It sounds like a dream arrangement: taking over an older, experienced grand-prix horse to ride in lower-level competitions, where he can soar over less-demanding fences. Showing one of these horses with mileage, however, means careful maintenance to keep him in top form without strain, since such mounts often have old injuries that could flare up if they are not cared for properly.

Philip Richter, a 41-year-old amateur rider, got the chance of a lifetime when he began riding the well-known grand-prix horse Glasgow, but their success came with meticulous attention to the animal’s welfare. In this article, Philip describes the transition, and along with Glasgow’s other caregivers, details the program they’ve followed to keep the horse healthy and happy.

Philip Richter will never forget the day in 1997 when show jumper Norman Dello Joio grabbed him for an urgent conversation behind one of the tents during the Festival of Champions competition at the US Equestrian Team headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey.

“Norman looked at me with a combination of awe, excitement and desperation, telling me how he had to get Jamaica Jackpot, this horse that was in Scotland,” Philip recalled.

“You need to talk to your mom and your dad. We’ve got to put a syndicate together,” Norman had insisted.

“He knew the horse was extraordinary when he sat on it,” Philip said.

The syndicate assembled in a hurry included Philip’s mother, Judy Richter, Norman’s longtime supporter and mentor who was wowed when she saw a tape of the horse; her sister, Carol Hofmann Thompson, and grand-prix rider Lisa Tarnopol, as well as friends Tony Weight, Danny Magill, Ira Kapp and David Weisman. The large number of investors was necessary because of the cost of the horse, renamed Glasgow after the city in the ­region where Norman found him.

It never crossed Philip’s mind that eight years later, in 2005, he would be the one riding the regal Dutch-bred chestnut gelding. After a successful career at the highest level of the sport (see “Who Is Glasgow?” at left), Norman decided it was time for Glasgow to stop jumping in grands prix, but that it wasn’t time for him to stop jumping entirely.

At 15, the horse “needed some aspirin and medication to feel his best,” said Norman. “To this day, he has all the heart in the world, and he’s a fantastic show horse. I thought with Judy Richter being such a knowledgeable horsewoman, she could give him the care he needed and let him show in a limited way and still have a fantastic life.

“My gut was if we just retired him and turned him out, he would fall apart pretty quickly physically. The horse really loves jumping and competing, so I thought this would be the best solution.”
So Norman told Philip he wanted him to ride the horse in the Amateur-Owner Jumpers, where the fences ranged up to 1.4 meters (4-foot-6) with 1.45-meter spreads, as opposed to the top height of 1.6 meters (5-foot-3) and width of 2 ­meters (more for water jumps and triple bars) in grand-prix championships.

The syndicate that owned Glasgow wanted what was best for him, and Norman noted he would get the finest care after Philip took over the reins.

The investors were well aware of Glasgow’s veterinary needs, although much of the cost of keeping and campaigning him had been covered by his considerable winnings.

“I think nobody would have felt good selling him to some random amateur to show who wouldn’t have known his particulars and gone the extra mile to make sure he got the best care,” said Philip.

Winning the Lottery … with Conditions
An accomplished Amateur-Owner Jumper competitor, Philip had a predictable first reaction to the idea of showing Glasgow: “I just won the lottery.”

But taking over a big-name horse has its downside. Everyone remembers the heyday of such an animal. It’s a lot to live up to.

After thinking about it, Philip was more reserved. “I was a little bit nervous,” he acknowledged.

Glasgow, now 20, definitely enjoyed quite a reputation. What if the horse didn’t perform well for Philip? It would be a blot on the name of an animal who was once one of the world’s best jumpers.

“As an amateur, I can get on and make a lot of mistakes,” Philip observed.

On the other hand, if they did well, it would be what everyone expected. After Philip and Glasgow finished their victory gallop in the prestigious Saturday Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic in Lake Placid, New York, last year, someone at ringside asked, “How can you not win on Glasgow?”

The comment smarted for a minute, but Philip conceded, “It’s a true statement, really. The horse could jump the High Amateurs with one leg tied up around his ear.”

