SportHorse 2014

THE ADVENTURES OF

THE ADULT AMATEUR

2014 Edittiioonn

» YOUNG TALENT: RIDERS WHO BALANCE IT ALL

220014 Eddiittiioonn

EquineJournalSUPPLEMENT TO

MUST READ:

RULE

CHANGES

FOR 2014

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No matter your age or exe perience level, you’lu’lllfinf d something in this special edition of f thethEquEquineine Jo Journu al. Andrea Reynes took a loook ok at atsusuccessfusf l junior ridders ana d how w thethey hy handandlele their mulultittitudeude of obligations in “A Life inBalalance.” Meanwwhile, e ourour fa favorvoriteite co comedic c wriwritert Angn e Fe Finnnn ch checkecked ed outout ho how tw the e mormore “e matmatureure” ridridersers on on th the se scencene he handle thethe prp essurer i in “Whatthethe He Heck ck Am Am I DI Doing Here?” No matmatterte thenumnumberber ofof candles on theeir laslast bt birtirthhday cakeke, ,thee passis on forr horses truly shines e througugh ah as s riders mamanagnage te heie r anxieties andand wo worklrkloadoad. .

As s the horse is at the foreorefrofrontnt oof thee spsportt, theh UnU ited Statates EquEquestestriarian Fn Fedeederatratioion (USEFS ) is looking tto po protrotectect th theirir be best st intinteerests, aas ws wellell as those se of of thethe ririderder. IIn “n “GaGame CChanhangerers,”s,” SaSarahrah WynWynne n Jackson explxplainains ts thhe newew 20201414 rulrules es andand howh they will aaffeffectct youyou an and td thhe sport t as as a wa wholh e.

Enjoy the thrill of the competition as you sit back and fllip thrh ough thish issue speciallycreated for you.

Sport Horse 22001144

Contents

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR/GENERAL MANAGERElisabeth Prouty-Gilbride

OPERATIONS MANAGERKelly Lee Brady

MANAGING EDITORKelly Ballou

EDITORIAL INTERNTERNJane CarCarltlton

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NEWS EDITORKathryn Selinga

SOCICCCCCCCCCCCC AL EDITORJennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ifer Roberts

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4 In Your Words | 9 Points of Interest | 12 Fitness

13 Getting to Know YouIn this special section, meet the farms and businesses that contribute to the success of top equine athletes in the sport horse world.

18 High StakesWho owns the high perfor-mance horses?BY PAMELA MANSFIELD

24 Balancing ActsMeet four young equestrians who manage their riding dreams with school, jobs, and friends.BY ANDREA REYNES

30 What the Heck Am I Doing Here?A humorous look at the adult amateur rider.BY ANGE DICKSON FINN

32 Game ChangersKnow the new rules in your divi-sion before show season starts.BY SARAH WYNNE JACKSON

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4 EQUINE JOURNAL | Sport Horse 2014

IN YOUR WORDS

My student says to me, “Find your happy place,” and I reply, “I’m on my happy place—the back of my horse!” That’s all I need andI’m relaxed to enter the ring.

-Jill Riordan

I just breathe.-Joelle Conover

I don’t compete, mainly because I get too nervous.

-Darlene Young

I say to myself and my horse, “Yes, it’s a competition, but it’s you and me kid. We’re doing our thing and we’redoing the best we can. So let’s do this.” People must thinkI’m nuts for muttering to my horse in an empty arena!

-Carly Hazer

I take some time to myself before I mount up—usually to do a word search or a crossword puzzle.

-Rachel Hearn

I don’t get nervous, I just go with it.

-Lorraine Wasso

I go in confident with my work at home, focus on improvingon my last outing, and let the chips fall where they may.

-Emily Conforti

I don’t try to calm my nerves—nerves are adrenaline, andadrenaline keeps my mindsharp and my responses quick.

-Jill Dingsdale Beltran-

I’ve learned that it is better to just welcome the nervesand get them out of the way before I get in the saddle. If I try to hold them in, they willend up affecting me all day long. I focus only on what needs to be done; nothingelse exists. I visualize the ridelong before I am in the ring. If my nerves start to hum, Ireplay the ride I want again.

-Deirdre Kameel

How doHow doyou calmyou calmyour nervesyour nervesbefore you before youcompete?compete?

From Our StaffI have to say, my nerves can get the best of me as I’m waiting at the ingate, ready to head in and do my round. However, once I walk through the gate and take a few deepbreaths, I’m ready to do what I came to the show for. Once I cue my horse for the canter, I find that my nerves melt away and I am ready to ride!

-Jennifer Roberts, Social Editor PH

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8 equine Journal | Sport Horse 2014


points of interestSport Horse 2014

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improving the metabolism and balancing the horse’s digestion. They are also an excellent tonic for the kidneys, spleen, and bladder. Being high in sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium makes the plant a naturally occurring electrolyte. You can feed your horse dried or fresh leaves to help him reap the benefits.

POWER TO THE FLOWERSimproving the metabolism and balancing the horse’s digestion. » DANDELIONS ARE KNOWN AS A LIVER CLEANSER AND TONIC,

Sport Horse 2014S t H 2014 || EQUINEJOURNAL.COM EQUINEJOURNAL COM 99

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POINTS OF INTEREST

Sight Unseen

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Yes 11%

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While you spend hours in the saddle training your horse and yourself for the next competition, mental preparation is often neglected. This book takes a look at the emotionalchallenges as well as clearly defined steps tosuccess in the saddle with a variety of stress-management skills,relaxation techniques, and goal-setting toolsall presented in a humorous manner.

BOTTOM LINE: Whether you are a serious competitor or just starting out,this book will inspire you to reach for your goals, while havingfun with your horse.

Pressure Proof Pressure Proof Your Riding: MentalYour Riding: MentalTraining TechniquesTraining Techniquesto Gain Confi denceto Gain Confi denceand Get Motivatedand Get MotivatedSo You (and Your So You (and Your Horse) AchieveHorse) AchievePeak PerformancePeak Performance

BY DANIEL STEWART, 192 pages, paperback,Trafalgar Square Books (HorseAndRiderBooks.com), 2013, $26.95.

