View
223
Download
3
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The August/September 2013 issue of The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine.
Citation preview
a r a b i a nSPORT HORSE
TH
E
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
Oz Poof of Purchasewith Katy Groesbeck
StockImageServices.com
2 The Arabian Sport Horse MagazineIntroducing
Audacious Dream BR
2011 Arabian by Audacious PS
out of Blackberry Dream BR
At Bittersweet Arabians, we breed for excellence. Audacious Dream BR has character, athleticism
and versatility with a World Class pedigree.
Introductory Stud Fee $1,500
Sweepstakes Nominated • SCID and CA Clear
CONTACT:(612) 710-6730 Jordan Simons, Trainer
(406) 531-5330 Lan LaRocque
BittersweetArabians.com
a r a b i a nSPORT HORSE
anentice design llc
publication
entice-design.com
PublisherCassandra Ingles
EditorPeggy Ingles
Advertising(410) 823-5579
WebsiteTheArabianSportHorse.com
Submissions & Story Ideas Welcomed!
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved.
No reproduction without written permission.
Please see our contributors’ bios on our website at
thearabiansporthorse.com/features.php
14 made ya lookA Big Heart in a Small Horse
20 breeder q&a: playland farmBreeder Profile
30 andy go dandyCombined Driving Success
36 renaissance horseThe horse that does it all
42 katy groesbeck & the oz brothersCover Story
48 kestrel’s callingA horse that wanted more
54 healing hazenBy Elizabeth Coffey-Curle
64 eventing stars: sparky & janeBy Kat Walden
69 pl irish thunderA Half-Arabian Changing Minds
C O N T E N T S
a r a b i a nSPORT HORSE
TH
E
MAGAZINE
6 From the Judge’s Booth
10 Despite the Odds
18 Biomechanics
26 Conformation Clinic
34 Lec
40 Worth the Work
46 Samantha Hodgson
52 Details in Dressage 60 Profiles in Courage
62 Huadoresya
72 Reading Reflections 78 Bits & Pieces
80 Classifieds & Service Listings
82 Upcoming AHA SH Shows
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
BittersweetArabians.com
4 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Mirage V++++// with his National Reserve Champion daughter Mirai C, proudly owned by Karla and Mimi Stanley
Mirage V++++//
Celebrating the Achievements... Mirage V++++// Offspring Shine
Both National Reserve Champions Maska C (out of Evening Star RR) and Anna Miriah C (out of
Windsong Bey) have gone on to win more hon-ors and are SHN bound. Watch for Maska C in
Dressage and SHUS Jr Horse with owner Megan Frantz and Anna Miriah C in SHIH Mares with
owner Lynn Tucker
The uber-beautiful Ammiraj (x Rajima Black by Klint Black+++//) is SHN bound! “Ammiraj is fifth genera-tion of my breeding and the fiftieth foal that I have
bred, so I am especially excited about showing her in the 2 Year Old SHIH Filly class.”
Sue Eves, Charming Meadow Farm, PA
Miraggio (x Yankee Lady FHP), yearling gelding, will make his show debut at SHN with owners Tina and Neil Stoernell, VA.
Purchased as a weanling by the Stoernells, this boy is family affair and Tina praises his
smarts, even temperament and beautiful movement.
Catori Creek Arabians • Beth Conti • www.miragev.com • [email protected] • (916) 752-9480
5August/September 2013
By any measure, last year was an extraordinary one for Mirage V++++//. Here’s what he’s accomplished: Two National Championships, a Reserve National Championship, Legion of Masters Honor, and the special distinction of being named Sport Horse of the Year by Arabian Horse Times Readers’ Choice. I am honored he’s received recognition by both the Sport Horse and the Arabian horse community. I am grateful for and humbled by the respect and appreciation given to my special boy …. Mirage V++++//.
Mirage, the ONLY Arabian to achieve National Titles in Sport Horse, Dressage,and Working Western, is a talented athlete blessed with an exceptional temperament and an incomparable work ethic. His personality, kindness, versatility and athleti-cism set him apart and explain his frequent appearances in show winning circles.
These qualities account for an impressive book of 25 mares this year. Mirage, on a well deserved break from showing, ac-commodated a wonderful group of mares representing a wide range of disciplines, and diverse pedigrees, from National Cham-pions to treasured companion mares. I am heartened by the confidence and trust mare owners and breeders have invested in Mirage and welcome them into our Mirage family. Thank you all for allowing me to share in your journeys.
And the Mirage V++++// journey continues … exciting news coming in September.
Celebrating the Beauty of Sport... and More
Celebrating the Achievements... Mirage V++++// Offspring Shine
Celebrating the Magic of Foals...
PB Grey Filly - Miraluna Lady (x CDB Aluna)“‘Paisley’ is thriving and level headed. Her personality abounds affection, trust, acuity
and intelligence.” Connie Arnold, WA
PB Filly - Mirabella Bey (x Kholela Bey+++// )“I adore my Mirage babies! Mirage has bred
athleticism, movement, and type in his babies.“ Megan Frantz, PA
HA Filly - Mi Raajha (x Mi Luna by Toskbria) “Mirage V is the epitome of what we are
looking for. We are proud to be showing him off through his kids!” Darson Arabians, TX
Thank you to the mare owners who placed their trust in Mirage V++++//. We wish you a lifetime of happiness with your beautiful babies.
Miraggio (x Yankee Lady FHP), yearling gelding, will make his show debut at SHN with owners Tina and Neil Stoernell, VA.
Purchased as a weanling by the Stoernells, this boy is family affair and Tina praises his
smarts, even temperament and beautiful movement.
MP Pandora (out of the Trakehner mare Ehrlichkeit), with in-hand wins and now under saddle as a 3 year old.
“MP Pandora is one of the most intelligent, athletic, and even-tempered horses that I have had the pleasure to train. Impressive stature (16.1 and growing), proving
to be a delight under saddle, with potential for hunter, dressage, and possibly jumping.” Erica Morgan, CA
Cinzana C (out of MP Nefret by Enzo) This yearling filly has it all... brains, beauty and athleticism. Shown
once, she was T5 (ranked 3rd) at the competitive Silver Sire Futurity and Region 3. Tall, leggy and femi-
nine, she is a Nationals caliber filly. Multi-program nominated and star quality.
Available with incentives to the right show home.
© www.entice-design.com
Introducing a few fabulous foals.
6 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
I had the great privilege of interviewing a couple of the nation’s
best hunter judges about what they look for in the horse and rider
while they judge. I asked them questions regarding Working Hunter,
Under Saddle, Equitation, their advice to competitors, and much
more. Their answers may surprise you or confirm your showing style
for the rest of the 2013 season and show seasons to come.
Carol Dean Porter is an USEF ‘R’ rated judge in Hunters, Jump-
ers, Equitation, Hunter Breeding, is a certified Schooling Supervisor,
and has been a professional hunter/jumper trainer more than 40
years. Carol is also one of the principle judges on www.judgemyride.
net. She is available for teaching clinics, and her next Arabian Sport
Horse clinic will be in Tulsa in September.
Paddy Downing-Nyegard has been an USEF ‘R’ rated judge in
Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation since 1989. Paddy was the head
hunter judge at the 2012 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals held in
Nampa, Idaho. She is also available for clinics.
Liza Dennehy is a USEF ‘R’ rated judge in Hunters, Jumpers, and
Equitation. Liza grew up riding at Arapahoe Riding Club, under the
guidance of her parents, Wilson and Sandy Dennehy, both of whom
are in the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. She has been a judge
for 20 years and D licensed for 27 years. Liza will be one of the judg-
es judging the 2013 Sport Horse Nationals located at Virginia Horse
Center.
Hunter Over Fences:
Question: In order of importance, can you list what you judge a
hunter horse on during a course; i.e. form over the fences, pace, lead
changes, distances, etc.?
Paddy: I judge from the moment the horse enters the ring
until it leaves the ring. It is a jumping competition, therefore, the
jumps are very important; then movement, pace, forward without
running. Distances go with consistency. I think where people get
confused is when a horse that jumps a 10 and has a few “minor”
mistakes and still beats a horse that does not make any mistakes
but jumps a 5. It is a jumping competition.
Liza: All of the above are important, as are others not men-
tioned. I place the highest emphasis on “jumping style” or “qual-
ity” and “overall performance.” Ultimately, it’s the judge’s job to
sort out all of the mistakes and balance them with the quality of
the horse.
Carol: Hunters are judged on way of going, style of jumping,
manners and smoothness around the course. Hunter courses are
generally about 8 jumps and we usually see a couple changes of
direction. I would love for a horse to enter the ring and pick up his
even hunting pace, never changing the rhythm all the way around
the course. He should move with flowing strides, jump in good
form with knees tucked up nicely and neck lowered. He should
keep a good expression and be relaxed all the way around the
course. Penalties include poor jumping form, pace changes, tense-
From the Judge’s BoothBy Ashley Wren
Paddy Downing-Nyegard Liza Dennehy Carol Dean Porter
7August/September 2013
ness, mouth opening, head throwing, rough or no changes, taking
off, rushing the jumps and of course the major faults: refusals and
knock downs.
Question: In handy hunter rounds can a rider ride the course too
handy? Any tips on getting a better score?
Paddy: The “Handy” must be efficient and done well. Directly
to the first jump and exit directly after the last jump (if the course
allows it.) HAND GALLOP if the course asks for it. It is important for
me to see a true change of pace.
Liza: Choices and consequences. Really handy turns can be
risky. If they’re done well, the result will be a higher score. If the
turn is not executed well, the result will be a lower score.
Carol: In the handy course, I expect to see a more “brilliant”
pace, economical turns, smooth rollbacks and still jump in good
style and keep an even pace.
Question: When a course starts with a fence coming towards
the in-gate, how do you prefer a rider to approach it - down the rail
or crossing the diagonal? Do you count off for a rider circling at the
other end before approaching the fence?
Paddy: Any of the above. When a rider circles and it is not
necessary, it makes us wonder why. Anytime you can keep us from
asking “WHY” you should.
Liza: The entrance and approach should make sense and be
fairly prompt. ONE circle is allowed.
Carol: When a course starts coming back towards the in-gate,
I don’t really care how the rider gets there but I think a trip all the
way to the end of the ring should be sufficient time to establish
pace and a circle should not be required. I don’t necessarily penal-
ize a circle in that case, but it is somewhat annoying to waste the
time.
Hunter Under Saddle:
Question: When judging a hunter under saddle class, do you pre-
fer a rider to ride the canter in a full seat or half seat?
Paddy: I prefer somewhere in the middle. Light seat. However,
if your horse moves the very best with a full seat or half seat ride,
then do it. It is all about being the best in the class in the ring on
that day.
Liza: A rider should use the seat he is most comfortable with,
for his horse. I usually prefer a half seat.
Carol: I prefer “light” seat, but two-point is acceptable. Heavy
driving-type full seat is too much.
Question: Do you want to see the horse on the bit in a perpen-
dicular frame or with their nose slightly out? What amount of con-
tact do you prefer to see the horses shown in?
Paddy: Light contact, balanced, relaxed nose slightly out. Not
on the ground. Light contact, it is in our rule book.
Liza: I like the nose poked out. Light or even a loop in the rein.
Carol: The rule book says the rider should have “light contact”.
I prefer horses to be slightly stretched forward. Head carriage ver-
tical is acceptable, inside the vertical never acceptable. The poll
should be the highest point. We often see horses break at the 3rd
vertebrae, not the poll, which is incorrect.
Trac
y Ke
lsey
Pho
to
Lynn
Kau
fman
Pho
to
Good example of a hunter on the flat.
Ideal form over fences
8 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Question: Do you change your placings if a horse gets antsy in
the line up?
Paddy: Antsy, no. Rude, yes.
Liza: Not usually.
Carol: Most of the time, I have my class pretty much pinned by
the time they line up. I do generally wait to see if they will stand
quietly before handing in the results. If someone squirms just a
bit I probably won’t mind too much, maybe use it as a tie breaker.
If someone refuses to stand, yes I penalize heavily. Kicking out
at other horses is absolutely unacceptable and I will eliminate a
horse with such bad manners.
Tack:
Question: Do you care what kind of bit a horse has in their
mouth, any type of bit that you dislike? Would a horse get favoritism
for going in a bit like a loose ring verses a Pelham if they had equal
rounds?
Paddy: In a perfect world, no, as long as the horses go the
same: relaxed in a “soft” balanced frame.
Liza: As long as it is a conventional hunter bit, use what you
like and your horse goes well in.
Carol: I despise kimberwickes. Other than that, anything is ok.
I prefer not to see twisted wire snaffles, but those are legal. I pe-
nalize a tightly adjusted martingale. I might place a snaffle over a
pelham in a pleasure class, but in over fences classes, it does not
matter. Just keep that light contact and don’t get a death grip on
your horse’s mouth!
Question: Your thoughts on martingales? Better score if a horse
does not need one in over fence class? Do you count off if they are
too tight or loose?
Paddy: Not a better score from me. Too tight is a big NO NO for
me. Too loose makes me wonder why. Equipment must fit prop-
erly.
Liza: Sometimes a horse just looks better in a martingale. I
think it’s impressive when a horse goes nicely without a martin-
gale. In the end, I really don’t think it matters as long as the mar-
tingale is not too tight.
Carol: Martingales are permissible and it does not matter to
me whether a horse wears one or not (always nice to see one with-
out, but does not matter score-wise). DO NOT adjust it too tightly,
or I will penalize you!
Question: Are there any simple tips, the “little extra things,” on
how to get your hunter horse to stand apart from the rest?
Paddy: It is a “SHOW,” no excuse for ill-fitting tack, dirty hors-
es, dirty boots, messy hair, etc. Be sure that when you walk in the
ring you look like you should be there.
Liza: A well turned out horse is always the first thing a judge
notices.
Carol: Remember that you are being judged from the minute
you enter the ring until you leave, so enter the ring ON TIME, OR-
GANIZED, with a plan! Don’t dawdle; get to work. In my flat classes,
I am putting your number on my card from BEFORE the class is
officially “called to order” so be aware! DO NOT spend lots of time
circling and cutting across the ring. Stay out on the rail and be
smart about using your corners to space yourself. If you are good,
I will find you!
Equitation:
Question: In order of importance, can you list what you judge
an equitation rider on during a course; i.e. position, execution, dis-
tances, etc? When you test an equitation rider, what is the main thing
you are looking for that sets a rider apart from the rest?
Paddy: Your job is to show me that you are capable of execut-
ing what the course asks for. I look at the rider’s position, knowl-
edge of horsemanship and ability to work with their horse, not
against it.
Liza: I always take note of the general position of a rider and
then judge the performance. It is important in equitation that a
rider is in control of his horse at all times. Horsemanship and skill
flawlessly demonstrated.
Carol: Fence classes: riders are judged on their ability to es-
tablish and maintain an even hunting pace over the course of the
fences. The position is inclined forward, not vertical. As the rider
approaches the fence, his release begins first, before the break
over. The rider should hold his jumping position on the approach
and let the horse jump up to him, not throwing himself at the
horse. The rider should maintain his position and release until the
horse lands on the other side of the jump. Smooth lead changes
are important. Soft and following hands are important. The ability
to ride the track to show the horse off to the best of the rider’s
9August/September 2013
ability is paramount. I want to see the rider who is in communica-
tion with his horse and keeping the animal between his hand and
leg.
Question: When an equitation rider comes in for an over fence
round, do you prefer or care if they sit or post the trot in their cour-
tesy circles?
Paddy: If a rider sits the trot they better be able to do it better
than the top dressage riders! Why start with a negative.
Liza: At this point, impression is key, show off only what is
worth showing off!
Carol: I don’t care if the rider sits or posts the trot, but remem-
ber that the purpose of the circle is to establish pace. It makes no
sense at all to trot the majority of the circle and then finally canter,
as I so often see.
Question: What is your favorite USEF equitation test to ask riders
and why?
Paddy: If I shared that I would have to kill you.
Liza: New lines (not previously walked). To see the rider’s abili-
ty to ride off their eye. New, inside or shorter turns. To test a rider’s
skill in turning, either for Handy Hunters, tight Time Allowed or
Jump Offs. Ridability exercises! Good flat work and broke horses
produce better performances, therefore it is important to practice
such exercises on a regular basis.
Carol: I like to ask for BASICS, because so many riders lack
basics! I ask for hand gallop to a fence, trot a fence, halt in a line
and then regain the canter (sometimes I ask for halt/back and then
canter). Basics are important! In flat classes, I almost always ask for
sitting trot and halt. In more advanced classes I ask for lengthen-
ing of stride.
Arabian Sport Horses:
Question: Many readers are wondering your opinion on the
Arabian sport horses and if they could hold their own in the open
hunter circuit. What challenges does the smaller purebred Arabian
horse face when being judged against the larger breeds, and is there
consideration of size when a horse has to lengthen more to get down
the lines? Is there any preference on the breed of a hunter horse in
the open circuit?
Paddy: Yes, the Arabian sport horse is more than able to com-
pete in the hunters at a recognized “USEF” show. I believe there
were some at the finals I judged in Nampa last year that cross over.
That does not mean that all of them are able to do both.
Liza: The obvious challenges would be length of stride and
jumping style, both of which would certainly be taken into con-
sideration while comparing Arabian sport horses against a more
typical Warmblood or TB hunter.
Carol: Plenty of them can be and are very competitive in open
shows. Now that said, if you are going to show at the open show:
try to come to the ring in a traditional way. Trim the tail neatly
above the fetlocks, don’t show up with it dragging on the ground.
Don’t shave your bridle path back 8 inches, leave just enough
width for the crown piece of the bridle (about 2 inches is suffi-
cient). Pull the mane and braid with traditional braids, not the long
running braid.
Remember that your horse may be smaller and have a shorter
stride (NOT ALWAYS!) than some of the other competitors, so don’t
enter him into a class where he does not belong. He will probably
be more comfortable jumping 3’ or 3’3” and where the lines are
set on an 11’ 6” or 12’ stride rather than a 12’ 6” or 13’ stride. If
you encounter one of those, I prefer to see your horse jump the
line in 7 strides rather than run for the 6. In a combination of 24
or 36 feet, you need to get the one or two strides, UNLESS your
horse is very small, then you may need to add. In that case, it is
unlikely you will beat the bigger horses. But remember that judg-
ing hunters is comparing one horse in the class to the others, not
to a perfect score.
Dav
id G
renl
and
Phot
o
Correct equitation over fences
10 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Despite the Odds
As I sit here writing the story of my
horse, and I cannot help but feel an over-
whelming emotion come over me. As a
young girl, I loved looking outside my car
window and watching the horses play
in the pastures as if they were dancing.
Dreams of owning one of these beautiful
creatures became my reality when I was
six years old. My mother wanted a horse
and bought a two-year-old paint mare
named Dream. We quickly enrolled our-
selves in a riding facility in my hometown
and it was there that I learned the basics of
riding. I quickly progressed and eventually
became the owner of an 18-year-old Ara-
bian named Ty. We all have that one horse
that is just beyond perfect, and that horse
was Ty. He was great and taught me every-
thing I needed to know at the time.
When I was eleven, I wanted a horse
that I could show so I could wear the cute
clothes I saw in the Dover magazine. I tried
out a few horses but I wanted a bay with a
blaze just like Ty. Finally, I found the per-
fect fit and his name was TLA Alioop. My
mother was worried about the challenge
of having an eleven-year-old child on a
green three-year-old, and frankly those
same thoughts were going through my
head as well.
Al was the complete opposite of Ty. Ty
took care of whoever was on him, but Al’s
goal quickly became to throw off anyone
who was on him. He used to throw me up
against walls, kick and bite me, and I be-
came extremely afraid of him. Who knew
that this little guy had so much personal-
ity in him? He was quite obvious about the
fact that he just wanted to be left alone,
but I was determined to make him my
show horse.
From ages 11-14, I was still trying to
figure out how to ride Al. He was scary, un-
By Katherine Pfeil
11August/September 2013
predictable, and we were both “green.” I
learned about hunt seat at that time, and
Al did not like just going around in circles.
He put a fear in me that I did not have with
Ty or any of my other horses. Al was too
young at the time to do really any damage
to me, and thankfully my trainer was very
safe with us.
I finally got to buy all the cute hunt at-
tire from the magazine and rode Al in his
first show. I got to the gate, and Al ended
up stepping on me during my showman-
ship class, which resulted in me face plant-
ing. I was a mess, and Al was the worst be-
haved horse at the show. I kept riding him,
and our lessons would just grow longer
and longer. We had a lot to work on before
I went into any of the big Arabian shows.
We eventually got better and grew to like
each other a little more each day. I gave
him plenty of apples, and I think he actu-
ally enjoyed my presence because of my
strategy. Showing eventually became sec-
ond nature for us, but then Al got ring sour
from showing hunter pleasure.
My mother and I decided to bring Al
home for a couple of months to let him
“grow up and be a horse.” That was a poor
decision, and Al was a wild man. He even
had dreadlocks, and tried kicking us when
we went out to the pasture to catch him.
He needed to be back in training as soon
as possible.
We found a nearby trainer that spe-
cialized in Arabian Sport Horses. I had
never heard of that at the time, and I was
intrigued to find out more about it. She
worked with him during the worst of his
times and I was right there alongside him.
It was there that we decided to find out
more about the art of Dressage and sport
horse. We started Al out slow, and he loved
the change from hunt seat. He was quick
about learning it and did his job well with
no complaints. We had finally found our
niche and really grew to love one another.
A life changing moment happened
when Ty passed away from colic when I
was 15. Ty’s death was one of the hardest
things I have had to deal with in my life.
Some people may say that he was “just a
horse,” but they are so wrong. Ty had been
the perfect horse and my escape from my
difficult one. Ty taught me to be confident
and brave while Al could shatter my con-
fidence with an asking of the trot. After
Ty’s death, I was determined to make Al
my new Ty. Though no other could ever
replace that precious horse, that was my
thought process at the time.
Years passed with countless hours in
the saddle and more progress was hap-
pening. Missing proms,
homecoming and so-
cial events were my
norm in high school
along with many other
competitive riders my
age. Lessons would go
on for what felt like
forever at the time, but
I had no other option
for a new horse. I put
the time and effort into
him, and I was going
to perfect riding this
horse. I would have
never gotten to have
this breakthrough with
him if I was just having
the trainer do all my
work for me, just as I
would have never had
a relationship like I did
with Ty. I spent a lot of alone time with him
on the ground, just trying to figure him out.
He was complex, and I did not understand
him.
Al had finally realized that being a
dressage horse was his new job and he
had to accept it. He had had his guard
up for so many years, but finally broke
through with me on a more emotional
level. He is an incredibly sensitive horse,
and he needed patience to help him un-
derstand all of these new movements. So
many people told me to give up on him,
but we just needed time to figure each
other out. I needed to believe in him, and
he needed to believe and trust me as his
rider. I still have my doubts about myself
as a rider, but never in Al. He carries me
and reminds me to trust him every ride we
have together.
12 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
We started going to Regionals for sport
horse and dressage and doing really well,
to my surprise. Who knew that my green
14.2-hand horse could do so well against
well-seasoned horses? A few years
passed, and I really wanted to work my
way up in levels. So I started working and
showing in first level dressage and eventu-
ally wanted to go to Nationals.
In 2009, I attended the Arabian Sport
Horse Nationals in Kentucky and I was
petrified. Looking around at all the beau-
tiful horses, I lost all hope in myself as a
rider and doubted my horse’s ability and
strength. My first ride was pretty rough,
and the one of the judges wrote on my
card, “Have more confidence in your horse,
and he will have more confidence in you.”
I cried after reading this remark because
the words could not have been truer. Al
and I did have the odds against us, but if
we had confidence in ourselves, no one
could stop us.
Later that week, I won a National
Championship and made Top Ten in every
class I went into. The moment I won, I ran
back to Al’s stall and gave him Fritos and
Sprite (our favorite snack), and cried for
hours. We had a breakthrough that week,
and that came right after my first class. I
trusted my horse, and he trusted me. He
knew his job and looked to me as a rider
for guidance. I loved what our relationship
had grown into. Ribbons are great, but
having a breakthrough with your horse is
so much more worthwhile.
