Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i Practical Horseman

The other day I was riding my 20-yearold off-the-track Thoroughbred, Merlot, and tentatively picked up the canter. After several strides, he gave a small stumble up front. As he caught his balance, he let out a little squeal and buck, the kind that seemed to say, “I just don’t know what to do with this energy!” I gave a bittersweet chuckle at his antics. As his breeding suggests, Merlot loves to run, but I’m pretty sure our cantering days together are numbered, if not over. With the help of my vet, I’ve been managing his arthritis for a few years, but the stumbling has gotten to the point where I’m no longer that comfortable cantering him. As the introduction to our article about preparing for your horse’s golden years says…

Based at Fox Covert Farm, in Upperville, Virginia, Jim Wofford competed in three Olympics and two World Championships and won the U.S. National Championship five times. He is also a highly respected coach. For more on Jim, go to www.jimwofford.blogspot.com. A touch of blarney” is an old Irish expression used to describe someone with a slight tendency to exaggerate and embellish the facts of the matter. There is a stone mounted high in the battlements of Blarney Castle in County Cork called the Stone of Eloquence, and legend says one who kisses that stone will be blessed with “blarney.” I have kissed the Blarney Stone three times, which explains my tendency to … well, you know. Blarney was on my mind recently, as I had been invited to judge at…

When starting a young dressage horse under saddle, you can never be sure how he’ll turn out in the end. You may have great hopes for an exceptionally talented 3- or 4-year-old, only to discover that he lacks the character and willingness necessary to reach the upper levels. At the other extreme, a youngster who doesn’t look like a potential champion may surprise you by blossoming into a superstar. The range of possible combinations of personalities and talents is as diverse among horses as it is among humans. There are very talented people who are lazy and have no drive to succeed. And there are extremely hard-working people with limited talent. Some people have both talent and drive; some have neither. Horses are just the same. Whatever combination of qualities…

Equine Cushing’s disease (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or PPID) affects roughly 15 to 33 percent of senior horses. The disease affects the pituitary gland, a master gland that orchestrates the production of the hormones that regulate body functions. And like equine metabolic syndrome (which often appears in younger horses), it involves insulin resistance, a condition that makes it hard for the horse to process carbohydrates in feed and puts him at high risk for laminitis and other serious health problems. “It’s critical that people understand how to properly diagnose PPID and insulin resistance in older horses, so they can get the horse on the correct treatment and nutritional regimens to prevent all the ugly things that come with these disorders,” Dr. Adams says. Watch for early signs of PPID: ■…

Q I’m a 6-foot-2 Training-level eventer shopping for a new horse. Even though I seem to fit tall, big-bodied horses best, I really like the athleticism and adjustability of some smaller horses. My legs are so long, though, that I find it difficult to use them properly on their narrower sides, especially when my stirrups are long for dressage. Do you have any tips for using my legs more effectively on a smaller horse? JONATHAN HOLLING A Don’t give up yet on finding a horse who suits both your size and type preferences. Plenty of big horses are as athletic and handy as small horses. In fact, one of my former Advanced-level horses, Zatopek B, is a 16.3-hand Dutch Warmblood and the most athletic, quick-footed horse I’ve ever sat on.…

Inaugural Grand Slam Triumph for Brash After winning the $1.5 Million Canadian Pacific International, presented by Rolex, at the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament CSIO***** in Calgary, Canada, September 13, Great Britain’s Scott Brash became the first rider in history to successfully claim the challenging Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The Grand Slam is a three-event series also consisting of the CHI***** Geneva and CHIO***** Aachen. In addition to taking home a hefty check of almost $380,000 for winning the class, Brash earned a bonus of approximately $1.13 million for winning the series. “To win the Rolex Grand Slam is every rider’s dream. I did not actually think it could be done,” said the 29-year-old. “This means everything to me.” Brash added that his superstar partner Hello Sanctos “tried his…

Many riders make the mistake of introducing new movements to their horses by asking for the final product—the movement as it should be performed in the show ring. This makes the lesson feel extremely challenging and even impossible to a green horse. As a result, he can become discouraged and frustrated. Knowing that he’s unable to satisfy his rider, he may give up altogether. To avoid such an unhappy outcome, plan to introduce every new concept to your horse in small, easy-to-do steps. Consider all of the individual components of a movement and ask yourself, “What does my horse have? What does he need?” Then fill in those gaps, one component at a time. Wait until he’s mastered each of them before putting the “puzzle pieces” together and asking for…

