When award-winning para equestrian Lauren Reischer was born 24 years ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 1 in every 550 children born in the United States was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). The most common motor disability in childhood, CP constitutes a group of disorders that affect the ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Of four chief types, spastic CP affects roughly 80 percent of those diagnosed. Spastic CP manifests as muscle stiffness and tightening, primarily in the legs and hips, along an entire side of the body, or at its most severe, throughout the limbs, trunk and face.

As an infant, Lauren was diagnosed with spastic diplegia/diparesis. It was impossible for her to crawl and difficult to sit upright. Her torso and upper body were so rigid it was difficult for her to swallow, and her doctors feared that she would never be able to speak because she was lacking the core strength necessary to produce sounds.

She describes her legs as so tightly twisted together that they were like “a mermaid’s tail.” But this is no children’s fable. This is the true story of a mermaid who captained her Brown University equestrian team (and saved its varsity status), a grand champion at Long Island’s prestigious Hampton Classic, a therapeutic riding advocate, and a biracial para equestrian who refused to be a statistic at the hands of her disability.

Better Call Sol

“I’m just 10 percent—Lauren is the other 90,” says her dad, Sol Reischer, about his role in the life of the girl that he and Mary Kong brought into the world. “When Lauren was diagnosed as a baby, our doctors hypothesized that not only would her life be challenging, but that her condition would worsen with age.

“We had an excellent nanny and car service for her doctors’ appointments,” he says. “I hated it.”

He quit working on the American Stock Exchange to invest in his daughter’s weekly occupational, speech and physical therapy appointments.

At 2 years old, Sol says Lauren’s muscles were becoming so taut that they were pulling her femurs out of their hip sockets. She underwent extensive hip surgery that included cutting her femurs and removing the sockets before pinning everything back in place.

From there, she faced three months at Rusk Rehabilitation (ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 rehabilitation programs in the country) in a V-shaped body cast, equipped with a bar that manually forced her legs apart to help retrain her brain to “see” her legs as two separate limbs.

“They were seeing results,” Lauren says. She was using a walker, but her rehab team, led by Joan T. Gold, M.D., a specialist in cerebral palsy and pediatric rehabilitation at Rusk, wanted more. “They recommended therapeutic riding, where the motion of having my legs apart, of having my body move with a horse, would train my legs to work.”

The Help of a Horse

For tiny Lauren, a New York City-based therapeutic riding program known as GallopNYC had just the horse for the job: a one-ton Clydesdale called Voltan.

“Because my legs still didn’t separate on their own above the knee, my dad pulled the handlers [two off-duty New York City mounted police officers] aside and said, ‘Listen, we may have to put her on her knees and hold her there.’ They told him, ‘Relax. We’ve got this. Just wait and see.’

“When they picked me up, my legs separated on their own for their first time ever,” Lauren says. “I don’t know if it was because I made the connection that this is what was supposed to happen, but it worked. I sat on that horse. Upright. With my legs separated.”

Voltan’s cautious steps helped Lauren take her own. “Those movements became my muscle memory,” she says.

Sol agrees. “As scary as it was for a concerned parent, it proved to be the best, most fruitful and most therapeutic experience we ever encountered,” he says. “It’s how my daughter and I became involved with GallopNYC. The rewards she reaped from participation in GallopNYC were miraculous.”

In fact, Sol is now its board chairman, and Lauren has trained nearly a dozen therapy horses, while also supporting new riders with the program. GallopNYC is the first and only equestrian center in New York City offering weekly lessons focused on the therapeutic needs of veterans, adults, senior citizens and children.

“Lauren is always looking to pass on what she’s picked up in her 20 years to help others,” Sol says. “Ninety-nine percent of what people thought her parents were doing is what she was doing for us. She makes us better, not the other way around.”

Captain of Her Fate

“I’m not squeamish, but while in rehabilitation, Lauren saw daily what no one should ever see, like a child who was there because he had been set on fire by his own dad,” Sol says. “It made her more empathetic to others—to be helpful rather than complain about her problems.”

Horses continued to help Lauren find her stride. A GallopNYC instructor, Ben Goldberg, told Sol that if he were willing to drive Lauren to his barn in Goshen, N.Y., he’d train her “like any other able-bodied rider.”

“That’s all she ever wanted,” says Sol.

As a teenager at the Dalton School, Lauren embraced its high school motto, “go forth unafraid.” She was earning respect—and ribbons—in flat and jumping classes at shows, including the Hampton Classic.

It was there in 2016 that Lauren rode a chestnut pony named Opportunity Knocks to first place in all their classes. The equestrian was named grand champion in the independent division of the Long Island Horse Shows Series for Riders with Disabilities (LIHSSRD) Finals.

“If it weren’t for my mom’s severe allergies, she’d be around horses more,” Lauren grins. “But that has had its upside, too. If something isn’t going right, like the time I needed a catch [ride] three days out from a show, she is on it! And before I could do it myself, she handled my entries, et cetera. She can work any horse show website.”

Also read- Equestrian Vaulting as Therapy

College-Bound

The year after winning her Hampton Classic title, it was time to choose a college and—naturally—a riding program. The decision boiled down to which institution would work with her CP best. Ivy League perks like a personal four-wheel drive golf cart were nice, but not compared to NCAA requirements that equestrian athletes engage in physical training multiple times a week.

Only Brown University offered Lauren her own physical therapist to ensure she could comply with staying fit for collegiate competition.

At the same time Lauren was training at Brown, she was riding and boarding a horse of her own at Tom Andreozzi and Dawn Dorrance’s facility. When he first saw her crutches, Andreozzi confesses he was skeptical.

