Horse Illustrated January February 2022

THE LATEST SMARTPHONE APPS FOR EQUESTRIANS, PG.
12
plus RIDING THE CAMARGUE REGION OF FRANCE, PG. 20
®
JANUARY/
FEBRUARY 2022
6 of our favorite
Winter
Grooming
Secrs
HORSE ILLUSTRATED
US $ 4.99 • Vol 46 No. 1 • Issue code: 2022-02
The Controversy Behind Show Jumping in
January/February 2022 • Display until 02/22/2022
02
MODERN PENTATHLON
0 71486 03100 0 The ADOPTION Issue
HorseIllustrated.com Realities of Running a Rescue • Planning for a Safe Landing • Common OTTB Injuries
Setting the
Grooming
Standard
FOR A COAT SO SHI NY I T GLOW S
WWW.ULTIMATEGLOSS.COM
ILLUSTRATED JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | VOLUME 46 I NUMBER 1
features
36
Tackle Winter Woolies
Use this six-step process to go
from filthy to fabulous even when
temperatures hit rock-bottom and
winter hair is at its thickest.
42
Seeing Inside
Huge advances in medical imaging
help us see inside the horse so vets
can diagnose and treat formerly
mysterious injuries.
48
Modern Pentathlon
Find out more about the sport
that made headlines during the
Olympics—for all the wrong
reasons.
54
Rescue? Me?
The journey from forceful training
tactics to running a sanctuary
58
for horses needing physical and
Safe Landings emotional rehabilitation took a
In the event that you can’t care for your sudden realization.
horse throughout his entire life, prepare
him for a safe landing in his future
journeys.
COVER PHOTO: KATYA DRUZ/WWW.ARND.NL; THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY SHELLEY PAULSON
[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 1 ]

ILLUSTRATED JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | VOLUME 46 I NUMBER 1
20
28
32
departments
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JESSICA MORTON; ALLYSON WEILAND; ELLEN L. CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY; HEIDI NYLAND MELOCCO
6
64 Editor’s Letter
8
columns What’s Online
12 20 10
Smart Apps Horses of the Camargue Notebook
Peruse the latest high-tech offerings Riding in France showcases a
for horse owners. landscape unlike any other. 64
Breed Portrait:
14 24 The Friesian
Racetrack Injuries Somatic Horsemanship
Find out which common injuries are Experience mind-body 72
most concerning for a second career. rejuvination—with horses. Parting Shot
16 28
Crooked Bites & Magic Lights Meaningful Groundwork
Dr. Diehl gets some strange inquiries Give your groundwork meaning and
in this month’s Vet Adventures. notice your horse’s every move.
18 32
In Perpetuity Too Tense
A tragedy helps unite a horse owner Try these two simple exercises to
with her heart horse’s dam. help relax your horse’s body.
[ 2 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

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CONNECT WITH US
You can feel your horse’s great power. The power to move you and inspire you. His strength starts deep inside, in his
blood and down to his very bones. He’s even born with the ability to heal himself from serious problems like lameness
and joint pain. Zoetis Regenerative Medicine Devices allow your veterinarian to concentrate regenerative properties from
your horse’s own blood or bone marrow to supercharge his healing. That’s horse-powered care you can count on.
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Healing with
horse power
editor’s letter
VOLUME 46 • ISSUE 1
Editor in Chief Holly Caccamise
Publisher Rima Dorsey

Digital Content Editor Sarah Conrad
Art Director Cindy Kassebaum
Marketing Director Ajay Anand
Marketing Coordinator Sadhana Bajpai
Digital Team Abhinay Kumar,
Gaurav Mangla,
Sanjeev Saini,
Saurabh Haldiya
Circulation Director Shailesh Khandelwal
Circulation Coordinator Mohammad Danish,
Dheeraj Kumar
Production Coordinator Vipin Marwaha
Finance Martin Panganiban
Sales Team Mike Shear
Lisa Dodson
Darien Boughrum
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MUST-READS @ HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM THIS MONTH
HORSE ILLUSTRATED
& YOUNG RIDER WIN AWARDS
Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines have a lot to be proud of in 2021 after the American
Horse Publications (AHP) Equine Media Awards were doled out at the AHP Back in the Saddle
Conference in Dallas, Texas on September 18, 2021.
The AHP Equine Media Awards are the premier awards within the equine media industry, and it
was a repeat performance of last year for both publications as they picked up awards in editorial
and photography categories, with the biggest award for Horse Illustrated being an Honorable
WILLIAM SHAFER/SHUTTERSTOCK
Mention in the General Excellence Self-Supported Publication category (circulation 15,000 and
over). Horse Illustrated captured the top honor in this category in 2019.
Read on to see what awards Horse Illustrated and Young Rider captured for the 2020 content
at www.horseillustrated.com/2021-ahp-awards-won. Stay tuned to both brands for the same
high-caliber content.
GO RIDING IN THE
NATIONAL PARKS
America’s national parks represent the most
unique and stunning natural treasures in the U.S.
For equestrians, the absolute best way to experi-
ence a national park is from the back of a horse.
After all, most national parks were first explored
on horseback more than a century ago, and these
amazing places lend themselves to riding.
Plan your trip at www.horseillustrated.com/
horseback-riding-national-parks.
Connect WITH US
HI and YR’s editor and business lead with three of HI’s freelance writers at AHP in Texas. Join Horse Illustrated on social media
for the latest information from the horse
industry and be in the know! And don’t
forget to like and share your favorite posts
GET STARTED DRIVING HORSES with your friends with share buttons.
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thoughts of power and elegance. Three experts Twitter.com/HI_Mag
STAFF PICKS
on driving horses offer tips on how to get Pinterest.com/HorseIllusMag

started driving, the differences between driving
and riding, and where to get help as you learn
more. Options for drivers include combined DON’T MISS OUT
driving and pleasure driving competitions, Get all the most timely seasonal
antique coaching classes, roadster classes, and how-to horse advice delivered
draft horse hitch shows and plow days, parades weekly to your inbox with
and exhibitions, road and trail driving, and our free email newsletter.
historical re-enactments, as well as driving Sign up today at
classes in breed-specific shows. www.horseillustrated.
Dive into driving with www.horseillustrated. com/newsletter.
com/get-started-with-driving-horses.

Create your Cowboy
Magic Moment
Share your #cowboymagicmoment cowboymagic.com
notebook
january/february
MARYLAND FIVE-STAR Boyd Martin
The inaugural Maryland CCI5* eventing competition and On Cue
KIM MACMILLAN/MACMILLAN PHOTOGRAPHY

made its debut October 13-18 at Fair Hill in Cecil County,
Md. This is only the second eventing CCI5* competition
offered in North America, the other being the Land Rover
Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* (five-stars are also held
in England, France, Germany and Australia).
The event hosted both 3* and 5* CCI-L eventing
divisions, the United States Equestrian Federation
CCI3* National Championship, and the United States
Eventing Association Young Event Horse East Coast
Championships for 4- and 5-year-olds. winner, who led at this event going into show jumping,
and Tim Price (NZL) and Xavier Faer (second-placed
THE FIVE-STAR finishers at Kentucky this spring), who were in second
U.S. Olympian Boyd Martin came away with his first going into stadium jumping.
CCI5* win, while Kurt Agardy Martin (no relation) cap- Martin and On Cue jumped clear third from last in the
tured first in the CCI3*-L division and the USEF Cham- order, and then both Price and Townend uncharacteristi-
pionship. This was the first time an American rider had cally dropped a rail each in their turns around the course.
won a CCI5* event since Phillip Dutton achieved the “Lady Luck was on our side,” Martin said after the
feat at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2008. awards ceremony. “We bumped and thumped a few
Boyd Martin piloted On Cue, a 15-year-old Selle poles; I never heard one come down. I couldn’t believe
Français mare. The pair had to duke it out with some it when I got a clear round. Today was On Cue’s day,
tough competition: Oliver Townend (GBR) riding Cooley and it’s great to win it. She’s everything you dream of in
Master Class, the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky CCI5* a horse. She’s got movement, gallop, [she’s a] full trier.
She’s elegant. Coming into this thing, I thought I had a
chance just because she’s been so good this year.”
THE THREE-STAR
Kurt Agardy Martin’s winning CCI3*-L mount, D.A.
Lifetime (“Clarence”) is a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare.
Martin and Clarence led from day one and finished on
a superb dressage score of 23.5 to take the win and the
USEF Championship.
“The cross-country was a great course,” said Martin.
“I think that Clarence has gained a lot of experience,
and I think the jumps didn’t hold her yesterday, so
maybe there are bigger things to come. She’s very kind
and laid-back. [But] she’s definitely a blood horse, and
ALLEN MACMILLAN/MAC MILLAN PHOTOGRAPHY
once she’s up, that’s what you have to ride. We work

together; I don’t force this horse to do anything.”
Approximately 20,900 ticket holders attended the
event over the five days. Other activities at the Mar-
Kurt Agardy
yland CCI5* included a trade fair, a children’s educa-
Martin and
tional area, a variety of equestrian demos, a Maryland
D.A. Lifetime
Fresh Food Fest, and the Mars VIPet Experience.
For more information about the Maryland CCI5* event,
visit www.maryland5star.us. — Kim MacMillan

Remington in the
wild before he was
gathered and sent
MOVIE PREMIERE: to the Mustang

Makeover.
THE MUSTANGS
The Mustangs: America’s Wild
Horses is a documentary film
executive produced by Robert
Redford, Patti Scialfa Springsteen
and Jessica Springsteen, featur-
ing songs by Bruce Springsteen,
Emmylou Harris and Willie Nel-
son. The Mustangs takes you on
an odyssey throughout America
to places few people have seen,
to learn about the more than
80,000 wild horses on our public
lands and more than 50,000 in
government corrals.
“The wild horse is so ingrained in the American MUSTANG MAKEOVERS
imagination that even those who have never seen one The film also covers Extreme Mustang Makeover
know what it stands for: fierce independence, unbridled events, in which trainers have just 100 days to take a
freedom, and the bedrock ideals of the nation,” says Mustang from wild to mild.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Philipps, who Mary Kitzmiller of Mary Kitzmiller Horsemanship in
narrates throughout the movie. “From car ads to high Kemp, Texas, was profiled in the film as she participated
school mascots, the wild horse—popularly known as in the 2018 makeover with a Mustang named Remington.
the Mustang—is the enduring icon of America. But in “I normally don’t go for flashy color when picking
modern times, it has become entangled in controversy out Mustangs,” she says. “But Remi caught my eye. His
and bureaucracy, and now its future is in question.” preview video was very short and grainy, but I liked
This film will make you think about why we should the look of him: stocky, well-built, and he seemed to
protect our wild horses and our public lands. be rather quiet.”
“America’s wild horses are fighting their last stand,” The choice paid off, and she ended up bidding on
says Redford. “Increasing competition for our natural him in the post-Makeover auction and bringing him
resources threatens our wilderness areas, our wild home for keeps. She thinks the film will help people
horses, and other wildlife species. Horses are inter- see more potential in adoptable Mustangs.
woven into the very fabric of what is America. What “It’s my hope the film will show people how special
threatens them threatens us all.” Mustangs really are.”
Learn more at
WILD HORSE ADVOCACY Facebook.com/
Return to Freedom, a non-profit Mustang sanctuary, is TheMustangsFilm and
one of the groups profiled in the film. themustangsfilm.com.
“One of the messages I hope is clear to viewers is In addition to being
that what is happening to America’s wild horses is in select theaters, it
through no fault of their own,” says Neda DeMayo, will also be available
founder and president of Return to Freedom. “Increas- on Apple TV and
ing drought impacting [our public lands] is affecting Amazon Prime Video
all wildlife and the livestock grazing there as well. In on November 23.
my personal experience, our wild horses are resilient Be sure not to miss
and most of the herds look good, even in tougher HI’s podcast interview
years. Their ability to adapt has kept them alive. with the producer and
Their biggest threat is political: No one profits from co-director for the film,
free-ranging wild horses and burros. I hope we can see Steven Latham, at
a new culture that embraces the American mustang horseillustrated.com/
and protects their freedom on their rightful ranges.” podcast6. HI

tack & gear
Smart
APPS
Peruse the latest high-tech offerings that will help you train, monitor,
and even sell a horse with the click of a button.
BY LAURA BOYNTON
HORSE SIDE VET GUIDE

