NEW MEXICO HORSES
RIDES
TRAINING
PEOPLE
PLACES
New Mexico JUNE/JULY 2017
TRAILS GALORE! MANZANOS SANTA FE RAIL GILA'S MIDDLE FORK GOLD HILL HORSESHOE LAKE SERPENT LAKE LA TIERRA
SPOOK LESS
TIPS TO TACKLE TRAILS WITH CONFIDENCE
&
NAVIGATION BASICS NOTICING YOUR HORSE'S PAIN ON THE TRAIL RX ARENA OBSTACLE HOW-TO LIFE LESSONS FROM THE TRAIL
FREE! / TRAIL RIDING ISSUE / NEW AND EXCITING PLACES TO RIDE / KEEP ALL YEAR!
TRAIL RIDING ISSUE
NEW TRAILS / BACKCOUNTRY NAVIGATION / REDUCING SPOOKINESS
FEATURES
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17 Ride The Santa Fe Rail Trail 19 Try The Improved La Tierra Trail This multi-use trail allows for safer riding with bikes
20 Life Lessons From The Trail A philosophical look at what trail riding teaches us
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22 A View From The Top Three high-elevation rides near Taos
24 Bosque Peaks Trail In The Manzanos
Not a cake walk, but plenty of history and views
26 Don't Get Lost
Navigation basics for safer trail riding
28 Gila On My Mind 29 Take It Easy
How to reduce reactivity on the trail
32 Arena Obstacles
They can help you go down the trail
34 How To Identify Pain In Your Horse Here are common signs
PLUS
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35 Horse Services Directory 38 June / July Events
36 How To Handle Bleeding Injuries 39 Vacation / Travel Directory Horse Around New Mexico is printed six times per year: Feb/Mar, Apr/May, Jun/Jul, Aug/Sep, Oct/Nov, & Dec/Jan. Submissions of articles and photos from all around NM are welcome! See our website or email/call for submission standards/deadlines: www.horsearoundnm.com, HorseNewMexico@gmail.com, 505-570-7377. Horse Around New MexicoŠ2017. All rights reserved. Horse Around New Mexico and Horsearoundnm.com are copyrighted, trademarked, and the sole property of Cecilia Kayano. Individual content copyright belongs to the author. All the opinions expressed herein are the sole opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect bias or belief on the part of the editor, publisher, distributors, printer, advertisers, or other contributors.
In mid 2016 a few friends and I embarked on a mission to ride all of New Mexico's 26 wilderness areas. I thought riding wildernesses would be a matter of getting the list, getting the directions, finding out about trails/ camping, riding the wilderness, then checking off the list. But after my first ride with a heightened awareness of what wilderness means, my goal quickly changed. It became not about conquering and checking off a list, and all about being present and grappling to understand the nature of nature and how I fit in here on Planet Earth. Peggy Conger and I rode into the Manzano Mountains Wilderness in late 2016. I had ridden this loop a few times before, but for the first time, I read the sign at the Albuquerque Trail head. It told how the US Congress designated the Manzano Wilderness in 1978, and that it encompasses over 36,000 acres. A map showed how we would depart on national forest land, then cross into the specified wilderness as we approached the crest. The Wilderness Act was signed into law in 1964. It recognizes wilderness as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. It is an area retaining its primeval character and influence without permanent improvements or human habitation." So Peggy and I would be entering untrammeled land with a primeval character. When we crossed into the wilderness, the scrub oaks were turning golden. There was not another human on the crest. We could almost feel the existence of bears nearby. This ride was different than my previous rides. I felt a new awareness and awe of this unique place on the planet. The deeper my ventures into the wilderness, the more I understand what untrammeled and primeval mean. A few years ago, I did a solo ride into the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness from Dog Canyon Campground, just across the New Mexico/Texas border. I read the sign at the trail head that led to the McKittrick Ridge. "This is an area...of diversity, stark beauty and primeval character. The forces of nature prevail here." Now I have a better grasp of what this means. Recently I went on a pack trip with Celia Cook into the Gila Wilderness along the Middle Fork. We were eight miles in when we camped. I don't know if it felt so "primeval" because of my awareness that people of the Mongollon culture lived there over 700 years ago, or if the sound of the river and the solitude made me feel like we were existing in a different, ancient time. Celia Cook, in her article on page 28, describes the experience: "We are out of place yet at home in this wild landscape." That feeling of being "at home," as a creature of the earth, cared for by the earth, respectful and aware of the power of the earth and its creatures, that's what it feels like to be embraced by wilderness. What if wilderness areas did not exist? I know I have been profoundly changed by my forays into the wild. I know that these experiences have given me an inner peace that I can draw upon during difficult times. Wendell Berry, noted novelist, poet, and environmental activist, explains our desire to experience nature in its wildest form by saying, "Going into the wild places has little to do with recreation and much to do with creation." I think this means that with each venture into the wilderness, a part of us is created anew.
Cecilia Kayano Peggy Conger and Joey in the Manzano Mountains Wilderness.
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New Mexico Editor/Publisher CECILIA KAYANO Associate Editor PEGGY CONGER Facebook/Events SUSIE SPICER Manager Contributing Writers ROLIEFF ANNON & Photographers STACIE G. BOSWELL PAIGE BRANDON CELIA COOK MATT COULOMBE JOHNNY MACARTHUR PAM MACARTHUR MANNY MAES GABRIELLA MARKS TA-WILLOW ROMERO SUSAN SMITH WENDY TUCKER Sta Writers & EVALYN BEMIS Photographers KAREN LEHMANN Graphic Design/Layout MARIE ANTHONY Advertising & Sales FREE Events Listing
HORSENEWMEXICO@GMAIL.COM EVENTSHORSEAROUND@GMAIL.COM
Subscriptions $30/YR MAIL CHECK TO:
HANM * PO BOX 367* PECOS * NM 87552 OR PURCHASE ONLINE AT:
www.horsearoundnm.com Next Issue: Ranch & Traditions Well-written, informative articles and high-resolution photos are welcome. Submissions will be considered and are subject to editing. The next issue, the Ranch & Traditions Issue, will appear at New Mexico outlets on August 1, 2017. The deadline for submissions is June 20, 2017. The deadline for ads is July 5, 2017. For information contact Cecilia Kayano, HANM Editor, 505-570-7377, HorseNewMexico@gmail.com, www.horsearoundnm.com
Need more trail riding details, horsey events and equine inspiration? Check out our expanded Facebook page. Make sure to like us! COVER: Celia Cook rides Fahil in the Pecos Wilderness with Trailriders Wall in the background. This trail can be accessed from Jack's Creek Campground. Photo by Cecilia Kayano.
Rōni “I’ve owned and ridden horses most of my life. I know what is important to horse owners. Let me help you find your dream horse property.” CRS, ABR, Broker Associate
Are you looking to buy or sell a horse property? For the best results, consult a horse property specialist. Call Rōni today!
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ENCHANTED HOMES REAL ESTATE 505.944.2490
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3108 sf home on 5.6 acres. Beautiful house has massive windows for Manzano Mountain viewing. Soaring ceilings and aspen-covered walls lend beauty to 5 www.horsearoundnm.com | June/July | HORSE AROUND the great room. There is a separate guest suite with private entrance. Three stall barn with Priefert stalls and roomy,2017 enclosed hay storage area. Separate grain/storage shed. Approx. 2.5 acres fenced for horses with access to thousands more acres to enjoy.
they look to you for the best of care Western Trails Veterinary Hospital is the best choice for excellent horse, cattle and pet care in the East Mountains. WORRIED ABOUT RATTLESNAKES? CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE VACCINATIONS:
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Pet cremation keeps them close to the heart ...so the memories never fade. When your beloved horse or pet dies, it is a traumatic time. Let Albuquerque Pet Memorial Service be there for you and your pet. We are the only family owned and operated animal cremation service in New Mexico. We are animal lovers, and promise to treat your pet with the dignity and respect it deserves. THIS MEANS:
We empathize
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We are respectful We understand
your need to keep your pet’s remains close by, or scatter them at a meaningful place. We offer a wide selection of urns, and can engrave them with words of comfort. Albuquerque Pet Memorial Service is owned by Kelly and Dave Gifford. Pictured here is Kelly with the couple’s Iceland Horse Ani and pet Sophie.
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Custom Saddles by County of England
Custom Saddles by McCall
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Hal Burns is the premier truck, RV and trailer specialist in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. • Diesel and gas engines service, tune ups & repairs OUR . .. S IE T L • Horse trailer repairs & SPECIA safety checks
We will meet all of your mechanical needs with factory-trained personnel. 14 Camino Charro, Santa Fe
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Four Corners Equine Rescue “Rescuing horses from perilous situations.”
Four Corners Equine Rescue, located in Aztec, NM, has been giving horses second chances for over 12 years. Please come visit us to see our herd of adoptable horses. Check out our website to find out how you can make life better for horses by adopting, volunteering, sponsoring, or making a tax-deductible donation.
www.FourCornersEquineRescue.org
HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
505-334-7220
0843_Morton_112.qxp_Layout 1 3/2/17 9:37 AM Page 1
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To learn more and to get started on your project, contact Morton Buildings today. ©2017 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses. NM License #016516 Reference Code 043
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You Will Ride Better With Massage:
• Relieve tight muscles so • Reduce ride recovery time. you can move easily with • Improve your posture while your horse's motion. you are on & off your horse. • Decrease muscle soreness • Improve range of motion for & pain in hips, knees, etc. more stability & balance.
“
I am an avid horsewoman. Jennifer’s massage technique makes it easier for me to ride. My horse appreciates the changes in my body as much as I do! -- Nancy Freshour, Equestrian
Medicine Massage, Jennifer Black
LMT #7103 Albuquerque, NM Call Jennifer Black to schedule a massage. Jennifer owns two horses, rides regularly, and specializes in massage for equestrians.
”
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VETERINARY SUPPLY Paul’s
You’ll Be Trail-Ready At
Paul’s Veterinary Supply GOING ON A TRAIL RIDE WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS THIS SUMMER? We have a large assortment of Easy Care boots to help your horse be more comfortable on the trails!
Who wants to go on a trail ride?
2 Stores in New Mexico!
Krissy and Hunter have plenty of trail riding gear suggestions!
Paul’s Veterinary Supply is known for our friendly, knowledgeable customer service! Have a horse care question? Stop by and ask!
3825 Osuna NE, Albuquerque
505-341-9401
2005 SE Main, Roswell
575-624-2123
Ride the Magnificent Gila Wilderness!
•Adventure horseback pack trips in the Gila and the amazing Arizona Blue Wilderness! •Archaeology expeditions–explore hidden cliff dwellings. •Family wilderness trips–fun and adventure. •Backcountry mule and horsemanship training– leave the trail head behind and explore!
