Whats Inside : RCTC`s Equine Science Program Alfalfa the True

Transcription

Whats Inside : RCTC`s Equine Science Program Alfalfa the True
Stop by to visit our satff and
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Whats Inside : RCTC’s Equine Science Program ● Alfalfa the True Story ●
● Lynn Palm, Western saddle and dresage saddle ● Missy Wryn “Help”
Horse’s & Autism ● Charles Wilhelm’s Super Horse ● Level Tow Ride Systems - installation guide
● Minnesota Horse Expo - Getting Ready ● USRider - Trailering with or without a blanket
March 2016
All Breeds & Disciplines Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
Cover Photo: Don Moore, Super Horse
Champion - Pomona 2015
Pg 4: Rochester Community
Pg16: Wrongful Death
Technical College
Equine Science Program
Rate My Ride
Empowers Farriers
By: Jeff Cota
Pg18: Ultimate Super
Pg 6:
Saddles,
Western and Dressage
Palm Partnership,
By Lynn Palm.
Horse Challenge
Charles Wilhelms
Pg 21: Minnesota Horse
Expo
Save the Dates
Pg 7: Traveling with or
with out a Blanket
US Rider
Pg 22&23: My Horse is
Trying to Kill Me
By: Missy Wryn
Pg 8&9: Level Tow Systems
Installation Guide
By: Ride Tech
Pg10&12: Alfalfa, the Truth
By: Dr. Juliet M. Getty
Pg14&15 Horses & Autism
“Oscar and Charlie”
By: Charlie Avent
Pg24: A Great Year for
1.8 Million Equines
The Brooke
Pg27: Calendar of Events
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March 2016
Horsen Around Magazine
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Blue Seal KNG Dynasty Feeds . . .Pg28
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®
®
.
Rate My Ride
column is going to be starting in
A new
Horse ‘N Around magazine! In this col-
umn, two instructors from an equine science
college program are going to critique pictures
of riders and horses. They will point out how
the rider or horse look while in motion and
comment on rider’s position, biomechanics of
the horse, turn out, and give some training
tips! This first article will introduce you to the
instructors (Julie and Jonathon), the program
that they teach, and explain how to submit
your pictures for analysis!
About the Rochester
Community & Technical College (RCTC)
Equine Science Program:
Rochester Community and Technical College
in SE Minnesota has had an equine science
program for over 10 years and the program
continues to grow and improve each year. The
program has 1 and 2 year degree options in
equine science. Students can major in either
Riding & Training or Horse Husbandry, depending on their career goals. There are also
options to customize a degree for students with
specific needs. For example, students wanting
to pursue a degree in veterinary technology at
RCTC can also get a 12 credit equine science
certificate to help them obtain a vet tech career
involving horses.
Our classes have a tremendous amount of
hands-on learning, riding opportunities, field
trips, and small class sizes. Riding classes include dressage, hunt seat equitation, western
horsemanship, and colt starting.
Other courses include equine anatomy, horse
4
March 2016
With Julie Christie and Jonathon Holland
nutrition, stable management skills, teaching
techniques, and equine business practices.
The equestrian facility that the equine science
program utilizes is brand new, very large,
heated, and boasts a viewing area nicer than
most houses!
Our alumni are working in the horse industry in
a variety of capacities. Many are horse trainers or riding instructors but there are also former students working as barn managers, for
nutrition companies, running horse camps, veterinary technicians, and equine assisted therapy programs.
onships, as well as earned berths at the zone
and national championships. He is now an
equine science professor at RCTC and
teaches western horsemanship, colt starting,
and several more classes. Jonathon also
raises, trains, and shows APHC horses for
western pleasure futurities.
RCTC is an accredited program
so most courses will transfer to a
four year institution.
About Julie:
Julie Christie is an equine science professor
and also runs her own teaching/training business in the Rochester area. Julie is an FEI
dressage rider and has previously competed
in the hunters, jumpers, eventing, combined
training, and equitation. Julie has a Masters
degree in Equine Welfare, a certificate in Adult
learning, and has over 10 years of experience
teaching equine science at the college level.
Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, she has
worked with horses in many provinces, states,
and countries.
About Jonathon:
Jonathon grew up riding and showing horses.
After a successful youth career, he pursued his
education with an Associate degree in Equine
Science and a BS in Animal Industries Management at UMC.
Jonathon has taught
equine science at UMC and RCTC and has
coached IHSA teams to regional champiHorsen Around Magazine
Picture instructions:
Julie and Jonathon invite you to submit pictures of yourself riding for feedback on your position, horse, turn out, and to get some training
tips. Ideally the picture is taken from the side
while in movement and shows the whole horse
and rider in profile. You can be doing any style
of riding although speed events are not recommended. Please do not submit blurry pictures.
It might be helpful if you indicate the style of
riding you are doing, how long you have been
doing it, and a short introduction of you and
your horse. You can choose to remain anonymous or to have your name published. Just let
us know your preference. We look forward to
seeing the submissions!
Our thoughts at Horse N’ Around for teaming
up with the Rochester Community Technical
College Equine Science Instructors Julie and
Jonathan, would be both insightful and a fun
way to help Equine Enthusiasts with professional training advice helping anyone who
wishes to participate as well as our readers.
This is an opportunity not only our readers to gain
helpful insight for both horse and rider, but gives
these two wonderful instructors a chance to share
their years of professional insight while introducing
their program to potential students. Please submit
your photos and questions to :
Contact@Equinemonthy.com
( If needed please ask for confidentiality)
www.equinemonthly.com
April 1-2 U Ewing, IL May 7 U Ewing, IL
MAY 20-21 U Cassopolis, MI
is a subject that reminds me of our WestT his
ern Dressage motto "Why Not?!" A saying I
have said since I learned of the vast interests in
Western Dressage at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. For the first 30 years of riding I rode
consistently in the Dressage saddle. I still find myself training the exact same way if I am in a western saddle or the dressage saddle. Dressage
principles are the basis of my show ring success.
By using these principles with the training of the
horses I find I ride the same when riding in a Hunt
Seat or Western Saddle.
PALM PARTNERSHIP TRAINING™
Building a Partnership
with your Horse
“You Can Do The
Same in a Western
Saddle as a Dressage
Saddle!”
by Lynn Palm
I would guarantee you if you put a western saddle
(correctly fitted of course) on a Gran Prix horse
and started to do Piaffe, Tempi changes, Passage, Half Pass, etc., you would find that a horse
can do just as well in a western saddle! It does
not matter to a horse what saddle, unless it does
not fit the horse or rider correctly. Actually, I find
the Dressage and Western saddles are the most
similar. You ride in a sitting position at the walk,
trot, and canter in a dressage saddle and one that
rides correctly sitting in the western saddle at the
walk, jog, lope in a western saddle mirrors the
same basic principle of dressage. You can post
to the trot in the Western or English saddle too.
Comparing Dressage and Western Riders: Get a
book with Dressage riders and then with Western
Riders. My latest book, A Riders Guide To Real
Collection, will be perfect to use. Make sure your
books are of good quality training and correct
horsemanship. Now, compare photos of riders.
