Showing sport horses in hand

Skip to resources on Showing in Hand

Bob and I spent a good part of last summer taking Riley (my yearling hanoverian, left) to breed shows. Although I was counseled against taking him out as an awkward yearling, it was a great experience. Everyone was helpful and friendly, from the show management to the competitors to the judges. At Fair Hill, we ran out of hay for Riley. A passerby heard us talking about it, and two minutes later, he plopped a bale in front of us. He wouldn't take any payment but said we could return what we didn't use. If you're thinking about showing your youngster, I can tell you that it was fun and educational.

Handler Recommendation
Oh, and BTW, if you need a handler, Bruce Griffin (Bruce Griffin Sport Horses) and his wife Staci are terrific. Bruce was recently featured in the January 2008 Dressage Today, and I had not realized the extent of his experience and reputation. They're professional, down to earth, and very busy at these shows!

Something missing...
In the midst of the fun and excitement of the show, though, we realized something was missing. Most of the competitors are breeders, and they have a coterie of assistants to help manage their stock. Each barn had its own polo shirts with farm logos (like the one pictured left). It looked super sharp. Bob and I had on what we had hoped would be suitable for a breed show, t-shirts and cargo shorts. We weren't all matchy-matchy, and we lacked a logo. Bob joked that it was like trying to compete without the team's uniform.

Breed show fashionistas, 2008
This year, we are so ready. Did you know that you can custom design these shirts online? Well, that's what we did, and now we have matching polo shirts with the logo pictured opposite. Harvster Farm is of course, named in recognition of Harvey, our farm's foundation gelding. Well, actually, there is no farm, at least not in terms of actual land--we live in a half-twin in the suburbs. I guess we're like those impressive sounding companies that are actually just a post office box. Well, no farm, but lots of espirit de corps. See you at Fair Hill!

SHOWING SPORT HORSES IN HAND: A RESOURCE LIST

USDF Showing a sport horse in hand video (review of a video)

In-Hand: A Practical Guide to Preparing & Showing Your Horse by K.J. Fitzgerald (book)

Presenting a horse at a breed show article by Scott Hassler from Equisearch

Taming the triangle: How to Show Sport Horses In-hand by an arabian sport horse handler

Showing your horse in hand from Nebraska Dressage

ONLINE VIDEOS Devon breed show classes 2007 from www.dressageclinic.com.
No guidance here, you can watch watch top handlers in action (a great educational tool)

Where are they now? Does success in hand lead to success under saddle? USDF Connection, July 2005
An interesting article about long term success of breed show winners.

The most useful information that I found was on bulletin boards, especially the Chronicle of the Horse and Uncouthbb.

Chronicle postings
In hand showing: the triangle
Sport horse in hand. Blemishes?
USDF Sport horse in hand: expenses
Bitting the two year old for in hand classes

Uncouthbb in hand showing forum
This bulletin board has a whole forum on showing in hand.

Armchair veterinarian: Equine research for the non-vet

Skip to equine veterinary links.

In 8th grade I refused to dissect a worm in science class. In fact, I refused to watch. Temperament-wise, I'd much rather read about how to deliver a foal than to actually deliver one. So despite an all-consuming passion for animals, veterinary science was not a career option. Reference librarians, on the other hand, read and study endlessly on many specialized topics not in their area of expertise. As a grownup reference librarian, I don't have to be a veterinarian to "play one on TV." I do a lot of research my own horse's ailments. One might think that being armed with knowledge is a good thing. I'm not sure my veterinarians would agree.


Case in point: In 2006, Riley showed signs of tummy problems--yawning and chewing wood -- so I called the vet in. By the time she came to the farm, I'd searched Google and online databases for Index Medicus and Index Veterinarius. I'd learned the basic facts and my reading inspired a host of new, more difficult questions. I didn't ask "how do you test for ulcers?" I asked "would you expect blood fibringen levels to be elevated in colonic ulceration?" The young vet who came to the farm found this very tiresome, and she actually rolled her eyes at one point. Humphf! Okay, I'd gone too far. My favorite vet, Dr. W, seems not only to tolerate, but to enjoy my questions. Go figure.

Are you an armchair vet?
As much I hate worrisome and expensive horse ailments, I love researching veterinary topics. Equus magazine comes to our house every month, and I have an electronic subscription to The Horse. There's a LOT of horse information on the Internet, but you don't always know if it is authoritative. I like to find info from vet schools and extension agencies. The former tends to publish the latest findings on relevant topics. The sites below are credible and authoritative, plus the veterinary Web sites and newsletters report on unpublished/ongoing research.

Veterinary School and Institute Newsletters


Equine Science Center from Rutgers University
Rating: ****
Gotta see this one! Includes Q and A advice column, news, research reports, white papers, and learning opportunities.

Horsequest from Penn State University
Rating: ****
Sometimes extension publications are a little basic. Not these, look at topics such as equine muscle fiber types, equine thermoregulation, and blood pumping mechanism of the horse. Lots of information here. Can search by keyword, browse subject, or view popular articles.

Equine Health publications from University of California - Davis
Rating: ****
Includes the Horse Report, published quarterly, and other publications.
Each issue covers a different topic, e.g., colic, suspensory injurie, and global health of the sport horse. The Research Review reports on current research at the school. Polished and authoritative.

Equine Hospital Newsletter from Colorado State University
Rating: ****
This is the second of what is apparently an annual newsletter. The current issue provides a detailed case study, replete with graphic surgery pix and descriptions of state of the art techniques. Worth watching for the next edition!

Equinews from Kentucky Equine Research, Inc.
Rating: ****
Geared toward horse owners, this newsletter covers relevant topics and provides up to date research summaries.

Equine E-News from Ohio state University
Rating: ****
One article per newsletter, fairly detailed, and very topical. For example, the current article is about feeding during drought.


Horse Health page from American Association of Equine Practitioners
Rating: ****
White papers from the Equine Research Coordination Group (ERCG) on topics such as laminitis, osteoarthritis, and the equine genome.

Horse and mule publications from University of Missouri extension
Rating: ****
Publications are geared toward the middle of the road owner -- each article goes beyonod the basics, but is not super-technical. Topics like controlling internal parasites, what is a splint, determining a horse's age, and cold shoeing.

Poisonous Plants Database from Cornell University
Rating:****
Great resource, searchable database.

Publications from Texas A&M University
Rating: ***
Includes online video, press releases, and publications from TAMU. Topics seem to focus on disaster preparedness.

Equine AoE Team from Michigan State University
Rating: ***
See a) the veterinary extension section (view articles and bulletins), and b) adult horse extension (publications and newsletter links). The veterinary extension articles are geared to practitioners, adult articles are geared to owners. Good articles, some unique information not readily found elsewhere.

Pet Columns (Equine) from University of Illinois
Rating: ***
Basically a long list of well-crafted, brief articles on horse health on topics like tying up, colic, EPM, foaling, dental care, wobbler syndrome, summer and winter health.

