The Equine Reader

Porter the Mule Makes Strides in Dressage

2012-01-27T09:01:00.002-05:00

Alright, 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 dressage ring, but once

Saratoga War Horse Project Provides Healing Hooves

2012-01-19T10:06:00.001-05:00

Thanks 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

The Gentle Barn brings animals and humans together to heal.

2011-11-02T21:04:00.003-04:00

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

Considering the Schmersal Scandal

2011-06-09T10:16:00.001-04:00

By 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. Having watched the video

Your help needed! Stories about horses for my book.

2011-06-07T20:17:00.002-04:00

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 will

One Hoof Forward...

2011-04-21T10:20:00.004-04:00

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

Spring Has Sprung!

2011-04-13T09:24:00.000-04:00

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 only

Update on Ireland's Horses of Dunsink

2011-02-15T14:05:00.003-05:00

While 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

The Crowning of Queen Z

2011-01-25T10:20:00.001-05:00

So 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

The Abandoned Horses of Dunsink

2010-12-21T15:58:00.001-05:00

We 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.

Did Queen Z's royal treatment backfire?

2010-11-08T10:20:00.003-05:00

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. Considering

Passing it along: "Interview with Zenyatta"

2010-10-15T09:42:00.000-04:00

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. :)

Saying That Final Goodbye

2010-10-07T10:19:00.001-04:00

So 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 challenges of old age had

WEG Weekend 1 - Recap

2010-09-28T09:45:00.002-04:00

Back 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 am

Let the Games Begin!!

2010-09-24T21:32:00.002-04:00

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

Ex-reiner sails through new career in eventing

2010-09-07T09:48:00.006-04:00

Love 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

Prince Harry accused of animal cruelty after polo gouge

2010-09-03T21:28:00.001-04:00

A 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 disputes

Friday Horse News

2010-08-27T10:10:00.003-04:00

The 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 will

Carriage Horse Welfare, Part 2

2010-08-24T07:00:00.013-04:00

As 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

Fire breaks out in Manhattan carriage stable

2010-08-23T07:00:00.010-04:00

I 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 carriage horse industry in this city have

Big News in New York

2010-08-13T07:00:00.003-04:00

This 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 machines within 6

Follow Friday - Natalie Keller Reinert's "Unretired Racehorse"

2010-08-06T07:00:00.004-04:00

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

A Racehorse Daydream

2010-07-28T07:16:00.007-04:00

The 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

"Equitarianism"

2010-07-08T08:59:00.002-04:00

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

Racehorse Welfare from Starting Gate to Finish Line

2010-06-23T08:00:00.003-04:00

While he's employed as an athlete, your average racehorse will traditionally receive top-notch care from a variety of racetrack professionals. He gets a trainer dedicated to enhancing his fitness through closely monitored exercise and adroit nutritional calculations. He gets a veterinarian who monitors stiffness, soreness, and medicinal needs. And he gets a swath of grooms and caretakers that

The Weekend Reader

2010-06-18T10:12:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to make a suggestion to all of you in the NYC area if you are looking for a horsey good time to fill your weekend. My sweetie was kind enough to surprise me with tickets last weekend to Cavalia, the Cirque Du Soleil type equestrian show now happening at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. I had read about Cavalia in one of my many equine mags some time ago, and was greatly impressed by its

Back in the Saddle

2010-06-10T09:55:00.004-04:00

The Equine Reader is back!My surgery went well, as did my trip to the Dominican Republic and its attendant beach gallops along the expansive Punta Cana coast. The horses in DR were scrawny and poorly shod, but that didn't stop them from seeming exhilarated as they hurtled along beneath us down the beautiful surf sides. My poor boyfriend, himself not a rider and ill-prepared for the bumping

Taking a week off

2010-05-14T09:15:00.002-04:00

The Equine Reader is going on a brief hiatus for the next week as I prepare both for an upcoming trip to the Caribbean (riding ponies on the beach! Yes!) and then a minor surgery after which I will be recuperative and blogging-less. But before I go I thought I'd leave you with this funny little tidbit, about a very unexpected guest at Delta Downs racetracks. Here in NY racing professionals have

This Horse is Bomb Proof - Literally!