I was at a horse show recently, and we
were stalled next to a young girl and her
father. She loved Al, and would give him
treats when we would leave to watch the
show. She asked me questions about Na-
tionals and she would come out and watch
me show him. She had her older horse
with her that was just like Ty in everyway.
When I watched her show, I could not help
but have tears in my eyes when she placed
2nd in her dressage test. She reminded me
so much of Ty and me and how we started
out: hair undone, number not pinned cor-
rectly, missing classes and having the pa-
tient and forgiving horse right along side
of her.
This girl also had a younger horse that
was green and had that same wild look in
his eye that Al did. He was pretty, but had
a lot of growing up to do and you could tell
she was afraid. My mother was actually the
one who pointed out how similar our sto-
ries were. I wanted to watch her show her
young horse, so my mother and I headed
to the arena. This girl left the ring crying
after her class because she got the gate
in her under saddle class. The horse was
stubborn and had no respect for his little
rider. I felt the need to say something to
her, “This may seem like a big deal now,
but it will get so much better. I promise;
just don’t give up.”
I think God taught me a lesson that day
that no matter what people say, we should
never give up even when it seems tough
at the time. A cliché perhaps, but I have
changed my life with this motto. I wasn’t
given the $50,000 dollar horse and the
trainer that did everything for me. I had to
Continued on page 17
13August/September 2013
www.arabianheights.com
Made Ya Look
Made Ya Look
There’s a cute little bay rocking around the Preliminary events in California for the
last several years, and he even has a fan club cheering him on. Made Ya Look, or Milo as
he’s known, and owner Lisa Levine are having a blast doing it.
The 14.2 hand Morgan/Arabian cross was intended as a driving partner for his half
sister, BW Peekaboo, and was registered as BW I See You. Alas, Milo did not agree with
that career choice and was sent to Kari Mulherin Briggs and her family to find a job
that met with his approval. So, Milo fox hunted with the Rocky Fork Headley Hunt in
Gahanna, Ohio, and did some trail riding and eventing.
Lisa was living in Ohio and training with Kari when she began having issues with
her 16.3 hand Thoroughbred. Kari suggested Lisa ride Milo. Lisa recalls, “Milo taught
me how to trust a horse, when to push, and when to be patient, and that is absolute-
ly crucial in eventing.” She leased him to begin with, even before deciding to pursue
eventing.
When Lisa moved to California in 2005, she was looking for a new equine partner
but soon realized that it had to be Milo. The Mulherins had not planned to sell him, but
graciously agreed, and he moved out west. Continued on next page
Olg
a An
tipo
va P
hoto
16 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
in the Preliminary division is at least 16
hands and everyone is jumping the same
size, 3’7”. He gets great dressage scores
because of his consistency and relaxation,
jumps his heart out cross-country, and
then tucks his knees to his chin in show
jumping to get the job done on the last
day of competition.”
The pair had planned to compete at
Intermediate, but suffered a setback in
2009 when Milo suffered a suspensory in-
jury. This was just after placing third at the
inaugural 2009 Preliminary Challenge at
the Woodside Horse Trials, as well as third
in the Area VI Preliminary Championships.
He was also the Second Level Regional
Champion at Pacific Slopes.
Lisa and Milo concentrated on dres-
sage for the year after his rehab, earning
Lisa her USDF Bronze Medal in 2011. “Just
like in eventing, it was great having the ‘lit-
tle horse’ going Third Level against all the
warmbloods and placing and scoring right
up there with them,” says Lisa.
Milo’s heart and determination put
them back on the eventing field in 2011,
where they completed four times, finish-
ing in the top ten three of those four. They
continue today with Milo in Prelim, plac-
ing well and thrilling his “Super Pony” fans
along the way.
They currently train with Yves Sau-
vignon at Oakridge Training Stables in
Sebastopol, CA for the jumping as well
as Emily Giammona of Petaluma, CA for
dressage. The pair have also worked ex-
“I bought him when I was going begin-
ner novice so I could have a safe novice
horse,” says Lisa, “but when I began riding
with my first trainer in California, Laura
McEvoy, we realized he could be so much
more.”
They moved him up from Novice after
just a small handful of competitions at
that level, breezed quickly through Train-
ing level, and settled in at Preliminary in
2007, where he won his very first event at
that level at the Ram Tap Horse Trials.
When asked what makes him so good
at this sport, Lisa said, “He has the most
amazing amount of heart! In addition to
being an ‘unconventional’ breed for jump-
ing or dressage, he’s also an unconven-
tional size. At 14.2 hands, his competition
Mar
y Be
th E
lze
Phot
o
Woodside Horse Trials, May 2013
17August/September 2013
tensively with Laura McEvoy at Idylwild
Stables in Santa Rosa and Kari Briggs at
Otterbein College in Westerville Ohio. “I
have had the good fortune to clinic with
several other wonderful trainers including
Jimmy Wofford, Jane Weatherwax, Erica
Poseley, Matt Brown and many others who
have helped me along the way,” Lisa adds.
When asked about what his Arabian
blood has lent to his success, Lisa says,
“Intelligence, guts and endurance, which
are imperative in three day eventing. He
has a huge heart and is ready to tackle
anything I put in front of him. It’s also
very encouraging to have that extra bit of
cockiness when you’re galloping towards
a huge table jump or drop into the water!”
“Milo is smart, inquisitive, patient and
,most importantly, ready to handle any
challenge I put in front of him. He is al-
ways eager to be the center of attention
and is insanely photogenic and knows
when the cameras are clicking,” says Lisa.
About the future, Lisa says, “I will con-
tinue to listen to Milo to determine our
future plans. For now, he is happy and
healthy enough to continue competing
Preliminary in eventing and Third Level
dressage, and we continue to challenge
ourselves with that. At 18 years old, he
does not owe me anything; he has already
done so much for me. Whether we spend
the rest of his years jumping and compet-
ing or just playing and galloping on the
beach, whatever he wants to do is fine
with me!”
Keri
Sim
pson
Pho
to
work for what I wanted, and I was bound
and determined to prove those people
wrong – and after years of hard work, we
finally did – not by winning a National
Championship, but actually having a rela-
tionship that is so much more meaningful
than a rose garland.
Regardless of my future with Al, I have
come away from this journey having a new
perpective on life and how much these
animals have a part in mine. They are so
much more than a blue ribbon; they are
life long teachers. They are teachers of
patience, strength, endurance, courage,
bravery and many other characteristics. I
am beyond blessed to ride this breed, and
I cannot wait for what the future holds.
Al is now 14, and I am still riding and
showing him at Second level. He has had
great success in his show career, and
I am blessed just to own this lovely
animal. My childhood dream horse
has officially become my reality. Al
still has the odds against him, but he
amazes me every time we enter the
ring. He still is short, pigeon-toed,
and grouchy, but I would not trade
him in for the world. I have learned
so much with this horse, and we have
a deeper connection than just a rose
garland. He has been one of my big-
gest lessons, but also one of my big-
gest blessings.
*Special thanks to my past and
present trainers; it has taken a village
to raise this horse. My parents who
have supported me throughout the
years, and I could not be more blessed
to have you as my Mom and Dad.
Continued from page 12
Despite the Odds
18 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
BiomechanicsA Series by Lisa May
Forty years ago, Mary Wanless set out
to discover what makes riders ‘talented’.
With six books, multiple DVDs, and clinics
worldwide, her “Ride With Your Mind”™
(RWYM) coaching method explains how
any rider can learn to shape the horse’s
athletic use of his body. Her pioneering
work has seeped into that of many others
who refer to “rider biomechanics.” Wan-
less’s strategies can be understood most
clearly from the source.
When a person mounts a horse for the
first time, they typically have few expecta-
tions about what their body should do. If
they watched westerns on TV, saw friends
on their horses, or went to the county fair
to experience barrel racing, bucking hors-
es or team penning competitions, they
have unconscious instincts stemming from
what they’ve watched. Even in today’s very
urban environment, I see unconscious in-
stincts play out when people mount up for
the very first time. Some of these instincts
may come from other relationships with
animals and people. Some come from our
experience of riding a bike, a skate board,
or watching people navigate moving ob-
jects – like motorcyclists or water-skiers.
It’s common for first-time riders to lean
toward the side they want to travel and
shake the reins or pump with their seats
to ask the horse to go. Unless a horse has
been trained that way the result isn’t actu-
ally what the rider wants!
It’s relatively easy to shape a person
who has no prior training by describing
the horse’s instincts, the signals he has
been trained to understand, and how to
give those signals. It’s much more psycho-
logically challenging to change ingrained
habits that we have worked hard to build.
Neuroscientists have shown that all brains
virtually shut down when confronted with
information that contradicts the ways we
have made up our minds. Becoming moti-
vated for change is a psychological obsta-
cle for riders. When we sweat to practice
and pay money to learn patterns, it is hu-
man nature for the brain to become wed-
ded to those strategies even if they don’t
work.
Sometimes, those learned habits were
a misunderstanding. Remember the game
of Telephone or Chinese Whispers? At
one end of a line, the first child whispers
a sentence into the ear of the child next
to her. As that sentence is repeated down
the line, it is partially heard and partially
lost. Substitute meanings slip in each time
the message is repeated. The child pro-
ducing the sentence at the end of the line
says something that is hilariously different
from what was said at the beginning of the
line!
Imagine a long line of riders descend-
ing from a successful rider generations
ago. That person gave guidance that im-
proved a rider’s balance, influence and
sympathetic contact with the horse. Yet,
through the generations of Chinese Whis-
pers, the communication has been sepa-
rated from its original meaning – with
less-than-humorous results. We can get
into a lot of trouble atop a half-ton living
creature with its own perception of what is
correct in its world.
Many riders I meet have been through
different schools of instruction that con-
tradicted each other: Being taught “You
must have your knees off” – “No, you must
have your knees on” without success with
either version has driven some people to
give up riding. It can be a huge psychologi-
cal challenge to alter habits and try differ-
ent interpretations once we have invested
our time, money and effort into “They said
I have to sit tall, lean back, drive with my
seat, push my heels down, not grip, and
use more leg.”
Mary Wanless continues to explore
what teachers and riders actually may
have intended when they said, “heels
down, sit up, brace the back, drive, relax
Motivation for Change
19August/September 2013
your legs, match your shoulders and hips
to that of the horse, inside leg to outside
rein,” and so on. Like a chef figuring out
a lost recipe, Wanless has retranslated to-
day’s language to restore the essence. She
has brought coaching around full circle to
a functional meaning of language, guid-
ing riders on the direct route to learn how
to sympathetically balance and influence
horses.
For a horse to move athletically with a
load aboard, the load needs to be secure
and predictable rather than highly mov-
able. It needs to be positioned so that the
horse’s limbs, neck, abdomen and back
can function easily. We want to minimize
the interference of our weight and balance
on the horse’s balance. We want to posi-
tion ourselves so that he can use his mus-
culature without interference. Different
from a packhorse, the ridden horse must
also process intentional signals from a rid-
er. Whenever possible we want our signals
to make intuitive sense for the horse’s use
of his body. We want our trained signals to
be dependably consistent.
We achieve skills that benefit the rid-
den horse through awareness of where
our bodies actually are in space and by
building the physical control to direct our
body parts in the ways we intend. By virtue
of the leverage angles of our lower body
joints, we can be live weight rather than a
burden. By securing our thighs and pelvis
to the horse’s barrel with a low center of
gravity, we can minimize our interference
with the horse’s center of gravity. By alter-
ing muscle tone and joint movement to
finely tune body coordination, we can lead
the horse’s energy, carriage, tempo, length
of stride, and direction – transcending the
role of pack or passenger.
RWYM coaches guide riders into re-
lationships with their horse and with the
intended meaning of trainers’ instruction.
Rapid improvement can be made in the
brain’s control of the body when riders
choose their own precise trigger words to
name a change. As a coach works with the
learning style of an individual, the rider’s
words for the feeling can blossom into
very personalized language that is satisfy-
ingly successful. From the unique starting
point of each rider’s body and mind, these
coaching methods enable us to map the
territory we ourselves have to cross to ar-
rive at good riding.
The first step toward change is the psy-
chologically difficult step.
From Poet Portia Nelson: Autobiography
in Five Chapters:
1) I walk down the street. There is a deep
hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost...
I am hopeless. It isn’t my fault. It takes for-
ever to find a way out.
2) I walk down the same street. There is a
deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I
don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe
I’m in the same place. But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
3) I walk down the same street. There is a
deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there.
I still fall in... it’s a habit. My eyes are open.
I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out
immediately.
4) I walk down the same street. There is a
deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
5) I walk down another street.
As athletes we can use our own anatomy
to communicate an optimum framework for
the horse’s movement. Find out more about
strategies for using the brain to communi-
cate with horses through behavioral science
and biomechanics at www.Mary-Wanless.
com and www.RideWithYourMindUSA.com.
Lisa May is an accredited RWYM coach
working with Wanless since 1997. Also a
Professional Association of Therapeutic
Horsemanship International instructor, she
travels for clinics from her home in Mary-
land www.IdylwildFarm.com.This feels like home, like normal to me In order to be upright like this I have to feel that I’m leaning back to the cantle
20 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Breeder Q&A
Playland Farm
Charles and Diane Player own Playland
Farm, a boarding, training and breeding fa-
cility in Union Bridge, Maryland. With their
daughter, Glenda, as manager and trainer,
they breed, train and compete Arabians and
Arabian/Irish Draught crosses.
How, when and why did your family get
involved with Arabians?
My father, Charles Player, was the ac-
countant and advisor to Bazy Tankersley
and Al-Marah Arabians in 1964. At that
time, he was dating my mother, Diane,
whom eventually became his wife. They
were married in December, 1965, and
my father says he was only able to get
my mother to go out on a date with him
by inviting her to take a tour of Al-Marah
Arabians.
That started it all and led to the begin-
ning of Playland Farm. My mother loved
horses and was quickly addicted to the
Arabian breed.
When did they breed their first Arabian?
Shortly after they were married, my
father gave my mother an Arab mare, AM
Daphne (Brumarba Rahdames x Al-Marah
Alexandretta), and she began to breed
Daphne to Al-Marah stallions and contin-
ued to do so for many years along with the
female offspring as they reached breeding
age.
What attracted you to the Irish Draught/
Arabian cross?
My parents had met and become
friends with John Shortill of Maine who
owned Irish Draughts. John visited the
farm and saw the beautiful Arabian horses.
My mother had been looking for a quieter
and sounder horse than the Thoroughbred
We have bred and
registered 169 horses
that are on file with
the Arabian Horse
Registry.
21August/September 2013
I had been riding to compete in the sports
of eventing and show jumping. I had also
ridden our homebred Arabians for pleas-
ure, but to compete in show jumping and
eventing, I had Thoroughbreds.
John talked to my mother about leas-
ing his Irish Draught Stallion and cross-
ing it with the Arabian mares to produce
a horse that was sound, athletic, quiet,
graceful and has the amazing jump ath-
leticism of the Irish Draught coupled with
the endurance of the Arabian. So, we
leased the stallion It’s the Luck of the Irish
and started crossing him with her Arabian
mares. She loved what the cross was pro-
ducing! Later, It’s the Luck of the Irish was
sold, and my parents purchased their cur-
rent stallion, PL Diamond Hill.
How many Arabians/Half-Arabians have
you bred?
We have bred and registered 169 hors-
es that are on file with the Arabian Horse
Registry. 79 of the 169 are purebreds,
while 90 are Half-Arabs. Out of those
Half-Arabs, some have been crossed with
Saddlebreds to make the National Show
Horse, but most have been crossed with
the Irish Draught to make a sport horse.
Our actual number of horses bred is
even higher. There are always a few hors-
es that get sold in utero, or before registra-
tion, or are only ¼ Arab and, therefore, not
eligible for registration within the Arabian
Horse Association. We have also dabbled
with some Irish/Connemara and Irish/
Thoroughbred crosses. I have no doubt
that over 200 horses have been bred and
born here on the farm throughout the
years at Playland Farm.
Some of our records have been lost
through computer crashes and a fire with-
in the farm house years ago.
When you first decided to breed Arabian
horses, what were your goals?
The original goal was to produce a
beautiful horse that was easy to handle
and train with good conformation and dis-
position.
Over the years, the goals and focus
have somewhat changed to also include
increasing size and performance capabili-
ties, including jumping.
Diane and Charles Player
May
a Ku
ntze
Pho
to
22 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
1
4
7
1
4
2
6
7
23August/September 2013
3 PL Lucky Darby
(Its The Luck Of The Irish x PL Eladdinns
Lite)
PL Black Diamond as a yearling.
Glenda as a teenager with home-
bred Arabian PL Jazzy at a Pony Club
inspection.
Arabian PL Eladdinns Lite with
Half-Arabian foal PL Layla
PL Lucky Tammy (Its The Luck Of
The Irish x PL Shirley) doing a demonstra-
tion at the 2010 WEG.
PL Empress (Its The Luck Of The
Irish x PL Indian Queen) who was also
chosen at age 5 to do a demonstration at
the 2010 WEG.
Playland Irish Flash
(Its The Luck Of The Irish x PL Daphnes
Flash). Four-time Reserve National Cham-
pion Hunter Hack.
Competing at the Irish Draft Na-
tional Show: PL Catnip, PL Regina, PL Cha
Cha. All with wins in stadium jumping.
1
4
2
6
5
3
7
8
5
7
5
3
8
Trac
y Ke
lsey
Pho
to
Red
Hor
se Im
ages
24 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Why do you think this Irish Draught cross
works so well?
The Irish Draught cross works well be-
cause it is a back cross on the typical Irish/
Thoroughbred cross. Thoroughbred blood
was highly refined from the influence of
Arabian blood. The typical Irish Sport
Horse cross is ¼ Irish and ¾ TB. We feel
that upon limiting the Irish blood you limit
the wonderful traits of the Irish Draught.
We wanted to produce a horse first of all
that has excellent soundness and feet – as
we have with our purebred Arabians. By
crossing the Irish Draught with our Ara-
bian broodmares, we have added refining
blood to the Irish Draught.
The Arabian not only adds refinement
and endurance but also is a fantastic com-
pliment of soundness and excellent feet.
The Arabian also adds more suspension to
the Irish Draught’s trot. The Irish Draught
has a larger size and substance, quiet
easy going disposition, fantastic canter,
and supreme jumping ability. Overall, we
couldn’t be happier with the progeny that
this cross is producing!
Who or what was your biggest influence
regarding your breeding decisions?
For many years Bazy Tankersley has
both guided and inspired my mother
through her breeding decisions. Playland
Farm would not be where it is today with-
out this influence. Over the years, as I
matured in the horse industry and in com-
peting, my own goals and aspirations with
horses became more of a guiding light for
the direction of our breeding program. I
often ask myself, what kind of horse do I
want to ride for the rest of my life? Does
this horse have the soundness, athleticm,
and disposition to be a lifetime friend,
athlete, and competitive teammate?
What do you consider your greatest
achievement in breeding horses?
Playland Farm’s greatest achievement
in breeding horses is without question
the number of successful and happy PL
horse owners out there! For us, it is not
about creating that one horse that goes
to the Olympics. Instead we strive to cre-
ate a sound, quiet, and athletic horse that
is both versatile and willing. In order to
achieve such a horse, it not only has to be
conformationally correct, but has to have
a great temperament.
We regularly get e-mail, facebook, and
post (including Christmas cards!) updates
from our extended family – current PL
horse owners stating what they have been
up to with their PL-bred horse. Everyone
has different goals: some just want a trail
horse, husband/grandchild horse, pony
club mount, and some are quite competi-
tive in eventing, hunter/jumper, dressage,
polocrosse, and competitive trail riding. It
is amazing all the different sports that the
various PL owners do with their horses.
But, yes, we feel the greatest achievement
is the great number of successful matches
we have found for our horses, and their
happy owners!
What characteristics do you consider
“must haves” in a breeding animal?
1.) Soundness
2.) Willingness, work ethic, excellent
disposition
3.) Athleticism
I look for the above characteristics in
that order. An athlete can go nowhere
if it is not sound nor has ambition, drive
and heart. Riding is not about forcing the
horse to do something it does not want to
do. The horse must have the desire to per-
form in that sport just as much as the rider.
That is where each horse’s personality be-
comes a factor. I get to know my horses
and figure out which sport would suit it.
Then I market it accordingly, and watch the
horse’s response as it feels each potential
“candidate” that test rides the horse.
When matching a stallion to a mare, what
do you consider their most important at-
tributes in order to produce a successful
sport horse?
There is no one stallion that is suitable
for every mare, despite what any stallion
owner (including myself!) wishes. Picking
a stallion to match a mare with, to me, is
about finding a match that will comple-
ment each other, and not detract from
each other. Correct conformation is huge.
Correct conformation leads to a sound
horse that can easily perform – that finds
work easy. If performing and working is
easy, it no longer seems like work, and that
assists in a quiet, willing and strong work
ethic. Performing becomes fun and easy,
not physically challenging and damaging
to the equine athlete’s body.
When I evaluate the potential of a cer-
tain stallion for a specific mare, I take a
detailed look at conformation, movement,
personality, performance and what that
sire/dam combination has produced previ-
ously, both separately and together if that
is an option.
25August/September 2013Do You Want...
TOBRUK FARMDavid & Susan McAdoo • White Pine, TN
www.Tobrukfarm.com • [email protected]
FURSTAFIRE2013 Half Arabian ColtFurst Impression (Hanoverian(Furst Heinrich) x Afirelight (Afire Bey V)GOV Main Book MareGOV Oldenburg Inspection in September
The Top Of The Line ...
The Winning Combination!!
The Very Best ...
SINATRAS SINSATION2012 Half Arabian Bay GeldingSinatra Song (Hanoverian(Sandro Hit) x Afirelight (Afire Bey V)GOV Main Book MareGOV Oldenburg Inspection in September
RIVIERRA2013 Half Arabian Bay ColtRosenthal (Hanoverian(Rubinstein I) x Maraekar (*Marwan Al Shaqab)GOV Oldenburg Inspection in September
865.674.7041www.tobrukfarm.com [email protected]
26 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Elaine Kerrigan:
Beautiful head with an alert, attentive expression. Good length
of neck, however in this photo, the neck looks thick at the throat
latch and a bit over developed on the underside. Fairly smooth
connection of the neck to the withers, tying well into the back.
Ideally, would like to see a little more slope to the shoulder,
though the angle and length of the humerus lead me to believe
there is freedom and scope in the forehand. Nicely developing
loin and hindquarter muscling for impulsion and carrying power.
All legs look in proportion to the body, but would like to see a lit-
tle more bone in the front legs. Great candidate as a sport horse.
Judy Hedreen:
This photo shows a horse with an alert look and an intelligent, soft
eye. This chestnut is an attractive and useful horse. The head at-
taches well at the poll to a slightly too long neck that comes out a
little low in the chest. Thus the horse has more weight on the fore-
hand. An ideal body type has the horse divided into equal parts:
1/3 poll to wither, 1/3 wither to point of hip, and 1/3 point of hip
to point of buttock. The length of the shoulder is good and the
angle adequate. The humerus is long but could have a more open
angle. The front leg looks quite good with adequate bone and
good pasterns and hoof angles. The withers are long enough but
could be more pronounced. Higher withers will help with move-
Conformation ClinicWith Elaine Kerrigan,Judy Hedreen, and Peter Mileo
ment of muscles in the back and saddle fitting. The back looks
strong with a good connection through the loin. However the L-S
joint is behind the point of hip which, coupled with the angulation
of the hind leg, may not provide sufficient strength from behind
to lift the front end. With this conformation, this horse appears
suited for the hunter ring.
Peter Mileo:
Lovely, long, well-set neck and pleasant head. Shoulder is of good
length, maybe a bit straighter than ideal, which is reflected in pas-
terns that appear to be a bit more upright than ideal. Excellent
cannon to forearm ratio matching front feet that are on the same
axes as the pastern. Short back. A big longer in the loin, but it
looks to be a strong loin. Excellent angles in the hind end and
good slope to the croup and ilium, as well as good depth to the
hindquarter. Well-placed stifle and low-set hocks. Back legs are
very well angled. Overall a very pleasing picture.
Elaine Kerrigan:
Pleasant, attractive head set on a nicely shaped and developed
neck of good length. Neck ties smoothly into well-set withers cre-
ating a good saddle position, though back is a bit longer than ideal.
