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Have You Tried: Western Dressage

jpreble — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:26:04 +0000

: Though traditionally viewed as an English discipline, dressage now has a Western version that’s practiced and performed in Western tack and attire.

The Association: The mission of the Western Dressage Association of America is to build an equine community that combines Western riding traditions with classical dressage. WDAA honors the horse, values and promotes the partnership between horse and rider, and celebrates the legacy of the American West.

The brainchild of Western trainers Eitan Beth-Halachmy and Jack Brainard, WDAA was founded in July 2010 through the vision of that pair as well as that of other well-known horsemen and horsewomen. WDAA currently has 600 members across the nation.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but just a year ago we had only 50 members,” says WDAA president Ellen DiBella. “We currently have seven state alliance partners, and there are 18 more in the forming process now.”

Riders: “It’s for everybody, really,” says DiBella. “We see new members who never want to compete, but want to learn Western dressage so that when they go trail riding, they have a more reliable horse. Or they compete in a different discipline, and know that dressage will make their horses more responsive and athletic for, say, barrel racing. Dressage works to improve anything else you do with your horse.”

The new discipline also gives Western riders who’ve been interested in the traditional sport of dressage—where horse and rider are judged individually and work their way gradually through well-defined levels—a way to try it out without changing gear.

“More than half the people in this country ride in a Western saddle,” DiBella observes. “Western dressage gives them a way to participate as they are.”

Horses: Any breed that can walk, trot, and canter is eligible to participate in the sport. According to the WDAA, this broad acceptance gives all horse owners “an incentive to enable their horses to benefit from the teaching of good training techniques.”

“Any horse will benefit from Western dressage because the focus is on building basic skills,” notes DiBella.

Tests: Currently there are six published tests—two that involve work at the walk/trot only, and four that include the walk, trot, and canter. Those tests were originally devised by the United States Equestrian Federation for Morgan horses. (The American Morgan Horse Association has sanctioned Western dressage for its members for the past several years.)

In 2013, WDAA will debut an entirely new set of rules and tests. The new tests will measure a horse and rider’s level of accomplishment based on the different levels of achievement; changes will enable gaited breeds to be accommodated as well.

Benefits: Riders learn correct horsemanship skills and horses become more responsive and athletic. “Because Western dressage is modeled after classical dressage, riders learn fundamentals that follow a perfect natural progression for the training of their horses,” says trainer Lynn Palm, four-time AQHA Superhorse rider and a longtime devotee of dressage. “The ultimate goal is to build a harmonious partnership between horse and rider, resulting in a willing, balanced horse that’s happy in his performance.”

Good to Try If: You like classes that involve patterns or challenges, such as Western horsemanship, Western riding, reining, or trail. “Also, if you’re seeking a really strong partnership with your horse—give it a try,” says DiBella.

Coaching Opportunities: WDAA is now involved with horseshow.com. “We use it as a way to coach riders,” DiBella explains. “Participants can upload videos to the site and have them critiqued by Western dressage coaches. It’s also a continuing education resource for coaches and riders.”

Learn More: info@westerndressageassociation.org; westerndressageassociation.org.

Bob Feist Nominated For Rodeo Hall Of Fame

Chelsea Toy — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:23:36 +0000

Bob, dubbed “the godfather of team roping” by his peers, has been instrumental in giving professional team ropers the chance to compete for large purses and achieve great recognition in the sport of team roping by creating and producing the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping (BFI) for 34 years. Bob is also well known in the western arena as an announcer of many prestigious events including the PRCA National Finals Rodeo, PRCA National Steer Roping Finals, PBR Finals, USTRC National Finals, Reno Rodeo and recognized as the voice of the famed Lazy E Timed Event Championship. Rodeo is not the only avenue for Bob’s vocal talents. For many years, he has announced the Cowboy Downhill in Steamboat Springs, Colo. and the Bishop (Calif.) Mule Days.

Before Bob started his announcing career, you could find him at RCA/PRCA Rodeos across the country competing in team roping. He headed for the likes of Rickey Green, E.V. Dorsey, Al Hooper, Jerold Camarillo, Ken Luman, John Paboojian, Sam Fancher and Frank Ferreira, Sr. He competed for many years, until an injury semi-retired him from the arena floor and sent him to the announcer’s stand. Bob also enjoyed the time he spent on the PRCA board as an alternate team roping director.
The selection committee of the Rodeo Historical Society (RHS) chose nine nominees out of many outstanding candidates to be included on the 2013 ballot. Living nominees are: Doug Brown, Bobby DelVecchio, Etbauer Brothers, Bill Feddersen, Bob Feist, John McBeth, Gene McLaughlin and Dennis Reiners. Deceased nominees are: Earl Bascom, O Raymond Knight, Jessie Like, Bud Parker, Rex Dun and Johnny Quintana. Quail Dobbs is the Rodeo Hall of Fame Directors Choice inductee.
Members of the Rodeo Historical Society (RHS) will select four nominees from the living and three from the deceased categories by secret ballot for induction into the prestigious Rodeo Hall of Fame. Only members of the RHS are eligible to vote for inductees. Membership in the RHS is open to the public. Annual membership is $35 per person. If you are not a member of the RHS or know someone who would like to join so they may vote on nominees, please visit our website www.nationalcowboymuseum.org and click on “Join the Museum.”
Ballots will be mailed in late May and voting will close the first part of June. The Rodeo Hall of Fame ceremony will be held during Rodeo Weekend at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Okla., on September 27-28, 2013.

Postcard: 2013 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

jwilson — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 02:16:43 +0000

March 31, 2013 -- "I can't believe it's the last weekend," a woman in the box seats behind me sighed mournfully as the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival drew to a close. Some would say it was 12 long weeks; riders often complain that they need a break (so take one, don't show your horses during one week). Others, like the depressed lady in the stands, think it's too short a time to be able to watch many of the best riders and horses in the world.

I understand what she means. It's great to spend time in Wellington, Fla., where the equestrian section is a unique community that now is talked about worldwide. Drive around and you'll be in awe.
As I got ready to say goodbye to Wellington for 2013, I reflected, as I often do, on its uniqueness. When I visited Canadian dressage star Ashley Holzer (more about her later) Saturday morning, the scene in her neighborhood five minutes from the showgrounds was pure bliss. The sun sparkled, the palms swayed slightly and people were riding everywhere in what looked like horse heaven.

This morning I was in Grand Prix Village, next to the showgrounds, and saw beautiful stable after beautiful stable (not to mention the mansions that go with them). The grounds seem always to be garlanded by colorful flowers making a Florida statement, and ringed by impressive hedges that offer privacy. And I'll admit to some sadness as I watched the big tractor-trailers loaded with fabulous horseflesh pulling out to head north.

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the focal point of equestrian existence for many here, is unique, with acres of arenas. There's always a festive air for "Saturday Night Lights," the big grands prix that draw thousands of spectators. More than an hour before last night's $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Finale Grand Prix, the stands were packed. A live band entertained and the mood was anticipation as the climax of the jumper competition drew near.

To decorate the ring, giant date palms were added (my progress to the parking lot on Friday was held up as a truck laden with the huge trees attempted to maneuver the narrow path leading to the arena).

