Galway Downs Equestrian Center

Volunteer Spotlight – Hollee Romero

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Our biggest event of the year, the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs, brings out the best in every category. That includes our volunteers and Hollee Romero is one of them.

When she retired from her career in education and from her competitive riding days, Hollee brought the best of both worlds as a dedicated volunteer.

Formerly the head of the dance program, a PE teacher and coach at Murrieta Valley High School, Hollee is hardwired for learning. So, she was among the first to bravely embrace e-scribing when it was tested out last fall.

Dressage scribing – even the old-fashioned way, by hand – is usually the hardest position to fill. Doing it all on a laptop added a layer of intimidation for some. But not Hollee.

“I had to learn to use a lot of technology as a teacher, but I’ve been retired for some time now,” Hollee explains.  “I’m not a tech wizard and you don’t have to be one to figure it out. Anyone can do it. When it was introduced at the Eventing Championships last year, they were great about bringing out people from the East Coast to oversee the process and we all figured it out together.”

Hollee tried e-scribing again for two full days at the Pacific Coast Dressage competition in the spring and feels comfortable and confident with it now. “If you know how to use a keyboard, rather than the hunt-and-peck method, you’ll be just fine.”

E-scribing easier in many ways, she observes. Especially at the upper levels where the test movements flow fast and it’s hard to keep up with the judge’s comments and scores for each. Hollee types faster than she hand-writes, so the laptop entry method is an advantage.

It also eliminates having to turn the test page over and simplifies the process of identifying which rider coming into the dressage court.

Education and More

Learning new things and being part of the sport are what’s made Hollee a dedicated volunteer. She volunteers through the entire competition whenever possible and loves the opportunity to support the sport.

“The common denominators of love and enjoyment of the sport are what I like best about volunteering,” she reflects. “Also the ability to watch the whole spectrum of horses and riders. From the 10-year-old who is riding a pony at the entry level to the Olympians and other top notch international riders, and everything in between. I see the girls in pigtails and the women my age who make me think, ‘I could still be doing this!’

“You can cheer for them all.”

Hollee owns two horses and pursues dressage with her much-appreciated coach, Kim Schied of Spring Creek Ranch in Hemet. Scribing for dressage judges adds to her knowledge base in tangibly applicable ways.

“I feel really fortunate because Robert Kellerhouse and his team employ some really outstanding judges. I’ve had the opportunity to scribe for some tremendously knowledgeable people.” Even though scribing requires looking down to input comments and scores during most of the test, there’s takeaways aplenty.

“It’s shown me how crucial the transitions between movements are,” Hollee explains. “At the upper levels, there is a specific box on the score sheet for transitions, and they are incredibly important at the lower levels too because that’s what sets you up for the next movement.”

The importance of the walk is another scribing eye-opener. “We all know what a good trot and canter should feel like, but I think the working walk is less understood. It’s a very different pace and tempo.”

If Hollee decided to return to competitive dressage, she would know from scribing not to salute with the hand holding the whip. “That’s just etiquette, and the judge will make note of it.”

Just Come Out and Do It!

Hollee started riding lessons as a girl growing up in Orange County. “I stayed in Girls Scouts for as long as I could because our troop leader had a stable on the Santa Ana riverbed and I went out every Monday afternoon for lessons. We would not have been able to afford for me to ride otherwise.”

She’s grateful to have found Kim Schied in 1981 and has been riding with her ever since. “I think she is one of the reasons that eventing has taken off in our area,” Hollee notes. “She was doing it when no one else was. She was hosting events and training so many people.”

Hollee’s first horse came her way when its previous owner stopped paying the board bill. “He was a nice old horse and I just went on from there.” She moved into eventing competition under Kim’s watch and thoroughly enjoyed those years. “When I stopped bouncing so well, in my early 40s, I retired from jumping and competing.”

Riding and volunteering continue to be perfect horse fixes. Hollee is especially excited about the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs, Oct. 30-Nov. 3. “There will be such a huge amount of people there and running the gamut of exhibitors.”

