<![CDATA[Western Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association - Blog]]>Thu, 07 May 2026 20:45:31 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[New Award for 2019 - ALL AROUND COWBOY/Girl Competition!]]>Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:07:37 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/new-award-for-2019-all-around-cowboygirl-competition
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]]><![CDATA[2018 Awards Banquet]]>Wed, 06 Mar 2019 20:30:31 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/2018-awards-banquetCongratulations to all the award winners for 2018!  Here are a few snapshots from the banquet, sorry if you missed it, we all had a lot of fun with the 1st stick horse reining contest!

​More pictures on www.elainaeppinger.smugmug.com 
]]><![CDATA[Christmas for the Reiner]]>Tue, 04 Dec 2018 00:26:25 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/christmas-for-the-reinerHelp us come up with the perfect Christmas list by sharing below what your favorite thing is to take to the horse shows?!  This could be a Yeti cooler, a new horse trailer, Sheetz gas card or maybe you have to have your favorite pair of reins?

Share below what it is?!
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]]><![CDATA[Upcoming WPRHA Shows]]>Mon, 12 Mar 2018 02:54:27 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/upcoming-wprha-showsThe first show is quickly approaching.  Just a reminder if you need a stall at Tailwind's, you should call your stall RSVP in and we only have 23 stalls remaining.  Call or e-mail for pricing and to reserve:
Amy MacKrell (724)766-9560   amy@wprha.com
]]><![CDATA[Spring is Almost Here]]>Fri, 23 Feb 2018 04:01:19 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/spring-is-almost-here
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]]><![CDATA[Gastric Ulcers]]>Wed, 10 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/gastric-ulcers
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Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Horses
Gastric ulcers also known as equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) are common in horses.  Gastric ulcers are closely associated with performance horses such as racehorses but, shipping, illness, changing the horses’ routine such as housing, and any type of stress related actions can also be the cause. Clinical signs of EGUS include colic, poor appetite, weight loss, lower body condition score, and changes in attitude are common.  Although colic can be an indicator of gastric ulcers it is unlikely to be the primary cause of abdominal pain.

              Having your veterinarian do an endoscopy, also known as “scoping” on your horse is the preferred way to diagnose a horse suspected of having gastric ulcers.  An endoscope is 10ft long with a camera at the end, some have a screen about the size of a smart phone or a computer that makes viewing the stomach easier.  This allows the veterinarian to look inside the horses’ stomach to check for ulceration and look at the stomach lining.  Always make sure that the horses stomach is empty before the endoscopy is done, this means fasting the horse for 12 hours.  It’s always best to have your veterinarian come in the morning so your horse can have breakfast, they will be hungry!

              If your horse has gastric ulcers the gold standard treatment is Gastrogard.  Gastrogard is designed to treat gastric ulcers and you can only buy this product through a veterinarian.  After the horse has been treated it is a good idea to prevent them from coming back.  A great prevention medication is UlcerGard.  UlcerGard is used in the prevention of gastric ulcers or Purina's new preventative supplement called Outlast™.   Although there are many different gastric ulcer medications available over the counter UlcerGard and Outlast™ are proven with years of research to work. You do not need a prescription for UlcerGard or Outlast™, both products are sold at Butler Agway but priced very differently.  UlcerGard is about $8.00/dose and Outlast™ is $1.00 per dose.  They work in different ways as well.  UlcerGard is an acid suppression therapy and Outlast™ buffers the horses' stomach.  UlcerGard also comes in tube like a de-wormer and Outlast™ is a pelleted product mixed with alfalfa.  So if you have a hard time getting near your horse with a tube, then Outlast™ might be an easier way to get your horse to consume a gastric preventative product.  It is estimated that up to 90% of active horses experience gastric discomfort, affecting health, attitude and performance. Purina® Outlast™ Gastric Support Supplement is the latest innovation from Purina and is part of an overall gastric health program designed to aid equine gastric comfort and support horses that may develop gastric issues. Outlast™ Supplement contains a unique blend of ingredients to support proper pH, giving you and your horse the confidence to perform.   Always remember if you think your horse may have gastric ulcers make sure to talk with your veterinarian and ask about having your horse scoped.  They will provide more information and have a treatment program available for your horse.        

