September 9, 2012 -- It's been a long, dry summer for McLain Ward with his number one partner, Antares F. They left the Olympics without a medal and last weekend, a rail down at the final fence in the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic ended the rider's quest not only for first place prize money, but also for the $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown bonus.

His luck finally changed today, however, as he claimed the $350,000 first prize in the $1 million Pfizer Animal Health Grand Prix at the HITS show in Saugerties, N.Y. It certainly was cause for celebration; McLain invited anyone who was going to be in the vicinity of his Brewster,N.Y., home to drop by.

"The drinks are on me," he chuckled.

The class has only been held for three years, and McLain has won it twice. In 2010, he took top honors with his wonderful Sapphire, now retired. Antares is a different type of a ride, but this afternoon, he certainly proved he's no slouch.

The imposing course was designed by Olaf Petersen Jr., not to be confused with his father, who has laid out two Olympic routes (1988 and 2004). The floor plan was beautiful, with exquisite fences, from the red and black Chinese Dragon to the pink, pleated Asian Fans and the orange Tulip Wall. Heck, even the course map was beautiful, done in color with the name of each obstacle listed.

But it was all about being challenging. The test didn't quite create mayhem, yet it went well over the heads of many in the field of 38. Five riders fell off, three wisely retired and one who got in trouble but managed to stay on was eliminated for two refusals. There were time faults galore and 11 double-digit scores.

Most of those competing qualified at HITS shows, but they did not necessarily have experience at this level. Few do. Was it any coincidence that the runner-up, Canadian Jill Henselwood's interesting mount, George, like Antares, had made it through the London Olympics last month? Only one other rider, Jonathan McCrea with Colorado, got into the jump-off.

McLain Ward and Antares F on their way to winning the $1 million Pfizer Animal Health Grand Prix

© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

Going first against the clock can be a disadvantage, but McLain felt with a small group in contention, "it kind of allowed me to do my plan and put a little stress on these two. He's a very quick horse."

The challenge really was who could come in second after McLain put in a clear, fast trip.

"I figured I could leave a jump out and still wouldn't be fast enough," quipped Jonathan, who dropped two rails. Jill had the last shot at trying to snatch the winner's share from McLain, though she didn't really expect to pull it off.

Canada’s Jill Henselwood on George, runner-up in the $1 million grand prix

© 2012 by Lawrence J. Nagy

"I know how fast he is, and I know my horse jumps too high and actually is a little too inexperienced in jump-offs, period," said the always ebullient Jill, "but I still had to try. I set off as fast as I thought I could, and I think by the second jump, I was already too slow, but I didn't stop trying until I faulted (at the fifth of eight jumps). And then I knew Jonathan had a little bad luck, so I just settled down and prayed I didn't touch that last jump." She didn't, and had a nice payday too; $200,000.

I spoke with Olaf about his course, and the several options he provided in it. Not all the riders took advantage of that; they could have tailored their trips better for their horses in several instances, though some perhaps were worrying about the 84 second time-allowed when they should have been worrying about whether their horses could clear the fences.

Here's what Olaf had to say:
Listen: Olaf Petersen

Tom Struzzieri, the master of HITS, will be rethinking the way riders qualify for the Million in the wake of the problematic rides.

"It was great sport today, maybe a little too challenging for some of the riders," he said.

"That I thought was unfortunate...my goal is to grow the sport, because it grows my business at the same time and grows everybody's business. That was the only thing that I'm disappointed in; that so many riders had a bad experience today."

Against an appropriate backdrop of mountains, Colorado finished third with Jonathan McCrea up

© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer

But everyone loved the footing. Work earlier this year on the drainage system paid off when a torrential Saturday night storm did its thing. By this morning, you couldn't tell there had been a deluge; riders praised the springy surface.

The Million is a major landmark in show jumping, but it's not alone. In March, Tom plans to hold another at his Thermal, Calif., facility. And today, the CN International grand prix at Spruce Meadows in Canada also offered $1 million. Can you imagine two such big money classes on the same day? The schedule conflict is a shame for the riders who would like to participate in both.

McLain, who also is a Spruce Meadows veteran, and I talked about that and other things.

Listen: McLain Ward

By the way, the CN actually is worth more than the HITS competition, because $1 million Canadian dollars weighs in at $1, 022,106 U.S. dollars. That class went to a dark horse, 19-year-old Olivier Philippaerts of Belgium, son of lontime international rider Ludo Philippaerts, who was third. Second went to McLain's Olympic teammate Beezie Madden on Simon.

The $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix went to Patricia Griffith on Sienna

© Lawrence J. Nagy

The Million may have been today's highlight, but it wasn't the only feature. The morning started with the new HITS $250,000 3-foot Hunter Prix, won by Chiara Parlagreco on The Impressionist. The $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix, which debuted last year, was dominated at the top end by Andre Dignelli's Heritage Farm. Andre's associate, trainer Patricia Griffith, rode Sienna to edge one of her students, Lillie Keenan, on 2011 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals winner C Coast Z, her "go-to" horse for the big classes. Patricia's score was 549.75; Lillie, one of her star students, was only 2.75 points behind that on her handsome gray. But there was nothing awkward about it. Lillie obviously was as happy with the way things turned out as if she had won herself.

"Patricia started teaching me when I was seven years old...to be competing against my trainer is a big deal. If I had won she'd be just as excited. We're rooting for each other," said Lillie.

Another Heritage rider, Matthew Mattell, was among the four who participated in a final round after the top 25 went in the morning, but a rail down put him fourth with Pioneer on 403 points. Amanda Steege. who had been 23d after yesterday's initial round, recouped admirably to finish third on Balou (538).

I said to Andre that it seemed Heritage pretty much owned the class. Here's what he told me:

Listen: Andre Dignelli

"We're excited about offering this level of money and hoping that we can continue to raise the bar and see if others can match it," said Tom. "We're trying to make this week a finals horse show, where people put this on their calender early in the year."

It's on my calendar for 2013, but now I'm focusing on this autumn. I'm going to switch gears at the end of the month and head for Dressage at Devon. (Not to be confused with what the dressage folks call "Spring Devon" that is dominated by the hunters and jumpers.) Look for my next postcard on September 30.

Until then,

Question: I am doing a science fair project on the effects of conformation on the jumping horse. What points should I follow that would have the most significant effect on the way a horse jumps?

John: Unfortunately, I can’t answer this because it is based on looking at the entire horse—his balance and proportions—not just at specific parts.

Question: When evaluating a horse, which conformation faults are you most likely to dismiss in terms of suitability for athletic performance? Which faults do you consider most serious?

John: Most serious: uneven feet, low heels; curled-under heels; any indication of soft-tissue damage, like bowed tendons. Less serious: splints, cow hocked and toed out.

Question: It seems like conformational leg issues that you pointed out in your presentation did not, in general, cause lameness problems. Which leg conformation issues would you avoid?

John: Tied-in at the knee and over at the knee.

Question: Are there any conformational flaws you would absolutely stay away from?

John: Horrible feet, and I tend to stay away from horses who are over at the knee because it puts far too much stress on the tendons.

Question: Are "no heels" on a horse correctable?

John: They may be correctable, but it is very difficult and not always correctable. It takes a very good blacksmith and a lot of time. It is one of the defects that I really avoid. It is probably the most serious flaw in my mind.

Question: Is toeing in below the ankle an issue?