: Brazil’s Alvaro de Mirando won the $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Grand Prix on AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno.; © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

There was a stellar 40-horse field for the finale, but halfway through the class, there was only one clear round, Athina Onassis de Miranda of Greece on Camille Z.

Last year's winner, Colombia's Daniel Bluman, had a foot in the water with Sancha LS. Margie Engle was going well down the last line aboard Royce as the crowd cheered her on, then dropped a rail at the final fence as a heartfelt groan echoed from thousands of fans around the arena.

Had course designer Alan Wade made the route too tough? Nope, he's a genius. Nine more clear trips joined Athina's in the second half of the class, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling jump-offs of the season.

Kent Farrington had the fastest time of the tiebreaker on Blue Angel, 43.52 seconds, but it was only good enough for fourth, as the rails clattered down from the last fence.

"My horse was trying her guts out the whole way around," said Kent, who had won a class earlier this month with the mare.

"You have a group of riders like this competing for $500,000 and everybody's going to put it all on the line," he explained.

"That's my style as well, and if I win, I'm going to go all out and if I don't win, it's not going to be from lack of trying.

"We pulled out all the stops. I took a big risk at the last fence doing nine strides, which is sort of a big stretch for that small a horse. I knew if I did one more, I'd be second or third anyway, so I'll take the risk and if I have one down, I'll be fourth, but if she happens to leave it up, then maybe it's our day."

Don't feel to sorry for Kent, though. After the class, he was presented with a blown-up version of the check for $50,000 that he will get for winning the FTI Rider Challenge, based on his results during the circuit.

Athina's husband, Alvaro (Doda) de Miranda, a Brazilian Olympian, went after Kent and knew what he had to do with AD Rahmannshof's Bogeno. His wife had gone clear in a leisurely 54.46 seconds, but she was smart not to push it--she wound up third.

: Ben Maher rode through pain to finish second in the $500,000 grand prix on Cella.; © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Doda clinched the win in 43.96 seconds with a powerful round. But the bravest effort belonged to Great Britain's Ben Maher, who finished second on Cella. Ben was diagnosed with several fractures of his vertebrae following a fall last week in the warm-up area, and he took the difficult decision of riding in pain, all braced and wrapped up. His effort in 44.88 came before Kent and Doda went, so if he had gone later, maybe he could have found a slightly faster route.

Doda was a gracious winner, and did not neglect to give his wife kudos, noting she devotes nearly her entire life to her horses. I thought his mount was amazing, though I was having a lot of trouble typing his name, so we talked about this big bay.

Listen: Alvaro de Miranda

It may not surprise you to hear that George Morris has been working with Doda and his wife. Oh no, George said he wasn't really working with them, he was "a sounding board."

Here's how the sounding board sounded, "Whoa, whoa; leg, leg, gallop!" all delivered in the inimitable Morris vocal style.

Both Doda and his wife are very grateful for his help, and they have some powerhouse support as well from Rodrigo Pessoa and his father, Nelson. The Brazilians have medaled at the Olympics before, and I would bet they'll be likely to do it again in Rio three years from now. Doda noted that the Brazilian Olympic Committee has earmarked show jumping as one of the country's few chances for a medal on its home turf.

: Jessica Springsteen put in an impressive performance on Vindicat W to win the $33,000 1.5 meter Suncast Classic.; © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

In the afternoon's 1.5 meter Suncast Classic, Jessica Springsteen showed she has really gotten together with Vindicat W, the horse who clinched the team gold medal for the Brits at the London Olympics. She has gained rapport with the horse in the half-year or so that she has owned him, and in the Suncast took the measure of such stars as her trainer, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward during the12-horse jump-off. The combination of Jessie and Vinnie is particularly impressive on the turns.

I had thought, however, that she might be in the $500,000 class instead of the Suncast, but she explained why she wasn't entered, and then talked a little about her winning trip.

Listen: Jessica Springsteen

The WEF ended today with the handy round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. It was held on the grass a half-mile from PBIEC, at the Global Dressage Festival grounds. Not many people showed up to watch; it was, after all, Easter, but those who did were treated to a special experience, as horses jumped many natural obstacles, including a little bank.They ascended a hill to trot over birch rails at the top, and finished with a flourish over a jump that used giant champagne bottles to demarcate the more difficult option from the lower parts of the fence. Riders get bonus points for trying the higher options and for galloping and making "handy" tight turns to show off their mounts.

: Jen Alfano won the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the reliable Miss Lucy.; © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

They did a classic round at PBIEC yesterday, with the top four all within two points. Jen Alfano, known as a derby specialist with Jersey Boy, winner of the 2012 hunter derby finals in Kentucky, was up on the calm redhead Miss Lucy.

"She's so NOT a chestnut mare," said Jen, and anyone who has had a temperamental female horse of that color knows what she means. Miss Lucy stood fourth on 186 points going into today's round, four points ahead of the amazing Inclusive, ridden by Tori Colvin, who was penalized for a light rub yesterday.

Tori's plan for today?

"I was just going to go as handy as I can and jump the big ones and if I have a rail, I have a rail, because I kind of had to move up, not down," the talented teen said.

Her plan worked. The three at the top after the first round, Brunello (Elizabeth Boyd), Skyfall (Louise Serio) and Taken (Kelly Farmer), all dropped today, to fifth, 12th and 11th respectively.

Jen, as she so often does, nailed it with Lucy to win on a total score for both rounds of 384.5, while Inclusive was reserve champion with 382. Former national equitation champion Kristy McCormack moved up from seventh to third on Temptation with a score of 380.

If you've never come early to a hunter derby, you might be amazed to see grooms, riders and trainers leading their horses around, not only looking at the jumps and sniffing them, but in the case of straw bales and greenery, sometimes trying to nibble them.

The idea is to give them an introduction to the course. While veteran Louise Serio said she thinks sometimes it's more for the riders' benefit than that of the horses, she noted that the horses had only competed at PBIEC this season and had never been over to the other showgrounds.

When you think of where the idea of hunters came from ( I know, I know, they bear no real relation to horses who follow the hounds), the "course walk" procedure seems to be a little weird. Jen Alfano and I discussed it.

Listen: Jen Alfano

It's not all fun and games at the WEF. There are some very real issues facing the show horse industry. Last week, the U.S. Equestrian Federation held the first of its Town Hall meetings at the showgrounds. The idea is to educate people in the sport on equine welfare and "Meeting the Needs of the Performance Horse in a Changing Environment," and get some feedback as well.

Hunters particularly have been singled out on drugs and medications issues, but the USEF says the situation should be addressed across all breeds and disciplines. Six other such meetings will be held across the country through the summer, so if there's one in your area, you might find it interesting to attend.

I asked USEF President Chrystine Tauber what she thought about the first meeting and the response from owners, trainers, riders and others in the industry.

Listen: Chrystine Tauber

By the way, if you've given something to your horse to make it go like a zombie, beware. Officials will be on the lookout for that and those animals could be candidates for a drug screening, as well as being marked down in their class, Chrystine told me.

Oh, real quick, back to Ashley Holzer. She had been without a grand prix horse when owner P.J. Rizvi started riding Ashley's Olympic mount, Breaking Dawn. But then GQ, a Small Tour horse, owned by P.J., came back into the picture.

