The first day, M. Karl noted approvingly that Caspar showed clear improvement in his contact and obedience; we moved on to some more advanced exercises combining shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in on curves and straight lines, with high neck and extended neck, collecting and lengthening.

The second session of the Instructor’s Course of Philippe Karl’s École de Légèreté once again drew dozens of people from all over North America to the Adderson Family’s equestrian centre, ‘For the Horse’, in Chase, BC. The atmosphere was cordial, with auditors returning as well as some attending for the first time.

The first instruction day, the eight participants’ lessons were a full hour. The students described how they had been practicing since the last session, and M. Karl observed them working their horses before proceeding to build upon the previous work. After the lessons, all attended a detailed, yet entertaining, lecture, complete with anecdotes and diagrams drawn by M. Karl himself.
The sessions of the second day were followed by a potluck supper and party, the sessions of the third day were followed by another lecture. During the lectures, M. Karl showed his extensive knowledge of theory, anatomy, bio-mechanics, ethology, and riding culture.

The fourth day consisted of two sets of two group lessons: before lunch, lessons of four riders each, practicing the material covered in the course so far; and after lunch, lessons of four riders each, practicing jumping gymnastics. Afterward, students attended a lecture and ‘wrap-up session’ to answer any questions and to discuss homework to be studied before the third session to come in October.
It was fascinating to see how the horse/rider pairs had progressed since the last session, and how M. Karl’s approach varied according to each horse’s strengths and weaknesses. The jumping lessons were naturally entertaining and M. Karl’s expertise and eye were again made plain as he designed the gymnastic and guided the riders to their optimal effort.

Caspar (Favory Fantasia III-1) handled the clinic situation much better than the previous April, although there is still room for improvement. Unfortunately, we suffered some extremely bad luck: Caspar unloaded from the trailer with a nasal mucus discharge and a cough. He still showed normal appetite and energy, so we carried on with the clinic, although we tried to keep everything at a low intensity.

The first day, M. Karl noted approvingly that Caspar showed clear improvement in his contact and obedience; we moved on to some more advanced exercises combining shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in on curves and straight lines, with high neck and extended neck, collecting and lengthening.

The second day was slightly frustrating for me because Caspar was very distracted and tense, and we were unable to do very much, compared with the day before. Also, I was not feeling well, so I skipped the party that evening.

On the third day, I made an extra effort to help Caspar stay relaxed and focussed: early in the morning before the lesson began, I walked Caspar around the property, and played circus games with him. Then during the lunch break I took extra time to play longeing and circus games in the indoor arena with him before our lesson began. The games paid off, and Caspar gave a really good effort during the lesson, and we made more progress. We continued the exercises from the first day, and added trot-reinback transitions to our repertoire. These will be used later during piaffe training, but at this stage this is valuable for maintaining obedience and balance.
On the fourth day, Caspar and I participated in the first group lesson, which consisted of two stallions and two mares. I was again pleased with Caspar’s effort and we received many compliments. I was disappointed to have to skip the jumping lesson- it was a lot of fun- but it was unfortunately necessary since Caspar was not completely healthy.

Our homework, building upon the work from the first session: continue work in hand and flexion exercises; continue practicing the neck extension at halt/walk/trot/canter, but alternate this with high neck position with an open poll; practice changing the balance from true bend to counter-bend; frequently test Caspar’s balance and attention with the transitions and by changing between high and long neck positions; exercises should include shoulder-in, counter shoulder-in, travers and weekly gymnastic jumping.

In this session, one message emphasised by M. Karl is that a thinking trainer must ride the horse as he is on that day; it is of no use to be dogmatic in one’s approach. During the warm-up period of every lesson, the rider evaluates the horse’s suppleness, obedience, and mood, and adjusts accordingly. The rider is always training the mind of the horse first, his body second; a characteristic of horses trained in M. Karl’s method is that the horses learn very quickly, so that the riders must wait for the horses’ bodies to catch up with strength and fitness.

~Written By Sherry Leväaho
www.levaahoclassicalhorsemanship.com

Our training plan consisted of leadership exercises on the longe and in-hand (he described Caspar as being a dominant-type stallion); and flexions from the ground and while mounted to promote lateral and longitudinal flexibility, while keeping Caspar’s attention.

