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SWAP
FEED FUND
MAKE CREDIT CARD DONATIONS TO THE SWAP FEED FUND... CALL
FOSTER FEEDS AT 304-269-1333, TALK TO CHARLIE TO GIVE A DONATION TO THE SECOND
WIND ADOPTION PROGRAM FEED FUND, WE GO THROUGH 6 TONS OF FEED A MONTH. YOU CAN
ALSO PAY FOR ADOPTIONS AND PURCHASES THIS WAY!!
monthly counters started on February 13, 2010 for the website, because this is a
free counter, it will only show about a 1/4 of our total numbers, so its
not an accurate depiction of all of our visitors, just gives an idea about all
the people that visit our site. We do love our international visitors. Welcome!
Visitors By Country
Top 100 Visitors
Last 100 Visitors
Visitors Map
Daily Stats
Congrats to our President for the nomination and eventual induction to the
ROTC Hall of Fame at West Virginia State University, nominated by the former VP
of the University, the induction will take place at the Embassy Suites in
Charleston, WV October 14, 2010. A former military school, rich in a history of
national defense has only inducted just over 100 military retirees to its Hall
of Fame, many of them general officers. Congratulations on this huge honor.
Stay up with our President/Executive Director, all the
directors, volunteers and riders. All the CSS/SWAP supporters and adopters are
having a big time sharing stories, pictures, lots of good stuff about their
horses. Our President is at her max friends so she is full but we are going to
set up a fan based page so everyone can be added. So sorry to the 200 + people
who have asked for a friendship.... we'll get our fan page up soon.
Benefit Wines is a unique online retail wine shop that partners with
non-profit organizations to raise funds. Every charity partner has their
own unique wine label. Supporters enjoy fine, organic wines while
supporting their favorite cause. Cheers!
Raise $1000. for Second Wind
Adoption Program and have a 1 in 70 chance at a 15 carat Ruby/Diamond
Ring! ... mail donations to Rt. 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union,
WV 26456
The Wish List of Our Needs:
More than anything we need a large donation to help us pay off our farm, we just
owe 70k. With a farm paid for, we will never worry about the program and schools
closing.
We are looking for 2 to 3 people to do work in exchange for a place to live.
1. New or lightly
used truck and 3 to 6 horse trailer, our equipment has seen its better
days, we've been using both for nearly 14 years to pick up horses and move them
to their new homes.
2. A Farm in any
location for low cost long term lease or donation to expand our program
to develop a retirement farm for our now aging horses returned to us from
adopters who could not retire our horses. Our highest priority locations
initially are Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
or Delaware.
3. New or Lightly
Used Farm utility vehicle (like a john deere gator), farm tractor,
& manure spreader
4. Tack and large
horse items donated... like carts/buggies, racing bikes, jog carts,
harnesses, saddles, horse trailers, blankets/rugs to use or sell on SWAP
Shopping. Supplies to use around the barn or office.
5. A bulk feed bin
that will hold anywhere from 6 tons to 9 tons of grain donated or at low cost or
even a break on the cost of purchase and instillation.
6. A volunteer or low cost
employee who can help us fix our
database that lists all adopters, donors, supporters and horses/dogs/cats
in the program.
7. Some sort of a cloth
facility like Cover-all or Farm-Tek
building to increase our abilities to be able to take more horses and
have an indoor area to work and train horses in winter, donated, grant or
partially donated. anywhere from 50 x 200 to 72 x 300.
8.
Monthly Sponsors for our light
use, elderly or retirement/sanctuary horses/dogs who's possibilities for
adoption are very low, ie. Orphy, Jelly Bean, Dixie, Allie, Kochese, Darlin, Mr.
Darcey, JoJo, Freckles, Lucy, Bandit, Max, etc.
9. Volunteers
to commit to doing one fund raiser for SWAP horses at your location during 2010,
it can be a golf tournament, a bake sale, book sale, lemonade stand, car wash,
setting up an information stand at a horse show. This is a great way to kids to
get involved in helping horses.
10 Anyone interested in
free high quality top soil
(manure already composted) and manure for gardens, you can pick up for free by
the truck load at our WV location (bring a loader). If you are a gardener and
only need a small amount, pick up in a truck or we'll be selling it by the feed
bag full at $2.00 a bag (in a bag that is usually used for 100 lbs of feed).
This is beautiful clean top soil. This offer will only last so long because we
will be leveling the manure pile this August when its dry enough to get a dozer
in there.
11. Someone to do
dozer work on the farm, level arena/round pen, do terracing on the hill
sides to keep water out of the barns and level the top soil and manure pile to
increase the level of that land in that bottom so we can put our methane
digester in and indoor arena. Volunteer or at a reduced cost.
Reporting Neglect:
Please, if you see neglect (ribs and hip bones showing or no
food available), its critical to call the sheriff of the county where the
horse/animal is located. Have the address where the horse is located or
directions to the farm, pictures and the owners name (if possible). If the
sheriff does nothing email our cruelty case workers Tom and Ruby Fleming at
tomfleming64@cebridge.net or email
PETA's cruelty case workers Stephanie or Tori at
sbell@peta.org,
or
ToriP@peta.org Remember horses can not speak for themselves so
we must speak for them!! All reports are kept anonymous.
Getting Help for Your Horses/animals if you can not care for
them:
If you can not feed your animals, whether they are horses or
other animals, if you are adopters, call SWAP HQ immediately, if not, call your
local horse rescue and plead for help, if they are full then call your animal
control officer or sheriff to release ownership of your animals so they can get
them help Before they are starved to death, do not wait until they are starved,
its critical to get help early. Contact us if you do not know what to do. call
304-873-3532 or email
secondwindadopt@aol.com. Many counties have pet
pantries so you can get feed when times are tough.
If things are getting tight with costs, go to a less expensive
grain like a simple stock pellet supplemented with corn, according to Ohio State
Corn is the leading horse feed in the US according to their research, many large
equine schools and large farms feed these all natural feeds because of what they
get for the price, a lot of negative stuff has been written about corn but no
one can support it with actual proof and research. We feed a simple all stock
pellet from southern states and we supplement with cracked corn for those who
need more calories, here is the link:
- http://ohioline.osu.edu/b
- 762/b762_7.htm
TOP TEN WAYS YOU CAN HELP PROTECT HORSES
(ASPCA and SWAP Suggestions)
1. BE THEIR VOICE - your vote is your
greatest weapon against injustice, so register and actively support horse
protection and preservation legislation.
2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE - Walk the talk. Don't support or attend cruel
horse activities such as Tennessee Walker events using "soring" techniques -
painful techniques to make the horse walk a certain way, or events that use
drugs to make horses achieve results. High-diving horse acts are cruel, as are
rodeo events that don't promote respect for animals and their health.
3. BE AN INFORMED CONSUMER - products made from horses like Premarin
(pregnant mare urine pills for estrogen replacement), are created through
horses' suffering. Your spending dollar is a weapon.
4. SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE - inform people what happens to horses after
their short careers are over (slaughter plant bound), or where Premarin comes
from, talk to them about over breeding, the hazards of over using young horses
or not training a horse. Engage them in discussion.
5. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HORSE RESCUE OR SANCTUARY - these organizations
make life better for horses.
6. VOLUNTEER - your gift of time is valuable to horse groups and if
you have special talents, so much the better.
7. REPORT CRUELTY - if you witness abuse or neglect, report it to
local animal control or your county sheriff. Someone cruel to animals is cruel
to humans, too.
8. PROTECT THE AMERICAN WILD HORSE - mustangs have a special place in
our history and you can support federal and local legislation by writing emails
and letters to your government reps.
9. KEEP YOUR HORSE SAFE AND HEALTHY - if you own a horse, maintain
its health with regular hoof, medical and dental check-ups. Make sure they are
companioned as horses suffer living alone - even a goat makes a good companion.
Feed what the horse needs, if you are seeing ribs and hip bones, the horse is
not getting enough, if you can't afford to buy more feed, then give the horse to
someone who can, just be sure to check the person out and make sure they are not
selling the horse to slaughter or just going to turn out and sell the horse to
anyone that has the money. .
10. PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR HORSE'S CARE - your health and finances
change so what happens to your horse of you can't care for it anymore? Research
your options, including a pet trust. Horses live into their mid 20s and early
30s now - that's a lifetime of commitment.
Crossed Sabers Stable:
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As many as 60
million visitors per year |
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As many as 530,000 hits in one day |
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Visitors from 113 different
countries |
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Website Visitors from every
continent of the world |
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Thousands of adoptions (of 68
different breeds) in homes today with SWAP |
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Horses adopted in 46 states and
Canada |
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14 Year History |
Preparing for a Cold Winter:
HAY: Get
your hay now before the prices become outrageous, get enough for the winter
(good planning is 2 bales for every 3 days for one horse or 10 bales per month
per horse, so to make it until the middle of June (first cutting), you're
looking at 90 bales per horse at the very least (from September to June). If you
have good thick grass that has been mowed and fertilized then depending on where
you live in the US you might just need 60 to 70 bales. For good grazing its
recommended that you have 3 to 5 acres of mowed, seeded, fertilized grass per
horse. Remember Grass is dead in WV from Oct/Nov until about April and every
state has some months where the grass does not give the horses their calories or
nutrients it needs to sustain life (USDA has details of that for each state).
They may be grazing in the winter but they are not getting anything from the
grass to survive. I know most know that but I say it because we had an adopter
last year in WV that thought if they were eating grass that was all they needed
and she nearly killed 2 horses.
GRAIN:
Remember on average horses need 1 lb of concentrated feed (grain) for every 100
lbs of body weight, so on average horses need about 10 lbs of grain a day, more
when its very cold or if they are living outside in a run because much of their
calories go to keeping them warm. Some horses need more so its critical to
watch to make sure their ribs and hip bones are staying meaty and covered. If
you see ribs, the horse is too thin and needs more calories, not supplements
but more calories.. Easy keepers may be round but it does not mean they are
healthy, most easy keepers need a multi vitamin to stay healthy.
WATER:
One of the most critical things needed in winter is clean fresh water all the
time, anywhere from 5 to 20 gallons per day per horse and everyone knows what a
pain that is when there is ice and snow on the ground but its critical to
preventing colic. Get your electric heaters, defrosters now, heated buckets,
what ever it takes to make sure they have good water in front of them all the
time and at least 10 gallons (2 flat backed buckets at the very least). Here we
keep 100 gallons troughs in the stalls since we have big stalls, its much easier
than frozen buckets in winter, all we do is break the ice and remove it most
days and put a heater in them on really cold days. We use a sump pump to empty
water and scrub troughs each week which keeps water fresh and clean.
SHELTER:
Domestic horses need shelter, they are not wild and can not survive outside
without shelter or some kind of heavy waterproof rug to keep them warm during
snow/ice and freezing temperatures but the best is a closed in shelter that is
free from drafts (meaning its closed on all 4 sides with some sort of
ventilation). Wild horses first of all don't live very long, living outside in
the elements is very hard on them, secondly wild horses move in cold
temperatures to keepselves warm and they often times move over thousands of
acres to keep warm or to find cover or water. No domestic horse can not do that
on 5, 20 or even 100 acres. Just because your horse has learned to survive in
bad weather does not mean its good for them, they need shelter in bad weather.
CARE:
Its important to make kids take care of their horses but they must have adult
supervision on a daily basis to make sure horses are getting what they need.
Trust me, I usually have 30 year olds working in our barn and I still have to be
there daily to make sure things are done, that they have clean water, especially
when its cold because our young helpers want to get out of the weather and then
the horses are left at risk for colic. Every day check your child's work, do not
leave your horses care to a child (completely).
The Woman I will Be
- I shall wear diamonds and a wide brimmed
straw hat with ribbons and flowers on it
- And I shall spend my social security on
white wine and carrots
- And sit in the alley of my barn and listen
to my horses breathe.
