Caveat Emptor, and this story breaks my heart

Okay, so there is a horse professional of international repute that I have always admired. For years. Love love love this person. And then, I read on RateMyHorsePro.com about a 1990 lawsuit brought against this person. Here is the story as told in court documents, in a nutshell.

• Horse is sick. A young Oldenberg horse living in the South is diagnosed with heart condition at around age eight. Horse is treated at a university hospital, but likelihood of recurrence is uncertain at best.
• Horse is  put up for sale. The horse is shipped to this New England professional  for resale, with a stipulation that if the horse has a heart recurrence during the time it is in training it will be euthanized.
• Buyers try the horse. Buyers (later to become plaintiffs) try the horse and are told the horse is not fit because she is recovering from a virus.  When buyers inquire about a shaved patch that they recognize as indicative of an EKG the professional tells them that the EKG was a routine diagnostic for the virus. 
• Buyers buy the horse. The buyers place an offer of 25K, which is accepted pending a vet exam.
• Prepurchase exam. At the prepurchase exam, the vet notes swelling in the horse's belly and legs. The professional  shares the hospital report concerning the heart condition with the vet. The professional  assures the vet is assured that the buyers are aware of the heart condition and are "okay with it." 
• Vet (mis)communicates. Vet rmakes only a passing reference to the report when she communicates with the buyers. The buyers are never informed about the heart condition.
• Sale goes through. The horse is purchased. 
• Horse is sick. The heart condition recurs at the horse's first competition. Horse is retired to pasture.
• Buyers become plaintiffs.

Caveat Emptor, and then some

Professional  is sued for 25K. I did not read the outcome of the trial, but what seems to be at issue is the role of the veterinarian. Because the veterinarian is the agent of the buyer, and the agent was informed of the condition (and read the hospital report), the seller is not culpable. 

My .02

This whole situation makes me a little ill. The horse is viewed as a commodity, or worse -- shipped around, passed off, shipped around. No one asks "what happens to the horse when the new owners are unpleasantly surprised?" These are not horse people, are they?

Aside from that,  there are some takeaway messages for folks buying horses.

• Don't accept vague answers about the horse's condition and past. Request details. Press on.  Get documentation.
• Don't buy a work-age horse that has not been in work and does not have a strong history (or competition record if you are competing). Horses standing in the pasture are there for a reason.
• TALK to the vet. Be at the vetting.
• Be wary of a horse that is for sale far, far away from the location of the last owner. I know a few people who "shippped a horse out west" to be sold because the animal had problems that were too well known in the immediate area, or because it would be harder for the buyer to go back to the owner in the event of problems.

Signature Gloves: Christmas Joy

This is not an ad--it's a brag, really, on my inspired choice of custom color  Signature Gloves. With any luck I'll be rocking these gloves with my navy OneK helmet and navy Pikeur jacket in 2013!

I sometimes prompt Bob for what I would like for Christmas. This year I informed him after the fact, and he was pretty happy about that. What did the uber-consumer horse girl ask for?

Signature Gloves
I got these great show gloves in white and grey-blue leather. They are comfy, fit beautifully, and a good value.

If you are like me--fond of color and style selection--go wild at their web site. You can select a style, type and color of backing (crochet, leather, waffle), and over forty leather colors. Go to the web site to see the color palette.

Every time I order from this UK company, I am in touch with the same wonderful rep (Tim), and I seldom feel so catered-to in my helter-skelter life. I'm made to feel I'm the one of perhaps a few elite customers, despite the fact that I'm likely one of thousands. Signature Gloves is one of the premier glove manufacturers in Europe and the U.S. They have a presence at Rolex -- that's where I first saw them -- and the glove display was a mouthwatering selection of dress, riding, driving, and shooting gloves. I purchased a lovely pair of floral dress gloves for my mom there several years ago. She still tells me how much she loves them...

If Harv could talk, he would say...

