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January 2015 •
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 3
AN-49f (0113)
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Looking Forward to the New Year!
T
exas is blessed to have January. Statistically, it is the driest month of the year. Except for those rare days when temps are bitterly cold the weather is pretty nice - wonderful for riding. That great weather isn’t so good or trustworthy that the big rodeos are held outdoors. The oldest rodeo in the nation, By Steven Long Fort Worth, kicks off the state’s three month rodeo season, followed by Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, (all indoors). For that period the state goes crazy for the sport. Texans, northern transplants, and our guests from less fortunate states, wear clothing they wouldn’t be caught dead wearing any other time of year short of a costume ball or charity hoedown. The big city rodeos, and the accompanying stock shows, are also an international event, with cattlemen and sperm brokers courting buyers from Europe, Central, and South America, cattlemen with deep pockets who have come here to purchase the finest bloodlines in the industry. The fact is, Texans feel kind of sorry for those buttoned down, silk tie wearing business types who don’t have the gumption to put on a pair of boots, sport a western hat, and polish that silver buckle bought at a booth at a long forgotten rodeo like the rest of us do each year. These Texas rodeos over a three month period raise millions for charity. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo alone is arguably the nation’s largest regular indoor sporting event, eclipsing the entire season for most NFL teams in terms of attendance – all over a two week period. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is so big it must be held in a stadium built for the Houston Texans. In order of appearance, the dates for the big rodeos were long ago worked out to avoid competition. They follow each other with Fort Worth being first, with the added bonus of one of our favorite events, the Mustang Magic Trainers Challenge January 22-24. All of the giant shows are held indoors. • Fort Worth, January 16 – February 7 • San Antonio, February 12 – March 1 • Houston, March 3 – 22 • Austin, March 14 - 28 Horseback will have an abundance of magazines at the booths of our advertisers at all of the big rodeos for the three month period. Texas is also blessed this year to see the return of one of the best shows horse lovers and regular folks not blessed with what we call the “horse gene”, will ever see, the incomparable Cavalia, coming to Frisco, just outside of Dallas. If you have never seen the show, we suggest that you make every effort to go. Take your friends and family members that may not have your passion for horses because, they will also love this show. The relationship between the performers and the horses, the music, the sets, all combine for what can only be described as “pure magic”. All of us at Horseback Magazine wish you a very Happy New Year! We thank our wonderful readers, and all of our very special advertisers that make it possible to publish our magazine. We hope all of you have a very prosperous 2015.
On the Cover:
Cavalia’s Odysseo photo by Pascal Ratthe
4 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • January 2015
January 2015
Cover Story: 24 Cavalia is coming to Texas!
Lifestyle & Real Estate: 16 22 36 28
Real Texans - Margaret Pirtle Rodeo - America’s Extreme Sport - Rick Crawford Real Estate Roundup Horseback Archery - Jade Perez
Columns: 8 Horse Bites 12 The Right Horse - Linda Parelli 14 Ride-N-Sync™ - Terry Myers 20 Tack Talk - Lew Pewterbaugh 30 Hoof N’ Horse - Jaime Jackson 40 On the English Front - Cathy Strobel 46 Cowboy Corner - Jim Hubbard
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Jim Hubbard, Steven Long, Vicki Long, Roni Norquist, Pat Parelli, Kelsey Hellmann, Lew Pewterbaugh, Cathy Strobel, Cory Johnson, Margaret Pirtle, Jaime Jackson Volume 22, No. 1 Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397, (281) 447-0772. The entire contents of the magazine are copyrighted January 2015 by Horseback Magazine. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Horseback Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope. Horseback Magazine is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management. Subscription rate is $25.00 for one year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397. Fax: (281) 893-1029
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““IF IF WALT WALT DISNEY DISNEY WERE WERE SSTILL TILL ALIVE, ALIVE, H HEE M MIGHT IGHT CCREATE REATE A SSHOW HOW MAGICAL NEW ODYSSEO. AASS M AGICAL AASS CCAVALIA'S AVALIA'S N EW O DYSSEO. BUT BUT IITT WOULDN'T WOULDN'T WONDERFUL WORLD MASTERMIND BBEE BBETTER ETTER TTHAN HAN TTHE HE W ONDERFUL W ORLD M A ST E R M I N D NORMAND HAS UNDER HIS WHITE N ORMAND LLATOURELLE ATOURELLE H AS CCREATED REATED U NDER H IS W HITE BBIG IG TTOP.” OP.” Miami Herald Miami H e ra l d
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HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 5
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January 2015 •
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 7
In the meantime we continue to give what we can to equine rescues “Horse Bites is compiled from Press Releases sent to Horseback and charity. In 2014 our contribuMagazine. Original reporting is tions exceeded $75,000. While that is done as circumstances warrant. a lot for us, especially since we run at Content is edited for length & style.” a break even at best, it’s a pittance to what is needed.” making contributions please see the With tremendous help from website or call (208) 726-5191 great sponsors, wonderful members, www.drsfoundation.org thousands and thousands of riders and noble volunteers; as well as the gracious industry at large, ACTHA will continue the quest. ACTHA POST SOLID Their biggest plan for 2015? GAINS 2014 More junior involvement! Do we hear possible scholarships in the wind?? Austin Texas - “It is never as much (And of course as they say… more as we want but we’ll take a 33 perevents than anyone can count). A COWBOY LEGACY cent gain over the previous year as LIVES ON long as we can keep the lights on and ACTHA’S MISSION keep horses To create an enjoyable venue showcasLegendary photographer employed in ing the wonderful attributes of the David R. Stoecklein left record numgreat American trail horse and granthis mark on our world in bers,” states ing them the recognition they so richly more ways than one. In Tom Scrima, deserve. addition to being one of ACTHA’s Gen- To create a registry open to all breeds the most sought after phoeral Manager. and a point designation system which tographers in the business, “We are will stay with each horse for its lifehe was one of the kindenthused that time, thereby adding to their value and est souls, known for his we’re up almost distinction. storytelling, as much as 100 percent To create and enable humane his images. over calendar treatment and employment options for David photoyear 2012 and horses in need. graphed everything from have a record Virtually every known breed Chevrolet, Jeep, and Marlbreaking 352 competes in ACTHA events including boro, to Stetson, Cocaevents already the noble Grade horse. Cola, Canon USA, Epson, pre-booked for Bauer, and Copenhagen, 2015! That is to name just a few. indeed amazBut his passion ing for us and WIMPYS LITTLE STEP BECOMES AN NRHA was documenting the virtually asSEVEN MILLION DOLLAR SIRE cowboy way of life-the sures ACTHA men and women who yet another Oklahoma City, Okla. – In eight knew a thing or two about record year. months after achieving the six million hard work and making an David R. Stoecklein However with dollar mark, Wimpys Little Step is the honest living. the European newest National Reining Horse AssoIn his honor, DaUnion’s recent ciation’s (NRHA) Seven Million Dolvid’s wife Mary, and their sons, Drew, decision to ban the import of Mexican lar Sire. This makes him the second Taylor, and Colby, have established horse meat, as reported recently, the stallion to earn such a prestigious title, the David R. Stoecklein Memorial pressure on the rescues and the horse with the only other stallion to reach and Educational Foundation. It is a industry in general will be even more this mark being Topsail Whiz. not-for-profit organization designed extreme in the upcoming years. Wimpys Little Step is a 2011 to help causes David cared so much ACTHA remains committed NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee and is for. From scholarships to aspiring to be the dominant employer of the by Two Million Dollar Sire and Hall of photography students to helping unwanted horse in the United States. Fame Inductee Nu Chex To Cash and cowboys and cowgirls in need, the By continuing our never ending thirst out of Leolita Step by Forty Seven. He Stoecklein family is continuing Dafor growth we hope to create a large is owned by NRHA Corporate Partner vid’s legacy of education and generos- enough secondary market for the unXtra Quarter Horses, LLC in Purcell, ity for generations to come. wanted horse so that every horse has a Okla. where he currently stands. With For more information about home and a rewarding occupation. Horsebites - Con’t. on pg. 10
8 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • January 2015
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January 2015 •
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 9
+RUVHELWHV
“What’s Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander!” T There’s an old proverb “What’s good for the “ goose is good for the gander” and Back on o Track customers ccouldn’t agree more. Many have discovered M the benefits of Back on Track not only for their horses but for the themselves too. the
