HORSE MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER AND MORE!!!
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Topics in this issue:
1) Comments from readers: Labeling
2) Feature: Shipping horses by Clair Spackman
3) Recommended products and services: Derby Originals Jodhpur boots
4) Rally and rating tips: D3 prep guide
5) Questions and answers: Bitless bridles, stirrup irons, and reins
6) Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs: That Winning Feeling
7) Fun and educational websites: Dressage and Hunter Pony
8) Featured rule: Girth requirements

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Comments from readers
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Hi Stormy,

We just wanted to thank you for putting together the Horse Management clinic
.... We had such a great time and learned soooo much!!!

Lori Moreno (mom) & Allyson Roth (D3, Deer Creek)

PS..
We also picked up your bitting DVD...it couldn't have been better
timing...it's wonderful!

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Hi Stormy......

I have a couple of comments on two of the questions that came up in your
newsletter last month.

Q1: Are individual bridles and saddles required to be labeled or can just
the saddle rack and bridle be labeled?

Great answer you gave for this one..... this has always bugged me, that
every other silly item the kids are carrying around must be identified, but
the saddle and bridle, just because they're using them and they're on a rack
with identification on it, don't have to be. But you're right, since it
isn't required, we can't expect them to put any kind of identification on
them....... however, marking them is a sensible thing to do just because
what the heck, a lot of saddles and bridles do look alike don't they, and
there are a LOT of them at any given rally.... and they aren't going to
spend every single moment on your horse or on the marked rack.

Thank you for giving a good, common sense response to that question. Yay,
for CSAL [Common Sense and Logic].

My second response is to the question regarding the labeling of halters.
This one goes back to the Combined Training Rally/Horse Trials that Mid-Cal
and Sierra Pacific shared up at Rancho Murieta a couple of years ago. At
that time I had just come back from Championships in Kentucky, where they
put tape identification on the halter that the horse wears in the stall and
it made sense to me. In a large facility like that with hundreds of horses
from many different groups, barns, areas, it just seemed to make sense that
if a horse got loose when the owner wasn't around and was running happily
all over the place, that he would need some form of ID on him so that he
could be returned to his proper quarters.

We were at Murieta with a whole lot of horse trial people on site in
addition to pony clubbers, and who can tell when you grab a loose horse if
it's from a pony club barn or some other, if it has no identification. So I
suggested to our chief, Nancy Harter, that we ask them to put tape on with
some form of identification. She agreed to the idea, we did it, and
henceforth, most of the chiefs at rallies I've been working at, have done
the same when we're at a large facility like Murieta or CTETA or Ram Tap.
It isn't as necessary when you're at a small place like where the Tetrathlon
was held, of course, since there all the horses either live at the barn or
are with pony club, but even then, it's helpful to have his stall number if
there is such a thing, just so it's easier to find where he goes if he/she
does get loose.

Again, it's not required, but it does make sense to do, especially when
you're at a huge facility with horses from different groups all there at the
same time.

Somehow, one of the kids from that rally went home complaining that they got
marked down for not having identification on their halters when it wasn't
required in the HM handbook. I think someone wrote to the DC digest about
it back then, and I responded at the time explaining that it wasn't
required, only suggested that it be done as a precautionary measure because
we were at such a large facility, and that no one was likely to have
gotten points off for not doing it. Kids often only remember someone asking
them to do it......and they think if it hadn't been done already that they
would get points off for it. (We always get the rap for being bad guys,
even when we're not......... you know that.)

So thanks again, for coming through with a good common sense explanation, so
that they realize, we aren't just thinking of dopey things for them to have
to do for no reason.

Marilyn Terstegge, Mid Cal region

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Shipping horses
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by Clair Spackman

I went to the seminar given by Dr Carolyn Stull at UCD on March 1st about
shipping horses long distances. It was very interesting. The first half was
about shipping horses for slaughter because that is where the money came
from for the research. While I have nothing against slaughtering horses for
meat I have to say the shipping was somewhat disturbing. The good thing is
that her research and resulting recommendations have been put through
government and so horses are already seeing the welfare benefits that she
and her team proposed. This is a very fast response to research that was
only funded in the late 90šs. They found that cortisol levels (a hormone
that when elevated suggests that the animal is stressed) were increased when
the horses came off the transporter, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was
increased these are different kinds of white blood cells which again
indicate stress when elevated, dehydration increased with length of journey
and that injuries increased with increased floor space. However, it must be
remembered that these horses where being shipped in group compartments so
the more space they had the more they were able to move around and fight
each other. These slaughter horses donšt know each other and mares and
stallions are often shipped together so the largest injuries are from
biting. On average these horses lost 4% of their body weight during
shipping and 2% regained this weight after 24 hours. Another study carried
out by Friend 2001 and one by Collins et al 1999 tested the effect of severe
driving conditions on similar groups of horses. They drove a truck on a
figure of 8 track with an open-top trailer and cameras set up so they could
watch the horses during the drive. They found that hard braking caused the
most distress, that high density of horses increased injury and
interestingly enough the horses had no orientation preference. They were
not tied and so could stand how ever they wanted and no preference was
noted. This is contrary to what others have noted in the past where
standing facing backwards etc. have been said to be the natural preference
of the horse. [Stormy's note: I always figured they liked to face backwards
because they knew that's where the door was!] Clinical dehydration levels
were seen after 24 hours. (No water was available to any of these horses
during transportation).