[ BOOK ]

Want to be included in our polls? Visit us on Facebookby scanning the QR Code with your smartphone.

MEDIAREVIEW

POLL

We asked: Would you ever buy a horse without seeinghim in person?

Products containing valerian root, an herbaltranquilizer, can result in a positive finding of aforbidden substance in the blood or urine of ahorse. Therefore, the United States Equestrian

Federation recommends that a horse be withdrawn from competition for at least

seven days after the ingestion of any product containing this ingredient.

Tips To Plan Your Warm-Up BeforeYou ShowBY NANCY WESOLEK-STERRETT; HEAD OFDRESSAGE, MEREDITH MANOR INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

WINNING RIDES DEPEND ON A PRE-CLASS WARM-UP SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR THE INDI-VIDUAL HORSE. At the very least, a warm-up routineestablishes rhythm and relaxation while creatinga connection to the aids. Trainers and seasoned competitors understand that one of the best waysto win classes is to plan the right warm-up. Here area few pointers to consider before you leave the barnso you have a warm-up plan that maximizes your horse’s performance and reduces your show jitters.

KNOW YOURSELF, KNOW YOUR HORSE ThisEsounds so obvious. But how many times have you seen someone longeing their horse for hoursto tire him out enough so they can feel comfort-able getting on his back for a class? Or endlesslydrilling on movements until their horse loses his edge before they go through the ingate? These are rider confidence issues and no warm-up routinecan fix them. Work at home to find better ways todeal with your energetic horse or to feel confidentusing and coordinating your aids before you startpenciling shows in on your calendar.

CHOOSE APPROPRIATE SHOWS AND CLASSESYour horse’s age, training level, condition, and energy drive will determine how many classes a day he can handle. For a weekend show, it’s ideal to arrive on Friday, allowing your horse time to work the travel kinks out of his muscles, settle down inthe new environment, and return to as normal apattern of eating, working, and resting as possible.

ESTABLISH ROUTINES Horses are creatures of Sroutine. Develop routines at home and follow themas closely as possible when you reach the show grounds. Build warm-up routines into your trainingsessions, then make them part of your show ringwarm-up. Have a plan and stick to it. The familiaritywill help your horse relax and focus on your aids more easily. Try not to focus on your surroundings, just concentrate on yourself and your horse.

HAVE A BACKUP PLAN Develop warm-up routines at home but be ready for circumstances like weather or class cancellations that can abruptlychange the best-laid plans. If your class is calledearly, be ready with a “short program” warm-uproutine you can do in five to 10 minutes and be ready to go. However, stay calm and do not let thechanged circumstances create a sense of anxietythat you transmit to your horse.

If you are just starting to show a horse, it may takea few shows until you figure out the warm-up routine that best suits a particular horse. Plan your showroutines, but also prepare to blow a show or two untilyou figure out what works for you and your horse. Remember that the most important thing is to havefun and enjoy the journey.

BE AWARE



HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A situation where you are working so hard during a lesson your body just quits? Your trainer is probably frus-trated and insisting that you push through the fatigue. Continuing around the arena with burning muscles and aching joints, your body finally demands a walk transi-tion for a break. After you’re done apologizing to your trainer for the lack of stamina, take a minute to find out what happened. From here, you can build a training plan to help increase your stamina in the saddle.

I’ve been there as both the student and the frustrated trainer. When you’re riding and there is absolutely no way to keep going, take walk breaks. Let your body actively recover before moving on with work in the arena.

What is happening inthe saddle to cause your muscles to fail? Maybe you have an imbalance that is causing certain muscles to be overworked. It could also simply be caused by a lack of strength. The body quits when its ability to func-tion becomes compromised by lack of oxygen in the muscle, depletion of energy (ATP), or build up of lactic acid. Essentially, your muscle loses power. Taking walk breaks allowsoxygen back into the muscles, lactic acid to drain, and ATP to be regener-ated for use. Even if you feel like you are taking a walk break every five minutes, do it to supply your muscles with what they need.

Your muscles becoming fatigued can be attributed to not eating correctly before riding. Muscles need glycogen to be readily available for endurance. If your diet restricts you from properly fueling your body, you will fatigue in the saddle.

Muscle endurance, itself, needsto be trained in the workout roomthrough strength training. Addingforce to your muscle structure(ie. dumbbells, free weights, body weight or pilates) is the only way for the threshold to increase beyond itscurrent state. Riders are very strong and the higher the level in riding,the more endurance you have. If you never lift weights, muscles willalways stay efficient for carryingbody weight in everyday activitiesand nothing more. What happenswith a horse that pulls or wantsto drift? Your muscles need to bestrong enough to help fix any of hismistakes and imbalances.

Most riders are extremely dominant in the inner thigh. It’sactually a smaller muscle relativeto the surrounding muscle groups(the quadriceps and hamstring). Ittends to take on too much of theworkload in the saddle. When theinner leg overworks, it gets shorter and shorter, causing the leg to pullout of alignment. A stronger inner thigh usually means a weaker outer thigh. The body gets pulled out of alignment by these imbalances,which could leave you with lowback or hip pain. Additionally, posi-tion problems will also arise whenmuscle imbalances are present. Itis important to develop symmetry;the only way this can be achieved isthrough strength training.

BRIDGET BRADEN is the innovation behindthe popular BioRider Fitness program, including a full line of video workouts. Sheis also a USDF Gold Medalist and the head trainer at BioRiderDressage at Sterling Farms in North San Diego County, CA.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Most riders are extremely dominant in the inner thigh, but have a weaker outer thigh.

Strength training with dumbbells, free weights, body weight, or pilates will help you build muscle endurance.

StrengthTrainingBY BRIDGET BRADEN

Muscle Failure in the

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GETTING TO KNOW

YOUIn this special section, get to know the farms and businesses that

contribute to the success of top equine athletes in

the sport horse world.

SPECIALADVERTISING

SECTION



LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY OFVirginia, Cedar Creek Stables focuses on the breeding and sales of the impressive and unique Knabstrupper horse. With their limited numbers, farm owner and manager Melyni Worth PhD, hasworked to bring popularity to the breed while staying true to theKnabstrupper ideals.

