In This Issue: Women In The Horse Industry Youth Equine Day at Tracy Hewlett—Journey to a the Capitol...... 28 PRESS RELEASE Louisiana Dream By Barbara Newtown Calendar of Events...... 6 1st La Bred to Run for Tracy Hewlett has accomplished the Youth Pages...... 40, 59,60 impossible: she runs a boarding stable the the Roses! Vicar’s In that is famous for miles around for Classifieds...... 56 being cheerful, nurturing, friendly, and Trouble Rules Again in … competitive. Holly Hill Farm is one Horsin’ Around...... 66 of the best dressage and eventing barns Kid’s Korral...... 76 Louisiana Derby you can find on the route between Dallas and Birmingham. In the spring and Photo Sellers & fall, usually in the last weeks of April Stallion Alley...... 82 and October, Tracy puts on the Holly Hill Farm Horse Trials, sanctioned by Featured Articles the United States Eventing Association Mary Hopkins...... Cover with divisions from Starter up to Advanced Intermediate. Other weekends are usually filled with dressage shows (Tri-State Dressage Society), hunter-jumper Tracy Hewlett...... Cover shows (North Louisiana Equestrian Association), United States Pony Club training Courtney Bynog...... 7 sessions, dressage and jumping clinics, and Parelli classes. Continued on page 17... Courtney Hernandez...... 8 Mary Hopkins – A Leading Lady The Ladies of Farr Park...... 10 Photo: Hodges Photography/Alexander Barkoff for Equestrians through the Kathy Packman/ By Kathryn Loewer Gwen Swanbom...... 24 Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Vicar’s in Trouble, so impressive Generations! winning the Grade III Lecomte Stakes here by 6 ¾-lengths Mary Hopkins was born in Biloxi, MS in 19___ (it’s Melynda Smith...... 33 Jan. 18 but compromised by an unfavorable outside post in not polite to ask a lady her age…and we think it will be more fun to make you try and figure it out!) She grew up Rosie Napravnik...... 38 the Grade II Risen Star Stakes Feb. 22 when he finished third, right on the gulf in Ocean Springs, MS. She lived with Anna Paul...... 50 returned to his winning ways with 3 ½-length front-running her grandparents during her childhood, as her mother Rita Shaw...... 54 victory in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair died when she was only 9 months old and her father was Grounds Race Course & Slots with Fair Grounds’ soon-to-be an officer in the Army (retiring as a General) serving Susan Morris...... 68 four-time defending jockey champion Rosie Napravnik aboard. overseas. Continued on page 25... Kori Schexnayder...... 75 Continued on page 39...

Subscriptions To Advertise please contact us! www.laequinereport.com Available! 225-622-5747 • Email: [email protected] • P.O. Box 1529 Gonzales, LA 70707 2 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 3 LOUISIANA EQUINE REPORT IS PUBLISHED 6 TIMES PER YEAR DEC/JAN • FEB/MAR • APR/MAY JUN/JUL • AUG/SEP • OCT/NOV

Plus 2 SPECIAL EDITIONS!! OUR TEAM: Administration: COMING ISSUES Tammy Milazzo, CEO/Administrator Mike Milazzo, President Kristi Milazzo, Administrative Assistant Mitch Milazzo, Vice June/July Issue President-Distribution FATHER’S PASS ALONG THEIR PASSION TO Kathryn Loewer, Vice President A NEW GENERATION! Public Relations Deadline: May 15th Publisher/Editor: Jr. Editor: Mike Milazzo Kristi Milazzo THE LOUISIANA HORSEMAN’S DIRECTORY – Coming 2014! Graphics/Layout: Executive Sales Director: Often called, “The Horseman’s Bible” Glove Box Size – Card Covered Book, Suzonne Bernard, SMBgraphics Mike Milazzo Full color, an invaluable reference book of contacts, resources and services for horsemen in our state. The Who’s Who in the industry! Senior Sales Director Contributing Photographer: Kathryn Loewer Emily Peak Louisiana Equine Report Annual Subscriptions Available: 6 Regular Issues PLUS 2 Special Issues Feature Writer: for $38.00 Barbara Newtown FOR RATES AND AVAILABILITY CALL 225-622-5747 OR EMAIL: [email protected] Contributing Writers: Mike Milazzo Kristi Milazzo www.laequinereport.com Kathryn Loewer Heather Loewer Barbara Newtown Daniel Dauphin George Newtown Kathy Packman

Articles appearing herein are not necessarily the views or opinions of this paper. They have been submitted and/or paid by the individuals. All Copyright 2014, reserved by Louisiana Equine Report. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the written, expressed consent of the publisher. Reproduction of editorial content or graphics in any manner or in any medium is prohibited.

The publisher is not responsible for returning unsolicited photos or materials. All articles and advertising are subject to editing. We encourage you to provide us with local news of interest to our readers.

For advertising Contact us: 225-622-5747 Visiton us Email: [email protected]

4 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 DON’T MISS THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE LOUISIANA EQUINE REPORT!! COMING JUNE/JULY 2014 THE HERITAGE OF HORSEMANSHIP – FATHER’S PASS ALONG THEIR PASSION TO A NEW GENERATION!

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY…RACING, RANCHING, RIDING, RODEO AND ROPING! Whether they are Veterinarians, Trainers or just every day cowboys… horses give families a heritage that runs deep. Our June July issue will tell the horsemen’s stories that ensure the next generation is well equipped and fully prepared to continue their success!

GIVE THE PERFECT GIFT FOR MOTHER’S DAY AND FATHER’S DAY! LOUISIANA EQUINE REPORT SUBSCRIPTION! BUY AN AD TO CONGRATULATE SOME ONE SPECIAL! [email protected]

CALL FOR SPECIAL GIFT AD RATES! Send us a picture and caption. We can build a beautiful tribute ad for your mom or dad! Great birthday and graduation wishes too! [email protected] Deadline May 15th!

FATHER’S DAY PHOTO CONTEST!! Submit your pictures of your Father with their horses, or with their kids, or anything you think sums up the HERITAGE OF HORSEMANSHIP! Winners will receive free subscriptions, and other great prizes. Submit to [email protected] or mail them to PO Box 1529 Gonzales, La 70707 Attn: Father’s Day Contest. Deadline: May 15th!

Tell us your story…maybe you or someone you love will make the cover!

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 5 MONTHLY CALENDAR OF EVENTS April 4th Deep South Team Roping North Louisiana Equestrian Association Horse Racing • Evangeline Downs Quarter Florida Parishes Arena Wiggins, MS Club Show Holly Hill Farm Horse Racing • October 2nd – December 19th Finally Friday 4D Barrel Race Amite, LA Info: www.nlea.org Benton, LA Post Time 5:40pm Red Hills Horse Show Lauderdale County Acadiana Barrel Racing Assoc. Agri-Center Meridian, MS April 6th Delta Downs Thoroughbred Racing Open 5 D Barrel Racing Rice Arena Terrebonne Livestock Agricultural Fair October 11th – March 15th Info: 337-288-5374 Crowley, LA CRA Rodeo Far South Buckin Bulls Info: 985- Assoc. Terrebone 4-H Pet Show Post Time 5:45pm 860-5159 Morgan City, LA Info: [email protected] Houma, LA April 4th & 5th New Orleans Fairgrounds Thoroughbred Louisiana Junior High School Rodeo Assoc. April 5th & 6th NBHA LA 03 Racing November 22nd – March 30th Vernon Parish JH Leesville, LA Louisiana Hunter Jumper Association Info: Glenda LeBlanc 337-789-9050 See website for post times: Hunter’s Bluff Info: Lincoln Case 985-893- Rice Arena Crowley, LA www.fairgroundsracecourse.com April 4th – 6th 3412 [email protected] Covington, LA Circle G Classic Quarter Horse Show April 6th & 7th Horse Racing Tunica Arena & Expo Center Info: Cody Fisher Louisiana High School Rodeo Association Young Gunz Production Team Roping Evangeline Downs Racing 901-626-5680 www.fisherhorseshows.com Vernon Parish HS Leesville, LA Louisiana West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA April 9th – August 30th Post Time 5:40pm Tunica, MS Paint Horse Club APH Approved Show SugArena New Iberia, LA April 8th & 9th Delta Downs Quarter Horse Racing Sulphur Rodeo Club Open 4-D Silver Spurs Rodeo Club Open 4D April 25th – July 12th Post Time 5:45pm West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA Florida Parishes Arena West Cal Arena 337-528-9378 Sulphur, LA Bunny Barrel Blast Barrel Race Amite, LA April 1st April 5th Silver Spurs Rodeo Club Open 4-D Sulphur HS Rodeo Club Open 4D 3D Open Team Sorting Series J3 Farms Arena Silver Spur Riders Club West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA West Cal Arena 337-528-9378 | Sulphur, LA Info: Charlie Richardson 504-450-8486 orTra- West Cal Arena 337-528-9378 Sulphur, LA vis Terrebonne 985-637-9325Kentwood, LA Continued on Page 47...

6 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 article sponsored by

Courtney Bynog Knows How to Dream – And How to Work Hard By Barbara Newtown Courtney Bynog owns and runs Triple Lynn Farm, a breeding and sales prep operation for Courtney’s two children took a vacation in Kentucky, driving from farm to farm. “Victoria racing Quarter Horses. Courtney’s land has a long history: her maternal grandparents owned was one year old and Brady was four,” she says. “I could see my dream in front of me. We saw many acres of land on Rigolette Road in Pineville, where Courtney was born and raised. all the beautiful, famous farms in Lexington and Louisville—Calumet, Gainesway. It was She was brought up surrounded by animals--chickens, bunnies, dogs, horses, and cattle— breeding season! A real educational trip. We saw foaling barns, stallion barns…we patted the and loved them all. Her grandfather’s businesses were Baker APS, a leader in pharmacy noses of horses with $600,000 stud fees…we even drove by the house that was in Bluegrass.” automation, and Baker Manufacturing, still going strong, and a leader in state-of-the-art ergonomic office furniture. The old Baker company warehouse on Rigolette is becoming After the trip Courtney’s mother said, “I know it is your dream to have a life with horses. I am the centerpiece of Courtney’s horse operation. “State-of-the-art” also applies to Courtney’s willing to support this dream. But I have a serious question—the answer will make or break plans: beautiful stalls, rubber mats, lots of storage, indoor round pen, and video surveillance things—if we start a horse business, you can’t get attached to every one! Will be able to sell for foaling mares. Courtney is building a lovely home just across the pond from the horse them, to let them go?” Courtney assured her mother that she could make a horse business operation. The house looks over rolling hills, which are fertilized and waiting for the first work. They named the enterprise Triple Lynn Farm, because Courtney, her daughter, and her crop of hay this year. “Everything’s coming together. I’m looking forward to relaxing, getting mother all have “Lynn” as their middle name. my life settled down, enjoying more family time, and working with horses the way I want to.” She did her research. “I decided that mare care, breeding, and sales prep would be the best “Rigolette is pronounced ‘ROH-gully,’” Courtney says. Growing up on “Rohgully Road” choice for me.” She could stay home on the farm with her children. Courtney went to Lake was perfect for a horse-crazy tomboy. She played in the woods and in the creeks and rode Charles for the yearling sale and met Laverne Perry, of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders her first horse, a Welsh pony, up and down the road for miles. “I stood on a bucket to put the Association. “I started picking his brain,” she says. “He saw how interested I was, and he saddle on!” offered me a job at his barn, learning and observing and doing. Then I went to work at Lyle and Carl Guillory’s farms. From there, I went to Louisiana Quarter Horse, where I worked in There was a horse farm down the road that captured Courtney’s imagination. She’d hang the office for a year.” on the fence and daydream about the horses in the pastures. It wasn’t a big place, but she could tell that the owner was serious about horses. One day the owner, an elderly gentleman, Courtney’s grandparents both passed away in 2003, and her mother passed away in 2006. invited Courtney in and showed her all his trophies and plaques from racing Quarter Horses. “We started Triple Lynn in 2000,” says Courtney, “so my mother and my grandparents saw “I became the owner’s friend,” she says. “He was like another grandpa to me. I loved hearing me get started doing what I love. My mom would sit with me when I was doing foal watch. his stories, and I learned a lot about the racing world from him. Years later I bought one of She liked to observe the farm, see how I was doing. She and my grandfather loved to drive or my first racehorses from him!” walk around the pastures. That was a family ritual, driving around looking at the longhorns with my grandfather, in later years driving around with my mom, looking at horses. To this As Courtney grew up, her horse passion continued. She tried everything: playdays, exercise day all I need to do is go out in the pasture, look at the horses, and feel happiness and serenity riding, trail rides, barrel racing, and team penning. She attended the Martha Josey barrel and peace.” racing camp and did some show jumping at a camp in Kentucky. She visited the Kentucky Horse Park, which fired up her imagination so much that she made albums of cut-out horse Continued on Page 31... pictures and did reports on horses for school. She read books and watched movies about horses…a lot. “I saw Bluegrass with Cheryl Ladd a hundred times. I loved it because of the horses, the farms, the trucks and trailers, the races, all the Kentucky scenes.” The more she read and dreamed about Kentucky, the more she became enamored of racing. Pineville wasn’t Kentucky, though—most of the riding horses and racehorses there were Quarter Horses.

Being horse-crazy is a stage almost every little girl passes through. For Courtney, the passion never ended. “My senior year of high school my grandfather bought me my first Quarter Horse. I took her to college with me. (She died last year, at 28) As the years passed, and I became a mom and started working for the family business, I still kept dreaming about horses.” She thought hard about how she could keep horses in her life and turn her love of horses into a successful business.

Courtney and her mother were very close. One year they and

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 7 Courtney Hernandez…Riding in a Man’s World By: Kathryn Loewer As long as there has been horse racing there have been horse loving young ladies from all backgrounds looking greedily at the predominantly male jockeys who have the privilege of guiding their bold mounts around the track.

Today there are still only a handful of these brave women who have dared to break barriers, stereotypes, and convention as they step on the scales and leg up into the irons. One of these fearless females is apprentice jockey Courtney Hernandez. After just 14 starts she has acquired her first career win and trip to the winners circle at Delta Downs on March 14th! Her mount Mission to Collect, trained by Shelton Zenon, was far from the favorite at 9-1 odds. Courtney and her horse held the lead in the stretch by three lengths. It was a hard fought race at the end, as Extreme Heat battled strong. But he didn’t take the win from her hands. The horses finished in a rare dead heat of the $5,000 claiming race. A win is a win.

After the race Courtney was treated just like all first time winning jockeys-- getting soaked with water buckets! “It was a great moment and I will never forget it!” she tells me.

It was appropriate that she took her first win at Delta…that’s where she started her career, galloping and working as a pony rider. Learning to ride is one thing, but learning to ride high powered race horses is completely Courtney is from Lafayette, Louisiana, and she has had the benefit of watching another. It takes a lot of strength, stamina older brothers Brian Jr. and Colby Hernandez. All three are now riding in their and courage. This career is not for the faint father’s hoof prints, 25 year stakes winning veteran jockey Brian Hernandez. of heart of either horse or human, man or Her grandfather had mares and so her dad was brought up around the track… woman. The horses she mounts don’t run when he was 25, he started his career as a jockey. any sweeter because she is a girl, and her fellow jockeys don’t cut her any slack He brought his kids along for the ride, too. Colby and Brian Jr. have already either. She wouldn’t have it any other way. made a name for themselves and their younger sister Courtney is in the hunt to “I am all business when riding…I treat do the same. Her older brother Brian Jr. was the 2004 Eclipse Award-winning people with respect and expect the same apprentice. He is best known for capturing the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) on Fort from them. The riders here are all like family. We of course try to best each other but Larned. Her brother and fellow jock Colby Hernandez scored his 1,000th win on March we look out for each other too.” 8, just a week before Courtney’s trip to the winners circle. Before her win she even once rode in a race against both her dad and Colby. She laughs, “It’s great. We are all very She has had a couple spills…once she had her nose broken by a horse rearing up and competitive and will always want to beat each other but I also know they’ve got my back hitting her in the face, and she’s been pinned in the gate, but so far she’s escaped severe and it’s good to have them with me. As long as one of us gets in the winner’s circle it’s injury. Her brothers and father have had their share of incidents from minor to major. a great race!” She knows it can happen, and probably will as she goes on…but she rides anyway. “I was worried after the gate incident that my confidence might not be the same, I was a little Not surprisingly, Courtney started riding early at age 3 or 4. Her dad and grandpa always nervous but not too bad. You can’t live in the past or let your fears get the best of you or made sure she had something safe to ride. As she grew and progressed, she began you will end up in trouble.” galloping horses for Kerney Seguira and as a young teenager and fell in love with it. She was hooked! She got her first race horse at age 16, but did not want to start riding There is a lot to learn in becoming a jockey. Courtney had to learn to gallop strong, how professionally as a jockey until after high school. During those years, she even opened to strategize your position with your horse, and, of course, how to break out of the gate her own pony business with her palomino pony Cutter. “Pony riders have one of the successfully. She says this was the hardest element for her. She has to be right with her hardest jobs at the track. We jockeys appreciate all their hard work.” She graduated from horse and not get left behind, and keep the horse perfectly straight or risk being jostled or Lafayette High in 2012 where she had geared her studies towards nursing and education. bumped. The race can be over before it starts. After graduation she worked on becoming a jockey full time. While she apprenticed under her dad, she got all her licenses on her own. “I had to work a lot on learning how to break out from the gate. Everyone “breaks” a little differently. I tried suggestions from my brothers and dad, but the best advice I got Besides wanting to finish school, before beginning her career, she was hoping to gain a from my brother was to find my own style and make it work for me. I can’t do it just like little size too. Courtney is maybe a hundred pounds soaking wet. She has a very small them. I have to break the way I am most comfortable.” frame and always has to work on gaining weight. She confessed that she works out to build muscle, but still has to eat about 3800 calories a day…just to maintain her weight. More experience will polish her skills. “Another thing you have to learn how to do is She says while it’s nice to not have to work on being light enough to make weight for a keeping a horse together.” What does that mean? According to Courtney, you don’t want race,…she wants to gain so that she doesn’t have to carry so much dead weight in a race. to let them run away with you, but you also don’t want to get in their way. They call small jockeys like her a bug rider because of her light weight. The least she Continued on page 14... carries is 112lbs; the most is about 120.

8 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 9 Farr Park: A Hidden Jewel By Barbara Newtown The Ladies of Farr Park “BREC Farr Park” is short for East Baton Rouge Parks and says Wood. “The side walkers, for instance, need to hold some include Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, barrel racing, Recreation Farr Park Equestrian Center. Located just east of the of the children; in those cases, we might use smaller horses. We pole bending, reining, Showmanship, and English classes, on the Mississippi River levee and a couple of miles south of Louisiana put the stronger, stouter kids on the larger horses.” flat and over jumps up to 2’ 6”. Outside groups can rentthe State University, Farr Park gives East Baton Rouge Parish an facility; local pony clubs school the cross-country course, and accessible, spacious, and safe environment for discovering the Wood says that the progress the children experience is remarkable. the LSU Equestrian Team puts on a hunter-jumper show and a good that “the outside of a horse does for the inside of a person.” “We have kids that wouldn’t even talk, and after they’ve been collegiate competition. BREC parks, 184 total, cover a wide range of leisure in the with the program they’re talking with the instructors and the side parish, ranging from small playgrounds and dog parks that might walkers.” Kids with cerebral palsy might not be able to hold the Wood says that her “right-hand woman” is Amy Lang, Farr be less than an acre, to the Liberty Lagoon water park, to the reins when they first get on; after a while, they’re holding the Park’s Educational Curator, who is in charge of all programming: Baton Rouge Zoo, to several golf courses, and, finally, to the reins and even helping to steer. “It’s special what horses do for lessons, guided trail rides, clinics. “We have a very good 300-acre expanse of Farr Park. BREC has won national awards kids,” she says. working relationship.” The rest of the park’s staff includes not for the quality of its parks and recreation system. Funding for only instructors and volunteers, but also an equine vet tech, a BREC comes from the taxpayers of East Baton Rouge Parish, “We have a child with Down Syndrome whose mother wants foreman, equipment operators, a guest services coordinator, and, from income from use of the facilities, awarded grants, and him to practice posting the trot, because that exercises his core most important, stable hands. “I tell our boarders that the stable from various governmental agencies, as well as the Federal muscles. And the stronger his core is, the better his penmanship workers are here all the time, in the cold and the rain, mucking government. is!” Even a slow walk can reap benefits. The movement of a out stalls and feeding horses. You have to truly care to do that horse mimics human walking and stretches and strengthens job. We have found it’s much better if new hires have some muscles that disabled children don’t get to use. “Wheelchair- horse experience. They learn the horses quicker, their names Melissa Wood manages the Farr Park Equestrian Center. bound kids are so tight in their muscles that when they first get and their characteristics. But if someone has a great work ethic, “We have forty-three horses and forty boarders. on the saddle their legs are bent as if they’re still in the chair. we can train them to work around horses.” Wood says that she It’s a comfortable number for us. We give riding By the end of a session their legs are hanging down like yours feels blessed; the operation of Farr Park doesn’t have any real lessons Tuesday through Friday in the afternoons. and mine,” says Wood. If autistic children have a tic like hand problems. “Everybody is well behaved!” We maintain about three hundred and fifty lessons a clapping or twitching, by the time they’re halfway around the arena the tic has disappeared. Wood got her first horse when she was 10. “I was a typical month,” she says. kid, begging Daddy to buy me a horse. He was a grade horse, I mention to Wood that a friend of mine with cerebral palsy has nothing fancy. I kept him at a little barn in Baton Rouge. Some been getting Botox injections to reduce tightness and cramping of the ladies who boarded there took me under their wings and in her legs. The reasoning is, if Botox can relax a movie star’s introduced me to horse showing. The first show I rode in, I did forehead, why not try Botox for something more important? But a Western Pleasure class, and got fourth place, a little trophy! relaxation through riding cures much more than a cramp. The I’ll never forget it. I started riding with different trainers, children are learning how to balance, how to strengthen those and showed in 4-H and Quarter Horse shows. I did Pleasure, relaxed muscles, how to interact with instructors and helpers, Horsemanship, and then had to dive into barrel racing and pole and how to communicate with a species that is intuitive and bending. I showed with the Junior Quarter Horse Association. honest. “This program is close to my heart,” says Wood. Go My first registered Quarter Horse was a little buckskin mare to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1TsJRa0oaU for a video that went back to Three Bars. Her registered name was Topsy’s about “Hearts and Hooves.” Three Bars, and I called her Topsy. In high school I showed Lady’s Fancy Clancy in Pleasure and Showmanship.” If you watch the video, you will also get a peek at some of the wonderful facilities at Farr Park. The place is a horse paradise, Wood married at 20, quit showing, and became a stay-at-home with green grass, white fences, and signage that lets cars know mother of two boys. Seven years ago she heard that Farr Park was that horses rule. There is stabling for 256 horses. The indoor looking for a day camp director. That job was Wood’s foot in the arena is 244’ x 121’, large enough for a hunter-jumper course or door, the gateway to a full-time commitment. “I am passionate for setting up a full-size dressage arena. At one end are chutes about this place,” says Wood. Her husband and older son work for broncos and bulls. There is plenty of seating for spectators. in the family business, warehousing and trucking. Her younger The facility provides the electronic gear needed for timing speed son attends high school in Zachary, north of Baton Rouge. Two events like barrel racing and pole bending. A 108-site RV park horses live at their 2-acre place in Zachary, and they have access with full hookups allows horse show people to treat a visit to Farr to 34 more acres. The family also owns 66 acres in Centreville, as a real vacation…and a real convenience. Wood says, “Farr Mississippi, just over the border, where they raise Braford cattle, On the weekends the staff at Farr Park offer guided trail rides. Park is easy to find, and it’s right in Baton Rouge—just a short a cross between Herefords and Brahmans. Over the years the “The rides are popular, especially when the weather is pretty. way from downtown.” If you want to visit Farr Park, exit I-10 boys have been active in 4-H, showing Braford bulls and heifers, The rides give non-horsey people a chance to enjoy a horse,” at College, head south, turn left on River Road just before you hit and participating in the shooting sports. says Wood. The rides last about an hour, cost $30, and wind the levee, and there you are. through clear and wooded areas and by a pond. The riders get to Wood is showing again: she has discovered Western Dressage. see wildlife in their natural habitat. The park has an outdoor arena, too, but, more important, it has “Good horsemanship is good horsemanship. We had a show those 300 acres to ride on. Experienced riders can get some good at Farr Park that we called ‘The Best of Both Worlds.’” The Wood says, “The trail ride is all at a gentle pace. We supply galloping in. Western trail horses can practice water crossings organizers intermingled the classes, so that the Western and the helmets; every time someone gets on a BREC horse, a helmet is and log crossings. Cross-country fences, solid and inviting, dot English riders could watch each other as the levels progressed. required.” The horses like being in a group and they are well- the terrain. “We’ve got a variety of nice jumps, including a water “I am really proud of myself,” says Wood. “For my first test behaved. Most of the horses at BREC are Quarter Horses; the jump, that eventers like to school. But we don’t hold sanctioned I got first place!” The judge, Leslie Morris, did an excellent program has a few Thoroughbreds, a few Quarter-Thoroughbred events here.” Because Farr Park is right next to the Mississippi, job of explaining the scores. “I lost some points because I was mixes, and a couple of Arabians. The staff knows which horses when the river is high the seepage makes the footing stay wet. pushing my horse too far into the corners and losing the forward are safe for the trail rides, because they observe the mounts in the movement,” she says. “I’m hooked—I want to do more Western weekday lessons. In fact, many of the trail ride horses also serve “We have clinicians come in to teach. We try to have three or four dressage. I’d like to see it take off here.” in the therapeutic riding program, “Hearts and Hooves.” affordable clinics a year.” The facility also has four horse shows a year just for their lesson students. Once a year, during one of Explore all that Farr Park offers—it is a green jewel, hiding in “In ‘Hearts and Hooves’ we fit the horse to the child’s needs,” these shows, the staff hosts an open house. The show’s classes the capitol city! Continued from page 13..

