EC360

EC 360 Blog Has Moved!

2010-01-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

   If you haven't already heard, my EC 360 blog has moved to www.equinechronicle.com. While my time here at Blog Spot has been fun, it is time to move on to bigger and better things. (Actually, this was just a temporary location until construction on the new website was complete.)
   Because there have been a few questions about the new website, I thought I would provide a short summary. Along with my new blog, you can go to equinechronicle.com to view daily news articles, the latest magazine articles, video interviews, polls and photo galleries.
   In this new fully interactive website, you can stay updated with breaking, business and world news about the equine industry. The lifestyle section contains information about the latest travel information, style watch and party coverage. Riding and training contains the latest training tips and an ask the professional section. The health category is a one stop shop for everything related to equine care, rider health, vet advice, feeding and a foal gestation calculator. Arts and entertainment features our equine artist of the month, horse in film and tv, supernatural stories, book reviews and poetry. The community section provides products and service reviews, discussion topics, education, advice and profiles. Club and show news is where you can read about upcoming shows, association news and view show results.
   The Equine Chronicle will still be maintaining our Facebook fan page, where you can go to look at more photo galleries, view the latest show results and follow links to the latest news posted on the EC website.
   We hope you enjoy the new website. If you have any questions, comments, news tips or ideas for new articles, please email me at b.bevis@equinechronicle.com

An Apology to Horse Show Mom's Everywhere

2009-12-18T16:46:00.001-08:00

I have decided that although I am a seasoned competitor when it comes to showing horses, I fail miserably when it comes to being a spectator. After watching my boyfriend compete at the NCHA Futurity a week ago, I’ve discovered that I haven’t been giving horse show mom’s everywhere nearly enough credit.

Our barn mother’s are always talking about how stressful and nerve-wracking it is to sit up in the stands and watch their kids compete. I always assumed this was true, but obviously I have never witnessed it first hand (since I’m normally in the middle of the arena when this is taking place). However, after having to sit through a first go, second go, semi-finals and finals of the Non-pro, I have to say that being on the sidelines is excruciating.

When I first decided to go down to Fort Worth to be a supportive girlfriend, I thought it would a nice change of pace. Since the majority of my time at horse shows is spent competing, I thought that being able to relax a little and watch someone else might be fun. I was wrong.

Now don’t misunderstand, it was very exciting to be able to watch and learn about an equestrian discipline so different from my own. That is until it was my boyfriend’s turn to compete. My friends sitting beside me laughed as they watched a typically calm, levelheaded competitor turn into an anxiety-ridden mess.

I was perfectly fine, until the person before him began their run. As he walked to the herd, my heart was beating so hard that I could practically see it thumping beneath my shirt. Along with wringing my hands until they were raw and neurotically chipping at my finger nail polish, I probably looked liked the typical obsessive horse show mother.

I didn’t even realize that I was holding my breath until he finished his run, 2 and ½ minutes later, and I felt unusually lightheaded. During this time, I also managed to mutilate the poor Styrofoam cup I was holding until all that was left was a sad, little pile of fluffy bits.

My own mother thought this was hilarious and very appropriate payback for her having to stand on the sidelines and watch me throughout the years. So to all of those horse show mothers out there, I am sorry for severely underestimating the difficulty and importance of your role as a spectator. I also have a question to ask. Does it ever get easier?

Finals First-timer Wins $250,000 with Record-Breaking Score

2009-12-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

   At last night’s NCHA Open Futurity Finals, Tony Piggott and Rockin W swept the field with a huge score of 229 points. This score ties for the all-time Futurity record with a 229 that was marked by Royal Fletch in 2000. Owner Alice Walton of Rockin W Ranch, accepted the winner’s check for $250,000 and the prestigious Fort Worth Cup.
   Rockin W is a fourth generation Walton Ranch bred stallion by legendary producer Dual Rey and out of 2004 NCHA Horse of the Year Boon San Kitty. This was Piggott’s first time in the NCHA Open Finals.
       Earlier in the week, Piggott rode Rockin W to a fourth place finish in the John Deere Open Finals earning $15,946. At the conclusion of the Futurity, Piggott took home a pair of checks worth more than double his previous career earnings. He actually rode the horse for the first time just two weeks before the Futurity began. Piggott was the catch-rider chosen for Rockin W because the horse’s trainer Gary Gonsalves opted to ride two of his other mounts.
       Only four other horses, in addition to Rockin W and Royal Fletch have scored a 226 or higher in the Open Finals of the NCHA Futurity: High Brow CD with 226 in 2007, Oh Cay Felix with 227 in 2006, Highbrow Supercat with 226.5 in 2005 and One Smart Lookin Cat with 226 in 2003.

The Principles of Body Isolation

2009-12-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

I recently read an interesting article recently about the importance of learning how to isolate different parts of your body while riding. Truthfully, I almost passed it by because of the title, Roping: In Your Mind’s Eye, by Jody Reynolds. Not that there is anything wrong with roping, it just isn’t my discipline of choice. However, after reading the piece, it became obvious that the principles of body isolation can be applied to any equestrian sport.

Before David Avery became the AQHA director of international affairs, he was a Professional Horseman in Roswell, New Mexico. He taught that by isolating different parts of your body, you can deliver different messages to your horse. One way to do this is by altering the position of your seat.

The three different seat positions consist of the “on” position, when the pelvic area is against the seat of the saddle, the “in front” position, when the pubic bone is against the seat of the saddle, and the “behind” position, when the gluteus is against the seat of the saddle. Obviously, if you compete in an event like hunter under saddle, you will ride with much more of a forward seat than if you compete in an event like western pleasure. However, Avery says that regardless of the discipline, every rider can benefit from practicing these three positions to increase their range of motion.

Avery also taught how to isolate the seven different segments of the leg.

1.Upper-third thigh – Where the gluteus ties into the groin area, also where the hip and femur attach.

2. Middle-third thigh – The large, fleshy portion of the thigh. You can squeeze and release together or independently to direct the horse and encourage or control impulsion.

3. Lower-third thigh – Where the knee connects to the lower part of the leg. Many beginners will often grip with the lower thigh to stay on, which causes their horse to speed up.

4.Upper-third calf – Just below the knee. The amount of pressure determines the type of reaction to a cue.

5. Middle-third calf – The large, fleshy portion of the lower leg. This area controls diagonal direction and forward impulsion.

6. Lower-third calf – Where the ankle attaches to the foot.

7.Spur – An extension of the heel.

While at first glance this may seem a bit complicated, just being aware of the different segments of your legs may give you a little insight into how you communicate with your horse. Try thinking about this the next time you're out for a ride.

Moneigh: Art Created by Famous Racehorses

2009-12-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

ReRun, a Thoroughbred racehorse adoption program, has just concluded their annual Moneigh Auction on eBay. Each year, the organization partners with “Moneigh Mary” Simons, assistant to the equine artists, in order to offer a selection of original art painted by famous racehorses. Among the 40 paintings up for auction were a few by famous Thoroughbreds like Empire Maker, Rags to Riches and Funny Cide.

For those unfamiliar with a Moneigh, they are original pieces of abstract art, created by a horse, using their muzzle, whiskers, hoof or tail to paint. Certain talented individuals even hold a paintbrush between their lips in order to create the image. Most of the artists also sign their pieces with a hoof print. A brass plate with the artist's name is attached to the painting and sometimes a lock of mane or tail is included as a souvenir.

Proceeds from the auction went to benefit the horses in the ReRun program who are housed in New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

Artist assistant, Mary Simons, gave a little insight into her experiences with a few of the horses.

“Empire Maker was the quickest learner,” Simons said. “With no encouragement, he picked up the paintbrush and swooshed like he’d done it all his life.”

“Riley Tucker, Wildcat Heir and With Distinction were painting enthusiasts who wouldn’t let go of the paper and wanted to continue painting. Kona Gold and Lawyer Ron both had personalities of that favorite kid in your class who could make you feel like they were your best friend and would do anything for you,” Simons said.

Be sure to check back on my blog to read an exclusive interview with “Moneigh Mary” Simons.

What's in a Name?

2009-12-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

After a record number of Facebook comments, the final results of our Best Horse Names of All Time List are in!

Best Play on Words Name: Alwayz in the Prinzipls Ofis

Other Play on Word Names: Art I Greyt, Oh Zippossibilities

Best Weirdest Name: Bagels and Cheese

Other Weird Names: Suncherous Jewel, Rollin Slipon, Pati-O-Furniture, Mickeys Not a Mouse

Best Song Reference Name: Too Sexy For My Spot

Other Song Reference Names: Hesa Super Freak, Getting Hot in Here, How Bad Do Ya Want It, Spin Doctor

Best Popular Culture Reference Name: Isthatyourfinalanswer

Other Popular Culture Reference Names: Gucci Handbag, Sleepnwiththeenemy, Fairy God Mare, Don’t Touch My Barbie, American Idol, Guitar Hero, Iron Chef, Donald Trump, Coosella Devil, Pokemon Kid, Cool Hand Luke, Good Golly It’s Molly, Charlie Hilfiger, Will Smith

Best Suggestive Name: Give It To Me Dirty

Other Suggestive Names: Kiss My Sweet Assets, Its All Bhindthe Zipr, Dirty Affair, Tonightsthenighthoney, Dude Do Me Right, HoneyYou’reUnzipped, My Zippers Popped, Spent the Night, I Like it in the Dark

Worst Name: Should Have Been Glue

Other Bad Names: Unknown, JoJo Squeeky Star, Kims Doc Badgerette, Pattys Wasp, Yellow Cow Dog, Bucks Bag Lady, Don’t Skip The Smurf, Yeller Snow, Mr Flashdancer, Bad Acid, Up the Assets, Alpo

The Ultimate Worst Name: My Dixie Wrecked

Other Really Bad Names: Dog Breath, Pass the Chicken, Shootin Poo

Funniest Name: Buffythebovineslayer

Other Funny Names: Quit your Butchin, Hoof Hearted, I’d Rather Be Fishing, Peptoboonsmal, Smart Mouth, Invite Me or Bite Me, Whoop Your Asset, Who Needs Therapy, Skirt in The Dirt, Mr. Yella Fella, Rebas Stormin Normin, Big Be Bobbin Bob, Daddy’s Money, Bob N For Apples

Best Funny Name When Announced: Butt Naked

Other Funny Names When Announced: The Pool Boy, Steve’s Ex Boss, Totally Exposed

Miscellaneous: (here are some additional names that we thought were clever, but didn’t really fit into a category) It’s Only Petty Cash, One For The Record, Form the Line Behind, That Would be Me, I Gotta Good Name, I Only Date Models, The Total Package, Get Off My Tail, Towhomit May Concern

Be sure to check back later to read select interviews with a few of the winners on how they came up with the winning names.

