Inhaltsverzeichnis für July 2018 in Practical Horseman

We have a real problem,” says a bloke with several-days-old stubble on his face. The video with the ominous staccato music pans to two squat, riderless ponies racing toward the mountainous horizon with a lone figure chasing them. “Saddle’s gone. Horse’s gone. What do we do?” continues the chap to his equally grungy mate as they trudge after the ponies. This video has nothing to do with the sporthorses we cover in the pages of this magazine, but I’m captivated. It’s about Mongolian horses, who, when they’re not bucking off their riders, are flying across the countryside of grassy plains, rocks, rivers and salt pans in the Mongol Derby, an annual race that involves riding 25 different horses more than 600 miles in, of course, Mongolia. Why am I telling…

If you hang around horse shows long enough, you’ll hear this comment ringside: “You can’t beat that daisy-cutter. He’s going to win this flat class.” But the truth is you don’t always have to have the best mover to be competitive in the under-saddle class. Most judges are looking for the whole package: a horse who has good movement but is also obedient, alert, sound and has good manners. Does your horse look like he is a pleasure to ride? Are his ears up? Are his gaits balanced and his transitions smooth? How well you present your horse to demonstrate these details can have a tremendous impact on the judge’s ultimate decision. Even if you’re not aiming for a blue ribbon, doing your best in the under-saddle class is growing…

The morning did not go the way many of the young riders envisioned. The 12 riders participating in the three-day George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session were being put to their final test by riding in a mock Nations Cup competition. Headlining the quasi-competition, two-time Olympic show-jumping gold medalist McLain Ward began the day by walking Conrad Homfeld’s course with the participants and later offered insightful feedback on horse and rider after each round. Just as in a CSIO Nations Cup, the three teams of four riders would jump two rounds over the same course. The highest score from each round would be discarded and the three best scores from each round would be totaled for a team score to determine the winner. But halfway through the first round it…

Lane Clarke is partners with trainer Mickey Hayden in Hayden Clarke Sport Horses in Southern California’s Laguna Hills. He was born in Australia and moved to the U.S. as a toddler with his family. Lane’s father, Allen Clarke, is a horseman renowned for success with young horses and problem horses. Lane’s mother, Meredith, and brother, Lyn, are farriers. Under his father’s tutelage, Lane attained success in the jumper ranks as a junior and came to the attention of Mickey, who had equal appreciation for Lane’s ability and his work ethic. Lane began as a working student, earned a paid-assistant post as a teenager and was made a partner in the business in January 2017. Along the way, he has coached students and campaigned horses up to grand prix. Recent major…

Melanomas are rare in horses with bay, chestnut, brown or other non-gray coats—but when these tumors appear in non-grays, the outlook is not good. “Non-gray horses with melanoma have a poor prognosis because tumors in those animals are usually malignant,” says Chris Byron, DVM. Melanomas in non-grays may look different from typical gray-horse melanomas, he adds. “They can occur in the same locations as melanomas in gray horses but may also be found in other parts of the body”—even in the hoof wall or coronary band—“and may or may not be pigmented.” They may behave differently from gray-horse melanomas, too: “Unlike melanomas in gray horses, these tumors are often malignant and can become locally aggressive and metastasize early in the disease.” For that reason, suspected melanomas in non-gray horses should…

Thank you for the May special issue on eventing and the article about cross-country safety (“Eventing’s Quest for a Safer Sport”). One of the things the story did not mention is that the filler on cross-country obstacles can also cause injury. I have a horse whose joint was lacerated by artificial filler in one of the brush jumps at last year’s American Eventing Championships. My horse had plastic debris in his joint when he was rushed to surgery, where the joint was flushed and the debris removed. Please encourage course decorators to use natural, soft filler (brush, etc.) on sections of cross-country fences that the horse encounters. Thankfully, after an $8,000 investment in medical care my horse is sound and competing again. I know that he was lucky.…

Debbi Long grew up peeking into the Flintridge Riding Club every chance she had, some 40 years ago. Trotting her backyard pony along the perimeter of the private Southern California equestrian center, she hoped to glimpse Susie Hutchison or Hap Hansen, contemporaries who trained there and went on to international show-jumping careers. In April, Debbi returned to Flintridge for the first time in decades and under circumstances both different and familiar. This time she brought her three granddaughters, Rachel, 17, Kayla, 15, and Isabell, 13, all of them very much ribbon contenders at the Flintridge Horse Show. That’s the different circumstance. The familiar relates to the Long family’s modus operandi with horses. “The satisfaction of winning is second to the joy of hard work and process,” Debbi explains. As a…