He had suffered a bone infection two years ago, and it was so bad that when the vet said he would never be sound, Ashley warned P.J. she should be prepared to put him down. P.J. wouldn't hear of it.

"No expense was too much for him to become a lawn ornament," said Ashley.

The one day, an incredulous Ashley got a call from P.J. saying GQ was sound. P.J. showed him here last week and won, smiling all the way, but left the ring bawling with emotion at the enormity of the moment.

So P.J. is focusing on G.Q. and Ashley is back riding Breaking Dawn, though she noted P.J. at some point will take over on him again.

But until then, could she possibly ride him in next

year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games?

"I'm not saying anymore," said Ashley, who is out of the prediction business and playing it day by day.

I thought that was a good story; the moral: Never give up on someone you love.

I'll be putting up more photos a little later at facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman, so do take a look.

And next Sunday morning I'll have another postcard for you, this one on the always memorable Gene Mische American Invitational in Tampa.

Until then,

A Guide to Dressage Gaits

Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:05:02 +0000

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Which gait is this? I’m sure you know that Sandrina, Ann Romney’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare, is trotting, but can you tell whether she’s in working, collected, medium or extended trot? If you can’t now, I think you will know by the time you’ve read this article.

We all know that there are three recognized gaits in dressage: the four-beat walk, the two-beat trot and the three-beat canter. But dressage also recognizes “types” of gaits: medium, free, collected and extended walk; and working, medium, collected and extended trot and canter. Whether you’re training or showing your horse or simply watching a class at a dressage show, understanding the difference and knowing what you’re actually seeing can sometimes be a challenge.

And that’s too bad, because the quality of gaits is so important in our sport that Gaits is the first Collective Mark on every dressage test. There is an emphasis on “freedom,” which is manifested by the reach and scope of your horse’s limbs, and “regularity.” This involves his ability to maintain an even rhythm—the recurring sequence and timing of his footfalls at a suitable and consistent tempo.

What We’ll Do
In this article, I’ll explain the differences between the types of gaits, and when and why, in the course of your horse’s training and competing, they appear.

I’ll also demonstrate the types of gaits in photos, so you can contrast, compare and, I hope, sharpen your eye. As you do, please note: The difference between an extended and collected gait isn’t merely about the length of a horse’s steps. I always tell my students, “Don’t only follow your horse with a ruler and measure the distance between his footprints. The lengthening or shortening of his step is important, but only as it relates to his overall outline, the elevation of his steps, the raising of his forehand and neck relative to the lowering of his croup and even the lengthening or shortening of his neck.”

Another point to remember is that dressage training is a slow, logical, step-by-step progression. It builds the strength, muscle, balance, animation, activity and cadence (the sum of rhythm plus impulsion, which is expressed by an energetic lifting of the feet from the ground and gives any gait an extra quality).

The test levels at which the different types of gaits appear mirror the “building blocks” of the Training Scale: rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness and collection. (In fact, the tests are sometimes referred to as a “blueprint” for your training.) I’m sure that if you pushed your green 4-year-old, you probably could get a nice extended canter, no problem! But when you got to the severe down transition, he wouldn’t be physically strong or balanced enough to carry it off.

That’s why, at Introductory Level, you simply want to show that your horse can be ridden on a light but steady contact (or allowed complete freedom to lower and stretch out his head and neck in the free walk).

At Training Level you want to additionally confirm that his muscles are supple and loose and that he moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, accepting contact with the bit.

At First Level, he has additionally developed thrust (pushing power) and achieved a degree of balance and throughness (the state in which your aids/influence go freely through all parts of him, from back to front and front to back).

At Second Level, he accepts more weight on his hindquarters, has an uphill tendency and stays reliably on the bit. He does this with a greater degree of straightness, bending, suppleness, throughness, balance and self-carriage.

At Third Level he shows increased engagement with rhythm, suppleness, acceptance of the bit, throughness, balance, impulsion, straightness and collection.

At Fourth Level and above, he has a high degree of suppleness, impulsion and throughness, plus a clear uphill balance and lightness. He remains reliably on the bit. His movements are straight, energetic and cadenced, and his transitions are precise and smooth.

Now, how do these requirements determine when and where the various types of gaits appear? Keep them in mind as you read on.

Rider to Rider: How do you defend riding as a sport to those who argue that it isn't?

Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:50:26 +0000

You don’t think riding is a sport, eh? Try getting on MY horse and jumping THAT jump and tell me how easy it is.
Allison, Delaware

This is my biggest pet peeve by far! I usually respond by telling myself to keep calm, and then I say something like: “Oh you think riding isn’t a sport? Well let me tell you something, working around the barn and doing barn chores and riding definitely replace a gym for me. Lifting weights? Easy, why need dumbbells when I lift 50-pound bags of feed, haul and dump big wheel barrows of manure and carry water buckets? That’s just doing chores. I don’t build muscle while riding? Tell that to my thighs! You try going a countless numbers of laps in 2-point! It’s tough work. And contrary to popular belief, the horse isn’t the only one working up a sweat. You actually can burn calories while riding, and I definitely burn calories doing chores! Working with horses gets your blood and heart pumping because you do a huge ton of walking, and sometimes sprinting if a horse is loose or won’t let you halter it! It’s very much a team sport because you and your horse become one being and you work together. All sports come with risks, but no other sport requires you working with a 1,000+ pound animal that could kill you in one second. Other sports, if you fall, you only fall about 2 feet or so. Horseback riding? You fall about 5 feet or more and you also have the risk of being drug if your feet get caught in the stirrups. When we get in the arena, we don’t get time-outs or the ability to have substitutions. It’s one shot and it’s make or break. And you say horses can’t make you money? Horse racing totally can, and not just racing. Other shows can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for the first place winner. And if horse back riding wasn’t a sport, why would it be in the Olympics? Only real sports are in the Olympics, including riding.” I might say more, but after I rambled all that on, the person starts to believe me. Horseback riding is a real sport and I think it’s the best sport out there.
Janisse Ruis, via email

Horseback riding isn’t a sport? I’m sure that’s why it’s in the Olympics.
Lance Whitner, via email

I just tell them to try riding my horse and putting him over a 3-foot fence without falling off.
Diandra Littledog, via email

I love riding so much and I really wanted to share why I thought it was a sport, so for my college English class, I wrote a paper about it. I was able to describe the incredible athleticism of the horses and the athleticism of the rider. I also got into how we, as riders, are riding and partnering with 1200 lb. animals while jumping a course or posting without stirrups etc. It was really cool to put research into it and see how riding is a sport by the Olympic standards and if people would really try it, they would see it requires just as much strength and burns as much calories as swimming or jogging. If people would try it, try riding without stirrups or doing a dressage test or a cross-country course, or just try trotting with stirrups for the first time, they would appreciate riding more and see it is a sport.
Rachel McLelland, via email

If it’s in the Olympics, it’s a SPORT!
Shelly Saaf Talk, via email

I’d tell them to take my horse and try to jump something, or do some dressage.
Adrielle Moonswan Kash, via email

The people who believe equestrian activities are not a sport are generally the same people who think those that play football, basketball and baseball are the end all athletes. To them I counter that those other sports are actually games that you play with a ball, while our “ball” weighs 1,200 pounds and has a mind of its own. And ask a pentathlete which of the 5 sports (riding, running, fencing, swimming and shooting) they find most difficult.
Kim Cronenwett, via email