2010-05-06T10:09:00.004-04:00

Life as a New Yorker in our post-9/11 city is normally (and perhaps surprisingly) quite free from extraneous worry about terrorist activity. New Yorkers are legendary for their ability to pick up and get moving again after even the worst of catastrophes, and the City's resolve to live unfettered by the shadow of potential terrorist activity is an idelible part of her character. It was, therefore,

Kings of the Derby

2010-05-03T09:14:00.003-04:00

I really loved watching the Kentucky Derby this year. Though I was remarkably nervous leading up to it, as horse after horse was pulled, scratched, or euthanized due to injuries or training issues, once the day of the Derby arrives I can never hide my excitement. My boyfriend and I donned our Derby best, sought out a posh party in the heart of NYC, and watched the race go off in style, with

Horses show marked stress and anxiety pre-slaughter

2010-04-22T13:24:00.006-04:00

I truly HATED reading this Horse.com article about the stress that horses endure en route and prior to slaughter. I have been a vegetarian (who does eat limited seafood now, so a pescetarian) for 13 years of my life, and one big reason that I chose to go meatless was my profound desire to take myself out of the cycle of stock animal suffering. From birth, to over-hormoned growth in tight

Injury and breakdown is even more potent on the Triple Crown Trail

2010-04-19T10:09:00.006-04:00

We are less than two weeks and counting until Derby weekend, and news broke this week that the top Kentucky Oaks contender She Be Wild will been scratched due to a pastern fracture, and worse that significant Derby contender Tiz Chrome was euthanized on Saturday after a sesmasoid fracture led to his breakdown during training. These two incidents remind me that everything leading up to the Derby

"Dear Horse" - Just for Fun!

2010-04-14T11:39:00.002-04:00

This is not my article, nor do I know who wrote it, so if you can identify the author I will give them full credit! I found it here, while I was poking around on Stacy Westfall's website, and think it's too hilarious not to share:"Dear Horse (author unknown)I love you very much, and I truly cherish your presence in my life. I would never wish to criticize you in any way. However, there are a few

Stacy Westfall's Insights

2010-04-13T18:25:00.015-04:00

A very successful weekend up at Equine Affaire, with the weather in the mid-seventies, the sun shining, and lots of sparkly horses rounding the grounds. My particular faves are always the Friesians, because seeing these medieval beasts up close is like encountering a group of supermodels having lunch at your local diner. Their good looks are so jaw dropping that they almost appear out of place

Shameless Promotion - of myself and others....

2010-04-10T11:07:00.006-04:00

Just a brief note for the The Equine Reader today as I am shortly headed up to Equine Affaire to immerse myself in clinics, fabulous horse shopping, and the Pfizer Fantasia equine show, which is the jewel in the event's horse filled crown. I am also headed up today to spread word among the Equine Affaire aficionados of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Hay Bale campaign, for which anyone

Barbaro's Legacy Lives On

2010-03-25T15:25:00.003-04:00

While many indelible marks have been laid upon the face of history by presidents, inventors, scientists and educators, the greatness required to inspire change and development can be wrapped in unexpected packages. Such is the case with Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby great who became legend due not only to achievement in his life, but also to the heartrending circumstances surrounding his death.

Is this even possible?

2010-03-15T13:45:00.003-04:00

A summer in Saratoga without Thoroughbred horse racing?Saratoga racing season is one of the main highlights of summer in the NY area, and the region triples in population when the TBs come to town. There is nothing that parallels breezy, sunny days sitting in the Saratoga boxes in summery dresses and sipping something cool, while the ponies parade in from the paddock. Saratoga County is,

Colorado Horsecare Foodbank Helps Humans and Their Horses

2010-03-11T10:02:00.004-05:00

I really like the following initiative. It's a concept that has been put to good use in human communities for many years, and has now been tweaked to serve equines and their human families with very positive results. As TheHorse.com reports, an organization called the "Colorado Horsecare Foodbank," provides feed, hay and "other equine services" to Colorado families suffering from economic stress,

