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Working With North Swedish Drafting Horses

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Working With North Swedish Drafting Horses

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Working With North Swedish Drafting Horses | S1 • E2 | Great Farms of Sweden

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Meet Always B Miki -- Harness Racing's No. 1 Horse

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Using a community tourism development model to explore equestrian trail tourism potential in Virginia

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Using a community tourism development model to explore equestrian trail tourism potential in Virginia

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Using a community tourism development model to explore equestrian trail tourism potential in Virginia

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As the tourism industry grows so does the demand by tourists for specialized travel alternatives. One niche market that is growing but has received ve...

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The Future of the Horse Industry in France

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The Future of the Horse Industry in France

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Scenarios to 2030

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Globalization and Equestrian Cultures: The case ofEquitation in the French Tradition

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Globalization and Equestrian Cultures: The case ofEquitation in the French Tradition

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Skijoring - The Incredible Horse Skiing Sport

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t's Saturday night in downtown Long Beach, California, and laughter can be heard from the streets below. Sarah Smith is sprawled on her bed, diligently peeling through sociology notes, preparing for her impending exams. An acoustic guitar rests against her bed, and a colorful gay-pride flag is pinned next to her bookshelf.

At first glance, Sarah comes across as a typical college student - but her serious blue eyes sometimes betray a history of violence, abandonment and emotional trauma.

Sarah was born into adoption at a private hospital in Orange County and was molested by her pre-school teacher at the age of three. Eighteen years of psychological and sexual abuse followed Sarah into adulthood, where the lingering devastation of her childhood spiralled into uncontrollable drug addiction and mental illness.

Sarah eventually surrendered to the streets, becoming homeless aged 19. She was living out of friends' cars and public bathrooms until Pathways to Independence found her and gave her food, healthcare, education and a place to live. She is now five years sober, and is close to graduating from her sociology program at Cal-State Long Beach with a 4.0. Two years ago she was diagnosed with throat cancer, and after a determined battle against the disease, she is now in full remission.

Sarah and makes contact with a horse. Photograph: Joshua Thaisen

To work through ongoing problems attached to her self-esteem, confidence and trust in other people, Sarah enrolled in an equine-assisted therapy program.

Horses make great companions for psychotherapy because they can mirror and respond to human behavior. Being herding animals, they rely on an acute stream of sensory data to sense safety or danger; they can also hear the human heartbeat within four feet, and research on heart-rate variability indicates that horses have a profound ability to synchronize their own heartbeat with that of human beings. When people are introduced to the herd environment for therapy, horses respond within the same spectrum of physical and emotional responses that govern their own behavior, allowing therapists an insight into the inner psychology of the client.

Clouds hung dramatically low above the stables of Ortega Equestrian Centre in San Juan Capistrano and in the main arena, a herd of three mares donated by the nonprofit Otra Mas were awaiting Sarah's arrival.

The program director, Carol Caddes, is a horse lover and licensed marriage and family therapist with over 20 years of experience. Sarah, for her part, had very little experience with horses and had never undergone any form of emotional treatment outside of medication and traditional office-based talk-therapy.

As herd animals, horses respond to a person's emotional state. Photograph: Joshua Thaisen

Sarah's gaze searched the eyes of each horse. She established an immediate connection with Madonna, a 20-year-old mare trained by champion cowgirl Carol Rose in Texas. Caddes guided Sarah into a sensory exercise that stretched her comfort zone by feeling her way around Madonna's body with her eyes closed.

It is common for people to feel intimidated by the sheer size and power of horses -weighing up to 2,000lb, horses can become metaphors for dealing with intimidating life circumstances. As Sarah developed more confidence, she assumed more control within the herd by leading Madonna from behind without the use of ropes or a whip - an instinctual method used by horses to push and lead each other.

"I was a little skeptical at first and I found the horses to be very intimidating. I didn't know what was going to happen. I had no expectations ... I made eye contact with Madonna and I felt immediately connected to her. The sensory exercise was really cool, it was scary, but it bridged the gap between me and the horse," Sarah explained.

