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High school students can letter in riding!

In a move that counters many schools’ refusal to acknowledge equestrian disciplines as true sports, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has launched a program allowing high school students to letter in riding.

“The equestrian athlete dedicates as much, if not more, time preparing for competition as does any other athlete in a high school program,” said the USEF press release. The letter program, which is also open to home-schoolers, recognizes “the unique and often challenging human-to-animal connection … required of a successful equestrian athlete/equine combination.”

Requirements for lettering include USEF membership, 100 hours of riding and participation at two USEF competitions or five competitions at shows “affiliated with, or sanctioned by a horse show association.” Riders must complete a log documenting riding hours and competition results. Click here for complete application materials.

Current Seniors can enroll by January 29, 2010, and complete the requirements by May 31, 2010. For more information, contact Lauren Fahey via email at lfahey@usef.org
 
Good job, USEF! (OK, all you high-schoolers: Opportunity is knocking. Be sure to answer the door!)

Vet 'miracle' on short list for NBC's Hometown Heroes

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- Colorado State University teaching hospital veterinarians who saved two eggs from a mare killed more than a year ago in a nearby tornado -- and produced two healthy foals from surrogate mothers -- will be NBC's "Hometown Heroes" if they get enough votes.
Dr. Pat McCue, director of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory, and other reproduction experts at CSU pulled off the local "miracle" as a way to help the community of nearby Windsor recover emotionally from the devastating May 2008 tornado, according to a CSU press release. If the veterinarians win the award (and we hope they do!), the $10,000 in prize money will go toward helping critically ill newborn foals and educational programs about new foals. Click here and then look for the words "Pat McCue" under "Hometown Heroes" to cast your vote!
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NEWS FLASH! ... and if you have not already done it, take our opinion survey on the Larimer County Horse Facilities rules. (The survey does not collect personal data.) Results will be published before the next meeting! 

Horse operations: Don't throw the baby out with the bath water

FORT COLLINS, Colorado – It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
The working group in charge of developing new rules for horse stables and Larimer County staff have partnered up, vowing to work together to solve the horse facility problem. The solution could take at least another six months.
On the table will be the working group’s vision for a plan that horse businesses can swallow, and county staff’s technical expertise and vision for business regulations. The goal: A conceptual model that will survive to a final vote by county commissioners.
NEWS FLASH! Planning commissioner Kathay Rennels resigns

(Take our survey on the issue. Click the "survey" button!)

Death toll revised: 43 horses died in fire

Authorities have revised the death toll down to 43 horses in Saturday’s racetrack barn fire in Lebanon, Ohio, that also killed two people. The cause of the fire in Barn 16 of the Warren County fairgrounds remains unknown, but investigators have ruled out criminal intent. Two handlers, Ronnie Williams and James Edwards, were also killed in the blaze. According to All Headline News (http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017189995), the barn was made of wood, but encased in metal. In a CNN video (http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/05/ohio.horse.barn.fire/), fire officials said the barn roof had collapsed by the time they arrived on the scene.

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55 horses die in barn fire

LEBANON, Ohio – As many as 55 horses and two people may have perished in a pre-dawn racetrack barn fire this morning, according to CNN news. Firefighters are battling slick conditions in below-freezing temperatures as they try to use water to put out the fire. Our hearts go out to the people and our equine friends as this situation unfolds.
NBC reports two people missing, 80 horses dead.

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Wild -- and vulnerable

I met a neat horse this summer at one of a string of 4-H jumping clinics we organized. He was a three-year-old, which if you read your good-old 4-H Horse Project Manual, is a no-no when choosing a horse for a child.
This horse however, while still obviously green, had a heart of gold, a quiet temperament, and a willingness to learn. A girl of about 12 owned him. I was also amazed that a 12-year-old could be so kind and patient. Then again, that’s what 4-H teaches.
The little horse turned out to be a former wild horse adopted out of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) program. The fate of the wild horses, whether to kill off thousands or manage herds through less dire population control, comes up again at a December 7 meeting in Nevada, and it reminded me of this little horse.
He is living history -- and living proof -- that whatever we do to support the wild horse herds will benefit generations to come, sometimes in unexpected ways.

Planning commission: Stable rules need teeth

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- The Larimer County Planning Commission put off a vote on new land use rules for horse stables at its meeting Wednesday night, citing concerns that proposed rules needed more development.

"You have to have some way to judge it. You have to have some way to enforce it. You have to have some penalty," said commissioner Roger Morgan.

Commissioners also said they wanted some way for neighbors to be notified that a horse business was up for approval. The county has pointed to about 25 complaints from neighbors over four years as the spark that set off the quest for stable land use rules.

Wendy Chase, a member of the working group assigned to develop the rules for stables, cited more than 100 pages of recent comments from county staff and advisory boards seeking much stronger regulations than those proposed. "I hope budget cuts take care of some of the people making uninformed comments," said Chase.

