tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61971274020216779692024-03-05T07:21:48.673-05:00The Equine ReaderA multi-disciplinary website with a twofold purpose: to chronicle my personal equestrian experience and to provide glimpses into a variety of horse worlds through reviews of equine events and industry news updates. Please feel free to leave comments or email me at Corinne@TheEquineReader.com.
Here's to all things horse!Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-53801743035232042652012-04-03T14:11:00.005-04:002012-04-03T14:28:14.330-04:00Police horses keep the peace after UK wins.According to TheHorse.com, Lexington, KY’s mounted police have been working hard to maintain order during the past few nights as the UK Wildcats made their bid for the 2012 NCAA Championship in basketball. The Wildcats (my Kentucky family’s most beloved college basketball team) won during Saturday’s Final Four matchup with Louisville, and then went on to clinch last night’s 2012 NCAA Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-57841357504564355022012-01-27T09:01:00.002-05:002012-01-27T09:04:50.685-05:00Porter the Mule Makes Strides in DressageAlright, I am not a dressage person by any stretch, but how can anyone not love this story?!
Porter the mule (click to see great pictures!) has made it all the way up to third level dressage competition, thanks to some very diligent work on behalf of owner and professional hunter-jumper Audrey Goldsmith. The rangy half-Thoroughbred still raises eyebrows when he enters the dressageCorinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-38848108458923898422012-01-19T10:06:00.001-05:002012-01-25T13:12:51.495-05:00Saratoga War Horse Project Provides Healing HoovesThanks to the blog Off-Track Thoroughbreds.com for the heads up on a great program just recently implemented in Saratoga. The Saratoga War Horse Project brings retired racehorses and war veterans together for quality time that helps both adjust to life after their high stress careers. As the article points out, many veterans have psychological traumas that can be devastating to their quality of Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-73454531469317003862011-11-02T21:04:00.003-04:002011-11-02T21:06:18.129-04:00The Gentle Barn brings animals and humans together to heal.The Equine Reader has long missed the expansive fenced swaths of bluegrass that I left behind when I moved to NYC. While I cannot discount how much I also love the verve and energy of big city life, there's always been a part of me that has dreamed of having a farm where I could "tend the rabbits," and focus in particular on rehabilitating horses that have fallen on hard times. I want to have Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-38876902312180128172011-06-09T10:16:00.001-04:002011-06-09T10:17:42.778-04:00Considering the Schmersal ScandalBy now almost everyone following equine news has undoubtedly heard of the Craig Schmersal warm-up scandal at the FEI World Reining Final in Malmo, Sweden. Schmersal was videotaped in the warm-up pen aggressively shanking his mare Miss Lil Addy Tude, the horse on which he would later go to win the CRI 4 portion of the event, and place second in the Open and CRI 5 portions.Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-44812928667315532862011-06-07T20:17:00.002-04:002011-06-07T20:53:34.825-04:00Your help needed! Stories about horses for my book.The Equine Reader has been writing far less for this blog because I am now doing research for my first book, an investigation of certain facets of the horse/human bond. I would love to interview any current or past owners/trainers who would be willing to share stories of how lessons learned from connecting with their equines have informed their interactions with people. Some of these stories willCorinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-17078276015649778102011-04-21T10:20:00.004-04:002011-06-07T20:27:26.840-04:00One Hoof Forward...Sometimes I just don't know what to think of the horse industry. We have made so many strides with our equines, in health, safety and welfare practices. We are as a whole committed to the humane husbandry of our animals, and the blogosphere is always alight with stories about the latest new measures intended to bring peace and understanding to our horse lives. Natural horsemanship, barefoot Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-85923448986130814102011-04-13T09:24:00.000-04:002011-04-13T09:24:02.590-04:00Spring Has Sprung!And with it clouds and clouds of shedding horsehair. I encounter more of it every weekend now that I am back in the saddle and working with a lovely OTTB mare named Willow at a facility on Long Island. Willow is one of only a few mares that I have ridden consistently in my time, and her sensitive, feminine demeanor might just sway me to give up geldings for life! Of course to this point I've onlyCorinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-40313840462281670632011-02-15T14:05:00.003-05:002011-02-15T14:14:32.905-05:00Update on Ireland's Horses of DunsinkWhile admittedly I have been a bit remiss keeping up with the Equine Reader (work commitments, social commitments and life’s typical travails grab my attention away from writing all too often these days), the great thing about maintaining a blog even occasionally is that people whom you’ve never met can share in your passion from afar. And can respond to and provide feedback about the very Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-21996635898746662772011-01-25T10:20:00.001-05:002011-01-25T10:25:11.127-05:00The Crowning of Queen ZSo it’s official: the mare of the decade has been crowned 2010’s Horse of the Year. At last Monday’s Eclipse Awards in Miami, Zenyatta beat back those who criticized her merit (on account of her narrow Breeder’s Cup loss) to take home a well-deserved title that places her among the ranks of a limited few true “superhorses.”
