View this post on InstagramA post shared by Elisa Wallace (@wallaceeventing)Have you been following the inaugural Mustang Classic at Kentucky Horse Park this week? This new competition showcases the versatility of the Mustang breed, and one of the well-known eventers whos made a name for herself as a Mustang trainer is competing. Elisa Wallace is a name many will associate both with eventing as well as Mustang work, having produced several former wild horses up the levels as well as to prepare them for forever homes. Shes also a decorated Mustang competitor, and shes looking to add another win or two to her shelf with Zephyr, a five-year-old Mustang who Elisa only got in February of this year. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Elisa Wallace (@wallaceeventing)After two days of competition, which consisted of a Training level dressage test on Friday and a show jumping / cross country fence phase on Saturday. The top 10 (or, in this case, 12 after a scoring miscalculation was corrected by awarding two additional spots to the final phase) move forward to a Freestyle today to determine the winner of the lions share of the $125,000 in prize funds.Elisa and Zephyr currently sit atop the leaderboard, and you can follow along live for free on Equestrian+ here. Practical Horseman has been covering this event, and you can read their Saturday recap here.U.S. Weekend PreviewThe Fork at Tryon (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]Aspen Farms H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]The Event at Skyline (UT): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]Flying Cross Farm H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]Otter Creek Fall H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]Marlborough H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]GMHA September H.T. (VT): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]Links & ReadingIts a little spooky! meet the two top event horse clones of William Fox-Pitts starsBarn Family: The Village That Helps Raise Young EquestriansManaging Horses With AllergiesBritish Riders Confirmed for Boekelo (NED)Video BreakAnother #LapForLiz dont forget to send in yours! View this post on InstagramA post shared by Allie Knowles (@akeventing)

Sophie Click and Tarantino 54. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.The second day of competition at Aspen Farms Horse Trials and United States Eventing Associations (USEA) Area VII Championships featured cross-country and show jumping. The Championship, Advanced, and Intermediate divisions navigated the cross-country courses designed by Morgan Rowsell.In the Advanced division, Sophie Click and Tarantino 54 jumped clear with 11.2 time penalties to move up fr0m third to first.The course rode super well, said Click after cross-country. Quinn was amazing. In the spring we had a little oopsies here at Aspen Farms on cross-country, and we came out today and conquered that. Im super happy with that.Karen ONeal and Clooney 14, owned by Annika Asling, added 20 penalties at the Toklat Originals Water Complex which dropped them from first to second.The Advanced division will show jump first at 8 a.m. in the sand ring on Sunday. Cash prizes are at stake for the top finishers, sponsored by Tin Men Supply.Marc Grandia and GHS Calexico. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.In the USEA Area VII Open Intermediate Championship, Marc Grandia and GHS Calexico, owned by Calexico Syndicate LLC, and Devin Robel and Gillou are tied for first on the overnight leaderboard.I had a blast, said Grandia after his clear jumping effort cross-country. It was a lot of fun out there. The conditions were absolutely perfect with the rain weve had, and the weather.Devin Robel was happy with the cross-country performance from her Warmblood gelding, Gillou. She has owned Gillou since he was a yearling, produced him herself, and most recently competed in Florida over this past winter with great success at the Intermediate level. Gillou is currently ranked third in Intermediate in the nation.I had a plan, Robel said about her cross-country ride. Ive been trying to teach him to jump more out of stride. We had a lot of very nice fences, and we had some where we need to keep working on that. But overall, he was game on. The course was great.Robel feels good going into show jumping Sunday: Hes a super jumper. When Im show jumping regularly, show jumping is great for us. But it has been hard to keep him going where we live in Oregon. Our goal tomorrow is to ride the lines well. I love Chris Barnards courses. Hell jump clean! View this post on InstagramA post shared by Aspen Farms Horse Trials (@aspenfarmshorsetrials)In the Open Intermediate division, Alyssa Schaefer and Fuego maintained their lead by jumping clear cross-country and running faster than their counterparts. All riders in the division added time penalties. Audrey Morrissey and Lord Limon are in second, and Sara Zulyniak and Ulterra Alaris, owned Nicolas Helayel, are in third.In the large USEA Area VII Preliminary Championship, Chloe Kischuk and Dassett Endeavour switched places with Brooke Phillips and JLs Dartagnan after cross-country to take the lead. Sara Sellmer and JB Virgin Electric, owned by Jil Walton, are third.The course rode so well, said Kischuk. When I walked the course it looked like it was going to ride wellyou always