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February 2016 Volume 81
Supporting the needs of equestrians and building
Harmonious horse/rider partnerships.
Dancing Horse News
Florida is Intensive Training by DHF President Jen Truett
Continued on page 3
As I write this, a crazy storm is raging outside my camper complete with several tornado warnings for surrounding areas. Thankfully, my camper (really the living quarters of Taffy’s limousine he happily shares with up to three horsie friends, Prixie, Isis and me) is very heavy and not high profile like most campers, so it doesn’t move around despite nasty weather. It also helps that our camping spot here at Delray Eques-trian is very sheltered because we’re nestled in-between a fence row of areca palms and a house.
We have quite the compound set up this year with Jeanne Brose’s trailer converted to super efficient living space just beyond my camper’s awning, my big truck at the end of my awning and trucks belonging to both Jeanne and my groom, Val, and my little yel-low convertible, Daisy, taking up the rest of the space. We’ve created quite a nice little sanctuary of peace here.
Since we’ve been here, El Nino has wreaked havoc on the horse folk trying to do their jobs. Not only has it made training difficult for the 98% of people at farms without covered arenas (us included), but it has also caused dressage show days at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) grounds and at the hunter/jumper show at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) grounds to be delayed, rescheduled and/or totally cancelled because the incredibly expensive footing isn’t ride-able when it’s THIS waterlogged and the rain is miser-able for everyone involved.
We’ve been lucky so far, in that our footing has held up remarkably well. We’ve been able to get back into large enough areas of the rings here at Delray within a day, or so, of massive rains so that we can work the horses normally and safely. And, when it’s nice, it’s IDYLLIC. So, yes, it’s rainy and gross, but it’s also 70
degrees and I’m sitting in shorts and a t-shirt, so no more complaints about the weather from me.
I brought four horses with me for training. Taffy, of course, came to train and show Grand Prix. If, and that’s a BIG “if,” he’s doing incredibly well, then we might try our hand at our first CDI at the end of March. Our show preparation foci are getting more engagement, forehand lift and patience in the pirou-ettes (and all other movements, for that matter) and for him to wait for me and me to have enough clarity and focus in the zigzags so we together can count correctly. I’m super excited that we can now piaffe on the spot for as many steps as I want. We’ve just got to figure out how to do that with more expression now.
Sunset also came with us, but I hope he winds up staying here because he decided (a while back, it’s just that I’ve finally listened) he wants to be a hunter. So, I am looking for a new owner for him down here. I figure this is what I get for introducing him to jumping early on and continuing to jump him regularly ;-) He totally lights up and locks onto any jump in sight, and has for several years, but I’ve been too stubborn to give in and allow him to choose his path… because I imported him to be my superstar dressage horse…now I’m finally listening. My friend who is a hunter trainer here is in love with him and says he is perfect for the hunter ring! Yay!
Mya-Pya also came with us. She is the Cheval Cana-dien mare I owned for three years and sold to her for-ever family this past summer. She is here to gain valu-able exposure to the world beyond DHF and her fam-ily’s farm. She’s been doing really well in her training and also in just living life in FL. She’s gone on lots of rides around the property which include dealing with
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February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 2
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February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 3
the many big birds that land and take off from the various canals and pond on the farm. She has also become more settled with the sound of palm fronds flapping and rustling from both the wind and the ar-mies of squirrels and raccoons who live in them.
I don’t believe in desensitizing horses, because you can never change the fact that they are prey animals who are designed to be sensitive in order to stay alive in the wild. Instead, my goal is to carefully and slowly expose them to situations that might cause them to make a fight or flight decision. In the mo-ment when the horse feels they have to make a life-saving decision, the foundation I’ve built over time working with the horse helps them find a human-safe coping strategy, instead of simply fleeing the scary thing. It’s important to note, that I will only do this work once I feel I have the horse’s complete trust and understanding. Because of her trust in me, Mya is coping beautifully with this totally new envi-ronment and I’m hoping to show her 1st level while in Florida; it will be her first show ever!
Andy-Pandy is the last of the horses I brought with me for training. She is the gorgeous Hanoverian mare I bought this past fall from a lovely lady who rescued her three years prior from an abusive situation. Andy’s luck dramatically changed when she was quickly purchased from me by a warmblood breeder who fell in love with her and shares my philosophy that all horses deserve a chance to be great. So, Andy is here to show us what she would like to do as a ca-reer: jump, dressage, or go home to her breeder’s farm and make beautiful babies. Through mostly ground work early on that evolved into ridden work once Andy trusted me more, she has made it crystal clear that, like her major crush, Taffy, she LOVES be-ing ridden, pampered, and fussed over in general. So much so, that she nickers whenever she simply hears my voice now!
Jeanne Brose came all the way from Minnesota to join us down here with her two horses, Razi and Keeno. They are all also in full training the duration of our stay. Razi and Jeanne are working on connec-tion, engagement, Jeanne’s stability and elasticity of her hands and arms on the reins and independence of her seat from her hands and legs. Jeanne is also
learning to notice what Razi is saying to her through contact and his energy. With that new information, Jeanne is able to process what’s currently happening and decide which “tool” (from her newly enhanced “tool box”) to use next instead of getting frazzled and using the same “tool” she always did. Our goal is for Jeanne and Razi to move up to second level this sum-mer.
Jeanne and Keeno are focused on improving their communication in a way that enables Jeanne to accu-rately read what Keeno is thinking and get him to focus on her when his mind has wandered. She’s also getting better at recognizing when Keeno is feeling overwhelmed and backing off or taking a different approach to help him understand what is being asked without shutting down. We have done the ma-jority of this work on the ground in a rope halter and, not surprisingly, all the lessons learned perfectly translated into the ridden work when the time was right for Jeanne and Keeno to work through their communication issues under saddle.
I love sharing training progress with our readers, be-cause I think it helps everyone to see that training horses is hard work, no matter who you are or what your background is (don’t forget, I grew up showing Quarter Horses in 4-H). As my coach, Sue Mandas, often says, “If dressage was easy, everyone would do it well!”
I encourage every rider to give intensive training a try (even if it’s not with me). It is incredibly valuable to get to work with your trainer day after day because then they can begin to see how you and your horse interact on a daily basis, which is often very different than what happens once a week (the typical lesson frequency). My coach, Mary Wanless, told me long ago that she sees more learning happen over a quick succession of lessons, like in the clinic or intensive training situation, as opposed to a once a week les-son format. Give it a try and let me know if you no-tice a difference in the amount of information you retain from the intensive situation verses weekly les-sons.