Backwards in high heels: riding sidesaddle

I found this photo in the book The Horse Woman: A practical guide to side-saddle riding. That title is an oxymoron if there ever was one ('practical' and 'sidesaddle' should not appear in the same paragraph)! But, when I read it, I was filled with awe for the women who went careening around the countryside in this compromised way. It reminded me of the comment about Ginger Rogers doing everything Fred Astaire did, but "backwards in high heels."

If you think that the women of the era were delicate passengers on their kind and tolerant horses, read this book. Quite the opposite, as Miss Emmie Harding shows us in the photo. Side-saddle, long skirt big, dangerous, airy fence, and look at her position. The horse even looks happy. You go girl.

This next photo shows a similar jump but a bit earlier in the jumping phase. The rider has the good sense to release the reins, and while her body position is a bit further back than might desired today, the horse looks perfectly happy.

These must have been remarkable women.

2012 Christmas scenes (from my world) Part 2

Harv is doing great -- fuzzy and fat and happy with his girlfriend "graymare." I spent some time grooming him on Christmas day. He was mellow and loving and appreciated the attention, which for him is a bit of a change. He can be quite indignant when brushed. The very best day of 2012 was coming to the barn in late November to find Harv "recovering" from his colic bout. Happy holidays, all!

2012 Christmas scenes (from my world) Part 1

Bob and I had no particular plans for Christmas. When you don't have plans, you can make the case that there is no need to get gussied up. Here at the Kimmel estate, we take this to heart. I snapped this shot of Bob, taken about ten minutes after we got up, and before he stepped out into the morning to enjoy his first cigarette of the day. After snapping this, I noticed that this random shot captured four of our multitude of cat toys. Really, aim a camera anywhere on the first floor of our home and you'll capture at least 3-4 cat toys. I've identified them here...

1. Cat toy #1 is a little ball on a base (the cats like to grab the base and disembowel it. They ignore the ball.
2. Cat toy #2 is a "hide the treat" toy with slidable pieces that you hide treats under.
3. Cat toy #3 is the best of the bunch, a ball that is housed on a circular track around the perimeter of a cork base. 
4. Cat toy #4 is a box. Bob cut windows in the sides so that cats can hunt each other, hide, and bat back and forth from the windows. 

Our house is dry, and we have a humidifier in almost every room -- not for us (although it helps Bob's psoriasis) but so that we don't shock the cats when we pet them...

Post holiday empty pockets

With the holidays finally coming to a conclusion, we're all probably experiencing a common condition. Empty pockets.  I just got Harv's colic bill, and I'm paying off that 'spensive saddle, and all the other stuff that goes with horse ownership.

Here's a gift that is a tribute to this horseman's curse.

Available from zazzle.com

Husbands -- get her something shiny!

Men, we may say this. And in one sense we mean it. But really we want something that sparkles, and we want something horsey.

And you can make it happen in one gift!
 I love this crystal mesh bling and imagine it with a matching browband. At almost $300 (185 pounds), only the most affluent, devoted husband is likely to go this route. It's available from ClassicDressage.com in the UK. Surprisingly their stuff is often cheaper than what you would buy in the U.S., even after shipping...

If you've got  the figure for it...

Uniquorn clothing line: For the post-lottery splurge

Here is the Uniquorn Montrose breech--at $555 euros or $730, it's not likely to be the breech you'd use for schooling and mucking and turnout. But aren't they lovely? The seat is suede, and there is leather piping. I love the button detail.

Do these make my butt look like $730?

Oh, and they sell boots (at a similar price). Have you ever woken up from sleep wishing you owned a pair of mustard colored boots? Well. Me neither. But they come in different colors, and you can always admire the craftsmanship. To see all of these extravagantly love items, go to http://www.uniqcorn.com/.