Horse Extension from University of Minnesota
Rating:***
“Unbiased research for horse owners.” Great resource on issues such as blanketing and round bale management, check out the Horse Team newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter too.

Southwest PA Equine News
Rating: ***
Brief news articles from a variety of resources. Required reading for horse owners in SW PA, but there are also good general articles and announcements.

Penn State Horse Newsletter
Rating: ***
Focuses on current news in equine management and trends affecting the horse industry. Also seminar/training announcements. Make sure to look at the publications link for great stuff like stall design, fire safety, and stable flooring.


DVM News magazine of Veterinary Medicine
Rating: ***
Geared toward vets, see equine link on main page for news and medical topics. Also a link for veterinarians to find out the latest in managing an equine practice.

Equine Veterinary Management
Rating: ***
Geared to veterinarians, information on practice management and trends in the industry. Good for anyone considering a veterinary career.

My Equine Network
Rating: ***
No indication of who authors this site, which makes me nervous. However, Myequinenetwork collects news from authoritative sources that can be viewed by date or category, plus you can get news feeds by category (see syndication link).

Equine Disease Quarterly from University of Kentucky
Rating: ****
Great publication, timely topics, authoritative reports with statistics and analysis. Emphasis is on equine public health as opposed to practical tips for owners.

Equine News from Washington State University
Rating: ***
Geared toward residents of Washington State, this newsletter includes research reports, announcements, practical tips, and new drugs and treatments.

OSU E-Equine from Oklahoma State University
Rating: **
Basic info for the first time owner.

Southern Illinois Equine Information Newsletter
Rating: **
Fairly basic information geared to new horse owners.

Equine Newsletter from Louisiana State University
Rating: **
A mixture of practical information and public relations for the program. Available as an enewsletter.

The Mighty Thoroughbred Clique

Disclaimer: I don't personally know any of the MTC members and only met this one through my interest in the Web site. I'm happy to recognize a grass roots effort to help thoroughbreds.

Late last year, I was shopping online for beaded browbands when I stumbled on a great Web site, the Mighty Thoroughbred Clique (MTC).Yes, the site has browbands, and they're great! But I'm promoting the MTC site because it celebrates and promotes thoroughbreds as sport horses. The MTC began as part of the "clique" phenomenon on the Chronicle of the Horse (COTH) bulletin board. A clique is a group of COTH members that share a common interest.

One of the MTC members, Ellyn, created the Web site as part of a grass roots effort to promote thoroughbreds in sport. Ellyn's admiration for thoroughbreds started when she became the owner of Bold Artesian, a Bold Ruler son. "He hated dressage, loved grapes, and was the best friend a woman could ever have," she recalls. Like a lot of other thoroughbred owners, she saw warmblood "brand consciousness" in dressage and other disciplines. Warmbloods are sometimes seen as the only choice for a serious competitor. Ellyn noted that warmbloods registries market and promote their breed -- and each registry has its own brand, or logo.

Why can't thoroughbreds have a logo? Ellyn put together a basic design for a logo and commissioned a graphic artist to refine it. The resulting logo was used to create a line of thoroughbred logo patches, tie tack pins, and charms (suitable for a necklace or earrings), all of which are available on her Web site. Side note: The necklace charm would be perfect for awards banquets!

The MTC logo fundraising effort has benefited both thoroughbreds and their riders. A portion of the sales (e.g., $3 of the $8 cost for a patch) is designated for thoroughbred causes. In 2007 MTC donated $1300 to thoroughbred organizations such as the Exceller Fund, CANTER, and DreamPower Horsemanship. In the past, the MTC fund has been used to sponsor a young rider. Ellyn has not sponsored one recently, "but would send a few hundred for an entry fee or FEI passport if a young pro asked."

Speaking of Browbands
As I said, I was actually looking for browbands when I stumbled on MTC. They do make and sell browbands, and they're gorgeous. A portion of the sale of the browbands ($10-$20) also goes into the MTC fund. MTC donated browbands to the Area VI team who went to NAYRC 2005.

I'm for anything that fosters pride in thoroughbreds competing in jumping, dressage, and eventing. In those sports that suffer from warmblood worship, the MTC offers thoroughbred owners a chance to show their pride in their horse. Kudos to Ellyn, the MTC one-woman-show that created the logo and the web site! If you want to support MTC, buy a patch or charm (Paypal accepted)! The cost of shipping is included. For more info, go to the Web site, contact info@mightythoroughbredclique.com, send mail to
Mighty Thoroughbred Clique
P.O. Box 1154
Mountain View, CA 94043

All the rage about rollkur

Disclaimer: I never thought I'd write about rollkur. But I'm coming down with a cold, and it's 12 degrees outside, and I'm a little cranky. Anyhoo, what's an Internet blog without a little ranting?

Whenever I see the topic "rollkur" on one of the horse bulletin boards I pointedly ignore the thread. I've read enough and watched enough videos to get the gist, and the subject always invites lengthy, heated debate. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the controversy, it’s basically a training method that forces the horse to flex his neck into a rather extreme position. For more info, google rollkur, or take a look at some videos like these: Die Rollkur [in German] and Will we ever be in harmony?. Each of the videos is a real piece of work. The musical score for Die Rollkur is Christina Aguilera’s Hurt, and another rock songstress provides the musical backdrop for Will we ever... Both show a video collage of horses in slow motion, mouths gaping and foam-covered. Along with the mournful crooning, words float across the screen: "it's called hyperflexion...it's also called animal abuse." Pretty melodramatic stuff. And I have a really awful feeling these videos were produced by someone over the age of 14.

Classical vs. competitive dressage
Classical principles of dressage are described in the writings of Xenophon and practiced in Vienna's renowned Spanish Riding School (pictured right). These training principles emphasize kindness and reward. A casual observer could see that Rollkur is not a horse-friendly technique. It shouldn't make the horse perform better, but riders who use the technique are winning in the show ring. At the international level. A lot. And the classical purists are really upset about that.


Maybe Jerry Springer could mediate...
Debates over rollkur get pretty incendiary, and its detractors throw charge that it's cruel, abusive, and inhumane. The rollkur practitioners, many of whom are at the top of the sport (e.g., Anky, pictured left), are vilified. I'm not an apologist for hyperflexion -- it's the "blunt instrument" the trainer's toolbox, like draw reins. But does hyperflexion merit the kind of emotional appeal we see in the videos? If we think of a continuum of cruelty, where does it fall? Grand prix horses are powerful, healthy, athletic animals, fully capable of dumping their riders. Whatever they may endure for the hour or so they're ridden, the other 23 hours they have a pretty good life. Horses whose value is in the six digits tend not to be neglected. For the folks who are in a lather about the handful of expensive horses who are subjected to rollkur, here is my advice. Take some of that energy, pathos, and righteous indignation and direct it toward a real animal welfare issue. Go help some horses that are thin, neglected, injured, and teetering on the edge of homelessness.

