Selecting the Perfect English Saddle
October 19, 2015 Comments Off on Selecting the Perfect English Saddle
Many equestrians are more familiar with what to look for in a Western saddle than with the English variety. So, who better to ask than Master Saddler, Suzie Fletcher-Baker, an internationally-respected English saddle maker whose career spans 40 years. As the daughter of a hard-working English family in Witney, Oxfordshire, England, she was told she would have to manage the care of her own pony, including buying her own tack—which she did.
Continue reading …
In the minutes, hours, and even days before a big show, the pressure to get everything just perfect can become an obsession. Drilling the pattern may seem like a panacea for nervous energy, but too much practice at the show can be your worst enemy. Add to the mix a hefty dose of anticipation, on the part of a seasoned show horse, and the problem can escalate. So, how do we work out the bugs and keep horses and riders sane in the process?
Continue reading …
It’s no secret that the All American Quarter Horse Congress is the largest, single breed horse show in the world bringing over 6,500 horses and close to 650,000 people to the Ohio State Fairgrounds every year. It’s also no secret that these numbers equal money for the Central Ohio economy—$200 million dollars to be exact.
Continue reading …
If you’re a horse lover, you understand the excitement of standing in a huge lot of brand new horse trailers, gleaming in all their splendor, beckoning for you to explore. You can picture your horse inside, with you proudly at the wheel of your truck, a reflection of comfort and class.
Continue reading …
Horses occasionally develop inflammation and ulceration of the gut lining, most commonly in the stomach (gastric ulcers). Colitis, or inflammation of the colon, is more rare, but can be very serious. For some reason, this problem tends to occur more in the right dorsal colon.
Continue reading …
Clinics are popping up all over the place these days. They range from demonstrations to pre-World Show boot camps and everything in between. Large horse shows like the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, APHA, ApHC, and AQHA World Shows, and the Arizona Sun Circuit are just a few events that now include free clinics in their schedules as a perk for exhibitors and the public.
Continue reading …Katsy Leeman – Reaching the Top in Divergent Disciplines
October 13, 2015 Comments Off on Katsy Leeman – Reaching the Top in Divergent Disciplines
Striving to become a champion in any discipline is a challenge, but one that’s not too daunting for 22 year-old Katsy Leeman, of Massillon, Ohio, who often takes on many events at a time. Leeman competes in Reining at top NRHA events and Western Pleasure at the top AQHA and NSBA events and is determined to be the best at both.
Continue reading …Performance Halter – What Are Judges Looking For?
October 12, 2015 Comments Off on Performance Halter – What Are Judges Looking For?
In an effort to encourage and reward the concept of form-to-function, AQHA introduced Performance Halter classes in 2007. Since their inception, they have steadily gained popularity and are now some of the largest classes at shows across the United States. Performance Halter was designed to reward performance horses that are conformationally correct and structurally sound.
Continue reading …Tax Matters – Are “Ag-Gag” Laws Constitutional?
October 11, 2015 Comments Off on Tax Matters – Are “Ag-Gag” Laws Constitutional?
“Ag-gag” is the term used to describe anti-whistleblower laws that apply within the agriculture industry. About half a dozen states have passed laws to criminalize surreptitious filming of alleged abuses of animals on farms and ranches. These laws are an attempt to prevent undercover investigative reporting or whistleblowing by employees, and to suppress the use of the videos to build support for stronger penalties for the abuse of cows, chickens, hogs or other animals. Ag-gag laws are justified as a way of preventing interference with agricultural production.
Continue reading …Mark Harrell Horse Shows Takes Over Florida!
October 10, 2015 Comments Off on Mark Harrell Horse Shows Takes Over Florida!
If you’re active in the horse industry and enjoy competing at some of the nation’s largest breed circuits, chances are you’ve attended a show put on by the team at Mark Harrell Horse Shows, which routinely handles more than 100,000 AQHA entries annually.
Continue reading …