That said, however, “Glasgow’s not an easy horse to ride. He sights in at jumps and is really aggressive to them. He’s a handful,” Philip said.

In addition, Philip faces the added challenge many amateurs do—limited riding time. As a partner and a managing director of Hollow Brook Associates LLC, a New York City-based registered investment adviser, he often just gets in the saddle at shows and does only a few of those a year. He concentrates on the most competitive fixtures, such as the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania, the Hampton Classic in New York and the Old Salem Farm Horse Show in New York.

The beginning of the relationship ­between Philip and Glasgow “was the crucial time. I think we got along really well from the start,” said Philip. One reason is that Philip is comfortable riding a hot horse like Glasgow; another is the horse was “incredibly well-broke and responsive.” And, as Judy pointed out, “Norman made it all work: Norman, [Norman’s son] Nick and sometimes [Norman’s assistant] Sean Crooks school the horse and get him ready. You don’t just take good care of him and walk in the ring at Lake Placid and win.”

But there was still a lot for Philip to figure out with the horse. “I’ve learned to let him go and let him tell me what he can and can’t do. It’s a matter of trusting him and leading him to the jumps, not telling him to go to the jumps,” he said.

Occasionally Philip has found that to be too much of a good thing. “One year at Lake Placid, the last line on the course was eight strides; then in the second round, a flying seven strides.” Or so it seemed.

“I gave him the reins and was clear. I wound up doing it in the six, not the seven. I landed and saw the distance.” Philip said. “You can get away with things on a horse like that, which you can’t get away with on a lesser horse. That’s well and good, but you have to be respectful.”

LIV GUDE

A cooler helps to slowly bring a horse's body temperature back to normal after a workout, keeps a clipped horse warm while being groomed and wicks moisture from a wet horse's coat while keeping him from catching a chill.

© Dusty Perin

A: When I use the term “cooler,” I’m generally referring to a sheet or blanket that wicks moisture from a wet horse’s coat and traps heat against his body so that he doesn’t catch a chill while he dries. Coolers are handy, for example, when your horse comes in from the pasture on a cold day, soaking wet from rain or snow. Also, as the name implies, they’re great at drying a sweaty horse as he cools off after a workout. This is especially helpful with unclipped horses in the wintertime, because their long coats get sweatier ­during rides and take much longer to dry afterward.

If your horse is clipped, tossing a cooler on after a ride will keep him warm while his body temperature returns slowly and comfortably to normal. (During exercise, a horse’s body produces enough heat to keep him comfortable, even in cold conditions. When he stops exercising, his temperature starts to drop again. With the added effects of cold air and possibly wind, he might feel like you would jumping out of a nice, hot bath and running outside naked and wet to get the newspaper.)

Although the terms “cooler” and “anti-sweat sheet” are sometimes used interchangeably, the latter usually refers to a sheet used primarily in the summertime that wicks moisture but provides very little warmth due to its knitted structure. These sheets are made from a variety of fabrics now, but the classic anti-sweat sheet, the Irish knit, is made of 100 percent cotton and has large, ventilating holes. An anti-sweat sheet helps to dry a horse on a warm day before you put him back in his stall or turn him out. Since horses are more likely to roll when they’re sweaty—and dirt and bedding stick to sweaty horses like magnets—anti-sweat sheets keep them a little cleaner.

Years ago, coolers were basically huge, woolen rectangles with a loop in the front that attached to the crown piece of the horse’s halter, a loop in the back through which you pulled his tail and either a few string closures or a metal clamp to pull the sides closed in front. These coolers shifted out of place easily and, because there was so much material between the poll and withers, they ­sometimes hung low enough to get stepped on, which could easily turn into a panic situation.

Coolers now come in a range of good-quality materials. Tried-and-true wool is still the warmest and most ­absorbent and durable fabric on the market. However, it’s generally more expensive than other fabrics—and it can’t be put in the dryer. Synthetic fabrics, such as fleece, have good wicking and insulating properties, are easier to wash and dry (without risking shrinkage) and are available in many different thicknesses and colors.

