Organizer Lyndsey White invited me to come down and cover the event for the Riders4Helmets website. I’m absolutely thrilled for so many reasons. I’m a huge advocate of helmet wearing, I love Lyndsey, I get to stay with my buds Glenn and Jennifer (Horse Radio Network), Lexington is my favorite place on earth, and the lunch menu sounds amazing!

Do you think I should take my new Troxel Reliance helmet that I got on International Helmet Awareness Day and sport it during the symposium? I think I might just fit right in!

Here’s the full scoop on the symposium, including a list of topics and speakers. Let me know if you have any questions based on these and I’ll be sure to bring back answers if at all possible!

PS – If you are in the Lexington area, you can attend the Symposium free of charge! All details are at the Riders4Helmets website.

Helmet Safety Topics to be Discussed by Leading Equestrians and Representatives from Equestrian Organizations and Corporations.

The popular helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets will be hosting the 2nd Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium on July 23rd, 2011, at the Kentucky Horse Park (theater room), Lexington, KY, from 8.30am to 5pm. The symposium is being sponsored by Tipperary, Troxel Helmets, Charles Owen, Samshield, Ovation and Equestrian Professional.

The Helmet Safety Symposium has been organized to bring together representatives from various corners of the equestrian world to discuss the importance of wearing helmets, rider safety and to improve helmet designs, rules and more. The event will provide a series of lectures and panel discussions throughout the day. Many in attendance will also sit on the panels, including equestrians, representatives from the helmet safety testing authorities, helmet manufacturers, equestrian organizations, and neurosurgeons. The chairs of the meeting will be Dr. Craig Ferrell, physician to the United States Equestrian Team and Chair FEI Medical Council, and, Lyndsey White, co-founder Riders4Helmets.

“We are very excited to be hosting the 2nd Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium and to see it continue to expand,” said Lyndsey White, co-founder Riders4Helmets. “Since US Olympian Courtney King Dye’s accident in 2010, awareness of the importance of helmets has grown significantly and we are delighted to be bringing together individuals, corporations and organizations all in one place, to continue important discussions of equestrian safety related to helmets.”

Symposium topics will include the following:

• Expect The Unexpected
• A Parents Perspective On Helmets
• Traumatic Brain Injury in Equestrian Sport
• Helmet Use In Equestrian Sports – We Are ALL Role Models
• A Strapping Success: Understanding and Promoting Helmet Use with Performance Psychology
• Current Helmet Rules – A Discussion
• Cowboy Hat To Cowboy Helmet: The Transition.

Speakers include: Equestrian Sports Psychology Consultant Tonya Johnston, Neurosurgeon Lola Chambless M.D, Barrel Racing and Extreme Mustang Makeover Competitor Mary Miller Jordan, USEF CEO John Long, and, a special video presentation by US Olympian Courtney King Dye. The full symposium agenda and speakers is available on the Riders4Helmets website.

A fashion show sponsored by Equisafety and Equestrian Collections will be held during the lunch break of the symposium. Models will wear items from the UK-based Equisafety high-viz apparel range, in addition to the Riders4Helmets logo wear collection available through equestrian retailer Equestrian Collections.

Attendance to the symposium is open to any member of the public, but individuals who plan to attend are requested to either pre-register in advance, or, will need to register upon arrival at the symposium..

You can also follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter. Riders4Helmets logo wear is available for purchase at Equestrian Collections with all proceeds supporting the campaign.

Riders4Helmets was founded in early 2010 after Olympic dressage rider Courtney King Dye was seriously injured in a riding accident. King Dye, who remained in a coma for a month following her accident, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and continues to undergo rehabilitation. The goal of the Riders4Helmets Campaign is to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitted and secured, certified helmet.

The destruction and loss of life, human and animal, has been unprecedented and there are so many that need our help.

• 1,314 tornadoes so far this year.
• More than 4 million people have been affected by the floods adjacent to the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers from Illinois 635 miles south to the Gulf of Mexico.
• Over 500 people have died as a result of these disasters.
• An unbelievable number of animals lost including horses, livestock and household pets.
• Billions of dollars of damage to farms, barns, fencing and crops.