Melyni explains, “The Knabstrupper is a rare and unusual breedof horse, bred by mostly hobby breeders in Denmark and Germany;the breed has a long history and several times has been in danger of disappearing altogether. One of the aims and purposes of our breeding program is to help maintain a population so that the breed can stay a viable breed of horse. Of course we cannot dothat alone, but we can do our small part along with all the other breeders across the world.”

Founded in 2006, CCS is one of the largest breeders of its kind,and has imported a number of Knabstruppers from both Denmark and Germany, with the hopes of not only producing excellent ridinghorses but also to breed contrasting bloodlines. Over time, the farmplans to import more horses from England and other countries to join their herd.

Breeding four to five foals each year, CCS has a selection of selec-tively bred young Knabstruppers available for purchase, as well as standing the remarkable stallion Halifax Middelsom.

Halifax Middelsom is a fully licensed stallion with the Knabstrupperforeningen for Danmark (KNN), having passed his riddenperformance test in 2010. Halifax shows a superb disposition and greattrainability, as well as his ability to throw color; he will be tremendously useful as a cross onto warmblood mares producing color, trainability,and great movement. He competes successfully at Fourth Level dres-sage as well as being a force to reckon with in the jumper arena.

Being a “few spot” Knabstrupper, Halifax Middelsom is homozygous for color, making him an excellent choice for producing a spottedsport horse. Approved registered warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Arabians are permitted outcrosses for the Knabstrupper breed, with the resulting foals being eligible for KNN registration.

If you are looking for a top quality horse that will get you noticed with a splash of color, consider the Knabstrupper. With only 70-80registered horses in America, they are a rare treasure of the equine world. For more information on the farm as well as the Knabstrupper breed, call Melyni at 540-294-3003 or visit knabstruppers4usa.com.

Equine Journal Advertorial

Cedar Creek StablesAdding a Flash of Color to the Sport Horse ArenaSTAUNTON, VIRGINIA

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Halifax Middelsom, a purebred Knabstrupper stallion (Harlequin Middelsom x Celeste Middelsom).

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Sport Horse 2014 | EQUINEJOURNAL.COM 15

Equine Journal Advertorial

Meet the KnabstrupperNEW TO THE UNITED STATES, THE KNABSTRUPPERhorse originated in Denmark, and has since spread toseveral countries in northern Europe. They are bred inGermany, Holland, England, Sweden, and Norway as wellas the original Denmark.

Believed to have originated from the pre-historyspotted horses of Europe, the Knabstrupper is one of the oldest breeds in Europe. Established in 1812, theKnabstrupper started with a single chestnut blanketed mare purchased by a Danish businessman named Flaebfrom a Spanish cavalry officer in Zealand, Denmark.

Knabstruppers are valued for their kind temperaments, high level of trainability, strength, stamina, and robustgood health as well as for their wonderful color. At the turn of the century, Knabstruppers were very popular inthe circuses of Europe, due to their high trainability.

The Knabstrupper horse exhibits the same color patterns as the American Appaloosa, as they share thesame color genes. The most popular color pattern isleopard; a solid white background covered with black, bayor chestnut spots. Other patterns include blanket, snow-flake, snowcap and “few spot,” an almost solid white horse that, when bred, always produces a foal with a spotted pattern. There are also solid colored Knabstruppers. Breedregistration is on pedigree and inspection of body type,not color, though it is for their loud color that most people recognize the Knabstrupper.

But the best part of a Knabstrupper is not the color but the excellent mind, and the work ethic and the willingness to be trained. Knabstruppers make outstanding amateur mounts and can be seen doing just about anything a horse can do.

CCS Theoden, sired by Ecuador Skødstrup (KNN) out of anOldenburg mare, competes at Dressage at Devon, display-ing the kind of quality horse you get with a Knabstrupper/warmblood cross.

CCS Silinde (Apollon [KNN] x Linda V Nordstern [KNN]) isa purebred Knabstrupper mare, seen here during the pace track at her inspection.

The few spot KNN mare, Paula v Falkonhorst, with her son CCS Rumil (by RSF Shakespeare), and his buddy CCSCelebor (Ravaldi [KNN] x Demoiselle D’Avignon [Hann]).

CCS Legolas (Don Principe [Hann] x Peony v Falkenhorst [KNN]), wasreserve champion in the Three-Year-Old Materiale class at Dressage atDevon in 2013.

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HIGHSTAKES

WHO OWNS THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE HORSE?

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MMMcouldn’t imagine finding the horse of our dreams, then selling MMop riders in eventing, dressage, and show jumping typically areMMle owners of the high performance horses they ride in competi-MMn stakes change, they risk losing their best mounts despite their MMand their love for the animal.MMThe reality is that talented sport horses cost a lot of money to buy and

maintain. It takes patrons, sponsors, and partners that provide financial backing and share a devotion to the sport itself to help keep it going.


SUPPORT SYSTEM“I would go so far as to say that 90% of the riders in the sport of show jumping don’t own their own horses,” says Peter Wylde, one of the United States’ top show jumping riders, who rode on the U.S. Olympic Gold Medal team in 2004 on the mare, Fein Cera. Wyldefound partners to buy the horse after the pair had their first victory at the 2001 World Cup. Though not an easy horse, she realized her full potential with Wylde.

“Once a top horse becomes a really top horse, they pay their way handsomely, but it’s getting the horse to that point. The average rider needs to have support and to be funded. Most of us don’t have that kind of bank account ourselves,” he says.

Six years after making Olympic history with Fein Cera, Wylde found Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof, and he knew he had another potential Olympic mount. Again he found financial backers, and invested a third of the cost himself. But a year later, Wylde and his partners were made an offer they couldn’t refuse. They agreed to sell the horse to buyers eager to excel in the sport and willing to invest. Renamed Hello Sanctos, the horse went on to win the Olympic Team Gold Medal for Great Britain with rider Scott Brash.

