The International 2015

Omaha 2015

the international omaha 2015

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Welcome to Omaha and what is fast becom-ing one of the premiere equestrian events in North America. Whether you’re a competitor, horse aficionado, or newcomer to the world of equestrian sports, we believe the stage is set for a weekend you’ll long remember.

Grace, power, precision, and beauty. The airy weightlessness of a champion’s canter. Ultimately, The International Omaha 2015 is a celebration of one of nature’s most majestic creatures.

It is a celebration, too, of the fine arts of the trainer and rider. We think you’ll agree: It’s a celebration of man and horse in perfect harmony.

And, speaking of celebrations, we are proud to announce that The International Omaha will host the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping & Dressage Finals. Leave it to that “can do” spirit of the great people of Omaha to have been selected by the FEI over bids from London, Hong Kong, and the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch for the honor.

As part of our preparation for 2017, we are introducing a slate of dressage events for the first time in this, the fourth year of The International Omaha.

Beyond the arena, we invite you to soak in the charms of the great city of Omaha, increasingly

one of the most celebrated mid-sized metros in America, one that has been named by var-ious magazines as a Top 10 city in more than 25 categories. Most often mentioned by those falling in love with the city is the vibrant night-life and cultural scene you’ll find only steps away throughout Downtown Omaha and beyond.

And be sure to check out The International Omaha Expo, a place for fun activities and learning for kids of all ages. And don’t miss the Gallery of Breeds for up-close and personal encounters with horses.

It is no accident that the CenturyLink Center Omaha has recently played host to both the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. And it’s no accident that, for more than 50 years, you’ve had to travel “The Road to Omaha” to reach the NCAA College World Series.

Needless to say, we’re extremely excited about The International Omaha 2015 as well as the future of equestrian sports competition in this city. It is truly an honor to share with you our immense appreciation and admiration for the fine animals and athletes you’ll see this weekend.

Enjoy!

welcome to The International Omaha 2015

cover photography by bill sitzmann


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Cox Communications is honored to welcome you to The International Omaha 2015! As a proud sponsor of this fourth annual competi-tion, we can assure you that this evening will showcase a world-class equestrian experience to remember. We know you will enjoy watch-ing riders from around the world—including those who have competed in the Olympics, FEI World Cup™ championships, and the Pan Am Games—compete for top honors in this high-level, intense horse jumping competition.

At Cox, we are extremely proud to be rooted in this vibrant community that we have called “home” since 1980. Omaha is a city on the move—a city with a proud past and a bright future. The kind of triple-crown drive that powers Omaha to success requires determina-tion and teamwork. We commend the vision and dedication of those who took the dream of hosting an international horse show here in our community and made it a reality.

As we say in Omaha, “We Don’t Coast,” and now you might also say, “we don’t horse around,” either. In addition to hosting an international

horse show here each year, Omaha also was selected from an impressive list of cities world-wide as the site for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Dressage Finals. That is certainly an accomplishment worthy of the most prestigious of winner’s circles.

For more than 30 years, the Cox Omaha team has been fully engaged and committed to delivering the services that keep our customers and our community connected. We look for-ward to playing a valuable role in helping our city prosper and thrive in the years ahead.

On behalf of the entire Cox Omaha team, thank you for joining us tonight. We hope you enjoy every minute of this truly unique equestrian experience.

welcome to The International Omaha 2015

Kimberly Rowell Cox Communications


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competition schedule competition

speed day competition 8:30 a.m. Borsheims Fine Jewelry

and Gifts FEI CDI* Intermediate I Competition

11:30 a.m. PEM High Child/Adult Jumper Speed Derby

1:00 p.m. Serenity Ridge Physical Therapy Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Speed Derby

2:30 p.m. Ponca Hills Farm High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Speed Derby

4:00 p.m. Deutsche Bank Open Speed Derby

Mutual of Omaha Bank Fastest Horse Championship 7:00 p.m. Omaha Steaks Opening

Ceremonies

7:10 p.m. Mutual of Omaha Bank Fastest Horse Championship

classic prix day competition 8:30 a.m. Borsheims Fine Jewelry

and Gifts FEI CDI* Intermediate I Freestyle Competition

11:30 a.m. Gallery of Breeds Owner High Child/Adult Jumper Classic

1:00 p.m. Quail Run Horse Centre Low Junior Amateur Owner Jumper Classic

2:30 p.m. United States Pony Club Jumper Team High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic

4:00 p.m. Kiewit Open Jumper Classic

Burlington Capital Group Grand Prix Evening Competition 7:00 p.m. Omaha Steaks Opening

Ceremonies

7:10 p.m. Burlington Capital Group Omaha Grand Prix


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exposition schedule RFD-TV Equine Educational Expo

American Paint Association Mascot “Paint Horse Pete” will delight children when they meet this plush Paint horse.

