USRider® Equestrian Traveler's Companion by USRider

Equestrian Traveler’s

COMPANION

Your Essential Horse-Trailering Resource

August • September 2017

Conquer 3 Summer-Trailering Challenges

Ride California’s Wine Country

How to Buy a Used Trailer

Easy Guide to Shipping Boots An AIM Equine Network Publication

Your Horse’s Coggins Test

Equestrian Traveler’s COMPANION August • September 2017

Your Essential HorseTrailering Resource

FEATURES 8 Safe Travels

Safe Summer Hauling

12 Hauling Hints

Easy Guide to Shipping Boots

14 Your Healthy Horse Your Horse’s Coggins Test

17 Buy Wise

Used-Trailer-Buying Checklist

DEPARTMENTS 4 Travel Tip

Park Safely on a Grade

5 Seasonal Tip

Provide Proper Ventilation

6 Horse-Show Travel Tip High-Tech Horse ID

7 Skill Set Tie a Quick-

Release Knot

20 Road Gear

Horse-Centric Products

22 Savvy-Traveler Checklist

On-the-Go Grooming

24 USRider Member Story Hurricane Emergency

26 Winner’s Circle Advantage

USRider MemberBenefit Spotlight

28 Dream Destination California’s Wine Country

COVER PHOTO BY ClIXPHOTO.COM

Editorial Inquiries: René E. Riley • rriley@aimmedia.com Contact USRider®: (800) 844-1409 • P.O. Box 20634, Boulder, CO 80308 memberservice@usrider.org • www.usrider.org USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

August • September 2017

Need more benefits? Own an Equine Business? Travel long distances? Introducing the:

Premier Plan Premier Plan

The new USRider® Premier Plan is the preferred plan for business or competitive equestrian travelers. This plan includes all of the Classic Plan benefits PLUS: • • • • • •

Unlimited towing Unlimited jump start benefit Unlimited lock out benefit $400 maximum winch out benefit $400 maximum roadside repair One FREE associate/employee membership

• Emergency disablement expense reimbursement • 24-hour concierge service • 20% off all items in the USRider® Store • Includes fuel, oil and water delivery, tire changes, roadside repair* *excluding cost of parts and fluids

UPGRADE NOW

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

WWW.USRIDER.ORG (800) 844-1409

Administered by Nation Motor Club Inc., DBA Nation Safe Drivers

------------TRAVELTIP------------

Park Safely on a Grade As a rule, you should try to avoid parking your rig on a grade. You run the risk of your truck’s brakes failing and your truck slipping. On steep grades, your transmission may become damaged.

If you find you absolutely must park on a grade, here’s how to minimize risk of slipping. 1. Apply the regular brakes. 2. Have a helper chock the trailer wheels. 3. Release the brakes, and allow the chocks to absorb the load. 4. Apply the regular brakes again. 5. Apply the parking brake. 6. Put the transmission into Park. 7. Release the brakes.

Here’s how to safely start again.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

As a rule, you should try to avoid parking your rig on a grade. If you find absolutely must park on a grade, use chocks, and put the transmission in Park before you release the brake.

1. Keep the transmission in Park. 2. Apply the regular brakes until the engine is started. 3. Release the parking brake. 4. Release the regular brakes, and drive until the chocks are free. 5. Apply the regular brakes until your vehicle comes to a stop. 6. Ask your helper to remove the chocks and stow them. — Neva Kittrell Scheve (www.equispirit.com)

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

August • September 2017

------------ SEASONALTIP------------

Provide Proper Ventilation Ventilation is essential in your trailer year-round to help your horse avoid respiratory problems, including shipping fever (a severe respiratory ailment). In summer, proper ventilation also helps your traveling horse stay cool.

PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

EXPERT TIP The open area in front of the breast bar will allow your horse to drop his head and neck, which is the only way he can clear his respiratory system. If you tie him, leave enough slack in the reins to allow him to drop his head, but not so much slack that he could catch a hoof in the lead rope.

Ventilation is essential in your trailer year-round to help your horse avoid respiratory problems, including shipping fever (a severe respiratory ailment). In summer, good ventilation also helps your traveling horse stay cool. Good windows (with screens, to keep out road debris) and roof vents with help circulate air for evaporative cooling and provide a constant supply of fresh air to aid respiratory health. To cool your overheated horse, immediately take the following steps.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

• Remove the tack. Immediately remove all tack, except for a halter and lead. • Provide shade. Lead your horse to a shady spot. • Offer water. Offer your horse as much water as he’ll drink. • Hose him down. Hose or sponge your horse down, feet and legs first. Scrape off the warm water, wet him down again, and scrape off the water again until his temperature drops. • Provide air movement. Aim a fan at your hot horse, or hand-walk your horse to take advantage of any cooling breeze. — Jessica Jahiel, PhD (www.jessicajahiel.com) August • September 2017

------------HORSE-SHOWTIP------------

High-Tech Horse ID

Should your traveling show horse become lost or stolen, the eyeD system could provide a greater chance of recovery.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

