Log in


Mid-South Eventing & Dressage Association

MSEDA News

  • Don’t Be Liable: The Down-and-dirty on Equine Liability Insurance

    10/12/2016 9:02 AM | Deleted user

    Equine liability insurance options can seem daunting, but whether you own a boarding barn or keep horses in your back yard, they’re necessary to keep you safe from legal action. And even if you don’t own a farm, carrying some form of equine liability insurance may help keep you safe lawsuits. Read on to find out why.  

    By Sarah E Coleman


    Investigating insurance of any kind can be overwhelming, whether you’re looking at health insurance, life insurance, truck and trailer insurance or equine insurance. And as equine insurance is something many horse enthusiasts feel they don’t have to have, it can easily fall by the wayside (it can be hard enough to remember to renew our equine association memberships at the end of the year!).

    However, being uninsured or under-insured can be even scarier: The thought of losing your farm, your home, your horses and most of your assets is enough to make any horse owner quiver in their muck boots. While you may feel that your clients are stand-up people who wouldn’t sue you, it’s important to remember that many times, the injured do not have an option in whether or not legal action is taken—their insurance company makes that call.

    So, what insurance is best for you? 


    Liability Insurance: Who Needs it?

    Sadly, in the litigious world we now live in, having liability insurance is more than just peace of mind--it can be key to protecting yourself and your assets should you be brought to court.

    One term of importance, says Kristin Detwiler, an agribusiness and equine specialist with Gibson Agri & Equine Insurance in Girard, Ohio, is to make sure you’re working with someone who truly understands the equine operation and what needs to be covered.

    For example, some home owner’s insurance policies will cover the liability for a few horses kept in the backyard, but will not cover someone who owns a large farm with boarded horses (owned by other people) on the property. For those people who board horses, they need a different policy: a farmowner’s insurance policy.

    The easiest way to tell what type of insurance you need is to ask yourself this question: Is someone making a profit from this operation? If they are, this becomes a "commercial" exposure and a commercial farm policy would be needed, as opposed to a personal policy (meaning you make your income elsewhere).



    Insurance Options

    There are many different types of liability insurance, but agribusiness and farm owner’s policies are typically what is used to cover a farm property and the liability that comes with it, notes Detwiler. Each liability policy is then tailored to the individual based on their needs and their operations.

    For example, the liability insurance a boarding barn owner carries will be different from that carried by a trainer who travels to various farms to give lessons, but insurance is necessary for both. What differs for each is what is specifically covered under each policy.

    The most popular liability insurance options for those involved in the equine industry are Equine Personal Liability and Equine Professional Liability.
    EQUINE PERSONAL LIABILITY

    Generally speaking, for someone who just owns a few pleasure horses in their backyard, equine personal liability would be a good fit, explains Detwiler. This type of policy would include coverage for things like damage to another person or to another person’s property. Equine personal liability insurance would cover episodes like a horse getting into the road and then getting hit by a car, damaging the car or injuring the people in the car.

    EQUINE PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY

    A more-specific policy targeted to professionals in the equine industry, an equine professional liability policy also covers those who may not own a farm or barn from which they provides these services.


    COMMERCIAL FARM OWNER’S PACKAGE

    When dealing with equestrian professionals who give riding lessons, board, breed, train, offer clinics, riding camps or something similar, a Commercial Farm Owner’s Package would be a better fit as it could cover all these endeavors. A specific policy would again be tailored to the individual, farm or corporation to cover all of the exposures from their equestrian involvement.

    This package insurance policy is the most comprehensive (and often the most affordable) way to cover the entire exposure of the farm to those who may try to sue the farm owner—and it’s done on one policy, says Detwiler.
    This policy would cover the actual farm property itself (dwellings, barns, machinery, hay and animals) and provide liability insurance. This liability can include liability for boarding, breeding, training, lessons, clinics and more. 

    Personal Liability Policy

    That being said, stand-alone equine personal liability policies for horse owners who do not own their own farm and aren't covering their liability on a farmowner’s policy are also available. This type of insurance is best suited for horse owners who board or lease a horse that is not housed on property they own.

    Some homeowner’s insurance policies will cover the liability from owning a horse, but some will not, so it’s worthwhile to call your current carrier to see if they would extend liability to one owned horse, explains Detwiler. 

    If your current insurance carrier doesn’t extend coverage, equine personal liability insurance should be considered. These policies are generally very reasonably priced. This policy would provide liability insurance for the horse named in the policy, no matter where it goes. For example, if you were to take your horse to a horse show and the horse bit someone who then tried to sue you, this insurance policy would protect you and your assets.


