Horse & rider 12 16

MANAGE AND BEAT MUD ON YOUR PROPERTY

WESTERN TRAINING HOW-TO ADVICE

DECEMBER 2016

Fallon Taylor Frenzy • Her Tips: Arc Around A Barrel • Her Mission: Spread Positivity • Her Prize: Win A Private Lesson

BEST QUOTES TO INSPIRE YOUR RIDING

Bucks At Lope?

Here’s The Fix

Update Your First-Aid Kit

‘Help—My Mare Is Aggressive!’

HOW HORSES DE-STRESS YOU

Fallon Taylor And Appaloosa gelding Hot Spot The Appy

December 2016

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Features

Departments

39 Best 2016 Quotes

YOUR HORSE YOUR LIFE

Horse trainers say the darnedest things. Here are some of our favorite quips from this year.

By the H&R Staff

15 We’d Love to Own: AQHA stallion The Immortal.

16 Talk: Arabian reiners; quirky stocking stuffers.

17 Health: Conditioning caution; new topline advice.

18 Solutions: Bath in a bottle; winter-riding lap robes.

19 Horsekeeping: Update your equine first-aid kit.

20 Style: Last-minute gift ideas; cute wristlets.

48 Vet’s Mud-Busting Tips Discover the most effective strategies for mud control—from a veterinarian who’s seen it all.

By Barb Crabbe, DVM

PRACTICE PEN

52 Triumph in Trail

25 Private Lesson: Fallon Taylor, arc around a barrel.

28 Bob Avila’s Winning Insights: Get ready to win.

30 Tack Talk: Running-martingale adjustment and use.

33 Conformation Clinic: Breeding-stock Paint geldings.

Learn to navigate the toughest challenges from ‘Man of Trail’ course designer Tim Kimura.

By Tim Kimura, With Nichole Chirico

Regulars

58 Chaps by Discipline Buy your next pair of chaps with confidence, using advice from four experts. Bonus: Fit tips.

By Katie Navarra

7 From the Editor: Be an inspired rider.

8 We Hear You: Bucked off but still at it.

10 Your Stories: ‘My most amazing 24 hours.’

12 Whole Horse Q&A: Suddenly aggressive mare.

66 Problem Solvers: Cure bucking at the lope.

72 You Said It: ‘How my horse de-stresses me.’

On the cover: World champion barrel racer Fallon Taylor of Texas and her 4-year-old leopard gelding, Hot Spot The Appy (pending). By the Appaloosa Miracle Machine and out of a Jockey Club mare, Spot appears in Taylor’s clinics and runs with Taylor at barrel races.

Photo by Mallory Beinborn December 2016 HorseandRider.com 1

Volume LV, Number 12 Editor Jennifer Paulson Senior Editor Jennifer Forsberg Meyer Assistant Editor Nichole Chirico Contributing Editor Barb Crabbe, DVM Alana Harrison Jennifer von Geldern Art Director Adam Purvis Contributing Photographer Mallory Beinborn

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To learn more about Equine R&R™ and to place your order, visit www.petnaturalproducts.net or call (888) 466-8635 24 hours a day or (303) 530-7761 Mon.-Fri., 9-4:30 Mountain Time.

Editorial Inquiries (303) 253-6409 HorseandRider@aimmedia.com Subscription Inquiries/ Address Changes/Back Issues: horse&rider@emailcustomerservice.com (877) 717-8928 (U.S. and Canada) or (386) 447-6306 P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142 Web Site Address HorseandRider.com Circulation Director Dana Raven Director of Retail Sales Susan A. Rose PRODUCTION Group Production Director Barb Van Sickle bvansickle@aimmedia.com Production Manager Diane Paolini HorseandRiderProduction@aimmedia.com Prepress Manager Joy Kelley Prepress Specialist Galen Nathanson Idania Mentana Horse&Rider Editorial Office 5720 Flatiron Parkway Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 253-6409

Executive Chairman CEO & President Executive Vice President & CFO

2

HorseandRider.com December 2016

Brian Sellstrom Patricia B. Fox

Senior Vice President Digital and Data

Jonathan Dorn

Vice President, Equine Group

David Andrick

Vice President, Controller

Distributed by Pet Natural Products, LLC, Boulder, CO 80301

Andrew W. Clurman

Executive Vice President of Operations

Vice President, Finance

Natural Support for Recovery from Stress or Illness

Efrem Zimbalist III

Craig Rucker Joseph Cohen

Vice President, Research

Kristy Kaus

Vice President, Information Technology

Nelson Saenz

Copyright © 2016 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. PRINTED IN THE USA

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®

This Month @

HorseandRider.com Vice President/Group Publisher David Andrick dave.andrick@EquiNetwork.com Associate Group Publisher Mitch Miller (303) 644-3782 mmiller@aimmedia.com ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Rick Swan (480) 471-4671 rswan@aimmedia.com Advertising Representatives Christian Leatham (508) 461-9611 cleatham@aimmedia.com Michelle Adaway (859) 619-8263 madaway@aimmedia.com Kathy Dando (717) 303-3793 kdando@aimmedia.com Tom Brazil (805) 379-8729 tbrazil@aimmedia.com Susan Lee (540) 905-9111 slee@aimmedia.com Benjie Lemon (303) 625-1667 blemon@aimmedia.com

Condition Right Winter weather usually means less saddle time. Create a conditioning plan to help ease your horse back to work on page 17, and review “Top Five Conditioning Flubs” online.

