Who is Michael Gill? Apparently, not an asset to racing

In an unprecedented protest last Saturday night, jockeys at the Penn National racetrack refused to ride in any race where New Hampshire owner Michael Gill had a horse entered. They declared it is a safety issue -- Gill's horses are breaking down at a high rate and endangering other horses and riders.

The stats
Ten of Gill's horses broke down and were euthanized on the track in 13 months — two last week alone (LA Times article). On January 23, Gill's Laughing Moon broke down after the finish line, causing a jockey and horse to fall behind them (read article about Laughing Moon's breakdown). That event apparently prompted the ban.

The talk
There are many accounts of this jockey ban (see Resources below), but this recent L.A Times article indicates there will be a probe into the deaths and breakdown record of this owner. There are many, many blog articles and threads on COTH and other forums on this topic too, and the buzz is, this has been a long time coming. I've excerpted an article below that reports not only on the breakdowns, but also reports that Gill's ex- racehorses are routinely sent to slaughter. The Paulick Report shares some of Gill's comments on the controversy.

Melodeeman, broke down Jan. 21

I have to say that I only know what I read. I've seen nothing first-hand, and do not know the racing industry that well. But in this case the outcry has been pretty overwhelming, and we're not talking about PETA here--this is from within the industry. What I'm reading about Penn National suggests that pre-race vet checks and monitoring of placement of the 'retired' horses has been spotty at best. I get the vet-check angle - can someone tell me/readers what formal role a racetrack has in placement of horses?

clipped from www.examiner.com

Racing and slaughter controversy consumes Penn National Race Course

On Saturday night, during the fifth race at Penn National Race Course, Michael Gill's third place finisher, Laughing Moon collapsed and was euthanized in front of a crowd of onlookers. It is no mystery that horses are known to break down on the tracks as they race, but Gill's reputation has jockeys, owners, trainers and outside observers accusing Gill of an unusually high rate of horse injuries and deaths.

Just before the sixth race, about 25 jockeys gathered together to take a stand and refused to ride in the next race unless a Michael Gill horse was scratched. Jockeys feared for their own safety, and this seemed to be an unprecedented decision when jockeys refuse to ride because of an owner. Jockey Emilio Flores claims he had too many close calls and even took a spill riding another one of Gill's horses that fell during the past week.

RESOURCES

Jockeys focus on owner Michael Gill from Thoroughbred Times

Jockeys speak out against thoroughbred breakdowns from The Horse magazine


Horse World Wonders Why It Took Jockeys, And Not Penn Gaming Officials, To End The Rampant Break-Downs Of Mike Gill's Thoroughbreds from Delawareway.blogspot.com

PA jockeys won't race against N.H. owner from Boston Globe

PA commission to investigate Gill from Thoroughbred Times

Michael Gill raises controversy over breakdowns from Equine Reader

Penn wants commission to investigate Gill from Bloodhorse.com

Gill threatens to sue Paulick Report from Paulic Report

Penn jockeys revolt against Michael Gill from Canadian Gambling News

Is anybody watching this? From GallopFrance blog

Riley: Secure in his manhood

Riley's fasion statement today blends the timeless elegance of argyle with a hint of metrosexual. See how proudly he wears this pink Smartpak blanket (second layer in our 15 degree weather)? I preferred blue, but the pink was on sale. Thank goodness Riley has the panache to carry it off.

His turnout buddy is a little jealous, I think.

Faster hoof growth, if you can afford it...

Was just reading that horses who are rehabbed in water treadmills experience 1/3 to 1/2 faster hoof growth than non-treadmill horses. So if a horse normally grows 9mm a month hoof, they would grow 18 (potentially). Not scientifically demonstrated but reported quite a bit by vets working with the hydrotherapy and water treadmills.


So... Should I buy some little swimming trunks for Riley?

Saying our goodbyes: Blue Hors Matine

We've lost Blue Hors Matiné. I can hardly add to the moving tributes that are appearing on the Internet in response to her passing. But here are some random thoughts...


I'm sad she left us at such a young age, I'm sorry she never had a foal, and I regret that she died of a traumatic injury rather than passing peacefully. Yet what a wonderful, lovely mare, and how lucky we are to have witnessed her brilliance in the ring. Watching her perform just brought me joy, what else is there to say?

It's comforting to think that in retirement, Matiné enjoyed the life of a normal horse, turned out in a pasture, with a horsey buddy. A lot of valuable horses never, or rarely, experience that natural state of existence. It's a risk, and Matine's sad ending is a testament to what can happen. But if what I've read is true, I'm glad she got to jes' be a horse.

Makeup in the dressage ring: Part 2

Pictured right is another stellar example of appropriate dressage makeup -- even though the rider breaks my rule about post earrings (they dangle, even if only a little). She is wearing a derby hat, which I've heard is sort of out of fashion, but she does wear it well.