Dozens of equestrians converged upon the Adderson Family’s equestrian centre “For the Horse”, in the small town of Chase, BC to meet and learn from Philippe Karl during the first session of the École de Légèreté (School of Lightness) in North America. The evening before the session began, was a “Meet the Master” evening, at which M. Karl presented a lecture, and then answered questions from the audience and signed books.

The first instruction day, participants’ lessons were a full hour, during which M. Karl observed the students and their mounts, rode/worked in hand each horse, and diagnosed the pair’s strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for the rest of the work during this session.

On the second and third days, 45-minute lessons were building upon the work of the first day, and included longeing techniques, work in hand and riding. The lessons on both days were followed by a two-hour lecture, during which M. Karl showed his extensive knowledge of theory, anatomy, bio-mechanics, ethology, and riding culture. (He also has some talent as an artist, and drew many illustrations and diagrams.)

The fourth day had been scheduled as jumping lessons in two groups, but M. Karl abandoned this plan, explaining that the horses and riders were insufficiently prepared. Instead, the students rode in three group lessons of three horse-rider pairs each, grouped according to the specific issues and exercises the riders were working on. These lessons were followed by another lecture, part of which was devoted to discussion of questions posed by the audience.
It was extremely interesting to see M. Karl’s method producing positive results on horses of many different types, with riders, nearly all professional, of different backgrounds. M. Karl proved himself to be an engaging, articulate speaker and never stopped teaching the rider or the audience. He was frank and direct in his correction and criticism, but he also liberally used humour, without humiliating anyone.

As for me and Caspar (Favory Fantasia III-1), M. Karl had us working on our basics. Although Caspar travelled in the trailer well enough, he is an inexperienced traveller, and the trip to a strange place, surrounded by strange horses, and being ridden in an indoor arena (with mirrors) proved to be very disturbing for him. Although he did nothing really bad, we were unable to show any of the work we have been doing at home. M. Karl pointed out that when a horse is in a stressful situation, one can see the true level of training achieved (the truth hurts!). He diagnosed Caspar’s major difficulties as a high set-on neck combined with a somewhat long back, and a lack of obedience. He speculated that Caspar might show talent for pesade.

So, our training plan consisted of leadership exercises on the longe and in-hand (he described Caspar as being a dominant-type stallion); and flexions from the ground and while mounted to promote lateral and longitudinal flexibility, while keeping Caspar’s attention. But the cornerstone exercise was the rein effect designed to provoke neck extension and lowering with an open poll, and to teach the horse to maintain a steady contact (M. Karl’s definition of “on the bit”: the horse constantly seeks to keep the reins stretched in a steady but light and lively contact, no matter the position of the rider’s hands); Caspar has a tendency to curl up behind the bit. We performed this exercise at halt, walk, trot, and canter. This was very challenging to achieve, as it demanded constant attention, balance and suppleness from me, but it was dramatically effective. Not only was it effective physically, in that it opposed all hollowing of the back, but mentally as well, as it provoked Caspar into assuming an attitude conducive to attention and obedience.
I was extremely gratified to leave this session with this technique, because I feel as though it is the piece of my training puzzle I had been seeking. It will be the key that will open all sorts of training doors for me. So, I have homework to practice before the July session: the leadership exercises on the longe and in hand; the flexions in-hand and under saddle; the neck-extension exercise at all three gaits, particularly during transitions; and shoulder-in at walk and trot in neck extension. I should keep the shoulder-in at a shallower angle and at rising trot to encourage him to stay round. (Interestingly, M. Karl was able to explain in logical detail the reasons for selecting a certain diagonal pair of legs on which to rise at the trot, and the effect it has on the horse’s balance- yet another simple yet powerful tool for training.)

M. Karl’s method is characterised by a demand that the rider/trainer be respectful of the horse’s essential nature and use non-violent training methods, eschewing all auxiliary reins and training gadgets. This requires a thinking trainer, which is able to educate his mind and hands, and influence his horse’s balance in order to teach it how to dance.

~Written By Sherry Leväaho
www.levaahoclassicalhorsemanship.com

Philippe Karl working with "Caspar" - a Lipizzan stallion owned by Sherry Levaaho.

This April I will take another step on my journey toward artistry in horsemanship. My partner is my Lipizzan stallion, Caspar (Favory Fantasia III-1).

