A Day in the Dixon Oval: Devon 2008

"Life's so different than it is in your dreams..." This is a line for a Tom Waits song. A propos Tom's observation, here is my Devon hunter breed show story. We went to Devon on May 29. In the weeks prior, I indulged in an active fantasy life centering around Riley's performance at Devon. For the record, this fantasy is a lot like last year's breed show fantasies, but more glam.

The pre-Devon fantasy
Riley stands in a perfect conformation pose draped in a tri-color neck ribbon. I'm at the other end of the lead rope, beaming a big smile as the cameras click and the flashes flash. Riley's breeder gazes wistfully at the horse she practically "gave away" to a rookie. A certain other lady who told me that weanling Riley had a throatlatch is also in the crowd, looking vaguely annoyed. As we leave the Dixon Oval, we're confronted with more paparazzi and would-be-Riley-buyers. Blithely I wave them away.

In the weeks before Devon I muse pleasantly on this little dream scenario -- in the car, during meetings, and over my lunchtime can of tuna.

May 28: A telegram from Reality
The day before the show, I get the Devon program. I note twenty-five entries in his class. My belief in the dream falters a little, so I start rethinking it. Okay. Maybe not first place. Maybe he'll place in the top three. The Devon program includes sire/dam info. Wow, look at those heavy-hitter hunter sires, and a few jumpers. All the Gold. Alla Czar. Everest. Consul. Escapade. Contendro, for God's sake. Landkoenig. Well. Dammit. To my dismay, the dream is whittled down to mere wishful thinking.

Devon Day!
How did it go, you ask? Here's a quick run through of the day. To be candid, it was not very dreamlike.

3:40am: I awaken several hours early, and in the interest of letting Bob sleep, I decide to get up before the alarm. I dress, drive to the barn, and pluck Riley and his pasturemate from the darkened pasture. I prep for the show and then start some barn chores to pass time.

6:00am: I meet the braider. This is where the dream really breaks down. Riley has been a complete snot about all preparatory grooming. He finds the braiding process too tiresome to bear, and he is in constant motion. We try a twitch, but the joke is on us--Riley is perfectly capable of misbehaving with his lip in a vise. Finally we discover that tapping his face lightly with a crop has a mesmerizing effect on him. So I tap. And I tap. And I tap. When I think he's calm, I try to stop tapping, but then the spell is broken and he returns to his complete jackass MO. It takes two hours to braid his mane. When we are done I cannot feel my fingers and my arm is sore. I do not want to explain to anyone how I got this repetitive motion injury.

10:15am: We arrive at Devon to learn that the classes are running way ahead of schedule. Riley's class was projected to go at 2pm, but it will go no later than 11am. I call my handler. She is on the PA turnpike, 40 minutes away. I tell her the class will start in 35-40 minutes. She suggests I find a backup handler in case her 90 mph cruising speed does not get her to Devon in time. I shove my bewildered horse in his stall without checking for nails, and rush to the entrance gate. I scout for handlers who might pinch hit. Approaching a group of men in blue jackets and khakis, I rehearse my pitch. It feels a little indecent. With awkward urgency, I ask if they might handle my horse, in oh, 30 minutes. Everyone consults their schedule, and one very nice gentleman agrees to handle my horse.

11:00am. My trainer/handler arrives well in time, as it turns out, and she handles him beautifully. He is in NonTB two year old colts, an impressive class of twenty horses. Two lines apple-shaped butts stretch across the ring, and many could pass for 4-5 years old instead of two. Riley, in his eternal growth spurt, is a pencil-necked geek in comparison. But when they trot by the judge, Riley's trot is lovely. I feel his gaits would certainly fall in the top eight of this class. Yet when they pick the top eight, he is not among them.

Noon: As we're preparing to leave the grounds, another handler speaks to my handler. He pays her, and Riley, an unsolicited compliment. I frankly eavesdrop as he tells her Riley was a nice horse, shown well. "You should have placed," he said.

We're home by 2pm: Riley looks exhausted, and he leans into the cross-ties and closes his eyes while I remove his braids. He looks grateful to be home. Within a few minutes of going back to his stall, he's stretched out asleep. I drive home and do the same.

Dreams are for suckers
Does they day sound awful? It wasn't! Like so many horse show experiences, it's nerve-racking while going on, and a lot of fun to reflect on later, when your horse is home and safe. If the dream didn't quite work out, at the end of the day, I was happy with how things turned out, because:

• Who cares about ribbons anyway? The ribbons at Devon are crappy looking, IMHO. Nice golden foil doo-dah in the center of the rosette, but aside from that, strictly dimestore. I'm sorry, someone had to say it.
  
  
• Braids are beautiful. Riley's hunter braids were stunning. All 35 of them, perfect and identical and tinged with the tears of a perfectionist braider. The tail was nice too.
  
  
• Manners matter. My handler again showed her rapport with my horse; inside the oval they were a lovely picture. Riley stood like a champ through blowing newspapers and the antics of other youngsters. He loaded and unloaded easily. He did drool on the handler's new suit, but that was the only breach of manners.
  
  
• Grooming supplies. My Showsheen was probably approaching its expiration date, and it needed to be used anyway.

I haven't yet downloaded the video from Devon. Here's still from the video at Mile View Farm. Doesn't he look great? What a good boy.

Dressage vs. hunter movement

Any of you had to explain the difference between hunter and dressage movement to friends, spouses, or relatives? It's not easy, in part because non-horse people have short attention spans when it comes to such subtlety. Well, I pulled these videos for my husband and thought I'd share them.

HUNTER VS. DRESSAGE MOVEMENT VIDEOS

Dressage Movement (Hotline, dressage stallion)



Hunter Movement (Successful hunter, Crown Point)




DESCRIPTIONS OF HUNTER MOVEMENT
Here is the rationale behind hunter movement preferences from Wikipedia's article on show hunters:

"The show hunter has long and low movement, meaning the horse should have a long, sweeping stride that covers maximum ground per minimum effort. There is not much flexion of the horse's joints as it moves; ideally the majority of the movement occurs from the horse's shoulder and hip. The action of the field hunter is efficient: the horse does not waste energy bending its legs any more than it has to. This relates back to the hunt field, where the horse had to work for several hours on end, often galloping, and inefficient movement would tire the horse more quickly.

