Plantation Field and the Disrespect of Private Property Owners

 The Plantation Field Horse Trials fallout continues.  In case you're not up on the drama, recently it was announced that the Plantation Field Horse Trials would no longer be running after their international event last weekend.  Here is why:

Here is the Eventing Nation article:  The Problem With 'Plantation'

An article from the New York Times:  Estate's Racially Divisive Name Threatens Future of Premier Equestrian Event

The shockwave went around the eventing community several times.  People are pointing fingers in every direction.  Some on the side of the owner, others calling the owner immature for refusing to "just change the name."  A few upper level pros have spoken out, but the majority of them have stayed silent, at least publicly. 

Now, the latest development is that Boyd Martin has made a post asking Eventing Nation to not mention him in their articles, or post pictures of him.  

Again, the comment section is going crazy with people siding with Boyd, and others making it known that they're going to unfollow him immediately.  

The thing is, Cuyler Walker is a private land owner.  All these people bashing him with their sense of entitlement to HIS land are wrong.  I have seen a few people making a comparison to the Kentucky event being changed from Rolex Kentucky to Land Rover Kentucky.  That is not even close in comparison.  The Kentucky Horse Park is owned by THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY aka in no way, shape or form, a private party.  It is also staffed by a number of full time state employees.  
You're also talking about actual legal contracts and sponsorship.  That is not the same as a private land owner leasing some of their land.  These two situations could not be more opposite.  So the people that can't understand that, well, good luck to you.  There's really no getting through to them.  

Cuyler Walker can do whatever he wants and feel however he wants about HIS private land.  It doesn't matter how mad or "woke" you are.  It's a fact.  There is family history in the reason that piece of property is named Plantation Field.  It has to do with a Boy Scout project 80 years ago.  Clearly that name has significance to his family.  Who is everyone else to tell him it's unacceptable?  Who are they to tell him his family's reason is invalid because of their feelings?  Their being those that don't own that land and have no say in what happens to it.

While there have been some articles from POC that say that the name bothers them, there are also articles out there from POC saying it doesn't bother them and they are pissed that a great event has been taken from them.  

What about all the upper level pros that still competed last weekend?  What do those of you that are so pissed about what this private land owner is doing with his own land have to say about that?  Are you still going to support them?  Even though they still went and competed at a venue with this awful name?  And don't use the excuse of qualifying competitions, or that they already paid their entry fees.  What's more important to you?  If they really cared, wouldn't they have just not went?  But I bet that most of you will still be finding yourselves taking lessons and clinics with these individuals.  Because that's what you do, you post on social media to be cool and trendy but won't back it up with action when it comes down to it.

Anyone that has that big of a problem better not be caught in lessons, clinics, or boarding with those that continued to compete at Plantation last weekend.  Or, if that is you, I'd love to know why you will continue to support them.  Maybe because it was a personal decision that was their own?  Guess what, so is Cuyler Walker's personal decision to do whatever he wants with his personal property.  Also, what about their silence?  Isn't silence compliance?  Aren't you pissed they're not speaking up like you think they should?

Though not for the same reason, do you all remember with Longwood shut their doors to the public?  They got absolutely roasted all over the internet.  Why?  Because so many people felt entitled to use their land.  Guess what?  Private property that doesn't need your business or money.  I don't understand why people feel so entitled to others' property.  Get over yourselves.  That was quite a while ago, and guess what, Longwood is doing just fine, Joe Watkins certainly didn't lose any sleep over it.
If you don't like the name, you could have just not went.  It's pretty easy.  You don't like the name, don't enter events there.  

Guess what?  I work with victims of some of the most horrifying and personally violating crimes you could possibly imagine.  That is no exaggeration.  These victims have endured the type of things that your worst nightmares are made up of.  Some of them have taken their lives over it.  Almost all of them know the name of the offender or offenders that comitted these acts against them.  Do they protest and throw a huge fit to have that name stricken from existence?  They sure don't.  Do they avoid every speaking to anyone with the same name of their offender?  No, they don't, or none that I have worked with have, there may be some that do avoid people with the same name.  

I'm not trying to minimize the hurt or offense that some are caused by the word Plantation but, where is the line?  

Trailer Maintenance: Mandatory Fun

All sparkly and clean coming out of the truck wash.

A big part of having a trailer, is trailer maintenance.  It’s not the most fun thing in the world, but it’s a requirement to ensure the safety of the horses.  It’s something that can easily be put off, and shouldn’t be.  Aside from just taking care of your trailer in general (cleaning/greasing), annual maintenance should be a priority.  Not only does it service the parts that needs continuing regular maintenance (brakes/bearings) but it also serves as a thorough inspection of the trailer.  It’s possible for the techs working on it to spot an issue before it gets worse.

