Newsgroups: rec.equestrian


                   COST OF OWNING A HORSE

Standard costs involved with owning a horse:

Board: $50 to $500 per month (varies widely based on area of the country
                              and type of boarding)

Shoes: $35 to $100 each 6 weeks (some horses require shoeing more often,
                                 some horses less frequently.)

Worming: $10 to $16 each 3 months (some people worm every other month)

Shots: $20 to $60 each year (some people give shots up to 4x per year)
                  cost increases when the vet gives shots

Vet Bills: Depends on the health of a horse...
           $50 for the farm call
           $10 to $50 for floating the teeth
           Emergencies from $100 to thousands

Lessons: $25-$30 per hour

Shows/clinics: at least $100 per show/clinic 

Insurance: Mortality and surgical... About $400 a year

Equipment: Basic equipment include: saddle, saddle pads, bridle, bit,
           halter, lead rope, horse blanket (optional in some areas),
           bucket, brushes, combs.
           $200 (if you're lucky and buy used) to $5,000


The cost of owning a horse varies with the area of the country in
which you live and the type of events in which you are involved.  You
can keep a horse in your backyard (where the law allows) for a few
dollars a month.  Or you can keep your horse at a stable that has all
the amenities and pay thousands.  These are the extremes.  You best
bet is to check around.  Talk to other horse owners and see where they
board, what they like and dislike about the stable, who they use as a
farrier and vet, and what they like about each.  


                         
                          DRESSAGE RING LETTERS


Here are the letters of a large dressage ring

		C
	H	G	M
	S	I	R
	E	X	B
	V	L	P
	K	D	F
		A

(I couldn't tell if that G between H and M was a G or a Q in the
booklet I was looking at, so if its wrong please correct me)


The acronym I learned for a small ring and training dressage was:
All King Edwards Horses Consume Much Bad Feed
All King Edward's Horses Can't Make Big Fences
    along with RSVP around the outside for the "minor" letters.
All King Victor Emmanuel's Show Horses Can Make Really Beautiful People Fall.
All Kind Elephants Have Cute Mothers, Bald Fathers.



The whole business about dressage arena letters bothered me a year
ago, so I FAX'ed the FEI in Switzerland about it - amazing what you
can do with a FAX machine in the office!! :-) I got no joy from anyone
I knew, or the British Horse Society, so this seemed the next step.

I received a reply (FAX) from Mr. W.M.Niggli, the Chairman of the FEI
Dressage Committee. It briefly states that :

"...no-one knows the origin of the order of the letters. They first
appeared in 1931 in a Grand Prix test prepared for the 1932 Olympic
Games. Before that different letters like ABCD and XYZ were used. From
1912 to 1924 the size of the arena also changed from 20x40m to 20x60m,
and finally stuck at 20x60m. Prior to 1932 the movements were also
very different to those seen today, and they were NOT shown at a fixed
letter."



Here is Training Level Test 1
1.	A	Enter Working trot sitting
	X	Halt salute, proceed working trot sitting

2.	C	Track left
	H	Working Trot Rising
	E	Circle left 20m
	K	Working trot sitting

3.	Between	Working Canter Left lead
	K & A

4. 	A	Circle left 20m

5.	Between
	B & M	Working trot sitting

6.	HXF	Working Walk

7.	F	Working trot sitting

8.	E	Circle right 20m
	H	Working trot sitting

9.	Between
	B & F	Working canter right lead

10.	C	Circle right 20m

11.	Between
	B & F	Working trot sitting

12.	A	Down center line
	X	Halt, salute


(breathe a big sigh of relief that you finished  :-))


                           SAY NO TO DRUGS

We are all familiar with the slogan. For AHSA recognized horse trials, there 
are some more subtle points to consider. At the Area VIII meeting, Dr. 
John Lengel,head of the AHSA drug program explained some of the things 
to remember. The AHSA drug rule forbids stimulants including CAFFEINE, 
depressants including ACEPROMAZINE, local anesthetics including 
PROCAINE as well as masking substances like diuretics, which conceal the 
presence of the other drugs. Masking substances include Dipyrone, 
Benzimidazole wormers, Isoxuprine, vitamin injections, and Furosemide - 
LASIX.