The Conundrum of Equine Welfare

2010-03-04T09:16:00.017-05:00

So the Equine Reader is going to take a new tack for awhile.Over the last couple of years I have covered a variety of equine welfare related stories because it's always stood as egregious to me that horses can die or suffer abuse due to the greed or negligence of their owners/caretakers. Yesterday I read a particularly unsettling blog item at the Paulick Report in which Bradford Cummings, one of

California Report: Synthetics Proven To Reduce Fatalities

2010-03-01T09:15:00.004-05:00

In last week's Paulick report, Ray Paulick discussed an article out of the San Diego Union-Tribune, that somewhat erroneously reported that synthetic surfaces in California were responsible for an uptick in racetrack horse deaths. The California Horse Racing Board's annual report suggested that the last two years have seen the most horse deaths on California tracks of any two year span in history

Newsworthy in New York

2010-02-24T09:41:00.002-05:00

It’s been a big, big week in the equine news, and I’ve been so busy, busy, busy that there hasn’t been a moment available to offer up any commentary on all of the headlines that have come across the wire. Today’s Equine Reader post will therefore be a conglomerate of sorts, to get things up to speed.First off, just a brief mention to congratulate Dressage wunderkind Moorlands Totilas and his

Horses Helping Humans Helping Horses

2010-02-17T14:36:00.009-05:00

Today brought two positive strides for important causes that link our human and equine worlds.As the BloodHorse.com reports, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, currently the world's largest charity organization committed to fundraising for breast cancer research and survivor support, has agreed to renew its partnership with the Kentucky Oaks (gr. 1) at Churchill Downs. Kentucky Oaks Day, held the

Rollkur outlawed thanks to Internet advocacy

2010-02-11T10:05:00.005-05:00

Great news this week out of the FEI's round table conference at its Olympic Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, as the equestrian governing body voted to outlaw the "Rollkur" or "hyperflexion" style of dressage training, in which a horse's head is forcibly overbent to induce proper carriage. The group ruled unanimously that "any head and neck position of the horse achieved through aggressive

BLM roundup results in tragic foal death

2010-02-08T10:07:00.003-05:00

An equine welfare crisis has been underway now for several weeks in Nevada, as the BLM has sanctioned a massive helicopter round-up of wild horses in an attempt to curb their overpopulation on Nevada cattle grazing lands. Equine welfare groups have been up in arms against the roundup since it began, because the helicopter method of roundup is highly traumatic and even dangerous to the horses. So

She's BAAACCCK!

2010-02-03T14:42:00.002-05:00

The stunning Rachel Alexandra that is.The BloodHorse.com reported on Monday that the superfilly had her first breeze this past weekend at Fair Grounds racetrack since winning last year's Woodward Stakes (gr. 1) at Saratoga. Apparently her connections are keeping relatively mum about the course of Rachel's 2010 campaign, but some are whispering that a match-up with Zenyatta could be inevitable.

Michael Gill raises controversy over breakdowns

2010-01-28T10:06:00.008-05:00

Last week's brief post on the carriage horse industry here in NYC raised the ire of more than one carriage industry participant, who claimed that their business driving horses two and fro among speeding motor vehicles is on the whole less dangerous and more humane to their equine charges than other competitive outlets, namely Thoroughbred horse racing. As I pointed out in my commentary on my

Can science predict who the winner will be?

2010-01-26T09:50:00.003-05:00

The game of Thoroughbred horse racing has always required part background knowledge and part luck to be applied when reckoning which horse in a field will end up besting its competitors. That horse's owners likely applied a similar combination of know-how with hope when they selected it at auction from among a similar selection of yearlings or two-year-olds, its breeders mixed good pedigree

NYC Entities Discussing Carriage Horse Welfare

2010-01-21T15:31:00.014-05:00

Gothamist.com reported today that "the co-president of NYCLASS, Steve Nislick, joined the ASPCA and a panel of experts to discuss the welfare of horses. Naturally, the discussion turned to New York's carriage horse industry, which they would like to replace with a fleet of antique electric cars. On the state of the horse's welfare, Nislick said: '"They provide them with no protection. If I don't

The Little Filly That Could

2010-01-19T09:15:00.004-05:00

Well it's official, the TB industry has named 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra 2009 Horse of the Year. The announcement came at last night's Eclipse Awards in California, and the prize was hotly contested with west-coastal rival Zenyatta. Rachel also won Champion 3-Year-Old Female and Zenyatta won Champion older female. According to TheBloodhorse.com, this was the first year in history that both

Horse of the Year!

