USRider® Equestrian Traveler's Companion-Summer 2024

Equestrian Traveler’s COMPANION

What Members Are Saying About Recent Services

“My tire blew on an interstate highway that was under construction. Luckily we were close to an exit so we were able to get off this very busy highway. My main concern was my horses’ safety and it was also pretty warm outside. The representative was excellent as I was pretty panicked about the situation and her professionalism could not have been better. The service vehicle arrived faster than she even projected. Cannot say enough good things to say about USRider. Thank you so, so much!”

— Susan Y, NC (May ’24)

“Can’t say enough good things. Mike was extremely helpful, polite and conscientious. The driver was extremely friendly, polite and competent. Arrived sooner than expected. Tow truck in excellent condition, clean and comfortable. Couldn’t have been more pleased with the service. Happy to have been a US Rider member for all these years. Your team always comes through for us when we need you.”

— Glenda S, AL (May ’24)

“I have been a member since 2007. Whenever I have called your customer care team has always been caring and responsive to get my problem solved. Same for the service provider that they send to help me.”

— Susan S, MS (May ’24)

“The service I have had from USRider and their providers has been stellar. My last experience was no different, a very good one. It is a comfort to know I am in friendly competent hands with USRider.”

— Michele P, CA (May ’24)

“I had AAA for years. As a trailering equestrian I obviously prefer USRider’s specialty in handling trailers & horse-related considerations. Customer Service is HUGE to me. I recognized excellent customer service every step of the way. The first thing I heard on the phone was, “Are you and the horses OK?”. I didn’t have to listen to redundant questions or recite all my information you already have in my file, got right to the point. My wife & I are very happy with USRider.”

— Paul K, AZ (June ’24)

“It was a very good experience. Very relieved I had the coverage. The tow driver was very nice. Photo documented the car pre and post tow which I really liked. Your call representative was also amazing. Timely with texts and even a follow up to make sure all went well.”

— Cynthia F, WA (June ’24)

“Action towing was great! And when I let them know we had a pony on board that was getting frustrated the service provider understood- said he had two of his own who behave the same way! Was nice that he understood the situation.”

— Meghan W, MA (June ’24)

“The specialist went out of his way to help me by quickly setting up a tow truck and finding a place to take my import car. He even checked the reviews of the repair shop. Then he continued to help me find a rental car and make sure I was alright. He acted like a caring family member. I am recommending USRider to all of my friends.”

— Debra B, TN (June ’24)

Travel with confidence knowing USRider will get you back on the road safely and efficiently, should unexpected vehicle or trailer problems occur.

SEASONALTIP

Keep Your Horse Cool

Follow these tips to help your horse stay cool as you haul him during the warm summer months. Install a fan. Consider adding small lightweight fans to your trailer’s electrical system, and affix them to a wall. Buy a temperature gauge. Buy a wireless gauge that will enable you to see the real-time temperature inside your trailer from inside your towing vehicle. Attach the gauge at about mid-neck height in the trailer. Avoid any wall where you might get a false reading from the sun beating down on your railer.

Avoid blanketing. Your horse’s physiology is made to regulate his temperature perfectly well; a blanket will inhibit his ability to cool himself naturally. Avoid the heat. Avoid hauling during the heat of the day; haul at night or early morning.

Open vents and windows. To increase active cooling, open all passive vents. Also open screened trailer windows. Screens will keep road debris out of your horse’s eyes.

Provide ample water. Offer water to your horse before, during, and after transport. His water needs will increase in hot conditions. Give him as much water as he wants. Consider electrolytes. Discuss electrolytes and salt supplements with your veterinarian. These minerals replace salt lost in sweat.

Take breaks. Every few hours, cut the engine, and unload your horse where he can safely relax in the shade, and eat and drink normally. If your trip will take longer than 12 hours, plan an overnight stop en route. Studies show horses arrive less stressed if they’ve had at least an eighthour break.

— Rebecca Gimenez-Husted, PhD

USRIDERMEMBER TIP

To increase active cooling, open all passive vents and screened trailer windows.

Every few hours, unload your horse where he can safely relax in the shade, and eat and drink normally.

Provide All Information

When you call USRider’s emergency toll-free number for service, it’s reassuring that one of the first things you hear is a concerned Member Care Specialist asking, “Are you and your horses okay?” Next, they’ll ask several questions about your truck and trailer, regardless of the nature of the disablement. You may wonder why they take the time to ask all of these questions. Our Member Care Specialists are trained to gather as much information as possible to get a clear picture of your individual situation. Gathering all the details helps us assist the service provider in locating and identifying you, and helps us ensure that they’ll be properly equipped to help you. This helps us help you get back on the road more quickly.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

Watch for Colic Signs

Summer’s heat combined with increased stress increases your traveling horse’s colic risk. To reduce his risk, keep him as cool and comfortable as possible. (See “Keep Your Horse Cool,” left.) Colic is a medical emergency, so contact veterinary help immediately if you notice any of the following signs while hauling. (Note: Through its exclusive DVM Directory, USRider can provide emergency veterinary referrals while you’re traveling.)

• Kicking, pawing, or banging at the trailer floor, divider, or walls when he normally doesn’t exhibit this behavior.

• Standing in a stretched-out position, as if to urinate, but producing no urine.

• Trying to turn his head back to look at, nudge at, or even bite at his flank.

• Kicking at his belly. First, check to see whether something external, such as a fly, is causing irritation.

• Attempting to lay down, which can be disastrous when tied.

• Abnormal vital signs. If you suspect your horse isn’t feeling well, monitor his vital signs. If they aren’t normal, contact a veterinarian immediately.