Radiothon June 6, 6-9 pm ET

Hosted by Glenn, Jamie, and Helena from the Horse Radio Network, recorded live from the American Red Cross in Lexington, the 3-hour Radiothon will interview disaster victims, experts on disaster preparedness, top US riders, and workers from relief organizations. It’s going to be a great show – and be sure to have tissues nearby.

Bookmark this post and come back at 6 Eastern to tune in live – and don’t forget to donate to the American Red Cross or the US Disaster Equine Relief Fund for horse relief.

Listen to the Radiothon

Stories of the utter devastation in the more western states due to flooding and tornadoes are heartbreaking. People have lost their lives. Others have lost their homes, their farms, their horses – ultimately their loves and their livelihoods.

It will be difficult for many to rebuild – not just emotionally but also financially.

So, I was more than on-board with the idea when Glenn from Horse Radio Network called me up about an idea to create an initiative called Horse World Gives Back to raise funds for disaster victims. In three days Glenn and his team (including me!) had a plan, a website, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and plenty of support to make it happen.

Two major fundraisers will raise money to be donated to the American Red Cross and the US Disaster Equine Relief Fund of the Kentucky Horse Council:

• Radiothon on Monday, June 6 from 6-9pm interviewing riders, disaster victims, safety officials, and more – and taking pledges of support
• Retail Day on Tuesday June 7 in which participating retailers will donate 5% of the days sales to the chose charities.

Go check out the website, follow Facebook and Twitter (follow #horserelief), and spread the word to everyone you know about Horse World Gives Back. If you are a fellow blogger, please post on your website and consider carrying the Radiothon player. If you are a retailer, please consider participating in Retail Day. If you are a horse person of any sort – go shopping on Tuesday!

Here’s the official info:

Horse World Gives Back to Stage HRN Radiothon and Retail Day on June 6-7, 2011

The Horse Radio Network has announced the creation of Horse World Gives Back; a charitable initiative aimed at uniting the horse world in a fund raising drive that will benefit horses and horse owners affected by the recent flooding and tornadoes across the United States.

HRN will host a 3 hour LIVE broadcast on June 6, 2011, 6-9 pm Eastern as a fund raising effort called the Horse World Gives Back Radiothon followed by a Horse World Gives Back Retail Day on June 7, 2011. Participating retailers will give back 5% of the day’s sales to the charities that will direct the funds towards helping horse owners across the country whose horses have been affected by the devastating weather damage.

This relief aid is being channeled through the Kentucky Horse Council’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund and the Red Cross. HRN and its media partners are reaching out to equestrian and equine related organizations to become involved and unite the horse world in this nationwide effort.

HRN Hosts, Glenn, Jamie and Chris will be hosting the Live Broadcast on June 6th from the Red Cross Headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky which can be heard on the Horse World Gives Back website at and its many affiliate partners listed on the website, Guests will include horse people affected by the devastating weather that has displaced so many horses and their owners, Red Cross representatives, prominent riders and members of the horse community.

How you can get involved:

Website Owners and Associations: Help us promote the Radiothon and Retail Day through your email lists and social media. Plus, you can post the Radiothon Player on your website so people can listen to the show on your site. It is a simple embed code – get the embed code now.

Retailers: Please consider giving back and being part of this national fund raising event. Sign up to be a participating retailer for Horse World Gives Back Retail Day.

Wholesalers, Manufacturers and Horse Businesses: Please call the Radiothon and pledge your support.

Horse Owners World Wide: Tune into the Radiothon and donate what you can to help those in dire need. Plus, if you were planning on buying anything horsey in the next month, please make the purchase on June 7 at one of the participating retailers.

Of course, before you can do what’s best for your horse, you have to take the time to educate yourself on what that really entails.

I think the fact that horses’ teeth constantly erupt and have to be filed down is one of the biggest news stories of the century for the non-horsey or new-to-horses crowd. I can picture the eyes widening every time I tell someone about floating Ace’s teeth every 6-12 months. And that’s just the first of many surprises when I fill people in on everything that goes into keeping a horse healthy.