- I will sneak out in the middle of a
summer's night And ride the dappled mare across the moonstruck meadow, if
my old bones will allow. and when people come to call, I will smile and
nod, As I walk them past the gardens to the barn And show, instead, the
flowers growing there
- In stalls fresh-lined with straw. I will
shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel. And I will
be an embarrassment of all who look down on me Who have not yet found the
peace in being free To love a horse as a friend, a friend who waits at
midnight hour
- With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes For
the Woman I will be when I am old.
The perfect analogies for why we
have the life school tied into SWAP and animal welfare work:
"Everyone thought we took this
broken down horse and saved him but really he saved us"
Jockey Red Pollard from the
movie Seabiscuit
I rescued a
human today
Her eyes met mine as she
walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her
need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too
exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.
As she stopped at my kennel
I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't
want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers
get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card
I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look
forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.
She got down on her knees
and made little kissy sounds at me.
I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.
Gentle fingertips caressed
my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I
raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened
and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would
promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would
promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her
eyes.
I was so fortunate that she
came down my corridor.
So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors.
So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
Baggage
by Evelyn Colbath
Now that I'm
home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked into my warm new bed,
I would like to open my baggage,
Lest I forget
There is so much to carry -
So much to forget.
Hmm, Yes, here
it is, right on the top
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my halter hides Fear & Shame
As I look on these things I have tried so hard to leave-
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them,
the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things
And take me right back?
Do you have the
time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never re-pack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?
A young boy was walking along the beach
- as high tide came in.
- With every crash of the waves
- he noticed that dozens of seahorses were
being cast onto the beach,
- where they lay gasping and squirming.
- Hurriedly, he ran to each seahorse he could
find
- and gently tossed them back into the surf.
- A man watching all this approached the boy
and said;
- "Son, what you are doing won't make a
difference",
- to which the boy replied,
"To
that seahorse .
. . it will".
Some folks said they missed my great goals
list for 2010, so here it is back again
1. Spend an hour a day with your horses, not just
feeding, training and turning out, but real quality time doing something that is
enjoyable for the both of you. Grooming or hand walking is a great way to bond
with your horse and good for both you and the horse.
2. Get your loved ones more involved in your
horses. Divorce is the biggest reason we see horses coming back to us. Don't
just share the work, share the fun too and find something they really enjoy
doing with horses.
3. Learn a new discipline, go to a clinic, a
horse show, or equine affaire. Come to one of our clinics or watch a training
video. If you are an adopter you can check out books and video's from SWAP's
Library for just shipping costs. Take a lesson at least once a month or Bring
your adoption horse here and we will help you. The better you are, the more fun
you will have.
4. Make a plan for your horse after you are gone
or if you have a major injury, let your Will Executor know your plans. Make a
plan for emergencies or financial bumps along the way for your horse. Have a
plan if you or your horse gets injured, even for the tough times of year like
winter (or summer down south and for a drought winter when hay prices
skyrocket). Ask friends, family and neighbors to be part of your plan, most
people that don't have horses or a farm love the idea of getting away and
helping. And people can not resist someone when they are asking for help for the
welfare of an innocent animal.
5. Get yourself healthy and in better shape to
prevent injury, to live a long life and to more enjoy your horses. Eat 1-1-1
(one ounce of dark chocolate, one ounce of fresh walnuts, one glass of red wine
daily) and 2-2-2 (2 servings of fresh vegis, 2 of fresh fruit and get 2 sources
of fat free calcium). Drink 100 ounces of spring water a day, get a whole house
water filter. Change over to Sea-salt. Take one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
every morning to keep your body alkaline (cancer and disease can not grow in an
alkaline body). Eat more fish and chicken and less red meat. Get a good air
cleaner and do daily deep breathing exercises, get outside in the fresh air and
sunshine for at least 1/2 hour every day. Get away from high fat food, processed
foods, fast food, can or boxed food, sugar or artificial sweeteners, soda and
don't eat anything if you can't read all the ingredients and know exactly what
is in it. Clean all vegis and fruits thoroughly, buy organic, buy ocean caught
fish, not farm raised, buy fresh meat and raw milk, not packed or processed. Eat
only natural carbs (potatoes, rice, oats) bake/broil or steam everything. Get 8
hours of sleep, reduce stress/risk (reduce commuting by car pooling, tight
schedules, cell phone use in the car, watch or read the news only once a day or
better yet once a week. Do one hour of walking, yoga or weight training every
day and it will make you strong, lean, you'll look great and get wonderful
complements from friends, coworkers and loved ones and the horse work will be
easier and more enjoyable.
6. Stay clear of negative people and those very
negative chat rooms and bulletin boards, they seem innocent but every time you
go to them you lose a bit of your positive self, they are truly emotional
vampires that will leave only a shell of a person. They are not based on the
truth, they are based on harassment, complaining, whining and dishonesty. We all
become tomorrow what we are around today, every person we come in contact with
defines who we are tomorrow so be careful who you choose for friends, even the
websites you go to as each of them affect who you are tomorrow. Do you want to
be a bitter, miserable, complaining person or do you want to be happy, inspired
and honorable, all that is affected by the decisions you make today. Stay away
from Toxic people and Toxic websites/forums that are negative or that spend all
their time talking bad about people and their horses. What you are around today
and what you are doing today is what you will be tomorrow. Stop Complaining and
be Thankful for what you have. If you become a target of harassment or anyone
saying anything negative about you, if you are doing only good, positive things
and not hurting anyone then ignore them, its all based on jealousy and a sick
sort of wish to be like you. They have the problem, not you.
7. Read at least one book on training your horse
and one on care each year, if for nothing else but just inspiration. SWAP has a
great library of books/videos that adopters can check out for just the cost of
mailing it.
Click
here to see our Library
8. Get carrots/apples every time you go to the
store, your horses will love you for it and always come running when you call.
Don't feed candy or anything sweeter. Carrots are sweet enough. Get rid of the
sweet feeds and you'll get rid of the hot horse once and for all.
9. Realize that if you are having a problem with
your horse, more likely than not, the problem is you. Learn more, practice more,
ask in a different way, be patient, change their environment or daily schedule
to better suit them. Taking better care of a horse always brings out the best in
that horse. Good feed/hay, time to rest in a quiet stall out of the elements,
lots of fresh water, time to be with you and time to just be a horse, time with
their buddies, farrier and vet care always done is a good start. The biggest
part of this relationship puzzle is you, not the horse. If you are struggling,
then you need to learn more and get better.
10. Ride at least once a week, regardless of
weather. Use this time as your down time for healing, your therapy, your time to
relieve stress and the pressures of daily life. Even if you don't ride, go sit
and read a book in the pasture with the horses or sit in the barn and listen to
them munch on dinner, away from the crowd and noise of your day. Enjoy the peace
and quiet, enjoy hearing happy horses eating dinner or grass in the pasture.
11. Spend time leisurely grooming your horse once
a week. Rubber curries are shine makers. You will have a beautiful horse and a
very loyal friend who will do anything for you.
12. Come and spend a week at SWAP HQ,
volunteering and focusing on helping a horse and giving will change your life
plus it will be the best vacation you ever had. Help an animal in need, whether
fostering, being one of our state reps that goes out to check on our horses in
their homes or helps us approve adopters in their area. Find horses in need and
help us find them homes. Buy a horse at a slaughter auction, get it fat and
trained and we'll help you place it into a good home. Foster and volunteer for
your local small animal adoption program. I promise, the good things you do will
come back to you a hundred times over. Every person has a talent they can offer
and if you help one horse or one dog or cat find a good home, you have changed
their life forever.
13. Know that every goal is obtainable and it
starts with a single step. Take that first step today!! No matter what it is or
how big, YOU CAN DO IT!! Every goal that is written down will come true
(really!). Every famous person, every great or notable scientist, author,
trainer/rider, parent or friend started out as just a thought, just a goal.
Remember to take one step today to reach your goals.
14. Start every day with thinking about, what is
the most important thing I can do today to change my life and make it better. Do
that one thing and in 30 days your life will be totally different. Can you
imagine what your life would be like if you did that for 60, 90 or even 365 days
a year. The opportunities are endless.
15. Want to keep your horse sound for life? (That
should be every horse owners number one goal) do a long slow warm up (cold
muscle is easy to injure, a warm one is nearly impossible to injure). The very
best cool down is hand walking your horse for 1 hour after every work out. Yes,
get off the horse and walk with it. Its great exercise for you and a good time
for you to bond. Stop riding your horse during cool downs and stop using a hot
walker, do something good for you and the horse, hand walking. Its also the best
rehab for over work and injuries, the only thing better is hydro therapy and
swimming your horse. Allow soft tissue and hard tissue to become more
conditioned before going into any training program... that means 3 months of at
least 3 days a week for soft tissues and 10 months of work for bones to become
strong enough to jump or do any strenuous training program. Don't start any
upper level work, jumping or extensive training until the horse is fit and at
least between age 4 and 6 and has been conditioned for at least 10 months
(especially if the horse has never been jumped/worked or not been jumped or
worked in the last year).
16. Appreciate what you have and be thankful.
Instead of looking at what you don't have, look at what you do. Thank those
people who have helped you and supported you. The more you give, the more that
will come back to you. When you give something away or give something to
someone/something in need, you make space in your life for something good to
come to you. We are all very blessed, if we just take a moment to look around
and enjoy those things.
17. Get used to using favorite mantra's and
visualizations every day, simple ones that are easy to remember, like 'I can do
this, I will do this', 'this isn't going to get the best of me' or even, 'I
deserve the best' or 'the gift of love, caring, and support always comes back'
and take two minutes every morning as you wake and at night as you go to sleep
to visualize the life you want, the you you want to be, Our thoughts become
things, what you see is what you get, if you expect the best, the best will
happen, change your self-talk from negative to positive and I promise your life
will change for the better..
18. Each person is put on this earth for a
reason, each of us has a mission. What is yours? Seek and you shall find,
finding is a journey ... in the journey and the search you'll find your life
purpose. If you died in your sleep tonight is there something you haven't done
that you need to do or want to do? Someone you need to mend fences with, burnt
bridges to fix? People you need to tell them how much you love them? Have you
fulfilled your purpose in your life? Ask yourself, Why am I here? How can I make
this better? Who do I want to be? Who am I suppose to be? What reason was I put
on this earth? What is my purpose?
19. Be an inspiration to your family, co workers
and friends. We all fall on our face, we all make mistakes, we all get
discouraged, most times we all get up and try again.... sometimes we need a
nudge. Instead of being negative or doing negative things, be their inspiration.
You do believe they can do it, so why not tell them. If their self talk is
negative, then you be their positive self talk.... eventually they will start to
say it and believe it too. Life is self fulfilling, failure feeds on itself or
causes more failure, achieving does as well. So if you or your love ones are in
a negative cycle, break the cycle by changing your thoughts, your self talk,
achieve something small to get yourself and your family back into the cycle of
achievement.
20. We all file a flight plan every single day
for our life. Where is your flight going today? Just like a pilot flying, the
winds, the gravitational pull will change your flight and take you off course,
so you must make small corrections along the way to make sure you make your
destination. Have you selected your destination? Have you picked the steps in
your flight plan to get there? Every goal is really that easy, pick the goal and
figure out how to get there. The easiest way to pick your flight path/plan is
find someone who has done it before you, then do what they did. Its all baby
steps you know. Just keep an eye on that destination and keep saying...."here is
my destination, this is where I'm going, this is where I am now, this is how I'm
going to get there.... I will arrive at this time on this day. You can do
it..... its just like getting in your car to go to the store, its just deciding
where you want to go and how to get there, then take that first step. You can do
it!! No matter how big or how outlandish you may think your dream to be... it
is obtainable.