— Jenny Sullivan

TRAILERINGTIP

When trailering your horse, make sure the halter will break away, in case your horse spooks. Also choose a wide, flat halter.

If you suspect your horse isn’t feeling well, monitor his vital signs. If they aren’t normal, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Choose the Right Halter

When trailering your horse, be sure to use a halter that will break away in case he spooks. Even if your horse is a seasoned traveler, anything could cause him to spook—traffic noise, a restless travel buddy, even a stray plastic bag floating past the window. Keep in mind that if your horse spooks when in a trailer (a big, loud metal box), he may pull back or lose his balance. If he were to slip and fall on the trailer’s slick floor, he could become trapped, causing him to panic, which could lead to a severe injury or worse.

To help keep your horse from hurting himself, choose a halter made from leather, which breaks under stress. Or choose a halter with nylon webbing that has a leather portion or special feature that will break away in a worst-case scenario. Also, choose a wide, flat halter that distributes pressure evenly on your horse’s face to minimize the risk of a facial injury. Use a rope halter only for training. Those thin ropes can hurt your horse if pulled tight, and they don’t break away. Halter safety is no joke; always make sure that you are using the correct type every time you haul your equine friend.

— Savannah Melocco

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Blowout Safety Strategy

Here’s what to do if you experience a trailer-tire blowout.

Stop expediently whenever you hear or feel anything unusual. Causes of a strange noise or unusual vibration include a tire ready to blow, a fallen horse, a locked-up axle or wheel, or trapped road debris.

Trailer-tire blowouts are risky and stressful for both human and horse. And they can happen without warning. One minute, you’re sailing down the interstate, and the next, you hear a horrific “bam!” and your trailer pulls to one side. You grab the steering wheel to control your rig and look for a place to pull over. You glance in the rearview mirror. A trailer tire has blown.

If you experience a blowout, you can maximize the safety of humans and horses—and minimize the damage to your trailer—with the following plan of action. (For ways to help prevent a trailer-tire blowout, see the Handy Checklist this issue.)

Stop when you hear a noise. Don’t drive along and listen to strange sounds while trying to determine their cause. Stop expediently on the roadside whenever you hear or feel anything unusual (such as trailer rocking, excessive vibration, loud noises, and screeching or metallic sounds). Causes of a strange noise or unusual vibrations include a tire ready to blow, a fallen horse, a locked-up axle or wheel, and trapped road debris.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Trailer-tire blowouts can happen without warning. Here are the critical steps to take if this happens to you.

Find a safe place to pull over. If you experience a blowout, find a place to pull over with plenty of room to change the tire. You’ll need a minimum of 12 feet from traffic lanes. Consider slowly limping your trailer to the next off ramp or a parking lot, particularly if it’s dark. While that may destroy the wheel rim, you’ll be able to safely deal with the situation without getting hit by other drivers. If the left-side tires are blown, pull your trailer as far off to the side of the road as possible. No one wants to get killed changing a tire so close to traffic lanes, which is a very real risk. Stop smoothly. Decelerate and brake smoothly until you come to a stop. While you’ll want to stop as soon as is safely possible and in as safe a position on the side of the roadway as you can, you don’t want to cause an accident by whipping over to the side or by losing control.

Apply the parking brake. Apply the parking brake to make sure your rig doesn’t roll or accidentally move when you’re trying to assess the situation or change the tire.

Turn on lights. Turn on the emergency flashers and working lights to warn oncoming drivers that your rig is stopped. Reflective tape will also enhance your visibility.

Cut the engine. Turn off your towing vehicle, and take the keys with you so no one moves your trailer while you’re waiting for help or working with the tire or jack. People have been seriously injured by vehicles rolling or falling on them while they were trying to help.

Don a reflective vest. Don a reflective or brightly colored vest or jacket so you’ll be visible to oncoming traffic.

Call 911. If there was an accident, call 911, and give the particulars. Call USRider. Your USRider Member Specialist can arrange tire-changing and towing services for both your towing vehicle and trailer. They can also help you find an emergency veterinarian, if needed.

Chock the wheels. Secure the wheels with chocks so there’s no chance for your rig to roll. It’s best to use wheel chocks, but in a pinch, grab rocks or logs—whatever is available. Stay hitched. Don’t separate your trailer from your towing vehicle. Your towing vehicle is the best way to make sure your trailer stays put, especially when the emergency brake is on. Be aware that you need to stabilize your trailer with the weight of potentially upset horses on board.  Check on the horses. Check on the

If there was an accident, call 911, and give the particulars. Next, call USRider. Your USRider Member Specialist can arrange tire-changing and towing services for both your vehicle and trailer. They can also help you find an emergency veterinarian, if needed.

horses through a window or opening. If a horse appears injured, call a local veterinarian immediately, or ask your USRider Member Specialist for a referral.

Leave the trailer door closed. Any stimulation may cause the horses to get excited and try to back out or scramble. If the horses seem okay, consider giving them hay through a window or opening to help them relax while you’re fixing the tire or waiting for help to arrive. Keep horses inside. Don’t unload the horses unless absolutely necessary and certainly not until help arrives. Unloading a horse on the side of the road is a very dangerous scenario. They may get loose and cause a secondary accident.

— Tom Scheve & Neva Kittrell Scheve, Equispirit Trailers

Reflective tape will enhance your visibility to other drivers if you have to pull over roadside in the event of a blowout.

PHOTO COURTESY OF USRIDER

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Overcome Summer-Travel Challenges

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

Here’s how to help keep your horse cool, hydrated, and storm-safe on the road this summer.

By Rebecca GimenezHusted, PhD

Summer’s heat and surprise thunderstorms can challenge your efforts to keep your traveling horse cool, hydrated, and safe. To best help your horse, first take care of your own needs. When you’re cool, hydrated, and out of danger, you can focus your attention on your horse. How important is this? This is actually the time of year soldiers and firefighters focus particularly on maintaining condition and optimal hydration.

