b'VIEWPOINTPublisher: Marla Bickel STEPHANIE L. CHURCH, Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief: Stephanie L. Church @TH_StephLChurch Managing Editor: Alexandra Beckstett Digital Managing Editor: Michelle AndersonArt Director: Brian Turner ConservingWeb Producer: Jennifer WhittleMarketing Manager: Victoria BennettConnection EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT2365 Harrodsburg Rd #A200Lexington KY 40504-3331E-MAIL [email protected] ere all adapting to a striking new reality right now. As horseAll letters must include the writers name, address,owners, weve seen the COVID-19 pandemic upend ourand daytime phone number for verification.Letters: [email protected], or by mail.normal when spring recreational and competition ridingFarm Call: [email protected], or by mail. was just getting started. As humans, weve seen it transform the wayAcross the Fence and Behavior Columns: we go about our daily lives, being more mindful of friends, family,[email protected], or by mail.New Products: [email protected],strangers, the risks we might pose to them, and vice versa.or by mail.Were in a time where thesemisses taking lessons but says theEDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDchanges, while uncomfortable for us,stay-at-home order has slowed her are crucial for halting the outbreak.down and given her more freedomScott Anderson, DVM; Sarah Barr, DVM; Anthony Aside from virtual communica- to spend time with her horses, takingBlikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS; Ann Dwyer, DVM; tions with coworkers, family, friends,extra moments to scratch or groom. Benjamin Espy, DVM, Dipl. ACT; Jenifer R. Gold, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC; Craig Lesser, CF, DVM; Kyla and my gym buddies, one thing hasOur managing editor, Alex, alsoOrtved, DVM, Dipl. ACVS; Debra Taylor, DVM; Jarred been vital to my wellness right now:has a time slot where she can rideWilliams, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVS-LA, ACVECCtime with my horse, Happy. I spendthe Warmblood mare shes leasing at Educational Partnership Disclaimer: The American Association most of the day looking forward toanother Lexington barn. Shows, fieldof Equine Practitioners (AAEP), one of The Horses partners my permitted 45 minutes with him attrips, and group lessons are off thein equine health, has no involvement regarding editorial the Lexington, Kentucky, farm wheretable, and the outbreak means moremanagement or advertising content within this publication and thereby does not endorse any editorial or advertising content I boardeven though it means rush- disinfection-related chores. But shesunless so acknowledged within the individual articleing around while taking critical bi- marveled about how quiet its beenor advertisement.osecurity steps to keep the barn staffat the barn and how boarders haveEXPERT ADVISORSand other boarders healthy. Beingquickly adapted to communicating around Happy calms and distractsand signing up for ride times via aSue McDonnell, PhD, Cert. AAB;me for a bit. It keeps me grounded.shared messaging app. Milt Toby, JDIndeed, for those of us at TheMy barn family has also beenFEATURED CONTRIBUTORSHorse who have horses, COVID-19using a messaging app, for logistics, has impacted us in different ways.support, and much-needed levity.Alayne Blickle; Christa Lest-Lasserre, MA; Stacey Oke, Jennifer is our web producer, andWere all grieving the loss ofDVM, MSc; Brett Robinson, DVM; Lucile Vigourouxher familys eight Appaloosas andnormal right now and, even thoughADVERTISING SALES AND SERVICES two Quarter Horses live at their farmit cant be in person, connection [email protected] nearby Lawrenceburg. For themcritical. I hope you and yours are the impact has been minimal; theyvehealthy and safe and that youre con- Advertising Executive:been ordering and picking up feednecting with friends virtually. I alsoYvonne Long 859/276-6701and supplies from the local mill andhope you are getting to connect [email protected]. Shes disappointed heryour horse on the ground or (safely!) shows have been canceled but ac- in the saddle. Simply talking toSales Support:knowledges the found time for farm- Happy as I check on him, graze him,Nicol Hunt, 859/276-6740 [email protected] related spring cleaning and work. and walk around the farm has done Michelle, our digital managingmore for our communication than aPUBLISHED BY editor, keeps her four horsesequalthousand transitions in the arena.parts trail and dressage mountsatPlease tell us how youre adapting home, near Bend, Oregon. Sheto a COVID-19 horse world.hOWNED BYTOBA MEDIA PROPERTIES @TheHorse @TheHorse @TheHorseMag Board of Directors:Everett Dobson, Dan Metzger, Rosendo Parra,Dr. J. David Richardson, Peter WillmottBAD PONY CREATIVE EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY6May 2020The Horse|TheHorse.com'