21. Laugh every day and try (as hard as it is
sometimes) to find the positive and the humor in each situation (and have at
least one bite of a truly decadent desert once a week). Life is just too short
to not enjoy it thoroughly.
22. We learn the most and do our best work when
we have fallen on our face, when we are struggling, when we are worried, scared
or frustrated, when we are anguishing over something or troubled by it. It is
then that you have true motivation, when you think clearer. The most brilliant
ideas come to people when they feel lost, frustrated, or at the bottom, helpless
or hopeless. Cherish these times because its when you can come up with your best
ideas to your biggest problems and challenges. You see, there is a reason for
the rainy days.
23. You can't make everyone happy, its useless to
try and wasted energy to think you can. 50% of all people will not agree with
you at any given time, don't worry about it and don't let it stop you. 50%
becomes a lot of people when you are in the public eye. As long as you are not
hurting anyone and you are doing the right thing, then go ahead and do it. If
you are wondering what is the right thing to do, its usually the harder thing to
do, the toughest path to take. The easy way out is rarely the right thing to
do. Instead of worrying over what someone thinks of you or says about you, do
something amazing and outstanding to inspire them or at least have them sitting
on the side lines being jealous, secretly saying, "wow, she has guts". One
person with purpose becomes the majority, one way or another.
1. There are at least two people in this world
That you would die for.
2. At least 15 people in this world Love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you Is because they want to Be just
like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, Even if they don't Like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you Before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, Something good comes from it.
10. When you think the world has
Turned its back on you, take another look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
Always in hope and admiration, Celeita
YOUR BANK ACCOUNT
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully
dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and
shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home
today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he
smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a
visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been
hung on his window.
'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just
been presented with a new puppy.
'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or
not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my
mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when
I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the
difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of
bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and
all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank
account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.
I am still depositing.' Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Our
lives with horses...
Our lives with horses are rich with feeling. You know this if you've
ever.... choked back tears watching a new foal wobble to his feet for the
First time ...or watched your good horse wobble to his feet after surgery....
or seen the ends of the reins float straight out as a reining horse spins
beneath them . . or chuckled to yourself as you watched a tiny tot on a
patient pony trot through a barrel pattern at a saddle club payday ... or felt
the building tremble as an eight-up hitch of feather-legged giants towed a
hand-carved beer wagon into the arena ... or had your heart stop when you saw
your horse lying motionless in the pasture on a sunny day and waited
breathlessly for an ear to flick ... or cheered at the screen when 'The Man
From Snowy River' slid Dennie down the mountainside, .. or when Seabiscuit
made his final surge to beat War Admiral ... or cruised along the highway and
seen a horse in a pasture and wondered what he's like to ride or pictured him
as a prospect ... or sucked in your breath as a horse and rider approached a
six-foot wall ... or sworn a solemn oath to your horse that together you would
triumph ... or flipped through the TV channels and stopped when you saw a
horse even when it was a commercial ... or laughed aloud when you rubbed your
horse's face and he rubbed back ... or gotten chills hearing Dave Johnson's
'and DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!' (or 'Run for the Roses' circa 1980 ish?)
... or stood in awe at your horse in morning play as he sprinted around the
pasture, then stopped, head erect, and snorted defiance at the rest of the
world
... or been thankful to see wild horses grazing casually at the foot of a hill
... or felt calmed by the sleekness of a silky
haircoat beneath your hand ... or felt your jaw drop as you watched a Lipazzan
perform a capriole ... or if you've ever seen someone in the grocery store
wearing a certain kind of hat, or boots, or buckle, or have a certain cut and
length to their jeans, and felt some remote kind of connection ... or felt
warmed by a soft nicker greeting as you entered the barn ... or slid your hand
under your horse's blanket to straighten it out, only to pause in the glowing
feeling that you get when you touch the
warmth of his coat... or riding on a trail with your horse, thinking how that
trail over there looks nice and almost without asking, your horse has sensed
your slightest movement in the saddle and he's now taking you there. ... or
pulled up to your barn where you board and only your horse greets you with a
welcoming hello from the sound of your car or your voice.
HEROES AND HORSES
SOME NOTABLE HEROES AND THEIR HORSES ARE MENTIONED AND WE KNOW YOUR HORSE IS
YOUR HERO AND VICE VERSA.
1. Kanthaka - Buddha's horse, the one he used when he was still Siddhartha
the prince, to escape from his father's palace and begin his journey toward
enlightenment. Kanthaka's hooves made no sounds as they fled together and he
is often depicted being lifted on his four feet by benign spirits.
2. Pegasus - the mythical winged horse parented by Neptune and Medusa and
ridden by Bellerophon to rid the world of Chimera, the monster. Athena, the
Greek goddess of wisdom, was able to capture and train Pegasus when he allowed
her to place her golden bit in his mouth.
3. Phosphorus (Light Bearer) - the great Roman racehorse immortalized by the
4th century Roman poet Ausonius (at the emperor's request) in a beautiful
eulogy: Fly with haste to join the wing-footed horses of Elysium; may
Pegasus gallop on your right and Arion as your left-wheeler, and let Castor
find a fourth horse for the team.
4. Babieca - famed white gelding of El Cid, Rodrigo Diaz of Bivar, the
Spanish hero who united Christians and Muslims against a Moorish onslaught
from Africa. Babieca lived to be 30 years old and carried El Cid into all his
battles. Babieca means "crazy" as Rodrigo made a crazy choice since the colt
was the runt of the herd.
5. Bucephalus (Ox-head) - beloved horse of Alexander the Great who bore the
Macedonian hero on his back from Greece to India. Odds against a horse living
past 20 in that era were great, but Bucephalus, in his 20s, endured until he
fell in battle in India.
6. Sleipnir - the eight-legged war horse of Odin, the Norse god, was able to
fly without wings and shape-shift.
7. Balios and Xanthos - a grey and bay, both sired by Zephyros, the West
Wind, who together pulled Achilles' chariot.
8. Vivasat - a Hindu sun-god who often took the form of a stallion.
9. Al Burak - Mohammed's horse, on whose back he ascended to heaven, was
brought to him by the archangel Gabriel
10. Chiron - the centaur who taught Achilles, Jason and the first physician,
Ascelpius, all he knew.
11. Rakhsh - blue-eyed and dappled red horse of the legendary Persian
warrior, Rustam. Rakhsh was highly intelligent and saved his sleeping master
from a lion's attack, killing the predator.
There are many more famous mythical and real horses and we will be adding to
our list. Can you help us add to this list?. thank you Harmony Horse Works.
The question is not: "do you support horse
slaughter."
The question is: "do you support the cruel, terrifying
transport for days without food and water in their journey to death?"
The question is: "do you support the torture and abuse of
the killer chutes, even for crippled horses, pregnant mares, wild horses,
protective mares with foals by their sides?"
The question is: “Do you support the horse slaughter
factories that lie to their consumers about the many chemicals that taint the
horse meat, and call it Organic?
The question is: do you support the breeder who breeds
hundreds of horses just to pick out the good ones and cash in the rest to the
killer buyer?
The question is: Do you support the person who uses the
horse its whole life and when it gets to an old age sends it to slaughter as a
thank you?
The question is: “do you support the slaughter workers who
cheer a horse on that struggles extra hard for its life?
The question is: Do you support the killer buyer who not
only buys up the strong, fat and healthy horses and leaves the meek weak and
unhealthy for society, but also bids against the good homes and horse rescues?
The question is: “Can you see though the lies of the ones
who stand to loose a buck with the end of horse slaughter?
The question is: Do you support ripping the last of our wild
horses away from their families and peaceful lives to be slaughtered?
The question is: As a nation, can we allow this to continue
and still call ourselves a civilized country?
The question is: "Can you look at the footage of innocent
horses with their eyes gouged out, hooves ripped off, legs broken, beaten by
the workers, faces smashed in from being on the transport trucks, horses
stabbed in their spines, horses conscious for the entire killing process and
do nothing?
That is the question, so what is YOUR answer?
Resolve to make the world a better place for animals
(credit: PETA)
| If you haven't already done so,
have the companion animals who depend on you spayed or neutered. These
simple procedures help protect your furry friends from many types of
cancer and prevent thousands of animals from being born only to end up
abandoned on the streets or dumped at severely crowded animal shelters.
|
| If you live with a dog,
pledge to walk him or her every day, even when it's cold outside and you'd
rather hide under a blanket. If you share your home with cats, set
aside some "kitty (or horsey) quality time" every day to play
with, brush, and bond with them. It's sometimes too easy to overlook our
feline friends, but they can get bored and lonely too. |
| If there is a lonely "backyard dog" in your
neighborhood, try befriending his or her
guardian. Start by politely talking to him or her about the dog's needs,
such as companionship, daily portions of fresh food and water, and a
weatherproof doghouse filled with straw. Many lucky dogs have had their
lives changed because someone like you cared enough to intervene.
|
| If you're shopping for yourself or buying
holidays gifts for your loved ones, stay
away from fur, wool, leather, and companies that make or sell products
made from the skins of animals. |
NOTE: Crossed Sabers can not fully guarantee the accuracy of every page
on this website which is huge (38,000 files and over 300 pages). We do not
have the personnel or time to keep it up to date and accurate for every
situation as this Stable and all its programs have always been a dynamic
entity, ever changing and improving itself to meet the needs of horses and
horse people. We do try to make sure each page is up to date and accurate but
the best thing to do If you have a question, is email or call us. Additionally
Crossed Sabers can not guarantee anything that anyone says about us on line,
we have no control over other people and their websites, forums or ads, all we
can tell people is if you do not know the person, their name, address and
their experience, age or history/background/education and location do not
trust what they say. That is true for everything on the internet. Some things
said about us have been grossly inaccurate and did not come from CSS, some
come from past employees we fired for cause (for hurting horses or stealing
from us), people that are pro-slaughter and hate our mission and what we do
for horses enjoy trying to make us look bad, some are horse traders that we've
helped put out of business and some are people we helped put in jail on
neglect cases. Again, if you have questions about us, our services, our
company structure, how we are licensed, how we pay taxes, how we do things or
anything at all, please feel free to contact us, just don't assume that all
you read on another website is accurate because 99% of it is not true,
especially if you read it on a forum, blog or chat room and don't assume that
it came from us, just call 304-873-3532 or email us at
secondwindadopt@aol.com,
or better yet, come and see our operation and you will see how we do things. I
can guarantee it's 1000 times better than what the liars and frauds say who
are jealous of our work.
All programs and services listed on this website, including
SWAP is a part of Crossed Sabers Stable which has been licensed in WV for the
last 13 years. The Mountain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption
Program, Inc. and Crossed Sabers International Horse School, Inc. was
incorporated on 4 Sep 08 to address the education needs and life challenges of
people and horses.
Buyer and Seller Beware!! Update on the
Robin Hollingsworth of Blacksburg, SC
(she has several alias's and about 10 fake names) fraud case for those
of you who have been asking. The SC prosecutor accepted a plea bargain from
her and dropped the case if she paid the people she ripped off (the people she
took money under false pretenses from when she sold them horses she did not
own), she did that so she was let go but the 3 arrests will stay on her record
and the record of what she did to all those people is still on the books and
will stay there. If she is caught again I'm certain she will go to jail but
people who are cheated by her must stand up and testify.. If more people that
she ripped off would have not chickened out and backed out because of fear
(Quote from them was we are scared of her, she is crazy) she would be in jail
right now but beware, she is still loose and still taking free horses or
companion horses that have things like ringbone and navicular and drugging
them and then selling them as high level jumpers and competition horses on the
internet. Her daughter works with her, Amanda or Mandy, she helps her rip
people off. Beware, I'm getting calls almost every month where Robin has
committed more crimes against people, taking horses, not paying for them,
bouncing checks, buying vehicles and horse trailers and not paying for them.
