| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
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| 79.1 | Equestrian Digest Sampler #1 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Wed Jun 11 1986 21:23 | 981 |
| Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]" (Ken Rossen)
Equestrian Digest Wed 21 May 1986 Sampler Issue (1 of 2)
Sampler 1 Topics:
Re: EQUESTRIAN: Top-Level Teachers and Mid-Level Students
Attention Equestrians!
Horses in the High Country
Jean and horses
"glossary" is an overstatement!
For the Equine List; Hi All, and a little background
Introduction
Introduction
Pregnant Mare
Re: Pregnant Mare
First Fox Hunt
Re: Lessons in the Rain
addition to def of combined training
Re: Midwest trainers/instructors
Re: Navicular Disease
Re: Pregnant mare, Appaloosa heritage, Fox Hunt
Snow Gear
Equestrian Digest
Cattle Ranch
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 85 13:07:28 EDT
From: Joel B Levin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: EQUESTRIAN: Top-Level Teachers and Mid-Level Students
Hi...
We have been riding (learning, competing, hunting, hacking) for some years.
For a while we were in the business, owning a boarding / lesson stable, and
my wife Kathy, who is a licensed instructor, ran the stable and taught most
of the lessons. She has also studied dressage and competed through first
level.
Someone saw your message and forwarded it to me. I printed it out and took
it home, and Kathy asked me to send you the following response. She asks
that you do not post it to a net.
/JBL
----------
In response to your message, this from a struggling dressage rider
and a fan of C.T. There are many high caliber instructors for both
disciplines able and willing to take on lower-middle level students. New
England is richly populated with dressage and C.T. instructors. I think
it also becomes a matter of economics. A lot of these high level riders
are professional trainers who need income, and the majority of dressage
riders are at the lower levels. Also, I'm sure a lot of them are
financially secure, but take pride in helping people achieve at any
level. I know in C.T. Mike Plumb has students at many levels. Though
the new dressage horse warm blood is priced as high as the hunter,
competition is still filled with the lower level, non-TB, non-warm blood
horses. Dressage competitions are still lacking big corporate sponsors
(Volvo, Rolex, etc.) that can eliminate the need for money which now
comes from entries of lower level horses and riders. Also, in dressage
it takes years to achieve the highest levels, and there are few horses of
that caliber in our country as yet -- or for that matter, trainers.
Though most of these trainers and riders have Grand Prix horses, many
travel to Europe to take lessons from the Masters.
If prize money ever really comes to the dressage ring we will see
some big changes; for now, ride and enjoy. There's a lot of experience
and knowledge out there for the taking.
The show hunter originated here and is seen only in the U.S. and
Canada. The Masters are here in this country (e.g. Mr. Morris).
One last note, though, on Mr. Morris: he is an extremely talented
individual, but he has forgotten along the way that he once had to learn
to ride and that a lot of his income is due to his book sales, clinics,
etc., to new and struggling riders. Success does go to some heads!
Happy trails,
Kathy Levin
--------------------
From: annh%[email protected]
Date: 29 Oct 85 15:07:54 EST (Tue)
Subject: Attention Equestrians!
Ken,
OK, here is some mail. I am interested in talking about horses with
people. I have 1.4 horses right now. My purebred Arabian mare is pregnant.
I live in the mountains, and I trail ride 2 or 3 times a week. I will also
be showing both mother and foal next summer.
As to the discussion that was going on in this newsgroup, all I can
say is I agree with the article posted by Adrienne Regard. (I never post any
articles myself.) I have been around horses all my life, and I don't ride
for any kinky reasons.
How's that? What have you been talking about with the other people?
Do you have a horse? (Is this enough questions?)
Hope to hear from you.
Ann Heinke
ihnp4!druxm!annh
AT&T-Information Systems Labs
Denver, CO
--------------------
Date: 1 Nov 85 11:20:16 EST (Fri)
Subject: Horses in the High Country
From: mchas%[email protected]
Well.......havin horses in the high country is really no problem.
My gelding wintered at a friend's ranch which is up around 9000
feet. The animals all sprout very thick coats and aclimate to the
thinner air in a few weeks. In fact, last spring we had to wrangle
a POA that was to be sold, only he was more like a wild deer then
a horse. Well, my horse finally outsmarted the POA and I was able
to rope the pony after a lengthy chase. The thinner air did have
the horses breathing kind of hard though. The funny part was this
green horn forgot to let go of the lariat when the POA spooked
and somehow got his leg tangled with the rope. Well, that pony
split with this dude draggin behind on his butt. He was ok, but it
was pretty funny. The real kicker was that he was the one who bought POA.
Anyways, my horse is back living near civilization at our place.
We are just south of Evergreen at the 7800' elevation. Our animals
are fed 3rd cut alfalfa, flaked oats and sweet feed. They have
their winter coats already. We also use Zimecterin wormer.
Well, I bought my gelding because he had extensive rope experience.
He is around 1250 pounds, 16 hands and is strong enough to jerk a
Mack Truck. I have learned not to tie him to anything since
he pulled our flagpole out of the ground last month. Anyways,
for rope practice, I have been using static targets since I dont
have access to the trailer since moving from horse down from the
ranch. As soon as I get another trailer we will be off to the
weekend rodeos next spring. My goal is to compete at Cheyenne
next year during Frontier Days. This event attracts some of the
best rodeo cowboys that compete today. Also, my girl friend
bought a super looking 5 year old Appalossa gelding two weeks ago.
He was born and bred near Lander, WY. Unfortunately, my girl needs
a ladder to get on his back, ha ha. He is pretty TALL.
Mark Wm. Charles
Evergreen, CO
--------------------
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 85 07:10:34 est
From: [email protected]
Subject: Jean and horses
For those of you who have been wondering if I really exist, it's true.
It was one of those weeks that I was too busy to read my mail....and, BTW,
I think that a weekly (or even daily) digest of this list would be a good
idea. I can't get to my mail every day, and it tends to pile up rapidly!
Now then. I AM a freshman at MIT, but my family lives in
Miami, not Chicago. We bought our first horses when I was 10, moved to
a 'horse facility' when I was 11, and owned horses up until about 6
months ago (we were expecting to have to PAY for MIT...but that's another
story entirely). When we moved, I started working for the man who
trained our first two horses (Paso Finos). He operated an Arabian
breeding, showing, and training facility, with an emphasis on western
(although we had many champion saddle-seat horses, and his background
was with Saddlebreds.
) <please excuse my screwed-up editor...> When we moved to Miami from
Ohio, I not only lost my job, but my barn and about 1/2 the horses'
pasture..... it was much tougher keeping them in any kind of wonderful
shape, and I eventually gave up ("shaggy pasture potatos" carried the
day ;-)
In this time I've been heavily involved in show grooming and ground
training, both for western and english/saddleseat. On my own, I have
done some 4H/western with a 1/2Arab, field trials (5 & 10 milers) (a
completely fantastic experience, but almost immediately after discovering
this scene, I left Ohio. *sigh*.), and just scumming around bareback.
I've also gotten to saddlebreak our two babies, one partially (then she
was sent to a trainer), and the other all the way. (There is NOTHING
like the feeling of cueing a colt for the nth time...and feeling him
respond perfectly for the very first time. You can almost watch the
wheels turning in their heads....)
I've typed enough. Take care,
Jean Marie Diaz
--------------------
Date: Tuesday, 19 Nov 1985 15:22:28-PST
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt 617 568-5823 )
Subject: "glossary" is an overstatement!
This is in response to our Colorado reader's question (roughly,
"What are you guys TALKING about, anyway?"). I apologize for the
long delay, but after I got started on it, I was barraged with work,
and I still haven't recovered.
I'm too long-winded just give cursory definitions, but I hope
that others will supply additional details and correct me if I'm
wrong.
Dressage: (This is the hardest to define)
Closest English translation (from French) is "training", meant
in a pretty intensive way. It applies to work "on the flat"
(no fences). A dressage rider will spend lots of time working
on having the horse straight (including being bent along the
line of a circle), moving forward with impulsion (powered from behind,
not heavy on the forehand), being supple and responsive (not stiff
on either side or in the jaw or back; "on the bit"). At higher
levels, horses may be asked to move laterally, or to change from
one canter lead to the other upon demand, vary the gaits (e.g.
"extended trot" or "collected trot" distinguished from "working
trot"), and even to trot in place! Dressage is the ultimate in
precision riding.
Dressage Test: An arena is marked with non-mnemonic letters (anyone out
there know the origin? I'll look it up, but I don't recall any
good explanation), and a test is described relative to the letters
(All dressage rings are lettered in this particular way, with
"A" at one end, "X" in the center, "C" at the other end, etc.).
There are published tests for all levels (First level through
Fourth Level, first being easier). Horses are asked to do stuff
like that mentioned above. Typical test low level test sounds like:
"Enter at A, working trot rising. Halt at X, Salute. Proceed
...20 meter circle at B; sitting trot at B, canter left lead at
M ... circle at C, trot rising at V, cross diagonal to H,
extended trot from K..."
Combined Training: (also called Eventing, 3-Day (from "3 Day Event"))
This discipline arose from military tests. Each rider/horse
pair competes in each of three disciplines: a dressage test,
an endurance phase, and a stadium jumping test. The endurance
phase in most events is a cross-country test, but in true three-
day events, it includes both a cross country test and a steeplechase
(hmm... is that wrong?) plus some additional distance phases ("roads
and tracks", which I have assumed means trotting from here to
there before the cross country and/or steeplechase portions).
Cross-country involves an outdoor course with "naturally" constructed
obstacles-- like logs and significant brush obstacles that cannot
be knocked down. You must finish the (several mile) course in
a certain amount of time and in the given order. The final phase,
stadium jumping, is supposed to test whether you and your horse
were wiped out by the endurance phase. Here you jump in an enclosed
area over 10 or more fences, and can lose points for knocking the
rails as well as for going off course. At Olympic levels, the
competition is a 3-Day event; at lower levels, it might be called
a 2-Day, or just an event, or perhaps Horse Trials. I've
also competed in a 2-Phase, which left out the cross-country part.
For anyone who is interested, I once wrote up a one or two page
"Introduction to Horse Trials" for non-riders: this was a guide for
friends and co-workers who I was encouraging to come and watch me at
a certain event, so it tells about the organization of the events and
do's and don'ts for spectators. As it turned out, the event was
cancelled (very rare!) due to MUD(!!!!), because it had been raining
for weeks!
Hunt Seat:
This is a riding form developed for hunting and jumping. Before
dressage caught on, English riding probably usually meant hunt
seat. Once the rider knew the basics, hunt-seat would prepare
him/her for riding over fences. This meant that more time would
be spent riding at the rising trot (whereas dressage uses both
rising and sitting trots), and that the rider would be taught to
prepare for fences in a "two point" position, which I think meant
the two leg supports. Instead of sitting into the horse while
cantering up to a fence, one would rise up out of the seat
(stirrups set shorter than for dressage work), balancing weight
slightly forward, in preparation for the jump. (More detail avail.
from the h/j types out there... I only know bits and pieces from
my combined-training).
Hmmm... that's a lot of text for just four definitions!
--carrie
--------------------
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 85 16:44:00 est
From: mike%[email protected]
Subject: For the Equine List; Hi All, and a little background
Just a little background about myself: I've been riding since I
was 5 years old (20 years now), mostly western, with a little English thrown in
as well. However, I had a Grandfather who was a Blacksmith/Horseman all his
life. When I asked if I could learn to ride by myself, he said "Yes, but
you have to take care of the horses you ride yourself." He taught me to
train horses, ride 'em with or without saddle, and when I was old enough
to use the tools, how to hot-shoe a horse. (Gad, I think that was the
hardest part!) For my 14th Birthday, he bought me a horse of my own, a
mixed breed Belgian/Morgan (Sire Belgian, Dam Morgan). Bear in mind
that by that time I was already 5' 9" and my whole family is large, my
normal bodyweight according to my doctor should be 225, and I'm 6' tall.
so that's why I ended up with a monster for a first animal. This horse,
who I called Thunder, had an older brother by the same sire and dam,
named Lightning, but that's another story....(Jean Marie, stop that
gigling.....) Anyway, we started training Thunder, and finally got him to
the point that my Grandfather considered to be reasonably well trained:
He' do exactly what any rider wanted, make every balance shift he could
think of to keep an inexpereinced rider (a friend of mine) on top, and
stop dead and wait if the rider came off, jump 4 to 5 foot fences
without even thinking, and on top of that, the horse would respond
to my voice command for almost anything. If I said "Thunder, UP!" Pity
the poor guy on his back if he wasn't ready! (I never did this to
anybody, although I was tempted a few times). I haven't ridden much in
the last 3 or 4 years, as after my grandfather died, we sold both the
Farm, and Thunder, who is now somewhere in upstate New York... Oh well
enough ramblings for now!
Mike Stalnaker
dolqci!mike
--------------------
From: jla%[email protected]
Subject: Introduction
Date: 21 Nov 85 15:49:32 EST (Thu)
Ken,
I have been a horse owner, breeder, trainer, and h/j teacher since 1968. I
was also a 4-H advisor for a long time. I know a lot about scrounging and
feeding on a budget and getting supplies cheaper than anyone else. I
have learned the cost-cutting tricks the hard way. I also have a lot of
experience in care because I spent a few years supporting my family by
taking care of horses in need of R and R, particularly race horse with
trauma or stress injuries (sometimes I see bowed tendons in my dreams).
I was never into the racing scene, but I did let the racing people give
me money for my services. I stayed away from the track. Many of the
track vets knew me and suggested my barn to racing people who had
injured animals that needed to be taken away from the track barns.
I was also the local midwife--I took a number of short courses in horsemanship
and Ohio State Veterinary Hospital. These were courses in breeding, feeding,
first aid, long-term care, etc. I also delivered a lot of horses from my
area to the Ohio State Veterinary Hospital (for pay, of course). All of
them were emergencies. I had a nice big trailer that could deliver a horse
with twist colic to the operating room before the gut burst.
The irony of all of this is that I lost one of my own horses to colic, and
one in foaling. Never lost anybody else's, though.
So I have been a professional in a way that's not very glamorous. I also
ran a liquid nitrogen branding company. When horse meat was very high
we had a rash of thefts in my area. I bought a nitrogen semen tank and
some 7/8" branding irons and branded horses in the area. Most of them I
branded under the mane so that it wouldn't show. Horses that were braided
for show got their numbers covered with shoe polish for the day of the show.
The numbers were small, though, and the protection was worth it. I hurt my
back two years ago and had to pass the branding company over to a 4-H friend.
I have moved from the area and haven't heard whether she has kept it up.
Thoses are my credentials. I love horses, and I love having them, but
right now I am a single parent with the sole responsibility of two children,
and there isn't room in my life, or my wallet, for horses. Perhaps some
day, soon, I can get some more manure in my veins.
Until I am a horse owner again, I would love to talk horses with others on
the net. Remember, though, I have really been around the circuit--from
leaky roof to class A. (I was also a humane agent in Ohio, and I saw how
some of the "biggies" treated their animals.) I am a fan of dressage
because the horses have to be so sound and healthy, and because dressage
horses last a long time.
Before I go any further with this long, long letter, I'd better check
to see that this address goes through. If you get this, please reply
to ihnp4!inuxd!jla If I don't receive a reply, I will mail another
letter.
Joyce Andrews, AT&T Indianapolis
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Subject: Introduction
Date: 22 Nov 85 14:00:28 EST (Fri)
I've been riding for almost 7 years. I started when I was in graduate
school at Clarkson in Potsdam, N.Y. and kept at it when I came here to
Illinois to work for Bell Labs (It's true that Carrie Wilpolt used to work at
the Labs - she was my summer intern in 1980). I ride dressage and combined
training and have owned three horses.
My first horse was an old hunter. When I outgrew him, I donated him
to an organization that teaches handicapped people to ride and bought a
TB that had gone preliminary level eventing. He and I never really got
along (I forget how many times I got run away with, but I got used to seeing
the world go past at Mach 2) so I sold him and now have a five year old
Appaloosa gelding.
I have the horse in training with Jurgen Gohler, a professional who
came to this country from Germany, and take lessons from his wife, Laura.
I've had the App for a little less than a year and have shown him four
times - twice at dressage schooling shows to get him used to shows, and
twice at maiden-level events. I plan to go novice level eventing late next
season if all goes well.
People seem to be interested in finding good instructors here in the
Midwest. I know quite a few people near Chicago who teach and know of others
in Wisconsin and Ohio. I'll post a list with names and addresses when I get
a chance.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
From: annh%[email protected] (Ann Heinke)
Subject: Pregnant Mare
Date: 25 Nov 85 12:01:52 EST (Mon)
To All,
I have a question to throw out to the group: is it okay to worm a
pregnant mare? and if so, is there anything that is more safe than Zimectrin?
I haven't wormed my mare since summertime, and I am concerned that perhaps
I shouldn't worm her at all. I haven't asked my vet yet, but I thought
that I could get some responses from you. Since she is the only horse I
have, the likelyhood of reinfection is quite low anyway. I normally worm
her only about every three months. She is presently 5 months pregnant.
Ann Heinke
ihnp4!druxm!annh
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 13:11:43 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Pregnant Mare
Ann,
Our mare, who foaled in May, was (and is) at a thoroughbred farm in
Indiana under the care of veteriarians and breeders whose judgement and
experience both Karen and I respect greatly, as they have been in the
business a LONG time, and the vet specializes in reproductive equine
medicine.
Their advice was that it is VERY important to worm pregnant mares
regularly. Our mare was wormed every two months, using paste wormers
containing Ivermectin (sp?). I don't remember brand names, but the
Zimectrin you mention may well just be a brand name for a product
containing Ivermectin.
Ivermectin is the ingredient in an injectible form of wormer that
was taken off the market recently for related problems, but this shouldn't
scare you away from it. From what we are given to understand, problems
with this product were more in the administration than in the ingredients.
Experienced people administering the injectible wormer never reported
problems. The paste form now on the market contains the same active
ingredient, but the oral administration is more idiot-proof.
By all means check with your veterinarian. As first time breeders
we found great comfort in dealing with people whose expertise and experience we
trusted. The results (a trouble free pregnancy as the result of the first
cover, healthy mare, healthy foal) certainly speak well for the people
administering the care.
If your vet doesn't deal much with pregnant mares, then ask him/her
to recommend for consultation another vet who does. There is no substitute
for expertise in this situation, and we certainly found it worth the time
and trouble to seek it out.
Good luck! Let us know what you find.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Date: 27 Nov 85 09:15:33 EST (Wed)
Subject: First Fox Hunt
My First Fox Hunt, or
What do you mean I have the wrong color buttons on my coat?
December 23, 1974, was so cold that when I held the bridle and tried to
warm the snaffle with my breath my lips got stuck. I had been invited
to try a hunt by a friend who had left the hunter/jumper ring and
fallen in love with hunting. I was reluctant--the prospect of
chasing down a live animal turned my stomach, but he assured me
that they would not "blood" the fox, and that usually they chased
a drag scent, anyway. So I rose at 4:00 am and drove to Dayton,
Ohio, and the Miami Valley Hunt.
I was prepared, you see, because I had read all about hunting
the night before. What you do, is you get a really expensive "coat"
in any color but "pink" which is really red and the buttons have
to be a special design. You wear a stock that can double as a
sling if you break your arm and a gold pin to tie the sling. You wear
a new stirrup leather as a belt. Then you always stay behind the
"fieldmaster" who is supposed to stay in front of the field, and
you don't talk while the hounds are in "check." The "master of
the hounds" rides around with a horn calling dogs. You can see I was
prepared.
At the lodge, an impressive place with lots of pictures of hunts
where the horses have all four feet in the air all the time, I
was introduced to the "capping" fee which I thought went into a
cap held by the fieldmaster, but which goes into an old NCR cash
register (it WAS Dayton, you understand). I was also introduced
to my mount of the day, a fine sturdy part warm blood and
decidedly part cold blood named Good Money. A sterling steed, I
felt. A little short of leg and long in the barrel for the show
ring, but sturdy, nevertheless. I knew we would be friends, but
I was concerned about his lack of withers. I borrowed a breast
strap, placed my fine close-contact show saddle on his broad
back, and looked forward to the day.
I expected a leisurely warmup, followed by a brisk gallop around
the front field, and maybe a cavaletti or two to get the feel of
my horse's mouth. What happened, actually, was that the kennel
gates were opened and 30 dogs (hounds, excuse me) with blood in their
eyes burst across the field at full cry. We followed. At a full
stretch gallop. Not only across the front field, but over the
four-foot stone wall that surrounded the field. When I realized
that I was going over that wall, without benefit of prior
knowledge of whether Good Money knew we were going over that
wall, I decided to place my horse exactly and confidently, giving
him no chance to refuse. Did you know that in the field horses
jump A FULL STRIDE sooner than they do in the show ring? I
didn't hit him in the mouth--I grabbed mane. But instead of a
"thud" when he landed, there were two--one when he landed and one
when I landed on his back. The second thud was loud enough that
my friend, riding ahead of me, looked back to see if I was still
mounted.
Then we galloped a lot and jumped a lot. We galloped so much and
jumped so much that I just grabbed mane and prayed. I thought
there was supposed to be quiet "checks" where we could raise a
flask and let our horses catch their wind. Nahhhh. We kept
galloping and jumping--me, who had never galloped longer than one
and a half times around the ring at a hand gallop was now
stretched flat out for an hour or so, with seconds of terror
slipped in at every fence. The fences seemed to grow in size,
but I might have been hallucinating. I KNOW that at one point we
were galloping through a creek that was almost belly high on my
horse (my feet were getting wet) and we JUMPED a tree that had
fallen over the creek. We made 90-degree turns up five-foot
banks and through tiny little breaks in the cover. The horse
knew the way to carry the paralyzed body on top--I'm not sure he
knew I was up there. I certainly wasn't giving him any signals!
When I was sure we had seen every terror possible in the hills of
the Great Miami River, we started to gallop up a steep hill. My
friend, still in front, turned, smiled, and yelled above the
din, "Here comes the son-of-a-bitch fence." You have not known
fear like I knew then. The SOB fence was at the very top of the
steep hill. On the landing, the horses turned left. Not one
stride after the landing, you understand--ON THE LANDING. Then
one short stride--and another fence, and straight down a hill. I
am proud to say that my hands never left the mane.
We hacked a long way back. My legs were spaghetti. I had
learned the valuable lesson that fit horse, fit rider doesn't
come out of the show ring without a lot of work. And the
toughest course designer going is Mother Nature. I was afraid I
was going to slide from my horse while we walked down the road.
There's no way to get back IN to the front field except the way
you got out. I didn't expect Good Money to make a left turn and
jump the stone wall to go home. I did stay on--but I stayed on
his side, not his back--but, hey, form doesn't count in the hunt
field. I made it back without disgracing myself.
The moral of the story--don't believe everything you read. And
don't go hunting unless you are fit and your insurance is paid.
And now, as I snuggle into my warm chair, and another anniversary of
my first hunt shows on the calendar, I am proud to say I made it.
And somewhere back in Ohio, I hope there is still a brown grade
gelding who is proud to tell his stablemates that he took really
good care of a greenie one time and his mane has grown back very
well.
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 15:59:13 est
From: decvax!ucf-cs!laura (Laura Edmundson)
Subject: Re: Lessons in the Rain
Judy,
In the last batch of mail I got, I noticed that you had some
questions about schooling cross-country in the rain. Since I've done
a lot of competing in the rain, I thought I'd tell you what I've come
up with for safety. First of all, your horse should be shod with shoes
that have either borium tips or are tapped for screw-in studs. Also,
he should have bell boots and protective galloping boots on. The best
reins to use are the rubber grip reins since all other kinds get very
slippery when they're wet. To keep your feet from slipping out of the
stirrups, you can wrap the stirrups with Latex Sealtex tape (available
at most tack shops or drug stores). Another thing to remember when you
are schooling, is to check the footing at the fence you're planning to
jump. If the footing looks very wet or chewed up then don't jump the
fence. The risk of hurting your horse outweighs the value of jumping
one fence.
To one and all,
In case anybody's interested in a little personal history, I
thought I'd add this note.
I've competed through the preliminary/young riders 3-day level
in eventing and through second and third level in dressage. My current
horse is a 9 year old 16.2 hand thoroughbred gelding. In the past I've
done a little of everything from gymkhana to hunter/jumper, and for
anyone who knows about the United States Pony Club--I am a graduate A.
I am looking forward to the next batch of mail for all the
new horse news, etc. By the way, I am a graduate student at the
University of Central Florida in Orlando,Fl. for those of you trying
to figure out where ucf-cs is.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 15:59:30 est
Subject: addition to def of combined training
From: decvax!ucf-cs!laura (Laura Edmundson)
Carrie did a great job of defining dressage, combined training and
hunt seat, and I just wanted to clarify the difference in combined training
between three-days, two-days and horse trials.
Horse Trials : These competitions are generally held over one or
two days and include all three phases--dressage, cross country and stadium,
generally held in that order, although some events run stadium before
cross-country when the horses have to be trailered to the cross country
location. The United States Combined Training Association recognizes the
following levels of competition in order of difficulty from lowest to highest:
novice(3' jumps), training(3'3"), preliminary/young riders(3'7"), intermediate
(3'9") and advanced(3'11").
three-day event : These competitions are held over three or four
days with dressage on the first day(or two depending on the number of entries),
endurance phase on the second day and stadium jumping on the third day. The
endurance phase is what characterizes a three-day. It consists of four distinct
parts as follows:
phase a : roads and tracks. This is usually about 3-5 kilometers
long to be ridden at a trot or slow canter and is used as a
warm up for phase b.
phase b : steeplechase. This is definitely the most fun of all.
It is a 2-3 km course of large (4'6"-4'11") brush fences to be
jumped at nearly racing speed - around 23 mph.
phase c : second roads and tracks. This is another slow phase
to allow the horse to recover from the steeplechase phase. It
is usually 8-12 km to be ridden at a trot.
phase d : cross country. This is the same as the cross country
phase of a horse trial with 20-30 fences to be jumped in a
time allowed based on a speed of 18-20 mph.
There is a mandatory 10 minute rest period between phase c and phase d
where your horse is checked by a vet to make sure it is fit to continue on
phase d. This is the only break, so you end up spending an hour or so trotting
or galloping. As you might guess, this takes a very fit horse. Also note that
the horses must carry a minimum weight (except at preliminary/young riders
level) of 165 lbs. which includes the rider, saddle and a weight pad if
necessary. There is no weight requirement for the stadium phase.
The USCTA recognizes three-day events at preliminary, intermediate
and advanced levels. There is also a young riders division that is generally
held over a preliminary level course except at events recognized by the
FEI (international equestrian federation) where young riders compete over
advanced level courses.
two-day event : This consists of the same phases as a three-day, but
is held over only two days. Dressage and stadium on the first day and the
endurance phase on the second day.
To Carl & Judy,
Do either of you happen to know Ellen Brewer. She had a small barn in
Napierville, Ill. and used to ride with Jurgen Gohler. I met her when we
roomed together while working with Bruce Davidson getting ready to compete
at Chesterland and Radnor, but that was two years ago and I haven't heard
anything about her since Radnor. Any ideas about whether she's still riding
or what she's doing now? By the way, Carl, watch out for Jurgen. He is not
as great as he leads his students to believe, as Ellen found out after
working with Bruce for a while.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 85 10:16:02 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Midwest trainers/instructors
(Specifically, Re: Jerry Schwartz)
Carl may have thought he was taking a chance listing Jerry but it is a
chance that will pay off for anyone who makes the journey to
Peotone/Beecher. I rode with Jerry for a year while my husband was in grad
school at U of Illinois. He was my first real dressage instructor and was
so good that I'm now hooked for life!! Jerry not only gives lessons but he
actually even has a few school horses suitable for fairly inexperienced
riders. He is a marvelous teacher -- patient, clear, and enthusiastic. He
starts most riders out on the longe line, even if they've ridden before --
this is an excellent way for riders to have a chance to concentrate on seat
and balance without having to ride at the same time!
Jerry is currently long-listed for the Team in '88. He has ridden and
studied extensively in Germany with Udo Lange among others. He also
studies with Christilot Boylen (both Christilot and Udo sometimes give
clinics at Jerry's place, Ever Green Farm). Jerry is strictly a dressage
rider/instructor although I believe he has someone come in once a week to
give jumping lessons to boarders only who are interested. I could go on
and on about how much he helped me and how good I think he is but I will
try to condense for the sake of bleary-eyed netters -- If you are in
the Chicago or Champaign-Urbana area and are a serious rider seriously
interested in dressage you can't do better than Jerry.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 85 10:16:47 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Navicular Disease
Laura,
I feel qualified to speak on this subject because my first
children's hunter was a quarterhorse with tiny feet who developed navicular
well before his tenth birthday. Long toe no heel is the very worst thing
you can do to a navicular horse's feet. Good corrective shoeing can make
the difference between a navicular horse remaining useful and going dead
lame. My quarterhorse was dead lame barefoot or shod too far back on his
heel but was reasonable sound when shod well up on his toe with the weight
taken off his heels. He also wore wedge pads (thicker in back than in
front) with silicone. We didn't use bar shoes, but I know people who have
done so with success. The best thing is to get a veterinarian well versed
in navicular in general and the horse's care in particular to specify
(including angles, type of shoes, pads, etc.) how he thinks the horse
should be shod. Then get the best farrier you can to carry out the
instructions. (Vet schools are often helpful for these kinds of
recommendations -- I took my horse to the clinic at Michigan State
University.)
I've heard amazing things about Isoxsuprine but few specifics. I
gather it is most helpful in cases where the navicular disease is in the
early stages.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: 4 Dec 85 11:22:02 EST (Wed)
From: annh%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Pregnant mare, Appaloosa heritage, Fox Hunt
Group,
Re: re: Pregnant mare
Thanks for the info on worming. I have since gotten other input on
the subject, and will be worming my mare this weekend. Apparently, it is very
important to keep the mare worm free so that the foal is not born wormy. This
makes alot of sense.
Re: Appaloosa heritage
This is in answer to Carl's question, but I thought my response might
be of interest to everyone, so here goes: The Appaloosa has a unique history
for a registered breed, because until about 15 years ago, ANY spotted horse
with the striped hooves and pink sclera around the eyes could be registered
as an Appaloosa. This meant that you could breed your Quarter Horse mare to
an Appaloosa stallion, and register the foal as an Appaloosa. I happen to know
this, because my aunt bred a grade mare she had to an Appy stallion, and she
was able to register the filly as an Appaloosa. I think they started out this
way, because at first the Appaloosa was thought to be just a color pattern,
like buckskin (yes, there is a buckskin registry). But later, they decided
that Appaloosa was really a breed, so they closed the registry to horses without
registered parents. This explains why there are Appaloosas that look like
Quarter Horses, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Clydesdales, etc. Somewhere in their
not too distant past, they have one of those for an ancestor. Interesting, huh?
Re: Fox Hunt
I couldn't help but laugh as I read Joyce's account of her first fox
hunt. It sounded just like my first cross country/jump trip. I rode with a
friend of mine whose father was the Field Master, and they owned a kennel of
thirty hounds. I wanted to go on a hunt with them, so my friend was good enough
to take me out alone for a practice mission. I had never jumped, and at that
time, I owned a half-Arab, half-pony. So, he let me ride one of their
Thoroughbred geldings. Since this was just a pleasure hack, we rode bareback.
This giant was 16.3, and I am only 5'3" . My friend asked me if I wanted a
leg-up :-). Oh, he also was an ex-race horse. We were just going out to try
the course so we didn't have the hounds with or anything. It was just a normal
pleasure ride, and all went well until our first jump. It was a 3 and 1/2 foot
fence, so my friend told me that I could go around it if I wanted to, but my
mount had other ideas. I was hanging on to his mane before his back feet left
the ground. I remember the 'thud' as he hit the ground, and then I hit his neck.
Very ungainly. I must have startled him, because then he decided to bolt. Keep
in mind the picture of this huge black gelding tearing accross the meadow with
me on bareback still holding his mane, and trying to stop him with a snaffle.
The only thing that worked was talking him down, and heading him uphill. When
he finally stopped, I just sort of layed against his neck; all spaghetti arms
and legs. My friend was no help. He just wondered what happened. I decided I
needed alot more experience at jumping before I was ready for a real fox hunt.
That was in 1979, and I haven't gone on one yet.
Well this has gotten long enough. Until next time!
Ann Heinke
ihnp4!druxm!annh
--------------------
Date: 5 Dec 85 14:41:30 EST (Thu)
From: [email protected] (JJ Cymbaluk)
Subject: Snow Gear
Season's Greetings!
Snow has not yet arrived in this part of the country, the N.J. area seems
to get the most of it's snow during Jan.-Mar. Anyway, this will be the first
year that I outfit my horse's feet with some snow gear. Last year, I was up
and down off of the saddle so many times hammering huge ice balls out of my
horse's hooves, it was ridiculous. My blacksmith showed me the snow pads with
the little cups in them and I believe that I'm going to give them a try. Does
anyone out there use them?
I didn't want to use caulked shoes, because my horse is pastured with others
and tends to be a bit on the bossy side, so I wouldn't want to cause any in-
juries. Besides, I don't think that caulks would work anyway, the snow would
just build up and the caulks would end up not even touching the ground!
I've seen Easyboots advertised and I suppose they would work well with caulks
attached. I've also heard that if you're in a bind and really want to ride in
the snow, cooking oil applied to the bottom of the foot will discourage the
snow from sticking.
Any other suggestions?
Janet C. packard!jxc
--------------------
Date: Thu Dec 12 1985, 12:59:09 CST
From: [email protected] (Kathy Ladewig)
Subject: Equestrian Digest
Fellow Horse Lovers,
I received my first 8 issues of Equestrian Digest and devoured them. It's
been 3 years since I've been around anyone who talks horses. I'll probably
be a silent member of the digest, but I love reading what all of you have to
say. Thanks Ken for organizing and maintaining this digest.
Now a little about myself and my interest in horses:
I got started in the horse business when I won an 8 year old Bay Quarter Horse
mare and a saddle in a raffle in north-eastern Illinois. I kept Lucky Lady
for 5 years. I had to sell her when I got layed off from my job and could no
longer afford to board her. She had played proffessional polo, but I mostly
used her for trail riding. I did play cowboy polo on her one winter. She
was a great horse, I could do anything with her. Of course, with her
proffessional background, she was the best polo horse on the team.
My next horse was a small palamino mare named Buffy. She already had that
name when I bought her, but it kind of fit. She was a real baby. Perfect
for all the kids that were in our horse club. My husband had a half Tennessee
Walker and half quarter geilding named Rusty. When we split, he gave him to me.
Now I'll never have anything but a Walker for trail riding. Smooooooth!
When I decided to follow him to Texas, I sold Rusty. Doesn't make much sense
to sell a horse when you are moving to Texas, but we live in town in an
apartment. I vowed when I had to sell Lady that I would never get another
horse until I could keep it myself in my own barn. After 3 years of not
riding and not being around horses, I'm starting to change my mind. Now only
finances stand in my way.
Looking forward to reading all of your experiences with horses.
Kathy Ladewig
Tandy System Software
uucp: {laidbak,sco,microsoft,{allegra,ihnp4!{convex!ctvax}}!trsvax!kasey}
--------------------
From: cbd%[email protected]
Date: 12 Dec 85 11:24:18 EST (Thu)
Subject: Cattle Ranch
Is anyone interested in spending a week on a real, live, honest-to-God,
working cattle ranch? I don't own one, so this isn't an invitation to
come visit, but last year (84) I spent some time on just such a ranch out
near Billings, Montana. I went there to spend a week on a horse in the
mountains and I enjoyed it immensely, so I thought I'd let people who
might like the same thing know about it.
It's called the TX Ranch, and is owned and operated by the Tillets,
who are just ordinary, down-to-earth cattle ranchers, and very friendly.
Their place is most emphatically *NOT* a dude ranch. It is a working cattle
ranch that takes in paying guests in the summer. Guests get to take part in the
work to whatever extent they want, and everyone gets to ride every day.
The cattle spend the summer on the range, which is basically miles and miles
of nothing but mountains, forest, sage, grass, and the occassional stream,
and so your time is also spent out on the range.
There are few amenities - you'll sleep in a tent or under the stars, haul
all your water from a spring, bathe infrequently, have no TV, radio, or phone,
and have only the reading materials you bring in with you. If you're lucky,
there'll be an outhouse nearby, but don't count on it. Some people think those
things are the basis of an excellent vacation, but if you don't, there is
still a lot to recommend the place: Those mountains are beautiful;
the air is clean, cool, and smells of sage; you can see the stars at night;
you'll see no people except the owners and other guests and no vehicles
besides the supply truck that stays with the work; the food is simple,
well-made, and plentiful; the mountains are so quiet and peaceful that
you don't think about what time it is or what day it is (I found myself
sitting for hours just watching the shadows on the mountains across the
valley); and the horses are damn good.
Before I went, I didn't know what to expect from their horses, but
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. All their horses are well-built,
solid, well-trained, and calm (I once got mine caught in a hawthorne
thicket and while I sweated and cursed getting it un-stuck, it just stood
there as calm as if it were asleep). We spent about 5 hours a day on
horse back, so the horses had to be good.
There's a lot of good to recommend the place, but there are two bad points
also. Cattle tend to be ugly, stupid, boring, and covered with shit. Two
or three afternoons of castrating, de-horning, giving shots, ear-tagging,
and generally doctoring a herd of cattle is enough for a long time. You
of course have no say in who the other guests are, and you can get stuck
with a turkey or two. When I was there, there was one businessman who
thought his home town of Grand Rapids was the center of the universe, and
didn't hesitate to remind you of it. There was also a young loud-mouth
from Toronto who was as shallow, boorish, ignorant, and trendy as any person
can be. I ignored those two as much as possible and enjoyed the others
(they never have more than ten at a time) who were very nice.
On balance it was a very enjoyable experience and I'd go back again.
The week out there cost me about $400 plus transportation to and
from Billings. If you'd like more information, write to the TX ranch at the
address below. They have a brochure that explains all the details.
TX Ranch
Box 453
Lovell, Wyoming
82431
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.2 | Equestrian Digest Sampler #2 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Wed Jun 11 1986 21:30 | 1338 |
|
Equestrian Digest Wed 21 May 1986 Sampler Issue (2 of 2)
Sampler 2 Topics:
New Arrival
Re: Turn-out for Horses
Quarter Horse Championships
EQ
Re: Hanoverians
Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 11
Hunter/Jumper
"The Art of Feeding Horses"
Re: hunter/jumper
On Breeds
Re: Helmets
New Hampshire Equine Services
Introduction
Leasing a Horse
back in touch
Hello. We're very pleased to meet you.
Horse Dentists, etc.
Howdy from a heretofore unheard from subscriber
buying a horse (finally)
Re: scientific prefixes
Moving to New Jersey
Another Horse-Hunting Success Story?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 85 13:50:14 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New Arrival
In sort of a flurry of activity, we have bought a new horse.
Karen and I were forced, because of problems in our mare's movement
observed JUST before we were about to ship her from Indiana to
Massachusetts, to begin the search for a new dressage horse. The search
was much shorter than anticipated, as on the first (yes, FIRST) place we
visited we found a big young gelding Karen really liked. After four or
five more visits and 14 more horses he still looked like the best one, and
two of his half-sisters, both under the training of Karen's instructor,
have been fine dressage horses. Furthermore, the price was far better than
we'd have expected (the other horses Karen looked at weren't as nice and
were priced at up to twice as much), so after a hastily arranged inspection
by instructor and veterinarian and the acquisition of both their blessings,
we bought him.
He's a 17h chesnut gelding coming four years old in April. He's already
walking, trotting and cantering under saddle, but is a little new to
everything else. Never having had a horse bigger than 16h before, we've
been all around New England trying to find oversized EVERYTHING. Since he
has to lead 1/4 mile down the road to the ring for lessons, we've taken him
out a couple of times to get him used to that, and he's been very good.
Karen is excited about riding him (her first lesson on him is today), and I
am excited about "inheriting" him in a few years if/when Karen looks for
another horse and I get good enough to ride him (I think this horse might
be big enough for me!).
He came with the truly awful name "Golden Boy," which we've been avoiding.
We're now calling him Grendel.
Maybe someone on the list can help us with the following -- in our years of
horses, we've always enjoyed reading in some depth about each new breed of
horse we have. But Grendel is a Hanoverian, and we've never seen a good
book on the breed (perhaps because they are just coming into popularity in
the United States ...). Can anybody recommend one? Does anybody else want
to contribute tales of their experience with the breed, or with large
horses? (no, Mark, Karen doesn't need a ladder to get on him -- at least not
yet. If he GROWS, however ...)
Please wish us luck with him!
(... and if you know of anybody in the midwest who wants to buy a SWEET
dispositioned TB mare, slightly green but a VERY easy breeder, LET US KNOW!)
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 85 12:01:18 EST
From: Julie Moore <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Turn-out for Horses
This is my second message to the digest. I seem to have been
born with a love of horses, but, city-reared, I saw them only at
carnivals (pony-rides) or in movies. They leaped out at me from
books (Black Beauty, Flicka, etc.), but it was not until I was 33
that I actually started to ride. The fascination that was
lurking inside burst forth into a full-blown obsession. A lesson
a week became two a week. Lessons evolved into "boarding" a
horse (actually an on-farm lease). And, finally, I bought my
first horse. His name is Charlie (Good Time Charlie). He is
16.2, a "classic" Thoroughbred (like the old hunting prints). He
was 15 yrs. old when I bought him and on January 1st. he will be
26. He is still "showing" successfully, and this year he went to
three hunter paces. He loves to jump, to hunt, and to buck. I
love him unconditionally, perhaps much more than I should. The
following lines are no attempt at a poem, they are just my
thoughts when I turn Charlie out with "the herd."
Good Times
Insolent as you approach the herd, your tail a banner carried high,
Brave, yet careful, you mince along jaunty and bold.
While the herd, stolid, watches solemnly, waiting.
The hierarchy has been established, but you know the rules.
I stand at the fence and wonder if turning you out is wise:
You could be hurt -- kicked as Sunshine was,
And have to be put down; or in play you could pull a tendon,
Or cut a leg, or ...
But shall I make a hermit of you? a recluse shut away from the others?
Because I love you so, I tempt Fate. I turn you loose, and pray.
You, scornful of my fears, approach the others, neck arched.
The gauntlet has been thrown. Let the tournament begin!
Pal, Head Mare, a Clyde in love with the Herd Boss, Moby,
Has seen enough of your arrogance, my dashing cavalier.
Ears flat, neck lowered, she lumbers out to punish you.
She attacks with teeth and heels, but you laugh at her clumsiness;
You circle and pivot, taunt and tease,
A few strides away, you toss your head in defiance,
And canter off, bucking each third stride.
How I love to watch you!
Then you approach the others, one by one;
A sniff, a squeal, and either friend or foe is met.
This is the time for halter games, friendly scratching,
For mock-combat with the geldings, gentle nuzzling with the mares.
I know the turn-out has made you a happier horse,
And shudder to hear that some horses are never turned out,
Never meet to play, to roll in the dust or splash in a pond,
In spite of the dangers: Pal, or the rocks and holes that lie in ambush,
Even despite my worry (which I don't need, I have enough of that),
Turning you out is better because when you've had enough of the crowd,
And want the shelter of your stall, you come to the fence, to me.
Now the tournament is ended; this day the gods have been kind.
I clip the lead to your halter and calmly, quietly,
We walk back together and are peaceful.
Tonight you may dream of your crusade to the pasture kingdom,
Queen Pal, King Moby, the good knights Sir Banjo and Sir Clancy,
And the beautiful maidens: Tara, Frances, Triumph and Ghost.
Tonight I'll remember my dark champion free in the pasture,
Bay coat gleaming, head tossing proudly, tail straight up,
Inviting a race.
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 8:46:28 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Quarter Horse Championships
This past Saturday ESPN Cable televised highlights from the World
Championship Quarter Horse Show. Some of the events shown were really
interesting. The cutting horses in particular were fascinating to watch
and seemed to be consummate athletes. But the halter horses ... hoo boy!
Without exception the contestants were heavy bodied with tiny feet and
miniscule upright pasterns. They seem to be genetically engineered to go
lame. At least one of the WINNERS (a two year old, yet!) was already
*visibly* sore. Most of them seemed muscle bound to the point of being
moribund. It is worth noting that the winners in the performance classes
did not really resemble the halter horses, but were on the whole much more
athletic, active looking individuals.
Have these halter classes really progressed to the point where the ideal
form no longer facilitates the horses' potential function?
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 11:01:27 cst
From: [email protected] (Jon Ayers)
Subject: EQ
I'm another of those people who promise to be a silent member because I don't
own a horse and never have. Have you ever heard of anything so tragic?
I'm here, listening, because I intend to own one someday. I was the wistful
little girl in your third grade class that covered every flat surface in arm's
radius with pictures of horses, galloped to recess, and asked for a horse every
Christmas. Not a pony. A horse.
Showing dogs has taught me to begin new, expensive things intelligently. My
husband gave me a subscription to Equus, and I've hung around some small
breeding operations, trading shovel duty for the opportunity to eavesdrop.
Eventually our plan is to move into major boondocks, and a good, small, tough
horse will be a real asset. I've convinced him of this. I appreciate the
things I've heard about Morgans and Connemaras...natural gaiting and sure-
footedness will be big points. But enough over-intellectualizing- I just like
the way they smell.
It is vitally interesting to discover the differences in regional approaches
to horsemanship. Most of you are talking dressage and instruction, and that's
something I need to learn. Down hyar in Texas, you stick your kid on a stable
mount and turn him loose for an hour. The horse either walks or races break-
neck down the trails, races for the barn, and your parents hand the attend-
ant ten bucks. Higher forms of horsemanship are not mentioned, I suppose for
two reasons: 1. It's financially impossible. 2. The big deal here is Quarter
Horses, and you barrel race them suckers, you don't gait 'em. Every little
girl with a horse here spends her time and her parent's money going to play-
days- which should be very useful later on when she's ready for endurance
trials.
But it's question time. How do y'all feel about not shoeing? Understood, the
horse would not be asked to parade down streets without, but what are the
real needs of a horse used for cross-country or endurance situations? Would
good trimming and healthy diet suffice? I've heard of the soft boots- how
are those working for you?
Thanks again for letting me in on this.
Jan Ayers
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 14:47:25 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Hanoverians
The following article appeared in issue #10. I'd like to comment.
>From: Julie Moore <[email protected]>
>Subject: Hanoverians
>
>Congratulations on your new purchase. I used to board
>with Laura Nordley (617-862-1421) who owns a BIG
>Hanoverian/TB mare. She's done a lot of research on
>Hanoverians -- she's even written articles about the
>breed for Yankee Pedlar, etc. I'm sure she could
>suggest books/articles for you to read. She's very
>nice and all us horsey-type people love to talk about
>the breeds we love.
Looks like someone just bought a Hanoverian. I've seen four or five in shows
here in the Chicago area and they were all nice horses. My trainer just
imported two horses from Germany, one of which is a Hanoverian, and the
thing moves like a dream. The horse will no doubt be sold for big bucks.
However, I think it's a disservice to those who are just now shopping for
their first horse (or looking for a better horse) to post one-sided articles
like this. Implicit in statements like "I just bought an XYZ (your favorite
breed) and he's a helluva good horse" is the message "If you want a good horse,
you too have to buy an XYZ". That's not so. You can't ride the breed or the
papers, you can only ride the horse.
Not all Hanoverians are good horses. Not all Thoroughbreds are good
horses. Not all <name your favorite breed>s are good horses. A good horse
is a good horse, and a shitter is a shitter (a shitter is an animal that's only
good for turning oats, hay, and water into horse shit). A good horse is a good
horse regardless of breed. Shitters come in all breeds, also. If you're in the
market for a horse, look at the *individual horse*, not at the breed.
Yeah, I know I've talked about having a registered Appaloosa. However, when I
set out this last time to buy a horse, I didn't say "God, I just gotta have
an App!". The horse I was going to buy had to:
1) Be big enough to carry me without undue strain.
2) Be sane
3) Be sound, and built to stay that way
4) Be athletic
5) Like people
6) Like his work
Those criteria would get me a horse for what I want to do (training level
eventing). I bought the horse I did because he met all those criteria and he
had the right degree of confidence and boldness. It was of no consequence to
me that he was an App or that he was registered (friends had to work for
several weeks to get me to register him in my name). I bought the horse, not
the breed or the papers. I've had him now for a year, and I'm still completely
satisfied with him.
So, if you're looking for your first horse or are planning on moving up to a
better horse, buy a horse for reasons of function, not because it's a certain
breed.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 86 11:46:23 mst
From: crs%[email protected] (Charlie Sorsby)
Subject: Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 11
I just finished going through the back issues. My, there is a lot of
interest in dressage! It is hard for me to judge if this is different
than it was when I was more involved with horses or if it just seems so
because of the great geographic coverage of this mailing list (and my
faulty memory). Anyway I think it is a good sign; at least it is if done
with the gentleness and finesse that I seem to recall being part of the
"definition" of dressage.
Is anyone on the list familiar with the current Saddlebred and Walking
Horse show scene? It has been many years since I followed what was going
on so I'd enjoy hearing reports. Did the Walking Horse people ever shape
up (either voluntarily or by regulation) in respect to some of their less
humane practices? Does anyone on the list go to shows such as the
Lexington, KY show or the Celebration at Shelbyville, TN? Or do they even
still exist?
Are any of you from or familiar with horse shows in the West Virginia,
Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio area? Is there any activity in that area?
Oh, one other thing: There were a couple of magazines that covered the
Saddlebred and Walking Horse shows and exhibitors years ago (it's
depressing to realize that it has been more than twenty!) but I no longer
recall the names. Is anyone familiar with them? Are they still published?
If so I'd appreciate addresses. It seems that, perhaps, one of them was
called The National Horseman.
Well, enough for now. Keep the digest coming -- I'd forgotten how much I
miss the smell of horses, Absorbine, ...
Charlie
--------------------
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 86 13:03:35 est
From: Pat Wilson c/o Alex Colvin <mac%[email protected]>
Subject: Hunter/Jumper
Hi again. Have been enjoying the Digest so far - it is nice finding a group
that WANTS to discuss horses! A brief background, and then a few questions
for all.
I'm basically a h/j sort right now. I've been riding Forward (hunt) seat
for about 10 years now (off and on). Presently I'm at the Junior Equitation
School in Vienna, Va. JES has been in operation for over 30 years now, and
was the school where Joe Fargis first rode. Jane Marshall Dillon still does
some instructing there (she is, I believe, pushing 70), and new riders are
required to buy her book SCHOOL FOR YOUNG RIDERS (which I recommend for
anyone who is interested in beginning to ride - especially small girls!).
JES has been really wonderful for me - they do care!
Testimonial aside, a few questions. I have noticed that most of the
correspondence has been about dressage or ct. Is it just that h/j is boring
or tame? We do work on dressage for suppleness and balance, and I can't
think of a much more strenuous activity than a good hunt. I see myself
becoming more interested in training or reclaiming horses, and h/j being
more of an overall activity that the average horse can learn (especially
safe field hunting manners). What does everyone else think? Of course,
I've done the majority of my riding in Virginia and Southern Maryland, where
there are still active hunts and room to have them...
Next : What are your favorite magazines? I started out subscribing to
several, but by far my favorite is PRACTICAL HORSEMAN. It seems to have more
articles that I can relate to, and it doesn't insult my intelligence. The
articles also seem to be more in depth than, for example, the ones in
HORSEPLAY (which I also have been reading). Also, you get to disagree with
George Morris as he picks apart four riders' positions over fences each
month. That is always amusing. I would like to find a good magazine in ct
and dressage, too.
Has anybody tried Centered Riding? Is this dressage balance under another
name, or is it really different?
Well, I guess enough for now. Happy New Year!
Pat Wilson
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Date: 6 Jan 86 15:45:10 EST (Mon)
Subject: "The Art of Feeding Horses"
THE ART OF FEEDING HORSES
or
(How to Start an Argument When Two Horse People Get Together)
by Oats Or Corn
I know that next to politics and religion, how to feed horses is
the most arguable topic known to civilized man. That's why I did
not use my right name as the author of this article (you didn't
guess that wasn't a real name, did you?).
I've been feeding horses for close to twenty years, and I can
tell you folks I have learned a thing or two. Not from reading
"Feed to Win" or from the numerous "Horseman Short Course"
weekends I spent mucho dollars to attend at Ohio State Veterinary
School. No, not even from the Ohio State University 4-H
extension office, although the amount of interesting prose
generated by that university is enough to keep the postal service
going for a very long time.
No, I learned from a wonderful teacher, Mother Nature. Now, I
know that you aren't going to believe me. What horseperson ever
believed another horseperson, unless it was something "hot" out of
Practical Horseman, of course? Let me tell you something....
The horses I fed ranged from birth to 30 years old. Most were
thoroughbreds, and many were in heavy competition on the track or
the endurance trail or in competitive training. At the stable
where I taught several days a week for 12 years, they fed
beautiful alfalfa (at $4.00 a bale) and oats (at $8 for 50
pounds). They had shiny coats, but didn't keep much weight on
them (except some grades that were going to be fat on grass hay
and a salt block). At home I fed a good Timothy (at $1.10/bale)
and had the hay analyzed for protein content. Then I had mixed a
combination of corn and cob meal, soybean oil meal, wet molasses,
trace-mineral salt, and biophos (phos/calcium supplement). I
always mixed according to how it was being fed--higher protein to
the young and hard-working, and lower protein (down to 8%) for
non-working grades. I worked out the protein by algebraic
formula (soybean meal @ 44%, etc.) and it ran about $6.50 for
100#. Oh, I was scientific, and very proud of the fact that I
gave my horses the same nutritional goodies they got at the high-
priced stable for about 1/4 the cost. My horses looked as sleek,
stayed fatter, and worked as well as any of the stable boarders.
(And wouldn't have known an oat if it blew up their noses--not
that I had any thing against oats, you understand, it's just that
EVERYBODY says you HAVE to feed oats!)
Then came the blizzard of '78. Those of you in the midwest will
remember it well--suffice it to say to the rest of you that we
will all tell our grandchildren about the "blizzard of '78." I
was living on 101 acres in the BOONDOCKS, on a road about 10 feet
wide. I had 13 horses in residence at the time, and a corn crib
full of ear corn ready to be hauled to the feed mill for crushing
and mixing according to my scientific formulas. It was March
before I could get the TRUCK out, let alone haul corn to the feed
mill. By then the horses had eaten nothing but ear corn and
timothy hay for 2 1/2 months.
And they were the sleekest, fattest, fittest, prettiest,
healthiest, soundest horses in all of Ohio. There is a moral
here somewhere, but it's not going to stop one person from trying
the latest feeding techniques from the very hottest new book
written by the very best trainer in all of civilization, and I
wouldn't want it to.
--------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 86 02:02:01 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: hunter/jumper
> Testimonial aside, a few questions. I have noticed that most of the
> correspondence has been about dressage or ct. Is it just that h/j is boring
> or tame? We do work on dressage for suppleness and balance, and I can't
> think of a much more strenuous activity than a good hunt. I see myself
> becoming more interested in training or reclaiming horses, and h/j being
> more of an overall activity that the average horse can learn (especially
> safe field hunting manners). What does everyone else think? Of course,
> I've done the majority of my riding in Virginia and Southern Maryland, where
> there are still active hunts and room to have them...
>
There's no question about it: dressage, dressage, and more dressage. To those
who've know nothing about it, dressage means only the high level stuff like
piaffe, passage, flying changes, etc. That's the culmination of it, but
dressage starts out as the basic athletic training for the horse. It teaches
the horse balance, flexibility, obedience, relaxation, and coordination.
Dressage instruction teaches the rider to work *with* the horse when riding,
rather than fighting the horse.
The impression from what little hunter/jumper stuff I've seen is all these
horse lumbering around on the forehand. Dressage training will teach the
rider how to make the horse work off his back end, and will teach the horse
to respond to the rider's direction to use his back end. Getting the horse
off the forehand onto his hind end makes him more balanced, easier to direct
and makes the horse last longer because it evens out the wear. You'll say
"But we're jumping, not working on the flat". My response is "Until the
horse's feet leave the ground, it's all dressage". If you've ever ridden
a horse at a gallop over fences, you may have noticed that the horse takes
some fences just as an extension of a stride and without any sensation of
"jumping", which supports my contention that jumping is an extension of
dressage.
> Next : What are your favorite magazines? I started out subscribing to
> several, but by far my favorite is PRACTICAL HORSEMAN. It seems to have more
> articles that I can relate to, and it doesn't insult my intelligence. The
> articles also seem to be more in depth than, for example, the ones in
> HORSEPLAY (which I also have been reading). Also, you get to disagree with
> George Morris as he picks apart four riders' positions over fences each
> month. That is always amusing. I would like to find a good magazine in ct
> and dressage, too.
>
> Pat Wilson
I used to subscribe to Practical Horseman, but gave it up three years ago.
I didn't need all the advice about how to wrap a horse's legs or all of that
because I had someone around the barn who could show me how to do it if I
needed to. I think it's better to get it first-hand from a person than from
a book.
The other type of article that always showed up was "Rider X Shows You How
To Fribulate Your Horse", which I thought was dumb, because you can't
learn to do anything with a horse by reading a book. You have to get on a
horse and try it. To learn to do something on horse back, you need a good
horse and a teacher who knows how to get you to where you want to be.
The third type of article that always showed up was "Rider Y Buys A
European Warm Blood and Wipes Out The Competition". That type of article
promotes the American tendency to believe that all things European are
better than all things American, which I attribute to a national sense of
inferiority. That's nonsense, because a good horse is a good horse and if
you can pick a good European Warm Blood, you can pick a good Thoroughbred,
Quarter Horse, or whatever. But I guess you all know how I feel about
that :-)
If you just like to read about horsey stuff or have no one available in
your area to help you with your riding, then I'd say horse publications are
fine. Read them, enjoy them, and get as much out of them as you can.
Otherwise, get a good horse and a good teacher and *RIDE*!
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: 11 Jan 86 14:39:12 EST (Sat)
Subject: On Breeds
I'd like to add my feelings about buying by breed, brought up by
Carl in Digest 11 and added to in Digest 12. Over the 13 years I
was a 4-H horse advisor I saw just about every breed. Many
times a horse was used for purposes for which it was not
suited, but being the only horse the kid had, had to learn
something new. I've helped teach a walker how to trot so that
he could learn to jump small fences. I've helped kids make their
Appys do just about anything. But a small (14.1) old-fashioned
quarter horse mare probably holds the record for versatility. She
was the short-legged, long-barreled "bulldog" kind of a quarter
horse that used to be so popular. She showed 4-H (and some open
shows) in halter (showmanship), western riding, roping, western
equitation (horsemanship), barrel racing, trail riding, dressage,
endurance, production (with her foals), English equitation, and
over fences. At the same time she foaled a colored App foal
every year. When the family who owned her outgrew 4-H she stayed
in the club and was used by new kids coming along.
In the same club, about the same time, was a quarter horse
gelding that was the "hottest" horse I have ever tried to handle.
I have handled a lot of horses (mostly thoroughbreds) and he was
one of the few I've known with no sense of self preservation. He
was raised by the family and had no reason to be frightened of
things, but he would rather hurt himself going into a known
situation than approach an unknown. He was also quite willing to
hurt his rider. His breeding line was in many ways similar to
the mare mentioned above.
And the very worst thing that can happen to a 4-H advisor? The
phone call that says, "Guess what? Johnny has a new horse. The
neighbor gave us theirs. He's really pretty. He's a 7-year old
stallion. He's never been ridden, so he and Johnny can learn
together. Isn't that wonderful? He's so pretty I know that
Johnny will be winning ribbons at the fair this year."
Being a 4-H advisor is sometimes difficult--like over and over
the same kid, with the wealthy parents and the super horse, wins
all the ribbons. But it has it's moments. One of my 4-Hers, the
middle son of an "Appalachia" family with five children and very
little money, went through vet school at Ohio State on the
strength of 4-H scholarships. And my daughter, at the age of 15,
gave a state-winning demonstration to 3,000 people at Ohio State
Fair on how to tell the age of a horse by it's teeth. How many
15-year-olds have a chance to give a talk to 3,000 people? Now
a word from the sponsor: if you horse-minded people have a chance
to volunteer some expertise to your local 4-H program, it's time
well spent, and can make you feel good. You might learn
something, too. Before I got into 4-H I thought that a coffin
was something you put people into after they were shot by a
cannon. Are you laughing at me? Stifle yourself! Did you know
that the cecum, which runs almost the length of the horse's
abdomen, and is about a foot in diameter, is where the digestion
of cellulose takes place, and that YOU have a cecum, now largely
worthless, and it's called your appendix? Hey, anything else you
want to know?
Joyce Andrews
--------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 14:48:36 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Helmets
>I want
>to introduce a new topic -- how many of you wear Caliente or other safety
>helmets with harnesses when riding? I am a recent convert to wearing one
>-- my horse is 17 hands, and even if I fall off while he's standing still
>it's a long way down! I feel that they're sort of like seat belts -- a bit
>of a nuisance but worth it if it saves my neck!
> Karen Rossen
I always wear one if I'm going to ride the horse outside, especially galloping,
or if I'm going to jump. The only time I'll consider not wearing a helmet is
when I ride inside on the flat. Even then, if the temperature is low and the
horse is fresh out of his stall, I wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet has saved
me several trips to the hospital and has made one trip to the hospital a minor
affair - I just had bruised ribs rather than bruised ribs and a head injury.
Some years ago before I knew him, the man now training my horse got thrown
one evening. No one is sure what happened that evening - it happened so fast
that he doesn't remember and there was no one else around. His wife found him
unconscious in the middle of the arena. He wasn't wearing a helmet (only
weenies wear helmets, you know) and spent 18 days in the hospital, part of it
in a coma, with a severe head injury. It took him a long time to recover and
he still has problems because of that accident.
You have to understand that every horse farm has on it a nest of space aliens
who broadcast on the frequency that horses listen to. Like people, the
younger the horse, the more they listen to the broadcast and the more they
pay attention when they hear their favorite message: "Time to spook!". When the
horses hear that message, they obey instantly, and you can go flying. It
happened to me just two weeks ago and I wound up in the dirt, fortunately
unhurt.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 86 8:53:18 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New Hampshire Equine Services
Late last month, Julie Moore told me about a fine non-profit humane
organization called New Hampshire Equine Services and subsequently
supplied me with copies of some of their literature. I had hoped to get
a writeup on this out before Christmas, in order to encourage contributions
during the holiday season, but I was just too busy, and as they say,
"better late than never."
Some quotes from the material:
"New Hampshire Equine Services, Inc., was formed by concerned horse
people interested in providing better care through education.
"Love alone is not enough when keeping a horse. Nothing is an
adequate substitute for reliable information and knowledge of a
horse's basic needs and requirements. Proper management of a horse is
more complex than caring for a dog or cat. A neglected horse is a
heartbreaking sight, but an abused horse is even sadder. Most cases
of abuse and neglect are not deliberate; much of it is done through
ignorance.
"The lack of available information to keep pace with the increasing
New Hampshire equine population encouraged a group of knowledgeable
horse owners to form N.H.E.S. N.H.E.S was incorporated on April 12,
1979, and works in cooperation with the local NH humane societies, and
is a member of the NH Federation of Humane Societies.
"... Individual supportive membership - $10 / year. Official
publication is The Equestrian Bulletin [monthly]. Subscription is
$7 / year ... Activities include clinics, seminars, educational
presentations, abuse investigation, animal placement, animal rescue
and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Center is maintained at
Hillsborough, NH."
The literature refers to a "Service Line," a telephone number through which
N.H.E.S. board members maintain a directory and provide pointers to vets,
farriers, feed dealers, etc., and answers about horse care and proper
feeding and management. I have spoken to someone on the board, and they
also accept contributions of old horse sheets and blankets as well as old
halters.
The address and telephone number provided are as follows: N.H.E.S.,
P.O. Box 1213, Weare, New Hampshire, 03281, (603) 529-1783 or (603) 938-5545.
Anyone interested in photocopies of the literature Julie gave me should
send me their postal address (I volunteer the postage). Included are some
rather heart-wrenching pictures of instances of equine neglect.
This is the first such organization Karen or I have heard of (we have
noticed that the Massachusetts SPCA maintains a horse shelter in Methuen),
and I'd be interested of hearing about similar organizations elsewhere in
the country. Write in, and let us know.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 11:04:15 mst
From: [email protected] (Gregg Mackenzie)
Subject: Introduction
I am employed by Contel Information Systems in Littleton, CO. I am 27,
single and I've had four horses. I do not currently have any horses
but I hope to get a couple in the near future.
My first two horses were a pair of cow ponies that my parents bought
off an old cowboy. They died at 36 and 33. I also had a Thoroghbred
race-horse that I got in trade for transporting some horses for a guy
in the racing business. Great horse! He was killed two years ago in
a fight with another horse. Before I lost him, I bought an Arabian
mare in foal for $200 from a neighbor who wanted her to have a good
home. She got intestinal cancer and had to put down about two years
ago as well. My parents got the foal which turned out to be every bit
as good a horse as her mother.
I haven't had any horses for awhile because I am heavily involved in
a few other projects. One is an old stagecoach that I am rebuilding
which I hope to use for trailrides and such. The other is the mascot
program at the University of Colorado. I am the trainer of Ralphie,
their live, 1400lb buffalo that leads the football team onto the field.
I am looking forward to meeting my fellow horsey-type computter nerds
who are on the network.
Later & Greater,
Gregg Mackenzie
cisden!gmack
--------------------
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 86 16:43:33 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Leasing a Horse
When I first decided that I wanted to ride seriously, I leased a horse from
the barn where I was riding. That barn was somehow associated with a charity
called Friends of Handicapped Riders, which accepted horses as donations, and
so I had a broad range of horses to consider.
I recommend that the owner and the prospective lessee consider the following
items. I don't guarantee that it's an exhaustive list, but it was the basis
for the lease agreement I signed with my barn. A lawyer later said the lease
was O.K.
* How long does the lease run?
* When (what days of the week and hours of the day) can I use the
horse?
* What am I responsible for when I use the horse? I mean things like
grooming, mane pulling, picking feet, blanketing in the winter,
turning out, cooling out, special circumstances for this horse, etc.
* Can I let anyone else ride the horse?
* What can I use the horse for? What things can I not use the horse
for? For instance, if the horse is now used only for trail rides,
it's probably not a good event candidate.
* What costs am I responsible for? Do I pay a share of all costs or
just a share of the board? Do I pay my share directly to the owner
or to the person who gave the service? When do I have to pay my
share?