2010-01-18T08:48:00.003-05:00

The biggest debate in the Thoroughbred racing world will officially be settled tonight when the Horse of the Year is awarded at the Eclipse Awards in California. Throughout much of the season industry insiders have argued over which horse is the most deserving: either Zenyatta, the dominant winner of 14 straight races, including the Breeder's Cup; or Rachel Alexandra, the breakout sensation who

Aid for Haiti, and Haiti's horses

2010-01-14T10:25:00.004-05:00

As the crisis in Haiti mounts, it is clear that the country's residents have been thrust overnight into a long term nightmare. The earthquake that rocked Port-Au-Prince reduced this already poverty stricken nation to an environment in which sheer survival is the sole goal and a catastrophic loss of life will be the likely end result. Aid is steadily pouring in from across the world, but the

Dark and Light in the Equine Industry

2010-01-11T11:47:00.007-05:00

One of the downsides of being a committed member of the equine industry is learning the hard way that not everyone within the business cherishes the opportunity to work amongst their equine counterparts. As if it isn't enough that stories already abound of random/senseless acts of horse abuse perpetrated by those outside the industry, this week brings news that Thoroughbred owner and trainer Chad

Britain announces "Racing for Change" to unify marketing and PR

2010-01-05T09:25:00.008-05:00

My ultimate career aspiration is to work in marketing or communications for an equestrian oriented organization, either a large stud farm, a racing or training entity, an auction house or a breed organization. I am thus always keeping my eyes open for ways that equine organizations, many of which seem grossly behind the times in terms of keeping with modern social media, can enhance their

A Happy New Year for Adoptable Horses

2010-01-04T09:31:00.003-05:00

One of the many equine causes that I hold close to my heart is that of the adoptable Thoroughbred. Off track TBs, once properly rehabilitated, can go on to have illustrious competitive careers in other disciplines, or simply become cherished riding horses and equine family members. There are a wide variety of non-profit entities across the country that raise the funds to care for and retrain to

Are NSAIDs the newest form of horse abuse?

2009-12-28T12:01:00.005-05:00

According to a recently published article in Practical Horseman, the U.S. Hunter and Jumper Association is challenging recently implemented USEF restrictions on the use of double NSAID medications in show horses. The USEF's intention is to ensure the highest level of sportsmanship within its competitions, especially in the wake of the doping scandals that plagued the Olympics and several other

Third World Record for Moorlands Totilas

2009-12-17T09:28:00.013-05:00

A new equine phenom is sweeping the Grand Prix dressage world. Moorlands Totilas, a nine-year-old black Dutch Warmblood stallion, has broken three world records with rider Edward Gal at this year's most lauded freestyle Grand Prix dressage tests. First in July at the World Dressage Masters at Hickstead, with a score of 89.40% (see video of the stunning horse's test here), next in August at the

Caveat Emptor

2009-12-15T10:42:00.005-05:00

Ahh the joys of horse shopping. Anticipation of finding just that perfect equine "mate;" feelings of joy and exuberance when eyes are laid on "the dream come true;" hope and expectation for a partnership that will take ones riding skills or competitive capacity to the next level.For horse buyers there are a plethora of caveats that come with purchasing a new mount, and the selection process can

Winter Horsekeeping

2009-12-11T12:59:00.007-05:00

Temperatures fell into the twenties today in NYC, and with the subarctic chill comes thoughts about my pasture bound Quarter Horse retiree, who, thanks to lots of TLC, a hefty daily feed ration, and a well tailored blue blanket, manages to live outside quite happily during the winter. He's got a barn to come into and a stall nicely bedded down with warm shavings when the weather turns brutally

My Old Kentucky Chicken Farm

2009-12-04T12:01:00.010-05:00

Kentucky runs through my blood more deeply than any other state in the nation. My family hails from Central Kentucky (though mom moved just over the border into Cincinnati to marry my dad, and raised my brother and I there), on a farm where my grandma and grandpa raised tobacco and provided endless opportunities for my brother and I to while away long weekends on rolling hillsides every summer.