My name is Sherry Leväaho, and I operate a boarding and training stable in Delta, British Columbia, Canada with my husband and trainer, Veli-Juhani Leväaho. (Our website: www.levaahoclassicalhorsemanship.com) I have been fortunate to find a coach (who became my husband) to guide me to the world of academic horsemanship, and give me the tools to aspire to lightness. I found the horse of my dreams five years ago; I bought Caspar when I was pregnant with our first child, and started him before I became pregnant with our second. While pregnant the second time, I started playing around with circus gym, with the advice of one of Veli’s clients, Jutta Wiemers. The circus-type games have been beneficial, especially when I struggle with finding time to do everything. Caspar will be nine years old this summer, and we are growing together into a satisfying partnership.

Last summer, Veli and I learned that the French master, Philippe Karl, had agreed to conduct a Teacher’s Course of his School of Légèreté in North America, and only about six hours’ drive away! I applied, and then learned that I was one of nine applicants accepted. The course, beginning in April of 2011, consists of three four-day clinics per year, for three years, followed by examinations at the beginning of the fourth year. The course will cover the following: individual dressage training; work in hand, at the longe, and on long reins; jumping; quadrille; theory; and pedagogy.

Participants that are successful in the examinations will be awarded diplomas and the right to teach according to the School of Légèreté.

I look forward to providing updates on the course and our progress over the next three years. For more information about M. Karl, his philosophy, publications, and advocacy, visit his website at www.philippekarl.com. For more information about the North American Teacher’s Course, visit www.forthehorse.com.

~Written By Sherry Leväaho
www.levaahoclassicalhorsemanship.com

We recommend a combination of deworming with the most effective products available and testing manure for presence of parasite eggs.

We recommend a combination of deworming with the most effective products available and testing manure for presence of parasite eggs.Worms can develop a resistance to one de-wormer if it is given all of the time or if you underdose the horse. Traditionally we have done this by rotating de-wormers. Ask us about a rotation schedule.

Better yet, doing fecal exams to look for worm eggs in manure samples is the best way to tell if your program is working. Testing for worm eggs will also detect the horses that harbour the most worms and shed the most eggs. Often this may only be one or two in a herd. Deworming these more often and the others less often is a viable way to cut your costs and slow down development of resistance.

Worms thrive in moist, warm environments and are more active reproductively at this time of year so you must get serious about de-worming all of your horses in the spring and summer.

If your horse absolutely hates being de-wormed, take an old syringe, wash it out and fill it with something yummy like applesauce or molasses and water. Squirt this in your horse’s mouth every once in a while. Soon, he might not mind being de-wormed so much.

If you haven’t de-wormed your horse in a while, cut down on his hard feed (pellets, sweet feed) the day before, the day of and the day after his de-worming. The de-wormer may kill a lot of worms which could get stuck in his intestines. You don’t want large quantities of digested feed getting stuck behind the worm blockage because this causes colic.

When you use a paste de-wormer, put the syringe in the corner of your horse’s mouth and aim for the back of his tongue. Squirt the paste in one quick motion, making sure that your horse’s mouth is empty before administering. After squirting the de-wormer paste into your horse’s mouth, hold his head up for a moment to make sure he doesn’t spit it right out!

Horse de-wormer can make a dog really sick, so make sure you clean up any spilt paste and throw syringes away after they are used.

Mature horses should get a thorough dental exam at least once a year, and horses 2 -5 years old should be examined twice yearly.

It is important to catch dental problems early. If a horse starts behaving abnormally, dental problems should be considered as a potential cause. Waiting too long may increase the difficulty of remedying certain conditions or may even make remedy impossible. Look for the following indicators of dental problems from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to know when to seek veterinary attention for your horse:

Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or excessive salivation.
Loss of body condition.
Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole grain) in manure.
Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting the bit, or resisting bridling.
Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking.
Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from the mouth.
Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw or mouth tissues.

Oral exams should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian. Every dental exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. Mature horses should get a thorough dental exam at least once a year, and horses 2 -5 years old should be examined twice yearly.

Those horses that are vaccinated regularly may still get a mild case of the flu in an outbreak compared to those that are not.
If your horse is so far in the clear, administering a booster shot of Flu/Rhino would be a good thing!

