WELCOME!!! **************************************** By now, you must all know that my computer crashed. It took *all* of my files with it to the deep dark place where files disappear to and never return. So, all I have are a few articles that Secrtariat was able to save for me. I am *really* sorry about this. So, the newsletter is going to be really small this month. However, March's newsletter will be HUGE, If I have to type every article myself! I have to make it up to you guys! So, here is all I have of the newsletter...... **************************************** **Riding the Trails of Cyberspace** **Birthday Barn** **Horses A-Z** **Tack Trunk** **************************************** Riding the Trails of Cyberspace HorseyJB writes this article which reviews horsie web sites. If you have a site you would like her to review, please send the address or a hyperlink to HorseyJB@aol.com. The International Museum of the Horse http://www.imh.org/imh/imhmain.html This is a great site! It's dedicated to the topics of the International Museum of the Horse in Kentucky. There are many different parts to this website. The first is about online exhibits. It starts with a chronological journey though the history of humans and the horse. It covers from the first horse in 56 million B.C. up to the present horse. There is also information on horse sports and special exhibits that change. Currently, one of the special exhibits is on draft horses. In another part of the site, there are exhibits from guest museums. There are sites from the American Quarter Horse Museum, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, The National Museum of Racing and Thoroughbred Hall of Fame, and the American Academy of Equine Art. There is also a list of upcoming exhibits so you know what to look for in the future. There is information on the Kentucky Horse Park and links to other horse related sites. This is a great site - one definately worth visiting! There is a LOT of information, so it isn't a quick-glance page. It's wonderful for those boring summer months when there's nothing to do, or those snow days when it's so bad out that you can't get to the barn. Instead of being bored, learn more about horses! On a scale of 1 - 10 (1 being terrible and 10 being amazingly excellent), this site receives a: 9 HorseyJB@aol.com **************************************** Birthday Barn Happy Birthday to: February Birthdays TeddyHorse (Kelli) February (day?), 1986 GoldenJagg (Adrienne) February 4, 1984 PufferPony (Andrea) February 5, 1984 LrdofDnce1 (Lacey) February 20, 1984 If you would like to send Emails to these members, that would be very nice. Here are some virtual sites you can also visit to send them presents or flowers (free virtual gifts). 100's of virtual card links Virtual Reality Mall - Electronic Post Card 1-800-FLORALS - Phillip's Flowers A Virtual Present AMHA Select A Gift Horse Select a Virtual Bouquet Send A Whizzi! Select a Bouquet Blue Mountain Arts' Electronic Greeting Cards It is, of course, optional to send birthday cards to the members listed, but it would be a thoughtful idea, and wouldn't you want the special birthday thoughts reciprocated when your birthday rolls around? So please help us celebrate these members' birthdays by sending them virtual cards! :) **************************************** Horses A-Z Secrtariat has taken over this article from HorsieChik. Each month, a different horse breed is featured. If you want a breed profiled, please contact Secrtariat@aol.com The Lipizzan Guten tag! Wie gets? (Good day! How's it going?) This month, for my first official issue of Horses A-Z, I would like to do the Lipizzan. This is a great breed that is bred with care to produce only the best of the best. I have many little Lipizzan and Spanishe Reite Schule (Spanish Riding School in German) souvenirs, such as postcards, statues, silk scarfs, posters, etc. as I have been to Vienna once when I was young because my mother was born there and we have relatives back there. Vienna is mountains, beer, polka music, and...the Lipizzans. The Lipizzans trace their history back to the early 1560's when the finest Arab blood was introduced and fused with the local athletic Spanish horses during the Moorish occupation of Spain. Interest in the art of classical riding was revived during the Renaissance period when the Spanish horse was considered the most suitable mount. Maximillian II brought the Spanish horses to Austria about 1562 and founded the court stud at Kladrub. His brother, Archduke Charles established a similar stud with Spanish stock in 1580 at Lipizza near the Adriatic Sea. From the Lipizza stud farm, came the name Lipizzan. Both studs flourished, the Kladrub stud became known for its heavy carriage horses while the Lipizza stud produced riding horses and light carriage horses. However, the two studs were