United States Pony Clubs An introduction to this exciting sport where you will learn the basics of horse jumping rules, point scoring, obstacles, faults, disqualifications, and types of courses. Measure a horse, and learn about horse management and care, nutrition, grooming, riding safety, and tack.

Gallery of Breeds Meet a variety of horse breeds includ-ing a Percheron, Shire, Mustang, Miniatures, Halflinger, Quarter Horse, Arabian, and Gypsy Vanner. Learn what makes each breed unique in this face to muzzle experience present-ed by our young horse enthusiasts.

Regulation Jumps Measure yourself up to the height of a real jump used in the offi-cial competition and see how high a horse has to leap to get over it!

CenturyLink Horseless mini-jump competition Race against the clock through the mini-jump course and win prizes.

Union Pacific Train Safety Safety demonstrations for trains and railroad tracks.

Oriental Trading Treasure Hunt Find all the treasure locations throughout the expo and stamp your treasure map to win a prize.

International Video Learn the history of horses—and how they were used as work horses right here in Omaha—along with an overview of the sport of show jumping and scoring.

International Mini-Jumps Come have fun and jump over mini-jumps.

Mane Street• Gallery of Breeds Museum •

Introduction by the Blue Ribbon Group of English, Dressage and Western tack and clothing displays.

• Touch-A-Tack • Touch and feel a bridle or a bit or a spur. Examine the weight of a horseshoe. See the grains and hay a horse eats, and compare a horse brush to your own.

• Horsin’ Around • Have your picture taken in a horse harness, measure yourself in horse hands, try on clothes, and sit on saddles.

• Bluebonnet Feeds Veterinarian Display • Meet Nebraska College of Agriculture veterinary tech-nicians and learn about the digestive system and aging a horse through their skull and teeth.

• Blacksmith Shop Omaha • Meet a blacksmith and learn with hands-on experience about such tools of the trade as an anvil, forge, pedal grinder, and bellows.

• Name That Breed • After meet-ing the Gallery of Breed horses, test your knowledge of the horses you met by matching their pic-ture to the correct breed.

Friday Entertainment4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Eugene Sedletsky

Saturday Entertainment12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Escape from Alcajazz

4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Bobby Kunkle

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pea Pod Productions Face Painting

10:00 a.m. Equine Physical Exam Nebraska College of Agriculture

11:00 a.m. Horse Nutrition International Blue Ribbon Group

11:30 a.m. Tacking a Horse International Blue Ribbon Group

12:00 p.m. Grooming Your Horse International Blue Ribbon Group

1:00 p.m. Horse Braiding Basics Linda Fries & Erin Rowell

2:00 p.m. Basics of Show Jumping Course Design from the Designer’s, Rider’s and Horse’s Point of View, Richard Lamb Coach and Team Manager U.S. Pony Club’s Pony Jumper Team

3:00 p.m. How to Read a Horse Colleen Hamer

4:00 p.m. Trimming and Shoeing Fundamentals Shane Walde, Ferrier

5:00 p.m. What Makes a Horse Tick Nebraska College of Agriculture

Don’t forget that the action at The International Omaha extends far beyond the main arena!


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course design, jumps, and scoring

Designs vary, as do the types of jumps the horse and rider encounters. In some ways, riders face the same challenges as pro golfers. At each new event they confront a different course layout. Within the myriad course de-signs, though, are the same types of obstacles used in all competitions. The penalties for stumbles along the way also remain the same.

A diagram is supplied to riders of the course they will be facing. The diagram displays the types of obstacles encountered (oxers, triple bars, walls, etc.). Riders are allowed to walk the course prior to jumping. However, horses are not allowed in the arena until competition.