This app has an extensive amount of how-to videos and interactive tools to help you with
everything related to your horse’s health, nutrition, medications, hoof and dental care, barn
safety and first-aid while standing right next to your horse.
There is no substitute for reaching out to your veterinarian when something with your
horse’s medical situation is amiss, and the Horse Side Vet Guide will help you make better
decisions about your horse’s health and give insight on what to do in an emergency.
$4.99; www.horsesidevetguide.com
EQUINETRADER
This buying and selling app is a handy tool for both looking to buy or sell—or both. At
EquineTrader, you can set up your personal profile that easily switches between buyer and
seller. Quickly and easily create and manage horse-for-sale listings. Buyers and sellers are
encouraged to text, talk or email through the app for better communication.
Buyers can shop for their next horse with filters that let you search by breed, sire, color, age,
price, gender, dam’s information, disciplines, and training level.
Free; www.equinetrader.com
THE PONYAPP
The PonyApp provides an easy way to keep up to speed with all the latest news in the horse
world with curated content from top industry publications, all while managing your own horse,
tracking expenses, sending payments to professionals, and sharing important information with
everyone involved with your horse’s life.
Your family members, farrier, vet, trainer, boarding facility, neighbor and horse sitter can all
be on the same page with daily logs with instructions and comments for better communication.
Free for the basic version; contains in-app purchases for the ultimate experience, called PonyApp Premium,
which is $9.99/month.
[ 12 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | OCTOBER 2019 ]

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]
NIGHTWATCH SMART HALTER
This mobile app is paired with a state-of-the-art Smart Halter that monitors your horse’s
activity, motion and posture, and also tracks heart rate and respiration to provide a deeper look
into day-to-day life. It automatically send alerts with a text, phone call or email when something
isn’t quite right.
Subscribers have 24/7 access to view and manage your horse’s vital signs for better overall
wellness that gives peace of mind when you aren’t with your horse.
3-month plan ($99/month), 6-month plan ($79/month), or 12-month plan ($49/month) includes a free Smart
Halter Crown. www.smarthalter.com
RIDERSMATE
This app is for more than just horse riders—motorcycle riders, road cyclists, and mountain
bikers can also benefit from the safety this app provides.
Ridersmate knows that many people ride alone, and sometimes—no matter the skill level of
the rider—falls and accidents happen. The second a rider falls off, the clock on the Ridersmate
devices start ticking and the jack plug will detach itself from the unit, automatically sending
out an emergency message to preselected contacts. To cancel the response, riders can simply
reattach the jack plug to the unit, which will send a second message out.
Free app (requires purchase of Ridersmate unit to work); www.ridersmate.com
ESI HORSE TRAINING

This training app from Equitation Science International (ESI) addresses problem behaviors us-
ing evidence-based, ethical and sustainable methods that check the horse’s responses to tests
to maintain a positive mental security. A team of experts, including Andrew McLean, Ph.D.,
developed this app for all disciplines. Strengthen the response between you and your horse
with information on equine learning, safety, cognition, biomechanics, self-carriage, operant
and classical conditioning, and using aids effectively.
The training in the app breaks down exercises and instructions in phases, so no information
is skipped over or missed. The goals of this app are to stop negative behaviors before they
become a habit and help riders understand the learning process for every lesson.
$5.99 (iPhone only); www.esi-education.com
EQUILAB EQUESTRIAN TRACKER

This training-oriented app can track your horse’s movement to help reach performance-
specific goals. It collects and stores your training history, insight logs and checklists to see
over time where progress is made. Equilab has GPS tracking and distance and time on a
map; this allows preprogrammed phone numbers to follow your ride live, from start to finish.
$10/month or $80/year; www.equilab.horse HI

horse adoption
Racetrack
injuries
If you’re adopting an OTTB, find out which common racing injures are
most concerning when planning a second career.
BY SARAH E. COLEMAN
n addition to finding the right personality result of an injury to the splint bone or to the
I and ability when searching for your next
equine partner, oftentimes it feels like you
ligament that runs in between the splint bones.
Presentation: Active splints are hot and
need a Ph.D. to decipher horse-health records, swollen and may cause lameness.
old injuries, and how they might impact a Treatment: Time off, anti-inflammatories
horse’s future athletic career—and off-track and possibly cold hosing.
Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) can come with their Athletic Prognosis: Unlimited, once the
own set of unique issues. splint is “old and cold.”
By the time most racehorses are 3 years old,
they’re in peak physical condition and have SUSPENSORY LIGAMENTS
been trained to do one job incredibly well: Run. The strain that racehorse legs experience while
Like top-tier human athletes, these horses are training can sprain or tear the suspensory
susceptible to a range of sports injuries. Some ligament, which runs from just below the
of these can affect a horse’s future athletic knee or hock to the back of the cannon bone,
career and others are merely cosmetic, but the resulting in desmitis.
key to any injury is its severity and how well it It’s not just physical strain on the tendon that
is rehabilitated. causes injury, notes Leandra Cooper, facility
With the guidance of a knowledgeable manager and head trainer at New Vocations
veterinarian who has experience with these Racehorse Adoption Program in Lexington, Ky.
types of injuries and who understands your She rehomes over 200 retired Thoroughbred
(realistic) skills and goals as a rider, you’ll be racehorses each year. Farriery is also a compo-
well on your way to choosing the perfect OTTB nent. Most racehorses are shod with a long toe
partner for your riding sport of choice. and low heel, which adds strain to the ligament.
The rehabilitation process and future athletic
SPLINTS soundness are dependent on where on the
Some retired racehorses have bony lumps on ligament the injury is located and its severity.
their lower legs. These “splints” are often found Presentation: Swelling, heat and pain at
on the inside of the front legs. They are the the site of the strain or tear. Lameness can
vary from mild to moderate and is most visible on soft “If the intra-articular block resolves the lameness,
ground; it often comes on suddenly and abates after then I would recommend surgical removal,” says Bell.
a few days. Severe lameness is typically present in “If it doesn’t [make the horse sound], then I will keep
suspensory tears. looking for the cause [of the lameness].”
Treatment: Time and rest. Bell will inject horses with hyaluronic acid or anti-
“The worst thing about these injuries is that the inflammatory when surgical chip removal is not an
horses don’t read the book on how long it should take to option.
heal,” says Shelley Mann, executive director of the Sec- Athletic Prognosis: The level of athletic potential
retariat Center racehorse adoption center located at the is often directly correlated to the location of the chip,
Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. “Some [horses] especially in relation to the joint and articulating
need 30 days and they are good to go, and sometimes it areas, as well as to how it is addressed. If the chip is
takes six months or longer to heal.” not floating or has been removed early, horses have a
Athletic Prognosis: The size of the injury and the quality good chance to have unlimited second careers, says
of the repair are the greatest predictors of future soundness Mann. However, once a horse has joint damage from
within certain disciplines, says Rhodes Bell, DVM, Dipl. a chip, he may develop arthritis in that area, which
ACVS-LA, of Park Equine Hospital could potentially limit his future athletic endeavors,
and the primary veterinarian for says Cooper.
New Vocations in Kentucky. Small For additional common OTTB injuries and the vets’
branch injuries that are given rundown on them, visit www.horseillustrated.com/
enough time to rehabilitate are common-ottb-injuries. HI
less likely to affect the future
soundness than is an actual Based in Lexington, Ky., SARAH COLEMAN has a soft spot for
tear of the ligament. chestnuts with chrome, including her off-track Thoroughbred,
Properly rehabbed Chisholm, whom she is teaching to be a hunter.
and brought back to
condition, horses
with desmitis are
often able to jump
small jumps.
BONE CHIPS
Osteochondral
fragments (also called “bone
chips”) in retired racehorses are
exactly what they sound like: frag-
ments of bone that have broken off
in a horse’s joint. The majority of chips
Cooper sees involve the knee and fetlock.
Chips can vary in size and position;
their location can impact movement and
cause pain and lameness. Chips that
are “floating” can affect the surround-
ing anatomical structures (by shredding
them). Chips that are not floating are often a
non-issue and have little to no impact on the
horse’s anticipated athletic ability.
Presentation: From inflammation without
lameness (if the chip is not involved with
other structures) to pain and lameness (if the
chip is harming other structures).
Treatment: Chips that are in an articulat-
ing joint and causing damage will need to be
YULIA SHE/SHUTTERSTOCK
surgically removed. A lameness exam should be

performed on a horse to determine if a fragment
is bothering him. If the horse is demonstrating
lameness in a limb with a chip, the joint is often
blocked and the horse’s comfort level reassessed.
vet adventures
Crooked Bites and

magic lights
Even while trying to lay low at her daughter’s show,
a vet is accosted with strange inquiries.
BY COURTNEY S. DIEHL, DVM
was standing near the arena gate with my Morgan’s favorite blue sports drink. I explained
I daughter, Morgan, who was waiting her turn to
show Kevin, our American Saddlebred gelding
that I was not working today and that I wasn’t
handing out prescription drugs for horses that
(although he was regularly accused of being an weren’t my patients and told the woman to
Arabian cross). I’d been hopeful that my large call Monday for an appointment.
hat and sunglasses would conceal my identity, Fun fact: This type of owner almost never
but my flamboyant horse was a dead giveaway, calls to schedule an actual appointment with
in case anyone was actually fooled by my outfit. the vet, but you better believe they have the
It is the law of all things veterinarian that lay-tooth-floater and the internet-certified
should vets appear in public, someone will hit us “back-popper” on speed dial.
up for free advice, launch into a long saga about I was muttering to myself when the
a sick or lame horse, or try to get us to look at a loudspeaker blared, and my blue-lipped
horse or a dog, so we always try to lay low. Unfor- daughter tapped my arm anxiously.
tunately, with Kevin around, that was not possible.
MAKING AN ESCAPE
AND SO IT BEGINS “Mom, we have to go! That was my number!”
A horse had been excused from the arena, and I noticed Morgan’s blue mouth and quickly
the owner poked at him and announced that mimed wiping it off, which she did on the
he was probably “out” in his hips. Her trainer inside of her show coat. We headed toward
pointed at me, and Morgan sighed in frustra- the gate, water bottle tucked under my arm.
tion as the woman walked over to us. She was Morgan trotted confidently into the arena, and
used to people approaching me, but it was the I had just started videoing when the woman’s
third time today, and it was wearing on her. loud voice boomed into my ear again.
“If you could just look inside my horse’s “So if you could just look at his teeth real quick
mouth real quick?” said the woman. “We think then I’ll know if he needs floated and then we
he might have some sharp points, or he might can schedule everything on Monday. I’ve got two
need his hips put back in. The chiro from Yuma other horses here that need checked, too. Berty
was out last week but didn’t get to my horse, is a little thin, but he gets two cups of senior
and he knows treatments that vets don’t learn grain twice a day, and the chiro has him on a
about. Also my friend’s horse had ulcers, so mineral supplement. Dixie has sciatica, and the
could I get a few tubes of Gastrogard from you?” chiro usually fixes her right up, but it could also
She thumped Kevin’s neck. “I had an be her teeth. She’s an old barrel horse, but she’s
Arabian-cross once.” a decent jumper, and the chiro said the sciatica
Morgan glared. was from running barrels, but as long as we
“Mom, can you double-check my girth? And didn’t run her anymore and just stuck to English,
I’m thirsty—can I have my water bottle, please?” she’d be fine. But Chicken Little really seems like
I sighed, tightened the girth, and handed he has something going on, and my thought is
over the water bottle, which was filled with teeth or hips, but you’re the vet, so …”
SKUMER/SHUTTERSTOCK
I was focused on filming and didn’t respond. Morgan was enthusiastic.