You are going to find the English riders and the
Western riders are in similar positions. You should
be able to define a vertical straight line from their
ear, shoulder, middle of the hip, back of the heel
to the ground. This vertical alignment that we
must maintain while riding the horse in his three
gaits is so similar. For example, the western rider
can ride with two hands just like the English rider.
This is a similar balanced position. Remember,
the horse does not care about the saddle as long
as it fits properly.
Communication through the natural aids:
Whether you are riding in a Dressage or Western
saddle, the universal aids to communicate with
seat, legs, and hands are all the same. It should
not matter what saddle you are in, as long as you
are consistently using your aids correctly.
If you had a big bulky and thick leathered western
saddle, you may not be able to use your aids as
"close contact" as a dressage saddle. My Western Dressage saddle is just as much close contact to my horse as my dressage saddle. I just
love it! If you are interested to see my two custom
made Western Dressage saddle that I use, click
here! Also, take a peak at our English Dressage
saddle; handmade in France that has a tree we
developed specifically for the Stock Horse breeds
or other horses with broad shoulders and broad
backs.
It is something special and surely gives you a correct balance when you ride in it. If you would like
to see this, just click here. If you would like to try
one of our saddles, please contact my husband,
Cyril at cyrilalliancesaddlery@msn.com. He
would be more than happy to answer any saddle
or saddle fitting questions you may have. He is
an expert in this field.
The training of the horse and the levels you follow
to improve the horse's knowledge and performance, as well as your own skills, does not matter
what saddle you ride in! The saddle is just a tool
to keep you in balance with your horse, feel the
horse underneath of you, and to give your horse
comfort as he carries your weight. A horse should
have no problems unless the saddle does not fit.
I find that most riders love the western saddle because it has a bigger seat, a horn for confidence,
and more saddle that is around you. A western
saddle does not challenge your balance as much
as an English dressage saddle does. All English
saddles require more balance from the rider and
a skill level so they don't rely on the horn if they
should need it for balance. However, we require
all our western riders to ride English! I believe that
riding English (Dressage or Hunt Seat) will improve your Western riding. Over the years this
has proven very true.
I would like to end this training article with a
challenge for you.
If you have a friend or student who rides only
western, try to get them in an English saddle.
They will find it will help their western riding by enhancing balance and confidence. If you know an
English rider, try to get them to ride in the western
saddle. They will have a blast, as it is so much
more comfortable if the saddle is of top quality.
Most riders retire riding in a western saddle!
Don't ever forget that!
6
March 2016
Horsen Around Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
Traveling with a Horse
With winter making its grand entrance in many
states and across Canada, having confidence
your four-legged companion is comfortable during
travel is essential. While horses are very comfortable in cold conditions, and most travel well in the
winter, it is still a big question as to whether you
should be throwing on a blanket or leaving it at
the barn. There are a few factors that should be
taken into consideration before you hit the road.
Hydration is one of the most important factors to
consider when traveling with your horse. While a
lot of us take extra caution of dehydration in the
summer, winter is just as important and your best
defense against colic. If a horse has on a few too
many blankets, dehydration can set in quickly and
cause problems.
If you have a show horse and keep him under
lights to prevent a winter coat, then blanketing at
all times while outside is best. If you have a horse
that is a regular in the pasture and resembles a
wooly mammoth during winter, a blanket may be
a poor choice as he can sweat and quickly become dehydrated. With that being said, there are
many climates that no matter what your horse’s
coat looks like, a blanket is a must due to cold
winds. This is especially true if you have an open
stock trailer.
www.equinemonthly.com
Good trailer ventilation is a very important factor;
any time of year. Since horses are prone to respiratory illness, toxic air can quickly fill your trailer
if you have it completely sealed. Gases from urine
and manure, hay dust and shavings, can all play
a key role in threatening your horse’s health. Also
keep in mind that body heat builds quicker while
traveling and can create discomfort if there is no
airflow.
If you are going on a long-distance trip, pack accordingly. Pack different types of blankets and
sheets so you can change them depending on
the weather. If your horse lives in a hot weather
climate like Arizona, keep in mind that he is not
used to colder weather and may require a heavier
blanket earlier in the trip than say a horse from
Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa. Some people go
by the 35-40° rule. If it gets to or below those
numbers, get those blankets on.
Again, this is all depending on your horse’s coat.
Horsen Around Magazine
Blanket or
No Blanket?
If he is body clipped or has a light coat, he should
wear his regular blanket in the trailer, with full ventilation. If horses are in an enclosed trailer, a light
sheet may be all that is needed, plus it can also
act as a form of protection. Be cautious of sweating as it can cause dehydration. None of us have
time for that when we have places to go and
horses to meet!
USRider is the only company to provide emergency roadside assistance for horse owners.
Through the Equestrian Motor Plan, USRider provides nationwide roadside assistance and towing
services with other travel-related benefits to its
Members. The plan includes standard features
such as flat-tire repair, battery assistance, lockout
services, and roadside repairs for tow vehicles
and trailers with horses, plus towing up to 100
miles and emergency stabling, veterinary and farrier referrals.
For more information about USRider visit
www.usrider.org or call (800) 844-1409.
March 2016
7
Air Ride Technologies
Installing the LevelTOW kit on a 2015 Chevrolet 3500 HD Dually.
We all want to get the most out of the equipment we buy. If money were no object, we
would buy the biggest truck and trailer offered
on the market. But, that just simply isn’t the
case for most of us. Many of us use our towing
vehicles on daily bases for things other than
towing.
So, somewhere in the middle of a massive tow
rig and an economical grocery getter is where
our vehicles end up. In this scenario, our suspension is also a compromise. If all trucks were
designed to haul the max GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) the suspension would be
very stiff. That would be OK if the truck was always loaded. But unloaded it would be very
uncomfortable to ride in.
If they were designed to have a very plush ride,
when you loaded the trailer and cargo up, the
truck would sag and be very scary to drive.
Then you add into the equation that hauling
horses is very different than hauling a boat or
RV. Horses move around and can shift weight
on your towing vehicle. So, how do we get a
good ride unloaded and maintain ride quality
with our horse trailers and shifting loads.
While automatic,
it may also be controlled
by the manual up/down switch
also supplied in the kit.
It is very critical to get the insert completely
“clocked” into the cup. This requires a screwdriver or pry bar to get it twisted all the way.
The three pictures below show Jounce
bumper, the incorrect and correct ways of installing the insert.
Although removing the wheels to install LevelTOW kit 81214004 isn’t necessary, we have,
to make viewing the installation easier.
The first step is to remove the jounce bumpers
and insert the jounce bumper cup insert into
the cup.
This picture shows the cup incorrectly
“clocked” into the jounce cup.
Ridetech has developed an advanced towing
solution that automatically levels your vehicle
for varying loads. Unlike other load leveling
kits, the LevelTOW system is designed to not
only level the truck under load but also improve
ride quality. Oh, and did we mention, it does
this all automatically once activated?
This shows the correct location of the insert in the cup.
Once the cup inserts are correctly installed the
upper bracket can be installed.
The system is a complete package that includes variable rate air springs,
quiet OE grade air compressor, automatic leveling sensor and industry leading Monotube shocks.
