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issue 6-2013 | www.horsecountry.ca

Horse country 6 2013

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The magazine for prairie horse people: all breeds, all disciplines, all-in-all a great read.

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    aHORSE COUNTRYPublisher: L. HazelwoodSuite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5M3Phone toll free 1-866-886-2425. Local 204-256-7467.Fax 204-257-2467. www.horsecountry.ca.ISSN 1193-2163.Volume 25, Issue #6-2013: September 2, 2013. Published eight times a year: every six weeks, February/November. Print subscriptions: one year $29.50, two years $53.50, three years $72.50. Digital subscriptions one year $15.50, two years $26. All prices include taxes applicable to the province of delivery. Single copy print price $5.25. GST #86303-1456. For US mailed subscriptions add $18 - one year ($36 - two years) CDN, for Europe add $30 - one year ($60 - two years) CDN if airmail is required. Price includes mailing from Canada. An order form is printed at the back of the magazine. US and international subscribers can order a digital version at Canadian prices (no added mailing costs). Please go to www.horsecountry.ca and click on the digital subscription link. Order subscriptions from www.horsecountry.ca/subscribe, or Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R2M 5M3. Phone 204-256-7467, toll-free 1-866-886-2425 or email [email protected]. Pay online, or by mailed cheque, Visa, Mastercard or Money Order. Publishers Mail Agreement #40753025. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5M3. Email: [email protected]. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the consent of the publisher, and copyright remains with Horse Country (Woodstock Media Services) unless expressly released. Horse Country assumes no responsibility for claims made in advertising copy and has the right to refuse any articles, stories, advertising copy or photos. It is the responsibility of the advertiser or author to obtain copyright releases for photographs used in advertising or supplied editorial, and to verify the authenticity of information supplied which forms the whole or part of editorial pieces. Manuscripts and pictures are welcomed; please state terms and enclose SASE for return if required. Writers Guidelines are posted on www.horsecountry.ca. Weacknowledgethefinancialsupportof the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

    HORSE COUNTRY PRIVACY CODE:A subscription to Horse Country includes a free emailed newsletter which arrives no more than once every three weeks.Ifyoudonotwishtoreceivethise-letter,pleaseadvisein writing to the email or regular mail address above. We may occasionally make our database of addresses available to businesses which we feel have products which would be of interest to you. Please advise us if you do not wish to receive this information. Horse Countrys complete privacy code can be found at www.horsecountry.ca/privacy.

    EDITORLinda Hazelwood1-866-886-2425 or 204-256-7467 (local) [email protected] EDITORIshbel Moore, [email protected] SALESLinda Hazelwood, [email protected] ADMINSTRATIONEldeen Stark, [email protected]@horsecountry.caLAYOUT & DESIGNThe Creative Crew. [email protected] CONTRIBUTIONS: Mary-Anne Bach, Len Carroll, Ashley Fudge, Babs Hamilton, Holly Madsen, Ishbel Moore, Michael Rohrmann, Irene Schweckendieke, Emma Tarvis.

    The View From Here

    August 16, 2013

    Its been a funny few weeks for me and my horse. Afterbondingbeautifullywithme,comingtomeet

    me in the pasture and sticking like glue to my shoulder at liberty in the arena, all of a sudden she kept running away when she saw me.

    She is on outside board with seven other horses and when I went to get her from the corral, would duck and dive around the other horses to avoid me. One day I spent three hours just making her walk and trot, trying to emulate round pen work, but she wouldnt give in. It was a breakthrough when she actually stopped and looked at me. (Step back and lower the energy!) Over my visits to her I brought out all the tricks I had seen at Horse 3, horsemanship clinics and Ireadbookstotryandfindoutwhyshewasdoingthis.Wasittheridewehad

    where we were out for longer and went faster than we had before? Was she upset with the thunderstorms? Was she in heat, or was she just being a mare?

    AfteraperiodIgothertoatleaststeptowardsmewhenshestopped,and

    when some experts advised that at this stage the odd treat would help, we progressed to being able to touch her on the nose but if I raised my hand towards herneck(evenwiththehalterhiddeninmyfingers)shebackedaway.Itwasnt

    just me, either. She wouldnt go near anyone else.The light dawned when someone told me she had been badly shocked by the

    electric fence. A person had been standing near her when it happened. Maybe she was frightened that she would get shocked again. Result! I was able to get her out of the large corral and manoeuvred into the round pen away from the other horses. I could see immediate progress. She made herself work but gradually gave in and walked right up to me. I was able to rub her all over, halter her and hug her. What a silly girl!

    Andhowhorsescanfoolyou!ThepreviousparagraphswerewrittenAugust

    15. August 16, here we are back at square one again. Circling the other horses and running away. She came up for one treat but then wouldnt come near me again. So its back to the drawing board.

    Happy trails and summer showing to you all - and say thank you to your horse every time it allows you to catch it!

    Editor and Publisher

    This issues cover is Jamie Hackett riding the registered Morgan Mare, Sapphire, at JDH Stock Farms, Stratton, Ontario. The farm focuses on breeding quality western-working family Morgans which are used in their family ranching program with Horned Hereford Cattle.

    See more about the Western Working Morgan Horse on page 22.

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    Issue #7-2013 is published week commencing October 14, 2013.Deadlines: Business advertisers: space closes September 16; Material closing September 23 . Horses for Sale and Classifiedlineadverts:deadlineSeptember23.Webadvertsuploaded weekly.

    issue #6 | 2013www.horsecountry.ca

    Birthday prize competition

    In every issue

    Check www.horsecountry.ca for Breaking News!

    On the cover

    * Items marked with an asterisk have supplementary reading or archived articles at www.horsecountry.ca/archives.htm

    Michael Rohrmann: Helping the horse balance

    FIND US ON FACEBOOK:Horse Country Horse Country Classified

    Happy Birthday Horse Country!Its Horse Countrys 25th birthday in 2013! To celebrate, horse for sale textadsandprivateclassifiedswillbeFREEfortherestofthisyear.(30words max, private sellers only). Picture $24 + GST. Businesses call Linda at 204-256-7467 or email [email protected]

    36 Around and About40 Connections/Classifieds43 Whats Happening?47 Subscription Draw

    The Round Up

    12 Twelve questions with Sandy Donald14 Daisy and Sue tackle Agility Searchingforthefinalbond

    16 The perfect seat SittingstraightwithIreneSchweckendieke

    27 Grit and Determination The rescue horse in the Top Ten at NAJYRC29 North American Junior & Young Rider Championships30 What Rodeo means to me A scholarship essay from Holly Madsen31 Tornado! How 7 horses coped42 Synchrogait The gene test for gaitedness42 ZipLockflycontrol Test out the science46 On the Bookshelf Heart Like an Ocean Hoof Prints on My Heart Horses, ink.

    4 Cowboy, Horseman, Poet, Legend: Len Carroll7 Resume With Horses By Len Carroll8 Michael Rohrmann, Movement Trainer We are not born as horse riders, we have to learn balance22 How the West was Won The Western Working Morgan Horse32 Ears: Your horses other eyes

    20 Manitoba Horse Council20 Turn N Burn for the Cure21 Helping Hooves Event-Full August26 Manitoba Driving Society35 CCRHA Wheat City Reining Derby37 Calgary Stampede39 The Prairie Spirit Riders39 Manitoba Cutting Horse Association

    28 Birthday Prize Competition and results47 Subscriber Draw

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    Riding DownMemory Lane I first saw on Len Carroll on a small stage in the community center

    of a tiny hamlet in SW Manitoba. The event was a Cowboy Poetry Gathering and the hall was filled with folks who had come to listen to the stories, poems and songs that told of the cowboy lifestyle, past and present.

    As he got on the stage, this well built man in his early 80s tilted back his cowboy hat and took the microphone. He viewed the audience, and in a scratchy voice recounted the story of a wife sending out her cowboy husband to buy her a bra. The audience roared with laughter while Len continued in all seriousness. His presence on stage held them captive.

    After that initial encounter, we often crossed paths at other events over the years but I never really spoke to him, admiring him from afar instead. It wasnt until much later (when asked to do a magazine article about him) that I discovered the story behind this true legend.

    Cowboy...Horseman...Poet...Legend...

    Len Carroll

    by Babs Hamilton

    Top: Life took Len through some narrow and dangerous trails in the early days.Centre (Left) Young Len. (Right) Len in June 2013.Above: The hands at Copithorne Ranch. Len is 2nd from left, at the front.(Provincial Archives of Alberta.)

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    Lens story began like that of many cowboys but soon evolved into something truly special and unique.

    Born of a farming family in the Bagot, Manitoba area, Len came into this world as a horseman. Horses held a special place in his heart, and at the young age of 15, he was already being paid to break/train horses at $15 a head. Len made enough to line his pockets so he could pursue his ambition to become a cowboy. He headed west to Alberta, taking with him the lessons he had learned breaking horses inhisyoungeryears.Heworked for cattleoutfitsasawrangler or horse jingler, a hunter and tour guide in the Rockies. During these guided tours, Hollywood took this youngcowboyunderitswing.Moviecompaniesfilmingin the Jasper area hired Len to act as a horse wrangler, stuntman and to be present for background shots.

    The Far Country, River of No Return and Rose Marie put him in the company of Hollywood greats such as Jimmy Stewart, Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe and Howard Keel to name a few. Acting as a stunt double for thelikesofHarryMorganandWalterBrennanleftmanyfond memories for Len.