I bring them to a riding lesson, telling them, it’s so easy you have nothing to risk. Seeing them walk after the ride is pretty rewarding! Usually, after this lesson, they never argue that riding horses isn’t a sport!
Josee Talbot, via email

Interesting. I’ve never heard a non-riding person classify any riding discipline as a non-sport. I guess I’ve been lucky. Isn’t thoroughbred racing referred to as “the sport of kings”? At any rate, there’s truly no argument, as everyone’s fine comments prove. Now, golf - there’s another story!!
Andrea Stegman, via email

Riding is in the Olympics and it has been officially ranked the hardest sport in the Olympics.
Rachael Prawitz, via email

Generally, I argue that riding has many nationwide and international competitions and variants, including racing and the Olympics. If that doesn’t convince them, I put them bareback on a horse and send them off to jump a few oxers.
Katherine Johnson, via email

I tell them to jump on the back of the biggest football player they can find, start kicking them in the ribs and try to convince them to go where they want them to go. As they are thinking about that, I say now try that on something that is four times bigger.
Lisa Bent, via email

I was once asked a similar question by a colleague who queried: “Why would you take riding lessons? Don’t you just sit there?”

I responded: “Let me explain this to you. You’re on an animal who may be galloping at 35 mph. His back, the platform you’re just sitting on, could be lifting and dropping 12 inches every 2 seconds, as he moves forward. Sometimes, in response to some scary stimulus that you are never even aware of, he decides to jump sideways 15 feet and maybe take off in another direction. And you think this isn’t a sport?” He never asked about my riding lessons, again. However, he did seem in question of my sanity.
Patricia Carando, via email

I tell them yes, there are certain equestrian disciplines that are more of a hobby then a sport. For example, pleasure trail riding does not require much athleticism. However any of the Olympic accepted disciplines require physical and mental strength. You must have the utmost balance, muscle control, mental clarity, stamina and patience to ride a 1500lb animal over a course of 4’ jumps. I then proceed to tell them that I in fact have never had anyone that has actually taken a real riding lesson question the validity of it being a sport.
Nichol Peterson, via email

It’s included in the Olympics!
“Crash” aka Sacred Warrior, via email

Honestly, I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me. My physical therapist knows it is good exercise and mentally therapeutic.
Pretty-Ponies Gifts, via email

I always, always invite them to come try it out on one of my horses if they truly believe it isn’t a physical, active sport.
Kelley Wick, California

I had a manager once who told me riding was not exercise. I asked him if he could do squats for an hour. Then, the partner we were working with came to my defense.
Mary Sherfesee, Florida

Whenever people tell me that riding is not a sport and that all you do is sit there and look pretty, I just smile. Then I ask them, have they have ever tried to control a 1200-pound animal? Have they have ever ridden at full speed to a 4-foot high jump? (If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a jumper.). Have they have ever ridden in mid-August heat or the freezing temperatures of January? Have they sweated buckets or had on so many layers you’ve forgotten how many you have on? Have they ever ridden without stirrups for hours just to get a little bit better? They usually say no to my questions, then I reply, “then you have no clue what we equestrians do – way more than sit there and look pretty.”
Alison Thomas, Arkansas

Tell them to try doing what you do.
Jennifer Granade, Georgia

I’ve had this discussion with folks before. It usually ends with me telling them, “Alright, if it’s so easy, let’s see you do it.” Oddly enough, no one’s taken up on that offer.
Jamie Edgerly, Florida

If someone claims that riding isn’t a sport, they haven’t tried to ride. I just say when you can do a wall sit for half an hour on a moving animal that isn’t very smooth without having sore muscles or complaining, then tell me riding isn’t physically challenging and not a sport. We know that’s not going to happen.
Erin Berkery, Pennsylvania

I always say you try riding a horse first; then come tell me it’s not a sport. They never have a response to that.
Amy Titcomb, New York

Let’s see YOU get 1,200 pounds off the ground!
Aimee Rose Kelly, New York

Fortunately, I haven’t ever had anyone try to tell me that horseback riding it’s not a sport! But, if this were to happen, I would probably invite them to come and ride with me. If the person had the nerve to take me up in my offer, I’m sure they would change their mind!
Nancy Rosen Resop, New York

I always like to invite them to come riding with me if they don’t believe it. I love the satisfaction of them yelling “How do I stop this thing!?”
Paige Vrooman, Maine

I invite them out for a month worth of free lessons with me. After a month of posting and two-point and hitting the dirt, they realize just how hard it is. A lot will not come back after the first lesson!
Amanda Hammons Frye, Texas

I say, “Try and sit on the roof of your car and give it a mind of its own.”
Rachel Holen, Minnesota

I tell them that after they have cantered a course of 3-foot jumps, they can come back and we will discuss their experience.
Susan Hughes, New York

First I hand them a very good waiver to sign. Second, I hand them my horse to ride.
Hunter Heights, Ontario

How can you argue that it’s not a sport when the Olympics awarded it the hardest part of the Olympics? Personally when whoever wants to argue they can ride better than I can on a course at 3-feet on an animal with a mind of their own, I’ll believe them when I see them!
Chelsea Hagerty, New Jersey

One day while sitting in my 1:30 writing class wishing that I was riding my horse, my teacher decided to push my buttons by calling riding a hobby. She messed with the wrong girl. I explained to her that they do not put hobbies in the Olympics. I also told her riding a horse isn’t just sitting in the saddle and looking pretty, you have to be physically and mentally fit. It’s also not an individual sport, you have a teammate with whom you have to communicate without words. Riding requires muscles that most people don’t even know they have. All the hours of lessons, riding, walking courses, setting up patterns is not just for our health (well it does help) but it’s the fundamentals of a sport. Football players take weeks to learn their plays; we only have minutes to learn our courses (which generally are a lot harder). Riding is just as much of a sport as any other, and if you think it isn’t, come over and ride my 1,300-pound horse and make it do what I do.
Amanda Keynton, New Jersey

It’s in the Olympics!
Rachie Rawrrs, Michigan

2013 College Preparatory Invitational

Traci Donatelli — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:10:36 +0000

Winners of the College Prep Invitational scholarships (from left): Reserve Dressage Seat Equitation Rider/Clare Burke, Essay Contest/Cassie Crotty, High Point Hunt Seat Rider/Brianne Link, High Point Dressage Seat Equitation Rider/Ashley Guidry, Reserve Hunt Seat Equitation Rider/Jessica Hall, Community Service-Alexandra Adams
Photo © CPI

Rain didn’t dampen the spirits of nearly 180 students (grades 8–12) who traveled from all over the country to be a part of the third annual College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show, January 18–20, at the new Adequan Global Dressage Facility at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

The three-day event gives young equestrians a taste of hunt-seat equitation and dressage collegiate competition. They also have the opportunity to be recruited by collegiate equestrian team coaches, speak with representatives from some of the top equestrian colleges about their equine academic degree programs and get expert advice on how to find the academic and/or riding opportunities that will best suit them after graduation.

