Jan 27, 2012
USET Foundation's "An English Country Evening" Location: Palm Beach International Equestrian Center
Wellington, FL
The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is gearing up for its benefit event being held tonight at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in the Special Events Tent. "An English Country Evening" will feature honorary chairs NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer and his wife Annette, an avid equestrian. This year's celebratory evening will feature six unique and extraordinary live auction items for guests to bid on to help raise funds for the USET Foundation to further support the United States Equestrian Team riders as they prepare and compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
In addition to the Live Auction, the special evening will include the USET Foundations presentation of its most coveted awards, the prestigious Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy and the Whitney Stone Cup as well recognizing Gold Medal Club members who have supported the USET Foundation for 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years.
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Jan 27, 2012
Thrifty Car Rental
Rent a Compact Car for $25.99/day or $135.99 week through Feb 11. 2012
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Jan 27, 2012
Are you like us, ready to hit the road with the truck and trailer?
Trail Riding
As an avid trail rider, you’re accustomed to loading and unloading your horse most every weekend. You travel to find and frequent the most scenic trails and add some variety to your rides.
Before your next trailering excursion, learn the safety steps that will keep you and your horse safe as you load and unload. Respected trainer and clinician Julie Goodnight works with trail riders and “trailerers” at many of her clinics. She’s seen horse owners skip important safety steps and trust that their horses will be safe.
But even the calmest horse can spook, step back, or slip, causing a harmful chain reaction if the loading, tying and untying process isn’t done in order. If your horse is tied in the trailer, but knows the back door is open for escape, he might pull back and panic when he can’t get free. The panic session compounds when he hears the trailer’s loud echo and slips on a metal floor. More info...
Jan 26, 2012
From Reining to Hunt Seat: Engage Your Mind to Ride a Successful Pattern
Dell Hendricks
I don’t know if Yogi Berra likes horses, but one of the sayings the baseball great is famous for is, “Ninety percent of the game is half mental,” which certainly applies to anything done with a horse.
In other words, your mental strategy is important, especially if you compete in reining, working cow horse, hunt seat equitation or any class that requires a pattern. Too often, riders lose their focus and end up missing markers or having a sloppy pattern.
Here to offer his expertise is reining champion and renowned clinician Dell Hendricks. In this Horse&Rider piece, Dell shares his winning mental strategies that will keep you on track and help you show your best:
Goal: To mentally “map” arena landmarks, then visualize riding to them, so you’ll know exactly where you should be — and where you should go next — on a pattern at all times.
Benefit: You’ll boost your pattern’s accuracy, and avoid losing your way as you negotiate it, which can lead to missed markers, sloppy maneuvers (such as poorly shaped circles), going off pattern, and other points-off–or zero-score–errors. Plus, you’ll net a strong dose of confidence from being mentally prepared for your run, thereby gaining a competitive edge. More info...
Jan 26, 2012
Unwanted horses are everywhere and always need a barn to call their own.
Unwanted horses are everywhere and always need a barn to call their own. A Home for Every Horse on Equine.com is a new program that is the result of a partnership between the Equine Network and the American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition. The program helps connect rescue horses in need of homes with people looking for horses. Check out our friends at A Home For Every Horse and see what you can do to help.
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Jan 26, 2012
2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3* Commencing Today
Wellington, FL
Para-Equestrian Dressage riders returned to the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for the 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3*. On Wednesday's schedule was a 3:00 p.m. jog where horses received their F.E.I inspection for the weekend's CPEDI3*. Riders from Bermuda, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, and Canada were on the grounds representing their respective country. In addition to the eleven United States riders who competed at last week's CPEDI3, were two additional riders, 2008 Paralympian Robin Brueckmann with her horse Radetzky and newcomer 14-year-old Sydney Collier of Ann Arbor, MI. More info...
Jan 26, 2012
Western Pleasure Showing - Place on the Rail
John Dean
As western pleasure classes get more competitive and the gap between first and last place narrows, rider strategy becomes increasingly important in separating champions from contenders. A rider’s first opportunity for strategic advantage comes before the judging begins, as riders take their places on the rail.