Kevin knocked a rail down but completed the “Mom, today we could jump almost any-
course, and Morgan was beaming when they thing! It’s really helping Kevin!”
exited the ring. I gave her The Stare that mothers everywhere
We walked Kevin back to the trailer and the have perfected for when their kids are overdo-
woman followed, still talking. ing it, but the owner was studying her battered
“Course Berty used to knock rails down but iPhone 8 glumly and hadn’t noticed. Morgan
then the dentist did a special neurological- and I untacked Kevin and sponged him down,
something float, and he’s never done it since, and when I looked up, the woman was gone.
and your horse looks like he needs that, too. When I’d snort-laughed for the fourth time
You should call my dentist, most vets don’t in a row, Morgan looked at me.
know about it …” “Mama, does the light really work?”
I sat next to her.
ELECTROLYTE BIOACTIVATION “The reason Kevin is doing better is because
I winked at my daughter. Then, turning my of the hard work you’ve put in! And I haven’t
back to the woman, I poured some bright blue put Gatorade on his foot and waved my phone
Gatorade into my hand and applied it to Kevin’s at it before today, I promise.”
right hoof wall, then opened an app on my “Did you do that because the lady was
phone that turned my screen red, and slowly bothering us?”
moved it back and forth over Kevin’s wet foot. “Yes, but I made it up and it seems to have
The woman’s mouth hung open. backfired, because now you think that Gato-
“What are you doing to him?!” rade and the iPhone 11 and 12 heals horses.”
“Oh, I would never recommend this to a cli- My daughter smiled.
ent,” I said sternly. “It’s complete nonsense, and “Well, I guess we’ll find out next time I ride,
it hasn’t been researched or proven to do a thing. won’t we?” HI
Some say that the iPhone 11 and 12 may have a
Delta Nu red light spectrum that could improve COURTNEY S. DIEHL, DVM, has been an equine veterinarian
performance, mental function and wellness. I’ve since 2000. She is the author of Horse Vet: Chronicles of a
been trying it out on my own horses. The blue Mobile Veterinarian and Stories of Eric the Fox, first-place
Gatorade on the hoof supposedly catalyzes the winner of the CIPA EVVY award. She is currently working on her
purple spectrum electrolyte bioactivation.” third book.

your horse life
In Perpetuity
A tragedy helps unite a horse owner with her heart horse’s dam.
BY AIMEE ROBINSON
ammy galloped dramatically after our horse Wicklow was an off-track Thoroughbred
S trailer as we hauled Wicklow to an eventing
horse trial without him. He ran alongside us
(OTTB) mare adopted from Horse and Hound
Rescue Foundation in Guthrie, Okla. She was
until the end of his field, calling for her, and my dear friend and adventure partner. We
her to him. It was such a sweet and dramatic camped overnight alongside Drew and Sammy,
display of their love for one another. rode trails at state parks, entered eventing
My now-husband, Drew, and I planned a horse trials and the fall hunter pace—an event
sort of “couple’s trip” for our honeymoon to where we all galloped at a fast clip.
horse-lovers’ paradise, Mackinac Island, Mich. She often paused and looked back, waiting
Everything was booked, including Wicklow and for her shorter-legged Appy friend to catch up
Sammy’s boarding on the island. to us. She had the kindest heart.
Just months before our wedding, we lost Following her death, I couldn’t sleep, fran-
Wicklow overnight, with no trace of knowing tically researching causes of sudden death
what happened to her. Losing her was beyond in horses, to little avail. I then navigated my
devastating; she was my heart horse. I was dedicated wee-hour search for any horses of
inconsolable. her lineage, and then her dam. Drew found
Wicklow as a foal In Perpetuity

with In Perpetuity
ASHLEY MASOPUST

a phone number for Wicklow’s breeder and
previous owner, and two hours after phoning
Mark Swartz, he returned my call.
SHARING THE LOVE

Delighted to connect, Mark recalled Wicklow as a
foal and her earliest moments in training. While
her heart didn’t beat for racing, I assured him he
bred an outstanding jumper. His trip down Mem-
ory Lane surfaced wonderful memories with
his beloved wife, JJ. With a shared love for their
horses, they had named Wicklow’s half-sister—a
competitive racehorse—JJ’s Forever.
We talked for more than an hour about
Wicklow. I sent him pictures of her jumping
and my engagement pictures with her and
Sammy. He forwarded me pictures of her
in training and one nursing her dam, In
Perpetuity. And then, hesitantly, I asked him if
he knew what happened to her dam.
In Perpetuity was now 14, recently retired
from breeding just outside of Lexington, Ky.
She was being cared for by her original owner,
Mark’s longtime best friend, Mark Corrado.
ASHLEY MASOPUST
Soon after my call with Mark S., they both

phoned me on a three-way call to tell me all Aimee’s engagement photo with Wicklow and Sammy
about the great race mare, In Perpetuity.
Once in training with well-known Thoroughbred
trainer Kiaran McLaughlin—who simultaneously to a stunning farm, and Mark C. said there was
had horses in training for Sheikh Mohammed truly no other alternative.
bin Rashid Al Maktoum—In Perpetuity broke her “My dad and I raced her, and Mark and I each
maiden at Aqueduct in her second start. She was had some of her foals. It was time for her retire-
unfortunately clipped by a loose 2-year-old early ment. She’d been a nice mare and a really nice
in her career, which led to her retirement from racehorse. [But] even if she had been a lousy
racing and the beginning of her broodmare career. racehorse, I would’ve done the same thing. If
ever given the choice of not being able to eat or
AN AMAZING GESTURE not being able to care for a horse and give them
They detailed more about her, and at 9 p.m. a nice retirement, there would be no choice.”
that night, they offered us the most special Mark C. continues to contribute to several
gift a broken-hearted horse girl could have Thoroughbred retirement organizations per year.
received. Explaining how much it meant as “To me, that’s the responsibility of owning a
owners to know their filly Wicklow went to racehorse. I 100 percent believe that and can’t
such a loving home, they gifted us her beauti- imagine anything else.”
ful dam, In Perpetuity. So now in our barn is the incredible mare
Early the next morning, without delay, we who brought sweet Wicklow into our lives.
set off from Oklahoma to Kentucky to bring Moving gradually toward her third career, I
her home. tacked her up for that first ride, letting her see
Upon reaching the barn, we were led to her and smell my saddle and pad. She inhaled so
stall. I was taken aback as there in front of deeply, ears forward, I really believe she under-
us stood a beautiful bay mare with Wicklow’s stood that Wicklow was once there with us.
mirror-image kind brown eyes and a white sock The marvel of her being here, and my level of
on the left hind. She greeted us like old friends gratitude toward Mark C. and Mark S., is infinite. HI
as I buried my head into her neck in tears.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon to see AIMEE ROBINSON is an equestrian and writer based in
Thoroughbreds retiring from their racing or Oklahoma. She covers all things horse health and happiness
breeding careers to a grim fate. In Perpetuity from their farm, which is home to OTTBs, Appaloosas, a
was fortunate to be retired in excellent health Mustang and several rescue dogs.

riding destination
Camargue
White Horses of the
JESSICA MORTON

Riding Camargue horses
in France showcases a
landscape unlike any other.
BY JESSICA MORTON
he Camargue Natural Park stretches

T over a triangular area of almost 580
square miles in the South of France;
especially for horse enthusiasts, this is
a magical location to visit.
Nowhere in Europe is there a place
like the Rhône River delta. More than
1,500 of the 4,700 species of flowering
plants identified in France are found
here. Formidable black bulls and grace-
ful horses graze the rugged plains,
alongside over 300 types of birds.
Camargue horses have come to
symbolize the wild spirit of the region.
Believed to be descendants of prehis-
toric equines that lived in France during
the Paleolithic period 17,000 years ago,
the white horses of the Camargue are
one of the oldest breeds in the world.
Exposed to torrid heat and insects in
the summer and the bitter cold of the
notorious mistral wind in the winter,
these tough little horses mirror the
extremes of the local climate and
are best known as the companion of
French cattle herders who uphold the
region’s wild-west reputation.
ARRIVING ON THE RANCH

Spread across the soggy grasslands are
a plethora of ranches set up for vaca-
tioners and the raising of horses and
cattle. Riding a horse is almost a rite of
passage for visitors, and there are signs
everywhere advertising trails for novices,
children, and experienced riders alike.
Manade St. George is off the beaten
track. In this out-of-the-way corner of
France, the flat terrain and wide hori-
zons stretch as far as the eye can see.
To arrive at the farm, I need to drive
down a long, straight road for miles.
When I finally get there, it is raining
heavily, and a tall woman in an ankle-
length oilskin coat opens the gate for
me. The staff are tacking up a string of
CATHARINA VAN DELDEN/SHUTTERSTOCK
Even though gray horses. Robin, the guide, greets me with naively thinking that the rain would keep them
the Camargue his strong handshake. at bay. The French gentleman riding behind me
region has a I am given a helmet and introduced to chuckles, “I will ride beside you; I think that
reputation as my horse for the day—Icarus, a 10-year-old way they will prefer to bite you over me.”
a rugged, wild Camargue gelding. We ride through the marshes at a smart
place, it is easy pace—a lot of canters and some trotting. Icarus
to see that THE RIDE is jittery due to a group of horses that have
it is actually We depart the farm and ride single-file along- tagged along with our group. His walk is fast,
a fragile side fields of fierce-looking black bulls and misty and he likes to be near the front.
environment. lagoons. The stillness of the marshlands is dis- On arrival at the Little Rhône river, our guide
turbed only by our soft hoofprints in the soil and enthusiastically explains that we are taking
the occasional comment in French from the guide. the horses on a boat to the other side.
Even though the Camargue region has a rep- He isn’t kidding.
utation as a rugged, wild place, it’s easy to see We dismount and lead our horses onto the
that it is actually a fragile environment. When back of a cable ferry called the Bac du Sauvage,
the rain stops, yellow irises are reflected like a or Sauvage Ferry, which takes us across to the
mirage in the now limpid waters. Petit Camargue, the oldest nature reserve in
Situated on the crossroads of Africa, Europe the region. It’s the first time I’ve ever caught a
and the Mediterranean, the Camargue repre- ferry with a horse.
sents an important stopover for the hundreds On the other side of the river, we mount up
of thousands of migrating birds that pass and quietly ride off. Soon we are on a private
through each year. Reed beds provide home estate that the guides have exclusive access
to a wide range of avian varieties, and the to. We ride along the windswept farmland,
seasonal flooding of these fields of bullrushes passing lagoons and salt pans with herds of
creates feeding grounds for birds. The still Camargue horses grazing quietly.
waters also attract a less welcome visitor: the
mosquito. I was told to visit in the early spring GALLOPING ON THE WATER
to avoid them, but that didn’t really work. Cranes and other birds are omnipresent. We can-
Mosquitoes swarm us as we ride, and I regret ter alongside a verdant green lagoon. Robin indi-
not spraying myself down with repellent, cates for the horses to slow. As our horses drop
to a walk, he motions toward the canal, where tracks and pine forests for a picnic lunch and
we see two beavers casually swimming past. much needed rest, complete with wine, cheese
Robin moves ahead of the group to open and meats.
a sand-blasted wooden gate. We take turns We take a different route home using a net-
passing through, and just like that, we find work of country lanes and the occasional piece
ourselves on the open beach. of road. The sky clears and the brilliant sun-
The light around us is instantly transformed into shine of May warms our backs while casting a
a pearly glow. Our vicinity to the sea and the low sheen on the green fields around us.
horizons creates a mirror-like effect on the water. As the light fades, frogs and crickets start
The sun is out, and it beats down on us relent- their evening chorus, and we return to the
lessly. The water is teeming with life. Local plants stable.
like sea lavender and glasswort flourish here.
We splash through the shallow water, A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER
surrounded by ethereal white herons and Horseback is the ideal way to get around the
squawking pink flamingos. Since this is private Camargue Natural Park. While guided tours are
land, we can enjoy a faster pace without the also offered for people with absolutely no rid-
risk of meeting any tourists. ing experience, my eight-hour adventure was
Icarus is a star, smoothly changing gears as suitable for fit riders (I walked like John Wayne
he accelerates from canter to gallop. We pound for three days afterwards), and this type of ride
down the beach with salt water in our eyes and will lead you into wilder landscapes that are
joy in our hearts. totally untouched by human infrastructure.
Arriving at a point where the lagoons meet The wild west of France needs to be seen to
the sea, he eases back to a walk without any be believed. Riding and the Camargue really do
objection. It is one of the few occasions on go hand in hand. The region boasts incredible
the ride that he does not resist a slower pace. scenery, passionate people, food, wine, and so
Damp and badly bitten, but too exhilarated to much more, but it was the unique equestrian
mind, we walk the horses back through sandy culture that I found most fascinating. HI
Horsemanship
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somatic
HORSEMANSHIP
Use the traditional Chinese practice of body movement, breath and
meditation to experience body-mind rejuvination—with horses.
BY NATALIE DeFEE MENDIK
ur bodies are our temples, and horses lead us to QIGONG

O the altar.” ~ Beverley Kane, M.D.
What brings you that feeling of peace when
Whether you are taking time to quietly visit
with your horse, grooming or doing chores,
you are around horses? Is it the moment when getting ready to ride, or are even at a show,
you step into the barn and smell all that is taking a few moments to connect with your
equine? The gentle rocking motion as you ride horse and connect with yourself provides
down the trail through the forest? Listening powerful life-affirming balance. Kane shows us
to horses peacefully munching hay as the day simple qigong techniques anyone can enjoy.
draws to a close? There’s no doubt: Horses Similar to tai chi, qigong is a traditional Chi-
bring us into the moment, engage our senses, nese practice of body movement, breath, and
and fill us with a soft sense of well-being. meditation that brings emotional balance and
Beverley Kane, M.D., Adjunct Clinical mental centeredness, in addition to physical
Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford benefits, including improved strength, balance,
University, shares experiences from her coordination, and circulation. By practicing
LEFT: The “Equine-imity” stress-reduction course at together with our equine partners, the horse’s
horse’s dan tien Stanford Medical School. In Equine-imity, energy can invigorate us and can also soothe us,
energy center is Kane explores the intersection of horses and as well as strengthening our horse-human bond.
located under mindfulness through somatic horsemanship. “In conventional horsemanship, interaction
the saddle area, “Somatic means ‘of the body,’” explains Kane. with the horse is often very mechanical. That
and we share “Somatic horsemanship is body-mind rejuvena- mechanical approach may also come with a
our dan tien tion through physical interaction with horses.” relationship based on social dominance and
powers when This interaction with (and sometimes on) an almost utilitarian approach to the horse,”
sitting astride horses may include yoga, taiji, qigong, medita- notes Kane. “Somatic horsemanship focuses
or doing the dan tion, dance, and equine-assisted body-oriented on breath and energy, and also a philosophy of
tien press or psychotherapies. Don’t worry if these terms compassion based on partnership. Horses are
hug. are new to you—all you need to take part is an extremely sensitive. They notice our moods, our
open mind. body language, our intentions, our consistency.”
RIGHT: The “Qi is your vital life-force energy,” adds Kane,
dan tien describing how qi, together with breath, body
energy center movement, and your horse’s energy, nurture
represents the mind-body connection.
power and Kane walks us through some of qigong’s
agency, “Eight Brocades” practice, adapted for horses:
meaning your 1. Center Yourself: First become grounded in
integrity, your own body in the ‘bubbling springs’ energy
bravery, center in your feet and the dan tien energy center
conviction, in your belly—this energy center is used in tai chi
character and practice. To do this, close your eyes, and become
determination. aware of your breath, your feelings, and your body.
NATALIE MENDIK

