The Year in Horses: 2000

• The world descended into utter chaos when, at the stroke of
  midnight on January 1, 2000, the world’s computer systems all failed due to a
  software bug created by lazy 20th century programmers. If you were
  banking on the 2000 computer bug to give you an excuse to pay your January 2000
  board bill late, you were out of luck. In fact, the greatest difficulties
  surrounding the move to a new millennium were felt by those who had checks with
  “19__” on the date line.
• Australia’s eventing team earned a gold medal in front of
  the home crowd at this year’s Sydney Olympics while David O’Connor of the U.S.
  took the individual gold aboard Custom Made. Anky van Grunsven took her first
  individual dressage gold with Bonfire, while silver medalist Isabell Werth led
  the Germans to yet another team dressage gold. Germany continued to be an
  unstoppable force, winning show jumping team gold. Dutch show jumper Jeroen
  Dubbeldam won the individual silver. The U.S. riders earned team bronze in
  both eventing and dressage
• A campaign called “Saddle Up America” was launched by a
  group calling itself the Horse Industry Alliance. The idea was to unite the
  fragmented horse industry with all its many breeds, disciplines and
  activities, and market horseback riding to the country at large. The HIA thought
  it was about time we looked past our differences and worked together for the
  growth and improvement of our sport. One of the campaign’s biggest projects was coordinating open houses at barns across the country, introducing newcomers to the process of finding an instructor or purchasing a horse. Alas, uniting the fragmented horse
  industry proved a nearly impossible task. The HIA is no more, and the domain
  saddleupamerica.com could probably be purchased for the right price.
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• A vaccine for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) was
  available beginning in 2001. It was given a conditional license, which was
  ultimately revoked as the vaccine was never proven to be effective.

Click for larger image

In the Pages of Horse Illustrated
Rust was officially out for breeches at the turn of the century,
but it was back in for show shirts. At least that’s what we told readers in the
April 2000 issue. Toss aside your boring white ratcatcher and pick up a jewel-toned
show shirt with “just a hint of shimmer.” Pair it with a western-styled belt
that the judge will never see (unless she waives coats.) Was this subtle bit of
metallic accessorizing a sign of things blings to come in the hunter ring?

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