Good luck!
-Jen
Florida Is Intensive Training continued
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 4
Jen’s Florida Pics
When it rains, it POURS!! Above, our camp setup with Jeanne Brose’s trailer to the right (with Jeanne under the nose there) with her dressing room door fac-ing the awning of Jen’s camper on the left. Left, the dressage arena under water. Below right, the parking area in front of Jen’s and Jeanne’s trailers—that’s Jen’s car, Daisy’s, yellow back end there.
“Dancing Horse News” is a production of Dancing Horse Farm, 4080 Weisenberger Rd., Lebanon OH 45036, www.myDHF.com and is copyrighted by DHF. To reprint our articles in your publication, first contact us for permission, then if permission is given, please add this wording, “Reprinted from Dancing Horse News, www.myDHF.com. Used with Permission.”
Video Lessons with Jen! by Lynda Sappington Have you ever wished you could take lessons with Jen Truett, but you live so far away, it just isn’t feasible? Now it is! Here’s how it works: Upload a video of you riding your horse, contact Jen and send her the link. She will set up a time to talk with you on the phone and the two of you will watch it together, with her giving you tips and pointers along the way, exercises and homework, as well. Then you send her another video showing how your homework has worked out for you and you do another video lesson, getting more home-work. She will work on your biomechanics and that of your horse, and whatever other issues she believes need to be addressed.
The lessons cost $85 each, payable to Dancing Horse Farm. We take credit cards as well as checks (and cash!). If you ride with her in clinics, or have wished you could, this is your lucky day!
Jen recently signed up with http://clinicinthecloudsolutions.com/ which means you’ll be able to take live lessons with her “in the cloud” if you have their setup. The price per les-son with Jen will be the same, $85. Check their website for details.
Contact Jen Truett at [email protected] for more information.
Jen Truett’s 2016 Confirmed Clinic Calendar Please see Jen’s Clinics Page for information on these locations and how to sign up for the clinics. Please note, there are some changes to the list. Always check the website to get the most up-to-date information. Jan 22-24: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul, MN: U of MN Equine Center CHANGE: March 19-20: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul, MN: U of MN Equine Center April 16-17, Barb Brown in Wakeman, Ohio. Stone Creek Stables NEW: April 22-24: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul, MN: U of MN Equine Center April 30-May 1: Tammy Shivers in Columbus MI: Fox Gate Farms May 13-15: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul, MN: U of MN Equine Center June 18-19 Rosanna Braida in Centerburg OH June 24-26: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul, MN: U of MN Equine Center
July 2-3: Jen Glass in South Lyon, MI: Thistle Hill Farm July 9-10 Gail Lundberg in Custer, WI: Heartland Equestrian Center July 16-17 Barb Brown in Wakeman, Ohio. Stone Creek Stables July 22-24: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul, MN: U of MN Equine Center Sep 2-4: Gail Lundberg in Custer, WI: Heartland Equestrian Center Sep 9-11: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul, MN: U of MN Equine Center Sep 17-18: Tammy Shivers in Columbus MI: Fox Gate Farms Oct. 28-30: Kelly Vallandingham in St. Paul MN: U of MN Equine Center Nov 19-20 Rosanna Braida in Centerburg OH: Otter Creek Stable
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 5
Jen teaching Margaret Bass in Minnesota
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 6
Job Opening at DHF! ISO: Live-in working student (female-only dormitories) who wishes to learn or im-prove their skills at Dressage. Immediate opening. Our working students need to be excited about learning Dressage as well as having some Dressage experience. Riding lessons are part of the compensation package. Working students also must be cheerful, enthusiastic, hard-working and reliable and have their own transpor-tation. You must have experience with handling and riding horses, be able to suc-cessfully work as part of a team and have good communication skills. You can read more about this position here: http://www.mydhf.com/working-student-apprentice-and-groom-job-details.html Please send your resume to [email protected]
It was only a few degrees above zero when we began our journey South. The horses had their blankets and neck covers on, the diesels had their extension cords strung out, and all of us had our very insulated clothes on. As many know, our trip was delayed a day due to the heavy snow on that Tuesday. So, although it was cold, at least the roads were clear and the sun was out when we actually departed. We all carried walkie-talkie's for easy communication in our convoy (and those certainly came in handy) as well as cameras to see inside the trailers. At the beginning, there was a small frustrating battle with getting my truck's electrical plug to stop coming loose. But after Jen and I experimented with zip-ties, Velcro, and duct tape, the plug held together for the remainder of the trip. For me, the beginning of the trip seemed fairly easy and peaceful. Driving through Tennessee was absolutely breathtaking. While climbing the steep roads was a challenge for our line of trailers, it was the most amazing view up high in those mountains. Seeing the little towns way down in the valleys was a blast. Once it be-came dark, things became more of a struggle for me. Not because of the lack of light (I honestly prefer driv-ing in the dark) but because of the crazy drivers as we entered Atlanta. It sure was a beautiful city to see, however, the traffic was much less enjoyable. People were changing lanes as if there were no lanes and even the semi drivers were pretty sketchy. We made it through, of course, but it took a lot of extra effort to keep our convoy united. We stopped and rested in Unadilla, Georgia, that night. A very large and amazing facility kept the horses and ourselves very satisfied for the night. We were able to let the horses into a fairly large corral and get their exercise for the night—which wasn't much, because they were as tired as we were. Everyone slept in the camper and made sure we were well-rested before continuing our journey. Even after the very long trip, the horses were fairly cooperative when stepping onto the trailers again. So off we went again. Driving from Georgia to Florida was very interesting. The land started to appear more swampy and marshy, and everything was becoming greener. I can't forget to mention how much warmer it was getting! I'm pretty sure that was everyone's favorite part of the trip. Palm trees started showing up as well and they were making it feel like spring time. Although driving through the agriculture inspections and many toll-booths were time consuming, our day was quite easy like the previous day. We did run into some very heavy rain about an hour or so out from our destination. It made it hard to see since it was dark out, but again, it wasn't anything that we couldn't handle. And we were also fortunate enough that it slowed down as we ar-rived. I was very astonished by the sight of this barn. The brick designs, the open setup, it was so cool. And it was even cooler when I saw it in the daylight the next day. Palm trees everywhere and gorgeous land-scaping. It took us a few days to unpack and get everyone settled in. All of the horses have their trunks in front of their stalls and are happy and healthy. As for us, we have our trailer set-ups and are enjoying the warm nights. I have made myself a little dorm room in the back of Jen’s big trailer and am using the dividers to help hang stuff, which is a pretty nifty setup. The big trailer and Jeanne's trailer are parked side-by-side so its just like camping everyday. We have the restroom and shower in the camper and heating and A/C in our little rooms for when we need them. The only struggle was trying to get the electricity figured out. It took a cou-ple of nights of tripping breakers but for now, we seem to have things well sorted. The city of Delray is a blast. There is live music all the time and just about any type of shopping a person could possibly need (not that I'm much of a shopper but I LOVE watching music). I didn't realize how close