Before I left for my work trip I had the annual maintenance done on mine.  The brakes/axles were inspected, bearings packed/greased, and it got a once over.  

I don’t expect any issues out of my current trailer, but you never know.  I have had great luck with Sundowner.  My previous trailer was a Sundowner too and it was a GREAT trailer.  My current trailer is living up to that reputation as well.  I bought my new trailer new in 2017.  Part of why I did this is because I will know its history from the start.  I will know it was taken care of a serviced on a regular schedule.

I also greased all the locks, latches, and springs.  

Some  hinges have grease ports, some don't.

You can use the grease ports on the jack, or you can take the top off and hand grease it.

Using white lithium grease for the hinges that don't have grease ports.

Be careful not to over grease, it can actually just attract more dirt and cause issues.

The two types of grease I used.  If you have a trailer now, you better know what Moly Grease is because you had better be greasing your hitch/coupling at regular intervals.  I always have Moly Grease on hand in the truck/trailer.

The Other half did me a huge favor and power washed the inside of it.  Some truck washes will do it for you if it's empty of all shavings, etc... But some won't.  Blue Beacon here will not.  

I took everything out of my tack room and organized it.  Pulled the mats and scrubbed them, and vacuumed.  The trailer usually gets this type of spa treatment on regular intervals but this time was also in preparation for me to be gone for a few months on a work trip.

This was when I come back it’s ready to go.  My truck is being started regularly too, even though it’s not being drive.  When I get back I’ll still get an oil change and then we’ll be ready to hit the road for some adventures.

Doing what you can on your own will also help you familiarize yourself with how things work and give you the ability to recognize if something isn’t right, just like with horses.  So, being afraid to do some maintenance is bad.  I've sadly seen people who even think it's cute to have someone else to haul their horses around and say how it's that person's "job" and they will be willfully ignorant about the process.  Ok, well maybe it is their "job", but that is still no excuse not to familiarize yourself with equipment that involves YOUR horses.  

Checking fluids, etc on The Beast.  KNOW WHAT IS NORMAL.

Even if your friend/trainer usually hauls you because you don't have a trailer, you really should learn what you can.  What if there is an emergency and that person is unavailable for some reason?  You HAVE to be able to help yourself.  Doing small things like this is where it starts.  Know your equipment's normal.  Even if it is your friend or trainer's equipment, if your horse is in it frequently, make yourself useful.  Know how to change a flat on a trailer, know how to break lugs, know how to tighten lugs in the proper pattern, know the normal squeaks, clicks, bounces, etc... with the truck and trailer.  Know what the normal running temp is on your truck when you're hauling.  Know how to adjust the brake controller, remember to check your fluids regularly.  Know what oil you use in your truck.  Things like this can help you spot a potential issue before it becomes a catastrophe.  I get it, some things just cannot be avoided, but some absolutely can.  Being uneducated isn't cute, it's not funny, it's dangerous.

Preparation Is Key: Leaving Your Horses For Months

What do I do to get ready to be away for months is another common question I’m asked.  This is more concerning the Super Mares, and not things like my truck and trailer.  The most important thing is to have someone you trust to look after your horses.  Too many times I have seen horror stories after someone left their horse or horses with someone they didn’t know for that long, or personally did not know but was just recommended to them.

An authorized agent is something you need to have in place.  That is someone authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf while you’re away.  Some vets have their own form you can sign that authorizes that person, others require a Power of Attorney to do it.  Either way, do it and make sure your Authorized Agent’s contact information is included in the file.  This guarantees that if for some reason the vet is not able to get a hold of you, there is someone in the local area they can speak with regarding medical care if needed.  I don’t care if you are even just one state away and not on the other side of the world, you need to have this in place.  I have two, obviously The Other Half, and then my friend that is taking care of them.  I recommend you have one in your file even when you’re not gone.  You just never know.  What if something were to happen while you’re in an area with no cell service one day?  

I also always have a card on file with the vet.  I imagine most of you do, some practices require it, but if you don’t, that’s something else you should seriously consider.

Have that hard talk with your Authorized Agent(s) (and your caretaker if they are not the same person) of what your threshold is if serious illness or injury were to occur.  Let them know your limits financially and ethically.  This can be a hard conversation to have, but it needs to happen because it will be much worse of a conversation to have in the middle of an emergency.  I am very fortunate in that my friend and I are on the same page. 

Tell your equine professionals (farrier, chiro, etc…) that you’re leaving as well and who will be caring for your horses.  This way they know who to contact if appointments need to be changed, or if your caretaker needs a random appointment for something like a thrown shoe.

Change your autoships if you need to.  It may be easier to just have things like treats, fly spray, SmartPaks go directly to your caretaker.  Amazon is your friend too.

