HSPCA Recent Horse and Dog Rescue UPDATE

The HSPCA recently rescued over 100 horses and 40 dogs. Prissy's barn mom Patricia gave us the following update in response to the quick support of the HSPCA in their rescue effort:

"Many thanks to you all for rallying to the rescue of these poor little equines!! Over $2,100. was collected and used to purchase needed supplies for the 105 minis taken in by HSPCA. The team of Geoff, Erica, and Tracy are now hard at work putting in 13 hour days in this heat caring for the minis, with the help of vets and vet techs. I visited the site today, and saw all our supplies in use. I can not begin to describe the horrific condition of these animals, their hoofs, and general neglect. We need to stay alert now and be prepared to offer any support we can to the HSPCA staff and hope that a cruelty case will be brought against this woman. Thank you."

Donate directly through the HSPCA site by clicking here.

How to Save Money Showing Your Horse

In order for scores to count at recognized shows toward my USDF bronze medal, I must have verified my adult amateur status prior to earning the scores.
According to the USEF, "in order to obtain amateur status with the Federation [USDF], you are required to either pay for a non member amateur card ($30.00) or apply for a USEF membership and sign your amateur status ($55.00). If you plan to pay a $30.00 non member fee at the show, it would most certainly be more cost efficient to just activate a competing membership with us. The USDF takes the amateur status information from USEF, so you will definitely need to choose one of the two mentioned routes in order to obtain your amateur status."

As my legal council (okay not really- she's just my friend who happens to be an attorney) advised me: "How do you save money with your horse? Sell it."
*sigh*

The good news: as of last night I am an active member of USEF and have verified my amateur status. I opted for the 3 year competing membership that costs $150, thereby "saving" $15 over three years.

HSPCA Needs Us

Update: Enough halters and leads have been purchased for the horses currently in HSPCA's custody. Now the need is for de-wormers and other supplies.

To make a donation:

• Call Babara at South Texas Tack 979-421-8800 to make a purchase with your credit card over the phone
  

Or:

• Donate directly through the HSPCA site by clicking here
  

Prissy's barn mom Patricia witnessed first hand the neglected horses and dogs that were rescued this week by the HSPCA:

"Friends: In the news yesterday you might have seen the story of an HSPCA rescue that involved over 105 mini horses and 40 plus dogs. The horses are in tragic shape, I went by today to drop off some donations and saw for myself. No photos or other details are allowed out now due to the impending legal actions, suffice to say I vomited before I pulled out of the driveway, and cried all the way home, hugging my own dear dogs to me and thinking, 'I live in a world where a person can do this over and over to hundreds of sentient creatures??' And as of this moment THERE ARE STILL MORE ANIMALS ON THIS OWNER'S PROPERTY!!! Hopefully, attempts to rescue them will be successful. If any of you are able to respond to the plight of these poor creatures, a direct line of action has been started."

What you can do to help: the most immediate need is for halters and lead ropes in the mini size. South Texas Tack is working with Rosemary Bozant and the ladies of the Bit and Bridle group and making a purchase for the mini rescue.

• Call Babara at STT 979-421-8800 and provide a halter or lead rope by purchasing it with your credit card over the phone
• Tell Barbara you are making a purchase for the mini rescue

Halters are $8.95, leads are $3.95; they will be delivered to the rescue site. With properly fitted halter and lead rope, the staff can work more efficiently, safely, and effectively to treat, train, and save these animals.

Here's an update on further rescue efforts of the HSPCA.

Today is Prissy's Birthday

Prissy is nine today. Being that I lost to cancer my previous two dogs before their respective sixth birthdays, making it to a ninth birthday feels like a big deal.
Truly a rare find, we're thankful every day that Prissy chose us. And we're thankful to Prissy's barn mom Patricia for giving her up for adoption after giving her a last chance forever home. Prissy was well loved by her first owner, a man named Jason. Sadly Jason died and Prissy was recycled through several more homes after being semi-abandoned in her second home. Prissy is proof that fairy-tale endings can come true.
And don't laugh at her name; not only does it fit her well (yes, I AM aware that she dearly loves to roll in horse manure and in general takes her barn duties very seriously, but still she's a priss about the rest of life), it has been her name her whole life through five different owners-- she IS and always has been Prissy. And now she is and always will be OUR Prissy.

Happy Birthday Prissy!

It Pays to Know the Rules

I'm familiarizing myself with the most current USEF Rule Book for dressage. It's a dry read but very useful.
Some interesting rules I didn't know: blind horses are eligible to compete in all regular dressage tests but not in a group of horses such as in quadrille, and if you see a rider wearing a red armband at a competition that means the rider is blind or visually impaired.

Journey to a Recognized Show

I am excited to announce that Delphi and I have set our sights on competing at our first USDF/USEF recognized show. We've chosen Windy Knoll Farm's fall show September 25-26 2010. Since I'm new to the world of recognized shows, I want to chronicle what we learn as we journey from the very beginning to the final salute on centerline. My hope is that we'll learn as we go AND from hindsight, as well as from any oversights I make along the way.

Here's what I've learned so far:

The first decision to make: Which show? Windy Knoll's fall show rose to the top of our decision tree for the following reasons:

• Level 2 USEF dressage show; a level above an "introductory" show but still a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere for our first recognized show
• Lowest entry fees in Region 9 and no charge for trailer-ins; we can choose to show just one day and tie-up to the trailer as we do for schooling shows thereby saving $85 on stabling
• Show is recognized by USDF, USEF, GAIC, and SWDC so we'll be in good company
  
• Jonathan "Jack" Burton (S)- a great judge, trainer, and horseman- will be the President of the Jury at C; this was a major deciding factor for me (no pun intended)
  

Next, what are the pertinent dates?