    At 28 years-old, Len returned to Manitoba to pursue other ambitions, including opening a riding school in Winnipeg, working as an outrider at Assiniboia Downs where he ran the stable there for a few years and even owned a racehorse or two. {Editors note: Len actually wentbacktoschoolduringthisperiod,finishedhisGrade12 and took some college courses. He recommends it to others, saying, I dont want them to make the same dumb mistakes I made when I was a kid.]

    He gave clinics, judged horses at shows across North America, and was the go-to horse authority for the courts. He never tired or wavered when it came to sharing his experiences with 4-H Clubs or taking part in all things horse related like rodeos, reining and even jumping. Along with others that were just as passionate, he was instrumental in promoting and organizing the rodeos in Manitoba and was a founding member of the Manitoba CuttingHorseandQuarterHorseAssociations.Hewasinducted into the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in1993,atruereflectionandtributeofallthathegave,andis still giving, as a cowboy.

    Later, he penned his life experiences in the form of stories and poems, becoming a well-known Cowboy Poet and sharing yet another of his special talents with all. He washighlysoughtaftertoperformatCowboyGatheringsand other events. His literary talents became recognized, and in 2010 earned him the title as a Manitoba Laureate recipient.

    I had the privilege of meeting Len at his home in the

    beautiful rolling hills of SW Manitoba. Driving up to his homestead, I noticed the lack of horses, which I later discovered was due to health issues in November 2012.

    He led me into a small room that was furnished as an office,andinvitedmetositdown.Itwasevidentthathehad been going through papers, magazines and photos tryingtofindwhatheplannedtosharewithme.Withinmoments,wewerechattingasifwewereoldfriendsandI felt truly at ease with The Legend.

    As I sat and listened, I was taken back to another time, a differentlifestyleandonethatIcouldonlyimaginebeingpart of; a time when cowboys worked, sweated and broke withoutcomplaintandwithvery littlemoney to showfor a hard days work. He told of his experiences with the untamed horses, the excitement of packing/hunting inthemountains,ofdrivingcattleandhorses,andoftheThoroughbreds that he so loved. He continued on with his exploits as a Hollywood artist and of the friendships he had made along the way.

    He spoke of one particular mare he had owned for over 30 years and how she had conveyed to him when it was time. He told of how he had cradled her head in his lap those last few hours until he knew what he had to do. It stirredsomethinginbothofusandwhenhetookoffhisreading glasses to wipe a teary eye as the memory of that moment, of that mare, took hold of him, I found myself reaching for the box of Kleenex on a nearby window sill. We laughed as we looked at each other wiping away the tears. It was a very poignant moment. Later he showed me where he had buried the mare, not far from the house.

    Afteracoupleofhoursporingoverhandwrittenstories,agedphotosandcoffee-stainedbitsofpaper,Lenusheredme outside to his ancient Oldsmobile parked in the lane. We were heading somewhere. He said he had something to show me.

    Len spoke and I listened as he navigated the country gravel roads and a dusty sandy narrow trail that took us even farther into bush and pastures. He talked about the people he admired, the teachings of Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt, and when I asked him what was the one thing he would tell folks with horses today, his reply was interestingly simple. Folks need to let the horse walk.

    He went on to explain that it meant to let the horse movefreely,awayfromyou(whileundersaddle).Lettingthe horse walk allowed the horse to sense and revere its own body movement and that of the rider, thus creating relaxationandconfidenceinboth.

    The path we took was very sandy but at one point, we

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    As he peered into the valley, I could see those cherished and yearned for memories shadow his face. He seemed a passionate man; a cowboy that had lived, and was still living, the life that many dreamed of. His was an existence decreed by truth and determination, by resolve and fortitude, by strength and compassion and by a willingness to overcome the challenges a cowboy may face, oftenwithoutmuchreward,exceptofcoursehavingtheprivilege and honour of being called a true cowboy. That was the person who stood before mea Poet, Cowboy and Horsemana Legend by the name of Len Carroll.

    came to a huge deep-looking puddle. Len turned to me and said, Where I want to take you is just on the other side of that puddle, but I am not sure if the car will make itthroughthewaterwithoutgettingstuck.

    Welookedattheleftsidewheretreestumpsblockedourroute. We wouldnt get by there without a few scratches ontheOlds.Therightsidewasntanybetterasthetraildropped slightly and met with some electric fencing. I turned to Len and asked, What would the young Len Carroll do?.

    Without hesitation, he grinned and put his foot to the floor.ThebigOldsroaredtowardsthewater,andbeforeI knew what was happening, water spewed well above the car and to the side. We took a bit of a dip and then we wereontheotherside,grinning.Itwasareflectionofhowthis man lived his life.

    He parked the car on the top of a knoll, where we got out and viewed the beauty of the valley below us. He told ofhowhedrovecattleintheearlydaysinthisareaandhow the road we had just come on had been nothing but a tiny deer trail. The only telltale sign of man ever being there had been the lone hoof prints of his horse

    Len enjoyed some stunning workplaces.

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    Resume With HorsesBy Len Carroll 1987

    I learned about horses long before I learned about horsemanship. One came naturally, the other required thought and study and time.

    Igrewupwithhorses,wasraisedusingthem,hadanaffinityforthemand

    cared about them. But it took a lot of time and experience to really know very much about them.

    IstartedmyfirsttwoyearoldwhenIwaseight.Iguessyoudcallitstarting

    him today. I got a bridle on him, clambered up and rode around on him. We both had the same savvy none.

    ThatsalongtimeagonowandImstilltryingtofigurethemout.

    Iveusedhorsesinquiteafewdifferentsituations.LetsseeIveplowedwith

    them,teninabunchwhenIwasfifteen.Iverakedhay,mowedhay,swept

    hay to the stack, a team in each hand twenty feet in front of me. Ive skidded logs, hauled pulp wood, threshed bundles with them, harrowed, cultivated and

    scuffledpotatoes.

    Ivehauledhaywithfourofemandfirewood,fedcattle,hauledwater,cleaned

    barns and scraped dirt; broke them to wagons, buggies, mowers, bush camps and saddle.

    Ivesetuponthem,ropedoffthem,cutcowsoffthem,gatheredoffthem,

    reinedoffthem,brokethemtorideandbeenbuckedoffthem.

    Ivegatheredcattleoffthem,packedthem,guidedonthem,beentiredonthem,

    wet on them, cold on them and lost on them. Ive trailed them, jingled them, hunted them, tacked them, roped them and gelded them.

    Ive bred them and raised them and nursed them and doctored them, sat up withthemandsleptwiththem.Ivebeenrunoffwiththem,buckedoffofthem,

    kickedbythem,struckbythem,shookandflungbythem,hurtbythemand

    broke on account of them. Ive raced them and trained them, bet on them and bragged on them. Ive shot

    them and buried them, prayed over them and wept over them. Ive bought them and sold them and traded them. Ive hauled them an showed them and

    judged them. Ivegatheredthemwildfromthemountains,setonematfiftybelow.Bucked

    snow and been cold and been hungry, along with a bunch of just them.Ive swum them, night herded on them, shod them, trucked them, hauled them

    and cussed them.Ive lectured about them and taught on them. Ive judged them in most every way they can go. In teams and in fours and in sixes, under saddle of all types, poniesincartsorwithout,bridlehorses,cuttinghorsesandhunters,insnaffles

    or spade and in bosals. TheressomestuffIhaventdonewiththemyet.ButImwaitinguntilIhave

    more experience.

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    Michael Rohrmann is willing to travel the world to make his contribution to equestrian sport and the wellbeing of the horse. On May 18, in Oakbank, Manitoba, at a demonstration clinic sponsored by Dressage Winnipeg, organized by Ashley Fudge and hosted by Bob and Liane Parker, he commented, This clinic is a highlight. Its the lastoneofmytrip!HelefthishomecountryofGermanythis spring to visit clients in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and his journey brought him to Manitoba via Texas and many other places,takingeighteenseparateflightsalong the way.

    Working in handThe Manitoba demonstration clinic

    was to focus on work in hand, which is fast becoming a lost art. It can start with something as simple as asking the horse to move away from you in the stable and progress all the way through to the airs above the ground.

    The horse needs timeDuring his preliminary discussion, Michael suggested ridersoftenintendtotaketheirtimebutwhentheygetinthe arena, impatience and time constraints come into play. He said, Horses dont watch training DVDs. They have to understand our language whether it is English or German. A young horse wont say to you, What you are doing is

    wrong. He will try to work out what you mean from your body posture, demeanour and energy.

    The horse understands when he gets it there will be less pressure in the mouth. Training the horse starts in the box stall, not the saddle.

    We are not born as horse riders, we have to learn balance

    It is important to warm up before riding, Michael stressed. If the rider is stiff,thehorsecannotflexcorrectly.Forinstance, he suggested that with half halts, Dont do them too quickly. Let the horse breathe out, and relax your own muscles too. Both horse and

    Michael Rohrmann, Movement Trainer (Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing)

    Rein safety while lunging or long lining.

    Text and photos by Linda Hazelwood

    Michael Rohrmann and Riana.

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    continued on page 10

    rider need to learn muscle memory before a movement becomes automatic; it takes 10,000 repetitions to achieve the memory. Michael suggested starting to sing slowly to gain coordination on the way to 5,000 correct movements and commented, Only then can you start different movements, step by step. He said, The steps cannot be small enough. It is important to recognize when the horse is comfortable with a movement, then quit.

