cc march

chronofhorse.com / mArch 2011 / Issue no.3

Dalma malhas sAudI ArAbIA’s fIrst

femAle olympIAn

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in Farriery

rememberinG sara bosley

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make your Gray horse Gleam

manestream Fashion: horses where you least expect them

+ Women’s History montH

2 MARCH 2011 Th e ch ron icle con n ecTion

C H R o n o f H o R s e . C o M / i s s u e n o . 3

Contents

Features10 Manestream Fashion: Horsey Finds

in Unfamiliar Places

14 How Do You Introduce The Double Bridle?16 Our Hunters Will Be Happier When We Keep

Their Shoes On

22 Gwen Nardi Forges Ahead for Female Farriers

26 Ireland’s Horse Fairs Are Like No Others

34 Dalma Malhas Makes Big Strides for Saudi Arabian Women

(03/2011)> 34 Dalma Malhas

> 26 ireland’s Horse fairs Are Like no others

> 10 Manestream

fashion: Horsey finds in unfamiliar

Places

Departments 4 editor’s letter

6 Around the Arena

8 editor’s picks

18 horse care

42 on deck

44 parting Ways Co

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Our cover story this month honors Dalma Rushdi Malhas, the 19-year-old show jumper who became Saudi Arabia’s first female Olympic athlete—and individual medalist—last summer at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games. In it, Dalma talks about how her story wouldn’t have been possible without the trailblazing efforts of her mother, Arwa Mutabagani.

But when the Chronicle staffers started to ask themselves, “Who’s my female role model?” the answers didn’t come as easily as we expected. As women in America, it’s easy to take for granted the rights and privileges we enjoy and to focus our hero worship on the powerful men more frequently featured in the modern media.

That’s exactly why Women’s History Month exists—to remind us of how far we’ve come and who’s helped us get there. And as equestriennes, we should especially celebrate individuals like Dalma, who reach beyond their inner circle of influence and set an example for women across the world.

Henceforth, the great women from which our staffers draw daily inspiration:

“I admire Julia Child, who ignored naysayers and convention to follow her passion, then infected Americans with her joie de vivre and revolution-ized the way we relate to food.”—Editorial Staffer Mollie Bailey

“Maya Angelou: ‘I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.’ ” —Editorial Director Beth Rasin

“Cleopatra. She was a true ‘woman of the world!’ ”—Web Intern Meghan Blackburn

march is women’s history month

editor’s letter

“My mom is my role model because she shared her love of horses with me and has always supported me. After watching her fight and beat colon cancer when I was young, I view her as one of the strongest women I know.”—Editorial Intern Kara Berglund

“Mary Magdalene was the epitome of the courageous, strong and faithful woman; she defied the labels others put on her and prioritized what was really important.”—Editor Kat Netzler


n e w s f R o M A C R o s s t H e i n D u s t R y

ch ronofhors e.com MARCH 2011 7

controversy continues after eventing coach open Forumthe two short-listed applicants, david o’connor and leslie law, address their constituents, but disagreements about the selection process remain.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

will the nsa ban whips?officials are testing a new policy disallowing their use for anything but corrective mea-sures in training flat races.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

big shoes to FillGeorge morris announces he’ll retire from the u.s. show Jumping chef d’equipe post in 2013, so the search is on for his replacement.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

wedding bells for tate and malmgrenGrand prix dressage rider Jessica Jo tate and hassler dressage’s marketing rep richard malmgren announce their engagement.

Around the ArenaIn the news

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one Question, Five expertsHow do you define “the fifth leg?”“Making sure the horse has the ability to use his head and neck, which is connected to his back. The fifth leg is the head and neck.”—Bruce Davidson, five-time Olympian, two-time world champion, Eventing Hall Of Fame member.

“The metaphoric fifth leg is very real—it is the horse’s instinctive ability to stretch his head and neck out to wherever he needs them in order to save himself. An unaware rider can seriously impede this.” —Lucinda Green, two-time Individual Euro-pean Eventing Champion, 1982 World Eventing Champion, six-time Badminton CCI**** winner.

“The fifth leg is an intangible definition of a horse’s reaction. As he slows down, he’s able to make his footwork get faster. The antithesis of the fifth leg is the horse that uses the rider for his self-carriage.” —Karen O’Connor, four-time Olympian, four-time World Equestrian Games competitor, 2007 Pan American Games individual and team gold medalist.

“The horse’s ability to jump the jump and get himself out of trouble when the need requires cleverness and quick-foot-edness and survival.”—Phillip Dutton, four-time Olympian, Rolex Kentucky CCI**** winner, 12-time U.S. Eventing Association leading rider.

“The ability to keep upright when all is lost.” —Buck Davidson, 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games team member, The Chronicle of the Horse 2009 Eventing Horseman of the Year.

German rider michael Jung utilized his horse La Biostetique- sam fBw’s fifth leg on his way to individual gold at the 2010 Alltech fei world equestrian games.

by the numbers

paul schockemöhle: breeder extraordinaireTo many U.S. horse enthusiasts, the name Paul Schockemöhle is first and foremost linked to Moorlands Totilas, the 2010 World Champion dressage horse he purchased in October. But the 65-year-old German is more than just a high performance owner—he’s a three-time winner of the European Show Jump-ing Championships and a German Olympic team bronze and silver medalist. And he also trained world-class riders Ludger Beerbaum, Otto Becker and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.

Most importantly, Schockemöhle has become the world’s leading sport horse breeder and trader. His two facilities—a training farm in Muhlen, Germany, and a stud farm in Neustadt-Glewe, Germany, produce an astonishing quality and quantity of show jumpers and dressage horses each year. As of February 2011, these were his stats:

➜ horses owned: 3,500

➜ stallions standing at stud: 35

➜ foals per year [at his breeding farm]: 700

➜ People employed: 220

➜ Doses of frozen semen produced per year: 1,800

➜ Doses of cooled semen produced per year: 4,000

➜ Percentage of his horses sold outside Germany: 95

hotel booking impetus, perfectedthe sign welcoming the Argentine and u.s. Polo teams to the wellington, fla., Clarion Hotel stopped Chronicle staffer Mollie Bailey in her tracks during a recent trip to the fti winter equestrian festival. well played, Clarion. well played, indeed.


As riders, we’ve all had that “yikes!” moment where the solid grip on our reins that we so depend on is suddenly gone—the split-second in which we don’t know what will happen next.

As an event rider who gallops over terrain in all elements, I might have those moments more than riders in other disciplines. But everyone needs reins they can let slide easily, then gather back quickly in a sticky situation, right? Enter ThinLine’s No Slip Reins.

