Tim McQuay and Mandy McCutcheon

"The HORSE GYM runs all day long with our breeding stallions and show horses on it. All the horses that we put on the gym seem to stretch out and perform better." Tim McQuay

 

Lauren Hough and Ohlala

The other four riders in the jump-off would have the first part of the combination down. When asked about her approach to the bogey jump, Hough said, "It just sort of showed up for me and she is so good now in jump-offs. She kind of catches on and knows exactly where she is going. She really makes my job quite easy, so it is a pleasure to have her and ride her."

Regarding the first round course, Hough described, "Anthony was clever, because it wasn't overly big. I thought it was very fair, but there were a couple of places where it caught people. On my other horse Quick Study, I had the fifth jump down, the white oxer, and then I sat and watched the class and saw at least another dozen knock that jump down. It just sort of lured you into it. It wasn't trappy, nobody got into trouble, but there were rails throughout. I thought five clear was a lovely number. It turned out well for me."

Catherine Pasmore (USA) and Vandavid, owned by Pasmore Stables LLC, were next in. They posted a slower time of 43.20 seconds but had the "a" obstacle the double combination down for four faults. They would finish in third place.

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC's Diktator van de Boslandhoeve had trouble at the double combination as well, pulling two rails there and then another at fence 9 for 12 faults in 50.14 seconds. They placed fifth. Riding Michael Meller's Waterloo, Schuyler Riley (USA) placed fourth. They had eight faults in 47.53 seconds.

The final combination in the jump-off, Paulo Santana (BRA) and Taloubet, were very fast in 39.91 seconds, but a rail in the middle of the course left them with four faults and second place.

Sixth place went to Audrey Coulter (USA) and Victory DA, owned by Copernicus Stables LLC. They had one time fault in the first round with a time of 80.37 seconds.

Hough and Ohlala began their partnership a year ago and started in the 7&8 Year Old Young Jumper classes at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. They won the Youngster Cup Final at the prestigious Aachen CHIO in Germany, and went on to win another five FEI ROLEX ranking classes at shows like Norten-Hardenberg, Valkenswaard, Washington International, Alltech National Horse Show, and the Royal Winter Fair.

"I haven't actually added up the number of classes that she has won this year, but I'm quite certain it is over 15," Hough noted.

Hough has never had a young horse that has won so much. "I am really just so excited about her. I can't say she is going to go to the Olympics tomorrow, but I wouldn't be surprised if she did. She really is that character and whatever you tell her to do, she just goes, 'Okay now what?' She is just a winner and no matter what level she is going to be at, she is invaluable to have in your string because winning blue ribbons makes us all better," she pointed out.

While Hough said she is "a tiny horse," she has never measured her. Size doesn't seem to matter to the diminutive mare, and heart and speed keep her in the winner's circle. "She is very fast," Hough agreed. "I have never put a stick on her because I don't really want to know how big she is, but she's tiny. Her stride isn't very big, but she is just so catty. I am very lucky."

Along with natural talent, Hough said her simplicity under saddle helps too. "She is just easy. She is a pleasure. She definitely has blood; she is a mare, she is feisty, but that is what makes her so good. She goes in a leather bit. I have to say, in the middle of this year I was lucky enough to put a syndicate together to buy out the investors, so I own half together with a wonderful group of people who are so supportive. I am so grateful to be able to keep her for the future," Hough expressed.

Lauren Hough and Ohlala with Horse Gym USA representative Jill Townsend

Today's class was sponsored by Horse Gym USA. Representative Jill Townsend said, "Four of the five riders in today's jump-off own Horse Gyms," a great testimony to the brand.

 

The Holiday and Horses Show continues tomorrow with the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper class.  
 

You are invited to bring your horse for FREE sessions on the HORSE GYM treadmill at the 2012 AQHA World Show.

HORSE GYM USA is pleased to announce that they are attending the 2012 AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma. HORSE GYM has a treadmill located at Hassinger's Veterinary Services behind Barn #7. HORSE GYM treadmills help develop the full potential of today's equine athlete. Using computerized technology and quality German engineering and construction, HORSE GYM offers unprecedented opportunities for fitness, diagnostics and rehabilitation. Olympians, Gold Medalists and World Class riders all agree that HORSE GYM conditioning is critical to their success. "HORSE GYM is pleased to be with Dr. Jim Hassinger, DVM at the World Show," said HORSE GYM's Jill Townsend. "We are proud to see that in the past year, several top Quarter Horse trainers are now incorporating our gym into their training program. We know that the HORSE GYM treadmill plays an important role in the preparation of horses that are able to compete at this level".

