McLain Ward On Top Following First Round of the Budweiser World Cup
Las Vegas, NV- April 17, 2003 – McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, riding Viktor, owned by Ward and Harry Gill, won the first round of Budweiser World Cup 2003, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday evening. Malin Baryard of Sweden finished second riding H&M Butterfly Flip owned by Christina Larsson. Three time World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil finished third on Baloubet Du Rouet owned by Diago Pereira Coutinho. Ward, one of the fourteen riders representing the United States had one rail down in the speed class, but was able to maintain the lead with his lightning fast time of 68.73. In this type of class, faults are converted into seconds giving the pair a final score of 72.73. Baryard finished without any jumping faults, but at a slower time placing her in second place with a time of 74.05.
“This is only the start,” said Ward. “There are long days ahead. Thankfully he’s a great horse. I made some small mistakes, but he bailed me out.”
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11th Annual Brookhill Steeplechase on Saturday May 3, 2003 in Clayton, NC
The Raleigh Jaycees present the eleventh annual Brookhill Steeplechase on Saturday May 3, 2003 at Brookhill Farm in Clayton, NC. This annual horseracing event attracts over 12,000 spectators and Steeplechasing’s finest and highest-acclaimed horses and trainers. Gates open at 10am.
Gates open at 10a.m. Activities include Brookhill's annual Hat and Tailgate contests with grand prizes including airline tickets anywhere in the United States, Canada or Caribbean on American Airlines, the new College Park Entertainment area featuring bands Fat Head Otis and Big Bertha, and Brookhill's Children's area featuring moonwalk, storytellers, crafts and much more.
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Equine Photographers Network Spring Workshop
Chincoteague, Virginia, May 15-18, 2003
The international group, Equine Photographers Network, www.equinephotographers.net, is sponsoring a Spring Workshop to further its overall goal: to encourage professional development and enhance career opportunities for the Equine Photographer. A Members Only Retreat is planned for members of the Equine Photographers Network followed by a day to educate and delight all photographers and horse lovers.
FREE business education to all photographers in all genres provided by Outreach EP, a program of the group Editorial Photographers ( www.editorialphoto.com ) EP is more than 3500 working photographers, students, and educators nationwide, including some of the best known names in the business, whose goal is to explain the benefits, and encourage the use, of sound business practices among creatives in an effort to save our profession.
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Garden State Horse Show Remembers Dr. Robert C. Rost With Donation To Branchville Fire House
AUGUSTA, NJ—April 15, 2003— In addition to their regular contribution to Centenary College and its scholarship fund, this year The Garden State Horse Show, held April 30 – May 4 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ, will also be making a donation to the Branchville Hose Company #1 in memory of Dr. Robert C. Rost.
Dr. Rost, a long time resident of Branchville and a member of the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company from 1959 to 1972, was an integral part of the Garden State “family” of judges and course designers. Rost, one of the first professional course designers in the United States, was also influential in the use of metal jump cups, wing standards, measured distances, and electric timers. His absence will be sorely missed by everyone at the Garden State Horse Show.
What many people in the horse community may not have known about Dr. Rost was his participation in the volunteer fire company, a relationship that was strong in the early years. In the later years his veterinary practice grew and kept him answering calls while the horse shows often drew him to different parts of the country.
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Establishing a Proper Relationship with Equines :Part IV: Confidence
TRUST : RESPECT : CONFIDENCE : COMMUNICATION : UNDERSTANDING
One of the most fascinating stories I've heard has been passed down through the ages about a young man named Alexander and a young, frightened horse named Bucephalus. As the story goes, it was the custom in the days of old for the breeders of horses to bring their best stock to the courtyards of royalty to be considered for purchase. The courtiers of the court would ride the horses as the prospective buyers observed. On one such occasion at the court of Phillip of Macedonia, one of the young stallions, Bucephalus, seemed very anxious and inattentive. The courtiers proclaimed him to be unrideable. Young Alexander, who was the son of Phillip of Macedonia, proclaimed that he could ride the horse and wanted him for his own. No one present believed that the young man could ride the nervous horse, but figured that Alexander might learn a good lesson by trying.Everyone present watched in amazement as the young Alexander lead the horse away from the shadow that was the cause of his apprehension, and then mounted him and rode him back into that same shadow. Years later, Alexander the Great rode this same horse to victory over his enemies in many battles. The horse, Bucephalus became famous and had a town named after him. How wonderful it would have been to watch as this young man gave a lesson to the older, more experienced horsemen. It is no wonder that throughout history many great leaders have also been greathorsemen.
Alexander the Great was successful in his endeavor because he believed in himself and in the horse's ability to overcome its fears. He did not act foolishly by jumping on the horse's back immediately but instead made a sensible plan by evaluating the situation. Alexander determined the cause of the animals fear, the shadow. He then took the horse from the source of his fear, taught the horse to face his fear and then to overcome it. His accomplishment on that fateful day did not require brilliance. It did require desire, determination, careful thought and planning to turn a negative experience into a positive one.
The opposite of confidence is insecurity. Insecurity is born out of a lack of positive experience in a given situation, combined with negative thought or
imagery. It is easy enough to just say that one should simply get over it and replace the negative thoughts with positive. If we could only make that
substitution and not just cover over the apprehension, we could easily overcome our fears. A more practical approach would be to understand that the probability of the worst happening is not very realistic. We can then set aside the negative thoughts and fears, focus on a positive outcome and mentally create a plan to minimize the danger. In this way we can project confidence in our self and to the animal we are working with and create a positive experience. If on the other hand we choose to dwell on our fear, we will most likely create an even worse situation.
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