Devon preview: Swirly-coated beauty, Bellatesse

This photo by Erin McCardell from Hilltop Farm is about the most stunning inspection photo I've ever seen. This young filly is Bellatesse by Bugatti Hilltop, bred by Hilltop and purchased by Kris Schuler, a breeder here in PA. She bought  her at 5 weeks. Bellatesse, now a yearling, will be at Devon, and I'll be front and center to see her in person.

click to see source of photo 

The photo is posted on the Edgewood Meadows Web page along with more info on Bellatesse. She is by Bugatti Hilltop, as I mentioned, but her mom is pretty special. Comtesse is an award-winning mare by Cordoba. Congrats to Kris Schuler on selecting this lovely youngster.

Below is a recent photo of Bellatasse at a yearling, taken at the 2010 Fair Hill Breed show (again, courtesy of Erin McCardell). Note that Belatasse has an unusual swirly coat that makes her even more distinctive. The swirls are called watermarks and there is a discussion on an equestrian listserv about the presence of watermarks in G-line horses. Sara Andrew left a comment that I'll repeat it here: watermarks are common on Friesians as well.

Again with the brick-bat: It's about the mare!
This filly illustrates an important point of breeding that everyone seems to know but few seem to practice. I'm no breeding expert, yet I know this. How can so many breeders not know this?

The mare is the most important choice you make as a breeder. 

It makes me dismayed and sad to hear breeders talk about getting broodmares on CANTER or from rescues. Many breeding programs consist of  a dozen mediocre mares rather than one or two really exceptional mares.   My hat goes off to the breeders who break the bank to get really terrific mares and build their breeding program on a solid foundation.

See ya at Devon, Bella!

"Hey, would you mind..." Part 2

So, you're hoping to find someone to do some special care for your horse, and the best option is to ask the barn manager or one of the workers. What's fair compensation? Geez. A flat hourly rate, say, $10/hour, may not apply to certain tasks. For example, handwalking a half-crazed thoroughbred on stall rest is not a $10/hour job. I'm going to throw out some possible pay rates for common horse care tasks. What do you think?

Tidbits about stall design

Most women read House Beautiful or Home and Garden -- me, I seem to love reading about stall design.  Riley and Harv have encountered quite a number of stall types in the last few weeks, and it's interesting to watch their reaction to the various features. Here's what the experts say on the subject...

Size
While in some respects you can say bigger is always better, from a practical standpoint, this isn't really so. The ideal size seems to be 12X12. Smaller stalls, like 10X10 or 10X12 are just "okay," probably a bit tight for a larger horse. A 14X14 stall is a must for breeding barns, but otherwise it's the law of diminishing returns applied to horsedom. That extra 2 feet can double the cost of building the stall, and it takes a lot more shavings/straw to bed. But most importantly, experts say the size of the stall is not as important how the design accommodates the horse's visual field.

On a clear day....
As it happens I love the "European" stall design (picture above right). From an architectural standpoint, it opens up the barn space and makes the interior more visually impressive. I like the curve of the stall front, too. From a horse psychology standpoint the open front is advantageous because...

• The horse does not have great depth perception and their eyes are designed to function best in open spaces. While stalls are confining, it's possible to make them more comfortable by giving them a view to middle and far distances.
  
• The stall is a "social space" where a horse can see and interact with other horses.
• It offers improved light and ventilation.
• Barn managers can monitor a horse's well-being more easily.
  

I'm guessing we don't see this design much because of cost. Dutch doors, stall grates all around, and adjoining paddocks might be cheaper alternatives (not sure about the grates, that's probably expensive too).

There are disadvantages other than cost. The open stall design is most feasible in a private barn, where the stall inhabitants tend not to change and personality conflicts are easier to resolve (by moving the horse, etc). In a boarding barn it could result in conflict, stall kicking, etc.

At any rate, here are some examples of stall designs that I think are fairly horse friendly...

Blackburn Architects Oak Haven Farm

Is this actually a stall? It's interesting anyway...
Schweiss Stables

Classic Equine Equipment

Olympia Buildings

Equine Systems

RESOURCES

Stable design from the horse perspective from Thomas Croce Architects

Innovative Equine Systems Horse Stalls

Classic Equine Equipment, Inc. -- Stalls

Horse stall design from Penn State U

What is the best design for horse stall barns from Penn State U extension agency

Stall builder from RAMM Fencing

Stall systems from EMGE Equine

Equine Products Direct stalls

Stall design from The Horse magazine

Selecting the right kind of wood

Horsestalls.com

It's not about the ribbons...

