If you have spent much time in the saddle, chances are you have come across a horse that pins its ears. Whether you are riding such a horse, or you are riding in a group that includes this kind of horse, you know how unpleasant it can be. More importantly, the aggressive, ear-pinning horse can be dangerous.

Growing up on a small Belgian farm in upstate New York, there were many things I looked forward to each year with the horses: logging, trail rides, wagon rides and hooking up the sleigh in the winter.  However, there was one time of the year that was most exciting- foaling season.  As I grew older (and started paying attention to more things), I realized if we had had a stud colt born that year, there was talk of “Jeb”. For the longest time, my younger self always thought that it was a possible name for our foal. But that was definitely not the case. From there, I found out that it was a deadly condition, and the intention was to minimize it, if not erase it, from the Belgian bloodline. But that is where my knowledge ended, so recently I did some digging…

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell equestrian team was named the Zone 2 Region 1 Regional Champion at the Regional Show Sunday at the Oxley Equestrian Center. The team earned the distinction based on the points it has collected throughout the entire season.

Some time ago I was in a grocery store during a big thunderstorm. The lady in front of me at the cash register line was nervously patting her toddler while saying “don’t be afraid” over and over. I’m sure her intention was to reassure the child (or maybe herself). I’m also sure that the youngster got the message loud and clear that thunderstorms were something scary because they made mom really jumpy and anxious.

Our riders vary from freshman to seniors and from experience to non-experienced. Most of the riders are from New York along with a few from other states.  The Team competes and trains at Galemont Equestrian in Baldwinsville, NY under coach Brenda Peck.