    What is NOT Covered With an Equine Insurance Policy

    While there is no “blanket” insurance policy, it’s important that any farm with commercial exposure (think boarding, riding lessons, training, etc.) have liability release waivers and hold harmless agreements, which can be drawn up or reviewed by a lawyer. It’s also important that each farm abide by state-specific equine laws, which could include the posting of equine activity awareness signs. (In Kentucky, you can get yours through the Kentucky Horse Council www.kentuckyhorse.org)



    “Insurance agencies do not provide such documents,” notes Detwiler. “It is advised that a person meet with an attorney to draft up such paperwork as it will pertain to them and their farm specifically. In writing a commercial farm policy or general liability policy, these waivers are typically required to be used and copies must be sent to the insurance company prior to beginning coverage.”

    Insurance in a Nutshell

    “If someone owns their own farm, a good catch-all insurance would be an actual farmowner’s policy,” explains Detwiler. “This policy would cover all of the property and the liability based on the liability exposure on the farm itself. For someone who might not own their farm, but is leasing or travels to different barns to give lessons, someone who is doing some boarding, breeding, clinics, or other equine endeavor, a Commercial General Liability policy with equine personal liability and professional liability along with any of the other exposure coverages would be a good catch all.” You could never cover everything on one policy and it can be changed as the exposures change, she notes.

    Keeping this in mind, once you have insurance, it’s a good idea to go over your policy each year with your agent when the renewals come due. A lot can change over the course of a year, and you might not think to call your agent every time you offer a new service or hire new employees, but it’s imperative that he or she know exactly what is being done on the farm so they can make sure you’re protected to the very best of the insurance company’s abilities.

    It boils down to this: No matter how you are involved in the equine industry, you need to have liability insurance—it depends on what you are doing with the horses that will determine what type of coverage you will need.  


  • It’s All in the Details: Course Designer

    09/27/2016 12:15 PM | Deleted user

    Nori Scheffel has long been a fixture at MSEDA sanctioned events, course designing and setting fences, as well as coaching kids and adults, and lending a hand wherever needed. 

    By Sarah E Coleman


    Originally from Calgary, Alberta Canada, Nori Scheffel’s introduction to horses was a bit different than most. Instead of being exposed to horses by a classmate or a babysitter, “I actually started riding because of my school bus driver in Canada: Ruth Ohlmeyer.”

    Scheffelridge Farm hosts two hunter/jumper horse shows a year: one in May and one in July. They have a variety of classes and recently added one near to Nori’s heart: the Ruth Ohlmeyer Equitation Challenge. Ruth passed away last year. “If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be riding at all,” Nori says.

    Nori’s background is deep and varied. “I grew up not knowing there was English riding; being from Calgary, I grew up with the Stampede. I began in the Canadian pony Club, evented through my formative years and then turned into a hunter who rode some dressage.

    “My first was a pony named Sugar that Ruth gave my family for Christmas. All three of us [Nori has two sisters] rode and showed her; we did pony club and hunters. She was a 14 hand bay Quarter mare. After that, Ruth gave me her horse Sunny, who was a Saddlebred/Arabian cross that challenged my horsemanship every day. After that, my mom and dad bought us better horses, so I got Gully, Pacific Fire, who was a Thoroughbred I did the hunter jumpers on.


    A Change in Country

    Nori ended up in the States for a great reason: “We actually moved to California because my dad didn’t want to shovel snow anymore. He bought a house and said ‘we are immigrating to California!’” However, Nori and her sisters refused to leave Canada until they got to show at Spruce Meadows, which was back when the show still hosted hunters.

    Nori completed her first year of college at at Palomar College in California, then she needed to leave the country while my Visa paperwork came through. She then attended Yorkshire Riding Centre, where she got a BHSAI (British Horse Society Accredited Instructor). “After school, I worked in Yorkshire and Salisbury for 8 months, then I went to Germany to work at a Grand Prix dressage stable for 7 months. Then I came back  to California, where I freelanced teaching and riding. I also started teaching at a local Pony Club.

    Life is Better in the Bluegrass

    So how DID Nori end up in Kentucky? “I met Dave Scheffel, my husband, when I came back to the States—my mom had hired him and Jim Boyce to shoe my horses when I was overseas. We bought the farm in Paris in 1996, got married and moved to Kentucky the next day. We started building on the 44 acres we originally had bought, then purchased an additional 75 acres 7 years ago.”

    Scheffelridge Farm is now home to about 50-odd horses, and the clientele is everything from casual riders, junior, pony kids, hunters, jumpers, dressage, eventing riders and western horses and riders as well; Nori’s husband Dave is a farrier who ropes. Additionally, the Georgetown College Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team trains out of Scheffelridgem as well.

