, Phelps Media

Lexington KY – May 15, 2011 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, held May 11-15, featured the exciting debut of the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series, consisting of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2011 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, a cash prize of $45,000 will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points throughout the series. The top riders from across the nation gathered to compete over a challenging course during the lead off event on Thursday night’s $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2*. At the end of the two round competition, it was Hector Florentino aboard Stransky Mission Farm’s Ultimo in the winner’s circle.

Florentino, the head trainer and rider at Stransky Mission Farm in Wellington, Florida, now leads in the standings. The talented rider from the Dominican Republic is not only riding for owner Liliane Stransky but is a member of “Team Step by Step,” a group of riders of different levels, ages, and countries, who compete on the Hunter & Jumper A-Circuit to help raise awareness and funds for her international children’s charity, Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com).

Continue reading Stransky Mission Farm’s Team Step by Step Riders Top Competition at Kentucky Spring Horse Shows

Baldwin in the Driving Seat in FEI World Cup Eventing at Chatsworth

Emily Baldwin (GBR) celebrates victory at Chatsworth (GBR), the third leg of FEI World Cup Eventing 2011, with by Michel Asseray (FRA). Photo: FEI/Fiona Scott-Maxwell.

Lausanne (SUI), 16 May 2011 – British riders got their chance to make an impression on the FEI World Cup Eventing 2011 leaderboard when, at the third leg, Emily Baldwin (GBR) spearheaded a one-two-three for the home side at Chatsworth (GBR).

Baldwin and the Dutch-bred Drivetime have a reputation as CIC3* specialists and won the FEI World Cup event at Haras du Pin (FRA) last year, a competition that Baldwin has signalled she will be returning to in August in her quest for further points.

Victory at Chatsworth was compensation for an unfortunate Badminton, when the pair stopped at the lake. As a result, Baldwin was seen riding strongly into Chatsworth’s imposing water fences.

“I’m relieved,” she smiled afterwards. “Drivetime has redeemed himself. He jumped into the second water, which was bigger than Badminton, absolutely fine, and his dressage and jumping were really good, so I’m pleased with him.”

Continue reading Baldwin in the Driving Seat in FEI World Cup Eventing at Chatsworth

Don’t Miss This Tonight! Free Webinar – Smart Social Media for Horse Professionals!

Event: Smart Social Media Marketing for Horse Professionals
Date: May 16, 2011
Time: 5:00 pm Pacific – 7:00 pm Central – 8:00 pm Eastern
Speaker: Elisabeth McMillan
Format: Simulcast – attend via your phone or computer

If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Social media is hands down the most powerful marketing and business tool horse professionals have ever had available. It’s inexpensive, works well for businesses that rely on “word of mouth,” is an excellent customer relations tool and enables horse professionals to share what they do in a very visual, “next best thing to being there” way.

It has also grown and changed so rapidly over the last year that few horse business owners are fully capitalizing on its benefits. If you want to get more out of your social media presence, don’t miss “Smart Social Media for Horse Professionals 2011.”

You’ll learn how to:

* Integrate social media into your overall marketing plan – Get optimized for success!
* Create “social media synergy” – Save time and energy while increasing effectiveness!
* Increase your return on investment – Attract more customers, sales and profits
* Develop and execute your plan – Save money with tips about when to “DIY” vs. hire help!

Continue reading Don’t Miss This Tonight! Free Webinar – Smart Social Media for Horse Professionals!

Tip of the Week – Equine Love Potion!

Spring is an exciting time of year with all the new foals, warmer weather, and more daylight.  It’s also the time of year we breed our mares for next year’s foal crop.

Have you ever wondered why we breed mares in the springtime?  As many of us know, mares are classified as seasonal breeders.  Most of us have heard that mares need the increasing period of daylight (longer photoperiod) associated with spring before they will come into heat known as estrous.  As the length of daylight increases, it stimulates the pineal gland within the brain.  This stimulation results in a decreased production of melatonin which allows for the secretion of hormones that lead to estrous.

The photoperiod is a primary factor initiating estrous in the mare and consequently it gains most of the focus.  Also very important in influencing estrous in mares is nutrition and climate.  In my experience, conception rates are always highest in those mares with a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 5 or 6 on a scale of 1-10.  This means the ribs are invisible, but readily palpable.  Also noted, conception rates are lower when there are cold spring storms throughout the breeding season.  Working in the Northern climate, this is also seen when using artificial lights to manipulate or “trick” the endocrine system of the mare in order to stimulate estrous.  Increasing the photoperiod on a mare that is too thin or too heavy may or may not stimulate estrous.  Inconsistent results also occur without the use of heated barns or blankets in the colder northern climates.  However, if I am able to increase the photoperiod in a climate controlled barn with mares having a BCS of 5 or 6, I consistently produce estrous behavior greater than 90% of the time.

Continue reading Tip of the Week – Equine Love Potion!

Competition Is Under Way at the 2011 Atlanta Spring Premiere and Atlanta Spring Challenge Series

Hunt Tosh and Cloud Harbor. All photos: Shawn McMillen photography

May 13th, 2011 – Competition kicked off this week to beautiful sunny skies at the 2011 Atlanta Spring Premiere Horse Show at the Georgia International Horse Park in Atlanta, Georgia.  Aiken, South Carolina resident J. P. Godard and his Equus Events manage the annual two week series which takes place May 11th-15th and 18th-22nd.

