Tag: magazine article

Flying Horses

Here’s the rest of Rachael Kraft’s fascinating article. Just think about how horses are transported around the world for shows and races the next time you’re coaxing one into your trailer.  I’ve met a few transporters on the Black Stallion movies, which was very interesting for me, but only one small job on their list. You can imagine the responsibility of moving multimillion dollar horses from one race to the next! Movie stars – no big deal!
Always more to see & do at ;   www.theBlackStallion.com

And now for the rest of the story …

 Traveling inStyle

By: Rachael Kraft *Representative of Double D Trailers:  Horse Trailer Manufacturer since 1997 with emphasis on research, design, product improvement and horse safety through creation of safer technologies. Owned by Brad Heath.

For humans, we have the choice of car or truck…train or bus…economy or first class.  Wherever we go, we’d like to get there quickly, comfortably, and without a lot of hassle.   Some horses travel just as much or more than the typical person and they have the added challenge of weighing close to a ton!  Whether the horse is an elite athlete, a show performer or a beloved pet, they still have the ability to travel in style.

In the horse world, the most recent example of horses traveling in style is the group of talented three-year-olds competing in this year’s Triple Crown.  This prestigious set of three grueling races starts in the rolling hills of bluegrass state with the Kentucky Derby.  The horse Orb gave us a thrilling victory at the 2013 race and many hoped he would be a three-win contender.  His hopes were dashed when he was defeated at the second race, The Preakness, held at Pimlico Racetrack in Maryland.  Only one more race remained, and fans across the nation were eagerly awaiting the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 8 where Orb got a chance to meet his rival Oxbow in the 1 1/2 mile challenge. 

Many spectators forget what a terrific challenge the Triple Crown is for a young horse.  After all, they are only three-years-old.  In many other horse disciplines, a horse this young would barely be starting the training for their sport.  For a racehorse, they are expected to be at their very best.  Each of the races is a physical and mental stress on the animal and there are only days between each of the races.  In addition, the horses need to travel hundreds of miles, settle into a new stable, and prepare on a new racetrack. 

It’s not surprising that Orb’s trainer, Shug McGaughey considered not racing his colt in the Belmont after a fourth place finish at the Preakness.  Lucky for us, he announced that his colt would definitely race on Saturday.  He made this decision after Orb ran a good workout last Sunday morning1.  In the end, the exciting showdown between Orb and Oxbow didn’t matter.  A 15-1 longshot named Palace Malice beat them both to the wire!  Oxbow came in 2nd and Orb came in 3rd.  Nothing is every predictable in the world of horseracing. 

Picture1_OrbArrives

Derby winner Orb arrives at Pimlico for Preakness5.

A question still remains.  Just how do elite racehorses travel from state to state to compete?  Is it possible that you passed a world-class racehorse while traveling the interstate?  In short…yes.  For most racehorses, they travel in plush horse vans or trucks that travel on the highways.  These vehicles have many of the same features as regular horse trailers, but are often air ride equipped to provide an extra smooth ride.  The long trailers will have wide doors, low ramps, extra storage space, excellent ventilation and feature some high-tech amenities. Drivers will use two-way radios and GPS to find their destination while using closed circuit cameras to monitor their equine passengers8.  All of this effort is taken so that the racehorse can arrive at the track in top shape to prepare for their race.

Racehorses aren’t the only equines that travel hundreds of miles by road.  Meet the Budweiser Clydesdales.  These beautiful teams of draft horses travel the country to make appearances at parades and sporting events.  During their demonstrations, eight breath-taking animals pull an immense red cart full of products to be delivered.  The team is driven by two handlers and overseen by a sturdy Dalmatian dog.  These cart horses show their great strength and agility by maneuvering the cart and even “parking” it at an imaginary loading bay.  It is truly a treat to see them on display. 

Three teams of ten horses each travel the country to put on demonstrations.  They perform at a new destination each week, which means a great deal of time on the road.  In order to keep the horses happy and healthy, the horse handlers limit their travel to 500 miles a day and stop for breaks every two to three hours.  “If it’s going to be a longer haul than that we’ll find an overnight along the way to stop,” said horse handler Dave Thomas.  “We won’t haul more than two days in a row; if it’s longer than a two-day trip then we’ll have a rest day built in. 6”

The horses are frequently checked to avoid the main health concern – colic.  Luckily, Thomas said severe bouts of colic are rare.  “We’re pretty careful.  That’s one of the main reasons we try not to drive over 500 miles a day.  We don’t (want to) stress them out.”  Once they arrive at their destination, the horses are turned out or taken for walks.  They even have a special sled for the horses to pull for some exercise6.

