Sport Horse Breeders Meet in Devon

The wealth of information, people, places, and horses at the WBFSH Convention was outstanding! The first day we were taken to the Devon Breed Show to see some of the top mares and foals in the country. I was surprised to learn that in Europe they do not have breed shows like this. We had lunch sponsored by Dressage at Devon and were able to talk with many of the representatives of the WBFSH and hear their thoughts and impressions on the show.

After returning from the show we started the 1st seminar session. We were welcomed by Jan Pedersen, the president of the WBFSH, and Ekkehard Brysch, ISR/Oldenburg Registry, our host. Scott Hassler then presented a very interesting talk about equestrian sports in North American and its impact on Sport Horse breeding. He thanked the WBFSH for the implementation of the Young Horse Championships citing that he felt that they were having a very positive impact on the education of the young horse in the U.S. Even though only a small percentage of our 4, 5, and 6 year olds are competing in these classes, it has highlighted the importance of starting the training of our young horses earlier rather than later. Currently the Young Horse Championships for Dressage, Jumping, and Eventing are held at different times and different locations. The goal for 2013 is to have them all in one location at the same time.

Ekkehard Brysch then talked about the impact of thoroughbreds on the modern Sport Horse Breeding in North America. He said that originally the 1st generation of a cross with a TB was not the breeding goal, only the start. Now however, because of the larger pool of quality TB mares in the U.S., they are seeing that the 1st generation cross does produce foals that meet the breeding goal. It is important to note that they have identified a particular type of TB that is suitable. The TB horses that produce the best offspring suitable for the Sport Horse must have quality conformation and are typically out of lines that produced horses that were or are successful in the longer races. Sprinting horses will not produce the gaits desirable for modern Sport Horse Breeding.

Later in the afternoon we heard about the education and training of equestrian professionals in the U.S. by Prof. Dr. Rebecca Splan from Virginia Tech University. They have a unique program designed to educate the students in all aspects of the horse industry. Their goal is that the student be made aware of all the career opportunities available and with the help of the university, industry stakeholder support, and assistance from breed registries and other organizations, is prepared for high-level professional careers with horses. I found myself wishing I was younger and could take part in this excellent program.

Derbydown Farms was our 1st stop the next morning. There, Louise Serio gave us a demonstration of a hunter on the flat and over fences, as well as some videos of the Hunter Derby while we had lunch. She told us what she looks for in a Hunter and verified that the modern Sport Horse is proving to be more suitable than the TB in most cases. It was very educational and many of the WBFSH representatives had never seen this sport and were impressed. We then visited North View Farm, the birth place of Northern Dancer, and saw many beautiful TB stallions and heard about the state of TB breeding and racing in the U.S. Next was the amazing new Hassler Dressage at Riveredge. This facility will take your breath away - you can see pictures on the ISR/Oldenburg website as well at the WBFSH site. Scott and his partner's plans for the future are very exciting, they have a lot of fresh ideas and plans that will help the U.S. become more important in the breeding of modern Sport Horses and the training of both the horse and rider/trainer. We then had a delicious American Barbeque dinner at the farm with lots of discussion about what we had seen and heard so far.

The final day in Devon it was pouring rain from a hurricane that had been on the coast. We were lucky in that most of the day was inside. There was a meeting of the general assembly that we were allowed to sit in on that I found very interesting. It was reassuring to hear them address issues that were important to me as a breeder in their Strategic Plan. This was followed by presentations on new methods for breeding with frozen semen, stem cell uses, cloning, AI breeding practices, the Young Breeders program, horse slaughter in the U.S. and other countries, and the Universal Equine Life Number (UELN). The UELN was the subject of discussion frequently throughout the three day meeting. It has been successfully implemented in many countries, but the logistics of putting it in place in the U.S. is staggering. We do not have the kind of government control that would be required as they do in other countries.

Horse Tack Bridles - Which One To Buy?

