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Horse Report

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:22:33 GMT

Deep in the Piney Woods, down a long dirt road and surrounded by forest on three sides lies a hundred and twenty-acre haven for English performance horses in their sunset years.

It was 20 years ago this August that Dawn Johnson, tired of the "rice paddy" flatland of Houston and longing for trees and rolling terrain, bought this farm after two decades of teaching hunt seat equitation and breeding warmbloods in the suburb of Cypress.

Cottonwood Stables is near Latexo (an acronym for the old Louisiana Texas Orchard Company), five miles north of Crockett and halfway between Houston and Dallas. It was too far for Dawn's clients to drive for lessons, but by word of mouth they began to bring her the older or injured mounts they had retired from competition in dressage, jumping and eventing.

Passionate about horses since the age of three and an expert in their care, the former vice president. of Houston design and architectural firm 3D/International runs no ordinary boarding facility.

The horses are carefully matched for turn-out groups, limited to four, with access to run-in sheds and shade trees. They are only stalled in case of bad weather or medical injury and never for long periods of time. They are fed three times a day quality senior grain, soaked alfalfa cubes and beet pulp, free choice coastal Bermuda hay, and mineral blocks and salt. They are given supplements and. medications as provided by the owner. They are regularly paste-wormed, trimmed, groomed and bathed in the summer. Dr. Corey Tucker of Crockett visits to give annual vaccinations and perform dental work. Every quarter, Dawn sends photos and email updates to the owners.

"We're not fancy, but we're safe and clean," says Dawn. "We don't have a fly problem, and there's not a piece of barbed wire on the place." She does most of the work herself, from mowing the Bahiagrass pastures to cleaning the stalls. "These horses are on Social Security, you might say, so I do everything I can to control costs."

The monthly fee for retirees is $425, and there are currently 28 at Cottonwood Stables. Dawn has an adaptable approach to each one and has managed many conditions- arthritis, Cushing's syndrome, laminitis, dental disease, blindness, and osteitis, among others. When a horse dies, it is respectfully buried in a special memorial area.

"But the best result for the client to come after a time and take the horse home for retirement." She mentions one couple who was posted to Scotland for four years, but then. drove out and picked up their elderly Quarter Horse when they returned to the States.

Dawn also accommodates some that come in for temporary lay-ups, such as an 18-hand Irish Sport Horse currently recovering from tendon surgery. There is a convenient water therapy facility at nearby Centerville Ranch.

She has welcomed many breeds Selle Francais, Haflingers, Trakehners, Holsteiners, Friesians, Hanoverians, Fjords, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses and Paints.

Robins Reprise, a 30-year-old gray overo Paint Horse and multiple champion, is a current resident, along with two of his daughters in their twenties. Young show-jumping stars Wilton and Lucas Porter, now based in Wellington, Fla., have retired four of their Grand Prix horses to Cottonwood. The oldest horse on the farm is Promise, an Anglo-Trakehner mare that Susan Shiba of Roseate Dressage brought to Dawn at the age of 18. She's 36 now.

A native Houstonian, Dawn Johnson fondly remembers her aunt taking her to Old Braeswood Park and buying her "miles of tickets" to ride the ponies when she was three.

When she was six, her family moved to Tripoli, where her father, O.D. Blankenship, was helping develop the Libyan oil fields in the 1950s. They lived in a Mediterranean villa, where Dawn rode a donkey named Petunia, who habitually nipped the buds of the flowers to the fury of the family gardener.

Then the Blankenships moved to Rome, where Dawn attended the American Overseas School and learned fluent Italian. She rode and took lessons at the D'Angelo brothers' posh stable and, when the U.S. Equestrian Team came to train for the 1960 Summer Olympics, she became acquainted with Bill Steinkraus, the team captain, and his young colleague, George Morris. (The United States won the team silver.)

The Blankenships also spent two years in Holland, where Dawn's father helped develop drilling projects in the North Sea. They lived in Den Haag (The Hague), and she was a student at the Dutch Riding School, which dates from 1744.

