A week of perfect March weather led into the House Mountain Horse Show on March 12-13 at the Virginia Horse Center. On Sunday afternoon classes were full, if not overflowing, with entries. Here’s a slideshow of photos from Sunday afternoon in the horse center’s Coliseum where Intermediate and Academy Hunters were competing.
Author: RoanokeEquestrian
GET YOUR HORSE FIX: Equestrian events in the Roanoke region March 5-6
The daylight is sticking around longer, the temperature outside has crept up a bit, and the equine events in the Roanoke region are heating up too.
Weekend highlight: Green Hill Park Equestrian Center will host it’s GHPEC Winter Series II, on Sunday, March 6. The show will also include a used tack sale (no fee to set up a table!) Richard Toms will judge. The show will start at 11 a.m. and is Blue Ridge Horse Force sanctioned.
Also this weekend:
- Hollins Spring Welcome Horse Show, March 3-6, Virginia Horse Center
- Tack Swap and Sale, March 5, Hardy Central Baptist Church, Henrico, Va.
- Early Bird Coggins Clinic, March 5, Liberty Lake Park, Bedford, Va.
Get ready for these events March 12-13
- Breeding & Foaling Learning Day, March 12, Buchanan, Virginia (Space limited to 25, register by emailing deb@amethystacres.com)
- Coggins/Rabies Clinic, March 12, Ferrum
- Working Cow Horse Clinic, March 12, Bedford, Va.
- Michael Lyons Intro to Reining Clinic, March 12, Blacksburg (Walnut Springs Stables) $25 to audit
- Coggins/Vaccine Clinic, March 12, Buckingham, Va.
- House Mountain Horse Show, March 11-12, Virginia Horse Center
- Interscholastic Equestrian Association Zone 3 Championship, March 12-13, Virginia Horse Center, East Complex
Support Virginia Horse Center on Amazon
If you want to support the Virginia Horse Center and shop via Amazon, be sure to sign up for the Amazon Smile program.
The program donates 0.5 percent of all eligible purchases to the charity of your choosing.
To shop in support of the horse center click here, or visit Smile.Amazon.com and select the Virginia Horse Center Foundation as your supported non-profit.
Virginia Horse Center hires consultant, welcomes back board member
Development consultant hired
The Virginia Horse Center has hired Jennifer Donovan recently joined the Virginia Horse Center team as development consultant with the center’s goal to create a permanent, full-time development officer role. Donovan was recruited from The Nature Conservancy after serving 4 years as Associate Director of Philanthropy.
Prior to fundraising for The Nature Conservancy, Donovan was the co-founder, principal and visionary for Equestrian Services, LLC and Equestrian Management, LLC for
13 years.
Donovan has extensive knowledge of equestrian facilities,including riding arenas, footing,
fencing, and pasture renovation, as well as all horse-related care and equine management
activities. Her excellent communication, planning, organizational and follow-up skills enable her to develop relationships with clients, staff and community organizations.
After 40 years of involvement in the equestrian industry, Donovan has a vision of raising the bar in the equestrian services industry. This vision encompassed creating a professional standard for quality design that focuses on safety and efficiency of care, all
the while creating an equine profession built on sound business practices, customer service, and quality management, training and instruction.
Raised in an equestrian family, Donovan was an avid pony clubber and hunter/jumper competitor growing up in Maryland. As an adult, upper level dressage is Donovan’s riding passion. She earned the USDF Bronze Medal and worked on qualifications for the Silver Medal until her Dutch Warmblood, Renard, was retired from competition. She also enjoys trail riding when her schedule allows.
Mullins joins board of directors
Patrick Mullins, who has been involved with the Horse Center since ground was first broken 30 years ago, has rejoined the board of directors.
“I remember I came with Bob Reel to look at the Horse Center about possible insurance on it. Bob and I stood up at the top of the hill where those three flagpoles are. That was the only thing there – those three flag poles. Bob was showing me what the dream was and what the goal was – which is very much where we are now,” Mullins said.
Mullins comes to the Horse Center with a more than 30 year career with Markel Equine Insurance, having put together insurance programs for leading equestrian organizations such as the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Paint Horse Association and much, much more.
Mullins also most recently served as the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia from 2009 to 2015.
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Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue takes in 7 Franklin County horses
The Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue has taken in seven starving horses from Franklin County. On Feb. 25, staff from the horse rescue assisted Franklin County Animal Control to investigate a case of four to five neglected horses.
The Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue says four mares and one colt were found in a field, emaciated with body scores of 1 to 2, with no access to water or hay.