The CPI kicked off Friday with the opening of the Practical Horseman sponsored College Expo tent. Students then took a written horsemanship test, attended a presentation on Walking a Course and Basic Course Design by CPI Course Designer Pierre Jolicoeur and were given a brief introduction to the various governing associations of collegiate riding. Robert Cacchione and Peter Cashman spoke about the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, Janet Harms about the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, Merrilee Wroten about the American National Riding Commission, and Ellen White on the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

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Saturday morning’s horse draw times started at 6:30 a.m., and hunt-seat competition began at 8 a.m. Judged by Olympian Nona Garson, Ian McCartney, Christina Jones and Beth Nielsen, students competed in Open, Intermediate, Limit and Novice Equitation classes throughout the afternoon both over fences and on the flat. Each wore a colored armband that signified their grade level (black=8th grade, white=freshman, burgundy=sophomore, gray=junior, gold=senior).

Riders lined up after class. Each rider’s grade level was indicated by the color of his or her arm band (black=8th grade, white=freshman, burgundy=sophomore, gray=junior, gold=senior).
Photo © Traci Donatelli

I spoke briefly with Nona Garson and Ian McCartney, and they agreed the most difficult part of their job was to create a level playing field with so many horses and riders of varying levels. They also tried to consider that many of these students were catch riding (riding an unfamiliar horse) for the first time. The judges watched the competition horses schooling the day before to help them discern each horse’s individual abilities and quirks. On competition day, students were allowed to ask the handlers about the horses before they rode, and in some instances, the handler was the horse’s owner. Horses were lent out for the event and some were sale horses looking to find new homes. Sale horses were featured in the event program, and by the end of the event, at least six had trials scheduled.

Brianne Link, a freshman from Long Island, New York, who went on to win the High Point Hunt Seat Rider award, told me after her ride on a horse named Leo that her strategy was to watch the way Leo had been ridden by competitors before her. “I noticed he was a strong horse and that they were riding him a little rough, but I thought he needed a little love, so I softened him up, and it worked.”

The dressage competition started at 1 p.m. and was judged by Lauren Sammis. It ran concurrently with the equitation classes. There were a few logistical problems that forced organizers to cancel the last few equitation classes. Show management promised changes would be made to avoid similar problems next year.

Sunday morning dawned warm and sunny as the students assembled for the final presentations and awards. Randi Healthman, an advisor who specializes in equestrian college programs, spoke on “Making the Grade—and the Team: Your College Riding Options Explained.” She said that there were 400-plus colleges and universities in the United States and Canada that have intercollegiate equestrian teams, and if you hope to find the right fit for you, you must ask yourself specific questions and create a timeline of when to do what.

Dressage judge Lauren Sammis speaks with a rider following her test.
Photo © Traci Donatelli

Karin Bump, professor at Cazenovia College, spoke on “The Right Program for You! Matching Equestrian Interests with College Options and Degree Offerings.” She explained to students that, in addition to the 400-plus colleges with riding teams, there are about the same number of different equine degree options, and there are many ways to combine your passions into a specialized educational program in the horse industry, whether it be in science, business, journalism or education.

CPI creators believe that every student should have the opportunity to be a part of a collegiate team, regardless of finances, and this year they were able to offer more scholarships than ever before. In addition to giving away a $1,100 helmet signed by Olympian Beezie Madden in a drawing, helmet maker and sponsor Charles Owen helped CPI double its High Point Rider Scholarships—allowing them to award High Point Dressage Rider Ashley Guidry (Class of 2013, Elkhorn, Wisconsin) and High Point Hunt Seat Rider Brianne Link (Class of 2016, East Islip, New York) each a $2,000 scholarship to the schools of their choice. Additional scholarships were given for:

Hunt seat judges Ian McCartney and Nona Garson agreed the most difficult part of their job was to create a level playing field with so many horses and riders of varying levels.
Photo © Traci Donatelli

• Reserve Hunt Seat Rider: Jessica Hall 11th grade, Verona, New Jersey
• Reserve Dressage Rider: Clare Burke 12th grade, Rolling Hills Estates, California
• Community Service: Alexandra Adams 11th grade, Jacksonville, Florida
• Horsemanship Test: Chloe Hatch, 10th grade, Vero Beach, Florida
• Essay Contest: Cassie Crotty 10th grade, Coral Gables, Florida

While attendees must apply for admission to the three-day program (submitting photos and, for hunt seat, video over fences) and pay their own expenses, support from the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association and USHJA Foundation made it possible for Logan Fraser and Emma Karlson to receive a $1,500 travel grant to defray their travel expenses to this year’s event.

Applications for the 2014 CPI will be available online June 1, 2013 at www.collegeprepinvitational.com.

For more information on college riding, go to www.equisearch.com/college-directory.

Postcard: Looking Back at 2012

jwilson — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 20:16:32 +0000

December 30, 2012 -- What's your standout equestrian memory of 2012? For me, as for so many others, it has to be the London Olympics. Whether you were lucky enough to go in person, as I did; catch it on TV or watch via the Internet, it was unforgettable.

Rich Fellers and Flexible against the dramatic backdrop for equestrian sport at the London Olympics
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

The Queen "parachuting" with James Bond into the opening ceremonies was the perfect beginning to days of glory, during which the Games, London and Great Britain were the biggest winners.The theme from the inspiring film, "Chariots of Fire," and the iconic hymn/anthem, "Jerusalem" (the source of the movie's title) became the practically non-stop soundtrack to which the pageant unfolded across weeks of athletic prowess.

Equestrian has never had such a beautiful backdrop, glowing with the alabaster of the Queen's House, built for a 17th century queen and her successor (not Elizabeth, who is in residence elsewhere) and the National Maritime Museum, shadowed by Canary Wharf. Greenwich Park had the right charisma for incredibly dramatic competition, featuring cross-country fences and jumps in the stadium that mirrored the host country's history and landmarks.

Olympic double-gold dressage medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain and Valegro
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

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I want it on the record just one more time that I predicted three team gold medals for Great Britain. I came close, but the British eventers finished behind the Germans to mess me up. Still, I got the dressage and show jumping right. Having the home side do so well really made the Games even more meaningful for equestrian sports not only in Britain, but elsewhere in the world, as people empathized with that karma. Having the much-photographed Royals on hand for equestrian competitions didn't hurt, either. And the Paralympics benefited too, with good crowds watching brave and inspiring efforts.

I doubt we'll see another Olympics with the cachet of London in our lifetime; or maybe ever. It offered the perfect stage on which dressage got a new identity and gained popularity with powerful performances that put previous Olympic competitions in the shade. How nice to see a nation besides the Germans or the Dutch on top.

On the down side, the Olympics provided some painful "wake-up" moments for the U.S. equestrian community. Mark Philllips' conclusion, "We weren't good enough" applied not only to his eventing team, but also to the American dressage and show jumping squads. It was the first time since 1956 that the country's representatives had come home without a medal. Consider it an impetus for improvement.

Olympic double-gold eventing medalist Michael Jung of Germany, who is also the European and world champion, aboard Sam on cross-country.
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

My selection for equestrian athlete of the year is a tie: How do you decide between graceful Olympic double-gold dressage medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain (who gets extra points for wearing a helmet during her rides on Valegro) and German double-gold eventing medalist Michael Jung aboard Sam. This is an amazing partnership that has also captured the European and world championships, combining with the Olympic achievements for a unique triple crown. You choose; I can't.