Make sure your First Aid Kit is stocked up.  That way your horse or horses have supplies if they need it and no one is running around looking for things that aren’t there.  Ask your caretaker where they would like it to be kept, that way they know exactly where it is.

I also left the keys to my truck and trailer with my friend.  

Truck and trailer spotless and prepped to take a break.

An app like Marco Polo is amazing while you’re away.  The beautiful thing about Marco Polo, if you are unfamiliar with it, is that you will always receive the videos.  It’s a video text app, but it can also do live videos if you are watching it while someone is messaging you.  This is super helpful because the videos don’t take up space on your phone.  You don’t have to worry about the quality or if they are too big for a text message, etc…  This way you can see your horse or be present for things like vet visits, even though you can’t be physically present.  

Super B noticing that gorgeous mare looking back at her on the phone.

My friend also has multiple ways of reaching me if she needs to.  It’s not as easy as just calling my phone right now.  If this means you get a Google Voice number, WhatsApp, etc… then do it.  

Have Zelle, PayPal, Venmo or something similar set up in case unforeseen issues arise or extra supplies are needed for whatever reason.  These apps make sending money quick and easy.  For example, Klein recently broke something in her paddock, I told my friend to let me know what I owe her to get it fixed and I’ll Zelle her immediately. 

Have your grooming supplies stocked.  That way there is plenty of shampoo, conditioner, etc...  

I had all of their sheets, saddle pads, and wraps professionally laundered and bagged up neatly before I left.  All of my tack was deep cleaned and prepped to sit for months (appropriate covers, bags, etc…).

These are just some ideas, I would say veterinary care planning is without a doubt the most important. 

Then...off you go.  

I lost count of the number of sunrises and sunsets I saw in one 24 hour period.  After over 44 hours of traveling, you know what I wasn't worried about?  Things involving my girls.  The peace of mind you get from being well prepared is absolutely priceless when you have a big job ahead of you.  I cannot explain the feeling of massive relief knowing my girls are in the best possible situation while I am not home.  Also, as soon as I go to the airport, the timer reverses and the count down is on until the day I come home.  Leaving is tough but, your mindset makes all the difference in the world.

What Do You Do With Them While You're Gone?

Enjoying dinner together after a bath.  Of course Super B had already rolled.

I get this question a lot, and since, in case you didn't know, I’m gone right now, there isn’t a better time to revisit the subject.  What do I do with my girls when I’m gone for work?  I let them enjoy a well-deserved vacation.  I don’t let people ride them when I’m there, why would I do it when I’m not there?  There is absolutely no harm in letting them have some down time.  They are with one of my best friends, who is on the short list of people I trust to take care of them.  Her OCD *ahem* I mean, standard of care is the same as mine.  She’ll notice any little thing that’s off with them.  I trust her 110% with them.  She used to ponysit Klein ten years ago when we were in New Mexico together.  Klein loves her Auntie, and Super B does too.  

When Mt. Charleston was on fire earlier this summer.  It never got anywhere close.

So the girls are enjoying just running around doing whatever they want.  Eating cookies, relaxing under their fans, having conversations about horse things over the fence with my friend’s three geldings.  The Other Half visits them regularly as well.

I will be back in the fall when the perfect weather hits the desert.  The girls will be ready to go back to work, and here in a few weeks I’ll write their re-conditioning plans.  I don’t think it’s possible for Super B to ever get very far out of shape.  Klein will require some effort to get back in shape.  That is all part of the fun though.  Re-conditioning means long adventures out in the desert for trot/canter sets and hill work.  Hacks in our favorite new trail area too.  Then once they get back into a routine and get in shape I’ll go back to my jumping lessons with Super B to continue working on our goals for jumpers.  Klein mare and I have some dressage goals we need to finish.  

Part of what I enjoy so much is their training, watching them learn and feeling them get stronger and confident in certain things.  Klein mare is VERY well educated at this point in her training.  The bulk of my work will be getting her in better shape.  Super B is the opposite, while I highly doubt she’ll be what we’d consider out of shape, I would still NEVER ask her to go right back to the level of work she was at right before I left.  So, she will gradually be brought back into work as well but the bulk of my work with her will be continuing her education.  

Something I never worry about is either of them going feral.  They will not be lunged into the ground before I get on them, which is something I’m very highly against.  I will get right on both of them, expect them to behave, and they will.  I’m confident Klein and I could go to the moon and I’d still have the same Klein I have on Earth.  Super B, while she is much more um…excitable, she’s never straight up disrespectful.  

Of course this is all personal preference and knowing your horses, as well as your own abilities, and for me, having others ride them while I’m gone will just never be an option in my mind.  

Two happy unicorns checking in via video.