HORSE GYM's newest product in the line of treadmills is the Aquatrainer water treadmill which also has a cold salt water option. This treadmill offers the same superior design and quality that HORSE GYM is known for, with a large vessel, self cleaning filters, and many safety features built in. Owning a gym also delivers a quantifiable return on your investment by creating new revenue streams and saving time and manpower. 20% of all HORSE GYM treadmills are purchased though our leasing partner making them affordable to most barns. All treadmills come with a 2 year warranty on parts and labor. Give HORSE GYM a call or stop by Hassinger's Veternarian Services at the World Show to find out how you too can have a gym of your own.

If you miss out on visiting HORSE GYM at the World Show, be sure to bring your horse for trial at their next event, the Gold Coast Quarter Horse December 27-31, 2012

Congress- Dasi's Day In Pictures at the Congress

I've had some interesting dinner conversations with my fellow professionals about extra exercise for our horses, more specifically whether to use a treadmill or a walker. The general consensus has come back in favor of the treadmill.

Most of my friends, myself included, prefer the treadmill over a more traditional walker, for a few important reasons. The first is the footing, and the second is safety.

While a walker is great exercise,  the footing is often times inconsistent below our horses' feet.  I prefer the treadmill for the consistency it provides my horses. The footing never needs to be dragged or watered, and it doesn't get dusty or deep. In fact, the footing is always perfect, firm, and rut free.

As far as safety for the animals, I believe a horse has less of a chance of injuring himself on the enclosed machine than while using a more traditional "walker". On the treadmill, there is a learning curve, and a great deal of the horses need to adjust to the foreign piece of machinery, but I must say that very few horses don't get the hang of it pretty quickly. Once they make the adjustment, horses usually work on it day in and day out without incident.

Traditional walkers have inconsistent footing that needs constant attention. The horses also have a lot of freedom that allows for bucking and playing. I feel this increases the chances for injury.

Recently, during Tropical Storm Isaac, which completely flooded the Wellington area, I was able to get my horses worked even though we were  surrounded by two feet of water. One by one, we groomed each horse and put them on the treadmill for twenty minute cycles. It took quite a while, because we have some thirty-odd horses, but the majority of them got out.

The treadmill also saves space: It has a relatively small footprint in comparison to a walker. A treadmill takes up about fifteen to twenty square feet, while a walker consumes about sixty.

My older horses seem to have benefited the most since I purchased a treadmill. I currently have two 18-year-old Grand Prix horses back in the show ring that were previously diagnosed with career-ending soft tissue injuries. Daily work on the machine before we ride them seems to have awakened the fountain of youth in them and given them the second wind their bodies needed to compete again.

Amber Hill has also just received our eagerly awaited HorseGym USA treadmill and this week alone has trained over 30 ponies and horses to begin programs on it. We do not know how we lived without it and are already seeing benefits we did not even imagine. We can not thank Jill Townsend enough for her part in helping Amber Hill to take their training program to a new level.

Stadium Jumping, Inc. announced today that Horse Gym has been named as the Official Equine Treadmill for this year's $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farm. Horse Gym treadmills help to develop the full potential of today's equine athlete. Using computerized technology and quality German engineering and construction, Horse Gym offers unprecedented opportunities for fitness, diagnostics and rehabilitation. Olympians, Gold Medalist and World Class riders all agree that Horse Gym conditioning is critical to their success. "Horse Gym is pleased to be a partner with the American Invitational," said Horse Gym's Henrik Gundersen. "We are proud to see that over half of the riders invited to compete this year, condition their horses on a Horse Gym treadmill. We know that the Horse Gym treadmill plays an important role in the preparation of horses that are able to compete at this level." As part of a promotion for this year's Gene Mische American Invitational, the barn that sells the most tickets for the event will be presented with a 30 day free trial use of a treadmill at their own farm by Horse Gym. Horse Gym's newest product in the line is the Aquatrainer water treadmill which also has a cold salt water spa option. This treadmill offers the same superior design and quality that Horse Gym is known for, with a large vessel, self cleaning filters, and many safety features built in. Horse Gym also delivers a quantifiable return on your investment by creating new revenue streams and saving time and manpower. 30% of all Horse Gym treadmills are purchased though our leasing partner making them affordable to all barns. All treadmills come with a 2 year warrantee on parts and labor. Give Horse Gym a call call to find out how you too can have a Horse Gym of your own.