Achieving Balance

Perhaps some of the Elder Stateswomen of the Dressage community can help me out with this issue.

Balance.

It's necessary for good dressage, and necessary for a good life. I find it difficult at times to balance the needs of my dressage life and the rest of my life. I feel a tinge of guilt turning my friends down for drinks and dinner on a Thursday night because I've got a lesson, or I'm in the throws of preparation for a horse show. I've discovered in my 20's that very few people continue to pursue time consuming hobbies as they get older, and thus the threshold of understanding for my non-work Passion is diminishing. I guess they're all gettin' married and havin' kids n' stuff.

Or whatever.

Luckily, my SO, Chad is very understanding of my hobby. In fact, he is extremely proud of me, and admires my dedication. He was even good enough to volunteer as the announcer for the LEC Schooling Show. That's love baby! He's really fantastic about my late nights at the barn and I'm so grateful. I just wish everyone were as understanding as he was. (Side note: the day after the Lancaster County Fair, I'll be cheering him on at his first Mountain Bike race!!)

But it's not just relationships, its housework and gym work, family and "Margo time." I want to dedicate so much of my time to this sport, but in doing so, other parts of my life seem to slide down the slippery slope of neglect. Perhaps I'm just going to have to accept the fact that I can't be perfect at everything, and maybe there aren't enough hours in the day for everything I want to do.

Acceptance. Balance. Boy, dressage is everywhere!

** EDITORS NOTE **

I have a new email address: margndob@hotmail.com

From now on please address all concerns, questions and photos to the above listed address.

Thanks!

Mark Your Calendars

Make your travel arrangements now to audit the Jan Ebeling Dressage Clinic and Retreat at Middlefork Ranch in Lyons, Colorado. Jan will be teaching a two-day clinic at the very scenic and serene ranch on August 11 and 12, 2007.

Colin Bate and Mike Shikora organize the most enjoyable clinics around. The food and hospitality are Five Star. The facility is one that will make you drool with envy. The instruction and quality of riding is Top Shelf.

Auditing fees are yet to be announced, but they will include a Saturday evening dinner party and a Sunday morning brunch.

You are welcome to camp along the St. Vrain River that runs through the ranch or book a cabin near Allenspark. If hotel accommodations are your desire, there are hotels in Lyons, Longmont and Boulder.

For more information on the clinic, visit Middlefork Ranch.

Platte Valley Dressage Schooling Show

*Photo courtesy of Donna Kilday, DJK Photos*

The Platte Valley Dressage Schooling show was held Sunday, July 24th in Grand Island, Nebraska. The show featured standard dressage tests as well as unique tests like Prix Caprilli, Dressage Equitation, and Dressage Trail.

True to Schooling Show form, this show was a wild success and competitors had a LOT of fun. There were smiles to be seen on faces throughout the day. The inaugural run of Prix Caprilli classes was enjoyed by spectators and riders alike. I suspect we will have many more entries in Prix Caprilli now that competitors are aware of the logistics of the class.

Thank you to all of the volunteers that made this show possible. Thank you to all of the folks who bought raffle tickets and silent auction items to support Nebraska Equine Assisted Therapy.

*Photo courtesy of Donna Kilday, DJK Photos*

A special thank you to Donna Kilday of DJK Photos for taking the absolutely BEAUTIFUL photos of our show! You can view more of the photos and order them on Donna's website.

We hope to see all of you next year!

New Pain Reliever for Horses Released

Equioxx (firocoxib), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for use in horses, is now available from Merial. Equioxx is delivered as a paste (similar to paste dewormer) and is FDA-approved for treating joint pain in horses. Equioxx was approved by the FDA after field trials demonstrated its ability to relieve joint pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in horses. Another trial showed the drug’s ability to improve the mobility of treated horses.

Osteoarthritis is known to affect horses of all ages, including the very young. The onset of the disease is commonly due to one or more of the following factors: trauma to the joint, conformation faults, immobilization, improper shoeing, and age.

Over the years, there has been growing concern about the safety of NSAIDs. Equioxx was also subjected to extensive safety testing in addition to the many horses involved in field studies. A targeted study involving 30 horses of various breeds and sizes evaluated clinically-relevant side effects of using firocoxib to determine the safety profile of the drug. In the study, horses receiving the normal recommended dose did not experience any treatment-related side effects.
“We’re excited to offer veterinarians a new choice for osteoarthritis pain relief that’s backed by clinical and field studies involving so many horses,” Hanson said.

