Equestrian Traveler’s
COMPANION
Your Essential Horse-Trailering Resource Fall 2019
Trailer Like a Pro with Aaron Ralston
8 Essential Aftermarket Accessories
Guard Against Sun Glare
Senior Horse Care
Getaways:
Checklist:
Ride California’s Redwoods
Vet Prep
An AIM Equine Network Publication
Equestrian Traveler’s COMPANION Fall 2019
Your Essential HorseTrailering Resource
FEATURES 10 Safe Travels Aftermarket Accessories
14 Trailer Like a Pro Part II: Easy Trailer Loading
18 Your Healthy Horse Senior Horse Care
22 USRider Member Story Back on Track
DEPARTMENTS 4 Trip Tips Expert Travel Help
6 Skill Set Guard Against Glare
8 Handy Checklist Ready for the Vet?
24 Road Gear Fall Essentials
26 Winner’s Circle Advantage USRider® Member Benefit Spotlight
28 Getaways Explore Nature’s Cathedrals COVER PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
USRider General Manager: Bill Riss Editor: René E. Riley Art Director: Abby McDougall Contact USRider: (800) 844-1409 P.O. Box 20634, Boulder, CO 80308 memberservice@usrider.org • www.usrider.org USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
AIM Equine Network is a division of Active Interest Media. Its stable of award-winning magazines includes EQUUS, Horse&Rider, Practical Horseman, and The Team Roping Journal. 2
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• Emergency farrier referrals • Coverage in any vehicle • Service on dual-wheeled vehicles and horse trailers
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TripTips TRAVELTIP----------------------------------------------------------
Trailer Wisely
PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE
“We try to drive no more than eight hours per day,” say Kent and Charlene Krone. “After four hours, we unload our horses to give them a break, then load them back up and continue driving the last four hours.”
Here are five trailering tips from seasoned equestrian travelers Kent and Charlene Krone. • Check his hooves. Before loading your horse, check his hooves for any compact material that might create uncomfortable pressure over a long period of time. • Take breaks. When it comes to on-the-road breaks, everyone has his or her own routine. We try to drive no more than eight hours per day. After four hours, we unload our horses to give them a break, then load them back up and continue driving the last four hours. • Multitask. To save time, look for places to stop where you can fuel up, get the horses out of the trailer, and have lunch all in one spot. • Clean your trailer. When you take a break, remove solid waste from your trailer whenever you can to make sure your horse is passing manure. If he’s not, check for signs of colic, such as lack of gut sounds. (See below.) • Keep the same diet. To help reduce colic risk, give your horse the same feed when you travel as you do at home, and offer plenty of water. Also provide a salt block in your horse’s temporary quarters, along with grain and whatever other supplements he’d normally receive at home.
HEALTHTIP--------------------------------------------------------
Colic Emergency If you suspect your traveling horse is colicking, find a reputable emergency veterinarian immediately. As a Member of USRider, you can find a vet through the veterinarian referral services portion of your benefits package. Another good resource is the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Get-A-DVM feature, which allows you to fill in any city and state, and get the names of AAEP members. While you wait for the vet, take your horse’s vital signs: temperature, pulse, respiration, capillary-refill time, and gut sounds. Listen for gut sounds on both sides of your horse’s abdomen with a stethoscope. You want to hear rumbles of a healthy gut; faint sounds or silence can indicate a colic. — Jessica Jahiel, PhD USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
If you suspect your traveling horse is colicking, find a reputable emergency veterinarian immediately. While you wait for the vet, take your horse’s vital signs. Fall 2019
SEASONALTIP-----------------------------------------
Leaf-Peeping Pointers
PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
Fall weather can be unpredictable. If you’ll be leaf peeping, dress in layers, and carry a rain slicker, a helmet cover, and a waterproof cover for your mobile phone.
Riding through crisp fall air through brilliant autumn foliage is one of the most glorious experiences you can have on your horse. If you’re planning a fall-riding tour, keep these pointers in mind. • Trailer safely. Check road conditions before you leave; fall snowstorms aren’t uncommon in certain parts of the country. At your destination, park your trailer in a dry area so your horse doesn’t slip during unloading and loading. • Prepare for weather. Fall weather can be unpredictable. Dress in layers, and carry a rain slicker, a helmet cover, and a waterproof cover for your mobile phone. • Watch for trail hazards. Fall can bring frost, slippery leaves, deep puddles, and thick mud. If it’s been raining, bridges can be wet and even icy, making it hard for your horse to keep his footing. Be aware of trail conditions, and ride slowly in areas with tricky footing. • Watch for wildlife. Fall can be a busy time for wildlife. Autumn is mating season for deer, moose, and elk, Males can be more aggressive than usual. If you come across one of these animals on the trail, keep your distance. • Watch for hunting hazards. Avoid riding in areas that are popular hunting spots. If you do ride where hunting is allowed, wear a bright-orange vest, and apply bright-orange wraps to your horse’s legs. Avoid white tack and apparel; a flash of white might be mistaken for a deer’s tail. — Audrey Pavia
USRIDER MEMBERTIP----------------------------------------------------------
Avoid a Lockout
If you don’t have a keyless-entry model vehicle, USRider recommends installing a hide-a-key in your truck or trailer. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
Being stranded with a lockout is inconvenient at best. While USRider is there for you when this problem arises, experiencing a lock-out can be dangerous, especially when traveling with horses. If you don’t have a keyless-entry model vehicle, USRider recommends installing a hide-a-key in your truck or trailer. Avoid the common places, such as your bumper or wheel well. Try to think of a spot no one would think to look, such as near the hay rack on top of your trailer. Some hide-a-keys are made to fit your trailer hitch and inside your gas cap. If you’re crafty, you can install a safe on your trailer that requires an access code. — Lindsey Mulvany
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------------ SKILLSET------------
Guard Against Glare
PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE
During the fall equinox, the sun sits low in the sky because of the tilt of the earth’s axis. The resulting glare can make driving a challenge for equestrian travelers.