575-519-8569
Utrail.com
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M ou nted Body Balance™ f or you and your horse
Sessions, lessons and classes available Susan Smith is founder of Equine Body Balance™, non-force, sustainable bodywork that addresses joint restrictions, soft tissue, organs, fluids, behavior & much more. * associate instructor * advanced practitioner Ortho-BionomyR. Equine Positional Releasetm practitioner. Founder Horses at Liberty Foundation Training™ – Open Bond - Online – OnBoard™ lifelong partnership between you and your horse. www.susansmithsantafe.com, info@susansmithsantafe.com 505-501-2478 www.horsearoundnm.com | June/July 2017 | HORSE AROUND
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Trust Us To Meet Your Horse’s Needs Horses, Horse Care & Horsemanship aren’t just our job
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www.horsearoundnm.com | June/July 2017 | HORSE AROUND
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Buying or selling horse property? Let Annette Wood, a horse owner and avid trail rider, help you.
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Rio Ruidoso horse property on 38 acres for your western lifestyle. Beautiful custom 3-bedroom 2-bath home with hickory cabinets, granite, hand-hewn floors, top of the line appliances, fireplace, surround sound & beautiful wood accent beams. Property includes a remodeled guest house with 1 bedroom and 2 baths, 63x28 metal shop, 52x52 barn and 140x300 roping arena. Numerous pens with loafing sheds, traps & pastures. Two wells and 4 RV hook-ups. $985,000
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Beautiful custom 3-bedroom, 2-bath home on over 4 1/2 acres is the perfect mini ranch, with views of White Sands National Monument and the Organ Mountains. Sunsets galore and plenty of room to entertain off the spacious deck overlooking the ranch and the gorgeous LaBorcita canyon. This property is pristine and the home is turn-key ready. Nice horse facilities includes a horse barn, turnouts, storage sheds and an indoor swimming pool! Off the home is a very grassy, fully-fenced back yard for your smaller pets. $399,000 HORSE AROUND | June/Julynice, 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Real Broker, LLC
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What’s Happening at
4 Winds Equestrian Center!!! Beth Beymer from Starfire Farm, Berthoud Colorado June 23, 24 & 25, 2017
Another Great Josh Armstrong Cow Clinic July 15 & 16, 2017
Buckaroo Balance with Christina Savitsky August 12 & 13, 2017
Lee Smith returns For another great clinic September 2017
And There is So Much More at 4 Winds Equestrian Center!!!
Vacation Boarding -for a few days or a few months - We board while you relax Recuperative Boarding - Got a horse with special health or care needs? We can help! Full Time-Year Round Boarding - Stalls, Paddocks or Pasture Lease N Learn - Get started in horses without all the costs! We provide the horse tack and two free lessons to get you in the saddle this summer
Call 4 Winds Equestrian Center At: 505-384-1831 Visit our Website at: 4windsequestriancenter.com Email us at: 4windsec@qwestoffice.net
HOME FOR RENT
Older 2-bedroom farmhouse on 800 acres. Three miles from Las Vegas, New Mexico. City water, propane heat and electrical heat.
Prefer mature single/retired person. OK for one horse, dog, cat. Riding & walking just outside the front door! Two national forests just minutes away! Available July 2017. $1500 per month, does not include electric/propane.
CONTACT LISA: 505-429-8494
HORSE PROPERTY FOR SALE $239,900
3 bedroom, 2 bath on 1 plus acres 20 minutes from Santa Fe. Home has fireplace, Saltillo tile, carpet and deck. The land has large corrals, custom pipe, 5 covered stalls with runs, large turn out/arena, large hay storage, insulated tack room.
Call 505-350-8333 or email: wendyw@loaltucker.com
YOU ARE INVITED Loal Tucker and his family would like to thank all of their SUPPORTERS AND THE HORSE COMMUNITY. Please come to the Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc.
OPEN HOUSE & BARBECUE:
SATURDAY JUNE 24, 11-3 48 CERRO ALTO RD, LAMY
n COMPLIMENTARY FOOD/BEVERAGES PREPARED BY WHOLE HOG BARBECUE n MUSIC BY CACTUS SLIM AND THE GOAT HEADS Please come and visit with Loal and tour this premiere equine facility, open for boarding! FACEBOOK: LOAL TUCKER HORSEMANSHIP 505.466.3961
16 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
RIDE THE RAIL TRAIL
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY EVALYN BEMIS
Rolle Red Beans and Booker T survey the train trestle that crosses Arroyo Hondo, which is of their favorite places for a thrilling gallop.
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For years equestrians have been enjoying riding along the narrow-gauge rail line that runs from downtown Santa Fe to the Amtrak station at Lamy, waving at the occasional slowmoving train chugging by. We felt like this unique trail was our private domain. When Santa Fe County acquired the right-of-way and announced plans to improve the trails, we were apprehensive. Turns out there was no need to worry. The western side of the tracks now has an elegantly engineered and constructed pathway that accommodates bikers, riders, runners and dog-walkers. On the eastern side we still have our smaller, unimproved trail which meanders among the pinons and junipers, giving a bike-free option for horseback riders. www.horsearoundnm.com | June/July 2017 | HORSE AROUND
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Trails upgraded
The first phase of trail work undertaken by the county consisted of “connecting the dots” from the rail yard in downtown Santa Fe to the city limits, with most of that portion paved and flashing lights at crossings. Next came grading, widening and putting down a base material on the trail from the end of St. Francis to the junction with the Spur Trail (which connects to the Santa Fe Community College and was built by the Santa Fe Conservation Trust). I feared that this work was not an improvement for horseback riders, as it enabled bicyclists to speed by with no understanding for the spooky temperament of horses.
Concern for horses
Fortunately, someone realized that while one problem had been solved, another had been created. With funds for more trail work coming from the DOT, rigorous design standards were applied and safety issues addressed. Instead of eliminating curves and filling in all bumps and ruts, a new, meandering trail was fashioned and speed humps were installed. The humps are designed to slow bicyclists in the slopes and curves, and to direct water off the trail.
Bike-free option for horses
The footing is slightly raised, again with the aim of draining water to the sides, and has held up very well. The trail rides downhill in both directions, or at least seems so whether you are on a horse or bike. Bicyclists have learned to give way to the riders, and in turn riders often choose to stay on the unimproved portion of the trail on the “wrong” side of the tracks. We like our rougher terrain and the bikers like not dodging road apples. The trains almost never venture away from the station anymore, so the tracks have become overgrown, and there are no kids waving from the open windows of the passenger cars or engineers blowing the horn at the few rail crossings.
Out & back or trailer
LEFT: Underpasses, trail trestles, and crossings give horse and rider opportunities to build trust. RIGHT: Kathy Newcomb rides her 13-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse, Rio, across tracks. ride with your trailer. The best places to leave a trailer are at the cul-de-sac on Nine Mile Road or at either of the two Eldorado trail heads. As with any excursion, be sure someone knows where you are going and approximately when you expect to return. Taking a cellphone along is advisable, along with a water bottle and a whistle. Wear a helmet – your brain is more important to protect than your hairstyle.
If you are lucky you might spot some wildlife, such as coyote, pronghorn antelope, jackrabbits, and hawks. Very rarely there are prairie rattlers and western diamondbacks along the trail but they want to be left alone so give them a wide berth. I have only seen two in 40 years of riding this country. More common are bull snakes and coach whips, which might startle but not hurt you.
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Evalyn Bemis is a lifelong equestrian who continues to learn from every horse she meets. View her photography online by searching Evalyn Bemis Photography.
SHARING THE TRAIL WITH HORSES AND CYCLISTS BY HORSE AROUND MAGAZINE Riding on a multi-use trail can be frightening for horse and rider, and rightly so! Bicyclists can be virtually noise-free, giving you and your horse very little warning. Add a hill, and limited sight distances, and it could be disastrous for all. Here are tips for equestrians and cyclists: 1. Bike riders and equestrians should both be aware that they are on multi-use trails. Check the parking lot for vehicles with bike racks, and check for fresh tire tracks on the trails. Bicyclists should do the same: Check for horse trailers and watch for fresh hoof prints and manure. 2. Most bicyclists know that horses have the right-of-way, but riders should not assume that every cyclist knows this. It is not only courteous, but safer for all, for cyclists to get over to the side and dismount to let horses pass. Talking to the horse/rider will also lessen the chance of the horses spooking. A horse not familiar with trail riding may not immediately recognize a cyclist standing by his/her bike as a human.
From beginning to end, the line is approximately 17 miles long. It is possible to leave a trailer at several access points and you can make a round trip, or have a friend meet you at the end of your 18 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
3. Dirt bikes need special precautions. Riders can hear a dirt bike approaching and get off the trail. However if the dirt biker pulls over, stops the bike and dismounts to let horses pass by, the re-start of the engine can greatly startle the horses. Riders should ask dirt bikers to wait for several minutes before re-starting. 4. Take caution on hills and blind curves. Cyclists should not wear ear buds on shared trails, and slow down when going downhill, especially on blind curves. Riders should pay attention, not talk to friends, and watch their horses' behavior for signs of an oncoming bike. Both should ride to the far right, and have an emergency "exit plan" if they suddenly encounter the other. If a horse stops and lifts its head and ears, the rider should immediately get off the trail and yell "HORSE" at unheeding bicyclists. 5. Riders and cyclists should let each other know if and how many others are following behind them.
A TRAIL WITH A PLAN
La Tierra Trail Area
A Place Where Horses, Bicycles and Dirt Bikes Can All Get Along
L
Less than five minutes and three miles from the Santa Fe Plaza is a beautifully designed trail system – La Tierra Trails off NM 599. Horsemen and motorcycles have blazed trails through this area for years. Five years a go, the city of Santa Fe adopted a Master Plan to build a formal trail system with designated parking. It is still a well kept secret, well worth trying! La Tierra boasts 25 miles of multi-use and single track trails not counting the arroyos which are predominantly used by horseback riders. The arroyos tie into ridge trails providing a wonderful riding loop with a variety of terrains and scenery. The widest trails are narrower than jeep roads with the exception of the power line road. The trails wind up and down hills with 350 vertical feet of elevation over 1500 acres. This area provides plenty of options for the horseback riders. You can go cross country through arroyos to experience more solitude and shade. The trails are thoughtfully laid out with great signage, ample parking and vista views of White Rock, Caja Plateau and the Sangre de Cristos. The city of Santa Fe gave careful consideration to the parking lot designs to avoid crowding, and distribute usage across three trailheads: Frijoles, La Cuchara and Calabasas.
ARTICLE BY SUE MURPHY PHOTO BY MANNY MAES
Horse trailer parking is designated at the Frijoles Trailhead. A 4-horse might navigate the lot, but a longer rig might be challenged. Three trailer parking spots have been specified for horse trailers, and more could be pulled in across diagonal parking spaces. Trail access points have equestrian walk-over logs. To get to the Frijoles Trailhead get on the Santa Fe Relief Route, 599. On the north end of 599, turn northwest on Camino De los Montoyas. Go 1/4 mile and look for the trail head and parking area on the left.
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Sue Murphy is a retired Wall Street Executive who hikes and trail rides throughout New Mexico. She also is a volunteer with Santa Fe City and County trails maintenance groups.
Julie Belt rides her horse Rocky over an entrance log to access the La Tierra Trail.
