NEWS&VIEWScontinued...
is logged in Loudoun County, Virginia, and not in Maryland. Both state veterinarians (Dr. Odian in Maryland and Dr. Sage in Virginia) are investigating the cases. T e infected horses were a 20-year-old Stan-
dardbred mare, 20-year-old crossbred mare, and a fi ve-year-old donkey mare. On October 27, Armstrong County, PA,
reported one confi rmed case of EHV-1 at an event center. T e confi rmed case was a 12-year- old Quarter Horse gelding used for rodeo. As of October 27, the infected horse was alive and the facility was placed in offi cial quarantine. State offi cials conducted an investigation and notifi ed owners of potentially exposed horses. As of press, there have been no additional cases of EHV-1 in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Park Police Earn National Awards Lieutenant Myrical Gratton and Corporal
Eric Baca represented the Montgomery County Park Police Special Operations Section at the 38th
Annual National Mounted Police Collo-
quium in Lexington, KY, in October. T e four- day training and competition included presen- tations, demonstrations and classes. Corporal Megan Lau was invited for the ninth year to be a guest instructor teaching equitation. T e competition side of the event saw 150
have always loved Festival, and everyone who at- tends gets so much out of the experience.” USPC has seen a dramatic drop in entries at its annual championship competitions and this year canceled the West Coast Championship due to lack of entries. T ose qualifi ed members were invited to compete at the East Coast Champi- onships, held in July at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. T e bi-annual Festival will off er fi ve days of
Scholarship winner Alvaro Barajas with Ferris Allen
ent of the Ferris Allen Bootstraps Scholarship presented by Laurel-based trainer Ferris Allen. Barajas was granted $10,000 to be used toward off setting the costs of his college education. Barajas has worked for trainer Damon
Dilodovico since last fall and is currently in his third year at Prince George’s Community College. He plans to complete his studies at PGCC to earn an associate’s degree before en- rolling next fall at a university. Barajas told the Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s Associa- tion that he is deciding between Bowie State University, the University of Maryland, and Towson University. He plans to pursue a degree in clinical psychology. Barajas was born in California but lived in Mexico for 11 years before returning to the U.S. in 2015. His father worked at the track and would take him along after school to help feed the horses. “I love horses and found it super-nice to work with them,” Barajas said. “In Mexico, my great-grandad has horses, and I when I got back to the United States my father took me to the racetrack. I fi nd horses to be amazing animals—my favorite animals. T e work [on the backstretch] can be exhaust- ing but it’s really fun. I just like being close to nature. We are a team at the barn, all working together. T ere are nice people I work with.”
Cpl. Eric Baca and Lt. Myrical Gratton with Gator and Kona at the National Mounted Police Colloquium in KY.
competitors from 54 diff erent U.S. and Canadian departments. T e Montgomery County offi cers competed in Equitation and Obstacle Course classes. T e Equitation Class is divided into three divisions: English, Gaited and Western. Lt. Grat- ton rode Kona in the English division while Cpl. Baca rode Gator in the Gaited division. Lt. Gratton and Kona won their division while Cpl. Baca and Gator fi nished third in their division. Both offi cers bested their plac- ings from last year.
Barajas Wins New Bootstraps Scholarship
10 | DECEMBER 2023 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION
Alvaro Barajas, who has been a hotwalker at Laurel Park since 2018, is the fi rst recipi-
USPC Changes Champs Schedule
T e U.S. Pony Club, Inc. (USPC) announced in October that it will no longer be holding an- nual championships (East and West) and will instead, off er a national festival every other year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Previously, the national festival, which off ers championship competition as well as educa- tional clinics and seminars, was only off ered every three years, with East and West coast championship competitions held the other years. Starting in 2024, there will only be the national festival, off ered every other year. T is decision was made after an extensive re-
view period by the USPC national offi ce. “We listened to the membership and carefully re- viewed all of our options for our national events,” said USPC Executive Director Teresa Woods. “T is was the best option by far, as members
competition for those members who qualify during regional rallies, followed by three days of educational clinics and seminars that are open to USPC members as well as nonmembers. T is change to the schedule, also changes the qualifi cation period for those looking to com- pete at champs.
Kudos to...
Congratulations to Allie Rippeon on earn- ing the 12-14 year old Equitation Champion title at this year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress. Rippeon topped a fi eld of 58 exhibi- tors for the win! Kudos to Garrison Forest School polo player
Izzy Brockett who played on the winning team at the U.S. Polo Association Women’s Arena Open tournament in Silverado, CA, in October.
Kent County Cup Goes to Royce Herman
Submitted by David Turner Centreville horseman Royce Herman has
won this year’s Kent County Cup, honoring in- dividuals who contribute to the health and suc- cess of Eastern Shore’s equestrian community. Herman, typically accompanied by his wife
Martha, has dedicated countless hours promot- ing legislative and local community measures that
enhance horseback riding and equestrian events. His volunteer service has lasted for decades. His name has been engraved on the 1836
Sheffi eld silver cup permanently on display in the town council’s meeting chamber in Ches- tertown, Maryland. T e group Chestertown Horsemen, founded by David A. Turner, made the announcement. For many years, Royce was a loyal, active
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