Most people in the horse industry, regardless of breed, are familiar with the numerous AQHA and APHA World and Congress Champions that have come from the program at Highpoint Performance Horses. Year after year, Charlie Cole and Jason Martin have produced some of the most recognizable winners in the industry, from dominating in the Western Riding and Trail pen to producing champions in Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle. They even have a champion barrel horse. At their beautiful ranch, located in Pilot Point, Texas, you’d expect to see horses ranging in age from weanling on up to their impressive lineup of stallions. However, unless you’ve personally driven through those impressive wooden gates and past the stately home at the entrance, you might not be aware of the other animals that call it home as well.
Continue reading …As you know, I went to the Convention and came home with my mind full of thoughts that have been fairly difficult for me to sort out. Most everyone seemed extremely friendly and complimentary regarding several years of my “On The Fence” articles. This has been hard for me to understand because in spite of my severe criticism of the current state of horse welfare, conflicts of interest, lack of penalties, and loose enforcement of rules, it seems to me absolutely no effective changes have come to fruition.
Continue reading …While riding in the groomed arenas of the 65-acre Del Mar Horse Park, you can almost smell the salty twang of the Pacific Ocean wafting in from a mere two miles away.
Continue reading …Often enough taxpayers who are audited in connection with their farming or livestock activities are questioned on the issue known in the tax law as the “material participation test.” Under this legal test, you are permitted to deduct losses against outside salary and wages only if, among other things, you “materially participate” in the activity. Many duties, such as training of animals, showing of show horses and racing of race horses, are delegated to qualified experts, and sometimes the IRS will question the validity of your own participation in decisionmaking, in an effort to say you have failed to meet the material participation test.
Continue reading …Do you think it’s right to post show patterns online, often weeks prior to an event? Or, do you think this practice takes “true horsemanship” out of the equation?
Continue reading …When it came time for the competition, winning exhibitors were rewarded with gift cards from iTunes, Amazon, Sephora, McDonald’s, Subway, Chili’s, Applebee’s, and Target, which were presented in Novice, Youth, and Amateur classes.
Continue reading …Recently, Mark Harrell Horse Shows put together this helpful list of the Top 10 Horse Show Do’s and Don’ts they’ve learned from judges during the 2015 show season so far.
Continue reading …Nationwide, 46 states (all but California, Maryland, Nevada, and New York) have some form of an Equine Activity Liability Act (as of March 2015). All of these laws differ, but many share common characteristics. Several of them include an exception for a “dangerous latent condition of the land.”
Continue reading …If you don’t mind being flung through the air by 1,800 pounds of snorting bovine brawn, then riding a 16 hand Quarter Horse must be a stroll in the park. Even though bull riding and hunt seat riding are different, trainer Andrey Ferreir approaches both the same. “Riding a bull is 90% mental, and showing a horse is 90% mental,” Andrey says. “If you can stay cool and focused, you’ll do alright.” His crossover approach is certainly working for him, as his success in the AQHA show arena attests.
Continue reading …New classes added for 2015 are Youth and Amateur Ranch Riding and Novice Select Western Pleasure and Horsemanship.
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