    Of all the horses on the farm, Nori owns just one: Secret Madison, or Maddie. She’s a retired 24-year-old Warmblood mare Nori raised and competed in the jumpers. 

    Delving Into Course Design

    So with such varied boarding clients, how did Nori get into course design, as well? “I had a student 16 years ago who worked for Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, which hosts the Paul Frazer dressage show and combined test. At the time, they were lacking a course designer, so she asked me if I would be interested in helping. That’s really where it all began! After that I began building Spring Bay when I was asked by Stanley Wiggs. It’s really grown from there.”

    Nori designs everything from unsanctioned events like mini trials and her own jumper shows at the farm to one-star events at the Kentucky Horse Park. “Course designing is my creative outlet. I love fitting the necessities into a pattern that’s smooth but challenging,” she explains. 


    A Passion for Teaching


    When asked what she is most passionate about with regards to her job, Nori explains that “my passion isn’t really riding—it’s seeing my students grow and learn as riders. My specialty is talking people off the ledge!” she says, smiling. “No, in all honesty, my specialty is building confidence in my riders, whether they are timid beginners or adult amateurs who can’t afford to get hurt.

    I love when I can teach something well enough that my rider walks out of the ring with a smile—I know they have really learned something—a lightbulb came on and they GET it. And that feeling can come with the smallest thing—any sort of breakthrough makes me feel like I have accomplished something meaningful.

  • Benefits of a MSEDA Scholarship

    09/27/2016 8:27 AM | Deleted user

    By Susan Harris


    Continuing Education is amazing! Last winter I was very fortunate to receive a scholarship form MSEDA.  This scholarship allowed me to attend the outstanding USDF Trainers Conference in Wellington, Florida.  The symposium was with Johann Hinnemann.  He has been the coach for German, Dutch and Canadian Olympic Teams.  He also is a Reitmeister or Master Rider.

    Every year the seminar is held at a beautiful farm in the White Fences Equestrian community.  The participants range from 1st level through Gran Prix.  The horses and riders are outstanding!  Each pair has specific issues that are addressed in their sessions.

    It is such a wonderful learning experience to sit around and watch these amazing athletes.  It is always good to hear the about new techniques in dealing with training problems and to refresh yourself on the basics.

    The following are some of the ideas and exercises I found particularly helpful:

    Focus and structure:

    1. Saying out loud what you plan to do at each letter.

    2. Visualize each movement you plan to do.

    3. How should it look - how to prepare to do the movement – finish & evaluate.

    Ideas

    1. Not to go so deep in corners as to upset the rhythm or cadence.

    2. Always shoulder fore.

    3. Canter to achieve more activity.

    4. Many transitions within the gaits and in lateral exercises.

    5. Renew activity – example, medium to collected to medium.

    6. Look where you want to go.

    7. Clean simple aids and repetition.

    I am still excited about the seminar.  Learning so many great exercises and new ideas is wonderful.  I continually refer to the extensive notes that I took during the conference.

    In addition to attending the MSEDA Trainers Conference, I went to the USDF Certified Trainers Symposium with featured speaker Shelley Francis. (Shelley and her horse, Doktor were the alternates for the United States in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio).

    Shelley gave an overview of her training philosophy.  I loved her simple and quite approach, while maintaining the utmost attention to detail.  We viewed her instructing to several of her students. She also gave a fabulous demonstration on her Grand Prix horse, Danilo.

    Fortunately Shelley made room for me to take several weekly lessons the entire time I was in Wellington. My 6 year old horse, Endeavor, who is just starting 3rd level greatly benefited from Shelley’s patient training methods.  Shelley really helped with his overly enthusiastic Flying Changes.

    My students benefit every day from the new exercises I learned, my better eye on the ground and the enthusiasm I attained while in Florida.  I appreciate the financial help from MSEDA very much!  Florida 2016 was such a wonderful experience.

    Thank you for your sponsorship!


    Susan L. Harris

  • MSEDA Dressage at the Park

    09/27/2016 8:19 AM | Deleted user

    By Sarah E Coleman

    This year’s MSEDA at the Park was held on September 9 and 10. Though the show was a bit smaller as many riders has just returned from the American Eventing Championships in Tryon, N.C., and it ran between some United States Dressage Federation Regional Championships.



    A total of seven USDF teams competed, with five adult teams and two youth teams.  The results can be found here: http://showsecretary.com/rs.asp?Show_ID=602

    The 2017 show dates are September 8-10 at the Kentucky Horse Park. There will be both USDF Youth and Adult team competition once again.