A Multi-Use Area, Built With Horses in Mind
The La Tierra Trail System is unique because it includes an ATV/motocross track off 599, which does not impact the trails system. The city also built a bicycle skills park. Creating specific areas for multiple user groups has helped give horseback riders, bicyclists and motorcyclists their own areas to enjoy. As a result horseback riders can ride in a safer way, the amount of motorcycle riding on the BLM land down to the Rio Grande, and the creation of self-made bike jumps on and off trails has been greatly reduced.
HOW YOU CAN HELP KEEP NM TRAILS OPEN TO HORSES BY THE SANTA FE HORSE COALITION
New Mexico's public lands offer hundreds of thousands of acres of unrivaled beauty for you and your horse to explore. Yet, our right to ride on these trails is at risk of being denied. There is pressure to prohibit horses from trails, citing trail degradation and user conflict as reasons. One way to help preserve trails for horse use is to create and maintain multi-use trails. This requires equestrians to work alongside other trail users to show we can all get along in an effort to keep our public lands public. Your participation will also provide input so the trails will be safer for you and your horse. New Mexico is already home to some of the most spectacular trails in the USA. Let's work together to become a model for cooperation, keeping our heritage alive and horses on our trails. You can help by volunteering for the Santa Fe Horse Coalition (or your local trail building/maintenance group) to build and maintain multi-use trails. To volunteer in/around Santa Fe, mail your contact information to: juliabelt@gmail.com. bchnm.org
Trail riding is a great way to connect with nature and your inner self. Trail riding teaches everyone many things, whether they be about their horses, Mother Nature, or themselves. I am 14 years old, and have been trail riding for three years. Here is what it has taught me:
1.
Everyone has a different perspective. I could think a trail is tricky, another rider could think the trail is easy. We would both be correct. We do not all have the same perspective in a situation and we need to take that into account.
2. Pay attention and be in the moment. This applies to life. If you walk through life without paying attention, you will miss the greatest pleasures and mysteries life could hold. On the trail and
in life, it is important to take breaks, smell the roses and enjoy the view.
3. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow. It's all good. When riding with others, you may find yourself leading the pack instead of following. On another occasion, you could be following. Either way, it is good to learn to adapt and be a good leader and a good follower.
LifefromLessons the Saddle ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY PAIGE BRANDON
20 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
4. It's OK to retrace your steps. If you find yourself lost on the trail or in life, retrace your steps. Go back to a known, safe place when you go off course.
5. Make wise choices. There are many choices that have to be made when trail riding. What horse should I ride? What tack should I use? Where should I go? In life, there are constant choices. You have to choose every turn you want to take, and which path to travel on. Make choices that will keep you safe, and make you happy. Know that every choice has a consequence.
8. Try to learn something new every 6. When you empty your mind, the day. Being out on a trail means being answers will come. When out on a trail, we are normally in peace. We are calm because everything around us is calm. The trees are standing still with a small quiver in the leaves. We can sort out some of the toughest life decisions just by being quiet, calm, and allowing our minds to process. When I am out on a trail, I am able to forget everything and take a deep breath. I can look at a situation in a new light and think it through.
7.
Know thyself. Accept thyself. Sometimes, I ride by myself on the trail. These solo rides are different than rides with others. I always learn a lot about myself when I am alone.
exposed to new situations or seeing new things. We constantly learn new things about ourselves, our horses, and the wildlife around us. Our minds are open to new things because we are constantly seeing new things, especially when riding on a new trail. We need to be open to what others have to say and what new thing we could learn in a day. Every lesson we learn when we are on a trail ride can transfer to our everyday life. We can learn many lessons that can be applied to other activities. When we connect with ourselves, nature, animals, our horse, we are bound to learn important life lessons.
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Paige Brandon will be entering high school this year. She has been riding horses since she was ten, and works for the trail riding business Enchantment Equitreks. Paige also enjoys writing and photography, and plans to continue submitting her work to magazines and other publications.
Paige Brandon with her Appaloosa mare Sunrisa.
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A VIEW FROM THE TOP THREE HIGH-ELEVATION RIDES NEAR TAOS ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY PAM MACARTHUR
Our horses, Dulce and Feather, graze during a lunch break at Horseshoe Lake, about 11,950 feet elevation, in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness. This was the highest point on the ride. Our horses were ready for a break after a long climb.
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My husband Johnny and I have been riding on trails in the Taos area mountains since the early 1980s. We frequently act as trail bosses for the Taos Saddle Club on its monthly trail rides, and we also own a boarding stable, so we are often asked to suggest memorable rides for visitors to Taos. Our recommendation is always to ride in Taos’s spectacular wilderness areas. What we seek out in the wilderness is remoteness and solitude, the possibility that we can ride all day without encountering another person on the trail. We might be riding the same trails that were blazed by Eliot Barker and Aldo Leopold, New Mexico’s first wilderness advocates. We ride for the high country, gaining elevation by switchbacks on shaded trails to come out into glacial basins with small alpine lakes and grassy elk meadows, then heading higher on steeper rocky pitches that carry us above timberline, where we can look out and see the grand panorama of our mountain ranges. Some trails run in shaded canyons along clear mountain streams, where we can enjoy the challenge of crossing noisy rushing water, other trails climb through
ponderosas, then aspen groves, then dark timber and old growth forest, maybe with a few elk or deer in the shadows. Our horses take us to places we might not see otherwise.
traffic, including cars, trucks, all-terrain vehicles and bicycles, is prohibited. Wilderness trails are customarily single track, for use by hikers and horseback riders.
Taos County is fortunate to have thousands of acres of wildernessdesignated land located within the Carson National Forest. These unlogged, roadless, remote areas possess untrammeled beauty. Although there is some developed camping in the forest areas just outside the wilderness, there are no developed campsites within the wilderness. Primitive camping by horsepackers and backpackers is allowed. Wilderness land carries some special use restrictions that make it desirable for horseback riders, the most notable being that all vehicular
Here are three wilderness rides near Taos -- Gold Hill, Horseshoe Lake, and Serpent Lake -- that have good parking, good signage, and start at initial high elevation.
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Gold Hill
We take the Gold Hill ride early in the summer riding season. The snow is usually clear from the trail here earlier, and quite a bit of the ride is on south-facing slopes, which will be drier. This ride is in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness area within the Carson National Forest. The trailhead elevation
is about 9400 feet. The Long Canyon/ Gold Hill/ Bull of the Woods loop ride starts out from the upper Taos Ski Valley parking lot and rapidly turns into a wellmarked “horses only” trail parallel to the hiking trail. This lower trail section leading up to Long Canyon is steep, narrow, and rocky with tight switchbacks, before it rejoins the main streamside trail. The ride becomes less challenging once the two trails merge, with soft dirt sections of trail alternating with rocky areas. There are several downhill “pulloffs” where horses can water easily, and there is a nice rocky stream crossing, another good watering place, before the trail heads up the canyon. The Long Canyon trail is a moderate ascent through mixed conifer and aspen stands, climbing out into a glacial basin and then switchbacking up to a technical section of trail that runs through a magnificent stand of bristlecone pine, culminating in the open meadows at the base of Gold Hill. Riders looking for a grand view can choose to climb above timberline by following a distinct track on the shoulder of Gold Hill where there may be big horn sheep sharing the trail. From here, there are views of Taos Ski Valley, Wheeler Peak, Goose Lake, and the Valle Vidal in the distance. After descending from Gold Hill, the trail turns toward Bull of the Woods, and begins a gradual winding descent that runs through stands of mixed conifer and aspen. Water is available from an earth dam stock tank at Bull of the Woods Meadow, before the ride turns onto the road that leads back to the junction with the Long Canyon Trail, and on down to the trailhead and parking area. The loop trail is about 8.5 miles long. We are always on the lookout for summer thunderstorms on this ride: The high bare mountainside is not a safe place to be on horseback in a lightning storm.
Horseshoe Lake
The Horseshoe Lake and Lost Lake Trail is located in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area, with a trailhead beginning elevation of 9400 feet. There is roadside trailer parking at the crossing of the East Fork of the Red River and NM 578 with about a 20 minute ride to the Forest boundary and trailhead. Part of this ride is shared by bicycle riders
Johnny MacArthur on Feather and Melissa Deaver-Rivera on Royal T on Gold Hill, at about 12,200 feet elevation, in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness above Taos Ski Valley. as well as hikers and horseback riders, but the offshoot trail to Horseshoe Lake is closed to bicycles. This is a 13.5 mile loop that runs from the East Fork of the Red River, with the trail running beside the stream, through mixed conifer and aspen, alternating dirt sections and rocky sections, to Horseshoe Lake and then on to Lost Lake, traversing several mountainsides on scree trails before heading down a long descent following the Middle Fork of the Red River and back to the parking area. The views on this ride are incredibly beautiful, from Horseshoe Lake and its approach trail, the vista includes Mt. Walter, Wheeler Peak, Red Dome, Baldy Mountain near Philmont, and the Valle Vidal. I was thankful for a surefooted horse, and a fresh set of shoes on this ride, and I was careful not to look down on the narrow singletrack scree mountainside traverses. This is the most awe-inspiring wilderness ride I have ever been on, riding the heart of the Wheeler massif, while trusting my mare to keep her footing as we crossed the high backside of the mountain.
Serpent Lake
The Serpent Lake and Jicarita Ridge Ride is located in the north end of the Pecos Wilderness within the Carson National Forest. It is accessed from Forest Service Road 161, which begins on NM State Highway 518 (the road between Taos and Mora) and ends in the trailhead parking area for access to the Pecos Wilderness and the Serpent Lake Trail. The parking lot elevation is 10,400 feet.
Johnny MacArthur on Feather on the shoulder of Jicarita Peak, at about 12,400 elevation, in the north end of the Pecos Wilderness.
The trail can be alternately wet, dry, rocky and muddy, and it climbs through the Carson Forest before crossing into the Pecos Wilderness, where it comes out on a shoulder above Serpent Lake. The trail up to Jicarita Ridge is very rocky, with switchbacks and drop-offs, and is frequented by a herd of big horn sheep. There is a nice spring for watering horses about halfway up the trail to the ridgetop, and on top of the ridge, there are breathtaking views of Santa Barbara and Truchas Peaks. This view shows the layout of the Pecos complex’s canyons and ridgelines and makes the challenging ride up the Jicarita shoulder worthwhile. This ride is an up-and-back ride, and is about 9 miles total. Again the afternoon thunderstorms can come in quickly and can make the rocky trail slippery. For more information on the first two rides, check Saddle Up New Mexico, by John and Nina Buonaiuto-Cloyed. The Serpent Lake ride is detailed in the Taos Hiking Guide by Cindy Brown. Be sure you and your horse are prepared for high altitude riding. All three trails are fairly well marked, but it is a good idea to take a map for any high country area you plan to ride.
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Pam and Johnny MacArthur operate MacArthur Quarter Horse Boarding Stables in Ranchos de Taos and have been riding the mountains of northern New Mexico since the early 1980s. They are active members of the Taos Saddle Club and are involved in local trail and environmental organizations. Pam showed cutting horses in New Mexico and Colorado for many years, and still attends the NCHA Futurity every year in Fort Worth. Contact: 575-758-8366.
BosquePeaks Trail in the Manzanos THIS HISTORIC TRAIL IS NO CAKE WALK, BUT THE VIEWS AT THE TOP ARE ENDLESS...
