We are saddened to see that Golden Gate Fields closed this past weekend. We had great memories there, especially the time we met the late equine photographer Julie Albright who took us to the backstretch to meet her horse Awesome Gem whom she owned in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds. We especially loved the area which included a tribute to the champion sprinter Lost in the Fog who is buried at the track he called home.

Read more: Remembering Golden Gate Fields Racecourse

by Allyson Coluccio

An expert in importing, Allyson Coluccio provides her take on what to look out for before buying a horse from across the pond

I have been importing horses since the early 90’s. Well, I suppose it actually started with the ponies! I started with importing British Riding Ponies from England. At the time, Warmbloods were just becoming more popular, so in 1995, I began importing horses as well. 

To date, I’ve imported hundreds of horses from Europe to the United States, primarily focusing on horses from Holland, Belgium, and Germany. While at this point I’m a seasoned professional in the importing business, I still manage to learn new things everyday—and I hope to share that sentiment with others that are interested in importing. 

While finding the horse that fits your needs for the ring you wish to compete in is important, I encourage buyers to seek out the most amateur-friendly horse you can find. While these do exist in America, I find that the horses in Europe with the best brains are actually less expensive than here. 

In Europe, they value a little more blood than the average person in America. While they have caught on to the idea of “hunter-izing,” you may be able to get the slow and steady horse for a purchase price of $40,000 that would otherwise cost six figures in the United States.

Outside of the potential savings you could get from this type, the obvious reason to buy the best-brained horse is for safety and assurance in the ring and on the ground; that quieter horse means less prep, which means less wear and tear on the horse. 

I currently have a horse that I think is the best horse we have ever had. It doesn’t matter if he hasn’t been turned out or ridden consistently. Every day that he comes out, I am just as likely to put an eight-year-old on him as I am an eighty-five-year old. That’s what makes him great!

A Common Trap

As an expert, even I have been fooled by the rumored “X-ray swap.” I recently purchased a horse from someone that I have bought from before, and sure enough, the X-rays I was given were not the ones that belonged to the horse. Luckily, they were mediocre X-rays exchanged for other mediocre X-rays, but it’s important to make sure you do everything possible to ensure this doesn’t happen to you! 

Even if a seller has X-rays for a horse, be sure to pull your own and confirm that the name, microchip number, or other identifying qualities match with the horse that you are purchasing. 

On the subject of X-rays, I’d like to stress the importance of sometimes looking beyond the X-rays. As a whole, what comes up in films is very rarely what becomes an injury to a horse. More horses get soft tissue injuries due to the excessive work we do in America. That’s not something that has anything to do with an X-ray; that’s a people problem!

If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend you consider the horse with a blemish. Consult your vet to see how it may impact them long term. Who knows, you may end up with the WEF hack winner at a fraction of the price as it would be in America.

Importing can be a super fun way to find your next partner. Just make sure you’re smart about the buying process and find the one that is the best fit for you.

This article originally appeared on The Plaid Horse and is published here with permission. All photos courtesy of The Plaid Horse.

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A Colorado Town Rises Up To Make Streets Safer For Equestrians

by Lee Foster

On December 2nd, careless driving turned deadly in a quiet Colorado equestrian neighborhood. A local schoolteacher and her horse were on their way to ride the trails at a park near their barn when they stopped at a stop sign, looked both ways, and proceeded to cross an intersection they had ridden through hundreds of times over their years of riding the neighborhood together.

Halfway through the intersection, the rider saw a car approaching the four-way stop much too fast. She screamed for the driver to stop as she urged her horse out of the car’s path. The driver, she would explain to the local news later, did not even look up from his lap.

He smashed into her horse, shattering his front legs on impact and sending her flying onto the hood and windshield of the car. When law enforcement arrived on scene, the shaken rider said she was unhurt and stayed with her companion until he was euthanized in the street fifteen minutes after the crash.

The driver was sent home with a ticket for running a stop sign.

A Tight-Knit Community

Nestled between the foothills and the plains, the laid-back town of Arvada, Colorado might not seem like a hotbed of equestrian activity – blocks of condominiums and strip malls have largely replaced the historic barns and pastures that once defined its landscape. But the equestrian community hasn’t gone anywhere.

Instead, it’s adapted to the shut-down boarding barns and increased housing development. Town-broke pleasure horses can be found in drive-thrus and at tavern hitching racks, while A Circuit champions go about their workouts alongside youth drill team and gymkhana horses, tucked behind privacy fences and long driveways. Keep your eyes peeled and you might even spy a field hunter conditioning in the grass strips along the parkway.