Sponsor Spotlight – Feeding to Improve Your Horse’s Topline

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by Marty Adams, PhD, PAS – Cargill Technical Services Equine Nutritionist

The topline of the horse refers to the muscle cover over the top of the horse’s neck, back and rump, specifically the withers, back, loin and croup. Show and performance horses require strong toplines to provide balance and strength for racing, jumping and dressage.

Many factors contribute to the horse’s topline or lack of it; including genetic conformation, age, exercise, diseases (gastric ulcers and Cushing’s Disease, for example) and chronic back pain (kissing spine, poor saddle fit, vertebral sublaxation, arthritis, etc.).

Nutritional factors include body condition because, as the amount of fat tissue increases, it will add depth to the horse’s topline as well. However, if we provide enough calories to maintain a body condition of 5.0 or more in a horse that is in regular work, and don’t supply enough quality protein, the topline can be inadequate to provide optimal muscular performance.

Protein’s Role

Protein quality is dependent upon the amount of essential amino acids that it contains. The three most important, or “limiting,” amino acids for the horse are lysine, threonine and methionine.

Growing horses and horses in work need more of these amino acids for muscle growth and repair. They are called limiting amino acids because, if they are not provided in the diet, they can’t be synthesized at an adequate amount in the body and protein or muscle growth is limited.

Many mature horses in work are provided large amounts of hay and pasture, and many of these breeds or types, especially sport horses, are easy keepers. Adequate body condition can be maintained with these horses, but in many cases, topline can be improved with a simple feeding change.

The problem is that conventional horse feeds or concentrates are designed to meet nutrient requirements when fed at a minimal amount of 0.5% of body weight daily. Many sport horses, and other easy keeper breeds, are fed less than this amount because of their more efficient metabolism and large amounts of forage fed. This results in less than required amounts of amino acids, minerals and vitamins in the horse’s diet.

Ensuring Enough Amino Acids

This situation is more problematic for providing essential amino acids for the horse, because the digestion of protein or absorption of essential amino acids from forages is less than half as that for concentrates, resulting in inadequate essential amino acid intake.

Feeding a few pounds per day of a regular horse feed won’t provide adequate essential amino acids for many active horses, and a good topline will not be achieved.

The way to ensure an adequate supply of essential amino acids is to include a diet balancer in your horse’s diet. Diet Balancers are designed to meet the protein, mineral and vitamin requirements when fed at small amounts along with only forage (hay and pasture).

They are recommended for easy keepers, horses requiring a feeding program for weight reduction, and as a way to fortify the diet if a concentrate is fed at less than the recommended amount. The minimum feeding rate is 1 pound per 1,000-lbs body weight per day. Replacing one pound daily of your regular horse feed with one pound of a diet balancer will help to provide the required amount of essential amino acids to your horse’s diet, and you should see an improvement in topline in a few months.

ProElite® Options

ProElite® Horse Feeds include Grass Advantage and Alfalfa Advantage Diet Balancers. These two products are designed to meet all nutrient requirements of your horse with a low minimum feeding rate of 1 pound per 1,000 pounds of body weight, for active horses increase to 1.5 to 2,5 pounds per day depending on activity level and desired topline.

ProElite® Topline Advantage is a supplement that can be fed in addition to a regular concentrate and has an even greater protein and amino acid content, with a feeding rate to 8 to 16 ounces per day, according to activity level.

These products contain high levels of guaranteed amino acids and will provide a significant improvement in your horse’s topline in a few months.

Smith, Hoffos, McIver and Holland top International Horse Trials

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Tamie Smith & Mai Baum, Photo – Sherry Stewart

Horses and riders were undaunted by the condensed schedule mandated by Saturday’s heavy rain forecast. They embraced an unusually busy day of competition to close out the Galway Downs International Horse Trials with super sport and high spirits.

The CCI4*-S concluded as predicted. Tamie Smith and Mai Baum jumped clear and careful, with only a few time faults on cross-country. They retained their dominant lead after a 23 dressage score and double clean show jumping on Thursday.