"You had to earn every piece of your tack," she says. "Our instructor always wore jodhpurs and was constantly slapping his riding crop against his tall polished boots. We had military-like inspections, and the punishment for infractions was to have to ride without stirrups on the long North Sea beach exercises, It was some of the best instruction I ever had, and I learned a lot about horse husbandry."

The family returned to Houston when Dawn was 18, and she enrolled at the University of Southern California, her father having rejected the Eastern seaboard schools as far too liberal (to put it mildly). Subsequently, she was enticed by her parents back to the University of Texas, with the promise of an apartment, a new Mustang-and, decisively, a place to board her horse. Dawn majored in English, with minors in art and languages.

In 1968, she married a Navy pilot she had met at USC and for the next five years, they moved to new posts about every six months. That was not conducive to owning a horse, so Dawn worked as a freelance illustrator for ad agencies. It was 10 years before she bought another horse a Pin Oak hunter champion.

The couple eventually purchased 10 acres in Cypress. They named it Cottonwood Stables, and Dawn began teaching hunt seat equitation to young riders. It was a discipline she had to relearn herself, since she had concentrated on jumpers in Europe. One of her early students was Dawn Chamorro, now head trainer and manager of Isabella Farms in Houston.

Having ridden warmbloods in Europe, she also began breed- ing Anglo-Trakehners. She bought some Thoroughbred mares and bred them to Beauté, a Trakehner stallion owned by Judy Yancey, then living in Grapevine and a pioneer breeder of warmbloods in the United States. Dawn sold her homebred babies for many years.

Today at her Piney Woods stable, she also has her own aging horse, Crimson, a 23-year-old Trakehner and former hunter by Peter Pletcher's champion stallion, Schatten Spiel.

"We just ride for pleasure across the creeks and through the forest," says Dawn. My knees aren't what they used to be, so we're a good match for each other."

She adds, "I try to give these horses the best-quality care possible at this stage of their lives. They've earned it, and I love having them in my life."

For more information, visit cut- tonwoodstables.com or call (936) 546- 2211.

Top Tips for Healthy Hooves

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:31:28 GMT

Rest & Relaxation

Choose the right retirement facility for your senior horse with this step-by-step guide.

By Abigail Boatwright

BEAU WAS PERFORMING AT A HIGH LEVEL. HIS OWNER, MARY JEAN GEROULO , boarded him at a top-notch mid-city facility where care of competition horses was excellent. Time went by. Age and health problems sidelined Beau. It was time for him to retire. Geroulo relocated the big bay gelding to a facility in the country that caters to the specific needs of retired horses. Now 27, Beau is happy. Geroulo rests easy knowing he's content, safe, and well cared for.

You might one day need to find retirement quarters for your own senior horse. He's carried you through years of competition, down miles of trails, and through seasons of life. When his active riding career comes to an end, what's the next step? We asked two senior-care providers for their best tips to find the right retirement facility for your horse. Here's their step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Determine Your Horse's Needs

Older horses often have health issues and require daily medications. For a typical boarding facility, this might be outside the bounds of everyday care. But for a retirement facility, this is an essential part of keeping those horses healthy. Roseanna McMillan runs White Rock Manor in Lexington, Virginia, with her husband, James. Before you choose a facility. McMillan says, consider your horse's abilities and needs. Is he pasture-sound? Does he need to be blanketed in the winter? Make sure your chosen facility can provide top care tailored to your horse's particular needs. Dawn Johnson owns and operates Cottonwood Stables, a retirement facility in Crockett, Texas. She cares for several horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and anhidrosis-both require careful management, particularly during hot Texas summers. Other horses have dental diseases that require close observation and other issues that need a watchful eye. Johnson's team pays close attention to the health of their charges, and if one is no longer happy or healthy, they'll work to improve his conditions. But Johnson also recognizes when it's time to have a difficult conversation. with the owners.