Sun glare is not only annoying, it’s also dangerous. It can leave you blinded for two to three seconds after exposure while your eyes adjust. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
You love traveling with your horse in the fall when the air is cooler and there are fewer drivers on the road than in the summer. You might be traveling to an end-of-season show, your eye on a string of ribbons or maybe even a championship trophy. Or, you might be headed to see the spectacular fall colors on an overnight camping adventure. You’re now on the open road. It’s late afternoon. You’re exhausted from driving all day. Your route runs due west. There’s not a cloud in the deep-blue fall sky. As the sun continues to sink, the sun angles directly into your eyes. You can’t tell whether the stoplights are red, yellow, or green. You hold up your hand to block the sun’s rays, compromising your ability to react in an emergency and limiting your visibility even more. You’re at risk for an accident that could bring serious harm to yourself, your horse, and other drivers. >>
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Gray lenses (left) help reduce glare. You can wear gray lenses in sunny or cloudy conditions, so they’re recommended for driving in any kind of weather conditions. Brown or amber lenses (right) cut glare and improve depth perception, but aren’t recommended for cloudy days.
’Tis the Season
scattered until they hit a flat surface. Then the reflected beams polarize—that is, travel in a more uniform direction, usually horizontally, which intensifies the light, causing glare. Polarized lenses have a laminated coating applied in a vertical pattern. This blocks the glare-causing horizontal rays, improving your ability to see in challenging conditions. • Choose the right color. Gray lenses help reduce glare, especially the glare from wet roads and bodies of water. You can wear gray lenses in sunny or cloudy conditions, so they’re recommended for driving in any kind of weather conditions. Brown or amber lenses cut glare and improve depth perception, but aren’t recommended for cloudy days. • Pull over. When you can, plan to stay off the road during the day’s most intense glare. Stop for a meal. Fill your fuel tank. Stretch your legs. Find a safe, shady area where your horse can rest outside of your trailer. • Leave room to stop. Leave plenty of room between you and vehicle in front of you so you have room to stop. You might not always be able to see the vehicle in front of you. Or, the vehicle in front of you (or up ahead) might stop suddenly. • Reduce speed slowly. You might reach the top of hill or come around a bend to find yourself completely blinded by the sun. Avoid slamming on the brakes. The driver behind you is likely to be blinded, as well, and could rear end your trailer. Use the lines on the road to guide you, and reduce your speed slowly. — René E. Riley
Sun glare (difficulty seeing in bright direct or reflected light) can be a challenge for equestrian travelers any time of year, but it’s especially blinding around the fall and spring equinoxes. During each equinox, the sun sits low in the sky because of the tilt of the earth’s axis at this time of year. The earth tilts in such a way that the sun’s rays shine precisely along an east-west axis, directly on the equator. The resulting glare can leave you blinded as you tow your equine friend in the early morning and late afternoon hours. And the sun’s lowered position continues for weeks following the equinox. Sun glare is not only annoying, it’s also dangerous. It can leave you blinded for two to three seconds after exposure while your eyes adjust.
Glare Busters Here are eight recommended ways to reduce the effects of sun glare. • Replace your sun visors. Replace your tow vehicle’s inside visors if they’re worn or don’t work well. Consider investing in an outside visor, as well. • Clean your windshield. Dirt and debris refract the sun’s rays, worsening glare. Clean your windshield inside and out before, during, and after each trip. • Keep it clean. Replace your windshield wipers if they’re worn or don’t work well. Keep your vehicle’s windshield-cleaner reservoir full. Clean your windshield every time you stop for fuel and during every driving break. • Wear polarized sunglasses. Light beams are USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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------------HANDYCHECKLIST------------
Ready for the Vet? Make your next veterinary appointment go smoothly with these prep tips. By Audrey Pavia
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Have your horse haltered and ready for the exam as soon as your vet arrives.
If you’re like most horse owners, you’re directly involved with your horse’s health care. An important part of that involvement means preparing your horse for your veterinarian before an appointment. Whether it’s a routine visit for an annual exam, a minor issue, or an emergency call for an illness or injury, you can help make the appointment go smoothly and ease stress on your horse by being well prepared. Here’s a checklist of preparations to make before a nonemergency appointment, and additional steps to take in an emergency situation. (Tip: Start saving now for a potential emergency. In the best-case scenario, you won’t ever need to use the money, but having it in the bank will help give you peace of mind.) >> USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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Nonemergency Appointment ■ Confirm your appointment. Confirm your appointment a couple of hours beforehand. An emergency call can throw your veterinarian’s schedule completely off.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Confirm your appointment a couple of hours beforehand.
■ Follow instructions. Follow any instructions your vet has provided you in advance of the appointment. ■ Gather medical history. Gather your horse’s medical history, so you’ll be able to answer any questions your vet may have. If you have information on your computer, print
out, or at least keep handy, related files and folders. ■ Provide driving directions. If your vet has never seen your horse before, make sure your vet knows exactly how to get to your barn. ■ Groom your horse. Clean excess dirt off your horse, including his hooves. This will make it easier for your vet to exam him. ■ Halter your horse. Have your horse haltered and ready for the exam as soon as your vet arrives. ■ Clean a stall. Thoroughly clean a stall in case your horse will need further containment during the veterinary visit. Leave on all barn and stall lights for maximum visibility. ■ Lock up your dogs. Lock up your dogs—even the friendly ones. Loose dogs can distract your vet and/or disturb your horse during an exam. ■ Greet your vet. Greet your vet at the driveway, and point out the best place to park. ■ Make separate appointments. If another horse needs nonemergency veterinary care, make a separate appointment for him. Don’t ask your vet to see another horse after your vet arrives at your barn.
