A TALE OF TWO TESTES. whminer.org. SAVE THE DATE: EQUIDAY IS MARCH 16! More info is available at

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1 The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute January 2013 Stable Sheet In This Issue: Competitive Trail Rides: An Introduction 2 A Tale Continued... Save the Dates: Upcoming Events My Summer at Miner; Everything Equine 2013 Resolving Conflict in the Horse Industry NYSHC Membership Renewal for Featured Miner Morgan: Aljaks Seeing Double 8 SAVE THE DATE: EQUIDAY IS MARCH 16! More info is available at whminer.org A TALE OF TWO TESTES While castrating a stallion is a commonly performed procedure, it is still a surgery that requires planning and careful attention to aftercare to ensure the best outcome. Once upon a time, riders of the highest importance rode stallions and the commoners rode geldings, but that was also in a time that the upper crust riders didn t have to manage their own horses! Since we don t ride our horses into battle very often any more, castration of stallions makes much more sense for modern horse ownership. There are a few main reasons to castrate a stallion. Testicles are the source of sperm production as well as the hormone testosterone, which is responsible for inspiring masculine behaviors such as seeking out mares to breed, fending off other male horses, and being watchful of the herd. Castration is the removal of the testicles so as to reduce or eliminate those behaviors and prevent reproduction. All of the behaviors, while hormone driven, can also be learned by a mature stallion; turning a mature stallion into a gelding does not guarantee that the behavior will disappear. Miner recently took the donation of a stallion that had been here on a breeding lease. GCM Vernon Hall Vern live-covered a mare when he was a 2- or 3-year-old and then was hanging out in his owner s backyard for 15 years or so just being a horse with a little pony gelding barn-mate. The owner was having knee replacement surgery and sought us out as a place for the horse while he recovered. We trained Vern to our phantom mount, used him as a tease stallion, and bred a couple of mares with collected semen. He was a very pleasant stallion, but when the owner offered to donate him, I felt he d make an even better gelding, which is why I describe him as being a stallion in the past tense. Generally, it is best to castrate a stallion when they are young. Since the testes aren t fully mature, the surgery isn t as major and hopefully the behaviors that testosterone inspires haven t been ingrained. With Vern, a 21-year-old, we consulted with the vet and thought carefully through the pros and cons of gelding such a mature stallion. While Vern has been used to tease mares and has been collected, his libido was pretty mild and easily managed. He s always lived in the main barn with plenty of visual access to the other horses mares, geldings, and other stallions, and handled that situation with ease. The main problem in handling Vern has more often been his distractibility; anyone who has led him around the farm can attest to getting bumped into and toes stepped on as Vern s attention strayed constantly from where he was going! My hopes for him behaviorally are that at the very least, he ll become easier to train to ride (better late See VERN, Page 3 The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January

2 At Miner Institute, we strive to train our horses in a style of riding that will showcase their natural abilities. When I was a summer student in 2011, Karen Lassell made an offhand comment ment that HD Spitfire Jo had amazing competitive trail horse potential. Jo s energy level chooses trot as her favorite gait, but she also has a nice, ground covering walk. Her overall conformation is solid and should hold up to many miles on a trail. I kept these comments in mind when I returned in September 2012 as the year-long intern, and after taking Jo on a trail ride, I knew being a competitive trail horse was what this horse was meant tto do; we re a match made in heaven- we re both small, energetic, and redheads! I have never done any competitive trail riding and want to learn more about the sport. The more I researched, the more I fell in love with the idea of doing a ride with Jo in the spring. What is Competitive Trail Riding? A competitive trail ride is a judged ride between 15 and 120 miles long, with most rides covering a distance of 15 to 50 miles, over the span of one or more days. The ride must be completed within a certain time frame and penalties will be given to horses that arrive too early or too late. Horses are thoroughly examined before and after the ride by judges and veterinarians and the winner is determined by the horse that displays the highest degree of fitness in each division. Various measurements such as how quickly the horse s heart and respiration rate recovers to normal levels after working, metabolic markers, injuries or soreness sustained during the ride, and willingness of horse are all included in the evaluation. Simply put, the horse that completes the ride in the correct amount of time and with the least strain will win. There are typically divisions based on rider s