10 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 11 12 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Alea Mounger – Instructor Alea has been a part of the BREC Farr Park family for about five years. Alea teaches both Western and English riding lessons, and was also an instructor for the park’s Horse Lover’s Camp this past summer. Alea focuses on the importance of horseback riding basics in her lessons, and makes sure that each rider Continued from page 10... has successfully and confidently mastered each level Farr Park: A Hidden Jewel By Barbara Newtown before advancing to more difficult riding skills. In her free time, Alea is in the process of training her young The Farr Park Instructors: off-the-track Thoroughbred mare to be a three-day eventing horse. Alea plans to manage her own barn or Amy Lang – Education Curator tack shop one day. Amy is a native of Austin, Texas, and has been riding since the age of five. Her background is mostly in English riding, Mallorie Savage – Instructor but she has recently started learning more Western skills and Mallorie Savage has been riding for 10 years and is an loves the Western discipline. Amy grew up riding and showing experienced barrel racer. She has trained several horses hunter, jumper, and equitation horses, and then competed on and competed in the upper levels of barrel racing. her NCAA equestrian team in college. Her accomplishments Her achievements include AEI points winner 2008, include 3 state championship titles, multiple championship top 5 NBHA in 2009, and NBHA world finalist 2010. titles across the country, and being selected as an All- Mallorie also has experience competing on drill teams American athlete for the equestrian sport. Amy is currently and was a part of the Gerry Lane Drill Team. Mallorie’s the Education Curator at the Farr Park Equestrian Center and teaching style is very hands-on and focuses on the rider’s connection with loves and appreciates the opportunities Farr Park has given the horse. her. Amy is passionate about horseback riding as a sport, and believes that everyone can learn and benefit from a horse experience in some way. Laura Adare – Instructor Laura Adare began taking hunt seat riding lessons Brandy Sharp – Instructor when she was 6 years old at Smoke Run Farm in Bandy has been riding since the age of 12. She began riding Stony Brook, New York. When she was 11 her family hunters and jumpers, and then branched off to Western moved to California where she discovered many riding riding and even Peruvian Paso horses, and is now learning disciplines, including three day eventing, dressage, dressage. She has ridden and shown with many equine equitation, gymkhana, team penning and fox hunting. groups such as LHJA, SLTSA, DSPPHA, and SEDA. She However, her main focus was show jumping. She still continues to take lessons and clinics to further her moved to Louisiana in 1997 and has taught English knowledge of horse breeds and disciplines. lessons at Farr Park on-and-off since 2000. She has one horse, Orion, a Quarter Horse Oldenburg cross.

Camille Chapman – Instructor Camille started riding Western with her dad, Joel Walker, at age two and switched to jumping at ten. She competed Lori Muse – Instructor for the LSU Equestrian Team and served as Vice President. Lori has been around horses her entire life. Lori Camille taught and trained at Appin Equestrian Center in specializes in teaching Western riding to students of all Drem, Scotland, and started horses at Live Oak Arabians. ages and training horses in Western techniques. In the She has shown on the regional and national level and past, Lori has worked at various horse racing farms and currently competes in hunters, equitation, jumpers, dressage, has experience grooming, managing a barn, ponying, and cowboy challenges. Camille is fortunate to have ridden handling newborn foals and yearlings, and training with excellent trainers and enjoys passing knowledge to the young horses. next generation by teaching hunter/jumper & equitation lessons. Lisa DelMastro – Instructor Kendell Richter – Instructor Lisa has ridden and shown horses since she was 9 years Kendell Richter is currently an undergrad at LSU. She has old. She has competed in both English and Western been riding since she was 5 and training horses since she on the national level in AQHA events, and also has was 13. Her specialty is Hunter/Jumper (mostly Jumpers), experience showing hunters and jumpers. Her biggest Eventing, and mounted games, but she has basic knowledge accomplishment was placing in the top ten at the of Western speed events also. She has traveled all over the AQHA congress out of 190 people in Horsemanship. U.S. competing on her three horses. Kendell was a member Lisa specializes in training Western pleasure horses of the USA team for the United States Mounted Games and teaching students in all disciplines. She likes to be Association and traveled to France in the summer of 2013. a jack of all trades and a master of some. Her latest She is an active member of the U.S. Pony Club and has project is breaking her warmblood named Belle for the shown at Nationals with two of her horses in both Mounted jumpers. Games and Show Jumping. She is also an active member of the United Stated Mounted Games Association and the Southern Eventing and Dressage Association. She has been For more information about BREC Farr Park, contact: a riding instructor since 2007 and an Instructor with Farr Park Equestrian Melissa Wood, Facility Manager Center since March of 2011. BREC Farr Park Equestrian Center, 6402 River Road Baton Rouge, LA 70820 Office: (225) 769-7805 | Fax: (225) 766-1065

[email protected]| http://brec.org/farr

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 13 Continued from page 8... workers you will find.” Courtney Hernandez…Riding in a Man’s World “Growing up, I also watched riders like Cory Lanerie and Richard Eramia and, of course, my brothers. I always liked their style of riding. Although I am a woman, I try my best to ride By: Kathryn Loewer as strong as a man.” What is her favorite part of the race? Beginning, “Starting young horses is one of my favorite things to do. I love to see them learn and middle, or run for home? progress.” Courtney and her family help Corale Richards a good bit. “My favorite part of the race is the middle…you What will you do after your racing career? Do you think you will be a trainer? are all out there running together, and you are thinking of your next move.” “I am riding now because I can, before I settle down and have a family one day. When it is time to ‘retire’ I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I studied some nursing in high school so What kind of strategy do you use to plan your who knows? But I will still do something in racing. Maybe my dad might consider training race? when he’s done, if he is ever done, but one thing is sure: we will never leave the track. We will do something in racing.” “I study the horses and learn the riders. Everybody rides a little differently. If you have a good horse Being from and living in Lafayette, Courtney is looking forward to the upcoming meet at it’s easier to make your move.” Evangeline Downs. “It will be so nice to be a little closer to home.” No doubt her family will When the race is over, and she didn’t win, she be regulars for her first Evangeline Downs Meet. Besides the 2 brothers that ride, Courtney thinks about what she could have done differently. has another older sister, and a fraternal twin brother! “He’s taller than me, so he’s too tall to Courtney has a great work ethic. She gallops be a jock. Sometimes people who first meet us assume we are dating or something because horses every morning. “We ride from 6am-10am, he’s my age but much taller. It’s funny, especially when we reveal he is my twin brother!” every day.” While it’s true that Courtney is just beginning her journey as a jockey, it is clear that she Courtney has learned a lot from watching her family and the other people in the industry. “I has all the right equipment to get the job done and do it well. I can almost hear the Derby am a big admirer of Rosie Napravnik. She is a very strong rider.” Female jocks like Rosie announcer: “And here they are, coming off the back stretch….right along the inside, have certainly opened doors and minds to what women can do in the racing saddle. While Hernandez is making her bid…she slips through a hole left by the third horse now fading… the majority of the other equine disciplines are dominated by girls, racing remains a man’s breezing past the second horse hot on the heels of the leader…and now there she goes… world. “When I’m trying to get a mount for a race, or talking with trainers, they might tell Hernandez turning for home…nothing held back, she’s gaining ground, a nose! a neck! …the me they won’t hire me because I’m a woman. That’s ok, I don’t take it personally. It’s leader is holding tough and the pack is bearing close…can she do it? Yes! She’s pulled ahead business. I understand everyone has their preference. I just smile and go on.” Courtney by a length…now two lengths…3…now 4…there is no stopping her now…!” and needless is no nonsense and no excuses. She is happy and willing to earn the respect of her fellow to say the crowd goes WILD!!!! I hope I’m there to see it! jockeys and horsemen the same way they had to. She doesn’t try to gain advantage from her femininity, just as she won’t consider it a disadvantage. She says, “I am one of the hardest

14 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 15 16 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued from cover... us a Morgan-Quarter Horse cross named Toby who was trained to gallop away, spin around, and gallop back. The coach said in Western. I took him to the Mendon Pony Club, south of he’d never seen anyone ride that horse like that—he was tough! Tracy Hewlett—Journey Rochester, and they told me he wasn’t suitable. He was stubborn I said he was right up my alley.” to a Louisiana Dream and had been ridden in a big bit. Pony Club wanted me to ride By Barbara Newtown him in a snaffle, and he just ran right through it. I was a beginner. Tracy discovered that during competitions the underclassmen Mendon was a big club—over two hundred kids, divided up were just slaves for the varsity team. “When we had home Six instructors guide students and horses through the levels from into all the Pony Club groups—D1, D2, and so on, all different games, all we freshmen did was walk hot ponies. Not really what the basics to preparation for national competitions. instructors. It was a multiple ring circus. I was out in a field with I wanted to do!” Tracy did get to scrimmage at Cornell with the my beginner D1 group, and Toby just kept leaving the circle. other riders, though. Her Pony Club training served her well; in The farm, located in Benton, Louisiana, enjoys the added I would be pulling, yanking…it was awful! We sold him and polo you need to ride off your seat and legs, just as in dressage, advantage of Tracy’s husband, Dr. Robert Hewlett, leased an older horse from a Pony Club family. Shadrack. He because you are wielding a mallet. Polo is like “high school” DVM, who specializes in equine care. In the back of dressage in another way: reins are in one hand, the property, on a hill overlooking the cross-country leaving the other hand free for a mallet—or, in course, “Dr. Bobby” boards and breeds Thoroughbred the case of cavalry training, a saber. racing stock. A few miles down the road Dr. Bobby oversees the Benton Animal Hospital, a facility for “I didn’t try out for polo the next year. Instead, small animals. I met a girl in the lunchroom at Cornell who had a really nice hunter. Her parents had let her Holly Hill’s 280 acres support not only the event courses bring it to school; it was boarded right there, and the Thoroughbred operation, but also indoor and and she never rode it! She handed me the key outdoor arenas, three turf dressage arenas, three show to her locker and said, ‘Ride him whenever barns, two boarder barns, a barn for the Hewlett’s you want.’ For the next three years he was my horses, a bed-and-breakfast, and homes for Tracy and stress relief. We rode on all the tons of land Bobby and for her parents. Cornell has. And there were open shows right there in the Cornell covered arena.” Everyone in Tracy’s family enjoys the horsey lifestyle. Dr. Bobby, besides knowing how to treat horses’ ills, also Tracy’s major at Cornell was Animal Science: knows how to navigate a Preliminary level event course. Physiology and Nutrition. After graduation Daughters Heidi and Paige have ridden in national she went to Texas A & M for graduate work Advanced level events, and can break, train, and teach. in Animal Nutrition, but discovered when she Heidi now lives in Texas and is a representative for a got there that the program concentrated on beef surgical-equipment manufacturer. Her husband Kevin cattle. Her first semester she collected rumen is an expert in corrective shoeing. Since he takes care of samples: the cattle in the study had holes in most of the Holly Hill horses’ feet, he and Heidi get to their sides, and Tracy had to put on triple gloves visit several times a month. Daughter-to-be Emma May, and stick her hand into the stomachs to collect Tracy and Bobby’s first grandchild, already has a tiny partially digested feed. The school did have a equestrian wardrobe waiting for her. Heidi’s younger horse nutrition program that was just starting sister Paige lives just down the road from the farm and up, but there were no research assistantships is studying to be a physician’s assistant. When she has available. time to take a break from endless memorizing, she’s at the farm, schooling a boarder’s horse or sneaking a During her first year at A & M, Tracy worked ride on one of Tracy’s. Son Robert, the eldest, also a part-time at a hamburger joint called the Cow veterinarian, practices in Australia, but comes home Hop. One day she got to chatting with a often to work alongside his dad. Tracy’s mother Connie customer and described how she didn’t enjoy is in charge of hospitality—making sure judges and what she was doing and how there was no officials are well-fed, comfortable, and driven to and money available to do what she really wanted from the Shreveport airport. Tracy’s father Steve paints to do. The customer remarked that there was an jumps, updates signage, makes repairs, and keeps an eye opening in the graduate program in toxicology. on the Bradford House, a charming bed-and-breakfast Tracy was immediately interested, because on the farm property. she had loved biochemistry and physiology at Cornell. The position turned out to be in the Tracy’s journey to her Louisiana dream farm started in veterinary diagnostic lab, with the freedom to upstate New York. choose what sort of research to pursue. Tracy was able to transfer without re-applying. “I grew up in Rochester,” says Tracy. “My parents remember when I discovered horses. The circus came The summer after her first year Tracy was to town, and my dad found where they kept the animals. living in a house owned by the A & M “Ag” The circus people put me up on a little black pony, and I was was fantastic. I did everything on him, fox hunting, several Pony fraternity. She was still waitressing and hated it. Friends living absolutely obsessed with horses from then on.” As soon as she Club ratings. After a year with Shadrack, I was fourteen, and my upstairs at the house encouraged her to apply for a construction could talk, every birthday, Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day next horse was Fantastic Story, an off-the-track Thoroughbred job they were working on: adding seating to the A & M stadium. Tracy would beg for a horse. “They made a nice attempt. My from a hunter-jumper barn. He had only a little bit of training. “There aren’t any women working construction,” they said, dad would meet people at work who had horses. He would take We were taking a chance, but it turned out well. He had a lot of “and there should be!” Tracy was a trailblazer: the only woman me to visit their horses—usually rotten, nasty ponies! They talent. I took him from D2 through Preliminary eventing, and among two hundred workers. “I was on the concrete crew,” would rub me off on trees, but I didn’t care. My mother had a even to the national U. S. Pony Club games rally. We sold him says Tracy. “But the boss babied me. I only ran the tamper college friend who had some nice horses. I used to dream about just before I went to college.” once. He said, “Oh, if you get that concrete on your skin, it will them. Finally, when I was twelve or thirteen, I did a couple of burn!’ So he gave me a big magnet and I went around picking summer camps at a stable, and really got into it. At the second Tracy attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She up clipped-off pieces of rebar. I cleaned up old concrete, cleaned one, I was the grand champion of the whole show, and the trainer didn’t compete on the college equestrian team, but she did offices. The job was ten hours a day, seven days a week. It was said, ‘She really could be good at this.’ My parents sighed and make the polo team her freshman year, which was quite an exhausting, but I made a ton of money.” The experience was said OK. accomplishment. “Literally hundreds of English riders showed invaluable: Tracy learned how to get a job done and how to hold up to try out. I made the team because they gave me a hot, red- her own in a masculine world. Continued on page 22... “The first horse we bought was a disaster. A horse trader sold headed Thoroughbred, just like Fantastic Story. I was supposed

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 17 18 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Florida Parishes 2013 Event Schedule

April 10TH SATURDAY 23RD - 25TH MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 20TH SUNDAY 4TH FRIDAY NBHA LA06 BARREL RACE SOUTHEAST DISTRICT 4H HORSE SHOW SOUTHERN HORSEMAN ORGANIZATION FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE 18TH SUNDAY 27TH FRIDAY AUGUST 5TH - 6TH SATURDAY - SUNDAY SOUTHERN HORSEMAN ORGANIZATION FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE 1ST FRIDAY BUNNY BARREL BLAST BARREL RACE FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE 24TH SATURDAY 28TH SATURDAY 12TH SATURDAY SOUTHERN HEAT TEAM ROPING NBHA LA06 BARREL RACE 2ND SATURDAY SOUTHERN HEAT TEAM ROPING RUN FOR THE PEARL BARREL RACE 30TH FRIDAY 29TH SUNDAY 8TH FRIDAY 13TH SUNDAY FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE SOUTHERN HORSEMAN ORGANIZATION FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE SOUTHERN HORSEMAN ORGANIZATION 31ST SATURDAY JULY 9TH SATURDAY 16TH WEDNESDAY NBHA LA06 BARREL RACE 4TH - 6TH FRIDAY - SUNDAY NBHA LA06 BARREL RACE 4H ACHIEVEMENT DAY DEEP SOUTH TEAM ROPING ASSOCIATION JUNE 10TH SUNDAY 17TH THURSDAY 7TH SATURDAY 12TH SATURDAY SOUTHERN HORSEMAN ORGANIZATION AG WONDERS SOUTHERN HEAT TEAM ROPING SOUTHERN HEAT TEAM ROPING 16TH SATURDAY 26TH SATURDAY 13TH FRIDAY 18TH FRIDAY DEEP SOUTH TEAM ROPING ASSOCIATION RELAY FOR LIFE FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE 17TH SATURDAY MAY 14TH SATURDAY 19TH SATURDAY THE HURRICANE ALL BREED FURTURITY 9TH FRIDAY NBHA LA06 BARREL RACE RELAY FOR LIFE BARREL RACING FINALLY FRIDAY 4D BARREL RACE 30TH SATURDAY 20TH - 21ST FRIDAY - SATURDAY SOUTHERN HEAT TEAM ROPING TPSO RODEO

when the horse is half finished. MURPHY’S LAWS Clipper motors will quit only when you FOR HORSE have the horse’s head left to trim. OWNERS If you’re wondering if you left the If you do a thorough check of your water on in the barn, you did. If trailer before hauling, your truck will you’re wondering if you latched the break down. pasture gate, you didn’t.

There is no such thing as a sterile If you approach within 50 feet of the barn cat. barn in your “street clothes,” you will get dirty. No one ever notices how you ride until Horse you fall off. Wind velocity increases in direct proportion to how well your hat fits. Laughs A horse’s misbehavior will be in direct If you fall off, you will land on the proportion to the number of people site of your most recent injury. All I Need to Know who are watching. in Life I Learned The least useful horse in your barn Tack you hate never wears out; eats the most, requires corrective From My Horse blankets you hate cannot be shoeing every three weeks and destroyed; horses you hate cannot be requires the services of the vet a sold and will outlive you. minimum of once a month.

Clipper blades will become dull only

April / May 2014• Louisiana Equine Report 19 20 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Page Sponsored by:

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 21 Continued from Page 17.. A few months after Paige was born the toxicology lab called once again. Tracy lined up babysitters, Tracy Hewlett—Journey house cleaners, and cooks. The night before she was supposed to start work Bobby had a meltdown. to a Louisiana Dream “What are we doing?” he said. “Who’s going to take care of this family, the kids, the farm? And By Barbara Newtown who’s going to take care of me?”

Also living in the Ag house was a newly-graduated veterinarian named Alan. Tracy and Alan, Tracy said, “If you don’t think I should go to work tomorrow, I won’t. I think we can make a good friends united by a love of horses, went out to dinner one time with Alan’s best friend, Bobby business here, with a boarding stable. But you have to call my boss tomorrow morning!” Hewlett, and Tracy and Bobby hit it off…and within two weeks Bobby asked Tracy to marry him. “Alan was pretty shocked,” says Tracy. Then Holly Hill Farm took off. The business went from four stalls to eight to twelve…and now there are over fifty boarders and seventy stalls for shows. (Bobby’s Thoroughbred breeding When Tracy was in her last year of graduate school, Bobby got an offer to work at a large broodmare business is separate.) “We’re maxed out now,” says Tracy. “If I get any more horses, the pastures farm in Benton, Louisiana. When Tracy finally got up to Benton, after finishing her course work will get overgrazed and the barn workers will start complaining!” She always has a waiting list. and defending her master’s thesis, she was pregnant with son Robert. Not long after Robert “It helps that I am a rider, too,” she says. “I know what’s going on, how the footing is, how the was born, a friend of Tracy’s said, “They’re having a toxicology seminar at the Louisiana State business is going from the boarders’ perspective. I boarded my horses when I was growing up, and University Medical School in Shreveport. You should go!” The topic was methanol and ethylene I noticed that you can tell if the owners aren’t riders. I also try to keep everybody getting along, glycol poisoning—which happened to be Tracy’s area of expertise. She stood up at the meeting, keep the fires from starting.” in front of almost the entire LSU med school faculty, and mentioned that she had researched new methods of diagnosis and treatment. At the conclusion of the meeting, one of the professors ran up Holly Hill is now the home of the Gator Bayou Pony Club, which Tracy started when Heidi was to her and said, “Who are you and do you want a job?” two. “It’s so cool to see it carry on. I’ve been treasurer now for thirteen years. It’s a great group of kids and parents. They just put on a hunter-jumper show, and everything went so smoothly.” Tracy was hesitant—she had a new baby, after all. But he offered her a part-time position with The Gator Bayou Pony Club and resident instructor Regis Webb produce excellent riders: Julie flexible hours, and the freedom to do her own research and put her own name on the scholarly Norman, Kelsey Regan, and Sydney Conley Elliott all teach at the farm now, and compete at the papers. This job highest levels of eventing. “A big crowd is going up to Lexington, Kentucky, next month to watch lasted until Tracy Julie ride in the Rolex Four-Star Three-Day Event,” says Tracy. “Rolex” is the toughest and the became pregnant most important three-day event in the Western Hemisphere. Julie will be competing against the with Heidi. She best of the best, including some of the best riders from Europe. had to quit, because the chemicals in “The main reason we bought this farm was my love of horses,” says Tracy. “But the demands of a toxicology lab running a boarding barn and organizing big competitions can get in the way. I also learned early can be teratogenic: on that showing wasn’t feasible when my girls were showing. I rode along with them from the harmful to a ground, every jump and every dressage movement!” Now that Heidi and Paige are starting their developing fetus. adult lives, Tracy can finally concentrate on herself. She has enough time to ride two horses a day. When Heidi was four months old, Topaz, also known as One Step Closer, is her event horse. They took first place this March in the the lab called and Novice division at the Meadow Creek Horse Trials. Topaz also competes at Second Level dressage. offered her another “Betsy Gosling kept telling me about this awesome German Riding Pony,” says Tracy. “His owner job: researching all wasn’t riding him and was getting tired of paying all the bills. So I’m leasing Klaus. He’s an upper- the potential poisons level, Prix St. George dressage pony. He’s tiny—probably 13.2, but he has big movement. I’m that IBM employees always surprised when I jump off him and the ground is right there! Flying lead changes are his could come in favorite thing—he can change every two strides.” contact with. “They wanted a PhD toxicologist, but none had applied. So they offered me the position. I had to debate Tracy has goals for the coming year. “With Topaz, I’ll keep doing Novice until it gets boring,” she with myself…they offered so much money that I could hire a babysitter… I worked full time for says. “We may move up to Training this year. I want to show Third Level dressage with Klaus, and two years. Then I became pregnant with Paige, and had to quit again.” maybe with Topaz, too. I have bought a trailer with living quarters. Heidi will be riding again by summer. There’s just enough room on the floor for Emma May’s playpen. Heidi and Emma and I Tracy, Bobby, Robert, and Heidi were living in a Benton subdivision at that time, not yet on the will be going off to shows together!” Holly Hill property. Robert wasn’t sure about moving to a farm, because he enjoyed the suburban life: hanging around with friends on the block, riding a bike on asphalt. The family moved the day Tracy reflects on what Holly Hill means to her. “I feel that this is a little piece of God’s creation,” Paige was born. Robert came to appreciate rural life; he realized that all of his friends wanted to she says. “I feel that I need to take care of it and share it.” come visit him and fish in the pond, explore the woods, make a paintball course. “Paige hung out We friends of Holly Hill are so fortunate to enjoy the fruits of Tracy’s dream. at the barn in her stroller and play pen, and Heidi was already old enough to enjoy horses. It is a great life, with animals, hunting, fishing, exploring…a great way to raise kids.” After a while Tracy invited a few friends to board at the farm.

