Third Annual Colt Starting Challenge

On Saturday, October 19, 2013, SEFHA will host their 3rd Annual Colt Starting Challenge.

This contest features full-time horse training teams who work within a three-hour radius of Chatham, VA. While demonstrating natural horsemanship training, these professionals will take unbroken horses they have never seen before and transform them into relaxed, confident mounts. At the end of the day, the trainers and their equine “students” will compete in an obstacle course to determine the winner of the Colt Starting Challenge.

Click here to read a feature written about this year’s Colt Starting Challenge, published in the September/October 2013 edition of Horse Talk Magazine.

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2012 Census of Agriculture

If you received your Farm Census in the mail, please make sure you fill it out and send it back. It is our opportunity for our horses to count in Virginia!

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/index.php for more info.

Horses Too Reliant on Humans?

A French researcher has conducted tests that suggest domestic horses may be too reliant on humans.  You can read the story here.

While the results may be inconclusive based on the limited data generated, it’s no surprise that a domestic animal would lose some of its problem-solving abilities.  I imagine a wolf is better at finding food than an urban Cocker Spaniel.  And if you don’t intend to return the horse to the wild, it’s not really a big deal.

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Horse Slaughter Outlawed in New Jersey

New Jersey governor Chris Christie signed into law last week a ban on horse slaughter in the state.

“This bipartisan measure is a nod to our decency and respect for horses in our state, ensuring that no horse is slaughtered in New Jersey for human consumption,” Christie said.

You can read the whole story here.

Christie is the champion of smaller government and getting government off our backs, yet he felt the need to impose a governmental ban on something that isn’t even happening in New Jersey.  Perhaps a ban on pandering would be more helpful.

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Dinwiddie Woman Surrenders Ownership of Animals

DINWIDDIE – Sara Johnson forfeited ownership of numerous animals, including more than 40 horses, 19 dogs, six goats and two sheep, in General District Court on Monday.

Johnson, through her attorney Sue Kessler, agreed to surrender ownership of the animals, which have been seized in place, on her White Oak Road property in DeWitt until suitable locations for them to be placed are found.

Kessler told Judge John Dodson that her client didn’t “feel comfortable” with the one part of the agreement dictating that she must repay the county for the cost of caring for the animals until they are moved, specifically that an exact dollar figure was not listed in the agreement. However, Kessler and her client agreed to the drafted agreement.

Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Lisa Caruso said that as part of the agreement, Johnson acknowledges that the animals – 31 mare horses, 13 gelding horses, three stallion horses, seven male horses, two mare mini horses, two mare donkeys, one stallion donkey, one male mule, seven male dogs, five female dogs, 14 dogs of undetermined gender, six goats and two sheep – were not receiving adequate care.

As part of the agreement, Johnson will be allowed to care for the remaining animals on her property, but she waives her Fourth Amendment rights against search and seizure and will allow Dinwiddie County Animal Control officers, veterinarians and Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s deputies onto her property at any time to inspect the condition of the animals until they are moved.

Dinwiddie County Animal Control Chief Warden Deborah Broughton said that she’s pleased with the agreement. She added that the terms of the agreement necessitate Johnson’s assistance in caring for the animals due to the large number on the property.

“It’s very hard to control when you have to seize the animals in place,” Broughton said.

Caruso said she could not speculate on why Johnson was not caring for the animals, but said that it is clear that she wasn’t.

“That’s why we have this agreement,” Caruso said.

Cindy Smith, a founding member of the horse rescue group that Sara Johnson belonged to in 2010, Central Virginia Horse Rescue, said that she was shocked to learn of her friend’s situation. She said that she felt partly responsible for failing to intervene after Johnson sent her an email in January seeking support.

“She said she had too many horses and needed some help,” Smith said.

Smith receives three to five similar emails daily from around the region and across the state. Her return message asking for more information went unanswered.