I normally ride in pimpled rubber reins for jumping, which can wear down or tear in the spots in which I most often hold them. I’ve been in situ-ations where my strong off-the-track-Thoroughbred was pulling after a jump during a downpour, and it’s not fun. But ThinLine’s No Slip leather reins work exactly like I need them to.

I’m obsessive about riding in gloves, but I use basic SSG gloves with no special “grippers” on the palms, and I’m able to keep a firm grip on these reins. They have a soft feel because they’re made with the same ThinLine material you’re used to seeing in their saddle pads, and they have leather bit connectors and stainless steel hardware. Under-neath the ThinLine material, a nylon base keeps the reins strong but flexible.

The leather ends are 5⁄ 8" and the ThinLine part is almost

3⁄4". I have average-sized hands and usually use slightly wider reins, but these feel just fine. And there was no need for breaking in; they melted right into my grip.

I’ve also gotten these reins soaked and jumped with my gloves and without them. The grip stays exactly the

same, so I have no doubt that I could keep a firm grip on them through a water jump or down a bank. And as an added bonus, they dried out quite quickly!

ThinLine recommends conditioning their reins with a cream like Horseman’s One Step, but cleaning is super easy—just wipe them down with a damp cloth, and you’re done.

I’d recommend these reins for eventers, riders like myself who ride through any type of weather, or people who have trouble keeping a hold on their reins. They’re not going to fix a strong or pulling horse, but because they mold so easily to your hands, they might make a rider who’s learned to ride with a “death grip” soften a little.

—Lindsay Berreth

thinline no slip reins

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editor’s picks

the cost: thinline’s no slip reins are a bit pricey, at $105.00-$109.00 retail, but a little comparison-shopping brings up some cheaper pric-es. smartpak carries them for $94.95. If you’re looking to invest in a good pair of reins that will last, these are worth it. they come in brown and black with a choice of buckle or stud ends. they’re available in two lengths: 54" (normal) or 60", which is considered extra-long.

“there was no need for breaking in; they melted

right into my grip.”

barn prosfull

10 MARCH 2011 Th e ch ron icle con n ecTion ch ronofhors e.com MARCH 2011 11

the clothes horse

equestrian classic Full apron

for the culinarily inclined equestrian.

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lady of the manor wallpaper

you don’t have to wallpaper a whole room to add an accent of elegance and

whimsy to your life. Includes images of foxes,

hounds and ladies riding sidesaddle.

$88 per roll from Anthropologie.

manestream Fashion: horsey Finds in

unfamiliar placesBy COURTNEY YOUNG and KAT NETzLER

last year might have been the one in which we saw equestrian-inspired lines strutting down the runways in paris and milan, but that doesn’t mean the horsey theme isn’t still alive and well in mainstream fashion in 2011. Search for “horse” on almost any retail website and you’ll find equine-centric homegoods and apparel abounding. Seek horses, and you shall find them where you least expect.

thoroughbred pillowGuests will immediately peg

you as both a horse lover and a design guru when

they spot this thomas paul jute pillow on your couch.

$80 from Velocity Art and design.

colt usb Flash Drivethis black-bronze colored

jump drive offers 4 Gb of memory storage and is compatible with Windows mac operating systems.

$35 on etsy.

horse poo paper: note box & Journalyep, it’s true. this paper is made from

100 percent recycled manure. check out the listing for more information on the papermaking

process. And don’t worry, it’s unscented. $14 each from uncommon Goods.

the arabia horse-print swimsuitIt’s that time of the year

again! this equine-centric suit is just one in We Are

handsome’s line of high-con-trast print pieces this spring.

$385 on net-A-porter.

pony popsparty coming up? custom order these horses of a different color. they come in 13 different candy

flavors, in addition to milk, dark and white chocolate.

$14.95 for 10 pops on etsy.


the clothes horse

Galloping stallion handle

bring the horse into your home in the form of these

beautiful brass details.$78 online exclusive from

Anthropologie.

horse racing boot Vase

this vase isn’t modeled after just any old boot—it’s a replica of one worn by jockey ron turcotte in his legendary victory in

the 1973 Kentucky derby aboard secretariat.

each one is handmade by Kentucky artisans

from Indiana clay.$95 from

uncommon Goods.

Golden equestrian

locketto hold the likeness of your true love—whether human

or equine.$29 on etsy.

leap of Faith Decalno, this rider isn’t wearing a helmet, but it’s still a lovely silhouette. consider it a historic throwback to adorn your modern office wall. As a bonus, the

seller promises that a portion of your purchase price will go toward horse rescue organizations.

$21 on etsy.

trot personalized stationeryIn the age of smartphones and tablets, a handwritten note will always be the

sure bet to make your deepest sentiments known. Write letters to

your loved ones from the spring circuit on your own personalized stationery

designed by cheree berry. starting at $205 for a set of 25

at minted.

sterling silver horse necklace

the artist molded this 1" horse head in wax then cast it in sterling silver.

$80 on etsy.

thoroughbred throwthomas paul serves up a scoop of sorbet color with his reversible 100 percent baby Alpaca blanket.

$350 from burke décor.

Dala horse DressWelcome spring with

open arms in this scandinavian-inspired

cotton jersey frock.$44 on etsy.

horse head wall mirror

handmade using upcycled glass.

$85 on etsy.


The double bridle represents a coming of age to many dressage horsemen. A rider has to know she’s worked hard enough to maintain quiet hands to guide two sets of reins, and a trainer must feel she’s executed a long-term plan success-fully to make the horse ready for that next step.

“It’s a fine-tuning instrument—that’s why you use it in upper levels. It’s a badge of honor to put a full bridle on, just like the tailcoat,” said Olympic team bronze medalist Carol Lavell, of Fairview, N.C. “The full bridle is a secret weapon.”

Lavell, 47, said there’s no scien-tific formula to determine when a

horse is ready for an upgrade to this piece of tack, and many times it’s actually the rider’s skills that dictate when the advanced tool should be used.

“You make a good connection through your seat, not through the bit,” said Lavell. “You shouldn’t need to depend on the full bridle to keep the horse soft and round.”

While there’s no minimum age or equivalent level requirement for determining when a double bridle is appropriate, Lavell said she’s seeing double bridles on younger horses these days.

“You’ll see some schools of equi-tation that ride in a double bridle below the age of 6,” she admit-ted. “But at the same time, in the history of equitation, if you read the old masters, you’ll see the bits they use are the most vicious things you’ve ever seen. They make our bits look like marshmallows.”

“It depends totally on the horse. Horses are all individuals,” Lavell continued. “Usually they get into the full bridles because they need the influence of the curb to keep them round and keep their jaw soft. If he’ll be less resistant and be more rideable and softer in the full bridle, then do it.”

