Monthly Archives: January 2009

2009 HITS Thermal Desert Circuit – I

*Update – 2009 DC I results

What

2009 Thermal Desert Circuit - IHITS Thermal Desert Circuit I

The first part of the Thermal Desert Circuit a series which runs from Jan through March every year. Held at one of the largest hunter/jumper horse show venues in the US, the Desert Horse Park is 230 acres with 14 competition rings, including a covered ring.

Shopping & Dining
There is also a desert marketplace during the shows selling equestrian wares as well as casual dining options.

Showing ranges from Grand Prix show jumping to classes for novice and experienced riders.

DC I features

  • $7,500 PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic
  • $5,000 Jr/A-O Jumper Low Classic
  • $10,000 Jr/A-O Jumper High Classic
  • $25,000 Grand Prix
  • $50,000 EMO Grand Prix

No admission charge Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday admission is $5 per person, and children under 12 are free.
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2009 United States Pony Club Annual Meeting

What

2009 United States Pony Club Annual Meeting2009 United States Pony Club Annual Meeting

An all around horse fair which is as geared towards the kids who ride the ponies and the parents who love them. Learn about horse management, care, and how you can enrich your local chapter of Pony Club.

The event allows visitors to interact and learn from national examiners, horse management instructors, renowned coaches as well as advanced riders.
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2009 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

*Update: show & rodeo results

What

2009 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo2009 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

The tradition of this show dates back to 1896 when the first stock show took place along the banks of Marine Creek in north Fort Worth. Since then it has become a yearly tradition not just for horse people, but for ranchers and farmers alike.

The festivities include livestock exhibitions, auctions, commercial exhibits and rodeo demonstrations all geared towards family fun, entertainment and learning.

When

Jan 16 – Feb 8
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Horse Costumes Are Popular

It seems that all types of people love a good horse costume…and there are a surprising number of them willing to be photographed as well. 😉

A Popular Choice

Looking for images of people dressed up as horses was an eye-opening experience. I had no idea horse costumes were so popular, or that there would be such a creative selection.

More to Come

In fact, I found more images than I was expecting to so keep your eyes open for part 2. Some of these people are horse lovers, some of them are dressed up for halloween, and the rest of them are just plain weird.
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2009 Maryland World Horse Expo

What

2009 Maryland World Horse Expo13th Annual Maryland Horse World Expo

For horse lovers of all types this is a large expo with a lot to offer the horse community. All activities in the two arenas and two seminar halls are indoor & heated.

Events & Activities Include

  • Seminars
  • Riding clinics
  • Mounted demonstrations
  • Stallion Avenue
  • Parade of Breeds
  • Shopping for all aspects of the equestrian world

Speakers come from all facets of the horse industry and many offer riding clinics that visitors can participate in.
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2009 Partner Pferd Equestrian Fair

What

Partner Pferd Equestrian Fair 2009Partner Pferd Equestrian Fair

Geared towards horse lovers of all types this is a large show with a great deal of activities including the expo, a sales exhibition, shows and a professional forum.

The fair is one of the largest events of its kind in central Germany and last year they attracted 56,000 visitor and 250 exhibitors.
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Adopt a BLM Horse or Burro

BLM Horse & Burro Adoption

Image from teepole

If you have the space and the funds to do it, adopting a wild horse can be a rewarding experience. The BLM clearly has too many to handle and the more of them we adopt the better (Madeleine Pickens has the right idea).

Getting A Mustang of Your Very Own

The horse and burro division of the Bureau of Land Management holds auctions all year round. These are events where the (qualified) public can go to purchase wild mustangs and burros that would otherwise suffer an ugly fate.
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Horse Foot Anatomy

Horse Foot

Image from ubookworm

Horse foot care is essential to keeping a happy (and healthy) mount. Nothing is fun when your feet hurt.

Know Your Stuff

Knowing the basics where your horses feet and hooves are concerned helps you to practice preventative maintenance, troubleshoot problems and communicate better with your farrier.

Here is a quick guide to teach you the key points of horse foot anatomy.

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2009 Cheval Passion Expo

Cheval Passions ExpoCheval Passions Expo – Avignon Equestrian Festival is an event celebrating horses and equestrians featuring 250 exhibitors and seven halls. There horse enthusiasts will find equestrian equipment, careers, training info, competitions, tourism, accessories in addition to stud shows, an equestrian cabaret and a large trade show.

There are 8 major competitions that round out the festival
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2009 USEF Annual Convention

Winter Equestrian Festival
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Annual Convention is an opportunity for horse professionals of all breeds and disciplines to come together. The convention was created to honor those in the horse community who performed at the highest level throughout the year; and to prepare for the horse sports and competition of the coming year.
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Horse Jobs – Schooling Rider

Man riding a horse bareback in the snow

Often a job offered to college students and aspiring riding or training professionals, a schooling rider is in charge of daily exercise.

Great Communication Skills

This is a position which benefits from a teamwork attitude, the ability to follow strict instructions and a strong focus on communication. It is not uncommon for a schooling rider to have contact with numerous horses as well as numerous members of the barn staff on a daily basis.
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