Imagine what would happen if you took the characters from the 2004 film, Mean Girls, and put them in a horse show setting. It sounds like the start to a terrible joke, but for some, it’s actually pretty close to reality. While the horse industry is full of encouraging, well-meaning folks who support and cheer each other on, competition at any level can bring out a few bad apples in the bunch. Though barn bullying might look a little different than a schoolyard scuffle or being stuffed into a locker, it can be just as hurtful to the victims and even damaging to the horsemen and women who make their livings in the industry.
Continue reading …EC Bridleless Challenge Concludes With Enthusiastic Participation
July 7, 2021 Comments Off on EC Bridleless Challenge Concludes With Enthusiastic Participation
Sometimes, the best ride comes when there’s nothing getting in the way of the bond between you and your horse. This can be in the form of outside world distractions or even a bridle. When it’s just you and your horse, you’re forced to focus intently on the manner in which you’re riding–how you use your core, seat, and legs–because there isn’t a bit or reins to fall back on for steering support.
Continue reading …The Dolan Family ~ From POA to AQHA
July 5, 2021 Comments Off on The Dolan Family ~ From POA to AQHA
Madison Dolan is used to making a splash in the show pen. At just three years old, she’d already fallen in love with riding and by the following year she was showing her POA in Leadline at the 2010 Fort Worth Stock Show. When she made her debut in AQHA in 2017, there was no testing the water at a couple of state shows to get her feet wet. She went right to the Quarter Horse Congress. At the time, Madison and her horse had just 13 years between them; she was 11 and her gelding, One of the Cool Kids, aka “Luke” was only two. It was his first show ever. She rode him to placings in both the Level 1 Western Pleasure and 13 & Under Western Pleasure. It was an impressive start to a new show career to say the least.
Continue reading …From the Publisher – The Need for a Solid Foundation
July 3, 2021 Comments Off on From the Publisher – The Need for a Solid Foundation
I started showing horses at local, open shows. My greatest memories from those days weren’t the wins or the trophies, or even winning money from a class with a jackpot. My greatest memories came after the show when we all cooked out, played football, and raced our horses around the grounds. I made good friends and learned a lot about life. I met my wife because of horses. I am certain horse shows did the same for others.
Continue reading …Around the Rings – Big A With G-Man
July 2, 2021 Comments Off on Around the Rings – Big A With G-Man
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Although 17-year-old Avery Langley hasn’t been in the game quite as long as her fellow competitors, this spunky, savvy, smart, young woman is using all of the skills at her disposal to make a name for herself, and she has big plans for the future.
Continue reading …Around the Rings at Tar Heel Classic – with the G-man
June 14, 2021 Comments Off on Around the Rings at Tar Heel Classic – with the G-man
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Around the Rings at Redbud – with the G-man
June 7, 2021 Comments Off on Around the Rings at Redbud – with the G-man
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Many horses suffer breathing problems, airway or lung impairments due to dust, allergies, or disease. Just like humans, horses can benefit sometimes from breathing aids like nasal strips, inhalers and nebulizers. Dr. Larry Overly, known to most people as ‘Dr. Ricky’, is a track veterinarian at Los Alamitos. He says nebulizers and chelated silver products are often utilized to deal with lower airway disease and inflammatory issues in the lungs such as IAD—inflammatory airway disease. “There are various ways we combat IAD but first we need to find out what is actually causing the inflammation,” he says. It is important to pinpoint the source rather than just treat the symptoms.
Continue reading …A Whole New World – How a Procedure Called ICSI Has Changed How We Breed Horses
June 2, 2021 Comments Off on A Whole New World – How a Procedure Called ICSI Has Changed How We Breed Horses
Today, as we watch a class full of horses compete in the show pen, it’s no longer a surprise to see full siblings, often the same age, competing against each other. Because of modern scientific advances, we’ve become totally accustomed to raising horses very differently than our ancestors, who used live cover. In fact, acronyms like “AI” or phrases like “pull an embryo” are frequently used within casual conversations since we know our horse cohorts will understand that, nowadays, we can produce horses using stallions from afar, or without a mare ever carrying her own foal.
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