As the traditional infrastructure for horsekeeping disappears from the area, horse folk of all backgrounds have become increasingly resourceful and reliant on community resources. People board in friends’ pastures and ride in dilapidated public arenas where the footing quality depends on neighborhood organizers.

Unofficial routes through neighborhoods are established and negotiated with neighbors in order to access riding areas. Sometimes, conditioning is just done by walking around the block. As jokes about invading local golf courses become less tongue-in-cheek, horse owners have come to realize that self-reliance in the local horse industry is becoming a thing of the past.

Tragedy Strikes Too Close to Home

When Griffin the off-track Thoroughbred was struck by a car, the outcry was immediate and vast. The collision occurred on a busy residential street near the school where the rider teaches, and dozens bore witness to the tragedy as the rider’s worst nightmare played out before her eyes. Within hours, news of the crash had spread from the northern reaches of Colorado to the remote communities in the Rocky Mountains.

The local equestrians’ anger and grief were palpable, and cries for law enforcement to do more to punish the driver rose up all over social media. Soon, a post was circulating on Facebook with instructions for how to write to Colorado State Patrol as well as the state congresswomen representing the district where Griffin died.

Dozens of people raised their voices and spoke up on behalf of the crash victim and her horse, demanding a safer city and a safer county for equestrians as the area becomes more urbanized. People contacted the media, and the outrage grew as two TV stations aired stories about the devastating wreck.

From Social Media Rage Comes Real Life Hope for Change

Within days of the launch of the email campaign to the state congresswomen, the district’s state representative reached out by phone to one of the organizers, expressing her heartbreak at the senseless loss and her firm resolve to help bring change. At the same time, the scheduled monthly meeting of the Arvada Area Horsemen’s Association was opened to the aggrieved equestrian public.

The meeting’s organizers scrapped the original agenda and put together a PowerPoint presentation on how the local horsemen’s associations and horse councils are already working toward a horse-friendly development plan for the county.

Thanks to a grassroots Facebook campaign that reached thousands without boosting a single post, the December 11th meeting’s attendance was standing room only with overflow tuning in via Zoom.

Over two hundred equestrians, representing every corner of the state, turned out to discuss positive changes that need to be made in the community. The state congressional representative was there with her six month old baby. Accompanying her was a county commissioner as well as a representative from the county planning and zoning commission.

Over the course of two hours, the gathered crowd discussed an equestrian-friendly master plan for the county’s infrastructure; statewide legislation to protect equestrians on public roadways; and steps individual equestrians can take to protect themselves when hacking out on the street. The overall takeaway from the meeting was that equestrians, when organized, are a powerful force for community change.

The main obstacle between equestrians and a safe community is the difficulty of organization and community participation in local government. Fortunately for the Arvada community, the outcry surrounding Griffin’s death has united equestrians around a common goal of safer infrastructure and enhanced legal protections for horses on the road.

A Fight for Change is Just Beginning

Many equestrians are aware of local horsemen’s associations and horse councils, which are typically nonprofit organizations geared toward providing group riding opportunities as well as giving the equestrian community a voice at the political table. The Arvada meeting boasted representatives from the Colorado Horse Council, Community Equestrian Arvada, the Arvada Area Horsemen’s Association, and the Jefferson County Horse Council.

Attendees were urged to join at least one of these organizations and keep the organizational momentum going. Changing laws and infrastructure policies is a noble goal that requires a lot of dedicated and at times tedious work on behalf of the citizens who want that change.

The need for substantial fundraising was also brought up, since infrastructural changes to make the community safer for horses require a significant amount of professional services just to research as well as permits, materials, and labor in order to implement them.

The prospect of raising enough money to buy a going grand prix horse may be daunting to some in the local community, but the reality is that the horse community is well-connected and generally affluent compared to other communities who have successfully enacted change in their towns and counties.

As the Arvada community processes its shock and grief over the unconscionable loss of our friend’s equine partner, community members are taking comfort and inspiration from the messages relayed at the December 11th town hall meeting. Even better, they are mobilizing under the banners of their local horsemen’s associations to bring about crucial protections for equestrians in a rapidly urbanizing neighborhood.

Although the #JusticeForGriffin outcry is centered in Colorado, riders within the state have expressed hope that their efforts will be seen and mirrored throughout the nation as equestrians strive to preserve their way of life in the modern world.