Rectangular ­coolers are still on the market, but I recommend buying one shaped to fit your horse, more like a regular stable blanket with buckles in the front and surcingles under the belly. Some coolers even include a fitted section that covers much of the neck, either as part of the cooler or as a removeable ­attachment.

If you’re on a budget and can only afford one cooler, choose a thickness suitable for the coldest days your region experiences. For example, if you live in an extremely cold climate, pick a heavy wool or thick fleece cooler. On less chilly days, you can modify how you use the cooler by folding it in halves or thirds and draping it over just the sweaty parts of your horse.

My rule of thumb is to use a cooler when the temperature is below about 60 degrees. This may vary somewhat depending on the weather conditions (if he’s outside) and on how wet your horse is. If it’s sunny and calm and in the upper 50s, and your horse is just barely damp, he may not need a cooler. This may not be the case for the same temperature in cloudy, drizzly conditions.

Here are some other tips and guidelines I follow when using a cooler:

1. Using a cooler during the grooming process can prevent your clipped horse from getting cold ­after you remove his blanket. (Again, ­imagine getting out of your warm, cozy bed to fetch the paper outside, naked!) It’s also handy to leave a cooler on over your tack as you begin the warm up at the walk.

2. After the exercise session, it’s sometimes necessary to put the cooler back on as you walk out your horse, so that the cooling off happens slowly. You can put it over his saddle if you’re still walking him, either mounted or unmounted. Otherwise, untack him completely before putting it on. I would rather put a cooler on a warm horse than wait for the cold air to cool him, which can cause chills.

3. Avoid panic situations: ­Unless your cooler has leg straps (most don’t), keep your horse tied while he’s wearing it. He can easily shift it out of place by rolling—or even just by moving around a lot—and trap or scare himself.

4. Leave the cooler on until your horse’s coat feels dry underneath. The cooler may be quite damp, but that means it did its job! (With some coolers, you may even see water droplets beading on the outside of the fabric.) Then remove it and blanket your horse as needed.

5. Layering. Placing a blanket over a cooler can trap moisture against your horse’s coat (because the blanket prevents wicked moisture from evaporating off the outside surface of the cooler), thus defeating the purpose of the cooler. However, if your horse is extremely wet and/or it’s an especially cold day, layering a heavier cooler over a thin, lightweight one can speed up the drying process. The heavy layer will keep your horse warm while the light layer soaks up the moisture. Be sure to check them frequently—I use a timer or alarm on my watch to remind me—and remove the bottom layer before it ­becomes saturated (so wet that you can wring water out of it). Then replace the heavy layer and leave it on until your horse’s coat is dry.

Liv Gude is the visionary behind the Professional Equine Grooms website (www.proequinegrooms.com), which she launched last summer after her Facebook page of the same name started to grow overnight. After many years of grooming full- and part-time for several Olympians, Liv saw the need to bring professional grooms of all disciplines together in a supportive, informative community and to acknowledge them as skilled individuals, deserving of all the rights and respect that other professionals earn. The website provides everything from grooming tips to job listings and blogs. It hosts weekly contests for the best tips, tricks and tools submitted by website guests. Prizes are generously donated from several companies that share Liv’s vision to put a spotlight on the grooming profession. Liv now works full time on www.proequinegrooms.com and enjoys her Grand Prix dressage horse, Miguel, and hunter, Comet. Both horses earn their keep by posing as models for the website.

This article originally appeared in the March 2012 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.

I don’t do lunch; I do lessons,” and “It’s not a job, it’s a life,” are a few of the phrases top hunter/jumper trainer Karen Healey uses to ­describe the profession she chose for herself when she left college to work for George Morris 40 years ago. She earned $50 a week and lived in a room over the barn during that time.

Little has changed about the best way to go about becoming a professional hunter/jumper trainer today: “Step number one is you’ve got to find somebody to apprentice with,” advises Karen, who attended three years of college before her apprenticeship with George. In addition to training Juniors and Amateurs to national titles in hunters, jumpers and equitation, the California-based veteran has mentored many former students into professional careers.