* Who's responsible for injuries to the horse? It seems obvious that
you pay if the horse is injured while under your direct control,
but what if the horse is injured while out to pasture? Who pays if
a condition that existed before you leased the horse recurs (e.g.
horses that colic, have injuries to the gut, and then colic again
because of the scar tissue)?
* Who provides the tack and miscellaneous equipment?
* Can I take the horse off the premises? If I can, what conditions
apply?
* What safety rules must I follow? What are the owner's responsibili-
ties for making sure that the person leasing the horse rides well
enough to control the horse? People have been sued successfully for
allowing someone else to do something stupid.
* How do you break the lease if one of you is not satisfied? Can the
owner break the lease before the term of the lease is up and, if
so, what conditions are grounds for doing so?
This all makes leasing sound horribly legal, but I leased one horse or another
for more than a year under an agreement that talked about all these things,
and we never had any problems because both I and the stable agreed to all the
details before hand. Leasing is a good way to call a horse your own.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 19:29:59 est
From: Laura Edmundson <laura%[email protected]>
Subject: back in touch
Hi Everybody,
I just got the last 4 digests. It seems they got stuck in a queue
somewhere instead of getting sent to my account. Luckily, one of the
systems programmers found them and forwarded them to me.
In response to Karen's note in issue 10, Yes I did win the MFPC/RHR
horse trials as well as the Gold Leaf Farm horse trials in Nov. In fact,
my horse, Spellbound, ended up as 1985 Reserve Champion in the AHSA/Insilco
Zone IV awards for Training level eventing.
It looks as though this is going to be a busy season this spring
as I am planning to compete both horses at Preliminary level. Also, I'm
hoping to start showing Spellbound at third level in dressage this spring.
In response to the questions about bedding horses on shavings/
sawdust and feeding hay on the ground..Here in Florida almost everybody
uses either shavings or sawdust as bedding as straw is not easy to get.
It is also fairly common to feed hay on the ground and I've never heard
of anyone having any trouble with this. The only problem is when a horse
likes to drop his feed on the ground then try to dig it out of the bedding.
This happens a lot, and I suppose it could cause impaction very easily.
In response to the question about the most useful things to keep
in an emergency equine first aid kit, these are the things that I use
most frequently:
hydrogen peroxide-for cleaning out wounds
gauze pads and vetwrap-for bandaging the wound
elastoplast-for places where you need a stronger bandage than vetwrap
surgical scissors
nitrofurazone based ointment
thermometer(equine of course!)
adhesive tape
bute
There are several other things that are useful, such as stable wraps and
liniment, but those shouldn't be limited to first aid use.
Sorry it's taken so long to get these responses out. Hopefully I'll
get future digests without having them disappear into a black hole somewhere.
Look forward to future issues.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 86 16:09:24 cst
From: Robin Crickman <crickman%[email protected]>
Subject: Hello. We're very pleased to meet you.
Hello out there, thanks for taking us into the truly wonderful world
of horsemanship presented in the Equestrian Digest. Us consists of
Robin Crickman and her companion, John Hasler. We're reading avidly,
and will contribute what little we know whenever. Home for us is
downtown Minneapolis in a dilapidated Victorian which we are
renovating (NOT restoring).
Robin was your typical horse crazy little girl, but could never
convince her parents to let her take lessons, much less own a horse.
College came and love of horses was supplanted by a more compelling
fascination; research. Three degrees and ten years later she started
teaching library students what they needed to know about computers and
information science. Nine years after that the university where she
taught chose to close the library science program, leaving Robin
without a job. (The experience is somewhat akin emotionally to a
divorce.)
John had second-hand horse experience as a kid, his older sister
raised and trained a colt which he occasionally helped care for.
After a degree in Electrical Engineering, John worked for a couple of
companies and then set up his own small computer product company with
a college buddy. You can readily imagine how much time is left for
horseback riding or similar pastimes when, as John phrased it, you are
signing a lot of checks on the lower right and none on the back. He
subsequently sold his share of that company, moved to Minneapolis to
join Robin, and worked for a couple of years as design engineer for
another computer products firm. Last Christmas he left them to set up
his own consulting business.
In May of 1985 we (John and Robin) went to Britian for a vacation.
While there we went "pony trekking" in Wales and again in Yorkshire.
We loved it so much we were hooked. We hunted up a stable once home
in Minnesota and rented riding horses frequently. We drove out to the
local polo club and watched matches during the summer. In late summer
a neighbor recruited first Robin and then John to volunteer at a stable
teaching handicapped people to ride. We learned a lot about grooming,
tacking and handling horses that way, not to mention meeting many nice
people. At Christmas we began taking formal English riding lessons.
Last Saturday we went to a local tack swap and came home with a $20
saddle which a knowledgeable friend identified as an old cavalry
saddle. Amazing thing, the tree is steel (and wood). John has almost
finished repairing the stitching. (Aside. Tandy Company, the parent
company for Radio Shack, also has leatherworking stores which, at
least here, are about the easiest place to go for leather repair
supplies. Check your yellow pages to see if there is a Tandy store
near you if you need supplies for leather repair.)
We don't own horses and probably never will. We've never ridden
registered horses of any breed. Our achievements are posting
correctly and staying on over a foot-high jump. Hunting, dressage,
endurance and roping are beyond us at this point. But it is fun to
read about that.
Computationally, our usenet account is supplied through the kindness
of some academic friends at the Computer Science Department of the
University of Minnesota. We have an Onix running System III at home,
as well as an MS-DOS Zenith, on which we both hack and John uses for
his consulting.
The only contribution we can make to the discussion just now is on
transporting horses. John's sister recently moved her Arabian mare
and filly halfway across the country herself. She reported that the
easiest way to find a place to stop for the night was to call the
county sheriff's office. The sheriffs, at least in midwestern states,
expect to provide this sort of assistance.
We'll be here reading, eager to hear how Karen is doing with that
warmblood, how Todd makes out with polo and his horse hunt, how long
it takes for Joyce to get another chestnut, and all the other
wonderful things you bring into our lives. We haven't found any
horses to lease yet, but we are getting ready to run an ad in a local
horsey newsheet. We'll let you know.
Robin Crickman and John Hasler
--------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 10:16:17 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Horse Dentists, etc.
Well, our boy had his first dental appointment! Harry Robinson the horse
dentist came to the barn where we keep our gelding and worked on
everybody's molars. Apparently Harry requires a minimum of fifteen horses
before he will agree to make a visit. The cost was $20/horse, which I
found pretty reasonable, but which some people thought rather high (I guess
last year he only charged $15.). As Kathy Levin warned, Harry's jokes
*are* a bit raunchy, and of course there's nothing to do but play along
since the man is standing there with a wicked-looking rasp stuffed in your
precious equine's maw. But he (and his sons, who work with him) are
marvelous with the horses. He managed to get every horse in the barn done
with a minimum of fuss and without getting rough even with those horses who
were less than delighted with the process. Actually, I was surprised at
how well most of the horses behaved -- once they got the hang of it, most
of them just stood there, even those whose teeth had never been worked on
before.
Some may wonder, why not just have a vet rasp your horse's teeth instead of
going to the trouble of getting a dentist. Well, the dentist did a much
more thorough job on my horse's teeth than I've ever seen a vet do. Harry
used three or four different types of rasps on each horse -- I've never
seen a vet use more than one. He was also prepared to do extractions when
necessary. My horse for instance had an impacted root (not the whole
tooth) left over from one of his baby teeth. Harry located the offending
root and neatly removed it. But the proof of a horse dentist's skill is in
the riding -- my horse went noticeably better after his dental work. He
fussed less with his bit and stopped resenting his noseband. He's also
much happier about being bridled.
Horse dentists have long been in use by horse people "in the know"
(especially those in the racing and show fraternities), but a relatively
new (to my knowledge) non-veterinary horse practitioner is the horse
masseur (masseuse). The best known is Jack Meaghr (sp? --pronounced "Mar")
who hails from the Northeast. These folks are sort of physical therapists
for horses -- they find and treat stiffness, lameness and tightness of the
horse through rubbing and massage. Their craft can be either therapeutic
or preventative -- some people have sound horses rubbed on just to keep
them feeling loose and fighting fit. This month's Equus magazine has an
article on Jack if anyone is interested. Anyone out there had a horse
rubbed on? If so, were you satisfied? I know lots of people who swear
marvelous results. I also know some vet students who insist the masseurs
are no more than witch doctors (or course, vets don't care for competition
more than any other profession ...). If something new can't hurt and might
help I'm usually fairly open to it -- how do you all feel?
Before signing off I should clarify -- although horse masseurs per se are,
to my knowledge, fairly new on the scene, the *idea* of massaging the
critter's muscles is not. Many old British books on horse care advocate
"strapping" as part of a daily grooming routine. Strapping involves
putting twists of straw in a burlap bag and thwacking the horse's muscles
with it (not *too* hard, of course ...). This is supposed to stimulate and
tone the horse's muscles.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
From: rob%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 00:21:16 pst
Subject: Howdy from a heretofore unheard from subscriber
I have been receiving Equestrian Digest since Thanksgiving, so it's about
time I introduced myself.
The way I got interested in horses is actually quite unusual. Though I'm
34, the first time I was on a horse was a little under 5 years ago, at the
height of the country/western craze that was sweeping the country. I had
begun to frequent a country/western bar and one night noticed a poster - a
popular local outting club was having a wagon train trip in the 40 Mile
Dessert near Reno, Nevada over Memorial Day weekend. You could ride a
horse, ride in a wagon, and/or walk. That sounded really neat and I
figured that if it turned out I didn't like riding a horse, I'd just ride
in the wagon.
The first day of the trip, I was one of those who got to ride a horse
first. I rode for three hours and loved it. At the end of the weekend I
decided I very much liked riding horses, but could do without the camping
out in tents, etc. The next summer, the same club organized two more such
trips and I went on both of them. And I got the same horse as the previous
year - a very short chestnut mustang named Tiny Tim. Tim and I got along
just fine, and I even began to enjoy the camping aspects of the trips. (On
the last trip, there were so few of us that we could each have a horse to
ourselves the whole weekend and they didn't bring any wagons to ride in.
My poor friend who I had convinced to come along! He had never been on a
horse before, and the horse they gave him trotted the whole weekend. Talk
about saddle sore.)
To make a long story short, about a year and a half ago I bought a 2 year
old quarter horse (actually half thoroughbred but in the AQHA appendix),
with good bloodlines (great grand sire is Doc Bar), named Oriana Spadix.
Dave, a friend of mine and a very good trainer, broke her for me last
winter.
It was probably a mistake for me to get a young green horse for my first
horse. I didn't realize how much better a horseman I needed to be, and
Dave, in advising to buy this horse, probably overestimated my ability to
excell at horsemanship.
The stables where I board Oriana have access to 6000 acres of riding trails
on a semi-wooded hillside with a few ponds, in Walnut Creek, semi-rural
suburb about 30 miles from downtown San Francisco. I spent most of last
summer just doing trail riding. This winter Dave is finishing her for
reining. If she turns out not to do well at reining, I will probably show
her in Western Pleasure this summer. There isn't much reining competition
in the area, and the little there is is done with *very* expensive horses.
Last week was a milestone. As part of her finishing, Dave wanted to take
Oriana to this place where you can work cattle, to see if she has any cow
sense. Last Wednesday we finally went. It turned out there were six of us
going, and since Dave brought his own horse, I rode my own horse instead of
just watching Dave try mine out on the cattle. We took turns cutting
cattle, which I had never done before. I can't tell you how much fun that
was. Oriana did fairly well considering I do need lessons on how to get
her to do the pivots, rollbacks, etc. that Dave has been teaching her.
This was also the first she was trailered since she was broke. She had
been trailered only once before, when I bought her. Well, with a light tap
or two of a crop, Dave got her to jump right into the trailer!
I still use a snaffle on her, though Dave has begun using a spade bit.
I hope this wasn't *too* long of an introduction, and if it wasn't, well
...I hope to write more frequently to the Equestrian Digest in the future.
Rob Bernardo, San Ramon, CA (415) 823-2417 {ihnp4|dual|qantel}!ptsfa!rob
--------------------
From: todd%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 86 16:05:11 EST
Subject: buying a horse (finally)
Please include the following on mail.horses
This is from net.jokes....
--------------------------------------------------------
>From: jimb@ism780
>Date: Sun, 23-Mar-86 00:29:00 EST
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Re: scientific prefixes
>> One of my favorite units of measure is the femtoparsec, or about 19
>> miles. ("I commute .6 femtoparsecs a day....")
> 0.6 femtoparsecs is about 60 feet. What you're describing is a picoparsec.
I once gave an equine population report with measurments in
fetlocks per furlongs**2.
-- The Lone Harranguer
ihnp4/ima/ism780
hplabs/hao/ism780
sdcsvax/sdcrdcf/ism780C/ism780
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I am finally buying a horse. It vetted out OK, 'cept for a few minor problems.
It is a 15 (really 16 or closer to 20) year old Tercheron. The vet
used that to describe TB x Percheron. He is huge (17:0 hands) and
wide in girth. he is carrying a fellow of ~300 pounds now, so my 230-240
pounds should not phsae him much. He has done everthing, including some
advanced stuff in dressage. He has even jumped 4'0" fences, which is
very interesting considering his size. He is now very overweight and
has not seen a ferrier since early fall. His Hoofs are in desperate
need of clipping and he has trush in three of his frogs (feet)
because of the problem.
The reason I decided to buy him is that is is big and experienced. He is
also inexpensive at $1200. I think that the health problems are minor and
he is in good condition for his age. He desperately needs to get into shape,
which I don't mind, because I need to get into shape also. He is also
a bit pigeoned-toed because of his weight and has some cloudiness in his eyes,
which the vet said was normal for his weight and age respectively.
He is going to be moved on Sunday, and I can't wait to start working with him
a bit more. He will probably have to be worked on the lunge line for awhile
until we are sure that he is as sound as he was last week. He was very calm
with everthing taht we did to him. his name is Kool. The present owner
said that he drinks coffee (only with cream and sugar NOT black) and has
a beer once a day during the summer. He seems to be just a great all-around
horse.
His name is Kool and if anyone out there is a member of BCS (Boston Computer
Society) he was on the cover of the January _Update_ (the magazine
of the BCS.) I am going to buy a couple of reprints so that I have a few
copies. I am going to rename he _Queue_ as a personal joke/favorite name
for a horse. (btw my MA license plate says QUEUE, in case you see
me on the road).
Any suggestions, send them my way. Now.... waht to feed the horse on a diet
better yet -- what to feed me on a diet.
till the next journal.
---------------------------
Todd Cooper
UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!todd ...!harvard!think!festiv!todd
CSNET: todd@bu-cs
BITNET: cscpyqc@bostonu
USNail: 29 Gordon Street #201, Brighton, MA 02135
--------------------
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 86 09:29:34 CDT
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: Moving to New Jersey
I am getting ready to make the move out to Bell Labs in Murray Hill NJ in
early June. Last week I went out there to find a place to live and do
some preliminary equestrian investigations. I thought I might drop
a note about some of this.
One of the places I looked at would interest people here. A large one
bedroom apartment over a barn in Gladstone, NJ (yes, THAT Gladstone, NJ).
The barn was an equipment shed on a farm located across the street
from the estate of the King of Morocco. That's the kind of folks
that can afford to live in Gladstone. This farm had guinea hens,
lots of sheep, rabbits, dogs and two horses. Hmmm. The owner
said I could ride the horses all I wanted. Hmmm Hmmm. He also said I
could board a horse of my own there for free. Hmmm Hmm Hmmm. I turned
it down. A) no evidence of any stalls for the horses, they appeared
to run loose all the time. B) No sign of a good place to train or
any training equipment. I would have to build jumps and jump among
the sheep. C) I suspect the horses there are pets and trail ride
animals and bone ignorant. My own goal is to do some eventing
and I couldn't see getting there from such a situation.
Any opinions: What is the minimum required in equipment (jumps etc)
and a place to train in (flat surface?) to train a horse for
a) dressage b) being a hunter-jumper c) novice or training level
eventing?
What is the minimum in stabling required in a northern state like
New Jersey for horse in that kind of training?
So I took an apartment in a complex in Chatham, NJ and set off to
see what riding there was around there. I looked at two places:
1) Lord Stirling Stables. It seems that the county (or is it state?)
department of parks runs this place. That in itself is a unique situation
to me. I got there as a gaggle of "special education" children were
about to leave on a trail ride. Boots and helmets all around... very
nice to see. This stable appears to be clean, well run and probably
a very nice place to take a trail ride. They also have a very
active program of teaching riding with frequent barn shows. I also
decided that this is not the place for me:
a) No private lessons, classes only. This would not be so
bad if there were a class at my level, but it appears the
concentration is on beginners. I am regularly jumping 3'
courses and doing a lot of dressagy type stuff too. This is
beyond what they are set up for.
b) the concentration is hunter/jumper, which I like, but I need
the dressage too.
2) Floradale Stables. This is a private place with some lesson horses,
lots of open pasture. Also a hunter/jumper type barn. My impression is
that this would be a reasonable place to take lessons if their instructor
is good (which I don't know), but I dont think I would want to
board a horse there. The main problems: Very run down fencing and
a dark barn with narrow alley ways.
I have a lead on a third place through the USCTA omnibus of events: a place
called Hilltop Stables in New Vernon, NJ is holding a sanctioned event
in April and in July. This suggests that at the very least this is a place
where the riders do event. Whether I could get lessons out there without
boarding a horse there is unknown. I will have to investigate.
This business of moving and finding a new place to ride is the pits.
Making a change like that can set you back a long way if you are not very
careful (I've had that happen repeatedly, so I intend to be VERY careful).
A last tidbit: While I was out there I visited the training facilities
of the USET in Gladstone, NJ. It seems visiting hours are supposed to be in
the morning. I arrived in the afternoon, presented myself at the office
and was told I was free to wander around as I liked. Not a lot was going
on while I was there. There were only 4 horses in residence, all of them
gorgeous, none of them familiar names. I have never seen a stable as
beautiful as that one. If you have seen the Miller's catalog, you've seen
some picures. The alleyways are done in brick and clean enough to eat
off of. The stalls are pained cast iron and wood with brass trim, also
surgically clean. The horses are in straw up to their bellies.
Horse heaven. I wandered around there for an hour or so, poking
my nose into the tack room, looking at the arena, checking out the
cross country course. For the horse crazy, the place is worth a visit.
I wish I had arrived at a time that some training was going on, but I
guess you can't have everything.
Final note: The last week in May I will be moving to New Jersey. My
new net address will be:
ulysses!jeg
I don't have any more of a path than that. Until then I
will be right here at the old address.
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
--------------------
Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1986 10:55:08-PDT
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt 617-568-5823)
Subject: Another Horse-Hunting Success Story?
I have lots of news, some of which isn't so new anymore, but
by now I should realize that life never really "settles down", so
it's not worth waiting for a calm period before sending out an
update to the equestrian list!
After a couple of months of off-and-on searching, and with
much encouragement and assistance from Ken and Karen Rossen, I finally
found a horse that matches all my complicated needs. I had been looking
for a horse that can take me through first level dressage, at least,
and who is capable of low level eventing. The horse needed to be small
in both size and price.
About a month ago, I found a 10 year old Anglo-Arab mare, gray, 15.1,
well schooled and with nice gaits. She's one of these calm, uncomplicated
horses that you could probably have your grandmother ride to Omaha and
back on. Her name is Fiddler.
For now, I'm just leasing her, and I've had her about a month. I had
her vet-checked before starting the lease, and she passed her pre-purchase
exam with compliments from the clinic, so I've been planning to buy her if
everything works out (more on this below). I'm boarding at a small barn
in Harvard, Massach.
Fiddler and I are working on our dressage with a new instructor,
Laura McGovern, who is Kris Bobo's working student. Laura is really
good, but of course I'm now suffering from the New Instructor Syndrome.
I've asked to have a LOT of lunge lessons to help with my position, and
there's that uncomfortable period where you can't reach the stirrups
because they've been lengthened another hole or two, and you don't have
much seat left because you're back to learning how to move your leg
back from the hip and relax the knee, and every few strides your hands
(wrists, arms, shoulders...) do something that gets you in big trouble...
It's one of those stages where you can hardly rise OR sit to a trot
anymore, much less get the horse on the bit consistently and softly!
Anyway, I expect we're just reaching a new plateau and will be happier in
the long run, but for a week or two I was ready to cash it all in.
Fortunately we had a good ride yesterday, so the humiliation stage may
be waning. I'm hoping to be ready for a few dressage shows in the summer,
and we'll try to get to a novice event or two for fun before too long.
THe other news is that I'll be going back to school for a Master's
degree at Stanford in the fall. The best part of this deal is that
DEC is paying for it. Of course, this complicates my happy picture
of the little gray mare and the short eager rider. On the one hand,
this mare is the kind I could take to school and ride whenever I had
time, and she's an ideal horse to lease out, so maybe it's worth buying
her, but probably only if the company will pay to ship her. This is
why I'm only leasing her now.
Fiddler's owner is now trying to change our arrangements to a
PAID lease rather than a free lease (price applicable to purchase).
She's a good little mare, but I'm not willing to pay more on top of
board and vet and farrier bills, so I may be in the market for a horse
all over again. More likely, though, I'll have her for another month
at least, and perhaps through the summer.
In the meantime, Ken and especially Karen Rossen have proved
to be an invaluable resource, and I am thoroughly indebted to them for
their generous assistance. Without Karen's eagle eye, horse-hunting
would have been either fruitless or possibly dangerous, in that it's
hard to judge a horse from the saddle or from the ground without a LOT
of experience. Most of the horses I rode went pretty quietly, and
several were willing to go round and reach for the bit some of the time,
but you need to be a good judge to be able to find the GOOD cheap horse
out of a herd of cheap horses (I think it's a little easier with pricier
horses). I strongly recommend that anyone looking for a first horse take
along as many really experienced people as you can get your hands on, or
at least have those people (and your instructor!) see you ride the horse
after you've narrowed the field and before you've set your heart on
anything.
--carrie wilpolt
(sudbury, massachusetts)
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.32 | Equestrian Digest #29 (see intro note 78) | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Thu Jun 12 1986 16:50 | 169 |
| From: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]" "Ken Rossen" 12-JUN-1986 02:15
To: [email protected]
Subj: Equestrian Digest Issue 29
Received: from DECWRL by DEC-RHEA with SMTP; Wed, 11 Jun 86 23:14-PST
Received: from ccp.bbn.com (10.6.0.82) by decwrl.DEC.COM (4.22.05/4.7.34)
id AA06397; Wed, 11 Jun 86 23:13:12 pdt
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 86 02:05:04 EDT
From: [email protected]
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
Equestrian Digest Wed 11 Jun 1986 Issue 29
Today's Topics:
Subscribership Update
Re: Horses
BLM Adoptions / Yearling Training
Greetings from a new subscriber.
horses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 86 17:43:09 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Subscribership Update
Four new subscribers:
Andrea Chenu <chenu%[email protected]> or <hplabs!chenu>,
Ralph Cherubini <cherubini%[email protected]>,
Susan Dunkle <[email protected]>,
Roger Jagoda <fqoj%[email protected]>,
Herb Kanner <tymix!kanner> has left Tymenet. He'll resume a subscription
to the Digest if/when his new account at Apple materializes.
And by now, Judy Grass should be at her new address:
Judy Grass <ulysses!jeg>
Keep those cards and letters coming! (Joyce, are you out there?)
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected] (e.m.eades)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Horses
Date: 28 May 86 03:00:11 GMT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ
I have been riding for awhile now. Recently I have started helping
teach some beginners in the Bell Labs equestrian club. Could anyone
recommend some good books I could read on teaching riding? I'm
terrified that I'll teach the beginners bad habits, but the club is
short on instructors and needs the help.
--------------------
Date: Wed, 28 May 86 09:03:37 mdt
From: kghaine%[email protected]
Subject: BLM Adoptions / Yearling Training
I'm surprised that the BLM let someone adopt two stallions without checking
out the facilities! The BLM holds adoptions around here once or twice a year,
and I was under the impression that in order to adopt a mustang, you had to
have your facilities inspected to prove that they are adequate for a wild
horse. I'm sure that doesn't prevent people who shouldn't adopt from adopting,
but it should help.
My farrier has several customers who have adopted wild horses, and for the
most part they don't work out very well. He says that in addition to being
small, they are fairly unhealthy. That surprises me since I would think that
they would have to be healthy to survive in the wild. Maybe they get sick
when they are fed and kept like the domesticated kind. The only adoption
he knew that worked out was where the adoptee was really an escaped
domesticated horse.
-----
New subject: I have a yearling that I need to begin training on the lunge,
if anybody has experience and helpful hints on how to start, how fast to
progress, what equipment to use when, etc. I would really appreciate it.
All she knows now is how to stand tied, lead, be groomed and be ponied.
I have some books on training, but none seem to go into much detail about
the early training. Any recommendations? My goal is to use her for dressage
and combined training.
Katrina Haines
{ucbvax,gatech}!unmvax!sandia!kghaine
--------------------
Date: Wednesday, 4 June 1986 13:58:53 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Greetings from a new subscriber.
Greetings to all from Hacker Hollow, a small farm nestled in the
rolling hills of western Pennsylvania. My husband (not a horsey type
at all), my two daughters and I have lived there for two months.
We bought the farm so that we could spend as much time as possible
with our lovely Anglo-Arab hunter. Unfortunately, four days before
we moved our hunter was kicked by another horse and had to be
put down. (His front leg was completely shattered from the elbow
to the knee.) The shock is slowly wearing off, and we are now in
the market for a new horse for my 13 year old daughter. We will,
of course, never be able to replace the horse we lost (Why is it
only the really good ones get hurt?). So if anyone knows of a
reasonably priced green hunter in the W. Pa area, please let me know.
Both my daughters and I ride. My 13 year old and I have been taking
lessons for the past three years. I have been riding horses since I
was five years old, but hadn't ridden seriously for many years. When
my eldest was 10 I decided I wanted her to have some of the wonderful
experiences I had had as a child growing up on horses. So I located
an instructor for her and she began taking lessons. I enviously watched
her take lessons for six months, then decided 'why not me to.' Just
because I was 32 didn't mean I was too old to start riding again. So I
started taking lessons, then bought a horse for the kid and I to
share (Yes, sharing can work, especially if you're are studying
with the same instructor.), then the kid started showing, then we
bought a farm...then tragedy struck when we lost our horse.
So now we are seriously looking for a new horse. Since our
budget is limited I am looking for something green to bring
along. The horse we just lost had no showing or jumping
experience when we bought him, but we brought him along
patiently and had him working over 3 foot courses in March.
He was truly wonderful, a good mover, lovely over fences,
and he always gave us quiet, clean lead changes after a fence
when they were required. We will really miss him.
I am looking forward to being a subscriber to the Equestrian Digest,
and hope to share news of new horse soon.
Susan Dunkle
Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie-Mellon University
--------------------
From: [email protected] (e.m.eades)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: horses
Date: 10 Jun 86 18:02:14 GMT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
Here is a posting which should stimulate some discussion of horses.
My roommate and I are 1/2 seriously discussing the possibility of
getting a horse. The stable where we ride would be willing to board
and exercise it for us. My question is ...
If you were to get a horse what kind would you get?
How old would it be? How much would you pay?
(in New Jersey the papers list horses from $200 to $5000)
BTW, we ride English and like to jump.
-EME
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.33 | Equestrian Digests | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Fri Jun 27 1986 15:07 | 31 |
|
From now on, all new issues of the Equestrian Digest
will appear in this topic.
NEW READERS, PLEASE READ note 78, which describes what
the Digest is, and how it works.
Here's a summary of "back issues":
Equestrian Digest Introduction --> note 78
Sampler Digest Issues 1 and 2 --> note 79
(samplers include topics from Digests 1-27)
Equestrian Digest #28 --> note 80
Equestrian Digest #29 --> note 81
Equestrian Digest #30 --> note 87
And just a reminder for those of you who've already
read note 78:
To submit articles to the Equestrian Digest,
send mail to
RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Happy reading, and I hope the Digest readers will hear
from you!
--carrie wilpolt
dtn 225-5823
|
| 79.34 | Equestrian Digest #31 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Fri Jun 27 1986 15:12 | 485 |
| DEC folks Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Equestrian Digest Thu 26 Jun 1986 Issue 31
Today's Topics:
Subscribership Update
horse for lease
Hi.
BREEDING HORSES
Horseback riding for the novice/intermediate equestrian
Re: Horseback riding for the novice/intermediate equestrian
Horse talk
Re: Lunging and "What kind of horse should I buy?"
A report on Essex
Hi there!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 86 15:31:13 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: Subscribership Update
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
Robin and John <[email protected]> have lost their UMN account, and hope to
be back with us if and when they can find a guest account somehwere in the
Twin Cities area.
On the other hand, there has been a flurry of people joining us:
Laura Bagnall <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!lbagnall>,
Deryl Burr <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!burr>,
Patricia Corl <ubcvax!sun!sunrise!husky!pic>,
Beth Eades <seismo!mtgzz!eme>,
Rob Gross <GROSS%[email protected]>,
Barbara Haglind <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!bhaglind>,
Andy Shulman <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!shulman>,
Mark Williams <[email protected]>
Welcome to all of you, and keep writing!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: bboard
Subject: horse for lease
Date: 17 Jun 86 17:36:17 GMT
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
MATURE HUNTING THROUGHBRED FOR LEASE.
Have you ever wanted to own a horse, but were scared of the full cost of
keeping it? Then why not try leasing.
I have a 16 hand 2 inch, bay, Throughbred hunter. I am interested
in finding someone who rides to help keep him exercised and help pay for
his feed. He is quite comfortable for a large person to ride but not
overwhelming for a smaller person. (My husband is 6'4", I'm 5'4".)
He is stabled conveniently just off route 2 in Concord. (20 min from BBN.)
There is an excelent instructor at the stable. Charlie Koch. We will
be willing to provide all the tack.
Please call Deryl Burr x8101
or Email dburr
--------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 86 19:14:26 EDT
From: Deryl Burr <[email protected]>
Subject: Hi.
Hi, My husband and I have just bought our first horse. I have
been riding off and on since I was knee high to a shetland. My husband
has been riding for three years. I warned him before we were married,
that I was going to own a horse before I died and He better like it
or I would find someone else. So he tried it, needless to say he loves it.
We bought our horse thru our instructor, whose opinion I highly
respect. He teaches balance seat. Which means that he beleves that you
should be able to show in a dressage class today and fox hunt tomorrow.
I personally believe that there is fun to be had in all kinds of riding.
To me a western saddle is great if you are going to be in the
saddle all day, or working a herd. However it is not much of a challenge
for only half and hour a week. English, either dressage or hunt, is
much more like work, but there is no way I want to try and ride all day
in an english saddle. A fox hunt lasting 2 hours is the longest I ever
want to be in an english saddle. Since we live in the Boston area, I don't
think I will ever spend a great deal of time spending days to weeks in a
saddle, but then I did not think I was going to own a horse this soon either.
About our horse... My instructor was boarding him for the last owner
while trying to find a buyer. Charlie, my instructor, as he normally does
is tries out the horse in a number of situations to find what this horse
is best suited for. For example He tries a Hunt or two, so that he knows
how the horse performs in the heat of a hunt. He will also try other
people, of different levels of skill, out on the horse so that he can tell
how it will react to a beginner etc. I got the chance to ride our horse for
a lesson, and I was in love with him from the first. After the second lesson
on the horse I mentioned that I liked the horse, and Charlie told me he was
for sale and asked if I wanted to know the price. I said sure, sure that we
could never afford the horse. The horse was a cheep. So I was able to talk
my husband into buying him. Now there is a reason that the horse was cheep,
he would never pass the vet. This is not to say that the horse is a shitter,
however he does have a heart murmur, and is a little lame in the left fore
foot, not bad just favors it a little when trotted on hard pavement, but
not that you notice when you are riding him. But we bought him anyway, but
we are not planning to try and show him every weekend and hunt him all
week. We are both still very green. (Even though I have had many years of
horse love not all that many we spent riding. I grew up in NYC.)
We will continue to stable our horse where we ride, even though
it may not be the cheepest, because it is both convenint to where we live
and the entire staff has never been any thing less the helpfull. Which
I think is saying a lot for the staff, given how much we don't know.
I will sign off by asking for all kinds of info on the care of
a horse, I do know the small stuff like cleaning out hoves and getting
the tack on correctly. I don't know however about some of the more important
things like diseases, feed, shoeing, etc. I'm sure I will learn very soon.
and that the staff at the stable will teach me a lot. However I love to
collect opinions.
Thanks,
Deryl Burr
[email protected]
--------------------
Return-Path: <ihnp4!inuxd!jla>
From: [email protected]
Date: 18 Jun 86 11:25:55 EST (Wed)
Subject: BREEDING HORSES
BREEDING HORSES
A Short Course Offered by the School of Experience
After the first horse comes the second horse. Finally, the
two-horse family says "let's buy a piece of land where we
can keep the horses in our own backyard." The next level is
predictable. They decide to breed the mare. Let me tell you a
little bit about the "manufacturing" business.
I was into horses pretty deeply by the time we got to the "let's
make our own horse" scenario. I was already doing the
advertising for a TB stallion. I produced ads for the
biggies--Chronicle, Practical Horseman, Combined Training, Blood
Horse. I took Ohio State short courses on midwifery. I helped
deliver all the 4-H foals in the county. I gave birth to two
babies myself just to see what it was like. I like to prepare
myself for experiences, you understand.
I read all about selection of breeding stock and good crosses and
bad crosses and color genetics and breeding theory. I like to be
prepared, remember. Then I went shopping for the right mare to
breed to the stallion I liked.
So I found this mare--biggest TB you've ever seen. A Royal
Charger grandaughter and daughter of Bonne Nuit, who at the time
was the leading jumper sire in the country, with one son and two
grandsons on the U.S. Equestrian Team. She stood almost 17.2h
and was hotter than a fresh manure pile. I got her for almost
nothing--nobody could handle her. My veterinarian almost gave up
large animal work when I asked him to tube worm her (right after
that he started giving out paste wormers to the owner and gave up
tube worming--said it wasn't necessary anymore). He had to
stand on ladder to check her for ovulation.
I knew I would have a fiesty foal, but her breeding, looks, and
talent made up for any problems with her disposition.
On my farm I had a little grade mare--15.1h--probably a little
walker, a little quarter, maybe a standardbred or two in her
background. She was sturdy and quiet. I bought her for $100 to
have on the farm for all the city cousins who came out on Sunday
afternoon and said "can Johnny ride one of the horses?" Knowing
that my horses would KILL Johnny, I kept this quiet little mare
for guests. She was also a grand babysitter. She wasn't much to
look at, but she made up for her lack of breeding, looks, and
talent by having this great disposition. Are you seeing a
parallel here?
In payment for my advertising work, I had some free "services"
coming from the stallion owners. So I sent the mare I purchased
solely to cross with that stallion and the little grade mare to
keep the hot mare company. They went together. They were bred
the same days. The came home together. Eleven months later, six
days apart, I had two colts.
From the big, hot, talented mare I got a pretty 16.2 colt with a
quiet, easy-going nature and enough talent and looks to do OK as a
junior hunter on the circuit. From the little, quiet, klutzy mare I
got a 17.1, athletic, bold eventer type who required professional
handling.
See, this breeding is simple. It's all in knowing what you are
doing.
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: bboard
Subject: Horseback riding for the novice/intermediate equestrian
Date: 24 Jun 86 16:55:54 GMT
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
[List coordinator's note -- this is a BOSTON area inquiry]
I had been wondering if any of you good folks might know where one
can go to ride horses. I would like to find a place that has trails
and horses that do not insist upon English style riding. At one point
some years back I had ridden horses around the Franklin park area, but
I never did discover the name of the place, and could not find it again.
It was nice in that they had a guide that went with us, and there were
pretty trails.
It would be nice to find something like that, only, if possible more
in the western suburbs (Waltham, Lexington, Concord, Newton, Wellesley,
and west or northwest of there).
If you know of a good place that perhaps even offers lessons (Western
interests me far more than does English style) please let me know.
I'd be interested in the prices, too, for riding and for lessons if
offered (per hour, per half hour...).
Thanks,
Bj
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Horseback riding for the novice/intermediate equestrian
Date: 24 Jun 86 19:46:45 GMT
Just a comment on Barbara's search ... as it turns out, finding a place
that will make horses available to the public is hard and getting harder.
There are enough dangerous things that can happen to a rider of unknown
experience when they get a horse that such establishments are finding that
they can't get liability insurance any more.
Consequently, the number of public stables is on the wane. The public
stable in the Kentucky Horse Park (no fly-by-night) had to close because of
this. Even lesson stables for more serious riders are more reluctant to
offer school horses to new clients.
Some of Judy's experiences trying to find a lesson stable around her new
home in New Jersey reflect this phenomenon.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Subject: Horse talk
Date: 25 Jun 86 08:28:22 EDT (Wed)
From: [email protected]
(Where's Mr. Ed?....in the great pasture in the sky)
Certainly, I would be happy to get on the digest mailing list.
While I can make no claims to any equestrian skills (other than
being able to stroke, and sit (badly) on a horse) I do like these
animals as a class.
I am also challenging myself to relearn how to sketch horses,
so if you know of any place that is nearby that wouldn't mind
my sitting around taking pictures of their horseflesh please
let me know. I was thinking that a riding place (and I do intend
to do some riding) might be easier, but if they are that scarce
then I'd settle for some place that has horses out to pasture
where I could watch them.
If I had the opportunity to meet the owners, I might hopefully
be able to watch the horses at fairly close range, and would
be happy to share any good pictures of their horses I happen to get.
I know I said sketch, however, I was told that, especially
for a beginner, it is easier to work from good pictures, and
seeing as how photography is another hobby, I would be only
too happy to photograph horses out in the fields, or being
ridden, or eating, or just hanging around.
As a kid I was lucky, I used to know people who had dairy farms
(and a horse or two) as well as some other folks who had some
stables. I used to get to help muck out stables and clean and
curry horses (and cows for the 4H fair). Those days, sigh, are
long gone.
I happened to wander by what used to be the dairy farm, and to
my horror it is being dug up for condos. Glad I don't live in
that town anymore, it is losing what little charm it had.
Anyhow, this is getting chatty, thanks for your help, and
for putting me into the digest mailing list when you get a
chance.
Bj
--------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 86 11:06:36 EDT
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Lunging and "What kind of horse should I buy?"
Regarding lunging, to Katrina, who wants to start her yearling on the lunge
line:
"Training Your Own Horse, " by Mary Rose, FBHS, and "The Complete Training of
Horse and Rider," by Alois Podhajsky, both have pretty good discussions of
lunging a young horse.
But actually yearling is a bit young to start *extensive* lunging (danger to
young legs, etc.). Have you considered long lining instead? Also, if
you've never taught a horse to lunge before (or long line for that matter),
taking a lesson or two from a professional skilled at ground work might not
be a bad idea at all -- after all, you may not want your own prize yearling
to be your "guinea pig!"
As far as equipment goes you may find a lunging cavesson more useful than
a halter -- the cavesson is made specially for lunging and is less likely
to twist around. And be sure to start canter work on a nice BIG circle.
Give him the whole lunge line, and then you may still have to walk some.
Regarding Beth and, "What kind of horse should I buy?":
In a nutshell, for a first horse you should buy a REAL EXPERIENCED ONE, one
who can "teach you the ropes," so to speak. The guidance of an experienced
instructor or other mentor is also advisable. As to breed, good first
horses come in all flavors. That said, I would at least think twice before
buying, for your first one, a horse of one of the "hotter" breeds like
Thoroughbreds and Arabians (also, by the way, Trakehners, which are *very*
different from the other European warmblood breeds -- much less stable as a
group).
Yes, warmbloods are nice, but also a rather hot ticket in dressage and
hunter-jumper circles. (Cathy -- more and more h/j people are coming to
see the possibilities of warmbloods not only as jumpers but as hunter and
equitation horses, too. Fancier, finer ones are being imported to fill the
demand [e.g. "Hann. g. 5 yr. chosen w/the hunter rider in mind" --from an
ad in the Chronicle]. One of the top conformation yearlings in the country
is 1/2 Hannoverian, as is the Amateur Owner horse Ruxton) "Hot ticket"
translates into dollars, which is neither bad nor good, but certainly
something you'll want to keep in mind. Warmblood or Quarter Horse,
TB/Percheron cross or Connemarra pony, *please* do yourself a favor and
don't get a green one for your first one, especially since for working
folks time and money may be at a premium, and a greenie may well end up
costing you buckets of both -- I know, I know, "We'll train him, and then
he'll be worth more" -- well, not unless you're quite experienced.
Otherwise you'll probably end up hiring an awful lot of help *or* going it
yourself and ending up in trouble.
Karen Rossen
P.S. Regarding my earlier warning from the hotter breeds, age can be a
great leveller. A Thoroughbred who at age 4 was a tough nut to crack for
someone experienced can be at age 14 mellowed enough to be wonderful for a
beginner.
--------------------
Return-Path: <ulysses!jeg>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 86 08:35:36 edt
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: A report on Essex
Hello again.
I took you advice, and Saturday morning, as early as I could manage,
saddled up my car and headed for Gladstone to watch the endurance phase of
the Essex Three-Day Event. This was a Preliminary level event. There
were four competitions: in the morning -- Junior and Senior Preliminary.
In the afternoon -- Young Rider and Open preliminary. The course for the
afternoon was significantly more difficult than the one in the morning (and
according to my USCTA omnibus, the requirements to enter those were pretty
stringent).
Lesson number one: Preliminary refers to the horse, not the rider. Bruce
Davidson (multi-time member of the US olympic team) rode a horse in the
senior preliminary, and won. Torrence W. Fleishmann -- 1984 Olympic Silver
Medalist -- was entered in the Open Preliminary. She withdrew after the
steeplechase (her horse didn't come through sound).
For those of you not familiar.. The three day event consists of three
phases: Day 1: a dressage test. Day 2: The endurance phase. And if you
get through that Day 3: Stadium Jumping. The Endurance phaseconsists of
four parts: phase A: Roads and tracks. This is a warmup (at a trot or
occasional slow canter) for phase B: a Steeplechase (one horse at a time
against the clock). then phase C: More Roads and tracks to cool down from
the steeplechase. After this the horses get a 10 minute break and a once
over by the veterinarian to make sure they are fit enough to handle the 2
3/4 mile cross country course. A fair number of horses did not past are
were withdrawn. Phase D is the cross-country. Not quite so fast as the
steeplechase, but nasty solid (and tricky) fences (about 20 of them). And
the terrain is up and down hills, into and out of woods and in general not
uniform.
I had a lot of fun watching all this. Attending the endurance phase can be
excellent exercise for a spectator too. You are allowed to wander all over
the course, with the provision that you do not get in the way of the horses
or interfer in the event. Since horses are starting off approximately
every 5 minutes (supposed to be 3, but didn't actually seem to work out
that way) there is plenty of time to go between jumps. I walked the
entire course and got photographs of just about all of them.
There were over 100 people entered in this, and probably twice that number
involved in judging fences, repairing them , announcing, keeping spectators
out of the way of the event, acting as outriders, etc. It takes a massive
effort to run one of these things (no wonder there are relatively few).
Probably about 75 of those horses made it through Dressage and phases A-C
to actually do the cross-country. Of those, all but a few (10 or so)
completed it one way or another. I saw a few falls, a few refusals
(especially at the water). Mostly, the horses and riders did beautifully
(some with more style than others, but in cross-country you get no points
for flash).
I saw one fall on the steeplechase that really scared me. A girl (16yrs
old or so.. definately a girl) came flying off her horse after the first
jump and hit the ground still grabbing the reins. The horse was in a
steamed up gallop, he wasn't stopping, so she let himn drag her, got kicked
several times, and I sincerely thought she was going to get trampled.
Finally the horse did stop. She sat on the grass for awhile, caught her
breath, got back on and finished the steeplechase. Lots of guts. I'm not
sure how much brains. I hope if it ever happened to me that I would let
the horse go. I asked my dressage instructor (Sally Harden, she's ridden
at that event) what she would do in that situation. She said : Let go.
So, you don't HAVE to be crazy to ride in an event.
Most of the other incidents were what you would expect. Stopping at the
water, shying at a shadow, an occasional run-out...
I have been told (by Sally Harden) that the cross-country course at Essex
has gotten considerably easier, and the optimum times slower since three
years ago. (When she broke her back there). I didn't see much that I
would care to try any time in the near future, but I also think that no-one
got badly hurt this year either. If they have eased up some, it is
probably not a bad thing. Leave Intermediate for the Intermediates. I
find it hard to beleive that the course I saw there was a mere two steps up
from Novice (via Training Level). My suspicion: There are a lot of subtle
gradations of difficulty that are not reflected by the labels the USCTA has
put on the levels.
Oh well, back to work.
Judy Grass (Bell Labs, Murray Hill)
ulysses!jeg
--------------------
Return-Path: <pic@eagle>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 86 14:27:37 pdt
From: sun.com!sunrise!husky!eagle!pic%[email protected]
Subject: Hi there!!!
Hi there!!!
I did get your introductory stuff on the horse digest and am looking
forward to getting more! Paul Haust had told me about this group, but I had
never got around to subscribing. The "gift" subscription is really a neat
idea! I have been riding now for about 5 years on a regular basis (mostly
western tho I just started English saddle seat) and have leased horses for
the past two years, and am now in a market for my own. I have dreams of
showing western pleasure,western trail, and/or trail endurance. I hope to
own a saddlebred one of these days. Needless to say anything about horse
care, owning, and buying is of great interest to me, and any tips on
showing for my future plans.
hope to hear from you in the future!
pat corl
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.35 | | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Wed Jul 02 1986 14:52 | 283 |
| DEC people, Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Equestrian Digest Tue 1 Jul 1986 Issue 32
Today's Topics:
New/Old Subscribers
Gladstone and horse story (retransmission)
Lunging
Subscription
warm-blooded, a definition needed
Info, please.
horses and bears
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 86 14:41:44 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: New/Old Subscribers
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
Herb Kanner is back, now at apple:
Herb Kanner <[email protected]> -or- <decwrl!nsc!apple!kanner>
There are three new subscribers:
Lisa Ann Miller <CS23001%[email protected]>,
Kristine Topliff <[email protected]>,
R. Verzyl <seismo!akgua!cpsc53!rv>
Welcome! And happy 4th to all.
Also, if anyone among you is in touch with Cathy Modica (riccb!cpm) of
Rockwell, Downers Grove, please let her know I'm trying to reach her but
don't yet seem to have succeeded.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 86 07:43:19 edt
From: jeg%[email protected]
Subject: Gladstone and horse story (retransmission)
(List coordinator's note: This article was actually written BEFORE Judy's
article that appeared in Issue 31, but I didn't receive it due to mail
problems. It is probably still timely enough to appear)
More horse stories:
This week I was going to start jumping lessons at Floradale Farms. It was
evidently not meant to be (this week at any rate). My instructor, a young
fellow named Robert Blake, asked me to call ahead to confirm. Well, I did
and was told to postpone the lesson to the next day because there had been
an accident. He had been riding, and the horse had fallen and broken its
neck. The horse was dead and the rider OK, but very shaken up. I thought
he must have been out jumping on a cross country course or something for
that to happen. This set me to wondering just how reckless the locals
were... I went last night for the postponed lesson. It was cancelled.
The horse in question was a school horse, and the one I was supposed to
ride.
What had happened, in fact, was that Robert had been on a fairly quiet
hack, jumped a few very small fences and the horse had a heart attack.
They were cantering along when the horse tripped three times and fell out
from under him. I am sincerely glad that if the horse was going to have
the heart attack, that I was not riding him at the time. My equestrian
life here so far has included very little riding, but certainly hasn't been
dull.
I finally got in touch with Kathy Cook, chair of the Bell Labs riding club.
We had a long and animated talk. It seems the club's principal activity is
lessons at Watchung Stables. I want more demanding lessons than that.
What I am hoping for from this club is a chance to talk to local active
riders about what is happening around here, and a chance to swap horse
stories...
Enough for now. If I get a chance to go to the event this weekend, I will
file a report. Tah...
Judy Grass ulysses!jeg
P.S. The mailer didn't address this right, so it came back to me. I have
learned some things since. The thing happening this weekend is the Essex
3-day event. This is the same one my dressage insTructor broke her back at
three years ago. The events go up to preliminary level. Bruce Davidson
has a horse entered in it. THis is also no freebie to see. They are going
to collect 10$ per car per day. I wish I could fill mine.
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Subject: Lunging
Date: 29 Jun 86 09:19:50 EST (Sun)
In answer to how to train on the lunge, I have always started out
with a second person leading while I stand in the middle (hey,
I'm not dumb!). You get some poor starved-for-the-smell-of-
horse-manure teenage girl to lunge with the horse. With you in
the middle, using the whip BEHIND the horse's plane so that he is
always moving away from the plane of the whip, work the horse as
you would naturally work on the lunge. Use voice commands, too,
so that the outside worker can lead the horse according to your
commands.
Am I explaining this correctly? You have you in the middle, with
the line in the hand that the horse is moving and the whip in the
other. You have the horse on the end of the line at the outside
of the lunge circle. And you have this poor teenage girl on the
outside of the horse, with a lead line. You flick the whip
(BEHIND the plane of the horse) and say trot. The teenage girl
trots and the horse, having been taught to lead, trots, too. You
then say Whoa or Stop or whatever your command will be, and the
teenage girl stops (if she isn't listening to Springsteen on her
Walkman) and so does the horse. You say walk and they walk. It
doesn't work if the teenage girl is your own daughter, 'cause
then she won't do what you say.
You don't have to condition the horse with the teenager out
there, you understand. No 20-minute trots on the right diagonal
to build up some muscles. Think what the teenage girl would look
like with one thigh bigger than the other. This is to teach
commands only. Do lots of transitions--walk, stop, trot, stop,
walk, trot. Stop a lot.
One beauty of this technique is that you can start a young horse
on a long line. I always felt sorry for young horses made to go
in little bitty circles before their coordination was ready for
little bitty circles.
When you get the walk/stop/trot stuff down pat, canter is
easy--just push the horse into a canter by using the whip. If
the lead is wrong, Whoa immediately and start over. When the
lead is right, relax and let the horse hit his stride and be
comfortable. They learn pretty fast. By the way, don't try to
teach the canter while the teenage girl is still on the lead
line. Unless she is a track star and needs the exercise.
After the working gets comfortable, add pads and then a saddle.
A little weight on the saddle, and you can follow that with a
rider who can sit still. Still on the lunge, let the rider give
signals for stop, trot, walk, etc. at the same time you are
giving the lunge signals the horse already knows. He stays
comfortable because you aren't asking him to do anything he
doesn't understand, and you stay comfortable because you are in
the middle of the circle and someone else is on his back.
The transition from rider on the lunge line to rider without the
lunge line is smooth. Be sure, though, that all transitions are
made when the horse is COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE with the previous
lesson. Go slowly, and carefully, and use a LONG line. Don't
ask a young horse to do sharp turns.
The hardest part of this training is teaching the horse to
lead--every new step is built on that. He never has to learn
something that is completely new--just a variation of an old
theme.
Of course it's never that simple, but you're not supposed to know
that until you get into it. That's what the books do--tell you
to follow something step-by-step and your horse forgot to read
the book.
Have fun!!
--------------------
Subject: Subscription
From: CS23001%[email protected] (Lisa Ann Miller)
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 86 10:54:07 EDT
Saw your digest on the bulletin board at Bitnic and would love
to receive your mailings. I understand you deal with all
types of horse related subjects. My primary interests are
in training Paso Finos and Peruvian Paso horses. I am also
interested in articles relating to equitation.
Would like to receive any back issues you may have available
if it is convenient. I look forward to reading your digest.
--------------------
Return-Path: <pic@eagle>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 86 15:53:24 pdt
From: sun.com!sunrise!husky!eagle!pic%[email protected]
Subject: warm-blooded, a definition needed
I have been noticing the term "warm-blood" and "warm-blooded" being used
alot in the articles sent to me as an introduction to the newsgroup. Can
anyone give me a definition or explination of the terms since I have never
heard them used around here (here is Rochester NY).... thanks a bunch.
Also can anyone give me some recomendations as to the kinds of properties to
look for in a good competetive trail horse???
pat corl
{sunrise,rochester,ritcv}!kodak!husky!pic
US mail: Pat Corl
125-E Spanish Trail
Rochester NY, 14612
--------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 86 17:11:44 EDT
From: Kristine Topliff <[email protected]>
Subject: Info, please.
I saw Ken Rosen's message on bboard and decided to write. I too am interested
in riding. A group of bbner's have gone to Bob's in Acton. The location is nice
and the horses are very good ( for riding stable nags). My problem is that I am
an experienced rider and find it frustrating to be led through the woods (at a
walk) for $10 or $15 per hour.
Does anyone know of a place to get a real ride?
Kris
x2569
--------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 86 16:14 EDT
From: <PUY%[email protected]>
Subject: horses and bears
A quick hello, after being in Europe for 6 weeks. Scientific
field work, not much time for investigating the horse scene there.
Did notice a lot of warmbloods in Belgium, saw some Andulusians in
Spain, didn't notice many horses in the area of southern France
where we were working (about halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse).
Anyway, thought I'd take a couple of minutes out of the getting
back to business routine to tell a little story that some of you
city slicker digest readers may get a kick out of. I keep my 8
yr old Arab gelding with a friend's 27 yr old Saddlebred on her
property in rural central Pa. Hundred's of acres of great trail riding,
except during deer hunting season, but that's another story.
Well, yesterday my boyfriend and I took the horses for a short trail
ride, basically just to get them out of pasture boredom and to get
me in the saddle again after so long. We came in around dusk, and
Evan got off at the house to take in my 28 lb (groan) western saddle
and the rest of the tack, while I went off to lead the horses down
to the lower pasture. I had Kahila by the halter in my right hand,
and his buddy Daquiri by the reins in my left hand. Almost all the
way down the path, near the gate to the pasture, Daquiri stops dead
in his tracks. I turned to look at him, and then turned back to see
what he was staring at. Right ahead of us, between us and the gate,
was a big black animal. At first I thought it was a huge dog, and
when it turned around to look at us, and then lumbered off, I realized
that it was a black bear! Well, it disapearred into the then inky
woods within a few steps, so I hesitated a few seconds and then
continued to lead the horses through the gate. After we got past the
point where the bear had been, Daquiri tried to bolt, but I held
onto both of them long enough to get their headgear off, so they could
run back to the barn. To my amazement, Daquiri just stood there
trembling, while my usually wimpy Arab started smelling the ground
near the gate, stamping his feet and snorting loudly. Obviously, the
bear had been in the pasture, but it was still pretty far from the house.
When my boyfriend and I went back out to investigate a few minutes
later, the horses were still in the lower pasture, but away from the
gate. When we started walking toward the gate, the horses followed
from behind, practically walking on tiptoes. By then it was way too
dark to see anything in the woods surrounding the pasture.
Well, my apologies to those of you rugged types who wouldn't
blink at a grizzly, but for this Detroit girl it was an amazing
experience to be within 100 feet of a bear that wasn't in a zoo.
I was surprised at how the horses reacted, and how big those "little
eastern black bears" can get!
Have any of you had experiences with encountering bears while
on horseback? I'd like to know how *other* horses react, and whether
a horse can outrun a bear. (I'm sure that I couldn't).
Well, gotta get back to some real computer work. Happy Trails,
Eileen Perry.
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.36 | | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Tue Jul 15 1986 15:32 | 273 |
| DEC folks, Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Equestrian Digest Mon 14 Jul 1986 Issue 33
Today's Topics:
Subscribers
"What kind of horse ... ?"
Fly Spray WARNING!
Re: Info, please. - Eq. Digest #32
Hi
Horse Mailing List
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 86 10:18:44 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: Subscribers
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
I've lost Tracey Baker <vax135!tab>, but there are two new subscribers:
Cathy Modica <ihnp4!riccb!cpm>,
Karen Seo <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!kseo>
and we have one new contributor from the readership of the EQUITATION
notesfile at Digital:
Jennie Lemire <lemire%[email protected]>
Finally, I've introduced Deryl Burr before (and she's introduced herself,
of course), but I should mention that her husband and riding buddy Rod
also has an address:
Rod Burr <burr%[email protected]>
Welcome, all, and keep those cards and letters coming!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
From: Carl Deitrick <[email protected]>
Subject: "What kind of horse ... ?"
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 86 04:45:34 pdt
> If you were to get a horse what kind would you get?
> How old would it be? How much would you pay?
------------
>If you are serious about riding, and you enjoy english and jumping, I would
>recommend a Thoroughbred/Percheron cross. Why? Well I own one, and they
>are very friendly, easy going, and sound horses. They make VERY GOOD heavy
>hunters, and they love to jump.
------------
>.. a warm blood may be a good prospect..... If I were buying a horse today
>it would be a mare ( they seem to be "nicer or more understanding" also
>when they get old they can be brrod mares,...)
------------
>...I would at least think twice before buying, for your first one, a horse
>of one of the "hotter" breeds like Thoroughbreds and Arabians.
EEEEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Are we going to go through this
again? I thought we had thrashed this out once before:
LOOK AT THE HORSE AND NOT AT THE BREED!!
To answer the original question, my first horse would be an aged gelding.
"Aged" means over ten years old.
Why a gelding? Well, look at it this way: You have three choices for the
sex of the animal. It can be a stallion, a mare, or a gelding. Unless you
have a lot of experience and plan to do your own breeding, a stallion is
out of the question because they tend to be aggressive and hard to handle.
No boarding stable I've ever heard of will let you bring one in. Mares can
be unpredictable when they come into heat. You'll never know when some
mares come into heat; others are damn near unapproachable. Geldings, on the
other hand, don't have to deal with testosterone like a stallion or
estrogen like a mare, so they tend to be very even-tempered.
Why aged? Well, by the time a horse reaches ten years old, he's pretty much
set for life. There probably won't be any more surprises. If he's going to
develop bad or dangerous habits, he most likely will have done so by now.
An aged horse will know his work well enough that you can learn from him (
trying to train a horse while you're still learning is impossible). An aged
horse is much calmer than a younger horse.
Breed is irrelevant except as it relates to size of the horse. If you're a
six foot two inch 190 pound man, you'll probably not want to buy an Arab,
which tend to be too small to carry someone that size. On the other hand,
if you're a five foot 95 pound woman, you'd probably feel uncomfortable on
a 17'2 TB/Clydesdale cross.
Other than for size, BREED IS IRRELEVANT!! LOOK AT THE HORSE AND NOT AT THE
BREED!! The desire to jump is not restricted solely to TB/Percheron
crosses, TBs and Arabs may be calm as clams, and Appaloosas can be
excellent English horses. Assigning attributes to a horse on the basis of
it's breed (e.g. All TBs are wild and crazy) makes as much sense as
assigning attributes to people on the basis of their race or nationality
(e.g. all blacks have rythm, all Orientals are inscrutable). It's nonsense,
pure and simple.
Choosing an aged gelding is not to say that you should choose a broken down
old nag. Older horses will have more health problems than younger horses,
but you can still find one that's healthy and sound enough for what you
want to do. Any horse you choose should be "suitably sound" and built to
stay that way. You need professional advice when you go looking for a
horse.
It's hard to say how much you shoud pay for your first horse, because the
price depends so much on the market in a given area. Here in the Chicago
area, I think I could get a good first horse for someone for $1500-$2000.
Any more than that you're wasting your money. Any less than that and the
horse probably has problems that you don't want to deal with.
Send me mail if you have any questions.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Wed 9 Jul 86 14:52:43 CDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Fly Spray WARNING!
I recently had a problem that every one else can avoid. My trainer's working
student sprayed my horse with bug spray while getting the horse ready for the
trainer to ride. Unfortunately, she did it *before* she put the saddle on the
horse and managed to get some on his back where the saddle goes. The horse
developed a nice patch of blisters about the size of my hand on both sides of
his spine right below the saddle's cantle. I couldn't ride the horse for two
weeks while the blisters healed.
Spray your horse with insect repellent only after you get him tacked up. Do
not spray the horse on covered areas (e.g. under the girth or saddle) that
will also sweat a lot. You're gonna have problems if you do. Of course,
avoid spraying the horse's head directly (you can get the spray in his
eyes). Spray the repellent in your hand and wipe it on the horse's head.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Friday, 11 Jul 1986 06:27:31-PDT
From: lemire%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Info, please. - Eq. Digest #32
Hi, I'm just another digit at DEC who is also an equinophile.
A shiver went down my spine when you mentioned Bobby's Ranch in
Acton. I haven't been there in a few years, but what I saw was
very disheartening. Some friends of my husband and I, who like
to ride now and again, had been pestering us to go with them. I
lease a horse and have been riding since day 1, my husband rides
almost never. I finally agreed - they kept saying how good the
horses were, what fun we'd have, etc.
When we arrived, I looked around the barn. No bedding in the stalls.
The horses came in from the previous trail ride, all sweating. Riders
dismounted, new riders mounted. No breaks. The horse I was to ride
came in lame, and I got a different one. All the horses were skinny,
with ribs and hipbones sticking out, scrawny necks, you get the picture.
For people who are not around horses a lot, these things aren't noticeable,
but for experienced horsepeople, it is upsetting.
We went off into the woods. When we hit a dirt road, the leader took
off at a gallop, and every horse took off after them. Except mine, who
I was holding back, and my husband was trying to stop his, since he
is only comfortable at a walk. I vowed that if I was going to ride
one of these overworked horses, at least all it would do is walk for
an hour. We did have to trot a little to catch up. This sort of
thing was repeated throughout the ride.
I have never been back. One of the people who took us there told us
about this horse that Bobby had gotten who wouldn't behave, was
bucking people off, so Bobby taught him a lesson. Got on him and
kept hitting him ON HIS HEAD until he finally stopped bucking and
rearing. Yep, that horse behaved after that...
I hope the place has cleaned up its act. Let me know if all this is
just ancient history.
So, where can a person get a decent ride around here (Boston)? You
should take lessons, since places that rent horses by the hour are
few and far between in these days of escalating liability insurance.
How about Arrowood Stables in Concord, which Deryl Burr spoke of
recently, or The Riding School in Weston (where I ride), or Pegasus
Farms in Westford. All of these places are reputable and take
good care of their horses. You will get your money's worth and learn
a lot to boot.
Sincerely,
Jennie Lemire
--------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 86 15:46:56 EDT
From: Deryl Burr <[email protected]>
Subject: Hi
My husband and I have been enjoying our horse for almost a month now.
My, how time flies. Our horse is a 12 year old thoroughbred gelding. He
stands 16 hands 2 inches and a very silky bay. His "official" name is
"What a Blast", (that is what is registration form from the Jocky Club says.)
The name he is called is Hastings.
We have had a very good time with him so far. The week after we
bought him, Rod and I went to our first, ever, Horse Show. I showed in
the Adult Walk Trot Division. There were two classes in that division,
with about 10 entries. I took 6th place in the Equitation and a
5th place in the Pleasure class.
Rod showed in the Adult Over Cross Rails Division. There were
three class in that division, with about 20 entries. The three classes
were Equitation, Pleasure, and Over Jumps. ( The jumps in this division
were 18 inches high.) Rod did not do as well as I. But he did come away
with a 4th place ribbon in the Pleasure class.
All in all, I think we did very well. Given how short a time
we have been riding. Rod has only been riding 3 years. I have more
experience since I took lessons as a child, however I had to all most
learn everything over. Our Instructor teaches Balance Seat, I had
learned Dressage seat, oh well.
I guess that is a bit more about us.
Deryl Burr
[email protected]
PS Hastings is still for half lease if you are interested. Call (617)648-4469
He is stabled in Concord Mass.
--------------------
Return-Path: <riccb!cpm>
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 86 00:54:51 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Horse Mailing List
July 10, 1986
Hi,
Gee, I wish I had known about the mailing list. Maybe someone
would have been interested in my mare. Although I have a feeling
that being a brood mare is right up her alley. Sure I'd love
to be on the list, although right now I'm into the dog show scene.
I've decided that dog showing is much easier, all I have to do is
open the car door, say "car ride guys", and I get very willing passengers!
Much easier than wrapping legs, tails, and coaxing large animals
into small spaces.
When I was into the dressage I trained with Fatima Nelson,
Natalie Lamping's sister.
Most of my jumping training came when I was a kid,
mostly from Mike McGuinn the former owner of Coach House Stables in
Northbrook, before it burned down in 1970.
If I have anything to add to the horse stuff I won't hesitate.
If you need to know any dog stuff, let me know.
Cathy Modica
PS I've tried to send this a ton of
times, hopefully this will make it through!!!
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.37 | issue 34 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Thu Jul 24 1986 20:05 | 333 |
| DEC folks, Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Equestrian Digest Thu 24 Jul 1986 Issue 34
Today's Topics:
Subscribers
Introduction (Hunting)
riding lessons
Re: "What kind of horse ... ?"
The Compleat Equestrian
Gelding Cleaning
Intro ... Cathy Modica
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 86 18:17:04 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: Subscribers
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
Ed Carroll <infinet!carroll> has left Infinet and the mail space, so he's
off the list at least for now.
These are the newest subscribers:
Marsha Cummings <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!mcumming>,
Nancy Frost <$NEF%[email protected]>,
Bob Nilson <ihnp4!mb2c!ccd700!ccd670!nilson>
Welcome, all of you. Enjoy!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1986 09:50 -
From: Martin L. Levin <SOC%[email protected]>
Subject: Introduction (Hunting)
As a new subscriber, I thought I should describe my
equestrian involvement and that of my wife's. I ride to
hounds and am the Master of the Shakerag Hounds which is the
recognized hunt in Atlanta. In fact, I am one of those
people who ride to hunt. Just about the only time I do ride
is when we are hunting or training hounds. Fortunately for
me, my wife Sherry is a professional horseperson. We (she)
has a 34 stall boarding and training center about 100 yards
from the kennels specializing in dressage, combined training
and, of course, foxhunting. She uses my hunters in the
lesson program which keeps them fit and probably better
trained than I would. The name of her establishment is
Ninebarks Stables Riding Center and it is located on the
northern side of Atlanta. Most of horses are thoroughbreds,
but we also have several quarter horses and occasionally a
warmblood and/or cross-bred.
Since we are located on the hunt country, we have plenty of
trails where we can get the horses legged-up and, since we
built our home on the property about three years ago, I have
discovered the definition of true luxury. It is hacking to
the hunt, having a real whiz-banger, hacking home, handing
your horse to one of the working students to walk-out and
put-up, and going to the house for a nap.
--------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 86 14:20:57 EDT
From: Maureen Donovan <[email protected]>
Subject: riding lessons
Hi,
I have a 10 year old niece who just loves horses and is interested in
learning to ride. She lives in the Groton area and I would like to take
her to a reputable place for a chance to ride. If she still seems as
anxious to ride then as she appears now I'd be interested in having her
take a couple of lessons on me and then possibly her parents would step
in and continue the lessons there.
