Table of contents for April 2018 in Practical Horseman

When I was young, I was getting ready to ride in an equitation medal final in Massachusetts. We arrived at the venue early in the morning, and I went to the show secretary to get my number. Then I came back to the trailer and couldn’t find my tall riding boots. I still remember the sick feeling I had in my stomach. One big meltdown later, I realized that I’d unpacked my boots as soon as I’d gotten to the show and plunked them in the back of our truck. To help you avoid a similar panic, we asked three top stable managers to devise a checklist of what you need to bring to a one-day competition (page 44). You’ll find a main list and one for eventing extras and…

The warm-up arena at a competition can be terrifying, if not downright dangerous. When warming up my horses and students for competition, I’ve seen riders circle right in front of a warm-up fence another rider was about to jump, just missing a collision. Other times, I’ve seen riders jumping fences set unsafely. Besides these near disasters, trainers and ground people sometimes demonstrate warm-up ring “habits” that are more than a little annoying to others trying to share the space—sitting on a warm-up fence so no one else can use it or leaving their trash near a warm-up jump. The warm-up arena doesn’t have to be a danger zone or such an aggravating place that you don’t want to be there. There are many well-known rules and some little-known ones in…

My number-one priority is always the horse. I’m constantly seeking new ways to extend my mounts’ careers without making them mentally or physically sour. I avoid overdrilling them not just to prevent unnecessary stress on their legs but also because I want them to look forward to their work with the freshest, happiest attitudes possible. I accompany my husband, Steve Engle, DVM, to veterinary conferences to keep up to date on the latest science and strategies for strengthening and conditioning horses while also reducing their risk of injury as much as possible. I also pay attention to methods that trainers use in other disciplines. Here are some of the most important lessons I’ve learned: 1. Minimize the pounding. Over time, concussion may lead to injuries in horses’ feet, joints, tendons…

Do fears of having forgotten to pack something important keep you up the night before a competition? Whether you’re heading to a one-day or multiday show, it may feel impossible to keep track of all the tack, equipment and clothing required. That’s why checklists are a lifesaver. We asked three top grooms to explain how to create and use effective pre-competition checklists: Olympic event groom and co-author of World- Class Grooming for Horses Emma Ford, Professional Equine Grooms founder Liv Gude and veteran U.S. Equestrian Team groom Laurie Pitts, who currently works for international jumper Kama Godek. They agree that checklists make life easier for almost everyone. “If you’re like me,” says Liv, “I can’t remember what I had for breakfast! So, stash a copy of your checklist somewhere handy…

Plascencia Proves Unbeatable With a time of 40.66 seconds, Luis Alejandro Plascencia (MEX) and his Dutch stallion Da Vinci came out on top during a seven-horse jumpoff at the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Guadalajara, Jan. 28, in Mexico. “I’ve had my horse for a little more than a year and a half now, and he jumped amazing today,” Plascencia said. “He’s very consistent, and today the track was very, very nice. [Guillerme Jorge] is my favorite designer. Everything was technical, there were no tricks... and, well—I loved it!” Gustavo Ramos (MEX) and his longtime mount Izzy Miaki were second on 42.50—the only other combination to have a double-clear ride. Coyle Secures First Victory Daniel Coyle (IRL) won the first World Cup™ qualifier of his career Feb. 4 in…

Get a Grip The Horze Grand Prix Silicone Full-Seat Breeches increase grip in the saddle thanks to a silicone-print full seat. The machine-washable, breathable Eros fabric, made of 93 percent polyamide and 7 percent elastane, repels both water and dirt, while the contoured medium waistband enhances fit and the elastic leg bottoms afford comfort under tight boots. Available in peacock dark blue, light brown, dark brown, black, white or mysterioso deep purple; juniors’ sizes medium, large or extra-large; women’s sizes 22–38; $109.99; www.horze.com. Anniversary Bridle This year, Shires Equestrian,?which holds a Royal Warrant from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, celebrates its 50th anniversary. The company has taken the opportunity to launch its affordable Avignon Leatherwork line, including the Avignon Nashville Bridle, a raised padded snaffle style with fancy stitching. Its anatomically…

1 Bold and relaxed with a very good position is how I’d describe this rider. Her leg is impeccable. The iron could be a little closer to her toes but it is correctly angled so it is at a right angle to the girth and her little toe is touching the outside branch. She has a correct 110-degree angle behind her knee. You could say this rider’s buttock is a little too far out of the saddle, but because the oxer is fairly big and the horse is jumping up with a round back, the position fault is minor. The rider has a nice posture with her eyes up and looking ahead. She is demonstrating a short crest release by pressing her hands into the horse’s neck with a slack…

PH How have you become successful? AK I wouldn’t say I’m the best rider in the world. I couldn’t go out and win a medal final tomorrow. But what I do have is this: After I started breaking all those babies and galloping racehorses, I don’t ride with any fear. I’m not scared. I want to do well, jump a clear round, and I’m a competitor. In show jumping, you have freak accidents, like when a horse trips or falls down. What can you do? The worst thing is a horse might stop and you go over his head. But you’re not getting pinned to the wall by a 2-year-old. Compared to breaking young horses, this is nothing. PH Why did you decide to start your own business in 2011?…

