The boss mare’s independence and leadership are what inspired a team of four powerhouse women in the equine industry to develop the nonprofit organization known as Boss Mares, Inc. The organization assists female entrepreneurs by giving them a leg-up in their careers and businesses.

The four women who founded the organization are Anna Morrison, Ph.D., co-founder and president; Kate Bradley Byars, co-founder and secretary; Patti Colbert, co-founder and treasurer; and Ellen Bell, member of board of directors. Each of these women present extensive resumes in the horse industry and connections that run deep. They came together with the same mission and goal of connecting women in agriculture.

The official kick-off of Boss Mares, Inc. took place December 1, 2023, in Weatherford, Texas.

Meet Anna Morrison

Founder Anna Morrison’s passion for horses developed during her childhood in Wisconsin. Anna pursued an education focused on horses first at Colorado State University (CSU) and later at Texas A&M University (TAMU), earning a Bachelor of Science in equine science and agricultural business, a Master of Arts in extension education, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration.

Her career path began in academics, teaching and developing curricula at CSU and TAMU. Later, Morrison served industry member organizations for the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association. Along the way, she received support and guidance from mentors and industry experts, which furthered her appreciation for just how important it can be to have a leg up.

“When I was going through a transition in my career, I had this feeling that there was a way we could work together to pay our experience forward to other women in the industry,” says Morrison. “Every single one of us who has been involved in the industry has had the help of other women, whether through mentorship, encouragement, or investment, and I thought there was a way we could work together to get those same opportunities to other women.”

Morrison knew who to call when the time came to present a proposal for Boss Mares, Inc. Ellen and Larry Bell have always been a part of charitable organizations, and they have started numerous businesses as well. In South Africa, they are involved with a project that empowers women to live life and provide for their families. Morrison recalls getting through just a few slides in her presentation, and the Bells were ready to kick off the organization.

“The goal is to help young women everywhere,” says Ellen. “We were involved in extreme situations in Africa, but to watch women have the opportunity to better themselves and their businesses and careers, and to learn how to do it properly, we were all in immediately.”

With the Bells’ experience with nonprofits and charitable organizations, they provided Morrison with the connections to begin forming Boss Mares, Inc.

Bringing on Kate Bradley Byars

As Morrison began thinking about who would make up the co-founders and board of directors, a few people came to mind. When Morrison asked Byars and Colbert if they would be interested in helping, they jumped at the opportunity.

Byars has a passion for telling people’s stories and making connections. Writing always came easily to her, and in college at TAMU, Byars pursued a degree in agricultural journalism. She rode through college, competing on the Texas A&M Equestrian Team and on the Quarter Horse circuit. After graduating with a Master of Science in agricultural leadership, education and communications with a focus on photography, Byars joined the Western Horseman magazine staff.

Since 2010, she’s worked extensively in the western performance horse industry as a writer and photographer. Working for western equine and lifestyle publications is Byars’ specialty, and she especially enjoys connecting with people in the industry.

“Boss Mares, Inc. is a passion project, and the mission and focus is something we all can easily get behind [to] help female business owners in the western industry,” says Byars.

Patti Colbert’s Extensive Experience

Patti Colbert’s resume in the horse industry and connection to the western lifestyle began through watching television. After moving to Texas in the mid-1970s, Colbert worked at horse barns and volunteered as a 4-H leader. She fell in love with the production of equine events.

Colbert began at the Texas Quarter Horse Association, managing the Quarter Horse racing and show industry. Her next move was to the AQHA, where she was responsible for raising millions of dollars for the American Quarter Horse Foundation’s scholarship, equine research, and preservation programs.

She then opened her own firm and worked with clients like the American Angus Association, the American Paint Horse Association, TAMU and more. She and her team took on the management of the Mustang Heritage Foundation, and in 2007 created the Extreme Mustang Makeover events, placing thousands of previously wild Bureau of Land Management Mustangs into private care.

Colbert received the 2014 American Horse Publications Innovator of the Year Award, the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Fern Sawyer Award, and was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Currently, she is on the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame board of directors and serves as advisory board chair for the Ride on Center for Kids.

“I know that women are the decision makers in the majority of this industry,” says Colbert. “I think more than 76 percent of the members of the AQHA are female. The reality of it is that women are the backbone of the industry in the agriculture and western lifestyles, and we need to help one another to continue to grow and be relevant and current.”

Lead the Herd Workshops

Boss Mares, Inc. focuses on five pillars: accounting and finance support, continuing education, leadership and career coaching, legal counsel, and marketing expertise. The organization will host Lead the Herd workshops to meet western women where they are already gathering. At these workshops, the keynote speakers are experts in the fields of each pillar.

The purpose of each workshop is to bring powerful expertise from both inside and outside the western industry in a setting that supports high-impact learning and open dialogue between presenters and attendees.

“We are here to provide a leg up to cowgirl entrepreneurs in the professional and agriculture industry,” says Morrison. “We do that by providing access to business resources at our workshops and by providing grants through our grant application process that help women invest in and advance their small businesses or invest in themselves and their career through continuing education.”

The first workshop was held at the Art of the Cowgirl in Arizona from January 19-20, 2024. With more workshops in the future of Boss Mares, Inc., the organization offered grants through an application on their website through March 31, 2024, for people in the agriculture industry.

“I hope that the women who have seen it now and have heard the speakers will want to be a part of it by giving financial aid or by participating in grants, whatever fits with their lifestyle,” says Ellen. “I hope they will be encouraged and say, ‘You know what, I can do this, this is something I’ve wanted to do, and I’m not going to let something get in my way because it is available to me.’ That is what’s exciting and what I hope to see in the future for us.”

This article about Boss Mares, Inc. appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Boss Mares, Inc.: Empowering Women in the Western World appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced that it has authorized expenditure of $2,693,312 to fund 16 new projects and 10 continuing projects at 17 universities as well as two career development awards. The 2025 slate of research brings Grayson’s totals since 1940 to more than $44.4 million to underwrite more than 450 projects at 48 universities.

“I’m very proud of Grayson’s commitment to furthering the research and development of projects that affect all horses, no matter their breed or discipline,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson. “We are equally ecstatic that we could offer our two career development awards to this year’s recipients, continuing to cultivate a future for young researchers.”

