BarnManager Horse Health Series: Caring for the Senior Sport Horse, Part 2
March 6, 2024| | in category Horse Health No comments yet

From a veterinary perspective, horses can be considered “middle-aged” starting at age 13 years old and “seniors” by age 20. Although many sport horses may just be coming into their prime for training and competing during these years, horses show signs of aging at different rates just like humans do. As horses age some physiological functions start to decline, and they require extra care to maintain their overall health and condition.

Current advances in equine medicine enable horses to perform longer in their athletic careers than ever before. Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL, is experienced in helping senior sport horses stay comfortable and competitive. Together with proper veterinary care, educated owners can offer senior horses a happy and pain-free life as they age into their senior years. While many of the same health factors apply to horses of all ages, several considerations are highly relevant for seniors.

Read on for details and be sure to catch up on Part 1 of Caring for the Senior Sport Horse here.

Provide a Safe, Comfortable Environment

Making sure your aging horse has a well-bedded, sanitary space with an adequate amount of water and protection from the rain, snow, direct sun, and biting insects is essential to keeping them healthy. Additionally, middle-aged and senior horses can be more susceptible to respiratory irritants such as mold, fungus, dust, and pollen. As a result, it is best to do all barn and stall cleaning while your horse is in turnout or being ridden so they do not breathe in the irritants that can be stirred up during the cleaning process. Minimizing their exposure to these factors by maintaining a clean and well-ventilated stable will go a long way toward keeping your older horse healthy and comfortable.

Schedule Regular Veterinary Performance Evaluations

Like all athletes, horses can experience physical setbacks and do not always bounce back quickly as they age. Osteoarthritis and laminitis are two common medical conditions that become more prevalent as they get older. The middle-aged and senior performance horse needs to be managed with proper veterinary and farrier care and a suitable training program.

Routine performance evaluations by your veterinarian are a useful tool in detecting subtle changes in a horse’s gait and movement before issues become injuries. They will be able to suggest an appropriate treatment plan that can maintain and even increase your horse’s flexibility, range of motion, and balance, as well as ease any discomfort they may be experiencing. Some of these options to better your horse’s quality of life can fall under anti-inflammatories, joint injections, biological therapies, and alternative medications. 

Many owners begin consulting their veterinarian on regenerative and alternative therapies well before their horse has reached senior years as these therapies may help support both longevity in performance and better health for the horse’s organ and musculoskeletal systems.

Pay Attention to Changes in Behavior and Contact Your Veterinarian

Changes in your middle-aged or senior horse’s behavior or energy level, even when minor or seemingly unimportant, can be indicators of underlying issues or disease. Exercise intolerance, poor coat condition, weight loss, stiffness, dropping feed, or changes in water intake can indicate that something might be wrong and should be communicated to your veterinarian. The sooner issues are identified, the sooner your horse can receive the right care and ward off serious illnesses.

Periodic preventative care checkups, performed at least bi-annually, can be key to catching age-related conditions and diseases that owners may not notice in their day-to-day care due to gradual onset. Involving your veterinarian in the management of your senior horse will help ensure their health and happiness throughout their golden years. 

Reach out to your Palm Beach Equine Clinic veterinarian for any questions about your horse’s health at any age by calling 561-793-1599 to schedule an appointment.

NOTE: These guidelines are only suggestions, and you should always follow the specific instructions from your veterinarian.

 

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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BarnManager Horse Health Series: Caring for the Senior Sport Horse
January 25, 2024| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Advances in equine medicine are enabling horses to perform longer in their athletic careers than ever before. Together with proper veterinary care, educated owners can offer senior horses a happy and pain-free life as they age into their senior years. Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL, is experienced in helping senior sport horses stay comfortable and competitive.

Horses from the ages of 12 and older are considered “seniors,” but they often compete successfully into their teenage years. Many horses in the prime of their careers may require extra maintenance to continue performing at their best, and advances in veterinary care have helped extend careers. Although maintaining these athletes requires more work by the owner and the veterinarian, preemptive attention to an aging equine’s needs may help keep your partner performing longer.