Wylde acknowledges that allriders can be sentimental but, “thereality is that money is important.I bought a third because I wantedto keep the horse, I knew he wasso good. I bought him as a seven-year-old so that I would have a horse for my future. Eleven monthslater we were offered more than 10times the price. I agreed with my co-owners that we had to sell thehorse. You would love to say ‘I willnever sell my horse’—some havethat luxury, but most people don’t.Even though you’re rememberingthere is nothing like having a goldmedal, unfortunately you have tothink the horse could get injured,something could happen, and hecould be worth nothing. I just can’tjustify not selling my horse for thatmuch profit.”

Brash was fortunate in havingthe Lord and Lady Harris and Lordand Lady Kirkham as benefac-tors, and the partnership has beena thrilling one as he and HelloSanctos are now the top showjumping combination in the world.“Scott Brash is in his mid to late20s and had been dabbling towardthe top 30 in the sport. When youcombine a rider like Scott Brashwith two very wealthy individualsbehind him, the translation is now‘he is number one in the world,’”explains Wylde.

THE COSTS OF COMPETINGEven the sport of eventing hasbecome an increasingly expen-sive playing field. Top eventrider Sharon White says that inher sport, “Costs are going up.The caliber of horses is so muchgreater, that more and more ridersare actively seeking co-ownersand syndications. We still haveplenty of off-track Thoroughbredsowned by people that startedthem—that’s the wonderful thingabout eventing. We have horsesimported from Europe for topmoney, and still have off-trackThoroughbreds who are all of a sudden on the short list.”

She asserts that high perfor-mance owners are invaluableto the future of eventing, andthe majority of top eventershave more than one owner. Thewebsite experienceeventing.com was established to appealto potential owners with afford-able syndicates. Riders like Whiteare featured there along with thehorses for whom they are seeking financial partnerships.

Often, it’s the riders them-selves who have to find financialbacking. “I currently have twoAdvanced horses, one that I havebrought along since he was a four-year-old, owned by myself and

BY PAMELA MANSFIELD


a good friend. When I was trying tofigure out how I could afford to keephim, I approached her. Now we ownhim together.” Her partner is also anevent rider but competes at a lower level. Sharon competes at four-starsand was named to the 2014 HighPerformance Winter/Spring TrainingList with their horse, Wundermaske.

TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPSSharon has also experienced losing a horse she loved because the financeswere not in her favor. It’s hard to losenot only the opportunity, but also a horse one has cared for.

“In any discipline it’s a risk you takeas a rider and you have to come toterms with it. I devote 24 hours a day to these horses—I’m never not thinkingabout them. So you surround yourself with people you can trust with your life who are there for you.” She likensco-ownership to a marriage wherethere are “good times and hard times,and the highs are so high and lowsare so low. Anyone who wants to beinvolved in the sport knows that theowners are beyond dear. They do thisfor the love of the sport and love of thehorse and the relationship, becauseanything can go wrong. Owners gowith you to shows. I have a relation-ship with all of my owners where Ifeel like I could call at any time.” They share in successes, the love of thehorses, and the exhilaration of thisexciting sport, as well as the lifestyle.

A good understanding and harmo-nious relationship is essential, saysWylde. “It’s difficult for any rider when a horse is sold and there isan owner/rider breakdown in a relationship. It’s career changingfor somebody when you take away funding. No matter how talented youare, you need to have horse power and financial backing behind you.”

Every rider and owner should ironout all the details of an agreement andhave a clear understanding before-hand. Often the horse increases invalue under the rider’s training andguidance, and the rider should becompensated accordingly, Wylde says.

Top riders like White and Wyldeare not only in the saddle each day,training, warming up, and competing;they are traveling, teaching studentsor working with a trainer, and over-seeing a myriad of details about their

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horses’ care, stabling, maintenance at peak performance, and shipping by road or air to shows around the world. A horse can sell for as much as $3 to $5 million. Factor in all the costs to maintain and show a horse, travel to shows and fly to Europe, and the expenses can easily reach $100,000 a year for a top Grand Prix horse.

WORDS OF WISDOMHow can riders get the support they need to continue to advance in the sport?

“You work hard every day. Youtake care of the horses you have and present them to the best of your ability and stay interested in everything about that horse. Be welcoming to the people you meet who want to enjoy the sport as much as you do,” says White.

Wylde, who is also vice-chairmanand head clinician for the USHJA’sEmerging Athletes Program, says, “Your reputation as an individual as well as a rider means a lot. You are a product or an entity that people are judging by the way you conduct your-self and run your stable. What seems

to work is, that you not only ride well, but you conduct yourself well in busi-ness and treat owners with respect. Everything is give and take. People notice that—the whole package.”

Wylde likens the sport of show jumping to Formula 1 racing or sailboatracing. “We argue back and forth about which is more expensive. With show jumping as an Olympic sport, there’s no comparison. But it’s not just a rich person’s sport. Plenty of riders come from no money and can get to the top. Yes, it’s much easier if you’re super rich, but if you’re good enough and willing to work hard enough you can.”

Making important connections and promoting equestrian sports wherever possible should be a way of life for competitors. “We always need more owners and sponsors. The more that people talk about it and welcome others to our events, encourage anyone who wants to go watch horses do amazing things, and make it special and all inclu-sive, the better,” says White.

In most sports, athletes enlist the help of an agent to manage their

careers. While equestrians have notalways taken that route, Wylde isone who has recognized the value inhaving someone to help him negotiateand manage his sponsorships, and toprovide public relations support for him personally, and for his business,Mullenders & Wylde Horses, Inc.Wylde works closely with the DobbinGroup LLC, which helps to maintainproactive communication with themedia and his supporters, and touncover sponsorship opportunitiesthat will benefit the business.

Things are different in Europe,Wylde concedes, where equestriansports have a large audience and oftentop riders are given VIP treatment.But he sees improvements in the U.S.“When you offer a good product for people to watch, like what they’vedone here in Wellington (Florida), ithas been great for us. The grand prixare so exciting to watch on Saturday night. Everybody can come and watchor they can watch on the computer.The jump-offs are brilliant now thatthe level has gotten so high. Peopleinterested in the sport can watch andlearn about it. It’s attracting moresponsorship money. Being a big owner in Wellington has a certain stature—owners are so appreciated and a lot of networking goes on there. People areattracted to that lifestyle.”