I am interested in your advice in the area of reputable 'ranches' with
caring teachers.
Thanks,
Maureen
--------------------
Return-Path: <lll-crg!csu-cs!carol>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 86 13:07:21 MDT
From: [email protected] (Carol Taylor)
Subject: Re: "What kind of horse ... ?"
Here are some more comments about buying that first horse that I feel
must be said.
In the last digest Carl Deitrick expounded on his views regarding
purchasing the "first horse". While I realize that this subject has been
explored to death, I couldn't let this one go by without adding some of my
own biased views. I agree somewhat with Carl that horses should be judged
on their own individual merits rather than by breed. But he goes on to
emphasize that breed should not even be considered in selecting a horse
except for size. Sorry, Carl, but I can't agree. Lets discuss why people
advocate against the "hotter" breeds like Arabs and TB's for novice riders.
Unlike different races of people who are free to choose their mates and are
not selectively matched for certain traits, horse breeds and other domestic
animals have been selectively bred for hundreds of years. Thus, Arabians
were originally bred for intelligence, stamina, hardiness and speed. Today,
they are unfortunately bred for looks, even above ability. Temperment (defined
as calmness, easy to work with, and steadiness) has not been emphasized.
Arabs tend to be more tempermental, and flighty than some other horse breeds
as well as more intelligent which adds it's own training problems. I am
speaking from experience since I own one and have worked with lots of others.
Likewise, TB's have been intensively bred for speed and athletic ability while
temperment and intelligence have NOT been emphasized. TB's have a tendency to
have a lot of GO without the brains to temper it, plus some of the quirkiest
natures that I have seen. I could go on (probably forever) about other
characteristics in horse breeds that make them more likely "first horse"
candidates, but that could take a long time. In my 18 years of riding
and working with my own and others' horses, I would say that the individual
horse is the more important factor in buying a horse, but breed plays an
important part in the selection process which becomes an even more important
factor depending on how specific is the horses intended use. A hefty quarter
horse makes a poor endurance prospect but an excellent roping horse, just as
a percheron will likely make a poor world-class open jumper ... need I say
more?
--------------------
Subject: The Compleat Equestrian
Date: 21 Jul 86 18:53:44 EDT (Mon)
From: [email protected]
[List coordinator's note: This article appeared on the local Dave Barry
mailing list, which is coordinated by Dave Mankins <[email protected]>.
I'm reprinting it here for its obvious relevance.]
The inside track: One of these days, the
Horses will wise up
By Dave Barry
I am well-qualified to write about horses. I was on one once. It was a
rental horse in the Rocky Mountains. The arrangement is that you pay them
money, and they let you sit on their horse for a while. It was my wife's
idea.
So I sat on the horse for about an hour. I can't really say I rode it,
it didn't go anywhere. It just stood there with me on its back and the
Rocky Mountains rising majestically around us and ate and went to the
bathroom. It was better than I expected. I expected to be killed.
The way I see it, you're taking a huge chance when you sit on a horse,
because usually the horse is much bigger than you. Sooner or later, horses
are going to figure this out. All it will take is one smart horse, who
will ask the others: "Why the hell should we let them sit on us? We're
bigger than they are. Next time they try to sit on us, let's sit on them."
Now that I've established my credentials, let's look at the horse-racing
scene. The big news is that no horse will win racing's coveted Triple
Crown this year.
Actually, there is no crown. And even if there were, no horse would be
stupid enough to covet it. Horses refuse to do stupid things. No horse,
for example, has ever bought a lawn ornament.
For a while, it appeared that a girl horse might win the Triple Crown.
("Girl" is, of course, the technical term we horse experts us to refer to
girl horses. Other kinds of horses are "drakes," "chestnuts," "boy horses,"
"heifers," "very small horses," "studs," and "geldings." You should avoid
geldings, because they are most likely to want to kill people.)
Anyway, this girl horse, Large Risk, won the Kentucky Derby, which is the
first jewel in racing's coveted and nonexistent Triple Crown. The Kentucky
Derby is the high point of the year of Kentucky, a state not known for,
say, museums. The actual race takes two minutes. The television
production takes an hour and a half, and usually sets a standard for
time-killing drivel matched only by the Miss America Pageant and the
Academy Awards:
And so the excitement here is mounting at Churchill Downs, as it has been
ever since we went on the air, which seems like about 1956, and speaking of
1956, stay tuned because just as soon as we run eight or ten commercials,
we plan to show every Derby ever run, followed by slow-motion films of this
year's entrants being born and a musical tribute to the mint julep.
One of these years they're going to forget to show the actual race.
Large Risk lost the next Triple Crown race, the Preakness, because a person
sitting on one of the other horses hit her with a stick. The person sitting
on Large Risk protested, but the officials decided that since he had also been
hitting her with a stick, he had no right to complain.
The next big race, the Belmont, takes place in New York, and like everything
else in New York, including the weather, is probably fixed. Nonetheless,
you may want to bet on it especially if you have mush for brains.
You should get a racing form. Racing forms list the horses running in each
race, along with letters and numbers:
1 FULL BLADDER
RPM34-98TNT If 4:45
5:631IBM$$!7896hike
This appears to be gibberish, but race-track regulars study each number and
letter intently. This is because race-track regulars are deranged sickos
who get their kicks watching little guys sit on horses and hit them with
sticks. Of course the letters and numbers are gibberish.
From The Cheyenne Edition 07/11/86
--------------------
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 86 15:34:30 CDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Gelding Cleaning
Here's a question you'll never see addressed in Practical Horseman: How do
I induce a gelding to drop his penis so I can clean his sheath?
The first time I cleaned a horse's sheath the woman running the barn gave
the horse a shot of tranquilizer to make him relax and let down. For a
variety of reasons I've not had to clean a horse's sheath in probably four
years. My situation recently changed (see footnote) and now it's time to do
it myself. I don't want to use a tranquilizer, which didn't work that well
anyway, but I want to do a thorough job. Any advice will be welcome.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
>From November 83 until the end of June 86, I had the horse at a trainer's
barn. The trainer's vet would clean the horse's sheath during one of the
twice-yearly tune ups. I now have the horse at a boarding stable and some
of the services that were done automatically I now have to do for myself.
If you've been thinking of working with Jurgen Gohler, send me mail. I may
be able to save you some grief.
--------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 86 06:16:37 cdt
From: Cathy Modica <[email protected]>
Subject: Intro ... Cathy Modica
A (few) word(s) of introduction.
I'm Cathy Modica and I work as a Telephony System Engineer
for Rockwell International on their Common Carrier Switch.
I have been riding for 26 years having started out in the
take lessons once a week mode because that's all Mom and
Dad said I could do. When you're a kid you don't complain
too much as long as you can go to the stable and come home
smelling like one "smell the health".
I began at a stable called Idle Hour which was owned by the
infamous Sy Jayne, but that was well before the Jayne family
feud began. I will admit that when things began to heat up
(.i.e the TriColor Stable car bombing)
my family moved to anther suburb and I changed stables (how
convenient). That's when I started riding at a stable called
Coach House Farms. A very nice H/J barn. Again it was the
once a week lessons. After about a year there I was invited
to train with their show team. What a great way to learn, it
was a 2 hour group lesson and I got to ride the owners' (Mike
McGuinn's) horses for those lessons since not many of the
school horses were capable of the nitty gritty stuff because
they had hard mouthes (wonder why :-)?). At the same time I
got involved with the high school riding club and rode with
them once a week also. Well, the barn they rode at was not
a very high caliber barn, and when the owners of that barn
found out that I was training at Coach House they let me
ride anything and everything that came into that place. What
an experience. The horses I rode there were anything but trained.
But with 10 yrs riding experience behind me I had a riot of
a time and learned how to teach horses how to do everything from
steer to jump.
I had a 4 yr. break while I went to school at Iowa State U.
Originally intending to be a vet, I ended up making the decision
to be able to afford my hobby rather than work with it. I
graduated with a BS in CS and a minor in An-Sci (mostly horse
courses of course !).
After graduation (2 weeks) I bought my first horse, a barely 3 yr old
TB mare, a "silly filly". At the time she only knew fast forward
and full stop. I trained her myself on my 13 yrs of misc. lesson
experience. I also took horse health courses so I could handle
most situations which would crop up. Well, my training paid off
and we did very well on the H/J A-circuit. But that got old and
political, also I wasn't happy the way they turned out the 30-day
wonders. I was taught in the old school where a good horse was
well trained and went on a snaffle not a twisted wire or bicycle
chain. Sooo I switched over to Eventing something not too popular
when I switched. We did OK, but the dressage was lacking, hence
another switch to dressage. Finally I found the old school of thought,
trained horses going nicely on snaffles. Again at the time of
my switch most people didn't even know what dressage was, let alone
have the high powered horses that they have today. We did
very well the year I campaigned my horse ending up 2nd in the
IDA (Ill. Dressage Assoc.) at the training level.
I don't remember why I stopped show I don't think it was a real
decision on my part, I think I just burned out. It's many years
later now and my horse is old, actually I just sold her to some
very wonderful people as a brood mare. They love her dearly and
are busy figuring out when and who to breed her to. I can still
go and ride whenever I want, what a sweet deal. I imagine that
some time in the future I will get another or better yet, one of
her babies!
Sorry this intro got soo long but my fingers got carried away.
I do have one question though, what does anyone
know about the minature horses ? They look so
cute ! How are their tempers, how much do they
cost ? .......
I'm looking forward to reading all this great horsey news !!!!
'.
/ |
/ ` Cathy Modica
/ / `
/ ( 0 `
/ ` `
/ ` | (`
`_(__/
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.38 | issue 35 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Tue Aug 19 1986 17:50 | 356 |
| DEC folks, reply to: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Equestrian Digest Thu 14 Aug 1986 Issue 35
Today's Topics:
Subscribers
article submission
Still Here, Still Interested
Horse-request
BITNET mail follows
HORSE FOR SALE
Horse at Home
It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 86 22:22:50 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: Subscribers
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
STella Calvert now has her own account:
STella Calvert <decvax!frog!sc>.
Dave Bremer doesn't, but through the courtesy of Steve Rooney he's
one of our five newest subscribers:
Dave Bremer c/o Steve Rooney <[email protected]>,
John Brun <[email protected]>,
Emily Bryant <emilyb%[email protected]>,
Carlyn Lowery <[email protected]>,
Ton van den Bogert <wwdonic%[email protected]>,
Two of these people are at European sites, and we look forward to hearing
more from them about the equestrian scene in Europe.
Take care!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 86 11:31:15 cdt
From: [email protected] (Ron Morgan)
Subject: article submission
Howdy. I'm Ron Morgan, a graduate student at the University of Texas. My riding
experience consists of about 2 years of lessons oriented toward training for
the Western Riding and Western Pleasure class, earning a few extra bucks for
riding other people's horses to "keep them in shape," and about 5 years'
experience as a custom saddlemaker. I think it's great that we have this
group; it's a real experience to ask one of my colleagues if they "ride," and
get an answer like "no, I'm not a cowboy" (-;
First of all, I'd be glad to discuss anything related to saddles and saddle-
making on here (western saddles, that is). If you have any questions, problems,
etc. regarding saddles, I will look forward to discussing them. The person
who taught me the trade was a fourth-generation saddlemaker, specializing in
making practically indestructible working saddles, like 50-pound full double
rigs you could rope bulls with.
A few comments for the poster who was looking for a good riding instructor for
their daughter... I would certainly look for one with a lot of English
experience, especially equitation. One good "test" is to ask how they cue a
horse to change leads: if they do it by reining to the outside, find somebody
else. I'd also look for one with some formal training in horsemanship, such as
a 4-year degree from a riding college.
Regarding the "first horse":
One variable here is the competence of the rider. A horse, as you know, tends
to "come down" to the skill level of the rider. A champion show horse will per-
form like a kludge when ridden by a kludgy rider, so if this is the case, it
not a good idea to get a "top horse" for a first-timer. On the other hand, if
the rider has some experience and skill, a better horse is called for. Better
yet, get him or her an *untrained* horse, say, a halter-broke yearling, and
let the rider train it. There were some good comments there about Arabs being
"temperamental." Having spent a *lot* of time amongst western folks, I can say
that this perception of Arabs is quite common, especially among western-style
riders who are more likely to use forceful methods in training. There's a
definite link, in my opinion, between the Arab's intelligence and his tempera-
ment, and this doesn't go well with hard spurring, quick-training techniques
used by many western trainers. For example, there's a couple of guys near
Austin who claim that they can take an unbroke 2-year-old and turn out a
"started roping horse" in *TWO DAYS*. I'd like to see them try that with an
Arab! Likewise, I've been to cutting horse shows where I could hear the impact
of spurs on the horses side *all the way up in the bleachers*. An Arab is
simply too intelligent to put up with it. He's gonna say, "listen, buddy, if
you hurt me one more time, I'm gonna kick your ass," and then he'll *DO IT* and
the rider will undoubtedly wander off muttering about how "hot-tempered" Arabs
are. I think an Arab can indeed make a good "first horse," IF he is not actually
hot-tempered, and IF the rider understands and respects the Arab's mentality.
He should find the Arab to be a friendly, eager, energetic partner.
Well, like the race horse said, "I gotta run." Adios amigos!
Ron Morgan
--
osmigo1, UTexas Computation Center, Austin, Texas 78712
ARPA: [email protected]
UUCP: ihnp4!ut-ngp!osmigo1 allegra!ut-ngp!osmigo1 gatech!ut-ngp!osmigo1
seismo!ut-sally!ut-ngp!osmigo1 harvard!ut-sally!ut-ngp!osmigo1
--------------------
From: frog!sc%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 86 03:34:54 edt
Subject: Still Here, Still Interested
wjr (aka Bill) and I went to our first show-jumping yesterday (earlier
today....), the Mount Attatash Equine Classic (seriously considered
carrying a "looking for equine digest readers" sign, but woke too late
to make one.
I have a couple of questions....
There was a rider (I'm deliberately forgetting her name) on a horse I
recognize from ESPN coverage, Amadia. Probably because of the slop
underfoot, Amadia refused a jump. From where I was sitting, it looked
like the rider lost her shit -- flailing away with her whip, yanking
the horse's head around, and mistreating (it seemed to me) a horse
that I've seen as a willing (and safe) performer. Didn't look like
the rider was _communicating_ with the horse, looked like a temper
tantrum.
If anyone else saw that, was I jumping to conclusions (_did_ Amadia
deserve it?) and, is there a generally accepted way of hissing the
rider (I bit my tongue and didn't bellow "shame" but _wanted_ to,
rather a bunch!).
In the same event, the announcer introduced a horse as "Craven V",
though the program gave the name as Craxen V. As wjr said, "Craven" is
a remarkably "bad-magick" name for a jumper. So to distract ourselves
from the joys of getting rained on (8-(), we started trying to think
of really inappropriate names for horses. Here's our list, so far,
and I'd love some more knowledgeable people to add to it.
All Fall Down
Break a Leg
Chagrin Falls
Four Faults
Knockdown
and
Refusal
We enjoyed our first Grandprix, but hope it's somewhat _drier_ next
month. If nothing else, it takes some getting used to, when you expect
horses to go "thudiwhump thudiwhump" but they go "squelshoop
squelshoop" -- kind of like Indy cars with _mufflers_.
I live in the Boston area, horseback riding (at rentahorse stables)
was the only form of outdoor exercise I _ever_ enjoyed enough to do it
_enough_, and I haven't done it for the last eighty pounds. So, are
there any special considerations for fat riders -- like "ride
Clydesdales", or "forget it, lardbottom, you'll turn a good horse into
a hammock!" If you have a recommendation for a specific place, that
should probably come by email, but general discussion might go to the
digest.
STella Calvert
Love is the law, love under will!
Guest Account: {cybvax0!decvax}!frog!sc
--------------------
From: zepp%[email protected]
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 86 10:32:18 -0100
Subject: Horse-request
Dear Ken
Please put me on the mailing list concerning equestrian matters.
We ourselves have 2 horses and use them both for dressage and jumping.
All articles will be studied with great interest.
Thanks in advance
[email protected] (John Brun)
--------------------
Date: 7 AUG 86 14:22-N
From: WWDONIC%[email protected]
Subject: BITNET mail follows
I would like to be added to the HORSE mailing list.
Ton van den Bogert
Department of Veterinary Anatomy,
University of Utrecht,
P.O. Box 80157
NL-3508 TD Utrecht,
The Netherlands.
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: 11 Aug 1986 11:02 EDT
Subject: HORSE FOR SALE
I'm mailing this for a member of the ATT equestrian club.
For more information call Sue or send me Email.
-Beth Eades
ihnp4!mtgzz!eme
HORSE FOR SALE
1986 thoroughbred/quarter horse colt, foaled 3/17/86
Paid up for the October NJBHA (NJ bred hunters association)
futurity, registered as a NJBH and eligible to be
registered as a quarter horse.
Asking $3,000 (willing to sell prior to futurity)
More details on request.
Sue Watkins 364-3031 (eve) or (mhuxd!refer)
--------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 86 10:55:12 PDT
From: <[email protected]>
Subject: Horse at Home
It's been a long time since I last (=first!) wrote, so I thought
I'd take advantage of a slow Monday to write to my horsey friends
once again.
A year ago June my office moved from downtown San Francisco to the
suburbs and I qualified for relocation benefits. So I figured I buy
a house closer to where I have my horse boarded (about 40 minutes
drive from SF and also about 40 minutes drive from the new office).
I lucked out. I was able not just to find a decent home near the stables,
but rather a decent (but modest) home on some horse property. I have
a half-acre with a 3 stall barn and 1/3 acre pasture. The property
backs onto the California state trail, which is eventually supposed
to be an unbroken trail the length of the state. About a half a mile
down the trail I have an open space, probably a several hundred acres
of "golden hills" (that's Californese for nearly treeless hills
covered with dead brown grass, mainly foxtails, thistles, etc.)
criss-crossed with firetrails.
Zoning regulations limit me to two large "companion" animals, but
if I wanted more none of the neighbors would complain. Besides,
I can't afford to feed another beast right now.
Oriana (my 4 year old Quarter mare) seems a little lonely. There's
a horse next door, but they hardly pay attention to each other. And
the goat on the other side does not seem to be interested in horses.
I thought Oriana would just exercise her heart out with a third acre
to herself, but noooo. Here I go spend my life's savings and commit a
good deal of my income for the next thirty years on a pasture of her own,
and she just stands there. I've been very busy trying to fix up the
place and haven't had much time to ride her, but at least she will
play tag (I'm always "it") if I get in the pasture with her.
She seemed to act cold towards me the first few days (Could a horse
feel anger for being taken away from its home?) but the past few
days she's gotten *very* affectionate. I wish I could afford to
get her a pet to play with.
She doesn't care much for the barn - a think she's frightened of the
new sounds, e.g. the black walnuts that drop onto the metal roof -
and will only come in the barn to eat or drink. That's good because
it cuts down on shavings, but bad because she's caught a cough I think
from being out in the chilly night air.
Fortunately the earth is fairly sandy, unlike the typical adobe in the
region that turns to foot deep muck in the rainy season and sucks the
horseshoes off galloping horses. The pasture is about 80 x 100, just
small enough that she is forced to learn how to do a collected lope.
It's just a little too uneven to train here on, and I will eventually try
to level it out, even though it is a bit slopped. Too small for barrel
racing, but not for western pleasure and reining.
I live alone and it will be quite a burden to always be home at 6am and 6pm
to feed her. Does anybody know much about automatic feeders?
I expect it will cost me about $85/month to keep her. How do the following
figures compare with those in other parts of the country:
Ration Item cost Yearly cost
1 flake alfalfa/day 14/flakes per $8 bale $210
1 flake oat hay/day 12/flakes per $7 bale 210
1 lb vitamins/day 50 lb per $12.95 bag 100
(Vitality Milk Plus)
3 lb corn and oats/day 75 lb per $9.50 bag 140
(Nutrena 2 in 1)
1 bale shavings/week $5.85 per bale 310
1 mineral per quarter $3.75 15
total $985
or $82 per month
And this doesn't include medications, vet fees or fly spray.
Rob Bernardo, San Ramon, CA (415) 823-2417 {ihnp4|dual|qantel}!ptsfa!rob
--------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 86 21:59:49 EDT
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it ...
Regarding Carl's question about sheath washing:
Actually, The Chronicle of the Horse *did* address this issue some years ago
but I failed to save the article ... Anyway, I've had 5 geldings over the
years and am thus intimately acquainted with equine personal hygiene.
The first thing to remember about the segment of horse anatomy in
question: he can pull it up just as far as he can stick it out (which
is quite a ways!). Soooo ... if he won't let it down for you the thing
to do (and I got this from a veterinarian's lips) is to stick your arm
right up after it!! (Yes this means you're going to be in elbow deep
fishing for his kidneys ...)
But enough generalities -- to specifics: I recommend wearing thin
rubber surgical gloves -- equip yourself with a bucket of warm water, a
CLEAN sponge and a *mild* easy rinsing soap (I often use those liquid
soaps designed for bathing babies). Mix a bit of the soap into the
water and use the sponge to stuff the preparation up that dark little
tunnel. Now comes the fun part -- ram your arm up said tunnel (which is
now nicely lubricates with soap and water) and, using sponge and
fingers, start swabbing around. If you wear surgical gloves you will
have enough sensitivity to use your fingers to feel around the retracted
penis and pick out all the nasty crudlies. Just keep at it until tunnel
feels smooth and clean and you can find no more crudlies way up there around
(and in??) your buddy's weenie. The trickiest part of sheath cleaning
while the penis is mega-retracted is the rinse. It is handiest if you
can hook a hose to a WARM water supply and just stuff it up (low
pressure please), but if you can't you will need a clean bucket of warm
water and lots of patience to use the sponge repeatedly to rinse over
and over 'til the water runs out clean (and do please use *very* mild
soap and *not* cold water)
Also, Mr. Ed may not appreciate this invasion of his privacy, so a
helper to hold (and, if necessary, twitch) the critter is a good idea. Enjoy.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.39 | #36, 8-25-86 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Tue Aug 26 1986 19:08 | 491 |
| from DECnet, Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Equestrian Digest Mon 25 Aug 1986 Issue 36
Today's Topics:
New and Returned Subscribers
new subscriber from Europe
Re: new subscriber from Europe
Greetings from Denmark
the bit controversy
Article on Combined Training
Buying horses in Minnesota
Fixing Loading Problems
Re: Equestrian Digest
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 86 9:47:37 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: New and Returned Subscribers
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
Robin Crickman and John Hasler, who you may remember as previous subscribers
when they still had a U or Minnesota account, have brought their computer
into the world of UUCP connectivity, and are hence again subscribers:
Robin Crickman and John Hasler <caip!meccts!foundln!{robin,john}>.
We also have one new subscriber:
Leslie Kaelbling <[email protected]>.
Welcome, and welcome back.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: 15 AUG 86 14:43-N
From: WWDONIC%[email protected]
Subject: new subscriber from Europe
Hello! As a new subscriber, I would like to introduce myself to
you. My interest in horses is for the most part professional.
I do have quite a bit of riding experience, but I am not what
you would call a typical "horse-freak". Riding is however on
my hobbies, so I can understand what you are talking about.
At the moment I work at the department of Veterinary Anatomy on
a research project, trying to develop a computer model to describe
the movements of the horse mathematically. The idea is to construct
a "computer horse" out of simplified bones, joints and muscles.
If the model is sophisticated enough to simulate equine locomotion
successfully, all kinds of nasty experiments that you wouldn't
want to do on real horses (e.g. removing muscles to determine
which ones are important) can be done.
The simulations are performed by the program DADS (Dynamic Analysis
and Design System) developed at the department of mechanical
engineering of the University of Iowa. The program has been
modified by me to allow modelling of muscles.
Only recently did I discover the possibilities of electronic mail
(Europe is always a few years behind, you know), and I expect to
contact a few people who share an interest in horses and computers.
Let's hear from you if anybody is interested. The simulation work
is going very nicely, and for those who have a color graphics terminal
(tek4107, VT600 or compatible) connected to a VAX/VMS system a demo
of animated graphics from a simulated movement is available.
Finally a few words about the equestrian scene in Europe. The
large jumping tournaments (world championship, world cup) have
during the last years been dominated by the US and Canada
(and often using European horses). People here are really
worrying about that and trying to understand the causes.
In Holland, it is often thought that we should not sell our
best horses to America. My opinion is that the riders should
learn to ride better instead of blaming the horses (I like
the american style of jumping better, it all seems so easy).
Does any of you have an idea why the North-Americans are so
much better ? Next sunday I will visit a large international
jumping/dressage tournament at Rotterdam. I expect to tell
you about my experiences there.
Goodbye,
Ton van den Bogert ( [email protected] )
Department of Veterinary Anatomy,
University of Utrecht,
Utrecht, Netherlands.
--------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 86 9:53:41 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: new subscriber from Europe
I can't anticipate the rest of your reactions, but I was pretty excited
to read in the preceding message about the work Ton is doing. I was
so interested I sent a message to him right away and asked for his
demonstration picture, certain I could scrape up the appropriate resources
to view it somewhere around here.
I haven't been able to coordinate everything and bring the picture up on
a screen yet, but I have the source and a coded image for the demo. If
anyone else thinks they can locate the necessary resources and would like
a copy of the demo, they should contact me. I would be happy to redistribute
what Ton sent me in order to spare the transatlantic Bitnet link additional
traffic. Just drop a line to horse-request if you're interested.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Return-Path: <mcvax!olamb!zepp>
From: [email protected]
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 86 13:30:09 -0100
Subject: Greetings from Denmark
I received your mail and the sample digest a little over a week ago.
I'm sorry that I couldn't find time to answer a little earlier.
Yes, you are absolutely correct, I'm sitting on a machine in Copenhagen
Denmark. Not bad to be a Dane for the time beeing, since we won the world
championship in dressage last week-end. We have seen Anne-Grethe Jensen
and Marzog in a lot of shows, but we never saw her ride so precisely and
in perfect balance with the horse. What a great luck that the video is
invented.
I'm preparing my first article on the Equestrian digest, not to long I
promise, but I don't think I can finish it before next week.
I have a timid hope that my english is understandable to you fellows over
there on the other side of the small lake.
Zepp. (John Brun, Denmark)
--------------------
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 86 12:45 EDT
From: <PUY%[email protected]>
Subject: the bit controversy
Seeing as the group's article traffic has slown up a bit, I
thought that it would be good to stir up a little lively discussion
about the uses/abuses of snaffle bits. To be fair, I'll begin by stating
my prejudices and how they formed. My second horse was a notorious
runaway, so i started out riding him outside the ring using draw reins
on a snaffle. After some experimenting, I discovered that he went well
on a "walking horse bit"; I rode stock seat at the time and "open
reined". Eventually, after a couple of years of working with him every
day, I could ride him in a group of horses on the trail with a halter
and lead rope. I noticed that the hunter/jumper types used snaffles
exclusively, and I saw a lot of gaping mouths, head pulling
and runaway horses.
Now I'm on horse number three. Knowing that my arab will bolt, i've
been working him with a pelham and a bit converter.
Most of the time he is accepting the bit, on a good day he gets on the
bit for short periods. I want to begin some dressage work, and
i know that for the lower level work the snaffle is the bit which is
supposed to be used. (I've been reading the dressage books by Padhojsky,
and "mary twelveponies everyday training book".) Does the effectiveness
of a snaffle depend on the noseband (flash vs dropped, etc)? The "english"
riders in NJ usually used a hunting snaffle bridle, with the plain noseband
way up high on the face. Anytime i ever rode a horse with a snaffle, I
felt like my arms were going to be pulled off.
To add to my fundamental conerns about snaffles, I noticed that there are
spiked nosebands and twisted wire snaffles. These can't be any better
than spade bits or wire tie-downs around the nose.
Another case is my friend's 28-going-on-8 yr old saddlebred, who
is impossible (read dangerous) to ride with a snaffle, but he becomes
responsive under a pelham ( 2 1/2" shanks), and like my arab, he goes
forward well with no gaping mouth or head tossing.
Anyway, I guess I've yet to be convinced of the merits of snaffles,
and I'm continuing to use my pelham until I can figure out a way
get my charge to go SAFELY on a snaffle (I've yet to have a horse
run off with me on a curb bit). Besides, our snaffle collection
hanging up with the bridles is really decorative....
Happy Trails, =====
/ \
|`--// _ ._
/ \\\ \ \._
./ \\\ / / /\
\ 0 \ \/ \\
/ ) \/ \
/ _ - \ / \/\
/ _/ \ /
\*_ ) \
Eileen Perry
Dept. of Agronomy PUY @ PSUVM (bitnet)
312 Tyson Bldg. ...!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!puy (uucp <-->
Penn State University bitnet gateway)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA 16802 PUY%[email protected] (ARPA)
(814) 863-0129
--------------------
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 86 9:47:16 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Article on Combined Training
Julie Moore gave me a copy of a very interesting article from the USCTA
(United States Combined Training Association) News, forwarded to her
by a friend of hers. It is written by the Eileen Thomas, Executive Director
of the USCTA, and it examines and addresses the growing concern over the
humane treatment of horses in eventing.
Although there are some rather startling observations in the article, it
is both remarkable and encouraging to see such a highly placed supporter
of CT discuss the issue so bluntly.
I am willing to send copies of this article to anybody who asks. Send
me electronic mail to me if you want one. You will be especially
interested if you are involved in eventing.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
From: foundln!robin%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 86 02:31:12 edt
Subject: Buying horses in Minnesota
(Ken, this is our reintroductory contribution to the Digest. Robin)
Time to reintroduce ourselves and bring our old friends up to date.
John Hasler and Robin Crickman live in a Victorian house near downtown
Minneapolis. We took up riding as a serious activity after trying pony
trekking while on a vacation in May of 1985 in Britian. On returned
home, we started riding regularly at a local stable. Last Christmas
we began taking riding lessons, but found we needed to ride more often
than once a week. We advertised for part-time horse leases (and asked
on net.rec if anyone knew about same, which is how we "met" the
perpetrators of the equestrian.digest) and met a women who wanted her
aged mares exercised. This was satisfactory until one mare went lame
and the other was sent to the country to bear her foal.
We sought another horse to lease, but had little luck. We did,
however, find a very nice boarding farm which charged a very modest
$65 per month for pasture care. They have 200 acres, several
pastures, grow their own corn and hay, and have both outdoor and
indoor riding areas. They also have a barn with box stalls which is
mostly empty (they only pasture board) but is available when a horse
needs special medical care. We already knew from Kathy (the aged
mares' owner) that the local horse market is severely depressed. We
had gone to auctions where ponies were going for $25, foals for $35
and thoroughbred mares for $500. We decided that given the economics
of the current horse market and the fact that the boarding farm would
give any horses we might buy a decent home, we ought to consider
buying.
So, with six months of lessons and about a year of riding
experience behind us, plus a promise of help from our knowledgeable
friend and a place to house our purchases, we went in search of
horses. We decided we would not buy horses at auction. We set a limit
of about $500 for purchase. We wanted fully mature horses who were
well-trained. Breed, color, sex (except stallion) and size were of
little importance. We read the local newspaper, visited dealers,
checked bulletin boards in tack shops and stables, told our horsey
friends, and read the Stable Sheet (a midwestern magazine advertising
horses for sale) every month. We got very good at interviewing horse
sellers over the telephone. We even developed a database of
information about prospects (well, what do you expect of people on the
net?).
We set up a notebook of information about prospects and took it with
us whenever we went to horse events (actually, whenever we went out).
We were at a combined event show watching the jumping one afternoon.
It ended around 3 PM and we found ourselves in the northwestern
suburbs of Minneapolis. We checked our book to see if any of our
horse prospects were in that area. There was a lackluster description
from the newspaper of a 12 year old Appalousa gelding, 15h3 nearby.
We called and got permission to see him. Remember, we had just spent
the afternoon watching some very beautiful (and expensive) eventing
horses do their thing. To our surprise, we were impressed by this
horse. He was flabby, but big and strong. His manners were quiet, his
movements quite fluid. While he had been used as a western trail
horse, he had been ridden on a snaffle. It turned out that he was
actually only 11 years old and fully 15h3 or maybe 16h. This was the
first time we had met an owner who did not represent his horse as
either bigger than actual fact or younger or both.
We returned for a second look equipped with a camera and took pictures
because Kathy was home with flu. John discussed price and got a
reduction if the horse was sold without saddle. Further, the owner
promised to deliver the horse to his new home at no extra charge. The
name of the vet and farrier were obtained and both were consulted
about the horse. John bought him for $650 and we spent the following
Sunday at the boarding farm with John's new horse. We discovered that
he has a neigh that can shake the house down, trailers beautifully,
and has very good ground manners.
We watched carefully the first day to be sure that Toncho was drinking
the water because we had heard several stories of horses who came to
grief after being moved because they didn't get enough water. He was
placed in a box stall the first day. The second day he went into the
riding ring. It had short grass growing in it. He was provided with
company in the form of the farm owner's miniature stallion. It was an
amusing sight, the large App gelding and the mini stallion, but they
became good friends. He was shown the herd that evening (all 40 or so
of them) and got out on grass for just a couple of hours the third
day. He worked his way up gradually until he stayed out with the herd
all the time. This was necessary because Toncho had previously been
living on about 2 acres with two other geldings eating only a bit of
grass and a daily hay ration. He has made a very good transition in
the month he has been at his new home. His only problem is a kick
injury to his leg which caused some swelling and lameness. He now
hangs out with a couple of mares who defend him from the herd bullies.
Finding a horse suitable for Robin was more of a problem. John is a
better rider and while Toncho is well-mannered, I wouldn't try to
handle him. I looked at several horses, but they were either too
spirited, too poorly trained, too young, unsound or too expensive. I
saw an ad in the newspaper for a quarterhorse and went to see him.
The woman was moving to another state. He wasn't for me but the
woman's husband had a grade horse which I liked. The man wanted about
twice as much as I considered reasonable. I asked Kathy about the
horse and she told me he was a good animal, probably the result of a
grade mare and a racing quarterhorse stallion. He looks somewhat
thoroughbred and somewhat quarterhorse. He was a little big at 15h2
(I'm only 5 ft tall), but he didn't act as flighty as some of the
horses I had looked at. I called back to talk further and was told
that an offer had been made for this horse. That deal fell through,
and I was back in the running. I asked to talk to the farrier who
worked on the horse because he has a serious sand crack on his off
forefoot (a quarter crack). The farrier assured me the crack was
trivial. I offered $400 that afternoon, about half what the seller
had asked for the horse. It was accepted the next morning.
My horse was at a boarding stable just 5 miles from the place where
John and I had decided to keep our horses. I spent the next day
working "Imp", giving him his worming paste, walking him and generally
getting to know him. He had more tricks than I suspected, but still
seemed like a nice animal. I intended to ride him the five miles from his
current stable to Tara Farm. I had checked that he went well on roads
and had found a set of quiet roads to use as a route. I mentioned my
intention to Carolyn, the owner of Tara Farm and she offered to come
with her trailer and get him. So, I put him in the paddock next to the barn
and went to meet Carolyn.
When I came back with Carolyn, I found my horse in his stall. I
thought that was strange, but figured the staff didn't want him in the
paddock for some reason. Then another boarder told me he had jumped
the paddock fence twice during the 20 minutes he had been left there.
That fence was 4 to 4.5 foot high. Moreover, the grooms mentioned
that he had jumped the fence before. He didn't run anywhere, just
jumped out to get to greener grass. Well, I guess I bought a jumper.
I always wanted a jumper. Then we tried to get him into the trailer.
No way. He reared, he kicked, he fought it all the way. I didn't
want him to get hurt, so I rode him home. He arrived at his new home
nicely tired, glad to get into a box stall, glad for a bucket of
water, glad for a rest. He hasn't jumped any fences except the ones
I've asked him to go over since getting to his new home. Of course,
he is usually on the same side as the grass, so there isn't any
incentive. Bad trailer manners are a problem, but I am hoping that I
can cure him with time and training. Suggestions are welcome on how
to do it. Just now I am working on teaching longing. My "Imp"
(Impressive Earthtone) is an 8 year old baby who never learned to
longe. He's getting the idea, but its slow. He is a bit clumsy and
doesn't want to trot around in small circles.
I guess we have done reasonably well. Both horses are good animals
with only minimal problems. I think that I would ask for a
demonstration of trailer manners before buying another horse, and
probably ask the seller to longe the horse for me (not to see gaits,
but to see that the horse does longe). We did get both our horses for
$1050, only a bit more than the $1000 we intended to spend. While
horse markets surely vary among metropolitan areas, I think that
careful shopping can find a good bargain anywhere. (I didn't even
tell you how Kathy ended up buying a TB and a Trak broodmare for about
what John and I paid for our riding horses.) If you can find a good
horse owned by someone who is strongly motivated to sell it and you
are willing to bargain for it (with the possibility that you won't get
that particular horse), you can find a good buy. Anybody want to add
other stories about buying their first horse?
Robin Crickman
...caip!meccts!foundln!robin
--------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 86 11:34:07 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Fixing Loading Problems
Regarding the problems that Robin is encountering loading Imp:
I got some expert advice on the subject a while ago -- a friend of ours,
Chip Fisher, is the fellow behind Blue Chip Horse Transporation here in
Massachusetts. A specialty of theirs is shipping the hard-to-ship horse.
In periods of scant shipping business, they have been known to give
loading lessons to people having trouble getting their horses on the
trailer. So I believe I was hearing the voice of experience when I talked
to Chip about what to do when a horse doesn't load. The following is my
(perhaps inadequate) regurgitation of what he told me.
One thing Chip has been known to say is that the horse that doesn't load
doesn't lead, and vice versa. In solving any loading problem, you must
nail down the underlying problem of getting the horse to move forward when
you ask him to.
Horses that don't lead/load tend to fall into two general categories:
one is the "foot planter," the horse that just stops dead and refuses
to move forward. The general procedure in solving this horse's problem
entails two people. One holds the lead and coaxes the horse forward,
the good guy. Nothing but positive encouragement must ever come from this
person. No jerking on the chain of the shank or anything like that, for
this would prompt the horse to jump back. The person in the front coaxes
the horse forward, praises when the horse moves. If the horse stops, he
should be met by immediate nagging from the "bad guy," the person behind the
horse who reprimands for refusal to move. This person begins with clucking
and little slaps on the horse's behind. This checking stops immediately
whenever the horse moves forward again. Basically, every time the horse
moves forward, he gets praise from the person in front, and every time
he stops, he gets booted just enough from behind. The horse learns that
moving forward is good, while stopping meets with nagging pressure to move
forward. Depending on how obstinate and/or insensitive the horse is, the
"bad guy" can progress (VERY carefully and gradually) to nagging with a
broom, or next to the flat end of a shovel. You want to make sure you're
nagging enough to motivate, but not enough to frighten.
Imp's problems seem to fall into the other category, horses that don't
move forward because something is making them nervous. In a way, this
type of problem is harder to correct, because what you have to do is
get to the root of the fear, but it can be done. Is the horse frightened
of a partition that might swing into him? Of a ramp that he thinks is
going to slam up on his butt? Of a hay net that he thinks is going to
bash him in the face? Your horse may have in the past had some frightful
experience in a trailer, maybe he flipped over or something.
Anyway, do your best to pinpoint the source of the fear. If it's something
like fear of the small size of the trailer, perhaps moving the partition
over will make it look bigger and make the horse feel better. Alleviate
whatever scary objects you can, then slowly help the horse overcome the
fear. As with the foot planter, someone in the front should coax the horse
forward, but there shouldn't be a "bad guy" in back -- unlike the foot
planter, the frightened horse can't be herded. You simply have to reward
this horse for every movement forward, praise and a pocketful of sugar
lumps are the important equipment. Keep rewarding and comforting the
horse, and don't punish. It requires a huge mound of patience, but it
must be done if you ever want to haul the horse.
Good luck in solving the loading problems. As with other behaviour
problems in horses, we're hampered by not being able to communicate with
them. As Karen has suggested, what if some horses get motion sick? We
can take Dramamine, or decline to travel, but what of the horse? What if
you got sick whenever you got into a car, but were forced to get in anyway?
Be persistent, and be patient.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 86 13:06 PDT
From: Leslie Kaelbling <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Equestrian Digest
Ken,
I got your messages and the sample digests. It looks like this list
will be a lot of fun. I'm generally a reader, not a contributor, but I
do have one question for the list:
I've just begun to compete at training level dressage (I used to ride
western pleasure, trail, etc.), and I'd like to get some relevant
reading material. I'd appreciate any book or magazine recommendations
people have. I would especially like a book that has all of the AHSA
(and even FEI) tests in it.
Thanks,
Leslie Kaelbling
Kaelbling@sri-ai
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.40 | equestrian digest #37, 9-1-86 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Tue Sep 02 1986 12:19 | 383 |
| DEC people, Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
New readers, see introduction in notes 78 and 91.0.
Equestrian Digest Mon 1 Sep 1986 Issue 37
Today's Topics:
Address Changes and Simulation Demo
The First Horse
Fire in Norfolk
The fire, and dumb horse stories.
intro
beastiality and horses
Aroused Horses
Re: God invented Sexuality and Sex with animals
Re: The Bit Controversy
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 86 18:25:23 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: Address Changes and Simulation Demo
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
Two people have new addresses:
Mike Stalnaker <[email protected]>,
Pat Wilson <paw3c%[email protected]>
-or- <cbosgd!uvacs!krebs!paw3c>.
If anybody has access to a Tek 4107 or DEC VT640 terminal attached to
a VMS system and would like to view the demonstration picture
Ton van den Bogert mentioned in decribing his veterinary research in
the previous issue, please contact me and I will send you a hex coded
image and a program to bring it up.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Return-Path: <ihu1n!cbd>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 86 03:41:12 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: The First Horse
Ron Morgan writes:
> Regarding the "first horse":
> One variable here is the competence of the rider. A horse, as you
> know, tends to "come down" to the skill level of the rider. A champion
> show horse will per- form like a kludge when ridden by a kludgy rider,
> so if this is the case, it not a good idea to get a "top horse" for a
> first-timer. On the other hand, if the rider has some experience and
> skill, a better horse is called for. Better yet, get him or her an
> *untrained* horse, say, a halter-broke yearling, and let the rider
> train it.
Sorry, but I disagree. No person looking for his/her *first* horse has
enough skill to train a horse. Conversely, if the rider has enough skill to
train a horse, that person will not be looking for his/her *first* horse.
The best bet for a *first* horse is an aged gelding. A horse over ten years
old is the perfect creature to learn on because he knows enough that you
can learn from him and is generally calm enough that breed doesn't matter.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 86 13:26:03 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Fire in Norfolk
Mike refers in the article below to a fire I mentioned in private
correspondence. It was a barn fire this past Sunday night that killed
thirteen young thoroughbreds. For those not in the Boston area, this is
what happened:
One of the four barns at Hall's Stable in Norfolk, Massachusetts caught
fire Sunday night while its 82-year-old owner was out at dinner. He
returned to find the two-story building ablaze with 35 horses inside.
The 22 horse on the lower level were led away, but the 13 on the upper
level couldn't be moved.
"They go a little beserk and refuse to move out of their stalls," said the
owner. "The were all throroughbreds. Most were young horses about two
years old."
There had been suspicion that two youths had set the fire, but it now
appears to have been accidental.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 86 13:08:23 edt
From: Mike Stalnaker <[email protected]>
Subject: The fire, and dumb horse stories.
Sorry to hear about the fire. Any idea what caused it? Also, you asked
for an elborated version of the note I sent you, so here goes:
For my 12th birthday, my grandfather bought me a great beast of
a horse who we named Thunder. He was a yearling when we got him, and being
half Morgan and half Belgian, stood about 16h2. (At the time, we were using
him mostly for a work horse on my grandfather's farm, but he was also my
riding horse). Anyway, this animal wound up being one of the smartest I've
ever seen, and was very gentle with people. Because Thunder would shift his
weight under you to help with balance, it was almost impossible to fall off
of him, and the few times somebody did, he would stop dead, and wait for you
to climb back on. Then there was his half brother....
....Lightning was foaled from the same mare, (the Morgan) but had a saddlebred
for a sire. This horse was almost unrideable. My grandfather, who was a
blacksmith and had trained over 100 horses of his own in the course of 50 or
so years, said that lightning was the most difficult animal to work with he
had ever owned. I was staying at my grandparents for the summer, and had the
job of tending the horses every morning. This particular morning, I walk into
the barn, and there's Thunder, in his stall, just waiting for me. But Lightning
is no where to be found. His stall has been kicked open, but there's no way
he could get out of the barn. Well, I figured I go up into the hayloft and
get what I needed for the morning, and then figure out where he was. Up the
steps I go, and find myself staring at Lightning, who is standing in the middle
of the hayloft, munching away on whatever he could grab. Now this wouldn't be
so bad except for the fact that while he had 'up the steps' figured out real
well, down was another matter. I spent the rest of the day trying to rig a
block and tackle to the outside of the barn (thank god for the hoist pole!),
and make sure it would hold his weight. The next morning, we finally got a
sling around him, and lowered him down. This was made even more interesting
by the fact that he did NOT like having all four legs hanging in mid-air. My
Grandfather sold him the next week.
Mike Stalnaker
[email protected]
--------------------
Full-Name: Carlyn Lowery
Organization: The MITRE Corp., Washington, D.C.
Subject: intro
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 86 17:09:21 -0500
From: Carlyn Lowery <[email protected]>
Greetings from a new reader! I'm Carlyn Lowery, graduated from
the University of Pennsylvania a year ago and am now in the Navy.
I am currently riding English H/J at the Junior Equitation School
(JES) in Vienna, Virginia -- and have a bit less experience than
the majority of you all! I took lessons for a couple years while
I was in school, and have been riding at JES for a year. I love
to ride and have ambitions of one day owning a nice piece of land
with a horse or two, but that will be a number of years off.
Having never ridden for more than 3 hours at a time, I am looking
to go on a riding vacation this fall. Has anyone had any
experience with facilities on the East Coast? How about those
exotic, romantic-sounding trips in Europe? I have brochures from
the Mountain Trail Horse Center in Wellsboro, PA, and Firefly
Ranch in Bristol Vermont. As far as the exotic European trips, I
have info from Fits Equestrian and Claremont Riding Holidays.
I look forward to reading the Equestrian Digest and hope you all
have some ideas on vacations. Let me know what you think!
You can reply to me directly at "lowery at mitre.arpa".
Thanks.
Carlyn
--------------------
From: [email protected] (e.m.eades)
Newsgroups: net.singles,net.pets,net.rec.nude
Subject: beastiality and horses
Date: 25 Aug 86 23:31:00 GMT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
Awhile ago there was some discussion about horse and bestiality
and how was it possible for a person to arrouse a horse. Recently
I have noticed that beastiality is again under discussion in net.singles.
So I decided to post this reply I received to an earlier discussion.
I don't know if the people on net.rec.nude are interested or not
but since they were part of the original discussion I've included
them. I've also added net.pets. Sorry if someone gets this who
doesn't want it.
When I was younger and posed the question of how a woman had sex
with a horse, the answer given to me was that horses had a bone there.
Several people sent me mail telling me that that was incorrect.
Below is the best explaination I received.
-Beth Eades
PS. Thanks Sam for doing the research.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
From xanth!uvacs!stg Sat Aug 23 02:05:30 1986 remote from icase
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 86 16:24:06 edt
From: icase!xanth!uvacs!stg (Samuel T. Gregory)
Subject: Aroused Horses
Dear E. Eades,
Hi. This is in response to your posting in net.rec.nude and net.singles
about bones of aroused horses in response to two other postings about
beastiality, rape, and the recent Supreme Court decision on Sodomy. You posted
Aug 1 and we, out on the edges of the galaxy, received Aug 9. Look at that
path: uvacs!ncsu!mcnc!decvax!bellcore!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtgzz!eme
I just now got around to a library to re-check my facts.
Once, I also wondered about the sexual anatomy of animals, but was too
embarrased to ask. So I decided to look it up. Practically any "comparative
anatomy" or "anatomy of the domesticated animals" book in the library will do,
but the good (to a teenager) explain-it-all-without-having-to-read pictures
were in a textbook for a course on animal husbandry my brother was taking in
college at the time (he majored in "animal science", sort of a pre-vet).
Dogs have the extra bone embedded in the spongy tissue of the penis, and
cats have a vestigial form of it. Raccoons have cartilage rather than spongy
erectile tissue for a penis. This gradually turns to bone as the animal ages,
just as the human breastbone does.
In most farm animals (bull, boar, ram, he-goat), the spongy erectile
tissue is semi-rigid at all times, but does fill out with blood and extend
during erection. There is no lengthening. The penis stays inside the body
most of the time due to a muscle that retracts it into an s-shaped curve.
Now for horses. Of the domesticated animals, the horse most resembles
humans reproductively. The penis is entirely erectile tissue, is exposed
when not erect, and does lengthen during erection. The horse is the only
domesticated animal whose penis fills the vagina, and the only one requiring
back-and-forth friction to trigger ejaculation.
The others basically require surrounding pressure. The humping motions
you might see are merely stabbing attempts to place the tip into the cervix
in bull, boar, ram, and he-goat, and serves to irritate and swell the glans
and vaginal sphincter in dogs (sperm transfer occurs during the time the dogs
are "stuck").
The animal husbandry book, unlike the anatomy books, goes into
techniques for collecting semen for artificial insemination. These have
probably been adopted or modified by persons practicing beastiality. Arousing
the other animals seems largely to involve fooling them through scents or
conditioning and such. Arousing a horse is probably simpler than the others
since the penis is already exposed and ejaculation is based on friction. Sperm
is gathered by basically masturbating the horse. The major problem I would
foresee for someone trying to practice beastiality would be controlling the
stallion's limbs, since animals tend to behave violently when aroused.
Hope that's enough volume and gory detail to disuade you from trying it
:-) as it *is* illegal most everywhere (beastiality, not preparations for
artificial insemination).
Seriously, we don't have news archived, so I can't send this to the
other people in this branch of the discussion. Forward or post as you see fit.
--Sam
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Rob Bernardo)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian,net.singles
Subject: Re: God invented Sexuality and Sex with animals
Date: 20 Aug 86 14:27:31 GMT
Reply-To: [email protected] (Rob Bernardo)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Francisco
Keywords: if it feels good, do it.....
In article <[email protected]> [email protected] (Kee Hinckley) writes:
>In article <[email protected]> [email protected] (Peter Osgood)
writes:
>> ... Animals copulate
>> instinctively, I have seen no evidence that they "enjoy" the act.
>I have.
>> But we humans have many and assorted erogeous zones on our bodies.
>So do animals.
I remember the first time I saw a mare being bred. The stud was almost
impossible to control. He mounted the mare and nibbled on her whithers.
The foreplay was amazingly "human" and actually lasted much longer than
the coitus. If it weren't for the assitance of humans, the stud would
have "missed" and sodomized the mare! He ejaculated prematurely (before he
was in far enough to impregnate the mare) anyway.
And speaking about sex with animals, I don't think you would be able to
have sex with a mare against her will unless you tied her down: One day
at the stables where I used to board my mare, I was taking her into
the arena to turn her out for exercise. I had thought the arena was empty
and turned her loose once inside. I had not seen the big white Arab stud
that blended so well with the fence in the far corner of the arena. Within
a couple of seconds he was down at our end of the arena raping my poor
virginal Oriana. She **violently** resisted, not being in season, and was
kicking and biting and *desperately* trying to flee. The stud was not
phased by this at all and persisted. It took two expert horsemen to separate
the two. Luckily, the only injuries were two little scrapes sustained by
the stud. My mare was traumatized by the rape attempt and shied away from
a newly gelded horse that was kept alongside the arena for about two weeks
after the incident.
The point of the story is that a horse (and probably other animals too)
will let you know if it doesn't want to have sex. It doesn't have to
give consent via human language.
--
Rob Bernardo, San Ramon, CA (415) 823-2417 {ihnp4|dual|qantel}!ptsfa!rob
--------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 86 00:04:52 PDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: The Bit Controversy
> Seeing as the group's article traffic has slown up a bit, I
>thought that it would be good to stir up a little lively discussion
>about the uses/abuses of snaffle bits.
I've never heard that before. I always thought that a snaffle bit was as
mild a bit as you could use in a horse and that bits like kimberwickes,
pelhams, curbs, and (God have mercy!) spades were the ones used to abuse a
horse. All the dressage and event people I've seen start a young horse in a
snaffle and keep it on a snaffle as much as possible. The horses seem happy
with it.
>... My second horse was a notorious
>runaway, so i started out riding him outside the ring using draw reins
>on a snaffle. After some experimenting, I discovered that he went well
I bought my current horse when he was just green broke and rather .. uh,
well ...exuberant. I always rode him on an egg-butt snaffle (still do;
it's all I use) and when I took him out in the fields for a hack, like as
not I'd have one episode of a flat out running buck. It wasn't mean, he was
just feeling good, but still I couldn't have it. I stopped the habit by
using a hard pulley rein on him several times. Keep contact with his mouth
(i.e. no slack rein), plant one hand *firmly* on the front of the saddle or
your thigh, and with the other hand jerk the rein downward hard and fast. I
mean *hard* and *fast*. Be braced and ready for a fast stop, cause he's
gonna. I had to do it three times. He hasn't bolted with me since.
>...I noticed that the hunter/jumper types used snaffles
>exclusively, and I saw a lot of gaping mouths, head pulling
>and runaway horses.
> Now I'm on horse number three. ... I want to begin some dressage work, and
>i know that for the lower level work the snaffle is the bit which is
>supposed to be used. ... Does the effectiveness
>of a snaffle depend on the noseband (flash vs dropped, etc)? The "english"
>riders in NJ usually used a hunting snaffle bridle, with the plain noseband
>way up high on the face. Anytime i ever rode a horse with a snaffle, I
>felt like my arms were going to be pulled off.
The effectiveness of a snaffle bit depends on the skill and patience of the
person who trained the horse. If the horse was started properly when young,
he'll pay attention to the balance and weight of the rider. The bit is in
his mouth just to tell him which way to point his head. The gaping mouths
and head pulling you saw are sure signs that the horse is not relaxed
through his back (if he's relaxed through his back, he'll be relaxed
through his neck and jaw). Relaxing the horse's back is the basis of
dressage. If the horse is relaxed and balanced, he won't pull like a
freight train.
> Anyway, I guess I've yet to be convinced of the merits of snaffles,
>and I'm continuing to use my pelham until I can figure out a way
>get my charge to go SAFELY on a snaffle (I've yet to have a horse
>run off with me on a curb bit). Besides, our snaffle collection
>hanging up with the bridles is really decorative....
Find your self a good dressage instructor and explain the problem. I
suspect (this is informed speculation on my part) that (s)he will longe the
horse on side reins until the world looks flat and help you find your
balance on a horse. The longeing on side reins will let the horse find it's
own balance and let it learn that life is comfortable when it moves forward
in balance. If you can find your balance on the horse, you can let the
horse move as it moves when longeing, and thus control the critter.
I do all my riding using an egg-butt snaffle with a flash nose band. I even
gallop the horse that way. I have no problem with control, but my horse is
becoming fairly mellow. Many eventers need to use a harsher bit for cross
country and stadium. That's okay, but the fundamentals need to be done with
a snaffle.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.41 | equestrian digest 38, 9-10-86 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Tue Sep 16 1986 18:36 | 309 |
| DEC, Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]"
Equestrian Digest Wed 10 Sep 1986 Issue 38
Today's Topics:
Address Changes
Contribution to Digest
Article by Vicki Hearne
Horse Vacations
Snaffles and stuff
Help needed in buying a saddle
Hello Again
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 86 14:54:58 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: Address Changes
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
Kristine Topliff <[email protected]> has left BBN and therefore the
mailing list. Brent Chapman has a new address at Berkeley:
Brent Chapman <chapman%[email protected]> -or- <ucbvax!bugs!chapman>.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 86 10:42:12 pdt
From: Herbert Kanner <kanner%[email protected]>
Subject: Contribution to Digest
This is a replay of the lost document I sent you a month or so ago. I am
moved to write an autobiography of my horse adventures. Since I have
been riding the beasts for over twenty years, there are quite a few war
stories, and stubborn opinions (the less I know about the subject, the
more stubborn the opinions are likely to be). To keep from trying to
monopolize the Digest, I think I will write a chapter at a time, at totally
irregular intervals, so that my contributions are not longer than others
that I have seen recently.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapt. 1--I Discover the Horse
It is the summer of 1962. I have never had any contact with, or
interest in horses. In fact, from casual reading, I am convinced that they
must class among the stupidest of animal species and be invariably and
continuously prone to hysteria. Two colleagues and I, based in Chicago, get
to spend a week in Denver at an ACM meeting. The first weekend prior to
the meeting is spent in the very non-equestrian pursuit of trying to wreck
a rented car by driving it in the mountains over jeep and burro trails in a
thunderstorm. The second weekend, we are in Rocky Mountain National
Park and my introduction to horses occurs.
Paul, the youngest of the three of us, claims to have done a wee bit
of riding the previous summer in Sun Valley. He tells us that we must do
this wonderful thing in the Park--go on a one-hour trail ride. I am very
dubious about this proposition, but what the hell...
So I climb into this very strange kind of chair that they tell me
is a western saddle. While we are waiting to get started, the chair tilts
this way and that as its propietor shifts its weight from one leg to
another. It all feels most unstable, and shortly after we start out on one
of those typical nose-to-asshole rides, I come to the brilliant conclusion
that this would not be too bad if the saddle were gyro stabilized and
equipped with a seat belt.
Well, I survived the ride very well, and began to consider this new
concept with an open mind. After all, I love to see mountain scenery, but
having the Robert Maynard Hutchins philosophy about exercise: "Whenever I
feel the urge to exercise, I lie down until it goes away," I am not very
likely to go hiking in the mountains. Furthermore, there is a terrific bonus
to seeing the scenery from the back of a horse: you are a few extra feet up
in the air and can see over the shrubbery.
The upshot of all of this was that the very next day we went looking
for another stable which would permit an increase in the scope of our
activity. We actually found one, just outside of the Park, which would let
us go off into the Park on our own. It was in an area called, I think, Ouzel
Falls. The guy who rented the horses looked us over very dubiously and
asked if any of us had any riding experience. I answered that Charlie and I
had been on a horse for the first time in our lives the day before, but that
Paul claimed to have done some riding the previous summer. Well, Paul
looked by far to be the youngest of the three of us, and I looked the oldest,
maybe. The guy brought out a form, scribbled on it a bit, and handed it to
me, saying: "Sign here." To my amazement, I saw that I had been
handed a document which was a license to guide a saddle-horse party in
the Rocky Mountain National Park, and stated that I had been examined and
found competent to so do!
Off we went into the wild green younder. The trail we were sent on
had numerous creek crossings, and by about the third opportunity to ford a
creek, the horses decided that they had had enough of us clowns, made
miniscule bucking motions, and more or less intimidated us into turning
back. We did enjoy kicking them into a gentle lope on the way back--I
remember we thought it was a helluva gallop.
I got back to Chicago, told my wife about the wonderful new method
of transportation I had discovered, and (naive, naive!) suggested that we
take two or three lessons so as to learn how to do it properly. We found a
livery stable cum riding school bordering the Argonne Forest on the far
southwest outskirts of Chicago. It was appropriately named "High Hopes."
The riding environment in those Chicago forest preserves was at
that time so outstanding that there was even a plug for it in the
Encyclopedia Britannica. In the Argonne Forest were perhaps twenty-five
miles of bridle paths, and as many miles again of foot trails on which it
was legal to ride if you kept to a walk (and didn't mind getting scratched
up).
I can't believe the effect of our first riding lesson. The lady
told us that we should learn "English" as that was the only way to really
learn to keep ones balance on a horse, and that it would always be a
lead-pipe cinch to convert to western. She told us to hold our hands as if
we were playing the piano. Good grief! The next time I saw that hand
position was in Ireland, where we were being guided by a farmer's daughter.
In this lesson, we rode for at most one hour and never exceeded a walk. It
had been our intention to go downtown later for some shopping. As we were
driving home, we decided we were a bit tired, and would stop instead at a
shopping center on the way home. As the center hove into view, we opted to
go instead to the grocery store around the corner from home. As we
approached home, we dropped even the idea of the grocery store. As we
entered the house, we dropped all else and went to sleep for the rest of
the afternoon! Years later, when we covered thirty-five miles in a short
day of riding in England, and really wanted to take a half-hour break and
ride another ten, it was hard to believe that there was a time when one
hour of walking would do that to us.
(To be continued some day)
Herb Kanner
Apple Computer, Inc.
{idi, nsc}!apple!kanner
--------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 86 00:55 EDT
From: GROSS%[email protected] (Rob Gross)
Subject: Article by Vicki Hearne
My apologies for submitting this if it has already appeared, but I
don't recall reading about it in this digest: The New Yorker issues
of August 18 and 25 contained a two-part article by Vicki Hearne about
"Language and Animals." The first part concerned horses, the second
cats, and both are fascinating reading (as I only just found out over
the Labor Day weekend). Her description of training one "problem"
horse, by means of appealing to the horse's sense of beauty, is
especially interesting.--Rob Gross
BITNET: GROSS@BCVAX3
ARPANET/CSNET: GROSS%[email protected]
UUCP: ...ihnp4!psuvax1!BCVAX3.BITNET!GROSS
--------------------
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 86 06:41:00 edt
From: [email protected]
Subject: Horse Vacations
Carlyn Lowery writes
>Having never ridden for more than 3 hours at a time, I am looking
>to go on a riding vacation this fall. Has anyone had any
>experience with facilities on the East Coast? How about those
>exotic, romantic-sounding trips in Europe? I have brochures from
>the Mountain Trail Horse Center in Wellsboro, PA, and Firefly
>Ranch in Bristol Vermont. As far as the exotic European trips, I
>have info from Fits Equestrian and Claremont Riding Holidays.
Carlyn,
I've taken several vacations that might be considered 'horse'
vacations. In 1984, I went to a working cattle ranch in Montana for a
week. I spent an average of five hours a day on horse back. Just three
weeks ago, I spent a week on a working ranch in Wyoming and spent probably
two hours a day on horse back.
When I was still thinking about going to those places, I wrote to
them to ask for their brochure. I also asked them to give me the name and
address of any one in the Chicago area (I live near Chicago) who had been
there recently. I called those people up, introduced myself, told them why
I was calling, and asked them how they liked the place. People love to be
asked their opinion, so no one ever refused to talk. I got a lot of useful
information about the places that you will never find in the brochure, like
a straight story on the quality of the horses and food and the attitude of
the operators.
I'd forget about the place if they wouldn't send me names and
addresses of people who had been there recently.
The other thing I did was call the place and ask all the questions
I could think of. This was to try to get a feel for how friendly, helpful,
and enthusiastic they are. What I was really trying to find out was "Would
I want to spend a week (or however long) with these people?"
Give one of those vacations a try. Use a little caution before you
go and you'll most likely have a good time. Let us know what you do and, if
you go, what the place was like. Good luck.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
P.S. I wrote an article about my week at the TX ranch in Montana for an
early issue of the Equestrian Digest. I no longer have that article or issue
laying around. The Rossens might. Ask them if you're interested.
--------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 86 07:59:52 cdt
From: "Cathy Modica (cjs" <[email protected]>
Subject: Snaffles and stuff
Snaffle Bits
Love those snaffles ! Well at least the simple ones.
You can be just as nasty with a snaffle as any other
bit. When talking about HJs using snaffles, one must
remember that they can use single and double twisted
wires, not to mention the bicycle chain type. Those
can be very nasty bits esp. in the wrong hands. Also
the thickness of the bit has a lot to do with the harshness
of the bit, the thinner the harsher. I have always used
one of three bits on my horse, a D ring rubber snaffle,
a loose ring full cheek snaffle, and an eggbut snaffle.
Both the metal bits were the thickest I could find.
How well a horse goes on a snaffle probably has a lot
to do with how it was trained or retrained. Many people
I know who have retrained TBs from the track have taken
years to bring the horses down to a mild snaffle and are
happy with the results. This takes years and can not
be done to make a 30 day wonder. Also, it only takes
a little while to ruin a good mouth. REMEMBER never
never punish a horse through their mouth (although
the temptation is great esp. when both tempers flare).
The hardest thing to do is when having a bad day to
do the simplest thing the horse does well (wether or
not you like it) and quit on a good note. The simplest
thing may be just standing still or walkng calmly and
collected. (oops I'm rambling)
One other thing, some horses do have tender or sensitive
backs and the saddle and/or saddle pad may not fit right
causing the horse not to relax and thus accept the bit.
Sometimes putting a foam pad or insert between the saddle
pad and the cantle can do wonders. One that I have seen
work well on numerous horses was cut to run under the
tree and the rear of the seat and cantle area. This is a
homemade special that I've never seen in a tack shop, and
is inexpensive to do (lots cheaper than buying bits that
aren't going to do the trick).
Cathy Modica (ihnp4!riccb!cpm)
--------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 86 21:02:25 EDT
From: Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>
Subject: Help needed in buying a saddle
I have been riding for about a year and a half and I am considering buying
a saddle of my own (particularly since I intend to ride three times a week
now). I ride English and I would like a combined training saddle if
such things exist (otherwise a jump saddle). Which brands should I be
looking at? My in-laws are going to England in the fall. Would
it be a good idea to ask them to get one there and ship it? Any
help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Ania O'Brien
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Return-Path: <lewey!greg>
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 86 18:57:51 pdt
Subject: Hello Again
Hi gang-
Thanks go out to everyone for making this a very useful and informative
digest.
Beginning this month, I am leasing my first horse. Thanks to the digest
(mostly Carl Deitrick) I have managed to put together a comprehensive
lease agreement. Thanks lots for all the good info!
I'll keep you all up to date as things happen with the new horse!
Bye for now-
Lisa
Lisa Frey, C/O Greg Blanck
hplabs!pyramid!voder!lewey!greg
American Information Technology,
Cupertino, CA
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.42 | equestrian digest 39, 9-20-86 | PBSVAX::WILPOLT | | Tue Sep 23 1986 18:58 | 227 |
| DEC: Reply-To: RHEA::DECWRL::"[email protected]" (Ken Rossen)
Equestrian Digest Sat 20 Sep 1986 Issue 39
Today's Topics:
Subscribers
New lease
good news, etc.
Re: Help needed in buying a saddle
The Prince of Wales
More About Saddles
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 86 14:25:32 EDT
From: [email protected] (Equestrian Digest Coordinator)
Subject: Subscribers
Reply-To: [email protected] (Ken Rossen)
One address has changed:
Pat Valdata <ihnp4!pyuxz!patv2>,
and one is new:
Seth Steinberg <[email protected]> -or <ihnp4!ccv.bbn.com!sas>.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!ccv.bbn.com!horse-request
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 86 15:11:04 EDT
From: paw3c%[email protected]
Reply-To: paw3c%[email protected]
Subject: New lease
Greetings from hunt country!