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 7
Florida! by Apprentice Trainer Val Griggs
we were to the ocean until Jen and Jeanne took me to go grab some burgers and walk across the street to see it. It was incredible, being that it was my first time seeing the Atlantic. It was dark outside and there were other small groups of people, hanging out on the beach, taking it all in just as I was. I also got to go to Wellington to watch the musical freestyles, that was also very fun. The grooming has been much easier without having to shuffle through coolers and toss blankets back and forth. Its rarely cold enough to even need a light sheet so it goes a lot faster getting horses ready and cooling them out. I also feel as though I've made a friendship with each of the horses; they trust me and allow me to work on them with ease, which can be very important when it comes to certain tasks. Even though Genna is not with me, I am still learning a lot. Since there is so much bacteria and risks of infections here, I've learned a little bit about vet stuff and more grooming techniques as well. It has overall been a good experience and I can't wait to see what comes next. I will hopefully be able to include pictures in my next article so that every-one can see our adventures. Until then, stay warm.
Florida! continued
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 8
And More Florida!! by Lynda Sappington
I wasn’t going to get to visit Jen in Florida this year due to a work obligation of my husband’s, but I had prom-ised my dear friend, Candi, that I would go stay with her when she had some surgery and through the first couple of weeks of her recovery. So John bought me plane tickets to Tampa, 4 1/2 hours away from where Jen and her crew are on the East coast of Florida. Not long before I was to leave, the surgeon cancelled the surgery, but it cost more to change tickets than to buy them, so John told me to go have fun visiting my friend (and I DID!). So, off I went. My friend’s daughter, Jenni, was a childhood friend of Jen’s, grew up in 4-H along with Jen, and also lives near Tampa. She loves following Jen’s career on Facebook and in these news-letters. We had a great time talking as we drove the hour from Tampa’s airport to my friend’s farm. Then she made the incredible offer that she and her spouse, Bill, would drive me halfway across the state for Jen to pick me up so I could visit for a few days!! Well, Bill is a very sweet man and decided to drive us all the way to Jen’s farm! First we went to Delray Beach so we could all see the ocean and grab some lunch, then we spent some very pleasant time watching Jen ride Taffy and Mya. My friends left, then later called to offer to pick me up a few days later than planned so I had more time there—this meant Jenni and Bill would have to take time off from work (they own a landscaping company) to drive halfway there and back. Jen and I drove to a rest stop and the girls finally had time to chat—for over three hours! It was such fun!! While we were together, Jen and I tried three evenings to get pedicures and finally managed it the last night I was there. The only real problem about coming home is that I have to keep my pretty polish covered up with socks! One of the coolest things we did while I was with Jen was go to a lesson she had with George Williams. Taffy was simply magnificent!! He did all of the hard movements from the GP test several times each so George could help Jen perfect them. Taffy has gotten SO expressive!! And so POWERFUL!!! Watch the videos Jen has posted on Facebook to see what I mean. His piaffe and passage are awesome now, very expressive, very controlled, very elevated, and his tempis are just beautiful. Taffy is so happy in his work and gives it every-thing he has, and boy, does he have a LOT! I never would have believed when I saw that beautiful, crippled, terrified-of-everything horse years ago that he would become this magnificent powerhouse that can and will give horses that had few, if any, challenges in their lives other than normal training issues, a real run for their money! Photos are on the next few pages.
My apologies for the newsletter being late—as you can see, I was out of town when it was supposed to be published!
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 9
And More Florida! continued
From left: Val Griggs, Jen Truett and Taffy; Jen, Mya and Jen’s “daBrim” on her hel-met; Prixie loves be-ing a camper cat! Jen (on Sunset) and a hunter trainer from her farm; such a Flor-ida picture, palm tree shadow and jumps with two riders in the distance; two gor-geous and very ex-pensive palm trees. All photos by Lynda Sappington. Contin-ued next page.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page
And More Florida! continued
From left: Dressage arena on left in both top pics. Second row: Jen and Taffy at Blue Marlin Farm (on black rubber foot-ing) warming up for a lesson with George Williams. Even drainage ditches are beautiful there (this one’s at Delray Equestrian by the dressage arena)! Jen showing off Taffy’s gorgeous new blue-and-sparkly browband. Jen teaching Jeanne Brose on Razi.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page
And More Florida! continued
Top left and right: Jen’s groom, Val Griggs, with Taffy (and there’s that new browband again!). Next row, left, papaya tree by the end of the barn where our horses are. Right, coconut tree. I don’t know if you can enlarge these on your computers, but the fruits look very similar! The workers at Delray Equestrian harvest the papayas and eat them. I’m told horses like them too, and that papaya is a good supplement for some things in horses.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 12
Sponsor Testimonial by Jen Truett: Borné Saddlery
Running a business as large as DHF and competing at the level Jen does requires a very special bond, mutual respect and belief in the mission among the core group of supporters who help make it all possible. Jen feels blessed to be supported by such intelligent, honest, forthright, people who are each experts in their respec-tive fields. Jen welcomes other businesses and professionals to join this network if they feel it would be mu-tually beneficial and they or their product/service is symbiotic with what is being created at DHF. Donations of funds instead of products are also happily accepted and are 100% tax-deductible through the American Horse Trials Foundation www.ahtf3day.org. Please see our Sponsorship Opportunities for more informa-tion.
