Equine Chronicle | Author Archives

2015 Halter Futurity Recap

November 12, 2015 Comments Off

September is certainly a month dedicated to the halter horse industry. The Breeders’ Halter Futurity, World Conformation Horse Association Breeders’ Futurity, and the Big Money Halter Futurity all take place within a few weeks of each other. If you’re a conformation enthusiast, it’s a guarantee that you will find the industry’s finest Halter specimens and handlers at these world-class events.

Packing for the Long Haul

November 11, 2015 Comments Off

Are you good at solving word problems? How about geometry? Can you fit a square peg into a round hole? It seems like you must have earned an “A” in trigonometry in order to fit all of the necessary equipment into your horse trailer when packing for a show. Hopefully, you’ve won a few games of Tetris, because you’re going to need it.

Understanding The Hackamore

November 10, 2015 Comments Off

An old horseman once remarked, “Heck, you could ride your mare with a piece of string.” To me, that evoked a mental image of galloping unencumbered through fields of wildflowers. It also terrified me – how could I control anything without a bit?

Sharing Expertise – Reaching Out to Specialty Trainers

November 9, 2015 Comments Off

Everyone is familiar with the motto, “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” Even athletes like superstar extraordinaire Michael Jordan knew he was a better player when he worked together with his team.

Recreating The Past – Giving New Life to Old Barns

November 8, 2015 Comments Off

The smell of fresh cut hay, stacked and ready for winter. The warmth of steam rising from a horse’s back. Children playing on a rope hung high from the rafters. Each of these images hearkens back to childhood memories of a once treasured barn.

Chafin Performance Horses

November 7, 2015 Comments Off

Jim Chafin and Heather Graft have horses in their blood. Jim started out under the watchful eye of his parents, Jim and Sandy Chaﬁn, owners of C Bar C Quarter Horses in Ohio. His success as a youth competitor included Top Five placings at the AQHA Youth World Show and national standings that gave him a solid foundation, responsibility, and work ethic that he parlayed into big wins as an adult at all of the major breed venues.

The Passing of a Legend – Zips Chocolate Chip

November 6, 2015 Comments Off

How many horses come with their own brand of cookie? Zips Chocolate Chip was a legend, not only for the indelible mark he left on the equine industry, but for the delicious, chocolate chip cookies baked and distributed at shows by his loving owners, Ann and Phil Myers of Myers Horse Farms in Ashland, Ohio.

Tax Matters – Importance of Advertising From the IRS’ Perspective

November 5, 2015 Comments Off

In any IRS audit of horse activities, one issue will be the extent to which the taxpayer has advertised horses for sale. Advertising is considered to be an effective type of promotion to attract customers, and if you do not advertise or otherwise promote the sale of your horses, the IRS will argue that you are not engaged in a business because you don’t care about selling your product.

From The Publisher – Are You Having Fun Yet?

November 4, 2015 Comments Off

There are a few facts about the horse industry that are undisputed. Every horse has an owner. Every horse owner has varied expectations of what they will get from the endeavor. However, you can be assured that everyone who has ever owned and shown a horse has done it because they wanted some enjoyment from the sport. They wanted to experience the competition, as well as the camaraderie of like-minded individuals.

On The Cover

November 3, 2015 Comments Off

If you happen to be driving through West Texas and glance out across the open expanse of ranch land, you might catch a glimpse of a striking stallion, slick and seal brown, who looks a little out of place among the rangy cattle and miles of fence line. You’re not mistaken.