If you travel frequently to horse shows, consider signing up for eyeD™, a revolutionary equine-identification system from Global Animal Management that uses irisscan technology. (Global Animal Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck and Company, Inc.) Should your traveling show horse become lost or stolen, the eyeD system could provide a greater chance of recovery. With this system, a digital photo, called an eyePrint, is taken by a veterinarian using a special camera. The images are electronically stored, along with pedigree-registration photos, medical records, and other information. To enroll, and other vital information that can be used to identify your horse, visit eyeD.com. After completing the online registration, contact your veterinarian to have your horse’s eyes scanned. Using the iris’ unique features, eyeD then establishes an identification code for your horse. “Once a horse is enrolled, the eyeD identification can be attached to other pieces of information, such as health certificates, health records, Coggins tests, and interstate-movement certificates,” said David Knupp, Global Animal Management marketing manager. August • September 2017

------------ SKILLSET------------

Tie a QuickRelease Knot Here’s how to secure your horse in the trailer with a knot you can quickly untie in case of emergency. If you choose to tie your horse in the trailer, or need to tie him outside of the trailer, be sure to use a quick-release knot. Here’s one that’s fast to tie, easy to undo, and safe. In an emergency situation, a firm tug on the end of the lead rope will untie the knot and free a panicked or trapped horse. Practice these steps until tying the knot becomes second nature to you. Note that some horses quickly figure out how to release a knot by pulling at the tail-end of the rope with their mouths. To prevent a potential problem, you can lock the quick release knot by putting the tail end of the rope through the knot’s loop. Then, if your horse pulls on the tail end of the rope, he’ll just tighten the knot rather than setting himself free. However, you’ll need to pull the tail end back out of the loop to make it once again a true quick-release knot. — Michelle Anderson

SAFETY TIP

Step 1

Step 2

Loop the tail end of the lead rope over a hitching rail, around a sturdy post, or through a tie ring. Think of the end of the rope hooked to the halter as “A” and the tail end of the rope “B.”

Pinch A and B together in your right hand.

Step 3

With your left hand, make a loop with B.

Step 4

Push the tail end of B around the pinchedtogether portions of A and B. Creating a second loop with the tail end of B. Pull the new loop through the original loop.

Step 5

Tighten the knot by pulling on A.

Feeding the tail end of the lead rope through the quick-release knot will keep a mouthy horse from untying himself.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ANDERSON

August • September 2017

------------SAFETRAVELS-----------

Conquer Summer Trailering Challenges PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Late-summer’s heat and surprise thunderstorms can challenge your efforts to keep your traveling horse cool, hydrated, and safe. Read on for how to handle these challenges.

Here’s how to keep your horse cool, hydrated, and storm-safe on the road this summer. By Rebecca Gimenez, PhD Late-summer’s heat and surprise thunderstorms can challenge your efforts to keep your traveling horse cool, hydrated, and safe. To best help your horse, first take care of your own needs. When you’re cool, hydrated, and out of danger, you can focus your attention on your horse. How important is this? This is actually the time of year soldiers and firefighters focus particularly on maintaining condition and optimal hydration. Here, I’ll explain a bit about how heat is transferred to your horse inside the trailer, so you can better understand the challenges and health risks your horse faces. Then I’ll go over three summer-trailering challenges, including how to lessen the risks involved.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

How Heat is Transferred Keeping your trailered horse cool in the summer is particularly challenging due to heat transfer. Heat (thermal energy) is transferred three ways: conduction (in which heat travels between two objects that are in direct contact with each other); convection (in which heat travels through a liquid or gas toward cooler areas until thermal equilibrium occurs), and radiation (in which heat is transferred via electromagnetic waves; no contact with a heat source is required). Here’s how heat transfer applies to your traveling horse: The sun radiates heat down to your trailer and the road. Your trailer conducts the sun’s heat via its roof (if uninsulated) and/or from the road via an unprotected floor. Heat is then trans>> August • September 2017

ferred through the air and floor (via convection and conduction) to your horse, where it combines with his body heat to increase the risk of overheating.

(or bucket and sponge) to dampen your horse’s skin, especially his chest, legs, and underbelly. Scrape off the water, and keep applying more water until he’s cool.

Summer Challenge #1: Heat Stress The problem: As your trailer heats up, your horse’s body attempts to maintain homeostasis (normal body temperature, between 99 and 101 degrees Fahrenheit) via increased respiration and PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO evaporative cooling (in which Support your horse’s evaporative cooling his bloodstream mechanism with optimal ventilation inside brings heat to the trailer. his skin’s surface, where it’s cooled by the air as sweat evaporates). If heat overwhelms this process, your horse can suffer heat stress and even heat stroke, which is life-threatening. How to lower risk of heat stress: • Avoid the sun’s rays. Travel in early morning, while it’s cool; in the evening, after the sun the goes down; or when it’s cloudy. Plan your route so you don’t get stuck in traffic or construction, which would lengthen your trip. At stops, park in the shade. • Deflect the sun’s rays. Horse trailers are notoriously poorly ventilated, even at highway speeds. Sitting in traffic, they’re sweat boxes. Insulate your trailer’s roof and floor. Use rubber floor mats, or install Rumber boards. • Support evaporative cooling. Provide optimal ventilation. Screen over the windows so you can leave them open, and add fans to blow over your horse. (Look for fan models that connect to your tow vehicles electrical system). Use a larger trailer to increase the ventilation around your horse. Avoid packing horses into trailers. On a two-horse, straight-load trailer, leave open the upper back doors, unless you leave your horse untied. At stops, open the trailer windows. Use a spray bottle USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

Ask your veterinarian whether you should give your summer traveler electrolytes, and in what form. If you offer electrolytes in water, also offer plain water.

