Equestrian artisan and entrepreneur, Jeni Benos, of Jenuinely Jeni Inc. created a striking pendant to honor her great grandmother, Angeliki. Learning about the many hardships her great grandmother faced throughout her life inspired Jeni to focus her artistic efforts to honor Angeliki’s memory and ultimately help to fight abuse.

In designing the Angeliki necklace Jeni set out to create something both beautiful and compelling to honor her great grandmother properly. She also made the decision upfront to donate 100% of the profits from the sales of the pendant to women’s charities. A considerable amount of thought went into each aspect of the design with meaning behind every element included.

The only thing that Jeni knew her great grandmother truly loved was riding horses. Riding was something she did frequently while growing up in Greece on a small family farm. Therefore the decision to use a horse to represent her seemed quite fitting.

The sterling silver mare has the bold roached mane of a warhorse to embody strength and empowerment. The texture of her mane mimics the rays of a rising sun in hopes for a brighter future for women in need. Her mouth is open to encourage those who find themselves in abusive situations to speak out.

The graceful folk art pattern adorning the design is reminiscent of art in the old world where she spent her childhood. Symbolically, Jeni set out to tell a story of strength over adversity. May Angeliki’s memory not only represent her personal struggles, but also the millions of women whose lives and oppression have been forgotten.

Read more: Jewelry Designer Creates Pendant for Charity as Tribute to Great Grandmother

by Patricia N. Saffran

When a loved one does not return from being in the military, the grieving process for the surviving family can be overwhelming. Realizing the difficulties that these relatives and families endure, military veteran, Bonnie Carroll, founded and is president of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, TAPS, in 1994. She is the surviving spouse of the late Brigadier General Tom Carroll.

Since its inception, the charity has helped over 70,000 family members with sensitive care in the form of support programs and events for the families of fallen American military heroes. President Barack Obama recognized TAPS and Bonnie Carroll’s outstanding work by awarding her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, November 24, 2015.

Among the TAPS activities are grief counseling, camps, and gatherings for all ages held around the country, and a range of activities surrounding horses, a special interest of Major Carroll, who holds a degree in equine sciences. The charity takes advantage of horses as natural healers. TAPS has been designated the Official Military Partner of the Washington International Horse Show. On Military Night during the horse show, riders in the International Jumper Speed Final compete to “Jump for TAPS” — each time they clear the TAPS jump, a thousand dollar donation is made to the organization. TAPS is also the official charity beneficiary of the Potomac Hunt Races, a yearly event held in Poolesville, MD. These races feature steeplechase, pony races, and the appearance of the local hunt with their hounds.

Since 2009, TAPS has had a relationship with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment Old Guard Caisson Platoon, of Fort Meyer, VA, which is part of the Old Guard, the oldest active duty unit in the Army, from 1784. The ceremonial cavalry platoon participates in official parades, special events and presidential inaugurations, and it accompanies funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. They maintain constant vigil at The Tomb of the Unknowns. This platoon is the only full time US cavalry unit left after federally funded cavalry training was mainly abandoned around the time of WWII, when cavalry units were changed over to tanks. The caisson platoon, which has been in existence since 1948, participates in funerals at Arlington on a daily basis, usually thirty per day.

Read more: TAPS and the Old Guard Caisson Platoon

I received a pair sized XL and several of us on the staff tried them on. They were ample for a sized 14 rider and a bit large on our test rider (height/weight) who test rode the breeches.

It was a cold day in Upstate New York at ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption, an organization which does a wonderful job retraining and rehoming off-track thoroughbreds (OTTBs). Riding a horse who was formerly trained by Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, (who supports thoroughbred aftercare and finds homes for all his horses in their next career), we found the breeches were comfortable and even for a full seat, they didn’t bunch up! They were warm and comfortable, extremely suitable for the cold weather.

The fabric was warm yet breathable as well as water repellent. We sprayed water on the breeches and the water rolled right off! The side pockets are functional and integrate well with the design of the breeches. No bunching pockets near the hip.

These breeches have a soft brushed fleece interior and are so comfortable, they can also be used as a fashion pant in the cold weather.

Read more: Review: Plus Size "Sit Tight N Warm" Pocket Fullseat Breeches from Kerrits

Equestrian Organizations in the 2017 Presidential Inauguration Parade

On January 20th, the transfer of power in Washington, DC officially begins with the traditional Inaugural Parade. Over 3,000 organizations applied to march in the parade, with only 40 being selected. Of those 40, nine of them are equine organizations.

“We are pleased to see the equine community being well represented during the Inaugural Parade,” said American Horse Council President Julie Broadway. “Equines were an integral part of the foundation of the United States, and Presidents throughout history have appreciated and admired the grandeur of the horse.”

The most recognized equines in the parade will be the Caisson Platoon from Fort Myer, VA. In addition to their well-known, solemn duty of military funerals, the Caisson Platoon also participates in numerous historic processions performed by the Old Guard, as well as the notable honor of being included in Presidential Inaugural Parades.

Read more: Horses, History and the Inauguration

November 17-20, 2016
by Patricia N. Saffran

This year’s Equus Film Festival opened November 17th with a celebratory party at the Equus Pop-Up Gallery in the Ukrainian National Home. Created by Lisa Diersen four years ago in St. Charles, Illinois, the festival relocated and is now in its third year in New York City. Filmmakers, actors, authors, and artists flew in from all over the world to attend. The catering was provided by sponsor Lucas Oil Estate/Protect the Harvest with Executive Chef, Todd Shidler presiding.