limited showing in 2002 and ridden by NRHA’s only Five Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida, Wimpys Little Step has an impressive show record with NRHA Lifetime Earnings of more than $185,000. His top earning progeny include: • Wimpys Little Chic (Wimpys Little Step x Collena Chic Olena by Smart Chic Olena): $514,700 NRHA LTE, bred by Double Run Farm, currently owned by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Arcese Quarter Horses U.S.A. • RC Fancy Step (Wimpys Little Step x Sonita Wilson by Doc Wilson): $362,600 NRHA LTE, bred by Bernie Paetzel, currently owned by Molly Morgenstern • Wimpyneedsacocktail (Wimpys Little Step x Seven S Mimosa by Hollywood Dun It): $280,300 NRHA LTE, owned by NRHA Corporate Partner Xtra Quarter Horses, LLC
Horsebites - Con’t. from pg. 8
• Wimpys Little Buddy (Wimpys Little Step x All Thats Dun by Hollywood Dun It): $262,200 NRHA LTE, currently owned by Kim and Martin Muehlstaetter • CRF Centenario Wimpy (Wimpys Little Step x Miss Hollywood Whiz by Topsail Whiz): $168,700 NRHA LTE, bred by 4 R Performance Horses, currently owned by Slide Or Die, LLC, visit nrha.com. NATRC RECEIVES 2014 CHA SAFETY AWARD Sedalia, Colorado, USA– North American Trail Ride Conference is awarded 2014 Partner In Safety Award from Certified Horsemanship Association. Since 1996, the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) has Horsebites - Con’t. on pg. 40
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10 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • January 2015
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January 2015 •
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 11
Safety Tips for “Aging” Horsemen & Women By Linda Parelli you have to know what to do and you have to be prepared to do it. This means two things: 1. Think ahead 2. Rehearse
F
irst of all, being ‘older’ myself, I object to the term “Aging”! Maybe I’m being a bit sensitive with the stereotype implication, because we feel so young in our heads. How about we call it: Safety Tips for the Young At Heart! … just to humor me! Seriously, while I’m in my mid 50s, I know we’re talking about my future too. This article prompts me to think about when I’m 60, 70, 80 and beyond. I’ll tell you one thing: I cannot imagine a day without a horse in my life! Safety Is Safety! I don’t care what age you are – you have to put safety first. And in my book, knowledge is confidence, preparation is safety, skill is execution. In other words,
I remember having the privilege of talking with Ray Hunt some years ago, and he said something I’ll never forget: “Confidence is being prepared for the unthinkable.” Wow. A brand new perspective for me! As Pat Parelli says, “Do your thinking at night, so you can do your ‘feeling’ during the day.” No truer words spoken there either. When we think too much as we’re riding, we stop feeling. We can’t be in the moment, which is exactly where we need to be when we’re with horses. Who knows when that squirrel might toot and scare the living daylights out of your horse! A STORY A few months ago, Pat and I were on a fundraising ride at Mesa Verde National Park. 20 of us went out, and I
was riding one of Pat’s lovely young horses. We headed down off the mesa, and my water bottle holder bounced off my saddle horn and flung itself down the lead rope part of my mecate rein and stayed attached, bouncing around and “attacking” the horse! Naturally, she got scared. She jumped to the side, ran backwards, and was very frightened. Now, we were on a trail about 15ft wide with a steep drop on the left, a wall on the right, a couple of riders in front of me, and several behind. What was I to do in that moment? I did what I’ve spent YEARS teaching and rehearsing. I knew that I had to be in control: don’t go over the edge, don’t get killed, don’t kill anyone else! So I matched her energy: she was fast and frantic, but I was faster and more focused. I kept her nose pointed towards the edge (the place I didn’t want to go; remember, she’s running backwards). I allowed her to go backwards, but in the direction I wanted. As you can tell by this article, I survived. My highlight (beyond surviving) was Pat saying to me, “You handled that really well. No, really!” One of the things we rehearse is
photo by Jerome Love
12 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • January 2015
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being able to quickly get off when things go bad… bend the horse’s neck around in lateral flexion, and jump to the ground. Sometimes this isn’t possible, so you need other strategies too. Plan, So You Are Prepared! What are you planning to do? What are you prepared for? These are two really big questions you need to ask yourself. Here’s a template that will get you started: • • • •
What are we going to do? Is my horse prepared for this? What could happen that I might not think could? What will I do when it does?
Be Real! Something I will have to get real about is that it might not be a good idea to ride the kind of horses I’m attracted to today. I’m 56, I live with Pat Parelli, I have experienced and learned from situations 99% of the horse-loving public will never get to experience. So, I have to be careful not to get cocky. As I get older, what are the things I think about that will keep me www.horsebackmagazine.com
more than safe, that keep me living my dream with horses? • Tall horses might not be the best choice: • I heard Pat Parelli say, “Don’t get on a horse you’re not willing to jump off of!” Well, I ride tall horses. My smallest is 16.3hh. As I progress into my horse-loving future, I will have to rethink the size of horse I will ride, make sure that horse makes up for my inabilities, or specialize more in Liberty or Driving. • As you get older, think about having a smoother-moving horse, and research the benefits of Iberian and gaited horses. • Big moving horses • I guess there’ll be a point where I won’t want to ride those big, lofty warmblood strides, but at this point I cannot imagine that day. But I will be prepared for it. • Instead of trying to do what my younger body did, I’ll be willing to adjust to keep fulfilling my dream of having horses in my life. With Parelli, there are Four Savvys, and two of them are on
•
the ground! Crazy people • Yes, birds of a feather flock together, and birds of a feather poop on the same rock. Choose your friends – the ones who care about you as well as themselves. Remember that Three Musketeers saying, “All for one and one for all”? Maybe you should only ride with people who share the same principles and care about you too. If you’re having trouble, they will wait and help. Even better, they won’t put you in a bad situation, because they’re thinking about the effect of their actions on you.
Look After Your Dream! I know horse lovers all over the world who, like you and me, cannot imagine a life without horses. You need to take care of this dream by staying safe, being savvy, and making sure you have a true partnership with the horse. Learn more on www.parelli.com
January 2015 •
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 13
Your Instincts Can Be Your Barrier!
To
be successful when working with your horse, you must first understand your own instinctive reactions before you can understand the instincts and reactions of your horse. Most human instinctive reactions are not conducive to good horse handling. As with many situations, we are our own worst enemy. The most common and yet most difficult instinctive reaction that people must overcome is fear. In my opinion, fear is without a doubt the biggest obstacle with human/horse relationships. For example: when fear sets in for a rider, the rider will usually stiffen and squeeze with their legs, their heels come up which then tilts them forward, they stiffen their torso which causes the horse to hollow their back and they clamp their elbows down. To add to all the mixed messages of squeezing, stiffing and leaning forward they are giving the horse, they pull on the horses’ mouth. This is an accident in progress. The good news, we have the ability to change our reactions, to condition and train ourselves to act and react in a way that the horse can understand. In fearful situations, humans can reason, horses cannot. A story from my teenage days can illustrate my point. I was 15 years old and working for a guy showing draft horses at the Ohio State Fair. One evening my buddies and I walked down the noisy midway, with all the carnival type sideshows that are too politically incorrect for today’s society,
14 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • January 2015
when we came upon a sideshow called Zambora. This sideshow was about a woman who would turn into a gorilla “before our very eyes.” Outside this tent, there was a sign that said “Danger Exit.” Thinking that we were tough farm boys, afraid of nothing, we paid our money and went into the tent. The announcer began to tell the loud and elaborate story about this woman that would turn into a ferocious gorilla after they gave her a shot of a mysterious medicine. This woman was sitting calmly in a cage. They gave her the shot, and after a minute or two of the announcer’s voice building the excitement, the lights started flashing lights and then, low and behold, the
woman in the cage was now a really angry gorilla. As the announcer was reassuring us that the cage was secure, the door drops open and the ferocious gorilla jumps out. Next thing I knew, I was outside the tent. I was not sure how I got there, but I looked back and realized I had been tricked. What’s the point of the story? I reacted with fear, just as a horse would. In the face of sudden perceived danger, I reacted as a prey animal and ran, just as a horse would. However, reason set in and I quickly understood I was not in danger and had been duped, where as a horse would still be running until they were certain they were out of dangers’ reach. The difference between me and a horse is that I could reason and change by reaction.