Maintain Top Health Over the Years

There are several areas of care that owners should consider to maintain their horse’s top health and ensure continued success. It is important to remember that just as the human body changes with age, the horse’s body does the same.

  • Owners should contact their veterinarians on a routine basis to have their horse’s overall health and fitness evaluated, no matter what the horse’s job is. 
  • An appropriate fitness program is imperative to the senior horse’s performance. As horses age, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain their fitness. Any exercise that builds your horse’s stamina and muscle mass is essential, and the more your horse gets out of its stall and moves around the better. Anything from riding lessons to trail riding, or even hand walking, can be beneficial. 
  • Like any athlete, horses can experience physical setbacks, so it is important to have their gaits evaluated routinely. Veterinarians can suggest appropriate treatments to avoid creating larger issues, whether the horse needs a little assistance with the flexion in their neck or joint injections to ease discomfort.
  • It is important to maintain the senior horse’s stall with clean, deep bedding for both comfort and sanitation purposes. The stall should be away from direct sunlight, have fans for effective air movement, and plenty of fresh water to maintain hydration and prevent overheating.

For a more in-depth explanation, click HERE to read the full article from Palm Beach Equine Clinic. 

NOTE: These guidelines are only suggestions, and you should always follow the specific instructions from your veterinarian.

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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BarnManager Horse Health Series: How Environment Affects Equine Gut Health
December 15, 2023| | in category Horse Health No comments yet

Anyone who has equine experience is aware of the very real threat of losing a horse to colic or other gastrointestinal disease. Looking back on the history of equine death causes, colic still holds the same percentage as it did 20 years ago, standing firm as the second highest cause of death behind natural causes. The good news is that veterinarians and researchers have learned a lot in the last decade about the role of the equine gut microbiome on numerous health outcomes, including colic, maldigestion, dysbiosis, and more. Board-certified internal medicine specialist Dr. Peter Heidmann of Palm Beach Equine Clinic, in Wellington, FL, shares some of his extensive knowledge of the equine gut microbiome.

The equine gut microbiome is an ecosystem composed of quadrillions of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and even viruses that interact and coexist in the gastrointestinal tract and contribute to overall gut health and well-being. In equines, when the microbiome is disrupted in such a way that populations of beneficial bacteria and yeast have declined and/or populations of harmful pathogenic bacteria and yeast have increased, it is not unusual to see colic and colitis, laminitis, and other serious conditions.

Microbiome and Nutrition

“When we’re working to improve overall gastrointestinal (GI) health, we are basically trying to increase the population of ‘good bugs’ and crowd out the ‘bad bugs,” remarked Dr. Heidmann. The combination of probiotics, prebiotics, and diet are all key factors that influence what happens on the inside of a horse’s gut. According to Dr. Heidmann, a well-balanced diet is most important, but the sources of nutrients also play a huge role in promoting gastrointestinal health.

Excessive amounts of starch-rich grains can reduce populations of healthy flora, decrease the types of bacteria that are present in the colon, and also promote overgrowth of unhealthy flora. In turn, overly homogenous populations limit a horse’s resilience to stress, dietary changes, and other unpredictable changes such as those in the weather.

Oats and other starch-rich grains cause increases in propionic acid-producing bacteria, while hay-only diets increase acetic acid-producing flora, and therefore promote more diverse and stable populations of beneficial bacteria and yeasts. On the flip side, feeding hay and no grain means the nutrients are being digested much more slowly and will promote more diversity and stability of flora populations.

“At the same time, some ‘good’ bugs are also decreased when a hay-only diet is fed, especially ones thatrely on easy-to-digest starchy grains,” noted Dr. Heidmann. “One type of organism, the Lachnospiraceae, is among the most prevalent type present in a healthy horse’s hindgut, and its population also diminishes when grain is not being fed.”

Ultimately, some easily digestible concentrate feeds promote healthy bacterial populations and release lots of energy quickly, yet it is fairly easy and risky to over-do the easily digestible feed. Not only do abrupt changes in diet increase the risk of upsetting a horse’s healthy microbiome, but feeds that are high in carbohydrates can also promote gas formation, lactic acidosis, and other types of colic. “Simply put, garbage in equals garbage out,” Dr. Heidmann explained.

