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Happy New Year
Welcome to EMO's January Newsletter. I hope 2012 is starting out well for you and your family!
January is the time when many show barns head South, to Florida and Mississippi and on the West Coast to Thermal, California, and Arizona. We at EMO continue to sponsor and support these circuits because we believe in giving back to the industry and enjoy these annual gatherings of friends and clients from near and far.
In this issue of the EMO Newsletter, our feature article is on Martha Hall, a partner and agent of EMO who has been with the company for more than 25 years. You'll find out all about her passion for flying, both on and off the horse! Martha will be traveling to Wellington, Florida, showing her jumper during the month of February, along with field agents Blake Boyd, Nate Rolfe and Lisa Boswell.
Our West Coast agent and partner, Mike Moran, will spend time in Thermal, as well as our field agents Bil Hartman and Daran Lockart. Field agent Jonathan Rabon will be in Gulfport, Mississippi, and is a familiar face in the horse show office, too. I have the opportunity to spend a few weeks in Ocala, Florida, this winter showing my hunter, and I feel very lucky to do so.
We've actually been blessed with a mild winter here on the East Coast (knock on wood), so for those not venturing too far from home I hope you enjoy riding and showing in this mild weather and saving your dollars!
EMO staff and agents take pride in the service we provide and welcome any comments that you feel would allow us do our jobs better.
Stay warm!
E. Sue Bopp
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Martha Hall and Holy Smokes take a fence while out with the Tryon Hounds. Erik Olsen Photo |
 MARTHA HALL HAS FOUND HER NICHE |
When EMO's Martha Hall isn't in her home office in Tryon, North Carolina connecting with clients, she's usually out galloping--and fast. She's a fierce competitor in the Amateur-Owner Jumper division aboard Hush and also a first-flight foxhunter with the Tryon Hounds aboard her homebred gray Holy Smokes.
"I'm so fortunate," said Hall. "That's the great thing about Tryon. I hunt during the winter and start about the time I give my horses off in fall after the show season, and then I leave in January to go to Florida. It's the perfect place to live."
Hall balances her equestrian aspirations with her career as an EMO partner and agent and has been with the Warrenton, Virginia-based insurance company since 1985.
"It truly was the best move of my life," said Hall with a smile. "I just love this business and the people I work with."
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| EMO: Meet Agent Jonathan Rabon
Jonathan is a licensed agent and has been with EMO since 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Jonathan is also well known on the A-rated hunter/jumper circuit as the office manager for the Classic Company, and he serves on the United States Equestrian Federation Competition Secretaries' Committee and the United States Hunter Jumper Association Show Management Committee. He performs his duties as show secretary for many competitions around the country. He also assists exhibitors and veterinarians with EMO paperwork at horse shows throughout the Northeast, the Midwest and the Gulf Coast.
Jonathan grew up on a horse farm and has been around horses his whole life. His parents imported warmbloods from Europe in the late 1960s, being among the first to do so in this country. He began foxhunting with Yadkin Valley Hounds (North Carolina) at the age of 10 and was later Junior Whip. Jonathan was a well-rounded rider, and also competed at combined training events and dressage competitions. After college, he moved to Camden, South Carolina and became involved with hunter/jumper shows.
Jonathan enjoys traveling and visiting new places. He currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina.