    We would love your feedback on the competition!


    We look forward to seeing you in 2017!

  • Don’t Choke!

    09/21/2016 9:10 AM | Deleted user

    While choking in humans can be a very violent, noisy affair, choke in horses can present in a very different way.

    By Sarah E Coleman


    What horses are at risk?

    The main cause of choke in horses is a lump of poorly chewed food, though horses can choke on non-food items, as well. These objects are typically rocks or some other item a horse samples, or could be wood if a horse is a cribber.

     Horses that bolt their feed are more at risk for choke than horses that eat more slowly, as they eat as much food as they possibly can as quickly as possible. Additionally, older horses that have bad (or no) teeth are also at higher risk for choke as they have a harder time chewing their food properly.

    Horses that eat specific types of feed can also be predisposed to choke: pelleted feeds, in particular, can cause a horse to choke as they are compressed during the processing of the feed, then expand when exposed to moisture, like saliva. 

    How to diagnose choke

    While not all chokes present the same way, some indications that your horse may be choking include:

    • Standing with his neck held straight out and down
    • Repeatedly trying to swallow (the horse might seem like he is gagging)
    • Drooling
    • Saliva and/or food or grass coming out of the horse’s nose
    • Coughing

    How choke is handled

    No matter what, choke is a veterinary emergency. While you’re waiting for your vet, if you’re comfortable doing so, you can sedate your horse to try to get him to relax. Sometimes the sedation alone will allow your horse to relax enough that the mass will pass. Once your vet arrives, she will administer anti-spasmodic medicine to try to get his esophageal muscles to relax. If this does not work, she will pass a tube through your horse’s nose until it hits the obstruction. She will them pour warm water into the tube and empty it repeatedly as she tries to gently push down the mass. The goal is to soften the mass with enough liquid to allow it to pass into the stomach. If your vet is unable to get the mass to pass manually, your horse may need surgical removal of the obstruction.

    Once your vet gets the mass to pass, which may take quite a bit of time, you will most likely be advised to not let the horse eat for 24 hours. This time allows the throat to rest and begin healing from the trauma of the lodged mass. Once your horse can eat again, he will most likely need to eat food that has been softened with water before transitioning back to dry food in a few days.

    Your vet will administer pain medications to your horse to alleviate the inflammation from where your horse had the obstruction. Choking horses are also at risk of developing pneumonia, so your vet may opt to place your horse on a round of broad-spectrum antibiotics. 


    Reasons why horses choke


    Horses can choke for a variety of reasons, but some of the most common are:
    • Anxious about grain meals (there are also many causes of this, but it could be related to having had food withheld from him in the past, being low in the pecking order, etc.)
    • Not enough saliva
    • Poor dentition
    • Complications from EPM (where muscles surrounding the larynx may not work as well and allow food to get trapped
    • Injury to the esophagus (either from trauma or a tumor)

    How to prevent choke


    There are certain things that can be done to prevent choke. These include:

    • Getting your horse’s teeth checks at least twice a year, more if he is older or having issues
    • Feeding a non-pelletized feed
    • Using a slow feeder for grain meals or drop some large, smooth stones in his bucket if he bolts his feed
    • Adding water to his meals to make them more moist
    • Feeding more grain meals so he is not as anxious to bolt feed
    • Feeding hay first so he is not as hungry when his grain comes
    • Separating him to eat if he is fed in a herd and bolts his feed
    • Having water available to him when he eats grain meals

  • MSEDA Missy Ransehousen Training Session

    08/30/2016 11:32 AM | Deleted user

    By Kristen M. Janicki, MS, PAS 

    The Mid-South Eventing and Dressage Association welcomed Missy Ransehousen on August 21-22nd at Masterson Station Park in Lexington, Kentucky.  Missy has made her own mark on the equestrian world through her chosen sport of eventing. Many would view her to have an obvious advantage of growing up with an Olympic legend (her mother, Jessica), but proving herself in this sport has been based on hard work & dedication. When you grow up in the shadow of a three-time Olympian, you work hard, develop your own style, and choose what you love the most:  coaching & eventing!

    Photo by Erica SpradlingPhoto by Erica Spradling


    Saturday's Dressage Lessons

    Day one began with individual dressage lessons at the Dressage Complex under cloudy and sometimes rainy skies.  Tiffany Smith and the lovely bay gelding Indigenous Gent (currently competing at the preliminary level) took to the sandbox first.  Missy and Tiffany joked about her horse “assuming the position” in dressage, so they took to challenging him to take his frame outside of his comfort zone.  After a brief warm-up, Missy instructed Tiffany to canter a 20-meter circle in the center of the ring, working on stretching the horse’s head and neck downwards.  Keeping him supple through his jaw will his body to follow suit.  “This horse doesn’t need to be low in his frame but should be through,” Missy said.  