According to study results, Equioxx is absorbed quickly and provides lasting pain relief. One study showed that firocoxib was maintained at adequate blood levels after one dose to ensure optimum effectiveness until the next dose 24 hours later.

Equioxx is approved for up to 14 days of use for the control of pain and inflammation associated with equine osteoarthritis, and it is a prescription product available through a veterinarian. Each syringe of Equioxx is enough to treat a 1,250-pound horse and is marked in 250-pound increments.

Note: This article is an edited AP article taken from The Horse e-newsletter and is NOT a paid advertisement nor endorsement.

Still Taking Entries.....

The Dakota Dressage and Eventing organization is still taking entries for their Final Frontier Recognized Dressage Show. The show is July 21st and 22nd in Bismarck, North Dakota. Although the closing date has passed, they STILL WANT YOUR ENTRY. This is two shows and two judges. They have added additional in-hand classes.

You can view the prize list on the Dakota Dressage and Eventing website. The weather in Bismarck promises to be lovely during July. Send in your entries!!

Protecting Your Horses

I just read a disturbing article about an alarming number of horse thefts in Oklahoma. Not something that needs to be shared with this group, but the article listed a very interesting resource:

Stolen Horses International

This is a non-profit that aids in the recovery of stolen horses. Although their website is a little difficult to navigate, they have a lot of interesting things:

1. Idaho Alerts (the horse world's version of an Amber Alert)


2. Tips on keeping your horse safe


3. Assistance in locating your stolen horse

Reading the article reminded me of something I read after Hurricane Katrina. That article stated that a large number of the displaced, deceased, or missing horses in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were indeed micro chipped, but the owner information never made it into the national registry. So those microchips could only trace as far as the veterinary clinic that bought that chip with that number. Lesson: if you have your horse micro chipped, be sure to complete ALL of the paperwork for registration. If you buy a horse with a microchip, be sure the NATIONAL REGISTRY info gets updated.

You can find additional information on Equine Disaster Preparation on the AAEP website.

Just check it out sometime. Oh yes, and keep your fingers crossed that even though you bookmarked the NetPosse site, on your Internet program, you NEVER have to use it!

Images of Dressage

A capriole in-hand at the Spanish Riding School In Vienna

Get It Together

Just like us, our horses have important documents, that should be on-hand and easily found. I'm talking about things like:

*Passports
*Breed Certificates
*Sales Contracts
*Coggins
*Insurance Contacts & Policies
*Membership information

Dobby and I use 2 reinforced plastic expandable files to keep track of all his important documents. I have a Home File, and an Away File. Dob's home file has his passport, birth certificate, breed papers, sales contract, and the Xrays that were taken during his sales exam. It also contains all our old tests from horse shows, and the NDA Handbook, as well as the original USEF & USDF membership cards and certificates.

The away file I take with me to out-of-town horse shows. In it I keep: copies of coggins, and health certificates, a copy of the entry form I sent in for the show, copies of my USDF & USEF member cards. It is also a handy place to store your tests, once you get them back for the show office. And now that I think about it, a calculator as well.

It really is very important to keep track of all your horse's information. Give it the due consideration it deserves. Treat your passport, and your horse's in the same careful manner. Your horse's breed papers are a kin to your birth certificate. KEEP THEM SAFE. KEEP THEM TIDY. KEEP THEM TOGETHER.

A side note if your horse is insured, a copy of the "In Case of Emergency" information should be kept at the barn, just in case.

Equines and Expressionism

My mother is an art lover. In fact, when I was a child, she was a para-educator who went from school to school teaching art classes. As kids my parents took my older brother and I to many art galleries/museums. I can tell you the name of the major art museums in cities all across America. I've been to most of them. I loved to go, I liked the smell of galleries, and the cold air. I still do.

On one such outing my family went to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, for an exhibition of Paul Gauguin's works. Gauguin, a Post-Impressionist, is a favorite of my mother's. After walking through the exhibition, we visited other parts of the museum. I wandered with my father into the Expressionist paintings, looked at the wall and said to my father "Look Dad, they're horses." He didn't see them right away like I did, but when we looked at placard next to the painting, I was right.