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hat if I told you there’s a ride not much more than an hour from Albuquerque that comes with the following attractions: the ruins of a homestead settled at the very top of the Manzano Mountains, a pioneer cemetery, the wreck of a World War II vintage plane and breath-taking views? Wouldn’t you say “Why haven’t I heard of this before?” quickly followed by “Let’s go!” Well, that’s the thing about the Bosque Flats homestead ride. It’s a whole lot easier said than done. The Bosque Peak Trail 174 has access issues, from a dicey road in to private land restrictions. And this is the trail less traveled. Downfall is possible and the overgrowth is thick. It’s easy to get turned around. We rode the Bosque Peaks Trail once with GPS coordinates for the sites mentioned -- and missed them. Another friend riding up there got caught in a massive storm, and in the downpour only found the way out when her horse slightly inclined his shoulder in the direction of the trail down. In short, this isn’t easy country. And that’s what makes it all the more amazing that at the turn of the last century, Alice and Archibald Rea, a nurse and a teacher, decided to “prove up” a homestead stake on Bosque Peak at 9,600 feet in the Manzanos west of Tajique. There were no roads to the area, just three poor trails. Everything had to be loaded in on burros. Even Archibald, who suffered from rheumatism, was loaded in; according to local history, Isleta Pueblo Indians carried him up the west face of the Manzanos on a stretcher. What can you grow at 9,600 feet? The Reas produced 15,000 pounds of potatoes a year, according to the Torrance County Historical Society, and sold goat meat, milk and butter. The Reas raised and educated their children there and three of Alice’s sisters and their kids joined them to live year-round at the top of the world. To make it all more interesting, Archibald came to believe that gold was stashed in the mountains and spent seven years excavating a nearby cave (not accessible because the trail to it crosses private land).
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The family lived on the mountain nearly 30 years, and the family cemetery is in an aspen grove not far from the ruins of their cabins. Little trace of their industry remains, but from the top, you can see the Rio Grande basin, the Estancia Valley, the Jemez, Sandia and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Reas’ cleared potato plots still exist as part of the vast open bosque flats at the top of Bosque Peak. Not far from the home site, in an aspen grove to the south and west (you cannot ride in), you can see the remaining wreckage of an Air Force troop supply plane that crashed on the mountain in the 1940s. Ta-Willow Romero has ridden to the cabin site, the crash site and the bosque flats several times, most recently this spring. “I just think the history is something people should see,” she says. Her advice: be experienced, bring only experienced trail horses, and wear chaps to fend off the close prickly overgrowth. Once you are at the top at the so-called “bosque flats,” exercise caution on the far west side. The drop off is so sheer, Willow warns, it could scare horses and riders alike. There was also a lot of downfall in the grove of large aspens you encounter on the way up, though Willow says the horses in her party were able to navigate the downed trees. The trail up from the trailhead is very rocky, steep and loose in places, another reason why experience is required. This isn’t the place to “tune up” your out-of -shape horse or give your newbie some “experience.” Sure-footedness, and trail confidence and savvy are required on this ride. The US Forest Service says the trails are on public land but there are some private land holdings in the area, so to avoid private land, take the trail bypass at 1.9 miles in from the trailhead. It will eventually join the Crest Trail The cabin ruins and flats are in a westerly direction at the top. Some trail guides online advise you to continue on the original trail but you will be trespassing if you do. A sure sign you are nearing the top is a grove of huge aspen. Be sure to check with the
Ta-Willow Romero aboard her horse Derringer enjoys that edge-of-the-world feeling at the top of the Manzanos.
Mountainair ranger station for the trail condition before you go. Even trailering in to do the ride won’t be easy. To go, you take FR 55 west out of Tajique, going past Fourth of July Campground to the next campground about 2.2 miles -- and one very tight hairpin curve -- to the south. The road is primitive and rocky and large trailers will be challenged at the curve. Willow Romero says the road is extremely rutted and slow going now. There is ample parking at the campsite, corrals and pit toilets. The campsite is usually deserted during the week but fills up on the weekend. The Manzanos offer easier trails, including the popular Albuquerque Trail, whose trailhead is found at the first Forest Service parking area you encounter on the right after leaving Tajique. There are some small corrals.
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Riders and hikers can get a up-close look at the wreck of a World War II supply plane that crashed in the Manzanos in the 1940s.
Ta-Willow Romero operates Miss Willow’s Equine Etiquette (505-321-7387) out of Moriarty, NM, and guides trail rides in the East Mountains and around New Mexico.
Horse Around NM Associate Editor Peggy Conger is a writer, editor, blogger and trail rider. She rides an adopted mustang and a quarter horse. She can be reached at p_conger@ yahoo.comwww.horsearoundnm.com | June/July 2017 | HORSE AROUND
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DON'T GET LOST Navigation Basics for Safer Trail Riding ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY MATT COULOMBE
Mike Forsyth leads mules in the Latir Wilderness, Carson National Forest. Sometimes only a rock cairn indicates the trail.
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Ask any trail rider and they’re bound to have a story of at least one ride when they got lost, confused, or turned around. Often the trails we ride can be loosely defined as trails, are poorly marked, not shown on maps, or have been changed or rerouted. Having some basic navigation skills can help keep your adventure safe and enjoyable.
Must-have navigation tools
Compass: The magnetic compass is the most familiar and commonly used compass for land navigation. Magnetic compasses will point to magnetic north which is slightly different from true north. The orienteering compass is the most common one used by hikers and horsemen. Its clear base can be laid upon a map to help establish direction of travel and even your location by a method called triangulation. A compass will work day and night without fear of failed batteries or faulty electronics, so becoming familiar with its use is invaluable for any outdoor enthusiast. 26 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Map: One of the oldest and most valuable of all navigation tools is a map, but they’re only useful if you know how to read them. The preferred map for backcountry navigation would be a topographical or topo map. They give the reader useful information such as changes in elevation that are defined by contour lines. Topo maps also typically show tributaries and drainages, bodies of water, naturally occurring features and manmade features such as roads, buildings and some trails.
GPS: Electronic hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) devices have rapidly become affordable, reliable, and accessible. A GPS can show you exactly where you are by assigning a numeric pattern to every place on earth, referred to as a geographic coordinate system. Understanding those numeric systems is the real key to success with GPS use. While most smart phones now have built-in navigational systems, they need a cell signal to operate. Standalone GPS devices with direct satellite functionality are more reliable and useful for backcountry navigation, especially in remote areas. The ability to mark locations, lay tracks or “breadcrumbs,” navigate to specific locations and routeplan are all great tools that can be very useful when traveling away from modern civilization. A GPS becomes even more useful with built-in or downloadable topo map programs. If your GPS doesn’t
have these features, you really want to use it alongside a paper map for better navigation.
Learn how to use them!
Ok, so how do we use these tools and systems in the real world on a horseback ride? After all I’m not going off on the Lewis and Clark expedition, I just want to ride to Lookout Point and get back to my horse trailer before dark! Here are tips: Practice on foot first: GPS use and basic navigation with a map and compass is easiest done on foot. Become familiar with the features of your GPS and ideally take a class on its use. Affordable classes are offered from companies like REI and other sporting goods stores. Orienteering clubs and even YouTube are good resources for tips and tricks, but there’s no substitute for experience. If you want to getter better at using navigational tools, you need to get outside and use them! Becoming comfortable with your tools should be accomplished before you add the dynamic of doing all of this from horseback. Practice from horseback: Make sure you can carry and manage navigational tools from the saddle. Horn bags come in handy for keeping these aids close by, but try to keep your GPS exposed to the open air for better reception. If it’s stuffed away in your saddle bags it will lose contact often and run its batteries down continuously trying to re-acquire signal. Make sure your horse is comfortable with the beeps and strange sounds electronics can make, along with the rustling of a paper map behind his head. Plan ahead: Look at a map of the area you’re traveling to ahead of time. Familiarize yourself with some basic landmarks and geographic features. Google Earth is a great tool that will give you aerial imagery and an indication of ground cover and vegetation that most maps won’t. Identify decision points along your route. Decision points are often forks in the trail or areas that the trail may be poorly marked. Make note of these points and learn how to enter those points into your GPS. Mark your starting point: When you power up your GPS, give it ample time in an open area so it can link to satellites and
“find itself.” If you get in a rush and mark your location before your GPS has acquired multiple satellites, you’re likely to mark a place far from your current location, which could lead to big trouble when trying to find your way back. Check your location periodically: Periodically is the key word here! If you spend all your time focused on your map or GPS screen, you’ll lose the ambiance of the trail ride. You’re out here to take in the scenery, spend time with your animals, enjoy the solitude Betsy McLelland and Theresa Falzone compare a map to their of the woods and/or socialize GPS at a decision point in the Cibola National Forest. with friends. Many times, I’ve seen someone become so fixated on their device that they’ve of your surroundings and use your map ridden right by a trail marker or junction as a comparison to keep on track, but unknowingly. don’t disregard common sense and good judgment just because it appears that you If you’re faced with a tough decision on can travel to a given point on a map. which way to go, pick a direction of travel and maintain it for at least a hundred feet So, practice up, plan ahead, and enjoy your and then recheck to see if you’re on the next great adventure with the confidence right path. Often GPSs need to move a that you know where you’re going! little bit to orient themselves and give you a better reading. Remember to mark those decision points so that you can navigate Matt Coulombe is President of NM Mounted Search back to them if you do indeed find out & Rescue. He owns American Diesel Service, you made a wrong turn. and can be reached at 505-299-0591. If you are
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Use multiple navigational tools: A GPS screen may depict that your destination is only half a mile away as the crow flies. Without the aid of a map, you may not know there’s a steep canyon in between you and your destination and that the better strategy might be to follow the contour line to your destination even though that’s a farther route.
Observe and use common sense
Always remember that a map, even a great map, is only a representation of the earth’s surface and not an entirely true or accurate depiction of the actual landscape. Be observant
interested in getting involved in Search & Rescue, you can find a list of teams, their specialties, and contact information on the NM Search & Rescue Council's website: www.nmsarc.org
These three items are needed to navigate with accuracy: map, compass, GPS. You also need to know how to use them.