Introducing the double bridle to a horse takes time and patience. Some horses are also more natu-rally designed for a double bridle, while others will have a more difficult time adjusting to it. It took Lavell’s Olympic mount Gifted a long time to get used to the bits because he had such a sensitive mouth.

“There are lots of horses who have a problem with a double,” Lavell said. “Their necks get too short, their mouths get busier, their

how Do you introduce the Double bridle?Carol Lavell explains why it’s not a transition to be taken lightly.By COREE REUTER

olympic medalist carol lavell calls the transition to the double bridle “a badge of honor, just like the tailcoat.”

Ask the

experts

tongues stick out. You can’t use a drop noseband or a flash, so they open their mouths. And then some horses just can’t be ridden in double bridle. Some of the ones with big, cresty necks could have breathing problems when they get their heads up.”

On the other hand, a strong-necked, strong-mouthed horse may be just right for it from the get-go.

“They’re designed for full bridles,” Lavell said. “It’s a means to control the horse that’s strong in the mouth and stiff in the poll. If a horse wants to lock up his muscles between his ears, that makes the poll joint not give. The jaw is dependent on the softness in the poll.”

Lavell doesn’t just put the bridle on and go—she introduces it to her

horses slowly. She’ll put the curb bit on a bit carrier, which is a piece of leather that fits over the poll, and ride in a normal bridle, using the snaffle in the usual way to allow the horse to become used to the curb’s weight, and the idea of having two bits in their mouth.

Having an expert to help you your first time can be a lifesaver, as Lavell called fitting the double bridle “kind of a rocket science.” Every horse’s mouth is a different shape, and find-ing just the right combination of sizes and types of bits can be tricky.

“The first acceptance can be an

alarming situation,” Lavell said. “The first time I put a double on and got everything all done up, I was horrified because the tongue was sticking out of my horse’s mouth. I called Michael Poulin and told him, and he said, ‘Don’t worry. It’s a new thing. When the horse becomes more supple, the tongue will go away.’ And as soon as I stopped worrying, it was fine.”

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“you shouldn’t need to depend on the full bridle to keep the horse soft and round.”—Carol Lavell

ViDeo: grand Prix dressage rider Pam goodrich demonstrates the basics of double bridle fitting at her wellington, fla., winter base.

Form and FunctionThe double bridle works in two very different ways: The bradoon functions just like a regu-lar snaffle, providing the basic controls and supple contact, while the curb bit provides a lever action to help keep the jaw relaxed and sensitive to the rider’s hands.

The curb applies a light downward pressure on the bars of the mouth, and the weight of just the curb and its reins alone will also provide a small amount of pressure even when the rider has no contact with the mouth. When a rider picks up the rein, the pressure will increase on the bars. As soon as the horse softens, the curb should be released.

The potent combination of these bits demands an intelligent hand, otherwise the double bridle can quickly become a useless training aid.

“it’s a fine tuning instrument,” said carol lavell. “i see a number of people riding with the curb shank parallel to the ground, which means the horse is leaning, and they’re hauling on it, and that means the bridle is of no use. The mouth is strong and dead. You see a lot of it now. it’s like putting a razor in a monkey’s hand.”


their weightless toes. In fact, last year at Menlo Charity (Calif.), one of the biggest hunter shows in the country, I had shoes pulled both at the begin-ning of the week for the green hunters and then again for the junior hunters later in the week. My horses went from getting average hack prizes to being in the top three at the most competitive hunter show on the West Coast.

But because I truly care about my horses and have concern for their wellbeing, I’d like to see this practice end. The problem, of course, is that I don’t think people are going to be will-ing to change without an official rule helping them.

I have no horror stories to share of horses’ hooves falling off at the back gate or bloody nail holes, as our shoers at the shows are better than ever. But even as someone who participates in the practice, I think it should be an easy trend to stop. We simply need a USEF rule requiring horses to participate in under saddle classes with the same shoes in which they compete over fences.

Of course, there are a few special horses out there who show without shoes in the jumping class as well as the hack, like Alexandra Block’s All That and Georgette Topakas-Hicks’ Tall, Dark, And Handsome. And yes, if we instated this new rule, those horses would probably still get better hack prizes because they’re barefoot. But if they can jump without them as well, it’s only fair.

If everyone has to hack the same way they jump, we’ll be on a level playing field, and our horses will be better off because of it.

For the Greater GoodI’d like to believe that trainers and rid-ers everywhere, including myself, would agree to stop this practice on the honor system. But I know how intense the pressure to win can be. We all know that championships are usually decided by 1 to 2 points, so yes, that ribbon in the hack lives up to all the hype.

But let’s bear this in mind: as hunter riders, we’re already seen by our peers in jumpers and eventing as participants in a sport of beauty and fluff. Outsid-ers often believe that athleticism and the horses’ wellbeing really isn’t all that important to hunter riders, as long as we can win “the beauty contest.” I don’t think the practice of constantly pull-ing shoes off our horses is helping us disprove that reputation.

Riding a beautiful hunter who moves across the ground light on his feet is bliss for me. But if and when my hunt-ers win a beauty contest, I want people to know that it’s because they’re on the best feed, vitamins, workout schedule and veterinary care. They jump quietly because they’re sound, fit and happy, and they’re cared for by great grooms, trainers and veterinarians. They’re athletic and scopey because good horses are good horses whether they’re in the hunter or jumper ring.

I’m well aware that hunter riders have their work cut out for them in convincing people that their mounts can be just as stunning and athletic as grand prix horses. But don’t think pull-ing shoes is the way to do it. It shows nothing but the desire to win taking precedence over the wellbeing of the animal for the sake of a beauty contest.

There’ve been rumors in the hunter

community that a rule similar to the one I hope to see has been proposed before with no success. But I’m pas-sionate about hunters and about doing the right thing, and in this case I think we have an opportunity to take a small step forward for our horses’ wellbeing.

I’m confident a proposal to this effect will be one of the many rule changes our community tackles for 2012. Consider it. It’ll help our horses, our reputations and save time and money. I hope you’ll all get behind it.

Spend a few moments at the back gate of U.S. Equestrian Federation Junior Hunter Finals or the big year-end hunter shows, and you won’t be able to miss it: the rows of aluminum shoes flashing in the sunlight as farriers make a mad dash to pull them off the nation’s top hunters.

Pulling shoes just after a horse jogs, right before his rider remounts for the under saddle class, is a widespread

practice in the hunter world. Few will dispute that the horses move better and look flashier without them. But most horseshoers, veterinarians and trainers will agree that pulling shoes for one flat class and then tacking them back on again isn’t in the best interest and soundness of the animal.

So why did every one of the top eight large horses over fences at the 2010 USEF Junior Hunter Finals–West

Coast have its shoes pulled for the under saddle class in the hope of getting a better ribbon?

no casting stonesI’m as much of a sinner as any trainer who engages in this longstanding practice.