weight, age of rider, age of horse, etc. COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDES: AN INTRODUCTION Training for your first Competitive Trail Ride (CTR) Most horses can be trained to be a competitive trail horse as long as they are of sound conformation and are at least four years of age to compete as a novice horse and at least five years of age to compete in open divisions. No special equipment is needed, but a comfortable saddle for both you and your horse is strongly recommended, as you will spend a lot of time in it. It is important to note that no protective or supportive leg gear is allowed in competitive trail riding. Because your horse will be looked over by veterinarians and judges at the CTR, you will want to make sure your horse is accustomed to being touched all over, having its temperature taken, as well as being able to trot on the end of a loose lead line politely. You should become familiar with all aspects of your horse from heart rate to the little scratch they got last week rolling in the pasture. Begin training at least six to eight weeks in advance of the ride date to allow your horse to build adequate fitness for a shorter distance ride. There are many different training schedules available online that offer specific week-by-week instructions on how long to ride your horse and at what pace. Most involve riding five discontinuous days a week, starting with walking for 5-6 miles a day and building up to trotting most of the ride by the end of the training program. Be sure to change posting diagonals regularly to be even on both sides. Training plans also involve at least one day of an extended ride (10+ miles) in an allotted amount of time followed by a day of rest. It is important to train over various footing and over varying terrain. Schooling in the ring is also useful to have your horse be responsive to your aids and well-balanced left to right so as to achieve a high horsemanship score. I recommend turn-out for your horse for both the mental ability to handle being outside for extended periods of time as well as for the muscular skeletal strength of your horse. Turn-out is a great thing! Training: There s an app for that! A useful tool when training for your ride is some sort of GPS trail mapping device. I downloaded an app for my iphone called EquiTracks ($2.99 in the App Store) which works off GPS and allows me to track my trail rides. I have options to track rides for different horses, it records the average speed for my ride, the top speed for my ride, distance traveled, and how long I rode for. I can pull up a map of the trail I rode, input the weather conditions, and details about my ride. You can set training programs that will time when you should walk, trot, or canter. My one complaint about the app is that it does not alert you when you should be walking, trotting, or cantering- you have to look at the screen on the phone. However, I feel this app will be instrumental in my training and is well worth the three dollars. So far, it seems to work in the middle of nowhere as long as I have a relatively unobstructed view of the sky. See TRAIL RIDE, Page 3 The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January

3 VERN, Continued From Page 1 than never) and at most he ll be able to enjoy turnout with other horses. Since the goal at Miner is to produce saleable horses to support the program, my goal of training Vern to ride and putting him on the sales list will hopefully be made easier all-around with him as a gelding versus as a stallion. So far, eight weeks later, Vern s stallion-like behaviors are waning and it seems that he s better able to focus on his handler. On the negative side, we knew that this was to be a major surgery for a very mature stallion. The testes were large and the cord that attached them to the body was substantial. In young males, simply using the emasculators to crush the cord to stop the bleeding and remove the testicle is generally enough to do the trick. The risk of complications was much higher for such a mature, otherwise healthy horse, so we opted to bring him to a clinic where they could do the most thorough job possible and not only crush the spermatic cord, but also ligate, or stitch, the major blood vessels that travel through it to minimize the risk of hemorrhage post-op. The vets determined that the risk of eventration a life-threatening condition where abdominal contents such as intestines or fatty tissue squeak through the inguinal canal was minimal. Vern did wake up hard from anesthesia which likely made the swelling worse. It was a painful surgery to recover from, so I am glad that he was able to remain at the clinic for a few days post-surgery where they were able to carefully monitor him and provide him with as much relief as possible. I ll admit that the unhappy look he gave me when we picked him up made me second guess the decision to castrate him; it was hard to see him so uncomfortable, particularly knowing that it was a voluntary surgery. They chose to leave the incision sites open, standard procedure for this operation, to allow for drainage and to encourage healing from the inside out. He dripped blood for a couple of weeks and required a couple of follow