Gila
to do. It helped that he was also somewhat exhausted. That night he stood perfectly without any fuss at the highline and I slept like a baby despite my Big Agnes air mattress having a substantial leak.
on My Mind
BY CELIA COOK
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n the third morning of my Gila Wilderness adventure, my horse and I stood on the cobbled bank of the Middle Fork of the Gila River watching the honeyed light of the sun seep slowly down the sheer canyon walls. The river is singular and symphonic, and its timeless, rushing song fills our ears. We are out of place, yet at home in this wild landscape, and I am overwhelmed and humbled by the fact that these waters have fed the deep, shady canyons and the things that breathe here for eons: birds, trees, and wildlife. It is these sorts of profound moments that compel people to venture into wilderness; it is being a part of these moments that heal them. This limbic desire to seek wild-ness is what compelled me to partake of
the adventure to get here. However, I had to drop my fears of what could go wrong, and had to defeat my previous unwillingness to step outside my equine comfort zone. In short, I had to just “do it”. The stars had aligned for me in this Gila Wilderness endeavor because 1) I finally had that “once in a lifetime” horse that I had come to know and trust implicitly via hours of time in the saddle and on the ground; 2) I had forged a friendship with a fellow horsewoman and equally adventurous partner to lead the way (Cecilia Kayano), and 3) I had all the right equipment, and had planned and prepared for months prior. I had not expected the ride in to be so technical, picturing instead a meandering, wellmarked trail through a
tranquil floodplain. Recent floods had torn up the Middle Fork, dropping jagged logs and debris, and shifting banks and sand bars. There were multiple river crossings that were unexpectedly deep and with tricky footing. Dropping through Little Bear Canyon to get to the Middle Fork was like riding through a Tolkien novel, with shady pools and drops, narrow slots, precarious boulders, and sheer, looming rock walls. Once we got to camp, approximately eight miles upriver, we miraculously had the whole place to ourselves, including a “Garden of Eden” hot spring to soak in. Painted redstarts sung melodiously from the canyon sycamores and white-throated swifts zipped and giggled through the canyon void high above the river. While we set up camp, I had to just trust my horse to settle in to a new routine of high-lining and eating out of a collapsible bucket. He was perfectly behaved and seemed to know just what
I also had not expected to be able to let my horse run free to graze with his new backcountry buddies, Consuelo and Lance. Seeing him frolic with them amongst the shady canyon oaks and sycamores, and graze on the sweet spring grasses made my heart sing. His obvious happiness and relaxed attitude added a carefree aspect to bringing my horse into this wild place that was entirely unexpected. As a bonus, all that organic raw forage was helping him recover from the tough trail into camp, as well as the long windy, trailer ride down from our home in Edgewood several days before. The ease and gratefulness I felt that third morning next to the river permeated the entire trip. Now that I am back home and officially a veteran of backcountry horse camping, I find myself constantly looking for wide spots in my calendar in which I can book another wilderness adventure with my horse.
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Celia Cook works as a wildlife biologist for a Santa Fe environmental consulting firm. She is a life-long conservationist and wildlife advocate. She has ridden, owned and trained her own horses for over 30 years.
TAKE IT EASY How to Reduce Reactivity on the Trail
ARTICLE BY ROELIFF ANNON, PHOTOS BY GABRIELLA MARKS
Trust and confidence between horse and rider is key—and so is being relaxed and having a little fun
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ne of life’s great pleasures is being out with your horse in the great outdoors of New Mexico. But a reactive horse is something I often see people struggle with on the trail. Trust and confidence in each other can be quickly compromised. Ironically, a horse can seem to be fine in its environment without the human involved. It’s when the rider enters the equation that things can get interesting. Spending a little time evaluating your horse’s temperament and doing some mental preparation for yourself before you hit the trails can help set you up for success and far less reactivity.
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calm as their baseline temperament allows them to be. Most horses are within the normal range of reactivity. Think of the Bell Curve. You can glean a lot from watching your horse react to his environment
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One of the biggest problems I see is that riders are not clear about what they want from a horse. Do you have a leadership problem? It was not our horse’s idea to saddle up and head down a trail. It’s our responsibility to help our horses understand what we want from them, and to trust that we won’t lead them into trouble. So check in and ask yourself a few questions to evaluate where your partnership stands in general. Does your horse give 100% when you ask? Do you give 100% to your horse? Do you blame your horse when things don’t work out? Or do you blame yourself ? Is your horse constantly trying to graze when you have them on the lead? Are they fidgety and neighing when they’re separated from their stable mates? What do you have to offer your horse
Knowing your horse’s temperament will prepare you for what to expect on the trail. We can tell a lot about our horses by watching them interact without our direct influence. How do they react in their pasture or pen when a flock of birds rise up, a tumbleweed or plastic bag blows across their pasture, or a truck backfires? A horse can be as www.horsearoundnm.com | June/July 2017 | HORSE AROUND
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Riding with a smile and sincere self-confidence helps our horses to be bold. that would draw them to you? Do they associate you only with food? Do they look to you for security?
3. Start your ride with intention and a smile. Before you
head out, check in with your horse and make sure he’s listening and you’re together. Most of you have several warm-ups in your regimen, whether it’s working in a round pen or doing groundwork that supples your horse. Take a few minutes to get your horse’s jaw soft and the two of you connected, and your horse is going to be less reactive on the trail. While you’re warming up your horse, check in on yourself. Visualize the ride and how you want it to feel: Imagine and anticipate a relaxed, connected, joyful ride. Your mental attitude affects your horse more than almost anything else. I tell people to make sure to smile. A positive attitude is something a horse will respond to.
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The best time to work through spooking is before the spook. Goal number one is for both horse and rider to be feeling untroubled. I realize this can be a tall order but out on the trail our job is to encourage our horse to be bold, to imbue it with a sense of confidence. This starts with you being confident. Also, always be with your horse, not behind your horse. Physically you should be moving with your horse. His movements should
be your movements. If you are being led around by your horse, you are behind. When in the saddle most people are behind their horses. You must RIDE your horse… moving together. We don’t want to be a passenger, we want to be partners with our horse, in and out of the saddle. If you are not with your horse, a sudden movement can cause you to lose your balance and you may even fall off. Notice how your horse is feeling. Reactions to environmental stimuli are usually reflective of its state of mind. When anxious, adrenaline will be coursing through its veins and your horse’s response to its environment will be more sudden and abrupt. Check your state of mind so you can support your horse. If you’re feeling anxiety, it can add to your horse’s increased reactivity. It’s like walking through a haunted house: We’re both on edge, and the slightest environmental stimulation can set us off. You are almost scaring each other with anticipation of something spooky coming down the trail.
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Be sure your physical and mental cues are clear. One thing that can make a horse unsettled is if you’re not paying attention to how you’re communicating with your body. Be aware of what you’re doing. Check in and make sure you are
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not squeezing with your knees and thighs unintentionally. Are you constantly pulling on your horse’s mouth? Are you contradictory in your requests to your horse? Are you balanced? All this will make a horse less secure and therefore more reactive. So quiet yourself physically and mentally. Be present with your horse.
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Situational awareness is important but don’t anticipate yourself into a problem. When you’re riding out, it’s important to have situational awareness. A lot can come up on trails, from a downed barbed wire fence that you need to avoid to someone taking target practice out on the BLM, so make sure your energy stays soft as you stay aware. If you see a bag stuck on a fence blowing in the wind in the distance and your eyes get hard and you tighten up in anticipation of your horse spooking, you’re setting your horse up to spook. That says to him, something scary is coming down the road! Instead do the
opposite: Take a deep breath, soften your gaze, and decide how you want to help your horse stay relaxed. Trust your horse. Relax. It’s all good! Have a little fun! When you smile or laugh, your jaw relaxes and then your whole body will loosens up. Don’t tighten your reins and get tight in your body. If your horse does spook, it’s a great opportunity to work with this object to build confidence (see the sidebar exercise). Remember, if you kick, whip, or spur your horse before, during, or after your horse spooks, you’re reinforcing the spook.
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Roeliff Annon is known for his work with feral horses. He raises Spanish Mustangs on his ranch in Corona, New Mexico. Roeliff sees himself as a guide or facilitator, helping horses and humans find true connection. He works with all breeds of horses and all types of students, helping them learn to better communicate with each other. His two-day Labor Day clinic and one-day sessions are held at the beautiful La Estancia Alegre ranch north of Santa Fe. Information can be found at BeingwithHorses.us.
Working to Overcome Reactivity to an Object Can Build Confidence and Trust Keep in mind that what works for one horse and rider may not work for another. When you’re dealing with a living, breathing being with a will of its own, it obviously takes a lot more than a few helpful hints. But what’s most important is to stay present, watch what’s happening, and adjust exercises depending on the situation. Here’s one exercise to try:
Ride parallel to the spooky object, and once you’ve just passed it turn back towards it and come across and back parallel the other way. Ride closer to the object as you pass back and forth but not so close as to scare your horse or to where your horse takes over. How considerate you are to your horse will dictate success. Stay emotionally quiet. Be very sure
that you’re not pulling or kicking your horse, especially when turning in front of the object. Find the line where trouble starts and stay just this side of it. Our goal is to be straight. If you hit a hard spot where things get tight, you can turn towards and across in front of the object. Your
horse may come across real quick. Stay relaxed and enjoy the movement. Keep any weight off the front end. Stay out of your horse’s mouth. Allow it to move freely. You will be able to push that line closer and closer to the object until eventually trouble melts away.
Roeliff works with a young Spanish gelding named ZeZe. Clockwise from top left, Roliff uses a progression of techniques to help the horse reduce its tendency to react to the log.
Jack Young shows how his horse Patron can relax atop a pretend bridge during a Fun Horse Show at Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc. You don't need a fancy bridge like this to teach your horse to walk confidently across obstacles. A simple plywood sheet set on the ground will get your horse used to following your direction with confidence, and hearing its own footsteps on a wooden surface.
Arena Obstacles
Can Help You Down the Trail
T
Trail riding is fun when your horse is relaxed and you feel confident. But a nervous rider on a horse that’s been protected from anything scary or unusual can be really dangerous out in the woods! While there’s no substitute for experience, obstacles are one way to prepare for the unexpected out on the trail. Why not set up a few “horse-eating traps” at your home arena and practice?
ARTICLE BY KAREN LEHMANN PHOTOS BY WENDY TUCKER
You will never be 100 percent prepared for what might happen “out there.” Silent hikers lurking behind trees (instead of saying hello, try asking them an openended question like “Did you hike all the way to the top?” to get them to speak); wildlife you can’t see, but your horse can smell; kids bouncing on a trampoline behind a fence - - anything can happen when you venture out, even if it’s just on a ride around the neighborhood.
common “car wash” type obstacle at trail competitions) a horse might turn and run, lay down, or perform any number of contortions to avoid that horrible neoncolored swinging trap. Same horse, out on the trail, faced with a narrow passage through hanging vines? Walks right through.
Even if by nature your horse can’t generalize from the obstacle course to a real-life trail situation, working on skills A five-star performance at a de-spooking at home will still help. You’ll further your clinic or trail competition does not always training, improve muscle coordination and mean your horse will be calm and cool develop coping mechanisms – tools you out on the range. Or vice-versa: When can use when faced with an unexpected faced with hanging swim noodles (the situation. When you do face the unknown 32 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Loal Tucker rides Cowboy effortlessly through a car wash obstacle. You can make one of these at home by hanging foam "noodles" from a gate with a high cross beam. This obstacle is scary for most horses, so start by leading the horse through while someone holds the noodles to the side. horse must travel between them without brushing the blue “cliff ” or stepping off into the gray “drop-off.”
Bridge
Up and Over-- You can use a plywood panel to build a “bridge.” Begin with just the wooden panel on the ground – your horse will need to get used to the sound of hooves on wood, and the strange feel of something other than dirt beneath its feet. If it is sturdy enough, you can lift the plank progressively higher off the ground.
with your horse, this bravery and trust in one another will get you through – and practiced movements and procedures will help a lot, too. Here are several common trail encounters, with ideas for obstacles you can set up at home to prepare for them. Begin on the ground with a lead rope or long line, and progress to mounted work only after the horse has performed calmly.