Or is it? I look pretty happy here. This is a high school photo, and I won a junior hunter championship on a horse that I also foxhunted, Foxfire. Good old Fox. He wasn't fancy but what a good egg. And, yes, that is a monogrammed sweater.

Back to the future
My trainer left Riley's ribbons from this Sunday on his stall door. The LVDA ribbons are GORGEOUS!!!! A second and sixth place (red and green are a great combo). They're longer than most, with white accents, and the rosettes are fancy-schmancy. I festooned our front door with them so that Bob saw them when he got home.  There was much ooohing and ahhhing; the cats were jealous.

Good job LVDA show planners--we had a blast, and everyone was so helpful, and now these spankin' ribbons.

The hunter ring: "Just a beauty contest"?

Perhaps. But when I watch videos like this one -- John French and Rumba -- I think "what's wrong with seeing something beautiful?" What a gorgeous horse.  Incidentally, I think Stephen Spielberg bought this horse for his daughter to show in Children's Hunters.

Disclaimer: this isn't a regular hunter show round, it's a derby, so there is a bit more to the course than a a standard hunter round. But you get the point.

"Hey, would you mind..." Part 1

Hey, I'm a boarder, and I've certainly asked a barn worker to do something special for my horse. Do you do this too? Have you ever wondered if you should be paying them for certain kinds of special treatment? I know I have. Something to consider before you ask your next favor...

Barn worker compensation
At barns where boarders can make requests of staff, it's good to be cognizant of what and how the workers are paid. General pay is pretty modest, which is understandable, but also ironic considering the value (monetary and personal) of the animals they care for. If you're making special requests, it's good to know whether it's an an hourly rate, a flat rate, or something else.

What's the difference?

• Hourly pay: Hourly workers make more money when little extra  tasks extend their work day, so they may welcome special care requests. The question is how do barn owners/managers feel about these boarders giving chores "on their dime."  To keep everything on the up-and-up make sure the barn manager (or whoever pays them) knows what tasks their staff  may be doing for  you.
• Flat rate pay: More often, barn workers are  paid a flat rate for set tasks.  The flat rate pay is easier to calculate and ensures a predictable for the workers. There can be a downside, though. In my own experience, flat rates tend not to favor the the worker.  When I was paid a flat rate I had to really hustle to keep my pay rate at $8/hour.  If someone asks you to help load their horse, or horses aren't turned out (twice as much to muck), or a horse decides he doesn't want to be caught in the pasture, suddenly I don't make enough to cover the gas I used to get to the barn.

So the moral is, try to have an idea of what your workers are paid, and how  they're paid. It can help you decide whether you should slip'em a little cash, but it also helps keep your expectations realistic. No one is living large from mucking stalls.

Coming up next: What is a fair "tip" or payment for special treatment?

Barn notes: Not 3 hours, not 2 1/2, but...

At every barn it seems there are some horses who don't fare well on turnout. They run, they get picked on, they have soundness issues, whatever. Instead they go out for a few hours when the other horses are in. I get why this is necessary, but some requests seem a bit over the top. The whiteboard note below is a case in point...



This particular horse needed boots all around and a blanketing change for his 2 3/4 hour turnout. I don't mind providing individual care to horses if it doesn't get too out of hand, and if I understand the reasoning. This turnout request was a pain because I already had so much to do, and my routine had to be rearranged so I'd be at a good stopping place to bring this horse in. You know what I mean?

Whoops, can't move the spreader up, it'll block the 2 3/4 hour horse's stall.
Nope, can't do outside water buckets, the 2 3/4 hour horse will have to come in soon.
Geez, don't have time to water the ring before bringing in the 2 3/4 hour horse.
What CAN I do? Guess I'll just sweep, even though I usually wait do that after I hay...

Have I gone on long enough??? Wait, don't answer that. Nuf said.

Brown bridles abound!

No trouble finding brown bridles -- I'm told that any bridle with a flash is potentially a "dressage bridle," so eventing bridles and hunter bridles with a flash and  substantial strapwork might work. Many manufacturers offer brown. Stubben offers several shades of brown for their bridles, including #191 pictured left.  Otto Schumacher bridles are not terribly traditional (they have a black patent bridle with purple piping!). Brown is easily within the range of their offerings.  My personal favorite from a BTB commenter is...

"Pink Equine bridles come in black or brown and just about any colour padding you can think of: http://www.pinkequine.com/acatalog/Leisure_Colour_Padded_Bridle.html. Their crystal browbands are just exquisite.