RUBEN KLEIMAN
2. Experience Peace: From there, come into
a wu ji standing pose by stretching your spine
up to the sky. Keep your shoulders down and
relaxed and your arms heavy and long. Your
knees stay softly bent and your feet connected to
the earth through your ‘bubbling springs’ center.
3. Breathe: In this wu ji posture, breathe deep
into your dan tien energy center with a soft, full
belly; this means expanding your belly as you
inhale deeply.
4. Harmonize: In the same stance, raise your
arms up to the sky and imagine bringing the
sun down and holding it in front of you. In your
mind’s eye, see it as a ball of energy that you draw
open as you inhale and press closed as you exhale
in this pose, which harmonizes opposites. Then
allow your arms to come down to your sides.
5. Join Energy Centers: Your horse’s dan tien
energy center is in his barrel. Standing facing
your horse’s side, place both of your hands at
shoulder height on your horse’s barrel in a dan
tien press. Feel your feet sink softly into the
earth and breathe from your energy center in
your belly. Feel your horse breathe into your
hands.
6. Come Together: From there, turn facing Raise your arms up to the sky and imagine bringing the sun
forward and allow your arm to drape over down and holding it in front of you. In your mind’s eye, see it
your horse’s back. Draw close, melding your as a ball of energy that you draw open as you inhale and press
body with your horse’s side in a dan tien hug. closed as you exhale in this pose, which harmonizes opposites.
Standing facing
your horse’s
side, place
both hands at
shoulder height
on your horse’s
barrel in a dan
tien press.
Feel your feet
sink softly into
the earth and
breathe from
your energy
BEVERLEY KANE, M.D.
center in your
belly. Feel your
horse breathe
into your hands.

Face forward and allow your arm to drape over your horse’s
back. Draw close, melding your body with your horse’s side in
a dan tien hug. Become grounded with energy from the balls of
your feet. Breathe from your belly center and feel your horse’s
breath along your body. Enjoy the bond with your horse.
RUBEN KLEIMAN
Become grounded with energy from the balls beats a minute with an anxious person with a
of your feet. Breathe from your belly center and heartbeat of 100 or more beats a minute, that
feel your horse’s breath along your body. Enjoy person’s heartrate comes down.”
the bond with your horse. Looking forward, Kane suggests as we segue
7. Take it Further: If you’re comfortable and out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we look to
your horse is safe, take your breath and move- horses’ interactions within the herd as we
ment mounted. think about moving back into our own world of
social interactions. HI
STRESS AND RELAXATION
“There’s not a magical formula,” remarks Kane. NATALIE DeFEE MENDIK, M.A., is an award-winning journalist
“There’s a lot of room for free-form interpre- specializing in equine media. Visit her online at www.
tive motions. When you do deep breathing mendikmedia.com, where you can also purchase Equestrian
with synchronized muscle movement, the Yoga: Yoga With, On, and For Your Horse, a 2021 recipient of
effect on relaxation is profound.” the Living Now Book Awards’ Silver Medal.
Kane describes a 2019 Harvard University
and Vanderbilt University study investigating
the effect of stressful tasks on the parasympa-
thetic nervous system, in which the data sug-
ABOUT THE EXPERT
gest the combination of muscle activity and Learn more about Beverley Kane, M.D.’s work at horsensei.com.
deep breathing found in moving meditation Join her Facebook group by searching “Somatic Horsemanship
facilitates significant stress reduction. Association International” on Facebook.com, and watch her guided
Allow the horse to share with you his equestrian qigong practice by searching “Equine-imity” on You-
groundedness. Tube.com and clicking Beverley Kane’s video.
“There’s a phenomenon called entrainment, Her book, Equine-imity, expands on these concepts and can
in which one system comes into synchronicity be found at www.equine-imity.com, where readers can get a free
with another system,” explains Kane. “When download of the TOC and intro.
you put a horse with a resting heartrate of 40
western training
Meaningful
GROUNDWORK
Make sure your groundwork has meaning and
learn to notice your horse’s every move.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY HEIDI NYLAND MELOCCO
etting to know how your horse feels by moves, you need to learn to notice if he moves
G doing groundwork before a ride is a great
idea. However, the groundwork you do has to
willingly with his head down or if he’s tense
and resisting.”
have meaning. Make sure that your ground- Here, Brashear helps you learn how to make
work doesn’t become routine and allows time sure your horse is tuned in instead of using
for you to notice your horse’s reactions and groundwork to tire your horse out.
willingness. “Make sure your horse is with you mentally and
“Just going through the motions doesn’t physically before you get on to ride,” he says. “We
accomplish anything,” says natural horse- aren’t talking about longeing your horse for 30
manship trainer Mike Brashear. “Most trained minutes to tire him out. We are looking to make
horses that have done some groundwork can sure that your horse can move easily and that
go to the left, right, stop and back up. They he’s in a stable mental state to go work. And if
learn a pattern. Instead of just doing the he’s not, we want to work with him until he is.”
LEFT: Here,
the horse has
turned his head
but is tense and
high-headed.
He isn’t yet
rounded into
the circle at the
walk.
OPPOSITE
PAGE: The
horse picks
up a trot and
swings his hip
into the circle.
His head is
raised, showing
that he’s not
relaxing into
the turn. Mike
Brashear gently
taps the flag
on the horse’s
hindquarters to
help him learn
to push his hips
away and round
into the turn.
Brashear likes to work with his horse on the away. If your horse only moves his neck in the
ground before he gets on. To start, outfit your turn, use your flag to push his hindquarters away.
horse in a rope halter with a long 12- to 15-foot Once your horse will move to the right well,
rope leadline attached with a knot. You may it’s time to change direction. Change your
choose to use a stick with a flag to help you hands on the lead and move your flag to your
give your horse more direction. right hand. Your horse should cross over and
move to the left.
TURNING WITH PURPOSE
The task: Ask your horse to walk in a circle to
the right by holding the long leadline with both
hands. Place your flag in your left hand to drive
the horse to the right while simultaneously
raising your right hand to point in the direc-
tion you’d like the horse to move. If your horse
just turns to face you and stops, wave your flag
to cue him to keep moving.
“I’m not asking the horse to disengage his
hindquarters and stop and face me; I want
to see him move around me in a consistent,
round circle,” Brashear says.
Cue him forward in the circle by walking for-
ward toward his tailhead and waving your flag
as needed. You only want your horse to walk; if
he trots, slow him down by tugging gently on
the lead rope.
If your horse only moves his hindquarters Finally, the horse lowers his head and begins to arc his body into the turn in a more
away, use your flag to also move his shoulder relaxed frame.

ABOVE: Once Behaviors to notice: You don’t want your sure that your horse bends his neck and his
the horse horse to move lethargically. He should have hindquarters equally. You don’t want your
is relaxed, some movement and willingness to follow horse to only move his hindquarters or only
Brashear your directions in a timely fashion. move his head. Look for overall body flexion.
changes Watch your horse’s poll and jaw. Ideally, your “I look for the horse’s expression, as well as his
directions by horse will relax his poll and tuck his jaw down. neck position in relation to his body,” Brashear
switching the This shows that he’s moving in a relaxed says. “I want to work with my horse through his
flag and moving fashion. When a horse lowers his jaw, he can’t mind, down to his body and his feet.”
the rope to brace. Any time your horse lowers his poll and
point in the tucks his jaw, make sure that your body cues WALK WITH ME
new direction. are relaxed. The task: For this exercise, drop your flag
The horse You want your horse to round his body and and work with your horse’s halter and nose
moves forward, his topline in the direction of the circle. Make pressure. You want him to move forward and
relaxed in the
new direction,
and lowers his
head position.
Brashear praises the horse after he walks forward, willing to be with him. Notice the horse’s willing eye and lowered head position.

Brashear pushes gently at the
horse’s poll, asking the horse
to lower his head and move
away from pressure. Notice
the soft look in the horse’s eye
and his relaxed ear position,
showing he is willing and soft.
back on command. With your horse standing a relief and wants to work to get that release
still, stand in front of him (and slightly to the again. When you move slowly, you’ll teach your
side for safety). Hold the sides of your horse’s horse to give and help him soften and relax.
halter and ask him to move forward one step. Your horse’s willingness to give and release will
When he steps forward, release the pressure on transfer to your rein and leg aids when you ride.
the halter. “I just want to get along with my horse,”
To go back, gently push on your horse’s nose Brashear says. “Instead of getting my horse
where the halter’s noseband touches his face. in a sweated-up fit, I want him to do as I ask,
Push gently and release your pressure when he relax, and try.” HI
steps back willingly.
You can also push down gently on your HEIDI NYLAND MELOCCO (www.whole-picture.com) is a rid-
horse’s poll to ask him to drop his head and ing instructor, photographer, and writer based in Mead, Colo.
move away from the pressure. All of these
movements require your horse’s quick and
willing reaction.
Behaviors to notice: Make sure to notice
MEET THE TRAINER
your horse’s slightest try. Doing this simple Mike Brashear trains horses of all levels with
activity will help your horse learn that if he natural and traditional horsemanship tech-
does the right thing, you will praise him with a niques. He focuses on creating relationships
release of pressure. between horses and riders at clinics and
When you release the pressure, make sure during private training sessions. He and wife
that you move slowly instead of quickly remov- Laura live near Fort Lupton, Colo. Find his clinic
ing all pressure, which can spook your horse. schedule at www.brashearhorsemanship.com.
When you take off pressure, the horse feels
english training
TOO TENSE

Try these two simple
exercises to help relax
your horse’s body and
get him using it correctly.
BY SAMANTHA TORCISE
PHOTOS BY ALLYSON WEILAND

hoppy gait, gaping jaw, and bulging muscles rather than overloading one muscle group.
C on the underside of the neck: As riders and
handlers, we all recognize the signs of tension
When the weight of the load is shared, it
becomes less stressful to manage, but the
in our horses, but not everyone understands horse needs help understanding how to
how to help their horses soften. achieve this.
Due to sheer size, it’s obvious that you can’t Once the whole body is warm and working
force your horse to do anything. But what you together, the tense area will follow suit. It’s
can do is help him become more aware of his important to have a peaceful frame of mind
body and understand how to better engage when riding these exercises, remembering that
the muscles that you would like him to build, your horse wants to understand the exercise
which include the muscles of the topline as and do the right thing. Whether your horse
well as the abdominals. You can also engage carries tension in his back, neck, poll, or jaw,
The counter- your horse’s mind with an interesting task you will see and feel it melt away.
canter is rather than allowing him to focus on any
another worrying stimuli in his environment. THE ONION
beneficial The following exercises focus on connect- This is a great exercise incorporating concen-
exercise to ing your horse from back to front so that his tric circles (those that share the same center).
relieve tension. whole body is working together to move him, It can be ridden at the walk, trot, or canter, but