up visits to reopen the site since he was getting some infection despite following the prescription of exercise and cold hosing. We watched (and still do) his temperature, appetite, surgical sites, and overall demeanor carefully. Now, eight weeks later, the site is hopefully in the final healing stages and he s not been on any medicine for a few weeks. Fingers and hooves crossed that we see the light at the end of the tunnel! Watch for Vern updates in future issues of The Stable Sheet and wait to see him as the Featured Miner Morgan. Karen Lassell, lassell@whminer.com TRAIL RIDE, Continued From Page 2 What to expect on CTR day Upon arrival at the event, your horse will be given a thorough examination by a vet noting vital signs (heart rate, respiration rate, etc.), soundness, general demeanor, and any cuts, scrapes, bumps, bruises, etc. that are on the horse. A judge will then evaluate the grooming of the horse and the rider s safety and effectiveness when handling the horse. Riders are assigned start times so as to keep folks spread out on the trail. Along the route, there will be officials who will note how horse and rider handle challenges in the terrain such as crossing a stream or going up a steep hill. Horse and rider may also be asked to perform tasks such as dismounting from the off side or moving the horse sideways to demonstrate the willingness of the horse to the rider s aids. There are check-points, usually just at halfway for the mile CTR s; at this time riders and their pit crew may cool their horses, encourage the horse to drink, administer electrolytes, dismount, and/or remove saddles. After a 10 minute mandatory rest period, vitals are taken. If the horse has recovered well, they are allowed to continue. If not, they are required to wait an additional 10 minutes for a re-check, after which they are disqualified if they have not regained vitals within the target zone. After the finish, there is another vitals check shortly after crossing followed by a thorough evaluation by the vet and judge again. The winner is determined by the horse that has completed the CTR in the allotted time with the least amount of stress. Conclusions The world of competitive trail riding is a great venture for the longevity of your horse as well as providing a great form of exercise for its human counterpart. Competitive trail riding is a great way to bond with your horse to become an inseparable team. I look forward to beginning my training with HD Spitfire to prepare for the Mud Run at the Green Mountain Horse Association in Woodstock, VT in April. Happy Trails! For more information, you can look at the North American Trail Ride Conference website ( and the Eastern Competitive Trail Riding Association ( for upcoming local rides. Kim Farnum Equine Intern The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January

4 25TH ANNUAL EQUINE REPRODUCTION WORKSHOP - APRIL 12-13, 2013 The UVM Morgan Horse Farm, in conjunction with Miner Institute, Addison County (VT) Veterinarians and the University of Vermont s Equine Studies Program will conduct their 25th Annual Equine Reproduction Workshop April 12 and 13. Friday afternoon and evening, there will be lectures and dinner at the Middlebury Inn, in Middlebury, VT. Saturday morning there will be lectures and lunch at the Inn and in the afternoon, the hands-on practical portion of the workshop will be conducted at the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm in nearby Weybridge, VT. This comprehensive educational experience is a great opportunity to gain insight into the process of modern equine breeding. The Veterinarian practitioners are skilled veterinary practitioners in equine reproduction and physiology. They will discuss managing the uses of lights, hormones, and ultrasound in your breeding program, anatomy and physiology of the mare and stallion, embryo transfer, artificial insemination and foaling/neonatal care. Other topics discussed may include Parasites, Equine Herpes Virus (EHV), and Colic. The topics covered by Dr. Josie Davis of the University of Vermont s Equine Studies Program and Katie Ballard, Director of Research and Equine Program Coordinator at Miner Institute, will include updates on materials, techniques and procedures for collecting, processing and transporting fresh-cooled and frozen stallion semen. The staff of the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, Miner Institute and the Veterinarians will guide workshop participants through hands-on participation and demonstrations of ultrasound, teasing procedures, semen collection and processing, artificial insemination and frozen semen handling. The important step of training the inexperienced stallion to the breeding phantom is also demonstrated. The registration fee of $250 includes workshop materials and meals. Door prizes are awarded throughout the workshop. Space is limited to 25 participants. Call the UVM Morgan Horse Farm at (802) , or uvm.morgans@uvm.edu for more information. SAVE THESE DATES FOR UPCOMING EVENTS Equine Night at Ward Lumber Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 6:30-9 p.m. at Ward Lumber, 697 Glen Rd., Jay, NY. Featured Speaker is Dr. Stephen Duren, Performance Horse Nutrition. Register