■ ATTEND the PATH International Conference and Annual Meeting, Nov. 4–7, in Cleveland, OH, and meet equine-assisted therapy professionals. Highlights include an awards banquet and numerous educational sessions with industry experts; www.pathintl.org. ■ CHEER ON some of the nation’s most acclaimed dressage riders at the U.S. Dressage Finals, presented by Adequan, Nov. 5–8, in Lexington, KY. The year-end event showcases competitors in Adult-Amateur and Open classes at Training Level through Grand Prix; www.usdf.org/usdressagefinals. ■ WATCH some of the world’s best show jumpers at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Nov. 6–14. The family-friendly show includes an allbreeds equine and livestock fair as well as top-level jumping competitions, such as the CSI**** $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier Nov. 11; www.royalfair.org. ■ HEAD to…

George H. Morris is the former chef d’équipe of the U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Team. He serves on the USEF National Jumper Committee and Planning Committee, is an adviser to the USEF High-Performance Show Jumping Committee and is president of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. 1 This rider has a very educated leg. Her foot is correctly in the stirrup with her little toe touching the outside branch, which is leading the inside branch. Her toes are out and her calf is on the pony. I’d like to see her wearing a spur, even if it were just a small one, so she learns to use it and will have it if she ever needs it. I don’t ever ride a horse without a spur. I also think…

Old age ain’t no place for sissies,” the actress Bette Davis reputedly said, and it’s true for every species. In horses, advancing age can usher in a host of troubles from arthritis to respiratory problems. And thanks to lighter workloads, better nutrition and care and a bump in status to valued companion, more horses than ever make it to the golden years today. If your horse is in that group, how can you keep him happy and healthy? Here you’ll find practical tips from three experts—Amanda Adams, PhD, assistant research professor at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center; Dee Doolittle, founder and executive director of Mitchell Farm, an equine retirement farm in Salem, Connecticut; and Brian Nielsen, PhD, professor of animal science at Michigan State University. The late…

Even though it doesn’t seem like it, the holiday season is just around the corner. Soon the scents of pumpkin spice lattes and newly fallen oak and maple leaves will give way to crisp evergreens, minty candy canes and fragrant bran mashes. Before you know it you’ll be donning your favorite fleecy sweater and cap and tucking your fuzzy horse into his stall with a cozy stable blanket. You’ll also be looking for a way to thank your Thanksgiving host and searching for that perfect holiday present for your trainer, spouse or child. Here’s a list of a few gift ideas to consider for everyone on your list this season. Unique Commissioned Portraits Order a custom portrait of your horse or another one of your pets from artist and eventer…

You can’t start a ride in Aiken without a good “stirrup toast.” I toasted with locals Mary Jane Howell and Sarah Bridges at the Aiken Training Track, where 39 Thoroughbred racing champions have trained. We were trekking through Aiken’s Historic Horse District to Hitchcock Woods. I’ve ridden in a lot of equestrian communities throughout the United States, and Aiken is one of the most horse-friendly. Streets in the Horse District are made of dirt to accommodate riders with frequent signs telling people to slow down for horses. I saw drivers abiding. Other riders were out for their morning hack as well, and it seemed that around each corner we were at another great place for horse enthusiasts. We passed pretty farms and stables over to the Whitney Polo Field, the…

Giltedge, 1986–2015 Giltedge, one of the most decorated and influential horses in U.S. eventing, passed away at age 29 in early September at owner Jacqueline Mars’ Stonehall Farm in The Plains, Virginia, after living out his retirement with fellow eventing stars Prince Panache and Custom Made. The Irish-bred gelding was inducted into the U.S. Eventing Association’s Hall of Fame in 2012 after an illustrious career with David O’Connor. Together the pair had five international team appearances and five medals. They also picked up wins at the four-star and three-star levels for a total 21 first-place finishes and 28 top-three finishes; they rarely were out of the top five in placings. All of Giltedge’s major wins were at Classic long-format events. “He was really the most competitive horse in every way,”…