Last year my junior hunters Winter, Roccoco, Weatherly and Biarritz all got great prizes in the hack as they pointed

between rounds“it shows nothing but the desire to win taking precedence over the wellbeing of the animal for the sake of a beauty contest.”

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hope Glynn is a professional hunter/jumper rider and trainer and usef licensed hunter and hunt seat equitation judge. she is also a member of the usHJA young Professionals and Zone 10 Hunter committees and is on the board of the California Professional Horsemen’s As-sociation. she and her husband ned glynn own and operate sonoma valley stables in Peta-luma, Calif. Hope currently leads national standings for riders in the $500,000 Hits Hunter Prix standings and was horseshow-time.com Rider of the year in 2010. this is her first Between Rounds column.

our hunters will be happier when we keep their shoes onOur columnist thinks a new rule mandating that hunters hack wearing the same footwear in which they jump could level the playing field and improve horses’ wellbeing. By HOPE GLYNN

pulling shoes just after a horse jogs, right before his rider remounts for the under saddle class, is a widespread practice in the hunter world. But most farriers, veterinarians and trainers agree it isn’t in the best interest of the animal.


horse care

Gray horse owners everywhere are stuck with the daunting task of making that coat bright, shiny and as white as possible. While it’s tempting at times to simply drench a gray horse in bleach and proceed

to cover every part of him with blankets and wraps to prevent the inevitable, there are ways to keep a light-colored horse squeaky clean without running him through the local car wash on a daily basis.

more than one way to washTony Camarena, the man responsible for the impressive turnout of Richard Spooner’s now-retired international show jumper, Robinson, said the trick to keeping gray horses clean starts from the first grooming.

“Getting the horses clean the first time is the hardest part,” he acknowledged. “But keeping on top of it is easy.”

For horses with long winter coats, body clipping is a logical first step to remove stains, but owners can also invest in a good shampoo that’s developed for light coats, such as Quic Silver, White ‘N Brite, Cow-boy Magic Shine In, Yellow Out, Gold Nugget Super Whitening or Silverado Silver Whitening.

Camarena said he dilutes Quic Silver with water before wash-ing, but Quic Silver and similar products can be applied directly from the bottle. But be diligent, as the shampoos can turn the coat a faint shade of purple. Don’t panic, though, the tint is not permanent, and another good washing should remove any hint of color.

Investing in an equine-specific whitening shampoo isn’t always necessary. Quic Lights, a whitening shampoo for humans, works as well. There are also several shampoos designed for people with gray hair, such as Pantene Pro-V, that can be just as useful.

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there’s a wide array of human and equine cleaning products and whitening shampoos on the market, but elbow grease will always be the key ingredient in a gray horse’s grooming routine.

make your Gray horse shineThe grooms who put the polish on show jumper Robinson and eventer Courageous Comet share a few tips and tricks. By COREE REUTER


also be effective, though some products work better than others.

Orvus WA Paste is cost effi-cient and, as a bonus, can be used to wash just about everything. Another inexpensive option is dish soap, such as Dawn or Ivory. Since it’s designed for people, it is generally gentle on the horse’s skin, though as with all shampoos, users should test each product on a small area before using on the entire body, just in case there is a reaction.

“I generally only use Quic Sil-ver on [Comet’s] body for special horse show occasions,” said Aubrey Dunkerton, Becky Holder’s go-to girl when her 2008 Olympic Games event horse, Courageous Comet, needs to shine. “His skin is fairly sensitive so on a daily basis I use Ivory.”

out, Green spot!If a full bath is not an option, there are a variety of products designed for stain removal, such as Vetrolin Green Spot Out, Cowboy Magic Green Spot Remover, Miracle Groom and Wow! Whitener.“Rubbing alcohol works great, too,” said Camarena. Rubbing alcohol has the advantage of being quick drying and inexpensive but can be irritating to horses with sensitive skin or small cuts.

“The main trick for getting the green spots off is cleaning the spots more than once,” said Dunkerton. “Even with a cleaner like Cowboy Magic, the green spot doesn’t go away with one try. If I’m tacking up and notice a spot, I clean it off right away, let it dry a little, then come back and scrub it again.”

Using most of these products requires a strong arm and a sturdy towel. Spray the product on the

stain, let it sit for a moment or two, then apply the towel (wet or dry) as if using a curry comb. But don’t use the nice dish towels you were given as a wedding gift, since the stains will transfer from horse to fabric.

“The best way to get the green spots off is the old-fashioned trip to the wash rack so that you can use soap,” said Dunkerton. “I normally do this, if possible, a few hours before he needs to be clean.”

For horses with spots perma-nently stained into their coats, Dunkerton recommended using baby powder.

“It’s really helpful because it doesn’t irritate their skin and can

be used on their legs or body,” she said. “If you apply baby powder to a stain, it’s important to stand back and look at the area in the sunlight to make sure that it’s not obvious baby powder was utilized.

“The best way to stay on top of the stains is to remove them on a daily basis,” Dunkerton added.

manes and tails“If a horse show is coming up, I start washing [Comet’s] mane and

tail at the beginning of the week in order for them to look really good by the weekend,” said Dunkerton. “If you wait until the last minute to wash them, neither the mane nor tail will look as white.”

Both Dunkerton and Camarena said that using a bleach product works well on really nasty tails, but they cautioned that pure bleach needs to be diluted in water.

Camarena uses a bucket to mix the bleach with water, then soaks the tail for 5 to 7 minutes.

“You only have to do it two or three times,” he said, though he did mention that many gray or white horses have colored hairs in their tails, so in some cases a tail will never look clean no matter how many times you wash it.

“When I use Tide With Bleach [on Comet’s tail] I put the soap directly on and let it stand for a few minutes,” said Dunkerton. “I make sure that he doesn’t swish himself with his tail, as I don’t want the bleach to burn his skin.”

Another way to keep a tail clean is to use a tail bag, though if your horse has pasture pals, they may view it as a chew toy. Tail bags are effective, and owners can make them with a bit of fabric and a sewing machine.

“the best way to stay on top of the stains is to remove them on a daily basis,” said Aubrey Dunkerton, who grooms Becky Holder’s top gray event horse, Courageous Comet.

“Getting the horses clean the first time is the hardest part. But keeping on top of it is easy.” —Tony Camarena

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some people, the lucky ones, burn to get up each day and carry on their life’s work. For Gwen Nardi, the degree of that burn is extreme: 2,200°F, and it’s fueled not just by passion, but also propane.

Last fall, at 22, Nardi became the youngest woman in the forty-year history of the American Farrier’s Association to achieve the designation of Certified Journeyman Farrier.