Other Microbiome Stressors 

Aside from what goes into the horse, other factors can determine the behavior of the microbiome and the overall functionality of the gut. Genetic makeup almost certainly plays a role in the way organisms manage the nutrients going in and, in turn, impacts the horse. Stress is another significant factor that has a relationship with the gut, though it remains difficult to draw clear lines of “cause and effect” when studying all the ways stress affects a horse’s gut health.

It is common knowledge among trainers that horses with anxious, “stressed-out” personalities seem prone to developing stomach ulcers. Separate from stress caused by riding, changes in surroundings, or even changing stablemates can make a difference in the organisms in a horse’s gut.  Even when the feeding program remains consistent, a change in workload or their neighboring stall-mate invites stress and can promote ulcers.

“The relationship between stress and gut health isn’t as simple as a cause-and-effect relationship, where stress leads to a direct change in the behavior of the bugs, or where a change in flora directly increases a horse’s stress levels,” explained Dr. Heidmann. “It is a complex, dynamic interaction; it’s a constant feedback loop.”

It is difficult enough to separate cause from effect when looking at the relationships between gastrointestinal flora and factors like diet, exercise, pre-and probiotics, or supplemental digestive enzymes. Explaining the relationship between a horse’s behavior and their GI flora is inherently subjective, and therefore even more difficult to confirm. 

Still More To Learn

Veterinary science and research still have a long way to go to draw firm associations between illness and the microbiome. According to Dr. Heidmann, “It’s not known yet if the disease is the cause of the change in microbiome flora or if it is the result of a change in the flora, but for sure there is a strong relationship between these things. For now, we don’t yet know if the horse has an unusual balance of organisms because of its problems with chronic colic, or if it is the reverse: that the colic is rooted in an unusual balance of GI organisms.”

In the interim, a consistent regime of diet and exercise, where the workload is tailored to the horse’s skillset and stage of training, remains the best way to minimize risk and promote healthy GI flora. “Prebiotics and probiotics and other micronutrients are sometimes necessary,” said Dr. Heidmann, “but the most important things remain hay and sunshine, water and exercise, and consistency most of all.”

For a more in-depth explanation of how the environment affects horses’ gut health, click HERE to read the full article from Palm Beach Equine Clinic. 

NOTE: These guidelines are only suggestions, and you should always follow the specific instructions from your veterinarian.

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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BarnManager Horse Health Series: Shipping Fever
November 16, 2023| | in category Horse Health No comments yet

 

Shipping fever is a respiratory disease complex associated with the transport of horses. This is a common problem horse owners should be aware of, especially if your horse is shipping south for the winter. Dr. Ryan Lukens of Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL, discusses the symptoms, treatments, and ways to prevent shipping fever in horses.

Causes of Shipping Fever

A common scenario for shipping fever is when a horse is transported from its barn to another state to attend a show. The horse may be healthy and well-hydrated before entering the trailer, but the stress of travel can weaken the immune system. Another leading factor is tying a horse’s head up while trailering long distances. The mucociliary apparatus of the trachea, which clears dirt and debris from the lower airway, is interrupted due to dehydration, a change in temperature, and the inability of the horse to lower its head. The introduction of foreign material into the lower airway can lead to pneumonia, fluid in the pleural cavity (surrounding the lungs), and associated respiratory distress.

Signs and Symptoms To Watch For

Common symptoms noted are hyperventilation, increased rectal temperature, coughing, and nasal discharge after travel. The horse may seem depressed, not willing to work, and not interested in food or water. It is important to call the vet immediately if any of these symptoms are observed after a horse travels. The faster an infection in the lower airway is treated, the quicker and more likely the horse can recover. Shipping fever, if left untreated, can lead to severe pleuropneumonia, which can be life-threatening.

Treatment of Shipping Fever

Initial treatment includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and hydration. If pneumonia progresses without treatment, surgery may be indicated, which can include removal of a rib and placement of chest drains (to drain fluid around the lungs). The vet should be called, and it is crucial to begin treatment at the earliest sign.