8
March 2016
Horsen Around Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
Assemble the airspring to the lower bracket
and bolt it to the axle with the bail clamp (ubolt), carriage bolts and secure it to the upper
bracket with the large combo stud. Make sure
the alignment pin is in the appropriate hole in
the upper bracket.
The last step is to install the
supplied shocks.
We installed the front shocks also to
optimize the ride quality of our Chevy 3500.
Run the wires to the height sensor location,
power and activation wires, and controls inside
the cab per the instructions.
Next we move to the automatic
air management system.
Mount the compressor frame bracket to the
frame using the supplied self-tapping screws.
Install the sensor with the supplied self-tapping
screws. We can now cut the rod for the height
sensor to connect the sensor arm to the axle
or leaf stack. There are a few brackets in the
kit. We used the axle bracket and modified it
to attach to the leaf stack.
Now that the LevelTOW kit is installed on our
2015 Chevrolet 3500HD. We are ready for
towing our precious cargo, safely and comfortably!
Mount the compressor system to the frame
bracket.
Run the air line to the air springs.
www.equinemonthly.com
We installed our controls in a panel in the dash.
You can also use the supplied bracket to
mount them under the dash.
Horsen Around Magazine
Ridetech’s LevelTOW kits are available for all
late model tow vehicles and available at most
truck and trailer accessory stores or directly
at www.ridetech.com.
These kits do not require a certified mechanic to install and can be completed
with simple hand tools.
March 2016
9
Alfalfa and the
Insulin Resistant Horse
— The True Story
By Dr. Juliet M. Getty
Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most
horses’ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). I often recommend feeding it because
it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass-hay
diet and, in general, enhances the horse’s muscle
tone, immune system, and overall health. But
some people just don’t want to feed alfalfa; they
believe it causes laminitis. And after years of
working with horses, it appears that it may, in fact,
lead to laminitis in some horses.
I found this to be very puzzling since alfalfa is low
in sugar and starch, even lower than most grass
hays. Its high protein content, however, makes it
more caloric, which can be a problem for IR
horses who need to lose weight. But I always included some, albeit a small amount.
Nevertheless, there appears
to be something about alfalfa
that troubles some IR
horses. After giving this considerable thought, I believe I
can shed some light on why
this may be the case. There
are two plausible reasons,
both leading to excess blood
glucose and the concomitant
secretion of insulin:
For a protein to be of high quality, it must contain
all of the essential amino acids in proper proportion. Plant protein sources are potentially limiting
in the essential amino acid, lysine. When lysine
is low, protein synthesis comes to a halt. The National Research Council (NRC) has established
lysine requirements for all horses. As of yet, requirements for the other nine essential amino
acids have not been quantified, though recent research has shown that threonine may be the second limiting amino acid.
To ensure your horse has an ample amino acid
pool in his bloodstream from which to synthesis
proteins within his body, it is best to feed a variety
of protein sources to improve the quality while not
overdoing the quantity.
The organic acid has several
pathways it can take:
(1) It can be burned for energy (especially if the
diet is not high enough in calories to meet
energy needs);
(2) It can be converted to body fat(if the diet is
too high in calories); or
(3) It can be converted to glucose. It’s this third
path that potentially causes problems for the
IR horse.
Once glucose is produced,
the pancreas secretes insulin
to allow glucose to enter the
Feedstuff:
Approximate volume measure equivalent to 100 g Protein(grams) cells and store body fat. Elevated insulin can create inAlfalfa pellets (18% CP)
1 cup (240 ml)
21.0
flammation with the feet and
the IR horse is particularly
Almonds (ground)
1 cup(240 ml)
21.2
vulnerable because his inBeet Pulp
1 cup (240 ml)
10.0
sulin level is already eleBrewer’s Yeast
1/3 cup + 1T (100 ml)
53.0
vated.
Chia seeds
½ cup (120 ml)
15.6
Table 1:
Protein Content of Protein-Rich Feedstuffs[i] per 100 grams
Flaxseeds (ground)
1. Excess protein in the diet Hempseeds
2. Preservative often sprayed Rice bran
Soybean meal[ii]
on alfalfa hay
Split peas
Sunflower seeds[iii]
Whey protein isolate
Excess protein - quality vs quantity
All proteins consist of long, branched chains of
amino acids. Upon digestion, amino acids are
free to enter the blood stream and travel to individual tissues, where they are recombined in a
very specific order to produce the protein needed
by that particular tissue (e.g., blood, lungs, heart,
liver, skin, bones, joints, etc.).
There are 22 amino acids, of which ten are considered essential -- they cannot be produced
within the horse’s body or they cannot be produced in adequate quantity to meet the horse’s
need.
10
Here is how it happens: Inside the liver, an amino
acid is broken apart into two pieces – an amino
group and an organic acid. The amino group
quickly becomes ammonia and is converted to
urea, which is then excreted from the body in the
urine.
March 2016
1 cup less 1T (225 ml)
10 Tablespoons (150 ml)
1 cup (240 ml)
1 cup + 3 T (285 ml)
½ cup (120 ml)
½ cup (120 ml)
13.3 Tablespoons (200 ml)
Commercially fortified feeds often include a variety of ingredients to create quality protein. If you’d
like to do it yourself, (table 1) offers suggestions
on alternative whole foods that can be incorporated into a grass-based diet.
Protein quantity becomes a problem when the
horse is overwhelmed with amino acids.
If large amounts of protein are consumed beyond
the horse’s need to replace and repair body proteins, the excess amino acids cannot be stored
for later use. Instead, they are destroyed. The
metabolites of amino acid degradation can potentially lead to excess glucose in the blood.
Horsen Around Magazine
18.3
37.0
15.5
34.8
24.6
22.8
70.0
Alfalfa hay can contribute
to excess protein
It is easy to overwhelm the
horse with too much protein
when feeding alfalfa hay because on average, alfalfa
has more than twice the amount of protein as
grasses. Individual grass and alfalfa hays will vary
significantly; therefore it is always best to have
your hay analyzed.
It is important to realize that excess protein from
any source can lead to excess insulin secretion.
Alfalfa hay is generally fed in much larger quantity
than adding a whole food such as alfalfa pellets,
split peas, or hempseeds (see table 1), making it
appear as though it is the alfalfa that is the culprit.
Let’s look at a hypothetical example:
(Continued on Pg 12)
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Website: www.simonhorsecompany.com
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Alfalfa and the Insulin Resistant Horse
Pepper is an adult Quarter Horse. He is overweight – 1200 lbs (550 kg). He’s been diagnosed with insulin resistance and has already
suffered once from laminitis. He is lightly active. According to the NRC, his minimum protein requirement is 770 grams per day. Since
the overweight, IR horse has much inflammation in his system (both body fat and insulin are
highly inflammatory), tissues throughout the
body can be damaged. Protein is needed to
help repair and maintain tissues. Consequently, it is reasonable to add to the NRC requirement. Ten percent is a sensible amount
to add, bringing the protein requirement up to
847 grams per day.
Pepper’s cool-season grass hay has been analyzed to be low in sugar (ESC) and starch and
is therefore, appropriate to feed free choice.