The Black Stallion Literacy Project Inspires Children to Read

2009-12-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse has recently formed a partnership with The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation in the hopes of inspiring children to read. In the spring of 2010, first and fourth graders in the Kentucky counties of Fayette, Bourbon, Madison, Clark, Scott, Woodford and Jessamine will be able to participate in the project. This widely acclaimed program was featured on ABC Nightly News as the best motivational reading program for school-aged children.

As part of the program, first graders will be given two hard copy books to keep, both by Walter Farley, "Little Black" and "Little Black Goes to the Circus." The first grade program also includes a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park for a hands-on experience with the park’s horses.

Fourth graders will be given a hard copy of Walter Farley's classic, "The Black Stallion," a pop-up display, and a copy of the Academy Award-winning Francis Ford Coppola movie, "The Black Stallion." The fourth grade program will conclude with a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park's new indoor arena for a presentation of the Florida-based Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction production featuring the Black Stallion. Tickets will also be available for the public.

The best part about the program is that the books will be delivered to area schools by a live black pony from the Kentucky Horse Park. At the end of the program, in addition to their hands-on experiences with horses at the park, the children will also be able to tour the new Arabian Horse Galleries which features "The Black Stallion Experience Exhibit."

The Black Stallion Literacy Project was actually conceived in 1999 by Farley's son, Tim, and the owner of the Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Florida, Mark Miller. The foundation began serving children in 2000, and since then, more than 450,000 children in the United States have participated in the program.

John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park said, "As the father of two young boys, I personally know the importance of engaging children in reading. As a horseman, I understand the almost-mystical, always beneficial effect that horses have on children, so I am particularly pleased that the Kentucky Horse Park will be involved in bringing children and horses together in a project that will have a life-long, positive impact."

If you would like more information on The Black Stallion Literacy Project, you can contact Mollie Jameson at 859-509-1915 or e-mail her at molliejam@gmail.com or www.bslf-online.org. You can also visit the Kentucky Horse Park’s website at ww.KyHorsePark.com.

The Ultimate Christmas Shopping Guide for Horse Lovers

2009-11-27T06:07:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Black Friday comes the ultimate guide for what to get those equine obsessed people in your life.

Price Index

$- Under $50

$$- $50-$100

$$$- $100+

Always a great standby for the horse lover in your life are equine-related gift cards, association memberships or subscriptions to industry magazines.

1. Association Membership-This is a great idea for the person who has everything. Everyone who shows or owns horses has to have one, but most people wouldn’t think of giving such a thing as a gift. However, this is a great alternative to giving a gift card. You can visit any national breed association website like aqha.com or apha.com to get more information on pricing.

2. Magazine Subscription- A thoughtful gift for the avid horse-show fanatic is a subscription to an industry magazine, (like The Equine Chronicle for instance).

3. Gift Cards- Always are popular choice are gift cards. Many horse show vendors or local tack/feed supply stores can help you out. Wouldn’t it be nice if you opened up an envelope awarding you with a certificate for a new 20X hat, or $50 to buy supplements at SmartPak?

4. Association DVD’s $- AQHA has recently released the newest additions to its “Showing to Win” series. “Showing to Win: Trail” and “Showing to Win: Western Pleasure” give insight into industry standards from well-respected trainers and judges. Price: $24.95, members get a $5 discount Where to Buy: www.aqhastore.com

5. Books- Chosen by a Horse by: Susan Richards $- The memoir of a forty-three-year-old divorced woman who becomes the caregiver of an abused horse. Price: $10.04 The Spur: History, Art, Culture, Function by: David R. Stoecklein $$- This beautiful coffee table book features full-page color photographs and a detailed account into the history and use of spurs throughout the years. Price:$89.39 Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse by: Betsy Talcott Kelleher $- A personal story of discovery of a spiritual message in the horse and rider experience. Price: $12.23

If you have a little bit of a creative side, or just enjoy giving personalized gifts, these are a few great options.

1. Fabric-Covered Horseshoes $- While this might sound a little strange at first, these colorful creations are a good way to share your lifestyle with people who may not be that familiar with horses. The actual horseshoes are wrapped in printed fabric and can be used as good luck charms to hang on the wall as decoration, or use as paperweights. These are locally made in Corsicana, Texas. Price: $18 Where to Buy: www.hableconstruction.com

2. Engraved Tack Plates $- These serve as excellent stocking stuffers, or small gifts for your barn friends. It gives an element of personalization, but still allows the recipient to choose where to put it. Price: $7.50 Where to Buy: www.usbrassshop.com/tack_tags.htm

3. Do-it-yourself Makeup Kit $-$$- This is an interesting idea for the ladies in your life. It is way too daunting to sift through countless beauty products trying to find the perfect choice for your daughter, mother, friend, ect. You can purchase a relatively inexpensive, but trendy, makeup case at a store like Target, and then place a Sephora gift card inside. Other small items you can add at your discretion are rubber bands, bobby pins, hairnets or travel-size hairspray.

4. Urban Decay “Show Pony” Shadow Box $- Since we’re on the subject of makeup, I had to mention a new aptly-named compact just released by Urban Decay. Featuring the most popular colors like Snatch, Mildew, Flash, Toasted, Painkiller and Smog, this shadow set is a fun gift for your equestrienne friend who has a love of cosmetics. Price: $30 Where to Buy: Sephora

5. Custom-Framed Win Picture $$- This next idea may take a little extra work, but the result is a keepsake that will be treasured forever. The idea actually comes from a gift my mother gave me a few years ago. After one of my wins at the APHA World Show, she took a win photo and an action shot from the class and had them matted in a double frame. The finishing touch was a piece of yarn that came out of my horse’s braids that day. This idea can be replicated for any discipline, by adding either a belt buckle, or even a horseshoe. (A farrier will have to help you with that part). Stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby can help you with the framing.

6. Photo Throw Blanket $$- This is one of my all-time favorite gifts I received from a friend one year. This company can take your photo, and through some combined miracle of computer technology and clever stitching, reproduce it onto a full size blanket to adorn your living or bedroom. The picture on mine was a photograph of my horse, that I had taken myself, so it was extra special. Price: $70 Where to Buy:www.personalthrows.com

7. Ribbon Creations $$- This is probably the neatest use for old horse show ribbons I have ever seen. Just send your piles of old ribbons to this company and they can give them a completely new purpose in life by creating pillows or stuffed animals. Price: varies Where to Buy: www.barnsmart.com

8. Letter Art $$- You may have seen these booths at kiosks in the local mall and wondered what they were all about. Basically, you look through an alphabetized catalogue of stock images composed of everyday objects that form the images of certain letters. (A horseshoe might be used as a U, or part of a rusty gate might be an H) You can spell out the name of a person, horse or ranch by picking out the letters that are then placed in a horizontal frame. If you are really ambitious, you can wander around the barn and take pictures of your own letters to create your desired word or phrase. Price: varies Where to Buy: www.letterartphotography.com

9. Horsehair Jewelry $-$$$- This is one of the neatest things I have seen in a long time. There are several companies on the Internet that can take small amounts of hair from your horse’s mane or tail and create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Price:varies Where to Buy: www.treasuredtails.us/

For those who love technology, there are some new gadgets out there that are great as general gifts or for the parent who may not know that much about your horse habit.

Flip Ultra Camcorder $$$- This easy-to-use, pocket-sized camcorder holds up to 120 minutes of high-quality video on 4 GB of built-in memory. It has 2x digital zoom and is practically “goof proof” because there are only three buttons; record, play and delete. With a flip-out USB arm you can plug it directly into your PC or Mac to download video clips. Pre-loaded software makes it easy to edit your own movies to share on Facebook or YouTube. It also comes with a TV cable so you can show your videos on the big screen. This is what we at the Equine Chronicle use for the video interviews you’ve been seeing on Facebook. Price: $150 Where to Buy: Walmart, Target, RadioShack, Amazon.com
Pandigital Digital Picture Frame $$- This is a great idea for the father who may not know a lot about your horse habit, but still loves to show off photos to his friends or colleagues. The 7’’ version stores up to 4,000 images on 512 MB of internal memory. The 9’’ version stores 6,400 images on 1 GB of memory. Most models come with an easy to use CD that will show you how to download your photos. (You should do this before you wrap it up) Most people like to use the slideshow feature to keep the photos rotating on a continuous loop. Price: $50-$80 Where to Buy: This particular model is available at The Sharper Image, but other stores carry their own versions like Brookstone, Walmart, Target, RadioShack
Custom iPod, iPhone, Laptop Skins $- This is a really fun way to create an inexpensive, but still personalized, gift. One website offering this service is schtickers.com. This company allows you to upload your own images, (of your horse perhaps?) use stock graphics and customize text to create a one-of-a-kind cover for your iPod, iPhone or laptop. The best part is that the skins are made of specially designed vinyl with a reusable adhesive, so you can remove the skin and reuse it without having to hassle with any of the sticky goo other skins leave behind. Price: $15-$30 Where to Buy: www.schtickers.com
NeatDesk $$$- This a great idea for that always-hard-to-buy-for horse trainer in your life. It is a Desktop Scanner/Digital Filing System that is a little smaller than a laptop. This electronic filing cabinet has the ability to scan and extract key information from receipts and financial documents, and then organize it into an Excel document. You can also scan business cards to create a digital address book. This handy gadget would be perfect for the horse trainer whose office desk is overflowing with gas, hotel and meal receipts. Price: $400 Where to Buy: neatco.com/CNT922, use coupon code CNT922 for free shipping or (866)-395-7464

Soldiers Heal Through Horsepower

2009-11-25T10:53:00.000-08:00

As I found myself in the airport, at 4 o’clock this morning, trying to catch a flight home for Thanksgiving, I didn’t have much to do but sit and wait. So, I decided to do a little light reading in Continental’s official in-flight magazine. Amidst the interviews with CEO’s and advertisements for professional matchmaking services, I found an interesting article written by Lora O’Riordan about Donna Thibedeau and her Tranquil Valley Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary, which is located in Idaho, became a pet project of Thibedeau’s after she studied horse therapy in college.