Here, I’ll explain a bit about how heat is transferred to your horse inside the trailer, so you can better understand the challenges and health risks your horse faces. Then I’ll go over three summer-trailering challenges, including how to lessen the risks involved.

How Heat Is Transferred

Keeping your trailered horse cool in the summer is particularly challenging due to heat transfer. Heat (thermal energy) is transferred three ways: conduction (in which heat travels between two objects that are in direct contact with each other); convection (in which heat travels through a liquid or gas toward cooler areas until thermal equilibrium occurs), and radiation (in which heat is transferred via electromagnetic waves; no contact with a heat source is required). >>

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Here’s how heat transfer applies to your traveling horse: The sun radiates heat down to your trailer and the road. Your trailer conducts the sun’s heat via its roof (if uninsulated) and/or from the road via an unprotected floor. Heat is then transferred through the air and floor (via convection and conduction) to your horse, where it combines with his body heat to increase the risk of overheating.

Summer Challenge #1: Heat Stress

The problem: As your trailer heats up, your horse’s body attempts to maintain homeostasis (normal body temperature, between 99 and 101 degrees Fahrenheit) via increased respiration and evaporative cooling (in which his bloodstream brings heat to his skin’s surface, where it’s cooled by the air as sweat evaporates). If heat overwhelms this process, your horse can suffer heat stress and even heat stroke, which is life-threatening. How to lower the risk of heat stress:

• Avoid the sun’s rays. Travel in early morning, while it’s cool; in the evening, after the sun the goes down; or when it’s cloudy. Plan your route so you don’t get stuck in traffic or construction, which would lengthen your trip. At stops, park in the shade.

• Deflect the sun’s rays. Horse trailers are notoriously poorly ventilated, even at highway speeds. Sitting in traffic, they’re sweat boxes. Insulate your trailer’s roof and floor. Use rubber floor mats, or install Rumber boards.

• Support evaporative cooling. Provide optimal ventilation. Screen over the windows so you can leave them open, and add fans to blow over your horse. (Look for fan models that connect to your tow vehicles electrical system). Use a larger trailer to increase the ventilation around your horse. Avoid packing horses into trailers. On a two-horse, straight-load trailer, leave open the upper back doors, unless you leave your horse untied. At stops, open the trailer windows. Use a spray bottle (or bucket and sponge) to dampen your horse’s skin, especially his chest, legs, and underbelly. Scrape off the water, and keep applying more water until he’s cool.

Expert tip: Shipping boots and polo wraps don’t greatly contribute to your horse’s heat level, so continue to use them despite the heat to protect his lower legs during travel.

Summer Challenge #2: Dehydration

The problem: Your horse sweats inside your trailer to cool himself, which can cause him to become dehydrated. He also loses salt and minerals in his sweat. Plus, he may tend to drink less on the road than he does at home.

How to lower the risk of dehydration:

• Offer free-choice salt. Make loose trace-mineral salt available to your horse at all times. (Salt blocks are designed for cattle, which have rougher tongues.) >>

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

Support your horse’s evaporative cooling mechanism with optimal ventilation inside the trailer.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

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

Rebecca GimenezHusted, 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.

• Consider electrolytes. Ask your veterinarian whether you should give your summer traveler electrolytes, and in what form. Accustom your horse to the taste before your trip. If you offer electrolytes in water, also offer plain water. Discuss with your vet ways to help specialty-needs horses (such as foals and senior horses).

• Offer feed/water in the trailer. It’s a fallacy that hay will dehydrate your horse. Provide hay and plenty of water inside your trailer—not only to keep him hydrated and happy, but also to encourage gut motility (movement) to reduce colic risk.

• Give your horse a break. Take a rest stop every 4 to 6 hours, and allow your horse to rest and hydrate for 30 minutes. Offer water. If there’s a safe place to unload, and your horse is well-trained, find a shady area to unload him, and tie him to the trailer. Or make your own shade with a trailer awning or tarp.

• Give yourself a break. Use your rest break to hydrate, walk, and rest, so you’ll be an alert driver. During stops, walk around in an air conditioned building and relax. Use a second driver, or at least a driving buddy to keep you awake and attentive. Regularly drink plain water; avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks.

• Offer hydrated feed. When possible, handgraze your horse on grass during breaks.

Soak alfalfa or extruded pellets in water. Give your horse watermelon slices.

Summer Challenge #3: Surprise Thunderstorms

The problem: In late summer, thunderstorms can form suddenly, giving the equestrian traveler little time to prepare. Thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning and hail. How to minimize injury and damage:

• Check the weather. Download several weather apps, and check them frequently. If you’re in an area without cellphone coverage, keep your eyes on the sky. Stay home or at your destination until clear weather is forecasted.

• Stay inside. The safest place to be in a storm is inside a building or your vehicle; your horse is safest inside your trailer.

• Be lightning-safe. In a lightning storm, find a safe place to pull over. Turn off the engine. Stay inside your vehicle. Leave your horse in your trailer, and wait out the storm. As you do, stay off your cellphone, and turn off the radio, lights, and GPS. Don’t touch any metal inside your car; metal conducts electricity.

• Be hail-safe. In a hailstorm, find a safe place to pull over; your vehicle’s forward motion increases risk of damage. Stay inside your vehicle. Leave your horse in your trailer, and wait out the storm. USR

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

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Helicopter Exercise

Teach your traveling horse to accept movement and noise above him with this exercise from top clinician Clinton Anderson.

