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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.