I've just started a half-lease on a wonderful hunter prospect.
He's about 16h, 7 years old, and his name is Mosby. He is
owned by Clairborne (?) Bishop, the woman who owns The Barracks
here in Charlottesville, where I ride.
Actually, I'm doing her quite a favor (and *paying* for it, too!).
Mosby's not very fit right now, as one of his lungs collapsed
in the spring and he was rested for quite a while. Clairborne's
been working him back slowly, though, and now I'll be assiting.
He's okay for normal work, but I have to watch him to make sure
he doesn't overdo it. He sounds like a steam locomotive when he
gets going, but I guess that's what it will be like. Anybody
ever worked with a horse with similar problems?
He's quite willing over fences (though he gets a little strong,
and doesn't always think first), and his gaits are nice.
I'm hoping to show in some of the local schooling shows this fall.
Of course, I haven't shown in *years*, so we'll see if I can
actually get up the nerve! I doubt we'll hunt this season, but
maybe he'll be okay to hilltop. We'll see.
In case anyone is interested, the horse market here in Va is
anything but depressed. Sigh. A horse like Mosby (if he
would pass a vet and had no medical history) would probably
go for at least $7500 (maybe more). Add to that the cost of
keeping him in a good barn (The Barracks has a variety of boarding
options, from field board at about $65/month to "full care"
board - where they'll even tack your horse for you - for $520/month)
not to mention vet an shoeing bills, and you're in for a lot. The
half-lease (half board, half vet, half shoeing, horse is "mine"
for 3 days a week, and 2 one-hour group lessons a week) is $375.
This is almost as much as rent! Oh, well...
On another topic...
Hi to Carlyn Lowery! As a former JESer myself (when I lived in
Northern Va), I know you're in good hands. Say hi to MC and
Amy for me...
Pat Wilson
UVa Medical School
UUCP: ...!cbosgd!uvacs!krebs!paw3c
...!decvax!mcnc!ncsu!uvacs!krebs!paw3c
CSNET: [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 86 18:55:37 edt
From: Laura Edmundson <laura%[email protected]>
Subject: good news, etc.
Hi everybody,
It's been so long since I last wrote that you probably wondered if
I was still around. Let's just say that between doing research and keeping
up two horses I haven't had too much free time. The good news is that at
the first event of the Fall season, Ft. Rucker, I rode both horses in the
Preliminary division placing 3rd on Spellbound and 6th on Champ! Not bad
considering that Bounder is still fairly inexperienced at prelim. and Champ
just celebrated his 17th birthday. They've both qualified for the area III
preliminary championships but I'm thinking of showing Champ Intermediate at
the event where the prelim. championships are held. I'll just wait and see
if he keeps going well.
In response to Ton's question about the consistency of american
show jumpers... It seems fairly clear that the influence of Bert DeNemethy
has lead to this continued success. When he first began to coach the team,
he emphasized schooling the horse on the flat (simple dressage) as well as
the use of cava cavaletti (gymnastic jumping) to make the horses more
flexible and obedient. The riders who had been taught by DeNemethy then
started to teach his methods to their students. Another big factor is the
popularity of equitation classes for junior riders. These competitions
(AHSA medal, Maclay, and USET) are preparing the juniors for the high
pressure of riding for the team as well as requiring that they learn how to
ride correctly/effectively. (Note: I realize that a lot of equitation
riders only look good on made horses, but these riders will never make it
in the big equitation finals.)
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Return-Path: <ihu1n!cbd>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 86 15:48:07 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Help needed in buying a saddle
> I have been riding for about a year and a half and I am considering buying
> a saddle of my own (particularly since I intend to ride three times a week
> now). I ride English and I would like a combined training saddle if
> such things exist (otherwise a jump saddle). Which brands should I be
> looking at? My in-laws are going to England in the fall. Would
> it be a good idea to ask them to get one there and ship it? Any
> help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Ania O'Brien
THe first saddle I bought was a Passier all purpose. I can't really tell
you how well I liked it because shortly after I bought it it was stolen
from the tack room at the stable where I rode. I bought a Stubben (sp?)
Wotan to replace it and it worked O.K. for the two years that I had it. At
that point, the instructor I was working with thought my riding would
improve greatly if I got a good saddle. He got me a Kieffer Izar
(pronounced 'E-zar') from a saddle shop in Germany where he used to do all
his business when he was living there. He was right - it did make a BIG
difference for the better in the way I rode. It puts your seat in exactly
the right spot and lets your legs hang just the way they should. Kieffer
saddles are also substantially lighter than the other saddles I've ridden
or held.
For combined training, you'll want an "all-purpose" saddle (or two saddles,
a dressage saddle and a jumping saddle), but no saddle is truly
"all-purpose". Any saddle that claims to be an all-purpose saddle really
has a tendency one way or the other, dressage or jumping. The ones with a
tendency for jumping let you swim a little when riding dressage (my Wotan
did, at any rate) and the knee rolls on the ones with a tendency for
dressage aren't as big as the knee rolls on a jumping saddle. The Izar I
have works very well for dressage and satisfactorily for jumping. The man
who got me mine goes Prelim eventing in his.
The only draw back to the Izar is the price - mine cost $580 and that was
with no fittings, wholesale from a friend, and bought near the factory.
I think Libertyville Saddle shop sells them retail for between $900
and $1000. They'll also accept your first-born male child.
There exist all-purpose saddles on which the leg flap hinges to move
forward for jumping and backward for dressage. I know a family that has one
of those for their daughter and they're not real sure about the reliability
of the hinge. I personally would stay away from one.
The conclusion? Get yourself a Kieffer saddle if at all possible. They make
all-purpose saddles other than the Izar. Look at one of those. Check out
the ads in tack shops or the local horse paper for used saddles. A friend
of mine got a very good used Kieffer all purpose for $350. Check out State
Line Tack Shop, which puts out a catalog and sells well below usual retail,
for the saddle of your choice. Also, before you buy any saddle, put it or
one just like it on a horse and ride for an hour or so to see how you like
it.
Good luck. After you buy one, let us know what you did, why you chose what you
chose, and how you like it.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
P.S. Kieffer measures their saddles by sizes 0, 1, or 2 (they did mine) rather
than by inches as we see here in this country. I don't know how the
English measure their saddles, but if their scheme is different, find out how
to translate the measure. It's important that your saddle fit.
--------------------
Return-Path: <ihu1n!cbd>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 86 15:32:36 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: The Prince of Wales
ATTENTION ANGLOPHILES! The man who owns the barn where I keep my horse
was the referee at the Oak Brook polo match that Prince Charles played
in recently. The word from him is that Charles is a real gentleman, a
good rider, and deserves the four-goal rating he currently holds. Just
thought you'd all like to know.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 86 11:21:35 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: More About Saddles
I forgot to mention that Argentinian saddles have a reputation for being
pure garbage. I've never ridden in one, but I have seen several, and I
tend to agree.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.3 | Equestrian Digest Sampler #3 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Fri Nov 14 1986 18:05 | 987 |
| Equestrian Digest Thu 24 Jul 1986 Sampler Issue (3 of 3)
Sampler 3 Topics:
Hello there!
Syndication / Bureau of Land Management
BLM Adoptions / Yearling Training
Greetings from a new subscriber.
New in NJ
Re: Lunging
BREEDING HORSES
Re: Lunging and "What kind of horse should I buy?"
Gladstone and horse story
A report on Essex
Lunging
Subscription
horses and bears
"What kind of horse ... ?"
Re: Info, please. - Eq. Digest #32
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 May 86 02:05:50 cdt
From: [email protected] (Ron Morgan)
Subject: Hello there!
HOWDY! I'm Ron Morgan, age 35, born and raised in Abilene, Texas, and this is
my first time on here. Really, I'm kinda overwhelmed at the moment; I posted
a note on net.pets asking if anyone wanted to talk about horses, and WHAMMO,
Rossen jerks me into this Digest thing and sends me a couple of samples. It's
great. I hate mentioning the word "horse" to somebody and hearing them say,
"uh, sorry, I'm not a cowboy."
I'm currently working on my Master's thesis in Education of the Deaf. I'm a
certified Teacher of the Deaf, specializing in working with
multi-handicapped deaf kids. I didn't start riding until I was about 25,
when I took some basic lessons on some stable hacks from a girl named Mary,
who had completed 4 years at a riding academy (German-style). I learned to
ride mainly on an Anglo-Arab gelding that was very stubborn and
hot-tempered, but had won several dressage ribbons. The horse's
performance, however, was directly proportional to the skill of the rider.
In the process of learning to make him "do his stuff," (and he fought me
every inch of the way), I really cut my riding teeth well. I eventually
trained him to perform in Western Riding class. Later on, I got a lot more
experience by riding other people's horses for them to keep them fresh and
in good shape when the owners couldn't ride them often. This variety was
INVALUABLE experience.
I continued to ride almost daily for about 5 years. During that time, I
became a custom saddlemaker. I started out working for Circle Y Saddlery in
Yoakum, Texas in their specialty shop, where they made their expensive show
saddles. Later, I attended Texas State Technical Institute in Amarillo,
Texas for 18 months, getting an Associate of Applied Science degree in
Saddle and Tack Making. Well, let it suffice to say that for about 5 years,
I ate, breathed, and slept saddles (uh, western saddles) 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. Actually all my riding and saddlemaking experience has been
western, concentrating almost entirely on heavy-duty working ranch saddles:
full-double riggings, 50 pounds, strong enough to rope a locomotive, and
lasted forever. My instructor at TSTI was a fourth-generation saddlemaker,
and really knew his stuff, although he was sometimes hard-bitten to the
extent that I often wanted to practically kill him! At any rate, there are
few, if any, saddlemakers left that make this kind of product. I've known
ranchers to take a brand new mass-produced saddle (like a TexTan, etc.) and
literally destroy it in less than a month, whereas the ones I learned to
make would last 30 years under the same conditions. I know Capriola makes
pretty good saddles, but gack, they start at about $1800 for a plain
rough-out! There are also a few lone saddlemakers out there in the middle
of nowhere in little one-man shops that do pretty good work, but they are
vanishing fast. If any of you folks have a need for this kind of saddle,
let me know and I'll put you in touch with a good craftsman.
In the early 80's, as the "Urban Cowboy" (gack, choke, puke) craze died out
and the economy started crunching, the saddle business dropped to zero.
The famous Hamley Saddle Company of Pendleton Oregon, for example, sold out
to a restauranter, who disgracefully kept the Hamley name. Their saddles are
made by some guy out in Wyoming. As my dreams of becoming a self-supporting
saddlemaker faded, I found the only saddlemaking work I could get was in
mass-production work at or near minimum wage, making junk in the form of
thrown-together designs or over-priced show saddles which were really junk
saddles laden with 10 pounds of silver. Leaving saddlemaking was one of the
most agonizing, gut-wrenching decisions I've ever had to make. I'm almost
moved to tears just sitting here typing about it. SOOOOO, here I am in the
big city of Austin, Texas, going to the University of Texas and living in an
apartment. Haven't "talked horses" with anybody in ages, so you can imagine
my delight when I stumbled onto this digest! I'm not sure how much you folks
can empathize with me, since most of you seem to be into Fox-and Hound stuff,
relatively unusual breeds, etc. But don't give up yet!
Despite my western orientation in this area, I have a great appreciation
for English riding, and overall, I feel it is superior to the traditional
western style, especially when it comes to training of the horse and rider.
My own philosophy of riding and training pretty well follows that found in
the book, "The Schooling of the Western Horse," by John Richard Young. In
fact, that book is my bible when it comes to riding and training. Needless
to say, I do NOT follow traditional "overnight" training techniques
espoused by many old-time western trainers. Such techniques originated in
ranch situations where huge remudas were kept, and there wasn't time for
any finesse work. I'm often ribbed without mercy by cowboys because I hold
my reins so that they come out of the TOP of my hand instead of the bottom.
I hold them between the thumb and forefinger, of course, because that lets
me rein the horse by simply turning my wrist. Their argument is "well,
yeah, but you gotta hold it this way (coming out under the bottom of your
hand) so you can hang on better if he tries to buck you off." Same goes for
saddle design. I like a fairly flat- seat, like a cutting saddle, with the
stirrup leathers hanging straight down so I can get over my center of
gravity. I detest the common high-front western saddle that throws you back
on the cantle and shoots your feet out in front of you so it's impossible
to ride correctly. This was originally created for rodeo roping contests,
and of course is demanded by the public, because "that's what the pros
use," along with such devices as tie-downs, hackamores (doesn't train the
jaw), running martingales, spade bits, and spurs, although I have used
spurs on occassion when working on extremely spoiled horses. Thumb through
a book sometime and look at the rigs used by the old-time cowboys: chances
are you'll see a flat seat, straight-hung stirrups, and a simple curb bit.
No nonsense, and these were guys that were in the saddle 12 hours a day,
seven days a week.
Well, I could go on a LOT more, but I'm out of time. I'm glad to be here, and
I'll look forward to communicating with you people. Like I said, I'm not much
on the kind of riding you've been doing, but we seem to share a love for fine
horses and good riding, and I'd be glad to throw in when I can, especially if
it concerns virtually ANYTHING regarding western saddles. Adios amigo!
Ron Morgan
--------------------
Date: Fri, 23 May 86 11:31:27 EDT
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Syndication / Bureau of Land Management
I had an interesing "horsey" experience a couple of weeks ago. I attended
the Grand Prix at the Children's Services Horse Show in Farmington, CT as
the guest of a syndicate. A friend of mine has a mare bred to one of the
show jumping staillions owned by the syndicate, and they sent her two free
passes and said, "C'mon down and see the boy jump!" and I got to tag along.
The passes not only got us into the show but also provided entrance to
*Corporate Row*. Yes, boys and girls, corporate sponsorship has hit horse
shows in a very big way. Corporate Row was made up of tents rented by the
various sponsors and syndicates, and each tent was overflowing with fun,
food and hangers-on. The attractions in "our" tent included a free bar,
sumptuous catered luncheon, and an inches-away view of the Grand Prix.
Many of the syndicate members were in attendance to watch "their" horses
compete. Most of these poor folks seemed to have paid tens of thousands of
dollars to participate in horse showing (as owners and spectators) even
though they couldn't tell the chweing end from the excretory one.
The biggest yuk of the afternoon was when we all trooped down to the barns
and they got to see "their" horses. "Hey, Martha -- get a picture of me
with *our* horse!" -- $200,000 show jumper stands looking bored next to
polyester-clad man while Martha clicks away with the Minolta ... The
nouveau-riche are *so* amusing ... ;-)
Syndications and mass corporate sponsorships are relatively new but the
central attraction remains undiminished -- the Grand Prix was marvelous,
the horses seem to be of better caliber every year, and the riders take
your breath away. I had a marvelous afternoon.
On a completely different subject -- I see the first Bureau of Land
Management mustang/burro adoption fest to be held in New England took place
last week. Honestly, the BLM should be held legally responsible for all
the a--h---s who know nothing about horses but fearlessly take on the
taming of a feral critter. In the Boston Globe, one chowder head who lives
on 2-1/2 (yes! two and one-half!) acres (acres! not square miles!) in
Billerica, Massachusetts took home two (yes! count 'em, two!) STALLIONS!!
Wild stallions! Bet that little two-acre patch is gonna be hoppin' afore
long. I really pity her innocent neighbors. And the worst part was that
she chose them because they were *cheaper* than an already broke horse -- I
mean the savings are negligible when you figure in the cost of her body
cast . . .
Adios for now.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Wed, 28 May 86 09:03:37 mdt
From: kghaine%[email protected]
Subject: BLM Adoptions / Yearling Training
I'm surprised that the BLM let someone adopt two stallions without checking
out the facilities! The BLM holds adoptions around here once or twice a year,
and I was under the impression that in order to adopt a mustang, you had to
have your facilities inspected to prove that they are adequate for a wild
horse. I'm sure that doesn't prevent people who shouldn't adopt from adopting,
but it should help.
My farrier has several customers who have adopted wild horses, and for the
most part they don't work out very well. He says that in addition to being
small, they are fairly unhealthy. That surprises me since I would think that
they would have to be healthy to survive in the wild. Maybe they get sick
when they are fed and kept like the domesticated kind. The only adoption
he knew that worked out was where the adoptee was really an escaped
domesticated horse.
-----
New subject: I have a yearling that I need to begin training on the lunge,
if anybody has experience and helpful hints on how to start, how fast to
progress, what equipment to use when, etc. I would really appreciate it.
All she knows now is how to stand tied, lead, be groomed and be ponied.
I have some books on training, but none seem to go into much detail about
the early training. Any recommendations? My goal is to use her for dressage
and combined training.
Katrina Haines
{ucbvax,gatech}!unmvax!sandia!kghaine
--------------------
Date: Wednesday, 4 June 1986 13:58:53 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Greetings from a new subscriber.
Greetings to all from Hacker Hollow, a small farm nestled in the
rolling hills of western Pennsylvania. My husband (not a horsey type
at all), my two daughters and I have lived there for two months.
We bought the farm so that we could spend as much time as possible
with our lovely Anglo-Arab hunter. Unfortunately, four days before
we moved our hunter was kicked by another horse and had to be
put down. (His front leg was completely shattered from the elbow
to the knee.) The shock is slowly wearing off, and we are now in
the market for a new horse for my 13 year old daughter. We will,
of course, never be able to replace the horse we lost (Why is it
only the really good ones get hurt?). So if anyone knows of a
reasonably priced green hunter in the W. Pa area, please let me know.
Both my daughters and I ride. My 13 year old and I have been taking
lessons for the past three years. I have been riding horses since I
was five years old, but hadn't ridden seriously for many years. When
my eldest was 10 I decided I wanted her to have some of the wonderful
experiences I had had as a child growing up on horses. So I located
an instructor for her and she began taking lessons. I enviously watched
her take lessons for six months, then decided 'why not me to.' Just
because I was 32 didn't mean I was too old to start riding again. So I
started taking lessons, then bought a horse for the kid and I to
share (Yes, sharing can work, especially if you're are studying
with the same instructor.), then the kid started showing, then we
bought a farm...then tragedy struck when we lost our horse.
So now we are seriously looking for a new horse. Since our
budget is limited I am looking for something green to bring
along. The horse we just lost had no showing or jumping
experience when we bought him, but we brought him along
patiently and had him working over 3 foot courses in March.
He was truly wonderful, a good mover, lovely over fences,
and he always gave us quiet, clean lead changes after a fence
when they were required. We will really miss him.
I am looking forward to being a subscriber to the Equestrian Digest,
and hope to share news of new horse soon.
Susan Dunkle
Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie-Mellon University
--------------------
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 86 08:41:37 edt
From: Judy Grass <[email protected]>
Subject: New in NJ
Hello, Hello! I am finally installed in New Jersey, and I got your
latest installment of the equestrian digest. Thanks!
It has been a bit difficult to get going with the riding around here. It
seems a lot of the local instructors really don't care to teach (or don't
have horses to teach) horseless riders. There are stables all over the
place, but most are private or boarding stables. The whole liability
insurance bit seems to be affecting the lesson situation as well.
Another problem is that I am interested in eventing, and the local
riding culture is predominantly hunter/jumper. I have chased down
several leads, and finally come up with a temporary solution 'til
I can get a horse of my own. My adventures follow:
The first day I was in town I took off to look for a stable that was listed
in the USCTA omnibus as a host for two events this summer. It turned out
to be a private (boarding) stable that had recently had a change of
management, and had no school horses. So I asked for references and got
referred to Floradale farms, a place I had seen before. So, I went over
there and was met by the owner, a Mr. McDougal. This fellow is a real
character. I hadn't been talking to him 5 minutes before he tried to sell
me a horse. As far as I am concerned, I am not qualified to buy a horse
without some very professional help. Finally I managed to get back to the
subject at hand: finding an eventing instructor. His regular instructors
don't do that, but he could rent me a horse if I found the instructor. He
suggested I call Marilyn Payne (who already did a few of those kind of
lessons at his place). I thanked him, and off I went to contact Marilyn
Payne (Hers was a name I had heard before... ). The problem with her was
that she essentially teaches only in the daytime. I have to work to keep
myself in horses, so I got a suggestion form her to call a Cory ????
(forget her last name). Mr. McDougal could still rent me a lesson horse,
and knew her too. I callled Cory. She was unwilling because of the
ambiguous liability of her teaching me on a 3rd party horse, etc. etc.
She'd be willing if the horse were mine, but.. She suggested a Sally
Harden that had her own farm over in Bedminster (a 20-30 minute drive). I
called her next. She could take me, but scheduling was going to be
difficult again.. Friday evening or Sunday evening (there goes my social
life). She had a cancellation for last Tuesday, so I went over for a
lesson.
Her place is called Windy Hill Farms. A BEAUTIFUL place. My only problem
here is that none of her 4 school horses can be used for jumping. She is
strictly teaching dressage these days. For a good reason: Three years ago
she was riding a horse in an Intermediate level 3-day event (about ready to
take it advanced), when at a particularly nasty (and illegally oversized)
drop fence her horse fell on top of her. She was lucky to get out of it
with a merely broken back (vs. paralysis). Now she takes lessons with
Hilda Gurney and competes very succesfully in dressage.
The lesson with her was a very new kind of experience. I have only ever
had hunter-jumper type instructors and ridden hunter/jumper type horses.
This horse was easily the most trained animal I have ever been on. If your
legs were not on him with equal pressure, he would immediately bend way
from the stronger leg. I was doing shoulder-ins, haunches-in and
half-passes that I NEVER intended. Going straight on the rails was a real
challenge. The use of the leg in dressage is different too. When a
dressage rider talks about an active leg, they really mean active. My
hunter instructors talked about constant, steady leg pressure. Sally
Harden had me bumping with my legs at the rythym of the trot I wanted.
This horse also could go a lot more on the bit than I had ever experienced
before. I was riding with draw-reins (something new as well), because this
horse had been known to pull a weak rider forward and run off with them.
My conclusion from all this is that I have a LOT to learn about dressage,
and this is going to be a very good place to learn it. The only problem is
that I need to do some jumping too.
So, I am going to take a second lesson at Floradale farms with their regular
instructor (a rather young fellow that I am going to have to "audition").
When I finally get a horse of my own (this winter, I hope), I'll have a
better idea of what's what around here and can go looking again.
I haven't yet succeeded in contacting the Murray Hill Bell Labs riding Club
yet. I've tried, but the extension doesn't work as it is written. I
appear to need some lessons in using the phone. Sigh.
I'd better end this here.
By the way: to the woman that wanted to start her yearling on the lunge
line.. There are books on this sort of thing. The books "Training
Explained" (ARCO press), and "Begionning Dressage" discuss this. Biggies:
you'll have an easier time if you can get a second person to help you
(essentially leading the horse to let it know what you mean by it all).
Also: small doses are best to start.
Judy Grass ulysses!jeg
--------------------
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 86 11:21:58 EDT
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Lunging
Wow, does this ever bring back memories. I worked in a
stable for about 3 years, mostly doing groundwork, then
moved to another location and ground broke both of my
babies....
Anyway:
Extended, Boring Detail about Lunging:
Equipment: a sturdy halter, lunge line (they seem to run
between 25-30'), and a lunge whip (stiff for about 4-5',
then lash for another 5-6'). I like to have a chain on
the end of the line to put over the horse's nose if
necessary (which is probably ISN'T on a baby!), as it's
a good, safe way to convince a strong-minded five-year-old
that you do indeed mean to 'whoa'!
Splint boots (I think they're called; they protect the area
between the ankles and knees, where you see all those
fragile-looking tendons) are nice, but don't fuss too
much if you don't have them. Just be extra careful about
trotting and cantering--give the horse a big circle.
Of course, you never hit the horse with the whip--normally,
it's a sound aid, along with your voice. You don't want
to be cracking in the beginning stages, though--it's simply
an extension of your arm, to help you keep the colt moving
in a circle around you. (Practice cracking it elsewhere ;-)
(I'm going to assume that you're going to begin with the
horse's left side on the inside of the circle. It's easier,
since you normally lead him from that side, and I can talk
in terms of lefts & rights...)
Start with the horse standing. You are about 5 feet away
from him, with the line in your left hand and the whip in
your right, pointing BEHIND him, at his rear. This is
important, because he has to provide his own impulsion.
The line controls his head, so it stops him from moving
a) forward and b) too far away from you. The whip controls
his rear, so it encourages him to move a) forward and
b) away from you. You're just trying to balance the two.
Tell him to 'walk' (you might start walking yourself, so
that he thinks you're leading him). If he doesn't move,
use the whip (as an extension of your arm) to pat him on
the rear. Talk to him. Encourage him to move. Try to
avoid using the line to pull him forward.
He starts walking. You walk with him too. Let him make
a big circle while you walk a small one in the center.
Praise him and tell him he's wonderful. Stop and start
a lot. (Snap the lunge line as you tell him to whoa.)
Don't let him stop unless you've told him to. Tell him
to walk, and use the whip to encourage him.
Make sure you work for an equal length of time in both
directions. Otherwise, you'll develop the muscles on
one side more than the other, which you don't want to do.
Knowing when to go on: there are two main things to
worry about. One is how well your colt obeys when you
are not longer 'right on top of him' to keep him moving.
The other is the fact that working at speed in small
circles is a definite strain on a horse's legs. My guess
would be to start trotting when you and the horse are both
comfortable at about a 10' radius, and cantering at about
15'. Use your judgement. Remember to practice lots of
transitions from gait to gait, and a dead stop from any
speed is very useful!
How long to work: Five minutes on each side is plenty for
the first few times. Gradually work up to 10-15 minutes
per side.
Jean
--------------------
Return-Path: <ihnp4!inuxd!jla>
From: [email protected]
Date: 18 Jun 86 11:25:55 EST (Wed)
Subject: BREEDING HORSES
BREEDING HORSES
A Short Course Offered by the School of Experience
After the first horse comes the second horse. Finally, the
two-horse family says "let's buy a piece of land where we
can keep the horses in our own backyard." The next level is
predictable. They decide to breed the mare. Let me tell you a
little bit about the "manufacturing" business.
I was into horses pretty deeply by the time we got to the "let's
make our own horse" scenario. I was already doing the
advertising for a TB stallion. I produced ads for the
biggies--Chronicle, Practical Horseman, Combined Training, Blood
Horse. I took Ohio State short courses on midwifery. I helped
deliver all the 4-H foals in the county. I gave birth to two
babies myself just to see what it was like. I like to prepare
myself for experiences, you understand.
I read all about selection of breeding stock and good crosses and
bad crosses and color genetics and breeding theory. I like to be
prepared, remember. Then I went shopping for the right mare to
breed to the stallion I liked.
So I found this mare--biggest TB you've ever seen. A Royal
Charger grandaughter and daughter of Bonne Nuit, who at the time
was the leading jumper sire in the country, with one son and two
grandsons on the U.S. Equestrian Team. She stood almost 17.2h
and was hotter than a fresh manure pile. I got her for almost
nothing--nobody could handle her. My veterinarian almost gave up
large animal work when I asked him to tube worm her (right after
that he started giving out paste wormers to the owner and gave up
tube worming--said it wasn't necessary anymore). He had to
stand on ladder to check her for ovulation.
I knew I would have a fiesty foal, but her breeding, looks, and
talent made up for any problems with her disposition.
On my farm I had a little grade mare--15.1h--probably a little
walker, a little quarter, maybe a standardbred or two in her
background. She was sturdy and quiet. I bought her for $100 to
have on the farm for all the city cousins who came out on Sunday
afternoon and said "can Johnny ride one of the horses?" Knowing
that my horses would KILL Johnny, I kept this quiet little mare
for guests. She was also a grand babysitter. She wasn't much to
look at, but she made up for her lack of breeding, looks, and
talent by having this great disposition. Are you seeing a
parallel here?
In payment for my advertising work, I had some free "services"
coming from the stallion owners. So I sent the mare I purchased
solely to cross with that stallion and the little grade mare to
keep the hot mare company. They went together. They were bred
the same days. The came home together. Eleven months later, six
days apart, I had two colts.
From the big, hot, talented mare I got a pretty 16.2 colt with a
quiet, easy-going nature and enough talent and looks to do OK as a
junior hunter on the circuit. From the little, quiet, klutzy mare I
got a 17.1, athletic, bold eventer type who required professional
handling.
See, this breeding is simple. It's all in knowing what you are
doing.
--------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 86 11:06:36 EDT
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Lunging and "What kind of horse should I buy?"
Regarding lunging, to Katrina, who wants to start her yearling on the lunge
line:
"Training Your Own Horse, " by Mary Rose, FBHS, and "The Complete Training of
Horse and Rider," by Alois Podhajsky, both have pretty good discussions of
lunging a young horse.
But actually yearling is a bit young to start *extensive* lunging (danger to
young legs, etc.). Have you considered long lining instead? Also, if
you've never taught a horse to lunge before (or long line for that matter),
taking a lesson or two from a professional skilled at ground work might not
be a bad idea at all -- after all, you may not want your own prize yearling
to be your "guinea pig!"
As far as equipment goes you may find a lunging cavesson more useful than
a halter -- the cavesson is made specially for lunging and is less likely
to twist around. And be sure to start canter work on a nice BIG circle.
Give him the whole lunge line, and then you may still have to walk some.
Regarding Beth and, "What kind of horse should I buy?":
In a nutshell, for a first horse you should buy a REAL EXPERIENCED ONE, one
who can "teach you the ropes," so to speak. The guidance of an experienced
instructor or other mentor is also advisable. As to breed, good first
horses come in all flavors. That said, I would at least think twice before
buying, for your first one, a horse of one of the "hotter" breeds like
Thoroughbreds and Arabians (also, by the way, Trakehners, which are *very*
different from the other European warmblood breeds -- much less stable as a
group).
Yes, warmbloods are nice, but also a rather hot ticket in dressage and
hunter-jumper circles. (Cathy -- more and more h/j people are coming to
see the possibilities of warmbloods not only as jumpers but as hunter and
equitation horses, too. Fancier, finer ones are being imported to fill the
demand [e.g. "Hann. g. 5 yr. chosen w/the hunter rider in mind" --from an
ad in the Chronicle]. One of the top conformation yearlings in the country
is 1/2 Hannoverian, as is the Amateur Owner horse Ruxton) "Hot ticket"
translates into dollars, which is neither bad nor good, but certainly
something you'll want to keep in mind. Warmblood or Quarter Horse,
TB/Percheron cross or Connemarra pony, *please* do yourself a favor and
don't get a green one for your first one, especially since for working
folks time and money may be at a premium, and a greenie may well end up
costing you buckets of both -- I know, I know, "We'll train him, and then
he'll be worth more" -- well, not unless you're quite experienced.
Otherwise you'll probably end up hiring an awful lot of help *or* going it
yourself and ending up in trouble.
Karen Rossen
P.S. Regarding my earlier warning from the hotter breeds, age can be a
great leveller. A Thoroughbred who at age 4 was a tough nut to crack for
someone experienced can be at age 14 mellowed enough to be wonderful for a
beginner.
--------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 86 07:43:19 edt
From: jeg%[email protected]
Subject: Gladstone and horse story
More horse stories:
This week I was going to start jumping lessons at Floradale Farms. It was
evidently not meant to be (this week at any rate). My instructor, a young
fellow named Robert Blake, asked me to call ahead to confirm. Well, I did
and was told to postpone the lesson to the next day because there had been
an accident. He had been riding, and the horse had fallen and broken its
neck. The horse was dead and the rider OK, but very shaken up. I thought
he must have been out jumping on a cross country course or something for
that to happen. This set me to wondering just how reckless the locals
were... I went last night for the postponed lesson. It was cancelled.
The horse in question was a school horse, and the one I was supposed to
ride.
What had happened, in fact, was that Robert had been on a fairly quiet
hack, jumped a few very small fences and the horse had a heart attack.
They were cantering along when the horse tripped three times and fell out
from under him. I am sincerely glad that if the horse was going to have
the heart attack, that I was not riding him at the time. My equestrian
life here so far has included very little riding, but certainly hasn't been
dull.
I finally got in touch with Kathy Cook, chair of the Bell Labs riding club.
We had a long and animated talk. It seems the club's principal activity is
lessons at Watchung Stables. I want more demanding lessons than that.
What I am hoping for from this club is a chance to talk to local active
riders about what is happening around here, and a chance to swap horse
stories...
Enough for now. If I get a chance to go to the event this weekend, I will
file a report. Tah...
Judy Grass ulysses!jeg
--------------------
Return-Path: <ulysses!jeg>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 86 08:35:36 edt
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: A report on Essex
Hello again.
I took you advice, and Saturday morning, as early as I could manage,
saddled up my car and headed for Gladstone to watch the endurance phase of
the Essex Three-Day Event. This was a Preliminary level event. There
were four competitions: in the morning -- Junior and Senior Preliminary.
In the afternoon -- Young Rider and Open preliminary. The course for the
afternoon was significantly more difficult than the one in the morning (and
according to my USCTA omnibus, the requirements to enter those were pretty
stringent).
Lesson number one: Preliminary refers to the horse, not the rider. Bruce
Davidson (multi-time member of the US olympic team) rode a horse in the
senior preliminary, and won. Torrence W. Fleishmann -- 1984 Olympic Silver
Medalist -- was entered in the Open Preliminary. She withdrew after the
steeplechase (her horse didn't come through sound).
For those of you not familiar.. The three day event consists of three
phases: Day 1: a dressage test. Day 2: The endurance phase. And if you
get through that Day 3: Stadium Jumping. The Endurance phaseconsists of
four parts: phase A: Roads and tracks. This is a warmup (at a trot or
occasional slow canter) for phase B: a Steeplechase (one horse at a time
against the clock). then phase C: More Roads and tracks to cool down from
the steeplechase. After this the horses get a 10 minute break and a once
over by the veterinarian to make sure they are fit enough to handle the 2
3/4 mile cross country course. A fair number of horses did not past are
were withdrawn. Phase D is the cross-country. Not quite so fast as the
steeplechase, but nasty solid (and tricky) fences (about 20 of them). And
the terrain is up and down hills, into and out of woods and in general not
uniform.
I had a lot of fun watching all this. Attending the endurance phase can be
excellent exercise for a spectator too. You are allowed to wander all over
the course, with the provision that you do not get in the way of the horses
or interfer in the event. Since horses are starting off approximately
every 5 minutes (supposed to be 3, but didn't actually seem to work out
that way) there is plenty of time to go between jumps. I walked the
entire course and got photographs of just about all of them.
There were over 100 people entered in this, and probably twice that number
involved in judging fences, repairing them , announcing, keeping spectators
out of the way of the event, acting as outriders, etc. It takes a massive
effort to run one of these things (no wonder there are relatively few).
Probably about 75 of those horses made it through Dressage and phases A-C
to actually do the cross-country. Of those, all but a few (10 or so)
completed it one way or another. I saw a few falls, a few refusals
(especially at the water). Mostly, the horses and riders did beautifully
(some with more style than others, but in cross-country you get no points
for flash).
I saw one fall on the steeplechase that really scared me. A girl (16yrs
old or so.. definately a girl) came flying off her horse after the first
jump and hit the ground still grabbing the reins. The horse was in a
steamed up gallop, he wasn't stopping, so she let himn drag her, got kicked
several times, and I sincerely thought she was going to get trampled.
Finally the horse did stop. She sat on the grass for awhile, caught her
breath, got back on and finished the steeplechase. Lots of guts. I'm not
sure how much brains. I hope if it ever happened to me that I would let
the horse go. I asked my dressage instructor (Sally Harden, she's ridden
at that event) what she would do in that situation. She said : Let go.
So, you don't HAVE to be crazy to ride in an event.
Most of the other incidents were what you would expect. Stopping at the
water, shying at a shadow, an occasional run-out...
I have been told (by Sally Harden) that the cross-country course at Essex
has gotten considerably easier, and the optimum times slower since three
years ago. (When she broke her back there). I didn't see much that I
would care to try any time in the near future, but I also think that no-one
got badly hurt this year either. If they have eased up some, it is
probably not a bad thing. Leave Intermediate for the Intermediates. I
find it hard to beleive that the course I saw there was a mere two steps up
from Novice (via Training Level). My suspicion: There are a lot of subtle
gradations of difficulty that are not reflected by the labels the USCTA has
put on the levels.
Oh well, back to work.
Judy Grass (Bell Labs, Murray Hill)
ulysses!jeg
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Subject: Lunging
Date: 29 Jun 86 09:19:50 EST (Sun)
In answer to how to train on the lunge, I have always started out
with a second person leading while I stand in the middle (hey,
I'm not dumb!). You get some poor starved-for-the-smell-of-
horse-manure teenage girl to lunge with the horse. With you in
the middle, using the whip BEHIND the horse's plane so that he is
always moving away from the plane of the whip, work the horse as
you would naturally work on the lunge. Use voice commands, too,
so that the outside worker can lead the horse according to your
commands.
Am I explaining this correctly? You have you in the middle, with
the line in the hand that the horse is moving and the whip in the
other. You have the horse on the end of the line at the outside
of the lunge circle. And you have this poor teenage girl on the
outside of the horse, with a lead line. You flick the whip
(BEHIND the plane of the horse) and say trot. The teenage girl
trots and the horse, having been taught to lead, trots, too. You
then say Whoa or Stop or whatever your command will be, and the
teenage girl stops (if she isn't listening to Springsteen on her
Walkman) and so does the horse. You say walk and they walk. It
doesn't work if the teenage girl is your own daughter, 'cause
then she won't do what you say.
You don't have to condition the horse with the teenager out
there, you understand. No 20-minute trots on the right diagonal
to build up some muscles. Think what the teenage girl would look
like with one thigh bigger than the other. This is to teach
commands only. Do lots of transitions--walk, stop, trot, stop,
walk, trot. Stop a lot.
One beauty of this technique is that you can start a young horse
on a long line. I always felt sorry for young horses made to go
in little bitty circles before their coordination was ready for
little bitty circles.
When you get the walk/stop/trot stuff down pat, canter is
easy--just push the horse into a canter by using the whip. If
the lead is wrong, Whoa immediately and start over. When the
lead is right, relax and let the horse hit his stride and be
comfortable. They learn pretty fast. By the way, don't try to
teach the canter while the teenage girl is still on the lead
line. Unless she is a track star and needs the exercise.
After the working gets comfortable, add pads and then a saddle.
A little weight on the saddle, and you can follow that with a
rider who can sit still. Still on the lunge, let the rider give
signals for stop, trot, walk, etc. at the same time you are
giving the lunge signals the horse already knows. He stays
comfortable because you aren't asking him to do anything he
doesn't understand, and you stay comfortable because you are in
the middle of the circle and someone else is on his back.
The transition from rider on the lunge line to rider without the
lunge line is smooth. Be sure, though, that all transitions are
made when the horse is COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE with the previous
lesson. Go slowly, and carefully, and use a LONG line. Don't
ask a young horse to do sharp turns.
The hardest part of this training is teaching the horse to
lead--every new step is built on that. He never has to learn
something that is completely new--just a variation of an old
theme.
Of course it's never that simple, but you're not supposed to know
that until you get into it. That's what the books do--tell you
to follow something step-by-step and your horse forgot to read
the book.
Have fun!!
--------------------
Subject: Subscription
From: CS23001%[email protected] (Lisa Ann Miller)
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 86 10:54:07 EDT
Saw your digest on the bulletin board at Bitnic and would love
to receive your mailings. I understand you deal with all
types of horse related subjects. My primary interests are
in training Paso Finos and Peruvian Paso horses. I am also
interested in articles relating to equitation.
Would like to receive any back issues you may have available
if it is convenient. I look forward to reading your digest.
--------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 86 16:14 EDT
From: <PUY%[email protected]>
Subject: horses and bears
A quick hello, after being in Europe for 6 weeks. Scientific
field work, not much time for investigating the horse scene there.
Did notice a lot of warmbloods in Belgium, saw some Andulusians in
Spain, didn't notice many horses in the area of southern France
where we were working (about halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse).
Anyway, thought I'd take a couple of minutes out of the getting
back to business routine to tell a little story that some of you
city slicker digest readers may get a kick out of. I keep my 8
yr old Arab gelding with a friend's 27 yr old Saddlebred on her
property in rural central Pa. Hundred's of acres of great trail riding,
except during deer hunting season, but that's another story.
Well, yesterday my boyfriend and I took the horses for a short trail
ride, basically just to get them out of pasture boredom and to get
me in the saddle again after so long. We came in around dusk, and
Evan got off at the house to take in my 28 lb (groan) western saddle
and the rest of the tack, while I went off to lead the horses down
to the lower pasture. I had Kahila by the halter in my right hand,
and his buddy Daquiri by the reins in my left hand. Almost all the
way down the path, near the gate to the pasture, Daquiri stops dead
in his tracks. I turned to look at him, and then turned back to see
what he was staring at. Right ahead of us, between us and the gate,
was a big black animal. At first I thought it was a huge dog, and
when it turned around to look at us, and then lumbered off, I realized
that it was a black bear! Well, it disapearred into the then inky
woods within a few steps, so I hesitated a few seconds and then
continued to lead the horses through the gate. After we got past the
point where the bear had been, Daquiri tried to bolt, but I held
onto both of them long enough to get their headgear off, so they could
run back to the barn. To my amazement, Daquiri just stood there
trembling, while my usually wimpy Arab started smelling the ground
near the gate, stamping his feet and snorting loudly. Obviously, the
bear had been in the pasture, but it was still pretty far from the house.
When my boyfriend and I went back out to investigate a few minutes
later, the horses were still in the lower pasture, but away from the
gate. When we started walking toward the gate, the horses followed
from behind, practically walking on tiptoes. By then it was way too
dark to see anything in the woods surrounding the pasture.
Well, my apologies to those of you rugged types who wouldn't
blink at a grizzly, but for this Detroit girl it was an amazing
experience to be within 100 feet of a bear that wasn't in a zoo.
I was surprised at how the horses reacted, and how big those "little
eastern black bears" can get!
Have any of you had experiences with encountering bears while
on horseback? I'd like to know how *other* horses react, and whether
a horse can outrun a bear. (I'm sure that I couldn't).
Well, gotta get back to some real computer work. Happy Trails,
Eileen Perry.
--------------------
From: Carl Deitrick <[email protected]>
Subject: "What kind of horse ... ?"
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 86 04:45:34 pdt
> If you were to get a horse what kind would you get?
> How old would it be? How much would you pay?
------------
>If you are serious about riding, and you enjoy english and jumping, I would
>recommend a Thoroughbred/Percheron cross. Why? Well I own one, and they
>are very friendly, easy going, and sound horses. They make VERY GOOD heavy
>hunters, and they love to jump.
------------
>.. a warm blood may be a good prospect..... If I were buying a horse today
>it would be a mare ( they seem to be "nicer or more understanding" also
>when they get old they can be brrod mares,...)
------------
>...I would at least think twice before buying, for your first one, a horse
>of one of the "hotter" breeds like Thoroughbreds and Arabians.
EEEEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Are we going to go through this
again? I thought we had thrashed this out once before:
LOOK AT THE HORSE AND NOT AT THE BREED!!
To answer the original question, my first horse would be an aged gelding.
"Aged" means over ten years old.
Why a gelding? Well, look at it this way: You have three choices for the
sex of the animal. It can be a stallion, a mare, or a gelding. Unless you
have a lot of experience and plan to do your own breeding, a stallion is
out of the question because they tend to be aggressive and hard to handle.
No boarding stable I've ever heard of will let you bring one in. Mares can
be unpredictable when they come into heat. You'll never know when some
mares come into heat; others are damn near unapproachable. Geldings, on the
other hand, don't have to deal with testosterone like a stallion or
estrogen like a mare, so they tend to be very even-tempered.
Why aged? Well, by the time a horse reaches ten years old, he's pretty much
set for life. There probably won't be any more surprises. If he's going to
develop bad or dangerous habits, he most likely will have done so by now.
An aged horse will know his work well enough that you can learn from him (
trying to train a horse while you're still learning is impossible). An aged
horse is much calmer than a younger horse.
Breed is irrelevant except as it relates to size of the horse. If you're a
six foot two inch 190 pound man, you'll probably not want to buy an Arab,
which tend to be too small to carry someone that size. On the other hand,
if you're a five foot 95 pound woman, you'd probably feel uncomfortable on
a 17'2 TB/Clydesdale cross.
Other than for size, BREED IS IRRELEVANT!! LOOK AT THE HORSE AND NOT AT THE
BREED!! The desire to jump is not restricted solely to TB/Percheron
crosses, TBs and Arabs may be calm as clams, and Appaloosas can be
excellent English horses. Assigning attributes to a horse on the basis of
it's breed (e.g. All TBs are wild and crazy) makes as much sense as
assigning attributes to people on the basis of their race or nationality
(e.g. all blacks have rythm, all Orientals are inscrutable). It's nonsense,
pure and simple.
Choosing an aged gelding is not to say that you should choose a broken down
old nag. Older horses will have more health problems than younger horses,
but you can still find one that's healthy and sound enough for what you
want to do. Any horse you choose should be "suitably sound" and built to
stay that way. You need professional advice when you go looking for a
horse.
It's hard to say how much you shoud pay for your first horse, because the
price depends so much on the market in a given area. Here in the Chicago
area, I think I could get a good first horse for someone for $1500-$2000.
Any more than that you're wasting your money. Any less than that and the
horse probably has problems that you don't want to deal with.
Send me mail if you have any questions.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Friday, 11 Jul 1986 06:27:31-PDT
From: lemire%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Info, please. - Eq. Digest #32
Hi, I'm just another digit at DEC who is also an equinophile.
A shiver went down my spine when you mentioned Bobby's Ranch in
Acton. I haven't been there in a few years, but what I saw was
very disheartening. Some friends of my husband and I, who like
to ride now and again, had been pestering us to go with them. I
lease a horse and have been riding since day 1, my husband rides
almost never. I finally agreed - they kept saying how good the
horses were, what fun we'd have, etc.
When we arrived, I looked around the barn. No bedding in the stalls.
The horses came in from the previous trail ride, all sweating. Riders
dismounted, new riders mounted. No breaks. The horse I was to ride
came in lame, and I got a different one. All the horses were skinny,
with ribs and hipbones sticking out, scrawny necks, you get the picture.
For people who are not around horses a lot, these things aren't noticeable,
but for experienced horsepeople, it is upsetting.
We went off into the woods. When we hit a dirt road, the leader took
off at a gallop, and every horse took off after them. Except mine, who
I was holding back, and my husband was trying to stop his, since he
is only comfortable at a walk. I vowed that if I was going to ride
one of these overworked horses, at least all it would do is walk for
an hour. We did have to trot a little to catch up. This sort of
thing was repeated throughout the ride.
I have never been back. One of the people who took us there told us
about this horse that Bobby had gotten who wouldn't behave, was
bucking people off, so Bobby taught him a lesson. Got on him and
kept hitting him ON HIS HEAD until he finally stopped bucking and
rearing. Yep, that horse behaved after that...
I hope the place has cleaned up its act. Let me know if all this is
just ancient history.
So, where can a person get a decent ride around here (Boston)? You
should take lessons, since places that rent horses by the hour are
few and far between in these days of escalating liability insurance.
How about Arrowood Stables in Concord, which Deryl Burr spoke of
recently, or The Riding School in Weston (where I ride), or Pegasus
Farms in Westford. All of these places are reputable and take
good care of their horses. You will get your money's worth and learn
a lot to boot.
Sincerely,
Jennie Lemire
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.4 | Equestrian Digest Issue #1 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Fri Nov 14 1986 18:09 | 166 |
| Equestrian Digest Tue 5 Nov 1985 Issue 1
Today's Topics:
Administrivia
Jean and horses
Re: Attention Equestrians!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 85 14:04:38 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Administrivia
Hi, everybody. This is the first digest-format mail to be distributed to
the ".horse:" mailing list. The new format is in response to mail from
several sources requesting a more manageable form of mail. I'll now batch
the mail using a bunch of thrown-together scripts and send it out in 3-5
day chunks. I hope this will make everybody's mailboxes happier. Anybody
who, for whatever reason, still prefers the messages individually, should
send me mail, as I will now be sending the digest out by default.
I will still distribute the body of the messages unedited, and messages for
distribution should still be sent to me at the address below.
J.J. Cymbaluk is the most recent respondent to my USENET article. I've
included J.J.'s mail below and added the name to the list, which is now:
Mark Charles <mchas%[email protected]>,
Todd Cooper <todd%[email protected]>,
J.J. Cymbaluk <jxc%[email protected]>,
Jean Marie Diaz <[email protected]>,
Laura Edmondson <[email protected]>,
Judy Grass <[email protected]>,
Ann Heinke <annh%[email protected]>,
Joel and Kathy Levin <[email protected]>,
Joyce E. Nachimson <[email protected]>,
Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>,
Ken and Karen Rossen <[email protected]>,
Carrie Wilpolt <wilpolt%[email protected]>
UUCP addresses for all of the above available upon request.
J.J. refers to Carl Dietrick's response to my USENET article. I assume this
means a net.rec followup. I haven't seen it here, but bbncca did lose a
lot of news over the weekend. If one of you has seen the article, please
send it to me. I'd like to put it in the digest, since some of the group
doesn't get USENET articles. I'd also like to get in touch with Carl if
anyone has his address.
Lastly, I continue to keep archives of horse mail, now in digest format.
Please let me know if you think you have missed an article, and I will
continue to send out a short digest of recent messages to new subscibers.
Enjoy.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
--------------------
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 85 07:10:34 est
From: [email protected]
Subject: Jean and horses
For those of you who have been wondering if I really exist, it's true.
It was one of those weeks that I was too busy to read my mail....and, BTW,
I think that a weekly (or even daily) digest of this list would be a good
idea. I can't get to my mail every day, and it tends to pile up rapidly!
Now then. I AM a freshman at MIT, but my family lives in
Miami, not Chicago. We bought our first horses when I was 10, moved to
a 'horse facility' when I was 11, and owned horses up until about 6
months ago (we were expecting to have to PAY for MIT...but that's another
story entirely). When we moved, I started working for the man who
trained our first two horses (Paso Finos). He operated an Arabian
breeding, showing, and training facility, with an emphasis on western
(although we had many champion saddle-seat horses, and his background
was with Saddlebreds.
) <please excuse my screwed-up editor...> When we moved to Miami from
Ohio, I not only lost my job, but my barn and about 1/2 the horses'
pasture..... it was much tougher keeping them in any kind of wonderful
shape, and I eventually gave up ("shaggy pasture potatos" carried the
day ;-)
In this time I've been heavily involved in show grooming and ground
training, both for western and english/saddleseat. On my own, I have
done some 4H/western with a 1/2Arab, field trials (5 & 10 milers) (a
completely fantastic experience, but almost immediately after discovering
this scene, I left Ohio. *sigh*.), and just scumming around bareback.
I've also gotten to saddlebreak our two babies, one partially (then she
was sent to a trainer), and the other all the way. (There is NOTHING
like the feeling of cueing a colt for the nth time...and feeling him
respond perfectly for the very first time. You can almost watch the
wheels turning in their heads....)
I've typed enough. Take care,
Jean Marie Diaz
--------------------
From: annh%[email protected]
Date: 1 Nov 85 12:45:38 EST (Fri)
To All,
I have not shown my horse at all yet, but when I start to next summer,
it will be in halter and western pleasure. I have been exposed to english hunt
classes, and my aunt shows in dressage, but I'm not sure if I will go this
direction myself. I got my horse last year as an untrained 4-year old, and I
have been training her to ride a year since last August. I would still
consider her green broke, but we are up to a Tom-Thumb bit now, and she has
started neck- reining. I trained another horse that I used to have, and I am
quite interested in hearing about training a dressage horse.
I guess you could call what we do endurance riding. I live at
8500 feet, so riding up and down is quite a workout. In answer to someone's
question about keeping a horse in the mountains, it's no problem. I own a
house and 4 and 1/2 acres, so I keep my horse at my place. I am from Minnesota,
and my horse is from Wisconsin. Cold and snow are common place to us. In the
mountains, the snow can get real deep. When this happens, we just ride on
the roads or packed trails. It's just a minor inconvenience. There is no
reason to transport a horse to the plains for the winter ; people who do this
do it because they wouldn't ride in the winter anyway.
As I mentioned before, my horse is expecting her first foal next May.
Right now, I keep her in a 12x12 box stall in my garage. I need to build a
barn to be ready for the foal at weaning time. All information about ready
made barns, etc is welcome.
Later.
Ann Heinke
--------------------
Date: Sun Nov 3 06:21:20 1985
From linus!watmath!clyde!desoto!jxc (JJ Cymbaluk)
Subject: Re: Attention Equestrians!
Hi there,
I have been corresponding with Carl Deitrick, he was one
of the people who replied to the original article. I'm so glad
I finally found some net people that were interested in horses.
I knew they were out there somewhere!
Here is a little about myself and my equine buddy:
I live in central New Jersey and board my horse at a
small stable which is very close to where I work (provides
great relaxing lunch breaks!) My horse is a 19 year old gelding
(he's my first horse), I guess he's mostly Quarter Horse, but
I don't have papers on him (not that that means anything though!).
He's really a special horse and he's taught me an awful lot. I started
showing Western Pleasure last year and I think that we've done really
well. Our last show of this season yielded a third, a second, two
firsts and 45.00 worth of gift certificates. I'm really proud of
him cause he was never used for anything like that before.
Although I only ride Western, I'm interested in ALL aspects
of horses. In fact, I can't wait until tonight cause we're going
to the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden.
Well, that's all for starters, drop a note!
desoto!jxc
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.5 | Equestrian Digest Issue #2 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:46 | 134 |
| Equestrian Digest Thu 7 Nov 1985 Issue 2
Today's Topics:
Moderator Message
seeking info about a stable
Re: Instruction in EQUESTRIAN activities (from USENET net.rec)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 85 14:37:08 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Moderator Message
Included in this issue is a USENET article by Joyce Andrews at AT&T
Indianapolis. I have sent it along for those of you who don't have access
to USENET articles. I have contacted Joyce about adding her name to the
list but have not heard from her so far.
I'd still like Carl Deitrick's address if anyone has it (should I go to
net.net-people?)
I'm concerned that some of the UUCP mail is not getting through (why does
this surprise me?), so if I use UUCP to get to you [Todd, Ann, Laura, J.J.,
Mark] PLEASE just drop me a line to let me know you got this.
I encourage anyone responding to a request like Ania's still to use the
digest. This information may come in handy some day to many of us.
Bye all.
---
Ken
--------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 85 14:23:08 EST
From: Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>
Subject: seeking info about a stable
Hello Ken,
Do you or any of the horse lovers out there know anything about
Winona (?) Farm in Natick? The name was given to me by the Dover
Tac Shop as a good stable for combined training. If you have not
heard of that stable can you recommend another one or a particular
teacher. I have been taking private lessons at Pegasus but I cannot
stand my teacher any more. I have been riding for over a year now
and for the last few month I have been taking half hour private
lessons twice a week. Obviously I am not an expert but I do want
to learn very much. I am looking for a good instructor who does not
yell and scream at its students. I have done a little bit of
jumping but I am also interested in dressage although I may not be
ready for it yet. I live in Maynard and work in Cambridge.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Ania
--------------------
Date: Mon, 4-Nov-85 17:57:35 EST
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Subject: Re: Instruction in EQUESTRIAN activities (from USENET net.rec)
Credibility first:
I am an ex-horse owner, breeder, 4-H advisor, h/j rider,
and h/j instructor at Red Fox Stables in Cincinnati. Notice I
said ex. All I have left are my saddles, and they are in
storage.
I have not actually taken dressage lessons, but I had lots of
friends who were really into it. Some of my 4-hers were into it.
I wrote some articles for the Chronicle. Sold some horses as
dressage material. Was a fence judge a couple of times at
events. Used elementary dressage movements to help my h/j riders
AND especially the horses. Would love to have the time to
continue, but I am now a single parent raising two kids (both of whom
ussed to ride h/j and miss the horses a lot).
A few years ago some dressage "experts" landed in the Cincinnati
area and offered help to the local 4-H agents to any kids who
were interested in learning dressage. Since I had several horses
who weren't doing anything at the time, and could use the
exercise, I offered a horse for their use. The first thing they
did was fix the bridle so the bit was so loose it was banging
against the horse's teeth. Then they rode hime for hours on
gravel. I had to have his wolf teeth removed and he stood on
peanut shells for six months to let the bruises grow out. I have
faulted myself for not checking credentials better, but how can
one check in a sport so new?
My feeling about dressage is that is is the best exercise going
for the horse--and it really makes an athlete out of him. It
also give him a longer, more comfortable working life since
his body is developed like an athlete's. But I HATE the snobby
"You don't know anything unless you have been to so-and-so's
clinic" attitude. And I HATE the snobby instructor who lowers
him/herself to "do" a clinic or instruct a novice or ride a less
than classic horse when you know the only reason the snobby
instructor is doing it is for money. If I can convince you long
enough that you don't know anything, then I can keep you paying
me to teach you something!! I went to one clinic where the
instructor spent a long time explaining the correct pronunciation
of the word "dressage." And got paid for doing it!
Well, you're right--this is too long. Summary--dressage is valuable
to any horse and rider in any degree. If you don't have the
time, money, or inclination to work up the levels, first level is
real good learning for you and any horse (I agree with
you--English or Western, makes no difference). And there
shouldn't be anyone looking down any noses while accepting money
to teach first level to a novice with a 14.2 shaggy. And if the
instructor you are using IS acting like the whole procedure is
beneath him/her, find another instructor. Now, just how you are
going to decide if the instructor is any good, well, good luck.
The best riders don't always make the best instructors, etc.
What I really want to say is take the snobbery out of dressage
and let it become popular as good basic training that is valuable
to any level. There I said it. And top riders and instructors
teach less then top students for one reason--money.
I think I miss my horses.
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.6 | Equestrian Digest Issue #3 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:48 | 209 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 11 Nov 1985 Issue 3
Today's Topics:
Endurance Riding
Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 2 ("seeking info about a stable")
EQUESTRIAN: Top Level Instructors / Mid Level Students
Re: Equine Vibrators (from USENET net.singles)
Long Distance Haul
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 85 9:17:12 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Endurance Riding
I've included here a USENET article from the last trickle of responses to
the insipid "equines as vibrators" discussion in net.singles which (credit
where credit is due) sort of gave rise to this list. I thought John
Nagle's rapt comments on endurance riding might be of interest.
I admit that, as Mark isn't to familiar with hunt seat or dressage (Carrie,
what about that glossary), I don't know much about endurance riding (what
it is, what horses are used most, etc.) or, for that matter, competitive
trail riding -- the owner of the stable where my wife's instructor is
located is a competitive trail rider. What are the distinctions between
these two disciplines? Ann?
---
Ken
--------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 85 14:57:55 CST
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 2 ("seeking info about a stable")
This is a note in response to Ania. I am from the Natick area, but I've
been in central Illinois too long to help you. I know just where
you are coming from about instructors that yell and scream. I think
maybe you can get away with that if your students are very young (with
resilient young egos to match) and nervous about being on a horse
(e.g. make 'em more afraid of
the instructor than they are of the horse...), but this is disaster
for teaching adults. If you can't enjoy the lessons, or you
are getting verbally abused and humiliated it is hard to do your best
work, and even easy to lose any motivation to ride at all.
I had one instructor like that. She would put me on a horse with a very
sensitive mouth (and green besides), and then abuse me for getting rough
with my hands over jumps. The horse was green, I was green... I was doing
the best I could, but ended up giving the reins
up entirely to try to please her. Disaster. Not to mention one or
two occasions I finished the lesson in tears. (I was not her only student
who did). I really WANTED to ride, but I don't allow anyone in my
life to degrade me like that, not my Ph.D. advisor, not my parents, etc.
I stuck it out because I did not see any alternative if I wanted to
continue riding (Champaign- Urbana is not a rider's paradise).
Yes, you make mistakes, but that is part of learning too. Finally
she quit teaching where I was riding. I was VERY relieved.
(Notice that YOU as a rider are not
supposed to lose your temper with the horse, why should your
instructor treat YOU worse than he/she would a horse? Makes you
wonder what kind of a rider a person with such a temper could be.)
I have had other instructors that yelled, Marty Engler in N.Y.
yelled, but never got vicious. Re: M. Engler "Use your LEGS!!!"
vs. "YOU are ruining all my horses". The instructor I have now does
not yell, or lose her temper. Moreover, I can ask her to explain
things and discuss other ideas I've read or heard and get good
explanations. I love it.
Re: Being ready for Dressage... There really is no such thing as NOT
being ready. If you are jumping, you probably have spent some time
trying to regulate your horses gait (collected, working vs. extended
trot) and done some work on riding straight lines straight, and
corners curved, etc. Yes, there are the higher levels of dressage
with spooky things like flying changes of lead, half-passes and
pirouettes.. but basic dressage consists of stuff you have
probably already worked on.. getting a decent canter depart on the
correct lead, getting nice transitions from gait to gait
(Up and down), and basicly making the horse obedient and flexible.
A lot of what you learn in flatwork as a basis for jumping is
elementary dressage. A lot of the things
you have to do to ride over more complicated courses (lengthening and
shortening strides, etc., etc.) is based on dressage too.
Don't let yourself be intimidated by the fancy French name.
It is entirely reasonable to go out and observe a lesson or two before
you sign up for lessons with someone. You can probably get a pretty
good idea how someone would work with you that way.
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 85 12:48:24 CST
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: EQUESTRIAN: Top Level Instructors / Mid Level Students
Finally your note has shown up on uiuc's net.rec. Anyway, I mentioned
this discussion we have been having, particularly as relates to G. Morris
to my riding instructor. It seems she (a Midwestern rider) regularly
attends clinics he gives somewhere around here (Indianapolis I believe).
Anyway, she thinks he is quite reasonable when he gives clinics. You
don't have to be hot stuff or have a super-star horse
to work with him at his clinics. She said
that the people that he gives REALLY hard times are the ones that
ACT like they are hot stuff without really knowing what they are doing
(e.g. the ones that aren't really listening, I suppose).
Last word on G. Morris: even if he comes off pretty petty in his Practical
Horseman column, he's written the real classic text on hunt seat:
Hunt Seat Equitation. Love that book!
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
From: [email protected] (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Equine Vibrators (from USENET net.singles)
Date: Sat, 26-Oct-85 01:25:51 EST
I haven't tried doing it on a horse myself, but the motto of
the Happy Hoofers Singles Riding Club was ``Do it on a horse'',
although Sue Sheenan, who used to be club president, said
``I did it on a horse, and it was lousy.''
The HHSRC was an interesting idea; you had to be a single horse owner
to join, and they had rides every week. When the club was dominated by
endurance riders, it was a lot of fun; the rides were long and proceeded
at a good clip, and the riders were thin, energetic types, usually mounted
on Arabians. But later they became more of a social and drinking club,
with more parties than rides and much heavy drinking, and I lost interest.
John Nagle
An aside: Endurance Arabians are some of the most magnificent athletes one
will ever encounter of any species; once in a while I meet someone riding
one on a trail high in the hills, and it's great seeing a gorgeous dapple
grey Arabian with huge dark eyes and a foam-flecked coat; an animal that
probably covered twenty miles in the last two hours and is still eager
to go. If you keep a horse in that kind of condition, though, they need
to be worked constantly and hard; one mare I know of wakes up at 4 AM
each morning and starts making a racket until someone comes out and rides
her; her owner normally rides her twenty miles a day, before breakfast.
Endurance riders tend to be extreme morning people. I went to an endurance
ride once; revillie at 0500, breakfast at 0530, ride out at 0600, finished
with 25 miles by 0930 or so. I'm a night person; I only did that once. JN
--------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 85 9:25:38 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Long Distance Haul
Twice before, we've shipped our mare with commercial outfits (we don't have
a trailer) and we're about to do it again, as she is about to resume her
"career" following motherhood. I've jotted down some notes on things to be
careful of as well as some mention of companies, and any comments are
welcome.
The big goal is to arrange for a company which will keep the horse in the
van for the shortest time possible. Carriers taking ten days in making
stops between pickup and delivery (on what would be a 2-day drive) are
unacceptable.
comapnies that ship thoroughbred race horses usually have spacious large
vans with "1-1/2 stall" (3 across instead of 4) accomodations, and
efficient delivery schedules.
there was an article recently in Practical Horseman (MIGHT have been Equus,
I forget) about shipping do's and don'ts. I can retrieve if someone is
desperate to see it. One thing we found to amend ... the article
recommended adding oil to feed a couple of days before shipping to avoid
constipation in transit. The manager at our breeding farm said that more
typical of horses (at least those living outdoors and not kept in stalls
all day and fed on just grain) is the opposite problem. Our mare will just
have grain withheld on shipping day.
Blue Chip and Nationwide seem to be well known carriers. Our farm manager
strongly recommended AGAINST Nationwide, saying that they take forever and
make too many stops in transit. Her only experience with Blue Chip was
similar (10-day trip) but it was only one experience.
Recommended are Sid Drexler near Chicago (312/683-4464) and Creech Brothers
in Missouri (800/325-8171). In the Boston area I have been referred to the
Briggs Company (800/331-6667 out of MA) but don't know much about them. I
was impressed with the pitch of AVL, Inc. whose layover terminal is a
beautiful 80-acre farm near Louisville, KY and whose route schedules show
great concern for making the trip short and efficient. All of these
companies are used to shipping race horses and therefore are likely to take
great care in shipping. Of course it always helps with cost and efficiency
of route if you are near a major cross-country expressway.
Tips and comments appreciated.
---
Ken
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.7 | Equestrian Digest Issue #4 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:49 | 236 |
| Equestrian Digest Wed 20 Nov 1985 Issue 4
Today's Topics:
administrivia
Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 3
"glossary" is an overstatement!
maplewood lessons approved!
Re: Equestrian Mailings
Re: Equestrian Mailings
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 85 11:38:59 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: administrivia
With the addition of Carl Deitrick, Joe Presley and Mike Stalnaker to the
list (see below) the readership is as follows. Note that I have revised
some addresses and revised uucp mail to go through more nearby gateways
(e.g. send all NJ mail to topaz first). JJ (Janet) Cymbaluk, I have
learned, is at packard, not desoto.
Mark Charles <mchas%[email protected]>,
Todd Cooper <todd%[email protected]>,
Janet Cymbaluk <jxc%[email protected]>,
Jean Marie Diaz <[email protected]>,
Carl Deitrick <cbd%[email protected]>,
Laura Edmondson <[email protected]>,
Judy Grass <[email protected]>,
Ann Heinke <annh%[email protected]>,
Joel and Kathy Levin <[email protected]>,
Joyce E. Nachimson <[email protected]>,
Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>,
Joe Presley <presley%[email protected]>,
Ken and Karen Rossen <[email protected]>,
Mike Stalnaker <mike%[email protected]>,
Carrie Wilpolt <wilpolt%[email protected]>
A line from anybody receiving mail via uucp assuring me that you are
getting these messages is always appreciated.
