The Equine Mind...

While I would jokingly say Chaos and Dayo both think: "Hay, grain, hay, grain, grain, hay, hay, hay... carrot?" I know they are much more complex than that. Horses mirror their riders, coaches and trainers - mine are mesmerized whenever my coach is explaining something, and will stand patiently for as long as it takes for me to understand. This article explains how, and illustrates what makes horses so marvelous, and sometimes cuddly :)

Air Amateur - your Tuesday smile

There is no better way to start the week than with a smile. This will resonate with everyone who has ever found themselves suddenly without a horse underneath!

I would confess, I've booked many a flight on this airline, and in spite of the fact the descents are desperately quick, the landings abrupt and often painful, and the airline highly unsympathetic (and often surprised), I keep going back.

Here's hoping your ride today is on friendly skies!

Extra! Extra! This week's edition of the Pony Express is now available

Find out what's happening this week in the world of horses - The weekly edition of The Pony Express is now available online!

Highlights from this week's edition include:

• News from the world of horse sport including a memorial to Sea Fox, an update on Lauren Hough, a tribute to Rapid Redux, and congratulations to Pamela Law, Jump Canada's Volunteer of the Year.
• An update on the state of wild horses and horse slaughter in America.
• Great information on holistic treatment of wounds, and what the natural horseman keeps in the stable emergency kit.
• ... and much, much more!

Thanks for checking out The Pony Express. If you have information you'd like to see included, please let me know!

In Memoriam - A Farewell to Sea Fox

Ottawa, ON— Equine Canada and the Canadian Equestrian Team extend our heartfelt condolences to Canadian Olympian Leslie Reid and her mother Edith Thomson on the passing of their horse, Sea Fox.

Sea Fox
Photo credit—Cealy Tetley

Sea Fox, a Dutch Warmblood stallion sired by Roemer, was born in the Netherlands in 1982 and imported by Reid as her new dressage partner in 1986. Sea Fox easily moved up the ranks, usually scoring top marks in each outing.

Under the tutelage of Udo Lange and Christilot Boylen, Reid trained in Europe from 1993 to 1996 in order to maximize the development of her handsome and talented stallion.  In 1995, the pair made their debut at the international grand prix level, earning many top 10 finishes at prestigious CDI competitions in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Donaueschingen. 

Reid was the first Canadian rider to be named to the 1996 Olympic Dressage Team, qualifying after the first two Olympic Trials. In November of 1996, Reid and Sea Fox captured the Volvo World Cup Dressage Canadian League Final held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Horse Show.

Reid and Sea Fox competed at Grand Prix until he was 17 year of age. For the next few years, Sea Fox taught Reid’s young rider students the ropes of upper level dressage until he was officially retired at the age of 20.

“He was the perfect horse,” said Reid. “Handsome, honest, and the most gentle stallion one could ever have.”

Sea Fox’s well-earned retirement consisted of relaxing in his field until he was almost 30-year-old.

About Equine Canada
Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism.  A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry.  Equine Canada is recognised by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.