From the Bleachers: Archives

This is a team for anyone who likes to share stories and news about horses and equestrian sports.

There aren’t rigid rules for participation, just have a desire to contribute to the public enjoyment of horses.

Clean Round! needs a Leaderboard … but first we need a volunteer to update the new standings once a month.

It’s a fun task that doesn’t take long … come make it your own.

“When you jump in a place that has a crowd and has an atmosphere, the whole energy changes and your desire to win also changes,” said 28-year-old rider and new father…”

“I learned that being patient is a imperative skill. Fortunately, this sport allows you to be a part of it for many years.”

“State legislatures have come to recognize that licensing may be negatively impacting their workforce and consumers … The line that licensing is the best way to protect the public may not necessarily be true.”

A new approach to horsemanship can embrace its worth and claim a connection with the public. As the vacant WEG seats showed in stark clarity, change is coming with or without planning.

It’s not unusual to have a short down time after a major event such as the 2018 World Equestrian Games last month in Tryon. Not just the horses and organizers–but spectators too.

“Nobody wants to pet a squad car.” Mulry says he gets more citizen contacts–positive ones–in one day on horseback than a week in a squad car.
Source: MadisonCommons.org

One most promising developments in Eventing since dog leashes is the UK-based Event Rider Masters (ERM) series. This year’s final event is the Land Rover Horse Trials August 25th & 26th … you can watch the free livestream..

Almost nothing has been heard of the colorful nation after their spectacular run during the late 1940’s and 50’s, when their top star was the controversial Humberto Mariles and his one-eyed superhorse, Arete.

It’s almost bittersweet to watch big-time show jumping in Britain, a place where the Golden Age of the sport was born …

Over 350,000 spectators attended the annual German Nations Cup at the showgrounds of Aachen …

Source: World of Showjumping

“… treasured summer rite for those deliriously in love with horses to indulge their obsession alongside approximately 30,000 (mostly teenage, mostly female) kindred spirits: “horse girls,” as they are sometimes called.

Source: The New York Times

The recent Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in Monaco took place during a soccer match, leading to some rather embarrassing—and illustrative—moments among the principals …

The GCT encapsulates the sport into special bubbles and places them where people might enjoy them …

Phillip Dutton on Loose’n Cool Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event negotiating the coffin obstacle. Photo: Ronald C. Yochum, Jr. / Wikijmedia / CC BY-SA 2.5

All sports are continually taking steps to enhance their product to attract new viewers and to produce exciting sport … However, viewership still lags dramatically behind other sports.

via HorseNetwork

The site is 4 years old now, so some of the gizmos were out of whack. A redesign and rebuild was in order … hope you’ll like it!

French organizers have chosen the grounds of the Palace of Versailles for the equestrian games of the 2024 Olympics. There is a deep connection between Versailles and modern equestrian sport … and it may not be what most folks think.

With 3 months to go, 500 construction workers are working around the clock to complete major infrastructure projects in time for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon … “We’ll be ready.”

via WLOS

A young Swedish stallion named Hansson jumped into the winner’s circle in front of a surprised Cannes crowd last weekend. The rangy bay stallion showed a star level of talent when besting a tough field Saturday night in front of a jammed house.

Researcher who credits horses in her recovery from breast cancer is planning a study of equine therapy benefits to cancer patients.

via Horse & Hound

Last week I went to Devon for the first time. The Devon Horse Show is the “oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse show in the United States” … going there was like stepping back in time to when horses were a part of daily life, and horse shows were the proving ground of a common and valuable skill.

“What I care about the most is that through horseback riding, a child’s willpower, tenderness and strength can be cultivated.”
via Global Times

“My two vocations rarely intersected — until I came across a story about Jimmy A. Williams, a trainer who coached many young female riders to Olympic fame, while sexually abusing them.”

via The New York Times

Italy’s good old Piazza di Siena never looked better than it did last weekend. The newly returfed grounds hosted 9 nations contesting for this year’s Nations Cup–and the world showed up in force …

via The New York Times

Not to overstate the obvious, but eventing is a very different sport than show jumping. More than you’d think, since they share the famous beast. Eventing is making hopeful changes that are growing the sport …

Original Photo: https://pixabay.com/en/users/Westfale-2989123/

The father of show jumping, British Col. Mike Ansell, worried about this problem long before it became one. While sidelined in a German POW camp in WW2, Ansel conceptualized how to make show jumping a popular spectator sport. He eventually managed the early tournaments that defined jumping and made it the #2 spectator sport in Europe and the UK.

“I think the speed and the action of show jumping has always been what’s made it the most popular equestrian discipline…”

via SportsPro

There was a social media outcry over Oliver Townend’s overuse of his crop. Poor Oliver not only missed making Rolex history (and a LOT of money) by the smallest margin–one placing–he had to handle the aftermath of his disappointment dealing with a public relations disaster. Oliver quickly apologized, and gave it sincerely, which mostly ended the incident. Unfortunately the insane portion of the animal rights movement now have something to post about.

Another show jumping series blew into the New York City area last weekend, the Rider Masters Cup. As the sport has entered its Anarchic Period and innovation is breaking out …

Americans plundered the World Cup in Paris this month. Legendary Beezie Madden took the prize, continuing her living demonstration of the value of the Equitation division and the American way. Americans filled three of the top four placings–we haven’t done that sort of thing in a while.

via New York Times

“Individual jumps and the courses they are part of can be a great outlet for the imagination…”

Source: –Eurosport

The Riders Masters Cup … a new team competition with high octane duels between two international show jumping powers, the USA and Europe.