"The Large Blue Horses" by Franz Marc, 1911.


To this day Franz Marc is one of my favorite Expressionist Painters. His works are so evocative, and colorful. I love to study them, to find where the colors melt together. Artists are amazing people. I can't imagine having such beauty in my mind, and the talent to set it free on canvas.

Here are some facts about Franz Marc and Expressionism:
He was born in Munich Germany on February 8, 1880. He was a strict Calvinist. His style is considered "Expressionism." Expressionist work, is essentially work that strives to express emotion or feeling. Sometimes these works are purely abstract, others like Marc's are more realistic. Though most expressionist painters worked during the Turn of The Century, it was not considered a movement like Impressionism had been in France. Most Expressionist artists are German.

Marc's work focused primarily on landscapes and animals. He was a big fan of Vincent VanGogh's works, and he was a friend to fellow expressionist artist Wassily Kandinsky, who later went on to become an abstract artist. Marc is a founding member of the expressionist artists group Dar Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider)

Marc was an expressionist, however, later in his career his work became increasing influenced by Cubism. Though his subject matter remains the same, things look very different through the eyes of a cubist.


Franz Marc, Foxes 1913

Sadly, Franz Marc's life was cut short on March 4, 1916. Prior to being given notice that he had been deemed except from fighting in WWI because of his status as a great German artist, he was killed by a hand grenade while riding a horse on patrol during the Battle of Verdun.

High Performance Dressage

Becauce of all of the activities at Gladstone kicking off today,

Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and Pan American Games Selection Trials

DATE: June 14 - June 17, 2007
LOCATION: USET Foundation Dressage Arena
ADDITIONAL EVENTS: Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Intermediaire I and Grand Prix National Championships. Intermediaire I Championship will serve as the selection trial for the 2007 Pan American Games Dressage Team. Also included will be Junior, Young Rider and Brentina Cup Championships.

I pose a question to our readers:
What is the highest level of dressage competition you have attended as a spectator?

TD Talk - Episode 2

Topic: Show Clothing and how it relates to weather conditions.

According to the USEF Rule Book - Dressage (DR 120), "the dress code for Training thru Fourth Levels is a short riding coat of conservative color, with tie, choker, or stock tie, white or light colored breeches or jodphurs, boots or jodphur boots, a hunt cap or riding hat with hard shell, derby or top hat". For all tests above Fourth level, the dress code is "a dark tailcoat with top hat, or a dark jacket with a bowler hat or hunt cap, and white or light colored breeches, stock or tie, gloves and black riding boots".

A few things to take away from this:

• It doesn't matter if you wear a "hunt coat" or dressage coat, as long as it meets the above description.


• A cutaway coat (the flashy modified tail coats) are permitted.


• The new Kerrits 24K coat also meets above description.

Hot Weather Conditions:

We have all been to a show in oppressive heat, where show management has "waived" the coat requirement. What exactly do you do in that situation?

In this situation, according to the USEF Rulebook, "competitors must wear a regulation hat and solid white or very pale colored long or short sleeved shirt, without neckwear". So....

• No sleeveless white shirts


• No t-shirts
  
• No bright blue shirts that you cover with your jacket and stock tie


• No chokers, stocks ties, stocks with bibs, or ties.

What about rain you ask??

"Competitors will be allowed to wear a hat cover and a transparent or conservative color rain coat in inclement weather".

Answers to many more questions regarding attire and equipment are addressed very well in the Dressage:Dress section of the USEF Rulebook or from the Dressage Attire and Equipment Supplement found on the USEF website.

A History Lesson

In keeping with the earlier discussion of books about Dressage, I have added a link to this post that will connect you to a Wiki-article about Xenophon. Who in 350 B.C.E. wrote and published what is considered to be the first book about Classical Dressage and horse training "On Horsemanship".

I encourage all of you to take a look at it. Aren't you proud to be an ambassador for this, the most Classical of all the horse sports? I know I am.

A Friendly Reminder

Many years ago I created this blog to post my thoughts on riding, issues relating to horses, dressage and goings-on in the area. For a time it was just out there in space, going unread by anyone. The Barn Blog was just another blog in space, hoping to find like minded horse folk.