The crude protein content is 8%. After being allowed to self-regulate through free-choice
feeding, his grass hay consumption averages
22 lbs per day.
To boost his protein quality, Pepper’s owner
adds 5 lbs of alfalfa hay per day, which has
been analyzed to contain 20% crude protein.
Minnesota Trail
Riders Association
( Continued From Pg10 )
Protein intake is calculated
as follows:
Grass hay: 22lbs X 454 g/lb X .08 = 799 grams
Alfalfa hay: 5 lbs X 454 g/lb X .20 = 454 grams
Total: 799 + 454 = 1253 grams.
1253 grams significantly exceeds his protein
requirement. Pepper’s owner decides to remove the alfalfa hay. To offer a variety of protein sources, she replaces the hay with 2 cups
alfalfa pellets and 1 cup of split peas:
Now the protein intake looks like this:
Grass hay: 799 grams
Alfalfa pellets: 2 X 21 grams = 42 grams
Split Peas: 2 X 24.6 grams = 49.2 grams
Total: 890.2 grams
Interpretation: The protein content of the first
diet is too high because of added alfalfa, which
could contribute to elevated insulin secretion.
However, alfalfa, in and of itself, is not necessarily the issue. The issue is too much protein.
By removing the alfalfa hay and replacing it
with a small amount of alfalfa pellets and split
peas, the protein quality is improved while
keeping the overall content close to the requirement.
Here’s another real issue with
alfalfa – Propionic acid
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March 2016
Alfalfa is often sprayed with buffered propionate (also known as propionic acid) to retard
spoilage if baled during wet or humid conditions. This preservative not only reduces mold,
but it also decreases drying time in the field,
thereby diminishing the potential for leaf loss
from harvesting and providing more baling
flexibility. Baling can begin in the humid early
morning hours and can continue later into the
evening, allowing greater acreage to be harvested.
Not considered to be harmful, propionate is
one of three volatile fatty acids (VFA) naturally
produced by the hindgut bacteria during hay
fermentation. The other two VFAs are acetate
and butyrate. These VFAs are a significant energy source for your horse. Acetate is utilized
by many tissues including the heart, muscles,
and the brain. Butyrate provides energy for the
cells that line the hindgut epithelium.
Horsen Around Magazine
Propionate is a major precursor toward glucose production through a process known as
gluconeogenesis. And that’s a problem for the
IR horse. Once propionate is absorbed and
metabolized, it is converted to glucose! So
when you feed alfalfa that has been treated
with propionic acid, you are essentially increasing your horse’s blood glucose level, just as
you would if you had fed a hay with a large
amount of sugar and starch. Increased glucose
leads to increased insulin. And the rest is…
well, you get the picture.
Talk to your alfalfa hay producer. If the hay has
been sprayed with propionate, and excess glucose is a concern for your horse, do not feed
this hay. In areas of the country where humidity
is not an issue, alfalfa is not likely sprayed with
propionate. But it is always worth checking.
Bottom line
Too much protein can be problematic for the
IR horse and it is easy to exceed the horse’s
protein requirement when adding alfalfa hay.
Alfalfa itself is not the issue, but rather, its contribution to the protein content of the entire diet.
Since protein quality is important, consider
adding smaller amounts of alfalfa hay or add
different protein sources to better stay within
limits. Avoid alfalfa that has been treated with
propionic acid. ■
Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a
wide U.S. and international following. Her research-based approach
optimizes equine health by aligning
physiology and instincts with correct
feeding and nutrition practices.
www.equinemonthly.com
Itching Post
As I watched the beautiful horses in the pasture
one morning, my eyes were drawn to a giant draft
horse named Dakota. He may have looked like
he was smiling, but those of us who understand
horse behavior know that curling of the lips can
be a sign of colic.
I grabbed my binoculars for a better look. He really was smiling, rubbing his big hindquarters on
my gate! I could see the gate start to buckle with
his great weight, and the gate now has a permanent bend with Dakota’s name on it. Later that
day as I was doing my chores around the farm, I
couldn’t help but notice other places that horses
had rubbed or scratched while they attempted to
reach their itchy spots-- the corner of a building,
a tree branch, a fence post, a gate or two or three!
I wondered if there was anything available in the
marketplace that I could buy to cover these
places so the horses wouldn’t damage my property or themselves. I’m sure every horse owner
has received a vet bill due to horses who have injured themselves from overzealous itching and
required sutures, medication, or treatment for a
scratched cornea. When I couldn't find anything
at the store to solve this problem, I bought several
rubber curry brushes and attached them to the
side of a building.
I was amazed at how often my horses found this
area and scratched themselves all over their
body.
Some horses would take their faces and gleefully
rub all over the brushes, and others would move
their necks up and down over the brushes. The
funniest ones would back into the brushes and
rub their hind ends while making funny faces.
They were clearly happy with their newfound,
homemade “itching posts.”
My brother Mike is a talented carpenter so I asked
him to build me something similar made out of
wood. This became the first design for Itchin’
Post Animal Grooming/Scratching Pads, but I still
give all the credit to big old Dakota for the idea.
I started Sundown Horse Farm and Shelter to
feed, re-home, and train as many horses as possible and have found new homes or new jobs for
hundreds of horses. To further contribute to the
welfare of these beloved creatures, each sale of
Itchin’ Post pads helps a horse in need.
If you have ever watched a horse lay down and
roll (especially right after you groom them!), you
understand how itchy they can feel. When horses
shed or grow new hair, the follicles itch and make
them uncomfortable. Think about how a good
back scratching feels and you can relate to our
hoofed friends!
Scratching is soothing, and rubbing relieves boredom, so by installing this combination toy/injurypreventing tool, you can easily provide a more
enjoyable experience for your horse while adding
color to the pasture and protecting your property.
With each purchase, you also help horses in
need.
Visit www.SundownHorseShelter.org
At Marth, we provide heavier
bags, consistent size
and virgin wood sources
from qualified mills.
da Versace Bey
Standing At:
Dierich Arabians
Baldwin, WI
www.versacebey.com
Make sure you know
what you’re paying for.
DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME!
Call today for more information!
While
value is a priority,
price doesn’t always get you there.
sales@marthwood.com • 800-869-2377
www.marthwood.com
www.equinemonthly.com
Horsen Around Magazine
Be sure you’re informed and
can answer the following:
1. Type of wood in the bag
2. True expanded volume
3. Weight of the bag
4. Size of the bag
March 2016
13
'Oscar'
The horse
who saved
my life
We received a request to share this amazing
story of how a horse helped change a life, and
we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Thank you, Charlie for sharing your story with
us. It's always wonderful to hear how our horse
friends can change lives for the better. To read
all about Charlie's journey with Autism and
horses, be sure to order a copy of his book
"Following the Hoofprints" available at Amazon.com"
Although I live a normal life in the United Kingdom, I have a special gift called Autism. This
is my true story of how a horse named Oscar
gave me life, helped me to become an apprentice Horse Whisperer then helped me to turn
my Autism into a gift.
