Waiting for results at ringside of Grand Hunter ring.
Hunter enthusiasts were treated to the best in the nation during Hunter Spectacular week. The main focus was on the International ring, open exclusively to hunters all week, with 118 Performance Hunters competing at 3’6″on Thursday looking for a qualifying spot for Saturday’s Hunter Spectacular class.
Tuesday’s Ride and Learn clinic, held in the covered arena at the dressage venue and the Palm Beach Riding Academy, was conducted by Tommy Serio giving advice to riders of young hunters. Starting with a few gymnastics, Tommy stressed the importance of riding a straight line away from the jump, maintaining a release through the whole exercise, and not giving up if the horse gives up. When starting to ride a course he advised: “You’ve got to find the canter rhythm before you find the jump.”
Green Conformation Trophy for Hunter Week.
The original speaker for the Lunch and Learn lecture was unable to arrive due to flight cancellations and was replaced by Dr. Scott Swerdlin, president of the Palm Beach Equine Clinic. Dr. Swerdlin spoke about parasite control and deworming for horses and how it related more specifically to “summer sores”, which are common in the very warm areas such as Florida. Worms are a major problem in these areas because of lack of frost to kill them off. Haberdina worm larvae, which can be found in the grass, can land on a horse’s cut and bury themselves into the skin, creating a summer sore which usually needs to be treated early and cleaned out surgically. Corticosteroids, often used in treating show horses, can inhibit the immune response and further contribute to difficulties in healing. If one horse has a summer sore in a barn, every horse in the barn should be treated with a single dose of Ivermectin for maximum control of the larvae.