The 18-year-old German Sport Horse was raring to go. “He was happy to be out of the start box, and pretty wild out there,” Tamie said of her longtime star owned by Alexandra Ahearn.  The finish was perfect prep for the next phase in their hopeful Paris Olympic journey – the CCI4*-S at the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event in late April.

Young rider Molly Duda and Disco Traveler continued an impressive ascent in the sport, finishing 2nd in their 4* debut.They were third after dressage, dropped a rail in show jumping, then roared across cross-country as the only pair to make the time over Clayton Fredericks’ track.

A freshman at UCLA, Molly left the gate determined to make the time. “He’s the best cross-country horse I’ve ever ridden and I know I can open him up out there and have him come back to me. We’re both very competitive and we had a blast out there.”

Doing the U21 and U25 training camps over the winter built on the super successes this pair had last year. Molly also credited show jumping work with Tamie Smith and dressage coaching from Robyn Fisher as key to their continued rise.

Molly was also 4th in the 3* with a newer horse, Carlingfords Hes A Clover, a 12 year old Irish Sport Horse. “Tommy” lives in the Bay Area with Mickayla Howard, who brought Molly up to the 3* level.  Juggling a pre-med academic track, Molly is a time management master. “I compete and go to college full time. Both are really important to me. It’s a lot, but I love it!”

Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L is the next big goal for Molly and Disco Traveler, a 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood.

Bec Braitling was thrilled to finish third with Arnell Sporthorse’s Caravaggio II, a 13-year-old British Sport Horse. They are prepping for the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L after gathering useful experience campaigning in Europe last summer. Today’s finish adds to their reserve champion result in the CCI4*-L at Galway Downs last fall.

Pace was Bec’s priority on cross-country.  Incurring only 1.6 time penalties allowed them to move up from 6th after dressage to third. And that was even with a new noseband that gave the California-based Australian “more whoa than I wanted.”

Bec loved the track built by fellow Aussie, Clayton Fredericks. “I thought it would ride more twisty. But it was smooth and really fun to ride.” 

She liked the re-shuffled schedule, too, with 4*-S dressage and show jumping on Thursday. “It makes it busy, but I loved being able to work on the fitness aspect of it for him.”

Emilee Libby and Toska added 10.8 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score to land 4th overall.

A rising star in Tamie Smith’s string, Kynan, finished 5th and felt “incredible, strong and so rideable,” she said. Another of Tamie’s mounts, Elliot V, had a tougher day — falling from 4th after show jumping, to elimination with three cross-country refusals. At the end of the day, Tamie said the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood is probably telling her that 3* is his happy place.

Hoffos & Regalla top the 3*

Taren Hoffos & Regalla – Photo: Sherry Stewart

Taren Hoffos and Regalla accomplished important goals in logging a wire-to-wire win of the CCI3*-S. This pair won the CCI2*-S in 2022, the CCI3*-S last year and this year they defended their title by finishing on their dressage score — a 32 — and under the cross-country time allowed for the first time at this level.

“Riding a smooth track, taking good lines and trusting her that I don’t need to set her up as much as I might think I do,” were keys to their winning effort, Taren said.

The forward mentality started with dressage. “Bec Braitling and I have been talking about FEI trends toward judges really wanting to see you ride forward – to put your hands forward and go. And I think that carries over.”

Show jumping has been “a struggle” in the past, but it was double clear over Marc Donovan’s route today. Taren had ridden in the Ingrid Klimke clinic here in December, where a crowd of 800 auditors buzzed the already electric Grand Prix Arena vibe. Taren thought the exposure contributed to Regalla’s focus in the same ring this morning for show jumping. “It was really valuable to ride in that atmosphere and that kind of pressure, but in a fun and positive way.”

Next on the 13-year-old Oldenburg mare’s agenda is moving up to Advanced at Twin Rivers in April.

Megan McIver and Elle, a 12-year-old Holsteiner, stayed on their 32.7 dressage to finish second. Bred by owner Tally Chang, the 15.3-hand mare is 70% Thoroughbred and “loves” cross-country, Megan explained.