Therapy is administered out of the saddle, and the horses are at liberty to respond as they wish. Caddes believes that "you get more of an authentic response by giving the horse more freedom. It's magnificent to be on the back of a horse, but it's also magnificent to companion-walk with them when they choose to be with you."

Caddes works within a physiological therapy model, always watching eye dilation, heart rate, body language and gestures. Her role was to safely guide Sarah through a series of ground-based activities that kept both her and the horse within a therapeutic window of arousal - "If they get too high the client will dissociate and the horse will panic, if they get too low there can be a feeling of depression or disengagement," she explained.

At the beginning of the second therapy session, Sarah found the horses far less intimidating. Caddes directed Sarah to select a prop and make it symbolic of an aspect of her life. Sarah unravelled a small colorful parachute that signified her confidence in school. Sarah then cast the parachute to the wind and laid it down in the middle of the arena, but Madonna wouldn't budge. Instead, a nine-year-old pinto mix named Chips wandered over and began investigating the parachute. With a flick of the head and a stomp of her hoof, the wild pony unexpectedly bolted to the other end of the arena in a nostril-flared panic, leaving Sarah marooned on her fabric island in the middle of the wide arena.

"Chips got scared, I don't know what happened, but it reminded me of being a child. I went over to comfort her and said I will never hurt you."

Chips inspects a parachute. Photograph: Joshua Thaisen

Sarah mustered the courage to reapproach Chips, and softly stroked the pony's mane. She was struck by an intense surge of emotion, and tears began to stream down the side of her face. Chips gently nuzzled into her, allowing Sarah to be fully present with the horse and revisit her trauma without been enveloped by its vortex.

"I saw Chips like me as a child, I was crying hysterically, a real deep cry, I felt a sense of protection and sadness. The horse allowed me to feel those feelings, the horse comforted me when I was emotionally vulnerable."

On her third and last session, Sarah led Chips and Madonna out of the stables and into the arena, where she divided the therapeutic space into three sections that represented her past, present and future. The moment was peaceful, and Sarah drew in a deep breath, relaxed her shoulders, and took a confident stride forward, compelling Madonna into a companion walk, side by side, shoulder to shoulder.

"I was in disbelief - I didn't think I could have an emotional connection with a horse. I felt like I made a friend, there was a bond. It allowed for me to really get in touch with how I feel. If you've been hurt, sometimes it's harder to be around other human beings - but there's no judgment with a horse."

She explained that "walking through her childhood" with the horses forced her to put her pain in the past, and helped her identify the person she hopes to become. Sarah also noted a considerable improvement in her communication skills and confidence as a direct result of this program.

Reflecting on the experience, Sarah is in awe of the horses, unable to articulate how healing the program was. "Words are so limiting sometimes," she said with a smile.

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Horses that heal: how equine therapy is helping people find peace of mind

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Horses make great companions for psychotherapy because they can mirror and respond to human behavior. And crucially, 'there's no judgment with a horse'

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A runner, a rider and a horse.

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Have you ever heard of Ride & Tie races? We can't necessarily blame you if you haven't, but they're worth knowing about. It's a two person, one horse endurance race that combines the strength and agility of all three participants. Ride & Tie has actually been around a long time and was promoted during the 1970's when Levi Strauss sponsored races to highlight the rugged appeal of their jeans. The race has since been gaining in popularity over the last few years, especially in California. If you want to see what the buzz is about first hand, there will be a Ride and Tie event Saturday, May 17, at Mt. Adams and Trout Lake.

Eve Blumfield

How it works is that each runner/rider takes turns on the horse and the three make their way through the trail as fast as they can. One rider gallops ahead, then ties the horse to a tree and runs about a mile ahead on foot while the other runner catches up to the horse and repeats the process, leap-frogging their way over a 20-100 mile course to the end, when all three cross the finish line.

A host of interesting challenges present themselves, like the possibility of hopping on the wrong horse, running right past your own horse, having the horse coming untied and taking off or spooking, and the usual issues with trail running, like injury. It requires a different type of forethought and strategy and a completely different way of paying attention.