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In working with horses, we have to understand our instincts before we can appreciate the horse’s instincts and reactions. The good news is that we can retrain ourselves and gain knowledge and skills which will help us control our reactions produced by our instincts. When riding or working with our horse, if we can control our fears and develop confidence that we are not going to be harmed in stressful or questionable situations, we become the leader that the horse looks for in us. As with all horsemanship skills, self awareness is the key to understanding how we can achieve the best results with our partnership with our horse. In future articles we will talk about specific actions you can consider when handling your horse. Next month—The Push Me/Pull Me Instinct. Questions about this or any of our articles can be emailed to us at myers5000@aol.com.
Terry Myers is a national clinician and champion horse trainer with a depth of knowledge developed from over 45 years in the horse industry. Myers has been a popular clinician at multiple expos in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about Myers’ Ride-In-Sync methods as well as clinic and training services/ products available, visit his website at www.tmtrainingcenter. com and joint him on Facebook.
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January 2015 •
HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 15
Re a l T ex ans By Margaret Pirtle
They’re bold, brash and unique... They can be your neighbor, a friend, or someone you just met, but they all have that Texas quality of directness, kind to a fault, and will always stand up for what they believe in. They ‘re our Real Texans!
Cecil Miskin
If you see a herd of bison you will never look at these majestic animals the same once you meet Cecil Miskin. You see, Cecil can teach you all you ever want to know about bison, or buffalo, or whichever name you prefer to give them. He is the owner of Buffalo Gold, a specialty store in Goodnight, Texas that harvest bison fiber, the undercoat of the thick hair that keeps bison warm and turn them into beautiful products such as gloves, shrugs and the warmest socks you will very put over cold toes. Bison fiber or down can only be harvested from the animals in April or May when shedding begins. It clings to barbed wire fences as the bison rub against them, and it was looking at this fiber hanging on a fence that gave Cecil the idea that something could be done with this beautiful furry down. Through years of research and hard work, Cecil has perfected working with the bison fiber and turning it into yarn and other products.
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So it is only fitting that his store sits on the south rim of the Palo Duro Canyon on a section of the historic Goodnight ranch for which Mary and Charles Goodnight are credited for saving the Bison of Texas. Fun to talk to and always informative, Cecil is made in the mold of the frontier Texan. Always finding a way to make something work while helping to create a special place in Texas for the bison that he loves. Buffalo Gold Premium Fibers: 2000 US Highway 287, Goodnight TX 79226 915-bison01 (915247-6601) Sales@buffalogold.net www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
Matt McKinley They say in East Texas that the men grown up strong and tall like the pine trees that cover the land. If that is the case, then Matt McKinley is a true product of his roots. Growing up near Henderson, Matt learned his work ethic loading feed and materials for customers at his father’s Circle M Farm and Ranch store at the ripe old age of nine. From sweeping floors to loading grains, Matt, even now has never found a job he doesn’t excel at. Leaving East Texas for the corporate world of Olive Garden, Matt blossomed in the hurried life of the restaurant business until he decided to come back to East Texas and work with his father at Sundowner www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
Trailers of Texas, in Canton. His life took a turn when he was involved in a motorcycle accident which left him wheel chair bound, but that never stopped him or even slowed him down. Married with two children, Matt spreads his message of hard work and giving opportunities to others. “ People have to dream they have to know how to get what they want,” he told me. So with wit and wisdom, Matt is using his business to show people that everything in life can be what they want it to be. Horse trailers are his passion now, and like his father he knows them from trailer hitch to loading door. He can name any part you might need or show you the best placement for your feed bag. He is a man with a mission, and that mission is not only to make the most of his life, but all of the lives that he touches. Sundowner Trailers of Texas: I-20 at Exit 523 Hwy 64 Canton, Texas 75103 903-865-1516 January January2015 2015 • •H HORSEBACK ORSEBACKM MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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January 22-24, 2015 Will Rogers Equestrian Center Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
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January 20152013 • -H November HORSEBACK ORSEBACKM MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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*HQHUDO
No Resolutions
Horseback Magazine’s Saddle & Tack Editor
N
ew Year’s Resolutions are for the things that you should do, but somehow, never get around to doing consistently. There are some things you should do, even when you don’t want to. January is often cold and rainy, the perfect time to sit in the living room by the fire. I know some of you will be doing stock show trail rides using saddles and tack that haven’t been
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properly cared for, or even improperly cared for, for that matter. You, I can’t help, because you either don’t know that leather needs care, or you don’t care, I am currently working on a saddle made in Montana in 1880. This saddle probably cost about 2 months, maybe 3 months pay in 1880, for a top hand. My guess would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $60 to $80. Today, in almost pristine condition, even with the collectible market being in the crapper, the saddle is probably worth 3 to 5 thousand dollars. Why, you may ask? Because it is 130 years old, in excellent condition. There are many reasons why it is in excellent condition. First of all, it was an extremely well made saddle, good tree, with excellent leather. It was never
abused, and was stored in a temperate environment, not too hot, not too dry. Cold doesn’t seem to hurt leather much, unless you bent it while it is wet and frozen. What are the odds of that? In Texas, it is difficult to preserve leather that is not being used, because we store our saddles and tack in barns or sheds that get too hot, too dry, and too humid. Leather has been found in excellent condition in sealed up pyramids that have been closed to the elements for thousands of years. Once the leather is exposed to the elements, care must be taken to preserve it. Some English barns are very good about wiping their tack down with a conditioner or oil after every use. Most western riders never bother.
