March
2011
News From the President
Hello from your new President:
Hard to believe but spring is here. The robins have arrived and show season is right around the corner. We are
fast approaching our 2011 show season. Get ready to fit into your white breeches and black show coat. We have added a
division for young horses at the Intro, Training and First level. To be eligible for this division, a copy of your coggins or
breed registration papers need to be sent to Lauren Comish-Sumwalt, our Schooling Show Chairperson prior to your first
show. We have changed our year end awards to match our divisions. Please check our website to see the changes.
MDA is going green. We are no longer printing and mailing the annual omnibus. I am asking that our members
utilize the website for information that would normally be found in the omnibus. We are in the process of updating show
information, divisions, year end awards, etc. Check back often as updates are frequently added.
There are still spaces available in the MDA hosted “Fix-A-Test” Clinic at Thornridge Manor on April 16, 2011.
Phoebe Devoe-Moore has kindly offered her beautiful facility and services for this clinic. This is a chance to ride the
new tests in front of a judge before show season begins. Riders will get feedback on their ride (test of their choice), a
coaching session with Phoebe to improve on their show technique, and a chance to ride their test again for additional
feedback. The cost is $40.00 per ride. Second rides will be put on a waitlist. Please visit website for further info and
registration info Opening date was March 6, 2011. Closing date will be April 6, 2011.
It seems hard to believe but our first schooling show is right around the corner. It will be held at Petticoats
Advance on May 1, 2011. The judge will be Peggy Pariso. Just a reminder that you need to be a member 30 days prior to
the closing date of the show in order to get the member’s discount for the classes (a savings of $7.00 per class) and for
the scores to count towards year end awards. Opening date is March 19, 2011.
Reminder! The new USDF tests are now available! There are only 3 tests per level from Training through Fourth.
Intro now has a test C that includes canter.
I hope we can all work together to make this a happy and productive show season. I look forward to seeing you
out at the shows. Please contact me at keelysdressagequeen@live.com to volunteer at any of the MDA shows or events.
From your New Prez,
Jackie Caldwell
Volunteers needed:
WE need volunteers for the following positions at our schooling shows:
Organizer for July 31, 2011 Liberty View Schooling Show
Without our Volunteers, shows cannot be held. If you are able to fill one of these organizer or entry
secretary positions, please contact Lauren Comish Sumwalt at showmda@yahoo.com.
For those of you that want to volunteer for one of the many positions at the upcoming shows, contact
information for organizers is provided on our website. Our volunteers receive work credits for the time
they work at the show. These work credits can be used towards show entry fees, clinics with top area
trainers and for our Annual Awards Banquet.
Committees:
I am looking for members that would be interested in serving on our various committees. Bring your
new and fresh ideas! I am particularly interested in hearing from any members with fundraising or
marketing knowledge. Please send me your contact information and ideas to
Keelysdressagequeen@live.com. Look forward to hearing from you.
Young Riders:
Yes, that time of year is right around the corner! The Young Rider team competition is scheduled
for July 23/24, 2011 at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. The official prize list package will be available
April 10, 2011. The show website is www.Region1YT.info. Any Young Rider interested in being on a
team, please contact either Brianne Reynolds at Bellabre81@aol.com or Sarah Brooks
at adonaifarms@verizon.net.
Adult Team Competition:
This year, the Adult Team Competition is being hosted by ESDCTA. It is scheduled to be held
on 9/24 and 9/25, 2011 at the Horse Park of New Jersey. More information will be posted as it becomes
available. A meeting will be scheduled as soon as this information is put out by ESDCTA to discuss
ideas on how to make this competition better for the adults. All those who participated last year please
send me your ideas. Anyone wishing to participate this year, you may contact me at
keelysdressagequeen@live.com.
Protective Headgear Ruling:
USEF has issued their ruling concerning the use of protective headgear. In accordance with this
ruling, MDA has amended our rule, to begin with the 2011 show year. The USEF rules, as well as
MDA’s rule, are now posted on the website: http://www.marylanddressage.org.
A Heart of Gold and Lungs of Steel
By Carol Bossone, DVM
For this month, I thought I’d focus on two organs we may take for granted both in our horses and ourselves; the
heart and lungs. These two are often forgotten, but we certainly know immediately when there is a failure in one of these
two vital organs. These organs are tailored just perfectly for function in our athletic horses and they both have
interesting comparative features when contrasted with ourselves or other animals. As usual, I like to discuss some
anatomy and physiology that gives perspective and insight on how these organs allow our horses to perform so well.