Prevention of Shipping Fever

There are several preemptive steps that can be implemented to reduce the risk of a horse developing respiratory disease related to travel:

  1. Split up long trailer rides over several days. Also, be sure to take breaks and let horses out of the trailer at least every 6-8 hours, if possible. 
  2. Ensure the horse is properly hydrated before travel. Common preventative practice includes the administration of oral or IV fluids by a veterinarian prior to travel. 
  3. Discontinue any immunosuppressant drugs 48 hours prior to travel. This includes steroids such as dexamethasone. 
  4. Ship horses in a box stall or similar enclosure so their heads do not have to be tied during travel. 
  5. Ask a veterinarian about immunostimulant drugs that can be given prior to travel.

 

The most important step is to contact your veterinarian immediately if your horse shows signs or symptoms of shipping fever.

For a more in-depth explanation of shipping fever, click HERE to read the full article from Palm Beach Equine Clinic.

NOTE: These guidelines are only suggestions, and you should always follow the specific instructions from your veterinarian.

Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Tips on Going Back to School Sustainably
September 3, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Written by BarnManager partner Green Is the New Blue

 

Summer show season is coming to a close and riders are gearing up for finals. For the younger members of the equestrian community, that means it’s back to school. This week, we’re sharing ways you can be an environmentally conscious student, both at the barn and as you head to school.

Bring Your Own

Refuse to use single-use plastics. Instead, bring your reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go. Schools all have water fountains so you can have faith that you’ll have fresh, cold water. If your barn doesn’t have a water refill station, request that one be added to the tack room or lounge. Pack a lunch in a reusable container and bring home what you don’t eat, minimizing both packaging and food waste. Another good investment is a reusable glass or metal straw and carrying case – this can be great to keep in your bag when going out to eat with friends, or even for drinks at school.

Caffeinate Responsibly

Are you the type of student who picks up coffee before school or the barn? Bring a reusable coffee cup to your local shop, or, better yet, brew your own. Invest in a reusable filter for your machine and buy coffee in bulk. Coffee is water intensive, and farmers may be paid below market value for their crop, so choose shade-grown coffee from companies that can identify the exact source.

Back to School Shopping

Amazingly enough, thrifting is in! There are so many small thrift shops with super affordable vintage items to create that perfect back-to-school statement. Did you know the fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide? If you do buy new, choose quality items that will hold up over time and avoid fast-fashion at all costs.

Sustainable Equestrian Teams

For some students, back to school also means back to team riding. With IEA and IHSA teams comes exciting camaraderie, so use this to make a positive impact. When hosting shows, provide a water refill station, easy access to recycling bins, and minimize plastic in the food booth. Not only will your horse show be more sustainable, but maybe you’ll inspire other teams to take home those ideas to their own barns!

Get Involved

Collect your community service hours and build your resume this school year. Join a Green Team at your school or find other sustainability organizations in your community to work with. This could be anything from supporting a local advocacy group to gaining support for environmental legislation or rehabilitating wildlife at a professional center. If you can’t find the type of organization you’re looking for, start one!

With finals coming up, we commend young riders on their ability to balance their riding careers with their educations. These tips can help you become more sustainable, whether at school, home, or the barn. We wish everyone the best of luck at finals and a fun start to a new school year!

 

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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How To Get Your Horse Show Ring Ready
August 26, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Whether it’s your first time out showing in a while or you’re a seasoned competitor, you can’t deny the importance of sending a clean and shiny horse into the show ring in any discipline. Some shows offer awards such as “Best Turned Out” for horses that are impeccably groomed, but even if the show doesn’t, you want to show off your stunning horse and have it look its best for any photo ops. Here are some tips on how to fully prepare your horse to look stunning ahead of and during competition day.

The Day Before:

1. Bathe from head to toe.

Gather your favorite bathing supplies and head to the wash rack. Dilute your soap with water so it’s not too harsh on the horse’s skin and use a sponge to apply soap all over the body. Then, use a curry comb or similar grooming device to scrub your horse’s entire body with the soap, being sure to really dig deep into the fur and get all the dirt and grime out. Once this step is complete, thoroughly rinse and make sure to get all the soap off, because it could irritate the skin. If your horse is particularly dirty, this step may need to be repeated.