Jessica, a girl who loved horses

From MSNBC.com

 Last week in Newtown, CT, something horrible happened, and it's on my mind. Twenty children (and seven adults) lost their lives for no good reason, at the hands of someone whose actions are inexplicable. I'm  can't stop thinking about the details of that day, and how it unfolded. I've followed the breaking news trying to piece together the particulars. On my kitchen table are sketches and notes about Sandy Hook -- the logistics, a timeline, and the sequence of events. I'm gathering the details of what happened, to who, and when. Maybe it's because the whys are beyond our reach. 

Early this week, the parents of one of the victims shared a portrait of their little girl and a little bit about her. It broke my heart. I'm reprinting this because we all share something in common with this little girl.

“Jessica loved everything about horses." 
"She devoted her free time to watching horse movies, reading horse books, drawing horses, and writing stories about horses. We had promised her she could have her very own horse when she turned 10. She asked Santa for new cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat. She was a creative, beautiful little girl who loved playing with her little brothers, Travis and Shane. She spent time writing in her journals, making up stories, and doing “research” on orca whales – one of her passions after seeing the movie Free Willy last year. She said her dream was to see a real orca. Thankfully her dream was realized in October when she went to SeaWorld.

 We can not imagine our life without her...We are devastated, and our hearts are with the other families who are grieving as we are.” 

 I have a card -- a picture of a little foal leaping into the air -- that I wish I could send to the Jessica's family. I'll post it here, and I've sent it (along with a donation) to the Sandy Hook School Fund. Maybe they will see it somehow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Newtown Rotary Sandy Hook School Fund, PO Box 263, Newtown, CT 06482.

Requisite? Really?

At only 17 British pounds ($34), I suppose these Requisite breeches from Robinson Equestrian are a good buy. They are a bit much for me, personally, but they'd be great for kids and they might be a fun change of pace (and awesome for the next "pink ribbon" equestrian event).

But here are a few things that are not what I want in a breech...

• I imagine myself trying these on, looking in the mirror, and brightly proclaiming "Hi, high-waister!" The waist would likely reach my armpits
• "I've always wanted to wear argyle on my posterior," said no adult woman EVER.
• I love pink, generally, but this pink is an agressive sort of pink that I'm not sure I'd want to wear...

The final verdict? These requisite breeches are requisite, if you are under 14. The site does not show sizing, and does not indicate it is for kids so I can't tell the intended audience. I'm gonna say KIDS.

Out of stock, and I'm out of luck

80 British pounds...

  Once again, the Brits have outdone us. Check out this great style of show shirt, so perfect for those of us who don't "tuck in." From Robinson's Equestrian, but it is currently out of stock (further attesting to its winning design). Cristina Sport is an Italian company, with moderately priced clothing (by equestrian standards) and a web site that is a little hard to navigate.

I hope that this style comes to the U.S. Actually I'd love it if a lot of the equestrian brands from the U.K. (and Europe) eventually come over here. There are some interesting choices on the U.K. Web sites...

Leather and lace riding gloves!

On Ebay right now! These $34 gloves are available from a company with 100% positive feedback. Next time you ride in a clinic with that "hottie" German dressage trainer, slip these on along with some body hugging riding duds, and bat those eyelashes!  With any luck, he won't notice the errors in your one-tempis ;-).

Just kidding. Maybe someone lives that life, but it ain't me.

I like the gloves though, nicely sporty with a little goth thrown in.

Ri update: hoof progress

I've blogged before about the difficult decision to stop turning Riley out (at least for the near future). It was a tough call, but I think the right one. You make choices that you think will help in some way, even though there is a downside. Some changes you make for short term gains, knowing that you can't do it long term. Glue-ons are a good example -- they keep your horse in work or "pull your butt out of the fire" for a while. Few people use them long term.

That's the way it is with Ri's feet. It's necesary to address one problem knowing that another problem may arise. Ri's photos (below) are a good example.

Photo 1 8/16/11  On turnout, no pads.