“I could barely keep her in the start box she because was bouncing around with excitement,” said Megan. Once out of the box, they easily made the time to finish a close second. Elle goes in a snaffle, and “barely needs a touch to bring her back,” Megan said.  “I never have to look at my watch to know she’s making the time.”

Elle’s sensitivity made dressage a challenge in the early days of their partnership. Megan credits Tamie Smith with coaching that clicked for the dressage court, plus ongoing work with Anke Herbert at her Northern California base. The Advanced Combined Test at Twin Rivers will be next for Elle. “She’s feeling like the 3* is too easy!”

Auburn Excell Brady and Galliard Lancer proved themselves a new pair to reckon with. They stayed on their 34.2 dressage to finish third.

McIver & Igor B Top the Parker Equine Insurance CCI2*-S

Megan McIver & Igor B – Photo: Sherry Stewart

All three phases of the Parker Equine Insurance CCI2*-S and the CCI1*-S took place today.

After two phases in the 3* with Elle, Megan McIver turned to a newer ride, Igor B, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood, for this division. They moved up one rung with each phase to win on a 31.7.

Igor came from the U.K. with 4* experience, purchased by Leo Wang help Megan pursue her international goals. They first ran Training Level at Twin Rivers three weeks ago, then felt fine to advance to the 2* here. “But I didn’t expect to win!”

Young rider Hanni Sreenan and Ebenholtz were tied for 6th after their 28.4 dressage, then went clear in stadium and added 3.6 time penalties to finish 2nd. The result keeps this pair in the news after their USEF CCI2*-L National Championship and USEF Young Rider CCI2*-L National Championships at the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs in November.

Amber Birtcil and the 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood Mississippi went double clear on show jumping and cross-country to leap into 3rd place.

Holland and Joshua Tree Win the CCI1*-S

Fiona Holland & Joshua Tree Photo: Sherry Stewart

Fifteen-year-old Fiona Holland and Joshua Tree, a 10-year-old Holsteiner, continued to establish themselves as a pair for the future. They won their first 1* by staying on a 27.5 dressage score.

Fiona aspires to the top of the sport and credits work with Tamie Smith, Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Bec Braitling for her auspicious outing today. That’s on top of riding on her own and weekly lessons with Julie Corlett in her Santa Ynez home area.

“We are both learning and I am stoked that we were able to take this step up together,” Fiona said.

Lauren Billys Shady and new ride Kingston 60 followed on a 29.6, and Grace Brownrigg and Dhaulagiri were third on a 31.2. 

Ready For Rain

With the FEI divisions completed, the Horse Trials continue Saturday rain or not. The footing for all three phases of Galway Downs competition has proven its ability to withstand Mother Nature’s worst many times in recent years.

A festive dinner and awards ceremony closed out the international competition. Galway Downs organizer Robert Kellerhouse thanked exhibitors for their flexibility with the tightened-up schedule.

He expressed gratitude for the year-round support of Galway Downs’ sponsors. Robert welcomed Adequan’s Kat Kilcommons and Parker Equine Insurance’s Cheri Hubbert to help present the night’s awards.  

Sponsor Spotlight – Pyranha Animal Health

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Flies and other insects can be much more than an annoyance for horses and their people. In Southern California, that became clear last spring with the outbreak of the vesicular stomatitis virus. Black flies, mosquitoes and biting midgets are among the flying insects believed to transmit the disease.

An upside of the outbreak emerged in heighted horse owner awareness of the danger these pests pose and the fact that not all insect control products are created equal. 

In helping owners protect their horses against the outbreak, the California Department of Food and Agriculture recommended insect control products made with a high pyrethrin content. Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower.

Galway Downs sponsor Pyranha Animal Health leads the way when it comes to insect control products with high pyrethrin content. For example, pyrethrin and its synergizing ingredients comprise 15% of Pyranha’s Equine Spray N’ Wipe.  “That’s huge,” notes Christina Gindt, a long-time Southern California horse owner and the company’s Western Account Sales Executive. Three percent is the norm in most competitor’s products, she explains.