Summer Challenge #2: Dehydration The problem: Your horse sweats inside your trailer to cool himself, which can cause him to become dehydrated. He also loses salt and minerals in his sweat. Plus, he may tend to drink less on the road than he does at home. How to lower the risk of dehydration: • Offer free-choice salt. Make loose trace-mineral salt available to your horse at all times. (Salt blocks were deEXPERT TIP signed for cattle, which have rougher tongues.) Shipping boots and • Consider electrolytes. Ask your polo wraps don’t greatly veterinarian whether you should contribute to your horse’s give your summer traveler heat level, so continue electrolytes, and in what form. to use them despite the (Electrolytes are available as a heat to protect his lower top dressing, as a gel or paste, legs during travel. and as a dissolvable additive to >>

August • September 2017

In late summer, thunderstorms can form suddenly, giving the equestrian traveler little time to prepare. Watch the weather forecast, and leave only when the weather is clear.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Rebecca Gimenez, PhD (animal physiology), is president and a primary instructor for Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue. A Major in the United States Army Reserve, she’s a decorated Iraq War veteran and a past Logistics Officer for the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Medical Assistance Team. She’s an invited lecturer on animal-rescue topics around the world and a noted equine journalist.

your horse’s drinking water.) Accustom your horse to the taste before your trip. If you offer electrolytes in water, also offer plain water. Discuss with your vet ways to help specialty-needs horses (such as foals and senior horses). • Offer feed/water in the trailer. It’s a fallacy that hay will dehydrate your horse. Provide hay and plenty of water inside your trailer—not only to keep him hydrated and happy, but also to encourage gut motility (movement) to reduce colic risk. • Give your horse a break. Take a rest stop every 4 to 6 hours, and allow your horse to rest and hydrate for 30 minutes. Offer water. If there’s a safe place to unload, and your horse is well-trained, find a shady area to unload him, and tie him to the trailer. Or make your own shade with a trailer awning or tarp. • Give yourself a break. Use your rest break to hydrate, walk, and rest, so you’ll be an alert driver. During stops, walk around in an air conditioned building and relax. Use a second driver or at least a driving buddy to keep you awake and attentive. Regularly drink plain water; avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks. • Offer hydrated feed. When possible, hand-graze your horse on grass during breaks. Soak alfalfa or extruded pellets in water. Give your horse watermelon slices.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

Summer Challenge #3: Surprise Thunderstorms The problem: In late summer, thunderstorms can form suddenly, giving the equestrian traveler little time to prepare. Thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning and hail. How to minimize injury and damage: • Check the weather. Download several weather apps, and check them frequently. (Weather Bug offers a detailed lightning map.) If you’re in an area without cellphone coverage, keep your eyes on the sky. Stay home or at your destination until clear weather is forecasted. • Stay inside. The safest place to be in a storm is inside a building or your vehicle; your horse is safest inside your trailer. • Be lightning-safe. In a lightning storm, find a safe place to pull over. Turn off the engine. Stay inside your vehicle. Leave your horse in your trailer, and wait out the storm. As you do, stay off your cellphone, and turn off the radio, lights, and GPS. Don’t touch any metal inside your car; metal conducts electricity. Stay in place until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. • Be hail-safe. In a hailstorm, find a safe place to pull over; your vehicle’s forward motion increases risk of damage. Stay inside your vehicle. Leave your horse in your trailer, and wait out the storm. USR August • September 2017

There are approximately 170,000 unwanted horses in the United States. Through A Home for Every Horse and the over 600 rescues involved, horses are given a second chance.

Cactus was one of 59 malnourished and mistreated horses rescued from hardship and brought to Colorado in 2015. Thanks to the help of rescue workers and volunteers, Cactus and his friends all were given a second chance at a happy life. Cactus is now thriving in his new home, where not only is he a great riding horse, but a wonderful new member to their family.

Horses in transition, like Cactus, deserve a second chance. FIND OUT HOW TO

Heart the Cause Today WWW.AHOMEFOREVERYHORSE.COM

A Home For Every Horse is brought to you by the Equine Network and sponsored by: ®

USRider Equestrian Traveler’s Companion ®

August • September 2017

------------ HAULINGHINTS------------

Easy Guide to Shipping Boots Invest in shipping boots to protect your horse’s legs while hauling. Here are shopping tips and how to apply the boots. By Jenny Sullivan

To protect your horse’s legs while hauling, invest in shipping boots. They’re relatively inexpensive, they come in different sizes and shapes to fit most horses, they’re easy to apply, and they offer hoof and leg protection on the road.

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

Shopping Tips As you shop for shipping boots, consider the following. • Hook-and-loop closures. The boots with three bigger loop closures are easy and hold the boots together well. • Hoof guards. Make sure to get boots with hoof guards, also called scuff plates or USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

striking plates. Typically made from hard plastic, hoof guards are added to the bottom edges of shipping boots to offer more heel protection than plain nylon does. •N ylon, mesh, or fleece lining. Nylon-lined boots are versatile and easy to clean. Mesh is cool and breathable for warm-weather hauling. Fleece is warm and comfortable for travel on cooler days. • The right size. Some boots come in sizes from small to large; some are sized for either ponies or horses. •E asy care. Look for boots that can be hosed off for routine cleaning or that are machine washable. >> August • September 2017

How to Apply Shipping Boots Here’s how to apply shipping boots to your horse’s legs. Step 1 Match boots to legs. Figuring out which boots go on the front legs and which go on the back can be confusing. The bent-looking boots typically are for the rear legs, shaped to fit over the hocks.