“I learned that horses can heal wounds,” she says. “They are a mirror into souls.”

What first began as a rescue effort for older horses, soon turned into a horse therapy program for wounded soldiers. She says she was inspired by a television show that showed how much post- traumatic stress disorder affects the lives of wounded soldiers after they return home. As a result, she created a special program at Tranquil Valley that involves therapeutic riding for amputees.

“In one hour’s riding each day, we’ve seen improvement in as little as three weeks,” she says. “Some of the soldiers have even started walking again.”

Along with physical rehabilitation, the horse therapy program also provides a unique outlet for the soldiers to vent their emotions to a few good listeners.

“We tell them that they can talk to the horse and whatever they say stays with the horse,” she says.

She says this helps soldiers to let go of combat memories they may not feel comfortable sharing with members of their family.

An exciting new development is that Thibedeau has received permission from the Department of Veterans Affairs to bring miniature horses into the VA hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

If you would like more information about this solely-donation run program you can go to tranquilvalleysanctuary.org

Horse Superstitions and Wives’ Tales

2009-11-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

Most of us are familiar with the well-known superstitions that involve horses. For instance, an upward facing horseshoe hung above a doorway will bring good luck to the home.

However, after a little research I found a number of interesting superstitions and wives’ tales that I had never heard of before.

Supposedly, you can predict the sex of an unborn foal by doing “the nail test.” To begin, you take a hair from the mare's tail and tie a nail to it. Then, you hold it above the mare's hips. If it swings in a circle, she's carrying a filly; if it swings in a straight line, she’s carrying a colt.

In some instances, it is thought that horses can be used to counteract bad omens or change someone’s luck. Walking under a ladder is considered to be bad luck, but you can counteract the bad luck if you keep your fingers crossed until you have seen three horses. If a bride and groom see a grey horse on their way to the church it is considered to be good luck. On the other hand, in certain situations a horse can be a bad omen. If a horse neighs at the door of a house, someone in the house will become sick.

There are also a few wives’ tales that are still popular among the older generation of horsemen. Supposedly, the deeper a stallion dips his nostrils into water when he drinks, the better sire he will be. Also, putting copper pennies in a mare’s water tank can help to eliminate moody behavior.

One very common belief is that the location and number of hair whorls on a horse’s head or neck is related to its temperament. Actually, Dr. Temple Grandin of Colorado State University conducted a study of hair whorl positions and concluded that there is a definite relationship. A hair whorl that is located high above the eyes indicates a flighty temperament.   

Some of the most unusual superstitions come in the form of cures for various conditions or diseases. For example, eating a hair from the forelock of a horse is supposed to cure worms. Also, it was once thought that inhaling the breath of a horse could cure whooping cough. It was also believed that warts could be cured by circling them in horsehair.

However, possibly the most well known superstition of all involves the bad luck that comes from putting a cowboy hat on a bed. Almost every cowboy believes this superstition and will go out of their way to counteract its effects. There is a widely circulated story about a cowboy who showed up at the National Finals Rodeo to compete with a smashed hat, because the night before his mother had accidentally placed it on a bed. According to the superstition, the only way to fix this is to throw the hat outside and stomp all of the bad luck out of it.

I hope you enjoyed all of these and if you come across any other interesting ones please share them with us on Facebook.

Sex Selection in Equines

2009-11-19T11:55:00.001-08:00

This blog is intended to be an extension of a post we put up on Facebook recently that concerns the relatively new technology of sex selection in horse breeding. While I certainly do not claim to be any kind of expert in breeding, or in science for that matter, I thought that I could expand on a few interesting points that were brought up by some of our loyal Equine Chronicle followers.

With the introduction of any new scientific procedure, especially one concerning genetics, there will always be questions raised about its supposed benefits and possible detriments.

Some experts claim that utilizing sex selection when breeding horses may help to eliminate gender specific diseases, or conditions that are more prevalent in either mares or stallions. Could this help to “breed out” conditions like endometriosis in mares or cryptorchidism in stallions? Or is this simply a justification for breeding to get the more profitable gender?

Is this the same thing as saying we should decrease the number of human females to lower the incidence of breast cancer, or decrease the number of males to lower the incidence of red-green color blindness? Or can these comparisons not be made between the human species and an animal species?

Over a long period of time, could this lead to an overpopulation of one sex? Could this reduce genetic diversity leading to a less disease-resistant generation of horses? Or will the high cost of the procedure and extensive regulation control for all of these concerns?

As far as ethical concerns go, some people have expressed that this technology circumvents natural selection and in essence “goes against” the will of God/Nature. With all religious implications set aside, should we as a community, have the power to select which gender we want when breeding animals? If this is something that is going to permitted in equine breeding, should it be allowed in human reproduction as well?

Other aspects to consider are the implications this may have on different breeds within the horse world. In the Thoroughbred racing scene, stallions are generally eligible to compete for higher purses, have more lucrative breeding opportunities and chances for syndication. On the other hand, in the cutting and pleasure horse arena, there seems to be a large number of standing studs, therefore owning a quality mare might be more advantageous. Could breeds become gender-specific, or is that something that would never actually happen?

While I may have raised more questions than I have answered, one thing remains clear. There are a lot of variables to consider before you decide for yourself whether or not sex selection will be beneficial or detrimental to the horse industry.

Scientific Study of Saddle Fit at New Mexico State University

2009-11-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

The Agricultural Marketing group at New Mexico State University has undertaken the first scientific saddle fit study of western performance saddles.
The group will utilize new technology in the form of a force sensor array (FSA) pressure pad to analyze how a saddle applies pressure to the back of a horse. Different levels of pressure will be shown in different colors and in three dimensions.

The focus of the study is on barrel and roping saddles, but the results are applicable to all types of western saddles.

Using this latest innovation in saddle fit diagnosis, New Mexico State University students are examining all aspects of saddle fit, including how both movement and padding affect the distribution of weight across the back of a horse.

The results from examining several hundred horse and rider participants are currently being scanned and catalogued. The group plans to release the results of the study sometime in January. The group is hoping the study will provide new insights into horse and rider comfort and health, as well as challenge some traditional ideas on ways to improve saddle fit.

For information or to access to the results, contact Bill Gorman at New Mexico State University, wigorman@nmsu.edu, or dave@specializedsaddles.com.

Calling All Equine Artists

2009-11-17T09:52:00.000-08:00

If you have a talent with a paintbrush and a flair for depicting the natural beauty of the American Paint Horse, then you should consider applying to be the APHA 2010 World Show artist. But don’t waste any time, because the deadline for all submissions is January 22, 2010.

The winning artist will receive $1,000, a booth to display their work in at the show and their finished artwork will appear as the cover of the World Show program for both shows. In addition, their artwork will be reproduced as a commemorative fine art print that will be available for purchase.

If you attended the APHA Fall World Championship, you probably saw the artwork of the 2009 winner, Linda Massey of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Her finished piece was a two-part mural depicting Paint Horses competing in different disciplines like Western Pleasure, Trail, Halter and Jumping.

APHA Art Director Art Vasquez describes what the association is looking for in the next World Show artist. “We need an artist who can convey the communication we share with the American Paint Horse in their art, from the alert eyes and ears of a proud stallion, to the calm and willing demeanor of a show horse.”

To enter a piece of artwork or portfolio into the contest, all artists must include their name, contact information, art media used and dimensions of the final artwork. Any digital submissions smaller than 3 MB may be e-mailed to Patricia Hellam at phellam@apha.com Non-digital submissions should be mailed to American Paint Horse Association, Attn: Patricia Hellam, P.O. Box 961023, Fort Worth, Texas 76161.

The winning artist will be notified on February 5th and any mailed submissions will be returned. The final artwork will be due April 16^th.

APHA World Show Wrap-up

2009-11-15T17:40:00.000-08:00

For those of you who haven’t been able to keep up with the real-time results we’ve been posting on Facebook, I thought I would give everyone a little wrap-up of a few highlights from the APHA World Show.

At the end of the first ever Fall World Championship Paint Horse Show, APHA named 127 World Champions and awarded over $450,000 in cash and prizes.

While every World, Reserve World Championship and top ten title earned is an achievement to be proud of, there were a few exhibitors whose performance is worth extra notice.

In the halter horse scene, Clint Fullerton accumulated a very impressive 16 World/Reserve world titles with horses like Shes Somthin Sexy, Far Too Fancy and Dee Dee Delicious.