22 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 23 article sponsored by:

Three Generations Carry on Covenant Farm Passion By Kathy Packman I firmly believe that a true passion for horses is an inborn several more horses, and she had begun giving riding lessons trait—a gift from God that is instilled in our genetic makeup to some of our friends’ children. In college, she soon became from conception. In our family, that trait has been passed down good friends with several young women who were in the equine through three generations, and has turned a family farm into a science program with her at Louisiana Tech University. By the thriving horse business. end of her freshman year in 2001, a few of her friends asked if they could board their horses I cannot remember a time with us, and Covenant when I didn’t love horses. Farm was born. Within a As a small child living in few months, more boarders rural West Virginia, I can came, and Gwen had so remember watching out many riding students that she of the car window hoping had to recruit me to help work with the beginners. for a glimpse of a horse in a pasture as we drove down the highway, and by the age of five, I was stashing away every By the time she had graduated from college in 2004, Gwen had penny into a piggybank to save up for the day when I could expanded her passion for riding to the discipline of dressage, buy my own pony. Later, after moving to the suburbs of and after participating in several clinics, began riding under Indianapolis, I was able to begin riding lessons at a local FEI trainer Dave Thind. Realizing her talent, Dave encouraged hunter/jumper stable, and in another few years, I finally was her to apply to Westfalen Riding School in Muenster, Germany. able to realize the dream of owning my first horse. At Westfalen, Gwen rode and studied under former German Olympic team coach, Martin Plewa, and successfully completed Fast forward several years--college, marriage, a career, her qualification and testing for her FEI Trainer Passport and several moves, and two children later, we decided to her German Trainer C license from the German National add a pony to our stable of two horses at our small farm “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth— Riding Federation. in Alabama, where we then lived, and my daughter’s you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue riding career began. At a year old, Gwen would cry wholeheartedly in your way.” - 2 Chronicles 6:14 In June of 2010, Gwen and her husband welcomed whenever pony-riding time was over, a sure sign that a baby daughter into the family, and the third she had inherited her mother’s passion! By the time generation of Covenant Farm riders was born. she was eight, she was showing regularly, and I was Living in an apartment over the barn for the first enjoying my role as the ultimate “show mom.” year and a half of her life, Evie learned to “whinny” along with learning to talk and was in a saddle long In 1993 we purchased a 62-acre farm near Ruston, Louisiana, and moved our growing stable of before she could walk. Riding in her first show (now five) horses here. From the first moment we walked the property, we knew that it was where in February of this year, Evie is happily carrying God wanted us, but never in our wildest dreams did we imagine the plans He had for us. on the passion and tradition of her mother and grandmother. After moving to Louisiana, Gwen began riding and showing with trainer John McQueen. Throughout her growing up years of showing hunter/jumper, Gwen remained focused on her goal In the past thirteen years, we Covenant Farm of eventually becoming a trainer herself. By the time she was in high school, we had acquired women have been blessed more than we had ever imagined. The barns have been expanded to include thirty-two stalls, and in 2012 we added a covered arena. Our greatest blessings, though, have been the numerous boarders and students that we have had through the years. The horses that we have cared for and all of the people we have “adopted” into our Covenant Farm family have truly enriched our lives. I believe that the lasting relationships we form and the opportunity to share our lives with others whom God has gifted with the same passion is why Covenant Farm exists. And I believe that as long as we can share His love and be salt and light for Him, there will be more generations of Covenant Farm women to come.

24 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued from cover... cutting dog…Scamp! He would corner the chicken and put his paw on it pinning it down until she Mary Hopkins – A Leading Lady for Equestrians could come get it. (Mary sounds like a lot of ambitious horse women I have met.) through the Generations! By Kathryn Loewer She was the first youth advisor for MQHA and carried kids to Amarillo, TX also to the Quarter Horse Congress. She has attended every Youth AQHA World Championships since their very She was born with a love for horses. Her grandfather granted her life’s wish when she was 10, beginning. Her daughter Andree showed in the first one in 1972. buying her a pretty little black saddle horse with a single foot gait… with four white socks and a blaze. She named her Baby. Andree did a lot and did it very well. Like her mom she showed everything. She helped other kids learn. She hauled kids on the team to shows with Mary. Andree always dreamed of doing more She rode her first horse everywhere…to school and back…in the gulf…in town…wherever she with kids with disabilities with horses. This was her dream. Tragically, Andree perished from a wanted to go! sudden brain aneurism in 1989. She was only 34 years old.

When she was 13 or so she attended boarding school in New Orleans and would ride the train back Mary was numb. She could not believe the life they had together with horses was at an end. “I and forth every weekend. While there she rode at the Audubon Stables. She learned the “correct was in shock for a little while…naturally, but then I started thinking about everything that Andree way” to ride gaited American Saddle-Breds. At that time there were very few Quarter Horses wanted to do, and suddenly her passion became my passion. The Equestrians With Disabilities (before AQHA…hint). She remembers when the first REAL Quarter Horse came to MS. In the Show was born and we have not looked back! 1940’s there was a resort on Broadwater Beach with a stable of Palomino Horses. She remembers as a very young girl listening to the cowboys there talking about “Quarter Horses and Quarter Mary started Equi – Able. A local program that has trained over 500 volunteer youth to be Horse Racing.” volunteers. They recruit through the local Key Club at Vicksburg, High School. Mary has kept everything that any of the kids ever write to her. She keeps every program, every book and every Back then, most show horses were gaited. They would have a couple of western classes such as brochure that might be relevant to someone one day. The number of books and documents that she reining or pleasure… but Quarter Horses didn’t really make has recording the beginnings of the MQHA, the Dixie Nationals, the it to the state until the late 1950’s early 1960’s where they EWD Show, and more could be in a horseman’s museum! quickly became popular with the plantation owners and ranchers. Here is one of her favorite stories and as she tells it I feel like I’m watching a movie. She says a car drove up one day at our place and When she was 17 she went to Japan to live with her dad. an African American man in a white sailor uniform got out. “I did She was there for 2 years, finished school and became fluent not recognize him at first. As he approached I began to remember in Japanese! While there as an officer’s daughter, she was the suddenly familiar face of a former faithful volunteer.” Sailor-Joe allowed to ride the hunters and the jumpers. She rode in the Briscoe had been on an aircraft carrier since enlisting. This was his hunts at Fort Sill, OK. FIRST stop on his FIRST leave in 2 years! It was a Tue afternoon. “I greeted him and asked him what he was doing there?! Why did When she came home, (as all good southern girls do) she he come?” He replied, “Miss Mary, If it’s Tuesday…It’s Ranch. I’m married the son of a bona fide horse trader. They spent their here to help.” Mary was so moved by his dedication to the Equi- time bringing horses to and from the sale. She recalls… Able program and more importantly how much he obviously received “He would put me up on a horse, and if it didn’t buck we’d from the program himself during the years in which he volunteered. try it…if it did, he jerk me off. I got him to buy a big gaited Sailor Joe’s experience was not unique. Many volunteers have similar paint gelding. He didn’t think much of him but I could testimonies that they received as much as they gave. make that horse do anything I asked! I’ve had a lot of fun with HORSES!” Mary has many other accomplishments. Although now retired from judging, she is has been a judge for almost every breed association In 1954…her first and only daughter was born, Andree and class there is from APHA, to AQHA, Appaloosa to NCHA. She’s Hopkins. Her Dr. called her “my little girl that was almost judged it all. born on the back of a horse,” cause she rode all the way until the last week of her pregnancy! Some of it must have Andree Hopkins on Zantos Buster in 1970 She was there when Cutting helped start the MQHA…she would help rubbed off on Andree…as she became and accomplished riders and trainers after their ride recalling every move or lack thereof avid horsewoman just like her mom. of their ride in place of a video camera!

Mary was involved in the beginnings of almost every major horse organization in MS…from the She even once carried the Olympic Torch as it came through town... surely saved the governors founding of 4-H Light Horse Project in MS to the beginning of the MQHA…to the growth of life and probably saved the sheriffs new police car all at the same time! (Mary says that all sounds Therapeutic Riding programs such as Special Olympics and the EWD show at the Dixie Nationals! terribly embarrassing when you say it all together! But it really happened that way) When she was secretary of the Vicksburg Riding Club they wanted to bring 4-H in to the state. No one else was willing to start 4-H Light Horse Project in MS so Mary did it…but on the one “The governor was riding his horse in front of our bus that the torch bearers rode. When the road condition that the kids could have grade horses. Andree was only 6 years old so she gave before turned to brick his horse refused to tread the bricks…They were hopping around like a jack rabbit her children’s time and AFTER! She won her position and 4-H adopted the - grade horse - policy in and the sheriff was sure his brand new police cruiser was a goner! I knew Rainbow very well. We many states. “Let these kids get started on whatever they can…when they start showing they will had bought her for the governor a couple years before he ran for office. She was boarded with us want to trade up…not down. It lets them learn!” and we did therapeutic riding with her every week.” Mary could see the governor was in trouble. “I dashed off the bus without a thought and went to Rainbow, gently stroked her shoulder and “Kids learn from losing as much as winning!” It’s about learning to be innovative and never quit! said, “Come on girl, it’s all right.” Rainbow immediately found confidence in Mary’s presence and She remembers for a show in Dothan, AL she had somehow forgotten Andree’s dress tie. Well reassuring touch, Rainbow gathered her courage and continued on the parade. Mary matched her what to do? step for step, stride for stride and they finished the route together.

Mary remembers taking a blue Kleenex, folding it like a fan, and pinning it under her collar in God Bless Mary Hopkins! Her dedication to the youth in the horse industry is only matched by their place of her show tie. Andree went in and won the class! Was it the paper tie? Well…it made a passion to ride and excel as best they can. More than one young person has been given “unblinking good pic…but the showmanship of Andree won the class. If she could win with a paper tie…she tenacity” as they ride! can win period! Every Tue…Is still “Ranch”! Every week some of them will come. Some weeks more than others. Mary has done so much with children and for children with horses! She tells me of how she Mary is still very much a one woman show, (sans the chickens)…and with help from a few faithful managed to keep up with her heavy horse habit… “I became a full blown one woman Chicken friends, but if they aren’t there, Mary doesn’t cancel “Ranch” She gathers her gumption, looks fate Ranch! I figured I could get all my chicken chores done in five hours so I could ride horses.” She in the eye and dares it to blink! (By the way…if you haven’t been able to venture a guess…Mary gathered and graded and washed the eggs, then put them in boxes, packed them in her station gracefully reveals she will be 81 years young this July.) wagon and drove them to market. She would catch loose chickens with the help of her chicken

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 25 Congratulations to Dr. Larry Findley the newly elected president of the LQHBA! “I am very proud to have the privilege of becoming the president of the LQHBA. It is a fine organization and I am looking forward to working with the new Executive Director Tony Patterson as he takes the reins of LQHBA administration. We have the best breeding, best racing in the US and we want to see Louisiana continue to grow and become the best community possible, in order to continue to stay on the forefront of racing for the future.”

26 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Heza Fast Rogue with Donald Watson aboard cruises to an easy victory in the 8th running of the Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs. Heza Fast Rogue Gets Third Straight Win In Mardi Gras Derby Saturday

BOOSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 15, 2014—Heza Fast Rouge broke on and top and drew off to win by 1½ lengths Saturday afternoon in the $84,866 Mardi Gras Derby(RG2) at Louisiana Downs. Dashin To The Back finished second a head in front of Jess Leaving You.

Jockey Donald Watson piloted the 3-year-old to his third consecutive victory at the Northeastern Louisiana racetrack while completing the 400 yards in :20.130 seconds, a 90 speed index into a 10 mph headwind. The $38,108 winner’s purse boosted Heza Fast Rogue’s earnings mark to more than $233,000.

Kevin Broussard conditions the Heza Fast Dash 3-year-old for owners Brock and Bourque Broussard. Bred by Triple M Farms, LLC, from the Mr Jess Perry mare Miss Jess Rouge, Heza Fast Rogue’s record stands at (13) 7-0-2. It was the second stakes win this season at Louisiana Downs for the bay colt.

The winning connections of Heza Fast Rogue accept the 2014 Mardi Gras Derby hardware on Saturday. © Lou Hodges Photography / Lynn Roberts Dashin to the Back, who was also second to Heza Fast Rogue in the February 25 trials, earned $14,396 for her second place finish. Vann Haywood saddled the filly by second crop sire Fast Prize Dash from the Royal Quick Dash mare Back To The Wall. The earner of $57,323 is a Louisiana home-bred for Two The Max Investments, LLC.

Kevin Broussard also saddled third place finisher Jess Leaving You, a Coronas Leaving You gelding owned-and-bred by Gerald Libersat. Eddie Cox had the riding assignment about the gelding out of Lil Jess Print, by Mr Jess Perry. He earned $8,469.

Heza Fast Rogue went off at even-money paying $4.00 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Dashing To The Back paid $2.40 and $2.10 and Jess Leaving You returned $4.00 to place. Completing the field were Agoutaduke, Mighty Maxx, Yo Bean, Righteous Casady, Patriot Sayin Adios and Tf Jess A Runaway Hemps Jumpn Lajolla with Raul Ramirez, Jr. up surges past Manuel Garcia aboard Party With Braxton to take the 8th running of the Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs. Hemps Jumpn Lajolla Breaks Maiden In Mardi Gras Futurity

BOOSIER CITY, LA—MARCH 15, 2014—Hemps Jumpn Lajolla became the first two-year-old stakes winner of 2014 Saturday afternoon when he broke his maiden in the $281,514 Mardi Gras Futurity(RG2) at Louisiana Downs.

Under jockey Raul Ramirez, Jr., the sorrel gelding defeated Party With Braxton by three-quarters to reward backers with a $25.80 win payoff. Zoies Treeshaker finished a length back in the show position. Owned-and-trained by Miguel Rodriguez, Hemps Jumpn Lajolla completed the course in a hand-timed :15.370 seconds to earn a 99 speed index and pocket the winner’s purse of $126,681. Rodriguez purchased Hemps Jumpn Lajolla from his breeder Live Oak Farms for $7,200 at the 2013 LQHBA Yearling Sale last summer.

The winning connections of Hemps Jumpn Lajolla accept the 2014 Mardi Gras Futurity trophy on Saturday. © Lou Hodges Photography / Lynn Roberts

He is the second foal of the Streakin La Jolla mare Hemps La Jolla, a winning half-sister to stakes-placed Kid Perry and A Classic Jess. His second dam won the Cajun Kindergarten Futurity(G3) in 2000. Second fastest qualifier Party With Braxton bettered his earnings mark to $52,358 after pocketing $47,858 for second. Owned-and-trained by Noe Sanchez, the Swingin Jess colt was a 2014 LQHBA Fall Sale graduate for $6,700. Ridden by Manuel Garcia, the Michael Moward Louisiana-bred is out of the multiple stakes producing Special Effort mare Holy Effort.

Also an LQHBA Summer yearling graduate, Zoies Treeshaker picked up $28,152 for her third place effort. Still a maiden, after finishing second in her futurity trial on February 22, the sorrel miss is owned by Victor Silva and trained by Fructuoso Huitron. Joseph Henry Major Thibaut, Jr. bred the Oak Tree Special filly from the Dashin Bye mare Most Women Will. Saul Ramirez, Jr. had the riding assignment.

Hemps Jumpn Lajolla paid $25.80, $5.40 and $4.00. Party With Braxton returned $8.20 and $5.80 and Zoies Treeshaker paid $5.00 to show.

Fastest qualifier and heavy post-time favorite Dynastys Jumpin was disqualified and placed eighth after bumping Game at the start.

Completing the official order of finish were Patriot Heart, Jess For Ron, Bye Bye Lulu, Game, Dynastys Jumpin, Jls Cool Corona and Cashininafantasy. April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 27 Youth Equine Day at the Capitol Page Sponsored by:

March 19, 2014 - Youth Equine Day at the Capitol – The Capitol Wakes Up! ... to Louisiana’s 2.5 Billion $$ Horse Industry…A sleeping GIANT no more! Cowboy hats and breeches…Hunt Coats, Jodhpurs, and of course Boots Senator Elbert Guillory from Opelousas, LA, was given increased support of the industry is to the of all sorts crowded the Capitol building! the inspiration for Equine Day at the Capitol by a member equine educational programs around the of the Louisiana Equine Council in late February. Senator state, from those on a high school level to Guillory understands how important the horse industry equine studies programs at our universities, is to our state. The suggestion that the top youth come such as what we have at LSU, McNeese to the Capitol to be recognized for what they have and LA Tech. This support is important as achieved in their respective riding disciplines was quickly these youth are the future Vets, trainers, and embraced by the State Senator. The Senator had about 2 horsemen of our state who will ultimately weeks to put it all together. Undaunted, he worked with support the health and well-being of the industry leaders from around the state to make it happen. horses and the industry as a whole.” Pictured in center from left to right: Senator Elbert Guillory, Daniel Lyons; Horsemen are passionate about what they do, and true to President Louisiana Equine Council and Commissioner of Agriculture form they showed up in force! Senator Guillory said that Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds are the Mike Strain; along with attendees for Youth Equine Day at the Capitol we need to show that these kids are working hard every primary mounts for these youth, and are Sorting, Racing, Cutting, Hunter Jumper, 4H, Dressage, day to become strong productive citizens and that they are available in quality and quantity in large part because of Barrel Racing, Goat Tying, Equitation, Pole Bending, and supporting an industry that is essential to Louisiana. the strong racing industry and breeding programs here more. These kids need to have their stories told so that in Louisiana. The horse industry involves equines of all our state leaders appreciate not only the current economic “The entire horse industry, from Rodeo, Hunter Jumpers, breeds, shapes and sizes, though, not just racing stock. One impact the horse industry has on Louisiana, but also the 4H clubs, Dressage, and Racing, to other Western and of the largest industries in our state, unlimited economic benefits English disciplines, plays an important it contributes over that will enrich the state in the part in our economy. We want the 2.5 billion dollars future. Bringing awareness to legislature to know how important it is a year to the state and local leaders will allow to keep the WHOLE industry growing, economy. Louisiana’s sleeping giant – thriving and intact for the future of these the horse industry—to gain the kids,” says Daniel Lyons, president of “Every year, the recognition and appreciation it so the Louisiana Equine Council. LQHBA with very much deserves. The tradition More than 200 people traveled from all support from the of excellence in the Louisiana over the state to show their support for AQHA sponsors horse industry is long: many Louisiana’s Horse Industry. The gallery Youth Days at fine horsemen have bred, trained, in the Senate Chamber was filled the races where raced, and shown their way to the to capacity as youth, their parents, our youth are able top—and have taught the coming grandparents and coaches watched to get an inside generations. Youth Equine Day at the Capitol celebrates and listened as the Senate declared look at Quarter Horse racing from the future of a fine tradition. March 19, 2014, Youth Equine Day start to finish. This recognition from for Louisiana. All of the youth in the Legislature is a great way to bring Among those in attendance were riders from the Academy attendance were made honorary An honorary State Senator attention to what our youth are doing of the Sacred Heart, the McNeese Rodeo Team, the LSU Senators for their achievements. in our state with their horses,” says proudly displays her certificate. Equestrian Team, and the Louisiana High School Rodeo Tony Patterson, Executive Director, Team. These shining stars show that our state is a force to Dr. Frank Andrews, DVM, of the LSU Large Animal Vet Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Assocation. be reckoned with in the horse industry on a National and School, said, “I was very impressed at how well attended World level. this event was. The youth and adults that came to show All the youth invited to attend had achieved state or their support of the industry did a great job. It’s important national recognition in their sports: Steer Wrestling, Continued on page 29... to show the legislature how essential their continued and Halter, Cutting, Reining, Breakaway Roping, Ranch 28 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued from page 28... March 19, 2014 - Youth Equine Day at the Capitol

Youth Equine Day--what a great example and source of encouragement for our kids, as they continue to ride on for the future of our state.

This event was organized and coordinated by the Louisiana Equine Council and Senator Elbert Lee Guillory. Senator Guillory wishes to thank the youth, parents, and their leaders who attended and made this special event possible.

Following is the resolution: On March 19, 2014 the Louisiana State Senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 21 by Senator Elbert Lee Guillory: “To commend the youth that proudly represent Louisiana in Equine exhibitions within the state and across the country and to declare March 19, 2014, as ‘Youth Equine Day at the Capitol.’

Whereas, the horse industry is an important component of the agricultural economy of Louisiana and the buying and selling of horses, creation of jobs, expenditures on horses and equestrian events have an estimated economic impact of 2.5 billion dollars each year.

Whereas youth from across the state have come together to bring awareness to the size and scope of this billion dollar industry and

Whereas the Senate encourage these youth to continue to achieve equine accolades and to proudly represent the State of Louisiana

Therefore, Be it resolved that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the youth that proudly represent Louisiana in equine exhibition within the state and across the country, and that the youth here today have been duly commissioned ‘Honorary State Senators’ and are to be accorded all of the privileges entitled by virtue of this appointment this day March 19, 2014.”

“We need to show that these kids are working hard every day to become strong productive citizens and that they are supporting an industry that is essential to Louisiana”. Senator Elbert Guillory

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 29 30 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued on Page 7... “Our diet and exercise goals are similar to the goals we Courtney Bynog Knows How to have for our horses. Same terminology. Look at the Dream – And How to Work Hard individual, and figure out By Barbara Newtown what is needed. If you just need to put on weight, not “I am sentimental,” says Courtney. “I necessarily muscle, you raise name all my horses after my children, the fat content of the diet. my mother, my grandparents…” When For horses, I use rice bran or Courtney’s house is finished, she and her beet pulp. But when we sales family will be right across the woods prep, we increase exercise and from her sister. “She loves animals, too.” we up the protein, to get their The family tradition on “Rohgully Road” muscles more ‘cut.’ I like goes on. alfalfa for adding protein, but you have to be careful not to get the protein percentage too high.” (A recent study at Cornell However, just when you think you’ve suggests that feeding a high-protein diet to horses is not necessarily dangerous, but requires figured out a person, you get a surprise. better management, because of increased sweating, decreased feed efficiency, and higher cost. Yes, Courtney is a hard worker, but just http://www.iceep.org/pdf/iceep1/_1201141137_001.pdf ) “For myself and for my horses, I how hard? believe in vitamins and supplements.”