Has no one here read Black Beauty???
Good horses can fall on hard times, as we learned from reading Anna Sewell's novel. The truly desperate horse rescue cases are too disturbing to share. Instead, take a look at thoroughbred rescue and adoption, a cause I personally support. I pulled one picture from a thoroughbred rescue site, shown on the right -- the BEFORE picture. Not all are in this sad condition -- in fact here are some nice prospects on the CANTER and Rerun sites. But most have baggage from racing, and more than a few are broken down, used-up, and being sold because they're "not earning their keep any more." In the sales ads, owners extoll their virtues of the horse that they trained and raced--horses with a "great work ethic", "sweet personality" and "big heart." Yep, and look where it got them. Ex-racers can have injuries that limit their future as a riding horse or to be much of anything. Even sound ex-racers can have vices and socialization problems. Some look in pretty good shape, a few are unkempt and alarmingly thin.

Where does rollkur fit in all of this? In the big picture of animial cruelty, competitive dressage horses are in pretty good shape. There are thousands of horses suffering from neglect, starvation, and and health problems. Let's do something about that.

You have a non-horsey husband if...

Bob and I were married in 2005 -- my first marriage, his second. When we met, I told him about my horses. He had worked on farms in his youth, he said. And he claimed to love animals. Yeah, right. I didn't date a whole lot, but the men I went out with always claimed to love animals. I don't know, they must figure women will think they're sensitive. Horses, it seems, separate the men from the boys, and most never made it past the first muck bucket. By the way, that's Bob to the right, with Harvey. His nose isn't bulbous, he's wearing a breathe-right strip. Hay allergies.



Stacey, meet Bob's cats
Well, it turns out Bob is a true animal lover and advocate. This hit home the first winter we lived together. I came home from work before Bob, who works second shift. Opening the door, I was accosted by a blast of cold air -- the heat was off, the windows open, and the internal temp was about 55 degrees. Dialing his work number, mittens still on, I counseled myself to stay calm. When he answered, I asked him politely why our home environment resembled an Alaskan tundra. He responded cheerily: "So I can leave the back door open for the cats. It's not natural for them to be cooped up inside all day. Cats like to be out." I'll spare you the remainder of that conversation, but it was clear to me then that I'd met my match in terms of putting animals first.

Happily, Bob has really embraced having horses in our life--in part because he does not have to fund any of it (part of our arrangement), but mostly because he truly loves animals. By any measure, he's been supportive and involved. He hangs out at the barn, he goes with me to shows, he grooms, he goes to horsey events. He handgrazes Harvey and is Riley's favorite carrot dispenser. But he still is a non-horsey-husband. How do I know?

You have a non-horsey husband if...

• Despite your cogent explanation of gait mechanics, he fails to distinguish between the trot and canter.
  
• He refers to your half-chaps as "shin-guards."
  
• Watching the free walk in a dressage test, he blurts out "why are they taking a break?"
  
• As a suprise, he cleans your saddle for you -- with Turtlewax.
  
• He attends horse competitions mostly to see women in tight pants.
  
• He refers to any and all horse headgear as "the bridle."
  
• He is overheard describing dressage as a sport where "they make the horse go in circles."
  
• He turns ashen when you talk about about gelding your yearling.
  

Note on the Turtlewax: To be fair, it was leather car interior cleaner.


A few words of praise...
I can't resist doing a little bragging, esp. in service of motivating other husbands. Ladies, feel free to share this article with your husband. Supportive non-horsey husbands do exist, see the one pictured left at the KY Horse Park, and note he is not looking put upon and miserable. Bob refills water buckets, cools my horse out while I chat with other boarders, cleans tack (well, once), and takes time off work to help me at horse shows. He takes my horse-blankets to the laundromat. Oh, and did I mention he's not that into sports? Admit it, your pulse just jumped a bit, didn't it?

Of course, there are things about him that drive me nuts--we still haven't resolved the house heating issue satisfactorily, and somehow my comfort does not rate above the cats. But that's a topic for another day.

Time to find a new barn?

Finding a boarding barn is akin to finding daycare or a nanny for your child, I tell my non-horsey friends. Horses are perennial toddlers, and barns are essentially a daycare. Managing a barn isn't an easy job, especially now with escalating costs, scarce hay and sawdust, and lagging horse sales. No one I know makes money just boarding. The added services such as training, instruction, and horse sales are the BM's bread and butter.

Considering a move?
Thinking of changing barns? Some advice from someone (me) who has champagne taste in horse care but not the income to match.

• Don't change barns on a whim or because of one bad incident.
  
• Do make a change if there is a pattern of poor/careless management or if you feel the program has become unsuitable for your horse.
  
• Consider whether you will do better for the same, or similar money, or if you'll need to upgrade to a higher board rate.

Sometimes personality clashes are a factor in deciding to move. Barn drama can get out of control. If you dread going to the barn and there are no prospects for salvaging things, maybe it's time to go.
 
My own experience
I've boarded at co-op barns, barns with strong managers, and barns with hands-off managers. I've pasture boarded and done self-care. Over time I worked up a checklist to address the things that matter most to me. This is an "anxious mom's list," and it's probably overkill for most folks. At the bottom of this list, you'll find Web links to other resources written by less neurotic people. In the end, it's all about what is important to you and your horse.  

A WORRIED MOM'S BOARDING BARN CHECKLIST
Some advice: use discretion in how you approach getting answers! If you pelter the barn manager with all these questions, they’ll think you’re a big pain. If you want to use this entire list, face it, you probably are a big pain. At any rate, they don’t need to know until after the contract is signed. Good luck!

PDF version

NOTE: Feel free to share these files or this list, but please link back to my blog.  

BASICS

• Distance from home
  
• Distance from work
• Monthly board
• Typical yearly board increase
• Other fees and charges
• Copy of contract li>Barn hours & holiday closures
• Discipline (hunter, dressage, other) li>Stalls available vs. waiting list

FACILITIES

• Accessibility and parking
• Parking for car?
• Parking lot lit?
• Keep trailer on premises?
• Barn Lighting indoors and outdoors
• Electrical work and outlets
• Fire extinquishers (recently inspected?)
• Condition of structure/roof (signs of leaks?)
• Drainage/water runoff around barn
• Hay & bedding storage
• Lounge area
• Aisleway and flooring
• Tack room
• Wash stall (hot water?)
• Heated areas?
• Restroom
• Stall Dimensions
• Flooring
• Safety (exposed nails, etc.)
• Ventilation
• Overhead clearance
• Lighting
• Door opens/closes easily? Horseproof?
• Water buckets vs. auto waterers
• Tack storage Space
• Security?
• Blanket storage
• Indoor/outdoor/roundpen
• Ring Size(s)
• Footing
• Ring proximity to barn
• Mirrors
• Jumps, poles, etc.
• Pasture Acreage/No. pastures
• Grass available?
• Water available outside?
• Fencing
• Drainage
• Soil (rocky, sandy, etc)
• Trails Rules/guidelines
• Maintenance of trails
• Deer, coyotes, other nuisances?
• Roads/traffic hazards?