Mike Short made a clean sweep in the pleasure driving by winning the Junior with Mr. Cool All The Time and the Senior with Ultimate Bonanza.

Susan Wilson was named both World and Reserve World Champion in the Masters Amateur Trail with her two horses, Predictably Perfect and Real Groovy respectively.

Mike Hachtel won the Senior Western pleasure with Hot Lips Cookie, the 2-year-old Western Pleasure with Scenic Ocean Drive and was Reserve in the Junior Western Pleasure with Sensational Lollipop.

Sara Simons was Reserve in the 2-year-old Western Pleasure with Miss Texas Sensation, World Champion in the Junior Western Riding with One Flashy Sensation and Reserve in the Senior Western Riding with Mystical Machine.

The Gillespie barn won approximately 10 buckles in various hunter under saddle and Novice Amateur classes. Shannon almost made a full sweep in the hunt seat by winning the Senior Hunter Under Saddle with In A New York Minute, the 3-year-old challenge with Must Be A Dream, and the 2-year-old Hunter under Saddle with Guitar Hero.

At the end of the Amateur portion of the show, Chelsea Bain took home the All-around Classic Amateur title with Sensational Blonde and Casey Hicks was Reserve with Strait Ole Paint. Capturing the Masters Amateur All-around was Susan Wilson with Predictably Perfect and Reserve was Dr. Kelli Foster with Fleet’s Serenity. In the Novice Amateur All-around, Shannon Sullenberger won with Jettn Champagne Chex and Melissa Haberkorn was Reserve with VR Knock Your Socks Off.

In the Open All-around, Ill Be Sensational was the Highpoint English horse, Super Gelding and Highpoint overall horse.

I also have to give a little shout out to my own horse, Its All Bhindthe Zipr. Together we won the Classic Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation and the first ever Hart Non-pro Versatility Challenge. Theo is looking forward to riding around town in his new trailer!

Congratulations to everyone who participated at the Fall World Championship Paint Horse show.

Things are a little different this year...

2009-11-04T18:17:00.001-08:00

As the last day of preparation for the World Show comes to a close, I began to think about how this APHA Fall World Show will be different from World Shows past. Obviously the fact that the Open and Amateur portion is now held in November instead of June is a big one. However, as I walked around the show grounds today, I noticed a few things that are also different this year.

For one, the trade show has been scaled down considerably and is now located in the entryway to the John Justin, where the show office used to be. The show office is now sharing space next to the stall office in the John Justin. Also, our beloved cinnamon roll and baked potato stand is now located in with the trade show, as opposed to being in its normal corner in the John Justin arena.

A new part of the décor in the John Justin is the addition of five large posters listing the 2008 Amateur exhibitors who received top twenty and year-end honor roll awards. Also, part of the décor in the John Justin are yellow, gray and white curtains that line the glass windows behind the stadium seating. (Don’t ask me who picked out the color scheme for that one).

One exciting new feature in the Watt arena is a 9x9 projector screen like the one in the John Justin that is used to post finals results and stream advertisements from the Paint Horse Journal.

A proposed change that the Executive Committee is debating involves a member-driven proposal to make the World Show a regional qualifying event. But that’s still in the works for now.

While a few things at the World Show have changed, there are some things that will always stay the same. Like the fact that you can order a cinnamon roll at 6:00 at night and no one thinks you’re strange. Or that despite show management’s desperate attempt to schedule arena times for different disciplines, there is never space to warm up when you need it. Or the way that you can hear the lights in the John Justin hum when you’re riding by yourself at 2:30 in the morning.

They say that change is a good thing, but I hope that some things about the World Show will never change.

Another Equine Chronicle Exclusive: Joe Moran Gives Insight into his Decision to Purchase Vital Signs Are Good

2009-11-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

Joe Moran, the proud, new owner of one of the most recognized Quarter Horse mares in the industry, said that the chance to own a horse like Vital Signs Are Good comes along once in a lifetime.

“Horses like the Zippo LTD’s and the Harley D Zip’s become available so rarely,” Moran said.

Kristen Galyean had gone back and forth for a year about selling the mare and the Moran family hadn’t even thought about buying the horse until they got to the Congress Moran said. He said that while buying a horse with such an impressive career can sometimes lead to high expectations, he believes that his daughter Theresa and “Lucy” will make a good match.

“Theresa really only has two years left in youth competition,” he said. “She’s been riding for a long time and I think she has the confidence to handle an upgrade.”

Moran said that the sole reason for buying “Lucy” was to be a show horse for Theresa, however he does plan on continuing her career as a champion producing broodmare. Moran said that he is by no means a “serious breeder,” but instead he does it because he loves raising foals.

Interestingly enough, Moran said that the one person who was instrumental in the purchase of the horse was not a part of either the buying or selling party.

“Without Lew Papendick holding my hand through this, the deal really wouldn’t have gone through,” he said.

Moran said that he did have to go outside for a moment to take a deep breath after he realized how much he would be paying for the mare. However, Lew Papendick put Moran at ease when he said that his similarly pricey purchase of Harley D Zip was the best decision he ever made.

As far as how Theresa feels about her new horse, Moran said, “we’re going to send a spacecraft to Mars to bring her back real soon.”

An Equine Chronicle Exclusive: Charlie Cole and Jim Glover give insight into both sides of the sale of Vital Signs Are Good.

2009-10-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

As of Wednesday October 28^th, Vital Signs Are Good is settling in to her new home at High Point Performance Horses in Pilot Point, Texas. With the sale finalized, the Moran family of Laguna Hills, California is now the proud owner of one of the most recognized western pleasure mares in the Quarter Horse industry today.

Charlie Cole, of High Point Performance Horses, said “the deal closed yesterday and she is at our place now, in the stall right next to Harley [Harley D Zip].”

Although Cole knew that “Lucy” was going to be available for purchase a while back, he hadn’t pursued it because he didn’t have anyone specific in mind. Then, the Moran family expressed interest in getting another high caliber western pleasure and western riding horse for their daughter Theresa. During the Congress, Cole said they looked at and tried out several different horses, but just couldn’t find the right fit. It was then that Jason Martin suggested Vital Signs Are Good.

“Our plan is for Theresa to show her in the youth classes for 2010 and her last year in 2011,” Cole said. “She might try showing in horsemanship or trail, but that hasn’t really been decided a hundred percent yet.”

When asked about the possible expectations that come with purchasing a horse with such an extensive show career, Charlie said that he is just excited to have another great horse in the barn. He said that despite her success in the Amateur and Open divisions, “Lucy” has never been shown in Youth competition. This may give the already renown show mare a chance to prove herself in a completely different arena. Above all, Cole said that they want to keep “Lucy” happy and as fresh as she has always been.

Looking toward the future, Cole said that Joe Moran will definitely want to continue to flush embryos because “she has produced two Congress champions already and definitely has a lot to give back to the industry.”

On the other side of the deal, Jim Glover gave his opinion on the difficult decision that his family had to make when deciding to sell Vital Signs Are Good.

“We’ve been talking to Kristin about this for about a year,” Glover said. “Ever since she decided to get married, we realized that her time would be split somewhat. It was a long conversation and there was a lot to think about because she loved that mare as much as anyone could love a horse.”

Glover said that this was an ideal situation because the buyers are great people and their goals and ambitions won’t be super-aggressive for the horse.

In regards to the widespread speculation concerning the price of the mare, Glover said “she was a very expensive mare, but she went to a good home and that was one of the key things for Kristin. The terms of the sale are confidential, but Glover did comment that there was discussion of retaining embryos.

http://www.onlinedigitalpubs.com/publication/?i=5414&144&search_str=glover&search_str=glover&p=145

Things to do in Fort Worth and Oklahoma City (when you’re not at the horse show)

2009-10-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

If you’re planning on attending the Quarter Horse World Show in Oklahoma City, or the APHA Fall World Championship in Fort Worth, most of your time will probably be spent either at the show grounds or your local hotel room. However, if you do find yourself with a few free hours and are looking for something to do, please consult the following list of favorite attractions and restaurants in the area.

Fort Worth, Texas

Attractions:

• The Fort Worth Stockyards- 130 East Exchange Avenue

During the daytime you can watch the daily cattle drive down East Exchange Avenue or do a little shopping at one of the many galleries and boutiques along the main drag. Shops like the Leather Trading Co., The Cross-eyed Moose and Olde Tyme Mercantile offer leather goods, western memorabilia, and authentic western wear. If you’re more interested in what the local nightlife has to offer, you must visit Billy Bob’s of Texas, the world’s largest honky tonk. Other popular attractions include Pearl’s Dancehall and Saloon and The White Elephant.

• Fort Worth Botanical Gardens- 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard

The Botanical Gardens offers more than 2,100 acres of trails and garden exhibits. One featured exhibit is the Japanese Garden with lakes that are home to thousands of exotic Imperial Koi fish.

• Fort Worth Museum of Science and History- 1600 Gendy Street

Although the new museum building is still under construction and won’t be ready until late November, you can still see movies on the IMAX dome in the Omni Theater.

• National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame- 1720 Gendy Street

At this museum you can learn about famous horsewomen like Faye Blackstone and Louise Massey Mabie or try your hand at the simulated bucking bronc ride. Your ride is captured on tape and composited into footage from an old-time rodeo for a unique souvenir.

• Fort Worth Zoo- 1989 Colonial Parkway

Featuring over six thousand native and exotic species, the zoo also hosts many exhibits like the World of Primates, Koala Outback and Komodo Dragons.

Restaurants:

• Joe T. Garcia’s***- 2201 N Commerce Street

A mainstay in Fort Worth for over 60 years, this family owned restaurant serves up some of the best Mexican food in the area. The menu consists of only fajitas and enchiladas and you must pay in cash, but the outdoor eating area complete with garden space and fountains attracts so many patrons that the line for a table often goes around the whole block.