Borné Saddlery Karen Borne, owner of Borné Saddlery, is proud to be Jen's first and longest term sponsor. Karen approached Jen about sponsorship in 2004. At that time, Jen was a happy Adult Amateur (AA) rider with a full-time corporate job but a very strong desire to get back to being a professional trainer again. In order to accept a sponsorship, the United States Equestrian Federation requires the member to be a Professional, not an AA. So, the fact that Jen returned to the world of training horses full-time is largely based on her desire to accept Karen's offer for sponsorship.
At that time, Karen's company was still only a couple of years old and quite small, but she pledged to find and support up and coming riders who would help her get the word out about her new company selling totally custom made saddles at the price of most off the rack saddles. Her idea worked! When she brought Jen on, she already had three other sponsored riders and they each helped her in their own ways as her business grew. Karen found Jen to be a good sounding board to propose new business ideas and Jen loved being a part of the testing process of the latest and greatest improvements to Karen's product line.
Karen and Jen have worked hand-in-hand over the years coming up with new saddle fitting ideas while at-tempting to fit Jen's seemingly never ending line of difficult to fit horses. During this time, well over 50 of Jen's clients have felt and seen the difference that Borné saddles make to their horses and their own com-fort and bought their own. The difference between Borné saddles and everyone else is Karen's attention to detail, her enchanting personality that draws people to want to be around her, and her dedication to provid-ing top-quality products and customer service at a reasonable price.
There is no question in Jen's mind that without Karen, Jen would not be where she is now. Karen's offer was the last little push Jen needed to return to the life she loves, build DHF, and become the person she is today. Karen is so much more to Jen than just her saddle sup-plier. She is her friend, confidant, and, as Karen puts it, Jen's second mother who frets over and cheers for Jen through all of life's ups and downs. Jen's relationship with Karen is and has been vital to Jen's success over the years and Jen can't thank Karen enough for believ-ing in her all those many years ago when she was just doing First Level on a young mare named Lydia.
A Borné Saddle
Jen on Lydia DHF
Jen Truett’s 2016 Proposed USDF Recognized Show Calendar: NOTE: days listed are when Jen plans to show , always arriving the day before unless it’s a local show.
2016: Florida: Feb 26-28 GDF 7 Mar 4-6 Palm Beach Derby Mar 16-20 GDF 10—CDI4* Mar 29-Apr 2 GDF 12 - CDIO 3* Nations Cup
Home: May 27-28/29 KDA Spring Warm-up and 30th Annual Show in Lexington, KY at KHP Jun 10-11/12 Majestic View II & III in Batavia, OH at Majestic July 30-31 MODA at Eden Park, Sunbury OH Aug 18-21 Saugerties CDI 3* (Taffy only) Aug 26, 27-28 Waterloo Summer Finale I & II in Grass Lake, MI at Waterloo Hunt Grounds Sep 29-Oct 2 Devon – CDI 3* (Taffy only) Oct 14-16 Region 3 Champs in Conyers, GA at the Georgia Horse Park Nov 10-13 USDF National Finals in Lexington, KY at KHP (hopefully)
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 13
Jen and Taffy in their second GP test, where they earned their Gold Medal. Photo by www.bobtarr.com Used with permission.
Do you need help with some aspect of your riding or training? Come to DHF for a couple of days or a month, whatever works, with your horse(s) or ride one of ours. You’ll be amazed at your progress!
Upcoming Events RWYM Teacher Training: May 17-19 Dr. Gerd Heuschmann: May 25-26 DLSC Dressage Show at DHF: Aug. 14 DLSC Dressage Show at DHF (Halloween on Horseback): Oct. 9 Dr. Gerd Heuschmann (possibility): Oct. 22-23 Check our Clinics page for clinic info, and our Showing with DHF page for show information.
Barn Banter by Barn Manager Lori Aman
Good luck in Florida to Jen Truett, Val Griggs and Jen’s client from Minnesota, Jeanne Brose! Welcome back to former working student, Allie Morua, now a member of the Staff! Welcome to Sophie’s new client, Debbie Curtis! Welcome to Jen’s new apprentice, Alissa Frye from Minnesota! Last but not least, a HUGE congratulations to Sophie Bayer for getting her “r” judge’s rating!
January 21, 2016
USEF Announces Rule Change for DR122.5b-e From the USEF Communications Department Lexington, Ky. - Please take note of the rule changes effective February 1, 2016 for Dressage Test error calcu-lation (DR 122.5b-e). These changes were made in order to keep USEF rules consistent with the FEI rules for Dressage Test error calculations. USDF Introductory Level tests and USEF Training Level through Fourth Level tests In National tests, every "error of the course" whether the bell is sounded or not, must be penalized, except as noted under DR122.5a: the first time by 2 points; the second time by 4 points; the third time the competitor is eliminated. However, at the discretion of the judge, the rider may continue to finish to test. If the competitor's continued presence in the ring is about to interfere with the start of the next scheduled ride, then the judge must excuse him/her from the ring. USEF and FEI Young Horse tests, and FEI Children, Pony Rider and Junior Tests For these tests, the deduction for an error shall be: First error: -0.5% ( ½ percentage point) from total score received Second error: -1.0 % (one percentage point) from total score received Third error: Elimination FEI Young Rider through Grand Prix Tests In FEI tests (except FEI Children, Pony, Junior, and Young Horse Tests), every "error of the course" whether the bell is sounded or not, must be penalized, except as noted under DR122.5a: the first time by 2 percentage points from the total score received; the second time by elimination; However, at the discretion of the judge, the rider may continue to finish the test. If the competitor's continued presence in the ring is about to interfere with the start of the next sched-uled ride, then the judge must excuse him/her from the ring. Rider Tests For Rider test, the deduction for an error shall be: First error: Total Score reduced by 0.5 points Second error: Total Score reduced by 1.0 points Third error: Elimination If you have questions regarding DR122.5b-e, please contact Hannah Niebielski, Director of Dressage, Na-tional Programs at [email protected]. Please refer to DR122.5b-e, Execution and Judging of Tests, of the USEF Dressage Rules for this Rule in its entirety on February 1, 2016.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 14
Rule Change News from USEF
Things You May Not Know about Founder by Lynda Sappington I said in the January newsletter that my retired Quarter Horse, Jack, foundered in July. The excessive rain we had made the grass much too rich for mid-summer grass and despite careful management (and a grazing muzzle), Jack foundered. Getting him through this has been a scary ride at times, but now that he’s so much better, I feel I can share some of the stuff we went through that you may not have heard about before.
