Downeast Medal Finals

August 2025

September 11-14, 2025

Visit our website for more information about Downeast. We welcome all feedback and suggestions: please email Ginger at ginger@downeastmedalfinals.com

Message from the President

Save the dates for DMF 2025: September 12-14th, with warm ups on September 11th!

We are starting to get close! We want everyone to qualify so all horse shows hosting the classes may run them twice to help riders qualify. Be sure to check the horse show tab at www.downeastmedalfinals.com for all shows offering DMF qualifying classes.

Also, even if you don’t qualify for a medal final, you can still come and enjoy all of the other classes: Team Challenge, Pro/Am, the Derbies!! We have 4 Derbies: $1250 18”Hunter Derby, $1250 2’ Hunter Derby, $1500 2’3”Hunter Derby and a $2500 2’6” Hunter Derby, all paying out to 8th place! There are also monetary prizes in the Horsemanship Challenge so Juniors start studying those newsletter articles! Get a jump on any other indoor shows by showing at Downeast!

We are once again able to offer several scholarships to those who need a little help to get to finals. All of that information can be found on the scholarship tab on our website. Please note that the scholarships have a deadline of August 7th!

Qualified riders, if your name is in RED on the points page, we need your mailing address so that we can mail your qualifying medal to you! Please send your address to: katie@downeastmedalfinals.com. For those already qualified, they are being mailed out.

We are very grateful to Dover Saddlery for once again being our presenting sponsor. We also wish to thank all of our other generous sponsors for their help in putting on DMF. Without them the show wouldn’t happen, so please support them when you can and be sure to tell them that you heard about them at DMF. You can find their logos on our homepage as well as at the bottom of this newsletter.

If you would like to sponsor something, no matter the amount, please contact Ginger at ginger@downeastmedalfinals.com. We can make up a package to fit your needs. Even just an ad in the program supports the show.

Happy horse showing, ride safe and see you all very soon!!

-Ginger

Dover Saddlery

Thank you to Dover Saddlery for sponsoring Downeast Medal Finals as our 2025 Presenting Sponsor!

Dover Saddlery is proud to be a presenting sponsor of the Downeast Medal Finals once again. We are thrilled to welcome and congratulate every rider that will be competing. Downeast Medal Finals has a name that Dover Saddlery is proud to be associated with. Hard work over years in this sport that we all cherish, competing among strong barn communities with good people that love their horses just like we do. After a busy and exciting show season, Downeast Medal Finals is a place we can all join together to compete with good sportsmanship and camaraderie in a first class venue organized by a strong show management team. Here at Dover Saddlery, we always put the needs of the horse and rider at the core of every decision made. We are committed to providing the beloved staples found in every rider’s tack room as well as new and innovative products designed to help you and your horse perform your best. Our mission is built on the promise to provide world-class products and customer service and our team is comprised of over 800 knowledgeable riders who love this sport, just like you. Whether you choose to browse us online, or visit us at one of our 35 retail stores across the nation, you will find a product selection encompassing over 60,000 products ranging from entry level to the most advanced rider’s needs. Visit us at our local Plaistow NH, Wellesley MA, or North Kingstown RI, store when you are in the neighborhood. We hope you will look forward to your Downeast journey this season and remember to always enjoy the ride! We can’t wait to see you in September!

Warm wishes,

Your Dover Saddlery Team

Gastric Ulcers in Horses

By Andris J. Kaneps, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSR

Research has shown that over 90% of racehorses and 60% of performance horses – hunter, jumpers, dressage, endurance, and western – have ulcers (Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome [EGUS]). Studies have also shown that even small changes in the routine of recreational horses can cause gastric ulcers in as little as five days, meaning your horse does not have to undergo serious stress or be in intense training to develop ulcers.

How Gastric Ulcers Form

The word “gastric” means “of or pertaining to the stomach,” so, gastric health focuses entirely on one organ —the stomach. Your horse’s stomach is covered with two types of linings:

Glandular mucosa - contains glands that constantly produce acid to aid in digestion and covers the bottom 2/3 of the stomach. This region produces mucus and bicarbonate to help protect the stomach from acid exposure. The medical term for ulceration of the glandular mucosa is Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD).
Non-glandular (squamous) mucosa - covers the top 1/3 of the stomach. This area is where stomach contents are mixed, usually with buffering from food and saliva so it doesn’t have as much natural protection from acid as the glandular mucosa. The tissue edge that separates the squamous from glandular mucosa is called the margo plicatus. The medical term for ulceration of the squamous mucosa is Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD).

The longer your horse’s stomach is empty, the more at risk he is for developing squamous gastric ulcers because the acid in his stomach isn’t being buffered by forage and saliva. Excess acid can damage the unprotected squamous mucosa and erode through the tissue, creating painful ulcers.

Signs of Ulcers in Horses

Signs of gastric ulcers can be subtle and may include:

Decreased performance (often mistaken for musculoskeletal or back pain)
Poor body condition
Weight loss
Dull hair or coat
Reduced appetite
Behavioral issues or a poor attitude (girthiness, irritability, resistance, etc.)
Repeated colic

Read the rest of the article here: https://www.smartpakequine.com/learn-health/ulcer-horse

Horse Front Leg Anatomy

If you are a Downeast Medal Finals rider, we would like to feature you! Send your bio and picture to ginger@downeastmedalfinals.com

Upcoming Shows with DMF Qualifying Classes

Qualifying for DMF 2025:

Aug. 2 NHHJA Show Series, Fremont, NH

Aug. 3 North Star Farm, Sanbornville, NH

Aug. 9 Seacoast Show Series, Fremont, NH

Aug. 9 Cornerstone, Haverhill, MA

Aug. 10 KKF SeaCoast Classic, Hollis, ME

Aug. 10 Tri-County Horsemen, Union, ME

Aug. 15-17 GMHA August Hunter Jumper Show, Woodstock, VT

Aug. 16 NHHJA Show Series, Fremont, NH

Aug. 16 Life’s A Ride Equestrian Center, Saco, ME

Aug. 16 Lupine Farm, Vassalboro, ME

Aug. 17 Graystone Stables, Berwick, ME

Aug. 17 Cornerstone, Haverhill, MA

Aug. 24 Lucky Clover Stables, Sanford, ME

Qualifying for DMF 2026:

Sept. 6 Seacoast Show Series, Fremont, NH

Sept. 6 Life’s A Ride Equestrian Center, Saco, ME

Sept. 6 Autumn Sky Farm, Newbury, MA

Sept. 7 Tri-County Horsemen, Union, ME

Sept. 7 Cornerstone, Haverhill, MA

Oct. 5 Graystone Stables Equitation and Hunter Classic Championship, Berwick, ME

Oct. 25 Cornerstone, Haverhill, MA

Oct. 26 Lucky Clover Stables, Sanford, ME

Nov. 9 Cornerstone, Haverhill, MA

Nov. 23 Evenstride, Byfield, MA

Want to see your show listed here? Fill out our Downeast Classes Form to host our classes!

Become a Downeast Medal Finals Sponsor:

All levels accepted and appreciated!

Visit www.downeastmedalfinals.com for more information.

For more information or to become a sponsor, please email Ginger at ginger@downeastmedalfinals.com.

Thank you to Spotted Vision Photography, It's A Horse Life Photography, Hillary Turner, and Riitta Fortier for providing us with many wonderful photographs from the Downeast Medal Finals.