Indice dei contenuti per Summer 2019 in Practical Horseman

As you first skim through this issue of Practical Horseman, look at the event riders in Jim Wofford’s column starting on page 36. Next, examine the photos of top hunter rider Sandy Ferrell on page 90. What do you see in common? Sandy, like the eventers, is wearing a safety vest. She started wearing the vest after a riding injury in 2015 left her with three fractured vertebrae and another fall in 2016 solidified the habit. I remember when Sandy wore the safety vest riding in the ring at the Devon Horse Show in 2017. It caught people’s attention because it was so novel. Even now, you typically don’t see riders wearing a vest in the competition arena if they don’t have to. But when you really think about it,…

Warrior Inside was just beginning his racing career at Churchill Downs, the track where his forebears—AP Indy, Secretariat, Seattle Slew—had forged their legacies. But at 3 years old, the athletic young Thoroughbred no longer had a future as a racehorse when an injury permanently sidelined him from the track. Warrior Inside’s trainer knew that his best chance of rehoming success was with the Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER), an organization that provides retiring Thoroughbred racehorses with opportunities for new careers by helping rehabilitate, retrain and place them. Warrior Inside was sent to CANTER’s Michigan affiliate who arranged for him to receive surgery at Michigan State University to remove bone chips. CANTER permitted MSU veterinary students to assist with all aspects of the surgery—diagnosis, surgery preparation, anesthesia, recoverying and…

1 Kentucky hasn’t always been nice to Allie Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio, and they showed up with a new attitude this year. Shown here at Fence 13A, Pete’s Hollow, both Allie and Nio are taking care of business. Nio is looking at his landing, and Allie is already planning her approach to the next jump. Her solid lower leg allows her to be supple with her elbows and focused with her eyes. So far, so good. 2 Allie’s stirrup is too long, but her vertical stirrup leather keeps her upper body in balance. She has slipped her reins just the right amount, which allows Nio to lower his head and neck to balance himself. She is in touch with him and getting ready for a turn. All this looks simple,…

▪ At a competition, McDonald doesn’t like her students to work their horses hard for more than 30 or 40 minutes, including walk breaks. “I always say if you get the job done and you get it done right, there’s no reason to repeat it. It’s a matter of you and the horse being connected at the right moment and the rider being incredibly accurate.” As a rule, if the rider is warming up for a competition, 20 minutes is ideal. ▪ If students have to compete in late afternoon or early evening, McDonald has them ride their horses in the morning long and low so they don’t sit too many hours before the competition. ▪ After every big competition, McDonald says their horses are checked and jogged for soundness…

Originally from Oak Brook, Illinois, Lauren Sprieser made her first foray into international-level dressage at the age of 18, under the tutelage of Lendon Gray. She competed in three North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, winning two team medals, and three U.S. Equestrian Federation Young Adult “Brentina Cup” National Championships, and earned her U.S. Dressage Federation gold, silver and bronze medals—all before her 21st birthday. Lauren worked for several trainers, including Olympic gold medalist and German team coach Monica Theodorescu and her late father, George, and Olympic bronze medalist Carol Lavell, before starting her own business, Sprieser Sporthorse, in Marshall, Virginia, in 2007. She now produces FEI horses and trains riders of all levels and disciplines, from green to Grand Prix, NAJYRC gold medalists to Kentucky Three-Day Event finishers. She and…

On PracticalHorsemanMag.com An Excerpt from “In the Middle Are The Horsemen” Eventer and natural-horsemanship advocate Tik Maynard relates his educational journey in the horse industry as a working student, learning from several professionals across disciplines while striving to mold his own training philosophies. In this book excerpt, Maynard examines David O’Connor’s system for training young horses and how he teaches humans to speak the language of the horse. Prac Podcast Features Top Riders in the Sport Take Practical Horseman with you on the go with the Practical Horseman Podcast, featuring conversations with respected riders, industry leaders and horsecare experts to inform, educate and inspire listeners. Recent episodes are with guests George Morris, Margie Engle, Anne Kursinski, Sharon White and William Fox-Pitt. New podcast episodes are released every other week and…

1. Pinch Test The skin on your horse’s neck doesn’t quickly return to its place after pinching. 2. Mucous Membranes The horse’s mucous membranes in the nose and mouth are dry or red. 3. Capillary Refill When you press your finger on the gum, the spot should change from white to red quickly. The longer it takes the capillaries to refill shows the severity of dehydration. A veterinarian should be contacted immediately if a horse is suspected to be acutely dehydrated. How Platinum Can Help Electrolyte Balance Protocol: Administer 1 scoop of Platinum Performance® Equine* twice daily and 2 scoops of Platinum Electrolyte 1-2 times daily. When: Supplement electrolytes after exercise, during hot or humid weather and other common causes of heavy sweating. Anhidrosis (Non-Sweaters) Protocol: Administer 1-2 scoops of Platinum Performance® Equine*…

