Liberal Arts Education For All Horses Is A Must

Over the course of my many years with horses (counting nearly 50. What!! That's hard to believe even for me), I've competed and trained many different breeds of horses.

At a recent show that was the qualifying competition at a regional level in dressage I was thrilled to see a variety of horses competing under both Young Riders and amateur riders and professionals. The championship will be held in Kentucky in November and all riders were keen to guide their steeds to success to garner high enough scores to 'make it' to the big event.

 

From Paints to Fjords to horses whose breed I didn't even recognize, non traditional dressage breeds were apparent and their presence added a note of genuine horsemanship to the show. In fact the presence of Fjords competing at a dressage show in the USA had the Facebook group Norwegian Fjords members remarking that even in the country of their breed heritage the Fjord was rarely used for dressage. 

For myself I have seen Fjords be stellar jumpers showing great technique over fences, do clean tests at FEI PSG and be super driving horses and trail buddies too.

When did we forget that a horse can do more than one thing? In my youth horses were foxhunted, jumped and ridden on trails, entered dressage shows and gymkanas and did a bit of everything. "Variety is the spice of life" after all. 

Many horse breeders ( and that goes for ourselves at one point) are so busy breeding horses for a specific discipline they forget to give the horse a chance in its early riding career to experience anything else than the discipline that they have determined its genetics require and that their perhaps limited riding abilities discipline wise can market.

It is crucial that every horse is given a chance to figure out where it excels and to also receive a thorough all-around education so that is does not become sour mentally, and that physically it is developed as an athlete and one with a well developed mind and balance in all things.This of course should go for riders too.

Think of it as liberal arts college study for horses. Do a bit of everything and train the horse to enjoy it all. It is 'liberating' both for them and us!

Let's Make 2013 A Banner Year for Catskill Horse Folks

"The Merry Band of the Catskill Horse" team is looking forward to bringing all Catskill horsemen and horsewomen together but we need your input and help to do it.

Carly Diamond was runner up for Most Improved Rider at Fairbanks Stables Clinic Event, narrowly missing winning The Horse Studio Degas bridle. All riders received a sweatshirt or T-Shirt though, kindly donated by THS, so no-one was left out.

Northfield Farm owner Anneliese Gilchrist riding her Oldenburg mare Farah at a recent dressage clinic, and beating some pretty serious odds to do it.

Whatever discipline(s) you love to ride and compete in we hope to see your names and faces on the Catskill Horse site this year. Over the past few months we've heard from and met in person, many of our directory business members. We've attended events in the area from shows, to clinics to tack swaps and have loved meeting you all.

                                                                                          

Maplewood Warmbloods ( Jen Vanover on left) at NEDA - winning.

Catskill Horse would also like to thank all of the folks that welcomed us and treated us like VIPs -

VIP Tent - End of a long day for both Catskill Horse publisher Paul & one of the VIP host volunteers - Karen.

Catskill Horse would like to thank the volunteer team for helping with the Directory including Anne Tanner Arent, Jeannette Moser, Cheryl Kelly and Kim Sanford,

Here are just some of the plans for the forthcoming year.

• The addition of an interactive horse for sale listing option, which we hope will benefit every horse looking for a new home.
• The addition of an interactive calender that registered members can use to promote their own events.
• Catskill Horse member sign up. Members will receive special 'extras'.
• New feature articles and wrap ups..
• Advertising opportunities for local businesses on banner and sidebar ads coming soon.
• Editorial features each month.
•  Advice column - look for our January column, " How to Host A Successful Clinic and Make $$".
• More photo contests and free giveaway prizes. 
• 10% discount to all Catskill Horse members from various local businesses with membership sign up.

Catskill Horse welcomes all ideas for other features in the directory.  This is a 100% volunteer effort, so please be patient when you contact us - we get to it all as soon as we can.
Email us your ideas to info@CatskillHorse.org and don't forget to send us news and photos of all your forthcoming events.


All photos courtesy NikkiAlvinSmithStudio.com All Rights Reserved.