Panel discussions on a variety of topics took place at the same venue the following two days while screenings of the 149 films were held at the nearby historic Village East Cinema. The panel discussion of International Filmmakers showcased a variety of equine subjects. The travel effort by the producers was appreciated by attendees who viewed this diverse group of films. Panelists included:

• Stefan Morel, from Canada, described his film, HERD, “It’s about eight individuals who went on a retreat with horses as their healers.” The film was shot in the gorgeous mountains in British Columbia with interviews of the participants. HERD won Equus Equestrian Director Full Length.
• Florian Figge from Germany told the audience about his entries: an ad for German Racing, and Maxios, a short about continuing the bloodlines of the best German Thoroughbred who died, and also Lomitas, His Story, about Monty Roberts’ amazing rehabilitation of the racehorse. He said, “Lomitas had us all in tears.” This film won Equus Equestrian International Documentary.
• Sam Fleet, director from the UK, described his company’s films, “For some films we used a specially designed jockey cam for more exciting action to interest the public in racing, as in Many Clouds”- about the Grand National winner trying at win a second time. Fleet’s Horsepower for the UK Jockey Club was another of his films being shown. His The Island Project won Equus Equestrian Director International.
• Ralf Schauwacker, director from Germany, told the audience about his movie, FREI [Free], “Working on FREI gave me a sense of peacefulness and changed the way I look at riding.” The film showcases liberty training, as well as riding and jumping with no bridle. FREI won Equus Best of Festival International.
• Luiza Jacobsen from Brazil, characterized her eight short ads for the Rio Olympics using a horse, Billy to Rio, “It was a social media campaign with a big following to get the public’s attention for the horse events and other competitions.” Billy to Rio won the Equus Commercial On Line Judging.

An Australian entry, The Four Horsemen, directed by Peter Davies, is the fascinating true story of the four brave Ashton polo playing brothers who in the 1930s traveled to England and became a surprising success. Wal Ashton, who commissioned the movie explained, “I’m the son of the captain, Jim Ashton, the oldest of the brothers. I decided to do the film because if I didn’t do it the information would be lost.” This movie won the Equus Equestrian International Full Documentary award.

Read more: Fantastic Films Emerge Amidst Controversy at the Equus Film Festival in NYC

by Patricia N. Saffran

The third annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show was held at the Wollman Rink from September 21st to 25th under the aegis of founder Mark Bellissimo, and CEO of the International Equestrian Group. Once again the functional rink was utterly transformed into a magical place. Attending the show for the first time, Barry Lewis, architectural historian and co-host of the PBS A Walk Through Central Park, was impressed by the transformation. He said, “The use of artificial ivy covering the structure of the bleachers transforms the space into a bower.” There were classes for the duration of the show for various age groups in different disciplines. The following are some highlights:

On September 21, the exquisite Arabian horses, presented by the Arabian Horse Association and Aljassimya Farms, competed in a variety of classes, including Arabian Western Pleasure, Arabian Country English Pleasure and halter classes. Some of the classes featured a professional and amateur riding the same horse.

Read more: A Must See for Every Horse Lover, The Rolex Central Park Horse Show!

by Lisa Thomas

I have lots of clients who own, run or want to own horse boarding facilities in the wine country. They are a unique breed and what fascinates me is how very different they all are. Each operation is quite different, they all have their own market positioning and way they do business. It's a little like real estate... lots of agents, with lots of different ways of doing business, each potentially successful in their own way. So what is the attraction of owning a horse business? And the secret to success? Here's my view, based on seeing how a lot of these operations are run...

It's a Service Business - make no mistake. Providing horse care and the facilities for people to ride or enjoy their horses is a service. That means that making the client feel happy is the secret to keeping them as clients. Good service is something people pay for. Making something cheap is almost always going to mean that you don't do much for them.

The nice thing about boarding businesses is that there is a market for everything from the basic DIY boarding... i.e. Do It Yourself... to the full service DUP 'Drive up Darling, your horse is saddled & waiting' and everything in between. At the lower end you provide a safely fenced pasture and water and the owners provide the care. At the upper end, you are the all inclusive resort vacation site with full service, 3-4 times daily feeding, supplements, spraying, rugging up, holding for farriers, medicating, tack cleaning... take this as far as you'd like to go service. Find your market and be clear about your service offering. This is the secret to making a profit, not just income.

Read more: Looking for a Stable Life

Movie review by Patricia N. Saffran

Dark Horse won the World Cinema Documentary category at the Sundance Film Festival 2015. The film is currently being screened in theaters around the US and a non-US format is offered on Amazon. It is beautifully made and is a joy to watch.

Read more: "Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance" Film Review

"What if horses were given a choice? Would they let us ride them?”

The touching story of horse trainer Elsa Sinclair is told in her movie "Taming Wild" where she traveled to find an untouched Mustang, a mare which was totally wild, and patiently created a bond with her. Elsa used no saddles, no bridles, no whips, and no food for bribes to see if a wild horse would choose to be ridden. Elsa speaks with Equine Info Exchange and shares her remarkable journey of respect, patience and love with her Mustang mare named Myrnah.

Read more: "Taming Wild" from Equine Clarity Films