Show&TellMagazine-GSECFebruary2011web

Show & TellF o r T h o s e W h o L i v e a n d R i d e W e l l

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GREAT SOUTHWEST EQUESTRIAN CENTER

M A G A Z I N E

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Red Adair: Continues to Fight Fires with Auction p. 16

Vol. 2 No. 1 Winter 2011

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAMEp.24

TRAILRIDEp. 20

FRIENDS OFWEG GALLERYp. 34

Its Just

When Margaret Go’s children need care, sometimes the biggest challenge is getting from their West Houston home to a world-class pediatric hospital.

By giving to the Heal Sick Children Campaign at Texas Children’s Hospital, you give families like the Gos peace of mind—and a way to avoid traffic when the health of their children is at stake. That’s because your donation will help build Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a brand new facility bringing superb care for childhood illnesses and injuries to one of Houston’s fastest growing communities.

It’s part of the largest expansion in our history and one that will help us provide unsurpassed health care to more and more patient families in West Houston.

W W W . H E A L S I C K C H I L D E N . O R G

3 Show & Tell Magazine | Vol. 2 No. 1 Winter 2011

Serving the equine industry for over 40 years with innovative skills and compassionate care. From the world champion to your grandchild’s pony...

Your horse matters to us!

Currie Equine Clinic Proudly Supports

the Great Southwest Equestrian Center!

Andrew K. Currie, VMDGustavo DeCillo, DVM

V e t e r i n a r y P r o d u c t s 979.826.2852

4 For Those Who Live and Ride Well

C h a n g e

AprilSpring Gathering USEF “AA” ShowApr 5-10, All Arenas

National Reining Breeders ClassicApr 19-24, All Arenas

Houston Dressage Society Spring ShowApr 29-May 1, All Arenas

FebruaryGSEC Winter Series IUSEF “AA”Feb. 2-6, All Arenas

GSEC Winter Series IIUSEF “AA”Feb. 9-13, All Arenas

Greater Houston Quarter Horse Show Feb. 18-20, All Arenas

Britannia FarmAQHA Winter ClassicFeb. 24-27, Main Arena

Show & TellC a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s

E v e n t s

E v e n t s = Great Southwest Equestrian Center Event

E v e n t s

Announcing the construction of a second Otto Sport Ring on site at GSEC.

Completion date: Spring 2011

MarchGSEC Great Escape Winter Slide 2011 (Reining Event)March 5-6, Main Arena

Houston Livestock ShowHorse JudgingMarch 7, Main Arena

GSEC GHHJA ShowMarch 12-13, Main Arena

GSEC Spring Round Up in TylerUSEF “A”March 17-20, Tyler Rose Horse Park - Tyler, Texas

Miniature Horse ShowMarch 18-19, East Arena

GSEC Open Show SeriesMarch 19-20, Main Arena

66th Annual Pin Oak Charity Horse ShowMarch 23-April 3All Arenas

Photos by Connie Kelts


C h a n g eC o n t e n t s

Show & TellF o r T h o s e W h o L i v e a n d R i d e W e l l M A G A Z I N E

Features16 RED ADAIR CONTINUES TO FIGHT FIRES

Estate Auction Benefits Blaze-Related Charities By Lara Bell

20 IT’S JUST TRAIL RIDEAnd Other Insights into the Biggest Ride in Texas By JR Goforth

24 FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAMEChristian Rogge, a German-born Show Jumper, Shares His Texas Pride By Alexandra Beckstett

Columns6 Publisher’s Column

GSEC Goes Green By Laura Manning

12 Getting to Know...Mary Kathryn Nommensen

28 Cause for ApplauseHouston-Area Centers Blaze the Trail of Therapeutic Riding By JR Goforth

30 Texas Children’s HospitalTwice the Babies, Half the Time By Sandra Bretting

32 Real Estate RoundupWindy Hill Ranch by Deitra Robertson

34 WEG Gallery2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, Ky.

40 Money MattersReady Your Portfolio: Volatility is Here to Stay By Heath Hightower & Bryan Zschiesche

42 In the NewsKudos in 2010 By Laura Manning

44 Healthy HorsesChange for the Better By Andrew Currie, VMD

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P u b l i s h e r ’ s C o l u m n

GOING GREENK ermit the Frog has a song in

which he laments, “It’s not easy being green.” Ana Vargas, our

maintenance manager, and her staff might agree in the dearth of winter or the heat of August in Houston, but right now GSEC is celebrating being green. Over the winter holiday we planted more than 1,000 Live Oak trees on our 75 acres – our very own version of “Christmas trees.”

And what a difference it makes – even just a few months after planting. So many of our GSEC clients talk of growing up out here as they started showing horses as youngsters and now their children are in the show business as well. If our trees grow as fast as our young exhibitors grow, we will all be sitting pretty in the shade very soon.

Others might notice our new logo on the main arena building that went up as we started our fall season – another green item which, if you haven’t noticed, is our theme color. Our art director calls it Pantone 627 C green.

So Kermit – please allow me to disagree with you. Great Southwest Equestrian Center thinks being green is great.

“...we planted more than 1,000 Live Oak trees on our 75 acres.”

New logo painted on the outside of the arena & 1,000 trees planted during the holidays!


Show & TellM A G A Z I N E

Volume 2 Issue 1

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEFLaura Manning

[email protected], 281-578-7669

EQUINE MANAGING EDITOR

Alexandra Beckstett [email protected], 281-543-6198

MANAGING EDITOR

Janet (JR) Goforth [email protected], 713-203-1146

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lara Bell, Sandra Bretting, Deitra Robertson, Heath Hightower, Bryan Zschiesche

ART DIRECTION

Equine Originals

ART DIRECTOR

Suzy Brown [email protected], 971-678-3694

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Kelly McChesney

[email protected], 713-819-6575

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lara Bell, Darolyn Butler, Fran Dearing, Amy Dragoo, Diana DeRosa, Martha Guyton, Connie Kelts, Laura Manning, Kelly McChesney, Shawn

McMillen, Deitra Robertson, SAGA Lifestyle Photography, Peter Pletcher

ADVERTISING

[email protected]

Representation by: Charles Ward, Idea Works, Inc.,

972-934-6543 [email protected]

PUBLISHED BY

Great Southwest Equestrian Center 2501 S. Mason Road, Katy, TX 77450

281-578-7669 www.gswec.com

© Great Southwest Equestrian Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written consent of Great Southwest Equestrian Center. SHOW & TELL Magazine is published 4 times a year by the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, 2501 S. Mason Road, Katy, Texas 77450. Opinions and editorial expressed herein in are those of the experts consulted and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors, advisory board or staff of the Great Southwest Equestrian Center.