for free at wardlumber.com or call Kim at , ext EquiDay at Miner Institute Saturday, March 16 Keynote speaker is Dr. Brian Nielsen, an equine exercise physiologist from Michigan State University. He will discuss getting your horse fit for show season and how to feed and exercise young horses. There will be other speakers, door prizes, and lunch will be available for sale. EquiDay is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. Check whminer.org for more info soon. Kentucky Derby Horse Barn Party at Miner Institute Saturday, May 4 Come enjoy the greatest two minutes in sports as we celebrate the grand unveiling of the renovated stalls in the horse barn. The Kentucky Derby will be shown on a big screen in the classroom, but come early for refreshments, to tour the barn and museums, and meet some very distant cousins of the race contenders, the Miner Morgans! Horsemanship Retreat at Miner Institute Think full immersion in horses! We ll put you up in comfortable accommodations, feed you well, and laugh and learn for three days. Whether you already own a horse or would like to try on the idea of being owned by a horse, mark your calendars for June and get in touch with Karen for more information. Registration is limited to ensure the best possible experience. You can read reviews of 2012 s program in the fall 2012 issue of The Stable Sheet to know what you missed last year and to get you excited for this year! The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January

5 MY SUMMER AT MINER: KIRSTEN HOLT As an Auburn University regional extension agent for 4H Youth and Development, Kirsten Holt has a captive audience to promote Miner Institute s summer experience programs. Kirsten is a 2003 graduate of the summer experience in equine management program and a steadfast supporter of the program. Her summer at Miner, she says, was the best summer ever. Kirsten grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL. She earned her bachelors and master s degrees from the department of animal and dairy sciences at Mississippi State University. Before she arrived in Chazy and started working with the Miner Morgans, Kirsten said she had primarily been around Quarter horses and gaited breeds. Working with a different breed was a great experience, she said. I felt like I took a lot away from it. The hands-on nature of the program was one of the most beneficial aspects, Kirsten said. She had not really been involved with breeding before coming to the Institute. That was a whole new ball of wax for me, she said. Carriage driving, also something she had no previous experience in, was an ultimate high. With the exception of the black flies in July, Kirsten said of her summer at Miner, I don t have a negative memory. I don t. She said that the black flies were only out for a couple weeks. Kirsten recalled that the summer was filled with hard work, new friendships, as well as fun. There were some extras, or icings on the cake like a therapeutic riding clinic, attending a Champlain Valley Morgan Horse Association meeting, and visiting Katie Ballard s (Director of Research at Miner) family dairy farm in Georgia, VT. She was also able to experience some other aspects of Miner, such as spending a day learning about dairy herd health, collecting blood samples, and spreading manure. The summer experience was a full experience, she said. You guys are doing a wonderful thing, Kirsten said of the continued success of the more than 25-year-old program. Karen Lassell and Katie Ballard had a teaching style that incorporated such fun and a love of what they do, she said. It was infectious. One of Kirsten s 4H students is in her freshman year at Auburn University studying equine science. Kirsten said she s been talking up the summer experience program at Miner and hopes this student applies in a couple years. She added that she often asks herself, How can I find a way to go back up there? She truly enjoyed Chazy, Miner Institute, and particularly, the horses and all she learned spending a summer with them. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Rachel Dutil dutil@whminer.com The application deadline for the 2013 Summer Experience in Equine Management Program is Feb. 15. Contact Karen Lassell at lassell@whminer.com or , ext. 120 for more information. Everything Equine A Decade of Equine Education April 27-28, 2013 Everything Equine is celebrating A Decade of Equine Education this year. Established in 2004 this Vermont equine show has educated equestrians of all levels on the latest innovations in the horse industry. Over the past 10 years we have celebrated the many aspects of the equine world from eventing, dressage, western, training, breeds, family involvement and so much more. A highlight for those interested in shopping for their equine friends, are over 100 commercial and informational booths at the show. From a new hoof pick to a new horse trailer, horsemen can find most anything they may need for horse and rider. For more information, contact Susan Petrie at (802) , ext. 26 or spetrie@cvexpo.org. CONGRATULATIONS NEW MINER MORGAN OWNERS! HD Brookdale (Tedwin Titlist x HD Massena) was purchased in October by Gerry and Candace Youngman of Manchester, NH. Gerry is a first-time horse owner, but long-time rider having grown up riding hunters. They met Ducky while on an architectural tour of Miner over the summer and just seemed to click. After several testrides in the arena and on the trail as well as an introduction to carriage driving, Ducky passed her pre-purchase exam with flying colors and moved to NH. The American Morgan Horse Association says it best with the slogan, A Morgan: the horse that chooses you! The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January