BEWARE OF THIS WOMAN!! If you want her history or to check a person's name
against our black list (our do not adopt to, do not sell to, do not buy from,
do not hire or even rent to list), then contact us.
BEWARE: Do not buy a horse from anyone you
do not know, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERNET, unless they have websites like ours,
their names and addresses listed and they show they have a long long history
on their website and do not buy unless you go to see the horse and have it vet
checked and you have contact with the vet, not the seller or even trainer
telling you what the vet said. DO NOT GIVE YOUR HORSE OR SELL YOUR HORSE
WITHOUT A WRITTEN AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT IS TO HAPPEN WITH THE HORSE, RESELLING,
USE/LIMITATIONS, FACILITIES NEEDED, ETC. It you sell or give away a horse with
no agreement, they could go to slaughter the same day you release them or they
could be sold and misrepresented, living a life of neglect, abuse, over use
and miss use the rest of their lives. We hear stories all the time where a
best friend or neighbor, the nice lady you gave the horse to sent the horse to
slaughter or is neglecting it and there is not a thing the owner can do now
because they no longer own the horse and they made no written agreements
signed by both parties. If you need help doing written agreements, back ground
checks on buyers and sellers, just contact us, that is part of our 'SAFE
SELLING' SERVICES. Your horse's life depends on you being safe and thorough!
BEWARE: People are selling horses on the
internet that don't even exist so beware, the horse industry is full is liars,
cheaters, and thieves, even we have had to deal with them from potential
adopters who were in jail applying to adopt, to employees and former trainers
who totally ripped us off by stealing tack and tools, asking for huge advances
and then leaving after they get them, people who don't even know us or had any
experience with us slandering us on forums, harassing us and our supporters,
interfering with company operations and even adopters who don't think twice
about breaching their contract or forging their vets signature on applications
& annual updates or even selling their adoption horse to programs like ours
and even 501c3's public charities selling horses to slaughter auctions or
being put in jail for neglect and animal cruelty. We are bringing each person
that has wronged our horses to justice one at a time and winning all our cases
but that does not protect the general public from these liars, thieves,
con-artist and cheaters. Your horses life can easily be ruined forever, they
could end up in a fate worse than death so buyer and seller beware, your
horses life depends on you keeping them safe and you being thorough with doing
things like getting references and making sure the people have stable
employment, that they really own the farm they say they do, doing background
checks to check for criminal records. The horse world is full of dishonesty
which ruins it for honest people that really care and always try to do the
right thing, such a shame. Just be very careful and get proof that your horse
is going to a good home, get more than a feeling because we promise you about
50% of the time when it comes to horses, your feeling that its a 'nice' person
or a 'good' person' is wrong. And even when you pick a good home, they can
turn around and sell or give away to a bad home.
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and
height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches and negative people pull
you down. People who like to cause trouble will shorten your life and make you
just like them... miserable.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening,
whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen.. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who
is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets,
keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next
county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments that take our breath away
| | 
 Standardbreds
"The greatest gift
you can give anything or anyone is your unconditional love"
Scroll
down and see that Standardbreds
can do it all ...
Crossed Country
Driving for Pleasure and Show
Jumping
Dressage
Driving
Mounted Police
Equitation
 
Western Pleasure
 thank you
SRF for all the great pics of stb
- Standardbreds are one of the most misunderstood horses by the
riding community.
- The standardbred and its registry is actually 2 breeds
in one... trotters and pacers.
- Trotters are bred to trotters and pacers are bred to
pacers. Pacers can trot and pace
- but trotters never pace (or its extremely rare).
- Registrations for the standardbred (both pacers and trotters)
are governed by the US
- Trotting Association in Columbus, Ohio. (phone number is
614-224-2291, web site is
- in many
pacers, pacing is a learned gait, taught on the track and then kept in the
gait
- by pacing hobbles for racing. Today because the trotter and pacer is
becoming more
- distinct and a with much better breeding, you see more and more
pacers born with a
- natural pacing gait. My baby, Debonair's big dog was born
pacing.
- Any horse can actually be taught to pace or rack but it takes
time but instead most
- people go to a naturally gaited horse if they want the
smooth ride for hacking or
- pleasure and trail riding. Its sorta the lazy man's
way to the smooth ride... so to
- speak. The Standardbred was originally bred as a
harness horse, and today it is
- the world's top harness racer but they are also
wonderful to ride.
- History
 Messenger, an
English Thoroughbred, was imported to America in 1788 at the age of 8.
- He was
the son of Mambrino, a stallion who traced straight back to Blaze, the father of
- trotters. Mambrino was a trotter, but Messenger never ran a trot race in his
life-yet he is
- regarded by some as the foundation sire of the Standardbred. He
was raced successfully
- on the flat in England, before he came to America as a
sire. He has crosses to all three of
- the Thoroughbred foundation sires,
particularly the Godolphin Arabian. He spent 20 years
- at stud in Pennsylvania,
New York and New Jersey, being bred to all sorts of mares;
- Morgans, and Canadian and Narragansett Pacers to name a
few. He died at the ripe old age
- of 28, and was buried on Long Island.
-
Other types of blood
that found their way into the Standardbred’s history are Hackneys,
- Morgans, and Clays (now extinct; they descended from a
Barb stallion). Messenger’s
- offspring had lower action (moving out, not up) than
the Morgan, and more courage than the Clays.
-
The true foundation
sire of the Standardbred is Hambletonian. The son of an ugly, mean
- tempered
reject, Abdallah, that was sold to a fish peddler for $5, and a mare known only
as the
- Kent Mare, Hambletonian sired more than 1330 offspring between 1851 and
1875. Hambletonian
- was born on May 5, 1849 in Orange County, New York. He was
sold to a man named William
- Rydsk for $125. The only time his speed was tested
was in a trial mile, when he got a then-
- respectable time of 2 minutes and 48.5
seconds. Hambletonian measured 15.1 Ľ hh at the
- withers, but 15.3 Ľ hh at the
croup. Because of his enormous hindquarters, it allowed for
- great thrust from
the rear engine, both in him and his offspring. At that time people probably
- laughed at him-until they found out how fast his offspring ran. His son Dexter
trotted the
- mile in a record 2:17.25 during the 1860s. He might have improved
upon this, had he not
- been bought by Robert Bonner for $25,000. Robert Bonner
did not believe in racing or
- betting for moral reasons, and only drove for
pleasure. Since that time only horses with
- Hambletonian in their pedigree have
beaten that time. Hambletonian was such a great sire
- that 99 percent of Standardbreds trace to him.
-
Yankee was the first
horse to trot the mile in less than three minutes, he accomplished
- this in 1806.
The first time a mile was trotted under 2 minutes was by Star Pointer in 1897,
- nearly a century later, but nowadays speeds under 2 minutes are not uncommon.
While
- the breed was still young, horses were only allowed to enter the registry
if they could
- run the mile under a certain time, hence the name Standardbred-they
were bred to a
- standard of speed. Originally, the speed was 3 minutes,
then it was lowered to 2:30 for
- trotters and 2:25 for pacers. Lady Suffolk was the
first to meet the standard, she got 2:29.5
- in 1845, even though she was 12 years old and had
previously only pulled a butcher’s cart.
- These days horses can only be registered if both their
sire and dam are registered, or if
- only their sire is and they can go the mile in under
2:20 for 2 year olds, or 2:15 for older horses.
-
Harness racing has
produced many stars, but perhaps the best harness racer of all time is
- Dan
Patch. This brown stallion lowered the world record 14 times. He had his own
private
- train car, and was mobbed by adoring fans wherever he went. His best
time was 1:55 Ľ in
- 1905. Dan Patch held the pacing record from 1903-1938 when
Billy Direct beat it by Ľ second-and
- his record lasted another 20 years! Another
one of harness racing’s greats was Greyhound. He
- held the trotting record from
1937-1969 when Nevele Pride beat it by less than ˝ second.
- Greyhound also held
records for trotting under saddle. Niatross, another great horse, and one
- that lived more recently, beat the pacing record in
1981 by more than 2 seconds in a time trial-
- or a race against time rather than other horses.
-
Currently in
America there are 4 pacers for every trotter, but originally breeders favored
trotters.
- The decision between the diagonal gait or the lateral
gait is determined by genetics, training and shoeing.
- Characteristics
- Although
Standardbreds are not beautiful in the classical sense, they have a beauty of
their
- own. They are closest in appearance to Thoroughbreds, although they have
longer bodies and
- shorter legs and are smaller and less refined. The average Standardbred stands between 14 and
- 16 hh, and weighs from 900-1150 pounds when
in racing condition. They are powerfully built with
- long sloping shoulders, a
high croup, and a deep, broad chest. The croup is usually higher than
- the
withers, and their action is free and straight. Their feet are hard and durable,
and the legs
- have good bones and strong tendons. The head is lean with a level
or convex profile, and the
- neck is usually straight. The Standardbred is
long-lived, courageous, loyal, tough, tractable and
- steady, and it has great stamina.
- Uses
- Although the
primary use of this breed is as a harness racing horse, they are finding a new
- popularity as a riding horse. One example of such a horse is Bionic Woman, a
horse who
- jumped up to 6’9”! Surprisingly, it is more difficult to train a pacer
to canter than to trot! But
- with its steady temperament and courageous nature,
this breed makes a great family horse.
- To find the adoption agency nearest to
you, contact the United States Trotting Association:
- The Standardbred Equestrian
Program. It is linked with regional adoption and retirement
- agencies. Call
(614)224-2291 or go to the USTA web site.
Bibliography
Briggs, Karen (1997). Racing’s Best Kept Secret. Horse Illustrated (Vol. 21,
Number 9). pp. 52-58.
Edwards, Elwyn Hartley (1994). The Encyclopedia of the Horse (Dorling Kindersly,
New York). pp. 338-339.
Scanlon, Erin (1985). The Stalwart Standardbred. Horse Illustrated (Vol. 9,
Number 4), pp. 28-33.
L.D. Van Vleck (1990). The Horse, Second Edition (WH Freeman & Co., New York),
pp. 28-31.
The U.S. Trotting Association would like to thank you for visiting us and
welcome
you to the world of the Standardbred. Here is some basic information
about the
evolution of the Standardbred breed, as well as its versatility in
both racing and
pleasure-horse activities. We hope you are as impressed with
this amazing breed
as we are--the Standardbred is truly the equine world's
best-kept secret.
|
What is a
Standardbred |
 The
origins of the Standardbred trace back to Messenger, an English Thoroughbred
foaled in 1780, and later exported to the United States. Messenger was the
great-grandsire of Hambletonian 10, to whom every Standardbred can trace its
heritage. Standardbreds are a relatively new breed, dating back just over
200 years, but it is a true American breed.
The name "Standardbred" originated because the early trotters (pacers would
not come into the picture until much later) were required to reach a certain
standard for the mile distance in order to be registered as part of the new
breed. The mile is still the standard distance covered in nearly every
harness race.
While Thoroughbred racing has long been known as the sport of kings,
the dependable, athletic Standardbred brought racing to the common man,
first between neighbors on community roads, and later at state-of-the-art
racetracks.
Standardbred racing has long been known as the
sport of the people, and both the sport and the breed are as much a part of
our American landscape as cowboys and apple pie. As it evolved it gave the
United States some of its first "sports heroes," including the great Dan
Patch, the legendary Adios and the great gray ghost, Greyhound.
|
|
Breed
Characteristics |
In many respects, the Standardbred resembles the
Thoroughbred. However, it is often more muscled and longer in body, and does
not stand as tall, averaging between 15 and 16 hands. The head is bigger and
may even sport a Roman nose.
