February 2022 Issue

Page 26 February 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Choose a one time charge of $20 to be added permanently to the mailing list, for an ongoing subscription via third class mail. OR have each issue sent to you first class for an annual fee of $30. You can pay by check, Visa, Mastercard or Discover. Simply complete and mail this form with payment to: East Coast Equestrian, P. O. Box 8412, Lancaster, PA 17604-8412 or order online at eastcoastequestrian.net  I would like an ongoing subscription via third class mail for $20.  Please send each issue first class for $30 per year.  Check for $________ is enclosed  Please bill my Visa/Mastercard/Discover Acct. #________________________________ Exp. Date ____________________ Name ______________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________ City ________________________________ State ___________ Zip ___________ Email ______________________________________________________________ Get East Coast Equestrian at home! East Coast Equestrian P.O. Box 8412, Lancaster, PA 17604-8412 (717) 509-9800 E-mail: PAEquest@aol.com www.eastcoastequestrian.net Published by Pennsylvania Equestrian, LLC Stephanie Shertzer Lawson, Editor and Publisher Contributors Marcella Peyre-Ferry, Suzy Lucine, Suzanne Bush, Haylie Kerstetter Lois Szymanski, Sylvia Sidesaddle Advertising Manager Debbie Reid Advertising Sales Manager Phyllis Hurdleston Published 11 times a year. Submissions of articles, events and photos are welcome and should be received by the 10th of the month preceding publication. Please call (717) 509-9800 for advertising rates or visit www.pennsylvaniaequestrian.com. We cannot accept copyrighted photos without permission from owner. You must have permission before reprinting anything from East Coast Equestrian. For permission please call (717) 509-9800 or email steph@eastcoastequestrian.net FREE Print subscribers get FREE classifieds! Print subscribers get FREE non-commercial classified ads! Just email your non-commercial (events, horses/trailers/tack for sale, boarding/lessons/ training etc.) classified, 35 words or less to steph@eastcoastequestrian.net . Be sure to include your name and mailing address as it appears on your sub- scription label. (Not a print subscriber? Sign up online at eastcoastequestri- an.net .) Classifieds can run in more than one issue but must be resubmitted each month. Deadline is the 12th of the month before publication. By Malorie de la Mare Dear Mal… I have an incredible opportu- nity to take a new job in Italy. Can it be more amazing? YES! The company I will be working for has said that, even as they will pay for my relocation expenses, they will also pay to relocate my horse. My horse! I am dizzy with the reality of this great fortune. So many questions, though. For instance, how do I find a good barn for my horse? How do I even get my horse to Italy? What kinds of things do I need to do to make sure he can get into Italy? I’m so excited, but I’ve got to be in Italy in early May. Between now and then, it seems there are too many things on my to-do list, besides getting myself prepared for my new job. Help! -Arrivederci Dear Arrivederci… How wonderful for you and your horse! You’ve got lots to think about, besides this incredible oppor- tunity! So, to begin you should make a timeline with all the critical benchmarks. Those benchmarks: before you do anything else, check with the United States Department of Agriculture website to learn more about what you need to do about moving your horse from here to Italy, and about what documents you need, etc. There may also be in- formation on any specific European Union requirements for pre-ship- ping testing for your horse. Go to usda.aphis.gov, search for regs for animal exports. You also need to get your horse a comprehensive vet check-up and ensure he is up to date on all immunizations and have your farrier do your horse’s feet just before you leave. It will take some time to arrange transportation for your horse, but there are companies that specialize in international trans- port. You can find lots of companies listed on the internet, along with each company’s credentials and requirements. Your new employ- er may have some contacts with boarding stables near where you’ll be working. I’m guessing they will be helping you find a place to live as well. If you do have a chance Help! My Horse and I are Moving to Italy to visit Italy before you start work for the purpose of finding a place to live, you should check out some boarding stables. Obviously, you’ll need to find a veterinarian and farrier once your horse arrives in Italy. You can start your search by contacting the ItalianAssociation of Equine Veterinarians, www.ivis. org. Again, your new company may be able to help you with that. Before you do anything, though, make sure your employer knows how expensive it is to ship a horse from the United States to Italy; you should provide an itemized list of expenses for them to review. They may not realize how complicated and costly this process will be. It’s better to have everyone on the same page before you start making arrangements. -Buona Fortuna! Dear Mal… Recently a friend of mine asked me what I thought was a thoughtless question. She asked me if all