John: An issue? Yes. Deal breaker? Not necessarily. Though I have had better luck with horses who toe out than with horses who toe in. Every fault is an issue.

Question: What’s your opinion of a slight clubfoot defect?

John: Slight clubfeet don’t bother me too much. They can be managed with a good blacksmith.

Question: How do you see a good foot through bad farrier work?

John: Mostly, a good foot can survive a lot of bad farrier work. Though farriers get blamed for bad work when, many times, the horse just has bad feet. The best way to tell good feet in general is to try to look at it in the whole leg and how the lines all fit together and how the foot is attached to the leg.

Question: Big Ben had a lot of shoulder but it was pretty straight in angle. Same with Abdullah. What shoulder angle do you have the most success with?

John: I don’t look at shoulder angle by itself; you must step back and look at the bigger picture to see how the shoulder angle relates to the other angles and to the hind end to evaluate potential ability.

Question: How does the conformation of the horse's back affect jumping ability?

John: It has to do with balance and coordination. It’s too complicated to dissect to this level, which is why I like to look at it from a whole horse perspective and evaluate balance and proportions.

Question: What are the most common injuries in jumpers that you see as related to conformation?

John: Sore backs are an occupational hazard. Horses who have the structure and the power to do the job may have an increased tendency to hurt their backs.

Question: I've heard longer-backed horses are usually scopier. What is your experience with that?

John: I would agree, but any extremes can be detrimental. Long-backed horses can be hard to shorten and can be prone to back injuries.

Question: On a head with a lovely eye and nice well-set ears, what is your feeling about a slightly convex profile?

John: It wouldn’t be a deal breaker, but it is not my personal preference. I prefer slightly convex to slightly concave if I had to choose, but be careful that the horse is not obstinate.

Question: Are there any positives to a horse with a longer back line from the point of hip to the hock? She has a long tibia/fibula.

John: The ratio of that line to the cannon bone is important but it comes down to proportion. Too long can be a detriment because it becomes a mechanical disadvantage if the lever becomes too long and too much muscle is needed to move the bone.

Question: How much weight do you give to a horse's breeding? For example, Darko produced some wonderful offspring; would you ignore more conformation faults in a Darko baby just because of its breeding?

John: If the horse is a stallion or mare, it matters a little bit. However, I use breeding only to confirm thoughts or feelings that I already have to reconfirm the characteristics of the bloodline for conformation, soundness, scope, carefulness and temperament.

Question: What is given more weight in evaluating a jumper—breeding or type? Would you take on an unusual breed (e.g., Morgan/Thoroughbred ) if it was put together well?

John: Type is more important. If the horse in question was put together well, I would take it on, but the odds are against it. The characteristics of other breeds would probably preclude it. I have found that Thoroughbreds and warmbloods are the best suited for jumpers.

Question: Many winners of breeding classes don’t go on to win jumper or hunter classes. Why is that?

John: I think it is because the criteria are wrong as the pretty horse beat the well-put-together horses.

Question: Do you have a preference among stallions, geldings and mares?

John: No, no preference. But generally geldings are more tractable. Stallions can be more obstinate, and mares can be more temperamental. But all of those things can be seen as advantages or disadvantages.

Question: What are your thoughts on young horses who are very brave and truck around the ring like seasoned campaigners but who are not careful and get the occasional lazy rails?

John: There is no chance to improve on that. They can be nice horses for some jobs, but it will just get worse over time, in my opinion.

Question: Could you say something about horse size? All things being equal in terms of conformation and temperament, do you prefer one height over another?

John: 16.1–16.3 hands is ideal. Conformationally it makes the most sense because that is the size where you get enough leverage from length of the skeleton without overloading the skeleton with muscle to move the bone. It’s the most versatile package, in my opinion.

Question: How do you apply your principles when looking at, say, weanlings or really young horses who will change shape a lot?

John: Let them grow up a bit before evaluating them. For sure you can see major flaws at a young age, but for jumpers there are too many different types that are good that you should not preclude any young horse from being a good horse, barring a huge defect.

Watch a replay of the webinar “Evaluating Horse Conformation for Potential” with John Madden.

As of September 24, 2012

Team Roping (header)
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $119,928
2. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 108,061
3. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 97,941
4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. 94,322
5. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn. 89,046
6. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas 88,541
7. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont. 80,178
8. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont. 79,249
9. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas 73,308
10. Brock Hanson, Casa Grande, Ariz. 71,498
11. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. 71,232
12. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 69,968
13. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. 69,388
14. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif. 63,690
15. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. 60,551
16. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas 59,321
17. Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 58,810
18. Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo. 55,873
19. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga. 55,589
20. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo. 48,653

Team Roping (heeler)
1. Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas $121,428
2. Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. 103,970
3. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 92,822
4. Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev. 91,508
5. Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont. 88,546
6. Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas 80,573
7. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. 78,186
8. Paul Eaves, Millsap, Texas 76,604
9. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 74,278
10. Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas 73,308
11. Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz. 69,803
12. Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas 69,253
13. Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M. 62,529
14. Dugan Kelly, Paso Robles, Calif. 60,633
15. Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla. 60,551
16. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 59,044
17. Dakota Kirchenschlager, Stephenville, Texas 57,376
18. Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga. 56,986
19. Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas 53,164
20. Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas 49,772

All-around
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $213,847
2. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 136,573
3. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 115,908
4. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 95,361
5. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 94,668
6. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 85,681
7. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont. 81,340
8. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas 79,386
9. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 76,774
10. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 74,020
11. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 68,073
12. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 59,373
13. Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo. 53,899
14. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta 52,563
15. B.J. Campbell, Aguila, Ariz. 49,559
16. Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D. 48,891
17. Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M. 48,050
18. Clayton Moore, Pouce Coupe, British Columbia 46,690
19. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif. 43,003
20. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 36,501

Bareback Riding
1. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. $132,889
2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 127,069
3. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah 125,036
4. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 105,690
5. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. 99,338
6. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. 88,043
7. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas 85,779
8. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah 71,361
9. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas 64,480
10. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. 64,421
11. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 63,851
12. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore. 58,260
13. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo. 58,122
14. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla. 57,855
15. Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan. 51,391
16. Dusty LaValley, Bezanson, Alberta 48,800
17. Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas 46,572
18. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D. 46,058
19. Josi Young, Kimberly, Idaho 44,822
20. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash. 44,618

Steer Wrestling
1. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif. $87,039
2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb. 78,698
3. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 75,425
4. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas 74,787
5. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo. 68,422
6. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D. 63,810
7. Les Shepperson, Midwest, Wyo. 63,779
8. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. 62,453
9. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La. 61,826
10. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif. 60,591
11. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 57,592
12. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 54,726
13. Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont. 52,821
14. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah 48,014
15. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo. 45,797
16. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 43,887
17. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D. 43,697
18. Bray Armes, Gruver, Texas 43,526
19. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore. 42,815
20. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 41,309

Saddle Bronc Riding
1. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa $114,036
2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. 108,397
3. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah 106,120
4. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. 89,967
5. Cody Wright, casino Milford, Utah 82,339
6. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M. 75,067
7. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas 68,816
8. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. 67,932
9. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas 65,459
10. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 64,656
11. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 63,527
12. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 63,510
13. Sterling Crawley, College Station, Texas 61,821
14. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 52,325
15. Tyrell Smith, Cascade, Mont. 52,311
16. Luke Butterfield, Ponoka, Alberta 49,950
17. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 48,265
18. Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta 45,054
19. Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D. 44,770
20. Cody Angland, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia 40,567