Show Me The Money

2009-12-03T09:25:00.008-05:00

It's no secret the the American Thoroughbred market has been heavily impacted by the past year's recession. Auction numbers decreased across categories at all of this year's major sales, stud fees are down for next year's breedings, and unprecedented numbers of mares will remain uncovered. Much of the big money still being spent at America's auctions is flowing from global markets, with Dubai's

Thanksgiving, horsey style

2009-11-25T12:35:00.011-05:00

As we prepare to lock ourselves down at the Thanksgiving table tomorrow, and overindulge in home cooking and the warmth of friends and family, many of us are undoubtedly contemplating the many things that we've been thankful for in this past year. I am thankful that I have a good job, that I have a close group of friends, that I live in a city that affords me unparalleled opportunities, that my

Riding for The Cure

2009-11-20T09:16:00.014-05:00

Apologies for this week's hiatus, I was home in bed nursing myself through a bad sore throat. And I wanted to spend a little time reflecting before I wrote this post, because its subject matter touches me at my most personal level. I hope in writing it I will achieve resonance with others who have shared a similar experience, and welcome your comments and your thoughts.This year breast cancer

A Week of New Equine Welfare Initiatives

2009-11-13T10:36:00.008-05:00

A great week for equine health and welfare, as two notable collaborations of horsepeople made strides towards a better future for America's equine population.In Massachusetts, four racehorses retired from Boston's Suffolk Downs were moved this week to the newly incepted Plymouth County Sherrif's Farm, where inmates of MA corrections facilities will train and care for them and future retired

Cross promotion as a boost to racing's fan base?

2009-11-10T13:59:00.008-05:00

As we all know by now, Zenyatta made history this past weekend with her sterling win against the boys in Saturday's Breeder's Cup Classic (gr. 1). It was her 14th consecutive win, and with it Queen Zenyatta earned the honor of being the only female to have bested the males on the Classic stage. Her greatness and legend are now unparalleled, and the only horse with any potential to steal her

World Champions' Weekend

2009-11-06T11:39:00.008-05:00

A Breeder's Cup weekend edition of the The Equine Reader today as the ponies gear up in Santa Anita for two days of World Championship competition. While Careless Jewel hopes to sew it up in today's Lady's Classic (gr. 1), Zenyatta will seek to outclass ten Grade 1 or Group 1 champion male horses in tomorrow's Breeder's Cup Classic (gr. 1), and add a heroic 14th feather into her winner's cap (

Horse People with Heart

2009-11-03T11:50:00.007-05:00

With the news so regularly peppered by stories of humans and equines in conflict due to abuse, neglect or ethical shortcuts, it can be helpful to remember all those out there that are doing good for, or with, the equines in their life.During this, the week leading up to the year's biggest showdown in horse racing, I'd like first to applaud the seven racing contingents that have pledged a portion

Super Stud

2009-10-29T15:05:00.000-04:00

Before we jump into today's post, let's all take a minute and admire one of racing's handsomest celebrities: Medaglia d'Oro.That gorgeous face is responsible for Rachel's stunning looks, and some of this year's top prices in the yearling market. It's no surprise that the king among sires is now standing at Darley stud along with a host of other recent shedrow legends, including Bernardini, Street

Breeder's Cup Pre-Entries Announced

2009-10-28T17:03:00.001-04:00

Big news in Thoroughbred racing today as the pre-entries have been announced for the Breeder's Cup races next weekend in Santa Anita. A wide smattering of horses are cross-entered in two races, including Zenyatta, the famous track swallowing mare whose contingent has yet to definitively decide whether she will be a Classic race contender or a Ladies Classic contender. The buzz seems to suggest

Thoroughbred Breeding Updates

2009-10-23T16:46:00.004-04:00

Thoroughbred breeding updates for today’s horse bites, featuring recently released Jockey Club numbers, and a horse of a different color...The Jockey Club’s Oct. 22nd “Report of Mares Bred” reflects the general contraction underway in the breeding industry, as total numbers of Thoroughbred mares bred nationwide fell 13.5%, to 45,317 coverings in 2009.