“I was like, ‘Really? How is this going to happen?” But two years into working with her, he no longer equated being handicapped with being sensitive or delicate.

“How [someone’s] body functions might be different from mine, but it doesn’t mean they can’t achieve their goals,” he says. “If you don’t have the heart to do this sport, it doesn’t matter how physical you are in terms of what you can and can’t do. Lauren has heart. Even though her body isn’t a hundred percent, her heart makes up for it.”

A Serious Blow

The size of that heart was tested when, in her senior year, Lauren was named a co-captain of Brown’s hunt seat team. Then, at the start of the pandemic, the university announced it was including equestrian among 11 sports it was reclassifying from varsity to club status.

Sitting in on the webinar announcement, she heard the cut explained not as a budget issue, but because the team wasn’t perceived as “excellent enough” to keep its varsity status.

“This had to be a joke,” Lauren recalls. “Not excellent enough? Brown finished top three in 11 out of the last 20 years and earned more trips to the national championships than any other Ivy League team. If they cut the team, they were [also] cutting 100 percent of its disabled athletes: Me.”

Lauren is the first and only graduate of GallopNYC in the nearly 20-year history of the organization to compete at the NCAA level.

“Brown was the only school I applied to that had an NCAA equestrian team,” she says. “Instead of diminishing me to a box labeled by the things I can’t do, Brown chose to pay attention to the things that I can do.

“It meant the world to me that Brown had provided the opportunity to ride at an NCAA level. Very few people with disabilities get to call themselves athletes, and even fewer get to call themselves Division I athletes.”

Fighting for Her Passion

She went straight to Brown’s director of athletics, Jack Hayes, to advocate for her team and sport. They kept meeting all summer, culminating in a conference call with two of the most powerful and persuasive voices in the horse industry: Bob Cacchione, founder of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and Tom O’Mara, U.S. Equestrian Federation president.

Much like her “tiger mom,” Lauren wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“I was not intimidated by his position. I told him to let me work with him on a path to reinstatement,” she says. “We built a good relationship. He took my phone calls.”

She asked him if the president of the National Football League would have made time to be on a conference call the way these two sports leaders had.

“That awakened him to how important riding is and how much inclusivity it offers,” Lauren says. “Everyone plays. No one sits on the bench or wastes athletic department money. Less than three months later [in September 2020], we were reinstated.

“We all have things that disable us in life,” concludes the former little mermaid, who has since accepted a position as associate director of development with Special Olympics, the leading organization for competitive athletes with intellectual disabilities and their communities.

Lauren competed in the 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, participating in the para dressage and para jumping demonstrations.

This article about Lauren Reischer, an equestrian who overcame her disability, appeared in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Equestrian with Disability Achieves Great Success appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

After countless doctor visits and years of pain and fear of the unknown, Ableidinger finally had an answer for what was wrong: Lyme disease. Although she now knew what was ailing her, the battle was far from over as she and her husband, Scott, struggled to find a treatment that worked.

“The pain in my joints and muscles was so excruciating that I lost the ability to move my body,” she says. “I couldn’t walk, feed myself, or even do something as simple as tie my shoes.”

Eventually, they found a treatment that worked for her. Two years later, she was able to move with less pain. As she realized she may be able to get some of her life back, one thought drove her: to get back in the saddle.

Finding New Purpose

Ableidinger, who was forced to retire from owning and operating a hair salon due to Lyme, looked for a new purpose for her life. And then she thought of 4-H.

“I grew up with 4-H,” she says. “While I was very active in both the 4-H Dog and Poultry Projects during my high school years, the Horse Project was too expensive. We had the horses, but we didn’t have a horse trailer, the money for lessons, or the expensive tack that was needed to participate in shows and events.”

Fueled by a lifelong love of horses, she and her husband decided this could be it—her new purpose. In 2017, a club leader in her area of Clark County in Washington state was retiring, and someone needed to take over the 4-H Horse Project.

“I saw it as my chance to give youth the opportunity that I never had,” Ableidinger says. With that, the Ravenna Riders were born.

Covering All Needs

But this isn’t just any 4-H club. The Ableidingers want to make it more affordable for kids to have an amazing experience of working with horses. They do this by providing most of the horses, tack and equipment out of their own pocket. 4-Hers pay a small monthly fee to help with feed if they use one of the Ableidingers’ horses.

“There are a few horses ridden by club members that are leased and boarded at neighboring barns,” she says. “Some of those riders have tack that they borrow from the horse’s owners, buy themselves at tack sales, or are supplied through generous donations from those in our horse community.”

Ableidinger also gives weekly lessons to her 4-Hers—for free. She even picks up and drops off some of her club members so they can come to meetings and lessons.

“It’s pretty much my full-time job even though I’m a volunteer,” she says. “But I love what I do, and it’s reward enough to see our club members learn and grow in their horsemanship and witness how much they enjoy being a part of the club.”

Breed of Choice

Most of the horses in the barn are Gypsy Vanners; the Ableidingers bought their first two Gypsy yearlings in 2015 and never looked back.

“They have the best temperaments,” Ableidinger says. “They are like big puppy dogs that want to be with you, and they will work very hard for their rider or handler.”

While it’s common to see children with Gypsy horses in the United Kingdom, Gypsy breeds fetch a high dollar in the United States.

“The cost of one of these horses makes them unaffordable for youth,” Ableidinger says. “There are very few youth riders in the breed in our country. We wanted to change that. We felt passionate about putting these amazing horses into a program for youth to enjoy and work with.”