Jumps are marked with red and white flags, which communicate to the rider which direction jumps are to be approached. The rider must have the red flag on their right, and the white flag on their left.

Every rider starts with zero faults.

• First Refusal: Four faults are assessed when a horse won’t jump over a jump.

• Second refusal: Elimination.

• Knockdown: Four faults are incurred when the height of an obstacle is lowered.

• Horse or Rider Falls: Elimination.

• Exceeding the time allowed: One fault for every four seconds or part of four seconds over the time allowed in the first round. In the jump-off round, one fault for one second over the time allowed.

In Friday’s speed competitions, winners are determined by first-round action.

In the event of a tie in Saturday’s jumping events, riders advance to a jump-off, which takes place on a shortened course. Just like in overtime in football games, riders in a jump-off prefer going last because they already know the score they must beat.


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Vertical (or upright): A jump that consists of poles or planks placed one directly above another with no spread, or width, to jump.

Combination: Usually two or three jumps in a row, with no more than two strides between each. Two jumps in a row are called double combinations, and three jumps in a row are called triple combinations. If a horse refus-es the second or third element in one of these combinations, it must jump the whole combi-nation again, not just any obstacle missed.

OXER: Two verticals placed close together to make the jump wider, also called a spread.

• Ascending Oxer: The furthest pole is higher than the first. Often called a Ramped Oxer.

• Fan: The rails on one side of the fence are spread out by standards, making the fence take the shape of a fan when viewed from above.

• Liverpool: A ditch or large tray of water under a vertical or oxer.

• Square Oxer: Both top poles are of an equal height. Sometimes known as a Box Oxer.

• Swedish Oxer: The poles slant in oppo-site directions so that they appear to form an “X” when seen head-on.

• Triple Bar: A spread fence using three elements of graduating heights.

• Wall: Usually made to resemble a brick wall, but the “bricks” are constructed of a lightweight material and fall easily when contact is made.

Brush Rails Gate

Oxer (#5)Post Rail

Triple Bars (#3)

Vertical Wall Wall Rails

Open Water (#9)


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past winners 2014

place horse owner Rider1 River Of Dreams Caroline Jahr Christian Heineking

2 Alamo October Hill Hunters & Jumpers Erin Davis Heineking

3 D’Artagnan MG Partners Eric Martin

place horse owner Rider1 River Of Dreams Caroline Jahr Christian Heineking

2 October Hill’s Cancho October Hill Sales Limited Erin Davis Heineking

3 Kvf Tacorde Klondike Victory Farm Lorrie Jamieson

Baird Holm Attorneys at Law - Top Professional Award 2014 Christian Heineking

Omaha Sports Commission Leading Amateur 2014 Laura Linneck

Mr. and Mrs. Harley Schrager Leading Junior 2014 Hunter Holloway

UltraAir, LLC - Top Owner Award 2014 Christian Heineking

East German-born rider Christian Heineking, five-time international omaha winner.

photography by Lili Weik Photography


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past winners 2012

place horse owner Rider1 River of Dreams Caroline Jahr Christian Heineking

2 Happy Z Wilhelm Genn Wilhelm Genn

3 Alamo October Hill Hunters & Jumpers Erin Davis


2 Shea Blair Cudmore Karen Cudmore

3 Wurion Palmer Divide Ranch Susan Griffis

past winners 2013

place horse owner Rider1 Winchester Bridlebourne Stables Theo Genn

2 October Hill’s Cancho October Stables Limited Erin Davis

3 NKH Selena NKH LLC Christian Heineking


2 NKH Selana NKH LLC Christian Heineking

3 Caballito Arao Enterprises LLC Andres Rodriguez

Baird Holm Attorneys at Law Top Professional Award 2013 Christian Heineking

Omaha Sports Commission Leading Amateur 2013 Laura Linback

Breyer Leading Junior 2013 Isabelle Terry

GGT Leading Owner 2013 NKH LLC


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glossary of terms

bit

hoof

rail

bridle

helmet

Crop

saddle

Illustration by kristen hoffman


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Aids: Signals or cues by which the rider commu-nicates instructions to the horse. Natural aids include the voice, legs, hands, and one’s weight. Artificial aids include the whip and spurs.