By Clinton Anderson

This helicopter exercise will help your traveling horse accept movement and noise

you remove hay from your trailer’s top rack.

Many horses will accept an object as long as it’s at their eye level or below. When an object gets above their eye level—as might occur as you trailer your horse to horse shows, trail-riding destinations, and other events—most horses will start to get nervous. Your horse might be especially jumpy if the object moves and makes a noise. This is a survival instinct so that in the wild horses aren’t caught off-guard by a predator jumping on their back from above.

The goal of this exercise is to be able to swing a stick and string up and over your horse’s body with high energy so that it makes a loud noise, while he stands completely still and relaxed. Then he’ll become comfortable with noise and movement above him when you’re in the saddle.

You’ll need: A rope halter, a 14-foot lead rope, a Handy Stick, and an enclosed work area with good footing. (To order a Handy Stick, click here.)

Step 1. Position your body. Stand at a 45 degree angle to your horse’s left shoulder, an arm’s length away. This is the safest place to stand, because you’ll be too far in front to get kicked by a hind leg and too far to the side to get struck by a front leg.

With your left hand, hold the lead shank about 18 inches from the snap, and lift it so that it’s level with your horse’s eye. You should stand so that your belly button faces your horse’s hindquarters.

This will enable you to bump his head toward you and get two eyes if he chooses to run around you in a circle or turn away from you. If he pushes into you, you’ll be able to drive him away by tapping him on his jaw or neck with your hand.

PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

above him, such as when

Clinton Anderson grew up in Queensland, Australia, learning to ride as a teenager and training with many of his country’s top horsemen. In 1997, he relocated to the United States to perfect his Downunder Horsemanship program. Under Anderson’s guidance, horses learn to respect and respond to their handlers, developing willing partnerships. To learn more about Downunder Horsemanship, Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tours, and more, visit www.downunderhorsemanship.com

Step 2. Position the Handy Stick.

Hold the Handy Stick in your right hand, as though you’re shaking someone’s hand. Hold your right arm out straight. The end of the stick should rest on the ground at roughly 5 o’clock.

Pretend that you’re standing in the middle of a clock. Straight in front of your belly button is 12 o’clock. Straight behind you is 6 o’clock. Your stick should be resting at 5 o’clock, when you’re on the left side of your horse.

Step 3. Swing the Handy Stick.

Keeping your arm relatively straight, swing the stick and string up and over your horse’s hindquarters, back, and neck, then back down to the 5 o’clock position you started in.

Step 4. Speed it up.

Repeat Step 3, but swing the stick faster so it’ll make more noise.

Step 5. Change sides.

When your horse consistently stands still and relaxed, change sides, and repeat Steps 1 through 4.

Step 6. Walk around him.

When your horse is comfortable with the Helicopter on both sides at a 45 degree angle, walk 360 degrees around him while swinging the Handy Stick.

To do this, double the tail of the lead rope and throw it over your horse’s back. Start on his left side. Place your left hand flat on his side. Hold the Handy Stick in your right hand, as though you’re shaking someone’s hand.

Swing the Handy Stick in the helicopter motion. Remember to always come back down to the 5 o’clock position.

As you swing the Handy Stick up and over your horse’s body, slowly start to walk around him. Once you reach his hindquarters, continue to walk around him, swinging the Handy Stick up and over his body in a continuous motion. Be sure to keep your left hand on your horse the entire time. USR

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOWNUNDER HORSEMANSHIP

Does Magnet Therapy Work?

Can magnet therapy enhance your traveling horse’s health? Here’s the scoop, including products, uses, and cautions.

Here’s definitive advice on what magnet therapy is, when to use it on your horse, and how to tell if it’s working.

By Eleanor M. Kellon,

VMD

Magnet therapy can offer an attractive alternative to using drugs to enhance our traveling horse’s health. But does magnet therapy work? And if so, what kind of problems is it best suited for? Magnet therapy essentially comes in two forms: static magnets and electromagnetic fields. Here’s a rundown of each type. But first, read up on magnet therapy products, uses, and cautions.

Magnetic Therapy Overview

Products: Magnetic therapy devices typically involve static magnets sewn into a cover, such as mesh blankets, or wraps for the knees, hocks, lower legs, fetlocks alone or pastern alone. Magnets for use on the hoof sole are also available. Some leg products feature flexible, self-adhesive magnetic strips. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) devices are available as blankets, leg/joint wraps, and even as mats for hoof treatments. A treatment session is typically 30 to 60 minutes long. Uses: Whether you should consider magnet therapy for your horse depends on what your expectations are. There’s nothing to support that magnet therapy heals an injury, reduces healing time, or

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

improves blood flow or oxygen in the blood. If you’d like to try to control inflammation and swelling in an acute injury, there’s some scientific evidence to support that possibility, but most magnets aren’t recommended for use on fresh injuries.

The odds of a magnetic device helping a horse with sole pain are extremely slim; there’s simply too much dead tissue buildup on the foot’s surface for a magnet to even penetrate. If you’re trying to keep your arthritic horse comfortable and active, the best you can expect is a reduction in pain during warmup. However, after the magnets have been off for a short time, the pain does return.

If your horse has a flareup and is being rested, magnet therapy might be a nice additional pain-relieving measure. Magnet wraps are most likely to benefit horses with chronic problems that are retired or only used sporadically.

Cautions: Small PEMF devices are highly impractical, since they only cover a small area, and you’d need to hold it in place in the entire session. It’s also questionable whether these units generate a powerful enough field to penetrate well. Before investing in a magnet wrap, wrap the affected area with either a neoprene joint wrap or a standing bandage. This alone may provide equivalent relief by limiting movement and increasing warmth. Don’t leave magnetic wraps on your horse 24/7. The skin needs to have a period to dry out, and all wraps must be kept clean and dry. A buildup of hair or dirt between skin and magnet could completely block any effect. Some bacteria are attracted to magnetic fields, which can lead to a spread of infection.