That’s no mean feat. CJF status constitutes the highest level of AFA certification. Nardi had to have at least two years of horseshoeing experience, pass the AFA Certified Farrier examinations and demonstrate through rigorous written and practical testing that she had the in-depth knowledge, performance skills and level of artistry required for CJF designation. Out of every three students who pass the first level of certification, only one goes on to successfully complete the CJF requirements.

“I knew I wouldn’t pass every test on my first attempt,” Nardi, of Mendon, N.Y., admitted. “That rarely happens, and I knew my skills were still evolving. I used the certification process to push myself and learn all I could, and I stayed after my tests to find out what I’d done wrong and

how I could improve.”AFA testers go by the book. Nardi once failed

the timed shoeing practical by only a few minutes, but with her instructors’ encouragement, she kept coming back for more.

Danvers Child, a CJF himself, is an examiner in the AFA certification program. When he goes out to give a test, one of the first things he tells his candidates is how much he respects them.

“No one’s coercing them to certify—they’re choosing to do it,” Child said. “They know they’re not going to get an immediate return on their investment. They’ll go home and shoe the same horses for the same amount of money.”

Child calls Nardi “a shining star” within the program, noting that through her training experi-ences with other farriers she learned not only horsemanship and shoeing techniques but also how to run a business.

“She’s vibrant and vivacious, but in many ways she’s representative of the whole community of farriers who participate in this very demanding process,” Child said. “All of the time they spend studying and practicing for AFA certification has to be subtracted from something else, whether it be their family, business or social life. They make sacrifices to better themselves to better the horse.”

profile

Gwen nardi is the young-est woman to ever achieve the designation of Certified Journeyman farrier from the American farrier’s Association.

Gwen narDiForges ahead for Female FarriersIn an industry dominated by brawny men, this 5'4" 22-year-old woman is making a name for herself.By MARY CHURCH


profile

high on the experienceEven as a child, Nardi always demanded a lot of herself. While her middle school friends in Hone-oye Falls, N.Y., were stopping for lattés after class and planning their weekends, Gwen was working at her training stable to pay for lessons and entry fees and to save money for farrier school.

“I’d been following farriers around since I was 7,” Gwen said with a laugh. “I admit that at first I was fascinated with their tools and apron. I just had to have one of those aprons! If a farrier was scheduled at a barn where I was working or rid-ing, I was there. Most were very patient with me,

and one even let me shadow him for a day. I was high on that experience for a week.”

Nardi’s father, Jim, died when she was 6, so she and her twin sister Jill had to be working students to afford to compete. By the time they were juniors in high school, each sister ran her own horse care and barn management business in the horse country south of Rochester, N.Y. A friend who was leaving for college referred some clients, and they recruited more of their own.

“Jill and I were up before dawn, working in all kinds of weather. It wasn’t at all unusual for us to have worked for three hours, caring for 20 or more horses, before heading off to school,” she said.

In just two years, Gwen raised enough money to pay for her tuition and expenses and buy a horse for Jill. Federal financial aid wasn’t offered for the school at that time, but nothing was going to stop Gwen from attending.

She chose the Kentucky Horseshoeing School, run by Mitch Taylor, another CJF, because it offered the longest and most intensive training course. At the time, that was 22 weeks, although a nine-month curriculum is now in the planning stages.

“It was grueling—hell at times. But it was the best training I could have had,” said Gwen, one of four women enrolled in that session. “Mitch’s ‘take no prisoners’ approach demanded our very best. He had just over four months to try to teach us everything he’d learned in more than 30 years of practice, and he made every minute count. It was the best time of my life and the worst. I was determined to meet his challenge head on. I started off at the head of my class, and I never lost ground.”

Gwen and a core group of determined students developed a steely but friendly competition to be the one graduate to earn “highest distinction” accolades. They initially picked on her because of her size (she’s a slender 5'4"), but they soon learned that she fit easily under a horse and had a will of iron.

There were countless all-nighters in the forge, working first to master modifications to keg shoes and then to shape handmade shoes from bar stock. They practiced on cadaver feet for the first eight weeks so as not to injure live horses and endured many a burn from hot slag.

Only eight of the original 12 in her class made the grade—Gwen with highest distinction.

“She has a work ethic like a Marine,” Taylor said. “We showed her the road, but she walked it. She believed what we said, took it to heart, got up early, put her head down and kept her shoulder to the plow. She worked hard, had her goals in order and worked through the pain. I’m not at all surprised that she made CJF in record time. It’s a testament to her personality and determination.”

she’s exceptionalFollowing graduation in the spring of 2008, Gwen learned of an internship program through Fran Jurga’s Hoof Blog and applied online at Forging Ahead, a multi-farrier group in Round Hill, Va., whose clients range from Olympic competitors to backyard ponies. Paul Goodness, CJF, the most senior farrier in the group, established the internship so young farriers could continue their education while honing their skills. The sheer volume and variety of horses they treat provides an incredible learning opportunity.

“I learned more about therapeutic horseshoe-ing to treat laminitis and other equine hoof diseases than I could ever have learned anywhere else,” Gwen said of the two years she spent with the group. “Paul is my mentor and friend; he launched my career and will forever influence my life as a farrier.”

Clients and farriers come from across the country to work with Goodness. In addition to leading Forging Ahead, he’s also the resident far-rier at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, which serves as a teaching hospital for Virginia Tech’s Veterinary School. Gwen assisted him in both capacities, like many of the talented young farriers he’s taken under his wing over the years. But only a handful stand out as exceptional.

“Gwen is among the top of that group,” he said. “It was a pleasure to work with her, and I

hope we’ll always keep our working relationship alive. I’m hard pressed to think of anyone who’s been more dedicated and driven to succeed in her career. She’s exceptional both personally and professionally and has unlimited potential.”

Now on her own, Gwen is continuing to explore that potential. She has clients in three Mid-At-lantic states and is quickly establishing a thriving practice based on referrals. In the future, she plans to continue with the AFA certification process to achieve Therapeutic Endorsement. She’d also like to certify under European standards.

“I’ve been so fortunate,” she said. “I’ve had the support of my family, the best teachers, the best mentor and the best farrier friends. I know that they’re there for me, guiding and encourag-ing me.”

it was the best time of my life and the worst. i started off at the head of my class, and i never lost ground. —Gwen Nardi

From the age of 7, gwen nardi knew horseshoeing was her passion. “i admit that at first i was fascinated with their tools and apron. i just had to have one of those aprons!” she joked. “if a farrier was scheduled at a barn where i was working or riding, i was there.”

Gwen nardi grew up in the northeast competing in many disciplines, but she finally settled on eventing before becoming a professional farrier.