Special mention has to go to Rich Fellers, the first American in 25 years to win the World Cup Show Jumping finals. He and his longtime partner, Flexible, went from that achievement to being the highest-placed U.S. rider on the show jumping Olympic team.

There's no question about who made the comeback of the year. I still remember my shock on learning that McLain Ward had shattered his left kneecap on a jump cup when I heard the news last January. The big question was, would he be ready for the Olympics? In his second grand prix back in May, he won under the lights at Devon in storybook fashion and earned his way to the Games. They didn't go as planned, but he bounced back a few weeks later with a victory in the HITS Pfizer $1 million grand prix. McLain missed the Washington International as his father lay dying, but after Barney Ward's death, McLain dealt with his grief and re-emerged (with a few understandable tears) at the National Horse Show, where he won the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix.

Jacob Pope, winner of the Emerging Athlete Program finals in 2011, made a big splash in 2012 by winning two equitation championships and likely is headed for more victories in 2013.
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

My Rising Star Award has become the Risen Star Award as Reed Kessler went from promising grand prix rider to the top of the charts in the selection trials, co-national champion and finally the youngest equestrian Olympian at the age of 18, all in the space of six months. And special recognition should be given to Jacob Pope, who came from nowhere, won the 2011 U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Emerging Athlete Program finals and went on to take both the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East and ASPCA Maclay Finals not even 12 months later. Maybe he'll be on the next Olympic team.

The anti-climax of the year was Totilas. We kind of figured that that Edward Gal's European and world championships gold medal mount wasn't going to be winning Olympic gold with his current rider, Matthias Rath, but we didn't expect him to be a no-show at the Olympics. Maybe it was just as well; when you're hot, you're hot, and when you're not, well, let's just say I think Valegro (and perhaps a few others) would have cleaned his clock.

Sapphire said goodbye at the Devon Horse Show during retirement ceremonies that wrapped up an illustrious career.
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

Who knows when (or if) we'll see Totilas in the ring again, but we know that 2012 retirees Sapphire and Ravel have competed for the last time. Sapphire, McLain's illustrious mare who is the veteran of two gold medal Olympic teams, will be busy providing foals. Ravel, the USA's top dressage horse for years, will be hanging out and relaxing as rider Steffen Peters concentrates on his new star, the 2012 national Grand Prix champion, Legolas.

Equestrian sport has been plagued by scads of legal battles over the years, but there's only one choice for the legal wrangle of 2012. If you're hoping for world peace in 2013, why not start small and ask for an end to the Wellington tug of war over the Global Dressage Festival showgrounds. So many accusations and lawsuits have been filed over this that it's impossible to keep it all straight. The only thing that's important to know at this point, however, is that the GDF will be operational for 2013 shows and further enhance Wellie World's global reputation as a major equestrian center.

If you don't want too many questions about something, announce it during the week between Christmas and New Year's. That's what the FEI did with the news that Longines will be its first Top Partner (and official timekeeper and official watch), taking over the sponsorship of World Cup show jumping in October 2013. So what happened to Rolex, the World Cup's current sponsor? Who knows; with offices closed for the holidays, it's impossible to find out.

There are questions about whether the Rolex Kentucky three-day event will be affected, but the U.S. Equestrian Federation has an excellent relationship that goes back decades with Rolex Watch USA, so that should stand it in good stead. Still, one can't help but wonder about the fate of the Rolex Grand Slam.

Who can forget that 2012 was the year for presidential politics? And not just at the national level. Bill Moroney and Mary Babick had a face-off for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association presidency, and incumbent Bill got the nod of the board of directors for a third (and final) term. Such contested elections are rare in horse organizations; Chrystine Tauber had no opposition in becoming the new president of the USET after Bill and Armand Leone withdrew their candidacies.

Meanwhile, Jane Clark announced she was resigning in January as president of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation after choosing British rider Ben Maher to ride her jumpers. Jane, who said she will continue her support of the foundation (which supplies the USEF with high performance money), felt that it wouldn't be proper for her to remain as president if her horses will be on foreign teams. A top-notch replacement is waiting in the wings.

As every year ends, we think back on those who passed away during the preceding 12 months. The loss in April of Olympic and World Equestrian Games eventing medalist Amy Tryon still is terribly painful. Amy, who partnered with the former mountain horse Poggio, died too young of an accidental medication overdose. She was installed in the U.S. Eventing Hall of Fame this month, where so many others are immortalized. Their ranks include Jack Fritz, who contributed so much to the base and growth of eventing and dressage in this country. Jack, who also ran the U.S. Equestrian Team operation in Gladstone, N.J., died in March.

Dr. Craig Ferrell, the U.S. team's wonderful physician, left us in May after a polo accident. He was an incredibly selfless man who never refused a request for help. Among the others who departed were Dick Thompson, a pillar of the eventing world who owned the Horse of the 20th Century, Biko; two-time Pony Club President James Ligon; dressage volunteer Patsy Albers and Paralympian Jon Wentz, who died weeks after realizing his ambition of riding in the Games.

Looking ahead to 2013, expect big changes in the way things are done in the U.S. to build a better high performance base in all three Olympic disciplines with an eye toward making the 2014 Alltech World Equestrian Games and the 2016 Olympics in Rio a success story for the USA.

Don't buy your plane tickets yet, but the 2018 WEG will go either to Vienna (how nice that would be for something different) or Bromont, Canada. My money's on Bromont, which hosted the equestrian portion of the 1976 Olympics, though there would be better desserts in Vienna. As for the 2020 Olympics, bet on Istanbul, where the FEI (international equestrian federation) had its General Assembly this year. The other contenders, Spain and Japan, already have hosted a Games, and Turkey is a fresh new location.

A 2013 landmark is the FEI's new helmet rule, which goes into effect in January. It's good, but doesn't go far enough, because it still permits Grand Prix dressage riders and reiners to compete wearing top hats and cowboy hats respectively, though they are required to wear protective headgear much of the rest of the time they are on the showgrounds. How about just cutting to the chase and requiring protective headgear at all times for everyone, period. The exception would be vaulters, since I'm told helmets would throw off their balance.

So much of what happened in 2012 couldn't be predicted (except the British gold medals, of course!). All I can guarantee is that the same will hold true in 2013 and I will be telling you about it. I'll be sending my first postcard of the new year on Sunday evening from the debut of Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago show jumping grand prix in Palm Beach. Really Palm Beach, not Wellington, even though they call the showgrounds there the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. It's 40 minutes west of the ocean, so that's a stretch, but Mar-A-Lago has a genuine blue water backdrop. Can't wait to see this competition!

Until then,

USEF Announces 2013 USEF Driver Training Long List

jwilson — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:31:17 +0000

December 4th, 2012 -- The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF) is pleased to release the 2013 USEF Driver Training Long List. The Driver Training Long List is drawn up by the USEF on the basis of a driver/horse/pony combination achieving a total of 175 penalties or less for Singles and Pairs, and a total of 200 penalties or less for Four-in-Hands in a national competition at the advanced level in the U.S., a European CAI, or a national European competition (for which the Driving High Performance Committee has given approval). This qualifying score must have been achieved in any of the previous two calendar years which indicates that those driver/horse/pony combinations are the strongest candidates for future teams. Long Listed driver/horse/pony combinations are eligible for USEF Training Programs and consideration to compete abroad.