The professional hunter divisions took center stage in the hunter rings on Wednesday and Thursday while the jumpers tried their hand in the International Arena at courses designed by international jumper course designer Pierre Jolicoeur.  Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA had a stellar start to the week coming away with three tricolors on three Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler owned entries.  Tosh took home the First Year Green Hunter Championship aboard Triton Z, the Second Year Green Hunter Championship on Good Humor, and the Conformation Hunter Championship aboard Cloud Harbor.  Tosh is no stranger to the winners circle as he capped off an incredible 2010 season with a win in the coveted $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby finals in Lexington, KY on Lonestar as well as a Grand Hunter Championship and Leading Hunter Rider award at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, just to name a few.  He was also the recipient of the United Equestrian Federation’s Emerson Burr Trophy in 2010.

Continue reading Competition Is Under Way at the 2011 Atlanta Spring Premiere and Atlanta Spring Challenge Series

Jumping Radio Episode 62 – Jane Wallace on Rushing Fences & Chiropractic Case Study


Jane Wallace offers some solutions to rushing fences and Dr. Jenny Johnson discusses a case study of chiropractic treatment with Claire Massey. Tune in right here.

Jumping Radio Episode 62 – Show Notes and Links:

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Irish Clinch Victory in Thrilling Season-Opener at La Baule

Irish eyes were smiling at La Baule in France today when (L to R) Billy Twomey, Cian O'Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Cameron Hanley won the opening leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup. Photo: FEI/Christophe Bricot.

La Baule, 13 May 2011 – Ireland won the opening leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in a nail-biting thriller at La Baule in France today. On an afternoon when the form-book was turned on its head, Robert Splaine’s side of Shane Sweetnam (Amaretto Darco), Billy Twomey (Romanov), Cian O’Connor (Larkhill Cruiser) and Cameron Hanley (VDL Southwind) produced superb jumping to finish with a two-fault advantage over the runners-up from Belgium, while the mighty German side had to settle for third spot in the eight-nation clash.

Nations Cup jumping is never predictable, which is one of the reasons for its continuing popularity more than a century after it all began.  But few could have expected that the host country – defending series champion and winners on their home turf in 2010 – would finish second-last, followed only by the newcomers from Denmark.  On a difficult day for the Danes, already disadvantaged by the withdrawal of second-line rider Emilie Martinsen after her horse, Caballero, suffered a colic attack, they retired early in the second round.  So they go into the next leg in Rome (ITA) in two weeks’ time already trailing on the leaderboard, and with a mountain to climb if they are to survive their debut-season at the elite level of this super-tough sport.

A FEW SURPRISES
Course designer, Frederic Cottier, appeared to have been quite lenient as the competition began, but by the end of the first round there had already been a few surprises including elimination for World No. 1 Kevin Staut whose mare, Silvana de Hus, stopped twice at the penultimate combination to the dismay of the home crowd.

Continue reading Irish Clinch Victory in Thrilling Season-Opener at La Baule

44th Annual High Hope Steeplechase Returns on Sunday, May 22

Lexington, KY, May 13, 2011 – After a one year hiatus to make room for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, High Hope Steeplechase Day – a Lexington area fan favorite for 44 years – returns to its home at the Kentucky Horse Park on Sunday, May 22, 2011.

High Hope Steeplechase is now Lexington horse lovers’ only chance to enjoy the beauty and excitement of live Steeplechase racing combined with lots of family fun and entertainment, all in a country fair setting.

As an added special feature on High Hope Day will be the third running of the “Catch a Riding Star” race featuring student-jockeys currently enrolled in the North American Racing Academy.

Launched in 2006 by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System under the guidance of Hall of Fame and two-time Kentucky Winning jockey Chris McCarron, NARA is now part of Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

Continue reading 44th Annual High Hope Steeplechase Returns on Sunday, May 22

Horse Advocates Call Foul on Food Network

Chicago (EWA) – Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) joins its Canadian partner, Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC), in calling for the withdrawal of an episode scheduled to air Monday, May 16 on the Food Network’s program Top Chef Canada.

The program features “French Cuisine” including horse meat and foie gras, angering both horse advocates and animal welfare groups across the globe. The timing of this episode coincides with CHDC’s May Equine Awareness campaign.

In choosing these menu items, the program has completely ignored the cruelty involved in their production. Foie gras is diseased duck liver produced by force feeding ducks using a feeding tube thrust down their throats several times a day until they are too fat to even stand up. The liver becomes hugely swollen in an attempt to deal with the process.

Horse meat in Canada comes from horses that often suffer incredible abuse even before they arrive at slaughter. Beyond this, horse meat is likely to contain drugs that are illegal in food animals.

Continue reading Horse Advocates Call Foul on Food Network

Stable Scoop Episode 143 by Omega Alpha – She Drives Like the Boys

Listener Aubrie joins us to share her inspirational story in losing 1/2 her body weight and getting in shape. Plus, Dr. Wendy Ying shares what it is like to be a competitive driver and a fascinating conversation on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Listen in…

Stable Scoop Episode 143 – Show Notes and Links:

  • Host: Helena Bee, Glenn the Geek and Jennifer H.
  • Photo Credit: Wendy Ying driving her four-in-hand team
  • Guest: Wendy Ying – visit her website.

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  • Guest: Listener Aubrie Miller on her weight loss and fitness program. Here are her before and after pictures. She went from 200 lbs to 115 lbs. What an inspiration.

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