Emergency Appointment ■ Take your horse’s vital signs. After you call for help,
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Gather your horse’s medical history, so you’ll be able to answer any questions your vet may have.
take your horse’s vital signs so you can report them to your veterinarian. (For how to do so, click here.) Vital signs include temperature, resting respiration rate, gut sounds, gum
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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If another horse needs nonemergency veterinary care, make a separate appointment for him. color, and capillary-refill time. Note: Take your horse’s vital signs right now, and over the next several consecutive days, so you’ll have a baseline. That is, you’ll know what’s normal for him, which will help you and your vet determine how far your horse is off. ■ Arrange for assistance. Have a horse-savvy friend or family member on hand in case you need help restraining or loading your horse, or even just for moral support during the crisis. ■ Hitch up. Hitch up your trailer in case your vet recommends taking your horse to the hospital. If you don’t have a trailer or your trailer needs maintenance, contact a horse friend or equine-ambulance service to arrange for a ride, just in case. ■ Arrange for animal care. If your horse needs to go to the hospital, arrange for a reliable person to take care of your other animals in your absence.
Fall 2019
------------SAFETRAVELS-----------
Aftermarket Accessories Get the rundown on eight essential aftermarket trailer accessories. By Rebecca Gimenez, PhD
Reflective strips, decals, and signs on your trailer increase your visibility to passing motorists and let them know you’re hauling live cargo. Shown are reflective signs from CAUTION HORSES Safety Products.
Aftermarket accessories are all those handy items you buy for your trailer after you drive it off the lot. They range from lights and locks to floor mats and hay nets. Here, I’ll give you a rundown of a few aftermarket accessories on the market today, including my tips and product recommendations.
Breakaway Battery Engager Trailer Breakaway Kit with Charger and Tester. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
Description: Your trailer’s breakaway system is designed
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to stop your trailer via electric brakes in case your trailer and tow vehicle become disconnected. It’s powered by the breakaway battery. Expert tip: One step forward in safety in the last few years is a breakaway battery with a reliable charger. As soon as your tow vehicle and trailer are connected, the breakaway battery starts charging. Older models just came with a battery, which quickly loses its charge. >> Fall 2019
Recommended: Hopkins Engager Breakaway Battery Kit; Pro Series Push to Test Breakaway Kit with Premium Integrated Charger; Tekonsha Push to Test Breakaway Kit with Premium Integrated Charger, all available from eTrailer.com.
Coupler Locks Description: Coupler locks thwart trailer thieves by making it impossible for them to attach a vehicle to your trailer to drive it off. The lock fits into the hitch and is secured with the turn of a key.
Top to bottom: Blaylock EZ Lock Gooseneck Coupler Lock Combo. Master Lock Trailer Coupler Lock. Expert tips: Coupler locks are available for tag-along (bumperpull), gooseneck, and fifth-wheel hitches. Choose a steel model that has the locking interface in an accessible position for locking and unlocking ease. Also find one you can easily lubricate with graphite or white grease to keep it from rust-
ing. Look for a high-quality lock, and make sure it has two keys. Recommended: Blaylock EZ Lock Trailer Coupler Lock; Blaylock EZ Lock Gooseneck Coupler Lock; Master Lock Trailer Coupler Lock, all from eTrailer.com; Gus Hill Industries; Heartland Lock, LLC.
Drive-On Jack Description: A drive-on jack is one that you can drive on tire onto while you change a damaged tire. This type of jack can be made from plastic, wood, aluminum, or steel. It should be at least five inches high and have a ramp. Expert tips: Use this simple tool if you’re replacing one tire at a time. When you shop for a drive-on jack, pay attention to its weight ratings—you’ll need something in the 10,000- to 15,000-pound weight range. The entire half of your trailer will be resting on the jack. Enlist a helper, so one person can place the jack while the other drives onto it. Recommended: Blaylock EZ Jack and Wheel Chock, available from eTrailer.com; Trailer-Aid, available from Trail Pals Horse Trailer Accessory Store.
SmartPak Equine Small Hole Hay Net. Recommended: Hay Chix; NAG Bags; The NibbleNet from Thin Air Canvas, Inc.; Professional’s Choice; SmartPak Equine, LLC; State Line Tack.
Hitch-Up Help
Hay Nets
Description: There are numerous products that help you hitch up your trailer to your tow vehicle. Hitch cameras (which allow you to see the hitch as you align the ball with the coupler) fall in this category, as do products that ease the wiring connection from your tow vehicle to your trailer and those that offer other alignment help. Expert tip: When shopping for a
Description: Hay nets hold forage for your horse to eat inside and outside of your trailer while you’re traveling. Expert tips: Veterinarians recommend that your horse has access to forage while traveling to reduce his stress and help keep his digestive system functioning smoothly. Keeping your horse’s gut moving can lessen his risk for colic. Look for a hay net with small to medium openings, which slows down his eating to mimic a natural grazing pace.
Swift Hitch, a backup camera system designed to assist with hitching up your trailer or monitoring while you’re on the road.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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>>
hitch camera, look for one that’s battery-powered or that plugs into your tow vehicle’s 12-volt power supply, for ease of installation. Recommended: EZ Connector; Quick Coupler by Trailer Gear, Inc.; Swift Hitch Wireless Portable Back Up System.