The following drivers have been named to the 2013 USEF Driver Training Long List (Long List is sorted by discipline, alphabetically by last name):

Four-In-Hand Horses
James Fairclough - Newton, N.J.
S. Tucker Johnson - Hobe Sound, Fla.
William Long - Southern Pines, N.C.
Mike McLennan - Brenham, Texas
Joshua Rector - Free Union, Va.
David Saunders - Morriston, Fla.
Gary Stover - Southern Pines, N.C.
Chester Weber - Ocala, Fla.
Joe Yoder - Aiken, S.C.
Casey Zubek - Manhattan, Ill.

Four-In-Hand Ponies
Laurie Astegiano - Roussac, France
Elizabeth Keathley - Woodbury, Tenn.
Heather Schneider - Palm City, Fla.
Allison Stroud - West Grove, Pa.

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Pair Horses
Alan Aulson - Georgetown, Mass.
Miranda Cadwell - Southern Pines, N.C.
Kathrin Dancer - Woodside, Calif.
James Fairclough - Newton, N.J.
Fritz Grupe - Stockton, Calif.
Pat Hastings - Hartland, Vt.
David Saunders - Morriston, Fla.
Lisa Singer - Chadds Ford, Pa.
Misdee Wrigley-Miller - Lakewoodranch, Fla.
Joe Yoder - Aiken, S.C.

Pair Ponies
Meghan Benge - Windsor, S.C.
Miranda Cadwell - Southern Pines, N.C.
Elizabeth Keathley - Woodbury, Tenn.
Jennifer Matheson - Aiken, S.C.
Tracey Morgan - Beallsville, Md.
Wendy O'Brien - Aiken, S.C.
Allison Stroud - West Grove, Pa.
Kathleen Whaley - Paris, Ky.

Single Horse
Scott Adcox - Sarasota, Fla
Jacob Arnold - Snow Camp, N.C.
Leslie Berndl - Newcastle, Calif.
Barbara Chapman - Metamora, Mich.
Donna Crookston - Saltsburg, Pa.
Robin Foster - Bridgehampton, N.Y.
Sterling Graburn - Georgetown, Ky.
G. Wilson Groves - Brownsville, Vt.
Robin Groves - Brownsville, Vt.
Fritz Grupe - Stockton, Calif.
Janet Hamilton - Alva, Fla.
Nifty Hamilton - Alva, Fla.
Miranda Cadwell - Southern Pines, N.C.
Robert Koopman - Northbridge, Mass.
Olof Larsson - Reddick, Fla.
Mary Ruth Marks - Verona, Wis.
Scott Monroe - Sharon, Conn.
William Peacock - Bellville, Texas
Cheryl Pratt Rivers - Stockbridge, Vt.
Marcie Quist - Vass, N.C.
Sara Schmitt - Ringoes, N.J.
Kate Shields - Middleburg, Va.
Lisa Singer - Chadds Ford, Pa.
Suzy Stafford - Wilmington, Del.
Kimberly Stover - Smyrna, Del.
Kelly Valdes - Southern Pines, N.C.

Single Pony
Miranda Cadwell - Southern Pines, N.C.
Drew Callahan - Cave Creeek, Ariz.
Vivian Creigh - Springfield, Vt.
Amy Cross - Aiken, S.C.
Suzi Dixon - Southern Pines, N.C.
Dale Govus - Forest City, N.C.
Phyllis Grupe - Stockton, Calif.
Marilea (Pixie) Keating - Aiken, S.C.
Doris Leacy - Oro Valley, Ariz.
Janelle Marshall - Williston, S.C.
Paul Maye - Fairfield, Va.
Scott Monroe - Sharon, Conn.
Tracey Morgan - Beallsville, Md.
Mary Mott-Kocsis - Baptistown, N.J.
Jada Neubauer - Ames, Iowa
Sara Schmitt - Ringoes, N.J.
Deborah Schuster - Chardon, Ohio
Muffy Seaton - Williston, S.C.
Barbara Sims - Prescott, Ariz.
Suzy Stafford - Wilmington, Del.
Maggie Sullivan - Guilford, Conn.
Rochelle Temple - Windsor, S.C.
Charlotte Trentelman - Anthony, Fla.

Texas Trail Riding Treasure

Cate Lamm — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:34:51 +0000

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SisterCreek Ranch is rugged Texas Hill County at its best, with first-class horse facilities. The property, owned by Bruce and Beth Johnson, is a 700-acre working Tennessee Walking Horse ranch located just outside of Boerne, Texas, about 45 minutes from San Antonio.

Entering SisterCreek Ranch is like stepping into equestrian bliss. You drive by coastal fields and through the creek. Then you pass the living-quarters-trailer campsite, covered horse pens, and gorgeous paddocks, and go right up to the large barn.

Behind the barn are a large arena and a covered round pen; the barn is also adjacent to the ranch’s Western town, KickBack Flats.

Ranch Facilities
SisterCreek Ranch equine facilities include a 250-by-150-square-foot arena with sand and crumbled-rubber footing, covered, lighted round pen, covered stalls, paddocks, a wash rack, and a large barn with a restroom in the barn.

The recreational-vehicle/living-quarters-trailer area has four water and electrical hookups. The area features covered horse pens, plenty of shade trees, and a nearby creek.

The ranch’s guest houses are also on the creek. Each guest house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a loft, plus a kitchenette, a large fireplace, and a screened-in porch. The accommodations for both human and horse are sublime.

Texas Trails
My first trip to SisterCreek Ranch was in September 2010. I went with my riding buddy, Carol. Bruce gave us a map and did his best to provide this directionally challenged person some trail-navigation tips. He invited us to ride anywhere on the ranch, including all the marked and unmarked trails.

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The 18 miles of ranch trails are fun, provide natural obstacles to master, and give you an Old West feel as you ride over rough Central Texas Hill Country.

The “PG-13” trail is mostly flat and rocky. The Jar Head Mountain and Pop A Top/Moon Rock trails are rough and challenging.

On our first excursion, Carol and I traversed the northwest side of the ranch. Watch out as you ride past the stock tank just west of the arena; it can get boggy.

We rode to a blacktop road that follows a small trail that runs behind a house next to a shop and several gates. We headed through the gate on our right, which immediately led to a second gate. I welcomed the chance to practice opening and closing gates.

We then found a nice water trough, which our horses really enjoyed, immersing their noses in the cool water, then curling their lips in the air. Several cows hung out nearby.

Carol and I headed down the fence line, which later turned into a long, slow, rocky climb. Just on the other side of the fence, we spotted a fully antlered buck.

We then left the fence line and followed a trail leading to the Pop A Top area, an ancient-looking spot comprised of circular rock labyrinth formations and an old-style gazebo with an amazing overlook.

There were hitching posts, as well as stone benches we later used as mounting blocks.

Suddenly, the feeling of being in the Old West overtook me. This was such a unique spot, perfect for admiring the magnificent Texas Hill County. We sat there for a bit to soak in the views and relax.

Heading back was interesting, due to my directionally challenged condition and a few dead-end trails. We made our way using the wide Jeep trails and following the fence line.

