Standardbred Stars - Veruca Salt

Laura Harbour and her mare Veruca Salt, have been together since 1997 and since that time the horse-crazy teenager and the little filly have come a long, long way.

Veruca Salt is more casually known as “LEGS” which is a tribute to the mare’s sire, Nuclear Legacy. Laura began training LEGS and before long, the pair was off on their journey into the world of hSorse showing. Laura incorporated everything from jumping to reining into her training regime. The early attempts were not what Laura had dreamed of, they finished last in every class they entered. But Laura believed in her mare, and followed her dream, of one day earning a National Title. She took her horse with her to college, where they became members of the University of Kentucky’s Equestrian Team. Slowly, success in the show ring actually began to happen. Those first successes were on the local hunter-jumper circuit, and then in 1998 the pair earned Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals in the Beginner Hunter and Field Hunter Division of the Bluegrass State Games, a Kentucky version of the Olympics. The cross training paid off with back to back Year End High Point Awards in Hunter and Western Divisions at the 1999 and 2000 Manley Farms Competition. 2001 brought gold medals in Senior Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat and Over Fences and Senior Field Hunter at the Blue Grass Games. During the years between 2004 & 2009 at the Festival of the Horse Show in Georgetown, Ky., the pair earned a total of 18 First Place Ribbons; six of those placing were in the Open Western Horsemanship and Open Western Pleasure Classes. The Festival of the Horse Show also named them the 2005 Champion and 2008 Reserve Champion in Open Western Pleasure Division.

In 2007 Laura and “LEGS” journeyed to New Jersey for the National Standardbred Show… “LEGS” earned the National Title that Laura had been dreaming of for over ten years. In fact, they won every class they entered, and were awarded the Overall High Point Senior Horse. Together, they have proven many times, that there are no limits to the Standardbred’s abilities!

Sadly, Legs was diagnosed with navicular disease in 2008. With more than 150 blue ribbons to her credit, Legs has unwaveringly taken on Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and Quarter Horses in their own arenas and emerged victorious. She has earned her pension in green pastures many times over. The 2010 World Equestrian Games will likely be Legs’ retirement party.

Our training facility

Welcome to our training facility! Also known as our backyard. I just wanted to share the idea that you don't have to have a high-tech barn and driving course to prep a horse for competition. We've allowed the back 5 acres of our property (well, actually my parent's property) to grow up. We maintain a course throughout the area that allows for various turning radiouses, we have a water hazard (when the river is up), and a cones area. We have really worked with nature to create a fun, low-tech course. We also maintain most of the course throughout the winter for sleighing. We do the summer maintance with a lawn tractor and the winter course is rolled with a power trak. Draken is allowed to graze on the course during certain times of the year.

British Horse Driving Trials Association Videos

Interested in combined driving like you'll see at WEG? These are two British Horse Driving Trials Association videos from Cavewood Productions showing some of the competition that might be coming from Europe. These are two very different sounding videos so take the extra minute (okay, 1:27) to watch them both.  Very cool. 


Riesenbeck from Tim Maloy on Vimeo.


Holker from Tim Maloy on Vimeo.

Standardbreds at WEG - Exhibit times announced

The excitement is building!  We now know our exhibit schedule:

Sunday, October 3rd - 5:30pm in the Village Arena
Monday, October 4th - 6:00pm in the Village Arena
Tuesday, October 5th - 4:00 pm in the Village Arena
Wednesday, October 6th - 12:30pm in the Village Arena

I believe we are also trying to get some time in the "meet and greet" area but those times have not yet been confirmed.  Just as an FYI, the only people allowed in the stabling area are those with security passes, which means that the general public will not have access to the horses.  So...if you would like to see our wonderful horses please be sure to see us in the Village Arena!

Pour a little sugar on it!

Every morning Draken gets two handfuls of grain along with Magvet (a natural magnesium supplement)  and Hyalun (hyaluronic acid supplement for horses that supports healthy joint and cartilage function).  To make sure he eats all of the Magvet powder he gets a bit of corn syrup on his grain to hold it all together.  Since he licks his feed tub clean we think he likes it and it works well for us, except that the corn syrup can get messy.  Unfortunately we ran out of corn syrup. 

The first day Mom just gave it to him plain.  He ate it but you could see that wasn't going to last long without some incentive.  The second day, Mom gave him a handful of Dad's coffee sugar packets. Slurp!  Draken's tongue found every granule of sugar in that bucket. Then next day she tried a few less and it still worked.  Now he's down to one sugar packet with his breakfast (which is actually less than Dad puts in his coffee, lol) and is eating it right up.

Not that he can have them often but Draken is a sucker for a treat.  He really likes Skittles and Little Debbie Oatmeal Cookies.  But really, anything that makes a crinkly wrapper sound is fair game.  He does like soda but he will not drink it out of a can.  Pampered horse requires that it be in your hand or he's not interested. 

The picture up top is of Draken's stable mate, Aiken, drinking a soda straight from the bottle.  Aiken and my Dad are known to drive down to the local convenience store where they get a bottle of soda each.

You're probably wondering if sugar is good for horses and the answer is it's not any better for them than it is for us. Somehow though Draken and I still manage to eat the occasional cookie together.

WEG Health Requirements

We just a bit more that a month away from WEG!  Among other things this means that it's time for Draken's second round of  influenza vaccine.  We're being very vigilant with his health right now, especially as several horses in the area have experienced Potomic Horse Fever.