"If I can't make a horse better and make him comfortable, and if he doesn't seem happy or healthy, then I'll contact the owner and have a conversation about humanely euthanizing the horse," Johnson says.

Johnson's facility-25-stall barn, outdoor arena (converted to turnout), large pasture, and several smaller pastures-offers a different kind of atmosphere better suited to the slower tempo of an older horse's life. Cottonwood Stables residents spend the majority of their time on pasture in groups of two and three horses, perfect for most senior horses that could struggle in a larger herd.

"One of their biggest problems my horse owners wanted to address from previous lodging was group turnout," she says. "Their horse was the older one, and he was at the bottom of the heap. He wasn't getting food, so he was losing weight and just didn't look good because he wasn't getting daily care. Our horses here are handled every day. We are out there feeding them, grooming them, and cleaning their feet. And when it comes time for feeding, everybody gets fed separately. We don't just throw a bunch of food out there."

Step 2: Do Your Research and Be Picky!

"Websites and brochures can look fantastic, but you need to see a facility for yourself," McMillan cautions. "It's worth doing your homework, rather than sending your horse somewhere that could potentially be bad for him."

Johnson recommends looking at the other horses boarded at your horse's potential new home. Are their feet maintained? Are they healthy and happy looking? These are good signs your horse will also thrive in this atmosphere. Pay attention to the same things you look for in a good boarding establishment: competency of care, experienced staff, good references, and a positive track record.

"Are the stalls clean? Are the water buckets full? How safe is the barn? How safe is the fencing?" Johnson suggests you ask. "What do the horses look like? Look for cuts and unexpected limping. Is this someplace you'd want to live for the rest of your life?"

McMillan advises asking specific, clarifying questions of the facility owner or manager. For example, if you're told there are 400 acres of turn out pasture, ask if your horse's specific turnout needs will be met. If he'll be turned out with a large herd and left to fend for himself, and that situation doesn't suit his personality, then the 400 acres hardly matter.

Also consider location, says McMillan. If you live in a metropolitan area, you might be hard pressed to find a facility with adequate land to allow your horse freedom to move around most of the day. If you live in a very cold or very warm climate, your older horse may struggle during the extreme temperatures that he previously handled with ease.

Step 3: Select the Right Atmosphere

Talk to other boarders to ensure that you're comfortable with the facility's atmosphere. Johnson's Cottonwood Stables is a retirement haven for 30 performance horses that can no longer be ridden; many are geriatric. Most of the owners of Johnson's charges chose her facility as a long-term residence for their former show horses.

"When a performance horse reaches an age where he's living with health or soundness issues and he can no longer do his job, the owner may look around at the training barn and think, is this where I want my horse to spend the rest of his life?" Johnson says. "The horse might spend four hours a day turned out and the rest of the time in a stall. And unless the owner is there to take care of him, the horse might not get individualized attention that a senior horse can require."

Johnson maintains that a horse used to a life of strenuous competition is accustomed to being pampered and kept in a stall, so full turnout isn't always the best option, at least not to begin his retirement. Complete turn-out could be a shock to his system, she says. Consider how your horse has been housed throughout his life when planning for retirement, and expect an adjustment period. In the meantime, find a way to keep him moving.

"I've learned from working with veterinarians that older horses with arthritis and other issues are better out and about, moving instead of standing in a stall," Johnson advises.

FAR-LEFT: Favor small-herd turnout so your senior can get food and water without anxiety. TOP-RIGHT: A run-in shed provides your horse a dry, warm place to get out of the elements, while allowing free movement. BOTTOM-LEFT: At White Rock Manor, each horse receives a custom diet with supplements and medication as needed. BOTTOM-RIGHT: Pasture companions keep each other active.

McMillan agrees, noting that a typical show horse might spend 12 or 14 hours without moving freely. But for an older horse, inactivity can cause stiffness and stocking up.