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At some point in every horseperson’s lifetime, he or she must make a pilgrimage to Ireland. The Emerald Isle’s rolling green hills, history and hospitality are enough to send any traveler home with a smile on his face, but a true equestrian can’t miss one of the country’s centuries-old traditions: the local horse fair.

Situated on the main road between Galway City and the quaint town of Clifden, Maam Cross is legendary; the annual one-day sale on the last Tuesday in October is said to be one of the oldest fairs in Ireland. But there are also countless local fairs throughout the country and throughout the year like the one in tiny Kilrush, Co. Clare, where families congregate in the town square with their livestock.

The majority of exchanges take place without auctioneers, officials, veterinarians or test rides—it’s just owners and buyers bargaining and haggling amongst themselves as they have for centuries. And as is the tradition, a spit and a handshake seals the deal.

ireland’s horse Fairs are like no othersWhen in Ireland, “If you want to sell anything, even an old goat, go to a crossroads.”Photos by SIOBHáN ENGLISH and KAT NETzLER

photo feature

At left: after a journey over the shannon river via ferry, this pony hopped off his trailer in a parking lot in Kilrush and trotted his way down the main street to the sale.

click here to view

the entire slideshow


photo feature

mairtin née, a native of nearby Cashel, has been attending the Maam Cross sale for 58 years. on his first visit there as a 12-year-old boy, he bought a Connemara filly for £7,10 shillings (about $15) and sold her two years later for £100. today, he oversees the fair’s activities and foal show classes and liaises with the many televi-sion crews, journalists and photographers who descend upon the fair each year.

willie leahy Jr. came to Maam Cross to sell a pony for a neighbor, but he also conducted other business on his mobile

phone as he sat in the saddle in the rain. His father, willie sr., is a legend in the west of ireland and was disappointed

to have missed the fair, but he was busy entertaining a group of Americans

out foxhunting with the famed galway Blazers. the Leahy family runs Dartfield equestrian Centre and Horse Museum near Loughrea, and many of their best

repeat customers for sales, hunting and trail riding come from across the pond.

the benedictine monastery kylemore abbey, situated not far from Maam Cross, is one of the most famous landmarks in the west of ireland.

owners wait for potential buyers to stroll by in the Kilrush town square.

like many regulars, Patrick Diskin’s memorable face appears at Maam Cross every year.


photo feature

signposts in ireland frequently double as hitching posts in crossroad towns on sale days.

I was glad I was well equipped for the torrent that dominated the entire Galway skyline as the pandemonium got into full swing on my visit to the famous Maam Cross Fair. I arrived at 10 a.m., and by all accounts, I was one of the latecomers. “They started selling at 7,” a bystander told me.

Maam Cross is like a step back in time—not all that different than it would have been in the 1800s, when it was also the venue for the annual Bogman’s Ball. The area’s known in Gaelic as An Teach Dóite, or “burned house,” referring to the fires that would often occur dur-ing cooking time back then when steaks were on the menu. Today, it’s burgers and chips from a van, or sandwiches from the back of a car.

The fair was chaos. The traffic was at a standstill and the Gardaí (policemen) looked on in bewilderment. A filly that had been tied to a fence had escaped and was trotting down the road; while the experienced horsemen and women scrambled to catch her, the non-equestrian folk naturally ran for cover.

Closer to the crossroads, the horses and ponies were almost two deep along the hedges, and in one corner there were five donkeys grazing on a patch of grass, oblivious to the madness going on around them.

But despite the packed crowd, the sale wasn’t as healthy as it once was. “The trade is really bad this year due to the deepening recession,” said Martin Conneelly, a well-known Connemara producer. He’d gotten a steal, though, purchasing a filly for €1,500. “She would have cost €5,000 last year,” he said.

One owner, John Canavan, had been on the road since early morning, but he’d been unable to sell his yearling filly for a good price.

“She’s by our own imported Connemara stallion called I Love You Melody, so I’m hoping she’ll make decent money,” he told me. “If not, I’ll take her home—there’ll be no bargains on offer with her.”

Just as I wondered if the fair had attracted many tourists this year, I was introduced to a couple from Minneapolis, Minn. “We just found out about it this morning, while in our bed and breakfast, and we had to come and see it,” Corey Mohan told me.

“It’s wonderful to be here to experience it,” her partner Lois Bjorkie added. They were on a three-week vacation, and Maam Cross turned out to be one of the highlights of their trip.

Like me, they were in awe of the array of other animals besides horse, ponies and donkeys that were for sale. “Excluding cattle, you could buy the entire contents of a farm!” we laughed together.

If you didn’t want a pony, you had the option of buying a goat, or perhaps some live chickens. Failing that, you could bargain for some homemade cakes or tack. “Five head-collars for €10!” I heard a man call out from his lorry.

One of countless bargains in the wilds of Connemara!

A Visitor’s View of Maam CrossBy SIOBHáN ENGLISH

newfangled toys are quickly forgotten when

there are donkeys to pet in the town square.


no matter where you are in ireland,

horses dominate the landscape.

photo feature

sellers, buyers and food vendors know when to arrive in Maam Cross, but the fair isn’t formally organized—it “simply happens” every october. “everyone just knows it takes place on this date and arrive from all corners of the country,” says regular Mairtin née.

need an adorable Jack russell puppy? Head to the local cross-road fair and pluck one out of a wicker basket.

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cover story

By MeghAn

BLACkBurn

Last summer this 19-year-old rider became the first woman to represent Saudi Arabia in Olympic competition—and her nation’s first

female individual medalist as well.

Dalma Malhas Makes Big Strides for

Saudi Arabian Women

“The value of that clear round was priceless,” said Dalma

Malhas after her bronze-medal performance at the Youth

Olympic Games in Singapore.

36 MARCH 2011 Th e ch ron icle con n ecTion ch ronofhor se.com MARCH 2011 37

On Aug. 14, 2010, more than 3,500 young athletes from 204 countries marched in a parade of nations during the opening ceremony of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

But Dalma Rushdi Malhas wasn’t one of them.

Unbeknownst to the crowd, the thousands of 14- to 18-year-old athletes and even her fellow show jumping competitors, she was watching from afar as her male country-men walked behind the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s flag. Her intention to compete at the Games was not yet public knowledge.

In just a few days, though, Malhas’ cover was going to be completely blown. There’s no way to escape the international media spotlight when you win an individual bronze medal. Especially when you’re Saudi Arabia’s first female Olympic representative ever—in any sport, anywhere.

“No one even knew I was going to be there, not even the other athletes represent-ing Saudi,” said Malhas, now 19. “No other girl has ever represented Saudi in an event like this before, so they didn’t really want to advertise that I was there. But then when the medal ceremony came around, it wasn’t a secret anymore.”

After sitting in a six-way tie for third place following two rounds of jumping, Malhas, who grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, cap-tured the bronze in a nail-biting jump-off.