Trail blocked by fallen log
Pick Up Sticks--Poles of varied heights, set at random on the ground. Use landscaping timbers, branches, or logs. Ask your horse to walk through them, lifting his feet high enough not to knock the pole. Try it sideways. Try it backwards.
Narrow passage with cliff on one side, drop on the other
Squeeze Game-- Throw a tarp over the fence and ask your horse to move past it without breaking stride. Then up the ante by adding something, like your mounting block, on the “near” side to create a chute or narrow passageway. Or try two tarps – a blue one hanging on the fence and a gray one flat on the ground. The
hate this obstacle, which floats around and changes form depending on the wind’s direction and intensity. You can try “driving” your horse through from behind, or standing on the other side and asking your horse to come toward you (watch out, they may jump or run through the first few times!). You can try holding part of the “curtain” aside and leading through to help your horse build up confidence. Exercise patience and eventually you’ll succeed.
Rider taking on/off coat
Mountain bike, ATV, dirt bike
Sticky Slicker Wicket-- This obstacle is easy to set up – just grab a raincoat and practice being human with it, in the presence of your horse! Be sure to start on the ground. Take the coat on and off, flap it around, etc. When your horse is comfortable, you can lay the coat across the withers and progress to the hindquarters. Have a helper hold the horse when you first mount up, and you can progress to more difficult raincoat maneuvers in the saddle: having the coat handed to you from the ground; putting it on/taking it off; stuffing it into a saddle bag, taking it out and putting it on, etc.
Runner with stroller
Nasty weather
Triple Threat-- Of these three, the mountain bikes are the scariest because they are both silent and fast. It’s easy to be surprised by them out on the trail! ATVs and dirt bikes are noisy and smelly, but at least you know they’re coming. You can practice for any of these encounters by asking someone to bring their bike/ ATV/motorcycle out to the arena for an hour. Ask your horse to follow the wheeled vehicle first – this is easier for them. Eventually work up to figure eights, so you are sometimes passing the vehicle and vice-versa. Horse Eating Monster--This obstacle combines the fast-moving threat of a mountain bike with that terrifying silence, plus something that smells human but looks really strange. If you can find a willing victim with a young child, get the human/screeching child/stroller combo into your arena and have them make big circles around you as you stand in the middle with your horse. When this becomes boring, try following them around. As a final test, see if the stroller can approach you head-on and the kid can reach out and pat your horse’s muzzle, but only on the ground and when your horse is completely unworried about the stroller.
Although we’re more likely to spend a rainy, windy day curled up inside with a good book (or cleaning tack on the dining room table) it’s a great idea to spend some time outside with your horse during those rainy, windy, snowy days. A relaxed grooming session in the barn when it’s hailing on the metal roof can go a long way toward saving your butt if you’re caught out in an unexpected squall on a mountain somewhere.
Narrow passage through lowhanging vegetation
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Car Wash-- Build or locate a gate high enough to hang plastic strips or foam “noodles” so they hang vertically and form a sort of curtain. Most horses really
Whatever obstacles you decide to set up at home, remember to practice patience and radiate confidence when you approach them with your horse. Using your imagination and common household/ farmyard objects and circumstances can go a long way to mitigating the risks you’ll find out on the trail. Have fun! Karen Lehmann writes from home in the small NM mountain town of Sandia Park. When she’s not working on something for Horse Around, or over at the barn with her horses, you’ll find her at karen@ phrasesincorporated.com.
How to Identify Pain in Your Horse Each horse has different ways to express pain, but here are some of the more common signs.
W
BY SUSAN SMITH e may think as horse owners that we can easily identify pain behaviors, particularly those that accompany colic and lameness.
But horses can have odd ways of demonstrating their discomfort, and each horse is different. Some colicky horses will lie down and then jump up and race around for awhile before getting down and rolling again. Others are very quiet about it, perhaps just biting at their sides or looking genuinely uncomfortable. Lameness can be difficult to figure out: It took me a number of years to determine where lameness was on the horse, which limb, and what was contributing to it. In short, not all pain is obvious to us. There are subtle and not-so-subtle signs of pain that horses exhibit that may go unnoticed or misattributed because we are not accustomed to looking for them. Here are some things to watch out for:
Posture
Posture can tell you a lot about pain. A horse who has his hind legs camped under him (sickle-hocked) or very close together may be experiencing pain in the pelvis and lumbar, and possibly other places. If his forelegs are kept close together, then he may have pain in his shoulders, wither or neck.
Wrinkles around the nostrils or eyes
Sometimes a horse adopts an expression of pain that almost seems to define them after awhile. If you have known your horse for a long time or you have a senior horse, you might not notice that the area around his eyes or nose seems wrinkled or strained, so be sure to look for and note subtle changes in expression.
Sometimes pain signs go unnoticed, especially if they have existed for a long time. Take a good look at your horse. Wrinkles around the mouth and eyes may indicate pain.
Twitching or recoiling in the back muscles
Sometimes the back is in pain from a saddle, but often it isn’t from the saddle itself. It’s always a good idea to feel along each side of the spine before you saddle up and after you unsaddle, just to be sure your horse isn’t shrinking from your touch. It’s not always necessary to change saddles with this issue. It may be that the horse simply needs a bodywork session or two to deal with a specific area of pain, or a change in exercise.
Squirming around or wanting to bite when the girth is being tightened
With this behavior, it’s important to check your tack, and for potential soreness or discomfort in the girth area. There are physiological reasons a horse may not want the girth tightened or have the handler near the girth area. Sometimes horses hold a lot of tension in that region. Possible causes include an ulcer, breathing issues, muscle soreness or pain in the pectoral muscles or rib cage.
34 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Sometimes the anticipation of girthing up can get a horse anxious, so take time and do a small bit of bodywork - gently hold the girth area for a moment or two. Then cinch up loosely, and gradually tighten.
Dullness in the eyes
This is an indicator of pain, or of not being listened to. It can accompany wrinkles around the eyes and nose or reluctance to move. Dullness can indicate serious colic, other illness or pain. On the other hand, a horse who isn’t listened to by his humans will “check out” and go inward. A horse with this human-caused issue may have eyes that look flat, dull, as though nobody is home.
Not wanting to be touched
Some horses don’t like to be touched. This could be as a result of training, or of being used for certain disciplines where the horse is not touched affectionately. Formerly wild horses are unaccustomed to touch from humans. But a resistance to touch can be a result of pain somewhere in the body, and fear that the person is going to touch in a way that hurts.
Reluctance to move
Horses like to move, knowing inherently that movement is life for them. When they don’t want to move, it can be a strong indicator that something is hurting. Serious conditions that cause a horse to not want to move include: extreme pain, tying up (azoteria), lameness, founder, colic. One thing to look for: Where are they resisting from? Do the forelegs plant or is the horse setting back on her haunches? On another level, bucking, kicking, biting or flipping over may indicate pain from poorly fitting equipment, injuries, neurological issues, hindquarter pain or even bad nutrition. However, these behaviors can also stem from a problem with current or past handling. Knowing the horse helps a great deal in understanding how he or she is feeling. Remember that a horse does not generally exhibit bad behavior without a reason. Because they don’t talk in the usual sense, it’s up to us to figure out how pain demonstrates itself in our horses’ bodies and facial expressions. Since we are around our horses more than the vet, we can offer valuable information on the
Notice how, in the above photo, the horse is standing with its rear legs close together, which may indicate pain. The photo on the right shows a more relaxed, non-painful stance. horse’s basic behavior regarding pain when the vet comes. As you become better at reading the signs, your horse will appreciate your greater ability to recognize his or her pain.
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Susan Smith teaches Equine Body Balance workshops in Santa Fe and surrounding areas, and around the U.S. She is an associate Ortho-Bionomy and Equine Ortho-Bionomy instructor and Equine Positional Release (EPR) practitioner. In her horse life, Susan has ridden many miles of trails. For more information and schedule of events, visit www.susansmithsantafe.com, or contact info@ susansmithsantafe.com, 505-501-2478
HORSE SERVICES DIRECTORY
Listed here are horse-related services provided by the June / July 2017 issue advertisers. They are experts in their fields. Many of the business owners are also horse owners and enthusiasts. They are the reason Horse Around New Mexico magazine exists and why the magazine is growing. If you enjoy this free publication, please show your support by supporting our advertisers. ART L. Thayer Hutchinson, page 7 Sugar Moon Studios, page 15 BARNS/BUILDINGS Ironhorse Pipe & Steel, page 13 Morton Buildings, page 9 BOARDING 4 Winds Equestrian Center, page 15 Mac’s Overnight Stables, page 13 EVENTS Beth Beymer Clinics, page 15 Bucaroo Balance Clinics, page 15 Josh Armstrong Clinics, page 15 Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc., Open House and Barbecue, page 16
Saddle Fitting, page 11 The Horse Shelter’s Horse Show and Adoption Event, page 2 Turk Arabians / Rampart Ranch Open Barn, page 14 GUEST RANCHES Starrynight Ranch, page 10 HORSE RESCUE/ADOPTION Four Corners Equine Rescue, page 8 MASSAGE Life and Vitality, LLC, page 14 Medicine Massage, page 9 OUTFITTERS U-Trail’s Horseback Adventures, page 11
REAL ESTATE Annette Wood, page 14 Horse Property for Sale, page 15 Las Vegas Home & Acreage for Rent, page 15 Rōni Merbler, page 5 SADDLES Mortenson Silver & Saddles, page 13 SPECIALTY SERVICES Albuquerque Pet Memorial Service, page 7 TACK AND FEED STORES Hitch’n Post Feed, page 16 Horsemen’s, page 11 Miller’s Feed, page 7 Paul’s Veterinary Supply, page 10 Taos Tack and Pet Supply, page 8 Village Mercantile, page 12
TRAINING Susan Smith, page 11 VEHICLE/TRAILERS American Diesel Service, page 12 Hal Burns Truck & Equipment, page 8 Sandia Trailer Sales and Service, page 40 VETERINARIAN Santa Sophia Equine, page 9 Western Trails, page 6 WESTERN WEAR & MORE Dan’s Boots & Saddles, page 6
pad, absorbent layer, and compression layer. If bandage material is not on hand, a diaper or sanitary pad can be used. If none of these items are available, a clean T-shirt or towel can also be used. The wound should be wrapped smoothly and snugly with an elastic bandage, such as vet wrap.
3. The wound should be wrapped tight enough so that pressure can stop the flow. Each
wound is different. If the first layer isn’t doing the trick, do not remove it. Simply add more padding and wrap again. Removing the first bandage will allow more seepage and disturb any clotting that may be happening underneath.
3. Check vital signs. Knowing the
HEALTH How To Handle Bleeding Injuries: Keep calm and remember-pressure, pressure, pressure BY STACIE G. BOSWELL, DVM, DACVS An accident at home or on the trail can leave your horse wounded and bleeding. Horses are very large animals, and have a large blood volume and circulatory capacity. First aid for wounds is critical, starting with applying pressure to the wound to prevent further blood loss and monitoring your horse’s vital signs. The same first aid principles for stopping a bleed apply in the backcountry, on local trails, and at home. Here’s what to do -- and what to expect -if your horse has a bleeding injury.