Horse bridles are different for every discipline. Deciding which horse tack bridles to buy will depend on what type of riding your do, as well as how your horse has been trained. There are also differences in a horse mouth, and some horses require a firmer bit, while others simply need a simple snaffle. Often finding the horse bridles you need will be easier than finding the right bit.

A bit is the mouthpiece on the bridle that fits on the "bars" in the horse's mouth. This is a space that is found in front of the horse's back molars, and the fit of the bit will mean that your horse is comfortable and willing to work.

There are an endless range of bits, but the two primary types of bits are snaffles and curbs. Snaffle bits are used as "direct pressure," while curb bits are used for leverage. Depending on what you are requiring from your horse will determine what type of bit to purchase.

Snaffle bits are the most common type of bit found in English horse bridles, particularly hunt seat and dressage. These horse tack bridles use snaffle bits to apply direct pressure to the tongue and lip. There may be a "joint" in the center of the mouthpiece, which acts as nutcracker effect inside the mouth to direct the horse. There are a wide range of snaffle bits, including D ring, twisted wire bits, and O rings.

Curb bits work with leverage, which puts pressure on the poll, and is considered a more severe bit. These are found more frequently in Western horse bridles, but there are no hard and fast rules. Leverage curb bits will provide more control depending on the length of the shank, as well as the type of curb. There are some bits that are solid, while others have a jointed center.

Riders are not confined to a snaffle or curb bits. With so many choices, there are hybrid horse tack bridles that work with many horses, such as the kimberwick bit, or even double horse bridles, which incorporate two bits simultaneously using four reins instead of two.

Shopping for the right horse tack bridles for your individual horse may be a process in stead of one stop shopping. Consult with other riders or trainers to find out what may work best with your horse, make sure you have a good fit, and listen to your horse.

Beginning riders may want a milder bit until they learn how to have a good seat, while an advanced rider can still be effective with a more severe bit and a light hand.

Your horse bridles are literally your steering wheel with your horse, and you want to make sure that you are in control. At the same time, you want your horse to be comfortable so you can get willing results. Taking your time and being willing to try different bits on your horse will help you get the maximum performance from your horse.

Horse Grooming Supplies

When you own a horse you will need to keep it looking and feeling great and this can take more work than you may think. Horse grooming is very important as it will not only make your horse look great but also it will make them feel fantastic too. You will need to purchase the right horse grooming supplies which can help you with your task. You will also have to research the best way to groom the breed of horse that you own as some have to be cared for in different ways.

There are many different horse grooming supplies available for you to purchase and you will need to decide what you need and what can be bought on your budget. There will always be essential horse grooming items that you need and these should be bought first. Your horse should be brushed every day if possible as this can help to remove the dead hair, dirt, debris and dry skin. You will be amazed at how much your house enjoys being groomed. You will need to put in a lot of effort to ensure that you horse is brushed well.

You should always brush your house before riding them to ensure there is nothing where your saddle will go. Also when you return to remove sweat stains and make your horse comfortable you can brush them with a hard brush and a curry comb which removes the hair from the brush easily. If your horse has been clipped then you will find you need to do your horse grooming with a softer brush. As well as a dandy brush, body brush and curry comb you may also find that you need a mane comb, sweat scraper and sponges. All of these are essential horse grooming supplies which you can add to make a larger kit.

If you maintain a daily routine of grooming your horse then you will begin to get into a pattern and know exactly what order to groom your horse in. After you have brushed them properly then you may need to comb through their mane and tail. This keeps it free of tangles and knots and if you horse has a particularly thick mane then it may need pulling to keep it thin and tidy. You can find all of the essential horse grooming supplies in your local tack store. They are not too expensive and if looked after will last you a long time.

You need to ensure that your horse's nose and eyes are clean and healthy and wiping these down with a damp sponge is very important. By you grooming your horse every day you are not only bonding with them but also helping to check them over. You can tell if there are any lumps and bumps and maybe if they are showing signs of un-comfort. If you are concerned then you should speak to your vet who can check the horse out more thoroughly. If you spend the time to get to know your horse by horse grooming then they will respond with kindness and love.