Below is an alphabetical list by school of the new projects:

Can Smartphone-Based Sensors Provide Reliable And Repeat able Lameness Data   
Melissa King, Colorado State University
This project will test the reliability and repeatability of body-mounted and smartphone IMU sensors with machine learning and computational algorithms in lame and non-lame horses.

Chimeric VP7-VP4 MVA-Vectored Equine Rotavirus Vaccines 
Mariano Carossino, Louisiana State University
In this study novel chimeric vaccinia-vectored vaccines against equine rotavirus A G3 and G14, the leading cause of foal diarrhea, will be designed and evaluated in mice (proof-of-concept) and mares.

Ex Vivo DFTS Adhesion Model To Evaluate Therapies  
Lauren Schnabel, North Carolina State University
This project will advance our understanding and treatment of adhesions that occur in the digital flexor tendon sheath of horses following injury and result in improved prognosis for performance.

Effects Of SGLT2i On Triamcinolone-Induced Equine ID
Teresa Burns, The Ohio State University
This proposal will evaluate the degree to which joint injections with triamcinolone worsen insulin dysregulation in horses with ID and if use of canagliflozin at time of injection mitigates it.

Finite Element Analysis Of SDFT Microdamage
Sushmitha Durgam, The Ohio State University
This proposal will study the multi-scale finite element models (FEM) that predict equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) mechanical behavior that are essential to delineate microdamage mechanisms preceding clinical injury.

A Molecular Study On Hemorrhagic Anovulatory Follicles
Eduardo Gastal, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
This study investigates gene and hormone levels in HAFs, the leading cause of ovulation failure in mares, using a novel technique (Follicle Wall Biopsy-Trinity) to collect multiple follicular samples.

Improving a VapA mRNA Vaccine For R. Equi In Foals
Noah Cohen, Texas A&M University
The aim of this study is to improve the design of a mRNA vaccine for foals to provide stronger, longer immunity against Rhodococcus equi, a leading cause of disease and death in foals worldwide.

Organoid Model For Equine Placentitis Research
Pouya Dini, University of California-Davis
This project’s aim is to develop an in vitro model of equine placentitis to advance the study of this condition, ultimately improving diagnostics, treatments, and pregnancy outcomes.

Genetics Of Cervical Spine Malformations In The Horse
Carrie Finno, University of California-Davis
This study will identify genetic causes for abnormal formation of the cervical spine in horses.

Pharmacokinetics And Efficacy Of Pregabalin In Horses
Heather Knych, University of California-Davis
The study seeks to investigate the behavior of an analgesic agent approved for use in humans for the treatment of persistent pain, as a first step in assessing the utility of this drug for pain control in horses.

Characterization Of Antibodies Against Equine IL-31
Rosanna Marsela, University of Florida
This proposal aims to develop a new treatment for equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) by targeting a key itch mediator, providing an alternative to steroids.

Characterization Of Laminitis Using PET
Dianne McFarlane, University of Florida
This study will validate the use of PET scans for identifying disease pathology and progression in insulin associated laminitis in horses.

Effects Of Inflammatory Cytokines On MSC Homing
John Peroni, University of Georgia
This study will investigate how mesenchymal stem cells traffic to injuries after delivery to the bloodstream to inform the best time to deliver cells relative to initial injury in future animal models.

Racehorse Stride Changes And Workload During Training
Peta Hitchens, University of Melbourne
By determining whether the workload and changes in stride characteristics associated with injury during racing are also present during training, this project may identify injuries prior to race day.

Synthetic Proteoglycan Replacement For Osteoarthritis
Kyla Ortved, University of Pennsylvania
This proposal seeks to establish a new class of injectable, cartilage-penetrating compounds made from synthetic polyelectrolytes that replace proteoglycans that are critically lost in osteoarthritis.

Wearable Biometric Sensor Development
American Association of Equine Practitioners
Provide funding for the epidemiological work associated with the data gathered through the field testing of the selected biomechanical sensors.

Career Development Awards

The Storm Cat Career Development Award, inaugurated in 2006, grants $20,000 to an individual considering a career in equine research. This year, Grayson awarded Dr. Erica Secor, Cornell University.

Dr. Secor is a class of 2013 graduate from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and is attending Cornell as a Ph.D. student. Dr. Secor is an equine surgeon whose knowledge is growing readily under the supervision of Dr. Heidi Reesink, a former Storm Cat Award winner.

The proposed study, defining the immune cell populations present in naturally occurring equine Osteoarthritis and the response to intra-articular therapeutics, expands on the limited knowledge regarding immune cell populations within equine joints with osteoarthritis.

The Elaine and Bertram Klein Career Development Award was first awarded in 2015 and grants $20,000 to a prospective equine researcher. This year’s recipient is Dr. Shannon Connard, North Carolina State University.

After Dr. Connard received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 from the University of Georgia, she went on to pursue an internship at Louisiana State University followed by a large animal internship and residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Through this, Dr. Connard achieved board certification with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2023. She is a postdoctoral fellow / Ph.D. candidate in the Comparative Medicine and Translational Research Training Program at North Carolina State University. Dr. Connard’s current research is dedicated to the advancement of regenerative therapies for equine musculoskeletal injuries.

Dr. Connard’s project, harnessing stem cells licensing to enhance tendon healing, aims to further the understanding of intralesional mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in treating equine tendon injuries, under the supervision of Dr. Lauren Schnabel.

Details on the new projects are available at the following link here.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation’s leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1940, Grayson has provided nearly $44.4 million to underwrite more than 450 projects at 48 universities. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.

— Edited Press Release

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Humble Beginnings of The Adoptable Horse Program

The program, first launched as a pilot at the start of the fall semester during the 2017-2018 school year, was the result of a $508,000 grant funded by the Watershed Animal Fund, a division of the Arnall Family Foundation.

Foundation representatives, then overseers of The Right Horse Initiative before it moved to the purview of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), were just getting started with the Initiative when they approached Adam Daurio, director of the Temple Grandin Equine Center.

“They said ‘We love everything that the Temple Grandin Equine Center is doing,’” says Daurio. “They asked if I thought there was a partnership.”

He recognized the opportunity at hand.

“I said we’d love to help rehab some of the horses and then integrate them into Equine Assisted Services.”

