Horse-Less Show Jumping Classes to Benefit Underpriviledged Kids Around the World

This weekend, the National Capital Show Jumping Tournament in Ottawa, Ontario will feature a "Horse-Less" Show Jumping Competition in which human competitors of all ages tackle miniaturized horse show jumps on foot. The crowd-pleasing competition, which has classes ranging from Short Stirrup to Grand Prix at the height of 3' (on a course full of creative sponsored jumps designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil) will raise funds for JustWorld International, a nonprofit organization that provides short-term assistance to developing countries with the hopes of breaking the cycle of poverty. JustWorld improves the quality of life and education for children in Brazil, Cambodia, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, and Senegal. JustWorld was founded in 2002 by former Grand Prix Show Jumper Jessica Newman. High performance equestrians from around the world can sign up to become Rider Ambassadors who wear the JustWorld colors on their jackets and saddle pads, helping to bring attention to the causes of the organization.

The Horse Less Horse show classes will be held in the US later this month at the Hampton Classic Horse Show in New York.

For more information about JustWorld or to find out how you can become a sponsor or a rider ambassador, please visit http://www.justworldinternational.org/ or contact Executive Director Jessica Newman at jnewman@justworldinternational.org.


Photo credit: www.startinggate.ca

Steffan Peter's New Saddle Pad from Professional's Choice

Steffen Peters, winner of the 2009 World Cup and 2009 Grand Prix Champion at Aachen, has developed an exclusive line of Dressage Saddle Pads manufactured and distributed by Professional’s Choice.

The oversize pads have a great high wither cut and optional shearling lining. They come in white or black. The show pad (without fleece) goes for about $60.00

For more information visit Professional's Choice or call 1.800.331.9421.

HorseTV launches HSPAN - Horses On Demand!

HorseTV, the first television network dedicated to providing programming for the equestrian lifestyle delivered all around the world, has announced the launch of H-SPAN, an online channel dedicated to the horse industry.


According to HorseTV, "H-SPAN delivers live, interactive, moderated and archived equine and equestrian debates, symposiums, meetings and educational presentations twenty-four hours a day on an on-demand schedule."


Some programming available on H-SPAN right now:

• The Kentucky Intl Equine Summit
• Natl Horse Youth Leaders Symposium
• Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Video
• American Horse Council's National Issues Forum

H-SPAN can broadcast your meetings or debates, symposiums, book releases, speeches or clinics... email them to apply: ideas@horsetv.com.

Club Equestrian Site by USEF Offering Free Event & Business Listings

USEF has developed their new website, Club Equestrian, as a user friendly forum for the equine community.

Right now, users can promote their equine-related event (seminar, clinic, expo, show, fundraiser, etc) for free by filling out the online form. The event will be added to the Club Equestrian nationwide calendar.

USEF members can also list their equine business in the online business directory, which is organized by state and broken down into a myriad of categories and subcategories from Training and Boarding to Alternative Health Care.

The site also features a discussion board, news page, videos and photos and an online encyclopedia.

The United States Equestrian Federation is the national governing body for equestrian sport, responsible for selecting, training and funding our US Equestrian Team and for licensing equestrian competitions of all levels across the country. USEF works for the health and welfare of horses by assisting in humane efforts, disaster relief and in coordination with state and federal governments and other national equine organizations on all issues important to the equine community.

Steffan Peters Edges Out Werth to Win World Cup Final with 84.95%

Steffan Peters become the second American rider in history to win the World Cup Final on Saturday Night at the Rolex FEI World Cup held this year in Las Vegas. He has only been partnered with his horse, the 11 year old gelding Ravel (by Contango), for 14 months. Peters credits Ravel's good mind and sound temper for helping him to the win. Dressage Daily quotes Peters: “Ravel kept it together even with the noisy crowd. I am really one of those lucky guys in the world that gets to ride a horse with a mind like that.” Ravel's success is a credit to Iron Spring Farm's breeding program, of which Contango has long since been a cornerstone stud.