“Five years ago, I went to a camp to learn When Courtney wants to give a horse a good workout, she longes him in a round pen with about nutrition—for people. Everyone deep sand. “Be careful,” she says, “if you’re doing hard cardio to take off fat. I learned in my there thought I was a competitor. What own competing that when the fat is gone, you’ll start taking off muscle!” Courtney swears by were they talking about? I looked into interval training for humans and horses. In the round pen, for a horse, she will alternate a slow it and discovered the world of natural jog and a fast lope; in the weight room, for herself, she practices “circuit training” – moving physique events.” Unlike bodybuilding, fast from one weight machine to the next--to get lean and trim. “natural physique” emphasizes healthy nourishment, no steroids, and “normal” muscling. “I hired a nutritionist to help me figure The combination of sensible nutrition, informed exercise, and spacious, safe surroundings what to eat. In just a short time of competing, I won lots of medals and eight trophies. Having gives Triple Lynn Farm a winning edge. Courtney Bynog has found a way to mix the someone tell me what, when, and how to eat made it possible for me to win all those shows. daydreams of a little girl with the smarts of a motivated career woman. Love of family, I realized that understanding nutrition can transform your body—and the body of a racehorse, love of the outdoors, and love of horses have given her the keys to enjoying the important too. My nutritionist and my fellow competitors taught me that every person is different and things in life. needs to be nourished in his or her own way.”

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 31 32 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 article sponsored by:

Melynda Smith – The Joy and Peace of Horses By Barbara Newtown We sit in Melynda Smith’s comfortable home in Denham Springs, Louisiana, looking at a glossy Champions! There will never be another one scrapbook picture of her halter stallion prospect Hez Simplee Charming, a quadruple registered like him, and he will live out the rest of his yearling known as “Houston” to his friends. Her husband Scott, sons Brendan and Cory, and a days here.” family friend gather around to listen in on the interview. “Here’s Pepper, my old mare. Registered as “Houston’s sire is FG Totally a Charmer, a paint champion, a Congress champion, and holder of Leo’s Triple Pearl. She’s solid black, but is nine world titles. He has paint, pinto, and Quarter Horse papers.” says Melynda. “His dam, Ms a breeding stock paint. She’s unique: her Ooh La La, is a palomino, registered AQHA, with three world titles.” Their offspring Houston is aunt bit off part of her ear when she was a a gleaming palomino with lots of flashy white. “His color is right on,” Melynda says. His legs are baby. When you’re riding her, her shadow straight, his shoulder is long and sloping, his hindquarters substantial, and his ears and eyes are looks funny—a little missing moon shape on alert. He looks like a star. In the picture Melynda poses proudly beside him. the side. I’ve had her since she was seven months old, and she’s nineteen now. I barrel “In this photo he’s a weanling. By the second show of his life, he had already earned enough points raced her in local shows until I was in a car accident when I was eighteen. I was hit by a drunk to receive his Palomino Register of Merit in amateur and open color.” Melynda says, “He has such driver, and broke my leg in sixteen places. I am blessed to be alive.” potential, we have hopes of keeping him a stallion. Hopefully, he will be beneficial to the horse world as a stud. This summer he’ll show at the Pinto World in June and the Palomino World in Melynda says that she rode the mare just for pleasure until about eight years ago, when she became July.” In the meantime, Houston is in training with Jarrell Jackson, at Three Nails ill. Although it took several years, she was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Ranch in Texas. Melynda will show Houston in amateur and Terry Sartain, “Riding just hurts too much.” That is why Melynda has taken up halter a gentleman, who she has come to admire will show him in open classes. showing. “The doctors said that I’d be confined to a wheelchair within five years. Four years in, I’m still on my two feet most of the time. My Melynda also credits Kim and Drew Dees with igniting her interest in husband, our six children, and our two grandchildren keep me going. halter. The first time they met, the man who would someday be “Uncle I’m also blessed with several ‘adopted kids’ that call me Momma M.” Drew” came up to Melynda’s daughter Kaitlyn just before she went in the halter pen and showed her how to hold the lead rope. “We are like “This is another halter mare, Diamondz, four years old, who went family now and we are extremely blessed to have them in our lives,” says to the AQHA Youth World last year, where she placed in the Melynda. top ten. She has Telusionist and Kid Clu bloodlines. We got her from Kim and Drew Dees. She’ll show in 4H this “Tuff to Get Credit, my daughter’s horse. He’s an older model—nineteen June, and next year we will probably breed her.” years old. We call him Ranger. When we got him, I had just learned how to pull a horse trailer; I drove up to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where my daughter “I began getting rid of all of my riding equipment when tried him out, and then we brought him home. He has taken care of us Kaitlyn, youngest of the six, began walking in my footsteps. ever since. Kaitlyn’s won a saddle, multiple belt buckles, and trophies Thus, our adventure with horses began.” Her first year, she on him, and even did her homework in his stall. He’s my hero, for taking showed locally, and she has shown in 4H for the past four years. care of my baby. People that aren’t horse people don’t understand the Kaitlyn is currently a co-captain on her junior high school bond. He and Kaitlyn pretty much dominated the front-end classes. cheerleading squad, participates in the SPEAR fitness program Kaitlyn and Ranger will continue to show in showmanship and trail. In at her school, runs track and is preparing to tryout for the high fact, last year Kaitlyn and Ranger were the Louisiana State Youth Trail school dance team. Continued on page 45..

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 33 Formulating Horse Feeds Different Formulation Strategies Produce Different Results

Karen E. Davison, Ph.D. Manager- Equine Technical Services Land O’Lakes Purina Feed

When choosing a horse feed, looking at the guaranteed analysis can help you determine if the nutritional content of that feed is appropriate for the age and activity level of your horse. You’d think that two products that both contain 14% protein, 6% fat, etc. would be pretty much the same feed. However, products with similar guaranteed analyses may be manufactured using different formulation strategies and have very different formulas. This can affect the nutritional value for your horse. The most common formulation strategies are “Least-cost” formulas and “Fixed” or “Locked” formulas. Both strategies have benefits and drawbacks. There is a formulation strategy that Purina uses for premium horse feeds, “Constant Nutrition” formulation, which is more nutritionally accurate than either of the other strategies.

Least-cost formulation allows a manufacturer to adjust the ingredients in the formula based on cost. As long as the formula still meets the guaranteed analysis, the manufacturer can change the ingredients used in the formula. In some circumstances, the change in ingredients doesn’t change the effectiveness of the diet so it makes sense to meet the nutritional needs of the animal in the least expensive way. There would be no benefit to making a more expensive ration to achieve the same results. For instance, if you are feeding cattle and being paid for weight gain and a least-cost formula will not change the rate of gain or feed efficiency of the cattle, but will be less expensive to feed, that just makes good business sense. However, in some cases, especially when feeding horses, a major change in ingredients can dramatically alter the effectiveness of the diet, even when the nutrient levels don’t change. A good example of this would be substituting cottonseed meal for soybean meal in a diet for growing horses. Soybean meal and cottonseed meal may both have similar total protein content and could be interchangeable in a formula to meet the protein guarantee. However, cottonseed meal does not provide the same quality of protein to support growth as soybean meal, and young horses will not grow as well eating a feed with cottonseed meal as the protein source. So, in this case, the least-cost formula may be less expensive per ton but the loss in animal performance will negate any cost savings. In addition to potential for reduced performance, there is always the potential for reduced palatability or digestive upset in horses when large shifts in ingredients occur in their feed.

With fixed or locked formulas, the same ingredients and amounts of ingredients are used every time the feed is made, regardless of price or nutritional variation of those ingredients. This sounds like the most consistent way to make horse feed; however, there is a significant drawback. All ingredients, even high quality ingredients, have variation in nutritional content. For instance, all oats will not have the same protein or mineral content. If the formula is completely locked and not taking into account the nutritional content of the individual ingredients, the level of nutrition provided in the finished product will vary. Horses do benefit from consistency in their diets, but they don’t have specific requirements for certain ingredients. The purpose of ingredients is to provide nutrients the horse needs. So, while a fixed formula does provide the same amount of ingredient in every bag, it may not provide the same level of nutrition. For example, a horse feed made of 49% oats, 20% beet pulp, 16% corn, 8% alfalfa and 7% soybean meal would average 14% protein, using the average book values for these ingredients. However, with the typical range in protein content of these ingredients, the end product could range from 12.4% to 21.1% protein. Other nutrient levels will vary as well. So, while a fixed formula does insure a consistent ingredient profile, it won’t provide the most consistent level of nutrition for the horse.

“Constant Nutrition”formulation is a key component of the Purina FeedGuard™ Nutrition System. This strategy provides consistent, reliable nutrition in every bag of premium Purina horse feed. Under the Purina FeedGuard™ Nutrition System, stringent quality standards are set for ingredients which are purchased only from an approved list of suppliers that meet those strict criteria. Then, when ingredients arrive at a manufacturing facility, the ingredients are inspected, sampled and analyzed for nutrient levels. This is more accurate than using published book values or supplier averages for nutrient levels of ingredients. If an ingredient is approved, then the tested nutritional content is entered into the formulation system, which then makes small adjustments in amounts of ingredients to maintain consistent nutrient concentrations in the finished product. There are strict restrictions for how much adjustment is allowed to ensure consistency in formulation. For example, the amount of soybean meal may be adjusted slightly to compensate for lower protein in another ingredient, but cottonseed meal could not be substituted for soybean meal. This formulation strategy ensures that horses always receive the most consistent nutrition possible, and that horse owners always get exactly what they pay for.

34 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 35 36 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 10 & Under Points 8-Mar-14 Rider Stakes Quads poles Barrels arena Total McKay, Peytin 10 10 8 10 10 48 Necaise, Caleb 9 7 7 9 32 Bailey, Wyatt 9 6 6 8 29 Heatherly, Charles 7 10 9 26 Coulter, Dylan 6 7 4 3 20 Coulter, Dakota 5 8 3 2 18 Lizana, Kylee 9 8 17 Campbell, Alysia 8 5 13 Seemann, Elle 4 5 4 13 Howell, Isabella 2 6 8 Stanley, Braden 1 7 8 Photo credit: Laura Mioton Parrish, Aiyden 5 5 Shows, Samantha 3 3 11 - 17 Age Group-Points 8-Mar-14 Parrish, Caybre 2 2 Rider Stakes Quads poles Barrels arena Total Reis, Faith Anne 1 1 Bailey, Delta 9 10 10 10 10 49 Crowe, Lana 0 Smith, Marina 10 9 6 8 9 42 Herron, Gatlyn 0 Hendrickson, Taylor 5 7 5 8 25 Reis, Madison 0 Garcia, Natalie 7 8 7 22 Ventura, Trinity 0 Broadus, Brianna 8 7 6 21 Malley, MaCalyn 9 9 18 Adult Points 8-Mar-14 Anderson, Elly 6 8 1 15 Rider Stakes Quads poles Barrels arena Total Herron, Chloe 6 3 5 14 Hosford Shavers, Sandra 10 9 10 9 9 47 Herron, Olivia 3 7 10 McKay, Brett 9 10 8 10 10 47 Johnson, Jayce 6 6 Mixon, Breanna 7 8 6 5 8 34 Swilley, Nicole 5 5 Bartels, Alana 6 7 5 7 7 32 Abney, Morgan 4 4 Shiyou, Siera 8 9 6 23 Frost, Lexie 4 4 Clark, Victoria 5 6 4 15 Lawley, Brianna 2 2 Copeland, Whitney 8 8 Giovengo, Victoria 0 Berggren, Rachael 7 7 Harrison, Madison 0 Crowe, Natalie 0 Herron, Destiny 0 Fore, Lauren 0 Necaise, Ethan 0 Holland, Cyndi 0 Nungesser, Catherine 0 Holland, Krystal 0 Terry, Tiffany 0 Scherenbrock, Bailey 0 Wessner, Vanessa 0

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 37 Rosie Napravnik February 9, 1988 | Birthplace: Mendham, New Jersey | Family: Husband Joe

sought-after demographics. went on to contest the Kentucky Derby aboard that mount. Rosie Napravnik took the sports world by storm in The pair finished in ninth place. Only five other women 2012, wrapping up an incredible season by landing in have ever ridden in the Derby – none of them finished better the highest spot ever for a female jockey on the year- than 11th. end North American leaderboard. Her $12,451,713 total put her in eighth place in purse earnings. Hall of Napravnik underwent multiple surgeries on a broken left Fame jockey Julie Krone set the record in 1988 when arm incurred in a July 6, 2011 spill at Delaware Park. She she finished the year in ninth place. She equaled that required four surgeries on the fractured radius and dislocated finish in 1992, and the record went on to stand for the ulna due to complications from compartment syndrome, a next two decades. But Napravnik has now bested that painful swelling and retention of fluids. Fortunately there mark in back-to-back seasons. were no complications with bone structure and she resumed riding that October. That magnificent 2012 campaign was highlighted by a pair of memorable conquests. On May 4, 2012, Known for her marked professionalism and focus, Napravnik became the first female rider in the 138 year Napravnik has proven she can hold her own against the history of the Kentucky Oaks to capture that storied boys. In a male-dominated sport, her strength and skill are race. She brought home the race’s signature garland what put her in a league of her own. of Lillies aboard the Larry Jones trained, aptly named filly Believe You Can. Napravnik began racing under the name A.R. Napravnik – “so no one would know I was a girl,” she says. She got Then, on November 3, 2012, Napravnik became only her first victory at Pimlico Race Course on June 9, 2005, Photo Courtesy of Emily Peak Photography aboard her first-ever mount, Ringofdiamonds, just days the second female rider in history to win a coveted after finishing her junior year of high school. But her roots At 5’2” and weighing in at 113 pounds, jockey Rosie Breeders’ Cup World Championship race when she with horses go back to early days in New Jersey. Napravnik is one of the nation’s best, competing in the piloted eventual Eclipse Award winner Shanghai Bobby male dominated sport of Thoroughbred racing. to a nail biting victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. It The daughter of Charles and Cindy Napravnik, the was the fifth win in Shanghai Bobby’s undefeated 2012 young rider grew up around the barn as her mother, an campaign. Napravnik was on board for all five. The 26-year-old phenom followed up a record-breaking accomplished horse woman in her own right, trains three 2012 campaign by making history in 2013 - becoming the day eventing horses managed a boarding and training “Rosie rides as good as any male jockey out there,” said first female jockey ever to contest all three jewels of the facility in Bedminster, New Jersey. She was in the saddle Shanghai Bobby’s trainer Todd Pletcher, who finished 2013 Triple Crown. She teamed up with the colt Mylute to finish from an early age, competing from the time she was three on top of the North American earnings leaderboard for the fifth in the Kentucky Derby, then third in the Preakness or four years old and participating in Pony Club events in fourth consecutive year. “She’s a fierce competitor and Stakes. Following those narrow misses, Napravnik rode her area. Her sister Jasmine (“Jazz”), six years her senior, wants to win every time she goes out to the track. She’s the Todd Pletcher trained filly Unlimited Budget to a sixth- led the way into faster-paced events like pony racing, and it a great communicator and always does her best to put her place finish in the Belmont Stakes. wasn’t long before Napravnik felt the need for speed. horses in a spot to win.” All told, Napravnik finished the year with an astonishing “I hated Pony Club, hated to do things the ‘right way,’” As if becoming the first woman in history to win the $1 269 wins, placing her fifth among all North American Napravnik says. “I just wanted to get on my pony and ride. million Louisiana Derby and subsequent meet title at the jockeys. Forty-four of those victories came in stakes When I started racing, I knew I didn’t want to do anything Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in 2011 wasn’t enough, Company, putting her fourth in that category. Highlights else. My mom and sister told me about Julie Krone, who at Napravnik went on to capture her second consecutive Fair included grade I triumphs in the $250,000 Chandelier that time was still riding and doing well, and that world was Grounds meet title in March 2012 with 111 wins. She added Stakes at Santa Anita Park, the $300,000 Acorn Stakes so far away but I was so interested in it. at Belmont Park, and the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes a third in March 2013 with 125 wins. at Arlington Park. Those victories helped contribute to When I was seven I set a goal to be the first woman to win Undaunted by the prospect of competing against the nation’s Napravnik’s impressive year-end purse earnings total of the Triple Crown.” $13,242,202 – good for eighth in the North American best jockeys, Napravnik moved her tack to New York to ride the NYRA circuit full-time in the spring of 2012. The standings. Her staggering 22% win clip was the highest Only two females have had mounts in the Preakness Stakes, strong competition did little to curb her success, as she among the top 25 jockeys on the earnings leaderboard. the second leg of the three-race series. Napravnik was just finished fourth in the standings at Belmont Park’s spring/ six years old when Andrea Seefeldt, finished seventh on summer meeting. Noteworthy among her 35 victories was Madison Avenue seemingly can’t get enough of the fresh- Looming in 1994. Krone, racing’s all-time leading female her triumph in the Peter Pan Stakes aboard Mark Valeski. faced, charismatic young superstar. She has teamed up jockey, became the first woman to win a Triple Crown with established brands like SNICKERS, and Wild Turkey race when she rode Colonial Affair to victory in the 125th She finished eighth in the standings with 21 winners at her – the latter having featured her in a national ad campaign. running of the Belmont Stakes on June 5, 1993. Until 2012, first full meeting at the prestigious Saratoga Race Course in Indeed, Napravnik’s strong media presence has ensured when Napravnik rode 50 -1 long shot Five Sixteen to a fifth 2012. Her conquests included the Hopeful Stakes aboard maximum exposure for her corporate partners. Among place finish in third jewel of the Triple Crown, Krone was Shanghai Bobby, the Sanford Stakes atop Bern Identity, and the only woman to have ridden in the Belmont and actually many other press engagements over the years, Napravnik the Adirondack Stakes on Kauai Katie. has been the subject of a 60 Minutes profile, and a New contested it four other times. York Times Magazine feature. These notable appearances After capturing the $1 million Louisiana Derby in 2011 Continued on page 39.. are a testament to her unique ability to reach the most aboard the Kelly Breen-trained Pants On Fire, Napravnik

38 Louisiana Equine Report •April / May 2014 Continued from page 38. Continued from cover... Rosie Napravnik 1st La Bred to Run for the the Roses! “Her tactical savvy in a race is as good as they come,” said Krone. “Her gift of the feel Vicar’s In Trouble Rules Again in and touch for the Thoroughbred is remarkable. As a rider, one of the best compliments I received in the 1980’s was from a valet who said, “You look like a man on a horse.” This Louisiana Derby has been said of Rosie many times. Her talents are only second to her fierce competitive, With his impressive determination. She has all the qualities that make a true champion.” Saturday score that puts him once again in the national spotlight in this While the pioneering female riders were paving the way, Napravnik traveled cross-country spring’s Kentucky Derby to Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware to participate in pony races, which were held at picture, the Mike Maker- steeplechase meets. She trained her race ponies as if they were Thoroughbreds, including trained Vicar’s in Trouble one of her favorites – Sweet Sensation – a 12-hand Welsh Mountain pony who won almost became the first Louisiana- every competition around. Napravnik competed on the pony until she graduated to riding bred to win the Louisiana the junior horse circuit. She also spent time exercising horses for renowned trainers like Derby since the Timphony Jonathan Sheppard and Dickie Small. Sweet Sensation remained in the Napravnik family family’s Heaven Again until his death in October, 2012 at the age of 28. accomplished the same feat in 1990. The win When Napravnik turned 16, she took out a license with the National Steeplechase earned Vicar’s in Trouble Association and learned to ride training flat races during the steeplechase meets, riding 100 points and a position against experienced steeplechase riders to gain seasoning and savvy. That summer she in the Kentucky Derby moved in with her sister, who was working as an assistant to Thoroughbred trainer Holly starting gate at Churchill Robinson at the time, to gallop horses. Coaching from Robinson and Small led to her Photo: Kori Schexnayder/Honey Do Farm Downs five weeks from taking out her jockey’s license when she turned 17. Although she won immediately, that now on May 3. year she also sustained the first of five serious career injuries, when her mount tripped After establishing early fractions of :23.56 and :47.86, Napravnik kept the small but compactly- over a fallen horse at Laurel Park on Nov. 12, 2005. She suffered a broken collarbone built son of Into Mischief going with good handling and the eventual winning result was never and was out five weeks. seriously in doubt. Vicar’s in Trouble accomplished the nine-furlongs in 1:50.77, returning mutuels of $8.60, $4.40 and $3 and increased his lifetime earnings to $788,900 with three wins In 2006, Napravnik swept the rider standings at all four meets at Pimlico Race Course and from five trips to the post. Laurel Park and was runner-up to Julien Leparoux for the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey. “You know he’s a tiny horse but he’s got a great big heart,” said Napravnik.

On Jan. 26, 2007, at Laurel, she suffered a spinal compression and fractured vertebrae Starlight Racing’s favored Intense Holiday, who won the Grade II Risen Star Stakes here when her mount, Look Out Lorie, collapsed past the finish line with Napravnik on her five weeks ago, was void of early foot, commenced a rally approaching the lane, ducked in back. She missed three months and had barely returned to riding when, on July 6, 2007, sharply almost hitting the rail in the stretch run to lose momentum and could not threaten the her mount broke down and she suffered a broken wrist and finger. That injury resulted in a winner while clearly second best by 1 ½-lengths in front of West Point Stable’s Commanding four-month layoff and was the most painful she’d ever experienced. Curve. "You know he's a tiny horse but he's got a great big Napravnik led the standings at Laurel Park in 2008, but on Aug. 2 of that year, she broke the tibia and fibula bones in her left leg in a race at Delaware. She was off for three months, heart," winning jockey, Rosie Napravnik but “I came back off that injury strong, and mentally I was just ready to go back,” she says. “The inside horse jumped out, right on me, but the race was over at that point,” said Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who rode Intense Holiday. In 2010 Napravnik was the top jockey at Delaware Park, where she scored her 1,000th career win on Laughing Charlie on Oct. 27, 2010. Earlier in the year, she became the first Intense Holiday returned $3.20 and $2.60 while Commanding Curve paid $5.20 in the show female jockey to win a graded stakes race at Lone Star Park when she piloted Redding position. Colliery to victory in the 2010 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 31, 2010. Then it was time to try a new challenge – New Orleans, where agent Derek Ducoing put her on 110 In Trouble finished fourth and Albano fifth, but that order was reversed by the stewards for In winners (her closest rival, James Graham, finished with 76). Trouble’s bumping incident with Albano leaving the backstretch.

“I think as much as I had established myself as a good rider or competitive, I don’t know Flat Gone, King Cyrus, Gold Hawk, Louies Flowerand Rise Up completed the order of what the guys in New Orleans thought of me before I came,” Napravnik says. “I’m sure finish. they heard I’d ridden in New York and Maryland and done well, but you don’t really know that or believe it until you ride with someone and can see for yourself that they can be competitive. The boys down there tested me a bit when first got there. But all I did was keep my mouth shut and push back. And by the end of Fair Grounds, I really felt like everybody was happy for me having won the meet and won the derby. Even the guys that gave me a hard time in the beginning found a respect for me, and I appreciate that, because a lot of times when you do well, you don’t have friends.

“The success and leading rider titles mean a lot to other people, so when I can say, ‘I was leading rider at Fair Grounds,’ that merits like an immediate respect,” she said. “That helps tremendously, and the more good outfits I end up riding for, the more good outfits are attracted to that. When you get a shot from someone you’re not expecting, that’s a huge eye-opener to where your success is really leading you.”

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 39 Youth Page Sponsored by:

Southeast LA Junior High School Rodeo Results The Southeast LA Rodeo Club sponsored the seventh junior high rodeo sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association on Friday & Saturday, March 7 & 8, 2014, in Gonzales, Louisiana.

