MORE: FOR THE LOVE OF HORSES

The response to the re-published “For The Love Of Horses” has been amazing, but the problem isn’t going to go away by itself. What are we going to do about the unwanted horses? I’ve been reading comments on Facebook, visiting various sites, and looking for answers. Here are several links and comments worth reading.
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USEF High Performance Training Lists Updated for the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team

Lexington, KY  - The USEF Eventing High Performance Training Lists have been revised for the upcoming 2012 season. Athlete/Horse combinations will be invited to participate in training sessions this winter with U.S. Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor Capt. Mark Phillips. Preparation for and success at the 2012 Olympic Games were the Eventing Selectors and the High Performance Committee’s highest priorities in developing these lists.   A List Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice Mighty Nice is a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding   Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Carriag LLC’s Manoir de Carnville Manoir de Carnville is an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding   Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and the Neville Bardos Syndicate’s Neville Bardos Neville Bardos is a 12-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding   Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate’s Otis Barbotiere Otis Barbotiere is a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding   B List Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, VA) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot Harbour Pilot is an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Jan Byyny (Purcellville, VA) and her own and Jo and Richard Byyny’s Inmidair Inmidair is a 12-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding   Will Coleman (Gordonsville, VA) and Jim Wildasin’s Twizzel Twizzel is a 15-year-old Westphalian gelding   Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Jatial Inc.’s Ringwood Magister Ringwood Magister is a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding   Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sharon Will’s Absolute Liberty Absolute Liberty an 8-year-old Thoroughbred x Oldenburg Mare   Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s BallyNoe Castle RM BallyNoe Castle RM is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding   Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice The Apprentice is a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding   Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Nina and Tim Gardner’s William Penn William Penn is a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding   Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Team Rebecca LLC’s Ben Ben is a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding   Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow Pawlow is a 12-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding   Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Fernhill Gloster Rebel Fernhill Gloster Rebel is a 10-year-old Irish Thoroughbred Gelding   Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Melissa and Phil Town, and Tom Holder’s Can’t Fire Me Can’t Fire Me is a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding   Shannon Lilley (Gilroy, CA) and The Lilley Group’s Ballingowan Pizazz Ballingowan Pizazz is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding   Marilyn Little-Meredith (Frederick, MD) and Raylyn Farm Inc.’s RF Rovano Rex RF Rovano Rex is a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding   Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and Boyd Martin and Faye Woolfe’s Ying Yang Yo Ying Yang Yo is a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding   Clark Montgomery (Fairburn, GA) and Holly Becker, Kathryn Kraft and Jessica Montgomery’s Loughan Glen Loughan Glen is an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding   Karen O’Connor (The Plains, VA) and The O’Connor Equestrian Syndicate’s Mr Medicott Mr Medicott is a 12-year-old Irish Sport horse gelding   Julian Stiller (Thatcham, Berkshire UK) and her own and Jules Delvecchio’s Chapel Amble Chapel Amble is a 14-year-old Hanoverian mare   Jolie Wentworth (Martinez, CA) and Tracy Bowman’s Good Knight Good Knight is a 9-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding It is anticipated that training sessions will be held in California, Florida, and South Carolina; dates will be finalized and published in December.
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SpareHolder.com Launches Operations in Wellington, FL

FREE Polo support site is a first, allowing players and teams to book game-day help in a matter of minutes, all online! Introducing SpareHolder.com, an online service that allows Polo Players and Polo teams to book temporary game labor on a game-by-game basis. The announcement comes just in time for the start of the Fall and Winter Polo seasons. SpareHolder.com has recently opened an office and launched its web based service in Wellington, FL. SpareHolder.com founder Gus Whitelaw describes the site as “…VERY user friendly and intentionally basic. The site was created so that a player or groom can easily book experienced game help on their computer, tablet or smart phone.” SpareHolder.com offers this service free of charge to its users
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118 Years of History in the Making on Boston Common