Step 4: Look for Routine

Having a regular routine boosts your senior horse's health and comfort level. "Each morning when I go to feed at 7:00, they're all taking their morning nap in the sun to warm their bodies up." says McMillan. "They get their grain and their hay, and then they wander out to the waterer, which is a really great chance [for me] to observe each horse and see that they're all healthy and traveling in a group. Cottonwood Stables' horses have standing farrier appointments every six weeks. A veterinarian vaccinates and floats all residents' teeth on a schedule, checking for dental issues and heading them off early when possible, thanks to this routine.

We recognize the signs [of not getting enough nutrition) and can do something before anything reaches a critical level," Johnson says. "Every horse has his own bucket that's color coded, and each horse is on a different medication, supplement, and diet. We always check to make sure the horses are eating we don't just feed them and walk away."

Step 4: Budget for Costs

As you narrow down your choices, consider cost of care. Cottonwood Stables charges a flat rate for all care including medical maintenance, blanketing, stall cleaning, bathing and grooming, specialized feeding, and more. Each horse's individual shoeing and veterinary costs are extra.

"There's no question: horse ownership is not a cheap pursuit, but we try to keep our fees down," Johnson says.

In addition to monthly board fees, consider and clearly communicate with your horse's caretaker the amount of extraordinary effort you're willing to pay for when it comes to veterinary procedures and care. These costs add up and can compromise your horse's well being for the long term.

"If your horoscopic, do you want the veterinarian to treat him with surgery or other more extreme methods, or is euthanasia feasible?" McMillan asks. "Is going to the hospital some thing you want for the horse? Your horse's caretaker should know what you'd want in an emergency. Having those conversations ahead of time helps the owner prepare for the possi bilities, and the barn manager to know what everyone's wishes are."

YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFIT

You might be considering keeping your retired mount on your own property. While that's a viable choice, consider the amount of care involved.

Roseanna McMillan, who developed White Rock Manor in the late 1980s, notes that entrusting your older horse into the care of knowledgeable and committed professionals allows you more flexibility.

"When a horse comes to me, his care and well-being are paramount," McMillan says. "Having a retired horse at home ties you down. If you want to go away for a week, you have to make arrangements for someone to stay on your place and provide the level of care your horse needs and expects. I don't think having a horse sitter check on your horse twice a day is sufficient, especially an older horse."

A show horse is accustomed to pampering and attention. Ensure that the retirement facility is willing to ease into a slower paced lifestyle, adding more turnout time incrementally so your horse can adjust.

Step 5: Ask for Updates

After you've moved your horse into your chosen retirement facility, establish reasonable communication. protocols with the facility owner or manager. Then ask for regular updates on your horse's condition.

"I joke with my owners that I'm running a summer camp," McMillan says with a smile. "They might not get a letter from their camper, but a photograph and an update from the retirement facility isn't unreasonable to expect. It'll help you keep an eye on your horse's body condition and feet. Plus, this is a horse that's taken care of you, and you love him enough that you're giving him a comfortable retirement. You don't want to send your horse somewhere and then find out six months later he's the lowest one in a herd of 30 and isn't allowed to get to the water trough without getting beaten up. That's why it's so important to research where you send your horse and have good communication."

Geroulo chose Cottonwood Stables, located 2% hours away from her home, because the horses were turned out in small groups in large fields with access to grass and shade trees. She valued Johnson's horse care experience and attention to each horse's condition, and she appreciated Johnson's clear communication regarding her horse's health.

"I cried and cried when I left him with Dawn," Geroulo admits. "Beau was with me through difficult jobs, through moves, going to law school, being treated for cancer. To send him away, it felt like I was giving up on him. But it became obvious quickly that he's really happy there."

Geroulo visits Beau several times a year; she's relieved that the elderly gelding is thriving. She also feels reassured by the weekly emails and photos she receives from Johnson about her horse.

"These horses that have gone to shows with us and carried us around most of their lives, living in barns because it's convenient for us," Geroulo says. "I think they deserve the best that we can give them when they retire. That, to me, is a place where they can go out on grass with the sun on their back, with the best care we can possibly give them."