Re: [IceHorses] Kentucky International Equine Summit
On Thu, 1 May 2008 12:18:44 -0700, you wrote: >Turf experts have been sent to Hong Kong to get the best footing for the >Equestrian Olympics: It's *almost* kind of funny - the horses will have perfect footing while they die of pollution and smog inhalation Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen --- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ---
Re: [IceHorses] Kentucky International Equine Summit
On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 3:18 PM, Judy Ryder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > the race track industry sees benefit in switching to synthetic surfaces > > which are less concussive on the horse's legs for long-term soundness > > Turf experts have been sent to Hong Kong to get the best footing for the > Equestrian Olympics: And in the meantime, 2 horses have had to be put down at the Rolex 3-day event this year due to injuries - I love eventing but I think they have just made the obstacles harder and harder to a point that they aren't safe for rider or horse. -- Laree in NC Doppa & Mura Simon, Sadie and Sam (the "S" gang) "Yet when all the books have been read and reread, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them." - William Farley
Re: [IceHorses] Kentucky International Equine Summit
> the race track industry sees benefit in switching to synthetic surfaces > which are less concussive on the horse's legs for long-term soundness Turf experts have been sent to Hong Kong to get the best footing for the Equestrian Olympics: The Olympic cross-country course at Beas River in Hong Kong has met all parameters for quality of the turf, the shock-absorbency of the footing, and its drainage ability. The turf has been declared ready for the cross-country portion of the eventing competition at the Olympics this August. The turf experts in the Hong Kong Jockey Club's tracks department are the men in charge of planting the grass to provide perfect footing for the horses. The planting project at Beas River was completed in March 2007. From then on, the turf experts have given the grasses their personal attention, including daily inspection. The Club has invested around HK$28 million ($3.5 million USD) in the cross-country footing at Beas River, including refurbishing the jump zones with sand and planting a total 45,000 square meters (about 11 acres) of Bermuda grass on the Beas River competition course and warm-up areas. Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Kentucky International Equine Summit
>> Keeneland Race Track installed Polytrack...transition to this synthetic >> surface. The reason for the change was revealed during the session on "The Safety of Horses: A Long-Term View." "We felt the safety of the horse and rider was not coming first and that was unacceptable, You need to listen to the horse and do what´s best for him. It´s a tenet that is not used enough in this business." >In his opinion, the key to equine safety is good horsemanship. More on the Summit: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11771 If the race track industry sees benefit in switching to synthetic surfaces which are less concussive on the horse's legs for long-term soundness, how does running on ice fit in? Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
[IceHorses] Kentucky International Equine Summit
One of the discussions at the summit: The Well-being of the Competitive Horse Communication between the equine and man has always been a mystery. Although it is not in a horse´s genetic makeup to verbally communicate, they "speak" to us all the time. This concept was a common theme throughout all four of today´s panels on the Wellbeing of the Competitive Horse. Dr. Catherine Kohn, VMD, from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, acknowledged people who know horse language have special importance in future equine research. "We need to identify the relevant problems to research," said Kohn during the panel on "Equine Research: State of the Field." "But we need bright, intelligent, creative people that work with horses daily and know the problems they experience in order to identify them." When Keeneland Race Track installed Polytrack in 2006, it became the third North American facility to transition to this synthetic surface. The reason for the change was revealed during the session on "The Safety of Horses: A Long-Term View." "We felt the safety of the horse and rider was not coming first and that was unacceptable," Nick Nicholson, President of Keeneland, said. "You need to listen to the horse and do what´s best for him. It´s a tenet that is not used enough in this business." During the same session, Bill Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, concurred with Nicholson, but added some personal insight. "Horses that have faulty conformation just float over a synthetic surface," Casner explained. "It is very forgiving and provides young horses with a chance to work through their issues because it allows their bones to remodel. The horse is telling us that he likes this kind of surface and we need to listen." In the panel "Veterinary Research on Equine Athletes," Dr. Mary Scollay-Ward, Association Veterinarian at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park said a horse´s body language usually indicates a predisposition to catastrophic injury. "With most catastrophic injuries, horses do tell you by exhibiting some sort of sign," Scollay-Ward said. "Except condylar fractures. In my experience, they usually occur in 3-year-olds that are moving quickly through their conditions and forward in their training but there are no outward signs." Charlie Hutton, a speaker for the "Experience, Compassion and Handling of the Horse," owns Hilldale Farm in Princeton, Kentucky and primarily trains reining horses. In his opinion, the key to equine safety is good horsemanship. "You have to always listen to the horse," Hutton said. "Horses are creatures of routine and if they act differently than they normally do, there is almost always something wrong. I rode a horse yesterday that seemed tired and was working to get through the ride. I knew something was off and sent him to the vet this morning." Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
