the pulse - spring 2013
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The Pulse - Spring 2013TRANSCRIPT
Spring 2012
Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association
Photo courtesy of Wendy Webb Photography
Announcements The Pulse Spring 2013
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President’s Message Doug Price
By now most folks are hitting the trails regularly, our snow birds have all returned from the south and another ride season is about to unfolding as it should. I've got my riding goals figured out, not overly ambitious but certainly worthwhile, how about you?
It's also the season that forest managers and user groups get together to talk trails, and other uses. The riding community always feels squeezed in these conversations. Our most effective impact occurs when local OCTRA members attend these meetings and speak up. Certainly in a polite and respectful manner but in a clear voice never the less.
So, when I attended an OEF meeting in Toronto this week and asked if they had information of how many horses by municipality and their economic impact. Plus a bunch of other things if you are a numbers kind of person. The study is a little dated, 2008, but it shows clear trend of an increasing horse population which would imply that the economic numbers are now very conservative.
Economic Impact of the Ontario Horse Industry
http://horse.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Economic-Impact-of-the-Ontario-Horse-Industry-Feb_08-.pdf
Additionally, if you need someone else in your corner contact Jack de Wit 905-655-4666 or Bonnie Simpson 705-438-5752 both of whom are directors with OEF and protecting horse trails in Ontario is of prime importance.
Another interesting suggestion was to offer a local benefit to having horses in the forest. What could the forest use that you can provide? A neighbourhood watch type of thing maybe? We look for excuses to take the long and hard way around. That's got to have value…
I hope you find some of this useful. Together, our combined involvement in our local communities can make a difference.
Happy Trails Everyone. Doug
Letter from the Editor Sarah Cuthbertson Hello once again, and happy anniversary! Yes it has officially been one year and 4 issues since I took the reins to The Pulse. It has been a fun experience, and also being a relatively new member to the club, I appreciate that while a lot of hard work goes into it, I get an experience unlike any other newbie! How fabulous has it been to meet everyone whether in person at rides, through emails or Facebook. While the learning curve in this sport can be steep, I am finding that my role here along with everyone’s support has made the climb that much shorter. Just like the spring issue last year, I am actually sending out two issues again. The Pulse that you know and love (and of course are reading right now!) filled with articles, announcements and all the details of the AGM & Awards, plus the Ride Season issue which includes the calendar, ride flyers, and all the documentation you need to complete for your rides in 2013. When you are downloading the issues, please make sure you get both of them. If you receive your Pulse in the mail, the new flyers will accompany each new issue of the Pulse.
There is a lot of great content this issue including some new contributors. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did! Of course, I am always looking for contributions! Don’t be afraid to email me with your ideas, or ask for some of mine… if you want to write, I am here to make that possible.
Sincerely, Sarah Cuthbertson, [email protected]
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OCTRA Activity Report The past 12 months has been very active for the members of OCTRA. The Board has received most reports from committee chairs, demonstrating the tremendous amount of work that goes into ensuring that OCTRA is providing a safe, long distance riding experience for you and your horse.
The Board has received reports from the people listed below. In addition, there are many, many people, too numerous to list here, who deserve our thanks and congratulations. Reading through the highlights of the past year, will surely make you anxious to get out on the trails again!
Chrystal Woodhouse Education
Linda Klarner Publicity and PR and Sarah Cuthbertson
Deanna Ramsay Website
Cathy Mezenberg Worker Credits
Nancy Zukewich Youth and Lee Hutten
Rose Danko Set Speed
Phyllis Pecile Ride ‘n’ Tie
Dianne Willis Awards Committee
HIGHLIGHTS of the 2012 SEASON EDUCATION We never stop learning! From beginners to experienced 100 milers, there is always something new to learn and room to improve. The Becky Hart Centered Riding Clinic held last April was so popular it is back by popular demand this year. The mentor program designed to support new riders will be entering Phase 2 in 2013. Phase 1 involved identifying mentors and displaying their names and
contact information on the Website. This has been a tremendous success and Phase 2 will build on this. There was also a Training Ride held in Bonfield, Ontario which promises to open up a whole new region for OCTRA rides. The ‘clinic in a box’ concept will bring together articles and teaching materials that will be made available to anyone wanting to run a clinic or speak to the local Pony Club. In 2013 there will be a focus on developing an advanced long distance clinic for those who are ready to do longer rides. PUBLICITY and PUBLIC RELATIONS This year the club was asked to undertake some new initiatives as part of publicity, a post that had been vacant for some time. These initiatives had a positive effect on club morale. In summary publicity was involved in i) articles in various horse magazines, ii) Destination Equitation iii) The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Through the efforts of various club members we were able to have several articles featuring distance riding in print. These included Canadian Arabian Horse News, WHOA and several local print and electronic media. There was significant effort to promote OCTRA and long distance riding at events like Destination Equitation and the Royal Winter Fair. There were some lessons learned at both events that will help the Board to evaluate the value of OCTRA participation in such events. OCTRA participation at the Royal Winter Fair was a great success on several levels. Our representatives were able to educate and engage visitors in conversation about long distance riding. The close partnership with AHAECA was again reinforced. WEBSITE Did you know that in the previous 12 months we have had 263,485 visits to the website, for a total of 3,689,352 pages viewed!! In addition, the points formula for CTR was rewritten and is functioning correctly, and all other points calculations continue to
Announcements The Pulse Spring 2013
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run without issue. The online membership is working well and has been well-received by members. Ride results came in very fast this year as Ride Secretaries became more comfortable with the spreadsheet.