I narrowly missed being in Miami for the Eclipse Awards (I was actually Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-2602082455255925812010-12-21T15:58:00.001-05:002011-01-25T10:24:43.432-05:00The Abandoned Horses of DunsinkWe in the States have weathered this recession in myriad ways, but our horses have often had to pay the price for our unexpected job losses and diminishing bank accounts. When the economy tanked in 2008, shelters (and slaughter pens) began filling up with abandoned horses, leading many to question how to humanely deal with the glut of unwanted horses born of the boom years in the decades prior. Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-65710377880481827912010-11-08T10:20:00.003-05:002011-01-25T10:26:38.581-05:00Did Queen Z's royal treatment backfire?I've read a lot of assessments of Zenyatta's narrow loss to Blame in Saturday's Breeder's Cup. The dirt hit her in the face and threw her off her game. She got stuck in the pack and then didn't have enough time to make her storied come-from-behind move before she hit the finish line. Blame was just a tougher, gamer horse capable of besting Queen Z while also carrying extra weight. Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-14255642159981658572010-10-15T09:42:00.000-04:002010-10-15T09:42:04.916-04:00Passing it along: "Interview with Zenyatta"I love this incredibly entertaining "interview" with Zenyatta. That mare's got some sass! I have to say I also agree with her decision not to go for the younger colts - she's obviously way too mature. Good luck to her as she tries to run 'em down again in this year's Breeder's Cup at Churchill Downs. :)Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-75686821243871517852010-10-07T10:19:00.001-04:002010-10-07T10:21:03.787-04:00Saying That Final GoodbyeSo I came back from WEG to some very unfortunate news.
My QH, Tank, the now retired chestnut hero who taught me so much during my formative years as a rider, has finally reached a point where his diminishing quality of life necessitates our making the choice to put him down. He's pushing 30 years old, and I knew that I would eventually get the call telling me that the Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-48294531012493730212010-09-28T09:45:00.002-04:002010-09-28T11:57:39.519-04:00WEG Weekend 1 - RecapBack from WEG now, unpacked and decompressed, and I have to say it was a lovely event. It was incredibly exciting to see so many horse people coming together in what is arguably the most beautiful farm country that this nation has to offer (ok, I am biased) to celebrate the grace and athleticism of what is undoubtedly the most beautiful animal that this entire world has to offer (again, I amCorinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-48227987779874728562010-09-24T21:32:00.002-04:002010-09-25T07:50:43.879-04:00Let the Games Begin!!The Equine Reader has arrived in Lexington! And returning to the storied farms and fields of my youth has already brought a rush of horsey memories flooding back. When you live, love and breathe horses the way that I do, there are few places in the world better for the soul than Kentucky bluegrass. Of course this year the Bluegrass will be the site of the 2010 World Equestrian Games, which has Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-8098620223344999662010-09-07T09:48:00.006-04:002012-01-25T17:53:55.558-05:00Ex-reiner sails through new career in eventingLove this!! Look at him go!!