Tie-down Roping
1. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas $138,935
2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 103,070
3. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas 99,171
4. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. 87,958
5. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 85,615
6. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 78,054
7. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas 74,906
8. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 74,280
9. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 72,032
10. Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas 70,181
11. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas 69,987
12. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 69,032
13. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 67,078
14. Ace Slone, Cuero, Texas 66,071
15. Bradley Bynum, Sterling City, Texas 65,148
16. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas 63,740
17. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. 62,589
18. Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah 51,890
19. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 51,001
20. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash. 50,519

Steer Roping
1. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas $62,745
2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 59,321
3. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 58,329
4. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 57,220
5. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 40,361
6. Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla. 38,373
7. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 37,376
8. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. 34,947
9. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 32,571
10. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz. 31,200
11. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 31,000
12. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas 29,439
13. Cody Scheck, Ellinwood, Kan. 28,070
14. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla. 27,897
15. Chris Glover, Keenesburg, Colo. 26,959
16. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla. 26,234
17. Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M. 25,375
18. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas 23,916
19. Cody Garnett, Barnsdall, Okla. 23,524
20. Howdy McGinn, North Powder, Ore. 21,808

Bull Riding
1. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas $141,290
2. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas 122,563
3. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas 108,970
4. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo. 100,274
5. Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo. 92,313
6. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 85,357
7. Cody Samora, Cortez, Colo. 79,510
8. Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla. 78,019
9. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash. 76,376
10. Cody Whitney, Sayre, Okla. 69,385
11. Beau Schroeder, China, Texas 66,527
12. Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla. 66,474
13. Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo. 65,979
14. Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 65,108
15. Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah 63,912
16. Corey Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 59,860
17. Chris Roundy, Spanish Fork, Utah 57,186
18. Cody Rostockyj, Hillsboro, Texas 54,800
19. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo. 53,529
20. Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah 51,655

*2012 Barrel Racing (through September 24, 2012)
Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings.
1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas $169,586
2. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta 126,550
3. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas 122,416
4. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas 115,808
5. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D. 86,722
6. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 83,503
7. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore. 81,359
8. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla. 79,326
9. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 71,575
10. Benette Barrington-Little, Ardmore, Okla. 67,515
11. Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah 63,681
12. Lee Ann Rust, Stephenville, Texas 61,587
13. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif. 60,756
14. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb. 56,892
15. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo. 53,693
16. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas 52,916
17. Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo. 51,960
18. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas 50,916
19. Sydni Blanchard, Tucumcari, N.M. 50,612
20. Liz Combs, Eltopia, Wash. 46,737

Earthquake Ike is a 14-year-old Appaloosa stallion that is a multiple national and world champion cutting horse.

Appaloosa
Some Kinda Shine, a 2005 Appaloosa stallion by Shine Of A Kind and out of Precious Lady D is the NRHA’s highest-earning Appaloosa, and his score of 225.5 at last spring’s Level 4 NRBC Open Classic, ridden by Matt Mills, was the highest score for an Appaloosa in the NRHA. Some Kinda Shine, owned by Frank Marley, III, of Florida, has more than $30,000 in earnings. Watch him online.

High Hand, bred in the late ’50s by rodeo clown Buddy Heaton, was a fixture in Heaton’s performances. He was a talented trick horse, but also competed and won in reining and cutting. It appears, however, that you can take the clown off the horse, but not out of him. High Hand was retired from shows when his clowning skills made themselves known: He had begun cutting cattle on his hind legs.

You probably wouldn’t expect to see an Appaloosa cut buffalo. Watch Earthquake Ike show off at earthquakeike.com.

Arabian
For many years, Arabian history and artifacts were displayed at the Arabian Horse Trust Museum in Colorado. In 2001, the contents of the museum were boxed up and archived until 2009, when the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries opened at the Kentucky Horse Park. The exhibit features interactive exhibits that transport visitors back in time, through the history of the breed. Go to purebredarabiantrust.com to explore the galleries and watch an introductory video.

Missouri Fox Trotter
President’s Stardust Princess, a triple-registered Missouri Fox Trotter, Pinto, and Spotted Saddle Horse, regularly competes in 4' to 4'3" open jumper division. Here she’s competing at an open jumping show in 2011 where she won six firsts and four division championships.

Morgan
Figure’s grandson, Black Hawk, was foaled in 1833 and sired more than 1,200 foals. Black Hawk’s son Ethan Allen-50 became the world’s fastest trotting stallion in 1867 when he won a race against the famous trotter Dexter.

In a book published in 1857, 10 years before Ethan Allen’s race with Dexter, an author mentioned the stir Ethan Allen and the Morgan breed was causing with his match races, saying, “The reputation of these horses since that period has spread incredibly, until at this moment, the rage for Morgans is comparable only to that which, a few years since, possessed the popular mind for the Morus multicaulis [mulberry tree] and still more recently, for Shanghai poultry or lop-eared rabbits.”

The University of Vermont is home to the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, which is dedicated to the breed’s preservation and improvement. Check out this video on the UVM Morgan Horse Farm.

Terry Muench and Cheatgrass.

Mustang
Wild Horse Annie (whose name was Velma Johnston) dedicated her life to the preservation of America’s Mustangs. She founded the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs & Burros, and a 2010 book about her life, Wild Horse Annie & The Last of the Mustangs, is being adapted for the silver screen.

BLM Mustang Cheatgrass and Teryn Muench won the 2010 Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover event. Watch their performance here.

Paint
Five Paint Horses with similar markings were selected to play the star of the movie, “Hildago.” Actor Viggo Mortenson bought his favorite, RJ Masterbug, and rode him at the movie premiere. Watch RJ Masterbug as he appears with his trainer in this short YouTube clip.

Colonels Nite Special (Gunners Special Nite, AQHA) earned Paint horses the international spotlight when Tom McCutcheon piloted the stallion to win the individual reining gold medal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Watch the winning run at youtube.com/watch?v=iksUAwJxbfQ. The pair also competed on the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the event.

POA
After founder Leslie Boomhower acquired Black Hand (so named because the spots on his loin appeared to be in the shape of a hand), he gathered Appaloosa spotted ponies from all over the country by placing a magazine ad in 1954. He and a small group of Iowa friends screened the applicants, rejecting those that did not fit the qualifications and standards he had set up using Black Hand as the type standard.

Robert Duvall and Wild Card Dun It.

Quarter Horse
Jack Anderson, an early resident of Grand Island, Nebraska recalled a race that ran in the late 1800s. He had 3-year-old mare he called a Quarter Horse, and a horsetrader from Missouri challenged him to a horse race. Each bet $100 on their horse. They chose a wagon road that happened to pass by the courthouse, which was in session (and distracted by the race). The judge had the two men brought to his courtroom as the race ended. “The old judge fined us $10 a piece for running on a public roadway. But I won the $100, and it cost the other fellow $110.” (From the history of Hall County, Nebraska.)

Quarter Horse speed lends itself well to many disciplines, and Bill Brewer points out that While Easy Jet is a legendary racing Quarter Horse, his bloodlines are favored by many rodeo cowboys who find they make great roping horses because of their speed and disposition.