Entries in a western pleasure class perform along the arena wall, circling at a walk, jog and lope both directions around the show pen’s outer edge while the judges watch from the center of the ring. Ideal rail positioning allows a horse and rider to work smoothly, creating a natural and consistent image for the judges, without having their “zone” encroached upon by other entries. More info...
Jan 26, 2012
EQUUS Foundation Announces Scholarship for Young Equestrians
Westport, CT
The EQUUS Foundation has partnered with the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) Horse Show Scholarship Fund to establish a scholarship open to the participants at the College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show, held January 13-15, 2012, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. The mission of the CPI is to prepare and educate student riders in grades 8 - 12 about the format of college equestrian competition, encourage academics and horsemanship, and to provide the riders with resources to create their desired college equestrian experience.
All the horses and necessary tack for the show are provided by CPI. The show is specifically geared to promote college recruitment of equestrians by providing the opportunity for coaches and potential students to meet.
Along with the competition, the CPI offers seminars and question and answer sessions during the show. Riders and their families learn about the college equestrian experience and familiarize themselves with the different associations that govern collegiate riding. More info...
Jan 25, 2012
Shetland pony behind thoroughbred speed - research
Shetland Pony
The thoroughbred industry can thank a single shetland pony mare that lived about 300 years ago for providing the breed's impressive speed, research suggests.
The genes of a single shetland pony mare gave the thoroughbred its speed, British researchers say.
Scientists have traced the origin of the so-called "speed gene" in thoroughbreds back to a single British mare that lived in the United Kingdom about 300 years ago.
The findings were published today in the scientific journal, Nature Communications.
The origin of the "speed gene" - formally known as the C type myostatin gene variant - was revealed by analysing DNA from hundreds of horses, including DNA extracted from the skeletal remains of 12 celebrated thoroughbred stallions born between 1764 and 1930. More info...
Jan 24, 2012
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5 - Live Coverage on USEF Network
Wellington, FL
Grand Prix Special at 2pm ET
Grand Prix Freestyle at 7.30pm ET
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Jan 24, 2012
2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Videos of past shows
USEF
Videos of 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Saturday Night Lights.
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Jan 24, 2012
Equestrian Mom’s ‘MyPokit’ Helps Daughter Pursue Dreams of Riding Despite Lifelong Illness
Commerce, MI
For 13-year-old Bayley Saville, having a permanent feeding tube does little to hinder her equestrian aspirations. Bayley was born with a rare intestinal motility disorder called pseudo-obstructive disease. She had her first stomach surgery when she was three months old and had a feeding tube placed to help with her nutrition. Many children with illnesses cannot participate in athletic activities because of tubes or IVs necessary for their well-being, but when Bayley was an infant her mother Melissa designed a special pocket to hold the feeding tube in place. As Bayley grew up, she developed a love for riding horses, and her “pocket” has made her riding dreams possible.
Melissa and Bayley live in Commerce, MI, where Bayley rides out of Hidden Hollow Farms with trainer Tara Golaszewski. Bayley started riding when she was eight years old and has done very well competing in the Pony Hunters. More info...
Jan 24, 2012
Raisins? Watermelon Rind? What’s a Safe Treat for a Horse?
Horse Diet
Think twice before you offer a bite of what you're eating to your horse.
Sure, we all know horse cookies are fine, but what about everything else?
Horse owners often ask equine nutritionist Dr. Juliet Getty about the safety of offering common—and sometimes not so common—foods as treats. Carrots have naturally come up in discussion, but also French fries, garlic bread, and even chocolate. What’s safe and what’s not, and under what circumstances, may surprise anyone who has ever extended a chunk of apple to an eager horse.
Dr. Getty points out that some treats are generally safe, some treats are sometimes safe, and some are never, ever good for horses. As she points out, “Horses trust humans for their care. Choose wisely.” More info...