Thanks.
And, by the way, get to the Post Office and stock up while the
commemorative horse stamps are still in issue!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 85 09:33:31 CST
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 3
In response to John Nagle
>Endurance riders tend to be extreme morning people. I went to an endurance
>ride once; revillie at 0500, breakfast at 0530, ride out at 0600, finished
>with 25 miles by 0930 or so. I'm a night person; I only did that once. JN
My experience is that all the serious (especially professional) horse people
I have known are morning prople. If you do any showing at all, chances are
for at least the day of the show, you have got to keep hours like that.
If the show starts at 8:30 (a very common time), in order to groom
braid and do warm-ups you really need to be up and out by 5:00am. If you
have to also load the horse into the trailer and drive to the show, you
have to be up even earlier. Not my favorite part of this sport....
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
Date: Tuesday, 19 Nov 1985 15:22:28-PST
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt 617 568-5823 )
Subject: "glossary" is an overstatement!
This is in response to our Colorado reader's question (roughly,
"What are you guys TALKING about, anyway?"). I apologize for the
long delay, but after I got started on it, I was barraged with work,
and I still haven't recovered.
I'm too long-winded just give cursory definitions, but I hope
that others will supply additional details and correct me if I'm
wrong.
Dressage: (This is the hardest to define)
Closest English translation (from French) is "training", meant
in a pretty intensive way. It applies to work "on the flat"
(no fences). A dressage rider will spend lots of time working
on having the horse straight (including being bent along the
line of a circle), moving forward with impulsion (powered from behind,
not heavy on the forehand), being supple and responsive (not stiff
on either side or in the jaw or back; "on the bit"). At higher
levels, horses may be asked to move laterally, or to change from
one canter lead to the other upon demand, vary the gaits (e.g.
"extended trot" or "collected trot" distinguished from "working
trot"), and even to trot in place! Dressage is the ultimate in
precision riding.
Dressage Test: An arena is marked with non-mnemonic letters (anyone out
there know the origin? I'll look it up, but I don't recall any
good explanation), and a test is described relative to the letters
(All dressage rings are lettered in this particular way, with
"A" at one end, "X" in the center, "C" at the other end, etc.).
There are published tests for all levels (First level through
Fourth Level, first being easier). Horses are asked to do stuff
like that mentioned above. Typical test low level test sounds like:
"Enter at A, working trot rising. Halt at X, Salute. Proceed
...20 meter circle at B; sitting trot at B, canter left lead at
M ... circle at C, trot rising at V, cross diagonal to H,
extended trot from K..."
Combined Training: (also called Eventing, 3-Day (from "3 Day Event"))
This discipline arose from military tests. Each rider/horse
pair competes in each of three disciplines: a dressage test,
an endurance phase, and a stadium jumping test. The endurance
phase in most events is a cross-country test, but in true three-
day events, it includes both a cross country test and a steeplechase
(hmm... is that wrong?) plus some additional distance phases ("roads
and tracks", which I have assumed means trotting from here to
there before the cross country and/or steeplechase portions).
Cross-country involves an outdoor course with "naturally" constructed
obstacles-- like logs and significant brush obstacles that cannot
be knocked down. You must finish the (several mile) course in
a certain amount of time and in the given order. The final phase,
stadium jumping, is supposed to test whether you and your horse
were wiped out by the endurance phase. Here you jump in an enclosed
area over 10 or more fences, and can lose points for knocking the
rails as well as for going off course. At Olympic levels, the
competition is a 3-Day event; at lower levels, it might be called
a 2-Day, or just an event, or perhaps Horse Trials. I've
also competed in a 2-Phase, which left out the cross-country part.
For anyone who is interested, I once wrote up a one or two page
"Introduction to Horse Trials" for non-riders: this was a guide for
friends and co-workers who I was encouraging to come and watch me at
a certain event, so it tells about the organization of the events and
do's and don'ts for spectators. As it turned out, the event was
cancelled (very rare!) due to MUD(!!!!), because it had been raining
for weeks!
Hunt Seat:
This is a riding form developed for hunting and jumping. Before
dressage caught on, English riding probably usually meant hunt
seat. Once the rider knew the basics, hunt-seat would prepare
him/her for riding over fences. This meant that more time would
be spent riding at the rising trot (whereas dressage uses both
rising and sitting trots), and that the rider would be taught to
prepare for fences in a "two point" position, which I think meant
the two leg supports. Instead of sitting into the horse while
cantering up to a fence, one would rise up out of the seat
(stirrups set shorter than for dressage work), balancing weight
slightly forward, in preparation for the jump. (More detail avail.
from the h/j types out there... I only know bits and pieces from
my combined-training).
Hmmm... that's a lot of text for just four definitions!
--carrie
--------------------
Date: Tuesday, 19 Nov 1985 15:38:53-PST
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt 617 568-5823 )
Subject: maplewood lessons approved!
For those who have been looking for lessons in Massachusetts:
I have now had two lessons at Maplewood Farm in Berlin, and would recommend it.
My lessons were with Debbie Baldelli, but there is another instructor, Wendy
Cicciu, and (presumably only for higher level riders:) Sue Steinhof heads the
staff. Debbie says that they do take complete beginners, too.
This is a nice new barn, and an indoor arena is under construction. Lesson
rates are typical (20/hour semi-private), and Debbie's instruction is very
good. The lesson horses are also better than average. I think they already
have a lot of students.
One thing that I won't know for a while is how quickly students here will move
up. Even after our net.rec discussion of how good dressage instruction can be,
I am a little saddened to have to "start over" with a new instructor, although
I have much to work on. In a few months, I'll send a progress report; I don't
expect a new instructor to say that I'm a good rider, but I will be looking for
some acknowledgement of my progress.
--carrie
--------------------
From: presley%[email protected]
Date: 19 Nov 85 15:00:45 EST (Tue)
Subject: Re: Equestrian Mailings
Please place me on the mailing list. I've been riding for about a year
and a half now in New Jersey. My wife has been riding since she was 8
or 9 years old.
Joe Presley
[ihnp4!]whuxl!presley
--------------------
From: cbd%[email protected]
Date: 20 Nov 85 09:04:51 EST (Wed)
Please put my name on your list of horse enthusiasts
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 85 11:22:48 est
From: Mike Stalnaker <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Equestrian Mailings
Ken; count me in!
Mike Stalnaker
uucp: seismo!dolqci!mike
arpa: mike%[email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.8 | Equestrian Digest Issue #5 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:51 | 281 |
| Equestrian Digest Fri 22 Nov 1985 Issue 5
Today's Topics:
Moderator's Message
Re: Equestrian Mailings
Equestrian Mailings
Moderator's Addendum
For the Equine List; Hi All, and a little background
Re: Equestrian Mailings
No Subject Line
No Subject Line
No Subject Line
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 85 14:46:27 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Moderator's Message
My, such a flood of new members. Probably because I posted something to
the net again announcing our existence. The current list is below.
Asterisks are beside the names of new additions. Two more people may be
added as soon as I verify their addresses.
* Joyce Andrews <jla%[email protected]>,
* Jon and Jan Ayers <ayers%[email protected]>,
* Rob Bernardo <rob%[email protected]>,
Mark Charles <mchas%[email protected]>,
Todd Cooper <todd%[email protected]>,
Janet Cymbaluk <jxc%[email protected]>,
Jean Marie Diaz <[email protected]>,
Carl Deitrick <cbd%[email protected]>,
Laura Edmondson <[email protected]>,
Judy Grass <[email protected]>,
Ann Heinke <annh%[email protected]>,
Joel and Kathy Levin <[email protected]>,
Joyce E. Nachimson <[email protected]>,
Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>,
Joe Presley <presley%[email protected]>,
Ken and Karen Rossen <[email protected]>,
Mike Stalnaker <mike%[email protected]>,
* Patricia Valdata <nosmo%[email protected]>,
Carrie Wilpolt <wilpolt%[email protected]>
An aside to new members ... I have tried to make sure to send out previous
issues of the digest as soon as I have established a good path for you.
However, I've been so busy that I may have missed some of you, and
alternately some of your mail may have slipped into the black hole of UUCP.
So please let me know if you think you've missed some issues. Besides this
one there are four issues and a "sampler" archive.
To those in the midwest I make the same offer I made earlier in private
mail to Joyce Andrews. For the moment, anyway, we have a mare and foal in
Lafayette, Indiana. If someone plans a visit to the area and would like to
stop by (and see a highly recommended breeding farm, besides), please send
me mail.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: suki%[email protected]
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 85 16:42:20 pst
Subject: Re: Equestrian Mailings
Please include me in! I've been riding since I was 5, sold my
ponies about 7 years ago -- miss them lots and welcome any
horsy discussion!
Monica
--------------------
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 85 12:10:46 cst
From: [email protected] (Jon Ayers)
Subject: Equestrian Mailings
Please add me to your list, so that my SO can keep up with what's going on.
thank you,
blues, II
--------------------
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 85 14:58:11 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Moderator's Addendum
Regarding the previous message, for those not familiar with USENET acronyms
and jargon ...
SO = Significant Other
---
Ken
--------------------
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 85 16:44:00 est
From: mike%[email protected]
Subject: For the Equine List; Hi All, and a little background
Just a little background about myself: I've been riding since I
was 5 years old (20 years now), mostly western, with a little English thrown in
as well. However, I had a Grandfather who was a Blacksmith/Horseman all his
life. When I asked if I could learn to ride by myself, he said "Yes, but
you have to take care of the horses you ride yourself." He taught me to
train horses, ride 'em with or without saddle, and when I was old enough
to use the tools, how to hot-shoe a horse. (Gad, I think that was the
hardest part!) For my 14th Birthday, he bought me a horse of my own, a
mixed breed Belgian/Morgan (Sire Belgian, Dam Morgan). Bear in mind
that by that time I was already 5' 9" and my whole family is large, my
normal bodyweight according to my doctor should be 225, and I'm 6' tall.
so that's why I ended up with a monster for a first animal. This horse,
who I called Thunder, had an older brother by the same sire and dam,
named Lightning, but that's another story....(Jean Marie, stop that
gigling.....) Anyway, we started training Thunder, and finally got him to
the point that my Grandfather considered to be reasonably well trained:
He' do exactly what any rider wanted, make every balance shift he could
think of to keep an inexpereinced rider (a friend of mine) on top, and
stop dead and wait if the rider came off, jump 4 to 5 foot fences
without even thinking, and on top of that, the horse would respond
to my voice command for almost anything. If I said "Thunder, UP!" Pity
the poor guy on his back if he wasn't ready! (I never did this to
anybody, although I was tempted a few times). I haven't ridden much in
the last 3 or 4 years, as after my grandfather died, we sold both the
Farm, and Thunder, who is now somewhere in upstate New York... Oh well
enough ramblings for now!
Mike Stalnaker
dolqci!mike
--------------------
From: nosmo%[email protected]
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 85 12:19:07 est
Subject: Re: Equestrian Mailings
Ken--
Thanks for your quick response. I have been riding for about 7 years.
I have ridden Western a little but mostly ride English. I would
categorize myself as an intermediate to advanced student. I've done
a little jumping but am more interested in dressage, but any topic
concerning horses would interest me. I ride weekly at the Circle A
Ranch near Lambertville, New Jersey.
Patricia Valdata
pyuxqq!nosmo or pyuxh!nosmo
--------------------
From: jla%[email protected]
Date: 21 Nov 85 15:49:32 EST (Thu)
Ken,
I have been a horse owner, breeder, trainer, and h/j teacher since 1968. I
was also a 4-H advisor for a long time. I know a lot about scrounging and
feeding on a budget and getting supplies cheaper than anyone else. I
have learned the cost-cutting tricks the hard way. I also have a lot of
experience in care because I spent a few years supporting my family by
taking care of horses in need of R and R, particularly race horse with
trauma or stress injuries (sometimes I see bowed tendons in my dreams).
I was never into the racing scene, but I did let the racing people give
me money for my services. I stayed away from the track. Many of the
track vets knew me and suggested my barn to racing people who had
injured animals that needed to be taken away from the track barns.
I was also the local midwife--I took a number of short courses in horsemanship
and Ohio State Veterinary Hospital. These were courses in breeding, feeding,
first aid, long-term care, etc. I also delivered a lot of horses from my
area to the Ohio State Veterinary Hospital (for pay, of course). All of
them were emergencies. I had a nice big trailer that could deliver a horse
with twist colic to the operating room before the gut burst.
The irony of all of this is that I lost one of my own horses to colic, and
one in foaling. Never lost anybody else's, though.
So I have been a professional in a way that's not very glamorous. I also
ran a liquid nitrogen branding company. When horse meat was very high
we had a rash of thefts in my area. I bought a nitrogen semen tank and
some 7/8" branding irons and branded horses in the area. Most of them I
branded under the mane so that it wouldn't show. Horses that were braided
for show got their numbers covered with shoe polish for the day of the show.
The numbers were small, though, and the protection was worth it. I hurt my
back two years ago and had to pass the branding company over to a 4-H friend.
I have moved from the area and haven't heard whether she has kept it up.
Thoses are my credentials. I love horses, and I love having them, but
right now I am a single parent with the sole responsibility of two children,
and there isn't room in my life, or my wallet, for horses. Perhaps some
day, soon, I can get some more manure in my veins.
Until I am a horse owner again, I would love to talk horses with others on
the net. Remember, though, I have really been around the circuit--from
leaky roof to class A. (I was also a humane agent in Ohio, and I saw how
some of the "biggies" treated their animals.) I am a fan of dressage
because the horses have to be so sound and healthy, and because dressage
horses last a long time.
Before I go any further with this long, long letter, I'd better check
to see that this address goes through. If you get this, please reply
to ihnp4!inuxd!jla If I don't receive a reply, I will mail another
letter.
Joyce Andrews, AT&T Indianapolis
--------------------
From: jla%[email protected]
Date: 22 Nov 85 11:02:21 EST (Fri)
My daughter is planning to go to Purdue and we are talking about a trip
to Lafayette soon. All this talk about horses sure makes me homesick. I
wonder if a trip to your mare and foal will make it worse--are they
chestnuts, by any chance? I had two mares--one chestnut and one bay--that
I bred to Nasrulluck, a dressage/jumping stallion by Judge JB in Ohio (I
did "Lucky's" advertising in the Chronicle and Practical Horseman and
in return received free breeding privileges). Since Lucky carried a
bay gene and a chestnut gene (he was bay, of course) and my bay mare
carried a bay and a chestnut gene we had a 25% chance of chestnut babies. My
chestnut mare, of course, had a 50% chance of a chestnut baby by Luck. We
got 100% chestnut babies (so much for statistics). Chestnut TB babies will
make me cry, I know.
Actually, this whole talk makes me realize that I have to get back to horses.
I wanted a horse from the time I knew what they were, but since we lived
in the city I had no chance. With my first paycheck out of college I started
taking riding lessons. When I got married we bought land and built a small
house. I had a horse (off the track) in a matter of minutes. I started
teaching in 1968, when I was pregnant with my daughter and the doctor
wouldn't let me ride (I had to be doind SOMETHING with the horses). I got
a different doctor with the second pregnancy! Since my divorce I have
left the farm, sold the horses, and sold my soul to suburbia in order to
get these two kids raised and in and out of college. In six years I will
go back to the farm--I have already promised myself that. I bet it doesn't
take me a week to get my first born-again to the farm horse!!
Joyce
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: 22 Nov 85 14:00:28 EST (Fri)
I've been riding for almost 7 years. I started when I was in graduate
school at Clarkson in Potsdam, N.Y. and kept at it when I came here to
Illinois to work for Bell Labs (It's true that Carrie Wilpolt used to work at
the Labs - she was my summer intern in 1980). I ride dressage and combined
training and have owned three horses.
My first horse was an old hunter. When I outgrew him, I donated him
to an organization that teaches handicapped people to ride and bought a
TB that had gone preliminary level eventing. He and I never really got
along (I forget how many times I got run away with, but I got used to seeing
the world go past at Mach 2) so I sold him and now have a five year old
Appaloosa gelding.
I have the horse in training with Jurgen Gohler, a professional who
came to this country from Germany, and take lessons from his wife, Laura.
I've had the App for a little less than a year and have shown him four
times - twice at dressage schooling shows to get him used to shows, and
twice at maiden-level events. I plan to go novice level eventing late next
season if all goes well.
People seem to be interested in finding good instructors here in the
Midwest. I know quite a few people near Chicago who teach and know of others
in Wisconsin and Ohio. I'll post a list with names and addresses when I get
a chance.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.9 | Equestrian Digest Issue #6 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:52 | 493 |
| Equestrian Digest Tue 26 Nov 1985 Issue 6
Today's Topics:
Current Roster, etc.
If at first you don't succeed....
Equestrian Digest
equestrian digest
Equestrian Roster
Pregnant Mare
Re: Pregnant Mare
Re: Equestrian Mailings
dressage
Horses
Riding Schools
Re: Riding Schools
Boston Area Lesson Stables (Reprint)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 13:53:37 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Current Roster, etc.
The subscription list is getting big enough that I think it's time to stop
printing it in every issue. After today, I'll only list additions, deletions
and corrections each issue, with a complete roster every month or two. Of
course, I'll always send it out in the mail to those who request it.
Here it is. New subscribers as of this issue are marked with an asterisk (*):
Joyce Andrews <jla%[email protected]>,
Jon and Jan Ayers <ayers%[email protected]>,
Rob Bernardo <[email protected]>,
Mark Charles <mchas%[email protected]>,
Todd Cooper <todd%[email protected]>,
Janet Cymbaluk <jxc%[email protected]>,
Jean Marie Diaz <[email protected]>,
Carl Deitrick <cbd%[email protected]>,
Laura Edmondson <[email protected]>,
Judy Grass <[email protected]>,
Ann Heinke <annh%[email protected]>,
Joel and Kathy Levin <[email protected]>,
Joyce E. Nachimson <[email protected]>,
* Monica Nosek <[email protected]>,
Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>,
Joe Presley <presley%[email protected]>,
* James Francis Redfern <jfr%[email protected]>,
Ken and Karen Rossen <[email protected]>,
* Speaker <speaker%[email protected]>,
Mike Stalnaker <mike%[email protected]>,
* Craig Stanfill <[email protected]>,
Patricia Valdata <nosmo%[email protected]>,
Carrie Wilpolt <wilpolt%[email protected]>,
* Pat Wilson <mac%[email protected]>
Six others aren't on the subscription list yet, but that's just because I
haven't got mail back from them suggesting to me that I have a good path
for them yet. They are:
Ed Carroll <[email protected]>,
Brent Chapman <chapman%[email protected]>,
Kathy Ladewig <[email protected]>,
Sumo Kindersley <[email protected]>,
Gary Traveis <[email protected]>,
Micci Dennee <[email protected]>
If anyone is in touch with any of these six or can suggest better paths,
please let me know.
I've prepared a list of uucp paths relative to ihnp4 for all of these
people. Please mail to me for a copy.
As always, address requests for lost or back issues of the digest to me.
I won't be logging in between Wednesday afternoon and Monday morning, so
please be patient.
Have a fine Thanksgiving, everybody.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: jla%[email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Date: 23 Nov 85 08:39:48 EST (Sat)
Subject: If at first you don't succeed....
81031 characters arrived this morning (Saturday). I plan to spend the after-
noon reading the thoughts of new-found friends (isn't is amazing how a single
interest can cut across age, sex, and other differences?).
Thanks--I appreciate your work in putting this digest together. I have a
thousand "helpful hints" stored in my head that result from years of horse
care on a budget. I will start taking the time to write them down and will
send them to you regularly. I am sure others have some ideas, too.
I also have some children's English clothing that I can offer to others whose
children are heading for the pony show ring. It should make the rounds--
nobody should have to BUY stuff that only fits for two shows and is then
outgrown.
Re: Leg Problems
Leg problems can be so confusing. I once had a race horse brought to me that
was though (by some VERY good vets) to have back problems because his gait
was off, but not in one or two legs--he was off all the way around. The
vets at the track, used to exotic injuries, were stymied, so suggested rest.
My own farm vet, whom I did NOT use for leg problems because he wasn't a
specialed equine vet, found thrush--all the way around. The thrush had
infected earlier and the sole had grown shut, leaving pockets of infection
inside. We drained the pockets and put him on anitbiotics for 14 days and
he was a well horse!
I see I just make some typographical errors--sorry, but I'm in mail, not in
vi. I wait anxiously for the next digest!
Joyce Andrews
ihnp4!inuxd!jla
--------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 85 15:40:26 est
From: mac%[email protected]
Subject: Equestrian Digest
Please sign me up for the equestrian digest. I'm just a guest on this
account, so replies will be slow, but... It's nice to know that there are
other "horse nuts" out there. For background, I've been riding hunt seat for
about 10 years, and am currently in Vienna, Va, but hope to move back here
to Charlottesville and (finally) buy my own horse.
Pat Wilson
uvacs!mac.uucp
[email protected]
--------------------
Date: 24 Nov 85 (Sun) 14:38:18 EST
From: James Francis Redfern <jfr%[email protected]>
Subject: equestrian digest
Dear Ken,
I would like to be put on the mailing list for the
equestrian correspondence you mentioned over the net. I
am a rider on Brown's team and a member of its equestrian
club. My address is jfr@browncs.
Sincerely,
James
--------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 85 08:34:17 est
From decvax!wanginst!infinet!carroll (Ed Carroll)
Subject: Equestrian Roster
[]
I would like to be added to the roster. There seems to be little discussion
on USENET for horse enthusiasts. My interests are in learning to ride correctly
and learning to field jump. I currently take lessons and have just begun to
jump, my goal is to be able to ride well enough to join one of the local
hunting clubs. I don't own a horse yet because I don't feel that I am a good
enough rider right now to handle and teach the type of horse that I want so
I settle for riding with friends.
I would be interested in corresponding with other horse enthusiasts by mail,
I enjoy trail riding, attending local shows, and learning as much as I can
about horses and the horse business.
Ed Carroll ...!decvax!wanginst!infinet!carroll
[email protected]
--------------------
From: annh%[email protected] (Ann Heinke)
Subject: Pregnant Mare
Date: 25 Nov 85 12:01:52 EST (Mon)
To All,
I have a question to throw out to the group: is it okay to worm a
pregnant mare? and if so, is there anything that is more safe than Zimectrin?
I haven't wormed my mare since summertime, and I am concerned that perhaps
I shouldn't worm her at all. I haven't asked my vet yet, but I thought
that I could get some responses from you. Since she is the only horse I
have, the likelyhood of reinfection is quite low anyway. I normally worm
her only about every three months. She is presently 5 months pregnant.
Ann Heinke
ihnp4!druxm!annh
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 13:11:43 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Pregnant Mare
Ann,
Our mare, who foaled in May, was (and is) at a thoroughbred farm in
Indiana under the care of veteriarians and breeders whose judgement and
experience both Karen and I respect greatly, as they have been in the
business a LONG time, and the vet specializes in reproductive equine
medicine.
Their advice was that it is VERY important to worm pregnant mares
regularly. Our mare was wormed every two months, using paste wormers
containing Ivermectin (sp?). I don't remember brand names, but the
Zimectrin you mention may well just be a brand name for a product
containing Ivermectin.
Ivermectin is the ingredient in an injectible form of wormer that
was taken off the market recently for related problems, but this shouldn't
scare you away from it. From what we are given to understand, problems
with this product were more in the administration than in the ingredients.
Experienced people administering the injectible wormer never reported
problems. The paste form now on the market contains the same active
ingredient, but the oral administration is more idiot-proof.
By all means check with your veterinarian. As first time breeders
we found great comfort in dealing with people whose expertise and experience we
trusted. The results (a trouble free pregnancy as the result of the first
cover, healthy mare, healthy foal) certainly speak well for the people
administering the care.
If your vet doesn't deal much with pregnant mares, then ask him/her
to recommend for consultation another vet who does. There is no substitute
for expertise in this situation, and we certainly found it worth the time
and trouble to seek it out.
Good luck! Let us know what you find.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: micci%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 85 13:12:36 est
Subject: Re: Equestrian Mailings
I'm Interested! I've always loved horses (even went to girl-scout camp
for two weeks to learn to ride) but rarely get a chance to go for either
lack of funds or lack of someone to go with. I'd say I'm Intermediate
as far as riding goes, but an expert in enthusiasm!
I'm not, however, too great with mail-paths and have no idea what path
people would take to send me e-mail (it's probably in my header, though)
Micci Dennee
Bell Communications Research
Red Bank, NJ
nvuxg!micci
--------------------
From: nosmo%[email protected] (Patricia Valdata)
Date: 25 Nov 1985 10:33 EST
Subject: dressage
Hope this gets to you--our mailer hasn't been cooperative lately.
Thanks for the digest---it's interesting to see the interest in dressage.
I had always thought it was some arcane, difficult sport until my
instructor said she'd been teaching us basic dressage movements all along!
Where I ride (Circle A, Lambertville, NJ) they teach us transitions,
going straight (harder than it sounds), making a round circle, collecting
and extending--the things you need for the lowest level of dressage
tests. We do the actual tests to practice putting the moves together,
and last year we held a show--just for students and boarders--and
brought in a judge, did the first two tests, and even passed out
ribbons. It was a lot of fun to be tested, and to get feedback from
someone who was unfamiliar with our riding, and to find out what areas
needed work. All this was done with students on school horses, and owners
and their horses.
I can see a difference in the horses since we started doing this. They are
learning as much as we are, and are more capable and responsive than they
were a couple years ago. We don't have any special equipment (no dressage
saddles), the horses have varying levels of skill, and the atmosphere is
one of fun (no yelling!) and learning. In fact, we got a new instructor a
couple months ago and she was surprised at how serious we were about
learning dressage and doing a good job. I think she's enjoying it as
much as we are.
We also formed a drill team, again for students on school horses, with
a couple private owners, and this is also great practice for us and
something a little different for the horses. We put on a little
exhibition--set to music, even!--when we have our shows. It really
helps develop precision and control. Imagine 10 horses cantering in an
indoor arena, with five on the right lead and five on the left, trying
to keep an 8-foot distance between horses, and keep them in a straight line
and at the same speed! We may be crazy but we sure have fun.
Pat Valdata
pyuxqq!nosmo
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: 25 Nov 85 12:16:29 EST (Mon)
Does anyone know for sure whether Appaloosas have Quarter Horse blood in
them? My App's registered name is Bar Bonanza, which sounds Quarter Horse-ish.
He even looks like a Quarter Horse in some respects: a little stocky, well
muscled, has a QH head. His feet are larger than the feet of the new style
Quarter Horses, though, which is a good thing, because new style Quarter
Horses' feet are smaller than they should be (at least in my opinion).
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Sat Nov 23 1985, 18:28:36 CST
From: Kathy Ladewig <[email protected]>
Subject: Horses
Ken,
Yes, I love horses and would be interested in your digest. Please add me to
the mailing list. I don't currently own a horse. I've had 3 in my adult
life. The only reason I don't have one now, is because I had to sell 2 of
the 3 I've had because of boarding problems. I vowed I would never have
another one until I had my own place to keep it. But I would love to
converse about them, so add me to the list.
Thanks!
Kathy Ladewig
Tandy System Software
uucp: {laidbak,sco,microsoft,{allegra,ihnp4!{convex!ctvax}}!trsvax!kasey}
--------------------
Subject: Riding Schools
Date: 25 Nov 85 10:43:34 EST (Mon)
From: [email protected]
My wife and I would like to know the addresses of reputable riding
schools close to Boston. We know about North Andover and ``The Riding
School'' in Weston, plus a third school in Welsley. We also know about
Revere Saugus Riding Academy, though they are not quite up to standards
in many ways (marginal horses, dilapidated tack). We are interested in
basic to intermediate level hunt/jump seat training.
-Craig Stanfill
[email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 12:57:24 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Riding Schools
Craig,
Regarding your inquiry about riding schools, I was going to point
you to an early message to the horse list about riding stables in this
area. Carrie Wilpolt wrote it in response to Joyce Nachmison's inquiry. I
realize, however, that it doesn't appear (for some reason) in any of the
issues of the digest, not even in the sampler archive I distribute!
This is an oversight, and I include it hereafter for your
information. Two addenda ... Carrie has since endorsed the lessons at
Maplewood (in a previous issue of the digest, mail to me for a reprint if
you don't have it), and Ania ([email protected]) has begun lessons at
Winona Farm in Natick. She hasn't had the chance yet to write about
Winona for the digest, but she tells me that she enjoys them a great deal,
and that they're certainly an improvement on her previous instruction at
Pegasus Farm, where the lessons consisted mainly of screaming.
Good luck.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thursday, 31 Oct 1985 21:00:32-PST
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt)
Subject: Boston Area Lesson Stables (Reprint)
Horse-Folks,
I received the following, and have included my reply for you to
read. (Out-of-Staters, please pardon-- perhaps we should regionalize for
such questions?)
> From: RHEA::DECWRL::"ucbvax!ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!harvard!panda!genrad!mit-vax!mit-eddie!pds" "Philip Steen" 31-OCT-1985 02:20
> Date: Tue, 29 Oct 85 13:33:22 est
> Organization: MIT Laboratory for Computer Science, Cambridge
>
> Can you recommend an instructor/academy for a horseless beginner. I live in
> Brookline, MA, but would be willing to go anywhere within an hour's drive.
>
> Thanks,
> Joyce Nachimson
> usenet: harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!mit-eddie!mit-vax!pds
> arpa cal.jen@mit-xx
Joyce,
There is a horse-related mailing list that has arisen out of the
net.rec horse-mention(& apparently from other newsgroups as well). I will
cross-post your message to that one; there may only be a few MA-NH readers,
but you may be able to get some more information. If you want your name
added to the mailing list, send mail to Ken (and/or Kathy) Rossen at
"[email protected]".
I do know of a few places, but have not been to any of them
in more than a year, so I can't say exactly what/who they have to offer
these days. Also, none of the places that I know about are "good enough",
meaning that while they are not BAD places to go, I have been spoiled by
the no-longer-available facilities at Rocky Brook Farm, where there was
superb private and semiprivate instruction, a friendly, unrushed
atmosphere, genuine concern for the students, attention to personal goals,
no such thing as a bad horse, and enough depth of knowledge to keep a novice
busy but not bored! Sigh.
So enough reminiscing. Generally the "lesson barns" that I will
mention here are only as good as the instructor. At least one of the
instructors I had is no longer taking on horse-less students. The thing
to do (if you can't find a really good personal recommendation) is to call
several lesson-barns, ask whether there is a resident instructor who will teach
dressage (or whatever you prefer). (At the places listed here, there are
school horses (and saddles). At other places, you may need to verify that
there are school horses).
(In the next week or so, I will be asking a similar question of
the mailing-list group that I mentioned above. Tune in for details!)
(Mailing list group: please post your own lists, if you have time.)
1. The Riding School, Weston. On Route 30 within a mile of 128/30
intersection, right side of street as you go west from 128.
Some reasonable horses, pretty good instruction.
I had lessons from Rebecca. There was another instructor who seemed
as good or better, and possibly friendlier, but I think she taught
the jump-oriented folks and/or more advanced. Group lessons were
reasonably small, as they should be. It's a reasonable facility:
indoor and small outdoor riding areas, medium sized, might also have
boarders upstairs. As these folks run a riding-for-the-handicapped
program, they have a good assortment of hard-hats and even some
boots for students.
2. Pegasus Farm, Westford. This is just over the Littleton line. Take
Route 2 out to 2A/119. Turn left at the sign for Nashoba Valley
Ski Area. Barn is on the right within a mile. THis is a bigger,
busier place than #1. I rode with Bruce Miller, because he was
the dressage/CT person there, but a few years ago he went elsewhere
and was no longer teaching to people who didn't own. There were
other good instructors there who seemed to be less dressage oriented.
I had heard rumors that the place may have been sold. It was the
kind of place where rumors were common. Very nice indoor hall,
some good schooling horses; it's a fairly big boarding facility.
THere were also some less experienced instructors.
3. Verrill Farm, Concord. This is near the intersection of 117 and
Old-Road-To-Nine-Acre-Corner. I haven't had a lesson there yet,
will probably go sometime to see what it's like. It was recommended
by a higher level dressage instructor, but I don't know how much
to count on the recommendation.
4. Maplewood Farm, Berlin (pronounced BER-lin). This is a new place. A friend
of mine, who also rode at Rocky Brook for a long time, told me
about this place. She's had one lesson there so far; she said
that there are only a couple of school horses. I might go there
just to see what it's like.
Hope this helps a little. There were a few other places that I don't remember
details about; I listed these because I either had good experiences there, or
heard things from people who should know. There are lots of places out there,
varying widely in quality. I don't think there are many places that have
school horses and that are also good enough to keep you improving for a
year or longer, but then you can always try someone else, and/or buy or
lease a horse. Good luck-- let us know what you find!
--carrie wilpolt
wilpolt%[email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.10 | Equestrian Digest Issue #7 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:54 | 410 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 2 Dec 1985 Issue 7
Today's Topics:
Address Changes and Additions
First Fox Hunt
winter
Re: Lessons in the Rain
addition to def of combined training
Re: Equestrian Digest Issue sampler
Polo
Re: Polo
Drill Teams
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 85 11:55:27 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Address Changes and Additions
Todd's and Laura's addresses have been changed for the sake of better
routing:
Todd Cooper <todd%[email protected]>,
Laura Edmondson <laura%[email protected]>
and the following people are new subscribers as of this issue:
Brent Chapman <chapman%[email protected]>,
Jeanne Christopher <[email protected]>,
Micci Dennee <micci%[email protected]>,
Annette Farrell <[email protected]>,
Wendy Kilguss <[email protected]>,
Sumo Kindersley <[email protected]>,
Julie Moore <[email protected]>,
Gary Traveis <[email protected]>
If anybody has a CSNET or ARPANET address that I'm not using (perhaps I'm
still using UUCP for you), please send me mail and let me know.
Thanks.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Date: 27 Nov 85 09:15:33 EST (Wed)
Subject: First Fox Hunt
My First Fox Hunt, or
What do you mean I have the wrong color buttons on my coat?
December 23, 1974, was so cold that when I held the bridle and tried to
warm the snaffle with my breath my lips got stuck. I had been invited
to try a hunt by a friend who had left the hunter/jumper ring and
fallen in love with hunting. I was reluctant--the prospect of
chasing down a live animal turned my stomach, but he assured me
that they would not "blood" the fox, and that usually they chased
a drag scent, anyway. So I rose at 4:00 am and drove to Dayton,
Ohio, and the Miami Valley Hunt.
I was prepared, you see, because I had read all about hunting
the night before. What you do, is you get a really expensive "coat"
in any color but "pink" which is really red and the buttons have
to be a special design. You wear a stock that can double as a
sling if you break your arm and a gold pin to tie the sling. You wear
a new stirrup leather as a belt. Then you always stay behind the
"fieldmaster" who is supposed to stay in front of the field, and
you don't talk while the hounds are in "check." The "master of
the hounds" rides around with a horn calling dogs. You can see I was
prepared.
At the lodge, an impressive place with lots of pictures of hunts
where the horses have all four feet in the air all the time, I
was introduced to the "capping" fee which I thought went into a
cap held by the fieldmaster, but which goes into an old NCR cash
register (it WAS Dayton, you understand). I was also introduced
to my mount of the day, a fine sturdy part warm blood and
decidedly part cold blood named Good Money. A sterling steed, I
felt. A little short of leg and long in the barrel for the show
ring, but sturdy, nevertheless. I knew we would be friends, but
I was concerned about his lack of withers. I borrowed a breast
strap, placed my fine close-contact show saddle on his broad
back, and looked forward to the day.
I expected a leisurely warmup, followed by a brisk gallop around
the front field, and maybe a cavaletti or two to get the feel of
my horse's mouth. What happened, actually, was that the kennel
gates were opened and 30 dogs (hounds, excuse me) with blood in their
eyes burst across the field at full cry. We followed. At a full
stretch gallop. Not only across the front field, but over the
four-foot stone wall that surrounded the field. When I realized
that I was going over that wall, without benefit of prior
knowledge of whether Good Money knew we were going over that
wall, I decided to place my horse exactly and confidently, giving
him no chance to refuse. Did you know that in the field horses
jump A FULL STRIDE sooner than they do in the show ring? I
didn't hit him in the mouth--I grabbed mane. But instead of a
"thud" when he landed, there were two--one when he landed and one
when I landed on his back. The second thud was loud enough that
my friend, riding ahead of me, looked back to see if I was still
mounted.
Then we galloped a lot and jumped a lot. We galloped so much and
jumped so much that I just grabbed mane and prayed. I thought
there was supposed to be quiet "checks" where we could raise a
flask and let our horses catch their wind. Nahhhh. We kept
galloping and jumping--me, who had never galloped longer than one
and a half times around the ring at a hand gallop was now
stretched flat out for an hour or so, with seconds of terror
slipped in at every fence. The fences seemed to grow in size,
but I might have been hallucinating. I KNOW that at one point we
were galloping through a creek that was almost belly high on my
horse (my feet were getting wet) and we JUMPED a tree that had
fallen over the creek. We made 90-degree turns up five-foot
banks and through tiny little breaks in the cover. The horse
knew the way to carry the paralyzed body on top--I'm not sure he
knew I was up there. I certainly wasn't giving him any signals!
When I was sure we had seen every terror possible in the hills of
the Great Miami River, we started to gallop up a steep hill. My
friend, still in front, turned, smiled, and yelled above the
din, "Here comes the son-of-a-bitch fence." You have not known
fear like I knew then. The SOB fence was at the very top of the
steep hill. On the landing, the horses turned left. Not one
stride after the landing, you understand--ON THE LANDING. Then
one short stride--and another fence, and straight down a hill. I
am proud to say that my hands never left the mane.
We hacked a long way back. My legs were spaghetti. I had
learned the valuable lesson that fit horse, fit rider doesn't
come out of the show ring without a lot of work. And the
toughest course designer going is Mother Nature. I was afraid I
was going to slide from my horse while we walked down the road.
There's no way to get back IN to the front field except the way
you got out. I didn't expect Good Money to make a left turn and
jump the stone wall to go home. I did stay on--but I stayed on
his side, not his back--but, hey, form doesn't count in the hunt
field. I made it back without disgracing myself.
The moral of the story--don't believe everything you read. And
don't go hunting unless you are fit and your insurance is paid.
And now, as I snuggle into my warm chair, and another anniversary of
my first hunt shows on the calendar, I am proud to say I made it.
And somewhere back in Ohio, I hope there is still a brown grade
gelding who is proud to tell his stablemates that he took really
good care of a greenie one time and his mane has grown back very
well.
--------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 85 10:38:06 est
From: Todd Cooper <todd%[email protected]>
Subject: winter
I sent a letter that got lost in UUCP mail about two weeks ago and I will try
to reproduce it here for the digest.
My instructor has cut off lessons for the winter. This is because she does not
yet have an indoor ring and does other work for the winter. I now have to
decide what I am going to do for the winter. I think that I may take polo
lessons. Does anybody on the list have any experience with polo? Anyone have
suggestions?
I was worried that I was the only horse person involved in computers, but I am
glad to see that there are many others. I have been faithfully reading the
Digests and appreciate all stories that everyone is writing.
I have them same problem as Carl. I am 6'0" and have problems getting a horse
that is big enough for me. I disagree that normal body weight is 210, but
I weigh that and am probably chubby. I wish I could find an affordable horse
that could carry my weight and height. I think 15-16 hands would be a nice
size.
I think I may have ridden Carl's old appy in Upstate NY -- Want to fill me in
on who you sold it to Carl?
---------------------------
Todd Cooper
UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!todd ...!harvard!think!festiv!todd
CSNET: todd@bu-cs
BITNET: cscpyqc@bostonu
USNail: 29 Gordon Street #201, Brighton, MA 02135
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 15:59:13 est
From: decvax!ucf-cs!laura (Laura Edmundson)
Subject: Re: Lessons in the Rain
Judy,
In the last batch of mail I got, I noticed that you had some
questions about schooling cross-country in the rain. Since I've done
a lot of competing in the rain, I thought I'd tell you what I've come
up with for safety. First of all, your horse should be shod with shoes
that have either borium tips or are tapped for screw-in studs. Also,
he should have bell boots and protective galloping boots on. The best
reins to use are the rubber grip reins since all other kinds get very
slippery when they're wet. To keep your feet from slipping out of the
stirrups, you can wrap the stirrups with Latex Sealtex tape (available
at most tack shops or drug stores). Another thing to remember when you
are schooling, is to check the footing at the fence you're planning to
jump. If the footing looks very wet or chewed up then don't jump the
fence. The risk of hurting your horse outweighs the value of jumping
one fence.
To one and all,
In case anybody's interested in a little personal history, I
thought I'd add this note.
I've competed through the preliminary/young riders 3-day level
in eventing and through second and third level in dressage. My current
horse is a 9 year old 16.2 hand thoroughbred gelding. In the past I've
done a little of everything from gymkhana to hunter/jumper, and for
anyone who knows about the United States Pony Club--I am a graduate A.
I am looking forward to the next batch of mail for all the
new horse news, etc. By the way, I am a graduate student at the
University of Central Florida in Orlando,Fl. for those of you trying
to figure out where ucf-cs is.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 15:59:30 est
Subject: addition to def of combined training
From: decvax!ucf-cs!laura (Laura Edmundson)
Carrie did a great job of defining dressage, combined training and
hunt seat, and I just wanted to clarify the difference in combined training
between three-days, two-days and horse trials.
Horse Trials : These competitions are generally held over one or
two days and include all three phases--dressage, cross country and stadium,
generally held in that order, although some events run stadium before
cross-country when the horses have to be trailered to the cross country
location. The United States Combined Training Association recognizes the
following levels of competition in order of difficulty from lowest to highest:
novice(3' jumps), training(3'3"), preliminary/young riders(3'7"), intermediate
(3'9") and advanced(3'11").
three-day event : These competitions are held over three or four
days with dressage on the first day(or two depending on the number of entries),
endurance phase on the second day and stadium jumping on the third day. The
endurance phase is what characterizes a three-day. It consists of four distinct
parts as follows:
phase a : roads and tracks. This is usually about 3-5 kilometers
long to be ridden at a trot or slow canter and is used as a
warm up for phase b.
phase b : steeplechase. This is definitely the most fun of all.
It is a 2-3 km course of large (4'6"-4'11") brush fences to be
jumped at nearly racing speed - around 23 mph.
phase c : second roads and tracks. This is another slow phase
to allow the horse to recover from the steeplechase phase. It
is usually 8-12 km to be ridden at a trot.
phase d : cross country. This is the same as the cross country
phase of a horse trial with 20-30 fences to be jumped in a
time allowed based on a speed of 18-20 mph.
There is a mandatory 10 minute rest period between phase c and phase d
where your horse is checked by a vet to make sure it is fit to continue on
phase d. This is the only break, so you end up spending an hour or so trotting
or galloping. As you might guess, this takes a very fit horse. Also note that
the horses must carry a minimum weight (except at preliminary/young riders
level) of 165 lbs. which includes the rider, saddle and a weight pad if
necessary. There is no weight requirement for the stadium phase.
The USCTA recognizes three-day events at preliminary, intermediate
and advanced levels. There is also a young riders division that is generally
held over a preliminary level course except at events recognized by the
FEI (international equestrian federation) where young riders compete over
advanced level courses.
two-day event : This consists of the same phases as a three-day, but
is held over only two days. Dressage and stadium on the first day and the
endurance phase on the second day.
To Carl & Judy,
Do either of you happen to know Ellen Brewer. She had a small barn in
Napierville, Ill. and used to ride with Jurgen Gohler. I met her when we
roomed together while working with Bruce Davidson getting ready to compete
at Chesterland and Radnor, but that was two years ago and I haven't heard
anything about her since Radnor. Any ideas about whether she's still riding
or what she's doing now? By the way, Carl, watch out for Jurgen. He is not
as great as he leads his students to believe, as Ellen found out after
working with Bruce for a while.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 85 16:53:48 est
From: sumo kindersley <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Equestrian Digest Issue sampler
thank you very very much.
i have enjoyed all the mailings you sent and will be pleased to
receive them as long as you are generous enough with your time
to send them out!
i'd like to warn you that i may be a very silent member of the group.
although i rode quite a lot from about age 7 to age 14 or so, since
then it has been very sporadic, partly due to lack of funds and now
to lack of time as well (grad school!). i rode english, dressage (oh
BOY was that fun) & ring/x-country jumping for the 1st ~5yrs of that.
i had to switch to western for a few years due to lack of any english
stables where i lived. what i *really* miss is *-* Talking Horse *-*
and that is being remedied by this group. don't decide you haven't
been reaching me if you do not hear from me - if i perceive silence for
a week or more i will mail you by a number of branches and let you know
that our connection is fouled. because i am not riding currently (nor
have i ever owned a horse) i will have few questions and few answers.
however - and believe me - i will be revelling in the horsey talk!
thanks - sumo kindersley (of southwestern ontario just now)
--------------------
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 85 9:44:38 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Polo
Todd,
I've had some second-hand experience with polo -- at one of the
barns I boarded at in Michigan, the owner was an active member of the
Detroit Polo Club. The main impression I got about polo was that it is
expensive -- the Detroit Polo Club is hardly the Palm Beach Polo Club (most
DPC players had 1- to 2-goal, or even 0-goal ratings ... the really good
Argentine players sometimes have 9- or 10-goal ratings), but even to play
with the DPC the fellow kept six "ponies" (really horses, often
thoroughbred or part thoroughbred, often imported from Argentina) and a
groom to care for them. Many ponies are needed because play is fast and a
horse can only play for one or two chukkers (sp?) before needing a rest,
but there are four, six or even eight chukkers in a game. Grooms (or a
helpful family) are needed to care for the ponies at the games as well as
to keep them in condition at home.
This isn't meant to be discouraging. I'm sure lots of people play
on borrowed or leased ponies, or get involved at a less intense level. I
just wanted to warn you that if you get really hooked on polo you may need
a second job (or at least a paper route :-) to cover the costs of playing
what is, even in an egalitarian era/society, emphatically NOT a poor man's
game!
Good luck -- and if you do take polo lessons please tell us all
about your adventures with stick and ball, etc.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 85 13:18:06 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Polo
Todd,
On a less serious note, if you become a polo enthusiast, you may
want to consider a career with my most recent former employer, Gould
Electronics. I worked in Computer Systems Division, which is headquartered
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The chairman of the board, William T. "Wild Bill" Ylvisaker, is a
well-known and avid polo devotee. As an example of Gould's commitment to
enriching its community, Gould funded, in large part, the construction of
the Palm Beach Polo Club. Such selfless generosity.
In any case, perhaps polo as an extracurricular activity might be
subsidized by Gould ...? ;-)
--
Ken Rossen ...!{decvax,ihnp4,ima,linus,harvard,seismo}!bbncca!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 85 9:44:43 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Drill Teams
Patricia,
I was so delighted to hear that there is at least one drill team
still in existence. Some of the most fun I ever had was riding in a drill
team on my first horse when I was thirteen. The instructor was the genuine
article -- a slightly fossilized but still functioning ex-cavalry officer
-- who marshalled our little drill team as though we would be called up for
active duty any minute! Loads of fun and a good learning experience too.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.11 | Equestrian Digest Issue #8 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:57 | 485 |
| Equestrian Digest Fri 6 Dec 1985 Issue 8
Today's Topics:
Membership/Mailing Update
Midwest trainers/instructors
Re: Midwest trainers/instructors
Riding/Leasing
horses for sale
Navicular Disease / Shipping
Re: Navicular Disease
Re: Pregnant mare, Appaloosa heritage, Fox Hunt
Snow Gear
equestrian
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 85 16:57:11 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Membership/Mailing Update
Sumo Kindersley is on CSNET:
Sumo Kindersley <smkindersley%water%[email protected]>
... and Kathy Ladewig and John Nagle are new subscribers:
Kathy Ladewig <[email protected]>,
John Nagle <[email protected]>
Sorry for those of you who sent mail this week to me as bbncca!krossen.
bbncca was down for a while. I suggest UUCP people address me in the
future as bbnccv!krossen, since most UUCP mail to bbncca is routed through
bbnccv, and both machines are equivalent from my point of view (either will
forward my mail to bbnccp).
STOCK UP NOW ON HORSE STAMPS FOR HOLIDAY CARDS!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: 2 Dec 85 14:08:12 EST (Mon)
Subject: Midwest trainers/instructors
Here's the list of Midwest trainers/instructors I promised a while ago. I've
also provided some commentary on what I think are their strong/weak points.
Except as noted, these people assume that you already have or soon will have
your own horse.
1) Chuck Sherman
Michiana Riding Academy
Michigan City, Indiana
His speciality is teaching Combined Training. He has two young
(late teens/early twenties) students who are winning at Three Day
Preliminary and one student who is going Training Level. He
genuinely likes people and gets along well with everyone. He's
calm and patient but insists that his young students call him
"Sir". Recommended.
2) Bill Coester
c/o Harlan Farms
Orland Park, Illinois
Bill also specializes in Combined Training. He's about 25-27 and
just turned professional. He graduated from Pony Club as an 'A'
rider, has ridden Prelim at Lexington, and has trained another
horse to go Prelim. Bill's the kind of dressage rider who, when
he rides, you look at and think: "Why do I even try?". He's
preternaturally patient in his lessons. Highly recommended.
3) Jurgen & Laura Gohler
Bell Farm
Channahon, Illinois
(815) 467-4051
Jurgen used to ride on the German National Event Team and has
forgotten more than most of us will ever know. If he can't do it
on a horse, it probably can't be done. He's undoubtedly the best
rider/trainer in the Chicago area, but if you want a lesson with
him, it's best to have him come to your place to give a clinic.
He enjoys clinics because he sees them as vacations, even though
he teaches all day, and is willing to teach all but the rankest
beginner. He's an enjoyable clinic teacher and is willing to teach
you even though you don't have an expensive horse (I've taken
lessons from him on a school horse). At home, he's a hard task-
master and expects that you can ride *solid* 1st Level dressage
or Training Level eventing. Recommended for clinics at your place,
but if you go to his place, be sure there are no weak spots in your
ego.
Laura has been riding since she was a child and now teaches
combined training. She's patient, never yells, tries hard to instill
confidence in her students (she thoroughly understands what it
feels like to be terrified on a horse), and takes you through
something step by step from the beginning. She teaches people
greenest beginner through 1st Level dressage/Training Level eventing.
She has a horse on which she gives lessons. Highly recommended.
4) Christi Nahser
Chrislin Farm
Burr Ridge, Illinois
Chrislin Farm is the enormous (~25 acre) backyard of her parents'
place in Burr Ridge, a big-bucks suburb of Chicago. She has a
nice dressage arena, but no indoor arena, so it's basically a
seasonal operation. I'm not sure if Christi is still teaching or
not, but she used to do O.K. with maiden/easy novice level event
riders. She's mostly known for having a series of mini-events that
are great practice. She's lots of fun, but terribly disorganized and
undisciplined (she's in her early 30s and her folks still support
her). Don't bother if you're serious about learning to ride well.
5) Jerry Schwartz
Evergreen Farm
Peotone, Illinois
I'm taking a chance on this one. I know only the basics about
Jerry: he rides high-level dressage on a European Warmblood and
wants to make it to the Olympics. I've never seen any evidence
that he events. I believe he gives lessons, but I've never seen
him do so, so this is a little shaky. I put his name in here
because he's the closest to Champaign of anyone I know. If
anyone else knows more about him, please let us know.
6) Linden Spear
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Linden has been riding for a long time and has run several boarding
barns. She recently moved and I don't know the name of her new barn
or the address. I'll post it when I find out what it is. She events,
has tried her hand at training, and one year put on a registered
event. She's reliable, trustworthy, and has a good rapport
with her students. Jurgen Gohler goes to her place about once a
month to give a clinic. Her students and boarders tend to be
average people with average horses (i.e. no zillion dollar horses
or snooty people). I expect that she has school horses.
I've never seen Linden give a lesson, but I can't imagine her
yelling at anyone without *excellent* reason.
That's the first part of the list. I'll pass along the rest of the list
when I get all the names and addresses.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 85 10:16:02 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Midwest trainers/instructors
(Specifically, Re: Jerry Schwartz)
Carl may have thought he was taking a chance listing Jerry but it is a
chance that will pay off for anyone who makes the journey to
Peotone/Beecher. I rode with Jerry for a year while my husband was in grad
school at U of Illinois. He was my first real dressage instructor and was
so good that I'm now hooked for life!! Jerry not only gives lessons but he
actually even has a few school horses suitable for fairly inexperienced
riders. He is a marvelous teacher -- patient, clear, and enthusiastic. He
starts most riders out on the longe line, even if they've ridden before --
this is an excellent way for riders to have a chance to concentrate on seat
and balance without having to ride at the same time!
Jerry is currently long-listed for the Team in '88. He has ridden and
studied extensively in Germany with Udo Lange among others. He also
studies with Christilot Boylen (both Christilot and Udo sometimes give
clinics at Jerry's place, Ever Green Farm). Jerry is strictly a dressage
rider/instructor although I believe he has someone come in once a week to
give jumping lessons to boarders only who are interested. I could go on
and on about how much he helped me and how good I think he is but I will
try to condense for the sake of bleary-eyed netters -- If you are in
the Chicago or Champaign-Urbana area and are a serious rider seriously
interested in dressage you can't do better than Jerry.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 85 12:32:04 EST
From: Julie Moore <[email protected]>
Subject: Riding/Leasing
I was just added to the list of horse-lovers. I LOVED the
story "My First Fox Hunt." It's right up there with Cooky
McClung's stories in the Chronicle. After glancing
through back issues of the digest, I think I can be of help
to those riders looking for riding lessons or lease arrangements
close to Boston. Some barns I've had experience with (or know
about) are shown below.
ASCOT Riding Center: Ipswich (45 min. from Boston) 356-5932
VERY reputable -- top-notch instruction. Excellent horses --
no "crazies" in the school-horse string. All instructors are
good. They have big horses for tall/heavy riders. No lease
privileges -- strictly lessons. Indoor ring. Friendly
atmosphere. Group lessons are generally about 3 riders.
Emphasis on the rider's progress. Worth the trip if you're
a serious rider (I rode there for about 5 years).
AUBURN Farms: Georgetown (40 min. from Boston) 352-6161
(I assume they're still there). Excellent instruction -- no
leasing arrangements. Horses aren't as good as ASCOT's, but
if you're already "comfortable" on a horse you should be
fine there. Horses are in excellent condition -- in fact,
a bit pampered. My teacher there (Kathy) is very aggressive --
she doesn't yell, but you DO do what she tells you to do.
I got to like her a lot, but then I found ASCOT.
ARROWHEAD Stables: Concord (MA) (20-25 min. from Cambridge)
371-1593. Run by Charlie Koch. Expensive: 1/2-hr. private
lesson is $25.00. 1-hr. semi-private is $28.00(?) each.
Indoor ring. Warm, friendly atmosphere. Enough BIG horses
(Mr. T is 17.2) to suit tall/heavy riders. Charlie allows
you to take his horses to hunts (hunting just ended for the
season) and to shows (there WILL be winter shows). He also
has a "use-lease" for $200. a month. The PERFECT deal for
a serious rider who doesn't own a horse at the moment.
Charlie does NOT yell and is very encouraging to riders
at whatever level. He teaches hunt seat (which now includes
all basic dressage movements). He's heavy into shoulder-ins
at the moment. My horse presently lives there.
VERRILL Farm: Concord (down the street from ARROWHEAD).
Alice (McNeil) runs it. She may be less expensive -- she
brings nice horses to shows -- she seems VERY aggressive --
takes over the warm-up fences, etc. I went to VERRILL
some time ago to look at a horse for sale and found it to
be a bog -- just wanted to get out of there and forget it.
It may have changed since then!
PEGASUS Farm: Westford, MA. Beautiful Facility -- big indoor
ring. If you've ridden before, you'd probably get along OK.
I've heard some scary stories about lesson horses. Apparently
horses in for consignment sale are sometimes used in lessons
with bone-breaking results. Local people seem to think the
atmosphere there is "strange." There's always some story
about Pegasus making the gossip newsletter.
LEGACY Farm: Bedford. No indoor ring. New owners are making
big improvements. I know about 5 people boarding their horses
there who seem to be happy with the place. From what I can
see the school horses are what you think school horses would
be -- but if you're a "casual" rider I think it would be a
decent barn.
WINONA: Framingham. I went there to check it out as a
possibility for boarding my horse. It seemed like a nice
place and the people I spoke to were friendly. THEN I spoke
to a person who had entered into an on-farm lease of one of
Winona's horses. She was there for a period of months and
describes it as a "hellish experience." Don't know what
part of her story is exaggeration, so won't repeat it here.
THE RIDING SCHOOL: Weston. I haven't heard much that was
good -- but I have no first-hand experience (although I do
know the current manager).
REVERE/SAUGUS: Currently for sale. I can't imagine boarding
a horse there. Facilities are very limited. I've been there
3 or 4 times and the indoor ring was a crazy place with horses
tied to the walls and 2 or 3 lessons going on simultaneously.
ANDOVER: Seems to go through many hands. I've heard nothing
but horror stories. Watched a lesson once -- one horse was
SO lame that he tried to avoid jumping at all costs
(though he was still made to jump). Interestingly enough, the
teacher(?) DID get him to jump by standing near the fence with
a lunge whip and whipping him as much as she could as he
approached the fence -- meanwhile telling the rider how to
hold her reins so that he couldn't possibly run out. When I
couldn't deal with that anymore, I walked past the straight
stalls where the school-horses were kept (I wish I hadn't).
--------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 85 13:49:22 EST
From: Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>
Subject: horses for sale
For those horse people out there interested in acquiring a four legged
creature, two stables that I know of have several horses for sale:
Winnona Too Sherborn 651-1092
Pegasus Farm Westford 692-7060
If you call Pegasus, I suggest not to mention my name (particularly if
you are speaking to Lorrie, my least favorite instructor).
Ania O'Brien
P.S. If you are interested in combined training lessons, Sybil at Winnona
is wonderful.
--------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 85 14:12:57 est
From: Laura Edmundson <laura%[email protected]>
Subject: Navicular Disease / Shipping
To everybody,
Has anybody out there had any experience dealing with navicular
problems? I am planning to buy a horse which has been diagnosed as having
navicular disease and would like to hear any success and/or failure stories
any of you might have relating to this problem. Before you start sending
flaming responses to the effect that I am completely insane, etc. please
consider the following : I owned this horse for seven years before selling
him to his current owner. In that seven years, he was consistently very
sound through quite a bit of very hard work (harder than he's doing now).
He is currently living on a thoroughbred farm which is geared toward racing,
and is being shod by a track farrier. While the horse is a half-Arabian
event horse, his feet look like they belong to 2 or 3 year old on the
track (long toe, no heel and very narrow). This is not the way I kept him
shod, and one of the few times I had any trouble with him was when his
feet were done this way by an unfamiliar farrier. Could this be the cause
of the problem? If so, will proper shoeing eliminate the trouble, or at
least reduce it considerably?
Have any of you had any experience using the drug Isoxsuprine?
This is supposed to be the new wonder drug for treating navicular, but I
am not very familiar with it. How about bar shoes? Which seem to be more
effective heart or eggbut? With or without pads?
Thanks in advance for any help.
On to a different subject. I just got issues 2 and 3 of the digest
as the copies that were sent originally seem to have gone into a black hole.
I noticed a discussion of various horse transportation firms and saw
that Sallee was not mentioned. When I was riding on this area's young rider
team we chartered a Sallee van to transport our horses from Alabama to
South Hamilton, Mass. The drivers were very friendly and good with the horses,
and the horses all had 1 1/2 stalls. Since that time I have noticed that
the majority of vans at thoroughbred sales in Ocala are from Sallee, so
I would guess that they are one of the more popular lines.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 85 10:16:47 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Navicular Disease
Laura,
I feel qualified to speak on this subject because my first
children's hunter was a quarterhorse with tiny feet who developed navicular
well before his tenth birthday. Long toe no heel is the very worst thing
you can do to a navicular horse's feet. Good corrective shoeing can make
the difference between a navicular horse remaining useful and going dead
lame. My quarterhorse was dead lame barefoot or shod too far back on his
heel but was reasonable sound when shod well up on his toe with the weight
taken off his heels. He also wore wedge pads (thicker in back than in
front) with silicone. We didn't use bar shoes, but I know people who have
done so with success. The best thing is to get a veterinarian well versed
in navicular in general and the horse's care in particular to specify
(including angles, type of shoes, pads, etc.) how he thinks the horse
should be shod. Then get the best farrier you can to carry out the
instructions. (Vet schools are often helpful for these kinds of
recommendations -- I took my horse to the clinic at Michigan State
University.)
I've heard amazing things about Isoxsuprine but few specifics. I
gather it is most helpful in cases where the navicular disease is in the
early stages.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: 4 Dec 85 11:22:02 EST (Wed)
From: annh%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Pregnant mare, Appaloosa heritage, Fox Hunt
Group,
Re: re: Pregnant mare
Thanks for the info on worming. I have since gotten other input on
the subject, and will be worming my mare this weekend. Apparently, it is very
important to keep the mare worm free so that the foal is not born wormy. This
makes alot of sense.
Re: Appaloosa heritage
This is in answer to Carl's question, but I thought my response might
be of interest to everyone, so here goes: The Appaloosa has a unique history
for a registered breed, because until about 15 years ago, ANY spotted horse
with the striped hooves and pink sclera around the eyes could be registered
as an Appaloosa. This meant that you could breed your Quarter Horse mare to
an Appaloosa stallion, and register the foal as an Appaloosa. I happen to know
this, because my aunt bred a grade mare she had to an Appy stallion, and she
was able to register the filly as an Appaloosa. I think they started out this
way, because at first the Appaloosa was thought to be just a color pattern,
like buckskin (yes, there is a buckskin registry). But later, they decided
that Appaloosa was really a breed, so they closed the registry to horses without
registered parents. This explains why there are Appaloosas that look like
Quarter Horses, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Clydesdales, etc. Somewhere in their
not too distant past, they have one of those for an ancestor. Interesting, huh?
Re: Fox Hunt
I couldn't help but laugh as I read Joyce's account of her first fox
hunt. It sounded just like my first cross country/jump trip. I rode with a
friend of mine whose father was the Field Master, and they owned a kennel of
thirty hounds. I wanted to go on a hunt with them, so my friend was good enough
to take me out alone for a practice mission. I had never jumped, and at that
time, I owned a half-Arab, half-pony. So, he let me ride one of their
Thoroughbred geldings. Since this was just a pleasure hack, we rode bareback.
This giant was 16.3, and I am only 5'3" . My friend asked me if I wanted a
leg-up :-). Oh, he also was an ex-race horse. We were just going out to try
the course so we didn't have the hounds with or anything. It was just a normal
pleasure ride, and all went well until our first jump. It was a 3 and 1/2 foot
fence, so my friend told me that I could go around it if I wanted to, but my
mount had other ideas. I was hanging on to his mane before his back feet left
the ground. I remember the 'thud' as he hit the ground, and then I hit his neck.
Very ungainly. I must have startled him, because then he decided to bolt. Keep
in mind the picture of this huge black gelding tearing accross the meadow with
me on bareback still holding his mane, and trying to stop him with a snaffle.
The only thing that worked was talking him down, and heading him uphill. When
he finally stopped, I just sort of layed against his neck; all spaghetti arms
and legs. My friend was no help. He just wondered what happened. I decided I
needed alot more experience at jumping before I was ready for a real fox hunt.
That was in 1979, and I haven't gone on one yet.
Well this has gotten long enough. Until next time!
Ann Heinke
ihnp4!druxm!annh
--------------------
Date: 5 Dec 85 14:41:30 EST (Thu)
From: [email protected] (JJ Cymbaluk)
Subject: Snow Gear
Season's Greetings!
Snow has not yet arrived in this part of the country, the N.J. area seems
to get the most of it's snow during Jan.-Mar. Anyway, this will be the first
year that I outfit my horse's feet with some snow gear. Last year, I was up
and down off of the saddle so many times hammering huge ice balls out of my
horse's hooves, it was ridiculous. My blacksmith showed me the snow pads with
the little cups in them and I believe that I'm going to give them a try. Does
anyone out there use them?
I didn't want to use caulked shoes, because my horse is pastured with others
and tends to be a bit on the bossy side, so I wouldn't want to cause any in-
juries. Besides, I don't think that caulks would work anyway, the snow would
just build up and the caulks would end up not even touching the ground!
I've seen Easyboots advertised and I suppose they would work well with caulks
attached. I've also heard that if you're in a bind and really want to ride in
the snow, cooking oil applied to the bottom of the foot will discourage the
snow from sticking.
Any other suggestions?
Janet C. packard!jxc
--------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 85 17:00:15 mst
From: sandia!kghaine%[email protected]
Subject: equestrian
I saw your posting about horse enthusiasts and would like to be
included on the mailing list. I'm glad to know there are other
horse lovers out there! My specific interests are dressage
and combined training, but I am also generally interested in
anything equine. Thanks.
Katrina Haines
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, NM
...!{ucbvax,lanl,gatech}!unmvax!sandia!kghaine
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.12 | Equestrian Diget Issue #9 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 22:59 | 208 |
| Equestrian Digest Tue 17 Dec 1985 Issue 9
Today's Topics:
Address Info
Equestrian Digest
Cattle Ranch
New Arrival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 85 14:43:36 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Address Info
Regina Frey <[email protected]> -or- <topaz!ru-blue!frey> is a new
subscriber. Laura Edmondson <[email protected]> will be off the list for a
while because of an expired account (end-of-semester, y'know). I should
have a new address for her sometime in January. We'll be saving your mail,
Laura!
Traffic has slowed a bit, I suspect because of people taking vacations and
semesters ending (final exams), and that's why so much time in between
issues 8 and 9. I got some mail asking why they hadn't seen mail in a
while. If you ever have suspicions about your mail arriving, please let me
know. I don't mind answering these questions at all, since they don't take
much time and it helps me be sure the channels are still open.
Some students on the list may have a change of address or temporary
deactivation of their account between semesters. Please advise me of any
such changes, so I can keep the digest coming.
I am still trying to establish reliable communication with Ed Carroll
<infinet!carroll> and Katrina Haines <sandia!kghaine>. If anyone is in
touch with either of them, let me know.
