Lacey Armour

Age: 28

Where do you live? Raleigh, NC

What is your involvement in the horse industry? I show hunter under saddle in the amateur and non-pro events.

Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? I think it depends on the person. Dating outside the industry can be hard because people typically do not understand or can’t deal with what it means to be involved in showing horses. When you’re with someone in the industry you both have that understanding, but distance and time apart can be challenging. I don’t think one way is easier than the other; it just takes the right person to make it work.

What do you look for in a person? Someone who is down-to-earth, has a great sense of humor, someone who can laugh at themselves, who doesn’t try to be something they’re not and has ambition in life.

Dealbreaker? Arrogance

Celebrity Crush? Matt Damon

What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? I love going to the beach, anything outdoors, and being with my family.

Kasey Hawkes

Age: 22

Where do you live? Powhatan, Virginia

What is your involvement in the horse industry? I show in non-pro and amateur hunter under saddle.

Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? I think that dating within the horse industry has its pros and cons. It’s really nice to be with a person who totally understands the dedication and hard work that comes with trying to reach your goals. On the other hand, there can be quite a bit of drama when you date someone who shows. You must have trust in the person you are with and in your relationship.

What do you look for in a person? My #1 characteristic is honesty. If you don’t have that, your relationship is pretty much doomed from the start. Other than that, I want to be with someone I can trust, has a good personality, and can make me laugh.

Dealbreaker? Being dishonest in any way, shape, or form.

Celebrity Crush? Taylor Kitsch from Friday Night Lights.

What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? Going to school, hanging out with friends (all the usual girl stuff)

Lacy Merritt

Age: 28

Where do you live? Kilgore, Texas

What is your involvement in the horse industry? Amateur Paint horse exhibitor

Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? It is most definitely challenging to date within the horse industry. One person with a busy schedule of showing and practicing is one too many.  Also, there seems to be 90% more girls that show in my discipline than boys, so that makes it difficult.

What do you look for in a person? Personality, confidence and there definitely has to be that attraction.

Dealbreaker? I quickly get rid of the ones that don’t support my hobby of showing horses. I also don’t like betrayal, disrespect, or someone who is controlling.

Celebrity Crush? Bradley Cooper from The Hangover.

What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? I work for the family business back home in East Texas, so that keeps me busy during the week.  On free weekends, I love to spend time with my friends, travel, shopping, and relaxing.

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Amy Marie Darnell

Age: 26

Where do you live? Maple Plain, Minnesota

What is your involvement in the horse industry? I am a non-pro and I compete in NSBA and AQHA competition.  I started showing when I was 7 and did mostly the all-around events.  I am currently more involved with the NSBA futurities because my school schedule does not allow me as much time to haul to the weekend events.

Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? Most definitely. The horse show scene is a tough one to really get to know someone.  It is great to meet people from all over the country, but that also makes it difficult to know who they really are.  Showing horses also creates a lot of long distance relationships, which are usually hard under normal circumstances. Another element that makes it difficult to date within the horse industry is the overall ratio of men to women.  At least at the AQHA and NSBA shows, there are significantly more women than men.  Being able to find a person that shares your values in that type of environment is extremely difficult.  I think that many people end up in relationships with other ‘horse people’ simply because it is convenient. That’s definitely not for me.

What do you look for in a person? The first thing I look for in a person is honesty and integrity.  This holds true for friend relationships and romantic relationships.  I also value humor, especially in the competitive environment of the horse shows.  We are all there to perform well and do our best, but even at the big futurities we are not “riding for world peace,” as my family likes to say. We need to be able to laugh and have fun, too.  I want to be with someone who makes me laugh! Another important thing for me is to find someone who likes their job.

Dealbreaker? Lying and cheating are intolerable.  If I can’t trust the person I am with, there is no relationship.  I would choose to be single before I would allow myself to be treated that way.

What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? Right now, I am in nursing school at St. Catherine University in Minneapolis.  I work part-time at two long-term care facilities.  I also enjoy spending time with friends and reading anything that is not homework-related.  However, during time off from school, I try to get to as many shows as possible. It’s an addiction!

Andrea Shaffer

Age: 23

Where do you live? Lapeer, Michigan

What is your involvement in the horse industry? I am an assistant horse trainer for Dwayne and Katy Jo Pickard.

Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? Yes, horse shows don’t usually leave much time for dating and that’s really the only time you get to see everyone.

What do you look for in a person? I think having the abilities to laugh easily and to get along with almost anyone are pretty important qualities, especially for the industry we are in.

Dealbreaker? Rudeness

Celebrity Crush? It usually depends on the most recent movie I have seen, but right now it’s Ryan Reynolds.

What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? I attempt the whole going to the gym and working out thing…sometimes it happens…sometimes it doesn’t.  When I’m skipping the gym, I’m usually hanging out with Skylar Pickard or watching movies.

Ali Eidson

Age: 20

Where do you live? Abilene, Texas/Athens, Georgia

What is your involvement in the horse industry? I have been showing Paints and Quarter horses since I was 5 years old.

Do you think it is hard to date within the horse industry? I find both dating inside the industry and outside difficult.  I have found that when you date someone outside the industry they don’t understand what horse showing is about and you spend most of your time together trying to describe what we do.  They also have a problem understanding that showing comes first and foremost.  Dating inside the industry is hard not only because of the 100-to-1 female to male ratio, but also because there is usually a distance issue.

What do you look for in a person? I prefer tall, handsome and built, but I really need someone with good hygiene and a little hair. All kidding aside, the men I find most attractive are self-confident, up for anything, and are extremely trustworthy.

Dealbreaker? Cheating and lying. There isn’t an excuse good enough for either.

Celebrity Crush? David Beckham

What are you doing when you aren’t riding horses? When I’m not riding, I’m at school at the University of Georgia studying.

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Pleasure Driving is not a class where you can just wing it,” Select Amateur Deborah Jury from Eatonton, Georgia remarked. “The horses really need to be broke and prepared for this class.” Jury would know from experience since she unfortunately was injured during a pleasure driving accident the first day of the Florida Gulf Coast Circuit. She broke her collarbone in three places, had six broken ribs, and a punctured lung after a Select Amateur Pleasure Driving exhibitor lost control of her horse which ran head on into Jury at full speed. Her recovery is expected to take at least six months. Her brown gelding, THE PROFIT HUNTER, also sustained soft tissue injuries and has been recovering from the incident. When he has completely healed, the 2005 gelding will be sent to a pleasure driving trainer to see if he has any lasting traumatic memories of the collision before he is ever shown in the class again.

“It is a dangerous class,” Jury said. “But, I think there are things that show management and judges can do to make it safer. One suggestion is for a time to be set aside during a show day where pleasure drivers are allowed to practice in the arena without the distraction of exhibitors riding their horses in the pen at the same time. We only get about 10 minutes to warm up for the class in the arena alone and that is not enough time for us to prepare our horses.” Jury adds, “I also think judges need to react more quickly and pull a disobedient horse into the middle of the arena before it escalates into something that could have been prevented.”

Sanger, Texas based trainer Lisa Ligon who was a past AQHA Reserve World Champion in Jr. Pleasure Driving with THE KRYMSUN KRUZER says that she prepares her pleasure driving horses twice as dilligently as the riding horses because they need to be very unreactive to random noises and other horses. “I never show in this class unless I feel like all the stars are aligned in my favor, and I am going to have a positive experience for both my horse and myself,” Ligon remarked. “I believe some people rush themselves into these classes, misjudging the degree of difficulty involved since there is no cantering required. They regard it as a walk trot class and believe it shouldn’t be a big deal,” Ligon explains. “Exhibitors of this class are also frequently hurried along to prepare their horses in the mornings and throughout horse shows due to inadequate arena times and designated areas in which they can properly prepare their horses.” Ligon adds, “Exhibitors also want to take advantage of the larger classes even when they may feel uncomfortable and not ready to drive that particular day which can lead to the potential for more accidents in the class.” At most AQHA horse shows across the country, it is usually problematic to qualify for the World Show in driving because it is difficult to find a half point class to compete. There are only a few major circuits across the country that have a point class, and it is unheard of to have a two point class or 10 in the driving except at the Congress or World Show.

AQHA Rule 438 (b) (3) states that judges may order any person or horse from the competition for poor conduct of either… According to AQHA Director of Judges Alex Ross, “This rule would give the judge the right to disqualify an entry if, in their opinion, it is displaying poor conduct. In any class, this is encouraged, not discouraged, especially if it pertains to the safety of exhibitors. To disqualify a horse before the competition has started would be a slippery slope. As you know, to insure all entries are judged fairly and honestly on their performance that day, judges are discouraged from viewing the contestants before they actually show,” Ross said. “At split combined shows, each judge marks their own card. Normally, the decision to disqualify a horse should be concurrent but there are always times a judge has to use common sense and has to make a call outside of our normal procedures. I feel safety in pleasure driving would be one of these times.” Ross adds, “AQHA will implement a Steward Program in 2010. Overseeing the safety necessitated in various classes will be one of the steward’s many duties. I also feel it is important for professional horsemen to get involved if they see a problem.” Top AQHA Select Amateur competitor Lori Bucholz believes the addition of stewards at shows would greatly add to the safety, not only in the driving, but in general at the shows. “A steward would be able to watch the horses warm up and if he felt that a person or horse was not prepared for the class that day would have the authority to stop them from entering the arena. This is, in my opinion, something that our shows are lacking and that would be very beneficial to all exhibitors and animals. There are also rules in the AQHA handbook regarding safety as far as the driving is concerned. A steward would be able to enforce these rules.”

