As the first woman to compete in and win Road to the Horse, Stacy Westfall is no stranger to the competition arena. Her love and passion for horses started at a very early age and has allowed her to enjoy much success in her career as a professional horsewoman. Just to name a few of her accomplishments, she was the National Reining Horse Association’s freestyle champion in 2003, when she competed with no bridle. She went undefeated for two years in major freestyle reining competitions, and in 2006, Stacy won the prestigious Road to the Horse colt-starting competition.
Of her many feats, Stacy may be best known for her bridleless freestyle ride where she and a black American Quarter Horse, Whizards Baby Doll, aka “Roxy,” were named champion of the All American Quarter Horse Congress freestyle reining competition in 2006, making history with a score of 236. She dedicated the ride to her father, who had died days before her performance. The bareback and bridleless performance to the Tim McGraw song “Live Like You Were Dying” has inspired thousands.
The video of this touching event went viral and caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres. In 2008, Stacy was invited to be a guest on Ellen’s show. Stacy was able to share her feelings about the ride and her love for what she does as a professional horsewoman. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10263
We get a lot of very cool new members and most of them get a spotlight on the front page of our website. Here are some WOMEN YOU SHOULD KNOW IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY. Please check them out!
Uschi Wiprächtiger
Rancho Las Cascadas is owned and managed by Uschi Wiprächtiger. Uschi is originally from Switzerland but has lived over 20 years in Mexico and has taken Mexican citizenship. On her own, in this typically ‘macho’ country, she built the ranch from a field of rocks and cactus. The design and decoration of the ranch are all her own ideas and have provided an artistic outlet for this originally financially educated woman. The ranch has been open and running for 7 years and has hosted guests form all over the world. Each year success is growing, with numbers of guests increasing all the time. Guest feedback and reviews on Tripadvisor.com have been amazing and a great encouragement to keep going, even in difficult times. What is offered at the ranch is the perfect cocktail of unsurpassed riding, luxury and genuine hospitality to international guests of all riding abilities, from beginner to expert. The riding here is unrivalled, in that there are no gates, fences or boundaries to limit the riding experience and a variety of terrain and panoramic vistas to leave unforgettable memories. Currently Uschi has 24 horses, 5 dogs and a great staff that help to make the place the success it is. Alongside the horse-back riding, the ranch also offers mountain bikes, great hiking, Mexican cooking classes, deep tissue and hot stone massage and exquisite dining. The ranch can also be booked for special occasions, family gatherings, weddings and business meetings. Its facilities and 14 beautiful guest rooms can be booked exclusively if required. The ranch’s location is 90 minutes North of Mexico City’s International Airport, high in the mountains on a plateau. This ensures that the daily temperature is around 23 °C/mid 70s °F, perfect for rider and horse and great for relaxing on the sun terrace or in the hot tub over-looking the natural waterfalls that border the ranch. As well as offering amazing riding and horses, Uschi says, ‘I take a great deal of pride in delivering a first class service and hospitality, creating a seamless combination of style, comfort and Mexican flair’. You can find her under RANCH/ RESORTS in our member directory.
Caroline Maffry – Associate Producer, Equitrekking
Caroline began riding at the age of four. Her passion for horses has been a constant throughout her life. She is equally passionate about travel. Growing up the daughter of a diplomat, she spent her childhood living in Poland, Italy, France, and the Philippines and rode ponies and horses most of those years. She owned two ponies while living in Rome from age 9 to 12 and competed in local Italian pony shows. Currently living in Washington, DC, Caroline teaches children and adults about horsemanship and how to ride at a barn in Maryland where she also keeps her Hanoverian cross. Her 12 year old daughter is also an accomplished rider. Together mother and daughter have spent several years competing in area Hunter/Jumper. Caroline spent several years operating her own travel company specializing in cultural tours for students and is now using that experience to produce episodes for Equitrekking. She is currently planning several episodes to film for season six, set to broadcast in 2011. The episodes will air around the world, including the United States some fifty-six other countries. Caroline has also assisted in Equitrekking’s recently launched Equitrekking Travel, a full service t ravel agency. This new enterprise allows individuals and groups to enjoy in person the horse riding vacations they could previously only see on the popular television series. The riding vacations take place at featured locations and many are led by the same guides who have appeared on Equitrekking’s programs. Now viewers of Equitrekking who have dreamed of riding horses in locations where Equitrekking has gone will be able to actually experience what they have seen on the show. Riders may participate in unique adventures like riding with the Bedouin in the desert in Jordan, cattle round-ups at a working ranch in New Mexico, cross country training in Ireland, a pack trip in the Canadian Rockies or Alaska, natural horsemanship at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, trail riding America’s National Parks in Utah and more. These new travel offerings include visiting magical Petra, exclusive access to Jordan’s Royal Stables, sightseeing in bustling Istanbul, fly-fishing in Wyoming, golf at Mount Juliet and castle tours in Ireland and Wales. You can find her under TV PROGRAMS in our member directory.