Back in the Saddle

Since their yearlings were too young, Kimberlee Tilton of LCR Gypsies gave them a Gypsy mare, Mia, as a care-lease to use as the first project horse. The following year, the

Ableidingers bought her. They now have six Gypsies in the program, along with a few draft crosses and several Quarter Horses.

Ableidinger also had a personal dream to ride again. In 2019, she and Mia competed at the Oregon State Fair in a freestyle class with her 4-Hers cheering her on.

Decked out in lime green (the Lyme awareness color), they competed to Avril Lavigne’s “Head Above Water,” a song Lavigne wrote about the devastating disease. It was a completion of a dream for Ableidinger, and the smile on her face as she performed said it all. She was back in the saddle and sharing her love with youth.

Her life has purpose again, making the hard days that she still has due to Lyme disease easier to handle. As for the 4-H Horse Project youth, she and Scott are providing priceless experiences they will never forget.

This article about the 4-H Horse Project appeared in the October 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Adoptable Horse: Greta, a 15hh 22-year-old bay mare
Organization: Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue in Shoals, West Virginia

Get to Know Greta

Could Greta be your Right Horse? Click here for more information about Greta, the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week.

My Right Horse

My Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.therighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA’s Right Horse Adoptable Horse: Greta appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“Nurturing Community is core in all three Manna Pro partnerships. Whether it’s through supporting the healing power of horses with SpiritHorse International equine assisted therapy programs, providing 4-H youth resources to drive and succeed in life, or assisting in keeping animals off The Livestock Conservancy Conservation Priority list, we’re honored to to share our partnerships with organizations who care about nurturing others and the community as much as we do.” shared Elizabeth Frichtl, Associate Brand Manager, Homestead & Equine, Compana Pet Brands.

SpiritHorse International offers equine assisted therapy

Manna Pro proudly partners with SpiritHorse International in its mission to provide equine assisted therapy to help individuals with special needs in achieving their full potential. In addition, the organization provides support, training, and certification to SpiritHorse Centers worldwide.

“As one who has committed more than 30 years to working with people with Special Needs, I know firsthand that working together, we can do anything. I have heard hundreds of children speak their first words, some as late as their late teens. I have seen hundreds of people walk when doctors said they never would,” shared Ric Lehman, Executive Director, SpritHorse International. “Miracle after miracle, because a group of people came together in SpiritHorse, in a common cause improving other’s lives. I’ve witnessed the power that can result from working together and the exponential benefits to the entire community as a direct result of those efforts. So we dedicate ourselves to bringing people together in a common cause. That’s what I call Nurturing Community.”

4-H provides youth pathways with Manna Pro

Together with 4-H, Manna Pro helps to provide opportunities for all youth so they can succeed in life, regardless of their circumstances.

Currently 55 million youth are challenged with a widening opportunity gap in America. 4-H programs help kids throughout the United States get equal access to resources necessary to thrive.

“A core component of all 4-H programming nationwide is a focus on community and providing a pathway for youth to make positive change, not just in the future but right now. By providing young people with an inclusive and accessible space, 4-H is enabling youth to discover their spark and passion projects where they can truly make an impact and grow the skills needed to succeed in life and future careers,” related Heather Elliott, Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer, National 4-H Council.

“4-H is extremely proud to partner with Manna Pro to create more opportunities for the next generation of Champions passionate about animal care. Manna Pro’s commitment to nurturing community and building the leaders of tomorrow aligns perfectly with 4-H’s mission to give all young people access to opportunity and a community of belonging,” continued Elliott.

Livestock Conservancy protects endangered livestock and poultry with Manna Pro

Manna Pro assists The Livestock Conservancy, America’s leading non-profit organization devoted to protecting endangered livestock and poultry from extinction. Included in its mission are more than 150 breeds of turkeys, geese, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, sheep, horses, goats, cattle, and donkeys.

Join Manna Pro on Instagram at Manna Pro Homestead & Manna Pro Equine and Facebook at Manna Pro Homestead and Manna Pro Horse.

About Manna Pro

Manna Pro is proud to be part of the Compana Pet Brands portfolio. With roots dating back to 1842, Compana Pet Brands is a global leader in pet care and nutrition dedicated to enriching the lives of pets and their families today and for generations to come. Based in St. Louis and employing approximately 700 passionate pet lovers around the world, the company manufactures and markets more than 20 household brands in dog and cat, backyard chicken, equine, small animal and indoor bird categories. Compana believes pets are an important part of the family and its broad portfolio of brands focuses on care and wellness solutions to improve the quality of life for pets of all shapes and sizes throughout their lifespans. For more information visit companapetbrands.com or follow Compana on LinkedIn. For more information about Manna Pro visit www.mannapro.com.

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Launched in 2012, TIP has seen a meteoric rise in both interest and participation. Created to encourage the retraining of retired racehorses in other disciplines upon completion of careers in racing or breeding, the TIP program isn’t just for show horses; it’s for Thoroughbreds used as recreational mounts and in non-competitive second careers, as well. The program also recognizes young riders, a Thoroughbred of the Year, and hosts a massive championship horse show every fall.

Huge Growth

To get an idea of the sharp rise in popularity of the TIP program, consider this: In 2012, 167 shows in the United States and Canada participated in the TIP program. In 2020, more than 1,400 horse shows will offer TIP awards, and there are 51,125 eligible Thoroughbreds participating in every imaginable discipline.