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I have been in English barns where the leather was so supple and well maintained, it would probably last for years without being touched again, but they keep up their regimen. When you pay three to four hundred dollars for a good German or English bridle, it is a significant investment. Lots of English saddles are now well up into the five to six thousand dollar range or higher. These saddles are usually exquisite leather, and even though English saddle makers are finding ways to streamline their saddle making, it is still a mostly labor intensive project to make an English saddle. I don’t know if it is the mentality of the English riders that makes them generally more involved with the care of their tack, or the tradition of caring that goes along with being an English rider. My father rode Tennessee Walkers, and he made sure I maintained my saddles on a regular basis, even when I broke the mold and was riding in those “horrible western saddles”. I guess it wasn’t until I lived in Tennessee that I really started tearing western saddles down to the bones and cleaning and oiling them, and trying to put a pretty finish on them. Today, when I tear a western saddle down to clean and oil it, I generally strip it down to everything but taking the skirts off the tree, and the cantle off the seat. If the strings won’t come apart without breaking, I just cut them off and replace them. If the saddle has screw in conchos, that makes it easier. Peel back the front jockey, the part that covers the front rigging, and make sure you condition the leather around the
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rigging well. Some western saddles will have “in-skirt rigging”, others will have on the tree rigging . Both need to be well oiled. The rigging is your life line. The rigging comes apart, the saddle comes off, and the rider is going to come off. Just imagine a horse coming unglued, the rigging coming apart, horse and rider separating, and the rider coming down in a patch of prickly pear. It would be a fairly soft landing except for the spines and all of the little hair like pricklies that are all over the nopals of the cactus. When that happens, a lot of those little stickers come out pretty easily by applying duct tape over the affected areas. I guess I should mention, I have never been unloaded into a prickly pear patch, but have plenty of experience with it. I think that one of the primary differences between English and western riders is the perception that English riders look at tack as an investment, whereas western riders tend to think of it today as either a tool, or ornamentation. The ornamentation will be replaced when a new fad starts, or if you consider it as a tool, it is expendable. A good saddle is a big investment, and if cared for, can last for a hundred years or longer. All it takes is a good cleaning, a proper oiling, and maybe a little top dressing, and you, too, could end up with a saddle that ends up being worth much more than you paid for it. Typically, with western saddles, the prices double about every twenty years. If you buy a new saddle this year for $1200.00, in ten years, it will
have depreciated to about $600.00. In twenty years, a new saddle of the same quality will sell for about $2400.00, and your old saddle will be worth about $1200.00 again, if it is in good shape. From that point on, after your saddle has reached what they call “parity”, it will appreciate, unless we have a situation like we have now with an out of control government, with an ailing economy. Can’t really plan on when that will come, or when it will end, but it will end, so be patient. My favorite old Heiser saddle sold new for about $90.00 in 1923. I could not replace it today for less than about $4,000.00, provided I could find as good a leather. I turned down $5,000.00 for it several years ago. Because of the downturn in cowboy collectibles, I would be hard pressed to get $1500.00 for it today, but the economy will recover eventually, I hope, and the saddle will once again be sought after by collectors. Still, for a saddle that cost $90.00 in 1923 to be worth even $1200.00 is not a bad deal. The point is, to make them that way, you have to take care of them. January is a great month to spread everything out on the living room floor, on newspapers if you have to, and get to cleaning and oiling. Stay warm, stay safe, and keep your leather well oiled, at least once a year!!!
Bandera’s Lew Pewterbaugh has been called the most knowledgeable saddle and tack authority in the Southwest. For private fitting consultation call (830) 328-0321 or (830) 522-6613 or email: saddlerlew@gmail.com.
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R
odeo has been the original American extreme sport since a group of cowhands from neighboring ranches near Deer Trail, Colo., first decided to test their bronc-riding skills against each other in 1869. The sport was born out of real American frontier life, the events a natural offshoot of the daily work done on ranches and farms all across the American West. It remains today as it ever has been: a test of talent, desire and toughness that echoes back through generations of American individuality. Rodeo cowboys have no guaranteed contracts and therefore, no recourse if they fail to place or are injured. The only way to make a living is to stay out on the road and chase the dream, even if that same injury might sideline a pro football player for a matter of months. To save on expenses, rodeo cowboys will buddy up, commonly jumping in a truck with three or four other competitors to travel from city to city. If somebody’s equipment is lost or broken, another contestant – who is chasing the same prize money pot and the same goals – will step up and loan what he or she needs. The essence of the sport is not contestant versus contestant, or even contestant versus animal. Its focus is the cowboy doing his best every time he nods his head to signal the start of a ride or run. Talent, work ethic, luck
and/or fate are often the only things separating success from another long night dreaming of what might have been. Rodeo is as much about tradition and family as it is about the competition. Kids start learning about riding and roping at a very young age. They work their way through the Little Britches, junior high school, high school and college rodeo ranks before they turn their attention – if they are perseverant and good enough – to competing on the ProRodeo trail. Parents teach their sons and daughters about horsemanship, livestock care, event technique and their
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By U. S. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR)
Rodeo... America’s Original Extreme Sport
way of life, just as they were taught by their parents. Rodeo is a lifelong passion. It is not unheard of for ropers to remain competitive at the top level of the sport well into their 50s, and there are senior competitions for those who want to remain engaged in the sport and keep their competitive spark lit. Cowboys are only one-half of the rodeo partnership as professional stock contractors dedicate themselves to providing the best possible l i v e stock, both at the timed-event and rough stock ends of the arena. Long-established breeding programs have elevated the level of the sport so that the pens of bucking horses and bulls are better athletes than ever and a guaranteed test of a rider’s skill and intestinal fortitude. In order to ensure the health and welfare of these athletes, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has 60 animal welfare rules on the books with substantial fines meted out for www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
violators. The presence of an onsite veterinarian is mandatory, both to assess livestock’s fitness to compete and to treat them for any illness or injury. The incident of injuries to the animals, as logged by Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, is five-hundredths of one percent. The cowboys aren’t so lucky. Stock contractors and the timed-event contestants who count on their horses — without which, no cowgirl, cowboy or contractor could succeed — are utterly committed to the best and most humane treatment of these animal athletes as they are the path to their rodeo dreams. In fact, many would argue (correctly) that in most instances, the horses are better taken care of by the cowboys than the cowboys take care of themselves. All of the components derived from a love of competition, heritage, livestock and the constant test of wills that is the sport of rodeo also leads to substantial economic and societal benefits. There are nearly 600 PRCA-sanctioned rodeos from New York to California and Montana to Texas, with total prize money of more than $39 million being chased by a band of cowboys who are embracing their heritage, as their fathers and grandfathers did
before them; not to mention the junior, amateur, high school and Little Britches rodeos and all they entail. The appeal of this small window into the free spirit embodied by the animal and cowboy athletes who combine that unique American spirit and legacy is not lost on the sport’s fans. Attendance at PRCA rodeos rose 38 percent from 2011 to 2013, when 5.5 million rodeo fans shouldered into arenas-both indoor and out-to enjoy the competition. Such fan growth has provided a strong economic impact for the communities which host rodeos and for the causes that local rodeo committees embrace. PRCA-sanctioned and every other level of rodeo raise more than $26 million for local and national charities annually, ranging from cancer research to college scholarships to assistance to military families. Rodeo. It’s not only a way of life founded in American history but a partnership between man and beast; one in which the beast gets the better part of his partner more often than not. What’s not to love?
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MAGIC
IS COMING TO THE METROPLEX January 24, 2015
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hiny masts touch the sky above the Dr. Pepper Arena, like a gleaming castle in a long-ago magical tale. But these masts are very much about the present, along with the arches and billowing white canvas that is home to Cavalia’s Odysseo during its stay in Frisco Texas. This tent, covering 47,000 square feet with the stage itself spanning 35,000 square feet, towers 125 feet high. Although technically a tent, the Big Top is unlike any tent you’ve imagined. Once inside, spectators lose any sense of a temporary structure as they’re transported into a threedimensional live theatrical event that combines dramatics, high-tech effects and dazzling equestrian action. The stagecraft wizardry of Odysseo also features a mountain range rising above the audience, a lake suddenly appearing, mysteriously conjured from 80,000 gallons of recycled water, and a gigantic merry-go-round descending onto the stage. Add elements of dressage, trick riding and Roman-style horsemanship, and you’ll get a sense of the show’s elaborate scope. What does it take to bring the Odysseo production with its elaborate 300-plus costumes and equine stars to town? Imagine trailering your horse to a show fifteen hundred miles away, then multiply the preparation a thousand fold. The tack alone consists of 68 specially fitted saddles, for dressage, English, Roman and trick riding. Odysseo, the largest live entertainment show in the world, boasts 70 horses of a dozen varied breeds, from the U.S., Spain, Canada and France. Breeds include Appaloosas and Arabians, Oldenburgs and Luisatanos, 18 stallions and the remainder geldings. Predominant color? White, with gray a close second. Forty horses perform regularly, with the rest in training or in the wings as substitutes. Cavalia horses tour for roughly six years, and their average age is about nine.