Growing up, Amanda Steege was never far from a horse. Her parents were horse professionals and owners of Red Acre Farm, in Stow, Massachusetts. At a very young age, Amanda would frequently be placed on top of one of the school horses in its stall to keep her safe while her father, Mitch, completed his barn chores. As a Junior, Amanda campaigned her Small Junior Hunter, One In A Million (aka Spanky), to great success. Coached by her father and Bill Cooney (and still riding Spanky), Amanda won the 1991 Massachusetts Medal Finals and competed in the Medal and Maclay Finals in the following two years. She graduated magna cum laude from Boston College and started her own business, Ashmeadow Farm, in 2001. Amanda has been the World Champion Hunter…

Five-time Olympian Anne Kursinski taught the flatwork on the first day of the training session. She stressed controlling body position to communicate with the horse effectively and having a better connection to the horse both in the seat and hands. Anne explained that the rider’s whole body influences the horse’s whole body to become one unit. “Position, position, position on the flat,” Anne said. This will help a rider use her aids correctly, and also at the right moment. “Horses will try to put you in a place that’s less effective,” she explained. It’s up to the rider to have the discipline and awareness to react appropriately. To improve the riders’ connection to the horses, she had them work without stirrups in the walk, trot and canter as well as…

■ Take realistic stock of your own abilities and what you know and expect about your horse’s tolerance for the unpredictable situations that can be common on a trail ride. If you are at all concerned that you might not be able to handle your horse, enlist the help of a professional. ■ For beginners, go out on a trail only when you’ve established a solid seat at all gaits. Initially, try to go out on a horse who’s very comfortable on a trail. ■ A tired horse is usually a relaxed horse, so I almost always recommend tackling the trail on a horse not already accustomed to it after a good, solid workout in the arena. ■ The buddy system can be effective. Many horses react well to having…

The 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event lived up to its billing as the “Best Weekend All Year.” Held at the CCI**** level and celebrating its 21st anniversary, the event showcased the Kentucky Horse Park with sparkling weather, enough activities to keep even the most jaded spectators entertained, a gold-medal-winning list of competitors and beautiful horses everywhere you looked. Spectators’ overwhelming opinion: This was one of the best events held at the KHP since the 1978 World Championships. Beginning with the low (lower the better) scores in the dressage phase, it quickly became clear that the audience was in for a treat. This year brought a change in the dressage scoring rules, which compressed the dressage results. At the end of two days of dressage, roughly half of the competitors…

Trying too hard at the trot is a common mistake in hack classes. Sometimes you will see a rider ask the horse to lengthen the trot by using a heavy driving seat with an open hip angle. But the driving seat is counterproductive, as it can make the horse lift his head and drop his back, which creates a quick, choppy step rather than the desired long, loose step. And if the rider lands too heavily in the post, it can make the horse crabby or pin his ears. To address this, do lots of work at home in the two-point position. This will give you the leg strength necessary to keep the right position even with a horse who is reluctant to go forward. Then, when you return to…

□ SEE top horses and riders compete in the Spruce Meadows North American CSI*****, July 4–8, in Calgary, Canada. The event also offers a variety of activities for families to enjoy, including pony rides, face painting, wagon rides and shopping; www.sprucemeadows.com. □ HEAD TO The Plains, Virginia, July 6–8, to see world-class eventers take on a course in the heart of horse country at the Great Meadow International—the only North American leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing series; www.greatmeadowinternational.com. □ RECOGNIZE your horse shoer’s good work during the 20th annual Farriers Week, July 8–14. Underscore your appreciation of his or her efforts by submitting a story, photo or video online by July 1. Deserving shoers will be featured in the Farriers Spotlight; www.americanfarriers.com/spotlight. □ EXPERIENCE The Event at Rebecca…

Hall of Fame Honors Inductees For their contributions to the sport of show jumping and the equestrian community, four individuals were inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, May 31, at the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania. They include: ■ Norman Dello Joio. An Olympic bronze medalist and World Cup Final champion, Dello Joio began making a name for himself on the U.S. grand prix circuit in the 1970s and continued his illustrious career both in the U.S. and internationally for more than three decades. He has also served as chef d’équipe for U.S. Nations Cup teams and for Mexico’s teams at the 2008 Olympics and 2010 World Equestrian Games. ■ E. Hunter Harrison. As a sponsor, owner, business advisor and avid supporter of the sport before his death…

Safe and Stylish Part of Dublin’s new helmet collection, the Chevron is a lightweight model designed with both comfort and safety in mind. It features an easy-to-use dial system to ensure proper fit and an adjustable clip and quick-release buckle for added security. The Chevron’s low-profile and matte outer finish make it an attractive and affordable choice for both schooling and showing in different disciplines. The helmet is ASTM F1163-15/SEI-certified and available in black, dark gray, navy or purple; sizes small–large; $59.99; www.dublinclothing.com. Serious Saddle An eventing saddle built for competitive advantage, the forward-cut, monoflap Bates Advanta® is engineered to provide an ultra-close connection. Its low-profile SynergyPanel includes protective cushioning and shock absorption to reduce pressure on the horse’s back, while the wither-freedom design affords full-range movement over fences. The…