Reflective Decals Description: Reflective strips, decals, and signs on your trailer increase your visibility to passing motorists and let them know you’re hauling live cargo. Expert tips: Reflective decals enhance your trailer’s visibility day and night. You can’t use too many reflective decals on your trailer. Think feet of decals. You want to be seen in all lighting conditions,
Made from engineer-grade reflective vinyl, the CAUTION HORSES Sign Series will make your trailer more visible to drivers at night and during the day, and tell other motorists you’re hauling live cargo.
even when your brakes and lights aren’t working due to electrical failure or pulled-out wires. The words “Caution Horses” lets others know you’re hauling live horses. Recommended: 3M Diamond Reflective Conspicuity Tapes, available from Uline; CAUTION HORSES Safety Products.
Trailer Lights Description: LED and analog lights that mount inside and outside of your trailer to enhance visibility. Expert tips: I prefer LED lights over analog lights, because they last longer, use less energy (thus
Stall-Floor Covering Description: Trailer-stall floor mats and flooring are designed to provide your horse with traction and cushioning. Mats also dampen some trailer vibration and help make the ride quieter. Mats also protect your trailer floor from wear-and-tear, as well as corrosive urine. Expert tips: Invest in high-quality, nonslip mats to absorb shock and encourage grip. If your floor mats become damaged, replace them. Holes allow urine to collect underneath, causing rust, rot, and other corrosion. Cut the mats to fit, or order them from the manufacturer of your specific brand and type of trailer. You can also upgrade the flooring itself. Recommended: Flex Mats Inc.; Linear Rubber Products, Inc.; Oregon Rubber Mat; Polylast Systems, LLC; Stall Savers.
Polylast Systems rubber flooring.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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eTrailer LED Interior/Exterior light. don’t drain your battery as quickly), and are much brighter. Why stumble around in the dark? Before you buy lights, make sure you have the skills to run wiring for the specific lights you choose, or take them to a professional to install. Also consider your power source; you can only run so many lights without having a converter or relay for additional wattage, which is professionally set to handle the loading on your electrical system—and, of course, your alternator/battery—especially when your tow vehicle is turned off. Recommended: LED Rectangular Interior/Exterior Light; Tow-Rax Recessed LED Light, both available from eTrailer.com. >> Fall 2019
Resource Guide CAUTION HORSES Safety Products www.cautionhorses.com
Polylast Systems, LLC http://polylastsytems.com
Professional’s Choice
eTrailer.com
http://profchoice.com
www.etrailer.com
SmartPak Equine, LLC
EZ Connector, Inc. http://ezconnector.com
www.smartpakequine.com
Flex Mats Inc.
Stall Savers
www.flexmats.com
www.stallsavers.com
Gus Hill Industries
State Line Tack
https://gushill.com
www.statelinetack.com
Hay Chix
Thin Air Canvas, Inc.
www.haychix.com
www.thinaircanvas.com
Heartland Lock, LLC
Trailer Gear, Inc.
www.heartlandlock.com
Linear Rubber Products, Inc. www.rubbermats.com
NAG Bags
https://quickcoupler.com
Trail Pals Horse Trailer Accessory Store
www.slowfeeder.com
www.horsetraileraccessorystore.com
Oregon Rubber Mat
Uline
www.oregonrubbermat.net
www.uline.com
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.
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USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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------------ TRAILER LIKE A PRO ------------
Part II: Easy Trailer Loading Load your horse easily and safely with help from top trainer/clinician Aaron Ralston. Article and Photos by Heidi Melocco
Loading your horse into your trailer can be easy when you know what to do and are well-prepared. Here, top trainer/clinician Aaron Ralston will help you safely load your horse with confidence. >> USRiderŽ Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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Loading your horse into your trailer can be easy when you know what to do and are well-prepared. Here, top trainer/clinician Aaron Ralston will help you safely load your horse with confidence, including what to do if your horse resists. Next, he’ll provide safe-tying tips. Finally, he’ll explain how to safely back your horse out of your trailer.
Safe Loading Set yourself up for success by preparing your truck and trailer first. Only approach your trailer with your horse in hand when you’re ready to load him up and hit the road. Outfit your horse in his trailering halter and lead, and your choice of leg protection. Then confidently approach your trailer with a self-assured posture that conveys the idea that he’ll walk right on in. Walk your horse straight toward the trailer door so that you won’t need to make him turn at the last moment to be aligned with the opening. Keep his head pointed at the door, and walk forward calmly. Allow your horse to examine, smell, and even taste your trailer if he wants to. His curiosity will keep him moving forward. Avoid pulling him into your trailer. When he’s done, suggest that he move into your trailer with a light bump of the lead rope. Then lead him in.
2
3
Troubleshooting
1. Confidently approach your trailer with a self-assured posture that conveys the idea that your horse will walk right on in. 2. Allow your horse to examine, smell, and even taste your trailer if he wants to, then suggest that he move into your trailer with a light bump of the lead rope. 3. Lead him in.
-----3-PART SERIES ----In this three-part series, top trainer/clinician Aaron Ralston teaches you how to trailer like a pro.
Part I – Summer 2019:
Part III – Winter 2020:
How to prepare for travel.
