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Horse Mania Newsletter #4
July 21st 1999
**The NEXT deadline for ALL article writers and things submitted to the
newsletter is July 31st!** Please let me know if you cannot meet this
deadline for some reason.
Here is the fourth issue of Horse Mania! We are expanding rapidly and
currently have around 150 subscribers. Horse Mania now has it’s very own
sub-domain name (http://horsemania.cjb.net) but the old address
(https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania) will still work, as this is just
a redirection service, but it’s a nicer, shorter URL. I also have recently
downloaded ICQ, I’m #43522159 under “wildhorse” if anyone would like to
put me on their list. I have sent this issue out in two parts, because the
last newsletter was over 30K some people were receiving it as an
attachment. If you are receiving the newsletter as an attachment, let me
know, because you shouldn’t be. Hopefully sending it in parts will help.
As usual any criticism, comments or suggestions are welcome! All things
that are written here without a name are by me, and everyone else's
columns has credit given to who has written it. When I write, I use
Australian spellings. (eg: colour) See you until next time,
Susan
(thehorse@hotpop.com)
http://horsemania.cjb.net
ICQ: 43522159
'\__~ '\__~ '\__~
\ \ / \ / / cantering
In this Issue:
-Breeds in Focus- Shire and Lipizzaner
-Your Opinion
-Tell Us About Yours
-Short Story: Silhouette
-Hoof Beat
-Horse Care
-Horse Trivia
-Website Reviews
-Websites
-All About: Colours
-The Name Game
-Archer’s Corner
-Horsey Quotes
-Three Day Eventing
-Manes & Tails
-Horse Diseases
-Horse Poems: Fire Stallion & Shetan
-Horse Jargon
-Joke Corner
-Racking Horses
-Training
-Pen Pals
-Looking for...
-England & USA
-References
*BREEDS IN FOCUS- Shire and Lipizzaner
SHIRE
Origin: England
Type: Heavy Horse
Height: Usually around 17hh
Colour: Black, Bay, Grey, and Brown
Characteristics: The Shire has big broad feet with plenty of length in the
pasterns and feathering, as seen in many heavy horse breeds. The legs are
muscular, clean, and hard, and the hocks are broad and flat. The
hindquarters are well muscled and broad, and the back is very strong.
Suitable for carrying a harness collar, the shoulders are deep and wide.
The neck is pretty long for a draught horse, and the profile is a little
convex.
Use: Shires were bred for working on the land and pulling carts. Most of
them can pull weights of up to five tons without difficulty. Today they
can be seen working on demonstration farms, competing in agricultural
shows, showing in halter, and some can still be seen in English towns,
pulling carts for breweries.
Temperament: Gentle
History: The Flanders Horse probably had the greatest influence on the
Shire. The foundation sire of the Shire breed is recognised to be the
Packington Blind Horse. The English Cart Horse Society was formed in 1876,
and its first Stud book came two years later. In 1884 its name was changed
to the Shire Horse Society.
Other Info: One Shire (foaled in 1846) grew to more than 21.1hh by the
time he was four, nd weighed 3,390lbs (1,524kg). In 1924, a pair of Shires
showed pulling power of 50 tons!
Picture: https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/images/shire.jpg
(note: this photo is not mine and was taken from
http://www.blackforestshires.com have a look there to see more of their
wonderful shires)
LIPIZZANER
Origin: Lipizza, in Slovenia, Europe.
Type: Light Horse
Height: around 15hh
Colour: Foals are born black or dark brown, but usually lighten to grey
when they get older.
Characteristics: The Lipizzaner has powerful legs with short cannons and
very hard, well shaped feet. The shoulders are sutitible both for harness
and under saddle, the withers are low and the neck is short. The
hindquarters are powerful, and the body deep and compact. The head is neat
and well set, usually there is a Spanish impression, although Arab
influence is sometimes visible.
Use: The Lipizzaner was bred for carriage work as well as riding and are
still popular harness horses throughout Europe. Some are even still used
in general farm work. But they are probably best known as the horses used
by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
Temperament: Intelligent, and willing to learn without loosing spirit
History: All Lipizzaners descended from six stallions. Pluto, Conversano,
Favory, Neapolitano, Siglavy, and Maestoso.
Picture: https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/images/lipizzaner.jpg
(note: this photo is not mine and was taken from
http://www.arrowk.com/horse/l002.htm have a look at their site, it is an
excellent online horse breed encyclopedia)
*YOUR OPINION
In this section I will ask a question every issue and put in the best few
responses. Please limit your responses to about a paragraph. I'll also add
in my opinion. Send in replies to me at thehorse@hotpop.com with "Your
Opinion" in the subject line.
This issue’s question is:
“Should horse owners be allowed to ride on public roads and paths and most
importantly, national parks?”
Now we’ll take a look at the responses to last week’s question which was:
"What famous horse do you consider to be the most important and for what
reason?" (Can be historical or modern)
Thank you to everyone who replied!
“I think there are many important horses of the century. For one, Gem
Twist, the famous show jumper who will always be remembered and Khemosabi
and Doc Bar important sires of their breeds and most of all, Rugged Lark,
the all-around QH.”