Before I discovered horses, I was rapidly losing
the will to live or get out of bed let alone learn
anything at all, I was hysterical, upset and depressed by the bullying and the hate I had to
endure in my life particularly that aimed at me
for having the (so called) disability of Autism. It
felt as if my ‘Autistic Spectrum Disorder’ as my
carers called it, was blinding those around me
to my interests and strengths and this felt awful
as I began to feel like a mutant.
I first met Oscar when I was in my second year
at Ruskin Mill College. I was struggling to make
sense of my life, to find meaning or purpose in
myself. I was so upset that I Felt my existence
was pointless and wanted to die because I
hated myself for having Autism. One day I was
in Patricia my art tutor’s house, crying and hysterically upset in a full-scale autistic meltdown,
when she took me out to meet Oscar.
From the moment I met Oscar, a bay thoroughbred who, I had been told, had a very difficult
start in life and had nearly died, I felt my own
14
March 2016
self pity become lost in a sea of love. He
seemed to be saying ‘I love you, Charlie’ and
asking me for friendship and help in spreading
the message that violence towards any animal
or human being is never the answer. In return
he said he would help me to learn about his
language and that he would never let me fall
back into myself. He said, “I’m always here in
spirit if not in body”. I feel very tearful just writing about this.
Oscar said to me, “If you want to repay me, you
can become a Horse Whisperer”, and although
I don’t believe I can ever fully repay him I have
since totally set my heart on becoming a Horse
Whisperer!
Patricia could not believe what she was seeing
and decided to ask for me to have a few sessions of horse therapy with her and Oscar over
the next few weeks.
However in true
Ruskin Mill style,
‘They’ did not give
me horse therapy,
‘They’ gave me a
Horse Whisperer!
Carol arranged for
me to meet a lady
called Dawn Oakley-Smith,
who
keeps a small herd
of horses at her
Natural Horsemanship stable yard
called ‘Heartshore
Horses’.
Hector (the friendly big black Labrador) who
Dawn keeps as her friend and companion.
Dawn took us to Heartshore Horses’ main field
where her herd of horses were waiting to be
fed with their morning hay. As soon as I saw
them I knew that Heartshore was an amazing
place where I would learn a very great deal
about horses. I feel rather silly now, but I asked
Dawn if she had heard of my hero Monty
Roberts. She replied, “Of course, I am a Horse
Whisperer!”
I was totally amazed to hear this. It was the
most incredible feeling, to realize exactly what
was happening here! This was my destiny; to
help Dawn as a Horse Whisperer apprentice.
To help to save horses from certain death and
to help horses and people understand one another!
As soon as I arrived
at Dawn’s house
with Carol, I was
loudly welcomed by
Horsen Around Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
Over the next year as I became more confident, competent, and able, it became apparent
that more than anything I wanted to have a
horse of my own. As this seemed to me to be
impossible I waited as long as I could before I
finally asked Dawn how expensive they really
were to keep. She replied, ‘”We can keep them
here very cheaply at Heartshore because we
keep all of the horses as naturally as possible”...
It was about this time that I met Monty Roberts
the iconic Horse Whisperer, on telling him my
plan Monty told me to make my own luck
wished me good learning and told me to go for
it!
Over the next year as I became more confident, competent, and able, it became apparent
that more than anything I wanted to have a
horse of my own. As this seemed to me to be
impossible I waited as long as I could before I
finally asked Dawn how expensive they really
were to keep. She replied, ‘”We can keep them
here very cheaply at Heartshore because we
keep all of the horses as naturally as possible”...
After many weeks of discussions, meetings
and anxious waiting for both me and my
Ruskin Mill house parents, the news that I was
to have a horse of my very own made me cry!
And I had already decided on the name,
‘Spirit’!
I first met ‘Spirit’ on a lovely warm sunny day
in May. It all happened after a phone call from
a horse breeder who had seen my advertisement, knew that I was looking for a young
horse, and had just the one! We arranged to
visit the stables and I was introduced to a
young and very handsome colt. Although I instantly liked his spirited nature, Dawn and I
said no to buying him. She was the voice of
Reason and I was the voice of excitement.
So we went on to the next paddock where I
met a young Irish sport horse cross thoroughbred whose father was the famous coloured
sport horse stallion ‘Masterpiece’. I immediately fell in love! Her name was ‘Summer’s
Rain’. The breeder was happy to agree on a
fair price and I was happy to buy her having
changed her name to 'Spirit Of Summers Rain'
and ‘Spirit of Summer’s Rain’ arrived at
Heartshore Horses on June 20th 2010.
Isaacson, author of the book ‘The Horse Boy’.
She now runs therapy camps for autistic children and their families at Heartshore Horses
in Gloucestershire although we prefer a natural
horsemanship approach to all of our equine
therapy but especially with those who have
autism because we found that the natural
horsemanship
seems to produce
better
therapy
horses who are
more relaxed and
happy and are less
focused on their own
survival and more
focused on their job.
I work as a volunteer
assistant on these
camps and do my
best to look after
those who need
special help. I enjoy
telling the visiting
families about my
life changing experience with Oscar and
introducing ‘Spirit’ to all those who wish to
meet to her. Spirit and I are now out to try to
inspire others to try Natural Horsemanship
through giving talks on how horses saved me
and displaying our wonderful friendship via
natural horsemanship demos. We also want
to inspire others with disabilities or difficulties
to just carry on regardless and focus on their
Strengths and Interests.
We had a phone call not long before Monty
Roberts was due to do a demo near Gloucester at Hartbury College for his Jubilee tour to
say that he had heard all about my story and
wanted me to come and be part of his demonstration to speak about my Autism and do a
Join Up in front of everyone with Kelly Marks
18hh hunting horse Harry! As you can imagine
I was honoured but nervous as I walked into
the
round pen to speak but this feeling soon subsided and then when I was with Harry doing
Join Up, nothing existed anymore except him
and me so that I felt the same lovely calm relaxed feeling I get when I am with my own
horse Spirit.
Recently I heard that Oscar ‘Cleverly Bay’ had
been put to sleep after breaking his leg Eventing and this was devastating news but I hope
to make him proud of me and help many other
people not to have to go through what I went
through.
I have now written a book called Following The Hoofprints, which has now
been published and is available worldwide exclusively through Amazon.
Spirit and I have a wonderful relationship, she
is an extremely easy and kind horse despite
still being young. We play and learn as partners and I have been training her almost totally
unaided. I never use pain or force when training her, we use the ‘Natural Horsemanship’
methods of ‘Monty Roberts’.
Dawn for a time became part of the ‘Horse Boy
Foundation’ and has worked alongside Rupert
www.equinemonthly.com
Horsen Around Magazine
March 2016
15
Wrongful Death Ruling
Empowers Farriers
court documents. “As a result of that fall, he
suffered serious head trauma. He later died
from the injuries he sustained.”
As our schedules arise for that needed trim
every four to six weeks for our horses, we
thought it would be good to re-introduce an article written by Jeff Cota from the American
Farriers Journal regarding responsibility and
control over your horse while trimming their
hoo0ves.
A Wrongful Death Ruling Empowers Farriers,
On a fall Southern California day in 2009, Pat
Barrett set out to do what he had done thousands of times over more than 45 years — trim
horses’ hooves.