How to load your horse
Part II – Fall 2019:
into a trailer with a
How to teach your horse to trailer-load with ease.
narrow entrance and rear tack room.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
If you suspect your horse will need encouragement to load, ask a knowledgeable horseperson to lead your horse into the trailer while you stand behind (and slightly to the side of) your horse, holding a coiled rope. You’ll use the rope to create motion and sound to apply mental pressure to your horse if he looks away or backs up. Ask your helper to slowly present your horse to your trailer and allow your horse to investigate. When your horse looks away from the ramp or trailer, put pressure on him by raising your hand and moving the rope. The instant your horse pays attention to the ramp or trailer, put your hand down. If he looks away again, raise your hand again to remind him to move forward. If your horse has looked at your trailer, investigated, and hasn’t moved forward, raise the rope to ask him to move forward. If he refuses to move forward or backs out, apply more pressure by waving the rope faster. Any time he takes a step back, apply pressure with the rope. If he moves forward, remove the pressure. >> If your horse investigates your trailer then doesn’t
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move or seems bored, ask your helper to pull gently on the lead rope to lead your horse forward. Repeat the process of waving the rope any time your horse steps back. You might need to slap the rope on your leg so that it makes noise if your horse doesn’t respond to the visual of the rope waving. Use as much pressure as you need to get him to move forward and look at your trailer again, then stop if he gains interest. Tip: If you’re getting your horse used to a trailer with a ramp, reduce the amount that the ramp moves and makes noise. A slight jitter is enough to spook a young horse and cause a horse that hasn’t seen a ramp before to back up and become tough to load. As you approach your trailer with your horse, put your foot on the bottom of the ramp (the part closest to the ground), and push it down to stop it from moving. Take it slow, and keep all as still and quiet as possible.
Tying Tips 3
4
1. To encourage your horse to load, ask a helper to lead your horse into the trailer while you stand behind (and slightly to the side of) your horse, holding a coiled rope. 2. Ask your helper to slowly present your horse to your trailer and allow your horse to investigate. 3. When your horse looks away, put pressure on him by raising your hand and moving the rope. 4. The instant your horse pays attention, put your hand down.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
I recommend that you tie your horse in your trailer. If horses aren’t tied in a trailer that has dividers, they can get their head scratched up if they reach over the top. Horses that aren’t tied can also turn around and get stuck in odd positions. After you load your horse, prepare to tie him into his designated spot. You might want to use a trailering clip to your lead, such as the Safe Clip by Smart Tie. Clips make it easy to release your horse quickly and adjust the length of the tie rope. If you don’t have a trailer clip, tie your horse with a quick-release knot so that you can free him if he panics and pulls back. If you have a stock or slant-load trailer, a trailer clip or quick-release knot allows you to easily adjust or release the rope from the outside, if needed. Tie the lead so that your horse has enough room to scratch a fly on his upper chest but not enough room to get his head under the divider.
Backing Out To safely back your horse out of your trailer, first wait for him to move. Then steer his hind end by pulling his front end in the opposite direction of where you want him to go. If you need your horse to slow down, ask him to move left and right as he backs. He’ll think about your commands and will be slowed down by moving in a zigzag fashion. It’s not only a great way to control your horse but also this skill can help you if you’re parked where you need to guide him off. Practice this skill outside of your
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Left: After you load your horse, prepare to tie him into his designated spot. Right: Use a trailer clip or a quick-release knot (shown) to tie your horse. Tie the lead rope so that your horse has enough room to scratch a fly on his upper chest but not enough room to get his head under the divider. trailer before you do it inside your trailer. If your horse rushes off your trailer, don’t try to restrain him. Instead, immediately reload him, and remind him to go slowly. If you know your horse is prone to rushing out, untie him through the window (with a stock or slantload trailer) while the main trailer door and divider are still shut. This will stop him from pulling back when tied. You might also wish to ask a helper to hold the back door closed as you back out your horse so that your horse doesn’t have an open doorway to rush through. USR Top trainer Aaron Ralston of Silt, Colorado, trailers from the mountains to the plains for performance horse shows. Ralston has earned reining, working cow horse, and cutting championship titles, and earned team gold in the 2006 World Equestrian Games. He’s hosted RFD-TV’s The Ride and worked with NBC Sports to analyze the 2010 WEG. Ralston now coaches non-pro and youth riders, and conducts clinics worldwide. Heidi Melocco is a riding instructor, photographer, and writer based in Mead, Colorado.
To safely back your horse out of your trailer, first wait for him to move. Then steer his hind end by pulling his front end in the opposite direction of where you want him to go. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
We thank our equine model, Bud Lyte, a 4-year-old Quarter Horse stallion raised at Ralston Ranch. The youngster recently won the Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association’s Open Novice Derby and was named the Circuit Open and Intermediate Hackamore Champion.
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------------YOURHEALTHYHORSE------------
Senior Horse Care Use these expert diet and exercise tips to help your aging horse thrive. By Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD Photos by Heidi Melocco
Your special equine friend isn’t as young as he used to be. Follow these tips on diet and exercise to help your aging horse thrive. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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>> Fall 2019
Your special equine friend isn’t as young as he used to be. Still, he has plenty of good years left, both under saddle and as a companion. Follow these tips on diet and exercise to help your aging horse thrive.
Senior Diet Solutions A variety of supplements and special feeds are available for the senior horse. However, there’s no reason to change the basic adult diet until your horse is no longer doing well on it. It’s probably time to modify your horse’s diet if he’s not thriving despite your best efforts to provide adequate feed and there are no glaring dental problems. Here are five common dietary problems and possible solutions. Problem #1: Quidding Solution: Quidding occurs when your horse is no longer able to chew his food, and drop wads of partially chewed hay and bits of feed out of his mouth. To help with this problem, try bagged hay, chopped hay, hay cubes, or hay pellets. If your horse can’t chew these well either, soak the feed before feeding. Include a little bit of leafy alfalfa, or alfalfa pellets or meal to increase appeal. Problem #2: Poor grain digestion Solution: If your horse isn’t chewing grain well, or a lot of undigested grain is showing up in the manure, try steamed, crimped oats or a mixture of equal parts soaked beet pulp and steamed crimped oats. This recipe is fairly well-balanced for calcium and phosphorus. Beet pulp has the same calorie yield as plain oats but doesn’t put a burden on digestive enzymes because it’s fermented in the hind gut, like hay and grass.