To learn more about Outlast™ click here to watch the Outlast YouTube Video

Merial, Purina and Agway are 2017 & 2016 sponsors of WPRHA!  WPRHA appreciates the support from these companies and we ask all our members to shop with them when they are looking for products.

To purchase these products please visit one of the Pittsburgh Agway stores and 'like' their Facebook page!
Butler Agway
Mount Nebo Agway
Eighty-Four Agway
Imperial Agway






]]><![CDATA[Show Season Prep]]>Wed, 03 Jan 2018 19:51:46 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/show-season-prep

I certainly am over winter and unless you have an indoor riding arena, it has been difficult to get motivated to ride in the negative temperatures!  So let’s talk about other ways to prep for the show season other than riding! 

Here are my top 10 tips and if you have more please comment and let us know!

  1. Update all your membership applications. Start with your WPRHA membership first! Nobody likes the last-minute person at the show office window holding up the line!  (You know who you are).
  2. Have your veterinary come out to update vaccinations and coggins before their busy season!  It is much easier to get appointments now than March or April. 
  3. Get your truck and trailer road ready.  Remember your awning that broke at the last show?  Why not get it fixed now? (maybe I am the only one with a broken awning).....
  4. Show attire, sort through what’s not trendy and what is and what may NOT fit… You know because you lost a bunch of weight over Christmas!  Then find the next tack swap and sell a few old items to buy some nice new ones.
  5. Get yourself show ready.  This way when you really start riding, you won’t come off your horse lame. 
    Great exercises are legs and ab’s for riding!  YouTube is a great resource if you need ideas. 
  6. Set your goals.  A goal could be showing for the first time, earning a 70 or winning the 2018 year-end award.
    If you have a goal of winning a year end award make plans to attend 50% of the WPRHA shows!
  7. Read the NRHA rule book.  NRHA judge Ed Bricker will tell you this is a must!
  8. Obtain a sponsor for the 2018 WPRHA show year.
  9. Watch reining videos to learn more!  Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
  10. Plan on helping at one WPRHA show because giving back is the best learning experience you will ever get.
    Reach out to President Amy MacKrell if you would like to scribe, help in the office, drag the arena, announce at a show or run the gate.

Hope some of this made you laugh but more importantly I hope it made you realize there are other ways to prep for the shows and now is a great time to do these things prior to the spring rush!

Stay Warm,
Elaina

If you have suggestions for blog articles please email me at Elaina@Wprha.com I love your feedback!
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]]><![CDATA[TRI-STATE REINING HORSE ASSOCIATION]]>Thu, 16 Mar 2017 12:16:05 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/tri-state-reining-horse-associationFor the first time last year WPRHA teamed up with Tri-State Reining Horse Association to provide exhibitors with the option of showing in NRHA approved classes.  Both organizations received tremendous support from members as well as exhibitors throughout the surrounding states so we are happy to announce that we will continue this partnership in 2017!  This also offers the opportunity for exhibitors to qualify for the NRHA North East Affiliate Regional Championship Show held this year in Logan Twp., NJ September 14-17, 2017 and hosted by Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association.  Last year’s ARC was held in October in Syracuse, NY.  TSRHA bought the entire “Affiliate Team” green hoodies to go & support their fellow teammates at the event.  Members enjoyed competing in a team atmosphere with the top 10 in each class winning various prizes from the NRHA corporate sponsors and qualifying for the NRHA North American Affiliate Championship Show held in conjunction with the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK.  Youth riders also get the chance to complete in the Youth Team Tournament held in conjunction with the Youth 13 & under and Youth 14-18 classes.  TSRHA’s very own Clay Bricker was on this past year’s winning team!  The Youth Team Tournament Program offers over $25,000 in scholarship funds and other prizes at ARCs throughout North America!
The following TSRHA Affiliate Team members were successful in their qualified classes at the ARC!
  • Clay Bricker & Tuckin Tango Tivio were the Youth 13 & under Champions!
  • Emme-Kate Wilks & Hollywhizm were the Short Stirrup Reserve Champions!
  • Jayme Moyer & Blue Moon Jr Cash were Top 10 in both the Youth 13 & under and the Short Stirrup.
  • Jerry Klein & Berry Big Dream were Co-Champions in the Novice Horse Non-Pro Levels 1 & 2 as well as Top 10 in the Non-Pro, Intermediate Non-Pro & Prime Time Non-Pro.
  • John Balko & PS Electric Chic were Top 10 in the Non-Pro & Prime Time Non-Pro.
Congratulations to our qualifiers & we look forward to 2017!
 