“The value of that clear round was price-less,” Malhas said. “I was quite emotional. You know, it changed a lot for me. I was in newspapers, and never in my life have I been in newspapers before.”

Contrary to popular opinion, Islamic law isn’t holding these women back. Muslim women from Mali, Iran, Bahrain and even Afghanistan competed under their countries’ colors in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

But in Saudi Arabian culture, girls and women are strongly discouraged from partici-pating in physical activities. There aren’t laws against doing so, but there are an abundance

of conservative congregants who argue that being active in public would require women to change into workout clothing, and disrob-ing outside the home is considered to be against good moral code. As a result, more than 63 percent of Saudi Arabian women are plagued with obesity, according to a 2007 study titled “World’s Fattest Countries” executed by Forbes.

“It’s thought that women should not exercise or do sports,” explained Arwa Mutabagani, Malhas’ mother. “Among other reasons, there is still an extremist mentality that a woman should be at home and take care of the kids, and that’s it. It’s this percep-tion that has to start to change.”

After Malhas’ performance in Singapore, an important ally stepped forward in sup-port: Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, a known horse lover. After the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.), King Abdullah invited Saudi Arabia’s show jump-ing individual silver medalist Abdullah Al Sharbatly for a congratulatory visit. And Malhas received an invitation as well.

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cover story

A young Dalma, perfecting her seat.

Show jumper Dalma Malhas,

shown at left riding Gin Alfarvad in

Chantilly, France, in 2010, is making a name for herself and female Saudi Arabian athletes around the globe.


“He also wanted to congratulate Dalma,” Mutabagani, 41, said proudly. “And after that happened, the public saw her in the newspa-per and recognized that the King supported her. That was very positive, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to get the King’s support for women to exercise.”

Growing up saudiThroughout her childhood, Malhas watched her mother work to change Saudi society’s outlook towards women. A show jumper herself, Mutabagani manages Trio Ranch Country Club, one of the first riding clubs to open in Saudi Arabia.

“I was one of the first women to get into the sport in Saudi Arabia,” Mutabagani said. “It was very difficult in the beginning when I opened up the ranch in 1990. The [Saudi Arabian Equestrian] Federation had just started. They were not used to seeing a woman around on her own, meeting vans to pick up horses. Most people didn’t know how to react. But eventually they got used to me being around.”

Mutabagani’s efforts to promote equestrian sports in her nation haven’t gone unnoticed. In April of 2008, King Abdullah appointed her as the first female member of the Saudi Olympic Committee.

“I’m lucky,” said Malhas, whose parents divorced when she was very young. “I was born into horses, and my mom knows the sport in Saudi. She’s done a lot to help me get where I am.”

Growing up, it was only “just the two of us,” Malhas said. Her father, Rushdi Malhas, is a fashion designer who lives in Italy.

“I’m quite close to my dad, but it happened quite recently,” she explained. “He doesn’t have a Saudi mentality at all—even less than my mom. He fully supports me. For him, it’s important that I’m doing something, and I’m working hard at it.”

Malhas began taking lessons at her mother’s riding school when she was 4. As the years passed, her interest and dedication flourished, and Mutabagani bought her a

“serious” pony from the Netherlands when Malhas turned 8.

“Because girls can’t compete in Saudi, the other young girls and I would organize com-petitions between us,” explained Malhas. “So I was already behind [the other European riders in the same age group]. I didn’t get to ride in the pony classes or get the experience at a young age.”

But recognizing her daughter’s potential, Mutabagani intervened. At a certain point, she saw that Dalma had something more than the other riders.

“And I thought, ‘If she doesn’t get the chance to compete, she’ll never improve,’ ” she said. “I knew this from when I was younger.”

In her 20s, Mutabagani pursued a profes-sional show jumping career, but she had to travel outside of Saudi Arabia to compete, and the missed opportunities still haunt her. So when her daughter was 12, they moved to Rome, Italy, to join Mutabagani’s mother. But it was “mostly for the riding.”

“I wanted her to have everything I didn’t,” Mutabagani said.

middle east meets west“It was a bit tough, you know, settling into a new way of life,” said Malhas of relocating to

cover story

Italy. “In Saudi, there’s a completely different mentality; we live very differently.”

Malhas admitted that even though she left Saudi Arabia at a young age and hadn’t wit-nessed the prejudice against women firsthand, she was still accustomed to a limited life.

“In Jeddah, things are a little more relaxed,” Malhas said. “It’s not super religious, but we still have to wear an abaya [the floor-length cloak women in most Arabic countries don in public], and you always have to rely on someone else. For example, women can’t drive, so you need a driver.”

Inevitably, the transition from a sheltered Saudi Arabian child into an adolescent blooming in a modern European society caused conflict between mother and daughter.

“I was brought up more traditionally like Saudi Arabian girls at that time,” said Mutabagani, who was raised as a “moderate” Muslim. “When I took Dalma to live in Europe, I was still trying to bring her up in our tradition, but she would say, ‘Mom, I’m not in Saudi Arabia; I’m in Europe, and I’m going to grow up with a European mind.’ So in the end I thought, ‘Let her make her mistakes like I made my mistakes, and don’t let me be dominating like my father was with me.’ ”

Malhas added that things have improved since she and her mother made it through that rough time.

“I have a very special relationship with my mom,” she said. “She was raised more tra-ditionally, but she’s still very open-minded. I have a lot of freedom for being my age. And for being Saudi it’s almost ridiculous. But my mom suffered from not having any, so she doesn’t want me to go through that.”

making historyOne of the biggest perks of Malhas’ freer lifestyle was riding and training with Ital-ian equestrian legend Duccio Bartolucci, to whom she attributes her discipline and technique. He saw her through competitions throughout Europe from when she was 13 until she accepted the bronze medal at the

Youth Olympics. “I witnessed all that she had to go through

to show in Singapore,” Bartolucci said. “We were waiting full of hope for at least a year, and even up to a week before, we were still unsure if she’d be able to go.”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s participa-tion in the Youth Olympics hinged on a new requirement that the country send at least one woman from any sport, Arab News reported in August. But that didn’t mean Saudi Arabian sport officials were necessarily going to bless her trip.

“Basically there was an invitation from the IOC [International Olympic Committee], and they needed a girl to represent Saudi to meet quota,” said Malhas.

Once they got the final OK to head to the Games, Malhas’ mother advised her to keep a low profile so as not to draw any negative attention. In keeping with Saudi tradition, Malhas almost always wore long-sleeved

ViDeo: Watch a recap of the

individual show jumping final,

including Dalma Malhas’ bronze-

medal performance, at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in

Singapore.After her performance at the Youth Olympic Games, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul

Aziz honored Dalma Malhas with an invitation to his

palace. “The public saw her in the newspaper and recognized that the King supported

her,” said her mother, Arwa Mutabagani.