BARN MANAGEMENT

• Owner on premises?
• Barn help/horse ratio (10/1 is ideal)
• Blanketing/boot practices
• Stalls cleaned daily? Holidays?
• Stall bedding
• Clean, fresh water?
• Fly management/manure disposal
• Night check?
• Turnout 7 days/week? Holidays?
• Turnout is day, half-day, other?
• Shelter available?
• Horses per acre
• Water available?
• Inclement weather practices
• Individual turnout?
• Leave in on request?
• Introducing new horse
• Hay fields in winter?
• Feed Supplements
• Feed choices
• Special diet
• Type(s) of hay?
• Amount of hay?
• Extra hay (charges?)
• Can owner supply hay?
• Communication w/boarders
• Phone?
• Whiteboard/blackboard?
• Written barn rules?
• Injury notification
• Lesson program/schedule
• Ring availability/sharing
• Ring rules
• Footing maintenance
• Adult or child-oriented
• Boarder turnover/longevity
• Barn and aisleway appearance

HORSE CARE/HEALTH

• Use own vet?
• Owner need to be present?
• Vaccinations
• Use own farrier? Who holds horse?
• Dentist, chiropractors, other?
• Fees for emergency care?
• Emergency transport avail?
• Medications administered?
• Other specialized care?
• Quarantine on new horses?
• Coggins on new horses?
• Worming practices

OTHER

• Instructors
• Indiv. or group?
• What disciplines?
• Cancellation penalty?
• Outside instructors okay?
• Horse show coaching fees
• Transport
• Braiding, clipping, other services?

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS

• Cleanliness/organization
• Manager experience/background
• Communication w/boarders
• What are other boarders like?
• Maintenance of facility
• Condition of horses
• Professionalism/reliability
• Individualized care/flexibility

OTHER RESOURCES
Choosing a Boarding Facility from Daily Equine articles
Boarding Barn Checklist from Equisearch
Selecting the Right Boarding Stable from Horse-and-horse-information.com
How to Pick a Boarding Stable from eHow
Finding a Boarding Stable: 12 Considerations from Associated Content
Boarding Stable Checklist from Acreage Equines

I wrecked my car: Or, my car is a wreck

My parents are neat, organized people, probably to a fault. I never saw their bed unmade, which was curious, until I realized that they made their bed as they got out of it in the morning. It was an inconceivable process. In tandem my mom and dad would rise out of bed, put their feet on the floor, then each of them would turn to grab the bottom sheet, stand, and proceed to make the bed. Less than two minutes after the alarm went off, they had crossed an item off their list. My mom cooks and cleans endlessly, but her real talent is sewing. She used to make clothes for my dolls, and -- talk about attention to detail -- she once sewed evening gloves for my Barbie doll. My dad is cut from the same cloth, you could perform surgery in his garage. They are pictured left, looking rather solemn.

I have a theory. It may not be covered in Mendelian genetics, but I'm pretty sure the "clean gene" skips a generation. You'll see what I mean momentarily.

Auto Apologia

I feel bad about the state of my car interior. It's a 2000 Ford Focus hatchback, forest green. Most cars owned by horse people live hard, but my car interior has a certain post-Katrina quality. There is no excuse, but it has been an unusually busy winter. Also consider: I work two jobs (one full-time, one weekend job); I have two horses, at two different barns; I ride; I volunteer at Godfrey Daniels; and I blog. Not as punishing as the schedule of a single working mom, but not tiddly-winks either. Okay, here come the photos, for mature audiences only...

My eyes! My eyes!

I've taken a few shots, and labelled the contents, for purposes of illustration and explanation...

A. The floor of the driver's side. Where my feet, enclosed in mud-encrusted barn boots, rest while I'm driving. Hay, straw, mud, and god-knows-what are hopelessly ground in. You'll note the paper floormat from a recent car repair. It's sort of a reverse protection -- the auto techs no doubt put it there to keep their shoes clean.

B. An old horse blanket bag, containing my barn and workout clothes. Every morning I lug my gym clothes and barn clothes into work. Am I going to a laundromat or a library? Hard to tell...

C. My barn jacket. North Face down jacket, an Ebay purchase, $15 because there was/is something yucky on the collar. You can't see it in this picture, but it looks like its been dusted with cocoa powder. That's because last time I rode, the ring had not been watered. This coat lives in the car.

D. Behind the driver seat is the barn glove depository. There may, or may not, be one full/complete pair. If I can't find two matching pairs, I've been known to "go hybrid."

E. Coffee stains on driver seat. Yes, I drink and drive. The Focus cupholder is defective, and the cup flies out at inopportune times. So, I tend to hold the cup, which can be tricky while driving my manual transmission vehicle. There have been spills, but nothing that would allow me to sue someone and retire. Not shown are the traces of Nutrasweet powder that coat the emergency break and seat.

F. Fleeceworks saddle pad. Needs to be washed, but like so many too-dirty-for-indoors items, the pad is now residing in my car. I'm waiting until Bob is not home so i can run it through the washer. He objects to any sheepskin being washed at home, because a) the washer gets unbalanced and starts THUMPING and b) horse hair is distributed to other laundry loads.

G. Like Ford Prefect in Hitchhiker's Guide, I'm never without a towel, and if you look below the striped one, there are several white washcloths. When you have horses, you can always use them.

H. Equus Magnificus box. Contains about 7 bags of the Equus Magnificus horse treats (see my other blog posting). Whatever keeps Harvey happy -- I think of it as "protection money."

I. Spare sweatshirt. For when it's really cold.

J. Spare breeches. For when I forget my laundry bag.

Not shown. Audio CDs, some neatly in CD holder, others strewn about. Yes, they are out of their jewel cases.

Well, now you've seen the seedy underside of my librarian existence. A Jeckyll/Hyde sort of thing. There is no real excuse, other than a fairly on-the-move lifestyle, where my horses are the priority. I feel like I live out of my car. I can only try to squelch the guilt and wait for a sunny, warmish day to make my car look good again...

"How was your weekend?" Don't Ask!

Click here to bypass kvetching and view some comic relief, a YouTube video.

The weekend started out well. Saturday I had a lesson on Harvey and then decided to do some horse-related shopping. I drove 40 minutes to a tack shop in Bucks County, looking for a Happy Mouth bit for Riley. Not just any Happy Mouth, but the new ones available in pastel colors. A little boutique-like tack shop near Doylestown seemed like the best bet for finding one, and they had the exact one I wanted--a 5" loose ring snaffle in pink. The clerk praised my keen eye for snaffle fashion, and I left the store on a mild shopper's high. I plopped into my Ford Focus and turned the key in the ignition, expecting to hear a reassuring purr of the motor. Nothing. Nothing but a quiet thump.