The horse rescue said that after being told by the owner there were no other horses on the property, they continued to investigate and found two more horses — a stallion and a mini — locked in small stalls and left standing in wet manure. Those two horses also had no access to hay or water, the rescue said.
The 7 horses were signed over to the county and removed immediately from the property and brought to the horse rescue for care.
The horses will be seen by a vet to be evaluated for any medical issues.
How you can help:
With the additional horses, the horse rescue is now caring for 62 horses. If you like to help these horses these are the items that the horse rescue needs:
- Grain – Sentinel feeds (LS and Senior) can be purchased at Tractor Supply in Rocky Mount (our contact is Trina at 540-334-1109) or Doc’s Feeds in Salem (Brett – 540-380-3433)
- Hay – Bagged Timothy Alfalfa from Tractor Supply, Square Bales of hay
Supplements- Corn Oil, Canned Corn, Canned Carrots, Applesauce and sugar cookies from any grocery food store. - Bedding – we use the cedar bedding which can be purchased at Walmart along with any bedding from Southern States or Tractor supply
- Dewormers – 7 Strongid Paste, 7 Quest Gel, 7 Anthelcide EQ and 7 Safe-guard.
- Blankets– 5 size 74 -76 and 1 size 70 we have one to fit the mini.
- Tack items – 5 full size halter (4 mares, 1 stud) 1 Yearling halter and 1 pony halter. 7 additional hang on fence buckets, additional lead ropes.
- Donations – For Information on how to make a monetary donations to help with the horses veterinary bills visit the rescue’s website at www.rvhr.com. Donations can be made online. All donors who contribute to the care of these horses will have access to the rescue’s barn cam where the horses can be visited via the internet at any time for 30 days. The instructions on how to use the webcams will be emailed to each donor.
Emily Jane Hilscher Memorial Show seeks sponsors/donations
Virginia Tech’s annual Emily Jane Hilscher Memorial Show has been scheduled for April 22-23 at the Alphin Stuart Arena in Blacksburg. The show is held in memory of Emily Jane Hilscher, a Virginia Tech equestrian team member and animal and poultry sciences freshman who was killed in the April 16, 2007, shootings at Virginia Tech.
The horse show is run using donations from local companies, alumni and friends. All the money collected at the horse show goes to a scholarship fund for Animal & Poultry Science majors who represent good academic standing, amazing character and a strong work ethic. The show is currently seeking sponsors/donations. Visit http://kburke08.wix.com/ejhmhs#!boarding-options/cxxj or email kburke08@vt.edu for more information.
The show is one of two 4-H qualifiers in the southwest Virginia area and is also SWVHJA sanctioned. Saturday’s classes include over fences in the morning and hunter and dressage classes in the afternoon. Sunday features Western classes including pleasure, horsemanship, ranch riding, racking, trail obstacle challenge and speed. Find the class schedule here.
Visit the show’s website at kburke08.wix.com/ejhmhs and its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EmilyJaneHilscherMemorialHorseShow/?fref=ts
Save a Horse, Taste a Bourbon returns to Roanoke
The Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue will hold its second annual Save a Horse, Taste a Bourbon fundraiser at the City Market Building in downtown Roanoke on Saturday, April 9. The event will include a silent auction, dancing, door prizes and, of course, bourbon.
The event is $30/person for advance tickets or $40/person at the door. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
GET YOUR HORSE FIX: Equestrian events in the Roanoke area Feb. 20-21
The Robin S. Cramer hall is one of the largest indoor college arenas in the nation at 120 feet by 300 feet. Photo by Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar College winter horse show
Sweet Briar College will host its Winter Show Feb. 21 at Sweet Briar College. Ellen Shavella will judge the show for hunters and jumpers. The show starts at 8:30 a.m. in the indoor arena and includes classes sanctioned by SWVHJA. Fax entries To: (434) 381-6457 by 3 p.m. Friday. Entries the day of the show will be charged a $10 office fee.
Also this weekend at the Virginia Horse Center
The horse center is hosting a variety of events this weekend including Saddlebreds, a Jumper Derby and dog agility for jumping of a different sort.
- Jumper Derby: Eventing In Virginia & College Team Challenge Team Challenge, Feb. 20, Virginia Horse Center, East Complex. A Jumper Derby combines stadium jumps and cross country jumps that might typically be encountered at an event or horse trial. Competition is open to any eventer, hunter or jumper who wants to practice for the upcoming season or wants to add a little variety and fun to their jumping. Low key, casual atmosphere.
- Star City Canine Agility, Trials from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily, Anderson Coliseum
- Virginia Winter Tournament & UPHA Horse Show (Saddlebreds), Feb. 19-20, Virginia Horse Center Barns 5 & 6. Show starts at noon.
