“To help preserve the breed, individuals should prioritize continuing to register purebred livestock,” says Stacie Lynch, PHAOA executive director. “This investment is crucial for maintaining the breed’s integrity and ensuring the ability to trace pedigree and breeder information.

“It’s important for breeders to recognize the broader impact of registration, extending beyond just mares and stallions to include geldings,” she continues. “By registering all horses, regardless of their roles, breeders contribute to the breed’s welfare, support the registry, and safeguard the legacies of exceptional horses. This proactive approach ensures that each remarkable individual is duly recognized and remembered for generations to come.”

And the Percheron is definitely a breed worth remembering. Not many breeds can go from energetic high-stepping show horses to calm, quiet stable ponies, but the Percheron can. It’s one of the reasons lovers of the breed are so dedicated to them.

The Ames Percherons

“I grew up with draft horses,” says Jacqui Shaw, manager at Ames Percheron Farm, Inc., in Minnesota. “My dad, Jim Westbrook, bred Percherons when I was young and then became a professional hitch driver. It’s a family tradition. It just gets in your blood.” Jacqui’s husband Travis is also hitch driver for Ames Percheron Farm. He got his start in middle school with his neighbor’s draft horses.

The Ames family has a long history with the breed, starting with John and Eliza Ames, who immigrated to America from England in 1874 and farmed with Percherons. In the early 1900s, they began to show them.

As time went on, showing became their focus. In the early 1990s, brothers Dick, Butch, John and Ron Ames decided to invest in a team of driving Percherons to be sponsored by their company, Ames Construction. It was a way to keep their family tradition alive, and Dick had a real passion for the horses.

Showing a Big Hitch

Today, the Ames Percherons show in six- and eight-horse hitch configurations year-round, attending between 10 and 15 shows annually. And they have it down to a science. A team of five to six people can get the team ready in as little as 45 minutes, though the average is 90—still a speedy time!

And getting to the show? That takes two 53-foot big rigs: One that holds the harnesses and cart, and one that hauls the 10 horses. The trailer has space for 15 horses, but Jacqui says they never take that many.

Ames used to show teams of dapple grays, but Jacqui says the color is getting harder to find as it fell out of fashion, and some of the main breeders of gray Percherons were PMU farms in Canada that are now closed. So, they switched to an all-black team, for the most part.

“We still have a couple grays that get dyed to match the blacks for shows,” says Jacqui. (They use animal-safe cattle dye, and it’s legal at the shows they compete at.) “It’s all about appearance at these shows, and we even dye the blacks to make sure their coats really shine. Some get bleached by the sun, so we need to cover the brown. Almost every team at our level dyes their horses, in all breeds.”

A Dual Personality

Since 2000, Ames Percheron Farm has won the North American Classic Series six-horse Championship four times, and has multiple national titles in both the six- and eight-horse hitch. But Jacqui says that even if they couldn’t show, she and her husband would be content to just take care of the horses.

“These guys, the big horses, have a real gentle demeanor in the barn,” she says. “We train them to be flashy when they are showing, so you hook them up and they have a whole different personality. They are a powerful athlete that gives their all.

“But then you take them back to the barn and they put their heads down and just want to be petted,” she continues. “I’ve had a lot of riding horses, but they don’t have that split personality, where they can turn off the ‘hot’ when they aren’t showing.”

This sweet personality makes them a fan favorite, as crowds of people gather around to meet and pet them at shows.

“We get people saying they want one when they are ready for retirement, because they are so sweet and gentle,” Jacqui says.

This article about the Percheron appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Percheron appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

In 1807, when Pedro IV of Portugal migrated to Brazil due to Napoleon’s invasion and became Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, he brought with him the best of the royal cavalry. These horses were the Alter Real—an Iberian breed closely related to Lusitanos and Andalusians that were reserved for royalty.

Alter Real stallions were crossed with local Brazilian mares to create the Mangalarga Marchador. Known for being docile, intelligent, and extremely comfortable to ride, the breed grew quickly in popularity.

There are over 700,000 Mangalarga Marchadors in Brazil today. In 1992, a Brazilian family moved to Florida and brought their beloved Mangalarga Marchador with them. Today, the U.S. Mangalarga Marchador Association works to preserve the breed in the United States and currently has 425 registered horses.

Special Gaits

The marcha gait is when the feet move alternately laterally and diagonally. The marcha picada gait has more lateral movements in a step, and is generally considered the smoothest of the gaits. The marcha batida has more diagonal movements in a step and is described as a broken trot.

Another, not-yet-recognized gait may occur, called the marcha de centro, where lateral and diagonal movement happens equally. In all these gaits, one foot is always touching the ground, so the horse is never suspended off the ground like in the trot or pace, creating a more comfortable and secure feeling for the rider.

A Noble Steed

“I had been told that Mangalarga Marchadors were very smart, but I didn’t believe it until I owned one for myself,” says Randy Gassett of Phoenix, Ariz.

Gassett had a business deal with a friend that breeds Mangalarga Marchadors, making her part owner of an unborn foal. When that foal ended up being a colt, not a filly, the plan was to sell him. But Gassett knew the colt wasn’t going anywhere once he got to her ranch.

“I fell in love with the colt and knew he was going to be as nice or nicer than my Fox Trotter,” Gassett shares. “So, I bought out my friend’s share, and Nobre do Summerwind [nobre is Portuguese for ‘noble’] was mine. He is the only Mangalarga Marchador that I have owned and is an exceptional horse!”

