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Entries Now Open For 2021 Virtual Edition Of The Real Rider Cup

The Real Rider Cup, a charity show jumping event that features members of the Thoroughbred industry competing on off-track Thoroughbreds, has announced it will once again be holding the event virtually. Proceeds from the event benefit the Retired Racehorse Project, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption and the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show.

To enter, riders must either be sponsored or pledge to raise a minimum of $1,000. Pledges can be accepted via the Real Rider Cup's website or via check.

All riders receive a course map, including measured distances and jump types, for a 2'6” jumper course. Each rider will be asked to submit two videos, the first one riding the course on a Thoroughbred that has made at least one start. Riders wear the silks of one of their supporters/sponsors. The second video (3 minutes max.) offers biographical information about themselves, their horse and a discussion about why the event is important to them.

The public will be invited to view all entries the week of June 20 to vote on their favorite. Awards will be given to both the People's Choice and the Top Fundraiser.

Created to celebrate the talent and versatility of off-track Thoroughbreds, the Real Rider Cup is the brainchild of Anita Motion, who, along with her husband, Thoroughbred trainer H. Graham Motion, own and operate Herringswell Stables in Fair Hill MD.

Traditionally, the Real Rider Cup has been held at or near Fair Hill Training Center, in 2020 the pandemic forced the event to be held virtually. Again, more than $50,000 was raised to benefit Thoroughbred aftercare.

In 2021, a show jumping course will be distributed to all Real Rider Cup entrants. Competitors can choose to stage and ride the course at their home base, or travel to one of several facilities (New Vocations in Kentucky, The Covert Farm in Pennsylvania, etc.) where the course will be set for schooling and videoed rounds.

Entries are currently being accepted for the 2021 Real Rider Cup. For more information or to enter, go to www.therealridercup.com.

All proceeds benefit the Retired Racehorse Project, New Vocations Thoroughbred Adoption and the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show.

The post Entries Now Open For 2021 Virtual Edition Of The Real Rider Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Canter For The Cause Draws Over 75 Participants To Gulfstream Park

More than 75 equine enthusiasts, many with retired Thoroughbreds, walked, trotted, or cantered their horse across legendary Gulfstream Park Monday morning as part of the second annual Canter for the Cause.

The event attracted riders from throughout Florida, as well as several retired Thoroughbreds with the Davie Police Department's Mounted Patrol Unit and the City of Coral Gables mounted unit.

The event, which ran Monday morning and afternoon for all equine enthusiasts, benefited the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding, and Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care (TRAC), an accredited TAA facility.

Canter for the Cause was sponsored by Gulfstream, the Florida Horsemen's Protective and Benevolent Association (FHBPA), Seminole Feed and Purina.

“This is a fun day for us at Gulfstream Park. I guess it's the equivalent of playing softball at Yankee Stadium,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer of 1/ST Racing. “It gives us a chance to not only showcase what we do on the track here but showcase what horses do for aftercare. A lot of people don't know this but Thoroughbreds, while born and bred to race, are awesome at all kinds of other disciplines. We have some police horses here, we have a bunch of polo ponies, dressage and show jumpers, and other cool disciplines that racehorses excel at. And with the benefit of Florida TRAC and the TAA, which are the beneficiaries of this charity event, we hope to do even more.”

Katie Schmit, farm manager and trainer at Florida (TRAC), said: “I think it's awesome to do things like this and encourage people to see off the track thoroughbreds. We just need to keep raising awareness of aftercare. We need our focus on what horses are going to do after their racing careers and raising awareness at the track, and involving the horsemen is really special.”

Some of the retired Thoroughbreds returning to the track were Shadow Boxer, who is training for eventing, mounted police horses Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo, Sweet Karen Sue, who became a hunter, and Cicerone, who went on to be a jumper.

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Runny Nose: Nuisance Or Something More Serious?

With the rise in cases of both equine herpes virus and strangles in horses in the United States, horse owners and caretakers have every right to be on high alert to any changes in a horse's health or demeanor. Though some symptoms are always a red flag — like a horse who's unsteady on his feet — some symptoms can be caused by something far less sinister than an equine illness.

A horse with a runny nose is always something to note, but a bit more work may be required to determine its cause.

Look closely at discharge color, odor, quantity and consistency, as well as if there is anything in the discharge like dirt, debris or feed. Notice if the discharge is coming from one nostril or two, as well as the horse's demeanor. A check of his vital signs is in order.

If the horse's nasal discharge is clear and thin, and he's bright and acting normally, he most likely inhaled some dust or hay and has irritated his nasal passages, but is otherwise fine. A small trickle of bright red blood that stops bleeding in minutes is also most likely nothing to be concerned about—the horse probably got poked with a piece of stemmy hay.

The following require a call to the vet as they may indicate serious issues:

Discharge that includes saliva or chewed food, which could mean the horse is choking.
Bright red blood that is flowing freely for more than 30 minutes may be a sign of nasal passage injury.
Blood that is dark and draining could indicate that the horse has blood accumulating in his sinuses or respiratory tract.
Thick, yellow mucus can be a sign of a viral or bacterial infection, or strangles.
Discharge that smells, which may be indicative of an infection.

If the discharge indicates the horse may have an infection or contagious disease, keep him away from other horses and tell the vet what he or she may be dealing with before they arrive so they can adequately prepare. Don't handle any other horses before the vet arrives; if there's no other option, be sure to wash and sanitize hands and change clothes whenever possible.

Podcast: What Do You Need To Know About Dystocias

The latest episode of Rood and Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy's StallSide podcast has been released and features a discussion with Dr. Maria Schnobrich of the hospital's theriogenology department.

In this episode Dr. Peter Morresey and Dr. Bart Barber along with Dr. Schnobrich tackle the issue of managing dystocia on the farm. Learn about the importance of timing, communication with your veterinarian and warning signs of complications. Also included: the link between murals, chickens, and equine reproduction.

Schnobrich said dystocias occur in about 10 percent of pregnancies, with slightly higher occurrences in some breeds. The birthing process is a rapid one for horses, which also means that foaling complications can develop quickly. Schnobrich offers an overview of a standard foaling, as well as a few tips to recognize and react to a dystocia or other atypical foaling.

Among her suggestions:

Start a stopwatch when the mare's water breaks to help you know when the foal should be emerging from the birth canal. Foals should be fully emerged 20 to 30 minutes after the mare breaks water.
Ideally, veterinarians agree it's best not to intervene and pull a foal if the foal looks to be in the proper position, has a normal amnion, and is emerging at a normal interval. A more relaxed environment tends to result in a better foaling.
Schnobrich suggests that for owners who have never foaled a mare, the best pregnancy plan may be to board the mare at a facility with a staff experienced in foaling as her due date approaches.
An ultrasound ahead of delivery can help anticipate whether a red bag delivery may be on the horizon, and may provide time to provide treatment to preempt the tearing of the membrane that results in the red bag.
Dystocias are considered an emergency not just because of the foal's fragile oxygen supply, but also because the foal can do damage to the mare's internal organs if positioned wrongly.
People can sometimes mistake colic for a foaling that's not progressing properly; a visit from the veterinarian can usually discern the difference. Older pregnant mares may sometimes bleed from the vulva which can also be mistaken for a foaling problem, but that can also be caused by a varicose vein. An immediate trip to the clinic isn't always the best course in those cases, since it's preferable to let a healthy pregnancy progress rather than do a c-section if it's not necessary.

You can find the video version of StallSide on the Rood & Riddle YouTube page and the audio version on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts. Enjoy the video version below.

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