WORKER CREDITS There are so many hardworking volunteers, members and non-members, deserving our thanks. It is not just those we see on ride day, but also those who put in many hours before and after a ride. This year awards will be going to 18 people ranging from 500 credits to 6000 credits! Thank you to all the ride managers and secretaries for sending their reports on time and indicating the number of days worked where applicable.
YOUTH The Youth Committee ran the OCTRA Young Rider Challenge for the third year, to encourage participation and fun. Fifteen young participants entered rides, worked as volunteers and pit crew and wrote articles for The Pulse. Two young riders, Emma Webb and Lee Hutten, represented Canada at the CEI**** 75 mile North American Junior Young Riders Endurance Championship in Kentucky this summer and earned Team GOLD! The OCTRA Youth Committee was proud to support these young riders who grew up riding in our club. After three years as co-chairs of this committee the still young at heart Nancy Zukewich and Lee Hutten are stepping down as committee leads. It has been great fun! Thanks! SET SPEED Set Speed rides were very popular with OCTRA members in the 2012 season. There were 22 Graded and/or Placed Set Speed events in 10 different venues, each fulfilling the purpose of Set Speed which is to offer a training/learning opportunity for horses and riders in a progressive manner. In the coming season, we look
forward to more active assistance to riders and Ride Managers to better understand and discover the possibilities within Set Speed events.
RIDE ‘n’ TIE Ride ‘n’ Tie continues to attract many new people to our sport. Just this year there have been individuals travelling from Ottawa and Orillia, first to see what it was all about then to compete and even pit crew for other rides. There are those who want to run their own rides next year, for example a group from Caledon, and a person from Campbellville. Runners seem to be particularly interested with one person from Toronto going to the Dufferin Forest to participate. The Royal Winter Fair was an exciting opportunity to promote this sport and the Promo Ride was well-received. There is lots of interest and we encourage you to hold Ride ‘n’ Tie events in conjunction with other organized rides offered this year.
AWARDS Many hours were spent over the summer months preparing for this year’s Awards. Trophies were returned and sponsors were contacted. All is ready for the Awards ceremony in Cobourg this year. By the way, we are looking for new people to take this on as Dianne Willis and Ruth Benns, who have very ably handled Awards for two years, will be stepping down. Thanks for all your hard work!
In conclusion, we hope you had a great year. As you can see, OCTRA members just like you volunteer many hours to ensure that we have the opportunity to live the dream of riding long distances, in the most beautiful country with our beloved horses. Think about joining one of the committees and making OCTRA the strong organization it must be to represent long distance riding
in Ontario.
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Introducing our new 2013 Board Members
Michelle Watling I have been involved with horses since I was a little girl, not competitively but in the pure enjoyment of riding and being with them. Before I became involved in OCTRA I had competed in various rodeo events. In 2007, since I had an Arabian who was definitely not into cows or barrels in any form, I decided to try endurance and went to a training ride at Doug's. The thrill of running down a trail through the trees has hooked me ever since. Granted, off the start I had some issues.. yes the wheels fell off my motor home on my first solo trip and my horse ended up with a pulled groin muscle my 2nd season, after such a rough start and many lessons all else seems easy and we've been flying along ever since. I have thoroughly enjoyed all my time with OCTRA. For the last 5 years I have managed a group of IT technicians who work across North America, Africa and the UK. working with them and being completely remote is very challenging, though coordination and diligence we have become a very effective team. I am a firm believer in enjoying life no matter what is thrown at you and I hope that by
bringing my skills to the board of directors I can help to make OCTRA all it can be going boldly into the future.
Rose Danko I have been an OCTRA member since 1970 and had life membership since when first offered in 19…84? I acted as director for 7 years and then Vice president in the '80s and also CTR chair. More recently I took care of the archives. I have worked and hosted many OCTRA events and presently am the newly created Set Speed chair. I can be held responsible for the rules for Set Speed and test events that precluded recognition of Set Speed as our newest discipline. My wish is to promote the purpose and goals of Set Speed through education and events within OCTRA so as to develop new horses and riders and support those who look to national/international competition. I believe our future is bright, and invite everyone to join us in what is surely the best equine sport there is.