Now 5, Nobre is 15.2 hands and performs the marcha batida as well as the walk and canter. Gassett trained Nobre herself, competing him in in-hand trail competitions as a yearling.

“He has such a wonderful temperament, loves people, is curious and full of play, and has never tried to buck or rear while under saddle,” she says.

Now that he is older, Nobre competes in dressage and working equitation. They have qualified for the Working Equitation Zone Championship in Missoula in 2023, finishing 5th in level two.

He has many champion and reserve champion titles at both schooling and rated shows, and is now competing at level three. Gassett says Nobre has the smoothest canter she has ever ridden.

Plenty of Charisma

Carolina Peterson, who lives in Friday Harbor, Wash., has known the Marchador breed since childhood, having grown up in Brazil. She owns two geldings, Tigre do Summerwind and Kharisma do Summerwind. Tigre performs the marcha picada and is a fantastic trail horse that also does working equitation. Kharisma performs the marcha batida, and aside from trail, excels in eventing.

“Kharisma came to San Juan Island, Wash., and started his development with eventing trainer Servando Garcia, who soon introduced Kharisma to jumping,” says Peterson. “It’s easy to say it was ‘love at first sight.’ Kharisma loves to jump, loves the challenge, and trusts his rider. He is still young, but should have a great career in eventing or whatever job he chooses to do.”

While a gaited horse in eventing could normally be a challenge, Peterson says Kharisma shines.

“He has successfully competed at Novice level, quite a challenge for a gaited horse, but with Servando’s endless efforts and Kharisma’s willingness to work, he is moving toward being successful at a higher level,” she says. “Kharisma is the only Marchador participating in eventing competitions in the U.S.”

Peterson explains that dressage is difficult for gaited horses, but Kharisma is taking that on too.

“We believe quality, ambitious and well-trained Mangalarga Marchadors will perform well in any job,” she says. “Tigre and Kharisma are kind, docile, coachable and intelligent horses with big personalities.”

This article about the Mangalarga Marchador breed appeared in the October 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Owners of these tough horses share that they can do pretty much anything you ask of them—and excel at it.

Stewie

If you ask a Haflinger owner why they own one, one of the main reasons is because they are safe and dependable.

“As a ‘middle-aged’ woman with an equestrian hobby, having a horse that’s gentle, intelligent, and can do it all is important,” shares Kendal Vaitkus. She went to a Haflinger show in 2011 and became hooked on these horses, as well as the kind, inviting atmosphere of the other owners.

“In 2018, I had an opportunity to purchase a Haflinger, and I haven’t looked back since,” she says. “I can’t afford to have one horse that trail rides, one horse that drives and another to ride dressage. The Haflinger is a great solution for me!  This breed generally likes to keep busy, so they don’t mind learning all sorts of fun and interesting things. To me, the Haflinger is a perfect, versatile pony wrapped up in a beautiful golden package. I’ll admit, they’re like potato chips … you can’t have just one.”

True to her words, Vaitkus owns two Haflingers. Will Beat the Storm of 2s (“Stewie”) was her first Haflinger. Now 15, Stewie takes her out on the trails and into the dressage, western, halter and driving rings. He has won numerous high points and is currently schooling Second Level in dressage. Her other Haflinger is a gelding named Northstar LLRH.

Rollie

Sometimes a love and appreciation for the breed is passed down through the generations.

“Grandpa Bill was searching the internet for the perfect family horse he could share with his young grandchildren,” shares John Ellingson. “He quickly learned that the Haflinger was known for being very sensible and was a great choice for young families.”

Ellingson’s grandfather drove eight hours to buy his first Haflinger, a daughter of the famous Aristocrat. That was 20 years ago. Since then, the Ellingsons have bred and trained Haflingers.

“Not every Haflinger is suited for children, but on average they are calmer, less reactive and more cold-blooded than most breeds,” says Ellingson. “We try to identify very calm individuals at a young age. We give them plenty of age-appropriate training. You can create a very special horse that is relaxed and gentle.”

One of their current horses is N-Rollie TVS, a 15.1-hand gelding, who started life working on an Amish farm. Rollie is now shown and co-owned by 16-year-old Talayna Steiner, a neighbor of the Ellingsons and part of their 4-H Club.

Aside from being an excellent farming horse, Rollie excels at many disciplines in the show ring, including winning state 4-H jumping, hunter and equitation over fences, and English pleasure. Outside of 4-H, he has many wins in pleasure driving, hitch, obstacle driving and halter. He is now taking the western rings by storm.

Von

Tara Williams, who sits on the board of directors for the American Haflinger Registry, first rode one just to keep the mare trained up for her young sister. A self-professed big bay Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred girl, she wasn’t expecting to fall hard for the Haflinger.

“As I rode my sister’s horse, I then had offers to catch ride others, and I realized that they are remarkably athletic and smart,” she says. “Von was one of those catch rides, who I then purchased. He was my gateway Haflinger!”

Wil-Von Mikas RVH (“Von”) is a 14-year-old, 15-hand gelding Tara still owns and shows. He is a multiple national champion, 2018 Reserve Versatility Champion and 2023 Versatility Champion.