Thou Shalt Fly Without Wings

2009-10-21T17:27:00.003-04:00

"...a horse is a thing of such beauty...none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor." -- Xenophon"The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire." -- Sharon Ralls Lemon"A horse gallops with his lungs, preserveres with his heart, and wins with his character." -- Tesio"Horse thou

Stallions will be stallions

2009-10-20T17:01:00.005-04:00

With modern horse training's widespread commitment to the natural horsemanship movement, horse owners have gotten the benefit of learning to understand how to utilize their horses' natural instincts and psychology when training and handling them. But how do you apply that methodology when the horse is a stallion? These lusty creatures are often assumed to be aggressive, pushy and domineering,

Are there benefits to being able to select your foal's gender?

2009-10-16T15:00:00.001-04:00

The 21st Century has seen the advent of a wide variety of reproductive technologies for the human population, and veterinary technology is not lagging too far behind. Artificial insemination and embryonic surrogacy have been widely available to horse breeders for the last decade, and the cloning of several carefully chosen equines, including the legendary jumper Gem Twist, have proved successful.

Introducing "The Equine Reader" !

2009-10-14T17:13:00.008-04:00

As my visitors may have noticed, Jumping Back In has been rebranded! It has been a long while since my first post about “jumping back in” to the equestrian community after my move to NYC, so I wanted this site’s title to reflect its commitment to delivering current news stories and contemplations on the state of modern horse life. The Equine Reader is the end result. Enjoy! As for today’s

Girls for the Ages

2009-10-13T17:19:00.006-04:00

This past weekend was a momentous one for the leading fillies in Thoroughbred racing, with Rachel Alexandra's cohort announcing that her 2009 campaign had officially come to a close, and Zenyatta powering past the field of Santa Anita's Lady's Stakes (gr. 1) to secure her 13th straight win, and match the record previously set by filly Personal Ensign. Her contingent has yet to choose whether

Peaceful Thinking on the Thoroughbreds

2009-10-09T12:12:00.013-04:00

With the announcement of our President's win of the Nobel Peace prize for diplomacy and global vision during the first year of his presidency, the pundits have already begun to question the efficacy of awarding the prize when much of Obama's enactment of global change is still in the formative process. He has set the stage for sweeping diplomatic revisions, but has yet to bring many of them to

The good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

2009-10-07T17:12:00.002-04:00

A "good, bad, and downright ugly" edition of Jumping Back In for readers today, to highlight the highs and lows of this week's equine industry news. I'll start off with some good news. TheHorse.com reported yesterday that the Humane Society of the United States has awarded natural horseman Pat Parelli "Humane Horseman of the Year" for his work in retraining rescued horses to enhance their

Pony Pilates!

2009-10-06T17:30:00.001-04:00

New Yorkers are religious about their workout habits. It's a very fitness conscious atmosphere up here, and many of our urban residents are committed to some type of regimen to ensure they stay svelte and healthy. Yoga and Pilates are favorites of the workout minded in the area, with private studios available in every neighborhood, and classes offered at every major gym. I myself am a fan of

Down to the Wire

2009-10-01T10:10:00.003-04:00

It's Thursday and the weekend will be upon us before we know it. No horses in sight for me this weekend, but next Thursday I hit out for the Midwest to attend the All American Quarter Horse Congress. I can't wait to escape to its indulgent atmosphere of county fair food, jingling spurs, and horses, horses, horses! Until then, I can tide myself over with a couple of notable horsebites:A follow-up

Equine Photographer's Network Advocacy Project

2009-09-29T12:28:00.004-04:00

Back to the blogging, after last week's whirlwind of reaquainting myself with all the relevant responsibilities that I had so happily shirked in favor of riding across the backcountry of Southern Spain.With all of the emphasis that this blog puts on welfare issues in the equine industry, I wanted to highlight an unique initiative underway through the Equine Photographer's Network. I have often

Dios cinco y il finito!