Eve Blumfield

If you're wondering if the horses enjoy it, riders say their horses can't wait to go. There are vet checks along the way to make sure the horses are doing alright, and many runners run alongside the horse a good 20% of the way to take it easy on the horse. Horses know exactly who their teammates are, and work deliberately together with riders to get to the end.

It's a popular event for trail runners looking to spice up the experience. The horse adds a new dimension, requiring different skills. It also adds a new layer of fun to trail running. Horses are exciting to be around, and they add an emotional bonding component to the competition where the emphasis is more on finishing, not necessarily winning.

Eve Blumfield

Ride & Tie is a family-friendly event that is free to watch, and signing up the day of the race is permitted; you just need to arrive at least two hours in advance, so that your horse can pass the vet check. Mt. Adams is an ideal place to experience Ride & Tie. In fact, the president of the series, Ben Volk, says Mt. Adams is his favorite location for this event. "I did my very first Ride & Tie at Mt. Adams in 2006 and have completed 36 events since then, including six championships," says Volk. "Mt. Adams has always been my favorite course. If you come to the event, the camping is free in the Mt. Adams Horse Camp . There's no drinking water, but plenty of water for the horses! The views of Mt. Adams from the horse camp are absolutely stunning." There is so much to do in the Mt. Adams vicinity; you could easily make a weekend of it.

Eve Blumfield

View the race flyer HERE , and read more on the Ride and Tie website HERE .

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Ride & Tie races? It's a two person, one horse endurance race that combines the strength and agility of all three participants.

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Initially played with a live duck

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What do you think is Argentina's national sport? It has to be football surely, hundreds of thousands of people streaming through turnstiles every week to fill the stadiums? Wrong. Ok maybe tennis at a push, very popular again, Argentine players litter the top 100 rankings. No, try again. The more cynical amongst us might say protesting, eating beef or hoarding monedas, but again you would be well off the mark. The actual sport of the nation plays like a cross between polo and basketball, frequently ends in broken bones and used to be played with a live duck.

I am, of course, talking about Pato.
A Potted History of Pato:
Just as football was popularised in England through mass games between villagers taking a rest from working the fields, the sport was established by gauchos breaking up the tedium of watching their herds in the Argentine pampa. There are written records of pato being played as early as 1610, and complaints of its violence and risk of injury and death dating from 1796.

The name comes from the role played by the aforementioned unfortunate duck ( pato in Spanish); instead of a ball, the duck was placed in a basket with handles around it and tossed between mounted players, with the object of scoring in a net at the end of the field. Back in the game's formative years the definition of field was rather loose; games often were played between neighbouring ranches over miles and miles of empty countryside. And just as football in the middle ages was subject to church and state repression for its perceived immorality, so did pato face the iron fist of the authorities - numerous decrees in the 19th century sought to outlaw the sport, and by the turn of the 20th the sport had largely diminished.

The sport however resurfaced in the 1930s, more regulated and standardised than before. Ducks everywhere breathed a sigh of relief as their role was eliminated from the game, instead modern pato is played with a leather ball resembling a volleyball, surrounded by six wooden handles for easier grip- important when trying to scoop the ball up on a horse at full gallop.

The game slowly gained respect as an organised, proper sport, and was even declared Argentina's "national sport" in 1953 by President Juan Perón, in an acknowledgement of pato's role as a symbol of Argentine nationalism and the gaucho spirit which endows its citizens. It was never able however to match either the popular appeal of football or the upper-class allure of polo, and today it remains a sport primarily for aficionados and agricultural workers in the sprawling countryside that surrounds Buenos Aires.
These Men Can Ride!
After a season ravaged by an unusually wet Buenos Aires spring and many frustrating weekends of cancelled matches, I was able to witness pato first hand on a beautiful December afternoon. Taking place in the "home of pato", a sports ground located near the Campo de Mayo military complex, two games were played that were to decide who played in the grand finale the following week.

The most striking aspect of the sport is the incredible skill shown by the riders. The players often find themselves hanging off their steeds at high speed to pluck the ball off the ground, and the nerve and steady hand to throw the ball into the basket while galloping and being harassed by opponents is very impressive.