“YOU WORK HARD EVERY DAY. YOU TAKE CARE OF THE HORSES YOU HAVE AND PRESENT THEM TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY AND STAY INTERESTED IN EVERY-THING ABOUT THAT HORSE. BE WELCOMING TO THE PEOPLE YOU MEET WHO WANT TO ENJOY THE SPORT AS MUCH AS YOU DO.”

- SHARON WHITE

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Sport Horse 2014 | equineJournal.com 23



MEET FOUR

BALANCINGLANCIN

BY ANDREA REYNES

YOUNG EQUESTRIANS WHO MANAGE

THEIR RIDING DREAMS WITH

SCHOOL, JOBS, AND FRIENDS



the first carriage driver to win United States Equestrian

Federation (USEF) Junior Equestrian of the Year (2011), said he realized to be good inequestrian sport, he had to give up playing American Legion amateur league baseball. In 2007, Arnold decided to devote his time to justone sport, and between then and 2011, when he competed in combined driving events, hestudied for school during the evening. Arnold was home schooled, as his parents thought thatworked better for his education and it turned out that method offered the flexibility for his upper-level equestrian direction.

The lives of teenage equestrians are often at full tiltwhen they focus on performance showing. The challengebecomes how to balance their lives.

Arnold credits his parents’ time and resourcesfor supporting his aspiration. When Arnold wasshowing in Florida, he drove the family’s Chevy truckand gooseneck with his horse on board from NorthCarolina, his mother, father, and brother accompanyinghim. His parents worked on their laptops for their jobs,which had flexible schedules. He also credits teachershe’s trained with, among them, Ijsbrand Chardon of Holland, who won 11 gold medals.

Arnold, now 21 years old, is the first Apprentice Driver in the Live Oak Combined Driving Inc. Developing Driver Program, created by 11-time U.S. Four-in-Hand DrivingChampion Chester Weber.

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Jacob Arnold at the 2012 LittleEverglades Combined Driving Event.

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learned how to arrange a

full life when she progressed from riding at eight years old with Olympic level dressagerider Lendon Gray to showing Young RidersIntermediaire I Level dressage at 17.

During the 2011 Festival of Champions in Gladstone, NJ, Chowanec, then 17 years old, was doing her home-work while sitting in Mouse’s stall—her grey Spanish horse. She had a cooler that Mouse had won wrapped around her to keep warm in the cool October tempera-tures. Chowanec was working on a 15-page English paper for her online course at Quineberg Valley College in Willimantic, CT. As she wrote about the national health-care system, her gelding looked out of his metal stall gate, watching horses and riders walk by. In addition to a riding lesson that morning, Chowanec had managed to spring into schoolwork, and drive her parents to the airport, at an event where many riders would have nothing else to focus on but the celebrated event.

Chowanec was awarded USEF Reserve National Championship Young Rider in the Intermediaire Level

in 2011. During the week of the show, she continued working at Hampton Green Farms, an upper-level P.R.E.dressage and breeding stable in Fruitport, MI.

Now, at 19 years old, the aspiring trainer is being prepped for managing Hampton Green. Chowanec is close to her family, she says, but she’s had to sacrifice family time for her equestrian aspirations. Living at Hampton Green Farms, riding three horses a day, plus six hours of barn management, she now sees her family in Columbia, CT, usually just at holidays. Her friendsare mainly within the show world. As she learned the value of fitness at dressage chef d’equipe Robert Dover’s Horsemastership Clinic and Lendon Gray’s Winter Intensive Program, she spends one to two hours at the gym several days a week.

Chowanec’s plan is to prepare for the Brentina Cup—a championship program helping Young Riders evolve to Grand Prix competition.

was receiving texts fromWill Coleman about how

to ride the North American Junior/Young RidersChampionship (NAJYRC) CCI1* cross-country course two years ago, while Coleman was preparing to compete in the 2012 Olympics. Booth was a working student for Coleman duringthe summer of 2012, working six days a week, 12-14 hour days, grooming, exercising horses, and cleaning stalls. She studied for her AdvancedPlacement (AP) classes in the evening.

“Friends understand I have a big commitment, I don’tspend as much time with them as they do with each other. I have a couple close riding friends who understand the level of dedication and what I’m trying to do,” says Booth.

“I have a mental list of what to do,” she says, explaining how she keeps up with it all. She prioritizes and plans ahead. Since no one can do all that alone, Booth credits the support of her parents with her venture.

Qualifying for the Young Riders Championship, a high-light competition for riders of various English disciplines age 14 to 21, is an honor. The qualification and selection requires an intensive devotion of time, explains her mother, Roxanne Booth. Only so many can qualify, and the aspiring entrant doesn’t know if they are selected until a fewweeks before the competition. While the Booth family has kids with other interests, June and July was reserved for Morgan when she was chosen for Young Riders. “Preparing P

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for the event meant focusing on preparation every day,” says her mother. She is an avid supporter of her daughter at shows, going out early in the week to the NAJYRCs, her husband coming out later, and Morgan’s grandfather making his presence there on Skype.

“As a working student, Morgan got to know the lifestyle,” explains her mother, a former three-day event rider. Being a working student at Coleman’soperation instead of paying for lessons was a choice, explains Morgan.

For Morgan, the Young Riders is a phase in her life, and horses may be a career. “There is always the question of how much time one spends with horses—what goes into making a top rider?” says her mother. “Do you take 12 months a year, and spend every day on horses? To do so can be hard on the budget, hard on the physical being, and limit opportunities to pursue other interests.”

The Booths own Hidden Spring Farm, which has 13 horses, and Morgan helps with farm duties. She says a lot of equestrians she competes with for the Young Riders are home schooled. The method is a way of adjusting to the time demands on an upper-level athlete. Morgan has chosen to remain at a traditional high school, which often requires complicated scheduling; last spring the CCI1* at the Virginia Horse Trials startedin the middle of final exams. The young athlete drove between the show grounds and school several times to enable both to happen. “I try not to sacrifice school-work, because it is just a sport at the end of the day.”