Leslie Davis – Texas Haynets
My name is Leslie Davis and after 30 years, I sold my Real Estate Company 4 years ago to pursue my real passion: helping horses. My husband and I have been supporters and a foster home for of 70 horses in the past 10 years. Many horses have come to us through organized horse rescues. I have specialized in equine hoof rehabilitation for the past 8 years. Because many of the hoof issues are laminitis and founder issues, that has been my main focus. 90% of these cases are diet related. I could give you a whole book on the “why” our domestic horses have these diet issues, but to simplify the problem, I can tell you to remove sugar and starch from your horse’s diet. This is very hard to do with a main diet of grass or cut grass hay. You can soak the hay (this removes a lot of sugars and starches) but it also removes some of the good stuff too, like vitamins and minerals. The ideal way to feed cut grass hay is to put it in haynets with small holes (less than 2″ square). This gives the horse some resistance (like grazing) which encourages more mastication which provides more saliva. The saliva has enzymes that start breaking the cellulose down and preparing the hay for digestion. With large amounts of hay stuffed in their mouth, this process with the saliva is compromised. If the hay reaches the stomach unprepared for digestion, the whole digestive process is compromised and the horse does not receive all the nutrients from the hay. This research is now being coined as “slow feeding”. Because of this research and haynets, my life at the hoof rehab center has become much easier! The most economical way to feed cut grass hay is to feed with large round bales and since there was no such thing as a haynet for a round bale, I had to create one, hence the birth of “Texas Haynet” company. No longer to horse owners have to cringe at the sight of one third of their $80 round bale laying on the ground outside the hay ring all soiled to the point the horses will not eat it. The Texas Haynet reduces waste while it is providing a more healthy way for the horses to consume their hay. It is a win-win situation. Fat horses get thin, thin horses get fat, the herd is generally more laid back and calmer, less fighting and the horses have more energy and brighter eyes, etc. It is a bit like taking our small children off of sugar at bedtime and reducing sugar intake on adults with joint issues, etc. We are all healthier without so much sugar! You can find her under PRODUCTS in our member directory.
If you are a member of the WHIA and would like us to spotlight you, please send your info to us and we’ll do it.
You can check out all of our cool MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS by visiting our website at WOMEN’S HORSE INDUSTRY.
February 11, 2010 – LEXINGTON, KY – Visitors to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games should make their ticket purchases and reserve their accommodations quickly, as the World Games 2010 Foundation is well on track to meet, and exceed, its projected sales goals.
Fans around the world are planning trips to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. from September 25 through October 10, 2010, for eight world championships in equestrian sport. The 2010 Games will mark the first occurrence of this event outside of Europe.
“Company is coming,” said Jamie Link, CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation. “With the arrival of 2010, we are seeing a steady increase in sales each day as people around the world make their plans and purchase their tickets to the 2010 Games. We strongly recommend that fans make their plans now before the best seats are gone.” Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10260
The 2010 Top Shelf Dressage under the Stars Series at the Players Club Bar & Restaurant in Wellington features performances by top dressage riders, including week three’s winner Tami Hoag, dressage rider and New York Times bestselling novelist. (Photo courtesy of Frederic Roy)
Wellington, FL (February 11, 2010) – Thanks to a stunning piaffe and passage tour, along with an incredible line of one-tempis, Tami Hoag gave a bestselling ride that landed her in the winner’s circle during the third week of the star-studded Top Shelf Dressage under the Stars competition at the Player’s Club & Restaurant. Hoag, a professional dressage rider and author of 15 New York Times bestselling novels, rode her 23-year-old Grand Prix mare Feliki to unanimously win the competition.