BARREL RACING GIRLS GOAT TYING RIBBON ROPING 1. Allie Conner 15.876 $108.00 (10) 1 Ashlyn Poole 9.758 $84.00 (10) 1 Colton Willson/Lena Johnson 8.637 $84.00 (10) 2 Josey Murphy 15.978 $81.00 (9) 2 Cady Fruge 9.844 $63.00 (9) 2 Connor Matheson/Ashlyn Poole 9.646 $63.00 (9) 3 Hannah Forsythe 16.019 $54.00 (8) 3 Quincy Mudd 10.188 (8) 3 Austin Hebert/Meredith Scroggs 11.308 $42.00 (8) 4 Quincy Mudd 16.065 $27.00 (7) 4 Camaren Johnson 11.137 $42.00 (7) 4 Kase Bacque/MacKenzie Becnel 16.539 $21.00 (7) 5 Lexie Miller 16.090 (6) 5 Josey Murphy 11.206 $21.00 (6) 5 Garrett Davis/Emily Williams 17.182 (6) 6 Abigail Barks 16.243 (5) 6 Abigail James 12.027 (5) 6 Tyler McGuffee/Kaysie Burgess 18.508 (5) 7 Presley Smith 16.322 (4) 7 Kolbie Brashear 12.169 (4) 7 Leighton Miller/Lexie Miller 18.663 (4) 8 Allie Chapman 16.383 (3) 8 Tanzi Stafford 12.227 (3) 8 Tayt Little/Kolbie Brashear 22.594 (3) 9 Emily Williams 16.501 (2) 9 Kaysie Burgess 12.733 (2) 9 Cory Constance/Skylar Canik 24.273 (2) 10 Harley Cooper 16.510 (1) 10 Ali Murphy 12.865 (1) TEAM ROPING BOYS BREAKAWAY ROPING BOYS GOAT TYING 1 Tyler McGuffee/Mason Pitts 8.139 $92.00 (10) 1 Mason Pitts 4.279 $90.00 (10) 1 Evan Darbonne 9.812 $95.00 (10) 2 Justin Booth/Meredith Scroggs 10.930 $69.00 (9) 2 Tyler McGuffee 4.497 $54.00 (9) 2 Kyle Clark 11.732 $57.00 (9) 3 Bradley Hesner/Riley Nugent 10.961 $46.00 (8) 3 Cory Constance 5.625 (8) 3 Tayt Little 12.225 $38.00 (8) 4 Kelsea Johnson/Kyle Clark 17.029 $23.00 (7) 4 Zachary Harper 5.796 $36.00 (7) 4 Chase Borres 12.526 (7) 5 Britt Buller/Zachary McAlister 25.001 (6) 5 Corey Alderton 13.521 (6) 5 Blake Chauvin 12.708 (6) 6 Koby Sanchez 17.103 (5) 6 Zeb Corkern 13.504 (5) 7 Mason Pitts 13.530 (4) Four qualifying LHSRA Junior High rodeos remain in the 2013-2014 season. TIE DOWN ROPING 8 Cory Constance 13.672 (3) Contestants continue to amass points in each event to qualify for the 2014 1 Riley Nugent 21.310 $115.00 (10) 9 Tyler McGuffee 13.673 (2) 10 Garrett Davis 14.899 (1) Louisiana Junior High School Finals Rodeo scheduled for May 30 -June 1, 2014, at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. The top four in each event will then GIRLS BREAKAWAY ROPING 1 Katy Fogleman 3.737 $104.00 (10) POLE BENDING advance to the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo, June 22 - 28, 2014, in 2 Ashlyn Poole 3.763 $78.00 (9) 1 Presley Smith 21.081 $96.00 (10) Des Moines, Iowa. 3 Meredith Scroggs 4.429 $52.00 (8) 2 Allie Conner 21.352 $72.00 (9) 3 Allie Chapman 21.458 $48.00 (8) 4 Jessica Neely 4.528 $26.00 (7) Submitted 03/09/2014 5 Kamryn Duncan 4.717 (6) 4 Bella Dronett 21.608 $24.00 (7) 6 Emily Williams 7.608 (5) 5 Raylee Eberwein 21.706 (6) 7 Abigail James 26.736 (4) 6 Camaren Johnson 21.770 (5) Stephanie Rodrigue, State Secretary 7 Kaysie Burgess 22.065 (4) View LHSRA results and standings at www.rodeosportsnetwork.com CHUTE DOGGING 8 Melanie Bebee 22.392 (3) 1 Blake Chauvin 3.092 $92.00 (10) 9 Lauren Craig 22.678 (2) 2 Evan Darbonne 3.305 (9) 10 Ava Richard 22.975 (1) 3 Tayt Little 3.362 $69.00 (8) Keep the nominations BULL RIDING 4 Gavin Soileau 3.458 $46.00 (7) coming! We will continue to 5 Grant Soileau 4.095 $23.00 (6) NO QUALIFIED RIDES 6 Tyler McGuffee 4.171 (5) print the amazing stories of 7 Hazen Martin 4.504 (4) women in the industry throughout the year! 8 Zachary McAlister 4.618 (3) Next year there will be another Women in the Horse 9 Mason Pitts 5.200 (2) Industry Issue too! 10 Garrett Davis 5.438 (1)

40 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 41 42 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 43 44 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued on page 33. Melynda Smith – The Joy and Peace of Horses By Barbara Newtown

In 2010 Kaitlyn started training with DeLois Senez, a remarkable woman. “Mrs. Dee” or “Granny D,” as our family calls her, was a jockey for 27 years. She’s 72 now, still 98 pounds, and she still rides and barrel races and gives riding lessons. “Any kid in this area who rides horses has probably taken a lesson from Mrs. Dee,” says Melynda. DeLois is originally from Texas, and was riding and herding sheep for her father when she was four. When she was in high school, she went to the Texas high school rodeo championships, and was told by the pencil-pushers in the show office that she could not compete in roping because she was a girl. She told her father what they had said…and her father marched to the office and made them take her entry. She rode…and she won!

“We have two acres here, and the three mares and the one gelding get along fine. Houston is let out separately being that he is a stallion. Many halter horses stay in their stalls all the time. We let our horses be horses, and they are let out daily and are put up at feeding time. Showing the horses would not be possible without my husband, Scott.” The horses get their exercise in the round pen, Scott keeps a close eye on feeding to put on the right amount of muscle and fat.

Melynda adds, “I never thought I’d be showing. I got into this because of Kaitlyn and have enjoyed watching her grow and share my love of horses. None of this would be possible without the support of my husband Scott and my children. If it weren’t for my boys, Brendan Doucet, Cory Smith, Koty Lambert and Ryan and Scott Blanchard and my husband back home, holding down the fort, I could never have realized my show dreams. Our barn was built with their very own hands. Additionally, there is no way I could attend the shows without the help of my girls, Courtney Brossett and Lauren Harris. They have both been our cheerleaders, grooms for the horses, and best travel buddies we could have asked for. My friends, Michelle Hill and Krisite Hyde, keep me grounded. I am equally blessed with several friends and mentors rooting me on. I love them all so very much and will forever be grateful for their presence in my life.”

Melynda, Scott, their children, their friends, their mentors, and their horses are proof that there are many ways to enjoy competition, and many ways to find happiness. Their property, grandfathered into the suburbia of Denham Springs, is a welcoming, peaceful place, for horses and humans alike.

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 45 Horses and Allergies Karen E. Davison, Ph.D. shampoos, blankets, wool and neat’s-foot oil. Other causes Determining the cause of allergy symptoms can be quite Manager-Equine Technical Services include atopy, an inherited predisposition to environmental an exercise in trial and error. In humans, the gold standard Land O’Lakes Purina Feed allergen sensitivity, and “sweet itch” which is hypersensitivity for diagnosing food allergies is a double-blind, placebo- to insects such as culicoides. Food allergies are commonly controlled food challenge. A reaction is expected within a few If you’ve ever experienced a horse with allergies, you know it suspected but rarely prove to be the true cause of allergies in minutes to 2 hours after ingestion but this is a very involved can be a frustrating situation for both horse and horse owner. horses. Even in people, true food allergies affect only about and expensive procedure. Other allergy tests include a skin Frustrating for the horse with runny eyes and welts or itching 6 – 8% of children and 2% of adults. prick test or a patch test where extracts of various foods, or and rubbing constantly while nothing seems to provide relief. other potential allergens, are injected into the skin. Reactions Frustrating for the owner because you are trying desperately to An allergic reaction to protein normally causes what are (called weals) at the injection or prick site are measured to find out what caused the problem and how to fix it. historically referred to as “protein bumps” on horses. Instead determine sensitivity level. Many horse owners opt for a blood of large soft welts, protein bumps are usually hard little bumps analysis that will measure antibody levels to various potential Allergic reactions are essentially an immune system in over- like a large BB under the skin. They may be a reaction to a allergens including insects, molds, pollens, plants and foods. drive. An allergy is an abnormal reaction by the immune certain protein, not necessarily of dietary origin, but may be These blood tests can provide some indication of what may be system against a normally harmless substance. The first from a protein injected in the skin when insects bite. Other causing allergy symptoms but often have a high rate of false exposure to the allergen causes white blood cells to produce skin reactions cause scabby eruptions on the skin that usually positives. antibodies that prepare the immune system for the next itch, causing the horse to rub enough to lose hair and even encounter with that same allergen. No outward signs occur cause sores. These may be from an allergic reaction or a The only reliable diagnosis of a food allergy is an elimination at this point. The antibodies attaches to mast cells that are bacterial infection. Scabs can be cultured to determine if there diet. One difficulty with this is finding a diet that contains none found in the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract and the is a bacterial infection and a regimen of antibiotics may resolve of the identified potential allergens but still meets the horse’s skin. During the next exposure, the allergens will combine the issue. nutrient requirements. Sometimes that is absolutely impossible with the antibodies and release chemicals, such as histamine because of the long list of potential allergens. A horse that or leukotrienes, which produce the allergy symptoms. The Allergy symptoms such as hives, runny eyes, nasal discharge has previously been on a good plane of nutrition can be fed resulting allergy symptoms depend on where in the body the and coughing may be more indicative of an inhaled allergen. a hay-only diet for one to four weeks to see if the symptoms chemicals are released, and are generally some manifestation Removing long-stemmed hay and using a complete feed resolve. If they don’t improve then the symptoms weren’t of inflammation. that is formulated to replace hay often helps alleviate these caused by a food allergy and you have to look for other causes. problems. Other management options including immersing If symptoms do resolve, then very gradually introduce one new The most common symptoms in horses associated with allergies hay thoroughly in water before feeding, feeding in a trough food at a time in an effort to build a balanced diet that will are skin irritations such as hives, welts, and itching (urticaria) at ground level, wetting stall bedding or changing the type of not trigger an allergic response. There is anecdotal evidence or respiratory problems such as recurrent airway obstruction bedding, and providing as much pasture time as possible will that feeding omega 3 fatty acids from a fat supplement such as (RAO) which is very similar to asthma in people. Weepy eyes, help minimize exposure to respirable dust and molds. In almost Purina Nature’s Essentials Amplify TM supplement may help nasal discharge or digestive upsets can also be symptoms of all cases symptoms due to inhaled allergens will improve if the resolve symptoms of skin irritation and inflammation. Feeding allergic reactions. These symptoms can be caused by contact horse is kept outdoors. Even short amounts of time in barns or 1 – 1.5 lbs per day of Amplify TM to horses suffering from dermatitis from exposure to organophosphate pesticides, trailers will exacerbate symptoms. sweet itch has been reported to result in cessation of itching heavy metals, dyes, bedding, topical medications, soaps, and hair re-growth within 45 days.

46 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued from page 6......

April 11th & 12th April 16th April 26th Mississippi Jr. High School Rodeo Assoc. Louisiana High School Rodeo Association 4H Achievement Day Florida Parishes Arena Gray Ranch/M-Heart Corporation Info: www.mjhsra.org Purvis, MS LaSalle Riding Club HS Only LRC Arena Amite, LA Quarter Horse Production Sales @ The ranch Jena, LA headquarters South of Vinton, LA Live Music May 3rd & 4th April 17th & Lunch at 11:00am. Sale @ l:00pm Info: Louisiana High School Rodeo Association CRA Rodeo Ag Wonders Florida Parishes Arena Amite, LA Kent LeDoux 337-496-4340 DeRidder HS with cutting DeRidder, LA Far South Buckin Bulls Info: 985-860-5159 Raceland, LA April 18th April 26th & 27th Arkansas Reining Horse Show Barrel Run Morehouse Activity Center Bastrop, LA Brother N Laws Team Rping Tunica Arena & Tunica Arena & Expo Center Info: Adam April 11th – 13th Expo Center Info: Kirby Hill 903-875-8130 Partee 870-613-1889 Tunica, MS Platinum Productions Barrel Racing April 18th & 19th Tunica, MS Info: Timmy Woodcock 228-860-8104 Holly Hill Horse Trails Holly Hill Farm Silver Spur Riders Club Email: [email protected] Info: Tracy Hewlett email: tracy@hollyhi- NBHA LA 04 West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA Kirk Fordice Equine Center Jackson, MS llfarm.net BREC Indoor Arena Info: Scooter LeBouef 985-209-3531 [email protected] May 4th Mississippi High School Rodeo Assoc. April 18th – 20th Baton Rouge, LA Terrebonne Livestock Agricultural Fair Assoc. Purvis II HS Info: www.mshsra.org Louisiana Hunter Jumper Association Horse Show #3 Houma, LA Purvis, MS Spring GALA Serenity Farm Info: Ginger April 26th – 28th Black 817-372-8822 Folsom, LA Crossfire Productions West Cal Arena NBHA LA 03 April 12th Sulphur, LA Info: Glenda LeBlanc 337-789-9050 Rockin’ Country 2014 Buckle Series Registra- April 19th & 20th Rice Arena Crowley, LA tion at 10:00 am PeeWee’s start the show @ Sugasheaux Info: 337-365-7539 www.sug- April 27th 11:00am Contact Us: 228-225-6480 Hancock arena.com New Iberia, LA 3D Open Team Sorting Series Harrison County May 4th & 5th County Arena 4184 Kiln Delisle Rd. Kiln, MS Arena Info: Rico Lee 601-916-7584 or Troy Young Gunz Productions Team Roping Silver Spurs Rodeo Club Cain 985-516-7507 Or Blake Chiasson 985- West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA Louisiana Stock Horse Association West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA 285-0892 Gulfport, MS Info: Judy 877-335-3072 or 337-238-0193 May 6th & 7th DeRidder, LA April 22nd & 23rd NBHA LA 03 Sulphur Rodeo Club Open 4-D West Cal Arena Silver Spurs Rodeo Club Open 4-D Info: Glenda LeBlanc 337-789-9050 Sulphur, LA Red Hills Horse Show West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA Rice Arena Crowley, LA Lauderdale County Agri-Center Meridian, MS May 7th – 11th April 23rd – 27th April 29th & 30th Show for Dough NSBA Horse Show Tunica South Louisiana Team Sorting Assoc. Louisiana Hunter Jumper Association Silver Spurs Rodeo club Open 4-D Arena & Expo Center Info: Dave Dellin Info: 225-715-3180 Southern Heat Team Rop- Elite Show Jumping Amen Corner Farm West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA 940-368-1619 www.showfordough.com ing Florida Parishes Arena Amite, LA Info: Cheryl Sims [email protected] Tunica, MS Folsom, LA April 30th – May 4th Farr Park Equestrian Center Louisiana Hunter Jumper Association Elite May 9th & 10th Stick Horse Rodeo BREC Horse Show for Les- April 25th Show Jumping Amen Corner Farm Info: North Louisiana Equestrian Association son Students Only Info: Melissa 225-769-7805 Relay For Life Lauderdale County Cheryl Sims [email protected] Folsom, LA Wildwood Info: nlea.org Baton Rouge, LA Agri-Center Meridian, MS May 2nd & 3rd May 10th Mississippi Jr. High School Rodeo Assoc. April 25th & 26th Louisiana High School Rodeo Association Rockin’ Country 2014 Buckle Series Purvis II Info: www.mjhsra.org Purvis, MS CRA Rodeo Bar L Rodeo DeRidder JH with SBB SSB Beauregard Parish Registration at 10:00 am PeeWee’s start the Info: 985-860-5159 Napoleonville, LA Covered Arena DeRidder, LA show @ 11:00am Contact Us: 228-225-6480 April 12th & 13th Hancock County Arena 4184 Kiln Delisle Rd. La Team Roping Association West Cal Arena April 26th Mississippi High School Rodeo Assoc. Kiln, MS Sulphur, LA Redbud Festival Barrel B last Red River Riders Purvis II HS Info: www.mshsra.org Purvis, MS $1,000 Added 4-D Dr. Seals S. Speer Arena Deep South Team Roping SEDA Fleur de Leep Schooling Horse Trials Info: Jennifer Thomas 318-464-2548 or Sarah May 3rd Poplarville, MS and Combined Test Info: www.sedariders.org Jorgensen 318-751-1198 Vivian, LA 3D Open Team Sorting Series J3 Farms Arena Lagniappe Equestrian Center Folsom, LA Info: Charlie Richardson 504-450-8486 or Tra- K & W Team Sorting Relay for Life vis Terrebonne 985-637-9325 Kentwood, LA Lauderdale County Agri-Center Meridian, MS NBHA LA 04 Florida Parishes Arena Amite, LA Info: Scooter LeBouef 985-209-3531 NBHA LA 04 Acadiana Barrel Racing Association [email protected] New Roads, LA Deep South Team Roping Info: Scooter LeBouef 985-209-3531 SugArena New Iberia, LA Gallman, MS [email protected] Plaquemine, LA April 13th Southern Horseman’s Organization Dog Fest Lauderdale County Agri-Center Red Hills Horse Show Lauderdale County Agri- Florida Parishes Arena Amite, LA Meridian, MS Center Meridian, MS

April 15th & 16th April 25th – 27th Louisiana Stock Horse Association Little Britches Rodeo Club Open 4-D Sugarfest High School & Jr. High Rodeo Info: Judy 877-335-3072 or 337-238-0193 Continued on Page 48... West Cal Arena Sulphur, LA SugaArena New Iberia, LA West Monroe, LA

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 47 Continued from Page 47...

May 10th & 11th May 23rd - 25th Red Hills Horse Show Acadiana Barrel Racing Assoc. Added Money “Bayou Classic” Crawfish Craze 5D Barrel Run Ike Hamilton Expo Center Lauderdale County Agri-Center Meridian, MS SugArena Info: Info: Tina Owens 318-235-5026 West Monroe, LA www.laabra.com New Iberia, LA June 1st May 23rd – 26th Iberia Parish 4-H Horse Show Red River Regional Eventing Rally Arkansas Quarter Horse Memorial Day Circuit SugArena New Iberia, LA Holly Hill Farm Benton, LA Tunica Arena & Expo Center Info: Jerry Fuller 870-816-5813 www.arkansasquarterhorse.com Tunica, MS Terrebonne Livestock Agricultural Fair Assoc. May 16th Horse Show #4 Houma, LA Barrel Run Morehouse Activity Center May 24th & 25th Bastrop, LA Deep South Team Roping Lauderdale County Agri-Center June 3rd – 7th Meridian, MS Louisiana High School Rodeo Associaton May 16th – 18th Louisiana HS Finals Rodeo Lake Charles, LA Central States Peruvian Horse Show Louisiana Hunter Jumper Association Tunica Arena & Expo Center Info: Equest Farm Crescent City Show Circuit 3 Mississippi Jr. High School Rodeo Assoc. Joyce Russel 256-577-3496 Tunica, MS Info: Leslie Kramer 504-982-0888 [email protected] Info: www.mjhsra.org Hattiesburg, MS New Orleans, LA Karen O’Connor Eventing Clinic Mississippi High School Rodeo Assoc. Holly Hill Farm Info: Tracy Hewlett 318-218-8994 NBHA LA 04 State Finals Info: www.mshsra.org Purvis, MS email: [email protected] www.hollyhillfarm.net Info: Scooter LeBouef 985-209-3531 \ [email protected] Port Allen, LA June 6th May 17th Frank Foster Country Music Concert Sugasheaux Info: 337-365-7539 www.sugarena.com May 25th Lauderdale County Agri-Center Meridian, MS New Iberia, LA NBHA LA 03 Info: Glenda LeBlanc 337-789-9050 Rice Arena Crowley, LA June 6th – 8th NBHA LA 04 Lucky Dg Productions Barrel Race Tunica Arena & Expo Center BREC Indoor Arena Info: Scooter LeBouef 985-209-3531 May 27th – June 1st Info: Judy Brown 870-930-7718 www.luckydograces.com [email protected] Jumpin’ Into June Lagniappe Farm Tunica, MS Baton Rouge, LA Info: Sharon Londono 985-796-9134 Folsom, LA South Louisiana Team Sorting Assoc. June 7th Info: 225-715-3180 May 30th – June 1st LA State Appaloosa Club Horse Show Louisiana High School Rodeo Association SugArena New Iberia, LA Red Hills Horse Show Louisiana JH Finals Rodeo W.T. Burton Coliseum Lauderdale County Agri-Center Meridian, MS Lake Charles, LA 3D Open Team Sorting Series Crain Arena Info: Troy Crain 985-516-7507 May 17th & 18th May 31st Or Blake Chiasson 985-285-0892 Le Bon Temps Returns USEF Recognized Dressage Show Louisiana Stock Horse Association Info: www.sedariders.org Serenity Farm Folsom, LA Info: Judy 877-335-3072 or 337-238-0193 Gonzales, LA NBHA Barrel Race Lauderdale County Agri-Center Meridian, MS May 18th Acadiana Barrel Racing Association Sugasheaux Two Man Ranch Sorting Rice Arena Info: Susan Krieg 337-288-5374 June 8th Info: 337-365-7539 www.sugarena.com Crowley, LA Acadiana Barrel Racing Assoc. Info: www.laabra.com SugArena New Iberia, LA May 23rd & 24th May 31st – June 1st CRA Rodeo Bar L Rodeo Mississippi Paint Horse Show Tunica Arena & Expo Center Info: Info: 985-860-5159 New Iberia, LA Sheila Parker 662-207-0138 Tunica, MS