Where bleeding most often occurs
While there are many large veins and arteries in the horse’s body, the largest superficial vessels are the jugular vein and the carotid artery. These lie in a groove on either side of the neck from the throatlatch to the chest.
on both the front and hind legs that can bleed heavily.
What should the rider do?
If a major vessel has been affected by a cut or wound, the primary concern should be to stop the blood flow. If the horse has lost a gallon or more of blood, you will want to stop any further loss and seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
How to stop the bleeding and check vitals
Here are things to know and steps to take to stop bleeding and monitor health before a vet arrives:
1. Carry disposable gloves as part
of your equine first aid kit. Do not touch any wound with your bare hands. This transfers bacteria from human skin to the horse and can result in infection.
Each leg has two digital arteries which 2.The main way to stop bleeding will bleed quite a bit if cut. These run is pressure, pressure, pressure. on the back of the leg from the fetlock to The ideal bandage includes a non-stick the heel bulb. There are also large veins 36 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
horse’s heart rate, temperature, and status of the mucous membranes is helpful in your first aid efforts.
4. Capillary refill time is one basic vital sign that you can check in the field. To do this in
horses, press an area on the gums and release. The spot should pale and become pink again in less than 2 seconds, and the gums overall should be pink and moist. As significant blood loss occurs, the gums become pale.
5. Checking your injured horse’s heart rate is important. Normal
heart rate in horses is between 28 and 44 beats per minute. This can increase almost ten times that, to 240 beats per minute during exercise. Other factors, such as pain, stress, and dehydration, can also increase the horse’s heart rate significantly. Taking multiple readings and keeping track over time is helpful, as the heart rate is highly variable.
6. Body temperature in horses is taken with a rectal thermometer.
A high-quality thermometer is essential, although it can be digital. Veterinary medicine no longer recommends glass thermometers because of the risk of exposure to mercury. Taking the temperature at intervals and monitoring the trend over time is more important than just one reading.
What not to do
Don’t use a tourniquet to stem bleeding. Historically, tourniquets have been used on limbs above the blood flow to help slow it down. Today we know that tourniquets can cause direct tissue damage by bruising the tissue. Indirect tissue damage from lack of blood flow begins to occur in as little as 10 minutes after applying a tourniquet. Usually horse owners are advised to remove debris and clean the wound as an important first step in first aid. But if the wound is bleeding profusely, your first order of business is to get the bleeding stopped. The pressure bandage will also protect any further debris from entering the wound. Cleaning the wound can wait a few hours for veterinary care. A few reasons why: If the bleeding is significant or severe, water can disrupt the natural clotting process and increase the severity of the bleed. Also if you dilute the blood coming from a wound with water, it’s more difficult to estimate blood loss.
Veterinary care
Obviously, a veterinarian should evaluate any wound that is large enough to cause significant blood loss. Sometimes it is difficult to tell how much blood was lost when a horse is found in a field with a laceration. Even a small cut in the wrong place on a leg can bleed a lot. This is why first aid includes checking vitals. The veterinarian may administer intravenous fluids to help restore normal blood volume and pressure. Some antiinflammatory pain medications can interfere with blood clotting, but the horse will need pain relief. Large or deep wounds typically will end up infected, and antibiotics are typically prescribed. Almost any wound can result in a horse being exposed to tetanus, so a vaccine is often administered. Veterinarians may do bloodwork on the horse – this includes checking the number of red blood cells. This information can be monitored for a trend over days or weeks. A blood transfusion may be necessary in cases of extreme blood loss. Stacie G. Boswell, DVM, DACVS is an equine veterinarian in Edgewood, NM. She writes for Horse Around New Mexico because she wants to make lives better for horses and their owners. stacieboswell@gmail.com
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ABOVE: Include these supplies in your equine first aid kit (and take them with you on trail rides!): latex gloves, a Telfa (non-stick pad) and cast padding (cling or crinkle white rolled gauze can also be used) to hold the Telfa in place. The absorbent layer is the Combi-roll. Compress material consists of rolled brown gauze and an elastic bandage (Co-Flex, Vetrap, or similar). Elastikon can be used to finish off the bandage. RIGHT: Not contaminating the wound is critical. The non-stick pad should be held in place by the edges to minimize contamination.
Dangers of a Bleeding Wound The horse’s athletic capacity is supported by a circulatory system that carries blood to meet an incredible oxygen demand. The heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) work in concert with the spleen to transport oxygen-carrying red blood cells to all parts of the body. The average horse has 10-12 gallons of blood.
What happens when a horse loses a lot of blood?
At any volume of blood loss, the horse’s body will try to compensate for the loss. The more blood lost, the less effective the compensation mechanisms can be. With early blood loss, less than 15% blood volume, the spleen contracts to release stored cells. Vessels contract to help maintain blood pressure. With increased blood loss, the compensation mechanisms begin to fail. The heart rate increases as high as 100 beats per minute. The vessels constrict more, and the heart has to work much harder to maintain flow to meet the body’s needs. The pulses may be strong to throbbing. The horse may become anxious or agitated and will sweat. Horses may also exhibit signs of colic. At 30-40% of blood loss, shock occurs. The compensatory mechanisms are still present. But despite a very high heart rate, the pulses will be weak, capillary refill time is prolonged, and the horse can no longer maintain a normal blood pressure. The extremeties become cold; the body works to keep the blood in its core. Eventually the animal decompensates and the oxygen available does not meet the body’s needs. The core body temperature will drop. The agitation ceases and the horse will be lethargic or obtunded, and may die. www.horsearoundnm.com | June/July 2017 | HORSE AROUND
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EVENTS: June - July
~JUNE~
2-4 Summer Opener Show NM Hunter Jumper Assoc. www.nmhja.org Albuquerque 3 Green Chile Days Pinto, Palomino, All~Breed Show NM Pinto Horse Assoc. www.newmexicopinto.com Belen 4 Dressage Schooling Show NM Dressage Assoc. www.nmdressage.net Bryan Farms Stanley 4 Point Show~All Breed Pecos Valley Horsemen Facebook Roswell 9-11 Spring Barrel Racing Finale Rockin Horse Ranch www.rockinhorseranch.net Moriarty 10 3rd Annual Jacob Mastic Memorial Ranch Rodeo Julie 605-454-3860 Clint Mortenson Arena Santa Fe 10 Formal Night Show Desert Sun Equestrians Facebook Portales 10-11 Barrel Races SWBarrel Racers Assoc. www.swbranm1.org Farmington 10-11 Land of Enchantment Miniature Horse Club Point Show www.lemhcofnewmexico.com Belen 11 Buckskin Point Show NM Buckskin Horse Assoc. www.nmbha.com Bosque Farms 21-24 68th Annual Rodeo de Santa Fe www.rodeodesantafe.org Santa Fe
23-24 End of Trail SASS Mounted World Championship Buffalo Range Riders Mounted Shooters Club; Facebook Founders Ranch Edgewood
15-16 Green Chile Classic NM Paint Horse Club www.nmpainthorse.org Stanley
June 10 Walkin N Circles Ranch Jamboree ~A Community Celebration~ Facebook: WNCR Stanley
19-23 & 26-30 Santa Fe Welcome Week Sonrisa Week ~ HIPICO www.hipicosantafe.com Santa Fe
June 23-25 Private Lessons / Beth Beymer
21-23 Chicken Creek Competitive Trail Ride~San Juan Valley Trail Riders www.natrc.org Near Mancos, CO
June 24 Open House & BBQ Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc. Facebook Lamy....See ad page 16
24-25 Barrel Races SWBarrel Racers Assoc. www.swbranm1.org Farmington
22 National Day of the Cowboy ~A Celebration~ info@silverandsaddles.com Clint Mortenson Arena Santa Fe
June 25 Ridge Riders Group Trail Ride Northern NM Horsemen’s Assoc. www.santafehorse.org Rowe Mesa
25 Eventing X-Games Series Jeffray: mjratgdf@aol.com Goose Downs Farm Galisteo
29 Open FUN Horse Show Series Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc. Wendy 505-466-3961; Facebook Lamy
July 7-10 Full Moon Cowgirl Yoga Christina Savitsky www.buckaroobalance.com Black Willow Ranch Las Vegas
29-30 Fall Series Barrel Racing Rockin Horse Ranch www.rockinhorseranch.net Moriarty
July 14-15 Gimme Shelter ~ Trainers' Rally for Rescues ~ The Horse Shelter www.thehorseshelter.org Santa Fe....See ad page 2
29-30 Barrel Races SWBarrel Racers Assoc. www.swbranm1.org Farmington
July 15-16 Buffalo/Cow Horse Clinic Josh Armstrong
30 Pinto/All Breed/Mule & Donkey/ Mini & Pony Show NM Pinto Horse Assoc. www.newmexicopinto.com Belen
July 15-16 Centered Riding All-Discipline Clinic with Lucile Bump lynn@lynnclifford.com Nizhoni Ranch & Stables Los Cerrillos
24 Point Show #2 All Breed Horse Show Assoc. Facebook: ABHSA Clovis 24-25 SWQHA June Show www.swqha.com Las Cruces
~JULY~
1-2 Mild Minis & Hot Ponies Show NM Pinto Horse Assoc. www.newmexicopinto.com Albuquerque Expo 7-9 Kenny Paul Memorial NM Cutting Horse Assoc. www.cuttingnews.com Rockin Horse Ranch Moriarty 8 Barrel Races SWBarrel Racers Assoc. www.swbranm1.org Farmington
~HORSE ✽ RIDER~
8 Point Show #3 All Breed Horse Show Assoc. Facebook: ABHSA Clovis
June 3 Saddle Fitting with Circle Y Horsemen’s Feed & Supply Albuquerque....See ad page 11
8-9 Buckskin Point Show NM Buckskin Horse Assoc. www.nmbha.com Bosque Farms
June 3-4 All Inclusive Cow Horse Clinic with Blue Allen & Barret Yates www.watrousvalleyranch.com Waltrous
8-9 Land of Enchantment Miniature Horse Club Point Show www.lemhcofnewmexico.com Belen