2013 Directors – Photo by Dianne Willis
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Canadian Riders kicking tail down South While many of us are just dreaming and planning the competition season up here in Canada - there are several Canadian riders on Canadian bred horses competing already in the Southern USA. Wendy MacCoubrey is bringing along four Agil sons bred at her monther's farm in Quebec. These two Arabian and two Half-Arab geldings are ones to watch over the next few years. Agil's Royal Smarty is poised to compete in a FEI 2* ride, with the other three are steadily moving through the Novice requirements. Ruth Sturley just completed her new horse's (Firefly) first 50 in South Carolina, who was bred by Rick Burnside of Ontario. Dessia Miller took two of her homebred Hennessy offspring to Florida and South Carolina to compete. Amber Kiera gave a solid performance in a 25 mile LD as well as finishing middle of the pack in a 50 (6 hours) with BC young rider, Katya Levermann. Katya went on to ride Parker AES in a FEI 1* finishing 4th overall and first Junior in 4:50 hours.
Emma Webb’s successful winter season (blurbs from Emma’s website www.http://emmawebb.info)
Fun in the Sun (FITS) 2013 Day 1, 1st place finish FEI – one star – 50 miles on Crank It Up owned by Shelly …. super fit and strong.
12 mile runout to to the finish with an Italian man on Yvette Vinton’s horse!
Finished the ride in about 4:20 … pretty darn quick, we flew!
6:30 am start, finished 12:33 pm, with 80 minutes of holds.
Entered Sunday, Day 3 for the FEI** 75 mile (180 km) ride on Bob Gielen’s Sam’s Candyman. I placed 6th, it was Candy Man’s first 75 mile race!
White River 100 Mile Endurance Ride – 2012 We won it! AND Best Condition as well!
“Emma rocked the 100! She was very tough rode the last 35 miles alone. She won the ride and Best Condition!”
Submit your Out-of-Province Results!
OCTRA members who are riding outside of Ontario are encouraged to submit their results and stories to The Pulse. Help us be a part of your adventure!
Sarah Cuthbertson, Editor, [email protected]
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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A special thanks to Dianne Willis, Ruth Benns, the awards committee and all volunteers for organizing and running our 2012 year end awards.
Thank you to Dianne Willis for all awards photos.
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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Prince Calib Award
Sponsored by Dr. Kathy Kivi, D.V.M.
Sue Downing Oh dear Sue
Just look at you Working yourself to the bone
from ride to ride and in between with all the skills you’ve honed workin n workin n workin n workin
n always behind the scenes workin n workin n workin n workin
helping others reach their dreams so over the years with all our cheers
you have brought us all such pleasure you truly are the epitome, of what makes an OCTRA treasure
THANK YOU SUE DOWNING
our treasure OCTRA LOVES YOU
XOXOXOXOXO 2012
Prince Calib recipient Poem by Dianne Willis
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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WORKER CREDITS
500 credits Denise Blanchet Dessia Miller Rick Tenhove Kimberley Woolley Dr. Morag McMurray
1000 credits Carol Lewin Dianne Willis Joe Hendriks Nancy Zukewich
1500 credits Chrystal Woodhouse
2000 credits Cathy Mezenburg Deanna Ramsay Rob Wright
2500 credits Mike Downing Marion Shearer
3500 credits Nancy Beacon Dave Minns
4000 credits Dr. Kathy Kivi
5000 credits Sheila Buchanan
6500 credits Fred Buchanan
RIDER MILEAGE
500 miles Alexandra McKay Monica Grundmann Susan Winmill Solstice Pecile
1000 miles Lisa Dreschler Kimberley Woolley Nancy Zukewich Jessica Davis
2000 miles Susan Timbers Emma Webb
2500 miles Julie Green
4000 miles Cathy Mezenburg Helen McMaster Bob Coleman
5000 miles Wendy MacCoubrey Mike Downing
5500 miles Wendy Benns Elaine Steele
7500 miles Lesley Danko
12,000 miles Earle Baxter
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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HORSE MILEAGE
500 miles Vesi Sandra Kendall Iʼm No Angel Linda Klarner Dressy Gal Deanna Ramsay Back In A Flash Deb McBride Nanjoʼs Traverston Sue Timbers Glorious Song IA Solstice Pecile Zena Warrior Princess Elaine Steele Tevis Julie Chisholm Cognac Amberfyre D. Miller,K.Woolley Futurystic Ruth Sturley
Excalibur Legend Monica Grundmann Traverston Batique Susan Winmill Princess Leah Dagmar Downes Am Amazing Earle Baxter Klien Michelle Watling 1000 miles Padronʼs Eternal Hope Lisa Dreschler CH Cruise Control Earle Baxter Distinctly Western Jessica Davis
1500 miles El-Marees Mike Downing
2000 miles Miss T. Moonlight Chrystal Woodhouse
2500 miles Cherub Rose Charlene Hendriks
3000 miles Vigil - Flash Christian Valois
3500 miles JC Quick Quint Jim Rawski
HI VET SCORE Sponsored by: Dr. Art King D.V.M. APRILFEST Elaine Steele (50 miles) Chanticleer Shadow OCTRA Spring Ride Ron Savard (50 miles) Shameen CAYUSE CANTER Laura Austin (50 miles) Good To Go CCA COATES CREEK Bob Gielen (75 miles) Vagas COATES CREEK Ron Savard (50 miles) Shameen COATES CREEK Michelle Watling (50 miles) Klien STORMONT Solstice Pecile (50 miles) Glorious Song IA SEOULS CORNERS Wendy Benns (50 miles) Flirt With Fyre OCTOBERFEST Solstice Pecile (50 miles) Glorious Song IA
BEST CONDITION
Sponsored by: Donna & Pat St. Jean, St. Jean Farrier Service SHAMEEN & Ron Savard
COMPETITIVE TRAIL
Sponsored by: Rob Wright, Weehost Inc.
