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Editor: Suzanne Anderson 301-829-3881 301-829-3880 FAX	NEWS	TROT Information 301-588-TROT
July 2000	Electronic Edition	Number 124

Steve Thomas Claims Irving Abb Memorial Trophy for 2000 Judged Pleasure Ride

Steve Thomas of Harpers Ferry was the 2000 winner of the Irving Abb Memorial Trophy at the June 11 Judged Pleasure Ride sponsored by Trail Riders of Today (TROT). The ride was held in the McKeldin area of Patapsco Valley State Park.

Steve and his Quarterhorse, Skippy's Bay Rum, posted the Grand Champion top score from among 63 horses competing in the ride. Each horse and rider team had to complete a 10-mile trail ride on which there were 12 test obstacles. Each horse was judged on how well it behaved at each test. This year horses encountered such things as balloons, strobe lights, and a noisy trash can.

The Irving Abb Memorial Trophy was presented for in memory of Irving Abb, well-known local horseman, who passed away in 1998. Mr. Abb was credited with establishing many of the trails throughout the Catoctin Mountains and introducing hundreds of budding riders to the joys of trail riding.

The award was donated to TROT by the Central Maryland Saddle Club and other friends of Mr. Abb to be presented to the Grand Champion at the annual Judged Pleasure Ride. It will be passed along from year to year to succeeding Grand Champions as a perpetual memorial to Mr. Abb.

Reserve Champion was awarded to Don Engel of Elkridge and his Arabian horse, Future. Don and Future scored a mere two points behind the Grand Champion. In addition, Oldest Rider, Oldest Horse, and Youngest Rider prizes were awarded, respectively, to Carol Sanders (age not disclosed here), to Mike (age 25) ridden by Ivy Smink, and to Kate Gibbard (age 11).

Membership Chair Named

I would like for all of us to thank Lois Ward for coming forward and taking on the duties of Membership Chairperson. I am looking forward to working with her.

If you have any TROT membership forms please change the address to reflect: Lois Ward, 11838 Ramsburg Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104. Also, if you should have any changes to your membership please send them to Lois as well. Gale Monahan TROT President

Pr. GEORGE'S COUNTY COMMENTS

by Mary Angevine (301-937-0014)

WB&A Trail: Construction is nearly done, although the contract had to be extended due to unforeseen difficulties with a tunnel. It is anticipated that riders should be able to enjoy this trail by the end of August (see Calendar for a November ride on these trails). Maps are available. They are "first draft" so do not show feeder trails for horses, but close neighbors already know were they are. Trailer Parking is at the corner of Electric Ave. and Glen Dale Rd.—in the grassy section east of the gravel and paved lots. If necessary, the gravel lot may also be used.

Bria Cianelli did the honors for TROT at a "policy-makers" reception at the Glen Dale Recreation Center hosted by Morris Warren early this Spring. Mr. Warren has sent a nice surprise gift for me to pass on to Bria.

Please call me to check before you go out on this trail (number above). I'll keep updated as to the actual opening date.

Fairland Regional Park: Maps for these "explorer's" trails have been made available at the Woodland Stables Tack Shop and the Turf Center/Southern States on Rt. 98. (See map on page 6) I'll try to get some over to Outback Leather in Laurel, too. In a few short years, these trails will continue south to Briggs Chaney Rd., and thence south to a point going under the Beltway to connect to the Anacostia Greenway Trails (as in days of old).

Perhaps many of you who ride this area today aren't aware that these trails have been used continuously since at least the early 1900s. Foxchasing continued there until 1986, when residential and commercial development in eastern Montgomery Co. spawned too much traffic even in the earliest morning hours. Prince George's authorities did a traffic study a few years later and learned that traffic had increased 10-fold!

Losing a Partner

I lost a wonderful friend on Sunday.

It started as a typical Sunday Morning. Friends and I went for a trail ride on the WSSC trails. Mirage, my 10-year-old Paso Fino, and I gaited happily along ahead of the other horses. She and my other Paso, Quista, had finally become friends after 9 months of squabbling among themselves with my Arabian gelding as referee.

