Table of contents for Spring 2019 in Equus

ANOTHER REASON TO RIDE A study from France suggests that riding may enhance your balance when you’re on the ground. For their study, researchers at the Université Paris Sud and Groupe Voltaire—Forestier Sellier chose 10 female professional dressage riders and 12 women who did not ride. The women, who were all roughly the same height and body type, were asked to undergo a series of balance tests in which they stood atop a mobile pressure-sensitive platform that could detect even small shifts in weight, orientation and stability. The women were asked to remove their shoes and stand with their hands at their sides on the platform while it presented three different conditions: still, seesawing from side to side (mediolateral instability) or seesawing back to front (anteroposterior instability). For one half…

Getting the right level of nutrition into a barnful of horses can be a balancing act. There are the hard-training competitors and the laid-back weekend warriors. Then there’s that lanky gelding who gobbles up huge amounts of food and never puts on weight. And practically every barn, at some point, has a pony “of a certain age” who seems to just keep getting fatter no matter how dainty her servings. The equine digestive tract is designed to thrive on a diet composed mainly of hays and/or pasture grasses. But for many horses that’s not quite enough. To maintain a healthy weight, some may need more energy—calories, to be burned as fuel or stored as fat—than they could ever get from forages alone. Others, such as growing youngsters and hard-working athletes,…

Beautiful and powerful, Clabber exhibits a harmony of body parts rarely seen in any horse. He has excellent substance, very well-formed joints and near-level body balance suitable for almost any type of athletic effort. Clabber’s sire, My Texas Dandy (this portrait, like all the others in this article, was done directly from a photo). A seven-eighths Thoroughbred, this horse presents the big, angular pelvis with long ischium typical of that breed; Clabber’s pelvis is similar. Typical of Thoroughbreds, too, are Dandy’s rather high knees and lighter “bone.” The short back, rounded body and overall muscularity come from his Billy-Rondo ancestry. Clabber’s pedigree rendered with Golden Girl as his dam gives him 1/128ths Percheron ancestry.…

With his spacious west Texas home in the background, William Anson shows off the stallion Jim Ned. The caption to this photo reproduced in Points of the Horse merely identifies this animal as “a Rondo” and one of Anson’s polo ponies; in actuality it is a rare image of an important, elegant yet powerful stallion who takes after his ancestor Traveler in conformation. Anson’s Suffolk stallion Ashmoor (1901, imp. 1907) stood less than 15 hands with an estimated weight of 1,200 pounds. Of all the Directors of the American Suffolk Horse Society, Anson imported the fewest horses—first because he did not intend to market large numbers of them to Midwestern farmers, and more importantly because he sought small individuals—smaller than would be of interest to those breeding for the farm…

Joe Hancock, who had known Percheron ancestry, exhibits some characteristic “drafty” points of conformation. This stallion has a “drier” head than many draft crosses and his conformation is harmonious, with body balance tilted enough downhill to advantage him in racing. Compare his conformation to Clabber’s—both sired good ranch horses and ropers, but my bet would be on Joe Hancock in a quarter-mile sprint. Jo Jo Hancock was out of an excellent Billy-Rondo mare with a deep pedigree containing the names of Peter McCue, Texas Chief, Pony Pete, Old Billy and Barney Owens. Though some distaff ancestors are unknown, I doubt they were draft. Note the smooth topline, near-level body balance, rounded pelvis and overall substantial build. His owner, H.P. “Buck” Price, of Clovis, New Mexico, always referred to this stallion…

Pippy was 8 years old and a rising star in the eventing world when Mary Ann Ghadban purchased the Holsteiner mare and imported her from Germany in 2012. Ghadban had high hopes for her. “We were told that she had tied up before but that it was manageable,” says Ghadban. “We didn’t know anything else about her condition at the time.” Two years after she came to the United States, Pippy—whose show name is “Under Suspection”—was successfully completing three-star events with a professional rider. She was brave and talented and seemingly unstoppable. Then, she tied up. “It was at an event after the cross-country phase,” says Ghadban. “It didn’t look like much from the ground, but the rider knew something was wrong and the veterinarian confirmed. We pulled her from…