“I love a horse that can make good choices and has the athleticism to back it all up,” says Williams. “They are a very hardy breed that generally stays sound and performing well long into their golden years. One of the other things I love is how versatile they are. I can grab the same horse to go trail ride one afternoon, drive at a competition the next, and go jump a hunter pace the next.”

When not in the breed ring, Von drags her arena, goes on trail rides, competes in Second Level western and classical dressage, and even does ranch classes. Previously, they were members of the High Flying Haflingers Jumping Drill Team, performing at events like Equine Affaire’s Fantasia show and the Mane Event in Canada.

Roush

The Haflinger stands his ground when put up against horses that may be much larger in stature.

Roush, owned by Anika Sadler, has taken his owner to many wins. Some of his many accomplishments include qualifying for the Great American Insurance Group/U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championships, winning the Idaho Dressage & Eventing Association (IDEA) Adult Amateur USDF Freestyle Champion, Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Adult Amateur Freestyle Champion, and Reserve Champion at the Rainier Northwest Championship.

He is an IDEA Adult Amateur U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Beginner Novice Champion, and has top-10 placings with the Western Dressage Association of America’s International Challenge multiple years in a row.

When he isn’t in the show ring, you can find him skijioring in the winter and gaming in the summer. He has even been used as a model by Kastel Denmark, Outback Trading and more.

“He is an excellent ambassador of the breed, their wonderful character and versatility,” says Sadler.

Haflingers Can Do It All

Williams says Haflingers were bred to be this versatile, having to traverse the terrain of the southern Tyrolean Mountains and be the work horse, children’s horse, riding horse and haul-the-crops-to-town horse.

“It resulted in a low-maintenance horse with a varied job description, and that lends them very well to a lot of modern jobs, from hitch horse to hunter,” she adds.

This article about the Haflinger breed appeared in the September 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Haflinger appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The breed performs three distinct gaits. The flat walk is a brisk, long-reaching walk that ranges from 4 to 8 mph. A nodding head motion, along with overstride, are unique features of the gait. The running walk is an extra-smooth gait like the flat walk except faster, at 10 to 20 mph, giving the rider a feeling of gliding through the air as if propelled by a powerful machine. The canter is performed in much the same way as other breeds, but with lots of spring and rhythm, giving an easy front end rise and fall referred to as a “rocking chair” canter.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) currently has 234,418 registered Walkers, and many of them hit the trails annually through TWHBEA’s trail programs. In 2023, riders logged 13,438 total hours in the distance program.

Hours in the Saddle

Via’s Sugarfoot, owned and ridden by Glory Redmond of Lowell, Ind., was the TWHBEA Trail Horse of the Year for 2023, logging 387.5 hours.

Sunday Morning Rain and owner Susan St. Amand have logged more than 3,000 hours on trails, more than any other Tennessee Walking Horse in TWHBEA’s program.

“We ride on the hundreds of miles of ATV public trails in the Northern Maine woods, and witness plenty of wildlife,” says St. Amand.

“The Tennessee Walking Horse has long been recognized as a superior trail mount because they are smart, strong, surefooted and smooth,” says Paige Liggett of TWHBEA. “The Tennessee Walking Horse was originally bred to be a utility horse capable of carrying a rider over the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee in comfort and style. This inherent ability translates perfectly to most any terrain or situation.”

From Trails to Mounted Archery

Lila Corey of Youngsville, N.C., owns three Tennessee Walking Horses that she uses for trail riding and mounted archery. Her 9-year-old mare, Patience; 9-year-old gelding, Lakota; and 18-year-old gelding, Aston, are all skilled on the trail as well as the archery track. They carry both her students and her granddaughter with ease and care.

“I trail ride for fun and relaxation,” says Corey. “Tennessee Walking Horses are very smooth, and that makes them easier to shoot off of when cantering. The hunt course, being like a trail ride with targets at a canter, is so much fun on a gaited horse.”

Kristin Munson from Sandia Park, N.M., grew up riding Tennessee Walking Horses.

“I can’t post worth a darn,” she laughs. “That’s a pretty necessary skill for most long-distance riders, unless they are lucky enough to ride gaited!”

Now, Munson rides Cruise Until Midnyte, aka “Cruze”, a 5-year-old gelding, on endurance rides. (The pair are featured on this month’s cover.)

“Tennessee Walking Horses are known for being level-headed, considerate of their riders, gentle, and comfortable for long periods of time,” she says. “Because they were bred for riding on extensive plantations in the south, especially Heritage Walkers [these have no or limited high-stepping breeding lines] are famous for traveling long miles without complaint and being a joy to ride.”

Since Cruze is young, Munson is competing in the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) limited-distance races, ranging from 25 to 35 miles. As he grows up, her goal is to complete the 100-mile Western States Trail Ride (also known as the Tevis Cup). She says that Arabians and Mustangs tend to win endurance rides, but she and Cruze enjoy the time together.

“I believe the AERC motto that ‘To Finish is to Win,’ and I wouldn’t want to spend 35, 50, or even 100 miles on any other breed!”

Mounted Orienteering

Pushers Phoenix Sun, affectionately called “Nacho,” is a 12-year-old Walking Horse gelding owned by Laurie Heffington of Winlock, Wash. She purchased Nacho sight unseen from British Columbia because she had been searching for years for a gaited horse.

A friend of hers got her into competitive mounted orienteering (CMO) a few years ago. In mounted orienteering, a team or individual uses a compass to find hidden objects—usually a paper plate with a letter on it—on a trail. The event is timed. Heffington has found Nacho to be the perfect partner.