Riding ``Hors Concours'' (i.e. H.C., for experience only) will not shield your 
horse from drug tests. Withdrawn or scratched horses may also be tested. 
Horses entered in any AHSA recognized class are subject to the drug rule. 
Horses may be tested repeatedly at one competition. Drug testers will give 
reasonable preparation time for your next class or phase, but that is subject 
to negotiation with the tester. 

These drugs are generally used to make a horse sound, or faster, or slower. 
It is advisable to be especially careful when administering colic treatments, 
antibiotics like penicillin, wormers or injectable vitamins close to 
participation in an AHSA recognized show.  Caveat Furazone.

Therapeutic use of certain drugs is permitted up to 24 hours before 
participation in a show. Therapeutic use does not include trailering, 
clipping or training, even though it may seem therapeutic for your own 
health. If you have used a long acting tranquilizer such as reserpine, traces 
may be present in the blood stream for as long as 30 days. Certain local 
anesthetics, for example procaine penicillin, will show up for 14 days. Most 
substances will be cleared within 7 days of the last administration. If you 
have used one of the restricted drugs on your horse, you must take the 
horse off the medication at least 24 hours before show time. In addition, 
unless the substance will be cleared out of the blood stream by the time of 
the show, you must file an AHSA medical report, indicating why the drug 
was used, when it was last given, etc. 

If your horse tests positive after you have filed the medical report with the 
secretary, a private hearing will take place to establish the facts, but no 
other AHSA action will result. In the past year, 50 of 1000 samples were 
positive, and 25 of these were dismissed because a proper medical report 
had been filed. 

If someone is feeding your horse brownies, chocolate, diet Pepsi or 
strychnine, you could be in trouble. The caffeine is known to be illegal, as 
well as a substance called theobromine. Strychnine, which is known to be 
fatal in large quantities, is sometimes used as an appetite stimulant, but is 
also illegal. 

Bute (phenylbutazone or ``Butazolidin'') and Banamine, also called 
flunixin, (both representatives of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory 
drugs, NSAID) are restricted in a limited use before AHSA shows. Bute or 
Banamine may not be given less than 12 hours before competing. However, 
for Bute, the maximum effect does not take place until 12 to 15 hours after 
the drug was given, so therapeutic use is not affected. Bute can only be 
given at a level of 2 grams per day for every 1000 lbs of horse. If you have 
administered bute for 5 successive days, you should take one full day 
break, otherwise the blood levels will build up higher than the AHSA 
allows.The way Bute was administered (paste, injection, tablet or powder) is 
irrelevant, as far as the AHSA is concerned. If you give Bute in the feed, 
make sure you remove that feed 12 hours before the show. Banamine is 
restricted to 500 mg per day for every 1000 lbs of horse. Again you should 
not give Banamine for more than 5 successive days without at least one day 
break. 
No administration is allowed less than 12 hours before competing. There is 
an interaction of Bute and Banamine, so you should never administer both 
within 48 hours of the show. Stick to one only, otherwise you will be guilty 
of a drug violation. If you are just using Bute or Banamine(but not 
together) within the legal limits, you are not required to file an AHSA 
medical report form.

If you are competing in FEI recognized events, different and more 
restrictive rules apply. Just about everything is forbidden underFEI rules, 
including aspirin, which the AHSA does not restrict. 

There has been no successful legal challenge of the AHSA drug tests. There 
is virtually a 0 percent chance that you will have a false positive, no mixup 
is possible, nor is any substance misidentification likely. The Trainer as 
indicated on the registration form, is held responsible for all drug abuses. 

Are you confused now?  If you have any questions about the drug rules, call 
800-MED-AHSA, which is a 24 hour hotline at Ohio State University. They 
will answer any questions you may have about what is legal and what is not. 
**************
**************

I found this very helpful and relieved to know that Bute was not
completely restricted.  Has anyone tried the new stuff called
Inflamx?  I thought that might be good for the day of the show
if he was working stiff.