The show hunter moves smoothly and freely, pointing its toes as it floats over the ground. It should not have excessive knee action, nor should its strides be short and choppy, both of which would make its movement less efficient. The horse should be forward, so it could jump if needed, but no faster than necessary.

The horse must always be in a balanced frame. This, too, relates back to the hunt field, where a horse had to be balanced in order to cope with the changing terrain, sometimes sudden change of direction, and surprising fences. The frame of the show hunter differs from that of dressage horses, eventers, and show jumpers, as it travels in a long and low frame, with its head moderately extended. Its frame is more "stretched out" than horses competing in dressage, eventing, or show jumping, but the horse should not be on its forehand. The riders of show hunters often ride on a slightly looser rein than seen elsewhere to facilitate this type of movement, and the horse carries its head just in front of the vertical.

Although the horse is in a long and low frame, it should still be able to collect its stride when asked. The horse must also be proficient at lengthening its canter stride while still maintaining its tempo and rhythm.

The walk of the show hunter is free and ground-covering; the trot should be balanced and flowing. The canter should be moderately collected. The horse should have a long galloping stride (12 feet is the expected length), but it should still be balanced and rhythmic."

Ask Laura Phelps from Today's Horse:

"In terms of movement, we want to see a horse that does not have a lot of knee and hock action or a lot of suspension as you would see with a good dressage horse. They should move in a way that I call "sweep-and-reach", also known as being "a daisy cutter". Basically, the horse just picks up their feet enough to clear the ground and sweeps their legs smoothly forward with nice length of stride at the trot and then sets the feet down again. Canter is the same thing; pick up the feet enough to clear the ground and stride forward without a lot of knee and hock action or big, round scope canter strides. The gaits are flatter, smooth and very efficient, with nice reach at the trot. A horse being shown in hunter-under-saddle is more a "type" of horse then a pleasure class horse is."

"That Hunter Movement" thread in the COTH forums

Conformation: Hunter or Jumper? from Canada Horse Magazine

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DESCRIPTIONS OF DRESSAGE MOVEMENT

Well, I can find few articles specifically on dressage movement, but there are many articles on what makes a dressage prospect. These articles cover more than just the movement of the animal. I suspect a wide range of "styles" of movers are acceptable within dressage. Some dressage enthusiasts like knee action,some don't, and some maintain that the flamboyant movers sacrifice purity of gaits. However, these arguments are more matters of personal opinion than universal truths. From my own research on what makes a dressage prospect, here are some desirables for the dressage mover...

• An active hind leg. Hocks should articulate/bend to create energy from behind.
• Ability to lower the hindquarters and "sit down." Carrying power behind will enable collection.
• Uphill balance. Similar, or even the same, as above. The more naturally a horse is built uphill, the better he or she will be able to perform.
  
• Freedom of the shoulder. The ability to lift the front end and extend the front legs via the shoulder will influence the quality of movement. A neck that ties in high on the shoulder would facilitate this.
• Expressiveness. Not sure I can offer a good definition of this, except to say that some horses seem to dance while others don't. When I posted to COTH asking what the term expressiveness refers to, the answer I got from most responders was Blue Hors Matine! We've all seen that video, right? I'm guessing epressiveness is a combination of knee/hock action, and other qualities. All other things being equal, a horse that shows expressive movement would probably place over a horse with more pedestrian movement, esp. at the upper levels.
• Using the whole body. Dressage seems to want horses that move use their whole body as opposed to moving the legs only in a scissor-like fashion.


• Strength. Rhythm. Cadence. Elasticity. Suppleness. I'm hoping most readers know what these things are. If not, there are other articles that go into it extensively. Here's a nice visual of a young horse that I feel brings it all to the table.

One question in my mind is, how mutually exclusive are these different types? Can one horse succeed in both dressage and hunters? I suspect the answer is yes, although certain attributes might be dealbreakers, especially for the competitive hunter world. In hunters, knee action would compromise the success of an otherwise talented individual. Dressage is probably a bit more forgiving--so long as the horse shows talent for collection and extended gaits, a variety of movement types would be acceptable. Those are my thoughts. What do others think?

What to look for in the dressage prospect from Equisearch

The fierce bad warmbloods

You may have seen the video below, entitled Breathe, already. Based on the riding experiences of Youtube's Half Pass Gal (HPG), Breathe has made the rounds on various listservs and bulletin boards, including the Chronicle of the Horse (COTH) bulletin board. The COTH discusion thread was titled "Amazing rider!!! Holy Cow!" Watching the video, I am amazed too. That girl is tough as nails, and the horses are fierce and scary. HPG is only 19. I hope she lives to see her thirties!

What I learned from watching
The video is instructive in numerous ways. She knows how to sit a buck. She sits back and she looks up. She stays cool. Her style is athletic and gutsy. There is much to admire in her riding.

Welcome to my jaded world
I'm basically a coward at heart -- I want to live and I want all my body parts in working order. I'm in no position to critique anyone's riding, especially someone who can stick to a horse like that. But I do have some thoughts on the video itself. As the resident cynic, I offer a counterpoint to the applauding masses on COTH.

A few things about the video trouble me, starting with some of HPG's on-screen horse-whisperer type prose:

These are not problem horses
These are problem pasts
Pride
Goals
Ideals
This is not worth creating problem pasts
Take the time to understand.

It's a bit didactic, especially for a 19 year old whose role (in this video) is focused on staying on. If she has empathy for these horses, she's also not averse to using them for a bit of self-promotion. Five of them, to be exact, behaving like total maniacs. I'd expect that an experienced, full-time horse trainer might have five dangerous horses on his resume. The average 19 year old has classes to attend and after-school specials to watch. How has HPG amassed so much experience with dangerous horses?