However, with the re-design has come a larger audience, and I appreciate all of you coming by to read what myself and Jamee have to say. I appreciate the conversations that spark in comments, but frankly I don't like the tone of some of the conversations that have been brewing in comments lately. This site was created to be fun, and informative. I work hard to maintain a neutral site and broadcast quality information to all of you.

I must say at this point, I will not tolerate, nor be a host to: baiting, bickering or personal attacks on fellow readers. Negativity like that does not foster the sort of community I'm looking for.

So I hate to be all "vice principal" on all of you guys, but as of today all of you readers are on warning. No more bulls*it in the comments section. I do have the capablity of monitoring comments, making it so I have to approve them before they're posted, barring annonymous comments, or not allowing comments whatsoever.

Clean it up guys! And if you really don't like this blog, or our community, or think I'm completely out of line, I invite you to start your own blog in opposition to this one. There is a button at the top of the page that will assist you in such a pursuit.

Bold Bunnies

If rabbits can do it, certainly our mighty cross-trained, highly-skilled, brilliant equines can make it over fences as well!

The Prix Caprilli

The Platte Valley Dressage Schooling Show as well as Dressage at Colby Creek will be offering Prix Caprilli classes this year. Not many people know about Prix Caprilli....

Prix Caprilli is a dressage test with several jumps added in the test. They are in a set position and have to be jumped in the test order. The tests combine the elements of a dressage test with small jumping elements. The fences do not exceed 2' 6" and are single rail fences (like those in a Hunter Hack class) Marks out of ten are awarded by a judge for the movements, some of these will include a jump. We’ve started very easy so there’s no excuse not to have a go!

It is understood that in the working gaits, a jumping horse is not expected to be as round on the aids as a competing Dressage horse. The horse must softly accept the bit and may show more "roundness" in the parts of the tests separate from the jumps. Unless otherwise noted, trot work may be done posting or sitting. When allowed to change leads the horse may do a flying change or change though the trot. The quality of the change is what matters. Test may be called. Refusals will be penalized as an error of course. Knockdowns will be penalized at the judge's discretion. In the case of a knocked down rail getting in the way, the judge will ring the bell for the rider to stop without penalty. After the jump is replaced, the bell will be rung again telling the rider to continue from where he stopped.

You can view the tests and arena layout at the Dressage4Kids site:

Test 1 is for Training Level Horses

Test 2 is for First Level Horses

Sooooo.....Hunter Riders, Jumper riders, Hunter Hack entries...sign up. This is a great way to break up the monotony of your "average dressage test".

ICE Your Cell Phone for Your Life and Your Horse's

Some good advice taken from the USEF e-news:

By Sharon Baker

Protect yourself and your horse and ICE your cell phone, right now. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. ICE is an international designation that Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Responders will look for on your personal cell phone if you are injured and unable to speak, or respond to questions, as a result of any type of accident or debilitating illness.

Take a few minutes to make the entries: ICE in your cell phone for yourself, and ICE HORSE for your horses. In the first entry, after entering the word: ICE, list the person’s name and phone number whom you would have emergency care takers call and notify in case you are found injured or unconscious. Do the same with the name and phone number of your veterinarian or the person you would want contacted to make decisions about your horses.

EquiMedic USA reminds all horse owners that being prepared is the best method of accident prevention, much of that having to do with possessing the right mentality and mind set. When you have taken the time to be prepared, you have the inevitable and worse case scenario in your mind, and you are more likely to stay in the preventive mode. Prevention and preparedness is your best insurance against having accidents.

Emergency care givers have been trained to search in the cell phones of accident victims for the entry ICE, to find the appropriate family, friends or personal medical advisors to notify and gather important medical information. ICE entered in your cell phone with your own personal entries, could easily save your life. The ability to notify and gather the necessary medical information can make the difference in time and being able to administer necessary medical attention, and with the necessary permission to do so. If you are in an accident while traveling with your horses, the situation compounds dramatically. You might be injured, and your horses might be just fine, but will need attention while you are cared for. The worst possible scenario might find you and your horses both needing emergency care. If you need to have more than one entry in your cell phone for emergency contacts, just add numerical numbers to each necessary ICE entry. The simple entries, ICE and ICE HORSE, will appear first. Successive entries such as ICE 2, ICE 3, or ICE HORSE 2, ICE HORSE 3, etc., will show up in that order after the primary entry, and more than one contact can be called on your behalf. Your primary contact might not be available by phone, or you might want to have more than one phone number entry for that same person, or several people, so multiple entries are a great idea.