Source:Equnews.com

In all, there are more than 100 clones from several of their best horses.–CBS News

Source: – CBS News

There is a lot going on! This new blog will be focused on jumping sport as it is developing, with more Eventing coverage. A few things are changing–but not the conviction that humane equestrian sports are benefit to horse and man

• Quand Ocala est revenu à la maison, son comportement était différent, ça stall était très dure à néttoyer deux jours de fumier en une nuit, il se jetait sur sa nourritures buvais deux seaux  donc quarante litres d’eau en une heure, cela n’est très normal. Donc il a fallut que je le change de stall et que je gère moi-même son eau,et que quand je le nourris de le faire attendre le temps de mettre l’auge dans la stall et de sortir, et tout cela ne se fait sans conséquence bien sur car il a réagi, donc il a été nécessaire de lui montrer que je suis le chef et que je suis le seul à prendre les décisions dans un rapport de force avec lui. Et aujuord’hui il commence à être beaucoup mieux, mais je dois rester vigilant
• When Ocala come back home his comportment was completely different, his stall was hard to clean two days of manure in one night, turning crazy about food and drinking two bucket of water that mine forty liters of water in one hour, this is not normal. I was needed to put him in smaller stall and giving him water morning and evening, to make sure he will wait I finish to put the feed in the stall and I was out of the stall for eating, and all of this was not with out of consequence because he react about this situation. He was necessary for me to show him I am the leader and I was the only one to make decision. To day he start to be much better but I need to be vigilant.

• Aimer les chevaux ne veut pas dire les laisser prendre le dessus des hommes jusqu’à avoir des chevaux qui ne respectent plus personnes. J’ai envoyer mon cheval  Ocala dans une autre écurie pour six mois tenir compagnie à un autre cheval qui ne pouvait pas rester tout seul. Ocala un fait un très bon travaille en lui montrant un très bon comportement. Mais malheureusement de retour à la maison il n’est plus le même sur beaucoup de chose, et il me doit de le reprendre  avec fermeté ce qui veut dire pour qu’il respect il fut que je le mette moi-même dans l’eurreur. ( semaine prochaine la suite)
• Loving horses  doesn’t mine let the horse to do anything he want, and taking over the human to the point the horse doesn’t respect you. I send my horse Ocala in one other farm, to be a companyfor one horse can’t stay alone. Ocala did a wonderful job to show him a good behaver. But unfortunately he come back home differently, and I need to be really strict with him, and put him in fault. (to be continued next week)

• Je suis toujours entrain de me demander, pourquoi certain propriètaire de chevaux on toujours des difficultés à trouver des solutions et des réponses à leurs problèmes avec leur chevaux? Comment et faire pour trouver ses solutions? Il n’y as pas beaucoup de choix. Je pense la seul façon de pouvoir reprendre son cheval est de revenir à la tradition équine ce-que nos ancêtres ont toujours pratiqué.
• I always asking to my self, why some horse owner have and still had problem with the horse and they can’t find a solution and answer to the problem? How and to do to find the solution? He don’t have many choices. I think the best to do it is to come back of the tradition equine what was doing our ancestor.
  

• Je ne suis sans doute pas un des plus grand dans le monde équestre, je ne suis pas reconnu Mondialement . Mais j’ai eux la chance de pouvoir apprendre et travailler avec ” La Cavaleire Française” et de pouvoir mettre l’éducation que j’ai reçu en pratique. Et c’est pour cela que j’ai le désire de partager avec vous un savoir et une passion avec vous.
• I am not one of the famous riders in the equestrian world, I am not recognized world-famous. But I had a chance to learn with “The French Cavalry”, and to put my education in practice. And it for this reason I have the desire to share a knowledge and a Passion with you.

The recent tragic loss of Camille Z in a freak accident has stunned fans worldwide. The superstar mare was a favorite for her playful talent and generous heart, as well as the touching partnership with her rider, Athina.

• Je vais sans doute me répéter mais avec les chevaux il faut savoir où se trouve notre passion. Nous avons beaucoup de choix en équitation. Mais c’est à nous de trouver ce qui nous convient le mieux. Pour ma part, ma passion c’est de réhabilitation des chevaux qui ont euent des problèmes physiques et des problèmes mentaux à cause des erreurs humaines. Et je suis Maréchal-Ferrant pour mieux aider ces chevaux. Oui j’aime les concours de saut d’obstacles les compétitions de dressage, Les acrobaties à cheval, mais je n’envie aucune personne qui en font leur succés, en voulant avoir mes chevaux au même niveau, bien au contraîre je les admires et suis heureux pour leur succés. Mais avant tout je m’épanouis dans ma prope passion que j’ai choisi.
• I may be going to repeat myself but it is really necessary to find your passion with the horse. We have a lot of choice. But we need to find what is good for us. For my part, my passion is to rehabilitate the horse with physical problems and mental problems, because of some mistake from human, and I am a Farrier/Blacksmith for give them the best help I can do. Yes I like show jumping, dressage and  acrobatic on the horse, but I don’t desire to have my horse like them.I just admire and glad for them to they success. But before everything I am Happy and in full bloom in the passion I choice.

By Raphaël Baron

The 7th edition of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are scheduled to be held in the region of Normandy, France from August 23 – September 7.