“My favorite part has to be reviewing the Thoroughbred of the Year applications each year,” says Kristin Werner, senior counsel for the Jockey Club and the designer of the TIP program. “Thoroughbreds excel as racehorses and sport horses, but many are also suited for a career involving equine-assisted therapy and activities, particularly for veterans. Reading about these incredible horses, many of which are on their third career, and the people they help and comfort on a daily basis, is an honor.”

The 2019 Thoroughbred of the Year recipient is owned by Katie Merwick of Second Chance Ranch (SCR) in Washington. Bruce, a retired racehorse whose Jockey Club name is Disruption, came to SCR in 2016 after his owner passed away.

“He now works in our equine-facilitated psychotherapy program, Leading With Horses,” says Merwick. “Bruce has the ability to adapt to a variety of environments. Whether it’s spending quiet time with a person coping with PTSD, entertaining children through an agility course, or lessoning with a beginner rider, Bruce knows exactly what to do.”
Merwick praises the TIP program for its recognition of Thoroughbreds as incredible athletes, both on and off the track.

“The concept of an incentive program for Thoroughbreds was long overdue, and I’m thrilled that it exists,” she says. “It has made a significant difference in putting value, recognition and awareness on how magnificent Thoroughbreds are!”

Learn more about Second Chance Ranch at www.secondchanceranch.org.

TIP Youth Ambassadors for Retired Racehorses

In 2016, the TIP Youth Ambassador Program was created to expand awareness of TIP and the versatility of the Thoroughbred, explains Werner. This prestigious designation is offered on an annual basis to young riders (18 and under) who own or lease a Thoroughbred and actively participate in TIP-sponsored shows, classes or award programs.

“A Youth Ambassador represents TIP and the Thoroughbred breed at his or her local barn, shows, competitions, or at any other activities he or she may participate in,”
Werner says.

Lottie Crawford owns and competes her retired racehorse Get It In Ink, whom she has loved for five years. Lottie shows Ink in First Level recognized dressage competitions, but she has also competed him in hunters and jumpers. She has been a TIP Youth Ambassador since 2017.

“It has been educational as well as very rewarding to work in my community to bring this program and the breed as a whole into the spotlight,” says Crawford of her time as an ambassador. “Since being selected, I have had communication with the other ambassadors, The Jockey Club liaisons, industry leaders and other Thoroughbred riders around the country. I really enjoy working with these people to establish game plans, brainstorm new ideas and travel for speaking engagements to help promote TIP and the breed.”

Crawford says she would definitely recommend the club to other kids.

“By working with The Jockey Club representatives, the other ambassadors, show management, Thoroughbred organizations and horse racing industry representatives in my area, I have learned so much about Ink and about the racing industry as a whole. The people I have met and the opportunities I have been provided with have given me an incredible foundation on which to build on my passion of showing the world the heart and unmatched work ethic of an off-track Thoroughbred.”

Performance Awards for Retired Racehorses

Based in Wisconsin, Sarah Schwartz started participating in the TIP classes in 2018, when her trainer began offering TIP awards at the show series she hosted. That same year, Schwartz began recording her competition record with her retired racehorses through TIP in order to be eligible for their year-end performance awards.

Performance awards are self-reported, meaning riders must report their placings in each horse show themselves in order to be eligible for year-end awards.

“It’s not hard at all,” says Schwartz. “The biggest thing is to remember to save your show receipts, and make sure that the show secretary includes the number of entries on the receipt.”

This information is then provided to TIP and double-checked. Winners are then calculated in multiple categories, including by region and discipline.

“There are so many different awards offered in all levels and discipline of riding,” Schwartz explains. “There are born-in, state, region, adoption agency categories, and many more, so even if you aren’t top of your division, you could win another award. Many [people] don’t realize that all classes count as long as they’re reported correctly; it’s not just TIP classes that count for performance awards.”

Something for Everyone

In an effort to recognize even more retired racehorses in successful second careers, in 2016, the Thoroughbred Recreational Riding Incentive Program was added to the TIP roster for riders to track time on trails, endurance rides or other group rides, like hunter paces. (Riding in arenas, lessons, and show rings does not count.)

The huge TIP Championship Horse Show began in 2017; this event is held each September at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

For Thoroughbred owners, TIP programs and incentives are just the tip of the iceberg in celebration of the retired racehorse.

For more information, visit www.tjctip.com.

This article about the TIP program for retired racehorses appeared in the October 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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While equine makeovers are all the rage these days, most are for professional trainers or adults with the experience and facilities to work with unhandled Mustangs, for example. But the Nexus Equine Oklahoma 4-H Makeover Challenge program that debuted in 2019 is changing all that.

Nexus Equine operates on the fundamental idea of collaboration and partnerships, so it came as no surprise when the idea for the Nexus Equine Oklahoma 4-H Makeover Challenge program was born.

Benefits of the Makeover

“We feel very strongly about partnering with the industry and giving them resources and support for the horses within their respective disciplines,” says Rita Hoch, CEO of Nexus Equine, an equine non-profit organization in Edmond, Okla. “I felt like this was a way we could demonstrate our ability to partner and to collaborate by creating an event that would include kids from Oklahoma 4-H.”

The innovative program takes 10 4-H Club members and pairs them with 10 horses from Nexus Equine in a way that allows the 4-Hers to increase their horsemanship skills. Hoch sees it as a win-win situation for both the horses and the kids: The kids have an opportunity to further develop their horsemanship skills, and the horses also learn new skills, and along the way, become more adoptable.

“As a result, we think this program promotes development in a variety of ways,” says Hoch. “The Makeover provides the kids and horses, who might not otherwise have an opportunity to do so, with an extraordinary chance to succeed.”