Champion Glorious Song IA Solstice Pecile Reserve Champion Klien Michelle Watling 3rd Zena Warrior Princess Elaine Steele 4th Chanticleer Shadow Elaine Steele 5th Vigil - Flash Christian Valois 6th Aceʼs Night Hawk Jolanda Slik 7th Good To Go CCA Laura Austin 8th Princess Leah Dagmar Downes 9th Distinctly Western Jessica Davis 10th Excalibur Legend Monica Grundmann
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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ENDURANCE
Sponsored by: Lynda Townsend
Champion Shameen Ron Savard Reserve Champion Chanticleer Shadow Elaine Steele 3rd Klien Michelle Watling 4th Flirt With Fyre Wendy Benns 5th Andyn JBK Jim Rawski 6th Vagas Bob Gielen 7th Cherub Rosen Charlene endriks 8th CWM Felen Zillary Emma Webb 9th Serious Moonlight Nancy Zukewich 10th Futurystic Ruth Sturley
SET SPEED
Sponsored by: Linda Klarner Champion Princess Leah Dagmar Downes Reserve Champion Glorious Song IA Solstice Pecile 3rd Iʼm No Angel Linda Klarner 4th Vigil - Flash Christian Valois 5th Kharrington David MacDonald 6th El - Marees Mike Downing 7th Short Circuit Deborah McBride 8th BW Summer Tracy Bradley 9th Rivendell Brego Dr. Erin Rupert 10th Ascertain Susan Aldis Simpson
BEST OVERALL
Sponsored by: Kris Adamson
Champion Glorious Song IA Solstice Pecile Reserve Champion Klien Michelle Watling 3rd Chanticleer Shadow Elaine Steele 4th Princess Leah Dagmar Downes 5th Iʼm No Angel Linda Klarner 6th Distinctly Western Jessica Davis 7th Aceʼs Night Hawk Jolanda Slik 8th Flirt With Fyre Wendy Benns 9th Vigil - Flash Christian Valois 10th BW Summer Tracey Bradley
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HI POINT JUNIOR
Sponsored by: Nancy Beacon
Champion Solstice Pecile Reserve Champion Emma Webb 3rd Laura Austin 4th Stephanie McLeod 5th Barnhild Warzbacher 6th Emily Wright 7th Savanah Wilson 8th Caroline Fell 9th Emily Fell 10th Aurelie Warzbacher
HIGEST MILEAGE:HORSE
Sponsored by: The Rawski Family
KLIEN (460 miles) ridden by: Michelle Watling
HI POINT NOVICE
Sponsored by: Ron & Julie Phair
Champion Linda Klarner Reserve Champion Tracey Bradley 3rd Dr. Erin Rupert 4th Michael Merriam 5th Lindsay Fork 6th (tie) Erin Kurtz 6th (tie) Isabelle MacRae 8th Marcie Isherwood 9th Emily Watson 10th Judy Durst
RIDE n TIE (Jr. & Sr.)
Sponsored by the Pecile Family Champions GLORIOUS SONG IA Bruno & Solstice Pecile Reserve Champions CHESTER Lesley Danko & Hailey Crockett 3rd BLAZING GRACE Chrystal Woodhouse & Emily Wright 4th (tie) DRESSY GAL Deanna Ramsay & Emily Wright 4th (tie) TRAVERSTON BATIQUE Susan Winmill & Caitie Ciampaglia 6th SERIOUS MOONLIGHT Nancy Zukewich & Charlotte Tremblay
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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RIDE n TIE (JR.)