The positions Karen recommends to aspiring professionals may not be offered as “apprenticeships” per se, but any post with a good trainer can become a great education if taken with the right ­attitude. “Identify somebody who you have tremendous respect for, and throw yourself at their feet,” she urges. Karen’s time with George eventually earned her the position of barn manager, but well before that she made the most of every moment at his stable. “When the vets and farriers came to the barn, I followed them around and asked questions all the time.”

Karen’s contemporaries agree that working for a respected professional is the best preparation for stepping out on your own as a trainer. Realistic expectations of what the job entails are important. “You need to know that riding will likely be a very small part of it,” she stresses. “Be willing to do anything and everything. And don’t sit there waiting to be told what to do: Look for things to do.
“If you really, truly do that, you will find that most professionals really appreciate it and you will get opportunities to ride,” Karen continues.

Some seasoned professionals worry that today’s instant gratification society is taking its toll on aspiring equestrian professionals. “I see young professionals skipping a lot of steps,” says USEF R judge Susie Schoellkopf, director of SBS Farms in Buffalo, New York. “They want to walk into a riding job or open their own barn with just teaching and riding. It doesn’t work that way. You have to be willing to start from the bottom and work your way up.”

That’s just what her protégé Jennifer Alfano did, working first as a groom (for 1988 Olympic silver medalist Gem Twist), then honing her horsemanship in the hard work of a sales barn. When Jennifer ­arrived at SBS Farms, she was well versed in many aspects of horsemanship and, equally important, she was anxious to learn more. The ability to take criticism constructively is key in a young equestrian looking to make training careers of her passion for horses. “If you say to an apprentice, ‘You didn’t quite handle something well,’ too often the instant reaction is ‘I quit,’ rather than ‘How can I get better at that?’” Susie says.

Paths to Professionalism
Knowing you want to go pro early on is a big advantage. Courtney ­Calcagnini made that decision at age 12 and strategically plotted her Junior career to attain that goal. She started as a working student for Mike McCormick and Tracey Fenney at Four M Farm in 1997, when she was 13, then took on the same post for Colleen McQuay’s huge sales barn in Texas in 2000. When Courtney aged out of the Junior ranks, the position with Colleen became paid. She spent six years gaining experience and knowledge with Colleen’s supervision and encouragement, then formed her own barn, CSC Farm in Pilot Point, Texas, in 2007.

Courtney’s patient path to professionalism was driven by a simple mission: “Always put your best foot forward every day,” was and is her motto. Throughout her working student years, her determination and hard work ethic paid off. “I was a bit shy to do any ‘networking,’ but you stick out like a sore thumb if you are a hard worker.” That quality earned her Colleen’s attention in the first place, and continues to keep her in good stead with mentors, including veteran hunter professional Otis “Brownie” Brown and noted hunter judge Linda Andrisani, who are critical to a young professional’s success.

Thanks to a good reputation in the area and Colleen’s blessing, it didn’t take Courtney long to launch her business. Within about a month, she had 12 horses, just one of them owned by a client from Colleen’s sales-oriented business. “I never solicited one client,” Courtney says. “I got a few phone calls, and it grew from there.” Today, she maintains 15–18 horses, owned by seven or eight clients, which the 28-year-old trainer describes as “perfect for me.” The clients include the Reid family, for whom she found the Adult Hunter Curtain Call in early 2009. Courtney rode the horse to USEF Grand Champion Horse of the Year as a Regular Working Hunter that year. That “really put me on the map nationally,” she notes.

Brian Walker, also 28, took a different path after deciding on a training vocation. Under top equitation trainer Missy Clark’s tutelage, he concluded an elite Junior career by winning the ASPCA Maclay National Championship in 2001. Until then, Brian catch rode for several trainers, including show-jumper Todd Minikus, and that opened the door to working for him after he finished in the equitation division. Brian credits Todd with disabusing him of the notion that going pro would be easy. “You go from being a top ­Junior rider where everybody is helping you to mucking stalls,” Brian says. “Todd probably helped me the most in putting a bit of humility in me and letting me know I wasn’t going to be spoiled.” Brian also had a head start in that lesson because he grew up in a family of horse professionals in Canada.