Wearing makeup in the dressage ring is probably a debatable point. But mascara? Mascara is never wrong. There are roughly a million kinds of waterproof mascara, and it's hard to put on so badly that the judge at C will notice (the exception, of course, would be Katie Price).

Just for fun, I searched the COTH bulletin board, and found a "controversial" thread about mascara in the show ring. Some COTH members are philosophically opposed to mascara on the grounds that it violates "feminist principles" -- so the thread is about 10 pages long. But the riders who have embraced their womanly vanity -- the mascara wearing equestrians -- offered some great advice for what mascara to wear. Here are the rider recommendations, in no particular order...

Recommended
Mary Kay waterproof mascara
Diorshow waterproof mascara (for sensitive eyes)
L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof
Loreal Double Extend (no raccoon eyes!)
Chanel Inimitable (amazing!)
Fresh Supernova
Make Up For Ever's new Aqua Smoky Lash
Blinc mascara from Sephora
Lancome Definicils mascara

NOT recommended
Elizabeth Arden supposedly waterproof (major raccoon action here)
Maybelline makes some riders' eyes burn

Oh, and if you want more, here is a thread on COTH about makeup in the show ring. Mineral makeup is a hot item for equestrians, it seems...

Riley's birthday gift (best b-day ever)

Believe it or not -- I don't tell you guys everything.

• I didn't tell anyone that last week he was stepping short on the right front at a walk. Heat in the foot, digital pulse after one hour of turnout on frozen ground.
  
• I didn't blog that I took him off turnout to assess his situation (granted, we had 2 inches of rain that kept all the horses inside).
• I didn't whine about going to the barn twice a day to handwalk him and feel his feet.
  

Today, my birthday
The outside footing in Bucks County is abysmal--the mud is fetlock deep everywhere. At this rate Riley won't go out for awhile, and he deserves more than this anemic indoor handwalking -- if he holds up. So this morning I decided to step it up. A test of sorts, under the best conditions possible -- a large, empty, indoor with Eurofelt footing. At 6am, in 35 degree weather, I booted Riley up and put him on the end of a lunge line. No drugs. I wore boots, heavy gloves, and a helmet (cuz I'm a dork). I didn't really circle him around me but used the whole ring to minimize joint stress.


He was amazing, he was my beautiful big-moving boy again! Maybe not forever, maybe only in this super-optimal footing, but at that moment in time he was awesome. He was happy to be moving! He sat down on that heiney, he threw those front legs out like he was Totilas-in-training. He bucked, he tried to change directions, he cantered, he farted, he whinnied. Not a lame step.

The barn manager came in a bit later, and I had her check his pulses. Nada.

This business has had its ups and downs. But today was a wonderful day.

Mucking: Demeaning or meaningful work?

I have mucked stalls since I have owned a horse -- my horse's stalls and other peoples' horses (doing weekend barn work). Frankly I enjoy it. It's nice to do work where you have measurable progress and know it helps keep the horses healthy.

A gripe about today's youth (and their parents/mentors)
It frosts me that many young riders poo-poo mucking (so to speak). It seems to be beneath them. Case in point: A middle-aged friend of mine worked at a show barn, and the barn manager/trainer assigned her to work with a healthy 20 year old boarder/rider named Sara. Although both were paid the same, the usual division labor changed while Sara worked with her. Sara's tasks were to do the feeding/water/other light work, while my friend mucked and rebedded 15 stalls and swept the aisles. "Sara doesn't do stalls," the manager explained in a protective tone that discouraged questions. The BM sent my friend a message, albeit unintentionally: talls are too demeaning for her, but fine for you. My friend was annoyed. But you know there is vindication for this story...

Enter Horse Hero and UK eventer Wayne Garrick!

Once again I'll put in a plug for Horse Hero -- lots of videos, great topics, big names, sprinkled with humor. In this video, "Mucking out shavings ('Ritz' style) with eventer Wayne Garrick," we see that in the good old U.K. at least, top riders don't see mucking stalls as beneath them. Wayne's words echo the way I feel about mucking. It's important work. Horses work for us and we should repay them the favor.

Look, if you really don't want to muck a stall, EVER, no one will make you (well, unless you have a good trainer, parent, or coach who wants to help you become a horseman/woman, not just a rider). If you really want to know horses, you have to take part in the widest range of tasks and jobs that are part of their world. Even the unglamorous ones...

Movie musings: Watching Grizzly Man

I have a movie suggestion for readers. It's not directly about horses. It's not even a new release. Have you heard of the movie documentary by Werner Herzog, Grizzly Man, about bear activist Timothy Treadwell? I've have seen this movie five times at least.

Animal lovers and activists
It's so easy to love animals wholeheartedly. It's comparatively difficult to feel the same sort of pure love for the humans in our lives. Humans are so complicated and so exasperating. In my experience, the really passionate, over-the-top animal lovers seem to have trouble maintaining human relationships. Timothy Treadwell of Grizzly Man was certainly someone in this category.