Step 2 Introduce your horse to a boot. Select a front boot and approach your horse. Start slowly. Allow your horse to see the boot, feel it being rubbed on him, and hear the hook-and-loop fasteners. Repeat these desensitization steps until he’s calm and accepting.

Step 3 Apply the left front boot. Move the front boot down to your horse’s left front leg, holding the boot open so you can place it up to his leg. If your horse seems accepting of this, place the boot around his leg and fasten the middle closure first. Then fasten the bottom closure, and then the top last.

Step 4 Apply the right front boot.

PHOTOS BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Figuring out which boots go on the front legs and which go on the back can be confusing. The bent-looking boots typically are for the rear legs, shaped to fit over the hocks.

Don’t be surprised if your horse walks funny or tries to kick off the boots, just keep yourself and your horse safe while he gets used to them.

Move to the right front leg and repeat Step 3.

Step 5 Lead your horse. When both of the front boots are on securely, lead your horse around. Don’t be surprised if he walks funny or tries to kick the boots off, just keep yourself and your horse safe while he gets used to them.

Step 6 Apply the rear boots. Repeat this process to apply the rear boots.

Step 7 Load and unload. Practice loading and unloading your horse a few times so he gets used to the feel of the boots when he steps up and down. USR Jenny Sullivan is a freelance writer and Quarter Horse owner based in Lakewood, Colorado.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

When shopping for shipping boots, look for ones with hook-and-loop closures. Boots with three big closures are easy to apply and hold the boots together well.

August • September 2017

------------YOURHEALTHYHORSE------------

Your Horse’s Coggins Test

It’s important to get a Coggins test for your traveling horse, as movement of infected horses to new areas is how EIA can travel long distances.

When you take your horse on the road, a negative Coggins test for EIA is often required. Here’s what you need to know about this killer disease. By Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD

PHOTO BY BOB LANGRISH

What if you knew of an equine disease that had no cure, no treatment, and in many cases would require you to destroy your horse if he became infected? You’d probably find that pretty scary. Well, such a disease does exist, but luckily, it’s rare enough that we tend to forget about it. Because the Coggins test has proved so effective, equine infectious anemia (EIA) receives very little attention these days. But it’s still around, and it’s still a killer. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

Here, I’ll first go over the causes of EIA and explain how the virus spreads. Then I’ll tell you why getting a Coggins test for your horse is so important, especially if he’s on the road.

How EIA Spreads Also known as “swamp fever,” EIA is caused by infection from a lentivirus, the same family of virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in people. However, people can’t get AIDS August • September 2017

Because she is Everything.

your trusted roadside assistance company.

Call for a quote: 800.50.HORSE (504.6773) Or visit: www.usrider.org/insurance for an online quote

Make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re covered.

from the equine virus, nor can horses get EIA from the human virus. EIA can’t be spread by casual contact. It’s usually transmitted via large biting flies, which carry virus-packed blood from an infected horse to a neighboring horse. Although transmission through sexual contact has never been documented, the virus has been known to show up in semen. Passage of virus in saliva and manure is also a possibility. People can spread the infection by using the same needle or dental instruments with blood on them on different horses. Movement of infected horses to new areas is how EIA can travel long distances, as the biting flies don’t travel far. As yet, there’s no effective vaccine or treatment for this potentially fatal disease.

PHOTO BY BETSY LYNCH

Although it has become relatively rare, EIA is an insect-borne disease, so it’s hard to protect horses that are constant targets of biting flies. As yet, there’s no effective vaccine or treatment for this potentially fatal disease.

EIA Symptoms An infected horse may be symptom-free for a long time, until some stress (such as another infection, shipping, hard exercise, etc.) weakens his immune system and

the virus becomes activated. Other horses may never show they have the infection and are called inapparent carriers. EIA hides inside a type of white blood cell (macrophages) that carries it throughout the horse’s body. Highest concentrations are usually in the lymph nodes and lymphatic system, liver, spleen, kidney, and bone marrow, but it can go to any organ, even causing encephalitis in the brain. The symptoms of EIA infection are only evident when the virus is active. Fever is the first sign, but it’s easily missed. The next symptom is usually anemia, which occurs because chemical-signaling molecules become attached to the red cells and trigger the immune cells to engulf the cells. This causes weakness, depression, poor oxygen delivery, and possible organ damage. As the disease progresses, problems with clotting appear because the platelets are destroyed. The white cell numbers also start to decline. Eventually, the liver and other organs become damaged. The horse slowly but steadily loses weight, showing swelling (edema) of the belly and legs. If EIA isn’t suspected, the horse will probably be treated with dewormings, dietary changes, and antibiotics, but none of these things help. Once horses become symptomatic, they show a slow but steady wasting away until the disease itself kills them or they’re euthanized.

