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Show Wednesday, December 29, 2004 Bl Expressions Basin Life Community Calendar Horsetails do more than swish By Maureen Spencer Express Writer r I! 'f western America has one symbol that instantly identifies iden-tifies time and place, it prob ably is the horse. Mane and tail billow in the breeze as the magnificent animals ani-mals gallop such images of the free-spirited, graceful animals ani-mals could be found in virtually virtu-ally every memory bank in the country. Having a pony to ride is still the dream of kids from Bangor to San Diego, inner city high-rise high-rise apartments to Big Sky country plains. Shana Witbeck was no exception. When she moved to Canada following her marriage to Canadian Greg Witbeck, a lifelong life-long friendship was forged with Valerie Nilsson a friendship which would influence her relationship with horses for the rest of her life. Valerie knew this energetic American girl, with Uintah Basin ties, liked horses and suggested the two of them go together to a Ray Hunt clinic for instruction in training horses. ; Sitting in her striking ranch home at the mouth of Dry fork Canyon, Shana levels her eyes at me and intones, "He is a WELL-known horse trainer." If a novice wanted to learn from the best, this opportunity had permitted her to learn from the best of the best. But at the time, she admits that she had no idea who Hunt was. She even borrowed a horse for the class. As the two women's friendship friend-ship continued, Shana says they spent many hours riding, talking and discussing their combined love of everything concerning horses. The Witbecks returned to Utah and established their home and family Sonja, Amber, Jade, Joce and Slade. The friendship between Shana and Valerie continued long distance, and one year Shana bought her northern fellow fel-low "horse lover" a horsetail. Which leads those of us who are more "horse challenged" to zip at least one eyebrow skyward sky-ward questioning our ability to hear. What could possibly have happened to the poor animal's original tail? Shana's husband Greg had withstood my incredulous stare several weeks earlier when he first casually mentioned his wife's business. Horse tails. Since 1997 Shana helps market horse tails with Valerie. And the whole business began with Shana's gift of a horse tail to her long-time friend. Yes, it truly was a horse's tail, having been harvested from a carcass. Compared to the design which Shana and Valerie market internationally Shana Witbeck attaches a real mane -try ' ' -j, Tjt ,,, ,e., j ' .ami. " -teadit ( is now as Manely Tails (on the internet, Broom Tails), it was primitive. Shana's gift was a design that was hair sewn onto a piece of cloth. This style was a product prod-uct of intense hand labor and was hard to make. Valerie, recognizing that the product could stand a serious redesign, used her spare time developing an enhancer that was still attached to its original origi-nal skin, which could then be braided into the animal's existing exist-ing tail. Decades earlier, attempts had been made by others to develop extensionenhancers which turned out to be dangerous danger-ous and painful to the animals. Some additions were actually actu-ally wired onto the horse's tail which caused serious circulation circula-tion problems. The dangerous practice of wiring on the tail bone is now prohibited. Even though more recent attempts use string, Shana and Valerie still see horrible injuries inju-ries occurring due to the inhumane inhu-mane treatment of a horse's tail. Nothing is permitted to be attached around a tail bone now. Competitions permitting extensions require that they be attached hair to hair. Another heart-wrenching attempt at dealing with an animal ani-mal whose tail is less than competition-ready (animals with nervous tail twitches would qualify in this category), was the practice of cutting the tail nerve to stop the inopportune movement. . , . The braided attachment is seen as a far more humane way of dealing with the problem and still gain points. What judges are minutely inspecting on an animal in competition varies between breeds and specific purpose of the training. What is being sought in a world-class cutter cut-ter horse is not desirable in an Arabian. Likewise, even the silhouette line of the animal varies between breeds. Shana explains, "A long tail gives a horse a 'balanced' look, a 'framed up' look in competition. competi-tion. That's the look you want. "Owners want 'movement' in cutters, reiners and working cow horses. They're judged on movement. In shows you want their mane flying, flowing. It adds to eye appeal and denotes this 'movement' to the judges. "We develop tails for all disciplines, which include Western pleasure, halter, reining rein-ing and jumping," she says. "Even ropers are beginning to understand the importance of that extra visual glitz to a judge." However, a tail that is the discipline-appropriate short or long and voluminous, a natural look at the tip or a tail with a "banged" straight cut these are the details addressed by this company that produces custom-made enhancements. to a horse mannequin to complete a After careful measurements are made, horse tail extensions are custom drilled preparatory to being braided into existing hair. I A--: , .