Canter: Three-beat gait of the horse in which one hind leg strides first (the leading leg) followed by the opposite diagonal pair and finally the opposite foreleg. Called the lope in Western riding.

Equitation: The position of the rider on the horse.

Fault: Knocking a rail, trav-eling too slowly, and refusing to jump a fence are all reasons for horses to incur faults in competition.

Gallop: Four-beated gait of the horse in which each foot touches the ground separately, as opposed to the canter, which is a three-beat gait.

Half halt: An exercise, basically a “pay attention, please,” used to communicate to the horse that the rider is about to ask for some change of direction, gait, or other exercise or movement.

Jogs: When a horse is trotted in hand free from tack to make sure it is sound for competition.

Lead: Term used to indi-cate the horse’s leading leg in canter, e.g., “right lead canter” or “left lead canter.”

Pace: The speed and way of going.

Refusal: When a horse refuses to jump a particular obstacle when asked.

Rhythm: The pace and stride length of a horse.

Stride: The step of the horse; often used as a system of measurement between two jumps. The average horse stride is 12 feet.

Time Faults: One fault for every four seconds or part of four seconds over the time allowed in the first round. In the jump-off round, one fault for one second over the time allowed.

Trot: Moderate-speed gait in which the horse moves from one diagonal pair of legs to the other with a period of suspension in between.

Ground line: Pole placed on the ground in front of a fence to help the horse and/or rider judge the take-off point.

Jump cup: Attaches to the wing or standard of a jump and holds the rail in position.

Oxer: Single fence consisting of two elements which make a spread jump.

Standard: The side of the jump used to create height.

Vertical: Straight up-and-down fence without width creating a difficult obstacle.

Dressage: Training, education of the horse through prescribed movements and patterns on the flat (no jumping) from level to level.

Eventing: Equestrian competition held over one or three days and including the disciplines of dressage, cross country, and show jumping.

Mounted Games: Games on horseback that help improve balance and confidence in a rider.

Quadrille: Performance given by a team of four, six, eight, or more riders involving riding in an intricate pattern to music.

Show Jumping: Riders and horses competing over techni-cally difficult jumps with rails that easily fall. The emphasis is on speed and agility.

Vaulting: Equestrian sport involving gymnastic exercises done on the back of a moving horse.

Bit: Metal mouthpiece on a bridle to which the reins attach.

Bridle: Harness that fits around the horse’s head while being ridden.

Crop or whip: Long, thick, hand-held device used to encourage a horse forward.

Farrier: Skilled craftsman who shoes horses.

Halter: Also called a head collar, it is used in the barn to control or restrain a horse.

Helmet: Safety headwear that must meet certain standards to be worn.

Hoof pick: Grooming tool used to keep the hoof free of debris.

Saddle: Rider’s seat on the back of a horse.

Spur: Pointed device attached to a rider’s boot heel and used to cue a horse.

Coldblood: Draft horses which are very strong and often used to pull heavy loads.

Colic: General term describing abdominal pain in the horse.

Equestrian: One who rides horses.

Equine: Anything horse-related.

Frog: The sensitive, triangular area on the sole of the hoof that acts as a shock absorber.

Hand: How horses are measured. One hand equals four inches.

Hoof: The horse’s foot, which is hard and round like fingernail material.

Hotblood: Term describ-ing horses of Arabian or Thoroughbred blood; they are speedy and fine-boned.

Junior: A rider under the age of 18.

Mare: Female horse ages 4 and over.

Pony: A small horse standing 14.2 hands or less.

reins: Most often made of leather and attached to the bridle. Used to guide and signal the horse.

Stallion: An intact male horse often used for breeding purposes.

Warmblood: A half-bred or part-bred horse, the result of an Arabian or Thoroughbred crossed with other breeds.


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The realm of world-class equestrian sports in North America received a major boost last month when the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League was unveiled in Miami at the nation’s premier sports media annual industry convention, SPORTELAmerica.

The new league kicks off on in August across seven East and seven West Coast venues in three countries—the United States, Mexico and Canada—and brings together the best athletes from the Olympic sport of jump-ing from North America and the world, all with the goal of qualifying for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final.

A total of 14 athletes from the new North American league will qualify for next year’s prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden in March 2016. The top seven ath-letes from the East Coast division, the top three from West Coast division, and the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico will qualify for Gothenburg, alongside win-ners from 15 leagues around the world.