Obstacle Course
Back at the barn, we practiced walking our horses on a bridge obstacle located by the round pen. The wooden bridge worked like a teeter-totter, with a round piece of wood in the center. Carol’s horse, Ace, an Arabian ex-racehorse, was a champ.

My Spanish Mustang, Angel, wasn’t so sure about the moving creature and would only cross over the short side. I was still proud of her, as she’d never seen a bridge like that before.

Spring Trip
I returned to SisterCreek Ranch in May 2011. I was joined by two riding friends, Carol, again on Ace, and Caroline on her black-and-white Paint, Jack.

Bruce and Beth gave us an updated ranch map. We explored the PG-13 trails, which are rocky, but loads of fun.

A watering trough is located off the trail (the higher of two parallel trails). One trail had several large logs lying across the path. I enjoyed taking Angel over these logs at a walk; later, we jumped them at a trot. Carol and Caroline followed suit.

In the PG-13 trail area, several small, unmarked trails branch off from a pond in all directions. The pond helped me keep my sense of direction intact.

On one side of the pond is a nice circular trail, free of rocks and perfect for working on collecting and suppling your horse on circle, free from the confines of an arena.

As we rode, a much-welcomed cold front blew in, raising the horses’ spirits

and making the air fresh and cool.

Heading home, we exited the PG-13 trail gate and discovered several short trails that wove through trees.

These short trails brought us to a spot where there were a few logs laying on the ground in an L pattern, another great trail obstacle challenge in backing your horse. We had lots of fun practicing backing our horses through this pattern.

Near the ranch arena, Angel and I also practiced walking across the teeter-totter bridge again. This time, we did it! What a great note to end the ride on and reward my Angel for being such a good girl. I rinsed her off, filled up her water bucket, and stuffed her hay bag. She looked content.

I’m looking forward to my next ride. Next time, I want to take on the challenging Jarhead Mountain trails.

Postcard: 2012 National Horse Show

jwilson — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 01:16:09 +0000

$250,000 Alltech Grand Prix winner McLain Ward and Antares at the National Horse Show
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

November 4, 2012 -- It's been a difficult year for McLain Ward. In January, he smashed his left knee on a jump and spent months recovering, wondering whether he would get better in time to make the Olympic team. In May, he mourned the death in a polo accident of Dr. Craig Ferrell, the wonderful U.S. equestrian team physician, who had been a great support during his convalescence. In August, the Olympics didn't go as planned, and the U.S. team came home without a medal. Then, last Sunday, his father, Barney, finally succumbed to the cancer he had been fighting for 12 years.

Barney Ward Passes Away

When I asked him the day after his father's passing whether he would come to the National Horse Show, McLain didn't hesitate. After all, his relationship with Barney centered on show jumping.

McLain Ward gives his wife, Lauren, a post-grand prix kiss
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

"It's what we do," he explained as he stated his intention to ride in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. He wasn't happy with his performances during the week here, though, and was losing confidence. Was he also losing his touch, he wondered? His loyal and lovely wife, Lauren, told him to stop the nonsense and just get out there and do what he does best.

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So he did, turning in two impressive trips over Richard Jeffery's challenging course to take the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix. Speaking afterwards, he was understandably emotional, struggling to control the tears that sprang into his eyes as he discussed victory and his personal loss.

Listen: McLain Ward

Certainly, McLain didn't have the easiest time of it in the class with Antares F. He was second to go in the field of 33, and the first clear round, which meant he was first in the seven-horse jump-off. His time of 48.48 seconds in the tie-breaker was lickety-split, but still, with Beezie Madden, Christine McCrea and Lauren Hough coming behind him, it wasn't foolproof.

Beezie seemed on track to beat him, making a risky turn aboard Simon between a vertical and a triple bar. It was a move that had the crowd of more than 6,000 gasping, and I couldn't believe she tried it. But it was all for naught when she had a rail down. Christine just plain galloped on her Pan American Games double gold medal mount, Romantovich Take One.

National Horse Show Leading Jumper Rider Lauren Hough and Quick Study
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

"That was as hard as I feel like I could go," she said, but her effort still fell short in 49.81 seconds, which would make her the runner-up. Lauren and the aptly named Quick Study dropped a rail, but she had won enough over the week to be consoled by the Leading Rider title (which came with a year's lease of an Audi) and tied with Christine for Leading Lady Rider (why do they still give "Lady" awards; c'mon, it's the 21st Century).

Candice King had the only other trip free of jumping faults on Whistler, but she went just over the 55-second time allowed to score a time penalty, which put her third.

McLain was effusive in his praise for the show, and it really wasn't based on the fact that he had just collected a $62,400 winner's check.

"I think the event's phenomenal. This is such an incredible facility....this event is growing in popularity... and I think you're seeing a very high level of competition in the international jumpers. I think it's just going in the right direction and will continue to get better. The infrastructure is phenomenal," he enthused.

While the National has kept the orange and black color scheme it utilized over the decades at Madison Square Garden in New York, everything is different in the purpose-built horse park. The Garden was one inconvenience after another. It's smooth sailing here, from the stabling to the large ring, the parking and facilities. Joan Jacobs spent a week decorating the spacious riders' lounge, where the walls were decked with photos of Show Jumping Hall of Fame inductees. There was also a comfortable grooms' kitchen near the stables.

Abigail McCardle, winner of the $50,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner competition with Cosma 20
© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

The major money offered here is a big incentive too. How many junior/amateur-owner jumper classes have a $50,000 purse? That made the Show Jumping Hall of Fame fixture extra special, along with an incredible course. Horse after horse tried and failed, until the intrepid Megan Musz on Vesuvius finally managed to go clean. But right behind her was Abigail McCardle, a cool customer on Cosma Z who bettered Megan's mark to take the class.

Abigail, who trains with Katie Prudent--like Reed Kessler, of whom you may have heard--had some trepidation about Cosma at first. When she found the Hanoverian nine months ago, she noted the chestnut was careful, but quirky. She did, however, excel in Kentucky during the spring, at Devon and Spruce Meadows. So what's the quirk?

"She's a hot mare, she's wild. She comes out of her stall, she's spooky, she's spinning," said 18-year-old Abigail. "But you overlook everything when you go in the ring and she's true blue for me. I've been able to form an amazing relationship with her."

When I asked what she was going to do with her $15,000 first prize, her father, David, answered for her: "Feed the horse."

There aren't too many who mourn the loss of the Garden anymore, but for those who do, think of this: If the show were still in New York, it wouldn't have been held this year. Does Hurricane Sandy ring a bell? And remember, they canceled the New York City marathon.

Show President and CEO Mason Phelps told me he hadn't had one complaint from the riders (that has to be a first!) and as I went around and talked with people, everyone was as happy about the show as McLain -- even if they hadn't won a five-figure prize.

The next big job is getting a crowd in on the nights that don't feature a grand prix. They took a step in the right direction with the reinstatement of the puissance. I remember in the old days at Madison Square Garden, Thursday night was puissance night and the place was filled to the rafters for that high-jumping contest. The Friday night puissance here was won at 7 feet by Tim Gredley of Great Britain on Unex Valente, and there were more people there for that than there had been on the previous evenings. Word will get out, I'm sure, and Mason said he's working on bringing more people in the door.

Listen: Mason Phelps