July 2021 Issue

The News East Coast Horse Owners Need To Know OUR TH YEAR 993 - PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 280 LANC., PA 17604 Vol. 28 No. 6 July 2021 (Continued on page 18) Inside... Trailer & Transport feature!...pgs. 10-12 Philly's Concrete Cowboys find a home...pg. 6 Michael Dowling & friends open The Hill...pg. 7 …and much, much more! By Lois Szymanski Trainer, Lacey Mackintosh grew up with horses in her life. Before opening her own train- ing barn in Frederick, MD she graduated from Wilson College with a degree in equine business management and worked in mul- tiple equine settings, including at the racetrack, at an eventing barn, at Days End Horse Rescue, and managing an equine breeding program. Now, after choosing the only mule in the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off (AFTO), she has embarked on a whole new adventure. Lacey has a total of 100 days to prepare Mavis for the August 19-21 event, hosted by Heart of Phoenix (HOP) - a nonprofit West Virginia equine rescue dedicated to saving the horses of Appalachia, including horses fromWest Virgin- ia, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylva- nia, and a few from Texas. According to Suzanna Johnson, HOP Officer of Educa- tion, this is the fifth year for the ATFO competition. In May, over 70 untrained horses were placed with select trainers. “Many of the horses are rounded up entirely unhandled,” Johnson said, including some from feral herds that run wild on a large parcel of abandoned coal mines in WV. The horses were vetted and cleared while trainers applied to compete, going through a vigorous screening. Each trainer selected must document their process on social media with photos, stories and videos before meeting in August to compete in the three day event. There, they will showcase what they’ve accomplished. A last day auction gives an opportunity for pre-approved bidders to adopt. Mavis the Mule Lacey said the minute she laid eyes on Mavis, she knew she wanted to train the mule that she Maryland Trainer Selects a Feral Mule for the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off has affectionately dubbed Miss Mavis. “I had just gotten back from a five-day trip to Savannah, GA,” Lacey recalled. “The next day I drove the six hours [to Winfield WV] to the fairgrounds where the selection took place. It was actu- ally on my birthday. As soon as I saw the mule, I got really excited. I had only worked with one mule before, and it took a lot of work. She was difficult and opinionated, but she is still one of the greatest loves of my life.” That night, Lacey camped out with Mavis in her stall. The next morning, all approved trainers gathered in the fairway to hear descriptions of available equines. Names were drawn to determine who could select first, second, etc. I was the second name drawn,” Lacey said. “It was like an extra birthday present! Mavis was on the top of my list, and I got my first pick. The way I train, I try to make everything a game and that’s sort of suitable for mules.” As the horses in the compe- tition progress, trainers post their progress online. They also chat in a special forum, where Lacey could see that others began riding their horses early on. She says some- times that makes her panic, but only until she reminds herself that each horse is different, and a mule, well a mule has rules of its own. Working from her farm, Stable Minds, LLC, in Frederick, Lacey Mackintosh of Stable Minds, LLC of Frederick, MD, and Miss Mavis, the mule she chose to train for the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off, produced by Heart of Phoenix, a West Virginia equine rescue. The challenge, August 19-21 at the Winfield Riding Club in Winfield, WV, will feature 70 horses, mainly from the Appalachian region, who will navigate an obstacle course, perform a freestyle and be auctioned to adopters. Photo by Bridgette Daugherty of Blazehorsephotography Equine Events & Experts...pgs. 14-17