linked closely and on occasion exchanged breeding stock. The Kladrub stud produced Maestoso and Favory, two of the foundation sires of today's Lipizzan. To strengthen the original Spanish-Arab strain, several stallions were purchased during the 18th and 19th centuries for use at Lipizza and Kladrub. During the 1700's these horses, although of Spanish and Italian origin, included sires form Denmark and Holstein, but were of pure Spanish descent. By the 1800's, there were no longer any original Spanish horses to be had and Arabs were chosen to replenish the Lipizzan line. But, of the seven Arabian stallions used, only Siglavy founded a separate dynasty. Of all the sires used during the 18th and 19th century, only six of these horses were accepted to found the family lines of the Lipizzan as known today: 1.) Conversano, black, a Neapolitan (b. 1767). Conversano's have Arab blood, strong ram-like heads short backs, broad hocks and dignified movements. 2.)Favory, dun, a Bohemian origin (b. 1779), transferred from Kladrub. The Arab influence is noticeable in the Favory's by their lighter build but the soft curve of their nose still calls to mind their Spanish ancestry. 3.Maestoso, white (not grey), a crossbred of Neapolitan sire and a Spanish dam (b. 1819), transferred from Kladrub. Maestoso's are powerful horses with a long back, extremely muscular cruppers and heavy heads. 4.Neapolitano, bay (brown), from another Neapolitan sire (b. 1790). Neapolitans retain their original tall, more rangy appearance and they have graceful movements and high action. 5.Pluto, grey, Danish stud (b. 1765). Pluto's, their ancestors from Spain and Denmark, are sturdy horses with a rectangular build, ram-like heads and a high set neck. 6.Siglavy, grey, an Arabian (b. 1810). The Siglavy's typify the Arab Lipizzaner with aristocratic heads, a slender neck, high withers and a relatively short back. In addition to the stallions, there are 18 mare family lines. Every stallion has two names, the sire's name and the dam's name. This explains the name such as Pluto Theodorosta. The pedigree of each foal can be read from four brands with which it is marked at the age of six months. A 'P' for Piber with the Austrian Imperial Crown over it is marked on the left croup; an 'L' for Lipizzaner is on the left cheek; on the left side of the back, two letters are branded, indicating the sire's line and the dam's sire - 'C' for Conversano, 'F' for Favory, 'M' for Maestoso, 'S' for Siglavy, 'P' for Pluto, and 'N' for Neopolitano. The foal's registration number is branded on the right under the saddle. Grey is the dominate color, of the Lipizzan today. Since white horses were preferred by the royal family, the color was stressed in breeding. As late as two hundred years ago, there were a great number of blacks, browns, chestnuts, duns and even piebalds and skewbalds. Today non-white Lipizzans are a rarity and only now and then is a black or bay found. The Lipizzan is noted for his sturdy body, brilliant action and proud carriage as well as his intelligent and docile disposition. Born dark,black-brown, brown or mouse-grey, Lipizzans turn white somewhere between the ages of 6 and 10. As mentioned above, only in rare cases does the horse stay the original dark color. Not a tall horse, averaging between 14.3 to 15.3 hands, the Lipizzan presents a very powerful picture. The first thing noticed in the head are the large, appealing eyes. The influence of Arabian blood is found in the head, the small alert ears and the nose. The body, set off by a short powerful neck, presents a picture of strength with well-rounded quarters, heavy shoulders and short, strong legs with well defined tendons and joints. The tail is carried high and, like the mane, is thick and long. It is impossible not to mention the Spanish Riding School when discussing Lipizzan history. The Hapsburg monarchy decided to replace the old winter riding hall and school which dated back to 1572. The new riding hall and school was built in 1735 in the imperial palace in Vienna under the auspice of Charles VI as part of the major rebuilding of that city after the repulsion of the Turks. The purpose of the school was (and still is) to perpetuate the art of classical horsemanship. This included the training of the young riders and the horses according to the principals of dressage. The second purpose of the Spanish Riding School is the breeding of the Lipizzan horses. Only the best are kept to continue the line. The Lipizzan specialties: -quadrille-in two-four time, dancing in graceful maneuvers. -passage-a slow-to-medium trot which looks as if the feet approach, rather than touch, the earth. -piaffe-a French word meaning 'to prance'. Prancing in place. -levade-the stallion crouches on his hind legs as if he were sitting on his haunches; then slowly he rears until his body reaches a forty-five