First the lungs.
The respiratory system is divided into the trachea, bronchi (2 further dividing into bronchioles, and alveoli) and
lungs. The alveoli is the actual air exchange portion with the underlying capillaries that exchange gases (oxygen, carbon
dioxide). The lungs of our horses, unlike ourselves and other herbivores, are not as well divided into distinct “lobes”.
Most animals have four right lobes and two left lobes. The horse lacks one “lobe” on the right side, but these anatomical
differences in horses by no means limit their exercise capability. I’ve outlined some amazing facts on your horses’
respiratory tract and capability. First, your horse has a total lung volume of about 37 liters at rest (that’s about 10 gallons
of air). Secondly, the alveolar surface area to exchange these gases is about 24 million square cm (approximately 1
million square feet if spread out flat!!!). When the horse lung volume is plotted against body mass and compared to
other animals there is a direct relationship to body mass and lung volume and the horse (as we would expect) is at the top
of the scale.
The horse with a normal respiratory rate of 10 breaths/minute (rest) has a tidal volume (volume of air moved per
inspiration/expiration) of about 7.5 liters. Most of the resistance (and therefore energy cost of breathing) to airflow is in
the upper airways (ie. Before the air reaches the thorax) particularly in the nasal cavity and since the horse as we know is
an obligate nose breather (unlike many other animals including other herbivores) they have adapted other means in
which to compensate for this disadvantage. For example the horse can generate higher respiratory rates during exercise,
dilate their nostrils, extend their head and neck and open their larynx wider to allow more air in. They also synchronize
their canter/gallop (but not trot) with their strides to take advantage of pressure changes and gravity forces in the thorax
(watch them sometime – they will always expire when the lead foreleg strikes the ground). Veterinarians aware of these
comparative and physiological capabilities of the horse can use this knowledge to diagnose diseases, illness or pathology.
For example, stridor (abnormal breathing sounds) can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages in a resting horse
because they do have such an amazing capability when compared to more sedentary herbivores. These abnormal
respiratory sounds if present are better diagnosed in an exercising horse or can be heard in a horse that is being asked to
collect since this maneuver increases the angulation of the pharynx area and decreases normal airflow.
The equine heart is an equally marvelous organ. Horses have a remarkable cardiovascular reserve. Blood volume
generally ranges from 75-80 ml/kg (or about 70 pints for a full grown horse). They can move this blood from a resting
heart rate of 30-40 beats/min and a cardiac output of 40 liters/min (10 gallons/min!) to an astonishing 240 beats/min and
250-300 liters/min cardiac output during maximal exercise!! Because they are such natural athletes early heart disease or
clinical signs are not easily recognized at rest. Poor performance and exercise intolerance are often the first signs
(among a possibility of other causes) of cardiac or heart disease. Common clinical signs (to mention only a few) that
can occur with both the respiratory tract and circulatory system include coughing, decrease exercise tolerance, pulse
quality (e.g. bounding, weak, abnormal rhythm), perfusion abnormalities (e.g. pale gums, distended jugular vein), and
abnormal heart and/or lung sounds. Your veterinarian will use many diagnostic tools to diagnose respiratory or
cardiovascular abnormalities and of course these are always evaluated in a pre-purchase exam.
So the next time you gallop your horse across the green pastures (ok green pastures are under there somewhere
coming soon) think of these two amazing organs as a true heart of gold and lungs of steel ~ because they really are.
References
1. Parent, A. Comparative Biology of the normal lung 1992.
2. Rose and Hudgson, Manual of equine Practice
Acupuncture for Riders
BY Maggie Moyer
I recently rejoined MDA after a three year break. During that time, I have been attending Tai Sophia Institute to earn my
Master’s degree in Acupuncture. I should be finished and ready to set up my practice in April of 2011. I have worked as
a Nurse since 1980 in Intensive care and the Operating Room. Some of you may know me as an Equine Massage
therapist and owner of Brass Ring Horse Massage. I have been massaging horses in this area for the last 20 years. I, as
other horse people, would rather have my horse massaged than myself. Same goes for Acupuncture I am asked many
times if I am going to school to do Equine Acupuncture. Eventually, I will. However, for now I will be working on
people. As an Equine massage therapist, I noticed the horses were mirroring their rider’s issues. A horse was stiff to the
right and the rider would complain about a sore right hip and leg. I wanted to find a way to help the riders. It was not
until my own physical issues became an obstacle to my riding that I found the way to do this...Acupuncture. I would
develop a severe hip spasm after riding and nothing alleviated the pain. A friend suggested Acupuncture. Since I always
had my horses acupunctured with much success I decided to give it a try. I went and within three treatments pain was
gone and I was riding pain free!