Happy Holidays.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thu Dec 12 1985, 12:59:09 CST
From: [email protected] (Kathy Ladewig)
Subject: Equestrian Digest
Fellow Horse Lovers,
I received my first 8 issues of Equestrian Digest and devoured them. It's
been 3 years since I've been around anyone who talks horses. I'll probably
be a silent member of the digest, but I love reading what all of you have to
say. Thanks Ken for organizing and maintaining this digest.
Now a little about myself and my interest in horses:
I got started in the horse business when I won an 8 year old Bay Quarter Horse
mare and a saddle in a raffle in north-eastern Illinois. I kept Lucky Lady
for 5 years. I had to sell her when I got layed off from my job and could no
longer afford to board her. She had played proffessional polo, but I mostly
used her for trail riding. I did play cowboy polo on her one winter. She
was a great horse, I could do anything with her. Of course, with her
proffessional background, she was the best polo horse on the team.
My next horse was a small palamino mare named Buffy. She already had that
name when I bought her, but it kind of fit. She was a real baby. Perfect
for all the kids that were in our horse club. My husband had a half Tennessee
Walker and half quarter geilding named Rusty. When we split, he gave him to me.
Now I'll never have anything but a Walker for trail riding. Smooooooth!
When I decided to follow him to Texas, I sold Rusty. Doesn't make much sense
to sell a horse when you are moving to Texas, but we live in town in an
apartment. I vowed when I had to sell Lady that I would never get another
horse until I could keep it myself in my own barn. After 3 years of not
riding and not being around horses, I'm starting to change my mind. Now only
finances stand in my way.
Looking forward to reading all of your experiences with horses.
Kathy Ladewig
Tandy System Software
uucp: {laidbak,sco,microsoft,{allegra,ihnp4!{convex!ctvax}}!trsvax!kasey}
--------------------
From: cbd%[email protected]
Date: 12 Dec 85 11:24:18 EST (Thu)
Subject: Cattle Ranch
Is anyone interested in spending a week on a real, live, honest-to-God,
working cattle ranch? I don't own one, so this isn't an invitation to
come visit, but last year (84) I spent some time on just such a ranch out
near Billings, Montana. I went there to spend a week on a horse in the
mountains and I enjoyed it immensely, so I thought I'd let people who
might like the same thing know about it.
It's called the TX Ranch, and is owned and operated by the Tillets,
who are just ordinary, down-to-earth cattle ranchers, and very friendly.
Their place is most emphatically *NOT* a dude ranch. It is a working cattle
ranch that takes in paying guests in the summer. Guests get to take part in the
work to whatever extent they want, and everyone gets to ride every day.
The cattle spend the summer on the range, which is basically miles and miles
of nothing but mountains, forest, sage, grass, and the occassional stream,
and so your time is also spent out on the range.
There are few amenities - you'll sleep in a tent or under the stars, haul
all your water from a spring, bathe infrequently, have no TV, radio, or phone,
and have only the reading materials you bring in with you. If you're lucky,
there'll be an outhouse nearby, but don't count on it. Some people think those
things are the basis of an excellent vacation, but if you don't, there is
still a lot to recommend the place: Those mountains are beautiful;
the air is clean, cool, and smells of sage; you can see the stars at night;
you'll see no people except the owners and other guests and no vehicles
besides the supply truck that stays with the work; the food is simple,
well-made, and plentiful; the mountains are so quiet and peaceful that
you don't think about what time it is or what day it is (I found myself
sitting for hours just watching the shadows on the mountains across the
valley); and the horses are damn good.
Before I went, I didn't know what to expect from their horses, but
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. All their horses are well-built,
solid, well-trained, and calm (I once got mine caught in a hawthorne
thicket and while I sweated and cursed getting it un-stuck, it just stood
there as calm as if it were asleep). We spent about 5 hours a day on
horse back, so the horses had to be good.
There's a lot of good to recommend the place, but there are two bad points
also. Cattle tend to be ugly, stupid, boring, and covered with shit. Two
or three afternoons of castrating, de-horning, giving shots, ear-tagging,
and generally doctoring a herd of cattle is enough for a long time. You
of course have no say in who the other guests are, and you can get stuck
with a turkey or two. When I was there, there was one businessman who
thought his home town of Grand Rapids was the center of the universe, and
didn't hesitate to remind you of it. There was also a young loud-mouth
from Toronto who was as shallow, boorish, ignorant, and trendy as any person
can be. I ignored those two as much as possible and enjoyed the others
(they never have more than ten at a time) who were very nice.
On balance it was a very enjoyable experience and I'd go back again.
The week out there cost me about $400 plus transportation to and
from Billings. If you'd like more information, write to the TX ranch at the
address below. They have a brochure that explains all the details.
TX Ranch
Box 453
Lovell, Wyoming
82431
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 85 13:50:14 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New Arrival
In sort of a flurry of activity, we have bought a new horse.
Karen and I were forced, because of problems in our mare's movement
observed JUST before we were about to ship her from Indiana to
Massachusetts, to begin the search for a new dressage horse. The search
was much shorter than anticipated, as on the first (yes, FIRST) place we
visited we found a big young gelding Karen really liked. After four or
five more visits and 14 more horses he still looked like the best one, and
two of his half-sisters, both under the training of Karen's instructor,
have been fine dressage horses. Furthermore, the price was far better than
we'd have expected (the other horses Karen looked at weren't as nice and
were priced at up to twice as much), so after a hastily arranged inspection
by instructor and veterinarian and the acquisition of both their blessings,
we bought him.
He's a 17h chesnut gelding coming four years old in April. He's already
walking, trotting and cantering under saddle, but is a little new to
everything else. Never having had a horse bigger than 16h before, we've
been all around New England trying to find oversized EVERYTHING. Since he
has to lead 1/4 mile down the road to the ring for lessons, we've taken him
out a couple of times to get him used to that, and he's been very good.
Karen is excited about riding him (her first lesson on him is today), and I
am excited about "inheriting" him in a few years if/when Karen looks for
another horse and I get good enough to ride him (I think this horse might
be big enough for me!).
He came with the truly awful name "Golden Boy," which we've been avoiding.
We're now calling him Grendel.
Maybe someone on the list can help us with the following -- in our years of
horses, we've always enjoyed reading in some depth about each new breed of
horse we have. But Grendel is a Hanoverian, and we've never seen a good
book on the breed (perhaps because they are just coming into popularity in
the United States ...). Can anybody recommend one? Does anybody else want
to contribute tales of their experience with the breed, or with large
horses? (no, Mark, Karen doesn't need a ladder to get on him -- at least not
yet. If he GROWS, however ...)
Please wish us luck with him!
(... and if you know of anybody in the midwest who wants to buy a SWEET
dispositioned TB mare, slightly green but a VERY easy breeder, LET US KNOW!)
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.13 | Equestrian Digest Issue #10 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:00 | 218 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 30 Dec 1985 Issue 10
Today's Topics:
Address Information
Hanoverians
last mail
Re: Turn-out for Horses
Re: Turn-out for Horses
Kudos
Quarter Horse Championships
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 8:49:54 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Address Information
Happy New Year, everybody.
Two new subscibers as of this issue -- Ed in the Boston area and Robin in
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.
Ed Carroll <[email protected]>,
Robin Sahner <[email protected]>
UUCP addresses for these two are decvax!wanginst!infinet!carroll and
ihnp4!uiucdcs!ccvaxa!ras, respectively.
Sumo Kindersley's home machine has moved from "water" to "watdragon."
Sumo Kindersley <smkindersley%[email protected]>
Lord Frith <speaker@trwrdc> is off the subsciption list until his machine
gets a new internet address, and Laura Edmondson's account
<[email protected]> has expired for the semester but will reppear in one form
or another in January.
To keep your issues coming, please let me know if/when your electronic
address changes.
Thanks
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 85 9:50:40 EST
From: Julie Moore <[email protected]>
Subject: Hanoverians
Congratulations on your new purchase. I used to board
with Laura Nordley (617-862-1421) who owns a BIG
Hanoverian/TB mare. She's done a lot of research on
Hanoverians -- she's even written articles about the
breed for Yankee Pedlar, etc. I'm sure she could
suggest books/articles for you to read. She's very
nice and all us horsey-type people love to talk about
the breeds we love.
--------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 85 18:17:04 est
From: Laura Edmundson <laura%[email protected]>
Subject: last mail
Ken,
Thanks for sending copies of the last two digests, I finally got
them today.
I went ahead and bought the horse with the so called case of navicular.
I've now had him home for two weeks in solid work, including gallop sets, and
have yet to see the first trace of lameness. Before I got him I talked to the
vet at the University of Florida Vet center who had seen him last. He said that
he did not diagnose navicular, and he suspected that the only thing wrong with
the horse was the way his feet were being shod since the x-rays did not show
any pronounced changes. He suggested Isoxsuprine and rolled toe shoes with
wedge pads until the feet were stabilized back in their normal balance.
One very obvious problem is that the farrier that had been doing the
horse was very right-handed. The horse's left front and rear feet are in fairly
good shape. The right front and rear are completely out of balance and are
smaller than the left feet.
Hopefully with a little luck and help from my vet and farrier I will
have a very useful horse. Now if I can only figure out how to keep him from
undoing every kind of latch that I put on his door I'll be ok.
Look forward to hearing from you next year.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 85 12:01:18 EST
From: Julie Moore <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Turn-out for Horses
This is my second message to the digest. I seem to have been
born with a love of horses, but, city-reared, I saw them only at
carnivals (pony-rides) or in movies. They leaped out at me from
books (Black Beauty, Flicka, etc.), but it was not until I was 33
that I actually started to ride. The fascination that was
lurking inside burst forth into a full-blown obsession. A lesson
a week became two a week. Lessons evolved into "boarding" a
horse (actually an on-farm lease). And, finally, I bought my
first horse. His name is Charlie (Good Time Charlie). He is
16.2, a "classic" Thoroughbred (like the old hunting prints). He
was 15 yrs. old when I bought him and on January 1st. he will be
26. He is still "showing" successfully, and this year he went to
three hunter paces. He loves to jump, to hunt, and to buck. I
love him unconditionally, perhaps much more than I should. The
following lines are no attempt at a poem, they are just my
thoughts when I turn Charlie out with "the herd."
Good Times
Insolent as you approach the herd, your tail a banner carried high,
Brave, yet careful, you mince along jaunty and bold.
While the herd, stolid, watches solemnly, waiting.
The hierarchy has been established, but you know the rules.
I stand at the fence and wonder if turning you out is wise:
You could be hurt -- kicked as Sunshine was,
And have to be put down; or in play you could pull a tendon,
Or cut a leg, or ...
But shall I make a hermit of you? a recluse shut away from the others?
Because I love you so, I tempt Fate. I turn you loose, and pray.
You, scornful of my fears, approach the others, neck arched.
The gauntlet has been thrown. Let the tournament begin!
Pal, Head Mare, a Clyde in love with the Herd Boss, Moby,
Has seen enough of your arrogance, my dashing cavalier.
Ears flat, neck lowered, she lumbers out to punish you.
She attacks with teeth and heels, but you laugh at her clumsiness;
You circle and pivot, taunt and tease,
A few strides away, you toss your head in defiance,
And canter off, bucking each third stride.
How I love to watch you!
Then you approach the others, one by one;
A sniff, a squeal, and either friend or foe is met.
This is the time for halter games, friendly scratching,
For mock-combat with the geldings, gentle nuzzling with the mares.
I know the turn-out has made you a happier horse,
And shudder to hear that some horses are never turned out,
Never meet to play, to roll in the dust or splash in a pond,
In spite of the dangers: Pal, or the rocks and holes that lie in ambush,
Even despite my worry (which I don't need, I have enough of that),
Turning you out is better because when you've had enough of the crowd,
And want the shelter of your stall, you come to the fence, to me.
Now the tournament is ended; this day the gods have been kind.
I clip the lead to your halter and calmly, quietly,
We walk back together and are peaceful.
Tonight you may dream of your crusade to the pasture kingdom,
Queen Pal, King Moby, the good knights Sir Banjo and Sir Clancy,
And the beautiful maidens: Tara, Frances, Triumph and Ghost.
Tonight I'll remember my dark champion free in the pasture,
Bay coat gleaming, head tossing proudly, tail straight up,
Inviting a race.
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 8:43:38 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Turn-out for Horses
Really enjoyed Julie's thoughts on Charlie's adventures with "the herd." I
can really relate to the conflict between wanting a horse to socialize with
other equines and the fear of injury. Also enjoyed you comments on the
"group dynamics" of the herd. Horses are social critters and few things
are more interesting to observe than the ways they work out their
"interpersonal relationships!"
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 8:46:21 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Kudos
Is that "our very own" Laura Edmondson whose name I spied in the December
20th Chronicle of the Horse winning training at the October 12-13th
Mid-Florida Pony Club / Rocking Horse Ranch mini-event on Spellbound? If
so, congratulations! Also glad to hear the new horse is working out well.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 8:46:28 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Quarter Horse Championships
This past Saturday ESPN Cable televised highlights from the World
Championship Quarter Horse Show. Some of the events shown were really
interesting. The cutting horses in particular were fascinating to watch
and seemed to be consummate athletes. But the halter horses ... hoo boy!
Without exception the contestants were heavy bodied with tiny feet and
miniscule upright pasterns. They seem to be genetically engineered to go
lame. At least one of the WINNERS (a two year old, yet!) was already
*visibly* sore. Most of them seemed muscle bound to the point of being
moribund. It is worth noting that the winners in the performance classes
did not really resemble the halter horses, but were on the whole much more
athletic, active looking individuals.
Have these halter classes really progressed to the point where the ideal
form no longer facilitates the horses' potential function?
Karen Rossen
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.14 | Equestrian Digest Issue #11 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:02 | 300 |
| Equestrian Digest Fri 3 Jan 1986 Issue 11
Today's Topics:
Moderator Message
EQ
Re: Hanoverians
Horse Breeds
introductions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 86 9:46:35 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Moderator Message
Happy 1986!
Kathy Smith of New Hampshire and Charlie Sorsby in New Mexico are new
subscribers.
Kathy Smith <decvax!gsg!kathy>,
Charlie Sorsby <[email protected]>
. . . and I'm still trying to get in touch with Jeff Glover and Katrina
Haines to make sure my paths are correct.
Jeff Glover <ihnp4!textronix!tekcbi!jeffg>,
Katrina Haines <unmvax!sandia!kghaine>
Also, if you're reading this, Jeanne Christopher, would you send me mail?
I'd like to make sure you're getting these.
I should clarify one thing about my policy (such as it is) on including
things in the digest. I occasionally get mail that is marked by the sender
as being a message to me, and not for the digest. Other messages I am
usually able to judge from the content as to whether they are intended for
publication or for me only (a request for retransmission of a lost issue is
clearly NOT intended for publication).
If you are sending a message that is NOT for publication and want to make
certain I understand that, please mention that in the message or in the
subject line, just to be sure.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 11:01:27 cst
From: [email protected] (Jon Ayers)
Subject: EQ
I'm another of those people who promise to be a silent member because I don't
own a horse and never have. Have you ever heard of anything so tragic?
I'm here, listening, because I intend to own one someday. I was the wistful
little girl in your third grade class that covered every flat surface in arm's
radius with pictures of horses, galloped to recess, and asked for a horse every
Christmas. Not a pony. A horse.
Showing dogs has taught me to begin new, expensive things intelligently. My
husband gave me a subscription to Equus, and I've hung around some small
breeding operations, trading shovel duty for the opportunity to eavesdrop.
Eventually our plan is to move into major boondocks, and a good, small, tough
horse will be a real asset. I've convinced him of this. I appreciate the
things I've heard about Morgans and Connemaras...natural gaiting and sure-
footedness will be big points. But enough over-intellectualizing- I just like
the way they smell.
It is vitally interesting to discover the differences in regional approaches
to horsemanship. Most of you are talking dressage and instruction, and that's
something I need to learn. Down hyar in Texas, you stick your kid on a stable
mount and turn him loose for an hour. The horse either walks or races break-
neck down the trails, races for the barn, and your parents hand the attend-
ant ten bucks. Higher forms of horsemanship are not mentioned, I suppose for
two reasons: 1. It's financially impossible. 2. The big deal here is Quarter
Horses, and you barrel race them suckers, you don't gait 'em. Every little
girl with a horse here spends her time and her parent's money going to play-
days- which should be very useful later on when she's ready for endurance
trials.
But it's question time. How do y'all feel about not shoeing? Understood, the
horse would not be asked to parade down streets without, but what are the
real needs of a horse used for cross-country or endurance situations? Would
good trimming and healthy diet suffice? I've heard of the soft boots- how
are those working for you?
Thanks again for letting me in on this.
Jan Ayers
--------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 85 14:47:25 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Hanoverians
The following article appeared in issue #10. I'd like to comment.
>From: Julie Moore <[email protected]>
>Subject: Hanoverians
>
>Congratulations on your new purchase. I used to board
>with Laura Nordley (617-862-1421) who owns a BIG
>Hanoverian/TB mare. She's done a lot of research on
>Hanoverians -- she's even written articles about the
>breed for Yankee Pedlar, etc. I'm sure she could
>suggest books/articles for you to read. She's very
>nice and all us horsey-type people love to talk about
>the breeds we love.
Looks like someone just bought a Hanoverian. I've seen four or five in shows
here in the Chicago area and they were all nice horses. My trainer just
imported two horses from Germany, one of which is a Hanoverian, and the
thing moves like a dream. The horse will no doubt be sold for big bucks.
However, I think it's a disservice to those who are just now shopping for
their first horse (or looking for a better horse) to post one-sided articles
like this. Implicit in statements like "I just bought an XYZ (your favorite
breed) and he's a helluva good horse" is the message "If you want a good horse,
you too have to buy an XYZ". That's not so. You can't ride the breed or the
papers, you can only ride the horse.
Not all Hanoverians are good horses. Not all Thoroughbreds are good
horses. Not all <name your favorite breed>s are good horses. A good horse
is a good horse, and a shitter is a shitter (a shitter is an animal that's only
good for turning oats, hay, and water into horse shit). A good horse is a good
horse regardless of breed. Shitters come in all breeds, also. If you're in the
market for a horse, look at the *individual horse*, not at the breed.
Yeah, I know I've talked about having a registered Appaloosa. However, when I
set out this last time to buy a horse, I didn't say "God, I just gotta have
an App!". The horse I was going to buy had to:
1) Be big enough to carry me without undue strain.
2) Be sane
3) Be sound, and built to stay that way
4) Be athletic
5) Like people
6) Like his work
Those criteria would get me a horse for what I want to do (training level
eventing). I bought the horse I did because he met all those criteria and he
had the right degree of confidence and boldness. It was of no consequence to
me that he was an App or that he was registered (friends had to work for
several weeks to get me to register him in my name). I bought the horse, not
the breed or the papers. I've had him now for a year, and I'm still completely
satisfied with him.
So, if you're looking for your first horse or are planning on moving up to a
better horse, buy a horse for reasons of function, not because it's a certain
breed.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 86 11:51:51 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Horse Breeds
First, a book recommendation. In my never-ending effort to catch up to my
wife's knowledge of things equestrian, one of the best sources has been
a book called _Encyclopedia_of_the_Horse_. Its glossy pages and color
photographs give it the appearance of a coffee-table book, but it's filled
with interesting history and information.
One of my favorite sections is the rather comprehensive listing of the
world's principal horse and pony breeds. Each listing is accompanied by a
representative photograph of the breed and a brief description and history.
It's fascinating to read the stories behind some of these breeds, and to
realize how VERY many kinds of horses I know nothing whatsoever about.
I have never heard anyone bring up the question, "What is the best
breed of horse?" ... all the better, because it's a silly question.
Looking through this section of _Encyclopedia_of_the_Horse_ drives the
point home as well as just about anything else -- how does one attempt a
*qualitative* comparison of an Icelandic pony and a Clydesdale? People
have been breeding different types of horses over many hundreds of years to
meet widely varying requirements of movement, agility, speed and strength,
and the vast differences in appearance and movement among the breeds
reflect these efforts.
Even with the wide variety of talents among the breeds, it's important not
to be overly breed conscious. Carl's message above is a timely one for
those currently considering buying a horse. It's important to judge the
horse as an individual when considering a purchase for your own riding
education and pleasure. Be certain to keep in mind the criteria Carl lists,
as well as the horse's apparent talent for the things *you* plan to do with
him/her. A horse successful in one discipline may have less talent in
another, so keep your ambitions for the horse foremost in your mind when
considering a purchase.
It's always fun to read about successes in certain disciplines with unusual
breeds. Seldom Seen is one example that comes to mind, especially since
Jan mentions Connemarras above. This particular horse is a 14.3h
Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding. In the dressage arena, larger horses tend
to be the norm, but Lendon Gray of Maine, one of New England's premiere
dressage riders, rode Seldom Seen to win the Grand Prix (highest level)
title in 1984's USDF/AHSA Championship, and more recently to win the Grand
Prix Championship in the New England Dressage Finals. Karen had the
pleasure of working as a runner at the latter show, and she reports that
Gray riding Seldom Seen is something beautiful to watch, and that the
horse's size does not detract from this one bit. Of course, this is
obviously due to extraordinary talent on the part of both horse and rider,
but exceptions like this to general breed tendencies are always exciting,
and point up the importance of judging each horse's qualities individually
and with an open mind.
On the topic, Horseplay Magazine's January issue focuses on special breeds,
and it contains some interesting articles. Among the breeds covered are
Cleveland Bays, Lusitanos, Connemaras and Hackneys. Some of you may find
it interesting (especially you, Jan, if you're interested in a good article
on Connemaras!).
Postscript on _Encyclopedia_of_the_Horse_: there are several books by this
and almost identical names, as I discovered when trying to find the book
for Karen last Christmas -- the one I refer to here was actually bought by
mistake while trying to find another one (she decided to keep them both!).
Anyway, if anyone wants publishing or pricing information on the book, send
me mail. Similarly for Horseplay Magazine -- if the tack shop nearest you
doesn't carry it, I have the address of the magazine, or I can photocopy a
particular article.
And despite the didactic tone of the above, these are just my opinions, and
I welcome anyone else's comments on the subject.
Cheers.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 86 13:41:45 est
From: decvax!gsg!kathy (Kathryn Smith)
Subject: introductions
I got the back issues of the Equestrian Digest in the mail this
morning. They all seem to be intact, but issues 7 and 9 were apparently
eaten by UUCP.
Now for a brief introduction. I live in Derry, NH and work in
Salem. I've been living there for about two and a half years since I
graduated from UNH, and have been taking riding lessons once a week for
about a year and a half. I am thinking of trying to get in two lessons a
week, but don't know where I'd find the time. I don't own or lease a
horse, and probably won't in the forseeable future because I live alone
and my present job includes the possibility of travel on very short notice.
The amount of time I would be able to devote to it just wouldn't be fair to
the horse, or to any other animal for that matter.
I have been interested in horses ever since I can remember, but wasn't
able to find a stable my family was satisfied with until I was about twelve.
I took two summers of lessons at Horton's Farm in Eastman, NH, but didn't
make much progress. We did some trail riding, and I did finally learn to post
properly, but that was about it. (I have a fairly dim view of the instruction
I got there now, but at the time I didn't know any better, and in all fairness,
it wasn't entirely the instructors' fault. My mother insisted on taking the
lessons along with me, in spite of the fact that she was terrified of horses.
She never admitted this, but I knew it, Joe knew it, and most importantly, the
horse knew it).
In fairness, I have to say that my experience with Horton's Farm is over
ten years old, and things may have changed drastically. I'd be interested in
hearing current opinions. At any rate, I am now riding as Elysian Stables in
Chester, NH. Roxanne Reed is the instructor/owner, and I recommend her highly.
She teaches mostly beginning and intermediate level riders, and has nine or
ten school horses, some of whom are reasonable for training level dressage
riding. She also sometimes lets advanced riders use some of her own non-school
horses in lessons, but I'm not that good yet. None of the school horses have
really bad "school horse" habits anyway, so that's not a problem.
I am just starting to work on some very basic dressage, and feel like
I'm making pretty good progress. I have never been what you'd call athletic,
so I'm getting a real high from discovering that I can actually be a competent
rider. Being asthmatic cuts out a lot of sports, and I've been limited in the
others I've tried (swimming and figure skating) by other problems. Right now,
I'm having some problems coordinating all the things I'm working on (when my
hands are right, my legs aren't, and so forth) but all that needs is practice.
It's a wonderful feeling.
I go trail riding around Chester occasionally with a friend who has
an extra horse, but mostly I am limited to riding during my lessons. She
has been riding for about ten years, and is doing some dressage work in her
lessons. She wants to own a low level dressage horse someday so she can show
and progress further, but the horse she owns now is pretty much limited to
pleasure riding, and is too old to do much retraining on (about 25 I think).
I will be passing these digests on to her, since she doesn't have access to
a computer with outside communications.
Kathy Smith
(...decvax!gsg!kathy)
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.15 | Equestrian Digest Issue #12 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:03 | 329 |
| Equestrian Digest Wed 8 Jan 1986 Issue 12
Today's Topics:
New Members
Re: Missing Equestrian Digest Subscibers
Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 11
Hunter/Jumper
"The Art of Feeding Horses"
Re: Carl Deitrick's Digest-11 Message
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 86 12:49:18 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New Members
There are four new subscribers this issue:
Lyn Cole <ihnp4!ihpla!tosca>,
Jeff Glover <ihnp4!textronix!tekcbi!jeffg>,
Katrina Haines <seismo!gatech!unmvax!sandia!kghaine>,
Eileen Perry <puy%[email protected]>
Eileen's UUCP path is ihnp4!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!puy -- that's
psuvax-"one," not psuvax-"L." The one/L confusion happens often, since (on
our printer, if not my terminal) they look exactly alike. In a related
matter, Carl Deitrick's address is ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd -- that's "One-N," not
"L-N." Sorry for any confusion. Please write me for help if you're trying
unsuccesfully to send mail to someone among the subscribers with an address
I have supplied.
Welcome to all four of you!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 86 09:48:46 mst
From: crs%[email protected] (Charlie Sorsby)
Subject: Re: Missing Equestrian Digest Subscibers
Ken,
My mind must be going -- I can't recall if I confirmed receipt of your
introductory message, much less the back issues and #11 which arrived
this morning.
Your intro suggested that I introduce myself so...
I guess I'll mostly be a silent member of the list for the most part since
I can't afford horses right now. My current enjoyment of horses comprises
a trail ride at "daddy/daughter" weekend at the girl scout camp.
The "horsey" part of my background probably originated reading cowboy comic
books as a child which eventually led to a pony (we lived in the country at
the time -- northern panhandle of West Virginia). Eventually I began to
frequent a riding academy which lead to working there as a groom and trail
ride escort. The riding academy taught saddle seat equitation and the kids
showed in equitation and pleasure classes in WV, PA and OH. I groomed at
shows for a while and then just went to watch. My interests were mostly
Saddlebreds, Walking Horses, Arabians and western horses. It was a lot of
fun going to horse shows, small and large. Ahhh, to be young again...
Charlie
--------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 86 11:46:23 mst
From: crs%[email protected] (Charlie Sorsby)
Subject: Re: Equestrian Digest Issue 11
I just finished going through the back issues. My, there is a lot of
interest in dressage! It is hard for me to judge if this is different
than it was when I was more involved with horses or if it just seems so
because of the great geographic coverage of this mailing list (and my
faulty memory). Anyway I think it is a good sign; at least it is if done
with the gentleness and finesse that I seem to recall being part of the
"definition" of dressage.
Is anyone on the list familiar with the current Saddlebred and Walking
Horse show scene? It has been many years since I followed what was going
on so I'd enjoy hearing reports. Did the Walking Horse people ever shape
up (either voluntarily or by regulation) in respect to some of their less
humane practices? Does anyone on the list go to shows such as the
Lexington, KY show or the Celebration at Shelbyville, TN? Or do they even
still exist?
Are any of you from or familiar with horse shows in the West Virginia,
Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio area? Is there any activity in that area?
Oh, one other thing: There were a couple of magazines that covered the
Saddlebred and Walking Horse shows and exhibitors years ago (it's
depressing to realize that it has been more than twenty!) but I no longer
recall the names. Is anyone familiar with them? Are they still published?
If so I'd appreciate addresses. It seems that, perhaps, one of them was
called The National Horseman.
Well, enough for now. Keep the digest coming -- I'd forgotten how much I
miss the smell of horses, Absorbine, ...
Charlie
--------------------
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 86 13:03:35 est
From: Pat Wilson c/o Alex Colvin <mac%[email protected]>
Subject: Hunter/Jumper
Hi again. Have been enjoying the Digest so far - it is nice finding a group
that WANTS to discuss horses! A brief background, and then a few questions
for all.
I'm basically a h/j sort right now. I've been riding Forward (hunt) seat
for about 10 years now (off and on). Presently I'm at the Junior Equitation
School in Vienna, Va. JES has been in operation for over 30 years now, and
was the school where Joe Fargis first rode. Jane Marshall Dillon still does
some instructing there (she is, I believe, pushing 70), and new riders are
required to buy her book SCHOOL FOR YOUNG RIDERS (which I recommend for
anyone who is interested in beginning to ride - especially small girls!).
JES has been really wonderful for me - they do care!
Testimonial aside, a few questions. I have noticed that most of the
correspondence has been about dressage or ct. Is it just that h/j is boring
or tame? We do work on dressage for suppleness and balance, and I can't
think of a much more strenuous activity than a good hunt. I see myself
becoming more interested in training or reclaiming horses, and h/j being
more of an overall activity that the average horse can learn (especially
safe field hunting manners). What does everyone else think? Of course,
I've done the majority of my riding in Virginia and Southern Maryland, where
there are still active hunts and room to have them...
Next : What are your favorite magazines? I started out subscribing to
several, but by far my favorite is PRACTICAL HORSEMAN. It seems to have more
articles that I can relate to, and it doesn't insult my intelligence. The
articles also seem to be more in depth than, for example, the ones in
HORSEPLAY (which I also have been reading). Also, you get to disagree with
George Morris as he picks apart four riders' positions over fences each
month. That is always amusing. I would like to find a good magazine in ct
and dressage, too.
Has anybody tried Centered Riding? Is this dressage balance under another
name, or is it really different?
Well, I guess enough for now. Happy New Year!
Pat Wilson
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Date: 6 Jan 86 15:45:10 EST (Mon)
Subject: "The Art of Feeding Horses"
THE ART OF FEEDING HORSES
or
(How to Start an Argument When Two Horse People Get Together)
by Oats Or Corn
I know that next to politics and religion, how to feed horses is
the most arguable topic known to civilized man. That's why I did
not use my right name as the author of this article (you didn't
guess that wasn't a real name, did you?).
I've been feeding horses for close to twenty years, and I can
tell you folks I have learned a thing or two. Not from reading
"Feed to Win" or from the numerous "Horseman Short Course"
weekends I spent mucho dollars to attend at Ohio State Veterinary
School. No, not even from the Ohio State University 4-H
extension office, although the amount of interesting prose
generated by that university is enough to keep the postal service
going for a very long time.
No, I learned from a wonderful teacher, Mother Nature. Now, I
know that you aren't going to believe me. What horseperson ever
believed another horseperson, unless it was something "hot" out of
Practical Horseman, of course? Let me tell you something....
The horses I fed ranged from birth to 30 years old. Most were
thoroughbreds, and many were in heavy competition on the track or
the endurance trail or in competitive training. At the stable
where I taught several days a week for 12 years, they fed
beautiful alfalfa (at $4.00 a bale) and oats (at $8 for 50
pounds). They had shiny coats, but didn't keep much weight on
them (except some grades that were going to be fat on grass hay
and a salt block). At home I fed a good Timothy (at $1.10/bale)
and had the hay analyzed for protein content. Then I had mixed a
combination of corn and cob meal, soybean oil meal, wet molasses,
trace-mineral salt, and biophos (phos/calcium supplement). I
always mixed according to how it was being fed--higher protein to
the young and hard-working, and lower protein (down to 8%) for
non-working grades. I worked out the protein by algebraic
formula (soybean meal @ 44%, etc.) and it ran about $6.50 for
100#. Oh, I was scientific, and very proud of the fact that I
gave my horses the same nutritional goodies they got at the high-
priced stable for about 1/4 the cost. My horses looked as sleek,
stayed fatter, and worked as well as any of the stable boarders.
(And wouldn't have known an oat if it blew up their noses--not
that I had any thing against oats, you understand, it's just that
EVERYBODY says you HAVE to feed oats!)
Then came the blizzard of '78. Those of you in the midwest will
remember it well--suffice it to say to the rest of you that we
will all tell our grandchildren about the "blizzard of '78." I
was living on 101 acres in the BOONDOCKS, on a road about 10 feet
wide. I had 13 horses in residence at the time, and a corn crib
full of ear corn ready to be hauled to the feed mill for crushing
and mixing according to my scientific formulas. It was March
before I could get the TRUCK out, let alone haul corn to the feed
mill. By then the horses had eaten nothing but ear corn and
timothy hay for 2 1/2 months.
And they were the sleekest, fattest, fittest, prettiest,
healthiest, soundest horses in all of Ohio. There is a moral
here somewhere, but it's not going to stop one person from trying
the latest feeding techniques from the very hottest new book
written by the very best trainer in all of civilization, and I
wouldn't want it to.
--------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 86 11:41:50 EST
From: Julie Moore <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Carl Deitrick's Digest-11 Message
Carl hit the nail on the head! Haven't we all heard "Handsome is as
handsome does!" I think one of the more intriguing things about
horses is that the best-looking, best-put-together horse MAY be a
loser. On the other hand, a horse that doesn't have a lot going for
him looks-wise, MAY be a winner. Poltroon shouldn't have been able to
accomplish what she did -- but she thumbed her nose at the world.
Secretariat has the breeding, looks, and was a winner at the track --
but who's turning into "super-stud"? A horse bought for what the
racing set would consider peanuts -- Seattle Slew. Although Slew
doesn't have the breeding, OR some might say the looks, he was a good
racer and as a sire he's got Secretariat beat. Don't we all know some
slab-sided, straight-shouldered, straight-pasterned "wonder" who can
"jump the moon" and loves to do it? I think many factors should be
considered when buying a horse -- Carl mentioned most of them. A wise
horseman I know likes to advise anyone who's shopping for a horse:
"All horses have problems, just try to find one that has problems you
can live with." Carl wants to event so he needs a horse that will do
that job. If his Appy won't behave in company (for example, on a
hunt), it doesn't matter because eventers "do it alone." Yet Carl's
"perfect horse" might be a "problem horse" for someone who wants to
hunt. [Don't mean to malign your horse, Carl -- for all I know he
might love to travel in company.] The whole thing in a nutshell is to
pick what's right for you and for what you want to do. Another
bugaboo is the age of the horse. So many people shy away from any
horse over 8. [A "pro" told me that if I was willing to take a horse
with some age, the price would be better. I asked: "how old" and he
said: "7 or 8." To me that isn't aged, it's perfect.] Depending on
what you want to do, an older horse might be your answer -- older
horses generally come with some kind of "history" so you can make
better predictions about how you'll get along. If you've never been
eventing-showing-hunting-dressaging (or whatever is is you want to
do), your best bet is a horse with some mileage in that discipline.
The worst possible combination is a "new" rider who buys a young
untried horse and has as a goal the "training" of the horse. The odds
are that this won't work -- but here again there are exceptions. The
whole horse-game is full of exceptions! How about the "made-
horse"/"experienced-rider" duo where the combination has a
"personality clash." The rider gets on the horse and the horse
becomes a lunatic. Another rider tries the horse and the horse is a
"babysitter." No one sets out to find an ugly horse, or one with bad
conformation, but I know a woman who refuses to even look at a horse
unless he is black. That's her prerogative, of course, and if that's
what she wants -- but, just maybe, she's rejecting a horse who would
be perfect for her if he didn't happen to have a chestnut coat. In an
earlier message, I mentioned a horse named "Pal." Pal was half of a
Clydesdale team purchased to pull a hayride wagon. The barn I boarded
at had 80-odd (yes, some of them were pretty odd) horses. Shortly
after this team arrived at the barn, the owner discovered that Pal's
partner was blind. Because of the nature of the barn -- a very busy
lesson-hayride-sleighride type of place with a lot of "visitors" who
didn't have much horse sense (the type who wheel baby carriages right
up to a horse so that the baby can pet it???), the owner felt that
although the horse would be perfectly useful in a calmer atmosphere,
he couldn't take the chance on a blind horse. Pal did her part --
when at pasture, she stayed with her partner and led him to food and
water; nevertheless, the blind horse was put down. Then the owner
thought: "What do I do with half of a workhorse team." So he threw a
saddle on Pal and she turned into a lesson horse. She became a great
favorite at the barn. She was extremely smooth and comfortable -- and
was sought-after for the 4-hour "Sunday Ride" which went cross-
country. I can't say she could jump any height, but she did 2'6"
smoothly. She also went to a "Test of a Hunter" one year, and
although she caused giggles from the gallery (she WAS a Clyde after
all), she pinned in at least two divisions. Fortunately, the judge,
from Virginia, awarded the ribbons to performance, not to looks. One
last story about Pal. This particular barn held evening "lessons" for
adults. These weren't really lessons -- they were actually 1-1/2 hrs.
of exercise. Sometimes there were upwards of 20 people riding in a
large unfenced ring. The riders followed each other around in a line
and occasionally popped over a few small jumps. One night a blind
woman showed up for the lesson. What guts! Pal became her mount.
After a few weeks the woman asked if she could jump a small fence!!
While the other horses were kept on the outside of the ring, the
teacher selected one rider to give Pal a "lead" over a cross-bar. Pal
seemed to know instinctively what her job was. While the rest of us
watched nervously as they approached the fence, the teacher told the
woman to "get into jumping position" that is, to rise in the stirrups,
and to grab Pal's mane half-way up her neck. Then the teacher called
out the strides to the fence: three, two, one, and they were over the
fence. The woman was exuberant -- she had jumped the fence. She
wanted to go again, and she did. That was Pal -- solid and steady --
her huge platter feet never missed a stride and her broad back carried
all her riders comfortably and safely. [Now how many of us, looking
for just an all-round nice horse would answer an ad that said: "Aged
Clydesdale mare; jumps; loves the trails; can be used as lesson horse;
will also drive single or can be used as back-up-horse for team;
Reasonably Priced." I wouldn't have answered the ad and you probably
wouldn't have either. So both of us would have missed out on one
helluva horse.]
That barn was eventually sold to a developer. All of the school
horses and work teams were dispersed. Pal found a home with an older
man who wanted her as a broodmare. Let's hope she found a good home.
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.16 | Equestrian Digest Issue #13 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:04 | 495 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 13 Jan 1986 Issue 13
Today's Topics:
New Old Subscriber
Re: equestrian digest
by way of an introduction...
Polo / Purchase Questions
Re: hunter/jumper
Centered Riding
On Breeds
Arizona inquiries
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 86 9:56:10 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New Old Subscriber
Laura Edmondson is back for the semester, and her address of last year
([email protected] or decvax!ucf-cs!laura) is still active.
Welcome back, Laura.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: equestrian digest
Hi Ken,
Yes, i did receive your note and the back issues of the
Equestrian Digest and thank you much for it all. Since things
have been a bit chaotic around here (and i had trouble getting
on my machine yesterday), i wasn't able to reply to you right
away; for that, i apologize. I also haven't been able to read
all of the back issues yet. When i finish them, i'll offer a
few comments on items where they won't be redundant. Meanwhile,
a brief introduction.
I own five horses and board a sixth on 15 acres about 60 miles
west of Chicago. When my partner moved out of his house on our
co-owned property last September, i moved into that house and
rented out the other house to a woman and her two sons. Alicia
has had a lot of experience with horses, having owned a few,
herself, and she rides and takes hunt-jump lessons at nearby
Zanadue Stable where i have also taken lessons. Since she takes
care of my horses when i have to take a business trip, it's working
out very well.
The horses: Ginger is a grey 3/4-Arab mare, who has been completely
blind in one eye (periodic ophthalmia) for years and has been
going blind in the other this past year. I keep her in a small
paddock area with free access to her stall, and she's been able
to get around pretty well. She's still a good riding horse,
since she's not at all spooky in spite of her blindness, and
she's about 15 years old.
Pulchinella (Nella) and Schnapps are 7/8-Arab mare and gelding,
respecively, both Ginger's kids. Last spring i lost Ginger's foal
of the previous year, Cori, to a ruptured carotid artery (from a
neck abcess). Nella has been ridden a little, but Schnapps has had
only ground work.
Tosca is a half-Thoroughbred mare (my dressage hopeful, if i
ever get around to riding her!). She now residing at Zanadue,
where i took her to wean her foal, Capriccio (Cappy), and have
left her in the heretofore vain hope of being able to ride her
in the indoor arena there. Cappy is a nearly-7-month-old bay
filly, whose dad is a local magnificent grey Standardbred
(trotter!). More on her and her breeding later.
Man o' Trouble is my partner's registered Quarter Horse gelding,
living up to his nickname of Trouble. Though he's a great riding
horse and is fine with people, he's the king of the herd (they're
all kept outside, with adequate shelter and lots of food, of
course) and is sometimes somewhat nasty towards the other horses.
As you can perhaps imagine, 15 acres and 5 horses is a bit much
to manage. Too much. I spend all of my free(?) time taking care
of the place and the beasts, with no time for riding. That, added
to a bad knee injury and attendant surgery last February, which
kept me in a cast and on crutches for several months, means i've
done no riding this past year. That's why Tosca is still at
Zanadue, where i hope to do some riding soon, even in this cold
weather. I'm also trying to get the place in shape to put on the
market this spring so i can move to something more manageable and
closer to work than the current 30 miles. And there are those
excess horses with whom i have no time to work and who need new
homes .... (If anyone in the area is interested in leasing a
horse or just coming out to ride, PLEASE let me know.)
My primary interest is in dressage and perhaps some low-level
eventing, though i also enjoy trail riding and most horse activities.
I grew up riding bareback and western the few times i could beg a
ride on some friend's horse or pony, though given the spoiled beasts
and bad experiences i encountered then, i wonder now that i continued
my love for horses. I've taken some basic riding lessons and a few
dressage lessons over the past few years, but have not shown at all
yet. I hope to get serious about it as soon as i can get my life
a little more together and get into some more riding.
and contribute more in the future.
from the asymp S [of] lyn cole, IH 1C-233
tot T AT&T Bell Laboratories
ic A Naperville, IL 60566
al B (312) 979-2729
l L (ihnp4!ihlpa!tosca)
y E
--------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1986 17:48:25 EST
From: PUY%[email protected]
Subject: by way of an introduction...
Greetings from Central Pa! Since i just got connected with the
digest, this is my introductory article. I'm a graduate student
at Penn State, which is surrounded by lots of farmland, hills
(mountains for you easteners) and forests. Great trail riding!
I have one horse, an 8 year old arab gelding whom I use
for trail riding and is basically a "backyard pet" (i have a friend
with 7 acres of pasture, running stream, and a walk-in barn; my
horse and hers share this horsey-heaven). I'm ashamed to say that
i never have (or probably never will) shown extensively, and i have
never participated in a dressage clinic. I'm interested in
endurance and competitive trail riding, and if anyone is wants info
about the sport, I highly recommend the book Endurance and
Competitive Trail Riding by Linda Tellington-Jones. In fact, the
book is a great all-around reference for horse care, nutrition, etc.
Some background? Hhmmm...
I'm originally from detroit, where my poor grandparents were
harassed enough by a horse crazed eight-year-old that they drove
twenty miles north of the city to find stables that rented horses
out.
I got my first horse after we moved to north western N.J., and i
was mainly trailing riding, with some parade riding, gymkanas, etc.
thrown in for fun. My first horse was a thoroughbred school animal,
who unfortunately had to be destroyed due to a collapsed lung. My
second horse was a Walker (oh,does my aching back miss him!) I
permanately leased him out when i began college.
I was horseless as an undergraduate student, and that convinced me
never to go without one again! About a year ago, a friend of mine
aquired a seven year old full arab gelding, who had been shown english
pleasure extensively, trained in dressage, could drive, etc. (She paid
$600 for him without papers, special deal from the previous owner.
The previous owner had won the horse in a raffle at devon). Anyway
when my friend got her vet out to check the horse, the vet declared the
horse LAME. The vet recommended that my friend ride the horse for a
month, and see if he would get better, worse or stay the same. The
only problem was that my friend couldn't handle the horse; she was
thrown off once and didn't want to keep him. The previous owner had
no place to keep him (she had been boarding him, but she couldn't afford
the board), and so guess who ended up getting the horse for a dollar.
Of course i know better, but i couldn't stand to see something bad happen
to the horse. The horse can be ridden, and has been moving much better
with some "corrective shoeing" (keeping the heels high, trailers and
pads on the hind feet). Besides, he's great company for my friend's
27 year old Saddlebred (who he was suppossed to replace).
So far, the longest i've ridden him
is about five miles on the trail, or an hour in the ring, but he doesn't
stiffen after work (he does get stiffer without work).
Being a horse owner again has me excited about exchanging info.
Some goodies that I've come up with in the past year:
1) ivrmectrin wormer, it does wonders
2) Source mineral supplement (i can't recall the company offhand,
but it's sold through Stateline Tack Co.
3) wheatgerm oil (from healthfood stores) mixed with corn oil as
a daily supplement.
With the above three, you wouldn't believe how good my friend's
27 year-old Saddlebred looks.
Also, is anyone interested in endurance saddles?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ \
|`--// _ ._
/ \\\ \ \._
./ \\\ / / /\
\ 0 \ \/ \\
/ ) \/ \
/ _ - \ / \/\
/ _/ \ /
\*_ ) \
Eileen Perry
Dept. of Agronomy PUY @ PSUVM (bitnet)
312 Tyson Bldg. ...!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!puy (uucp <-->
Penn State University bitnet gateway)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA 16802 PUY%[email protected] (ARPA)
(814) 863-0129
--------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 86 20:09:48 est
From: todd%[email protected] (Todd Cooper)
Subject: Polo / Purchase Questions
I just had my lesson. I have not had a lesson since the beginning of November
because my instructer (I like her) Arlyn Deccico does not teach in the winter
at all. I decided to then take a few Polo lessons. I had not ever played
Polo before, but it is supposedly becoming more and more popular. After
playing for 3-4 times, I am bening to think that I really don't like playing
Polo because it just exagerates my lack of coordination that I always have
had. I am the type that could never play baseball because I can't hit.
Has anyone out there ever played polo? Anyone have any experiences with it?
Also I was in South Florida over Christmas break. I visit there every year
since my grandparents on both sides are there. Since I decided that Palm
Beach is the premier place for polo, I visited the polo club. Polo
it seems is getting to be very popular. It is no longer a elitist sport and
the common "working man" and woman for that matter is playing polo.
Wellington is the "official" town that has the polo fields. It has mega-
development like the rest of Florida. They also have a huge amount of barns,
riding areas, and other things that are "horsey". There are about 15 polo
fields (large number since each is about 4 or 5 football fields in area).
I watched a championship match at the prime time on Sunday. Afterwards,
I learned that there are matches every day and every afternoon or morning
depending on the time of year. In summer they have to play in the early
hours of the morning (8am) due to the heat.
I saw Glenlivet Scotch vs. Mallet Hill in the Wellington Regional Medical
Center Family Chapoinship. This brings be to another point. Polo is
beginning to get big funding from large corporations. It does after
all cost a large sum of money to get excellent horses and travel around
the world. The Cadillac Open is just starting and later there is
a match sponsered by Piaget and Rolex. There is of course prize money to
be won and the teams are obvoiusly also sponsered. (i.e. Glenlivet Scotch)
Right now here in Boston I was taking polo lessons with a person named
Peter Poor. He is renting time at Reverve-Saugus Riding Academy which
is now North Shore Equestrian Center. Perhaps part of my problem is
that I am playing indoors. But anyhow, I would suggest people try it,
it is fun and very different and it is on horseback, so all you
accomplised riders can use your skills in yet another way. If you are
in the Boston Area, I will give your his price and phone number. If
you are in the Boston area and know other places where indoor polo is
played, send along the info.
On top of all of this (I haven't written to the digest in more than a month).
I decided to start taking lessons with someone else until Arlyn gets
dewinterized and starts teaching again. The NSEC (North Shore EQ center
is not bad for lessons and things there are improving rapidly
since the new owners took over. I have my fisrt male dressage instructor :-)
I am also looking to buy a horse. I am looking for over 16 hand
and experienced so that I could learn from the horse. The problem is
like everything else in life is money. I don't want to spend more than
2-3K. NSEC showed me a horse that is 12-14yrs but has arthritis. They
are supposed to get the VET to xray him next week. If he is very bad,
or bad at all, he will probably cost 2-3K, but if he is not very avanced,
he will be about 6-7K. He is 17+ hands and I am very interested. Anyone
have experience with old horses? I know that the horse can live to over
20 years, but what about problems with old age like arthritis?
Also if I buy a fresh horse from the race track, is there someone
experienced out there who is willing to train him for me? Trade for
the horses use would be approriate. I figure that this is an investment
because a large well trained horse can go for over 10K while one could
buy the horse (if he were a loser) for under 3K. Again, this is
risky because it is a man-made market. It is like playing the stock market
(nice pun).
I am definitly getting itchy waiting for spring to come.
By the way -- I really appreciate reading the digest -- I liked the
poems especially -- and I wish a warm welcome to our new members.
---------------------------
Todd Cooper
UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!todd ...!harvard!think!festiv!todd
CSNET: todd@bu-cs
BITNET: cscpyqc@bostonu
USNail: 29 Gordon Street #201, Brighton, MA 02135
--------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 86 02:02:01 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: hunter/jumper
> Testimonial aside, a few questions. I have noticed that most of the
> correspondence has been about dressage or ct. Is it just that h/j is boring
> or tame? We do work on dressage for suppleness and balance, and I can't
> think of a much more strenuous activity than a good hunt. I see myself
> becoming more interested in training or reclaiming horses, and h/j being
> more of an overall activity that the average horse can learn (especially
> safe field hunting manners). What does everyone else think? Of course,
> I've done the majority of my riding in Virginia and Southern Maryland, where
> there are still active hunts and room to have them...
>
There's no question about it: dressage, dressage, and more dressage. To those
who've know nothing about it, dressage means only the high level stuff like
piaffe, passage, flying changes, etc. That's the culmination of it, but
dressage starts out as the basic athletic training for the horse. It teaches
the horse balance, flexibility, obedience, relaxation, and coordination.
Dressage instruction teaches the rider to work *with* the horse when riding,
rather than fighting the horse.
The impression from what little hunter/jumper stuff I've seen is all these
horse lumbering around on the forehand. Dressage training will teach the
rider how to make the horse work off his back end, and will teach the horse
to respond to the rider's direction to use his back end. Getting the horse
off the forehand onto his hind end makes him more balanced, easier to direct
and makes the horse last longer because it evens out the wear. You'll say
"But we're jumping, not working on the flat". My response is "Until the
horse's feet leave the ground, it's all dressage". If you've ever ridden
a horse at a gallop over fences, you may have noticed that the horse takes
some fences just as an extension of a stride and without any sensation of
"jumping", which supports my contention that jumping is an extension of
dressage.
> Next : What are your favorite magazines? I started out subscribing to
> several, but by far my favorite is PRACTICAL HORSEMAN. It seems to have more
> articles that I can relate to, and it doesn't insult my intelligence. The
> articles also seem to be more in depth than, for example, the ones in
> HORSEPLAY (which I also have been reading). Also, you get to disagree with
> George Morris as he picks apart four riders' positions over fences each
> month. That is always amusing. I would like to find a good magazine in ct
> and dressage, too.
>
> Pat Wilson
I used to subscribe to Practical Horseman, but gave it up three years ago.
I didn't need all the advice about how to wrap a horse's legs or all of that
because I had someone around the barn who could show me how to do it if I
needed to. I think it's better to get it first-hand from a person than from
a book.
The other type of article that always showed up was "Rider X Shows You How
To Fribulate Your Horse", which I thought was dumb, because you can't
learn to do anything with a horse by reading a book. You have to get on a
horse and try it. To learn to do something on horse back, you need a good
horse and a teacher who knows how to get you to where you want to be.
The third type of article that always showed up was "Rider Y Buys A
European Warm Blood and Wipes Out The Competition". That type of article
promotes the American tendency to believe that all things European are
better than all things American, which I attribute to a national sense of
inferiority. That's nonsense, because a good horse is a good horse and if
you can pick a good European Warm Blood, you can pick a good Thoroughbred,
Quarter Horse, or whatever. But I guess you all know how I feel about
that :-)
If you just like to read about horsey stuff or have no one available in
your area to help you with your riding, then I'd say horse publications are
fine. Read them, enjoy them, and get as much out of them as you can.
Otherwise, get a good horse and a good teacher and *RIDE*!
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 86 02:04:26 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Centered Riding
> Has anybody tried Centered Riding? Is this dressage balance under another
> name, or is it really different?
>
> Pat Wilson
>
Do you mean the clinic that Sally Swift teaches? If you do, then it's the
real stuff. I've seen her give a clinic (I didn't partake) and all the
people who took it thought highly of it. The clinic teaches you how to
relax and find your balance with the horse, which is necessary if you're to
ride good dressage.
Carl Deitrick
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: 11 Jan 86 14:39:12 EST (Sat)
Subject: On Breeds
I'd like to add my feelings about buying by breed, brought up by
Carl in Digest 11 and added to in Digest 12. Over the 13 years I
was a 4-H horse advisor I saw just about every breed. Many
times a horse was used for purposes for which it was not
suited, but being the only horse the kid had, had to learn
something new. I've helped teach a walker how to trot so that
he could learn to jump small fences. I've helped kids make their
Appys do just about anything. But a small (14.1) old-fashioned
quarter horse mare probably holds the record for versatility. She
was the short-legged, long-barreled "bulldog" kind of a quarter
horse that used to be so popular. She showed 4-H (and some open
shows) in halter (showmanship), western riding, roping, western
equitation (horsemanship), barrel racing, trail riding, dressage,
endurance, production (with her foals), English equitation, and
over fences. At the same time she foaled a colored App foal
every year. When the family who owned her outgrew 4-H she stayed
in the club and was used by new kids coming along.
In the same club, about the same time, was a quarter horse
gelding that was the "hottest" horse I have ever tried to handle.
I have handled a lot of horses (mostly thoroughbreds) and he was
one of the few I've known with no sense of self preservation. He
was raised by the family and had no reason to be frightened of
things, but he would rather hurt himself going into a known
situation than approach an unknown. He was also quite willing to
hurt his rider. His breeding line was in many ways similar to
the mare mentioned above.
And the very worst thing that can happen to a 4-H advisor? The
phone call that says, "Guess what? Johnny has a new horse. The
neighbor gave us theirs. He's really pretty. He's a 7-year old
stallion. He's never been ridden, so he and Johnny can learn
together. Isn't that wonderful? He's so pretty I know that
Johnny will be winning ribbons at the fair this year."
Being a 4-H advisor is sometimes difficult--like over and over
the same kid, with the wealthy parents and the super horse, wins
all the ribbons. But it has it's moments. One of my 4-Hers, the
middle son of an "Appalachia" family with five children and very
little money, went through vet school at Ohio State on the
strength of 4-H scholarships. And my daughter, at the age of 15,
gave a state-winning demonstration to 3,000 people at Ohio State
Fair on how to tell the age of a horse by it's teeth. How many
15-year-olds have a chance to give a talk to 3,000 people? Now
a word from the sponsor: if you horse-minded people have a chance
to volunteer some expertise to your local 4-H program, it's time
well spent, and can make you feel good. You might learn
something, too. Before I got into 4-H I thought that a coffin
was something you put people into after they were shot by a
cannon. Are you laughing at me? Stifle yourself! Did you know
that the cecum, which runs almost the length of the horse's
abdomen, and is about a foot in diameter, is where the digestion
of cellulose takes place, and that YOU have a cecum, now largely
worthless, and it's called your appendix? Hey, anything else you
want to know?
Joyce Andrews
--------------------
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1986 20:08:46 EST
From: PUY%[email protected]
Subject: Arizona inquiries
Does anyone out there have experience, information, etc., about
keeping horses in desert areas. I'm interested in working and going
to school in the southwest (Tucson, AZ). The information that I've
gotten from the Yellow Pages under stables leads me to believe that
there are a lot of horses in the area (I know that Scottsdale is a
big horse area, but I'm not in their league).
Some of the questions I have are:
1) can you get hay, or do you have to feed with "complete feeds"?
2) Are there any specific health problems in really dry areas?
3) Does anyone have any tips about shipping a horse across the
country?
P.S. my horse and I both really enjoy hot weather.
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Eileen Perry
Dept. of Agronomy PUY @ PSUVM (bitnet)
312 Tyson Bldg. ...!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!puy (uucp <-->
Penn State University bitnet gateway)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA 16802 PUY%[email protected] (ARPA)
(814) 863-0129
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.17 | Equestrian Digest Issue #14 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:06 | 181 |
| Equestrian Digest Thu 16 Jan 1986 Issue 14
Today's Topics:
Introduction
Re: hunter/jumper
Older Horses, Warmbloods, and Helmets
horse dentists
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 86 16:05:14 mst
From: [email protected] (Katrina Haines)
Subject: Introduction
Hi Everyone,
I joined this group a couple of months ago, and I have enjoyed
reading all the issues and back issues of the digest. I guess its
about time I introduce myself, so here goes.
I'm a Colorado native now living in New Mexico. I have always
been interested in horses, but I never could afford to own one until
I was in grad school about 8 years ago. I was originally interested in
hunt seat riding, but a friend introduced me to dressage about 4 years
ago, and since then my interest has shifted to dressage and combined
training.
I currently have four horses which I keep at my home on a couple
of acres in the mountains outside of Albuquerque. I have an Appaloosa mare
"Dancer", who is half TB and is my novice event horse. I have a TB gelding
"Teddy" (short for Teddy Bear) who is my dressage horse (currently
training and first level). I also have Dancer's baby "Touche", an almost
yearling filly. She is 1/2 TB, 1/4 Trakehner (sp?), and 1/4 Appy (no spots).
My fourth horse is a 30 year old grade mare who was the first horse I ever
owned (I bought her when she was a mere 22 year old). She really belongs
to my boyfriend now, we do a lot of trail riding with her and she is still
going strong.
I have done quite a bit of showing locally, but I don't show out
of town very often. I recently changed dressage instructors, and I'm
thrilled to finally have one that really knows her stuff. We don't have
the quality or quantity of dressage instructors out here in the desert that
a lot of you have available back east, and a good one is a real find.
I noticed that someone was asking about keeping horses in the
desert. Albuquerque isn't as much of a desert as Phoenix, but all I
feed is good alfalfa which is readily available and a 12% protein sweet feed.
My horses are very healthy. When my mare foaled last year, the vets said
they had never seen such a healthy, well muscled, newborn foal.
Katrina Haines
{ucbvax,gatech,lanl}!unmvax!sandia!kghaine
--------------------
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 23:19:20 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: hunter/jumper
Although I have "gotten religion" and become a dressage convert,
hunter/jumper is where I started, and I still have a soft spot in my heart
for it. I didn't stop hunter/jumper because it was boring or tame (in
fact I can think of few things more exciting than a fluid bascule over a
4'9" oxer). I hope that before Carl completely writes off hunter/jumper he
will go to some good shows and see the big boys fly. When a horse like
Gabriel, Romparound or Just For Fun clocks around a 3'9" or 4-foot hunter
course and makes it look like child's play, I'm sure "lumbering" is the
last word that will come to mind. They are not ridden in a really round
frame like a dressage horse, but they are quite well-balanced. And the
equitation horses and jumpers are usually capable of quite a round frame.
I defy anyone to get a horse successfully around a Maclay course of a
prelim. jumper course if they don't know how to get that sucker to use his
back end! No less an authority than George Morris is on record as saying
an open horse should be capable of a second or third-level dressage test.
Some of the better shows in the Midwest are the Detroit Horse Show, the
Motor City Horse Show and Toledo Charity. Dates are always available in
the Chronicle sporting calendar. Speaking of the Chronicle of the Horse,
that's the one horse publication I can't live without!
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 23:19:20 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Older Horses, Warmbloods, and Helmets
Regarding Todd's query about older horses -- I'm with Julie Moore on this
one. For a first horse, an older, wiser critter with some miles on him
just can't be beat! He'll forgive you for things a greener horse wouldn't
and smile while he does it.
Regarding why people buy warmbloods, I'm not sure that a national
inferiority complex is the reason. After all, if national confidence is
demonstrated through rejection of all things European then our brethren in
the stock saddles on cutting horses are the most confident equestrians of
all, since they've stuck to an American form of riding instead of getting
all carried away by that silly European circus trick stuff called
dressage :-).
Seriously, I think it is the growing popularity of dressage that's led to
the growing popularity of warmbloods. People see the great success of
Germans, Swedes, etc. in the international dressage competitions (olympic
medals galore, etc.), and decide they want the kinds of horses these riders
have. Especially common are people who go to Germany to study with the
masters and then come home with a warmblood in tow. Of course the
individual horses are only half the story. Many European countries have
classical riding traditions several hundred years old. Our dressage
tradition is barely approaching two decades. So many people buy a horse in
Europe who is already Grand Prix so they can "learn the movements." This
is not to say that thoroughbreds, quarter horses, etc. cannot go Grand
Prix. Many can. The problem is rather the shortage of available
*trainers* in the US capable of taking a horse (correctly) to Grand Prix.
So many people who buy a warmblood are not buying the individual horse per
se, but his *training*. Also we must remember that "European" and
"warmblood" are no longer synonymous. We now have third generation
American warmbloods. Many good stallions have been imported from Europe to
America and bred to thoroughbred mares here to produce Made In America
sport horses. It seems rather premature to reject warmbloods out of hand
as "foreign!" After all, thoroughbreds (or horses at all, for that matter)
are hardly indigenous to North America's shores. All thoughtful horse
breeding is a slow process of crossing the best of the foreign sources with
the best domestic ones to produce offspring to fulfill specific intended
purposes. Hundreds of years ago, the English crossed foreign Arabians with
domestic heavy horses. They created a new breed with the best
characteristics of both foundation stocks (ironically making TB's the first
"warmbloods," I guess!). Where would the thoroughbred be today if everyone
had said, "so these little Arabs are fine and fast. Let's stick to what we
already have."?
Whew, that was long-winded! I guess I'm in my William Buckley disguise
today. But before I leave you all (I know -- "GROAN. Hurry up!"), I want
to introduce a new topic -- how many of you wear Caliente or other safety
helmets with harnesses when riding? I am a recent convert to wearing one
-- my horse is 17 hands, and even if I fall off while he's standing still
it's a long way down! I feel that they're sort of like seat belts -- a bit
of a nuisance but worth it if it saves my neck!
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1986 10:45:36 EST
From: PUY%[email protected]
Subject: horse dentists
Equine dentistry is a fairly controversial subject these days.
Briefly, there are equine practitioners who work solely on the mouth.
They use a special instrument to hold open the jaw, which
allows them to work for extended periods and examine the back mollars.
(For a better description of this procedure, ref "SOUND MOUTH, SOUND
HORSE" by GAGER.) It seems that vetrinarians are highly skeptical
of this practice, contending that the usual 5 minute float job on
the teeth is all that's neccessary. Anyway, there doesn't seem to
be very many of these "horse dentists" practicing (except on racehorses).
Since the advertised benefits of having the teeth cleaned really well
sound great, and I have a friends horse ( a 27 year old) with a definite
tooth problem, I'd like to try to get someone out to look at the horses.
Has anyone had any experience with "horse dentists"? I can't seem to
find one practicing within a two hundred mile radius of central Pa.
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Eileen Perry
Dept. of Agronomy PUY @ PSUVM (bitnet)
312 Tyson Bldg. ...!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!puy (uucp <-->
Penn State University bitnet gateway)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA 16802 PUY%[email protected] (ARPA)
(814) 863-0129
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.18 | Equestrian Digest Issue #15 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:07 | 533 |
| Equestrian Digest Wed 22 Jan 1986 Issue 15
Today's Topics:
About JES
Re: Warmbloods
Boy am I busy-- don't give up on me! I'm sorry!
Leases, etc.
Re: Helmets
Re: Warmbloods
Re: Tootsies and Helmets
Re: Helmets
New Hampshire Equine Services
Re: horse dentists
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 86 15:58:21 est
From: Pat Wilson c/o Alex Colvin <mac%[email protected]>
Subject: About JES
Ken -
JES _is_ primarily a children's school (hence the Junior) - when Mrs. Dillon
was younger she even used to take several kids each summer to live at the
school in the big house. The kids would get to learn a lot in a short time -
kind of a summer camp. I don't think she does that anymore, though.
The way I got into it was that I called up and asked if they could
recommend a good place for an "adult" to go. It turns out that they do
take on a number of adults, mostly beginners, for night lessons (they have
a lighted outdoor ring). This usually works out well for me, since I spend
my weekends on the road. Now I'm taking private lessons there, because I
can't find another adult willing to ride outside after dark in the winter.
I suppose I'm sort of rabid about this.
JES is probably not the best possible place for me - I should
be doing more than schooling their horses (which is what I wind up doing
most of the time), but I am not looking for another place because the
atmosphere is so nice - they've really made me feel like I belong there.
As to Karen's (I think) question about harnesses on hard hats, I am a firm
believer. After I started retraining some of these horses (and I _only_
ride them once or twice a week - the rest of the time others do) I realized
that on one mare I was going to come off eventually (she's very spooky). I
got a harnessed hat, and within two months had taken a fairly serious spill
(I landed on the middle element of a 3-element bounce). The hat stayed on,
and I didn't get concussed. Also, I didn't fall on it. I saw Barney Ward
(or someone) at the Washington International this year. His horse refused
at the 7 foot wall. Barney stayed on, but his hat flew into the wall. Had
he followed it... I think that Grand Prix riders really ought to wear
harnesses in all phases of competition. If nothing else, they're sending the
wrong message to all the junior riders out there ("When I get to be 18, I
won't have to wear this silly harness anymore..."). There. End of diatribe.
So much for this week. Tally-ho!
Pat Wilson
--------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 16:04:47 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Warmbloods
>Regarding why people buy warmbloods, I'm not sure that a national
>inferiority complex is the reason. After all, if national confidence is
>demonstrated through rejection of all things European then our brethren in
>the stock saddles on cutting horses are the most confident equestrians of
>all, since they've stuck to an American form of riding instead of getting
>all carried away by that silly European circus trick stuff called
>dressage :-).
I don't follow this, nor do I understand how it applies to the subject at
hand. Please explain.
>Seriously, I think it is the growing popularity of dressage that's led to
>the growing popularity of warmbloods. People see the great success of
>Germans, Swedes, etc. in the international dressage competitions (olympic
>medals galore, etc.), and decide they want the kinds of horses these riders
>have.