Ri's foot in 2011 
I believe this picture was taken at New Bolton. At the time, Ri was doing his "hoppy trot" pretty regularly, and I wanted New Bolton to weigh in on the matter. In this photo, note that:

• The frog looks reasonably good for a horse wearing shoes. 
• At the time it was taken, Ri was on turnout. 
• He has a gaping hole in the toe. 
• It isn't so noticeable here, but he off and on had pretty dramatic white line issues on the 7pm position of the hoof (left of the hole in this photo). 

 The New Bolton recommendations

After the New Bolton visit in August 2011, we changed two things:

• We started to use pour-in pads on Ri. It made him more comfortable, and he stayed on the pads through 2012. 
•  We changed the angle on his left front.

Through 2012, we competed all season and he was in continual work. He continued to be turned out. He did great during the dryer weather, and was holding onto shoes for a full six weeks. Then in August, as the weather got wetter, Ri's feet took a nose-dive. He started losing shoes every few weeks.   His hoof wall looked like crap and the hole was pretty big. I noticed that the frog was puny-looking (from being covered up with the pads?), but it was a trade-off to keep him comfortable.

Photo 2: Foot kept in dry conditions for 10 weeks.
Pads have just been removed (to let frog heal).

Changing things up...
 In September Ri lost three shoes in the span of two weeks (only 10 days after a fresh pair of shoes). It was exhausting, and I was at a loss. In October, I changed barns and we changed up Ri's program. Ri is worked daily, but not turned out. He's handled this well, and  I am so proud of him. Maybe as his feet improve we can change him back to turnout. I think the decision has paid off, because...


No toe hole! 
It is amazing to me. That toe hole has been there since before he had surgery just after he turned 3 --  and now he has a "whole hoof." Yes, it ain't all perfect -- the frog is in bad shape  from wearing pads in wet conditions. When this photo was taken he'd been padless for about a week, and we're treating the thrushy frog (green stuff in photo). We'll see what more air exposure will do for the hoof. I want the toe from photo #2, and the frog from photo #1 -- that's the goal!  

Christmas glitter -- The perfect stocking stuffer

I would have loved this as a kid: Glitterspray NICI with scent of roses for a glamor glitter look. For a perfect styling. Content: 250ml-spray-bottle (100ml=2,80 EUR). Manufacturer: Eskadron. Comes in strawberry or rose scent with silver glitter, or kiwi scent with gold glitter.

Glitterspray, 5.88 euros tax free

Christmas cards for horse lovers

Zazzle.com has some great stuff designed by amateurs and pros alike--the product quality is suprisingly consistent given that Zazzle consists of many individuals with their own storefronts. There are some talented folks out there. Too late this year (for me), but for next year I may pick from some wonderful horse designs, these customizable Snowflake Horse Holiday greeting cards . The smaller style is pretty affordable considering you can add your own text and greeting.There are many reviews of this seller and s/he got five stars from most of them. So quality-wise it's a safe bet. Go for it!

Another lovely design is this Dressage Warmblood card at a similar price point.

Oooh! And this one, Noble Face (possibly my fave)...

Between $37 and $41 for 20 cards.

Christmas Pick: Heart-horse necklace

I love this necklace (or pair of necklaces). available from namecoins on Etsy.com for only $22.50.

Equestrian Santa

I'm not a big Santa-lovin' person (no Santa motif in our home during the holidays), but I love this Equestrian Santa from Horchow and Neiman Marcus. At $108 I'm not likely to own one, ever, but what a great gift for the extravagant boyfriend or horse husband to give his equestrian wife! Along with all the other horse-related stuff he's going to shower on her, that is.

The detail is what makes this -- love the ribbons on the boots, for example.

Hey, if you guys end up actually BUYING something I point out on the blog, let me know. Leave a comment. Thanks!

Lovesick Harv

Harv and his three-year-old love.