    Photo by Kristen Janicki

    Then, staying on the circle in that downwards stretch, Tiffany worked on bending him to the outside for several strides, allowing him to straighten and then bending to the inside.  By straightening her upper body, Tiffany brought Indy’s head and neck up.  “If, when you lift, he starts bracing, bring his head and neck back down and ask again,” Missy explained.  She encouraged Tiffany to keep the canter swinging, and, if it starts to feel up and down, push forward for a bigger stride.  

    Tiffany Smith. Photo by Kristen Janicki

    Tiffany also admitted that riding the corners are a challenge for her, so Missy reminded her to keep her eyes and chest up to prevent the upper body from tipping forward in the corners.  Instead of using her inside lower leg to support and bend the horse’s body, Tiffany should close her inside thigh with steady lower leg contact.  

    Beginner novice level riders, like Claire Mulhollem and Anastacia Curwood, worked to create a steady rhythm throughout the three gaits.  At the trot, Missy had them work off the rail and leg yield over on the long side, using their legs and body to move the horse rather than directing with the reins. 


    Anastasia Curwood. Photo by Kristen Janicki 

    To improve your horse’s walk, Missy suggests stretching your leg downwards and be conscious of your position in the saddle, sitting tall.  If you are wearing spurs, turn your toe outwards keeping your legs long rather than shortening your lower leg position.  Riders should “feel your horse’s hind legs stepping underneath them,” Missy said.


    Sunday’s Stadium Jumping 

    Beginner Novice

    Beginner Novice group, consisting of Sharon Anthony and Claire Mulhollem, worked on creating a steady rhythm to the fences either at a trot or canter and keeping the same rhythm throughout their courses.  For Sharon, Missy wanted her to think about keeping her eyes and chest up with her weight in her heels.  This helped to create better balance over the fence itself.


    Photo by Erica Spradling

    Claire’s big mare tends to get very enthusiastic about jumping and the key element to controlling that energy included maintaining a steadier canter to the fences.  Staying centered to the fence, especially off of a turn, requires preparation.  Making sure the horse remained on the aids helped Claire prepare for the fence ahead. 

    Photo by Erica Spradling

    Training

    Martha Lambert. Photo by Erica Spradling

    Hannah Hubsch and Martha Lambert were up next aboard their mismatched mounts, a tall Thoroughbred and Connemara pony.  For Martha, Missy concentrated on keeping the connection and hind legs moving.  Keeping the horse on the aids and maintaining connection helps the horse balance his body.  If the horse loses balance in the turns, “finesse the reins and use a half halt,” Missy said.


    Hannah Hubsch. Photo by Erica Spradling

    Missy really challenged Hannah’s position over fences, having her shift her hips more underneath her and forward.  “That way, as you jump, you don’t have to move as much with your body,” she said.

    With her tall and lean mount, Missy told Hannah “don’t get in a hurry to get to the jump with a big horse,” especially one with a lot of scope.  Keep the rhythm of the stride you want and close your leg rather than using your upper body to meet a distance.


    Novice

    It was all about pace and energy for Bridgette Aickelin’s big grey gelding who would rather poke his way around the course.  Missy worked on getting Bridgette to use more power while maintaining the same ground-covering stride, resulting in a steadier smoother round and scopier jumps.

    With Megan Lynn, Missy emphasized her position to help Biggin’s jump.  “Don’t throw your shoulders forward, he has to jump up to you”.  Maintaining a firm lower leg in the last stride to the fence helped to keep the stride moving forward.  

    Photo credits:  Kristen Janicki (Saturday), Erica Spradling (Sunday).

    MSEDA would like to thank Missy Rasehousen for sharing her eventing expertise with all of the horses and riders.  

    For more information about MSEDA, go to www.mseda.org


  • Just Say Whoa to Weeds

    08/16/2016 8:15 PM | Deleted user

    Weed control in pastures can seem futile, especially if you have limited space and resources, but proper pasture management is key to making sure your horse’s get the most nutrition from turnout.

    By Sarah E Coleman



    We all know that horses can be picky eaters, so it behooves farm managers and owners to eliminate as many weeds as possible in their fields. While it may not be possible to eliminate every weed single weed, in reality you may not want to: some weedy plants provide horse’s with nutrients, as odd as that may seem. In Kentucky, some of the most common non-palatable weeds include curly dock and tall ironweed, but crab grass is readily eaten by most horses.