- I, f - i -M , -.1. ii I W. zrA Valerie Nilsson grooms a wide variety of her natural horse tail extensions Shana Witbeck bring the service to world-class horses in competition. "The weight of an extension exten-sion creates a calming effect," says Shana. An appropriately placed enhancement frequently is able to permit the animal's tail to settle down. She adds, "A 'seated' tail is preferred in most competitions." Those in today's rarified industry of world class horse competitions use tail, forelock and mane extension enhancements. enhance-ments. Primary customers for this type of additional hair do it to catch a judge's eye if even for a second of additional point consideration. Stables, blood lines and fortunes for-tunes are in the balance at this level of competition. Shana recalls her visit to Florida museum commission. Two tails are sewn together for added competitive weight and volume as Valerie prepares another hand-made custom tail extension. V:; k . f 2 i I- 1 ! iK) I I Uv "1 " I the recent Scottsdale Classic. It settles the issue as to the acceptance accep-tance of show animals using tail extensions. "In one class of horses in the ring, I could only identify one horse without a tail enhancer," she says. At this level of competition, Shana says volume of a tail is as important as putting on a saddle. Sometimes a darker tail receives highlights of flaxen where a lighter tail might receive a darker core to give eye appeal. "When you're operating in world-class, every horse out there is good," says Shana, recognizing rec-ognizing the importance of that extra moment of attention from ik-m in the company trailer as she and a judge. Although competition is basically what these additions are used for, Valerie has made tails for horses without a tail sufficient to swat flies. Valerie is the one who creates cre-ates the tails for the company's clientele. It takes about two weeks to complete a tail and she has hired a helper to wash and spotlessly clean the pieces. Together Shana and Valerie outfit their 17-foot company trailer and follow the major competitions around the country. Clients welcome their ready accessibility. Competition is a hectic time for exhibitors and last minute improvements of their animal's appearance must be made with speed. Inside the trailer are multiple multi-ple rows of horse tails of every type, texture, length, cut, fullness, full-ness, hair shade and amount of waviness imaginable. Here hang tails for mature horses, adult horses and juvenile juve-nile horses. Horse grooming products are only a reach away so that the two women entrepreneurs are able to show their wares in their best possible light given only a moment's notice. The women are in a constant state of experimenting and researching to improve their designs. True, it's all just for show. But the next time you catch an hour or two of the Miss Universe pageant, don't be critical crit-ical of the work of Broom Tails. A far higher degree of false physical perfection goes into representing a country than into making a world-class animal ani-mal fulfill the fantasy images of horses galloping with grace and stunning beauty across the western frontier. December 31 Uintah County Library closed all day. New Year's Eve dance at Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West. Begins at 8 p.m. Potluck supper. For further fur-ther information, call Marci Young, 789-2169. January 1 January is childrens authors and illustrators week. Duchesne County Library closed. January 3 January 3 through 8, Crossroads Senior and Community Center will host Reflections elementary school exhibits. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. January 4 Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings meet-ings resume for 2005 at 7-11 Restaurant. Pam Webster, victims advocate, will be the guest speaker. Starts at noon. Duchesne County Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, J.B.'s Ballard Restaurant, 12 noon. Representative Gordon Snow gives legislative update. Diabetic Education Class, Uintah Basin Medical Center classroom, Roosevelt, 7 p.m. Free to the public. Uintah County Library Support Prime Time 4 Kids. Laptime at 10:30 a.m. January 5 Uintah County Library Story Time 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Music, crafts stories. Story hour for pre school children. 11:15 a.m. Duchesne County Library, 70 East Lagoon, 722-4441. Ashley Valley Medical Center diabetes support group: setting goals for 2005. AVMC medical office conference con-ference room. New meeting night, 1st Wednesday of every month. Questions, Vicki Berg, 789-3342, ext. 194. January 7 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, 8-10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides pro-vides the music. January 10 UintahDuchesne County Super Fix, two weeks only, Jan. 10-22. Participating veterinarians vet-erinarians include Ashley Valley Animal Hospital, Basin Veterinary Clinic, Countryside Clinic and Uinta Veterinary Services. Cat neuter neu-ter $20; cat spay $30; dog neuter neu-ter $40; dog spay $50. Extra charges for animals in heat, pregnancies, retained testicles testi-cles and dogs over 65 lbs. Call vets listed or 1-866-PETS FIX or visit www.utahpets.org. "Get 'em fixed by month six" for healthier, happier pets. January 1 1 Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting meet-ing at 7-11 Restaurant. Robin Riggs of the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce will be the guest speaker. Starts at noon. January 12 Uintah County Library Story Time 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Music, crafts, stories. Legal services, free to the public, at Crossroads Senior and Community Center, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. No appointment appoint-ment necessary. Roosevelt Workforce Services Office, "Dress to Impress" workshop, 9 a.m. DWS Conference Room. 140 West 425 South 330-13. Information, 722-6500. Story Hour for pre-school children, 11:15 a.m., Duchesne County Library, 70 E. Lagoon. 722-4441. January 14 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, 8-10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides pro-vides the music. To place items of public interest on the Community Calendar, mail to the Vernal Express, P.O. Box 1000, E-mail, E-mail, editorvernal.com, or call the Vernal Express' at 789-3511. .) |