• Del Frisco’s****- 812 Main Street

Boasting a four-star rating from the Dallas Morning News, this legendary steak house is famous for its prime aged, corn feed beef and cold-water Australian lobster tails.

• The Silver Fox- 1651 S University Drive

Located just down the street from the show grounds, this steak and seafood restaurant has its own wine cellar with over 2,500 bottles of wine.

• Ol’ South Pancake House*- 1509 S University

Ol’ South has been family operated since 1962. Open 24 hours this breakfast spot is perfect for those times when the show doesn’t get over until 2 in the morning.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Attractions:

• Bricktown- accessible from I-40 and I-35 on the eastern border of downtown.

What was once an old warehouse neighborhood is now the main entertainment district of Oklahoma City. Offering restaurants, shopping, nightclubs and numerous entertainment options, Bricktown also features a canal running right through the middle of downtown. One main attraction is City Walk, a multi-club complex with nightlife spots like Posh, City Limits and Stooges.

• Water Taxi of Oklahoma- 300 E California Ave.

A great way to see what’s going on in Bricktown is to take a tour on one of these flat-bottomed boats through the canal. They run Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm and general admission price runs about $6.50.

• Frontier City Theme Park- I-35 N, exit 122nd street

This western style theme park covers 40 acres with roller coasters, water rides and entertainment for the whole family.

• National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum- 1700 NE 63rd

This popular attraction displays classic and contemporary western art, historical galleries and Prosperity Junction, a re-created authentic western town. Some of the exhibits include the American Cowboy Gallery, Western Performer’s Gallery and American Rodeo Gallery.

• Chisholm’s- 401 South Meridian

At this country western style saloon you can play “just for fun” blackjack, roulette and craps, or take a spin on the dance floor to the latest in country western music.

Restaurants:

• The Ranch Steakhouse*****- 3000 Britton Road

With an inviting old world atmosphere, this steakhouse offers trademark appetizers like blue cheese tournedos, blackened scallops and Texas 1015 onion rings. (405) 755-3501

• Trapper’s*- 4300 W Reno Ave.

The atmosphere of this Cajun seafood restaurant is truly one of a kind, featuring a tank with baby alligators and a full size canoe as part of the décor. Try the blackened alligator or squash rockefelller to complete the experience.

• Abuelo’s**- 17 E Sheridan Ave.

At this popular Bricktown Mexican restaurant you can get the traditional Mexican standbys like fajitas and enchiladas. However, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous try the Los Mejores de la Casa, filet medallions wrapped in bacon, and shrimp stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese and jalapeños.

EC BEST Restaurants of 2009 - Rating

An Elite Group *****
Good Local Flair *

Diamonds Made From Horse Hair

2009-10-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

To begin, I have to start by saying that this is not a joke. There are actually a select few companies around the world that claim to be able to create “memorial diamonds.” These jewels are called such because they are created by using the carbon that can be extracted from cremation ashes or hair.

When you think about it, the idea of manufacturing diamonds isn’t that far fetched. Since the 1950’s, scientists have been able to “grow” diamonds within a controlled laboratory setting. In nature, diamonds begin as carbon, which is compressed by the earth and heated to extremely high temperatures. Instead of waiting millions of years for nature to take its course, scientists have perfected the HPHT technique, or High Heat and High Pressure over Time, within a laboratory.

According to an article on TheHorse.com, a three-day event rider named Ronald Zabala-Goetschel is planning to have a diamond made from the hair of his horse, Che Mr. Wiseguy. The pair will be representing Ecuador at the World Equestrian Games next year. To read the remainder of the article please visit http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15124

Phoenix Diamonds, located in the United Kingdom, is a company on the forefront of new technology and research concerning laboratory-made diamonds. In fact, last year they created the world’s first diamond to be produced from carbon in the umbilical cord of a baby.

Phoenix insists that these man-made diamonds are not fake, but have all of the same properties as traditional mined diamonds. On the company’s website they even offer diamond certification by the UK Assay office to ensure that the diamond you receive is real and not cubic zirconium or moissanite.

They say the process itself takes about 12-14 weeks, which can vary depending on the size and color of the diamond being created. The most common color is canary, but they can also make diamonds in shades of blue, white, amber, green and red. The size ranges from .25 to 2 carats depending on the amount of original material provided.

Approximately 100 grams of cremation ash or 35-40 grams of hair is required to produce a canary diamond and 500 grams of ash or 100 grams of hair is needed for a blue diamond.

And now, comes the question of cost. To my surprise, Phoenix’s memorial diamonds do not cost as much as one might think. While specific rates may vary, the base-rate cost of a brilliant cut canary is 5950 UK pounds per carat, or approximately 10,950 USD. The base-rate for a blue diamond is 10,950 UK pounds per carat, or 18,179 USD.

For more information you can visit Phoenix Diamond’s website at phoenix-diamonds.com or their blog at phoenix-diamonds.blogspot.com.

The Psychology of Conformity

2009-10-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

As I sat in my social psychology class yesterday, something the professor said caught my attention. The lecture was on the psychology of conformity, and more specifically how being part of a group can influence an individual to act or think differently than that person might do if he or she were alone. In this way, conformity is not just acting or thinking as others do, but also involves a change in behavior or beliefs as a result of real or imagined group pressure.

I thought about the correlation this might have to showing, judging and the horse industry in general. Because the experience of showing horses revolves around the objective opinions of a select few, the effect of conformity on people in group settings might be a phenomenon worth taking a look at.

A person can publicly conform, or be compliant, which means that he or she publicly conforms to an expectation or request, but may still privately disagree. On the other hand, a person can privately conform and actually internalize or accept the beliefs of others as his or her own.

Many different experiments have been done that examine the psychology behind conformity, but one in particular I found to be very interesting. Solomon Asch did the study in 1951.

The basic setup involved seven people who sat together at a table and were shown 18 different cards. On each card there were four vertical lines of different lengths. One line was called the standard line and the other three were labeled A, B and C. The job of each person at the table was to pick whether the A, B or C line was the closest in length to the standard line. On each card the lengths of the lines changed, so on the first card the correct answer could be C and on the second card the correct answer could be A, and so on. The pictures on the cards were drawn so that the correct answer would be fairly obvious.

The experimenter would show the group the first card and starting with person number one, each person would give their answer in order, from person number one to person number seven. What the seventh person didn’t know is that the other six were in on the experiment. Before the experiment began, the six participants were instructed as to what answers they should give to what questions. On six of the eighteen cards they were told to give the correct answer. On the remaining twelve cards they were told to each give the same incorrect answer.

So, let’s say the correct answer to card number one was A, then each person would give their answers in order from person one to person seven. If written down it would look like this: correct answer- A #1-A, #2-A, #3-A, #4-A, #5-A, #6-A, #7-A. If by chance, card number two was one of those where the six people were instructed to give the wrong answer it might look like this: correct answer- B #1-C, #2-C, #3-C, #4-C, #5-C, #6-C, #7-?. Would the seventh person give the obvious correct answer of B, or the follow the group and give the incorrect answer of C?

The goal of this experiment was to see if someone would purposefully give the incorrect answer in order to conform to the group. The original predication was that the seventh person would always give the actual correct answer and never the incorrect one just to conform to the group. However, the actual results showed that 37% of the time the seventh person would go along with the other six people and purposefully give the incorrect answer.

It is important to remember that the cards were designed in such a way so that the answer would be pretty obvious, so it is safe to assume that the seventh person was well aware of the correct answer and just chose to give the wrong one. Now 37% may not seem like such a large number, but when the original prediction was that the seventh person would conform 0% of the time, the results are significant. Also, if you round 37% to 40% then one could say that almost half of the time the seventh person knowingly gave the incorrect answer to conform to the group.

To test whether or not the seventh person truly knew the correct answer, at the experiment’s end, the other six people would be dismissed and the seventh person would be asked to go through the 18 cards one more time. The seventh person gave the correct answer 100% of the time.

When asked later why they gave the wrong answers when they were in the group setting, the responses included, “I didn’t want to appear different,” and “I was worried about what others would think.”

I’m not sure if this is just me, but I found these results to be kind of shocking. To think that almost half of the time a person knowingly gave the wrong answer just to be like everyone else is a little disturbing.

Now granted, our system for judging horses is much more objective than the line length test, therefore determining the “correct answer” when placing a class would be much harder to pinpoint. However, it did give me a new perspective on how easily people can be influenced to make the wrong decision when they are in a group setting.

As a side note, experimenters noticed that people were much more likely to conform when the group had 3-4 people instead of 7. It kind of makes you wonder how this phenomenon might affect our “3-4 person” groups within the world of horse showing…

Texas Department of Agriculture proposes new rules concerning Texas Equine Incentive Program

2009-10-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

Gene Richards, Assistant Commissioner for Marketing and Promotion, says that for the first five years the proposed rules are in effect, the benefit will be to provide an incentive for owners of Texas-bred horses to enter foals in Texas horse events.

He hopes that this will encourage further development of the horse industry in Texas and enhance the quality of certain breeds of Texas-bred horses.

Richards says that the collection of incentive fees from owners of stallions will lead to an increase in state revenue. That actual increase will be based on the number of breeders of Quarter, Paint and Appaloosa horses whose stallions have bred more than five mares during the 12 month period preceding the filing of a breeders report with their respective breed associations.

The owners of eligible stallions will initially pay a $30 fee to the program per mare bred.

In order for a foal to be eligible for the program it must have been bred in Texas, the foal’s stallion must stand stud in Texas during the entire breeding season, the mare must conceive and foal in Texas and a registration report must be filed with the TDA.