Here are a few I found...
Modestly priced bridles...
Padded crown swedish bridle $150 from Dressage Extensions
Swedish Weymouth bridle $189 from Dressage Extensions
Harmohn Kraft Self-Padded Bridle  from Stateline Tack, $99. Also other modestly priced bridles from Stateline

Kieffer Belinda for $150 from Equestrian Collections
Kincaid lined event bridle $79 from Equestrian Collections
Dover Saddlery has brown clincher bridles that are suitable for dressage for about $100 ($70 at Millers Harness)
937 Bobby's Dressage bridle with flash around $144 from the TackZone
Ovation event bridle $134 from VTO Saddlery
Thornhill Shannon Raised Snaffle Bridle with Attached Flash for $50 from Bit of Bling
Bobby's Bridle Mirror Snaffle Bridle from Fox Den Tack Shop
Camelot lined event bridle for $60 from the Fox Den Tack Shop Heritage Saddlery sells English made comfort bridles on Ebay: http://www.heritagesaddlery.co.uk/ (not to be confused with the el cheapo Heritage branded Indian made bridles)


Midrange bridles

933N Bobby's dressage bridle (brown and brown with black padding) around $200 from Harmony Farms Saddle Shop
939 Dressage Bridle with Flash (brown with black padding) around $170 around $200 from Harmony Farms Saddle Shop
950 Bobby's  Dressage bridle with crank noseband $160
Kavalkade Snaffle Bridle with Crank & Flash for $189 from Bit of Bling
Courbette Snake padded bridle $229
Red Barn KL Select Center line dressage bridle for about $200

Courbette dressage bridles in Berber Brown
Passier Aries snaffle bridle $319


High-end bridles


 From Dressage Extensions
Passier Regulus bridle  and Passier Leo bridle for about $360
Otto Schumacher model Munchen for $500 from Dressage Extensions
Devon buckle end bridle by Otto Schumacher for $300
Otto Schumacher crank bridle $345
Laser contour dressage bridle $350
Royal Oak bridles in the $350 range at Dressage Extensions

Bucks County LVDA Recognized show: an 81%!!!

Yes it's true. The chance of rain that day was 81%!!!!!

Heh, heh.

Rain and thunderstorms were predicted all day.   I did some hand-wringing that morning as the rain pelted and the leaves blew through the barn. At noon, the sun came out, and after that the weather was quirky but basically fine. At the show grounds we had drizzling, then sun, then wind, then fast-moving clouds. 

No, Riley didn't get an 81% (sorry, bad joke) but he was a star -- easy to trailer and handle, compliant in the warmup,  happy and sweet-faced in both tests (training 3 and 4). He made big improvements in his halts and stretchy trot.

Training 4
He got a 60.00% in T4 --  the first test he rode. I haven't seen the test or judge's comments but as a doting mom I was expecting a higher score. It's true that he had a few abrupt changes, and he was BTV during a few sequences.  I guess I'd say the judge was tough but fair. It is training 4 after all.






Training 3
He was getting tuckered out, but he looked a bit more relaxed, and here he got a 66%.  Thought this score was right on the money.






It was a great day!

Naughty pony -- and a six year old?

If I had kids they would not go camping. They would not play contact sports. They certainly would not ride this pony...

Watch the whole video for the full effect, including the bolt and the "foot caught in stirrup." IMHO, kids should not sit on this pony's back. If this were my pony he'd be on a diet  and he'd get turned out with a herd of feral yearlings. I'd find a petite 25 year-old "legs-of-steel" professional to ride the p*ss out of him. THEN, maybe I'd put a kid on him...

Toe-flipping: a collection of thoughts from the masters

This wisdom is compiled by Iceryder, go to her web page for the full scoop...

clipped from iceryder.net

The Flipping Up of the Front Foot

This is a fault caused by a loss of correct connection from back to front. It is usually the result of tension somewhere in the topline. It can occur when
the horse is held BTV (behind the vertical) or when his head is held up, such as in star-gazing. The loss of freedom to
stretch the neck makes the horse hollow at the base of the neck or back and
the resulting tension tightens the underneck muscles which continues down
the front of the leg, therefore there is little bend in the knee resulting in the toe flick.

Lendon Gray says that horses that flick their
toes often have tightness in their body somewhere and more extravagant
movement in front (than behind) to start with. It can be an indication that
the horse has been pushed for a greater lengthening than he is capable of
giving.

Rider position with Ruth Poulsen and Jane Savoie

I love that this video tells you why these common exercises are useful and what they can tell you about your flexibility and position...