Melanie
   and Quest
-- 

> To quote the new AHSA rulebook 'The maximum permissible plasma
> concentration of phenylbutazone is 15.0 micrograms per milliliter.'
> 
> I assume that the 'legal' amount is going to depend on the size
> of the horse...  Anyone care to hazard a guess for my @900 lb.
> Morgan mare (2 AHSA shows in the next 10 days)?  Vet more or less
> said 'go with what she needs and hope she doesn't get tested'.  He
> had not seen any guidelines.
> 
>                    Karin

        A warning: this a -very- off the cuff calculation...
        If your mare has a normal metabolic rate, (i.e., is not suffering 
from any endocrinal problems,) she should be OK on testing if she has 1-1/2 
grams of bute daily. To err on the side of caution, you may want to keep it 
at 1 gram daily, and a yucca or similar supplement. Likewise, depending upon 
the nature of her need for bute, you may want to use an intensive topical 
approach, using heat and antiphlogastines (Bigeloil, Absorbine, etc,) or 
repeated cold packs and kaolin poultice. Before deciding to follow this 
course, I would -definitely- consult with the vet treating the mare for the 
most appropriate therapy. This has worked well in the past for me, when 
*any* bute was out of the question at AHSA shows. Hope this helps...

        Dionysia & Corey (yet another Morgan)


                   GRIEF

The best book on Grief that I know of is _The_Grief_Recovery_Handbook_,
an *excellent* book on handling and dealing with grief and loss.




-------------------------------------------------------------------
HORSE LEASE AGREEMENT:

This agreement is entered into this day, May 1, 1992 and shall be
effective through August 30, 1992 between (lessee's name), who shalll be
known as the lessee, and (lessor's name), who shall be known as the
lessor.  The lessee is agreeing to care for and maintain one
Thoroughbred Gelding (Jockey Club #8609799), known as (horses name)
foaled March 13, 1986 in exchange for exclusive use of the animal for
the purpose of riding and showing.  The following terms and conditions
shall apply for the length of the lease.

The lessor shall not be held responsible for loss, damage, injury,
claim, demand, cost and expense (including legal expense) arising out
of or connected with the use, stabling or actions for the leased animal
whether under control and supervision of the lessee or not.  The lessor
will not be responsible for any accident or injury to any person or
animal who comes in contact with the above named animal, during the
term of this lease.

The estimated value of the said animal is $xxxx and shall be insured
against death for the estimated amount.  If for any reason said animal
must be put down, the lessor shall accept the insurance as adequate
compensation and hold no futher claims against the lessee.  In the
above situation proper Veterinary care must be utilized and the lessor
must be notified immediately.

Should the animal become for sale during the term of the lease, and a
legitimate offer is made on the horse by a third party, the lessee
shall have the right to match the the offer and assume ownership of the
animal before any other offers would be accepted.

The animal included in this lease shall reamin the sole property of lessor
and the lessee shall have no right, title, or loan to any other party 
of said animal except as stated here.

Desert Shadows Equestrian Center is to be considered the principle home
stable during the term of this lease, but permission is granted for
temporary stabling at other locations for the purpose of showing,
demonstrations or such activities, but prior approval must be obtained
from the lessor to change the principle home stable.

The lessee shall use proper care and good judgement in maintaining and
training said animal in quality show condition or as close to when
lease began.  With lessee responsible for all expenses during lease
time including boarding, farrier, transportation, veterinary, and show
expenses.  All fees, bills, etc. shall be considered personal bills of
lessee and in no way can be considered a lien on this animal, with
boarding facility, and others notified to this contract.


----------------- lessor

----------------- lessee

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Just one note about the insurance mentioned in the lease.  It's not that
expensive ($76.00 for a $2000 horse), and it sure prevents a lot of
hard feelings and problems should something terrible happen.
(BTW the insurance was for mortality only) 

Anyway, hope this helps!