See a video of Peter's historic ride at NBC's Universal Sports Equestrian Channel.

For more live equestrian sports action, The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event starts Thursday, April 23rd and runs through Sunday, April 26th. Held each year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, Rolex draws a crowd of over 100,000. A festive atmosphere pervades the Horse Park with more than 175 merchants, corporate sponsors and food vendors on the grounds. Equestrian Events, Inc. is offering pay-per-view webcasts of the dressage and cross country. Universal Sports' Equestrian Channel will have free, live coverage of show jumping on April 26th.

photo credit: AP Photo

2009 Kentucky Derby - This Year's Opportunity

The 135th Kentucky Derby is less than three weeks away and as I say every year, let all of us "Good Horsepeople" take advantage of this opportunity to promote the horse industry by educating our friends, families and co-workers about our favorite animals. By talking intelligently about the pros and cons of the racing industry in a constructive and supportive way, we can raise awareness for responsible racing and horse-keeping practices, and for the thousands of ex-racehorses that need help transitioning into new careers as sport horses, pleasure horses and companion animals that support and contribute to the equine industry in this country.

Each year the Derby attracts more than 150,000 people to Churchill Downs and millions more will tune in on television. People who rarely interact with horses are suddenly interested in the contenders, their stories and the action on race day. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with a couple of the horses and their stories, as well as the issues current to the racing industry today, especially the retirement and placement of off-the-track racehorses. To learn more, check out CANTER (the communication alliance to network Thoroughbred racehorses) and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Here are the The Good Horseperson's early picks. If you can't make it to the race, online Kentucky Derby betting is a simple and easy option.

I Want Revenge: This colt by Stephen Got Even recently won the Wood Memorial Stakes, despite the fact that he lost valuable seconds in the beginning of the race after rearing in the starting gate and lurching out of the box slightly behind the rest of the field. In a New York Times article by Joe Drape, I Want Revenge's jockey complements his mount, calling him "such a smart animal" and "mature for his age." He may only have 3 victories in eight starts, but I Want Revenge has plenty of heart and a cool-headed jockey who believes in him.

Papa Clem: A handsome bay colt by Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector), Papa Clem just won the million dollar Arkansas Derby last Saturday, edging out Derby favorite Old Fashioned, who is now out of the race with an injury. Papa Clem's trainer, Gary Stute, has been feeling very good about his colt, who he feels is at the top of his game. After watching the video of Arkansas Derby, Papa Clem seems like the kind of horse who has staying power and the ability to dig in and get the lead at the right moment.

Friesian Fire: This bright bay colt by A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew) has the bloodlines and more wins than Papa Clem and I Want Revenge - he is actually unbeaten so far this year, and ran away with a 7 length lead in the Louisiana Derby. Friesian Fire is trainer Larry Jones's only hope in what he's calling his last trip in the run for the roses. Jones will attempt to run him after a 7 week lay-off, which has raised some eyebrows, but clockers caught the colt running very well this morning on the dirt at Keeneland.

image courtesy of www.kentuckyderby.info

Debbie McDonald will be Celebrity Guest Speaker at the 2009 PVDA Ride for Life

The Potomac Valley Dressage Association announced last week that they have confirmed Olympic Bronze Medalist and World Cup Champion Debbie McDonald as the Celebrity Guest Speaker at their annual Ride for Life competition on June 27-28th, 2009. The Ride for Life supports breast cancer research in coordination with John's Hopkins.

Ride for Life's Saturday night Dancing Horse Challenge and Gala features international quality exhibition performances, dinner options and a well stocked silent auction, which includes a riding clinic donated by McDonald. The event is held at Prince Georges Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. Tickets are available at the door starting at 6pm on June 27th, $15 per person.