The Coggins Test The first step in diagnosis is the Coggins test, a blood test that detects antibodies to the EIA virus. When this is positive, two more

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

PHOTO BY BOB LANGRISH

A simple blood test, called a Coggins test, can determine whether a horse is a carrier of equine infectious anemia. specialized and more sensitive tests are done to make sure the diagnosis is correct. Since Leroy Coggins, DVM, developed the test in 1970, EIA cases have dropped dramatically. Governmental agencies have taken drastic measures with positive horses, generally requiring euthanasia, though quarantine is sometimes allowed. Every state has laws regarding mandatory Coggins testing. While the laws vary a bit from state to state, they’ll usually require testing of horses that are being shipped and competing in shows or races, as well as horses being sold at public auction. Any horse that tests positive will have to either be destroyed or kept quarantined for the rest of his life. The serious nature of the infection, the constant threat that horses with active infection pose to other horses, and the inability to treat it are why it’s considered so important to try to identify infected horses and remove them from contact with healthy ones. USR August • September 2017

------------BUYWISE------------

Used-Trailer-Buying Checklist

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

When buying a used trailer, evaluate its overall condition. How does the trailer look? Has it been well maintained, or does it look rusty, scraped up, or poorly painted?

When evaluating used trailers, compare apples to apples by working methodically through this checklist. By Jerry Tardif Are you in the market for a used trailer? The best way to weed out the lemons is to evaluate prospects using a methodical approach. Use the following checklist to compare apples to apples.

Following are key elements to check as you move through each evaluation. ■S ize. If you have standard-size horses, a 6-foot-wide trailer will comfortably fit two horses. Go wider for bigger horses. Make sure there’s enough headroom, too. ■O utward condition. How does the trailer look? Has it been well maintained, or does it look rusty, scraped up, or poorly painted? While faded paint is no big deal, the owner who makes little effort to keep his trailer looking good also hasn’t likely maintained the more important mechanical and electrical systems. ■T ires. Tires are crucially import-

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

ant to smooth ride and safety while hauling. What condition are the tires in? Are they properly inflated? Is the wear pattern even? ■H itch coupler. Inspect the coupler. Does it appear that all the parts are there and in working order? Are the safety chains attached and in good condition? Is it damaged? Don’t try to fix a damaged coupler. ■L oading gate. What kind of loading gate does the trailer have? Will your calmly horse step up and back down while loading and unloading? Or is a ramp a better choice for you? ■F loor. Thoroughly examine the trailer’s floor. Walk on it, even jump on it. Pull the mats up and >> August • September 2017

Inspect the coupler on a used trailer. If it’s damaged, that’s a deal-breaker. out for a thorough inspection. If the floor is wood, are there any holes or soft, spongy spots? Check metal flooring for rust or corrosion. ■D ividers and bars. Are the dividers secure? Can they be removed and adjusted? Do they work smoothly? What about butt and breast bars? Test them! ■O ther inside elements. Is the wall padding in good condition? Are any hay rings missing? Is a water tank available? Is it water-tight and rust-free? ■V entilation. Stock trailers have an open design with plenty of ventilation for the warmer months. If you have cold winters, does the trailer have Plexiglas windows, or can you add them? Conversely, on an enclosed trailer, check for adequate ventilation via windows and/or roof vents. Make sure all venting options can be opened, closed, or left partially open. ■E lectrical. Do the electrical connectors mate? Turn on the parking lights and check that the taillights and running lights work. Make sure the brake lights come on. Test the directional signal lights and four-way flashers. If the trailer has inside lighting, make sure it works. ■U ndercarriage. Look under

PHOTO BY MAUREEN GALLATIN

the trailer with a good light. Search for rust, dents, and other signs of damage or general neglect. Also look for leaks, such as oil from the axel housing; loose or missing bolts; exposed or broken wiring; or broken axel housing, frame members, or any other structural member. Look at the floor’s underside. If it’s wooden, do you see any rot? Poke a screwdriver into any questionable spots — they should be hard and unyielding. Do you see rust or corrosion on a metal floor? Do you see any light coming through from above?

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

When buying a used trailer, make sure the electrical connectors match up. Turn on the parking lights, and check the taillights and running lights. ■D riving test. Hook up the trailer, and take it for a test haul.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

Start driving at walking speed to determine whether everything feels right, then accelerate to about 10 miles per hour. Does the trailer haul effortlessly or drag? Does it pull unevenly? Apply the brakes. Do you have adequate stopping power? Does the trailer fishtail when driving or braking? Next, accelerate to 35 to 45 mph. Does the trailer feel stable or does it sway? Does it track straight behind you? Slow down from this speed, then stop. Did you have any stopping or control concerns? ■ Warranty. If the trailer is fairly new, is a warranty still in effect? Can it be transferred to you? If it’s an older trailer, ask to see past service records, invoices, etc. ■ Negotiate. Ask the owner whether you can have your mechanic take a look at the trailer. If the owner objects, drop this trailer from the list. Use any items that need work to negotiate the price downward, since you’ll have to spend money to fix or replace parts. Consider the prices of similar trailers. If the trailer really is what you want, but unaffordable, discuss that with the owner. Honest dialog can often bridge a seemingly wide gap to meet a middle ground comfortable for both parties. August • September 2017