Wild Card Dun It appeared in the Robert Duvall movie “Seven Days in Utopia.” Watch the trailer here.

Why should horse owners be concerned about forages for horses? Horses need to be fed at least 1 percent of their body weight daily (dry matter) in forage, and many receive more than 2 percent of their body weight per day in grass or hay. This means that a 1,000-pound horse may easily eat 15 to 20 pounds of hay per day, along with 3 to 6 pounds of a grain ration. When problems occur that relate to equine nutrition, owners usually look at the grain ration. However, when the vast majority of the horse’s diet is hay or grass, more attention should be paid to the role that forage for horses plays in equine nutrition.  Further, fresh grass and hay are quite different when it comes to nutritional value.  Horse owners need to understand factors that affect the quality of hay to make informed choices regarding forages for horses in their horses’ rations.

Quality of hay
Several factors affect the quality of hay, and therefore its nutrient content. The higher the hay quality, the better the horse will digest and absorb the nutrients.

Factors that affect hay quality include plant species, fertilization, maturity at time of harvest, plant species, season at which it is harvested, climate conditions, storage conditions and age (time since cutting). Maturity of the plant at time of harvest determines hay quality more than any other factor. Young, leafy, immature plants contain more protein, energy and minerals than older plants. As a plant matures, it contains more indigestible fiber (lignin), so it is less digestible and contains less protein, energy and minerals. For high-quality hay, plants should be harvested at the proper stage of maturity to ensure the highest nutrient content.

The type of plant species has an impact on the nutrient content of hay, but not as much as most horse owners believe.  For instance, alfalfa tends to have more protein, energy and calcium than grass hays, but research has shown that high-quality grass hay may actually provide more nutrients, such as essential amino acids, than low- to moderate-quality alfalfa. This is because fiber levels affect the digestion and absorption of protein in the horse’s GI tract; as fiber levels increase, the availability of essential amino acids from protein (and other nutrients) in the hay decreases.  Low to moderate-quality alfalfa may contain more crude protein than grass hay, but may also be higher in fiber so the protein may not be utilized as efficiently as the higher-quality grass hay.

Conditions that affect hay quality
Fertilization primarily affects yield per acre (by increasing the yield) rather than the nutrition of any single bale of hay. The season in which the hay is harvested may also affect quality. Digestibility is usually highest for forages harvested in the spring, somewhat lower in mid to late summer, and then may rise slightly in autumn. Climate conditions, such as excessive moisture or drought, can also affect hay quality, especially since climate can affect when the hay is cut. If conditions are not conducive to cutting when plants are at optimum maturity and the hay producer has to wait for better weather, the quality of the resulting hay will be affected.

Storage conditions and age (time since cutting) primarily affect the vitamin content of hays. Many vitamins are not stable over time and lose biological activity. Environmental conditions such as heat, sunlight and rain can hasten the loss of vitamin activity in hay.

Characteristics to look for in choosing high-quality hay include the following:

• High leaf to stem ratio (indicates less mature plants)

• Small diameter stems (less mature plants)

• Few seed heads or blooms (less mature plants)

• Fresh smell and appearance

• Cleanliness

• Color (faded, yellow or brown color may indicate aged hay or poor storage conditions)

Preparing a horse for competition takes much time, dedication, and attention to detail. We spend hours in the saddle in preparation for the show. We put forth the extra effort to groom, bathe, and braid so that our horses will look their best when we enter at “A.” But how much time do we spend evaluating our horses’ nutrient requirements? Do we pay as much attention to our feeding program and the nutrient requirements of horses as we do our warm-up routine? The decisions we make regarding a horse nutrition program can significantly affect performance, but many riders spend little time dwelling on this aspect of performance preparation. Dressage is a sport that requires the horse to execute precise maneuvers while maintaining relaxation, rhythm, and suppleness in all gaits, and an inadequate horse nutrition program that does not address the nutrient requirements of horses can limit the horse’s ability to offer the desired response to a rider’s aids. When feeding a dressage horse, our goal should be to provide adequate fuel for energy expenditure, replenish nutrients required for muscle repair and homeostasis, and support optimal health through an overall balanced diet. In this installment of a multi-part series on performance horse nutrition, we will discuss specific nutrient requirements of horses which are affected by exercise and how these nutrients affect a horse’s ability to perform.

Energy
Providing energy for work is one of the primary considerations when feeding a dressage horse in training. An average sized horse (1,100 lbs) working 3-5 hours per week will require an extra 6.6 Mcal for exercise above the daily maintenance energy requirement, or a total of 23.3 Mcal per day. However, the energy requirement of the dressage horse can be quite variable and is dependent on several factors, including the individual horse’s metabolism, temperament, the intensity and duration of the work, ambient temperature and humidity, and other management factors. For example, warmblood breeds tend to be more “metabolically efficient” and may require fewer calories to maintain bodyweight than a similar size Thoroughbred or other breed that tends to be more “metabolically inefficient.” The ability of the horse to maintain adequate body condition is a good indication of whether or not sufficient dietary energy is being provided. The ideal body condition of a dressage horse is a 5-6 on the Henneke body condition scale. If energy intake falls below energy expenditure (i.e., a “negative energy balance”), weight loss will occur. Sometimes this would be a desirable scenario, such as in the case of an overweight horse. However, for the hard-working horse, a negative energy balance should be avoided, as putting weight back on an exercising horse can prove to be challenging.

The primary means by which energy is supplied to the horse’s diet is through carbohydrates present in forages and grains. Dietary carbohydrates can be classified into two general categories: non-structural and structural carbohydrates. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) include sugars and starches that are digested in the small intestine, while structural carbohydrates include fibers that are digested in the hindgut (cecum and large colon). The end product of NSC digestion (blood glucose) serves as a readily available source of muscle fuel or can be stored as fat or glycogen. The end products of fiber digestion (volatile fatty acids) are used primarily for maintenance energy requirements.  They can also be utilized as fuel for exercise, but the process of converting fiber to muscle fuel is less efficient, takes much longer, and results in less overall energy production and storage. The major energy source for all cells in the body comes from the molecule ATP (adenosine triphosphate), and the primary substrates utilized for ATP production are blood glucose and glycogen (which is first broken down into individual glucose molecules). Therefore, it is essential that the exercising horse receive adequate levels of NSC in the diet in order to supply the blood glucose and glycogen necessary for ATP production, which in turn is necessary for muscle contraction and other processes in the body which require energy.

Much attention has recently been placed on “low starch” diets for horses, leaving some horse owners with the impression that dietary sugar and starch is harmful to horses and that they should eliminate as much NSC from the diet as possible. This misconception can result in some real problems for the exercising horse, as the most efficient way to replenish muscle glycogen is through dietary NSC. If a horse begins an exercise bout with inadequate muscle glycogen stores, the onset of fatigue will occur much more quickly and overall performance will suffer. In the case of a horse that has been diagnosed with a medical condition that interferes with normal glucose/insulin metabolism (i.e., insulin resistance, PSSM), fat and fiber should be relied upon as the primary sources of energy in the diet and NSC should be minimized. Specific feeding strategies for these types of horses will be discussed in the next installment of this series.