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Unless their performance schedule requires air transport, with a vet and support team on hand for the journey, the horses generally travel in five customized trailers, all equipped with surveillance cameras. Twenty people, including a pair of vet technicians, a blacksmith and stable manager as well as grooms, tend the Cavalia horses, who enjoy a spa-style pampering each day, with personalized diets, daily showers, massages and workshops with their riders. Next time you groan at rising feed prices, imagine if your barn residents consumed what the Cavalia horses chow down on every year: 18,000 bales of hay, 37,400 pounds of grain, and 1800 pounds of carrots. When a show travels to another venue the horses get a vacation, recharging their batteries with a two-week turnout. While they’re working, they’re stabled in roomy tents on the site of the show. Once settled in their 16,000 square-feet stables, the horses each have a designated box with ample space to stretch, lie down, sprawl out, roll and relax. They always have the same neighbors to ensure their environment is familiar and
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comfortable in each city. The entire Odysseo show is much like a larger-than-life theatrical production on wheels, – one of a massive scale—a total of 100 vehicles ferries the show from city to city. Residents of this upscale village-in-motion always include 120 permanent employees, made up of 47 artists who include acrobats, aerialists, dancers and riders from around the world, choreographers, lighting experts, and an always-busy crew to put up and tear down the performance site. A time-lapse video on Cavalia Odysseo’s website shows just how those traffic-stopping tents go up. But it’s what’s inside the tents that are the real show-stopper, a horse ballet to tantalize horse enthusiasts across all equestrian disciplines, from Western reining to hunt seat completion. Odysseo will stir the imagination and remind observers of the unbridled power and beauty that horses embody. Please visit cavalia.net for more information including schedule, ticket information, or call 866-999-8111. www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
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Horseback Archery U.S. Spring Championship By Jade Perez
time again for riders to string their bows and mount their trusty steeds. February 19-22, 2015 will be our U.S. Spring Championship Horseback Archery competition in New Braunfels. The real stars of horseback archery are the horses, after all what would horseback archery be without them? It takes a special mount to be an archery horse. That does not mean the horse has to be any specific breed or type, since all our horses come from different backgrounds. They are special because of their training, personality and their mind set. I’d like to introduce you to a few of our all star players here at “A” Company. Patti – 13 yr. old, sorrel Quarter horse mare (14.2H) that started her archery career in 2003. She was born on St. Patrick’s day at “A” Company Mounted Archery Training facility, so you can guess where she got her name. Patti is a favorite among all riders but especially those who are just starting out in the horseback archery world. She has the patience for a beginner with her slow and easy manner. Zoe – 9 yr. old, palomino Quarter horse mare (15H) that started her archery career in 2008. She was also born and bred at “A” Company Mounted Archery Training facility. Zoe is a very sweet mannered and calm horse but has a little more speed than Patti. She is also an excellent mount for beginners but will give her all for anyone. Draco – 7 yr. old, dapple grey Percheron/Trakehner gelding standing at 17H tall. He started his archery career in 2011 and is a fine specimen of a warmblood cross that was born and bred locally here in New Braunfels. He is a gentle giant that can go for miles and miles and miles. Although he has a kind and gentle manner he is suited best for an experienced rider. Ms. Buttons – 5 yr. old,
It’s
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Paint mare (15H) which is our fastest and flashiest horse with her beautiful Paint color. She started her archery career in 2011 carrying the experienced riders with her surefootedness and speed. Everyone loves Ms. Buttons since she is such an awesome horse. Kondi – 14 yr. old, Appaloosa gelding that was donated to the school. He just started his archery career in September of 2014 but proves to be a good candidate for horseback archery. He is a horse of a different color and is slow and steady, a guy with a soft side and likes to be sweet talked. Since he is still learning mounted archery he is for the intermediate rider. Charlemagne – 8 yr. old bay Quarter Horse gelding that is on loan to the school. He is a fine example of a country gentleman that just started carrying archers as of October 2014. He is a well trained horse with some reining experience and moves to the direction of your shifting weight. Even though he has southern charm and can win riders hearts, he is best suited for the intermediate rider. Along with special horses there is also specialized equipment that is required for this sport. Our horses go well in a snaffle bit and the saddle of choice is a modern military saddle created by Trey Schlichting and Mike Hallmark. Trey saw the need to create a specialized saddle for the purpose of this unique sport. The design is a combination that was inspired by the ancient 13th century Mongolian saddle used by horseback archers from the past, the sturdy and simple McClellan saddle design used by the U.S. Cavalry and the comfort of the modern endurance saddle. This saddle is 100% U.S. made. The saddle starts with a wooden tree made in Yoakum, Texas that is covered in Kevlar then fitted with the finest leather riggings from Wickett and Craig
Tannery. Mike Hallmark of “MC Hallmark Leatherworks” in Seguin puts all the parts together to make a light weight and durable saddle. Mike’s saddles have been used and sold to the Netherlands, Australia, China, Louisiana, and of course Texas. This saddle fits the need of the horse along with the rider. The high cantle and pommel give the rider a very secure deep seat while allowing free range of motion which is important to a horseback archer. The stirrups are easy to adjust which is desirable since there are a variety of archers that ride each horse. At this competition we will have 10 riders from around the world visiting Texas from France, Sweden, Britain, Australia, Malaysia, Scotland and Japan. These archers come to Texas for the southern hospitality and to support the sport which is growing here in the United States. International and U.S. archers come to compete on new and exciting courses that are unique and found only in Texas. Texas horseback archery differs from the standard courses in the fact that we run many courses without a barrier. Thursday, February 19th will host our 2nd Walk/Trot Competition. Friday, February 20th will be the cross country course that is run without barriers and contain obstacles and jumps. Saturday, February 21st features the Texas version of the Hungarian course and the Texas Hunt that is also run without barriers and contains 3D targets. Sunday, February 22nd is our final day of the competition with the Pawnee Moccasin shoot and our last course run without barriers is the Comanche Attack. “A” Company would like to welcome you and the 10 international archers along with 18 archers from around the U.S. to this year’s U.S. Spring Horseback Archery Championship. Located 2 miles behind Bu cee’s off Hwy 35 at 775 Three Mile Creek Dr., New Braunfels, TX. 78130. For more information go to horsearcher.com or call Kim Taylor @ 830-305-6212. www.horsebackmagazine.com
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+RRI +HDOWK
Mechanical Laminitis: A Concept in Need of a Funeral
M
echanical laminitis is one of many explanations proposed by veterinarians, farriers and others for the separation of the hoof wall from the sole. The “mechanical” rationale for this pathology is, for the most part, not new, and has been described by many authorities for generations. One purported cause is riding horses, shod or unshod, on hard ground. Another thought is that it will happen to horses with genetically “inferior” feet. More recently, and widely believed by generic barefoot trimmers and their clients not grounded in NHC science, it is attributed to extraordinary lever and weight-bearing forces acting upon the hoof ’s lamellar attachment mechanism (LAM).Here, the direct cause cited is excessive toe length or a toe that has advanced too far forward of its natu-
ral position, of which “slipper toe syndrome” and “long toe, run-under heel syndrome” are classical examples. The rationale for mechanical laminitis is rooted in the bogus science of the conventional “hoof mechanism” model. It’s been around as long as I can recall, but was actually “put to death” by Dr. Christopher Pollitt’s research as well as genuine Natural Horse Care (NHC). Unfortunately, its official “funeral” hasn’t taken place yet. That’s where we come in - and I mean the AANHCP (Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices), because we’re the only organization that I know of which disputes this transgression of common sense. The NHC model for the hoof mechanism is laid out, along with the pathophysiology of Supercoriaitis (laminitis) within the interpretation of this model, in my book, The Natural Trim: Principles and Practice (TNT). It is imporFIGURE 1: A view inside the capsule shows the epidermal lamina that ring the entire inside of the hoof wall. (photo credit: Emery, Miller and Van Hoosen, Horseshoeing Theory and Hoof Care/1977)