Even more so when you consider none of the players are professional; the majority are farm workers who play the sport in their spare time, directly mirroring the gauchos of old. Sebastian Tuñon, one of three brothers who play the sport professionally, explained that "we don't have the money in pato that polo has, for instance. None of us can give up work and play professionally; indeed it probably costs us because none of the equipment comes cheap. We do it however because we love the sport and we love playing it."

The Perils of Pato

A pato team is made up of four players on each side, and eight horses - the horses are rotated constantly to avoid fatigue, an indication of the high intensity the game is played at. The action is fast and furious, with few breaks for the players or audience to catch their breath. An element of danger is implicit in how pato is played as well, as players are permitted to steal the ball from others, and scenes of two riders each with a handle pulling furiously are commonplace.

Injuries are also common, with broken bones a frequent result of falling off a horse awkwardly. The risks however seem part of the attraction for many of the competitors, and certainly add an edge to proceedings. At least however injured players can return; unfortunately on occasion horses will fall and break legs, and in this case they must be destroyed - often on site. My companion informed me that this had occurred at least twice at meetings she had witnessed, and sadly when I was there a horse appeared to be facing the same fate, forlornly limping around the field after a nasty fall. Again though this appears to be part of the game; when I asked some audience members about this aspect a shrug of sad acceptance seemed the most common reaction.
Game's Over? Let's Eat!
The games are hard-fought and competitive, with much banter and insults flying between opposing sides. Eventually however at the end of the day the teams that were to compete in the final were revealed. El Siasgo defeated El Relincho Pueblo Chico in the first game of the day 21-13 to book their place, El Relincho being punished despite some skilled horsemanship for poor accuracy in front of the net, while El Siasgo appeared to have a laser guide attached as almost every shot found its target. In the other semi-final El Relincho Mangrullo comfortably saw off the challenge of El Relincho de la Criolla, and indeed went on to lift the championship weeks later beating El Siasgo by the slimmest of margins, in a thrilling 14-13 victory.

Despite the competitiveness and intensity of the game, however, this doesn't preclude close friendship and camaraderie between opposing players. As someone more accustomed to the pettiness and spats that are constantly a part of professional football, it was refreshing to see players embrace each other at the final whistle, congratulating or commiserating each other before retiring to the sidelines for a well-earned rest. As Sebastian explained, "yes there is a lot of rivalry between teams, everyone obviously wants to win. But all finishes when the game ends, off the field we chat to each other and help each other out, and at the end of the day we share a massive asado and some beers together, and any bad will disappears."

Horses, broken bones, hulking great slabs of meat cooking on a barbecue and above quiet respect and camaraderie between men taking a break from life in Argentine agriculture. Much has changed since the days of the gaucho in Argentine society, but through Argentina's national sport at least the reckless spirit and ignorance of danger so reminiscent of the gaucho spirit continues to survive and thrive.
The pato season returns from its summer break at the end of February. To find out when and where the matches take place visit www.pato.org.ar, the official website of the Federation. It is in Spanish, but click calendario 2010 for an easy to read guide to the pato schedule.

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What do you think is Argentina's national sport? It has to be football surely, hundreds of thousands of people streaming through turnstiles every week to fill the stadiums? Wrong. Ok maybe tennis at a push, very popular again, Argentine players litter the top 100 rankings. No, try again.

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Before cowboys roamed the American West, Hungary’s Csikós were riding horseback across the Puszta. We met the whip-cracking father and son keeping the tradition alive.

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The Badass Women Of The Nomad Games

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From ladies loosing arrows at full gallop to grandmas rocking up to the venue on yaks, here are some of the women wowing the crowds at the third World Nomad Games in the Kyrchyn Gorge, Kyrgyzstan.

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Diversities within Equestrian Uses:  Nationally and Internationally 

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Diversities within Equestrian Uses:  Nationally and Internationally 

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Welcome to your group padlet! On this site, you can share resources and ideas relating to the diverse range of uses for the horse. Your resources can be academic or more casual.