Research has identified the capacity of the small intestine to digest and absorb NSC prior to reaching the hindgut, and meals containing 2-4 g starch /kg bodyweight will minimize the risk of digestive upset due to excess carbohydrate reaching the cecum. A safe meal size depends on the starch content of the feed contained in that meal, and this would translate (at the conservative estimate of 2 g starch/kg bodyweight) to a 5 lb meal of oats (45% starch), a 7 lb meal of a typical sweet feed (30% starch) or a 22 lb meal of a high fat/fiber feed (10% starch) for an 1,100 lb horse. Of course, feeding 22 lbs of feed in one meal is not recommended due to the relatively small size of a horse’s stomach. A good rule of thumb for feeding grain concentrates is that no more than 0.5% of the horse’s bodyweight be fed in one meal (5.5 lbs for an 1,100 lb horse).

Fat, the other primary dietary energy source, contains 2.25 times more energy than an equal quantity of carbohydrate and is the most abundant source of stored energy in the horse’s body. Feeding fat increases the energy density of the diet, allowing for more calories per pound of feed to be delivered to horses needing to gain weight. Fat also provides essential fatty acids that are important components of all cell membranes and vital for skin, coat, and hoof health in addition to certain aspects of immune function. Different sources of fat contain different fatty acid profiles, and good quality sources of fat include vegetable and marine oils, flaxseed, and rice bran.

Provided at 5-10% of the total diet, dietary fat will affect exercise metabolism by increasing the utilization of fat as fuel for low-to-moderate intensity exercise. This increased fat utilization may have a “glycogen-sparing” effect, leaving more muscle glycogen available to be drawn upon during times of more intense energy expenditure (i.e., for an extended trot across the diagonal). Dietary fat also facilitates the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. There is a limit, however, to the amount of fat that can be digested and utilized by the horse, and the total fat content of the entire ration (including both the forage and the concentrate portion) should be no greater than 10%.

Water
Probably one of the most overlooked nutrients affected by exercise is water. A horse can ingest water either by drinking or by eating moist feed, which can contain anywhere between 10% (hays/grains) and 80% (fresh grass) water. A horse loses water through the urine, feces, respiratory tract, and sweat. Lactating mares will also lose water through milk. The loss of water through sweat is greatly affected by the environment, as a horse will lose 1-2 gallons of sweat per hour of moderate exercise at temperatures below 68°F and up to 3-4 gallons per hour at temperatures above 86°F. An exercising horse should consume 10-20 gallons (or more) of water per day in order to maintain proper hydration. Ensuring that water buckets and troughs stay clean and providing adequate electrolytes through the diet will promote water intake and help prevent dehydration.

Electrolytes
Electrolytes are not stored by the body and must be provided through the diet daily in order to replenish what is lost in sweat. Horse sweat contains a high concentration of the electrolytes sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl), followed by potassium (K) and relatively smaller amounts of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Maintaining a proper electrolyte balance is essential to support the horse’s thirst reflex, proper neuromuscular communication, and muscle contractility. The quantity of electrolytes lost in 1.5 gallons of sweat equates to approximately 16 g Na, 30 g Cl, and 8 g K. If you add the 1,100 lb horse’s maintenance requirement for electrolytes to these amounts, a total of about 26 g Na, 70 g Cl, and 33 g K per day would be required. Generally, these levels can be met by the horse’s diet if the daily ration consists of moderate quality forage (provided at a minimum of 1% of the horse’s bodyweight) and a fortified commercial grain mix (fed according to the manufacture’s directions) supplemented with 1-2 oz of plain white salt. Because forages generally contain 1-2% K, typical horse diets contain excess K and supplemental K in electrolyte preparations may not be necessary.

Supplemental salt should be provided via plain white non-iodized salt in block or loose form for free choice consumption, or it may be top-dressed (1 tbsp. plain salt provides 7.2 g Na and 11.1 g Cl). Horses have an internal mechanism that will drive salt consumption, but intake can be highly variable between horses. Horses are not natural lickers and may not be able to consume adequate amounts from a salt block. Providing loose salt for free-choice consumption or as a top-dress may be preferable to the block form. In hot/humid environments, additional NaCl supplementation may be warranted at levels up to 2 oz. of salt per hour of heavy sweating to account for the additional sweat quantity produced under these environmental conditions. Top-dressed salt may decrease palatability of the feed, and commercial electrolyte preparations often contain sweeteners to increase palatability. However, when choosing an electrolyte supplement, be sure that it contains NaCl rather than dextrose (sugar) as the primary ingredient. It should also be noted that over-supplementation of electrolytes should be avoided. Administering supplemental electrolytes to an already dehydrated horse can cause major problems, and repeated oral administration of electrolyte solutions has been shown to exacerbate gastric ulcers.

Protein
The working dressage horse does have an increased requirement for total daily protein, but this can usually be met by the increased feed intake necessary to meet energy demands. Consequently, the concentration of protein in the diet does not necessarily need to increase when a horse is in training and/or competition, unless a significant amount of the energy is being supplied by a 100% fat supplement (i.e., vegetable oil). However, the quality of protein provided by the diet is extremely important. Not all protein is created equal, and horses actually have an “amino acid” requirement rather than a “protein” requirement. Certain amino acids such as lysine and threonine have been identified as major components of muscle protein and are essential for growth, proper muscle development, and muscle repair. Feeding a commercially prepared concentrate containing high-quality protein sources such as soybean and alfalfa meal, along with additional individual amino acids, will promote muscle tone and a strong topline. Very often, horses in low to moderate work that are also easy keepers (i.e., lower level dressage horses or horses in semi-retirement) are fed a diet which is protein/amino acid deficient. These horses do not require many additional calories and oftentimes are fed a diet consisting of primarily grass hay and a 10-12% grain mix at less than 3 lbs per day. These horses have plenty of rib cover, and may even be overweight at a 6.5-7 body score, but they have a poorly developed topline, especially over the loin, due to protein and amino acid deficiency. These types of horses would benefit from a ration balancer supplement in place of a typical grain mix, as ration balancers are formulated to be fed at 1-2 lbs per day and supply the necessary protein, vitamin, and minerals needed for work without supplying unnecessary calories.

Feeding excess protein to performance horses can also be a common scenario, especially for horses with high energetic demands. This may occur when high quality alfalfa or alfalfa mix hays are fed in large quantities or when protein supplements are added to a diet that already contains adequate protein. The horse is fairly tolerant of a moderate excess of protein in the diet, as excess nitrogen from the amino acids will be converted to ammonia and eliminated through the urine. Increased urine output increases the horse’s need for water, and if adequate water is not available, the horse will be at risk of dehydration. In addition, increased urine output can be problematic for horses that are stalled, as exposure to aerial ammonia can be irritating to the respiratory tract. Athletic performance seems to be affected only when the total protein level of the diet approaches 25%, which will result in increased sweat loss, heart rate, and respiratory rate. To prevent negative effects of protein excess, the total protein concentration of the performance horse diet should be kept between 10-16%.

Vitamins and Minerals
Again, the increased vitamin and mineral needs of the exercising horse can generally be met when a well fortified diet providing sufficient energy is being fed. That being said, feeding a concentrate from a reputable feed manufacturer formulated specifically for the performance horse will insure that these needs are being met. It becomes more problematic for an owner to meet the horse’s vitamin and mineral needs through straight grains and/or individual supplements, due to the complex nature of balancing a diet for proper nutrient levels and ratios. One vitamin that becomes especially important during exercise is Vitamin E, an antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals produced during exercise. Free radicals can be particularly damaging to healthy muscle tissue, and a minimum level of 1000 IU per day should be fed to the moderately exercising horse. There is some evidence that Vitamin E supplied at levels up to 3000 IU/day may provide additional benefit, especially for horses suffering from neurological or muscle abnormalities.