After the first study, money was remaining so they decided to test the
effects of shipping in the most ideal of situations and to look at the
effect of head restriction during 24 hours of road transportation. For
slaughter, horses are packed onto either straight body or "potbelly" bodied
transporters with about 20+ horses per shipment. So this time they decided
to use horses that knew how to ship, that knew each other therefore lowering
stress associated with these factors and they used a commercial hauler out
of Kentucky who I believe we may have used last time to get to Kentucky.
They looked at loose versus cross-tied transport over 24 hour travel under
California summer conditions and used the Fresno State equestrian team
horses. These horses haul regularly and know each other. The trailer was a
straight load, they had 10 horses. 6 were cross tied and 4 in loose boxes
(these loose boxes were big enough for the horses to turn around but not to
walk back and forth). The loose horses had barely any more space than those
that were cross-tied. The horses had access to hay and water. Again they
looked at the same stress indicators. Cortisol levels were significantly
higher in the cross-tied horses as compared to the loose horses. The white
blood cell numbers were higher for the tied horses and were actually at
clinical levels. The neutophil:lymphocyte ratio was slightly raised in the
loose horses but hugely increased in the tied horses. 48 hours of recovery
was enough to return these levels back to baseline in the tied horses.


They then got some money from a supplement manufacturer that makes the
adaptogen APF and they tested to see if this adaptogen made any difference
to the stress responses of these horses. They used 19 horses. 6 horses got
a placebo, 6 got APF and those remaining stayed at the barn as controls.
APF was administered for 28 days pre-trial. Again Lymphocytes decreased,
T-cells decreased (T cells are important for immune response lowered T cells
mean that your immune system is not functioning fully) and APF had no
effect, which I am sure didnšt please the manufacturer much!


I went and spoke to Dr. Stull after the talk and her recommendation to us
for long distance shipping is: ship horses in loose boxes untied (it appears
that tying keeps the head elevated at an un-natural level that has negative
effects on the respiratory system), use haulers that have air-ride, that
horses need 48 hours post transportation to recover, that due to their
immune system being compromised during that 48 hours the environment they
are in during that time needs to be as clean and dust/bacteria free as
possible and they should only be socializing with the horses they were
shipped with so that they are not exposed to any strange horses during that
time. This is the recommendation that was made to the US Equestrian teams
for the Sydney Olympics. She does not know if 24 hours is the cut off for
these effects it may in fact be the case that similar stress responses occur
in horses shipped for as a little as 12 hours.

Anyway I hope this information is helpful. I am sure that if you had
further questions Dr. Stull would be happy to discuss them with you.

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Recommended products and services
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I'm hard on my paddock boots. Ariats never last more than a year, and even
Blundstones didn't make it past a year and a half. I've found something
better! There is a seller on Ebay that sells "Derby Originals" leather
jodhpur boots for only $47.50 in a range of sizes. I prefer the steel toe
brown version which has protected my toes and held up for probably about 3
years now. They look and fit like Blundstones, but the price and durability
beats them by a mile. There are also black or brown synthetic zip front
jodhpur boots for $27.50 but I haven't tried their quality.

Visit their ebay store boot section at:
http://stores.ebay.com/tack-wholesale-com_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQdptZ3QQsclZal
lQQsotimedisplayZ2QQtZkm (copy and paste into your browser)
or the website at www.tack-wholesale.com (prices are slightly higher than on
ebay)
or just do an ebay search for: steel toe jodhpur boots. If anybody gets the
synthetic or non steel toe versions, let me know how the quality is!