By Raphaël Baron

Why Train a horse? What is the training? Training a horse is not just to ride him on the trail, to do some dressage, jumping, etc …

I am sorry I didn’t write anything for long time. The post will comeback this week thank-you for your patience and your understanding.

“Pieter Devos’ performance today was described as ‘inspiring’ by the newly-converted show jumping fans who have flocked to the event here in Shanghai. The first round was a tough and demanding course set by Uliano Vezzani (ITA). There were no real ‘bogey’ fences, but the technical lines and tricky distances came thick and fast causing more than a few top names to pick up penalties. Of the 18 riders through to the second round, eleven carried zero penalties with seven going through on four faults.”

By Marcella Peyre-Ferry “ Francis Jacobs is not ready to start building a museum yet, but he thinks it could be something for the near future. “My vision is that we will have a museum here on the grounds and it will depict all of the disciplines that Devon represents as the oldest and most historic, most notable, outdoor horse show in the country,”“

By Neil Clarkson ‘Terry Nowacki, of Minnesotta, has been running courses for the last seven years showing how horses can be trained to follow scents – anything from people to narcotics. “It works so good it is unbelievable,” says Nowacki … Horses quickly learn through reward-based training what to do, but up to 80% of the effort goes into teaching the riders.

“People do not understand how important scent is to a horse,” he says. He cites the example of releasing a horse into a corral. “The first thing they are going to do is go scenting,” he says. Through that, the horse will know who has been in the corral before.”‘

By Sevie Kenyon ‘“We had to up our game,” said Todd Frey of the Columbus-based Frey Carriage Co. “We were listening to the things drivers were telling us and knew we could come up with a new experience.” Frey has been in the business more than 20 years. For much of that time, restorations were the mainstay of the business and the work was done in a shop out in the country. “The recession really hurt that part of the business,” Frey said. “But making new carriages began to pick up.”‘

Beyond the spectacle and the equestrian competition, the show means business for artisans and sellers of horse-related goods inside the grounds, and enterprising businesses outside of them. About 100,000 people attend annually.

Every year, nearby hotels and restaurants can count on a boost. Churches, businesses, and even homeowners offer parking spaces to people who come from throughout the country to go to one of the nation’s largest outdoor horse shows, now in its 118th year.

‘Getting the jumps in an out of the show ring, and making sure they are set at the correct height and distances apart takes a 16-man crew that specializes in this job … “There’s enough of us and we’ve been doing it a while, so that we are confident we can do it quick and accurately,” Bennett said. “We have to do rapid changeovers and do things quickly.”‘

Raphaël Baron

The work of a Farrier/Blacksmith is really important for the being-well of the horse. Normally all Farrier/Blacksmith should be able to say is what’s going onto the horse with no fear of being blamed for looking for more money. Because a lot of people think when we talk about the being-well of the horse it is for more money. But generally is for the horse.

Raphaël Baron

Why is a Farrier/Blacksmith needed? For the feet: “No feet, No horse.” Why does the Farrier/Blacksmith have this skill to do the horse feet? Because he took lessons and training and school and have a certification. The Farrier/Blacksmith job is in evolution, so there are clinics for learning and to improve farrier skills with help from Farrier/Blacksmith specialists.

By Bill Finley “Why has horse racing become a second tier sport while baseball still prospers?”

Raphaël Baron

The difference between our horses and wild-horses are: The wild-horses don’t need us to survive, their feet are adapted to their condition of life. And often during the day they travel around 30 to 50 km, they are always in movement. But it is necessary to know the life-span of the wild horse is between 11 to 15 years old if they are lucky.

What it is the difference between our horses and wild horses? Why do horses need a farrier/blacksmith to maintain their feet? Why do some horses need to be shod, and other can stay with bare feet?

By Andrew Hawkins “It’s remarkable that a sport which has the same premise – horses running around in a circle – could be so different between jurisdictions. There are always going to be some distinctions – culture, interest, importance – but to see turnover skyrocketing and crowds booming in Hong Kong at a time when Australia is struggling to attract new blood is something which provokes contemplation. And while concrete answers aren’t possible, there are definitely a number of obvious reasons.”

“Show jumping is a sport not usually associated with black people however young rider Vincent Lebogang Moemise is fast dispelling that notion.”

By Ginger Adams Otis “The New York State Horse Council — backed by the American Horse Council — has signed on to the Daily News’ campaign to save the city’s carriage industry. The association’s city chapter conducted a thorough investigation of the stables used to house carriage horses and found they are ‘probably the most regulated horses in the country, if not the world.’“

By Loren Zhimanskova “Like many, the moment I learned of skijoring, a sport combining horses and skiers, my curiosity was piqued. Being a historian with a degree from Yale, I began to research the sport, and I was amazed at what I discovered. For example, did you know skijoring began more than 2,000 years ago in Lapland?”

By Pilar Clark “Five four-legged standouts that have earned a permanent spot in Disney’s stable of most memorable characters…”

Raphaël Baron

Now my dreams came true in reality, I found a nice family, I have three beautiful boys, a wonderful wife, my farm, my horses. My goals are not all yet achieved but they’re coming slowly, little by little, to be done. Thank you to all of the horses that gave me healing from the inside, and helped me be who I am today. Thank you to John Royce for accepting and sharing my story. And hopefully this story will serve to help people in need and who think the future does not exist.

“Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester) plans to introduce legislation in Albany on Friday that would prevent the city from reducing the number of horse-drawn carriage licenses it issues. It would also declare that it is not inhumane for a horse pull a carriage.“

By Raphaël Baron

During the three month of traveling on the horse, my life was changing completely. I didn’t have enough money to pay the boarding so I sold the horse, and lived where I was. I found an apartment, and went back to school to learn what was missing in my education. I was feeling good and almost happy. I began to believe my dreams could come true. One day the phone rang and it was my fathe–I had never seen him since I was two years old. I joined my father where he was in Island-Réunion near Madagascar. And at this time I knew everything was healing!

By Raphaël Baron

I became the owner of one of the 10 horses … and my boss gave me a challenge, saying I was not able to travel a long distance while riding. A week later my journey began, and I rode alone with my horse. I left a small village in Normandy called “Colleville-Sur-Mer” to reach Tarn, the city of “Castre” in the south of France. 1300 km on horseback, and by then all that had remained uncured was healed and I was a new man.

By Raphaël Baron

So I became responsible for the 10 horses and the 5 young people. Well, day after day the 10 horses blew this light breeze which keeps going to heal my deep wounds. Day after day I was learning what I was supposed to learn during my childhood. The love, the sentiment, the motion, the confidence, etc. Day after day I was needed to ride them one by one, and some plans, some desires, some dream, and some goals were starting to be built inside. And for the 5 young people, I was guiding them like a big brother, and helping them to find themselves in life … because of these same 10 horses who rebuilt me, they were helping me to do the job of a big brother. And during 1 year 1/2 I was working in this farm, everybody could see how I changed, and all of this because of the grace of the 10 horses.

By Michele Dargan “When Mark Bellissimo sought to grow the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington into one of the top horse shows in the world, there were plenty of naysayers … But seven years later, Bellissimo has silenced most of those people by thinking big and delivering even bigger.”

By Raphaël Baron

Finding myself on the roads of Belgium, I was beginning to be really sick. I passed a small farm, and stopped. The family of farmers offered a place to stay with them. They already had 2 other people in this farm who had been there for long time, and these people had a similar life to mine. So I stayed in their place though I was unhappy with my decision. After I arrived to stay, the farmer took me to the barn and said: “When you feel better, you will take care of my two horses and my two cows.” Two days later I began to take care the two horses and of course the two cows.

By Raphaël Baron

When I returned to France I found a job in an equestrian farm. I became responsible for 10 horses and 5 young people that had been placed by the judicial system. How this is possible? I didn’t know too much about horses, didn’t know how to ride horses. And 5 young people needed my help to find sense in their life. But I was in distress already … how is this possible?

By Raphaël Baron

Two days later I began to take care of the barn. The first thing I said to the animals: “Go head kill me, I’m not scared to die.” But at this time they looked at me and their eyes were telling me: “This not what we want, we don’t want to hurt you, but to help you.” And when I touched these horses for the first time, something opened, like a new energy was coming into my body.

By Raphaël Baron

My mental outlook was destroyed, so I was living to die. I was looking to die–without suicide. A death which would give me the opportunity to say goodbye with a big smile. I tried everything, with alcohol, with medication, the army … and it was impossible to find what I was looking for, so I started to travel from one religious congregation to another to find out why I can’t die without suicide. And it is like this that I found myself on a road in Belgium.

By Raphaël Baron

After waiting two years, my surgery came. The first time I was in the hospital for my surgery he didn’t work an allergy came and after was gone so kick but he was to late they didn’t have a chance to pushing the date. We find an other hospital more near where we was living but we was needed to wait one years. The doctors were surprised I was still alive and were thinking it was a miracle to see me alive. For me it was a  mistake. The doctor told me: “You passed the hard part, but for the surgery be a success we need you to be strong.” I nodded yes with my head, though thinking it will be a big mess. But I don’t know after many hours I woke up … and again I was alive. One month passed in the hospital and it was paradise for me. But the hard reality was waiting for me outside of these walls. One week after my returning from surgery, the person who was with me gave me the obligation to carry about the 5kg blocks of chalk by the stairs: I did about 15 to 20 times, moving 5 levels to carry these blocks of chalk. I did it like a slave, with no words, but my mental outlook was going down, my anger rising … but where to go?

By Neal Benoit “… don’t get discouraged, throw up your arms and lament over what can possibly be done to fix everything that is wrong. If you do, you will become impotent and do nothing. Instead, ask yourself this simple question. “What can I do to help?” To that there is an answer.”

By Raphaël Baron

The instructions was clear no more activity with the sport or some sport with not to much effort physic, so that mine not to much left, to and to stay the calm I could. And one day my first heart attack came, and the only thing the person who was with me said: “It is your fault, you know you need to be careful–you are sick.” From this day my mindset was that I would soon be dead, though I was still standing. Two other attacks came, and I was still standing, but I felt death was close because the last instruction was after three attack on his heart, I will be not in this world any more. So I was waiting for the fourth attack to come to get me forever.

By Raphaël Baron

One day I became sick the doctor detect en anomaly on my heart, I was 10 years old, after many detailed medical examination the doctor surgeon said front of me to the person was with me: “If Raphaël doesn’t have heart surgery quickly it is possible he will die.” From this day my childhood was completely gone; already not too much was left. Now I was needed to think like a man. For about 2 years every morning I was front of the only mirror in my room to tell myself: one more day … and every evening it tells me: maybe see you tomorrow.