2. Condition the mane and tail.

You’ll ideally want to be able to comb both the mane and tail before you show to give each one volume, so conditioning and detangling is crucial to avoid pulling out any hair. Lather in conditioner, then rinse thoroughly. Use a detangling spray and wait for the mane and tail to fully dry before you begin brushing. When brushing, start from the bottom to remove tangles and move your way up.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of whitening shampoo.

If you have a white or grey horse, whitening shampoo is your best friend. Start applying whitening shampoo to the top of the tail and work your way down, then lather the entire tail and scrub. Give it a good rinse and repeat until it’s bright white, which may even take several days of washing post-ride. Also use the whitening shampoo on white legs and other spots where stains may be deepest.

The Day Of:

1. Arrive early to allow time to clean.

Some horses sleep quite well at horse shows, which can make grooming a more difficult task as they are dirty from laying down all night. Be sure to show up well before your scheduled ride time in order to bathe your horse and get it sparkling. Bring plenty of fans so your horse can dry quickly at the show.

2. Spot clean if you have to.

Some horses don’t need a full bath on show days. If you’re lucky enough to have only a few minor spots of dirt on your horse, use a dry shampoo or spot cleaner to remove those before show time.

3. Monitor your horse as the day goes on.

If you bathe at six in the morning and don’t compete until four in the afternoon, there’s a good chance your horse may lay down for a quick nap and get dirty again. Don’t leave your horse alone all day and expect a clean horse when it’s show time. Check back in an hour before you expect to ride and make sure your cleaning efforts haven’t been squashed.

4. Polish and head to the show ring.

Once it’s time to show and you know your horse is clean, it’s time to begin polishing. Go over the whole body with a soft brush to make sure any dust from stall shavings is gone and all the hair is going in the proper direction. Spray some fly spray to avoid any fly-bite mishaps, comb the mane and tail, polish the hooves, and begin tacking up. Have someone be prepared with a rag at the ring to wipe away slobber or anything else that could cause stains when preparing to show.

Anyone who knows horses knows they always choose the most inopportune times to get dirty, so as riders and competitors we have to be prepared with the best products and best techniques for grooming and cleaning ahead of competitions. Leave a comment below with your go-to grooming products!

 

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Back To School: Six Tips on Beginning the College Recruiting Process
August 20, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

No matter your age, August typically means one thing: it’s back-to-school time. For high schoolers, the start of the academic year means you are inching closer to college. So now might be the time to start formulating a plan, especially if you want your future to involve riding at the collegiate level. Whether you are a full-time student, a parent of a student, or a close friend or relative of a student looking to potentially ride for an equestrian team in college, it can be unclear what the best steps are to secure a spot on one of the many teams at that level.

Here are some things you can do to proactively set yourself up to ride competitively in college.

1. Do your research.

It’s important to both college coaches and admissions officers that prospective students are passionate about attending their particular school. Be sure to adequately research the equestrian teams offered at each school and also look at the academic programs to make sure each college you’re looking into would be an all-around fit for you. Make a checklist of items you’re looking for in a school, such as proximity to home, an NCEA or IHSA team, and particular areas of study. Then start to form your list of schools that fit this checklist.

2. Introduce yourself.

Send an introductory email to coaches at the schools you would like to attend. You can find contact information for coaches on each college’s website for NCEA programs and on the IHSA website for IHSA programs.

Use this email to sell yourself. The coaches get lots of emails from students interested in their program. So take the time to set yourself apart with details such as where you are from, what high school you attend, your academic GPA, test scores (if applicable), and any accomplishments in and out of the arena. Also mention who you ride with and what you’re currently doing as a rider. If this list becomes too long, you can always attach a resume in addition to a well-crafted cover letter.