Here, Sam
encourages
Vinny to bend
from nose to
tail, flexing all
the way through
his body. She
then holds him
straight and
changes to the
opposite bend
to complete a
figure-8.
be aware that it’s hard work for your horse and there is actually quite a bit of work involved for
shouldn’t be done for long periods of time. the horse! The circle portions of the eight, espe-
Start on a 20-meter circle. Now imagine the cially when ridden on a smaller scale, require
layers of an onion, evenly spaced and just the horse to activate a number of muscles.
inside of one another. Once you have com- When ridden properly, your inside leg gently
pleted one circle, it’s time to move inward to tells the horse to step out every stride, leading
the next layer. Continue this until you have him to lift and cross over with the inside hind
reached the smallest circle your horse is com- leg. This will cause him to engage his abdomi-
fortable with. I usually find it beneficial to drop nals and back, then soften through the ribcage.
to the sitting trot once I reach the center. When your horse is supple from withers to tail,
Whether you are riding a small circle or your it becomes much easier to open the inside rein
horse is advanced enough to be in a turn on and show him how to relax his neck down and
the haunches or pirouette, as soon as you feel flex gently in the direction of the circle.
him sit on his haunches and lift his front end You will need to use your outside leg and
for a few steps, start to retrace your steps back occasional half-halts on the outside rein to
out through the layers of the onion. remind your horse of the boundaries of the
Be sure to catch your horse with your outside circle and to encourage him to drive through
leg in case he starts to drift too far in response his outside hind leg. As your horse changes
to your inside leg that is asking him to move out. direction through the center, he must shift
A trot on a long rein after this exercise generally his weight to the center for a few strides and
yields some great stretching through the topline. change everything to the opposing side.
Once your horse understands the feeling of When ridden repeatedly, your horse will
pushing from behind and suppling through his begin to soften even more, anticipating the
ribcage, the counter-canter (cantering pur- change of direction and becoming fluid in his
posely on the wrong lead) is a great exercise to change of bend from nose to tail.
try. Success comes from your horse responding The key to relaxation is to warm up your
to your outside leg by shifting weight onto his horse with his body mechanics in mind and
inside hind to prevent a change of lead. without force or confrontation. Once this
Other productive exercises include shoul- is achieved, his flexibility will improve, the
der-fore (a shoulder-in ridden with less bend tension will melt away, and you will be well
angle through the spine to move the shoulders on your way to maximizing his potential as an
off the track) and leg-yield (moving forward athlete. HI
and sideways with a straight spine and slight
flexion at the poll). SAMANTHA TORCISE is the owner of Strong Current Stables in
Homestead, Fla. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian
FIGURE-8 Studies from Centenary University and is a USHJA Certified
Riders consider a simple figure-8 at the trot Instructor. Learn more about Torcise and her boarding and
to be a common and simple school figure, but training facility at www.strongcurrentstables.com.

horse care
Tackle
winter
Woolies
Use this six-step process to go from filthy to fabulous, even
when temperatures hit rock-bottom and winter hair is at its thickest.
BY DANIEL JOHNSON
inter is here, and that lovely horse of warm, so it’s important to stay on top of major
W yours—the one who looked gorgeous at
the summer shows—is now hiding in a wooly
mud stains and dirt year-round.
But what if it’s 25°F and bathing your horse
mammoth coat. But even if the two of you plan is out of the question? Here are a few ways
to lay low this winter, don’t assume that you’re you can keep your horse looking his best, even
off the hook for regular grooming. during the coldest months of the year.
Besides keeping your horse looking good
(or as good as fuzzy can look), regular winter 1. LOOSEN THE DIRT
grooming provides health benefits, too. A dirty Long coat or not, you can easily (well, sort of
coat isn’t as effective at keeping your horse easily) remove a great deal of the dust, dirt,
and dried mud stuck in your horse’s long coat.
◆ Start with a curry comb or grooming
Grooming gloves allow for a deep gloves. While a basic curry comb is a good tool
curry and can be used on the face any time of year for removing muddy debris and
and other sensitive areas. dust, elbow grease is essential in the winter for
removing dust and dirt from deep in your horse’s
coat. Grooming gloves are similar, but they allow
for a closer feel of your horse’s curved surfaces
and can also be used on the face and legs.
◆ Try a shedding blade. The same shedding
blade that comes in handy during your horse’s
spring shed-out also works well to etch off
those big dried mud stains.
2. REMOVE THE DIRT

But simply loosening the dust and dirt isn’t
enough; you need to remove it as well.
◆ Brush with a flicking motion. A stiff-bristled
COURTESY HANDSON GLOVES
dandy brush can be quite helpful for removing

most of the dust you shook loose with the curry-
comb. Use your wrists to flick away all that dust.
Softer body brushes can also be useful, and their
gentle touch is required around your horse’s legs.
DANIEL JOHNSON
COURTESY ANDIS COMPANY
ELIZABETH MOYER
After loosening dirt with currying, use your stiff brush in a
flicking motion to remove it before using your softer brushes
to tackle dust. Wipe brushes on a damp rag to prevent static.
◆ Try a vacuum. If he’s cooperative with the idea

(and it may take some careful training to get him
there), using a horse-safe vacuum can be an excel-
lent—and dry!—way to remove more dirt than you
could probably achieve with brushing alone.
Some horse vacuums come with brush-like
attachments to help you safely whisk away
the dirt. This just might be your ideal winter
bathing replacement, especially if you plan to
attend a winter show, clinic, or other event.
GROOMING TIPS FOR 3. USE A SPOT STAIN REMOVER
THE WINTER RIDER During the summer, we often break out the hose
If you ride during the winter, you have another set of challenges to deal with. to deal with things like sweat stains and green
GROOM THE RIGHT SPOTS: Take extra care to remove any dried manure spots. If the temperatures are too cold for
debris or mud from your horse’s saddle, girth and bridle areas. This will that, you may still be able to perform some spot
help your horse avoid any uncomfortable chaffing. cleaning without getting your horse very wet.
COOL OUT PROPERLY: Because the insulating hairs of the win- ◆ Use a commercial product. Sometimes
ter coat prevent the heat from escaping effectively, expect to find called a “waterless bath” or “waterless shampoo,”
sweat marks under your horse’s girth and saddle pad even when the these products are (obviously) still moist, so you
thermometer dips below freezing. Be sure to put a cooler on your horse may have to avoid applying them on frigid winter
until he’s dry to prevent him from becoming chilled. days. But for mild winter days, these products
CONSIDER A BODY CLIP: If you ride heavily in any climate through- can be a great way to clean your horse without
out the winter, your horse will sweat a lot and probably take too long soaking his entire coat, and they’re often quite
to dry without hours of work. In this situation, a partial body clip (like a effective at removing unsightly stains.
trace or blanket clip) is the way to go. Partial clips leave some natural
coat for the cold weather and remove the areas that sweat most. Keep
these tips in mind for body clipping:
◆ Make sure to use clippers that are specifically designed for body
clipping, not small face and leg trimmers.
◆ Have one or two freshly sharpened or brand-new sets of blades
ready to go.
◆ Start with a squeaky-clean horse: bathe with shampoo in a heated
wash rack, or bucket bathe with heated water. To bucket bathe, scrub
COURTESY FARNAM
back and forth against hair grain with well wrung-out towels, switching
out frequently for clean ones. Make sure your horse is completely dry
before clipping, and have winter blankets ready for stabling and turnout.
For detailed steps to a great body clip, visit www.horseillustrated.
com/10-steps-to-successfully-body-clipping-your-horse. Use a spot treatment or waterless shampoo to handle
particularly stubborn stains on cold days.

If your horse summer, but there are a couple of extra
needs shoes preventive measures you can take:
in winter, have ◆ Try a mud knot for tails. Depending on
your farrier your climate, mud can be a significant issue
put snow or in the winter, but you can help protect your
rim pads on horse’s tail by using a simple mud knot. It will
to prevent icy protect his tail and save on grooming time.
“high heels” ◆ Keep his mane shorter. If it’s too cold to
from forming. use mane detangler, try to keep your horse’s
mane combed frequently. You can make the
job even easier by shortening his mane during
the winter to limit the amount of mud and
debris that it entangles.
5. THINK ABOUT HOOVES

Locations that experience prolonged tempera-
tures below freezing may develop hard, frozen
ground. This can be very difficult on your horse.
◆ Talk to your farrier. If the frozen ground is
HOLLY CACCAMISE
uneven and painful for your horse to walk on,
your farrier may recommend making temporary
adjustments, such as shoeing a normally barefoot
horse or adding borium for traction to steel shoes.
This technique may be more effective on ◆ Watch out for snowballs. When bringing
clipped horses or those with naturally short your horse into the stable after turnout, be sure
winter coats, rather than super-fuzzy animals. to remove any packed snow that has developed
After application, dry the spot with a soft towel. on his soles; this can be quite uncomfortable for
◆ Try a home solution. For small stains, you him to walk on. This happens particularly with
might be able to clean them with a small towel shod horses—look into having your farrier add
dipped in rubbing alcohol, but you don’t want snow pads if this is a frequent problem.
to overdo this method as it can dry out the
horse’s coat. 6. BE A WEIGHT WATCHER
Keep in mind that a thick winter coat can
4. MAINTAIN MANES AND TAILS make it much more challenging to estimate
Regular mane and tail grooming regimens your horse’s body condition.
apply in the winter just the same as the ◆ Use your hands to “see.” Use your regular
grooming sessions to examine your horse’s
body weight by using your hands to feel for
WINTER COAT LENGTH areas around his hips or ribs that might not
have enough body fat coverage.
It’s easy to think that cold temperatures cause your horse to grow Not only will an underweight horse suffer
a winter coat, but that’s not actually true. If it were, your horse more in cold temperatures, but it can also be
wouldn’t start to grow a winter coat until winter had already begun— difficult to increase his weight when he’s using
and by then, it’s too late. extra calories just to stay warm. It’s better to
Instead, the number of daylight hours control your horse’s coat produc- catch winter weight loss early.
tion. As soon as the days begin to shorten, your horse’s body produces Just because your horse is a little woolier this
extra amounts of the hormone melatonin, and that triggers coat growth. time of year doesn’t mean you should forego
By the time winter has really set in, he has a nice fluffy coat all prepared. regular grooming sessions and health checks. A
The reverse happens in the spring to shed out the coat. This little bit of routine work can go a long way toward
process also governs how much coat the horse puts on; northern keeping him looking good. Before you know it,
locations experience shorter winter days than southern locations, so he’ll be shedding out that winter coat—and you’ll
northern horses generally grow longer coats. Amazing! be covered in it instead! HI
Of course, every horse is an individual, and certain breeds may
inherently put on woolier coats than others (we’re looking at you, DANIEL JOHNSON is a freelance writer and professional
ponies and draft horses), but the overall process depends on photographer. He is the author of several books, including How
daylight levels, not temperature. to Raise Horses: Everything You Need to Know. Find his work at
www.foxhillphoto.com.

AND IS.CO M
horse health
i n g
e e
S
INSIDE
Huge advances in medical imaging help us see inside the horse
so vets can diagnose and treat formerly mysterious injuries.
BY ANNA SOCHOCKY
S
eeing the full picture of a horse’s body
from the inside began not with a hoof,
but with a woman’s hand. The acci-
dental discovery of the radiograph
in 1895 by the German physicist Wil-
helm Conrad Röntgen transformed
the human medical landscape. Still another
century passed before advancements in equine
diagnostic imaging revolutionized veterinary
medicine.
Accurate, safe, and comprehensive imaging,
including computed tomography (CT), mag-
netic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear scintig-
COURTESY UC DAVIS SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
raphy (bone scan), and the emerging positron

emission tomography (PET) scan may redefine
horse health today, but it has only accelerated
at a rapid rate during the past 25 years.
X-RAYS AND ULTRASOUND

Early radiographs (X-rays), while groundbreaking
for both human and equine medicine, rendered
complications. The analog film required
wet processing and often lacked sufficient
image detail and quality. Delays between The first radiograph of a horse’s hoof, taken in 1895, ignited
image development and delivery to medical a revolution in equine medicine.

