Table of contents for Fall 2022 in Practical Horseman

I received a phone call from an old college friend, Mattie Alewine, who was in dire need of finding a home for an abandoned horse in the spring of 2022. Mattie then posted the horse in a local community group on Facebook, and she had been claimed by her original owners. I assumed Mattie did not need my help anymore and that was the end of that. If only every story was so simple. Unfortunately, we soon found out that Cheyenne’s owners didn’t want her back. Mattie offered to haul her back home for them, and they insisted it was impossible to load her on a trailer. Each additional suggestion was followed with more excuses. Even worse, their story led us to believe that Cheyenne hadn’t escaped their home but…

Brought to you by U.S. rider Adrienne Lyle sat down with Dressage Today at the 2022 World Championships in Herning, Denmark, in August. She discussed her experience at the event, including her rides with Betsy Juliano’s Salvino in the Team Grand Prix, where the U.S. finished in sixth, and Grand Prix Special, where she rode to ninth place to qualify to ride in the Grand Prix Freestyle. She then placed sixth in the Freestyle. During the interview, Lyle also gave training tips on the piaffe and spoke about Salvino’s personality and at-home schooling routine. Practical Horseman: How has your experience in Denmark been thus far? Adrienne Lyle: The organizers have done a phenomenal job. We heard really positive things coming into this—that they really knew what they were doing here…

Stall cleaning might seem like a straightforward process, but does your daily routine include every step necessary for ensuring your horse’s health and comfort? A good routine will: 1. Provide adequate bedding. If you’re lucky enough to have a stall mattress, you only need to add bedding where your horse urinates. For mats and dirt floors, the amount of bedding necessary to keep your horse comfortable depends on the softness of the flooring. You’ll know you’re skimping too much on bedding if the hair on his hocks looks broken—a sign of the beginnings of hock sores. On the other hand, if his stall is attached to an outdoor run or “in-and-out,” and he prefers to sleep outside, you can get away with less bedding inside. Determine where he’s sleeping by…

Therapeutic riding centers make a difference in the lives of many. Thanks to the tireless and passionate work of staff, volunteers and horses, these centers are often where equestrians with disabilities take first steps and speak first words, where emotional connections are forged and where limits are left in the arena dirt. To help shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done by therapeutic riding centers, Hope in the Saddle, along with prize sponsors Nutrena® and Tractor Supply Co., host multiple contests throughout the year to recognize these organizations. The 2022 winner of the Tack Room Makeover contest was Equi-Ed, a therapeutic equestrian program in Santa Rosa, California. Equi-Ed was nominated by Katie Moore, who helped house Equi-Ed’s displaced therapy horses during multiple wildfires. Here’s what Moore had to…

I hope you still have a copy of my column “Lost in Translation” from the Spring 2022 issue of Practical Horseman. In that column, I went into greater detail than usual about what comprises correct technique, and I intend to continue that examination in this column. If you reviewed my Spring 2022 article, you might notice that I wrote about every part of your position … except your hands. Now, having laid out my thoughts on the rest of your position, I can turn to your most important aid. There’s a reason for this sequence. From my perspective, you must have a truly independent position before you can pick up the reins with purpose. The reins are there to communicate with your horse; they are not there to help you…

While Omaha, Nebraska, may not be considered the first stop in international equestrian event competition, the city hosted the highly successful FEI World Cup™ Finals in 2017. Since then, more improvements to the area have been made. These include the addition of quality hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the finals’ host, the CHI Health Center Omaha. “You can’t beat the level of sport you’re going to get to experience,” said Julie Boilesen, CEO of the Omaha Equestrian Foundation, a non-profit organization holding the event in conjunction with the FEI. “We love showing off our city. I’m very proud of this downtown area. We so often go somewhere to an event like this, and we’re on the outskirts, not necessarily in the center. Here you’re right in the best…

Joe Dotoli knows horses, and he knows the importance of good head protection when riding. That is why the Rhode Island horseman campaigned for years to make ASTM International/Safety Equipment Institute-certified helmets mandatory in U.S. Equestrian Federation-recognized hunter/jumper competition. As he noted, “It’s a dangerous sport, so let’s protect ourselves as best we can and get on with what we love.” Even after the adoption of the USEF helmet rule—which started for Junior hunter/jumper/equitation riders in the late 1980s—riders continued to approach Dotoli about which helmets were the best. All the veteran horseman could tell them was which models met the minimum ASTM/SEI standard on a pass/fail basis. There was no way to compare the relative safety of certified models or to determine which ones offer the best protection against…

Successful performance depends on many things, including training, conditioning and the horse’s inherent talent and heart. But without proper nutrition, the horse will not be able to perform to his full potential. Sporthorse nutrition is primarily focused on providing appropriate fuel to support workload, but it also involves supplying a complete dietary balance to replenish nutrients needed for muscle maintenance, facilitate repair and recovery, maintain normal body functions and balance, and support optimal health. Energy/Fuel Energy is the fuel used by the horse for all functions, including maintenance of body tissues and powering exercise. Energy stored in feed is measured in calories, usually reported in megacalories (Mcal) or kilocalories (kcal or Cal). All horses have basic energy requirements to support maintenance activity. Energy is the nutrient most influenced by training…

SPECIAL: ECCO FEI World Championships, Herning, Denmark, August 6–14, 2022…

This photograph shows Zara Flores-Kinney and Elusive Dassett, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding, during the dressage test of a CCI3*-L eventing competition. Their dressage test is the equivalent of a Second/Third Level dressage test. Zara has been training with Elusive Dassett for four years. One can see in the photo that these two know each other, and that they trust each other, too. This is the most important foundation for a successful partnership in eventing. Zara is very focused and as a result is looking slightly down. I can see by her noseband choice and bit that the horse probably has a lot of “go,” and it may be a challenge to keep the effort all together in a dressage test. Lifting Shoulders and Self-Carriage Zara’s seat in this trot extension…

Imagine he is a powerboat. As you increase the power from his hind end with your lower leg and following seat, his front end rises. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, David Marcus rode for the United States throughout his Young Rider career before taking up the Canadian flag. He and Chrevi’s Capital represented Canada at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. He is also a well-respected trainer who has helped students of all levels work to achieve their goals.…