By JoAnn Alumbaugh ‘As part of its ongoing campaign to expose the deceptive fundraising practices of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), HumaneWatch.org sponsored a billboard in Times Square that calls attention to the organization … The ad portrays an angry-looking cat with the headline, “WTF? (Where’s The Funding?),” and goes on to explain, “The Humane Society of the United States only gives 1% of its budget to local pet shelters.”‘

By Raphaël Baron

Horses are the mirror of our fears, our stress, our distress, the wounds who are bleeding our mind and heart, the physical problems, our moon, our love. The horses see just what we need in the inside us. They don’t look at our clothes or how we are dressed-up, our physique (beautiful, ugly, small, middle, big, slim, fat, brawny, in wheel chair), they don’t care how much experience you have in the horse industry, they don’t care if you are an Olympic champion of show jumping, they don’t care if you had a good or bad day, they don’t care if is snowing, raining, or sunny day. The horses are interested in what we have inside to help to know ourselves and to heal the wounds hiding in the darkness of ourselves. For this the horses have the capacity to enter like a breeze inside the walls we make to keep away from ourselves … because they don’t judge, they accept us like we are, they don’t rebel against what we carry in our heads and hearts; they take them without a words and work with us to better heal.

By Raphaël Baron

Why do horses have the capacity to relieve and to heal the physical and the psyche of humans? Why can only a horse get in like a little breeze inside the inaccessible well-being of a human? And the human himself doesn’t have this capacity!

By Kaitlyn Ridel ‘In order to revive the 2015 Classic, Swann is hosting a meeting 6 p.m. today at Sara’s Place in Gates Mills to generate excitement and local support. Swann is planning to form committees of local business leaders and residents that will focus on finding sponsors, reaching out to young people and creating a larger social media presence for the Classic. “We need more than money,” he said. “We need people talking about the horse show.”‘

By Raphaël Baron

When I was 4 years hold, I held my first gun between my hands, when one day going to the car in the parking lot underground, the person who was with me asked me to shoot a man who was coming with hands up. The man thanked me for not shooting him because he was coming to see if everything was fine. But in the car I had a good several punishments because I didn’t kill the man, but this was an habitual punishment. And I was transporting my first drug put carefully in a sugar bag, though I didn’t know what it was. The violence and the hatred was my reality of every days. The only room I  was authorized to be was my bedroom, when I was out of this bedroom it was for going to the washroom,eating , and do it some daily shopping. This bedroom was become to be a jail only a little balcony for going out of this bedroom.

By Raphaël Baron

During the next posts I will share how the horses help me to get out of the hell that was around me and inside me. The first few post will cover my childhood and how the horse came into my life. Enjoy reading, and I really hope this story of my life will help others.

>> See all posts by Raphaël Baron on his page …

Raphaël Baron

For a horse to be allowed to give his confidence to us, we need to show him we are first his master: to show, to teach him what we want from him, to lead him to our desire. The horse needs to understand he will be not be in danger with us, and all that we doing with him doesn’t have any danger for him. And the next is to start a nice relationship to be friends with a horse … this relationship to be friend with a horse is starting to build a nest between the horse and us, but we need some patience because the horse is not evolved in the same way. When we have this relationship to be friend with a horse, the relationship is always going to grow up and never regress. But the image of a master is needed by the horse, so it is really important to let him know we are still his master inside the relationship to be friend with him.

By Robert Kieckhefer ‘”With the safety of our horses, the integrity of competition and the general perception of the sport all at risk, we cannot afford to wait any longer,” Phipps said. “Enough is enough.”‘

By Raphaël Baron

Before starting to answer the questions, one other came to me: Why and how a horse begins bad behavior.

By Steuart Pittman “Public scrutiny has its place … That is the environment that racing and all sports are in today. So what. Let’s have the conversation. Let’s tell the story of what life is like for a racehorse. And let’s tell the story of what these magnificent animals do later in life with the education they receive as racehorses. Maybe somebody will listen.”

Raphaël Baron

How to approach a bad behaving horse? It is really easy, just don’t scare, show him you are the Master, and you know what to do with him. The more difficult with the bad behaving horse is to correct him. You need to show him what you want clearly, and never put him back in the same situation to again make the same fault, and never show him his mistake causes in you a bad feeling. To correct a horse doesn’t need hours. With bad behaving horses, for his well-being, it is necessary to correct quickly.

Raphaël Baron

A horse acts with bad behavior because of us, because we don’t know how to bring him what he need. Some of us don’t have enough experience of this evolution of the horse. It is really good to love horses, but also necessary to know how to feed the spirit of the horse, like we do for ourselves. And how? To be first his Master and to show him we have the capacity to bring to him what he needs when his behavior and his movements tell us what he need.

By Ellie Hughes “A new 6-part showjumping series is to be broadcast on BT Sport this summer. The programmes will feature the 2014 International Stairway championships at 6 county shows: Devon, Suffolk, South of England, Royal Norfolk, New Forest and Hampshire and Royal Berkshire.”

By Raphaël Baron

How to make the horse understand, to be confident with us? How to approach a horse with bad behavior? How we do do to have a friendship with the horse?

By Andrew Cohen “Horse racing simply cannot survive if the general public believes racehorses are abused or neglected. I have no idea if Asmussen and Blasi are guilty of anything and I accuse them here of nothing. My point is that it doesn’t really matter. The whole industry is guilty of letting it get this far.”