According to PVDA, the Dancing Horse Challenge has become one of the largest and well attended dressage freestyle competitions in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

For more information about the show, visit Ride for Life's newly revamped website:

www.pvdarideforlife.org

Star Athlete Profile: Combined Driver Chester Webber

Chester Weber won the four-in-hand division at the Sunshine State Combined Driving Event at the Florida Horse Park last weekend.
I have been admiring Webber since seeing his exhibition at the Washington International Horse Show in D.C. last October. The four-in-hand dressage is really something to see...a really impressive example of obedience and submission.


In 2008, Webber became the first American to win an individual medal the Four-In-Hand World Championship, held in the Netherlands. He was also named Equestrian of Honor by the United States Equestrian Federation for dominating most of the combined driving divisions throughout 2008. One of his competition horses, Jamaica, was named 2008 Horse of Honor. Jamaica was a former tourist carriage horse rescued from the slaughterhouse and trained by Webber into a world class combined driving athlete.

Webber intends to qualify for the 2010 Alltech FEI Word Equestrian Games to be held right here in the states at the Kentucky Horse Park. Tickets go on sale beginning September 25, 2009.

Are You Ready for the Spring Shows?

Amanda can help you get ready for the spring dressage season with haul-in lessons and training at Cedarville Equestrian Center in Brandywine, MD, located 20 minutes off of the Capital Beltway in Southern Maryland.

Haul-In Lessons with Amanda are $60...including:

• A box stall with mats and fresh bedding for your horse to relax before and after your ride.


• Standard size dressage arena ready for Fix-A-Tests, practicing or designing your freestyle or learning new figures.


• Huge indoor arena with lights, mirrors and dust-control.


• Heated bathroom with shower available for your use.


• Patient, competant instruction, goal-setting and specific exercises to work on.

Going out of town before a show? Send your horse for training for only $35 a day.

Other services available:

• Show Coaching


• Full Training/Competition Packages


• Sales and Brokerage


• Lessons on School Horses


• Rehab, Lay-up and Conditioning


• Re-Training/Help for Behavior Problems

Strategies for Preventing Founder

The coming spring will bring lush new grass, wild temperature fluctuations and other stresses to our horse's sensitive systems. Besides colic, the most prevalent and dangerous affliction I usually see around this time of year is laminitis or founder.

The terms "founder" and "laminitis" refer to the same basic condition, when restricted blood flow to the laminae structures (that which holds the coffin bone to the hoof wall) causes the laminae to weaken, and the coffin bone to shift downward, away from the wall. The more the coffin bone shifts, the more the condition worsens. Shifting of the coffin bone causes heat, soreness, lameness and permanent changes in the horse's gait. Corrective shoeing can help a horse with chronic pain. Generally, laminitis usually refers to a singular, acute condition, while founder describes the chronic, recurring condition.

A horse that founders tends to be prone to do so again, therefore, prevention is the best medicine.

On April 21, 2009 The University of Michigan is hosting a free one hour webinar called "Countermeasures for Equine Laminitis.” Dr. Bridgett McIntosh from the University of Tennessee will host the session, which will discuss strategies to prevent laminitis based on the most current scientific research.

Click Here to register for the Laminitis Webinar.

The Origins of the Posting Trot

The beauty and efficiency of the posting trot is easily appreciated by all types of English style riders. But many riders and trainers - including myself - will have difficulty telling you exactly how posting became such a staple of riding or how the term "posting" came to represent the standing and sitting motion of a rider on horseback.

A postillion or post-boy is a term used to describe a rider mounted on a carriage horse, aiding the coachman (seated in the vehicle) in the control of the team. Occasionally, the postillion rider would control the entire team, eliminating the need for a coachman. When travel by carriage was at the height of popularity - the late 1700's to the mid 1800's - horse drawn carriages traveled from post to post, exchanging horses and post-boys for fresh ones at each stop as needed. Sitting the trot while covering all that ground in between posts exhausted the postillions backsides and the backs of their mounts. Somewhere along the line, a postillion figured out that rising out of the saddle in rhythm to the horse's trot saved much effort and soreness. I haven't been able to find any specific information on exactly which individual or group of post-boys started posting first, other than a vague nod toward the postillions who served the English royal family.