“Sarah is a wonderful person, and I would have thought that she would have provided a better home for those horses,” she said. “She was one of the most well-meaning people I’ve ever met.”

Broughton said that the animals have been improving with the care they’ve been receiving since last Wednesday. Last week, Broughton said that some of the animals were extremely emaciated and scored the worst possible mark on a nine-point scale to gauge horse body condition and well being. The animals are being assessed daily and are being fed two to three times daily.

Johnson left court Monday afternoon in a white SUV with Virginia horse enthusiast license plates.

Caruso said that criminal charges haven’t been filed yet in the case, but didn’t rule out the possibility that they would be.

The case will return to General District Court for review on May 31.

– F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 3254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com. From http://www.progress-index.com

Horse Uses Facebook to Find a Home: Penny the Horse is Getting Social

• by Jessica O. Swink

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Penny the horse is hoping to harness the power of Facebook to find a new home.

The 18-to-20 year old quarter horse has been up for adoption through Suffolk Animal Control since spring 2011 after being seized by animal control officers for being severely underweight.

Veterinarians have evaluated Penny and have found nothing wrong with her, other than she’s a fast eater. Doctors say this is because of her past neglect.

The horse is said to have good manners and is looking for her forever home. Suffolk officials say she spends her time pastured with mares or geldings, and has been been good with goats, dogs and cats as well with no problems.

Penny is up-to-date on shots, Coggins, worming, dental work and farrier care and enjoys getting sprayed off with a hose to cool off.

Penny can be found on Facebook page or on YouTube.

More information on Penny can be received by calling the Suffolk Animal Control at 757-514-7888.

May 2, 2012

From http://www.wavy.com 

Bedford County Investigators Searching for Horse Slasher

Montvale, VA-Three horses in Montvale are on the mend after investigators say someone slashed their throats.

The horse’s owner Karen Sharpe says she can’t believe anyone would do something like this. Sharpe was boarding the horses at a relative’s house when the incident happened.

Sharpe’s little family of horses, Mary Jane, Roxy, and Rainey are all on the mend, stitches now covering their wounds.

“Someone took a knife and tried to slit the throats of the three horses,” said Major Ricky Gardner with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.

Some of their cuts are six to eight inches long and three to four inches deep.

The youngest horse, Rainey had the worse cut of the three horses. But the owner says all of the horses are expected to make a full recovery.

Relatives say some of the horses have become skittish and shy to come near the gate, but time is healing those wounds as well.

“Obviously whoever did this is a very mean spirited person that would do that to an animal,” said Major Gardner.

Investigators say they believe this is an isolated incident.

If you know anything about this crime, call the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900.

From http://www.wset.com

Back Country Horsemen of America Recognized by Local and National Organizations

By Sarah Wynne Jackson

When you ride your horse down a well-groomed trail with level footing, no
low branches, sturdy bridges, and safe water crossings, do you stop to
think what it took to make that happen? Ask any Back Country Horsemen of
America member and they’ll tell you: long hours of hard work, lots of
sweat, and personal funds spent on fuel and supplies.

Maintaining trails for horse use is far from glamorous, but without it,
where will we ride? It may seem like a thankless job, but Back Country
Horsemen of America are happy to do it and organizations large and small
see the difference BCH folks are making.

Just Doing What They Do
All Back Country Horsemen believe in the value of volunteerism, so it’s no
wonder that many of their accolades center around trail work. On a rainy
day in September, seven members of Hoosier Back Country Horsemen of Indiana
volunteered their time and equipment to repair storm damage at Youngs Creek
Horse Camp in Hoosier National Forest.

Straight-line winds had hit the camp, blowing down large trees which
damaged the water trough, fence, and highline posts. The folks from Hoosier
BCH cleared debris, repaired the fence, and installed new highline posts.
They used a tractor to remove fallen trees and large branches. They also
performed general maintenance, such as trimming tall grass in the fenced
area.