Most of you know that Harv colicked recently. The weather may have been a factor, I suppose (extremes of hot and cold), but aside from that there is nothing to explain his digestive upset. Nothing except...

Harv has Met Someone.  And he is  Totally Gaga. Crazy in Love.

New barn, new friends
Harv was initially turned out with  noble 17.2H black gelding, George.  George is steady and quiet, and he he had a calming influence on My Thoroughbred Boy.  Harv had a great babysitter to keep him happy, but then...

A new mare came in for training. Harv has never been out with a mare (since I've owned him, at least), but he's 26 for heaven's sake. It seemed safe to introduce the mare into the same field as Harv and George.

Harv looks on anxiously while his love flirts with George.

It went well... Too well
The mare is a sweetheart of a three-year-old, and she tolerated the initial attention of both geldings as they sniffed and nuzzled. After the first few minutes, George just wasn't that into her.  Harv, though, was waaaay over the top.  He pranced, he strutted.  He followed her like a puppy, he circled her protectively, he pinned his ears at poor George. Workers found that if they did not bring Harv and the mare in as a pair, Harv was quite beside himself.

You may think I'm exaggerating, but  -- it's not my imagination! Others see it too. One of the barn workers told me "Harv's got it bad." I got a text from another one: "Harv has hearts in his eyes."

Lovesick
Harv had his tummy ache about a week the mare came -- probably in that timeframe that is the human equivalent of the first few dates, and before "couplehood" is achieved. Who doesn't get a stomach  ache during that awkward time in the relationship?

They are inseparable now. Let's hope this lasts, for everyone's sake.

Giveaway! Redmond rocks

 Update: The Pinklette earring Giveaway has concluded and the winner is Katie -- hoping she'll send a photo for me to share with you!

---

My Redmond Rock on a rope was an early Christmas present to Harv -- I've always loved the Redmond Rocks (they have been at Rolex before) but now that they have them on a rope, folks who like the salt-lick-on-a-rope have a new option. I've got a new favorite brand of salt rock, and it's a U.S. company with a U.S. mined nad manufactured product.

For those of you who put salt in the feed, Redmond also has salt-as-a-supplement -- and I'm giving away two containers and one Rock-on-a-rope, courtesy of Redmond.

To enter leave a comment (with some way for me to contact you if you win) describing what "substance lick" you personally would like to have available in the workplace or at home. Prozac? Jolly Rancher? Chocolate? Tootsie Roll? You name it!

I personally would want a Swedish Fish or Mason Dots lick installed by my desk.

Have fun.

Sa Coeur: "A horse to fall in love with"

Also a horse to go into debt for! Sa Coeur (Sir Donnerhall I x Don Davidoff) -–World Dressage Champion -- was the most expensive horse of the P.S.I. Auction in Ankum, at 2.31 million Euros (almost 3 million dollars).   The judges at the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships called him "a horse to fall in love with."

See these two videos -- I love both, but the first one really shows off his fluidity and relaxation. I have no problem with a horse that shows of his best in the ring :-). Nicely ridden too, by Eva Moller.  She looks to be about 12 years old. 

Old people, old horses

Harv at 26

My family on both sides has great genes -- the Kimmels are blessed with longevity. As a kid I had more than a few relatives over the age of 90.  

The thing is, even the most robust and healthy relatives eventually succumbed to old age. And once they started to fail, it seemed like they failed quickly. 

For so long Harv has been fat and sleek and fit and sassy.  Just a few years ago, I was sure he would live past 30. This year Harv has aged, seemingly all at once.  He still looks good -- even great -- for his age, and he'll prance around the pasture like a youngster. But those moments don't come as often, and  I no longer think of him as ageless. He is more frail. He has more than a sprinkling of white on his face.  He has declined a little, there's no denying it.