BUyING a GOOD USED TraILEr CHECkLIST 1. Trailer Size

❏ Std 6'W 7'6"H ❏ XL 6'6"W 7'8"H

Tack/Dressing Room

❏ Good Condition ❏ Poor Condition ❏ None

9. Undercarriage Condition

❏ Good ❏ Dented ❏ Corrosion ❏ Damaged

Bolts

❏ Okay ❏ Some Loose ❏ Some Missing

Wiring

❏ Okay ❏ Frayed, Exposed, or Broken

2. Outward Condition

❏ Excellent ❏ Fair

Axel Housing

Tires

❏ Excellent ❏ Good ❏ Cracking/Rotting ❏ Flat

❏ Okay ❏ Broken

Frame Members

❏ Works Well ❏ Works Okay ❏ Doesn’t Work

❏ Okay ❏ Damaged ❏ Quantity

Floor Underside

❏ Okay ❏ Some Holes ❏ Damaged ❏ Unacceptable

Trailer Jack

Trailer Brakes

❏ Good ❏ Poor

❏ Work Well ❏ Work Okay ❏ Don’t Work

3. Hitch Coupler

❏ Good Condition ❏ Poor Condition ❏ None

4. Loading Gate

❏ Ramp

5. Floor Condition

❏ Excellent ❏ Fair

Floor Material

❏ Wood ❏ Steel ❏ Aluminum

6. Dividers

Butt Bars

7. Other Inside Elements Padding Condition

Hay Ring Condition

Water Tank 8. Ventilation Windows Fans

10. Driving Test Hitch Coupler

❏ Step Down ❏ Good ❏ Poor

❏ Work Well ❏ Work Okay ❏ Don’t Work ❏ Missing ❏ Work Well ❏ Work Okay ❏ Don’t Work ❏ Missing ❏ Excellent ❏ Fair ❏ Missing

❏ Good ❏ Poor

❏ Excellent ❏ Fair ❏ Missing

❏ Good ❏ Poor

❏ Good ❏ None

❏ Leaks

❏ Open/Close ❏ Stuck ❏ Parts Missing ❏ None ❏ Work Well ❏ Work Okay ❏ Don’t Work ❏ None

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

❏ Works Well ❏ Works Okay ❏ Doesn’t Work

Hitch Coupler Height

❏ Good Match ❏ Mediocre Match ❏ Doesn’t Match

Hitch Chains Condition

❏ Good ❏ Rusty ❏ Too Short ❏ Missing

Electrical Connectors

❏ Mate Properly ❏ Don’t Mate - Need Adapter

Parking Lights

❏ All Work ❏ Some Work ❏ None Work

Running Lights

❏ All Work ❏ Some Work ❏ None Work

Brake Lights

❏ All Work ❏ Some Work ❏ None Work

Signal Lights/4-Way

❏ All Work ❏ Some Work ❏ None Work

Inside Trailer Lights

❏ All Work ❏ Some Work ❏ None Work ❏ None

Pulling

❏ Okay ❏ Fishtails

Brakes

❏ Work Well ❏ Work Okay ❏ Don’t Work

❏ Pulls to Side ❏ Drags

11. Transferable Warranty

❏ Yes

❏ No

12. Negotiable

❏ Yes

❏ No

WaNT IT BaDLy! 19

❏ Leaking Oil

It’ll Work

Forget it

August • September 2017

------------ROADGEAR------------

Horse-Centric Products

Four health and safety essentials for the traveling horse. By Lauren Back

Breakaway Headgear

Travel Boot and Tail Guard

Perri’s Leather Beta and Cotton Safety Halter is designed with a leather breakaway tab in case your horse panics, pulls back, or gets caught up on his trailer ride. The halter is crafted with sturdy cotton webbing and durable beta biothane. Choose from a variety of colors, from earth tone to neon.

The Woof Wear Travel Boot and Tail Guard from Toklat Originals will help protect your horse from injury during travel. The Travel Boot, made from 1,000-denier-nylon and fleece lined, offers leg protection from the coronet to just above the knees and hocks. The soft, flexible neoprene Tail Guard helps protect your horse’s tail when trailering. The ergonomic design allows for easy positioning and a secure fit.

Trailering First-Aid Kit EquiMedic USA’s Small Trailering Kit contains 36 different products (153 items) designed to meet your horse’s emergency first-aid needs when you’re on the road. Numerous divided sections, separately zippered compartments, clear plastic pockets, mesh areas, movable dividers, elastic loops, and customized supply/equipment places help you quickly find what you need. The kit is rated to service one to three horses.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

Calming Supplement Travel and unfamiliar environments can induce stress in your horse. Stress not only weakens the immune system, but also can impact his health and performance. RelaxForm EQ by Sweetwater Nutrition is formulated with a drug-free blend of stress-reducing herbs, vitamins, and minerals to provide behavior and calming support that can help take the “edge” off, so he can remain focused and attentive.

August • September 2017

EARN CASH

JOIN AD?

FOR SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT USRIDER® • Do you attend a large number of events or horse shows each year? • Are you active in a local equine group or association?

• Do you have a large network of horse loving friends and relatives? • Are you active on social media interacting with other horse lovers like yourself?

USRider® has created an opportunity for you to put your influence to work and get rewarded for spreading the word about our industry leading roadside assistance services. With our new Silver Ambassador Program, you will earn a $25 CASH REWARD for each new Primary member you refer to the USRider® Equestrian Motor Plan.