Shoulder is a little steep. Adequate development of the loin and
adequate length of hip. From this photo, it seems to appear that
the front legs are on the short side in comparison to the length
of the body and the length of the hind legs. Front pastern angle
Purebred #1
Purebred #2
27August/September 2013
Would you like to enter your horse into our free Conformation Clinic?
Please email your submission to: [email protected] Subject: Conformation Clinic
Submissions will be featured at our discretion. Photo credit must be provided.
Submit Your Horse
appears to have a more desirable slope than the shoulder. Hocks
seem a tad too straight and the fetlocks look a little dropped.
Pleasing horse.
Judy Hedreen:
This horse has a pleasing and kind expression. The head is well
shaped and joins the neck cleanly. The neck is long enough with
a nice shape. The shoulder angle could be more sloping; it ap-
pears to connect with the humerus at a 90° angle which will not
allow for enough forward reach. The forearm could have a little
more bone for the size of the horse, and joins a good cannon. The
fetlocks, pastern and shape of feet present concern for the com-
fort of the ride and soundness. The feet have a broken-angle in
relation to the pasterns, which are quite short. This combination
usually makes for a jarring ride and places extra pressure on ten-
dons and ligaments. In this photo the fetlocks look to be enlarged,
which may come from the concussion caused by the conformation
issue. The withers extend far enough into the back, which appears
to dip quite a bit (the ground looks uneven, so this may be an illu-
sion). The hind end and the angles of the hip look fairly good. The
lower hind legs appear to have short pasterns and steeply angled
hooves, again causing concern for comfort and soundness. With
the help of a good farrier and management, this horse could easily
compete at the lower levels for its owner.
Peter Mileo:
Nicely shaped neck and pleasing head. Good front leg ratio of
cannon to forearm. Nice pastern angles. Shoulder is a bit straight
and short. Back is longer than idea. Loin is long and appears
weak. Hind end could be longer to match the other two sections
of the horse. Good angles in the hind end. Well-placed stifle and
low-set hocks. Good angles to hind legs. This horse does not have
the good overall symmetry of the first horse. Mainly due to the
shorter shoulder and longer back and loin. This makes the horse
look short-legged.
Elaine Kerrigan:
Keen expression on a handsome head. Neck appears a little short-
er than ideal and care should be taken to be sure to develop a
stretching top line of the neck. Good shoulder angle and long
humerus should allow a free and scopey forehand. Supportive
withers reaching well into the back for a good saddle position
and stability. Loin is developing well to offer a good connection of
the hindquarters that show good muscle development and good
length of hip. Hocks are set rather high. Seems a bit tied in at the
knee on the left front. Pasterns show the angle of the shoulder
and care should be taken to ensure that the toes do not get too
long and heels do not get too low. Nicely presented.
Judy Hedreen:
In looking at this horse as an open sport horse, we see an attrac-
tive bay with a harmonious topline. A pretty head attaches cleanly
to a very well set neck. The shoulder is long with a good angle
and attaches to the humerus creating an open angle. This combi-
nation should allow the shoulder to move freely and give a long
stride. The front leg is set well under the shoulder, is correctly
shaped and has adequate bone. The angles of the pastern appear
long and gently sloped, although the hooves cannot be seen. This
front-end should prove elastic and allow a comfortable ride. The
wither is high and extends well into the back. This should allow
the back muscles to contract and lengthen with training. The back
is a good length and flows into a strong loin. The L-S joint looks
Half-Arabian #1
28 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
to be fairly even with the point of hip making a good connection.
The hindquarter looks strong and is more open than desirable be-
cause of the angulation of the hind leg. The hind leg is over angled
– commonly called sickle-hocked. All in all this is an attractive
sport horse type that should do well in dressage.
Peter Mileo:
I’ll start off by saying a very nice picture. The neck could be longer
but the horse is in balance front to back. Pleasing head. Nice fore-
hand with good shoulder angle, length of shoulder and good ratio
of cannon to forearm. Short back and strong loin. The hind end is
of good length and deep. Hocks could be set a bit lower. Overall
this is a nicely put together horse.
Elaine Kerrigan:
Alert expression on a pleasing head. Neck could be a little longer,
but appears to be correctly developing the topline of the neck
This is important to keep in mind to be helpful for the shoulder
that is a bit steep in angle that might restrict the appearance of
a free moving forehand. Prominent withers for saddle stability.
Loin coupling is fairly strong, connecting the back of appropriate
length and a hip of appropriate length. Front-leg pasterns mimic
the steepness of the shoulder and a slight over at the knees is
apparent. Well-placed hocks on the hind legs promise to compli-
ment the carrying power of the hindquarters. Overall uphill bal-
ance is shown and nicely presented.
Judy Hedreen:
It may be the angle of the photo, but this horse appears too com-
pact to be a sport horse type. He has a pretty head and a promi-
nent eye with a soft expression. His neck, which is well set, could
be longer especially in the poll, which would allow more stretch
into the bit and over the topline. While his wither is high enough,
it is paired with a short, steep shoulder. This creates a nearly 90°
angle similar to Purebred #2 above. The foreleg has good bone, is
correct, and the pastern angles appear good with correctly shaped
feet. His pasterns could be just a little longer to add to the comfort
of the ride. The withers could be more defined and extend further
into the back. This would help with saddle fit and the position of
the rider. The back connection with the loin looks little long, and it
could be stronger. The hip and hindquarter appear short and not
large enough for the rest of the horse. However, the hip leads to a
gaskin and hind leg with good bone and angles. This horse looks
young so may look entirely different in the future.
Peter Mileo:
The head and neck are both a bit coarse. Shoulder is well devel-
oped and so is the wither as this is the most prominent wither of
the 4 horses. Back is of good length. Loin and coupling are a bit
longer than ideal and the loin doesn’t appear strong. The hind-
end is not nearly as developed as the forehand. Hind legs have
low set hocks but from this photo appear to be set behind plumb.
Half-Arabian #2
29August/September 2013
About Elaine About PeterAbout Judy1970 saw the beginning of Kerrigan
Bloodstock, with the goal of producing Ara-
bian sport horses. With that I pursued dres-
sage, endurance and a little jumping. With
a special interest in the bio-mechanics of
horses and riders, I also have an extended
education as a large animal veterinary tech-
nician and as a graduate of the USDF judges
learner program. KB Omega Fahim++++//
is a stallion of my second generation. He
has achieved 4 USDF National Champion
awards at FEI level dressage, and 4 AHA
Sport Horse National Champion awards
at FEI level dressage. He has offspring that
have also attained USDF and AHA Sport
Horse National Championship awards. KB
Omega Fahim++++// has been inspected
and approved for breeding purebred Shag-
ya-Arabians.
Peter Mileo has been breeding Arabian
horses since 1990. He started with Fadjur
line horses and evolved toward CMK horses.
After several conversations with Sandy War-
ren of Warren Park Stud hoping to breed a
mare to Aulrab he discovered a coming 2
year old colt by the name of Magic Aulrab
and purchased him. After a short show ca-
reer they started riding endurance where
Peter feels he learned about what makes
a good horse. “Regardless of bloodline or
even breed a horse needs to have balance,
well let down legs and solid legs and feet.”
Peter has studied many videos of horses
under saddle and at liberty from Arabs,
Warmbloods and the great Standardbred
mare Monimaker. This has given him a well
rounded knowledge of what a good athlete
is and why.
Judy has been breeding sport horses
since 1981. She is the breeder of Far Star
that represented the USEF and American
Hanoverian Society (AHS) in the 2003
World Championships for Young Jumpers in
Belgium, ridden by Laura Kraut; Animation,
winner at Spruce Meadows and Champion
at Indio; Agincourt, winner at Spruce Mead-
ows and Champion at Indio under Hap
Hansen; and USDF Horses of the Year Ghita
and Coco Chanel.
Judy was a USEF ‘R’ dressage/sport
horse breeding judge for 14 years, a mem-
ber of the USDF Sport Horse Committee for
10 years, and is a current member of the
USHJA Breeder’s Committee. In 2007, Judy
was appointed as a judge to the Hanoverian
Mare and Stallion Committee.
30 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
When you hear the saying “The best
things in life are free,” you think about in-
tangibles such as health, family and hap-
piness. John and Margy Cox would prob-
ably add their Half-Arab gelding, Andy Go
Dandy to that list.
The Coxes showed Arabians, then start-
ed driving an Arabian/Percheron cross that
they bred back in the 1980’s while living
in Washington. Around 1983, they began
competing on the West Coast in Combined
Driving Events {Sidebar on page 33}.
Having moved to Florida, the Ocala
area residents weren’t really looking for a
new horse. But the ad they saw in July of
2010 for a free pony on Ocala4Sale.com
intrigued them.
Andy was 7 years old at the time, bred
Andy Go DandyPi
cs o
f You
31August/September 2013
by Julane White, sired by Saddlebred Sul-
tan’s Great Day and out of Arabian Colleen
V (by Traditio out of a Bay-Abi++ daugh-
ter). His sire was a two-time World Cham-
pion in fine harness and was owned by
William Shatner.
Andy had never been ridden and was
barely broke to drive. The poor guy had a
sad story - he had suffered a flip-over ac-
cident that resulted in a broken tail and
had already been given away twice and
returned. It was apparent that he had no
trust of humans and that made him very
difficult to work with. His hindquarters
were very weak and he would not let any-
one near his right hind. To add to the fun,
Andy also did not get along with other
horses!
The owner hooked him up to a training
cart and down a lime rock road John and
Margy took him. They noticed that Andy
was very forward and light, even perform-
ing serpentines while being driven one-
handed. The Coxes decided he was worth
an attempt at becoming a driving horse.
Andy was smart, but the first order of
business was earning his trust. They sent
him to a very good friend who was a great
horseman to solidify their new pony’s
ground work. “He sent Andy back to us and
told us to get rid of him,” recalls John.
That first year little progress was made
with Andy and his issues. The Coxes sent
him to their friends Gary and Marsha
Yeager, who helped them get Andy more
relaxed in the carriage, but he still had
trust issues.
Then one evening, Andy colicked. Their
vet, Dr. Anne Christopherson, spent the
night there, giving Andy fluids and taking
turns walking him. “The next morning, it
was like a miracle. We had a new horse,”
Pics
of Y
ouPi
cs o
f You
32 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
says John. Andy had perked up and would
nicker at his owners, even letting them
handle him easily.
“Dr. Anne said that Andy realized that
somebody was there for him
and cared. The moral is do
not give up – sometimes it can
work out,” John says. “Now,
Andy is an exceptional driving
horse and a very good friend.”
From there, trainer Fred
Merriam got Andy started in
Combined Driving, along with
their current coach, 2011 FEI
World Pony Combined Driving
Championship Silver Medalist
Suzy Stafford.
Today, Andy is very competitive in the
Intermediate Level in Combined Driving,
as well as being competitive in Pleasure
Carriage Driving. With Margy in the driver’s
seat and John navigating, this team won
the Intermediate Marathon phase this year
at the Live Oak International CAI Com-
bined Driving Event, placing 4th overall in
Single Pony. They were also crowned the
2013 Florida State Single Driving Pleasure
Champion.
The Coxes also competed with Andy
at Region 12 Championships, earning Re-
serves in Carriage Obstacles, Reinsman-
ship and Working. They plan to attend
Sport Horse Nationals and hope to see old
friends from their Arabian show
days.
The Coxes also have an Ara-
bian/Warmblood cross that they
have just started competing in
Combined Driving. “There are
not a lot of Arabians in the ad-
vanced FEI level of Combined
Driving.” explains John. “The Eu-
ropean warmbloods, Dutch Har-
ness and Morgans are the major
players. But I feel as though Ara-
bians can lend a lot to the sport
by way of their intelligence, endurance
and beauty.”
Don’t you just love a happy ending?
Combined Driving is one of eight equine sports governed at
the international level by the FEI and at the National Federation
level by USEF. Nationwide, the American Driving Society provides
for graduated levels of experience – Training, Preliminary, Inter-
mediate, and ADS-Advanced levels for both drivers and equines
as they begin and as they become more adept at the sport on local
and regional levels, perhaps even on to participation in national-
level events.
Sometimes likened to a team triathlon, a Combined Driving
Event consists of three competitions – Dressage, Marathon, and
Obstacle/Cones -- that are held over one, two, or three days. The
sport is intended to showcase the versatility, training and talents
of both horse and driver. Through participating in ADS events,
drivers and horses or ponies may develop in increasing levels of
proficiency.
The Dressage competition can be said to be the foundation for
the rest of the sport. In Dressage, horses or ponies and their driv-
ers drive individually in specified patterns and gaits to demon-
strate the skills, obedience, and development appropriate to their
levels of training before the watchful eyes of one or more judges.
Dressage develops and displays polish, discipline, and athleticism
of equine and driver dancing together.
After the showcase of beauty and control that is Dressage, the
next competition is often the cross-country Marathon. Here, the
driver tests his mettle and that of his horses or ponies in control
of paces and speeds, agility, obedience, and endurance over dis-
tances of eight to eighteen kilometers. Not only do competitors
cover distance, they also negotiate challenge “obstacles” every
kilometer or so, in which they choose their paths to go through
“gates” in the correct direction and sequence. At Training level,
these marathon obstacles are geared toward being a learning
experience, and as levels of competence increase, so do speeds
and numbers of obstacles and gates. It is in this competition es-
pecially that the partnership of the “navigator” becomes critically
important, as this competition requires thinking. In this competi-
tion as in Dressage, ADS rules encourage a careful development of
horse and driver as each level brings new and greater challenges
in speeds, distances, and complexities. It is on Marathon that Dres-
sage training really pays off, and thrills abound.
Having proven their mettle in the control of Dressage and
the jubilation of Marathon, pony or horse and driver must fi-
nally find that combination of boldness, agility, energy and
precision that is Obstacle/Cones driving. In this competition,
drivers and their steeds drive between precisely spaced pairs
of cones over a prescribed course of up to 20 “ obstacles” driv-
en in correct sequence and direction and within an allowed
time based on the size of equine and level of advancement.
Here again, as drivers and horses develop and move up in “lev-
els,” speeds increase and clearances between cones decrease,
making for challenges and fun that never stop. Cones may be
seen as that meld of elegance and thrills that consummates
the competition set to demonstrate the fitness, mind and
training of the horse following the more physical challenges
of the Marathon.
Combined Driving from the American Driving Society Website
34 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
At the age of 24, one would
expect most horses are
hanging out in a field, liv-
ing a life of leisure. With Arabian horses, it
isn’t unusual to see them still being ridden
regularly in their later years. Amazingly,
others are at the height of their high-per-
formance careers into their twenties. Lec is
one such Arabian pony.
Lec (Divine Prophecy x Silver MA) was
bred by Sherry Zollinhofer and was born
in May of 1989 in southern Maryland. Her
name is pronounced “lee-ess,” which is
Russian for forest, but is called “Lee” by all
who know her.
Before she came into my life, Sherry
exposed Lee to so much of the world. “I
was with her from her first breath and be-
gan right away with all of the hands-on
stuff you can do with a baby: walking her
through streams, over bridges, over the
stacked irrigation pipes; everything we
could find that might challenge a young-
ster. “She never hesitated going over ob-
stacles; she simply did everything I did,”
Sherry recalls. Thanks to all of Lee’s ground
training, breaking her to saddle was sim-
ple. They knew and trusted each other.
Sherry showed her in Pleasure at her
first show and Lee placed first and sec-
ond, a trend that would be repeated many
times. Lee continued to travel around Mar-
yland partaking in endurance rides, hunter
paces, and various judged trail rides.
In 2001, Lee was sold to Dr. Cheryl
Schmitt. I came across Lee shortly after
from a newspaper advertisement. She was
up for lease as her owner was pregnant
and had no time to ride anymore. I fell in
love with her and told Dr. Schmitt over and
over that if she ever wanted to sell her, I
wanted first dibs.
Luckily for me, that day finally came.
My parents agreed to buy her for me, and I
had never been happier. She was the first
horse I had ever owned. We had this old
late ‘70s ghetto straight-load pony trailer,
but she walked right on. I remember how
nervous Mom was driving that thing over
the Solomon’s Bridge with Lee’s tail hang-
ing over the back door.
We’ve pretty much done it all. I used
her in pony
club, in
which we
evented, did
d r e s s a g e ,
show jump-
ing and even
played polo-
crosse. She loves the polocrosse because
she gets to gallop and be competitive. Lee
loves to go fast! After Pony Club, I decided
I wanted to focus more on showing, so we
pulled her mane and clipped her up for
the local show circuit. My little brother,
sister, and I all showed on her at Mounted
Wanderers 4-H, Southern Maryland Horse
Shows and Maryland Saddle Association
shows. We won almost all the divisions we
competed in at the local shows. I remem-
ber one year, between the three of us, we
had something like 16 year-end awards –
from Model (halter) classes, to Lead Line,
to the Over Fences.
My brother and sister eventually
stopped showing, but I pushed on to the B
and C-level rated shows. By then, we were
out of our old rig and into a huge three-
horse with a brand new truck to pull it. No
longer did I make Mom park in the back of
the parking area at shows!
We had some great rounds and wins
in the Large Pony Hunter division and my
equitation classes. The judges loved her
form over fences, but every now and then
there would be a judge that wouldn’t even
watch our course due to her breed. That
was very frustrating. I feel that no matter
the breed, a judge should still watch and
analyze the round. Still we pushed on
and continuously ended up with multiple
year-end and perpetual awards. If peo-
ple didn’t know her already, they quickly
learned who she was.
Lee and I held the Championship title
in the Arabian/Morgan classes at MSA for 3
years in a row. We were the ones to beat.
That’s one heck of a feeling when you hear
people whispering, “That’s Julia Milligan.
That pony always wins this class.”
Lee tried her heart out for me from day
one, and she still gives it every ride. Under
USEF rules, only Junior riders can show a
pony in rated shows, so when I turned 18,
it was back to the schooling shows for us.
We figured we would give jumpers a go
and, thereby, forgo the strictness and poli-
tics of the hunter ring we had dealt with
for so long.
At first, she was confused as to why
we were jumping the jumps at such a high
rate of speed, but she did it. Our first sea-
son was rough, but after that, we were in
the placings as normal. Our show sched-
ule slowed down a lot when I was accept-
ed to Kansas State University. I left, and
Lee became a lawn ornament, giving the
occasional pony ride to cousins or family
friends. When I came home on breaks, I’d
ride her and even fox hunt her if it was the
LecBy Julia P. Humke
35August/September 2013
season. She loves fox hunting and every-
one in DeLa Brooke loves her.
One year at a hunt, there was an elder-
ly man who rode up next to me and asked
“Miss, is your pony’s name by any chance
Lec?” I said yes. Turns out he hadn’t seen
her since she was like three or something,
but he said he knew he instantly recog-
nized her, almost 21 years later!
My dad was forcing me to sell Lee in
the summer of 2010 due to her sitting idle
plus he wanted a trail horse. After mul-
tiple failed trials and test rides, she was
still in her field. I left in August to begin
my Junior year of college, and in October,
I got a call from my mom saying that Dad
was getting ready to give her to his non-
horsey friend for $1,000 as a lawn orna-
ment. So, I emptied out my emergency
savings account and bought her from my
dad. Luckily, my trainer in KS was at the
Washington International Horse Show
with some ponies and had an extra spot in
her van heading back West. She agreed to
ship her for me. Next thing I knew, Lee was
in a box stall on a van, with ponies worth
upwards of $75k, on her way to see me!
Sometimes, it still doesn’t feel real that
she is actually mine.
Upon arrival, I moved her from my
trainer’s barn to the barn where all my ro-
deo friends are. She lived there because
board was $150 a month versus $700,
and I only made $350 a month working
out there. Lee quickly learned how to push
cattle up the alley to the roping chutes and
to accept ropes flying around her head.
There aren’t many horses out there that
are as versatile as Lee.
I began to notice her flying lead chang-
es and scope over the fences weren’t what
they used to be. So I hauled her two hours
to Kansas City to my equine vet. He in-
jected her hocks, and after coming off stall
rest for three days, I had my pony back! We
could jump and gallop to our heart’s con-
tent. I would go out every day and clean
her stall and give her treats; she secretly
loves to be with her “person.” There were
freezing-cold nights where I’d go out to
check her blankets and I’d be all bundled
up in my coveralls. I’d just sit on her bare-
back, lay back, and look up at the stars
while she munched her hay.
She got body clipped again that win-
ter and I swear she knew something was
up. I body clipped her in high school be-
cause we were showing year round but
she had been fuzzy for a few years. She
loves to show and enters the ring with a
“look at me” attitude. Lee knew I was back
and that things were about to get rock-
ing. I took her to a show and entered the
3’3” jumper division. She walked around
the grounds like she was there last sum-
mer. We pulled two rails in a total of three
classes, for which I was a little bummed,
but she hadn’t shown in 3 years and was
now 22. We had done really well!
My rodeo club went on a trail ride
at the state park one weekend and Lee
showed all those Quarter Horses up when
it came to the hills and rocky inclines.
She’s still wicked fast to gallop.
That same year, my trainer, Mary Ann
Funk of Ashwood Farm, was interested in
Lee for her daughter, Abby, who was 10
at the time. She showed Lee in the Pony
Jumper Division and 0.90m-1.2m classes
at the big A shows. She had finally made
Continued on page 74
36 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
It takes a special horse to be a member of a law enforcement
patrol unit. It takes a special horse to ride in the Rose Parade. It
also takes a special horse to take their amateur rider up to the
FEI levels of dressage. But it takes an EXCEPTIONAL horse to do
all three.
Arabian gelding Just In Kayce+// (Showkayce x Kaitana by Kai-
youm) is that sort of exceptional horse. When Suzi Lanini bought
him as a green broke eight-year-old after graduating from vet
school, her plan was to show him in working hunter. They started
out in Hunter Hack, saving his green status until he was more solid
over fences. When Justin developed a quarter crack, she switched
him to dressage while he healed with every intention of returning
to the hunter ring.
Justin lives in Suzi’s backyard and is trained by her, although
they do trailer out for weekly lessons from Sarah Lockman. They
are currently showing Prix St. Georges with their sights firmly set
on Grand Prix level. They show mainly on the open circuit due to
the lack of FEI classes at the Arabian shows.
Suzi and Justin are also volunteers for the Rancho Cucamonga
Police Department’s mounted patrol unit. It is not unusual to find
them at a horse show one day and out on patrol the next.
They started competing at First level in 2009 and never looked
back. First level was fun and exciting, serving as their introduc-
tion to the sport. “I realized at that time how challenging and truly
training-centric dressage is. I think that’s how I got hooked on it,”
says Suzi. “ It is funny looking back at some of my videos and real-
izing how much work has been done since my first dressage test
back then.”
In spring of 2010, they had the once in a lifetime experience
of riding in the California Dressage Society’s Adult Amateur Clinic
with Olympian Debbie McDonald. At that time, Suzi and Justin
were riding 1st level and working on 2nd. “I took a lot of notes
Renaissance Horse
Mounted Patrol
37August/September 2013
over that weekend. I had participated
in clinics in other disciplines over the
years but never a dressage clinic,” re-
calls Suzi. “It is so amazing to go to
your first clinic and be able to see the
progression of training through the levels. I remember working
really hard at riding straight and with appropriate bends in the
lateral movements.”
They found Second level was like an awkward adolescence
stage – with the tests getting more difficult and the counter canter
being introduced. “A properly ridden counter-canter is very hard,
and it’s a tough concept to grasp at this stage. I definitely didn’t
understand the full purpose of the counter-canter and maintain-
ing the engagement of the hindquarters,” Suzi remembers.
In the fall of 2010, she took Justin to the Sport Horse National
Championships at First and Second level. At that time, they were
schooling for Third but had not introduced changes yet, in order to
keep Justin from offering the changes during the counter-canter
work. The pair earned six Top Ten titles, two of them in Sport Horse
Show Hack.
Third level was fun and exciting because they had now gradu-
ated out of Second and into flying changes and half passes. Their
first test was in January of 2011, happily leaving Second level
behind. “You get tested on the center line with changes at the
judge which is a little stressful, like taking your driver’s license
test behind the wheel. Justin thankfully does clean changes and
Renaissance Horse The entire process of becoming a member of the mounted patrol took about 6 months to complete. The requirements included having a well-mannered a mare or gelding; ability to pass a background check, pass-ing the Citizens Patrol Academy and field training; ability to devote 12 hours to mounted patrol per month; attending training opportunities and monthly meetings and participating in unit sponsored activities when possible.
