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English barn controls virus epidemic

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By: Alexis Mitchell
Email: mitchella2@findlay.edu

According to an email sent out by Darin Fields, Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of Findlay, on Jan. 25, two horses at the English Farm tested positive for the equine herpes virus (EVH-1).
Those two horses have now tested negative and are in good health. Now, three additional horses have tested positive for the virus, according to the University of Findlay’s veterinarian staff, making a total of five horses who have tested positive for the virus.
In 2003, the University of Findlay experienced an outbreak of the herpes virus at the English farm which ultimately lead to the death of some of the horses.
Dr. Hass is working alongside Dr. Richard Henninger to make sure that does not happen again. Both men are staff veterinarians for the University Equine Veterinary Services at the University of Findlay. Together they are treating the horses during the outbreak and says that they are making a good team effort to make sure the horses are all being kept comfortable and healthy.
Dr. Hass has been a veterinarian at the University of Findlay since 1994 and was here for the last outbreak in 2003.
“It’s made my day to day life more difficult over there,” said Dr. Hass. According to the veterinarians on staff, the situation now is under control and none of the horses are showing signs of distress.
Whereas back in 2003 when many horses died, no one was allowed in or out of the barn. Currently, students are still allowed to learn and ride in the English Barn while taking proper safety protocols.
Dr. Hass explained the last horse to test positive for the herpes virus was Feb. 6. The English barn is under quarantine for at least the next four to six weeks because of the possibility of neurological disease. The horses will be tested again after 28 days of quarantine. However, if another horse is tested within the 28 days and is also tested positive, the 28 days start over. There are 22 more days left for the current quarantine on the English barn.
In Fields’ email, he stated that part of the protocol with the quarantine is that no horses can enter or leave the farm until the order is lifted. Even though there have been no confirmed positive cases in the Western barn, all traffic from the Western barn has been stopped while the quarantine is in place, which was also stated in the email. This includes students, tack, and equipment. The University says all of the horses, whether they have been tested positive or not, have been vaccinated for the virus.
Emails are also exchanged between everyone in the equestrian program making sure everyone is up to speed on what is going on.
“The bottom line is the horses are doing just fine,” said Dr. Hass.

What is Dressage?

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By: Grant Goetcheus
Twitter: @goetcheusg
Email: goetcheusg@Findlay.edu

The University of Findlay offers many club sports for students to participate in during the school year. The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) Dressage team is arguably the most elegant of club sports. The combination of horse and rider in the ring is something that is enchanting to watch.
Every team needs a coach, and the Dressage Coach is Nicole Thuengen who is originally from Germany. Thuengen is the English Equestrian Director and came to the University in 2014 after being recruited by former Equestrian Director, Jill Paxton.
“She called me up one day, asked me if I’d like to improve the program to give it more international approach and to make the place even better in the way of giving the students the best education they can have. So, that’s what I’m here for,” Thuegen said.
Thuegen has a long history with the sport of dressage, one that has helped the team at UF.
“So, my background, how I started dressage, I had a school master when I was 12 years old. My dad just bought the horse, didn’t know what the horse was doing. He could jump, he could do dressage up to a very high level. So that’s how I started,” she said.
Dressage is a unique discipline in the equestrian world, and many even see it as a dance.
“Dressage is the idea to get the horses, no matter what discipline they go, to give them first of all the proper gymnastics,” stated Thuengen.
Since dressage is a competition, it includes a fair and balanced scoring system. Team President Chloe Johnson explains how the team sport is scored.
“We have a group of four riders. It’s first level rider is upper level, low training, and then intro riders. We all run through a test, which is nationally recognized test through USCF, and we get to draw horses,” Johnson said. “We have 10 minutes on that horse before we get to go into the test. Once you go into the test, you are being judged on every movement that you have. Then, a couple minutes after everyone on your level is done you get the results. So, you get scored, or you get points off of how high your score is.”
Much preparation goes into ensuring the University’s English farm is ready to host a dressage competition.
“Well, so we start as soon as we possibly can. It takes a lot, it takes the entire team. We start on Friday night. Actually, we start earlier in the week so with practice for our show riders and our parade ride so we can show off the horses the day of the show,” explained Johnson. “Then the day of we get there at five, we feed the horses and then we start riding and braiding the horses and then the show starts at eight.”
Dressage is more than just what you see in the arena. The sport goes beyond just that to team members and riders that take part in it every day.
“Now dressage, going further, the discipline of dressage finally is defining the proper aids even more into the fact that the horse gets more and more strong, balance, using muscles properly, and because of that, working more and more on the horse’s condition, the horses are capable of doing movements people, I think, are very happy about,” concluded Thuengen.

Making a horse show happen

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By: Stephanie Radloff
Twitter: @SRadloffUF
Email: radloffs@findlay.edu

Each year, there are two weekends in particular that are very hectic for students at the University of Findlay Farm. Katie Holt, senior co-captain for the Oilers Equestrian team explains how much work goes into preparing to host a horse show.

“My responsibilities at a home show vary to the needs of my teammates,” Holt said. “It may be tacking horses up, getting riders on their horses and ready for their class, wrapping horses legs, or lunging horses. I am busy the entire weekend!”

Putting on a horse show is no easy feat. The planning and pre-work that goes into hosting a show is extensive, and requires months of preparation. Judges must be booked in advance, dates for the show must work with other horse shows happening at the farm, and the horses must be in prime shape. As a school with a large herd full of quality horses, UF is requested to host two regular IHSA competitions a year, along with the regional championship show in the spring.

Hosting the IHSA shows comes with additional challenges, as the host school is responsible for running the show, taking care of all of the horses, helping other schools, and competing themselves. The Oilers have a lot of responsibilities to juggle in addition to showing. The entire team, consisting of 54 members, along with coaches, is in charge of the show. A typical show day lasts about 14 hours for the hosting team in which is repeated over the course of the weekend.

“It is much less stressful showing at away shows than it is showing at home. We have to get the entire show ready for the following day both Friday and Saturday nights,” Hold stated. “Arriving to the barn at 5 a.m. and leaving around 7 p.m. really takes a toll on us. So, when we go to away shows, we are really able to focus on ourselves and have plenty of time to de-stress.”

Senior Co-Captain Sarah Dwyer from the Lake Erie College IHSA team agrees with Holt.

“Away shows are definitely less stressful for me as a rider and a team officer (co-captain),” Dwyer said. “Since I am not stressed about how we are running the show, I am able to focus on my riding at away shows.”

Even though there is a lot of hard work put into running the home shows, the Oilers’ effort does not go unnoticed.

“Traveling with my team to compete is a great experience,” Dwyer said “We become so much closer as a team through our road trips, weekend stays, team meals, and show days. I have always enjoyed my experience at Findlay shows.”

The Oilers themselves are also able to have a fun time running the shows, the team bonding helps form memories that will last a lifetime.

“My favorite part about showing at home is watching the entire team come together to get a tough job done,” Holt said. “Home horse shows are always very stressful; having such a hard working team makes things much easier!”

The Oilers claimed the Reserve High Point team title on Oct. 7 and 8 at the James L. Child Equestrian center in Findlay. On Saturday, Katie Holt earned the Reserve Champion High Point rider award, while on Sunday Chloe Johnson took the Champion High point rider award and Payton McClintock took the Reserve Champion High Point rider award.

The Oilers English Equestrian team will be back in action Oct. 28 and 29 at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Oh. The next home show will take place on Feb. 17 and 18 at the James L. Child Equestrian Center in Findlay. All are welcome to attend this free athletic event to show their support.