Looking ahead: Chase away the winter blues at Jacobs Run Equestrian Center show in Forest on Feb. 28
Jacobs Run Equestrian Center hosts its Winter Blues Horse Show on Feb. 28 at Jacob’s Run Equestrian Center in Forest, Va. Shelby Turner Rader will judge the Blue Ridge Horse Force- sanctioned open show that includes classes for English, Western, Games, Equitation, Minis and Ranch. All hunter classes are on the flat.
ACTHA breaks its silence on organization’s troubles
After months of rumors, canceled rides and angry members asking where ACTHA (American Competitive Trail Horse Association) had gone, the organization has finally broken its silence on the financial crisis it is facing.
In the magazine, ACTHA Monthly, a two-page spread titled “What’s Going On? The Real ACTHA Crisis” outlines the organization’s troubles, the first time the members have been addressed on the crisis even though staff members had been laid off weeks earlier, leaving the offices empty and phones ringing when members tried to contact the group.
In the article, ACTHA first offers some background. “The real truth is ACTHA has been struggling for a long time.” The article alludes to funding that didn’t come through, and investment in a new website that also didn’t materialize. It doesn’t go into any further detail on those two points. It also issues vague blame on “eccentric leadership” and “managerial frustrations” for the organization’s inability to “flourish.”
The article admits that the organization had “some financial loss” it was working to overcome and went into the winter with very low reserves. For the first time it was unable to pay its ride hosts.
Then on Dec. 6, 2015, the ACTHA donation page was hit by a series of credit card donations. “They donated $1, $2, $20, and so on, until thousands of donations had come in totaling over $60,000.” The organization says it started paying bills and felt “rescued” and “relieved.” But then fraudulent claims started to come in. The donations turned out to be fraudulent charges made to stolen cards, and the organization was facing $15 charge back fees on those $1 donations. ACTHA’s accounts started to fall into a “bottomless abyss of disappearing funds.”
As of Jan. 1, 2016, all staff was laid off. A few continued to work as volunteers. Two people manned the customer service phones and email. That remains the situation at this time. “Our volunteers managing Facebook cannot answer questions regarding refunds, ride closing, etc., so while it seems like they are ignoring those questions, they don’t have access to those answers.
As to its future, ACTHA says it will not give up fighting and lists some of the people that are working to revive the organization: “a volunteer professional with experience with non-profits” a “highly active new board member … with a professional background in the corporate world” an attorney, two CPAs and state offices. “We are fighting the good fight and will not give up easily!”
The organization says it is looking at several options including Chapter 11 bankruptcy, although “that is certainly not a first choice.” ACTHA insists that its first priority is paying its ride hosts.
ACTHA is restructuring its policies and procedures “to provide an environment of accountability.” The organization plans to create “executive teams in the areas of IT and finance, rather than having those areas controlled by one particular person.” Positions such as president, vice president, etc., will be eliminated and replaced by teams.
Rides on the schedule for February will all be canceled and refunds given while the changes to the organization are implemented. ACTHA has obtained ride insurance and it will be activated once necessary IT changes have been made, hopefully by the end of February. Rides are expected to be able to continue by March 1.
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Western Pleasure comes with big stakes at Virginia Classic
A big-stakes western pleasure class will be at the Virginia Horse Center on April 9 as part of the Virginia Quarter Horse Association’s Virginia Classic Horse Show.
The Hylton Maiden 3-year-old and Over class takes place each year at the AQHA show and provides an incentive to wait for outstanding pleasure prospects to mature.
In 2015, the Hylton Maiden paid out $91,500. This year, $50,000 in added money will be put into the jackpot, making the projected payout for 2016 to be $31,500 to the winner, $11,570 for reserve and $8,455 for third. When calculated on a 20-entry average, even 10th place will recoup the $1,500 entry fee. (Click here to download an entry form for the 2016 Hylton Maiden. Click here to use the new online entry system for the 2016 Hylton Maiden.)
In addition to the jackpot, a $6,000 bonus will be awarded to the Highest Placing Intermediate Rider in the class and a $4,000 bonus will be awarded to the Highest Placing Limited Rider.
Judges for the Virginia Classic are Casey and April Devitt, Brad Kearns, Jeff Allen, Rick Christy, and Ryan Kail.
Entries are due by March 12; however, horses may be entered up until Friday, April 8 at 5 p.m. for a $500 late fee.
Past champions have included Taft Dickerson with Made By J (2015), Randy Wilson with Certainly On Sundi (2014), Jay Starnes with Zip By Machine (2013) and Kristy Starnes with Zippin Hot Machine (2012).
Roanoke Equestrian 