I wish I’d taken pictures along the way, but I was not in a mental state to think, “This will look good in the newsletter,” or “this will be informative” or “people won’t believe this unless they see it.” I was busy trying to save the life of my sweet Jack, with the help of Dr. Bryan McNabb, our farriers Skip and Josh Miller, and the DHF staff. Sorry I failed you, dear readers!
Above left is Jack’s x-ray taken to diagnose his founder. The front of the coffin bone should be parallel to the front of the hoof wall, as shown on the right. You can see Jack’s coffin bone is pointing down 7 degrees.
Jack’s hoof has grown out almost 2” since he foundered. The wall beneath the coronary band is sound. The front of the hoof wall closer to the ground echoes when tapped because it’s hollow. Weird, huh? The separa-tion of the laminae means he couldn’t have a shoe on to protect him when he first foundered (nor can he have one now, but hopefully it won’t be much longer). The hoof wall was like a loose fingernail. The weight of a shoe would’ve caused more damage. Now it’s building scar tissue and getting stronger as it grows. I found a Soft Ride boot (https://www.softrideboots.com) that fit him perfectly and has a wonderful rubber cushion inside it for his sole and frog (Bryan says the rubber works like the frog to keep the blood pumping). It had a shaped place for the frog (Bryan said that style is called the “lily pad”) that Bryan had me cut out to make the padding flat so there wouldn’t be extra pressure on any part of his foot. Jack has had venice turpen-tine on that foot daily to toughen the sole to try to prevent the coffin bone from punching through his sole. The venice turpentine and the boot have not only helped him heal, but make it possible for him to walk “Jack sound” (not sound like a riding horse, but sound enough for an old guy with arthritis). He will stay in that boot until his sole is thick enough that he doesn’t flinch to hoof testers.
A really terrifying thing happened in November. I took off his boot to work on his foot and his frog fell off. Yes, it did. And there was a huge hole in his sole. What had happened was, the old, dead material was begin-ning to slough away, leaving healthy new frog and sole under them. It was a HUGE relief when Bryan told Jen on the phone (I was busy crying on her shoulder) that it was normal and a really good sign. That’s why I’m writing this article. If you ever, God forbid, have a foundered horse and while he’s healing, his frog falls off, don’t panic! Call the vet and see what he says. It’s scary-looking, but probably okay.
Skip cleaned Jack’s foot up the day after I found it that way, leaving as much old sole as possible along the white line to support the laminae. In mid-December, the toe was so long, I asked Skip to trim it back a little (with Bryan’s approval) to straighten up Jack’s angles. Skip’s going to trim him every three weeks to be able to do things gradually and stay on top of Jack’s recovery. I’m continuing with the venice turpentine and the boot. That and keeping him in a dry lot are all I can do for him right now.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 15
Jack’s x-ray showing 7 degrees of rotation
Normal hoof x-ray. Note how thick the sole is here. Jack has always had a problem with thin soles. It’s a genetic inheritance from his bloodlines.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 16
Testimonials From Minnesota and intensive training client Jeanne Brose about the January 2016 newsletter: “This was a super newsletter! I read it cover to cover. LOTS of great info —especially your organizer ideas! Jeanne” From Barbara Brown, who bought Jazz from us and recently hosted her first Jen clinic in her home barn in northeastern Ohio: “Hi Jennifer, just one week after your clinic and the changes are so dramatic and awesome in everyone. You have been the buzz all week and we can't wait til you come back. Our horses thank you! I've been feeling so much more control already. The simple changes you made with Sabine's position has made this dramatic change in how she and Jazz look. They were awesome before but now its unreal how beautiful they look to-gether. The other day she was smiling the whole ride on him!! We look forward to our next clinic. Thanks again!!! Barb Brown”
Fantastic Vet Resource! By Lynda Sappington While working on the DHF Happy Horsekeeping Book revisions, I noticed a note from Jen saying I should look for a mobile vet app (I was busy recommending books . . . . I guess that shows my age!), so I went looking for apps, and boy, did I find a good one!! http://horsesidevetguide.com/ is the website where you can read all about the Horse Side Vet Guide, avail-able for $4.99 from Google Play for Android and iTunes for iPhones. They also have a Facebook page where they set up examples for you to look up so you can learn how to use the app before you face an emergency. https://www.facebook.com/HorseSideVetGuide They have a tab called “Equine Models” which shows you a horse divided up into sections (sort of like those diagrams showing where cuts of beef come from on cows). You click on a region (say the neck, for instance) and a list of possible problems shows up. I picked “Groove, Dent or Divot” because the last horse I sculpted has one on his neck, and I’ve had horses with them myself. There are several explanations listed, including the “prophet’s thumbprint” which is what the horse I just sculpted has (he was born with it). (The “prophet’s thumbprint” is caused by the foal’s hoof pushing against the part of the body with the dent while the foal is still in utero.) You’re given choices that lead you through possible diagnoses and indicate whether or not the vet should be called. There are probably lots of other vet apps for cell phones, but I was looking for one in plain English for those of us who aren’t vets (there are a lot of them for vets). If you have found one that you like, please let me know and I’ll share the info with everyone else. Having this kind of information available on our phones (downloaded, so no internet or cell service needed) is wonderful! Such a great resource, right in my pocket! I hope I won’t need to use it anytime soon, but it’s in my phone if I need it!
I don’t think I can begin to describe everything I learned while attending school for Equine Science. I already knew a decent amount about horses, their care and how to handle or ride them. When I first started in school, it was rather boring. Learning about things that I had already spent years doing, and talk-ing about the evolution of horses seemed like a huge waste of time to me.
Once I got the boring stuff out of the way, things started getting more interesting. I started learning about health, nutrition, training methods and more; I was beyond hooked. When I was in school I felt like I was being well prepared for my future career. It was-n’t until after I left school and had started working in the industry that I realized there were things that school couldn’t teach me.
Its not all horses. School was all horses, all the time. I knew that once I got out, it wouldn’t be horses 24/7, but when I started working, I noticed that working with horses was only a small part of my job.