Armed with a halter, Barrett and his assistant
entered an exceptionally rocky corral to secure
a horse. It was something that Barrett had
done since he started working on James
Leech’s horses. This day, though, would have
a tragic outcome.
“In attempting to secure one of the horses for
hoof trimming, Patrick was hit by the horse’s
chest or possibly the horse’s face, which
caused him to fall and hit his head on one of
the rocks that covered the corral,” according to
There was a great deal of interest in the industry when it was learned that a California Court
of Appeals dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit
that was brought by Barrett’s widow Nancy,
and for good reason. Mrs. Barrett asks some
very important questions, not only on behalf of
herself and her late husband, but for each and
every one of you who gets under a horse.
• Whose responsibility is it to secure and
restrain horses?
• Whose responsibility is it to determine
whether the conditions are safe to work
on a horse?
• Whose responsibility is it to determine
whether the horse is too volatile in
disposition and temperament?
In its 15-page decision, the court details its position through case law that the responsibility
rests entirely with you.
It’s not a popular ruling. After all, a man lost his
life. A wife lost her husband. Six children lost
their father. Grandchildren lost their grandfather. It’s incredibly difficult to separate the emotional elements from this horrible accident. Yet,
it’s important to consider the very specific language when reading the main points contained
within the ruling.
Perhaps the issue that sparked the most discussion within the farrier industry involved the
court’s opinion on securing horses.
From a small horse
barn to a professional
riding facility, you can
count on Northland’s
experts to design
and build a safe and
functional building for
your horses!
By Jeff Cota
While Mrs. Barrett argued that the horse owner
was liable for failing to secure or restrain
horses for the farrier, the court disagreed.
“Securing the horses was an essential part of
the job for which the farrier Patrick was hired,”
according to the court documents. “The owner
had no duty to secure the horses once he gave
up care and control to the specialist.”
The key to the opinion is contained within the
second sentence: “… once he gave up care
and control to the specialist.” The court is being
very specific. It’s not saying that it’s the farrier’s
job to fetch horses. It’s not saying the farrier
should accept unsafe working conditions. Yet,
what it is saying is that once the farrier accepts
care and control of the horse, the owner is off
the hook. You are now responsible.
Although some farriers are criticizing the ruling
as a blow against the industry, it actually empowers you. The court is telling you it’s OK to
say no. You have the right to walk away rather
than put yourself in unnecessary danger.
There are going to be clients who don’t understand your decision. Some will be angry. Others will fire you.
The courts are very clear, the client will not be
compelled to pay for your hospital bills, cover
your lost wages, pay your funeral costs or take
care of your family if you lose your life.
It’s OK to say no.
Jeff Cota has been a writer, photographer and
editor with newspapers and magazines for
nearly 25 years. A native of Maine, he is the
Associate Editor of American Farriers Journal.
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16
March 2016
Horsen Around Magazine
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17
Charles Wilhelm’s
Ultimate Super
Horse Challenge
TM
Come watch an amazing group of horses and
riders compete for the title of “Charles Wilhelm’s Ultimate Super Horse,
During the Western States Horse Expo, in
Pomona, California February 4 - 6, 2016, – In
Hand Performance & Ranch Riding, took place
with Trail Equitation & Dancing with Cows. with
the Super Horse Finale on Saturday, February
6, 2016.
golf carts, babies crying, horses all around
them, bursts of applause, loud speakers, and
all kinds of environments and noises that can’t
be duplicated at home.
The overall winner of the multi-day Ultimate
Super Horse Challenge will received a custom
Charles Wilhelm signature saddle (or $1000
cash) and a championship buckle. The second
place finisher received $500 cash
and the top five contestants received
a ribbon and great prizes from the
event sponsors.
A Super Horse can appear in a parade one
day, work cows the next, compete in trail equitation, western dressage or working equitation
the following day — and more. The Super
Horse can do all that with lightness, cadence,
carriage, fluidity and responsiveness.
The Super Horse Challenge is designed to
challenge the horse and rider to excel in their
abilities and to demonstrate communication,
It’s great exposure and training for
the horse. The judges for the
Challenge in Pomona will include
great horsemen and women such
as Richard Winters, Brandi Lyons,
Robin Bond, Mary Kitzmiller and
Steve Bauhr.
Altogether, the prize packages
total over $5,000.
If you have a Super Horse,
join us at the next
Super Horse Challenge at the
Northwest Horse Fair & Expo
– March 18-20, 2016
horsemanship and equitation. This event rewards people for the time and hard work they
have invested in their horses. The competition
is not a race; rather the challenge is designed
to showcase the rider’s relationship and the
horse’s relaxed lightness, responsiveness, balance or collection throughout the course.
One of the great bonuses of having the Ultimate Super Horse Challenge at an Expo is that
these horses will be exposed to huge crowds,
18
March 2016
Horsen Around Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
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Minnesota Horse Expo gets ready
The Minnesota State Fairgrounds opens to the
34th annual Minnesota Horse Expo for everyone
who enjoys horses on Friday, April 22 through
Sunday, April 24.
Dale Myler, a leader in bit design and bitting application,
Some 750 vendor booth spaces packed with
gear, horse association info, trailers, riding, showing and work apparel, equine supplies and more
for horse and owner will fill six Fair buildings and
flow outside to space along Judson Avenue. The
MN 4-H Horse Project volunteers will help consign and sell thousands of items of tack, equipment and clothing at the Expo Consignment Sale
in the Dairy Building.
This year’s presenters include Guy McLean,
Australian horseman and entertainer,
Julie Goodnight, educator and host of Horse Master on RFD-TV,
Anita Howe, gaited horse trainer and author of
Freedom to Gait,
for April
22-24 Dates
PRCA rodeo performances have long been a favorite at the Minnesota Horse Expo with sell out
crowds. The three rodeo performances feature
Barnes Rodeo stock, seven rodeo events plus
Rider Kiesner, who entertains with the Cowboy
skills of trick roping, gun spinning and whip cracking.
Tickets for the 7pm Friday and Saturday and 3pm
Sunday afternoon rodeos are in addition to Expo
daily admission and can be purchased starting
March 1 on the Minnesota Horse Expo website.
Yvonne Barteau, dressage trainer, competitor, author of Ride the Right Horse and The Dressage
Horse Manifesto,
The Minnesota Horse Council owns the Minnesota Horse Expo and uses profits from the
event to further their committee work for the
state’s horse industry. Daily Minnesota Horse
Expo Admission tickets are $11 for ages 13-61;
$7 for ages 6-12 and 62 plus.
Children 5 and under are Free. Parking is free at
Minnesota Horse Expo in State Fair lots. Tickets
for the Cavallo Equestrian Arts big top performances and PRCA Rodeos are in addition to daily
Expo admission. For updated Horse Expo information and a link to the Minnesota Horse Council
site, visit www.mnhorseexpo.org or call 877-4628758.
and Robert Eversole, owner and operator of the
largest horse trail and horse camp guide in North
America. Horses from upwards of fifty breeds are
expected to be on display in the Horse Barn and
featured daily in the noon time narrated Parade
of Breeds in the Coliseum. Friday and Saturday
afternoons provide longer demonstrations of each
breed; with a review of Stallions at Expo in the
AgStar Arena each day.