AQHA judge and World Champion Pleasure Driving trainer Stephanie Lynn discusses the recent accident at last year’s Congress and, most recently, the one in Florida. “Here is my initial thought; the judges should have gotten control of the class right away – same as at the Congress. The horse I watched at the Congress that caused the wreck was bad all morning, and the judges have the right to excuse any horse that they deem unsafe for poor conduct. Although difficult to do, it is our responsibility as judges to maintain safety and see that the rules are adhered to even if that means overriding Congress officials. The horse at last year’s Congress should never have been allowed to stay in the pen. It sounds like the same situation in Florida. The horse should have been excused from the arena,” Lynn said. “Owners, drivers and trainers have got to take responsibility for their horses and the repercussions from their actions. They may feel that they have control and their horse is okay and not going to be a problem, but sometimes they are not cognizant of the effect their horse has on those around it.”

Lynn, who is based in Summerfield, Florida, adds, “As for when a horse is ready to show, they first have to be ready to be put in the cart. A horse is ready when you can bump the shafts against his sides, repeatedly, while making noise, in a sense desensitizing them to the noises and the cart bumping and hitting their sides. It often takes a lot of time with poles imitating shafts against their sides. The horse has to trust the handler to not put him in harms way,” Lynn explained. “Horses should be allowed to look at the cart without blinders at first but should be longed, ground driven, and introduced to the shafts with the blinders on. They serve a purpose and should be used accordingly. As such, the horse needs an introduction to the blinders and should never be put in a compromising position with the blinders on such as taking them out of a stall or going through a doorway that is narrow where they may bump their sides and hurt or scare themselves. The driving horse has to trust his driver. If the horse is afraid of a situation without the blinders, putting them in a cart is only going to intensify the problem.”

Stephanie explains that a horse is only ready to show in the cart after much schooling and practice. “The horse has to be relaxed and well-behaved in all aspects before putting them in a cart in a class. A horse that responds by scooting when scared; balking when startled; jumping away from a quick movement; and stopping or startling at a sudden noise is not ready to show in the cart. Any sideways move in the cart has immediate and dangerous repercussions for other exhibitors,” Lynn said. “When a horse can handle the schooling pen at the horse show, they may be ready to show. Even then, the novice driving horse needs to be shown in a safe and calm environment–preferably in a small class. ‘Going for it’ is not a good policy for the first time driver.”

“All classes can be dangerous if you or your horse are not prepared,” Bucholz, who owns two AQHA World Champion Pleasure Driving horses, LARKS HAPPY DAYS and GOOD LUKIN LARK, who were shown and trained by Kevin Dukes, said. “The driving can be especially dangerous because you only have your reins and voice to stop your horse. In addition, as a unit, you’re so much wider and longer than when you’re just riding. It’s analogous to you driving a Honda Civic versus your truck and eight-horse trailer. You have more control and stopping ability in your little car than your rig, and when the accident happens, it can be much more traumatic in your truck and trailer because of the size. I think people may view the class and think, ‘It’s beautiful, it looks like fun and I get to wear great hats.’ The reality is you have to be very prepared; your horse has to be very prepared; and I think you have to have a heightened sensibility to the other horses and exhibitors in the arena.” Bucholz also mentioned, “I try to watch the other horses and drivers as they warm up and observe how they drive and how their horse is reacting. Of course, we all know horses may act prepared when they warm up but not be that great when we go to show. Another thing I try to do is know the other exhibitor’s name. It’s pretty easy to do since we’re a small bunch, but I think by doing so, if there’s any problem, or even if you’re just closely passing someone, you can at least call them by name so they know you’re near.”

Several-time World Champion exhibitor and trainer Kevin Dukes is very adamant that his horses and clients are all prepared for their class, Bucholz said. “He has strict rules we must all follow, not only for our safety, but for our horses and the other exhibitors and their horses. “For instance, if we have to drive our horses into the arena to show, then Kevin insists we all have a ‘header’. This is simply someone who walks next to our horses head to help lead them in the arena. It’s just another level of safety that may seem superfluous, but if something were to go wrong, that ‘header’ is there to insure the horse and exhibitor are safe.”     Bucholz adds, “He also won’t allow a horse to be led in his driving bridle with blinders on. We lead our horse to the arena with their halters and then bridle them and then harness them at the arena. If we’re allowed at the show to unharness our horses in the arena, we also unbridle them there and lead them out of the arena with their halters and lead ropes,” Bucholz remarked. “He is also inexorable if he believes a particular horse should not be driven or shown on any day, for whatever reason. I think if you’re going to participate in this class, you and your trainer must always understand if either one of you is uncomfortable with the driving conditions of the day, then you don’t have to drive,” Bucholz said. “When I first started driving with Kevin, I asked him what to do if something started to go wrong in the arena. His comment was, ‘Listen to me; I will be screaming directions to you. Do exactly as I say.’ Although that comment was said with a hint of fun, I have had an instance when Kevin did have to scream directions to me and I did exactly as I was told!”

Weatherford, Texas-based trainer Dukes remarks that a pleasure driving horse must be “bomb proof,” and, sometimes, even the best of horses have a bad day and shouldn’t be shown. “There is no room for error in this event,” Dukes explained. “The drivers need to test their brakes and make sure they know how to stop their horse. ‘Whoa’ is the most important voice command that a pleasure driving horse needs to know. If the horse panics, then the driver may have a chance to get them back into control if they are able to stop them before the situation gets out of hand.”

Multiple World and Congress Champion pleasure driving trainer Brian Holmes from Purcell, Oklahoma specializes in this class and individuals from all across the country send their horses to his farm to be trained for this event. Holmes believes many exhibitors and trainers don’t take this class serious enough. “They don’t practice enough, and they overestimate their preparation for this class.” This class is dangerous because of what Holmes calls the “grandma” and “weapon” factor. “I think there is too much emphasis put on movement in this class. Safety, submission, and consistency should be awarded more than a beautiful mover with an inconsistent top line especially when there are Select Amateur competitors who only show in this event because of physical or health limitations,” Holmes said. “The cart also adds an extra element because if a horse gets loose, it can be used inadvertently as a weapon and can seriously injure someone.”

Holmes exposes the horses to different scenarios such as having the horse hit the shafts, wearing a heavy draft harness, rubbing the wheels against the wall, driving around other horses in carts, driving in and out of people riding horses, and pulling a heavy sled to teach the horses forward motion. “I don’t want to drive a horse only in ideal conditions. I want to be able to drive them everywhere, and not in a cocoon-like environment. It makes the horses more durable. At the Congress, you have to be resourceful and drive at 3 a.m. if you want some space to prepare your horses. It is rare to find a time where there isn’t riders packed in the practice arenas. The drivers and horses need to be prepared for this type of environment. If you can get your horses tame and quiet in the dark, it is easier to show in the daylight.”  Many horse enthusiasts have seen the YouTube video, “Country Pleasure Driving Class Gone Wrong”, where it shows a horse getting scared and causing multiple accidents at a Region Arabian Championship Show a fews years ago. Most trainers said they would normally tell their clients to go to the middle of the arena and have someone grab the head of the horse, and then unhook the cart if another exhibitor’s horse wrecks. Most scared horses run around the outside of the arena. Holmes says that the horses should remain walking inside the middle of the arena because a scared horse runs blind and cannot see something that is at a standstill. People and horses that wait on the rail and don’t move around are “sitting ducks.” He says that they should try to slip out an exit and keep moving.

The key to developing a safer class is in desensitizing the horse and making sure it is prepared for adverse conditions. If a horse exhibits any signs of being upset or tense, then the drivers and trainers should have the fortitude to not show in the class. “Our Hunter Under Saddle horses today are truly beautiful but have a bigger motor and are more reactive than ever before,” AQHA judge and multiple World Champion trainer Gigi Bailey explained. “I used to break and show many drivers. However, there were some horses that I would have never even attempted to teach as I felt they did not have the mind nor the personality for it. A driving horse has to be safe. Even then, situations can still occur that will set off the best of them,” Bailey said. “As a judge I have encountered several instances where I did not feel the class was safe to run. I have done several things to ensure safety. I have given more warm up. I have shortened the time of the class. I have even asked that exhibitors consider not showing that day. As a judge, I feel that my first priority is the safety of the exhibitors, and my second is the safety of the horses. When keeping those items in mind, we as judges will possibly make better decisions for the show, the horses, and especially the exhibitors.”

Bailey ended her thoughts by telling a story about when she was giving a clinic at Penn State several years ago. “There were over 700 people in attendance that day, and we were talking about Pleasure Driving. A really nice older gentleman raised his hand and said that he had bought a cart and harness, hooked his horse to it, and drove away. To which I replied, ‘and you lived to tell us about it.’”

The driving class is a fun and beautiful class Bucholz concludes. “It’s great for exhibitors who may not physically be able to participate in other classes. It adds another discipline that a horse can do and another class in which exhibitors can show.  However, it doesn’t matter how fun and beautiful the driving class or any other class is, it has to be safe. And for the class to be safe, you have to be prepared.”