With the grant secured, funding allowed for facility upgrades and the establishment of a Regional Training Facility for The Right Horse Initiative that initially served just eight horses. Although the number of horses served during the program’s pilot year was relatively small, the impact was nothing of the sort, as it proved without a doubt that the program’s big goals were right on track.

As a direct result of the grant, students enrolled in the university’s equine science program now receive training in the evaluation, handling, care, and training of horses in transition. While this was beneficial, what truly sets the program apart is its commitment, where possible, to placing available adoptable horses into the equine assisted services (EAS) and Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) homes, thereby filling a previously unmet need for these organizations.

The strength of the pilot program has allowed it to expand.

“We had success both of these semesters,” says Daurio. “Then we launched it full time, and it was incorporated into our equine sciences curriculum.”

The program has grown to now serve 15 horses per semester or 30 per year. At first, horses enrolled in the program came from nearby Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center in Franktown, Colo. Today, they come from several local ASPCA industry partner rescues.

Heartbeat of the Program

It’s the horses who are the heartbeat of the program, Daurio explains.

“What has made this program unique is that we are providing experiences [for the students] training these horses,” he says. While master instructors teach the courses, it’s the horses who are partnered with the students that play a tremendous role as the students learn about their evaluation, care, and rehabilitation.

Daurio explains that in a traditional class, one instructor works with a small group of students who go into the pens and get the horse assigned to them. Typically, the instructor will use one of the horses as a demonstration horse. Afterward, the students work with their horses on the techniques demonstrated by the instructor.

From the beginning, the main goal of the training was to create horses suitable for placement in EAS. But as other needs became evident, the horses were also trained to become suitable riding lesson partners for the CHA.

As can be expected, not every horse who goes through the program is suitable as a therapy or lesson horse. Horses who, for whatever reason, did not meet the criteria for either program are still trained to become solid citizens for the right adoptable home.

Program Selection

Horses for the program are selected by Cayla Stone, instructor for the program, along with several students. Stone and her students visit rescue facilities and evaluate 30 to 40 horses in a day, selecting only the top 15 for inclusion in the program.

“My whole goal for the program is getting the students experience with a variety of horses,” says Stone.

This variety of horses includes young and old horses; untrained or started; non-riding and riding horses. Regardless of whether the horse will be ridden, Stone guides students in selecting horses that can withstand—even if some maintenance is required—the workload of a semester.

She attributes part of her success with the horses, students, and program to the involvement of local trainers, clinicians, saddle fitters, massage therapists, veterinarians, farriers, and more who contribute to expanding the knowledge base of her students each semester.

“The business model mandates that each horse come for a minimum of a semester,” says Daurio. “If the horse has succeeded, we then assist the rescue partner, who owns the horse, in offering it for adoption.”

However, if everyone involved agrees that the horse would benefit from more time in the program, a request is made that the owning facility or rescue allow the horse to stay at CSU for a second semester.

Daurio further explains that the program is not just a riding program where the students simply sign up and ride these horses.

“It is a very science-based program,” he says. “The first thing we do with all the horses is a very thorough evaluation. They are weighed, photographed, and veterinarians come in and perform certain health examinations.”

This is done so that the animals coming into the program are appropriately handled, both mentally and physically. Students are taught to accept each horse as an individual, and an early expectation is that the horse they’re assigned may not be rideable, but will instead be trained to be a companion animal.

“We want the students to be scientists and to have animal welfare at the heart of everything they do,” says Daurio.

CSU students help the rescues to market the horses once they graduate from the program. Often this is accomplished via social media blasts using photos and videos of the horses created by the students.

Adoption Success Stories

Daurio is particularly proud that the Temple Grandin Equine Center has adopted five of the horses who graduated from the program to take part in the EAS that the facility offers. Stone has several success stories of her own to share. Some of her students, for example, have adopted their program horses, while two Thoroughbreds took part in the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

Going forward, the program hopes to capitalize on the growth it has experienced each year and continue to increase the number of horses served by getting them into adoptable homes where they enjoy lives where they are the best version of themselves.

If you are interested in donating to this worthwhile program, visit here.

This article about Colorado State University’s adoptable horse program appeared in the January/February 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How Colorado State University’s Equine Program is Helping Adoptable Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Taylor Bradish (Windsor, S.C.) and Jennifer Matheson’s 2009 Welsh Pony Cross mare, Katydid Duchess (Danyloo x Besame) had an outstanding event, finishing in sixth place individually out of 79 starters thanks in large part to an impressive marathon phase where they finished in fourth overall.

Leslie Berndl (Lexington, Ky.) and her 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding Impressive (First Class x Olizandra) turned in three solid phases to finish in 45th place. Raymond Helmuth (Cambridge, Iowa), and Kendro (Globetrotter x Genderose) his own 2015 Dutch Warmblood stallion, had a strong start but an unfortunate elimination during the marathon phase.

The team was led at this event by Chef d’Equipe Jeff Legg, who saw many positive takeaways from the experience.

“Highlights of the competition included the excellent marathon performance by US team member Taylor Bradish finishing fourth,” said Legg. “This result against some of the most talented single horse drivers in the world is amazing. In addition, her final placing of sixth was great. Our team position after dressage in sixth place was hopeful. There was a lot of positivity after Friday. I have to tip my hat to our most experienced competitor, Leslie Berndl, who provided a solid performance throughout.”

Legg added that the team also earned recognition for their turnout. Helmuth won the overall Elegance award, Bradish won the Brass Elegance award, and individual competitor Marianna Yeager with Kami Landy’s 2015 KWPN gelding, M.V.A. Famtijn (Famous V x Ginova) were honorable mention for the Elegance award.

In addition to Yeager, three U.S. combinations competed at this world championship: Jennifer Thompson (Lodi, Wisc.) with Lexus (Grote Wonder x Werina), her own 2016 Dutch Harness Horse; Tasha Wilkie (Paso Robles, Calif.) with Van Dyk 4 (Vincent x Nadine), her own 2009 German Riding Pony gelding; Paula Bliss (Hillsboro, Va.) with Burr (Black Knight x Carla), her own 2013 Dutch Harness Horse cross gelding; and Jennifer Thompson (Lodi, Wic.) with Funnominial CG (Alex x Phenomeen), her own 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Legg said the competition at the historic venue was a challenging but positive experience for all U.S. combinations, who represented a wide range of experience at this level.

