30/ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 THE RIDER Banged Up a Little By Chris Moses


In the 2006 movie about the great racehorse Seabiscuit, in a scene involving a lame horse, trainer Tom Smith tells Charles Howard “You know, you don’t throw a whole life away just ‘cause he’s banged up a little”. As the story evolves, this theme is illustrated repeat- edly; most of the movie’s char- acters have been more than a lit- tle banged up by life. Even the horse, Seabiscuit, is hurting - limping and wheezing when first spotted by Smith breezing in the morning mists. Howev- er, as the legend of Seabiscuit grows, it is evident that despite being banged up a little, this is one horse who, with love, encouragement and the right people around him, still has a lot to give.


While this is obviously a Hollywood script, there are many real life examples of hors- es who have much to give even though they are ‘banged up a lit- tle’, including Tess, a 10 year- old Thoroughbred/Percheron mare, owned by Christine Trib- bing. Tess wasn’t quite two years old when her right eyeball was somehow pierced with a stick while she was out in a field. She was rushed to the veterinary hospital for treat- ment, but complications set in, and the eye eventually had to be removed. Since then, Tess has learned how to live with her limited sight and still be a val- ued and trusted partner to her rider, Kim Bound.


A horse’s visual abilities are directly related to the fact that it is a flight animal. Since the horse and its ancestors were hunted by large predators and by man for millions of years, its physiology adapted accordingly in order to survive. The horse has the largest eyes of any land mammal. They are set on the sides of its head, allowing it a


high degree range of monocular vision (which allows it to see with each eye separately). Using monocular vision, horses can watch what is front of them with one eye, and behind them with the other. This provides a horse with the best chance to spot predators. There is, however, a trade-off to this wide range of monocular vision since the placement of the horse’s eyes decreases the possible range of binocular vision (vision using both eyes at the same time). The horse uses its binocular vision by looking straight ahead at an object, raising its head when it looks at a distant preda- tor, or focuses on an obstacle to jump. A horse will raise or lower its head to increase its range of binocular vision. The equine eye is very sen- sitive and even the slightest injury can result in blindness. While full or partial loss of vision is a handicap, it does not mean that the horse is incapable of performing as well as an unimpaired horse as long as care is taken to ensure head move- ment is not limited, and the nar- rower field of vision is respect- ed. There have been many one- eyed horses among the top per- formers in racing, jumping, driving, eventing, endurance, and just about every other equine occupation.


“Most horses acclimate well to having one functional eye, particularly horses who have suffered the loss from birth or at a young age,” says Dr. Liz Salmon, an equine Veterinarian in Pontypool, Ontario. “In fact, many continue to enjoy a full and active life.”


This is the case for Tess. It is obvious that she has adapt- ed well to her disability and is a valuable and able partner for her rider, Kim Bound. Kim, who shows Belgian draft horses for Brillinger Farms in Newmarket,


Ontario, uses Tess to help in their training. When not driving the Belgians, she ‘ponies’ them using Tess. This involves riding Tess, and using her to make the Belgians walk, trot, do circles, as well as serpentines.


“Sometimes I’ll be riding Tess and leading three drafts at the same time”, says Kim. While she usually does this on Tess’s blind side, it’s more through habit than necessity. Tess does not seem to mind at all, and in fact, seems to enjoy exercising so closely with the other horses.


Kim has also used Tess to teach students to ride, and Tess is a careful, willing teacher; her ability to be ridden changes from person to person. Stand- ing 17 hands high, she is an imposing sight but she seems to adjust her attitude depending upon who is riding her.


“She doesn’t act up or test the student outside of their abili- ties,” says Kim, “she isn’t push button, she makes the student work for what is wanted, but she does what she is asked to do when asked properly.” Howev- er, when Kim, a more experi- enced rider, takes the reins, Tess becomes more aggressive because she knows that Kim’s riding abilities are greater and what she is being asked to do is more difficult and demanding.


When not working, training or showing, Kim and Tess spend time together doing all the things that any normal-seeing horse and rider do - galloping full out in the hayfields, jump- ing 4’6” oxers, and hacking through the York Region trails.


It is obvious that Tess has learned to compensate for her injury and Kim rarely notices any issues with regard to Tess’s blind side. When training Tess, Kim does a lot of flat work to


make sure she is bend- ing and working both sides equally. Some- times, when jumping, Tess will drift to the right, but as Kim states, “many two-eyed horses drift, it’s not just a one- eyed horse fault.”


