All posts by Associate Editor

AHP Member Lisa Kemp Wins PR Award in ‘New Media’ for Boiselle Calendar Campaign

June 12, 2010 – Despite the ‘wild, woolly West’ nature of online and social or interactive media, AHP member Lisa Kemp has successfully navigated her way into a prestigious public relations (PR) award in the New Media category, winning a Silver Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC), the Midwest’s largest communications industry trade association.

Although Lisa’s entry was the only equine-related PR campaign, she successfully competed against some heavy hitters in the global marketplace; other winners in the New Media category included large consumer companies such as Kraft, Sara Lee, and Allstate, in addition to some of Chicago’s largest advertising and PR firms.

“I think getting this award is great because every time horses are in the public eye, it becomes an opportunity for us to get the word out about how wonderful they are and invite others to participate, which strengthens our industry,” says Lisa. “It’s also great for horse business owners, since it shows we can compete on the same playing field as the big guys when it comes to marketing and PR, thanks to technology and new media.”

Continue reading AHP Member Lisa Kemp Wins PR Award in ‘New Media’ for Boiselle Calendar Campaign

Cut Livestock Subsidy to Fix Agency Budgets

July 15, 2010 – TUCSON, Ariz. – Conservation groups sent a letter to the Obama administration today detailing how the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service can meet the president’s June 8 directive to cut 5 percent from agency budgets: reform or eliminate the money-losing, habitat-destroying public lands livestock grazing program.

“Instead of trimming the budget, the agencies should start by cutting their losses,” said Greta Anderson, Arizona director of Western Watersheds Project. “The fee has failed to keep pace with inflation, failed to cover even the administrative costs of operating the grazing program, and incentivizes destructive grazing practices on public land. In a time of budget crisis, it makes good economic sense to address these issues.”

The two agencies charge a paltry $1.35 monthly fee for each cow and calf that the livestock industry grazes on public land in the West. That’s far below private market rates and far short of providing enough revenue to correct the ecological damage caused by grazing.

Continue reading Cut Livestock Subsidy to Fix Agency Budgets

Chicago Equestrians for a Cause to Host $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by CN

Chicago Equestrians for a Cause Logo. Photo © Chicago Equestrians for a Cause.

Chicago, Illinois – July 16, 2010 – Chicago Equestrians for a Cause is pleased to announce the return of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (Chicago Hunter Derby) Presented By CN to Annali Farm in Antioch, IL, on August 29, 2010. The net proceeds generated by this prestigious competition will benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago, IL, as well as the United States Hunter Jumper Association Foundation (USHJA Foundation).

Unique in nature, the Chicago Hunter Derby will feature a vintage hunt course set out on Annali Farm’s beautifully landscaped steeplechase course in-field. The course will be co-designed by Jimmy Torano and Bobby Murphy, and will welcome the nation’s top equestrians as they vie for top honors in this prestigious event.

Continue reading Chicago Equestrians for a Cause to Host $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by CN

Horses for Youth Olympic Games Arrive in Singapore

15 July 2010 – The horses for the equestrian events of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) arrived safely in Singapore at 11.50 local time this morning. After an eight-hour flight from Brisbane, Australia all the horses are reported to be in good health and have now been transported to their new home, the YOG Equestrian venue at the Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre.

The horses’ journey started from their training centre at Glen Haven Park, two hours north of Brisbane. Transportation of the YOG horses was arranged by International Race Horse Transport and loading of the horses onto the plane took almost two hours. The horses were accompanied on the flight by the YOG Head Veterinarian, Dr Roshni Selvam, three grooms and two riders from Glen Haven Park. Two additional grooms and two more riders from Glen Haven Park arrived on a separate flight.

Post Arrival Quarantine for the horses starts tomorrow at 9.00 and continues until 12.00 noon on 30 July. During the quarantine period the horses will still be trained and looked after by their Glen Haven Park riders and grooms. The Glen Haven Park grooms, together with local grooms, will continue to look after the horses throughout the Games.

Continue reading Horses for Youth Olympic Games Arrive in Singapore

Your Health 321, LLC Sponsors International Dressage Rider Dr. Cesar Parra

International rider and trainer Dr. Cesar Parra and Furst Fabio. Parra is being sponsored by Your Health 321, LLC. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Packer)

Whitehouse Station, NY – Your Health 321, LLC, independent distributors for a company specializing in adult stem cell nutrition, providing optimal health and superior performance for horses, is pleased to announce they are a sponsor of Dr. Cesar Parra, international dressage rider, trainer and instructor.  Parra was one of Colombia’s top international riders before becoming a US citizen in 2008.

Parra’s recent win on Dr. Lori Washton’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding Olympia at the Prix St. Georges with a score of 71.789 and the Intermediaire-I with a score of 71.000 percent has put Olympia’s ranking at number one for the FEI small tour.  Parra and his team are very excited to have been invited to attend Gladstone Championship in August, with hopes of qualifying to represent the US at the Pan American Games held in Mexico next year.  On another note, Grandioso scored in the 70% in the Intermediaire II and Whoopie Gold won her 2nd level test 1 with a big score of 76% with Nadine Buberl riding.

