Tuesday, October 29, 2013

It's Show Time!


THE MILL CREEK SHOW IS THIS SATURDAY! Please get your entries in ASAP!

TRANCAS JUMPER SHOW NOVEMBER 17TH- Sign up is on the L barn- 4th level, BN, Novice folks should sign up!

LINDSAY SMITH'S DRESSAGE SHOW @ MILL CREEK NOVEMBER 16TH- Entries available in the office.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Cory's Tips for Keeping a Tail in Top Shape

Three Maintenance Musts:

  1. Pick out shavings and hay and untangle the knots every day, using your hands--not a comb. Be careful not to yank out hairs. It takes a new hair about seven years to achieve its full length.
  2. Brush the tail only right before a show, using a boar-bristle brush (the kind made for people), starting at the bottom and working your way up. 
  3. Don’t wash a tail too frequently—usually once every two weeks is sufficient. Shampoo and condition, then spray on leave-in detangler while the tail is still wet.

Trimming:


Why do it: Trimming the hair on both sides of the tailbone slimes and refines the look of the upper tail. Pulling is the traditional means, but you also can use scissors to create this effect.

Tip: Match the amount of hair you trim to your horse’s conformation. Take off:
  • Less hair and probably make the trim shorter if his rump is wide an boxy-looking; 
  • More hair from the sides and trim a litter farther down if he’s narrow-rumped and rangy.
In general, the trim should extend approximately 5 inches, plus another inch or so for tapering discreetly back into the main mass of the tail.

How to do it: Never trim a wet tail. Stand safely to one side of the horse’s rear. Hold the scissors with the tips pointed above his body and slightly sideways. Starting at the bottom of your trim line, begin cutting up, against the hair growth. Press the scissors into the skin to cut as close to the roots as possible for a smooth look. Go back over the area at least once to ensure that all the hairs are evenly cut.

Banging:

Why do it: Banging a horse’s tail –cutting it at an angle—makes the bottom look level when the horse is in motion.

Tip: For FEI competition, the ideal tail length is to the point of the fetlock; for non-FEI shows, midway between the hock and fetlock is common and acceptable. Skimpy tails look fuller when shorter. The fule of thumb for banging is to cut wherever you need to for that squared-off look, but a tail longer than fetlock length can be stepped on.

How to do it: Begin by assessing your horse in action to determin the height of his active tail carriage. Then brush a dry tail and run your hands down its length to gather an stray hairs. Ask a helper to put on arm beneath the tailbone and, while standing safely to one side, hold the tail as far out from the rump as it appears to be when your horse is moving (usually 1 to 3 inches from his hindquarters). Now snip the bottom straight across. Run your hands down the tail once more to corral stray hairs, then snip again.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

A Shout Out to Our Amazing Dressage Trainers and Riders!

Mill Creek is so proud of Mette Rosencrantz and Lindsay Smith. They have outdone themselves bringing riders along this year.  Their students had a fantastic year!

Here are the results of the year end awards:
  • Amateur Champion 1st Level - Nancy Poertner
  • Amateur Champion Training Level - Joanne Horwitz
  • High Point Champion 1st Level - Nancy Poertner
  • High Point Champion Prix St. Georges - Adrienne Bessey & Dido
  • High Point Reserve Champion Intermediare I - Adrienne Bessey & Winston
  • Amateur High Percentage Champion Prix St. Georges - Adrienne Bessey & Dido (71.71%)
  • Overall FEI Amateur Champion - Adrienne Bessey
Congratulations!!

Thanks from the Orr Family Farm!

Hi Mill Creekers!

As you may recall, our Spring Horse Show was a fundraiser for the Orr Family Farm, which was devastated by the tornado back in May.  Below is a letter of heartfelt thanks from the Orr Family.  Thanks to all of you who helped make this generous gift possible! (Click for a larger view)