At the program’s inception, everyone involved expressed excitement. Because the ideas encompassed by it were so new, it required a stretching of boundaries to get it off the ground.

How It Works

For the good of the kids, sponsors began to come on board as things began to take flight. For example, the National Reining Horse Association provided belt buckles for the participants, Bluebonnet and Kool Speed provided feed, and Heritage Place loaned their facilities for free. This event was made possible by the Arnall Family Foundation.

Participants are selected for the program based on an application process that details their past experiences and helps to ensure that they are paired with an appropriate horse. In turn, the horses chosen to participate must be good-minded animals who have received a minimum of 30 days training under saddle prior to taking part in the program.

The participants compete only against themselves.

“We felt like this was the fairest way to do this,” explains Hoch. “On day one, they show up and pick up their horse. They learn a little bit about him. They talk to the staff and the judges about some goals they can set for themselves to work with the horse.”

Once they get home, the participants do have a couple of weeks into the contest to change their original goals. The horse-and-participant pairs return in 90 days to demonstrate their progress to the same panel of judges.

“The judges are actually judging which kid made the most progress with their horse, which allows every kid the exact same opportunity,” Hoch adds.

In addition to their work with the horses, the makeover also includes an educational component. Participants are asked to create a video and write an essay about their experiences, which are included as part of the contest.

Accessible and Rewarding

Contestants temporarily adopt their horse for $10 at the beginning of the contest, and the vast majority permanently adopted them at the program’s conclusion. Needs for participation are minimal, with the kids only being asked to provide hay.

The horses come microchipped, and all are up to date on farrier work, have had their teeth floated and have been vaccinated. Other needs that may arise within the 90-day period are covered by Nexus Equine. In addition to belt buckles and other sponsor-provided prizes, the winning participant receives a $1,500 scholarship.

McKayla Hunt and Chloe O’Conner were two of the 2019 participants with horses named Aubrey and Big Red.

“Aubrey started with not wanting to load into a trailer,” says Hunt, the 2019 winner. “It took three or four people to catch her. Now she’ll trot up to me when I call her name.”

“I can’t even think of words to describe it,” says O’Conner, another program participant from the inaugural makeover. “It’s such an amazing opportunity, because whether I win or lose, I’m still going home with the connections I have made with Nexus and a great horse.”

For the Future

As the program continues to evolve, its leaders are seeking ways to involve different types of kids. One way is expanding the program to include participants who, for example, are only interested in in-hand work with their partner horse.

This has allowed 4-H members who might not be ready to work with a horse under saddle or who don’t have a preference for under-saddle work a broader opportunity to participate. It’s also allowed more horses to be included, such as those without under-saddle work in their skill set.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 program has been postponed, but is by no means over. It will pick back up in full swing in the spring of 2021 with another excited group of 4-H members and horses.

This article about the Nexus Equine 4-H Challenge appeared in the September 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Nexus Equine 4-H Challenge: A Makeover Just for Youth appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Nearly every breed and discipline organization in the United States has to address the issue of bringing youth back into equestrian sports.

Youth today face multiple pressures unique to this tech-friendly, ultra-digital generation: they are pressured to get the grades, play the sports, excel in multiple extracurricular activities, and then obtain scholarships, internships and good-paying jobs.

With all these pressures, it is no wonder that something as time-consuming as riding gets pushed to the wayside.

Unlike most team sports, where there’s a set practice time (usually right after school), riding generally exists on a more fluid schedule. Oftentimes getting to the farm, tacking up, riding or having a lesson, putting the horse away and driving home eats up multiple hours after the school day has ended. The shine comes off riding even more when parents find out there’s not a lot of scholarship money to be found for the college-bound equestrian.

As a result, many organizations are working diligently to draw kids into the equestrian fold, both on the back of a horse and in the professional realm.
Here’s what some of them are doing to ensure the future of equestrian activities.

4-H

4-H is America’s largest youth development organization; it has over 6 million members involved in everything from gardening and dog showing to creative writing and STEM.

One of the first organizations many people think of when they think “horse club,” 4-H has a plethora of ag and equine-related projects that can be done by kids across the country. The organization even offers a “horseless horse project,” which allows youth to learn about horses without owning one, often a good segue into equine ownership for parents.

An added bonus? 4-H seeks to develop leadership, self-reliance and initiative, all traits that will serve young adults well, both inside and outside the riding arena. Find a local 4-H club by contacting your closest county extension agent.

United States Pony Clubs

Based off the model created by The Pony Club in England, United States Pony Clubs (USPC) teaches both riding and equine management to over 9,750 U.S. members. USPC focuses on education, safety, sportsmanship, stewardship and fun.

Pony Club participants should have their own horse or pony, or access to a horse or pony; “ratings” are awarded as members pass increasingly difficult riding and equine management tests.

Pony Club offers instruction in distance riding, dressage, driving, eventing, fox hunting, games, gymkhana, horse management, hunt seat equitation, polo, polocrosse, quiz (a knowledge-based competition), show jumping, tetrathlon, vaulting and western dressage.

Competition in some of these disciplines is available, as are educational opportunities throughout the year. To become a member of USPC, youth can join through their local Pony Club chapter or through a riding program that has been recognized by the USPC to administer the Pony Club program.

National FFA Organization

Formerly known as Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization is committed to agricultural education, offering students a path to achievement in leadership, personal growth and career success.

FFA is for middle- and high-school students; the equine component focuses heavily on horse evaluation, where students learn to evaluate and rank horses based on breed characteristics, conformation and performance. Youth must then defend their decisions with oral reasons in front of a panel of judges.