This breed appears in varying
colors,
although bay, brown and black are predominant. It weighs between 800 and
1,000 pounds. Standardbreds are known for their docile personalities and
willing temperaments.
|
|
The striking Laag, left, is an
example of a horse of a different color--a gray Standardbred. At right
is 1996 Horse of the Year Continentalvictory, registered with the USTA
as black. |
|
|
|
Gaits
|
Standardbred racing is contested on two gaits, the trot
and the pace. Trotters move with a diagonal gait; the left front and right
rear legs move in unison, as do the right front and left rear. It requires
much skill by the trainer to get a trotter to move perfectly at high speeds,
even though the trotting gait is a natural one in the animal world.
Pacers, on the other hand, move the legs on one side of their body in
tandem: left front and rear, and right front and rear. This action shows why
pacers are often called "side-wheelers." Pacers, which account for about 80
percent of the performers in harness racing and are the faster of the two
gaits, are aided in maintaining their gait by plastic loops called hobbles,
which keep their legs moving in synchronization. |
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Pacers
Move in a lateral gait, which means they move both legs on the same side
forward in unison (for example, its left front and left rear legs), and
then follows suit with both legs on the other side (right front and rear
legs). |
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Trotters
Move in a diagonal gait. For example, their left front and right rear
legs move forward simultaneously, and then the right front and left rear
legs follow together.
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Any trotter or pacer who "breaks" into a canter or
gallop during a race must pulled back to it's correct gait and lose ground
to its competitors or be disqualified from the race.
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The Racing
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Most Standardbreds start racing as 2- or 3-year-olds.
Trotters race only trotters and pacers race only pacers. Racing takes place
at numerous tracks and fairs across North America, although harness racing
is most popular in the Midwest and the East.
Some of North America’s top trotting races are Peter Haughton Memorial
for 2-year-olds, and the World Trotting Derby, Yonkers Trot, Hambletonian,
and Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-olds. The latter three races make up
trotting Triple Crown.
For pacers, top races include the Woodrow Wilson and Metro Stake for
2-year-olds, and the Little Brown Jug, Meadowlands Pace, North American Cup
and the Adios for 3-year-olds. The Pacing Triple Crown is made up on the
Little Brown Jug, the Messenger Stake and the Cane Pace.
 While
the majority of Standardbred racing takes place with a driver holding the
reins from his seat in the sulky, racing under saddle, a type of
Standardbred racing popular early in the breed’s development, has become
popular once again in the U.S.
Check the USTA's
Equestrian Program for more information.
racing under saddle, at a pace in pacing hobbles |
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Equipment
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Standardbreds also utilize a variety of other equipment,
some samples of which can be seen below.
These images were taken from the USTA's
publication, The New Care & Training of the Trotter and Pacer, now available
through our
publications department. |
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Standardbreds off
the track |
For all their stamina and speed in harness, Standardbreds
make willing and intelligent companions off the track. Because of their
training on the track, it is usually an easy task to retrain them for
pleasure or show. Standardbreds excel in a variety of disciplines, from
barrel racing to dressage, saddle seat to combined driving. They have a
heart that knows no limits, and versatility to go with it.
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Cynthia Marshall takes her Standardbred around the
jump course. Photo: Michelle Younghans |
In 1996, the USTA instituted the Standardbred
Equestrian Program. This program is designed to work with adoption groups
and connect people looking for Standardbreds for pleasure or showing with
people finding new homes for retired horses. The program also offers much to
the Standardbred pleasure horse enthusiast, including the annual High Point
awards program for competitors, the Medallion program for non-competitors,
C.H.A.M.P. for kids. SEP also offers retraining tips, help with
identification of horses (via lip tattoo or neck freeze brand), as well as
other services. For more information about the Standardbred Equestrian
Program, or about adopting or buying a non-racing Standardbred, please
contact the USTA at 750 Michigan Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43215; call (614)
224-2291 ext. 3260; or email sep@ustrotting.com. Please visit the
Standardbred Equestrian Program on the Internet at
www.
ustrotting.com/sep/equest.htm.
For more information about harness racing and
the Standardbred breed, contact the United States Trotting Association at
750 Michigan Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43215-1191, or call (614) 224-2291, fax
(614) 224-4575, or email:
customerservice@ustrotting.com.
USTA
Standardbred Equine Program
Membership
to become a member
click here
Life
as a family horse is a natural progression for
the Standardbred,
allowing the breed to show its true potential in all equestrian sports and
as an alternative to racing in the traditional sense. The Standardbred
Equine Program provides an opportunity for the Standardbred to grow in its
evolution as the perfect family horse. The program affords activities and
services to the Equestrian and Youth Members of the United States Trotting
Association.
Programs available to SEP members
include:
Standardbred Activities Database. The Database
includes:
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C.H.A.M.P.--a fun,
instructional program for youth that proceeds through levels of Care,
Horsemanship, Achievement, Merit and Promotion.
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Medallion Program--You and your
horse earn points towards awards for the time you spend riding, driving,
and training your Standardbred.
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Performance Certificate, a
frame-able certificate with the horse's registration information which
verifies that the horse is a Standardbred, useful in cases where
registration papers may not be available.
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Annual SEP High Point Awards-competitors
earn points toward year-end awards in one of six divisions. Divisions
include: Youth, Community Service, Standardbred Under Saddle,
Standardbred In Harness, Versatility, and Roadster. Winners recieve a
championship ribbon, frame-able award certificate, and gift certificate.
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Other benefits:
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Free tattoo research and print-out
of your horse's racing history & pedigree, once it has
been identified.
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Hoof Pics, the
newsletter of Standardbred Equine Program, with tips for, and stories
about, SEP members & their horses... plus much more.
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Subscription to Hoof Beats and
other USTA publications at discounted member prices.
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Discounts on member services
like transfers of ownership, race lines, and more.
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Free retraining tips
on several subjects like getting pacers to trot, using sidereins as a
training aid.
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Eligibility to be the Featured
SEP Member, featured on the Internet and in Hoof Beats
magazine.
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Knowledge that part of your membership
fees goes toward promoting Standardbreds, one of the most adaptable,
wiling breeds in the world!
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.....to become
a member
click here
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Mission Statement
The United States Trotting Association
Standardbred Equine Program (SEP) shall promote the
Standardbred horse in all traditional and non-traditional roles,
including, but not limited to,
amateur racing,
racing under saddle, pleasure riding, youth participation, horse
shows and other equestrian events.
Life as a family horse is a natural progression for the Standardbred
horse that gives legitimacy to a useful and productive existence and an
alternative to racing in the traditional sense. The Standardbred Equine
Program shall promote the United States Trotting Association by
providing opportunities and services to the Association's Youth and
Equestrian Members.
Join Us!
Find out more about the Standardbred Equine Program
(SEP) by
clicking here. For more information, e-mail
Anne Chunko or call
614-224-2291, ext. 3260.
Featured SEP Member
Misconceptions
The USTA's Standardbred Equine Program strives to
dispel misconceptions about Standardbreds on and off the track.
Upcoming Events
September
September 4-5
Labor Day Show at Hurricane Creek Saddle Club, KY. Sponsored by American
Standardbred Saddle Horse BEA. Youth show on Friday. FMI, Wendy at
606-478-8383, 606-478-8333,
wendyhills@msn.com.
September 5
5th Annual Standardbred Horse Show at Country Heritage Park, Milton,
Ontario. Twelve classes offered, including halter, English, Western,
obstacles, jumping, and fun classes. Entries rcvd before Aug 15:
$7/class; entries rcvd after Aug 15: $10/class. FMI: 905-812-7408,
osas@bellnet.ca.
School Back in Session for
Prospective New Horse Owners
Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - Harness Racing Communications, a
division of the USTA |
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Those considering the first
time purchase of a Standardbred racehorse may wish to sign up
for one of four workshops being held this fall.
The US Trotting Association (USTA)
will sponsor a workshop on purchasing a yearling at public
auction in conjunction with the New Jersey Classic Sale at
Showplace Farm in Englishtown, NJ. The sale is September 12;
the workshop is September 11 from 1 to 5 pm. The same seminar
will also be offered on October 31 at the Standardbred Horse
Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from noon to 5 pm. That sale
starts on November 1.
At both seminars, the agenda
will include discussion of the risks and rewards of buying a
yearling, how to analyze pedigree and conformation, make a
budget and target yearlings that will fit a shopper's budget.
Participants will also select yearlings to be sold at auction
for inspection by trainers, who will give their opinions on
the youngster's relative strengths and weaknesses.
Tuition for the yearling
workshops is $40/person or $45/couple and includes a video and
workbooks on conformation and a one-year subscription to Hoof
Beats magazine. To register, or for more information, call
Ellen Harvey at 732-780-3700 or email
HRCNews@ustrotting.com.
The Delaware Standardbred
Breeders Fund is offering an introductory seminar on October
24 at Harrington Raceway in Delaware. The event, which starts
at noon, includes the basics of horses ownership - risks and
rewards, costs and how to select a horse and trainer. For
more information or to sign up, contact Judy Davis-Wilson at
judy.davis-wilson@state.de.us or
302-698-4610.
Hofstra University on Long
Island, New York, will host a two day class on Standardbred
ownership on September 18 and 19. Chris Wittstruck, an
attorney and horse owner, will conduct the class, which has a
fee of $175. The first day of the class includes a guided
outing to The Harness Racing Museum, adjacent Historic Track
in Goshen, New York and Blue Chip Farm in Wallkill, New York,
biggest Standardbred breeding farm in New York. The second
day provides classroom instruction on horse ownership. For
more information, or to sign up for the Hofstra class, contact
them at
uccebusiness@hofstra.edu
or call 516-463-7800.
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Sergeant York Serves the U.S. Army With Honor
The black Standardbred gelding Sergeant York excels
in the U.S. Army's most visible and poignant role.
By Nicole Kraft
Sergeant York
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A former racehorse named Sergeant York played a
small but significant role in the Washington, D.C., funeral procession
of President Ronald Reagan in June 2004. The black Standardbred
gelding served as the riderless horse, the age-old symbol of a fallen
warrior.
An honor reserved for U.S. presidents and high-ranking Army and Marine
Corps officers, the riderless horse is led behind a caisson bearing
the casket. The horse, wearing full regalia, carries an artillery
sword and a pair of empty boots reversed in the stirrups.
Sergeant York has served as the riderless horse in thousands of
ceremonies since he was donated to the U.S. Army in 1997. He soon
became a highly valued member of one of the most visible units in the
American military.A soldier's story
Like his famous namesake, Sergeant York's life story is the stuff of
Hollywood movies. He started out with a different name (Allaboard
Jules), and he was one of thousands of Standardbred racehorses in
North America, pacing his way to an undistinguished career at Freehold
Raceway in Freehold, N.J. Jules won only 5 of 23 starts in three years
of racing, earning a grand total of $14,881 -- not even enough to pay
for his keep.
But Jules did have three factors working in his favor -- an easygoing
personality, a pure black coat and a connection. Marie Dobrisky works
for the state of New Jersey in the detention barn of Freehold Raceway,
where she conducts pre- and post-race drug testing of horses. Her son,
Sgt. Francis "Frank" Dobrisky, is a decorated member of the Army
Caisson Platoon, which handles the harnessed and ridden horses who
take part in the funeral ceremonies of U.S. presidents as well as
high-ranking members of the Army or Marines. Ideally, caisson horses
are gray or black (although very dark brown may be accepted), and the
unit is regularly seeking horses.
When Allaboard Jules' trainer, Dave Brandwine, needed to find a new
home for the gelding, he approached Marie Dobrisky. "Dave said he had
a nice little black horse who was so friendly and tried so hard, but
was just not going to make it on the track," she says. "I said to him,
'How would you like him to go into the Army?' Even though Dave said,
'He'd probably end up being a 4-F,' he said I could have him, and I
took him sight unseen."
