Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Practical Horseman

When I started competing in the early 1980s, Leslie Burr was one of my idols. What I remember most was her look of determination whenever she was in the ring. She would go through the in-gate with her set jaw, and you knew she was going to try to win. Yet off the horses, she was often all smiles. As a gawky teenager with a big case of nerves in the arena, I was in awe of her talent, toughness and apparent enthusiasm. That star-struck feeling continued 14 years later when I interviewed Leslie in my first full year as an assistant editor at Practical Horseman for a story in the August 1996 issue. It focused on how Leslie, Michael Matz and Anne Kursinski were handling the pressure as they…

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. We’ve all been there, dejectedly sitting in the bleachers after yet another disastrous round as the star du jour rides by, using invisible aids while sitting motionless in the saddle. “Why is this so HARD?” you ask yourself. The bad news is that riding well is hard to learn. The good news is that every good rider, at one time or another, has been right there with you in the bleachers. The important thing to know is that you can be a better rider—you just have to decide to get…

Mention the subject of retirement to Leslie Burr Howard and the 60-year-old Olympic multimedalist immediately points out that Canada’s Ian Millar is a decade older and still going strong. “After Ian retires, I figure I’ll have 10 more years,” says the rider, whose competitive history on the website of the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) runs 15 pages, back to the 1980s and her first big grand prix jumper, Chase the Clouds. So it’s tempting to use the word “durable” to describe Leslie, whose show-jumping career has stood the test of time. True, she’s still winning with the kind of style that earned her two Olympic team medals, the World Cup title and scores of grands prix. But it is the way Leslie has endured, not the fact that she continues…

□ CHECK OUT the Upperville Colt and Horse Show, June 5–11, in Upperville, VA. The oldest horse show in the U.S.—now in its 164th year—attracts top jumpers for the $216,000 FEI CSI**** as well as local riders and ponies. The weeklong AA-rated competition also stages plenty of activities for the whole family; www.upperville.com. □ HEAD TO Québec for the Bromont CCI*** Three-Day Event, June 8–11, in Canada, to see international eventers compete in the country’s only CCI***; www.bromontcci.com. □JOIN industry and government leaders at the American Horse Council’s Annual Meeting and National Issues Forum, June 11– 14, in Washington, D.C. With the theme “the power of unity,” the event will feature keynote speaker Roger Dow, of the U.S. Travel Association, as well as a panel on equine-industry research; www.horsecouncil.org. □WATCH…

Leslie Burr Howard’s vast experience has given her perspective on the issues of the sport she loves. Asked for her thoughts on the decision by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to cut teams to three members to keep the sport in the Olympics, she says, “I think it’s a move they felt they needed to do. I think there should be a huge effort to keep it in the Olympics. It’s every little kid’s dream to be in the Olympics.” While acknowledging there are many more important competitions today than there were in the era when the Olympics was basically “it,” she points out, “People still want to go to the Olympics.” Toward that end, she also understands why the FEI has come down hard on any sign of abuse,…

Dermatophilosis is a bacterial disease that can sometimes be confused with fungal diseases and other skin conditions. Fungi are widespread in the environment but can cause illness if a fungus invades weakened or irritated skin, is inhaled or ingested. Ringworm is a fungal dermatitis that thrives on keratin, the protein found in hair and skin cells. Ringworm typically presents as patches of crusty, dry skin combined with hair loss. The circular lesions can be itchy, but they may not appear to be inflamed or tender. Nevertheless, you should call your vet immediately if you believe your horse may have ringworm. It is highly contagious and can survive for long periods on different surfaces around the farm. Use latex gloves when handling a horse with ringworm and take care to disinfect…

Top Show Jumpers Retire Britain’s Nick Skelton and his 14-year-old Olympic mount, Big Star, were officially set to retire May 14 at press time at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in England. Together they won an individual gold medal at last summer’s Rio Olympics as well as team gold at the 2012 London Olympics. During his more than four decades of involvement in show jumping, 59-year-old Skelton also won the 1995 World Cup Final and three team gold medals at the European Championships. He still holds the British show-jumping high-jump record that he set in 1978. Skelton was partnered with Big Star when the stallion was 5. Owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson, the horse has won numerous major Grand Prix titles. “I have always stated that when Big Star…

Equestrian Sports Bra Improve correct shoulder position and reduce bounce with Kerrit’s EQ Sports Bra, a full-coverage sports bra for equestrians. The dual-layer, four-way-stretch microfiber reduces bounce while strategic mesh panels on the strap and back help with posture in the saddle; 1½-inch elastic under the bust provides extra support. Machine-washable. Nude or black; sizes small to extra-large; $39.99; www.kerrits.com. Snazzy Hoof Protector The close-fitting Medical Hoof Boot by Woof Wear keeps wounds, poultices and dressings clean and can help protect abscesses or bruised soles during healing. The interior is constructed of lightweight and flexible Kevlar® material, which adds durability. The boot has a grooved sole for grip. The asymmetric zip allows for a snug fit and prevents debris and bedding from entering. The boot can be used in the…

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 Our first rider has an old-fashioned leg position and a good base of support, but I’m concerned that the horse is jumping with an overflexed neck, a sign he isn’t being worked properly on the flat. The rider’s leg is reminiscent of the 1950s because her toe is turned out more than 45 degrees. I’m one of the few judges who appreciate this type of leg because it allows for a very viselike grip, but others might mark her down for…

About Liza Towell Boyd Liza Towell Boyd is one of the country’s most successful hunter riders and trainers and has won more than 25 USHJA International and National Hunter Derbies. In a historic three-peat, she rode her legendary chestnut gelding Brunello to win the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Brunello went on to be the 2015 USHJA National Horse of the Year. Liza trains at her family’s Finally Farm in Camden, South Carolina. Hunter derbies are exploding across the country. Since the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association introduced the derby format in 2008, this “grand prix for hunters” has expanded to more and more B- and C- level competitions for both horses and ponies alike. These exciting classes are now becoming accessible to riders at all…

Equine Comeback Challenge Grows to a New Record A field of 22 horses—the most ever—competed for a record $15,000 in the Equine Comeback Challenge, held in mid-March at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in Denver, Colorado. Trainer Brenna DeGeer, of Laporte, Colorado, and Rufio, a 6-year-old gelding, earned first place in the event, which is designed to showcase horses that are available for adoption from rescues across the United States. Presented by A Home for Every Horse and the Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance, the Equine Comeback Challenge pairs horses from rescues with trainers who then spend 120 days teaching them the skills they need to transition to new careers. The horses demonstrate what they have learned during the competition and an adoption auction follows. This year, 16 horses were featured…

At an age often known for self-absorption, 27-year-old Abby Friedman has assumed the role of generous and helpful big sister at Jim Hagman’s hunter/jumper training program in Southern California. Her most grateful “little sisters” are Michelle Mallet and Samantha Gastelum, who would not have been able to realize final Junior-year dreams without a major act of kindness from Abby. On hearing that the stable mates did not have suitable mounts after qualifying for their first and last chance at an Indoors medal final last year, Abby quickly offered to loan her own star, Cantuccini, (aka Pasta). She had told Michelle, a working student, “If you qualify, you won’t have to ship your horse across the country” for the ASPCA Maclay National Championship in Kentucky. Given the cost of crosscountry horse…