Some of my questions...

• Ride #1, pictured right. If the horse is a nut on the lunge, why would she get on him at all?
  
• Are her parents crazy?
• Are the owners insane?
• Are the personal injury attorneys queued up in the barn aisle?
  
• Does HPG have a video camera trained on every ride? Why?
• What happened just before each of the episodes? Did a clown wielding a blowtorch emerge from a nearby shrub?

A time for reflecting
HPG is clearly an assertive rider, very ballsy, and these are problem horses. But the amount of footage of really bad behavior is, well, unusual. I see two explanations:

1. Perhaps there is a heavy concentration of naughty horses in her region. Perhaps her reputation for sticking in the saddle has made her a naughty horse magnet. Maybe people send horses to her from afar, horses that are consistently, predictably, very very naughty. Maybe that's why she has all of this footage.
   
   
2. It's a given that people are sending her horses who behave badly. Really badly. Maybe too badly? She must know the camcorder is on, and the camcorder operator is waiting to capture some exciting footage. Could she subconsciously be riding in a way that evokes equine theatrics?
   

Youtube videos like this one invite idle speculation like this. People see video footage apart from any context and they go with their gut reaction. I DID read the introductory paragraph. Sorry, not enough to fully explain how this video came to be made. HPG, if I'm wrong, I apologize. If Riley turns out to have a big buck, you'll have the last laugh!

Rolex 2008: On the face of it

Wanna see some great Rolex photos? Painted Wings, COTH BB member, posted a link to some SUPER Rolex photos taken by her husband Donald Granger. If you're tempted to purchase a few (and you will be tempted), Don can be reached at Don@Hoof-Pics.com. The photo sequence above is from his site (shown in thumbnail), and a few of his shots below are the subject du jour.

Disclaimer: Anyone who competes in eventing at the top levels has established they are brave and talented. I feel they are the last bastion of true horsemen and women. I admire them deeply. And yet... well, a little humor is a good thing, right?

Below is one of my husband's Rolex photos, taken from a distance with our cheapo Canon. The shot is a study in confidence and athleticism.



But Don the professional photographer captured images from a different vantage -- up close and personal. The pix below are of the same rider as the one above, just close up. Bob's pictures and Don's pictures could almost be a Gary Larson cartoon--how it looks versus how it feels.





These photos made me chuckle a little. But even as I smile, I remind myself that my face has the same look when I attempt a canter transition on a brisk day. These guys are at Rolex. What for me is a thrilling afternoon's entertainment is for them the culmination of untold hours of hard work, all coming down to 11 grueling minutes in the saddle. I tip my hat to them!

Grand prix Appy (VIDEO!) & Blog Award

When I did the article on non-warmbloods in dressage I tried SO HARD to get video footage of an appaloosa -- none to be had, even though there were numerous apps at grand prix over the years.

FINALLY, I found one. Sunday's Silhouette is a 15.1 hand New Zealand mare...

I've also added this to my original non-warmbloods video list...

Now that I have your attention, I'd like to extend the I Love Your Blog award to Regardinghorses.com. Her writing is at the level of a professional journalist and I suspect she has a career in writing. This blog rides the wave of new issues and topics in the equestrian world, and it's a treat to have new combined with insight and commentary that is reasoned and intelligent. Congrats to Regardinghorses.com!

Quaterback: Sensational stallion's babies!

A year or so ago, a new Brandenburg/Oldenburg stallion caused a sensation in the breeding world. If the walk and the canter are the most important gaits, it's probably the trot that sells the most horses. When I was looking at babies, breeders would gently remind me that the canter is more important than the trot and the trot can be improved with training. Intellectually I understood this. But as I drooled over the babies with the fancy trots, my inner thought was I'll worry about that when I get to third level.

When I first saw the Quaterback video, I wondered why such a young horse was being shown in passage. Then I realized that is his trot. Granted, they were asking a lot of this young horse and at times he seemed to struggle to control his power. But he looked other-worldly. The canter was equally remarkable -- huge and uphill.

Experienced horsemen and horsewoman pointed out that his walk was "only average" (he got a 7). Well, Jesus splashed when he walked on water too. I feel I can overlook this. Judy Yancey of Yancey Farms was the agent (the only one I know of) that you could get semen from in the U.S. in 2007. This year the first crop of Quaterback foals is arriving in the U.S. I'm compiling videos of his foals, and if you know of one that I missed, let me know!

Quaterback: The stallion (two videos)





Quaterback fillies from Yancey Farms





Quaterback Colt Quantum Leap




Quaterback Filly Quantrilla



Quaterback foal out of a Rubenstein mare


Querido (not U.S.)



Six month old not U.S. born







Hengstfohlen v. Quaterback x StPrSt v. Don Vino



Hengstfohlen von Quaterback


This baby is still in Germany, but will be in the States eventually...

Someone stole my idea! (Just kidding)

For quite some time I've been kicking around the idea of blogging about household items that can be used in place of fancy-schmancy equine products. I kept a little list of items to recommend, but it was a teensy list. So, my clever little idea languished on the vine. But someday, I thought, I'll write it up...


Well, didn't EquineInk go and write a great article on just this topic! For this, I give her the Great Horse Tips award. Kudos EquineInk, not only for this article but for a consistently interesting and helpful blog. Looking forward to reading more. It does happen that there is not much overlap between her list and my little list. So I'll share my items.

Some common items that come in handy at barns:

SHOWER CAP. Do you prep feed ahead of time? Or do you cover your water buckets when you muck a dusty stall? A 99 cent shower cap is great! I stretch one over my grooming box too.

DESITIN. When Harv had surgery on his face, and his surgical wound was draining ickily, his skin was getting scalded. My mom suggested desitin. Great idea! It is amazing how it protects the skin from wetness.

PLACEMATS. If your barn aisles are spread with dirt, sawdust, or stonedust, it can be hard to keep their feet clean while you're grooming. Vinyl placemats are great to put under your horse's foot while you're painting his hooves, or you can put it under your knee. Or, you can keep them in your tack box to protect the bottom.

