Sunday, August 30, 2009

2009 Gusty Wind Hunter Show results as of the July 25 horseshow

Riders or their representatives must be present at the September 12 show to receive their awards. Trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd will be given. Also participation awards will be given. Thank you for your participation so far. Many of you are very close in the points count some come out to the last show to secure your placing in the year end standings! 0=participation.

Beginning Rider

Abby Cuffie 9

Buddy Berry 9

Stacy Krusper 27

Sarah Nordby 8

Rachael Hines 1

Alyssa Anderson 10

Alexis Valenta 7

Sarah Kayda 6

Rebecca Hines 1

Addison Checheccio 21

Taylor Mayanesik 12

Caitlyn Mendik 0

Beginning Horse

Buddy Berry 8

Staci Krusper 8

Sarah Nordby 5

Alyssa Anderson 11

Alexis Valenta 1

Sarah Kayda 5

Rebecca Hines 5

Taylor Mayanesik 4

Sydni Fabrizi 13

Grace Reynolds 3

Hannah Reynolds 9

Sarah West 13

Lexie Koziak 6

Abigail Walters 15

Introductory Hunter

Alexis Valenta 4

Hannah Reynolds 0

Melissa Knox 9

Abigail Walters 10

Hopeful Hunter

Kathleen Posteraro 9

Alana Cuiffi 12

Rachel Bredel 12

Melissa Knox 4

Abigail Walter 7

Sherri Lynn Fiear 8

Brittany Roberto 10

Liz Ferris 0

Special Hunter

Michelle Platek 9

Kathleen Posteraro 10

Alana Cuiffi 0

Sherry Lynn Frear 9

Brittany Roberto 13

Liz Ferris 1

Hunter

Sherry Lynn Frear 8

Brittany Roberto 10

Colleen Sotak 10

Pleasure

Colleen Sotak 0

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Our History in Photos!




These photos were sent to me via facebook about a week ago by one of my mother's former riding students Robin. Thank you Robin for sending this great old photos that vary in age from 1974-1981. Above is a photo of Robin on Ebony. For some reason there were a bunch of photos taken of me personally. I must have attracted attention as the smallest student in the riding school.


This picture shows me (Charlotte) at about age three in my normal horseshow outfit. Mother always tried to dress me in red because I was easy to see if I got away from her at the horse show. This particular sweater was crocheted for me by my Mema Schott. I remember it very well and wonder what ever happened to it. I think this picture was taken in our barn in front of one of the stalls. The timbers are new and haven't even turned the darker color that I remember them as. Later we redid the stalls.


This is a picture of me in 1975 riding my pony Chocolate (Chocky). We are at a horseshow at Hi Acres you can see their hunter ring in the background behind me. Mother used to take me to the horse shows with Chocky and then I could ride her all day. We still have this little Western saddle. It was great for me to use because I could always grab the saddle horn in an emergency. Also mother could not find an English saddle that fit Chocky. So she modified the Western saddle (she removed the fenders so that I could have my leg closer to the pony). I "learned to ride English in a western saddle." That saddle was great because it had those stirupp covers on the stirups so I was not at risk for getting my foot caught in the stirup and being dragged by the pony. Even at a time when many riders did not wear riding helmet mother always insisted that I wear mine when I rode. Considering how many headaches I have gotten after falling off horses over the years its possible that the riding helmet rule kept my brains in good enough order to manage to do my school work as I grew up.

This is a photo taken around 1976 of me with my puppy, Curly Ears. She may have been a Cockapoo. She was the only dog that was ever allowed to sleep on the floor next to my bed. The sad thing is I really do not remember her. I am sitting on a coop jump that was in the field below the ring (now the Dressage ring) we did not know what Dressage was back then ( except for knowing about the Lipizzaners who did beautiful dancing). I think my Grandmother must have been visiting because I cannot imagine having that dress on otherwise.