Sponsored by Esau Lewin Champions Dusty Barnhild & Adam Wurzbacher
ROOKIE RIDER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: Doug Price SAVANAH WILSON
RIDE n TIE (Sr.)
Sponsored by: Sandy McKay
Champions EAI JUSTICE Sheila Buchanan & Rob Wright Reserve Champions BIG DEAL Gloria Dangerfield & Renee Robins 3rd IʼM NO ANGEL Linda Klarner & Sarah Cuthbertson 4th LM JESZCAʼs JUBILEE Tammy & Brian McIntosh 5th VIGIL - FLASH Christian Valois & Patricia Calleya 6th EAI JUSTICE Sheila Buchanan & Cathy Mezenburg
BREED AWARDS
Arab
Sponsored by Tom & Lesley Paleczny
GLORIOUS SONG IA Solstice Pecile
Part Arab
Sponsored by Dave & Marg Murray FLIRT WITH FYRE Wendy Benns
Egyptian/Pt. Egyptian
Sponsored by Bob Coleman & Michelle Bignell
SHAMEEN Ron Savard & Judy Saunders
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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Standardbred
Sponsored by Cn. Standardbred Performance Horse Assoc.
DRESSY GAL Deanna Ramsay
Morgan
Sponsored by Sarah Cuthbertson www.thecustomequine.com VIGIL - FLASH Christian Valois
Pt. Morgan
Sponsored by Chrystal Woodhouse
PRINCESS LEAH Dagmar Downes
Morab
Sponsored by Cn. Morab Assoc.
EXCALIBUR LEGEND Monica Grundmann
Quarter Horse
Sponsored by Bambi Cochrane
LIATERN GOOD Stephanie McLeod
Best of the Rest David & Janet
Sponsored by Henderson Rivendell Arabians KLIEN Michelle Watling
2012 OCTRA Year End Awards The Pulse Spring 2013
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Nominated Awards
Pit Crew of the Year
Sponsored by Willis Farms Arabians
Phyllis Pecile
Jr. Horsemanship/Sportsmanship
Sponsored by Julie & Richard Curry
Stephanie McLeod
Sr. Horsemanship/Sportsmanship
Sponsored by Mike Merriam Road Apple Ranch Patricia Calleya
Athlete of the Year
Sponsored by Jackie Redmond
Monica Grundmann
Rookie Worker(s) of the Year
Sponsored by Marion Shearer
Anne Austin & Bonnie Hoyt
Member Articles The Pulse Spring 2013
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Other Awards Cornerstone Insurance Set Speed Team Challenge 2012
Rose Danko Winners of the Set Speed Team Challenge were recognized at the OCTRA AGM held in Cobourg February 16th. Four teams competed in Set Speed events held throughout Ontario in 2012. Top teams received coolers and saddle pads sponsored by Cornerstone Insurance Ltd. Team members winning top award were Linda Klarner riding her Arab I'm No Angel, Sue Winmill with Arabian Traverston Batique, Jessica Davis and her Thoroughbred Distinctly Western. Congratulations to all participants and winners and Thank you to Cornerstone Insurance for making it possible.
Mentors Award Recipient Rose Danko
The Distance Horse and Riders Program Mentors award for 2012 went to Michele Watling of Kirkfield Ont. Michele sponsored junior riders in long distance events while competing successfully herself throughout the 2012 season Mentorship is an important aspect of the DHRP as it encourages and assists in the progressive development of human and equine athletes of all ages within the sport of Distance Riding. More information about the Distance Horse and Rider Program is available at www.kblocksdorf.com/distance program. A list of Clinics, Set Speed, CTR, Ride n Tie and Endurance rides scheduled for 2013 may be found at www.octra.on.ca/
Member Articles The Pulse Spring 2013
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Electrolytes For Beginners
By Deanna Ramsay
Buying electrolytes for distance riding is a bit more challenging than you might expect. You cannot walk into your local tack shop and buy electrolytes off the shelf. Most electrolytes in tack shops are formulated with an incorrect balance for our sport, and can contribute to serious metabolic problems. Generally speaking, the instructions on containers of electrolytes (even endurance electrolytes) are for horses in light work at moderate temperatures. Ontario weather often dictates considerably higher dosages, especially for larger, darker horses. And even more critically for non-Arab breeds. So be prepared for this, and if it's your first ride, ask the vet how much to dose during the ride. And even more importantly, actually GIVE the full dosage that the vet recommends. It will seem like a lot. The most popular electrolyte formulation among Ontario riders is (by far), Perform n Win. It is not available for sale in Canada. Not because it's "illegal", but because the company that manufactures it has never completed the necessary bureaucratic process to have it approved for sale. It is perfectly legal to bring it across the border for personal use though. So many riders who travel regularly across the border have several buckets and are sometimes willing to sell extras at competitions. You can also order it from US endurance vendors such as Running Bear, or Action Rider Tack (among others). It can be fed at rates of up to 1oz per mile.