After roughly a year riding mostly young horses for Todd, Brian accepted Olympic show jumper Peter Leone’s offer to work at his Lion Share Farms in Connecticut, where he taught lessons and schooled Juniors and Amateurs at home and at shows. Adding another dimension to his knowledge base and experience, Brian went to work for European show jumper Jan Tops in Holland. Brian’s ongoing friendship with Missy, who had purchased horses through Jan, opened this door that Brian considers a huge part of his horsemanship education.

Through long days at the barn, shows and sometimes 23 hours of driving the countryside in search of young horse prospects, Brian paid close attention during his immersion in the different world of European show jumping. “They are all geared toward competing and selling horses,” he explains. “We are so geared toward clients in the States.” Learning from Jan’s ability to identify excellent horses was an especially valuable chapter in his European education, Brian adds.

He returned to the States in 2006 to work for Eddie Horowitz, whose ­subsequent retirement led to Brian running his own business, Woodside Farm, for the next three years. In 2009, Brian accepted the head trainer post at Old ­Salem Farm, and in late 2010 he ­relocated to Wellington, Florida, to start up his business from scratch.

At last! The snow is off the ground, you have seen your first robin and the hardy perennials are just starting to show. You know what this means, right? This means it’s time to get your eventing freak on.

You have been looking at photos and old DVDs all winter, stalking the chat rooms and websites and spending way too much time looking at horse clips on YouTube. It was demoralizing for a while, when you became convinced that winter would never, not ever, be over. Boy, were you wrong, and thank goodness for that. Now it’s time to get ready for spring.

Tackle Paperwork First
You can’t event without your horse, and we will talk about him in a minute, but there are some things you have to take care of first. They won’t let you into the start box unless you have updated your memberships, so take care of that right away. The Internet has made it easy; go online and make sure all your membership details are correct and that you are signed up for another year. You probably belong to several organizations, beginning with the US Equestrian Federation and the US Eventing Association. Check all of them to make sure your memberships are current.

While you are at it, look into your horse’s “paperwork” as well. He needs to have accurate information on his ­record. If you have never tracked down his breeding, try to find that out and enter it now. If you have started competing at the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) levels, make sure his passport is up to date, that any new marks or blemishes are updated on the identification page and that his required vaccinations are current.

A Good Once-Over for Your Horse
While you are updating your horse’s shots, have your vet give him an exam with particular focus on any small conditions that need management. You need to be especially attentive about any past soft-tissue injuries and discuss ongoing treatment and prevention with your vet. Ask for a blood scan; there are several things the blood test can tell you. Red and white cell counts can be indicators of anemia or low-grade infection. Other scan results can alert you to possible dehydration or high worm infestation.

The horseman’s adage is “no foot, no horse,” so have your vet examine your horse’s feet as well to make sure he is shod correctly. If you have difficulty communicating with your farrier, ask your vet for a letter setting out any details that need to be corrected the next time your horse is shod and the overall aspects of his hoof care that will need continual supervision and correction. A good farrier will welcome a consultation with your vet. X-ray and other diagnostic tools can make your farrier’s job much more efficient. Your efforts to make sure your horse is as sound and fit as possible will pay off once you start to hit the road for the new season. (If your farrier is resistant to outside advice, think about finding one who is more open to veterinary input.)

And a Good Once-Over for Your Trailer
Considering the amount of time your horse will spend in your trailer, you owe it to him to make sure it is as road worthy as he is. I know enough about machinery to know that I am not very mechanical. Do what I do, and take your trailer to a reputable dealer to have a checkup.

Let me give you some buzzwords to use on the trailer guy, so he does not view you as a total pigeon: “wiring harness,” “repack bearings,” “brake pads,” “tire tread depth” and “floor integrity.” While you are at it, make your trailer part of the paperwork exercise you went through with the membership and other information for you and your horse. Check that your license plates are current. In addition, many states require inspection stickers, and you want to make sure you comply. Keep the trailer registration with the tow-vehicle registration, along with the applicable insurance papers.