And then it will be on to Omaha after the league’s second season of competition when The International Omaha hosts the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final right here in the CenturyLink Center. Omaha was select-ed by the FEI over bids from London, Hong Kong, and the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

In the meantime, the world’s best riders, including many of those that will go on to

compete in the new North American League season, will be bidding to be crowned the 2015 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion next week in Las Vegas.

The league will be showcased on a broad range of global media, including live TV broadcasts and streaming services on digital outlets and mobile platforms supported by fascinating behind-the-scenes, documentary-style coverage, all while focusing on the excitement of equestrian sports.

The FEI, founded in 1921, is the world gov-erning body for Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving and Para-Driving, Endurance, Vaulting, and Reining. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the FEI celebrated 100 years of equestrian sports in the Olympic movement at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Longines, the FEI’s Official Top Partner, timekeeper, and watch of the FEI, is a major global supporter of the sport, and is already title partner, official timekeeper and watch of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League and Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping China League.

The Swiss watchmaker’s pioneering timing heritage in the United States dates to 1881, when the company’s chronographs were used by people involved in the world of equestrian sports in New York. These chronographs enabled performances to be timed with a previously unheard of accuracy and precision.

Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League


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Ballet Nebraska’s Bret Samson atop Vinnie, owned by Missy Fladland.


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First off, yes, the name can be confusing. This is not equestrian dress-up.

It is more ballet, perhaps, a pas de duex of horse and rider.

Dressage strives for a sort of zen-like unity of man and horse—two creatures working as one. It is a sport born of Renaissance-enlightened ideas of how to train and interact with animals. Respect and great patience, not brute force and subjugation.

As with any ancient art, classical dressage (pronounced like “massage”) comes with its own vocabulary. If you’re new to this landscape, knowing the following terms might help you better enjoy the show.

Canter You’ll hear this term often. This is a three-beat gait that is central to dres-sage competition. The horse leads with the inside foreleg. In counter-canter, the horse leads with the outside foreleg.

Collected When a horse moves with balanced grace, he is “collected.” His neck is arched and raised and his power comes from the rear of his body. He doesn’t resist the bit and carries himself with lightness.

Impulsion The best dressage horses move with great flexibility, lightness, and power. This is called impulsion.

Lead In the canter, a horse begins each stride with one foreleg accompanied by the opposite hind leg. The forward leg indicates the canter lead.

Passage The horse pauses rhythmically with each step in the movement.

Piaffe While performing the piaffe, the horse seems to trot in place.

Pirouette The horse moves in a par-tial or full turn in the collected walk or canter. The animal’s hind legs remain in place as his forelegs form the arc.

Posting This is the art of rising in the saddle each time the horse’s outside front leg and inside hind leg step forward.

Transitions Any gait change, upward or downward, is known as a transition in dressage.

Trot The equine’s diagonal leg pairs move in unison in a two-beat trot.

Walk One of the fundamentals of dressage, this gait presents four beats as the horse moves each leg individually in rhythm.

dressage for dummies Respect, Patience, Unity

story by Robert Nelson photography by bill sitzmann


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Isabelle Paik, Linda Fries, and Catherine Jones


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Linda Fries’ introduction to the horse came on her uncle’s Colorado ranch when she was a toddler.

“It was a huge Palomino—just huge—especially because I must have been so tiny,” Fries says. “I wanted to spend that whole vacation—and many more after that—spending all day out in the pasture with that Palomino. From that moment on I drove my mom crazy because every book, every movie, every piece of everything had to be horses, horses, horses!”

Fries never grew out of her obsession with the most noble and storied of beasts, and now she helps head a group of young ambassadors in the Blue Ribbon Group. The organization is a cadre of high school and college students that acts as The International’s junior Board in educating the community on horses and horsemanship.

You’ll find the group’s members staffing and running events and demonstrations in the Gallery of Breeds throughout this event. In the days leading up to The International Omaha, busload after busload of school children visited the Gallery of Breeds space located

in the street level, northernmost hall of the CenturyLink Center.

