All posts by Associate Editor

WHIA Names Pat Cleveland International Director

The Women’s Horse Industry Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Pat Cleveland as the association’s International Director. The WHIA which is less than two years old has nearly 700 members in the U.S., Canada and other countries around the world. The association is a business networking group and includes members from all disciplines and aspects of the equine industry.

Having the courage to believe in herself prepared Patricia Cleveland for shifts in career goals that provide today’s list of accomplishments. She has been a candidate for Miss Canada, a recognized Canadian Fine Artist, film animator, a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music and has credits in Color psychology.

Cleveland is a past member of the CEF (Canadian Equestrian Federation), AQHA, and Canadian Sport Horse Associations. Contributions as a director for the Peterborough Exhibition, The Canadian-American Saddlebred Association and others; she has held a Stewarts card, judges card, is a certified course designer, certification in coaching psychology, Equine Sports Massage and Equine Manipulation Techniques. Cleveland has many certifications from many sources of education, including Carleton University and Cornell University. She has also done extensive independent studies that pioneered frequency based therapies and advanced Bio-mechanics relating to horses. She is a well known expert in understanding bio-electric relations found in the body of the horses and the people who influence them. Her success in producing championship horses and competitive riders lead her to a management position as the Facility Designer and general contractor of a 3 year, multi-million dollar construction project called Warden Ridge Equestrian Center north of Toronto Ontario.

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Save 50 Nevada Mustangs from Roundup and Convince BLM to Adopt Humane Standards

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a roundup of 294 wild horses in Nevada’s Augusta Mountains Herd Management Area (HMA). Unlike other capture plans, the BLM’s Winnemucca District Office intends to treat mares with PZP fertility control and release all horses captured from within the HMA back to the range.

However, approximately 50 horses living outside of the HMA need your help to stay with their families free on the range. The horses are living in an area that was once designated as wild horse habitat but “zeroed out” for wild horses to accommodate grazing of privately-held farmed animals.

The agency is accepting public comments on this plan. Please urge the BLM to cancel the removal of any horses, while making the treat-and-release plan as humane as possible. Click here to submit your comments before the Friday, November 5 deadline.

In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031
idainfo@idausa.org

Hunters Showcase Their Talent at the 127th National Horse Show

Goosebumps and Cookie Beck earned multiple blue ribbons in Wednesday's Green Conformation Hunter division at the 127th National Horse Show. Photo © 2010 Lauren Fisher/PMG.

Cazenovia, NY – November 3, 2010 – The 2010 Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 127th National Horse Show continued with its second day of competition on Wednesday with the start of the professional, amateur-owner, and junior hunter divisions. Horses and riders showed two rounds over fences and went under saddle in the day’s competition. Horses with multiple top ribbons included Red Panda, Superman, Goosebumps, Last Call, Fabricio, and Back in the Game.

The Green Working Hunter division began the day with a win over fences for Amanda Steege and Majestic, owned by Lisa Arena. Cookie Beck rode Last Call, owned by Lisa Cudahy, to the blue ribbon in the flat class and the win in the handy hunter class.

Steege was thrilled with her excellent first round this morning and praised Majestic. “I’ve never won here before and his owners are from Fairport, NY, which is very close. They were excited just to get to show here, and for their horse to win a class, I’m sure they are over the moon,” she smiled.

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2010 Washington International Horse Show Wrap-up: October 26-31, 2010

Washington, D.C. – November 3, 2010 – The 52nd Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) hosted the best hunter, jumper, and equitation riders in the nation competing for top prizes at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. over six days of competition, and the WIHS thanks all of the sponsors, employees, exhibitors, volunteers, and spectators for making this year’s show an incredible success.

“The WIHS was a success,” said horse show manager Robert Ridland. “We felt, and it seems to backed up by input from riders, that it was run very smoothly in terms of the unusual logistical problems it has inherently. It’s a unique challenge, and we don’t want it to disappear. We are happy to go through what it takes to keep this show going. We have the support of many riders who come to this show because they feel the same way.”

Show manager David Distler agreed, “I was happy with the way everything went. There was a lot going on at the same time in the city, with the The Daily Show and President Obama next door, to the rally, and the marathon all in the same week. A lot of issues could have been very difficult, but we overcame them in large part because we have a great staff.”

Continue reading 2010 Washington International Horse Show Wrap-up: October 26-31, 2010

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Dennis Moreland shows the one-buckle leather curb strap commonly used on snaffle bits.

Curb straps and chains are an integral part of the bridle.

Curb straps or chains send very important signals to the horse. When a rider picks up on the reins, a shank bit will begin to rotate in the horse’s mouth. Then the curb will come up against the horse’s chin and stop the bit action. It says “Whoa.”

Whatever kind of curb you use, it’s important to have it adjusted correctly. If you’re using a curb chain, make sure the links are laying flat. And you’ll want to adjust it so you can get a couple of fingers underneath it. If it’s too loose, the bit shanks will be able to come all the way back before the curb ever touches the horse. And if it’s too tight, it can pull the bit shanks forward.