June 9-11 Tellington TTouch Clinic Linda Tellington Jones 800-854-8326; www.TTouch.com Goose Downs Farm Galisteo
38 HORSE AROUND | June/July 2017 | www.horsearoundnm.com
www.4WindsEquestrianCenter.com
Colleen 505-384-1831 Estancia....See ad page 15
www.4WindsEquestrianCenter.com
Estancia....See ad page 15
July 29 Turk Arabians Open Barn at Rampart Ranch Leslie Hammel-Turk www.equaquest.org Las Vegas....See ad page 14 July 29-30 Working Equitation with Ginger Gaffney www.earthwalkmedicine.com Dancing Bear Ranch Arroyo Hondo
HORSE VACATION/TRAVEL DIRECTORY
Listed here are places to have fun with horses and places to stop while traveling with horses. Horse Around New Mexico magazine dedicated the time and space to make this the most complete list possible. We may, however, have overlooked a business. Please let us know if you would like to be added to this free listing: HorseNewMexico@gmail.com, 505-570-7377. Guest Ranches/Outfitting/
Riding Vacations Bluewater Lake Lodge, Prewitt: trails, full hookups, small cabins, 505-290-2699, bluewaterlake-lodge.com
Starrynight Ranch, Llaves: all-inclusive, children’s camps, guided rides, guest cottage and rooms, BYOH or ours, 575-554-0577, 575-638-5661, starrynightranch.com
Burnt Well Guest Ranch, Roswell: working cattle ranch, large ranch house, cattle round ups, 575-347-2668, burntwellguestranch.com
Taos Horse Getaways, Tres Piedras: BYOH; houses, cabins, RV space; 575-758-3628, taoshorsegetaways.com
Chaco Lodge Hacienda, Cuba: bed and breakfast, lodge and suite, horse corrals and trails, 505-252-7488, chacolodgehacienda.com Copper Penny Ranch, Alamagordo: RV hookups, arena, round pen, ride out, 575-439-0276, copperpennyranch.com Concho Hills Guest Ranch, Magdalena: trail riding, ranch activities, cowboy shooting, historical tours, award-winning accommodations, 575-772-5757, conchohillsranch.com Cow Creek Ranch, Pecos: fly fishing,horseback riding in the Sangre de Cristos, 505-757-2107, cowcreekranch.com Creek Ranch, Santa Rosa: all-inclusive horseback vacations on 82,000 acres, genuine working cattle and guest ranch, creek-ranch.com Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch, Winston: all-inclusive guest ranch in the Gila National Forest, ride through spectacular canyons, 575-772-5157, geronimoranch. com Gillespie Ranch, Mayhill: large pens, gift shop, cozy cottage, RV hookups, 575687-3732, gillespieranchulazy2.com Justyn Brynn Enchantment Equitreks, Edgewood: all-inclusive horseback riding adventures offering day rides, weekend, 5-day, 7-day and 8-day packages, 575430-7514; enchantmentequitreks.com
Diamond Arrow Ranch, Deming: 5 RV hookups, ride out on BLM land, big rig friendly, 575-546-1115, 480-332-8265, gregsandy03@hotmail.com Double Y Ranch, Santa Fe: hot walker, RV hookup, 602-320-7136, amazcowboy@cox.net
D S Horse Motel, Grants: next to an RV Twin Willows Guest Ranch, Ocate, near park with full hookups, 505-240-2544, darinsimpson2003@yahoo.com Angel Fire: log house for 8 for rent, BYOH, 575-666-2028 J Bar C Horse Motel, Roswell: arena, 2 RV hookups, 575-347-2742, Two Ponyz Ranch, Mountainair: 575-626-5296, 575-626-5294, guest house, BYOH, 505-847-0245, jbarchorsemotel.com twoponyzranch.com U-Trail’s Horseback Adventures, Glenwood: guided pack trips to cliff dwellings, day rides, lodge, gourmet meals, 575-519-8569, utrail.com
J.P.'s Horse Motel, Mentmore (Gallup): arena, 505-979-1192
Kiss the Moon Equestrian Center, Moriarty: easy I-40 access, indoor arena, easy access for bigger rigs/ Vermejo Park Ranch, Raton: Ted Turner-owned luxury resort offers guided haulers, 505-975-3567 horseback rides, vermejoparkranch.com Kiva RV Park and Horse Motel, Bernardo: 14 stalls, large pens, Wolfhorse Outfitters, Gila/Aldo Leopold Wilderness: Native American round pen, trails, 505-861-0693, kivarvparkandhorsemotel.com guide service, 575-534-1379, wolfhorseoutfitters.com Las Cruces Horse Motel, Las Cruces: 5 minute trail ride to Rio Grande, RV Overnight Stabling hookups, roping arena with cattle, 5754 Winds Equestrian Center, Estancia: RV/trailer sites with electrical hookups, 644-3518, www.lascruceshorsemotel.com small travel trailer, arenas, nearby riding in the Manzanos & Sandias, 505-384-1831 LazyKo Ranch. Deming: horse motel, hookups with open range for riding, 575-202-2876, www.chickentracks.biz The Albatross, Santa Fe: horse motel, long and short-term, outdoor arena and round pen, 505-231-8570, john@ Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc. Stables, mineralogica.org Santa Fe/Eldorado, huge indoor arena, outdoor arena, ride out, 505-466-3961, Arrowhead Ranch, Santa Fe: multiple arenas and trail access, 505-424-8888, loal@loaltucker.com arrowheadsantafe@aol.com MacArthur Quarter Horses Boarding Branco's Boarding Stables, Las Cruces: Stables, Taos: 1 covered and 2 outdoor full hookups, daily/weekly/monthly rates, arenas, close to Taos, 575-758-8366 or access to BLM land trails, 575-636-8809 575-613-5347, jmac@laplaza.org
Los Pinos Guest Ranch, Cowles: lodge and gourmet meals, 505-757-6213, lospinosranch.com
Broken M Ranch, Albuquerque: large arena w/lights, barrels, round pen, wash rack, dry camping, 505-877-9433, broken-m-ranch.com
Mac’s Overnight Stables, near Santa Fe on 1-25: round pen and trails, RV hookup, 505-466-2815, macsovernightstables.com
N Bar Ranch, Reserve: surrounded by Gila National Forest, BYOH or ours, rent entire ranch, cabins, corrals, trails, 575-533-6253, nbarranch@hughes.net
Bruton Stables, Raton: outdoor arena and round pen, 575-447-8777, brutonstables@gmail.com
Open Heart G Farms, Anthony: located on 25-acre pecan orchard, indoor box stalls, hookups, bunkhouse, 915-9205169, openheartgfarms@gmail.com
NAN Ranch, Faywood; rent rooms/ cabins in the HQ of national registered historic 1870s ranch in the Mimbres River Valley, corrals, BYOH, campers welcome, 575-288-5368, elranchonan.com Nancy Burch’s Roadrunner Tours, Angel Fire: overnight camping/packing excursions, trail riding, 575-377-6416, nancyburch.com Quinlan Ranch, Chama: RV hookups, guided rides, lodge and meals, 575-2091618, www,quinlanranch.com
Caballo Lake State Park, Caballo: four large pipe corrals with cover, tack room, water, trails, 575-743-3942 Carter’s Stables, Farmington: guest house, one full hookup, 505-330-3066, cartersstablesfarmington.com Cassetta Critter Care, Tucumcari: horse motel, roping arena, trailer hook up, 575-403-6227, 603-798-5033, cassettacrittercare.com Crossroads Ranch, Anthony: 575-882-5533
Rancho de la Angostura, Algodones: easy trail access, power available, arena and round pen, 505-280-4849, katylindberg.com Rancho Siesta, Edgewood:dry camping, spacious corrals, 505-450-3165 Ride To Pride at “The Barn,” Las Vegas: easy access off 1-25, 505-429-9935, 505-429-3905, ridetopride.com Rocking Horse Ranch, Moriarty: huge indoor arena, 505-832-6619, 505-301-3772; rockinghorseranch.net
Roy-El Horse Hotel , Espanola: 505-603-6016, www.roy-elmorgans.com Slash M Slash Ranch, Grants: horse motel, indoor riding arena, roping arena, bunkhouse, 505-290-7836, 505-290-2645; jodiepalmermirabal@hotmail.com Tuli Horse Hotel, Tularosa: 3 RV hookups, 25 stalls, round pen, arena, 16 acres to ride, 575-921-1105 Western Drive Stables, Tucumcari: 575461-0274, 575-403-8824, hallerstable@plateautel.net Trail Riding Operations Acacia Riding Adventures, San Acacia: 575-517-0477, acaciaridingadventures.com Bishop’s Lodge Stables, Santa Fe: bishopslodge.com Broken Saddle Riding Company, Cerrillos: gaited horses, 505-424-772, brokensaddle.com Cedar Crest Stables & Country Cottage, Cedar Crest: mountain riding, cottage for rent, 505-281-5197, cedarcreststables.com Cieneguilla Stables, near Taos: trail rides and “saddle and paddle” combo trips, 575-751-2815 Corralitos Trail Rides, near Las Cruces: working ranch riding, 575-640-8184, corraltostrailrides.com Enchanted Gaits, Tijeras: smooth, gaited horses, 505-281-2226 Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu: 505-685-1000 Grindstone Stables, Ruidoso: guided trail rides, sleigh and carriage rides, 575-257-2241, grindstonestables.com Inn of the Mountain Gods Riding Stable, Mescalero: 575-464-7424 New Mexico Horse Adventures, Albuquerque: BYOH or rent, 505-3010917, newmexicohorseadventures.com Red River Stables, Red River: ride, fish, view wildlife, 575-747-1700, redriverstables. com Rio Grande Stables, Taos & Questa: hourly plus multi-day rides, 888-259-8267, 575-776-5913, lajitasstables.com Runnels Bonita Stables, Nogal: Ride near Bonito Lake, no reservations needed, 575-354-2778 Santa Fe Western Adventures, Santa Fe: ride on private ranch and Lone Butte Mountain, 505-473-9384, santafewest.com Stables at Tamaya Resort, Bernalillo: 505-771-6060 Vision Quest, Las Vegas: private, catered rides, family activities, 505-469-8130, visionquesthorsebackride.com
CONVENIENT LOCATION - EASY ON/OFF I-40 20 minutes from Alb., 1 hour from Santa Fe 75 minutes from Santa Rosa
NEW MEXICO’S LARGEST SELECTION OF NEW AND USED HORSE, FLATBED, AND CARGO TRAILERS
1435 Route 66, Edgewood, NM 87015 (505) 281-9860 (800) 832-0603 Open Tues-Sat 8:30am-5pm Closed Sunday and Monday
NOW IN STOCK!
Lots of
Big Tex
2-Horse Bumper Slant Load
CLEARANCE PRICED!
S & H Drifter All Aluminum
$10,890
Gooseneck Stock Trailer
PRICE REDUCED!
S & H 20’ Tandem Axel, Center & Swing/Slide Rear Gates
$10,990
TRAILER UPGRADES
2-Horse Living Quarters
Logan LQ, Slide Out Make an offer on this beauty! $49,845 $44,900
2-Horse Bumper
Logan Crossfire, Aluminum, Drop Down Windows, Dressing Room
$9,426
Big Tex Manure Hauler Dump
20” Sides, Electric Brakes, 110 Battery Charger, Hauls 5270 lbs.
$3999
dump trailers in stock!
24-ft. Stock Combo
Logan Stock Combo, Double Rear Doors, Center Gate
SAFETY CHECKS AND REPAIRS
$19,989
RETROFITTING CALL US FOR ESTIMATES
POLYLAST FLOORING, CORRAL PANEL RACKS, INSULATION, WATER TANKS, COMPLETE TRAILER SAFETY CHECKS, ELECTRIC REPAIR
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CUSTOM TIE DOWNS, HEADACHE RACKS, HITCH REPAIR
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Need to upgrade or fix a trailer? We have expert fabricators and mechanics on staff to: check safety, create custom portable corral racks, install extra fuel or water tanks, refurbish living quarters. CALL US TODAY!
50 new & used horse trailers: www.sandiatrailer.com 505.281.9860
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