NEOSPORIN GENERIC. Whether you use it on yourself or your horse, it comes in handy for small scrapes and dings. Keep in mind, the tiniest scrape can be an entry point for infections.

BLEACH. Oh, let me count the ways you can use bleach in varying concentrations -- cleaning grooming supplies and buckets, sure. But I also found diluted bleach very effective against rain rot, and I no longer buy the $20 bottle of Equyss.

Shower cap in action
Share your money saving substitutes!

What to look for in a saddle pad

Thanks to Netherfieldmom for suggesting this article. This is a longish article. It's okay if you want to skip to the evaluation of saddle pads.

Shoe is to Sock as Saddle is to Pad
This is a familiar analogy to many horsemen and women. The key to horse comfort is a correct saddle fit, just like a well-fitting shoe enables us to walk or run comfortably. With an uncomfortable shoe, it doesn't matter what socks you wear--your feet still hurt. But just as some socks complement a shoe fit, a saddle pad can complement and enhance a correctly fitting saddle. In some cases, a saddle pad can compensate for minor saddle fit issues.

Much of what we know about saddle pads can be attributed to the research of Dr. Joyce Harman, D.V.M and Dr. Michael Collier, Oklahoma State University. In the 1990s these two researchers began studying saddle pad materials and fit.

Sorry, a little history
Saddle pads in the "days of yore" were basically felt, woven fabric, or hair. The Cree saddle and pad (all in one!), pictured right, is made of leather, glass beads, wool fringe, and stuffed with buffalo hair. A rope or leather cinch would have secured the saddle on the horse. Even as industrialization changed production techniques, the use of natural materials prevailed through the first part of the 20th century.


Then in the 1960s synthetic fabrics emerged. Soon manufacturers of equine products began to incorporate these materials into wraps, boots, and pads. Materials like neoprene and polyurethane foams, synthetic felts and padding, and gel are common in today's saddle pads. Synthetics also allow for more variety in colors and designs.

But should we assume these materials benefit our equine partners? Probably not. A cynical person might observe that synthetic fabrics offer the highest profit margin to manufacturers. And while these high tech materials might be very effective in their originally intended uses -- aerospace, aviation, the military, and other areas--there is little research to demonstrate that synthetics are good for a horse's back.


What does a saddle pad do, anyway?

Saddle pads serve several functions:

• Decoration. For better or worse, you CAN buy a pad designed in a montage of animal prints.
• Saddle protection. Pads protect he saddle from dirt and sweat.
• Drying. Moisture is wicked away.
• Cooling. Pads can help to cool the back and dissipate heat.
• Cushioning. There are many measures of "cush" and frankly I don't understand every measure I read about. Suffice to say that a pad should reduce pressure points and other forces acting on the back.

Cooling
Ideally, a saddle pad will help to dissipate heat and keep the back as cool as possible. For the average 3o-45 minute ride, the cooling function is desirable; for the hard-working horse that is ridden for hours cooling is essential. In his article "Saddle pads and what the manufacturers don't tell you", Michael Easton did a field test of saddle pads made of different materials. The field test was a long trail ride. The temperatures of the saddle pads were measured after ride, and the results were dramatic.

• Neoprene and synthetic fleece pad temperatures ran 3 degrees hotter than wool felt and cotton pads.
• While the wool and cotton pads cooled quickly following a ride, the neoprene and fleece retained their heat for hours after being removed from the horse's back.

Synthetic products may make claims for unique designs such as air channels or a waffle weave to improve cooling. In reality once the material is compressed against the horse's back, these designs are ineffectual. The best materials for cooling are wool and cotton.

Wicking Moisture
Here are two cool words: hydrophilic (likes moisure and wicks it up) and hydrophobic (hates/resists water). Hydrophilic materials pull moisure from the horse's back and move it along. You might hear some people argue that the wet back is lubricated -- not true, at least according to researchers. The wetness causes stretching and pulling on the skin and hair, as well as slippage, which can lead to sores and soreness.

A Kansas State Study examined four western blankets for their wicking properties (among other things) before and after 200 hours of use. The results:

• Neoprene and gel were the worst performers, exhibiting almost no wicking properties (even though the gel pad had a wool lining).
• Synthetic fleece showed good wicking properties before use, but wicking dramatically declined after use. The matting of the material, accumulation of dirt and sweat were the likely reasons for the decline in wicking performance over time.
• The foam pads (both closed and open cell) performed well, in part because they were lined with wool felt or sheepskin.
• No wool pad (no synthetics) was included in this study. Too bad. For what it's worth, wool's wicking properties far oustrip synthetic materials (see "Advantages of Wool for Horse Tack" for more information).

Cushioning/Impact reduction
The Kansas State University Study also looked at factors of compression reduction and cushioning. The study did not include an all-wool pad. Their findings were:

• Closed cell composite foam performed the best (in this case a Professional Choice pad).
• the open cell ""memory foam," which is used in modern mattresses offered no cushioning. It completely collapsed under load.
• Synthetic fleece offered some protection when new, but lost much of its cushioning ability with use.
• Gel and neoprene performed the poorest.

Dr. Joyce Harman, who studied synthetic materials used in western saddle pads, concluded that wool is more resilient and effective at protecting the horse's back than synthetic fabrics. Cushioning/impact reduction is a function of tensile strength and rebound resistance in terms of pounds per square inch (psi). When the "bounceback" factor of materials is considered, wool (80%virgin, 20% other) is measured a t 8 psi compared to foams (2psi), gels (2 psi), or synthetic fleece (1 psi). Wool far outperforms these materials in tensile strength as well.

Oh, a word about wool grades: Wool is graded on a scale of 1-15, and the grading is assigned in part by virgin wool content. The highest quality saddle pads use grade 10 or 11 wool felt (80% virgin wool). Most saddle pads use grade 15 wool, or about 50% virgin wool.