Endurolytes is another possibility. It's a bit less palatable to horses, but has a very similar formulation to Perform n Win. It's available in Ontario from Herbs for Horses.
The next most commonly used electrolyte is RideRite. It is a much stronger formulation, and horses do not find it nearly so tasty. However, it does work better for some horses, particularly non-Arab breeds. The balance of electrolytes is slightly different, and roughly speaking it is around 3 times as strong as Perform n Win. For my tall, dark Standardbred (who is heat-intolerant), I was dosing Ride Rite at roughly 2 oz for every 5 miles during hot rides. There are quite a few other electrolyte brands that are formulated for endurance. If you are near a Brooks Feeds dealer, they carry Enduramax, which may work for some horses. Any of the Endurance vendors online will carry a variety of electrolytes that you could try. Generally speaking though, Perform n Win should be your first choice. If it doesn't work for your horse, then experiment with other brands to see if a different formulation will help. It is possible to buy individual dosing syringes of many electrolyte brands. This is quite convenient, but would be a very expensive option as you may need quite a few of them at each ride. Some horses will eat Perform n Win mixed into wet feed (such as beet pulp). Some will even eat it straight from your hand. I have an Arab who will pry off the lid and eat it directly from the bucket if he can reach it. But
Member Articles The Pulse Spring 2013
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most horses will need to have it syringed into their mouth with a dosing syringe. These are often available at local feed stores. Ask for a 60cc oral syringe (it has a longer tip known as a "catheter tip"). Practice dosing your horse with apple sauce to make sure you can get it into their mouth. You need to slide it up inside their cheek, and hold their chin up until they've swallowed. Practice at home, since it can be tricky to keep them from depositing the entire mouthful down the front of your shirt.
Perform n Win mixes well with water, even cold water. So it is easy to make up extra doses at the ride site. But your horse will like it better if you've made up doses beforehand mixed with something tasty. Applesauce, fruit flavoured yogurt, and carrot juice are all possible choices. Make sure though that you know you are giving the full planned dose of electrolytes once it's mixed. Sometimes people mix a lot of applesauce and then give 2 oz of mix, thinking they are giving 2 oz of electrolytes. When in fact you may only be giving half an ounce of electrolytes and 1.5 oz of applesauce. Ride Rite does not mix with any liquid easily. I generally
make up a mix of Ride Rite and yogurt in a blender before leaving home, and keep it in my cooler. There are some very good articles on electrolytes on the internet that are well worth reading. Be cautious though... many of the writers are based in the western US, where humidity levels are vastly lower than in Ontario. So their recommendations for brands and doses will not be anywhere close to what is given to Ontario horses. The humidity here creates a much more risky environment and mid-summer rides are difficult to complete without considerable electrolyte supplementation.
Canadian team electrolyting at WEG. Photo by Wendy Webb Photography.
Websites: www.runningbear.com www.actionridertack.com www.horseherbs.com http://www.brooksfeeds.com/
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Andyn JBK, Owned by Bold Vantage Farm, Ridden by Jim Rawski, Photo by Cynthia Swensen
The Akhal Teke as an Endurance Horse Written by Connie Rawski talking about Andyn JBK
This season many of you saw the Akhal Teke breed at the OCTRA rides this year. The gold sheen in the coat may have been the first glint to catch you eye. I was impressed with this breed on what I read about them online before I bought one. They are from Central Asia and were on the verge of extinction. They are specially bred as a war horse that could travel long distances tirelessly. They were bred to carry heavy loads and travel days with little food and water. They are designed to cool out quickly with their narrow frame and angular shape. They instinctively protect their rider and I have seen this protective nature firsthand. What attracted me to this type of horse was its shape. All the horses that we have competed with successfully through the years, have had this rectangular shape. You combine that with the long leg and you have a “grey hound” of the horse world. The more I read the more I wondered aren’t why these horses competing in endurance? The answer was simple; it is because there aren’t that many Akhal Teke horses in North America. Around 400 to 500 horses are in North America right now and they have been a very
expensive horse to buy because they are such rare accomplished athletes. With their catlike effortless movements, they are also a very powerful, yet comfortable ride.
This past year Jim took a broodmare, fresh out of the field. He trained her over the winter months and completed 405 miles on her, finishing up 3rd in the AERC northeast region, heavyweight division.
Watching this Akhal Teke take care of herself out on trail, coming into the vet checks with many Arabian horses, Jim would beat them through with her low pulse and calm demeanor. We have started to breed these exquisite, exotic horses Their sensitive nature and bold attitude truly make them a very unique breed of horse capable of bonding to only one rider who will be captivated by their spirit forever.