I was intrigued. The Acupuncturist told me she used to be a nurse and went to school to get her Masters in Acupuncture.
I researched it and enrolled in Tai Sophia in January 2008. During this time I have learned that in Chinese medicine,
pain, anxiety and or stress may be due to or the result of blocked energy, or Qi, in the body. The body is made up of
Meridians or Rivers of energy (Qi). The Meridians are a separate system from the nervous or blood system of the body
and like other body systems has its own rhythm and flow. This rhythm and flow correlates very well with the state of
your health. A blockage in this flow can result in pain or stiffness which can affect your riding and transmit to your
horse’s movement. Have you ever felt nervous before a show and have your horse pick up on your energy and act
nervous as well? Ever wonder why you may feel nauseous or dizzy prior to your class? Do you want to learn and
understand why and how accessing certain points on your body may relieve these symptoms? The ancient writings offer
some explanation to these questions and are what I have been studying for the last few years. The needles used are fine
single-use needles. If you feel any discomfort with the needle insertions it is generally not the needle but the release of
Qi. The discomfort is only momentary. People describe a tingling warm feeling some do not feel anything until after
several treatments. One of the most common questions I encounter is if I am inserting the needle in a nerve. The answer
is no. As stated above, the Meridians are a separate system and the needle insertion is shallow. I take great care to avoid
any underlying structure to include nerves.
Acupuncture is an ancient art of healing that has been used in China and surrounding countries for thousands of years. It
is believed to have originated in China where the earliest known writings were dated to be 5000 years old. There is
evidence that Acupuncture was used much earlier and was passed on by word of mouth. Its use and combination with
herbs varied over the centuries. As a result there are many forms of Acupuncture. The style I studied is known as 5
Element.
Acupuncture not only helps to relieve pain, it can also help relieve anxiety and stress which can be an obstacle in
achieving goals. It can help you become more aware of your body so that you can recognize early warning sign and can
better manage life. I am still accepting patients at the Baltimore Student Clinic. In April 2011 I will be practicing in
Towson Md. If you have any questions or this sounds like it may be of interest to you, please feel free to contact me. My
contact information is maggiemoyer4@gmail.com
Maryland Dressage Association 2011 Event Roster
April 16
Fix-a-Test Clinic with Phoebe Devoe-Moore at Thornridge Manor in Glen Arm, MD
April 30
Schooling Show at Petticoat’s Advance in Upperco, MD
May 22
Schooling Show at Thornridge Manor in Glen Arm, MD
May 28-29
Dressage at Heavenly Waters Licensed Show in Bel Air, MD
June 12
Schooling Show at Olney Farm in Joppa, MD
June 25
Schooling Show at Ships Quarters Farm in Westminster, MD
July 9
Schooling Show at New Covert Farm in Madonna, MD
July 23-24
Region 1 Young Rider Team Competition at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA*
July 31
Schooling Show at Liberty View Farm in Finksburg, MD
August 20
Caitlin Ben-Dror Memorial Dressage Show at Whispering Spring Farm in Stewartstown, PA*
Sept. 10
Schooling Show at Ships Quarters in Westminster, MD
Sept. 17
Schooling Show at Tranquility Manor Farm in Monkton, MD
Sept. 24-25 Adult Team Competition at Horse Park of New Jersey*
October 9
MDA Finals Schooling Show at Heavenly Waters in Bel Air, MD (Regular classes offered in addition
to Championship classes)
October 30
Fall Fun Show at Thornridge Manor in Glen Arm, MD
*These events are not sponsored by the MDA, but scores may be used for MDA Year End Awards.
Please visit http://www.marylandressage.org/index.php?page=shows-events for complete details and entry form.
Maryland Dressage Association is a USDF GMO and all members are automatically USDF GMs. For USDF PM,
members must apply directly to USDF.