Posting Diagonals first became necessary for posting the trot in the repetitive format of the riding arena as opposed to long, straight distances such as roads and fields. Rising and sitting according to the forward movement of the inside hind leg/outside front leg helps rider balance the horse in the corners and turns. Changing the posting diagonal when changing direction ensures the rider will be posting on either diagonal pair of legs equally(assuming the rider rides an equal amount of time in both directions).

My references for this casual blurb:

Wikipedia

Fundamentals of Riding by Gregor de Romaszkan, Doubleday, 1964
Drill Regulations for Signal Troops, The US War Department, 1917

Treating a Hoof Abscess

I've received two emails asking for....

A Simple Guide to Treating a Sole Abscess:

If you are waiting for a sole abscess to resolve itself your vet or farrier has probably already removed the shoe. I don't reccomend soaking the hoof unless the shoe is removed and the horse is on stall rest. Soaking softens the hoof structure, which could lead to bruising or a lost shoe.

1) Get out everything you need within arm's reach of your horse: Bucket, epsom salts, rag, duct tape cut into 6" strips, hoof sized square of cotton batting or a disposable diaper, vetrap, ichthamol dressing, latex glove, scissors

2) Dissolve epsom salts in enough warm water to cover the top of the hoof. Remove any debris on the hoof. Soak hoof in bucket for 10 minutes.

3) Remove hoof and dry thoroughly with rag. Do not let hoof touch the ground so it stays clean. Work fast so that he doesn't get tired of holding the hoof up. Using latex glove, apply a thin layer of ichthamol dressing to the sole of the hoof and place the square of cotton batting over the sole.

4) Wrap the hoof with an entire roll of vetrap, starting at the heel and wrapping in even spaces all the way down around the toe, back to the heel and down again until you run out. Vetrap is really stretchy - don't pull too tight as you wrap. The end of the vetrap sticks to itself. Apply the strips of duct tape starting at the toe until the bottom of the hoof is covered. Then he can put the hoof down. Put two more strips of tape at the toe and just above the toe to form a "boot" of sorts that he won't wear through with his hoof. If he can walk reasonably well, take him out for a few minutes of hand grazing near the barn. If you walk too far, you will wear out the boot! Don't forget to pick his other feet and use Thrushbuster or another thrush remedy as needed since your horse will be cooped up in the stall for the next few days.

The Tell-Tale Smell: What Scent Can Tell You Around Horses

If you've been around horses long enough, you might have realized already that your sense of smell can play an important role in proper horsekeeping. Knowing what smells can indicate and what your horse "normally" smells like can give you early indicators of changes in his or her health.

Food Smells:

• Smelling hay for mold can detect "on the fence" hay that doesn't look obviously moldy but maybe isn't the best hay to feed.



• Smell grain to see if it's sour or musty (it's hard to get a sense for this until you compare bad grain with fresh grain)

Horse's Breath:

• Take a good whiff of you horse's breath to give yourself a baseline of what he or she smells like. If it suddenly changes - it could indicate a digestion or tooth problem: infections (like a tooth abscess) smell like rotten eggs while ulcers or upset stomachs can smell sour, like bad wine.

Urine/Manure Smells:

• The potency of urine smells can range from faint to knock-you-back with ammonia and changes in the strength of smell are normal based on diet. Changes in pasture (weed growth) are the most common contributors to changes in urine smell.



• With manure odor, it's best to know what is "normal" for your horse. A horse that eats a higher protein diet may have a more "meaty" smell (think dog poo) and a horse with higher carbs may give off a more sour odor. It's normal for each horses manure to smell different - horses can actually identify each other by catching whiff from a pile.
  