Equine taxidermy: Another kind of stuffed animal...

I went to a fireman's museum in a coastal North Carolina town (New Bern) back in the nineties, and I was fascinated by one of the taxidermied fire horses on display, Fred. Fred served the town in early 20th century. He was beloved by the town and I felt that his preservation and display honored him in a meaningful way.

They aren't cute, I wouldn't want to own one, and I'd never preserve one of mine in this way. However, taxidermied horses are interesting artifacts of culture, art/craftsmanship, and history. Some famous horses have been stuffed -- more than I thought. Here are a few blog articles on stuffed horses:

• Taxidermy from Timothy Allen, Photographer web site
• Ravishing beasts: Horses (post from a blog about taxidermy)
• Taxidermist to the dead stars (Red Deer Advocate)
  
• Dead horse "lives" in marvel of taxidermy (how Phar Lap was stuffed)
• Trigger's taxidermist now busy with TV werewolves (Seattle Times)
• Roy Roger's stuffed horse sold for 266K (CBC News)
• Commanche, horse on display (Roadside America)
• Unusual stuffed horse on Ebay from boingboing.com

Photo from  Roadside America Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions

Barn notes: A personal favorite

Sometimes in a well-run barn, it's easy to forget what our moms always said: "This place doesn't clean itself." Barn management can set the standard, and workers can sweep and tidy, but boarders  do their part keep  things looking good.

My all time favorite barn note
Thanks to "B" for giving the okay to share this! "B" posted this notice  to other boarders at a show barn where I boarded years ago.  It is a true classic, combining humor and exasperation and cartographic flair. The map still cracks me up.

People do seem to have a neural disconnect about recycling. Where I presently board, only a small minority of us use the centrally located recycling can for recycling. Everyone else stuffs the regular trash cans with soda bottles, fly spray containers, and pellet/shavings bags -- there is no room for real barn trash. Unfortunately we don't have a boarder like the one who made the sign above. I'd attempt one but it would be a sad substitute.

Guess who's goin' to Dressage at Devon?

There are two answers to this question. Sure, Riley is going to do the under saddle class, but here is the big news: Heather Blitz and Paragon are going! In her August 2010 newsletter, she writes...

I made the decision to compete with Paragon in the CDI at Devon - http://dressageatdevon.org/cms/ - September 28 - October 3, 2010.  Devon is the beginning of the qualifying season for the Pan American Games, which will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico in October 2011.  The Pan Am Games is a competition for small tour horses and will be an important one for the United States.   In order to qualify for the team competition at the London Olympic Games in 2012, we must win either a team medal at the 2010 WEG next month or win a gold medal at the Pan Am Games.  

 I'll be there, sitting in a box seat (won in a raffle), to watch this great pair...

A phone call with my mom, about 24 years ago

One morning, around 24 years ago, my mom called me with news about my niece, Jamie. She was then only a few months old. Mom was the doting grandma who loved to relay baby stories; Me, I'm just not into kids...

My mom: Stacey, Jamie  is developing so fast -- you know this   morning she ate pudding with her fingers! 
Stacey:     [sarcastically] Have you called MENSA?

Well, the shoe is on the other foot. I marvel at Riley's growth and development. Only a month ago he could barely hold a canter for a few strides on the lunge. I lunged him yesterday and he cantered on and on, no sign of tiring. Experienced horse peeps are no doubt thinking  my goodness, this is typical young horse development -- why is she so amazed?  I can't help it, it all just feels miraculous.

So, here's this week's progress video (click here for Vimeo version).

Got a stuffed horse? That's why there's a Craigslist....

How else would one "place" a real stuffed horse? Who would want one? Talk about a niche audience -- and the ad copy is not exactly compelling sales copy.

The guy is giving it away, which I have to admit would be my first inclination. But these things have value. Christies in Manhattan auctioned off Trigger last week for US$266,500, Buttermilk for US$25,000 and Bullet for US$35,000. They aren't cheap to stuff. According to this taxidermist's price sheet, the going rate for a bear is around $4000, and a moose is about $6500. Here is my attempt at a sales pitch...

Equestrian art collectors: museum quality life size horse!