Talk to us anytime on the Akhal Teke breed and we will share with you our first hand experiences, stories of how this breed survived wars, their intelligence and how easy it is to be impressed with them.
More at www.canadianendurance.com
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6 Ways to Unleash the Power of Your Riding Seat Kathy Farrokhzad
First, there are hands and legs. When we learn to ride, we tend to guide the horse primarily through the use of our hands, then through our legs. Rein aids and leg aids reign supreme (pun intended!): left rein here, right rein there, inside leg, outside leg... you know the routine.
Without a doubt, it is essential to learn the use of hands and legs to achieve a basic sense of control of the horse - it is not always a pleasant experience to have a spirited equine expressing his enthusiasm while you hang on for dear life!
As time goes on, however, you begin to develop a sense for the horse's balance, for the energy that moves through the body, and for the 'release' that the horse can achieve given the opportunity. You begin to develop 'feel' through your seat.
When is the horse lifting/dropping his back? When are the hind legs underneath the body? How much energy is needed to allow just enough 'forward' for the horse to reach but not so much that he will fall to the forehand?
As you become subtler in the aiding process, you will begin to discover just how powerful the seat can be in guiding the horse without disturbing and interfering in his movement.
1. Find Your Seat
Get yourself a good instructor that knows how to teach the finer points of using the seat during riding. There are a lot of people who use their seat effectively but for one reason or another cannot seem to be able to explain well enough to break it down into achievable
skills.
You must learn how to activate your seat bones, and differentiate between using the seat versus weight aids. Getting control of the "inner" components of the seat will take time and perseverance as this is likely not a typical movement that you're used to.
Look at it as a 2-year goal - one that takes thousands of repetitions to master. Lunging on a reliable, rhythmical school horse might be on the menu in order to allow you to
free your lower back, hips and thighs enough to begin to feel the physical requirements of using your seat. Know that it is extremely worthwhile to put that much effort into the skill acquisition, as everything, including your balance, revolves around an effective use of the seat.
2. Develop Effective Half-Halts
The seat is a key component to a half-halt. Without the seat, your half-halt is about as effective as a pull from your hand, or a kick from the leg. Neither aids really help the horse in rebalancing, which is the ideal result desired from the half-halt.
Use your seat to keep your horse "with" you - brace your lower back to rebalance the horse's momentum and weight to the hind end. Use your seat bones
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laterally to allow half-halts to effect one side only (horse leaning on one side, or drifting through a shoulder) and alternately, use diagonal half-halts (inside seat bone to outside supporting rein) to encourage better use of the hind end by the horse.
3. Free Your Seat to Free the Horse's Back
Encourage your horse to move 'forward' - rather than use your legs to kick a horse onward, use your seat to encourage the more balanced sense of being 'forward'.
In the trot, you can follow along with the horse in a more giving way through your entire seat, opening on the "up" phase of the posting trot (without actually posting). Your seat has the power to encourage the horse to "step through" with its hind legs and develop a lovely rhythmical swinging of the back ("schwung") that will allow for a willing and supple response to your aids.
4. Transition From the Seat
Rather than using your hands for a downward transition, or your legs for an upward transition, use your seat as the "root" to the transition - either upward or downward.
Move your seat into the next gait (even if it is a downward transition) and expect the horse to respond almost entirely off your seat aid. Use hands/legs only if absolutely necessary, after you applied the seat aid.
5. Change Directions
Did you know that you can allow a horse to turn smoothly and in balance simply from a seat aid? Your hands work on keeping the horse straight through the turn, and your seat works from the waist down to turn the horse from his middle. Soon you will be free from "steering" the horse with your hands.
Eventually, the horse will appear to read your mind because the aids will become incredibly subtle and
shared only between you and your horse. The only visible result will be the lack of fuss and a total unison in movement.
6. Stop! (No Hands Needed!)
After a series of half-halts, it will only take your seat to stop the horse's legs. Simply stop moving and "halt" with your seat. Remember to keep your legs active as the horse still needs to complete the halt by bringing his legs underneath him.
Your thought process could go like this: "bring your (hind) legs under, bring your legs under, bring your legs under, halt." It will work every time, guaranteed!
The above ideas are just the beginning. Use your seat to do lateral work, flying changes and even roll-backs. The more you learn about and activate your seat, the more you will discover about the incredible power of the seat.
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Bio: Kathy Farrokhzad is a coach, owner of four wonderful horses, dressage rider and writer of the blog, www.HorseListening.com. A long distance rider of many years ago (who's counting?), she continues to hear the pulse of the trails wherever she goes!