the complications that my horse brings into my life are worth it. Seriously. That’s what she asked. We were having a couple of drinks after work and talking about the things in our lives that didn’t turn out exactly as we had hoped. She’s dealing with a recent break-up and feeling sort of lost. I got engaged at Christmas to the most wonder- ful guy and am trying to keep my euphoria in check so as not to rub my happiness in her face. A little background. My horse is sort of “middle-aged,” with the usual con- cerns such as his teeth and some arthritis. He recently had a major health issue that landed him in the hospital. But he’s fine now and he is as much a part of my family as my friend’s cat is hers. I no longer ride him but see him every day. My friend said she thought my horse was costing me a lot of money and amplified her thoughtlessness by implying that the investment just doesn’t seem to have an adequate payoff. I was angry, shocked, insulted and not-very-diplomatic. I may have used some profanity as well. So, now this person seems to believe that I’ve crossed some sort of invisible line in our relationship and that I owe her an apology. What am I not seeing here? Do you think I should apologize? -Angry and Unapologetic Dear A&U… Let’s take this from the top, shall we? This is one of those “friends don’t ask friends insensi- tive and thoughtless and insulting questions” issues, yes? Even our closest friends observe emotional boundaries, such as, they don’t tell us our boyfriend is fat. Or that we can do better than the guy we just got engaged to. I could go on, but think you probably get the picture. Your friend, lonely and possibly a tiny bit jealous of your happiness, may have let the wine dissolve her mental filter a bit. That’s the little voice that stands guard and says, quietly when an ugly thought pops up in your brain “don’t say that.” So, she essentially turned your beloved horse into a money pit that just takes and never gives back. Un- less you own a stable of racehorses, you would not evaluate any individ- ual horse on its revenue versus cost potential. Perhaps you had a filter problem as well and let yourself get all frothy and emotional about your friend’s insensitivity. Or is there something else going on here? Are you usually prone to emotional reactions when people don’t un- derstand how deeply you love your horse?Are you possibly worried about your horse’s health and his projected lifespan? I have been in your boots and know that people are often clueless about how much our horses mean to us. Sad, I know. These are teachable moments, and moments when we should stop for a moment and wonder two things: why would a friend be so cynical and why would her cynicism affect you so deeply? Hmmm. I suggest that you search for some answers, call a truce and invite your friend out for lunch or drinks again and dive into the questions that will lead you to greater understanding and, if the universe wills it, peace with your friend. Remember, kindness is always the antidote to bitterness! Have a question for Mal? Email her at PAEquest@aol. com. FARMS HORSES MISC. Go ahead...Ask da Mare TRAINING: Westfield Farm LLC, Tailored for horse and owner. ALL Breeds and disciplines. We will make your trail horse safe or a winning show horse. More info at Westfieldfarmllc.com or CALL (717) 432-2828. We get results. Quiet Victory Farm. Premier show Hunter Facility in Titusville, NJ. Boarding-Lessons. Center Aisle Barn w/ large matted stalls. Indoor Arena w/ viewing lounge. 250' x 150' sand outdoor arena. 31 acres w/large grassy pastures. Vicki Peters, Trainer (267) 337-0749 Omega Horse Rescue located in Airville, PA has a variety of horses and ponies ready for their forever homes! Please visit our website to see pictures, videos and how you can help! www.omegahorserescue.com Better than right off the track! The PTHA's Turning for Home, Inc. al- ways has OTTBs that are properly rehabbed, retrained and ready for their new careers. Find your next horse at www.turningforhome.org or call (215) 808-7562. PVC vinyl jump. Standards are 58" tall, jump height is 18"-38", width is 10 ft. Green lattice panel between two white posts. $180. Pair of pvc jump standards. Height of standards is 63". $100. Photos available. (814) 364-9861 English Saddle;19" Continental Borelli-made for Collegiate. Knee rolls recently replaced. Irons included. $80.00. photos available. (814) 364-9861 Three 4-FOOT ALUMINUM GATES with mesh wire, powder-coated brown. Includes slam latches. Hardware included. Perfect for paddocks, pastures, barns, animal pens. Excellent condition. $150 each; all three for $395. (717) 269-5151, michelles352@gmail.com . Beautifully tooled 15.5" CIRCLE Y WESTERN EQUITATION SHOW SADDLE. Basket weave/floral tooling; flashy two-tone silver. Regular tree. Circle Y's Certificate of Authentication. Excellent shape. $995.00. Shipping at buyer's expense; local pickup Lebanon County. (717) 269-5151, michelles352@gmail.com . MISC. CATS: Barn homes in Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, PA. are needed to give rescued strays a chance at life. Cats are neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated; delivered and acclimated. Fill out an application to adopt at StrayCatBlues.org or call (215) 631-1851.