"If you want to have a rural community, you need to do something to try to help the people that are subsidizing your rural vistas," said Chase. "Right now we’re doing all the subsidizing on our own, plus paying for it in our taxes."

"The county is supportive of the horse industry, and recognizes its contributions to quality of life," said Linda Hoffman, director of the county's rural land use center in her initial presentation of the working group's plan to commissioners.

About 60 people attended Wednesday's hearing, and the majority of the public comment supported the working group's proposal, which has been in development for 10 months. Earlier this month, at the last of many public feedback meetings, sentiment had shifted from strong opposition to a spirit of compromise regarding the working group's plan.

A minority proposal by two dissenting members of the working group, Sonja Craighead and Lisa Oppenheimer, supports geographic boundaries for horse business approval and a points system that would make it harder for a stable to get approved.

Accusations of working group policy development based on self-serving interests, and an alleged conspiracy by current permitted stable owners to turn non-compliant stables in to the county for investigation peppered both sides of the debate.

Opponents of new rules have said they would hurt horse businesses and destroy a way of life. "This is just absolutely ludicrous," said large stable owner Gary Gadsby. "This is not just a set of rules. This is a way of life for us."

Previously, horse businesses, if they sought county approval, have had to apply for special review, which including fees and associated consultant costs, could approach $7,000 - $10,000. Historically however, enforcement of the special review requirement was inconsistent. The county typically investigated stables and enforced the process only if somebody made a complaint.

The working group has proposed a scalable points system based on a stable's size and impact that would determine its required review level. The group combined several horse business services to fall under one definition.

Under the proposed rules, an "equestrian operation" would include: "a facility or place used for boarding (including equestrian pasture boarding), equestrian events and/or activities for remuneration and/or fee. Activities of an equestrian operation may include: horse boarding, riding lessons, horse training, competitions and exhibition events."

Larimer County Commissioners had been scheduled to review the planning commissioners' recommendation and make a final vote on stable land use rules in December. There was no date set for further action on the rules, but Hoffman told the planning commissioners she hoped they would give the working group a chance to address concerns.

Both sides jockey for position ... Loveland Reporter Herald

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Just released: 'Winning Bet', the novel!

Will the losing streak ever end? In the middle of a horse show, Emma Duncan, age 15, scratches out of her next class because her mare, Bonnie Blue, shows everything but winning behavior. When Emma tries the timed events, her feisty horse gives speed a new twist. At home, saddle thieves are on the loose, and so are friend thieves. Will Emma’s best friend, Aubrey, abandon her for the rude new girl, Caitlin? Will the chemistry between Emma and the mysterious Enrique turn into something more? Emma’s father utters the word “slaughterhouse”, and Emma understands one thing clearly. She and Bonnie must win or face separation forever.

Set at “River Bend Stables” somewhere along Colorado’s Poudre River, Winning Bet also features two real-life horses, Bonnie Blue and her son, Billy Blue. The horse on the cover is Bonnie, and yes, a certain lovely property is the inspiration for the setting. The rest of Winning Bet's colorful characters are purely figments of imagination.

Winning Bet is a horse book dedicated to everyone who ever struggled – or still struggles -- to be a winner. Click on the Amazon link, left, to get your copy!

NEWS FLASH! First copy goes for $100! Click here for story! NEWS FLASH! Amazon accepts Winning Bet for sale on the Kindle!

"Winning Bet" first copy raises $100

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- The first copy of the forthcoming novel, Winning Bet (retail value $12.95), surprised everyone Saturday night when it sold for $100 at the 2009 Saint Joseph Catholic Church and School "Spirit" fundraiser. The copy, actually a collectible proof version, was autographed by the book's, author Karin Livingston.

"I'm just happy Winning Bet was a winning bet for a great cause," said the blushing author. "This represents a great start for Winning Bet's success, and I'm grateful for the vote of confidence!"

NEWS FLASH! Just released! 'Winning Bet', the novel!

Amazon accepts 'Winning Bet'

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- Amazon Kindle has accepted Winning Bet, the story of how 15-year-old Emma Duncan and the mysterious Enrique Olvera must show her mare, Bonnie Blue, to a blue ribbon win before the horse goes to the slaughterhouse.

"This is a great start for Winning Bet," said author Karin Livingston. "Amazon is expected to sell $750 million in Kindles by 2010, and I'm proud to be a part of the e-reader movement!"

Click here for Amazon Kindle and Winning Bet hard copy link. (Don't own a Kindle? Click here to learn all about the world's best e-reader.)
NEWS FLASH!  Barnes & Noble picks up Winning Bet.
NEWS FLASH! 'Winning Bet' first copy goes for $100!
NEWS FLASH! 'Winning Bet' novel just released!