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Young foals are vulnerable to many diseases that cause diarrhea.  Risks will vary, depending on geographic region and the environment on each individual farm (and level of contamination) where foals are born.  One of the most serious GI tract infections is caused by certain species and types of Clostridium.  These are hardy spore-forming bacteria that are often present in the environment.  Some of these species cause other diseases like tetanus, botulism, black disease, malignant edema and blackleg.  There are effective vaccines for protecting calves, lambs and goat kids against Clostridium perfringens, which causes severe GI tract infections in these species, but no vaccines have yet been licensed for use in horses.  Treatment and prevention strategies for foals have been extrapolated from methods used in other livestock, on a trial and error basis.

Paul Zancanella, DVM, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, says the most important thing for horse owners in dealing with these infections in foals is early detection.  “When we see diarrhea in foals we think it’s important to get the veterinarian involved as soon as possible so he/she can see the early signs, which can help in diagnosis.  Sometimes diarrhea in foals is hard to diagnose because it may be caused by viruses or bacteria.  Often the Clostridium infection is not accurately diagnosed until we have some post-mortem cultures of intestinal feces,” he says.

TREATMENT -  “Any time a foal gets diarrhea it’s important to devise a good treatment plan that includes antibiotics and IV fluids.  Usually we use conservative doses of Banamine, as well—to ease the gut pain and reduce the inflammation,” he explains.

“We find that in severe cases we have to withhold milk from the foal and keep him from nursing for about 24 hours and sometimes longer. This seems to slow down the multiplication of bacteria within the gut and also allows better concentration of the oral antibiotics in the gut.  It seems like the milk acts as a culture—a food for the Clostridium bacteria to thrive on.  Taking the foals off the mares for 24 hours, if they have severe diarrhea, is one of the best things you can do as an adjunct to treatment,” he explains.

Scott Toppin, DVM (Littleton Equine Medical Center in Littleton, Colorado) says the disease often seems to affect strong, vigorous foals from mares that are lactating well.  These foals are consuming a lot of milk, and this may be a factor in the GI tract environment that makes it more able to support swift multiplication of the toxin-forming bacteria.  “When the foal has a lot of milk in the gut, it creates an environment in which these bacteria can grow,” says Toppin.  If a foal continues to drink milk, the bacteria continue to multiply and produce toxins and gas.  These foals tend to colic and/or bloat up after nursing, so it’s best to withhold milk until the foal starts to improve.

Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM (Professor, Colorado State University) says that in her experience the foals with bloody diarrhea don’t digest milk very well, and colic if they keep nursing.  Putting them on IV nutrition reduces the incidence of recurrent colic.  “We haven’t had to do this aggressive therapy for prolonged periods, nor on all foals with this disease.  Keeping the foal off milk for 2 to 3 days is usually enough.  By then the foal’s clinical signs have resolved and we can gradually reintroduce oral milk intake,” she says. “When we can keep foals from suckling the mare for a day or two, the vicious cycle of colic after suckling seems to resolve.”

You don’t always know what you’re dealing with when a foal gets sick.  Even though diagnostic tests can be done from a fecal sample, it may take a couple days to get results back.  “Rather than wait to find out, we generally start treating the foal very quickly and very aggressively, because if we wait for the results it may be too late,” says Toppin.

There are several antibiotics that can be used, but most veterinarians prefer either metronidazole or penicillin.  “I generally use potassium penicillin IV in these foals,” says Zancanella.   “Some foals we also give Gentamycin to take care of secondary invaders.  Penicillin is one of the more effective antibiotics against Clostridium.  We usually add potassium penicillin to the IV fluids we’re giving.  We give it as a continuous infusion, adding 20 million units to a 5 liter bag of fluid, and administer it at approximately 30 drips per minute,” says Zancanella.

Foals can be treated intensively at an equine hospital or at the farm, depending on facilities available.  “You need a good box stall.  Most veterinarians who have a box stall at their clinic have an IV set up for horses suspended over the stall to hang those bags on.  The foal is able to move around and not get tangled up in the IV line,” he says.  “We install a catheter in the foal.  If you’re going to give IV fluids to a foal, it’s important to put in a long-term catheter.  We like to use a 3 or 5 inch catheter and suture it into the foal.”  This helps make sure it won’t come loose.

The foal is either muzzled or paneled off from the mare so it can’t nurse.  “We’ve done it both ways, but we prefer to have a panel between them.  The mare is right there for comfort, but the foal can’t nurse.  It’s important to milk the mare regularly to keep her comfortable.  If she has a large, full udder it will be sore and she won’t want the foal to nurse when it’s time to reintroduce the foal to milk,” says Zancanella.

Some foals become severely sick so suddenly that they become dull and start to go into shock even before they show signs of diarrhea.  “These can be hard to diagnose.  A lot of those foals are colicky and you have to be sure it’s not due to something else like ulcers or other types of gastro-intestinal infections.  Most GI tract infections are treated similarly, however.  If a foal shows signs of colic, it’s important to get your veterinarian involved right away so there can be some diagnostic work, and pain management for the foal so he won’t complicate things by rolling and thrashing around.  If he can be started early on treatment with antibiotics and fluid, this really helps,” he says.

“The earlier we treat these foals, the better luck we have with them.  Fluid is very important since many of the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are relatively renal-toxic; if the foal becomes dehydrated these drugs can cause kidney damage.  You need to have the foal on IV fluids so he won’t be dehydrated while you’re giving these types of drugs,” he explains.  Extra fluid is also important to help prevent or reverse shock.

“There is some clinical evidence that cattle antitoxin (for Clostridium perfringens type C and D) given orally to foals diminishes the signs of the infection.  This is an extra-label use for these products, however, since this treatment is not licensed for use in horses.  But it may help bind the toxins.  The Clostridium infections in foals that I have diagnosed have almost all been type C or D.  I have seen Clostridium difficile a few times, but the vast majority have been Clostridium perfringens.  From talking with other veterinarians I understand that this is not always true, but in our practice it has been the case,” says Zancanella.  The cattle antitoxin product is sometimes used in foals as treatment or as a preventative against types C & D.

Use of Bio-Sponge (an oral product containing Di-Tri-octahedral Smectite, which absorbs and binds to the toxins) is also helpful in treatment.  “I think it is fairly effective in binding toxins in the gut, so this could be given to the sick foal,” he says.

Toppin says it’s a bit like using charcoal in that it tends to absorb and bind to the toxins. “You must be careful on dosage, since it can also plug the tract.  Bio-Sponge comes as a paste, in a tube for ease of oral administration.  We usually use it for treatment rather than prevention, because of the risk for constipation if overdosed,” he explains.

Traub-Dargatz did some in-vitro studies to see how the product absorbed the various clostridial toxins, and in test tubes it appeared to bind the toxins produced by both C. perfringens and C. difficile.  “One concern was that it might also bind the antibodies from colostrum, if you gave it to a foal immediately after birth.  We did another in-vitro study that suggested it does bind colostral antibodies, but not to the degree that it binds the toxins.  If people are thinking of using it as a preventative, they should wait until the foal has suckled several times, and give the product several hours after that—after the foal is at least 8 hours old,” she says.  Dosage should be carefully calculated to avoid risks for constipation due to overdose.

PREVENTION – There are numerous ways to try to prevent these infections.  Keeping foaling areas clean is a very important key.  If mares are out in paddocks or pastures there is always some risk of exposure.  Foals are curious and nibble soil.  Mares may get dirty if there’s any manure where they lie down, and foals may pick up bacteria while nuzzling around the mare’s legs, belly, tail, etc.  It’s difficult to completely eliminate exposure.

Since the most vulnerable time for foals seems to be the first week of life, it’s wise to be diligent in keeping their environment as clean as possible during that time.  “Some farms have found that when mares are foaling on grassy pastures, away from the animal concentration areas, they reduce their problems,” says Traub-Dargatz.  “One of the farms that had repeat occurrences each year had fewer problems after they stopped having mares foal in their calving shed.  I don’t think we can totally prevent exposure if foals will be outdoors, but we can potentially reduce the level of exposure,” she says.

Meticulous attention to sanitation in the barn is a big factor.  It pays to disinfect stalls between foalings.  “It’s impossible to disinfect dirt floors, but we can clean the walls, clean out all soiled bedding, and try to let the floor dry between animals.  We can remove the mare’s manure as she passes it, increasing the frequency with which we clean the stall from once a day to several times a day,” says Traub-Dargatz.

The spores are hardy and can withstand heat, cold and drying.  “To get rid of them requires mechanical removal.  Cleaning and washing are most effective.  There are some disinfectants that will kill these spores, but most of the common disinfectants are ineffective.  Work with your veterinarian to come up with a plan for cleaning, and use of a proper disinfectant,” she says.  There are safety guidelines that must be followed to protect the people applying the disinfectant, and guidelines regarding when to allow animals access to the disinfected areas.

Bleach can inactivate the spores, but the bleach itself is inactivated if there’s any organic material present such as dirt, manure, straw or hay.  Scrubbing stall walls with detergent and scrub brush can help remove any contaminants.  A non-porous surface is easier to totally clean and disinfect than wood.  Wood can be covered, if necessary, with a couple coats of slick-surface paint.  If a particular area is a repeat problem (if foals born in a certain stall become sick), you might have to dig out that stall and remove the dirt floor, and consider a different flooring surface that would be easier to clean.  Some people use stall mats that they take up and wash/disinfect between foalings, putting clean bedding on top of the mat.