Mirage and I had worked hard preparing for the Lexington Paso Show the coming weekend. She and I had bonded and were a team.

After 2 hours, it was getting hot, and we headed for the barn. My friends, Sandy and Jackie, wanted to ride a new loop trail back to their barn, and Mirage wanted to go. We rode another 15 minutes, Mirage and I dropped them off, and then we headed home.

She and I were gaiting toward home, crossed the creek where we were greeted by a doe and her fawn. We continued up the trail to home on Bell Road. Mirage kept looking to her left and I assured her that nothing was there. She suddenly dropped to her knees from a full gait, throwing me forward, jumped up[ with me still on her back, and swayed to the right and broke into a full run. When all of this happened, I did not realize she was running for her life.

She swayed into a tree, scraping me off and throwing me physically into the tree. Mirage wanted me off, now! I fell, but held onto the reins. She dragged me 50 feet at a full run before I finally let go.

As I got up, I was thinking, "Mirage, you turkey!" I heard my other horses calling her and assumed she was headed for the green grass at home. She had never acted like this before and I wondered what her problem was.

Suddenly, as I was jogging up the trail after her, I heard a car horn, which seemed to be stuck, blowing continuously. As I ran up the trail, I realized she did not go home, but had continued up Bell Road, onto Route 29. She was hit by a car and thrown onto the medium strip.

She had run for ¼ mile, past her barn and my husband. Her eyes were wild. She was not in her right mind. Something had gone terribly wrong and she knew this.

She died in my arms. I believe she knew I was there holding her and asking her not to leave me, but God had other ideas and took her.

A week has passed, and I grieve for her. As I watch the Lexington show classes, the ones which we had practiced so hard for, I can reflect she was a good mare to the end. She recognized something was wrong and her love for me was to get me off her back. I believe that it was one of her last rational thoughts. Although I am bruised, she did not physically hurt me. The car that struck her was badly damaged, but was driven away and both occupants were not hurt. We believe an aneurysm occurred when she fell to her knees, and she knew she was dying, and that she had to take this last trail alone.

I want to thank all my friends, neighbors, horse friends, and TROT for their support in my hours of need. Also, I want to commend and thank all the people who stopped and came to my aid during the accident. The Burtonsville Fire and Ambulance service, the State and County Police, and the lady off-duty officer who took charge of traffic control and offered any assistance to me while I held Mirage. Sandy Jordan, Dee and Mark Prindle handled all the arrangements after I was taken to the hospital, as shock had set in.

Mirage was my friend, my teacher, and my comrade. She and I enjoyed each other for 9 months, for which I am thankful. God just decided he needed a good Paso mare, and when he called, Mirage answered.

In this day of computers and fast-paced living, Mirage taught a 45-year-old woman the magic of partnership that can occur between a horse and a rider. Unfortunately, along with that special relationship comes the heartbreak when one of the partners dies.

Again, we wish to thank everyone who came to our aid. We will never forget.Beth Ann Web and Mirage

Judged Pleasure Ride Results

The Judged Pleasure Ride works because so many people give their time and energy to making it happen. Please join me in thanking the judges who watched you ride by while they sat earthbound. The judges were: Anne Bennof, Michael Meador, Kathy Dobson, Terry Mulligan,

Ivy Allgeier, Laura Lane-Unsworth, Dixie Stumpf & her husband, Dee Dee Driscoll, Janet Breeding, Bill Mitchell, and Dan Benz. They will all get vouchers for a free ride next year.

In the pavilion there was Jean Siewert as secretary, assisted by Eleanor Pittenger, and Jean's husband Michael did his magic with the computer as score-keeper. Melinda Gierisch designed this year's course. She also rode out before the ride to make sure all was in readiness. And Marilyn Miller stepped forward this year to spear head the operation as Ride Manager.