“Tami really wowed the crowd with a spectacular ride. While Tami is famous for her unforgettable suspense novels, her ride at Dressage under the Stars won’t be forgotten any time soon either, it was thrilling,” said Neil Hirsch, owner of the Players Club. “Each week during the Dressage under the Stars series we have had a star-studded line up of celebrity judges and riders and this week was no exception.”
The celebrity judges included Olympic “O” Judge Volkar Mortiz and International dressage star Cesar Parra. Amy Bower Doucette, of the Palm Beach Post, served as the media judge, while Joseph Der, CEO of Der-Dau boots, served as the style judge. “Our judges throughout the series have included Olympic Gold Medalist Anky van Grunsven and her husband Sjef Janssen, the top dressage coach in the world, as well as reining USEF Equestrian of the Year and World Cup winner Steffen Peters,” Hirsch said. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10258
The American Quarter Horse Journal, February 10, 2010 – The Fields Family Foundation and Jackson Land & Cattle Company will continue their support of the Youth World Show Assistance Fund. This will be the fifth year that the Youth World Show Assistance Fund will be available to members of AQHYA who need financial support to compete at the 2010 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship show.
In the past four years, 240 AQHYA members have received financial support so they were able to attend and compete at the Built Ford Tough Youth World Show. The fund helps youth pay for travel and lodging expenses after they have qualified to compete at the show.
Richard Fields of the Fields Family Foundation and Jackson Land & Cattle Company is happy to help today’s youth compete. He realizes the benefits from attending the Built Ford Tough Youth World Show are more than just youth accumulating titles and awards.
“It gives me great pleasure to provide scholarships to young, aspiring riders through the AQHYA Youth World Show Assistance Program,” said Fields. “The children of today are our most precious resource, and Jackson Land & Cattle is pleased to continue to fund the Youth World Show Assistance Program.”
To apply for the Jackson Land & Cattle Youth World Show Assistance Fund, youth need only to fill out an application. Applications are now being accepted, and forms must be in the AQHA offices by April 1, 2010. Requests for assistance can be mailed or faxed. Applications for this year’s event are available through youth advisers or can be downloaded from www.aqha.com/youth.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104
Christopher Payne and Gracious. (Photo courtesy of Randi Muster Photography)
Wellington, FL (February 12, 2010) – Trainer Christopher Payne and Gracious returned to the winner’s circle during the fourth week of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, once again winning the championship in the Baby Green Hunter Division. Draper Equine Therapy, makers of therapeutic products for horses and riders, sponsored the Baby Green Division.
Payne, who along with David Belford owns New Hope in Cincinnati, Ohio, said they bred Gracious and couldn’t be more pleased with the Dutch four-year-old gelding’s progress. “He will be a great adult hunter for his new owner Maggie Little,” Payne said.
Payne said New Hope has been coming to the Winter Equestrian Festival for many years and he always enjoys showing at the world-class show. “Especially when I talk with friends at home and it’s snowing in Ohio,” Payne said, adding that New Hope will be showing at WEF for the duration of the circuit. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10250
Wellington, FL – February 12, 2010 – The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is anticipating its first class of the year held at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby will be at The Stadium on South Shore Blvd. on Sunday, February 21, at 3 p.m. It is the first of several classes that will be held on the grass at The Stadium this year. This class is the highlight jumper event of week 6 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. The title sponsor of the week will be Bainbridge.
The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival invites all spectators and exhibitors to attend the event, which will feature many of the top grand prix riders in the world on a derby course featuring a table bank, ditches, and natural obstacles. The course is designed by world-class course designer Richard Jeffery of England.
At The Stadium, there will be a $20 per carload general parking charge for spectators. Tailgating spots are also available for $50 per spot, and tented tailgating is available at $75 per spot. Tailgating spots must be purchased through Annette Goyette and tend to sell out quickly, so get yours today! Email annette@equestriansport.com to order. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10241
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