    GuinnessMichaelsfirsthorseofthedemonstrationwasSandra

    Hobdays 17.2hh 10-year-old Manitoba Warmblood, Guinness.InherapplicationtoofferhimasademohorseSandra said, Guinness is working at Training/Level 1. I have done some Parelli work with him on line over a year ago and a very small amount of lungeing this year, usually just to watch him and access his physical performance. He is a very calm, very accommodating and very honest horse. Heisajoytoworkwithandwoulddobetterthanmostinanewsituation.Michaelfirstlungedhimonthebitwitha single 30 long line, watching Guinness face to tell when he was relaxed and positive. Was he more comfortable with the stirrups up, or down? He tested him both sides at the walk, then checked his comfort at the trot.

    Atalittlefasterpacethanhenormallywould,Michaelthen added another line to the bit on the other side, and clipped each line to the stirrup with a caribiner. He commented thathepreferreda cotton line rather thannylon,asitwaseasierontheun-glovedhands.Thefirstminutes with Guinness were spent working in a circle to help him understand Michaels body language. When the horse felt mental pressure Michael would make a low calming Brrr and the horse started to recognize that was a signal that everything was alright, and he was safe. The horsewasalsoallowedtofindthewallasasafeplace.Longlines are valuable tools in starting young horses and the

    continuing education of broke horses, as they quickly learn to respond to bit pressure and bending techniques.

    The next step was for Michael to walk behind Guinness. From that position it was easy to change direction, and he encouraged Guinness to relax, round his back and drop his nose because the lines had constant contact. At times it seemed Michael was dancing behind Guinness, making wide side-steps as he moved in tandem with Guinness to achieve the desired consistent bit pressure. He long lined in straightsteps,andhelpedGuinnessattheshoulder,liftinghis hand on the inside to ask for bend at the corner. At the trot, Guinness became too hasty but Michael was able to let the lines out to give him his head until he calmed down, and as Michael said, We come back into harmony.

    Atthetrot,GuinnesswasunsettledbyMichaelrunningbehind him, but he found his safe place was the wall. To help, Michael asked for a few steps of trot, then allowed back down to walk. There were lots of comforting Brrrs. When Guinness was comfortable at the trot, Michael called a halt to the lesson, saying, Thats enough for today. As mentioned earlier, knowing when to quit is key.

    Michael also demonstrated asking the horse to move just one foot, or to move the lower leg, tapping with the whip. It was an important demonstration in timing and recognizing the give. In this exercise, Michael used the wall to help Guinness understand that he was to move a foot or leg forward when requested, rather than step sideways.

    RianaThe second horse used in the clinic was Riana, a 6-year-old Hanoverian owned by Dr. Shireen Naidoo. Riana had experience at long lining, plus extensive experience at clinics with a rider on her back and a clinician on the ground.

    Guinness becoming accustomed to two positions of the lines when moving in a circle.

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    First Michael taught Riana follow me on the wall as he got to know the horse and judge her temperament. By now, the weather had turned nasty outside and at times Michaels words were drowned by the drumming of rain on the arena roof. Complementing the exercise he had used with Guinness, this time he asked Riana to make a small side step by tapping the inside hind leg. He recommended totheauditors,Afteryoudismount,oratahalt,alwayshave the horse stand straight for a moment on a long rein, so he learns what is correct.

    In the long line work Michael tied Rianas tail in a knot so he could reach the back legs with the whip. Asking for an in-hand trot by tapping on her hindquarters he weathered afewbucks,buttoldher,ItsOK,notyellingQuitoryanking on the lines. When she stressed, he let her move outuntilherbrainsettledthengotherbacktowork.Hesaid, Some horses you must ride more with the brain than the muscles. He watches their faces, the eyes, the breathing, to judge stress levels.

    He commented, If the horse doesnt understand Plan A, have a B, C or even D up your sleeve. There are many ways to achieve the desired result, as each horse has a differentlearninglevelcycle.

    Happy riders, happy horsesA number of dressage enthusiasts had the chance to have one-on-one sessions with Michael during the days preceding the clinic, and they reported that the amount of understanding they gained was phenomenal. This was the second year Michael had visited Manitoba, and he is returning in September 2013.

    As well as organizing Michaels visit to Manitoba, Ashley Fudge was able to take advantage of one-on-one time with Michael, and she commented, What really

    impressesmeaboutMichaelthemostishisflexibilityandgenerosity. She said he always had a goal in mind, and canoffersomanyoptionstosucceedinwhathewantstoaccomplish with each horse and rider. She added, In my lessons with him over the course of three days not only did he ride my horse, Ava, but he also worked with us over cavalletti.Thiswasfollowedonthelastdaywithtakingthe in hand work that he demonstrated on Saturday, to further ask for an increased level of collection, activity and balance. The new feel that I have discovered in my horse through this work has been like stepping into a whole new perception of the world...everything appears the same but the experience has changed.

    Michael Rohrmanns statusIn 1978, he completed Pferdewirt training, with a focus on riding. In 1981, he qualified as Pferdewirtschaftsmeister (Masters Degree) with a focus on riding, achieving the Stensbeck Award for extremely high grades. Until 2007, he was the training coach at the Munich and Vechta Riding and Driving Schools, including professional training for Pferdewirte and Meister qualifications. In 2008, he completed training with Eckart Meyners and was recognized by the Federal Association of the Professional Riders and the German Riding School as a Motion Trainer (Bewegungstrainer EM).For explanations of Rohrmanns qualifications please go towww.germanhorsecenter.com/qualification.html#c1207www.germanhorsecenter.com/trainer.html?&trainer=199&name=Michael-RohrmannFurther readingThe 10 Points of the Rohrmann Planwww.michaelrohrmann.de/The_10_Points_of_the_Rohrmann_Plan.pdf

    Michael checks the fit of Rianas bridle. Asking Riana to move off a hind leg.

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    Growing up, who did you most admire?My parents, who worked so hard to raise six children.We never wanted for much, lived on a farm and always ate well, and were taught good values. We always wanted a horse but never had one so we rode the cows.

    If you could go back and relive one day of your life, which one would it be and why? My first horse show on my beloved Frisky Toad. I was terrified of horses but wanted to ride and show. I think that day was the major accomplishment of my life.

    Who do you consider to be your mentor, or person you most admire.My husband Brian, who trains all my horses, warms them up for me before a class. He is the reason I am showing at all. He has always supported me. Neil McLeod, who got me into riding and showing years ago. Bob and Faith Olyarnyk, who are always there for me. They never judged me, just gave their support even if Ithe horse I was on was not for me. I can go there anytime for help, and get an objective honest opinion.

    Sandy DonaldLives 5 miles NW of BrandonEducation: - Grade 12, Brandon University. Occupation: - Nurse at Prairie Mountain Regional Health Authority. - Equine Canada General Performance Judge. - Operates Donald Quarter Horses with husband Brian, who is a horse trainer and works for Petro Canada. - Judges horse shows in summer. - President, Manitoba Light Horse Association, Vice-President, Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 Sale & Futurity.

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    Sandy rode in the Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 in 2009.

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    We talk to people who are well-known in the industry to find out a little more about what makes them tick.

    Our focus? Leaders of national associations, influencers of activity, and top-class competitors.

    If there is anyone out there you would like to know a little bit more about, please email [email protected].

    What would you do differently if you were starting your career today?I would change so much. I rode and showed some bad horses over the years. I never gave up on them, thinking I could make them into something they werent.Now, if I dont like a horse or click with it, I move on. Same as people; horses are not able to all do what you think they should. There are too many nice ones out there.

    If you werent doing the work you are now, what would you be doing?I enjoy nursing, but if I could go back I would train as a doctor. When you are younger, years of school are not as appealing.

    What was the most valuable piece of advice you ever received?When I was starting out in showing at an AQHA show, a judge came up to me after I took a wrong lead in a class. He said, Go home and practise that! I will see you for a second, setting that horse up for the correct lead. I will see you for a lot longer when you go by on the wrong lead.

    What was your most memorable training success?When Brian won the Manitoba 50/50 Superhorse Futurity on Jovi. I helped him with getting her to where she was at the show.

    What were the challenges you faced in your early working years.Overcoming my fear of horses. I gained more confidence every year that I showed.

    If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?Right here in Manitoba. I love the change of seasons.

    What is your favorite event location or riding arena?I love the Keystone Centre. I have always been fortunate to live close to such a lovely facility. I also love riding across the fields at home.

    What is the most spontaneous thing youve ever done?I purchased a horse last year which was totally not my style of horse. I really tried to make it work but gave up and moved on. Thats not something I do. Next time I will ride the horse more than once.

    What are your guilty pleasures?Tack shops wherever I go! Visiting horse friends at shows.

    Showing in a Halter class, Shoal Lake Fair, 2012.

    Sandy and Docs Golden Cookie. She showed him as a 2 yr-old at the Manitoba 50/50, sold him and he stood in a pasture for 4 years. She got him back about 3 months ago. Husband Brian has got him back on track

    and has had a good summer on him. He will be shown in the two Quarter Horse shows in Brandon this fall

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    I was surprised when my name was called. My rosette is a cherished reminder of new friendships, and a testament to how determination and acquiring knowledge can build a bond between human and equine. Sue Sheridan, upon receiving her rosette after passing testing in the Beginner Level of Horse Agility at a clinic on June 9-10, 2013 at North 9 arena, Stonewall, MB.

    Sue and her husband, Rod, live on 16 acres surrounded byforestsandlakesatEarFalls,whichisasmallsettlementand township of 1200 persons, located in Northwestern Ontario, on the right bank of the English River near the outlet of Lac Seul.