Problem #3: Choke Solution: Saliva is the normal lubricant for food. When horses don’t chew well and long, they produce less saliva. Altered movements of the esophagus and dehydration may be other factors in older horses. Soak everything your horse eats, or feed wet meals. Add psyllium or ground flax to replace the high mucus content of saliva with mucilage from those plant sources. Problem #4: Impaction Solution: Older To help prevent choke, soak everything your older horse horses with freeats, or feed wet meals. quent impactions may have a segment of their colon Including beet pulp in your horse’s that isn’t functioning properly. Sus- diet is a particularly good choice pect this if the impaction always since it’ll hold up to four times its occurs at the same section of the dry weight in water. intestine. Your veterinarian can tell Problem #5: Body-shape/functhis via a rectal exam. tion changes Try to rule out sand collections, Solution: Signs of poor digestion enteroliths, or a lipoma (fat tumor include a big belly, increased gas, on a stalk) encircling the intestines. episodes of soft manure, trouble Again, this is a job for your vet. holding weight, and loss of musIf no underlying medical cause cle. If your deworming program is is found, the problem is most likely good, and there are no unresolved related to inadequate water intake. issues with chewing, first make Solve this by adding a bare minsure your horse is getting adequate imum of one ounce of salt in the forage. He needs at least one perwinter per day (two ounces of salt cent of his ideal body weight per in summer) to your horse’s meals. day as hay and other fiber sources, This will encourage him to drink. such as beet pulp. Soaking meals and hay before Your horse might also respond feeding also helps tremendously. well to either a probiotic or live>>
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Many horses seem to miss having regular work in their daily routine. Giving your senior horse something to do often improves alertness and general attitude. organism probiotics. The minimum daily dose for probiotics is estimated to be about 10 billion organisms, so check labels carefully. If this doesn’t solve the problem, consider a digestive enzyme supplement. (I recommend one that contains amylase, lipase, protease, and fiber digesting enzymes.) Or, move to a senior feed. Senior feeds contain highly processed grains and easily fermented fiber sources (such as soy hulls, beet pulp, and alfalfa meal). Whenever possible, use senior feed on top of a base diet of chopped forage, hay cubes, or hay pellets. This will help buffer acid in the stomach and the large bowel. Senior feeds contain supplemental vitamins and a balanced mineral profile. But because most senior rations are designed to be suitable as complete feeds, the concentrations per pound aren’t as high as some other feeds, so you’ll still need to meet your horse’s vitamin and mineral needs.
How Much Exercise? As long as your older horse doesn’t
have a condition that prevents him from being formally exercised, it’s much better to keep him in some level of work. Human studies have found that regular exercise can largely prevent, and even reverse, the muscle loss that goes with aging. Exercise also maintains bone density, improves the health of joint cartilage, and helps minimize joint stiffness. Exercise also increases intestinal motility (movement), important to avoiding spasmodic colic or impactions. Many horses also seem to miss having regular work in their daily routine. Giving them something to do often improves alertness and general attitude. Even horses with joint problems that prevent them from continuing to perform at a demanding level can usually continue to work at something less strenuous with the help of joint supplements and other joint care. A horse with a problem that makes him obviously more uncomfortable under saddle may tolerate driving well. Free-longeing on a daily basis to keep him moving
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steadily for even 20 to 30 minutes per day can work wonders. If your older horse hasn’t been regularly worked for a while, proceed slowly and carefully. If he has any joint or back problems, consult your veterinarian first regarding what types of activity are best and what to avoid. With your vet’s permission, start by hand-walking (or ponying) your older horse on level ground for about 10 to 15 minutes. If your horse tolerates this well, increase the walking duration by five minutes every other day. Once your horse is walking comfortably for 30 minutes, add short intervals of trotting. Stop immediately if he shows distress, such as heavy breathing or heavy sweating. USR Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD, is a Staff Veterinarian for Uckele Health and Nutrition, Inc., and is the owner of Equine Nutritional Solutions, a nutritional consulting firm. She’s written eight books, including Horse Journal Guide to Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals. Fall 2019
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Back on Track
PHOTO BY ANDREA CAUDILL
USRider member Linda R. and her Quarter Horse, Whiskey, at the Indian Territory Competitive Trail Ride.
When this NATRC competitor’s truck broke down, she turned to USRider to keep her on the road. By Linda R.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
As a member of the North American Trail Riders Conference, Region IV, I volunteer and compete throughout our four-state region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. One late September, my Quarter Horse, Whiskey, was recovering from an illness, so competition was out. Instead, I’d volunteered to deliver some saddle-rack awards to the Wilburton, Oklahoma, race, about two hours away from my home in Lamar, Arkansas. This would also give me an excuse to watch one of the Quarter Horses that I bred and raised for competi- >>
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USRider member Linda R. during a competitive trail ride aboard Brandy, a Quarter Horse she bred and raised.
USRider member Linda R. with Brandy, a Quarter Horse she bred and raised for competitive trail riding. tion (Brandy) in his first race with his new rider, Kate. Early Sunday morning, I headed out in my truck. Driving along, I noticed a fog bank seemed to following me. Then I realized it wasn’t fog—it was steam coming from my truck! With my eye on the tempera-
ture gage, I got off the highway. All sorts of things went through my mind: I’ve busted a radiator hose. Thank goodness I’m not hauling a horse. How am I going to get this fixed on a Sunday morning? Several years ago, I’d investigated emergency roadside services for those of us who trailer horses. A NATRC friend suggested USRider, so I enrolled. Now, I grabbed my card and dialed the 800 number. Thankfully, help was on the way. Lisa from USRider told me that Robert would look at the truck and could fix it on the spot. I thought, a new water hose, and I’ll be on my way! Wrong! Robert arrived, assessed the situation, and promptly pronounced my whole water pump dead. After a quick trip to the auto-parts store and a call for reinforcements (a mechanic named Jim), repairs began. I stayed out of the way while they efficiently did the job.