Raphaël Baron

ROSE is a mare Quarter-Horse, ex-racer but not high-performance enough to stay on the track. She was sold to a foaling farm, and was nervous with no possibility to approach her. She was sold to a friend who didn’t have a lot of experience with horses, and who couldn’t do a thing with her. He sold her to me for a beer! Now is six months later and she’s home and more stable and calm down, there is improvement day after day with her. Why? Because I don’t look at her past but at her potential to learn and to give.

Raphaël Baron

OCALA is a Thoroughbred, an ex racer and then an ill-treated horse no body wanted. He was put in the slaughterhouse and rescued by someone. At the beginning everything was fine until one day he started kicking and biting. When I welcomed him at home he was underweight and really bad feet. It took two years to put him back on track physically and mentally. Now everybody can touch him, my kids 3, 5, 6 years can enter the stall with out of danger.

By Alicia Graef “With hidden cameras, investigators visited feedlots, auctions, veterinary checkpoints and slaughterhouses and found problems with transport, sick, starving, injured and dead horses in varying states of decomposition. Additionally they found animals intended for human consumption who had been given unsafe drugs, such as phenylbutazone (bute), which is banned for cattle in the U.S. and in the European Union, according to the AFP.”

By Raphaël Baron

By Tricia L. Nadolny ‘The chairman of the Devon Horse Show has resigned, four months after board members at the prestigious Main Line institution challenged what some said was his undisclosed role in a proposal to build a high-end retail center and hotel beside the fairgrounds. Wade McDevitt, whose grandfather was one of the show’s founders and who in many ways grew up on its grounds, said he stepped down to spend more time with his family … “Time is precious,” he said, “and anything I can do to manage my life to have more time with my family, I’m going to do.”‘

By Raphaël Baron “Je voudrais être ton compagnion honnéte, plutôt que ta noble conquête. (I want to be your honest companion, rather than your noble conquest) …

Mon bon maître (My good master)

Je voudrais être ton compagnion honnéte, plutôt que ta noble conquête.

Apprends à me parler, je te comprendrai sans me tromper.

Que ta main soit ferme sur les rênes, alors où tu veux je t’emmène.

Aie confience en moi autant qu’il faut, ma loyauté ne te fera pas défault.

N’ai crainte de me charger, j’ai de la force à dépenser.

Si tu dois te battre, emmène-moi, je veillerai sur toi.

Si tu  ne choisissais qu’un seul ami, je voudrais être celui-ci

I want to be your honest companion, rather than your noble conquest.
Learn to talk to me, and I will understand you without mistake.
Let thy hand be firm on the reins to tell me where you want to go.
Have confidence in me, my loyalty will not fail you.
Have no fear of burdening me, I have strength to spend.
If you have to fight, take me, I will watch over you.
If you do chose one friend, I would be one…

• “La passion du cheval, the passion of the horse” est un moyen  de  partager sur le domaine du cheval avec vous.
• “La passion du cheval, the passion of the horse” is one way to share and talk about horses with you.

By Laura Schreffler

“EEM World, the creator and organizer of the Masters Grand Slam Indoor, the world’s most prestigious indoor Show Jumping events that include the annual Gucci Paris Masters and Longines Hong Kong Masters, has decided to make LA the home of its Stateside show jumping event.”

On Friday, February 28, 2014 … the USA 2014 Nations Cup will be defended by three national team veterans–Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward–and rising star Brianne Goutal.

By Vivienne Nicoll “By supporting access to riding for young people with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds, a whole new range of opportunities will be opened up to our young people … On top of this, the proposal also offers important training and work experience opportunities to young people.”

“Norwegian researcher Anita Maurstad, a professor in the Department of Cultural Sciences in Tromsø University Museum, explains that, in essence, both the horse and the human become attuned to each other’s physical and mental ways, thus developing the state of co-being.”

By Ed Zieralski “…this magnificent and magical era in horse racing comes to an end with today’s final races.”

“More than 80 delegates from more than 30 countries took part in the inaugural three-day Global Equestrian Forum in The Netherlands in the first week of the month.”

“Will the purchase prices continue to soar or is there a ceiling? If there is no ceiling, what measures would our sport go to keep a level playing field? Should it be required to take action or is our sport best kept to evolve naturally into a new age?”

By Jon Brand ‘“Everything has changed so much in our sport,” Lamaze said. “And so have the horses along with it.” But specialization has not bred out style and personality, often what endears horses to jumping fans.’

By Brad Choat ‘An Occupational Therapy lab at Washington University School of Medicine is recuiting participants for a study on the effects of horses in a therapy setting, according to third-year student Julia Sanders, “They might be riding on a horse. They might just be grooming, just hanging out with a horse. It has been shown that horses can really calm down the effects of PTSD.”‘

Henry Moreigne photos of Day #2 of the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Finals.

Photos by Henry Moreigne Photography – Day #1 of the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Finals in photos.

“History will be written at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain the coming weekend as the winners of the first Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final will be decided on Sunday evening. This year’s new Nations Cup concept concludes with a global final and a completely new format.”

By Louise Parkes “There is a huge sense of anticipation in the air at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain today as horses and riders are settling in ahead of this week’s inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final. It promises to be a page-turner, as 18 nations from all around the globe will battle it out for a place in the record books as the very first Furusiyya champions…”

The inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final is contested at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain … 18 nations from all around the globe will battle it out for a place in the record books as the very first Furusiyya champions.