Horses are big, tough looking animals with amazingly sensitive systems. It’s not like having a dog or cat that you let outside a few times a day and then toss some generic food and a bowl of water. There’s a lot you need to know beyond how to ride and handle horses.

And unfortunately, there’s also a lot of bad information out there about horse care.

Yes,  a lot of that bad information comes from the internet and the fact than anybody can post anything. But a lot of it is heard around your barn aisles – from friends, managers, trainers, and sometimes even your vet. A lot of it is modern conventional “wisdom”. Old husbandry practices that were the norm decades ago have been lost in lieu of modern convenience and resource limitations. And it’s not always good for the horses.

We owe it to our horses to do our research and really learn how horses’ systems work and what’s best to keep them healthy. We should never rely fully on what one person tells us.

Since Ace came into my life 2.5 years ago, I have become a crazy researcher. I read magazines, veterinary articles, health websites. I talk to hoof care professionals and vets and trainers who have been horsemen their entire lives. And one of the benefits of working with Freedom Health (makers of Succeed Digestive Conditioning Program) during my day job is that I’ve had access to all kinds of research and experts on equine digestive health and nutrition.

As a result of getting educated from so many great resources, I’m a much more knowledgeable horse owner and am more equipped than ever to keep Ace healthy. And it’s paying off: he’s in the best condition of his life right now.

The area of how we feed horses is one in which I think we are bombarded by the greatest amount of bad information – and a lot of it coming from the feed companies who are primarily out to make a profit. But when horses aren’t fed to match the way their digestive systems are designed – we start causing some serious problems.

The most serious health risk our horses face today is colic. And while some episodes of colic are unavoidable, many of them are a result of how we take care of our horses. The good news is that means there is something we can do to help keep our horses from colicking. That is such an important message to get out that I’ve helped Freedom Health to launch an education and awareness campaign called Crusade Against Equine Colic. It’s all about teaching you, the horse owner, techniques for feeding and caring for your horse that will help to keep colic at bay.

It’s a really great, informative site if I do say so myself (kinda like this one ), so please to do go check it out and help spread the word. The Crusade is also spreading the word via Facebook and Twitter.

Colic doesn’t need to be the number one killer of our horses.

Thank you mom! Thank you for putting me on horseback before I knew how much I loved them. Thank you for all the time you spent on the ground instead of in the saddle teaching me to be an effective and safe rider. Thank you for pushing me to stick with it and to win the battle even when I wanted to wimp out or got frustrated. Thank you for teaching me to be a gracious winner and loser in the show ring. Thank you for the boots you polished and the manes you braided and the money you spent so I could enjoy the fun of competition. Thank you for instilling a passion in me that we can share together and that has connected me with so many wonderful people all over the world.

All us horse-crazy adults have had someone invest a lot of time, effort, and probably money in our horse passion. You may be a second-generation horse woman like I am. Or you had non-horsey parents who put you in lessons, bought you your first pony, and showed up to cheer you on at your shows. Maybe you had to do it yourself with the help of a friendly horse person or trainer who was willing to take you under her wing.

Now that we are grown up and have a wealth of horse experience and knowledge and  – if we’re lucky – our own horses, how are we investing in the next generation of horse enthusiasts?

Recent discussions here on Regarding Horses have made it very obvious that we horse people feel that it’s very important to give back when it comes to our horse experience. We’ve all had people who helped us, and that’s something we want to pass on.