-harrigan@harrigan.com
“I think that the Goldolphin Barb was one of the most useful and amazing
horses that ever lived. Sent from Arabia to England as a gift to the
King, he was mistreated, poorly fed, and found almost dead. But what kept
him alive? Was it the natural Arabian instinct, or love for the boy who
had nursed him and loved him from the day of his birth? This same boy
located the sick,beaten horse and hired himself out just to be with his
beloved horse. The horse passed though the hands of many owners, and the
boy followed him. They finally found a home at a high official's house,
the Goldolphin's, but after the now stallion bred to a mare set out
specifically for the Goldolphin's stallion, the two were banished to live
alone. But once the foal of the Barb grew up, they found him to be the
fastest horse on the farm. And so the Barb returned to the Goldolphin's
estate in glory, to breed, and live a life of luxury. He became one of
the three founding fathers for the fastest horse breed on the planet-the
Thoroughbred! “
-Amanda M.
“Hmm... well it's gotta be the Godolphin Arabian cuz he was the founder of
the Thoroughbred, and everyone knows the Thoroughbred is a great influence
to all breeds!”
- Bettina
and my opinion:
“I think there are many great horses in the past and today. But the most
important three would have to be the Darly Arabian, The Barly Turk, and
the Godolphin Arabian because they were the founding sires of the
Thoroughbred, which has in turn had a great influence on many breeds
today!”
-Susan
*TELL US ABOUT YOURS
This a section where you can tell us about your own horse, or the horse
you ride.Send it in to thehorse@hotpop.com and I'll put it in. It can be
as long or short as you like.
I ride a 10 year old chestnut Warmblood named Savannah. He is soooo
adorable!! I ride him once a week, and he is by far my favorite horse. He's
huge too, 17hh tall. My instructor used to show him in Europe, and he's the
best jumper! He loves carrots and apples to death, and he's such a cutie. -
Bettina
*SHORT STORY by Regan (horsie1@yahoo.com)
Silhouette
His name was Ace of Hearts. I loved him so very much. Ace and I, we won
national championships in Combined Training and blew away the competition
in Cross Country. He could jump anything, but only for me. He was my
horse and mine alone; no one could change that. He was of medium height,
only about 16 hands high, but his coat was so incredible
stunning. He was a Medicine Hat; an overo pinto. He was mostly white,
but darker patches of color dotted his soft coat. Deep brown with a
shining shade of red ran over his ears, covering one eye and not the
other. It proceeded to run down his neck, coloring his long, silken mane
and on down his back. His tail was multi-colored, with splashes of silent
red mingling with the soft white hairs. Around to his chest the markings
came, covering his throat and chest with an almost shield-like presence.
His muzzle was slightly pinkish, but not
stand-outish, with large expressive nostrils and delicate lips. His dark
ears where slightly pointed, but always alert to my every command. And to
what did I owe this honor of riding such a magnificent creature? My
imagination! And sadly, as with all imaginary figures of
my childhood, he slowly faded away. But, quite ironically, every once in
a while, I look out my bedroom window and envision his silhouette over in
the distance, running through the rolling hills and jumping the briar
bushes with precise ease. And I close my eyes and feel his warm breath
down the side of my cheek and I know that the best part of my childhood
has not gone
*HOOF BEAT by Julie Rowe
Today's subject is the rider's equipment. The main piece of equipment for
riders' to wear is the hard hat. The hard hat is covered with velvet, or
plastic. Hard hats this time of the year are almost impossible to get
them, people are trying frenzicly to get them for camp. The next is the
crop or whip, when you are jumping you use something called a jumping bat.
It is shorter than the crop. There are many boots you can choose from.
You may want easy slip on boots called paddock boots. Or, you may get
cowboy boots that are very comfortable but not for English showing,
however are allowed to be in the English lesson ring. You will need
pants. You can choose from jodhpurs or britches or breeches. Jodhpurs
are pointy at the knees, whereas breeches and britches are like tight
jeans, but made with cotton. Breeches and britches are padded. Coats are
something you need to go to a show. If you think "red" coats are the
coolest thing, you are wrong, "red" coats are really pinks used for
seasoned hunters. If you are jumping you want a blue coat, if your are
having a dressage test you will want to wear black. I will ask questions
about this article next time I write.
*HORSE CARE by Lindsay Casper
Mt. Manure - Gone!!!
The only thing horses are really willing to give us is manure. Manure
comes
willingly, like water from a gushing well. How do you deal with it? Here
are some of the ideas I have used or tried (or thought of)
1. Piling it up - not a good idea. Diseases breed, flies multiply and it
takes forever to rot away, unless you plan to disc it out on a large piece
of land, I would not go this way.
2. Daily spreading - a great idea for those with large plots of land. It
dries up quickly and therefore, will leave (do I have to mention how?)
3. Driving it away - I LOVE this idea!! It is quite simple - you take
your manure to the dump in a large, roomy trailer and never see it again.
I
personally believe that this is the best option.
4. Giving it away - a nice one, but somebody would have to have a pretty
large tomato bed! This is not my favorite, but I will admit, I like the
recycling idea.
5. Putting it is a pit - this is also an okay one, but numerous, cavernous
pits would have to be dug. Also, giant holes aren't exactly safe.
As you can see, there are many options on what to do with manure. If you
have any more suggestions on "what to do with it", please e - mail me at
tareana@msn.com. Any received will be made mention of at a later date.