Nancy Myers, Outdoor Recreation Planner of Region 9, Hoosier National
Forest, Tell City Ranger District, recently recognized Hoosier Back Country
Horsemen on the US Forest Service’s “Success Stories” web page for their
assistance in cleaning up Youngs Creek Horse Camp.

Nancy wrote, “The Hoosier Back Country Horsemen are a great partner and
very willing to volunteer for trailhead and trail projects. They even
agreed to help on another trail gravelling project on the German Ridge
Trail in November. The Tell City recreation staff is very appreciative of
the Hoosier Back Country Horsemen’s hard work and willingness to enhance
recreation opportunities for equestrians on the Hoosier National Forest.”

Making the Connection
Back Country Horsemen across the country go out of their way to nurture
good relationships with public land managers. Back Country Horsemen of
Middle and South Georgia have a strong working relationship with the folks
at A.H. Stephens State Historic Park. They volunteer throughout the year on
various projects, such as trail work days, special events, securing grants,
and hosting and assisting with several equestrian programs.

As a result, the equestrian facility is now more user friendly with higher
visitation rates, generates more revenue, and has receive positive feedback
from guests. Andre Mclendon, Park Manager at A.H. Stephens State Historic
Park, recently sent a letter of thanks to Back Country Horsemen of Middle
and South Georgia.

Andre ended his letter with this sentiment, “Words cannot express how much
we appreciate your support. Every day we take one step closer to achieving
our goal. It is to be the best equestrian facility that our Georgia State
Park system has to offer. With your support I am confident that we can
attain our goal. Thank you so much for your contributions. All of our
accomplishments from this past year are proof that we can make a
difference.”

National Recognition
Responsible recreation is a major tenet of Back Country Horsemen of America
and has been a focus of Back Country Horsemen of Washington since their
formation in 1976. BCHW’s current Leave No Trace educational program has
been in existence for 15 years, and is funded mostly from grants through
the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
Recreational Trails Program.

The Coalition for Recreational Trails, a federation of national and
regional trail-related organizations, gives seven achievement awards each
year to recognize outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program funds. In
2010, BCHW’s Leave No Trace Educational Program received the award in the
category of Environment and Wildlife Compatibility.

The entire BCHW Leave No Trace program is run by volunteers dedicated to
teaching others responsible recreation. This national award is a great
honor for all BCHW members who work and support this educational program
with their time and effort. Back Country Horsemen of Washington members
also made donations to cover the travel expenses of three BCHW officers to
accept the award in person in Washington, D.C.

Share the Trail
Back Country Horsemen of America believes in sharing trails amiably with
other users, and BCH Eagle Creek of Kentucky exemplifies that ideal with
their outstanding cooperation with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association.
The two organizations recently worked together on a clean up work day on a
county-owned reservoir multi-use trail system.

Chris Lockard, President of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Kentucky Mountain
Bike Association, sent BCH Eagle Creek a warm letter of appreciation. He
wrote in part, “I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for extending
an invitation out to the KY Mountain Bike Association to participate in the
trail day sponsored by the Back Country Horsemen of Eagle Creek. You and
your group were great to work with. The local mountain biker community
found it rewarding to work with the equestrians on trail improvements at
the county reservoir property.”

Chris also pointed out the benefits of different trail user groups working
together toward a common goal, something well understood by Back Country
Horsemen of America. Interactions between user groups helps foster
understanding and positive relationships, as well as respect and value for
each other’s right to a quality trail experience.

About Back Country Horsemen of America
It’s clear that public land managers, other trail users, and national
organizations recognize the huge difference Back Country Horsemen are
making. Responsible recreation and protecting our right to ride isn’t just
a philosophy; it’s a responsibility that requires action in a variety of
forms. Back Country Horsemen of America is proud to live up to that and get
the job done.

BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations,
affiliates, and at large members. Their efforts have brought about positive
changes regarding the use of horses and stock in the wilderness and public
lands.