Cavallo Equestrian Arts returns with an exciting
brand new production and new seating in the
grand circus tent located near the Dairy Building
at Expo. The 90 minute show is filled with feats
of balance and beauty featuring horses from
many breeds and performers who have a long
family history of equine showmanship and acrobatic daring. Tickets
are in addition to Expo tickets and can be purchased online ahead of time or at Expo. Performance times are Friday and Saturday at 1pm and
5pm and Sunday at 1pm.
www.equinemonthly.com
Horsen Around Magazine
March 2016
21
!
p To Kill Me
My Horsee
Isl
Trying
H
BY Missy Wryn
“I am afraid my wife won’t come home one day
from the barn. I just want her to get rid of that
dangerous horse”, Wendy’s husband said to
me as he pulled me aside. “I’ll do everything I
can to help” I replied trying to reassure him.
Wendy first contacted me explaining that her
horse had become violent for no apparent reason. She explained that she’s been checked
out by veterinarians and trainers, but no one
can figure out what’s wrong.
Wendy went on to explain that every time she
visited Paige, her six year old Paint mare,
Paige would charge, rear-up with striking
hooves and gnashing teeth chasing Wendy
out of the paddock and arena. Wendy was
broken hearted over this unexplained change
in her mare – she had rescued Paige at the
tender age of 6 months old from an auction and they had been best friends and
riding companions for the last 5+ years,
enjoying trail rides and various styles of
riding. But suddenly, without explanation Paige had become dangerous
whenever Wendy tried to work with her.
What happened?
I have a lengthy intake form for every
new horse that comes into my barn
which consists of questions ranging
from medications, feed and supplements, to recent vaccines and injuries
old and new. As Wendy and I sat at my
dining room table going through the intake
form nothing out of the ordinary was coming
up. There were no injuries, no recent vaccines
or medical issues and no changes in feed or
supplements. Paige’s overall physical health
was good, so I asked her “were there any
changes in Paige’s lifestyle before her behavior changed”?
“Yes” Wendy said, “I moved her to a new barn
which she was struggling fitting into the herd
and then a herd mate died three weeks later”.
I asked “did Paige seem to be sad or depressed”? “Yes she was” Wendy went on “and
then I left for three months to take care of my
22
March 2016
mom in Hawaii who was dying of cancer.
When I came back Paige had changed and I
don’t understand why”. I put my pen down,
leaned back in my chair and gently said “I’m
so sorry you lost your mother, but you need to
apologize to Paige.
You abandoned her in her time of grief where
she didn’t fit in except with one horse that was
now gone. I need you to go out to the barn,
put your left hand on her forehead and your
right hand on her neck and tell her you are
sorry that you abandoned her. Explain to her
what happened and that you had no choice at
the time, but that you now understand her
anger and that you are going to make it right
with her.
In dealing with a charging horse I knew I best
practice first short circuiting Paige’s brain by
twirling a lead-rope in one hand and shaking a
flag in the other. Horse’s see independently
out of each eye feeding their brain information
separately which has helped them survive in
the wild for thousands of years.
my eyes cast down, countenance
soft as she buried her head in my
chest with relief as if to say
“finally I have a herd leader”
If Paige charges me violently it is my intention
to short circuit her brain by overloading her
with two conflicting images, then gaining control of her feet all within seconds! I stood in my
living room practicing twirling and shaking until
I had it down – it was like patting your head
and rubbing your tummy at the same time, but
my life depended on me getting it right!
The next morning I set out to do a Wholistic
Joining with Paige, lead-rope in one hand and
a training stick with a flag in the other – not my
usual tools for a Wholistic Joining……
Use your words since the vibration from
your words will tell Paige everything she
needs to know. Once you do this I can
undo the habitual behavior she has
wrapped herself in”.
Wendy and I walked out to the barn
where I stopped at the door and left
Wendy to her task. Wendy did just as I
told her without question, we hugged
goodbye as I said “I’ll call you soon”.
Horsen Around Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
I opened the stall door and Paige came out
meandering about the arena checking out the
various buckets and gates familiarizing herself
with her new surroundings. I kept a watchful
eye as she pranced about and shied at times
from the scary wheelbarrow and horse eating
tractor gate. I took a deep breath releasing it
slowly as it was now time to start moving her
feet launching into a Wholistic Joining.
The very moment I approached her to move
her feet she came charging at me rearing and
striking with an open mouth, teeth bared. I
stood my ground waving the flag and twirling
the lead-rope hoping this worked – to my relief
she stopped in her tracks and in a split second
I growled loudly and ran towards her shaking
the flag and twirling the rope.
She turned and ran off as I chased her a few
steps moving her feet, then turned and walked
off keeping her in my peripheral vision. She
turned and looked at me, then came charging
again only to be stunned with two images she
couldn’t process, the twirling lead-rope
and shaking flag.
Paige stopped
abruptly at which I growled gruffly running towards her chasing her off again,
then I turned and walked off.
Paige stopped running, turned around
and looked at me puzzled, then
dropped her head in submission, licking
her lips (a sign of thought) – in that moment I knew she understood I was her
herd leader. I approached her gently,
my eyes cast down, countenance soft
as she buried her head in my chest with
relief as if to say “finally I have a herd
leader”.
I stroked her neck and praised her – explained
what had happened to her and how sorry
Wendy was all the while comforting her in her
grief. Paige blew a big sigh and signaled that
she was done terrorizing and was ready to be
a part of the herd again following me at liberty
around the arena.
Wendy and Paige were reunited without incident and came back to my barn two years later
to participate in a clinic together. It was a
deeply touching sight as Wendy and Paige
rode with no reins through a labyrinth and
bridge crossing now bonded as ONE.
Specializing in problem and dangerous horses
Missy Wryn is an internationally recognized
Gentle Horse Trainer and member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators.
For more information on Missy's Training the
Whole Horse® methods & techniques and
the creation of her widely popular
All-In-One Bitless Bridle visit Missy Wryn’s
website at MissyWryn.com or call toll free
(888) 406-7689.
Stable
Relation
A Story By Anna Blake
I took a leap of faith and crash-landed on a dilapidated would-be horse
farm on the flat, windy, treeless prairie of Colorado. It was a place where
white horses turn pink at sunrise and the biggest social event of any week
was greeting the trash man on Tuesday. It’s the story of my bittersweet
transition from a mid-life orphan to a modern pioneer woman, building
an entirely different kind of family farm--Jeanette Walls meets James
Herriot. My Name is Anna Marie Blake and I write a successful blog,
http://annablakeblog.com/, about training horses and life on the prairie,
as well as articles for equine magazines. Stable Relation is my first book;
a 78,000 word memoir and if you would like to ask for a copy they are
available upon request at annamarieblake@gmail.com.
Thank you for your
consideration, I look
forward to hearing
from you.