*HORSE TRIVIA by tinker1588@aol.com
1. During the Paleolithic age, horses were used for:
a.food
b.Pulling carts
c.riding
2.True or False: George Washington bred mules and horses.
a.true
b.false
3.How many ribs do horses usually have?
a.18
b.54
c.36
d.21
4.The maximum height for a miniature horse is ________ at the withers.
a.36 in.
b.34 in.
c.8 hands
d.2 feet
5.What horse,according to his groom "was the mostest horse that ever was" ?
a.Secretariat
b. Seattle Slew
c.Greyhound
d.Man O' War
6.Which is the most widely used bit?
a.curb
b.snaffle
c.hackamore
7.What are the two gaits in Standardbred racing?
a.trot and pace
b.trot and rack
c.pace and rack
d.canter and gallop
8.How often should a horses hooves be trimmed?
a.4-6 weeks
b.2-3 months
c.every week
d. twice a year
9._____ is a breed and ______ is a color.
a.pinto, paint
b.paint,pinto
10. True or False:Combined Training is always done in three days.
a.true
b.false
E-mail the answers to me at tinker1588@aol.com
**Last Trivia Winner**
shareasmile@hotmail.com
*WEBSITE REVIEWS
http://www.horseland.com
Looking for a SIM game? Well I found one for you. It is actually pretty
easy and fun to play. You can enter your horses in shows and breed and
all that good stuff. If you want to just be a basic player than it is
totally free. But, if you want to be a stable owner than you can pay 24
dollars for a year of premium membership. I highly recommend this site to
anyone interested in the SIM horse game thing. So check it out!
brittanyann13@yahoo.com
*WEBSITES
Do you have your own horse website or know of a good one? Well send it in
and I’ll list it here!
http://expage.com/page/horsecentral
submitted by Julia
*ALL ABOUT.....Coat Colours
Horses can come in many different colours. Probably the most common are
bay and chestnut and many of the other colours are simply variations or
exaggerations of that colour. Here is an explanation of the colours found
in horses, what they are called and what they look like.
ALBINO- Very rare colouring. White with pink skin. (as seen in albinos of
other species)
BAY- Reddish brown or light brown coat with black mane and tail and black
points.
BLACK- Black coat and mane and tail.
BLUE ROAN- Grey hairs mixed with white to produce a bluish tinge.
BROWN- Brown/black coloured coat and mane and tail.
BUCKSKIN- Yellow Dun (see Dun)
CHESTNUT- Golden/Orange coat with golden/orange mane and tail. Light
chestnuts can also be referred to as “sorrels”.
CREMELLO- Off-white or cream colored body with blue eyes. Outlines of
face/leg markings are apparent and they may have a lighter mane and tail.
It is a modification of the chestnut colouring.
DAPPLED GREY- Dark grey with white or lighter grey dapples.
DARK BAY- Dark brown coat with black mane and tail and black points. Often
appears black.
DUN- Yellow, blue or ‘mouse’ coloured coat with black mane and tail. Often
has a dorsal stripe down the middle of the back and/or zebra markings on
the legs.
FLEABITTEN GREY- Grey coat with little flecks of brown.
GRULLA- Black mane, tail and points with diluted black hairs on body.
IRON GREY- Dark grey coat.
LIGHT BAY- Or “bright” bay. Light brown coat with black mane and tail.
Also has black “points” such as the tip of the ears, muzzle, and legs.
LIGHT GREY- Very light grey/white coat with black skin and white or grey
mane and tail. Often mistaken to be a ‘white’ horse but all white looking
horses are referred to as grey.
LIVER CHESTNUT- The very darkest shade possible of chestnut colouring.
ODD-COLOURED- The term to refer to a horse which has two colours and
white. Such as brown, black and white patches.
PALOMINO- Golden coloured coat ranging from deep copper gold to light
yellow. Flaxen, or white mane and tail.
PIEBALD- Black and white in large patches.
SKEWBALD- White and any colour but black in large patches.
SPOTTED- A spotted horse can have many different types of patterns, as
seen in breeds such as the Appaloosa, Knabstraupper, and Falabella.
STRAWBERRY ROAN- Otherwise known as red roan. Chestnut hairs mixed with
white to produce a reddish tinge.
Colour Breeds: Some breeds such as Palominos, Appaloosas, Pintos and
Paints are “colour breeds” meaning that the breed can only come in that
colour, although usually other breeds restrictions are put on as well.
Pintos and Paints can have one of four different coat patterns: skewbald
overo, skewbald tobiano, piebald overo, or piebald tobiano.
Next Issue- All About....Conformation
*THE NAME GAME by Amanda
The Name Game #2 Results (drumroll, please):
The name chosen for the dappled grey Arabian is:
1st Place: Julie thought of the beautiful name "Tarifa" which means
Trustworthy in Arabic.
The 2nd place name "Stardust Prince" was created by Jamie of Louisiana,
USA
3rd place is "Whisper Softly" made up by Regan.
and 4th place is "~*~Silver Dollar~*~" thought of by Emily!
Thanks to all those who sent creative ideas in-can't wait to hear from you
next time!
*Please note: none of these horses are owned by myself or anyone I know*
*ARCHER’S CORNER by Archer
Hunter/Jumpers
Hi there all you Horse Fans :D. Before I give way to my first article I’d
like to introduce myself. Well as you already know my name is Fernando
(colt), I’m 17 and live in the long and not so wide CHILE!!! Anybody knows
where that is???? If you don’t (most probably) don’t worry, I’ll tell ya’.
Chile is in South America along the pacific coast. We have as neighbors:
Peru in the North, Argentina in the East and Bolivia in the North/East. Oh
by the way we speak Spanish here. I’m a Horse Lover and Owner. I’m 100%
dedicated to them. I have 2 mares, TB/Chilean Criollo, a gelding
TB/Chilean Criollo and two ponies. I ride english.
As I know that a lot of us who live in a horse world practice some horse
discipline, I thought I’d submit an article about one (in a million) of
these discipline. HUNTER/JUMPERS. It was really to compliment the Dressage
article that was in the last issue.