Boston, MA, August 25, 2011 :  At the second annual Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic Preview Party, Bruins Principal, Charlie Jacobs made history aboard his mount Quidditch II after jumping the coveted 118-year-old Stanley Cup trophy on Boston Common today.  It was a surprise to the enthusiastic and substantial crowd of spectators that had gathered to view this once-in-a-lifetime event.  Mayor Menino and his staff were in attendance to support this historic occasion.  The outdoor event was a preview to the main event taking place September 8 – 11, 2011 at the prestigious Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, MA. Charlie Jacobs, Principal of the Bruins aboard his mount Quidditch II, makes history by jumping the 118-year-old Stanley Cup to preview the Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic. Photo ©Glenn Kulbako of KulbakoPhoto.com Olympic Gold Medalist and native Bostonian, Peter Wylde flew in from a recent competition in Germany to add to the majesty of the show jumping component.   “What an amazing event, the rain held off and Charlie surprised us all.  Being home to jump on Boston Common was personally gratifying for me,” said Peter Wylde, Olympian.  Other world-renowned equestrians that rode the course were two-time Olympic Medalist Leslie Burr Howard, international champion Schuyler Riley, up-and-coming talent Nick Della Joio and accomplished rider and trainer, Bill Lowry. The event benefited the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit, the equestrian troop responsible for policing the nine parks throughout the city known as the Emerald Necklace. Despite threats of rain and thunder storms, the event went off without a hitch and concluded with a successful fundraiser reception on the elegant Roof of the Taj Boston hotel honoring the Park Rangers. ______________________________ About the Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic: The 2011 Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic is an Olympic-caliber show jumping event that will be held from Thursday, September 8, through Sunday, September 11, 2011 at the Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts. For the second consecutive year, Putnam Investments will serve at the title sponsor for the event, which has a top prize of $50,000 for its showcase Grand Prix event, an increase from last year’s $30,000.  The Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic is planning a 9/11 tribute with local firefighters, jousting, skydiving, cabaret singing, boutique shopping, ladies hat contest and the much anticipated, Patrons Luncheon
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CEqE Help: “Who, Me?”

Continuing Equestrian Education (CEqE) – chapter 5: When it’s time to CEqE help: Let’s face it, we’re DIY about lots of stuff related to writing and riding, but when we need help, sooner or later we ask for it. One of those moments took place his morning when Landgate Lord Peter, aka “you little s**t!” decided that it was all well and good to walk onto the two-horse ramp-load trailer, but when Bryan McDonald at The Fine Equine Stables (where our pony lives and where we spend a fair portion of our days, having changed from night person to morning person to accommodate said purebred Connemara to beat the heat and deerflies that prevail by 8 a.m…) decided to switch our trailer practice to the big (as in huge) trailer with the step-up, Mr. Minimal spoke up loud & clear: nuh uh, no way – fuhgeddit! There was hay on the floor, so never mind the treats (hay-extender pellets) in our pocket, and the little bucket of Connemara Crunch – a great low-sugar horse feed for easy keepers, whatever the breed, which he loves. We make the approach and jump up, but our darling pony stops, looks at us, looks at the hay on the floor in front of his nose and says essentially, in that word-less but eloquent non-verbal way in which animals, especially smart equine, communicate: who? me? nuh uh, no way – fuhgeddit! Just one of the many eloquent expressions by which Landgate Lord Peter communicates non-verbally.
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Top Individual Show Jumpers at the NAYRJC

The 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Young Rider and Junior Championship took place July 27 – 31 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Over three days of competition, the top young riders from every corner of the continent competed in extreme weather over challenging courses in the Rolex Main Stadium at KHP. The following is a brief, pictoral roundup of the top four riders who rose to the top: Zone 2's Katherine Dinan won Individual Gold with Vancouver. Photo by Shannon Brearton   Zone 4's Samantha Senft and Early Morning won Individual Silver. Photo by Hannah Wormgoor   In the Junior division, Samantha Shaefer and Trezebees claimed Individual Gold for Zone 3.
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Thanks to New Vocations, Thoroughbreds Shine in Their Second Careers