Grand Champion

Steve Thomas, on his Quarter Horse Skippys Bay Rum, with 104 pts

Reserve Champion

Don Engel, on his Arabian Future, with 102 pts

Junior Rider

Novice Rider

tied (unable to break)

Open Rider

Quarter Horses

Arabians

(*ties were broken by high score at Ride Manager's choice of obstacle)

Thoroughbreds

Appaloosas

Gaited Breeds

Other Breeds and Grade

Novice Horse

Total of 12 obstacles, max. score 120 points

Local EPM Research

A study is under development to determine the prevalence of the protozoan Sarcocystis neurona, the causative agent of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), in central Maryland. Opossums will be live-trapped and the parasite's presence or absence will be determined the DNA analysis. We are also hoping to correlate prevalence of this protozoan to EPM incidence in horses.

To accomplish this goal, we are seeking horse farms with and without a history of EPM.

Participating farms would agree to the presence of live traps set on and around the farm. Traps will be kept out of the way, set overnight, and checked/closed the following morning. These live traps will pose no threat to pets, livestock, or for that matter, the possums.Participating farms will benefit in 3 ways. First and perhaps most enticing, the removal of opossums will reduce the risk of initial or of further EPM exposures and infections. Second, farms will be contributing to the growing body of knowledge concerning this parasite and the debilitating disease it causes, thus aiding in its eventual defeat. Third, farm managers will feel the satisfaction that comes with having helped a poor graduate student complete his thesis research.

If you are interested in participating or have further questions, please contact Quinton King:

410-549-1900 (work); 301-829-2094 (home); or quinton_king@hotmail.com

Our Sympathy

Our sympathy to the family and relatives of 21 year old Matthew Coleman. He was the son of Earle and Sharon Coleman, brother of Elizabeth and Allison Coleman, all of Walkersville. He was the grandson of TROT members Mel and Pat Denu of Ginger Hill Farm, Clarksburg, MD. Matthew was killed in a bungee jump mishap in Switzerland on May 15. Our hearts and prayers go out to his entire family.

Scouts and TROT Search Team

On Saturday, May 6, 2 members of the TROT Search and Rescue Team set up their exhibit at the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Expo 2000, held at the PSINet football stadium in Baltimore. Along with Jackie Cowan and her Tennessee Walker Gatsby, Frank Dietz and Suzanne Anderson set up corrals for Murphy and Bos Bask and prepared to spend the day telling the kids, young and not so young, about search, about horses, and about TROT.

It was a blistering sunny day, and the horse exhibits were set on the white concrete entry yard of B Gate. It seemed to take forever for the sun to finally pass the heights of the stadium and begin to cast shadows. The horses watched the people go by, the marching flags flutter, and balloons bob. Both Bos and Murphy graciously taught the children how to pull wisps of hay out of the hay bags and correctly offer it to waiting horse lips, much to the delight of the children (and adults).

The Team members also set out their various styles of saddles to supplement Jackie's presentation on the different types of riding, and also unpacked one set of search saddle bags, discussing the use of each of the items carried. Twice, Gatsby and Bos demonstrated the distinct differences in an Arabian's trot compared to a Tennessee Walker's gait.

Bos and Murphy finished their day with a much appreciated hosing provided in the lower service level of the stadium before hopping on their trailer for home.

CLASSIFIED ADS

FOR SALE Large animal clippers (Oster), used 1 year. Extra blades included. (orig. $198). Small Oster Clippers with 5 extra blades (orig. $225). Carry-all box. Asking $160 for both clippers/blades/box. P. Stanton, 301-459-0121.

FOR SALE Western, Quarter Horse hand-tooled, brown saddle. 15" seat. Fits 14.2 to 15.2 hh horse—5'4" to 6' person. Made by Dave Jones, Montedello, FL. Used only on Caps Lille Barney, now deceased. Includes wrote iron stand, blankets, bridle, reins, $1495. Like new. P. Stanton, 301-459-0121.

FOR SALE 13 yr old Thoroughbred mare, bay w/ white blaze, 15.3 hh, very sweet and willing. Knows flying lead changes, extended trot, is willing jumper. Has good stable manners. Needs intermediate/experienced rider. $3200. 410-531-5844.