    Thankfully, most horses will not eat poisonous plants unless there is no other forage option available. Here in Kentucky, the most poisonous to horses are horsechestnut, red maple, wild black cherry, Japanese yew, mountain laurel and rhododendron.

    Weeds are tough buggers: they tend to be more aggressive than grasses and other desired forages, competing with them for water, light and soil nutrients. If nothing is done to stop them, weeds tend to win and take over entire fields.

    Ways to Win the Weed War

    The way you manage your fields will have a major impact on the presence (or lack thereof) of weeds. While it may not be possible to incorporate every weed control strategy, the goal is to incorporate some practices that promote the growth of desired plants instead of weeds, which thrive on low soil fertility levels.

    To maintain fields well, you need to use some of the following strategies:

    • Use controlled grazing practices
    • Maintain proper soil pH and fertility levels
    • Mow at the proper time of year and for the stage of maturity of the weeds and forage
    • Renovate pastures as needed
    • Allow new plants to become established before turning out horses on the fields
    • Apply herbicides

    Typically an effective program will need to incorporate a few of these strategies.

    Overgrazing is typically the most-probable cause of weedy pastures, but if you have only one pasture or your field is small, consider sectioning off portion of the field using electric fencing tape that is easy to move. While this may not be possible on every farm, keeping horses off of parts of the pasture to allow the grass to grow is one of the best ways to improve pasture quality.

    Now is the time to seed (just be sure that the seed tag tells you how pure the seed is you are applying!)! Seeding in late summer or early fall will let the crop get established and compete with weeds like yellow foxtail and crabgrass that will come on in the spring; a spring seeding will have to compete with these weeds. However, weeds like chickweed will compete with the grass seed in the fall. There is no time of year where you can seed that will 100 percent guarantee that your seed will take, sadly.

    It may be most beneficial to apply grass seed in late summer or early fall and then seed legumes the next spring. Application of seed in this manner would allow you to apply a broadleaf herbicide in the spring before seeding the legume species if you wanted to.

    You should test your soil before applying any herbicide or seeding so you know if any additional steps will be necessary to give your seed the best shot at surviving. Knowing your soil’s pH and nutrient levels will help you judge whether or not you should add lime or fertilizer first. The addition of lime or fertilizer alone will not usually help control weeds—in fact, some weeds respond well to lime application in the field—exactly what you DON’T want!

    Herbicides can be used on fields, but to just apply them willy-nilly will do no good. If the forage in the herbicide-treated field is not strong enough (and actively growing), new weeds will begin to grow in the bare areas where the older weeds died. 


    Know When to Mow

    Mowing can help control weed growth, but it is mainly effective in preventing and reducing seed production—which means you need to mow when weeds are growing, but before flowers or grass seed heads come on. Fields mowed after weed seeds become mature don’t prevent future weed development. In fact, some weeds grow better once they have been clipped (cocklebur)!

    Mowing should be done when weeds are about 12 to 18 inches tall. Best results come when the vegetation is mowed as close to the ground as possible. It’s even more important to mow pastures that have been selectively grazed by horses as this will help reduce or prevent seed production of the plants that were not eaten.

    Not all weeds are inhibited by mowing, however. Dandelions and crabgrass, for example, tend to be more prevalent in pasture that are mowed frequently; however horsenettle and johnsongrass can be suppressed by repeated mowing (pick you poison, eh?).


    Should You Use an Herbicide?

    The type of herbicide you use on your field will be largely be determined by what weeds are present, but that is not the sole deciding factor as to whether or not using an herbicide on your farm is necessary.

    Other things that should be considered are:

    • Stage of weed growth
    • Amount of weeds present
    • Temperature and rainfall
    • Time of year
    • Cost
    • Waiting period after treatment necessary before horses can be returned to the field

    If you determined that your farm is a candidate for herbicide application, a good general rule of thumb is to keep horses off treated fields for 7 to 14 days, though some herbicides state that they have a zero day waiting period

    County extension agents are some of the most underutilized tools for horse owners and farm managers. If you have questions on your pasture and its management, it can be helpful to contact your local agent for help.

    Find the agent for your county here.

    For more info on herbicides, click here.

  • What the Borell Case Means for the Future of Neglected Horses in Kentucky

    08/16/2016 8:08 PM | Deleted user

    By Sarah E Coleman

    By now, everyone in the state of Kentucky has heard of the equine neglect case involving Chuck Borell and his daughter Maria, a Breeder’s Cup-winning trainer, who, as of early August, had a warrant out for her arrest. With 43 counts of second-degree animal cruelty against her, she has not yet been served, as she has not returned to Kentucky.