tant to for horse owners, veterinarians and hoof care practitioners to get on board with the science of NHC and put to rest much of the nonsense science that continues to wreak havoc upon domesticated horses worldwide. Even though we know that NHC provides the correct solutions to problems facing horses, the fact remains, the old models are still out there terrorizing people and their horses. Consequently, horse owners are vulnerable if a smooth talker (vet, generic barefooter, farrier, etc.) gets to them, and there are plenty of these kinds of people out there to go around. Nevertheless, our science is rock solid and will prevail in time. We just need to keep working it. I would advise NHC practitioners to avoid instigating any enlarged debate over “mechanical” laminitis, since it already has too much wind in its sails. My opinion is that it really needs to be explained within the context of NHC hoof mechanics and good science if it is to make any sense at all. But because I had one of our UK CPs ask about this recently, I decided to share with our entire practitioner base a brief snapshot (but not a direct quote) from one of the chapters of TNT: The LAM has been studied extensively for nearly two decades by Dr. Christopher Pollitt of the Australian Laminitis Research Unit Queensland University). It refers to the manner by which the hoof wall is bound to the lowermost of the three bones in the horse’s foot - the coffin bone (aka the Distal Phalanx and P3). The inner hoof wall (Figure 1) is combed with a vertically oriented network of some Paddock Paradise - Con’t. on pg. 32
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Paddock Paradise - Con’t. from pg. 31
600-plus parallel, epidermal leaf-like structures, called lamina (Latin - “a thin piece” like a blade of grass). These epidermal leaves of the inner hoof wall are called the primary epidermal lamina, or PEL. The PEL connect with another set of parallel dermal leaves (the DL) that are attached to the coffin bone (Figure 2). Pollitt discovered that the PEL and DL are themselves separated by yet another structure identified as the basement membrane (BM). Moreover, that the BM itself extrudes a thin layer of epidermal connective tissue called the secondary epidermal lamina, or SEL, which intermesh with the PEL (Figure 2). The LAM, then, is comprised of the PEL,
SEL, BM, and DL. Pollitt has shown that the LAM disengages between the PEL and SEL during normal wall growth (Figure 3). This separation, which allows the wall to grow past the stationary coffin bone, is “momentary” and perfectly natural. It is caused by the proteolysis (Gk, -lysis, “breaking down” of proteins) of the attachment by a class metalloproteinase enzymes. Pollitt showed that the same proteolysis of the LAM also occurs during laminitis, calling it a “normal process gone wrong.” This laminitic separation is visible as the tell-tale “stretched white line” between the sole and hoof wall, particularly in cases of chronic laminitis. The “stretched lamina” are actually disorganized epidermis, according to
Pollitt. Significantly, Pollit has demonstrated that the LAM breakdown is caused by dietary toxicity, including sugar enriched feeds and fructan rich pastures (green grass). NHC advocates also point to chemical and biological toxicity as causes for the separation — any agent that compromises the bacterial balances responsible for normal fermentation in the horse’s hind gut. It is important to note that Pollitt did not show that mechanical forces were responsible for the LAM attachment failure, or that they contributed in any way. This is consistent with what is well known among professional NHC practitioners and farriers alike: many hooves with long toes have no abnor-
FIGURE 3 (ABOVE RIGHT): Interdigitation of the lamellar attachment mechanism (LAM). PEL = primary epidermal lamina; SEL = secondary epidermal lamina; DL = dermal lamina. (photo credit: Christopher Pollitt)
FIGURE 2 (ABOVE LEFT): Descent of PEL past the SEL according to Pollitt.
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mal separation of the LAM or other confirmed symptoms of laminitis (e.g., bleeding in the white line, stress rings in the outer wall, and pain). I have personally trimmed hooves with toes in excess of 10 inches on more than one occasion with perfect LAM conformation — surely there would be “mechanical separation” if there were any substance to that rationale! Many farriery and veterinary texts such as Lameness In Horses by O.R. Adams of a generation ago cited “mechanical separation” (also known as “road founder”) as a cause of laminitis. But their authors lacked Pollit’s recent research findings and the abundance of NHC anecdotal evidence that demonstrate clearly dietary toxicity lies at the bottom of all laminitis. This is not to indict the science of that generation as bogus by intent -- only that they wrote what they understood with the information available to them in their time. Unfortunately, those texts are still with us today, and many vets, farriers, and generic barefoot trimmers continue to believe what they read or hear. Until the arrival of NHC, I believed them myself at one time! Long toes, and pathologically forward-migrated toes, nevertheless, do exert unnatural lever forces that do obstruct the natural gaits. Couple these to unnatural horsemanship practices, and they can contribute significantly to Navicular Syndrome and devastating clinical lameness. As a near 40 year veteran farrier turned NHC practitioner, my observation has been that horse owners have a responsibility to feed their horses reasonably natural diets (sans sugars and green grass pastures), keep shoes off of their horse’s feet, learn to ride in harmony with the natural gaits, and insist on proven NHC guidelines for their hoof care. Most problems faced by horses today are simply man-made. Following nature’s way is a good way to put them, including “mechanical separation”, to rest. On an entirely different note, I wanted to mention an important topic that I was unaware of until my business partner’s dog became seriously ill
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Paddock Paradise - Con’t. from pg. 33
this past week while at the home of a ‘dog-sitter.’ Initially, the vets thought that “Kingsley,” her Shetland Sheepdog, had ingested something containing xylitol – a sugar substitute. Apparently, it is often fatal when just a small amount is ingested by the canine species and very few dog owners seem to be aware of this! It is often found in products at health food stores because it is a naturally occurring alcohol found in some plant materials and considered safe for human consumption. It is in-
creasingly common in sugarless gum, mints, candies and even toiletries such as toothpaste, mouthwash and other oral care products such as Crest White Strips. Even many children’s vitamins contain the substance because it is lower in calories than sugar. One of the most common ways that canines succumb to the toxicity is when owners purchase medications for their dogs at pharmacies selling products for humans. As always – whether with equines or canines, KNOW what you are feeding them and whether or not is is safe or harmful. Once a dog ingests
xylitol, symptoms may occur in minutes to hours. Fortunately, Kingsley did not have xylitol toxicity after all, but so many people commented that they had no idea that this was poisonous that we thought it important to help spread the word where and when we can. (Source: Limehouse Veterinary Clinic and “New Findings on the Effects of Xylitol Ingestion in Dogs,” Veterinary Medicine, Dec. 2006, pages 791-797)
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REALTOR Roundup TAMMY FOREMAN REALTOR Hodde Real Estate Co. 112 W. Main Street, Brenham, TX (O): (979) 836-8532 (C): (979) 451-2945
DEITRA ROBERTSON REALTOR Deitra Robertson Real Estate, Inc. 38351 FM 1736 Hempstead, TX (O): (832) 642-6789 (C): (832) 642-6789
WENDY CLINE REALTOR/BROKER CLHMS, SRES, ABR, Million Dollar Guild Wendy Cline Properties RE/MAX Realty Center 13611 Skinner Rd. #100 Cypress, TX
(E): tammy@hodderealty.com (W): www.hodderealty.com
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SPECIALTIES: Farms/Ranches, Equestrian, Residential, Country Homes, Land. TERRITORY: Texas
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(O): (281) 213-6271 (C): (281) 460-9360 (E): wendy@wendyclineproperties.com (W): www.wendyclineproperties.com SPECIALTIES: Equestrian, Farm & Ranch, Land, Residential, Luxury, Commercial TERRITORY: Texas
YOLANDA FUSILIER BROKER Peak Realty 17515 Spring Cypress Rd. Suite # C260 Cypress, TX (O): (979) 921-9530 (C): (713) 417-7567 (E): peak@wt.net (W): www.peakrealty.sbuilder.net
MARY GARBETT BROKER ASSOCIATE Right Time Real Estate LLC at KW Farm & Ranch 950 Corbindale Rd, #100 Houston, TX (C) (713) 213-2420 (O) (713) 470-2055 (E) mary@marygarbett.com (W) www.har.com/marygarbett
DEE ANN BOUDREAUXREALTOR Texas First Real Estate 1116 FM 109 New Ulm, TX (O): (903) 322-3379 (C): (979) 583-7305 (E): deeboudreaux@windstream.net (W): www.texasfirstre.com SPECIALTIES: Residential, Equestrian, Farm/ Ranch, Country Property TERRITORY: Texas
SPECIALTIES: Farms/Ranches, Land Commercial TERRITORY: Waller, Harris, and surrounding counties.