6 RESOLVING CONFLICT IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY: A MODEL CONVERSATION Dr Bill Day, Morrisville State College Equine Institute For Millennia, people and horses have advanced together in society as working cohorts. During the last century, abrupt changes to the human-horse relationship has caused confusion among many regarding horses and the horse industry. Equine Professionals often struggle to apply their trade with horses, students, boarders and clients while keeping harmony in today s shifting social environment. While nearly all service and production industries have well defined, practiced means of anticipating and resolving consumer issues; the horse industry does not. As an industry that relies heavily on consumer confidence; a shared approach for professionals to address industry concerns is needed. The following is a brief list of fundamental viewpoints aimed at providing a backdrop for explaining some important standards and practices observed by many horse professionals and well-disciplined enthusiasts. When working with horses, safety for everyone concerned is paramount. Reasonable and affordable precautions by experienced personnel should always be observed to protect both horses and people. However, virtually all activities with horses hold an inherent risk of accidental injury or death to horses or persons. Human welfare and safety takes priority for any given situation with horses. Experienced people never start out that way. The learning curve We can t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. Albert Einstein is steep and for beginners, Horse Sense is initiated in the face of a deep sense of foreboding that can interfere with their ability to gain confidence. For this reason, less experienced horsemen always need qualified supervision. Unannounced visitors are not welcome where horses are housed at most professionally operated facilities. Even if there is no sign, a No Unauthorized Personnel designation for stables and turnouts is assumed. Attitudes vary as experienced horse people guard the safety of horses, personnel and the visitors themselves from harm. So typically, unaccompanied visitors can be given anything from the bum s rush to encountering impolite resistance as they approach or pet horses. Applying human behavior as a basis for explaining animal behavior is commonplace; particularly by people having limited background with horses. This mindset is not detrimental in entertainment or in professionally staged therapeutic/recreational activities. However, exclusive use of real-world, science based principles is crucial for proper training, handling, daily management and veterinary care of horses. The horse industry is a global, competitive, diverse and interdependent part of animal agriculture. It provides horses, presumably safe and healthy horses, for people to use and enjoy in a wide variety of ways. The spirit of competition, the continuous drive for a personal best performance and enthusiasm for horses carry emotions that draw people to horses in ways that draws horses into homes. These emotions can sometimes bring out poor behavior in people. But when channeled in a positive way, they often drive people to improve their standards through good horsemanship and related education. When performing at its best, the horse industry provides groups and individuals great opportunities to connect with horses. Many of these opportunities require a great deal of advance training, resources and preparation to be successful. Diversity in the horse industry occurs at many levels. Because of the variety of backgrounds and perspectives; miscommunication, misunderstanding and confusion are commonplace among and between enthusiasts, trainers, breeders and prospective horse owners. Horses are commonly sold privately. Therefore, virtually any place a horse can be presented can accurately be described as a MARKETPLACE. Marketplaces for horses vary widely as they most often relate directly to the type of horse and their use. They include racetracks, organized horse events, shows, auctions, private stables, the internet and casual trail rides. The eligibility for horses to participate in one or many markets is dependent on several factors including, age, temperament, level of training and fitness. The optimum value of any horse relates directly to its ability to compete and be successful within a targeted market. Normal unpredictability of trait inheritance, disease, accidental injury, economy, social dynamic and the climate affect horses marketability. Commerce in horses therefore is very complex and hard to control. Professional horse care can be performed by professionals and enthusiasts alike. The level of care needed to aptly produce, select, train and promote horses worthy of consumer confidence is called the INDUSTRY STANDARD. This standard of care varies with horses purpose, discipline and level of competition. Inheritance of desired genetic traits is improved by careful selection, but nature offers no guarantee. This is among many reasons that horses fail to achieve eligibility to for an intended purpose, discipline or market. See CONFLICT, Page 7 The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January

