For the horse lover on your holiday list, books make ideal, meaningful gifts. The seven Spotlight on Equine Nutrition books by Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. are filled with valuable information to optimize horses’ health through sound, scientifically based nutritional practices.

Spotlight on Equine Nutrition books delve deeply into topics of keen interest to horse owners and managers. Offering a concise, easy-to-read, “how to” approach, each volume is rich in information hard to find in one place, along with answers to questions, recommendations on relevant supplements, and guidelines that you can put to immediate use. On sale for the holidays, each “classroom in a book” is priced right now at $12.95 (regularly $14.95). Buy signed and personalized copies for gifts on Dr. Getty’s website and get even deeper discounts with package pricing. The horse lovers on your holiday list will prize these gifts from you.

Currently offered topics:
Equine Digestion – It’s Decidedly Different
Digestion is the foundation of your horse’s health. This book explains the function and form of the digestive tract and shows you how to feed in sync with the way your horse is made.

Equine Cushing’s Disease – Nutritional Management
Equine Cushing’s disease is an incurable, progressive disorder that can lead to fatal infections, colic, muscle wasting, and laminitis. The nutritional management method explained here can slow the disease progression and greatly improve the quality of life for the horse with Cushing’s.

Joint Health – A Nutritional Perspective
Joints, like all tissues in the body, rely on nutrients for maintenance and repair. Random supplementing without first establishing a nutritional foundation is a waste of effort and money; in this volume, learn the necessary elements for your horse’s joint health.

Whole Foods & Alternative Feeds
Variety is not simply the spice of life for a horse; it’s the key to his good health. In this volume, Dr. Getty discusses the many benefits of adding whole foods—from berries to nuts—to round out the horse’s diet for optimal health.

Aging Horse: Help Your Horse Grow Old with Dignity and in Health
Second edition – Expanded and Updated
The aged horse offers us wisdom, experience and confidence. Helping him grow old in good health and with dignity depends on the sound nutritional practices explained in this volume.

Easy Keeper: Making it Easy to Keep Him Healthy
Equine obesity is a difficult yet highly common issue all over the world. This volume looks at the causes, prevention, and solutions, explains the effect of hormonal responses and exercise on equine weight, and outlines appropriate feeding approaches. The Easy Keeper offer four keys to successful equine weight management that not only work, but bring benefits far beyond reducing the horse’s girth.

Laminitis: A Scientific and Realistic Approach
Laminitis presents a heartbreaking dilemma that can end a promising equine career. In these pages, Dr. Getty explains the causes and treatments of laminitis, and offers prevention strategies as well as practical solutions that can return a stricken horse to a useful, healthy life.

Also on sale for the holidays on Dr. Getty’s website: Feed Your Horse Like A Horse, her comprehensive book on equine nutrition.

Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an internationally respected, independent equine nutritionist who believes that optimizing horse health comes from understanding how the horse’s physiology and instincts determine the correct feeding and nutrition practices. She is available for private consultations and speaking engagements.

Dr. Getty’s website offers a generous stock of free, useful information for the horseperson. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; shop her online store of recommended supplements; search her nutrition forum; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. All of Dr. Getty’s books are also available from Amazon and other online retailers. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.

Wellington, FL (November 13, 2014) — As international dressage rider Devon Kane and her self-trained Danish Warmblood gelding Destiny ease back into competition after a summer of training in Europe, an unexpected change of plans brought the pair amazing results. A last-minute decision to compete in the 2014 United States Dressage Finals led to Kane and Destiny achieving first place in both the U.S. Dressage Finals Grand Prix Championship Open and the FEI Grand Prix Open.

Kane and Destiny had recently claimed the win at the 2014 Great American Insurance Group USDF Region 3 Championships and Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge, which was their first post-Europe competition. The pair then planned to focus entirely on preparing for the fast-approaching winter competition season in Wellington, Florida. As the 2014 U. S. Dressage Finals drew near, though, the encouragement of Kane’s supporters convinced the young competitor to venture from Wellington to Lexington, Kentucky on November 6-9 for the prestigious national event.

“It has been a long and challenging year turning my dragon into a Grand Prix horse,” said Kane, referring to Destiny. “Green mistakes during season kept us a little frustrated, and not being able to compete in Europe this summer was heart wrenching, but I’m confident that our patience paid off. This was a fabulous way to finish the year, and get us ramped up for next year. I am feeling very confident in my horse and my training and excited for the CDI circuit this winter at the Global Dressage Festival!”

The 2014 U.S. Dressage Finals, presented by Adequan, took place at the Kentucky Horse Park. Qualified top competitors from across the country filled Lexington for this Level Five Competition, which is the highest level of competition held in the United States under United States Equestrian Federation rules. The competition featured talented riders from Training Level to the Grand Prix in adult amateur and open divisions.

Kane and Destiny’s first class was the FEI Grand Prix Open on Thursday, November 6. The Finals weekend was chilly with sleet falling from the sky, but the Florida duo rode into the show ring with sunny spirits. Kane was especially enjoying the electric competition atmosphere in the Horse Park, and felt that she and Destiny were at a good place as they returned to competition with a summer of training on their minds. “We are bringing back the pizazz and the flash, and keeping the calmness. It seems to be balancing out,” the USDF Gold Medalist explained. She added, “I think it’s really great to have people here from all the different states. It’s really fun!”