“You might be surprised how many kids have never seen a horse in real life,” Fries says. “They’ve all seen them in cartoons, on TV and movies, and in books, but when they come face to face with a horse for the first time, just like I did on my uncle’s ranch, they get this wide-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look on their faces that is indescribable. It’s just priceless.”

Formed in 2012, the Blue Ribbon Group consists of young riders who spend the remainder of the year visiting hospitals, assisted living facilities, and schools in teaching about and sharing their love of all things equine.

Blue Ribbon Group member Isabelle “Izzy” Paik, a senior at Bellevue West High School who has been riding for 11 years, had just brought home a pair of 1st Place ribbons from an event the day before being interviewed for this story.

“I get pretty competitive when I’m on a horse,” Izzy explains, “but being in the Blue Ribbon group means that I get to share that passion with the community. A lot of people don’t

know much about riding and it’s fun to share my enthusiasm with others.”

Look for Izzy’s horse, S.S. Air Strike “Job” in the Gallery of Breeds.

Catherine Jones, also a Bellevue West senior, shares Paik’s devotion to the sport.

“It’s just simply breathtaking being on top of a horse,” Catherine says. “It’s the same sort of adrenalin rush that all athletes feel, I suppose, but I always think about it as something of an extra rush. Have you ever watched crazy extreme sports like the X Games on TV? It’s like that kind of rush for me. That’s what it’s like when you have that perfect feeling of you-and-horse” as one.

“Our group is exciting, too, but in a different way,” adds the urban cowgirl and 4-H member who plans to study agriculture in college. “We get to work in the horse industry and make it fun and relevant for the entire community. It’s every girl’s dream to get a pony for Christmas. I get to live and share that dream through the Blue Ribbon Group.”

the blue ribbon group Horses, Horses, Horses!

story by david williams photography by bill sitzmann

Makayla Burg Bellevue West High School

Anna Camden Metro Community College

Kayleen Camden Blair High School

Alysa Dail University of Nebraska-Omaha

Kari Fossum Duchesne Academy

Rachel Fowler University of Nebraska-Omaha

Lauren Franzen Elkhorn High School

Gabriella Goetzinger Central High School

Kailey Gettman University of Nebraska-Omaha

Sami Gochenour University of Nebraska-Omaha

Kirsten Hall Bellevue West High School

Catherine Jones Bellevue West High School

Hayley Kastrup Blair High School

Sydney Kelley Blair High School

Anna Naumann University of Nebraska-Omaha

Isabelle Paik Bellevue West High School

Emily Smith Blair High School

Maria (Lola) Vieyra University of Nebraska-Omaha

Elisabeth White Blair High School

Randy Brown

Linda Fries, Group Leader

Linda Mercuriali

Jennifer Tudor

Cathy White

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gallery of Breeds

American Miniatures Beasley & Goldie, owned by Pam Seefus Miniature horses rarely top 38 inches in height. The

breed has been used as service and companion animals akin to assistance dogs, but this pair has earned celebrity status for donning adorable Santa get-ups when visiting

assisted living facilities during the holidays.

Percheron Cedar Woods Luke Skywalker (mostly just Luke), owned by Shelly Rowell This sturdy Percheron is known

for its tireless strength and is trained for cart class, riding, and show. Don’t let Luke’s imposing stature fool you. Sure, he’s a towering standout only three inches shy of the world

record for height, but this gentle giant with the dreamy eyes is a snuggler who loves to be petted with tender caresses.

HAFLINGER Izzy, owned by Sherry Stone This golden charmer with a flaxen mane and tail is of a draft

breed that originated in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria and northern Italy. Izzy enjoys Western trail challenges and is a proverbial smash when nuzzling kids at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo for Kids with Autism.

American Quarter Horse Boudicca (aka Boo), owned by Kay Brown

Known to enjoy gazing at her own reflection in a mirror, this vainglorious beauty from the breed known for

its sprinting ability is quick to strut her stuff in area parades and other public events. Turn-ons? Peppermints.

Turn-offs? Sugar cubes and marshmallows.

Text by david williamsIllustrations by kristen hoffman



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Shire Jenson Diplomat Emily, owned by Clark Jensen Shires have at various times held the world records for both

largest overall horse and tallest horse. Throughout its history, this powerful breed has been popular for pulling brewery wagons.