Industry Articles The Pulse Spring 2013
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Cinnamon: The spice of life…literally! By Theresa Gilligan, Neachai Equine Ayurveda (905) 329-8598 www.neachai.ca The thought of cinnamon invokes warmth and comfort as the spicy flavor atop your favorite dessert or stirred and infused into a hot drink. The aromatic and flavorful uses of cinnamon predate 2000 BC and will be forever a spice of choice in culinary preparations.
However, cinnamon boasts another fundamental quality, its medicinal uses. Few are aware of the magnitude of
its ability to treat and heal not only humans but horses too! Cinnamon’s anti-viral properties have been clinically proven to reduce the effects of a cold or flu but more importantly it’s medicinal benefits extend to horses and ponies suffering from Insulin Resistance (IR) causing Laminitis, Cushing’s disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome. These damaging diseases of the endocrine system can leave your equine in agonizing pain and immense suffering.
Insulin is an essential hormone to assist in moving glucose through the blood and tissues creating energy and not storing as unprocessed fat. Being resistant means the equine is unable to process the insulin and the tissues and cells store the glucose as fat and negatively impact the metabolic system causing obesity
and lameness. This condition is similar to Type II Diabetes in humans.
The wonderful warm spice we know as cinnamon plays a fundamental role in these diseases by increasing the recognition of insulin by mimicking the hormones role. Clinical research has proven the efficacy of Cinnamon in treating horses and ponies with Insulin Resistance and the best news is it’s completely safe with no known side effects!
So if your four legged friend is presenting with any lameness issues, cresty-neck and rump obesity or considered and “easy keeper” when off pasture, you may want to head to your health food store or contact an herb provider specializing in Equine treatments.
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Theresa has been involved in riding and training horses for 25 years, including racing and breeding thoroughbreds. She has over 14 years in the financial industry and a bachelor and graduate degree in International Business. The last five years have been dedicated to research in alternative medicinal practices with a specific focus on Ayurveda. Neachai is the first Equine Ayurvedic-specific alternative practice in North America. To date results have been outstanding, and offer an authentically all-natural approach to achieving balance with measurable results.
2012 Executive Board & Committee Members The Pulse Spring 2013
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Executive
President Doug Price RR 4, 457102 Conc 3A Chatsworth, ON, N0H 1G0 519-377-0652 [email protected] Vice President Nancy Beacon RR 2, 794435 East Bacu line Flesherton, ON, NO6 1E0 519-924-2347 [email protected] Secretary Jackie Redmond 503 Victoria Avenue Belleville, ON, K8N 2G4 613.771.9892 [email protected] Treasurer Rick Burnside P.O Box 504 Owen Sound, On, N4K 5P7 519-986-3451 [email protected] Director Marion Shearer 48 Long Stan Rd Stouffville Ont, L4A 1P5 905 640 7915 [email protected] Director Dianne Willis 8467 Willis Rd. RR 6, Cobourg, ON, K9A 4J9 (905)342-2928 [email protected] Director Deanna Ramsay [email protected] Director Rose Danko 5783 Cty Road 9 Route 1 New Lowell Ont., L0M 1N0 .. [email protected] Director Michelle Watling
322 North Mountain Road RR1, Kirkfield, ON, K0M 2B0 705 879 5352 [email protected]
Committee Chairs Archivist Marion Shearer See Directors Awards Dianne Willis See Directors Competitive Elaine Steele 3964 Bell Line Rd Mountain Grove, ON K0H 2E0 613-335-2529 [email protected] ECI Representative Nancy Beacon See Vice President [email protected] Education Chrystal Woodhouse Millbrook, On705-932=2893 [email protected] Endurance Nancy Beacon See Vice President Fundraising Position open - need a challenge? Membership Secretary Robert Wright Mileage Programs Elaine Steele See Competitive Newsletter Sarah Cuthbertson 81 Mary St. Georgetown, ON L7G 4V9 [email protected] OEF Rep. Fred Buchanan 471568 Sdrd. 5 R.R.#2 Mt. Forest , ON N0G 2L0 519-323-3146
[email protected] Publicity & Promotions Linda Klarner, Georgetown,On 905-877-4427 Ride ‘n’ Tie Phyllis Pecile 905-797-3411 [email protected] Ride Liaison (West) Lesley Danko R.R.#1 5955 Cty RD 9 New Lowell, ON L0M 1N0 705-424-2752 [email protected] Ride Liaison (East) Rick & Elaine Steele See Competitive Ride Management/Sanctioning Chrystal Woodhouse See Education [email protected] Set Speed Rose Danko See Directors Veterinary Website Deanna Ramsay See Directors Worker Credit Cathy Mezenberg 6922 7th Line RR2 Belwood, Ontario NOB 1J0 519 787-1416 [email protected] Youth Endurance Canada Representatives Dianne Willis See Directors Deborah McBride 519 662 9887 [email protected]
OCTRA is funded, in part, by a grant from the OEF and the Ministry of
Health and Promotion