Cleaning the mare’s udder and area below her vulva with warm soapy water (no disinfectants) then rinsing off the soapy water and gently patting dry with paper towels—when she goes into the foaling stall, and again right after the foal is born—will reduce the amount of bacteria the foal ingests when he seeks the udder to nurse.  Mares normally pass manure during labor, and often while shedding the placenta, so the hindquarters and tail should be cleaned up afterward.

“It’s also important to try to avoid stress to the mare and foal,” says Toppin.  “I know this is a hard thing to evaluate and achieve, but anything that might be stressful to mare and foal should be avoided if possible.  I also feel that if you’re careful to avoid contamination, especially from one foal to another, this can really help.  If you have a sick foal, don’t go back and forth between it and another foal or a pregnant mare.  There are theories that maybe these mares are getting infected prior to pregnancy or foaling and are then passing the bacteria on to their foals.”

If the mare has some of these bacteria in her GI tract, they won’t affect her, but they may be present in her manure and the foal could pick them up when eating some of her manure (as young foals do).  If the mare gets dirty, lying in manure, the foal may pick up bacteria when nuzzling her legs, belly or hindquarters.

Some mare owners resort to using the cattle vaccine in pregnant mares, in an effort to stimulate production of antibodies that would then be present in their colostrum to help protect their foals.  “Even though this is not a licensed use of the vaccine, I feel there is some evidence that using the cattle vaccine containing Clostridium perfringens type C and D does prevent the disease.  This is all clinical experience, however.  I don’t think there are any research studies to show this.  Since this vaccine is not labeled for horses, your veterinarian would need to prescribe it, and make sure the clients understand that this is not an approved use, and not without risk,” says Zancanella.

Toppin has used the vaccine on farms where foals have been lost to Clostridium in the past.  “I have not seen a problem in the vaccinated mares in my practice, but there is always some risk.  The manufacturer has not done studies in horses regarding safety and efficacy.  This vaccine should only be used in horses if we feel it is really necessary,” explains Toppin.  There have been instances in which mares developed abscesses at the site of vaccination, necessitating surgical drainage and treatment.  This can be very debilitating in a late-pregnant mare.”

Clostridial enterotoxemia is a sporadic disease in foals, so it’s hard to determine, without a controlled study, how effective the cattle vaccine really is.  A breeder might vaccinate all the mares one year, for instance, and have no cases of diarrhea in the foals, and feel that the vaccine worked as a prevention–when in reality there might not have been any cases that year, anyway.  But numerous farms that have had problems with Clostridium infections in the past are now using the vaccine and feel that it’s been a help.

“I feel that in the face of severe outbreaks on certain farms that have had serious problems year after year, using the cattle products has been somewhat effective,” says Zancanella.  “I’ve used the cattle vaccine with some of my clients and they tell me it works.  This is purely subjective, and a hard thing to evaluate, but I’ve had clients tell me it has cut down their Clostridium problems by doing this.”  This is an option people could try, if they’re having a lot of sick foals.

“There is also a possibility that an autogenous vaccine could be created.  I have not investigated this myself, but someone with a really bad problem might talk to a company that produces hyperimmunized serum from mares.  This could be an option, as well,” he says.  This could be even more specific against the particular strain and type on a certain farm, and more effective than simply using the cattle vaccine.

Traub-Dargatz says there are serum (plasma) antitoxin products collected from horses that have been vaccinated with the toxoids.

“The idea would be to give these biological products to newborn foals to try to prevent this disease.  However, there have not yet been any controlled studies regarding their efficacy and safety in newborn foals,” she explains.  “Anyone considering using the vaccines or antitoxin products should work with their veterinarian and rely on his/her recommendations, in terms of experience with products that have appeared to be relatively safe and effective.  I would not recommend using any of these without consultation with your veterinarian,” she says.

“If the disease is being caused by type A, we don’t have as many options, though there is now a type A toxoid for cattle—but it is not produced by as many companies as the types C and D toxoid.  I do not know of anyone recommending the type A product for use in horses,” she says.  If the farm is using type C toxoid and the disease is being caused by type A, it’s questionable that the vaccine would give much benefit.

Some farm owners who have lost foals now use antibiotics preventatively.  Rather than wait until a foal gets sick, they give every foal an antibiotic for the first 3 to 5 days of life.  One of the antibiotics effective against these bacteria is metronidazole (Flagyl), and it is often used orally in treating sick foals.  Some breeders who’ve had a lot of problems with the disease have resorted to giving every foal oral doses of this antibiotic during the first days of life.  “Using metronidazole as a preventative is probably a safe alternative to the vaccine, and probably has less side effects.  Metronidazole is a fairly good broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against anaerobic organisms like Clostridium,” says Zancanella.

“There is some worry that bacteria will become resistant to the drug when used routinely in all foals as a preventative,” says Traub-Dargatz.  “It’s important to weigh the risk versus benefits of this approach.”  She also points out that if certain prevention methods are used and none of the foals get sick, we really don’t know whether it was the treatment or vaccine preventing the disease, or just a natural lack of disease that year.

None of these things—the vaccines, the Bio-Sponge, nor the antibiotic drug—have been used in controlled studies.  “It’s difficult to set up a study because when people have had one or two foals die and then start to use one or more of these preventatives, they want to do it for all the foals.  They don’t want to do it for every other foal born (leaving some unprotected, as controls),” says Traub-Dargatz.

Mare owners should discuss a preventative strategy with their veterinarians, especially if they’ve experienced this disease before in their foals.  Often when this disease is encountered, more than one foal on the farm will get sick.  “It’s important to quarantine and isolate any sick foals, because it is contagious,” says Toppin.  The sick foal will pass high numbers of bacteria in the diarrhea.

“Even though these bacteria are already present in the environment, it makes sense to use good hygiene when working with a sick foal,” says Traub-Dargatz.  “Don’t go in and out of that stall without cleaning your footwear or having specific footwear for that purpose.  Cleaning your hands after handling the foal is also important. C. difficile can also affect humans.  Washing with soap and water is important after handling the sick foal or cleaning the stall, even if disposable gloves have been worn,” she says.

If the foal has diarrhea, clean the tail and buttocks once or twice a day.  The liquid fecal material can scald the skin, making the area sore and raw.  “If the foal needs injections, people often put a needle into the buttocks, and if this area is soiled with diarrhea, bacteria may be carried into the muscle with the needle.  This can result in more problems.  If owners are giving injections into the muscle, they should talk with their veterinarian about how and where to give those,” she says.

Related posts:

1. Septicemia in Newborn Foals
2. Improving Survival Rates of Foals in High Risk Pregnancies
3. Weaning Foals

In these tough economic times, many stallion owners are finding it harder than ever to make a profit.  Fewer people are breeding their mares.  Fewer people are buying horses.  Yet, the cost of maintaining and campaigning stallions remains higher than ever.

Some stallion owners think they should stop using written contracts in an effort to make business less complicated and more inviting to mare owners.  Simplicity, they think, creates a competitive edge that will attract more business and reduce operating costs.  Think again.  Well-written contracts can save money and avoid costly legal battles.  And in a down economy, that makes good business sense.

This article discusses the benefits of written breeding contracts.

How Contracts Can Help Prevent Disputes

Traditionally, people arranged horse breedings on a handshake with nothing in writing.  Since then,  the horse breeding process has become far more complicated.  And so has the business.  When problems arise, even successful equine businesses are not equipped to pay huge legal fees.  Breeding contracts, as illustrated below, can effectively avoid disputes when they foresee and address possible problems.

Common Problems Breeding Contracts Can Avoid

Dispute #1 –

The mare fails to deliver a live foal

Breeding contracts can plan for this in several ways.  For example:

• The contract can clearly define what “live foal guarantee” means.  For example, if  a “live foal” means a single foal that can stand and nurse unassisted within 24 hours of birth, this would prevent a free re-breed request if a mare delivered twin foals but one was healthy and the other died soon after birth.

• It can explain fees and charges that mare owners must pay when seeking re-breed privileges through the live foal guarantee, such as the stallion owner’s most recent booking fees and deposits (even if they are higher than last year’s fees).

• It can explain what mare owners must do before they are entitled to claim re-breed privileges such as submit a prompt veterinary certification of no live foal and the circumstances of the lost foal.

• It can also specify what actions on part of the mare owner will void the live foal guarantee.

Dispute #2 –

Mare owners demand semen shipments more frequently than the stallion manager can send

In transactions involving shipped semen, disputes occasionally arise when mare owners expect semen shipments more frequently than the stallion manager is prepared to fulfill.  Contracts can avoid this problem.  In contracts involving shipped cooled semen, for example:

• The contract can specify what days of the week, and even what hours of the day, the stallion manager is available to receive and process requests for shipped semen.

• It can explain what months of the year the stallion is available and can be collected.

Dispute #3 –

The stallion manager imposes charges

In horse breeding transactions, stallion managers often impose extra fees and charges such as semen collection fees, shipping fees, shipping container deposits, and late payment fees.  The parties have every incentive to list these charges in the contract and to explain when, and if, mare owners can receive a refund.

Dispute #4 – A dispute arises and legal action is threatened by either party

Even the best written contracts cannot prevent all possible disputes.   But a well-written breeding contract brings the best chance of avoiding disputes.  Also, the contract can plan for this possibility and accomplish several things, such as:

• It can include an attorney fee clause through which one party must pay the other party’s legal fees.