“All three team members competed at this venue in 2022, with this being the sixth world championship of Leslie Berndl,” he said. “While it is helpful to return to a venue in which one has previously competed, the vast improvements in the facility since 2022 almost made it a novel experience. From excellent stabling facilities to world class arenas, we were able to enjoy a spectacular venue.

“Personally, I think course designer Johann Jacobs is at the top of the pack as far as developing thoughtful yet challenging courses,” said Legg. “There were very good routes to be driven. However, one must have stayed on their route or they could fall into a trap. The footing held up well, and the slight terrain change for the track added a challenging element for some. I believe this was a world championship worthy-course, and one could easily see the care taken by the course design and support team.

“We were fortunate to have three individuals competing, not only in their first world championship, but also their first European competition,” Legg added. “We have some young, talented horses for whom I see a lot of promise in 2026. It is so important to gain the initial experience with international competitions within a team framework. I am thrilled that they gained this experience as it can only benefit future U.S. driving teams.”

Individual Results | Team Results

—Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

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Come to the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, Ma. on Nov. 7-10, and seize the opportunity to learn from such equestrian all-stars as Guy McLean, Chris Irwin, Tik Maynard and Ryan Rose. Our four-day event schedule is jam-packed with hundreds of clinics, seminars, and demonstrations presented by these horsemen, as well as dozens of other elite equestrian educators, each of them with their own perspectives and their own ideas about how to work with horses. No matter what your skill level is or what corner of the industry you ride in, there’s something for you to learn at Equine Affaire in Massachusetts!

Equine Affaire is pleased to recognize our 2024 Massachusetts class of clinicians:

◆ Guy McLean is a self-taught, Australian-born horse trainer and teacher who possesses an uncanny ability to entertain an audience with his magnetic personality, authentic bush poetry, quick wit, cracking stock whips, and almost supernatural connection with horses. Through a complete love of horses and a burning desire to “find better ways” of building relationships with horses, Mr. McLean developed his own training methods to “ask” the horse to do the job as a partner. He has won multiple colt-starting championships in Australia and America, is a two-time Australian Bush Poetry Champion, and was recognized as “Ambassador of the Outback” in 2002 and 2006. While maintaining a home base in Australia, Mr. McLean now travels throughout the United States to perform and present at prominent equestrian events, including the World Equestrian Games, the National Rodeo Finals, Dressage at Devon, the Washington International Horse Show, and major equine expos and fairs. He has also produced an educational DVD series to share his training approaches and philosophies with riders of all disciplines.

◆ Chris Irwin is an internationally renowned horseman, best-selling author, and innovative personal development coach. In his early days in Nevada, Mr. Irwin trained 18 U.S. National Champions with wild mustangs in riding and driving events. Now with a focus on “training the trainers,” Chris lectures at veterinary colleges, coaches Grand Prix and Olympic Dressage riders in Europe, and delivers a variety of equestrian programs from his American base at Ray of Light Farm in East Haddam, Ct. In 2017, the FEI reached out to Chris for consultation on improving the education of FEI officials due to his “tremendous experience and reputation as a horseman.”

◆ Tik Maynard began riding in Vancouver, Canada where he achieved his ‘A’ in Pony Club. He is a 4-star-three-day event rider who has earned many accolades both in and out of the show ring. Mr. Maynard has won the Freestyle at the Thoroughbred Makeover twice and judged it once. This past March, he won Road to the Horse, the World Championship of Colt Starting, at the Kentucky Horse Park. In addition to being an accomplished writer, Mr. Maynard is an instructor for Noelle Floyd Equestrian Masterclass. He is the author of “In The Middle Are The Horsemen,” published in 2018, and has contributed articles to Practical Horseman, Chronicle of the Horse, Horseman’s Journal, and Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine.

◆ Ryan Rose began his career as a professional horse trainer and clinician in 2005. In 2007 and 2008, he won the Equifest Colt Starting Championship. Throughout his career, he has studied with many top world-class horsemen, including Pat Parelli. Mr. Rose teaches workshops and clinics all over the world and teaches a comprehensive training program based out of Rose Horsemanship in Brooklyn, Wi. His skills in horse development and his ability to teach equestrians set him apart from other clinicians. He also enjoys competing and training horses in ranch versatility. Mr. Rose specializes in colt starting, solving behavioral problems in challenging horses, and ranch versatility. You can see more from Ryan Rose by visiting his YouTube channel, @ryanrosehorsemanship, and by attending Equine Affaire in Massachusetts.

Attendees will also enjoy participating in clinics, seminars, and demonstration presented by the following experts and industry professionals:

◆ Lauren Sammis: Dressage

◆ Traci Brooks: Hunter/Jumper

◆ Barbra Schulte: Cutting & Sports Psychology

◆ Beth Baumert: Dressage

◆ Marci Quist: Driving

◆ Daniel Stewart: Jumping & Sports Psychology

◆ Ben Longwell: Vaquero

◆ Kevin Raber: Reining

◆ Ivy Starnes: Easy Gaited Horses

◆ Solange: Stable Riding

◆ Mary Miller Jordan: Liberty

◆ Kellie & Sam Rettinger: Draft Horses

◆ Mini-Doves Equestrian Drill Team: Miniature Horses

◆ Rebecca Platz: Mini Obstacle Course

◆ Celisse Barrett: Mounted Archery

◆ Renegade Drill Team: Drill Team

◆ Copper Hill Vaulting Team: Vaulting

Elevate your equestrian experience with tickets to Equine Affaire, on sale now. The event will take place Thursday through Sunday at the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, Ma. on Nov. 7-10, 2024. Hours for the expo are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets to Equine Affaire are $18 per day for adults or $55 for a four-day pass; children’s tickets are available for $10 per day for children ages 7-10; and children six and under are admitted for free. Admission includes access to the trade show, all theme pavilions, the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition, the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge, the Breed Bonanza, and all clinics, seminars, and demonstrations. To purchase your tickets, click here or download the Western Edge app and utilize the Equine Affaire portal.

Please note that the Eastern States Exposition charges for parking. Single-day parking passes and four-day parking passes can be purchased at the gates upon arrival. You can also purchase a four-day parking pass in advance by clicking here. Information about host hotels and additional information are available here.