If you travel the nation’s roads at all with your horses in tow, either near home or far away, also consider having additional official paperwork with you. Beyond having the obvious legal documents like health certificates and Coggins papers, consider also carrying a Power of Attorney with those necessary papers. This document usually needs to be notarized, and when properly filled out, gives another party or person of your choice the legal ability to make decisions for and about your horses. This is essential if you are injured or sick and unable to make these decisions. Additional paperwork which is also wise to carry while traveling is in-depth information about each horse that you haul, including names, ages, feeding information, known allergies, medical background, and veterinarian and insurance contact information. Useful Power of Attorney and Emergency information forms can be obtained from U.S. Rider Motor Plan and EquiMedic USA .

Correct Me If I'm Wrong

As an avid reader, I'm constantly on the look out for a new book to read. Recently I was on Amazon.com (my drug of choice) ordering some new books. I did a search for horse related books, thinking maybe I'd find some great book about the evolution of the species, or something about how equines facilitated human rise to industrialization.

In all my searching I noticed something. Apart from general knowledge and feel good books about horses/horsemanship, there are far more books about Dressage than any other equestrian sport. Is this evidence of the intricate nature of the sport? Are these books out there for us because we don't understand the grand scheme of dressage? Is dressage more suitable for the written word than say, reining?

I theorize that dressage riders, by nature, are more curious individuals than most. Curious in the traditional sense, as well as in the Alice-in-Wonderland "curiouser and curiouser" sort of way. Dressage demands a lot from the rider. Not only must you achieve the movements, and paces, but you must do them with finesse. Rough and rowdy, despite it's militaristic origins is not dressage. We're not merely perched upon our beasts, we ride every last step from beginning to end. Dressage as a sport practically demands curiosity from its riders. Without it, none of us would have ever figured out how to do any of this stuff!

I guess we really do need the help. We can spend our entire lifetime riding this sport, working with our horses, and with our last breath moan about how we never did have the timing quite right for those damn tempis!

Reader Question: What is your favorite Dressage book?

Platte Valley Dressage Schooling Show Entries

Just a reminder that the Platte Valley Dressage Schooling Show closes on Wednesday, June 13. Get your entries in! All proceeds go to the Nebr. Equine Assisted Therapy based in Phillips, Nebr.

We offer:

• Excellent Footing
• Full size indoor competition ring
• Fun classes such as dressage trail and prix caprilli
• Excellent awards and rider swag
• Generous stabling

The prize list and entry form can be found on the Nebr. Dressage Association Website.

We can't wait to see you there!!

***LATE BREAKING NEWS***

LEC competitors - Please hold on to your score sheets! The Nebr. Dressage Association is working out a system in which you will have an opportunity to rectify your score. More details to come, but don't let go of your score sheets!!

TD Talk - Episode One

In light of the scoring mistakes that took place at the LEC show this past weekend, I thought I would take a moment to inform competitors of their rights regarding miscalculated scores.

Although the show office takes every possible step to ensure the scores are correct before closing the class, pinning. and handing out the tests, mistakes do occur. COMPETITORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THEIR SCORES. This means, along with your leather cleaner, boot spiffer, brushes and saddles pads, be sure to pack a calculator. The USEF Rule Book states that competitors have one hour from the posting of the scores to alert show management of a calculation error. If you do not approach show management within that hour, your miscalculated score will stand. It is important that your scores are correct, if not for placings/ribbons, but to ensure that your scores are reported correctly to the appropriate federations and organizations. If you have multiple rides and can't get to the office within the hour, have someone pick up your test for you and check the score. Don't just check the tape stapled to your test, actually calculate the total points and divide by the points possible. If you notice a mistake, alert the office. It might be a good idea to let the TD know as well, so that if there was a consistent mistake, the TD and secretary can make an attempt to get all tests back and correct the mistake before competitors begin to leave the show grounds.

Note to Show Managers: Always have two people scoring tests! Also, write down the time that you close the class and post the last score for each class on your master score sheet so that you will know when the golden hour for protesting has passed.

Note to Riders: If you have early morning rides and don't mind sticking around for a little bit, volunteer to help score tests in the office. You will learn a lot and it's a very easy way to get a few volunteer hours in for year end awards!