Lee Foster is a lifelong equestrian hailing from rural Colorado. Raised by a rodeo cowboy in a Pony Club family, he has a soft spot for quirky grade horses and off-track Thoroughbreds with a certain gleam in their eye. When he is not cleaning his tack for the hunt or malingering in the local consignment shop, Lee can generally be found hacking around town or teaching lower-level dressage to local eager youths.

This article originally appeared on The Plaid Horse and is published here with permission.

There are many more interesting articles in our section on Recreation & Lifestyle.

By the EIE Editorial Staff

There has been recent news about Graceland possibly changing hands. The latest news is that auction plans have been abandoned. But let's look back on happier times and remember when The King shared his home with family, friends and his beloved horses.

A deeper dive into his love of horses in All The King’s Horses: An Equestrian Life of Elvis Presley by Victoria Racimo and Kimberly Gatto perfectly captured the importance horses had in Elvis’s life and he felt a great connection to them. Like many horse lovers, we would find them as a source of calmness and enjoyment – and a way to escape the chaos and pressures of fame.

His love also extended to his family and friends. One of Elvis’ favorites was a Tennessee Walking Horse named Bear. The image of Elvis riding on Bear is a candid photograph taken on January 1, 1968.

He bought horses as gifts so he could share experiences with them! He was also a cowboy at heart and greeted guests at Graceland on horseback.

Elvis's passion for horses wasn't just passing fancy. At one point, he had so many horses that he needed a separate ranch, the Circle G Ranch, to house them all!

The image of Elvis riding on Bear is a candid photograph taken on January 1, 1968. © Magma Agency / WireImage / Getty Images.

Read more about Elvis in this book:
All The King’s Horses: An Equestrian Life of Elvis Presley
by Victoria Racimo and Kimberly Gatto

Buy Now on Amazon
Hardcover | Kindle | Audiobook.

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By the EIE Editorial Staff

We love horses and owning a horse can be a very rewarding experience, but it's important to be aware of the challenges involved before you take the plunge. Here are 10 of the biggest challenges you're likely to face.

1. Financial Commitment

Horses are expensive animals to keep. You'll need to factor in the cost of bedding and feed, farrier services, veterinary care, stabling or boarding fees, deworming, vaccinations, and other miscellaneous expenses. You may also choose to insure your horse which is an additional cost.

2.Time Commitment

Horses are social animals that require regular handling and attention. You'll need to spend time each day feeding, watering, cleaning their stall, grooming, and exercising them. Even if you board your horse at a stable, you'll still need to factor in travel time to and from the barn.

3. Finding Suitable Housing

Horses need a safe and secure place to live. You'll either need to have enough property to provide them with pasture and shelter, or you'll need to board them at a stable. Boarding fees can vary depending on the location and amenities offered. Here's a Boarding Checklist to help you in your search.

4. Training

Even if you're buying a well-trained horse, you'll still need to take some time to get to know each other and build a bond. Horses are intelligent creatures that can learn a lot, but they also have their own minds and can be stubborn at times. You may also want to hire a trainer or participate in a clinic.

5. Health Care

Horses are susceptible to a variety of health problems, some of which can be very expensive to treat. It's important to have a good relationship with a veterinarian who specializes in equine care. Equine dentists and therapy also help with maintaining good health for your horse.

6. Commitment for the Long Haul

Horses can live for 20 to 30 years or even longer. When you buy a horse, you're making a long-term commitment to their care. Be sure you're prepared to provide them with a loving home for their entire lifetime. At some point, you may choose a retirement home for them so they will have a peaceful life in their final years if their current living situation is not suitable for their advancing age. And finally, there are difficult decisions to make when your beloved horse crosses the rainbow bridge.

7. Unexpected Costs

Even if you budget carefully, there will always be unexpected costs that come up, such as a sudden illness or injury. It's important to have a financial cushion to cover these costs.

8. Finding a Horse that's Right for You

With so many different breeds and types of horses available for so many riding disciplines, it's important to find one that's a good match for your experience level, riding style, and budget. Do your research and try out a few different horses before you make a decision.

9. Safety

Horses are large, powerful animals, and they can be dangerous if not handled properly. It's important to learn how to handle horses safely on the ground and in the saddle. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear when riding.

10. Finding Support

Owning a horse can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It's important to have a support system in place, such as a trainer, a farrier, a veterinarian, and other horse owners. These people can provide you with guidance, support, and friendship.

Keeping all of these in mind, owning a horse can be an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding relationship for many years, so treasure every moment!

You can find more interesting stories in our section on Recreation & Lifestyle.