degree angle. The best stallions in the school can stand the strain of this pose for no longer than fifteen seconds. -ballotade-a spectacular leap with the hind legs tucked under the belly. -capriole-the horse springs into the air, and, while he is at his highest elevation, thrusts his hind legs out. -courbette-like a levade, but the stallion must jump in place. This is one of the most difficult, and the most talented stallions can reach 30 courbette 'hops' in a row...which is still rare in that. :) Lipizzan photos and videos viewable on the web: Photograph of a Lipizzan mare and foal- CF - Cambria Spanish Riding School of Vienna- Spanish Riding School of Vienna Austrian Video Archive: Lipizzans in Piber- Lipizzans in Piber Austrian Video Archive: Lipizzans- Austrian Video Archive: Lipizzaner Video Highlights from the Royal Lipizzan Stallions- Royal Lipizzans Or write for more information: United States Lipizzan Registry 707 13th Street SE, Suite 275 Salem, OR 97301 "And how could they possibly know that, when the white stallions are turned out to grass, they take a busman's holiday? With no audience at all and no riders to cue them, and no music but wind whispers, they spring into a capriole just as boys and girls turn a cartwheel - for the sheer joy it brings!" -Marguerite Henry, Album of Horses That's all for now! Enjoy learning more about the Lipizzan! ~~~SARA :-) Secrtariat@aol.com **************************************** Tack Trunk In this column, horse products are reviewed. If you have a review, please send it to Dulcimare@aol.com This month, still in honor of the cold weather, I will be reviewing two horse blankets. Both are from Dover Saddlery's Rider Collection. Anyone that experience snowy or otherwise cold winters knows that if your horse isn't growing a long coat (for showing or other reasons) he can miss out on turnout time without a turnout rug. In order to keep him sane, you will need to buy a turnout rug. When my mare needed a turnout, we bought a Dover Saddlery's Rider Collection Turnout Sheet. It was tested on an active, 16.3, Trak/QH/TB mare for 2 and a half NY winters, with daily turnout, weather permitting. It comes with a 420 denier Cordura outer shell that is waterproof (we still put a coating of waterproofer-in-a-can on it, barn policy). It has a thick polyfill insulation and has a breathable nylon lining. The first thing my mare did was to rip the leg straps off. However, the blanket was heavy enough that it didn't need the straps to stay down. When I say heavy, I don't mean that it is like New Zealand's (which can break your back trying to get them off!). This blanket is extremely easy to take on and off due to it's lightweight design, but heavy enough to keep the horse warm and stay in place. My mare also dragged her blanket into her stall and trampled it one day! She managed to rip the tail flap almost completely off (easily repaired) and she also ripped a small hole in the inside. The outside of the sheet stood up remarkably to her 1,239 pounds and horse shoes! The outside lining kept my mare dry in the snow, rain, sleet, and rolls in the mud and the inner lining kept her quite snug and warm. For the price, this is a *great* value! Another great blanket from Dover's Rider Collection is the stable blanket. It has a 240 denier, water repellant outer layer and 300 grams of polyfill insulation. It has a breathable, rip-stop nylon lining, fleece at the withers, adjustable leg straps, and a double strap in the front, and a tail flap. The best feature on this blanket is the velcro chest straps. It has velcro and buckles for a secure fit. It also stays very clean despite my mare's lying down to sleep at night. I haven't had a chance to test how waterproof it is, but it is very similar to the turnout rug, so I would assume it's just as good! The only difference is the quilted outer lining. This blanket is very similar to the Weather Beeta one I wanted, but costs a fraction of a Weather Beeta! One suggestion I might make is to order a size larger for Quarter Horses. My mare is part QH and the blanket is a little short in the back because of her high hindquarters. But if I ordered a 78'' instead of a 76'' I don't think there would have been a problem! Rider's International Turnout Sheet $79.80 for sizes 68''-78'' $89.60 for sizes 80''-84'' Rider's International Stable Blanket $66.70 for pony sizes 62"-64" $69.70 for sizes 66"-78" $78.80 for sizes 80"-84" Dover Saddlery P.O. Box 5837 Holliston, MA 01746 1-800-989-1500 Fax: 508-429-8295 http://www.doversaddlery.com Dulcimare@aol.com **************************************** Thanks for reading! Again, I am sorry that all of those files were lost. If you sent me an article and it was lost and you still have it, please send it to me for the next edition. The deadline is February 20th. ****************************************