Their specialized training consisted of use of police radios and field training rides. The horses have to pass HARMs training: static situations that are recreated and may be encountered during a regular patrol, such as:
• Walk over a bridge
• Open and close a gate while mounted
• Side pass
• Back between obstacles
• Walk over obstacle
• Pass by, pick up and carry a mounted unit flag
• Pass by a trash can, blowing trash bag, leaf blower and balloons
• Be able to perform all gaits (walk, trot, canter)
• Be able to pony another horse and be ponied
• Walk in close proximity to a road flare
• Be able to be ridden within 25 feet of a fire truck with full sirens, lights and horn
• Be able to be ridden within 25 feet of other vehicles used within the department such as motorcycle, off road vehicles, car unit
• Walk through running water or stream crossing
• Be able to be ridden in and around crowds
• Be able to perform formations with and without unit flag
The mounted patrol’s duties are:
• Be the eyes and ears for law enforcement
• We do not take enforcement actions, carry weapons or make ar-rests
o We do write parking citations and report any suspicious activity
• Mounted Patrols of the approximately 150 miles of trails within the city of Rancho Cucamonga and the equestrian area of the city
• Participation in city and local events – Parades, Mounted Color Guard, events, ALERT (Alta Loma Emergency Response Team)
• Report local trail and city maintenance needs to the city
• Support other police division needs from regular patrol, reserves, Citizens Patrol (car)
o Community events
o Parking control
o Thoroughbred Christmas lights
o Clerical support for the station
Mounted Patrol
Pirouette at a recent dressage show
38 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
is fairly straight, naturally, so the changes were easy,” says Suzi
about this level.
Fourth level was quite challenging but also exciting because
of the tempi changes. To Suzi, it was a level where she knew they
were so close to FEI yet still had so much to perfect to be solid.
“The tempi changes I found particularly challenging because I
would work so hard at maintaining engagement and riding them
straight it was hard to count. And I still have difficulties some days.
The test was not symmetrical which made it a bit more of a chal-
lenge to ride, also.” She notes that they started Fourth level in
March of 2011.
During 2011, Suzi and Justin started the process of joining the
Rancho Cucamonga Mounted Patrol, which took about six months
to complete. “I knew a deputy, Fred Hoffman, who did mounted
work when I was a teenager. Since that time, I had always wanted
to do mounted work but didn’t have the time available to commit,”
said Suzi. “Once I was done with veterinary school, it took me a
few years to realize I had the time. When we moved to a horse
property and I found the unit at a local arena event, I started the
process immediately.“
Once past Fourth Level, Suzi found Prix St. George a sigh of re-
lief. She and Justin had finally made it to FEI levels! Their first test
was ridden at the large open show at the Flintridge Riding Club
in May of 2012. The judge was Lilo Fore, and Suzi admits she was
intimidated by all the big fancy horses while sitting on her Arabian
that is just an inch shy of being a pony.
She needn’t have worried, they scored a 66%, earning third in
a class of 8. “PSG is very symmetrical and an easy ride. The objec-
tives are clear as you ride each movement, which makes it very
helpful during the test,” comments Suzi. To add to the rewards,
Suzi earned her USDF Silver medal with their first two rides at PSG.
Going through the levels has been challenging, but it has also
At the Rose ParadeMounted Patrol
39August/September 2013
The Rose Parade is an amazing experience.
Wells Fargo put on an equestrian participant dinner at the Get-
ty Museum. The entire museum was open for participants and their
guests only. They had music and plenty of food and dancing. We also
could take a picture in front of a miniature Wells Fargo Stagecoach.
Each participant also goes home with a commemorative pin and a
Wells Fargo stuffed horse.
The parade started the night before on Dec 31st. We left my house
at 5 pm and headed to the LA Equestrian Center. We arrived just before
7 pm, and the horses were allowed out of the trailers and could use the
arena as needed. We ate dinner and had a mini-meeting. We loaded
up at about 10 pm and moved to the staging area, which was the north
bound 110 Freeway median. The Rose Parade organizer had devoted
just enough space for our rigs and just enough room to get the horses
out of the trailers. (there was no room for extra rigs or vehicles). They
had self-serve hot cocoa and coffee for most of the overnight hours.
The horses spent the night in the trailers and we got up about 5 am
to start getting ready. It was so cold that I did as much as I could inside
the trailer before going out to get Justin. They wanted us in the saddle
and ready to move at 8 am. Once we left the trailers, our rig drivers had
to immediately move the rigs to the end of the parade route.
We were staged on a side street, and they fed us into the parade
route behind the floats. The very next side street the bands came out
and got fed in front and behind us. That was quite the shock to the
horses to see the bands come unannounced out of a side street in
such large numbers and followed by a whole section of twirling flags.
It is a very intense start to the parade and just as the horses settled
into the crowds, the floats and the bands, we went into TV corner. The
cameras are all over the street. Some stay at street level, some are on
big arms and some overhead. The stands on TV corner are also 2-3
times as big as the rest of the parade route. The parade is long but
every minute of it was fun. There were so many people, and they re-
ally enjoyed the interaction with me as a rider and looking at such a
beautiful horse.
At the end of the parade route where we disbanded, there was an
In and Out truck that served us hamburgers and cheeseburgers and
their delicious french fries.
Justin was perfect in every way and better than I could have ever
imagined. I even got teary-eyed a few times thinking about having
such a dream horse to ride in the Rose Parade. I never imagined getting
the opportunity to ride in the parade and then to have such a dream
horse to ride was truly special.
The Rose Paradegone relatively smoothly considering the difficulty of both horse
and rider learning simultaneously. Suzi credits Justin’s kind and
caring personality with giving her the ability to progress so quickly.
“Teaching Justin to transfer more weight to the hindquarters
and truly coming through in the connection has been our biggest
challenge. I first recognized this as a challenge at Second level and
it has been more and more challenging as we move up the levels,”
said Suzi. It is her understanding that this is actually a commonly
encountered breed challenge due to their conformation. Getting
the engagement, impulsion and true connection has been one of
their biggest hurdles of late.
Riding in the Rose Parade this year was another unique experi-
ence these two shared. Their earlier training for patrol duties no
doubt came in handy for safely negotiating the sights and sounds
(See Parade Sidebar).
Continued on page 50
At the Rose Parade
40 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
By Cheryl Stephens
Worth TheWork
The most challenging horses are often
the ones that give us the most. Arabian/
Irish Draft cross Glenlord’s Mystique is just
that type of horse.
“Mystic” came to us in June of 2008,
at just 14 months old. I acquired her from
my good friend, her breeder Kelly Jones,
in Leander, Texas. She had not been han-
dled much, so she was a bit of a challenge.
She did not like people and it took several
months of us working with her to get her to
greet us at the gate for handling.
Once she finally did, she was still a
little standoffish. She did not like to be
handled and was a loner horse even with
other horses. We had her older half sister
(same sire, TB dam), and I eventually put
them together. The older mare was my
daughter’s future horse and eventer. We
figured that we would just get Mystic some
basic training and then sell her, as we were
not sure she would handle the demands of
eventing. She was a lovely mover, but she
was spooky and did not want to be around
people much.
As the months went on, we were hav-
ing medical issues with the older mare and
decided to send Mystic to be backed as a
three-year-old by a friend. She spent four
months there, learning how to accept a bit
and rider and being exposed to traffic and
trail rides. When she came back, she was
a different horse, and my daughter began
to take dressage lessons on her. Of course,
right away, we noticed she had some dres-
sage talent. Shortly after she began with
lessons, her trainer thought we should
enter her in a USDF recognized show and
thought she would be competitive at train-
ing level enough to maybe qualify for USDF
Region 9 Championships and Southwest
Dressage Championships.
After that first show in April of 2011
(she had just turned 4), she did qualify for
Southwest Dressage Championships to be
held in November. She had only missed
qualifying for Region 9 Championships by
less than a tenth of a point but we did not
do another USDF show in order to get the
final qualifier. We decided to compete in
the Southwest Dressage Championships
for the experience, thinking that the mare
would probably not do well enough to rib-
bon or even receive a medal. We just want-
ed for her to have the experience as she
was only four years old. After 18 entries
with fabulous horses and some very tal-
ented kids, they did in fact win the Bronze
Medal. Her loyalty to Gaby was beginning
to show; Mystic now had a great work ethic
and would try hard to please all of her hu-
mans!
During her 4th year, she also began to
get some light jump training. My daughter
did all the work in the beginning, teaching
her to wait and go over jumps and worked
on gymnastics. She took to it well, but over-
jumped almost everything. Gaby pressed
on, and in the same year (2011) had done a
few USEA Young Event Horse shows, again
to just get the experience. She wasn’t quite
ready to be competitive at horse trials, so
this was an easy and inexpensive way to
get her some show miles and exposure.
At the first one in March of 2011 at the
Meadow Creek Horse Trials in Kosse, Texas,
Mystic won. She then went on to win again
in May of 2011 at the Greenwood Horse
Trials, competing in the Young Event Horse
Series as a 4-year-old. Mystic also com-
peted that year in the Greenwood Horse
Trial in Beginner Novice. Her progress as an
eventer was really beginning to take form.
In her 5th year (2012), we decided to
send her to a trainer in Louisiana for some
cross-country training. She had begun to
stop at the jumps, and Gaby was only 15
years old at the time and not able to help
her. She was gone for 5 months. I had pur-
chased an off-the-track racehorse that had
been around the block and could give Gaby
the confidence that she needed when Mys-
41August/September 2013
Photos Courtesy of Cheryl Stephens
tic came back.
I figured we would need a school-mas-
ter for a while and that Mystic would still
take several months until she would be
ready to be Gaby’s full-time horse com-
peting at horse trials. Once again, she de-
fied the odds and began to take Gaby to
the jumps and really enjoyed her job. She
had competed in a couple of Young Event
Horse Shows and once again did well. She
was the 2011 USEA Area V Young Event
Horse Champion 4-Year-Old. She was also
the 2012 USEA Area V Young Event Horse
Champion 5-year-old.
In the fall of 2012, Gaby competed her
at Area V horse trials in the Novice division.
She competed in just two horse trials; in
the second one, they placed second and
finished on her dressage score. She also
qualified for the American Eventing Cham-
pionships for the first time! The following
show, her trainer, Mike Huber, moved her
up to Training Level. This was the Holly Hill
Horse Trials in Louisiana in October, and
she finished 5th. That same month, she
competed at Texas Rose Horse Park in the
Training Junior Division and finished 3rd.
She has started 2013 at Training level
and has done well. She finished on her
dressage score in March again at Texas
Rose Horse Park and finished 9th out of 25
kids. She was entered in two more shows
this spring, but we had to withdraw as Mys-
tic had an infected tooth that needed to be
removed. She had started being winded
after cross-country for the first time ever,
as an abscess from the tooth had blocked
one nostril.
Gaby and Mystic went to USEA Area V
Young Rider Camp for the second year in a
row. This year it was held at the site of the
2013 American Eventing Championships at
Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas. Gaby
and Mystic have qualified for this year’s
AEC’s at Training level. This year at camp,
they were in the prelim group as they con-
tinue to prepare to move up to the higher
levels of their sport.
Gaby and Mystic are aiming for the
North American Junior and Young Rider
Championships in July 2014. They must
qualify at the one-star level at select com-
petitions throughout the US. Camp provid-
ed them with the opportunity to fine-tune
some of the skills needed to compete at
the international level.
They will continue to train with the Area
V Young Rider Coach Mike Huber and they
are planning on doing clinics with Olympi-
ans such as Boyd Martin.
I would say that before being blessed
with this amazing mare, I wouldn’t have
shopped specifically for an Arabian cross
since it is not a usual breed for eventing.
I certainly would now. They are graceful,
athletic and have fabulous stamina. These
three things are what is needed in eventing
in order to be successful and competitive.
They are loyal and have a work ethic that
is amazing!
I am often approached by people who
comment on Mystic’s beauty and grace.
Most are in awe when they see her jump, as
she is quite scopey! I think she and Gaby
will have many more years together and
will continue to go where no one thought
they would go.
42 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
One of eventers listed on the 2013 USEF Developing Rid-
ers list is a young lady who competes on her family’s homebred
Anglo-Arabians. Katy Groesbeck and her parents, Jim and Teresa,
owned the Arabian stallion Sidi of Magic (*Sidi-Brahim x Fadjurs
Magic) and bred him to a former racehorse Regalbatim (Regalberto
x Vowel) they owned.
The three geldings that resulted from this cross are bay, athlet-
ic and have great dispositions. Oz Magic Act (“Magic,” 14), owned
by Jim, spends his time doing a little bit of everything, including
ranch work. Oz The Tin Man (“Wort,” 16) is Katy’s horse; he has
done ranch work, endurance, and upper level dressage in addi-
tion to eventing. Oz Poof of Purchase (“Poof,” 18) is owned by Te-
resa, and has the same background as Wort. All three were bred
by Katy’s mother, started under saddle by her father, and have all
benefitted from growing up learning how to be working horses
first and performance horses second.
Katy’s appreciation for the brothers is unmistakable. “They are
all total gentlemen and love to please. They would die trying be-
fore they would give up. All three are very sensitive, responsive,
and have charming personalities that make them a pleasure to be
around,” says Katy.
Having grown up with them, Katy says she is also aware of
the distinctions between them, “I know them really well, so they
seem very different to me: their movement, their temperament,
even their size and shape. Magic is the perfect blend of his moth-
er and father, but Wort is very much built like an Arabian, round
and petite. Poof is the biggest and built much more like a TB. Many
mistake him for a Warmblood cross.”
After being started under saddle, all three schooled and com-
peted at lower level dressage. From the time Poof began show-
ing, he scored in the high 60s and into the 70s. Poof had also
competed at lower-level eventing and completed two limited-
distance endurance rides.
Of the three, Wort (Oz the Tin Man) has traveled and competed
the most. At the age of two, he underwent inspection to receive
ISR Oldenburg approval as a stallion, but the judges asked to see
him when he was older and more developed. Teresa took him
back for inspection at the age of 5, but unfortunately he missed
approval by only half of a point. After being used as a ranch horse
by Jim up until that point (aside from showing in-hand as a sport
horse), Teresa began showing Wort at training level and first level
dressage. Then at the age of 13, Katy began riding him. As he
Katy Groesbeck &
The Oz Brothers
Cover Story:
43August/September 2013
matured and they moved up the levels together, Wort’s striking
presence and steadiness began leading them to considerable suc-
cess in the dressage court.
In 2006, Wort and Katy were the 3rd Level Jr/YR Champions
at the Golden State CEI*** and 3rd Level Reserve Champions at
the FEI Jr. Individual test, with numerous scores in the high 60s,
several bordering on 70% and four scores of 9 from three differ-
ent judges. Katy earned her USDF Bronze Medal Rider Award on
him as well.
Like his two brothers, Wort’s talents were not limited to the
dressage court. When Jim first began riding him, he was actually
schooled as a cow horse. Wort and Katy also showed in jumpers
and even completed two 50-mile rides in 2004 (winning one) and
several limited distance rides.
But as Katy got a little older, she started craving the diversity
of skills and the challenges that 3-Day Eventing required; both
she and her horse were drawn to it. “Since I was on a budget, I
prioritized spending money on events rather than horse shows.
Eventually I was hooked and I have been seriously competing
since 2007,” explains Katy.
She has done the majority of her competing on Wort, with a
4th, a 5th and a win at Ram Tap in 2008 at Training Level. In 2009,
they were in the top five at Preliminary in three outings and fin-
ished fourth in their first 3-Day at Galway. In 2010, they were top
5 in five runs at Prelim, and placed 1st, 2nd and 4th in three 3-Day
CCI* events!
The pair ran four events at Intermediate in 2011, placing 1st,
2nd, 4th, and 11th. They ran the 3-Day CCI** at Galway and fin-
ished 15th. The 2012 season started out with a 3rd at Intermedi-
Katy’s appreciation
for the brothers is
unmistakable.
oz poof of purchase
Photo by Sherry Stewart
Oz The Tin Man, “Wort”
Photo by Alaina Hower
44 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
ate, a win at 2*, a win in Advanced, a fabulous 2nd at their first 3*,
and they finished the year with a 3rd in Advanced. Katy considers
that 3* placing the highlight of their career together thus far.
When asked what her biggest challenge with Wort is, Katy re-
sponds, “He is an overachiever and a perfectionist, even more so
than me. Some days, I just wish I could find the ‘off’ button! As I
have matured as a rider, however, I have learned how to channel
his excess energy into extra performance. He is like riding elec-
tricity – there is nothing quite like it. You never even really feel
him touch the ground, and he has a determination about him that
is unparalleled to any horse I have ridden. Every time I canter
down centerline or leave the startbox, I know I am in for the ride
of my life. At the USEF Developing Rider/Eventing 25 training ses-
sion in Gilroy, David O’Connor noted that he has a lot of try and a
huge heart; I think he would do just about anything I asked of him.
And he just keeps getting better!”
Katy had planned another 3*, but their season was cut short
when Wort developed white line disease, requiring a partial hoof
resection. While he was recovering, big brother Poof was called
upon for Katy to ride.
Poof had been competed by Katy and a few other riders over
the years, with a win in Intermediate and a 2nd in a 3-Day CCI* in
2010 with Katy; a win in a 3-Day 2* and 7th in a CIC** with Amber
Levine in 2011; another outing in May 2012 and that was it. Katy
managed to dust him off and get him in shape enough to place
10th at the 3-Day 1* at Galway in November.
So far in 2013, Poof and Katy finished 13th in Intermediate,
and they were leading the Advanced at Galway International until
Poof pulled 5 rails in Stadium Jumping so finished 4th. In April,
Katy and Poof won the 3-Day CCI** at Twin Rivers., which they
Oz The Tin Man
Photo by Mary Starling
Oz The Tin Man
Photo by Nancy Dein
Oz The Tin Man
Photo by Brian Schott
45August/September 2013
entered just to meet new FEI requirements.
“Show jumping has been a particularly difficult struggle for
us, and I think it is partly due to the fact that I began riding and
jumping Poof at an age when I was good but not experienced or
skilled enough to help him improve his own technique,” explains
Katy. “But now, with the help of Hawley Bennett and Buck Da-
vidson, I have learned how to improve my own jump riding and
consequently his jumping style. Our biggest victory to date was a
double clear show jump round to take the win in the CCI** at Twin
Rivers in April. It was his first on record, and I feel like I have really
accomplished something in that.”
Katy describes him, “Poof is a goofball. Wort is like the preppy
kid in high school who takes himself very seriously and wants to
have the best test scores and get into the best colleges (and does),
but Poof is the class clown who goofs off and somehow still man-
ages to ace the tests (which annoys his brother, to be sure). He is
more challenging for me because he takes quite a bit more disci-
pline in my riding to get the same level of focus and performance
as Wort, but once you tap into that, you get amazing results. He
can be a handful sometimes but only because he LOVES to run
and jump. At 18, he feels like a 4 year old some days.”
Katy currently is a working student for Olympian Hawley
Bennett, residing there in the living quarters of her horse trail-
er, absorbing all she can. Over the season, Katy and Poof were
participants in the USEF Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program
Training Sessions with USEF chef d’equipe David O’Connor.
In June at the Copper Meadows Horse Trials, Katy competed
on both geldings. This was Wort’s first event since his layoff, so
her plan was to just tune him up for a big event in July. Well, she
did much more than that! Wort won the Intermediate, after be-
ing tied for 2nd after dressage, then went double clear on cross-
country and stadium to win the division.
Poof, not to be outdone, was 3rd after dressage, went double
clear cross country and had one rail in stadium, also finishing 1st
in Advanced.
With her sights firmly set on The Event at Rebecca Farm in
Montana in July, Katy was thrilled to be named a recipient of one
of the 2013 Rebecca Broussard Travel Grants. The USEA Endow-
ment Trust awards the Grants to event riders presently competing
at the advanced level to assist with travel expenses to compete in
the CIC*** division at Rebecca Farm.
At the world-class competition, Poof was 7th and Wort was
10th after dressage, to which Katy exclaimed, “I’ll take it!” On
Continued on page 70
Oz Poof of Purchase
Photo by Samantha Clark
Oz Poof of Purchase
Photo by Bill Olson
Oz Poof of Purchase
Photo by Bill Olson
46 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Samantha Hodgson started riding at 5 years old and
began showing in dressage at 10. With her mother
as her trainer, she schooled Arabian Kalabask (Cash-
van Baskin x Somali NA) to second level by age 11 and trained
her mare EA Helen+ (EA Tspartacus x TC Special-K) to Grand Prix
by 16. A few years later, she began showing Arabian Scrabble+//
(Monopolii x *Saletra), earning scores as high as 77.50% at Grand
Prix and winning many championships.
Samantha currently trains at Superior Dressage Horses in
Southampton, NJ with her mother, Dawn.
What attracted you to Arabians as dressage mounts?
I’ve always been attracted to the beauty of the breed, but the
real reason I started riding Arabians in dressage was due to their
size. When I was 10 years old, my mom wanted to buy a dressage
schoolmaster for me to learn on. We tried many horses, mostly
warmbloods, but I was tiny and all the horses were over 16 hands,
so it was not a good match. They were too big and difficult for me
to ride. So, we decided to start looking for an Arabian instead. We
took a trip down to Everglade Arabians in Micanopy, Florida and
found the perfect horse, an Arabian mare named EA Helen+ that
was trained to Prix St. Georges. Because of her size, she was super
easy for me to ride. I grew to love the breed and have decided
over the years that their size really suits me. For me, they are just
plain easier and more fun to ride than a bigger horse. I would com-
pare it to the difference of driving a sports car and driving a bus.
Of course the sports car is more fun to drive.
What are their strengths and weaknesses for the sport?
I would say their strengths are definitely their stamina and
ability to stay sound through the hard work. They are highly in-
telligent and are amazingly fast learners that seem to advance
through the levels of dressage quickly with correct training. I don’t
necessarily think the breed has any specific weaknesses, as long
as you pick an Arabian with solid and correct confirmation. I tend
to like Arabians with Polish, Russian, and Crabbet breeding. Most
of the successful dressage Arabians I have ridden have *Bask in
their bloodlines.
Do you do anything different when training an Arabian?
I don’t do anything different when training an Arabian. If any-
thing, I find Arabians are easier to train than other breeds. They
seem to grasp new concepts easily and quickly. For instance, when
I teach an Arabian a new movement, I usually only have to go over
it a few times, they grasp the concept, and then we move on to
the next. After that, we just practice the movement to make it bet-
ter, but I never have to go back and reteach it. With other breeds
I have found that I have to go back and reteach a lot. Almost like
Samantha Hodgson
Sure Is Bright+++//
Photo by Stacy Lynne
EA Helen+
Photo by David Adams
47August/September 2013
I have to remind them of something they have already learned.
What Arabian-breds do you compete currently?
I am currently competing two of my own FEI dressage horses,
BeyMoon Zela+/ (Bask-O-Zel x Mar Abie) and Sure Is Bright+++//
(Diamond Jimm x Bright Lights). BeyMoon Zela is a Purebred Ara-
bian stallion I have competed with at FEI Grand Prix for the last
6 years. We have competed together at many different competi-
tions, both National and International, including competing three
times at the prestigious Dressage at Devon International Horse
Show. I also currently compete Sure Is Bright, a Half Arabian geld-
ing at FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Intermediate I. Both BeyMoon
Zela and Sure Is Bright are *Bask Grandsons.
When choosing an upper level dressage prospect, what do you
look for?
I look for a horse with three solid good gaits, and with a talent
for extension and collection. The horse also has to have a great
mind and a good work ethic. A horse can have all the natural tal-
ent in the world, but without a good mind, it’s hard to teach them
anything.
Who has been your biggest influence?
My biggest influence has been my mother and trainer, Dawn
Hodgson. She has been my biggest supporter and has pretty much
taught me everything I know. I wouldn’t be where I am today with-
out her.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment so far?