professionals impeded swift diagnoses. However, “Their introduction allows us to make much more The positron
with the advent of portable digital machines, specific diagnoses than we could previously and emission
equine practitioners can now capture high- understand different diseases more thoroughly.” tomography
quality images of bone at a horse’s stall rather The difference between the traditional X-ray (PET) scan
than in a veterinary clinic. and a CT scanner lies in the type of image. developed
Later, ultrasound technology came onto the A CT scanner examines slices of bone and at U.C. Davis
scene, employing high-frequency sound waves soft-tissue structures on multiple planes from provides a
to produce high-resolution, two-dimensional multiple angles and is beneficial for diagnos- deeper look
images of tendons and ligaments. With the ing cases of lameness and sinus, dental, and into molecular
ultrasound, veterinarians can assess soft- neurological issues. changes of
tissue injuries, colic, pregnancy, and suspicious Traditional CT scans performed on a fully an injury and
masses, such as abscesses and tumors. anesthetized and recumbent horse presented may be used
Advanced speed and the accuracy of high- its share of risks. The standing CT scans lower in conjunction
resolution, two-dimensional images improve legs and images the head and neck. Because with structural
physical exams. the horse only requires mild sedation, fewer imaging, like an
complications and threats to the horse and the MRI.
CT AND MRI clinician occur.
Equine diagnostic imaging rocketed to the next Sarah Puchalski, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, head
chapter with the introduction of CT and MRI in of Diagnostic Imaging at Palm Beach Equine
the 1990s, according to Katherine Garrett, DVM, Clinic in Wellington, Fla., cautions horse own-
Dipl. ACVS, director of diagnostic imaging at Rood ers to understand how different types of image
and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. qualities vary between scanners.
“The most significant change in equine diag- “There is a difference in image quality for
nostic imaging is the widespread adoption of CT scanners, and what can and cannot be
cross-sectional imaging modalities,” she says. scanned,” she says. “CT is used for dentition in
COURTESY ROOD AND RIDDLE EQUINE HOSPITAL
Rood and the skull and fracture evaluation. Soft tissue BONE SCANS AND PET SCANS
Riddle Equine detail isn’t as good as the MRI, but the bone Nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan) employs
Hospital detail is superior.” radioactive isotopes, which, when injected,
surgeon Scott Soft-tissue injuries present a puzzle, espe- emit radioactive gamma rays. A special camera
Hopper, DVM, cially in cases of lameness. MRI, first per- documents two-dimensional images of skel-
M.S., Dipl. formed on horses in the late 1990s, benefitted etal anatomy, showing areas with increased
ACVS, and from early clinical use but shot to the top metabolic activity.
diagnostic of imaging modalities in the past five years. Reactive sites light up as “hot spots” to
imaging Today, MRI is considered the gold standard of identify sources of lameness or other injuries.
veterinarian diagnostic imaging for soft tissue and ortho- Evaluating a tissue’s physiology or what is
Katherine pedic injuries by using magnetic fields and occurring inside the tissue distinguishes the
Garrett, DVM, radiofrequency pulses to generate images. bone scan from other methods.
Dipl. ACVS, Puchalski notes that the particular benefit Scintigraphy, according to Puchalski, allows
collaborate of the MRI rests in diagnosing the source of a clinician not only to identify sites that may
on an equine lameness. not be clinically evident but provides an oppor-
patient and the “For example, inside the hoof capsule, you tunity to use disease-modifying agents earlier.
CT scan results. cannot evaluate tendons and ligaments,” she “Hock arthritis shows up on scintigraphy
says. “MRI opened the door for a whole range early,” she says. “Scintigraphy also allows us
of new injury diagnoses allowing specific target to evaluate the neck, back and pelvis. A higher
therapies.” Garrett concurs. degree of radioactivity in an area means more
“With the MRI, we obtain detailed informa- active bone turnover, inflammation or injury.”
tion about an entire region,” she explains. “Deep Mathieu Spriet, DVM, M.S., Dipl. ACVR, Dipl.
digital flexor tendon tears, navicular bone ECVDI, Dipl. ACVR-EDI, associate professor
inflammation, bone bruising, and coffin joint of Diagnostic Imaging at the University of
arthritis have different treatments and progno- California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine,
ses. We can diagnose and treat each more spe- recalls the trajectory of equine imaging during
cifically and hopefully have better outcomes.” his lifetime.
By using a
standing equine
MRI, Palm
Beach Equine
Clinic accesses
images of soft
tissues across
anatomic
planes and
from various
angles while
minimizing the
risk of injury to
the horse.
PHOTO BY JUMP MEDIA
“When I was in graduate school in France, scanner imaged over 100 anesthetized horses
the only imaging modalities we had were X-ray with lameness issues.
and ultrasound,” he recalls. “In the last 25 Anesthesia carries its own level of risk to
years, we’ve had digital radiographs, CT and both the horse and the owner’s pocketbook.
MRI. I’m excited to contribute another piece by Four years after introducing the first scanner,
bringing the PET to the table.” a standing PET for a mildly sedated horse
PET scans add a new chapter to nuclear advanced this up-and-coming technology. With
medicine imaging. A radioactive tracer injected a standing PET, a clinician positions the horse’s
in the horse shows activity in the bones and hoof into an open doughnut-shaped ring
soft tissues at a molecular level by detecting
“hot spots” that illuminate injury, functional
change, or inflammation on images.
The defining concept of the PET scan is the
distinction between functional versus struc-
tural imaging.
“With most imaging, you are looking at the
size and shape of structures,” says Spriet.
“When the bone looks abnormal, it’s some-
times difficult to know if it’s abnormal because
something is happening right now or if there is
ERIN GILMORE PHOTOGRAPHY
an old injury that is not currently active.”

To perform the first equine PET scan in 2015,
Spriet and his research team partnered with an
engineering team from Maryland-based Brain
Biosciences, a company specializing in state-
of-the-art molecular brain imaging devices. A Nuclear scintigraphy has become an invaluable tool for detecting areas of concern
clinical program employing a modified human in bone or soft tissue for the Palm Beach Equine Clinic veterinary staff.

The standing
PET scanner
can identify
potential
areas of future
breakdown,
and with the
doughnut-
shaped
apparatus, the
ring can image
the limb from
carpus to hoof.

before closing the apparatus around the leg. “We’ve been hoping there would be an
The ring’s detectors capture images from the advancement in technology to allow standing
hoof, but it can open automatically if the horse CT imaging, especially for a horse’s head and
moves. neck,” he says. “Head imaging for sinus, teeth,
The radioactive isotope is injected 30-60 min- or other tumors is tricky. With the neck, we
utes prior to bringing the horse in to the room. have an ultrasound and X-ray. Still, the abil-
In less than half an hour, a PET scan can image ity to have 3D imaging and some sectional
both feet and fetlocks. With an MRI scan, 45 imaging and transverse imaging to learn about
minutes per foot or fetlock is necessary. what different pathologies mean and what
their clinical relevance is would be amazing.”
A GAME-CHANGING FUTURE Each year, seeing the full picture of a horse’s
Kelly Tisher, DVM, a Colorado-based veterinar- anatomy to diagnose injury and disease
ian and clinic partner at the Littleton Equine matures. Century-old curiosity ignited a medi-
Medical Center, envisions future technology to cal revolution, and today, veterinary researchers
scan a horse’s total circumference. According are casting light on more than a horse’s hoof. HI
to Tisher, several companies are actively work-
ing to create and improve standing technology, ANNA SOCHOCKY is a writer, instructor and rider based in
including a robotic CT machine. Santa Fe, N.M. Visit her online at www.equi-libris.com.

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MODERN
Pentathlon
Find out more about the sport that made headlines
during the Olympics—for all the wrong reasons.
I
BY AMY HEMPE
n the late afternoon, the Colorado barn ing, fencing, swimming, running and shooting.
usually only emits sounds of horses eating Since 2008, the events all occur in one day.
early dinners and nickering happily to one That makes the sport more palatable to casual
another. However, on this particular after- viewers, but it becomes exhausting, if not
noon, the clanks of épées (dueling swords) outright physically punishing, for the athletes
hitting and slicing one another punctuate the compared to the earlier formats where modern
calm. Women in full fencing gear—including pentathletes had four to five days to compete
masks and lamés (electronic protective vests)— in all of their events.
square off against each other up down the aisle, Still, many athletes thrived with the change
sandwiched between horses in stalls on one side during the 2008 London Olympic Games. Joel
and tack trunks and saddles on the other. Bouzou, the former French modern pentathlon
While it could be the set of a new James Olympian and president of the World Olympians
Bond film or something equally exciting and Association summarized: “We are convinced
glamorous, these women are both riders and that they are the complete athlete of the games.”
fencers who use this time and place to practice Existing as an Olympic event since 1912,
for modern pentathlon. the sport has its roots in the military. The
Avery Niemann and Heidi Hendrick, five events represent skills that an exemplary
two of the women fencing in the aisle, are cavalry soldier was expected to maintain,
competitors and founding members of Peak particularly if captured behind enemy lines.
Pentathlon, a non-profit organization based in While it may seem like a quaint notion that
the Denver area whose mission is to “recruit, honors 19th century military ideals, it’s impor-
develop, and produce modern pentathlon tant to remember that the United States is a
athletes to compete at the highest level of powerhouse in each of these sports as events
international competition.” separated from one another. The many gold,
“The United States produces excellent silver, and bronze medals won by U.S. athletes
athletes,” Niemann says. “But we are not at in each of these events at the last Olympics
the level of the Europeans yet in modern shows the passion and commitment to achieve
pentathlon. Very few people even know that at the highest level of competition exists in the
modern pentathlon is a thing.” U.S. Yet as a combined sport, the U.S. is behind.
“As a country, we excel at all of these disci-
WHAT IS IT? plines, but unlike the Europeans, we encour-
Indeed, even the New York Times has called the age kids to specialize and focus on one sport,”
sport “bizarre and grueling” in its efforts to Niemann says. “That is usually for scholarship
explain the day’s events at the 2012 London purposes, and kids sometimes even have to
Olympics. Modern pentathlon is a competition give up something they love to focus on the
that combines five sports: equestrian show jump- sport where they are most talented.”

COURTESY AVERY NIEMANN
Equestrian show jumping,

fencing, swimming, running and
shooting make up the sport of
modern pentathalon, which is
now held over a single day.
COURTESY PEAK PENTATHLON

Though the U.S. LOGISTICS
has won medals Niemann and Hendrick are both former NCAA
in fencing by Division I college swimmers (for the University
itself, they are of Denver and the University of Texas, respec-
behind other tively). After college, Hendrick moved into the
countries when world of triathlons (running, swimming, cycling)
it comes to before being lured to modern pentathlons upon
the grouping watching the 2016 Rio Olympics.
of sports Niemann’s path differed: She learned fenc-
in modern ing in college as a way to make up for missed
pentathalon. workouts. Drawing on the equestrian experi-
ence she had growing up with Morgans and
riding saddle seat, she grew interested in mod-
ern pentathlon. Both women have competed at
international modern pentathlon events and
even world championships.
The order of the events at U.S. competitions
currently depends on the venues being used.
Unlike Europe where many modern pentathlon
venues already exist, U.S. athletes begin their
day in one place, and then halfway through
must get in their cars and drive about 30 min-
utes to a different venue.
Typically, the U.S. will have Olympic-size
pools in cities and equestrian jumping venues

in more rural areas. They may start the day
with swimming, fencing, and then the laser-
run, an 800-meter run combined with shooting
laser guns (instead of real bullets). They end
with show jumping, which has the jumps at
The five events

represent
skills that an
exemplary
cavalry soldier
was expected
to maintain,
particularly
if captured
behind enemy
lines.

2'6" in the U.S. Internationally, however, jumps been ridden by a Russian pentathlete and had Competitions
are at 1 meter (3'3"), while Olympic modern amassed three refusals. At four refusals, the in the U.S.
pentathlon jumps are 1.2 meters (3'11"). horse is taken out of competition. However, with are over 2'6"
The horses are always unknown to the riders; only three, he was deemed fit to jump for Schleu. jumps, although
similar to Interscholastic Equestrian Associa- According to some reports, Schleu had a the Olympic
tion rules, the horse-and-rider combination are rocky warm up with Saint Boy, yet judges standard is
drawn at random. Riders have only 20 minutes determined that she had to continue with him. 3'11".
to warm up the horse before competing. In the ring, they cleared the first four jumps
This last bit is one of the more controver- but crashed through the fifth. Then came the
sial elements of modern pentathlon. Modeled refusals—and Schleu’s meltdown. Her coach
after the ideal soldier who can escape from hit Saint Boy while telling Schleu to whip him.
behind enemy lines on an unknown horse, Saint Boy and Schleu were ultimately
pentathletes must prove their mettle by riding disqualified, and the fallout was immediate.
an unfamiliar horse. At international compe- Pictures of the meltdown went viral. German
titions, horses are provided by the host nation Olympic dressage champion Isabell Werth
and often have been ridden by military mem- criticized both Schleu and modern pentathlon,
bers. At the highest levels, they are generally calling the lack of relationship between the
bomb-proof types that can adjust to new riders. horse and rider “a means to an end,” stating
However, as many of us saw during the recent that equestrians need to have a strong
Tokyo Olympics, that is not always the case. relationship with their horses.
Schleu’s coach ended up getting barred from
A HOT CONTROVERSY the Games and was ordered to undergo animal
German modern pentathlete Annika Schleu welfare training before another competition.
led the competition in Tokyo when she drew Schleu herself has since been cleared of any
the horse Saint Boy. Saint Boy had already cruelty charges.
four other sports we are focusing on in addi-
tion to riding. They definitely make the most of
what they have.”
Henry goes on to say that it takes years of
training to be able to jump at that height.
“The powers that be in modern pentathlon think
that jumping horses is easy and can be learned in
a matter of weeks,” says Henry. “That’s just not the
case.”
Unlike other countries where the national
federation will supply horses for competitions,
the U.S. relies on borrowed horses.
“We simply don’t have the horses available,”
Henry says. “Most owners don’t want to share
their horses with athletes who don’t have the
experience jumping at 1 meter [3'3" height]. So
the horses here are either provided by train-
ers or have to be purchased by the athletes
themselves.”
FUNDING CHALLENGES
From venues to horses, the entire endeavor is
pricey. This brings up the next issue currently
hovering over the U.S. modern pentathletes:
funding. All U.S. modern pentathletes are
self-funded, having to cover their own
travel, equipment, and training costs out of
COURTESY PEAK PENTATHLON /AVERY NIEMANN
pocket. Currently, the United States Olympic