Prize list online: www.gswec.com

• Winter Series I Feb. 2-6, 2011$25,000 GSEC Grand PrixUSHJA National Hunter Classic

• Winter Series II Feb. 9-13, 2011$25,000 GSEC Grand PrixUSHJA International Hunter Derby

Texa

s

North-South

Challenge

Join us in Tyler!

2011 Prize list online:www.gswec.com

Featuring$10,000 Meter 1.35 Jumper Classic$5,000 Meter 1.25 Jumper Classic$2,500 Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper ClassicChildren’s and Adult Amateur Hunter Classics

Texas Rose Horse ParkTyler, Texas

Spring Round UpMarch 17 -20, 2011


GREAT SOUTHWEST EQUESTRIAN

CENTER STAFF

GENERAL MANAGER

Sean Brown

SENIOR EQUINE CONSULTANT

Pauline “Cookie” Cook

VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING

Laura Manning

EQUINE MANAGER

Amy Uniss

OFFICE MANAGER

Sharon Rader

ACCOUNTANT

Jane Martinez

MAINTENANCE MANAGER

Ana Vargas

Cover Photo: Mary Kathryn Nommensen and Dom Perignon at the 2010 Region 9 Championships. Photo by Kelly McChesney, Photography Editor, Show & Tell Magazine.


The Texas High Performance Series

March 23-April 10.OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN PRIZE MONEY

Photo by John Kral

You’re invited to attend...


.The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show

Presented by

March 23-27$5,000 National Hunter Derby$30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix$90,000 Total Prize Money

March 29-April 3WCHR Event$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Valobra Jewelry and Antiques$20,000 Children’s Adult Jumper Classic$30,000 Grand Prix$200,000 Total Prize Money

www.pinoak.org.Spring Gathering Charity Horse ShowBenefiting The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Presented by

April 5-10WCHR Event$280,000 in Total Prize Money$190,000 in Hunter Prize Money$5,000 in Jr. Hunter Classic$5,000 in AO Hunter Classic$20,000 National Hunter Derby$25,000 Pre Green Classic$25,000 Grand Prix$50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

www.britanniafarm.com

Gracious Southern Hospitality CWD High Point Rider Award

All shows are USEF AA, THJA A, 4 Star Jumper, NAL/WIHS

Great Southwest Equestrian CenterFeaturing two indoor rings & Otto Sport Footing

For more information: www.gswec.com

.

Benefits:


Q & A

Getting to Know... Mary Kathryn NommensenMary Kathryn Nommensen is wrap-ping up a banner year in her on-going junior dressage career. The sixteen-year-old Houston native recently returned from solid showings at both the 2010 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, Ky., and the United States Equestrian Federation Dressage Festi-val of Champions in Gladstone, N.J., aboard her 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Dom Perignon.

Nommensen first fell in love with horses after taking riding lessons at summer camp. Her mom quickly urged her to pursue her new passion at a local lesson barn. “My mom rode when she was younger, so she always loved animals and horses,” said Nom-mensen.

English riding lessons turned into dres-sage lessons turned into horse owner-ship, and Nommensen received her first horse—a diminutive Andalusian named Remmy—at age eight. “He taught me everything,” Nommensen said. “I still own him; he’s kind of a pet. When I want to relax, just play around, and not really work, I go ride Remmy and have fun with him.”

About the time Nommensen began to outgrow Remmy in 2008, she stumbled across her current partner, “Dom,” who has taken her to two NAJYRCs. Their first go-around was a learning experi-ence, but this year the pair finished in the top ten in all three of their classes.

“I definitely felt more prepared this year—we were on the top of our game,” she explained. “I felt like we were ready, and we had pretty good rounds. I was really happy with how he behaved.”

Show & Tell magazine caught up with Nommensen to talk about her riding and her recent accomplishments:

QUESTION: What is Dom Perignon like to ride?

ANSWER: Dom is really fun to ride, and he’s so sweet when you’re on the ground. I feel like he’s always the same way when I’m riding him. He’s so trusting of me, and he always listens to me. He’s not the easiest horse to ride, and he can be complicated, but he’s always energetic and willing to work. He never really has a sour attitude—he’s just an awesome partner.

Q: What is it you love about dressage?

A: I love that it’s really challenging. I guess with show jumping you either have a rail down or you don’t; you get it in the time allowed or you don’t. Whereas dressage is more based on judging, so there’s always room for improvement, always something new you can work on, and it’s always a work in progress. I’m always learning something.

Q: How did you and your horse prepare for the NAJYRC?

A: This past year I really focused on getting back on track in the tests. My trainer, Anna Burtell, and I have been working really hard to make sure Dom gets enough rest, that he’s worked enough, taken care of by the veterinarian, that he has his feet always cared for, that he has the best feed … we’re just really cautious that he stays in top form.

Q: What are your upcoming riding goals?

A: The whole next year I’ll be working on qualifying for the junior cham-pionships again and getting good scores. I really want a medal next year, so that’s kind of my longer-term goal.

Q: What do you do when you’re not riding?

A: I’m on the yearbook staff at school. My whole family loves to cook together. I have a lot of great friends I like to spend time with.

“Horses are the love of my life, and they’re really time-consuming. ”

Photos by Kelly McChesney


ADVISORY BOARD

Nancy Cahill • Joan Cantrell • Chris George

Kate Gibson • Hollis Grace • Kathy Jones

Marilyn Kulifay • Colleen McQuay • Peter Pletcher

Patty Roberts • Deitra Robertson • Christian Rogge

2501 S. Mason Road, Katy, Texas 77450 281.578.7669 www.gswec.comShow

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I f you Google “oil well firefighter” or “Gulf War firefighter,” articles and images of Red Adair appear at the top of the search results. Google John Wayne and the movie “Hellfighters”—again, the late Adair is there. To

Houstonians, Adair was a local hero, and, to many reading this, he was a friend and fellow rancher. To Sunny Adair Dickson, he was her “Bampa.”

In fall of 2010, six years after Adair’s death, his granddaughter decided to continue his lifelong fight against fire. Her mission was to stoke the coffers of two charities that were dear to Adair’s heart: Shriners Hospital for Children® in Galveston and the Houston Fire Museum.

“After my Bampa passed away and my husband and I moved ten U-Hauls of belongings from the ranch, there was

still so much left that I had no idea what to do,” said Dickson. “A friend suggested selling the items at auction to raise money to help Shriners Hos-pital, which was still struggling from Hurricane Ike. I knew immediately that this was what my Bampa would want me to do.”