My greatest accomplishment so far would have to be earning
my USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals by the age of 20 years
old riding three different purebred Arabian horses. Winning the
2007 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals at FEI Grand Prix and Interme-
diate II with Scrabble+// was also a great accomplishment. Com-
peting at Dressage at Devon with both BeyMoon Zela and Scrab-
ble was also a great experience that I will never forget.
What are your future plans?
I plan to continue to compete BeyMoon Zela and Sure Is Bright
at the FEI levels in Open Dressage competitions. My goals for this
year include competing both horses at the Arabian Sport Horse
Nationals. I fully believe that the Arabian breed can hold their own
in Open Dressage competitions. I plan to continue to show and
train Arabians in FEI dressage and also plan on continuing to pro-
mote the Arabian breed at Open Dressage Competitions.
Samantha Hodgson
Scrabble+//
Photo by Bob Tarr
BeyMoon Zela+/
Photo by Stacy Lynne
48 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Kestrel’s CallingHorses always know what they want
to be, if only we’d listen to them. A horse
born with as big a personality as IB Kestrel
could not be limited to the confines of a
dressage court. No, he demanded some-
thing more exciting, and eventing has
proven to be just the ticket!
Sired by the imported Trakehner Kar-
neval and out of an Arabian mare by All
The Gold, Kestrel was bred by Jessica Riley
to be an upper-level dressage horse. He
was trained up to Third level before she
decided to sell him as he was small and
too much horse for her. Kestrel was also
very bored with dressage.
Eleven-year-old Joa Sigsbee bought
him with the intention of competing in
Hunters and Equitation. Because of his pri-
or dressage training, she decided to also
take lessons in that discipline. They shortly
realized that Hunters were not going to be
Kestrel’s “thing” and gave eventing a whirl.
The first couple of years were not easy.
“Kestrel is very intelligent and likes to test
my ability everyday. He loves to work and
gets very upset when he doesn’t. He is
a brave horse with most things that most
horses would find scary, but then scared of
stupid little stuff. He has one of the most
active personalities I have ever seen in a
horse,” says Joa.
They showed a bit in dressage and
Novice level eventing with mixed results.
In the beginning of the 2007 show season,
Kestrel pulled a tendon, the first in a series
of unlucky injuries. The following year they
placed well in three Novice events before
being sidelined by a suspensory issue.
Kestrel won his first event back in
2009 and continued the trend with a 4th
and 5th place at Novice before moving up
to Training. “Training was not a huge jump
for him. I couldn’t have been happier with
the rate we were progressing,” says Joa.
They stayed at that level throughout
2010, despite leaving their trainer halfway
through the year. “After we left, everything
just fell into place. He started cleaning
up at Training level and growing in con-
fidence,” recalls Joa. “ I didn’t have a set
trainer anymore. I take a couple lessons a
year with two different trainers in my area,
one for Dressage, and another for Show
Jumping, but at events I do everything
WN
C P
hoto
49August/September 2013
with him myself.”
The next season, Joa and Kestrel start-
ed doing some Preliminary/Training com-
bined shows with him in preparation for
Area 1 Training Championships. In Kestrel
fashion, they flew through the champion-
ships with no problems at all; even with 1
rail down in Stadium they still won. It was
then that Joa knew that they were both
ready to move up.
At their first competition at Prelimi-
nary, Kestrel tackled everything in stride,
keeping them in 1st place again through-
out the show. He was an amazing 7 points
ahead after dressage. According to Joa,
Kestrel has such solid dressage scores, it
is very rare for him to ever be in the mid
30s. After another injury from a kick in the
paddock, Kestrel sat out the rest of 2011.
The next summer in 2012, they de-
cided to try competing in Area 1 Prelimi-
nary Championships. Again, Kestrel was 6
points ahead after dressage, made more
amazing that, even in the pouring rain,
the horse loves what he does. The cross-
country was nothing like they had ever
done before—pushing the limits on them
both, considering it was technically just
their 2nd full Preliminary event.
Kestrel was one of the only horses un-
der time, and he jumped everything with
no problems cross-country. “He truly took
care of me throughout the course, mak-
ing our bond and my appreciation for him
even stronger than it was before. Sadly,
the day of stadium he was tired and hit 4
rails, dropping us from 1st place to 4th. I
was utterly devastated with myself,” re-
calls Joa.
Joa took Kestrel to college in Virginia
with her last fall. This spring, without hav-
ing had any lessons in a year, they decid-
ed to tackle a couple of events at Prelim,
placing first and fourth, proving once again
that Kestrel loves his job.
In July, Joa headed to the Area 1 Pre-
liminary Championships again, hoping to
better last year’s finish. They were in 2nd
place before stadium, but finished 6th af-
ter pulling 2 rails.
Joa credits his heart and strong will to
WN
C P
hoto
WN
C P
hoto
WN
C P
hoto
WN
C P
hoto
WN
C P
hoto
50 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
succeed for all of their success. “He loves
to work and truly enjoys it. He always has
a great dressage score, which I find so im-
portant. With his stamina and speed, we
never have any trouble making time cross-
country. We don’t have to fly to make time,
and he knows when he needs to listen to
me. Kestrel can be a little lazy with his
hind end in Show Jumping, but when he
wants to, he can clear everything no prob-
lem,” says Joa.
Lest you think it is all work and no play
for Kestrel, Joa trail rides him a lot and has
done western work, including running bar-
rels. He is also trick-trained. “Kestrel bows
at the end of every dressage test and can
answer simple yes or no questions along
with lying down, pushing a ball, etc.,” ex-
plains Joa.
Their future plans include an Interme-
diate level event and continuing at Prelim
for at least another year or two. They may
compete in dressage after retiring from
eventing.
“I am hoping that my next horse will
have some sort of Arabian in it. I truly en-
joy the Arabian cross, and I know that they
can succeed well in eventing. They enjoy
working and are very athletic. I person-
ally like the smaller, more agile horses
because I have found they are easier to
handle and can make some harder turns
cross-country than some of the other big-
ger horses,” Joa comments.
About this horse of a lifetime, Joa
says, “Kestrel has taught me so much
more than any other horse ever has. He
not only is everything I could have ever
hoped for in an event horse, but every-
thing he does, every time I ride him, is
a new learning experience for the both
of us. The bond I share with him is why
we make such a great team. He tries his
heart out to do well and to keep me safe. I
couldn’t ask for anything more!”
Continued from page 39
Renaissance Horse
Suzi and Justin attended the California
Dressage Society’s Adult Amateur Clinic
again this year where the clinician was
Sabine Schut-Kery. “She really helped us
get closer to finding that true engagement
and connection. She was very patient and
encouraging of him coming through in his
connection, and Justin was very receptive.
She rode him for a few minutes at the end
of our last ride. She is such a talented rid-
er, and she made Justin look so fancy and
trained,” Suzi commented afterwards.
Learning dressage at the same time
as Justin, Suzi believes, has been to his
disadvantage, but she has tried to make
it as smooth as possible by being consist-
ent with their weekly lessons and always
having specific homework. They practice
every week despite the weather.
Creating a proper balance in Justin’s
life has also been a hurdle. “If it were left
up to me to decide, I would practice every
day. I have learned that Justin really pre-
fers an every-other-day schedule and a
day of just trail riding each week. Often
our trail rides are patrol rides,” admitted
Suzi.
With this kind of focus and dedication,
added in with the versatility of this breed,
what will they tackle next?
51August/September 2013
Spin Doctor
MoKee ArAbiAns
Breeding national and international quality performance Arabians for racing and other disciplines
2007 Arabian Stallion • 16 hands • Perfect Candidate for DressageFalina Des Fabries (Dormane) x Smokey Rose (K A Czubuthan)
Paul & Kathy Smoke • 5423 Sutton Road • Britton, Michigan 49229517-423-3609 • [email protected] • www.mokeearabians.com
Available for Purchase
[email protected] www.mokeearabians.com
52 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Walk, trot, canter a few 20-meter cir-
cles, throw in a stretchy trot circle and a
few halt/salutes, and you’ve got yourself a
Training level dressage test. How hard can
that be?
Well, let’s put it this way. I can look
through the choreography for “Swan
Lake.” I can have it diagrammed for me,
and I can watch someone dance a scene
and try to recreate what I see. I can run and
spin and jump across the stage, precisely
as directed in the choreography, but will it
be pleasant to watch?
No need for you to answer. I already
know.
There is a parallel to dressage here.
Most anyone can muddle their way
through the movements described in a
Training level test and even do a fairly
passable job. But understanding the nu-
ances, the directives and the objectives
are key. These are what separate an ad-
equate performance from one that earns
good marks AND builds a foundation for
future success as the horse moves up the
levels.
The simplicity of the Training and even
First level tests is both a blessing and a
curse. Many people who are steeped in
the AHA “oval-ring” disciplines watch
what happens in that 20 x 60 meter rec-
tangle across the show grounds and find
themselves intrigued and wanting to try it.
And that is a wonderful thing!
But what does it really take to ride
those tests and ride them successfully?
The test instructions are deceptively sim-
ple, while the test directives offer insight
into the qualities actually being assessed
during the prescribed movements. Those
directives and the quality of the move-
ments, not just the fact that you did them,
make up the difference between a 5 and
a 7, or between a cumulative 55% and a
65% score!
We asked a group of experienced and
highly successful dressage trainers and
competitors to offer up their observations
and pointers to help those just starting out
or crossing over to the dressage arena so
that they might have a positive experience
and want to keep going on their dressage
journey.
Each of the trainers commented on the
need for riders to learn how to correctly
ride their horses from back to front, and
NOT the other way around.
“Most often I see the new or crossover
riders not having their horse ‘through’ and
really ‘on the bit’,” said noted dressage
trainer Patience Prine-Carr of C a s -
troville, Ca. “They tend to be tight in the
back,” she added, as a result of being held
in a static position by the rein. “Getting the
horse swinging and free in the back with
relaxation would add extra points.”
Prine-Carr’s thought was echoed by
Greta Wrigley of Alachua, Florida. Wrigley
is another well-known trainer with a long
and successful history training and com-
peting Arabians in dressage. The two most
common problems she sees are horses
that are not honestly accepting the bit, but
rather are stuck in a frame, and horses that
are laterally stiff and not bending.
“The horses need to follow the bit,
and learn to bend evenly through their
entire body. This is where good instruc-
tion comes in,” Wrigley noted, “so that you
know when you are correct and can re-
create that when working alone.”
Prine-Carr made the same point and
emphasized that one of the harder things
for riders coming from other Arabian dis-
ciplines is to learn to memorize tests and
to ride between the movements, not just
movement to movement. “They need to
think for themselves while in the arena
since there isn’t any announcer telling
them where to go. Of course, they can
have a reader but I tend to want them to
learn their tests and ride from memory be-
cause it will make them a better rider and
they will learn to ride the whole test, not
just the movements.”
Up-and-coming young dressage train-
er Mimi Stanley of Bismarck, North Da-
Janet Bellows grew up in upstate New York eventing and doing dressage and Pony Club on her Anglo-Arab mare. She is passionate about dressage , and trained with Tracey Lert and Charles DuKunffy in Ca, and continues her education with Inga Janke and Wanja Gerlach, and competes on her purebred geld-ing, GA Ehstaire. An award-winning documentary and broadcast news producer, she has also worked
extensively in print journalism.
MaryJo Hoepner’s Arabian/Saddlebred gelding Milleniums Treasure is enjoying the switch from hunter pleasure to dressage. Here he shows the
balance, submission and forward attitude so crucial to dressage success.
By Janet Bellows
53August/September 2013
kota, has been involved in all aspects of
the Arabian horse world and has trained
with some of the world’s best dressage
mentors. She notes that, for many horses
coming over to dressage from other are-
nas, there is much ingrained training to
overcome, as well as them learning to un-
derstand and accept a more “layered” and
complicated set of aids.
As she has observed, “Many of these
horses from other disciplines can end up
in a very different place” than what one
desires in a dressage horse. “With the
more severe bitting, and gadgets such as
draw reins and such, these horses gener-
ally require a good deal of re-schooling”
in order to really work over the back and
relax into a correct pace and tempo for
Training level and obtain the foundation
to move beyond those levels.
When listening to all the trainers, it be-
comes apparent that, in addition to the is-
sues of correct schooling and understand-
ing the goals of Training level and how it
forms the foundation for the levels that
follow, the other main issue is understand-
ing how to apply that knowledge in riding
a well-executed test.
“Possibly the biggest issue is under-
standing how each movement is scored
- both the movement itself and the modi-
fiers,” said noted trainer Jessica Wisdom.
Best known for her ground-breaking suc-
cess with the Grand Prix Welsh Cob stal-
lion North Forks Cardi, Wisdom, of Ridge-
field, Washington, has also trained and
ridden numerous Arabians and part Arabi-
ans to USDF and AHA/Sport Horse Nation-
als wins. “The directives for each move-
ment are described on the test sheet,” she
notes, “but there could be some confusion
when a ‘quiet’ transition where the horse
‘keeps his head down’ isn’t well rewarded.”
This can be because, as she notes, new
dressage riders might not understand the
nuances of each movement and what is
desired in the schooling. “Those new to
dressage need to familiarize themselves
with the other components such as relaxa-
tion, impulsion, straightness, balance and
eventually engagement. The ‘modifiers’
describe what happens before, after and
within the movement that affect the final
score.”
Wisdom elaborated a bit more on these
points, noting that another challenge is
riding the test itself accurately. “Again, the
elements and figures are well described
either on the sheet or in the USDF test
booklet. Geometry, alignment, and good
preparation are keys to success at any
level but are too often not given enough
practice – at home AND in the ring.”
Just as you don’t slam on your car
brakes when you are next to the stop sign,
but rather prepare for
what is coming, the
same holds true in
riding your dressage
test. A well-planned
test, with properly ex-
ecuted, geometrically
correct figures, will
help you add many
points that can all
too easily be thrown
away.
“Know your ge-
ometry!” added Wrig-
ley. “Understand the
placement of circles,
and how much bend
you need to align yourself for the center-
line,” which is essentially a half of a ten-
meter circle, and the very important first
and last impression of your test!
And as Prine-Carr noted, with three
rider scores, it becomes even more critical
to ride correctly and use your seat and aids
effectively. Checking yourself for position
flaws not only benefits your test score, but
your horse as well. Do you sit more heavily
in one seat bone than the other? Do you
hollow your back or grip with your thigh
or tilt your head or shoulder to one side or
the other? All these subtle things will be
noted by a judge, and more importantly,
will have an impact on your horse’s bal-
ance and straightness.
While this may seem like a huge laun-
dry list, it really is quite manageable, par-
ticularly with good instruction to get you
started in the right direction. And after
a few lessons, you will find that the only
thing really daunting about riding your
first dressage test is putting on the white
breeches!
Janet Bellows grew up in upstate New York eventing and doing dressage and Pony Club on her Anglo-Arab mare. She is passionate about dressage , and trained with Tracey Lert and Charles DuKunffy in Ca, and continues her education with Inga Janke and Wanja Gerlach, and competes on her purebred geld-ing, GA Ehstaire. An award-winning documentary and broadcast news producer, she has also worked
extensively in print journalism.
3/4 Arabian HERMANO ROJO (El Hermano x Bint Sabo Meadow {Arab/QH}), formerly a winning WP horse, shows the forward attitude, length of stride and acceptance of the aids that earned him a Top Ten in Training
level dressage at the 2012 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals. (He is ridden by his owner, Pip Sumsion of British Columbia.) Photo by Bob Tarr.
54 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
You hear stories where people say that
the horse picked them. I wouldn’t say that
happened here, but I would say that our
meeting was by chance and unlikely to re-
sult into a long relationship.
I had taken a group of children to ride
out with the Red Rock Hunt, north of Reno,
NV. I had been a whip in a hunt back in MA
and felt that the local pony club needed to
get out of the arena. It was on the return
trip back to the hunt kennels when I rode
up to one of the whips. I told her I liked
her horse, he’d caught my eye. She gave
me a fairly hesitant look and said I was on
a much nicer horse, why would I like hers?
Did I notice his hips stuck out like a cow’s?
I responded that he was a bit of a diamond
in the rough and I was always looking for
somewhere to hang my coat. We intro-
duced ourselves, but I was still on pony
club duty so not much more came of that
other than learning he was only 4 years
old and an Anglo-Arab.
Fast forward to the next spring and
I brought a couple of students to a local
hunter/jumper show. The whip recognized
me and asked if I remembered the horse
from the hunt field last fall. Well, he didn’t
have the speed she needed for the hunt
field, so he was for sale. I did have a jun-
ior rider that was looking, and I needed
something very, very quiet. I watched the
now five-year-old canter around a couple
of courses and said I’d be back to try him.
We set a date for two weeks time, and I
started to plan a training/muscling pro-
gram for the still ewe-necked, cow-hipped
rangy creature. Two weeks came, we drove
to give the horse we now knew as “Hazen”
a test drive and the barn was empty. Fi-
nally a groom arrived and said the horse
was no longer for sale. He’d done well at
a baby novice event and they wanted to
keep him. Figuring it wasn’t meant to be,
we drove home and started looking else-
where.
We looked and we looked but nothing
was a match for this particular junior. She
was sweet as the day was long but a bit
spacey, so I needed a quiet horse with a
good sense of self-preservation to save
them both in any situation. Out of the
blue I got a call over Labor Day weekend.
Hazen wasn’t working out. Unlike his stee-
ple-chasing sire, Hazen didn’t have the
speed the Red Rock Hunt needs in their
whip horses because of the type of terrain
and the size of territory it covers. Were we
still looking, they asked. They were tak-
ing him to a show near my home and they
could stop in on the way home. I figured
he’d be a bit tired but I agreed to the plan.
Watching his soon-to-be new rider have to
kick him into the canter, I figured I’d found
the suitable match. We vetted him and he
moved in immediately.
And that’s where the fairy tale ended
for a while. Hazen didn’t get sold because
he was slow. He got sold because he
bucked. And he bucked and he bucked.
During his first test at his first dres-
sage show, he bucked his junior rider off,
so I ended up grabbing show clothes and
riding his sorry butt down center-line
wondering what I could get for him at the
knackers. He won his test and the judge
took the time to speak to me. She wanted
to make sure I knew that she saw an FEI
horse in the making. She told me he had
the gaits and the spark it takes at the up-
per levels and to not give up on him. She
Healing
hHazenBy Elizabeth Coffey-Curle
55August/September 2013
saw something very special in his very
fresh, very naughty face.
Over time, muscle formed where
bones stuck out and he started to get pret-
ty. His junior rider liked to jump, so Hazen
would show as a child’s jumper, winning
his speed classes and ripping at least one
buck a round (his teenage rider got real
sticky in the saddle) and at the child’s par-
ents’ request, I showed him in dressage
because they felt that was the best train-
ing for the naughty beast. We hit Third lev-
el when his rider went off to college, and I
purchased him from the family.
We moved up the levels like most rid-
er/horse combinations and were lucky to
avoid any major soundness setbacks. As a
result of a skiing accident, I had to have my
wrist re-built which required multiple sur-
geries and six months of non-riding time,
but my horses often sit out the winter due
to our snowy residence and I always figure
it gives whatever strains and sprains we
aren’t even aware of time to heal.
I sought the help from FEI trainer
Volker Brommann. At this point, Hazen was
still very hot to show and the FEI work was
continuing to heat him up. Volker’s calm
approach was a huge turning point in Ha-
zen’s career. Hazen’s trot has always been
his weakest gait as he has more knee ac-
tion than reach. Volker saw that as a po-
tential gift for the piaffe and passage work.
He really gave me the confidence that we
could go all the way. Hazen, in turn, taught
Volker that non-traditional dressage hors-
es can be very successful. Volker still to-
day calls Hazen “Big Man” because of the
size of his heart, not his stature.
In 2007, Hazen earned the USDF Half-
Arabian/Anglo Arabian All Breeds award
for Fourth level, the Region 7 USDF Re-
serve Champion Fourth Level Freestyle
award and the CDS Reserve Champion
Fourth Level Freestyle award at the Cali-
fornia Dressage Society annual show.
Two weeks before the 2009 Sport
Arabian Championships in Idaho, Hazen
strained his lateral collateral ligament in
his left fore playing in the pasture. It was
a disappointment to have to stay home,
but up until this point, we had been injury
free, and I just figured it was our turn.
I have always been competitive and
enjoyed showing, but the responsibili-
ties of a young family and full-time job
put showing on the back burner. Hazen
continued to show and train through In-
termediare I including a fun I-1 freestyle.
Snowy winters and two more minor hu-
man surgeries probably contributed to
Hazen staying fairly sound through all of
the work. He has a very straight gaskin so if
there’s ever a bit of unsoundness, it’s in his
hocks. I have had them injected only twice
in his 18 years, so I’m getting a lot of miles
per injection.
Last summer was a big step forward;
although I did not show due to financial
reasons, he was ready for I-2. With the
help of FEI trainer Michael Etherly, I could
start and stop the one tempis on com-
mand and his passage was nothing short
of just plain fun. If anything, the strength
required to do the very collected work
made Hazen even sounder. Physically, he
was massive. You could play chess across
his topline. And yet, he was still just our
family horse living life like other normal
horses. He lived out in the pasture most of
the time with his best friend, “Roc,” going
for swims at a lake near our home and trail
riding with our dogs down to the creek
most days.
In October, I handed the reins over to
my then 12-year-old daughter Cyd to ride
in her first third level test. She had out-
grown her little Arabian whom she had
shown through Second level. That first
test had a bunch of us laughing. Cyd took
the extended canter to mean gallop like a
wild brumby and watching Hazen collect
himself before the corner was priceless.
Everyone pointed out the grin both horse
and rider had from ear to ear through out
the entire test.
And then things went bad. I could start
the story with “It was a dark and stormy
night,” because, well, it was. Mid-Novem-
ber on a Friday night, snowing, wind howl-
ing, and temperature in the teens, I went
out to feed at 5:30 PM. Hazen normally
meets me at the gate but instead he was
standing near his shelter and his pas-
ture buddy was galloping madly around.
I called to Hazen thinking he didn’t see
me. He didn’t move. In an instant, I knew
something was very, very wrong. I ran out
and there in the bit of light from the back
of the barn, I could see he was three leg-
ged, non-weight bearing.
I couldn’t see the extent of the wound,
but his knee was ripped open and already
In an instant, I knew
something was very,
very wrong.
56 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
huge. Later, we were able to time the injury
between 4:15 and 5:30 because Cyd had
actually spent time with him in his pasture
between 4:00 – 4:15. Standing with Ha-
zen three-legged, I admit I just started to
cry into his neck. In my heart I knew the
leg was broken. I put my hands on him
and said goodbye. I had always assumed
Hazen would grow old in my pasture and
instead, I would be putting him down that
night. I was probably there all of about 15
seconds but the things that ran through
my head were what every horsey parent
agonizes over. He’s not insured. How to I
replace him for Cyd? How do I tell her that
we just lost her horse? She grew up with
Hazen. Her first word after ma-ma and da-
da was “Hay-ZA”.
I caught his pasture mate, the obvious
offender in this situation, and ran him up
to the barn. The weather was so foul and
he was still galloping around. I didn’t want
him to run up to Hazen not realizing that
Hazen would not be able to get out of his
way. I called the local vet hospital. I gave
one clear message that the vet who re-
ceived the message from the on-call ser-
vice said when she got it, she knew I was
not one to cry wolf. I told the service that
I had a probable broken leg and for the
on-call vet to stop at the hospital on their
way to my stable to get whatever medi-
cine they would require for such an emer-
gency call. Then, I ran to the house to get
Cyd and a flashlight. I quickly told Cyd the
situation and handed her the phone since
the phone signal doesn’t carry out to the
pasture. I grabbed a flashlight and headed
back to Hazen.
The next hour was agonizing. Cyd and
I took turns with Hazen. He was standing
100 feet down a small hill from the barn.
His now stabled pasture mate would call
out to him and Hazen would sit back like in
a levade and launch forward landing all of
his weight on his one good front leg. This
went on for an hour. Roc would whinny,
Hazen would rock back and leap forward.
When thirty minutes turned into an hour, I
couldn’t help but wonder what happened
to the vet.
At the hospital, the first on-call vet
was preparing a horse for colic surgery.