2009-09-18T18:50:00.002-04:00

Day five!Our last day on the trail, and one of our most adventurous. We headed out this morning at an almost leisurely nine AM, and spent our first two hours trekking deep into dense, cool Spanish forests, whose thick foliage and proliferation of hanging vines reminded one of being in the heart of Brazil or Costa Rica. No monkeys to be seen unfortunately, but we did pass by several stone ruins,

Les caballos de rosas

2009-09-17T13:48:00.002-04:00

Aai!A long day on the trail. It started gloriously however, well before sunrise and as we packed our saddle bags and headed out for the pastures to catch our horses, a sliver of moon still hung low in the sky. The first pinks of dawn were just cracking through as we brushed, fed and tacked up. The reason for our early rising? A vamos a playa por favor! And vamos we did, to la playa de rosas, the

Buenos soleil!!

2009-09-16T16:08:00.002-04:00

I am happy to report that we survived days Two and Three of our equestrian trek without a single droplet of rain. Tuesday was a shorter day of riding, and though the weather was a bit cooler and moody, we had ample sunshine to light our way as we wound our horses through acres of golden apple orchards and dense olive groves. We passed a delightful assortment of wild fruit trees on the journey,

Vamos Gallope!

2009-09-15T14:38:00.002-04:00

The rain in Spain falls mainly on...my birthday? Our first day on the trail Monday started out gloriously, Spanish sun high and bright. It welcomed us as we saddled up at Mas Alba, a ranch located about an hour outside of Girona, Spain. We arrived the night before, and after our riding group had assembled from five different countries, we enjoyed a hearty meal at Mas Alba of rural Catalonian

Mis deseos han sido siempre caballos

2009-09-11T22:07:00.009-04:00

A final post before I head off for my Andalucian adventure traveling up Catalonia's Costa Brava on Spanish horseback. I will be spending a week stopping over in coastal haciendas, sampling local wine and cuisine, and galloping verdant hillsides atop los caballos españoles. I anticipate dreaming tonight of big-hipped white horses with lush silver manes cantering across the sunny southern Spanish

Galloping With the Great

2009-09-05T18:25:00.004-04:00

The day's biggest horse sporting news comes to us courtesy of the famed Rachel Alexandra, who took Saratoga's Woodward Stakes (G. 1) by a nose at the wire in front of Macho Again. The beautiful filly grabbed the lead early on and kept hold of it with her characteristic tenacity. While the rest of the field turned up to the finish covered in mud slung from hooves of those in the lead, Rachel came

Of Rain and Horses

2009-08-31T09:52:00.005-04:00

I spent a wonderful, albeit soggy weekend in Saratoga Springs these past three days. Turnout for the 140th running of the Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. 1) was great even given the weather, and the horse fans in Saratoga didn't let the downpour dampen their enthusiasm. Summer Bird put in an impressive show under jockey Kent Desormeaux in the Travers, winning over a soppy, sloppy track by 3 1/2

Heading Down the Work Week Homestretch

2009-08-27T22:46:00.006-04:00

It's Travers weekend in Saratoga tomorrow, so let's hope that a little sun peeks through and keeps things dry. A quick rundown of the end of the week's Horsebites:Racing fans in Saratoga emitted a collective groan on Tuesday over news that Derby winner Mine That Bird is still on the mend from his epigilottal surgery and won't be contending Saturday's Shadwell Travers Stakes. What began as a

Gone But Not Forgotten

2009-08-26T10:41:00.002-04:00

An interesting article in the New York Times Monday about the state of the country's racehorse retirement system. The article details the dramatic legal battle required to, in essence, rescue 11-year-old thoroughbred Tour of the Cat from the track after he became unfit for racing. The horse's owner at the time, David Jacobson, claimed him at age 10 and campaigned him well past his prime, entering

Looking Past the Travers

2009-08-25T09:21:00.010-04:00

Big news in the horse racing world this week as Rachel Alexandra's contingent has decided not to run the filly in this weekend's Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. 1) at Saratoga, saving her instead for the Woodward Stakes (gr. 1) next weekend. The New York Racing Association has sweetened the Woodward considerably to draw top level contenders to compete with Rachel, by increasing the race's purse from