Bottom Line
Special considerations must be made when feeding the performance horse, but planning a nutrition program does not have to be complicated. In general, providing a minimum of 1-2 lbs of quality forage per 100 lbs of bodyweight (on a dry matter basis) per day and pairing it with a quality commercial concentrate specifically formulated for the performance horse is a good place to start. Concentrates, when formulated by trained equine nutritionists, will already contain the energy sources, protein (with the correct amino acid balance), vitamins, and minerals in the proper amounts and proportions to support the specific needs of the performance horse. It becomes more difficult to provide a balanced diet when “piecing together” a diet from several different ingredients, due to the various nutrient deficiencies and imbalances inherent in whole grains and individual ingredients. In addition, many well-meaning owners take the “more is better” approach by over-supplementing specific nutrients, creating additional problems. By taking the time to understand the exercising horse’s nutrient requirements, you can more effectively choose a nutrition program that will complement your training program. Seeking advice from professionals, just as you would for help with your training program, is also a good option when you have a specific question. For example, Purina^® Mills offers customer support and access to their Ph.D. nutritionists for assistance with your feeding program (visit “Ask the Experts” at http://horse.purinamills.com/). You will know when your feeding program is right, because your horse’s coat will shine, he will have the correct muscle definition according to his level of exercise, and he will have the energy and stamina to easily make it through a training session or dressage test. All of these things complement an effective training program, because when a horse looks and feels his best, he will also be able to perform at his best.

About 90 percent of dressage riders are female according to the U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF), so it is no wonder that breast cancer awareness and breast cancer fundraising have become hot topics in our world. Champions of the cause—from individuals to multimillion-dollar corporations—are creating charity organizations, products and events at an incredible rate. Here are just a few examples of how members of the dressage community are helping to support breast cancer research, awareness and treatments: the Purina Pink 50 Campaign, The Challenge of the Americas, the PVDA Ride for Life, Dressage for the Cure at the Peak, Dressage for the Cure, SSG® Riding Gloves for Hope or Smartpak’s SmartPink™ - learn more about each:

The Challenge of the Americas (COTA) has taken the charity dressage event to a new level. In addition to acting as a fundraiser, it has helped expand the base of spectator-friendly dressage events and brought together members of the sport’s community. This annual Florida event features freestyles by some of the top riders in the world, a Grand Prix quadrille and a formal sold-out formal gala. COTA brings the who’s who of dressage together for low-stress, exhibition-style performances. “Each year, the challenge and gala bring in more people and more excitement, and it is so important that we acknowledge and help in the fight against breast cancer,” says Mary Ross, founder and chairman of COTA. “This is a disease that affects so many lives, and I am so proud of the impact we are able to have as we raise money for the Foundation.” Since its inception, the event has raised over $1.2 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. “My mother, who died of breast cancer, was my inspiration for this event,” says Ross, “I wanted to do something extraordinary in her memory. I am so thankful to each person who has helped transform the challenge from a luncheon performance with three horses into the international exhibition it is today.”

The Potomac Valley Dressage Association’s (PVDA) Ride for Life in Maryland also started with humble beginnings. Breast cancer survivor Pat Artimovich organized a one-day recognized show in 2004 to raise money for the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center in Baltimore, Maryland. In the past seven years, the show has grown to a weekend-long event with a Saturday evening Dancing Horse Challenge (involving upper-level horses and riders performing to music) and gala. Despite the weakened economy, the horse show is famous for filling up fast. Competitors bring funds they have raised, similar to a walk-a-thon, and the sold-out gala, charity auction and Dancing Horse Challenge donations have helped raise more than $315,000 to date.

On the other side of the country, the two-day recognized dressage show in Colorado, Dressage for the Cure at the Peak, also continues to grow from small beginnings and big ideas. Started in 2005 at a barn in Littleton, Colorado, the show was the brainchild of Donna Baxter to give a friend “something to live for” after her cancer diagnosis.

“The concept came to me the night I heard that my best friend, Renée Coble, a fellow dressage enthusiast and instructor, was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer,” says Baxter. “I had recently relocated due to work and wasn’t there with her when she was diagnosed. The prognosis wasn’t great from the start and, since I was alone, I consoled myself the only way I knew how: I went to the barn. On my way there, I came up with the idea of having a dressage show. The proceeds would be donated to a breast cancer fund/charity of Renée’s choosing.”

At first, it was just a local Rocky Mountain Dressage Society (RMDS) show. Today it has grown so big that it has moved to Colorado Springs, becoming Dressage for the Cure at the Peak, and is now a qualifying competition for the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Young Horse Program. Since its first year, the event has raised more than $50,000.

Baxter explains, “As Renée was going through her breast cancer treatments, she realized there was a niché that was being overlooked. She discovered that middle-income women and men faced with the same ailment were having to chose between getting treatments and providing everyday necessities for their families like food, shelter, utilities and day care. She decided to create her own fund to help those individuals cope and survive.” Hence, Renée’s Friends Fund (RFF) was born (reneesfriendsfund.org). Since its inception, RFF has provided more than $323,000 in financial assistance to people facing the challenges of living with breast cancer.

In 2011, Dressage for the Cure at the Peak moves to the Colorado Horse Park and will now fund the non-profit support group Sense of Security. Dressage for the Cure will return as an additional fundraising dressage show in the area. It will continue to support RFF. Both Sense of Security and RFF provide local breast cancer patients with everyday living expenses while they are in treatment (senseofsecurity.org).

These events have grown the spectator-oriented angle while other fundraisers take a different approach, encouraging one-on-one and grass-roots participation.
For example, 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale of Smartpak’s SmartPink^™ line of horse wear (clothing, halters, etc.) goes to support the cause. So far, the total exceeds $50,000 (smartpakequine.com).

SSG^® Riding Gloves for Hope donates $2 from each pair of gloves sold in the country of purchase to breast cancer charities (ssgridinggloves.com/hope-glove).

Feed company Purina recently encouraged equestrians to “think pink” during its 2010 Purina Pink 50 Campaign to raise awareness and support for breast cancer research. It hosted 50 equestrian-related fundraisers for the cause around the country and produced limited-edition pink feed bags, donating a portion of the proceeds (purinamills.com/Pink50).

Thanks to the tireless commitment of people, groups and companies, breast cancer fundraising and awareness have grown exponentially within the dressage world. Certainly, many of the philanthropists involved in equestrian-related efforts focused on ending breast cancer will continue to provide support in every way they can until a cure is found. Until then, we are likely to see more spectacular fundraisers crop up as members of the dressage community continue to grow as a family and work toward fighting this disease in every creative way they can.