Continue reading Your Health 321, LLC Sponsors International Dressage Rider Dr. Cesar Parra

Wild Horses Dying during Roundup

Dear Animal Advocates,
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that administers America’s public lands, including the animals who call these lands home. As part of its wild horse management program, the BLM periodically rounds up large numbers of wild horses and moves them into long-term holding facilities.

Over the weekend, the BLM began its latest roundup of more than 1,200 federally protected wild horses on public lands in Nevada. The use of helicopters to run the terrified horses over miles of scorching desert resulted in serious injuries and several horse deaths, which led to temporary suspension of the roundup.

This occurred in spite of the fact that the BLM, under intense public criticism, established an open comment period on its plans for wild horses that is not over until August. Instead of waiting to hear what the American public has to say, BLM officials decided to go forward with these cruel and brutal roundups in the blistering heat of summer (several more are scheduled for the coming weeks). This, of course, is funded by your tax dollars.

What You Can Do
Call the White House Comment Line today at (202) 456-1111. The Obama Administration needs to be told — politely! — that the BLM’s actions are underhanded and inappropriate, and that the current roundup and others scheduled this summer must be cancelled immediately.

Please visit the ASPCA Online Advocacy Center at www.aspca.org/BLM to learn more about this issue and to see some tips on what to say when you call.

Motivation from Moshi no. 27, by Jane Savoie

What is excellence to you? Is it finding a specific purpose for your life? Or perhaps it’s getting over 70 percent on a dressage test? Or maybe it’s as simple as getting the right canter lead every time you ask.

We all have different ideas of excellence. And there’s nothing quite like the amazing feeling of knowing that you did your very best, and it all came together perfectly in that moment.

Excellence doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a decision. It’s hours and hours of practice, coupled with a burning desire to be the best you can be. It’s doing everything you can to learn, improve, and achieve; while not accepting less than your very best. If excellence is your goal, you must give it your all and not settle for anything less.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi no. 27, by Jane Savoie

Germany’s Anja Plönzke Tops Nürnberger WDM Rider Rankings

Anja Plönzke on Le Mont d'Or at the Exquis World Dressage Masters in Falsterbo, Sweden in mid-July. Photo: © 2010 Ken Braddick

Anja Plönzke of Germany is atop the latest Nurnberger World Dressage Masters Rider Rankings after the first two of five CDI5* events on the 2010-11 lineup in which Nurnberger Versicherungsgruppe awards €25,000 (US$31,800) to the winner.

So far this year in the events which count toward the award, the finished 2nd in the Grand Prix and 3rd in the Grand Prix Special at Cannes, France and 3rd in the Grand Prix in mid-June and 4th in the Grand Prix Freestyle at Falsterbo, Sweden last week.

Her results accumulated 1,090.5 points, with Poland’s Michal Rapcewicz in second place on 855 points and Anky van Grunsven of The Netherlands in third place with 765 points.

Continue reading Germany’s Anja Plönzke Tops Nürnberger WDM Rider Rankings

Madeleine Pickens & Wild Horse Coalition Call for Suspension of All Summer Round Ups!

First major wild horse roundup of summer proves deadly; critics claim Department of Interior’s public access restrictions censor truth about government wild horse program

(July 13, 2010) – Philanthropist and businesswoman Madeleine Pickens was joined today by the million-member ASPCA, the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, and many other organizations expressing their outrage over the deaths of at least seven mustangs in a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup conducted Saturday in the Owyhee Complex in northeastern Nevada. The wild horses died of dehydration-related causes — including brain swelling, colic and acute water intoxication – as a result of being stampeded by helicopters for up to eight miles in 90+ degree desert heat.

In a sign on letter addressed to President Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Mrs. Pickens and the groups also harshly criticized the agency for cracking down on public access to observe and videotape roundup operations. The advocates released footage of a BLM representative stating publicly that public video of a prior roundup caused the agency to have “a really hard time trying to explain what’s happening.”

Continue reading Madeleine Pickens & Wild Horse Coalition Call for Suspension of All Summer Round Ups!

Seven Horses Die Following Day One of Nevada Roundup

Dear Friends of America’s Wild Horses,
These are remarkably trying times, considering the recent deaths of our wild horses in the West. Despite a public outcry against the massive and dangerous roundups of these treasured animals, the Bureau of Land Management is pressing forward, leaving the broken bodies of our mustangs in their wake. When we have unpreventable disaster like earthquakes and hurricanes, it is indeed frustrating to watch a man-made disaster unfolding on our public lands in the West against innocent wild animals who only want to live in peace with their families.

Despite our anger at being ignored by the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management, we must not let our emotions get the best of us. Any thoughts of violent actions or illegal behavior of any kind need to be put out of our heads. Instead, we must focus on legal methods to make a difference. Here is what you can do right now, today, and for the weeks and months that follow.

Continue reading Seven Horses Die Following Day One of Nevada Roundup