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 EMO: Tip of the Month
Nine Valuable Winter Care Tips By Amy Norvall, DVM In many areas of the country snow covers the ground and temperatures are below freezing. Horse care in the winter is a challenge, but here are nine winter care tips to help you and your horse survive and thrive in the winter cold. Body Condition - Check your horse's body condition regularly. Remove his rug if he's wearing one and feel his sides. A good rule of thumb--you shouldn't be able to see his ribs but should be able to feel them with gentle pressure. Feet - Pick your horse's feet daily to prevent ice and snow from packing in his hooves. Provide your horse with access to a dry area to prevent ailments such a thrush and scratches. In some conditions, snow pads may be required. Hay - Sufficient amounts of good quality hay is essential for horses living in cold climates. Hay should be dust-free and fairly leafy; avoid moldy or stem-filled hay, and if you use round bales check each one carefully prior to feeding it. Digesting hay actually generates heat, which helps keep your horse warm. Give your horse hay at least twice daily. Nutrition - All horses require good quality forage. As the winter progresses, grass turns yellow; although it's still a valuable fiber source, winter grass doesn't have much nutritional value and your horse will need hay, too. Depending on your horse's body condition and work load, he may also require supplemental grain as needed. Older horses in particular require careful monitoring over the winter to ensure they maintain their body condition throughout the colder months. Respiratory Issues - Confinement in a barn during the winter can set a horse up for respiratory problems. The most common respiratory disease is heaves, an inflammatory disease characterized by the narrowing of the airways and excess production of mucus. Horses with heaves display a characteristic breathing pattern of forced expiration and may even display a "heave line" (an enlarged ridge of abdominal muscle). If your horse develops a respiratory issue, consider environmental changes such as housing him in a three-sided shed outside and feeding a diet of dust-free pellets and water-soaked hay. If your horse shows no improvement, seek your veterinarian's advice. Riding - Take special care to cool your horse down completely to prevent chilling after sweating. Also, be cognizant of ground conditions when you ride. Common winter injuries, such as traumatic soft tissue or joint damage, can occur after a horse is ridden on ground that's frozen or slippery. Rugging - Rugs keep your horse dry and warm and are essential if your horse is clipped. Don't leave a wet rug on your horse, and clean the rug regularly to help prevent skin disorders, such as ringworm, from developing. Ringworm appears as circular areas of hair loss and crusting, and treatment involves topical medication, such as anti-fungal shampoos. Be sure not to share grooming tools, rugs or tack between horses if one has developed ringworm. If your horse isn't rugged, regularly assess his back and rump for rain rot (Dermatophilus). Rain rot is also treated topically but may require antibiotics if it's advanced. Shelter - Providing a three-walled run-in is important for horses to shelter from the wind, rain and snow. Water - It's best to invest in a water heater, which maintains the water temperature to 40F. If you don't have a water heater, check the water supply, break the ice twice daily and top off the supply with warm water. If a horse's water consumption decreases, not only does their feed intake decrease but also the risk of dehydration and impaction colic increases. Amy Norvall, DVM, was born and raised in Zimbabwe, Africa. She's ridden horses all of her life and has competed in a variety of disciplines, from eventing to polocrosse. She graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, and her primary interest is in sport horse medicine and diagnostic imaging. She's currently a junior associate at Virginia Equine Imaging in Middleburg, Virginia. |
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President
Vice President EMO WEST: Vice President OFFICE AGENTS:
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The EMO Agency, Inc. 400 Rosedale Court Warrenton, VA 20186 (800) 347-3552
(540) 347-3552
FAX: (540) 347-5906
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Hunting For Insurance?
You might want to consider:
EMO Care, Custody or Control Coverages
Did you know that most Commercial Liability Policies exclude coverage for death or damages to non-owned horses in your care, custody or control?
This policy covers you if you become legally obligated to pay for damages because of the death, theft or humane destruction of a covered animal in your care, custody or control.
You need this coverage if you:
- Board
- Breed
- Train
- Transport
Please contact our office for a quote on this invaluable insurance option.
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EMO
Out 'N About 
Join EMO Staff and Agents at these upcoming events:
- Pensacola Winter Series, January 11-29, in Pensacola, Florida (Jonathan Rabon)
- FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit, January-April in Wellington, Florida (Martha Hall, Blake Boyd, Nate Rolfe and Lisa Boswell)
- HITS Desert Circuit, January-March, in Thermal, California (Mike Moran, Bil Hartman and Daran Lockart)
- HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, January-March in Ocala, Florida (Sue Bopp)
- Arizona Sun Circuit, January 28-February 5, in Scottsdale, Arizona (Chris Hocutt)
- Gulf Coast Winter Classics, February 8-March 18, in Gulfport, Mississippi (Jonathan Rabon)
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