With roots in the fabled Bertalan de Nemethy era of the U.S. Equestrian Team while operating in the techno-savvy present, Robert Ridland has a unique resume for his new job as the country's show jumping chef d'equipe/technical advisor.

He continues the unbroken team link from Bert, who put the U.S. on the post-World War II show jumping map in a big way. Bert was succeeded by Frank Chapot, with whom Robert rode on many teams -- including at the 1976 Olympics. Frank, in turn, was succeeded by George Morris, who holds the job through 2012.

Robert, who was selected this week to take over from George next year, has a different style from his legendary predecessor.

George, a bachelor Florida resident who turns 74 on Sunday, is a noted author who writes and gives clinics around the country when he is not coaching.

Robert, 61, lives in California with his family, wife, Hillary, and children McKenna, 19, and Peyton, 12. Involved in a broad spectrum of activities, Robert serves as president of the West Coast show management company Blenheim EquiSports; as well as a member of the U.S. Equestrian Federation Board of Directors and the FEI Jumping Committee. An international course designer who also has been a World Cup finals technical delegate, the Yale University graduate has run the Las Vegas World Cup finals and is co-manager of the Washington International Horse Show.

He plans to use the same approach in his new job as he does with EquiSports, where he has a crew that has worked together closely for years.

"I believe it's a team effort; I'm not going solo on this. I'm not going to be the king," said Robert.

"I'll hopefully be steering the ship, but there's a big difference. While on the one hand, I believe in very detailed planning, I don't believe in micromanagement," he continued, underscoring the importance of the roles played by the show jumping high performance and athletes committees.

He plans to continue his association with Blenheim, where he notes his role is "not hands-on, day-to-day."

Robert, who obviously has been busy on a number of fronts, deliberated for months before filing his application for the job on the last possible day. The first thing he told the screening committee was that his priority is his family, which he said is excited and very supportive of him taking the job.

He's coming on board at a difficult time for the sport. The U.S. finished 10th in the 2010 World Equestrian Games and was relegated from the FEI Nations' Cup League (formerly the Super League) last year. There has been a lot of soul-searching in the show jumping ranks, with forums around the country to discuss possible remedies for the discipline's malaise.

"I believe we're in a very perilous position in the sport because it has not fundamentally changed from the way it's been forever, and that's a very Euro-centered sport," Robert observed.

As a counterpoint to the current problems, he noted the U.S. has won the last two Olympic gold medals.

Robert Ridland, the new U.S. show jumping chef d’equipe, with John Roche, the FEI’s director of jumping and stewarding.

Photo © Nancy Jaffer

Even so, he said, "We have a situation where it is felt that in order to really compete, you have to be in Europe. In order for us to be and remain competitive for the next 20 years, we have to truly level the playing field so the perception, and to some degree the reality, is not there that you have to go to Europe in order to compete at the highest level.

"Because otherwise, we will not be bringing up a generation of young riders and strengthening a group of owners who will constantly be hit over the head by this unspoken thought that if you don't play in Europe, it doesn't work; you're not up to snuff."

He wonders why owners would want to get into the sport when, "The first thing you tell them when they invest in a horse is, `By the way, the horse has to go 5,000 miles away to do such and such.'"

But he was quick to add, "That doesn't mean we should never show in Europe."

Robert appreciates Europe, having ridden on every U.S. team that went abroad during the 1970s, but he feels "we need to strengthen the sport in North America."

He added, "I feel it is something the coach of the U.S. team should have a voice in and be active in. It's something I've always done, even back in the '70s, when I was the equestrian delegate to the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Athletes Advisory Council. I've always believed that working in the structure of the sport is important; its part of the give-back. One person cannot do it all, that's for sure. But that one person should not be silent. I do not intend to be silent."