Beginning on January 1, 2011, a point system will commence for the granting of incentive awards to be paid to the owners of eligible foals. The amount and type of incentive awards will be based on the funds that are available on a calendar year basis.

For the owner of a foal to receive incentive awards, the foal must be a Texas-bred horse, the program fee must have been paid, the foal must participate in Texas horse events, the foal must be at least two years old to accrue points for sanctioned events other than racing, and the foal must be at least three years old to accrue points in racing events.

Participation in this program is not mandatory, however the owner of a stallion that has bred six or more mares in the 12 months preceding the breeding report may elect not to participate in the program by submitting a written notice to TDA 30 days before the breeding report is due. If you are an owner of a stallion that has bred six or more mares and you choose not to participate in the program, please complete and return the Opt Out Form before Oct. 31. This form will serve as written notice to the agency that you do not wish to participate in the program, allowing you to opt out for one year. A new form must be filled out each year you choose to opt out.

The earliest possible date of adoption for this program would be November 8, 2009.

Texas stallions owners are encouraged to visit www.texasagriculture.gov/equineincentive to read the full text of the proposed rules, look over the frequently asked questions and access the forms to opt in or opt out of the program.

If you have any questions regarding the Texas Equine Incentive Program you can contact Amanda Lyles, state marketing coordinator for livestock, at (512) 463-7560 or TexasLivestock@TexasAgriculture.gov

Any comments on the proposed rules of the program should be submitted in writing to Gene Richards

Assistant Commissioner for Marketing and Promotion

Texas Department of Agriculture 

P.O. Box 12847 

Austin, Texas 78711.

Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register, which was October 9^th.

John Ward Earns Million Dollar Rider Status

2009-10-13T05:33:00.000-07:00

The National Reined Cow Horse Association honored John Ward as the newest Million Dollar Rider at the opening ceremonies of this year’s Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Finals.
Along with receiving the signature memorial Carol Owens bronze, Ward joined the ranks of previous Million Dollar riders like Bob Avila, Ted Robinson and Jon Roeser.
Ward won his second NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity title on the home-bred Black Pearl in 2008. His first championship was ten years earlier with Masteroani.
When Ward was notified of his new Million Dollar Rider status he said, “This is great! That means that no matter how I do at the Futurity, I still get a prize on Sunday!”
A big congratulations also goes to Ted Robinson, Pat Hubbert, Jon Semper, Smokum Oak and Jernigan Peake on being inducted into the NRCHA Hall of Fame.

Stolen Paint Horse Found After Year-Long Search

2009-10-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Maximum Reflections, better known as Max, was taken from his pasture in Flat Rock, Illinois, August 23, 2008, leaving Keith Caughran’s stepdaughter, Kaitlynn, devastated. Since that time, Caughran has done everything possible to help locate the horse, from buying a computer and learning to navigate the Internet, to offering his truck as a reward.
   A few days after Max’s theft, Caughran filed a report with Stolen Horse International on their web site, NetPosse.com. This is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to public education regarding stolen and missing horses, and assistance in recovering those horses. After a stolen horse is reported, a personal webpage is posted on NetPosse.com, allowing the public to quickly find contact information and learn of updates in a case. Then, a flyer is created and an IDAHO Alert, the equine version of an AMBER Alert, is issued. NetPosse volunteers network via the Internet with horse owners and equine communities to notify people about the stolen or missing horse.
    “We actively work around the clock and follow countless leads for the horses listed on the site,” says Debi Metcalfe, founder of the program. “That one call makes every moment of worry and wonder worth it for the horse owner and for our volunteers. This is why we do what we do.”
   A year ago, SHI issued a press release pleading for Max’s return in which Keith said, “Our family is just stunned. We cannot believe he is gone.” Kaitlynn said, “I cannot concentrate in school, focus on homework, watch TV or even go to sleep without thinking about him. He was my best friend and my whole life.”
   Since experiencing the loss of Max, the Caughran family never gave up hope that they would one day find Kaitlynn's. The family was at a horse show on Sunday when they received the call.
   “We were all crying,” Susan Caughran says. “We just couldn’t believe that after all this time we finally got the call we had been waiting for.”
   It turns out that Kim Gully of Springfield, Mo. bought Max about a month ago through an advertisement on Craigslist. Gully’s cousin saw a stolen horse flyer with a picture of Max this weekend at Farmfest, an event at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. Gully says she knew that buying a horse over the Internet had its risks, but she never dreamed that she was buying a stolen horse for her 7 year-old daughter MacKenzie. After a brief Internet search, Kim’s fears were confirmed as she found out the rest of the story about her daughter’s new horse.
   The Caughran family is so thrilled to be getting Max back that they are giving MacKenzie another horse as a replacement.
   “I always thought Max would be found. I personally never gave up and encouraged Susan and Keith to do the same, especially when there seemed to be no hope,” Metcalfe says. “As I would expect, Keith and Susan have a mixture of emotions. It has been 58 weeks and they never gave up, nor did Stolen Horse International.”
   However, Metcalfe points out that the Caughran’s aren’t the only victims in this case. The Gully’s are suffering, too, as they prepare to part with Max.
   It is estimated that thousands of horses go missing each year. But, with the help of volunteers through NetPosse.com, there is hope for other victims like the Caughran’s.
    NetPosse’s Executive Coordinator Angela Kirby says she was astounded to see the rodeo grounds in her hometown of Montgomery, Ala., plastered with Max’s flyers last March.
    “I am sometimes amazed by the outpouring of support victims receive from horse owners across the country, but it is so reassuring,” Kirby says. “We always tell these horse owners not to give up no matter how many days or weeks have passed.”
   To help reunite other families with their missing and stolen horses you can visit www.netposse.com. Anyone can print a flyer to post in areas like feed or tack stores, auction barns, restaurants or even convenience stores. You don’t have to be a horse owner to help. 

For more on Max and his homecoming, visit: http://netposse.com/stolenmissing/MaxIL stolenAug08.htm

You can contact Debi Metcalfe for more information at 704-484-2165, PO Box 1341 Shelby, NC 28151, stolenhorse@netposse.com.

Driftwood Horses

2009-10-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

If you are a horse lover, you have probably received a mass e-mail featuring Heather Jansch’s artwork. This talented sculptor/artist, located southwest of the United Kingdom, utilizes her fourteen acres of lush woodland to provide inspiration for her life-sized horse sculptures.

“I use landscape to create new things without restriction,” Jansch says. “It is an exciting ongoing sculptural project in its own right.”

After seeking the advice of international artist and teacher, Arthur Giadelli, Jansch was inspired to use her combined love of horses, the country and creating artwork with natural materials to develop a style that was truly her own. Jansch says the idea came “out of the blue, it came in on the tide.”

She uses driftwood her assistant collects from beaches, along with other wood from riverbanks, woodlands and generous local estates.

“Driftwood is often a mix of soft woods and so it is not always durable,” she says. “It is fine for small interior works, or for pieces that will be cast in bronze. If a piece is for exterior display, it needs to be made from dense hardwood like oak.”

She says each sculpture is different, and as a result, can require its own innovative means of construction. However, Jansch views the occasional complication as a blessing in disguise.

“My best work often comes when my creativity is stretched,” she says. “New challenges, experiments, possibilities and ideas are what keep me alive.”

The larger life-sized sculptures have a steel frame, which is coated in fiberglass, to help disguise the steel and stop the wood from slipping once it is first held into position for Jansch to see. Then, each piece of wood is tied with wire and screwed into the frame with stainless steel screws. Wood filler and stain conceals the metal screws and preserves the natural feel of the driftwood.

Jansch says that sometimes it can be difficult to utilize such a rigid material to recreate muscle tone and the curves of a horse’s conformation.

“It can be excruciatingly difficult,” Jansch says. “Especially when using oak, which I guess is why few people work this way, but I have many years of experience and a great assistant with good muscles and I use power tools.”

The hooves of the driftwood horses are made out of either recycled copper or lead. If someone intends to display a piece outside, Jansch recommends that it be treated annually with preservative, much as one would spray a garden fence.

“I cannot say exactly how long they will last, but there are still Elizabethan timber frame houses standing,” she says.

While Jansch typically doesn’t create a sculpture with a certain breed in mind, many of her pieces do evoke an Arabian sensibility, with good reason.

“I keep Arabians; they are hardy and agile,” she says. “I ride badly and do not compete, but my horses are ridden barefoot and bitless.”

Jansch says she does not publicize her prices because there is great variation when it comes to the size and complexity of a piece. Currently, there is a waiting list for privately commissioned sculptures.

However, her gallery and sculpture garden are open to the public each year in September, when over a thousand plus visitors flock to the United Kingdom to have the opportunity to see the driftwood equines.

She also has a book available which utilizes a diary format to take the reader through a year in the life of an artist.

“The book is an intimate window into my creative life. It was a hugely enjoyable adventure that resulted in a book with a very handmade feel. In diary form, it takes the reader through a typical year richly illustrated with drawings and photos of my work in the stunning landscape that inspired them.”

While it is not yet available outside the United Kingdom, Jansch’s book can be purchased on her website, www.heatherjansch.com.

Cutting Horse Virgin

2009-09-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

I went to my first cutting finals this evening at Silverado on the Brazos in Weatherford, Texas. Now I have to admit that despite my 13 some odd years of showing horses, I am definitely a cutting horse virgin. I know that it involves horses and cows, but beyond that, I have very little knowledge of this side of the horse world. However, from watching videos and speaking to a few top competitors I have learned a little something.