hope that will be the caseand it was so perfect to ride.Looking ahead to show jumping, Kischuk shared: Hes been show jumping so well at home. Weve really been working on it. Im excited to see how it pays off.In USEA Area VII Training Amateur Championship, Reese Blinks and her Hanoverian gelding, Lowmax, jumped clear to take over the lead. Lorilee Hanson and Mosaque are second.The course designer did a great job using the terrain to create a course that was challenging, but still flowed and was appropriate for the level, said Blinks. Aspen does a great job with their footing, and the jumps are so beautiful. All this came together to provide a fun track for Championships. The double down Arion banks were really fun. My horse read the course very well.Blinks is hoping to finish this first year competing with her horse strong: Weve been pretty consistent throughout the year at Training level. Hes still a younger horse, and Ive only had him about a year, so we are still getting to know each other. Hes a really cool horse. Im hoping to have a fun time and a good round tomorrow. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Aspen Farms Horse Trials (@aspenfarmshorsetrials)The overnight leaders in the USEA Area VII Novice Amateur Championship are Kimberly Johnson and her 8-year-old rescue mare Ascendance. They qualified for Championships at Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials.I really loved the course today, said Blinks. Lots of directional changes; it was a fun challenge. Shes a good horse. Shes very athletic. I have all the confidence in her. She saves me when I need saving, and I guide her when she needs some guidance. Were a fun team.In USEA Area VII Junior Training Championship, Dakota McGill and her Irish Sporthorse, NSC Mettaphor, held their lead. Alexis Johnson and Encore are second, and Courtney Brandt and One True King are third.It felt smooth, said McGill of her cross-country ride. Im really gaining speed now. Im getting used to riding faster. Im hoping to move up to Prelim. Ive been working on being soft and letting him figure it outtrusting him. Show jumping is a strong phase for him. He really likes it. Tomorrow I just need to be quiet and push him on; he will be good!In the highly competitive USEA Area VII Open Novice Championship division, Sara Sellmer and Courious George, owned by Samantha Quinn, emerged on top of the leaderboard after a double clear cross-country ride to hold their dressage score of 27.5. Anna Stein and Our Theodore, owned by Lisa Escobar, are second on 27.8. Marc Grandia and Obligado VD Watermolen, owned by Melissa Jaten, went just one second over time to move from tied first to third. The top ten pairs in the division are all within one rail of the leader.In the warm-up Marc [Grandia] and I were having fun razzing each other, said Sellmer, referring to their tie after dressage. He went slow trying to get as close as possible to the optimum time and put the pressure on me. I was watching him and I thought he was so brave! I thought for sure he got it, so I went too fast! I knew I had too much time at the last fence. But at the end Marcs mom let me know he went one second over, so we broke the tie. George was lovely on course; hes a really honest blue collar boy. A lot people might pass him over, but he wins everything. Im building him for my friend Sam. Hes going to be her Novice packer champ, and hes turning out to be all those things! Hes a lovely horse.In the USEA Area VII Junior Beginner Novice Championships, Addisyn and her Dutch Warmblood gelding Parahoniak ADRs Fausto are first, Carsyn Ritter and MR. CURIOSITY are second, and Rita Caiado and Makin It Big In Hollywood are third. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Aspen Farms Horse Trials (@aspenfarmshorsetrials)It was amazing, Parahoniak shared after her cross-country ride. It was really fun. Im excited for show jumping tomorrow, but its a lot of pressure to be in first. Show jumping is not his strongest phase, but hes usually very good.Sunday over $35,000 worth of cash and prizes will be awarded to the the top finishers in the Horse Trials and USEA Area VII Championships thanks to generous show sponsors. In addition, there is an opportunity for an Amateur/Rider to win a free custom Arion saddle in The Arion Challenge. To win, an Amateur Rider and horse combination must have won their Amateur/Rider division at the June Aspen Farms Horse Trials and repeat the win this weekend.Super excited to be doing The Arion Challenge for the second year in a row, said Stacy von Marenholtz of Arion. We love that it gives Amateur riders the opportunity to win a great prize. Its a good incentive that is unique from anything anyone else is offering. Were cheering on all the riders; we hope we have another winner this year!Follow along with more show coverage on Aspen Farms Facebook Page and on Instagram @AspenFarmsHorseTrials.Aspen Farms H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.Will Coleman had his original Paris horse, Off the Record, back in action this week at The Fork at Tryon (NC), moving up from second Saturday on cross country to finish first on a score of 38.5. This run is serving as one of his final preparation competitions ahead of a trip back to France to compete in Les 5 Etoiles de Pau at the end of October. After opting not to do a spring 5* or other Long format with Timmy in anticipation of Paris and then after narrowly missing out on an opportunity to compete at the Olympics, Will selected Pau as his fall destination thinking it will suit the 15-year-old Irish gelding. Ive never been there before, but I think it will be a track that suits Timmy, Will said. And hes getting a little older, so we thought wed just enjoy him while hes finding this fun and easy. I just continue to be so impressed with how professional and reliable he is. He really just loves it. Its amazing to leave the start box on a horse like that. It really does make cross country so fun.Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.As is typical with these Long format preps, time penalties played a role in the final standings. Will didnt go blasting around and went out with more of a plan to let Timmy set his own pace. Hes just so efficient, so we had a bit of time but on a course like that I think it will be a great set-up for whats next.Will will aim Diabolo at the Maryland 5 Star before hopping a plane to meet Off the Record (Arkansas VDL Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio), who is owned by The Off the Record Syndicate, in France for Pau at the end of the month.He also gave us an update on Chin Tonic HS, who was sidelined earlier this year after a mild check ligament injury caused some swelling in the carpal sheath. That swelling prompted Will to withdraw Chin from the Lexington 4*-S and, subsequently, from Olympic consideration. The only way we could determine if the tendon was involved was through an arthroscopy, he explained. And it was really just the irritation had caused the swelling, so he had a very mild surgery on that and now hes back in work. We can anticipate a return to competition in 2025 for Chin Tonic, who is owned by Hyperion Stud.Dan Kreitl and Carmango. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.Dan Kreitl has his Aachen partner, Kay Dixons Carmango (Chirivell Taramanga, by Templer GL xx), back in action at the 4* level this summer, finishing second today with a score of 44.6 with 9.6 time penalties added on cross country. Fritz picked up mild strain in a front tendon following Aachen last year, and while he stayed in dressage work during his downtime, Dan took the gas off the pedal in terms of jumping and competing. This, as well as the effects of the accumulation of fitness that horses build over time, has resulted in the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding feeling better than ever. The fitness, hes so much stronger, Dan explained. Weve learned more how to manage him well, and that means not running quite as often. It was really nice to feel like he could go awhile without competing and still show up and be ready to go.Of course, with this horse being the only horse Dan has going at the Advanced level at the moment (though he does have a group of exciting young ones moving up the ranks now), he admits that the repetition has always been useful for him. My confidence comes from repetition, so if I could show him every weekend that would be great, but that just wouldnt work with the horse, my work, my family. So I just try to keep my cool, and I do think Im getting mentally better and Ive learned that the harder I try, the worse I do!Dan Kreitl and Carmango. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.Dan was selected as an alternate for the U.S. Nations Cup team heading to Boekelo in October, but hed planned to go as an individual regardless of team selection. After all, he has an unused Dutta Corp. flight grant still waiting its usage after winning the Tryon CCI4*-L in 2022!To that end, Dan used this final prep run to ensure he was riding in a similar manner to how he will need to in the Netherlands. Part of me wanted to make the time [today], but I wanted to prioritize giving him a good run, Dan said. I did ride more direct and aggressive on the turns, trying to make it a little more challenging for him because I can imagine Boekelo will have that same feel of intensity.Dan will focus on fine-tuning his dressage and show jumping between now and early October, when hell fly to meet Carmango in Europe.Phillip Dutton and Jewelent. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.Phillip Dutton earned the third spot on the leaderboard for his birthday (which was on Friday) with the Jewelent Groups Jewelent (Valent Bellaney Jewel, by Roselier), finishing on a score of 46.9. This 12-year-old Irish gelding will be aiming for a fall Long format and seeking a first 4*-L completion since joining Phillips string from Ireland at the end of the 2023 season.Boyd Martin had his Paris partner, Fedarman B, back in action in the Advanced division. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.Heres a look at the remainder of the winners crowned across divisions on Saturday at The Fork at Tryon:CCI3*-S: Will Coleman and Cold Red Rum (28.2)CCI2*-L: Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Sebastian (29.3)CCI2*-S: Dan Kreitl and Odyssey (38.7)CCI1*-S: Anna Rose Hutcheson and F For Fortune (36.4)Advanced: Boyd Martin and On Cue (56.8)Open Intermediate: Gabby Dickerson and Top Carrera (35.7)Open Prelim: Ashley Adams and Global Halycon (29.8)Prelim Rider: Logan Harris and Omnipotent (29.0)Modified: Caitlin Harms and LCC King Julian (28.3)The Fork at Tryon (NC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