Hartford, Connecticut, has the dubious distinction of appearing on lists of cities with superlatives like “most dangerous” and “most distressed.” Despite its proximity to some of the country’s most prestigious universities, Hartford’s statistics on poverty and drug use are bleak. This isn’t the typical environment for a riding school complete with dressage team, saddle club and equine-assisted therapy center, but defying expectations is nothing new for Ebony Horsewomen. Located in Hartford’s 693-acre Keney Park, surrounded on all sides by residential housing, Ebony Horsewomen is well positioned to serve the community. Each year, through its various horse programs, the non-profit has become an oasis for more than 400 young people. Many of these young riders go on to achieve advanced degrees, pursue fulfilling careers and become community leaders. A child’s refuge…

THE TEXTURE OF TROUBLE Q: Which of the following lumps on a horse’s leg is most likely to be the source of ongoing lameness? a. a cold, squishy lump on the outside of the fetlock joint b. a small, very firm bump on the inside of the cannon bone, a few inches below the knee c. a warm, soft lump along the back of the cannon bone For the answer, turn to page 19. POP QUIZ ANSWER c. A warm, soft swelling on the back of the cannon bone may be the result of a soft-tissue injury. If the injury was recent, the area will probably also be sensitive and the horse most likely is lame. A cold, squishy swelling on the outside of the fetlock joint is probably a…

Nothing lifts the spirits more than the promise of spring. Whether you’re emerging from a winter of snow and ice or a season of rain and mud, the day you notice buds on a tree or a robin on a fence line, you know that life around the barn is bound to get a bit easier. That doesn’t mean that spring horsekeeping isn’t without challenges. In fact, in some ways the season requires more vigilance than others to keep horses healthy and safe. From laminitis prevention to skin care to vaccinations, you’ll want to pay particular attention to certain horse-care areas as the weather warms. Here’s a rundown of spring-specific horsekeeping challenges and how best to meet them in the months ahead. CHALLENGE: DISEASE PREVENTION 1. Review your horse’s vaccination…

William Anson on one of his buying trips inspects a son of Sykes Rondo. The man smoking a cigar is Crawford Sykes. This horse, like his sire, is chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail. Note the white nose and irregular white markings on the jowl and the rear aspect of the right forelimb. Standing 14:2, the horse’s conformation is classic Texas Billy. (From M. Horace Hayes’ Points of the Horse) Another Texas Billy at Sykes’ barn is photographed while being purchased by Anson. This is the sort of gelding, a little too coarse for polo, that would be sent to the Boer War to serve as a cavalry remount. (From M. Horace Hayes’ Points of the Horse) This horse is being unloaded from a British warship during the Boer…

In about 1900, Ozarks farmer A.W. Vinson stood “Prince,” a stallion measuring under 15 hands tall yet weighing more than 1,150 pounds. His conformation shows draft ancestry: steep and rounded pelvis, massive neck, large feet and very substantial “bone.” A good example of a Rondo-draft cross with no Peter McCue or close-up Thoroughbred, Prince nonetheless was speedy and considered a “quarter horse.” Crossing with draft was common on American farms and ranches in the early decades of the 20th century. (Photo courtesy Sharon Sanders) An ideal Thoroughbred topcross: This 1906 photo shows Hank Springer of the CS ranch in New Mexico on the 20-year-old stallion Uhlan II. Anson and the Springers often traded horses. Uhlan II was chief sire at the CS, and because he is a distaff ancestor of…