The Budweiser Clydesdale trailer is hard to miss.  It is a massive red tractor-trailer with an image of the Clydesdales prancing across the side.  The trailer needs to carry ten draft horses, the crew, portable stalls, grooming supplies, basic vet supplies, and shoeing supplies.  Grain, hay, and shavings are shipped ahead to their destination.  They carry anything that you would need to care for a horse when you’re on the road 10-11 months of the year.  Watch a video interview with Dave Thomas here (http://www.thehorse.com/videos/31711/budweiser-clydesdales-whats-in-the-trailer) 6.

Budweiser Clydesdales

TimesBudweiser employee Brady Bardin of Booneville, Miss. leads one of the Budweiser

Clydesdale horses out of its trailer outside Fabiano Brothers Inc. in Michigan7.

For even longer trips, horses cannot be transported by road and must take to the skies.  The mighty Breeder’s Cup race features many horses from other countries who travel in planes to reach the event.  “They travel first-class,” said Chris Santarelli.  “They each want their own stall.”  Santarelli is the treasurer of the Mersant International Ltd., which is the official transport coordinator for the Breeder’s Cup2.

 “It is a major undertaking,” Chris Burke explained. Burke is the co-owner and operator for International Racehorse Transport, which files 5,000 horses each year.  “Each air stable can hold three horses. So if you were traveling from Australia to England, three to a stall is the equivalent of economy ($17,500), two to a stall is business class ($30,000), and one horse on its own is first class ($50,000)3.”

Picture3_HorseBoardingJetstall

A horse is shown here entering their jet stall for a trip aboard a plane.4

The horses don’t usually have problems with the flight.  “A racehorse is usually a very disciplined animal,” says Andrea Branchini, manager of Horse America Inc.  “He will travel very well.  It will go up a ramp.  It will go into a stall on a plane. 2”  This is not to say that all of the horses are calm, cool and collected.  “When you have some two-year-olds racing, you do tend to get horses that have never traveled to America.  You worry a bit about hose horses in flight,” said Santerelli.2

The horses are under constant surveillance while in the sky.  Grooms check them frequently to make sure they are not showing signs of dehydration or restlessness.  They are given plenty of water and hay.  Handlers regularly check horses’ pulses and make sure they are eating and drinking enough.

Picture4_HorseInPlane

A horse in his jet stall while on board a plane4.

Each horse carries a passport that contains information about their coloring and identifying features.  The passport also contains their inoculation record.  For the Breeder’s Cup horses, once they reach Churchill Downs, they are put under a 42-hour quarantine to check for a normal temperature and blood tests for four diseases:  glanders, piroplasmosis, equine infectious anemia, and dourine2.  When they are given the all-clear they are ready to leave quarantine to prepare for the race.

Since it seems like such a hassle, you might wonder why an owner would bother to transport their horses such long distances for competitions?  For racehorse owners, the prestige of winning internationally can boost a horses breeding value after they leave the track3. For other horses, special events like the Olympics, Rolex Three-Day Event, and World Equestrian Games will draw international competitors.

Click here (http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2012/03/08/how-do-you-ship-a-horse-to-the-olympics/)  to see an excellent video of horses being transported to the 2010 Horse World Cup in Las Vegas9.

For the average horseperson, we don’t have any upcoming plans of taking wild cross country road trips or traveling internationally to compete.  Still, your horse deserves every bit of concern and care as these elite athletes and performers.  That is why is extremely important to find a horse trailer that has the best safety features for your horse.  DoubleD Trailers is an excellent example of a company that provides fantastic horse trailers (http://www.doubledtrailers.com/Horse_Trailer_Models.htm) to transport your horse.  They provide many different models to fit your individual needs10.  Whether it be in a trailer, horse van, or in a plane, it can be certain that horses can truly travel in style.

SOURCES:

1.  Bien, Louis.  SBNation.  Belmont Stakes 2013: Orb to run last leg of Triple Crown. Jun 2 2013. Available:  http://www.sbnation.com/2013/6/2/4388486/2013-belmont-stakes-news-orb-running

2. Laidman, Jenni.  Louisville Magazine.  Flying horses: How foreign race horses get to Churchill Downs [Breeders’ Cup].  Nov 4 2010.  Available:  http://www.louisville.com/content/flying-horses-how-foreign-race-horses-get-churchill-downs-breeders-cup

3. McKenzie, Sheena.  CNN.  Flying high: From ‘cattle-class’ to ‘horse-class’.  March 22 2013.  Available:  http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/22/sport/air-travel-race-horse-flying-class 

4.  Image:  Robinson, Philip.  DailyMailUK. Welcome to Horse Air – how the world’s most elite horses are transported.  Accessed June 4 2013.  Available:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2131554/Queens-Diamond-Jubilee-Welcome-Horse-Air–worlds-elite-horses-transported.html