When I think about everything that I do in a day, rid-ing isn’t always on the list. Things that end up on my to-do list might include moving hay, fixing fencing, maintaining arenas as well as barn chores. There are days when riding my horse is the last thing on my list, which doesn’t make everyone happy, but maintaining the health, happiness and care of the horses has to come before the fun of riding.
I got into this industry because I love horses and wanted to be around them more. While I was in school, I spent every day with my personal horse. Af-ter class I would go to the barn and put what I had learned into use, perfecting and exploring these things on my own horse. It was amazing seeing him every day and I thought I would get to spend just as much time with him after I graduated. I was wrong.
When I am working in the barn, everyone else’s horse comes first. Things like riding, blanketing, training and more have to be done first before I can hang out with my horse. Finding time for my own horse can be
tough. Sometimes you have to ride later at night. My horse is always blanketed after every other horse is, and there are days when things are so busy that I don’t get to do more than look at my horse as I walk by. That’s the nature of the industry, it happens.
Maybe 10% is fun. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy working with horses, most of the time. Just like with any job, there are going to be lots of things that you have to do that you may not enjoy. Getting 900 hay bales out of the field, empting manure pits, chipping ice from the gate areas and other things are not al-ways high on my list of things I would like to do. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t try to make it more fun. We talk while we work, listen to music or whatever else. In school, we were able to focus on the things that we wanted to do, which makes sense because we want to be good at the things we like to do. But school doesn’t do the best job of having you do nor-mal barn things that most people don’t like doing.
We’re not all the same. We all come from different schools of thought, different disciplines, different schools and just different ways of life. This means that we all have a different way of dealing with a situation. In school everyone does it the same way because that is the way programs are set up. When you get out into the industry, each barn might have a slightly different way of doing things. You might find these things good or bad, but in the long run, whether you like those different ways or not, you have to do them.
There are reasons behind every rule or action in a barn. You might not understand or agree with those reasons, but unless you own the barn or the program, you go with it. You have to think about it differently. No one knows everything about horses and if you start thinking that you know more then someone else, then that is where you fail. Even people new to horses might know something you don’t. I learn fun facts about horses all the time from horse-crazy stu-dents. You have to be open to everything that comes your way.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 17
What I Wish School had Taught Me about Horses
by Apprentice Kate Springer
Continued next page
There is always something else that needs to be done. Horses spend every moment of the day trying to destroy something. Fences, stalls, halters, buckets, gates or each other; there will always be something that needs to be fixed or replaced. When you aren’t fixing something, there are general farm chores that need to be done. In the warm months, that can in-clude mowing, weed whacking, dragging arenas, trim-ming trees and anything else that comes up. Winter can include salting, plowing snow, breaking up ice and more. In school, you were finished when class was over; now I’m likely to finish in the summer be-
cause the sun has gone down. I don’t stop when it gets dark every time and there are days when I finish early, but there is always something else that will need to be done.
School taught me a lot of things, but being out in the industry has taught me more than school could have alone. I can tell you that I wouldn’t be here without school. The connections I made there set me up for being where I am now. Whether you believe in going to school for Equine Science or not, there are some things that only being neck-deep in the industry can teach you.
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What I Wish School had Taught Me about Horses continued
.Feeding bran mashes to horses is a tradition that has been passed down through multiple generations. Some horse owners feel they are doing something positive for their horses when they feed them bran mashes. Feeding a warm bran mash with some added molasses or other sweets and some apples and car-rots seems like a good idea on a cold winter day. Some people feel that feeding bran mash during the winter or before or after a horse is shipped a long distance will add needed water to their digestive sys-tem and prevent constipation.
It turns out that bran mashes actually upset the nutri-tional balance of a horse’s diet and may not even treat or prevent the problems we are trying to miti-gate.
One of the problems with bran mashes is the large imbalance of the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio. For horses to absorb these minerals properly, the bal-ance should in a range between 1 part calcium to one part phosphorous (1:1) and 2 parts calcium to one part phosphorous (1:2). Bran has a ratio of 1:12 which means a lot more phosphorous than calcium. With the ratio so out-of-balance, large quantities of bran fed to a horse over a long period of time can lead to a condition where the animal’s system pulls calcium out of its bones to adjust the ratio. This con-dition is called “Big Head Disease.”
Another problem with the occasional bran mash is that it is a sudden change in the horse’s diet. Most veterinarians and equestrians agree that a sudden change in diet can cause digestive discomfort in horses. The bacteria in the horse’s GI system needs time to adapt to any new feeds. Bran is made up of complex carbohydrates that require bacteria to fer-ment them. So the horse’s digestive system needs time to adjust to it. Any stool softening or additional water seen in a horse’s manure after feeding bran mash is probably diarrhea caused from a sudden change in diet.
So, if an owner’s reasoning to feed bran mash to a horse during the winter is to give them some added warmth, it may be a good idea to feed them extra hay instead. If you are worried about the horse drinking enough water during the cold winter months, try using a heated water bucket. Some stud-ies have shown that horses will drink more water in the winter if the water is warm. A horse may drink more water if salt or electrolytes are added to his wa-ter. One way to have a traveling horse drink plenty of water on the journey is by getting him accustomed to drinking water flavored with a hard peppermint candy, lemon drop or a powdered drink mix. As the water changes taste from place to place on the jour-ney, adding the familiar flavoring can help keep the horse drinking sufficient water to help avoid consti-pation.