FAQ’s regarding Equine Influenza

1. Is my horse protected? Having the Flu/Rhino vacciantion administered at a minimun of every 6 months should help keep it away but like all Flu’s, there continues to be new strains.
2. How contagious is the Flu? Horses that are exposed to others that are affected with influenza are fairly likely to come down with the flu themselves if they have not been properly vaccinated. Even secondary exposure via unaffected horses that have been exposed to horses with the flu can result in disease in unprotected horses.
3. Should I stay away from all events/competitions? No, go have fun but take some precautions. Vaccinate horses that are out with others, and minimize exposure to other horses at the show. Don’t share buckets, stalls, grooming equipment etc. Use common sense.
4. As a barn owner, how strict should I be with the movement of horses in and out of my barn? Requiring vaccination for horses coming in or leaving to shows etc would be a good first step. Quarantine of new horses for a couple of weeks is also prudent. Keeping the frequent travellers apart from the others as much as possible can also help to minimize transmission of viruses to other horses.

Planning for the wet season ahead!

Nothing worse than not being prepared for the change of season, gone are those lovely long days of summer and into the dreary days of winter…yes, already!

Time to clean the winter blankets and treat them, Thompson’s Water Deck Seal works best (the ‘water based’ one and spray on with a squirt bottle!). May have to repair that rain sheet also before you know, it will be needed!

Repair stalls from those nasty drafts that develope over time and get some good drainage rock where the ground gets too mucky during the rainy season (that’s all the time here!).

Hopefully you were able to stock up a bit on the local hay that actually came off the fields this year, finding it during the winter is always a drag….and expensive!

~Hermen Geertsema Equine Services Inc.
‘Striving for excellence in veterinary care’

If you are considering buying horse, it cannot be emphasized too strongly that you should have it examined by a veterinarian.

A buyer may not consider this necessary when the seller can produce a recent certificate of such an examination, but nevertheless the best plan is to obtain an independent opinion because the horse may not have shown symptoms of a serious defect previously.

Should the buyer wish to have the horse on trial, they must remember that nothing must be done to the horse such as removing the mane or replacing the shoes (even if those the horse is wearing require removal) until they have made up their mind whether to retain or return, because should they do so, it constitutes “purchase” and legally the seller is entitled to refuse return.

The buyer must understand that, from the stand point of the veterinarian, the horse can only be classified as suitable or unsuitable for purchase. The veterinary certificate will list the defects detected in the horse and will offer an opinion on the significance of the fault in relation to the purpose for which the horse is to be used. i.e. racing, dressage, jumping, or breeding.

Very often a prospective buyer may have noticed a particular vice and they should always mention this to the veterinarian because some vices or habits are not always visible at the time of the pre-purchase exam. You should also remember that a vet certificate does not indicate freedom from a vice. Nevertheless, the seller is under obligation to disclose to the buyer any vice or bad habit that is within his knowledge as failure to do so can nullify the transaction and horse can be returned.

Traditionally the maxim caveat emptor has been the rule of the law and a party who has bought a defective horse has no remedy, unless there is evidence either of express warranty or of fraud. In the general sale of a horse the stellar only warrants it to be an animal of the description it appears to be and nothing more; if the purchaser makes no inquiries to its qualities and turns out to be unfit for its use, he cannot recover against the seller. Veterinarians are expected to explain and record any medical abnormalities/concerns revealed while performing the exam but they are not, however, guaranteeing the soundness of the horse.

To help protect your horse from knocking himself while riding and popping a splint, invest in a good pair of splint boots.

The term splint is the colloquial name for a bony enlargement of one of the small metacarpal or metatarsal bones. A splint may develop for a variety of reasons. In the young horse it most frequently occurs as a sequel to the slight tearing of the interosseous ligament between the splint bone and cannon bone. This also results in lifting of the periosteum to which the interosseous is attached. The damage to the interosseous ligament occurs because of relative movements between the splint and cannon bones. Thus there is inflammation of the interosseous ligament and the periosteum causing pain and soft tissue swelling. Some calcification occurs and new bone is produced beneath the elevated periosteum, and ultimately a firmer union between the splint bone and cannon bone develops. Poor conformation such as bench knees and improper trimming of the foot resulting in the foot being placed unevenly to the ground rather then flatly, predispose to the development of splints. Incorrect proportions of calcium and phosphorous in the diet favor inflammation of splints. A splint may also develop as a sequel to trauma to the bone such as a kick. If the horse moves very closely the damage may be self inflicted, the narrow chested horse which toes-in being particularly prone. Trauma to the bone results in heamorrhage beneath the periosteum, lifting it away from the bone surface. This stimulates new bone production. There will also be soft tissue inflammation. As mentioned above, although splints occur in both front and hind limbs, the incidence in front limbs is much higher.