The colic underlined this. When he colicked, he not only had symptoms of the tummy ache, but he was noticeably ataxic -- unsteady on his feet. The vet who came out to see him watched him walk, and raised her eyebrows: "Are you sure it's a colic?" she asked.  I nodded. She said, "OK. This horse may have several things going on." I don't know why he got so wobbly behind, but he was back to normal as the colic symptoms eased.

I am so grateful Harv is doing as well as he is, and he is doing well. But I've seen first-hand how quickly things change. I am grateful now for every day, grateful for the great care and attention he has, and thankful that I have time to spend with him. I scratch his face and ears, I feed him carrots, and we walk around the barn.

Oh,  on a more positive note: Harv does have a new love that I think it helping to keep him young -- I'll have to tell you about his May-December romance ;-).

I don't always ride my horse...

I 'm no big fan of advertising, but the "most interesting man in the world" campaign is one I love to watch. It's just inspired, getting a message across about the product and making fun of itself at the same time. So of course this meme is among my faves as well...

Source: justforlol.com via Stacey on Pinterest

Christmas pick: Wild Horsefeathers necklace

I do love necklaces -- a lot of my Christmas picks go around your neck -- but they are classy and subtle and would add a bit to the neckline of any blouse or sweater. This one is a safe bet gift for any horsewoman, from Wild Horsefeathers.

Stirrup necklace, $58

Christmas picks: Whining about wine

$14 bargain! 

The gift set of two wines, packaged, $60

So another gift-worthy equestrian-labelled wine is the Washington state wine 14 Hands. I have tasted this wine, and loved it, but I'm easy. More significantly, I think it has a reputation among wine lovers as being a good wine.

f you can't get the wine itself shipped to your state, there is a great wine carrier and also a poster.

Christmas Pick: Woven Beads

A month or so I blogged WovenBeadsBrowbands -- intending to promote a product I like, but I made a little comment about the delicate beadwork holding up. I got a polite but worried note from the beader. She wanted to assure me of the quality and durability of the product, and she described how the item is constructed. I stand corrected! With the kind of strong backing she uses, the browbands (which she has made for many years) hold up to daily use and stay beautiful.  I was drawn to the browbands for their beauty, so how great is it that they are also sturdy? I'm hankering for this one myself, and in my dreams there is a matching belt...

$75 is a bargain for this lovely browband IMHO

Christmas Pick from Horse Presence

I love the simplicity and expressiveness of this design. It says "dressage" without hitting you over the head.

$80 from HorsePresence.com

$24 from Horsepresence.com

The skid, the jump: What a hoot

This is a two-fer Tuesday, just saw this video and it is too cute not to post.  I thought the "flip" was referring to the camera, but it's the pony. Good Lord, what a hoot! Wish I could tell what the girl was saying!

Christmas pick: Can't get there from here...

If you live in one of the lucky states that allows interstate wine shipping, here is a wonderful $22-25ish gift idea for the horse lover, and if your recipient owns a horse of color? Well, then ding-ding-ding we have a winner!  You can buy this wine with the gorgeous graphic of a horse on  Amazon.com or  Paint Horse Winery.  The wine-makers are also paint horse owners, so you're helping two industries at once.

 I have not tasted this wine. It hardly matters.

Watching horses whose wheels are turning

It can be scary, but isn't it fascinating? This horse can't quite work up the nerve to climb, but he gets the idea!

Christmas pick, possibly my fave!!!!

Bronners, $5.99

Thanks to BTB reader Tracie for finding this great Christmas pick from Bronners. At $5.99 it meets the BTB criteria for being a Christmas pick -- a great price point, uniqueness, and equestrian-themed!

Would this be a great stocking stuff or what? Part of the package wrapping? There is nothing about this that is not great. Love it.

Christmas Pick: Ponies!

This plate is from Clay Horse Studio on Etsy.com. It's a nice price point for a gift at $49. And at 2" tall and 9" wide this is a nice 'snack or small dinner' size that will be a family favorite. It's arty and useful at the same time,so maybe it'll fill the bill for one of your Christmas gift needs.