Although the FEI Grand Prix Open class was large, Kane and her eleven-year-old mount (by Diamond Hit out of MIDT-West Regina) won with an impressive ride and a score of 70.100 percent. The pair then moved on to the U.S. Dressage Finals Grand Prix Championship Open on Friday, November 7. Once again, Kane and Destiny’s precise, beautiful movements captured first place. Their score was 72.000 percent.

Kane was thrilled with her horse’s performances, and feels excited and prepared for further successes in Wellington, Florida this season. For more information about Devon Kane, her horses, their upcoming show schedule, and her training, sales, and boarding business at Diamante Farms in Wellington, visit www.DiamanteFarms.com or call 210-240-1614.

Photo: Devon Kane and Destiny on their way to victory at the US Dressage Finals. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL – November 13, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), management company of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), is pleased to announce that the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, will once again be home to clinics with two of the most renowned equestrians in the world. The 2015 Robert Dover HorseMastership Week, sponsored in part by Dressage4Kids (D4K), as well as the 2015 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, presented by the USHJA, will both be held at PBIEC at the start of the winter season.

Junior and Young Riders from across the country are gearing up to attend the 4th annual Robert Dover HorseMastership Week to be held January 3-7, 2015, at the VanKampen arena at The Stadium at PBIEC. The clinic will feature instruction in both riding and other comprehensive elements required to be a top dressage professional in the industry. Participants have been carefully selected and will include 16 junior/young riders who will participate as riders, as well as eight junior/young riders who attend as participating auditors. This year, the program will also be open to additional adult and junior auditors, making this amazing educational opportunity available to everyone.

The participants will ride either their own horses, or borrowed horses generously donated by individuals who help support this clinic. Each rider will have the opportunity to have one lesson with each of the featured instructors for this year: U.S. High Performance coach Robert Dover, U.S. Developing Rider Coach Debbie McDonald, U.S. WEG Team riders Adrienne Lyle and Laura Graves, and International Competitor George Williams. The lessons comprise the morning activities for the riders, and each afternoon, there will be at least one speaker addressing the group.

The speakers lined up for this year’s event already include: Charlie Tota of the Dressage Connenction (saddle fitting explanation and demonstration), International judges Janet Foy and Charlotte Bredhal (“From the Judge’s Perspective,”) farrier Don Later (how shoeing can enhance performance,) Lisa Slade of the Chronicle of the Horse magazine (how to handle media at competitions and interviews) and Dr. Shana Chase, DVM (veterinary concerns for top competitive horses.) Additionally, we will have some top fitness trainers explaining through workout samples for the participants how important physical training is for a top athlete.

Robert Dover. Photo copyright Elena Lusenti

This clinic is unique in that it is comprised completely of volunteer donations to run. The trainers are donating their time to teach. The presenters are donating their time for their presentations. There are multiple local tack retailers who are donating gift bags for the participants. Several local professionals are donating their horses, local residents are donating housing for some of the participants and local dressage enthusiasts are donating their time to volunteer for different positions to help this clinic run smoothly. They are still in need of lunch sponsors, horses for the participants and donations for the gift bags for both the participants and for the trainers and presenters. If you or your farm or your business would like to help them to promote this fabulous learning experience for the future dressage professionals, please contact Dressage4Kids. All donations are tax deductible contributions to D4K (Dressage for Kids.)

For more detailed information about the clinic schedule, watch Robert Dover’s Facebook page or email Annie Cizadlo, organizer directly at kodester1@yahoo.com. Auditors will be asked to give a daily donation of $25 to the Dressage 4 Kids foundation.

Thank you to the current sponsors for this year’s clinic: Charlie Tota and The Dressage Connection, Wellington, FL (saddle pads, coolers, afternoon presentation), Beth Heist and The Horse of Course (jackets, vests), Adam Pollack, White Fences Equestrian Center (shirts), Devon Kane (participant horse) and Ayden Uhlir (lunch sponsor.)

The George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, presented by the USHJA, now in its ninth year, also returns to PBIEC this year and will be held on December 29-January 3, 2015.

The following 12 riders will be invited to participate:

-The USHJA North American Junior and Young Rider Individual Show Jumping Champions at the -2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North
-Individual Champion at the 2014 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Championship
-Champion from the 2014 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East
-Champion from the 2014 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-West
-Two riders from the USHJA Emerging Athlete Program presented by Dover Saddler Five Wild Cards chosen by George Morris

George H Morris Horsemastership Training Session.

Photo copyright USEF Archives

The USEFNetwork.com, presented by Smartpak will host wall-to-wall coverage from the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, presented by the USHJA. The public is also welcome to audit all mounted sessions at no charge.

The final schedule and participating riders will be announced in December on www.usef.org.