Here are some ways I’ve found to give back to a new generation of horse crazy kids (and even some adults)

• Volunteering. I volunteer weekly at a NARHA therapeutic riding farm where I assist disabled kids and adults as they ride. We groom and tack horses, lead and sidewalk with riders in lessons, clean stalls and turn horses out. It’s as much a ministry to the other volunteers (many of whom are getting their first horse experience there) as it is to the students. This is a fantastic way to volunteer your time and pay it forward. There are plenty of programs like this, as well as summer camps, horse rescues, and other non-profit equestrian organizations that could use your expertise and time.
• Mentoring. There’s a young girl at my barn who started riding a little over a year ago. She doesn’t have the money to be in lessons all the time, so has spent a lot of time on her own with her lease-to-own horse. Since she lives a few miles from me, I pick her up twice a week and take her to the barn with me. We ride together and then she helps me bring in horses, mix grain buckets and supplements, and toss hay. I’ve been able to help her learn how to handle the horses safely and taught her a lot about how to care for them. It makes me happy to know that she is learning to how to properly handle and care for the horses. If there’s a young rider at your barn who could use a little guidance and she and her parents are open to your suggestions, feel free to jump in and help teach her how to be safe and effective with horses.
• Sharing. I’ve got non-horsey friends with young daughters who love horses. When I’ve had access to a safe kid’s horse, the entire family has come out and we’ve groomed together and done pony rides. I can’t do this with my horse Ace because he has unpredictable stupid moments and I’d hate to see someone get hurt. But sometimes, it’s enough when a coworker’s daughter comes to the office, sees the picture of my horse, and wants me to tell her his name, age, color, and favorite treat. Sometimes kids think it’s almost as cool to meet a horse woman and have her tell stories about her horses.
• Teaching. Whether you run a lesson barn as a career or have a few good horses and some time, taking students under your wing and teaching them to be horsemen (not just riders) is one of the best ways to pay it forward. It takes special people to do this for a living. Are you one of them?

When it comes to paying it forward it can be as simple as letting a kid feed your horse a carrot (unless you are in the no-hand-feeding-treats camp), or as involved as making it your life’s work.

As for sharing our experience with those new to the horse world, I think the most important message we can pass on is to respect, love, and cherish these magnificent, kind animals. Think how wonderful the equestrian world would be if the first thing we taught people is how to relate to a horse rather than just kick for go and pull back for whoa?

What are some ways that you pay it forward to newbies to horses? What suggestions would you add to this list?

I’m always a sucker for a good horse-related cause. I’m an even bigger sucker – I mean SUPPORTER – when that good cause is remotely related to therapeutic riding or para-equestrian. I’m able-bodied and my horse is the best mental and physical (yeah, and emotional too) therapy I could ever get. And as a regular volunteer at one of NARHA’s top premier accredited centers, I see first-hand the huge benefits horses have for people who are disabled.

So you can bet I’m all over the Para-Webathon my good buddies at Horse Radio Network are putting on to help get the US para equestrian team to the World Equestrian Games this fall. (and you know I’m also a huge sucker for anything WEG, right? DOUBLE whammy.)

So, how awesome would it be if all the regular readers of Regarding Horses donated even just $5 to help our team out? With those of you who subscribe and read regularly, we could raise over $2,500 for the Para-Equestrian team ourselves! So please please please read over the Para-Webathon info below and set yourself a reminder on your iPhone or Blackberry or whatever cool device you have and call in Tuesday from 7-9pm EST and pledge your support.

Para-Webathon Tuesday June 8 from 7-9pm (EST)

The Horse Radio Network and the United States Para Equestrian Association will host the first ever Para-Webathon on June 8, 2010 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Eastern) via multiple websites.  The purpose is to raise money and awareness for the United States Para-Equestrian athletes who are aiming to compete in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  All monies will be channeled through the United States Para Equestrian Association to offset the costs of the 10 United States Para-Athletes and their horses.

The Para-Webathon will be a live video event streaming to websites all over the horse world using web video technology that is viewed just like on television -and you can watch it all right here on Regarding Horses!  The call-in number and website address to make donations will also be available here.

Para-Equestrian at the World Equestrian Games

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be the first WEG to offer Para-Equestrian competition.  This is a very exciting addition that brings Para-Equestrian to the forefront of the horse world.  Unfortunately, the Para teams do not have the resources or sponsors that the other disciplines enjoy.  Most of the competitors will have to raise their own funds to attend the WEG this year in Kentucky.  For the American team alone this can amount to up to $20,000 per competitor.