“From what Nacho has shown, they have wonderful personality and grit,” says Heffington. “He can go and go. My husband calls him ‘The Bulldozer,’ because he will plow through anything I point him at, regardless if there’s a path. That is great when we’re searching around in the brush for a plate!”

Heffington and Nacho placed first in the Washington Chapter of CMO for the short course and second in the nation in 2022 and 2023.

Although Tennessee Walking Horses are known for their fast running walk, Heffington says that Nacho has no problem slowing down, and will even keep pace with her son’s 12-hand pony on the trail.

This article about the Tennessee Walking Horse breed appeared in the August 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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A Monumental Decision

For me, it was a phone call with my dentist. I couldn’t afford the yearly X-rays they were requiring before I could have a cleaning (I hadn’t had a proper dental cleaning in longer than I care to admit). I started to cry on the phone because they wouldn’t make an exception for me.

When I hung up the phone, I stared at my budget on my computer and thought, “I am 40 years old, what am I doing?” I had no savings, no retirement plan. Thankfully no kids depend on me and my husband, but I am not super healthy. I was diagnosed with arthritis in my 20s and was told I was already halfway to osteoporosis due to low bone density. I haven’t seen a regular doctor since then.

I spent the last several years showing a Gypsy Vanner mare—my heart horse. I loved her more than anything else, except for my husband. My only friends were those I saw at horse shows and events. But all that money, along with Covid and a series of things breaking, including needing to replace all three of our cars, had led to mountains of debt. Those memes weren’t funny anymore—they were heartbreaking and stress-inducing.

It was that day that I made the decision to get out of horses. The amount of money we had invested in a truck and trailer, tack, and the horses themselves was enough to completely pay off all our debt, except for my student loan. But also because—if I was honest with myself—it was very hard on my body and caused a lot of pain.

Saying Goodbye

I feel like there are two types of riders. The ones that ride occasionally for the fun of it. They can ride or not ride; it’s not a big deal. My husband is that type. Then there are the ones where “equestrian” defines who they are. I am in the latter group. Getting out of horses was like removing my identity.

Selling my heart horse meant saying goodbye to my best friend. I cried as if she had died. Non-horse people offered unhelpful statements like, “You’ll get another one someday when money is better.” Only those who have owned a heart horse understand; they are not replaceable.

Months passed and I wasn’t getting better. Tears flowed whenever anything triggered me: a photo, a memory on Facebook, a song we did a freestyle to, or her namesake Disney character on someone else’s feed. Since all my friends were horse people, I was suddenly alone, which didn’t help the depression that was stifling me.

I hit rock bottom when I sent a text to an old high school friend in another state: “I cried most the day, had a fight with the husband, contemplated why I’m even alive, then cried more. Life sucks right now. Selling the horse was the worst … and I have no friends.”

At this point you may be judging me, thinking my reaction was a bit extreme. But when you don’t have friends, and your horse was your sole means of socialization, losing everything at once can have serious effects on your mental health. That’s the spot I was in.

Mini Steps

When you start to think about not living, something needs to change. We had paid off all our debt and took a good look at the budget, deciding how much we wanted to save to finally have a safety net. We decided we could still meet our goals while owning a couple of Miniature Horses to “mow” the pastures and provide me with a horse fix.

I am not going to lie and say it was an overnight fix. It wasn’t, and still isn’t. I haven’t bonded with Argyll—my 2-year-old Mini—like I did with my heart horse. Will I in the future? I hope so. But he provides me with a reason to get outside.

I am taking driving lessons with a lesson Mini to see if my body can handle it. If not, we can do in-hand things like tricks and trail. Showing is still not in the budget, but there are many free things like parades, walks on trails, and even the International Horse Agility Club offers reasonably priced online competition.

As for my heart horse? We still don’t say her name in the house. She has become a proper noun, “Her,” that is implicitly understood.

I still cry sometimes, and I think I always will, but my heart is not heavy as it was. I can walk into the barn and hear whinnies again. I can smell a horse and feel his sweet nose on my face—Argyll loves to give kisses.

I hope those of you in my position take heart. How you interact with horses may change due to finances or getting older, but there is always a way to have them in your life, even if it means volunteering at a riding center or downsizing.

If you need horses in your life, find a way, because they are truly irreplaceable and the world’s best therapy.

This article appeared in the July 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Selling My Heart Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian Horse Registry were subsequently established by IAHA for the purpose of registering, transferring, and maintaining the official registration records concerning Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. The Half- and Anglo-Arabians are treated as different breeds within the registry.

The Anglo-Arabian is a cross between a purebred AHA or Canadian Arabian Horse Registry (CAHR) Arabian and a Thoroughbred registered with the Jockey Club or other approved foreign source, or two registered Anglo-Arabians. They cannot be more than 75 percent Arabian blood or less than 25 percent. Those over 75 percent can be registered as a Half-Arabian.

A Half-Arabian is a cross between an AHA- or CAHR-registered Arabian and another breed of horse. The number before the A in the registration number indicates the percentage of Arabian blood in the horse.

The AHA says the two most popular Half-Arabian crosses are American Quarters Horses (for western and working western disciplines) and American Saddlebreds (for English, country English, park and saddle seat equitation).