—Edited Press Release | Source: American Horse Publications

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Sometimes horses, like people, need a leg up in life. That’s where Joe Misner comes in. Growing up in Alaska for much of his boyhood, the creator and director of the Wild2Ride Academy is no stranger to wild country. These days, in Missoula, Mont., he is offering the only wild horsemanship certification program of its kind anywhere in America.

While appearing as a panelist at the EQUUS International Film Festival four years ago in Billings, Mont., he heard about a horse facing a dire plight. The owner of a green-broke BLM Mustang was leaving town, and with winter just around the corner, he threatened to abandon the hapless colt in the mountain wilderness if someone didn’t come up with a better solution.

For a horseman who likes to live by the motto, “Come on and let me show you,” solutions are easy.

Misner was just starting to work with Melinda Corso and Montana Reins of Hope (MROH) when Janet Rose came to them for help. Rose was organizing a benefit for a local rescue, Horse Haven Montana, and told them how a foster option for the colt, Dante, had proved temporary.

“At that time, Montana Reins of Hope was still early in its formation,” says Corso. “Taking Dante in really solidified MROH’s commitment to the American Mustang.”

Horsemanship That Creates Second Chances

Creating second chances for wild spirits—both horse and human—is what Misner has been doing for the last decade. That has included connecting horses with high-risk youth; working with Wounded Warrior veterans and Mustangs; and offering Rio Cosumnes Correctional inmates in Sacramento, Calif., a certifiable skill after their incarceration while giving wild horses a chance to earn release from their own federal pens.

Misner discovered during his West Coast horsemanship clinics that people wanted to learn what he had to teach. But unless they went to jail, they weren’t finding his unique curriculum.

That’s how the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center Wild Horse Program, developed with the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department (one of only five such horse/inmate programs in the country), became the model for the curriculum now offered by Wild2Ride Academy at MROH.

Misner’s program in Sacramento County honed a successful wild horse gentling approach through retreat-pressure-release, which works with an untouched horse’s natural instincts. It also incorporates leadership horsemanship training for people, based on what he calls the five C’s: Calm, Confident, Caring, Clear and Consistent.

And Dante? As MROH’s first rescue horse and four-legged instructor, he has a forever home.

“Dante started it all,” says Corso, who has brought more than 25 years’ experience in children’s mental health and education to her role as Director at MROH. “We can make this world a better place for horses and humans through quality equine education programs that focus on building relationships with horses on a foundation of trust.”

That’s why Misner, considered one of the premier Mustang trainers in the country, is there.

Cross-Fit, Ranch-Style

A veteran of 16 Extreme Mustang Makeovers, with nine Top 10s, and 2014 NORCO Extreme Mustang Makeover champion (with Kenai), Misner has built a 90-day wild horsemanship certification course progressing through six levels.

After completion of a level, students earn a Wild2Ride Academy certificate. At the end of 90 days and all six levels, they are fully certified in the skills necessary to train wild horses.

The name, Wild2Ride, comes from Misner’s experiences in Mustang makeovers since the early days, and from firsthand experience.

“I’ve worked with ‘wild’ men and horses,” he says. “I’ve watched guys who have gone through lots of failures find something to feel passionate about in horses. Here, we teach from the ground up: with a pitchfork, cleaning stalls. I like to call it ‘ranch cross-fitness!’” All joking aside, the program has proven to be transformative for the living creatures that go through it.

“It’s life-changing for everyone,” says Misner. “You can get an organic transformation.”

Wild Horse to Rider Hours Ratio

It starts with his thought-provoking wild horse hours to rider hours ratio.

“Over a year, a horse runs wild for 8,760 hours,” says Misner. “In comparison, 90 days in training adds up to just 60 hours of human interaction.”

That’s 8,700 hours of wild left in an animal apt to behave more like a deer in horse clothing. Take for example a 14-hand, 3-year-old Mustang mare that Misner watched clear a 3-foot fence from a standstill as easily as any whitetail.

“Horsemanship with wild horses is a lot of oxymorons,” he says. “You learn to stay calm but are ready for chaos.”

His 90-day wild horsemanship certification program is also unique in its freedom from traditional semester formats. Applicants do not have to commit 90 days all at once. Like the training approach they hope to learn and apply to horses, students go through the program pressure-free, learning at their own pace.

“One of the most important things about this program is its flexibility,” Misner explains. “You can start any time. You can stop at any point and then come back for more. You can come for a week at a time.” For students learning how to relax a wild horse, it helps to show them they’re not under pressure either.

Riding Forward

Misner is excited to see more students scheduled to enter Wild2Ride Academy through the rest of this year. Two Academy graduates, Hayden Sunshine Kunhardt and John Sullivan (who left a job with the U.S. Forest Service to learn wild horsemanship), have come on board as full-time, paid assistants.

Misner estimates that since 2019, Wild2Ride Academy has seen two dozen burgeoning trainers enter the program and eight complete the full Academy, despite the pandemic.

“I know it sounds crazy, but COVID really got us going,” he says. “It’s been fantastic. People’s lives changed and more of them than ever want new and better connections.”

That’s on top of the hundreds of horses and inmates he estimates he has helped over his five years working with Sacramento County.

“My dad had a saying, ‘Aspire to inspire before you expire,’” he says.

It’s not something the quiet horseman brings up in casual conversation, but the courage and tenacity his own father displayed in life made an indelible imprint.

While born in Minnesota, 57-year-old Misner recalls how his father chose to take his family home to his own roots in Alaska. Misner was still a boy when his father, a heavy equipment operator, sustained a grievous spinal cord injury in an accident.

“My dad is my inspiration,” says Misner. “He was a veteran, and I saw what he went through as doctors held his spine together, as he went into rehabilitation to learn to walk again, and to hold his body upright. He showed me how you can do anything. To keep moving forward.”

A Horse Named Mohican

Another lesson about tenacity came from a “plain brown wrapper” of a Mustang, one of the last to go down the chute and into a BLM pen, who Joe nicknamed Mohican.

Reno, Nev., was where Misner was headed in 2009 to find his second Extreme Mustang Makeover project. He’d finished reserve champion with a horse named Laredo in the previous year’s Western States Mustang Challenge, and 16th nationally. Misner was feeling pretty good about his “formula” for training wild horses within limited timeframes as he stood along the pen watching a new herd of candidates emerge from a trailer.