    Neither Rod nor I had any experience with horses, but as a child I collected china horses and spent many hours drawing them, admits Sue. I have a friend in Red Lake who owns a stable and Rod forced me to call her and arrange some lessons. A 13.2 hh black and white pony was Sues 50th birthday present. Says Sue, I fondly refer to her as my million dollar pony because I would not sell her for a million dollars! Of course, it was no fun horsing around alone, so within the next six months we acquired horses for Rod and our daughter.

    Sue explains, Both Rods and Teannas horses died the spring of the year we purchased Daisy. Rods horse, Cream Bee,hadbeenagorgeousbuckskinArabianQuarterHorsecross, and Teanna phoned me that fall to tell me that there was an ad for a buckskin mare in Dryden. I knew the owner

    and we arranged to see her. Rod and Teanna fell in love and Rodboughtherforme!Theownerhadgottenherfroma friend in Thunder Bay who had taken her as a rescue. She had been foundered and her feet were a mess. Over the next few years, Sue learned a lot about the treatment of founder and how to deal with abscesses.

    ItalsoquicklybecameevidentthatDaisyhasconfidenceissues, adds Sue. She spooks easily and bolts.

    SueturnedtoParellitoacquireskillsandconfidence.She and Daisy passed level 1 and are working at levels 2 and 3. A Parelli playground has been built, including a pedestal,pylons,carwash,tarpandateeter-totter.DuringSues quest for knowledge, she also has taken an online courseinequinefirstaid,EquineMassageTherapywithSidonia McIntyre, and Reiki level 2 which she then learned to administer to the horses.

    Now Sues attention has turned to Horse Agility, because despite all these useful and helpful methods, she felt the true bond with Daisy was still lacking.

    Insurfingtheinternetformoreideasforobstaclesformy playground, Sue says, I had come across Vanessa Bees International Horse Agility site and subsequently purchased her book. It seemed like a natural progression and fun way to improve upon the skills we learned from Parelli. Then, on the Internet, I saw Wendy Clemis ad for the Agility clinic. Vanessa was including Stonewall in her NorthAmerican tour.Aftermuchsoul searching,Sue

    Text by Ishbel MoorePhotos by Martha Parish

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    cand Rod decided the six hour drive from Ear Falls would be worth it.

    Although Sue confesses to being very nervous, the warmth and friendliness she experienced from those organizingandattending theclinichelpedher tofit inquickly,andshesettledintolearningallshecould.Iwasextremely impressed with Vanessas teaching style. She is a knowledgeable horsewoman who presents her information in a down to earth manner. She is able to assist her students in a manner that makes them feel good about themselves andempowered.Thereisneitherfalsepraisenorbelittling.Sheleftallofusenthusiasticandcravingmore!

    As for Daisy, Sue was pleasantly surprised, particularly when the test period on Sunday coincided with a thunder storm. Daisy took everything in stride! All clinic, I kept waiting for an eruption and other than the ball and the whip, she kept herself together. Rod had told me that this would be the indicator of how great the bond between us had become and how much trust she actually has in me. When she became unsure, shed check in with me, and as long as I remained calm and was mindful of approach and retreat, she handled most things amazingly well. I really liked the liberty session. When she and I were in the big arena, I felt like we were doing a dance together.

    The Agility test course was not without its obstacles or challenges,suchas the carwash,plasticbottles, tarps,and scary corner, and jumps. Sue claims, I had never

    been able to convince Daisy to jump. As we came around the corner approaching the jump, she initiated a trot, so I thought, Lets go for it! and she sailed over. I looked into the smiling faces of my new friends who were cheering our accomplishment.

    Unfortunately, there is no Agility club in Ear Falls. Sue hopes this will change, but until then she will keep in touch with the Selkirk/Stonewall club. Meanwhile she and Rod are currently building the obstacles as per Vanessas book. Sue and Daisy will play/practice with them for a while before sending in a video test submission that will be judged by Vanessa, and have points awarded as appropriate. If Sue and Daisy receive a high enough score, they can move to the next level.

    Sue sums up her experience. Horse Agility has given me insight to Daisy as well as myself, and will form the footing for the next branch in our path. I painted a sign that says Horse Agility overcoming obstacles. This is my new compass. Horse and human moving as one is the bond and level of connectedness that I am striving for. Overcoming obstacles speaks to both me and Daisy. We need to overcome our fears and physical barriers, and gain self-confidence.Onlythencanwestrivefortrueagility.

    Daisy and Sue have a great bond.

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    Whatever you do in riding, you need a seat that is balanced in every situation. Whether you are jumping, riding dressage or western style,youshouldnot sitoff toonesideas it

    unbalancesyourhorse andafter awhile, if

    it is not corrected, your horse will become crooked.

    Every horse needs the neck to keep its balance: take into consideration younger horses. They carry their necks higher than the back nearly all the time. You never see them in trot or canter carrying a correct contact for a long period of time as dressage and jumping horses are able to do. So, why do we want to have a correct contact? The answer is very simple: in the moment when a horse is coming in contact, it stretches its back muscles and the bones in the back come higher. When the horse comes over its back as it would in a correct contact, the horse is able to swing through its back. This will also make the horses stride much more comfortable to sit. It is very important to have an even seat so as the horse comes over its back the rider will not have too much uneven pressure causing the horse discomfort.

    A lot of riders struggle to bring their horses into a good contact. Imagine you have someone onyourbackwho is sitting tooneside.You

    have to bring yourself and your rider in balance; thereforeyou (as thehorse)have to liftyour

    head higher. Immediately the contact is lost. In thissituationariderwillattempttopulltheir

    horses head down with the reins or sometimes willuseartificialaids suchas runningreins,

    neither of which will be successful. The best way to see if a rider is sitting

    correctly is to stand behind the horse (not too close that you could be kicked) and have a look. If you do not have help on the ground toseeifyouaresittingcrooked,standinfront

    of a mirror. You will be able to see if you are sitting toone side.Another indicator canbe

    when one of your stirrups is longer or shorter than the other. Sometimes, when a rider sits crooked for a long time the saddle also becomes crookedandasaddlefitterisneededtoreadjust

    the saddle.

    To achieve a balanced seat it is very helpful for the coach to take the student on the longe without stirrups. First in walk, then in a slow trot so that the student is able to balance themselves. Afterhavingabalancedseatinwalkandtrot

    you can move to canter. Allow your student to take their upper body more forward and more backwardssolongastheyaresittingdeepin

    the saddle. Ask your student to move the hips forward and back to drive the horse while keeping the upper body still; this will bring the seat into good balance. The student has to carry their hands evenly in front of them as they hold the reins. Do not allow the rider to have too strong a grip on the reins as this will interrupt the horses movement which will cause the rider tohaveastrongseat.Payattentionthatyour

    rider has a correct dressage seat (is a vertical line going through the shoulder, hip and the heel), whereas for a correct jumping seat the line is through the shoulder, knee and toe. The horizontal line will be elbow, forearm and hand for both seats, with the thumb on top.

    Every rider is able to do these exercises; you only need someone who can hold the longe line and someone who can stand on the ground to checkthatyouarenotsittingtoonesideorthe

    other.Whenyouaresittinginthemiddleofthe

    saddle you will feel when you are in balance, it isanamazingfeeling;sittingeasyinyourhorse.

    Thebetteryousitthelessexhaustingitwillbe

    andthebetteritlooks.

    The perfect seat

    Illustrations:The basic for riding is a correct balanced seat. Emma Tarvis from Winnipeg, who is working in Germany with Irene Schweckendieck, shows you the bad and the good seat positions.1.Swaying to the right: (ignore the fence line, look at the back of the horse).2. Swaying to the left, right elbow is away from the body.3. Good position from behind.4. From the front: a deep seat, long legs, straight body and perfect hands. (Note:The horses neck could be a little bit more elevated.)

    By Irene Schweckendieck, Gestt Landhaus Schweckendieck, Wietmarschen, Germany,

    with Emma Tarvis.

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    1. Infrared heating panels, the furnace of the future lend themselves beautifully to equestrian applications such as heating for barns, stables, rural homes, riding arenas, and on and on. Offering ease of installation, CSA certification, 5-year warranty, no fire hazard, and no moving parts therefore no maintenance required. As well, heating with infrared heating panels bring multiple health benefits to the resulting environment creating a win-win for all. Simply stated, a heating system of infrared heating panels does not heat the air in a building but rather the building structure. This, in turn, allows the structure, floors, walls, furniture, etc. to become the heating structure. Our infrared heating panels come with many advantages. They are made in North America. They control dampness thus eliminating mold and fungus. In stables, the drying effect cancels out odors. Since the panels heat the structure rather than the air within, doors can be opened in winter resulting in minimal heat loss. Compared to baseboard heating a 50% reduction in electrical heating costs can be enjoyed. Since the panels have no moving parts, no maintenance is required. Panels operate at temperatures which will not produce fires. The applications are virtually endless: maintenance shops, water rooms, etc. For spectator arena comfort we now have available bench/bleacher heating panels which attach to the underside of

    benches warming peoples backsides, feet and the floor around them. You are invited to our website at www.greendirections.ca to expand your awareness of heating for the future! Ask for a free quote for your heating project.2. Equine Body Bling: A fun side for horse lovers has just become available in Canada from California. We are now the Canadian distributor for equine body bling. See their website at www.equinebodybling.com Yes, body bling for our horses, bling to express moods, promote a cause, show corporate support or sponsorship, and for fundraising efforts. Your horses will strut their stuff with colorful equine body bling, safe, easy to apply and remove stickers. Perfect for horse shows, rodeos, parades, barrel racing, 4-H, trail riding, etc. A variety of designs are available. Custom designs may also be ordered. Bling your horse today and enjoy the attention! Bring your bling along for the ride. In summary, let the fun begin. Participating stores will be happy to take your order. New dealers will be added to www.equinebodybling.com when orders are placed. For further information about either of our two new directions, call Ron at 1-888-878-9493 or 1-204-878-9126 or email him [email protected]

    Two New Directions for Canadian EquestriansEvery once in a while, new and exciting directions appear for the world to enjoy.