To begin, a horse and rider get two and a half minutes to exhibit their skill at separating two to three cows from the herd. Secondly, a run can be judged on criteria like correctness, eye appeal and amount of time actually spent cutting each cow. Thirdly, they compete for a whole lot more money than we do.(Meaning the pleasure horse industry in general) In fact, someone once told me that the cutting horse business is a close second to thoroughbred racing, when it comes to amount of money produced and transferred within the industry. I believe the figure reaches approximately $35 million in prize money given out per year. At the Brazos Bash this week, there will be $285,000 in added money up for grabs to those who can combine their superior skill and technique with some cooperative cows, a willing horse and a whole lot of luck. Now when you divide that up per capita, per cow, per cut, there’s a lot at stake when entering the pen for those two and a half minutes, or 150 seconds, whichever way you look at it.

But don’t be mistaken, it isn’t all about the money. On the contrary, even with a lot more at stake, the cutters seem to have developed much more camaraderie with each other than another other equine discipline I have been a part of. In fact, I felt more welcome there, than at some of the horse shows I have been going to for years. Now granted, this could be attributed to the fact that I enter their world as a spectator and not an exhibitor. However, my personal opinion is that they seem to have written the book on how to compete and (Gasp) socially interact with each other in a friendly manner.

Case in point, when a cutter goes to the herd to select his first cow, he/she has about four other riders in the pen serving as the “turn back” crew. Their job it is to help contain the rest of the herd, help the competitor locate his/her cow of choice and generally to give the competitor his/her best chance at performing successfully. Now, each competitor can select the people who will be in his/her turn back crew, but more often than not, these riders are competing in the same classes with each other. Therefore, the scenario is often that one person may complete their run and turn right back around and go in the pen to help their competitor as part of their turn back crew. That’s right people, I did say help their competitor. While this idea may seem foreign to some, it seems to be working quite well for the people in the cutting industry and might be something interesting we each could try implementing in our own respective disciplines.

Another observation is that cutters generally do not wear numbers. The order of go is often posted the day before and each rider and horse combination is announced as they enter the pen to work. Now, some people might think that this practice could increase the likelihood of judges playing politics, where the big name riders receive leniency or favoritism. However, there are two additional methods that are used to counteract the possibility of nepotism. First, cutting is a scored event, which serves to eliminate much of the objectivity in the first place. Second, judges sit high atop a white platform (an ivory tower if you will) each in his/her own little cubicle when the scoring takes place. At the end of each run, the judges’ scores are tabulated and immediately posted on a scoreboard. While no system is without its flaws, this procedure seems to keep most people happy.

One of the best parts is to watch these athletic equines crouch down on all fours and contort their bodies into seemingly impossible positions to prevent a cow from escaping back to their bovine buddies. It’s no wonder these animals are likened to being as “smooth as a cat.” Action photographs or slow motion video taken head on exhibit this view to the utmost. It’s truly incredible to see a horse rocked back with its hocks buried in the dirt ready to launch in either direction at any imperceptible movement of the cow.

As far as results are concerned, tonight’s winner of the three year old open was Phil Rapp on Iced Out with a score of 220. Rapp’s check was for $17,500.00. Winning reserve was Clint Allen riding Chiefs Hawkeye with a 219. In the five and six year old open, Jason Clark on Wise Little Miss won and Paul Hansma with Cats Little Tank was reserve. Clark took home a check for $20,000.

Be sure to stay tuned to receive updates from the Brazos Bash during this week. Who knows, maybe this die hard all-around competitor might add a new event to her repertoire…

Uncommon Courtesy

2009-09-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Okay everyone, this is less of an informational/interview type blog than it is a commentary on a trend I have been noticing at recent shows. For anyone who has been showing horses for a long time, or just beginning for that matter, the hectic and often stressful experience of trying to warm-up before a class is a familiar one. Especially when the time for western pleasure rolls around, the warm-up pen can be an intimidating place. It is often a daunting experience to round the corner to the arena, only to be assaulted by a barrage of sequins or an onslaught of rhinestones as riders lope toward each other in opposite directions, stopping, turning, spinning, backing and jerking. It’s enough to make your head spin.

Now this is obviously something we can’t avoid, that is unless there were multiple warm-up pens all within equal distance to the show ring allowing for more than enough room for every exhibitor to prepare for their class. (If someone ever finds this magical show grounds please let me know) However, there are a few simple guidelines exhibitors can follow to help make the experience within the warm-up pen a much more positive, productive and safe one for all horses and riders involved.

Depending on each person’s experience level, age of their horse and trainer’s instructions, everyone goes into those last five minutes before show time with different priorities in mind. This often results in a scene akin to that of a psychotic carousel with horses going left and right, having repeated near miss collisions. You know what I’m talking about, the kind where you swerve just in time, but can’t avoid sideswiping the other person with your stirrup? Now I’m not saying I have never been guilty of this offense myself, because I have. My trainer has repeatedly accused me of using my horse like a bulldozer. But, I think that as a self-professed occasional “bad driver,” I have come to realize the importance of paying attention to where I am going.

As my trainer likes to say, or shout rather, “there’s no money on the ground, so look where you’re going,” or “even if you stare at its head long enough it’s not going to go where you want it to.”

So, I thought I would share a few of my own tips which help to minimize the number of head on collisions my horse and I are involved in. First, it is unavoidable that people are going to travel in different directions when they don’t have an announcer to guide them. Therefore, whenever possible, I try to “go with the flow,” of traffic that is. If everyone is going to the right, follow suit. More often than not the majority of the pack will decide when it is time to change directions. And please, it doesn’t help the situation to scream at the top of your lungs that you plan to change directions. (I have actually encountered this on more than one occasion). Generally, it just makes people mad enough that they will continue going the same way just to spite you. However, there is nothing wrong with politely asking a few people to join you in changing directions so everyone else might follow your lead.

Secondly, if you can reach out and touch fingertips with the person riding next to you, you are too close. There should be, at the very least, twice that distance between you and any other rider. I am aware that horses are pack animals and generally like other horses, but riding or passing someone that close is just asking for trouble. When in doubt, ride further away. This applies whether you are riding towards someone or traveling in the same direction. Unless your last name is Earnhardt you shouldn’t be passing that close.

When it comes to the number of people packed into a warm-up pen, less is always more. Please use common sense to help you decide when you need to head up to the pen. Probably ten classes before is a little excessive. I always follow this rule; if your class is going in before mine, you have priority. That means for rail space, choice of direction, etc. But, I do expect people to give me the same courtesy as well.

Now picture this scenario. Two riders are loping along on the rail in different directions as they get closer and closer, neither one is willing to relinquish their coveted rail spot. Sometimes I just sit back and watch as people go around and around “playing chicken” with every person they meet. Now if we were riding in bumper cars this might be great fun. However, I don’t think any horse appreciates being jerked to a halt when it comes nose to nose with another animal just because both pilots are being stubborn. I generally try to follow the “every other time” rule. If I get off the rail for you once, then the next time around you should get off the rail for me. Obviously this isn’t a perfect solution, but it seems to help minimize the chances of being in a head on collision. There are a few exceptions though. Always get off the rail for children and novice riders. If someone is having that much trouble getting around the pen, don’t make matters worse by hogging the rail just because you can.

Just think, if everyone followed these simple rules what a safer and less traumatic experience warming up before a class would be.

Eye-D: The First Portable Equine Iris Identification System

2009-09-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

At first glance, this new technology might sound like something out of a science fiction movie. However, Mark Clifton, the vice president of products and services at the Sarnoff Corporation, says the development of the GAM-Cam will revolutionize animal identification within the equine industry. The GAM-Cam will be part of the animal identification solution, Eye-D™.
            “Animal identification is not nearly as efficient or as simple as it needs to be,” Clifton says. “We are pleased to join forces with Global Animal Management and apply our many decades of research and expertise in iris recognition technology to develop the GAM-Cam for the equine industry.”
            Global Animal Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and market a non-invasive biometric iris animal identification system. They will be working in conjunction with Iristrac, LLC, a Kentucky-based animal identification company.
            “We are delighted to provide this technology to GAM,” says Daniel E. Stewart, chairman and co-founder of Iristrac. “We have spent the last ten years researching and developing this technology. GAM has built the highway that this product needs to run on, and we look forward to working with them to bring iris identification to the equine industry.”
            The GAM-Cam, is a portable device that will capture the image of a horse’s iris with a low visibility infrared light source. The non-invasive device will help reduce the amount of stress on horses that can be brought on by present methods of identification, like tattooing and microchipping.
            “The GAM-Cam will allow users to quickly and accurately identify horses without undue stress on the animal,” says Jim Heinle, president of Global Animal Managment. “The non-invasiveness of this device will present a friendlier method of animal identification compared to more invasive methods, and in turn, will help protect the health and well-being of the horse.”
            The GAM-Cam uses the unique features of an animal iris to establish an identification code in much the same way that iris identification has been perfected for humans. The technology has been of recent worldwide interest by helping to develop a non-invasive, accurate, low cost alternative to microchips, tattoos and phenotypic markings currently used by animal owners.
            “Accessible and fraud resistant methods of identifying horses will facilitate a more uniform standard upon which the equine industry can build data and valuable information services,” Heinle says. “The Eye-D solution will enable transactions, registrations, health management and related industry management practices.”
     The Eye-D solution incorporating the GAM-Cam will be on the market in late 2010.

Troy Oakley Health Update

2009-09-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

As of this morning, Vicki Oakley reports that Troy’s condition is slowly, but steadily improving.

A little over a month ago, the entire horse community was shocked to hear that renowned Quarter horse trainer Troy Oakley had been rushed to Baylor Heart Center in Plano, Texas with symptoms resembling a heart attack. Only later did doctors discover that Oakley was suffering from a Type A aortic dissection. After six hours in surgery and eight days in intensive care, Oakley was discharged and is now back at his home in North Carolina.

“He is much better, but he is very weak,” Vicki says. “I think his pain is getting better and right now his weakness is probably holding him back more than anything.”