Treadwell lived with the Kodiak bears in Alaska for eight summer seasons. As he films himself and the bears, he talks a lot about what the bears mean to him. They gave him a purpose, and he saw himself as their caretaker and protector. I can draw parallels in my life, and was deeply affected by Treadwell's words.

If you haven't seen it, fair warning. It's sad and does not end well.

If you watch it, let me know what you think...

It's the weekend for unusual color! Two blog entries...

It's the Saturday of unusual color! Check out this gorgeous horse, Acarado I, reportedly marked like some Arabians -- called a 'bloody shoulder' -- except that it's on his face. See the Chronicle of the Horse posting where I found this great photo series.



It looks like he is from a jumper line, I wonder if there are other horses of color in his family. Has anyone heard of this horse Acorado II or his brother Acorado I?

clipped from www.sporthorse-data.com

Another one! Thanks Amanda, BTB reader for finding this. BTW, harkening back to my days or reading Marguerite Henry, isn't this blood mark a sign of good luck?

Weekend of Color, II: Chimeric, they say...

I accidentally posted this a day early (Friday) and then retracted it -- so some of you may have already seen this one. This is a two-blog-entry Saturday, both depicting horses of color. Wild, huh?

That's quite a neck!

I know very little about Saddlebreds and gaited horses. Look at at this young Saddlebred's long, curved neck! I don't know if this is good or bad, but it's quite dramatic -- almost cartoonlike. think I'd like to see the horse in person, maybe moving freely. In each shot the horse is holding his head rather upright, so it is hard to judge its shape other than to say it is impressive. Of course I love the color. I used to dream about horses with this coloring.

clipped from www.freemansaddlebreds.com

Makeup in the dressage ring: Part 1

Years ago, at an ESCDTA horse show, I watched a woman perform an upper level test in what could have passed for stage or theater makeup -- my mom's comment would have been "It looks like she applied it with a spatula."

It's a subjective sport
Dressage, like figure skating, falls somewhere in between the camps of sport and performance. I can see some makeup, and I personally am a fan of show ring bling. Perhaps what is needed is a What Not to Wear for dressage. There actually ARE dressage cosmetic companies, one called Piaffe (see right), and one called Dermspa. It's expensive but I applaud their tasteful colors and their promotion of a natural look. If you don't want to spend that much, I've heard one dressage rider recommend Revlon Colorstay Light, a sweat-proof light foundation with sunscreen.


My opinion, if anyone cares
My What Not to Wear list for dressage ring makeup is generally to look natural, which means...

• No dark lipstick.
  
• No bright colors.
  
• No heavy eye-liner.
• No pancakey, heavy foundation.
• No fake eyelashes.

There is a dressage makeup, Part II. Hold on to your hats...

Horse owners: Care for a sedative?

For your horse, that is. I've noticed that sedatives vary in the degree of sedation, the length of sedation, and other properties. As a yearling, Riley was having a snit when I tried to braid him, and acepromazine did nothing. Ace was more effective for post-stall rest handwalking/turnout, but in the face of a newly stimulating environment you could see him "fight through it." Someone told me that it basically just lowers your horse's blood pressure (this may be a bit oversimplified).

Enter Xylazine, my new best friend
I scored some Xylazine (Rompun) for bandaging Riley's hoof after his surgery. It worked much better as far as sedation, producing a mellow, lightly dozing horse. Compared to Ace, it's short-acting and it affects coordination more.

There are pros and cons to both of these drugs, and of course there are many more to choose from. Your vet is the one to make the call about any medication. For laymen such as ourselves, though, it's good to have a basic understanding of what commonly used drugs are like. Here is a comparison of Ace and Xylazine drawn from resources at the bottom of this page...

Xylazine/Rompun

• Administration: Can be administered IV, subcutaneous, or IM. IV administration takes effect in 3-5 minutes, while IM takes about 20 minutes.
• Uses: it is an alpha-two agonist that induces moderate sedation, muscle relaxation, and analgesia. The analgesic effect is shorter lived than the sedative effect.
• Dose info: Increasing the dose does not increase the sedation but can increase the duration.
• Duration: 30-40 minutes.
  
• Side effects
  • Can cause body incoordination.
    
  • In higher doses, it may cause slight muscle tremors, heart rate slowness/decreased output, and reduced respiratory rate.
  • Blood pressure may rise temporarily and then lower.
    
  • Causes increased urine production
    
  • Horses may still react to auditory stimuli. Movement in response to sharp auditory stimuli may be observed.
  • Has a negative effect on gastrointestinal motility depending on the dose and frequency used.
• Cautions
  • Accidental exposure to a single drop of xylazine can result in respiratory arrest in humans Avoid contact with mouth and eyes.
    
  • Use with care in old horses, horses that are in shock, or dehydrated, or that have heart issues.