    Advertorial

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    2013 Registered Horse Week Events:Canadian National Appaloosa Show, MHC Sponsored Equine Canada Rider Level Demo and Testing Day, MHC Sponsored First Aid Course, Turn N Burn for the Cure Cancer Care Fundraiser, Equine First Aid Clinic - Uma Equine Services, Gladstone Ag Society 4H Horse Show, Give it a Go Days Dressage Winnipeg, Combined Driving Demonstration Manitoba Driving Society, Drill Team Demonstration Northern Lights Drill Team, MHC Sponsored Trail Ride Fundraiser for Helping Hooves, MHC Sponsored Gymkhana Fun Day and Games and MBRA/MHC Barrel Racing Jackpot.

    Testimonials:* Thanks to MHC for hosting the free Horse Week Gymkhana. Lots of fun, friends and fitness! MHC junior member Lilly Wiebe*Great to see MHC promoting grassroots programming through Horse Week. This is my second year participating and I enjoyed all of the events I attended. Looking forward to next year! MHC senior member Earl Evans*What a beautiful Equestrian Centre at Birds Hill Provincial Park. We are so fortunate to have this venue right here for our enjoyment no reason to leave the province. Well attended, well run see you next year! MHC Golden member Alice Walker

    Horse Week is held annually to promote and celebrate Manitobas thriving horse industry. A wide range of activities are held across the province, including trail rides, horse shows, charity events and open houses to allow horse enthusiasts and the public alike to celebrate horses! Everyone is encouraged to participate.

    MHC Horse Week objectives were as follows:Create Awareness:

    Promote the economic impact and significance of Manitobas horse industryEndorse horse welfarePromote the variety of breeds and disciplines

    Provide Education:Identify the benefits that horses and riding provideTeach the importance of safety around horsesRecognize the importance of recognized riding schools and certified instructors/coaches

    Increase ParticipationEncourage and increase the practice of equestrian sport and activity in Manitoba and CanadaPosition the Provincial Sport Organization (Manitoba Horse Council) as the gateway to the practice of equestrian sport and activityIncrease memberships

    The MHC Board of Directors and staff would like to thank everyone who supported Horse Week 2013!

    2013 Horse Week Wrap up Report!August 4 - 11, 2013

    Prorated membership starts October 15, 2013MHC is pleased to announce that their pro-rated membership fee structure will begin on October 15, 2013 and end on March 15, 2014. Members joining the MHC on or after October 15, 2013 will receive 35% off the annual membership fee. Sign up today!

    Equine Canada Western Instructor/Coach UpdateSunday, September 29, 2013. WW Stables, 1356 McCreary Road, Winnipeg. Topics to be covered: Presentation on new programs and current program changes, demonstration of western rider levels, Competition Coach and Competition Coach Specialist. Fee: $50Final deadline for submitting registration forms is September 24, 2013. To access a registration form please visit ww.manitobahorsecouncil.ca/Coaching-Upgrading.

    Clinic Support GrantsMHC continues to support local horse clubs through the Provincial Clinic Support program. This years recipients are as follows:Manitoba Cutting Horse Association Jeremy Barwick ClinicDressage Winnipeg Dressage Development CampManitoba Miniature Horse Club MMHC Spring ClinicEach club will receive a $500 grant, Congratulations!

    Sponsorship OpportunitiesMHC actively represents the equine community in industry, animal welfare, recreation and sport. Our organization provides education, grants funding, club support, liability insurance, programs and liaises with government ministries. For sponsorship inquiries please contact the MHC Office at 204.925.5719 or visit the MHC website at www.manitobahorsecouncil.ca.

    Follow MHCMHC actively promotes equine advocacy, accessibility, welfare, recreation and sport. Three ways to stay connected with MHC:1. Visit www.manitobahorsecouncil.ca/ on a regular basis for new events and informational postings2. Sign up for our monthly e-Newsletter at www.manitobahorsecouncil.ca/3. Follow us on Facebook Manitoba Horse Council

    MANITOBA HORSE COUNCIL the voice of equine advocacy, accessibility, welfare, recreationand sport

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    The 4th Annual Turn N Burn For the Cure was another success. This year we held our event at the lovely Birds Hill Park as we were included for the second time with all the other Manitoba Horse Council Horse Week activities!

    This was very kind of Horse Council as it helps to advertise our event. Manitoba Horse Council donated the use of the outdoor arena along with the use of the PA system and made sure to have their canteen available for spectators and barrel racers. Jerry Magas (Equestrian Centre Manager) kindly prepared the ring for the barrel race and diligently harrowed during our event.

    It was a beautiful warm sunshiny day unlike the cool fall type weather we had been experiencing. We opened our event with Malory Zaboroski singing Oh Canada in her beautiful voice and then listened to If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback as Kerry Liddiard carried the cancer flagonherhorse inmemoryofherhusband Mark. We had a total of 30 entrants who raised $4,686 towards Cancer Care Manitoba.

    Katelyn Dueck was the barrel racer

    who collected the most pledges a total of $400. There were lovely prizes thanks to very generous businesses and individuals who donated material or monetary prizes. Several people went home very happy with the silent auction prizes they had accumulated. Kaity Oakley was the successful grand prize winner of a night with Two Dollar Pistol a live rock band that donated a full three set evening to be auctioned at our event.

    M a r y - A n n e B a c h a n d h e r mare, Smoke and Mystery, were the 1D Champions winning the GIST Silversmith buckle donated by Maple Leaf Agri-Farms. Kerry LiddiardandRuffQuixotewon the2D Championship, Tracy Wilkie won the 3D Championship and Katelyn Dueck won the 4D Championship.

    2013 Turn N Burn for the Cure!

    Top right: Mary-Anne Bach and Ace at the opening ceremony.

    Right. Katelyn Dueck (left) raised the most money in pledges and was also the 4D

    Champion. Pictured with Mary-Anne Bach.

    For more results and pictures please go to Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/316971380907

    The Northern Lights Drill Team gave a demonstration. Front Row : Laura Kucharsky, Tianna Bodie, Lacey Manastyr, Randi Wright.

    Middle Row: Judi Watt, Alysha Finnson-Manaigre, Abe Shapansky, Brittany Jones, Shelley Unger., Back Row: Joanne Doell,

    Lauren Henderson.

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    TheDominoEffect.Howitall(oratleastsomeofit)felldownfor Helping Hooves this year. The plan was for Helping Hooves supporters to ride around Manitoba for three weeks in August starting in Kleefeld in conjunction with their Honey Festival, then via Birds Hill Park, St. Andrews, Grosse Isle (with a train robbery),throughtoPortage,EdwinandMacGregorfinishingwith a full-day Wind Up at the Austin Agricultural Museum. The aim was to raise more than $75,000.

    Helping Hooves is a group founded by Pam Glover to support the charity Helping Hands for Manitobans with Breast Cancer, which provides assistance to women and men in Manitoba who areexperiencingfinancialdifficultieswhileundergoingtreatmentand follow-up for breast cancer.

    The project took an immediate hit in the early part of the year when Pams sister in Saskatchewan was diagnosed with cancer and Pam had to go to help the family until nature took its course.

    As the start date of the ride drew closer, it was realised that without Pam in Manitoba carrying out the vital planning, the ride just could not take place. Pam could not say when she would be back, so it was regretfully decided to cancel the three-week ride. The fund-raiser became An Event-Full August, as seven events were being arranged independently by groups such as theKleefeldHoneyFestival/Concert(kickoffevent),ManitobaHorse Council (trail ride and gymkhana as part of National Horse Week), a trail ride from St. Andrews Stables, tack sale and trail ride at Horses in Motion Arena in Edwin, a pancake breakfast bythetownofMacGregortoppedoffwithatrailridetoAustinAgricultural Museum and a full days Wind-Up including a display by the Austin Hick Chicks Drill Team.

    The next blow to the group was the cancellation of the Austin Wind-Up Day. The intergral family in their organizing team had a family member be diagnosed with cancer and given a one month prognosis which meant they would not be available to

    plantheevent.ThedominoeffectwasthatMacGregorwasthencancelled.

    But...the show must go on? The next event to be postponed was the St. Andrews Trail Ride through Oak Hammock Marsh. The date clashed with the wildly popular Childrens Wish ride. Onthedayofwhatwastobethekick-offinKleefeld,August10,Pam woke up to a white world. She was fogged-in! Regardless, shesetoffjustalittlelaterthansheplanned,rodeintheparadeas Honorary Parade Marshall and worked the Helping Hooves booth with the help of Shona Douglas and Helping Hands President, Val Poole.