5. Image:  WCMH-News. Derby winner Orb arrives at Pimlico for Preakness – Available:  www.nbc4i.com

6. Larson, Erica.  TheHorse.com. Caring for the Budweiser Clydesdales.  April 23 2013.  Available:  http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31736/caring-for-the-budweiser-clydesdales?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=04-23-2013

7.  Image:  TimesBudweiser employee Brady Bardin of Booneville, Miss. leads one of the Budweiser Clydesdale horses out of its trailer outside Fabiano Brothers Inc. in Monitor Township on Tuesday.  Accessed June 4 2013.  Available:  http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/05/mid-michigan_evening_links_bud.html 

8.  Elite Horse Transport.  Accessed June 4 2013.  Available:  http://elitehorsetransport.com/

9.  Video:  Carlson, Dane.  How Do You Ship A Horse to the Olympics?  March 8 2012. Available:  http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2012/03/08/how-do-you-ship-a-horse-to-the-olympics/

10. Double D Trailers.  Accessed June 4 2013. http://www.doubledtrailers.com/Horse_Trailer_Models.htm 

“Houdini” the magic Horse – We’ll miss you!

HoudiniHorse3
Photography: Courtesy Bobby Lovgren

My friend and writer E. McCall just finished this interview with the fabulous Hollywood horse trainer Bobby Lovgren for the latest Cowboys & Indians magazine.
Bobby worked a lot with Corky Randall, head trainer on the Black Stallion movies, and Houdini was one of the “stars” in the “Zorro” movies and “Lone Ranger” among others. The Hollywood horse world is a tough business and anyone that can take the ups and downs, hurry up and waits and last minute changes deserves way more than the little wrangler / handler / trainer line somewhere hidden at the end of the credits. These guys and gals know how to get the best out of their horses and – ON CUE!!!

As the famous cowboy Roy Rogers once wrote; “Just as with human beings, so I believe it is a fact about horses; some are born to perform and some are not. When Trigger and I are about to ride into an arena, I can feel the surge of excitement run through him before the spotlight hits us. I am convinced he takes pride in his accomplishments and that he not only recognizes me but loves me… no two humans are alike, nor are two horses.”

I hope you enjoy this talk with a present day horseman and trainer, Bobby Lovgren,

Farewell Houdini: Veteran Hollywood Horse Often Played Horse Of A Different Color In Storied Career

BY ELIZABETH KAYE McCALL
Apr 11, 2013 – 08:01 AM

It will take time until Hollywood horse trainer Bobby Lovgren and family look back on March 27, 2013, as anything but the day Houdini died.  It also happened to be Lovgren’s 48th birthday. That morning, Lovgren made a quick trip to a studio in Los Angeles and picked up a saddle. He was driving home to his ranch in Acton, when his wife Wendy called, “Houdini is sick.”

An hour later, the Lovgrens made a difficult decision together with the two veterinarians called in.  The buckskin quarter horse gelding who’d made his mark in an elite cadre of Hollywood movie horses, now joined the ranks of those deceased.

Cowboys & Indians: What stands out about Houdini’s long career as an equine actor?

Bobby Lovgren: The biggest thing I can say about him, is that he was so much a part of our family. His very first big film was The Mask of Zorro [1998]. Corky Randall hired me on that. Houdini was Captain Love’s horse. I think that was one of two films where he was his own color — buckskin. Most of the time he was black, so he could double other horses. Houdini was such a confidence booster. I can’t even begin to remember all the actors that that he really babysat for, gave lessons to and things like that. This had nothing to do with my training. It was just the quality of the horse and his attitude. All my training did was enhance that.

C&I: How old was Houdini?

Lovgren: We got him in Lakeview Terrace from my horse shoer. I was told he was out of Dash for Cash, but I never got his papers. I think he was 12 when I got him. We never knew exactly. We think he was around 26 when he died, but he always acted like a 15-year-old horse or even younger, because he was always in shape. Obviously, the older Houdini got, I was very protective of what he did. He did the little specialty things. If it was difficult, I had a double for him.

C&I: Who are some of the actors who rode Houdini in his film career?

Lovgren: I think the biggest was on the second Zorro, The Legend of Zorro [2005]. Antonio Banderas rode Houdini the entire time through that.  We doubled him to look like a Friesian. We did a lot of the things at liberty with Antonio, which he really liked. I’d work Houdini on the whips [like a conductor leading an orchestra] and Antonio would ride. That’s how we got his riding much better. Although he rode very well to begin with, he really enjoyed doing that with Houdini. We would work Houdini and I’d take the bridle off and work him loose with the Antonio on him. That’s how I give a lot of my lessons, actually. It gives them [actors] their balance much better. Those things are such confidence builders when you go into a project.  He gave that. Houdini actually had quite a big sequence in “The Lone Ranger.” I can’t say what he did yet because the movie hasn’t been released, but he has a really nice part in that.

C&I: Can you say what color he was, so we can look for him?
For the rest of the story click here

Enjoy the ride … for as long as you can!