Going Once, Going Twice…

Dickson then sorted through the things

Adair had collected over the years, including bronzes by famous Western sculptors, presidential letters, John Wayne and “Hellfighters” memorabil-ia, never-before-seen photos, awards, and furniture. Of that process she said, “The decision to sell his personal belongings became easy after meeting the remarkable children at Shriners Hospital who have suffered tremendous and disfiguring pain (from fire-related injuries).”

Red Adair Continuesto Fight Fires By Lara Bell

Estate Auction Benefits Blaze-Related Charities

17

The auction, which took place Oct. 2, 2010, at Adair’s ranch home, gained national attention. “I didn’t know what the response would be when we first announced the auction,” Dickson said. “I knew people loved my grandpa, but I think what surprised me was the fact that they came from all over the United States to purchase his things.

I just wasn’t prepared for that.”

Many of the auction items were as unique and colorful as the man who had owned them. Houstonian Kristi Schiller attended the event and was top bidder on several collectables including a horseless buggy carriage, the original “Hellfighters” script, and

the original cast of Edd Hayes’ sculp-ture “Free and Wild,” which stands outside Reliant Stadium. “Red was like a grandpa to me, so to have some of his things on my own ranch will be a daily reminder of all the good he has done to help people,” Schiller said.

At the end of the auction, former employees of Red Adair, Boots and Coots, and Wild Well Control gathered to purchase remembrances of “The Hellfighter.”

Red’s Ranch

Besides Adair’s personal items, his Red Acres Ranch also was offered at auction. The Bellville, Texas, property is comprised of 377

Red Acres

Photos by Lara Bell


spectacular acres of rolling hills. Pass through its iron gates, and you imme-diately realize that something special awaits you on the hill. It is a house reminiscent of South Fork (made famous by the television series “Dallas”). Rumors are that the fun and frolicking at Red Acres would rival any episode about the Ewing clan. The property also includes two barns with stalls, a covered arena and horse pen, horse walkers, a barn with full living quar-ters, a chef’s house, a foreman’s house, an equipment barn, a pool,

tennis courts, helipad, lakes and ponds, and a four-bedroom guest house.

Perhaps the most unique structure on the property is the 9,000-square-foot party barn or “saloon,” as it was called. Steps away from the main home, this is where the Adairs spent holidays with friends and family. It’s complete with a large stage, his and her stalled restrooms, and a commercial kitchen. If those walls could talk!

As of this writing the ranch is still for

sale, and, as the brochure boasts, it would make a great working ranch, vacation house, corporate retreat, or kid’s camp. Auction items also are still available online at www.redadair.com.

“Before my Bampa passed away, he asked me to never use our family name for greed—only for good,” Dickson said. What could be a more natural and fitting way for Adair’s legacy to be realized than to help those battling the dire consequences of fire.


Paul N. “Red” Adair was born in Houston’s Heights area, and he began fight-

ing oil well fires after serving in a bomb disposal unit during World War II. With the knowledge he gained from the war, he started his career working for Myron Kinley, the “original” blowout firefighting pioneer. In 1959 Adair was ready to branch out on his own, and he found-ed Red Adair Co. Inc.

Over his lifetime Adair fought more than 2,000 land and offshore oil well, natural gas well, and other spectacu-lar industrial fires. He gained global notability in 1962 when he tackled a 450-foot pillar of flame nicknamed the Devil’s Cigarette Lighter in a gas field in the Sahara. Adair was known for his larger-than-life personality as well as his heart.

Adair’s granddaughter, Sunny Adair Dickson, with a member of the Shriner Club.

L iving in cramped motor homes, using outdoor toilets, staying up way too late and rising before dawn, dealing with sunburn one day and brutal cold the next, soothing sore muscles, and pray-

ing every night that it doesn’t rain tomorrow. If there were a Salt Grass Trail (SGT) rider dictionary, all those things would be found under “fun.”Look up the meaning of “passion,” and you’ll find what motivates us to trail ride: love of riding, love of horses, love and respect for our fel-low riders, and an enormous sense of accomplishment at the end of the event.

So is trail riding really so different from competing on, say, the dres-sage or reining circuit? In a word—yes.

Culture Clash: Show Ring vs. Trail Ride

“It’s just trail ride” are probably the most often-heard words during Salt Grass—nine days in February, just prior to the opening of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR), when nearly a thousand riders trek almost 100 miles from Cat Spring to the streets of downtown Houston. In Salt Grass lingo it means, “just let it go” and, almost always, people do. “It’s just trail ride” bespeaks the laid-back attitude we maintain about any and all matters that can and do go wrong with the likes of horses and humans. It reminds us

to get back to all the reasons we’ve taken a week out of our lives to be there. Reasons that are far afield from the show ring.

Western pleasure riding, which, on the Salt Grass Trail lasts from 9 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. each day, is relaxing. There is no pressure to per-form. The only pressure is to make certain that your horse endures the ride as well as you do, and that you both have a good time in the process. If things go according to plan, we trot and lope as little as possible. We especially don’t trot or lope to the beat of Country and Western music (with no disre-spect to our dressage brethren) that constantly fills the air. Instead, we walk—usually 9 to 12 miles a day. In 2010 weather required us to ride 20 miles the day it snowed. It’s amusing to talk about now—part of Salt Grass lore—but it wasn’t all that amusing at the time.

At the end of each day’s trail there are food and drink for all—first for the horses and then for the rid-ers. As the horses welcome night-

fall and a well-deserved rest, the second part of the riders’ day be-gins, generally comprised of three activities: drinking, dancing, and eating some of the best cowboy food ever served—steaks, barbeque, fried chicken, gumbo. Vegetarians go hungry during this week.

Similar to horse shows, rider at-tire is mandated, but we enjoy a great deal of freedom to inject per-sonal style into the SGT-required “Old West” garb. Most of the 29 wagon groups have matching jack-ets, shirts, or vests they wear on the daily rides. But nighttime brings out the cowgirl bling, and the cowboys clean up real nice, too. Exotic-skin boots, jewelry of every descrip-tion, and an array of Western hats dripping with adornments are part of the nightly scene.

“Wagons” are similar to riding clubs. Some wagons get together only for “the big ride” once a year. Others maintain an active social calendar year-round. In either case they are

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

It’s Just TRAIL RIDE

20

By JR Goforth

“IT’S JUST TRAIL RIDE”

And Other Insights into the Biggest Ride in Texas

...And Other Insights into the Biggest Ride in Texas

21

Photos by SAGA Lifestyle Photography

22

close-knit groups, bonded by the Salt Grass experience. Wagons take turns hosting after-dinner dances that are like mixers where you get to meet members of the other wagons. The music is always Country and Western, and the rule is that the bands must stop playing by 10:30 p.m. After that, people take the party back to their own wagons’ campfires, centrally located in that night’s motor home village.