    The evening of the Honey Festival was planned as a country concert with all proceeds going to Helping Hooves. Guess what: at 7pm the rain was coming down so hard the concert was cancelled. August 11 was the day of the Birds Hill Park trail ride. Once again the fog was thick, Pam was delayed and missed the ride.The20-or-soriderswhodidsetoff,guidedbyDebbieandBruceChampagne,reportedagoodride.WhenthefogliftedPammade it to Birds Hill Park, set up her booth and spent a wonderful afternoonwatchingtheafternooneventsandspreadingthewordabout Helping Hooves.

    As the magazine goes to press plans are still going forward for the Horses in Motion Tack Sale on August 25, the St. Andrews Stable ride has been rescheduled for October 1, Kleefeld is holding theirbenefitconcertatalaterdateandAustinandMacGregorare planning substitute dates for trail rides later in the fall. On August 10 and 11 Helping Hooves also had a information and sales booth set up at the Richer Heartland Rodeo, manned by Dan Guetre. Regardless, ticket sales for the Helping Hooves Fundraiser Draw are going ahead, and will have been drawn on August 31. Keep up to date with events on www.helpinghoovesmanitoba.com and on Facebook.Helping Hands for Manitobans with Breast Cancer information is at: www.helpinghands4mbwbc.com

    The Helping Hooves Event-Full August

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    In the beginning of the 20th century, western North Americasawagreatinfluxofeasternerssettlingthevastamount of land that was available to them. Large ranches startedtoappear,soongrowingintoempireswithcattle,sheep and horses being bred and raised on the thousands of acres that spread from the borders of Mexico, up through California, Wyoming, Montana, and right into Canadas western provinces.

    Forced to face the challenges of a harsh land and even harsher climate conditions, ranchers were on the lookout for horses that would not only withstand the hard life of being a ranch horse, but would also thrive in these conditions and have the attitude and demeanour the ranchers desired; a horse that could go all day and yet still is the family carriage or riding horse on the weekends.

    Most of us know the story of the Justin Morgan horse (laterknownasFigure)thelittlebaypowerhorsethatcaptured Americas heart! Foaled in 1789 in southern New England,hewasnamedafterhisownerJustinMorgan(asingingteacher,farmerandhorsebreeder).Thelittlestudwas known for his speed, endurance, beauty, hardiness

    and especially his gentle disposition. He became a legend in the horse world by proving he could outrun, out walk, out trot and out pull any other horse in his time. He passed allofthesetraitsontohisprogenyandtheseattributesinthelineagesdrewtheattentionofwesternranchers.

    While many others wanted to improve the Morgan by breeding for speed and a lighter riding horse, the ranchers kept true to the foundation breeding of the Morgan horse, and the stallions and mares they selected for their programsreflectedthat.Themountsweretough,agileandsmartcowhorses.AcombinationofoldVermont(Lippitt),Government, Brunk and old Midwest bloodlines turned out tough, agile, and sensible cow horses which were noted for their good feet and legs, deep bodies and strong hind quarters.Theyhadawillingattitude,fastgroundcoveringwalk and trot, as well as stamina and, above all, great heart and cow savvy.

    Therewerefourorfivemainranchersinthelate1880s/early 1900s that played an important role in the formation of this type of Morgan horse. They developed what became known as the Western Working Morgan. Their breeding

    How The West Was Won:The Western Working Morgan Horse

    by Babs Hamilton

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    continued on page 24

    stock was carefully selected and the names of their horses became legendary. The Admiral, Red Oak, Headlight Morgan (Richard Sellman, Sellman Ranch,Texas) Querido,Sonfield,SellmanRanchmares (RolandHill,HorseshoeCattleCo.,California) H-Saracen, Chingadero, War Paint (Ab Cross, Ab Cross Ranch, Wyoming) Bombo, Warhawk, Stetson (Ramul Dvarishkis, Wyoming) Montcrest, Uhlan, Sellman/Hill mares (RandolfHearst,PiedmontLandandCattleCo. California) MonteL,Fleetfield,Delbert (Jackson Ranch, Montana) Flyhawk, Linspar, Senator Graham (L.U. Sheep Co., Wyoming)

    During those early years, the Morgan horse was slow in gainingpopularityinCanadawiththefirstMorganbeingregistered in Canada in the late 1930s. Horses in that era were based mainly on British breeds, but when Canadians saw a few of the outstanding Morgans starting to arrive in their country, they were greatly impressed.

    OneofthefirstregisteredstudswithWesternWorkingbloodlines brought into Canada was Jubilees Victory, bred by Frances H. Bryant and owned by George F. Wade of Hobby Horse Farm in Nova Scotia. Victorys sire, Jubilee King, was bred by the renowned J.C. Brunk and held great importance in the Western Working bloodlines.

    One Morgan horse of Western Working breeding thatstoodoutandcaughttheattentionofmanywastheimpressive black stallion, Shadow Hawk, owned by a

    successful prairie rancher named C.H. Chay Gilchrist. Shadow Hawk was by the great Flyhawk owned by the L.U. Sheep Company in Wyoming. It seems Chay did not forget the tireless Morgans he had ridden as a young cowboy in Montana, and was convinced that the Western WorkingbredMorgansofferedwhathewantedthemostin a saddle horse. Shadow Hawk was one of many that Chay brought to Canada. This started the integration of the Western Working Morgan horse in Canada.

    Today the Western Working Morgan horse can be seen right across the country. Because this type of horse is so versatile, they are becoming more and more what people arelookingfor.Theyexcelatranchwork,reining,cutting,driving, Cowboy Dressage, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, trail-riding, family mounts and so much more

    They can be seen in Parades and are used as 4-H projects. Their gentle disposition makes them an ideal family horse and their work ethic and willingness to give it their all make them an excellent stock horse. Their beauty, versatility and carriage also make them shine in the show ring.

    Canada has quite a number of breeders that stay true to the Foundation and Western Working breeding lines, believingtheretrulyisnobetterbreedofhorsethatwillaccomplish what this breed can and does.

    Lisa Wilhelm-Hammel has lots to say about the horses she and her husband breed and raise on their Saskatchewan ranch, Coyote Flat Morgan Horse Ranch. The Western Working Morgan is an addiction that never quits. A package of gentleness, beauty and grace with a natural born cow sense. When asked they have incredible

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    continued from page 23

    strength, speed, stamina and an athletic ability that should require a seat belt. At the same time they are able to adjust and tiptoe around for the greenest and smallest rider. [They have the] strength to rope and hold a cow yet [are] gentle with newborn calves. Their smooth ride, amazing dispositions, dependability in all situations, versatility and sure footedness make for an envious partnership, where you can trust your horse with your life. Our Morgans last all day on round-ups, pasture moves, doctoring and branding, while others had to change horses at least once during the day. They are always sound and ready to go to work. You can depend on them to do their job and take care of their rider.

    Just recently, Lisa added a stud from Lee Kubbernus, (Silver Valley Morgans, AB)

    whose pedigree reads like the whos who of the Western Working Morgan family. S Bar B Chingadero is a stunning all black 100% Foundation. A Chingadero grandson now stands at Coyote Flat Ranch and already has been busy, with fivemaresexpecting foalsfor 2014.

    Another recent addition of a great Western Working Morgan horse to Canada came by the way of the 777 Ranch in Wyoming. C-My Golden Hawk, a gorgeous palomino stallion with lines going back to Flyhawk and Headlight Morgan, now calls Ontario home on JDH Stock Farms/JDH Morgans. When the McAdams were asked why they chose a Western Working Morgan, Deja McAdams said, My hubbyusedtobreedQuarterHorses and use them for ranch work and checking hishornedHerefordcattle.

    S Bar B Chingadero, Silver Valley Morgans.

    Riding the gentle WWMH from Butte Morgans.

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    That was until he started riding Morgans. He started riding Beams Dream Maker, and trained a Morgan gelding for a friend and truly fell in love with the breed right then and there.HenoticedthatwiththeQuarterHorsesitdidntmatterhowmuchtrainingtheyhad,hewouldgetsomethat were cold backed when he pulled them from pasture tocheckthecattleordotheirjob.Hefoundthathewouldneed twoQuarterHorses foradaysworthofworkasthey tired out quicker than the Morgan did. He can work his Morgan all day long and it seemed it always would have a reserve tank for him when asked, not a hothead, just more than willing to give you 110% anytime you ask. Its in their hearts to please you. They enjoy working with you, and are extremely loyal and reliable. Our Morgans are built to work, and have the dispositions to please which makes them incredible ranching mounts for us with our hornedHerefordcattle.C-MyGoldenHawkisourlatestaddition to our personal Morgan ranching program and we couldnt be more pleased him. Its an honor to welcome him to Canada and into our program.

    Stamina, great feet and bones, willingness to give it all, intelligence, cow savvy, great disposition and heart areonlya fewof thewordsandstatements thatdefinethe WWM horse. With the call out for horses that are as versatile as this type of Morgan, people are starting to realizethebenefitsassociatedwiththeseattributes.Itisgreat to see these lines continue to prosper and grow in Canada and it is wonderful and exciting to see the shared passion for the Western Working Morgan Horse across the world.

    Thanks go to the following for assistance in preparing this article: Homestead Morgans, BC; Butte Morgans, AB; Giddy Up Morgans, AB; Maple n Mane Morgans, AB; Coyote Flat Ranch Morgans, SK; A1 Morgans, AB; JDH Stock Farms/JDH Morgans, ON; Butte Morgans, AB; Noble T Morgans, BC; All Heart Morgans, ON; Belle Coullee Morgans, AB.

    The author, Babs Hamilton, with Eddie, her Morgan horse and various friends.