Thanks to Hunter Hauk @ C&I – TF

Racing The Black

Happy New Year Story – Dogs, Horses and Hope – 2013

This is Amy Dixon’s wonderful life story that can inspire us all for 2013!

The Blind Sommalier

It’s hard to believe that a mere six years ago I was preparing for my annual trip to Ocala with my beloved eventer, Calico.  Blankets were washed, bodies were being clipped, my rig was tuned up, and endless hours of preparing for our dressage test were logged under saddle.  Fast forward to December 2012, and I’m navigating the sidewalk with my new 4-legged companion, Elvis, a yellow Labrador Retriever who now serves as my guide and my eyes.  We are traveling downhill towards the train station, en route to a meeting, and I give a half-halt on the rigid guiding harness to slow him down from our blistering pace.  “Easy”, I tell him soft and low.  I catch myself  sometimes saying, “whoa” or clucking to get him moving or refocused.  A bad habit, I tell myself, from more than three decades spent in the saddle riding eventers, showjumpers, and dressage horses.  I laugh out loud, happy that I sometimes make that mistake with Elvis, but a little melancholy for those days flying through the woods, watching the trees whiz by as we clear logs, stone walls, and large gates. Now even finding a door knob seems a major accomplishment, and making it safely across a busy intersection on foot is cause for a mini celebration with my trusty guide.

I was diagnosed with a rare eye disease in my early twenties, and was told that eventually it would lead to inevitable blindness.  My vision straight ahead was 20/20, but with each new attack of my disease, my field of vision would become narrower and narrower, eventually fading to nothingness.  Determined to live out my life’s dream of becoming a professional equestrian, I digested this diagnosis and went on with my life.  I had the good fortune of owning a scopey, brave Paint Thoroughbred/ Dutch Warmblood who was left to me by my father.  He was as green as could be, but I was relentless in my pursuit of perfection with him, and he obliged by being a willing, fun, and talented student.

My vision was in a constant state of ebb and flow, depending upon the lighting, my blood pressure, and a variety of factors.  I realized quickly that ‘riding by feel’ was not only important, it was essential to my safety and Calico’s.  I practiced daily over ground poles to compensate for my constantly changing depth-perception.  My ability to ‘feel” and not just “see” a distance to a fence made jumping natural obstacles in the woods effortless despite my vision impairment.  The only time I really struggled with my disease while riding was in the warm-up area, where riders and horses milled about in no apparent pattern.  In eventing, our warmups are usually in an open field with two single fences set up, so generally there’s lots of room for everyone.  At one particular event, I had the misfortune of literally bumping into my idol, Karen O’Connor.  She was competing against Calico and I on a young horse she was bringing along in the Open Training division.  I was busy focusing on my leg yields across the field, and managed to slam right into her and the lovely Bay Thoroughbred she was riding.  Horrified, I apologized, and quickly moved out of her way.  Again, I came across the diagonal, and this time accidently caught her leg with my dressage whip, to which she tersely but politely said, “I seem to be getting in your way,” with a smile as she trotted off to a more remote part of the field.  I stared desperately at my trainer, about to burst into tears with frustration and embarrassment.  Dean quickly trotted over to Karen and explained my impairment to her, at which she looked my way, tipped her hunt cap, and smiled.  “She is a class act all the way,” I thought to myself.

Read the rest (pdf) – Amy Dixon Blind Sommalier

A special THANKS! to Dr.Anna Marie and Todd who shot the video and sent it my way.

Don’t forget to drop us a line at Facebook or on the forum.

Enjoy the ride and Happy New Year! – tim and everyone @ Hopeful Farm.

… AND ONE MORE STORY!!!

Here’s an interesting article on the start of the Black Stallion Literacy Project (now known as Horse Tales Literacy Project).
It was published in Arabian Horse Magazine and is about how the program developed as a non-profit.

It’s about the most fun you can have (bringing horses, books and kids together) & we  hope you can experience – the experience at Horse Tales Literacy Project!

Too bad sister Alice and brother Steve have never been interested in, involved with or even seen my program in 12 years :( Guess that’s what livin’ for the city (NYC) will do to you, as Stevie Wonder sang way back when!!! You gotta take a look at this (with Ray Charles).

Whole article (pdf) Arabian Horse Magazine

Another Story

That’s what he said …. Aramco World Magazine!

This is one of the coolest magazines out there … all glossy, no ads and FREE!!! You really need to take a look – if not for Black Stallion, to learn about where we are in the Middle East part of life for a lot of Americans soldiers … and History. This magazine has fascinating articles you won’t see anywhere else.

Our story, from a few years back, but they still show “Black Stallion Returns”  on base someone wrote me not long ago. Enjoy the story and if you never saw the sequel you can find it HERE.

The whole story is here at Aramco (pdf)