Choosing Vintage: The Value of Older Horses

We see it happen so often at the bigger shows. Some fantastic athlete (a four-legged one) is retired at the ripe old age of 15. Or maybe 17. The horse is brought into the middle of the ring and stands as it is honored for its achievements. Which is all well and good, but…retirement? In […]

Mucho

Originally intended as a polo pony, Macho Magic grew too big…and was too slow. Paul Kuhn, the manager of Kirby Hill Farm, suggested that one of the trainers located at the farm, Melissa Hogan, start working with him. Melissa soon had a student in mind for the seven-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding, a student who had […]

The Purple Heart

In the United States, 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Army Sergeant Arturo de la Garza nearly became another statistic. Then he met a horse. Three deployments in Iraq had left Army Sergeant Arturo de la Garza angry, depressed, and subject to sudden outbursts. Thoughts of suicide constantly occupied his mind. He never discussed his […]

Police Horse

He was a comedian, always looking for a laugh.  He patrolled a busy, bustling intersection: Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in the Richmond Hill section of Queens, New York.   Buses, cars, and trains, all traversed it.  The imposing bay horse and his fellow policeman were always there, always keeping an eye on what was happening. […]

Born to Ride

One of Tina Konyot’s colleagues says “She rides beyond competition, with an excitement that emanates from her and broadcasts to those watching that something brilliant and extraordinary is taking place.” It’s hardly a surprise. Tina Konyot has horses—and performing—in her bloodlines. Dating back five generations her family has trained horses, danced in ballets and performed […]

Bail Me Out (Striker)

By Nikole Ruddy Striker was born on my grandparent’s small farm in Windsor, Connecticut on May 26, 1983.  My grandparents, William and Marie Garthwaite, had not expected him to be born yet, so they’d left the farm for a day’s outing. The only person who stayed behind was my aunt, Chris Garthwaite. She was planning […]

Mirage

When she hears Judy’s truck approaching the barn, Mirage runs to the gate, waiting for “mom” to come and get her. The stunning chestnut mare enjoys her life in a verdant pasture, and trail rides and hunter paces with Judy. Life wasn’t always like this. Two years ago, Mirage was less than 24 hours away […]

Scribbles

“Imagine finding your beloved horse on Facebook in a kill pen bleeding to death with a severed artery, when you though she was safe and happy in a loving home. That’s what happened to me.” Brittany Wallace couldn’t believe it when she saw Scribbles’ face looking out at her from a Facebook post for a […]

Chestnut Mares

Chestnut mares have a reputation, often well earned, to uphold. Just like redheads, they’re presumed hot, with fiery tempers. So when I saw the chestnut mare jigging into the ring, the whites of her eyes showing, with a rookie child rider on her back, I saw disaster headed in my direction. Judging is not an […]

Cooper

She didn’t want another horse; in fact she was trying to thin her herd. Carol Herron had just retired from her work as a scientist, and wanted to establish herself as a rider and trainer. At the time, Carol had four horses. Her event horse, a Thoroughbred mare named Lee, had developed a severe lung […]