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Every hour or so, a USRider representative called to make sure I was okay and that repairs were underway. I assured them that Robert and Jim were taking good care of me and my truck. I learned that Robert and Jim do this for a living—go into the field and repair big rigs—so fixing my truck was no big deal for them. I was back on the road by 1:30 p.m. Figuring I could still make the awards, I headed out with an eye on the temperature gage. It never faltered. I arrived in time to hand over the saddle racks, get the latest gossip, and visit my boy Brandy. He and Kate placed first in their class! If not for USRider saving the day, I wouldn’t have been there to share the event. Whiskey and I are now back in competition. The truck hasn’t faltered since Robert and Jim fixed it. And Kate and Brandy continue to place well in races. USR Fall 2019
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Fall Essentials
Top products for the equestrian traveler. Trailer Covers If you plan to store your trailer this winter, protect your investment with high-quality protective covers by Beverly Bay, Inc., available from E-Tackroom. The rest of the year, these covers reduce cleaning time and help maintain your trailer’s resale value. The covers are available in custom-fit and universal-fit patterns, are resistant to ultraviolet rays, and are fully breathable.
Trailer-Door Organizer
Shin Guard
The Trailer Door-ganizer from Cashel Company is a handy tool for organizing and storing the items you take with you on your equestrian travels. Its clever design allows you to store all your grooming and trailer necessities. Pockets optimize space and maximize convenience. Health papers can be stored in the removable zippered pocket. Insulated pockets offer shortterm temperature control, while separate holders for a sweat scraper and leg wraps provide easy access. Mounting hardware is included.
If you’ve ever banged your shin on the edge of your truck’s ball mount, you know how painful it can be. The Fastway Shin Guard safety cover can save you some skin. The guard includes an adjustable tether loop to keep your trailer-wiring harness off the ground so it won’t drag and so that it’ll be where you need it when you’re ready to hook up.
Trailer-Plug Cover Fastway Trailer Products’ 7-Pin Plug Cover is a fast and easy way to keep dirt, bugs, and corrosion out of your trailer’s seven-pin wiring harness. Unlike standard plug covers that might get lost, this simple plug cover stays tethered to the plug while towing, so the cover is ready to use when it’s time to store your trailer. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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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 you’re covered.
------------ 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. The brochure
features instructions and access codes for quick shopping access with all our Winner’s Circle Partners. With so many discounts, you can easily save the cost of your annual membership fee, and more! This issue, we spotlight selected Tack & Equipment items. For more more Member discounts, click here.
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 that 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 a 10% discount.
EquiFit, Inc. EquiFit, Inc., makers of high performance equine products, is committed to seeking new ways to help horses and riders perform, recover, be comfortable, and succeed at all levels of the sport. EquiFit’s materials, including its unique T-Foam core, originate in the human/medical market, which means that they meet the highest possible standards and provide horses with unsurpassed support, comfort and protection. USRider Members receive free shipping.
Trail Rider’s Path No more fumbling for your map while on the trail! The Trail Rider’s Path Map Holder/ Trail Kit is tailored to fit the Trail Rider’s Path trail guides, but will hold any trail map. It’s also ideal for practicing dressage tests and learning patterns or courses. Plus, the holder attaches to marathon carriages for combined driving events and can assist therapeutic riding. The holder is hands-free, waterproof, clear on both sides, holds small essentials, and attaches to both English and Western saddles. USRider members receive a 10% discount.
Riding Warehouse Riding Warehouse is “Your One-Stop Online Tack Shop” for Endurance, English, and Western riders, offering a huge selection of tack, apparel, trailer gear, horse-health products, and stable goods. At “RW” you will enjoy free ground shipping, $5 2–Day Air, free returns for a year, guaranteed lowest prices, and excellent customer service. USRider Members, receive a 15% discount.
CQ Equine Gifts CQ Equine Gifts is a mobile and Internet tack/supply store owned by avid trail riders. Catering to trail riders and their horses, CQ Equine Gifts offers a variety of items, including riding apparel, saddles, fly- and insect-control products, grooming and cleaning supplies, and equine gifts. CQ Equine Gifts is also an approved retailer for Tölt Equestrian Wear, Bionic Equestrian Gloves, and Shear Comfort products. USRider Members receive 10% off orders over $50.
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Tractor Supply is dedicated to enriching the lives of rescue horses.
Our Farm Equine Rescue is appreciative of the continued support Tractor Supply Company provides to equine rescues through A Home for Every Horse. Their continued support of rescue and rehabilitating horses allows our rescue to put funds towards other immediate needs such as medical and hoof care. - SHARON KRESS DIRECTOR OF OUR FARM EQUINE RESCUE FIND OUT HOW TO
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A Home For Every Horse is brought to you by the Equine Network and sponsored by:
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Explore Nature’s Cathedrals
This fall, feel the wonder of California’s ancient redwood groves. Article and Photos by Kent and Charlene Krone California’s mist-draped redwood forest is a portal into another world. Life is hushed. High in the forest’s upper canopy, birds flit and chirp. Close to the earth, small mammals snuffle among Douglas fir, Western hemlock, tanoaks, rhododendron, ferns, mosses, and mushrooms. Larger mammals—including Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, bobcat, and black bear—lurk on the forest perimeter. Here, in the far northwest corner of the Golden State, a complex system of parks protect the habitat of nearly half the world’s redwoods, and set the stage for a mystical riding and camping adventure. Equestrian travelers will find a horse-camping jewel in Orman Guest Ranch & Stables in Crescent City. Last fall, we trailer-camped here to ride the redwoods aboard our smooth-gaited horses, Jake and Cody. Here’s our guide to camping and riding in the area.