Current registration numbers as of 2023 are 357,119 Half-Arabians and 10,096 Anglo-Arabians.

All-Around Half-Arabians

Amy Pike had always ridden purebred Arabians and says she didn’t make the switch to Half-Arabians consciously. A trainer offered her a Half-Arabian gelding (75 percent Arabian and 25 percent Saddlebred), Megas Four Onthefloor+++/ (aka “Four”), after the tragic loss of a young purebred Arabian she owned.

“I’d ridden some wonderful Half-Arabians previous to Four and had great experiences,” she shares. “I had ridden and shown a National Show Horse (Saddlebred cross) named Rohara Marc Twain for a few years in the mid-2000s and loved him. After Marc, I was open to a nice horse to ride and show, whether purebred or half. These days, though, I find I really love my Half-Arabians, and they’re very special.”

Pike also owns a 3-year-old 50-50 Arabian/Quarter Horse Half-Arabian named Johnny Paycheck+ (aka “Whalen”), and is part owner of Uncle Buck Dunit, a 16-year-old 50-50 Arabian/Quarter Horse Half-Arabian.

With her Half-Arabians, Pike has done a bit of everything, including showing in reining, dressage, western dressage, hunter, western, ranch horse, cow sorting, trail, backwoods trail riding, and camping.

“I even packed out an elk from a hunting trip with Four,” she says. Four has several national titles in dressage and sport horse in hand.

“But I think the most special thing about him is his love of people,” Pike adds. “He went to the Oregon State Fair and carried a young lady to several placings in her State FFA Horse competitions this last summer. She lost her horse just weeks prior to fair, and Four was able to step in and carry her. They practiced three times before hitting the show arena.”

Drill Team

Marlene Manuel was looking for a purebred Arabian that would be a smooth ride for her bad back when she saw Joe Fabulous G, a 50-50 Arabian/Quarter Horse Half-Arabian, at a drill clinic.

“I fell in love with his way of moving,” she says. “Although he was big and had a Quarter Horse build, he moved like a graceful Arabian.”

Being a drill team member herself, Manuel needed a horse with a lot of athleticism and stamina.

“His athleticism allows him to easily accelerate, decelerate, and quickly change direction, all very smoothly,” she says. “This has not changed over the years, and you would never know he is 18. He’s got that hardy Arabian blood, yet is sturdy and strong, like a Quarter Horse.”

Reining In Wins

Melissa Shaver, DVM, grew up showing purebred Arabians, but now she competes in reining with her Half-Arabians. Why did she make the switch?

“Having always been drawn to the working western events, especially reining, the Half-Arabian and Quarter Horse cross is perfect,” she says. “They are pretty, strong, and athletic, and we can show in the open reining shows as well as the rated Arabian shows and be competitive in both.”

Her mares, Bee My Bucks+/ and Megas Dunnit in Gold, have both been shown to National Reserve Champions in reining and multiple regional titles.

This article about appeared in the June 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: The Half-Arabian appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

After World War II, the travelers (also called Gypsies) of the United Kingdom and Ireland needed a horse that could do everything: be strong enough to pull their ornate vardos, the wagons the families live in; gentle enough for the children to lead and look after, and comfortable enough to ride when needed.

Decades of mixing native breeds like the Clydesdale and Shire with various native ponies, including the Dales and Fell, created a small, colorful draft horse with a sound mind and willing nature.

The cob-type horses went unnamed for decades until Americans Dennis and Cindy Thompson fell in love with them. After much research, they imported the first ones to the U.S. in the mid-1990s.

In 1996, with input from the travelers in Europe, they named the breed the Gypsy Vanner as a nod to the families who had created the breed. The Thompsons then founded the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society.

Today, the breed continues to grow in popularity throughout the world for its beauty, versatility, good mind and gentle temperament.

Meet GG Kiss Me Kate

Born in May 2013, GG Kiss Me Kate (aka “Kate”) is a black and white Gypsy mare owned by David and Samantha Crook of Ardmore, Okla. After purchasing her as a 3-year-old, they brought her along slowly, showing her in-hand at first.

“We were committed to letting her grow and mature before we began riding her,” Samantha says.

Their plan worked. As Kate matured, she flourished in the show ring. Her title of “Winningest Gypsy Vanner in the History of the Breed” means that in her 10 years of showing, she has won more titles than any other registered Gypsy horse in the U.S.

“Since it’s difficult for a mare to compete against a stallion, we are extra blessed to have a mare that can prove her character again and again against all sexes and all ages in all divisions,” Samantha shares.

When not showing, Kate loves a relaxing trail ride, to boss and groom her gelding pasture mate, or a good head hug and a peppermint from her people.

“What I love most about the Gypsy Vanner breed is their heart,” Samantha says. “Whether you have a pet or a world class show horse, they simply give you all they have. A Gypsy Vanner would rather be with you and share your affection than anything else. Yes, Kate is pretty special, but the Gypsy Vanner breed is special, too.”

A Gypsy Vanner as a 4-H Dream Horse

Amanda Ableidinger is the 4-H leader of the Ravenna Riders in Clark County, Wash. Her unique 4-H program is made up almost entirely of Gypsies. She provides free lessons to members of her 4-H group, who show her Gypsies, including Hopkin’s Infinite Perfection (“Infinity”), a 2015 black tobiano mare. Infinity began her journey as a 4-H horse at the age of 2 with in-hand competitions.

