WT: What are your thoughts about drugs to suppress a mare’s heat cycle?
■ JOHN: In hunters, some are a bit more marish. I
think Regu-mate works. Some people use Depo-Provera (medroxyprogestrone) which lasts only a few weeks. With Regu- mate you don’t have to give a shot. I would say 30 percent of my mares are on Regu-mate. ■ ALLIE: Fergie went through a stage where she was in
heat all the time for months. Before that she had never shown signs and I had owned her for 2½ years. I think it was because stallions were living at the end of her barn. She was whinnying and peeing all the time. She worried when a horse left her. Her dressage became worse. She couldn’t focus. For example I’d ask for counter canter and she would do flying changes. We put her on Regu-mate for several months. It made a huge
Allie Slusher and Last Call at the Woodside Horse Trials in August. Photo © Amy E. Riley
them super calm for the hunter ring, that bit of fight can be to your benefit as a jumper. ■ ALLIE: They tend to be more difficult on the flat and in
the stall. ■ JAN: I don’t think mares are better or worse in general in
certain movements. With piaffe, passage, and pirouettes, the movements with the highest collection, some excel and others don’t. This top level requires more than an average athlete. A lot depends on their athletic ability and intelligence, how quickly they learn, if they have the ability to dance. For the movements that require balance, some mares have it, some can learn it and some don’t have it and don’t learn it. We are talking about training. You teach the horse the balance and to trust that it’s okay to go on one leg, turn around that leg, stay round, stay connected, and then accept the kick she receives if it’s not right—and still trust the rider. We look at the mares as individuals.
WT: What are some of the precautions in new environments such as shows?
■ ALLIE: Fergie attracts stallions. They always notice her and she can sense them. Ellie is higher strung when she goes to new places. She’s difficult in the stall the first day, but doesn’t have a problem with stallions. ■ JAN: When I go to a show, I want to know who is on the other
side of the stall. Stallion owners don’t want mares on the other side. Those are things we always look for. Most shows understand this.
58 November/December 2010
difference. She was less emotional, steady, didn’t get a rise about things. When she tied up from not drinking enough at an event, we took her off it. Now she will go up and down a bit more, but she’s not out of control like she was. ■ JAN: If a mare has a normal heat I wouldn’t put her on
anything. If she gets a violent heat, it’s not her fault. That’s just the way she is. If I had a mare I could not ride with normal aids when she was in heat, I would give her drugs to make her normal. Sometimes they get so backed off when you put your legs on. They’re not disobedient; they just feel horrible. I only know that from my wife telling me.
WT: What are your thoughts about breeding and performance?
■ JOHN: A lot of Europeans will breed 3- or 4-year olds with good bloodlines because you can’t do much with them at that age. Some people say they want to breed a mare to chill her out a little, to settle her. Some say that being bred is good for them. Some say that they like the life as a mom and don’t want to go back to work. Once they have babies, they get out of shape, so you spend
more time getting them strong and using the right muscles again. Of course today embryo transfer is an option. The people that now own Vida Blue are doing that with her. ■ ALLIE: My parents own Fergie and will do embryo transfer
next year so she doesn’t have to take a break. I like that I have high quality mares so that if they get hurt I can breed them. Fergie is very motherly. She will go towards a baby and acts like she’s been there, done that. Ellie spooks from babies. ■ JAN: Yes, I think about that and that’s why I’m not a
breeder. I like to ride my horses. We had one that we bred and had a filly, raised her and started when she was three. We thought about breeding her, but she’s too nice of a riding horse.
WT
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68