But it got off to a horrific start. The horse he intended as his makeover candidate “ran right into the fence and broke its neck.”

Next to go was a 5-year-old gelding, taken from the wild a year previously and kept in a holding pen ever since, who was Misner’s resentful replacement. The horse was Mohican.

“He charged and grabbed my chest and front of my shirt as if to say, ‘I have four legs and teeth, and I’m not afraid to use them,’” recalls Misner. “‘Don’t tell me anything. Ask.’”

He had exactly 90 days to ask Mohican for a makeover and to travel from California to Texas to compete together.

For 59 days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes, Mohican didn’t offer much progress. On Day 60, Misner mounted up and started riding in the round pen, but couldn’t get the horse that had once galloped free across the prairie to break into a trot.

“I tried one little spank,” he recalls. “He blew up, rolled over on me, and this time, told me if I ever tried that again he’d squash me like a bug.”

With not much progress to show for those last 30 days, Misner resolutely loaded Mohican and began the 1,200-mile trek to Fort Worth. If he was lucky, he imagined the recalcitrant Mustang would only humiliate and not hurt him in front of all those spectators in the Will Rogers Equestrian Center.

“I purposely entered the Intermediate division,” he says. “I wasn’t expecting much.”

Misner certainly wasn’t expecting what came next. If Mohican saw him as one terrible, two-legged predator, the Mustang’s eyes pretty much popped out of its head when he realized there were thousands of such predators outnumbering them in Fort Worth.

“He stayed glued to me,” Misner recalls.

Maybe it was Mohican’s “come to Jesus moment,” but it worked. Man and Mustang finished 8th nationally, while also performing a freestyle Misner could never have predicted with this horse: “It included jumping over a barrel while holding a flag in one hand!”

In the happiest of all endings, Mohican was purchased at the auction following the competition, raising money for the Mustang Heritage Foundation and finding a forever home.

“I told the woman who bought him that he was very … particular,” he says.

Roses From a Devil’s Garden

Horse Illustrated caught up with Misner the same day he was preparing to welcome five new U.S. Forest Service Devil’s Garden Mustang mares—with foals—to MROH.

Named for a 500-square-mile patch of dense brush and jagged stone so inhospitable only “the devil himself” would plant a garden there, the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory lies within Modoc National Forest outside of Alturas, Calif. According to the USDA and U.S. Forest Service, Devil’s Garden is the largest wild horse territory managed by the U.S. Forest Service in size and wild horse population.

“Devil’s Garden Mustangs have proven their adaptability, trainability and versatility since our first adoptions in 2018,” says Misner. “None of this would be possible without Reins of Hope and its 400 acres that house the facility and program. It couldn’t be done without them.”

It allows Misner and Wild2Ride to keep dreaming bigger and better, including filing for nonprofit 501(c)3 status and launching a fundraising campaign, because “we sure need a covered arena during these Montana winters.”

Mustangs need help, too.

“I know I can make a difference,” says Misner. “Mustangs gave me a master’s degree in empathy for horses, and for trying to do better, every day, with what I have to give.”

This September, Misner and his wife of 30 years, Missy, plan to compete a pair of 3-year-old BLM fillies in the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth. A teacher for over 20 years, Missy is also curriculum co-creator of the Wild2Ride program.

“She’s been a huge inspiration in my evolution as a natural horseman,” says Misner. “Without her, I’d be a broken-up old bronc rider, for sure.”

Follow Joe and Missy, Wild2Ride, and the Devil’s Garden Mustangs at Montana Reins of Hope (available to forever homes after 90 days training) at www.montanareinsofhope.com and on Facebook @Wild2Ride and @MontanaReinsofHope.

This article about Joe Misner and his wild horsemanship certification program appeared in the October 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The COVID-19 pandemic changed nearly everything about life as we know it: How we worked, how we shopped, how we interacted with others and, for many, how we prioritized what was important. Though most of us are still finding our way back to “normal,” there are some things that have shifted permanently.

The equine industry wasn’t immune to these pandemic-induced fluctuations, and things changed in ways no one could have predicted: lesson programs are booming, adoption organizations can’t keep horses in stalls, and the market for a quality horse (or even not-so-quality!) is through the roof.

The Farm Labor Shortage

And yet, even with all these positives, the industry is still on the edge of a crisis. Farm and barn owners throughout the country can’t find enough staff to keep their operations running smoothly, no matter what they offer in the form of pay or incentives.

Post-COVID, a combination of factors has contributed to the labor shortage in the equine economy (and most other agricultural industries). These include older employees opting to retire rather than go back to work; the return of many immigrant workers to their home countries; the reluctance of young people to enter any equine- or ag-related field; and people realizing that they don’t want the always-on lifestyle many equine jobs require.

Unlike businesses that handle non-living commodities, the lack of labor could have a direct effect on horse health and welfare. Farm employees can’t simply check on the horses and their water buckets via Zoom; a domesticated horse’s very survival is dependent on humans to show up and care for him.

This workforce crisis has forced the equine industry to expand their search for workers. One farm in the heart of horse country is using a unique method to staff their farm and barns—and changing lives in the process.

A Family Affair

Family owned and operated since 1976, Taylor Made has grown from a small boarding farm to a powerhouse in the Thoroughbred industry, selling more Thoroughbreds at public auction than any other sales agency in the world.

Overseen by brothers Duncan, Ben, Mark and Frank Taylor, the 1,100-acre farm is home to more than 500 horses and encompasses a breeding facility, a boarding facility for mares, and a nursery for foals. As the farm has grown, so has its need for additional workers. In the past, the farm has had no problem attracting staff who were eager to work in the horse world. However, their search, like many other farms in these challenging times, often comes up short.

An additional concern, though seemingly unrelated at the time, was the meteoric rise in addiction—the exact opposite of the trajectory of available farm workers. In 2021, it was estimated that approximately 20 million individuals in the United Stated had a substance use disorder; nearly one in 10 people have battled some form of addiction, reports the Recovery Research Institute. People in recovery fight many battles, a major one being that many have served jail time, which is an additional strike against them when they apply for jobs or even places to live.