Acepromazine

• Administration: IV, subcutaneous, or IM, 20-30 minutes to take effect in either case. Oral administration requires 45 mintes to take effect and results may be inconsistent.
  
• Use: mild sedation, no analgesia. In small animals, used for its anti-anxiety properties.
  
• Dose info: Increasing the dose increases the sedative effect, but sedation is light and animal can be easily aroused.
• Duration: 4-6 hours
• Side effects
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Causes a drop in red blood cells
    
  • May heighten perception of loud noises
  • Sweating, trembling
    
• Cautions
  • Occasionally it will have no sedative effect; increased dose just causes hypotension
  • May lower the threshhold to seizures
  • May cause hallucination and restlessness
  • May cause penile prolapse
  • Use with caution on horses that are: older; shocky; anemic; dehydrated horses; or horses that have recently lost blood/hemorrhage
  • Can have antiarrhythmic effects
  • Can impair swallowing ability and can diminish gut motility
    
  • Do not use on boxer dogs (heart, breathing problems)
    

I learned a great deal just reading the articles I found via Google, and one thing I learned is that sedatives must be selected with the individual horse in mind -- age, sickness, desired sedation and a lot of other factors have to be considered. The disclaimer, of course, is that your VET is the person to consult about sedating your horse. Only a vet can provide information on safe administration for your horse.


RESOURCES

Manual of Equine Practice By Reuben J. Rose, David R. Hodgson, section on Xylazine and Acepromazine

Human Health Concerns When Working With Medications Around Horses, publication of the gov't of Ontario

Moving experiences: Unprepared ship is ship of fools from Horses and Horse Information

Chemical restraint from Oklahoma State University
Animal Health Website of Rompun (the company)

Acepromazine from Wikipedia

Acepromazine from Myhorse.com

Acepromazine from Dr. Foster and Smith Pharmacy

Akhal-Tekes in dressage

These are such intriguing horses! The naturally high head carriage, the elegant heads, and exotic look make them beautiful. Their anorexic appearance makes me wonder a) why their owners don't feed them (joke!) and b) whether they will hold up to work. Well, guess what? They're beautiful and tough. Photo to the right is photo courtesy of Todd Keith and the horse is standing in Florida at  at www.karakumstud.com.

From whence they came
The breed is thought to have descended from the gazelle-like, light bodied horse of Central Asia, specifically in the southern region of the modern country of Turkmenistan. The native Turkoman horse of the Teke tribe, the Akhal Tekes were bred for raids on other tribes; they were valued for their speed, stamina and fiery temperament in order to withstand long distance raiding journeys.

What are their unique traits?

• Their manes and tails are sparse -- some have no forelocks
• They're rare -- world wide their numbers are in the low thousands, and in the U.S. there are around 250.
  
• The Akhal Teke's especially silky hair shaft (see research on this trait) produces a unique metallic sheen.
• Their hooves are tough and rarely require shoes.
• They are alternately described as difficult/stubborn and independent/loyal, which can be thought of as two sides of the same coin (they are thought to be one-person horses).
  
• In 1960, an Akhal-Teke purebred stallion, Absent, won the dressage gold medal and by the end of his career, had won 6 Olympic medals.
  

Speaking of dressage

An Akhal-Teke named Absent won the gold medal at the 1964 Rome Olympics, and in a June 2009 Chronicle of the Horse article, Axel Steiner wrote that Absent was among the first modern type dressage horses. Ranier Klimke rode Chan, an Akhal-Teke, to Grand Prix.

Here is some footage of the breed doing dressage...













RESOURCES

Akhal Teke UK

Akhal Teke from Wikipedia

Eventing Akhal Tekes blog

Akhal-Tekes: Gift from the desert from Equus Caballus

Akhal Teke from American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

Akhal Teke from raresteeds.com

Akhal Teke from Horse Breeds of the World

Akhal Teke Society of America

International Association of Akhal Teke Breeders

History of the Akhal Teke from mhref.com

History of the Akhal Teke horse, yesterday and today

Heather Blitz and Mary Wanless (and Paragon!)

The videos of Heather Blitz and her horse Paragon ( posted to the blog earlier) have been removed from Youtube [update: videos can be found on the HB Website]. There is new footage on Youtube, though. Heather Blitz works regularly with Mary Wanless, and here is a video of her in a Wanless clinic on Paragon. The TV was on when I was viewing this (Bob watching Modern Marvels), and I couldn't quite make out what the clinician is saying or what they are working on. Will try again later tonight, when it's just me and the cats at home...

Am I too big/small for this horse?

Lovely turnout, well ridden --
but she's a tiny peanut up there!

Most people I know, whether tall or petite, want a horse that is BIG. Being 5'10" and having little choice in the matter, I marvel that smaller riders aren't enjoying the considerable benefits of a smaller horse -- say, 15.2 to 16.2. They have fewer soundness issues, use less resources (bedding, etc), they don't require an oversized trailer, stall, or horsewear. They are often easier for ladies to ride successfully.