48 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL RODEO ASSOCIATION ALL AROUND LEADERS GIRLS All Around Place Member Name City PointsPlace Member Name City Points 1. BOBBI LYNN BOND FLORENCE, MS 358.00 38. TAYLOR BREAZEALE PHILADELPHIA, MS 34.00 2. JADI GIBBS FOREST, MS 264.00 39. TAYLOR GATWOOD HATTIESBURG, MS 25.00 3. DESTYN LADNER POPLARVILLE, MS 256.00 40. RACHEL HARRIS (R) POPLARVILLE, MS 24.00 4. AUBRIE CLAIRE FORD COLUMBUS, MS 197.00 41. REESE JOHNSON CARRIERE, MS 22.00 5. ABBI HOLLIDAY POPLARVILLE, MS 190.50 42. FALLON WATSON WISNER, LA 20.00 6. ABBY BERRY (R) PRENTISS, MS 185.00 43. CAMREN HENSARLING (R) LUMBERTON, MS 19.00 7. LAURA BETH KOLB MABEN, MS 165.00 44. ABBY SMITH (R) POPLARVILLE, MS 18.00 8. BAILEY WESTLING (R) MCHENRY, MS 143.00 45. PEYTON RHODES PELAHATCHIE, MS 17.00 9. MCKINSY HARRIS POPLARVILLE, MS 137.00 46. KAYLA POUNDS POPLARVILLE, MS 16.00 10. CAMPBELL GROVER (R) PURVIS, MS 135.00 47. ASHLEY STORK (R) LUCEDALE, MS 15.00 11. BERGEN PITFIELD PURVIS, MS 129.00 48. EMILY HERRING RICHTON, MS 14.00 12. HALEIGH MCNEIL (R) ENTERPRISE, MS 115.00 49. SAMANTHA WALKER PELAHATCHIE, MS 9.00 13. CAROLINE WHEELER PINE GROVE, LA 111.00 50. KATELYN ALBRITTON BROOKLYN, MS 9.00 14. KALEE MCCANN (R) WALNUT GROVE, MS 103.00 51. CHEYANNE WILLIAMSON POPLARVILLE, MS 8.00 15. CAITLIN CORE FOLSOM, LA 91.00 52. OLIVIA MARTIN MERIDIAN, MS 8.00 16. CHELSEY JOHNSON POPLARVILLE, MS 72.00 53. KAMRY BOND LUMBERTON, MS 7.00 17. JAMIE LEBLANC (R) WALKER, LA 71.00 54. KATELYN CHANDLER (R) CENTREVILLE, MS 6.00 18. KAYTLYN MCCARTY SUMMIT, MS 71.00 55. EMMA CLAIRE DUFFY (R) WALKER, LA 5.00 19. SHELBI CRAWFORD (R) OSYKA, MS 58.00 56. RHEANNA HOLCOMB LUMBERTON, MS 5.00 20. JASY LEE (R) POPLARVILLE, MS 58.00 57. BLAKE BRADY LIBERTY, MS 5.00 21. ALANA SANDERS LAKE, MS 56.00 58. KENNEDY BAKER PURVIS, MS 5.00 22. MARY GRACE BRIAN SLAUGHTER, LA 56.00 59. BAILEY REEVES (R) LIBERTY, MS 4.00 23. SUZANNE MOSLEY (R) PULAKI, MS 54.00 60. HARLEE DILLARD (R) PELAHATCHIE, MS 3.00 24. SHELBY MARTIN MENDENHALL, MS 53.00 61. CHRISTAL MIXON (R) ROSELAND, LA 2.00 25. MALLORY HEAD POPLARVILLE, MS 52.50 62. SHELBY WILBORN PURVIS, MS 2.00 26. BAILEY TURBVILLE (R) MADISON, MS 51.00 63. ELLEN HERRING RICHTON, MS 2.00

27. SARAH PHILLIPS YAZOO CITY, MS 46.00 Continued on page 51... 28. TAYLOR OZBORN BRANDON, MS 45.00 29. HILLARY HOPKINS PICAYUNE, MS 45.00 30. BRANDI LEE PICAYUNE, MS 42.00 31. SONNI LYNN OSWALD (R) FOLSOM, LA 42.00 32. ASHTON FINCH MENDENHALL, MS 42.00 33. KIMBERLY MEASELS BRANDON, MS 41.00 34. MAKENZIE RICHARDSON (R) BROOKHAVEN, MS 39.00 Don’t miss an issue! 35. EMILIE RUSHING (R) WIGGINS, MS 37.00 Subscriptions 36. COURTNEY TULLOS EDWARDS, MS 35.00 Available! 37. RILEY BREEDEN ST FRANCISVILLE, LA 35.00

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 49 Anna Paul Guides Gulf Coast Equine By Barbara Newtown Gulf Coast Equine, a full service Thoroughbred farm, is located in Sunset, just south of Opelousas, “He looks shed out already,” I say. La. Owners Anna and Ray Paul stand stallions, prep horses for sales, and board and foal out mares. Ray Paul worked for twenty-five years in the electric department of the city of Tallahassee, FL. “No,” says Anna. “That really is After this “first” retirement, he entered the Thoroughbred business in Ocala. His daughter Anna his winter coat. And he refuses grew up showing in AQHA Western Pleasure classes and absorbing her father’s Thoroughbred to wear a blanket—he takes it off knowledge, as well as taking courses in equine reproduction at Central Florida Community College. and rips it up. But we keep him in Ray moved his Thoroughbred operation to Sarepta, Louisiana, from Ocala in response to incentives a paddock. A lot of people keep offered by the Louisiana Breeders Program. Sarepta is near the Arkansas border; after a few years their stallions in. I think, after a Ray decided to move farther down the state to Sunset to be closer to potential clients. racing career, they’re tired of a

The farm, formerly owned by Perry Judice, has a Kentucky feel. Black board fences divide the 35 acres into generous paddocks. Ninety-degree corners are few: the paddocks curve in safe, gentle arcs. Horses graze ankle-deep in the rye grass of early spring. “In the future, we’ll be subdividing the paddocks with black vinyl fencing,” says Anna. “It’s easy to put in and it is safe—especially for horses who have just come off the track.” stall. They deserve to be outside, to be a horse. They’re happier and they hold A large barn houses not only stalls, but also Anna’s apartment, as well as a second-story storage their weight better.” room filled with all the boxes that Anna hasn’t unpacked yet. Ray also lives on the property. “Somebody is here twenty-four hours a day,” says Anna. During foaling season, Anna can’t keep Anna says, “We feed a high-fat, fourteen- herself from getting up and down all night to check the mares. She uses a foal alert system, but per-cent pellet. Every horse has different she puts her trust in her own watchfulness. requirements but I prefer pellets, rather than a sweet feed as they tend to digest When I meet Ray and Anna, I naturally direct some questions towards Ray—Anna, after all, is easier. Typically we feed two times a only twenty-eight, and Ray looks like “the owner”—but he doesn’t take the bait. He explains: day, more if needed. This time of year “It’s all on Anna’s shoulders now.” Ray is committed to his third retirement. “Is your dad going to the stallions get fed three times a day, because they have to work. Each meal is two scoops of move to a beach house in the Caribbean?” Anna laughs and shakes her head. I observed him later pellets with three-quarters of a scoop of beet pulp and four to five ounces of rice bran. I swear in the day, puttering with a tractor, quite content. by beet pulp. Since we started feeding it, we’ve had only two horses in the past three years try to colic. Some Banamine and some walking got them out of trouble. We started with beet pulp up in We stroll by the paddocks. “Our breeding season is February 15th through June. I don’t send Sarepta, to supplement and stretch our hay resources during those several dry years, when round horses to be broke until they’re a true two-year-old. In fact, we have a three-year-old filly in bales were so expensive. training now that will make her first out at Evangeline Downs. I didn’t start her until April of her two-year-old year. We have a two-year-old colt that we probably won’t start until May.” We saw a considerable difference in the horses we were trying to keep weight on, especially mares with foals by their sides that are getting close to weaning. And the rice bran helps with the coat.” “You let the horse’s development tell you when to start,” I offer. Anna says that one reason a horse may be too thin after a racing career is that the horse may have “If you do right by the horse, the horse will do right by you,” says Anna. been on all kinds of supplements at the track, and then the supplements were stopped when the horse stopped racing “We’ve got a mare now who’s anemic and thin. They probably took her cold We admire a handsome little two-year-old colt. “He was a problem baby. That’s why I won’t break turkey off of blood builders. She’s 17.1 and needs to eat four times a day. We put her back on blood him until this May.” Anna pats him. “After we bred the owner’s mare, they shipped her out to a builders and will wean her off gradually when her weight and health are back. She also gets half a farm in Texas where they didn’t take care of her. She came back 300 pounds underweight, and had tube of Gastrogard and a nutrition booster to help with digestion.” her foal after a year and twelve days. He was born no more than 40 pounds soaking wet. I called We head into the barn to see the third stallion, Bob’s Proud Moment. I gasp when I see him. He’s a the owners and said, ‘This baby needs to be hospitalized.’ They said, ‘We’ve been through this lanky bay, more than seventeen hands. He’s showing off in the stall, prancing and talking to anyone before and it never turns out well. If you want the foal, you can have it; otherwise, put it down.’ I who will listen. Anna says that he is a grandson of Mr. Prospector, and his height comes from What walked up to my dad and said, ‘This is my Derby horse!’” a Pleasure on his dam’s side.

Anna says, “He couldn’t stand up for the first three days. I held him up to nurse, and when I Anna tells the story of Bob. “He requires a lot of attention. He gets bored in the paddock, so we couldn’t hold him anymore, I’d milk the mare and feed him with a bottle. My dad swore the foal bring him up, groom him, put him on the walker, just to keep his mind calm. He’s the hardest to would never make it through the night. We had heating pads, electric blankets, little foal blankets.” breed. He got off to a rough start on a farm out in the boonies of Florida.” Bob only bred a few She looks critically at the little guy. “He’s probably six months behind everyone else, but you can’t mares there, and most of his first foal crop was killed by lightning while they were huddled under a tell that there is anything wrong. He’s got Mr. Prospector and the Halo line on his mother’s side, tree. His owner passed away, and Bob was traded off a few times for bills owed. “And then he got and on his dad’s side there’s Smooth Air, from the Storm Cat line, and Deputy Minister. He’s going lost in Miami for a while,” laughs Anna. “Well, not really lost, just not being used as a stallion.” to stick around; he’s my kid. I named him Scoot Too because all he could do for the first few days “The farm that first had Bob didn’t teach him right. He’s not rough with the mares; he’s rough with was scoot around the stall.” the handler. He’s pushy; he doesn’t respect the chain. If he starts barreling towards a mare, it’s unsafe for everyone involved. My friend Tommy Delahoussaye said he had a special halter for Scoot Too is a dark bay with a beautiful balanced body. “He thinks he’s a lap dog. He’s spoiled him. It works, and we can get the job done safely for all involved.” rotten!” Anna laughs. “He’ll get broke in a couple of months, and then he’ll hang out for a while doing horse things. He hasn’t finished growing yet.” Nevertheless Bob is still tough for Anna. He doesn’t like women. Anna, who is used to handling all the stallions, gave up on Bob this season and lets Justin, one of her employees, control him. “Bob We come up to a dark bay stallion with ripped muscles. “Wow,” I say. “And look at that shoulder! and Justin get along fine. Bob just isn’t a girl’s horse…well, the feeling between us is mutual!” Length and great slope.” Anna talks about her stallion-handling strategy. She tries to have a “we’re going to breed now” “This is Big Band Sound. He just came off the track, and this is his first year at stud.” signal. She usually puts a chain through the stallion’s mouth, like a bit. The stallions learn that if In the next paddock is Smooth Air. Anna tells me that he is nine years old and is an experienced that chain isn’t there, there’s no breeding. breeding stallion. He no longer has that off-the-track look; he looks like he’s been enjoying his groceries, but is very fit. His bay coat is short and gleaming. “Big Band Sound had a tendency to bite the mare,” says Anna. “I took the throatlatch off a bridle and basically tied his mouth shut.” Over time she loosened the leather more and more; now it just hangs loosely. Continued on page 52...

50 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued from page 49... MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL RODEO ASSOCIATION ALL AROUND LEADERS BOYS All Around Place Member Name City Points Place Member Name City Points 1. MARCUS THERIOT OPLARVILLE, MS 304.00 38. RANGLE PITTMAN (R) KENTWOOD, LA 41.00 2. RYDER LADNER KILN, MS 273.00 39. KYLE INKENBRANDT HAMMOND, LA 41.00 3. KOBY RADLEY HOLDEN, LA 190.00 40. CADE CERNICH AMITE, LA 40.00 4. KASH MILLER (R) MIZE, MS 169.00 41. TYLER BROWN FLORENCE, MS 39.00 5. CLAY BROWN CARRIERE, MS 153.00 42. REESE BUSTER FLORA, MS 38.00 6. BRANDON MCBRIDE POPLARVILLE, MS 144.00 43. STRAN SMITH (R) MONTICELLO, MS 37.00 7. DREW MAY WALNUT GROVE, MS 142.00 44. HUNTER CROFFORD (R) CARTHAGE, MS 35.00 8. CHASE GRAVES (R) POPLARVILLE, MS 141.00 45. CHARLES HOPKINS PICAYUNE, MS 34.00 9. ZAINE CARNAHAN RICHTON, MS 121.00 46. GAVIN TURNER (R) LUMBERTON, MS 33.00 10. JON MICHAEL LOFLIN STAR, MS 119.00 47. WYATT SIMMONS (R) CHUNCHULA, AL 32.00 11. ANDREW BURKS KILN, MS 110.00 48. DILLON MIZELLE VANCLEAVE, MS 31.00 12. ETHAN SMITH PURVIS, MS 105.00 49. LAINE VICARO HAMMOND, LA 29.50 13. JACOB WATT GEIGER, AL 96.00 50. LEE SHUMAKER ETHEL, MS 28.00 14. DALE CHANCELLOR MACON, MS 94.00 51. MATTHEW DARDEN (R) CENTREVILLE, MS 23.00 15. ALEX NOBLES BOGALUSA, LA 89.00 52. MARK CURRY (R) MCCOMB, MS 23.00 16. KODY MILLER MIZE, MS 87.00 53. CALEB HEBERT POPLARVILLE, MS 21.00 17. LUKE ADDISON LORANGER, LA 81.00 54. BO BOLEWARE (R) LUCEDALE, MS 20.00 18. DEREK HOLDER LUCEDALE, MS 76.00 55. CHANCE MCMAHON TAYLORSVILLE, MS 20.00 19. TYLER HOLDER (R) LUCEDALE, MS 73.50 56. JARED WILKINSON SUMMIT, MS 18.00 20. JAMES SMITH SEMINARY, MS 69.00 57. COLE THOMAS (R) MEADVILLE, MS 16.00 21. MARC JOINER (R) LORANGER, LA 67.00 58. LUKE CHABERT PURVIS, MS 16.00 22. DYLAN BOBO CARTHAGE, MS 64.00 59. KOLBY MCCLURE LUCEDALE, MS 16.00 23. RYAN PERSICK GROSSE TETE, LA 59.00 60. MONTANA BRANTLEY CARTHAGE, MS 16.00 24. BLAISE HOLDER (R) COLLINS, MS 56.00 61. ZEAK SHORTER (R) FLORENCE, MS 13.00 25. KELTON TYNES POPLARVILLE, MS 56.00 62. GARRETT SHOEMAKE PERKINSTON, MS 12.00 26. SAM SMITH PICAYUNE, MS 56.00 63. AUSTEN PARRISH (R) ROSELAND, LA 9.00 27. ANDREW VINCENT MADISON, MS 55.00 64. TRISTAN BLANKINCHIP (R) LUCEDALE, MS 9.00 28. WESTON PENDER (R) PERKINSTON, MS 50.00 65. JUSTIN WATTS BRANDON, MS 9.00 29. KOLE CHANDLER CENTERVILLE, MS 50.00 66. MORGAN BROWN CARTHAGE, MS 9.00 30. JED SIBLEY (R) DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 49.00 67. LOGAN BREAZEALE PURVIS, MS 8.00 31. SCOTT DAVIS (R) LUCEDALE, MS 48.00 68. EVAN COULTER (R) COLLINS, MS 5.00 32. T.J. WESTLING MCHENRY, MS 48.00 69. ADDISON ANGLIN (R) SEMINARY, MS 5.00 33. TREY TURNER LUMBERTON, MS 48.00 70. TRISTIAN GILLESPIE PETAL, MS 5.00 34. WYATT MCCANN (R) WALNUT GROVE, MS 47.00 71. COLTON FREEMAN RICHTON, MS 5.00 35. RIC LEBLANC WALKER, LA 47.00 72. COLLIN ALBIN LIVINGSTON, LA 1.00 36. JASON ADAMS WATER VALLEY, MS 44.00 37. TJ COLEMAN SHUQUALAK, MS 42.00

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 51 Continued from page 50... economic and scientific: if AI became the norm, a few popular office!” I can imagine mare owners relaxing with elbows on Anna Paul Guides Gulf Coast stallions could overwhelm the gene pool. The lack of diversity the bar, feeling the breeze through the big barn door, talking that worries Thoroughbred breeders already would become bloodlines and distances and entries. Equine By Barbara Newtown threatening. And, says Anna, artificial insemination would ruin stallion stations and mare facilities all over the nation. Gulf Coast Equine has a stallion show every January, when “The other day I brought him out without the strap, and he just mare owners are deciding which way to go with their breeding stood there, looking at the mare. He didn’t talk to her or drop.” Nevertheless, small-time Thoroughbred breeders have a programs. “This year we did a big pot of gumbo, had chili and Once he had his special strap on, he was ready. “I like getting responsibility. Anna believes that breeders must maintain sliced ham, rolls for sandwiches, dip, the whole nine yards. It’s stallions as ‘freshmen’ because you can make or break them. If quality. Just because there’s a registered Thoroughbred stallion exciting!” I mentally make a note to angle for a 2015 invitation. you get them already breeding, it’s hard to change. Big Band down the road doesn’t mean your mare is going to produce a I’d like to taste the gumbo…and see more of Bob. Sound and Smooth Air we’ve had since day one. Smooth sees Derby winner from that mating. In the distance there is a paddock with two mares and two foals. you holding a halter with a chain on the lead, and he comes One foal, a flashy chestnut, wrestles with forelegs over at the running up to you. He knows! He’s also talkative. He announces We finish our tour back in the huge barn, and Anna introduces knee and down at the pastern. to the whole world that he’s going to breed a mare.” me to Bob’s friend Justin, to Dee, the exercise rider, and to her veterinarian, Dr. Brent Bonura, who has been doing pregnancy “That’s Crazy Legs. She’s five weeks old, with Flower Alley I can’t take my eyes off Bob. “If I were to breed to a checks. The mood is easy and friendly. I notice a portable blood.” Flower Alley, a Travers Stakes winner, also sired I’ll Thoroughbred, this guy is the one I’d choose,” I say. “He looks aluminum bar for serving drinks, surrounded by stools. The Have Another, winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness like he can jump! And he has presence—he’d impress a dressage bar is covered with paperwork (including the Louisiana Equine in 2012. Anna says that she and her staff have been wrapping judge. ” Report) and has breeding records, phone books, and stallion and massaging the foal’s legs since birth. The farrier put on baby registries stored where the bottles would be. shoes with heels to help bring the pasterns up. “She’s getting “He is a gorgeous mover,” says Anna. “When he extends out in lots of physical therapy, and she’s coming along.” The prognosis the paddock, he floats. We’re going to start riding him.” “We had this on the deck of our above-ground pool in Sarepta and is good. hardly used it,” says Anna. “Now it’s sort of an “Bob is lucky he ended up at Gulf Coast,” I say. For a moment Anna Paul drops the calm control of a woman in “You are patient and you’re giving him a chance to a tough profession. She looks intense. “I like to fix things,” she breed good mares.” says. She’s in the right business.

“I come from a Quarter Horse show background,” she says. “So I I am impressed with the effort like bulky studs.” Bob is the opposite of bulky; he’s a traditional Anna puts forth to save early foals, Thoroughbred—he looks like he should be in an eighteenth- straighten crooked legs, and psych out century painting that’s hanging in a baronial hall. But Anna says stallions. Many people just wouldn’t she can appreciate Bob’s looks and talent. “If it comes to that, take the time to do all that to save a Bob could have another job, easily. Maybe in a jumper barn.” horse. Gulf Coast Equine has a lot to offer and welcomes visitors and All Thoroughbreds must use live cover. Artificial insemination prospective clients to give them call and embryo transfer are not allowed. The main reasons are or schedule a visit.

52 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 53 Rita Shaw – A horse WOMAN who believes in HorseMANship – even if you ARE a cowboy! By Kathryn Loewer

Rita Shaw is a classic cowgirl in every sense of the word. 24/7 she and her husband Randal operate sure all her horses have a solid foundation Rake Straw Farm in Perkinston, MS. Born and raised in Poplarville, MS she has been on the back in training before taking them to the barrel of a horse since she was a toddler. “Dad didn’t have great horses…”she begins “…we didn’t have pen. “Having a horse broke – and having the saddles, just burlap sacks and simple bits. We grew up on a full operating dairy and pecan and horsemanship it takes can’t be emphasized tongue nut orchard. (Tongue nuts were grown for their oil and used to make turpentine and other enough.” products) When we weren’t doing chores, we were riding. We had to make our horses. No one trained them for us. If we wanted to do something we would figure it out.” “Every horse is an individual. They are all built differently. They have different styles, Life on the farm growing up taught Rita how to be a problem solver and how to stay busy. She talents and weaknesses. I want to engage recalls, “When hurricane Camille came through we lost the tongue nut orchards, there was no and bend my horse appropriately, but I electricity for weeks so we had to milk all 65 cows by hand, every morning and every evening!” let me horse show me his style of doing They did not have the electronic toys of this generation. “We made our own fun. We built forts in things. I want my horse to be happy and the woods, rode until dark, but came home and ate supper together every night. Bored was not a comfortable. You need to listen to your word in our vocabulary. We did not need to be entertained every minute. There was always much horse, and build on what they offer. Then to do. But we always found time to ride.” he will win.”

Rita’s start into the world of barrel racing came when she was taken under the wing of her uncle Rita goes on to explain that she would only Curtis Howard. He mentored her and let her ride his older horse in 4H. He would take her along to cull a horse for a defiant attitude or poor events and helped her get started. “My uncle Curtis was my biggest work ethic. “They influence in my career of barrel racing.” have to be willing, willingness and a They would go to shows, and clinics. She rode in a Wanda Harper good work ethic Bush clinic and read lots of books picking up tips along the way. is more important than anything on the papers. I don’t ride the papers…I ride the horse.” In the early 1990’s she started training for Dr. Mike Lee, riding the horses Classiest Jet Yet and Automatic Cash. Among this One of her best horses was Jimmerman’s Moon she bought the grey mare connection with Lee, Shaw won the AQHA World Jr. Horse Barrel from Swegman’s Supermarket when they had their horse sale. She won the Racing Reserve champion in 1994 and Sr. Horse Reserve Barrel Tri-State Rodeo Association All Around title on her in 1992. Jimmerman’s Racing Champion in 1996 on Automatic Cash. In 1997 she won Moon is 31 years young today and still enjoys a gallop. “She’s a good the AQHA Jr. Horse Barrel Racing World Championship aboard babysitter but be careful getting her out of a slow trot! She still wants to Flaminanflyin. get it!”

Rita is also card holder for both the PCA and WPRA rodeo Rita and Randal have a grown daughter Lindsey Pender who is riding associations. Shaw has been multiple time finalists in the PCA and right along in her mom’s footsteps. Rita says, “I could not be any more also the Barrel Racing Average Champion. She had the chance to proud that in 2008, 16 years later, Lindsey captured the same Tri-State chase the full rodeo dream, and her husband Randal encouraged Rodeo Association All Around title!” Lindsey was the Reserve Champion her, but the love of family was more important to her. Her roots in the Sr. Horse Barrels at the AQHA Dixie Nationals this year aboard run deep. She was not willing to leave her family to do that. The Flamewater Flit, one of the family’s stallions, qualifying for the AQHA amount of time it requires to travel around the country to win a World Show. With excitement Rita states, “How awesome would it be for title such as the NFR was not where she wanted to spend her life. Lindsey to win the World Championship and share that title with me!” “Family and home mean more to me than anything, any title, or any prize money out there.” “I have been blessed.” Rita says she hopes and prays that she is able to continue doing what she does for at least the next 20 years. She always wants to improve her own She has enjoyed taking young horses to the futurities in Oklahoma City, and training on the ranch horsemanship and is always willing to pass on her knowledge of horses and horsemanship to the at home. “We use our horses for everything. They don’t just run barrels and stand in a stall. We next generation of cowgirls and cowboys. Rita has helped and coached many of the south’s young work cows, rope off of them heading and heeling, they have to know how to be a ranch horse first talented barrel racers to the winners circle on the state and national levels. “I always want to get and a barrel horse second.” better, to be a better horseman. I hope to have many more years to come; I hope to turn out some nice colts. I have been blessed and want to help others reach their goals.” Rita is a good one to “If a horse has a solid watch in reaching your goals. She says when she sets a goal for herself she usually achieves it. foundation, running the pattern is a piece of cake. When they That success does not come as a shock to me at all, as I watch this kind, sage cowgirl walk around don’t have the basics and have her ranch. “I want to live my life them good, then sooner or later for the Lord, and I am grateful for everything falls apart.” the wisdom He has given me.” She is proud of her horses, proud of Rita is a testament to the fact what the Lord has blessed her with, that if you “take care of your and humbly works to carry on the horsemanship, it will take care highest tradition of horsemanship in of you.” everything she does. Ride on Rita!