But don’t get the wrong idea about Emily; she never touched the stuff when she was carrying the foal that joins her in this stall.

Gypsy Vanner Flynn, owned by Tracy Helget Stout of build but serene of spirit, Flynn’s distinctive markings

suggest a regal bearing. Reminiscent of the great jousting breeds of Merry Olde England, Flynn is a sucker for getting a

tingly back-scratch administered by the tines of a pitchfork

Pure Mustang Little Bitty, owned by Maddie Cutler Rescued from the Great Southwest through the Bureau of Land

Management’s efforts to battle wild horse overpopulation—and with an assist from the Nebraska Humane Society’s Star Equine Rehabilitation Program—this modest-sized stunner likes both kinds of music; Country and Western. Her fave

twangy tune? Alan Jackson’s “Little Bitty,” naturally.

Arabian S.S. Air Strike “Job,” owned by Isabelle Paik This spirited breed from the Arabian Peninsula dates to at least 2,500 B.C.E. and is one of the most easily recognizable—and fastest—horses in the world. Don’t take offense if Job sticks his tongue out at you. It’s not for lack of manners. He’s just

rather shamelessly begging for treats, treats, and more treats.


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history is made in these boots

The Dehner Boot Company

story by Robert Nelson photography by bill sitzmann

text Originally published in OMAHA MAGAZINE, march/April 2014

Although their profes-sions and proclivities may differ a bit, astronauts, bikers, cops, movie stars, presidents, fighter pilots, polo aficionados, members of San Francisco’s leather subculture, tank commanders, and Teutonic toughs all seem to agree on one thing—The Dehner Boot Company of Omaha makes one fine custom leather boot.

Walking through the factory near 36th and Martha St. with

company president Jeff Ketzler, the Dehner ethic quickly becomes apparent. Artisans cut and shape leathers with hand tools smoothed and patinaed from decades of use. Leather uppers are sewn to soles with antiquated, belt-driven, black-enameled machines. Indeed, the facto-ry floor could just as easily be a living-history museum of the cordwainer’s art circa 1930.

But Dehner continues to exist precisely because most of the world has passed the company by.

“We refuse to change how we do things,” Ketzler says. “We are known for crafts-manship and quality. I would close this

English Nasa


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factory before I allow us to become just another company that cranks out junk.”

Little has changed during Dehner’s 130 years of existence. The tech revolution never hap-pened here. The equation is simple: Determine exactly what the footwear needs to do. Take exact measurements of the feet the footwear needs to service. Once you know these details, find strong, supple leather and have men and woman, most with decades of experience, use heavy-duty materials and mostly centu-ries-old techniques to craft the final product.

If it’s a Dehner, you will be comfortable in this timeless piece of footwear long after your other shoes have turned to scraps.

Using this formula, Ketzler and his father and grandfather before him have built a resume unmatched among American shoe manufacturers. NASA turned to the company to build some of the first boots to go into space. General Curtis LeMay looked to Dehner to design and build the perfect boot for the quick-strike flight crews of the Strategic Air Command. Horse buff Ronald Reagan often talked up his Dehner >

Blue Angels brad pitt FURY (2014)


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< riding boots. James Dean wore Dehner boots. Leaders throughout World War II, including Gen. George Patton, wore Dehners. The Thunderbirds. The Blue Angels. Ketzler recently shipped off a pair of military-style boots for Brad Pitt to wear in an upcoming movie. In time, you realize an impressive chunk of 20th century American history was made in Dehner boots.

Ken Hedrick, owner of Stompers Boots in San Francisco, one of the largest retailers of Dehner Boots in the world, explains why Dehners are sought when the best is needed.

“There are really only two makers of very serious custom boots left in this country—Wesco and Dehner,” he says. “With the Dehners, what you come to realize—and what a lot of people have come to realize—is that nobody anywhere makes anything as good. They have some secret sauce or something. People have tried to copy them, but nobody can pull it off.”

Dehner once hovered around 40 employees in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The company has tended to employ closer to 20 in recent years, but they are doing much better than many other small custom shoe companies.

“We are doing pretty well while so many other companies like us around the world have gone out of business,” he says.

Still, Ketzler does have plans to explore new markets. His latest idea came to him last year after his father passed away.