Pre-dawn we are awakened by the Country and Western standard “Cattle Call” by Eddie Arnold. It blares from four of the largest speakers you’ve ever seen, riding atop a cruising heavy-duty pickup truck, SGT’s official pace vehicle and provider of tunes, dawn ‘til dusk.

Horses Have Tales

Congregating nearly 1,000 horses in one pasture, then setting up nine days of camp and care for them is quite the ordeal. During the week the number of horses dwindles to a mere 600-700. Salt Grass Trail Boss Milton Beckendorf and the livestock boss, Charlie Morgan, make equine safety a No. 1 priority. “The sheer numbers and closeness of the animals make it very stressful for them,” Beckendorf said. “Quarter Horses that are a little older make the best trail horses. They are not as high-strung as Thorough-breds or Warmbloods.” (I would add that they are also closer to the ground, for those of us who have experienced a tumble or two.) “We also see a lot of American Paints, gaited breeds, a few Appaloosas, and a variety of others,” he added.

Aside from the horses we ride, there are 50+ draft horses and mules that pull the Old West wooden, covered wagons and authentic buggies. The most common of these breeds are Belgians, Percherons, and Friesians. These gentle giants might come from nearby ranches, or they are brought in from greater distances.

The state requires a current Coggins and 30-day health II certifi-cate on every horse. In addition, SGT

regulations stipulate no stallions and no ponies. Equine vet-erinarians are on call 24/7, and a horse trailer follows the last wagon in case any horse needs emergen-cy transport. There are frequent stops, and the SGT organization provides a wa-ter trough for each wagon. Twenty or more “scouts” pa-trol the long line of riders continuously during every step of the ride. Scouts are expertly trained to watch the horses and provide aid when necessary. If a horse goes down for any reason, scouts halt the entire entourage—Beckendorf’s law.

Texas Livestoc Rental (www.texaslive-stockrental.com) own-ers Lisee and Dallas Smalley have been providing Quarter Horses to SGT riders for 25 years. “Salt Grass may just be walking, but those are some seriously long days that are very hard on a horse,” said Lisee. “Even though our horses are in perfect health and we use well-fitting saddles to prevent injury and gaulding (similar to a saddle sore, but in the girth area), at the end of the week the horses are tired and have sore backs.” (Authors note: Who doesn’t?)

Dallas stays with his horses the entire week. They are kept on good pasture all year long, and he feeds them al-falfa for extra calories during the ride. His are working ranch horses that are not stabled or stalled, so they stay physically fit for endurance riding.

It Ain’t Bragging if It’s True

Because SGT is the largest and most organized ride of the 13 involved with HLSR, it is widely assumed, and Beckendorf agrees, that SGT is

probably the largest and most organized ride in the entire world. Approximately 50 volunteers handle campgrounds, routes, port-a-cans, water, security, traffic control, and a myriad of other logistics that make the ride a lifetime experience for the lot of us. Whether you are an experienced rider or a novice, live on a ranch or in the city, are wealthy or not-so-much, work every day or are retired—you can be a part of Salt Grass. The fine people who run the organization have structured the ride in just this way, making it accessible to virtually anyone who wants to partake of the Texana ritual.

Complete HLSR trail ride informa-tion is available at www99.rodeo-houston.com/events/trail-rides/index.aspx. Bounties of trail rides also take place throughout the year that are not affiliated with the rodeo. If you own a trusty horse or would like to meet some of the nicest people who have ever ridden, put trail riding on your 2011 list of new adventures.

Photo by SAGA Lifestyle Photography


C H R I S T O P H E R M A Y E S

T H E A R T O F T H E T E X A S F L A G

L A R G E A C RY L I C PA I N T I N G S B Y O N E O F T E X A S ’ F I N E S T A R T I S T S

W W W . T E X A S F L A G A R T . C O M

24 For Those Who Live and Ride Well24

Red Acres

Christian Rogge has spent 15 years establishing his German-inspired show jumping business in Texas

Photo by Shawn McMillan

25 Show & Tell Magazine | Vol. 2 No. 1 Winter 2011 25

Starting a horse business from the ground up is no walk in the park. Add to the challenge a foreign country, a language barrier, and a different riding style, and it seems near impos-

sible. But German-born horseman Christian Rogge has done just that. Fifteen years ago he arrived on the Texas jumper scene in hot pursuit of the woman he loves and the horse sport he lives for.

Rogge, 50, was born in the bustling metropolis of Hamburg. His exposure to horses was, thus, limited, except for family vacations to the German coun-tryside. There he and his two sisters started riding on Shetland ponies—a far cry from the robust warmbloods he breeds, trains, and shows today.

The family relocated to the country permanently when Rogge was about eight years old, which allowed him to ride and compete regularly. He took to show jumping and was dead-set on riding professionally, but his dad had other plans for him. He encour-aged Rogge to, instead, finish school and to get a business management degree from the Academy of Economic Science in Hamburg. Rogge reluctantly traded in his tall boots for textbooks,

but he now admits that decision was a wise one.

“My business degree has helped with my horse business—absolutely,” he said. “It still helps me running my own business today.”

Crossing the Pond

In 1991 Rogge made a fortuitous visit to Texas to spend time with a friend who was working at Paul Kathen’s Tex-Over Farm in Conroe. One of Kathen’s dressage students, Linda Law, caught Rogge’s eye, and the rest is his-tory. The two were married and spent a three-year stint in Germany before Law wanted to move back to the States. And Rogge? “I followed,” he said with a chuckle.

The couple landed in Cypress in the summer of ’95, where they eventu-ally turned a former cutting horse farm into their dream hunter/jumper facility: Top Line Sporthorse International. “We expanded and built a covered arena, more stalls and barns, and our house,” said Rogge.

Today the 15-acre farm is home to 20 horses in full training. Behind its gaited entrance, a picturesque, tree-lined drive leads visitors to two airy barns, fully-lighted indoor and outdoor rid-ing arenas, and wooded paddocks. Rogge has even added some German-inspired touches to the facility, such as an imported walking machine, which operates similar to a hot-walker.

Several broodmares and their fuzzy

Game

By Alexandra Beckstett

For the Love of the


foals also call Top Line home. Rog-ge’s retired Grand Prix-level mares’ bloodlines and athleticism don’t go to waste once their competitive careers are over;they are kept busy producing future superstars.

“It’s not really professional breeding,” explained Rogge. “It’s more our hobby, and it gives the retired sport horse mares a job.”

A Need to Succeed

Rogge takes great pride in his farm’s progress and his business’ resilience. He says it took a lot of hard work and long days to get to where he is today.

“I think my main accomplishment is, over a period of 15 years, being able to come from Germany, stay in one place in Cypress and establish a

business, own my own farm, and be able to have fun with the horses, and show all over the country,” he said. “I feel like, for myself, that is a great accomplishment.”