As she prepares for college, Morgan is considering mixing academics with competing on an equestrian team contending for an NCAA National Championship. This is a way to continue to improve her riding without the time constraints of keeping a horse fit for the upper levels of eventing.

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Kate Morrison credits parental support and good fortune to sustaining her riding dreams.



jumper competitor, rode in the High

Amateur-Owner class at the Winter Equestrian Festival in 2013 while wearing a back brace, still healing two ruptured discs after a riding fall. She had some concerns about starting again with her injury, as well as trying to learn what worked with Windoctro, a horse she found difficult to ride. As her coach Angela Moore instructed, Kate had to pick Windoctro back up in the middle of the course. She half-halted him after a steady line. Then she urged him on with her legs. Windoctro rallied and they finished the coursesuccessfully. The time Morrison had previously put into learning how to ride Windoctro had resulted in a partnership with the horse that still thrived.

Morrison had taken a year off from school to accomplish her goals. She interned with professionalphotographer James Parker, a prelude to a shift to becoming a photography major in college. Morrison set up her classes at Savannah College of Art and Design (where one of her showing comrades, Christine Firestone attends) for Monday through Thursday. From Friday to Sunday, she flies to Florida to compete on the jumper circuit for the winter months until April. Following that,she mainly lives life on the road, competing at shows in South Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, Chagrin Valley,Indiana, and Tennesee.

She credits parental support and good fortune to sustaining such a life. “I’m privileged,” she says. Morrison defines success in the sport not necessarily to winning, but feeling like she is accomplishing something.

Accomplishing Goals:

Kate Morrison,n


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ard secret about my riding, and I’m going to share it with you righthave this awkward secret about my h I’ve been taking lessons and doing shows here in this article. You see, even though I’ve been

big shows and won some aboard a horse for six years, and have been in some big showrespectable ribbons…I really didn’t know how to ride.

my ribs. Even That is, not until I took my first tumble off my horse last year and broke my rmy ribsththenen, II ononlyly l leaearnrneded h howow t too riridede b bececauausese I I w wanantetedd toto g getet b bacackk inin t thehe s sadaddldlee anandd mmy

e and weren’t really ready. The only way I could ride without pain was to tighten my core annotice my movement on my horse, and harmonize with her movements.

IIn o hther wordds, iridde.


ThThThananankkk gogogoodododnenenessssss II I dd didididn’n’n ttt lililistststenenen tt tooo mmymy dd docococtototorr,r, oo orrr III stststililillll wouldn’t know how to ride. Her face was a study indisbelief when I asked if it was too soon to get back on my horse at three and a half weeks post-break. She said, “I wouldn’t recommend it unless you can be absolutely certain that you won’’t fall again.”” Riiigggght. I would havelaughed, but laughing hurt even more than riding.

SSo t thhere I I was on my h horse att ththe walklk, hholdldiingg myself steady and realizing, wow, my mare is actually rerespsponondidingng,, shshororteteniningng h herer s strtrididee anandd cocollllecectitingng h hererseselflf,, too. This makes me possibly the slowest and densest learner of all time.

There was another thing the whole experience taught me, and that was how much I don’t want to ever fall off again.And yet I know there are those of you out there thinking I’m aa wiwimpmp a andnd t trryiningg toto c coountnt upp alalll ththee titimemess oyou’u’ eve f falallelenn. Falling-off stories are second only to trailer disaster stories as the favorite anthem of the show set.

BBut bby a certaiin age, a new reffr iain starts to creep iin. Like, “I don’t bounce like I used to.” And, “I just can’ttake the chance of being laid up—I have a job/family/life to think about.”

SSo as ththe ddecaddes pass, lalll you hwho as k kidids ggallllop ded around the prairies, or hacked the countryside, or jumped anything in your way are now…cautious.

We look at jumps differently. We look at trails differ-ently. We look at the ground differently.

Up until your 20s and 30s, you injure yourself and all you need is a little ice and a day’s rest. In your 50s, you’re still paying for your fun or stubbornness two, three, four we keks llater.

ThThThererere’ee sss onononlylyly oo onenene tt thihihingngngg tt thahahattt tatatakekekesss lololongngnggererer tt tooo hehehealalal tt thahahannn ououourrr bbodidieses: oourr egeggoo. A Ass aa oyoy nungegeg rr iridderr oyoy u imighghg tt hha eve b beeeenn coco kckckyy,, ff f lulullll fofof c cononfififiddedencncee,, a a dndnd w wililillililingngg tt too ttatakkeke r riisiskksks.

RReReReacacachhhh aaa cecece trtrtrt iaiaiainnn agagageee ananandddd llelelevevevellll fofofof aa accccccomomom lplplpliisisishhmhmhmenenentttt iininin mm manananyyy tototothheheherrr ararareaeaeasss fofofof lll lififififee,e,, aa a dndndnd yy yououou fff feeeeeellll didididifffffffferererenenentltltltlyyy babababouououtttt itititit.. YYoYoYouuu mamamayyy

stststarararttt asasaskikikikingngngg yy yyououoursrsrs lelelelfff,f,, aa asss IIII ddododo oo onnn ananan aa allmlmlmosososttt ddadadaililililyyy y bbababa isisisiss,s,, ““ WhWhWhWhyyy ythe e heck aam m I herere oon n mymy hororsese’s bacack,, doingngg tthis s thing gg thatat I’I’II mmm stststililililllll nononottt rerere lalalalllylyly gg goooooodddd atatat,, hwhwhwhenenen III I cc couououldldldld bbb beee ddododoiininingg—g hohohoh,, IIII dodon’n tt knknowow, ananytythihingng e elslsee ththatat d doeoesnsn’tt e eatat h hayay, rereququiriree spspececiaiall clclotothehess anandd vevehihiclcleses, anandd ofoftetenn reresusultlt i inn egeggg onon m myy fafacece?”?

ItIt’ss n noo susurprppririsese, , ththenen, , ththatat w wee dedevevelolopp,p, a ahehemm,, w worork-kararououndnds.s. C Copopiningg ststraratetegigieses.. AvAvoioidadancncee bebehahaviviorors,s, e eveven.n.