LEARN MORE USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

August • September 2017

------------ SAVVYTRAVELERCHECKLIST------------

On-the-Go Grooming Here’s a handy grooming-tool checklist to use when you pack your trailer for equestrian travel. By Audrey Pavia

This portable grooming kit from Weaver Leather features seven grooming essentials in a durable nylon tote for easy organization.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WEAVER LEATHER

When you plan what grooming tools you’ll take on your travels, think compact and portable. Keep a separate grooming kit for travel, so it’ll be all packed up and ready to go. Use this handy grooming-tool checklist, designed for all horse owners, to get started. ■G rooming tote. Select a sturdy tote with abundant pockets that fits well in your truck or trailer’s tack area. ■S mall currycomb. Use a good currying tool to dislodge loose hair, dirt, and dried sweat from your horse’s haircoat. Curries include circular metal combs, round rubber brushes, and pumice-stone shedders. ■ Stiff brush. A quality stiff brush sweeps USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

away the dirt and hair loosened with the curry. Natural fibers and synthetic bristles both work well. ■ Soft brush. A soft brush is mandatory for grooming your horse’s face, which is too delicate for a stiff brush. A soft brush also removes a fine layer of dust on the haircoat. ■M ane-and-tail brush. A plastic brush designed for combing manes and tails removes knots, burrs, and trail debris. ■S weat scraper. Choose sturdy metal over a plastic model to squeegee off excess sweat and post-bath water. ■H oof pick. A hoof pick is mandatory. Pick out your horse’s hooves before, during, and after your ride. >> August • September 2017

■C lean towels. Use clean towels to wipe down your horse after grooming, and to remove dust from your tack before and after the ride. ■R ubber bands. Keep your horse cool in the summer by braiding his mane in sections and securing the braids with rubber bands. This will allow air to reach both sides of his neck to aid evaporative cooling. ■F ly spray. Buy an empty spray bottle just big enough for your trip, and pour your usual fly spray from the large spray bottle into the smaller one. ■S ponge. Use a natural sponge to cool your horse and clean him up after your ride. Soak the sponge, then squeeze the water onto your horse’s neck and chest to cool him.

Grooming Tips Grooming stimulates your horse’s skin and helps to keep him comfortable. • Pick his hooves. Start by picking your horse’s feet to ensure manure, shavings, dirt, and rocks are cleared from his sole and collateral grooves. • Curry his coat. Use a circular motion to loosen hair and dirt. Pay particular attention to his back and the girth area, where the saddle and girth rest. • Brush his haircoat. Go over your horse’s entire body with the stiff brush to remove hair and dirt loosened by the curry. Follow with a soft brush. • Brush his mane and tail. Brush your horse’s mane and tail last, removing tangles and debris. • Apply fly spray. Finish with a generous application of fly spray. Focus on your horse’s front legs, chest, and belly. USR Audrey Pavia, an award-winning freelance writer based in Norco, California, is a competitive trail rider and member of the North American Trail Ride Conference. She’s the author of Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Book House imprint of Wiley and Sons (available on Amazon.com).

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

A quality stiff brush sweeps away the dirt and hair loosened with the curry. Natural fibers and synthetic bristles both work well.

A hoof pick is mandatory. Pick out your horse’s hooves before, during, and after your ride.

August • September 2017

------------ USRIDERMEMBERSTORY------------

Hurricane Emergency

“We’re active competitors and volunteers with the North American Trail Ride Conference, and always look forward to these events,” note USRider Members Carolyn and David Chapman of Gulf Shores, Alabama.

PHOTO BY LINDA TOUPS

While rushing home to handle a hurricane threat, these competitive trail riders experienced two tire blowouts. USRider quickly came to their aid. By Carolyn And David Chapman

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

We’re active competitors and volunteers with the North American Trail Ride Conference (the national sponsoring body for timed, judged competitive trail rides), and always look forward to these events. NATRC rides open the door for us to ride and compete in some amazing areas of our country. Our travel to these events is usually long distance, since we live in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on the Gulf of Mexico. We’ve logged many miles traveling to Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky on a regular basis, so having USRider Equestrian Motor Plan in our back pockets offers us a safety net like no other.

Blowout! One year, we were in north Georgia for a NATRC event. We had to unexpectedly pull out of the competition, because a hurricane in the Gulf changed directions and was headed toward our home. We heard that authorities were closing Interstate 65, which meant our way home would soon be cut off, so travel time was critical. We were stressed out as it was, so when we had two tire blowouts, you can just imagine our dilemma. We called USRider. They first asked us whether we and our horses were okay. Then they found a wrecking service with the >> August • September 2017

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLYN AND DAVID CHAPMAN

“Thank you, USRider, for making traveling to the trails so easy!” write the Chapmans. The couple is shown trail riding in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. tires we needed. As soon as the tires were changed, we got back on the road toward home. This was just the beginning of the support system that USRider offered us that day. We were amazed that they were able to reach us so quickly through all the evacuation traffic.

Courteous & Caring We’ve needed to use USRider’s services on a number of other occasions—once when we didn’t even have the horses with us—and we’ve always received the same courteous, caring results. We’re 100 percent satisfied with our membership, and the USRider staff has always been 100 percent professional. This means a lot to us, because traveling with animals on an interstate or in an unfamiliar area can be very stressful. Sometimes, just knowing that you have people waiting to help you can really make a difference. Thank you, USRider, for making our equestrian travels so easy! USR USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

PHOTO BY LINDA TOUPS

The Chapmans travel long distances to compete in NATRC events, and depend on USRider to provide a safety net on the road. Shown is Carolyn Chapman competing in a NATRC event.

