Sharing Knowledge Between Generations – Part 1
October 17, 2014 Comments Off on Sharing Knowledge Between Generations – Part 1
For millennium, the art and science of horse training has been carefully passed from master to apprentice. Each generation of horse trainers has contributed to the mix and sent their experiences forward in time. Beliefs, rituals, and traditions of the horse training process certainly diversified throughout centuries and have been colored by culture, politics, societies, and economies.
Continue reading …Not My Day Job – Josh & Kaleena Weakly
October 16, 2014 Comments Off on Not My Day Job – Josh & Kaleena Weakly
Whether in the halter pen or the riding arena, it’s a pretty good guess that you’ve heard the last name “Weakly” being announced towards the top of the standings. What started out as a little crush at a horse show in Gordyville has blossomed into one powerful couple in AQHA and NSBA show circles.
Continue reading …A Guide To Purchasing A Show Saddle
October 15, 2014 Comments Off on A Guide To Purchasing A Show Saddle
You’ve purchased your dream horse, and your show clothing is impeccable. You’re ready to hit the ring! Not so fast… what about that saddle? Have you ever stopped to consider all of the important factors that come into play when purchasing a saddle? These include not only your budget, but also current trends, sizing for the rider and horse, and resale potential. Some might say that a show saddle is the second most important purchase, next to your partner in the ring.
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There are many types of back injuries in horses, including acute and chronic problems and repetitive injuries due to use of the horse. Any of these can hinder ability to perform. Tia Nelson, a veterinarian/farrier in Helena, Montana, says back problems cover a wide spectrum of situations and present a variety of signs.
Continue reading …Changing Trends in Hunter Under Saddle
October 13, 2014 Comments Off on Changing Trends in Hunter Under Saddle
Anyone who has ever set a hoof inside the show ring knows that the main goal is to get the judge’s attention, preferably when you and your horse are looking your best. However, do some exhibitors take things too far, snuggling up so close to the judge that the rider can almost read the scorecard from horseback? The trend of “circling the judges” in an effort to gain the best ring position is just one topic that has come up lately in a push to bring this English discipline back to its roots. How far has Hunter Under Saddle strayed away from the original intention and tradition behind the class itself?
Continue reading …A Second Chance in Paradise – Getting a Fresh Start in Hawaii
October 12, 2014 Comments Off on A Second Chance in Paradise – Getting a Fresh Start in Hawaii
Have you ever wanted to start your life over in some exotic locale, complete with a new job, home, and support system? For me, that fleeting daydream usually includes a white sandy beach, crystal clear water, and plenty of palm trees. Remarkably, several dozen horses living on the island of Kauai have been given that second chance, complete with palm trees, and are thriving as a result.
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In a rare moment of frustration, a young Claire McDowall was angry. She left the show ring and stomped back to her horse’s stall. The object of her wrath was her older brother Klay. He had just beaten her in a class, but that wasn’t why she was upset. Claire was mad, because in her young eyes, her brother should’ve let the other children in the ring have a shot at the win. “She was mad at him for winning so many classes and not giving the other little kids a chance, not her, but all the other little kids,” their father, Kelly McDowall, recalls fondly. “We had to explain to her about the meaning of competition, but we really didn’t want to discourage that behavior,” he says of his daughter’s concern for others.
Continue reading …Confessions Of A First Year Scribe
October 10, 2014 Comments Off on Confessions Of A First Year Scribe
I was a former eye-roller. You know that conversation, when you’re sharing your opinion about a judge’s results and someone says that everyone should have to stand inside the ring, just once, to see what it’s really like? Cue the eye-roll. Admittedly, I wasn’t blessed with a poker face. Oddly enough, I have found the cure and it came while standing inside the ring.
Continue reading …Tax Matters – Deductions for Advertising & Promotional Expenses
October 9, 2014 Comments Off on Tax Matters – Deductions for Advertising & Promotional Expenses
Advertising and promotional expenses are usually deductible along with other ordinary and necessary expenses in horse and livestock activities operated as a business. Traditional print ads in magazines can be expensive, and must be repeated in order to be effective. Other modes of advertising, such as on the internet or word-of-mouth advertising, as well as participation in horse shows, are important as well.
Continue reading …Can a Boarding Contract Save a Horse’s Life?
October 8, 2014 Comments Off on Can a Boarding Contract Save a Horse’s Life?
Boarding contracts are very important documents. Among their many elements, these documents can establish payment schedules, confirm services that will be provided, address additional services and fees, identify late payment fees and interest on unpaid balances, explain health requirements for incoming horses, discuss stable-wide vaccination and de-worming programs, address how either party can terminate the contract, and many other elements. One very important clause, which boarding contracts sometimes miss, explains how the stable may handle veterinary emergencies when the owner cannot be reached.
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