WILLIAM “BOO” CHRISTENSEN BROKER/OWNER RE/MAX Advantage 110 E. Alamo Brenham, TX
TOOTIE LYONS RIXMANREALTOR, ASSOCIATE Heritage Texas Country Properties 605 S. Austin Brenham, TX
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RENEE DIEHL ALHS Round Top Real Estate 101 Main St. Round Top, TX (C): (713) 401-8958 (O): (979) 249-5732 (E): diehl@gmail.com (W): www.roundtopland.com SPECIALTIES: Farm & Ranch, Land, Country & Luxury Homes TERRITORY: South Central Texas
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+RUVHELWHV
Horsebites - Con’t. from pg. 10
events in a friendly, family environrecognized an “outstanding individual ment. or organization that has helped not When asked about what this only the equine industry and CHA, award means to but the equine comNATRC, Presimunity at large to dent Kim Cowart promote safety and stated, “NATRC awareness” through strives to provide its Partner In Safety and promote a Award. At CHA’s safe, fun, and 2014 International educational Convention held at environment for the Kentucky Horse our competiPark in Lexington, KY, tors to challenge the North American themselves and Trail Ride Conference their horses, and (NATRC) was honwe sincerely apored and received this preciate CHA’s prestigious award. recognition and NATRC validation of those was recognized beefforts. CHA sets cause of its history as a gold standard the longest running for equine safety, trail association that evaluates and provides Sydney Collier and Journey at the 2014 so it is with much feedback to competitors Alltech FEI WOrld Equestrian Games. honor that we Photo (C) SusanJStickle.com accept their 2014 related to horsemanPartner In Safety ship skills with an eye Award. Thank you Certified Horsetoward horse and rider safety, both on manship Association, and thank you the ground and in the saddle. NATRC Mary Anna Wood for accepting on sanctions challenging timed distance
behalf of the North American Trail Ride Conference.” Since safety is CHA’s numberone goal, the idea of a Partner In Safety Award was conceived to recognize other individuals and organizations with similar goals. Some past winners of the Partner In Safety Award include: Horse Council of British Columbia (1999); American Camping Association (2003), and; Riders4Helmets (2012). For more information about NATRC and the sport of competitive trail riding, go to www.natrc.org.
ANNOUNCING SYDNEY COLLIER AS 2014 JUNIOR EQUESTRIAN OF THE YEAR Written by: Lindsay Y. McCall Lexington, KY - Para-Equestrian Dressage Young Rider Sydney Collier has been named the 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Collier, 17, of Ann Arbor, Mich. was selected for her accomplishments among many outstanding junior athletes. Collier
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+RUVHELWHV will receive her award at the the Pegasus Awards Dinner held Friday, January 16, at The Hyatt Regency Lexington in Lexington, Ky., during the 2015 USEF Annual Meeting. Collier will be awarded the Ruth O’Keefe Meredith Memorial Trophy as the 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year. Collier has made it her mission as she states, “To take the dis out of disabled.” At age seven Sydney was diagnosed with Wyburn-Mason Syndrome after she began having blurry vision. Wyburn-Mason Syndrome is a rare, congenital disorder characterized by arteriovenous malformations in the central nervous system and retina. It affects only .14% of the world’s population and can cause brain hemorrhaging, stroke, paralysis, or death. She enjoys bringing awareness to the disabled community and the Paralympic Equestrian sport through public speaking, dedication, and her riding accomplishments. In 2014 Collier earned a spot as a Grade Ib rider on the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Para-Dressage Team that competed in Horsebites - Con’t. on pg. 44
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(QJOLVK
It’s Time for a Fresh Start all get complacent with our lives and it’s easy to overlook areas where we could improve upon what we are doing on a daily basis. When we are in a routine with our horses, it’s easy to miss simple changes that could be made to impact the quality of what we are doing with them. It’s a brand new year and a perfect time to reassess your approach to your horse habit whether you own, lease, or just take a weekly riding lesson. Start by taking a look at what your goals are for the year. Are you looking for casual recreational time with your horse, a way to stay fit, or are you planning to compete in a specific discipline? If you are going to compete, make sure you have joined any associations that are necessary or beneficial to your discipline or the competitions you wish to partake in. Look at the schedule for the shows, competitions or clinics that are offered and identify the ones you would like to attend. Set a schedule for preparing your horse from a standpoint of fitness and training. If you don’t have the time or expertise to do it yourself, hire a professional that can help you. Research your options and decide what level of competition you would like to ride in. If you had a successful season last year, you may want to take it to the next level. Make sure your horse is capable of rising to the challenge or consider finding another horse if yours is not able to compete where you want it to. On the other hand, if your last season left you in the wings watching your competition take the ribbons you were hoping for, you would probably be better off keeping the challenges more modest. There is no shame in remaining in the same division for another year if you still need to fine-tune your performance to be successful.
We
42 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE • January 2015
Once you have an overall plan, take an honest look at your daily routine and assess whether it will fulfill your goals. Take an honest look at your own level of fitness. Consider your weight, cardiovascular fitness and strength. If you are not in tiptop shape, put yourself on a workout schedule. You can start a healthy diet, join a fitness center, hire a personal trainer, purchase your own workout equipment to use in your home, or simply start exercising on your own with a plan to improve the areas that need the most attention. Take a look at your horse and carefully consider his fitness level too. Assess his age, health and stamina. If you are jumping, alternate days of flat work between the jumping days. You might even throw in a long trail ride to clear his head and yours while improving his fitness. Trotting is excellent for improving the stamina. Make sure you are stretching your horse and asking for a long and low frame when you work him. You want to make sure you are developing his topline muscles and not teaching him to go “hollow” in order to protect his back. Check your tack while you are at it and make sure the saddle fit hasn’t changed. Horses tend to sag in their backs as they get older which can cause the saddle to pinch the shoulders. If his weight changes significantly, the entire saddle fit could also change. You might need to re-flock the saddle, pad it up differently or possibly even change to another saddle. Check all of the leather on your saddle and bridle, martingale, breastplate and all other attachments to make sure it isn’t cracked or worn to the point of being dangerous. Replace anything that looks unsafe. Take this time to thoroughly clean and condition your tack. You’ll love the difference it makes in the feel of it and the extra care will make it last longer. Is all of your equipment appropriate for your horse? Take a good look at the equipment you are using and consider any necessary changes that could improve performance. How
responsive is your horse to the bit? If he doesn’t listen well you might want to consider trying a different one. Do you know when the last time was that the teeth were floated? Has it been more than a year? If so, you should probably schedule a maintenance float. Check your wardrobe. Do you need a new helmet or boots? Perhaps a show coat or shirt. Maybe your horse needs a new show pad. Maybe there are small items like a hair net, gloves or boot socks that need replacing. Maybe you just plain need an alternative to what you have for the sake of variety. This would also be a great time to go through your tack room and reorganize it to see what needs replacing or supplementing. Check your first aid supplies and make sure you are prepared for emergencies. You might even want to take an inventory of what you have in stock. Check to make sure you have necessary medications and supplements on hand too. Take a look at your shot records and coggins to make sure everything is up to date. Go ahead and schedule any vet work that is overdue. Make sure any insurance needs are also covered. You should consider theft, mortality and major medical or colic coverage and determine if it is appropriate for your horse. Make sure you have some form of liability coverage. One inexpensive option is with USEF. You automatically get liability coverage with your annual membership. The beginning of a new year is always a great time to catch up on routine chores, review your goals and make plans for a fresh start. Happy New Year!