Although Rogge had been a certified riding instructor and proven show jumper in Germany, his method didn’t necessarily translate to American riding and horse showing culture.

Initially, the language barrier was the biggest obstacle Rogge encountered. Also, he quickly discovered that a good portion of the horse show industry in the United States revolves around the hunters and the equitation. Hunter classes are nonexistent in Germany.

“It was strange to me. It was also dif-ficult to cater to a large clientele,” said Rogge. “My specialty was training show jumping horses and riders for higher competition. So there was kind of a limited market. Working in a totally different culture and environment was probably the most challenging (part of starting my business).”

“It is quite hard at the beginning, when you come to another country—I know, I’ve been there, and it’s a whole dif-ferent ballgame than in Europe,” said Great Southwest Equestrian Center’s Senior Equine Consultant, Pauline “Cookie” Cook, who hails from Great Britain. “Because of who Christian is and what he’s done, he has developed a very good business.”

Although Rogge’s forte lies in the jumper ring, he has managed to also have a hand in the hunter side of the industry, with some help from his 28-year-old stepdaughter, Jessica Law, who trains and rides for Top Line. Her emphasis on the hunters compliments Rogge’s passion for the jumpers.

“She’s showing all the hunters, she’s training and coaching all the adult and children’s (hunter) riders, and I do the higher-level riders and the Grand Prix horses,” explained Rogge.

On The Go

Together, Rogge and Law hit approxi-mately 25 horse shows a year, including ten at Great Southwest alone. Do the math, and that means Rogge is on the road nearly half the year. Once or twice a year he also commutes to Germany on horse-shopping trips. But the nonstop, sunrise-to-sunset lifestyle is what he loves.

“If you have your own business, your own farm, your own horses, and you live on the premises, it is a 24/7, 365

“Christian’s a very good sport, and he loves what he does.” — Pauline Cook GSEC Senior Equine Consultant

Photo by Kelly McChesney


days a year commitment,” he said. “We find spare time and quality time, but we find it a lot at horse shows with friends and trainers.”

“I think Christian is very professional in his ways,” said Cook. “I just think he’s a very good sport, and he loves what he does. He’s also a great supporter of the (Great Southwest) horse shows.”

Rogge admits that the abundance of top-notch events held in Katy helps boost his business and allows him to stay close to home. “I never have to stay in a hotel,” he explained. “I always

commute, and I like the fact I can be home more often, because even if it’s just for a few hours it’s still nice to come home and put your feet under your own table and say hello to the dogs.”

Rogge’s five family pooches, by the way, are his “other” children. They’ve become a big part of his life—whether demanding attention or providing entertainment—and are yet another reason why he’d rather compete close to home than travel out-of-state.

There is, however, another sport in Rogge’s life that rivals his love affair with horses: “I’m a soccer freak. I have every television channel that you can imagine that you can buy so that I can watch soccer.” (Naturally, he cheers loudest for the professional German

soccer league and the Hamburg team.)

He and his family also enjoy an occasional evening Downtown, away from the farm, to have a nice dinner together and attend a Houston Rockets basketball game. But most of Rogge’s free minutes are spent at the farm he worked so hard to call home. He might be speeding around (relatively speak-ing) on a golf cart, dragging the arena, or ticking off items on his never ending

to-do list.

“I like walking around the farm, working on projects, building and ren-ovating stalls, building fences, making improvements to the facility, planting trees, doing landscaping … things like that.”

So don’t let that tough German exterior fool you—turns out Rogge’s a down-home Texan just like the rest of us.

“Working in a totally different culture and environment was probably the most challenging (part of starting my business).” — Christian Rogge

Photo by Kelly McChesney


C a u s e f o r A p p l a u s e

Houston-Area Centers Blaze the Trail of Therapeutic RidingBy JR Goforth

Since SIRE (Safety, Integrity, Re-spect, Excellence) was founded in 1983, its Therapeutic Eques-

trian Centers have been providing programs for Houston-area children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities, sensory impairments, and psychosocial disorders. SIRE teaches riding skills, barn management, horse care, and developmental skills at its facilities in Hockley, Spring, and Fort Bend County.

SIRE staff and volunteers work with rid-ers as young as three years old who have disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, muscular dys-trophy, multiple sclerosis, developmen-tal delay, spina bifida, sensory integra-

tion deficits, attention deficit disorder, amputation, and others. SIRE has the only program in the Houston area that has received Premiere Accredited sta-tus from the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NAR-HA). Additionally, SIRE employs two Master Level Instructors, out of only 35 in the entire United States.

How Therapeutic Riding Helps

SIRE works with riders to improve mo-tor skills, balance, and posture, which stimulate the cardiovascular system and normalize muscle tone. Riders also experience the three-dimensional movement of the horse, similar to a human’s gait, which is difficult to du-plicate in a clinical setting. SIRE also offers educational programs and works directly with school teachers to help students achieve academic-based goals.

SIRE creates an environment of ac-ceptance for all participants, offering encouragement to succeed. For SIRE riders, the benefits of being on a horse (taller than anyone else) and being in control of such a large animal are immeasurable. Riders develop lasting bonds with the horses, as well as the volunteers and staff.

Help SIRE Succeed

To continue to grow, SIRE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, needs your donations, corporate sponsorships, matching gifts, volunteer time with rid-ers and horses, and recommendations to individuals with disabilities. For more information contact (281)356-7588.

“SIRE works with riders to improve motor skills, balance, and posture, which stimulate the cardiovascular system and normalize muscle tone.”

SIRE Event Calendar

Top Hands ShowHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo

February 18-20, 2011

SIRE Special OlympicsLate April, 2011

Kentucky Derby GalaSam Houston Race Park

May 7, 2011

Third Annual Golf TournamentSienna Plantation Golf Course,

Missouri CityJune 17, 2011

There are events nearly every month of the year!

www.SIRE-htec.org

Illustration byDawn Davidson-Chmielewski


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T e x a s C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l

By Sandra Bretting

To look at Grayson Harris of Katy today—an angelic 18-month old with fair hair and china-blue

eyes—it’s hard to imagine he spent 101 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston after being born almost 15 weeks early.

His mother, Amanda, learned she was pregnant in the fall of ’08. At her first ultrasound eight weeks later, her joy turned to amazement when not one, but two, images appeared on the screen, indicating the family she had begun with husband David would soon double.

According to Karen Moise, a registered nurse and one of the driving forces behind the Program for Multiples at Texas Children’s Hospital (a consulta-tive service offering genetic counseling, fetal imaging, and nutritional guidance to women pregnant with two or more babies), three scenarios are possible with multiple births.