• It can explain what state law applies to the transaction and where legal disputes must be brought.

• It can allow for disputes to be submitted to an alternative to the traditional legal system, such as mediation or arbitration.

Conclusion

Well-written contracts can help avoid disputes and spare all parties money and aggravation.  Standardized, one-size-fits-all form contracts are, at best, a starting point from which to develop a good customized contract.  Do not be afraid to enlist a lawyer to help – the cost to draft a good contract is a mere fraction of the cost to litigate in court an equine contract dispute.

This article does not constitute legal advice.  When questions arise based on specific situations, direct them to a knowledgeable attorney.

About the Author

A lawyer for over 23 years, Julie Fershtman is one of the nation’s most experienced Equine Law practitioners, has successfully tried equine cases before juries in four states, has drafted hundreds of equine industry contracts, and is a Fellow of the American College of Equine Attorneys.  For more information, visit www.equinelaw.net or www.equinelaw.info.

Julie Fershtman’s books, MORE Equine Law & Horse Sense and Equine Law & Horse Sense, help people avoid disputes.  Order both for $42.90, first class shipping included.  To order, call Horses & The Law Publishing at 866-5-EQUINE.  Or, send check or money order to Horses & The Law Publishing, P.O. Box 250696, Franklin, MI 48025-0696.

Attention Lawyers and Paralegals: This year the American Bar Association published Julie’s new book on Litigating Animal Law Disputes.  The book covers a wide variety of legal issues involving horses and other animals and includes sample court filings.  Horses & The Law Publishing sells the book for a large discount off the ABA’s $130 cover price.  Contact Ms. Fershtman directly for information.

Related posts:

1. Legal Maters, Why Breeding Contracts Differ Throughout the Industry
2. Legal Matters-Legal Disputes Frequently Encountered-And How to Avoid Them
3. Legal Matters – Mare Sale and Foal Transfer Contracts

From the beginning, 30 year-old trainer Reid Thomas from Corpus Christi, Texas seemed destined to be involved in the horse industry. “He had horses in his blood from an early age,” his mother Charlene Thomas said. “Reid tried t-ball, tennis and soccer, but he always went back to horses.” Even at the age of three, his mother remembers Reid wanting to ride the horse carousel at the mall. “I was thinking it would be cheaper to buy the carousel and pacify him that way instead of deal with the responsibilities and expense of buying him a real horse,” laughs Charlene.

Finally, at the age of seven, Reid talked his father, Brock, and mother, Charlene, into acquiring some horses. Reid’s first mount was named, RC, a AQHA sorrel gelding, and his older brother, Ryan, rode a horse called Dr. Pepper. One of their friends competed on a horse called Big Red. When they participated at the 4-H and open shows nearby, this group was affectionately known as the Coca Cola Bunch. Reid’s older brother, who is now an orthopedic surgeon, eventually lost his interest in riding, but Reid’s enthusiasm for horses never wavered. His mother helped form the Nueces Horseman’s 4-H Club where Reid was involved with the judging team. “He learned how to critique the horses and develop oral reasonings for his placings,” his mother said. “I believe that helped him develop and enhance his natural talent as a horseman.”

Reid also developed an interest in the hunter classes where he learned to jump on a 14.1 hand Palomino mare named Honeybee. Unfortunately, Honeybee developed navicular so he was unable to continue showing her. Thomas ended up trading Honeybee for a western Palomino mare named DAZZLING REVUE. By the age of 14, Thomas was giving lessons to local kids and volunteering his time to learn more about riding and training horses. His fondness for Palominos led him to start showing on the PHBA circuit, and it was also a great introduction into the horse show world because it was a place he could be competitive and successful even with a limited budget. DAZZLING REVUE and Reid won the 13 & Under Horsemanship at the Palomino World Championship Show. Then, Thomas bought a Palomino gelding, HESA CERTAIN SUCCESS, that he showed in the 14-18 pleasure and horsemanship. This duo was very successful on the PHBA show circuit where they won the Houston Palomino Livestock Show in western pleasure four times in a row and, in 1995, this team won the 14-18 Western Pleasure at the Palomino World Show.

Thomas went on to graduate from high school seventh in his class of 400. Obviously quite astute, Reid attended Texas A&M and received a degree in Business with a minor in International Law. During college, Reid still had some horses in training and started competing at the futurities and AQHA shows. He had every intention of going to law school, but he chose instead to devote all his talents to training and showing horses. “I just couldn’t image living half of my life in an office cubicle,” Reid said. “My grandmother, Charlotte, was very instrumental in helping me make my decision. She told me to follow my passion. If you love what you do and do it right, then you will be successful.”

His grandmother was right. With this young trainer’s drive and passion, he has developed a reputation as one of the top all-around trainers in the nation. His talent of matching horses to riders and horses to their strongest events has been Reid’s most important asset and sets him apart from other trainers in the industry. “He seems to have this knack to be able to bring out the best in the riders and horses,” remarks his mother Charlene.  Thomas adds, “Every year, I sit down with my clients and set out goals for each client according to their budget and talents of each specific horse and rider.  If my clients and I are not on the same page, it gets frustrating and nothing gets accomplished. I try to be honest with them and set realistic goals.”

Luckily, Reid has been fortunate with his ability to juggle the demands and ambitions of his customers. He has managed to maintain several long term clients–four of which he has helped since he was 15 years-old. Thomas has helped several of his customers from when they started in walk-trot to currently showing in the Amateur division. Debbie Donald, whose daughter Brittany hauls with Reid, mentions his determination and willingness to go the extra mile. “He is an excellent instructor who is constantly wanting to increase his knowledge and skills to help his clients.” Another customer, Kay Walker, whose two boys train with Thomas explains that while he is very driven and wants to win, he also stills makes it fun. “He is a very caring person who wants us to be successful but not to the point where we aren’t enjoying ourselves and lose sight of why we show horses in the first place–to have fun, meet new people, and hopefully learn lessons that will help my boys later in life.”

All of Reid’s hard work and determination came to fruition at last year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress. He brought seven horses to the Congress and five came away as Congress Champions–two of the five won two classes. His client Brittany Donald won the 12-14 Youth All-Around and the All Age Youth All Around with CHIPS PRIVATE STARS. Donald also won the 14-18 Novice Youth High Point with CHIPPEN IN STYLE. At this past year’s Palomino Youth World Championships, Brittany received the 14-18 Golden Horse with her mount YOU BET SHEZ INVITED. His other client Taylor Dearman won the 14-18 Trail at the Palomino Youth World while Brittany was second in the same class. His two clients switched it up in the 14-18 Horsemanship where Brittany was first and Taylor was reserve champion. His assistant, Blake Weis, won the Green Trail at last year’s Congress with SLOWLY INTOXICATING, and the Congress Amateur Versatility was won by his client Brittany Boyd and DONT SKIP MY CHARMS. They won the horsemanship and western pleasure and were 4th in the hunter under saddle and pole bending. CHIPPEN IN STYLE also won the Progressive Working Hunter at the AQHA Open World, was third in Senior Hunter Hack, and fourth in Senior Working Hunter with world-renowned hunter trainer Patty Stovel in the irons.

Thomas credits his parents for his success by providing unconditional love and support as well as his mentors in the industry: Steve Archer, Charlie Cole, Jason Martin, David Connors, Lainie DeBoer, and Patty Stovel. “They are all inspirational and amazing talents who have helped and given me encouragement and advice throughout the years. But, I have also learned a lot from just watching how they approach a pattern or course, train a specific horse, treat their clients, and run their businesses.”

Top trainer Charlie Cole says that Reid has built a really successful business in the last few years. “He not only can ride and train a horse very well but he is excellent with his clients. He knows how to pick and match up horses and riders. He’s always trying to learn and improve himself. I’d say he’s a very well rounded horseman.”

Currently, Thomas has 24 horses in training on his 20 acre farm that he shares with his mother. His mother runs a therapeutic riding program known as the Glenoak Therapeutic Riding Center for children with developmental disabilities out of the same facility. While Reid is happy for his clients’ success in the show arena, he realizes that riding horses is not all about winning at the highest levels. It is sometimes just about the connection and bond between horse and rider. He currently helps Lisa Hepner who has cerebral palsy at the AQHA shows in the Equestrian with Disabilities events. Hepner won the Equestrian with Disability Trail at the NSBA World Championships last year with ZIPS DANDY SENSATION. “I was so happy for her, and it was one of the most amazing feelings to just be there and share that moment with her,” Reid said. Thomas also mentions his excitement of teaching his two nephews and niece how to ride horses. “My niece loves riding and I am glad through all my hard work I am able to now teach and help her learn how to ride. It feels like everything has come full circle.”

While one of Reid’s goals is to win the AQHA World and Congress, he still tries to focus mainly on making sure his clients and their horses succeed in the horse show ring. His motto is “Success is about the journey not the destination.” His proudest moments are when he learns that the younger kids that he has helped and taught at the horse shows have grown up to do amazing things with their lives. “It really makes everything worthwhile,” Reid said. “To know that I have made a positive difference in people’s lives.”

Related posts:

1. 2009 The Congress is Coming to an End!
2. Understanding Equine Hoof Care by: Heather Smith Thomas
3. Trainer of the month..Steve and Becky Meadows

As a young child, R. David Terrell dreamed of being a cowboy. He would sit in front of the television screen for hours watching John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and Bonanza. Which is probably not all that surprising until you find out he is African American and 6 feet 7 inches tall. David is the second man of color to have the honor and privilege to be an AQHA judge–the first being Edward “Skeeter” Hembry, Jr., from Warrenton,Virginia.