Unfortunately, her timing was a bit off. "I called my son to say I had
a black horse -- and it turned out they couldn't use him. They needed
grays at that time!" she says. Undeterred, Marie Dobrisky sent
Allaboard Jules to a nearby farm to wait until a place opened up for a
black saddle horse with the caisson platoon. After losing his last
race on March 30, 1996, Allaboard Jules spent a year frolicking among
a herd of cows and learning how to be a riding horse.
Finally, the Army called, and in the summer of 1997, platoon leaders
headed to New Jersey to check out the new recruit. At 15 hands, the
gelding was a bit on the small side, but he could probably become a
suitable riding horse. With assurances of his long-term care --
military horses never go to private hands -- Marie Dobrisky sent
Allaboard Jules to join the Army.
Shazam!
In the beginning the little pacer was clearly more Gomer Pyle than
George Patton.
For one thing, his attitude is a bit "goofball," according to Chief
Warrant Officer 4 Charles Sowles, the unit's commanding officer. When
visitors come through the barn, for example, the gelding sticks his
head out into the aisle and shakes it in circles, trying to get the
attention of anyone who passes by. With his roached mane and bright
eyes, he looks like a crew-cutted young boy up to mischief. He simply
will not tolerate being passed by without a pat or a stroke.
And his small stature made him look like David among the Goliaths --
the draft horse and draft crosses who pull the caisson. "He was really
skinny when he got here," admits Sgt. Dobrisky. "We have 2,000-pound
English shires, and everyone who looked at Jules thought he was a
runt. But we got him on a heavier diet and started to beef him up, so
pretty soon he looked like a different horse."
Another problem was that Jules' name didn't quite fit in with his
no-nonsense Army surroundings, especially since he was sharing a barn
with horses bearing names such as "Lee" and "Grant." Members of the
unit decided that the new guy needed a military moniker, too, so they
opted to honor him with the name of a World War I hero who
single-handedly captured an enemy battalion: Sergeant York.
No one had expected great things of the compact Standardbred, but
Sergeant York soon began living up to his heroic namesake. The more
that was asked of him, the better he performed, and he quickly rose
through the barn's ranks. "He just kept doing everything perfectly,"
says Sgt. Dobrisky. "He was perfect around the barn, perfect in his
exercises. We ended up using him to help train new soldiers we were
bringing into the unit."
Sergeant York demonstrated unusual versatility. Although the funeral
processions are the Caisson Platoon's most visible role, the horses
also represent the U.S. Army in other functions, such as military
weddings, inaugural parades and military pageants. Sergeant York
hadn't been originally intended for funeral processions, according to
Sgt. Dobrisky, but he did so well at his other tasks, such as pulling
carriages for weddings at Fort Myer's chapel, the unit began training
him for riderless-horse duty.
The riderless horse may appear to have the easiest job in the army,
but in reality, it is the rare horse who has the right combination of
manners and personality to give a funeral the dignity and respect it
deserves. "You can stick a halter on any horse and lead him," says
Sgt. Dobrisky, "But for this job you need to pick the right horse,
personality-wise. You don't want a horse who carries his head low. You
want one who is very alert; not very excitable, but with a little
excitement to him."
Sergeant York's happy, alert nature, combined with his steady nerves
and easy trainability, made him a natural for the role, and he
responded well to the schooling. "Training a horse for the job is
almost like combat training," says Sgt. Dobrisky. "We have flags
waving, guns going off, people making noise. The horses have to stand
no matter what. Being a Standardbred from the track, Sergeant York was
used to all the distractions. He never missed a beat."
Just a few weeks later, Sergeant York's first test arrived. The
primary riderless came up lame just before a mission and despite his
limited training, Sergeant York was the only one available who could
carry the boots. "He did two missions on his first day -- one Marine
Corps and one Army -- with no problems," Sgt. Dobrisky says. "The
Marine Corps missions tend to line up real close, and some horses feel
too crowded in. Nothing fazed him. He didn't even look back." The
primary horse soon returned but died a few months later. With his
passing, Sergeant York became the principal riderless horse.
Life has certainly improved for the horse who was once a mediocre
racer named Allaboard Jules. "I think his story is like a Disney
movie," says Sgt. Dobrisky. "He was down and out, and he had
everything fall into his lap. He went from being given away as
worthless to being priceless. Nobody rides him -- almost out of
respect. He does such a great job, we don't want to take any chances
with him. He is treated like a king here, and he deserves it."
This article originally appeared in the September 2000 issue of EQUUS
Magazine.
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General
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Wagering
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BOXED IN:A horse that is racing on the rails (or
fence) and is surrounded by other horses in front, outside and behind it. A
horse that is boxed in is held up and unable to gain a clear passage.
BREAK: To start galloping and lose natural
trotting or pacing rhythm. It occurs more with trotters than pacers.
BROODMARE: A female horse, generally retired
from racing, used for breeding purposes.
CARD: Another term for program of racing. For
example, a person may refer to there being eight races on the card, which
simple means eight races will be staged at that particular day.
CATCH DRIVER: A driver which doesn't train his
or her own horses, and is engaged by other trainers and owners to drive
their horses.
CLAIMING RACE: A race where any of the entrants
may be claimed (purchased) for a specified amount.
CLASS: A horse which has raced adequately against better foes may find his
way into the winner's circle, while a horse who has beaten inferior foes may
find tougher horses not to its liking. A fairly reliable way of checking
class is comparing the purses of the previous races and the present race.
COLORS: The special colorful jacket worn by drivers when in a race. Unlike
Thoroughbred racing, drivers register their own colors and wear them every
time they race.
COLT: A male 3 years of age or less.
CONDITIONED RACE: A race where eligibility is
based on age, sex, money won, or races won. For example, "3-year-old
fillies, non-winners of $10,000 or 4 races."
COVER: A horse that races with another horse in front of him is said to race
with cover, as the leading horse cuts the wind resistance.
CROSS FIRE: When a horse's hind foot strikes the
opposite front foot or leg.
DAM: The female parent, or mother, of a horse.
DEAD HEAT: A situation in which the judges
cannot separate two or more horses when judging the outcome of a race.
DISTANCED: A horse that is out of touch with the
rest of the field at the end of the race. This is often referred to as
finished distanced.
DRIVER: The person holding a license or permit
to drive harness horses. There are different types of licenses, which
correspond to differing levels of experience.
EARLY/LATE CLOSER: A race requiring payments
which start much closer to the actual race date than a stake "Early" and
"Late" involve specified periods of time.
FILLY: A female 3 years of age or less.
FIRST-OVER: The first horse to make a move on the leader in a race, moving
up on the outside.
FOAL: A newly born horse. Also describes the act
of a mare giving birth.
FREE LEGGED: A pacer which races without wearing
hobbles.
GELDING: A castrated male of any age.
HANDICAPPING: The first step in successfully picking a winner (or
"handicapping") is becoming familiar with reading the racing program. Each
program has a section explaining the information
format used at that particular track. Probably the best place to start when
handicapping Standardbreds is time. Since over 99 percent of all harness
races are conducted at the one-mile distance, valid comparisons can be made
among horses.
HARNESS: The gear which is used to attach the
sulky to a horse, to carry the hobbles and to enable the driver to steer the
horse.
HOME STRETCH: The straight length of the track,
nearest the spectators, where the finish line is situated. It is called this
because it is the final part of the track a horse travels down during a race
-- on its run 'home' (or run to the finish line).
HOBBLES: The straps which connect the front and
rear legs on the same side of a horse. Most pacers wear hobbles to help
balance their stride and maintain a pacing gait. The length of hobbles is
adjustable and a trainer registers the length that best suits his or her
horse. There are also trotting hobbles that work through a pulley system to
help trotters maintain their gait.
HORSE: A male 4 years of age or older.
INQUIRY: Stewards may conduct an inquiry as a result of any incident which
may have occurred during a race, to determine whether or not certain drivers
and/or horses were responsible for the incident and whether they should
receive due punishment.
INVITATIONAL: A race for the top horses in the
area. Also known a Open or Free-For-All.
LAME: The term used to describe a horse which is
limping or has difficulty walking properly.
LEASING: As opposed to buying a harness horse,
people have the option of leasing one. Just like some people lease a car
instead of paying the money up-front, leasing a horse gives people use of a
horse without large capital outlay. An agreement or contract must be drawn
up between the two parties, and the lease must be registered with the
relevant controlling body.
MAIDEN: A horse which has not yet won a race.
MARE: A female 4 years of age or more.
PARI-MUTUEL RACE: A race in which wagering is
allowed, held at a track licensed by a state’s racing commission.
Pari-mutuel races are held at licensed pari-mutuel racetracks or fairs.
PARKED: A horse racing on the outside, with at
least one horse between it and the inside rail.
PHOTO FINISH: When two horses cross the finish
too closely to identify a winner, officials call for a photograph of the
race, taken exactly at the finish line, to help them determine who was
ahead.
POCKET: A horse in a pocket is unable to obtain
a clear run because it has other runners situated in front, behind and to
the side of it.
POST POSITION: Generally, the closer a horse
starts to the inside rail or barrier of the track (especially on smaller
tracks), the better is its chance of winning. At the start, horses must
either "leave" (start quickly) to get a good position or else find a place
on the rail to avoid racing on the outside of other horses. When racing on
the outside the horse is said to be "parked out", and loses ground on every
turn. A horse on the inside has a better chance to get to the rail or
quickly
get a good position.
QUALIFIER: A race in which a horse must go a
mile below an established time standard to prove itself capable of
competing in pari-mutuel races.
SCRATCHING: A horse that is withdrawn (or
scratched) from a race before the start.
SIRE: The male parent, or father, of a horse.
SIRE STAKE: Stake races designed to promote
Standardbred breeding and racing within a state. Different states have
different rules regulating eligibility to that state’s sire stakes program.
Rules include: a horse must be the offspring of a stallion standing in the
state or a mare living in that state, owned by a resident of that state, or
the horse was born in that state.
STAKE RACE: A race where owners make a series of
payments, starting well in advance, to keep a horse eligible. If an owner
misses a payment to a stakes race, the horse becomes ineligible.
STARTER: The person responsible for starting a harness race. The starter
controls the start of the race from the back of the mobile vehicle.
SULKY: Also known as the cart or racebike, the
sulky is attached to the harness and carries the driver and which the horse
pulls.
TIME TRIAL: An attempt to have a horse beat its
own best time in a non-competitive event. A time trial is not a race.
Galloping horses hitched to sulkies, called prompters, are used to push a
horse to its best effort.
TOTE BOARD: Tote Board: An electronic board,
usually in the infield of a track, which posts the odds, amount of money
bet, results of a race and the wagering pay-offs.
WEANLING: A baby horse, up to its first
birthday.
YEARLING: Any horse between its first and second
birthday |
WIN: The horse you select must come in first.
PLACE: The horse you select must come in first or second.
SHOW: The horse you select must come in first, second, or third.
DAILY DOUBLE: A bet attempting to pick the winner of two consecutive races.
PICK THREE: A bet attempting to select the winners of three consecutive
races.
QUINELLA: A bet attempting to select the first two finishers, regardless of
order.
PERFECTA/EXACTA: A bet attempting to select the first two finishers in exact
order.
TRIFECTA: A bet attempting to select the first three finishers in exact
order.
TRI-SUPER: A bet attempting to select the first three finishers in exact
order, and then the first four finishers in exact order in a subsequent
race.
TWIN TRIFECTA: A bet attempting to select the first three finishers in exact
order, and then the first three finishers in exact order in a subsequent
race.