With a family member battling addiction, Frank Taylor was thrown headfirst into the world of recovery. Aware of the skyrocketing addiction problem, he became acquainted with the Shepherd’s House in Lexington, Ky., a unique, long-term residential recovery program that focuses heavily on full-time employment and a structured environment to assist recovering males in their quest to regain control over their lives. The Shepherd’s House promotes personal responsibility, accountability, and fellowship, teaching residents life skills that will allow them to commit to a sober life.

The Shepherd’s House’s mission resonated deeply with Frank, whose dedication to work and to his family and friends shapes everything he—and Taylor Made—does. The more involved with the Shepherd’s House he became, the more resolute he became in his conviction that Taylor Made could help people in recovery at the same time they were helping themselves. The seed for the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship was planted.

An Innovative Approach

When Frank approached the Shepherd’s House with the idea of bringing men in active recovery onto the farm and teaching them the skills they would need to get a job once they graduated from recovery, CEO Jerod Thomas was all in. Thomas was not a stranger to horses, but he is the first to mention that Frank is the brains behind the equine side of the program.

“I know that any time you work with any animal, [such as] horses or dogs, there’s a therapeutic piece that’s calming and forces people to take responsibility,” he explains.

This program, the duo hoped, would be beneficial for everyone involved. But first it had to pass muster with the other Taylor brothers—not an easy sell. When Frank approached his brothers with his idea, they were initially hesitant; they were fearful that their horses or people would get hurt, or that the men would use drugs on the farm. Frank convinced them to give the pilot program a try, and if at any time their fears were founded, the program would be disbanded.

Thomas pulls no punches when he explains how people with addiction think.

“You can drop a drug addict in Atlanta [or any major city] in the dead of winter in a pair of shorts and he will find a way to get a car and get drugs,” he says. “The key [to the success of this program] was getting [people with addiction] to use their survival skills as work skills. If you can get that determination channeled into a work ethic, these guys can outwork anyone.”

That work ethic, by its very definition, is what the horse world is looking for.

But there are many more facets to a successful recovery than simply buckling down and working hard: it’s necessary for those in recovery to learn or re-learn life skills and emotional management.

“If you give these guys a job and daily living skills, there is not one thing they can’t do,” says Thomas. This innate belief in the value of those in recovery comes through in everything Thomas and the Shepherd’s House does. Frank was also able to see past the societal stigma and recognized that what these men needed was simply another chance—and COVID, and the resulting labor shortage, was going to give it to them. Partnered with the Shepherd’s House, the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship gives program participants 90 days of instruction on the ins and outs of the handling, care, and management of horses, after which men can be hired on full-time at Taylor Made or one of the other farms in the bluegrass. Shepherd’s House residents are paid through the Kentucky Career Center.

Though the original plan was to have groups of three to five men with six to nine months of sobriety under their belts at a time on the farm, the Taylor Made team has discovered that if they hire people as they come and base the program on individuals rather than on a timeline, the program works better. Thus far, over half of the men who have graduated from the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship have been hired on as full-time farm staff.

Firsthand Experience

Josh Bryan was employed full-time with Taylor Made when he entered the Shepherd’s House with Frank’s support in 2020. Always a valuable farm employee, Josh became Frank’s right hand when it came to conceptualizing and launching the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship; someone who was in active recovery and also knew the inner workings of the farm proved invaluable.

“Hard work is a good way to keep the mind occupied, and horses are very therapeutic,” says Bryan. “We’ve found that guys who complete the program have grown in body, mind and spirit.”

One example of how well the Horsemanship School is working is Drew (last name withheld for privacy).

“He started with us a few months after the program was up and running,” says Bryan. “He has put his whole heart and soul not only into the farm and the horses he takes care of, but also into his recovery. When he first got to the farm, he was broken in all areas: mentally, physically and emotionally. As he got some horse experience under his belt, he fell in love with the work and developed a sense of pride and ownership in the horses. Now a full-time team member, Drew is running his own barn and he continues to grow all the time. He has a bright future ahead of him, not only at the farm, but also in his recovery.”

Drew and the other men in the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship gain a new sense of purpose through their work.

“They become part of the family,” says Bryan. “They grow in all aspects of their lives. They develop a great work ethic and become very grateful and humble to come to work every day and have the opportunity to work for what they earn.”

This sense of camaraderie and fellowship is integral to how the Shepherd’s House operates—but this sense of teamwork is also essential for any farm to operate smoothly.

“We have big dreams for where the program is going,” says Bryan. “Our long-term goal is to make this type of program available nationwide—even worldwide. We are here to help as many people as possible.”

The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are sure to be felt for years to come, but not all of them are negative. The opportunity for those in recovery to receive a second chance at meaningful employment—and for the equine industry to gain willing, capable workers—is truly game changing. Those of us lucky enough to love horses know how these creatures can heal so many things, people and economies included.

In Their Own Words

“The Taylor Made School of Horsemanship gave me something I never knew I was missing in life: An opportunity at a job that doesn’t feel like work. No medicine could replace what the horses do for me. [The school has] also given me a work ethic that has spilled over into all kinds of areas of my life, for which I am very thankful.” — Hunter B.

“Peace, watching the sun rise, humbleness, working with horses, and serenity when I pray before bed.” — Drew M. on what the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship has brought him.

“It has provided an opportunity for me to change my life with teaching me such an amazing trade. Two years ago, I was homeless, living in the woods with no future. Now I’m blessed to be working with Thoroughbred horses. It’s helped give me a sense of purpose and given me the ability to have goals; with Taylor Made’s help, I will reach them. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity to be a part of this program. It’s really helped save my life.” — Kaleb B.

The Taylor Made School of Horsemanship has “made my life in recovery enchanted; I also loved horses. God saw fit to place Taylor Made farm in my life. The impact has changed my life. [I am] so blessed.” — Jeremy J.

This article about Taylor Made School of Horsemanship appeared in the April 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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With all these zombie films and shows in pop culture, maybe you have thoughts of zombie horse hoards crossing your pastures during a full moon. No? Perhaps you have nightmares that all the carrots you’ve ever sacrificed to your horse’s chompers are now back for revenge. Not really? Well, even if the scariest thing about your barn is all the stalls you have to clean, here’s a spooky-themed anatomy lesson: your horse’s skeleton is way cooler than you might think. Here’s why.