Treatment of splints:

For treatment, the aim is to reduce inflammation and thus relieve any pain. Rest is essential, confined turn out and even stall rest may be necessary. Anti infamatory drugs such as bute may be administered by mouth, or at the site of the splint. Corticosteriods may be injected around the splint or DMSO may be applied to the overlaying skin and will be absorbed through it. Whether or not anti-inflammatory drugs are used, the horse must be given enough time and this usually implies six weeks rest, sometimes longer is necessary. If the horse returns to work too early, the chances of re-aggravating the problem is high. Once the acute inflammation has subsided, the ultimate size of the swelling will depend on how much new bone has been produced. The new bone tends to remodel and will eventually decrease in size. One must remember that the visual swelling is not just bony. There is overlaying fibrous tissue which contributes to the size of the swelling. Some horses seem more prone to production of excessive amounts of new bone and occasionally the splint may interfere with the normal function of the suspensory ligament. In these circumstances surgical removal of the splint may be necessary.

To protect your horse from knocking himself while riding and popping a splint, invest in a good pair of splint boots. At the end of the day, splints don’t typically ever go away but they do get smaller. They usually don’t affect the overall soundness of a horse and are considered more of a “blemish” then an unsoundness.

Provided that the horse is not lame, then seedy toe can be managed by the farrier by careful trimming of the foot. Gradually the defect should simply grow out.

Thrush:

Thrush is a degenerative condition of the frog which results in the accumulation of black, foul smelling, moist material in the frog clefts. In the early stages, the horse is sound. If the condition is allowed to progress and extends into sensitive tissues the horse may become lame. The condition usually develops due to poor hygiene, failure to clean the feet regularly and leaving the horse standing in dirty, moist conditions. A horse with deep clefts is particularly susceptible. Horses with long toes and contracted heels will tend to develop frog clefts.

The treatment of thrush in horses is to eliminate the cause, to clean the foot thoroughly and to control any infection. The frog and frog clefts must be aggressively trimmed to remove all loose dead tissue. The foot should be thoroughly scrubbed with a dilute iodine solution. An antibiotic spray should be applied to the affected tissues. This will help to dry and harden them. The feet must be cleaned and treated daily until the thrush is resolved. The horse should stand on a clean, dry bed.

Seedy Toe or Separation of The Wall:

Separation may occur at the white line. The separation is usually greatest at the sole and becomes progressively less higher up the wall. If the separation occurs at the toe, it’s called seedy toe. The zone of separation is filled with dry, dead, cheesy like material. It is often seen in horses who’s toes have been allowed to grow too long. it does not cause lameness unless infection occurs or there is severe instability of the attachment of the wall to the foot resulting in inflammation of the sensitive laminae.

The cause of seedy toe is not properly understood. Provided that the horse is not lame, then the condition can be managed by the farrier by careful trimming of the foot. Gradually the defect should simply grow out. The toes should be kept short because the tip of the toe tends to act as a lever and may increase separation between the laminae.

Hoof Wall Cracks (Sandcracks)

Vertical cracks in the hoof wall either develop from the lower, baring surface of the wall and extend upwards (grasscrack) or develop at the coronary band and extend downwards (sandcrack). Sandcracks develop as a result of injury to the coronary band so that the secretory function of the horn producing cells is impaired either temporarily or permanently. The length of the sandcrack reflects the severity of the injury. If the cells permanently lose function, there will be a permanent crack down the length of the wall. If the cells recover function, then the crack will grow out slowly, at a rate of approx. 1 cm per month. Cracks developing at the baring surface of the wall are usually the result of the foot being overgrown and splintering. Some feet seem particularly prone.

Cracks which are superficial usually require no treatment other then regular, careful trimming of the foot. Applying a shoe can help stabilize the crack. If a deep crack becomes infected, then the infection must be controlled before and attempt can be made to stabilize the crack. Cooperation between vet and farrier is essential.

If it's in your blood to love horses...

We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle. Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return. Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion. In the end, we’re not certain if God entrusts us to our horses–or our horses to us. Does it matter? We’re grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place. -Author Unknown