“It got me looking back, thinking how much he had been involved in, how much the U.S. had been involved in through that time,” he says. “It seemed like a history that should be celebrated.” So Dehner boots now has a Reenactment Line. If you or a group wants the exact boots worn by any number of historic figures, Dehner can make them for you for somewhere between $500 and $1,000 a pair.

“We still have all the designs in our files and we still use all the same equipment and all the same leathers,” he says. “You get the exact same boot.”

In the front office of the Dehner building sits the lineup of Dehner products past and present. Here, longtime company everywoman Mary Rushing provides the tour. In her 18 years

President Ronald reagan


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Few facilities can match the partnership-building opportunities you and your horse can enjoy at Ponca Hills Farm. From beginner lessons for children to advanced training for Hunters, Jumpers and Eventers, you’ll find it here. Join the tradition of great horses and riders who have proudly called Ponca Hills Farm home. Call Lisa at 402-453-4000 or visit us at poncahillsfarm.com

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here, she has run done everything from finishing boots to running the shipping department and front office.

Today she gives a detailed, inside-the-craft, foots-on tour of a dozen or so of Dehner’s most historic artifacts. The black and white NASA boots worn in space by astronauts such as John Glenn are, back here on earth, just about the coolest things ever.

“I’m pretty proud to be a part of all this,” Rushing says. “It’s a unique com-pany with a great history that stands for quality. You can feel like you’re doing something pretty cool here.”

The trick moving forward, Ketzler says, will be to stay true to the company’s history while trying to grow— carefully—in a world that “may not appreciate what we do as much as in the past.

“This company has a 130-year history of making a superb product,” he adds. I’m just not going to be the guy who destroys that kind of legacy.”

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Special thanks to world-renowned artist Matthew Placzek, who created the Grand Prix trophy.

Carmen and John Gottschalk Foundation Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation

Mike and Gail Yanney

Baird Holm LLP, Attorneys at Law HDR, Inc.

The Heider Foundation SilverStone Group

3M CorporationAmerica First FoundationAnonymousAntarès Sellier FranceBaird Holm Attorneys at LawBio-ViBloom’s FloristBlue Ribbon GroupBluebonnet FeedsBorsheims Fine Jewelry and GiftsBurlington Capital GroupCenturyLinkClark CreativeConAgraCox CommunicationsCWD SellierRobert B. Daugherty FoundationDebby Durham FoundationDeutsche Bank Securities Inc.Elmo Diaz, Blacksmith Shop OmahaDouglas County Visitor

Improvement FundeCreamery Ice Cream & CakesEd Wilson TruckingESI- Equestrian Services InternationalFlynt Hylls Gypsy Horses

Gallery of Breed Horse OwnersGGT FootingHDR, Inc.The Heider FoundationHilton OmahaInternational VolunteersJ. Skinner BakingGlenn Jackson, DVM,PHD - Nebraska

College OF Technical ArgicultureJC2S RanchClark Jensen,Whispering

Pines Jensen Shires Kiewit CompaniesLand O’Lakes Purina Feed, LLCLawlor’s Custom SportswearLuitpold/AdequanMainfreightMG JumpsMcGowan Family FoundationMutual of Omaha BankNebraska Office of TourismNorthwest Feed and Grain CompanyOmaha Magazine, LTDOmaha Public Power DistrictOmaha Tractor, Inc.Omaha Steaks

Omaha Sports CommissionOriental Trading CompanyPEM SurfacesPonca Hills FarmPremier EquestrianQuail Run Horse CentreRFD TVS&W FenceHarley and Beth SchragerSeefus Riding StablesSerenity Ridge Phyiscal TherpaySilverStone GroupSmartPakTowne ProductionsTravel & TransportTree House AcresTriple Crown NutritionU.S. Strategic Command

Joint Color GuardUnion Pacific Railroad CompanyUnited States Dressage FederationUnited States Pony ClubsUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterWillrowe AcresLoren Winkler, PC Professionals, Inc.Wood Run Farm

Omaha Magazine, LTD omahamagazine.com

special thanks


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autograph page

Be sure to join us in the lobby near the box office after tonight’s event for an autograph session with the riders!

The Burlington Capital Group is an Omaha-based investment management firm providing diversified investment opportunities focusing on Real Estate, International, and Financial Services.

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