Angie (Email: amerritt@dante.nmsu.edu)


                 HORES SHIPPING


Carolina Horse Transport did a wonderful job of transporting my mare from
Kentucky to North Carolina.  Don't think they ship cross country, though.
They even unloaded her and walked her to calm her down when she got nervous.

the number for Blue Chip is: 1 800 VAN INFO


Well, I would stay away from the All-State company that is located
in CO--they shipped my horse, and not only was she EXTREMELY dehydrated
(went from WA to NC), but they also STOLE my new lead rope. Of course
my experience MAY  have been unusual, but this is just my 2 cents'
worth.


I took a horse with me from Vermont to California and back about 12
years ago when I had a sabbatical from my college.  On the recommen-  
dations of Jimmy Williams at Flintridge Riding Club and Marcia Williams
in Pasadena, I used Bob Hubbard.  (They were also the official equestrian
transporters for the Olympics when the Olympics were in Los Angeles.)
Anyway, they were good--and, at least in the pre-Olympic days, quite
reasonable.  They're also based in California but do regular x-country
runs.  It's a hard trip for a horse, though.  If I were doing it again,
I would try to fly, because it's not THAT much more expensive.  More 
recently, I used Blue Chip to ship a horse from Vermont to Baltimore 
and was extremely happy and impressed with the care (the horse that 
went to California was a very easy horse--the one that went to Baltimore
was a travelling basket case).  I don't have phone numbers, but I think
both Hubbard and Blue Chip advertise in the Chronicle.  Good luck!

  I recently had a good experience with Nation-wide. (No, not the
furniture moving company.) The dispatches were professional and
helped me get everything organized. The driver was very good, both
at driving and caring for the horses. The horse went from NH to VA
with an overnight stop somewhere in Maryland and arrived in good
shape. The truck was clean, very well built, and well partitioned.
I used Nation-wide on the recommendation of a friend who'd used them
before.


Within the space of 2 years I moved from New Jersey
to Indiana and back to Jersey again.  On the way out
I shipped my mare via Brookledge Horse Transport.  They have 
offices in Pennsylvania and Kentucky.  They did a good
job but were high priced as I later learned.  They used
a customized horse van akin to a "straight job."  You
can reach them on 1-800-523-8143.

On the way back to Jersey we used McDonald's Horse Transport.
They are out of Texas.  Ms. McDonald is a real pleasure to
talk to on the phone.  They also did a good job and had
the mare and colt in Jersey within 24 hours.  Drove
straight through, I imagine.  McD.'s used an 8-horse 
goose neck trailer pulled by heavy-duty pick up.  McD. 
charged less than anyone else I got bids from.  I beleive 
they charged $495 for two horses.  McD.'s number is 
1-800-225-8914.

You can find other haulers in horse magazines like the
AQHA Journal.  Like I said, I got bids from about 8
companies and McD.'s was the most competitive.

If you are going to shipped horses cross-country,
there are a couple of things to keep in mind.  First,
you need to have a current Coggins and health certificate
for most states (altho in my experience no one ever
stopped the hauler to ask for the paper).  Second, you
need to get your own livestock insurance, because
the hauler does not cover your horses should anything
happen during the trip.  Third, some haulers will 
bill you, but others like McD, insist on a money
order or cash up front.  Finally, if you live off
the beaten path -- ie, away from a major track --
you may have to wait a week or two or longer before
a hauler can make the pick up.  The dispatcher
tries to get a full load from the area before
sending the truck and often this takes a little
time.  This can be nerve-wracking, especially
if you are trying to coordinate a move involving
your family and possessions as well.


A friend of mine wrote and asked me to post a recommendation for Reese's All
State Horse Transport.  She had her horses (Fiero and Dandy) shipped from
NC to CA a couple of years ago.  It was the first trailering experience for
Dandy (1 year old at the time) and the second for Fiero (3 years old).  Both
horses were in good shape when they were delivered and Fiero did not act
upset.  If you know Fiero, you know this is a good reccomendation.  Fiero
absolutely will not tolerate being in a stall.  Dandy practically runs into 
the trailer, so no damage was done to him either.