Anatomy of a Donation

By Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS

When donations are made to promote breast cancer research and awareness, where do they go? In the case of the PVDA’s Ride for Life, the funding comes to us at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Here is how the funds (in excess of $300,000) have helped:

Partial funding for a breast surgical oncology fellowship. This certifies a general surgeon to be a surgical oncologist and within that specialty, a breast surgical oncologist. The specific funding from the Ride for Life was dedicated to quality-of-life research. In 2008, Dr. Anna Voltura was the recipient and spent one year at Hopkins. Afterward, she returned home to New Mexico and opened a breast center and served as the director of the breast program, specializing in underserved women in that region. By the end of 2010, the number of women she had operated on exceeded 800. This year, Dr. Eman Sbaity is the first woman to be placed into a breast surgical oncology fellowship with the goal of learning how to diagnose and treat breast cancer in Lebanon. No reconstruction has ever been done there, and she is currently learning those techniques to be able to provide patients with a whole silhouette after mastectomy surgery is performed. She is also learning how to do core biopsies and clinical breast exams and communication skills with patients.

Some $2,000 was used as supplemental funding to cover travel expenses for me to go to the Middle East and conduct educational programs for doctors with breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women in Arabic countries. Currently, the mortality rate is above 85 percent, and most are diagnosed in their 30s and 40s.

Supplemental funds from the PVDA Ride for Life have been used to enable formal studies on the quality of life for those in the final stages of breast cancer. Additionally, we have been conducting retreats for these women since 2008, and this funding has helped develop programs to ease their physical and emotional pain—making sure that wishes are known, documenting them, teaching how to get closure with family, friends and oneself as they approach the end of their life.

A survivorship care program also has received funding. It teaches nurse practitioners, primary care physicians and gynecologists the long-term care needs of breast cancer patients. This is essential because, as of 2010, the number of cancer patients diagnosed exceeded the number of oncology specialists needed to treat them. The shortage of oncology specialists is anticipated to be between 41 and 48 percent by 2020.

Fundraising Tips from the North Carolina Caravan for the Cure

By Tanya Horning

To date, our breast cancer fundraising group, called the North Carolina Caravan for the Cure—seven equestrians and six supporters—has raised more than $25,000. Here are four steps we followed that can help any equestrian fundraising group, large or small:

1. Form a group that shares a goal. It doesn’t matter who is involved as long as they have passion. We came together as one team and had a lot of fun, even though the riders came from different farms and backgrounds (eventing, catch rider, dressage novice, U.S. Dressage Federation and Pan American Games gold medalists).

2. Ask friends and family to donate to your effort.

3. Host an event to raise money. For example, our group hosted a Fix-a-Test Clinic and Fun Day. This event included good food, a silent auction and shopping opportunities. The day was a lot of fun for all the horse people in attendance.

4. Solicit corporate sponsors for donations, advertising and support whenever your fundraising might offer the opportunity. For example, at any event there are many wonderful chances to advertise (in a show program, with ringside banners or by sponsoring awards with logos) and at the same time support a worthy cause.

This article was originally printed in the March 2011 issue of Dressage Today. To gain up-to-the-minute access to all Dressage Today has to offer, consider subscribing.

Sept. 4, 2011 -- Everything was as usual at the Hampton Classic over the last five days: The VIP tent was full to bursting with the fancy dress see-and-be-seen party crowd, and the gorgeous grand prix field continued to be one of the best show jumping arenas anywhere, while former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and current Mayor Michael Bloomberg arrived to delight photographers as always. And, oh yes, McLain Ward won the $250,000 FTI grand prix for the third consecutive year and a record sixth time since 1998. But more about that later.

Looking around today, who would have thought that a week ago, the Classic was hovering on the brink of disaster, its first three days cancelled because of Hurricane turned Tropical Storm Irene?

Basking in today"s perfect weather, one of the show officials chuckled, "Irene who?" But the wild weather was no laughing matter when it began wreaking havoc on the East Coast, only days before the show was set to begin last Sunday.

Faced with the prospect of disaster, the show"s executive director, Shanette Barth Cohen and her crew, had no choice but to take down all the tents and anything that could be blown away, which was nearly everything.

"We built a city, and we tore it down," as the show"s president, Dennis Suskind, put it.

In a remarkable display of determination, all hands were on deck once the storm passed (it was mostly wind, not so much rain out here) to make the tent city rise again so the show could go on.

I talked with Shanette (who never seems ruffled) about how the show was able recoup so fast.

Listen: Shanette Barth Cohen

By Monday night, the first horses were able to move in, and somehow the show managed to include nearly everything in its eight-day schedule into five days.

McLain gave a big thank you to everyone involved in recouping his favorite show. And then he did better than that. He opened the big bottle of Roederer Cristal champagne that was one of his many prizes and insisted everyone involved have a glass of the fizzy stuff as it foamed out after a joyous "pop."

McLain also deserves a toast for his incredible record. He was aboard Antares F, his current number one mount, since Sapphire -- who took the 2009 and 2010 renewals of the FTI -- stopped competing several months ago after a slight injury and is being saved for next year"s march to the London Olympics.

Antares was a dramatic winner; the stunning gray (who also won Friday"s grand prix qualifier) is a treat to watch at speed, and he poured it on in the seven-horse jump-off over Guilherme Jorge"s well-built course, complete with the hedges that are a traditional Classic feature.

As the party went on in the VIP tent behind him, Kent focused on ridiing Uceko, who was second in the grand prix.

Photo © 2011 Lawrence J. Nagy

Kent Farrington set the pace with his American Invitational and Hickstead grand prix winner Uceko, a dark dappled gray who came through the finish line in 32.96 seconds.

It was a mark that looked impossible to beat -- unless you were McLain Ward.

"Kent has always been a thorn in my side in the best way. He has made me a far better rider and made me be a lot sharper," said McLain with a generous smile.

"I thought it was going to be tough to catch Kent. I went in trying, I never give in."

He knew Kent had done eight strides to the third jump, after the solid ASPCA wall obstacle. McLain thought maybe he could catch him there, but he didn"t like the way he and Antares handled the wall.

In that instant, however, he said, "Oh well, I"ll have to commit. I wasn"t really riding for second." Putting in what he said was "basically the same round," that resulted in a clocking of 32.78 seconds, McLain commented, "I got him by a hair."

After the show, McLain and I chatted about Antares and another topic.

Listen: McLain Ward

The jump-off was really a two-horse contest for first place. The only other clear belonged to the first Russian rider to compete at the Classic, Ljubov Kochetova. I"ve seen her a lot in Wellington, and she knows how to put in a trip free of jumping faults, though I wouldn"t classify her as a speedster.

This time, she was riding a 7-year-old Oldenburg, Royce, the youngest horse in the class, and came home with a time of 40.11 to take the yellow third-place ribbon, which she proudly pinned on her jacket.

Well, the PRCA's regular season is over, and the dust is settling as the PRCA prepares to release its official qualifiers for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It looks like Arizona's Derrick Begay and Cesar de la Cruz are heading to the finals in the number-one spot, but with a tight field nipping at their heels.