Jan 23, 2012
Try Something New – Teach Your Horse a Trick or Two
Jane Wilson
Have you ever wondered how to trick train your horse? Editor Jayne Wilson says it’s not that hard–she even “accidentally” taught her horse a trick. Read on:
If you’re looking for something different to do with your horse, why not try teaching him some tricks? Perhaps he’s confined to his stall because of injury, or inclement weather is keeping you from riding, or you’re just plain bored with the same old thing — trick training alleviates the boredom and really helps create a bond between you and your horse.
I taught my horse, Annapolis, a trick without even meaning to. When he was recovering from a shoulder problem several years ago, I spent a few minutes each day asking him to pick his front foot up and then I stretched the leg forward to help increase his range of motion. After we were done, I would give him a treat. More info...
Jan 22, 2012
Animals Welcome Winter
England
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Jan 22, 2012
Top 5 Considerations for a Horse Sale Agreement with a Trial Period
by Allison Rowe
If you are thinking about buying or selling a horse on a “trial basis”, or if you are entering into a horse sale agreement with a trial period, here are five of the most important things you should consider:
1) The Timing of the Pre-Purchase Exam. The most important consideration in horse sales is usually, “is the horse sound”? If the horse is not sound enough to perform the intended tasks of the prospective buyer, the prospective buyer shouldn’t be taking it “on trial” anyway. It doesn’t happen often, but a horse can sustain an injury or get sick during even a short trial period. Therefore, the pre-purchase exam should be conducted before the horse is ever taken by a prospective buyer to “try out.” If a question is ever raised as to whose possession the horse was in when the horse was injured or got sick, both parties will be informed of the horse’s condition when it left the seller’s property if the pre-purchase exam is conducted before the horse leaves. See the following posts for more information on the types of tests that should be conducted in a pre-purchase exam. More info...
Jan 20, 2012
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach: List of Competitors and Schedule
Wellington, FL
Excitement is mounting for the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which gets under way in just one week. The World Dressage Masters presented by Axel Johnson Group is the richest dressage series in the world; over half a million dollars in prize money was awarded at four WDM competitions in 2011. The WDM Palm Beach is the only WDM event outside of Europe, and the only five star CDI in North America. International Polo Club Palm Beach became the presenting sponsor for the WDM Palm Beach in 2011.
An elite group of horses and riders, including several of the world's top ten ranked pairs, will compete at the 2012 WDM Palm Beach. Six nations are represented by 14 riders who have now confirmed their participation. The 2011 WDM Palm Beach champions, Steffen Peters of the US and Akiko Yamazaki's charismatic horse Ravel, will seek to defend their title against stiff rivals from Europe and North America. The number of Swedish competitors has now swelled to three, following the addition of Per Sandgaard and his horse Lomumba Havdal to the list of entries. Sandgaard represented his native Denmark at the 2004 Olympics in Athens before moving permanently to Sweden and changing his citizenship.
More info...
Jan 20, 2012
Dr. Allan Hamilton on Horses and Emotions
Dr. Allan Hamilton
Can horses be overwhelmed by intense human emotions? How do horses benefit humans? Dr. Allan Hamilton, an author and neurosurgeon, took questions from participants of our free interactive author webinar from MyHorse Books called, “A Zen Mind, Zen Horse Discourse” based on his book, Zen Mind, Zen Horse.
Dr. Hamilton answers some of those questions below:
Feelings…Deal-breakers in Horse/Human Partnership ? More info...
Jan 19, 2012
Katie Robinson and Lady O Awarded Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter Championship at WEF I for Deeridge Farm
Wellington, FL
Katie Robinson was very successful during the first week of the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Riding for her family's Deeridge Farm, Robinson took home top honors in the Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter division. She captured the championship tricolor aboard Lady O, and also earned two first place ribbons riding Rock Steady.
Robinson piloted Lady O to winning honors in the competitive Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter division. The duo earned two first place ribbons, a third place ribbon, and a fourth place ribbon to claim the championship cooler. More info...
Jan 19, 2012
$8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper Win Goes to Matt Williams and Bolero Van't Heike
Wellington, FL
Week two of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has begun, and the main class in the International Arena today was the $8,000G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers. Matt Williams (AUS) and Bolero van't Heike, owned by Matt Williams, took the win in the class.
The second week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class in week two is the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m. More info...
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