The responding vet, Sadie, ironically the
vet assigned to our stable from the group
practice, was actually second-on-call for
the night. On the way to my home, a truck
had hit a wild stallion shattering his hind
legs and the vet was two cars back. She
had to stop and, with the aid of police
and firemen, euthanize the stallion. When
she finally arrived at my stable, she was in
shock from the situation she had just left
behind. Seeing my family standing around
Hazen who was eating hay out of a wheel-
barrow in the middle of the barn aisle was
almost more than she could take. I had
packed Hazen’s leg in ice and a makeshift
splint to stabilize his leg. I still had little
faith that he’d see Saturday morning, but
Hazen was standing so quietly under the
aisle lights now on four legs, maybe there
was a chance after all.
After a thorough examination, the
vet thought we were okay. A severe deep
puncture to the knee joint, yes, but Hazen
allowed her to poke and prod the joint and
leg completely free of any sedation. She
felt there was no way he’d allow that if
there was a break. We applied a soft cast
and, since the portable x-ray machine was
on the blink, we agreed to meet in the
morning at the hospital. I was to call if, in
the morning, I felt that he would not tol-
erate the trailer ride. Sadie climbed back
into her truck and drove to assist with the
colic surgery that was awaiting her return
to the hospital.
The next week is a bit of a blur. Ha-
zen had obviously laid down during that
first night and was back up on four legs.
He was very sore walking to the trailer
which we had driven practically to his stall
door, but he was at least weight-bearing.
Hazen leaped three-legged into our two-
horse and slid down the ramp with both
front feet on the ramp to unload. He would
continue to use this method for future
Young Cyd playing with Hazen
57August/September 2013
trips. Saturday morning x-rays and joint
fluid checks were clean. As horrific as the
wound looked, he would be okay. Sunday
night we hosted a barn party and while I
usually empty the barn of all equine resi-
dents for these parties, Hazen on stall rest
was the guest of honor.
I changed his dressing twice daily and
hand-walked him for five minutes twice a
day per his prescription. It was the follow-
ing Monday night that I saw swelling that
hadn’t been there that morning. I made a
mental note to call the vet the next day
and since I had Wednesday off, I could
haul him in to the hospital then. Tuesday
morning arrived, and with one look at the
leg, I had him loaded in the trailer before I
even called the hospital to tell them I was
on my way. They could look at him when
they had a break in the action and I’d pick
him up after work.
Hazen was diagnosed with a cellulitis
infection and the request to keep him 24
hours turned into 8 days in the ICU on an
antibiotitic IV. They continued to hand walk
him in the hospital and as the only over-
night horse in ICU, he was quite miserable
and stopped eating anything except horse
cookies. Feeling sorry for the old boy, the
vet techs let him loose one day while they
were cleaning his stall, thinking he’d just
walk around a bit. Hazen proceeded to
knock everything off the shelves, knock
things into a sink, turn on the water and
start a flood – all to the amazement of the
staff. When I heard the story, I reminded
them that he lives in a barn that is always
full of children. Children mean food. Any
horse worth his weight knows that there’s
food stashed in the grooming box or on a
shelf, you just have to look for it. “But he
turned THE WATER ON after he dumped
things into the sink!” they said. “Oh, that
was just a bit of horse humor. He did that
to make you crazy,” I explained.
After his duration in ICU, Hazen once
again came home with a prescription of
medicine and hand-walking. Another week
went by and at this point, I knew what 80
(yes, 80) x-ray views over two weeks had
failed to show. Hazen was in too much pain
when I changed his dressing. He would ex-
tend his leg outward when I went to put
the bandage back on that was supporting
the dressing over the knee wound. I called
the hospital and said I was bringing him in
the next day and I was going to show them
where the fracture was. I’m not usually
that insistent but I knew I was right.
After a couple of “Dr. Curle” jokes by
the vet team, I pointed to the place where
I felt was the fracture point. It was on the
radius above the knee. The vet team in-
cluding a surgeon did a full examination
of his leg including lots of manipulation of
his knee joint without any response from
Hazen. They did agree that there was point
tenderness and took him back for more x-
rays. Jokes ended, and the vet team and
techs got very somber, very quickly. A
shadow was present on a film. Now they
needed to follow the shadow and see
where it led. A three-inch clean straight
line fracture was present on the x-ray. We
were at day 24 post-accident. X-rays taken
at days 14-18 did not present any fracture.
All of the vet school teachings that if you
do not have a fracture after day 14, you are
in the clear, went right out the window.
Still in the x-ray room, standing with
the vet team, a plan was formed. The
fracture was clean and unless it started
to split, he’d avoid surgery. The surgeon,
Shane, said he’d tied, slung, etc. these
kinds of cases and no case had a better
result than any other so I was to take Ha-
zen home and put him loose in his stall.
No pen attachment, just his 12x12’ indoor
stall. We’d start him on Shock Wave Ther-
apy in three weeks. If he was going to sur-
vive, it was all on Hazen now. Shane said
he’s watched him in the hospital while he
was in ICU and thought that Hazen had
the common sense and attitude it would
take to survive the confinement. “Okay,” I
said. “I’ll take him home.” It was then that
two other vets started to panic – I had to
“trailer” him home. Of course, that is how
he got here. “But he has a BROKEN LEG!,” I
just laughed and shook my head. I remind-
ed them that not only have I been hauling
this horse back and forth to the hospital, I
had been hand-walking him twice a day! I
loaded him back up and went home.
What I didn’t know was that using
Shock Wave Therapy for a break was as
new to them as it was to me. Thanks to
the race track, there is a lot of documen-
58 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
tation on its use for soft tissue injuries
but it wasn’t until the vets found a study
where it had been used on a rabbit with
a broken leg did they have any research
for the machine settings for healing bone.
Three sessions, three weeks apart was the
prescription. I augmented the Shock Wave
therapy with Accuscope therapy sessions.
We needed to treat Hazen’s entire body
while the bone re-modeled under the skin.
Hazen was an amazing patient. I
learned that most of these patients are
put down approximately six weeks into
the recovery process because they sim-
ply start to jump around in their stalls and
shatter their leg. Hazen was not a full time
“stalled” horse prior to his accident, but he
quickly settled into the routine. My daugh-
ter hung a few toys around his stall, but
our family became his favorite play toys
and he enjoyed the time we spent in his
stall.
Four and one-half months after the
accident, we were given the go ahead to
hand walk Hazen. That quickly turned into
walking under saddle because Hazen was
so explosive, I felt he was going to injure
himself or one of us. I convinced the vet
that his training would over ride his exu-
berance and it would be calmer and safer
in the saddle than on the ground. Two
weeks later we got the “all-clear” to start
trotting and when I felt he was strong
enough, we could start to canter.
Miraculously, Hazen was sound. I com-
pletely cheated and I would admit to do-
ing so in emails I would send the vet. My
theory was she could rant and rave, but I
was 20 minutes away and couldn’t hear
her. I had actually already trotted the day
before we got the go-ahead to do so and
more than that, I asked the old boy to pas-
sage and he handed it to me right off my
aid. The first day we cantered, I did a sim-
ple change each direction. The next day I
did a line of 3 tempis. Canter day three, I
picked up the canter and without so much
as a single change warm up, I did a line of
two’s followed by a short line of 1’s. Call
me horrible for pushing him or what ever
but I wanted Hazen feel “normal” again.
He still wasn’t on any kind of turn out yet
and between the months of stall rest and
now being 18 years old, gravity had taken
its toll on his topline. We had a lot of work
to do, but Hazen was back. Then I did what
I thought would never happen again. I en-
tered him and Cyd into a dressage show
in June.
Today I wish I could say that whole ac-
cident is ancient history but it is going to
take a bit more time before I don’t worry
about him constantly. He is back in the pas-
ture during the day but spends his nights
in his stall. He has a new pasture mate –
this one is 13 hands, no hind shoes, and
runs away at the mere twist of one of Ha-
zen’s ears. I worry watching him load and
unload our four-horse step-up trailer but
he lands up and back down on his right leg
first, always. Cyd trail rides him now where
just a month ago I still worried about hard-
packed footing. We haven’t taken him back
to the beach yet because I’m worried that
the deep sand will strain his leg, but by the
fall, our favorite time to hack on the beach
and into the water, we’ll be back there.
Cyd and Hazen have qualified for
the CDS Junior Third Level Champion-
ships, and they have a darling Third level
freestyle set to “We Belong Together” by
Randy Newman from Toy Story and “Bear
Necessities” from the Jungle Book. They
received the last-needed score for Cyd to
earn her USDF Bronze medal at the age
of 13 years. Cyd would like me to show
him again. She says she wants me to get
my USDF Gold medal. She has him for one
more show season and then, who knows,
maybe I’ll put him back into the show ring
in 2015 and Hazen and I will get to earn
our USDF Gold Medal together.
As a result of Hazen’s remarkable re-
covery using Shock Wave Therapy, his vet
team have documented his case and made
it available for other equine practitioners
to review.
60 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
By Karin Foley
It occurred to me over coffee one day that Arabian horses have
been the impetus for many major relationships in my life. I met
my husband, Will, because of a Straight Spanish Arabian stallion
named Destinado and so began the relationship with two loves of
my life, Will and Arabian horses. Many of my closest friends have
come into my life via Arabian horses. I think of Arabian horses as
bridge-builders because a particular Arabian horse or just Arabian
horses in general will bring together the most unlikely people.
They provide the bridge to people we may otherwise not have
met and to experiences we most likely would not have had with-
out them.
If there are two people at a horse event with horses of Arabian
blood, they will find each other. I met Linda Ward a few years ago
at dressage camp in Ohio. She lives in Hamburg, New York, and I
was two hours away from her in the Finger Lakes. Since Linda was
the only person at camp with an Arabian horse, it was just a mat-
ter of time that we would meet. I don’t think it took us more than
five minutes to find each other. Linda said that through her horse
Pietra she has “met so many other fabulous women, young and
‘vintage’ who have taught me so much. It is a wonderful commu-
nity that I am proud to be part of… strong women.”
There are all kinds of courage and sometimes the bravest peo-
ple are the most unassuming. To meet Linda you would not realize
what tough stuff she is made of. Linda is one of those smiling peo-
ple who can always find something nice to say about every one in
every situation. She is the kind of person you want to be friends
with because her positive attitude and kindness are a pleasure to
be around. She inspires you to be a better person.
Sometimes having courage has more to do with taking on a
challenge that is incomprehensible enough that it even seems
crazy. Linda learned to ride at age 45 on a purebred Arabian mare
named Pietra. Pietra was a horse that had a past and was a bit
of a rehab project. While I support the conventional wisdom that
green riders should begin on saintly horses, sometimes courage
Profiles in Courage
Building a Bridge
Linda Ward getting her Western New York
Dressage Association year end award
61August/September 2013
outweighs sense or as my grandmother, Grace Edna, used to say,
“Courage takes having more strength and less sense.” Learning to
ride on horses with issues takes more strength and less sense for
sure and maybe a touch of insanity.
For Linda, learning to ride at forty-five and ride Pietra was a
journey for the brave. Forty-five is about the age when midlife
horsewomen start to feel every childhood fall. Falling at 45 can
be deadly. Pietra had serious baggage that made her dangerously
spooky at times. Linda said, “ Pietra and I struggled for many years
as she carried with her some horrid baggage. A ‘cowboy’ trainer
had tried to cure her of her spookiness and really messed her
up.“ Since Pietra came with all her western tack, Linda tried rid-
ing western first. Then the pair switched to dressage when Linda
figured out that it teaches you to use all of your rider aids and also
makes the horse a fine athlete progressively.
About her and Pietra’s journey, Linda will tell you that, “ We
have a wonderful history together and hopefully it is inspiring
to other women. You are never too old to realize a dream, never
too old to try something that is hard but so satisfying. “ One of
the best things about riding a bit later in life is that there are of-
ten many other women at the same point in life doing the same
things. Some will have a lifetime with horses. Some perhaps gave
up riding for a while to raise a family or have a career. Life takes up
time and sometimes dreams get put on hold.
What makes someone decide to just take up horseback riding
in midlife – a sport which most people who become really good
tend to start as kids, Linda said, “It is nice to have something that is
all mine after raising two fabulous daughters and then to see how
proud they are of their old mom.” Women of any age can do any-
thing we set our minds to do. It takes grit to decide to learn some-
thing and achieve a certain level of success at it during a time in
life when most equine athletes are slowing down and beginning to
spend more time on the ground teaching than in the saddle riding.
What made it work? My niece Mary Elizabeth says that some
people have a “whatever” button meaning some people just don’t
sweat the small stuff. If you are the kind of person who suffers with
every little setback or inconvenience, you are unlikely to ever be-
come a really good rider. You certainly won’t be able to enjoy the
ride. I think Linda has that “whatever” button that has allowed her
to master horseback riding at a challenging point in life. She says
it is because of her journey with Pietra that she can now ride just
about any horse.
It does not take much to get Linda talking about her desert
princess. Watching them ride, it is not hard to imagine Linda as the
musician she is. Linda said, “ I always thought music was my pas-
sion and now I find Pietra is.” Music and riding are a lot alike. They
both take patience, commitment, gentleness, spirit and cadence to
Continued from page 71
62 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Her name, Huadoresya, is an amal-
gamate of her dam (Lei Huua) and sire
(Retador) and is pronounced “Who adores
ya.” Better known as Annie, she had ador-
ing fans through out the US and Canada.
She began her show career by win-
ning a Region V Top Five as a yearling, with
trainer Mitch Sperte on the lead. Mitch
was the first to say that Annie would al-
ways give way more than 100% of effort
to what is asked of her and that I should
be very careful in m y
choice of trainers for her. I began
her early under saddle career doing hunt-
er pleasure and western pleasure. Annie
allowed that hunter pleasure was okay,
but western pleasure was way too boring.
When she was 5, we met trainer Nelson
Mittuch whose expertise was in event-
ing and show jumping. Annie found that
eventing was just the ticket for channeling
her need for adrenaline.
Nelson rode her in several schooling
and lower-level events with the idea that
I would take over the reins once she knew
the game. I rode my first novice-level
event at the age of 50. It was soon clear
that Annie was
getting bored
with novice
level, and I had
NO desire to go
up the levels, so
Annie again be-
came Nelson’s
ride. He very
carefully moved
her up the lev-
els, never allow-
ing her to think
she couldn’t do
it. A trademark
of hers was the
way she saun-
tered into the
show jump-
ing arena. She
was good and
she knew it, even if many in the crowd
weren’t believers.
One believer was 3-time Canadian
Olympic rider, Robin Hahn. Robin saw An-
nie in one of his clinics and felt that she
was an Advanced-level horse. She may
well have done so if she hadn’t taken time
off for maternity leave, although she did
compete to the Intermediate level. I re-
member standing at the start for Interme-
diate at The Event at Rebecca Farm and
hearing people chuckle about the crazy
rider (Nelson) on the little grey Arab. They
were no longer chuckling when the pair
came galloping around to the finish with
no jump penalties.
The year Annie was to be bred, Nelson
and I decided to do only show jumping, as
she wouldn’t have to be so fit and might
make conception easier. We had planned
to take her to Spruce Meadows, but they
had overbooked and were taking only
horses competing in the whole series (we
were going for just a week). She competed
in the International Arena at Thunderbird
Show Park in British Columbia, Canada.
Again, there were doubters as she
strutted into 3’9” and 4’ classes, but by
the end of the week, Annie had many
new fans. She came second twice at 3’9”,
leading one class until the very last horse
that went just a touch faster. After tak-
Annie and Amber, with teammates Lexi Funk and Candy at Galway Downs, Temecu-
la, CA. West Coast YR championships.
Annie and Nelson Mittuch – Intermediate at Deep Creek Horse Trials photo by Ken Hornung
By Gwen Marshall
63August/September 2013
ing time out to have her son, Corre Con El
Viento (his Trakehner registration has WB
in front), Annie began a new career as the
mount for Young Rider Amber McCluskey.
They worked their way up from Novice to
Preliminary. At 14 years old, Amber was
too young to ride Intermediate. A second
place in Prelim at the Whidbey Island
Pony Club event earned them the chance
to compete with the Area VII Young Rider
Team at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA.
They started the weekend in 20th
place of 20. This was not unusual, as Annie
considered dressage to be on a par with
western pleasure and pretty much never
gave her best during the test. She saved
her best for the two jumping phases. They
finished the weekend in seventh place,
earning a trip to Lexington, KY to compete
at the North American Junior and Young
Rider Championships. What a great thrill
to be able to compete at the home of the
legendary Rolex, where the World Eques-
trian Games were to be held the next year!
The Area VII team finished a respect-
able 6th place, and Annie made many
more friends as the little grey Arab flashed
around the cross-country course. Other
than the endurance horses, Annie was the
only purebred Arabian competing at the
NAJYRC. Annie finished her competitive
career as the highest ranked FEI eventing
Arabian and came home from KY to be-
come a broodmare.
Sadly, we lost her at the age of 17 to
leukemia. She was a rare treasure through-
out her life and she died of a disease that
is very rare in horses. Her son, Corre Con
El Viento (Vinnie), is now 7 years old and
is just about ready to let the world know
of his presence. By the Trakehner Windfall,
Vinnie is considered Trakehner because
Annie was inspected and approved for
the Trakehner Stud Book (PSB) and Half-
Arabian. His foals out of Arabian mares are
registered as 3/4 Arabian.
When the inspecting veterinarian first
saw Annie, his comment was a very heart-
felt “Now there’s one that stands out in the
crowd.”
Vinnie thinks that eventing is fun,
but he will probably make his mark in the
Show Jumping Arena. Robin Hahn thinks it
won’t be long before he’s winning at the 4’
level, despite the fact that he is the same
size as his dam – 15’1”. Vinnie is also mak-
ing his mark as a sire. His first foal, the now
3-year-old First Legacy GM, was the Re-
serve National Champion 2-year-old Half
Arabian Sport Horse Filly in Nampa, Idaho.
“Ginger” is now started under saddle and
early indications are that she’s got that
need for adrenaline and will find eventing
her cup of tea.
First Legacy GM with Dannelle Haugen Photo by Sherri Sauter
Huadoresya as a yearling Annie and Nelson at Thunderbird Horse Park, British Columbia, Canada (2nd and
3’9’’) Photo by On Site Digital
“Vinnie” Corre Con El Viento and Nelson Mittuch during a Robin Hahn
clinic
First Legacy GM Res. Nat’l Champion 2-year-old Half-Arabian SHIH filly 2012
Photo by Don Stine
“Vinnie” Corre Con El Viento (Windfall x Huadoresya)
64 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Eventing, formerly known as Combined Training in the United
States, with its tests of dressage, cross-country and stadium jump-
ing, forges an intense bond between horse and rider. In order
to move up through the competition levels of the United States
Eventing Association, USEA (formerly the USCTA – United States
Combined Training Association), each must develop deep trust in
the other along with strength, agility, stamina and the ability to
solve ever-more complex jumping problems. Jane Mendelsohn
of Sunset Valley Farm near Brooksville, Florida, and her purebred
Arabian gelding, Starsearch SMA—known to everyone as Sparky—
were a team that met this challenge.
Jane has loved horses for as long as she can remember, and
her passion for riding was so strong when she was a child that
even the family Beagle was not safe. Her earliest training at Red
Raider Farm in Ohio consisted of a kind of private Pony Club-type
education in horsemanship and hunt seat equitation. Later, she
began showing and training hunters and jumpers at the Hunt Club
in Hunting Valley, Ohio.
Her first exposure to the Arab breed occurred when her family
attended an exhibition and sale at Locust Farms in Kirtland, Ohio.
Several years later, as a working student at San-Ray Stables, she
was assigned to ride an Arab-Quarter Horse mare named Faela.
Faela did everything from jumping picnic tables in the park to bar-
rel racing to egg and spoon. Jane rode her in Open Hunter shows
and 4-H.
After San-Ray closed, Jane and her older sister Debbie began
riding Thoroughbreds for neighbors who wanted to recycle their
unsuccessful racers into hunters and pleasure mounts. Then in
college, Jane rode on the Northwestern University Equestrian
Team. After graduation, she moved west and learned eventing
while riding at Half-Halt Farms in Martinez, California. She met Te-
resa Trull, and in the summer of 1992, formed a partnership with
her to work for Sierra Moun Arabians training their young horses.
It was here that Jane met Sparky, a four-year-old gelding who
attracted her immediately. Sparky was foaled on May 13, 1988,
a light bay with a star, strip, snip and sock on the right front who
matured to 14.3-hands. (Jane’s amusing comment on his height:
Honestly he is 14.3. Just always put him down as 15 to make me
feel braver jumping the big jumps!) His dam was Inca Magic (Bakk
Talk x Halali Inca Gold by Gdansk), a mostly Polish-bred mare line-
bred to Ofir PASB through Witraz and *Witez II. Inca Magic was
a bold jumper and outstanding Pony Club mount. Sparky’s sire,
Starbounde+/ (Spellbounde x Elkontessa by SX El Kobarh), was a
Polish-CMK stallion with two lines to the Crabbet stallion *Serafix.
Starbounde competed up to Intermediare I levels in dres-
sage, had regional and national honors as a hunter over fences
and placed well at CTETA Horse Trials, Novice Division in his only
venture into eventing. He also performed Musical Freestyle exhi-
bitions with well-known West Coast rider-instructor-judge Creeky
Routson, including at the 15th Annual Dressage In The Wine Coun-
try in Santa Rosa, California. (Starbounde’s younger full brother,
Edict—owned by Debbie Mendelsohn—competed very success-
fully in hunter, 1st and 2nd Level dressage, sport horse breeding
EVENTING STARS Sparky & Jane
Jane Mendelsohn schooling Sparky in dressage at
Bright Future Farms, Walnut Creek, California.
Kat W
alde
n Ph
oto
By Kat Walden
65August/September 2013
EVENTING STARS Sparky & Jane
classes and Novice Division events.) The family blend of Polish,
Crabbet, CMK and Rogers desert import bloodlines obviously in-
cludes the athletic talents requisite for good sport horses.
Both Sparky and Starbounde survived emergency colic sur-
gery and recovered well enough to compete at high levels of per-
formance. Starbounde continued to have recurring bouts of gas
colic, although he is healthy enough at age 30 for children to ride.
Sparky’s colic was caused by ingestion of a foreign object which
ultimately encrusted into a seven pound tummy-ache. Although
Sparky never quite showed the physical bloom his diet and con-
ditioning should have produced, he had never shown any other
signs of distress and continued to compete successfully until he
colicked in February, 1995. Veterinarians at UC Davis were sur-
prised that he had shown so few symptoms and that such a large
enterolith did not rupture his intestine.
The irritant for the enterolith remained unknown until Jane
and her husband Neil Williams moved from California to Florida
at the end of 1999 to be closer to her parents. Neil balked at
the idea of shipping the enterolith, which had lain frozen in their
freezer since the surgery, across the country. Accordingly, Jane
and the author thawed and dissected the thing. At the center was
a length of about 18” of some kind of rope, heavier than baling
twine but lighter than a lead rope. When and where—not to men-
tion why—Sparky swallowed it remained a mystery.
Jane and Teresa recognized Sparky’s potential very soon after
starting him under saddle in 1994. They encouraged owner Nan-
cy Getman to event him, with his first competition being an AHSA/
USCTA recognized event at Milfleur Farms in Livermore, California,
that same year, where he took a 2nd in the Open Novice Division
with Jane riding. He followed up with a 7th in Novice Horse Di-
vision at the CTETA recognized Horse Trials (near San Francisco)
the same summer. CTETA is popular with world-class eventers, so
competition there is never easy in any division. When Nancy Get-
man dispersed most of her horses in the Fall of 1994, Jane and
Teresa, doing business first as Equine Grammar School and later
as Tandem Training, moved on to Carol DiMaggio’s Bright Future
Farms in Walnut Creek, California. Through Nancy’s generosity,
Sparky went, too, with his teacher and friend, now a half-owner.
After Sparky colicked, Jane assumed full financial responsibility
for him, and Nancy transferred sole ownership to her.
