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Did you know...
 that just a few feet away from The Detroit Equestrian Club,
Seabiscuit won his first major race at the Michigan State Fairgrounds?

Seabiscuit, the grandson of the famous Man 'o War, was born in 1933 and was considered a mediocre racehorse until September 7, 1936.  On that day, before a crowd of 28,000 people at the Detroit Fairgrounds, Seabiscuit won his first major stakes race, The Governor's Handicap.  Seabiscuit and jockey, John (Red) Pollard repeated the feat on September 26, 1936 at the Fairgrounds, winning the Hendrie Handicap.

This incredible racehorse quickly became a national hero and in 1938, Seabiscuit  was named Horse of the Year and in 1958, he was voted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.  Seabiscuit died in 1947 at the age of 14.


 In 2006, a Michigan Historical Marker was erected at the fairgrounds next to a statue of Seabiscuit that stands near the site where he won his first major race. 





Christopher's
Young Riders Learning Series



Parts of the Horse


 

Hey! 
Here is a
Cool Computer Game!
 

 

 

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Solution

To print the crossword out, "click here"

 

 

Meet some of the
 Cool Friends of  The DEC!!!

Pictures of kids who visit our site, and their horses, from around the world!

Name: Kayleigh Kerr
Age: 8
Home: New Hampshire
Horse's Name: "Manhattan" aka "Matty", 14.2 hand Morgan cross
 

Name: Stefanie Hamilton
Home:  Georgia
Horse's Name: "Signature's Southern Style"

Name: Marisa Metzger
Age: 14
Horse's Name: "Mr.Darcy", 12 y.o. Dutch Warmblood
 
I am a training level eventer and was 1st in California 3 years running and 3rd in the state last year. 
I and currently making the change from  eventing into the hunters and equitation.

Name: Kim Boyle  Age: 12
Home: Washington, USA
Horse's Name:  "Finders Keepers", Appy/Welsh Cross 14.2H

Competes in: Large Hunter Pony, Short Stirrup and Pony Jumpers.
Accomplishments: in 2001 got 1st at year end awards for Large Hunter Pony and SS. In 2002 got 1st at Year end awards for 11 and inder EQ. also in 2002  1st at year end awards in Large Pony. 2003 got 2nd missed by 1 point for Large Pony hunter. in 2004 got 1st in Large Pony hunter and 1st in SS at year end.. now in 2005  Im in the lead for Large Pony Hunter and 12-14 Eq. We really don't show much on the A circuit. GO FINDERS KEEPERS :)

That's me and my pony, Pendleton Sly Fox, at the 2004 USEF/Wild Horsefeathers Pony Finals, showing in the large green pony hunters.  We trailered all the way down to VA from NY!  I was 12 in that picture and Sly was 6. Thanks!  And great site!

Name: Tara Bemoll   Age: 14
 Home: California
 Horse's Name: Achtung

 


Name:  Brittnay Lanegraff    Age: 14   
Home:  Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Horse's Name:  "Yo-Yo", 15.3 QH Gelding

"Hey!  My name is Brittany Lanegraff and I am 14 . 
My FAVORITE horse in the world is Yo-Yo."

Name:  Tanya Atkins    Age: 15   
Home:  New York State
Horse's Name:  "Mocha Mike", 15.3 QH Gelding

 "We have only been together for a little while but in the last 5 shows that we did we got 2 Reserve Champions and 2 Champions. We would have gotten a Champion at the last show but we didn't enter a division. I have placed in the 3 at all of my shows this year, some out of 9 riders and others even more. We just won Novice English Rider Year End awards at the circuit that we showed at called Southern Tier!!!"

Name:  Martje Kaffka
Home:  Germany
Horse's Name:  "Cordika"

Name:  Katie Gradwohl
Home:  Washington (State)
Horse's Name:  "Arctic Sun"

"I am the one on the left and this is my 16.1  12 year old thoroughbred gelding "Gumby" known to the show world as "Arctic Sun".  I have been training him and have owned him since he was 7. I am 12 years old too and lately we have been showing in Juniors 3 foot."

Name:  Maya Corrie
Home:  Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada
Horse's Name:  "Jillian Jigs"

"Hello!   I live in Canada. I used to do jumpers but this season switched to Eventing, prelim. level. My horse is an 11yr chestnut TB mare that I have owned since she was four.  I work at a dressage barn and go to College "in my spare time" :)"

Name:  Emily Corrie, 10th Grade
Home:  Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada
Pony's Name:  Colonel Mustard 13yr 13.2h welsh Dun pony 

After doing 3'0'' jumpers for two years, Emily switched to Eventing this season as well and is at
pre-training level. She is hoping to buy a new horse to move up on.