“That was very positive. We’re

trying to get the King’s support for women

to exercise.”

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Kentucky Equine Research Health and Industry NewsletterMar 11, 2011

Mistletoe for Sarcoid Treatment

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Foal Diarrhea and Prebiotics

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Mar 9, 2011 Fiber for Horses: Soybean Hulls a Quality

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shirts to cover her arms, despite Singapore’s hot, humid climate.

“Because we want to open the door, it’s better to take things slowly,” claimed Muta-bagani. “So I told her, ‘We have to be smart. We have to respect our traditions. We can’t leave [critics] any reason to complain.’ ”

“My mom told me, ‘You cannot afford to make mistakes, because too many people are waiting for you to mess up,’’” Malhas added.

So, on a balmy August day in Singapore, Malhas held her breath as the final rider crossed through the finish flags to end the jump-off. Her clear round on Flash Top Hat, the pinto horse she drew from the pool (all horses were provided by the organizing committee), was fast enough to capture the bronze medal and a piece of history.

Fédération Equestre Internationale President HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan—a former Olympic show jumper herself and wife to Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum—issued Malhas her congratula-tions personally.

“Being an Arabic woman, Dalma’s win has a certain emotional element [for Prin-cess Haya],” said Mutabagani. “She knows what a struggle it is to get here.”

Upon returning to Saudi Arabia after the end of the Games, Malhas found herself on the front page of many newspapers or as the subject of blog posts.

“Obviously there were negative com-ments, sometimes even posted underneath the online articles, from men and women,” Malhas recalled. “I just decided not to read them. I honestly don’t like to think of it because I know I’m doing nothing wrong. And I’m happy. I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

But there were positive moments too. “The second night I was back in Saudi

[after returning from Singapore], I went out to buy doughnuts, and the guy working there was reading a newspaper,” Malhas recounted. “I went up to pay, and he looked at me and said, ‘Oh, it’s you!’ ”

the FutureMalhas began training with Belgian Olym-pian Jos Lansink and former Dutch show jumping chef d’equipe Bert Rompe after the Youth Olympics. She shows her own horse, Miss la Boulaye, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare (For De La Hardiere SF—Quia De L’Oliviere SF, Double Espoir), throughout Europe up to the CSI* level. She’s also just begun competing her second horse, a 6-year-old mare named Agina.

But even after breaking Saudi Arabia’s glass ceiling, there’s no guarantee that Mal-has will get to represent her country again.

“I try not to think about it,” said Malhas of the obstacles women still face in Saudi Arabia. “Because in some ways, it will bring you down. But in others, it’s like a challenge to work against. So at the moment my goal is really just to concentrate on myself and to improve as a rider.”

Malhas wants her success and recogni-tion to encourage other Saudi Arabian girls and Muslim women to follow their dreams of becoming female Olympiads.

“You have to have patience; it’s a neces-sity. And I’m not saying it’s easy to succeed. It takes a lot of effort and dedication,” she said. “But it’s not impossible.”

“It is still a struggle for women in Saudi Arabia, and for an Arabic woman to be a pioneer, it is really tough,” Mutabagani added. “But I believe the difficulties are slowly going away. And today, where we are—we have a girl with a bronze medal—and that is hope for the future.”

cover story


“Obviously there were negative comments. I just decided not to read them. I know I’m doing nothing wrong.” —Dalma Malhas


on deckThere’s always

more in store, online and in print, in the

coming weeks.

Intercollegiate Issue Always wanted to work a horsey job, but don’t want to be a professional rider? Check out the April 4 Intercollegiate Issue of The Chronicle of the Horse for a look at how three women have created niches for themselves in the horse world: Pegasus Design Group CEO Holly Matt, equestrian immigration lawyer Laurie Volk and tack shop maven Cindy Hadfield. We’ll also bring you the story of the IHSA equestrian team at Landmark College, a school established for students with learning disorders, and a behind-the-scenes look at the U.S. Naval Academy’s riding program.

Online Competition Coverage April showers won’t deter the Chronicle staffers from bringing you great news coverage from the biggest competitions across the country. Check in at chronofhorse.com April 1-3 for Kat Netzler’s coverage from the Galway Downs CIC & Horse Trials in Temecula, Calif., and Mollie Bailey’s news from the final week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Welling-ton, Fla. And on April 8-10, Sara Lieser will be in Norwood, N.C., for The Fork CIC & Horse Trials. Stay tuned!

Debate Brews Over FEI Horse Welfare Rules Was Grand Prix dressage rider Adelinde Corne-lissen’s disqualification at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for blood in her horse’s mouth actually legal? Jennifer Keeler digs deeper to explore the ramifications of the FEI’s lack of protocol in the March 28 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse.

Produced and published by The Chronicle of the Horse.

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Kat NetzlerEDITOrIAL DIrEcTOr

Beth RasinMANAGING EDITOr

Sara LieserEDITOrIAL STAFF

Mollie BaileyCoree Reuter

Lisa SladecONTrIBUTING WrITEr

Molly SorgeINTErNS

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Kara BerglundADvErTISING & MArKETING DIrEcTOr

Susan Lee SENIOr AccOUNT ExEcUTIvES

Dawn Kirlin Susan Dipietro

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Lauren MaruskinBrAND MANAGEr

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Falling with GracePhoto by CARL KLEIN PHOTO

Despite this image taken over a colossal spread fence at the 1941 Piping Rock Horse Show in New York, Sara Bosley Secor was a talented, well-known equestrienne and came from a family of strong Mid-Atlantic horsewomen.

Her mother, Elizabeth Cromwell Bosley, bred and trained the famous sprinter Chase Me, and her sister, Elizabeth C. “Betty” Bird became the first woman to train a Maryland Hunt Cup winner.

Growing up in rural Monkton, Md., Sara began training Chase Me when she was 12 years old, teaching him to retrieve sticks, shake hands and steal handkerchiefs from pockets. Just before his first race (which he won by 20 lengths), Chase Me plucked a cigar out of the starter’s pocket.

The brown colt went on to win every race he entered until breaking down in the spring of 1934 at Belmont Park (N.Y.). Six years later, Mrs. Bosley died in a car accident at the age of 45.

But Sara rallied through the tragedies and continued on in the horse world for decades to come, showing, training, hunting and eventually becoming master of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club (Md.) in 1972. She rode every day and hunted twice a week into her 60s.

“She was the confidante of practically everyone, and was never judgmental,” said longtime friend Bonsal White in her Baltimore Sun obituary. “She was the most unforgettable character I’ve ever known, in addition to being a fabulous horsewoman.”

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