Feeding Bran by Dressage Trainer Sophie Bayer
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Bro, Do You Even Lift? by Working Student Miranda Sharon
When we first look at a finished horse as a prospective buy, our automatic response from a professional standpoint is to evaluate our first impression: How is the horse built? Does it fit the physical aspect of what we are going to use it for? The answer to that question varies just as much as a horse’s body type, and one of the biggest factors excluding inherent ability, is the muscle development of the individual. Horses vary in muscle development tailored to their sport just as much as conformation varies from breed to breed. Looking into the horse’s job will give us a peek. Just like people, horses contain two types of mus-cle fibers: fast-twitch and slow-twitch. Slow-twitch muscle fibers, when properly conditioned, can increase stamina and the oxygen capacity of muscle. These muscle fibers fire more slowly and take much longer to fatigue, so they would be used, for instance, by a marathon runner. On the other side of the spectrum, fast twitch muscles fire rapidly and are able to quickly generate large amounts of force. While both slow and fast twitch muscles produce the same amount of force per contraction, their rate of contraction is what sets them apart. Just like humans, horses have a unique genetic makeup of their muscles. In human Olympic athletes, sprint-ers possess about 80% fast twitch muscles fibers, versus distance runners who possess about 80% slow twitch fibers. The muscle makeup is just as genetic as things such as height and hair color, which is why a Thoroughbred bred to run sprint races will have a much harder time keeping pace with an equally condi-tioned Thoroughbred bred for distance over a mile gallop. This is the same reason why breeding the two opposites together will result in a foal with a more balanced slow to fast twitch muscle fiber ratio and allow the foal to potentially be a very successful mid-distance runner. Interestingly enough, Quarter Horses, on average, possess 90% fast twitch muscle fibers, even more than Thoroughbreds, which is why they’re so fast for a quarter of a mile. While horses can be conditioned and trained to build certain muscle groups over others, the natural genet-ics of their build will also have an influence on their performance and ability. Going by discipline, we can look at the physical demands of the sport to determine where the muscles are used in the horse’s body. In dressage, horses are conditioned to be body builders. Not only are they physically capable of carrying large amount of muscle mass, they are also capable of balancing it. Self-carriage and collection are two of many main focus points in dressage; the physical strength of an upper level dressage horse is astounding. There are four main points utilized by dressage horses, the poll/atlas junction, the neck/shoulder/withers region, the sacro-lumbar/sacroiliac junction of the hindquarters and the back. Another large influence when perfecting collection is the conditioning of the abdominal muscles. In the withers junction, the scapula of the horse is not held in place by a joint. It is, instead, held together only by muscles and cartilage. This means the entire forelimb is held in place only by muscles and connective tissue. This junction is especially important in dressage due to its direct connection to lateral movements and sus-pension through the withers. A dressage horse’s back is a key component as it transmits the propulsion from the hindquarters forward. Almost the entire body of the horse relies on the fluidity and suppleness of the back (which also tells you how important it is to have a correctly-fitting saddle). Continued next page
In the words of Theresa Sandin about the use of a dressage horse’s abdominals, “…the horse needs the ab-dominals to support the work of the hip-benders. The abs make sure that the back doesn't hang through, by pulling the bottom of the pelvis closer to the sternum. Without this action, you can get a horse that bends greatly behind but still doesn't take on any extra weight from the forehand, because the bridge in between is disconnected.” (Sustainable Dressage; True Collection) Dressage horses’ muscles are comprised of a higher ratio of slow twitch muscles, allowing for the endurance and power of a demanding test. Switching to a jumping physique, some of the most important muscle groups are in the front end of the horse. After the last complete stride into take off, the horse’s head begins to come up, the neck shortens, and the shoulders lift to transfer the weight of the horse’s body backwards. The forward momentum is inter-rupted by the raised neck and shoulders, levering the horse upwards. This weight transfer allows the horse to bring up the front legs and makes the horse much more streamlined so it is able to clear fences with less resistance and force. With the weight shift, the hind end now has enough compressed energy and flexion to leave the ground. The forelimb of a jumper is a very important piece, as it alters the trajectory of the forward motion. Without a properly developed front end, the hind end of a jumper is almost useless. In racehorses, almost all of the power comes exclusively from the hind end and shoulders. Compared to horses of other disciplines, racehorses have weak backs and necks. When looking at a racing-condition horse, many have very poor toplines and will require extensive conditioning to support both themselves and a rider sitting on their back as a riding horse. Racehorses are sprinters, containing lean, flexible muscle and large percentages of fast twitch muscles, allowing them to fire quickly with bursts of energy. The horse’s hindquar-ters should ideally be very broad with a layer of “second thigh” muscling, while the shoulders and withers are heavily muscled for the sole purpose of levering the horse over the ground with awesome strides. Both jumping horses and racehorses have a much higher muscle percentage of fast twitch fibers, and contain larger amounts of lean muscles. While jumpers have a more balanced body composition of lean and heavy muscles, they are conditioned to fire quickly and with incredible force, opposed to dressage horses which use much higher levels of heavy muscle to balance themselves and their rider delicately and softly, and race-horses who simply use lean, brute force to propel themselves forward at high speeds. With this in mind, it is always possible to alter muscle composition, whether it be retraining improperly used groups or starting a new career path. Muscles are some of the most versatile and influential parts of a horse, and with the right training, they can make all the difference. http://greatist.com/fitness/what-are-fast-and-slow-twitch-muscles http://www.iceep.org/pdf/iceep2/_1129104533_001.pdf http://practicalhorsemanmag.com/content/content/11822/PRHP-130800-DMARKS.pdf http://dressagetoday.com/article/dressage-movements-revealed-24784 http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33684/variations-in-body-conformation http://www.equisearch.com/article/the-anatomy-of-dressage-horse-hindquarters http://www.sustainabledressage.net/collection/true_collection.php#abs http://www.equinew.com/jumping.htm http://www.horsecollaborative.com/its-all-about-the-forelimb http://mac-jet.com/Training_Muscle.html
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Bro, Do You Even Lift? continued
Continued next page
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 21
Bro, Do You Even Lift? continued
Left: Throughbred gelding, ”Imagine a Leg-acy” (“Stretch”) with Jennifer Sappington up (she was 16, not a Truett for a long time!). Long flat muscles made Stretch good at distance running. He was also a talented jumper and dressage horse. Photo by Lynda Sappington.
Right: Lafayette HQ, 13 year old Hanoverian Grand Prix dressage gelding. Photo by DHF. He’s still a “baby” GP horse—his muscles will keep developing as he contin-ues in his GP training. His neck is already much more muscular than it used to be and you can see the thick-ness of his torso due to the developing abs. His but-tocks used to go in a straight line from seat bones to the top of the gaskin, but now there are well-developed muscles there, as well as on his croup.