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Rally and rating tips: D3 prep guide
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For the next 3 months I am going to spotlight a prep guide for each of the
rating levels. The questions are ones that give a good indication of the
depth of knowledge needed at each level. Only certain sections may be
covered. The guides are not meant to be comprehensive, they are only
intended to get you studying on the right track. Many of the answers can be
found in the Pony Club manuals. Additional resources include veterinarians,
trainers, farriers, and graduate Pony Clubbers. Memorizing this knowledge
from books is a start but the examiners will also want to hear of practical
experiences and applications of this knowledge. These guides should be
used along with the standards.

Please join in! I started 5 months ago with the H-A level, which is the
highest level that tests horse management skills, and I'm working my way
down to D1. If you remember any questions that were asked at ratings you
took, let me know what they were, especially if you realized you should have
studied that section more! Be sure to include your name, current rating
level, and the rating level each question was from.

**Most importantly, I hope there are never any answer keys made for
these questions. It isn't necessarily these questions or answers that are
the most important part. The studying and questioning that you have to do
to find the answers will be the biggest value.**

Good luck!
~Stormy

Is it the coat color, stock tie, or breech color that determines if you're
correctly formal or informal?
Which 3 colors of coats are acceptable for formal attire?
Which 4 colors of breeches/jodhpurs are acceptable for formal attire?
What are the differences between formal, informal, and casual attire?
What is the feeding rule about deciding how much you should feed your horse?
How long after strenuous work should you wait to feed your horse?
How long after strenuous work should you wait to water your horse?
How do you know when your pony is cooled out?
How many pounds of roughage does your horse get?
What supplements does your horse get? How much of each?
What can you put on a dirt stall floor after you scrape away the bedding to
absorb urine smells?
What are the correct names of the tools you use to clean a stall?
Why might you bank the sides of a stall?
How do you properly hang a net-style hay net?
How do you know if your hay net is too low?
How many inches are in a hand?
If a horse is 64 inches, how many hands is he?
Can you point to exactly where the gaskin is?
Name the points on a horse's topline starting with the poll and ending with
the dock.
What is a ewe neck?
What is a bull neck?
What is a goose rump?
What is a roach back?
Is it worse for a horse to have short, upright pasterns, or long, sloping
pasterns? Why?
What is the proper way to cross a road when riding in a group?
Which side of the road are you supposed to ride on in this state?
When unloading a horse from a slant load trailer, should you untie the head
first or open the divider?
Does your record book include what's in a 4-way vaccination? 5-way? [Note:
see the June 2003 HM newsletter at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HorseManagementNewsletter/message/3
for more record book tips.]
Name 5 things that would cause you to seek help from a vet.
Which side is the traditional one to lead from?
What are 4 obvious signs that a hoof needs new shoes?
Have you practiced your stable wrap? [Note: see the May 2003 HM newsletter
at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HorseManagementNewsletter/message/2
for tips on appropriate materials.]
Have you practiced putting protective boots (bell boots and galloping boots)
on your pony?

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Questions and answers
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Stormy -

Thank you so much for your hint about the Bitless Bridle, we tried it
yesterday and quote "Mom, I have brakes!!!". We took him to a schooling
show Sunday, and she was able to have much more control. We still had
refusal issues, but the best part was he wasn't able to yank her out of the
saddle just before pulling a dirty stop. We're not sure exactly why that
is, she thinks it's almost like the bridle doesn't allow him to throw his
head out as far. She was riding with knots in her reins and a martingale
with a twisted snaffle before this, and he could still yank her out of the
saddle. Now she's not using a martingale either. Now we're wondering if
Kirsten can use it at the Tetrathlon. My reading of the rulebook defers to
Show Jumping which just says "humane to the horse". Is that your
interpretation also? Do you know how Pony Club feels about the bridle in
general? For C-3 tests, etc.?

Debra Ostlund, non-horsey DC, Mid Cal region

Hi Debra,

Congrats on the Bitless Bridle! They are fine to use for everything in PC
EXCEPT: Dressage rallies, the Dressage phase of Eventing, and the flat
portion of ratings. Currently, I have sent a petition that is being
reviewed at the national office by the Eventing, Dressage, and Testing
committees that would permit its use in these phases as well.

Keep your fingers crossed,
Stormy

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Hi Stormy,

At a quiz prep there was a question which we discussed and are not sure
of the answer.  Our DC, Carol von Brandt, suggested I write to you. I use
peacock stirrups which are also fillis.   My paddock boots have rubber
soles, so I'm not sure if I should be using the rubber pads in the stirrups.
The metal in the stirrups under the pads is completely smooth and there is a
big hole for the pad to go into.  I think I would be feel insecure if I
didn't have that pad.  Am I supposed to be using the pad in my peacock
fillis stirrups if I have rubber soles on my paddock boots?