“Either the pregnancy includes two placentas—which is best—or one placenta with two birth sacs,” Moise said. “The third possibility is the most troublesome: one placenta and one birth sac when you have more than one baby.”

Amanda felt fortunate when she was told by her obstetrician that she fell into the second category. The physician kept an eye on the pregnancy, but at 22 weeks it became clear there were complications, and he referred her to a specialist.

“The specialist rushed into the room

and said I needed to go to the Fetal Center at Texas Children’s,” Harris said. “She didn’t even have time to introduce herself.”

Amanda’s twins were suffering from something called twin-to-twin trans-fusion syndrome (TTTS), a disease of the placenta that affects pregnancies

Twice the Babies, Half the Time

“If we can help these women sooner, there is so much more that can be done for the babies. ” — Karen Moise, Registered Nurse

Thanks to Texas Children’s Hospital’s Fetal Center, Grayson Harris, shown here at 18 months, survived an early delivery.


with identical twins. The shared pla-centa might contain abnormal blood vessels that connect the umbilical cords and circulations of the twins. The single placenta also might be shared unequally by the twins, which is what happened in Amanda’s case, causing one twin to become anemic (having a less-than-normal number of red blood cells).

Unfortunately, by the time Amanda arrived at the Fetal Center, her twins had been sharing several blood

vessels for many weeks, and one twin had been deprived of precious nutrients. Dr. Ken Moise, medi-cal director of the Program for Multiples, performed an emer-gency operation—called a la-ser ablation—to divide Amanda’s placenta.

Amanda’s body responded by entering into labor a short while later, and her twin boys were born at 25 weeks and 5

days, weighing a scant 900 grams and 840 grams.

“To look at the babies, you would have thought that Griffin was the healthier of the two, even though he weighed less,” Harris said. “But there were complica-tions, and we lost him at eight weeks.”

“If we can help these women sooner, there is so much more that can be done for the babies,” Karen Moise said, her passion for the mission clearly evident.

“Eighty percent of the time the surgery Amanda had is successful… if it’s done early enough.”

The Fetal Center at Texas Children’s recently performed its 200th laser ablation. In addition to offering the lat-est technology to care for mothers of multiples, the center is staffed by medi-cal subspecialists who are experienced in dealing with TTTS and other issues that can confront multiples.

While Griffin wasn’t able to withstand the early delivery, Grayson ultimately was discharged and allowed to go home with his family. Today, Amanda credits the physician and staff at the Fetal Center with saving her son’s life.

“The nurses, especially, became like our family,” Harris said. “I couldn’t help but love them. One even told me, ‘We care about these babies because they’re ours before they’re any one else’s.’ I just loved that.”

Bio: Sandra Bretting works as a writer for Texas Children’s Hos-pital in the Texas Medical Center. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, her work can also be found most weeks in the business section of the Hous-ton Chronicle. Credits include the Los Angeles Times, Woman’s Day and many literary publications.

Helping Parents of Multiples at Texas Children’s Hospital


R e a l E s t a t e R o u n d u p

WHO:

Deitra Robertson Real Estate, Inc. 979-921-9470

IKnowRanches.com

WHAT:

An easy drive from Houston, Windy Hill Ranch offers rolling hills, improved pastures, woods filled with whitetail, creeks, 26 ponds (many stocked) and a seven-acre lake. Comfortable brick home, exemplary covered riding facility, additional horse barn, storage barns, and numerous other metalwork buildings; rental/worker’s houses; pipe fencing and loafing sheds. Several miles of highway and road frontage.

WHERE:

Madisonville, Texas - Windy Hill Ranch

WOW:

275 foot by 125 foot covered rid-ing arena with 16 stalls, office space, apartments, entertainment area, and cattle holding pens. Additional horse barn has 10 stalls, center aisle, pipe runs, and pipe traps. Lighted cutting pen and horse walker.

WOW AGAIN:

Top-notch cattle facilities; hydraulic trim tilt squeeze chute and 10,000# Tru-Test® scales. Excellent hay produc-tion and high cattle capacity.

Ride, Hunt, Fish & Ranch


$12,298,650 2,928.25 acres with improvements

Madisonville, Texas

Wildlife or Agricultural Tax Exemption—What’s the Scoop?By Deitra Robertson, ALCAccredited Land ConsultantMember: REALTORS® Land Institute

Foreclosures and falling home prices have affected the tax base in many Texas counties. Therefore,

some counties are challenging agri-culture tax exemptions in an effort to generate more revenue.

Personally, I have had a 30-acre hay field in production for 21 years (longer than I have owned my farm). Last year was the first time my county asked for all fertilizing, seeding, hay production, and cutting records plus additional

documentation from my hay man’s tax returns. I also had to provide three soil samples for testing and send the results to the county. It is my belief that all this was an attempt to disqualify my prop-erty for an agriculture tax exemption in order to increase county tax dollars.

Enter wildlife management. Because smaller tracts of land are big targets for the appraisal districts and because recreation is the primary motive that fuels the rural Texas land market, many buyers and longtime landowners don’t want to verify a farming or ranching practice to maintain the property tax break on rural land. A viable alterna-tive is qualifying for an open space appraisal.

To qualify for an open space appraisal (known as 1-d-1 land), the land must have been devoted principally to ag-

ricultural use or to the production of timber or forest products for five of the preceding seven years. The owner must file an application with the chief appraiser of the local appraisal district and provide the required information before May 1 of each year. Land uses that qualify for open space appraisal fall into five categories, one of which is wildlife management. This category al-lows recreational landowners to qualify for tax exemptions without farming and ranching.

The full extent of the wildlife manage-ment requirements is vast. However, the Deitra Robertson Real Estate Inc., team has knowledgeable wildlife bi-ologists and farm management per-sonnel on board. Please give us a call about changing your property’s tax exempt status, the way I’m doing for my own property and for that of many other clients.

“Land uses that qualify for open space appraisal fall into

five categories, one of which is wildlife management.”

Bio: Deitra Robertson is the president of Deitra Robertson Real Estate Inc., specializing in farms, ranches, and equestrian properties. Deitra showed horses (hunters) coast to coast for almost 20 years. She rides and trains using natural horsemanship principles with all her horses.

Ride, Hunt, Fish & Ranch


PHOTO Gallery


PHOTO FRIENDS OF GREAT SOUTHWEST EQUESTRIAN CENTER AT THE WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES 2010

Gallery 2 3 41

1. Dressage Arena - Photo by Alexandra Beckstett

2. Carlee and Mandy McCutcheon - Photo by Laura Manning

3. Margo Loeffler, Sarah Schaller, Leslie Rohrer, Gina Rohrer - Photo by Martha Guyton

4. Frank Owen, Bill McMorris, Candy Owen, Colleen McQuay, Susan McMorris


The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington might sit 1,022 miles northeast of Katy’s Great South-

west Equestrian Center, but countless Texans made the trek there to be a part of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Eques-trian Games (WEG) Sept. 25 through Oct. 10, 2010.