  1. There are a variety of curbs on the market. The most popular is a two-buckle curb chain with leather on each side. A basic curb chain has stainless-steel buckles and a stainless-steel chain. It’s a good all-around piece of tack and is very easy on the horse.
  2. The “dog chain curb” is also very popular. It’s a small chain with nylon tie strings. It is more severe than the flat curb chain. You’ll fasten these onto the bit with bowline knots, just like you use to tie a rope halter. There is a safety issue with these curb chains; when you put one on your bridle, be sure to check it the first few times you ride. Once the knots are pulled down good, they will be set, but sometimes they’ll slip at first.
  3. The two-buckle leather curb strap is very mild, and a lot of times, people use these on young horses who are just being introduced to a shank bit.
  4. The one-buckle leather curb strap is used on snaffle bits. It actually doesn’t have any curb action and never touches the horse’s chin. Its only purpose is to keep the snaffle-bit rings from being pulled through the horse’s mouth. Make sure the curb strap is put on the bit below the reins. (Note the pieces of garden hose on the reins. I use these as martingale stops.)

By Dennis Moreland in America’s Horse

American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104

Thrilling Finale Guaranteed in HSBC FEI Classics at Pau

Lausanne, 3 November – The 2010 HSBC FEI Classics are set to come to a thrilling climax this weekend (November 4-7) at Les Etoiles de Pau in south-west France.

Three out of four of this season’s CCI4* winners are entered for what promises to be the closest finale yet to the series in which the leading rider will scoop a fabulous US$150,000.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the inaugural HSBC FEI Classics winner in 2008, leads the table with a win at Kentucky (on Cool Mountain) and a second placing at Burghley (on Seacookie), but he is not invincible, and will need to achieve a high placing at Pau on Navigator if he is to stay ahead of the chasing pack.

Fellow CCI4* winners Paul Tapner (AUS) and Sharon Hunt (GBR) are both entered; only the Burghley victor, Caroline Powell (NZL), is absent, but her 21 points may well be enough to keep her in the top five money-earning places.

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Making Strides in the Ride for Hope!

The summer season came to a close with several terrific fundraisers. It was great to see so many people with a passion to help others in need.

“Back Where It All Began” held during the Hampton Classic Horse Show turned out to be a fun-filled, elegant event. Special thanks to the event chairman Stephanie Riggio for creating a successful evening.

More than 1,200 eventers joined us at the competitors’ party during the American Eventing Championships at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga. Great food, dancing and an auction completed the party.

The “Play It Forward” poker tournament in Las Vegas was great fun as the competition moved from the reining ring to the poker table. Special thanks to Mandi Brumley of Brumley Management Group and all our friends at the High Roller Reining Classic.

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World Equestrian Games Eventer Boyd Martin Interviewed on Holistic Horse Radio Show

United States three-day eventer Boyd Martin, an Arenus Ambassador, represented the US at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. (Photo courtesy of Arenus)

Lexington, KY (November 2, 2010) – As a member of the World Equestrian Games US Eventing team, Boyd Martin lived out every rider’s fairytale dream when he finished tenth individually and fourth place with the team at World Equestrian Games – all on an ex-racehorse he bought for $800 off the track. Martin joined radio host LA Pomeroy on Holistic Horse Radio Show following WEG to talk about his incredible journey, his ex-racehorse, and his supporters who helped him make it to his first international competition for the United States.

“The USEF said the highlight of the Team USA for eventing at WEG was the lovely double clear round jumped by Boyd and Windurra LLC’s Neville Bardos,” Pomeroy stated as she introduced Martin on the radio show, adding that Martin and Neville finished with a dressage score of 49.5. “Neville was in a demanding career before you got him, so tell us your secret to keeping him sound, solid and happy.”

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FEI Unveils iPhone App for Equine Prohibited Substances List

The FEI Clean Sport app

Lausanne, 2 November 2010 – The FEI has today launched a mobile phone application which gives those involved in horse sport much faster and easier access to crucial information on prohibited substances.

The Clean Sport app allows immediate access to the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances online database, which was developed early in 2010.

The app will initially be available for iPhone users only, however the FEI is investigating how the technology could be adapted for other smart phones.

The app is available to download Free of Charge from today at the iTunes Store.

As well as enabling users to easily navigate the Equine Prohibited Substances database, the app also includes short definitions on each substance as well as a selection of common trade names to avoid confusion.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12470

Motivation from Moshi no. 38, by Jane Savoie

We’re all different. You know that already, right? I’m a cold blooded Friesian. My next-stall neighbor is a hot blooded Thoroughbred. We think differently, react to things differently, and like different things. Does that make one of us “wrong” and one of us “right”?

It’s a very basic instinct to be attracted to things that are like you. The old “birds of a feather, flock together…” idea. But many of us have advanced beyond such basic programming. Advanced beings learn to appreciate things that are different from what we’re used to.

This can be a very powerful thing when applied to working with horses. We get used to a certain way of doing things, of feeding, of training, etc, and don’t even notice that we’ve developed a habit that might benefit from a bit of tweaking. That’s why we read books, watch DVDs, hire a trainer… so we can learn from the collective knowledge of others.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi no. 38, by Jane Savoie