Aesthetically, finding a right-size horse depends on a lot of things. I can name a few, what other considerations are there?

• How does the horse feel? Do you have enough horse in front of you? A smallish horse with a long neck may be just fine, while a larger horse with a shorter neck may leave you feeling like you're too close to his/her ears.
• Where does your leg fall? Personally I don't feel this is of much importance, but a lot of riders don't want their toe to fall below the horse's belly.
• Does the horse have a delicate build or a more substantive, chunky build? A gazelle-like horse will look better with a petite or slender rider while a chunkier horse may accommodate a broader range of rider builds.
  
I think this looks okay; the rider position on this pony contributes to a balanced look. I suspect it's a trainer in the irons.
• Do you have a short or long torso? If you have a short torso, I feel you'll look nice on a smaller horse. Someone the same height with a longer torso may look a bit unbalanced.
• What is the horse's work style? Does he/she need to be muscled around or can you shift a seatbone and get a reaction?
• Where does your saddle fall on the horse's back? The saddle should not dwarf the horse's back, the last few ribs of the horse should not be covered by the saddle.
• I suppose rider weight has some bearing -- especially how they carry weight. Someone with weight in their hips/thighs will "fit" more horses than someone with an apple shaped build or someone who is top-heavy. A heavier rider generally will look better on a more substantial horse.
• If you are concerned whether a horse can support your weight, check this page.
  

I didn't really "research" this as I'm speaking more from the aesthetic viewpoint -- these are all just my opinions, based on observations and maybe a little reading that I don't remember enough about to cite. What do you all think?

Anky the "has-been?" I'm definitely getting old...

Despite the controversy surrounding Anky VG and her recent absence from top placings, it is hard for me to think of her as a has-been. Her West Side Story (non-Youtube version) freestyle with Bonfire is etched in my memory -- they truly danced.

Youtube version of Freestyle


This article and interview talks about Anky's "decline."

clipped from cempaka-belanda.blogspot.com

Equestrian Van Grunsven: not over the hill just yet

NRC International, by Danielle Pinedo, 29 December 2009 13:37

"Even I have to admit the new riders are refreshing," three time Olympic dressage champion Anky van Grunsven told NRC Handelsblad in an interview about her allegedly fading form.

This year Van Grunsven was mostly in the news for the titles she didn't win. She was part of the the Dutch team that won the gold at the European Championship in Winsor in August, but competing individually, she only earned bronze. In Winsor, like other tournaments, fellow Dutchmen Edward Gal and Adelinde Cornelissen defeated her.

Riley goes outside! Blissfully boring...

We turned Riley out on a sunny, warm (for January) afternoon. To be safe, I turned him out in the indoor that morning on 1 cc of Rompun to let him run and get relaxed.

At about 2:30 I came back out, gave him 1.5 ccs Rompun, and walked him out with his buddy in a 1/3 acre paddock. My heart was racing -- would he "snap out" of his stupor as he had the first day we turned him out? As you can see below, it was totally boring and totally wonderful.

Youtube version (sometimes Vimeo doesn't load)


The sun had warmed up the rutted footing (which is good) but one section of the pasture was pretty muddy (which is bad). Fortunately he was quiet and hung out eating hay on the dry side of the paddock. He was out for just over an hour, and you can see how happy he is. It was a happy day for me too.

4th level Saddlebred ridden by Hilda Gurney

The mare is Magical Creation from TRR Sport Horses and Saddlebreds. She's competing at 4th level. I've seen video of saddlebreds at the upper levels, and while they can give an amazing performance, they're a bit like thoroughbreds in that it's hard to get them to relax their back. That's why I think these horses are worth a watch -- they're very fluid and relaxed, aren't they?



The same farm has a Saddlebred stallion currently at first level. Compared to the first video, this ride is a bit unsteady at times -- a little hurried some moments, a little pokey others. But such a nice picture overall! He's a stunner.

Cleared for turnout! Day 2, so far so good..

After about six months of more or less solid stall rest, Riley is cleared for turnout. For drugs, we are using 1.5 cc Zylazine (Rompun) IM. I have to say it is much more effective at toning down the antics than Acepromazine. The one "down side" is that it is an analgesic -- while he looks pretty sound, I have to keep in mind that Rompun masks pain. At any rate, here he is. Thursday, with highs predicted in the 40s, we'll turn him out in the small paddock (about 1/3 acre) with his buddy Finn (shown here very patiently putting up with Riley's nudginess). This movie comes in two versions -- one with commentary and music, one for the purists...

Annotated (with music, if Youtube stops "breaking" the audio)


Pure documentary :-)

Riley's rads: Lovely new lamina!

So take a gander at this radiograph of Riley's hoof taken 1/6/10, just prior to trimming/re-shoeing. The surgical defect has almost entirely grown out (compare to mid-September rads if interested). Note that it has grown more "out" than "down" (I didn't know the hoof grew out that way). The trim probably removed most of the remaining defect.