Hoof Smells:

• Most horsepeople have had a good whiff of the thrush smell - a combination of rotten eggs, sewage and bacterial infection. Thrushbuster will probably do the trick, but if the thrush is deep in the crevices, you may benefit from having the blacksmith gently clean out the cleft and open the heels to make sure you can get your hoofpick along the entire length of the frog.
  


• Hoof abscesses can also smell - a foul, rotten-flesh smell - once they open and drain. If your horse has a hoof abscess, make sure he is current on his tetanus vaccine. Your veterinarian may need to prescribe antibiotics depending on the severity of the abscess.
  

Image courtesy of www.nps.gov

Preventing Barn Fires

There is a good article on fire prevention in the May issue of Dressage Today (article by Sally Silverman). Here are the highlights with a few notes from the Good HorsePerson:

Recommended language on a fire safety sign:

• No Smoking


• No Trash Burning


• No Parking within 15 feet of the barn (including blacksmiths).

Numbers one and two are a given, but as far as farrier parking, if you barn doesn't boast a separate shoeing shed, it could be tricky to ask your farrier to park this distance away - a good farrier may make many trips to the anvil to adjust shoes for each horse, and especially if your cross ties are not right on the end of the aisle, your risk of a cranky farrier might be worse than the risk of barn fire!

Tools for Fire Prevention:

• Early detection systems (smoke detectors)


• Sprinkler system (cha-ching!)


• Fire Extinguishers


• Keep hoses attached to water source


• Have access to an alternative water source like a pond (where no hydrants are available)


• Have halters hanging at each stall

These are all excellent points. Be sure to treat ponds and standing water for mosquitos to reduce the transmission of disease (and the high annoyance factor).

Organize Stored Materials to Reduce Risk:

• Store hay and bedding as far as possible from the horses or in a separate building (listen for the sounds of you barn staff groaning) and only stack dry hay.


• Store chemicals and fuel away from the barn.


• Keep the barn dust down.

An often overlooked note for this time of year is the dust that collects in and around barn fans. Clean the fans before turning them on in late spring!

Have an Escape Plan:

• Call 911 if you see smoke or fire.


• Make sure there are two exit points in each banr.


• Designate a meeting place away from barns for head-counting.


• Post the exit plan at each barn door with the address of the facility.

Click here to subscribe to Dressage Today. Have a happy and safe Spring!

photo courtesy of the Cape Cod Fire Department

An Up Close Look at Big Brown, Now Sponsored by UPS

The GoodHorseperson's Pick to win the Kentucky Derby arrived at Churchill Downs the day before yesterday - click the video above to get an up-close peek at Big Brown! He looks healthy, fit and happy - a gorgeous horse! Yesterday, UPS announced it would sponsor the aptly named Big Brown - jockey Kent Desormeaux will wear brown pants with the UPS logo.

The Derby will only be Big Brown's fourth career start - we hope he will remain undefeated and that his win will encourage the kind of purposeful and careful training we have seen his trainer, Rick Dutrow, have so much success with.

Television coverage of the Derby starts at 5pm on Sunday, May 3rd on NBC. The post time for the race is 6:04pm. You might also consider Kentucky Derby online betting as an easy alternative to the travel and the crowds.

UPDATE!

Congrats to Big Brown and all his People for Winning the Derby!

Watch the Rolex Three-Day Event on NBC on May 4th!

On Sunday, May 4th at 5pm Eastern Time NBC will broadcast a one-hour special of the Rolex Four-Star Event held at the Kentucky Horse Park last weekend. This year, the Rolex was a qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics.

We won't describe the action here, in case you don't want a spoiler, but if you do, check out full coverage at Horses Daily.

According to a press release on the official Event website, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is expected to attract an attendance of 95,000. Highlights from the event will be aired on U.S. national television NBC Sports on May 4 to some 1.2 million households in the United States.

This is great opportunity to support equestrian sports and encourage more national television networks to fork over more airtime for our pursuit - so please, tune in!