Cathy Strobel has over 30 years of experience as a trainer, judge and clinician and can be reached at Southern Breeze Equestrian Center at (281) 431-4868 or www.sbreeze.com or email cstrobel@sbreeze.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
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+RUVHELWHV Foundation Travel and Training Grant. Between riding and maintaining her Honors stuNormandy, France. She acheived strong scores on Victoria dent status at Skyline High School, Collier enjoys sharing Dugan’s Willi Wesley, a 2000 Warmblood gelding. It was her story and goals as a motivational speaker around the only four years prior at the 2010 World Equestrian Games country. She not only speaks to groups and individuals in in Kentucky where Collier met Paralympian Jonathan Wentz the equestrian world but she also enjoys speaks with groups who introduced and then mentored her on the Paralympic with varied interests throughout the community including sport. Through her positive attitude and determination 4-H clubs. Collier has garnered numerCollier is an outstanding representative for ous accolades aboard horses the 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year Award. Willi Wesley; NTEC Cuplee, Hope Hand, Paralympian and President of owned by Patricia Mendenhall; the United States Para-Equestrian Association and her current competition acknowledged, “This is an exciting achievepartner Wentworth, formally ment for Sydney. She has worked tirelessly as owned by Amy McIlwham. an athlete and student to achieve her goals. I Collier rides with Paralympic have watched her grow as an individual over Dressage coach Wes Dunham the past 5 years and her positive attitude and of Woodstock Stables in Milldetermination has been felt by everyone that brook, NY. has ever reached out to Sydney. She will humHer athletic pursuits bly tell anyone that asks that she had the best have been accompanied by mentor and advisor, the late Jonathan Wentz, multiple awards and scholarwho has guided her path to success. Jonathan ships including 2011 Parawas the driving force behind the Para-DresDressage demonstration rider sage Junior and Young Rider Program, but it at the Adequate FEI North still takes a talented rider to carry on his misAmerican Junior and Young sion to be the best in the world. I am so proud Rider Championships, 2012 of Sydney.” Think Alive Grant, 2013 Hand continued, “On behalf of the ParaUSDF Youth Convention Equestrian discipline I would like to thank Scholarship, 2013 U.S. ParaUSEF for acknowledging this outstanding Dressage Symposium invitaSydney Collier and Willi Wesley at the 2014 athlete.” tion, 2013 Custom Saddlery Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Collier is excited to look towards the future Rising Star Award, 2013 Miss Photo (C) SusanJStickle.com as she aims for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio De Jane Marple Memorial Trophy Janeiro. For more information about Sydney at Dressage for Kids, 2014 Collier please visit www.SydsParaQuest.com. Michigan Virtual High School Chemistry Schloarship, 2013 For more information on the 2015 USEF Annual and 2014 Jonathan Wentz Memorial Scholarship, 2014 Meeting, visit https://www.usef.org/convention Courtney’s Quest Scholarship, and the 2014 Women’s Sports Horsebites - Con’t. from pg. 41
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+RUVHELWHV Trainer Russell Harris To Be Inducted Into Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico— Russell Harris will be the trainer inducted into the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame in 2015. The induction ceremony will be held in June at Ruidoso Downs. Each year the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame inducts one owner/breeder, one trainer, one jockey and one horse. Owner/breeder Jerry Windham has been announced as the owner/breeder inductee. The jockey and horse will be announced in the near future. Harris has been an influential trainer in quarter horse racing since the 1970s and has won at least one Grade 1 race in each of the latest four decades. The Alabama native started his training career at Los Alamitos Race Course and now is based out of Bandera, Texas. While at Los Alamitos, Harris
trained the remarkable mare Florentine to championships at three and four for White Oaks Ranch. The Dash For Cash daughter earned $1,123,102 and won seven Grade 1 stakes over various tracks and any track condition. As a three year-old, she won the Grade 1 La Primera Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos, the Grade 1 Golden State Derby at Bay Meadows and then the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby over a very muddy track at Ruidoso Downs in July. She then beat older horses in the Grade 1 World’s Championship Classic at Ruidoso Downs. Florentine, her jockey Kenny Hart and Harris will now all be members of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame. “I think it’s just great that Russell is going in the Hall of Fame and the three of us are all in the Hall of Fame,” said Hart. “Russell is just a class act and a real good horseman. He has always been my friend and will always be my friend.” Hart was the first-call jockey for Harris back in 1976 when Hart was the leading rider at Los Alamitos. Harris also trained Florentine’s brother
Calyx to multiple wins in 870-yard stakes. Among the other Grade 1 winners trained by Harris were Rainbow Futurity winner Big Time Hero, Dash For Cash Futurity winner Special Shake, Ruidoso Futurity winner Fightin Jane, Texas Classic Derby winner Willie Wanta Dash, La Primera Del Ano Derby winner Artesia, El Primero Del Ano Derby winner Hold All Tickets, Remington Park Championship winner Deposit Cash, Remington Park Championship winner Easily A Rogue and Los Alamitos Derby winner Prissy Fein. Harris has also given back to quarter horse racing by serving four terms on the AQHA Racing Council, has been an AQHA director from California and Texas, and has served on numerous AQHA committees. For further information about the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame, go to www.raceruidoso.com, click on the racing pull-down menu and click on Racehorse Hall of Fame.
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General...
New Year! Howdy!
Welcome to Cowboy Corner.
T
ime sure flies when we’re havin’ fun. Time to start a new year and say adios to an old one. Like to think that what I learned last year will benefit me in the new year. Like the ol’ cowboy sayin’, “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.” So here’s wishin’ all a Happy New Year, and may all your judgments be good. Always look forward to the first quarter of the New Year. The first three months of every year for me, for a long time, has been rodeo time. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in March, Trail Rides and Parades in February, and getting’ ready in January. Our trail ride meetings with HLSR Trail Ride Committee started in the fall, now is the time for the trail rides to get it together. Have been associated with Valley Lodge Trail Ride Association for many years, and meetings start next week, and the first warm up ride is the third weekend. If you didn’t do much ridin’ last fall, about time to do some recollectin’ about what you want to change, and what you need to repair or replace. Am kinda of a “back at the ranch” tack repair guy. Am not tryin’ to take anything away from the saddle shops just have a hard time findin’ them. Many of the small towns used to have saddle shops, but the shops have gone the way of their old owners. So Brazos Bottom engineering has ex-
46 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 2 January 2015
panded to minor tack repair. Seems most of my repairs involve bridle reins. Learned long ago that using slobber straps and trigger snaps on our reins makes repairs much faster and easier. The slobber straps, same width of the reins, say ¾ inch, is about five to six inches long, and loops around the end of the say, seven feet bridle reins. Attachment of the strap and rein is by three sets of two holes each, all spaced the same to allow a leather lace to be used. Put the trigger snap of the proper size say, ¾ inch, on the strap, then loop the strap around the end of the rein, with all holes lining up. Then place the welloiled leather lace through the strap, through the reins, then through the other side of the strap. Now with two ends of the lace on the same side of the slobber strap, tie them off with a square knot. With pressure, the leather lace usually breaks first, preventing damage to the bridle side straps or throat latch. Leather laces are easy to work with and take along when riding. Horses should not be tied with bridle reins, but invariably on every ride, some pilgrim breaks a rein. If your reins are equipped with trigger snaps, it’s easy to take the reins off the bit,
and tie with a rope attached to say a halter. All of our ranch saddles come with hobbles. Would rather hobble the horses than tie, and the snaps on the reins make the reins easy to detach from the bridle bit and hang on the saddle horn. Sure saves a lot of broken reins because the horse stepped on them while still attached to the bridle. Note about the trigger snaps. Only use solid brass and stainless steel. The plated, pot metal snaps are pure junk, and will not survive in the world where horses sweat in the high humidity climates. Brass and stainless will give years of service and can easily be cleaned with hot water, dish soap and an old toothbrush. As back up reins, I carry in my saddle bags two 1/4 inch nylon three plait ropes about seven feet long with an eye spliced in one end. In a pinch, the ropes can be substituted for reins until time is allowed to repair a broken leather rein. Also in a pinch, the nylon ropes can be used to tie up a horse, and hopefully prevent a broken rein or reins.
Happy Trails...
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