Innehållsförteckning för May 2017 från Practical Horseman

Leaders in the eventing world come in many stripes—from professionals in the industry to venues paving the way for elite competition on our home turf. I met the new U.S. Eventing Association president, Carol Kozlowski, a decade ago during a cross-country clinic. I had been thrilled to finally get the chance to ride with one of my idols who evented a Connemara, just as I did. As Carol takes over the helm at the USEA this year, she says, “Leadership is often best conducted by example” (p. 24). True words spoken from a professional who’s well-known as a lifelong volunteer, a champion for the little guy and a tireless campaigner for safety. Another eventer featured in this issue is Colleen Rutledge, a four-star rider who’s passionate about correct form in…

Abuse has been on my mind recently due to various breaking news stories that have crossed my computer screen. 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. Not a welcome topic for a perfectly nice day? Abuse is an ugly subject, and we instinctively turn away from it. However, bad news never improves with time. We need to confront abuse, not avoid it. Once I got interested, I did what I usually do: first, go to my Webster’s Dictionary and look up the definition of the term in question. Bad Effect or Bad Purpose As it turns out,…

CHEER FOR some of the world’s top eventers as they tackle the cross-country course during the four-star Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, May 3–7, in Gloucestershire, England; www.badminton-horse. co.uk. CELEBRATE 50 years of collegiate equestrians competing for national titles during the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championships, May 4–7, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY; www.ihsainc.com. DON your derby hat and grab a mint julep May 6 in preparation for the annual run for the roses—the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, KY; www.kentuckyderby.com. JOIN IN the fun of tailgating and hat contests while watching sleek steeplechasers thunder around the course during the legendary Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow, May 6, in The Plains, VA; www.vagoldcup.com. HEAD TO Saugerties, NY May 24–28 to kick off the…

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Q To what do you attribute your success as a rider, trainer and a leader in this industry? CK I’ve learned over the course of my career to pick and choose my battles. I try not to be confrontational. Maybe it’s working with a group of people and we don’t agree. Or working with a horse. It’s trying to be thoughtful. I ask myself, “What is the smoothest path forward while still being intent on gaining my ground?” Q How do you define leadership? CK Leadership is often best conducted by example. I go through my day trying to do the right thing. I hear a lot from people that they know that I am going to try, to the best of my ability, to do best for everyone. I…

USEF Agrees to Rehearing Request The USEF Hearing Committee has granted a request for a rehearing in the November 2016 ruling against trainer Larry Glefke and hunter rider Kelley Farmer for violating USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Guidelines due to the presence of the prohibited substance GABA in Farmer’s horse, Unexpected. Glefke and Farmer petitioned the USEF, claiming they had not been notified of the violation and hearing. “Despite the fact that a fair hearing was conducted with proper notification to the respective parties, as noted by the Hearing Committee in its ruling, given that this was the first case in which the new Board of Directors’ approved penalty guidelines were utilized, the extremely serious nature of the violations and the substantial penalties imposed, the Federation did not object to…

Cheers for Jim What a joy! I just read Jim Wofford’s “Musings of an Equinitis Sufferer” (October 2016). So clever and chock-full of honest thoughts and quotes. I am an old has-been (if I ever actually was a part of eventing—but many wonderful horses helped me along). I always enjoyed riding in Jim’s clinics and lessons. I’m so glad he is continuing to help riders who want to be helped. —Janet Cagle Appreciation for George A sincere “thank you” for including my photo in the January 2017 Jumping Clinic with George Morris. It was an honor to receive a critique from such a renowned and highly respected professional in this sport. (In all honesty, it made my day so much that I’ve been smiling ever since.) My gratitude to Mr.…

My father, Reiner Klimke, always used cavalletti regularly when training his horses. Four cavalletti always stood in the riding arena so that he could use them anytime. Today, my horses also benefit from cavalletti training, which I regularly build into the gymnastic training of all of my horses. It’s a great way to maintain my event horses’ condition and agility and to build up my dressage horses’ strength all year-round. Longeing over Cavalletti In order to offer my horses lots of variety in their training, I longe them at least once a week. Even more valuable than regular longeing is work on the longe line over cavalletti wearing sliding side reins, which can guide the horse to go deeper. For example, training on the longe line over cavalletti is especially…

New Program Honors Hunter Riders A new U.S. Hunter Jumper Association program, the 2017 Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships, will recognize riders from across the country who compete in these divisions as they qualify to participate in team and individual competition over two days in four locations this summer. The first day of each championship will be devoted to team competition and consist of three phases—an under saddle and two classic hunter style courses—with the highest-scoring team earning the top prize. The second day will be open to riders who ranked 40th or higher in the team competition. Also included will be team alternates who did not compete and individuals whose zones were unable to field a team. The individual contest will also consist of three phases—an under…