If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a
member, visit their website: www.backcountryhorse.com; call 888-893-5161;
or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on
public lands is in our hands!

Horse Tests Positive for Rabies

Friday, January 13, 2012

A horse from southern Patrick County near Route 8 and the North Carolina state line has tested positive for rabies.

This is the first confirmed rabid animal in Patrick County this year, according to a Virginia Department of Health news release.

Additional details about the horse were not available Thursday night.

Rabies continues to be present throughout Virginia. In Patrick County, five animals tested positive for rabies in 2011 (two skunks, one each fox, raccoon and cat) and six animals tested positive for rabies in 2010 (three foxes, one each raccoon, bat and skunk), the release stated.

Since 2006, the number of confirmed animal rabies cases has ranged from 564 to 730 each year statewide.

“This is a reminder that rabies is a real threat in our area,” said Gordon Green, MD, director of the West Piedmont Health Districk. “Although raccoons, skunks and foxes are the animals that most frequently contract rabies, any mammal, including livestock, can be infected by the virus. Virginia law requires rabies vaccinations and boosters for dogs and cats 4 months old and older. Vaccines also are available for ferrets and livestock, so owners should check with their veterinarian for the most appropriate vaccine and vaccination schedule to protect their animals.”

Rabies is almost always fatal, the release stated. The rabies virus is present predominantly in the saliva and nervous tissue (brain and nerve cells of infected animals and is transmitted most often by a bite. It also can be transmitted when saliva or nervous tissue gets into open cuts or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose and mouth. Rabies causes an inflammation of the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.

When a person or animal is exposed, timely treatment is effective in preventing the development of rabies. Contact your doctor or veterinarian immediately to discuss treatment, the release recommended. For animals, depending on their vaccination status and likelihood of exposure, strict isolation for up to six months may be required.

The best ways to prevent the spread of rabies are:

• Vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets by 4 months of age, by a licensed veterinarian, and keep vaccinations current;
• Enjoy wildlife at a distance;
• Secure your yard and home and eliminate possible sources of food, water and garbage that can attract wildlife and other animals;
• Do not allow your animals to roam free;
• Avoid contact with stray animals;
• If you are bitten or exposed to rabies, wash the wound thoroughly with lots of warm water and soap and seek medical attention immediately; and
• Vaccinate selected livestock, as recommended by your veterinarian.

For more information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/DEE/Rabies or call the West Piedmont Health District at 638-2311.

From www.martinsvillebulletin.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Show Horse Reportedly Shot in Rockbridge County

Rockbridge Co., VA – A Rockbridge County man who had to euthanize his horse after it was reportedly shot is offering a $10,000 reward.

A thoroughbred gelding named Pastis was boarding at the Sunrise Stables near Lexington. When he didn’t return for lunch on New Years Day, workers knew something was wrong. That’s when they found him with an apparent gunshot wound to the leg. A veterinarian later determined the splintered bone was consistent with a gunshot wound.

Bob Caldwell says his show horse was worth $35,000 to $50,000, but was priceless to him.

“I learned how to ride on that horse,” he said. “And when I wasn’t riding him, VMI Cadets would take him and compete with him.”

Investigators plan to exhume the horse’s remains Friday afternoon in hopes of recovering a bullet to identify the kind of gun used.

Caldwell really wants to find the person who pulled the trigger.

“I can’t tell you how angry I am,” Caldwell said.

Gammon Nuckols manages the stable and calls the incident ‘devastating.’

“We love them all,” Nuckols said of her horses.

In the meantime, she isn’t taking any chances. All the show horses are locked up before the sun sets so what happened to Pastis won’t happen again.

If you have any information about this incident, please call the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s office at 540-463-7328.

Full story:http://www.wset.com/story/16456874/rockbridge-co-sheriffs-office-investigating-reported-horse-shooting

From: http://www.wset.com