Static Magnet Therapy

What it is: Magnets are metals con-

taining iron compounds. What makes them stick and attract certain other metals, like nickel, steel, and cobalt, involves a unique arrangement in how their electrons are positioned around the nucleus. There’s much more to it than that—and scientists don’t truly understand all the details of what makes certain metals magnetic and what a magnetic field is— but they have a distinctive arrangement of electrons that makes them interact with certain minerals that have a complementary arrangement. If a magnet meets up with another magnet head on that has a similar magnetic field, their fields will force them apart.

Does it work? Unfortunately, very few studies have been performed on the effects of static magnets on body tissues. We do know that magnets slightly repel water and blood. This is in direct contrast to claims that magnets increase blood flow. In fact, the few experimental studies that have been done to look at the effects of static magnets on blood vessels have confirmed that magnets are more likely to shrink vessels that are abnormally dilated, or prevent dilation in inflammation, than they are to increase blood flow. But, if magnets can prevent excessive dilation of small blood vessels, this would help control edema/swelling in inflamed areas.

Some static magnetic product manufacturers claim their products increase the amount of oxygen circulating in the blood, often by increments as large as 200 percent! It’s unclear what this claim means. Oxygen is carried in the red blood cells which have an upper limit on how much hemoglobin they can hold. There’s no way a surface magnet would influence hemoglobin production.

To increase oxygen concentration in the blood by 200 percent, you’d

“Pain relief is a difficult claim to prove or refute, because pain is so hard to actually measure.”

Magnet-therapy devices include knee wraps and hock boots (shown), as well as products designed for other specific leg areas, such as the fetlocks and pasterns. >>

need to have twice as many red blood cells, which would clog small vessels, or the red cells themselves would have to hold twice as much oxygen by not delivering it to the tissue—an equally bad situation.

Encouraging healing is another common claim, and this one has nothing to support it. In fact, a strong therapeutic magnet won’t reach any deeper than skin level. Experiments have been done where magnets were implanted inside the body at a surgical site, or used on surface incisions, and they conclusively show there’s no improved healing.

If your horse suffers an illness or injury, call a veterinarian as soon as you can, and follow his or her advice. If you need to, trailer your horse to a local vet for treatment.

Does

it

work?

Pain relief is a difficult claim to prove or refute, because pain is so hard to actually measure. Some human studies have found a beneficial effect; some found no effect. Results in horses: Although claims of increased oxygen in a horse’s blood are unproven, and blood flow claims may well be the exact opposite, there’s some evidence at least that magnet therapy might help control edema. In my experience, magnet therapy is helpful in about 50 to 60 percent of horses with joint pain, such as low ringbone or other types of arthritis. However, the effect is really only present when the magnet is in place. Some horses respond just as well to having their problem area wrapped with a neoprene or standing leg wrap. However, some horses are obviously more comfortable when their magnetic wraps are in place.

Electromagnetic Field Therapy

What it is: Static magnets have a natural, but fairly weak, magnetic field. Magnetic fields can also be generated by passing an electrical current through a wire. These fields are typically much stronger and penetrate deeply into the tissues. When used for veterinary purposes, coils wrapped with wire are incorporated into a mesh blanket or leg wraps/boots and a current is run through them by a battery attached to the blanket or leg device.

The electromagnetic field produced is strong enough to be detected if you hold a magnet in your hand and move it close to the coil. At about three inches from the

coil, the magnet will start to vibrate. The electromagnetic field is produced in “pulses,” meaning it shuts on and off multiple times during a treatment. On units that have adjustable frequencies, low is used to control inflammation, medium frequencies for inflammation and pain, high frequencies for chronic problems where pain is the major issue.

While details on exactly how electromagnetic fields work are still pretty sketchy, and there’s still much more study to be done, studies have shown they: (1) improve fracture healing time; (2) stimulate healing in fractures that are not healing well (nonunion or malunion); (3) improve the strength of tendons during healing; (4) relieve arthritis pain; (5) control pain from irritated nerves (such as carpal tunnel syndrome); and (6) control postoperative pain.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) stimulate fibroblasts in tendons/ligaments and chondrocytes in joint cartilage to divide. These are the cells that maintain and repair tendon or ligament tissue and keep joint cartilage healthy. Osteoblasts are the cells that lay down bone. PEMF therapy stimulates that process in cultured bone cells.

There are also studies showing improved healing of chronic wounds, and control of postoperative pain and edema. Some PEMF devices have FDA approval for that specific use. However, there are no requirements for FDA approval for “devices,” as long as they don’t make obvious drug/medical claims.

Results in horses: PEMF therapy can be used to control pain and swelling, and encourage healing of any type of injury or condition of bone, tendon/ligament, or muscle, new or old. It can also be used over ice for even better resolution of inflammation. 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.

When AAA says no,

USRider says yes!

USRider’s roadside assistance program provies 24/7 roadside assistance for any vehicle our members are traveling in, including tow vehicles and trailers carrying horses. If the unexpected happens, our members know they can call us anytime, day or night.

*Applies to passenger vehicles or light-duty trucks maximum GVWR 14,000 lbs.

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15 Horse-Friendly National Parks

Pull your rig into a horse-friendly national park to enjoy endless trails at an affordable cost.

Ride your horse in California’s Yosemite National Park to view awe-inspiring granite formations, such as El Capitan (shown). The park also offers deep valleys, lush meadows, ancient sequoias, evergreen forests, and towering waterfalls.