Why Every Horse Needs to be a Sales Horse

Many horse owners intend to keep their horse "forever." This is a wonderful intention, and I personally love to sell my horses to "forever" homes. But what happens when those plans go awry? They can and certainly do all the time: financial stress, a divorce, a move out of the country, sickness, or the death of the horse owner can leave the "forever horse" out of luck with no place to call home. The grieving family members (often of the "non-horseperson" variety) are left wondering what to do with this big, expensive, time-consuming animal.

Having a back-up plan for your horse is essential in the events of a catastrophe described above, but there is more you can do to ensure the best possible life for your horse: take time to place yourself into a prospective new owner's shoes. How can you make your horse more desirable to the kind of the owner you would like to see him go to if you couldn't take care of him anymore? You need to consider him or her as sales prospect. Here's a few tips for making the most of your horses value:

1) Keep a neatly organized binder with all your horses information, health cards, registries, show records, etc... in one place in the house and let the people close to you know about it and where to find it.

2) Do some quick and dirty research on the state of the horse market and draw some comparables (horses currently for sale that are close in age, height, breed, ability, health and experience to your horse). Try http://www.dreamhorse.com/, http://www.warmbloods-for-sale.com/, http://www.equinenow.com/ or similar websites. At least once a year, print some comparables and stick them in the binder.

3) Brainstorm about your horses best qualities and how you can showcase these in way that can be documented. If your horse is already showing regularly, you've got the show record. But even if you and your horse aren't the competitive type, think about doing something at least once a year that demonstrates to potential buyers that your horse was healthy, sane and happy. "He went, he did, he was good." Your horse will be more well-rounded and versatile if he gets off the farm every now and then. Competitive Trail Rides, clinics, small schooling shows in the discipline of your choice - any of these activities are great for documenting value.

4) Take a video or some pictures of your horse at least once a year. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it should showcase the horses best abilities and be shot in a pleasant, well-lit location. A good stand-by location is a well-kept, green pasture with an uncluttered background on a sunny day with the photographer's back to the sun. Put the best picture(s) in the binder.

5) Keep up with the "little" things: mane-pulling (if it suits the breed), curry regularly for a shiny coat, trim up the fetlocks and keep the tail moisturized to encourage growth and keep breakage to a minimum. For geldings, regular sheath-cleaning is an often over-looked part of the grooming routine.

6) X-Rays: Depending on your horse's worth, you might consider getting a standard set of X-rays (3-view for lower legs and hooves, and hocks) every few years. With the digital machines, the vet can give you a disk or email you a file of the X-rays to keep on hand. In addition to tracking the health of the joints, you can see ahead of time if a blemish on the X-rays will affect your horses value in the event of a sale. X-ray interpretation is not a cut-and-dry thing, so always consider a second or third opinion in the case of a "doom-and-gloom" reading. Regular X-rays can also be helpful for your farrier.

7) Manners: Try to make sure your horse has the basic qualities of a "Good Citizen" or work to improve them. Ideally, he should respect the space of humans, tie, clip, load, cross tie quietly for grooming, tacking, a bath or the farrier, ride outdoors or in, hack out alone or with a group, and be able to be ridden safely in new environments (such as a show). Any behavioral or stable vices will reduce value!

Some portions of the above probably seem obvious, some are! But it's an important reminder not to take your horse for granted, since doing so will certainly make him seem less desirable if you or an unsuspecting family member suddenly has to find him a new home.

Good HorsePersons Picks for the 134th Kentucky Derby

Calling all Good HorsePeople! Now is the time to bone up on your racing repertoire...the Derby is less than a month away!

