While much of the nation is focused on which presidential candidate is winning in the polls, Exeter was leading in a different kind of ‘Gallop' poll.

Best of America By Horseback, a cable show dedicated to horseback riding in the United States, sent a film crew to Exeter last Thursday and Friday after its viewers suggested Exeter and Tulare County as a riding destination.

“Most of our locations are suggested by our viewers,” said Tom Seay, the show's host. “We are the top trail riding show in the country and have been all over the country and the people here have really impressed me. They have just been wonderful to work with.”

On Thursday, Seay's crew filmed downtown Exeter and interviewed Mayor Ted Macaulay and Exeter Chamber of Commerce Director Sandy Blankenship.

On Friday, they filmed at Pacific Crest Equine's facility on Spruce Road and Myer Avenue just southeast of town. Owners and equine veterinarians Doug and Kelly Anez showed several horses being scoped for equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) along with owners who discussed their experiences.

“Doug and Kelly have a great program with preventative checkups scheduled every three months,” said Linda Kausen, owner of Hattie, a 10-year-old German warm blood that will be featured in the episode. “They caught a problem early and made sure I could still take Hattie for a ride.”

Pacific Crest Equine constructed a 7,000-square foot, state-of-the-art horse hospital in 2006 that offers wellness examinations, breeding and fertility management, dental care, deworming, and vaccinations as well as non-intensive lameness evaluations and minor health concerns using digital imaging, such as radiography, ultrasonography, or thermography. The facility services a 70-mile radius and each clinician and accompanying technician carry the necessary equipment to function efficiently and maintain a high quality of medical care in the field. Kelly Anez said she set up the meeting with the television program through the Tulare County Film Commission and the Exeter Chamber of Commerce.

“It's a wonderful program, we have a great town and a good facility here and it seemed to be a perfect match,” she said. “It was a great way to promote tourism in Tulare County with an equine slant.”

On Saturday, Seay led a group of 50 horseback riders through the Elliot Ranches northeast of Elderwood on trail leading to the back entrance of Sequoia National Park to be shown as part of the episode. Best of America by Horsback features a different riding location each week. Each location is a destination viewers can go to with their own horses or sites that provide horses for visitors. The show covers all of the details for a horseback riding trip, such as the types of terrain, footing and difficulty level of the trails.

Other segments on the show feature tips for traveling with your own horses, such as; how to plan and map a trip, how to find stop over locations for horses, trailer safety tips, vet tips and horse nutrition tips.

A fulltime farmer in Culpeper, Va., Seay has had horses since he was 5 years old. He traveled America, taking people on overnight horseback vacations for 19 years as a professional horseback outfitter. His largest accomplishment was organizing and leading a group of horseback riders, including Former President Jimmy Carter, and wagons from Savannah, Ga. to San Diego on “The American Transcontinental Trail Ride” in 1995.

“I can appreciate your full time farmers, straight rows and hometown nature of your community in Exeter,” Seay said. “The people here are just wonderful.”

Seay was joined in Exeter by his wife Pat, the show's producer, and video production editor David Londrey. Best of America by Horseback airs weekly on RFD-TV, the nation's first 24-hour television network dedicated to the interests of rural American and agriculture. Programming includes two hours daily on the equine industry; interviews with agricultural newsmakers; rural hobbies such as antique tractors and steam and model train features; youth programming for 4-H, FFA and National High School Rodeo Association; and entertainment, such as bluegrass, gospel, polka, and traditional country music.

Based out of Omaha, Neb., RFD-TV is distributed nationwide on satellite and cable providers including DISH Network, DIRECTV, Mediacom, Charter. For more information on RFD-TV, visit www.rfdtv.com.

Best of America by Horseback airs on RFD-TV at 10:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays and 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The episode featuring Exeter has not yet been scheduled for air time. For more information on the show, visit www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com. For more information on Pacific Crest Equine, call 592-4753 or visit the website at www.pacificcrestequine.com.

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