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    Event report

    Birds Hill International Horse

    Driving Trials

    Horsesandcarriageswereonceagaininfineformatthe

    Birds Hill International Horse Driving Trials, held July 20-21 at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Formerly held as a Combined Driving Event, the Trials are hosted by the very active Manitoba Driving Society (MDS), who managed topullin28entriesfromasfarafieldasTexas,Nebraska,

    Wisconsin and Iowa. Seven new entrants came from Alberta, and were surprised by the amazing competition facilities at the Park.

    Entrants challenged two elements on Saturday (the Dressage and Cones), and returned on Sunday for the Marathon with obstacles, including the water feature which is always a favorite with spectators. Driving teams ranged from a pair of Percheron crosses to a tandem of Very Small Equines. Pairs are two horses driven side-by-side while tandems drive one horse in front of a second.

    One very interesting entrant was brought by driver and trainer Denise Hinder from Texas. Alamos Ruby Red, owned by Jerry and Diane Kornegay, is an ambassador for the prototype breed developed by Vicente Fernandez, a well-known singer and actor in Mexico. Looking for a horsewithspecificattributes,hecrossesQuarterHorses

    with Paso Finos to produce the Fernandez Pony. Seven-year-oldRubysRedprovedhermeritbyfinishingsecond

    in her class and second overall for the weekend.An outstanding junior driver from Wisconsin, 12 year-

    oldLukeDahlberg,andhispony,JesseJames,finishedan

    extraordinary third overall in the event. His Mom, Julie, laughs as she tells the story of the then unruly ponys arrival to their farm when he was a yearling. Julie says, Wefiguredhebehavedlikeanoutlawsowenamedhim

    Jesse James! Licensed FEI International Driving Judge, Hardy

    Zantke, travelled from California for the third time to judge the competition, and provided valuable feedback to the drivers. Hardy is an advocate of junior and paradriving

    development. The American Driving Society generously covered his travel expenses in support of the junior driver development at the event. A Driving Trial requires more than 50 volunteers during the competition. The MDS organizingcommitteethanksthemfortheircontribution.

    They also acknowledge the outstanding job done by Lenay Gutoski as this years show manager and show secretary.

    For results and more information please go to

    www.manitobadrivingsociety.com.

    Donna Trieber, from Mapleton, Iowa, challenging the water feature of the Marathon course with Lowsaam Acres Zs Tushay.

    Denise Hinder, from Texas, driving Alamos Ruby Red, one of a prototype breed of Fernandez Pony, in the Dressage element.

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    Grit and DeterminationAt the annual North American Junior & Young Riders Championship in Lexington, KY, the Chefs dEquipe from all the disciplines vote on a Horse Power Award.

    The fabulous barefooted, DJB Brave Heart was this years winner, as the Coolest Horse in the competition. He was selected over all the Eventers, Dressage Horses, Reiners, Jumpers, and Vaulters.

    He is all of 13 hh, with a victorious rise over a horrendous start in life: he was rescued by the Society for the Prevention ofCrueltytoAnimals,whenhewasdiscoveredfightingbig cats in a ring near Houston, TX.

    RiddenbyHunterGreenforUSANorth,hefinishedTop Ten in the 75 Mile Endurance Ride. He was also the onlyhorsetoberiddenorfinishedtotallybarefooted(noboots, no sole guard of any kind). Not only were the other horses shod, but many were padded.

    DJB Brave Heart is owned by Darolyn Butler and has been trained by many, but his true spirit is Devan Horn whohadthefirstfeelingofdestinyforthislittlehorse.

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    ANSWER: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

    YOUR NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________________

    EMAIL: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

    MAILING ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ POSTAL CODE: ________________

    DAY PHONE: ____________________________________ EVENING PHONE: ___________________________________Contest deadline is 5:00 p.m. on August 12, 2013. No purchase necessary. The winner will be drawn from all correct entries received by the deadline. Entries must be marked Horse Country 2013 competition and mailed to Horse Country, Suite 203, 23-845 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB R2M 5M3. Entries may also be emailed to [email protected] but MUST include all the information requested above. Subject line should be Horse Country 2013 competition. Employees or sub-contractors of Horse Country and participating sponsors are not eligible to win. This information is used only by Horse Country and is not sold, bartered, traded or given to any other parties. If you do not wish to cut your magazine a photocopy entry of the page is acceptable. One entry per household.

    Answer the question below correctly and you will be entered to win one of these

    great prizes!

    Question: What month was Event-Full for Helping Hooves of Manitoba?

    (Answer found in this issue.)

    Thank you to our participating retailers: Champion Charms, Canada West Boots, Front Runner Feeds, Landmark Feeds, BlueBear Farms, Miracle Ranch Equipment, Glover Equine Products, Horse Country Bookstore, and others. Prizes may not be exactly as shown. No dollar value applies to prizes.

    Embroidered cotton

    sheet

    Horse Country competition and birthday

    draw results

    Congratulations to Danielle Dunn of Winnipeg, this issues winner,whochoseaCanadaWestBootsGiftCertificate.The correct answer to the question How many plaits in the kangaroo whip pictured in an article in this issue? was 12.The next contest deadline is 5:00 p.m. on September 23, 2013. No purchase necessary. The winner will be drawn from all correct entries received by the deadline. Entries must be marked Horse Country 2013 competition.

    Subscriber Draw (see page 47)Congratulations to Jack Penner of Warburg, AB, whose 1-year subscription will be doubled to two years.

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    Medal wrap-up for the Canadians at the NAJYRC. Endurance Silver - Team - Team Canada (Emma Webb (ON)/ Jessica Yavis (AB)/Jaylene Janzen(AB) Silver - Individual - Emma Webb (ON) & Vagas

    Eventing Bronze - Junior Individual - April Simmonds (ON) & Impressively Done

    Dressage Gold-JuniorFreestyle-LaurenceBlaisTetreault(QC)&Lowelas Gold-JuniorTeam-TeamQuebec(BlaisTetreault/MoreiraLaliberte/Boucher/CoteVilleneuve) Silver-JuniorFreestyle-NaimaMoreiraLaliberte(QC)&Windbreaker3 Silver-JuniorIndividual-NaimaMoreiraLaliberte(QC)&Windbreaker3 Bronze-YoungRiderFreestyle-TanyaStrasserShostak(QC)&ActionTyme

    Reining Gold - Young Rider Team - Team Canada (Aebly(AB)/M. Steed(AB)/Thomson(AB)) Gold - Young Riders Individual - Madison Steed (AB) & Jumpin Jac Trash Silver - Junior Team - Team Canada (H. Steed(AB)/Wilson(ON)/Whiteside(AB)/Franc(SK)) Silver - Junior Individual - Emily Wilson (ON) & Miss Cielo Chex Bronze-JuniorIndividual-MaxineWhiteside(AB)&SailorsGoodSackett

    Full NAJYRC results can be found at: www.youngriders.org

    The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, age 14-21. Young equestrians come from the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage,

    eventing and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and endurance. The competition is run under rules of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale), the international governing body for equestrian sport, and is the only FEI championship held annually on this continent.

    The Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Presented by Gotham NorthJuly 17-21, 2013

    Watch this golf cart interview by Horse Junkies United with Emily Ferguson and Mackenzie Thiessen, both from Winnipeg. They were part of the Manitoba/Ontario Dressage Team, placing ninth.

    Watch their golf cart interview.www.horsejunkiesunited.com/?p=65192

    The daily write-ups (with photos) from NAJYRC will remain on Horse Countrys home page until October 1, when they will be moved to the archives page.

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    What Rodeo means to me

    an essay by Holly Madsen

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    Rodeo: A public exhibition of cowboy skills. That may be thedictionarydefinitionforrodeo,but its far frommy

    definition.

    What rodeo means to me is meeting new people. When IfirststartedrodeoingIwasreallyshy,butallthepeople

    were really nice and welcoming and soon I had a lot of new friends! I was also given a mentor to help me out. It was a great to have her to be there, as she helped me with thingssuchasgettingmyhorseinthearena,givingme

    advice and any other things I needed help with.Rodeo means learning responsibility. Rodeo takes a

    huge amount of responsibility, if you arent responsible you wont get entered for the rodeo. Maybe you forgot to putsomethinginthetrailer,orleftyourbacknumberat

    home. You must be responsible in rodeo, otherwise you probably wont get the opportunity to compete.

    Rodeo means respecting others. You have to respect others in rodeo. If you dont youre not likely to get any back. Respect isnt hard to give; it can be something simple like telling someone they had a good run, or picking up theirhat.Youshouldrespectyourparentsforgettingyou

    to and from the rodeo, and they likely paid for your entries too. So respect that.

    Rodeo means being passionate. If you are passionate for what you do you are more likely to be good at it. Being passionate means that you will take the time to practice youreventstogetbetteratthem.Itmeansthatyouwill

    strive to improve your skills.Rodeo means having fun. If you dont have fun, then

    Horse Country was proud to offer a scholarship package to

    Manitoba High School Rodeo Association riders for the 2012/13

    season. Students were asked to use their creative writing skills

    and write about rodeo. For example, to write about the effort it

    takes to compete in MHSRA the trials and tribulations, etc.

    Holly Madsen was one of two runners up and won a

    $50 scholarship with her essay published above. Holly has

    competed in rodeo for three years, in Breakaway roping, goat

    tying, pole bending and barrel racing. Congratulations to all

    entrants and good luck in the next season of rodeo.

    what do you have? I have fun at every rodeo I go to. No matterhowwindyorrainy,Ihavefuneverytime!