Photo from America's Horse Daily
Great story at the America's Horse Daily website about a little tiny QH ex-reiner that is now storming the ranks of the Herculean warmbloods and OTTBs that traditionally dominate the sport of eventing. Considering that I volunteer for an organization that retires many of these same OTTBs, I am fascinated by stories of horses Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-81353170257319349962010-09-03T21:28:00.001-04:002010-09-03T21:53:46.480-04:00Prince Harry accused of animal cruelty after polo gougeA strange little equine welfare story to report on this Friday. According to the Daily Mail, Prince Harry has been accused of animal cruelty for apparently causing a bloody puncture wound with his spur while riding his polo pony in a match yesterday. According to a witness at the match, the Prince continued to ride even while his pony bled from the very visible spur gouge. The royal camp Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-38541224850272195972010-08-27T10:10:00.003-04:002010-08-30T20:42:08.041-04:00Friday Horse NewsThe Equine Reader is at a loss! There is so much good horsey news out there this Friday that it's a bit of a conundrum as to how to go about choosing one item on which to focus. So in the spirit of it being Friday, and I being altogether not focused anyway, as the weekend beckons with its promise of beautiful sunshiney weather and low humidity (not often found in concert here in NYC), I willCorinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-8245496795237860592010-08-24T07:00:00.013-04:002010-08-24T17:39:08.414-04:00Carriage Horse Welfare, Part 2As usual, my impressions of the carriage horse industry in NYC have raised some ire. First, I would like to thank my readers for pointing out (calmly and entirely without vituperation) that all NYC carriage stables do indeed have sprinkler systems in place. I have corrected my previous post to reflect that assessment. It is good to know that these basic safety issues are attended to without Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-18015397174049329552010-08-23T07:00:00.010-04:002010-08-24T13:25:28.631-04:00Fire breaks out in Manhattan carriage stableI have long railed against the anachronistic logic of maintaining carriage horse fleets in large urban centers like NYC. As a city dweller, I have seen more than one near-miss incident in which a horse and car ended up in far too close of a proximity, with a bridled nose coming up very literally within inches of a stopping bumper. Proponents of the Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-77331399542939941252010-08-13T07:00:00.003-04:002010-08-13T09:11:19.618-04:00Big News in New YorkThis is the week that New York racing thought would never come. Genting, LLP NY, a Malaysian casino company, has been chosen to operate the VLTs that have long awaited installation at Aqueduct. The company has superseded the bureaucratic and political machinations that have stymied every previous potential VLT operator in the state, and will commence build-out of the first 1600 machinesCorinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-11871682538020417422010-08-06T07:00:00.004-04:002010-08-06T09:11:34.163-04:00Follow Friday - Natalie Keller Reinert's "Unretired Racehorse"Now I know that follow Friday is a Twitter thing, but I've decided to repurpose it for the sake of my blog because I like alliteration and because it works for my posting here today. My version of follow Friday also holds the differentiating feature of being not an aggregation of tons of twitterers that I really like, but a singular shout out to one blog per week that I feel warrants Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-1890500229154660502010-07-28T07:16:00.007-04:002010-08-06T08:42:32.798-04:00A Racehorse DaydreamThe Equine Reader, as you may have noticed, has been on summer vacation this month due to an abundant amount of outside pressures that have been competing for my attention (read: working full time, taking summer graduate marketing courses every weeknight, and trying to carve a paltry day or two out of every week for sleep and R&R). I have also been daily scanning horse related news and not Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197127402021677969.post-6984085906598863252010-07-08T08:59:00.002-04:002010-07-28T09:55:43.253-04:00"Equitarianism"Having just spent a long weekend in the Domincan Republic about a month ago, I have seen firsthand the skinny, poorly shod equine inhabitants that dot the DR's otherwise idyllic beach paradise landscape. Compared to the pampered existence that my own equine leads, turned out in retirement on verdant Kentucky pastures, and to that which most American horse owners provide for their horses, seeing Corinnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16948308163343304432noreply@blogger.com0