Margie Engle has been one of the winningest jumper riders in the U.S. for more than three decades. As a child, she cleaned dog and cat kennels in exchange for riding lessons until she was deemed big enough to muck stalls and groom horses. She didn’t own her own horse until her late 20s. In the meantime, she learned every aspect of horsemanship, working her way to the top of the sport. To date, Margie has won more than 200 grands prix classes, six World Cup qualifiers, more than 20 Nations Cups and a record 10 American Grandprix Association Rider of the Year titles. She competed in the 2000 Olympics, won team silver at the 1999 Pan American Games, team gold and individual bronze at the 2003 Pan Am Games…

□ ROOT FOR your favorite riders from the North American League as they face off against top competitors from around world, all seeking to win the coveted championship during the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, April 10–15, in Paris, France; www.feitv.org. □ HEAD TO Equine Affaire, April 12–15, in Columbus, OH, for a variety of educational clinics with top trainers, including Jan Ebling, Jeff Cook and Lynn Symansky, as well as demonstrations, exhibitions and a trade fair; www.equineaffaire.com. □ VISIT Oklahoma City, OK— the “Horse Show Capital of the World”—April 12–15, for the 41st Annual Youth Horse Council Symposium. Learn safe and effective horsemanship techniques through presentations, demonstrations and exhibits. Additional opportunities include watching live Quarter Horse racing and touring state-of-the-art veterinary and training facilities; www.ayhc.com. □ ENJOY rousing…

USEF Sets Sights On Change at Annual Meeting With the theme “bringing joy, embracing change,” the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s annual meeting, held in January in Lexington, Kentucky, provided an opportunity to deal with major issues—some for the first time. Several significant matters were discussed during the course of the fiveday convention, with some having to wait until later in the year—or perhaps longer—for resolution. However, it was noteworthy that certain subjects finally are coming to the forefront under the dynamic approach of former corporate CEO Murray Kessler, who took over as USEF president in 2017. Tackling Fraud One matter that received attention is the fraudulent sale or leasing of horses. Attempts in the past to mandate contracts for such transactions didn’t get very far. But this time around, discussion included…

This is the season when I get stuck in what Merriam- Webster’s dictionary calls a “conundrum,” an intricate and difficult problem. Let me describe my conundrum in two simple sentences, both of them true: 1. You should train your horse using only classical methods, chief among them being the use in dressage of a plain snaffle with a cavesson fitted correctly. (By “classical” I mean that you do not ask your horse to do anything he does not do in nature and that you do not resort to compulsion to achieve your goals.) 2. If you don’t have enough bit, you can’t have good hands. You see the conundrum? These two statements, while both true, are antithetical. My problem is that I make my living at the nexus of these…

I discovered the benefits of the football-grid exercise (Exercise 1) with Daydream, a horse I started riding as a 5-year-old. In a way, he and I grew up together: I won my first grand prix and my first big American Grandprix Association grand prix on him. He was a huge, gangly horse who was light on his feet but moved like a daisy-cutter hunter—low to the ground with very little knee action. He needed to learn to be quicker with his legs over very square oxers, so I consulted long-time trainer and horse dealer Vince Dugan. Vince was one of many generous professionals who offered me advice and horses to ride early in my career, when I was on a tight budget and starved for knowledge. He suggested I try…

www.PracticalHorsemanMag.com Grooming Box □ Vetrap™ □ Quarter-mark brush Rider Kit □ Cross-country safety vest □ Cross-country medical card/armband □ Cross-country stopwatch □ Whips/crops (for all three phases) □ Gloves (dressage, cross country and show jumping) Tack □ Cross-country boots Warm-up Kit for Cross Country □ Latex gloves □ Grease □ Stud wrench □ Nonslip product (like Sadl-Tite ™) □ Spare studs □ Tape (electrical and duct) □ Sponge □ Towel □ Halter/lead rope Stud Kit □ Grass tips □ Blocks □ Bullets □ Magnetic stud tray □ Wrench □ Stud plugs □ Shoeing nails to clean holes □ Flat-top spin tap □ WD-40 spray lubricant…

There is some debate within the equestrian community on whether the two major substances commonly used to control estrus in mares and, in certain cases, the behavior of stallions and geldings have a place in competition. Some owners, riders and trainers say that using altrenogest and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)—especially in stallions to manage potentially injurious behavior—creates a safer environment for all. Others believe the drugs are a more humane alternative to methods such as excessive longeing to quiet a horse before an athletic performance. But a number of other drugs that have a calming effect already are forbidden in competition. Where do the major organizations that regulate equine sports stand on altrenogest and MPA? The FEI (the International Equestrian Federation) prohibits the use of altrenogest in male horses and MPA…

CPI Riders Compete and Learn Some 160 students in grades 8–12 competed in five divisions—Advanced, Open, Intermediate, Novice and Walk Trot/Walk Trot Canter—during the mid-January College Preparatory Invitational at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. In addition to the IHSA-style competition judged by Kip Rosenthal, the two-day event included a mounted clinic, horsemanship practicum, educational lectures and a college fair. Schuyler Gobin, of Wellington, Florida, was the Advanced High Point Rider and Delaney McDowell, of Ocala, Florida, earned the Overall High Point Rider award. Ward Named Equestrian Of the Year In honor of his many accomplishments, Olympian McLain Ward was named 2017 USEF Equestrian of the Year and received the Robert P. Strub Trophy at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner, held in January in Lexington, Kentucky.…