Associations
USTA: United States Trotting
Association, based in Columbus, Ohio, the regulatory, record keeping and
registration association for all Standardbreds. It was created in 1939 to
unify a fragmented Standardbred industry. Support harness racing and
Standardbreds by
joining the USTA. The USTA is just one of numerous organizations here
and abroad that serve Standardbreds and harnes racing. For a complete list,
see the USTA's
Trotting & Pacing Guide.
Deciphering a Standardbred’s Record
A horse establishes its record when it wins a
race. The USTA keeps records of the fastest race a horse wins each year it
races.
Example: p,3,T1:54.1f ($200,000)
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p
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The gait in which the horse raced, which is the
pace; if no letter is present after the age, the horse raced on the
trot. |
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3
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The first number, 3, is the age the horse was
when it won its fastest race as a 3-year-old. |
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T
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The "T" means the record was taken in a time
trial, not in a race. If a "Q" is there, the record was taken in a
qualifying race. If no letter is present before the time, the record was
taken during a race. |
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1:54.1
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The time, 1:54.1, is the short hand version of
the fact that the horse raced a mile in one minute and fifty-four and
one-fifths seconds. |
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f
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The "f" stands for the fact that the race took
place over a five-eighths-mile sized track. If an "s" is present, it
means a seven-eighths of a mile track; an "h" means a half-mile track;
and "q" is for a three-quarter-mile track. If no letter is present, the
track is a mile long. |
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($200,000)
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The amount of money a horse has earned in its
career follows its fastest time, in parentheses |
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The Way to the Winner's Circle |
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One of the best parts about Standardbreds is the
opportunity for hands-on involvement in their racing careers. The USTA
can help you find your way to Standardbred ownership, whether in the
racing game or with a retired competitor |
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The Racing Game |
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Here are a few steps to help you if you want to make
your way into racehorse ownership: |
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1: Finding a trainer: It is best to find a trainer
before you get a horse. To accomplish this, contact the race secretary
of your closest race track, or your state's horseman's association. A
list of all tracks and associations can be found in the
USTA's
Trotting & Pacing Guide, published annually. |
2. Making a Purchase: There are several options once
you decide to buy a horse: go to an auction, go through a private sale
or claim a horse.
| Auction: A horse goes to the highest bidder. Sales can
feature racehorses, broodmares and stallion prospects, as well as
yearlings. |
| Private sale: Brings one buyer together with one seller.
Can include one owner, partnerships or limited partnerships where
winnings--and losses-- are limited to what your total investment, and
a controlling partner makes decisions. |
| Claiming race: A horse can be
purchased right out of a race for a stated price. A qualified buyer
files "a claim" and puts up the amount of the claiming price before
the race, and the title to the horse changes immediately after the
race. |
|
3. What to look for: You can spend between several
hundred and several thousand dollars on a Standardbred, so it is best to
use the advise of a trainer or veterinarian. As a general rule, look for
the following:
| Breeding: The best racehorses come from the best
breeding: A prominent and productive stallion mated to a well-bred
mare with a history of producing top horses. |
| Conformation: Conformation, or how a horse is put
together, is also important. Experienced buyers look for such things
as: wide-set eyes, a wide jaw, a massive neck, powerful chest, and
straight legs and feet. |
| Trotters v. pacers:
Trotters make up one in five Standardbreds. They take more time and
patience to develop. However, talented trotters have less competition,
while having the opportunity to win as much, or more, than pacers.
Pacers, on the other hand, get to the races faster meaning a faster
return on investment. However, it takes a very fast pacer to be truly
successful. |
|
Spending Money:Training fees buy three things: a
trainer's services, basic feed and a groom. After the training fee,
there are a variety of other charges that will include the blacksmith,
veterinary and medication costs and licensing. Monthly costs usually run
between $1,220 and $2,180 for a horse starting 30 times over a
nine-month period. Additional expenses may include:
| Insurance: based upon the value of the horse, rates are
estimated between $3 and $7 per $100 of value. |
| Staking: Most of the richest pots for Standardbreds are
for 2- and 3-years-olds. To compete, you must invest money in those
races in the name of your horse to keep your horse eligible. Most
payments start when the horse is a yearling and do not end until you
enter them for the race. |
| Transportation: If your horse trains at a farm, away
from the racetrack, there will be costs involved in shipping him to
the races. Also, a stake horse will have to travel to numerous
different tracks for stake events. Short trips average about $1 per
mile, although the rate likely goes down for longer trips. |
| Membership: Every breeder and owner must become a member
of the U.S. Trotting Association. It costs $60 to join and $45 to
renew annually. Many owners also opt to join their local horsemen's
organization that work on their behalf. |
| Extras: To get more involved in
the industry, new owners will want to subscribe to trade publications
like Hoof
Beats, the world's largest magazine devoted to Standardbreds,
and purchase important reference materials like the USTA's
Sires And
Dams, Stakes Guide, Year Book, Trotting & Pacing Guide, and Care &
Training of the Trotter and Pacer. |
|
|
This ownership information has been taken from
Owning a Harness Racehorse: The Way to the Winner's Circle, a brochure
produced by the U.S. Trotting Association.
|
|
Standardbred Driving Clubs
GRAB THE LINES…
GET INTO THE ACTION…
…with a STANDARDBRED DRIVING CLUB near you!
An amateur driver is a driver who has not
received valuable compensation for
his or her services as a driver. To
participate in amateur driving events, the
person must hold a driver's license
issued by the United States Trotting Association.
Most amateur drivers donate
their money to charity, raising money for a variety
of good causes, including
Mal Burroughs, who won the 1997 Hambletonian with Malabar Man.
Join the more than 500 amateur drivers in
the U.S. who enjoy club driving!
Start Your Own Standardbred Driving Club!
This symbol indicates that the club belongs to the USTA's Standardbred
Driving Club. |
|
State |
USTA Driving Club? |
Club |
Contact Information |
|
California |
|
California Amateur Drivers Association |
Stephen J. Chambers, Secretary
7214 Beaver Falls Way
Elk Grove, CA 95758 |
|
Florida |
|
Florida Amateur Driving Club
|
Alan Benjamin, President
1800 SW Third St.
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
(954) 972-5400
www.fadc.cc
|
|
Illinois |
|
Mid-Western Amateur Drivers' Association
|
George Bonomo, President
3124 S Shield Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225 2777
(312) 225 2964 (fax)
(217) 524-6194
(217) 782-4231 (fax) |
|
Maryland |
|
Capital Area Amateur Drivers' Association
|
Scot Leaf, Director
218 N. 32nd St.
Richmond, VA 23223 |
|
Massachusetts |
|
New England Amateur Harness Drivers Club |
Marc Bouthillier, President
11 Robert Toner Blvd., Ste 5 (PMB 155)
North Attleboro, MA 02763
Email: NEAHDC@hotmail.com
www.NEAHDC.com |
|
Michigan |
|
Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association
|
Larry Steenbergen, President
23207 Farmington
Farmington MI 48336
248-478-7138
Email:
greatlakesdriver@yahoo.com |
|
New Jersey |
|
American Harness Drivers Club
|
Bernie Boland, President
84 Cherry Tree Farm Rd.
Middletown, NJ 07748
Email: PB2Hands@hotmail.com
www.jersey.net/~dekrep/ahdc.html |
|
New York |
|
Catskill Drivers Club |
Gerry Fielding, President
18 Jacob Dr.
Monticello, NY 12701-4116
(845) 794-2479 |
|
|
|
Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association
|
Peter G. Gerry, President
P O Box 590
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 294-6330
fax (845) 294-3463
Email:
pgerry@sycamorevc.com
2004 Series Schedule East
2004 Series Schedule Mid-West
2004 Nomination Form
2004 Condition Sheet
2004 Claiming Authorization Form
2004 Point Standings East
2004 Point Standings Midwest
2004 Point Standings Combined
**PRESS RELEASE** 4/5/2004
Get the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader |
|
|
|
Metropolitan Drivers Club |
Scott Zaretzky
13 Forest View Ct.
Valley Cottage, NY 10989
(914) 268-2302
fax (914) 268-8447 |
|
|
|
North American Amateur Drivers Association
|
Joe Faraldo, President
125-10 Queens Blvd.
Kew Gardens, NY 11415
(718) 544-6800
fax (718) 544-0033 |
|
|
|
Saratoga Drivers Club |
Vicki May
93 Pyramid Pines Estates
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 587-2962 |
|
|
|
Vernon Drivers Club |
Lon Frocione, Pressident
c/o HHA of Central New York
P O Box 586
Vernon, NY 13476 |
|
|
|
Yonkers Harness Drivers Club
A chapter of NAADA, listed above |
Alan Schwartz, President
50 Bergman Dr.
Hewlett, NY 11557
Email:
ctcvl@aol.com
www.yonkersclub.com |
|
Ohio |
|
Mid-America Harness Drivers Club
|
Bob Chapman, President
2971 Sullivan Ave.
Columbus, OH 43204
(614) 272-2277
Bob Chapman:
HarnessBob@aol.com
Stacy Christy:StacyScioto@aol.com |
|
Virginia |
|
Capital Area Amateur Drivers' Association |
Scot Leaf, Director
218 N. 32nd St.
Richmond, VA 23223 |
- For further information on licensing
requirements or starting your own driving
- club, please contact the USTA. For
information on individual driving groups, please
- contact them directly.
- This information is
courtesy of:
United States Trotting Association
750 Michigan Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215-1191
(614) 224-2291
fax (fax) 224-4575
sep@ustrotting.com
WWW.USTROTTING.COM
- The U.S. Trotting Association is available to answer all of
your questions about Standardbred
- horses and harness racing. Please feel free to
contact us at (614) 224-2291, or E-mail our
Publicity
- Developing the Rack in the Standardbred
- The smooth racking gait can be developed in just about every
Standardbred
- even the 15% that are trotters, if desired. It is usually a simple
matter of shoeing and collection.
- Once the horse is comfortable under saddle and giving
nicely to the bit, it can
- be asked to move out a bit faster than the walk.
On a loose rein, most will start
- trotting. However, if collected in the bridle and
driven with the seat and legs,
- many will move from the walk right into a very smooth
single-foot rack. If pushed
- for additional speed the rack will change into a rougher
side to side pace. The rider
- can easily discern the difference.
- Horses that do not pick up the rack when collected, but
continue to trot, often respond
- favorable to a heavier shoe behind. The same
results can be achieved by pulling the
- front shoes. Added weight on the hind feet helps
the horse swing over into a more
- lateral gait. Also, a rhythmic shifting of the
seat and hands while pushing the horse
- into the bridle usually precipitates the desired
response.
- A few Standardbreds are very pacey right from the walk
and do not hit the smooth,
- single foot gait when asked. These horses benefit
from a heavier shoe in front or having
- their hind shoes pulled to encourage the rack before
hitting a pace.
- Once the horse is racking, it is a matter of encouraging the gait through
positive
- reinforcement and not pushing for speed, until the rack is well
developed. Changing
- from the snaffle driving bit to one with some leverage is
often helpful. The bits commonly
- used on Standardbred racking horses are a
Wonder Bit also known as a Gag bit, a walking
- horse bit, a Kimberwick, and a western training bit with
6 ˝” shanks. All of these should
- have smooth snaffle mouthpieces, as well as swivel
cheeks to accommodate a direct reined horse.
-
"Gaitedness,"
or the ability to perform a smooth-riding intermediate gait instead of or in
addition
-
to the trot or hard pace, is a function of several factors. There is
certainly a genetic component
-
both within the muscles and brain of a given animal; though the animal's
conformation is also at l
-
east partially a result of its genetics, it is usually considered to be
separate factor in gaiting. The
-
third element is the training and riding of the horse.