Seize this rare opportunity to own this vintage equine specimen -- a real horse skillfully preserved by a Lehigh Valley PA taxidermist in 1962.  This unique object d'art could be the high-impact centerpiece of the equine collector's home -- a great investment and a true conversation piece! The horse is a chestnut with distinctive white markings, standing full six feet tall from head to ground. In positioning the horse, the craftsman/taxidermist captures the moment when the animal is poised for action,  with three hooves on the ground and one raised as if prepared to canter away. The history of the piece is that this horse was a beloved family pet that died tragically and was preserved at great expense to the owners. Stuffed horses have sold to museums and other collectors for tens of thousands of dollars, and Trigger (Roy Rogers horse) sold for over 250K. Don't miss this opportunity to own this artistic and historic piece. Offers over 5K will be considered.

Ummm... What do you think? More on taxidermy tomorrow...

Paying to look goofy. Off topic day.

I'm at a loss. How can this pogo-shoe offer lateral stability? Won't the heel get caught in dangerous ways to escalators and such? And doesn't it look really silly?

White line disease, Part I

Several farriers have told me they are seeing more WLD than ever, whether from wet conditions, reduced bedding, less turnout, or some combination of factors. I don't remember where I formed an impression of what "white line disease" is, but having done some research recently, I now know it's not what I thought it was. 

If I'm ignorant about WLD I'm in good company. Veterinary researchers and practitioners can't say much about it either -- at least not with any certainty. We are not sure what it is, what causes it, or how to treat it. 

 Fungi or bacteria?
Yes. WLD seems to be a little of both, or a lot of both. Treatment should contain fungicides but also antibacterial meds.


Breaking and entering vs. Looting
No one is really sure if WLD is a primary cause or just a secondary problem related to a primary cause like laminitis, poor hoof balance, or a hoof crack. It's the difference between breaking and entering and looting. In other words...

1. The fungi/bacterial infection  is guilty of breaking and entering through the  hoof's protective barriers.
2. Or, maybe the fungi/bacteria are just "in the neighborhood" when the windows are broken. With the hooves' natural security/protection compromised, it's easy looting.

 Many researchers, such as Stephen O'Grady (see his article on WLD), believe that the looter scenario  is most likely (of course he may not like the metaphor, which is all mine, for better or worse).  If this is true, then the treatment will include not only addressing the WL infection but the primary cause, whether its laminitis or whatever.

There is so much info out there on WLD, I'm going to break it into chunks -- there may be 10 parts to this series :-)

Barn notes from boarders: Part I of a series

Imagine you're being paid  $8 to feed and water 24 horses. You'll have to hustle to do this in an hour, making the pay rate a reasonable $8/hour. Above the garbage cans of horse feed is a formidable wall of supplements. Each horse gets 1-2 supplements and a few get meds that have to be dosed with a syringe.

Now tell me...
Would you want to try to follow these instructions? On the positive side, it's nice that the note has a date, but it's not a stellar example of barn communication. It doesn' help that the pen is running out of ink, either! Here are a few tips...

• The dying pen makes part of the note unreadable. Type the note up on a computer (preferred) or use a Sharpie fine point marker so that the whole note is readable. 
•  How much oil per feeding? 
• Does the horse get oil in the p.m.? It's not clear to me.

Suggested rewording

FEED CHANGE: As of 10/24 [horsename] gets...

AM

1/4 scoop his food

1/4 scoop pellets

2 handfuls of complete

AM baggie

oil (how much?)

PM

1/4 scoop his food

1/4 scoop pellet

PM baggie

oil?

Regular readers will know that barn work is a subject close to my heart.  Thanks for listening (again).

Brown tack in dressage part II: Whither the brown girths?

Brown girths aren't all that easy to find. It's a pain to search for them, because many companies don't include the girth color in the descriptive text -- it's either assumed to be black or the option for brown only appears in the dropdown menu when you order -- which means it isn't searchable. Harrumph!

Here is what I found looking through online tack stores. Bear in mind that girth manufacturers may make a brown girth that tack stores don't  stock.

Note: I'm told that the emergence of monoflap saddles in other disciplines have made brown girths easier to find, but I didn't specifically search for non-dressage girths.

For the budget shopper (under $50)
On the low end we have the plain Wintec elastic dressage girth from Horseloverz for around $40 (also available at Crazy Horse Tack and  Carousel Horse Tack). Libertyville Saddle Shop has the Regent-Lonsdale girth currently on sale for under $30, and the Jeremy and Lord Two Buckle Elastic End girth for $40.