Michael D’Antonio “No animal has served us more thoroughly — as athlete, transport, tool, and warrior – or more reliably. All this service was rendered thanks to human intervention. We made the horse a partner above all others in the animal world. We also made it dependent on us for its well-being.”

“The crowds for the Burghley Horse Trials, the flagship event of three-day eventing, were always big but they have never approached 170,000 as they will this weekend. If this really is an elitist sport, an accusation levelled at eventing every time it seeks funding, then the elite stretches further than we could possibly have imagined.”

With Hong Kong investing a lot in equestrianism, many provinces have followed suit recently, hiring overseas trainers and bringing in overseas horses. Their trainer, Lars Meyer zu Bexte: “They did very well at the Asian Games in Guangzhou the year after the Shandong bronze and have been working very hard in Europe.”

Welcome to Haynets Friendly Forum! Come and discuss all aspects of horses, horse care and horse riding, ask advice from other members, offer support to those seeking advice about horses, horse care and horse riding, and share your experiences with other Haynetters!

Find out about horse riding; how to start, what you need, where to go, how to progress. Buy and sell your horse with free private adverts. Get help with your riding …

The Chronicle of the Horse is an American weekly equestrian magazine and home to a well-established community forum.

Together with breaking news updates throughout the day, this site offers expert advice on all aspects of horse care and an extremely popular online forum community.

Welcome to the world’s most popular horse forum with over 7 Million posts, 50,000 members, 300,000 horse pictures & more. See horses for sale in our horse classifieds and create your own club!

Welcome to the Horsetopia Forum, for discussing all things horse related! Sit back, relax, read some posts, and post a question if you have one or just stop by to introduce yourself.

An equine community for horse lovers to discuss horses, ask and answer horse questions, and participate in horse chat. Whether new to horses or an expert, we welcome you to join the fun at the friendliest horse site on the Internet.

Dedicated to bringing together people who love horses from all walks of life, from all over the world, in order to promote learning and understanding of these wonderful animals.

By Noelle Floyd “Taking each event into consideration, it would have been Team France who would have won this year’s Nations Cup title. Surprised?”

“Some horse owners may also think that turnout is unnecessary, believing that horses get all the exercise they need from being ridden. A 30-year-old research paper stated that the riding school horses studied received on average 41 minutes of exercise, six days per week; this contrasts with the results of a more recent (2010) study showing feral horses traveled an average of 17.9 km per day.”

“Next time you see a horse trailer, assume an animal’s in there. Please give the rig some space and offer some patience. By driving safely, we’ll all get where we’re going.”

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“… here is this animal which, within living memory, provided our main means of mobility and haulage, served us in peace and war, and otherwise underpinned our civilization, and yet its fate today is to be derided by motorists shouting “you ought not to be on the road!”

By Perry Backus “As a martial discipline, mounted archery can trace its roots back more than 2,500 years … In this country, the sport of galloping a horse down a straight-line, 99-meter-long track in less than 20 seconds while firing arrows at a set target in rapid order is something relatively new.”

‘The wild horse and burro advocacy group, Wild Horse Education, filed papers on Monday in Reno federal court to stop the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from hiding their actions from the public during a removal operation in Western Nevada that could begin any day. “The BLM cannot be allowed to avoid public scrutiny in an area that is already under intense scrutiny by stripping the public’s First Amendment rights,” said the founder Laura Leigh. The bureau is refusing to disclose documents requested by Leigh’s attorney that show exact numbers of animal deaths and injuries caused by BLM removals.’

by John Royce In a world of shrinking resources and increasing human population, decisions must be made about which activities can be sustained. At some point the question must be asked and hopefully well-answered: What is the value of horse sports to society?

  A more in-depth look at the history and some elements of the sport. (LocalRiding.com)

That’s the headline from SurferToday.com about a splashy new sport that is slowly but steadily gaining momentum.

by Terri Miller “The course has been the same since 1924. The track is dead simple: right lead around the outside, up the center, left lead around the outside. There are no bending lines, just a few related distances, nothing of what we would consider ‘technical’ in the world of Grand Prix jumping.”

Website of Ireland’s National Public Service Broadcaster, Raidió Teilifís Éireann.

  A technical primer of the structure of Show Jumping. (CSI Tournament – Basil)

  The rules are very simple and once explained, spectators can keep score and track the outcome, much like in baseball. (The Omaha International)

  With levels that are designed to accommodate new comers all the way up to the professionals, all levels of riders can enjoy the sport of show-jumping. (The Horse Riding Site.com)

  There may be a few negative connotations when one think of sports in which horses are used: that would do great injustice to this unique sect of sports. (article by Afreen Siddiqui for Sportskeeda)

By Jean Luc Cornille “It is extremely unfortunate that instead of exploring a more advanced form of equitation optimizing the horses’ talent through subtle orchestration of their vertebral column’s properties, otherwise skilled riders have elected to reactivate a technique of the 19th century in order to subdue extraordinarily gifted horses.”

  Great show jumping riders and horses of the past. (Show Jumping Nostalgia website)

Eventing news, coverage & discussion… “Red on right, white on left, insanity in the middle”

Life’s Better with a Horse

Who says draft crosses can’t jump? Rescue horse advocate Cate Lamm reports on her gelding Banjo’s introduction to jumping: “When I’d brought Banjo home from the rescue, he was a scruffy, terrified mess. Now he is healthy and happy!”