Join Regarding Horses in Supporting US Para-Equestrians

The hosts of the Para-Webathon will be Glenn the Geek and Samantha Clark from the Horse Radio Network’s 2010 Radio Show and Para-Equestrian, Susan Treabess.  Alltech has kindly donated its studio and technical expertise to host this live event from its studio in Kentucky.  We will highlight the stories of these inspirational athletes who are aiming to compete at their first World Championships. Several equestrian stars from across the horse world will be calling in to lend their support and make this a very special event.

Stop by on June 8, 2010 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Eastern) at to watch, participate and donate for this very worthwhile cause.  You can help be a part of history as the ParaEquestrians make their first appearance at a World Equestrian Games.

Fellow Bloggers: do you want to promote and/or host the Para-Webathon too? Contact me and I’ll forward you all the necessary info and code!

With Thoroughbreds the only breed in the Kentucky Derby and a dominant breed in eventing, I thought this was  the perfect time to talk a bit about one of my new favorite books, Beyond the Homestretch. As a total bookworm and crazy horse girl, I tend to be a harsh critic of horse books. But this one earns four hooves up from me!

Author and founder of LOPE (LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-racehorses), Lynn Reardon happened to discover Regarding Horses and learned that I’m a bit of a Thoroughbred nut, and thought I might enjoy her book Beyond the Homestretch, which I believe was just released last fall. I think the initial email Lynn sent me describes the book well:

I’ve become a fan of Regarding Horses and of course of Ace’s blog too! Our nonprofit organization, LOPE, helps ex-racehorses find new homes after they are done racing — so I especially have enjoyed reading about Ace’s adventures with you.

I wrote a book — Beyond the Homestretch — about the different ex- racehorses I encountered in my work with LOPE. Although I had little horse training or ranch management experience, the horses here gave me the most effective “on the job” training program ever.

I’d like to send you a complimentary copy of my book — I think you would enjoy the “big” horse personalities I encountered and also would be entertained by my attempts to learn horse training on the fly.

(Please note too that she did not ask me to review the book on Regarding Horses. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have bothered to waste my time writing about it!)

I’ll admit, I was a tad skeptical about the book, because I tend to be skeptical of anything I get for free and because I wasn’t sure about a self-proclaimed inexperienced horseperson training ex-racehorses. But it’s always fun to get packages, and I enthusiastically tore into the box when it arrived. And I fell in love instantly when I saw the cover:

The picture captured my imagination and the soft, matte texture had me hugging the book to my chest as if it was a well-worn copy of my most favorite book in the world.

And I wasn’t disappointed once I opened the cover.

Not surprisingly, I fell in love with all the horses, each of whom get their own chapter in Beyond the Homestretch. But I also became a huge fan of Lynn, a DC accountant who started riding as an adult and quit everything to start a non-profit ex-racehorse placement program in Texas. (and yes, LOPE is a playoff of the well-known thoroughbred organization CANTER, who helped mentor Lynn).

I mean, what horse owner can’t appreciate a book that begins, It was 3 a.m., and I was trying to decide whether to shove pieces of rubber hose up a horse’s nostrils?

In Beyond the Homestretch, we meet a handful of LOPE horses with great personalities and stories who overcome injuries and retirement to find new jobs and forever homes.

There’s Zuper, a flirtatious gelding nicknamed the Sean Connery of horses who helps Lynn run LOPE and integrate new horses into the herd:

There’s Tulsa Mambo of whom Lynn says, “Tulsa Mambo’s personality showed immediately under saddle – he was opinionated about where we should go, exuded a jaunty cheerfulness during trotting, and liked to make faces at the neighbor’s horses over the fence. Tulsa reminded me eerily of Charles, a chatty European polo pro from my exercise rider days, a slim man who liked to smoke, make cynical witticisms, and curse in French while riding his herd of moody polo ponies.”

PJ’s antics made me laugh a lot: “A big, stocky three-year-old with a red coat and blaze face, PJ had the build of a dairy cow. When in doubt, panic and run into things – this was PJ’s philosophy on life. No matter how patient the handler, PJ was always on the edge of a minor freak out. The complete disconnect between PJ’s behavior and his appearance was maddening. You expect lanky, taut-muscled horses with high heads and white-rimmed eyes to act nervous – not round horses that always seem to be in a placid doze.”