    Rodeo means animals. The animals play a huge role in rodeo; all the animals from the bucking bulls to barrel horses. They are all extremely important, because if we didnt have one certain group the rodeo would be incomplete.

    Rodeo means being competitive. You become more competitive with every run or ride you make. Competition is a good thing; unless thats all you care about. You have to have other aspects too.

    Rodeo means judges. If rodeo didnt have judges you wouldnt be sure exactly when your time stopped, or if your catch was legal. Judges are incredibly important.

    Rodeo means volunteers. Volunteers at a rodeo do so manydifferentthings.Suchasworkthecanteen,rakethe

    arena or even picking up hats out of the arena. Volunteers are a key role in a rodeo.

    Tomakearodeorunyouneedmanydifferentthings;

    stock, judges, contestants, volunteers and so much more. Without any of these things, no rodeo would be possible.

    My name is Holly Madsen and I have been in High School Rodeo for three years and have come to this conclusion; What rodeo means to me, is dedication, guts, love and glory. If you dont have that youre in no shape to rodeo. Rodeo is a passion, and its my passion and I intend to do it until I cant anymore.

    Thats what rodeo means to me.

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    Tornado!!

    Reader Ashley Hogdins of Saskatchewan sent this picture ofheryearlingAndalusiancross runningaftera recenttornado.

    Ashley wrote, We are about 7 minutes through the bush from Pipestone. The tornado did not come through our property but we saw a large rotating cloud on the ground at the neighbors directly across the road. They lost two sheds, a truck (a shed landed on it) and they had damage to their home. Apart from one tree coming down on our horse shelter and six other trees coming downacrosstheproperty,wecamethroughbetterthanour neighbors.

    Ihavefivehorsesandtwominis.Priortothestormtheywereallhuddledintheirshelterandwhenwelefttogoseek shelter at our neighbors (we do not have a basement) they were still there. When we got home my 13 year-old mare was shaking uncontrollably and the rest of the horses were running around bucking. It took them about an hour tosettledownandgooutgrazingagainafterthestormwasfinished.c

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    A Short Lesson on the Anatomy of the Ear From the Outside In:Pinna or Auricle: Made out of a large amount of cartilage, this outer portion of the ear is what most horse people consider the best clue to how a horse is feeling. The shape allows horses to capture more sound than we can. Ears attachtotheheadofthehorsebyathincoveringofskinand muscles, with 16 muscles controlling each pinna. Humans have only three such muscles and they are almost useless. Ear Canal: The horses ear canal is rather long, making examination of the ear drum basically impossible.Ear Drum or Tympanic Membrane: Lies at the end of the canal and picks up the sound waves the starting place of hearing.Middle Ear or Tympanic Cavity: Begins on the inner side of the Tympanic Membrane, and is where the three smallest bones in the body are found; malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). At the end of the chain of bones, the stapes rests on another membrane, separating the middle ear from the inner ear.Inner Ear or Cochlea: This fluid-filled snail-shaped labyrinth of channels contains thousands of sensory cells. The cells send signals to the auditory nerve (to do with hearing) and the vestibular nerve (to do with balance). Sound waves are transmitted to the brain along this amazingly delicate system and become what your horse

    hears long before you pick up any noise. Horses can hear moderately loud sounds between 55

    Hz and 33.5 kHz. Humans cannot hear sounds higher than 20kHzRickyeHeffner,PhD,ProfessorofPsychology,University of Toledo and specialist in mammal hearing.

    Reaction to Sounds:The horse has the ability to detect a wide range of high-frequency sounds which is very important for his survival. He does not focus on the exact location of the sound. He only needs an approximation, so he can bolt in the other directiontosafety.Indeed,spookingoftenhappensduetothe fact that the horse can only locate the general direction of a noise and not the exact origin. In another example, if aplasticbagisbeingblownaroundonyourleft,andyouwonderifyourhorsehasnoticedit,checkouthisleftear.If the open part of the ear swivels toward the bag, then he hasseenit.ThisiscalledthePryerReflex.

    If he cannot bolt, he will freeze in the hopes that his staying physically still might make him invisible to the predator.Weseethisofteninhorsesgrazinginenclosuresorfields,aswellasinthewild.Whendisturbedbyanewnoise, their heads come up and turn towards the sound, ears straining to catch any indication of approaching danger,theirchewingstops,andthewholebodystiffens.It is believed that male horses have stronger reactions to sound because they are the herd protectors, but it is not

    Our horses ears tell their various emotional reactions, and alert us to unseen dangers. How much do you know about the equine auditory system?

    Pinna (Auricle)

    Vestibular system

    Ossicles (hammer, anviland stirrup)CochleaAuditory nerve

    Eustachian tube opening

    Tympanic cavityEardrumEar canal

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    by Ishbel Moore

    Ears:your horsesother eyes

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    thought that their hearing is any more keen than that of the females.

    Hearing Loss:Heffner says, Likeanyotheranimal,horses canhavehearing loss due to age, some antibiotics, ear mites, and genetic disorders.

    In people, age-related hearing loss starts around 20 years-old, starting with the higher frequencies. However, it is not generally obvious until we are over 50 years-old, which is 15 years-old in a horse (unless the horse has been exposed to loud sounds which would promote/cause hearing loss). As noted, the horse has a wider high-frequency of hearing than we do, so he can lose more of it before we notice.

    You should not depend on the horse to know where sounds are coming from when out riding, Heffner advises, and if the loss is severe, the horse may not detect oncoming vehicles or other animals. It might, therefore, be startled more than usual when something suddenly comes into view.

    Heffner states, Not all horses who fail to respond to a sound do so because they cant hear it. They may notbeattendingtothesoundortheymay have learned that the sound is not informative or important.

    Some Ear Problems:Droopy Ear: A droopy ear is an indication of paralysis of the 7th cranial nerve. Horses with this usually also have incoordination. Halter buckles are the most common cause of this damage.Ear Mites: Although not a common problem, some mites produce a wax plug to protect themselves from the outside world and any medications cannot reach them. Thisalsoaffectshearing.Mitesliveintheearcanal,nearthe ear drum, and cannot always be seen, except by using an otoscope. Consult your vet as heavy sedation may be needed to properly examine the canal.Fly bite dermatitis: Age is not the only cause of hearing loss. Ears should be checked weekly for signs of infection or infestation. Rubbing, scratching, redness or hair loss on or around the ear could indicate the presence of pests, such as ticks, ear mites.

    Have you noticed the inside of your horses ear has welts

    inflyseason?Thereisagoodchancethatthisiscausedbyflybites/dermatitis,andisnotuncommon.Gentlecleaningwill remove any crusted blood and debris. Some over-the-counter remedies include hydrocortisone creams or hemorrhoid creams containing shark oil. If possible, keep them inside during the day and turn them out at night. Fly masksthatcovertheearsareoftenhelpful.

    Leave the hair inside the horses ear long. Other owner/riders swear by the application of a smear of petroleum jelly that protects the inner surface of the ears. There are flyspraysbutsomehorsesaremoresensitivetothesethanothers.Youshouldnotapplya concentratedflyspray/repellent to the inner surface of the ear; read the label.A note about black flies: Thought to spread a virus that causesflat,grey-whitepapilomasfoundontheinsideofthe pinna. Usually these scaly lesions do not cause the horse much of a problem, and generally no treatment is recommended.

    Peripheral Vestibular Disease: Occurs whendiseaseorinfectionaffectstheinner-middle ear, or the horse sustains a head trauma. Symptoms can include bleeding from the ear canal, tilting of the head, and a loss of balance.Gutteral Pouch Disease:Gutturalpouchesare sacs that open into the Eustachian tubes of the inner ears. Due to their close proximity to the pharynx, any bacterial upper respiratory infections can spread into the pouches and result in an accumulation of pus. This can also cause swelling and hearing loss.Middle Ear Infection: Not a common equine issue, but one we should be aware of. When a horse has a middle ear infection, the problem usually spreads downward,causinginflammationofthetympanic bulla (where the middle ear lies) as well as the stylohyoid bone of the skull.

    Averyseveremiddleearinfection,ifleftundetectedanduntreated can result in neurological problems. Watch for ear rubbing, head tossing, chomping movements, pain at the base of the ear, depression, head tilted to one side, walking in circles and dizziness.Parotitis: Swelling and inflammation of the parotid salivary gland just below the ear. Although this does not involve the actual ear, the problem can bring on hearing loss.

    continued on page 34

    Inward-curving ears are a characteristic trait of the Marwari and

    Kathiawari horses from India.

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    continued from page 33

    Ear Sarcoids: Small local tumors (not necessarily cancerous) of varying appearance and are believed to have a viral origin.Regardless,sarcoidscanbedifficulttodifferentiatefromproudfleshandsummersores, socall thevet,asprognosis and treatment could be vital. (Note: Squamous Cell Carcinoma can occur sometimes in the ear.)Neonatal Ears: In evaluation of the newborn foal, extremely floppyearscanbecausedbypoordevelopmentof thecartilage, prematurity or dysmaturity. Small hemorrhages on the inner surface of the ear might be a sign of neonatal septicemia. Call the vet!Dentigerous Cyst / Ear Tooth: Anearfistulaorconchalsinus, and relatively rare, the ear tooth can cause discharge from the ear. This is a result of a congenital defect during thedevelopmentofdentalmaterial.Thefirstsignofanear tooth is swelling at the base