-
There is
not much you can do about the genetic "hard wiring" in a horse. To me, what
that means
-
is that there is always the possibility that in a breed such as the Standardbred,
you will see some
-
tendency to gait, which is inherently genetic, but that ability may be more
or less strong,
-
depending on the individual horse. For example, I own a trotting mare, who,
from the first time
-
I
rode her, showed a tendency to gait, despite having the appearance of the
old style Morgan
-
conformation and having been bred to race on the trot for at least 3
generations. When she is
-
barefoot, her gaiting tendency really comes to the forefront; when I have
heavy bar stock shoes
-
on front, she tends to primarily trot.
-
You can
affect the horse's conformation, though you should do this very carefully, to
encourage
-
the trot, if that is what you want. Shoeing the horse with a
slightly heavier bar stock shoe in front,
-
or reversing it and shoeing with
light shoes in front and heavier shoes in back (heavier by a couple
-
of ounces,
not much), often encourages the trotting gait. Slightly adjusting the angles
of the feet can
-
affect the timing and breakover of the hooves, but this should
be done very gradually and only under
-
the supervision and by a good farrier.
-
Another
conformational/health factor to consider is that sometimes horses will have
more of a
-
tendency to gait when they are sore or off in one leg or another. I
have definitely seen that in my
-
own horse, and have heard from racing trainers
that trotters who "flip" to the pace during training
-
often have some low-grade
lameness they are trying to compensate for. Also, I'm sure we've all
-
heard
about the "soring" techniques used by some gaited horse trainers to
improve a horse's smooth
-
gait for the show ring.
-
Training is probably the one area, besides some minor adjustments to shoes &
vet checks, where we
-
can make some difference. Some general rules of thumb:
-
*
Horses with a hollowed out back & high, stiff neck are much more likely to
hard pace and possibility
-
more likely to gait than a horse with a soft, round back and which is giving
through the head, neck and poll.
-
* Horses
off the track, particularly Standardbreds, are much more likely to move with a
hollow back & stiff
-
neck. They also are generally less well balanced at first under saddle than
other horses, partly because of
-
their race training & partly because of their lack of experience carrying a
rider.
-
*
Exercises to encourage giving to the bit, balancing, bending, and softening
the back are good ways to work
-
through these things.
-
Here are
some exercises that I recommend:
-
* Teaching
the horse to lunge. For one thing, this is a good way to teach voice commands
and respect, and once
-
the horse is good at it, you can introduce sidereins.
Sidereins are an excellent tool to teach the horse to give to
-
the bit and round through the back, when used properly.
-
*
Bending exercises: circles (20 meter, though you might have to start
larger), serpentines, figure-eights,
-
small circles with a wiggling inside rein. I have found that for the
beginning of teaching a horse to bend
-
and to give to the bit, the wiggling inside rein on a small (5 meter-10
meter) circle are very helpful.
-
This may sound strange, but if you think about the horse's background on the
track, it makes a bit of sense:
-
The harness racehorse is used to a high, stiff neck & hollowed back and is
often taught to push into or
-
balance off the bit with this stiff neck & hollow back; it helps him stay on
the pace or trot when racing,
-
which is desired.
-
However, for riding purposes, we don't really want this response to the bit.
So we teach the horse to give
-
to the bit instead of leaning or balancing on it with a stiff neck. So, in
between working on giving to the bit,
-
try this if the horse has a tendency to pace: Ask the horse to move from the
walk to a faster gait, but keep
-
strong contact with the bit. If the moves into a pace, hold your hands a bit
higher than normal (normal being
-
2-4 inches above the withers) and maintain the contact. Then, while adding a
strong leg cue, completely
-
drop contact with the bit momentarily while lowering your hands. The
momentarily drop in contact combined
-
with the strong leg cue should encourage the horse to lose the stiffness in
the neck and back and perhaps
-
"flip" over to the trot. When you pick up contact again, try to make it
light contact, to discourage the horse
-
from redeveloping the stiff neck again. Also, ask him to give to the bit.
I'm not sure what style of riding you're
-
doing, but a doing good strong post at the trot (posting the trot) is
another way to encourage the trot.
-
* Ground
poles. Ground poles, called cavaletti, don't have to be fancy; you can make
adequate ground poles
-
from 8-10 landscape timbers with slightly rounded corners. It is physically
impossible for a horse to pace,
-
amble, foxtrot, single-foot, rack, etc. over poles. I would suggest starting
with one pole, and hand walk the
-
horse over it. Then, when it's no big deal any more, ask the horse to trot
in hand over it, with some slack in the
-
lead line (so the horse can catch its own balance if needed, and not "blame"
you for tripping on the pole, which
-
may happen). Practice this until, again, it's no big deal. Then, practice
lunging over the pole at the walk and
-
intermediate gait. You may have to make your lunge circle smaller than usual
to make sure the horse doesn't
-
try to run out on it, to avoid going over it. Gradually increase the circle
as you can. Begin riding over the pole
-
at a walk and intermediate gait. Then, add another pole 8-10 from the first,
and practice it again in hand at the
-
walk and trot, then on the lunge line and under saddle.
-
Gaitedness
may be part of his individuality, and he may always show a tendency to gait.
But as long as he as
-
exhibited some ability to trot, you can certainly take steps to encourage
his trot over his other gaits.
Dear Standardbred Adopter,
Thank you for choosing to adopt a Standardbred. The United States Trotting
Association would like to congratulate you on your new equine family member,
and thank you for giving your Standardbred a new career.
I would also to take this opportunity to let you know about the USTA
Standardbred Equestrian Program (SEP), designed for people like you who have
Standardbreds for pleasure and showing. SEP members can take advantage of
various member benefits and programs which reward their pursuits with their
Standardbreds. In addition, every SEP membership helps the USTA to promote
the breed through ads in such magazine as Horse Illustrated and Trail
Blazer, as well as at horse expos like Equine Affaire (Ohio), where the USTA
annually has a booth to promote the breed in all its diversity.
Best regards,
Anne Chunko
Administrator, Standardbred Equestrian Program
United States Trotting Association
750 Michigan Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43215
(614) 224-2291 ext. 3260
sep@ustrotting.com
| |
Every Dream Starts with a Single Step, Take Your Step Today!
Women from History Who Dared To Change the World (credit: O Magazine)
600 B.C. TO 200 B.C.: Tribes of statuesque women (and men) roam
the Eurasian steppes. The fearsome Amazons of myth? Not exactly. But
archeological evidence suggests that among these nomads, the women were the
warriors.
Circa 39: Dynamic sister duo Trung Trac and Trung Nhi amass a
Vietnamese army in a revolt against Chinese rule. For four years, they lead
the rebellion.
Circa 395: Fabiola, a Roman aristocrat whose divorce and subsequent
remarriage were condemned by Christian society, founds a hospital for the
poor and other outcasts of her city. It's likely one of the first hospitals
in the Western world.
Circa 1001: Murasaki Shikibu begins writing The Tale of Genji,
an epic portrait of court life (twice as long as War and Peace),
considered by many to be the greatest masterpiece of Japanese literature and
possibly the world's first novel.
1429: Peasant girl Joan of Arc commands the French army in a series
of victorious battles to liberate her homeland from the English; she is
burned at the stake for her trouble.
Circa 1579: Grace O'Malley, a swashbuckling Irish pirate known for
raiding ships, fights off an English government expedition sent to stop her.
Circa 1613: In her graphically violent painting Judith Slaying
Holofernes, Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi slays the ideal of
submissive womanhood: Her heroine is fierce, powerful, and ruthless.
1777: Teenager Sybil Ludington rides all night long through a storm
to alert the 400 men in her father's militia that the redcoats are coming.
She's called the female Paul Revere—but Paul rode with two of his buddies.
And he was captured by the British.
1805: Sacagawea joins Lewis and Clark as their expedition's
interpreter, traveling thousands of miles across the Rockies with her
newborn babe strapped to her back. Who says life ends when you have kids?
1814: As the British torch Washington, D.C., First Lady Dolley
Madison remains in the White House long enough to rescue historic
valuables—running out moments before the soldiers charge in.
1862: Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, just 19 and dressed as a man, enlists in
the Union Army. In a letter home, she assures: "I don't fear the rebel
bullets nor I don't fear the cannon."
1867: Ida Lewis rescues three drowning men from wind-whipped swells
in Newport Harbor. Then she rows back to save their sheep. Ida later
becomes the country's first female lighthouse keeper.
1872: Victoria Claflin Woodhull becomes the first woman to run for
president. A colorful candidate, she advocates for free love.
1906: Madam C.J. Walker hawks shampoos and serums door-to-door. The
orphaned daughter of former slaves, she becomes one of America's
wealthiest businesswomen.
1912: Astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt discovers the
period-luminosity relationship (later used to calculate the distances
between Earth and the stars).
1914: Barnstorming adrenaline junkie Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick makes
the first-ever free fall from a plane.
1916: In a tenement neighborhood in Brooklyn, Margaret Sanger opens
the doors of the country's first birth control clinic. Outside at least
150 women are waiting.
1916: Movie star Mary Pickford insists on becoming her own
producer. America's Sweetheart is no sucker.
1937: Amelia Earhart disappears on the ultimate adventure—her
attempt to fly around the globe. In a note to her husband, she explains:
"I want to do it because I want to do it."
1938: Anna Mary Robertson Moses sells her first paintings, at age
78. Known as "Grandma" Moses, she continues to paint for 23 years,
becoming one of the century's most renowned folk artists.
1941: Protofeminist superhero Wonder Woman first appears in a comic
book, fighting off Fascists in star-spangled hot pants.
1946: Super-geekette Dorothy Hodgkin cracks penicillin's chemical
makeup with an X-ray crystallographer. (Eighteen years later she'll earn
the Nobel Prize.)
1953: Jackie Cochran flies an F-86 Sabre jet through the sound
barrier. She learned to fly so she could travel around selling cosmetics,
but it turns out trashing speed records is a lot more fun.
1959: On the edge of the Serengeti Plain, Mary Leakey digs up and
pieces together a 1.7-million-year-old hominid skull, one of the most
important finds in the history of archeology.
1960: At the Rome Olympics, Wilma Rudolph (left)—once partially
paralyzed by polio—earns three gold medals in track-and-field, the first
American woman to do so.
1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first female
to fly a spacecraft around the globe.
1967: Kathrine Switzer dares to run the all-male Boston Marathon,
while an irate race official chases her.
1981: Alexa Canady becomes the first black female neurosurgeon in the
United States.
1985: Just 175 miles from the Iditarod finish line, Libby Riddles
heads into a blizzard when other mushers opt to stay in camp; this gives her
a six-hour lead and, ultimately, the win.
1989: Performance artist Karen Finley smears her body with chocolate
to illustrate that women are treated like, you know, dirt. The National
Endowment for the Arts rescinds her funding, but she ultimately gets it
back.
2005: Roz Savage quits her corporate job, leaves her unraveling
marriage, and rows across the Atlantic by herself. Midlife crisis averted.
2008: Sandra Andersen, a barista at a Starbucks in Tacoma,
Washington, learns that one of her customers needs a kidney to live. So she
gives the woman hers.
2009: Navigator Ann Daniels leads the Catlin Arctic Survey, a 74-day
journey from the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole to measure the thickness of
sea ice.
******************* The Warmth of A Horse
When your day seems out balance...
and so many things go wrong ...
When people fight around you
and the clock drags on so long ...
When some folks act like children
and fill you with remorse ...
Go out into your pasture and wrap
your arms around your horse.
His gentle breath enfolds you as he
watches with those eyes ...
He may not have a PhD but he
is, oh so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder
you hug him good and tight ...
He puts your world in balance
and makes it seem all right.
Your tears will soon stop flowing,
the tension will be eased ...
The nonsense has been lifted.
You are quiet and at peace.
So when you need some balance
from the stresses in your day ...
The therapy you really need
Is out there eating hay!
|