FFA youth are also asked to solve a plethora of problems related to things such as nutrition, reproduction, tack and equipment, and more. An FFA member need not own a horse to be involved.

To get started with FFA, look for the nearest chapter organized at the local school level. This chapter is connected to your state’s association underneath the national organization.

American Youth Horse Council

The American Youth Horse Council (AYHC) has one goal: to unite kids and horses. Established in the 1970s, the AYHC works to promote communication between all breeds and disciplines, providing support to all youth and youth leaders in the equine industry.

The AYHC believes that youth who engage with horses grow in leadership and life skills. The organization focuses on providing leadership and resources that will serve and promote youth and the equine industry. The AYHC develops and distributes educational materials to promote equine education.

Interscholastic Equestrian Association

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) was formed to promote and improve equestrian instruction and competition in hunt seat, western and dressage disciplines for students in grades 4 through 12. There is no need for riders to own a horse; the IEA supplies the horses and the tack needed to compete in a horse show.

Competition is open to public and private schools and barn teams. There are currently over 14,500 IEA members in the United States, with programs offered through public and private schools and through participating barns.

U.S. Equestrian

U.S. Equestrian, the national governing body for equestrian sports in the United States, offers their Athlete Letter Program for riders in junior high and high school.

Riders must ride or compete in one of U.S. Equestrian’s recognized breeds or disciplines to be recognized for their athletic achievements. The organization also offers grants and scholarships to youth members.

United States Dressage Federation

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) offers a variety of programs and competitions for youth interested in the sport of dressage. An e-newsletter dedicated solely to younger enthusiasts disseminates information on youth-specific educational opportunities, awards, scholarships, grants, clinics and competitions.

American Quarter Horse Youth Association

The American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA) offers a diverse range of involvement to their junior members, encompassing the diversity of the Quarter Horse breed. Youth members can develop their horsemanship skills with a Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program, a Youth Racing Experience, and a youth-focused Horseback Riding Program.

For younger children, the Junior Master Horseman program uses fun and engaging activities to teach kids all about horses. The Take Me Riding program is a video series that encourages interest in equine ownership.

AQHYA also offers youth-only competitions that cater specifically to junior riders. However, equine ownership isn’t a requirement: horse judging is an excellent option for youth who don’t own their own horses. AQHYA members are also eligible to apply for a variety of Foundation scholarships.

American Junior Paint Horse Association

The American Junior Paint Horse Association (AjPHA) is open to anyone under the age of 18. The AjPHA offers activities geared specifically toward youth, including a youth leadership contest, an art and photography contest, a short story contest and a judging contest.

AjPHA members need not have a horse; if they do ride, they don’t have to show! The Youth Team Tournament is held during the AjPHA Youth World Championship Paint Horse Show; teams compete in a knowledge relay, a hippology contest and performance classes that test their knowledge of horses, horsemanship and teamwork.

Other breed organizations also have very active youth organizations, such as the Arabian Horse Youth Association, the Appaloosa Youth Association, the American Morgan Horse Association Youth, American Saddlebred Horse Association Youth Clubs, et cetera. In addition, other discipline associations have active youth programs, including the National Reining Horse Youth Association, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Youth, and the National Youth Cutting Horse Association, to name just a few.

This article about youth organizations in the horse industry appeared in the August 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Youth Organizations: Encouraging Youth Involvement in the Horse Industry appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

When my daughter was 2 years old, she was playing at a friend’s farm that was home to a pony ride business. I’d started the search for her own pony, because I wanted something she could lead around the farm, brush and hang out with on her own without me worrying she’d be pushed around. We eventually met a Miniature Horse named Gru and fell in love with his personality, and a few days later, we would begin our journey of owning a Miniature Horse when he was led onto our farm and into our lives. Who knew such a little guy would create some big questions?

The Mini List

We learned some valuable lessons adjusting to the downsized life of owning a Miniature Horse, including some things I never would have imagined until I experienced it myself.

Stall Size: Our barn’s setup includes five 12-foot by 24-foot stalls. Three of them can be divided in half, with doors going to the outside and to the inside aisle. They’re perfect for cold Indiana winter days and nights when we need to keep the horses in and they need room to move around. But the stall we had available for Gru was one that is not able to be cut in half, thus giving him his own kingdom of a 12×24 stall.

Bucket Height: Within the first week, we had to adjust the height of the water bucket, and we knew immediately Gru wouldn’t be able to use the corner feeder, thus the need for a rubber feed tub on the ground.

Bucket Size: Which brings us to the size of the water bucket and feed tub. We use standard 5-gallon water buckets, and I’ve learned that Gru doesn’t drink the whole bucket, even on the hottest of days, yet we want to keep the water fresh. His rubber feed tub is rather big for the amount of grain he gets (that revelation later), but it also serves as the perfect spot for his mineral block.

Stall Fork Tines: You don’t think about how having a Miniature Horse changes the way you clean stalls … until you clean his stall with a standard fork. The size of the droppings from a Mini can make cleaning more difficult if you have a standard fork, due to the tines being too far apart. When we changed to a different type of stall fork with tines closer together, it made a huge difference in less droppings! (It also helps that my daughter has a smaller stall fork perfect for her size, and perfect for Gru’s turds.)

Horse Clothing: Miniature Horse/small pony-wear is tough to come by in our area, so a lot of times I’m ordering Gru’s fly mask online and hope that I don’t have to go through the return process. Finding the right-sized halter generally requires some rigging to shrink up around the crown and the jaw. And don’t get me started on finding a saddle that fits across his non-existent withers and wide barrel … hence why Aubrey has ridden him more bareback than in a saddle.

