Watch Your Rear End!

Occupational Hazard??? A few weeks ago, Erin and I directed a photo shoot at Charlie Cole's Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point, Texas, for one of our biannual supplemental publications, EquiShopper, which will be pollybagged with our sister publication EQUUS' November issue. 

While our photographer John Brasseaux was shooting some indoor barn shots, one of Charlie's horses decided John's belt would make a fabulously fun chew toy. Just a lil' too close to the derriere... :-) 

We'll be sure to share more pics from this photo shoot. Charlie has recently made some rather "interesting" additions to his facility since we were last there. Stay tuned!

WOW! Shoeing info much appreciated!

Fellow H&R'ers ~ I just wanted to express my immense appreciation for the scores of responses you guys and gals sent us regarding you farrier expenses. We've accumulated some great information. At some point, Erin and I plan to put together some statistics on price variations from around the country. Pretty interesting stuff, really!

I also wanted to personally respond to Fran Jurga's response. Fran is a nationally-renowned hoof and hoof health-care expert and we've used her as an invaluable resource on numerous occasions and plan to do so going forward. She brought up some excellent points that we believe everyone should take into consideration. 

Of course, we don't believe anyone should sacrifice the quality of their horses' feet for money's-sake, but out of curiosity, does anyone feel they've been taken advantage of by particular "farrier monopolies," as one might term them. And, Fran, we definitely pose this question to you, as well! For example, I have an old friend from college, who was paying around $300 for a shod and four regular shoes on her 26-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, with whom she occasionally went trail riding on. The barn she boarded her horse at "dictated" the farrier she used, as it was considered part of "the package." 

Anyone else heard of this? Or feel they've been taken advantage of? 

Thanks again guys for the awesome feedback! PLEASE keep it comin'!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

We do, sometimes, have a life outside the magazine, and this last weekend was a biggie for Erin. A huge C-O-N-G-R-A-T-S is in order! She and her now husband, Tanner Haynes, were married Saturday, September 19 at 6:30 in the evening at an outdoor ceremony in Buda, Texas (just outside of Austin). The ceremony and reception were beautiful, and Erin looked gorgeous, of course. I'm sure she'll share pics with us when she gets back from her honeymoon in Hawaii.

So feel free to wish her a big congratulations before or upon her return, a week from today.

QH gelding, Stetson; Erin Sullivan (Haynes); Tanner Haynes; and QH/TB Appendix, Pepper

Of Lynn, Islands, and Horses...

One the most important aspects of being an H&R editor is, of course, interviewing the pros and writing articles. I typically write our Ask Team H&R department every month, and after more than five years, I've gotten to know our Team H&R members pretty well. For our November '09 issue, I interviewed Lynn Palm about how to read your horse's body language to improve your relationship with your horse.

We had some difficulty scheduling our interview because Lynn ended up spending a few extra days (after a clinic) vacationing on Mackinac Island, a tiny island nestled in the straits of Mackinac where Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas meet. The island is known for its dedication to its horses, and therefore, all automobiles (except for emergency use) are banned, to ensure horses are the forefront of Mackinac's way of life.

Just as ironic as it seems, I, too, have been going to Mackinac Island since I was a little girl, and was there probably at this exact same time last summer. One of Lynn's Palm Family Partners' training facilities is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in a town called Bessemer, which is very close to where my extended family has owned a cabin for several generations. Lynn said she and her husband, Cyril, had a blast renting a horse-drawn carriage and taking their pooches, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for a cruise around the island. (I was beyond green with jealousy when she told me this, as I was buried under the fluorescent lights of the office...)

Just goes to show, you never know what YOU might have in common with some of the super-star horse pros. Hopefully, some day Lynn and I will be on the island at the same time to take a trail or carriage ride together and enjoy some of the island's heavenly, world-famous fudge. 

Below I've shared some photos from the island for those of you not familiar with its fabulousness. If you're interested in learning more about Mackinac Island, we ran a feature about it in our February 2005 issue, called "Horse Power." (Call our main office if you'd like to purchase a copy.) And, we also ran a smaller blurb about the island in our February 2006 feature, "Road Trip to the Horse: 17 Great U.S. Destinations for Equine Enthusiasts."