Pyranha’s formulas combine pyrethrin with permethrin, a synthetic compound known for its outstanding insecticide properties. The powerful combination ensures rapid knockdown and sustained control of a wide spectrum of flying insects.

That’s why Galway Downs enlisted Pyranha power to treat manure piles and stalls during the Nilforushan Equestrian Events hunter/jumper shows last spring. And it’s why Pyranha Spraymaster® mister systems are part of Galway Downs’ year-round insect control efforts.

“In the case of an outbreak, you definitely want to make sure you’re using a product that will prevent an adult fly from laying more larva,” Christina explains. As an insecticide, Pyranha’s sprays eliminate and repel insects, setting them apart from products that only repel insects.

Effective from First to Last Spray

Emulsifiers that maintain suspension of the insecticide also set Pyranha apart from the competition. Whether dispensed from a bottle or a misting system, the solution is equally effective from first spray to last. Bottles don’t need to be shaken and mister wells don’t need to be agitated.

When other products suddenly become ineffective, it’s often because the active ingredients settled at or near the bottom and were already drawn out through the tubes that connect to the spray or mist dispenser.

Even without an outbreak, effective everyday insect control is critical to health, performance and relaxation for our horses.

Established in 1972, Pyranha Animal Health is a family-owned, horse health company that corners this market with sprays, grooming products, Odor Eliminator and the Pyranha SprayMaster® Misting System.

Christina gets ready for a rush of inquisitive horse owners at the Fundraiser Clinic party last month.

As a horse owner herself, Christina urges proactivity in maintaining a fly-free environment. Educating fellow owners is a gratifying aspect of her work and Pyranha’s range of products provides solutions for individual horse’s different needs.

In addition to insect control options, Pyranha has innovative and price-conscious grooming products. These range from a luxurious, skin-friendly aloe concentrate shampoo and the new Essential repellent conditioning shampoo to the non-slip coat conditioner and tail strengthening Shine Baby Shine spray and Detangler that dries instantly. “No more goopy hands,” Christina says.

Options For All

Pyranha’s Wipe N’ Spray comes in a familiar yellow bottle. Its oil base enables the formula to kill and repel over 70 species of flying and biting insects through sweat, dirt and water.  Its fly fighting performance is rivaled only by the lustrous shine it leaves on the horse’s coat. Pyranha-protected horses enter the ring looking their best and ready to perform without the distraction of flying pests.

The blue-bottled Equine Spray N’ Wipe and the white-bottled Legacy are water-based, versus oil-based, fly control options that deliver the same protection as Wipe N’ Spray. Using a water base, rather than oil, they don’t attract dirt to the horse’s coat and are good options for horses with sensitive skin.

Zero-Bite® fights flies with wholly natural ingredients – geraniol (from geraniums), peppermint and clove. These natural oils are suspended in more than 90% water, so it’s not oily or greasy.

Christina is excited about the new Legacy formula. This uses the same natural ingredients found in Zero-Bite, with micronized silicone that helps it stick to the coat longer and to resist sweat and water.

Enhancing the Stable Environment

Fly masks and sheets and a roll-on product for eyes, ears and wounds round out Pyranha’s insect control approach for individual horse owners. For stable and property wide control, pyrethrin and permethrin formulations, and the all-natural counterpart, come in concentrated form for 30-gallon and 55-gallon spray mister systems. They’re ideal for use in Pyranha’s SprayMasters and in misting systems designed by other companies.

SprayMaster is a programmable system that releases a fine mist at predetermined intervals. This consistent and highly effective approach ensures a virtually fly-free environment, in which horses and humans can relax, focus on other aspects of horse care and enjoy their time together.

Scan to determine what size system best suits your needs.

Built for the rugged stable environment, SprayMasters feature robust construction and their user-friendly design makes them easy to manage. Determining system size is easily accomplished by answering simple questions accessed through the QR code here.

SprayMasters can be ordered through retailers including Big Horse, Mary’s Tack & Feed, Carters Feed, Inland Vet Supply and many others. Shipping is free and all systems come with a complimentary refill of Pyranha insecticide.

