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.

Cutting Horse Virgin

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

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

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.