7 RENEW YOUR NYSHC MEMBERSHIP FOR 2013 We are New York s equine volunteer umbrella organization devoted to creating a forum in which horsemen of diverse interests can use their horsepower to guarantee a future of horses, horse sports, trail development, land use and horserelated businesses in New York State. Our membership consists of individuals, equine organizations, stables, and businesses and together our voice is well recognized throughout the state in these pursuits. Your continued membership support is extremely important to the success of the NYSHC. These funds are utilized to continue our work in the state on your behalf. Memberships are on a calendar year basis, January 1 to December 31, so join soon to get the full use of your benefits. We continue to offer Equisure $1 million Excess Equine Personal Liability Insurance through Saddle Partners of America. This benefit insurance is included for one adult and all children in a household under 18 years old for a General Member and Family includes two adults and all children under 18. If you have questions about the NYSHC insurance through Equisure/Saddle partners of America contact: Angeline Leto, Angeline@equisure-inc.com Download a membership form at CONFLICT, Continued from Page 6 In contrast to household pets and farm animals, horses are typically sold several times during their lifetime. Horses often RETIRE from one discipline to receive training for another. Changes of ownership are commonly associated with repurposing. The horse industry worldwide considers the slaughter market value to represent the base market value for any horse. Neglected, seized and surrendered horses often regain eligibility for certain markets through RESCUE. Some horses that are considered ineligible for all markets including slaughter are sometimes offered SANCTUARY. In spite of public accolades for generous heroic efforts on horses behalf; in virtually all cases, careful considerations to both affordability and outcome are applied. These considerations include the potential value of a horse after a procedure or management option. Responsible use of resources is weighed and balanced with insight for horses and people altogether. Confusion and consequent conflicts between factions of the industry often lead to a lack of confidence in horse professionals and in the industry as a whole. Because of diversity and conflict, the interdependence among stakeholders is frequently ignored and as a result, potential industry growth and development that could arise from cooperative efforts is unrealized. This lack of confidence and cooperation erodes potential for success. From time to time, unbridled confusion and inappropriately managed conflicts within the horse industry widen into controversy. The fear of controversy leads many to submerge or otherwise avoid conflict as it forms. Confusion and the related problems persist if they are not addressed. Careful conveyance of prepared information or the development of well considered reforms are constructive ways to manage conflict. More productive conversations and better aligned priorities can help horse industry professionals and stakeholders improve their ability to manage, enjoy and market horses in harmony with society. This in turn can create more opportunities to anticipate and deal with conflict constructively. Constructive approaches through education and development should be sought over short term fixes involving submergence or avoidance. Learn more about Miner Institute s equine program at whminer.org/equine.html View the Miner Morgan sales list at whminer.org/equine-sales.html The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January

8 The William H. Miner Agriculutural Research Institute 1034 Miner Farm Road P.O. Box 90 Chazy, NY Change Service Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S.POSTAGE PAID Chazy, N.Y Permit No. 8 FEATURED MINER MORGAN: ALJAKS SEEING DOUBLE Aljaks Seeing Double (Aljaks Double Whammy x Rumbrook Envision) Chip is a 12-year-old stallion on lease to Miner Institute from Leatherstocking Morgans in central New York. His winning good looks and sweet temperament have been a best-kept secret in the hills of the Mohawk Valley and we re hoping to get the word out about this cool dude! We have one mare that s due to foal in June, but you don t have to wait until then to come meet him or decide to breed to him. His service is offered as well through the New York State Morgan Horse Society Stallion Service Auction which will make foals eligible to compete as weanlings and 4-year-olds. Like Heart s Delight Morgan Horses on Facebook! OFFICE FAX The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet January