An Equine Network, LLC, Publication Your ResourceHorse-TraileringEssential Equestrian Traveler’s Fall 2022 COMPANION CatchRig-ParkingPointersColorfulFallFoliageFall-FeedingGuidelinesHoneYourDrivingSkills
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 2 Fall 2022 Equestrian Traveler’s COMPANION Your Essential HorseTrailering Resource Fall 2022 USRider General Manager: Bill Riss Editor: René E. Riley Art Director: Abby McDougall Contact USRider: (800) 844-1409 P.O. Box 20634, Boulder, CO memberservice@usrider.org80308•www.usrider.org Equine Network, LLC, is the producer of award-winning magazines, including EQUUS, Horse&Rider, Practical Horseman, and The Team Roping Journal. FEATURES 8 Safe Travels Rig-Parking Pointers 12 Your Healthy Horse Seasonal Feeding 16 Hauling Hints Long Road Trips 20 Getaways Catch Colorful Fall Foliage 24 USRider Member Story Breakdown in the Boondocks DEPARTMENTS 4 Top Tips Expert Advice for Equestrian Travelers 6 Skill Set Safe Driving 101 26 Road Gear Trailering Essentials 28 USRider Member Benefits Holiday Gift Ideas 30 Handy Checklist Horse-Expo Tips COVER PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
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▶ Attach a bell to your tack so it jingles when your horse walks.
▶ Wear an orange helmet cover. Your helmet is the highest and most visible point of your turnout.
SEASONALTIP
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Avoid riding at dawn or dusk, which are peak hunting times.
▶ Wear a bright-orange vest. This is the universal sign to a hunter not to shoot.
Take time to adjust. Adjust your mirrors so that you can see your trailer’s back end. Then you’ll know when there’s enough clearance when pulling in front of another vehicle. Also, aim your mirrors down so you can see the road edge behind your trailer. Keep in mind that passenger-side mirrors don’t give accurate distance measurements.
Upgrade your mirrors. Most newer trucks come with tall and wide mirrors ready for trailering. If your current mirrors don’t extend out far enough side to see the back of your trailer, buy new ones, or add extend ers to the mirror arm. You may also purchase “fisheye” mirrors, where curvature provides a wider viewing area than normal.
Beware of blind spots. Blind spots are areas around your trailer where you can’t see approaching vehicles. Depending on the size of your rig, it may be difficult to see directly in front, directly behind, and along each side of your trailer. Be especially cautious of approach ing cars on the right-hand side of your truck and trailer. Check both side mirrors before changing lanes, and always keep ample space between your truck and the traffic in front of you.
— Audrey Pavia
TopTips
▶ Ride with a buddy. More people and horses mean more noise.
▶ Carry a whistle. Blow it whenever you think you need to make it clear you’re not an elk or deer.
On the road, use your mirrors to keep track of the vehicles around you, especially drivers who may be in your rig’s blind spots.
▶ Use an orange quarter-sheet on your horse.
Fall is hunting season in many parts of the country. To avoid being mistaken for a deer or other game, follow these hunting-season safety guidelines from Dave Di Pietra, founder of Synergist Saddles.
Trail Sheets from The Original Equine Pro tectavest® are quarter sheets made from tough, lightweight, vinyl-coated mesh. Inset: Durable TrailMax Original Saddlebags from Outfitters Supply are padded and lined, and come with a detachable cantle bag.
— Heidi Melocco
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROTECTAVEST, INC.
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▶ Wear bright clothes. Avoid earth colors that blend into the scenery.
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On the road, use your mirrors to keep track of the vehicles around you, especially drivers who may be in your rig’s blind spots. Here are some tips to increase your safety.
TRAILERINGTIP Be Hunting Savvy
Mirror, Mirror
PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTFITTERS SUPPLY
Braid bright-orange ribbon into your horse’s tail. Apply orange Vetrap™, splint boots, or leg bands around your horse’s pasterns.
PHOTO BY JARED MELOCCO
Treat Fall Thrush
Save on Prescription Drugs
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The USRider Prescription Drug Savings Card is available at no cost to Members and accepted at over 54,000 pharmacies nationwide. The card provides savings of up to 15% on brand-name drugs and 40% or more on generics. The card may also provide discounts on drugs not covered by insurance plans. With Comparison Shop, Mem bers can compare the costs of their prescriptions at all participating pharmacies in an area. This feature will also show the cost of generic equivalents to ensure the best deal. When traveling, USRider Members can access On the Go to find participating pharmacies across the country. Members can also access In the Mail to get mail order pricing and ordering information. Go to www.usrider.org to use the online resources to find the best deals.
Symptoms: Thrush is characterized by a dark, sticky discharge and a foul, rotting smell. The frog may be covered with this discharge, or it may only build up deep in the frog’s grooves. Thrush is usually associated with poor frog growth and disintegration of the frog tissue.
But the primary cause of thrush is inadequately cleaning your horse’s feet. If you allow your horse’s foot to become a dark, wet, unsanitary sanctuary for the bacteria, they’ll move in and multiply, even feed ing on the frog tissue itself.
the frog crevices, until the thrush has cleared up. Troubleshooting: If thrush persists, you can treat it with dilute bleach (about 50:50 bleach and water) or hydrogen peroxide. There are also several commercial applications for thrush, but ask your veterinarian for advice—sometimes these chemicals can be too harsh on the tissues.
— Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD
Fall’s wet conditions can increase your horse’s risk for getting thrush, but wet conditions alone won’t cause the infection. Here’s a rundown of thrush’s causes, symptoms, treatment, and troubleshooting tips.
USRIDERMEMBERTIP
Treatment: If your horse gets thrush, first ask you farrier to trim your horse’s hooves. They can leave the crevices beside the frog wide open, while paring away any obviously infected tissue. Then pick out your horse’s feet every day, paying particular attention to
Fall’s wet conditions can increase your horse’s risk for getting thrush, but wet conditions alone won’t cause the infection.
HEALTHTIP
Causes: Thrush is caused by an anaerobic bacteri um, meaning that it can live without oxygen. Poorly cleaned stalls, urine-soaked and manure-packed footing, and wet, muddy conditions are major factors that predispose your horse’s hoof to thrush. Poorly trimmed feet—hooves with contracted heels or overly high heels that trap debris inside the foot and around the frog—also contribute to your horse’s chances of contracting thrush.
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Make wide turns. Using the track ing information, allow for sufficient room to clear corners, street curbs, rocks, and trees. Use your mirrors to monitor clearance. If in doubt, safely stop, get out, and check the clearance. Practice your turns in an empty parking lot, with the owner’s permission. Be a turtle. Be a turtle, not a jack rabbit. Jackrabbit starts and hard stops are hard on your trailered horse. That sudden jerk when peel ing out can throw him against the butt chains or dividers; a sudden stop can throw him forward into the manger or sideways against the trailer wall. Pull out slowly. When approaching a signal or stop sign, allow plenty of room between your
Take time now to hone your rig-driving skills for your and your horse’s safety and comfort. Practice on seldom-traveled roads.
Hone your rig-driving skills to enhance hauling safety.
By Bonnie Davis Photos by Heidi Melocco
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rig and the cars ahead of you for greater stopping distance. In stopand-go traffic, leave about four to five car lengths in front of you to allow for smooth stops. Drive defensively. Closely watch your fellow drivers to anticipate and adjust for lane changes, chang es in speed, etc. Be aware of traffic behind, ahead of, and beside you. Watch for brake lights, keeping your distance from other vehicles. Watch your speed. Be aware of your state’s speed limits for tow ing, or for rigs of a specific size or length. And regardless of the speed limit, make safety a priority. Don’t adjust your speed according to a road sign, but to the highway’s weather and safety conditions.
Safe Driving 101
You finally have your dream rig, and you can’t wait to become an independent horse hauler. But first, take time to hone your rig-driving skills for your and your horse’s safe ty and comfort. Practice by driving off-hours with an empty trailer in an empty parking lot (with the property owner’s permission) and on seldom-traveled roads. Note your trailer’s tracking. Observe how your trailer tracks behind your towing vehicle—that is, how evenly and closely your trailer’s tire marks follow your towing-vehicle’s tire marks. To see how your trailer tracks, drive your empty trailer to a dirt field. Make some turns, then inspect the track ing pattern.
------------ SKILLSET------------
Pass carefully. When you pass on a two-lane highway, allow at least the trailer’s length between the back of your trailer and the front bumper of the vehicle you pass. Never pass near the top of a hill or on a curve, where your visibility is hampered. Look for a broken white line, which typically designates a passing area. Stay in the right gear. When going downhill, shift to a lower gear to help keep your speed down, which will save brake wear-andtear. When going uphill, also shift to a lower gear, which will give you more power without “flooring it.” Always stay within the safe RPM range, as indicated on your dashboard display.
Avoid the temptation to park next to another rig; find an area that will give you some wiggle room. If you can, park on the side of the parking area, so other drivers can get around you easily. After you park, set out a couple of road cones about 10 feet from each side of your trailer, so you’ll have room to tie your horse to your trailer. Some late arrivals may try to wedge in too closely between rigs, creating an unsafe situation. (For more rig-park ing guidelines, navigate to Safe Travels, this issue.)
Back up with skill. When it comes to pulling a trailer, backing seems to be the biggest bugaboo for some trailer drivers—an other reason why you should always park facing out when pulling into a parking area. Practice backing at home until it feels natural. Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction from where you want the trailer’s back end to go. For example, if you want your trailer to go to the right, turn your steering wheel to the left. Move slowly, and watch your trailer in your mirrors for impediments. Practice in a parking lot, with the property owner’s permission. The white lines will help guide you. It’s not hard; it just takes repetition!
Pull over. If six or more vehicles are behind you on a two-lane highway, pull over to let them pass as soon as you can do so safely. (In some states, this is the law.)
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Avoid overheating. If your towing vehicle starts to overheat, pull over at the safest site available. Turn off the engine, then raise the hood to allow cooling air into the engine compartment. Do not open the radiator cap; steam and boiling water can burn you. If you’ve properly maintained your engine, it should cool down after a few minutes. If you drive a diesel-powered vehicle, let the engine idle to cool it down. Park with care. Even if you’re comfortable with highway driving, it’s natural to feel anxious about parking once you reach your destination. To ease your anxiety, first pull out of traffic, stop, and eyeball the situation. Then formulate a game plan. Find a way to turn around and face the exit, so it’ll be easier to pull out later in the day when the parking area is full.
Stay to the right. Staying in the right-hand lane allows other vehicles to safely pass on the left. In some states, towing rigs are required by law to travel in the right lane (or right two lanes), unless otherwise posted.
Top: Drive defensively. Closely watch your fellow drivers to anticipate and adjust for lane changes, changes in speed, etc. Middle: If six or more vehicles are behind you on a two-lane highway, pull over to let them pass as soon as you can do so safely. Bottom: At your destina tion, find a way to turn around and face the exit, so it’ll be easier to pull out later in the day when the parking area is full.
Open Showgrounds
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ou’re comfortable hauling your horse on the road, but when it comes to parking and fueling up, you’re a little unsure of the best course of action. You’re not alone! Here, I’ll give you point ers in three potentially challenging areas when driving a rig: at an open showgrounds; at a busy trailhead; and when fueling up, as well as in tight spots.
whenbusyshowgrounds;areas:challengingatanopenatatrailhead;andfuelingup.
At a showgrounds, find a spot that will give you ample room to tie your horse to the side of your trailer. Backing into a spot close to a fence will prevent other drivers from parking too closely.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
• Consider the weather. If it’s warm, choose a shady, breezy
When hauling your horse to a show, plan to arrive early so you’ll get your
Learn how to manage your rig in three
Y
By Rebecca Husted, PhD
pick of parking spots. Then follow these guidelines.
Rig-Parking Pointers
>> ------------SAFETRAVELS-----------
• Find a quiet spot. Don’t park close to the warm-up pen or show barn for convenience. Rath er, choose a quiet spot away from the crowd, and use a wheeled cart to move your things. Your horse will appreciate the quiet, and you’ll sleep better if you’re staying overnight. And when the show is over, it’ll likely be easier to load up and leave.
• Pay at the pump. Choose a pay-at-the-pump station, so you can stay with your horse and get back on the road quickly.
Fueling Up
• Reserve your space. If you’ll be camping overnight, you might be able to reserve a prime or pull-through spot ahead of time. If not, look for an open location to back your trailer into.
• Read the rules. Some trailheads have one area for day riders and another for those camping or parking their rigs overnight. Read the rules online and onsite so you’ll know where to go.
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area. If it’s cold and windy, find a spot with a wind break. Avoid trees if a thunderstorm is fore casted.
• Do a walk-through. Get out of your truck, and walk through the parking area to look for obstacles and opportunities. If you need to, ask an experienced driver to ground guide you into your spot, or accept his or her offer to park your rig.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
• Pull around. Pull around so that you point your rig toward the exit. This will allow others to pull in behind you, swing around, and park.
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• Stake out ample space. Find a spot that will give you ample room to tie your horse to the side of your trailer so he can eat, drink, and relax. Backing into a spot close to a barrier or fence will prevent other drivers from blocking you or parking too closely. Reinforce your visual barrier with orange cones.
When hauling your horse long distances, plan ahead so you can choose the best place to fuel up. Then follow these tips.
When fueling up, choose a pay-at-thepump station, so you can stay with your horse and get back on the road quickly.
Busy Trailhead
and scarcity of prime parking spots. Here’s how to ease your trail head-parking challenges.
PHOTO BY KENT & CHARLENE KRONE
• Park on gravel or grass. Parking on asphalt makes it easier to maneuver, but searing summer heat will reflect up into your rig. Find a gravel or a grassy area. If you park on gravel, keep an eye on the weather. If there’s a chance of rain, move your trailer to firmer ground before the gravel turns to mud.
Trailheads are known for their tight turnarounds, lack of parking space,
• Choose large gas stations. Avoid small, crowded gas stations that you might not be able to get out
Trailheads are known for their tight turnarounds, lack of parking space, and scarcity of prime parking spots.
• Drive with a buddy. If you can, find a travel buddy who can jump out and help you maneuver.
• Make small corrections. Go slow, and make several, short forward-and-reverse maneuvers.
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• Ignore others. Ignore others who might be watching you—this isn’t a performance. Focus on ensuring that that your horse is comfortable during the maneu ver and that you’re safe.
• Develop a strategy. Take time to figure out what you’ll do and how you’ll do it. Jump out of your truck, if necessary.
In this way, you’ll eventually get into the clear. Don’t go too far into a tight spot in an attempt to create a way out, or you might be forced to wait until cars move or barriers are taken down to get free. USR
In drive-through fast-food outlets, make sure there’s enough clearance. Verify your rig’s height before you drive under low-clearance bars, so you don’t be come stuck.
• Face out. If you can, orient your tow vehicle facing out, so you won’t have to back up or do too much maneuvering if cars pull in after you.
The best way to gracefully ease out of a tight spot is to improve your rig-driving skills at home. With an empty trailer, practice driving through obstacles, turning, and
• Ask for help. If you’re driving alone, don’t be afraid to ask someone to guide you from out side the vehicle.
PHOTO BY REBECCA HUSTED
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Tight-Spot Techniques
• Relax. In a sticky situation, relax. Breathe. Know that you’ll figure out a way to get back on the open road.
Rebecca Husted, 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.
• Check your horse later. While it’s a good idea to check your horse and trailer while you’re stopped, move away from the pumps, and find a safe, quiet location.
of, especially if someone parks in front of you. Look for truck stops on long hauls.
• Pull through. Pull through to the last pump, preferably on the outside line of pumps with your gas tank on the correct side.
backing. On the road with your horse, follow these tips.
The best way to gracefully ease out of a tight spot is to improve your rig-driving skills at home. With an empty trailer, practice driving through obstacles, turning, and backing.
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Click on the brand to start your FREE trial.
By Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 12 Fall 2022 ------------YOUR HEALTHYHORSE----------->> Seasonal diet changes can cause challenges for your horse. Read on for steps you can take to safely transition your horse from summer to fall feeds.
you’ll need
adapt.
give
Seasonal Feeding
digestive tract time
making seasonal adjustments
When to your horse’s diet, to his to
If the large intestine becomes too acidic, as it can if unusually high amounts of sugar, starch, or complex plant sugars enter it, the lining can actually be dam aged and bacterial toxins absorbed into the body. This can make the horse very ill. It can even cause laminitis.
Gut Bugs
If the they change composition too much, your horse can experience digestive upset. Even hay can significantly change composition according to the sea son, even if you feed the same kind of hay all year long.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 13 Fall 2022
n the fall and spring, grasses grow (or regrow) at a rapid rate, which causes changes in their makeup.
Horses have evolved to handle a wide variety of vegetation in their diet, but there are a few key differences between the feral horse and the domesticated horse.
Here, I’ll first explain why seasonal diet changes can cause challenges for your horse. Then I’ll give you six steps to take to help transition your horse from summer to fall feeds to minimize the risk of gut upset, including colic.
Each specific type of organism (and there are hun dreds) will need a specific type of food to survive. Some are better at using complex fibers. Some like simple sugars. Others will thrive on high protein. Still others will be intermediate forms and will further break down the products produced by other types of organisms. When the organisms receive a constant flow of foods to ferment in a high volume of fluid, they can adapt to changes much easier.
In the Wild
Most people know you shouldn’t start, increase, or change grains rapidly. This is one of the most danger ous things you can do in terms of risking intestinal up set. However, what you may not realize is that changes in hay can be bad, too.
During the fall, the microbes in your horse’s digestive tract need time to adjust to nutrient changes in the grass, the addition of hay to the diet, and any fallen leaves the horse consumes. Watch for signs of digestive upset.
The dilution factor is important, because most gut upsets in the horse are related to the large intestine. The horse’s large intestine is essentially a fermentation vat—like the four stomachs of a cow. Nutrients are first broken down by the bacteria and protozoa that live in
I
Horses have evolved to handle a wide variety of vege tation in their diet, but there are a few key differences between the feral horse and the domesticated horse. A horse ranging freely in search of food consumes nutri ents, such as carbohydrates and fats, in a very diluted form, because grasses and other plants are at least 75% water.Wild horses also get a lot more exercise than do mesticated horses, which is important to good gut function. We don’t really know exactly why, but re search bears this out.
the hind gut. The byproducts of that breakdown are actually what the horse then absorbs and turns into proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that the body can use.
When a large “load” of fermentable food hits the hind gut all at one time, if it’s different from what the organisms are accustomed to handling, the result can be a rapid increase in the “bugs” that prefer that type of nutrient. This, in turn, can change the chem istry in the intestine and cause other forms of bugs to die off. Consequences for the horse range from poor utilization of feed (or some portions of it) to gas, mild distention, diarrhea, or full-blown colic.
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conditions and even different strains of the same type of forage, can vary by 100% or more in the level of rapidly fermentable nutrients they contain. Changing hay types risks dietary differences in both the levels and relative proportions of fermentables your horse’s system must adapt to.
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In the fall and spring, young growths of grass are lower in slowly fermented fiber types and can have wide swings in the amount of simple carbohydrate they contain. Very high protein levels in young, grow ing pastures can also cause gut upset.
These guidelines can help you prevent feeding-related gut upsets as he experiences seasonal changes in his feed.
Introduce grain feeding gradually, no more than 1 pound per feeding.
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The large intestine is the major site for breakdown of hay. Even if you always feed the same type of hay, such as timothy, Bermuda grass, or alfalfa, not all hay is created equal. Different cuttings under varying growth
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Make changes in hay gradually, replacing from 10% to 25% of the old hay with the new variety; increase every three days.
In the fall and spring, young growths of grass are lower in slowly fermented fiber types and can have wide swings in the amount of simple carbohydrate they contain. This change in composition can cause problems in your horse’s digestive tract.
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Seasonal-Feeding Guidelines
Allow three days between each increase in grain to enable organisms to adapt.
Accustom your horse to lush pastures gradually, especially if grass is growing rapidly (spring and some fall conditions).
Forage Variations
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Don’t feed more than 4 pounds of grain at one time.
Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD, is the owner of Equine Nutritional Solutions, a nutritional consulting firm. An Honors Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, Dr. Kellon completed her internship and residency in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the renowned University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center.
“Accustom your horse to lush pastures gradually, especially if grass is growing rapidly.”
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Keep hay available for horses on young-growth pas ture to provide complex and slowly fermented fiber, which the grasses may be lacking. US R
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Next, prepare your trailer. The more comfortable it is, the longer you’ll be able to drive without taking a break.Ifyou have a slant-load with padded sides that your horse can lean against, he’ll be able to take a break from the stress of balancing. If you have an open stock-type trailer, he won’t have a chance to lean and may tire more quickly.
How your horse feels in the trailer may impact how you dress him up. If he’s new to trailering or you feel he may lose his balance, protect his legs with standing wraps. I like these wraps, because they stay in place during travel.
F
I can tell when one of my horses is comfortable in the trailer, because he stands still. There are few hoof prints in the shavings when we travel long distances. When trailering a seasoned traveler, you can drive on a bit farther than with a nervous horse.
First, observe how your horse travels in the trailer. If he’s nervous and tends to fidget and shake, he’ll use more energy, get himself hot, and need frequent breaks.Some horses are anxious when you’re not moving, but they do okay once you’re in motion. Consider hauling with a riding friend. A horse will always travel better with a buddy, and you’ll have driving help.
1. Observe Your Horse
On long road trips, you need to consider your horse, your trailer, and your goals once you arrive. Here are expert tips from top trainer/clinician Julie Goodnight.
Think about how you’ll access your horse while on the road. Is it comfortable for him to eat in the trailer? If you can access your horse’s head from a window, you can give him water and feed on the road without offloading, shortening your breaks.
Long Road Trips
2. Prep Your Trailer
------------ HAULING HINTS
I might not wrap a horse if it’s a hot day or we’re going a short distance, and I’m fairly certain he’ll stand still and relax.
all is a busy show and equestrian-adventure season, which can mean hours of traveling time for your horse. I’ve learned a lot of things to do (and not to do) over a lifetime of hauling horses. On long trips, you need to consider your horse, your trail er, and your goals once you arrive. Overall, you’ll feel more prepared when you make a plan that feels right for you. Here are five things to consider.
By Julie Goodnight With Heidi Melocco Photos by Heidi Melocco
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 16 Fall 2022
• Check ventilation. Make sure your trailer has adequate ven tilation to support your horse’s lung health and overall comfort. Make sure the roof vents are open and that air can circulate inside the trailer without the windows being open all the way. You want airflow, but you don’t want your horse to be able to stick his head out the window.
Tie your horse with enough length in the rope that he can relax his head, but not so long that he can turn his head back behind him. He can catch a hoof in a too-long lead rope, which can lead to a seri ous injury.
• To tie or not to tie? There are ad vocates on both sides of this de bate. I always tie my horse in the
Before you go, decide wheth er you’ll push to drive straight through or stop to rest and board along the route. From my place in Central Colorado, I have to trailer three hours just to get out of the mountains. My horses and I are
used to a moderately long trailer ride.Plan ahead for a long trip. Schedule rest stops, water breaks, and feeding times. Keep in mind that you’ll need to stop more often if your horse is nervous. Decide how many days you’ll be on the road, and arrange overnight sta bling in
Here are a few more trailer-prep tips.
On the road, keep your horse in the trailer. During breaks along the route, park in a safe place, open the window, check on him, then
• Invest in a trailer cam. I suggest that you invest in a wireless trail er camera that you can monitor from your truck’s cab. Then you can check in on your horse along the way to see how he’s doing.
Add only a thin layer of shavings to ab sorb any urine and help prevent slips and falls. If you use too much, they’ll blow around and affect your horse’s air quality.
Tie your horse with enough length in the rope that he can relax his head, but not so long that he can turn his head back behind him. He can catch a hoof in a too-long lead rope, which can lead to a serious injury.
• Go light on shavings. Add only a thin layer of shavings to absorb any urine and help prevent slips and falls. If you use too much, they’ll blow around and affect your horse’s air quality. Shavings can also become slippery, so keep them at a minimum.
If you’ll be gaining altitude, your horse will need at least 48 hours to rest and acclimate, especially if you’re going on a mountain trail ride.
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Of course, if you tie your horse, use only a halter designed to break away in an emergency. A rope or nylon halter likely won’t break if your horse pulls back, which can lead to injury or worse.
trailer, so I know where his head is. If I feel the trailer moving and feel him moving around, I know that there’s something wrong. I also like to know that I can get to my horse’s head to feed and water him, if needed. I want him to stay how I put him.
3. Plan Your Drive Time
Consideradvance.what you’ll ask of your horse when you arrive at your des tination. Will you be arriving the night before a performance class or grueling trail ride, requiring him to work hard as soon as he arrives? If so, build in some downtime. Don’t push through and drive all at once, then ask your horse to immedi ately carry you over jumps or up a mountain.Notethat if you’ll be gaining al titude, your horse will need at least 48 hours to rest and acclimate, especially if you’ll be going on a mountain trail ride.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 18 Fall 2022
day. He’ll tend to be healthy and relaxed when he has access to feed. However, make sure that there’s adequate room in the trailer for your horse and the haybag. If you stuff a full hay bag in a slant-load, there will be little room for your horse to move. He won’t be able to relax his neck.
sit down and rest for a half hour. You and your horse will both get a break from balancing while the trailer is in motion. When you stop for the day, offload your horse at your destination. Bring your own feed and water buckets to avoid contamination risk.
horse, but it’s tough to find a safe place to unload and load safely if you’re not traveling a familiar route.Avoid offloading your horse onto concrete or asphalt, where he can easily slip. And only off load him if you know he’ll load up again easily. If there’s any question about your horse’s intent to get back onboard, wait until you reach the overnight-stabling facility to unload him. Don’t do a trailer-load ing training session along a busy highway.Ifyouplan to offload your horse, make sure that you have as many people with you as you do horses, so you have enough help managing your traveling herd. If I’m by my self, I want to get there as fast as I can and make sure I don’t have any incidents along the way. US R
You’ll also need hay from home. Your horse’s digestive system is designed to have food moving through his system throughout the
If your trailer allows you to access your horse’s head, hang a haybag and water bucket when you stop to rest. If you can’t get to your horse’s head, you’ll be able to feed and water him only when you offload.
Avoid offloading your horse onto con crete or asphalt, where he can easily slip. And only offload him if you know he’ll load up again easily.
Short-trip tip: When you haul shorter distances (less than three hours), make sure your horse has eaten well before you start. If he gets into the trailer with a full belly, he won’t be thinking about food for an hour or two. Give your horse hay and water as soon as you arrive. This also means he’ll have more room to move in the trailer without a space-limiting haybag.
Withrelax.that plan, I’d stop every two hours, even if it’s only for 20 minutes. I’d open the windows and make sure the ventilation is okay. I’d feel his chest to see whether my horse is too hot or cold, then make any necessary changes.
Optimally, I’d travel no more than eight hours per day. That allows me time to arrive early at the overnight accommodations I booked ahead of time. Only push through longer than this if your horse has time to rest when you ar rive at your destination, he travels well, and your trailer is comfort able.When I arrived, I’d make sure to take my horse on a nice leisurely walk to help his digestion and mus cles. Horses aren’t made to stand still all day, so walking can help them
Hydration is vital to your horse’s health when you’re hauling a long distance. Bring a few five-gallon buckets with lids so your horse has some water from home that he’ll recognize and drink.
5. Offload Safely Offloading along your route may seem like a good break for your
Julie Goodnight trains horses and coaches horse owners to be ready for any event, on the trail or in the performance arena. After produc ing the popular RFD-TV series, Horse Master with Julie Goodnight, for 11 years, Goodnight now shares the world of horses through 2Horse Pro ductions, and through appearances at clinics and horse expos throughout the United States. She also hosts her monthly horse training podcast, Ride On with Julie Goodnight.
4. Consider Feed and Water
By Audrey Pavia
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Catch Colorful Fall Foliage
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Hitch up, and enjoy stunning fall colors from the back of your horse.
Riding through the crisp fall air surrounded by the reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn foliage is one of the most glori ous experiences you can have on horseback.
PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
To catch colorful fall foliage, find an area where deciduous trees grow in large numbers. And the trees must be of a species where the leaves turn yellow, orange, or red before they drop off, instead of just turning brown. The duration of time between when a leaf turns color and when it drops off the tree
PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE
is relatively brief. Most trees don’t hold their colorful leaves for more than two weeks, at the most.
Consider the Weather
ly affect the colors’ timing and vibrancy. A general rule: The higher the latitude, the earlier fall leaves change color.
In the Rocky Mountains and the upper Midwest, fall weather can be glorious. Cool, crisp air is a mainstay, but this time of year also brings snowstorms and freezing temperatures.
the best colors. In the South and Southeast, the best colors in early November. In the mountains of the West, peak color is typically in September and October.
For the best experience riding in fall color, do your homework. Leaves turn color at dif ferent inhappensfallnomenonpeakvariationsterminesTreeandthedependingtimes,onlatitudeelevation.typedecolorandtimes.Thepheoffoliageonly
With fall colors comes autumn weather. While clear, crisp weather is ideal weather for a fall ride, you may experience other weather sce narios. Some of the duringcomfortableareandchilly.alsofallNewsunny,pleasantfallWhileduringFahrenheittoisNewweather.unpredictablefoliagefordestinationspopularmoreridingseeingfallofferInthefall,Englandtypically4550degreestheday.mostdaysareandsomeEnglandseasonsarewetandTheSouthSoutheastusuallyveryfall-fo
A general rule for catching peak color: The higher the latitude, the earlier fall leaves change color. In the mountains of the West (shown), September and October offer the most vivid colors.
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Know Your Leaves
evergreens and warm fall foliage can be stunning.)
treesdeciduous , which are trees that lose (Thetheirfirs—retaines,pines,trees—suchEvergreenthetoleavestheirinordersurvivewinter.asspruccedarsandleaves.mixtureof
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iding through the crisp fall air surrounded by the reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn foliage is one of the most glorious experiences you can have on horseback. Use our guide to enhance your leaf-peeping treks.
Peak-color dates depend upon several factors, including the cur rent temperature, and the previous seasons’ weather patterns. A warm, wet spring; a moderate summer; and a fall with warm, sunny days and cool nights make for the best fall colors. Drought can serious
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In New England and the upper Midwest, the leaves are typically at their peak color in middle to late September, or early October, depending on the weather. In the central Midwest and Northeast, the middle of October usually shows
liage season, with dry, sunny days and temperatures in the 60s. How ever, hurricane season extends into late fall. A hurricane is dangerous and can tear leaves right off trees.
Going on a road trip takes planning, but offers you an opportunity to ride on new trails and view spectacular fall colors.
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Road trip. If you’re looking to view fall foliage you’ve never seen before, a trip farther from home is in order. Opting to take your own horse means considerable planning. Book accommodations for you and your horse well in advance of your trip. Check the rules and regulations for your chosen destination. Make sure your horse is in condition for the type of riding you’ll be Whiledoing.all this requires planning—along with plenty of driving—the rewards are great. You’ll have an oppor tunity to ride on new trails and view spectacular fall colors.Ifyou’d rather leave your equine friend at home, consider a riding vacation instead. A variety of resorts, ranches, and outfitters are available in areas known for beautiful fall foliage, and will provide you with a mount well-suited to the terrain.
PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 22 Fall 2022
Invest in fall riding wear. Fall weather can vacillate from warm to chilly, or dry to wet, depending on where you are and the time of day. Dress in layers. Tie a duster or rain slicker on your saddle’s cantle for sudden downpours.
You can choose to leaf-peep close to home, or you can plan a longer road trip. Here are a few pros and cons of each choice.
Close to home. The easiest way to see the colors of autumn on horseback is to go on a day or overnight ride close to home. If you live in an area where deciduous trees turn colors and drop their leaves in the fall, you just need to find a private facility or public land that allows horses and plan your trip.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you embark on a fall-foliage riding tour.
On the plus side, you won’t need to take time off from work, you’ll save money on fuel, and you can plan your ride around your horse’s condition. You can also closely watch fall-foliage reports and trailer out on a day you know the colors will be at their peak.
Fall Trip Tips
Prepare your horse. Fall is a great time to ride, because the air is cool, making trail trekking easy on your horse. If the summer heat has kept you from riding much, slowly build up your horse’s condition over a few weeks
Of course, the con of staying close to home is that you’ll probably be seeing the same trees in your own neighborhood. It may not feel like much of an adven ture.
Staying close to home is convenient, but it might not feel like much of an adventure.
Fall trails can be a real joy. But fall can also bring seasonal trail hazards, including frost, slippery leaves, deep pud dles, and thick mud.
Choose Your Adventure
RIDE.LEARN.WATCH.
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Pack your saddlebag. Carry a rain cover for your helmet, a jacket, gloves, lip balm, and sunscreen. Invest in a waterproof cover for your cellphone so it doesn’t get wet in fall rains and mists. Also pack a small thermos filled with a warm beverage.
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. Bears are also more active in the fall as they prepare for winter hibernation in colder areas. Don’t let bears or any wildlife feel cornered. Most wild animals will run away from a horse unless they feel like they can’t get away.
Cool, fall days are perfect for trailering, but check road conditions before you leave.
Watch for hunting hazards. Fall is hunting season in many areas of the country. 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 head and legs. Avoid white tack, clothing, or gloves; a hunter may mistake a flash of white for a deer’s tail.
Audrey Pavia is an award-winning equine journalist and competitive trail rider based in Norco, California. She’s the author of Trail Riding: A Complete Guide.
before you take him on a long fall ride.
real joy. But fall can also bring seasonal trail hazards, including 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 over slick terrain.
Watch for trail hazards. Trails in the fall can be a
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PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
Trailer safely. Cool, fall days are perfect for trailering, but check road conditions before you leave; fall hailstorms and 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.
Breakdown in the Boondocks
This horse owner’s truck became too damaged to drive in a remote area. USRider sent help quickly.
Let me start by saying that I’m not what most would consider a “normal” horse traveler. I do field trials on horseback. We conduct our pointing dog field trials well into the boondocks, far away from the hazard of vehicles. Therefore, my destina tions are almost always remote locations
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USRider Member D. Lee travels to remote areas for horseback field trial events. Shown is his rig in Northern Arizona. His truck broke down in a remote area near the Wyoming/Montana border.
Several years ago, I learned that the normal road-service outfits wouldn’t tow my horses, so I added the USRider Equestrian Motor Plan to my travel resources. The following incident was my first call for assistance.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 24 Fall 2022 ------------ USRIDERMEMBERSTORY------------
where our events are conducted.
By D. Lee
Our Member Care Specialist stayed with the calls until all mat ters were handled, acting in a calm, professional manner at all times. She was a great comfort and should be applauded for her exceptional abilities.
We asked them who could tow us in and were told to contact a particular towing service in Sheridan.
Our next call was to USRider for emergency assistance. Right from the beginning, we were put at ease by the first question from the Member Care Specialist, who said, “Are you and your animals safe?”
USRider Member D. Lee’s dogs at a training camp in Montana.
Prompt Help
“Our Member Care Specialist stayed with the calls until all matters were handled, acting in a calm, professional manner at all times. ”
‘Very Impressed’
We told our rep that we were all well, but that our vehicle needed a tow to Sheridan for drive line repairs. She asked for our loca tion, and we told her that we were in a remote area near the border of Montana and Wyoming, near Sheridan.Wetold our rep that a recom
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 25 Fall 2022
USR
mended towing service could likely haul us in. She asked for a call-back number. We explained that we couldn’t count on a call back, as we were barely able to get a phone signal.Our rep asked us to stay on the line while she made some arrange ments. In less than 10 minutes, she was back on the line. She explained that the recommended towing service wouldn’t have been able to even speak with her for 20 minutes, so she’d contacted another towing company in Sheridan that could do theWejob.gave the towing-service driver directions to our camp and asked him if he knew of an inde pendent shop that could possibly get to our repair faster than the dealership. He referred us to a good shop located next door to the deal ership. We contacted the shop, and they told us they could get on our vehicle the next morning.
Bad News
Thank you again for being there when we really needed you.
One fall, I was camping at a remote training camp about 30 miles from Sheridan, Wyoming, just across the Montana state line. A broken stirrup leather sent me to town for quick repair. On the trip back to camp, about a mile from our camp ing area, my truck started making a very loud noise in the area of the driveline. I was able to limp into camp.When I looked underneath my truck, I found that the carrier bearing was badly damaged and the drive shaft had nearly exited the transmission. My truck wasn’t drivable.Wehad no cellphone service at camp, so a friend drove me about four miles to a hill where we were able to make calls. Our first call was to the Dodge dealership in Sheridan to get an idea as to when they might be able to do a repair. The news wasn’t good: “Maybe in a couple of days.”
As I mentioned, this was my first call to USRider for emergency as sistance. I was very impressed with the promptness, competence, and professionalism the Member Care Specialist provided.
There were four others at our training camp. When the story was passed on to them, they all planned to become Members, just as I’d done when told of USRider by a fellow field-trial competitor.
Healthy Treats
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 26 Fall 2022
Tired of the mud and muck ruining your leather boots? The rubber Quatro® Boots from Bag Man LLC are ideal for horse chores while traveling with your horse, as well as at home, as you clean stalls and work around the barn. The boots feature the com pany’s multilayered Quatro Comfort System orthotic footbed, along with a ta peredsulatedandnon-insulated,ableoutsole.mud-releasingAvailininsulated,extremeinmodels.
Lure your horse into the trailer with Omega Fields’ Nibblers Low Sugar & Starch treat supplement, a nutritious, Omega-3 treat supplement for horses in all life stages. The treats contain 63 percent less sugar and starch than the original Omega Nibblers treats, and they are low in non-structural carbohydrates. The heart-shaped treats are made from stabilized ground flaxseed and other nat ural, nutri tious ingredi ents. flavoring.peppermintappleChooseor
All-Terrain Hoof Boot
Horse-Chore Boots
As the days become shorter, visibility horseback becomes more critical, both at home and on the road. High Visibility Sportswear, from the British manufacturer Equisafety, helps you and your horse stand out in varying light conditions, as well as under headlights and street lights. Styles include a waterproof, windproof, breathable jacket; a breathable waistcoat; and waterproof equine leg boots (one size fits all). Some apparel items offer an optional back sign for roadside riding that read “Please Pass Wide and Slow.” The products are available in bright yellow, orange, and pink, and feature reflective and fluorescent properties.
Equestrian Essentials
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Reflective Riding Gear
PHOTOS BY SUSHIL DULAI WENHOLZ
Protect your barefoot horse’s hooves during fall travels. The all-ter rain Trek hoof boot from Cavallo features a pull-tab for easy hoof insertion. The boot’s upper is made from the company’s abra sion-resistant, shock-protecting, lightweight Pro Mesh material; a soft foam collar protects your horse’s fetlock. The sole is designed to take pressure off your horse’s frog, sole, and bars, while drainage slots reduce mud and debris buildup. A replaceable hook-and-loop closure system prolongs the life of the boot. The boot is available individually or in pairs in Regular and Slim sole size; options allow you to customize the fit.
OnDemand.HorseandRider.com Benefits of Membership Being an insider has its benefits. When you sign up for Horse&Rider OnDemand, you’ll receive the following perks. Weekly video releases from Brad Barkemeyer and Bud Lyon. Access to a video library pre-stocked with more than 80 clips to help with all aspects of horsemanship. A year subscription to Horse&Rider magazine. Free access to digital back issues of Horse&Rider magazine. Members-only content and o ers. Plus much more! Sign yourtodayupforFREEtrial! NEW SERIES! Barrel Racing Fundamentals with Shali Lord Rider Fitness with Kelly Altschwager PLUS: More Insights with Bud Lyon and Brad Barkemeyer START YOUR FREE TRIAL NOW at OnDemand.HorseandRider.com
Barmah Hats
MDC Stirrups
As a USRider Member, you can enjoy money-sav ing discounts through Winner’s Circle Advantage. You may access these benefits directly through the Members Area of the USRider website, as well as through the brochure you’ll find enclosed in membership kits and renewal mailings. The bro chure features instructions and access codes for
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Holiday Gift Ideas
The revolutionary, patented design of MDC Intelligent Stirrups gives the rider a competitive advantage, increased security, comfort, and safety in a common-sense ergonomic design. Secure angles of traditional 45 or 90 degrees customize your ride and reduce leg burns. The MDC Ultimate Stirrup (shown) has a hinged footplate for a softer, shock-absorbing feel, while the MDC Comfort Stirrup has a traditional footplate and appearance. Both models come in a stainless-steel or satin-black finish. USRider Members receive free shipping.
You enjoy all the benefits that come from a USRider Equestrian Motor Plan membership, including emergency roadside assistance, travel ben efits, and Winner’s Circle Advantage discounts. Share the gift of peace of mind with your favorite horseperson with a USRider Gift Membership. Just go to the USRider website, log in, and click on Give a Gift Member ship. Bonus: Your own USRider membership will be extended by one month for each gift membership you give.
USRider Member Benefits
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Muddy Creek Rain Gear
Muddy Creek Rain Gear is washable, lightweight, breathable, waterproof, and packable. All the gear has been field-tested extensively on horseback. The Long Raincoat (shown) is de signed to cover your entire saddle and saddlebags, and all the way down your legs as you ride. The coat is fully lined and features a detachable hood. USRider Members receive free ship ping on all orders.
Peace of Mind
Barmah Hats—The Original Outdoor Hats—are committed to using only the finest materials and producing its own Australian-made leathers. According to the manu facturer, Barmah Hats has developed the most versatile and durable range of out door hats on the market. Many Barmah Hats are handmade in Minnesota. USRider Members receive a 5% discount and free shipping on orders over $50.
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 holiday gift ideas for your favorite equestrian. For more informa tion on referrals and for more Member discounts, click here.
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Hitch up and take your own horse to a nearby expo for in-the-saddle learning. Many horse expos will allow you to “ride with the stars.”
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Equine expos around the country offer clinics, seminars, exhi bitions, and more. You can hitch up and take your own horse for in-the-saddle learning. Expos also offer prime trailer-shopping opportunities. Here’s a planning checklist to enhance your next expo experience.
■ Plan early. Target the expo you’d like to attend, then frequent its website, and sign up for any e-newsletters so you’ll know when it’s time to download and print out a final seminar schedule. Then you can start making your travel plans.
■ Bring your own horse. Many horse expos will allow you to “ride with the stars.” If you’re interested in a hands-on clinic, make arrangements with the clinician well in advance of the expo. If signups are available onsite, sign up as soon as you arrive.
■ Divide and conquer. If there are two desirable seminars scheduled at once, ask a friend attend your second choice, then share notes.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
By Heidi Melocco
Use these valuable tips to get the most out of your next expo adventure.
Equine-Expo Tips
Equine expos offer prime trailer-shopping opportunities.
Carefully review the clinic and seminar choices, and choose the sessions most relevant or appealing to you.
■ Pack up. Pack comfortable shoes and clothing, and a rolling bag for shopping items. Keep your cellphone handy to take videos of clinics and seminars. Also bring cash for cash-only expo expenditures.
USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion 30 Fall 2022 ------------HANDYCHECKLIST
■ Book your room. If you’ll be staying in a hotel, book your room early. Before you make your reservation, first identify the event’s host hotels, which typically offer discounts. It’s best to make hotel reservations 60 days in advance to take advantage of potentially discounted rates.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
■ Choose your clinics. Carefully review the clinic and seminar choices, and choose the sessions most relevant or appealing to you. First, look for clinicians that you know and admire, then look at the topics to see whether something catches your eye. Take time to critique your current riding, training, and horse-care know-how, and make a list of topics you’d like to know more about.
■ Speak up. Visit trainers and clinicians in their booths; they want to talk to you. You’ll find that top trainers/clinicians are kind and realistic horsepeople. Find out when your favorite clinicians’ will be available to answer questions and/or when they might be making a guest appearance in another booth.