3. Make each note personal.

If you use the same template for every message you send, it may come across as robotic and insincere to someone who receives many inquiries from interested students. Do your research on the coach, the program, and the school itself. Then explain why you think it’s the right fit for you and why you could be an asset to their team. College scouts and coaches will always appreciate when students go the extra mile and do their research. This extra effort could help you stand out and impress a coach.

4. Create a YouTube channel featuring your top riding videos.

This footage can include both horse show rounds and schooling at home, showing off your capabilities as a rider and your strengths in the saddle. Video editing mastery is not required, but do make sure to use decent quality videos that showcase your riding skills. Be sure the camera is held as steady as possible if the footage is not taken professionally. Include a link to your YouTube channel in each email you send to a coach – perhaps in your email signature ­– so the coach can easily locate the videos when he or she needs to reference them.

5. Go to a camp or clinic offered by collegiate equestrian programs.

Not only is collegiate riding camp a great way to get in front of the coaches on college equestrian teams, but it will also give you a taste of collegiate riding and whether it is something you want to pursue. Coaches can see you ride their own program’s horses. So they will know, for example, if you can execute a round on a difficult horse. If you make the trip to camp, you should also plan an extra day to schedule a campus tour, which is highly valued when it comes to admissions decisions.

6. Enjoy the process!

Being recruited and choosing a college can be stressful. But it’s an important part of life so try to enjoy each step. Make fun weekends out of your visits. Get to know the other riders on the team, and try to make friends as you go. You never know who might end up as your teammate in the future, so take the time to get to know others as you are being recruited.

Everyone’s college search and application process is different. So take time to decide what really matters to you and make your journey unique. Special thanks to Ruth Sorrel for providing insight on how to get involved with collegiate riding programs. You can learn more about her work at sorreleqconsulting.com.

 

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Female Force: Women in the 2020 Olympic Games
August 6, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

When you’re flipping through channels of Olympic coverage this year, you may notice all sports have one thing in common: they are split into men’s and women’s competition. There is one exception, however, and that is equestrian sports. The only Olympic sport in which men and women compete against one another on a level playing field. Men and women, as well as geldings, stallions, and mares, all compete head-to-head for medals.

Women have been representing the equestrian community extremely well in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. While equestrian is usually an underrepresented sport throughout the programming of Olympic sports, women have been making their mark—and the news!

According to calculations by dressage-news.com, as of September 1, 2020, of the 29,731 athletes in the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) database of competitors in the Olympic disciplines, the percentages of female riders were 83.10% for dressage, 73.175% for eventing, and 61.311% for show jumping. The ladies are well represented in our sport!

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo helped the United States dressage team secure the silver medal in Tokyo. Photo by Jump Media

Ladies’ Night in Dressage

The equestrian events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics kicked off with dressage in late July, and all the athletes performed incredibly. The United States’ own Sabine Schut-Kery put her nation on the map after scoring consistently in the team and individual competitions. There was no shortage of girl power as she achieved her personal best of 78.416% in the grand prix and 81.596% in the grand prix special to contribute to the U.S. team’s silver medal. Sabine finished fifth individually in the freestyle on a score of 84.300% with her mount, Sanceo. The United States leadership also had female representation, led by Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald.

Women in dressage rounded out the individual dressage competition by securing all three podium spots. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera secured gold on a score of 91.732%. Silver was awarded to the world-ranked number one, Isabell Werth (GER) and Bella Rose 2. Lastly, Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) returned to the podium to take bronze on her new mount, Gio.

Olympic dressage has been dominated by women for the past six years, by having all podium titles awarded to female athletes. 2020 marks the seventh consecutive year that women have taken gold, silver, and bronze in the individual competition of dressage.

Krajewski Makes History in Eventing

Women first competed in eventing at the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. And the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was finally the year for them to take top individual honors. Germany’s Julia Krajewski made Olympic history by being the first female Olympic champion in eventing. The 32-year-old was rewarded individual gold for Germany on a score of 26 with her mount, Amande De B’Neville, an 11-year-old Selle Français mare. The female pair were one of the few combinations to jump clear in the show jumping round, only adding 0.4 time faults to her total score.