In fact HORSEMANSHIP is the word Rita used to sum up all of her success as a competitor and as a trainer… “Horsemanship is the KEY to riding.” Rita makes

54 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 55 Advertising .BOARDING Bahia square bales $5.50 per bale. Folsom area 985- 16 yr. old TB gelding. 16.1 hands, ridden h/j, UTD on Reach more horse owners and potential customers with Equine Boarding 6 miles south of Opelousas. $125 796-9261 shots, etc., loads, needs intermediate or advanced rider. the Louisiana Equine Report than any other Horse per month, you supply the feed. Trails to ride on and $800 Call 225-627-4348. Publication in Louisiana. Reasonable Rates, Flexible arena. Camelot Wilderness Ranch, Leonville, LA 337- HAY EQUIPMENT Advertising Packages, Free Ad Design. Published 781-4312. www.camelotwildernessranch.com 2-Kuhn GMD 800 Disc Mowers, starting @ $6,500. Lil Bayou Man (Bayou Hickory – Glitter Gold Bar), every other month, i.e. Feb/Mar, April/May etc. plus For Information contact Quality Equipment Company, 6yr old gelding registered quarter horse, has AQHA a Horseman’s Directory in September, Horseman’s FARM EQUIPMENT Opelousas, LA location 337-942-4924 points, champion in 2 & under halter. Shown in halter, Christmas Gift Guide in November, Stallion Edition Barbwire 15.5G 4pt Gaucho. $38.99 a pallet. CCA showmanship and horsemanship. Clips, loads, bathes, in January 2014 Don’t Miss Out on this opportunity to Treated Fence Post 2 ½ in. $2.15 a bundle. For more 1 John Deere 468 Silage Round Baler with net wrap, trail rides, lays down and stands on pedestal. Crosses Grow Your Business with advertising in the Louisiana info or questions contact Jacob Dufrene Building $33,400. For information contact Quality Equipment ditches, rides bare back and side passes. Started on Equine Report. Email [email protected] or Materials 985-632-6828. Company, Crowley, LA location 337-783-5366 cattle & barrel pattern. Very athletic with lots of call 225.229.8979 or 225.622.5747 today!!! potential – Not for beginners. $5000 Info: Erica @ Hay 1 New Holland 640 Round Baler, $5100. For Bayou Boarding 337-523-2433 Adoption Horses QUALITY BERMUDA HAY – We have Tifton, jigs information contact Quality Equipment Company, For adoption info contact [email protected] and coastal 50 pound, 2 string square bales for sale. You Abbeville, LA location 337-517-4020 Be A Rose (My Intention x JMK Rosalee) 2012 Sorrel may find hay as pretty, but none better than our hay. Filly, Top three in her class at 2013 Fort Worth Stock Louisiana Horse Rescue Association is looking for It’s fertilized, irrigated and stacked off the ground. It HORSES Show, Winner of the 2012 Iowa Breeder’s Futurity, members! To become a member and provide rescue is cut with a conditioner and put up with expertise. We 8 yr. old Registered Breakaway & Calf Roping Registered AQHA, PHBA. For inquiries call and sanctuary to horses of racing breeds please contact test every cutting. Protein comes out between 13 and Quarter Horse Gelding. Ready to be hauled. Peppy’s Double J Ranch, Whitesboro, TX 940-668-8265 [email protected]. Membership is $25.00 per 19% protein, depending upon the cutting. Located in Here O’Lena. Started on breakaway and calf roping. year and entitles you to vote on key issues, nominate Woodville, Texas. Contact Judy at 337-802-0344 or Started on barrels, lots of potential. Please call 985- “Jack” (Juan Bad Cat x Glidden Express) 2011 Bay board members and participate in volunteer activities. Email: [email protected] 526-8943 or 985-271-2056 for more information. Gelding, Registered APHA BS. For inquiries call Be part of the solution - join today $6000 OBO. Double J Ranch, Whitesboro, TX 940-668-8265 Coastal Bermuda Hay. Charlotte Miller –Tarver & APPAREL Sam Tarver 985-502-0955 26 yr. old Red Roan Gelding. Barrel and calf roping Pretty OK (Mr. AOK x Peps Star Girl) 2001 Chestnut Shadbellly. Lightly used. Vicky-busch-sized blue, horse. Ready to go. Good for kids and beginners. Mare. Bred to Casino Cool for 2014 foal. Registered Grand Prix Shadbelly For Sale. Top Horse Quality Round Bales Bermuda and Mixed $3000. Please call 985-526-8943 or 985-271-2056. AQHA. For inquiries call Double J Ranch, Whitesboro, Bahia Available $50/bale • Bobby Granger 337-207-9535 TX 940-668-8265 $700 Info: 985-796-3317 Continued on page 62...

56 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 57 58 LLouisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 YOUTH page Sponsored by:

Southeast LA High School Rodeo Results The Southeast LA Rodeo Club sponsored the tenth rodeo sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association on Saturday & Sunday, March 8 & 9, 2014, in Gonzales, Louisiana. The all-around cowgirl was Halie Hebert of DeRidder High and the all around cowboy was Tristan Martin of Sulphur High. BAREBACK BREAKAWAY ROPING TEAM ROPING 1 Derrick Chaisson 71 $84.00 (10) 1 Halie Hebert 2.23 $144.50 (10) 1 Tristan Martin/Landen Smith 6.45 $164.90 (10) 2 Justin Mire 60 $56.00 (9) 2 Sadie Roberts 2.44 $114.75 (9) 2 Justin Smith/Cody Nessmith 6.89 $130.95 (9) 3 Cody Goode 58 (7.5) 3 Kennedy Darbonne 2.76 $76.50 (8) 3 Baylee Istre/Kelsey Brashear 8.62 (8) Ethan Andrepont 58 (7.5) 4 Lexi Gunter 2.86 $51.00 (7) 4 Wes Thibodeaux/Colton Rodriguez 9.92 $87.30 (7) 5 Hunter Green 57 (6) 5 Elise Guillory 2.88 $38.25 (6) 5 Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan 11.90 $58.20 (6) 6 Sarah Broussard 3.26 (5) 6 Trent Suydam/Dylan Lambright 11.99 $43.65 (5) BARREL RACING 7 Angelique Sellers 3.60 (4) 7 Blaise Frey/Clay Green 13.90 (4) 1 Kelly O’Neal 15.15 $164.90 (10) 8 Kaylynn LeBlanc 3.87 (3) 8 Gabe Soileau/Cody Simon 14.28 (3) 2 Cheyenne Benoit 15.71 $130.95 (9) 9 Mia Manzanares 3.91 (2) 9 Brody Hayes/Stran Smith 15.26 (2) 3 Aimee Hebert 15.78 $87.30 (8) 10 Allie Fontenot 4.20 (1) 10 Gage Boyer/Cheyenne Benoit 18.08 (1) 4 Hannah Morris 15.80 (7) 5 Kati Murphy 15.86 $58.20 (6) GOAT TYING Five qualifying LHSRA high school rodeos remain in the 2013-2014 season. 6 Cassie Hebert 15.89 $43.65 (5) 1 Torey Little 7.70 $107.50 (10) Contestants continue to amass points as the top thirty-six in each event will qualify 7 Cassie Bellard 15.92 (4) 2 Halie Hebert 9.09 (9) for the 2014 Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo scheduled for June 3-7, 2014, at 8 Mallory Gilbert 15.96 (3) 3 Elise Guillory 9.62 S64.50 (8) Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. The top four in each event will then advance to 9 Jessica Quoyeser 15.98 (2) 4 Kayli Meaux 9.74 $43.00 (7) the National High School Finals Rodeo, July 13-19, 2014, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. 10 MicKayla Brown 16.01 (1) 5 Jessica Richard 9.75 (6) 6 Kelly O’Neal 9.89 (5) Submitted 03/09/2014 SADDLEBRONC 7 Allie Fontenot 9.93 (4) Stephanie Rodrigue, State Secretary 1 Matthew Ellender 60 $66.00 (10) 8 Nicole Reeves 9.95 (3) View LHSRA results and standings at www.rodeosportsnetwork.com 2 Logan Chapman 59 $44.00 (9) 9 Abbie Delcambre 10.16 (2) 2013 – 2014 LHSRA RODEO REMAING SCHEDULE 10 Kati Murphy 11.10 (1) TIE DOWN ROPING April 4-5, 2014 Vernon Parish Leesville Lions 276 H M Stephen Blvd. All Events Junior High Club Arena Leesville, LA 71446 1 Justin Smith 10.69 $146.00 (10) POLE BENDING 1 Morgan Matte 20.29 $140.00 (10) April 5-6 2014 Vernon Parish Leesville Lions 276 H M Stephen Blvd. All Events 2 Cyle Denison 10.94 $109.50 (9) High School Club Arena Leesville, LA 71446 except cutting 3 Jace Gilbert 11.50 $73.00 (8) 2 Chloe Frey 20.40 $105.00 (9) 3 Madison Jeane 20.50 $70.00 (8) April 11-12 2014 LaSalle Riding Club LRC Arena 1010 Fairground Dr. All Events 4 Tristan Martin 12.26 $36.50 (7) High School Jena, LA 71342 except cutting 4 Monica Radford 20.91 $35.00 (7) 5 Collin Summers 12.62 (6) April 25-26 2014 SugarFest SugArena 713 NW Bypass All Events 6 Matthew Ellender 13.44 (5) 5 Macey Colvin 21.04 (6) Junior High New Iberia, LA 70560 plus BB & SB 7 Riley Istre 13.61 (4) 6 Jessi White 21.40 (5) April 26-27 2014 SugarFest SugArena 713 NW Bypass All Events 8 Wyatt Nero 14.04 (3) 7 Paige Moore 21.55 (4) High School New Iberia, LA 70560 except cutting 9 Logan Fontenot 14.34 (2) 8 Savannah Kerry 21.64 (3) May 2-3 2014 DeRidder Beauregard Parish 5515 Highway 190 W All Events 10 Stranton Martin 14.67 (1) 9 Aimee Hebert 21.65 (2) Junior School Covered Arena DeRidder, LA 70634 plus BB & SB 10 Cassie Bellard 21.71 (1) May 3-4 2014 DeRidder Beauregard Parish 5515 Highway 190 W All Events STEER WRESTLING High School Covered Arena DeRidder, LA 70634 1 Zack Jongbloed 6.07 $92.50 (10) BULL RIDING May 30-June 1 2014 Louisiana Junior Burton Coliseum 7001 Gulf Highway All Events High Finals Lake Charles, LA 70607 plus BB & SB 2 Tristan Martin 7.98 $55.50 (9) 1 Trent Smith 67 $130.00 (10) 3 Ryan Gotreaux 8.94 $37.00 (8) 2 Reese Barker 66 $78.00 (9) June 3-7, 2014 Louisiana Junior Burton Coliseum 7001 Gulf Highway All Events School Finals Lake Charles, LA 70607 4 Cole Doise 11.29 (7) 3 Austin Canezaro 59 $52.00 (8) 4 Ty Veillon 58 (7) June 22-28, 2014 National Junior Iowa State 3000 East Grand Ave. All Events High Finals Fairgrounds Des Moines, IA 50317 July 13-19, 2014 National Junior Sweetwater County 3320 Yellowstone Rd. All Events School Finals Events Complex Rock Springs, WY 82901

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 59 Youth Page Sponsored by:

Mississippi Youth make AQHA 2014 World Cup Team

Kalee McCann from Walnut Grove, Mississippi, currently the President of the Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association and Vice President of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association, has been chosen to represent the USA as 1 of only 5 riders at the 2014 World Cup. In a total, 19 countries will compete in College Station, TX, July 3 - 13, 2014. The World Cup selection process evaluates show records, leadership skills and riding ability. Kalee is the 18 year old daughter of Joey and Gay McCann. She has ridden with Tom McBeath of Union, MS for 13 years and has successfully competed in all around English and Western events.

Mary Claire Cornett of Purvis, MS was selected for the 2014 Youth World Cup Team USA to be held in Bryan/ College Station, TX beginning July 3 and ending on July 13, 2014. There are 18 other countries participating. The American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup is “an educational, leadership-based event where youth from every country have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned during the week by competing in a variety of classes. Youth members from across the world compete in each of 10 classes over a four-day period. The culmination of the event is a showcasing of skills learned in an atmosphere of friendly competition. It is a unique opportunity for youth to learn in a “hands-on” setting with other international youth.”

Mary Claire is the current AQHYA Treasurer, Region 9 Director, and the current Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association Vice-President. She is the daughter of Robert and Claire Cornett and is a senior at Presbyterian Christian High School in Hattiesburg, MS. Mary Claire has a deep love for horses, showing, and is involved in her community and Venture Church.

“Kalee McCann and Mary Claire Cornett have grown up in the MS Quarter Horse Youth Association. I have watched them both compete since they were in the small fry/walk trot classes. Both of these girl are leaders who have accomplished many goals in the quarter horse industry. I am the most proud of how these girls represent the equine industry in our state and our region in all of their indeavors. I know they will both continue to succeed on the world cup team.” – Aprille Watts MQHA - Youth Advisor

60 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 61 Continued from page 56......

Glamorous Conclusion (Awesome Mr. Conclusion x Shes So Reg. 16 yr Imported Hungarian Warmblood RPSI Grey Brood Mare SADDLES Glamorous) 2011 Sorrel Filly by world champion APHA stud. For 16hh produced 5 live foals, Sire was Olympic horse -Aktion out of Pion 15” seat, Billy Cook roping saddle, very good condition. $850.00. Call inquiries call Double J Ranch, Whitesboro, TX 940-668-8265 224 / Dam Atrakcio $5,000. Please contact Erin at 337-296-7884. 337-208-8132.

Jules Time Machine (Mr. Baron Jules x Wiggle Time) 2010 Buckskin Performance Quarter Horses, All disciplines All Ages, plenty to choose 16” seat, Circle Y saddle, some silver accents, very good condition. Mare. Registered AQHA and ABRA. For inquiries call Double J Ranch, from, Call (985)892-6884. $700.00. Call 337-208-8132. Whitesboro, TX 940-668-8265 QH weanlings, yearlings, 2 & 3 yr olds, great all around prospects. 17” seat, RooHide cutting saddle, 2 years old, excellent condition The Gift of Fab (Fabuluke x Can Do Gal (TB) ) 2008 Bay Mare. Lyon’s Den Quarter Horses Call (337) 684-6751 • www.lyonshorses.com Presented JUNIOR HUNTER UNDER SADDLE, In training with Jerry $1800.00 (New, it cost $2700.00) Call 337-208-8132. Erickson in Danger, Texas. Registered AQHA appendix, incentive fund. Let Us Find the Right Horse For You Boe Bouget, Cutting Horses. Call For inquiries call Double J Ranch, Whitesboro, TX 940-668-8265 Boe (337) 581-1141 STALLIONS AT STUD Balanchine, 16.3 black Oldenburg stallion. Lifetime breeding Kid Splashing (OBB Secret Skip x Kids Art) 2011 Palamino Stallion. Cremello Weanlings & Yearlings, Call Dana (985)893-1251, (985)259- license with ISR/Oldenburg NA. Sire: Bergamon (Hanoverian) 2013 Forth Worth Stock Show, Palamino Show: Top 5 Amatuer/Open 1723 or (985)335-4238 by Baryshnikov; dam: Norma Jean (Oldenburg) by Frohwind. 2014 Halter and Top 5 in Color, By Superior Halter Stallion, OBB Secret Skip. stud fee $1250. 70% premium foals in 2013. 318-965-9071. www. For inquiries call Double J Ranch, Whitesboro, TX 940-668-8265 Quality Quarter Horses available, Great Performance Prospects newtownhorses.com Call Kent @ Gray Ranch/M-Heart Corp. (337)589-7336 or visit Byron – 2013 bay Oldenburg NA colt (Balanchine x Juventus), cute, www.grayranch.com Koris Lil Joe Sire: Pipers Doc; Dam: Rogues Poco Cutter x Tivio Stripes compact, athletic. $7500. 318-965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com Lad For more info contact Lyon’s Den Quarter Horses (337) 684-6751 or Great Cutting Horse Prospects, Nice Bloodlines, Call Jerry 225-921- www.lyonshorses.com Bentley – 2013 bay Oldenburg NA colt (Balanchine x Deputy 0955 Diamond [TB]), premium foal, lithe, elegant. $7500. 318-965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com Quarter Horse Weanlings & Yearlings, Cutting bred, Great Cow Horse Hes Plenty “Doc” 2003 Buckskin Stallion Sire: Woodys Nifita Moon; Prospects Call Tommy 225-413-4053 Dam: Plentyofit E Face x Plentyofit For more info contact Lyon’s Den Bruce Wayne – 2013 dark bay Oldenburg NA colt (Balanchine x Quarter Horses (337) 684-6751 or www.lyonshorses.com Consul), premium foal, dam is international eventing star. $10,000. 318- Young Prospects for Racing & Performance Sports Several yearling, 965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com two and three year old registered thoroughbreds for racing or performance, Pistol Packin Badger Sire: Smart Little Pistol; Dam: Wheeling Polly x bred at Holly Hill by stallions standing at the farm- Ruler’s Court, Wheeling Peppy For more info contact Lyon’s Den Quarter Horses (337) Bobbie Burns – 2013 bay Oldenburg NA colt (Balanchine x Coeur de Middlesex Drive, Malibu Wesley, Chatain. For more info & video contact 684-6751 or www.lyonshorses.com Lion), premium foal, reserve champion at his inspection. $10,000. 318- hollyhillfarm.net 965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com JL Playboys Fantasy Sire: Lot A Playboy, Dam: Danas Last Fantasy x Mulligan Man - 2001 chestnut thoroughbred gelding, 16.2 hands, Freckles Fantasy 225-687-3667 • 225-291-0955 Jerry’s cell Hope – 2013 bay Oldenburg NA filly (Balanchine x Der Radetzky), Evented through training level, Pony Club mount for Young Rider premium foal, reserve champion at her inspection, feminine, elastic. competing at several Regional Dressage, show jumping and Eventing Grubbin Sire: Eatin Out, Dam: Peppy’s Lil Oak x Docs Oak 225-687- $10,000. 318-965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com Rallies. Super flashy, great mover and jumper, excellent temperament. 3667 • 225-291-0955 Jerry’s cell Perfect for a Young Rider or Adult Amateur. Asking $20,000. For more Black Jack – 2013 black Oldenburg NA colt (Balanchine x info contact hollyhillfarm.net Weltmeyer), mother is Elite Hanoverian, charming, personable. $8500. SUMMER CAMPS 318-965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com Valid Will, thoroughbred gelding, chestnut with blaze and stockings, WHOA-GA! Horseback Yoga Summer Camps YOUTH CAMP off the track in July 2012, started in English training in September. Quiet, Weekdays through June: ADULT CAMP July 27-29; Clinics, lessons, Fairwind – lovely, willing 9-yr-old 16.2 grey Oldenburg mare by five- sensible prospect with lots of potential, sound and sane, $2500. For more lectures. Call 337-458-1524 Email: [email protected] star stallion Frohwind, 1st Level champion, now schooling 2nd Level. info contact hollyhillfarm.net $15.500 Contact Paige Hewlett 318-218-6712 or [email protected] TACK Aly Can Do, 1996 dark bay TB gelding, 15.3 hands, Novice packer, 17.5” Schleese Liberty Dressage saddle. Excellent condition with Super Sleuth – handsome dark bay gelding, Novice eventing pro, clean Kind gentle, confidence builder. Has evented through Novice, also brand new seat (new seat only ridden in once). Contact Elaine Harmon at & safe jumper, loves cross-country. Good mover. Excellent manners. shown dressage and jumpers. Wonderful partner for an adult amateur or 504-952-9524 or [email protected] for more information. $15,000 Contact Sydney Elliott at 318-564-3478 child $6500. For more information contact hollyhillfarm.net 17.5” Berney Brothers Cross Country Saddle. Medium tree. Very Cor Savage – Big, elegant, 10-yr-old bay TB-Holsteiner gelding LODGING good condition. $850 obo. Contact Watson for pictures or more info 504- by Cor Noir, Won his first BN event, placed in all his Novice Events. Camelot Wilderness Ranch Bed & Breakfast; located on an equine ranch Consistently scores in the 70s in Training and First level dressage. Brave near Opelousas, LA 495-5242 or [email protected] over cross-country. $25,000 Contact Marsha Murray at 318-218-1790 Country Cottage. $75 per night. 337-781-4312, visit our website for details. www.camelotwildernessranch.com 16” close contact Crosby Collegiate jumping addle, excellent Bojangles – 2012 premium bay Oldenburg NA gelding (Balanchine x condition. $300 obo. Call Chris at 251-342-8197 or email clschlecht@ Coeur de Lion), champion at his inspection, big and beautiful. $15,000. REAL ESTATE zebra.net for additional information. 318-965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com 100 acres , Eunice Hwy 190, fenced (will divide), 3 miles from WalMart. $4400 per acre. Louisiana Land, Home & Ranch, Call Mary Kaye Prestige Optimax dressage saddle. Black, 17” No fittings. 985-893- Bartok—2012 black Oldenburg NA colt (Balanchine/Coeur de Lion), Gremillion, Agent 337-967-0139, [email protected] 4500 $2000 easy going, handsome, $10,000. 318-965-9071, www.newtownhorses. com 8 house (rental) package. $2800 monthly, Ville Platte, LA $195,000, Older model Campbell Dressage Saddle. 17 inch seat, medium tree. Louisiana Land, Home & Ranch, Call Mary Kaye Gremillion, Agent 337- Fair condition 318-229-9143 $200 or best offer. Honor – 2011 dark bay Oldenburg NA filly (Balanchine x Coeur de 967-0139, [email protected] Lion), champion at her inspection. Started. $15,000. 318-965-9071. TRAILERS www.newtownhorses.com 3 acres (3/2 Home) in Broussard, LA (100x50 shop and 40x40 barn) $400,000 Louisiana Land, Home & Ranch, Call Mary Kaye Gremillion, All aluminum 3-horse trailer for sale. 1988 Barrett 3-horse slant trailer Felicity – 2011 bay Oldenburg NA filly (Balanchine xC onsul), athletic. Agent 337-967-0139, [email protected] with dressing area, ramp. Excellent condition $7500 Call 985-893-5324 Started. $15,000. 318-965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com or 985-630-2967. 12 acres in Opelousas, LA Louisiana Land, Home & Ranch, Call Mary Franz Ferdinand – 2009 chestnut Oldenburg NA gelding (Festrausch x Kaye Gremillion, Agent 337-967-0139, [email protected] Der Radetzky), generous mover, excellent jump, well started. Experienced rider only. $12,000. 318-965-9071. www.newtownhorses.com

62 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 63 64 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 This Page Sponsored By:

A.T.R.O. Acadiana Therapeutic Riding Organization ATRO is a well-established therapeutic riding program located in Carencro, La at Cherokee Ridge Stables. They faithfully serve the Acadiana area with weekly classes. Volunteers with horse experience are always needed and welcome. Here are some latest pics and goings on at ATRO. They just finished another successful Cherokee Chase 5K and 10K race that is an annual fundraiser for the organization.

These photos were taken during Tuesday class March 25th. Our students mastered the bridge for the first time!

ATRO – Acadiana Therapeutic Riding Organization - Non-Profit Organization Therapeutic riding classes for all ages and abilities. We are excepting applications for new students Please contact 337-988-4444 for more information.