58 year-old Terrell, a native of Millington, Tennessee (just north of Memphis) has never shied away from setting goals and following his own path. His parents, Goldie, Sr., and Vera Terrell were farmers and ran a convenience store in their small rural town of Millington. While not at school, David, the youngest of three, would help his father farm the land full of cotton and soybeans from sunset to sundown. His parents always had horses around for him to ride. “The main problem was that they were not very broke,” Terrell laughs. “Sometimes I just had to hold on and pray.” Terrell’s parents also taught him a strong work ethic and instilled in him a strong inner strength and belief he could achieve his dreams.

In the late ‘60s, David attended Millington Central High School. He was one of the 14 African American students out of a class of 914 that chose to go to a predominantly white school. It was the time of desegregation and integration of blacks and whites into the same public schools. Terrell had the choice of going to Woodstock, a mostly black high school, or Millington Central which was mostly white. Terrell chose Millington Central simply because it was closer to his home. His father was one of the local school bus drivers, and David would have had to get up at 5:30 am every morning with his father to get a ride to school. Terrell decided he would rather sleep. Terrell’s mother, Vera, was apprehensive about him changing schools, but David seemed to take the challenge in stride. “It was tough and fights broke out,” Terrell recalls. “The white students didn’t want us there. There were things said. It was nerve racking being the only black boy in a locker room full of white boys. One time I was cornered in the boy’s locker room by a group of them. They were calling me names, popping towels at me, and hitting me with brooms. I’ll never forget when the captain of the basketball team, Mike Ripski, came over and made them stop.” Terrell, a strong man of faith, adds, “I was grateful that the God in heaven protected us and no one was seriously injured or killed during this time.”

Terrell was the first African American to play varsity sports at his high school, and he was also the only black boy on his high school basketball team. He was actively recruited by colleges and received a full basketball scholarship to Christian Brothers College located in Memphis, Tennessee. He played forward and received MVP honors two different years and was named Little All-American Honorable Mention for the NAIA division. He averaged 25 points and 9 rebounds a game. In 1973, he graduated from college with a B.A. degree in History with a minor in Education. Terrell went on to coach high school and college basketball for 13 years. He was the VSAC League Coach of the Year when he coached at Shelby State Community College.

While he was quite successful playing and coaching basketball, it was not his real passion. During the mid-‘70s, he met J.W. and Juanita Martin who were very big in the Appaloosa business. They bred and raised halter horses. Terrell started going to their barn to learn more about the horse business. The first time he met Juanita Martin, she gave him a pitch fork and a wheel barrow and told him to go clean out the lot where the broodmares were located. After he finished, Juanita told him if he would have refused her request, she would have known he wasn’t that serious. In actuality, he was quite serious. Until he was 23 years-old, Terrell was not aware individuals could make a living training horses and judging horse shows. He immediately was drawn to the horse industry and felt he wanted to pursue it further. At the time, he was coaching basketball at Collierville High School. During the off season, he would drive 65 miles one way to go to the Martins farm to work with the horses, and then he would drive back at night and open the gym for the kids to practice. Terrell mentions that no one else in his family had a passion for horses, “I think they began wondering whether there was something seriously wrong with me,” he laughs. “All I talked about was horses.”

Terrell was very busy during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. During that time he leased a horse training facility, coached basketball, and worked at Fedex at night unloading trucks. In 1983 David married Terry Perez Terrell who he met at the Sharp Manufacturing Plant located in Memphis, Tennessee. They went on to have two children, Richard David Terrell, Jr. and Laura Michelle Terrell George. During this time, Terrell realized that horses, not basketball, was his real passion. He decided to quit coaching basketball and train horses full time.

His first introduction to horse shows was at the local open shows nearby. Just as in high school, Terrell wasn’t welcomed with open arms when he started attending these shows. They would tell him that he was not allowed to show because he was a “trainer” and only amateurs could show. “However, it was just an excuse because they didn’t want a black man at their shows,” Terrell remarks. “The local television station did a story about me being denied the opportunity to compete at these shows.” At the same time, Terrell started showing at Appaloosa shows. David said he was always treated with respect at the breed shows across the country. He had admired Bill Oglesby who was a prominent trainer and judge in the Appaloosas. David finally called him up and went out and met him in person. Oglesby became one of his mentors in the horse industry. “Bill taught me about conformation, industry standards, and the business side of judging. He was helpful and took me under his wing when I decided I wanted to become a judge.”

Terrell does recall the first time he went to the International Judges Seminar (formerly known as the Color Breed Council, CBC) to test for his ApHC judges card in 1996. “I was like, ‘oh no!!–here we go again.’ I felt like I was back at Millington Central High School when I walked into the room,” Terrell said. “It was a room full of white folks. It was unnerving and quite intimidating at first.” Terrell didn’t pass the test for his Appaloosa card the first time he tried, but he prepared a lot harder the next year and received his Appaloosa judges card in 1997. The next several years Terrell went back and received multiple judges cards in various breed organizations. Most recently, Terrell was upgraded to a full-fledged AQHA judge. He holds cards with the APHA, ApHC, AQHA, IBHA, NSBA, PHBA, ARHA, and PTHA. Terrell has judged several major shows across the country including the Appaloosa World Championship Show (4 times), Pinto World, Palomino Youth World, Paint World, American Ranch Horse World Championships, and the Australian Quarter Horse Championships. His aspiration is someday to be considered qualified to judge the AQHA World Show and to also acquire his NRHA and NRCHA cards. “I had the opportunity to help David when he was just starting out with the horses,” Bill Oglesby said. “He had things stacked against him at first, but he is a very hardworking young man and has done real well.”

As a side business, Terrell is also involved in the trucking industry and owns a semi-truck that he leases to Phil’s Trucking located in Memphis, Tennessee. He is also heavily involved with his church, the Lighthouse Fellowship Assembly of God, where he usually can be found unless he is on the road judging or driving his truck. His pastor, Dr. Tim Vandouser, has been one of his closest friends and has been influential in shaping his life through the teachings of the church.

While Terrell enjoys being involved with his church, he also has quite of a charismatic personality and loves to talk and tell stories. David recalls a comical story that happened one time when he was judging a Paint show in Conyers, Georgia with Fain Yearty and Helmut Lekschas. Terrell recalls that Helmut and Fain asked him why he didn’t end up playing professional basketball. Terrell said, “I hesitated and got a solemn look on my face and said, ‘Well you see that is a rather disturbing question–I had this disease.’ Helmut and Fain got this real concerned look on their faces. ‘I couldn’t continue because I had this disease. It is called the white man’s disease… I can’t jump.’” Terrell said they got real quiet and then burst out laughing. When asked whether that was really the truth, Terrell laughs and adds, “Unfortunately–yes, I can only jump high if I can have a running start. Kind of like when an airplane takes off on a runway.”

When Jim Isley and David Terrell were judging a Paint show in Tucson, Arizona in the winter of 2000, this duo was constantly being harassed because both of them are quite tall–Terrell being 6 feet 7 inches and Isley being around 6 feet 4 inches. “Everyone started calling us the twin towers,” Terrell laughs. “No one could see over us and we caused quite a commotion when we judged together.”

All joking aside, Terrell is very fortunate for his experiences and successes in basketball and the horse industry. Terrell would like the opportunity to thank the Lord Jesus Christ, his wife,Terry, and children who sacrificed to help him achieve his goals and all the individuals that have helped him in this industry including Joe Carter, Alex Ross, Darrell Bilke, and Bill Oglesby and many others who were instrumental in his success.

“I am so thankful to be a part of the horse industry. I’m like a kid in a candy store when I judge horses,” Terrell explained. “I’m so happy to be at horse shows. Horses are my passion, and I hope my presence has had a positive effect on the industry”

Related posts:

1. AQHA Past President David Perkins Has Died
2. A Day in the Life of a Judge
3. Formula for Success – David Dellin

With the creation of sites like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, internet users have been able to track down old school friends and keep up with people’s every waking moment by reading profiles and comments that can be updated constantly throughout the day. Information and news that used to take a few hours to spread to the masses can now be tracked down and posted in a few seconds. Anonymous chat rooms and open forums are available for practically every subject matter including horse- related sites talking about everything from horse care to training methods. Some equine-related forums, blogs, and chat rooms are a great way for many individuals to further their education without having to spend thousands of dollars on a personal horse trainer.

Hunter trainer Lainie DeBoer also mentions some positives about these sites.  “When horse trainer June Warren was diagnosed with cancer, she was inundated with positive well wishers that would not normally get a chance to tell her how much they respect and appreciate everything that she has given to this industry. It also is a vehicle if a horse is hurt–such as when the Kents had the trailer accident with their horses–to give people a chance to tell them they were in their prayers.”AQHA Amateur exhibitor Stephanie Griffin adds, “I think that the forums can be really helpful and a wonderful resource for so many horse-related questions for newcomers as well as the seasoned horse show veterans. Several years ago we lost a mare shortly after she foaled and Becky Bailey used some of the forums to help us find a nurse mare. We had people all over the U.S. and Canada offering their mares and it was an incredibly positive experience.”

