Indice dei contenuti per Winter 2023 in Practical Horseman

There’s nothing I like more than learning about different training exercises. How to make horses more rideable, turn better, become more supple. That was one of the reasons I asked riders at the Capital Challenge Horse show in the fall what their favorite training exercises were. The riders shared those, but they also talked about keeping their horses happy. For example, John French, who won the 2023 WCHR Professional Challenge at the competition, commented that his success stems in part from his belief in keeping his horses happy. He takes them into fields or out on trails “You have to make them love their job and want to do it for you,” he said. Nick Haness, who placed second to John in the two-round Professional Challenge class aboard Queen Celeste,…

For 50 years, Practical Horseman has brought readers in-depth articles on the discipline of dressage from trainers at the pinnacle of the sport. These included those from the Spanish Riding School, German bereiters and Olympians. As the sport grew in popularity, riders and trainers in other disciplines saw the value of dressage training and how it helped their horses’ performances. In fact, one of the main sentiments repeated over and over is that every horse can benefit from and excel in dressage training. And while many articles in PH focused on the importance of laying the groundwork and the basics, there were just as many nuanced and technical articles for experienced riders and horses. PH also focused on the personal side of the sport, with profiles on up-and-comers and those…

The term shipping fever is a general catch-all to describe respiratory disease in horses that tend to occur after they have been transported. The same kinds of disease can occur in other situations as well, but the stress of travel and the conditions horses experience while traveling can often lead to problems. Shipping fever is a bacterial pneumonia, says Dr. Peter Heidmann, DVM, MPH, DACVIM, of Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center and Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Florida. Pneumonia affects the lungs. Pleural pneumonia affects the chest cavity and the lungs. The severity of bacterial pneumonia can vary greatly, depending on which bacteria become established in the lungs or in the pleural space, despite the surveillance by the immune system. “The most common one is Streptococcus. Streptococcus equi causes…

Brought to you by The Capital Challenge is one of the most prestigious and competitive events of the fall show season. Each October, top talent from across the country flocks to The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for hunter and equitation championships. Throughout the year, riders work toward a successful Indoors season, each with their own tips and exercises that help them excel. Here, five competitors from the 2023 Capital Challenge provide insight into their preparation and routines. John French—Cavalletti for the Win French and Babylon, an 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Ariana Marnell, were winners of the $25,000 World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Challenge at this year’s competition. French and Babylon are longtime partners, French having brought him along since he…

SPONSORED BY Over the last five decades, veterinary care and best practices for horse health and management have undergone extraordinary advancements, driven by improvements in technology and research methods. Since the first issue in January 1973, Practical Horseman has informed readers of the latest findings and developments so they can provide the best possible care for their horses. Nutrition guide-lines, fly protection, corrective shoeing—you name it, PH has covered it. One common piece of advice remained the same throughout the years: Know your horse and what’s normal for him so you can detect problems before they become serious. This means making regular checks part of your routine. Take his pulse, respiration and temperature. Study him for bites, scrapes, loose shoes, and do a thorough check of all four legs. Many…

Growing bacteria in a petri dish to determine the type is a time-consuming process. “Bacteria want to grow in a horse more than they want to grow in a lab, and there will be some cases where you won’t be able to grow any-thing even when you know there is something there. Also, it takes about a week—five to seven days in most cases—to grow,” says Dr. Peter Heidmann of Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center. “I sometimes tell clients that the lab is not dragging its feet. It just takes time, like growing a tomato in your garden. You first have to grow the plant, and then the fruit, and then the fruit has to ripen. We are growing bacteria in a dish and then it has to actually…

Experience DelVal. Delaware Valley University graduates have success in the real world because they have already been there. Employers appreciate the hands-on learning that defines a DelVal education. That is why 94.4% of our students from the Class of 2022 are employed, in service to our country, or in graduate school within one year of graduation. Students who graduate from DelVal’s equine programs find success in the equine field and beyond. Nina Dellarte '21 (pictured below) and Madison Lofgren '22 are two of the 25 DelVal graduates who have started veterinary school in the past two years. Many of our equine graduates are trainers, managers, breeders or riders, or work for companies that support the equine industry. You see, we love horses, too. In fact, we have had horses on…

Wondering whether your playlist includes tunes to soothe your stall-bound horse? The pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, producer of Ulcer-Gard® (omeprazole), may have just the option you’re looking for: a musical arrangement called Relax Trax, composed specifically to alleviate stress in horses and available from the company as a free download (feeds.buzzsprout.com/1835303.rss). Introduced two years ago, the composition was created by Janet Marlow, an animal sound behaviorist and founder of Pet Acoustics, Inc. She used specific rhythms to mimic a horse’s gaits and the sound of string and keyboard instruments to produce a calming effect. The music also takes into account a horse’s hearing range and sensitivity to produce sounds that are soothing. Its effect was tested through clinical studies and in barns. Results showed a lessening of physical tension in…

This photo shows Larissa Williams on her Premium Oldenburg mare Sans Souci. Larissa purchased Sans Souci as a schoolmaster. She was trained up to Prix St. Georges and is now training Larissa through the levels. After two years, they are competing at Third Level, but in this picture, they are showing First Level, Test 3. There is a famous statement from the old German masters: Young horses need an experienced rider—and young riders need an experienced horse! Being a “young” rider, Larissa did just the right thing when she got herself this schoolmaster mare. One can see in the picture already that this horse has been trained. She looks like an elegant dancer, light on her feet and nicely balanced. I love the expression of the horse with one ear…

There are cases in which your veterinarian can clear the entire bacterial pneumonia and it is resolved, but there is still so much inflammatory debris remaining in the lungs that they are permanently compromised. “There may be a lot of fibrin, protein or even scar tissue left behind after the infection is cleared,” Dr. Peter Heidmann explains. The lung function and capacity may be compromised long-term. “In many of those cases, we have to do surgery to take out some of the residue from the infection. The bacteria are gone, but what they left behind are giant gobs of protein and white blood cells that the body can’t clear. These can mature into scar tissue and cause serious restrictions in lung function,” Dr. Heidmann says. This material has to be…

Brought to you by Codi Harrison’s goal at the 2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions was not only to claim victory in the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix National Championship. It was also to secure a spot on the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in October. The 27-year-old star accomplished both. She and Katholt’s Bossco were crowned national champions, and two weeks later, U.S. Equestrian announced that the pair had earned a spot on the Pan American Games roster. As Practical Horseman went to press, Harrison and the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood had just helped the U.S. earn the team gold medal in dressage at the Pan American Games. Harrison and Bossco have been a team for eight years and have grown together through the…

1. The BootJacket from EquiParent is a silicone boot cover that is designed specifically for tall boots and paddock boots. The cover features a large zipper in the front for easy on and off, plus a slit on the heel to be put on over spurs. Meant to protect boots in the barn, around the showground and in the ring, the cover is lightweight, rugged and water-resistant. equiparent.com 2. Ecogold’s Breeze Saddle Pad is an ultra-thin, nonslip saddle pad with a customizable trim. The athletic ventilated fabric speeds up evaporation, allowing the horse’s body to thermoregulate during exercise. ecogold.ca 3. The WrapStar from Equine Redefined is a standing and polo wrap rolling device made in the USA. The tool is lightweight yet durable and features hooks that are adjustable to…