Conclusion
These conclusions are my own, standard disclaimers apply. First, it looks like some of these synthetic materials are being incorporated into pad design without really testing whether they work. For example, the famous mattress "memory foam" used in one of the saddle pads performed badly. Did anyone test the pad before going into production? Probably not.

Second, based on the performance of good old wool and wool felt, it's still the best thing going for saddle pads. The Horse Journal tested a variety of saddle pad materials and found that “natural sheepskin remains the gold standard in saddle pad materials” because of the excellent natural wicking properties, air flow, wear, and support sheepskin gives to a horse’s back. The author of the web site Sustainable Dressage also suggests sheepskin, but she wisely notes that the pad should be as thin as possible so that it does not interfere with a correctly fitting saddle. Ironically, I see people using pricey sheepskin pads on TOP of another pad--to protect the pad? This might preserve the fluffiness/cleanliness, but the benefit to the horse is lessened.

Third, none of the studies really looked at cotton, which is by far the most common material used for pads I buy. Cotton has good wicking and cooling properties so it often forms the lining or outer shell of a pad. Cotton is often combined with synthetics to form the interior padding as well.

Finally, I'll never again be tempted to buy the most expensive product (whatever that product is) because "if it costs more, it must be better." Although I didn't share the price of the pads, many of the more expensive produts performed HORRIBLY. The one exception to this is that if you're buying a wool product, check the grade of wool. If you're getting a better grade of wool (10 or 11 is optimal for pads), expect to spend more.

RESOURCES

Saddle pads and what the manufacturers don't tell you by Michael Easton with Dr. Joyce Harman.

Saddle Pad Construction: Different Materials from the Horse Saddle Shop

Advantages of Wool for Horse Tack from infohorse.com

Evaluation of performance saddle pads (Kansas State University Study)

Sustainable dressage Web site discussion of saddles and pads

Saddle pads from the Horsechannel.com

"I can't go out, I might be recognized..."

Coincidentally, BTB received recognition from two of the more established and reputable horse blogs -- in the same week! It could not have come at a better time -- dreary weather, dreary work worries, and blogger's block. Thank you so much for the encouragement.

The awards
Mrs Mom, who authors Oh Horsefeathers, always manages to post on topics that I (and apparently lots of other readers) have an interest in. It's such a class act. I really appreciate her presenting BTB with the Great Horse Tips award. Note to self: Check out the Why I carry blog.


Grey Horse Matters kindly presented this award to BTB. The award is especially meaningful because Grey Horse Matters writing is so honest and insightful. As a 46 year old with a 21 year old thoroughbred, her blog's theme totally resonates. Thanks so much for thinking of BTB.

I'm not too familiar with the protocol on awards. Are there any next steps? I'm wondering if this is my chance to recognize some of the blogs I read regularly...

Short heel, long toe: No, No!

The long toe, underslung heel trait is the most common hoof abnormality in horses. Here are ten reasons to take corrective measures for this conformation flaw, especially in the competition horse. Most are from Daniel Mark's Conformation and Soundness in the AAEP Proceedings, vol 46, 2000, p. 39.

Ten reasons to trim the toe

1. In a study of racehorses, researchers found that as the length of the toe increased by 1 inch, the odds of sustaining a carpal chip fracture increased by a factor of 40. (C. W. McIlwraith, Role of Conformation in Musculoskeletal Problems in the Racing Thoroughbred and Racing Quarter Horse, AAEP Proceedings, 2003).
2. Low hoof angles cause the heel to bear more weight, resulting in joint stress and heel pain. When the hoof angle is at a 39 degree angle, 75% of the weight goes to the heel; at 55 degrees, 43% is borne by the heels. The widest part of the foot is where the horse should land to effectively balance the hoof around the coffin bone.
   
   
3. Horses with long toes tend to land toe-first. Horses that land toe-first are those that are "closer to lameness" and considered by some veterinarians to be a grade one lame.
   
   
4. A toe-first landing means that the stride is shorter than normal (Ovnicek, G., How Hoof Form Relates to Hoof Function: Part 2, 9th Congress on Equine Medicine & Surgery).
   
   
5. Low hoof angles increase tension on the deep digital flexor tendon and compresses the navicular bone and rotary forces on the p3 bone (see picture above right--click on it to enlarge).
   
   
6. Underrun heels crush the digital cushion. The digital cushion does not regenerate well once significantly crushed. The longer the problem continues, the greater the overall damage to internal and external structures
   
   
   
7. The greater the weightbearing on a portion of hoof, the slower the growth (a vicious cycle).
   
   
   
8. Hoof tubules run from the top to the bottom of the hoof, and form the outer structure. Ideally they should be closer to vertical than horizontal. On underrun heels the tubules are bent forward, making the them less able to resist compression.
   
   
9. In a study of racehorse shoeing and hoof traits, researchers found that when there is disparity between the toe angle and heel angle, suspensory apparatus failure is more likely to occur. (Kane, A., Hoof balance characteristiscs associated with catastrophic injury of Thoroughbreds, AAEP Proceedings 1998).
   
   
10. Breakover is significantly delayed when the horse has a long toe and low hoof angle. The toe acts as a long lever arm, requiring more time and effort to rotate the heel around the toe. Imagine a athletic shoe (with a rolled toe) versus a clown shoe. The cross- trainer's shorter length and its breakover design allow for easier locomotion.

Sport horse handling clinic with Bruce Griffin

Okay, so the horse shoe removal was a bust -- not sure why that video would "go away" -- maybe copyright? I'll leave the entry up in case it comes back, and look for a nice substitute.

In the meantime, another video, this one on handling young horses. I'm a fan of Bruce and Staci Griffin and wish I coulda been there...

How to remove a shoe: A video tutorial

I've occasionally had to remove a shoe that was already partially off, and each time I remind myself I should learn the "proper way to do it. Well, this is a pretty darn nice video showing exactly how. God bless Youtube and the producers of this tutorial.

Enjoy!

"Do my breeches make me look bulbous?"