The 16-day historic event boasted, for the first time, eight disciplines, and it was the first WEG to be held in the United States. The largest airlift ever of competition horses took place to transport approximately 750 horses for 632 riders to Kentucky. And more than half a million spectators, volunteers,

5

6

5. Peter Pletcher - Photo Courtesy of Susan Pelletier

6. Mohommad Ali far left - Photo by Diana DeRosa

7. Molly Fischer Xanphopolous, Name not available & Stephanie Wells - Photo by Fran Dearing

8. Tara and Pat Dahnke - Photo Courtesy Laura Manning

9. Peter Pletcher, Jen Alfano, Liza Boyd, Tammy Provost, Louise Serio, the Hunter Derby Team - Photo Coutesy of Peter Pletcher

10. Cross Country - Photo by Alexandra Beckstett

11. Crowds - Photo by Alexandra Beckstett

12. Kordula Voigts - Photo by Darolyn Butler

and athletes paraded through Horse Park gates to witness the Games.

Among them were reining gold medalists and native Texans Tom McCutcheon and Tim McQuay; hunter derby demonstration participant Peter Pletcher; country crooner Lyle Lovett;

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein; and hordes of well-wishers from the Lone Star State.

Show & Tell magazine spotted several familiar faces while taking in all the excitement in the Bluegrass; here’s a look back at the historic Games.

PHOTO Gallery

7 8

109

11 12


PHOTO Gallery

16

13


14 15

17

1918

20

13. William Shatner Driving - Photo by Diana DeRosa

14. Cross Country - Photo by Martha Guyton

15. Nicole Logue, Laura Manning, Bob Burns, Deb Sandford - Photo by Waiter

16. Tim McQuay with Hollywoodstinseltown - Photo by Amy Dragoo

17. Blake & Liza Boyd, Colleen & Tim McQuay, Louise & Crissy serio - Photo Coutesy of Peter Pletcher

18. Beca Pelletier Diane Garza Susan Pelletier Mascot and Lynn Walsh - Photo Coutesy of Susan Pelletier

19. Lyle Lovett - Photo by Diana DeRosa

20. Tim McQuay, Craig Schmersal, Tom McCutcheon, Shawn Flarida - Photo by Amy Dragoo

21. Crowds - Photo by Fran Dearing21

Land Rover Ride and Drive Special Events Team


Ready Your Portfolio: Volatility is Here to Stay By Heath Hightower, CFP®, and Bryan Zschiesche, CFP®, MBA, MS

Volatility has become an increasingly common theme over the past few years. As in-

vestors grow more frustrated with stock and bond portfolios, research suggests that stocks and bonds alone might no longer provide adequate diversifica-tion in today’s volatile environment. Until recently, most investors had few other options. Today, however, there are a wide range of investment options that can be used to help minimize an investor’s exposure to market risk. We believe alternative strategies should be added to a traditional stock and bond portfolio to help reduce volatility.

“Alternative strategies”—what are they? Hedge funds? Are they only for the super-wealthy? In short, alterna-tive strategies are investments outside the traditional asset classes of stocks, bonds, and cash.

Why Alternative Strategies?

Alternative strategies tend to generate returns that are not dependent upon the direction of the stock market and, as such, help serve as a cushion during volatile times. While certain alternative strategies have been available for cen-turies, the past few decades have seen increased use of alternatives among institutional investors (e.g., pensions and endowment funds).

Historically, alternative strategies have been available only to “accredited investors” in expensive, illiquid forms, such as limited partnerships and private hedge funds. Recently, how-ever, there has been an industry shift to provide alternative strategies in reasonably-priced mutual funds with daily liquidity. The mutual fund format provides transparency and liquidity—two important prerequisites for any investment.

As you might expect, the term “alter-

native strategy” encompasses a wide variety of money management strat-egies. Some strategies are intended to reduce volatility, while others are intended to enhance returns. As with any investment, no one particular strat-egy is appropriate for all investors.

The art of diversification no lon-ger stops with a stock and bond portfolio. As the world of investing changes, we must recognize those

changes by embracing the new dimen-sions of the global market. Diversifi-cation still works, but it must take into account the everchanging investment environment.

Alternative Strategy OptionsMarket Neutral

Market neutral investing seeks to “neu-tralize” the stock market’s impact on performance by holding both long and short positions. The strategy dates back to 1949, when sociologist Alfred Winslow Jones popularized combin-ing long and short positions in a single portfolio. In a market neutral fund the manager will buy (long) stocks he be-lieves will rise in value and sell (short) stocks he believes will fall in value. The long positions generate gains when those stocks rise in value, and the short positions generate gains when those stocks fall in value. The fund generates its total return from the spread between the long and short positions. While this might sound risky, it does so with bon-dlike volatility. Source: JPMorgan. “Market Neutral Investing.”

Iyer, Bala. Feb. 2005.

Managed Futures

Futures contracts obligate the holder to buy or sell an asset at a specific price at a specific time in the future. There are two parties: one with the obligation to buy at a certain price, and the other with the obligation to sell. As an ex-ample, an airline company might buy a futures contract on jet fuel because they believe that prices for jet fuel will

be higher in the future than they are today. A managed futures strategy invests in futures contracts in areas such as commodities and currencies. Managed futures have historically produced equitylike returns with sig-nificantly less risk and low correlations to the U.S. stock market. For instance, in 2008, while the S&P 500 was down –37%, the managed futures index (the S&P Diversified Trends Indicator) actu-ally made +8.29%. Source: Rydex|SGI “Modern Markets Scorecard.”

Merger Arbitrage

This strategy invests in publicly an-nounced mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers with the goal of profiting from the timely completion of these transactions. The fund invests in the stocks of companies that have an-nounced plans to merge or take over another company by using both long and short positions to manage risk. The primary risk is the completion of the merger or acquisition—if the deal closes, the fund makes a profit. As such, the primary focus of the fund is on minimizing “transaction risk.” As with the other alternative strategies, merger arbitrage has a history of low volatility. Source: The Merger Fund 2010 Presentation.

March 31, 2010.

M o n e y M a t t e r s

Heath Hightower Bryan Zschiesche


I n t h e N e w s

Kudos in 2010By Laura Manning

Alexandra Beckstett, equine managing editor of Show & Tell Magazine and features/

departments editor of The Horse, was recently honored by Alltech at the FEI World Equestrian Games. Beckstett was one of the recipients of the first Alltech ‘A+’ Award established to honor creativity, passion, and excellence in equine journalism. The media contest was organized in partnership with American Horse Publications and the International Alliance of Equestrian journalists and open to members of both organizations. Beckstett was honored for her story “Peerless Park” published in the Spring 2010 issue of Keeneland. GSEC is proud to have Ms. Beckstett as a member of our editorial staff.

The Great Southwest Equestrian Cen-ter was recently named by the Houston Business Journal as one of the Top 15 Houston-Area Entertainment Venues in

2010 as ranked by total 2009 attendance. The announcement was published in December 2010. It will appear in the year-end Book of Lists

And lastly, hot off the press, the Great Southwest Equestrian Center was named as a finalist in the American Marketing Association – Houston Mar-keter of the Year 2010. GSEC was named as one of three finalists as Best of Category in the Sports – Amateur division. This award is given to acom-pany, firm, or institution and is not an individual award. Congratulations to the GSEC staff who work 52 weeks a year to produce and host some of the finest equestrian sporting events in the country.

Moving with confidence….since 1971.Confidence is leading Houston for forty years with

real estate solutions founded on experience and skill.

• Brokerage Services• Capital Markets• Corporate Services• Global Consulting• Valuation and Advisory Services

Moving with confidence.

along with GSEC’s other accolade from HBJ–Largest Houston–Area Meet-ing and Convention Facilities in 2010 where it was ranked No. 3 behind the George R. Brown Convention Center and Reliant Park.



H e a l t h y H o r s e s

Change for the BetterBy Andrew Currie, VMD

In recent years equine veterinary medicine has been revolutionized by the infusion of new and superior

diagnostic technology. As people, we are accustomed to ultrasounds, CAT scans, and such. But only during the past decade have these human diagnostic tools been adapted to much larger and denser patients such as horses.

Veterinarians can now pinpoint subtle and chronic problems with digital ra-diography, magnetic resonance imag-ing (MRI), nuclear scintigraphy (bone scans), ultrasound, CAT scans, and video endoscopy. However, despite these giant steps forward, nothing replaces the basic clinical examination. It is essential that, before employing any of these new modalities, a veteri-narian isolate the precise area(s) of the horse’s problem.

For example, if lameness is the issue, a veterinarian must first determine which leg is involved. Then he or she can use diagnostic blocks to deter-mine the specific area in question and, finally, decide whether radiographs or ultrasounds are the best diagnostic method. After reviewing the results of these tests, further investigation using MRI could be indicated. An MRI test is superior because it provides more

detailed information than other diag-nostic tools and also reaches areas they cannot access.

Similar to the diagnosis of human ailments, these sophisticated technolo-gies can be expensive. For instance, if lameness is subtle, your veterinar-ian might suggest nuclear scintigra-phy. Also, ultrasounds or endoscopy are often used for ailments other than lameness. Veterinarians should always consult with horse owners to consider the additional costs and possible risks.

Using today’s advanced technology to assist in the final diagnosis, it is important that your veterinarian

decides what course of action is best for you, your horse, and your goals. And while it’s a plus to have these tools at our disposal, modern veterinarians’ primary consideration is unchanged—to always keep in mind the best interest of the horse.

“Veterinarians can now diagnose subtle and chronic problems with digital radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear scintigraphy (bone scans), ultrasound, CAT scans, and video endoscopy.”

Bio: A University of Pennsylva-nia grad, “Doc Currie” is a lead-ing veterinarian as well as a team roper and all-around horseman. He has owned champion cutting and roping horses and has held prestigious industry positions in the veterinary world.

Dr. Currie reviewing images from the digital radiographic system.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Currie VMD


We are proud to announce OTTO Sport International

THE OFFICIAL ARENA FOOTING PROVIDER

For Great Southwest Equestrian Center

Otto Sport- und Reitplatz GmbH of Germany will be the official footing supplier of Great Southwest’s arenas. The patented OTTO Perforated Mats and meticulously blended footing mixture boast high water permeability, outstanding concussion

absorption, and non-slip properties to protect horses to the fullest.

Otto Sport is a family-run company with more than 25 years experience in arena construction. The company has provided more than 5,000 installations in arenas throughout the world, including the stadiums and arenas at the Kentucky Horse

Park, host of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Announcing the construction of a 2nd Otto Sport Ring on site at GSEC.

Completion date: Spring 2011


C h a n g eM r . E d ’ s L i s t

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

clarkcondon.com

We are proud to be part of the design team working to enhance the Great Southwest Equestrian Center

CreativityInnovationPassionStewardship

EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY

HORSE BOARDING

“A horse is a horse, of course of course, and no one can talk to a horse of course, that is of

course, unless the horse, Is the famous Mister Ed!

Go right to the source and ask the horse. He’ll give you the answer that you’ll endorse.”

LEARN ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT

YOUR HORSE’S HEALTH

JOIN KAM’S “EQUINE

LEARNING CIRCLE”

FREE BI-MONTHLY

WEBINARSGO TO

www.kamanimalservices.comand sign up now!

Riding LessonsThe Houston Polo Club

8552 Memorial DriveHouston, TX 77024

832.567.3202www.thehoustonpoloclub.com

Merrily QuincocesRiding Director

(founded 192 8)

Riding&

Boarding

EDUCATION

Conscienti ous &

Confi denti al Service

Nancy Hansen281-346-2667

Fax 281-533-9116P.O Box 520

Simonton, Texas 77476

INSURANCE


www.GSWEC.com

Great SouthwestEquestrian Center

The Official Arena Footing Provider

2501 South Mason Road, Katy, Texas 77450

P: 281-578-7669 F: 281-578-6651

service•integrity•passion

USEF & THJA RATED SHOWS

2011 Season

• GSEC Winter Series I “AA” Feb 2-6

• GSEC Winter Series II “AA” Feb 9-13

• 66th Annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show “AA”

Mar 23-Apr 3

• Spring Gathering “AA” Apr 5-10

• Fiesta Classic I “A” May 5-8

• Lone Star Mayfest “A” May 12-15

• Southwest Showdown “A” Aug. Sept 22-25

• GSEC Fall Classic “A” Sept 29-Oct 2

• Britannia Farm “A” Oct 20-23

• GSEC Autumn Classic “A” Nov 9-13

• The Final Chase “A” Nov 16-20

• GHHJA March 12-13

• GHHJA June 4-5

• GHHJA June 18-19

• GHHJA July 9-10

• GHHJA Aug. 20-21

• GHHJA Sept. 10-11

• GHHJA Nov. 26-27

GHHJA SHOWS AT GSEC

Show&TellMagazine-GSECFebruary2011web

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