During the month of July, New Vocations is hosting horse show events that spotlight Thoroughbreds competing off the track.  The first event was held Sunday July 9th and 10th  where nearly 40 Thoroughbreds gathered at the Kentucky Horse Park to compete in two Thoroughbred restricted Hunter/Jumper classes.  This was the second consecutive year New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program partnered with the Robert Murphy Horse Show to put on a first class event that attracted Thoroughbreds from surrounding states. Sharp Dressed Guy won the $2500 Thoroughbred Hunter Classic sponsored by Homewrecker Racing.  Owned by Bridget McNeese the Devil Is Due gelding was bred by Dr. John Cummins and trained at Keeneland as a two and three year old, but never showed much speed. McNeese took him on as a show horse at age four.  “I’d kept my eye on him since he was a baby and even told Cummins that he would make a great hunter,” explained McNeese.  “As soon as the decision was made to retire him I got him as a show project.  He has excelled ever since.” Sharp Dressed Guy competing in the New Vocations Thoroughbred Hunter Classic Sweet William who raced as Bait n Switch won the $2500 New Vocations Thoroughbred Mini Prix sponsored by Castleton Lyons for the second year in a row.  Now 17 years old, the Digression gelding raced 16 times primarily at Mountaineer and Pimlico.  He retired and became a very successful Eventer.  Currently owned and trained by Elaine Schott from River Mountain Farm and shown by Natassia Hovey, Sweet William has excelled as a Jumper.  “He continues to amaze us by his huge heart.  He has always been the barn favorite,” shared Schott
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Winners Circle Roundup from Horse Shows by the Bay

  Brian Shook & Courage 68 winning the $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City @ Horse Shows by the Bay, Series I.
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83rd Annual Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show

$25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Grand Prix winners, Vick Russell aboard Lucky One are presented with the blue ribbon at the 83rd Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show. On hand for the presentation were Mark, Katherine and Nicole Bellissimo with ESP; Roger and Jennifer Smith, Vice President TR&HC and horse show chairwoman; Chuck Lingerfelt, TR&HC President; Lucky One owners, Lily Hahn and Ben Rosichan; trophy donor, Linda Lee Reynolds; and members of the Russell family The 83 rd Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show held the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Grand Prix on Saturday June 11 th . Course designer Doug Russell presented a technical course that whittled down the field of 25 to only 2 riders, each with 2 rides in the jumpoff. A familiar sight for shows in the Southeast, it was Tryon’s own Vick Russell and Aiken’s Daniel Geitner left to duel it out for the win. Vick made it through the first round clear with Lily Hahn’s Lucky One and his own Here’s the Deal. Daniel brought Fit to Print Farm’s Camera Ready and Karen Kerby’s T/Salemon to the second round. Vick laid down the only clear round with Lucky One, who both he and owner Lily Hahn have had great success with in the Grand Prix
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Strong Showing for Canadian Pan Am Hopefuls at Woodside Spring Dressage CDI*/Y/J

By Yellow Horse Marketing for Cornerstone Event Management BURBANK, CA – Canadian dressage riders made themselves at home at the Dressage at Woodside CDI*/Y/J in Woodside, CA, May 19 – 22, 2011, dominating the small tour and earning moving one step closer to their Pan American Games dreams.  As a valuable qualifier for the Northern California region, horses and riders competed for coveted qualifying scores from judges Axel Steiner (FEI 5* USA), Hilda Gurney (FEI 4* USA), and Brenda Minor (FEI 4*CAN).  Despite ongoing concerns with a recent EHV-1 outbreak among cutting horses in the western United States, organizers worked with state officials to closely monitor and make the best of a difficult situation.  ”The initial upheaval resulting from a large number of scratches was handled extremely well by management,” noted Steiner.  “Revised class schedules were published in a timely manner and the show ran very smoothly for the three days.” Canada's Dominique Culham Buckland and "Utango DG" enjoyed two CDI class wins at Woodside.
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