This is a question I asked my husband last night. He arrived home from work to find me standing in our living room in a pair of blinding snow white breeches. Someone had given them to me for an upcoming show. The breeches were just a tad short, for sure, but seemed to fit reasonably well everywhere else. If only I could attribute this unflattering look to a poor fit.

As to the question of my bulbosity--Bob is no fool. "Do you think I'm insane?" was his response. "I'm not going to answer that. It's a trick question." My husband has learned from bitter experience that weight is a dicey topic -- so he has adopted a policy of neutrality. Mr. Switzerland in Wartime will not be drawn into the discussion of whether I should venture out in public dressed like this. Naturally I assume he is thinking the worst. I'm more certain than ever that in these nice, expensive german breeches, I look like a blancmange.

In June I'm riding Harv in a little schooling show. I can't bring myself to wear casual attire when in fact I have an underutilized Pikeur jacket, coolmax shirt and tie, and Petrie boots getting old in the closet. Besides, a black jacket hides a world of ills.

Breech designers do not design with my kind of figure in mind. Think they're envisioning Lisa Wilcox and Christine Traurig. I've gained 10 pounds since I met Bob (see, it is his fault). None of it has gone to the derriere, where it could add some curves. No, it is the curse of the middle aged female. My stomach sticks out. My waist has sunken into my hips. Or maybe my hips are rising.

Should I try to lose this weight? Do I have the resolve long term to weight watch the way I did (compulsively, fanatically) when I was in my 20s and 30s? The answer would seem to be no.

Whenever I start to feel wistful for my 26" waist of my early twenties, I remember that I also used to spread mustard on lettuce leaves and call it a meal. And I listen to this great song by The Story: Fatso (Mp3 file of the whole song, which is a very funny look at dieting).

So I guess I'll be parading my bulbous self around in my blinding bridal-white breeches the first Sunday of June. Let spectators avert their eyes! Let the judge wear Raybans! Let the camera add 15 pounds (5 pound color penalty). Everyone will be looking at Harvey anyway. Such a handsome devil.

Zara Phillips: an entry by mistake

This is an Oops entry. Somehow this draft of an article got published. I removed it but then noticed the link was already distributed. It's kind of a nice video of Zara Phillips preparing for Burghley 2008.

CANTER: hope for the racing industry

The 2008 Kentucky Derby was not a proud moment -- for the racing industry, for the media that covered it, or for PETA. The weekend compelled me to go to the CANTER site to make a donation. And for the thousandth time I wish I had a farm where I could take in some old ex-racers who deserve a good home.

The Pennsylvania CANTER horse on the left is aptly named "Pushed." The story of the 16.2 hand, 8 year old TB:

Pushed is a hard working soul who is in need of a new home and a much earned retirement. He finished in the top three in almost two thirds of his races and earned just under $400k. He's a very classy gentleman with awesome good looks and the best of homes is a top priority for him according to his trainer. His legs look great with no injuries, but he's got stringhalt and walks with a typical stringhalt gait. We were told the faster the gait, it goes away - thus his ability to race. And do well at it!

This writeup is heart-breaking. If any horse deserves a comfortable retirement, it would be this one. Trying to get a grasp on what the possible fate of this horse might be, I did some additional reading on CANTER. Well, I learned something new. And it's good news.

CANTER: Founded by racehorse owners
The Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER) was conceived, developed and implemented by the Michigan racing industry -- owners that are concerned about what happens to their animals after their racing career. CANTER provides retiring thoroughbred racehorses with opportunities for new careers.

Joanne Normile, who founded the Michigan CANTER organization in 1997, worked to create partnersnips between members of the racing industry and other equine enthusiasts/citizens/volunteers concerned for the welfare of ex-racehorses. CANTER buys some horses from their track owners, and some are donated by the owners. CANTER's Web site lists horses available through CANTER for adoption, and there are separate listings for trainers to sell their own stock. CANTER has established adoption procedures which protect the horse from an unsuitable home, and CANTER offers a 30 day trial period for horse and owner. Trainer-listed horses come with no such guarantees.

Committed volunteers do a tremendous amount of work -- escorting potential buyers at the track, taking pictures of horses available through CANTER, etc. Since it was founded in and since then affiliate programs have begun in other states. CANTER works with concerned owners to find their horses suitable homes.

CANTER Cuties!
This little horse on the right looks like a nice riding prospect. CANTER has many horses that need some extra care or treatment, but many of them are sound and ready for a competitive athletic career. On the COTH bulletin board, the nice prospects are called CANTER cuties.

And if i ever get my farmette, Harv will have a horse like Pushed to hang out with in his retirement.

"Just don't scare the horses..."

Does it really matter what these affectionate people do-so long as they don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses!~attributed to Beatrice Stella Tanner (Mrs. Patrick) Campbell, English actress (1865-1940).

Going for cheap laughs now! A streaker disrupts an equestrian event in Amsterdam. His cause was animal rights, and I guess he was protesting show jumping (makes horses jump against their will). We should all live as well as the elite show jumpers! Wish he'd picked a different sporting event, I'd be more supportive.

Comparing online horse supply sources

Every 6-8 weeks, my barn manager leaves a note on the bulletin board "Bring in your wormers by month/date." I panic. I visit the two tack stores in the area. Often they're out, so I have to go online. I go through the same routine when I start to run out of supplements. Or when Harvey makes use of the "breakaway" feature of his halter. You get the idea.

I've used Valley Vet Supply, Country Supply (now horse.com), KV Vet Supply, Dover Saddlery, and Jeffers Equine. Which online horse supply store is cheapest? I often wondered, but never took the time to figure out. Until now, that is.

Well, this weekend I did some comparisons, using a sampling of five products that all five companies sell. The products used were Cosequin joint supplement, 700 gram container; Miracle cribbing collar; Leather New 32oz.; Zimecterin Gold; and Endure Fly Spray. I included costs of shipping in the comparison.


The detailed results are in a COMPARISON CHART of results. Here is the executive summary...