Dinner Portions: When it comes to feeding Gru, it’s crazy to me that he eats less grain at night than my dogs eat in kibble. We feed Gru half a cup of pellets when he comes in for the night, plus half a flake of hay. He gets the same type of hay our donkeys do (the high-quality alfalfa mix is saved for the “big girls”), and he splits a flake with one donkey.

Also, we’ve instituted use of a grazing muzzle for the first time in our family’s history of owning horses for fear of him gorging himself. However, we never know how well it works, because it’s a constant battle to figure out how to keep the muzzle on him throughout the day. Who knew a Mini could be such a Houdini?

Health Care: It’s important to note that not all farriers and veterinarians will work on Miniature Horses. We had to find a separate farrier that was willing to work with Gru and our three donkeys, and our veterinarian has to be quite limber to squat down while floating his teeth. Luckily, Gru has been pretty healthy and doesn’t need his feet trimmed as often as our full-sized horses, but it was still a difficult issue when we first owned him.

Big Hearts in Small Packages

The list can go on and on about how much we’ve had to change our mindset for downsizing, but one thing is for sure about Gru: While his stature is small, his heart is huge. He’s the happiest when he hears my daughter’s voice, gives hugs back when she wraps her arms around his (rather round) belly or neck, and is happy to just march around the barnyard with her on the other end of the lead shank.

While Aubrey has probably already outgrown his 34-inch body, he has a forever home and a place in Aubrey’s heart for a lifetime.

Learn More: A Guide to Miniature Horse Care
Learn More: Miniature Horse History
Learn More: Bringing Home a Miniature Horse
Learn More: 5 Fun Facts About Miniature Horses

This article about owning a Miniature Horse appeared in the September 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Downsizing Expectations: Lessons Learned from Owning a Miniature Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The lights flickered on in the barn that morning, and I heard the familiar shuffling of all the other ponies in the barn. Jack, the pony next to me who the girls in the barn refer to as “impatient,” begins his daily ritual of trying to kick down his stall door until our grain is served. I feel my own excitement start to build as I hear the grain being dropped into buckets down the aisle and let out a high-pitched whinny. I can’t help myself—breakfast is one of my favorite times of the day!

Finally … FINALLY … the girls reach my stall.

Is it just me or have you guys gotten slower?

I nudge one of the girls as she pours my grain into my bucket, and she pushes me away.

Rude!

I dig into my bucket with excitement. I really like this barn. The breakfast is great! Then, I head outside to play with Jack … although I must admit he’s not much fun. Then, this little girl who always wears her hair like I wear my tail at the events where I get ribbons comes to brush me and ride me and feed me treats. Then it’s dinner time!

Every day is pretty much perfect, and I’m a pretty happy pony. I’m so glad I never have to leave this place.

Something’s Different With My Little Girl

After a fun morning of playing “follow the leader” with Jack—he’s always the leader—I can’t wait for the little girl with the fancy hair to arrive. Just then, I see her little head peeking into my stall.

I couldn’t wait to see you!

I press my nose up to the front of the stall to try and get closer to her.

You look kind of different today.

Her face and her eyes are redder than normal. She pushes open my stall door, but instead of putting my halter on like normal, she puts her tiny arms around my neck and squeezes me. I love when she does this, so I try to stand perfectly still so she doesn’t stop.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” the little girl says into my neck. I’m not quite sure what she means by this, so I just keep trying to stand perfectly still.

“You’re the best pony in the whole world,” she whispers, and again I just try to stand like a statue. The little girl stays with me for a little while longer and then leaves for the day without ever taking me out of my stall.

That was weird.

I can’t think about it too much longer though, because the girls have started to feed dinner. The only thing I love more than breakfast is dinner!

Pony Moving Day

The next morning the lights flicker on again, and I whinny with excitement for another amazing day ahead. The girls move slowly as can be down the aisle as usual, and I am practically spinning with anticipation by the time they get to me. They pour grain into my bucket, and right before I dig in, I notice the goo mixed in.

“A little ulcer medicine before your trip today, Tucker,” says one of the girls.

What trip?! I hate this stuff.

I turn up my nose but reluctantly decide I’m too hungry not to eat it. One of the girls pulls Jack out of his stall, but not me, and I really think they’re starting to lose their minds around here.

Hey! You forgot me!

I whinny after them. Instead of turning around for me though, another girl comes into my stall and takes me to the area where they always brush me and put my saddle on. She starts grooming me and puts the fluffy pads around my legs, and I realize I am getting on the trailer.

Where’s the little girl?

I swing my head around and start to dance. She’s usually always here before I get on the trailer! As they lead me out and load me onto the trailer, I’m starting to really worry. Not only is the little girl not here, but none of her friends are here, and even worse, I’m the only pony on the trailer! Things are not good at all, and I have no choice but to anxiously paw the ground as they close up the trailer doors.

After what seems like forever, the trailer slows down and pulls up a long drive. I could not be more worried by the situation. I put my head up as high as possible and prick my ears trying to see or hear anything that’s going on outside. I finally feel the moving stop. The doors open, and I see a group of new girls waiting at the bottom. They don’t look like the girls at my home. I know I told them they were feeding us slower lately, but I actually did like them a lot!

“Hi Tucker.” One of the new girls walks up to me.

Who told you my name?

I prance off the trailer with her. “Welcome to your new home,” the new girl tells me.

What?!

I leap in the air. The new girl doesn’t yell at me when I do this. I do know it’s naughty, but I don’t want a new home! I liked my old home. I liked the breakfast there and playing with Jack and my little girl and the dinner there, and my old home was white, and this home is red, and it’s bright, and … I am so scared!