She says that Oakley is able to walk around the house some everyday, as long as he feels able.

“I think he is out of the woods now,” Vicki says. “The main priority is keeping his blood pressure under control.”

Vicki says that stabilizing his blood pressure is the chief concern of his doctors. According to a description given by the Columbia University Medical Center, “an aortic dissection, or dissecting aneurysm, is a tear within the inner lining of the aorta.”

The type of aortic dissection Oakley suffered from is considered to be the more common, but more dangerous of the two. This is because a Type A dissection occurs in the ascending aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies the brain. While a Type A is considered to be a surgical emergency, with a mortality rate of 3-5% per hour after the initial onset, Type B, which involves a tear in the descending aorta, can be treated with medication.

“What they repaired was the large aorta headed towards the brain,” Vicki says. “Now the aorta going toward his stomach is weak, but they can’t repair that, they can just control it with blood pressure medication.”

As far as a timeline for his recovery is concerned, doctors predict Oakley will be able to return to normal activities in two or three more months, Vicki says.

“He has improved a lot, he just doesn’t think so,” Vicki says. “But I can see him getting better.”

In fact, Vicki reports that Oakley has been catching up on his football as a way to alleviate the boredom of bed rest.

Vicki also commented on the outpouring of support their family has received from the horse community.

“We have had so many calls and letters, it makes you feel good that people you haven’t heard from for years are calling to see how he is doing,” Vicki says. “You don’t realize how much you need that or how much it means to you until it happens.”

More Monkey Business

2009-09-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

What kind of animals would you expect to see at a horse show? Horses? Definitely. Dogs? More than likely. But monkeys? Well, no one would’ve ever imagined such a thing, that is until now.
            If you frequent some of the major Paint horse shows in the Texas area you have probably become acquainted with Tohni Jones of Trademark Ranch and her one-year-old Capuchin monkey named Romo. Thanks to this modern day Dian Fossey, the sight of a tiny primate perched atop a horse has become a familiar one for Paint horse exhibitors.
            Jones says she has always had monkeys and currently operates her own wildlife rehab center just outside of Wise County, Texas. As a federally licensed rehabilitation specialist with a degree in zoology, the animals she treats include lions, tigers, baboons, cougars, owls and even snakes.
            “The animals we get are the ones that people have purchased for pets, that are now ill or that need to be pulled out of a zoo,” Jones says. “The goal is always to put the animals back into the wild.”
            However, Jones found herself in a difficult situation about a year ago, when a very sick 10 day old Capuchin monkey came to her rehab center.
            “I had him on me 24/7 for the first couple of months because baby monkeys need to cling to their mothers,” Jones says.
            After spending so much time with him, it soon became clear to Jones that since this baby monkey had become so attached to her, he would be better suited as a pet as opposed to being rehabilitated and returned to the wild.
            “His name was going to be Romeo,” Jones says. “But monkeys don’t do well with three syllable names and my husband really likes the Dallas Cowboys, so I named him Romo.”
            In fact, Romo is often seen proudly sporting his diaper cover with the trademark Texas star, perhaps to pay homage to his namesake, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
            Because Romo was so sick for the first few weeks of his life, Jones says he will probably only grow to be four pounds rather than the typical six to ten pound range common for Capuchins.
            Up until just recently, Romo was the only monkey in Jones’s life. However, with the addition of a new member to the family, Romo will have to share the spotlight from now on. Jones recently put in an order at a private breeder for a four month old female Capuchin, but what she received was a four week old baby who was so sick that she could hardly hold her head up. Jones says that she considered sending the tiny female back, but couldn’t once she looked into her “big seal eyes.”
            Romo’s new little sister Risky has already found her place alongside her big brother traveling around in the family motor home to local horse shows. When the pair isn’t in their two story cage at the front of Jones’s stalls, they spend their time in a playpen in the motor home.       “They’re just like having children,” Jones says. “Romo likes to string toilet paper throughout the motor home and on the way to the show he pulled all of the wet naps out of container and spread them all over the bedroom.”
            Jones says that Capuchins won’t chew up your shoes and destroy things, like some dogs do. However, they do like to hide things from you, she says.
            Capuchins are the closest primate to humans, because they are the smartest and easiest to communicate with, Jones says. This breed of monkey is often used in the military to sneak into enemy camps to send messages to prisoners of war, and even as a service animal to help handicap people by brushing their owner’s teeth and microwaving food.
            In fact, Jones is very proud of the fact that on October 10^th Romo will receive his service animal vest and be able to accompany her everywhere she goes. The preliminary animal service training begins when a monkey receives its vest and is taken into the public so it can get used to being around people, she says. The goal is to teach them not to constantly seek the attention of others.
            “They are not like apes or other larger primates,” Jones says. “They don’t have super human strength and think more independently than apes do.”
            As far as Romo’s diet is concerned, Jones says that he eats meat, vegetables and fruit, but definitely prefers McDonald’s cheeseburgers to his monkey chow. Romo also drinks two bottles of baby formula a day and Risky gets her bottle every three hours.
            Looking toward the future, Capuchin monkeys have a life span of 40 to 50 years, so Jones has prepared by developing a trust fund for both monkeys and selecting guardians to care for them.
            While Romo does have many admirers at the horse shows, there are a few people who have expressed concern about the possible dangers of having a monkey around horses.
            “He is out at the barn and rides with me every day,” Jones says. “I have never had a horse be scared of him; he is more scared of them.”
            She says that Romo likes to ride with her as long as he is securely tucked inside her sweatshirt, but would never jump off because then he would have to actually touch a horse.
            “They chirp like a bird,” she says. “So if your horse isn’t afraid of birds, it won’t be afraid of a monkey.”
            Jones believes that Romo thoroughly enjoys going to horse shows and would be devastated if she ever left him at home.
            “If he sees me packing he pulls on my leg and throws himself down on the floor,” she says. “He doesn’t like to be left behind.”

Waco, Texas Wrap-up

2009-09-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

According to reports from the “Warm-up for the APHA Fall World Championship Show” in Waco this weekend, several people will be filling out judge’s evaluation forms to comment on what they believe to be the unsatisfactory performance of a few judges.

As the last day of the show came to a close, the barns were a buzz of activity as a number of people passed out judge’s evaluation forms and insisted that exhibitors and trainers fill in their own comments on the judge’s performance and send them in to APHA.

Some of the complaints included a judge making inappropriate comments to youth exhibitors, setting up patterns incorrectly and numerous instances where cards had to be sent back down to the judges because some exhibitor numbers that were written down weren’t in the class.

Additionally, people commented on the questionable placing of several classes, a judge who altered his/her positioning in a showmanship class to accommodate different horses, a judge who asked an exhibitor his/her opinion about the setting up of a pattern and even allowed an exhibitor, who was competing in the class, to physically assist in the setting up of a pattern.

It is important to note that the opinions about the judges performance included within this blog are not those of the author or of The Equine Chronicle in general, but of the individuals who volunteered the information for this blog.

Another hot topic from the Waco show was the final results of the Super Horse Competition. The winner, who received a saddle, was Chris Schoeneburg with Instant Cowgirl. The second place exhibitor, who also received a saddle, was Chris Schoeneburg with Pepto Flyer.

Waco, Texas

2009-09-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

Due to the storm that has been showering Waco with rain of biblical proportions, the power went out at the Heart of Texas Fairgrounds last night. Or this morning rather, since it was 12:30 am. While one unlucky working cowhorse exhibitor was completing his reining pattern, the lights went off and didn't come back on until 4:30 am. As a result of this unexpected power outage, the remaining cowhorse, reining and speed classes that were unable to be completed last night started back at 7:00 this morning. Therefore, the halter that was supposed to start this morning will be delayed for approximately 2-3 hours until last night's classes can be completed. Oh, the excitement that comes along with showing horses!

A recap of yesterday's results for the second set of judges, Betty Wilson and Jim Mulhausen, is as follows. Earnest Wilson and JR Smokin Bear won the All Age Cutting, Kaden King and Fax Me A Sock won the Novice Youth Trail, Sherie Elsey and Forever N Ever won the Novice Amateur Trail, and Amanda Ringer and Timeless Assets won the Junior Trail.

Stay tuned to see what the weather will bring, and other exciting updates from the "Warm-up for The APHA Fall World Championship Show," in Waco, Texas ...

2x2 show in Waco, Texas

2009-09-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

With the APHA World Championship Fall Show a little less than two months away, many Paint horse exhibitors chose to attend the first ever "2x2 show," in Waco, Texas. The event is organized by the combined efforts of the Texas Paint Horse Club and the Northeast Texas Paint Horse Club. By combining the two club's shows, exhibitors are able to squeeze two full show days into the three day weekend. Our referees for this show are Sherry Haynes, Michael Jesch, Jim Mulhausen and Betty Wilson.

One of the highlights for this weekend is the "2x2 Super Horse" competition. For exhibitors who show in halter and at least three different performance categories, the possible prizes include saddles for both Highpoint and Reserve Highpoint and buckles for 3rd through 6th place.

Today's competitors had the option of showing in halter, showmanship, hunter under saddle, over fences, equitation, longeline, horsemanship, western riding and speed classes. A recap of today's results is as follows: Paige Stawicki with HR Zip Me won both the 18 and under and Open Hunter Under Saddle classes, Brittany Bevis and Its All Bhindthe Zipr won the Amateur 19-44 showmanship, Jan Wolfe and Illustrated Zippo won the Amateur 45 &over showmanship, and Linda Hill and Zipped Up Rockies won the Amateur 45 &over Horsemanship.

On the slate for tommorrow's schedule is western pleasure, reining, cowhorse, two sets of trail and more speed classes. Sunday features a complete show day, minus trail. Stay tuned for more results and an update on who is leading the Super Horse Competition...