• MOST EXPENSIVE OVERALL: Dover Saddlery (highest price on every product; 11% over avg. price for all products)
  
• LEAST EXPENSIVE OVERALL: Valley Vet (10% less than avg. price for all products)
  
• HIGHEST SHIPPING PRICES: Dover Saddlery
  
• LOWEST SHIPPING PRICES: KV Vet Supply
  
• HIGHEST PRODUCT PRICES: Dover Saddlery
  
• LOWEST PRODUCT PRICES:Valley Vet
  
• WORST CHOICE FOR HEAVY ITEMS: Jeffers Equine is the winner of the brain-dead shipping fees award. Shipping costs for a $9 32 oz. leather care product was 15.27!This is off-scale compared to other companies, I'm thinking their shipping calculations may be in error. See chart for details...
  
• BEST CHOICE FOR BIG ORDERS: Valley Vet offered lowest prices for each of the five products, PLUS free shipping over $60. KV Vet Supply and Country Supply offer free shipping over $50 and $49, respectively

Higher End Items
I hoped to include a more expensive item -- Wintec 500 saddle to be exact -- but KV Supply does not sell them, and I wanted to include only products that all companies had. I did get the prices for four of the companies: Country Supply (horse.com) had the lowest price at $423; Valley Vet had the highest price at $459, with Dover close behind at $457. See the chart for more info (it's at the bottom)

Where are my lucky socks? Things that help me ride better

Some very successful and talented riders won't enter the ring without their "lucky socks." These talismans may or may not hold special powers--what matters is that we think they do. Solitaire Mare talks about this in her blog article Good Luck Charms. I tend to be pragmatic in my choice of charms and amulets, usually they're in the form of a new gadget or technique. There are things that I do that should help, and they give me confidence. Here are a few...

Rein charms!
I have a problem hanging on to my reins, Harv doesn't pull but the reins still get longer and longer. I tried knotting my reins but the knots were too big. I bought some "little kid" pony tail holders, like the one pictured below, and wrap them once around each rein at the place where I want to hold the reins.

I wondered if the little balls would stay in place, and I thought they might leave impressions on the leather if wrapped too tight. Neither is true.

Heel stretch ritual
Every day at lunch, I pull out my heel stretcher and stretch my heels. I suspect this really does help physically. I close my office door, put on my tennies, and perch over the heel stretcher in, alternating between a straightened knee and "riding position."



Teaser
The Pilates teaser exercise is an ab killer. Again, this should improve my riding and it probably does. I only spend about an hour 3-4 times a week in the saddle. This exercise make me feel like I'm working toward my riding goals, and it reassures me that my ab muscles really are present and in working order.

A break from horses: David Olney

Last night, for about the millionth time, I heard singer-songwriter David Olney in concert. As a grad student in the 80's he was a regular at a bar called The Cave in Chapel Hill NC. Since I moved to PA, I've been lucky that he makes an annual visit to Godfrey Daniels, a 100 seat folk club in Bethlehem, PA. He is often referred to as a musician's musician, which is a high compliment. His musical style is varied and unique -- blues, rockabilly, New Orleans swing, and what has been termed "noir folk." His songs have been covered by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Earle, and many others. He's a storyteller too. Last night's concert was one of ones I'll remember always. Thought I'd share a few Youtube videos.

Does your horse have SI/hip pain?

Does your horse have pain in the hip/sacroiliac (SI) region? I asked myself this very question a few weeks ago as I watched Harvey on the end of a lunge line. He was definitely gimpy and reluctant to trot out. He does have hock issues, but to my layman's eye, it looked like there was something wrong "higher up." A few weeks off did him wonders, but I researched hip/SI pain while he rested. The article Clinical Features of Pain Associated with the Sacroiliac Joint Region: A European Perspective offers some indicators for pain in the SI region. Note that as you get further down the list the symptoms get more vague.

Disclaimer: In the first version of this article, I lumped the hip and the sacroiliac together, mostly because "sacroiliac" is not an everyday term. As a reader noted in comments, the hip and the sacroiliac regions are different. The sacroiliac region is depicted to the right. The hip joint is further down and attaches the femur to the pelvis. An illustration of the horse skeleton should clarify this a bit.

A study of horses who were diagnosed with sacroiliac pain showed these behaviors:

• Horses may stand with their thoracolumbar region (between sections 3 and 4 in picture above left) a little roached.
• Horse may shift weight constantly between the two hindlimbs.
• Some horses showed exaggerated sinking of the hindquarters when pressure was applied over the tubera sacrale (jumper's bump).
  
• When palpating the thoracolumbar region or tubera sacrale, spasm of the epaxial muscles (pictured right) is common.
  
• Hoses may show restricted flexibility of the thoracolumbar region or became agitated despite showing a normal range of motion (I think this was measured in the clinic via a treadmill).
  
• Reluctance to stand with one hindlimb flexed, bearing weight on the other limb, or reluctance to allow one or both hindlimbs to be picked up was seen in ~25% of horses.
  
• When examined moving in hand on a hard surface, the most common feature was reduced hindlimb impulsion. Sometimes seen:
  
  
  • rolling hindlimb gait
    
  • moving wide behind
    
  • moving close behind
    
  • few plaiting
    
  • more than one gait abnormality
  
  
• Showing lameness in only one hindlimb is not associated with hip/sacroiliac pain. It was only seen when a specific problem was identified in that hindlimb (e.g., hock)
• Some horses turn abnormally about their own length, show stiffness or a tendency to pivot on the forelimbs, or are reluctant to cross the hindlimbs normally.
• Stiffness and poor hindlimb impulsion are observed on the lunge, but not necessarily one-sided lameness (unless attributed to another cause).
• Bucking at the canter is common.

• Some horses break to canter rather than increase hindlimb impulsion, whereas others show a poor quality canter manifest as four-time canter, repeatedly changing legs behind, or becoming disunited.
  
• Sometimes problems are only apparent when ridden.
  