In the middle range (roughly $51-$100)
In the midrange, the Nunn Finer Passage girth from Bit of Britain is my pick for an attractive, reasonably priced (around $100) brown girth. Dover has a Double Elastic Dressage Girth for under $100 but I don't find it very appealing. Adams Horse Supply sells the Toklat Coolback dressage girth in a variety of colors, including brown, for under $100. Libertyville Saddle Shop has the Equibette girth for about $90. The Show Barn LLC has a Toklat dressage girth (brown with white fleece) for $85. Horseloverz has the M. Toulouse monoflap dressage girth for about $100. The Ebay store Wholesale Equestrian Outlet has the contoured Delfina girth for about $90. Thorowgood makes a synthetic dressage girth in brown. It's popular in the UK but hard to find in the U.S. -- try Ebay.   The Barnstable leather girth with double elastic is about $100 from Harmony Farms Saddle Shop. 


 High end girths (over $100)
At the high end, there is an Amerigo girth, available from Smartpak and other stores. Dressage Extensions has an Otto Schumacher girth for $210 and a County Logic girth for $220. Bit of Britain sells a Mattes shaped girth in brown and sand for $220. For about $180 Dressage Extensions sells the Karl Neidersuss straight girth  and a Karl Neidersuss contoured girth. VTO Saddlery sells a Prestige Contour girth for $150, but the color is tobacco (fairly light). The Thinline stabilizer girth comes in several shades of brown and runs about $170, while Laser makes a dressage girth in brown for $160. Horseloverz has the elastic Wintec girth with CAIR in brown for about $150.

 If you know of a source of brown girths or tack in general, post a comment -- thanks!

Next up in the series: Brown bridles

My very first horse show

Yes, this is me at my first horse show as a weekly lesson rider, junior high. Canary breeches. Mom's gloves. I'm  posting this to circumvent blackmail attempts (this may not be the only copy).

Oh, I got sixth place out of nine.

Do you have childhood show pix and memories to share?

Brown dressage tack, Part I: The proverbial brown shoe?

I got a deal on a saddle! I think I did anyway, for this brown County Perfection saddle, leathers, bridle, and girth. It's very dark brown, almost black, but it looks lovely on Riley.

So what's up with brown?
You don't see a lot of brown these days in the dressage ring. But black tack is not a long-standing tradition. In fact black dressage saddles are kind of a new thing. As recently as 20-30 years ago, brown was the traditional color for dressage. Back then if you saw black tack you assumed the dye was masking inferior quality leather.

Top riders have been known to ride in brown tack, and the Spanish Riding School uses brown Stubbens for schooling (white buckskin saddles for shows). Robert Dover rode in the Olympics in brown tack (Kennedy, 2004). I knew a local Grand Prix rider who had a luscious brown custom Amerigo saddle; that saddle looked like it belonged in an art exhibit.

Why be down on brown? Cosmetologists tell you to always use brown, not black mascara, because black is so harsh-looking. I think the same principle applies to saddle color. There are shades of brown to go with any coat color. Lighter mocha browns accentuate roan and chestnut coats. Bay horses would look great in a darker nut or mohagany brown. For black horses, the dark chocolate browns complement the coat color nicely.

Brown tack has some distinct advantages:

• Brown leather shows off the characteristics of superior quality leather; black dye deadens the patina of good leather -- you can feel the quality but it's harder to see. 
• Black leather tends to bleed color on our white breeches  -- not so with brown!
• Many  black saddles  fade to an ugly gray over time.
• I'm hearing that brown is making a comeback. Frankly I haven't noticed it here on the East Coast. Most people don't buy new tack on a whim, so it may be a slooowwwly emerging trend.

Brown does have some drawbacks -- related more to fashion than anything intrinsic to the color.

•  If you're thinking of buying a new saddle in brown, make sure the saddle is a keeper. My County saddle rep told me a brown saddle will sell for about 10-20% less than a black one.
• If you want to make the switch from brown to black, you may have to buy new accessories.  It is tacky to have a brown saddle and a black bridle, IMHO. If the saddle is dark brown, you may be able to use your black girth and leathers.
• Choices in brown accessories are limited compared to black saddles. For example, I love the EOUS Soft-Touch girths but they don't come in brown. 

BTW, it's not that I hate black. I've had black saddles for years. This is a nice change for me. In the end, it's what you like and what looks good on your horse. Judges just want to see a neat turnout and pleasing picture. 

RESOURCES
Dressage: Is brown tack okay? from Jessica Jahiel's Web site
Brown dressage tack from COTH
Brown tack in dressage in the HGS forum Brown v. black in the Ultimatedressage forum
Brown v. black tack in the Ultimatedressage forum

Bob is home!

Yes, Bob is home. But he is  a bit cross with me. My hospital "vigil" kept me at his side Thursday and Friday. With Bob on the mend Saturday, I snuck out to see the horses after lunch. Bob was supposed to be discharged at 5pm, but they let him go early. He left me seven voice mail messages, each one crabbier than the previous, and then he had to take a cab home.  Oops.