Hunter/Jumpers is one of the most popular forms of English riding. Even
though they are usually mentioned together, there is a huge difference
between the hunters and the jumpers. What separates these two disciplines?
SPEED!!!!
The Show Hunters that we see derived from the ancient sport of Fox
Hunting. Horse went out to huge fields with a pack of hounds and hunted
for foxes. While out in the fields, the horse’s ability was tested by the
many natural obstacles they were expected to jump. These jumps could be
anything from pasture fencing to a fallen tree.
Although fox hunting still exists, the world of show hunters is completely
different. In the hunter ring, a horse must jump a course consisting of 8
to 12 jumps. The horse is judged of its form over the jump (the horse must
be round and have his knees square), his attitude, and way of going.
Basically, your horse must be consistent in his jumping style.
Only certain types of jumps may appear in a hunter ring. The jumps are
supposed to resemble the jumps jumped in the hunt field. Brick and stone
wall, Coups, and Gates are generally what you see in a hunter ring. The
jump standards and poles are supposed to look natural and should be
painted to look like wood, but may be also painted white.
Proper attire for the Hunter Ring
Rider: The rider must wear tall black field boots, however dress boots are
acceptable. Beige or grey britches. A show shirt with choker and a stock
pin or monogram. A black, hunter, navy or grey riding jacket, black
gloves, and a helmet.
Saddle: The rider’s saddle should be a Close Contact saddle. All- purpose
saddles are acceptable in the lower levels, but are generally not liked in
the higher levels of the hunting ring. You should have a basic white
fleece pad.
Bridle and Martingale: The bridle must be a snaffle bridle with a raised
noseband. Flash nosebands and figure 8 nosebands are illegal in the hunter
ring. The horse must have some kind of snaffle bit or a pelham. Gags and
elevator bits are also illegal. Only Standed Martingales are allowed in
the hunter ring.
At most hunter/jumper shows the people usually flock to the jumper ring.
Jumpers are judged on their form and way of going. Jumpers have two things
in mind when they are on course. The first is keeping all the rails up and
the second is SPEED!!!!!
Jumper courses consist of 12-15 jumps. The jumper courses are also much
more demanding than your basic hunter course. Jumpers courses Triple
Combinations, tight Roll Backs, Liver Pools, and even water jumps. Jumper
courses test a horse’s ability to go fast, but also test his scope and
stamina.
If you leave up all the jumps in the first round, you come back for a
second round. That is called “Jump off”. This is a shorter course of
usually 6-8 jumps, but the turns are more difficult and the time is
shortened. The person with the least amount of faults and the fastest time
after the jump off is the class’s winner.
Proper attire for the Jumping Ring.
Rider: The attire for the jumping ring is not as strict as the hunter
ring. Jumpers still must wear black tall boots, but they wear any colour
of britches they want to. For the most part, jumper riders are not
expected to wear jackets. They are allowed to wear polo shirts or a shirt
with a collar. They must wear a hard hat, but it doesn’t have to be a
black velvet one.
Saddle: Either an AP saddle or a close contact one. Riders may also use
square pads in the jump ring.
Bridle: Jumper riders can pretty much use any bit they wish on their
horses. Gags, Elevator Bits, Hackamores, and Kimberswicks are all legal.
Jumpers may also use Nosebands and figure 8 Nosebands. For the most part,
jumper riders are not allowed to use Standing Martingales, however Running
Martingales, German Martingales and Draw Reins are perfectly legal.
Boots and wraps: Many riders that show in the jumper ring choose to wrap
their horses legs because of the amount of pressure put on them during
these classes. May use Open Front Boots, Splint Boots, or basic Polo
Wraps. Bell boots are also used to prevent a horse from over-reaching and
stepping on his front hooves.
From now on you’ll know me by my nick, Archer. Anybody have ICQ? Well if
you do feel free to send a message or just chat. My ICQ number is
39709154. Wait for my next article, Ever heard of the Chilean Horse? The
Chilean Criollo.
‘Huaso’ and Captain Alberto Larraguibel, flying over the 2.47m Part I
I’m very proud to tell you all (if you didn’t know), that the horse and
rider who still have the world record in
Jumping (high jumping) are Chilean!!!!. It was made long back in 1947 and
nobody has beaten it.
Jump: 2,47m
Rider: Captain Alberto Larraguibel
Horse: ‘Huaso’
Date: February 5th 1949
Place: Chilean Army, Viña del Mar, Chile
The world record of Larraguibel had his 50th anniversary.
The world record of high jumping achieved by the Chilean rider (who died
12/04/95) and his horse ‘Huaso‘ had their 50-year anniversary at the
beginning of the year. It is the only world record that Chile has still
standing without being beaten.
With this jump they beat the old record, 2,44m, made by the Italian rider
Antonio Gutiérrez on Ossopo.
Larraguibel said at the time “In fact Huaso jumped over 2,52m, because the
poles were 7m long and they curve in the middle. Huaso jumped over the
right corner and not in the middle where the 2.47 where measured.”
Experts say that probably the record will never be beaten, because high
jumping isn’t practiced so much anymore for risk of injuring the horse or
rider. Larraguibel didn’t agree with this in 1979 when he said, “I am
convinced that someone will beat my record. All that is needed is that
perfect harmony between horse and rider, of balance and speed and that
another man has to be willing to throw his heart over the jump without
doubts.”
Picture: https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/images/l1.gif
Captain Alberto Larraguibel Morales
- Born: in Angol, Chile May 30th 1919
- World Record: 2,47m (February 5th 1949)
- Died: April 12th 1995 victim of a lung cancer.