And sweet Spider (who incidentally did not get the rubber hose shoved up his in Chapter 1 after all): “Spider quickly established himself as the clown of the farm. He liked to turn over troughs and splash the water out. If he saw you in the pasture, he would run across the field to greet you, gangly legs flying, with a delighted “you-must-be-coming-to-see-me” look on his face. It was impossible to be in a bad mood around Spider’s enthusiasm. Spider had an innate premise that the universe was a benevolent, wonderful place where everyone was there to pet him.”

And then there’s Lynn, who despite her self-deprecating ways, is uncannily horse savvy. She’s the very best type of horse person too; she doesn’t take herself too seriously and she listens to what each individual horse wants and needs. And in her business working with ex-racehorses, those are key traits to have.

Today, Beyond the Homestretch sits on the special bookshelf in my living room that is reserved for only my most favorite books in the whole world.

Support LOPE Horses & Get A Signed Copy of Beyond the Homestretch

Because I loved this book so much, I wanted to be able to share it with you all in a special way … one that not only gives you some added value but supports the horses of LOPE. Lynn has generously offered to provide personalized signed copies of the book with a $20 donation to LOPE. How awesome is that?

Visit the LOPE support page to make your donation via PayPal or check. Then email Lynn at lynn@lopetx.org to let her know that you are a Regarding Horses reader and would like a signed copy of Beyond the Homestretch.

And please come back here and let me know if you do; it’d be great to see how we are banding together for such a great cause!

You can learn more about Beyond the Homestretch and LOPE Texas on their respective sites.

It’s been wonderful to see the whole horse world coming together to elicit change in helmet-wearing practices (or lack thereof) and in fundraising to help Courtney and her family defray the costs of increasing medical bills. The world seems to get a little smaller in a good way when things like this happen.

From t-shirts on Etsy to ebay stores, there’s a current outpouring of support across the online equestrian industry.

One that I’m super excited about is an ebay store created by SUCCEED. They’re getting people to donate all kinds of great items, auctioning them off on ebay, and giving all the proceeds to Courtney.

There are several tubs of the SUCCEED digestive conditioning supplement, Jane Savoie DVDs, a SmartPak grooming kit, a Breyer figurine of Courtney’s horse Idocus, t-shirts, totes, and more. I desperately want to go shopping!

So, please, go check it out and do a little fun horsey shopping for a good cause. Or if you have an item you’d like to donate, leave a comment on SUCCEED’s Facebook page or email Lyndsey at lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com.

And for regular updates on Courtney’s progress, subscribe to my friend On The Bit’s blog. She’s one of Courtney’s biggest fans and is doing a great job keeping us all abreast of her progress.

This week has been a particularly poignant one for our horse blogger community, as many write tributes to their horses and our industry in celebration of the Christmas holiday.

One of my favorite Christmas posts so far has come from Arlene over at Grey Horse Matters. It’s a Christmas wish list her horses left for Santa; equal parts funny and charming. Each list captures the personality of the horses we have come to know and love through Arlene’s blog. The last item on the list is the most touching – a selfless request from a little Arabian mare named Sweetie who they rescued. I won’t give it away, so go over and check out A Christmas Wish List From Our Herd.

Sweetie’s story brings me to the other great Christmas tribute over at one of the best horse blogs on the internet: Saving Argus.

Argus’s Rescue Story

For 16 years, the gray thoroughbred gelding lived in a small pen on the farm where he was born. He was rarely cleaned up after, barely fed (except left-over bread and lettuce), and never touched. He stood in his own filth staring into the distance and weaving back and forth. Then, in December of 2007 he was rescued by Kate of Watermark farm and taken home, where he has spent the last two years learning to be a horse. He’s had to learn to trust people, to have horsey friends, and of all things – to eat grass. His body and mind were very broken, and both are recovering amazingly under the excellent care he’s received.