“From a very young age, Infinity’s ability to quickly pick up new concepts and her love for learning was astounding,” says Ableidinger. Due to growth spurts, Infinity really wasn’t trained under saddle until she was 4.

“Once again, she picked up the training so quickly that she entered into the riding part of our youth 4-H program only a few short months later.”

Since then, Infinity has been ridden by several members of the 4-H club, finding success in whatever discipline the kids want to try, from dressage freestyle and drill team to hunt seat and western.

“Over time, we’ve introduced several other new riders/handlers to her life,” says Ableidinger. “Not many other young horses could be patient enough to work with the newest beginner rider all the way through to the advanced. She is the type of horse that caters to each of their individual skill levels and allows her rider to learn and advance in their skills with confidence.”

True to the Gypsy breed, Infinity can take four youth riders to the same show, compete in their different age divisions, and earn high points for each of them.

“Without breaking a sweat,” adds Ableidinger.

These two Gypsies demonstrate the rule, not the exception, when it comes to the versatility and willingness of the Gypsy Vanner breed.

This article about the Gypsy Vanner breed appeared in the January/February 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Gypsy Vanner appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Bodywork

Massage may be considered part of bodywork, but not all bodywork is massage.

“Bodywork is more of a broad term incorporating a lot of different modalities, like stretching, acupressure, myofascial release, manipulative therapy, breath work, or energy medicine,” explains Meghan Brady, a certified Masterson Method practitioner for equine bodywork, among many other therapies, based in Virginia. 

“Bodywork techniques also aim to assess or improve posture, promote awareness of the body-mind connection (an approach that sees the body and mind as a single integrated unit), or to manipulate the electromagnetic field alleged to surround the body and affect health,” says Brady.

Because of the wide range of techniques, the list of benefits is lengthy. These include relaxation and stress reduction, improved posture, activating under-used muscles and deactivating over-used muscles, increasing joint flexibility and range of motion, encouraging faster healing, improving blood and lymph fluid circulation, strengthening the immune system, and more.

Sara Hassler, a client of Brady’s, has seen a vast improvement in her barn full of horses.

“Meghan has worked on my horses for the past few years and has made a tremendous difference both in their training as well as day-to-day demeanor,” she says. “The horses have an overall sense of peace and relaxation as she works on them, and their minds and bodies feel ready for action! They consistently feel softer and more elastic through their bodies after a session, and the feeling lasts a long time.”

Brady adds that bodyworkers don’t treat injuries or ailments, and all horses should see a vet before being started on bodywork.

Massage

Most of us are familiar with massage therapy. A therapist uses different pressures to manipulate muscles, tendons and ligaments. It’s known to help relieve stress, tension, tightness and soreness.

Leda Mox, a certified equine sports massage therapist and owner of Armstrong Equine Massage LLC in Minnesota has been using massage on horses for over 25 years with great results as a treatment, but also as a preventative.

“There are many reasons why your horse would need a massage,” she says. “The first and most important reason is to prevent injuries.” She adds that massage also helps increase blood flow, boost the immune system, increase range of motion, improve flexibility, and assist with pain management.

Mikayla Tibbetts, a client of Mox, found massage a blessing for her horse Moseby, an off-track Thoroughbred.

“He came to me lacking muscle, strength and balance, and was sore in multiple areas,” she says. “Since his massages, he has become so much happier in his work. As he’s developed muscle, Leda has helped identify his sore spots and given me new stretches to target those areas. After his massage, he picks up his canter leads so much easier.”

Chiropractic

Chiropractic adjustment—the manipulation of bones and joints—has become almost mainstream as a human treatment, and is rapidly gaining popularity with horses as well.

Anne Marie Ray, DVM, is a veterinarian at Ridgefield Equine Clinic in Washington state who also practices chiropractic care.

“In simple terms, chiropractic care is to adjust the chiropractic subluxations affecting the nervous system to allow the body to heal itself,” she explains. “I like to think of it as a tool in our toolbox for treatment for a variety of issues. It may be used complementary to other treatment options to ensure the best care for our patients.”

Her favorite patient story happened while she was in chiropractic school during a hands-on lab class where the students, including her, were supposed to be palpating the cervical vertebrae on a horse’s spine.

“It was cold and windy that day, and the horse we were trying to work on appeared anxious, uncomfortable, and did not want to stand to allow us to palpate him,” she says. “Our professor asked the owner if she could adjust the horse, and after adjusting the horse’s neck, he took a deep breath and stood perfectly for the rest of the afternoon. I’ll never forget that moment, because it showed me that chiropractic care has a place in veterinary medicine, and that we need to keep an open mind about modalities that will keep our patients healthy.”

Ray says that while most horse owners come to her after an injury or an issue such as lameness, back pain, or a change in behavior, she says it works best as way of decreasing the chance of these problems occurring.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that uses thin metallic needles inserted into the skin at very precise locations. These are then moved gently and specifically to stimulate tissue, muscles and nerves.

Linda Cimetti, DVM, is a veterinarian at South Shore Equine Clinic & Diagnostic Center in Massachusetts who is also certified in equine acupuncture. She says most of her acupuncture patients are suffering from musculoskeletal injuries, although she also helps horses that have routine pains from training and showing.