Forest Camping
A complex system of parks in northwest California protects the habitat of nearly half the world’s redwoods. Here, Charlene and Jake pause in a redwood grove on the Mill Creek Equestrian Trail located in Redwood National Park and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
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Orman Ranch is a great place to explore the northern end of the region’s redwood forests. This working ranch and stables is owned and operated by Keith and Konnie Orman. Konnie’s great-aunt, Velma Bronn Johnston, was known as Wild Horse Annie. She gained fame as an animal activist, leading a campaign to stop the eradication of mustangs and burros on public lands. She was also instrumental in passing legislation to prohibit the use of aircraft and land vehicles to inhumanely capture wild horses. The Ormans’ spacious campground features 100-by-100 foot pens with 10-byFall 2019
Left: Redwood National and State Parks encompasses Redwood National Park and three state parks; all are open to trail riding. Right: Charlene Krone keeps warm in the equestrian campground at Orman Guest Ranch & Stables in Crescent City, California. The spacious campground offers plenty of room to park a living-quarters trailer. 10 foot shelters, plus 40 campsites, an arena, campfire rings, and picnic tables.
Majestic Groves Several trailheads lie within easy trailering distance from Orman Ranch. If you’re using your trailer to camp, you may rent a trailer from the Ormans. The best redwood ride in this area’s northern region is the Mill Creek Equestrian Trail, located in Redwood National Park and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, about two miles from Orman Ranch. To get there, turn left on Humboldt Rd., then turn right on Howland Hill Rd., and take another right on Bertsch Ave.; the trailhead will appear shortly on the
Kent Krone’s horse, Cody, studies one of the signs on the Mill Creek Horse Trail. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
left. At the trailhead, there’s room for several trailers and to turn around; no need to back your trailer. The Mill Creek Equestrian Trail is an 11-mile, wellsigned loop trail that winds its way through two majestic redwood groves. The first intersection is less than a mile. Ride to the right, continue up the Relium Ridge Trail, and take the next left to the Mill Creek Equestrian Trail. (Up to this point, you’ll gain about 800 feet in elevation.) This trail is densely forested, with lush vegetation of ferns, moss, and large rhododendron bushes. Because there are very few birds present in the forest’s lower canopy, it felt somber and silent, like an outdoor cathedral. After crossing the creek, we discovered an enchanting picnic spot! Large trees clothed with Spanish moss admired their golden gowns mirrored in Mill Creek. We then rode into the first large redwood grove. It’s an amazing feeling to be present among such giants. The next mile is a good stretch for gaiting or cantering. It was an intense feeling of pure delight to zoom around these giant trees horseback. At the next creek crossing, we found a pond partially hidden under a fallen redwood. This is a good place to water your horses and soak in the scenery. Check with the park service to be sure these creek crossings are open; they’re sometimes closed from fall to spring. After the creek crossing, we worked uphill to the junction of the west side trail and turned right. Here, we came to another grove of giant redwoods even larger than the first one.
Coastal Dunes Tolowa Dunes State Park is bounded by the Pacific
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Ocean on the west, the Smith River to the north, Crescent City on the south—and partially by Lake Earl on the east. You can ride both the north and south units of this park; we rode only the north unit. To reach the north unit, drive north of Crescent City on Highway 101, and turn left on Lake Earl Dr., just before Smith River. Take a short jog to the right and to the left, continue on Moseley Rd., turn right on Lower Lake Rd., then turn left on Pala Rd.; the road dead ends at the trailhead. Some trail junctions are signed; others are not. The trail network is designed in a north-to-south fashion. Know which direction is north in case you become disoriented and have to work your way back. Near the north end of this area, you’ll find beach access, You can ride the California Coastal Trail—a network of public trails that run along the 1,200-mile California coastline—down the coast the length of the state park.
Know Before You Go
Top: The best redwood ride in this area’s northern region is the Mill Creek Equestrian Trail, located about two miles from Orman Guest Ranch & Stables in Crescent City, California. “It’s an amazing feeling to be present among such giants,” the Krones report. Middle: Under the cool, quiet forest canopy, you’ll see Douglas fir, Western hemlock, tanoaks, rhododendron, ferns, mushrooms, and mosses. Here, Charlene Krone takes in the splendor of a lush wall of ferns. Bottom: Kent Krone and Cody at the south crossing of Mill Creek en route to the east side trail. USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
As you ride the redwoods and nearby beaches, be alert for area hazards. High wind. Avoid old-growth forests during high winds; windstorms can blow down trees. Heavy branches can also fall from hundreds of feet above ground at high speed. Locally, these hazardous branches are known as widow-makers. Poison oak. Poison oak is native to most areas in California. All parts of the plant are toxic to those sensitive to its urushiol oil, which can cause an itchy rash. Ticks. Ticks carrying Lyme disease are found in this region. After riding, check your clothing and body. For several days after riding, check your horse under his jaw and neck and especially in his groin area. High surf. Before your beach ride, check for storm and high surf advisories, and be aware of high tide. Don’t be caught behind rocky points by high tide with no way out. This area also has large sneaker waves that might strike unexpectedly. Tsunamis. Crescent City is the tsunami capital of the continental United States. Since 1933, 31 earthquake-caused tsunamis have hit the area. If you feel an earthquake or see the ocean recede suddenly, move inland to higher ground. This article originally appeared in the August 2018 issue of Horse&Rider. To subscribe, visit horseandrider.com.
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