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Topic Key Points How to Address Behavioral Issues in Horses Understanding the role of pain and stress is crucial for improving horse welfare and performance. Recognizing and addressing underlying causes is important. Understanding Pain in Horses Pain impacts behavior, welfare, and quality of life. Horses hide pain due to evolutionary reasons. Signs of Pain in Horses Changes in Movement and Posture: Altered gait, posture. Facial Expressions: Use the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS). Behavioral Alterations: Changes in appetite, sleep, social interaction. Physiological Responses: Tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, hyperthermia. The Importance of Early Detection Prevents long-term behavioral and physiological issues. Use comprehensive pain scales like the Equine Discomfort Ethogram. Understanding Stress in Horses Stress arises from environmental changes, social issues, and physical discomfort. Signs of Stress in Horses Pacing and Pawing: Indicators of anxiety or frustration. Sweating and Trembling: Physiological stress responses. Changes in Appetite: Lack of interest in food. Social Withdrawal: Isolation or aggression. Common Stressors in Horses Environmental Changes: Moving to new locations, changes in routine. Social Issues: Introduction of new horses, loss of a companion. Managing Pain and Stress in Horses Combination of veterinary care, behavioral adjustments, and environmental changes. Veterinary Care Comprehensive Evaluations: Thorough evaluations involving physical exams, imaging, and behavioral assessments. Pain Management: Appropriate strategies like medication or physical therapy. Behavioral Adjustments Clear Training: Consistent and contradiction-free training. Meeting Ethological Needs: Provide social interaction, foraging, and freedom to move. Environmental Changes Stable Environment: Minimize changes, introduce them gradually. Social Support: Ensure access to other horses and social interaction. Additional Resources Nociceptive pain and anxiety in equines: Physiological and behavioral alterations Equine Discomfort Ethogram Poor Horse Behavior? It Could Be Pain Related Conclusion Recognizing signs of discomfort and implementing management strategies improve horse welfare and performance. Consult veterinarians for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. How to Address Behavioral Issues in Horses: Understanding the Role of Pain and Stress Behavioral issues in horses can be complex and multifaceted, often stemming from underlying pain or stress. Recognizing and addressing these root causes is crucial for improving the welfare and performance of your equine companion. In this blog, we will delve into the importance of identifying pain and stress in horses, explore the signs and symptoms, and provide practical advice on how to manage these issues effectively. Understanding Pain in Horses Pain in horses is a significant concern that can impact their behavior, welfare, and overall quality of life. Unlike humans, horses do not always exhibit obvious signs of pain due to their evolutionary tendency to hide discomfort to avoid predation. Signs of Pain in Horses Horses experiencing pain may display subtle behavioral changes that can be easily overlooked. Here are some key signs to look out for: Changes in Movement and Posture: Horses in pain may alter their gait, posture, or weight-bearing patterns. For example, a horse with hind-end pain might show reluctance to move forward or exhibit a "lazy" demeanor. Facial Expressions: The Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) is a valuable tool for identifying pain through facial expressions. This scale includes detailed descriptions and photographs of various components of facial discomfort, such as ear position, orbital tightening, and nostril flare. Behavioral Alterations: Pain can lead to changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and social interactions. Horses may become more aggressive or withdrawn, and they might spend more time looking away or seeming distracted. Physiological Responses: Pain can cause physiological changes such as tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, and hyperthermia. These changes can be monitored using objective measures like heart rate, respiratory rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). The Importance of Early Detection Early detection of pain is critical for preventing long-term behavioral and physiological alterations. Chronic pain, which persists for 3-6 months or longer, can significantly reduce a horse's quality of life and welfare. Using comprehensive pain scales and ethograms, such as the Equine Discomfort Ethogram, can help in recognizing and managing pain more effectively. Understanding Stress in Horses Stress is another significant factor that can influence horse behavior. Stress can arise from various sources, including environmental changes, social issues, and physical discomfort. Signs of Stress in Horses Identifying stress in horses is essential for maintaining their mental and physical health. Here are some common signs of stress: Pacing and Pawing: Horses under stress may exhibit pacing or pawing behaviors, indicating anxiety or frustration. Sweating and Trembling: Increased heart rate, sweating, and trembling are physiological responses to stress. Changes in Appetite: Stress can lead to a lack of interest in food, which can result in weight loss and other health issues. Social Withdrawal: Horses may become more isolated or aggressive when stressed, especially if they are experiencing social issues like the loss of a companion or changes in their social environment. Common Stressors in Horses Understanding the common stressors can help in mitigating their impact: Environmental Changes: Moving to a new barn or stall can be highly stressful for horses. Changes in routine, such as reduced access to pasture or social interaction, can also cause significant stress. Social Issues: The introduction of new horses or the loss of a companion can lead to stress and anxiety. Managing Pain and Stress in Horses Managing pain and stress involves a combination of veterinary care, behavioral adjustments, and environmental changes. Veterinary Care Comprehensive Evaluations: Work closely with your veterinarian to conduct thorough evaluations for pain and stress. This may include physical examinations, imaging studies (like X-rays), and behavioral assessments. Pain Management: Implementing appropriate pain management strategies, such as medication or physical therapy, can significantly improve a horse's quality of life. Behavioral Adjustments Clear Training: Ensure that your horse's training is clear, consistent, and free from contradictions. This helps in reducing confusion and stress related to training. Meeting Ethological Needs: Horses have evolved to be herd animals that forage and move extensively. Meeting these ethological needs by providing adequate social interaction, foraging opportunities, and freedom to move can reduce stress and behavioral issues. Environmental Changes Stable Environment: Minimize changes in the stable environment to reduce stress. If changes are necessary, introduce them gradually to allow your horse to adjust. Social Support: Ensure your horse has access to other horses and provide opportunities for social interaction to reduce stress related to social isolation. Additional Resources Nociceptive pain and anxiety in equines: Physiological and behavioral alterations Equine Discomfort Ethogram Poor Horse Behavior? It Could Be Pain Related Conclusion Addressing behavioral issues in horses requires a deep understanding of the underlying causes, primarily pain and stress. By recognizing subtle signs of discomfort and implementing appropriate management strategies, you can significantly improve your horse's welfare and performance. Be proactive in consulting with a veterinarian to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plans. For more information about horse riding equipment and apparel, visit Just Horse Riders. Additionally, check out our extensive collections for your needs: Jodhpur Collection Horse Riding Boot Collection Horse Riding Gloves Collection Horse Riding Socks Collection Horse Treats And Gifts Everyday Horse Vitamins & Supplements Stable Rugs Turnout Rugs Horse Fly Protection

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary in Devon can purchase a new horsebox thanks to kind donations from its supporters.Earlier this year, the sanctuary launched a crowdfunding campaign with the aim of raising 35,000 to enable them to purchase a new horsebox to help transport horses and ponies who have been abandoned, neglected or abused.Within a few weeks they had raised over 20,000, thanks in part to a 10,000 donation from a major donor.Sue and Keith Hollings from Totnes then heard about the appeal and decided to cover the outstanding 15,000.We dropped everythingSue and Keith Hollings helped fund a new horseboxDMC-GH4 f/3.1 1/60s 16mm ISO1000Keith and I got married about two years ago and we both love animals and support local charities, said Sue.When we read about The Mare and Foal Sanctuarys appeal for a horsebox, we realised how critical it was to them. I said to Keith, Come on, we can help with that!We dropped everything, drove to our local sanctuary at Coombe Park that day, and made the donation, continued Sue.It was lovely to meet some of the rescued ponies, like Geronimo who only has one eye and little Sir Didymus the abandoned miniature Shetland who, when he isnt playing in the field, rests his chin on the stable door to watch the world go by.He has to be one of my favourites. Its reassuring to know that horses and ponies like these who have had awful experiences in the past will now be cared for throughout the rest of their lives.We were glad to help the sanctuary pay for the horsebox they need to transport them.A huge differenceA new horsebox will enable the charity to continue to rescue horses in need and transfer them between its four sites or for veterinary care when needed.The whole team is so delighted with the news. We all want to thank everyone who has helped us to reach our goal, said head of sanctuary care Sally Burton.Our current horsebox has served us well but has a few too many miles on the clock and doesnt always start when we need it to. The new horsebox will make a huge difference.Further readingLive birth of new foal is captured on charitys web camBuyers guide to horseboxes and trailersHow horse riders should prepare for the arrival of an air ambulanceHow to take care of a horseUltimate guide to horse health insurance and vet fees coverThe post Generous donations secure new horsebox for Devon charity appeared first on Your Horse.