“I see a lot of clinically sound horses get that last 10 to 15 percent of performance that you can’t achieve without alternative medicine,” says Cimetti. “A lot of horses in training have sub-clinical neck, back, or hip pain, as well as joint pain that can be identified and addressed with regular acupuncture treatments—before it develops into a clinical unsoundness.”

Cimetti helped the owners of Equinox Bossanova, a Morgan stallion, find the cause of his lameness using acupuncture when no other vets had been successful. She found his stifle acupoints to be very reactive.

After the treatment he was better, but not 100 percent sound, so Cimetti combined acupuncture with stifle joint injections.

“We got the horse’s stifles injected and he was fixed,” says his owner, Christine Nava- Moulthrop of Timber Hill Stables in Kingston, Mass. “It took Linda’s non-traditional methods to find the problem. If it wasn’t for her, I’d still be trying to figure out what was wrong.”

Boss went on to a successful show career and was inducted into the American Morgan Show Horse Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Connecticut Morgan Show Horse Hall of Fame in 2023.

If you’re interested in alternative therapies for your horse, it’s always good to start by discussing it with your vet to see which type they think might work best for your particular situation.

PEMF

PEMF stands for pulsed electromagnetic field. Each of the cells in your horse’s body has an electric charge; when the charge gets low, the cells cannot heal and are dysfunctional. PEMF technology uses a pulsing electromagnetic charge to stimulate cells and essentially recharge them, allowing for tissue healing and reducing inflammation and pain.

Amy Perez, owner/trainer of Stellar Equine Solutions LLC in Washington state, is certified in PEMF therapy and helps people, horses and small animals with PEMF treatments.

“I firmly believe there is not one injury or ailment that doesn’t benefit from PEMF,” she says. “From sore muscles to broken bones, arthritis, Cushing’s, navicular, or just daily maintenance for our hard-working horses, PEMF can help it all.”

She has seen many horses have incredible reactions to treatments.

“I have treated a horse with a broken leg through a cast, [which] helped speed up the healing process and the horse fully recovered. I have treated horses that could barely walk due to a Cushing’s flare-up, and by the end of the session, they trotted off in their pasture. Every horse starts to get a soft eye, begins yawning, and lets out a huge sigh of relaxation during treatment. Most of their owners’ reactions start with a ‘wow’ and end with ‘I am so glad to see my horse happy again.’

“The main benefit for PEMF with horses would be pain relief,” Perez continues. “PEMF oxygenates the blood cells to promote healing in the body. The body naturally heals itself, but sometimes it can’t get back to complete repair without help. PEMF does just that—it helps the body heal itself.”

Summer Crosby has seen incredible results.

“My horse, Shooter, receives PEMF therapy on a regular schedule from Amy Perez,” she says. “Shooter has had ongoing issues in his right shoulder for some time: soreness, short striding and frequent lameness. After a year of vet visits and no real diagnosis, it was suggested to start Shooter on PEMF therapy. The changes I’ve seen following his treatments have been nothing short of amazing. Shooter has received both chiropractic and massage therapy, and the PEMF has helped him achieve even greater progress. We have been able to continue competing on a regular basis.”

Key Takeaway

Therapies outside the standard western medical options are continuing to gain steam as horse owners discover their complementary benefits to equine health and soundness. You may find that trying out these alternative therapies in your horse’s care routine may do wonders for his health.

This article about alternative therapies for horse care appeared in the August 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Developed in North America from Brabant stock, they were bred to be an all-round farm horse. Today, The Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America remains the largest register for draft horses in America, according to Michelle Keaffaber, Belgian Draft Horse Corporation chief operating officer.

“Our office process approximately 3,500 registrations and 3,000 transfers per year, which has been consistent for the past five years,” says Keaffaber.

Belgian Horse Events and Highlights

The Corporation includes the Belgian Draft Horse Alliance, whose mission is to help foster continuous growth of the Belgian Draft Horse with programs, including a Hall of Fame, Merit program and a National Belgian Futurity and show.

The Belgian Expo is held annually on the second Saturday in July, rotating between Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. The National Belgian Show, happening the third week in August, celebrated its 101st year in 2023.

To promote youth involvement, the Corporation also has youth ambassadors that receive yearly training in social media conduct and how to run the Corporation booth at shows and sales. They also offer a Youth Merit Program and college scholarships.

The breed seems to enjoying a bit of a renaissance, with a 3-year-old Belgian gelding named Pleasant Country Supersonic selling for $137,500 at the Mid-America Draft horse Sale in February 2023, setting a world record.

The Belgian as a Therapy Horse

Danielle Scott of Stewartstown, Pa., has a passion for community service, so she decided to travel to assisted living facilities with therapy horses. But not just any therapy horses: Her team includes a 30-year-old Belgian Draft Horse named Clyde and a 20-year-old Belgian Draft mule named Everett.

Scott adopted Clyde from Gentle Giants Horse Rescue. Originally, her two equines were just family pets.

“But they both enjoy spreading this type of joy,” she says. “And getting snacks and scratches is good, too! Clyde was a plow horse for 28 years. He’s known nothing but being a hard worker, and he has no desire to quit. He’s a prideful horse, and I think he loves living his life with purpose.”

While such a large therapy horse may seem strange, Scott says it works well.

“Belgians are incredibly sensitive and sweet-natured,” she explains. “I think they really connect with the elderly. They are so patient, even when pats are heavy, and they take treats so gently, especially when hands can’t straighten all the way out to hold flat.”