1. Most horses have 205 bones in their skeleton but this can vary across some breeds. Arabians, for example, can have fewer bones in their spinal column. And while most horses have 18 ribs, because some Arabians’ thoracic spinal column is shorter, this breed may only have 17 ribs. Eight of these ribs—for all breeds—are considered “true ribs”, meaning they completely connect between the spinal column and the sternum. The remaining ribs are called “floating” because they do not reach all the way to the sternum.

2. The withers of your horse are actually the spiny vertical tops of the thoracic vertebrae. On a skeleton, they appear long and narrow and a horse’s heavily muscled back shapes them into the more comfortable saddle-sitting area we know on a live horse.

3. Most horse lovers are aware of the amazing structure of a horse’s hooves: the coffin bone, also called P3 which is short for the third phalanx, sits inside the hoof capsule, suspended by delicate, Velcro-like soft tissue called the laminae. This coffin bone is synonymous with the tip of a human’s middle finger, meaning your horse literally stands on the tip of one toe. The remaining “fingers” have long since faded away with the evolution of the horse, but the split bones along the cannon bone are vestigial remnants of the second and fourth fingers.

4. Horses don’t have a collarbone, also known as the clavicle.

5. A horse’s knee in his front legs is called the carpus and is analogous to our wrist. Understandably complex, this joint in the horse is made of two rows consisting of three primary bones each. Sometimes, a very small “extra” bone is present in the carpus. This has no purpose and causes no problems but can sometimes be confused for a chip fracture on an x-ray.

6. Talk of navicular bones sometimes breeds fear in the heart of horse owners. This pesky miniature bone buried deep in the hoof behind the coffin bone is the source of a frustrating and sometimes career-ending condition in horses called navicular syndrome. Navicular means “boat-shaped” but this term comes from the human navicular bone’s concave surface as it is wedged in the foot right in front of the ankle. In horses, the navicular bone is in a different location and is actually a sesamoid bone, analogous to the tiny bones that sit underneath our toes at the balls of our feet.

7. Lastly, it’s no joking matter. While sometimes hotly debated in barns across the country, the science just doesn’t support it: horses lack a funny bone.

This article about the horse skeleton is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine, originally published October 2016. Click here to subscribe!

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We’ve talked about the allure of palomino horses and explored facts about chestnuts, but today let’s turn our attention to horses of yet another delightful color: gray. With their stunning beauty and fascinating genetics, gray horses have delighted equine enthusiasts for centuries. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Gray horses have one or two copies of the gray gene. A horse with one copy of the gray gene is said to be heterozygous for gray and can potentially produce gray OR non-gray offspring, depending on whether or not the gene is passed on. An equine with two copies of the gray gene is said to be homozygous for gray and all of the horse’s offspring will turn gray, without exception. This is because the horse does not possess a non-gray gene and therefore can only pass gray.

2. Gray can be spelled g-r-e-y- or g-r-a-y. Some breed associations prefer grey, others prefer gray. The University of California-Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory uses gray.

3. They can be born any color. There’s a common misconception that all grays are born black. Not so! They could conceivably be born ANY color. (It’s interesting to note, however, that when a black foal is going to go gray, it is usually born a deep, jet-black. Black foals that do not carry the gray gene are often born a mousy-gray color, which is why people sometimes joke that “black horses are born gray, gray horses are born black.”)

4. Gray is a modifier. Gray modifies the base coat color, transforming it to gray. Genetically, the horse is the color it appeared at birth, but the presence of the gray gene modifies the coat color to gray.

5. They must have at least one gray parent. The gray gene is a dominant gene and cannot “show up” later on, as recessive genes are wont to do. So if your horse is gray, you know without question that one or both of its parents were gray.

6. They keep life interesting thanks to the myriad shades of this color from “rose gray” and “dappled” to “flea-bitten” and “pure white.” It’s a transformative process that can take many years.

7. Grays are found in many breeds. The color is commonly associated with the Lipizzan breed, but it is also very common in Andalusians, Arabians, Welsh Ponies, and is accepted as a color by most breed registries.

8. Gray horses have won the Kentucky Derby on eight occasions. These famous gray Thoroughbreds include: Determine, Decidedly, Spectacular Bi, Gato Del Sol, Winning Colors (a filly), Silver Charm, Monarchos, and—most recently—Giacamo in 2005.

9. The only Kentucky Derby winner to be disqualified was a gray. Dancer’s Image, initial winner of the 1968 Kentucky Derby, was later disqualified after a drug test showed the presence of phenylbutazone. The disqualification remains a topic of controversy even today.

10. The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit, the 1968 Disney comedy starring Dean Jones and Kurt Russell, features a gray horse named Aspercel.

Has your life been influenced by the companionship of a gray horse? Share your stories in the comments!

This article is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine, originally published September 2016. Click here to subscribe!

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Click image for larger view

In this chart, we show each face marking separately, but this doesn’t mean they are always seen alone. Many horses have combinations of face markings, such as a star and a snip, or a star and a stripe. And then there are horses who have markings that seem to defy being placed in any category—you’ll have to make your own judgement on what to call it!

Horse Face Markings

Face markings are identified according to their shape and location on the horse’s face.

• Snip:

  a small white marking on the muzzle, not connected to any other markings.

• Stripe:

  a narrow band of white running up a horse’s face from the nose to between the eyes.

• Star:

  any white marking on the forehead. It could be tiny, it could be large, or it could be an average size, like the one shown.

• Blaze:

  a white marking wider than a stripe and thinner than a bald face, not including the horse’s eyes.

• Bald Face:

  the most dramatic face marking, covering most of the face, possibly covering the eyes.

Horse Leg Markings

Click image for larger view

Leg markings are identified by how high they extend up a horse’s leg.

• Coronet:

  a thin band of white above a horse’s hoof.
  

• Pastern:

  includes the pastern but doesn’t cover the fetlock
  

• Sock (sometimes called an anklet):

  includes the fetlock joint
  

• Half-stocking (or half-cannon):

  continues partway up the horse’s cannon bone.
  

• Stocking:

  covers the entire lower leg and sometimes goes past the knee

This article about horse face and leg markings is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine, originally published November 2015. Click here to subscribe!

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