Name: Katharina Nikolai
Age:16
Home: Germany
Horse's Name: Duchess, 7 y.o. Hanoverian mare

"My name is Katharina Nikolai, I am 16 years old and I live in Germany.  I go to a secondary school in class 10.  I ride very much, I have a silver riding badge and ride every summer in competitions.  I often go with my friends shopping, in cinemas or discos."

Name: Clementine Winny
Age: 16
Home: Vermont
Horse's Name: Genesis, 17h Hol/TB Gelding

Accomplishments:  Top ribbons at "A" shows all over New England.  1999- 2nd VHSA Children's Hunter Year End Award (missed 1st by just 6 points), 3rd Stoneleigh Burnham Children's Hunter Classic and more!

Do you have a picture of 
you and your horse together?

Email it to us (as a .jpg file) and we will post it here!   

To send us your picture by email, 
"Click Here".  

"Dusty"

There once was a pony named Dusty,
he never ever got rusty,
he always won,
and had fun,
that is my pony Dusty!

Lauren Horth, age 12
Dalton, Massachusetts


 

"Poems"
 

"Jett"

There once was a horse named Jett,
Who was very afraid of the vet.
He'd run and hide,
Slip and Slide.
But made a very good pet!

 
                                Tahnee Georgens, age 13
                          Dalton, MA
"MOE"
There once was a horse named moe,
and he always wanted to go,
but he did not know the rules of the game.
So one day he went lame,
but he's alright now and having fun,
and on our last horse show we both won!

                                                   Nicole Lorenzo, age 11  
                                                   Canaan, CT

 

 



Have you written a really cool poem
about horses? 

Email us a copy of it along with your Name, Age, and where you live and we will print it here so you can share it with other kids from around the world!  "click" on [E-mail your poem] if you want to send us your poem via E-mail!!

EquineTrivia

One of the tests in the USEF rule book is "Question(s) regarding basic horsemanship, tack,and equipment and conformation" and this test is being used by judges more and more in the Equitation division.  Test your horse knowledge with the questions below, because you never know when you may be asked questions in a class.  And watch out, there may be a couple of "trick questions"!!   Good Luck!!!

Beginner

1) What is a horse's foot called? ____________

2) What is a horse's "head collar" called that is used to lead him/her? __________  

 

 

3) What is the leather "belt" called that is used to keep the saddle on? __________

4) What is attached to the bridle and goes in the horse's mouth in order to steer the horse? ______

5) What are the leather straps that are attached to #4? ________

Answers

 

Advanced Beginner

1) What side of the horse is the "off side"? ___________

2) What side of the horse is the "near side"? ____________

3) How many inches in a "hand"? ________

4) "15.1, 15.2, 15.3,..." What measurement comes next? _______

5) If a horse is under 14.2 hands, he is a ....? _________

Answers

Intermediate

1) In a horse show, what is the division where a horse is judged on his/her manners, performance, style over the jumps, etc.? ____________________

To see a video of what the answer looks like, click on the photo.

 

 

 

 

2) In a horse show, what is the division where a horse is judged on his/her ability to get over the jump without knocking a rail down, refusing to jump or exceeding the time allowed to complete the course? ______________________

 

 



3) In a horse show, what is the division where the rider, not the horse, is being judged on his/her look and style as they compete on the flat and over fences? ___________________

To see a video of what the answer looks like, click on the photo.


 

 

4) What is the left over part of your reins called, between your hands and the buckle at the end of your reins? ___________

5) What are the colors of the ribbons:

1st place ___________                                 4th place __________

2nd place __________                                 5th place __________

3rd place __________                                  6th place __________

 

Bonus :  What are the colors of these ribbons:

7th __________

8th __________

9th __________

10th __________ 

Answers

Medal/Maclay

1) How many feet in the average canter stride? __________

2) How many strides are in a 60 foot  line? _________

3) What is the average body temperature of a horse? _______________

4) A number of rails placed on the ground used for trotting your horse over are called ...?   Hint: C_______________  NOTE: This is a tricky "spelling" question.

5) Where are the Maclay Finals held? ______________________________

Bonus: What is the maximum height for the Maclay and what is the maximum height for the USET class?   Maclay ____________   USET ___________

Answers

Grand Prix

 

1) What are the rules for a jumper class run under Table 2, Sec. 2a?________________ ___________________________________________

 

 

2) You are on course and you jump a 10 foot water jump with a rail set at 2'6" on the take off side.  Your horse clears the water, but pulls the rail.  How many faults is that? ________

3) What is the maximum height for a jump in a U.S. Grand Prix? _______

4) In the schooling ring of a show, can you school over a Swedish Oxer before a jumper class?

Bonus: Who was the Italian cavalry teacher who started what we know as the "forward" style of jumping a jump in the beginning of the 20th century? _______________________ 

Answers

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