Top Tips

TRAILERINGTIP

PHOTO BY JARED MELOCCO 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.

Mirror, Mirror

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. 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 approaching 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. 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 extenders to the mirror arm. You may also purchase “fisheye” mirrors, where curvature provides a wider viewing area than normal. 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. — Heidi Melocco

SEASONALTIP

Be Hunting Savvy

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. ▶ Wear a bright-orange vest. This is the universal sign to a hunter not to shoot. ▶ Wear bright clothes. Avoid earth colors that blend into the scenery. ▶ Wear an orange helmet cover. Your helmet is the highest and most visible point of your turnout. ▶ Use an orange quarter-sheet on your horse. ▶ Attach a bell to your tack so it jingles when your horse walks. ▶ Avoid riding at dawn or dusk, which are peak hunting times. ▶ 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. ▶ Braid bright-orange ribbon into your horse’s tail. ▶ Apply orange Vetrap™, splint boots, or leg bands around your horse’s pasterns. — Audrey Pavia

PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTFITTERS SUPPLY

PHOTO COURTESY OF PROTECTAVEST, INC. Trail Sheets from The Original Equine Protectavest® 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.

HEALTHTIP

Treat Fall Thrush

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. Causes: Thrush is caused by an anaerobic bacterium, 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.

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 feeding on the frog tissue itself. 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. 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 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.

USRIDERMEMBERTIP

Save on Prescription Drugs

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, Members 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.