Bisphosphonate For use in horses only. Brief Summary (For Full Prescribing Information, see package insert) CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION: Clodronate disodium is a non-amino, chlorocontaining bisphosphonate. Chemically, clodronate disodium is (dichloromethylene) diphosphonic acid disodium salt and is manufactured from the tetrahydrate form. INDICATION: For the control of clinical signs associated with navicular syndrome in horses. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity to clodronate disodium should not receive OSPHOS. WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. HUMAN WARNINGS: Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental human exposure. PRECAUTIONS: As a class, bisphosphonates may be associated with gastrointestinal and renal toxicity.…

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg (Thomas) are jumping into the Land Rover Head of the Lake the way it ought to be jumped. Following an aggressive approach to Fence 17A and a powerful jumping effort, Boyd has slipped his reins correctly, allowing Thomas to stretch his head and neck. They are both in balance, and they are both veterans with their eyes firmly focused at the next obstacle. They know there is more to do than land like a feather over a 6-foot-6 drop into water. We will have to wait a year to find out if Boyd’s near-as-anything finish just behind the 2019 winner is the start of a new trend among our elite U.S. riders or yet another brief glimmer of possibility that does not consistently produce the satisfaction…

There’s a wonderful variation of the shoulder-in called shoulder-fore, in which the shoulders are just slightly to the inside of the haunches. This encourages increased engagement of the inside hind leg and an increase in uphill carriage compared to just going straight. For my horses, shoulder-fore is a lifestyle. Other than my first and last centerlines, and lines of tempi changes, my horses hardly ever go two-track straight, but rather are always in a bit of shoulder-fore, both at home and in the show ring. The aids for shoulder-fore are the same as the aids for shoulder-in, just to a lesser degree.…

2020 FEI World Cup™ Final organizers have created the World Cup Club to give members first choice on the best available seats, and also to get the latest news, ticket and hotel information. From July 1–August 15, members of the World Cup Club, which is free to join, will have an exclusive opportunity to purchase all-session tickets. Visit WorldCupLasVegas.com/world-cup-club to sign up. Further ticket information will be announced later this year. Check out WorldCupLasVegas.com for more details.…

When you want to see the best of the best, you go to a destination event. Whether it is Wimbledon, Indianapolis 500 or the Super Bowl, you are going to see the best in competition. If you are horse crazy and want to watch the best, the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in April is the place for you. This year Great Britain’s Oliver Townend returned to the Kentucky Horse Park and joined a very select group, those riders who have won the LRK3DE for the second time in a row on the same horse. When your name is mentioned along with Bruce Davidson Sr., Michael Jung and Kim Severson you are flying at a very high altitude indeed. (Yes, several other riders are multiple winners but on different horses…

An Olympic veteran, Lauren Kieffer, who finished eighth on Paramount Importance, has all the tools to win at this level. However, some of her tools need sharpening, as is apparent here at 17B, the Land Rover Head of the Lake. When the rider is separated from her horse by too tall a stance, errors of communication creep into their dialogue. For example, because Lauren is not comfortable in the air, she is late turning her eyes towards 18A, just off to her right. This will cause her to lose time around the turn—and at this level, every second counts. Her slightly high hand position is caused by not adjusting her reins after she landed in the water. When you need to catch up with your horse’s motion, you should lower…

Olympic and Pan American medalist, former USEF Developing Dressage coach and recently appointed U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald provides a unique perspective on how to help a pair find success in the championship ring. As the personal coach to many elite riders, McDonald is well-versed in preparing horses to perform at their best. Allison Brock has competed in top competitions around the world and earned a team bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. As a leading U.S. rider, she knows firsthand how to strategically prepare a horse for big events. Omar Maher, DV, is a world-respected expert in lameness and sports medicine and has practiced in four continents. He is board certified in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR), as well as in Equine Surgery (ACVS), and speaks regularly…

(Pacific time, subject to change) Wednesday, April 15, 2020 9:30 a.m.: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Warm-Up 1:30 p.m.: FEI Dressage World Cup™ Warm-Up Thursday, April 16, 2020 12:00 p.m.: FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix 7:00 p.m.: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final I Friday, April 17, 2020 8:30 a.m.: FEI Dressage World Cup™ Freestyle Rehearsal 1:00 p.m.: Devoucoux Dressage Showcase 7:00 p.m.: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final II Saturday, April 18, 2020 12:00 p.m.: Las Vegas Jumping Grand Prix 7:00 p.m.: FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final (Freestyle) Sunday, April 19, 2020 12:00 p.m.: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final III…