During a long rehabilitation period, Sparky developed a
roundness and muscling that he had never shown before—as well
as a mirror-shine to his coat. He and Jane returned to eventing in
the summer and fall of 1996. They won their Open Training Divi-
sion at the AHSA/USCTA recognized American Valley Horse Trials
at Quincy, California, which earned them the Arabian Sport Horse
Association, Inc., Year-End Combined Training Fifth place. Memo-
rial Day Weekend, 1997, Sparky and Jane placed 4th at the CTETA
Horse Trials, again in Training Division. Both times, Sparky was the
only purebred Arabian competing in his division. Although Sparky
was qualified to move up to Preliminary Division, Jane elected to
give him more experience and conditioning at the lower level.
Sparky and Jane cross country at CTETA.
Kat W
alde
n Ph
oto
Sparky and Jane winning the Poplar Place Horse Trials
Preliminary Division on May 10, 2002.
Note their harmony in balance and confidence in this.
Shan
non
Brin
kman
Pho
to
66 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
At the CDS East Bay Chapter Annual Freestyle Dressage Exhi-
bition at Walnut Creek, California, in November, 1996, Sparky and
Jane took part in a unique presentation. With Jane’s sister Debbie
on “Uncle Red,” they performed a musical pas de deux at speed
over jumps to the Pointer Sisters’ “Jump (For my Love),” which was
enthusiastically received by the audience.
As a change of pace, at the 2nd Annual Pacific Coast Arabian
Sport Horse Classic held in Vallejo, California, June 6-8, 1997,
Sparky won the Purebred Regular Working Hunter Under Saddle
class. He also won the Purebred & Half-Arabian Training Jumpers,
2’9”-3’3” and Purebred Jumpers, Open 3’3”-3’6” with the fastest
clean rounds. In the Purebred Jumper Stake, 3’3”-3’6”, Jane let
him get flat to one fence, and they had a rail down, dropping them
to 4th. Although jumper was more to Sparky’s liking than hunter,
they also took a 4th in Purebred Regular Working Hunter Stake,
3’-3’3”.
Before the move to Florida, Sparky did get his chance at Pre-
liminary Division competition. Sparky and Jane competed at the
Pebble Beach H.T. in June, 1998, where Sparky lost Jane when
confronted suddenly with another competitor in his path on the
cross-country. Bad luck! In September, 1999, they placed 8th at
Murieta Equine Center H.T., 9th at Whiskey Hill H.T. and finished at
Ram Tap in October, placing 7th. By 2001 they had mastered the
division. Between January of 2001 and May of 2002, Sparky and
Jane placed in the Top Five in Preliminary Division at horse trials
nine times. They won five of the horse trials: Canterbury H.T. &
C.T.; Basingstoke Farms H.T. & C.T.; Pine Top April H.T.; Poplar Place
H.T.; and Flat Creek H.T. He placed Third in the USEA Region III Year
End Awards in 2001 and was Reserve Champion in 2002.
The Florida Winter eventing circuit is tough at all levels, be-
cause the top event riders in the country follow the warm weather
south to keep their experienced event horses fit and tuned up and
to start young horses. At any given horse trial or 3-day event, one
may find oneself riding against Olympians with decades of expe-
rience. To place well in such company is a real accomplishment,
one that Sparky and Jane achieved repeatedly in the years after
they left California. They might even have inspired internation-
ally known eventer Karen O’Connor to give super pony Theodore
O’Connor his chance to excel in the sport, since she also compet-
ed in Florida when Sparky and Jane were at their peak!
Continued on page 71
Schooling session at Bright Future Farms in Walnut Creek,
California. In preparation for the move from Training up to
Preliminary Division, Sparky needed practice in jumping
taller and wider fences. Around 1998Ka
t Wal
den
Phot
o
A jump-off for time at an early Pacific Coast Arabian Sport
Horse Classic show at the county fairgrounds in Vallejo,
California 1997.
Kat W
alde
n Ph
oto
Sparky at age 25 during a dressage workout in June, 2013
Theresa Vandenheuvel Photo
Kat W
alde
n Ph
oto
67August/September 2013
Imagine, at just 17 years old, representing your country against
the best international junior dressage riders. Katie Lang did.
At the recent North American Junior and Young Rider Champi-
onships (NAJYRC), Lang and her noble steed, Half-Arabian FA Pa-
triot (Flurry of Ca-Lyn {Friesian} X La Sada Mega) scored 63.486%
in their team test. Overall, Lang and her teammates ranked fourth
place out of eleven teams. The team was just .5 of a point away
from receiving the bronze medal.
During the individual test, Lang and “Blue” scored 61.132%.
The pair did not advance to the next test, but Lang is still very
pleased with their results and just being a competitor. “It was cool
to meet everyone from different countries,” said Lang. “I couldn’t
believe I was there. We were so, so, so close.”
Lang’s trainer, Kathy Rowse of Silverleaf Dressage in Suffolk,
Virginia, was proud of her student’s accomplishments. “This is the
third time I have gone to NAJYRC,” said Rowse. “Katie and Blue
were uniquely prepared because Katie has done so much compe-
tition in ice skating, so the competition at this higher level really
didn’t phase her. She went in to absolutely enjoy it and get the
most out of the experience. The whole family just really enjoyed
the trip, so that made me feel very much a part of it, and I liked to
see the team spirit that most students really exemplified.”
Lang started riding in 2006. Her dad asked if she wanted to
visit a nearby barn, and the rest, as they say, is history. Just a few
months after starting at Silverleaf, she became the owner of Blue.
Blue is a 15-year-old, 16.1-hand gelding. He received his barn
name “Blue” due to
his steel gray/blue
color. He has since
grayed-out and be-
come a flea-bitten
gray. This coming
October is the two-
year mark that Lang
and Blue have been
a partnership. “He’s a
cool dude,” said Lang. “He’s a Winnie the
Pooh and Eeyore kind of guy. He’s laid back.
He likes his food and his mud. He’s a good
traveler.”
Blue’s former owner, Jessica Zoskey,
had competed with him in the Young Rider
Championships two times. Zoskey trained Blue herself and had
owned him since he was 5 years old before selling him to Lang.
Zoskey was the one who mentioned the NAJYRC to Lang.
“I thought it would be really cool to be under 18 years old
and compete at the international level and represent my country,”
Lang said. “I competed under judges from Sweden and France.
This is a stepping stone for kids for the Olympics and the inter-
national level.”
Not only was Lang impressed by the competition, the location
of NAJYRC also gave her chills.
“Just being in Rolex stadium was just a crazy feeling,” she said.
“Edward Gal and Totilas won three gold medals here. It’s the real
deal. I am normally a very calm person when competing, but I was
nervous going down centerline, then I was fine.”
Lang plans on continuing her pursuit in dressage. Her longterm
goal is to receive her USDF Silver medal, while her short term goal
is to compete in Fourth level at the Great American Insurance
Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championship. After watching the
freestyle tests at NAJYRC, she “really needs to ramp up my cho-
reography” for her
own freestyle.
Despite what
she would like to
work on, Lang is still
awed by competing
at NAJYRC. “It was
probably the best
experience of my
life,” said Lang. “I
really liked being
on a team, we got
close, had fun and
it made it less of an
individual competi-
tion.
Competing at North American Junior & Young Rider ChampionshipsBy Rebekah Savage Photos courtesy Cindy Lang
68 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
PL Irish Thunder
Bran
t Gam
ma
Phot
os
69August/September 2013
As a young hunter rider, I worked with
a few Arabians, but overall was not im-
pressed – they seemed very high-strung
and not at all cooperative. A few years ago,
we purchased a young Welsh-bred pony,
who was also a part Arabian (1/4). She was
a lovely pony and great to work with; giv-
ing me a much better experience than be-
fore. My takeaway was I truly believe it’s
all in the proper breeding. Bad breeding
makes bad horses whereas well thought
out breeding makes nicer prospects.
When I bought PL Irish Thunder, an
Irish Draft/Arabian cross, bred by Playland
Farm, I wanted a horse that would go Ad-
vanced level in eventing. From day one,
Flynn has been a gem. Within just a few
days of bringing him home in May of 2011,
shortly after he turned 3, I backed him and
slowly began his introduction with flat-
work. By late fall, I was beginning to lightly
jump him. Every new question was met
with bravery, willingness, and honesty.
I’ve never seen a horse look so intently to
where his feet are going, the result being
that Flynn goes to every jump with careful-
ness, precision, and eagerness.
In April of 2012, I took him to his first
Horse Trial at Beginner Novice. We finished
on our dressage score and placed 6th in
our division. We then went to a USDF rec-
ognized show in late April and placed 1st
in both Training 1 and Training 2, with a
score of 67.1 and 69.6, respectively. We
worked lightly through the summer mov-
ing up to Novice. With Flynn, I began to
realize, that if I wasn’t 100% ready to say
“Yes” when he would ask, “Is this what you
want?” then he would find another way to
do it. He is really smart and as many no-
tice, pretty arrogant at times. When teach-
ing him something new, Flynn wants to
learn how, but I better show him the cor-
rect way, or he will find a “better” way to
complete the task.
In October, I began training with Kim
Severson. She really likes Flynn and she
has helped to take our competitiveness
to a whole new level. We finished up the
2012 season with a 4th place finish in
Novice at CDCTA. I began the 2013 sea-
son in Aiken, where I stabled at Stableview
Farm for a month, competing every week-
end. The first event at Paradise brought us
our best dressage score and a wakeup call
for us to get our jumping back in order.
As someone who rode jumpers for many
years, that is our best area. From the first
event until now, our season has gone re-
ally well - we’ve finished on our dressage
score at 7 events this season so far.
We moved up to Training this April at
CDCTA, and placed 2nd, followed by an-
other 2nd place finish at Redland HT in
Training. We hope to move up to Prelim by
the end of this season in order to be ready
for the VHT CCI1* next May, and we are do-
ing the Hagyard Midsouth Three Day event
in Kentucky this October.
I can always trust that when we are
jumping, we are going to land well. Flynn
is incredibly athletic and crazy careful. He
does not want to hit the jumps, and that
shows. As well as being careful, Flynn can
compact himself for the jumpers so that we
can make the tighter turns and still keep a
good rhythm. He is extremely adjustable,
in every “arena.” Flynn also possesses the
stamina to make cross-country seem like
a leisurely ride, with little speed bumps
along the way (better known as jumps).
The first time out cross-country, I wasn’t
sure he had a good gallop. Well, he proved
me wrong! I wasn’t even paying attention
to our time and we were very close to the
“speed fault” for going too fast.
In addition to all his physical attrib-
utes, he is one of the most level-headed
horses I have worked with. He thinks about
everything he does, but does not get over-
whelmed when introduced to something
new, nor does he get nervous when com-
peting. He has nearly fallen asleep in the
cross-country starting box, but the second
I say “Go,” we are off at full throttle. Flynn’s
movement has really developed in the last
few months as he has grown. He has a far-
reaching hind-end and is becoming very
strong in the front, making all three of his
PL Irish ThunderBy Rosa LehnigA Half-Arabian Changing Minds
70 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
gaits lovely.
Flynn is also inquisitive and extremely
sweet. If my young children walk up to
him, he nuzzles their cheeks and will hug
them with his neck when they hug his
chest. Flynn likes being part of our fam-
ily and is especially fond of my husband,
who doesn’t ride, but
Flynn finds a way to
bond with all of us. I
can rely on Flynn to
give me all he has, in
the most consistent
way.
The Irish-Arabian
cross is a unique one,
but what the Irish
brings in hardiness
and jumping ability,
the Arabian match-
es with quickness,
brains, and physical refinement. I love
this cross so much that I bought Flynn’s
2-year-old half-sister, PL Diamond Lily,
who placed 2nd in the Young Event Horse
Championships last year.
I think the Arabian blood really helps
in the refinement needed for nice gaits in
dressage, the stamina needed for cross-
country and the athleticism for jumping. In
eventing, you want a horse that can think
for themselves because there are mo-
ments, especially cross-country, when you
don’t have time to tell your horse what to
do. You want a horse that can figure out
how to get through an obstacle on its own.
Arabians, being very smart and quick-
minded horses, make them a great partner
for eventing.
We are still on track with our ultimate
plan of making it to the CIC3 and 4 Star
levels, including the great Rolex Kentucky
3-Day, though I try to keep it one step at
a time. I want to make sure that we don’t
skip anything that would later keep us
from reaching our goals. My trainer Kim is
exceptional in that no detail is overlooked
and she ensures that we are completely
ready when moving up through the levels.
cross-country day, Katy and her two boys managed two of only
three double clears in the 3*, moving Poof and Wort up to 1st and
2nd respectively! This course took down Olympic riders that day,
it was so challenging.
The final day in stadium, Wort had one rail and four time faults
to finish an amazing 3rd place overall. Poof, for whom stadium is
not his strong suit, had four rails and four time faults to finish a
very respectable 8th place.
“I could not ask for better horses to start my upper level career
with. They are the hardest working and most willing horses I know.
They bring 100% every time,” Katy said afterwards. “Although it
would have been thrilling to keep my top two spots at Rebecca
Farm, I am thoroughly pleased with their performances the entire
weekend. Many thanks to Teresa Groesbeck and Cedarhaven Per-
formance Horses for breeding these amazing athletes!”
What are Katy’s future plans for these two boys? “I am going to
take them as far as they can go, and right now the sky is the limit.
I would love to see at least one of them make it to the 4* level in
the next couple of years.
We’ll be cheering them on!
Continued from page 45
Katy Groesbeck’s Anglo Brothers
Oz Poof of Purchase at Galway Downs
Photo by Liz Hall
PL Diamond Lily, half sister to PL Irish Thunder
71August/September 2013
Continued from page 66
Eventing Stars: Sparky & Jane
The best event horses have strong
personalities, and Sparky is no exception.
He has always had a mischievous streak,
and he liked to throw in the odd buck
from time to time, but he cheerfully car-
ried Jane around the flanks of Mt. Diablo
on his days off from other training, often
bareback. Sparky and Jane always shared
a special friendship that was readily seen
in the way they responded to one another.
To her strong jumping experience, Jane
worked diligently to improve her dressage
technique. She rode horses for Creeky
Routson in return for lessons and took
clinics from the likes of Charles de Kunffy.
Of working with Creeky, Jane recently said,
“I learned so much from her and hear her
voice in my head when working horses all
the time even still.” Excellent dressage
skills are vital, because one can not have
a bad dressage test and expect to place at
horse trials or 3-day events. All the hard
work over the years paid off when Jane
recently earned her USDF Silver Medal rid-
ing a friend’s Lipizzaner gelding at Prix St.
Georges.
Jane never had a rich patron or corpo-
rate sponsor. Also, Sparky’s training and
showing had to take a back seat to that of
clients’ horses. So Jane and Sparky did not
move up in the world of eventing as fast or
as far as their solid background and strong
potential might have predicted. Neverthe-
less, they were respected ambassadors for
Arabian sport horses and a pair to watch
wherever they competed!
Although long retired from eventing
and going grey around his head, Sparky
is fit and healthy in 2013 at age 25. Still
working, his current career is school mas-
ter. Jane’s children have honed their riding
skills on his back, and he happily carries
a young friend named Skyler Wilkerson,
who is a budding horsewoman. Jane says,
“He’s great with kids, still naughty with
me!” and he’s “my life time greatest horse
and friend Sparky.” That sums it all up
nicely.
Continued from page 61
Profiles in Courage: Building a Bridge
achieve harmony. “The joy I get from playing a Chopin Prelude or
riding a lovely extended canter is what makes this world beauti-
ful.”
We all take different lessons from our horses. For Linda and
Pietra, “We travel together, have conquered training and first level
beautifully and now trail riding has become an added adventure.”
Like most owners of Arabian horses, Linda has had to deal
with her share of skeptics. “It seems that people either love Arabs
or hate them.” I can relate. It is an experience we share. Whenever
non-Arab people tell me that my horse is pretty cool for an Arab
it reminds me of a comment Gloria Steinem made on her 50th
birthday. People kept telling her she looked great for fifty. Her
response, “This is what 50 looks like.” I want to tell people that
this horse that they like so much is what an Arabian horse is. More
importantly there is such an amazing bridge to be built with an
Arabian horse and with people who love Arabian horses. Linda
says, “If they dislike them, that means they don’t understand the
special bond that can be made between two spirits – human and
equine. From Pietra I have learned about honesty, persistence, pa-
tience, unconditional love and most of all trust.”
Books have always been important
to me. As a child, I spent countless hours
reading at home and at the public library.
Growing up in the suburbs in a non-hors-
ey family, books were also my main entry-
way to the world of horses and provided
fuel for my dreams. Several decades into
adulthood, books are still a treasure to
me as they continue to inspire and inform
all areas of my life – including riding and
horsemanship.
Quite often the focus of books about
riding and training is directed at the me-
chanical aspects of riding and/or a set of
systematic exercises described in a man-
ner much like a recipe book. Little atten-
tion is given to how to address any con-
fusion, evasion, or resistance that arises
because the assumption is that the book
is providing touchstone information that
will be augmented by access to a skilled
instructor who can mentor the rider
through the more complex nuances of the
real life application of the principles and
techniques. While studying with skilled
equestrian mentors remains essential to
developing both riders and horses to their
maximum potential, books that explore
the subtleties of the communication be-
tween horses and their human partners
can help illuminate enriched pathways of
progression of horsemanship and eques-
trian skill.
True Horsemanship Through Feel by Bill
Dorrance and Leslie Desmond addresses
the basic foundation of horsemanship
as a dialogue of “feel” between horses
and people. This book was published in
1999 when Bill Dorrance was in his 90s
with a lifetime of working with horses.
Bill’s unique vernacular and the candid
biographical anecdotes that he shares of
learning “a better way” to ride and han-
dle horses are integral to the book’s mes-
sage that anyone who wants to improve
their interactions and communication with
their horse on the ground AND in the sad-
dle can do so. The content of this book
is not discipline specific, but it touches on
the universally powerful notion that, by
communicating with your horse through
a dialogue of empathetic “feel” conveyed
through both body language and physical
contact, you can achieve a higher quality
of work, performance, and basic interac-
tion with your horse. The concept that
building understanding and skills piece-
by-piece with a reliance on basic princi-
ples that hold true from the foundation
to the highest levels of refinement will be
familiar to anyone involved in the sport
horse disciplines.
“Listening” to the horse and setting
things up so the horse can succeed are
core principles in Bill’s book. Working
on the timetable the horse needs rather
than imposing a rigid time frame for any
particular training goal is just one expres-
sion of the theme of respecting what the
horse can offer at that moment rather than
imposing expectations that may be out of
sync with the horse’s physical or mental
capabilities at that moment – or with the
rider’s ability to make a clear request to
the horse.
“What a person has in his mind to pre-
sent to the horse needs to be something
that’s possible for the horse to actually
do. Then the person has to be able to un-
derstand it themselves, through feel, and
apply it in a way that the horse can under-
stand.” Page 15
“…punishing a horse when he doesn’t
understand what you want him to do is a
real direct route to a whole list of other
problems that are based on his confusion.
This is caused by a misunderstanding of
the feel you present and when that horse
has no knowledge of your intentions or
desires. Some people say that the horse
knows what the person wants, ’but he just
won’t do it.’ When he understands what
you want him to do through feel, he will
do it. I haven’t seen any exceptions to this
yet.” Page 330
Bill spends a lot of time outlining some
READING REFLECTIONSA Series by Dawn Jones-Low
exercises on the ground because – like
many of the classical masters – he under-
stands that groundwork carries over under
saddle. Underneath the seemingly basic
exercises is a commitment to create and
maintain mental and physical balance in
the horse because if the horse is out of
balance, then performance, soundness,
and behavior are less than optimal.
A similar thread of horsemanship based
on effective communication derived from
studying the nature of the horse is found
in Educating the Young Horse: the Thinking
Trainer’s Guide by the UK-born dressage
and show jumping trainer Julian Westfall.
The choice of the word “educating” rather
than “training” in the title is indicative of
the author’s emphasis on establishing a
cooperative rapport with each horse as an
integral part of the foundation and contin-
ued development of the horse. Detailed
descriptions of the elements of a young
horse’s education and of the guiding prin-
ciples applied to that educational process
are utilized to assist the trainer in under-
standing how to tailor a program to fit the
individual horse and how to respond to is-
sues that will invariably crop up.
“Introduction to training can be over-
whelming for your youngster if not con-
ducted carefully and sympathetically. For
instance, avoid making one request after
another in quick succession. Instead, allow
him to try and carry out your demands as
best he can. Be somewhat indulgent, al-
lowing him to make minor mistakes, and
then correct them.” Page 96
Plenty of practical examples are in-
cluded in the text with all of the usual
topics covered thoroughly – handling,
leading, lunging, introducing tack, backing,
and mounted work, all with variations of-
fered to suit the range of responses that
can occur with young horses. Significant
attention is given in the first quarter of the
book to how horses perceive the world,
how they learn, how differences in tem-
perament affect learning, how the trainer’s
demeanor influences the horse, and basic
principles of reward and correction. The
responsibility of the trainer to the horse
to provide tactful support and thoughtful
guidance to the equine student is contin-
ued throughout the book.
“Cultivate equestrian tact so you get
a feeling for knowing when to bend the
rules to make your horse a happier, and
not ungrateful, partner.” Page 96
The lovely chestnut mare in the cover
photo and in the interior photographs is
ABF EnchantedFire, a 1989 Half-Arabian
owned by the book’s designer, Mercedes
Clemens, who was also a student of Mr.
Westfall when the book was published in
1994.
The theme of working with the horse
as an individual is also found in the 2012
book, Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect
Horse: Riding through the Levels on the Pe-
culiar, Opinionated, Complicated Mounts
We All Love by Janet Foy. This book is full
of practical descriptions of how to ride/
train various dressage movements from
the most basic to Grand Prix with clear
explanations of how to address individual
horses’ challenges, whether those chal-
lenges are physical or mental. In addi-
tion to well laid out chapters on specific
movements, there are personal vignettes
showcasing real-world examples of riders
helping their horses to overcome a chal-
lenge via careful consideration of the un-
derlying cause(s) and a systematic plan
adapted to suit the individual case. Janet
Foy’s expertise as an FEI rider, trainer, and
USEF S and FEI 4* dressage judge allows
her to clearly explain technical details of
training and executing movements while
Mik
e Ba
ird P
hoto
Continued on next page
74 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
also providing insights addressing com-
mon challenges that are encountered. Her
joy of teaching riders and horses shines in
her writing. There are many books that in-
clude excellent descriptions of riding and
training the dressage movements, this one
stands out in the level of consideration
given to the horse’s individual tempera-
ment, intelligence and moods.
“It is very important that the horse is
kept happy and involved with his training.
I see many riders who just ride around in
the same trot, in the same direction, doing
the occasional movement. The horse ‘falls
asleep’ in these situations. Creative rid-
ing is important for the dull horse because
you can keep him ‘awake’ with your re-
quests for reactions from him. In the case
of the very smart horse, you keep his brain
engaged with your requests rather than
letting him get creative and possibly take
over!” Page 107
References to many of her personal
horses are scattered throughout the book,
and the afterward contains detailed pro-
files of some of the horses she rode over
the years, including the Anglo-Arab Bright
Owl and the Arabian Ta-Aden (among oth-
ers).
Each of these books challenges the
equestrian reader to act from a sense of
responsibility to the horse to listen and
adapt our expectations, plans and ap-
proaches to suit the horse on any particu-
lar day. Ultimately, the more we operate
through feel and understanding, the more
harmoniously we can communicate with
our horses to support them and guide
them in their athletic development as well
as in their basic interactions with people.
Cultivating a partnership with our horses
leads to a rewarding journey together,
which is at the heart of good horseman-
ship whatever the discipline or level of
expertise.
it to the top and has now shown in more
states than I have! Abby showed her for a
season and had a great time before mov-
ing up to the Junior Jumpers on a horse.
Lee stayed at Mary Ann’s awhile and I am
so grateful for everything she’s done for
my pony and me. I was able to ride her
and take her to shows whenever I wanted.
Last year was my senior year in col-
lege, and I started to worry about what to
do with Lee. Mary Ann came to the rescue
again and found her a family in Texas that
needed a pony jumper for their 10-year-
old son. Michael Binder has had her this
year and has learned a lot showing her.
It is his first time doing the jumpers, and
when I met them at the Capital Challenge
this fall, he said he has so much fun rid-
ing Lee because of how fast she is. I’m so
glad someone is still able to enjoy her and
I know she’s happy she gets to horse show.