So what are the health requirements for WEG?  Well, for non-competitive horses the requirements are:

1) Routine Health Certification:


A Valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection

Negative equine infectious anemia test certification within preceding 12 months (KY Regulation)

2) Influenza:

3) De-Worming:


Additionally all horse coming on to Kentucky Horse Park grounds for the event are required to follow the following rules:

A) Horses being brought onto the grounds for reasons other than competing in a FEI Governed WEG Event (ie demonstration) are required comply fully with the FEI's Regulation governing Influenza vaccination. Certification by a licensed veterinarian (via a signed letter) is required to be made that each equine being presented meets the stated standard of being vaccinated during the preceding 6 months and three weeks but no sooner than 7 days of entry onto the grounds.



B) Be accompanied at the time of entry with a Valid 30 Day Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). Have attached to the CVI a certificate showing the equine being presented for entry has been tested for equine infectious anemia and been found negative. This testing will have occurred during the preceding 12 month period. The EIA test certificate must fully and positively identify the equine being presented for entry onto the Kentucky Horse Park.


C) Veterinary certification (form to be provided by WEG Veterinary Committee) that the animal being presented has been de-wormed with Ivermectin during the 21 day period preceding the animal's entry onto the Park's grounds.


D) At time of entry onto the grounds each horse will be inspected and the accompanying documentation examined for accuracy and verification of entry requirements. This procedure will be performed by a KY Dept Agriculture (KDA) Livestock Inspector or WEG qualified individual approved by the KDA.

Overall this isn't too different from a normal show. Typically, your horse will need a current negative coggins test and a Health Certificate if you're traveling with them at all.  The biggest difference for many is that the worming has to be observed by a vet.  That can be an unexpected cost if you're used to doing your own worming.  But ultimately, what's a few extra dollars when you're getting ready to go to the World Equestrian Games?  (lol, worming is cheap compared to the hotel, gas, training, feed,.....)

Hats - find the right carriage driving hat for you

If you're connected with me on Facebook then you've heard about my hat drama.  Simply put I was having trouble finding a hat that I liked and then, when I found it, having trouble getting it in time for the recent show.  To help eliminate hat drama in your life I'm going to share some of the websites that I have found helpful.

What is your hat style? http://www.hat-a-tude.com/whatsMyHatStyle.ivnu  This website doesn't necessarily have driving hats but they do share how to find the best hat for your face.  They also offer the advice "A hat should be no wider than the width of your shoulders. Broad shoulders...wide brim hat; narrow shoulders...short brim hat.  A tall or larger lady can wear a lot of hat. A petite lady will find a smaller hat more flattering. This refers to the overall size of the hat not just the inside diameter.  They also have some excellent advice on hat care and traveling with a hat.

How to wear your hat - A hat is meant to frame your face. The brim should be parallel to your eyebrows and a finger's width above them. Holding your hat, look inside the hat and line the label up so it will be centered at the back of your head when you wear it. Place the inside front edge of the hat on your forehead and put the hat down and back setting it down ON your head firmly.  It's very important when driving to make sure that your hat does not affect your vision or obscure your face.  Be careful with brims with an edge that drops down or brims that are too droopy.

Where to buy a hat? Tough question. Hats by Katie and DD Rapps are popular places to get carriage driving hats.  If you're showing at ADS shows then that may be the best option for you.  If you're showing at local shows or someplace that allows for a bit more individuality then Google 'church hats' to find a smorgasbord of options.  I've had good luck with DivineFashions.com and ElegantFamilyFashions.com (update as of 01/2013 this site appears to be out of business). One of the cool things about these sites is that they change seasonally.  If you don't see the color or style you like check back in a few months and they will have an entirely different selection.  By the same token, if you see something you like then you'd better buy it because they may not have it for long.

Colors - Your hat color should complement your vehicle and horse.  Green and browns go good with chestnut horses, etc.  HobbyHorse.com has a wonderful color wheel for matching horse colors with fabric colors. It is good to be aware that may judges still prefer a more conservative color. Some people suggest staying away from black but with the right hat I think it is fine.  Just make sure you don't look like a funeral.

I hope this helps you find the right hat for you without drama. 

Draken and Cancer

I just finished doing the Koman 3-Day for the Cure in Cleveland.  I started that project in part because my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.  In 2006, she beat it and was chosen to be a representative for "Every Woman Counts in Chenango County."   This project was composed of 21 women who were photographed in their 'natural setting' while sharing their stories of why mammograms were so important to them.  My mother's photo included Draken.  Together these women helped reach out to others in the community.  The goal was 600 exams and they received commitments from 611 women.

Just a few weeks ago Mom got the call "Would she consider helping with the program again?"  Of course the answer was "Yes!"  The people from the Chenango Health Network came out and took another round of photos.  So, this October, during National Breast Cancer Month, if you see a photo of a woman with a horse promoting mammograms, well, that's probably my Mom and Draken.  Take their advice and get a mammogram.  Early detection definitely saves lives.

Looking sharp!

At home Draken is kind of a hippy.  He likes grass, growing his mane out and no fancy clothes.  In fact, I think he's happiest right after a bath - when you first turn him out he'll roll and roll and roll, until he's covered in dirt (see photo for evidence of such behavior).

Going out in public is another story though.  Draken likes to look sharp and he knows when a crowd appreciates him.  Draken will be keeping his flowing locks for WEG but he'll be adding a nice new halter compliments of JH Harness and a stall sheet from Finn Tack.  Thank you to both of these businesses for supporting the Standardbred 'Stars' and making sure all of 8 of us are looking sharp at WEG.