The United States will be represented by the following four riders who have each been entered on two horses:

Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) on Abigail Wexner's Cortes 'C' and Simon
Cortes 'C' is a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding
Simon is a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Margie Engle (Wellington, Fla.) on Gladewinds, Griese, Garber, and Hidden Creek Farm's Indigo and Elm Rock Partners, LLC's Royce
Indigo is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding
Royce is an 8-year-old Oldenburg stallion

Mario Deslauriers (New York, N.Y.) on Jane Clark's Cella and Urico
Cella is a 10-year-old Belgian mare
Urico is an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Lauren Hough (Wellington, Fla.) on Robin Parsky's Blue Angel and Laura and Meredith Mateo's Quick Study
Blue Angel is a 10-year-old Anglo-European mare
Quick Study is a 13-year-old French Warmblood gelding

George Morris will serve as the Chef d'Equipe.

For those who cannot be in attendance the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm will be broadcast live on USEFNetwork.com presented by Smartpak. For video, photos and more visit; http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2012CSIOWellington

February 21, 2012—The United States Federation's Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of Robert Ridland as the next  U.S. Show Jumping Chef d'Équipe/ Technical Advisor pending the successful negotiation of a contract. This position will become available in 2013 when George Morris retires after six years of service. Ridland was recommended to the Executive Committee by the Show Jumping Eligible Athlete Committee and the Show Jumping High Performance Committee. Eric Straus chaired the Search Committee which guided this process.

Ridland of Irvine, California, has a vast scope of knowledge and experience. He represented the United States on two Olympic teams, he is a course designer, competition manager and has served on the FEI Jumping Committee and on the USEF Board of Directors. His company, Blenheim EquiSports, manages horse shows in California in addition to having run three Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas.

"This new concept of an open training session was very rewarding since it offered both young horse training and an opportunity for breeders to come together," said Hassler.

The majority of the participating combinations plan to compete in the designated young horse qualifying competitions in hopes of earning an invitation to the Markel/USEF National Dressage Young Horse Championships, August 24-26 2012 at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill.

"Overall, I'm very pleased with the quality of horses and riders," commented Hassler. "We had several riders who have participated in the program in past years, but we also had some new riders who we hope to see lots of this year. We also had several quality US-bred horses which is always exciting."

This training session was the first in a series of Markel/USEF Young Horse Training Sessions planned for 2012. The next session is scheduled for April 14-15, 2012 at Twinwood Equestrian Center outside of Houston, Texas.

In this month's "Trainer on Demand" feature, Tommy Garland shared with us his online training program "Tommy's Tips." One of his techniques is training with a giant ball. Review "Having A Ball" from the April 2010 issue here.

As a second-generation pro horseman and trainer, I've been exposed to horses with problems and special issues all my life. And if there's anything I've learned from my father, also a trainer named Tommy Garland, it's that any means of teaching a horse to overcome issues, no matter how outside-the-box it might seem, is better than forcing him—and always worth a try.

The worst that can happen is your at- tempt to teach the horse doesn’t work—and that’s simply a cue telling you to move on and try something else.

This is my intro to the subject of what you can teach a horse—any horse, but especially a timid, anxious, or spooky one—by using a large, air-filled ball as a deliberate training tool. Working with the ball has rider benefits, too. At first glance, this idea may seem “out there.” It has certainly produced some raised eyebrows and sideways glances from some, including fellow show-horse trainers, when I’ve demonstrated it.

To highlight the ball’s value, I’ll tell you how I used it as a problem-solver and confidence builder for a Half-Arabian mare, who was once so fearful she wouldn’t go from one end of my arena to the other without spooking. After going through my training-ball program, this mare, Jeweliette, changed so much that she won a reserve national champion performance title at last year’s U.S. Arabian and Half-Arabian National Show. I also presented a flag to her during a performance of the national anthem—something a fear-possessed horse wouldn’t tolerate.

Here’s how I had a ball, literally, helping this transformation take place.

Accidentally On Purpose
When Jeweliette was brought to me for training by her former owner Natalie Hunt of Ontario, Canada, she was 7 and had experienced minimal success as a show horse. It was easy to see why.