However, it appears the forums is getting away from its primary purpose of enlightening, helping, and educating people to outright attacking the character of particular trainers, judges, and exhibitors. Some anonymous bloggers feel they have the freedom to disparage and gossip about individuals because they can hide behind their made up usernames. One trainer remarked, “I view the entire forum experience like a Jerry Springer-type event. It is entertainment and I do not believe anything that is posted.” Unfortunately, some people do believe and help spread vicious rumors and gossip about people in the industry. While other bloggers can report inappropriate comments that can be removed, the comments have already been read and the potential damage to someone’s character has already been done. “It’s really unfortunate that the boards have become so negative and are not used in a more positive and educational way. Several top trainers and judges who used to post and offer great information on the boards are no longer on them because of the poor treatment they received,” Multiple AQHA World and Congress Champion trainer Charlie Cole remarked. “I do think that everyone should have a full profile in order to post. This would eliminate people with grudges from making up fake screen names and slandering others.”

Griffin also remarks, “I just think that people need to realize that slander laws apply to the internet as well and before typing hearsay or rumors that are damaging to someone else  they need to ask themselves if they have first hand knowledge or witnessed what they are about to say. If not, they could be held accountable for irresponsibly hurting someone’s livelihood or reputation,” Griffin said. “A few years ago while I was president of an association, someone criticized it on a public forum because of the way they were treated by a trainer at a show the state association put on. Because the internet touches so may people, it snowballed incredibly quickly and just caused a lot more grief for all involved, including the person who made the original complaint because it was posted on a forum before any of the officers were made aware of the situation and could handle it appropriately. The most frustrating part was that it caused more grief to the people who work to improve the show experience than it did the person whose behavior started the whole thing. Sometimes it’s a little too easy to make a knee jerk reaction and go to a forum to voice a complaint instead of taking the appropriate channels that might be able to actually resolve the issue first.”  Multi-carded judge Daren Wright used to be an avid reader of equine-related forums, but he no longer visits any of these sites. “Someone once told me that ‘if you judge, don’t go to the forums because you are bound to get your feelings hurt.’  I’m not a fan of the open forums.  I thought they were cool at first but soon realized it was just a place for people, usually anonymous, to tear others down.  Unfortunately, I hardly ever see someone get a ‘good job’ or ‘congratulations.’”

Wright adds, “I have also witnessed posts about trainers doing this or that. Then, the trainer comes on board to try to defend themselves and it seems to only add fuel to the fire.  The person getting bashed seems to be in a no-win situation.  If they don’t defend themselves then people seem to believe the rumors. If they try to defend themselves, they are perceived as arrogant and trying to explain the situation away so people ‘won’t believe it’ when the story wasn’t true to begin with. It’s very disheartening to watch people tear others apart and think that it is okay to treat others like that. I think the forums could be a great educational tool if used properly. Unfortunately, most like to use it as their own whipping post when they run across something or someone they don’t like.” Many forums on the internet are run by Delphi Forums, and their privacy policy specifically states that they can turn over and reveal your identity for inappropriate conduct.

Delphi Forums will strive to protect the privacy of all members who abide by their Terms of Service. Part of their Terms of Service says, “However, at its sole discretion and especially in cases of abusive, libelous, illegal, and/or malicious behavior on the part of a member, Delphi Forums may release certain membership information to appropriate parties when directed by law, through reasonable settlement of litigation against Delphi Forums if served notice of such malicious behavior through a competent court, or for other such legitimate reasons to be determined on a case-by-case basis solely at the discretion of Delphi Forums.”

Unfortunately, most blogs/chatrooms/forums are not policed or don’t have very active moderators available to remove all the damaging and inappropriate posts. According to Lainie DeBoer, many equine-related forums, blogs, and websites have developed a reputation as places to go to gossip and talk negatively about others in the horse industry. (Editor’s Note: The Equine Chronicle chooses to not reveal the names of any of these internet sites. As a well-respected equine magazine, we do not want to promote or give free press to individuals specifically wanting to damage the reputation of the horse industry).

One on-line blog has a complete section condemning and badmouthing the western pleasure industry. The first paragraph of the blog begins with these comments: “If you have a photo of crappy show riding, know of a jerkwad trainer or judge or someone in the horse show world that is an abusive piece of sh*t then send the info to me.” One post by an anonymous blogger on another forum illustrates some of the general overall negativity found in some of these chat rooms. Username: ritaellen posted these comments, “I showed Paints about 10 yrs ago and remember how fun the shows were. I took a 10 year break and when I decided to come back 2 years ago I didn’t even think about another breed. Wow, how showing has changed. I am competing at a different level now so maybe that’s the difference? Lots of drama and not just this. Who has the latest nontraceable drug, who’s using insulin, who’s paying off the judges, who ‘has to’ get their judges card to win, etc. You can pretty much guess which horses/trainers are using drugs:  the trainer who has 20, 25, 30 horses at a show and you rarely see them ride or you only see them ride a couple. Their horses walk out of the stall like they have no motor, no energy. One of these days a horse is going to drop dead at a show and everyone is going to wonder what happened.”

DeBoer explains, “There is a shadow side to the forums that brings out the worst in people. It is an avenue for people who strike out at others while hiding behind anonymity. People use the forums to fire up issues, and try to spin them in a negative way.  I have seen professionals get thrown under the bus by disgruntled clients that offer only one side of the story. I have seen angry ex-spouses or boyfriends/girlfriends take revenge on a past loved one.  I have seen jealous exhibitors call out horses that just won a World Championship and spread rumors such as the horse was at the vet truck all day long. It is hard to sift through lies, twisted stories, and gossip.”

Lainie also mentions that the live webcasts are also a bit tricky. “The Congress has reelhorse.com that shows a live feed of the Celeste. Along with that is a live chat beside the screen. People can chime in at any moment and put in their two cents. Most of it is positive, but some of it can be off track. I was told they were talking about my equitation rider’s breasts as she was showing her equitation pattern.” AQHA hunter trainer Kelley Rampey also mentions some of the same problems with the live chat site that was broadcast during the Congress. “I was surprised that people would sign in and make negative comments about a rider, horse, or even trainer. This is incredibly wrong and at some point these people need to be held accountable for their actions.  It would be a good thing to point out that proof with written slander is punishable in the court of law, and not only can cost someone money, but it can also irreparably harm someone’s reputation.”

AQHA judge Lulu Wilcox and Georgia horse breeder Clarice Cooper both mention that these negative blanket generalizations about the horse industry and vicious gossip develops an overall bad impression of horse shows to newcomers and the general public. “I myself want to see the horse industry grow and welcome in newcomers who have a love for horses, and those people who make the negative comments need to realize they can be jeopardizing the industry or horse that they surely love or care for!” Cooper adds, “This is an industry of followers in every aspect. If a certain stallion wins something big once then that is the new trend. If a certain trainer wins something big people are changing barns to be with them. With this said, I think the forum hurts newcomers that enter the business. Big time!  If I read what was posted when I got started, I would have never gone to an AQHA show.”

The First Amendment does not protect speech that constitutes dishonesty intended to defame or damage the reputation of a person or an organization. Libel is written and slander is spoken; both are false statements injurious to a person’s reputation. The internet and forums/chat rooms are still new, and it will probably take many years before any protections or legislation will be passed. However, there have been two recent high profile court cases involving “cyber-bullying.” According to Wikipedia, cyber-bullying “involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.” In January of 2009, former Vogue cover model Liskula Cohen, 36, sued Google to learn the identity of a blogger, and won. New York Supreme Court Judge Joan Madden ordered Google to identify the anonymous blogger who Cohen claimed defamed her by posting photos of her with derogatory captions below them on the “Skanks in NYC”  blog.  According to Madden, “The protection of the right to communicate anonymously must be balanced against the need to assure that those persons who choose to abuse the opportunities presented by this medium can be made to answer for such transgressions.” Cohen’s attorney said that he and his client are “happy that the court recognizes that the internet is not a place where people can freely defame people.” The landmark decision could have serious implications for free speech on the internet and certainly won’t be the last word on the issue. According to CBS News legal analyst Lisa Bloom, the ruling should be a “wake-up call” to bloggers. “There’s no anonymity. If you defame someone online, the Web company can be forced to turn over the information attached to your identity, and your address, so that you can be sued individually.”

The other cyber-bullying landmark case last year involved a young girl, Megan Meier, 13, that committed suicide when she was harassed online by Lori Drew, a mother of one of the young girl’s classmates. The tragic situation unfolded in 2006, when Drew, her teenage daughter, and an 18-year-old employee of the family created a fake MySpace profile for a fictitious teenage boy named Josh that flirted with Meier then suddenly turned mean and told her “that the world would be a better place without her in it.”  Meier hanged herself. The jury ended up finding Drew guilty of violating the MySpace website’s rules, but the US District Court judge threw out the verdict because the laws are too vague to be constitutional. At this point in time, there are not clear specific federal laws created to stop cyber bullies.

While there needs to be a definite change to internet law to protect victims of internet harassment, equine enthusiasts need to step up and really decide whether what they are posting is something beneficial to the whole forum or just mean spirited remarks posted to make them feel better about themselves. DeBoer concludes, “I am not saying you should do away with the forums, but I think there needs to be a healthy reminder to all that participate that it should be positive and in the best interest of the horses we love so much.”