In December I paid $600 so my car would pass inspection, and just a few days ago I'd shelled out another $600 to fix a coolant leak and some associated issues. An hour or so later, the tow truck arrived, and there was more bad news. No, it wasn't the battery, said the tow guy. He loaded my car and headed an hour north to my Ford dealership.

My husband picked me up. I hoped he would not ask me why I drove 40 minutes to this tack shop when others are closer. I didn't want to tell him that I had to have a pink bit for Riley. To avoid conversation, I spent the drive on my cell phone, trying to find a rental car. This is not an easy task at 4 pm on a Saturday. I finally had success with the airport Budget Rent-a-Car. We went to pick up my car, ironically a Ford Focus, and for $75 I had wheels for the weekend.

Bob was all sympathetic, and he took me out to eat at a restaurant near the airport. What a nice end to a bad day, I thought to myself as I inhaled a plate of taco chips and salsa. Plus we had a coupon. Good food does lift one's spirits, but in this case it was temporary. Later that night I began to feel the classic symptoms of food poisoning. At 1 am I was clutching my stomach. By 2 am i was clutching base of toilet. I started feeling better at 3am, and managed to sleep till my alarm went off at 5:15am. Yes, the alarm goes off on Sundays. I work at Riley's barn caring for 20-odd horses. In 45 minutes I was trudging around in muck boots in 12 degree weather. What a loser weekend.

One last bit of kvetching. It's Monday, and the dealership called at 7a.m. I need a new starter, and they'll give me one, installed, for $452. Oh, and then the dealership sales department called, they're wondering if I'd like to trade up to a nicer, more reliable vehicle.

The "How was your weekend" Comic Relief
Could you use some comic relief? Me too. The selection is a propos nothing, but it is really fun. Called "Warner Spills and Chills," its a retrospective of equestrian mishaps, skillfully edited and set to music by what must be a die-hard eventing family. Five girls! If you haven't already seen the Warner's video (it's popular), you're in for a treat! Brace yourself for some harrowing footage and possible evidence of child endangerment. I wanna meet these kids! And how'd they end up with all of these naughty ponies?

A big round of applause for Mr. Big!

When I went to Rolex last year, I studied the Chronicle of the Horse Rolex issue as if I was going to be tested on it. If you haven't seen the issue, Jimmy Wofford writes a short bio on each horse/rider combination and predicts where they'll finish. Every bio had something memorable. But when I read Wofford's writeup of Mr. Big, I knew that here was a horse I wanted to watch. Wofford wrote that "Mr. Big has a brain like Einstein and a heart as big as all outdoors." He predicted that Mr. Big and owner/rider Julia Steinberg would finish in the top 20.


Mr. Big could easily have ended up a rescue case. John Buswell, a friend of Julia's with a keen eye for horses, urged her to see a horse he'd found near a West Virginia racetrack. He'd liked his look and bloodlines. Julia Steinberg went to see the 15 hand hand plain bay in "less than favorable circumstances" -- behind a barn, knee deep in mud. He looked too small, and was "wild," Julia recalled. At Buswell's urging, she borrowed money from her sister and bought him for $2500. Mr. Big turned out to be a brave amd scopey jumper, and under the care of Julia and her trainer Phillip Dutton he rose in the ranks of eventing. In 2005, Julia was the USEA Adult Amateur of the Year. And in 2007, Julia took Mr. Big to Rolex.

A Rolex volunteer told me that when Julia presented Mr. Big at the vet inspection, her love for him was apparent. She wore a big smile and said proudly, "This is Mr. Big!" As if I needed more reasons to like this pair, they are from West Grove PA and therefore are the home team. On Thursday, I dragged Bob to the stadium in the rain to watch Mr. Big's dressage test. Dressage was not his strength. His gaits did not compare with the larger horses and warmbloods. His extensions were modest. But he was lovely in his own way. Agile and obedient, he performed the required movements handily. His scores were respectable.

On Saturday, the cross country day, Mr. Big was among five horses I'd circled as must-sees. To watch his round, we sat near Fence 18, the Footbridge, and we waited. As he came galloping into view, he really looked no bigger than Teddy, the much ballyhooed pony competitor ridden by Karen O'Connor. Still, he looked confident and bright-eyed as he sailed over the obstacle. You can watch his jump on my cell phone video below. Bob photographed him coming toward him over the jump, and the photo is pictured left.

Of course I wanted Mr. Big to win. As it turns out, he was retired somewhere around the Head of the Lake, presumably sometime after the top right picture was taken. I wonder if he will have another chance to go to Rolex. He will be 17 this year, and Julia has other young horses she is bringing along. Regardless what his future holds, he has won many hearts along the journey -- including mine. In an article in the Chronicle, Julia's own words convey what her partnership with Mr. Big has meant to her. "Mr. Big has brought my life to a whole other level. It's almost a spiritual level. He's a pretty phenomenal horse."

Note: I've never had the good fortune to meet Julia Steinberg or Mr. Big. All quotes and information were gleaned from articles in the bibliography below.


Bibliography
Netzler, Kat. Julia Steinberg Accomplishes "Big" Goals. Chronicle of the Horse, March 02, 2007.

Steinberg, Julia. Little horse, Big partnership. Practical Horseman. West April, 2003. Vol. 31, Iss. 4; p. 144.

Wofford, Jimmy. Clayton Fredericks Will Be The One To Beat This Year. Chronicle of the Horse, April 20, 2007. Rolex Event Issue.

The Equine hock: A case study and resource list

Click here to go directly to resource list

After years of maintaining Harvey's hocks with injections and supplements, I vowed that my next horse would not have hock problems. When Riley came under my care as a weanling, I had already read articles on how to promote joint health. Exercise is critical, studies showed. Riley was put out in a huge pasture 24/7 with other babies. Following the recommendations of breeders and nutrition experts, I fed Riley the soy-protein-based Progressive Growth formula in recommended amounts. I monitored his growth rate and condition. He grew, he ate, he pooped, he thrived. All was well until...



The day of the big hock...

Fast forward to April of his yearling year. We gelded him early, to avoid the tyranny of male hormones. He was gelded on a damp spring day, and the surgery itself was uneventful. But as he staggered up to his feet post-surgery, I could see that his right hock enlarged (pictured left). He had dropped very gracefully, onto the side of a hill, and no one thought he'd hurt himself going down. At any rate, the swelling looked well-established. But how could I have missed this? I waited a few days for improvement, and then summoned the vet.




I told the vet about the swelling. The vet asked if he was lame, but it was hard to tell given that he was walkin' funny from the loss of his gonads. Radiographs were taken of both hock joints. The left joint was clear. The right hock x-rays showed a tiny "ding," thought to be a flake of bone, resting on a lower joint. Above that flake, vet saw a suspicious area, a possible lesion, that he speculated might have "spit out" the flake. These flakes are common, they're called joint mice and they float around in joint fluid. Occasionally they land on a joint get get stuck there. To be honest, I'm not sure if the main problem was the lesion, the ding, or both. Whatever. Surgery was the recommended treatment. Well, I had insurance, and that's what it's for.