- Son of Alberto Larragubel and Filomena Morales.
- He studied in “Chillan School”
- He entered the Chilean Army in 1938 finishing with honours.
- He was an excellent rider and he won many national competitions.
- In 1947 he received “Huaso”, ex “Faithfull”, so that he could train him
for jumping.
- In 1949 he makes a New World record mounting Huaso.
- In 1952 he represents Chile in the Olympic Games of Helsinki, Finland.
Picture: https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/images/lagar.gif
Huaso
The Captain, Gaspar Lueje, Chilean Dressage Champion, in the forties was
looking for a replacement for his horse. He bought a Thoroughbred gelding
named ‘Faith-full’. He was a beautiful black horse with a white star in
his face. He had excellent gaits standing 1,68m.
Just after he had started his dressage training he suffered an accident
that nearly cost his life. He was unable to continue in this discipline so
Lueje decided to let him try jumping due to his huge potential. He didn’t
give the results he expected, he would never get the strides right between
jumps failing to keep the rails up.
One day ‘Faithfull’ being free in his corral jumped magnificently the
wall, a jump over 2m!! He was casually observed by the rider Don Rafael
Montti. From that day on the destiny of ‘Faithfull’ (future ‘Huaso’) had
been sealed, high jumping.
Because of his great potential he was bought by the Chilean Army and was
brought to the Quillota Regiment. Where recently Montti had assumed being
Chief of the riding squad of Quilllota.
‘Huaso’ was then trained by Larraguibel. After making the New World Record
in High Jumping, Huaso was let to rest for the rest of his life without
anybody riding him. He died at the age of 29 in August 24th of 1961.
Picture: https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/images/huaso.gif
Bibliography: The web page of the Equestrian Federation of Chile.
www.fecuestre.cl (In Spanish)
Next issue: Larraguibel tells with his own words the grand jump.
Funny ‘Horse Terms’
Here are some rather unusual ‘Horse Terms’ that should make you all laugh.
Some are invented by me and some I found in my computer in a very old
Horse Newsletter. I have tons of them and I’ll submit more in each issue.
If you have some of your own please send them to me at archer@cvmail.cl
and I’ll submit them.
Lean back and enjoy!!!:D
Bog Spavin - The feeling of panic when riding through marshy area. Also
used to refer to horses that throw a fit at having to go through water
puddles.
Colic - The gastrointestinal result of eating at the food stands at horse
shows.
Colt - What your mare always gives you when you want a filly.
Contracted foot - The involuntary/instant reflex of curling one's toes up
- right before a horse steps on your foot.
Corn - small callus growths formed from the continual wearing of cowboy
boots.
Drench - Term used to describe the condition an owner is in after he
administers mineral oil to his horse.
Endurance ride - The end result when your horse spooks and runs away with
you in the woods.
Equitation - The ability to keep a smile on your face and proper posture
while your horse tries to crowhop, shy and buck his way around a show
ring.
Feed - Expensive substance used in the manufacture of large quantities of
manure.
Fences - Decorative perimeter structures built to give a horse something
to chew on, scratch against and jump over.
*HORSE QUOTES
If you know of any good horse related quotes, send them in to me at
thehorse@hotpop.com!
“Pretty heads make pretty pictures but hindquarters win races.”
submitted by jrstormy@yahoo.com
-
*THREE DAY EVENTING by Caitlin
The three-day event originated as a competition for cavalry horses. In the
days when each country depended upon the cavalry in battle, horses were a
vital part of the army. Friendly boasting at the end of a day's campaign
as to the relative courage, speed and stamina of particular horses,
evolved into a series of tests to prove these claims. These friendly
contests were formalized into a competition known, naturally enough, as
"The Military Three-Day Event" or, more commonly, "The Military". With the
demise of cavalries, the sport was quickly taken up by civilian riders. In
France, the competition is referred to as the "concours complet" - the
complete competition. In track and field, the decathlon represents the
ultimate in testing the all-around skill of an athlete. In equestrian
sport the ultimate test is known as the three-day event. This competition
encompasses three separate tests, each scored individually but added
together for the final score. Hence the modern name - combined training.
The horse trial is a shortened version of a three-day event and, although
it was originally introduced as a preparation for a three-day event, it is
now regarded by many as a challenge in itself. A horse trial encompasses
the same three disciplines as the three-day event - dressage,
cross-country, and show jumping - but does not place the same emphasis on
endurance (the roads and tracks and steeplechase phases of the three-day
event are omitted in a horse trial.) A horse trial may be held over one,
two, or even three days. The dressage phase is always held first and is
usually followed by cross-country and then show jumping in that order;
sometimes, however, the show jumping will precede the cross-country, as
this puts less stress on the horses and may also enable the organizers to
run more competitors through the event.
Horse trials appeal to riders at all levels, from the beginner starting
out at their first novice level event, to the Olympic star fine-tuning his
horse at an advanced level horse trial. The first test is called a
"dressage" test. Dressage is a French word meaning training. Originally
designed to show the horse's capability on the parade ground in performing
various movements involved with reviewing troops, today the dressage test
comprises a set series of complicated movements performed in an enclosed
arena. Precision, smoothness, suppleness and complete obedience show off
the horse's gymnastic development. Ideally it should look as if the horse
is performing of its own accord, carrying its rider in complete balance.
The test is scored on each movement, rather like the scoring in figure
skating, with the overall harmony and precision of the whole exercise
taken into consideration.
