Join the WEG 2010!

Would you like to participate in the World Equestrian Games 2010 in Kentucky?

Everyone can participate by sponsoring a team! In fact, the Championship Driving Classes are being attended this year by David E. Suanders . David will be driving four-in-hand with his team of  USA bred Morgan Horses. He is one of many still in need of sponsors willing to volunteer services such as shoeing, stabling, and feeding for his world-class team. See their write-up on New England Morgan Horse Assoc. titled: Make Way for Morgans!

David did a great demo of his driving skills at the July 30th New England Morgan Horse Show in Northampton, Ma.     No one was left in doubt over David’s chances to win the WEG after witnessing his skillful maneuvering and flair for accuracy in tight turns. His horses quickly respond to his coaxing and push their own limits by maximizing their energetic efforts.  Northampton crowds were indeed delighted with such an exuberant four-in-hand, Morgan Team display.

If you can donate, by cash or services: http://blackprong.com/team/

coming next week: David’s videos from competition four-in-hand driving, on EQUI-TV.

Equi-Trivia Quiz! »« Videos you loved!

Videos you loved!

Bridleless Cross Country Pony & Rider

Back by popular demand! The most favored horse videos are back on EQUI-TV for this week. Thanks for your comments! Many of your favorite picks were actually our favorites too! The deeply moving and heart wrenching video: “Sound the Bugle” is tops for honoring the horse in battle. And for action, the jaw-dropping Metropolitan Mounted Police demo wins hands down and for the best horsemanship, too; imagine removing your saddle and going over jumps while carrying it on your arm. NO THANKS. And everyone loved watching John Lyons perform his miracle on the horse who wouldn’t walk over the tarp at last years Northeast Equine Expo. Our favorite? The adorable bridleless pony who takes his rider on a cross country gallop and does his clever tricks as well.

Thanks for watching and checking in on the Equi-TV page and for reading our website, volunteering information, and submitting such great articles!

Next month take the new Horse Trivia Quiz. Find out if you just “like” horses or if you are  a full-blown  horse addict!

Remember: For August: The first  EQUI-TRIVIA QUIZ

Join the WEG 2010! »« Working with the Local Sheriff Posse, by Steve Lock

July 1-4, 1863:Horses of Gettysburg

General Sherman

The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War since it ended the Confederate General Robert E Lee’s advancement northward to conquer New England. The State of Massachusetts had sent among its troops the 9th Battery Mounted Division with Captain John Bigelow in charge, who was severely wounded early on during the battle on July 2nd. The Mass Battery brought 110 men: 10 were lost, 18 wounded;  but of the infantry mounts - 88 horses of the 9th were killed on the battlefield. The Northern, or Union Soldiers, were 90,000 in number; they lost 30,000.  The Southern, or Confederate Soldiers, came with 75,000 men; they lost 27,000. Horses estimated killed in battle at Gettysburg: 1.5 million horses dead. Said Capt Bigelow: “The enemy opened a fearful musketry fire, men and horses were falling like hail…. Sergeant after Sergt., was struck down, horses were plunging and laying about all around….”

Horses from Battle at Little Round Top/Pictures from Library of Congress,Civil War Collection

Requiem for the War Horse, by Jerri Streeter

No battle fought was theirs by choice, nor came victory from their breath,

But they trotted forward just as ordered – into bullets, swords, and death.

Their brave hearts beating in silent courage, in fear that no voice would tell

They stood as targets, lay down as barriers, for soldiers intent to kill.

They labored for our liberty, they forfeited their lives,

Faithful military horses one and all — felled by cannons, bayonets, and knives.

They bore the blows and fatal wounds to save their mounted friends–

Who saved their saddles but not their horses when each battle came to end.

The war horse asked no questions, sought no medals, nor decorated pins

Just blinked an eye and charged ahead, trusting they’d go home again.

We salute with honor their deeds of valor: their sacrifice, pain, and torture.

For they were more than just mere transport….

They are the forgotten: Equine Military Soldiers.

Reader’s comment: I read once the way they trained the horses to charge into the face of fire was to have them charge a line of men. Then when they reached the line the men would pet them and praise them. They worked up to firing blanks when they charged. Then they would be petted and praised again. By the people firing as well as their riders, of course.  Mahalo, Steve

Working with the Local Sheriff Posse, by Steve Lock »« June 25,1876;The Horse who Survived

Comanche Tribe:Trainers of the Calvary?

Empire of the Summer Moon, by SC Gwynne

This interview by FOX Business talks with Documentarian S.C.Gwynne about his book “Empire of the Summer Moon” and explores the facts of how the Comanche Tribe became the first to use combat from horseback.  The American Soldier took notice and adopted their idea. http://bit.ly/bStFlj There is always a brief commercial at the beginning of the video but it is very brief.

The book also probes the historical time-line of the Comanche People and brings in new information on the Quanah Parker band of Comanche warriors.

Mount up Providence! »« Trotting a Beat in San Francisco,by Delfin Vigil

Fun Training for Weekend Riders

Photo: Brenda Imus from myHorse.com

Do you work a forty hour week? Are you limited to just the weekends to ride? Are you unable to trailer out due to inclement weather? Here are some fun horseback activities you can do to keep your horse reasonably in shape and to keep his mind active.

Many riders find that the use of cones offers endless variety and complexity for training options. Just three cones in a spacious triangle, or on a straight line (verticle or horizontal), can mimic a trail ride by using the cones as ‘trees or rocks’ to maneuver your horse around. As you wind through them you can alert your horse to: not drifting sideways outside the intended circle; not to change speeds on his own; not to ignore your seat and force you to only use your reins for turning; and not to be one-sided, but instead bend both ways, right and left, when asked. As he gets the hang of it at the walk then you can pick up the pace to a trot, and when he gets really fluid and comfortable, the canter work has endless options for practicing figure eights, flying changes, and even counter canter.

Ground poles expand your cone lessons by moving beyond the turning and flexing exercises. The discipline of the work helps your horse with learning to shift his weight backward and begin lifting to step over objects.  This helps increase your horse’s impulsion and dexterity of stride, and assists you in gaining better control and influence in the saddle. (There is no reason why you can’t add a tarp to walk on, too.) One of my favorite uses of ground poles is to place two to three groupings of  poles throughout the ring. I lay them flat on the ground with a cone at each end. Then I practice figure eights by having the horse step over the center of the pole, bend around the end cone, step again over the center of the pole, then bend around the other end cone. As you come over one set of poles you can head for another set while in a leg yield/shoulder-in/half-pass, then return to the figure eight at the new set of poles.

You can see that even if you only have a few hours a week to ride, you can still imagine how to ride full-time.  Try jotting down your ideas during the day so that you can remember to try them out on your next weekend ride. When you finally return to riding your horse outdoors your horse should be better prepared from these special exercises, and you’ll have a closer relationship with him from spending extra time with him during the wintry months.

Horses in Public Service »« John “Red” Pollard

John “Red” Pollard

 Just revisited the movie: “Seabiscuit”. What a great moment in history. Read a special tribute to one of America’s greatest horse jockeys as written by   Norah Pollard ,   his daughter and a native Rhode Islander.

photo from:gossipcraze.com

Fun Training for Weekend Riders »« The First Cowboys; the Vaquero

Best Friends!

Bitless Riding & Driving »« Para-Equestrians: the path of valor

Bejing Olympics Recycles Horse Waste

The Rare Eriksay Pony »« Molly, the Katrina Survivor