    There were 43 horses involved in the case on the 121-acre farm in Mercer County; 28 of the horses in the best physical shape were left on the farm. Eight horses were moved to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Blackburn Correctional Facility and several others that were not Thoroughbreds were taken in by the Kentucky Horse Park (but are not on Park grounds). Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farms took in two Thoroughbreds.

    Though the horses are now being taken care of, those passionate about equine welfare felt that it took much too long for the horse’s health to become a priority. Adding to the confusion, it was clear before the horses were moved to the Mercer County farm that they were being neglected—so how did 43 horses slip through the cracks?


    Why Did it Take So Long to get Anything Done?

    While many people were unhappy with the how long it took for the horses to receive care, the state had to play by the rules—which, like most animal welfare laws in the state, seem to be subpar.

    Trainer Ken Summerville, who used to keep horses with Borell before losing them in a legal dispute, stopped at the farm in Mercer County in hopes of seeing his old horses. What he found was overwhelming; the horses were in poor condition and a volunteer at the farm let him know that neither Borell had been to the farm in weeks.

    Summerville alerted the local sheriff, Ernie Kelty, and waiting for the sheriff to begin to investigate the case. That step alone took weeks, though they did provide the horses on the farm with a limited supply of hay. Once Summerville called again, saying that the horses were now in dire straits, and when the press got ahold of the story, things began to move.

    The state veterinarian in Kentucky, Rusty Ford, became the point person in the case. The first that had to be tackled before anything else could be done was discovering just who WERE the horses on the farm? As they were having no luck reaching either Borell, the onus fell on the state to determine who each horse was who was on the farm.

    Thankfully, The Jockey Club stepped in to help determine who the Thoroughbreds were. DNA samples were taken for every horse on the Mercer County farm and The Jockey Club has worked diligently on identifying the horses. Work was also done to not only identify the horses, but their owners, as well.

    In some cases, however, the horses had not been registered, so there was no way to locate an owner. So what happens to these horses? 


    What Happens to These Horses?

    Previously, in Kentucky, any horse that was a “stray” had to be held for 90 days before anything could be done with it (given away, sold, etc). This means that if a horse was abandoned at a boarding barn, the barn owner had to feed and care for the horse for at least 90 days before he or she was allowed to take possession of the animal; from there they could do with it as they wished.

    Thankfully, in 2015, this stray hold period was cut from 90 days to 15 days—a huge boost for those working to save horses from dangerous situations. This law, while helpful for potentially cash-strapped communities without the resources to care for stray horses, also is helpful to farm owners who must care for a horse for a shorter period of time before trying to recoup some of their losses.

    The horses involved in the Borell case are now listed on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website on the “Stray or Abandoned Horses” page. This page is searchable by both county and breed; every effort is being made to locate the owners of the horses that are not registered.


    Why Didn't More Thoroughbred Entities Step Up?

    While it would seem like a logical choice for Thoroughbred aftercare organizations to rally around the horses abandoned on the Mercer County farm, it’s not that simple. Very few Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-(TAA) accredited organizations could provide shelter to the Mercer County horses because of the way the organizations operate: To take in a horse, the horse must transfer ownership to the accredited organization; the organizations are not entities that provide foster care. Transfer of ownership was not an option in the Borell case as it was still under investigation; horses rightfully owned by someone could not be given away without the proper protocol having been followed.

     But the equine industry didn’t let the case go unnoticed. They quickly rallied, with multiple veterinarians and shipping companies offering aid; donations rolled in to local feed companies and volunteers willingly gave up hours upon hours to care for the horses at the farm. 


    So What Happens Now?

    While the horses in this care are gaining weight and being cared for, their owners are still sought. While things seemed to move slowly in this case, it has shed light on some of the inadequacies in the equine welfare system, and things are in the works to change them and strengthen equine welfare laws.

    The Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Council unanimously approved a motion to examine changes to animal welfare laws. The council is chaired by Ford, who has first-hand knowledge of how poorly the system has worked in this case in particular. It is hoped that Kentucky laws will be clarified so that officials might take control of abandoned horses more easily. As a comparison, law enforcement officials are able to more-easily take possession of smaller animals like dogs and cats.

    Also suggested for additional changes are increased sanctions for those who have committed crimes as well as a possible emergency fund safety net for horses that are in dire situations. 