Anna Blake
at
Ann a
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www.equinemonthly.com
Horsen Around Magazine
March 2016
23
A Great Year for 1.8 Million Equines
In 2015 the Brooke reached a record 1.8 Million Equines, Benefitting 10 million People in
the Developing World. For more than eight
decades, the Brooke, the world's largest international equine welfare charity, has been the
driving force in lessening the suffering of working equine animals all over the world. And it’s
no easy task. There are more 100 million
equines in the developing world, working to
support more than 600 million of the poorest
people on earth.
very animals who provide a livelihood for them.
Consequently literally millions of equines are
laboring through chronic pain, malnourishment, dehydration, and crippling lameness –
all of which are preventable when owners receive training from the Brooke.
The Brooke’s programs alleviate the suffering
of animals through free veterinary intervention
and by training owners in better animal husbandry skills. Both animals and the people who
depend on them benefit immediately and for
generations to come.
Brooke USA, the American division of the
Brooke, enhances and expands this vital work
through fundraising to support the Brooke’s
overseas programs.
In developing countries, motorized vehicles are
not an option for the majority of the population,
so it is not unusual for an entire extended family to depend on the work of a single horse or
donkey for all their needs. But even beyond
the needs of individual families, there are entire
communities - even entire nations – that rely
on the work of these crucial and patient animals to provide economic stability.
The Brooke provides scientifically proven,
practical, sustainable solutions to enormous
equine welfare challenges in the developing
world. They work in communities where many
people together with their animals earn less
than a dollar a day.
In 2015 alone, thanks to Brooke staff and
generous donors worldwide, the Brooke
reached a record 1.8 million equines, benefitting 10 million people in across 11 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and
Central America. With continued support
from donors in the U.S., the Brooke will
achieve its goal of reaching an additional 2
million equines benefitting 12 million
people in 2016.
Unfortunately, ignorance and desperation created by extreme poverty often lead equine
owners to overwork, mistreat, and neglect the
24
March 2016
Horsen Around Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
Reichert
MIDWEST CREMATION
SERVICE OF MN, INC.
Saddlery & Farm
Supply
A FULL SERVICE WESTERN STORE
LARGE INVENTORY • BEST PRICES
When it’s
time to say
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companion animal,
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Servicing all of
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Pickup is included
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First Ave. PO Box 94, Leonard, MN. 56652
218-968-2248 • 800-957-2248
FEED STORES
mcsofmn.com
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Contact@equinemonthly.com
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26
March 2016
Horsen Around Magazine
www.equinemonthly.com
2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Inclusion of your event in our calendar is free! Include the date and name of the event, where it will be
held including city and state, a contact person, phone, email or website for more information. Email us
(subject line: EVENT) contact@equinemonthly.com or call office 715-695-3976 by the 5th of the month
preceding the issue date.
March
4-6
5
5
5
11-12
12
12-13
18-19
18-19
18-20
18-20
19
19-20
April
1-2
1-3
1-3
7-10
9-10
15-17
22-24
23
29-30
29-1
Illinois Horse Fair-Springfield, IL-www.horsemenscouncil.org
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption- Wild Horse and
Burro Corrals- Ewing, IL - blm.gov
Chippewa Valley Trailriders -Spring meeting 6 pm -Rod & Gun
Club-Eau Claire, WI contact 715-829-1464
UW Stateline Equine Education Program-Kenosha Cnty
Center-Bristol, WI-Liv Sandberg 608-263-4303
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption- Rock Springs Wild
Horse Corrals-Rock Springs, WY-blm.gov
HAHS -Tack and Craft Sale Hooved Animal Humane SocietyWoodstock, IL- 815-337-5563 email info@hahs.org
WSCA Pleasure and Game Show Buckle Series- R&J Event
Center-Verndale, MN 218-445-5849
AAPF Hoof care Essentials Clinic-Ken Davis & Sons-Rich
wood, OH-contact Gina or Brian Davis 800-421-3109
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption- Hoosier Horse Park
Baker Arena - Edinburgh, IN- blm.gov
Barrel and Pole Bending Race-R&J Event CenterVerndale, MN 218-445-5849
Road to the Horse-Kentucky Horse Park - Lexington, KY
www.RoadtotheHorse.com 877-772-5425.
Equine Wellness Seminar and Tack Sale-Smiles IncDarien, WI 262-882-3470
Join Pat Roberts for the Wild at Heart Weekend International Learning Center CA res: 805-688-4382
May
6-7
6-8
7
13-14
14-15
20-21
20-22
20-22
21-22
22
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption-Jacksonville
Equestrian Center-Extreme Mustang Makeover
Trained and Untrained Animals Available-Jacksonville,
FL-blm.gov
Race for the Roses- R&J Event CenterVerndale, MN 218-445-5849
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption-Wild Horse and
Burro Corrals-Ewing, IL-blm.gov
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption-Wyoming Honor
Farm - Trained Animals Available -Riverton, WY-blm.gov
Outbuck Riders Summer Series Two Buckles UBRA
sanctioned- Sheldon, WI Michele Kinney 715-559-1472
www.outbuckriders.com
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption-Red Horse RanchCassopolis, MI-blm.gov
MTRA Ride w/the DNR & Roundup Ride-Bob Dunn
Horse Camp, Sand Dunes State Forest- Sherburne Cnty,
MN 763-878-2325 www.mntra.org Dick B. 612-865-2178
Northern Minnesota Arabian Association- R&J Event CenterVerndale, MN 218-445-5849
Sherri Wright Clinic- Outbuck Riders Arena- Sheldon, WI
Michele Kinney 715-559-1472 www.outbuckriders.com
UBRA Barrel and Speed Show. Sherri Wright will be at the
show following her clinic to assist in follow through from her
clinic. Sheldon, WI Michele Kinney 715-559-1472 www.out
buckriders.com
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Wild Horse and Burro Corrals - Ewing, IL - blm.gov
Iowa Horse Fair-Des Moines, IA www.iowahorsecouncil.org
R&J AQHA Shows -R&J Event Center-Verndale,
MN 218-445-5849
Equine Affaire-Ohio Expo Center-Columbus,
OH-www.equineaffaire.com
R&J Arena WSCA Pleasure and Game Show Buckle SeriesR&J Event Center-Verndale, MN 218-445-5849
Midwest Horse Fair "The Sky's The Limit" Alliant Energy
Center- Madison, WIwww.midwesthorsefair.com
Minnesota Horse ExpoMN State Fairgrounds-St. Paul, MNFamily Business since 1907
www.mnhorseexpo.org
HAHS Volunteer Orientation- Hooved
Boots, Jeans, Hats, Apparel, Belts,
lts,
Western
Boots &
FlySelected
Sheets
on Clearance
Animal Humane Society- Woodstock,
Gifts, Horse Supplies
®
®
Wrangler
Jeans
ON SALE!
Levi’s
Now Open
IL- 815-337-5563 email info@hahs.org
Winter
SUNDAYS
Tentative Wild Horse and Burro
Blankets
12–5pm
Adoption- Champion's CenterNovember
29
ON
SALE
Springfield, OH-blm.org
thru Christmas
MNHSRA Regional Rodeo- R&J Event
Center-Verndale, MN 218-445-5849
Always Remember
to confirm before
you haul
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Horsen Around Magazine
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March 2016
27
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