Green Reiners also have the opportunity to participate in the NRHA’s Green Reiner/Entry Level Program which provides a fun, educational and family-oriented ladder of competition with an inexpensive $25 Associate membership.  Each rung of the ladder welcomes beginning reiners to compete with others of the same skill level while gaining more experience.  In addition, an awards program from NRHA recognizes riders for their achievements.  An even more appealing facet to this program is that some levels do not require ownership or an NRHA competition license.   For more info about NRHA membership & NRHA’s Green Reiner program contact the National Reining Horse Association at 405.946.7400 or visit NRHA.com
 
Thinking about showing at WPRHA/TSRHA shows?  Here’s what you need to know!

This information is for the following show dates only: April 23, July 15 & 16, 2017
If you are showing in ANY class listed as NRHA
  • You MUST be an NRHA member prior to showing.
  • If you show in an NRHA approved class and are not an NRHA member, they will fine you and you will also be asked to forfeit any winnings for those classes.
  • Please reference the NRHA Handbook for additional requirements related to each class that you enter.
  • Competition licenses for your horse are required in all classes except Green Reiner.
If you are not an NRHA member, you can still show in any of the WPRHA classes!
 
To qualify for the North East Regional Affiliate Championship Finals (to be held in September in NJ)
  • The NRHA membership information above applies.
  • You must be a member of the NRHA affiliate (TSRHA in this case) prior to showing, for your winnings to count toward qualification.
  • The top 15 TSRHA members in each NRHA class will qualify to represent TSRHA.
  • If you plan to attend the Regional Finals, you MUST notify the NRHA of which affiliate you are representing prior to August 1, 2017 (must be received in their office, not just post marked).
  • As you show at NRHA shows throughout the show year, you can access results on NRHA’s website under the Programs- affiliate section.Select the club you are designated with and you can view who is qualified in each class.
Requirements In Review!
 
NRHA Class= NRHA membership
To qualify for NRHA Affiliate Championships= NRHA member and TSRHA member
WPRHA class= no required memberships (though you may want to join WPRHA to qualify for their year-end awards)
 
]]><![CDATA[Taking Care of Your Equine Partner]]>Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:54:20 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/taking-care-of-your-equine-partnerTaking Care of Your Equine Partner
Monica Snyder, DVM, Equine Veterinarian, Silver Spring Equine
 
Maintaining your sport horse’s joint health is as necessary as your car’s oil change.  While every horse is different and will have varying requirements, routine maintenance of your equine partner is often necessary to keep them performing to expectations. I was able to catch up with Monica Snyder, from Silver Spring Equine and ask her a few questions about joint health. 
 
What is the difference between Adequan and Legend?
Adequan and Legend are two commonly used injectable supplements with the aim of improving the comfort and function of equine joints.
  • Legend - is given intravenously, with Hyaluronic acid (or HA) being the main ingredient. HA is a major component in synovial fluid of the joints. Proper fluid consistency is important for lubrication and proper motion of your horse's joints. Legend can also be used as a direct injection into the joint itself.
  • Adequan - is given intramuscularly, with a main ingredient of polysulfated glycosamingoglycans (or PSGAG's). The cartilage of joints is complicated in terms of structure, but in simple terms, PSGAG's are one of the building blocks that make up joint cartilage. 
While they are different substances, they are both used with the aim of decreasing inflammation and pain associated with arthritis and other joint injury. It is important to note that they are technically not "drugs", instead being referred to as "nutraceuticals". As such, there are more lax guidelines and regulations on these substances as opposed to drugs. Their use is often recommended but the exact modes of action are up for debate.
 
What age is good to consider joint injections? 
When referring to injection of steroids and HA into joints for direct treatment, there is no specific age that I recommend horses start. Instead, we like to focus on horses individually, and inject only if needed. Like many drugs, when used judiciously they can greatly improve a horse's comfort and performance. However, if done too many times over a horse's life, they can cause breakdown of the cartilage instead. Your vet can help you with each horse individually when trying to decide whether or not to inject.
 