Averie Johnson, D2, Shasta Pony Club

Hi Averie,

On page 35 of the 2002 Horse Management Handbook it reads: Rubber stirrup
pads are discouraged but not penalized when the rider is wearing boots with
rubber soles. Exception: Fillis irons must always have pads.

The term "Fillis" refers to stirrup irons which have a single hole in the
bottom and the metal angles down to that hole so that if you were riding
without pads, your boot would be resting on 2 very small, nearly knife edges
of metal. These are designed to always be used with pads.

Another variety of stirrups are typically called "hunt stirrups" which also
have a big hole in the middle but the metal that your boot rests on is flat,
and there are little metal nubs for traction. Typically, you see this style
in conjunction with "Prussian sides" which are sides that flare out slightly
at the bottom. These should be used with pads if you have leather sole
boots, and without pads if you have rubber sole boots, although if you have
a preference for a certain pad with these stirrups, you wouldn't be
penalized at a rally.

Typically, peacock irons have the flat "hunt" bottom but if you have Fillis
peacocks, then you'll definitely need a pad.

Stay secure!
Stormy

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Stormy...Question for your newsletter. Can D's ride with double reins or
do they have to use the bit converter?

Thanks, Barbara Brewer, English Hills PC rating coordinator

Hi Barb,
That's an easy one! If Ds are using a Pelham or Pessoa type bit they can
definitely use two reins, in fact, it would be preferred. That's how those
bits are designed to be used. If they can't handle two reins, then at the D
level the rider may use converters, but they must use two reins as a C.

No spaghetti reins!
Stormy

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Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs!
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That Winning Feeling, by Jane Savoie

This book has been around for years but someone recently said that it really
helped her Pony Club daughter to overcome fears and anxieties related to
competition and ratings. Here is a review from the amazon.com website:

It's all about doing your personal best whatever that may be.
Reviewer: A reader from Illinois USA
"That Winning Feeling is not about getting blue ribbons or pushing your
horse despite how the horse may feel. It is about doing your personal best
in your own personal situation. In her introduction Jane Savoie states it
clearly: 'To win--let us understand--is not necessarily limited to bringing
home the blue ribbon. It is developing your potential and using it for a
purpose that makes you happy. It is leaving your all-too-familiar comfort
zone and striving for more than you thought you could achieve. It is
putting forth the kind of effort that makes you proud to sign your name to
your work.' And, in the last 30 pages of the book when she does speak
specifically about competitions, the author says: 'After the performance,
you can always feel victorious about your personal milestones. Perhaps this
was the first show where your horse didn't buck at the canter depart. ...
It maybe this is the first competition where you didn't feel nauseated
before your ride. ... Don't let anyone--least of all yourself--dictate any
limits. The joys of competition with your partner are to be fully
experienced and savored.' Thus, this book is about helping you do your best
with your partner, your horse. It is not about winning blue ribbons or
achieving Olympic status. It is a realistic, down-to-earth, practical and
effective psychocybernetic approach for helping achieve you and your horse's
best no matter what your goals are."

Sounds like a great self-esteem builder for riders!

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Fun and educational websites
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Thanks to Liz and Gabby Tapia for finding this fine site:
www.ridinghabit.com is a site designed by Karen Pautz. It includes some
outside links, but what makes it really special is the "halt @ X" section.
The halt @ X has very cool features such as animated video clips of dressage
movements such as the leg yield, half pass, canter pirouette, etc... and a
section on dressage arena geometry (how to set up your own arena, and tips
on riding the figures.) The last section is devoted to lateral work and
includes specific definitions for all the lateral movements (quick, what's
the difference between renvers and travers?) and a basic recipe for
suppleness (remember that term from the C and B standards?)

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http://www.huntersponyfarm.com/horses/index.html

This site includes tons of information on dressage, hunter, and western
riding as well as care training and breeds sections. A very fun site.

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Featured rule
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2002 Horse Management Handbook page 35 section 23A

Girths on English saddles must have at least two buckles at each end and
must be fitted so there are at least two spare holes at the top and one at
the bottom of the billets after they are tightened. Buckle (billet) guards
are required and must be in proper place. Stirrup bars are to be down
(open) for riding.

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Call for submissions
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Help make this newsletter the best it can be. Do you have any issues you'd
like to see addressed here? How about ideas for recommended products, books,
or videos? Want to submit your own article, or a question for the questions
and answers section? Send them to: stormy@... and I'll keep a log
of topics and articles for upcoming issues.

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