In my defense..

• I more or less lived at the hospital for several days.
• Bob campaigned for early release knowing I was not around to drive him.
• It's a 4 minute cab ride.

How ironic is it that we've transitioned so rapidly from tears and hand-holding to our normal banter and routine.  Days ago both of us feared he might have a serious/terminal illness. At the lowest point I had a crying jag in the hospital stairwell, followed by a blubbering phone call to my sister. Today he's cleaning out the refrigerator and chiding me for not  unloading the dishwasher while he was "out."

Oh well. Crabby is okay with me, and the old routine is welcome. I think we're both eager to leave the last three days behind. On the agenda for today? Bob's going to hang the steel stall guard on Riley's door.

The New Jersey legacy of horses: In jeopardy?

I have to admit I don't fully understand the implications of this the (possible) demise of live racing in NJ -- but this article does not paint a rosy picture...

clipped from www.nj.com

The Future of Racing in New Jersey Will Impact Sport Horses

Nancy Jaffer/For The Star-Ledger
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The bombshell revelation last week that horse racing has a questionable future in New Jersey also delivered a blow to the sport horse segment of the state's equine industry.

"It's an absolute disaster for me," said Pete Bousum, a veterinarian who is president of the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, where the size of the clinic was just doubled.

Standardbreds (harness racing), thoroughbreds (flat racing) and breeding are 60 percent of the facility's business, he said.

Update: It's looking better

UPDATE: Things are greatly improved. Friday it seemed like Bob was going downhill and the doctors didn't know what to do.  The diagnostic tests  (ultrasound, MRI, three CT scans) were coming back normal. White blood cell count was normal, but other signs of inflammation (sedimentation rate, others) were quite high. Temp spiking to 104.  He was on dilotin, a derivative of morphine I think, but no antibiotics. All day Thursday he was sweating and shaking and in pain. Very scary.

Friday morning things turned around. Bob woke up more lucid, less feverish, hungry, crabby. In the late afternoon he started turning away pain meds and his temp was down to near normal. His blood has been sent away to be cultured but we won't know anything about that for several days. He can go home when his temp is normal for 24 hours and he is eating (he can't hold anything down now),  or when they can ID the bug and administer an antibiotic to treat it.

History
Bob had not really been feeling good for about a month before, but nothing specific except some back pain. The best guess is that he had a viral/bacterial infection that was percolating and then Thursday in the wee hours it flared up.

I slept at home Friday (i love my bed i love my bed) and I'm heading over to the hospital now. Let's hope the good new keeps rolling in...

Pulling manes: Great tips from a pro groomer

Pulling Manes
If you haven't seen this article from The Chronicle of the Horse, give it a read! This groom has some great tips and detailed advice on mane pulling that I've never heard/read before.

clipped from www.chronofhorse.com

Grooming

How To Create A Perfectly Pulled Mane

By: Molly Sorge

Top braider Nancy Henson shows you how to make even the most difficult mane braidable.
For pictures to guide you on the way to a perfectly pulled mane, download the...

CONTINUE READING

Update: Worried

Hi all, 
Bob his in the hospital. I drove him to the emergency room Wed around midnight -- he had high fever, severe back pain, and abdominal pain.  No diagnosis or real improvement yet, as of Fri am. There is infection but we can't find the source. Some scary things have been ruled out but at the moment we're treating symptoms while waiting for access to diagnostic equipment. Blog posts are scheduled 4-5 days in advance, but I won't be online much to respond to comments, etc. Will post updates when I can. Thanks!

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Consumer Price Spot Check: Stall Gates

Riley enjoys a nice dutch door (bottom half only, no top half) on his stall. Unfortunately, he has gotten in the habit of thrusting his big head out of his dutch door and annoying boarders and their horses in nearby cross ties. He also likes to lean on the door (naughty naughty). The remedy, as usual, seems to be up-ending my wallet. The web stall guards don't work, he chews them to pieces. Gotta buy a stall gate. 

My shopping research
This 33X52 "show stall gate is available at a number of equestrian Web sites. I'm going to say they're all identical and from the same manufacturer.So let's do some cost comparisons!