Note also the terrible state of his hoof -- no heel, longl toe (again, pre-trim). While I'm not sure you can see it in the x-ray, he has lateral cracks in his heels as if someone notched them. Both the vet and the farrier expressed some concern about the crushed heel. I'm hoping some turnout and a normal life should help him regrow the shape God gave him. He was reshod in one Sigafoos glue-on on the surgery'ed hoof, and the non-glue-on version of the same shoe on the left. After this go round, he'll be in normal shoes, probably aluminum.

The damage done
Here is the damage done, the pedal bone loss. The July 09 xrays (below) showed about 5-10% bone loss:


The first post-surgery radiographs showed about 15-20% bone loss -- seeing those radiographs was probably one of the darkest moments of 2009. The radiographs taken 1/6/10 (below) show no further loss, thank goodness. For mysterious reasons, the bone loss worsened following surgery. In case you're wondering, it doesn't grow back.



The veterinary texts all say that a horse can lose "up to 25% of the pedal bone" without dire consequences. Riley needs to keep what he's got. He just has to.

My advice
I'm just the man-on-the-street here, but after going through all this, and talking to a few other folks (too late, alas), I would not do the surgery again. I got 3 opinions before going the surgical route, and after the surgery I got opinions 4, 5, and 6. I get the impression that the big vet schools are no longer using surgical approaches to treat bone infection in the hoof. There are some wonderful techniques for infusing powerful antibiotics without an invasive procedure, and that is becoming a preferred treatment. I'm not a vet, I'm not an expert. I'm just sayin'...

"If my luck was as bad as yours..."

Recently a fairly well-known eventer, Jennie Brannigan, lost her top horse Cooper (pictured right). It was not her first sad experience with a competitive horse she owned and trained -- she'd had many challenges and disappointments in her young career. In a recent article in the Chronicle of the Horse -- a tribute to Cooper -- she recalled that an acquaintance once said to her "If my luck with horses was as bad as yours I'd quit the sport." Jennie shared her honest reaction to the remark, which was "it pissed me off."

No Kidding
Of COURSE she was pissed off. Who are these folks? Are they callous? Are they being intentionally mean? The tactlessness of the remark leaves me in awe. Who would say something like that after a *devastating loss.

Jennie's "friend" was probably making a subtle dig. Good for Jennie for calling it out in the article, if not in person. I hope commenter read the article and saw herself reflected through Jennie's eyes.

Is this a universal experience?
Alas, I think it is universal, and the horse world has more than its fair share of snarkiness. Not too long ago, a woman visited Riley's barn. She watched while I struggled to wrap my restless youngster's hoof in Elastikon. She didn't offer to help, but asked "What's wrong with him?" She seemed to feel she had a right to know, this stranger. I am tired of explaining it, and the question annoyed me. Trying to sound blasé, I gave her one sentence synopsis, "He had hoof surgery." Her loud and indignant response: "Well, is he EVER going to be right???" The urge to slap some Elastikon over her mouth was overwhelming. Without looking up I told her yes, he'll be fine.

This was an educated, professional woman who I'm sure is capable of tact when it benefits her. The thing about snarkiness is, it says so much more about the speaker than the subject. I try to remind myself of this when I'm on the receiving end.

---

*The comment was not made about Cooper, but about another horse Jennie rode that had a career ending injury.

Rolex road trip

Readers will recall that I cancelled my flight to Rolex because they changed my itinerary to leave six hours earlier than the original flight. Well, a month later I STILL have not received a refund from United. It turns out that the refund request never made it to United (system error). Orbitz explained that they had to "reset the clock" on my 21 business day refund, and it will take ANOTHER 21 business days. Oh, REALLY???? A chat with the supervisor brought this down to 7 business days. I've probably made 5-6 phone calls and spent 5-7 hours on the phone to get this resolved.

Forget flying -- come DRIVE with me!
So I'm delighted to be driving instead. Ten hours of driving. I am not a fan of driving but it's got its perks. How is this much, much better than flying? Let me count the advantages (mostly having to do with trunk space)...

• Unlimited shopping -- just so it fits in the trunk
• Unlimited weather apparel -- will have room to bring every kind of rain gear, wind/cold protection, umbrella, etc.
• Room for a portable chair
• Books on tape
• Ipod shuffle-capable car
• Carpool possibility (anyone going from East Central PA?)
• Rosetta stone language learning (I should be fluent in German by the time I arrive in Lexington)
  
• No flight delays, probably same travel time
• A newly scheduled TACK SWAP among COTH bulletin board members at La Quinta Inn on Friday.
  

I am already so psyched about this trip.

Dead broke horse? Or just dead?