Lee is amazing. She’s 24 now and nobody
ever knows it. Her spunk and fire never
quit. She has quite a quirky personality.
She sucks her tongue, drinks juice from a
straw and gives kisses.
Lee is by far the one horse I have rid-
den that I have had “the connection”
with. She has never done me wrong and
I am forever grateful for everything she’s
taught me. She is the first Arab I’ve owned,
but I wouldn’t hesitate to get another one.
I can’t wait until I can have her home again.
Her drive, personality, will and talent will
never be matched.
Continued from page 35
Lec
Michael Binder, Lec’s current
jumper rider
75August/September 2013
By Rebekah Savage
Children often dream of hard days spent in the saddle, dust
billowing from their horse’s sturdy galloping legs, with a wide
open prairie stretching for miles, but not everyone has the oppor-
tunity to follow through with their dream.
Ninety-year-old Sy Budofsky, is an exception. As a child, he
was among those that wished to become a cowboy. Despite his
dream, Budofsky did not start riding a horse until he was in his
thirties. Budofsky did not want any hand outs, he wanted to earn
his right for time in the saddle.
“I wanted to be able to pay for it, to do it without asking for
money,” said Budofsky.
After establishing a career as a successful mechanical en-
gineer and raising a family, he decided it was time to fulfill his
dream. Instead of donning a Western hat and chinks, he rode and
competed on hunters on Long Island for several years before set-
tling into the mechanics of dressage. “My family figured out I was
too old to jump,” said Budofsky.
Despite the exhilarating thrill while jumping, Budofsky enjoys
the challenges of riding dressage. He considers dressage to be a
“wonderful challenge. I always have to be on alert. There are so
many different maneuvers asked of the horse, but there is still a
thrill of accomplishing maneuvers.”
Desert Rose Ranch in Jupiter, Florida provided a noble steed
for Budofsky to compete on. He leased Romeos Krystalbay, a 1997
bay Arabian gelding by Romeo VF+/ out of Krystal Charm from Pat
and Pam Livecchi. In April, at the Palm Beach County Mounted
Posse’s Super Show, the pair was awarded the Dressage Founda-
tion’s Century Club Award.
The Foundation awards the Century Club membership to se-
nior dressage horse and rider partners with the combined age of
100 years or more. Budofsky and Romeos Krystalbay are among
the 126 other horse and rider competitors to have received this
award. The combined age of the pair during the competition was
105.
“It was wonderful to receive the award. I was just happy I re-
membered all of the movements,” said Budofsky. “We received a
great deal of applause at the end of our test.”
Now, even at 90 years old, Budofsky continues to ride three
times a week. He winters in Florida and escapes the humid months
by residing in Vermont, where he continues to ride. When he is
not riding, Budofsky can be found on the golf course, strumming
on a guitar, on the tennis court, carving wood, playing the piano
and more.
Budofsky has defied what others would say is impossible. Age,
a career and family have not stopped his desire to ride a horse.
Not bad for a child who dreamed of being a cowboy.
Century Club Riding at Ninety
76 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
HUNTER & JUMPER NEWS Kristin Hardin had a triple threat at the Brookside Equestrian
Park’s June jumper show. Arabian HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL &
Half-Arabian ABILITY won their respective classes with Kristin in
the irons.
The Half-Arabs dominated the $3K Jumper Speed class at
Brookside Eq. Park. EVG ALLON DUNIT (Saladins Allon x Jundunit
{QH}), owned by Elaine Enick and ABILITY (MHR Nobility x Niki-
ta {KWPN}), owned by Nancy & Gregg Shafer, were 1st and 2nd
place. Ridden and trained by Kristin Hardin.
Half-Arabian EVG FINALE (Saladins Allon x Jundunit {QH})
and Natalie Grammer (above) won the Pre-Childrens Hunter Clas-
sic and placed 2nd in the M&S Bit O’ Straw Hunter Classic at the
Gladstone Horse Show. Finale is a full brother to EVG Allon Dunit
and EVG Gee Dubya - all bred by Harold & Elizabeth Green of
Evergreen Arabians.
Is there another breed of horse that can do Leadline in the
morning and win the Jumper Speed class in the afternoon? Aimee
Pahl, her son Nicolas and her 23 year old Half-Arabian KIND A
BITS and pieces
FRISKY (Donnar x Cinnamon {Gr}) did just that at Spruce Meadow
Farm open show.
Cami LaLone and her Half-Arabian TALK ABOUT CLASS (Ibn
Hask x Uptowns Classic {NSH}) have worked their way to the top
of 4-H’s Platinum Hunt Seat Equitation Medal after two more wins
last weekend.
It is judged on a standard like dressage, and it takes a mini-
mum of 8 perfect rides to get to Platinum. Once there, you can
make up your own pattern and perform it to music!
Video of her ride - note she rides entirely without stirrups!
http://youtu.be/YrR-w17rMg8
Christine Lonsdale and her 3/4 Arabian pony MA WINDS OF
MAGIC (Moment of Magic {NSH} x RAS Wind Dancer) won the 1.0m
Adult Amateur Jumper class at Swan Lake Horse Show in a class of
19 big horses! They were featured in our last issue.
The cover boy from our last issue, Anglo Arabian POEME
D’AMOUR DE BUISSY and his owner/rider Misti Cassar won the
1.40m Jumpers and placed 11th in the $25K Grand Prix at the
Huntington Beach Surf Classic Show last weekend.
Anne Alden and her Anglo Arabian MSSOFIE (Mousse x Seattle
Gift {TB}) on their recent successes in open shows at Woodside
Circuit &Bay Area Festival. They were Champion and Reserve
Champion in Baby Green Hunters and Champion of Long/Rusty
Stirrup. These were Anne’s first shows in many years.
Alexandria Desiderio, after winning all 3 of her Hunter Seat
Equitation classes at Youth Nationals last week (for the 3rd year
in a row!), headed to the USEF Nat’l Junior Hunter Championships,
where she won the WIHS Equitation Classic out of 44 entries.
EVG Allon Dunit Mssofie
77August/September 2013
BITS and pieces (continued)
ley and her Half-Arabian pony WR ROGUE (Kakeenya {Pin-
to} x M D Negia) competed in Walk-Trot and rode an Intro A
Dressage test from memory at the NJ HAHA show in June.
Elizabeth Coffey-Curle’s Anglo gelding HAZEN (Silveyville’s
Love {TB} x Fasach Banrion) is shown here with 13 yo Cyd Curle
in June at an open dressage show, where they earned 4 scores of
65+ in Third Level.
More remarkable is that this 18 yo horse is just 7 months out
from a severe long bone fracture of his left radius!! (We have his
incredible story on page 54)
Pip Sumsion and her 3/4 Arabian HERMANO ROJO (El Herma-
no x Bint Sabo Meadow {Arab/QH}) competed at an open dressage
show in BC, earning a 68.44% to win First Level (from a tough
judge) and a 67.32% in Training. He was the only Arabian in a
sea of Warmbloods! Hermano Rojo was a Western Pleasure horse
before learning dressage and still shows Western.
They also competed at the Mid Island Cadora Summer Dres-
sage Festival in BC - a Gold and a Bronze show run concurrently
(Gold is the higher level shows in Canada), in open competition.
The judge for the Gold show was FEI 5* Axel Steiner.
They were named high score of both shows combined with a
73.94% in the Gold Training level division and high point for that
division. They were also First level Bronze Champion.
Samantha Hodgson and her Arabian stallion BEYMOON ZELA+/
(Bask-O-Zel x Mar Abbie) who started their show season last month
by qualifying for the ECRDA Championships in FEI Grand Prix by
earning a 63.617% at Saddlebrook Ridge.
Katie Lang and Half-Arabian FA PATRIOT (Flurry Of Ca-Lyn {Frie-
sian} x La Sada Mega) earned a 63.486% in their FEI Team Test
to place 21st of 40 at the North American Junior/Young Riders
Championships. Katie’s Region 1 Team finished in 4th place, only
0.5 from a Bronze Medal. See our story about them in this issue.
DRESSAGE NEWS Amie Phoenix - Century Club Ride #3
It’s never too late to pick up were you left off. Twenty-five
years have passed since knee problems stopped Donna Brown
from riding, but on June 29, 2013, she completed her Century
Club ride an her daughter’s 30-year-old Arabian gelding Amie
Phoenix+.
The dressage show was part of the 65th Estes Park (Colorado)
Arabian Horse Show. After “retiring” from actively showing in
the dressage arena, “Phoenix” has now carried his third rider to
the annals of the Century Club. Norm Brown, Donna’s husband,
rode Phoenix in 2011, and friend Jim Snook completed his Cen-
tury Club Ride in 2012. Phoenix, a great grandson of the Phoe-
nician+++, was shown to first level in dressage by Trisha Swift,
Donna’s daughter. He earned two Regional Championships in
dressage and competed in the first two U.S. Sport Horse National
Championships. At age 19 Phoenix learned to jump and he com-
peted successfully in open Two-Phase events. He has also been
used as a lesson horse; teaching countless children how to ride.
Donna literally grew up with horses near Sedgwick, CO and
owned a pony when she was six years old. She got her first Ara-
bian, “Buster” in 1951 and showed him in 4-H. Donna went on to
show in English Pleasure and side saddle along side her mother,
Marie Welch, before being side-lined with knee problems.
Part of her success in returning to riding was a successful
double knee replacement eleven years ago. Today she can ride
without pain, which plagued her for much of her riding career.
Donna is looking forward to continuing to ride either Phoenix
or her daughter’s Norwegian Fjord. You may even see her in the
show ring again.
Sarah Duclos’ 8 year old daughter Josephine Sedg-
Hermano Rojo and Pip SumsionDonna & Norm Brown with Amie Phoenix
Meg
han
Scot
t Mol
in P
hoto
Cou
rtesy
Pip
Sum
sion
78 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
DRESSAGE NEWSDressage 4 Kids - Sarah Duclos
Whoever thinks that kids can’t do dressage, or don’t like to
do dressage needs to come to watch Lendon Grey’s Dressage 4
Kids Youth Festival in Saugerties, NY in July.
My two daughters, Josephine, age 8, and Sophie, age 5 along
with their fantastic pony Half-Arabian pony WR Rogue (aka Ren),
packed up the truck and trailer and headed north for a fun week-
end of camaraderie and some pretty stiff competition.
The show starts at Leadline and includes tests up to the FEI
levels. Josie entered the 9 and under Walk Trot division, along
with 13 other kids and 13 of the most adorable ponies you have
EVER seen. The Festival is composed of three separate portions
– a written exam, a dressage test, and a group equitation class.
Scores are calculated in each section and then combined to
decide the division winners.
This year everyone 10 and under read the US Pony Club D
manual for their written test. Josie was a bit nervous, as we had
not finished reading the entire manual, but she did a great job
finishing with a score of 88 and a 6th place finish.
Saturday was time for the dressage tests. Josie and Ren had
a good ride for a 61%, but it was not strong enough for a ribbon.
These Walk Trot kids were very talented! They knew how to use
their corners and rode very clear circles and solid transitions. To
be honest, I have no idea how the judge decided who would win!
All the kids rode really well.
Later that afternoon was the group Equitation class. They
rode in an enormous outdoor arena and every one of them did
BITS and pieces (continued)
a great job controlling their ponies. Josie really stepped up her
game and finished in 5th in the Equitation portion. At the end of
the day all the scores are combined and ribbons given to 10th
place. Josie pulled off a 9th place finish! She was so proud of her
accomplishments.
Sunday was a more leisurely day – started off with a Dres-
sage Trail class and ended with the super cute Leadline class. The
trail was challenging with barrels topped with flakes of hay and a
bunch of carrots that needed to be moved from one hay topped
barrel to another (many a pony had a snack!). They kids also had
to pick up a ball and trot a one handed 20 meter circle before
dropping the ball in a bucket at C. This was Josie’s high point of
the weekend – a 2nd place finish!
Lendon Gray herself judged the Leadline class. It was held in
the main arena area and was the pinnacle of cuteness! Little tiny
kids on ponies of all sizes and colors maneuver through the pat-
tern. Lendon spoke with each participant and asked a few horse
knowledge questions. She asked Sophie what color her pony
was…I held my breath I was sure Sophie would never come up
with “tobiano” and would be disappointed to get it wrong. Well, I
should have more faith – Sophie looked up smiled at Lendon and
said, “He is brown and white.” Lendon chuckled out loud at that!
It was a wonderful weekend with a good mix of down time
and competition. Each competitor is required to do two hours
of “volunteer” work – everything from running tests to checking
portapots! Josie and Sophie both had a wonderful time and we
are looking forward to next year!
Josie Sedgley & WR Rogue Sophie with Lendon Gray
79August/September 2013
BITS and pieces (continued)
RF {ASB}) and owner Tami Pacho went double clear XC and Sta-
dium to finish 4th in Beg. Novice at Copper Meadows Horse Trials.
Anglo Arabian ROCK WITH BACH (Harriman {TB} x Family Star
{AA}) and his 14 year old owner Taylor Blasey competed at the
Midsouth Pony Club Horse Trials & Regional Rally in June. They
won the Rally and placed 3rd in the Trials.
In July, this pair competed at the US Pony Club Champion-
ships, placing 11th in Open Novice. Rock With Bach is a second
generation Anglo Arabian bred by Sharon Jackson/Larapinta Sport
Horses.
Arabian BF AMIGO (NV Congo x Tema Amira) and junior own-
er Hayley Miller have had a great season so far. They were 2nd
at River Glen in Junior Novice; 3rd at May Daze; they finished in
12th place at the Chattahoochee Hills HT in Novice Rider and 4th
at Champagne Run in July! The horse competes under the name
“Figjam.” Haley recently purchased him from Elisa Wallace who
had competed him up to Preliminary.
Anglo Arabian VERMICULUS (Serazim x Wake Me Gently {TB})
and rider Lauren Kieffer placed 5th in Preliminary at the MD Horse
Trials. Lauren and Vermiculus also rocked around the Preliminary
courses with double clears at Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials to finish
in 3rd place on their dressage score.
Half-Arabian PL IRISH THUNDER (PL Diamond Hill {ID} x PL
Eladdinns Lite) and owner Rosa Lehnig placed 4th and 8th Open
Training in back-to-back weekends at the MD Horse Trials. His half-
sister PL IRISH PEARL (x PL Shirley) placed 7th in Beg. Novice with
Glenda Player.
Sandra Schwinzer competes her 2 full brother Anglo-Arabians
TRILOGY and MAJORITY RULE (Pojar x Nenita {TB}), usually at the
same shows! Trilogy finished 8th at the Horse Park of NJ and 11th
at Fitch’s Corner, both in Training level. Majority Rule was 7th in
Training at the NJ Event.
DRESSAGE NEWSPara-Dressage
ParaEquestrian Ashleigh Flores-Simmons and Rita Mason’s
Anglo-Arabian ATHENA+++// (LS Zane Grey x Little Badger Baby
{TB}) competed in June at the 2014 World Equestrian Games
Qualifier for Para-Dressage at Golden State Dressage Classic
CPEDI3*.
The 21-year-old California equestrienne trains with Col-
leen Reid and has always competed against able-bodied riders.
Ashleigh and Athena made their debut in ParaEquestrian tests at
the CDI 3* at Rancho Murieta in April of 2013 with a first score
of 69%.
At the Golden State show, their first ride garnered them a
qualifying score of 60.833% for WEG. In her Musical Freestyle
test - her first ever - they received a combined score of 64%
with a 68% from one judge.
Athena was competed with her owner up to Grand Prix dres-
sage, then went on maternity leave, coming back as Ashleigh’s
new mount.
Ashleigh amnd Athena did a Freestyle performance at the
Region 3 Championships. There is a video of their freestyle ride
here: http://youtu.be/g7H-m6uKG-U. View a video interview with
Ashleigh here: http://youtu.be/kCiQd7tNo80. Follow Ashleigh’s
journey to 2014 WEG and 2016 Olympics on her Facebook page
“Team Ashleigh.”
EVENTING NEWSCongratulations to Half-Arabian GLENLORD’S MYSTIQUE
(Bridon Glenlord {RID} x Mlladyoftheknight {Arabian}) and owner/
rider Gaby Stephens for their 2nd place finish in Jr. Training at the
Texas Rose June Horse Trials. They had double clears in Stadium &
Cross Country to finish on their dressage score of 31.40.
Half-Arabian WALL STREET STATUS (Back Street x Sea Symbol
Tam
ara
Torti
Pho
to
Figjam & Haley Miller
On The MarketPHOTO CLASSIFIED ADS - $10 per ad per issue
BLUE MOON ZAMBRA: By talent, temperament, breeding, conformation,movement and upbringing, Zambra is a “horse of a lifetime”, promising to be a star in dressage as she moves up the levels; she also has the looks, stride and jumping ability to excel as a hunter or in eventing. She is a 2010 15.1h mare (shd grow 1-2”); registered w/ AHA & IALHA; she is by Grand Prix Andalusian, EXCELSO (known for collection, flying changes, temperament, movement, and soundness), out of an RPSI approved SH Arabian (Barbary+++, Rathkateer++, and Bay el Bey++ blood-lines). She is 1/2 sister on dam side to FEI level dressage phenom Ruby Del Sol (win-ner of many USDF championships; schooling Grand Prix after just 5 yrs training). At 3 yrs, Zambra has been in drsg clinics, shown in hand, has nice lengthenings, shoulder in, travers, counter canter, and has started half pass. She loves to hack out and is starting to jump cross bars. She is beautifully balanced, with a lovelysteady feel in the contact, nice forwardness, and natural rhythm; she is also incredibly comfortable. (Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHG8YDvoDHE)Serious inquiries only. Sophie H Pirie Clifton, Blue Moon Farm & Training Center, 828.863.4756; [email protected].
PL DiAMOND’s iNsPiRAtiON half-Arab/half Irish Draught (PL Indy x PL Dia-mond Hill) bred by Playland Farm. Beautiful 2012 filly incredibly sweet! Placed in her first FEH at Loch Moy/The MD Horse Trials. Trailer loads, w/t in hand, stands for farrier/vet, cross ties. Well mannered & friendly. Wants to please & is quick learner! Will mature to between 15.2-16h. Will make a great amateur horse in eventing, hunter/jumper or dressage! She has a full sibling PL Black Diamond that placed in top 3 of their USPC championships division! $6,500 www.playlandequestriancenter.com • [email protected] • 301-788-1188
PL APACHE - Apache is a 12 yr old, 15 h chestnut tobiano, National Show Horse broodmare that is confirmed 30 days pregnant to PL Diamond Hill. She is being offered for sale with a live foal guarantee and discounted breed back rights. She has lovely floaty movement that passes on to her offspring. She has already pro-duced lovely foals from PL Diamond Hill that are competing successfully! $8,500. www.playlandequestriancenter.com • [email protected] • 301-788-1188
PL CAtNiP- Catnip is a beautiful 15.3 hand Bay mare that is 9- years-old. Catnip is registered with both the Arabian Horse Association and The Irish Draught Sport Horse Society of North America. She is a great broodmare or trail horse that is walk/trot sound. Check out photos from her competition days to see the qualities she can pass along to your next foal!! Priced to sell at $1,500. Serious inquires only. Full pedi-gree upon inquiry.www.playlandequestriancenter.com • [email protected] • 301-788-1188
80 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
ServicesOur Services Directory is available for just an annual fee of $25 (6 issues). Subject Headers created as needed. Not for Stallions or Horses for Sale.
FARMsRIMROCK EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Ashley Wren, Billings, MT• Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation
www.RimrockEquestrianCenter.com • [email protected]
MYSTIC RANCH ARABIANS, Karen Ernst, Herald, CA • Breeders of Arabian Sport Horseswww.MysticRanchArabians.com • [email protected]
Blue Moon Farm & Training Center • Sophie H. Pirie Clifton • Training, Clinics, Instruction thru the FEI levels Tryon, NC • [email protected]
sUREFiRE CsF is available for purchase. If you thought he looked good then -- you should see him now! See him in the Two-year-old HA Gelding Class at SHN -- or see him at the farm and get him now for you chance to bring home the roses! By the top producing Hanoverian stallion Sinatra Song, and out of the champion SH and jumper mare Enjoli Bey, this youngster has great gaits and wonderful character. He will mature in the 16.1 range. Contact Janet at [email protected] or 703.431.4807
81August/September 2013
82 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
Region 1 N/A
Region 2 Sept. 6-8 Pacific Slope Sport Horse Offsite Championship Burbank, Calif. Nov. 8-10 American Cup Championship Scottsdale, Ariz.
Region 3 March 28-30, 2014 Golden Gate Arabian Show Santa Rosa, Calif.
Region 4 N/A
Region 5 April 12-13, 2014 Pacific Rim Arabian Sport Horse Show Elma, Wash.
Region 6 N/A
Region 7 Sept. 13-15 SAAHA Silver Buckle Tuscon, Ariz. Nov. 8-10 American Cup Championship A Concurrent Scottsdale, Ariz. Dec. 5-8 Saguaro Classic Scottsdale, Ariz.
Region 8 Aug. 31 One Day Show at Latigo Elbert, Colo.
Region 9 Sept. 21 Fall One Day In Hand Show Terrell, Texas Sept. 26-27 Tulsa State Fair Tulsa, Okla. Nov. 7-10 NTAHC Shootout Glen Rose, Texas March 20-23, 2014 Alamo Arabian Fiesta San Antonio, Texas April 13, 2014 Fairfield SH and Dressage One Day Show Denton, Texas May 16-18, 2014 Ark Arab Victory Challenge A/B Concurrent Texarkana, Ark.
Region 10 N/A
Upcoming AHA Shows With Sport Horse Classes
83August/September 2013
Region 11 Sept. 6-8 ABU All Arabian Springfield, Ill. Sept. 19-21 American Royal Arab Horse Show (dressage suitability) Kansas City, Mo. Sept. 29 Ozark Heartland Arab Fall Classic II ODS Mt. Vernon, Mo.
Region 12 Aug. 9-11 Georgia AHA Summer Classic Conyers, Ga. Aug. 24-25 Arabian Fall Festival Newberry, Fla. Sept. 6-8 Annual Magnolia Summer Sizzler Oct. 13 NC State Fair Horse Show Raleigh, N.C. Nov. 1-3 Western Carolinas Fall Show Clemson, S.C. Nov. 27-30 AHAF 44th Annual Thanksgiving Tampa, Fla. March 15-16, 2014 Ocala 19th Annual Amateur Show Ocala, Fla.
Region 13 Aug. 17-18 AHAM Summer Show Mason, Mich. Aug. 18 ASAAD Summer Fun One Day Show Valparaiso, Ind. Sept. 14-15 Indiana Arabian Pro Am Show Rochester, Ind.
Region 14 Oct. 19-20 PMHA Annual Morab Championship Lexington, Ky.
Region 15 Oct. 25-27 Heritage Arabian Classic II A/B Concurrent Lexington, Va.
Region 16 Aug. 30- Sept. 1 Silver Spur All Arab Hamburg, N.Y.
Region 17 Sept. 13-15 AHABC Annual Fall Frolic Langley, BC
Region 18 Sept. 28-29 AHAEC Fall Festival London, ON
Upcoming AHA Shows With Sport Horse Classes
Abraxas HalimaarEl Halimaar x SF Moon Maiden by Nabiel+/U.S. and Canadian National Champion Stallion Halter AOMulti-National Top Ten Halter Stallion OpenEgyptian Event Supreme Champion Stallion
PROPHEcY OTFBG Maasai x Sagali by Maar Ibn Ali
BG MaasaiThee Desperado x DM Mimosa by AK El Maalouf
Oracle OfthewindS
Orashan x Laayla Gamira by Shaikh Al Badi
Patriot OfthewindsBG Maasai x Fareed Amira by Anaza El Farid
Imminent HeirImperial Imdal x Sabreenaa by Abraxas Halimaar
The StallioNS OF
Sycamore Hill Farm
Barbara Bach Sycamore Hill Farm Milford, VA 804.633.2020 cell: 240.353.7800 [email protected] www.sycamorehillfarm.netOracle Of The Winds stands at Vintage Valley Sport Horses with Bill Payne (540) 607-0711 Introductory stud fee