Christina has a long history in the California and national horse community. She enjoys consulting individual horse owners and stable managers to find insect control approaches best suited to their needs.

Pyranha Animal Health is proud to support various industry partners, including Galway Downs. Christina’s equestrian background includes eventing and working with Thoroughbreds, both of which are a big part of Galway Downs’ past and present. She’s enjoyed seeing Galway Downs emerge as a world class equestrian venue and knows that Pyranha’s support will further that impressive evolution.

Visit Pyranha Animal Health for more information, or contact Christina Gindt at Christina@pyranhalife.com or (281) 382-2946.

Sponsor Spotlight – Mrs. Pastures Cookies For Horses

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Joanna Russell was already excited to get a call about a potential job at Alltech®.

She “literally screamed” when she learned the position was account manager for Mrs. Pastures® Cookies for Horses, she recalls with a laugh. “That’s my all-time favorite horse cookie!”

The 38-year-old brand of health-conscious horse cookies often evokes that kind of reaction from its fans. People love them because their horses love them. That’s why they’ve gone from a simple goodie made in a horse mom’s home kitchen to an easily identifiable, red-lidded container recognized by both horses and horse people throughout North America.

The crunchy treats are now sold in everything from 8-ounce pouches to 50-pound tubs and their devoted fans include Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, who still receives regular shipments of Mrs. Pastures at his home in Japan.

Made of simple, all-natural ingredients, Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses were originally created by California horsewoman Patricia Burge, who was seeking a wholesome treat for her daughter Maggie’s horse Poncho. Poncho was incredibly picky, which inspired Burge to refine her recipe to horse-approved perfection. The ingredients of her original cookie recipe remain the same — apples, oats, cane molasses, rolled barley, water and wheat middlings — a nutritious byproduct of the wheat milling process.

No preservatives, corn or soy have ever been used to produce the timeless treat.

An Ongoing Legacy

Patricia Burge officially started the Mrs. Pastures business in her home in 1986 at age 66, and trailblazed its growth to a national brand for 30 years thereafter. Burge’s daughter, Maggie Carroll, continued the legacy when her mother passed away in 2016..

Alltech – a global leader in the animal health and nutrition industry – acquired Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses in 2021 to help grow its “hoofprint” in the equine industry. The company shares a similar origin story of being founded by passionate, goal-oriented individuals. Alltech was started by Irish biochemist Dr. Pearse Lyons in 1980 and has since grown to employ over 6,000 people worldwide, while remaining a family-owned company.

Alltech’s support of equestrian sports came front and center as the title sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. The Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park continues to showcase the sport and Alltech’s enduring commitment to the equine industry. Above all, Alltech’s Lifeforce™ equine supplements, feed products and specialty ingredients support and promote equine health and performance.

Health conscious cookies play their part in the horse-human bond.

After Alltech initially purchased Mrs. Pastures, Maggie Carroll served as a close advisor to ensure that customers could continue to count on the high quality and good taste for which the treats are famous.

In The Oven…

The winning combination of a home-kitchen developed recipe, plus Alltech’s experience and global scope, positions Mrs. Pastures to meet the equine industry’s evolving needs and preferences.

For example, a new recipe variation was designed to give more health-conscious horse owners a superfood-packed option in treat form. The new Super Cookie™ is made with the same time-tested process as the original cookie, but it has no molasses or other added sugar. Sweet potatoes, turmeric and kelp add “super” nutrients for overall horse health.

Supporting the bond between horses and their humans was a founding inspiration for Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses. The treats are a popular incentive in ground-based and under-saddle training methods that use positive reinforcement.

“We are learning more about how horses learn and what types of reinforcement and motivation affect them,” Joanna observes. “I’ve used Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses to turn around a mare who came to me with some emotional baggage. They helped me mentally rehabilitate her. I’ve also used them to teach horses to stand still at the mounting block, among other things.”

Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses has grown significantly under Alltech’s umbrella, and that’s “just the beginning,” says Joanna. Horse owners should stock up on cookies and stay tuned for several more exciting developments planned for the New Year.