Speaking of Dressage here is the only picture of me in a Dressage show in this collection. Since Robin stopped riding here in about 1976 I think this photo must have been taken when she came for a visit in 1981. This is Sweet Valentine she was my "good pony". Notice her coloring at that time she was about 6 years old and she had a dark mane and tale. Her color was buckskin. Now at age 35 she is WHITE! Notice my trademark position in the saddle from looking at these photos it looks to me like I've been doing that pose since I was 4 years old. I do not know who the girl standing behind Valentine is. By the way notice I have my hunt coat, boots and breeches on and my pony is BRAIDED. Braiding Valentine was very difficult because she used to be head shy. I think she was head shy because she always wore a cribbing strap and she hated it. We finally gave up on the strap because she could crib anyway. Now she does not have to wear it ever.

This picture represents a big transition in our riding program. These two lovely ladies are Thoroughbred mares. This was the second Thoroughbred foal we ever raised. Their names are Strawpump Nancy (the mother) and Early Nancy Dancer was the filly. Earlier in our history we mostly had an Arabian (see the story of Gusty Wind), a Morgan cross mare (Honey), and some other Quarter Horse and Appaloosa types. From this point on Mother preferred Throughbreds. We bred and raised many Throughbreds. Later we also bred a couple of Throughbred mares to Hannoverian Stallions (resulting is Mischief and Long Legs) and some other combinations. However mother to this day prefers THROUGHBREDS!




This is Strawpump Jackie she was a sister to Strawpump Nancy.

Here is a photo of a bunch of riding students waiting for their turns to go in the horse show. The horse on the left is "Grey" and the guy behind him is my Dad and although we can't see the horse I think he is on Cocomo. Mother is holding Ebony and Robin is pointing towards the ring, and our Quarter Horse Cat aka "Cat's Troubles" is in the far right of the photo. This was taken in 1974.

Here is a picture of Vicky Barnes jumping Cocomo.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

How Shocking! Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy



Sundance Bobby aka Fort Apache Bobby belongs to Kathleen and Tony Posteraro. He is a 20 year old quarter. Bobby's career objective is to be a reliable trail horse for Tony. However Kathleen noticed that Bobby was picking up and putting down his left hind leg after he got up from lying down or after he stood around for a long time. She felt that he might be showing pain in that leg. So she asked Dr. Burks from Fox Run Equine Center to examine him. Dr Burks examined Bobby and shot a series radio graphs which showed that his hocks were very arthritic.

As a part of his treatment for Bobby Dr. Burks did shock wave therapy. Shock wave therapy uses sound waves to promote healing in both soft and hard tissues. It is unknown exactly why it works. However what it tends to do is to promote the growth of healthy tissue. In Bobby's case the goal was to get his hocks to fuse so that he no longer experienced the pain in them. The therapy is not expected to make his gaits and different than they are know, but his pain should decrease substantially.



Shockwave Therapy is slightly uncomfortable while it is being administered, so tranquilizers are administered even to calm horses.
You can see in this picture that Bobby has been tranquized in preparation for the Shockwave Therapy.

Then rubbing alcohol was rubbed on the area of treatment because the sound waves travel better through the wet surface. The wet surface prevents airpockets in the hair that can interfere with the shocks being administered.

Then Dr. Burks used the probe to apply the shockwave to Bobby's hocks. Bobby was already showing improvement from the first time this was done about two weeks prior. He may need up to one or two additional treatment depending on how he responds to this one. Here are two videos of Dr. Burks doing the procedure.



Thursday, August 6, 2009

Horse Books for Children-Thelwell Series-My Childhood Favorites!

Norman Thelwell 1923-2004. These are the pony cartoons that I grew up enjoying. I used to read the comic books over and over and I had a shirt with the characters that was my favorite shirt!
Even today I have a Thelwell mug that I got for Christmas this year! I don't use it instead it sits in the china cabinet. It was the last Thelwell item the tack shop had in stock!











As far as nonfiction books go there are a few that are fantastic for young horse people.

For kids younger than ten years old the book Happy Horsemanship is a great way to learn the ins and out of horse care and safety.



The Pony Club Manuals hold the essentials for riding, caring for, and competing horses.








Books for Hunter Riders-Equitation, Training, Pleasure,

Recommended Readings for Adult Horse Riders-Emphasis Dressage Training