DRESSAGE
Dressage is very important to the three-day event rider as it aids in
conditioning the horse's muscles for the endurance test. The horse becomes
fit and strong, while its muscles gain elasticity to lengthen and shorten
at a gallop. The purpose of the dressage test is to demonstrate the horse
and rider's ability to perform each movement with balance, suppleness and
precision.
ENDURANCE/CROSS COUNTRY
The second discipline in the three-day event is the endurance test, which
proves the speed, endurance, courage and jumping ability of the true
cross-country horse brought to the peak of condition. At the same time, it
demonstrates the rider's knowledge of pace and riding at speed over
cross-country obstacles. The endurance test is comprised of Phase A -
roads and tracks; Phase B - steeplechase; Phase C - roads and tracks; and
Phase D - cross-country. Each phase must be completed in a given time.
Phase A of the roads and tracks is a warm-up period, usually done at
a brisk trot, for the purpose of relaxing and loosening up both horse and
rider. Promptly at the finish of Phase A, the horse and rider continue on
to Phase B, the steeplechase, ridden at a full gallop up to speeds of 24
miles per hour while also jumping six to eight jumps. At the end of the
steeplechase, the horse and rider go directly into Phase C, the second
roads and tracks. This phase is very important in allowing the horse to
rest while bringing his heart rate and breathing back to normal. The pace
is usually a quiet trot, interspersed with periods of walking and an
occasional relaxed canter. The end of Phase C brings the pair to the start
of Phase D, the cross-country. Here the horse has a compulsory 10-minute
rest, allowing a panel of judges and veterinarians to check the horse's
temperature, pulse, respiration and soundness. If, in the opinion of the
panel, the horse is not fit or sound enough to continue, he must be
withdrawn from the competition. Those which pass the inspection go to the
starting box for Phase D, to begin the most exciting part of the endurance
test. The cross-country course, ridden at a strong gallop, can be from
2.5 to 4 miles long and contains 24-36 solid jumping obstacles of great
variety. The course is built to be just as challenging as the terrain.
Each combination of horse and rider must complete all four phases in the
proper order and within the time allowed, in order to not accrue any
penalties. In Olympic and World competition, the distance covered on the
speed and endurance phase can be 20 miles. The cross-country is the phase
that appeals most to spectator and rider alike. Unlike other sports, where
only the human will and body are working against the clock, in combined
training two minds and bodies have to work as one. As an additional
attraction, combined training is the only high-risk Olympic sport that
permits men and women to compete as equals.
SHOW JUMPING
The third and final test takes place in the jumping arena. After the
demands of the speed and endurance phases, horses undergo a thorough
veterinary examination for soundness before they begin show jumping. A
series of
painted fences in the ring have to be negotiated before the full three
days of competition are finally over. In the words of the F.E.I. rule
book: "The test on the third day is not an ordinary show jumping
competition ... Its sole object is to demonstrate that, on the day after a
severe test of endurance, the horses have retained the suppleness, energy
and
obedience necessary for them to continue in service."
The show jumping course usually consists of between 12 and 15 obstacles,
including at least one combination, several spread fences and, in some
cases, a ditch or water jump. The show jumping courses are designed to
test the horse's and rider's ability to negotiate a variety of fences, of
various heights, widths and combinations, meeting all fences with the
proper distance and approach. This requires the horse to be balanced and
supple for tight turns and short distances between fences. For the
spectator, this sport is both exciting and breath-taking to watch, as just
one single rail knocked down can change the standings dramatically.
At the end of the competition, penalties for all the competitors are
totaled. Each test is scored individually then added together for the
final result. The competitor with the fewest overall penalties is the
victor!
*MANES AND TAILS by Jamie
Hi, fellow horselovers! In this issue, I will
concentrate on horse books I like and have read and
would recommend. I will also tell a little bit about
the books. Since I have a number of books I want to
mention, I will do movies and television shows about
horses in the next issue.
Most recently published in the USA: (May 1999)
"Shy Boy-The Horse Who Came In From the Wild" by
Monty Roberts. This tells the story in detail of how
professional horse trainer Monty Roberts trailed,
captured and tamed a wild mustang in the wild, then
brought him back to his ranch. The book is filled
with stunning color photos depicting his meeting and
interaction with the wild mustang. What happens with
the mustang and the final outcome is something you
will never forget. It is a must read for any
horselover.
Monty Roberts also wrote a book which became a
best seller a few years ago--"The Man Who Listens To
Horses." It's about how he discovered the silent body
language of horses, used it to achieve a remarkable
understanding and communication with them, and the
incredible things that happened in his life. He now
travels around the USA and to a few other countries
demonstrating his unique technique to change the way
people view and work with horses.
One of the most famous series of horse books
published was by Walter Farley, who created the most
famous fictional horse of our time-The Black Stallion.
Although it's about a BOY and a horse, the story is
wonderful, and the author writes with a clear love and
understanding of horses. Many books were written in
the series, some of which should be available in
paperback at your local bookstore. Walter Farley
passed away in 1989, the same year and the same month
the great Secretariat died.
Another great horse author from my childhood
was Marguerite Henry,who wrote such classics as "King
of the Wind," the story of the Godolphin Arabian, one
of the founding sires of the Thoroughbred, and "Misty
of Chincoteague," about REAL people, events, and the
Chincoteague ponies of Virginia, USA. She also wrote
a number of other horse stories, such as "Justin
Morgan Had a Horse," the origin of America's first
horse breed, the versatile Morgan. Other titles
include "Born to Trot", and "Mustang, Wild Spirit of
the West."