For additional information about the 2015 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session presented by the USHJA, contact Amy Serridge at aserridge@usef.org.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lexington, KY (November 13, 2014) -
The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that sixteen-yea …

Wellington, FL (November 12, 2014)— Paula Matute’s skill in the show ring has already led to a successful dressage career for the eighteen-year-old. For Matute, though, the high scores she receives from the judges do not even come close to the enjoyment she feels from being able to compete in the sport she loves. “Even if I get a bad score, I have so many more things that make me want to do this that help me have a good attitude in the show ring. Because really, there’s nothing to lose,” Matute explains. The rider’s winning attitude stood out to leading saddle manufacturer Custom Saddlery at the Gold Coast Fall Fling, presented by the Gold Coast Dressage Association on November 8-9, 2014. Custom Saddlery presented Matute with the company’s Most Valuable Rider Award in recognition of her impressive performances at the show and her excellent sportsmanship.

Custom Saddlery’s Most Valuable Rider (MVR) Award is presented at major horse shows to honor competitors who go above and beyond expectations in the show ring or in the equestrian community. Award recipients are equestrians who exhibit superb horsemanship and sportsmanship, outstanding performances, excellent teamwork with their horses, and a dedication to giving back to the sport. Paula Matute showed these admirable traits at the Gold Coast Fall Fling, and was awarded with a Custom Saddlery gift certificate worth $150.00, an MVR ribbon, and an embroidered saddle pad.

Matute competed in several classes throughout the weekend, and achieved impressive results including winning the FEI Grand Prix in the JR/YR division on Tarpan Ymas, a KWPN gelding owned by Cristina Danguillecourt. The pair’s score was 69.300 percent. She also placed second (to her brother Juan Jr.) on Firmamento Ymas, a Hanoverian gelding owned by her father Juan Matute, in the FEI Young Rider Team Test in the JR/YR division.

The weekend marked milestones for Matute and her equine partners. “It’s an important day for my seven-year-old Firmamento Ymas because he’s going up to the Young Riders,” Matute explained. “It’s actually a pretty emotional day for me because I’ve trained this horse since he was four, so my dream is coming true with this horse and hopefully one day I will see him in the Grand Prix! I’m also showing the Grand Prix horse Tarpan Ymas that I rode in Aachen this summer, but we’re moving up to the big Grand Prix. So it’s a very important day for us!”

Custom Saddlery was happy to award the young rider at the Gold Coast Fall Fling. Matute was also thrilled with the support from the company, as she loves Custom’s saddles. “I use Custom saddles on both Firmamento Ymas and Tarpan Ymas, and I am very happy,” Matute beams. “I think the saddle is the contact between the rider and the horse, and for me it’s the key for riding on both horses. They have never been sore, they feel really free in their shoulders, and they feel happy to perform for me because they’re comfortable. It’s very important to have a truly good saddle like Custom. I’m really happy with both of my saddles!”

To learn more about Custom Saddlery and its high-quality products, visit www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

Photo: Paula Matute (right) is presented with the Custom Saddlery Most Valuable Rider Award by April Leonard.

By Aimee Nielson

LEXINGTON, Ky., (Nov. 12, 2014) – The well-established and successful partnership between Lloyd’s of London and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment continued when representatives from Lloyd’s recently presented a check to UK.

“We are very pleased to announce an increase in Lloyd’s annual support from $45,000 to $50,000,” said Julian Lloyd, chair of Lloyd’s Livestock Committee and bloodstock underwriter at the Amlin Syndicate. “For 22 years, the Lloyd’s Equine Disease Quarterly has served as the benchmark publication for support of equine health. Lloyd’s long-standing financial commitment to the University of Kentucky exceeded $1 million a few years ago, and this increase will help to ensure continued global distribution of this leading-edge publication.”

The Lloyd’s Equine Disease Quarterly, a research-based publication dedicated to equine health, is produced by the UK Department of Veterinary Science.

“The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is grateful to Lloyd’s of London for this long-standing and unique support of the veterinary science department in general since 1985, and of the Equine Disease Quarterly since 1992,” said Nancy Cox, UKAg dean and director. “This year’s support brings their total investment to more than $1.1 million. We appreciate Lloyd’s long-standing confidence in the impact of our Equine Disease Quarterly.”

The award-winning publication includes articles written by prominent researchers from around the world and provides timely and authoritative reports on some of the most important issues facing the equine industry. The Quarterly reaches more than 18,000 readers in 102 countries. Available in paper and online, its articles are regularly reprinted in numerous scientific and lay equine publications worldwide.

Lloyd’s Equine Disease Quarterly is available to subscribers at no charge. It is co-edited by Roberta Dwyer, Peter Timoney and Alan Loynachan from the Department of Veterinary Science.

The most recent Quarterly is online at http://www2.ca.uky.edu/gluck/q_oct14.asp. For more information about the Department of Veterinary Science and the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center visit here.

Lloyd’s of London is a 325-year-old insurance market whose members underwrite risk on a direct and reinsurance basis in more than 200 countries. As a global leader in specialty insurance, Lloyd’s remains committed to supporting equine research and providing the insurance coverage essential to the well-being and prosperity of bloodstock interests worldwide.

Contact: Roberta Dwyer, 859-218-1122