So, I called New Bolton to schedule the surgery. Based on a friend's advice, I requested Dr. Dean Richardson. In case you didn't know, Dr. Richardson attained celebrity status when he became Barbaro's surgeon last year. I half-expected to be told he was far too busy/important/special to handle Riley's case, but no one batted an eye. Two weeks later we trailered Riley to New Bolton. By that time the swelling was nearly gone. Naturally.

The visit to New Bolton...
See the picture on the left? I actually sat in that very room with Dr. Richardson and looked at Riley's x-rays. Dr. R had an informal, easy style, and a dry sense of humor. He ribbed me about having a "dumblood." When I pointed out that I had a thoroughbred too, he nodded approvingly, and we got down to business. He scowled at the radiographs my vet sent, pronouncing them "non-diagnostic" -- and ordered new ones. I waited an agonizing half hour, but he came back with wonderful news. "We're sending you home today!"

Sometimes it is hard to trust good news. In fact, I resisted a little, and pressed him for detail. To sum up a long Q and A session, he felt that the "ding" was actually an injury, crushed bone, that would remodel itself/heal. He saw no signs of OCD in the New Bolton radiographs. I was persistent. "I don't want to take him home today and be hauling him back here two months from now." His response was to ping the xrays with his thumb and forefinger. "Nothing actionable, nothing operable here," he said. He got up, shook my hand, and said "Hey, nice yearling!" And off he went.

I ran back to tell the hauler that Riley was going back home. What a relief! There would be no hand-wringing, no post op care, no stall-bound blues for Riley. He was going to be okay!

Six month followup
Well, you know there had to be more. Riley has periodic swelling -- a tiny bit of bogginess -- in both hocks, and this fall (six months from the New Bolton visit) I had more x-rays taken. Would you believe, the little ding had diminished in size? Great news, but why the swelling? My vet, who specializes in babies and breeding, thinks that it is normal swelling that youngsters sometimes experience during growth spurts. That's what I'm choosing to believe until I know otherwise. Time will tell...

Resources on Equine Hocks
I've included resources that cover a range of topics on the equine hock: conformation, movement, bio-mechanics, lameness, evaluation, etc. Please send me resources I may have missed. I'm happy to add them!


Unravel the Mystery of Hock pain
Great overview from Horse Journal.

Hock problems in horses from Horse Care
General overview of the hock, what it does, how it works, what can go wrong.


Kinds of Hock issues from Today's Horse
This is an advice column with very basic information.


Hocks from Horse and Hound
Succinct summary of hock problems.


Review of Equine Distal Hock Inflammation and Arthritis
A vet-to-vet kind of article on how to examine a horse with suspected hock issues.

Hillary Clayton Studying the Hock from Hoofcare and Lameness
An analysis of the hock, the hock in motion, and problems of the hock. By Hilary Clayton, one of the premier researchers on equine locomotion.


Are There any Advances in the Treatment of Distal Hock Joint Pain?
From the International Symposium on Diseases of the Icelandic Horse. Not familiar with this breed, so there may be issues unique to the type of horse, but the advice looks pretty generic.

Hock examined
Hock anatomy, conformation, and role in movement by Hilary Clayton.

KSUCVM Radiology--Equine Anatomy--Tarsus
Radiographs with anatomy of the hock labelled. Great if you want to understand your own horse's xrays better.


Sore hocks: To inject or not to inject
A veterinarian discusses treatment options for hocks. Emphasis is on western sports.

Results of the Interdisciplinary Research Project on Osteochondrosis Dessicans (OCD). Hanoverian Society Breeding Technology Committee.
Discussion of joint development, problems, and the importance of nutrition, exercise. A research report from an authoritative source.

The Horse Magazine Diagnosis and Treatment of Hock Lameness
Recent article, requires a login but registration is free.





Journal Articles and Books

I'm a bad librarian! These are in no particular bibiographic style.

Clegg. Differential diagnosis of a swollen hock in the horse. In Practice 2003; 25: 328-341

PG Orsini. Lamenesses of the Equine Distal Hock 1982. Cornell University.

VT Rendano Jr, CB Quick. Equine radiology--the hock. Mod Vet Pract, 1978.

K Lexington. Biomechanics of Equine Lameness, The Cornell Veterinarian, 1968.

TC Bohanan, Pain associated with the distal tarsal joints of the hock, chapter in
N.Edward Robinson Current therapy in equine medicine, 4th edition. 1997.

ADDED 3/15/08 Oiling up hard working joints from the Blood-Horse

Blanketing is a beastly business

When we started turning Riley out in an adult herd, the words "career-ending injury" kept reverberating in my mind. My barn manager suggested blanketing him for protection against nips and kicks he'd get in the new social order. Forget warmth -- I got him blankets for cushioning, and we sent him out to be with the big boys.

Here you see Riley in his first winter blanket, a brand new Pessoa Alpine medium weight size 72. Actually at the time I took this picture, it was Day 3 of the new blanket. I mention this because like all of Riley's outerwear, this blanket's days were numbered. About 3 weeks after I took this photo, Riley came in from the pasture sans blanket. The barn workers found the blanket lying on ground in a heap. The front snaps were broken off, but the belly and leg straps still normally attached, so he must have wiggled out of it somehow. The blanket itself had been disemboweled. The top fabric was torn lengthwise from shoulder to haunch, then down one side to form a flap. The poly stuffing was exposed.

Blanket #2, a Weathabeeta Orican midweight, lasted the longest of any of the others--over a month if you include the week that it was duct-taped together. When damp weather compromised the duct tape, that blanket was, in the words of the barn worker who phoned me up, "pretty much done."

Blanket #3 was a Weathabeeta Saxon that I'd won on ebay. After Blanket #2 had fought the good fight, I pulled out my last chance blanket. Fastening Riley into #3, I joked to a friend that I feared it was marked for death. This kind of observation is known as foreshadowing. The Saxon lasted only one weekend. A barn worker saw a pasture-mate, *Romeo (pictured lower right), biting on a small tear near the shoulder. When I got to the barn Monday night, I found Riley in a blanket that was ripped across the back in such a way that the fabric and stuffing drooped in the middle, forming a swag across his belly.


Naughty Romeo! Or maybe naughty Riley? The pasture dynamics are unclear. Riley natters at his herdmates until they are compelled to torment him back, in a harmless game of blanket-tag gone horribly wrong. One more time, I re-learn the lesson that with horses, well-meaning interference will bite you in the butt. Less is more. So Riley is blanketless for the time being, and he seems to be doing fine.

----------------------------------------------
*Romeo is one of my favorite horses in the barn. He's an off the track TB with a lifetime earnings of close to a million dollars, and he went on to do well in the hunter ring. He had a rough go of it under a few irresponsible owners, but now he is getting the life he deserves. His adoring owner Sue is pictured too.

Rolex 2008: Just got my TICKETS!!!