My two favorite books she wrote, which I still have
from childhood are: "Album of Horses" and "All About
Horses." Ms. Henry died at age 95 in Nov. '97.
"The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle. This
was published a number of years ago and is a wonderful
fantasy story of a female unicorn searching for more of
her kind. It tells about the people she meets on her
journey, who wind up helping her in her quest to find
out what has become of the unicorns. Some years ago,
the story was made into a full-length animated movie,
which, amazingly, EXACTLY followed the book. I have a
copy of the book, but have not seen the movie in a
long time.
I mustn't forget the classic horse story which
was published in 1877 by Anna Sewell in England, told
from the horse's point of view: BLACK BEAUTY. She
wrote it to call attention to cruelty to horses then,
and I believe her book has never been out of print
since it was first published. The touching story of a
horse from birth to old age, and the many different
masters who owned him.
Many years ago, I acquired a copy of "Son of
Black Beauty," written by Phyllis Briggs. It's the
wonderful and touching story of a young black stallion
owned by a young gypsy boy. Boy and horse become
separated before long, and the horse has many
adventures in his life.
In closing, I will mention an outstanding
horse story which I have never forgotten since I
first read it many years ago, but I have been unable
to find it. Unfortunately, I only remember the
author's first name and the title of the book-TAM THE
UNTAMED. The author was Mary somebody, I believe.
It's the unforgettable story of a teenage girl who has
a beautiful white colt that she trains herself and
names, Tambourlaine the Conquerer, or TAM for short.
She has him from the time he is a foal until he is
grown. Since she is the only one the horse has
contact with, she winds up being the only one who can
ride Tam. She also has a big dog named Ajax, and she,
Tam, and Ajax become inseparable. Then one day Tam is
stolen, and she takes her dog and goes looking for her
beloved horse, determined to find him and bring him
back. What happens along the way and afterward makes
for a most exciting and suspenseful story. If anyone
finds a copy of this book, PLEASE let me know!
Hope you enjoyed reading about some of my
favorite horse books. More in a future column.
*HORSE DISEASES by Sara
Name of disease: Tetanus (Lockjaw)
Causes: Tetanus is caused by wounds infected by Clostridium tetani.
Tetanus infections usually occur in deep puncture wounds that have sealed
over. One example is a rusty nail, but any cut or injury can lead to
tetanus.
Symptoms: The symptoms of Tetanus may appear as early as 1 week after the
injury, or may be delayed for several weeks. Some early signs are colic
and vague stiffness. Other symptoms include: muscle spasms, protrusion of
the third eyelid, stiffness in legs, neck stretched out and head extended,
tail held out stiffly, ears erect, and nostrils flared. The horse is
unable to open it's mouth or swallow.
Treatments: Surgical treatment is critical in stopping the progress of the
disease. Clostridium tetani is usually very sensitive to penicillin.
Sedatives and muscle relaxants can give some relief, and putting cotton
balls in the ears can help to reduce sound-induced spasms. The horse
should be stabled in a dark, quiet stall and have as little handling and
disturbance as possible. Treatment is very expensive, and not always
successful.
Long-term effects: The vaccine used to treat Tetanus can cause swelling at
the site of the injection, but if the injection has been carried out
aseptically, the swelling should resolve spontaneously without long-term
effects.
Area/Type of horse most likely to effect: all
References: Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook, Howell Book House (1989,
reprint 1998), Tetanus Information Page,
http://www.cyberhorse.net.au/csl/tetanus.htm
*HORSE POEM
Fire Stallion
In the dark of the night when all is asleep
A stallion with blazing red eyes roams the land without so much as a peep.
His bold and fearless expression never changes
As he trots around the mountain ranges
All the mares turn their graceful heads
To glance at the stallion who rears high in the air
And the other stallions snort and whinny shrilly without so much as a care
The radiant stallion whinnies with sheer pleasure
As he continues his journey through the land
And all the little animals obey his every command.
He sighs a contented smile and half rears
And he sheds no tears
For he knows he will be back again when all is asleep
And he hopes without jealousy or fear: o)
by Angela Stephenson
Shetan
Once in Arabia, Bedouins knew,
Of a great black stallion of which they,
Had never seen, yet heard of his stature, speed, and grace,
Word had spread that he was the fleetest horse afar,
Yet nothing ever turned up on the stallion, say the books,
Until a boy wanders into the desert, lost and weary,
The mighty stallion saves the day, and takes him to shelter,
A bond was made, between the two, keeping all others at bay,
Friendship, Love and trust are the keys, to tame the wild heart,
They both knew that a day would come, to prove their loyalty to each other,
But who would remain loyal to the other?
As the stallion became tame, the boy began to ride him,
As the stallion gave him something to remember, long into the future,
Speed unsurpassed, in any shape or form and unbroken spirit, all in one,
One giant stallion, as black as the black hole,
The one the Bedouins call the great Shetan
submitted by Archer
*HORSE JARGON
Horse Jargon will reappear next issue with: Conformation Faults and
Bridle Parts
*JOKE CORNER
Send in your horse jokes to thehorse@hotpop.com and I’ll add them here!
Why was the horse called a hot head?
Because he had a blaze!
Rider 1-Is your horse polite?
Rider2-yes
Rider 1-really? how?
Rider 2- he always lets me go over the jump 1st!
How much money would your horse pay for you, if he were buying YOU?
A couple of bucks!