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Horses are usually photographed in a physical environment, whether a show pen, racetrack, wide-open range, or rolling pasture. But what happens to a horse’s visage when it’s overlaid on a solid background, much like a luminous jewel on a square of velvet? According to photographer Bob Tabor, you just might capture a horse’s inner soul.

In Black And White

Bob Tabor images are distinctive in that there’s no surrounding landscape, just a solid black or white background. They’re also typically large in scale, ranging in size from three feet up to 12 feet across. While the horse becomes a graphic element on Tabor’s ‘canvas,’ there’s also an intimacy to his images, a reality captured in a magical moment that gathers you in to connect with each animal’s true spirit.

“With my photography, I feel I’m crafting a portrait instead of taking a snapshot. I use extreme close-ups, and then I put the image within a frame of either black or white space, so there’s nothing distracting you from the horse, or the story of that horse,” says Tabor.

Tabor regards his work as being about the relationship between horse and human, each one sensing the other, and sharing with the other the rhythm of their lives. “So much is shared, and said, without saying the words,” he says. “Each horse is saying what they feel, through their eyes and their posture, their body language. Each subject reveals its own inner meaning, its own personality, communicating to each of us what words can’t.”

What he strives to achieve in a final image is a strong graphic element created by the horse’s shape. “The negative space, the black or white space, plays just as much of a role as the horse,” he says, pointing out the backgrounds are there solely to help the viewer see the horse. His choice of scale, often resulting in a four foot by six foot framed piece, helps to reinforce the impact of the message. They’re not images that can be easily ignored, yet while dramatic and large in scale, they create a relaxing, intimate vibe, equally at home whether in traditional or more modern surroundings.

A Bit About Bob

As a creative director at a New York City advertising agency, Tabor credits his profession and his environment with shaping his unique approach to equine art. “I’ve always had a good eye, and during my career I’ve worked with some of the best artists and photographers,” he says. “Plus, being brought up in New York, it made me aware of so many things coming together, all the graphic elements and the relationships between them.”

Although Tabor took art school courses in photography and darkroom techniques while attending NYC’s School of Visual Arts, he’s a late-blooming photographer. “Three years ago, as a birthday gift, my wife bought me a digital camera and took me to Napa Valley; I fell in love with the light,” he says.

What ensued were not photos of equines, but landscapes, incandescent landscapes of Long Island wild spaces, where Tabor has retreated nearly every weekend for the past 20 years. “I think with all the things going on in the City, and the energy level there, that’s why I bought a house in East Hampton, at the tip of Long Island,” he says. It was during one of his landscape shoots at a local vineyard that his first horse encounter happened.

“There was a stable near one of the vineyards where I was shooting. The light was too ‘hot’ for the landscapes, so I was looking around to see what else I might shoot,” says Tabor. “I came across a horse, and I saw this beautiful animal standing there, absorbing the light.”

While a bright, mid-day light is often the photographer’s enemy, Tabor says he embraces it, and uses no artificial lights when he’s with the horses. “The light is absorbed by every inch of the horse, revealing his exterior beauty, but also highlighting that horse’s inner soul,” he says.

Picturing Things Differently

Many photographers strive to capture performance horses at the height of athletic exertion, with explosions of dirt from their hooves, and manes and tails flying. It’s something you don’t see in a Bob Tabor photograph.

“My horses aren’t really photographed running or looking very energetic, but it’s capturing their moment in time as they’re relaxing. There’s a simplicity and a quietness that I try to achieve,” says Tabor. “I’m looking at myself, at how I’m feeling, and saying ‘this is a nice moment.’ And that’s what I capture. I don’t even like using that word, ‘capture.” I try to show their soul, their feeling, in the moment that I’m there.”

It’s this ability to showcase a horse in unguarded moments that’s resulted in a slew of equine portrait commissions from horse owners. “A lot of people have hired me for images of their own horses, not just buying work that I’ve created. They feel that I capture a sensitivity that their horse has. It’s not just taking a photograph, but it’s getting to know the animal itself,” he says, pointing out that he takes his time in first building trust with each horse, and helping them feel comfortable.

“I’m not in a rush to take photographs. I move slowly, and if they’re nice enough to let me in, I can be very close to them,” says Tabor. “After time, when some trust is built, I take the camera and press the shutter, so they become comfortable with the sound.”

It’s only after the horse is at ease that Tabor shoots, and he says that’s when he gets his best images. “Horses are such big, powerful animals, but you can see when they’re not comfortable. Their eyes say so much, and of course the body, but their eyes are the expression of the soul.”

He feels it’s within the stillness of the moment and the unguarded connection with each horse that the curtain comes down. “It’s not that I try to catch them performing, or running with the pack because they’re frightened of something. I’m meeting them on their own ground, in their own comfort level,” he says.

One particular horse that stands out for him is a rather mistrustful stallion that took him weeks to photograph. “He was beautiful, so strong and angular, and quite tall. His eyes showed such caution and anger toward me at first, that I was very uncomfortable, and in fact the first time I took photographs of him, I couldn’t get close enough,” says Tabor.

But he went back, both days that first weekend, then a week later, each time getting closer to the horse’s paddock and building confidence. “I think a trust was built, that he knew I wasn’t going to harm him, and so he let me approach him,” says Tabor.

High Touch, High Tech

There’s also a technical side to the work, involving computer manipulation of the images and the latest technology. But that’s only after Tabor feels he’s got the quality of images he wants to work with.

Through an elaborate process that results in a deceptively simple image, Tabor uses the horse’s image as a graphic element, carving away all existing background imagery using Photoshop, then choosing either a purely black or white background only after all the other computer work is completed. But he hardly touches the horse.

“I rarely do any retouching on the animal. I use only natural light, and however the light captures them is what it is,” he says. “I use Photoshop for putting them on the background, and making the opaque background look natural by putting in shadows.”

Tabor says while he doesn’t choose the background until he has the final image of the horse, he frequently places dark horses on black backgrounds, and white equines on white backgrounds. “I feel the white on white ones are almost heavenly,” he says.

As for his choice of camera, he reports he’s using Canon. “I’ll use a 40-120mm lens or a 70-200mm lens, and most recently I’ve been using the new digital Canon SLR, the 5D Mark II. It’s a beautiful camera,” he says.

In The Limelight

Perhaps fitting for someone in the advertising world, his work has come to the attention of the consumer marketplace and collectors as well as equine aficionados.

Early on Tabor was noticed by Ralph Lauren; his work is now on four continents, displayed in their retail stores. Tabor images have been exhibited publicly across the U.S., and are in a growing number of private collections and homes. Tabor’s work has also been selected for the interior design world by Mac Hoak, president and buyer for Mecox Gardens, a high-end retailer of eclectic home furnishings and unique accessories with stores in major cities across the country.

“At Mecox Gardens, we carry a lot of statement furniture, pieces like oversize consoles, tables, and chairs. To balance that visually, you need bold artwork,” says Brad Leslie, assistant manager in the Chicago store.

Leslie points out that’s exactly what they like about Tabor’s work. “It’s not an 8×10. His work is very bold and large in scale, and it works with traditional and country looks as well as slick contemporary settings. Plus, the horse is a recurring Mecox icon, that’s why we carry things like barnboard tables and equine statues as well as Bob’s gorgeous framed images.”

Mecox Garden’s flagship store is in Southampton, and their design aesthetic can be described as the ‘gentile, grand country house with stables’ fantasy, a sensibility that horses are very much a part of. “We want to give our customers a variety of unique pieces, and we feel Bob’s images are a perfect complement to what we offer in our stores,” says Leslie.

Pictures Worth A Thousand Words

Later this year, Tabor’s work will become even more accessible, with a coffee table book of his images. Published by The ACC Publishing Group, the book’s working title is Horse Whisperings, and Tabor feels it sums up his approach.

“What I try to do is let the horse whisper to me; I think that’s why I’m able to get the images that most photographers don’t. The horses are able to speak to me,” he says. But, this book isn’t an ego piece; it’s a collaboration, with essays by doctors, therapists, and equine professionals about how horses communicate. In addition, Tabor’s proceeds from the book are slated to support organizations with a connection to the equine world via children of autism, a cause he supports wholeheartedly.

“A lot of children with autism are able to work with horses even when they have challenges with human relationships. The horses help them feel comfortable. And there’s something going on with the kids, with their communication with the horse,” says Tabor.

He appreciates the book’s concept of listening to the whisper of the horse, and says it fits with his desire to support those with autism who, like the horse, are often not understood clearly. “So many people with autism were put in institutions because society didn’t recognize their gifts. But what happens if someone else can recognize and allow you to have those gifts?” he asks.

It’s a question that Tabor also seeks to answer for the horses in his images. “It takes time to listen and a sensitivity, to look at horses and not only admire them visually, but to watch them and try to hear what they’re saying.”

A Moment In Time

Tabor guides the viewer to concentrate their attention on the horse, and only the horse. The simplicity of the image, without distracting details, allows the focus to be on the outward projection and communication of the horse’s inner spirit, combined with the beauty of each horse’s form and contours. Through his photography, he’s able to transfer the peace and tranquility of the moment the shutter opens into a final image that inspires that same peace and tranquility in the viewer.

“If we can be quiet long enough, mentally in our own heads, to listen to what the horse is saying for us, we’ll get a stronger appreciation for the image,” says Tabor. We’ll also get a moment of respite from otherwise hectic lives, spent in thanks and appreciation for the horse.

http://bobtaborimages.com/

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