The general opinion in this country is "all European X are better than all
American X", where X can be cars, manners, customs, languages, cultures,
food, a whole bunch of other stuff, and of course horses. That sense of
inferiority is (I believe) a hold over from the days when we were the rude,
uncultured colonies and Europe was the sophisticated center of the world.
I believe it is that lingering sense of inferiority that makes people want
European horses. The above quoted statement is correct. However, instead of
seeing *well-trained* horses in those situations, people see *European* horses,
which they see as making all the difference.
>Especially common are people who go to Germany to study with the
>masters and then come home with a warmblood in tow. Of course the
>individual horses are only half the story. Many European countries have
>classical riding traditions several hundred years old. Our dressage
>tradition is barely approaching two decades. So many people buy a horse in
>Europe who is already Grand Prix so they can "learn the movements." This
>is not to say that thoroughbreds, quarter horses, etc. cannot go Grand
>Prix. Many can. The problem is rather the shortage of available
>*trainers* in the US capable of taking a horse (correctly) to Grand Prix.
>So many people who buy a warmblood are not buying the individual horse per
>se, but his *training*.
Not everyone who buys a European Warm Blood (EWB) has the talent or desire
to ride Grand Prix dressage. Not every EWB raised here or brought into this
country is trained to Grand Prix level. Not every EWB has the potential to
go Grand Prix. I've seen people in the Chicago area pay > $15K for EWBs
that have minimal training (only some months past green broke). Why do
they pay that when they can get an equally talented American horse for a hell
of a lot less? They pay that kind of money because the EWB is *European*.
Nothing more; nothing less.
>Also we must remember that "European" and
>"warmblood" are no longer synonymous. We now have third generation
>American warmbloods. Many good stallions have been imported from Europe to
>America and bred to thoroughbred mares here to produce Made In America
>sport horses. It seems rather premature to reject warmbloods out of hand
>as "foreign!"
This is hair-splitting. All those EWB breeds originated in Europe and are
still seen as European. It's irrelevant that they may have been born in
this country. Even if no one considered them European, people would still
say "This breed is better than that breed", which of course is nonsense.
>After all, thoroughbreds (or horses at all, for that matter)
>are hardly indigenous to North America's shores. All thoughtful horse
>breeding is a slow process of crossing the best of the foreign sources with
>the best domestic ones to produce offspring to fulfill specific intended
>purposes. Hundreds of years ago, the English crossed foreign Arabians with
>domestic heavy horses. They created a new breed with the best
>characteristics of both foundation stocks (ironically making TB's the first
>"warmbloods," I guess!). Where would the thoroughbred be today if everyone
>had said, "so these little Arabs are fine and fast. Let's stick to what we
>already have."?
I never said that American horses couldn't be improved, nor did I ever say we
shouldn't make the effort. I never denied that European horse breeders seem
to turn out sport horses more consistently than American horse breeders (who
concentrate on racing horses, which is where the big bucks are). My point is
that many people think that if you have two horses who are hair-for-hair,
muscle-for-muscle, bone-for-bone, nerve-for-nerve, experience-for-experience
identical except that one is a EWB and the other is an American horse, then
the EWB is the better horse *BECAUSE IT IS EUROPEAN*! I say that's snobbery,
pure and simple, and I say it's bullshit.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Monday, 20 Jan 1986 15:18:20-PST
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt 617 568-5823 )
Subject: Boy am I busy-- don't give up on me! I'm sorry!
Re: Jan Ayer's question about not shoeing
(several digests ago... I'm still bogged down with work...)
and brief comment on helmets at the end.
I didn't own the horses I'm going to tell you about, and haven't
ever owned, so I'm really only giving you my original trainer (Janet)'s
stand. (She has since moved away, alas.) (Laura E: as the most experienced
eventer among us, I'd love to hear your opinions on shoeing, too.)
I leased a sturdy QH-type 14.2 hand mare, and competed two seasons
in novice events. This horse, Magoo, was not shod; she was ridden by me
or by other students about 6 days weekly. Of the four horses that were
eventing, two were unshod, and the other two wore shoes on the front, because
they showed signs of sensitivity (to stony paths, for example) without. The
17 hand TB got shoes in back too when he was going Prelim regularly.
The ring we used had good footing, but nothing nearly as cushy as
some indoor-halls. We did much of our trail work on narrow, typically uneven
New England woods trails, and on apple orchard land (somewhat uneven, lumpy
grasses), and on hard dirt paths (with some stony-gravelly sections) around
a reservoir nearby. We typically saved our hand-gallop work for the fields or
reservoir, but often trotted and occasionally cantered on the woods trails.
We also sometimes walked 1/4 mile on paved roads (to reservoir). Amount of
ring work to trail work was about 3 to 1. We typically only did basic jumping
work (low jumps, in and outs) once a week, in the ring. A few times at the
start of the season, we'd use some real fences in the field for practice, but
this work was mostly replaced by work at events (every month or so) later in
the year. (Granted, many horses would need more work than this to prepare
for events, esp. if green or while working on problems.) In the winter, we
rode in fields in the snow, unless it was icy. We had very little trouble
with ice-balls forming in the hoof, though we might have been able to ride
more in the snow if they'd had shoes with pads. Last, the horses were usually
turned out, but when not, their stalls were well bedded, and not cement-base
anyway.
All of this background is included so that you can compare what the
horses (and their bare feet) were doing, and on what surfaces. Note that we
worked regularly, but didn't do the hardest things (bigger jumps, galloping
on hard surfaces or mud) very often, if at all. By the way, we didn't do
badly at our events, although we occasionally had muddy courses.
So it seems to me that shoes are not essential for eventing
at lower levels, and it's probably safe to event at higher levels without
shoes up to a certain point. I can't tell you how much work would require
shoes, or whether endurance racing or steeplechasing could be done barefoot
as well. It does make me chuckle, though, to note that people seem so eager
to spend so much money on shoes for their horses, especially if the only
place they do trot and canter work is in a cushy ring or the occasional
field. After all, they didn't wear shoes in the wild. It seems to me that
breeding for good feet is probably as important as breeding for good color,
or stamina, or disposition, or movement, and yet most of the horses ridden
today (most bred by man, not nature) are wearing shoes! I'd hope to own a
horse who has good feet to begin with, and then keep the horse unshod unless
the horse shows sensitivity (and other causes for the sensitivity are ruled
out) or the hoof shows too much wear. Obviously, you need a good farrier in
ANY case-- a poorly trimmed barefoot horse will be pretty uncomfortable, and
as we've heard from recent stories here, bad shoeing can cause problems, too.
Last, (sorry if this is all obvious...) take into account what the horse will
have to do, how often, and on what surfaces. If your horse rarely sees cement
or pavement, has decent looking hoof growth, doesn't need corrective shoes, and
is not galloping more than once or twice a week, maybe neither of you need
the bother.
--carrie wilpolt
wilpolt%[email protected]
{ihnp4, etc} !decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-pbsvax!wilpolt
P.S. Re: Karen Rossen's mention of Caliente helmets: As mentioned, these
are pretty standard for eventers. I went to ride a for-sale horse
recently, and although the horse was VERY well behaved, I felt pretty
naked after 30 seconds, when I realized I didn't have my hat on.
I once fell off a 17+ hand gelding, and it was a LONG way to the
ground, head first! (Another reason I don't mind being short and
riding short horses.)
--------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 15:25:06 CST
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: Leases, etc.
Re. Horses. A friend and I leased two horses for the winter, and boy
has she gotten unlucky. The horse she leased, Sox, came down with a
case of colic Sunday morning, re-coliced Sunday night, Monday morning
was taken to the U of Ill. Vet clinic and hasn't improved a whole
lot since. Tonight the owners will need to make a decision about
what to do. either the horse improves, or they operate (I doubt it,
he isn't a very valuable horse), or they put him down. We have been looking
for a reason for him to colic, and can't find any. He hasn't been overworked
or left chilled, there have been no feed changes, he hasn't been out browsing
on stuff he shouldn't have, and it doesn't appear he had chewed at his
stall either. Maybe worms? He was wormed a month ago... You have here
the thing that worries me about even leasing a horse... being responsible
for this kind of vet bills. While I am still a student, I would have a very
difficult time coming up with this sort of cash.
The horse I am leasing, Penny, is doing quite well. I've been working on
getting her to stop lugging, and I'm getting results. If I can now get her
to understand canter queues well enough to get the correct lead even when I
DON'T start her on a curve... Some of this stuff gets difficult to
work on when you are riding in the arena version of the Dan Ryan.
Last week Robin Sahner dropped me a note (another mailing list person
in CU), and we went out to lunch with another of my riding friends.
I really enjoyed meeting her and talking horses with a sympathetic group.
Nothing has been decided about where I will be working yet. Right now,
Bell Labs in Holmdel looks attractive from an equestrian point
of view, but I haven't yet done a plant trip there, never mind gotten
an offer. Ah well. It does look more than ever like I will
graduate this spring. And that is something.
In anticipation I have joined the USCTA (US Combined Training Association).
I like their magazine. I go crazy over the pictures of horses on the
Advanced Cross-country courses. It also contains a good list of
places and dates that horse trials and events are being held. I can get
an idea of where the action is.
Well, I must get back to work now. I just came in from a riding lesson
and should use this good energy for something productive.
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 14:48:36 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: Helmets
>I want
>to introduce a new topic -- how many of you wear Caliente or other safety
>helmets with harnesses when riding? I am a recent convert to wearing one
>-- my horse is 17 hands, and even if I fall off while he's standing still
>it's a long way down! I feel that they're sort of like seat belts -- a bit
>of a nuisance but worth it if it saves my neck!
> Karen Rossen
I always wear one if I'm going to ride the horse outside, especially galloping,
or if I'm going to jump. The only time I'll consider not wearing a helmet is
when I ride inside on the flat. Even then, if the temperature is low and the
horse is fresh out of his stall, I wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet has saved
me several trips to the hospital and has made one trip to the hospital a minor
affair - I just had bruised ribs rather than bruised ribs and a head injury.
Some years ago before I knew him, the man now training my horse got thrown
one evening. No one is sure what happened that evening - it happened so fast
that he doesn't remember and there was no one else around. His wife found him
unconscious in the middle of the arena. He wasn't wearing a helmet (only
weenies wear helmets, you know) and spent 18 days in the hospital, part of it
in a coma, with a severe head injury. It took him a long time to recover and
he still has problems because of that accident.
You have to understand that every horse farm has on it a nest of space aliens
who broadcast on the frequency that horses listen to. Like people, the
younger the horse, the more they listen to the broadcast and the more they
pay attention when they hear their favorite message: "Time to spook!". When the
horses hear that message, they obey instantly, and you can go flying. It
happened to me just two weeks ago and I wound up in the dirt, fortunately
unhurt.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 86 8:17:31 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Warmbloods
>> Regarding why people buy warmbloods, I'm not sure that a national
>> inferiority complex is the reason. After all, if national confidence
>> is demonstrated through rejection of all things European then our
>> brethren in the stock saddles on cutting horses are the most confident
>> equestrians of all, since they've stuck to an American form of riding
>> instead of getting all carried away by that silly European circus
>> trick stuff called dressage :-).
> I don't follow this, nor do I understand how it applies to the subject
> at hand. Please explain.
I was making a little joke (a feeble and rather obscure one, apparently ...).
The gist of my thinking was this: Carl suggested that people buy warmbloods
because they believe that European things are superior to American ones. I
disagreed because I believe people's reasons are more varied and/or
complicated than simple chauvinism. To demonstrate my conviction that most
people don't do things just because they are European I made a little joke
about dressage. Dressage originated in Europe. If, as Carl suggests, most
people believe European things to be better than American, perhaps all of
us who ride dressage do it because it is European, not because we think it
is a worthwhile pastime. The only non-Europhiles in sight would be those
who ride Western -- a non-European style. My point (apparently poorly
expressed) was that you can use European products or ideas without believing
that all things European are necessarily better. How embarrassing to have
to explain my jokes -- I better give up trying to be funny!
I guess Carl and I will simply have to agree to disagree about the
individual reasons people have for buying warmbloods. Fortunately we agree
on the important point -- you should buy a horse for its abilities or
potential abilities, and not for its "designer label." Unfortunately,
there will always be those silly folks who will pay too much money for a
horse just because it's the fashionable breed of the moment or came from
Mr. Famous Professional's barn, rather than because of the individual
horse's quality (you know -- the sort of person who would rush off to the
Idaho Panhandle to buy horses if he was convinced that the "right people"
were buying there this year). It is certainly silly snobbishness on their
part, but they are the ones who will be the poorer for it.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 86 8:17:49 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Tootsies and Helmets
> It seems to me that breeding for good feet is probably as important as
> breeding for good color, or stamina, or disposition, or movement, and
> yet most of the horses ridden today (most bred by man, not nature) are
> wearing shoes!
I agree with Carrie -- you know the old saying, "No foot, no horse!" And
on the subject of shoes, I too think that the ideal tootsie situation is
good solid feet kept bare and trimmed at a natural angle. And if you do
need to keep a horse shod because of work on hard surfaces it's not a bad
idea to give the kid's feet a "rest" for a month or so each year when you
pull their shoes and turn them out barefoot so their frog can remember what
the ground feels like! Of course, if the shoes are for corrective reasons,
you would not want to do this -- a couple days barefoot and some navicular
horses can barely walk.
Re: Helmets. I'm glad to hear that Pat, Carrie and Carl wear helmets. I
hope that more of you than just those three are keeping your noggins
protected. As a recent convert, I can testify that, although the "crash
helmet" may feel a bit odd at first, one does get used to it. I've even
purchased a stylish cover to coordinate with my horse's cooler. The woman
I board with (also a helmet wearer and the person most responsible for
convincing me to wear one) assures me that we look very smart marching off
the the ring every morning! ;-)
Karen Rossen
--------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 86 9:06:35 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Helmets
To further beat the point into the ground (could this one be the "Safety
Issue?"), I quote the following from The Chronicle of the Horse, dated
Friday, January 17, 1986:
"John R. Williams Street, the vice president of the Deep Run (Va.)
Hunt Club, died on Dec. 30 from a head injury received in a fall while
foxhunting with Deep Run on Dec. 28.
"James E. Covington, ex-MFH, was riding beside Mr. Street: 'We were
trotting down a road in a field when Bill's horse slipped and fell.
The horse immediately sprang up as Bill was going down. His foot was
still in the stirrup, and his head struck the ground. His helmet did
not have a chin strap because the helmet he usually wore broke two
weeks prior.'
"Frederic S. Reed, MFH, described Mr. Street as 'an avid foxhunter who
usually hunted two days a week. He was a very competent rider and a
firm believer in wearing protective headgear complete with chin
strap.'
"Mr. Street is survived by his wife, the former Carolyn Blount of
Richmond, Virginia; two sons, Robert Henry Street of Franklin,
Virginia, and Edward Arthur Street of Richmond; and a sister, Mrs.
Bliss Brown, of Richmond."
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 86 8:53:18 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New Hampshire Equine Services
Late last month, Julie Moore told me about a fine non-profit humane
organization called New Hampshire Equine Services and subsequently
supplied me with copies of some of their literature. I had hoped to get
a writeup on this out before Christmas, in order to encourage contributions
during the holiday season, but I was just too busy, and as they say,
"better late than never."
Some quotes from the material:
"New Hampshire Equine Services, Inc., was formed by concerned horse
people interested in providing better care through education.
"Love alone is not enough when keeping a horse. Nothing is an
adequate substitute for reliable information and knowledge of a
horse's basic needs and requirements. Proper management of a horse is
more complex than caring for a dog or cat. A neglected horse is a
heartbreaking sight, but an abused horse is even sadder. Most cases
of abuse and neglect are not deliberate; much of it is done through
ignorance.
"The lack of available information to keep pace with the increasing
New Hampshire equine population encouraged a group of knowledgeable
horse owners to form N.H.E.S. N.H.E.S was incorporated on April 12,
1979, and works in cooperation with the local NH humane societies, and
is a member of the NH Federation of Humane Societies.
"... Individual supportive membership - $10 / year. Official
publication is The Equestrian Bulletin [monthly]. Subscription is
$7 / year ... Activities include clinics, seminars, educational
presentations, abuse investigation, animal placement, animal rescue
and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Center is maintained at
Hillsborough, NH."
The literature refers to a "Service Line," a telephone number through which
N.H.E.S. board members maintain a directory and provide pointers to vets,
farriers, feed dealers, etc., and answers about horse care and proper
feeding and management. I have spoken to someone on the board, and they
also accept contributions of old horse sheets and blankets as well as old
halters.
The address and telephone number provided are as follows: N.H.E.S.,
P.O. Box 1213, Weare, New Hampshire, 03281, (603) 529-1783 or (603) 938-5545.
Anyone interested in photocopies of the literature Julie gave me should
send me their postal address (I volunteer the postage). Included are some
rather heart-wrenching pictures of instances of equine neglect.
This is the first such organization Karen or I have heard of (we have
noticed that the Massachusetts SPCA maintains a horse shelter in Methuen),
and I'd be interested of hearing about similar organizations elsewhere in
the country. Write in, and let us know.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 86 13:18:43 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: horse dentists
Eileen asked about horse dentists. We've never used one, though we know
people who have. I can supply the phone number of one in the Boston area.
I know that's nowhere near you, but if you get desperate, this guy might be
able to point you to a professional association or something, who would in
turn refer you to the nearest one to central PA. Also, he can probably
discuss his procedure with you in greater detail.
His name is on a card which Karen's instructor used to scrawl some
miscellaneous (unrelated) information, so it's possible that she has used
him before. That's not intended as an endorsement or anything, but it
explains why we have the number.
L. M. Twohig, Equine Dental Tech
Brockton, Massachusetts
(617) 586-0267
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.19 | Equestrian Digest Issue #16 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:09 | 227 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 27 Jan 1986 Issue 16
Today's Topics:
Subscribership Update / USENET Articles
First Aid
The Tooth Fairy
The Sox story
Time-share a horse? How?
RE: Time-sharing a horse
Re: Time-share a horse? How?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 86 17:02:58 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Subscribership Update / USENET Articles
Mike Stalnaker's electronic address changes, effective Monday, February 3.
Formerly at dolqci!mike, he will from that date on be at:
seismo!vrdxhq!mws -or- mws%[email protected]
Carol Taylor in Colorado, Herb Kanner in California, Mary Shurtleff in
Connecticut, Tracey Baker in New Jersey and Vicki d'Ull in the Baltimore
area are all new subscribers. Their addresses are:
Tracey Baker <topaz!packard!vax135!tab>,
Vicki d'Ull <[email protected]>
... or ... <seismo!umcp-cs!jhunix!ins_avrd>,
Herb Kanner <ihnp4!oliveb!tymix!kanner>,
Mary Shurtleff <decvax!ittvax!ittatc!bunker!bunkerb!mary>,
Carol Taylor <seismo!lll-crg!csu-cs!csugnat!carol>
Welcome to all of you!
An article concerning time-sharing arrangements popped up today in net.rec
here at BBN, and I've reproduced it and a subseqent response here for
those of you without USENET access. Robin Crickman in Minnesota and
Pat Balfanz in Illinois, the authors, have been added to the subscription list.
Their addresses are:
Pat Balfanz <ihnp4!ihlpg!balfanz>,
Robin Crickman <ihnp4!umn-cs!crickman> or <[email protected]>
Welcome, Robin and Pat!
Finally, there was some disk shuffling here and mail delivery to me over
the weekend was interrupted. If you sent me mail to which I haven't
responded or an article which doesn't appear here, you may want to
retransmit it. Sorry for any hassle.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 86 05:01:17 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: First Aid
I have a question for everyone: what things should I have in a first aid
kit for my horse? What things have you found useful, and what normally
recommended things have you found to be unnecessary? I'd appreciate any
comments you might have.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 86 9:54:05 EST
From: J or K Levin <[email protected]>
Subject: The Tooth Fairy
I am in support of and use a "horse dentist". From experience I do
not feel that vets do much of a job floating teeth. I believe it's an art
as is shoeing. Both are essential to a sound horse. Our horses' teeth are
floated yearly and have been for nearly the past ten years by the same
gentleman, Harry Robinson. He lives in Connecticut, has his own plane, and
with his two sons travels most of the eastern seaboard to float teeth.
This gentle giant does not use a device in the horse's mouth, does not
believe in drugs, and never manhandles a horse--and I've helped this man
with many, many horses.
A horse cannot possibly function well with his teeth rubbing and
biting into his cheeks, especially now where figure-8s and flashes are used
so often. We're pushing the cheeks in on those sharp teeth so it's even
more essential to float teeth, never mind all the problems with food intake
and general good health. Also in floating teeth the mouth is inspected.
At the farm we owned, one of our boarders had a horse who began stomping
his feet, tearing at his knees, and rubbing his neck constantly. Vets
looked at him and felt he probably had some sort of neuralgia. These
symptoms persisted. Just by coincidence Harry was scheduled to be up
shortly thereafter, and he found an infected tooth in the horse's mouth and
pulled it. The symptoms began to subside and then disappeared. The
"neuralgia" was more than likely related to the tooth. He also removed
from the floor of my mare's mouth a splinter that plaque had built up on
and made a mass we never would have noticed until it was huge and needed
surgery.
I will have to go hunt for Harry's number. If anyone would like it
let me know and I'll look him up. His references are good: he does a lot
of race horses, but also does H/J, dressage horses, etc. His jokes are
rough but he's kind with the horses.
I've rambled on forever -- apologies -- but one more question to throw
out. With all this talk of breeds and all the breeds available today and
all the breeding going on, what do you think of breeding via parcel post --
"the Hamilton system"? Is this a big advantage or a big disadvantage to
these breeds, say, 10 years down the road?
Kathy Levin
arpa: [email protected]
uucp: {inhp4 or decwrl or others}!bbncca!levin
or !bbnccv!levin
--------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 86 09:03:05 CST
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: The Sox story
Since I mentioned the fact that Sox was very ill with colic, I thought
I might let you know how this all came out. Sox managed to hang on through
Monday, Tuesday and some of Wendsday with an ever decreasing white blood
count. Wendsday night they did surgery on him and found an obstruction
made up of sawdust and some grain. He got through the surgery and
onto Thursday morning when his Trachea swelled shut. They did
a tracheotomy, but he died.
All this raises a few questions in my mind. How safe is sawdust as a bedding?
How safe is it if the horse is fed his hay off the ground? I don't think
once the problem turned up that anyone could have done much more for Sox
than was done. Sad story.
There are a few questions about just what my friend Janet's responsibilities
should be in all this. I would imagine none past the Vet clinic door.
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 20:11:58 EST
From: [email protected] (Robin Crickman)
Subject: Time-share a horse? How?
(munch, munch,munch)
I have recently started taking horseback riding lessons and would like to
practice my instruction on a regular basis. What I want to do is to
arrange with a horse owner to "time-share" their horse; i.e. to pay a
fixed fee to use the horse every week at a set time.
Can anyone tell me if this sort of arrangement is customary. My local
stable has never heard of such a thing. Does the arrangement have a
generally used name? What is the most efficient way to find a horseowner
who might be interested? Aside from being offered a horse which is morre
than my limited current skills can handle, what should I watch out for?
Any other tips or suggestions are welcome, too.
Robin Crickman, ...ihnp4!umn-cs!crickman
--------------------
Date: Thu, 23-Jan-86 09:11:39 EST
From: [email protected] (Balfanz)
Subject: RE: Time-sharing a horse
At the stable I ride at (in Oswego, Illinois), I know a lot of riders
that lease horses (not hourly leasing). Some of the horses are owned
by the stable. But there are some horses whose owner wants to share
the costs of keeping the horse.
There is one horse I know of whose owner got pregnant and was under
doctor's orders not to ride. So, she reluctantly decided to sell the
horse. There were two riders interested in purchasing the horse, but
neither one could afford it. So, one of the riding instructors
brought up the subject of leasing the horse. Well, the owner hesitated
at first, and then, became delighted with the idea (she would still have
the horse after the baby was born, but he wouldn't be sitting in his
stall the whole time). And, the two riders were delighted because
they wouldn't have the full cost of owning a horse. Also, the two
riders are at different levels of riding, so their riding lessons could
be on different days and they weren't likely to want to show in the same
classes at the horse shows.
I hope this helps shed some light on the subject. I'm not sure of all
of the details (leasing fee, etc.). But, I can say that leasing
(time-sharing) does exist, and has for quite a few years (I remember
trying to talk my parents into letting me lease a horse about thirteen
years ago).
Pat Balfanz
ihlpg!balfanz
--------------------
From: decvax!ittatc!bunker!bunkerb!mary
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 86 10:56:52 est
Subject: Re: Time-share a horse? How?
As a fledgling equestrienne of one year, I would be interested in the mailing
list you mentioned. I've loved horses all my life, and I'm finally getting
a chance to learn to ride properly. Anyway, please put me on the mailing list
if it's not too much trouble.
--
Mary Shurtleff ....decvax!ittatc!bunker!bunkerb!mary
<---***--->
"And now for something completely different, a man with three legs."
"He ran away!"
<---***--->
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.20 | Equestrian Digest Issue #17 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:11 | 218 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 3 Feb 1986 Issue 17
Today's Topics:
Additions and Updates
Re: Time-share a horse? How?
Re: Time-share a horse? How?
Introduction
More Introduction
Leasing a Horse
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 11:10:13 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Additions and Updates
New subscribers are:
Larry Cler <[email protected]>,
Marie-Louise Jalbert <mlj%[email protected]>,
Gregg Mackenzie <seismo!hao!cisden!gmack>,
Carol Marinaro <[email protected]>,
David Prager <[email protected]>,
Cliff Shaffer <[email protected]>
Welcome, all of you!
Also, a few address corrections, some due to my mistakes, some due to
various currently inoperative Internet connections:
Robin Crickman <ihnp4!umn-cs!crickman>
-or- <crickman%[email protected]>,
Vicki d'Ull <ins_avrd%[email protected]>,
Jeff Glover <jeffg%tekcbi%[email protected]>
Please let me know if you are trying unsuccessfully to reach a subsciber
and need assistance with mail paths.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 07:26:45 pst
From: [email protected] (David Prager)
Subject: Re: Time-share a horse? How?
Thanks for your prompt response to my request to be added to
the mailing list. It appears that the paths are OK.
I look forward to hearing about what others interested in
equestrianism (sic) are doing these days. My primary interests
are dresage and equine medicine. In particular I will soon post a
solicitation for information on equine renal (kidney) disease.
David
~
-------------------------------------------------------------------
David Prager (w)206-827-9626 (h)206-821-3561
Teltone Corp.
Kirkland, WA. ...uw-beaver!tikal!prager
98033-0657 or whatever works.
--------------------
From: wanginst!decvax!bellcore!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!drutx!dcm@bbncca
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 11:46:19 est
Subject: Re: Time-share a horse? How?
I would like to be appended to this horsey mailing list of which you write.
My wife is the ownwer, manager of Foxhill Stables, Inc. north of Denver.
Thanx in advance, notice the correct, mailing address below (I borrow an
id to read netnews, as not all machines here at ATT ISL receive net.*
news groups.)
Sincerely,
Larry Cler VP
Foxhill Stables, Inc.
ihnp4!drux2!ljc
Foxhill Stables, Inc.
1000 E. 160th Ave.
Broomfield, CO 80020
--------------------
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 11:04:15 mst
From: [email protected] (Gregg Mackenzie)
Subject: Introduction
I am employed by Contel Information Systems in Littleton, CO. I am 27,
single and I've had four horses. I do not currently have any horses
but I hope to get a couple in the near future.
My first two horses were a pair of cow ponies that my parents bought
off an old cowboy. They died at 36 and 33. I also had a Thoroghbred
race-horse that I got in trade for transporting some horses for a guy
in the racing business. Great horse! He was killed two years ago in
a fight with another horse. Before I lost him, I bought an Arabian
mare in foal for $200 from a neighbor who wanted her to have a good
home. She got intestinal cancer and had to put down about two years
ago as well. My parents got the foal which turned out to be every bit
as good a horse as her mother.
I haven't had any horses for awhile because I am heavily involved in
a few other projects. One is an old stagecoach that I am rebuilding
which I hope to use for trailrides and such. The other is the mascot
program at the University of Colorado. I am the trainer of Ralphie,
their live, 1400lb buffalo that leads the football team onto the field.
I am looking forward to meeting my fellow horsey-type computter nerds
who are on the network.
Later & Greater,
Gregg Mackenzie
cisden!gmack
--------------------
Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 14:25:58 mst
From: [email protected] (Gregg Mackenzie)
Subject: More Introduction
I am really enjoying the digest. I've noticed that there is a large
dressage/ct/etc. constituency. I've never really had much interest in
these disciplines but I am enjoying the articles anyway. I really liked
Joyce Andrews' (correct credit?) story about her first hunt. The only
kind of riding I do is "plain-ol'" (I think they call it western :-), so
I hope I can contribute some ramblings that won't bore the english people
too much. I have interests in paints, wagon teams, draft horses, rodeos,
trailers, barns, ranches, etc. if anyone cares to talk about them.
After I catch up on the digest I'll post a few things that I hope will be
of general interest to the readership.
Later & Greater,
Gregg Mackenzie
cisden!gmack
--------------------
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 86 16:43:33 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Leasing a Horse
When I first decided that I wanted to ride seriously, I leased a horse from
the barn where I was riding. That barn was somehow associated with a charity
called Friends of Handicapped Riders, which accepted horses as donations, and
so I had a broad range of horses to consider.
I recommend that the owner and the prospective lessee consider the following
items. I don't guarantee that it's an exhaustive list, but it was the basis
for the lease agreement I signed with my barn. A lawyer later said the lease
was O.K.
* How long does the lease run?
* When (what days of the week and hours of the day) can I use the
horse?
* What am I responsible for when I use the horse? I mean things like
grooming, mane pulling, picking feet, blanketing in the winter,
turning out, cooling out, special circumstances for this horse, etc.
* Can I let anyone else ride the horse?
* What can I use the horse for? What things can I not use the horse
for? For instance, if the horse is now used only for trail rides,
it's probably not a good event candidate.
* What costs am I responsible for? Do I pay a share of all costs or
just a share of the board? Do I pay my share directly to the owner
or to the person who gave the service? When do I have to pay my
share?
* Who's responsible for injuries to the horse? It seems obvious that
you pay if the horse is injured while under your direct control,
but what if the horse is injured while out to pasture? Who pays if
a condition that existed before you leased the horse recurs (e.g.
horses that colic, have injuries to the gut, and then colic again
because of the scar tissue)?
* Who provides the tack and miscellaneous equipment?
* Can I take the horse off the premises? If I can, what conditions
apply?
* What safety rules must I follow? What are the owner's responsibili-
ties for making sure that the person leasing the horse rides well
enough to control the horse? People have been sued successfully for
allowing someone else to do something stupid.
* How do you break the lease if one of you is not satisfied? Can the
owner break the lease before the term of the lease is up and, if
so, what conditions are grounds for doing so?
This all makes leasing sound horribly legal, but I leased one horse or another
for more than a year under an agreement that talked about all these things,
and we never had any problems because both I and the stable agreed to all the
details before hand. Leasing is a good way to call a horse your own.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.21 | Equestrian Digest Issue #18 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:12 | 278 |
| Equestrian Digest Wed 5 Feb 1986 Issue 18
Today's Topics:
New People
Introduction
Introduction
Buying a Horse
Introduction
Equestrian mailing list
Introduction
apology and acknowledgement
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 13:29:31 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New People
This issue is bursting with introductions from recent new subscribers. Two
of them are new as of this issue, Karen in CO and Paula in PA:
Karen Hettinger <seismo!hao!kitten> -or- <[email protected]>,
Paula Matuszek <seismo!presby!burdvax!bigburd!paula>
Pleased to meet you all!
Also, although the old address will still work, Ania's current Internet
address is now:
Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>
Any UUCP mail to Ania should still go to ihnp4!bbnccv!aobrien.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 17:08:57 mst
Subject: Introduction
Well, Ken, here's my go-ahead. My name is Karen Hettinger. I am not
a hacker, I am warning you because I don't know the inner workings of
this electronic mail system and address idiosycracies.
I consider myself a bit better than a novice rider, self taught. And
just when I found a great rental horse (rare, I can imagine) I move
from California to Colorado. ~sigh~ His name is Spanky, and though
recalcitrant (reaching for snacks, wanting to GO) he was very responsive
to my commands and I learned a lot riding him.
Well, gotta cut this short, time to get ready for work. Thanks much.
Take care,
Karen~
--------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 86 07:44:41 MST
From: lll-crg!csu-cs!csugnat!carol (Carol Taylor)
Subject: Introduction
Ken,
Here is my little spiel about myself and my horsey experience.
I have owned and ridden horses since I was 12 (roughly 18 years) with
a few years in between of not owning horses but always riding.
I am originally from California, but now reside in Fort Collins, Colorado
with my husband, cat and arab mare, Blue. I have done mostly western
riding including some wrangling on dude ranches (quite interesting let
me tell you) in my youth. These last few years, I have been involved
in endurance riding which is probably the most challenging and time
consuming of all the types of riding I have experienced. I also am
getting involved in dressage as a change, and because I feel that
it will help turn my long distance racing arab into a better horse.
Changing from going fast and far to very controlled movements is
not so easy for my horse, but she can't be a race horse all her life.
Guess that's all for now. I have enjoyed hearing about people's
experiences especially in the east, since it's so different from
the country and kind of riding I have enjoyed. Carol Taylor.
--------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 86 15:38:15 EST
From: todd%[email protected]
Subject: Buying a Horse
I know that I write to the horse mailing list sporadically,
but at least I write. I am busy looking at horses that I am
considering to buy. I had plenty of problems that I will relate
to the mailing list.
First, I will decribe what I am after. I am interested in a horse
that I can use in Beginner to Advanced Dressage, Hunter/Jumper,
perhaps hunting, and definitely hacking through the woods.
The horse has to be at least 16-2 and able to carry a 6'0" 220lb male.
I am looking the $2-3K price range ( a bit more or less is OK ).
There is a Classified Ads book here that has many "pet" ads including
horses, along with the New England Horman's Pedlar, and you New
England horse people know about that.
After a short search, I found a Appy Gelding 8 yrs Roan/White that
I was seriously considering buying the horse and my instructor was in
lov with him. I got the vet to examine him and both the vet and my
instructor noticed that he was off trotting (sp?) in tight circles
on the right front leg. The Vet took x-raysof that one leg and the
owner obtained x-rays that were 1-year old for a comparison. I
even went and got a bank check written so that I could buy the horse
the next day. I had no idea that the Vet would call and say that the
horse was no good. It ends up that the horse had "age spots"? in
his bone. 3 from the previous 1yr xray and 5 in the current xray.
The vet approved him for pleasure use 3 days a week, but not for heavy
use, as I want. The deal was off and I am still looking.
In an unrelated story, I looked at a 17-2 hand saddlebred that was
saved from the slaughter house. $500 nego. if anyone is interested in
a big old horse to do something.
After consoltation with my instructor and some more inspection, I
decided that a thoroughbred is NOT what I want. I looked at several
huge ones (17-0 and 16-2) and they were too much on the nervous side
for what I am interested in. I would like a calmer horse.
My instructor has found a TB liver chestnut that is vey experienced.
Perhaps I will be able to take a look at it this week. Meanwhile,
if anyone ahs any horse for sale or sees any interesting ads, I would
appreciate your forwarding them to me.
I am getting to the point now where I figure, "I will never find a
horse before winter ends".
Anyone having advice on buying a horse, send it along. I agree that
this is a VERY controversial subject and ahs as many opnions as there
are horse people.
---------------------------
Todd Cooper
UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!todd ...!harvard!think!festiv!todd
CSNET: todd@bu-cs
BITNET: cscpyqc@bostonu
USNail: 29 Gordon Street #201, Brighton, MA 02135
--------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 86 15:28:25 mst
From: mlj%[email protected] (MarieLouise Jalbert)
Subject: Introduction
Hi, Ken!
Thanks for all the back issues. I received the first few within an
hour after I sent my original request--love that email! So now I'm all
caught up with the issues and have "met" most of the subscribers. It's
time for you to meet me.
Since I'm just out of college and blessed with an assortment of
debts, I'm horseless right now, but I do ride almost every weekend.
Besides being minus broke, I don't have time to devote to my own horse.
I've never ridden dressage or competed in the ring or jumped anything
that wasn't on a trail. Like Gregg McKenzie in Colorado, I just like
to get out and ride, with an emphasis in endurance riding. Fortunately
I've recently been riding any of my new friend's four endurance
Arabians (which happen to be my favorite breed!). They are all quite
a handful, but can go all day. There are many people in this area who
own horses without the time to ride, and providing you know the right
people, you can help these people out and ride for little/no charge.
Corrie likes to keep all four horses in top condition, and I'm sure
happy to help out. Hopefully this year I'll be able to ride in some
local endurance rides.
Before college I owned a 3/4 Arab, 1/4 pony (that pony really
messed things up!) that was spunky, 21 yrs old, and had all
sorts of stamina. In the winter Poppy would get an incredible fur
coat ~3" thick. She looked like a giant stuffed animal. She was a
great trail horse, eager to do anything out there. I learned to ride
bareback on her since I didn't own a saddle, and now bareback is my
preference. It's a different seat, and for me stirrups get in the way.
(No, she's not an overgrown vibrator, although at times when she
stopped suddenly I wished I was using a saddle.) I do use
endurance saddles on Corrie's horses. There are only 2 horses of
hers that I would trust riding bareback. Corrie and I also use
hackamores almost exclusively. The horses respond better to a hackamore
than to a bit.
I'll be another quiet subscriber since I don't have much
experience with dressage, hunting/jumping, or showing besides being
a spectator, but I sure love horsey talk. Thanks for this newsletter!
Marie-Louise Jalbert
Los Alamos Nat'l Lab
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 86 17:15:58 est
Subject: Equestrian mailing list
I did indeed get the back issues you sent me. Many thanks!
At present, I do not own a horse. I have been taking saddle seat lessons for
just over a year. Therefore, I don't expect to be able to contribute much,
but I think it will really help to see what other people have to say about
horses and riding. I'm indulging a very old love of horses, and enjoying every
minute.
Again, Thanks a million!
Mary Shurtleff ....decvax!ittatc!bunker!bunkerb!mary
<---***--->
"And now for something completely different, a man with three legs."
"He ran away!"
<---***--->
--------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 07:26:09 est
From: [email protected] (Paula Matuszek)
Subject: Introduction
Ken, I received your introductory message, and I would like to be
added to the mailing list. I haven't ridden much in years, but
my children are beginning to get interested and I think we are
about to resume riding. I think we would all find the digest of
use and interest.
Thanks.
--Paula
--------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 86 16:59:20 pst
From: Herb Kanner <[email protected]>
Subject: apology and acknowledgement
I knew there was something I was supposed to do and forgot because of a
slight panic situation at work. Received all back issues last week.
Please accept my abject apologies for forgetting to acknowledge.
I have been riding since 1963. This includes seven and a half years spent
in England, where we took riding lessons weekly (wife and I) as the only
practical way to get to ride a horse regularly. Went on a number of
six-day rides on the English-Scottish border and one such ride in Wales.
Currently have unlimited use of 3/4 Arab that had no formal training when I
started messing with it. After about six months, I realized that I had
gone to the limit of my meager knowledge, and found myself a good dressage
instructor. It has been an amazing experience. First, I was surprised at
the learning ability of a 10 year old horse. Second, I was chagrined at
how little I knew after over 20 years of riding.
Have accumulated a few war stories over the years. Perhaps I will write
some horsey memoirs in installments so that no contribution is ridiculously
long.
Herb Kanner
Tymnet, Inc.
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.22 | Equestrian Digest Issue #19 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:13 | 502 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 10 Feb 1986 Issue 19
Today's Topics:
back in touch
Buying horses
Introduction
Mail rec'd on "Time-sharing a horse"
Hello. We're very pleased to meet you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 19:29:59 est
From: Laura Edmundson <laura%[email protected]>
Subject: back in touch
Hi Everybody,
I just got the last 4 digests. It seems they got stuck in a queue
somewhere instead of getting sent to my account. Luckily, one of the
systems programmers found them and forwarded them to me.
In response to Karen's note in issue 10, Yes I did win the MFPC/RHR
horse trials as well as the Gold Leaf Farm horse trials in Nov. In fact,
my horse, Spellbound, ended up as 1985 Reserve Champion in the AHSA/Insilco
Zone IV awards for Training level eventing.
It looks as though this is going to be a busy season this spring
as I am planning to compete both horses at Preliminary level. Also, I'm
hoping to start showing Spellbound at third level in dressage this spring.
In response to the questions about bedding horses on shavings/
sawdust and feeding hay on the ground..Here in Florida almost everybody
uses either shavings or sawdust as bedding as straw is not easy to get.
It is also fairly common to feed hay on the ground and I've never heard
of anyone having any trouble with this. The only problem is when a horse
likes to drop his feed on the ground then try to dig it out of the bedding.
This happens a lot, and I suppose it could cause impaction very easily.
In response to the question about the most useful things to keep
in an emergency equine first aid kit, these are the things that I use
most frequently:
hydrogen peroxide-for cleaning out wounds
gauze pads and vetwrap-for bandaging the wound
elastoplast-for places where you need a stronger bandage than vetwrap
surgical scissors
nitrofurazone based ointment
thermometer(equine of course!)
adhesive tape
bute
There are several other things that are useful, such as stable wraps and
liniment, but those shouldn't be limited to first aid use.
Sorry it's taken so long to get these responses out. Hopefully I'll
get future digests without having them disappear into a black hole somewhere.
Look forward to future issues.
Bye,
Laura Edmondson
--------------------
From: pyuxh!nosmo%[email protected] (Pat Valdata)
Date: 6 Feb 1986 9:05 EST
Subject: Buying horses
I think the best advice for a potential buyer is what my vet said:
"Buy with the head, not with the heart." (He was referring to puppies but
I think we can generalize.) A friend of mine was in the market for a horse,
"fell in love" with a gray 4-year old ex-race horse, and bought him.
This began a struggle that lasted a couple years until she finally gave up
and sold him. Although he was a beautiful dappled gray and moved well,
he was very high strung. He didn't know anything except pacing in his stall
and running in the ring. The lessons became lessons for the horse, not the
rider; she had to spend so much time on schooling him that she couldn't pay
attention to learning for herself. Her horse spooked a lot, did not know how
to behave in a group lesson, and destroyed some fences where he was boarded.
After a while, he was manageable in a group, behaved better, and began to
learn how to canter on both leads, and even began jumping (although you
held your breath every time he went over a fence). But he was all work,
never fun to ride, and my friend finally realized that she would have to get
another horse if riding was to be a pleasure again.
It seems very important to make sure the horse and rider are a good match.
An ex-race horse may be a bargain, but life at the track and life as a
pleasure horse are awfully different. Retraining just may not be worth
the headaches.
--------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 86 11:32:26 est
From: seismo!philabs!bunker!bunkerb!mary (Mary Shurtleff)
Subject: Introduction
Ken,
I did indeed receive all of the E/D mailings from you, and thank you very much.
I haven't had time to go through all of them yet, but I'm working on it.
As far as my horsey experiences are concerned, I've always loved horses ever
since I was a little girl growing up in Texas. I regularly asked for a
horse, but the closest I ever came was a few months of group lessons one
summer when I was eleven. I was able to realize a little of my love of
horses when I moved here (Connecticut) with my husband. He, knowing I was
horse-crazy, got inspired and gave me riding lessons for Christmas last
year. I've been riding once a week now since January of '85. I'm learning
saddle seat equitation, and hope to try some hunt seat lessons once I feel
fairly competent at saddle seat. I eventually hope to own a horse and do a
little showing---once I finish night school and have the time to devote to
it.
I've noticed the predominance of both dressage and hunt seat in the discussions
in the Digest. Where does saddle seat fit into all this? Is it the first step
in learning dressage? Or is it still another odd-ball discipline, like
Western :-) ?
Thanks again, and I'm looking forward to further issues of E/D.
Mary Shurtleff ....decvax!ittatc!bunker!bunkerb!mary
<---***--->
"And now for something completely different, a man with three legs."
"He ran away!"
<---***--->
--------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 86 22:15:45 cst
From: Robin Crickman <crickman%[email protected]>
Subject: Mail rec'd on "Time-sharing a horse"
I saved all the responses I received to my query about time-sharing a horse.
While some of these have appeared it the Equestrian Digest, some have not.
I thought you might wish to extract whatever you believe would be of interest
to the group and present it. You might also wish to contact any people
who responded to me and arre not on your mailing list for ED. I just read
the first 18 issues and learned a great deal. I think others might appreciate
the wonderful service you're providing, too. I still intend to write an
introduction of myself(actually its ourselves, but I'll explain later) for
ED, but its been a long day.
Robin Crickman
=====
>From ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd (Carl Deitrick) Thu Jan 23 08:10:54 1986
I've seen ads in the Sunday Chicago Tribune for people to share the board on
a horse, so such arrangements are not unheard of. Read your local horse
publications, or put up notices in local tack stores and stables.
When you find someone who is willing to share the board on a horse, I
recommend that you put your agreement in writing and both sign it. You should
consider who is responsible for injuries to the horse, when you can ride it,
when the other person can ride it, whether you can take the horse off the
property to shows, etc, who pays for shoes and vet bills and whether you have
to provide your own tack, who pays if the horse is laid up for a long time,
an whatever else you can think of.
Ken Rossen at seismo!bbnccv!krossen is the moderator of a Horse Digest.
There are probably 35-40 subscribers of all experience levels. Send this
same request to that digest and you'll get more information than you'll know
what to do with.
Carl Deitrick ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
=====
>From ihnp4!vax135!tab (Tracey Baker) Fri Jan 24 11:31:40 1986
Robin-
I have never heard of a name for this kind of thing, but I have heard
of similar arrangements. A few suggestions:
- I don't know how often you take lessons, but (at least for
a beginner) a lesson once a week is plenty of time
to learn to ride. You really don't need the extra
practice at first, and it can get VERY expensive
on top of lessons.
If you have the time & money & you really want to
get some extra practice in:
- I would not reccomend stables which rent horses to the
public. These horses are often (but not always)
old, nasty, ill or injured, poorly cared for, and
any combination of the above. They are also often
overpriced.
- Try putting classified ad in the newspaper, and/or a sign
on the bulliten board at your local stable(s) (If
there is one, & always check with the management first).
- Ask people at your stable - tell them what you're looking
for and see if they know of any opportunities.
- Go to other nearby stables - ask people there and/or
post more signs there.
- Before you make any kind of agreement, especially with
any kind of signed contract, it might be a good idea
to have someone knowledgeable about horses
look at the animal to make sure there are no
health problems that you could get blamed for
once you start riding the animal.
- Also, make a quick check of the horse before and after
you ride and notify the owner of any problems
IMMEDIATELY.
- Before you decide to do this, you might want to get
a couple of books on basic horse care from the
library for things like problems to look for
when you're riding, proper grooming & tacking,
and anything else you might need to know.
( I don't know if your lessons cover these kinds
of things. Sadly, most lessons don't, and
I have seen people buy horses thinking that they
know everything about thm from lessons, then
find out that they don't know ANYTHING ).
- One last hint - get someone ( a friend, husband, child -
anyone) to watch you while you're riding and
look for mistakes you might be making. It would
be better if they knew something about riding, but
even little things like keeping your heels down is
useful.
- And finally - not a hint, but a STRONG suggestion:
NEVER RIDE ALONE!!!!!!
Especially if you decide to go out on a trail.
Riding can be dangerous, and if you have a serious
fall, it is much better to have someone right there
than to wait for someone to start wondering where you
are the next morning.
I hope this is helpful to you. I am saying all of this
from about 12 years of being around horses (I had my first
lesson when I was about 7 years old). I'm sorry if you know
some of this already, but, as I said before, I don't know
how experienced you are & I always assume the worst.
- Tracey Baker
|----------------------------------------------|
| |
|Tracey Baker |
|Room 4G-637 |
|AT&T Bell Laboratories |
|Crawfords Corner Rd. |
|Holmdel, N.J. 07733 |
| |
| UUCP: {ihnp4,decvax,allegra}!vax135!tab |
|----------------------------------------------|
=====
>From sun!pyramid!octopus!byron (Mike Byron) Fri Jan 24 15:53:27 1986
Been 10 years since I was involved with horses, and in was in Seattle, but...
I would guess that sharing horses is a reasonably uncommon thing to do
because they are much easier to handle when consistently used by only one
rider. An arrangement we had a couple of times was to pay for the
horse's board while we used it. This was relatively easy to do, because
many families own horses for breeding purposes, or the child using the
horse was bored with it for the time being but didn't want to get rid of
it, etc. We called that "leasing" the horse, but I have no clue whether
that's a commonly recognized term. We always arranged it thru friends
of friends.
As for things to watch out for -- if you are new at riding, don't make
any long-term commitments. You'll gain a lot of experience hanging
around horse people. It took me about a year to learn what I thought
was important about horses as far as health, gait, amount of spirit, you
name it, and it was a personal thing -- nobody else has my tastes.
Good luck, and I'd love to hear how this turns out for you if you've got
the time. (Sometimes you get swamped by the net and replies are out of
the question.)
=====
>From mmm!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!octopus!harvax!natasha
(Natasha Moiseyev) Sat Jan 25 03:36:14 1986
It is called leasing. I learned of this practice through my sister,
who is an avid equestrian. She went to every stable even remotely
near our house and finally found a notice advertising the lease of
a Morgan gelding. Leasing is a fairly common practice; lots of
people own horses and need to have them ridden. The one we leased,
however, had to be exercised 5-7 days a week (great if you know
someone who would like to share responsibility). The people fed,
stabled and groomed their horse; all we did was ride it.
I have heard, however, that leasing a horse consists much more
frequently of taking care of it (ie feeding and grooming...the owner
generally provides a stable).
My advice is not to take the first lease-able horse that comes your
way, but to look at a few for character, obedience, energy (some
horses simply won't go faster than a gentle plod), and also for an
owner with whom you are compatible. If you want to jump,
thoroughbreds are good but hot-blooded and often tempermental.
Morgans are calmer and more stable, but less graceful in general.
I've had good luck riding quarter-horses.
Also I have heard that some stables offer horse leasing as well, but
they offer it on a monthly or yearly basis and it is generally about
$1,000 or more.
=====
>From mmm!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!glacier!oliveb!tymix!kanner (Herb Kanner)
Sat Jan 25 04:58:12 1986
I have a lot of sympathy. The equestrian world does not seem to cater to
people who do not actually own horses. During seven years in England, my
wife and I took riding lessons once a week primarily as a way to get to
ride a horse, although there was significant learning involved.
In this part of the world, California, it is common to see horses offered
for lease. My wife took advantage of such a deal for about a year.
Effectively, the owner decideds that he/she is not using the horse enough
to keep it well exercised and that the cost is becoming a burden. So for
some sum of the order of 50% of the stabling bill, the owner leases the
horse. Usually, both the owner and lessee get to ride the horse for all
practical purposes as much as they want. This, of course can't work if
both people can ride only, say, on Saturdays.
You are right to be concerned about not taking on a horse that is beyond
your current ability. This consideration works both ways. An owner might
worry about use by a beginner deteriorating the training of his horse,
though this concern is often exaggerated.
There is some advantage to taking lessons on the same horse on which you
are practicing. Counterbalancing this is the fact that no two horses are
the same, and you learn a lot by riding a number of different horses, which
is likely to happen in the usual riding school.
--
Herb Kanner
Tymnet, Inc.
...!hplabs!oliveb!tymix!kanner
=====
>From ihnp4!drutx!dcm (Larry Cler) Fri Jan 31 19:04:46 1986
Time sharing a horse is not common. There is no existing body
of language or law that specifically applies to such a thing.
However, I've helped to put together such things for my (too
possesive, but I don't know a better way of saying it!) wife's
students. She has done this sort of thing with her horses and
we have worked out arrangements with boarder's horses. It's
best to think of everything you can, and spell it out in writing
before starting such an agreement. eg.
Who's tack will be used?
In the case of an accident who pays the vet (or the
doctor for that matter. It might be reasonable that
the person letting you use the horse require that you
wear a helmet, it's a very reasonable idea anyway.)
Exactly what time can you use the horse? What if you
can't make it, do you forfeit completely? No precedence
here, you are on your own for what you can work out.
Occasionally, you will find a boarder, who for whatever
reason can't ride for a month or two (job constraints,
illness, difficult pregnancy, 2 months on the Riveara (sp?),
etc.) and will let you have complete use of there horse,
you take over baord payments. The typical arrangement
does not require that you make vet or farrier payments,
unless this would be an extended duration, more than
say 3 months. Sometimes those payments are pro-rated.
Again you are on your own for what you can hammer out.
You might inquire, in any case, whether there is mortality
and/or medical insurance on the horse. What happens if the
horse croaks while under your "care"? Unlikely, but....
The more things that you and the owner can think of to put in writing,
the better off both of you will be, in case, in the unlikely event,
something goes wrong. Also, for both of your protection, I'd would
get the owner to document known vices and propensities, beyond those
of the typical horse (eg. if the horse is barn sour, but not that the
horse eats hay!).
I you have any further questions or comments, please send mail (of your
favorite variety) to one of the addresses below. I borrow an id to read
net.news as not all machines here at ATT receive net.* postings.
Sincerely,
Larry Cler VP
Foxhill Stables, Inc.
ihnp4!drux2!ljc
303-538-1428 (w)
303-457-1622 (stables)
Larry Cler or Nancy Franklin-Cler
Foxhill Farm
1000 E. 160th Ave.
Broomfield, CO 80020
The oppinions above are my own and certainly not those of AT&T!
Horse Pockey!
--------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 86 16:09:24 cst
From: Robin Crickman <crickman%[email protected]>
Subject: Hello. We're very pleased to meet you.
Hello out there, thanks for taking us into the truly wonderful world
of horsemanship presented in the Equestrian Digest. Us consists of
Robin Crickman and her companion, John Hasler. We're reading avidly,
and will contribute what little we know whenever. Home for us is
downtown Minneapolis in a dilapidated Victorian which we are
renovating (NOT restoring).
Robin was your typical horse crazy little girl, but could never
convince her parents to let her take lessons, much less own a horse.
College came and love of horses was supplanted by a more compelling
fascination; research. Three degrees and ten years later she started
teaching library students what they needed to know about computers and
information science. Nine years after that the university where she
taught chose to close the library science program, leaving Robin
without a job. (The experience is somewhat akin emotionally to a
divorce.)
John had second-hand horse experience as a kid, his older sister
raised and trained a colt which he occasionally helped care for.
After a degree in Electrical Engineering, John worked for a couple of
companies and then set up his own small computer product company with
a college buddy. You can readily imagine how much time is left for
horseback riding or similar pastimes when, as John phrased it, you are
signing a lot of checks on the lower right and none on the back. He
subsequently sold his share of that company, moved to Minneapolis to
join Robin, and worked for a couple of years as design engineer for
another computer products firm. Last Christmas he left them to set up
his own consulting business.
In May of 1985 we (John and Robin) went to Britian for a vacation.
While there we went "pony trekking" in Wales and again in Yorkshire.
We loved it so much we were hooked. We hunted up a stable once home
in Minnesota and rented riding horses frequently. We drove out to the
local polo club and watched matches during the summer. In late summer
a neighbor recruited first Robin and then John to volunteer at a stable
teaching handicapped people to ride. We learned a lot about grooming,
tacking and handling horses that way, not to mention meeting many nice
people. At Christmas we began taking formal English riding lessons.
Last Saturday we went to a local tack swap and came home with a $20
saddle which a knowledgeable friend identified as an old cavalry
saddle. Amazing thing, the tree is steel (and wood). John has almost
finished repairing the stitching. (Aside. Tandy Company, the parent
company for Radio Shack, also has leatherworking stores which, at
least here, are about the easiest place to go for leather repair
supplies. Check your yellow pages to see if there is a Tandy store
near you if you need supplies for leather repair.)
We don't own horses and probably never will. We've never ridden
registered horses of any breed. Our achievements are posting
correctly and staying on over a foot-high jump. Hunting, dressage,
endurance and roping are beyond us at this point. But it is fun to
read about that.
Computationally, our usenet account is supplied through the kindness
of some academic friends at the Computer Science Department of the
University of Minnesota. We have an Onix running System III at home,
as well as an MS-DOS Zenith, on which we both hack and John uses for
his consulting.
The only contribution we can make to the discussion just now is on
transporting horses. John's sister recently moved her Arabian mare
and filly halfway across the country herself. She reported that the
easiest way to find a place to stop for the night was to call the
county sheriff's office. The sheriffs, at least in midwestern states,
expect to provide this sort of assistance.
We'll be here reading, eager to hear how Karen is doing with that
warmblood, how Todd makes out with polo and his horse hunt, how long
it takes for Joyce to get another chestnut, and all the other
wonderful things you bring into our lives. We haven't found any
horses to lease yet, but we are getting ready to run an ad in a local
horsey newsheet. We'll let you know.
Robin Crickman and John Hasler
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.23 | Equestrian Digest Issue #20 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:15 | 206 |
| Equestrian Digest Tue 18 Feb 1986 Issue 20
Today's Topics:
New Subscriber
Horse Buying
Re: Leasing
Intro and Assorted Responses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 86 15:37:44 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: New Subscriber
For this (rather short) Issue 20, we have one new subscription, Greg Blanck
and Lisa Frey:
Greg Blanck and Lisa Frey <ucbvax!voder!lewey!greg>
Welcome!
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
From: todd%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 86 17:57:08 EST
Subject: Horse Buying
I am looking at a Liver-Chestnut TB Gelding -- about 10-12 yrs. to buy
he is very experienced and was found by my instructor. I am still looking
for horses, and have not found anything that is very great. My
instructor is now giving me plenty of leads, which is very good. They
are asking $4200 for the TB, but will take $3500 because he (the horse) is
not in shape and not at an indoor facility. I looked at another horse,
but since it will not pass the vet, I am convinced that I need a horse that
will pass the vet. I am going to spend lots of time on the horse, and anyy
horse with a problem is NO good.
I love reading the letters in the digest, keep them coming. Should
anyone have a horse for sale, my number is 617-254-6481.
---------------------------
Todd Cooper
UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!todd ...!harvard!think!festiv!todd
CSNET: todd@bu-cs
BITNET: cscpyqc@bostonu
USNail: 29 Gordon Street #201, Brighton, MA 02135
--------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 86 12:15:47 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Leasing
I'm glad to see Robin Crickman received so many helpful replies to her
query concerning "time-sharing"/leasing of horses. There seems to be a lot
of good wisdom out there. I've been burned (badly!) by a lease that went
sour and it might not have happened if I'd gotten some of the kind of
advice Robin's been receiving. There are a few things that I now (with the
clarity of 20/20 hindsight :-) feel are really important to consider when
leasing a horse.
First of all, I can't agree enough with Carl's suggestion that an
agreed-upon method for dissolving the lease be put in writing in the lease
contract. You may feel sure the lease will work out for the agreed-upon
period, but unforseen circumstances can arise -- better safe than sorry!
Secondly, although a responsible owner will specify what a lease horse can
reasonably be expected to do -- e.g. "Pookie is suitable for light trail
riding but no serious dressage schooling or jumping." -- and will specify
general principles to follow -- e.g. "Dobbin is a hot little customer who
will hang you from the rafters if you wear spurs on him." -- *BEWARE*
*BEWARE* *BEWARE* the owner who wants to tell you how to ride every
transition, every half halt, every movement. No two people will ever ride
any one horse exactly alike, and if what the owner seems to want is for you
to learn to ride the horse *exactly* the way they do, you may be in for a
bumpy ride.
Thirdly, if you plan to use the lease horse for lessons, flee in holy
terror from the owner who is sure he/she is the only one who understands
Platterfoot's little foibles and therefore wants to countermand every
instruction your trainer gives you. E.g. Instructor tells you Platterfoot
is a lazy son of a gun who needs a little spanking -- owner has promised to
break both your arms if you ever thwack their darling with so much as a wet
noodle. Such situations are not conducive to effective learning.
Lastly, although leasing a horse isn't as permanent as buying, it is still
wise to lease only a horse you will enjoy riding. It is easy to try out a
lease horse and think, "Well, he's not much, but he'll do the job more or
less, and it's only for X months." Trust your first instincts: If you
mildly dislike old Ebenezer the first time you ride him you'll probably
want to turn him into McNuggets by the fifty-first schooling session.
Obviously my suggestions are aimed at people who have already been riding
for some time. If you are just beginning and would like to "try out" horse
ownership with a lease I know of no better advice than to find a trainer
you trust and ask them to help you find a suitable lease horse. And do
make sure *everything* you can think of is written out in the contract.
Happy leasing to all!!
Karen Rossen
--------------------
From: Lisa Frey c/o Greg Blanck <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 86 09:05:17 pst
Subject: Intro and Assorted Responses
Hi Ken et. al.,
Here's a short (hopefully to the point) intro....
I am currently sending this through Greg Blanck (seismo!voder!lewey!greg)
at American Information Technology in Cupertino, CA.
My name is Lisa Frey, I am a 1985 Graduate of Lake Erie College, in Painesville
Ohio. I always wanted to learn how to ride, so I went to a college with a
great equestrian program-- as well as a good academic program.
Unfortunately I'm not riding at present but I've thoroughly enjoyed reading
all 18 issues of E.D. I'm currently living in Santa Clara, CA-- not
the best of Horse Country, and would really like to get more involved with
any horse-related activities out here.
I've got some responses for particular people, but the information
might be interesting to all.
To TODD COOPER:
>Feb 4th 1986
>I'll never find a horse before winter ends
Todd, I know just the horse for you: It belongs to a classmate of mine
who lives in East Canaan CT. The horse is named Mica, TB Gelding (now wait
and read the rest....) Age somewhere between 12-16. He is 16.3, Grey, and has
been successfully schooled and shown in third level dressage. His owner,
Lori Brown has begun schooling him over fences- He loves it!! He thought it
a wonderful alternative to flat work. He's a very calm and kindly Gentleman
who moves wonderfully and seems to prefer a Northern climate. ( His best
riding session was in -36F weather, but thats another story :-) Lori is
currently advertising Mica in the Chronicle of the Horse, her address and
phone number are as follows:
Lori Brown
Rt. 44 RFD #1
East Canann, CT 06024
(203) 824-0202
Please tell her you were referred by Lisa Frey, and I wish you the best of
luck in your horse hunt!
--------
To Pat Wilson:
(Re: Magazines about dressage and CT)
There is a magazine called "Dressage/CT" and is published bi-monthly
out of Cleveland, OH. Unfortunately I can't find there address, but I
will look and get back to you (You might try a reference book in the Library)
I did find an issue of "Dressage and Eventing" it is an 1982 issue, so I
have no idea if they're still in print, but give it a try anyway:
386 Oakwood Rd.
Huntington Station, NY 11746
(800) 645-5302
-------
To Charlie Sorsby
(Re: Shows in Eastern Ohio)
There are H/J shows to be found in Eastern Ohio. My alma mater (Lake Erie
College, in Painesville OH) sponsors a winter series of H/J, Green Hunter
and Childrens Hunter shows beginning in November and ending in February.
In addition, L.E.C. sponsors the North American Prix DeVille's of Jumping
and Dressage. (Held in the spring).
On Memorial Day weekend, L.E.C. hosts annual Horse Trials, recognized by the
USCTA and can qualify a rider for Rolex in Kentucky. For prize lists and show
schedules contact the college at:
Lake Erie College- 341 West Washington St.
Box 369
Painesville, OH 44077
There are also H/J shows and CT events to be found at Willow Run, and in
Chagrin Falls- Both S.E. of Cleveland.
----
That's all (enough!) for now--
Lisa Frey
(c/o seismo!voder!lewey!greg)
2200 Monroe st. #406
Santa Clara, CA 95050
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.24 | Equestrian Digest Issue #21 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:15 | 204 |
| Equestrian Digest Thu 6 Mar 1986 Issue 21
Today's Topics:
Subscribership update
Horse Buying
Grey horses (from net.jokes)
Horse colors (from net.pets)
California Stables......
Horse Dentists, etc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 86 13:25:13 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Subscribership update
STella Calvert and Carol Masters are the 60th and 61st subscribers,
respectively:
STella Calvert <decvax!frog!wjr>,
Carol Masters <ihnp4!bentley!czm>
I've also altered my mailing procedure a bit ... this may have the effect
of reaching several of you who haven't been getting mailings the "old" way,
so please note:
THIS IS ISSUE 21! If you are missing any issues (even a whole lot of
them!), please let me know right away, and I will retransmit what you've
missed.
The two USENET articles reproduced here were not written by digest
subscribers. Please let me know if you need help reaching these people by
mail.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 86 18:33:37 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Horse Buying
>They
>are asking $4200 for the TB, but will take $3500 because he (the horse) is
>not in shape and not at an indoor facility.
> Todd Cooper
I mailed this directly to Todd, but it's useful for any one else
thinking about buying a horse.
Pay *careful* attention to the vet check on a horse that's out of
shape. People usually let horses get out of shape because the horse is on
rest from an injury or illness, and you should find out what the problem is.
A vet from the Illinois Equine Clinic (the best horse clinic within several
hundered miles of Chicago) told me one time that arthritic horses will some-
times seem to improve with rest and won't show any problems at the vet check,
but will go lame when returned to work.
I saw that happen with a horse that some people brought into a barn
where I boarded a horse. The horse had been on rest for a year or so and
passed the vet check with no problem, but turned up lame after several weeks'
work. The horse *never* got any better, and they had to get rid of it.
For $3500, you should expect a completely sound, fully trained horse.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
From: todd%[email protected]
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 86 13:23:26 EST
Subject: Grey horses (from net.jokes)
Written-By: [email protected] (Daniel R. Levy)
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Posted-Date: Sat, 15-Feb-86 22:13:16 EST
<Oh oh here it comes. Watch out boy, it'll chew you up! Oh oh here it
comes. The LINE EATER! [Line eater]>
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Eric Holtman) writes:
> Well, here goes.... George's horse, if it was white, should be called
> 'gray'. When you register horses (for shows, for ID purposes, etc,
> etc... the official registrar will NOT accept white as a color. An all
> white horse, by official definition, is GRAY. So there....
Pray tell me, then if an all white horse is "GRAY", then what the heck
do you call the color of a horse that really IS gray? Black??? :-)
And the black horse? Invisible???