Krajewski was the only female on the individual podium for eventing, marking a huge milestone with her achievement. As for the team competition, Laura Collett and London 52 dominated the cross-country course, showing off their undeniable partnership. She was able to represent women on the podium in team gold position with Great Britain.

Jessica Springsteen, with mount Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve, is one of two ladies on the United States show jumping team in Tokyo. Photo by Jump Media

The Future Is Female

Show jumping wrapped up equestrian competition in Tokyo at Baji Koen Equestrian Park. The highest placing individual woman was Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) with Indiana. The pair finished fifth overall on a double-clear effort in the Individual Final. Baryard-Johnsson was also the only female competitor among the five pairs to jump clear in the Team Qualifier. In the team final, Baryard-Johnsson helped the Swedish team take home a gold medal. Meanwhile, the ladies of the United States, Laura Kraut and Jessica Springsteen, took home silver, putting three women on the team podium. Kraut, 55, has become the oldest woman to secure a medal at the Olympics since 1904.

In a world of sports where men can be stronger, faster, and more athletic, equestrian sports turn that idea upside down, allowing equality across all its disciplines and letting the women prove themselves as equal, and frequently better, competitors. As the Olympics in Tokyo draws to a close, we are in awe of the equestrian women who have shown some of their best performances. And we wish the best of luck to all of them as they continue their equestrian careers.

BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!

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Tokyo Talk with the Grooms of Team USA
July 30, 2021| | in category Uncategorized No comments yet

Written by Catherine Austen for the United States Eventing Association (USEA)

We know a lot about the athletes representing the USA on our Tokyo team, but what about those essential people, the grooms? Catherine Austen finds out more about Courtney Carson, Emma Ford, Bridget London, and Steph Simpson in this edition of Tokyo Talk.

Courtney Carson, Groom for Doug Payne. USEA/Claire Kelley Photo

Courtney Carson, groom for Vandiver and Doug Payne

Where are you from, and how did you get into horses?

“I was born in St Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Southern Illinois. My mom got me into horses as a young girl – she’d always wanted to have horses growing up.

How did you get your current job?

I was trying to find a real “big kid” job and decided I really liked the grooming – I just hadn’t found the right situation, and Doug and Jessica [Payne] happened to be looking, so I just sent them an email.

What are the best things about your job?

It’s the little things I love – yes, being competitive at the big events is great, but it’s the little things, like the young horses having a good experience at their first event, it’s our working students having the great show jumping round they’ve been looking for. It’s watching my five-star horse nailing all four changes in a test. It doesn’t have to be winning a five-star; it’s the day-to-day things you don’t really think about.

What’s “Quinn” like?

He is a really interesting horse. He’s picky about his food – sometimes he wants to eat his hay out of a haynet, sometimes he wants to eat it off the ground, some days he only wants grass. He’s a bit particular that way, but he’s 17, and he’s done the job for a long time, so he’s allowed to be that way. Honestly, he’s an old soul and the most genuine horse you could ever meet. You could hack him around on the buckle or gallop around a five-star.

What are your expectations of Tokyo – and your hopes?

It’s going to be really, really hot!

My expectations personally are to enjoy the moment because it’s what everyone dreams about, and if you had told 10-year-old me, or even 25-year-old me a year ago, that I’d be going to the Olympics, I’d have laughed and told you you weren’t telling the truth.

I would like to have a sound, healthy horse at the end of it who has hopefully finished in good standing, and for Team USA to bring home three really good solid results would be huge. I think that’s possible – we have the team to do it. I’m looking forward to it!

Emma Ford, groom for Phillip Dutton. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo

Emma Ford, groom for Z and Phillip Dutton

Where are you from, and how did you get into horses?

I grew up in North Devon in southwest England, and I was pretty much on a horse in the womb. My whole family rode, so I really have been involved with horses from birth. I grew up on a farm, so in the summer, my dad would set up the straw bales when they were baling for me to jump bareback on my pony while Mum and Dad were having a picnic. I always feel we were so lucky and so fortunate. We certainly didn’t have money, and I used to get all the free ponies. It was a running joke that I’d always fall off once a week and how much ground I ‘bought.’ I will never forget those summers – they were perfect.