HHaaveve y yyouou a a dndd y yyouourr irididid ngngg b bb dududdidid eses e empmppllooyeyey dd d ananyy y fofo ththee fofollllowowining?g?

■ PERFORORMANCNCE-NUMBING G DRUGUGS.S. Thaank ggood-dconcerned with nenessss t thehe s shohoww gogovevernrniningg bobodidieses a arere o onlnlyy coconcncerernenedd wiw th

performance-enhancing substances in our horses. cattchihi gng perfformance-e hnhan iThat leaves us free to experiment with ways to take the

edededgegege oo offffff oo o rurur oo o nwnwn aa annxnxieieiettyty.. WhWhWhicicichhh ararareee tototoooo mamamannyny tt tooo cococo nununtt,t, in my experience. They range from medicinal whiskey to herbal supplements to off-label uses of legitimate medica-tions. And my personal favorite, acupoint tapping.

s—Hypnosis and sports psychology and lucky talismans—we’’re willing to try them all, if it helps us take even a

ring small percentage of what we had in the schooling riniintto t thhe shhow iri gng.

■ PRE-RIDE PRECAUTIONS. nal choice My personalievers before isis j jusustt toto g goo ahaheaeadd anandd tatakeke t thehe p paiainn rerelilieve e

ng start on the sore I mount up. At least I have a running stdustry dedicated to muscles. But there’s a whole indus

nimize post-ride pain before helping you exercise to minims and calisthenics. Workout you mount up. Stretches a

oga (I can’t do it on the mat, much routines. Mounted yog.) Thingamajigs you wrap around your-lelessss o onn ththee hohorsrsee.)) T

traight in the saddle. You didn’t need these self to sit up strads, did you? Jump on, fall off, jump back on things as kids

ose were the days.ag iain. T Thhos■ DING (IF YOU CAN).HID I like pleasure classes

se, if I’m having a bad horse day, I have company. becausepany I can hide behind. Or rate behind. Or at least try Comp

ccomplish that sleight-of-horse that I hope will distract tto acjudge (it doesn’t, of course, but we take our comfort the j

ere we can). If it’s a big class, somebody’s going to be wheng off the rail at some point—giving me a chance to ridin

behind them! Of course, you risk not being seen, but hide btimes that’s the point. someti

■ RAYER. PRA I’m a big fan of prayer, especially whencking. At a recent show one of our junior skill is lacki

was watching a class, and asking the trainer comppetiitors war horse was trying to cut into the middle. whwhwhatatat tt tooo dododo ii ifff heheherrr hhho

supplied my advice: “Pray. It won’t WiWiththooutt hhe isitatatitionon, , II ssupppway.” I don’t know why the ddodo a anyny g ggooooddd,, bb b tutut dd doo ititit a anynywaway.

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ddadadaysysysy .. OOnOnOncecece III I’d’ddd hhh hiititit aa a cc cererertatataiininin pp pp ioioiointntnt iii innn hthththeee mememelltltlt dd-ddowowownnn prprp ococesess s in tthe rring,gg, ppprarayeey r r waas s all I had left.

■ HUHUHUHUMOMOMOMORRR.R. MMM Myyy dadadad ivivivicecece::: lalalalwawawaysysys lll lauauau hghghgh aa attt yoyoyourururseseselflflflf fff fiiririrststst,, lolongngesestt, a andnd l lououdedestst. ThThatat w wayay y youou c canan p preretetendnd e eveveryryononee elelsese i iss lalaugughihingng w witithh yoyouu, i insnsteteadad o off atat y youou. WhWhyy elelsese wowoululdd II wrwrititee ovoverer a andnd o oveverr inin g ggrereatat d detetaiaill ababououtt alalll ththee

ue to do, huhumimililiatatiningg ththiningsgs I I’vvee dodonene,, anandd wiwillll l likikelelyy cocontntininueue to doonon a a h hororsese?? ShShS ee hwhoo llaaugugghhss l lasastt,t,, l lasasttsts..

GE DICKSON FINNANGE DICKSON is an award-winning freelance writer, western pleasure competitor, and retired horse show mom who enjoys laughing at herself. Visit her at ridewithoutfear.com, oremail her at [email protected].



GAMECHANGERS

KNOW THE NEW RULES IN YOUR DIVISION BEFORE THE SHOW SEASON STARTS

BY SARAH WYNNE JACKSONPHOTOS BY AK DRAGOO PHOTOGRAPHY

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June 2014 | EQUINEJOURNAL.COM 33

As times change and new problems come to light, the United States Equestrian Federation modifies their rulebook to keep step with today’s horse sports. Oftentimes, changes to the rules simply clarify practices that are already in place. That’s the case

this year with changes to the dressage and jumper division rules. Other rule changes protect show horses from unethical actions, maintain a fair playing field, or prevent rider injury.

Some recent rule changes were made on an extraordinary basis. GR151 defines an extraordinary rule change as, “…one that, unless expedited, would create or continue a severe hardship or a gross unfairness to the Federation, its members or their horses, its Licensed Competitions, or its Recognized Affiliate Associations…”

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GENERAL RULES:HORSE WELFARETwo new rules concern the welfare of horses and ponies competing at USEF competitions. They were created after a noticeable increase in the number of collapses at shows, some of which were covered widely in mainstream media.

The “collapse rule,” GR843, outlines the actions the trainer, owner, or rider musttake after a horse “falls to the ground with no apparent cause.” “This rule went into effect on an extraordinary basis,” says Mary Babick, Vice President of theUnited States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) for the hunter discipline, chair of the USHJA Hunter Working Group, and a member of the board of directors, Executive Committee, and the Emerging Athletes Committee. “Unfortunately there have been a number of collapses and some very public collapses. The one that really kicked things into motion is when the hunter pony Humble collapsed and died at Devon in 2012.”

GR843 directs that the person responsible for the horse must “notify the steward/technical delegate as soon as possible, but no later than three hours after such occurrence of any collapse of a horse or pony.” The Federation, at its expense, may have a veterinarian inspect the horse and test it for drugs and medications. Any refusal to comply with the Federation’s investigation is a violation.