I continue to jig after her down a long walkway with strange ponies until she stops at a stall and leads me in. The stall has fluffy shavings, hay and water like my old stall, but Jack doesn’t live next door like he did at my old stall. I press my nose against the divider trying to see the pony next to me, but he doesn’t even seem to care that I’m here, wherever “here” is.

Change of Heart

The next morning the lights flicker on again, and for a second I think I’m back at my old home. But then I realize Jack isn’t next to me kicking at his door, and I hang my head in disappointment.

I don’t even want the breakfast here. I don’t pick my head up when one of the new girls drops grain into my bucket. She softly rubs my neck before she walks back out.

After a little bit, one of the new girls comes back to take this little pony outside to a paddock, but I’m all alone, and I miss Jack, and I don’t even feel like playing. Instead, I just pace up and down the fence hoping one of the new girls comes to take me back inside.

Suddenly, after pacing for what seems like hours with nobody caring, I see two little girls walking toward me. I stop pacing and stare at them. One of the little girls is the same size as my old little girl, and the other girl is even littler!

They keep walking all the way up to my fence and stop and smile at me.

“Hi Tucker!” They hold out their hands, which have peppermints in them.

How’d you guys know I love peppermints?

I take them very gently from their hands, making sure I am extra-gentle with the
smaller girl.

“Did you know you’re our new pony?” the smaller girl says, and I stop chewing on my treats. I am not sure how I feel about this. I still don’t know if I like this strange place, and I miss my old little girl so bad.

“We heard you’re maybe scared about being here, but we already love you so much and promise that you’re going to love it here.” The bigger girl climbs up on the fence and strokes my head.

“Yeah, we promise!” The smaller girl climbs up too and rubs my nose. The girls sit with me and rub my head and laugh with each other and sneak me some more peppermints.

After a while with them, for the first time since the trailer ride to this strange place, I start to feel happy again. I even begin munching on the grass, which tastes delicious here. Maybe this new place isn’t so bad. I start to think that even though I miss my old home, and Jack and my little girl, that this new home could be really special, too. I could teach BOTH of these little girls how to ride me, and they already seem to love me so much!

After a while, the little girls tell me it’s time for them to leave, and they both give me a kiss goodbye. One of the new girls comes and leads me into my new stall and gives me a big pat.

“You’re a very sweet pony, Tucker. I’m sure you’ll like it here soon.”

That was nice of her.

I hear the dinner grain coming. This time when they pour it into my bucket, I decide to dig in. It tastes exactly like the grain at my old home!

After I finish dinner, I let out a soft-but-happy sigh. I have officially decided this place isn’t so bad after all. I lay down for a little rest and think about how I can’t wait for the lights to flicker on tomorrow morning.

This short story about a pony finding a new home with two little girls appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Short Story: A Strange New Home appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

You’ve waited months for this—it’s finally time to reserve your spot at horse camp! You need to do this in January or February to avoid camps running out of space or so you can get an early-bird discount. Here are some questions to think about to make sure you’re making the best decision.

Do you want to attend a day or overnight camp?

If you’re on the younger side, it’s best to ease into camp by attending a day program and then coming home every night. Once you’ve gone through a few summers and get the hang of camp this way, you may be ready for overnight and more intensive programs.

How far do you want to go from home?

When it comes to overnight camp, distance from your home is important to consider. If a camp is 10 hours away and you decide you don’t like it and want to come home, it may not be possible for your parents to come get you immediately. Think about finding a camp that is close enough to be con-venient while still having all of the activities you want.

What is your parents’ budget for camp?

Your parents will want to come up with a budget for your camp experience. Camps can vary widely in price, so this is super important. You don’t want to get your heart set on one that your par-ents can’t afford to send you to.
Usually this information is avail-able on the camp website. You may end up having to go for fewer weeks if your camp of choice turns out to be a more expensive option, but together with your parents, you can decide what type of trade-off makes sense.

Do you want an all-horse camp?

There are two types of camps with horses: those where horses are one of many available activities (where you may only spend an hour or two each day at the barn), and those camps where horses are the focus almost all day long.
“All horse, all the time” camps are usually easy to pinpoint by their ads and websites, but make sure to have a parent call up to find out exactly what the daily schedule looks like. You don’t want to get there and find out “horse camp” is actually swimming, archery, sports, crafts and a million other things when all you wanted was a horse-crazy experience!

How much time will you spend in the saddle?

As part of the investigation into your camp options, find out how much time you’ll get in the saddle. Will there be multiple rides per day, like a jumping lesson plus a trail ride? Will you get to work in the barn, if that’s important to you? Some camps may saddle the horses for you so you just have to hop on for your lesson.

Will you ride one camp horse or several?

Some horse camps may allow you to bring your own horse from home, but we recommend trying a new horse so you can experience something different. If you aren’t going to be riding your horse, find out if you’ll get to ride the same camp horse all week so that you get to bond and learn his quirks. Maybe you can switch from western to English (or vice versa) so that your camp experience is really fresh and new.

Many camps end in a horse show for campers, which is great fun as your parents get to watch and take pictures of all the new skills you’ve picked up.

Can you visit first?

If at all possible, it’s always best to visit a camp before deciding. Many have open houses in early spring so you can meet the owners and managers. This will give you a good feeling about whether or not it matches up with what you’re looking for. It may even give you a head start on meeting your new camp friends, one of the best parts of all! These kids can become your pen pals or BFFs as you continue on your horse-crazy journey through life.

This article on choosing a horse camp appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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