Kim corrects this with a little extra leg on Tess’s right side. “The little bit of extra support tends to correct this fault. And it’s not required at every jump, usually just through a tight line. I do have trouble with her at shows if there is a really short distance between jumps and the second jump is a tight turn to her right. However, as long as she has one stride, she’s usually okay with it.”


Despite her injury,


Tess and Kim have won many classes in both hunter/jumper and show jumping competitions over the years. Kim is very proud of Tess’s accomplish- ments, and particularly when the fact that Tess has only one eye goes unnoticed by the jump judge. While spectators and other competitors often notice and ask questions about her facial appearance (the eye sock- et is empty and the eyelid com- pletely closed), Kim and Tess have never been refused entry into any competition and Kim is most pleased when they are treated just like any other athlet- ic duo in the show ring.


Kim and Tess have defi- nitely developed a strong part- nership over the years. As Kim says, “The trust factor is high with us and I think that is why we make such an awesome team”. When introducing some- thing new to Tess, Kim does it just like she would to any other


Tess, a ten year-old Thoroughbred/Percheron mare, has adapted very well to the loss of her eye.


horse who is new to something. For example, this past summer, Kim took Tess eventing. They had never tried banks or ditches before, so Kim just sat, support- ed and made Tess do it. “She did it on the first try and was looking for more afterwards. Once again, I bring up the trust factor – if I wasn’t confident or if I was intimidated by the obstacle, she would sense it and would feel the same way.” The close relationship that Kim and Tess share began even before Tess was born. “I think it’s pretty cool that Tess’s mom was the first draft horse that I ever rode and that was before Tess was even around.” Kim was the first to ride Tess, she was there when Tess gave birth to her two foals, and she and Tess even share the same birth- day. As Kim says, “It’s a pretty good feeling when you walk into the barn every day and Tess is just as happy to see you as you are to see her, or when


What’s in a name? By Aimee Woolf


What is in a name? Are we des- tined for a name or does the name shape us?


My dad runs Traditions Farm Ther- apeutic Riding and Learning Centre in Shelburne, ON and a fair number of years ago now, he was offered a horse. The horse’s name was Gem, and what a gem he was! He was a big chestnut quarter horse with a star on his forehead and four white socks.


However, as a majestic horse by the


name of Gem, he did not quite feel the pride that a gem should. His previous owner described him to us as a “fraidy cat”. He had a foot that was prone to abscess and therefore he walked slowly. This and his innate patience made him wonderful for our riding centre.


Our farm likes to give all our new additions the name of a virtue; one that we someday hope to achieve. Gem soon became Courage, partially as a joke, but more importantly, as a


virtue that our riders posses and we wish to achieve. With this name came a great change. Gem was shy, and although obedient and very well trained, he had so much more to offer. When he arrived at our place, he devel- oped a strong sense of pride in his new name, and it never wavered. His name gave him courage and he rarely spooked. If he should become frightened he never took more than one step to steady himself. The calm and fearless energy that


Courage emitted helped to calm some of our more nervous rid- ers. A number of our clients that suffer from anxiety often chose Courage as “their” horse. He not only became brave himself, but also had plenty of courage to share. Courage was one of our largest horses and he was the horse that I most enjoyed work- ing with. He was reliable, steady, gentle and of course brave.


After four great years, Courage died of heart failure.


Before his death, he lost a lot of weight, but still happily came to the gate; eager to work his lessons and to continue to make our riders happy with his presence and calm spirit. He was the favourite of many of our riders and the horse who by far received the most gifts at Christmas. Though it was a sad loss, we cannot forget the tale of this brave horse who helped so many children. Courage had an immense impact on my father, me, and especially our riders. I know how much my


she’s out in her field doing what horses do and you call for her and she comes running.” Last summer, Kim took Tess eventing and they both loved it. Kim is hoping to get her out to more next year, because it felt like Tess’s heart was really into the discipline. “Change is good, and the more I can do with her, the more I can learn with and from her.” So, while Tess is making her way through life ‘a little banged up’, she continues to be a very valuable and responsible partner, giving her best and enjoying her life.


“Tess wouldn’t be Tess if she had two eyes - she doesn’t know she’s different, and if she does… she doesn’t care,” says Kim. “She’s a very happy horse with a big heart.” And as the story of Seabiscuit illustrates, Tess proves that, with love, encouragement and the right people, life’s challenges can be overcome.


dad loved him and that is why I felt this tribute to the wonderful Courage was necessary. He


shone like no other gem- one so full of Courage. So we must ask- is it all in the name?


Send in all your 2013 Show Dates for our next issue


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  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76