  • Feeding for Weight Gain

    08/05/2016 8:17 AM | Deleted user

    By Excel Equine Feeds

    One of the issues that I hear often from horse owners is that they have trouble keeping weight on one or two horses in the barn.  Most barn managers have had to deal with the finicky eater or hard keeper at least a few times in their lives.  Sometimes horses start to lose weight from being introduced to a more demanding training schedule, stress, bad health care, or they are just picky eaters.  Whatever the reason, there are steps that you can take to get your horse on the right track towards achieving a healthy body condition.

    First, make sure you rule out underlying issues that could be keeping your horse from gaining weight.  Poor teeth are a common problem in older horses.  Make sure you are getting your horses’ teeth floated once or twice a year and always do a check yourself to make sure there are not any sharp points on their teeth if you are suspicious that they are experiencing mouth pain.  Also, your worming program needs to be up to date.  Make sure you are giving your horses a wormer that your veterinarian recommends.  This could change based on everyone’s different geographical locations.  Aside from teeth and worming…one of the biggest health issues that could hinder weight gain is ulcers.

    Ulcers will cause the horse to have a lack of appetite and be ill tempered due to pain.  This happens more commonly with horses kept in stalls that do not have access to walking around on pasture and grazing for at least a portion of the day.  It is also prevalent in competition horses that experience stress from travel and competing at a high level.

     Make sure that if your horse acts like he or she might have ulcers, to consult your veterinarian and get them on medication to alleviate this.

    Also, free choice hay helps greatly with ulcers, and should really be a management practice already in place for all of your horses.  The horse naturally needs consistent fiber going through its digestive system to buffer the gut.  Horses produce acid in the stomach all the time, not just when they eat.  So when their stomach is empty, acid is still present and can cause ulcers if there is not roughage running through digestive system.

    So after you have checked into underlying health and management issues and your horses still isn’t gaining weight what can you do?  First, Make sure they have access to fee choice forage.  Also, you can start to add some alfalfa to their forage to increase their caloric intake from a safe source.  Adding Alfalfa will increase their protein intake, which will help with building muscle, and will increase their calorie intake, as it is more energy dense than grass hay.  If a horse will not clean up all of its hay, introducing hay cubes can sometimes work.  Alfalfa is also very palatable, so if you have a picky eater, usually they will take to Alfalfa pretty well.

    The last part of adjusting a feeding program is if all of the above mentioned methods do not provide results, start looking into the concentrates being fed.  When selecting a grain, make sure to look for a higher fat product (between 6-10%).  Fat allows for you to add calories without too much volume, which is important for the horse.  Their stomach is small compared to the rest of their digestive system, so food passes through there very quickly.  You do not want the large intestine to get overloaded with undigested starch, because this is what often leads to colic and laminitis.  So by feeding something higher in fat, you lessen the risk of overload because you do not have to feed as much.

     It is like choosing a small handful of nuts over a bowl of cereal…you might be getting the same calories, but in a much different amount!

    Adding fat can be in the form of purchasing a higher fat feed or adding rice bran or oil to your horse’s ration.  Remember to add all changes to a horse’s diet slowly as to not upset the microbes in large intestine.  Another good point about feeding added fat is that it often provides a slow burn type of energy that does not cause extra excitability…it can actually improve behavior instead!

    Whether you are dealing with a health issue or simply a hard keeper, following these tips and guidelines will help in achieving the desired weight gain. At the end of the day, weight gain is about calorie intake.

     We as horse owners just have to figure out how to get those calories back into your horse and why they might not be enough at the current rate being given.  Make sure to also utilize your feed company’s equine nutritionist and you should be on your way to having a happy and healthy animal that is at a good weight and thriving.

  • Hagyard MidSouth Team Challenge Rules and Info

    07/28/2016 12:20 PM | Deleted user

    Taking place on Oct. 19 at the Kentucky Horse Park, the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event and Team Challenge offers a unique format for MSEDA member competitors: the opportunity to ride on a team. Teams are available at the following levels: Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Preliminary.


    Riders interested in riding on a MSEDA team should email Martha Lambert at landsendfarm@hotmail.com and ask to be placed on a team. If the team is not full, they are added to the team roster.

    Riders will need to send in their entry and fee (on opening day, by mail) to the show secretary—but the check for their entry fee should be made out for $100 less than the traditional price, as MSEDA will “sponsor” the team.

    All MSEDA-sponsored team members get an embroidered ear bonnet and saddle pad.

    This is a great way to ride in a team environment and for MSEDA to give back to their members!

Midsouth Eventing & Dressage Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

MSEDA’s mission is to promote and preserve the sports of Eventing and Dressage in the Mid-South area, by providing leadership and education to its members and the community at large. To further these goals, MSEDA will provide educational opportunities, fair and safe competitions, promote the welfare of the horse and rider and reward the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the FEI level.



Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software