Our national parks are national treasures. Many offer endless riding trails and horse-camping facilities at an affordable cost. Head to a park as your sole destination, or add a stay to your travel itinerary. Here’s the lowdown on 15 horse-friendly national parks from coast-to-coast for you to enjoy with your equine friend.

Acadia National Park

Location: This park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres along the Atlantic coastline of Maine—including Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut.

Best time to go: Fall, when leaf peeping is at its peak.

Terrain/scenery: Glacially sculpted granite mountains, forests, coastlines, lakes, ponds, and streams.

Trail access: Riders are allowed on 45 miles of rustic carriage roads, the Western Mountain Connector Trail (when closed to motor vehicles), motor-vehicle roads (when closed to motor vehicles), crosswalks, designated unpaved roads, and Wildwood Stables on the southeast side of Mount Desert Island.

Horse camping: Camp at Wildwood Stables Campground.

Badlands National Park

Location: Southwestern South Dakota, 80 miles east of Rapid City.

Best time to go: Spring and fall.

Terrain/scenery: Sharply eroded pinnacles, buttes, and spires.

Trail access: Riders are allowed anywhere in park except marked trails/roads and in developed areas.

Horse camping: Horse camping is permitted at Sage Creek Campground, a portion of which is designated for horse use. Living-quarters trailers and RVs are permitted; no hookups.

Canyonlands National Park

Location: Eastern Utah, off of Highway 313.

Best time to go: Spring and fall.

Terrain/scenery: Canyons, mesas, and buttes by the Colorado River.

Trail access: Riders are allowed on all backcountry roads and in Horseshoe Canyon with a backcountry permit; note that there’s limited water on the trails.

Horse camping: Horse camping is allowed in designated vehicle camps, with a permit.

Crater Lake National Park

Location: Southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range.

Best time to go: Summer.

Terrain/scenery: Mountain and high-desert trails around a volcanic lake.

Trail access: Riders are allowed only on designated trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail.

Horse camping: Backcountry camping is allowed with a permit; use the Bybee Creek Stock Camp. There are also several places to camp with your horse outside the park, such as Imnaha Campground and Fourmile Lake Campground. >>

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Location: Northern Ohio; access via Interstate 70. Best time to go: Fall.

Terrain/scenery: Deep forests, rolling hills, and open farm lands.

Trail access: Riders are allowed only on designated horse trails; park in the Station Rd. lot.

Horse camping: None; day use only. There are several places to camp with your horse outside the park, such as West Branch State Park Campground and Mosquito Lake State Park Campground.

Glacier National Park

Location: Northwestern corner of Montana, along the spine of the Rocky Mountains.

Best time to go: Summer.

Terrain/scenery: Pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and shimmering lakes

Trail access: Most trails are open to horses; check maintenance and river-crossing status before your trip.

Horse camping: Backcountry camping is allowed with a permit. There are also several places to camp with your

horse outside the park, such as Glacier Meadow RV Park, and Johnson’s of St. Mary RV Park and Campground.

Grand Canyon National Park

Location: Northeast Arizona, bordering Nevada. Best time to go: Spring and fall.

Terrain/scenery: Desert, mountain, and rocky trails.

Trail access: Riders are allowed on a few designated trails on the North and South Rims with permit; check in with Backcountry Information Center.

Horse camping: You may camp with your horse at the North Rim Horse Camp, South Rim Horse Camp, Bright Angel Campground (near Phantom Ranch), and Cottonwood Campground.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Location: Central Colorado, 35 miles northeast of Alamosa.

Best time to go: Fall.

Terrain/scenery: Alpine tundra, forests, massive dunes, grasslands, and wetlands.

Trail access: Riders are allowed in most areas. Use the horse trailer parking area at the beginning of the Medano Pass Primitive Road. If full, use the amphitheater parking lot nearby.

Horse camping: In the national park, you may camp with horses at the Little Medano, Aspen, Cold Creek, and Sand Creek backcountry campsites. You may also camp in the Great Sand Dunes Wilderness, beyond the first high ridge of dunes. When you reserve a permit through recreation. gov, in the comment section, request a parking change from the Dunes Parking Lot to Horse Parking.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Location: This national park is located in the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.

Best time to go: Fall.

Terrain/scenery: Ridge upon ridge of seemingly endless forests, misty mountains, rushing rivers, and cascading waterfalls.

Trail access: Riders are allowed on 550 miles of designated trails and designated campsites; obtain a park trail map.

Horse camping: Drive-in camps with backcountry access are located at Cades Cove (Anthony Creek), Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom, and Towstring.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Location: West Texas, 110 miles east of El Paso.

Best time to go: Fall and spring. In late October and early November, McKittrick Canyon sports beautiful fall colors. Terrain/scenery: Mountain vistas, desert flora, rocky canyons, riparian oases, lush forest.

Trail access: Sixty percent of the trails are open to stock use. Trails open to horses include the Foothills, Frijole, Bush Mountain, Marcus, McKittrick Canyon, El Capitan, and Salt Basin Overlook trails. See park website for restrictions.

Horse-camping facilities: Camping is authorized for overnight horse users only at the visitor corrals, with a permit. Reserve a horse corral and campsite at Frijole Horse Corral Campground or Dog Canyon Campground in advance of your visit.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Location: South-central Kentucky.

Best time to go: Fall.

Terrain/scenery: Woods, rugged mountains, and rivers.

Trail access: Riders are allowed on 60 miles of trails north of Green River. Trails range from wide, smooth dirt paths where two riders can travel together to single-file ridgeline trails. For day rides, head to the north side of the park, and park your trailer at any of these trailheads: First Creek, Lincoln, Maple Springs, or Temple Hill.

Horse camping: Horse camping is permitted at the Maple Springs Group Campground.