Every year, the Kentucky Derby (a racing tradition since 1875) attracts a crowd more than 150,000 strong to watch the Thoroughbreds battle it out on the track...millions more tune in on their television sets and computer screens. That's millions of people watching and admiring horses; many people who may never have actually patted a horse on a neck. What this means, for all of us HorsePeople, is that we are presented a unique opportunity to talk, talk, talk about our favorite animal and the respect that they deserve. This year, when you talk about the favorites and the odds, remember to talk about what can happen to these beautiful horses AFTER their racing career has ended. Bring attention to the cause that organizations like CANTER (Communication for the Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racers) are working so hard to further. Talk about how retrained racehorses make amazing and easy-going pleasure riding mounts, sport horses and companion horses. Show pictures of your off-the-track-thoroughbred or find one on CANTER's Horse Listings. Tell people to look you up on Facebook and check out your Horsebook! Or send them here to see pictures of Grande Finale, Parker's Way and Star Style on the sidebar - all three are retired racehorses.

Here's the Good HorsePerson's Picks for the Derby so far:
1) Big Brown: this gorgeous light bay colt by Boundary (Northern Dancer lines) has only raced three times! And all three times, he won with grace and good form. We admire the way this colt has been carefully and steadily brought back from problem quarter cracks last year. And we really admire BB's current trainer, Rick Dutrow, and his strategy of using work-outs instead of races to prepare for the Derby. Not only is it kinder for the horse (and so, a good example for the entire racing community) it's also the strategy Michael Matz used to prepare Barbaro when he won the Derby two years ago.

2) Pyro: Since two good showings in the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby, this dark bay grandson of A.P. Indy has topped favorite lists around the web.

3) War Pass: On the opposite end of the earnings spectrum than Big Brown (over 1.5 million), this grandson of Mr. Prospector was on the way to Derby undefeated before coming in last in the Tampa Bay Derby (he had won the six previous races). But the colt redeemed himself by fighting hard on Saturday, when he finished second in the Wood Memorial, even with three staples in his chin from a accidental cut he got while traveling the Thursday before. His trainer, Nick Zito, reports that he is proud of the effort.

Online betting and detailed coverage on the history, opinions and picks for the 2008 Kentucky Derby is available online at a reputable racebook.

A Death in the Family: What to do When A Horse Passes Away

Recently the Good HorsePerson received an email asking advice for helping a good friend mourn the loss of her long-time equine companion. While everyone grieves differently, here are a few thoughts about managing the death of an equine partner:

Since it's usually fairly difficult to arrange for a burial site for a horse, it may be appropriate to come up with other mementos to honor the memory and the partnership between horse and owner. You might consider saving a lock of mane or tail to create a piece of memorial jewelry or shadowboxing a pair of the horse's shoes.

Sometimes equine-specific sympathy cards can be found at local tack shops, but if not, Hoofprints.com has a selection of well-written cards to choose from. At the Hoofbeats In Heaven website, you can create a memorial webpage with photos to celebrate the story of horse and rider.

Washington State University offers some tips on how to support grieving pet owners.

Finally, here is a link to a Yahoo Group specifically for those people who are grieving the loss of their horse.

If you've come up with a unique horse memorial idea or have found another web resource, please leave a comment here to share with us all!

Ask the Farrier: Shoes for Jumping a Flat-Footed Horse?

In February, Elaine asked about the necessity of shoes for her flatfooted draft cross, which she intends to start jumping soon:

Farrier Arvin Reynolds answers:
When you start jumping a flat footed horse in a competitive way, especially out in the field where terrain can be rocky or otherwise unpredictable, shoes are a must to protect the soles. I would recommend full pads during show season or heavy training, for additional protection against bruising. Leather pads (as opposed to plastic) allow the hoof to breathe and reduces the potential for debilitating thrush build-up. Your farrier should inject a supportive material between the pad and the hoof to help keep dirt and debris from getting under the pad. I normally use Equipak CS.

Finally, you might consider asking your farrier to roll the toes of the shoes to facilitate break-over.

I'm not aware of any shoes marketed specifically for flat-footed horses at this time, however, the Rick Redding Roller Motion or "banana" shoe might be applicable here.

Good luck with your new horse!

Arvin Reynolds can be reached by phone at 703-895-4786 or email AGRShoeing@aol.com

photo courtesy of HorsePoint