• Opens August 1, 2010
• Closes August 31, 2010
• Giving us plenty of time to prepare, gather documents/signatures (more on that next), and enter

What documents are required?

• Entry form, downloadable from USDF or Windy Knoll's website
• Current copy of Delphi's negative Coggin's test
• My USDF member card
  
• Delphi's USEF Horse ID card; obtainable at no charge from USEF
  
• My USEF member card -click here to sign up for an individual membership account (considered "inactive" so I'll still have to pay the $30 USEF non-member fee) Update: I've since joined USEF so am now eligible to compete in USEF competitions and USDF qualifying and championship classes
  
• Delphinia's Certificate of Lifetime Horse Registration- $85 from USDF
• Update: My trainer Karen Brown's USEF and USDF member cards
  

What additional costs are involved?

• Joining USDF ($62 for a one year participating membership or $1000 for a lifetime participating membership) or paying the USDF non-member fee of $20 per show
  
• Joining USEF (3 year active for $150, 1 year active for $55 or lifetime for $2500) or paying the USEF non-member fee of $30 per show
  
• USEF horse fees ($8 USEF fee and $7 drug fee) of $15
• Office fee; for Windy Knoll it is $30
• Stabling fee of $85 for the weekend or free for tying up to your trailer (I chose the free option)
• Grounds fee; Windy Knoll's is no charge- another reason I chose this venue to get started

Including the above, what HAS to be on the entry form?

• Three signatures: 1)the owner/agent's (in this example that's me), 2)the rider/handler (me again), and 3)the trainer's signature. If you wish to have your trainer assist you at the show for warm up etceteras, she must sign as your trainer; if you act as your horse's trainer you must sign under trainer's signature
• Your horse's name, previous name if any, breed registry, gender, height, color, Coggins date; if known: sire, dam, dam's sire, country and date of birth, and breeder
• Which classes you're riding and whether or not they are qualifying classes; must match up with the prize list from the show you've chosen
  
• Your trainer's name, address, and USEF number if you're using a trainer at the show
• Emergency contact name and phone number (hi Chris!)
• The name and date of the competition; in this example it's "Windy Knoll Farm Fall Show September 25-26 2010"

This is what I know so far. I'll keep you posted as we learn more.

Insist on Personal Excellence

Beautiful Freestyle Farm was the venue for our most recent show Sunday July 11, 2010. Though Delphi got two blue ribbons for two rides, our scores did not improve. Delphi was much more relaxed and obedient however; now I need to continue to develop the engagement of the hindquarters, lightness of the forehand, and insist on personal excellence in making my aids effective.

The helpful collective remarks from judge Leslie Cummings reveal where our homework should focus:
Second level test two: "Attractive team. This level requires much more engagement of the hindquarters with thrust and ground-covering strides. Expect more. Sure seems to be in there!"
First level test four: "Pleasant team. 1st 4 gets serious about thrust from behind, an elastic connection back-to-front with straightness AND ground-covering strides. Re-balance that 'lengthening' trot as your starting point!"

Delphi's medium and lengthened trot got "some ground cover but needs more-- 7" and "some thrust shown; use this energy in your working trot--7."

Also telling were our respective collective marks. Delphi got "7" for GAITS while I got "5" on RIDER. I need to expect as much personal excellence from myself as what I expect Delphi to give; if I will bring my A game every day, every ride-- no excuses-- our scores will improve.

7IL Trail Ride

A quarter horse, a thoroughbred, a fresian, a standardbred and a trakehner all walk into a bar...
No not really, but the five of us DID go on the 6.3 mile "Red" trail (see map above) today at beautiful 7IL Ranch. The footing was perfect and the long slow distances up and down hills were an ideal compliment to our dressage fitness program. The steeper banks, where the horses have to sit pushing up the bank and collect coming down the bank were also excellent practice for our dressage mounts. Fording through belly-deep water was exciting. Mostly though the trails and company at 7IL are just plain fun.

Photo Highlights from Hearthstone

These photos were videographed by Karen Brown (yes, she CAN coach, call, and operate a camera all at once-- I've seen her do it). The indoor dressage arena at Hearthstone is shredded rubber tires over a sand base- makes for lovely schooling. Witness:

Product Review: Ariat Paddock Boots

Behold the new and old Ariat Heritage III Zip Paddock boots:
After a couple years of punishment:

Product claim: upgraded full-grain leather and a moisture-wicking and breathable lining will hold their own at the barn. Scuff, stain, and water resistant leather wipes clean with a damp cloth, and self-cleaning tread make the Ariat® Heritage III Zip Paddocks a breeze to keep clean.

Review: I'm now on my fifth pair of Ariat paddock boots, and this is my second pair of their zip up variety; this last one was purchased from SmartPak for $110.

Pros: I spend several hours every day of all seasons in these boots. They are exceedingly comfortable and fit me as though custom made. For me there is no break-in time for the paddock boots (not so for Ariat's dress boots- but that's a different product) and each successive pair purchased goes right into service with no blisters or stiffness.

Cons: I can only get about two year's worth of use out of one pair of paddock boots; however to be fair they get daily extremes of temperature, moisture, dryness, mud, manure, uric acid, water, and sweat. Trust me, neither I nor the Texas weather baby these boots.

Bottom line: I like these boots, and am loyal to Ariat for comfort and predictability. They're not the least expensive nor are they the highest quality available, but they meet my needs and stand up- for a couple years at least- to weather, environmental, and employment extremes.
I recommend them.