BOARDING Pasture board on 40 acres, stall/run-in also available. Adjoins state park northwest of Frederick, MD. $120/mo. For pasture/hay and 1 feeding/day; reduced rate possible in exchange for help with farmwork. Trailer parking available. Call 301-443-9912.

All the things we've always known,
but never really quantified.

Equine how to...

To induce labor in a mare?
Take a nap.

To cure equine constipation?
Load them in a clean trailer.

To cure equine insomnia?
Take them in a halter class.

To get a horse to stay very calm and laid back?
Enter them in a liberty class.

To get a horse to wash their own feet?
Clean the water trough and fill with fresh water.

To get a mare to come in heat?
Take her to a show.

To get a mare in foal the first cover?
Let the wrong stallion get out of his stall.

To induce a cold snap in the weather?
Clip a horse.

To make it rain?
Mow a field of hay.

To make a small fortune in the horse business?
Start with a large one.

Trailer Rescue Clinic Great Success

Gale Monahan

On June 10 at the Maryland State Fair Grounds in Timonium, the Horse Trailer Emergency Rescue seminar was held. The seminar was focused towards emergency and rescue personnel as well as veterinarians. This was sponsored and supported not only by TROT but also organizations such as the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, University of Maryland and Days End Farm Horse Rescue.

There were 274 participants with the majority being fire and rescue personnel from several counties. Days End Horse Rescue supplied two trailers for the demonstration on how rescue crews are to cut a trailer if a horse happens to be trapped. This demo was well attended by the rescue personnel. We also had 6 horses at the seminar to demonstrate (and practice on) to the rescue teams how to tie a tail with soft cotton rope so a horse can be pulled out of an overturned trailer safely and without causing any more injury than what already may have occurred due to the accident. No horses were put in overturned trailers. They only had to stand and have folks play with their tails.

This seminar stemmed from trail accident last July 10^th where we lost a horse because emergency response organizations in Maryland did not have rescue equipment or phone numbers for responding to large animal rescue. This seminar is just the first step in changing all that. A list is being developed of veterinarians and volunteers

who can come and help in such emergencies. The organizers (including TROT) are looking to the Fall to have another such seminar.

I want to thank Geneva and Victor Loczi, Michael and Sherry Carter, and Thomas and Barbara Thelen, who took time off on a hot Saturday and bring their horses for the tail tie demonstration. All horses stood perfectly while many people played with their tails. We could not have had asked for better horses. Thank you.

Dr. J. Casper, DVM who was one of the main organizers of the seminar wrote a short thank you note I wish to share. Dr. Casper recently retired from being the Director of the Animal Diagnostic Lab in Frederick and is now contracted with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Dear Gale:

What can I say that has not already been said. The seminar was a resounding success! I sincerely appreciate all your hard work and planning and TROT’s support.

I have heard nothing but good comments about the event. I feel that we have lit a spark that will be carried forward and will benefit the animal community in Maryland.

I know we will work together in the future, and I look forward to it.

Again, thanks for everything.

J. (Jack) Casper, DVM

10 Tips for Caring for the Older Horse

from the American Association of Equine Practitioners

1. Observe your horse on a regular basis. Watch for changes in body condition, behavior, and attitude. Address problems, even seemingly minor ones, right away.
2. Feed your older horse away from younger, more aggressive ones so it won't have to compete for feed.
3. Adjust and balance rations to maintain proper body conditions. A good rule of thumb is to be able to feel the ribs, but not see them.
4. Arrange for routine dental care to keep the teeth and mouth in good working order; at least once per year is recommended.
5. Provide adequate, appropriate exercise to maintain muscle tone, flexibility, and mobility.
6. Groom your horse frequently to promote circulation and skin health.
7. Provide regular hoof care. Your farrier should trim or shoe the horse whether or not you ride to maintain proper hoof shape and movement.
8. Be vigilant in controlling pests and parasites. Consult your vet to establish a deforming schedule.
9. Be aware that older horses are prone to tumors. Look for any unusual lumps or growths from head to tail, as well as beneath the tail (especially on gray horses).
10. Schedule routine checkups with your equine vet. Call immediately if you suspect a problem.