Scott says hearing the people they visit talk about the horses and get excited is a huge reward. One woman with dementia started sharing stories of horses she used to ride. And a World War II vet told her about the horses they used during the war.

Clyde, a retired Amish plow horse, also does paper chases and shows. Paper chases are where riders follow a trail and are judged on obstacles and tasks along the route.

Preserving Their Past

Meanwhile, Brent Brophy from Arcadia, Mich., still uses Belgian Draft Horses for logging. He has been using them for six years, and currently has three on his team.

“Horses are a lot more environmentally friendly than machines,” he says of why he still logs the old-fashioned way.

“I have the big pulling-bred Belgians,” says Scott. “I chose them because of their size and attitude toward work. They love it.”

Like Scott, Brophy has found the Belgian to be a happy worker, enjoying whatever job they are doing. And these are no small pullers: Brophy’s large boy is 19.1 hands and weighs 2,780 pounds. His others are 19.2 and 18.2 hands.

Key Takeaway

While the breed may have been developed out of necessity for the early American farmer, it has become a whole lot more. Whether pulling logs, providing therapy, enjoying a trail ride, running barrels at a fair or stepping out in front of a cart, one thing is for sure: the Belgian Draft Horse does it all willingly and sweetly. If you’re looking for something with lots of power, don’t let their size frighten you from giving them a try.

This article about the Belgian Draft Horse appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The Akhal-Teke Association of America (ATAA) runs the North American registry in partnership with the stud book. They register both pure and part-breds, and currently have over 400 registered.

The breed is known for its stamina, intelligence, athleticism, and of course that incredible metallic sheen to their coat. Another unique characteristic is the Akhal-Teke “glide” gait, which is a smooth, fast trot. They were also one of the foundation horses for the Thoroughbred breed.

One Akhal-Teke, a black stallion named Absent, won four Olympic medals in dressage with two different riders at three different Olympic Games during the 1960s.

Today, owners of the breed continue to admire this incredibly rare and beautiful horse for its amazing attributes.

The Perfect Wedding Present

Who needs dishware when you can get a stallion as a wedding present? Katrina Ardiel, current ATAA president, had loved the breed since she a child, but didn’t see one in person until she met her husband, Giles.

“When we met, he had just purchased two Akhal-Teke fillies, Azeri and Dessangul,” Katrina says. “Azeri went on to be an amazing competitor, and Dessangul is my husband’s favorite hunt horse.

“I was personally drawn to the Akhal-Teke’s intelligent affection and athletic disposition,” she continues. “They are the perfect companion and the best kind of friend. Not one that follows blindly and agrees with everything you say, but one that teaches you and challenges you just as much as you them.”

Smitten with each other and the breed, Katrina and Giles gave each other a 16.1-hand chestnut stallion, Gerald, as a wedding gift. Gerald was good at eventing, but great at dressage.

“In 2019, we competed in our first Prix St. Georges together,” Katrina says. “Currently under the direction of Canada’s dressage rider Megan Lane, Gerald and I hope to do our first small tour CDI this summer.”

One of his sons, Hendrick, has excelled in the jumper ring.

“He is athletic and fast, careful and forgiving,” Katrina says. “He is a solid 1.20-meter jumper and could probably go higher if it was not for the limitations of me, his rider! He loves his job so much as a jumper that he’s been known to refuse to leave the ring at competitions. He is a beautiful boy and an excellent example of the breed.”

Up-and-Coming Rider Program

To encourage owners of Akhal-Tekes to promote the breed, the ATAA has an Up-and-Coming Rider program that gives grants to owners who want to compete and/or attend high-profile exhibitions with their horse. Grants range from $500 to $5,000.

Kathy Thode met her first Akhal-Teke in 2017 at a friend’s farm.

“I actually had no interest in buying one, and only wanted to visit my friend, who had just moved back to the area,” says Thode. “She was bringing nine Akhal-Tekes with her. She told me all about them and I was very intrigued.” She ended up purchasing Kazimir, a 16.2-hand chestnut, from her friend.

Kazimir and Thode have received two grants in 2021 and 2022, which went toward costs of competition and to attend the Columbus Ohio Equine Affaire. The two compete in dressage, where Kazimir excels. On their off time, he also is a trusted trail mount.

“What amazes me about this breed is their calm and relaxed manner out in nature and their ability to focus on the job at hand, no matter what it might entail,” says Thode.

An Akhal-Teke as a Breyer Model

Akhal-Teke stallion Adamek was awarded the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) All Breeds Dressage award in 2022 and was chosen to be a Breyer model in that same year. Sabine Desper first started riding Adamek when she worked at Shenandoah Farm in Staunton, Va. After 10 years, the farm was dispersed upon the passing of its owner, Phil Case.

Now owned by the Akhal-Teke Foundation, she feels fortunate she gets to continue to be his rider.

“I love riding Adamek for so many reasons,” says Desper. “He is such a willing partner and always tries his hardest, even when things don’t come easy. His gaits are very comfortable, which is always an advantage in dressage. He is always happy to get ready for a ride or to load up in the trailer to go places.”

The ATAA loves to talk to people who are interested in the breed. You can contact them through their Facebook page (search “Akhal-Teke Association of America”). If you would like to meet an Akhal-Teke in person, check their website for venues where the ATAA will be in attendance.

This article about the Akhal-Teke appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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