1. The winner at $97 plus tax is Valley Vet Supply at $55 for the gate and $42 for shipping.
2. Dover Saddlery, total $159 plus tax ( $119 for the gate, about $40 for shipping). 
3. Shanes Tack, total $130 ($96 for gate,  $34 for shipping etc.)
4. Big Dees  over $109  (85 for gate, $24 for shipping)

Oh, and while I'm on the subject of stall gates, there are stall gates out there that look interesting (although not terribly chic). They're from Equigym and another company--not cheap, but they look safe don't they?

Riley does test 3 and test 4 at BCHP

Yesterday Riley did T3 and T4 at  the Bucks County Horse Park Tuesday evening dressage show. We went as part of a group, with some other of my trainer's clients, so it was a "hunter style" show, hanging out at the show grounds while the other clients rode. It was a pleasant day but buggy, and the weather was a little unpredictable.  Riley was more "up" and distracted than he had been the previous Saturday. Pictured right you'll see he was crabby during the warmup (see video if interested in the whole sequence of misbehavior).There may have been a gigantic fly on him somewhere, we don't know. He's never been so naughty under saddle.

Getting down to business
The mini-tantrum ended quickly, and in the rest of the warmup and in the actual tests he did very well. Although he seems a little tense at times,  it was a pretty respectable first "away from home" dressage show. There was "buzz" that this judge (an "L" judge) was a tough critic, and I have to admit I was a little taken aback by the Ri's scores -- he was in the fifties for both tests. We left before we had placings -- it'll be interesting to see where we stood relative to other horses under the same judge. 

Training 3

Training 4

How to recognize a broken saddle tree

So, I got my first saddle on trial, found online but the saddle was local so it was dropped off by the owner last week. In theory it was the perfect saddle, the make and model I wanted, reasonably priced, in good condition (judging from the picture). Except when I finally got it to test...

Something was wrong. I could tell right away.  It looked limp. Part of it was lack of flocking that was more pronounced on one side. It seemed a tad lumpy around the stirrup bars. When I asked over the phone why the saddle was for sale, the answer was just a little vague. I think the seller is an honest person, but...

I had a bad feeling.

You can test the tree by holding the saddle against your body and pulling the cantle toward you. I did this test. In addition to the flocking and velcro, I suspect the tree might be broken. This is not the saddle I trialed but here's what a broken tree looks like...

 Now, some saddles have more "flex" than others -- the Stubbens and Passiers, for example -- and the only way to really know the condition of the tree is to physically examine it. One model of Henning saddle (very expensive) had a flaw in it and the trees broke very easily.  I'm sure there are other saddles that are prone to breakage.  A friend even warned me that when you buy used online, you'll run into people trying to unload damaged saddles.

In short, I'm not sure I would try to buy online without a trial, and without making sure the seller has a great track record. Consignment shops may be the safest bet.

RESOURCE
Testing the saddle tree from Equisearch

Riley at Bucks County Horse Park: Videos and scores

Some history/background on the day: In a burst of last minute planning, we (Riley's trainer and I) decided to do two under saddle classes at a USDF breed show this weekend. BCHP is only 20 minutes from home. It was a great day, except for wasps (I was stung three times in the horse trailer). Riley must have played hard in the pasture the night before -- he was unusually quiet/sleepy all day. You can see in the footage he's a little pokey.

Placings/scores
 The classes were small, three entries, and a nice RPSI paint was having issues with flies that sort of took him out of the running. It really doesn't matter how many were in the class.  It doesn't matter how he placed, although who can deny the allure of a fluttering blue ribbon? Riley was a good boy from start to finish, and that's reward enough. Videos and scores are below...

First class: Materiale, Stallion -gelding under saddle, 3 years and olderJudge remarked on his elasticity and suspension.Walk 7.4; Trot 7.5; Canter 7.4; General Impression 7.5
Overall. 74.5%


Second class: Dressage suitability
The judge noted that he totally lost steam in this class...Walk 7.2; Trot 7.3; Canter 7.0Overall 71.7%



What do the scores mean?
Well, I think the numbers are assigned the same or similar meanings as in dressage performance tests (e.g., 6 is satisfactory, 7 is fairly good, etc.). From attending and competing in breed shows, my general impression is that horses with scores below 70 are missing some key component of good movement -- regularity, freedom of shoulder, push from behind, overtrack at the walk, whatever. In the case of weanlings/yearlings, it may mean that they bucked and cavorted so much the judge couldn't assess their gaits. A score of 70 or more puts a horse "in the ball park" to be a good, competitive riding horse. I think breeders hope for scores of 75% or better, and a horse that scores over 80% will have quite a "wow" factor.

Riley at Bucks County Horse Park: The pix

Riley at BCHP,  dressage suitability class

See more pix!