Quarter Horse—”Impowered for Time” (“Jack”) ridden by Lynda Sap-pington. Notice now far his “carry down” (buttocks muscle) goes down his gaskin and how his rump in general compares with the flat-ness of Stretch’s and Taffy’s heavy muscles. Jack is a 16 hand “modern” Quarter Horse bred for showing. An old-style “bulldog” type QH, used for ranch work, will show much bulkier muscling than Jack, and be quicker to get up to speed than Jack is. Photo by John Sappington, used with permission.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 22
USEF PHR Silver Stirrup Awards by Lynda Sappington
Like the USDF, the US Equestrian Federation has a lovely awards banquet each year. This year, Jen and Lenny couldn’t go because they left for Florida just before the banquet, so they gave John and me their tickets. We got all dolled up and had a really lovely dinner (filet mignon AND chicken? On the same plate?? Yup!), met some nice folks, and I picked up Jen’s awards when the time came. There was time during the reception hour for folks to go up on the stage and look at the trophies up close. I make trophies as part of my sculpting business, so I was very interested to see what they had, how they were mounted, etc. (My sculpture bases are original designs created by me and my basemaker, so I’m always looking to see what the “styles” are when I get to see a group of awards). Most of the awards were silver platters, bowls (that weren’t attached to their bases, ack!!) and in two cases, silver coffee urns complete with spigots, mounted on trophy bases. I seriously doubt anyone’s actually used those for their original purpose. John gets the credit for all these photos. The first picture is Jen’s awards and awards programs. The rest are various awards—they’re a shiny bunch! The big one in the back (third picture) with the horse jumping into the air is the endurance riding trophy. That one’s a beauty, with turquoise embellishments.
Continued next page
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 23
USEF PHR Silver Stirrup Awards continued
Silver Stirrup Award Ribbons
Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Awards (glass and boxes) Beautiful banquet hall
Lynda getting Jen’s awards
Lynda picking up Jen’s awards
Mom’s Helpful Hints by Lynda Sappington (Jen’s mom)
Unless you’re with DHF South in Florida, I doubt you’re going to be showing anytime soon. This is the time to do those things you need to do to be sure you’re ready to show.
When the ground is clear (no snow or ice), work on your horse’s trailer loading skills. The best loading horse is one that loads itself—you aim him at the trailer, throw the rope over his neck and he just climbs in and stands quietly while you fasten the butt bar and tie him up. It takes time and often LOTS of practice to get your horse to do this (not every horse has the temperament to do it, but your horse may surprise you). Ask your trainer for help if you don’t know how to get your horse to self-load.) Your horse should understand that he has to stand quietly and not back out until you have dropped the butt bar and tugged on his tail to tell him it’s okay to back out. He should not charge out, nor should he leap in. Everything should be quiet and safe, and if you take a lot of time training him step-by-step and being very patient with him, you should succeed. No, I’m not going to tell you how to do it—I’m a horse show mom, not a trainer. Ask your own trainer for help.
It’s a good idea to ride your horse with other horses in the arena at the same time to prepare him for the warm-up arena at shows. If you board at DHF, you already have the opportunity to ride when there are others riding, either on their own or in lessons. If you don’t board here, then find a place where you can haul in to do group riding. Your horse needs to learn to pay attention to YOU, not to be distracted by other horses or things outside the arena. It’s a good idea to do this kind of riding in the indoor as well as the out-door, since you will face both situations at various shows.
This is also a good time of year to buy new saddle pads and have them embroidered with the DHF logo, if you ride with us, or your initials or your horse’s breed logo, for instance.
If your horse is green, when the ground is safe (not icy), take him places so he’ll learn that going someplace different isn’t a big deal. If he’s a “second” horse (you already have a riding horse), bring him along to your lessons and let him stand in a stall or the trailer while you ride, then just lead him around, letting him see everything. If he’s calm enough, riding him around in a relaxed manner is really good for his mind and confi-dence.
Also if your horse is green in his training, get some silk flowers and put them in pots around your arena. Walk him past them until he’s comfortable with him, then let him walk right up to them and smell them. Do this while you’re leading him and while riding him until the flowers are not exciting at all. Then rearrange them daily until he accepts the fact that extra “stuff” around the arena is no big deal.
Ride in DHF’s outdoor and have a friend sit in the judge’s box and just move around a little, talk to you, etc. Your horse may be frightened of the person in the box, but it’s something he needs to get used to. Anytime you’re at a show ground throughout the year and you’re allowed to ride in an idle show ring, do the same thing, especially with boxes on the sides of the arena. Your horse needs to understand that it’s okay for people to be there. Have the person give the horse carrots, if possible, from the box, to help the horse ac-cept them being there.
Non-show tip: If you have a sand arena, pick up manure, don’t drag it into the footing!!! Not only does it make your sand dirty-looking, it also makes your footing hold water instead of draining. It isn’t that hard to set a manure bucket and apple picker in the corner and train everyone who rides there to use that equip-ment. That’s how we maintain all the arenas and dry lots at DHF, and they all are clean and drain well. Dump the muck tubs when they get smelly or full, but keep them and the necessary tools by your arena to protect your investment in footing.
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 24
Winter’s HERE! (EEK!) Get Your DHF Jackets Now!
Moxie Equestrian’s Cavalero jackets with embroidered DHF logo. Ladies: fold-up sleeves, three
front zippered pockets, two hand-warmer pockets and a stand-up collar that snaps closed as well as snaps on the bottom of the jacket for riding comfort. Men: Bomber style with knit cuffs, two hand-warmer pockets and two zipped pockets. Both styles have a two-way zipper. Techno-suede exterior Sherpa fleece interior and machine washable! Shavings don’t stick to this fleece! Jackets are breathable, moisture wicking and moisture resistant. Jen says the jackets wick so well, she stays dry no matter how hard she’s worked!
$60 (which includes tax) while supplies last. Sizes range from XXS to XXL and colors available include navy, black, emerald, hunter green (the bomber only), and a very limited supply of medium blue, red and raspberry (raspberry in S only). Sorry, we can no longer do special orders.
Jen Truett and Lori Aman are modeling the ladies’ jacket. The bomber is on the right. Contact Lynda Sappington for more information or to order.
Toddler T’s Too!
February 2016 Dancing Horse News Page 25
DHF Logo Wear
We are cleaning out some logowear to make room for new stuff! Come and get your imprinted t-shirts and embroidered polos today!! Most t-shirts are $10, high quality polos are $15—50% off!! You can see these things and more in the DHF Observation Room. If you need access to the logowear cabinet, give me a call at 513-933-0343 and I’ll come to the farm and open it for you (I only live a few driveways away—it isn’t a big deal for me to come over if I’m not already there). You can also order DHF logos on your saddle pads for show season (you provide a pad like the one shown and we can get it embroidered for you)! Questions? E-mail me: [email protected]