Mount Rainer National Park

Location: West-central Washington, just outside of Ashford.

Best time to go: Summer.

Terrain/scenery: Meadows, old-growth forests, and stunning views of Mount Rainier. Be alert for rough terrain and difficult river crossings, and elevation changes.

Trail access: Riders can access extensive trail network, including a 20-mile portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (a long-distance permit is required), a portion of the Laughingwater Creek Trail, and trails in the Three Lakes stock camp with a wilderness permit.

Horse camping: You may camp in primitive sites within the park. Close to the park, you can camp at Sahara Creek Horse Camp, which offers access to the Nicholson Horse Trail System. Reservations and a Washington State Discover Pass are required.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Location: Northeast Colorado, about 55 miles northwest of Denver. The park is flanked by Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west.

Best time to go: Summer and fall.

Terrain/scenery: From grassy meadows to alpine lakes and towering mountain peaks.

Trail access: Riders are allowed on 260 miles of trails and at Glacier Creek Stables.

Horse camping: You may camp in one of the established backcountry sites designated for stock use, with a permit. There are several places to camp with your horse outside the park, such as East Portal Campground at Estes Park and Winding River Resort in Grand Lake.

Yellowstone National Park

Location: Where Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho meet.

Best time to go: Summer.

Terrain/scenery: Rugged mountains, open meadows, and dense forests.

Trail access: Popular equestrian trails include the Beaver Ponds Loop Trail, and the trail to Dunanda Falls and Silver Scarf Falls.

Horse camping: Overnight backcountry camping is allowed after July 1 in designated sites with permit; obtain a Backcountry Trip Planner. There are several places to camp with your horse outside the park, such as the Yellowstone Valley Inn, Yellowstone Park-Mountainside KOA in West Yellowstone, and Headwaters Campground & RV Park.

Yosemite National Park

Location: The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range of Northern California.

Best time to go: Summer.

Terrain/scenery: Deep valleys, meadows, ancient sequoias, forests, and waterfalls.

Trail access: Riders are allowed on most of Yosemite’s 800 miles of designated trails (with some exceptions) and marked bridle paths on the valley floor.

Horse camping: Camp at Bridalveil Creek Campground or Wawona Campground. Note that Tuolumne Meadows is closed until 2025 for major renovations. You may also camp in designated backcountry sites with a permit.

Yellowstone National Park

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

PHOTOS BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

Comfort & Convenience

Traveling Saddle Stand

Portable Corral

Travel N Corrals’ lightweight panels allow you to build a portable stall right next to your trailer in less than 15 minutes. With each panel weighing just 15 pounds, you can load up the corral for travel and assemble it at your destination without assistance. Panels are built from one-inch galvanized roundsteel tubing for durability; all joints are welded for strength. Panels are connected every 7 feet with a 4-foot steel pipe rod. Make a gate wherever the panels interlock by removing the pin. Single horse and double horse corrals are available, in sizes ranging from 13-by-13 feet to 18-by-18 feet.

This handy item by Horse Fare Products, available from SmartPak Equine, LLC , is a tote and travel saddle stand in one. Its light weight, compact design, and cut-out grips make for easy handling. The stand’s beautiful spruce wood is enhanced by a special dark-walnut stain. The stand weighs 21 pounds and stands at 24 by 24 inches.

Calming Supplement

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

Water Caddy

Carry 48 gallons of fresh water on your next road trip with the Half Moon Hayrack Water Caddy, created by High Country Plastics. Made from FDA-approved polyethylene, the tank is designed to fit on your trailer’s roof hay rack. An aluminum drain insert ensures the drainattachment spot will never break, sun rot, or fail. Each tank comes with a hose kit and shut-off valve for ground-level draining and refilling. Fits most standard hay racks.

Hurricane Emergency

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

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

By Carolyn And David Chapman

We’re active competitors and volunteers with the North American Trail Ride Conference (the national sponsoring body for timed, judged competitive trail rides), and always look forward to these events. NATRC rides open the door for us to ride and compete in some amazing areas of our country.

Our travel to these events is usually long distance, since we live in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on the Gulf of Mexico. We’ve logged many miles traveling to Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky on a regular basis, so having USRider Equestrian Motor Plan in our back pockets offers us a safety net like no other.

Stressed Out

One year, we were in north Georgia for a NATRC event. We had to unexpectedly pull out of the competition, because a hurricane in the Gulf changed directions and was headed toward our home.

We heard that authorities were closing Interstate 65, which meant our way home would soon be cut off, so travel time was critical. We were stressed out as it was, so when we had two tire blowouts, you can just imagine our dilemma.

We called USRider. They first asked us whether we and our horses were okay. Then they found a wrecking service with the tires we needed. >>

PHOTO BY LINDA TOUPS

“Thank you, USRider, for making traveling to the trails so easy!” write the Chapmans. The

Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

As soon as the tires were changed, we got back on the road toward home.

This was just the beginning of the support system that USRider offered us that day. We were amazed that they were able to reach us so quickly through all the evacuation traffic.

Courteous & Caring

We’ve needed to use USRider’s services on a number of other occasions—once when we didn’t even have the horses with us—and we’ve always received the same courteous, caring results.

We’re 100 percent satisfied with our membership, and the USRider staff has always been 100 percent professional. This means a lot to us, because traveling with animals on an interstate or in an unfamiliar area can be very stressful.

Sometimes, just knowing that you have people waiting to help you can really make a difference. Thank you, USRider, for making our equestrian travels so easy! USR

couple is shown trail riding in

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

PHOTO BY LINDA TOUPS

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLYN AND DAVID CHAPMAN

USRider® Insurance Services

Trust the company you count on for being responsive and responsible with your horse on the road with all of your equine-insurance needs. USRider’s no-hassle insurance products provide you with overall peace of mind to insure your equestrian lifestyle.