My husband Bob and I went to the Rolex 3 day event in Lexington last year. Frankly, I've never followed eventing closely. But it was a cheap & easy vacation to plan, and my sister lives in Louisville. I hoped there would be enough excitement to occupy my non-horsey husband, and I bought his tickets as a Christmas present so he couldn't really object. He's a good sport about my obsession with horses, he'd enjoyed the Devon showjumping we attended the previous year. But that was just one evening. Rolex is four days, and two of them are dressage.




THURSDAY/FRIDAY
During our flight from Chicago to Lexington we met some California teens also attending Rolex. They were friends of the youngest Rolex competitor, 18 year old Tiana Coudray, and they invited us to walk the course with Tiana on Friday. When we arrived we were eager to get to the Horse Park, and within two hours of deplaning we were weaving through the campsites and on to the main grounds. For a day and a half, we sampled from a broad range of horse activities: we watched some dressage tests; we toured the Horse Park; we took a bus to see the Rood-Riddle Veterinary Facility; we dined on a fine selection of fried food; we went to the trade fair; and we walked the course with Tiana Coudray; and later we walked it with Karen O'Connor.

The Rolex trade fair was an enormous festival marketplace aimed at the equestrian consumer, and we went to nearly every booth. I ooohed and ahhed at the jewel-encrusted halters, hinting strongly to Bob that the green stones would be nice for Harvey. The halter was a no-go. As a consolation, Bob did buy me a Rolex t-shirt. And not just a t-shirt, he pointed out, but the fancy long sleeved kind. Rolex is a great place to people-watch. It seemed like every 3rd person was wearing pricey Dubarry boots, pictured here. Dubarry had a booth at the trade fair, and it was teeming with shoppers. The Dubarry boot salesman was a cartoonlike Irish gent, and he was clearly at the top of his game. He balanced stacks of shoeboxes, schmoozed with customers, and stomped through a mud trough to demonstrate his product's resilience. The lines to the cash register were long, and Mr Dubarry was grinning from ear to ear.


SATURDAY
Saturday was the cross country event. We got to the grounds early and staked a claim in front of the biggest obstacle of the course, by the famous Head of the Lake. I had briefed Bob on my favorite competitors; he was instructed to photograph Teddy the pony, Mr. Big (my personal favorite), the youngest and oldest competitors, and Courageous Comet. He took all of the pix I've posted here.

Eventing is an extreme sport. No other equestrian competition presents such a formidable challenge to the skill and athleticism of both horse and rider. I was surprised we were allowed to be so close to the jumps. As each competitor went by, we could almost have reached out to touch them; we could hear the horses' breathing and see their nostrils flare -- heck we could see the riders' nostrils flare. The closeness brought an intensity of feeling I wasn't prepared for. I never cheer, and I was cheering like crazy.



We watched horse after horse navigate the Head of the Lake and then turn to over the largest obstacle (shown in the right). Then we moved to other parts of the course, eventually settling at some of the final fences. At this point the horses are really tired, and mistakes start to happen. I watched part of Teddy's (the only pony competing) round on the Trinitron, and from our vantage point we could see him negotiate the final fences. The pre-Saturday scuttlebutt was that Teddy had yet to prove himself on a course as challenging as Rolex, and as he came thundering by, we knew he had risen to the challenge. I got all teared up -- why was no one else crying? He had such heart. Bob was cheering in his deep, bellowing football voice.

Before we left for the trip, Bob had asked for assurances that no horses would get hurt. I promised that we would only watch the safest jumps, then hoped he would forget. Bob photographed Amy Tryon and Le Samurai early in the course -- they looked calm and confident. There was an announcement about unhappy finish, and later we heard some guarded speculation by word of mouth. But at the time we felt that Le Samurai would be okay. We left on Sunday morning, and didn't hear the sad news about Le Samurai until we were home in PA.

SUNDAY
Did I mention we left on Sunday? We had to go home on early b/c of work commitments, so we missed the show jumping. I later got the DVD. Big whoop.

THINKING OF GOING TO ROLEX?
If you want a small flavor of Rolex, there is tons of footage on Youtube. I have a small cellphone clip, about six seconds long. It's a great clip if you want to see what Rolex would be like viewed through the inside of an aquarium. But you'll get the idea. Keep the volume on!

Bottom line: A big rah-rah for Rolex! I should mention that it is a reasonably priced destination point. I got a Priceline deal for the both of us: a four-day stay at the Holiday Inn 3 miles from the Horse Park, plane flight, rental car, Rolex tickets to all events, and parking, for about $1,000. Compare that to the FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 advanced ticket DEPOSITS, something like $400 for dressage -- just the tickets! Rolex is a great deal, and if you go once, you may get hooked too.

Lyme disease: Watch out for weight loss!

Every time I look at this picture of Harvey (age 10) I cringe. We didn't know it at the time, but he had Lyme disease. Yes, I knew he'd lost weight, but he had just moved to Pennsylvania from North Carolina, and I thought it was due to the move. The barn manager had increased his feed, but he was not gaining weight. Looking back I can't believe a) he was allowed to get this gaunt and b) I was still riding him. As a new, apparently clueless first-time horse owner, I needed a kick in the butt. Fortunately, I got it from a friend who laid it on the line--GET THE VET. The vet must have had good intuition, because she suggested we test him for Lyme disease. I was skeptical, but agreed to the test. When the results came back, I learned that he had highest Lyme/Elisa titer that Cornell had ever recorded. He was put on antibiotics for nearly a month.

Weight loss is not a classic symptom for Lyme, but Lyme symptoms are a real mixed bag. Common signs are as varied as joint pain, fever, lameness, eye problems, neurological problems, and stiff neck. As with any unusual or troubling changes in your horse's condition or behavior, it's probably best to consult with your vet. If Lyme Disease goes unchecked, a horse's condition can become life-threatening -- founder and permanent nerve damage are among the possibilities. Lyme disease is especially prevalent in the Northeast -- maybe the move to PA was (indirectly) the cause of Harv's weight loss after all.


Here is Harvey now, at age 20 -- you can see that he has reached "epic proportions" and is nicely rounded. Like Scarlet O'Hara, after the Lyme incident I vowed, "God as my witness he'll never go hungry again!" In this picture, he is probably more at risk for founder than anything else. I have him tested every few years, just to be safe, but his levels are low. A few resources are listed below.



LYME DISEASE RESOURCES

Equine Lyme Disease: Antibiotic treatment... (Cornell U)

Lyme Disease info (Iowa State U)

Is there a ticking time bomb under your saddle?

Equine Lyme Disease

Young prospects: How to read a sale ad

This is a photo (sales photo?) of John Henry as a yearling. What a face! Even at this age, he looks like an old codger at heart--not exactly a beauty. What Who knew then he'd grow up to be a legendary old codger?