A classic case of tying up is pretty dramatic. The affected horse will hardly move as the large muscles of his hindquarters cramp into a solid, rock-hard mass. He is in obvious pain, shaking and sweating profusely. You’ll know something is wrong right away and have clear indications that the problem involves his muscles. More often, however, equine muscle disorders produce vague and shifting signs that are easy to overlook or misinterpret. A horse may simply seem slightly stiff after a day off, for example, or unaccountably lose suppleness. Or he may suddenly be resistant to work. As a result, many horses with chronic muscle disease go through life without accurate diagnosis or treatment. Biopsies show how PSSM type 1 affects muscle tissue. The darker areas in the PSSM1 biopsy…

Fly Predators ® To Stop Flies Before They Emerge The Ounce of Prevention Worth Pounds of Cure Fly Predators stop flies before they emerge and reproduce, so you’re not continuing to battle each subsequent and very prolific generation. They’re the easy-to-use natural alternative to spraying gallons of pesticides, only to have the flies keep coming back. And flies will keep coming back because sprays (even ours), traps and bait only affect the adult fly stage, ignoring the other 85% yet to emerge. By comparison, Fly Predators stop those future flies, really fixing your fly problem. There’s no down side as Fly Predators do not bother people or animals. Quick and Easy-To-Use During warm months you’ll get a Fly Predator shipment every three to four weeks. Simply sprinkle them where flies…

Jack had only a few weeks to live. At least that’s what Joyce Pomeroy thought when she first saw him. The chestnut Quarter Horse cross had a hind hoof so badly infected he could hardly put weight on it. And he was severely undernourished. His owner, who had been diagnosed with end-stage colon cancer, called Joyce for help. Joyce is the founder of Last Stop Horse Rescue, which provides sanctuary to horses that cannot be rehomed. She leases the property where she operates the rescue and already had 22 horses in her care. At first, Joyce wasn’t sure how she could help the gelding. “Before I met Jack I wasn’t convinced I could take him,” she says. “I offered to bring a few volunteers to the barn to clean stalls…

Keep your horse and tack dry between classes or on the picket line with the Dura-Tech Waterproof Contour Horse Show Cover Rain Sheet (suggested retail, $129.99), from Schneiders. It has a breathable 600-denier ripstop polyester outer cover and a smooth nylon lining, is contoured through the neck and fits over both Western and English saddles. Velcro tabs, an adjustable girth strap and hind-leg straps keep the sheet down and the wind out. In navy blue with navy/tan binding, in sizes M (68 to 74) to XL (82 to 86). Visit www.sstack.com. A lightweight, waterproof turnout blanket for changeable weather, the Amigo Three-In-One Evolution (suggested retail, $190), from Horseware Ireland, also utilizes advanced color technology to naturally repel insects. (Because aqua and orange don’t register on the ultraviolet [UV] spectrum, they…

The first flush of spring pasture growth means an increased risk of laminitis, the painful inflammation of the soft tissue of the hooves that can lead to permanent disability or euthanasia. Some horses are more prone to pasture-associated laminitis, also called endocrinopathic laminitis. In those with a history of the condition, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), even small amounts of sugars or starches from new pasture grass can trigger laminitis. Horses can also develop chronic subclinical laminitis that makes them footsore rather than overtly lame, even as irreversible damage occurs inside their hooves. Take these steps to protect your horse from laminitis: • Assess the laminitis risk of each horse in your herd. Talk to your veterinarian before the spring grass starts coming in if…

The advent of the automobile and gasoline-powered tractor prompted a steep drop in the American horse population, with the greatest losses on farms east of the Mississippi. Western ranchers, however, still needed thousands of working horses, as the modern era of gathering cattle with ATVs and dogs and doctoring them in chutes was still far off. The Depression and Dust Bowl years squeezed ranchers hard, prompting fundamental changes in how quarter-mile racehorses were bred and used. These changes set the stage for the foundation of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) in 1940. The Quarter Horse is founded upon the Thoroughbred, but the type of Thoroughbred used changed over time. The most popular sires in America shifted after the Civil War, from horses harking back primarily to Herod and the…