• Equine Mortality & Theft Coverage. For a horse owner, the loss of a beloved animal can be devastating both emotionally and financially. And while equine mortality insurance can’t diminish the grief of losing a horse, it can help to soften the economic impact. We offer several flexible coverage options, because we know that horses (and their owners) are unique. Our Equine Risk Mortality & Theft coverage is a comprehensive policy that reimburses you for the death, theft, and humane destruction of a covered horse.

• Comprehensive Equine Liability. Comprehensive Horse Liability insurance coverage protects anyone with a horse-related business against third-party liability lawsuits, including riding instructors and independent trainers.

• Equi-Farm Package. If you own a horse farm, this package combines property and liability insurance to fully protect your home, household contents, barns, sheds, owned machinery, equipment, tack, livestock, and horse operation, on and off premises.

• Private Horse Owner Liability. If you own horses and aren’t involved in a commercial equine business, this insurance protects you if someone claims your horse caused their bodily injury or damaged their property, even if your horse is kept at an independently owned stable.

• Horse Clubs & Associations Liability. This liability policy can provide the protection your club may need for owned or leased premises, public event days, and club functions.

• Commercial Umbrella Liability. Commercial Umbrella Liability provides extra protection for catastrophic events when you’ve exceeded the limits of your commercial liability or commercial auto policy.

Following is a rundown of equine-insurance policies offered by USRider. (Note: Not all coverages are available in all states.) For links to more information and to apply online, click here. Or call (800) 50-HORSE (504-6773), or send an email to protectionplus@markeldirect.com.

USRider’s no-hassle insurance products provide you with overall peace of mind to insure your equestrian lifestyle.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Prevent a Blowout

Here are expert ways to help prevent trailer-tire blowouts. (For what to do in the event of a blowout despite your best efforts, see Skill Set this issue.)

■ Invest in high-quality tires. Use high-quality trailer tires that are correctly rated for the weight you are hauling.

■ Check tire condition. Regularly check the tires for appropriate tread depth and bubbles or misshapen areas on the surface and walls. Look for any evidence of the tire being cut or pierced by road debris.

Regularly check the tires for appropriate tread depth and bubbles or misshapen areas on the surface and walls.

■ Rotate the tires. Regularly rotate tires on your trailer and towing vehicle.

■ Check tire pressure. Check the air pressure in the tires whenever you stop. Inflate the tires to the

level of pressure recommended by the manufacturer.

■ Consider an odometer. Consider placing a tire odometer on your trailer to keep track of the mileage between scheduled maintenance.

■ Check the braking system. Your trailer’s emergency breakaway braking system should have a battery located on the nose of the hitch in a tag-along (bumper pull) trailer or behind the nose of a gooseneck. Make sure there’s a cable from the switch to your tow vehicle, again attached to the frame. This cable is designed to lock the brakes on your trailer if the hitch and safety chains fail.

■ Check your vehicle’s tow rating. The biggest contributor to turning a simple blown tire into a trailer accident is a mismatch between the size of the vehicle and the size and weight of the trailer. The weight, engine power, and torque of an appropriately sized vehicle will allow you to control and counteract trailer sway or vibration, especially if a tire blows out.

■ Be aware of hitching weight. With a gooseneck, much of the weight is on the hitch and the towing vehicle’s rear axle. With a tag-along, there’s less weight on the hitch, so the horses’ shifting weight can make the trailer sway. The amount of weight on the hitch can change significantly as the horses shift or after a tire blows out.

■ Weigh your trailer. At a truck stop, weigh your loaded towing vehicle and trailer, then weigh just your tow vehicle, and sub-

tract to get the weight of your trailer. It may surprise you how heavy your trailer is with all your stuff in it.

■ Maintain the trailer axles/ springs. Your trailer should have at least two axles. That way, if a tire fails, you’ll have the other to temporarily support the weight of the load. Regularly make sure there are no bent axles or broken springs that would compromise your trailer’s integrity.

■ Maintain the wheel bearings. Make sure the wheel bearings are greased and packed.

■ Use the right safety chains. Safety chains should be as recommended by the manufacturer and strong enough to keep your trailer attached to your tow vehicle in case of a hitch uncoupling.

■ Increase visibility. To increase your rig’s visibility in the event of a blowout, place reflective tape on the back of your trailer, and make sure all lights are in good working condition.

■ Hitch up right. Cross the safety chains, and attach them to your

>> With a gooseneck, much of the weight is on the hitch and your towing vehicle’s rear axle. This weight can change significantly as the horses shift or after a tire blows out.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Safety chains should be as recommended by the manufacturer and strong enough to keep your trailer attached to your tow vehicle in case of a hitch uncoupling.

tow vehicle’s frame or a manufactured receiver. Both gooseneck and tag-along trailers should have these chains in place so that your rig can survive the sudden weight shift of a blowout.

■ Load up right. With a straightload trailer configuration, load a single horse into the left-hand

When you turn, take as much room as possible to prevent dragging a locked tire on pavement (especially with a gooseneck trailer) and scraping the sides of the tire along the curb.

stall to balance the weight on the crown of the road.

■ Drive carefully. Drive the speed limit, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and be a defensive driver. When possible, stay in the right lane so you’ll be able to quickly shift into the emergency lane.

■ Turn with care. When you turn, take as much room as possible to prevent dragging a locked tire on pavement (especially with a gooseneck trailer) and scraping the sides of the tire along the curb.

— Tom Scheve & Neva Kittrell Scheve, Equispirit Trailers

PHOTOS BY HEIDI MELOCCO