UK newspaper

Sarasota Florida news, weather, sports and business

Equestrian blog site with a focus on events and coverage in the Southern United States

The New York Times Racing Blog

Horsing around the world

Australian equestrian magazine offering online, print and live coverage

Media Center

8 Nations will contest the French Nations Cup in the Longines International Tournament (May 16-19) … total of 64 riders and 177 horses from 19 nations are competing.

The 2013 Nations Cup of France takes place at La Baule (May 16-19, 2013) … this year the prestigious event welcomes horses & riders from 19 nations, in nine 5-star events during the Longines Jumping International.

http://youtu.be/mAOI1cRs6n8

The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Norway is being held this weekend …

Originally published Dec. 2011 by Molly Sorge An open forum hosted by the U.S. Equestrian Federation took a hard look at how horse shows and the sport of show jumping have evolved over the last few decades, and where they’ve gone wrong.

“37 nations will be seeking to qualify for the world Final which will be held in September 2013…”

“As the home team, the Americans had the advantage, so perhaps they can continue to build on that win under new coach Robert Ridland with the confidence needed to rebuild the team after a dismal record at the Olympics last year.”

The summer Nations Cup season kicks off with a 4-Star in Lummen, Belgium this weekend … a mix of veteran riders and younger horses will be defending the home team.

Project Gutenburg free ebook of the 1916 edition of a Special Report on Diseases of the Horse, which was originally issued in 1890 by order of the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring). (released 2007)

Live and on-demand online broadcasts of equestrian events.

by Nancy Jaffer “…for McLain, winning his third Invitational since 1998 has special meaning: ‘This class is an institution for this country, this sport. I really hope people in the industry rally behind this … it’s very, very important to us as athletes.'”

Jump-offs are judged by the speed at which the course is jumped. A “clean trip,” (one in which the horse doesn’t knock down any jumps) run in record time wins, as seen in McLain Ward’s winning ride in the video…

by Danielle Goldstein: “I do believe that Israel can achieve true greatness in show jumping (or any other sport) assuming that we as a nation can clear this one final hurdle. … Hopefully, the sport of show jumping itself will play a part in setting the positive example we need to succeed.”

by Jason Schwartz “For a quarter-century, Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs ruled the clubby equestrian scene in Wellington, Florida. From his palatial estate, he fought to keep the exclusive community exactly the way he and his family wanted it. Then a brash Boston entrepreneur named Mark Bellissimo appeared on the scene.”

The USA fielded a mix of top veterans and young stars for their Nations Cup at home, securing victory and hopes of sealing early qualification for the Finals later this year.

The best and most interesting international news from the world of showjumping – every day – with weekly exclusive interviews and a great guest blog.

Laura Kraut and CEDRICK demonstrated the form that helped them clinch Team Gold for the U.S. at the 2008 Olympic Games as they jumped an impressive faultless effort in round one.

An impressive young Dutch squad took first victory in the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series … beating 9 nations in the season’s first international team competition.

Show jumping’s Nations Cup is going global under a new name and with a €16m sponsorship package.

News about horse health, care, equine science and research that affects horses.

Site of Marti Adrian Gregory, popular Canadian artist of both Equestrian and non-equestrian custom artwork.

http://youtu.be/S_2W-7hUvZ8

Ludger Beerbaum & Gotha (GER) – Grand Prix of Aachen 2009

http://youtu.be/tG1LUsuwTM0

Vintage 1930’s archival video of the famous showgrounds of Italy’s beautiful Piazza di Siena …

http://youtu.be/EPsQoj9ZW_o

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is the international governing body of equestrian sports. (French: Fédération Équestre Internationale)

The FEI headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland. The FEI enforces a code of conduct protecting the welfare of the horses from physical abuse and/or doping.

The British Equestrian Writers Association (BEWA) is an association of journalists and photographers who provide equestrian related editorial and pictures for newspapers, journals, magazines and websites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5895K-Xjupk&feature=related

Working Equitation. Speed test. Beja, Portugal. April 2008.

a blog for the every-day horse crazy

all horse, all the time

Writers of Equestrian Fiction

Dedicated To Putting a Horse in the White House & Selling Enough Books to Stay Off Food Stamps

The FEI Nations Cup showjumping series is to be re-named and re-packaged for 2013, which FEI President HRH Princess Haya says is “wonderful news for equestrian sport”.

Developing responsibility and communication skills are an integral part of learning horsemanship. Working with horses is conducive to forming emotional bonds. Shared experience promotes personal growth.

Great shots of Dutch national rider Gerco Schröder …

You don’t have to own your own horse to enjoy the informative tips and colorful stories told by these bloggers.

by Linda Allen “Show jumping spans such a wide range of levels and participants these days that it can be hard to recognize as a single discipline.”

Candidate for President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Dutch businessman Henk Rottinghuis, created a well-regarded analysis called “A Fresh Approach to Create a Space for the Sport” following a Listening Tour to form his 2010 campaign agenda.

As more and more people become interested in buying a horse, isn’t it time they learned how to do it right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ-QMLF0Zfw

One recent study, published in the journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, found that “a 10-week therapeutic horseback riding intervention with children diagnosed with can result in significant improvement.” Teachers tell us they see these benefits extend into the classroom, long after the riding session is over.