August • September 2017

------------ WINNER’S CIRCLEADVANTAGE------------

USRider Member-Benefit Spotlight As a USRider Member, you can enjoy money-saving discounts through Winner’s Circle Advantage. You may access these benefits directly through the Members Area of the USRider website, as well as through a brochure you’ll find enclosed in membership kits and renewal mailings.

Instructions and access codes give you quick access on how to shop with all our WCA partners. With so many discounts, you can easily save the cost of your annual membership fee, and more! This issue, we spotlight four Tack & Equipment items. For more Member discounts, click here.

Riding Warehouse Riding Warehouse is your one-stop online tack shop serving all the needs of the Endurance, Western, and English rider. (Shown is the Classic Equine Top Load Hay Bag.) Free ground shipping, expedited shipping deals, free returns, low prices, excellent selection, and personalized service make Riding Warehouse an easy choice. USRider Members receive a 15% discount by using discount code USR10.

Saddles by Steele A saddle is only as good as the tree on which it is built. Saddles by STEELE (Custom Tree & Saddle) makes the best and strongest trees possible. In the saddle business for 150 years, Saddles by STEELE is so sure of the quality and comfort, the company will loan you a saddle to try before you buy. All saddles are custom-built around the customer’s order. USRider Members get a free leather water-bottle holder with purchase of a new saddle.

Bit of Britain Saddlery Since 1991, Bit of Britain Saddlery has been a top source for English riding gear, providing top-quality riding wear; saddles and leather goods; barn, show and trailering supplies; hard-tofind sporting equipment; educational materials; and protective gear for horse and rider. Friendly staff provides knowledgeable service, and the company’s website offers 24-hour ordering flexibility. USRider Members receive a 10% discount by using code P05USR.

Nag Horse Ranch Nag Horse Ranch has designed 90% UV protection for horses with white muzzles or faces. Recommended by veterinarians and loved by horses who hate having sunscreen applied, these shades are durable, comfortable, and effective. Nose, full face, eye protection, and trail-rider shades are available, along with three styles of sun visors. USRider Members receive 10% off entire order—just enter coupon code USRIDER during checkout.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

August • September 2017

Horses help us in extraordinary ways...

We find our trust, our faith, our strength, our hope through horses. Hope in the Saddle is here to bring awareness to the amazing stories of horses and their people. Stories of how they inspired hope and healing, through all the circumstances of life. How has your horse helped give you hope? Share your story with us at www.hopeinthesaddle.com Brought to you by:

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

August • September 2017

------------ DREAMDESTINATION------------

California’s Wine Country

You can experience a luxurious vacation with your horse in tow at Holman Ranch, an estate winery occupying 400 acres in the heart of Carmel Valley. Inset: When you visit, you’ll board your horse at the Stables at Holman Ranch.

Holman Ranch provides miles of trails to explore horseback while basking in the estate winery experience. By Audrey Pavia Photos Courtesy of Holman Ranch

Carmel Valley, California, is one of the most scenic and beautiful places to ride in the Golden State. Rolling hills bathed in sunshine and dotted with live oaks set the backdrop for wineries and luxury estates. You can experience this part of Central California with your horse in tow at Holman Ranch, an estate winery occupying 400 acres in the heart of Carmel Valley. Complete with vineyards, a winery, guest cottages, and a remodeled equestrian facility, Holman Ranch provides miles of trails you can explore horseback while basking in the estate winery experience. (An estate winery owns the grapes and produces all the wine on its property.)

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

Riding at Holman A visit to the Holman Ranch with your horse means boarding overnight at the Stables at Holman Ranch. The facility, which permanently hosts nearly 100 boarders, also includes guest stalls for visiting horses and facilities for clinics. Jumping, dressage, and Western arenas are on the grounds, along with a 200-stall show barn and 50 pipe corrals. Miles of private trails wind through the 400-acre Holman Ranch property, and feature shady treks and mountain vistas. Vineyard views and live oaks make the ranch a special place to ride. After a long day on the trail, the Holman Ranch guest cottages are a great place to unwind. These cottages >> August • September 2017

Miles of private trails wind through the 400-acre Holman Ranch property. Trails feature shady treks, mountain vistas, views of the vineyards and forests of live oaks.

are nestled among large oak trees and a flowering garden. Each room is adorned in ranch décor and graced by a movie poster featuring a star who visited the ranch during its Hollywood heyday.

The Holman Ranch wine-tasting room is located down the road in the quaint town of Carmel Valley. Here, you can taste the ranch’s varietals, along with Holman Ranch olive oil, also produced on the property.

The Vineyards

A Taste of Paradise

All the wine produced under the Holman Ranch label is grown on the property. Twenty acres of the ranch is devoted to organic vineyards, home to pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot gris grapes. The winemaking process includes a self-sufficient wine cave with French oak barrels. The entire winery is self-sustaining, and relies significantly on the unique weather of the Carmel Valley. The local hills provide a higher elevation, providing a perfect environment for growing quality grapes. Only 3,500 cases of wine are produced each season; it’s sold directly to consumers through the Holman Ranch wine club, poured in restaurants, and served at ranch-hosted events.

USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

Whether you’re riding the pristine trails or enjoying a glass of fine organic wine on the front porch of your guest cottage, the peaceful serenity of Holman Ranch will leave you feeling as though you’ve discovered At Holman Ranch, only 3,500 cases of wine are paradise. USR produced each season. August • September 2017