• Horses often feel worse to a rider than they look, even to a skilled, experienced observer.


• Lateral work (e.g., shoulder-in, half-pass) is particularly difficult. Canter is stiff and stilted, often four beat and difficult to maintain. Some horses canter crookedly on three tracks.


• Some of these horses re also extremely reluctant to go forward.

S.J. Dyson and R. C. Murray. Clinical Features of Pain Associated with the Sacroiliac Joint Region: A European Perspective In: 50th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, 2004.

See also:

Understanding sacroiliac pain Horse and Hound

Sacroiliac Pain from The Horse magazine

Back pain and the sacroiliac joint in horses from Myhorse.com

This week is Bridlemania! Dressage bling

My bridle shopping is now officially out of control, so I dub this week Bridlemania week, or maybe week-to-ten-days. During my bridle research, I stumbled across the Kieffer bridle Web site. They have some interesting twists on the standard dressage bridle. I believe their bridles are of very good quality, which helps when you're pushing the envelope of tradition. I like them, and I don't like them. They are certainly not right for most horses, but I think on the right horse they could be stunning!



To the left is the Kieffer Bicolor bridle -- intended to be worn with the saddle pictured right (also Kieffer). I would not put them in the same room, much less on the same horse. The bridle does come with two sets of cheekpieces (black, tobacco). Only a small subset of the horse population would have the panache to carry it off. Imagine the bridle on a black or chestnut that has the confidence, talent, and performance to carry it off. I can see it.

Nice detailing!
I'm also liking their Anja style bridle (left) that hides some of the bridle hardware for a clean, modern look. Sharp! On the right is their Ergonomic bridle line that features nice padding behind the ear. Why don't more companies experiment with the bridle design? Just a little?



Helloooo JonBenet!
Maybe I was on the fence about the two-tonebridle, but I draw the line at dressing babies as adult horses. That cute little face is totally overwhelmed. Kieffer, go back to the drawing board. Delicately made, elegant headgear for weanlings and yearlings is a great idea for inspections and breed shows. Someone is missing the opportunity to make money by not inventing a bridle/halter. I envision a rolled bridle that has no bit but a halter ring at the bottom of the noseband.

Kieffer has done some cool things. But it's tough to beat a well-made bridle with some nice options for piping color. That's where I'm leaning at the moment.

A tale of two bridles: Quality differences

If you've ever wondered what the difference between a $100 and a $300 bridle is, this article might interest you--it's a side-by-side visual comparison of two bridles -- well, three, but one doesn't count. As you may know, I won a $300 Stubben bridle, and someone kindly lent me a new "everyday use" type bridle that retails for about $80 (close to $100, anyway). When we were introducing the bit to Riley, I bought a $20 bridle on Ebay. I was never able to use it. The stud broke off first time I tried to assemble it (there's a shocker).

A word about quality "strap goods"
When googling for info on bridles, it pays to try the keywords bridlework and strap goods (I didn't think of these right away). The problem with doing a comparison online is that you can't feel, smell, or bend the leather to determine quality. For the record, quality leather and leatherwork is:

• Supple. The leather does not crack when bent 180 degrees. Dry leather cracks, and it's dry because it was damaged in the tanning process.
• Dense and weighty. It should have a heft to it.
• Sewn with quality thread, minimum 10-12 stitches per inch.
• Aromatic. It should have no smell or smell sweet, not sour.
• Smooth. Signs of poor quality include wrinkles, porousness, roughness, or fibers/tendrils on either side of the leather.
• Strong. It should not stretch more than a millimeter or two when stretched.
• Complemented by good hardware. Manufacturers that use good quality leather will also invest in sturdy hardware (stainless steel, brass, etc.) and strong/tight thread.

Standard disclaimer
You'll find this particular comparison is easy -- too easy, really, and I don't mean to take cheap shots at the low-end bridle. The goal here is to identify some points of comparison that can be used when you look at two bridles more similar in price and quality. All pix are the bridles photographed pre-oiling.

Overall impression
The $80 The bridle's description says "finest top grain leather, aniline dyed." The bridle looks fine for everyday use. It smells okay and feels all right too. Compared to the $300 bridle it's stiff, although you can bend it w/o any signs of cracking. It's a little "plastic-y" looking, but it is leather. The color is attractive, but it's a little "flat." Do you remember the really cheap hair dyes of yesteryear, how it removed the natural luster? This dye is similar. The $300 bridle looks, feels, and smells great. The color is a rich, dark amber/brown. The padding is quite soft.

After taking the pix, I oiled both bridles. The $80 bridle absorbed some oil, but frankly didn't change much. The $300 bridle absorbed the oil evenly and beautifully, as you'd expect for that price.

$80 bridle	$350 bridle
Browband
Note missed stitches top middle.	Note even stitches; thread looks treated/waxed.
Noseband
Messy stitching; cheek attachment sticks out at the bottom.	Even stitching; wrap-through style of cheek attachment looks more secure.
Inside of noseband
Padding is wrinkly, stiff. Not vinyl but it looks like it could be	Padding is butter-soft, smooth.
Reins
Note messy stitching, unfinished look.	More finished, secure stitching.
Side/cheekpieces
Sturdy-looking; white thread is distracting; note "flat" color; edge is dyed black.	Richer leather, stamped, snugger keepers.

The $20 bridle
Okay, so here is the $20 bridle. It doesn't LOOK half bad, and based on photographs you might like it more than the $80 bridle. Trust me, the leather is crappo--hard, dry as particle-board, and mottled in color. When I oiled it, it sucked up the oil but at the moment it's fairly discolored and uneven. It might look better over time. Let's hope.






Below are some articles on evaluating leather quality. But if you want to make the job of choosing a bridle easier, go with the most reputable bridlemaker you can afford. I hope this helps!


Touch, smell, and sight: Tools for determining leather quality from Charlotte's Saddlery

How your leather tack is tanned from Equisearch

Leather Quality from New Zealand Horse Talk

How to identify leather quality in tack (Ebay)