Not only did Kate work her magic with Argus, she’s chronicled the entire journey on her blog, From Hell to Heaven: Saving Argus. She’s a wonderful writer (I’m really hoping she turns this into a book someday!) with a real talent for capturing the feelings with every little triumph and set-back in Argus’s life. You’ll weep with her and celebrate with her during his journey. Sometime when you have some time to kill, go and read Argus’s story from start to finish (well, to present day because it’s not over yet!).

And then, go over and subscribe to the NorCal Equine Rescue Blog - a day-to-day chronicle of the goings-on at this fantastic horse rescue.

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas – Argus Style

I never cease to be amazed by the creativity of my fellow horse bloggers. This Christmas season, I leave you with an adaptation of this classic poem written by Kate (and used with her permission of course!):

‘TWAS the night before Christmas
And all through the barn
Not a creature was stirring
Anywhere on the farm

The stockings were hung
On the stall doors with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas
Soon would be there

The horses were all snuggled
Into straw-banked beds
While visions of sweet feed
Danced in their heads

And Argus was in his blanket
Chubby Half Pint going bare
Both hoping and wishing
Santa soon would be there

When out in the arena
There arose such a clatter!
They leapt into their paddocks
To see what was the matter!

The moon on the puddles
In the wet winter pasture
Made the night light so blinding
They breathed faster and faster!

When what to their
Brown horsey eyes should appear
But a jolly red sleigh
And eight hungry reindeer

In the driver’s seat sat Santa
All dressed up in red
And he winked at the horses
As they spied from their beds

Then something odd happened
The horses grew brave
And Santa addressed them
Which made them quite grave:

“Now Argus! Now Half Pint!
Now Odie and Angel!
Now Ginger and Caleb!
And Ridge in the stable!”

“To your herd mates be kind
And don’t waste your hay!
Take care of your riders
And love each new day!”

As dry shavings that before
The wild hurricane fly
When they meet with the winds
Mount to the sky

And suddenly the horses
Who before felt quite shy
Felt themselves flying around
With Santa in the sky!

So around the farm
The horses they flew
They looked down on the home
They loved and they knew

And then, on the house top
They thumped on the roof
And the family inside
Heard the pounding of hooves

“What’s that?” they shouted
As they woke from their beds
“We thought we heard horses
Loose overhead!”

So out to the stables
The family they ran
Where they found it quite empty
Save for the horse goat, An’

They peered at the sky
For a sign of the equines
And for a moment, saw Santa
Riding Argus just fine

Then suddenly, and quietly
The horses were there
Munching hay and looking sleepy
As if they had no cares

So the lights were extinguished
The excitement went “poof”
And the family missed Santa
Spying down from the roof

To each horse, he gave a gift
And when he got to the last
It was Argus, the white one
He’d seen on many a Christmas past

“You’re a good horse, dear Argus”
Santa said with a tear,
You have suffered so long
So many a year”

“I promise you will always
Have a loving, peaceful life
With pastures and buddies
An end of all strife”

Argus thought quietly
About all the nights
And the bleak Christmases of waiting
For the arrival of light

This, his second Christmas
Of freedom and cheer
He’d been a real horse, a free horse
For more than a year

Santa sprang to his sleigh
To his team gave a whistle
And winking once more at Argus
He flew away like a missile

The horses heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
“Merry Christmas, dear Argus!
And to all — a good night!”

Have you read any great horsey Christmas tributes OR seen any creative posts OR have a favorite equestrian blog? Please share them in the comments!

FEI-Level dressage riders Ann Guptill & Lou Denizard gather donations for second silent auction

The New England dressage community is again teaming up to support NARHA Horses for Heroes, a program that was created to provide equine-assisted activities and  therapies (EAAT) for wounded U.S. military personnel and veterans. In spite of the economic recession, the dressage and equestrian community has been generous again in 2009, with almost $7,500 in goods and services donated this year to be auctioned off during the Northeast Regional Adult Amateur Dressage Championships (NRADC) at Mystic Valley Hunt Club in Gales Ferry, Connecticut on October 10 & 11, 2009.