I'm impressed! Or else the horse is drugged. The young woman is definitely gutsy and athletic. Like all young'uns she believes herself to be immortal :-)

Farrier/vet update, Part 1

The hospital plate which
I've grown to hate

1/6/2010
The farrier/vet visit
Took place on this date
How long I await,
I can't overstate,
how I anticipate
getting rid of this PLATE.

"So can we negate
the hospital plate?"
They say "No, we must wait."
"Is there room for debate?"
"The hoof must aerate!"
"No, The plate helps his gait."

"But my mental state
you must placate,
And the plate has no mate,
so his walk is not straight!"
"Let us firmly restate,
We must keep the plate."


Soon it is too late
and they reinstate
the plate I berate
Now the plate is my fate.
I'll go nuts at this rate.
I hate the plate.

The plate is an ASS!

Beet pulp: When to feed, how to feed, Part 2

Okay, so my last post gave some of the basics about what beet pulp is and its nutritional content. Here's some additional info about which horses will benefit, which ones won't, and of course the list of resources.

When to feed beet pulp...

• For horses that need to fatten up but get too “hot” on grain products.
• For horses that have metabloic issues such as polysaccharide storage myopathy
• For horses prone to laminitis
• For horses who have difficulty chewing hay, beet pulp can replace up to 25% of hay on a pound-per-pound basis
• For horses with respiratory issues, beet pulp is a dust-free forage replacement
• To increase water intake in horses who do not drink enough in winter months
  

Contraindications <-----I love this word (or, When not to feed it)

• Nutritionists warn against using beet pulp as a complete replacement for hay, unless a special diet is needed for medical reasons. The best, most natural forage for horses is hay.
• Feeding large quantities of beet pulp could cause a calcium/phosphorus imbalance. No more than 25% of your horse's total diet fed as beet pulp.
• Beet pulp won't be much help in the diet of a horse that ties up (see Horsechannel article).
• Due to beet pulp’s relatively high calcium and low phosphorus levels, it could interfere with normal bone development in young horses. In older horses, the excess calcium could cause kidney stones (renal calculi) or intestinal stones (enteroliths).
  

Feeding tips

• Use warm water. Hot water will cook the beet pulp and destroy most of the nutrients in it.
• While sources indicate it can be fed dry, soak to plump it up (at least 30 minutes) to reduce the risk of choke.
• In the summer, soaked beet pulp should be fed within 24 hours (48 hours in the winter)
• If you can only find beet pulp with molasses, drain off the water to (or rinse and drain) to remove the lion's share of the added sugars.
  

RESOURCES
The myth and reality of beet pulp from Shady Acres
Horse beet pulp from Horsechannel.com
Understanding beet pulp as an equine feed from thehorse.com
Beet pulp as a fiber source for horses from Illinihorsenet.com
What's so special about beet pulp?
Should you feed beet pulp? from Equisearch.com
What is beet pulp? from Triplecrown.com
Feeding beet pulp from Southernstates.com
Nutritional analysis of beed pulp from the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative
Beet pulp quiz! from Equine Ink

Big spook in the dressage ring: An instructive video

Hans Peter Minderhoud and 5 year old ZiZi Top have a few shaky moments in a dressage test -- posted on COTH. The rider's handling of the situation is something worth studying! The use of reward, the outside rein, the reassurance, the avoidance of confrontation while encouraging forwardness. I love the way the horse's eye stays soft -- the rider does nothing to exacerbate the situation...

Beet pulp: When to feed, how to feed Part 1

Riley is still a young and growing boy, but look at his metabolic indicators: Easy keeper. Natural cresty neck. Fat deposits in all of the key places. There's a grazing muzzle in his future.

He's not getting much in the way of feed -- just a ration balancer, Pro-Add Ultimate from Progressive feed. It's low starch (7%) and high protein (55%). Naturally, he makes up for it by hoovering down hay, and I'd like to find a way to fill his tummy at feeding time.

What about beet pulp?
Harv already gets beet pulp, and recently I've been thinking of giving Riley a small amount of beet pulp. But what is beet pulp? What is its nutritional value? How might it benefit or harm Riley?

Beet pulp comes from the manufacture of table sugar (from sugar beets). The pulp is basically what's left over when all of the sugar has been extracted from the beet. The process is so efficient, there is barely any sugar left in the pulp.

Beet pulp isn't quite a forage, and it isn't quite an energy feed like grain. It's pretty unique, so it's probably good to review it's characteristiscs...

The facts on beet pulp

Beet pulp is...

• a good source of digestible fiber (around 16-18%). It's referred to as a superfiber because it lacks lignin (a substance found in tall, stemmy grasses) which impedes digestion. Beet pulp is easy on the horse's digestive system yet still provides the calorie content of a grain product.
  
• known for having the "scratch factor." This refers to additional fiber length (shredded form only) which is lacking in many alternative fiber sources.
  