New Volunteer Somewhere Training Saturday, “Under The Rainbow” May 3, 2014 where very special… people… RIDE! at 9:00

Video of Student Shawn having fun at class last week! AHCA Obstacle Challenge and Trail Ride Fundraiser!! Come Ride for a Great Cause! Memorial Day Weekend! American Horseman’s Challenge Association - Challenge and Trail Ride Fundraiser for ATRO!! Come compete, come play, or just ride the trails at Cherokee Ridge! Every entry, every ride will help ATRO! Contact: Kathryn Loewer – 337-581-3618 for event and registration information. April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 65 Horsin’ Around with the Here is a little of Louisiana Equine Report! where we have been! Cowboy Texting – A sign of the times… Should Trixie! A highlight of the Southern LEC Expo 2014 – Battle of the friends really let friends Text, Rope and Ride…? Classic Sale 2014 Horse Sale! Breeds! Left to Right, Quarter Horse Team, Thoroughbred Team and Appaloosa Team!

Gulf Coast Equine Classic Horse Show in Gulfport, MS! Photo Credit: Barbara Brooke Miller from Woodland Hills Barclay Equestrian Center in Carencro, L

Fans from the Drill Team at the Louisiana Equine Report booth!

Dixie Nationals $10,000 money added Free Style Reining – Jackson MS February 14, 2014

66 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Morgyn Roberts, Director of the Equestrian Program/Western Instructor Raised in Morgantown, IN, Morgyn Roberts began riding when she was eight years old. She showed in the local 4-H club competing in a variety of disciplines including western, hunter/jumper, and saddle seat. Throughout high school she worked closely with a Saddlebred trainer in order to gain a more well-rounded experience. Morgyn received her Bachelor’s degree in Equine Business Management with minors in Business Management and Equine Science from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana. There she competed on the school’s Western Intercollegiate Horse Show team, where she qualified and placed within the top ten at Nationals two years in a row. After graduating, she spent six months working at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY in the ICU caring for premature foals. She obtained her Master’s degree in Non for Profit Leadership from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Morgyn was the Western instructor at Schools of the Sacred Heart for two years prior to becoming the Director of the Equestrian Center. She also enjoys running barrels on her horse, Mysty.

Aubrey Fait, Hunter/Jumper Instructor Aubrey Fait joined the equestrian center from Wisconsin. She began riding at age 6 and began participating in horse shows at age 9. She had the opportunity to qualify for the National Pony Finals three consecutive years. As she got older she ascended to higher divisions in the hunter discipline. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Training and Instructor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana. There she rode in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association for four years and qualified for Nationals two years in a row. At school, she was her Hunt Seat team’s captain for two years and the school’s first high point rider in hunt seat for the region. After completing college, her first job was working at a sales farm where she gained further experience in her field. Wendy Wert, Hunter/Jumper Instructor

Wendy Wert joined the Sacred Heart Equestrian staff in May of 2013 from St. Louis, MO. She developed her passion for riding horses while trail riding with friends in the woods of Missouri. Her desire to improve drew her to the Hunter/Jumper world where she showed throughout the mid- west. After high school, she attended Kansas State University where she competed four years on the Kansas State University Equestrian Team and was a senior captain. She received her Masters’ degree in Landscape Architecture with an emphasis on equestrian facilities in 2010. Before coming to Louisiana she worked in Jacksonville, FL and St. Louis, MO at barns developing green horses.

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 67 Riding through Triumph and Tragedy: Susan Morris and Cajun By Kathryn Loewer

My name is Susan Morris, and I live in a small rural area on the outskirts of Zachary, Louisiana. My love for horses started at a very young age. I began my horsemanship journey with riding lessons at the age of five. Since then, I’ve developed my skills with many trainers. Currently I’m studying and participating in the Chris Cox Horsemanship program. I have competed in English, Reining, Cutting, Working Cow Horse, Pleasure, and Trail, along with obstacle challenges and other speed events.

Participating in all these disciplines has allowed me to become an all-around better horseman. To name one of my favorite things to do on a horse would be impossible. My love for the development of a well-rounded horse combines all aspects of riding into a one-on-one connection between rider and horse.

Ten years ago, a small, frail, injured black stallion entered my life. From the moment I saw him, I knew he was special and that we would have a purpose in each other’s lives. This stallion was given the name Instant Cuttin Cat and his barn name became Cajun. He was an own son of Sr Instant Choice out of a own daughter of Hidas Lil Pep. These bloodlines are performance bred horses with great minds and abilities. Little did I know how much impact this horse would have on my life. The horse I set out to save ... in fact saved ME.

You see, shortly after Cajun’s arrival, my life changed due to the tragic loss of my fifteen year old son. I was as broken as the horse I set out to save, but though the grace of God, Cajun and I found comfort in healing each other. With much needed physical healing for Cajun and emotional healing for myself, we both knew it was time for a new beginning. Cajun started showing in the Louisiana Stock Horse Association, and we took up Extreme Cowboy Racing, which is a speed and obstacle challenge competition.

The very first show season, we won Regional, LA State, and World titles in EXCA. In LASH we won two Reserve titles in cutting and reining. We also placed very high in ranch pleasure, trail, and working cow horse for the end of the year. Continuing on with EXCA led us to more regional titles and a fourth and a fifth World placing. Then, in 2011, we won our second EXCA World Title. Continued on page 81...

68 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint Headlines 2014 Spring/Summer Stakes Schedule

Opelousas, Louisiana–The $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, a newly created by the inaugural Turf Sprint, which should draw top grass sprinters from around North event for three-year-olds and up at a distance of five furlongs on the grass course that America as a showcase event for Evangeline Downs, and along with the other marquee will be run on Saturday, June 21, is the centerpiece of the 2014 Evangeline Downs races scheduled, should provide a memorable day of racing and entertainment.” said Stakes Schedule released today, which has been revamped and beefed up to feature 23 Chris Warren, Director of Racing Operations for Delta Downs & Evangeline Downs. races worth a total of $2.15 million for the Thoroughbred meeting beginning April 9 at Warren added “We are also confident that restructuring of our stakes schedule, including Evangeline Downs Racetrack, Casino & Hotel. the new date for Louisiana Legends Night, will also be a benefit to our horsemen and fans throughout the entire meeting. The $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, featuring the largest purse ever offered for a Thoroughbred race at Evangeline Downs, highlights a daytime program on June 21 that The Turf Sprint, along with the $100,000 Evangeline Mile for three-year-olds and up on is bolstered by three open stakes and a total of five stakes races on the card. Special post the main track, and the $100,000 Opelousas Stakes for fillies & mares, three-year-olds time for that program will be 2:15 p.m. with normal post remaining at 5:40 p.m. Central and up on the turf at the distance of 1 & 1/16 miles, headline a much anticipated card Time for the season. that will also highlight Louisiana bred three-year-olds in a pair of $70,000 events, the Lafayette Stakes for colts & geldings, and the Acadiana Stakes for fillies. Each race will In addition to the new Turf Sprint, some of the major changes to this year’s stakes schedule be contested on the main track at the distance of seven furlongs. There will be a $100,000 include moving of the Louisiana Legends Night, a card that features the best Louisiana- guaranteed Pick 4 wager anchored by the Turf Sprint. bred horses in training squaring off in eight stakes races worth $750,000 dollars, from the first weekend in July to its new position on Saturday, May 24. Also, the D. S. “Shine” Thoroughbred Racing will return to Evangeline Downs for the 49th consecutive season Young Memorial, a futurity for Louisiana-bred two-year-olds, which has been held every here in Cajun Country with an 84-Night Season on Wednesday, April 9 that will run year at Evangeline Downs through Saturday, August 30. As in past seasons, racing will be conducted on a four- (run previously as the Southwest Louisiana Futurity and the Cajun Futurity), has been evening-a-week schedule, Wednesday-Saturday, with a first post of 5:40 p.m. Central moved to Saturday, July 5. Featuring two divisions, one for fillies, and one for colts & Time, with the previously noted exception of Saturday, June 21. geldings, the “Shine” offers a $100,000 purse for each division. Trials for the “Shine” have been discontinued. For additional information contact Evangeline Downs at (337) 594-3000 or 594-3149. “We are very excited about our upcoming Thoroughbred stakes schedule, headlined

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 69 Annual Assumption Parish FFA Rodeo

The annual Assumption FFA Rodeo held in Napoleonville, LA produced by Bar-L Rodeo has been a tremendous success. The rodeo has grown from a small poorly attended timed event play day to a full- fledged sanctioned rodeo that draws people from all over the region to compete and be entertained thus generating funds for the entire parish. The community support of this rodeo has produced financial benefits to the Assumption High FFA Chapter and has allowed students the opportunity to attend many state and national events at no or significantly reduced cost. The Special Needs Rodeo is held on Saturday morning and allows those children with special needs to be cowboys and cowgirls for a day it encourages the children that are all too familiar with observing from the sidelines to be active participants and the center of attention. It is held in conjunction with the main rodeo has been a great service learning opportunity for Assumption High FFA members by providing them with an opportunity to bring a little happiness to some very special people in Assumption Parish. The special needs rodeo is an event Cowboys and cowgirls come to help the participants with activities such as dummy roping, stick-horse barrel racing, or even riding a bucking barrel. All these activities mimic the sanctioned rodeo events that the participants are given free tickets to attend. Other fun activities include a petting zoo, pony rides; coloring, and face painting, lunch is served to all participants and volunteers. This event is certainly a day of heart-warming rodeo fun. The CRA would like to thank the Assumption High FFA and Bar L Rodeo for producing this incredible community event and look forward to continued success for many years to come.

70 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 71 72 Louisiana Equine Report •April / May 2014 No Time for Bots

As we enter into winter months in Louisiana, it’s time to deworm for Bots (Gastrophilus spp.). Bots (larva) are rarely associated with disease, but, as you can see from the photo (Figure 1), they are aesthetically unpleasing as they overwinter in the horse’s stomach and may indicate a larger parasite infestation. Figure 3. Bot eggs (or nits) on the leg of a horse.

Figure 1. Adult bot fly (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/ We recommend that you deworm your horse creatures/livestock/horse_bot_fly.htm) (Courtesy with a boticide once each year during late fall or of the University of Florida IFAS, Morgan early winter as a clean-out treatment for bots and McLendon) other parasites. This will decrease the number of flies in the manure and decrease transmission of bots next spring. Dewormer pastes containing Bot larvae overwinter in the horse’s stomach or ivermectin or moxidectin have excellent activity small intestine. In the spring, when environmental against Bots and many other parasites affecting horses. By deworming in the fall or early temperatures increase, the bot larvae are passed winter you can improve the overall health of your horse during the winter and decrease the out in the manure and eventually hatch into number of parasites that might contaminate your pastures next spring. As with all medications honey bee-sized flies (Figure 2). These female flies eventually lay and glue their eggs (or nits) that you give to your horse, please check with your veterinarian for the best dewormer and to the legs of horses, donkeys and mules (Figure 3). Once on the legs, the eggs enter into the deworming program for your horses. horse’s mouth when they chew or rub on their legs. In the mouth the eggs hatch out in 2 to 5 days, stimulated by the warm moist environment of the mouth. They spend approximately 3 weeks in the soft tissues of the lips, gums and tongue and then migrate to the stomach and Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, DACVIM small intestine, where they use sharp mouth hooks to attach to the lining. They spend about LVMA Equine Committee Professor and Director | Equine Health Studies Program 7 months in the stomach before they pass out in a Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences | School of Veterinary Medicine pile of manure. The mature larvae enter the soil Louisiana State University between the manure pile and turn into pupae. In 2 week to 2 months these pupae emerge as flies and the life cycle starts all over again.

Figure 2. Bot larva (thick arrow) and Habronemia larva (thin arrow) in the stomach of a horse as viewed by a 3 meter (9 ft) endoscope (Karl Storz Endoscope, Carlsbad, CA) inserted into the horses stomach.

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 73 74 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 An Avid Horsewoman & Teacher By: Kathryn Loewer and Barbara Newtown Kori Schexnayder is a barrel racer and avid horsewoman from Church as “Honey.” “Honey” comes from the Colonel Freckles blood line. Kori describes a Point, Louisiana. She traveled with and supported her husband John typical camp day: as he played semi-pro softball. When he retired from softball, he Kori says, “Patience is the KEY, for any horse or animal.” Kori also “From 8:30 to noon turned to Kori and asked her what she wanted to do. “I told him I’d has patience when she teaches humans, and she knows how to adapt. we have horse riding, always wanted to barrel race!” says Kori. “I didn’t even start until I Her students range in age from three to forty-three. Kori really enjoys followed by an hour was 22 years old. It’s never too late to start something new, or reach the one-on-one of private lessons. Her teaching strengths include for lunch. 1 to 2:30 for your dreams.” experience working with autistic children. She also understands is arts and crafts, the learning styles of home-schooled kids. John helps out with the and 2:30 to 4:30 is It wasn’t long before they bought Kori her first barrel horse, named lessons, when he isn’t busy keeping the farm shipshape. (The name swimming. We also Miss Tune. “We ran in the ABRA, the Acadiana Barrel Racing “Honey Do” is just right!) When Kori isn’t teaching, she’s busy, provide snacks at 10 and 2. In the past, arts and crafts featured tie- Association, and also competed in the Texas, Louisiana, and too: she stands stallions, breeds mares, gets the babies on the ground dyeing shirts, building bird houses, and painting pictures. We have Mississippi 4D and 5D money-added shows,” says Kori. She ran started right, and keeps a couple of horses in training. many new surprises this year to add to arts and crafts.” Best of all, Miss Tune for 8 years until she retired her at the age of 23. At the some lucky kids will get to attend the two-week sleepover camp. “We time one of her friends had a Streakin La Jolla mare named Kayla. Kori says, “John and I started Honey Do Farms, LLC, together. After are very excited about Summer Camp 2014,” says Kori. She wasn’t doing much, so Kori took her and got her in shape. “We opening up to the public for lessons, we decided to start a summer ran her along with a First Down Dash gelding for 3 years,” she says. camp program in 2012. What better way to keep a child busy and out Kori looks forward to building on the success of her program, and Since the start of her barrel career, Kori has won a good bit of prize of trouble during the summer months? We started off only allowing she hopes to be a positive example for women in the horse industry money, as well as buckles and saddles. 6 children in each session, and now we are accepting 8 to participate. everywhere. We have hired help working summer camp alongside me and John. It When her grandmother suffered a stroke, Kori stopped traveling is an amazing reward for me, for a child to arrive on a Monday with and started teaching riding so that she could be closer to home, in a ton of fear, and by Friday the same child is asking, ‘Where case she was needed. In 2003 Kori went back to school to earn her I can put my room?’—as in, move in! That makes me smile degree in Animal Science, and in 2006 she finished her degree and big, big, big!” founded Honey Do Farms. Here she breeds, trains, and gives lessons, as well as providing all the other services a full time equine operation Kori and John cover all aspects of riding, horsemanship, and requires. care of horses and horse equipment during the summer camp sessions. The children learn how to do it all, from beginning Setting up a successful lesson program led to Kori being asked to to end: a horse-crazy kid’s dream! kick start the Western riding program for Schools of the Sacred Heart Equestrian Center of Grand Couteau, LA. After things were in good Horses are not the only focus during camp week. The kids get order at Sacred Heart, she and John moved to the current ranch site in to learn every aspect of farm life, from picking up chicken 2011. The ranch is named Honey Do Farms after the first foal born eggs to administering medication. It is truly a rewarding and raised on the farm: “My Special Freckle,” known around the barn experience all the way around.

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 75 Kid’s Korral Page Sponsored by:

How to Clean a Stall: First remove your horse from the stall. A good time to muck out is when your horse is in his pasture. If this isn’t possible then put your horse into an empty stall, corral, or tie him up in a safe area before you begin. Remove any horse toys, water buckets and hay nets.

Collect all your tools for the job. You’ll need a wheelbarrow, pitchfork or shaving fork and broom. If your stall has straw bedding use your pitchfork to remove the wet bedding and manure. If you use shavings or sawdust for a bedding then use a shavings fork to remove the soiled bedding. Once the soiled bedding is removed fork Just for fun! What the remaining clean bedding to the sides of the stall. This will allow the animal do you see? stall floor to dry out over the course of the day. Take the dirty bedding to the manure pile. Hint…Can you find the horse? When the floor of the stall is dry spread the clean bedding back over the stall area. Distribute the bedding evenly and if necessary add extra bedding. Fluff the compacted shavings with a fork.

Check the walls, or partitions for anything that could poke or cut your horse. If something is broken tell an adult so they can help fix it. Make sure you clean the water bucket and fill with fresh water before putting your horse in the stall. How to READ your horse Horses have a very expressive language. It’s not verbal, but all body language. Once you have learned to read your horse better you’ll have a clearer understanding of him and you’ll A Horses hoof is like your finger nail. A horse needs his hoof trimmed find you’re much safer around him. roughly every 6-8 weeks by a farrier. Over the course of a year a The warning signs: Horses have three signals that they give which will let you know that bad horse will grow out a completely fresh hoof. By trimming their hooves behavior is on its way. The first signal you will probably know. They’ll pin their ears against it helps to prevent cracking, chipping and growing too long. their neck in a fighting position. The second signal is when they raise their head high. That is your sign that their adrenalin is pumping. The third sign is when they get a hard, mean looking You should clean the dirt and manure from your horses hoof daily. Also eye. In horses, just like humans, the eyes are the gateway to the soul. A horse will give you or another horse a look for any small stones and sticks that can get stuck which can cause mean and piercing look to let you know that a bite or a kick or something bad is about to happen. I tell people all the time that horses never lie but they do bluff. With horses, whoever moves their feet first, loses. If you watch discomfort and bruising to your horse. Start with your horse’s left your horses in the pasture you’ll see them playing dominance games all the time. Your lead horse will use a look front hoof. Stand next to your horse facing his hind quarters. Slide your or a gesture to command respect from all those around him. hand down his leg so he knows where you are. Squeeze the back of his leg along the tendon, above the pastern, and say “up” or “hoof”. Hold The 5 signs of a calm or a relaxed horse: The first sign is a horse licking his lips. This means he his hoof with one hand and with your other use the hoof pick to clean is thinking or processing the information. The second sign is a heavy sigh. I often think of it a sigh of resignation out the sole of the foot. Gently put his foot back down on the ground saying “all right, I’ll do it”. The third sign is a cocked hind leg. The fourth sign is when they drop their head. And the fifth sign is once again their eyes. As I said before the eyes are the gateway to the soul. A calm horse will and then continue until all 4 feet are cleaned. have a soft, gentle and loving eye.

When the horse is going to do something bad they’ll give you all three signs. However, if a horse is calm he only needs to give you one of those five signs. You’ll find that once you start to read your horse better you’ll understand him more and you will be more confident around them.

76 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 77 78 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Tapping In – Trainer’s Wisdom I n this and subsequent issues, we are going to be tapping into the wisdom of our SEDA members who teach us how to be better horsemen (and women). This small column can in no way encompass the breadth of experience and techniques these individuals have to offer. Instead, these will be quick peeks into the philosophy of each trainer in the hopes that, over time, we will all benefit from different perspectives, some refreshers, and a few new items in our ‘toolbox’. The trainers will be responding to the question “If there was only one tip, bit of advice, or exercise that you could give a student, what would it be and why?” This first installment is courtesy of Leslie Morris.

If there was ONLY ONE training ‘tip’, bit of advice, or exercise that I could give a student, it would be to work on achieving a good, balanced position on your horse first, because this – above all other aids – affects the horse’s movements.

How do you know you are balanced on your horse? Build some body awareness! First, check your position (if you can get someone knowledgeable to help, that’s a great benefit). You should have a straight line from shoulder to hip to heel and weight should be equal in both seat bones.

Now, check your shoulders…they should be down. Think of your elbows being heavy and hanging at your sides – but keep a bend in them – and then your shoulders will drop down. This ensures your rein aids will come from bit to elbow in a straight line.

When you begin to ride your horse forward, check that you maintain a soft, “breathing” lower leg, following hips and a strong core that stays in a balanced position.

Why a strong core? Having a strong core is essential for a balanced seat and it will allow you to use your leg and hand aids more effectively. Try this to get a feel for it… exhale and bear down in the saddle, closing your thighs. This is how you can stabilize your position and it becomes your first line of defense if the horse tries to pull you out of the saddle when he is on his forehand. This is also your seat aid for a downward transition.

You will find that, over time, your horse responds to your seat aid so well that you are using very little rein aid in your transitions. This will feel like the horse is in harmonious balance with you! It takes time and work to reach that awesome feeling, but when you do, you will know it’s because of your attention to body awareness and proper position. Leslie Morris USDF Bronze medalist. Teaching beginner through FEI dressage, Leslie also has experience in the eventing world and has ridden and trained in Europe. She trains in the greater metro New Orleans area (North and South shore). For more information, call 504-833-7923 or 504- 858-5944. April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 79 80 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 Continued on page 68... Riding through Triumph and Tragedy: Susan Morris and Cajun

The thrill and excitement of winning the second World Title was by far one of my proudest moments as horseman. With little reining and no use of hands I found out what it meant to have a real connection between horse and rider. That bond was an overwhelming sense of love, loyalty, freedom and trust between Cajun and myself. God’s blessing to us was to find strength in the Lord, and to tell and show the World that through tough times all things are possible through Him.

As a proud champion, Cajun never gave any less than his best. You see, the vets said Cajun would never have a show career because of the injuries he had. God said, “It is not over,” and allowed this horse to heal.

Cajun’s championship blood runs strong. Cajun produced a son we call Joker, also a black stallion. Joker is like a mirror image of his father. Joker has also won a World Championship and shows the same loyalty, honor and love as his father.

On March 24, 2014, at the age of fifteen, Cajun succumbed to a sudden and deadly illness. The day he passed away, he still had the same determination and honor in his eyes. Our time here together is complete, but he has left changed and strengthened hearts. He has also left another generation to carry on. I carry his memory proudly and I’m honored to have had the opportunity to carry on his legend. He is gone, but he will live forever in my heart and my soul.

We wish to congratulate and acknowledge ALL of the WOMEN in the Horse Industry that make invaluable contributions to our Horse Industry every day as they clean stalls, ride and pass on their wisdom to the future generation. Women in the Horse Industry; too many to properly name and acknowledge, are the glue, the strength, and the best of what is yet to come! Horses just wouldn’t be the same without them!

April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 81 1998 BLACK STALLION • 15.3 Koris Lil Joe 2014 HANDS • 1,200 lbs. Black Stallion ON THE MONEY RED-FOLS (Pipers Doc - Rogues NATIVE BIRD, FOLS NATIVE TB Poco Cutter) 2013 Stud Fee: $850 Shipped 2014 Stud Fee: Private Seaman Available Eligibilities: Treaty Future Fortunes For more information Merrill O’Neal Barrel Horses contact: Ruston, LA Lyons Den Quarter Horses 318-255-9377/ 337-684-6751 Red’s Western Email: [email protected] Website: www.merrilloneal.com sold Native Koris Lil Joe

15hh TB Chestnut Gelding Standing at stud: Sire: Smart Little Pistol; Jet Kid by Top Kid out of Comanche Jet Balanchine 16.3 Black Dam: Wheeling Polly (Lemon Drop Kid, Mr. Prospector, Seattle Slew) Oldenburg NA Stallion, For more info contact Good handle would make super barrel prospect or hunter jumper... (Bergamon - Frohwind - Lyons’ Den Price: $1,200 Grand Slam) Quarter Horses Call 337-581-3618 located in Crowley, LA 2014 Stud Fee $1250 LFG (337) 684-6751 or 318-965-9071 • lyonshorses.com www.newtownhorses.com Balanchine Standing at Stud Pistol Packin Badger

Give us a call to find out how to advertise in our Photo Sellers/ 8 yr. old Registered QH Gelding. Breakaway & Calf Roping Ready to be hauled. Started on breakaway and calf roping. Started on Stallion Alley section! barrels, lots of potential. Please call 985-526-8943 or 985-271-2056 225-622-5747 for more information. $6000 OBO.

82 Louisiana Equine Report • April / May 2014 April / May 2014 • Louisiana Equine Report 83 72 Louisiana Equine Report • February/ March 2014