Committee and the U.S. Modern Pentathlon
Committee are at odds over money, and it
doesn’t look as though any major funding is
headed toward U.S. Modern Pentathlon.
One of Peak Pentathlon’s goals is to raise
money to help with the financial burden of train-
ing. The U.S. Equestrian Trust recently granted
them $6,000 to help cover education and training
costs. While this is helpful, and Hendrick and
Modern “Saint Boy needed to be removed from com- Niemann hope to create a specific equestrian
pentathletes in petition after the Russian rider struggled with training course for modern pentathletes, they
the U.S. have to him,” Niemann says. “He was clearly not fit for acknowledge that they have an uphill climb.
either purchase competition. Annika is actually a very accom- Still, they both love their sport and their
their own horse plished rider, so it is upsetting that this is what community and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
to practice people might think modern pentathlon is.” “During the last competition at Nationals, I
on or borrow had my trainer’s voice in my head, and I had a
one from their FINDING THE HORSES perfect ride,” Hendrick says. “We’ve been work-
trainer. Back in the U.S., Peak Pentathlon equestrian ing through the pandemic, and we’re gaining
coach Micca Henry says the unfamiliar horse experience. I am learning in front of everybody.”
element is one of the biggest challenges facing Niemann loves the international camaraderie.
pentathletes in the U.S. “I fell in love with my horse in Peru dur-
“The biggest challenge the athletes have is ing the 2019 Pan American Games,” she says.
that they are not exposed to the international “There was a language barrier between the
standard of course, jump height, and horses horse’s handler and myself, but we had a good
at the national level,” she says. “We simply round. And when the handler gives your horse
don’t have the horses available. Their biggest pats at the end, it’s a huge honor.” HI
strength is the athletes’ work ethic. They put
their all into the time that they can spend with AMY HEMPE is a writer and teacher in Denver. When not riding
the horses. Most other equestrians don’t have her OTTB Lucky, she spends time hiking with her dogs.

presenting
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Horse Illustrated’s favorite breed
profiles for 2021 in this special
collector’s edition, including new
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Horse Illustrated - The magazine for people who are

passionate about horses.
RESCUE? ME?
The journey from forceful training tactics
to running a sanctuary for horses
needing physical and emotional
rehabilitation took a sudden realization.
BY DALE RUDIN
I
never thought in a million years I would open an
equine sanctuary in my mid-50s. I have been an
equine professional for over 35 years; in the begin-
ning, I was a traditional trainer who made horses
behave and perform by using force, intimidation,
and implements like nose chains, bits, draw reins, and
side reins to get the desired results. I chased horses in
the round pen until they became submissive and dealt
with unwanted behaviors swiftly and punishingly.
TURNING POINT
When I worked with horses that reared, bit, kicked out,
or were otherwise disobedient, it never occurred to me
that there was an underlying physical or emotional
cause for their behavior. I thought the horse was “being
a jerk.” I never considered that he was afraid, confused,
trying to protect himself, or having (what I now know
to be) an entirely reflexive reaction to distress.
Dale Rudin loves helping formerly

abused and traumatized horses
like Zena rediscover their joy.
CATHERINE SHAND/SHANDPHOTOGRAPHY
[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022| HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 55 ]

now, I know that I was actually doing them
harm. For a horse lover like me, that was and
still is a very difficult pill to swallow.
THE MORE YOU KNOW

That experience, and those that followed, have
given me a deeper level of sensitivity and empa-
thy for what horses experience and feel. As a
result, these horses have motivated me to become
a more well-rounded and educated horse person;
CATHERINE SHAND/SHANDPHOTOGRAPHY
I have spent decades learning how I could be a
better person for the horses in my life.
I have learned about equine emotional
systems, neurological responses, and physiol-
ogy. I see and understand the impact we have,
both good and bad, on the minds and bodies of
these highly sensitive and intelligent creatures.
It’s a sad reality that the cause of the suffering,
trauma, and abuse most horses suffer is for our
ABOVE: Rudin convenience—the result of making them “safe,
had no idea successful, or more valuable” to us.
such a calm This growing awareness inspired me to
and thoughtful learn all I can about compassionate care and
horse existed physically and emotionally beneficial training
beneath all techniques. This transition to welfare-centered
the fear and training has been a positive and life-changing
aggression experience for the horses I work with and
toward people their owners. It has transformed my life in
COURTESY DALE RUDIN
that Flora immeasurably wonderful ways as well.

showed when
she came to the THE NEXT STEP
sanctuary. I am frequently asked to work with horses
with severe behavior issues. Every creature has
BELOW: Halo One day I was working with a particular horse its limits. When the body and mind are under
had a history who was highly reactive. He was constantly tense pressure for more than brief periods of time,
of physical and high-headed. His eyes were wide and search- there will be emotional and physical fallout.
and emotional ing for “boogeymen.” He would spook, bolt, and run That can manifest as PTSD, general anxiety,
abuse that into me. I used my usual “knock it off or there will extreme reactivity, depression, soft-tissue
triggered be trouble” approach, but it didn’t work. The horse damage, systemic inflammation, chronic hoof
severe only became more upset and difficult to handle. problems—and more specifically, rearing, bit-
defensive and This was the first time that yanking, hitting, ing, kicking, refusing to cooperate, et cetera.
aggressive chasing, and backing a horse didn’t work for In some of these cases, restoring the body
behavior when me. It was confounding, but it was also a very and mind is a process that can take months or
she arrived at pivotal moment on my journey. I think this years. This can be a very difficult situation for
Rudin’s equine was the first time I recognized that a horse some owners to find themselves in: owning a
sanctuary. was acting out because he was truly afraid and horse that needs specialized training, care, and
not because he was an idiot or disrespectful. long-term rehabilitation.
I came up with a plan to give him a sense of Sometimes the right decision for the owner is
safety and show him how to relax. That change to let the horse go, a solution that comes with
in my approach and behavior transformed his serious consequences for the horse, such as being
behavior for the better immediately. shuffled from one owner to the next, none of
It was in that moment I realized I was teach- whom are equipped to handle his issues. There’s
ing horses to be more compliant or perform also a high probability the horse will suffer more
better but doing nothing to improve their qual- trauma and abuse, end up at an auction, or worse.
ity of life. I was making them fit into our world This isn’t a scenario I was comfortable with,
with very little consideration to the psycholog- so whenever it’s possible to do so, my life and
ical and physical consequences. Looking back business partner, Bruce, and I take in these
COURTESY DALE RUDIN
horses and others who need rehabilitation the severity of their problems, some of these Rudin has
and a safe place to live. We provide them with horses were considered candidates for euthana- enjoyed helping
enriching housing, balance their diet, and sia before they were surrendered to us. horses like
use reinforcement training and compassion- Restoring these horses and ensuring they Carson, once
ate communication to ease their worries and have an excellent quality of life for the rest of thought to
reduce their need to be aggressive or fearful. their days is the most rewarding thing I have be beyond
Our goal is to give each horse whatever support ever done, but I will always want to do more, hope, learn
he needs for his mind and body to heal. like eradicate equine abuse and trauma. I am to relax, gain
doing this by changing the conversation about confidence,
BECOMING A SANCTUARY horse-human relationships and teaching become eager
As the number of horses we took in climbed, everyone who is willing to listen how welfare- to connect, and
we decided we wanted to give more. We felt the based care and training techniques will benefit feel happy.
best way to do just that was to become a sanc- them and their horses.
tuary and file for non-profit status. In February We spread the word at our clinics, online
of 2021, we became a registered 501(c)(3) called classes, and free seminars on behavior, care, and
Pure Joy Horse Haven. It has given us an oppor- training that we offer at our monthly “Gathering
tunity that we couldn’t be more grateful for. at the Sanctuary” events. Everything I do is with
We get to help horses who were thought to hope that someday there will be no need for
be unsalvageable and beyond help, like Car- sanctuaries like ours; that all horses will receive
son (western-trained show horse: PTSD, panic the care and treatment they need, be cherished
attacks, explosive behavior), PJ (unknown for their own merits, and be fully and deeply
history: skin issues, painful/damaged feet, appreciated for the gifts they give us. HI
deliberately ran at us to spin around and kick
at our heads with both hind feet), Fox (barrel DALE RUDIN is a Certified Horsemanship Association certified
raced as a 2-year-old, washed out and taken to riding instructor, clinician, and certified equine nutritionist.
auction at four: SI and hip issues, compromised She is an advocate for equine welfare and offers positive evi-
hooves, biting), and Halo (ridden as a long dence-based training (www.PureJoyHorsemanship.com) at her
yearling, starved: lunged at us with ears pinned, farm, Lyric Valley Ranch in Tennessee, which is also the home of
bit, kicked, became overstimulated very quickly, Pure Joy Horse Haven (www.PureJoyHorseHaven.com), a horse
reared straight up when touched). Because of sanctuary and physical and emotional rehabilitation center.

SHELLEY PAULSON

Safe Landings
In the event that you can’t care for your horse throughout his
entire life, prepare him for a safe landing in his future journeys.
BY HOPE ELLIS-ASHBURN
T he decision to sell a horse can be a difficult one, part of which is making sure that your
horse reaches a safe landing spot. But there are steps you can take to make sure that
happens so you can rest easy knowing your horse is in responsible care.
TEACH ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Possessing a basic set of skills can create a greater likelihood that your horse will enjoy a
wonderful new home, even if his next stop isn’t his permanent one.
The Basic Behaviors Profile (www.therighthorse.org/basic-behaviors-profile), created
by The Right Horse Initiative, was developed with the idea that the key to a successful
placement for a horse in transition is matching the right horse to the right person. Because
it assesses such skills as catching, haltering, leading, and tying, it can be used by any horse
owner or potential horse owner as one of several tools in evaluating a prospective new horse.
“The Basic Behaviors Profile gives great confidence to the potential adopter or buyer of
the animal that the seller really knows and understands that horse,” says Emily Weiss,
Ph.D., vice president of ASPCA Equine Welfare. The ASPCA is the parent organization of The
Right Horse Initiative.
While not all-inclusive, the BBP covers the following skills:
◆ Can the horse be approached when loose in turnout?
◆ Is he calm when haltered?
◆ Does he lead, turn, stop, and back?
◆ Can he be led through a gate?
◆ Can he stand calmly tied?
◆ Does he move his hindquarters away from pressure of the hand?
◆ Does he stand calmly while his body is brushed or while his legs are sprayed with water?
◆ Does he allow all feet to be picked up and stand calmly while each foot is held?
◆ Does he stand calmly for: blanket/fly sheet, oral administration of fluid from a syringe
or tube, rectal temperature, fly spray?
◆ Does he calmly load and trailer?
When in place, these behaviors help to reduce risk during interactions between horses
and humans while on the ground. While the lack of a skill should not automatically dis-
qualify a horse from consideration, it can indicate an area in which a horse needs more
work. The profile is key, because within its framework it provides a clear definition of calm
exhibition of behaviors. To ensure a reasonable opportunity for success, it also specifies
ideal locations for where the assessment should be performed.
Jen Roytz is executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project, an industry partner of
The Right Horse Initiative. Roytz further expands on those simple skills.