I wrote up something on sales ads for prospects, but it requires explanation (if not an abject apology). I spent much of the weekend at my husband's uncle's 90th birthday celebration. The pinnacle of le grande fete was the birthday dinner -- table for 20, me at the far end, away from what little action there was. There was ample time for my mind to wander, and I started jotting down this little chart on sales ads. It was amusing at the time, but consider the context. The theme is "what the ads say" vs. "what the ads mean." Yeah, I know, it's been done before....

The ad says:	What it means:
Stallion Prospect	Buyer to geld
In your pocket	Bring a taser
Too many horses!	Seller's least favorite
"10" trot	MPH
Uphill frame	Camera tilted
Large bone	Mack truck
Quick hind leg	Nailed the farrier
Not for amateur	Not for mortal
Colt has FEI gaits	Seller has gone off medication
Private Treaty	Rich husband?
Rare bloodlines	For good reason
Very correct	What you are when you think he toes in

Chestnut Mare Beware! And, Researching Hanoverian Bloodlines

Skip to researching bloodlines

If you read the Chronicle of the Horse, you've probably seen the editorials lamenting that Americans don't pay enough attention to bloodlines. My own ignorance was revealed to me, painfully, when I visited my first breeding farm to look at babies. I thought I was prepared, I had my list of must-have traits and had a budget.

The first breeding farm I visited has a national reputation for producing versatile, rideable partners -- the owner is definitely a Big Name Breeder, and I'll refer to her as BNB from now on. When I arrived, BNB and her assistant were just finishing the afternoon chores. She greeted me, and I noticed she looked a bit haggard, probably from late nights delivering foals. Nevertheless, BNB was upbeat and enthusiastic about showing me her program. She knew my budget and limitations, but she was so gracious, I could have been a deep-pocketed DQ.

We got started. BNB's plan was to walk me through her barn of 20-odd mares with babies on the ground or soon-to-be-born. We went to each stall and I would peer in to see mommy and sometimes a baby. BNB waxed eloquent about each mare's history and performance record, the sire, and the traits or anticipated traits of the baby. As the tour progressed, I started to feel my anxiety level rising...

"This mare is blah blah out of an Argentan blah blah saddle position blah blah blah MPT blah blah blah G-line blah blah JBP approved blah blah crosses with the W-line blah blah full sister to Sandro Hit blah blah blah bred through ET...."

I struggled to listen, adopting a pensive expression and nodding at appropriate intervals. Must. Appear. Intelligent. I had no idea what BNB was talking about. All of the mares were lovely, but standing in darkened stalls, munching hay, they were impossible to evaluate. Almost all were chestnuts, most of the available babies were chestnuts, and incidentally I knew BNB's two stallions were chestnuts. Over an hour later, we made it to the other end of the barn, where the tour concluded.

Now I'm going to share with you one of the worst social gaffes of my adult life.
I finished the tour mentally exhausted from the effort of listening to what might as well have been a reading of Augustine's Confessions in Latin. My impression of the broodmares was a chestnut sea of sameness. BNB asked me which horses I wanted to see again.

I drew a blank. In retrospect I could have just point to a random stall, which would have been a comparably intelligent strategy. Instead, some moronic impulse took over. I told her I didn't like chestnuts.

BNB paused for a moment. Her face was inscrutable. She led me back to two non-chestnut mares, a bay and a gray. One had no baby at her side, and one had a baby that was too small. BNB's enthusiasm had evaporated. I wished I could evaporate. She told me the bay mare was expecting a foal by a bay stallion that was known for throwing size. Would I like to return to see that baby, assuming it was not a chestnut? Stricken and embarrassed, I assured her I was interested, but needed to do some more research on bloodlines before returning, blah blah blah. I never expected to hear from BNB, but several weeks later she called me about the foal. It was a bay, but it had a medical issue and they took him to New Bolton.

I saw BNB again last year, at a breed show. She had a colt in the same class as Riley, but we never got close enough to make eye contact. I wondered if she remembered that day, and my colossal stupidity. I thought about speaking to her, but decided instead to give my full attention to showing off Riley -- my chestnut yearling.






Hanoverian Bloodlines: Resources

For the love of God, don't let this happen to you. While I'm not a breeding expert (obviously), the resources below helped to elevate my knowledge to an enough-to-be-dangerous level, and to a level that I feel comfortable propogating lists of resources. I do not include materials available through the various Hanoverian organizations--yearbooks, magazines, and such--which are marvelous but tend to be an "insider's view" for breeders. You can find lists of publications prominently displayed on their Web sites.

International Warmblood Horse : A Worldwide Guide to Breeding and Bloodlines by Celia Clarke, Debbie Wallin, and Jane Kidd
Sorry, not online. Best single resource I've found, hands down. Expensive, but available via interlibrary loan (you do have a library card, don't you?). Each warmblood gets its own chapter (Swedish, Danish, Dutch, etc.) in addition to discussion of the structure of german warmblood breeding and warmbloods in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Warmblood Guidebook by Charlene Strickland
Sorry, not online. Useful but a bit more basic than the above resource.

Breeding Issues of Major Magazines
Most major publications have a breeding issue in January: Dressage Today, Chronicle of the Horse, Hunter and Sport Horse, to name a few.

Hanoverian Reference Stallions
Historical list of influential hanoverian stallions, with pictures and descriptions.

Pro-Stallions Videos
If you have time to kill, this alphabetical list of stallions has short video clips. Serious eye candy, and a good way to develop an eye for different bloodlines and their types.

Architects of the dressage horse
Subtitled How the German Breeding Verbands Have Been Creating the Dressage Horse of the Future. Detailed history of the German program and discussion of current and future trends.

Bloodlines of the Hanoverian Horse by Ludwig Christmann
Discussion of "old" bloodlines in Hannover: A(later E); F; D: and G. by the deputy breeding director of the Hanoverian Verband.

The Horse Magazine, breeding article index
This Australian magazine offers an index of its breeding articles. Many authoritative experts offer advice on selecting/evaluating stallions, interpreting stallion ranking and statistics, etc. Also see its breeding barn section, with lists of outstanding sires in history.

The Warmbloods
Basic discussion of warmblood registries and history.

Breeding Statistics:Interview with Dr Ludwig Christmann
ThFrom the Horse Magazine, this article gives statistical rankings from the Hanoverian Yearbook and Ludwig Christmann offers a discussion of how the statistics are compiled.

Sporthorse Breeder
This site has articles, pictures, and other resources of interest to sport horse breeding.

Bulletin Boards and Listservs
WWWarmbloods.com has separate forums for each registry. They have a spam problem but the members are very knowledgable. Posts are polite and professional.
Chronicle of the Horse Forums (COTH) has a sport horse breeding forum. It can get lively, but it is one of the more active discussion lists. A no brag rule is enforced.
Ultimate Dressage BB has a sport horse breeding forum. Similar to COTH, but not quite as active.
UncouthBB is well moderated and the main forum is pretty active. Members are, for the most part, actual breeders (not the case for some of the more general boards), so the discussion is undiluted breeder talk. A brag board is available for members to post achievements.