Ann Guptill, owner of Fox Ledge Farm, and Lou Denizard, owner of Delante Equestrian Center, have asked their colleagues, friends, peers, and students to come together to support Horses for Heroes by donating lessons, training, show entry fees, and other items and services to be sold with  all proceeds going to NARHA. Guptill and Denizard’s requests were met with enthusiastic support, with many prominent riders, trainers, and farms in the area stepped forward and pledged their support.

Guptill said, “I was intrigued by Horses for Heroes when I first read about it last year. The physical and emotional help that horses can give to any injured or disabled person is amazing. Horses give so much of themselves to their riders, it is very fitting that they give to our service personnel who have given their all to serve our country.”

Denizard “I believe in NARHA’s Horses for Heroes because of the good that horses have in them for healing the mind and soul. These soldiers have risked their lives for our country, and many have been severely injured in the process and will have lifelong disabilities. Any and all ways we can give back to support them is very important.”

Last year, with the help of Denizard, the NRADC Silent Auction raised more than  $3,000 for NARHA Horses for Heroes. Denizard is enthusiastic about the program, saying  “I firmly believe in this program because of the good that horses have in them for healing the mind and soul. These soldiers have risked their lives for our country and it is important for all of us to give back to support them.”

Although the recession has certainly impacted many horse show venues and vendors, the NRADC committee hopes that the dressage community will feel good about spending money at the Silent Auction for NARHA Horses for Heroes. In addition to getting good deals on many goods and services, winning bidders often get an opportunity to train with someone who was previously inaccessible to them. Courtney King-Dye, who represented the U.S. in the Beijing Olympics, has supported this effort by donating lessons to the auction. Jayne Marino of Mistover Farms donated $250 in services for the second year in a row, and Ten Broeck Farm’s Phil Silva, who runs a successful equine transportation service, has generously donated transportation from New England to Florida for one horse – a service valued at $1500.

Numerous research studies have shown that individuals who participate in equine-assisted therapies can experience physical, emotional, and mental rewards. Because horseback riding rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.  For individuals with mental or emotional disabilities, the unique relationship formed with the horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. The sense of independence found on horseback benefits all that ride. In addition to the therapeutic benefits, horseback riding also provides recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors.

Horses for Heroes was developed specifically to aid wounded military personnel and veterans. The Horses for Heroes Task Force works directly with the U.S. Veterans’ Administration to shape the program to meet the specific needs of soldiers. “Appreciating the power of the horse to change lives is our goal,” said NARHA Past President Dr. Paul Spiers, “and NARHA wants to provide positive change for these very special lives. Our service personnel have fought to preserve our freedom, and, for many, at a very dear cost. We must be certain that if our wounded service personnel and veterans need and want this kind of help, they will get the best NARHA has to offer.”

The Task Force has been developing the program and the pilot methods to be used for educating member instructors and centers interested in starting a program. Currently, Windrush Farm in Boxford, Massachusetts, offers this program in New England. Many NARHA centers have been offering these services to veterans for years, but NARHA’s goal is to expand the program for military personnel, making  the benefits available to a broader scope of individuals.

About NARHA

NARHA was formed in 1969 to promote EAAT for individuals with and without special needs. Nearly 800 NARHA member centers partner equines with NARHA Certified Instructors and various professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, psychiatrists and social workers to physically improve, emotionally empower and socially enhance the lives of individuals with and without special needs.

More than 40,000 children and adults find a sense of independence through involvement with horses at NARHA centers nationwide. These member centers range from small, one-person programs to large operations with several certified instructors and licensed therapists. In addition to therapeutic riding, a center may offer any number of equine assisted activities and therapies including hippotherapy, equine facilitated mental health, carriage driving, interactive vaulting, trail riding, competition, ground work or stable management. Through a wide variety of educational resources, the association helps individuals start and maintain successful equine assisted activity and therapy programs. There are more than 31,000 volunteers, 3,000 instructors, 5,900 therapy horses and thousands of contributors from all over the world helping people at NARHA centers.