Two guys buy two horses. One says to the other, "How can we tell which is
yours & which is mine?" The second one says, "Let's cut one's tail short,
so we can tell." So they cut one horse's tail short. A few months later,
the tail grew back, so one said, "Uh-oh, which one's yours & which one's
mine?" The other replied, "I don't know... How about you take the brown
one and I'll take the white one."
submitted by Archer
*RACKING HORSES by Josh
I am by far not a horses expert, but I do know this: every horse
walks, trots, canters, and gallops - Right? Wrong!
Certain horses do not trot, they rack (hence the name Racking
Horses).
A rack is a four beat gait pattern (1,2,3,4). It is a lot like a gallop
in
the sense that the horses hooves move in the same pattern, only in the
same
speed as a trot. Unlike a trot, there is no need to post (or rise) at a
rack. Posting is used to give you more balance and to make it easier for
you and your horse to ride longer distances at a trot. You don't have to
post at a rack because it is such a smooth gait.
In my opinion, racking a horse is 100 times smoother than trotting a
horse. It is very difficult (for me) to ride at a trot with no stirrups,
but even a beginner can easily ride a rack without stirrups.
The racking horse that I occasionally ride belongs to a local
therapeutic center that I volunteer for. She is a very well-behaved seven
year old Alabama Racking Horse. She is what I call a "push button"
horse.
Making her do what you want her to is as easy as pushing a button.
Racking horses are extremely easy to ride. If you are a beginner (or
experienced) and ever get a chance to ride a racking horse, do it. You'll
love it.
I have not been riding for very long, but I do know that racking
horses
are definitely my favorite.
*TRAINING by Becky (All4JC1021@aol.com)
Training voice commands.
This type of training is very useful for many people and their horses. For
those which do not know what voice commands are, it is when you say walk,
the
horse walks, and when you say trot, the horse trots, etc... then whenever
you
are cantering or so and say hup trot then the horse will come down to a
trot
with no use or hardly any use of the reins.
The best way to train these commands are to start slow. Whenever you
kick tell the horse what gait you want it at.
1. The walk: Kick the horse and at the same time say walk. Eventually
you
let back on the leg pressure until you don't have to use it.
2. The Trot: Once the horse knows walk you can start training it the
trot
command. Kick and say trot at the same time. Then as in the walk, you let
back on the leg pressure until you don't have to use it.
3. The Canter: Make sure your horse has basically mastered the walk and
trot commands before even starting to really focus on the canter command.
Kick (with outside leg if that is how your horse is trained) and say
canter
at the same time. Then let back on the leg pressure until you don't have
to
use it.
4. The Hand-gallop: Your horse should really have mastered the first
three
gaits before you really work on this gait. Kick and say hand-gallop at the
same time. Let back on the leg pressure until you have to use none at all.
***** M ake sure that if you are going to try this that you are
experienced
enough to do the gaits that you want to work on before you try to train
them
. Do not expect this to happen over night it will take a good while. Just
work with the horse and the horse will get the hang of it.
Slowwing Down:
1. When you are at a gait and want to slow down you pull on the reins
and
say Hup- (the gait) at the same time . ex.(hup-trot) Then you let back on
using the reins until you have to use little or no reins.
If you have questions about this column or training a horse, e-mail me and
I
will write your question and answer in the next column. I am not sure how
many questions I will answer in a newsletter but I will get to your
questions
even if I have to e-mail you instead of putting the answer in the
newsletter.
*PENPALS
Here is the Pen Pal section for adults and children. If you'd like an ad
here send me (thehorse@hotpop.com) in this form with "pen pal ad" in the
subject line.
First Name:
Email Address:
Country:
Age:
Horse Owner?:
Other Comments: (no more than 30 words please)
You can leave out anything if you don't want to give it out, such as age
or country. I'll put in probably a maximum of 5 ads per issue so don't
worry if yours takes a while to appear.
Here are the ads for this issue:
Name : Eleena
E-mail Address : eleenr@hotmail.com
Country :Malaysia
Age :15
Horse Owner? : No...but I wish i could!
Other comments : I just started riding last year and I just started
jumping this month! I am also leasing a horse named Wicket. Hope to get a
penpal!
*LOOKING FOR....
Hi! My family is planning to take a vacation out in western USA in the
fall,
and I was wondering if anyone who lives in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada,
etc.
could tell me of any good, preferably Christian Ranches that accept guests
and
have horseback riding. Do you also know Wyoming and surrounding areas have
good weather in November? Email Amanda (me) at amhorse@usa.net
*ENGLAND AND USA by Bonnie Kane
I spent the earlier part of my life growing up in England. This is the
place
where I fell in love for the first time. His stable name was Monkey and
his
show name was Ashtree Brandy. He was only 11 hands but had a heart of
gold.
He was my first pony and by far not my last! My poor parents. Anyway, I
want
to share my 13 years of experience of the horse life and what it was like
to
be able to learn to ride in England, and how it compares to the United
States. All my columns will be dedicated to this topic. I hope you will
enjoy
my further writings and maybe learn a whole new experience!
Until then------- TALLY O
*REFERENCES
Here is where some of my information has come from and I recommend these
books!
The Encyclopedia of the Horse, 1994, RD Press
The Complete Book of the Horse, 1979 (reprint 1985), New Burlington Books
Horses & Ponies, 1997, Kingfisher Books
The Visual Dictionary of the Horse, 1994, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London
Horse (Collins Eyewitness Guides, 1992, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London
Horses, Ponies and Riders, 1984, Reed Books Pty. Ltd.
Horses, 1981, J. Warren Evans, W. H. Freeman and Company
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End of Horse Mania Newsletter #4
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