Equine Advocacy

2009-08-18T14:19:00.012-04:00

I have considered myself to be an "equine advocate" throughout my equestrian life. I maintain a vested interest in horse welfare and upkeep, and often use this blog to report on ethical issues afflicting various equine industries. Unfortunately, the equine world regularly deals with bad press concerning the questionable tactics used by some when raising, training and exhibiting its four legged

Abused Horses are the Recession's Newest Victims

2009-08-14T14:11:00.010-04:00

It's no small secret that strained financial conditions can destabilize sociological conditions throughout all tiers of society. There is evidence that this recession has led to an uptick in retail related crimes, white collar and business related crimes, and potentially violent crimes, although that correlation is less black and white.For animal owners, the recession has already posed ethical

Beating the Dog Days

2009-08-12T08:47:00.006-04:00

Ahh, the dog days of August. They've finally descended down upon New York City like a hazy, shimmering (smoggy) cloud. It had been hard to know whether summer had even come at all given June and July's relentlessly water logged weeks, but now, with temperatures forecast into the high 80s all this week, there's no denying it.The tail end of summer, even with its attendant humidity and fly control

Back In the Summer of Things

2009-07-23T10:07:00.004-04:00

I have let almost a year slip by undetected since my last post but I intend to renew my effort with a series of smaller segments. Long pithy articles were great fun to write on occasion, but it proved unwieldy over the long term to keep up a novella like effort. And ultimately in conflict with a good blogger's mentality.So, without further adieu, today's Horsebite:The Fasig Tipton Saratoga

2009-01-01T11:55:00.002-05:00

The Equine Reader began in 2008 as a way to chronicle my personal equestrian experience and provide glimpses into a variety of horse worlds through reviews of events and industry news updates. As for me, I am a lifelong equestrian and equine aficionado who lives in, and rides just outside of, NYC. I have owned, shown and trained stock horses but love everything equine. I have thrilled to the

My Kingdom for a 2-Year-Old.

2008-10-17T10:37:00.025-04:00

It is interesting to me that trends in equine welfare and health care tend to be reflected across industries, breed lines and disciplines. On several other posts I have remarked on changes in the equine industry that have been called into practice by convergent concerns over health and wellness issues affecting all of us who seek the safest competitive environment for our equine athletes.Recently

Reining with the Best

2008-08-26T11:03:00.020-04:00

I have always respected Bob Avila. His competency as a horseman has never been in question. He is a renowned reining and cow horse trainer who holds over 37 World Championship and Reserve Championship titles in Quarter Horse competition, spanning a variety of Western and cow sports. He has won the "Magnificent 7" competition three years in a row, and the "World's Greatest Horseman" competition

The Most Difficult Decisions

2008-08-21T13:00:00.016-04:00

I have always had a bleeding heart for animals and children. Seeing abuse or mistreatment of either gets my hackles up immediately. So it was, of course, with consternation that I read a recent conversation on MSN.com regarding a reader who had opted to turn the family horse (and dog) loose rather than continue to pay its bills or deliver it to an adoption facility. Many readers wrote in

Oxers, and combos, and water, OH MY!

2008-08-18T13:34:00.018-04:00

This weekend I finally caught a show jumping segment of the 2008 Summer Olympic Equestrian Games, and felt myself suddenly inspired to learn to jump. Watching those scopey horses bravely charging over everything in their path created a significant interest in learning just how they do it. This is a brand new discipline for this dyed-in-the-wool Paint horse princess, but here on the East coast,

Long Strides in Saratoga

2008-08-18T12:03:00.005-04:00

So it looks like the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee is paving the way for a safer world for racing thoroughbreds. Yesterday in Saratoga Springs, prominent members of the thoroughbred world met for a round table discussion about ways to enhance training and racing practices to ensure that horse welfare returns to the forefront of racing industry standards and legislation. At issue

Smokin' Chimneys

2008-08-15T09:20:00.040-04:00

My ideal life, as I see it now, will be spent within stone's throwing distance of a big city, tucked away some place on the outskirts where the availability of open land will facilitate my horsey passions. Professionally, this will hopefully lend itself to a career marketing equestrian sports events, products, and players - that is, selling the attributes of prime bloodstock to potential breeders