• fairly comparable to a grass hay in protein (about 8%)
• not high calorie (.50%); it is lower in fat that cereal grains.
• low in starch (non-structural carbohydrate content of approximately 12%)
• low in vitamin B and selenium, with virtually no vitamin D or vitamin A
• higher calcium content than grass hay. The calcium/phosphorus ratio is 6:1.
• higher in digestible energy (1,060 kcal/lb) than grass hay but lower than cereal grains
• low in glucose with only 5-10% sugar in molasses-free formulations. It's glycemic index is 1 compared to oats (100) and bermuda (20).
• inexpensive, running between $9-18 for a 40 lb bag (dry).
  
• okay to feed dry, by all reports (personally I would never feed it dry -- sek)
• found in many quality feeds such as Triple Crown Senior, Triple Crown Complete, Triple Crown Growth, and Legends 12 Maturity Formula. These formulas add oils and molasses to eliminate the need for soaking.

So, I think it is probably safe to feed a small amount of beet pulp to Riley, but there is a lot more info about beet pulp that is worth knowing.
Stay tuned for Part II...

A New Year's Eve tale (er -- tail?)

Bob and I went to see the horses in the late afternoon on New Year's Eve. We saw Harv and then to see Riley. All seemed well, although Harv seemed restless. It was almost as if he was anxious for us to leave.

On our way home we pass I-78 (which goes right into NYC). There, in front of us at a stop light, was a familiar white limo [photo captured on my cellphone]. I pointed it out to Bob.

Me: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Bob: "It's Harv's limo! He must be is on his way to Times Square."
Me: "We may have made him late."
Bob: [checking his watch] "He must have changed his mind about the CNN co-hosting gig."
Me: "With Kathy Griffin?"
Bob: "Yup. He'll need a police escort to make it in time, and even then..."

Kathy Griffin didn't like being stood up -- she was dropping the f-bomb the whole evening, I hear. Sorry Kathy. Our bad...

Goofy Gelderlanders: Do they all have this much personality?

Gelderlanders are becoming an endangered breed -- I posted a video about them last year -- but the footage captured in the first video (below) suggests that the horses themselves aren't the least bit worried about presenting themselves favorably to potential buyers. The farm is in the U.K., skip to 3:40'' for my fave moment.

Amusingly, the the same horses appear in a sales video on same youtube account, looking a bit less roguish.

Tales of Harv and Skippy

Bob and I are out at the barn, and we watch as Harv and Skippy share a Himalayan salt rock -- Harv licking from inside his stall, Skippy from his little enclosure adjacent to Harv. It was adorable. Suddenly Harv swings his head around the dutch door and air bites at Skippy. Skippy makes a hasty retreat to the opposite corner of his pen and turns his back end to Harv. Harv is vigorously shaking his head, ears pinned.

Me: Wow, what got into Harv?

Bob: [pausing] Well, you know.

Me: No. I don't.

[ Bob tries to entice Skippy from the corner with some hay]

Bob: Skippy's into Harv for almost 100 grand. Harv's been letting it ride. But it's not cool.

Me: What? How does Skippy owe Harvey 100K?

Bob: Gambling. He's lost money at The Sands.

Maybe ya had to be there
We crack each other up. At the unlikeliest moments Bob will make up goofy stories of Harv's life. Harv golfing with Tiger Woods. Harv getting calls from Alan Greenspan. Skippy's ties to a drug cartels. Harv and Skippy watching Animal Planet.

Stacey: [looking at cellphone pix of Harv and Skippy] Could we make a kids book with this material? We'd have to get a real camera if we wanted to publish something.

Bob: People make a ton of money from a good children's book.

Me: There hasn't been a good horse book lately.

Bob: The big horse and the little sidekick? Kids eat that up.

Me: Do you think we could come up with some stories that don't involve drugs and gambling?

Bob: [Looking over at Harv and Skippy] No. Probably not.

The horror! The horror! My New Year's resolution

When I was packing for my trip to Indiana, I laid out two books that I'd checked out of the library for the journey--the Third Angel by Alice Hoffman and Home by Marilynne Robinson. Bob walked by and saw the books. He exclaimed, "OMG, you're going to read? You never read."

Suddenly I was transported back to my previous life, my horseless and TV-less life, when I read 2-3 books a week. I maintain a core collection of about 300 books that I've treasured over the years -- Annie Dillard, Doris Betts, Jane Smiley, Joyce Carol Oates, Irish Murdoch, Russell Banks, the whole lot of them.

And now -- horror of horrors -- I've been labelled a non-reader.

I love reading, yet there just doesn't seem to be time. I read 2/3 of Third Angel on the plane flight to Pennsylvania, and since then it has been languishing at my bedside. Evenings I care for the horses, do some chores, blog a little, and go to bed. The plot is slipping from my memory as I speak. I did manage to finish Home, but M. Robinson is a particular favorite of mine and read it in a sitting on my sister's couch.

How can this be? So that is my New Year's resolution -- find time to read. Make time to read.