Standing tied
and loading
calmly into
a trailer are
important basic
skills that most
horse buyers
and adopters
are looking for.
ELIZABETH MOYER
“By putting a basic foundation of skills on organization and the ability to show and
a horse, such as teaching him to stand at a participate in that organization’s programs
mounting block or in cross-ties, or to walk, are all part of the bigger picture. In the past,
trot, and canter without getting too quick or particularly for those horses with unknown
behind the leg, [you] will make a horse more backgrounds, registration wasn’t always
marketable and essentially more appealing to possible. But times are changing.
potential buyers or adopters,” says Roytz. “To The Right Horse Initiative industry partner,
me, it’s like an insurance policy for that horse. the Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc.
In addition, if the horse isn’t in regular work, (PtHA), now makes enjoying the benefits
that is an investment of time, skill, and money of horse registration available to all horses,
the potential buyer/adopter will have to invest regardless of background. Emily Wolf, corporate
in the horse beyond the purchase price.” partner and special events coordinator with the
PtHA, helps explain the program, also available
REGISTRATION FOR ALL on the association’s website.
Beyond skills, for some prospective buyers, an The organization maintains multiple
individual horse’s registration status may play registries, most notably the Color and the Solid
an important role when deciding whether to registries. Horses registered with the Color
purchase him. Feeling connected to a greater Registry must meet the association’s white
Allowing all
four feet to be
PATRICIA BARKER/SHUTTERSTOCK
easily picked up
and haltering
CCTM/SHUTTERSTOCK
and leading
calmly are
important basic
behaviors.

marking requirements, with underlying pink
skin in the qualifying zone requirement, but
do not have to be of documented parentage.
These horses may also hold dual registration
with an approved outcross breed. Certain
characteristics, however, such as those
associated with Appaloosas, are excluded
from registration in the Color Registry. But
non-characteristic Appaloosas with qualifying,
eligible white may be registered in the Color
Registry, according to Wolf.
Like the Color Registry, the Solid Registry
accepts horses without documented parent-
age. Horses registered in this division do not
meet the Color Registry requirements. Char-
acteristic Appaloosa horses and colored POAs
can also be registered here.
Almost any non-colored horse fits into the
Solid Registry, and the registration process for
both divisions is easy. Simply fill out the form
(www.pinto.org/index.php/en/association/
registration/solid-registry) and submit the
required paperwork and fees. While member-
ship is not required to register a horse with the
association, an additional fee is assessed to
non-members.
Registered horses and current members
can enjoy full privileges, including showing
and participation in the organization’s Select
Opportunities and Rewards (SOAR) program.
SOAR includes opportunities to earn prizes for
time spent riding, driving, or working in-hand
with your registered horse.
SHELLEY PAULSON
By necessity, other registries have stricter

requirements, but still work with owners in
support of registration. For example, Debbie
Fuentes, registrar and senior director of
Registry Services with the Arabian Horse KEEPING IN TOUCH Registration
Association (AHA), says that a key area of Beyond training and registration, there are with the
focus is keeping registration and transfer other steps you can take to ensure that your Pinto Horse
fees affordable to encourage current owners horse lands in the best possible situation. Association
to register their horses and new owners to ◆ Recordkeeping: Keeping updated records of America
transfer ownership. on vaccination, deworming, dental exams, allows you to
The AHA also works in partnership with hoof care, and other health issues can help earn prizes
owners to bring lapsed registration papers a potential buyer feel safe in the knowledge for time spent
current. Registration allows owners to join the you are being transparent and that the animal riding, and their
horse with his history, along with the ability has been well taken care of and is, therefore, a Solid Registry
to participate in shows and other incentive sound investment of their time and money. means even
programs, such as the AHA’s Frequent Rider ◆ Microchips: Another industry partner of non-patterned
Program. The Right Horse Initiative, Microchip ID Equine, horses can
Regardless of your chosen registry, deciding is a company that allows you to attach your participate.
to register a horse can also be an invaluable contact information to an individual horse.
way to keep track of his show record, This provides a safety net for a previous owner
especially when he competes in a breed to purchase a horse, should he end up in an
association’s recognized events. It’s a relatively auction-type situation that may lead to the
inexpensive option that improves a horse’s horse being purchased by a kill pen buyer. (For
overall marketability. more on microchipping, see “Chips Ahoy!” in
Plan to be
available to
your horse’s
new owner
to answer
questions
should any
training
problems arise.
ANNAELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK
the Nov./Dec. 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated). post-sale. Or you can ask the new owner to
However, it’s worth noting that if a buyer share pictures via email or social media so that
plans to compete with the horse at sanctioned you can keep track of his progress. While it can
shows, they should check with their discipline be rewarding to watch success stories unfold,
governing bodies to see what microchips are it can also provide a window of opportunity for
accepted so as to avoid inserting multiple chips. you to reach out should something go wrong.
◆ Minimum sale price: Weiss recommends “The option to buy that horse back, and then
doing your research and setting a price for the staying in touch, is imperative,” Weiss says.
animal that is above the current meat price, “When that horse sells five or six years down
therefore discouraging potential kill pen buy- the road, [the new owner] may not remem-
ers from considering the animal for purchase. ber there is a contract they were supposed to
While it’s important not to make the sale honor. Staying in touch is important from that
of a horse so difficult that a potential buyer perspective. Relationships are vital.”
chooses to pass on a horse and continue their One of the many benefits of adopting a horse
search, Weiss recommends these additional is the relationships built and support systems
approaches when feasible. established between the adoption organiza-
◆ Right of first refusal agreement: Some- tion and the adopter, which will ensure your
times even the best situations just don’t work adopted horse always has a safe place to land.
out. Having a formal right of first refusal agree- The same guardrails can also be applied when-
ment in place so that you can have the option ever a horse is sold.
to buy the horse back should he come up for By taking these steps, you can help ensure
sale under his new owner can help ensure that that you reap the satisfaction of watching your
he finds a safe landing. sales horse enjoy a good life beyond the one he
◆ Keeping track of your horse once he’s once enjoyed with you. HI
sold: One thing you can do is ensure your
continued availability to answer questions HOPE ELLIS-ASHBURN lives on a farm in southeast
should the horse develop a training problem, Tennessee. Her latest book is Kimbrook Arabians: How an
or even simply check in at regular intervals Unlikely Midwestern Couple Influenced an Ancient Breed.

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breed portrait
The Friesian

Far more than just a pretty face,
the Friesian excels in
multiple sports.
BY KRISTINA LOTZ
ne of the most recognized horse breeds

O in the world, the Friesian is known for its
luxurious pitch-black coat, feathered legs
and breathtaking action. Developed in the
Friesland province of the Netherlands around
the 16th century, the breed gradually found
its way through the world, becoming famous
in the process. Today, if a movie has horses in
it, nine times out of 10 there’s a Friesian. But
it’s not just their looks that make them great
Hollywood stars. The breed is intelligent,
athletic and willing to work—all things a
good star should be.
And it’s these qualities that enamor
enthusiasts, with ownership numbers
growing every year, according to the Friesian
Horse Association North America (FHANA).
Currently, there are 14,000 registered
Friesians in North America, with around 450
foals being registered annually. In addition,
the numbers continue to increase through
importation, with around 120 Friesians being
imported from the Netherlands annually.
FHANA works hard to show that the
Friesian is not just a pretty face, but
a complete athlete in all disciplines.
Recently, they updated their awards
program to include western dressage and
in-hand categories due to an increase
in FHANA members who compete in
these sports. They also developed a trail
category to reward members who get out
and do things with their Friesian non-
competitively; it has been very successful.
A PRESENCE IN THE RING

Nineteen-year-old Alanna Bent is the
proud partner of two FHANA-registered
ELLEN L. CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY
Friesian geldings.
“My first introduction to the Friesian
horse comes from my mother,” shares
Bent. “She had always had an interest in
the Friesian, and eventually she decided to
purchase one.”

RIA STEENBEEK /COURTESY STONECREEK FRIESIANS
Homebred and trained horses from Stonecreek Friesians at a Preliminary-
level combined driving event in Metamora, Mich. Pictured at the water
obstacle on the marathon course, driven by Gerben Steenbeek.
fact, it was her mother who purchased Bent’s

first gelding, Gerke Nillis von de G.V. (Gerke) in
2015 as an unstarted 5-year-old. Bent trained
him to go under saddle herself.
“Right from the start, he had an excellent work
ethic,” Bent shares. “He is extremely intelligent
and catches on to training extremely fast.”
Two years later, she purchased Ooude van G.V.
(Ooude), another unstarted 5-year-old Friesian.
“Ooude is an incredibly talented horse,”
Bent says. “He has always enjoyed the more
difficult movements and used to get quite
bored in the lower levels. Though it was
a tricky thing to balance when he was
young, it is an excellent quality of his as
he advances up the levels.”
Although a rider since she was little,
Bent has only been riding dressage for
four years. But in that time, she and her
geldings have achieved two Sport Predi-
cate awards, which require five scores at
60 percent or higher at Third Level.
LORI ANN THWING
“I didn’t start working on dressage with

Gerke until 2018,” Bent recalls. “Thinking back
In now, it is incredible how fast he caught on to
CAPTURED MOMENTS BY PEGGY HELIE/ COURTESY THE BENESTAR RANCH
ABOVE: Thanks
to their fairy
tale looks,
Friesians have
captured the
imagination of
film makers and
artists.
LEFT: Alanna
Bent feels it is
important to
showcase this
intelligent and
hard-working
breed in the
dressage ring,
especially
at the upper
JOSA COMSTOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
levels. (Shown
riding Ooude.)

Alanna Bent
and Gerke
enjoy jumping
in addition to
dressage.
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BRITT BENT
dressage, and in 2020 he earned his tant to me,” she explains. “There
Sport Predicate.” aren’t a lot of Friesians compet-
Bent also free-jumps Gerke using ing in dressage—and even fewer
just a neck rope with no saddle. in the highest levels. Because of
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medal in the same year, which training they can be very success-
happened to be only his second year ful in the competition ring.”
of showing. Bent acknowledges two key traits
“With Ooude, I have focused of Friesians are their intelligence
completely on dressage,” she says. and work ethic.
“He is a very talented horse and “In the end, the mind of the
seems to enjoy the upper-level horse will determine their success,”
work. I am currently schooling Prix she shares. “A horse can be very
St. George with him.” talented, but if they are not willing,
Her next goal is competing at the or do not have an aptitude for the
Prix St. George level and possibly dressage work, it can be very chal-
earning Ooude his Sport Elite Pred- lenging to train them. With Frie-
icate, which requires five scores at sians, they really care about their
60 percent or higher at the Prix St. work, and want to do well for their
George level or above. person.” HI
Both geldings get time out of the
arena on trails, as well. KRISTINA LOTZ is a freelance writer of
She wishes more Friesian owners all things animal related. Both she and
would join her in dressage. her husband ride trails and participate in
“Representing the Friesian mounted archery on their trusty steeds, Sir
horse in dressage is very impor- Gawain and Merida.

by Brandus 345 x Natajsa E.
2001 16.2hh KFPS/FHANA Stallion
CALL
thebenestarranch@gmail.com
806-673-1208
www.thebenestarranch.net
405-207-7715
Veteran Owned
THE G AITED HO RSE ASSO C IATIO NS
Wa lka lo o sa Ho rse Asso c ia tio n
The SMO O TH RIDE c ho ic e fo r p e o p le with
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CALL FOR INFORMATION
Bryan Blatt • Sheridan, MT • bblatt@endophytics.com • (406) 451-9311
photos © Cara Danielson Westwind Morgans
[ 70 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ] GALLERY

BREEDER ADVERTISING
CURLY HORSE FRIESIAN HORSE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE
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We screen to place our pups into responsible, GYPSY HORSE/
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www.majesticfriesians.com; lori@loribrockrealtor.com breed foundation ranching bloodline Morgan Horses.
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parting shot
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THE LATEST SMARTPHONE APPS FOR EQUESTRIANS, PG.

COVER PHOTO: KATYA DRUZ/WWW.ARND.NL; THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY SHELLEY PAULSON

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 1 ]

[ 2 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

Lux GripTEQ Riding Pants are designed

Four-way stretch fabric, modern fit/design,

Find out why Athletes Ride in Lux™ for yourself.

Learn more at zoetisus.com/horsepower or ask your veterinarian.

Editor in Chief Holly Caccamise

Publisher Rima Dorsey

HORSE ILLUSTRATED FAMILY OF BRANDS

Editor @HORSEILLUSTRATED Texas 75244 or send us an email at privacy@egmediamags.com.

[ 6 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

The sight of a horse-drawn carriage conjures up Instagram.com/HorseIllustrated

on driving horses oﬀer tips on how to get Pinterest.com/HorseIllusMag

[ 8 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

KIM MACMILLAN/MACMILLAN PHOTOGRAPHY

once she’s up, that’s what you have to ride. We work

[ 10 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

MOVIE PREMIERE: to the Mustang

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 11 ]

HORSE SIDE VET GUIDE

[ 12 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | OCTOBER 2019 ]

ESI HORSE TRAINING

EQUILAB EQUESTRIAN TRACKER

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 13 ]

surgically removed. A lameness exam should be

Crooked Bites and

I was focused on filming and didn’t respond. Morgan was enthusiastic.

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 17 ]

Wicklow as a foal In Perpetuity

[ 18 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

SHARING THE LOVE

Soon after my call with Mark S., they both

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 19 ]

[ 20 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

he Camargue Natural Park stretches

ARRIVING ON THE RANCH

All-inclusive packages at our

Full-day rides Square

Quality horses & mules.

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 23 ]

ur bodies are our temples, and horses lead us to QIGONG

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 25 ]

[ 26 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 29 ]

[ 30 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

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[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 33 ]

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[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 35 ]

2. REMOVE THE DIRT

dandy brush can be quite helpful for removing

◆ Try a vacuum. If he’s cooperative with the idea

[ 38 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

5. THINK ABOUT HOOVES

[ 40 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

raphy (bone scan), and the emerging positron

X-RAYS AND ULTRASOUND

[ 42 HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ]

an old injury that is not currently active.”

[ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | HORSEILLUSTRATED.COM 45 ]

COURTESY UC DAVIS SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE