Stone Bridge Farm Kicks Off Summer Horse Show Series

Krista Hodgkins, from Roanoke, and Well Spent. The pair, who board and show with Stone Bridge, were Reserve Champion in the Off-the-Track Thoroughbred Hunter Division

Natural Bridge, VA, May 24, 2008 - Stone Bridge Farm held the first of five shows in its 2008 Summer Horse Show Series last weekend. The two-day show attracted over 150 riders and horses from around southwest Virginia. The show, which is recognized by both the Virginia Horse Shows Association and the Southwest Virginia Horse Show Association, featured classes for hunters, jumpers and equitation riders of all ages and abilities.

Last weekend’s show was also the debut of a new hunter division exclusively for thoroughbreds that were previously raced, or trained as racehorses. Stone Bridge Trainer, Chris Kelly, said, “We want to give owners a chance to introduce their ex-racehorses to the show ring, and give them an inviting situation to show these horses.” Stone Bridge Farm currently has several former racehorses in training as show hunters.

The next shows in the Farm’s Summer Horse Show Series will be held on June 14-15, August 23-24, September 20, and November 1-2.

http://www.stonebridgefarm.net/

Virginia Tech Police and the FAA are looking for a helicopter pilot who swooped over a horse pasture; hurting one of the animals.

By Ashley Roberts
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: May 23, 2008

Virginia Tech Police and the FAA are looking for a helicopter pilot who swooped over a horse pasture; hurting one of the animals.

It happened Thursday, May 22nd around 1:30 p.m. Dr. Trevor Ferguson says he and some students were in the horse field caring for the animals when they spotted a low flying helicopter. “It looked like they were maybe potentially trying to land out there. “It {helicopter} came close to the ground and came up to what was about level with the power lines out there and progressed towards us along the power line and there were probably about 20 horses near a fence line.”
Ferguson says all the horses scattered throughout the field, except for one named Hope. She ran into a fence post, which caused quite a few cuts and bruises.

Luckily, doctors were able to provide immediate care. “We’re very fortunate we had veterinarians on site doing other routine clinical business,” says University Spokesman Jeffrey Douglas. “We were able to get to that horse really quick.” With daily medical care, like applying bandages and cleaning wounds, Ferguson expects Hope to recover from her injuries in 2-3 weeks.

In the meantime, investigators are trying to find out who caused them in the first place. “Right now, we simply have no idea what could have happened here,” says Douglas. What kind of helicopter it was or who was at the helm?” Police tell 10 on your side the incident doesn’t appear to be intentional, but are still investigating until they know for sure what happened. If you have any information about the incident, you’re asked to call Virginia Tech Police at 540-231-6411.

Is your horse-related business “really” a business? The IRS may not think so

Brian C. Bernhardt
for Virginia Business

The May cover story of Virginia Business explores the growing horse industry in the commonwealth. As the industry has grown over the years, however, it has also attracted the attention of the IRS. As with all businesses, the IRS is not only concerned with whether owners of horse-related businesses are including all of their revenue on their tax returns, but also whether they are truthfully accounting for their expenses. The IRS is also concerned with a deeper, more theoretical issue — whether the horse-related activity is “really” a business or simply a hobby.

This theoretical question has very practical consequences: If the horse-related activity is “only” a hobby, then you can only deduct expenses up to the amount of revenue received... -read more-

Horse performs somersault on race track

This racehorse has certainly beaten the odds - surviving after performing a dramatic somersault on a track in Germany.

Jockey Anna-Katharina Bromann and her mount Schattenlady were racing in an event in Hanover when the horse’s saddle began slipping down its flank.
Clearly agitated, the horse crashed into the race course’s safety rails, throwing Bromann from the saddle in the process.

But to the amazement of race-goers, Schattenlady ran back onto the track and threw herself head over heels. Photographers captured the horse's mid-air acrotbatics, before she came crashing down on her back.

Despite the dramatic tumble, both horse and rider were uninjured.

By Megan Levy
Last Updated: 6:14PM BST 14/05/2008

Stone Bridge Farm Launches New Hunter Division

Stone Bridge Farm is pleased to announce that its 2008 Horse Show Series will feature a new hunter division exclusively for thoroughbreds that were previously raced, or trained as racehorses. The Off-the-Track Thoroughbred (OTT) Hunter Division will be designed to introduce ex-racehorses to the show ring, and to provide owners and trainers with an inviting venue in which to show these horses. Entries will be limited to tatooed thoroughbreds.

The division will include an under saddle class and two classes over fences of 2'6" in height, and will be judged on performance, manners and way of going. Trotting on the corners will not be penalized. The division will be sponsored by Dr. Suzanne Shalet and Ann Russek of Lexington, Virginia. The horse receiving the highest number of points in the OTT Hunter Division at all five Stone Bridge Farm Horse Shows will receive a high point award and cooler.

For information, dates and horse show prize lists, please email Katrina Weinig, at jorglover@aol.com; call Stone Bridge Farm at (540) 291-1000; or visit the Farm's web site at http://www.stonebridgefarm.net/

Time to think about Hay?

It is that time of year again, people are readying their plans to fill their barns, and isn't all this rain wonderful?

Be sure to check our Hay Resource on the forum pages, a great place to list what you're looking for in hay, or what you have to sell.

And, in case you think you know how to load a truck, we can all learn from this picture.

Hay Resource link: http://www.swvhc.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=7

Welcome Site Sponsors!

The SW Virginia Horse Connection is very pleased to now have online two major site sponsors.

Saddles-N-Stuff: Catering to the first-time horse owner as well as the experienced, multiple horse owner, Saddles-n-Stuff is a complete tack shop offering the personal service and recommendations you can count on. Visit them at http://www.saddlesnstuff.com/.

Stone Bridge Farm: Stone Bridge Farm is one of the premier hunter, jumper and equitation facilities in Central and Southwest Virginia. The Farm offers spacious, modern and well-designed facilities, as well as highly-experienced, professional and caring trainers who have successfully brought along horses and riders to State, Zone and National titles. Visit them at http://www.stonebridgefarm.net/.

All of the content on this site is provided free as a service to the local equestrian community, sponsors allow us to pay the bills associated with the running and operation of the site.

Support this site - Visit our Sponsors!!!

Interested in becoming a sponsor and advertising on this site? Go to http://www.swvhc.com/advertising.asp