Stick with Spin To Win Rodeo for your latest world standings, straight from the PRCA. (As of September 26, 2011)

Team Roping (header)
1. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. $118,754
2. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. 116,668
3. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 88,534
4. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz. 87,590
5. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 85,541
6. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas 83,248
7. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif. 79,950
8. Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont. 79,157
9. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz. 77,163
10. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore. 74,666
11. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas 73,434
12. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 70,328
13. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas 69,782
14. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 67,643
15. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 65,210
16. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont. 60,119
17. Joel Bach, Millsap, Texas 58,266
18. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. 56,970
19. Arky Rogers, Lake City, Fla. 55,166
20. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn. 54,822

Team Roping (heeler)
1. Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz. $118,754
2. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 116,668
3. Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 98,357
4. Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas 91,368
5. Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. 88,505
6. Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas 83,248
7. Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif. 79,950
8. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. 79,157
9. Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas 77,179
10. York Gill, Memphis, Tenn. 72,582
11. Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M. 72,260
12. Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo. 71,487
13. Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas 70,328
14. Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga. 67,643
15. Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 65,210
16. Allen Bach, Weatherford, Texas 58,266
17. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 53,097
18. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 52,448
19. Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont. 50,096
20. Justin Wade Davis, Cottonwood, Calif. 47,957

All-around
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $239,505
2. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash. 119,044
3. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 87,246
4. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 85,154
5. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas 84,064
6. Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M. 77,900
7. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 76,414
8. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 73,831
9. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 65,738
10. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 65,614
11. Stan Branco, Chowchilla, Calif. 56,743
12. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta 55,481
13. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 52,959
14. Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah 49,003
15. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 47,412
16. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 47,176
17. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 46,268
18. Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah 39,763
19. Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D. 39,468
20. Jesse Sheffield, Delta, Colo. 38,613

Bareback Riding
1. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah $140,660
2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 137,634
3. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 99,472
4. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash. 92,738
5. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore. 90,027
6. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas 83,130
7. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 79,627
8. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore. 79,174
9. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 74,999
10. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo. 73,118
11. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas 72,791
12. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas 70,820
13. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho 65,429
14. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas 65,399
15. Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo. 60,880
16. Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz. 55,910
17. Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas 52,443
18. Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas 51,909
19. Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan. 50,778
20. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. 47,845

Steer Wrestling
1. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb. $100,511
2. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif. 96,838
3. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 87,740
4. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo. 83,705
5. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore. 79,622
6. Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla. 74,546
7. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. 73,245
8. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D. 71,905
9. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore. 69,731
10. Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho 69,116
11. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 61,621
12. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D. 59,123
13. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo. 57,686
14. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla. 55,243
15. Mickey Gee, Wichita Falls, Texas 54,776
16. Stan Branco, Chowchilla, Calif. 53,118
17. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo. 52,049
18. Darrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas 48,200
19. Dru Melvin, Ponca City, Okla. 47,969
20. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif. 47,592

Saddle Bronc Riding
1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. $155,443
2. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah 147,940
3. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa 113,782
4. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas 87,990
5. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah 80,413
6. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. 78,891
7. Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D. 76,859
8. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La. 68,136
9. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas 58,133
10. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. 54,607
11. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn. 54,544
12. Ty Atchison, Jackson, Mo. 53,432
13. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. 46,478
14. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas 45,017
15. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 44,141
16. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 44,056
17. Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah 43,663
18. Tyrell Smith, Great Falls, Mont. 41,968
19. Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D. 41,393
20. Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta 41,002

Tie-down Roping
1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas $145,311
2. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. 114,946
3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 92,014
4. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 88,867
5. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas 84,688
6. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas 80,340
7. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash. 80,044
8. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 73,722
9. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas 70,748
10. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas 70,344
11. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 67,622
12. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 65,288
13. Jerrad Hofstetter, Portales, N.M. 65,109
14. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 64,327
15. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas 64,070
16. Justin Macha, Needville, Texas 62,425
17. Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas 60,516
18. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas 55,318
19. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas 54,607
20. E.J. Roberts, Stephenville, Texas 53,498

Steer Roping
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $77,162
2. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 66,257
3. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 65,272
4. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas 61,627
5. Will Gasperson, Decatur, Texas 36,444
6. Scott Snedecor, Fredricksburg, Texas 36,158
7. Bryce Davis, Abilene, Texas 35,557
8. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 35,552
9. Cody Scheck, Kiowa, Kan. 33,978
10. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla. 33,524
11. Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla. 31,111
12. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. 29,924
13. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz. 26,886
14. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 26,775
15. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 25,520
16. Shay Good, Midland, Texas 24,433
17. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas 22,094
18. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas 22,081
19. Walter Priestly, Robstown, Texas 21,295
20. Shandon Stalls, McLean, Texas 20,703

Bull Riding
1. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash. $171,778
2. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas 131,044
3. Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah 100,250
4. Jacob O’Mara, Prairieville, La. 94,879
5. Clayton Foltyn, El Campo, Texas 94,221
6. Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla. 84,760
7. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla. 76,089
8. Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo. 75,473
9. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. 73,314
10. Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas 72,972
11. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo. 71,125
12. Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah 70,221
13. Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo. 69,154
14. L.J. Jenkins, Porum, Okla. 67,853
15. Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla. 67,420
16. Allen Helmuth, Ellensburg, Wash. 62,670
17. Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Utah 61,174
18. Bryan Richardson, Dallas, Texas 59,562
19. John Jacobs, Timber Lake, S.D. 56,741
20. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 53,060

*Barrel racing (through Sept. 26, 2011)
Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings.
1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas $114,805
2. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta 104,885
3. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 90,241
4. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore. 87,961
5. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas 85,522
6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 80,380
7. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho 78,819
8. Jody Sheffield, South Weber, Utah 68,314
9. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla. 66,596
10. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan. 64,303
11. Jane Melby, Backus, Minn. 63,139
12. Britany Fleck, Bismarck, N.D. 63,133
13. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif. 61,714
14. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D. 61,421
15. Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas 60,588
16. Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M. 58,004
17. Tana Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. 55,275
18. Lee Ann Rust, Stephenville, Texas 52,970
19. Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo. 52,481
20. Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo. 52,111

Every horse has a personality. Anyone who’s spent some time in the saddle knows as much. But a good calf horse? Usually they’re all business. Obviously, a tie-down roping run requires an advanced level training and discipline on the part of the horse:

1. Begin as still as a statue while a calf—the object of your pursuit—is given a head start.
2. Upon release, run as fast as possible, catch up with the calf, follow it wherever it goes and rate it’s speed.
3. When the loop goes on, stop immediately and smoothly, perhaps quartering off slightly to allow the rider to dismount.
4. Pedal backwards as the roper flanks and ties the calf.
5. Keep the rope tight until the tie is made.
6. Allow your rider to remount and ride forward to put slack in the rope for six seconds to make sure the calf is tied.

The successful training of a calf horse results in a machine-like animal. Calf horses operate at such a high level that anything with a distracted or playful attitude does not fit the profile. You don’t become friends with a calf horse. You’re business partners.

Joseph Parsons’ Big Iron is an exception. At the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo, as fellow tie-down roper Mike Arnold was preparing to run, Big Iron reached out, grabbed his back number and yanked it off. You almost expected him to run away, flinging his head in the air as if to say, ‘Catch me if you can!’

"Outside of the arena, he’s just like a pet," Parsons said. "If you’re standing by him, he’ll put his nose on your shoulder, or he’ll nibble on you or bite your arm. Always playing around, he’ll pick a brush up or tip your roping bale over. He’s kind of a nuisance. He’s always on you and wanting you to pet him or he’ll bite you. He’s just got a lot of personality."

But he’s also got a lot of skill. Bred by Dr. Bob Patterson in Millsap, Texas, Docs Hot Express, as he’s registered with the American Quarter Horse Association, ended up with Seven-Time All-Around and Two-Time World Champion Tie-Down Roper Trevor Brazile. In his program, the horse became finished, but was still young. When he was six years old, Parsons bought him just after the Dodge City rodeo in 2008.