--
------------------------------- Disclaimer: The views contained herein are
| dan levy | yvel nad | my own and are not at all those of my em-
| an engihacker @ | ployer or the administrator of any computer
| at&t computer systems division | upon which I may hack.
| skokie, illinois |
-------------------------------- Path: ..!{akgua,homxb,ihnp4,ltuxa,mvuxa,
vax135}!ttrdc!levy
--------------------
Date: Sun, 2-Mar-86 02:05:42 EST
From: hplabs!sdcrdcf!jon (Jonathan Gingerich)
Subject: Horse colors (from net.pets)
a
Well, here is a weird request. I model Napoleonic miniature armies, and
I need some help on horse colors. Specifically does anyone have any
suggestions where I might find the % of horses of one color or another,
the % of horses with x number of socks, the kinds of blazes, etc. etc?
I realize these numbers probably vary enormously from breed to breed,
but any general guidelines would be helpful.
Thanks,
Jon. Gingerich
--------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 86 14:04:18 EST
From: Wendy Kilguss <[email protected]>
Subject: California Stables......
Hi !
A good friend of mine is moving to the west coast, California to be
specific and in the L.A. area. She is an avid rider and has asked if I
had any ideas about stables in the area. Since i've lived in New
England for most of my life i really didn't have any ideas for her but
thought i might see if i could use the Equestrian Digest as a vechile
for getting her some information. She rides English (hunt seat) and
likes to jump. She's had thoughts of doing some dressage but really likes
working over fences. Does anyone have any suggestions as to any reputable
stables and/or coaches? Any information would be appreciated i'm sure......
thanks in advance....
wendy
--------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 10:16:17 EST
From: Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Horse Dentists, etc.
Well, our boy had his first dental appointment! Harry Robinson the horse
dentist came to the barn where we keep our gelding and worked on
everybody's molars. Apparently Harry requires a minimum of fifteen horses
before he will agree to make a visit. The cost was $20/horse, which I
found pretty reasonable, but which some people thought rather high (I guess
last year he only charged $15.). As Kathy Levin warned, Harry's jokes
*are* a bit raunchy, and of course there's nothing to do but play along
since the man is standing there with a wicked-looking rasp stuffed in your
precious equine's maw. But he (and his sons, who work with him) are
marvelous with the horses. He managed to get every horse in the barn done
with a minimum of fuss and without getting rough even with those horses who
were less than delighted with the process. Actually, I was surprised at
how well most of the horses behaved -- once they got the hang of it, most
of them just stood there, even those whose teeth had never been worked on
before.
Some may wonder, why not just have a vet rasp your horse's teeth instead of
going to the trouble of getting a dentist. Well, the dentist did a much
more thorough job on my horse's teeth than I've ever seen a vet do. Harry
used three or four different types of rasps on each horse -- I've never
seen a vet use more than one. He was also prepared to do extractions when
necessary. My horse for instance had an impacted root (not the whole
tooth) left over from one of his baby teeth. Harry located the offending
root and neatly removed it. But the proof of a horse dentist's skill is in
the riding -- my horse went noticeably better after his dental work. He
fussed less with his bit and stopped resenting his noseband. He's also
much happier about being bridled.
Horse dentists have long been in use by horse people "in the know"
(especially those in the racing and show fraternities), but a relatively
new (to my knowledge) non-veterinary horse practitioner is the horse
masseur (masseuse). The best known is Jack Meaghr (sp? --pronounced "Mar")
who hails from the Northeast. These folks are sort of physical therapists
for horses -- they find and treat stiffness, lameness and tightness of the
horse through rubbing and massage. Their craft can be either therapeutic
or preventative -- some people have sound horses rubbed on just to keep
them feeling loose and fighting fit. This month's Equus magazine has an
article on Jack if anyone is interested. Anyone out there had a horse
rubbed on? If so, were you satisfied? I know lots of people who swear
marvelous results. I also know some vet students who insist the masseurs
are no more than witch doctors (or course, vets don't care for competition
more than any other profession ...). If something new can't hurt and might
help I'm usually fairly open to it -- how do you all feel?
Before signing off I should clarify -- although horse masseurs per se are,
to my knowledge, fairly new on the scene, the *idea* of massaging the
critter's muscles is not. Many old British books on horse care advocate
"strapping" as part of a daily grooming routine. Strapping involves
putting twists of straw in a burlap bag and thwacking the horse's muscles
with it (not *too* hard, of course ...). This is supposed to stimulate and
tone the horse's muscles.
Karen Rossen
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.25 | Equestrain Digest Issue #22 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:16 | 249 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 10 Mar 1986 Issue 22
Today's Topics:
Address Info
Re: Horse colors (from net.pets)
introduction
Training and Competition (from USCTA News)
Murray Hill / Watson Area Info Wanted
Howdy from a heretofore unheard from subscriber
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 16:21:02 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Address Info
Robin Sahner will be back at Duke University for a while, so her address will
be different starting today:
Robin Sahner <ras%[email protected]> -or- <decvax!duke!ras>
Also, based on the rejection messages I got from the last mailing, it would
appear that Natasha Moiseyev <harvax!natasha> is off the network (at least
unless/until she gets in touch with me again).
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Horse colors (from net.pets)
Date: Tue, 4-Mar-86 14:27:00 EST
<>
If you are interested in painting the horses up to look like particular
Napoleonic regiments, the percentages may just be irrelevant anyway.
Many cavalry units bought and rode horse of one single color. Color
dominance is related to breed. Leg and face markings are idiosyncratic
to the point that they are often used to identify horses in breed registry
papers (along with photographs of the horse's chestnuts in some cases).
If you find a good book on horse breeds, you might get an idea of the range
of colors. I believe there is a book solely about horse colors with a
title like "The color of the Horse" (or something obvious like that).
My tack supply catalogs are at home, so I can't be more precise now.
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 13:47:22 cst
From: ras%alberto@gswd-vms (Robin Sahner)
Subject: introduction
I really should go ahead and introduce myself to the digest, after
being a silent reader for all this time.
I work for Gould Computer Systems Division in Urbana Ill - we're
basically a software shop, doing lots of UNIX work. I've loved horses
all my life. Though I love to ride, I also just simply love horses for
their own sake - all breeds, all personalities, all levels of talent.
I like to be around them, groom them, feed them, just watch them
grazing.
I started out in riding via the hunter/equitation route. I rode for
many years at a stable in New Jersey that was heavily involved in
showing junior hunters and jumpers, but I never had a show quality
horse and so only showed occasionally on borrowed mounts.
When I went off to college, I sold my horse and didn't ride for several
years. While I was in grad school I took it up again, and it took much
longer than I expected to get any good again. Through sheer luck, I
found an aging thoroughbred to lease that was talented but totally
unsuitable for showing as a hunter (very high action for a
thoroughbred, and much too hot over fences). Also through sheer luck,
I connected up with some people interested in combined training. The
cross-country part of that appealed to me, so I gave it a try, and fell
in love with the whole sport.
I've since come to also love dressage for its own sake, and am
absolutely convinced that basic dressage training has great value for
any horse or rider, no matter what kind of other riding they want to
do.
I eventually bought the aging thoroughbred - he is now 22 years old and
living in semi-retirement in North Carolina. (Central Illinois is not a
fit place for an elderly horse - in fact it's kind of marginal for any
kind of horse - in fact, it's even marginal for humans unless you're a
farmer.) He is quite happy living at pasture, but he's very healthy
and still capable of light work, and it's a shame nobody's getting the
pleasure of riding him. If you or anyone you know would be interested
in giving a home to a feisty but well-mannered elderly horse (and yes,
he does have some arthritis and old injuries that trouble him from time
to time), please let me know.
--------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 20:03:56 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Training and Competition (from USCTA News)
The follwoing was taken from the most recent issue of the USCTA (US Combined
Training Association - body that governs eventing) News. It puts forth a
message that all of us who compete or who plan to compete should consider.
The article was written by Randy May, the president of the USCTA Area I.
" My knowledge of French is limited to the words cognac, champagne,
claret, and dressage, the latter meaning, of course, training. Our own sport
includes the word in the name. This seems to be rather special in that our
competitions are manifestly demonstrations of our ability to train ourselves
and our horses to perform properly.
"It strikes me, however, that the relationship between training and
competition is very delicate and very complex. It's also a relationship that
few of us spend a great deal of thought on, and yet it may be critical to our
enjoyment of horses. Let me submit to you as a first principle that the essence
of our sport is satisfaction, enjoyment, and fun associated with horses.
"...we spend most of our time thinking in terms of a competition goal,
rather than in terms of a training goal.
"Now, competition is an excellent thing. Eventers must be competitive,
forward going people. Competition is our spur and our seasoning. My feeling is
that all too often a desire for competitive success so overshadows a desire for
training success that damage is done. Competition *should* be the place where
we measure, against *our own standards*, the progress of our training program,
not the reason we ride. The result of always pointing toward competition is
often personal disappointment, a discouraged horse, and, on occasion a fleeting
moment of pleasure in a victory gallop and a dust-catching ribbon.
"I can look at my wall and see an array of ribbons in impressive
colors. I have some brief, pleasant memories associated with winning those
ribbons. This pleasure is nothing compared to my delight each time my
horse and I finally accomplish a much-strived-for dressage movement. The
ribbon - regardless of color - is really nothing compared to the solid
feeling of being able to get a horse correctly to and over a fence with a
steady lower leg.
"...Let us compete, do our best to do well, but let's make our foremost
goal learning how to ride like masters. A re-structuring of our goals to place
training above competitive success could also result in a healthier, more
sportsmanlike approach to our competition.
"...Let us try to enjoy competition as the natural, but not critical,
testing of our efforts to become good riders. With this attitude we may well
end up being far better competitors."
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 86 15:02:54 CST
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: Murray Hill / Watson Area Info Wanted
Can anyone give me any info on the riding scene around Berkeley Heights, NJ?
I have a job offer from Bell Labs, Murray Hill and would like to know:
(1) are there any decent places for an adult rider sans horse
to take lessons? Decent instructors that will work with such a person?
(2) How about horse boarding etc? What are the going rates? Any
good places/ teachers for aspiring eventers?
(3) Anyone know if there is any kind of riding clubs in the area?
How about a riding club at Bell Labs, Murray Hill?
Any other info anyone has about the Murray Hill area, housing and horses
would be greatly appreciated.
While we are at it, Anyone know anything about what there is around IBM's
TJ Watson research center?
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
From: rob%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 00:21:16 pst
Subject: Howdy from a heretofore unheard from subscriber
I have been receiving Equestrian Digest since Thanksgiving, so it's about
time I introduced myself.
The way I got interested in horses is actually quite unusual. Though I'm
34, the first time I was on a horse was a little under 5 years ago, at the
height of the country/western craze that was sweeping the country. I had
begun to frequent a country/western bar and one night noticed a poster - a
popular local outting club was having a wagon train trip in the 40 Mile
Dessert near Reno, Nevada over Memorial Day weekend. You could ride a
horse, ride in a wagon, and/or walk. That sounded really neat and I
figured that if it turned out I didn't like riding a horse, I'd just ride
in the wagon.
The first day of the trip, I was one of those who got to ride a horse
first. I rode for three hours and loved it. At the end of the weekend I
decided I very much liked riding horses, but could do without the camping
out in tents, etc. The next summer, the same club organized two more such
trips and I went on both of them. And I got the same horse as the previous
year - a very short chestnut mustang named Tiny Tim. Tim and I got along
just fine, and I even began to enjoy the camping aspects of the trips. (On
the last trip, there were so few of us that we could each have a horse to
ourselves the whole weekend and they didn't bring any wagons to ride in.
My poor friend who I had convinced to come along! He had never been on a
horse before, and the horse they gave him trotted the whole weekend. Talk
about saddle sore.)
To make a long story short, about a year and a half ago I bought a 2 year
old quarter horse (actually half thoroughbred but in the AQHA appendix),
with good bloodlines (great grand sire is Doc Bar), named Oriana Spadix.
Dave, a friend of mine and a very good trainer, broke her for me last
winter.
It was probably a mistake for me to get a young green horse for my first
horse. I didn't realize how much better a horseman I needed to be, and
Dave, in advising to buy this horse, probably overestimated my ability to
excell at horsemanship.
The stables where I board Oriana have access to 6000 acres of riding trails
on a semi-wooded hillside with a few ponds, in Walnut Creek, semi-rural
suburb about 30 miles from downtown San Francisco. I spent most of last
summer just doing trail riding. This winter Dave is finishing her for
reining. If she turns out not to do well at reining, I will probably show
her in Western Pleasure this summer. There isn't much reining competition
in the area, and the little there is is done with *very* expensive horses.
Last week was a milestone. As part of her finishing, Dave wanted to take
Oriana to this place where you can work cattle, to see if she has any cow
sense. Last Wednesday we finally went. It turned out there were six of us
going, and since Dave brought his own horse, I rode my own horse instead of
just watching Dave try mine out on the cattle. We took turns cutting
cattle, which I had never done before. I can't tell you how much fun that
was. Oriana did fairly well considering I do need lessons on how to get
her to do the pivots, rollbacks, etc. that Dave has been teaching her.
This was also the first she was trailered since she was broke. She had
been trailered only once before, when I bought her. Well, with a light tap
or two of a crop, Dave got her to jump right into the trailer!
I still use a snaffle on her, though Dave has begun using a spade bit.
I hope this wasn't *too* long of an introduction, and if it wasn't, well
...I hope to write more frequently to the Equestrian Digest in the future.
Rob Bernardo, San Ramon, CA (415) 823-2417 {ihnp4|dual|qantel}!ptsfa!rob
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.26 | Equestrian Digest Issue #23 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:17 | 224 |
| Equestrian Digest Thu 3 Apr 1986 Issue 23
Today's Topics:
One Hello, One Goodbye
Digest material
buying a horse (finally)
Re: scientific prefixes
Free Horse
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 86 17:00:51 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: One Hello, One Goodbye
Karen Hettinger <hao!kitten> has cancelled her subscription. Our new
subscriber is Linda Chamberlain:
Linda Chamberlain <decwrl!nsc!csi!lchamber>
. . . in San Jose, California.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 14:50:43 cst
From: crickman@umn-cs
Subject: Digest material
Hi Ken, Karen, I have some thoughts for you and material for the Digest.
HOW TO HAVE A NEW BARN INEXPENSIVELY
I've been pondering the Rossen's hope for a better barn for their
homestead. I have a suggestion on how to find one at modest expense.
A friend of John's found a few years ago that it is often far cheaper
to move a house than to build one, even considering the considerable
cost of the moving company. You might find that the same is also true
of barns. If you located a farmer who had sold his farm to become a
housing development, the barn and outbuildings would not be wanted.
Granted, the wonderful old barn probably could not be moved easily.
Besides, there is an architectural fad for barn siding that would
probably price it out of your interest. But what about other
buildings such as a pole barn used for storage. It might be acquired
at a modest cost, especially if the area where it is located is one
where few farms remain.
LEASING HORSES IN MINNEAPOLIS
We put an ad in a regional magazine, The Stable Sheet, to try to find
someone who would like to lease us a couple horses for regular riding.
We have had one call so far, a lady who is moving into Minneapolis
with her three horses. She wants to see us taking a lesson before she
can decide (which seems very reasonable on her part). I would have
hoped for more response, but more calls may come later in the month.
HORSE COLORS???
I wonder if anyone among the Digest readership has time to answer some
questions on horse color. What is the difference between a Pinto and
a Paint? When is a horse a Sorrel and when a Chestnut? What, please,
is a Grulla? I know that a brown horse with a dark mane and tail is a
Bay, is there a name for a brown with a lighter mane and tail?
Generally, I would love to have a glossary of horse colors if anyone
with the knowledge can spare the time to do it.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON RIDING AND HORSE CARE
We bought a book on riding recently called Commonsense Horsemanship by
Vladimir S. Littauer. It makes more sense than many of the books we
have read, but it is twelve years old. Does anyone know of more
recent books on riding that develop Littauer's ideas on forward seat
riding further? Generally, what books would you recommend for a
beginning rider who wants to become proficient in English riding? We
don't need coffee table books nor "How to be kind to your pony" books,
but a book that gave some added guidance on grooming, health and
welfare would also be valuable, especially one with an orientation to
horses stabled at a boarding facility.
TACK SALES
We have been going to local tack sales to try to find equipment. We
got an amazingly sturdy old saddle (probably calvary) for $20. We
also have a bridle, stirrups, a saddle stand, an extra snaffle bit,
and some saddle soap. I even found a leather handbag for $10 (it had
a horsey motif and I needed a "new" handbag). Any tips on tack sale
equipment acquisition would be welcome.
RIDING BOOTS FOR HARD-TO-FIT FEET
Finally, I could use any suggestions you can offer on riding boots.
We both have sizes which the local stores do not carry. John's foot
is long and narrow, around 10 to 11 B. He hates cowboy boot heels.
Robin has the opposite problem, a short broad foot size 6 D. We don't
need any fancy riding boots, we don't intend to enter competitive
riding. We would like safe, protective footgear. John could probably
wear a woman's boot, it would be properly narrow, but they don't seem
to come in size 12-13 (woman's equivalent to man's 10-11). Robin
could wear a boy's size (she does wear boy's shoes for knockabout),
but where to find a boy's size in boots? Girls, yes, but not boys.
Suggestions would be appreciated.
That should be enough questions to fill an entire Digest if many
answers come in. Certainly time to stop and leave space for other
interesting discussion.
Robin Crickman, ...ihnp4!umn-cs!crickman
--------------------
From: todd%[email protected]
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 86 16:05:11 EST
Subject: buying a horse (finally)
Please include the following on mail.horses
This is from net.jokes....
--------------------------------------------------------
>From: jimb@ism780
>Date: Sun, 23-Mar-86 00:29:00 EST
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Re: scientific prefixes
Subject: Re: scientific prefixes
>> One of my favorite units of measure is the femtoparsec, or about 19
>> miles. ("I commute .6 femtoparsecs a day....")
> 0.6 femtoparsecs is about 60 feet. What you're describing is a picoparsec.
I once gave an equine population report with measurments in
fetlocks per furlongs**2.
-- The Lone Harranguer
ihnp4/ima/ism780
hplabs/hao/ism780
sdcsvax/sdcrdcf/ism780C/ism780
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I am finally buying a horse. It vetted out OK, 'cept for a few minor problems.
It is a 15 (really 16 or closer to 20) year old Tercheron. The vet
used that to describe TB x Percheron. He is huge (17:0 hands) and
wide in girth. he is carrying a fellow of ~300 pounds now, so my 230-240
pounds should not phsae him much. He has done everthing, including some
advanced stuff in dressage. He has even jumped 4'0" fences, which is
very interesting considering his size. He is now very overweight and
has not seen a ferrier since early fall. His Hoofs are in desperate
need of clipping and he has trush in three of his frogs (feet)
because of the problem.
The reason I decided to buy him is that is is big and experienced. He is
also inexpensive at $1200. I think that the health problems are minor and
he is in good condition for his age. He desperately needs to get into shape,
which I don't mind, because I need to get into shape also. He is also
a bit pigeoned-toed because of his weight and has some cloudiness in his eyes,
which the vet said was normal for his weight and age respectively.
He is going to be moved on Sunday, and I can't wait to start working with him
a bit more. He will probably have to be worked on the lunge line for awhile
until we are sure that he is as sound as he was last week. He was very calm
with everthing taht we did to him. his name is Kool. The present owner
said that he drinks coffee (only with cream and sugar NOT black) and has
a beer once a day during the summer. He seems to be just a great all-around
horse.
His name is Kool and if anyone out there is a member of BCS (Boston Computer
Society) he was on the cover of the January _Update_ (the magazine
of the BCS.) I am going to buy a couple of reprints so that I have a few
copies. I am going to rename he _Queue_ as a personal joke/favorite name
for a horse. (btw my MA license plate says QUEUE, in case you see
me on the road).
Any suggestions, send them my way. Now.... waht to feed the horse on a diet
better yet -- what to feed me on a diet.
till the next journal.
---------------------------
Todd Cooper
UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!todd ...!harvard!think!festiv!todd
CSNET: todd@bu-cs
BITNET: cscpyqc@bostonu
USNail: 29 Gordon Street #201, Brighton, MA 02135
--------------------
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 86 17:12:15 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Free Horse
Karen has asked me to pass along some information concerning a horse in New
England that is available, free, to a good home. Apologies to those in
other areas for the wide distribution.
"Pumpkin" is a chestnut thoroughbred mare, probably around 10 years old,
about 15.0 hands. She's been used as a dressage horse, and has done well
at basic dressage.
Pumpkin is a bit tense, and she's not a good match for a tense rider. With
a tense rider she runs, but she's nice and quiet if the rider is relaxed.
The owner is apprently too tense to have any success with Pumpkin.
If are a relaxed dressage rider of intermediate ability who is looking for
a horse, or if you know such a person, please contact the owner for more
information. Say you were referred by Karen Rossen via Laura McGovern.
Beth Solomon (Acton/Boxborough area, Pumpkin's owner) 617/263-6817.
Thanks.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.27 | Equestrian Digest Issue #24 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:19 | 277 |
| Equestrian Digest Thu 10 Apr 1986 Issue 24
Today's Topics:
Horse Colors
Horse Colors
Miscellaneous
HORSE CONDOMINIUMS???
Re: buying a horse (finally)
horse for sale
Re: HORSE CONDOMINIUMS???
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 86 10:14:19 EST
From: Jean Marie Diaz <[email protected]>
Subject: Horse Colors
The difference between Paint and Pinto registries in America is that
one group insists on having Quarter Horse blood as well (Paint, I
believe), while the other is a color registry only. The British terms
are based on color only; piebald (black and white) and skewbald (white
and any other color). Sorrel seems to be the western term for
chestnut, although I've usually only heard it applied to the bright
orangey color that would be 'red' on a person. Grulla, I believe, is
another name for dun or buckskin (tan with dark mane, tail, points,
and often a dark stripe down the spine). A bay is a brown/red with
BLACK mane, tail, etc. Chestnut is any other brown/red, no matter
what color the mane and tail (as long as it's not black)! The way to
tell the difference between a dark bay and a true black is to look at
the fine hairs on the muzzle; if they have a reddish or brownish cast,
it's a bay. The only white horses are born that way, and they are
quite rare--anything else is grey. Roans seem to come in two types;
strawberry roan and blue roan. The 'blue' effect is caused by
mingling of black and white hairs; the 'strawberry' is a mix of
chestnut and white.
Hope this is helpful!
AMBAR
UUCP: ...{allegra, seismo}!mit-eddie!ambar
ARPA: [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 86 13:34:01 pst
From: [email protected] (Jonathan Gingerich)
Subject: Horse Colors
Ann Thomas, Kathy Forester, Ken Rossen, and Eileen Perry
A belated thanks for your replies regarding horse colors. I realize
I should perhaps explain a little bit more how I plan to use this
information. I tend to paint each horse and head of hair a different
color, just to be meticulous. Anyway, its always been a pain to decide
what color hair to paint next, until recently, when I saw a "fantasy
role-playing" game which had a chart where one could roll dice to determine
the physical characteristics of your character, including hair color. I
now use a similar chart, and deciding on hair color is a whole lot easier
and I can't paint too many blonds, etc. Anyway I would like to create such
a chart for horses, so I don't have to choose which legs get stockings,
etc.
Everyones reply was quite welcome. I have a fair handle on the
colors themselves. It is interesting to see the prevalence of grey horses.
Traditionally, trumpeters always rode grays, no doubt to distinguish them,
and I thought that the other ranks would not, but this seems less likely
now. It is also widely supposed that elite cavalry regiments tried to use
black horses whenever possible (this seems certain for the heavy French
Imperial Guard, whether it holds for other nations is more questionable).
Several of you mentioned that black horses were fairly uncommon in earlier
centuries, so perhaps I should use more dark browns. I do remember seeing
a reference to a book something like "The Color of the Horse" as one
mentioned. L.A. should have a copy flipping around somewhere.
Once again, thanks.
Yours truely,
Jon. Gingerich
--------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 86 17:55:34 est
From: Pat Wilson c/o Alex Colvin <mac%[email protected]>
Subject: Miscellaneous
Ken -
Been meaning to write for some time. Have moved from DC down to
rainy Charlottesville (a _much_ nicer place for me), and am riding
at a very nice facility down here (the Barracks). The horses are
all pretty good (surprisingly so for school animals), and the training
is excellent. A major attraction is the HUGE (maybe 300 yard? maybe
not quite that large) indoor ring - weather or time of day is no
longer a problem. The footing's great, too.
I'm beginning to think about either leasing or owning. I'm looking
for a stable 9-11 year old, preferably gelding, about 16 hands.
I figure I'll be doing some hunting next fall (maybe), and showing
in a few small local shows. I'm not, however, all that interested in
showing - I think I'll eventually get into training youngsters.
Right now, though, I want a horse that won't take too much work to
be pleasant. How much should a horse like this cost? I'm
interested to see how prices vary... My upper limit is $5000.
I'm glad to see that someone else (Robin) is interested in the forward
seat. Capt. Littauer's books are not always easy to read, but very
good. I'm not really sure that there's much that he doesn't say -
the schools that I have ridden at pretty much stick to his methods..
Good luck on finding boots. A lot of people now are wearing normal
shoes or those "duck" shoes from L.L. Bean - the thought is that it
doesn't matter as long as the shoe has enough of a heel that your foot
won't slip through the stirrup. But if you really want to do this
the _right_ way, I'd go ahead and look through catalogs. Some custom
boots aren't awfully expensive. Miller's or Dover have just about
anything you'd want (although they're steeper than some fly-by-night
mail order places). Let me know if you need their address(es).
Congrats, Todd, on the new horse! He sounds really interesting. Hope
he's sound enough. Are there any more at home like him?
Well, enough for now. Keep those cards and letters coming!
Pat Wilson
--------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 86 07:56:02 cst
From: [email protected]
Subject: HORSE CONDOMINIUMS???
We live in Minneapolis, about 3 miles from the center of town. It isn't the
sort of place one would keep a horse, obviously. Yet we have met a number of
people who live in places much like ours who do have horses which they board.
Just out of curiosity, has anyone encountered a condominium or cooperative
housing scheme for horses; a barn where the horses boarded are housed in
stalls which are owned by the horse owners?
It would seem to me that this would appeal to many people. One could afford
a nicer arena, more riding space, all sorts of things that are not available
just from one family's (most folks, anyway) finances. So, how come it isn't
common? Please suggest problems and faults in this idea before I get more
enamoured with it.
Robin Crickman, ...ihnp4!umn-cs!crickman
--------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 86 14:35:15 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Re: buying a horse (finally)
>very interesting considering his size. He is now very overweight and
>has not seen a ferrier since early fall. His Hoofs are in desperate
>need of clipping and he has trush in three of his frogs (feet)
>because of the problem.
>
>The reason I decided to buy him is that is is big and experienced. He is
>also inexpensive at $1200. I think that the health problems are minor and
>he is in good condition for his age. He desperately needs to get into shape,
>which I don't mind, because I need to get into shape also. He is also
>a bit pigeoned-toed because of his weight and has some cloudiness in his eyes,
>which the vet said was normal for his weight and age respectively.
>
>He is going to be moved on Sunday, and I can't wait to start working with him
>a bit more. He will probably have to be worked on the lunge line for awhile
>until we are sure that he is as sound as he was last week. He was very calm
>with everthing taht we did to him. his name is Kool. The present owner
>
>Todd Cooper
Excellent! If this is your first horse, you've made a smart choice - an
aged gelding. By now, what I'm going to say is probably obvious to you, so
I'll pass this along for the benefit of anyone else who is facing the same
situation
The first thing to do is to get his feet fixed. Get a good shoer to trim
his feet, give him new shoes if he wears shoes, and look at the thrush.
I've heard that it's possible for a good shoer to do something about
thrush, but stuff called Copper-Tox will fix the thrush as well as
anything. The horse will most likely be a little sore on his feet because
it's been so long since he's been trimmed, but he should work out of that
in several days. I *think* that a shoer may also be able to do something
about the pigeon toe, but I'm not sure.
To start the horse back on the road to physical fitness, walk him, walk
him, and walk him some more. It's hard to say how long to walk him each
time because I don't know badly out of shape he is, but I would err on the
conservative side. Walk him until he's a little tired, cool him out, and
do it again the next day. The important thing is to make the exercise
regular - once a day five or six times a week. At that stage, you can't
skip a day and expect to make it up the next day by working the horse a
little harder. That will injure the horse. Don't start trot work until the
horse easily handles an hour of walking, and then take it easy. Have
patience - I did this with the first horse I owned and it took me three
months to get the horse into good shape.
Good luck and I hope you have a good time with the critter.
Carl Deitrick
ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 86 13:02:06 EST
From: Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>
Subject: horse for sale
Ken,
I have a friend in Indiana who is moving and has to sell her horse.
She is heartbroken about it but she has no space in her new home to keep
him. If I was in the market for a horse I would certainly buy him.
Here is her ad:
HANOVERIAN GELDING FOR SALE. 16.1 h. bay, 5 years.
Dressage/Event prospect. Great balance and rhythm.
Started over fences and loves to jump. Always sound.
Nerco and Pik As bloodlines. Sire is Elite Hanoverian
Stallion Pascha. Moving - $7,500 o.n.o.
Grainne McGuinne (IN) 812/339-8027
Thanks for putting this ad in your newsletter.
Ania
--------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 86 14:37:14 EST
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: HORSE CONDOMINIUMS???
I suspect that the problem with horse condominiums as Robin envisions them
is that most people who are boarding a horse really expect more than just
the stall. In fact, I suspect that the cost of board is composed more of
compensation for the services provided than for the space. Even if a
community of stall-owners in a single "condo-ized" stable were all
interested in doing their own turnout, their own feeding, etc., the result
could be chaotic. It would seem that the advantage of boarding for people
who have only one horse is the availability of a common hay and feed
supply, a communal pile of shavings, etc. Of course, these things could be
consolidated in a horse condo community as well, but then the services
would still have to be provided by the individual owners. What would
turnout be like if everyone tried to do it individually? Chaos among the
paddocks!
To take care of this problem, it would be necessary to include services of
barn help in the monthly "condo owner's fee," and this is where the economy
might break down. If you owned a stall and paid a regular fee for feeding,
stall cleaning and turnout, I think the fee might approach what the board
bill would be anyway.
Actually, when I first glanced at Robin's mail, I thought that she was
writing about condo communities oriented to the needs of horse-owners.
Although I have never seen such a thing in a condo community, it is
certainly a trend in single-family home subdivision development. I
remember one underway in the Detroit area some years ago, and more
recently, Hanoverian Estates in Wayne, Illinois. Such subdivisions usually
have 1 to 1-1/2 acre lots in areas where horses are allowed, either a
common stable or little private 2-stall barns, access to common trails and
riding rings, all presumably at the cost of a regular neighborhood fee for
maintenance of facilities. Also, such communities tend to be in pricey
places (like Wayne), and I suspect that the type of person who is usually
in the market for such a place is more likely to be interested in a house
than a condo. But you never know.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.28 | Equestrian Digest Issue #25 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:20 | 297 |
| Equestrian Digest Mon 28 Apr 1986 Issue 25
Today's Topics:
Address Changes
abscesses (sp?), butinol (sp?)
Horse Condominiums
Inter-Species Communication [net.pets/Re: dumb lhasa]
Robin, you aren't the only one ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 86 19:21:07 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Address Changes
Todd Cooper and John Nagle have new Internet addresses, Todd due to BU
becoming a full Internet node, John due to his move from Ford:
Todd Cooper <[email protected]>,
John Nagle <[email protected]>
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 86 12:20 EST
From: <PUY%[email protected]>
Subject: abscesses (sp?), butinol (sp?)
Last week I had my gelding shod, and because he is lame in the
hind legs (probably arthritis in the hocks and stifle), he can make
quite a fuss about having his legs held up for a long time. Since
he normally is not in pain, I have not given him anything for his
"condition", but I'm considering giving him butinol or another pain
killer when he is shod. I know that vets prescribe it for horses
with arthritis, but I have heard of horses getting too large a dose
and going down. That wouldn't be very helpful for the shoer. Has
anyone used it regularily? I would be interested in knowing about
any side effects. Also, has anyone heard about using aspirin to
reduce inflammation in horses?
On the topic of shoeing, the 27 year old gelding I keep my horse
with had several abscesses in his left hind foot. Apparently, the
"white line" (the layer of dead and living tissue that bonds the hoof
wall with the inner hoof) can take up dirt, and if the hoof get wet
and dry repeatedly, this debris can work its way up under the outer
layer of growth, forming an abscess. The abscesses look like dental
decay on teeth, and should be removed with a small pick (like a dental
pick), and the cavity filled with hoof dressing. Normally the white
line is protected by the shoe, but Daquiri was barefoot all winter.
He had been standing on the other foot a lot, keeping the left hind
foot cocked;but we had attributed his behaviour to laziness and old
age.
One other thing that I learned from my shoer was the usefulness/
abuses of pads. Kahila has had pads on his hind feet because of his
lameness. The pads keep sharp objects out, and also provide an elastic
surface. Apparently, a common trick is to put pads on race horses, or
on horses about to be sold, because they go much better. So if you're
looking at a horse that has pads on its feet, it may be lame!
Well, I'm looking forward to spring rides--Happy Trails!
/ \
|`--// _ ._
/ \\\ \ \._
./ \\\ / / /\
\ 0 \ \/ \\
/ ) \/ \
/ _ - \ / \/\
/ _/ \ /
\*_ ) \
Eileen Perry
Dept. of Agronomy PUY @ PSUVM (bitnet)
312 Tyson Bldg. ...!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!puy (uucp <-->
Penn State University bitnet gateway)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA 16802 PUY%[email protected] (ARPA)
(814) 863-0129
--------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 86 12:02:53 EST
From: cbd%[email protected]
Subject: Horse Condominiums
I can see that there would be a problem reconciling the great disparity of
riding styles and how the facility would be used. How does one satisfy
dressage riders, who want large amounts of unrestricted space, and
Hunter/Jumper people, who probably want their jumps in place all the time,
and Western riders, who may want to have barrels in the arena all the time?
I think that there has to be one person who makes the major decisions for the
barn: what to feed the horses, what the hours of operation are, who gets which
turn-out area, what to do about sweet little Pookie, whose owner wants her
turned out in the indoor at night but who chews the jumps when she's there,
who has to drag the indoor, etc. Horse people are notoriously irrational about
how their horse are cared for and how their barn is run. Getting random horse
owners to agree on the zillion things needed for a smooth-running barn is
impossible. I think I'd rather try to get the Arabs and Isrealis to agree on
a means for peace in the Middle East.
Also horse people tend to move their horse a lot and they have been known to
get out of the sport completely. People need to have a place to shelter them-
selves, so buying a condo for themselves is good sense. No one needs to have
a horse and a place to shelter it, so they prefer to rent.
The idea of a 'condo'-ized horse barn sound good on paper but falls apart
when you think about it more carefully.
Carl Deitrick
ihnp4!ihu1n!cbd
--------------------
From: [email protected] (Joyce Andrews)
Subject: Inter-Species Communication [net.pets/Re: dumb lhasa]
Date: 23 Apr 86 14:43:23 GMT
> > > I have a Lhasa Apso/Bichon Frise...
> > > dumbest dog ever. Can't learn a thing.
> > I have a purebred Bichon Frise whom I love dearly...
> > ...but my dear Sam is truly null and void in the head.
> You two have reminded me of something I've wondered about. Can dogs
> (or any animal, for that matter) be mentally retarded? Don't laugh,
> I'm serious. Would retardation be hard to detect? Would an animal
> born that way survive?
OK. I am going to reveal something to the net that I HAVE NEVER
TOLD ANYONE FOR FEAR OF RIDICULE. This is a TRUE story. I will
tell you only the facts of the story--you make up your mind about
how it happened.
Some years ago (15 maybe) a woman wrote a book about how she
could "talk to animals." She was on a bunch of talk shows--I
remember seeing her on TONIGHT and a few others. I figured she
was nuts and didn't pay any attention. The talk show hosts made
a bit of fun, and she seemed to slip from view.
About ten years ago she showed up in Cincinnati, working with a
small animal vet. She had "underground" with her "talent" and
was quietly working with vets to help cure baffling lameness (she
claimed to be able to tell where it hurt). She came to a stable
where I had a couple of my young thoroughbreds in early training.
She was there with a small animal vet who was treating a national
champion obedience Sheltie, which happened to belong to the
stable owner. Remember, she was with a small animal vet who had
never been to the barn and certainly didn't know the horses.
Anyway, after she told he vet where the Sheltie was hurting (the
Sheltie was treated according to her diagnosis and CURED), she
came out to the barn.
All of us in the barn were MORE than skeptical. We even
snickered a bit when she wasn't looking. Then she went from
stall to stall and told us amazing things our animals were
thinking. And she told us AMAZING things that she couldn't have
known. I won't go into long detail, but she "saw" pictures in
their minds (according to her) that were impossible to know--she
saw a black pony in the mind of one horse (the horse spent the
first four years of his life with a black pony as a babysitter),
and a trailer accident in the mind of another--she even described
the accident. Each incident may have been explained, but she
went through twenty stalls and had very detailed stories to tell
about each horse. These horses were in Ohio and she was from
California, and the things she knew were not even known to the
stable owners.
Anyway, there was one horse that had been purchased off the race
track as a dressage prospect because of his fantastic
conformation--but he had learned almost nothing. We felt that
the horse did not retain anything from one training session to
the next--after several months of professional training he was
still at a race track stage of learning, i.e., he didn't know
nuttin!! Anyway, she came out of his stall and said that he was
either brain damaged or retarded because the "pictures" in his
brain were badly distorted. She told us that she had in her
travels "seen" many retarded animals, of all species, and it was
as common as retardation in people. Of course, she saw only
domestic animals, and thought that retarded wild animals would
not survive.
She then told us that she does not "talk" to animals, she simply
"sees" the pictures in their brains--like ESP among people. She
simply clears her mind and concentrates on the "brain waves" of
the animal and gets "pictures." She said that no talent was
required and that we could all do it. The closer we were to our
animals, the more easily the "pictures" would come to us. With
practice, she said, we could "exchange" pictures, because animals
were very open to receiving our thoughts. She told us to "think"
positive pictures--don't say "don't get on the couch" to the
dog--what we are doing when we say that is picturing the dog
jumping on the couch. She also told us horsepeople that when we
are going into a jump NEVER visualize the horse stopping--that he
may get that picture and do just that.
Anyway, I listened (Mom always taught me to be polite). I would
have kept an open mind, but I was afraid I'd see pictures. I did
try what she told me. When I got home I went in my barn and
snuggled up to my big old best friend, a horse I had saved from
sure death at River Downs Race Track, and that had been branded a
"killer" horse. He and I were very good friends, and had kept
our relationship going for many years. I did what the lady said,
and saw very clearly the lush, green pasture on the farm we had
moved from a year or so before. It scared the sh*t out of me and
I never tried it again.
I personally think there is SOMETHING to this--just like I think
there is SOMETHING to ESP. Someday, when I am not a single
parent working all hours to support two kids I will take the time
to research what has been done before. I would love to have the
time to discover for myself if there is anything to this.
Please do not send flames. I am not a Disneyite that thinks
little fawns talk to skunks in the woods. I think there may be an
energy in a dog's brain, just like there is in my brain (except
on Monday mornings), and someday we might learn to use that
energy (both in the dog's brain and in my brain) better than we
do now.
What do you think?
Joyce Andrews (ihnp4!inuxd!jla)
Disclaimer: AT&T has nothing to do with this, and surely does
not subscribe to any theories reported in this...can you
imagine--we wouldn't even need telephones!
--------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 86 18:36:15 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Robin, you aren't the only one ...
Well, after Carl's and my dissections of the idea of Horse Condominiums,
I really didn't expect to hear too much more on the topic. But yesterday's
Boston Sunday Globe has an interesting ad in it in the "Horses/Livestock"
section of the classifieds:
CO-OP STABLES
Buy your own. $8700. 969-6696, 586-8400
. . . and that's all it says.
Well, the ad is sufficiently terse that it piqued my curiosity. Of course,
maybe they were selling something deliverable that I could use at my place?
Or just maybe Robin Crickman isn't the only one who had the idea of stall
ownership ...
So I just got off the phone with Bob Wysefield, a very nice man here
in Eastern Massachusetts. He's got some 13 or so acres in West Bridgewater,
Mass., and it's got an 8-room house (which he doesn't live in) and a large
utility building which isn't currently being used for anything. The
property abuts town conservation land on three sides, and therefore has
access to miles of trails. It's also on a lakefront.
Bob is not involved with horses at all at the moment, but he's got this
idea for a co-operative stable. The idea is in the earliest stages, but
it's sure interesting to hear him talk about it. The idea is for a co-op
rather than condos since this avoids a lot of very complicated legal issues
with the deeding. With the co-op, everyone would own a share of the entire
operation, and access to trails and turnout. In his vision, the house could
eventually be a residence for the people who maintain the facility and
perform the functions discussed in earlier letters on this topic (stall
cleaning, turnout, feeding, etc.).
As I mentioned, the idea is basically in its infancy, since the facility
still has to be laid out, the stalls built, the paddocks arranged, and a
multitude of other issues, legal and logistic, resolved. But Bob speaks
of it with great enthusiasm, and he's looking for a number of committed
horse enthusiasts to help him fund the development of this in return for
a cooperative share in the place. The $8700 figure in the ad appears to
be a rather rough cut, especially since the idea hasn't really been developed
yet. Understand that I'm just sketching (fairly, I hope) his plans from
our brief phone conversation. He's given it much more thought and talks
more eloquently and in more detail on it than I do.
I should also point out that I'm not trying to sell Bob's idea, and I don't
expect to be in any position to explore the idea any further for myself
-- I've got plenty of my own planning to do, and I don't live near West
Bridgewater. But I thought it'd be interesting to bring up in the Digest
in light of recent correspondence. If this is really interesting to anyone,
I have Bob's address in Newton (the phone number, as in the ad, is above).
Send me mail if you want it. He says he knows of no one else doing such
a thing (we have *that* in common ;-), so if any of you elsewhere in the
country want to start your own cooperative, perhaps you can contact Bob and
exchange ideas. Who knows what the possibilities are? I certainly don't,
but here's someone who thinks they're very wide.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.29 | Equestrian Digest Issue #26 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:21 | 403 |
| Equestrian Digest Tue 6 May 1986 Issue 26
Today's Topics:
Subscription List Changes
Moving to New Jersey
Free-lease
shoeing a horse that hurts
Horse Cooperatives
Mare Care and Foaling (from Equine Vet. Clinic)
Timely Topics (from Equine Vet. Clinic)
Product News (from Equine Vet. Clinic)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 5 May 86 15:03:49 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Subscription List Changes
Robin Sahner is back in Illinois, so she is at her Gould address again:
Robin Sahner <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!uiucdcs!ccvaxa!ras>.
Wendy Kilguss ([email protected]) has left us, but Janet Copley has
joined us:
Janet Copley <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!jcopley>.
Janet is in the Boston area, is new to riding, and is looking for a lesson
stable. I've pointed her to all the back issues, but I'm sure that
additions or updates to the list of recommendations for (or against!)
various area stables and instructors would be helpful to her.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 86 09:29:34 CDT
From: [email protected] (Judy Grass)
Subject: Moving to New Jersey
I am getting ready to make the move out to Bell Labs in Murray Hill NJ in
early June. Last week I went out there to find a place to live and do
some preliminary equestrian investigations. I thought I might drop
a note about some of this.
One of the places I looked at would interest people here. A large one
bedroom apartment over a barn in Gladstone, NJ (yes, THAT Gladstone, NJ).
The barn was an equipment shed on a farm located across the street
from the estate of the King of Morocco. That's the kind of folks
that can afford to live in Gladstone. This farm had guinea hens,
lots of sheep, rabbits, dogs and two horses. Hmmm. The owner
said I could ride the horses all I wanted. Hmmm Hmmm. He also said I
could board a horse of my own there for free. Hmmm Hmm Hmmm. I turned
it down. A) no evidence of any stalls for the horses, they appeared
to run loose all the time. B) No sign of a good place to train or
any training equipment. I would have to build jumps and jump among
the sheep. C) I suspect the horses there are pets and trail ride
animals and bone ignorant. My own goal is to do some eventing
and I couldn't see getting there from such a situation.
Any opinions: What is the minimum required in equipment (jumps etc)
and a place to train in (flat surface?) to train a horse for
a) dressage b) being a hunter-jumper c) novice or training level
eventing?
What is the minimum in stabling required in a northern state like
New Jersey for horse in that kind of training?
So I took an apartment in a complex in Chatham, NJ and set off to
see what riding there was around there. I looked at two places:
1) Lord Stirling Stables. It seems that the county (or is it state?)
department of parks runs this place. That in itself is a unique situation
to me. I got there as a gaggle of "special education" children were
about to leave on a trail ride. Boots and helmets all around... very
nice to see. This stable appears to be clean, well run and probably
a very nice place to take a trail ride. They also have a very
active program of teaching riding with frequent barn shows. I also
decided that this is not the place for me:
a) No private lessons, classes only. This would not be so
bad if there were a class at my level, but it appears the
concentration is on beginners. I am regularly jumping 3'
courses and doing a lot of dressagy type stuff too. This is
beyond what they are set up for.
b) the concentration is hunter/jumper, which I like, but I need
the dressage too.
2) Floradale Stables. This is a private place with some lesson horses,
lots of open pasture. Also a hunter/jumper type barn. My impression is
that this would be a reasonable place to take lessons if their instructor
is good (which I don't know), but I dont think I would want to
board a horse there. The main problems: Very run down fencing and
a dark barn with narrow alley ways.
I have a lead on a third place through the USCTA omnibus of events: a place
called Hilltop Stables in New Vernon, NJ is holding a sanctioned event
in April and in July. This suggests that at the very least this is a place
where the riders do event. Whether I could get lessons out there without
boarding a horse there is unknown. I will have to investigate.
This business of moving and finding a new place to ride is the pits.
Making a change like that can set you back a long way if you are not very
careful (I've had that happen repeatedly, so I intend to be VERY careful).
A last tidbit: While I was out there I visited the training facilities
of the USET in Gladstone, NJ. It seems visiting hours are supposed to be in
the morning. I arrived in the afternoon, presented myself at the office
and was told I was free to wander around as I liked. Not a lot was going
on while I was there. There were only 4 horses in residence, all of them
gorgeous, none of them familiar names. I have never seen a stable as
beautiful as that one. If you have seen the Miller's catalog, you've seen
some picures. The alleyways are done in brick and clean enough to eat
off of. The stalls are pained cast iron and wood with brass trim, also
surgically clean. The horses are in straw up to their bellies.
Horse heaven. I wandered around there for an hour or so, poking
my nose into the tack room, looking at the arena, checking out the
cross country course. For the horse crazy, the place is worth a visit.
I wish I had arrived at a time that some training was going on, but I
guess you can't have everything.
Final note: The last week in May I will be moving to New Jersey. My
new net address will be:
ulysses!jeg
I don't have any more of a path than that. Until then I
will be right here at the old address.
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa
--------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 86 08:43:24 edt
From: Ed Carroll <[email protected]>
Subject: Free-lease
My riding instructor is looking for school horses. She has asked
me to put this in the digest to see if anyone is interested. The deal
is she is looking for a free lease, will give excellent care to the horse,
it must be sound, have a good disposition, english, and be 15.2 or over.
The location of the barn is Wrentham, Massachusetts, that is in south-
eastern Mass. There is both indoor and outdoor riding so the horse would
be used year round. If anyone is interested or knows anybody that is send
mail or call me at 617-681-0600.
Ed Carroll
Infinet, Inc.
40 High Street
No. Andover, MA 01845
decvax!wanginst!infinet!carroll
--------------------
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 86 16:27:38 cdt
From: ras%[email protected] (Robin Sahner)
Subject: shoeing a horse that hurts
Shoeing an arthritic horse: My elderly thoroughbred is somewhat
arthritic, and I noticed that he (like Eileen's horse) seemed to be
uncomfortable about having his hind legs held up for shoeing. I found
that I could do several things to help him without medication. I would
lunge him (maybe just walking) for a while before the blacksmith
started on him to get him (the horse) limbered up a little. I asked
the blacksmith to shoe his hind feet first while the horse was the
least fatigued, since just standing in one place for a long time can be
a problem for a stiff old horse. I also asked the blacksmith to try
not to hold his legs up for too long at a time. Sometimes if the
blacksmith was busy reshaping a shoe, I'd take my horse for a little
walk. These things seemed to help my horse a lot (and my blacksmith
was extremely cooperative).
Once or twice when my horse was lame from an injury and had to be shod
anyway, I gave him some bute (one standard-sized tablet ground up into
his evening grain) on the day before the blacksmith was to come. That
seemed to work just fine. I should mention that I wouldn't have had
him reshod while he was lame, but he had terrible feet and it was very
important to shoe him regularly.
I say this all in the past tense because this horse is retired at
pasture now and, with regular trimmings (every five weeks) by a really
good blacksmith, is able to go barefoot.
--------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 86 18:47:21 pdt
From: John B. Nagle <[email protected]>
Subject: Horse Cooperatives
There are two barns run as cooperatives in the S.F. Bay Area,
Westwind Barn in Los Altos Hills and Miwok Livery in Mill Valley.
Both are on public land; Westwind is on a tract donated to the town
of Los Altos Hills some years ago, and Miwok is within the boundaries
of the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Westwind is a full-care barn; the boarders elects a board of
directors which sets policy and hires a barn manager to operate the
place. The barn manager hires the rest of the staff. Members are
required to attend three of the four work days per year when major
projects are undertaken, but everything else is done by the staff.
Westwind has about 40-50 horses, two arenas, a large barn, and a
cross-country course. There are some political problems, friends
there tell me, but the barn is kept up, improved slighly each year,
and the horses look good. Westwind also hosts a 4-H group, a
handicapped riding program, and a few other public service events.
More on this subject later.
John Nagle
--------------------
Date: Mon, 5 May 86 14:59:07 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Mare Care and Foaling (from Equine Vet. Clinic)
With the apparent interest among the Digest readership in issues of basic
equine care, I thought the following few articles, reprinted from the
Equine Veterinary Clinic Client Newsletter, might be of interest to some of
you. The source is David R. Heinze, DVM, of West Lafayette, Indiana.
David and his father (whom he jokingly refers to as his "sire") are the
reproductive and orthopedic specialists (respectively) who run Equine
Veterinary Clinic. We've had horses in their care for a couple of years
now, and I have the utmost respect for their expertise. Discussion on any
of the below is certainly welcome. Please give me some feedback as to
whether these types of articles are of interest to you in the Digest. We
will probably continue to get this newsletter as long as we have a horse
in Indiana, and I'd be happy to continue to disseminate this type of info.
If someone wants to contact the Heinzes (they are very helpful over the
telephone), write me.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
_____________________________________________________________________________
_H_e_a_l_t_h__N_o_t_e_s
Prenatal Care of the Pregnant Mare
1. The average term of gestation is 340 days from the last breeding date.
Variations up to 3 weeks in either direction can be considered normal.
2. Rhinopneumonitis is an equine herpesvirus infection which is the
leading cause of contagious abortions in the United States. Vaccinations
in the 5th, 7th and 9th months of pregnancy will prevent almost 100% of
these abortions.
3. Obese mares have a much higher incidence of foaling complications. As
a general rule during the last trimester (4 months), feed and hay can be
increased 10%, protein increased 2%, and a mineral and vitamin supplement
added. Clovite is our choice. Try to keep mom's weight just right, but
remember, slightly too thin is better than too fat when it comes to
producing healthy babies.
4. Mares with good immunity handle better the stress of giving birth and
pass this immunity on to their foals. Vaccination boosters (especially
tetanus) one month before the foaling date are considered ideal.
5. Most of the parasites foals are infested with come directly from their
own dams. There are products which are tested safe to deworm pregnant
mares and one of these should be administered one month prior to foaling.
A veterinary consultation would be advisable if parasites are a severe
problem on a particular farm and other control measures could be
recommended.
Parturition (Foaling)
1. There are signs which precede parturition which vary widely and have
many exceptions, but generally proceed as follows:
A. The mare's udder swells about 2 weeks prior to foaling (bagging
up).
B. A beeswax type substance forms on the tips of the teats several
days before delivery (waxing up).
C. Milk will drip or stream from the udder the day before or the
day of foaling.
D. Mares go off feed and act depressed right before parturition.
E. The ligaments of the pelvis relax producing a loose jointed
look and an altered gait behind.
F. Mare's foal much more frequently at night, with roughly 9 out of
10 births occuring during darkness.
2. Mares can have periodic mild contractions several hours to days prior
to giving birth, but active labor begins when the fetal membranes rupture
(breaking water).
3. Usually the mare will lay down and deliver the foal 12-15 minutes after
her water breaks. If she does not do so within 30 minutes or if progress
in the delivery halts for more than 10 minutes, then immediate veterinary
attention should be considered.
4. After delivery the amnionic sac encasing the foal can be opened if it
doesn't rupture on its own, but the umbilical cord should not be cut since
significant amounts of blood are still being transferred to the foal from
the placenta.
Post Partum Care of the Mare and Foal
1. If all goes well both mother and offspring should be left alone for the
entire process and for 20-30 minutes after the delivery.
2. In cases where the mare was not vaccinated one month prior to foaling,
she should receive a tetanus booster and her foal a tetanus antitoxin.
3. The mare should pass the placental membranes within 90 minutes. Do not
cut or remove any portions since the added weight will help in their
passage. If they aren't out in 3-4 hours, veterinary assistance should be
called upon. If there is any question about the completeness of an
expelled placenta then save it in a bucket for later inspection. A
retained placenta can cause severe infections and founder.
4. Mares will sometimes suffer cramps and colic after delivery (foal
colic). Severe pain may be a sign of a major complication but slight
discomfort does not usually require treatment.
5. The foal's navel will be about 2 inches long and should be swabbed with
2% iodine (or another suitable disinfectant) several times 30-120 minutes
after birth.
6. Enemas may be needed for newborns if they have trouble passing their
first manure (meconium). They will lift their tails and strain repeatedly
and sometimes roll over onto their backs with their head between their
front legs.
7. Finally, this is the single most important point in the entire
discussion. Foals are born with immature immune systems and are unable to
fend off disease adequately by themselves. Instead they receive antibodies
directly from the mare through the colostrum in her first milk.
Unfortunately, they are only able to absorb these antibodies well for about
12 hours after birth. Insufficient levels of antibodies, called Failure of
Passive Transfer (FPT) may include diarrhea, pnuemonia, navel ill, joint
ill, and many others. Thus it is imperative that foals stand and nurse
aggressively within 4 hours of birth and hopefully within 2. Tube feeding
and bottle feeding of her colostrum may be used if nursing is not going
well. If the mare appears to be dripping out much of her colostrum well
before foaling, the colostrum can be milked out, frozen and rethawed (don't
microwave) for use after birth. Colostrum can also be frozen from other
mares (it will keep 2 years) or secured from a colostrum bank or a breeder.
But whatever the source, it is vitally important for the health of any
foal. If FPT is suspected then a test can be performed on the foal's blood
at 24-36 hours after birth to assess the immune status. If inadequate, a
plasma transfusion can be performed to raise the antibody levels, but there
is some expense and danger to the foals. However, not transfusing them
invites almost certain disaster. An ounce of prevention (in this case, of
colostrum) is worth many pounds of cure.
--------------------
Date: Mon, 5 May 86 14:59:39 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Timely Topics (from Equine Vet. Clinic)
_T_i_m_e_l_y__T_o_p_i_c_s
Pasture founder is a condition which merits special consideration at this
time of year. Lush spring grass will affect some horses and many ponies,
especially those which are overweight and/or have a thick cresty neck.
They may have been on the same pasture all winter but grazing time should
be carefully restricted for a period off at least three weeks so they may
adjust. Founder from any cause is a medical emergency and requires
immediate treatment to minimize the eventual damage.
Parasites undergo a lush regrowth which is much less desirable than the
above mentioned spring pasture! The month of May in our region (Indiana)
probably produces heavier worm infestations than any other month of the
year. Deworming your adult horse in the spring is extremely important.
Deworming foals is vital since their resistance is naturally lower.
Babies can have diarrhea from threadworm infections as early as 10 days of
age and can have life threatening roundworm and bloodwork (strongyle)
infestations by 60 days. Therefore, deworming should be started between 6
and 8 weeks of age and continue every 60 days. Sanitation of paddocks
where possible has also been shown to be extremely effective in reducing
parasite exposure.
Coggins tests for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) take about 1 to 2 weeks
from the time the blood samples are drawn until you receive the results.
Plan ahead if you are going to need them for your horses. Currently they
are good for 2 years in Indiana, (1 year for the sale of a horse), but
various shows, sales, tracks, farms, etc., may have their own individual
requirements. There are no present plans to ask for Coggins tests for 4-H
events.
There is now a National Animal Poison Control Center located in Urbana,
Illinois. It is a non-profit organization which is open from 8:00am to
8:00pm (Central Time) and has an emergency answering service for out of
hours calls. The NAPCC stresses the importance of consulting with your
veterinarian in cases of suspected poisoning, drug reaction, insecticide
exposures, etc., but they will also talk directly to lay clients. The
phone number is 217/333-3611. There is no charge for the consultation, but
donations are accepted by the center.
--------------------
Date: Mon, 5 May 86 14:59:57 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Product News (from Equine Vet. Clinic)
_P_r_o_d_u_c_t__N_e_w_s
_P_r_o_b_i_o_c_i_n__E_q_u_i_n_e__O_n_e--This is an oral microbial culture paste which is used
to establish and maintain the normal bacterial flora of the intestinal
tract. It is especially helpful at birth to reduce foal diarrheas and can
be used in older horses with special problems or stress.
_V_e_t_r_i_c_i_n_e--N-N Dimethyl Glycine is an intermediate metabolite which
enhances oxygen transport and also natural resistance. This oral powder
has been extremely beneficial in treating bleeders and horses that tie up
(muscle cramping). In addition we have used it for horses with chronic
respiratory infections.
_H_o_r_s_e_-_A_d_e--The oral supplement is also used as an aid in alleviating the
tying-up syndrome in horses. We have used it to treat the acute syndrome,
but more importantly, to assist in prevention of tying-up so these animals
can be worked regularly.
_E_q_u_i_-_B_o_n_d__H_o_o_f__F_i_x__K_i_t--These new space age synthetic bonding agents fill
cracks and coat hoofs. Horses with fragile hoof walls, cracks, soft feet,
seedy toe or those exposed to excessively wet environments can benefit
greatly from monthly applications of these products.
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
*********************
|
| 79.30 | Equestrian Digest Issue #27 | RADON::BELANGER | Boycott Boycotts! | Wed Dec 10 1986 23:22 | 243 |
| Equestrian Digest Sun 11 May 1986 Issue 27
Today's Topics:
Address Update
The Heinzes
Horse Digest
Equestrian Notes File (called "Equitation")
Another Horse-Hunting Success Story?
ATTENTION Horse Van Owners!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 11 May 86 13:59:48 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: Address Update
I seem to have lost Gregg Mackenzie <cisden!gmack>. Does anybody know
where he is?
There are two new subscribers:
Ron Christian <ihnp4!pesnta!fai!ronc>,
Janet Gann <[email protected]> -or- <ihnp4!bbnccv!jgann>
Welcome, Janet and Ron!
Machines here at BBN are undergoing a sweeping set of name changes. The
host names will all eventually conform to the new multi-level domain names.
Those who contact us here through UUCP mail don't have to worry -- continue
to use bbnccv!username or [email protected] (or susbtitute "bbncca") for
the time being.
Internet mail users should probably start using the "new" addresses --
they're all valid aliases now, and they'll soon become the "official"
addresses:
Janet Copley <[email protected]>,
Annette Farrell <[email protected]>,
Joel and Kathy Levin <[email protected]>,
Carol Marinaro <[email protected]>,
Julie Moore <[email protected]>,
Ania O'Brien <[email protected]>,
Ken and Karen Rossen <[email protected]>
. . . and, yes, the old ".arpa" style addresses will still be valid for a
while.
DEC Enet and CSNet addresses will probably undergo similar changes before
too long -- I'll try to keep ahead of the changes with my announcements.
As always, try to contact me if you're having trouble getting mail through.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tue, 6 May 86 10:49:10 EDT
From: Jean Marie Diaz <[email protected]>
Subject: The Heinzes
The Heinzes? Wow. Seriously small world.
A few years ago one of the herd acquired a serious fungal infection.
Our then-current vet (a VERY good person, but not extremely
experienced) suggested that we go to the Heinzes. I've never seen
another operation to match theirs.
AMBAR
--------------------
Subject: Horse Digest
Date: Tue, 06 May 86 12:20:56 -0500
From: Janet Gann <[email protected]>
Janet Copley (one of your newest members) has kindly shared the
back issues of your "Horse Digest" with me. I haven't ridden in
several years, but really look forward to taking it up again now
that I'm settled in here at BBN Labs (with CSNET). I'm very
interested in riding hunt seat (for simple pleasure - not
competition), would be interested in hearing about the local
possibilities for riding (lessons, too - I need to refresh
my teenage memories!) and would love to be on your mailing list.
(Since Janet Copley has already sent me the back issues, I can
start with the next issue). I'm also thinking about a possible
riding vacation (in Ireland or England) next year and would
really like to hear from anyone who has either taken a riding
vacation or attended riding clinics in either country. I seem
to remember the Irish Tourist Board writing up the possibilities
a few years back.
As a bit of background for your readership notes - I'm originally
(Pasadena area) during my high school years. I was charter
member of the Hollywood Park Railbird Club as a child and
claim as my only "celebrity contact" the fact that I groomed
Mr. Ed after his retirement from television stardom. (No, he
was terribly close-mouthed - generally with a grumpy snap of the
jaws! and had the personality of an equine lump of clay - photogenic
as anything, though - perfect Hollywood type.) I'm living in
Belmont now and would like to start riding again this summer or
fall.
It's great to start the day with horse-news and I look forward
to seeing the Horse Digest regularly. It's a great pleasure!
Cheers!
Janet Gann
[email protected]
--------------------
Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1986 10:59:32-PDT
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt 617-568-5823)
Subject: Equestrian Notes File (called "Equitation")
DEC (Digital Equip. Corp.) has its own flavor of bulletin boards,
called NOTES files or notes conferences. These operate more or less
like real bboards (rather than like netnews or other mailing-list type
"bboards"), in that the notes are all stored in one place, and readers
use a program to read new notes or peruse through past notes. To
access the files, though, you need to have an account on the Engineering
Network at DEC, which most of you probably don't have. By the way,
most of DEC's employees work in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but
there are notes files readers all over the world.
There is a newish notes file on equestrian-related topics, and I've
been thinking about how best to share information between that world
and this one, the Equestrian Digest. The best solution I've come up
with is to post the Digest in the Notes file, and hope that the
Notes file readers will respond to Digest requests/etc, since Digest
readers can't get to the notes file.
If I see any especially relevant stuff in the notes file that answers
questions from the digest, I'll do my best to get the information to
the right places.
So, if you get mail that refers to "Notes", or specifically to the
"Equitation Conference" or "Equitation Notesfile", be not confused.
--carrie wilpolt
--------------------
Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1986 10:55:08-PDT
From: wilpolt%[email protected] (Carrie Wilpolt 617-568-5823)
Subject: Another Horse-Hunting Success Story?
I have lots of news, some of which isn't so new anymore, but
by now I should realize that life never really "settles down", so
it's not worth waiting for a calm period before sending out an
update to the equestrian list!
After a couple of months of off-and-on searching, and with
much encouragement and assistance from Ken and Karen Rossen, I finally
found a horse that matches all my complicated needs. I had been looking
for a horse that can take me through first level dressage, at least,
and who is capable of low level eventing. The horse needed to be small
in both size and price.
About a month ago, I found a 10 year old Anglo-Arab mare, gray, 15.1,
well schooled and with nice gaits. She's one of these calm, uncomplicated
horses that you could probably have your grandmother ride to Omaha and
back on. Her name is Fiddler.
For now, I'm just leasing her, and I've had her about a month. I had
her vet-checked before starting the lease, and she passed her pre-purchase
exam with compliments from the clinic, so I've been planning to buy her if
everything works out (more on this below). I'm boarding at a small barn
in Harvard, Massach.
Fiddler and I are working on our dressage with a new instructor,
Laura McGovern, who is Kris Bobo's working student. Laura is really
good, but of course I'm now suffering from the New Instructor Syndrome.
I've asked to have a LOT of lunge lessons to help with my position, and
there's that uncomfortable period where you can't reach the stirrups
because they've been lengthened another hole or two, and you don't have
much seat left because you're back to learning how to move your leg
back from the hip and relax the knee, and every few strides your hands
(wrists, arms, shoulders...) do something that gets you in big trouble...
It's one of those stages where you can hardly rise OR sit to a trot
anymore, much less get the horse on the bit consistently and softly!
Anyway, I expect we're just reaching a new plateau and will be happier in
the long run, but for a week or two I was ready to cash it all in.
Fortunately we had a good ride yesterday, so the humiliation stage may
be waning. I'm hoping to be ready for a few dressage shows in the summer,
and we'll try to get to a novice event or two for fun before too long.
THe other news is that I'll be going back to school for a Master's
degree at Stanford in the fall. The best part of this deal is that
DEC is paying for it. Of course, this complicates my happy picture
of the little gray mare and the short eager rider. On the one hand,
this mare is the kind I could take to school and ride whenever I had
time, and she's an ideal horse to lease out, so maybe it's worth buying
her, but probably only if the company will pay to ship her. This is
why I'm only leasing her now.
Fiddler's owner is now trying to change our arrangements to a
PAID lease rather than a free lease (price applicable to purchase).
She's a good little mare, but I'm not willing to pay more on top of
board and vet and farrier bills, so I may be in the market for a horse
all over again. More likely, though, I'll have her for another month
at least, and perhaps through the summer.
In the meantime, Ken and especially Karen Rossen have proved
to be an invaluable resource, and I am thoroughly indebted to them for
their generous assistance. Without Karen's eagle eye, horse-hunting
would have been either fruitless or possibly dangerous, in that it's
hard to judge a horse from the saddle or from the ground without a LOT
of experience. Most of the horses I rode went pretty quietly, and
several were willing to go round and reach for the bit some of the time,
but you need to be a good judge to be able to find the GOOD cheap horse
out of a herd of cheap horses (I think it's a little easier with pricier
horses). I strongly recommend that anyone looking for a first horse take
along as many really experienced people as you can get your hands on, or
at least have those people (and your instructor!) see you ride the horse
after you've narrowed the field and before you've set your heart on
anything.
--carrie wilpolt
(sudbury, massachusetts)
--------------------
Date: Sun, 11 May 86 13:57:38 EDT
From: Ken Rossen <[email protected]>
Subject: ATTENTION Horse Van Owners!
Hey!
Do you own a horse van? (a VAN -- not a trailer)
If you do, please write to me! Thanks in advance.
--
Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen
____or____ [email protected] -or- [email protected]
--------------------
End of Equestrian Digest
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