The new “12-hour rule,” GR414, states, “No injectable substances may be administered to any horse or pony within 12 hours prior to competing…” There are three exceptions: therapeutic fluids, antibiotics, and dexamethasone (for the treatment of acute hives). These exceptions apply only when administered by a licensed veteri-narian no less than six hours prior to competing, and an Equine Drugs and Medications Report Form is filed with the competition office within one hour after the injection.

Malcolm Hook is a member of the USEF Eventing Technical Committee, past chair of the Eventing Technical Committee, a member of the Safety Committee, and co-chair of the Stewards and Technical Delegates Committee. He explains why this new rule applies to both permitted and prohibited substances, “Kent Allen, DVM, Chair of the USEF Drugs & Medications Committee and the Veterinary Committee, has explained that permitted thera-peutic medications require a considerable time to achieve the desired effect. Injecting any of them closer to competi-tion [less] than 12 hours is at best an exercise in futility. Any substance that achieves an effect within a few hours stands a good chance of being a suspect therapy.”

HUNTER RULESThe rules governing the green status of hunters and pony hunters received little scrutiny until the advent of the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s Pre-Green Incentive Program, which brought significant prize money to the pre-green section. When it came to their attention that ineligible horses were competing in the greens, the Federation examined those rules, HU103 and HU104.

“The changes to the green rules were extraordinary rule changes. The old rules were vague and unenforceable. Also rewritten at that time were the rules about first years and green ponies because they’re all related,” Babick says.

HU105 Green Status Reinstatement was also modified. Babick explains, “Horses and ponies can go back to the

The Green Status Reinstatement rule

was modifi ed to allow horses and ponies to go back to the previ-

ous green section only after receiving written permission

from the Federation.

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previous green section only after receiving written permission from the Federation. Horses go back more often than you’d think. It could be that the horse or rider was injured so they couldn’t show. Sometimes people try out the higher section and don’t dowell so they want to drop back to the previous section. And, unfortunately, there are also those who want to take advantage of the system.”

A completely new section has been added to the hunters: Junior Hunter 3'3". Babick says, “This is a stair step so when riders come out of children’s hunters, they have a place to go without taking that big step up to 3'6". A lot of horse shows already have this, but now it’s a rated section for juniors. A few years ago we insti-tuted the Amateur Hunter 3'3" and it has been really popular.”

Another new addition to the hunter rules is HU179 Re-Measurement, which states that owners may request that a horse or pony be re-measured by a Federation official once in the animal’s lifetime. “The measurement task force created some fairly strong rules that will go into effect for the 2015 competition year. If peopleare concerned their horses weren’tmeasured correctly the first time, this rule gives them a chance to have them re-measured before those rules take effect so they can avoid possible penalization in 2015,” says Babick.

The ratings designations for hunter competitions were re-named because people new to the discipline were unfamiliar with the ratings being used. C has become Regional II, B has become Regional I, A has become Nationals, AA has become Premier. The definitions of the competition types haven’t changed, only the nameshave changed.

EQUITATION RULESEquitation saw only one significant rule change, EQ109 Appointments, which states, “The use of stirrups that have entirely black branches… will automatically result in elimination.” Babick says, “The hinged stirrups with partially black branches are fine; only completely black branches are prohib-ited. This rule is simply so the judge can see the placement of the stirrup and loss of the stirrup. Entirely black branches make that extremely diffi-cult to see.”

Stirrups with entirely black branches are

now prohibited in eq-uitation classes, but

still allowed in the hunters and jumpers.

In the Beginner Novice and Novice levels of eventing,

riders may now continue after a fall,

provided they land on their feet and

remain standing. The second fall, regard-

less of how they land, results in elimination.



EVENTING RULESThe rule updates for eventing focus on rider falls and scoring on cross-country. EV113 Medical Requirements now states, “The Ground Jury may direct that competitors who have a fall, not associated with penalties be examined…”

Hook explains, “This rule change is designed primarily to deal with falls in warm-up, a fall between fences on cross-country, possibly even a fall coming out of stabling. If a member of the Ground Jury thinks it’s a serious fall, they can have the rider examined.

“It doesn’t change anything from the old rulesbecause the Ground Jury’s authority during the event has always been absolute, but this puts it in black and white. It also puts riders on notice that if a member of the Ground Jury stops them, they can’trefuse an examination.”

Two major changes have been made to EV141 Cross-Country Scoring. In Beginner Novice and Novice, a rider may now fall once, provided they land on their feet and remain standing. The second fall, regard-less of how they land, incurs elimination. The rule for Training, Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advancedremains the same as it has been since 2008: elimination on the first fall.

“From 2005 through 2008, we had a disturbing upward trend of rider injury, particularly traumatic brain injury. So in 2008 we initiated the rule that the first fall is elimi-nation,” Hook says. “Then some people said this rule shouldn’t apply to the lower levels because they aren’tgoing very fast or jumping very high. We agreed to elimi-nation on the second fall, but only if the rider remains on his or her feet during the first fall, where there isn’tsignificant risk of brain injury.”

The other major change to EV141 affects Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced riders. Instead of being eliminated for the fourth disobedience on cross-country, they will now be eliminated on the third disobedience. “We’ve been at four for a long time, but there is a like-lihood that those competing at these levels might be riding at the FEI level in the future, which eliminates on the third disobedience. Changing our rules to three keeps it more consistent and helps riders avoid confu-sion later on,” says Hook.

“We didn’t see any particular reason to change the rulefor Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training, plus we want people at those levels to get around and finish the course. At those levels, horses and riders are still learning; a horse that’s hesitant about water or ditches could use up those disobediences quickly. So for the lower levels we left it at four,” Hook says.

Event riders should also be aware that there are new dressage tests this year. Go to the United States Eventing Association website for more information.

A TRYING TASKSome rules may seem overly strict, others arbitrary. But the USEF maintains a wide variety of committees comprised of many of the country’s top professionals in each discipline. They take seriously their responsibility to draft rules that are reasonable, fair, and improve horse sports, so the rest of us can enjoy the challenge of competition.



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SportHorse 2014

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