The mare had problems. She was nervous, "looky," mouthy with a bit, and when something upset her, her gaits tightened up until she moved like the cartoon character Pepe Le Pew—boing, boing, boing. Plus, with an Arabian sire and a Saddlebred dam, she was bred to be on the hotter side, and it showed.

The mare also had an obsessive fear of the large, sponsor-type banners that hang in my arena to simulate the ones horses will see at major shows. She wanted no part of those. By the time Jeweliette entered my program about two and a half years ago, I’d been employing a training ball for a couple of years. I’d become familiar with what it could do to desensitize a horse’s fear response. But originally, I’d gotten the idea by accident. I had a horse in training that was scared of a basketball-like ball that’d somehow found its way into in my arena. To get him over it, I began rolling and tossing it toward him, experimenting with his reactions. His fear soon turned to curiosity. Before long, he got into dealing with the ball—so much so that he pursued it, then bit at it, like a horse sometimes tries to bite at a steer

he’s following, and then he busted it! Now, I have balls specially made for horse-training purposes and offer them on my Web site, <b>tommygarland.com. Each ball is 40 inches in diameter with a thick bladder, handholds that allow you to pick it up and move it, and a tough cover that can stand up to the force of a horse. This is the kind of ball I brought into play to help Jeweliette with her issues.

Fear Vs. Control
A training ball is simple to work with. That's part of the beauty of it. Though its size, shape, and rolling action may startle a horse at first, the ball also activates a horse’s natural curiosity. As he explores its properties, the horse learns the ball won’t hurt him (basically, it can’t hurt him), and he loses his sensitivity to it.

The desensitization benefit can expand to other areas, too. That was the case with Jeweliette, as I’ll explain.

I introduced her to the ball from the ground, inside an enclosed arena-always safest for horse and handler alike, because a horse can blow up and spook the first time he encounters the ball. With Jeweliette in a halter and lead, and standing several feet away from her, I led her toward the ball and then rolled it away from her.

Some horses snort and jump sideways the first time they see this large, unfamiliar object move. Jeweliette just planted her feet, stretched out her neck, and looked. Pretty soon, her curiosity prompted her to walk up to the ball and reach toward it with her nose. As she sniffed it, she bumped into the ball with a knee (exactly what I wanted to happen), making it roll. The next time she approached it, the same thing happened—she picked up a leg, connected with the object, and caused it to move.

To a horse, this is an important piece of information. When he has the power to direct the movement of another something—horse, human, steer, dog, even a giant ball—he believes himself to be in control. That’s the opposite of being afraid.

Once a horse learns to make the ball roll by bending a knee, it’s amazing to see how he’ll eventually get into the whole idea of making it move, and then following it to make it move again. I’ve never had a horse that didn’t react this way when introduced to the ball. Jeweliette was no exception.

After the mare was comfortable with following and moving the ball, I stepped things up and rolled the ball toward her. The objective was for her to accept having the ball advance toward, touch, and bounce away from various points on her body. This was a bigger challenge for her, but another step toward helping her learn to be less reactive.

Efforts began last month to solicit and post free listings for horses available for placement through nonprofit rescue organizations on Equine.com, the industry’s largest website for buying and selling horses, trailers and farms. Bolstered by sponsorship by Tractor Supply Company, The Equine Network will leverage its connection with more than 1.5 million horse owners each month to promote A Home For Every Horse in its online and print outlets.

“Tractor Supply is in a unique position to positively impact the growing problem of unwanted horses and doing so fits perfectly with our values as a company and our own stewardship initiatives,” John Wendler, SVP of Marketing for Tractor Supply Company. “Our stores and our customers are passionate about all animals. The aid these rescue agencies receive through this partnership will greatly increase their abilities to care for and find homes for these animals.”

“We’re very pleased that Tractor Supply Company, the leading retail farm and ranch store brand in America, has chosen to partner with us in stepping up to help address a problem that concerns everyone across all horse breeds and disciplines,” said Tom Winsor, Equine Network General Manager. “Together, with support from industry leaders like TSC, we can work with the Unwanted Horse Coalition to improve the lives of America's unwanted horses and reduce the overall homeless horse population."