Billys and other part-breds that took after the Thoroughbred parent were desirable for polo. This photo, taken about 1900, shows a polo team in Sheridan, Wyoming, mounted on Billys. Second from left is Malcolm Moncreiffe, who like his fellow Brit William Anson procured American horses for the British army. (All the images on this page are from Points of the Horse, by M. Horace Hayes.) This “quarter polo” stallion, Montana Bill, was true to his name: His conformation is all Billy but if put to a Thoroughbred mare would certainly produce good polo ponies. One of Anson’s “quarter polo” selections of 1907, this gelding is ideally conformed for polo. He came from Kansas, and it is possible that Anson bought him from Dan Casement.…

Dan Casement rides Concho Colonel at the Unaweep Ranch in Mesa County, Colorado, in about 1910. Unfortunately, no conformation photo of Concho Colonel is available, but this image suggests that he took after the Thoroughbred-like Jim Ned. This horse was foaled in 1904, before Ashmoor’s arrival, and based on his conformation I would agree that he has no draft ancestry. Note the fine, shapely neck and long, angular and only moderately sloping hindquarters. The Concho Colonel son Balleymooney (1914) is tacked up for polo. Balleymooney’s dam was Little Judge by Little Steve by Pony Pete, Billy-Rondo-breds who were quarter-running horses, but the rest of the distaff pedigree is—officially—blank. Did Balleymooney carry a fraction of draft blood? Note the steep, rounded hindquarters and large head. My guess is that his granddam…

I thought we’d the spring and summer—some never get here. A series of events over planned, others unexpected—delayed our return to Pie Town. We had decided that, rather than shuttle back and forth between the two locations (a grueling two-day drive), we would stay at our Hondo, Texas, property until it was ready to put on the market. The logistics of running two ranches had proved daunting. Our work preparing the Texas ranch for sale was chugging along nicely until the rains came. Nearly 30 inches fell in a three-week period, which spelled disaster for our plans and progress. The creek flooded the low-water bridge near our property and mud made it nearly impossible to get our unwanted materials and equipment into the 30-yard dumpster we had rented. Our attention…

I left the gate open. A mistake, for sure, but not as bad as it sounds. In all the years that I have cared for Smokey, my 12-year-old Morgan, he had never lifted his nose out of his morning hay until it was gone, and my other Morgan, Ace, would never go anywhere without Smokey. So after I spread the hay over the snow-covered pasture it wasn’t unusual for me to leave the gate ajar as I went to fill the water bucket. On this day, however, Smokey looked at the gate and calmly walked through. We regarded each other quietly as I stood at the spigot just a few steps away. I wasn’t worried. If Smokey went anywhere, he’d probably head either back to the pasture or into the…

MANAGEMENT An unhappy traveler Q: My 15-year-old mare is a veteran show horse. She performs well and always seems relaxed and happy when I load her for the return trips. However, twice in the past year she arrived home looking uncomfortable. Both times, I called my veterinarian, who diagnosed a mild colic and gave her a dose of Banamine. She recovered fully within a few hours each time. But I am hesitant to put her on a trailer again. Can transport alone cause colic? What might be going on? Name withheld upon request A: This is a really important topic. Most cases of colic are caused by changes in feed, water or management, including work schedules, turnout times and types of pasture. What many people don’t realize is that transport…

Equus Issue 496 (ISSN 0149-0672/USPS 501-430) Copyright 2019, Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Published quarterly by Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company. The known office of publication is at 5720 Flatiron Parkway Boulder, CO 80301. Periodicals postage paid at Boulder, CO and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Equus, P.O. Box 37274, Boone, IA 50037-0274. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40612608, Canadian GST Number 825642911RT. Reprints: Contact Wright’s Reprints to purchase quality custom reprints or e-prints of articles appearing in this publication at (877)652-5295 (281-419-5725 outside the U.S. and Canada).…