Made me wonder if horse professionals tend to take non-horse-related vacays, or the other way around? Food for thought? (I know Gordon Potts went to Disney World with his wife and kids this summer...there might have been a horse or two there?)

Have any of you been to Mackinac Island before? Or any other off-the-beaten path horse destinations/vacations? Would love to know, so give us a shout if you have!

See pics, below...

Horse-drawn carriage ride through Mackinac Island's "main" street.

One of the beautiful, quaint, flower-engulfed cottages on the island.

At the island's world-famous hotel, The Grand Hotel, the gardeners shape a horse-and-carriage in the hedges.

Front view of the magnificent Grand Hotel.

One-of-the five-star Grand Hotel carriages.

A tour carriage makes its trek to the docks to pick up another group of tourists.

On of The Grand Hotel's carriages headed down the main thoroughfare.

Next to horses, bike riding is the most common type of transportation on Mackinac Island.

News on Al Dunning's Animal Planet show!

Ahhhhh...I'm one frustrated editor! After rearranging my Labor Day weekend plans to be in front of the TV this last Sunday evening, it turns out we received faulty information from Animal Planet's producers as to when the first segment of Al Dunning's "Untamed, Uncut" show is to run. 

Unbeknownst to us, the show was bumped to run at a later date. Unfortunately, we don't have information as to when yet. But, I promise, we'll keep you posted. Who would have thought Animal Planet would run 16 hours worth of "River Monsters" footage??? Not I!

Alas, forgive us for the faulty information, especially if you also rearranged your Labor Day Sunday evening to watch the show. Please don't shoot the messengers! 

Need Help From You! Shoe $$$

OK, so this post isn't exactly about what it's like to work at H&R (forgive me please), but we need help with a little "research" project we're doing. We would love (are actually begging) for feedback from readers around the country. 

How much (on average) do you pay a farrier for a basic trim and four basic store-bought shoes? 

Please tell us what type of riding you do (or other activities with your horse) and what state you live in.

Thanks a million guys! Erin and I really, really would appreciate your input. Hope everyone has a fab Labor Day weekend. And I promise, next week Erin and I have some hysterical tales from the latest photo shoot we did at Charlie Cole's awesome ranch a few weeks ago. Let's just say you're going to be rather surprised at his latest "boarders." 

AL DUNNING on ANIMAL PLANET!!!

Fellow H&R readers, DON'T FORGET, the first episode of Al Dunning's series, "Untamed, Uncut," on The Discovery Channel's "Animal Planet" is set to run this Sunday, September 6, at (9:00pm e/p; 8:00pm c). On the show, Al analyzes footage of shocking horse accidents in Argentina and Mexico, and explains how the Argentinean and Mexican cowboys could have avoided the accidents by using more humane, safe, and effective horsemanship skills. (See the blurb in our September '09 issue in our Your Horse Your Life "FUN" department, page 21, for more details.)

Be sure to check your local listings to verify times; go to animal.discovery.com for specific dates and times of the following segments. IMPORTANT NOTE: We've been alerted by several readers (plus, Erin and I have been constantly checking "Animal Planet's" Web site) that the show is not yet listed on Sunday's line-up. However, I've been in contact with the show's producer, and it is supposed to air this Sunday, September 6. We'll let you know next week, if for some reason it doesn't.

Below are some pics of Al with "Animal Planet" cameramen and directors. To see a full behind-the-scenes slide show, go to HorseandRider.com this month. PHOTOS BY CHARLES BROOKS (brooksphotog.com).

Hope you guys get to check it out! If not be sure to record it. I'm pumped about it. After getting to know Al so well, it's going to be awesome to see him in action on TV. And, I wish I could enter his sweepstakes with H&R (but, er, think H&R employees are banned). Need alias, desperately. (For more details on his H&R sweepstakes "Win a Day with Al," see the end of this post.)

DON'T FORGET: Enter for your chance to win a personal day of instruction with world champion trainer and Team H&R member Al Dunning at his Almosta Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona! You can bring your own horse or ride one of his. For more information and to enter, go to HorseandRider.com. [BTW: You can also enter to win a custom hat from J.W. Brooks, a Professional's Choice goody package, and an 8-month supply of LubriSyn Joint Supplement!]