Do I have to haul my horse to an equine hospital to do joint injections?
No, Silver Spring Equine can do joint injections on the farm. The areas to be injected will be prepared and injected sterilely to minimize chances of infection.
 
What other services does Silver Spring Equine offer?
Silver Spring Equine is a full service ambulatory practice operating out of Portersville, PA. While we do not have a hospital for you to bring you horse to, we meet you at your farm to care for your equine friends. Services include vaccinations and wellness exams, dentistry, lameness evaluation, breeding, acupuncture, geriatric care, field surgery, and emergency care for colics, eye injury, lacerations, etc. Scheduled appointments are seen Monday through Friday, with emergency services offered 24/7, year round. Questions about services? Feel free to ask!
 
 
Monica grew up in Minnesota and has been working with horses most of her life, everywhere from the racetrack to internationally recognized breeding farms..  Since graduating vet school, Monica has been working for Dr. Robert Kissick, for three years at Silver Spring Equine.  When not working, you may find her riding her horse Ozzie and playing with her two rescue dogs, Carl and Scoobie.  Monica is truly an animal lover and shows her passion through her work.  Thank you Monica for joining our equine community in Western Pennsylvania and sharing your wealth of knowledge with us!


]]><![CDATA[New Year, New Horse?]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:24:03 GMThttps://www.wprha.com/blog/new-year-new-horseIt is a new year and some will be looking for a new reining horse for the 2016 show season!  Which can be really exciting but a little stressful at times.  To help club members with their search,I interviewed Tom Moyes, to get his opinion and advice for those who will be shopping! 
Tom’s Top 3 Tips
1.       Soundness
2.       Suitability 
3.       Affordability 
First thing is first.  Watch the horse move at all gaits to see if the horse is sound.  If you have very little experience with horses, take someone along who has more experience or even ask your trainer to go along with you.  When I was shopping for my first horse I asked Tom if I should have a pre-purchase exam and he had some pretty good advice for me.  Tom said “It depends on the purchase price of the horse.  If you are buying a $2,500 horse, then I would say take someone with you that knows horses really well and get their second opinion.  The reason is because you can easily spend $500 on the exam and in that case you could just buy a nicer horse instead.” 
​“Now if you were buying a horse from someone you didn’t know and in a different part of the country and for a lot more money like $15,000; what is another $500-$2,000 for the vet exam?”  Moyes stated.  
Tom also talked about how people always want to buy a higher caliber horse, than they can actually ride.  It’s not about buying the higher powered horse.  It is about purchasing the horse that you can actually ride!  It is really important that you suit your new horse and that your horse suits your riding style and ability.  If you are typically, on average a 68 rider, then you probably don’t want to pay the extra money for the 73 scoring horse.  The 73 horse will be out of your riding ability and you will have a hard time adjusting.  In addition, for inexperienced reiners, it is always a better idea to get a horse that knows more about reining than you do.  It will be a lot more fun in the show arena.  Just remember to be realistic about your riding ability and always try the horse before purchasing.  It is really difficult to tell from videos and photos if you will ‘suit’ the horse’s riding style.
Lastly, it all comes down to money and how much you have to spend.  Purchasing the horse is the cheapest part of owning a horse!  You then have maintenance, feed, board, unexpected vet bills, entry fees, and travel costs – these all add up and should be considered prior to purchasing!  
So before heading out to swing a leg over a potential new mount, be realistic, write down on paper what you are looking for and how much money you can spend. Always remember totake a professional or more experienced horseman along for an extra set of eyes.  Lastly, have fun! 
Tom got his first horse when he was 10 years old and 65 years later Tom is still riding and competing! Tom and his daughter Lindsay travel to NRHA and WPRHA shows.  Tom helped create two local reining horse clubs; Western Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association and the Tri-State Reining horse Association.  (Tri-State was 1 of 5 of the original affiliates to NRHA).    Tom lives in Evans City, Pennsylvania where he continues to give reining lessons and train horses.   He has been an inspiration to many horse enthusiasts and still continues to be.  WPRHA thanks Tom for all of his guidance and help along the way!
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