How did you get your current job?

Basically, it was a bit of a no-brainer. I worked for a lady in Massachusetts – I worked for her for seven years; we came up through the sport together. When I started, she had Preliminary horses, and by the time we finished, she had a string of 12 horses and was riding at Advanced. I flew horses over to England to compete at Blenheim for her, and after that trip, I thought, ‘I want to do this full-time, be on the team, and this is the way I’m going to do it.’ Two years later, the job opened up with Phillip, and it was a bit of a no-brainer to take the position.

What’s Z like?

I’ve been with Z since he’s been with Phillip. We’ve had him since the beginning of his 7-year-old year. He did Preliminary and was ready to move up to Intermediate, and he actually came to me as a very ‘internal’ horse – he would stand at the back of the stall and hated being turned out. And so I worked a lot with him on just getting him used to people and to have people around him. It wasn’t that he was nervous around people or anything; he just never interacted with them.

I think over the years, he’s really turned into quite the personality – when you’re grooming him and when he has his massage, he tells you exactly where he wants you to press a little harder or back off. He loves having people around him, and he loves photographs. We’ve turned him into a horse who wants to be out 24/7 now, and he really wants to please; he tries very hard for Phillip. He wants to understand his job, and he does – ultimately, he loves his job.

What are your expectations of Tokyo – and your hopes?

I’m rather looking forward to the horse flight, actually, because I won’t be on a plane of 350 people! Obviously, this year is a very different year, but I know nothing of Japan, and I think that will be very interesting.

We all are going to be very careful with and aware of the humidity for the horses. Ultimately we need little luck on our side, and hopefully, the horses will produce the best results they can.

Steph Simpson, groom for Boyd Martin. USEA/Claire Kelley Photo

Steph Simpson, groom for Tsetserleg and Boyd Martin

Where are you from, and how did you get into horses?

I grew up in a really tiny town in Vermont on a dairy farm, so I never really did horses as a child. I became interested in them through friends and family and then did animal science in college and decided I wanted to be a working student or groom. The riding didn’t actually start until I was 18, but then had lessons and evented at a low level.

How did you get your current job?

I actually groomed for another Australian in the area, Dom Schramm, and then Boyd called me one day and asked me if I wanted the job. I was freelancing at the time, so that was that.

What do you enjoy most about it?

I enjoy getting to know all the different horses and their personalities. I obviously spend a lot of time with them, so getting to know each one and their quirks and their little weird characteristics is fun for me.

What’s “Thomas” like?

Well, Thomas is the love of my life! He’s good – he’s quirky, though. He doesn’t let other people touch his face – he does let me now, though, after three years of trying. He’s just a quirky guy; he’s very curious, he wants to know what’s going on all the time, on his terms.

What are your expectations of Tokyo – and your hopes?

I think we’ve been prepared really well for the heat, but I think there are a lot of variables. Luckily, this is not my first trip abroad, so I know what to expect as far as transporting horses, and the logistics of that are concerned. However, especially with Covid, none of us really know what’s going to happen. If you work at an upper-level place, you want to go to the top of the sport. Luckily for me, Boyd’s a very competitive person, and so am I. So, I’m really lucky that I get to be at the Olympics and experience that vibe.

Bridget London, groom for Tamie Smith. USEA/Claire Kelley Photo

Bridget London, groom for Mai Baum and Tamie Smith

Bridget London, the groom for traveling reserve Tamie Smith’s Mai Baum, recently became a real estate agent in the Seattle area after working for Smith for several years. When Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp had to withdraw from contention, Smith stepped into the role of traveling reserve and asked London to come along for the ride.

“Grooming is not just brushing, I know a lot of people think that. It’s tacking the horse, bathing, braiding, walking, feeding, and managing just about everything the horse does,” London told K5 News in a recent interview. She continued, “I won’t be the one personally competing. I am pretty excited to be a part of it in any way that I can. I’ve been close with Tamie for a while now and I’m so excited for her. I know they will do great.”

We wish all of these hardworking grooms a safe and successful Olympics. Your hard work does not go unnoticed!

 

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