Shelley L. Partridge (859) 327-7057 spartridge@aimmedia.com Keith Cunningham, Automotive/Truck Representative (248) 763-0526 kcunningham@aimmedia.com

Fit in Your Chaps

First-Aid Kits

Don’t let the holidays leave you busting out of your chaps with the “Chaps-Fit Program” online. Choose chaps according to your discipline on page 58.

Going trail riding? Update your barn’s first-aid kit in this month’s Horsekeeping (page 19), and go online to see what to include in your trail-riding kit.

Classified Advertising Warren Wilson (760) 546-1192; fax (760) 546-1459 hr@aimclassifieds.com Advertising Information Manager Judy Howard Advertising Coordinator Alicia Smith

Aggressive Horses

View It!

Read why a horse becomes aggressive toward people on page 12, then see what causes a horse to become aggressive toward other horses on our Web site.

Learn about AQHA and NSBA superstar stallion The Immortal on page 15, then go online to watch one of his winning rides.

Digital Advertising Operations Manager Ron Goldy rgoldy@aimmedia.com

To sell copies of Horse&Rider in your store, please contact Active Interest Media Customer Service, (800) 365-5548 We assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts

We love hearing from you! Send all high-resolution images for Conformation Clinic; Problem Solvers questions; and any feedback, ideas, photos, and letters to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com. Or mail correspondence to 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301.

FOLLOW US 4

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and/or artwork, which must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

American Horse Publications Alliance for Audited Media

Photo by Jennifer Paulson

Join the Herd!

The ’90s make for a fun party theme, not an effective equine vaccine.

You can party like it’s 1999 all you want, but when it comes to effective horse health solutions, it’s time to get serious. Other manufacturers rely on vaccines from the past century. Vetera® is designed with every horse’s long-term health in mind. Through our recently updated portfolio of vaccines, we are committed to providing horses with the best defense against the viruses that threaten them today.

Ask your veterinarian or visit vetera-vaccines.com to learn about our updated portfolio of vaccinations.

www.bi-vetmedica.com Vetera is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH. ©2016 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. BIVI/VETE/161022

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From the Editor

By Jennifer Paulson

Be an Inspired Rider AS A WRITER, I LOOK FOR INSPIRATION EVERYwhere. I’ve been doing this for 19 years, so sometimes it takes more work than expected, but I can usually find something to inspire me to keep moving forward in my work. It’s the same thing as a rider. After spending many years in the saddle, it’s equally important to look for new ways to stay motivated. Both require an open mind and a willingness to try new things.

You might’ve noticed something a little different on our cover this month—for the first time in many issues, we’ve included a rider. And she happens to be barrel racer Fallon Taylor, wearing tie-dye, sparkly fringe, and a crystal-encrusted helmet. If that’s not being openminded and willing to try new things, I don’t know what is.

An Open Mind Opens Opportunities I met Fallon on Labor Day at her clinic in Cheyenne, Wyoming, thanks to our contributing photographer, Mallory Beinborn. I had no idea what to expect. I’d seen her online (she’s especially active on Snapchat), but I’ve learned with social media that what you see isn’t always what you get. Could someone really be that encouraging, motivating, and inspiring in person? For Fallon, that’s an emphatic yes.

From my seat, the riders in her clinic that day all left feeling they’d been seen, validated, and motivated, not to mention the auditors who got up close and personal in the arena while the riders worked their horses. Fallon truly inspired these women and girls, including myself. That’s why I’m excited you’ll have the chance ride with Fallon, in person. Get details on winning a private lesson with her, thanks to Dynamic Edge by Cactus, on page 63.

More Inspiration We offered our first “Best Of” feature in 2015, highlighting the best things that happened in the horse industry that year. (You can find it on HorseandRider.com.)

This year, we focused on the best quotes we heard from trainers, clinicians, and industry leaders, beginning on page 39. The messages come from our interviews, photo shoots, and other interactions with these professionals, as well as from their own social media posts. I think I’ve used Brad Barkemeyer’s contribution on my kids 100 times since I first heard him say it.

What’s your favorite inspirational quote for better horsemanship? Send it to me at the address below. I hope we can gather enough to feature them in an upcoming issue…because who doesn’t need a little inspiration now and then?

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December 2016 HorseandRider.com 7

We Hear You

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Shaken Spirit In “Setbacks & Comebacks” (From the Editor, November 2016), Editor Jennifer Paulson detailed her son’s first bucking experience and overcoming his shaken spirit. I found myself in a similar situation with a new horse.

After 4 months of bliss, I noticed some changes. Spooking at nothing, resistance. I couldn’t see any obvious lameness or pain issues, and neither did my trainer. On the day of the fateful ride, he didn’t want to move into a jog; I had to press. Then I asked for a lope and ended up on the ground. It happened so fast, and it was such a fierce buck, that it left me confused—and out of breath. It had been 24 years since I had hit the dirt, and I just felt awful.

It led to many vet visits to diagnose what was wrong. My sweet gelding had Lyme disease, which can cause swollen joints, neurological issues, and hypersensitivity.

My horse has been successfully treated, and I am happy to report is

Know Your Horse

Cowboy Dressage: Riding, Training and Competing with Kindness as the Goal and Guiding Principle Lifelong horsewoman Jessica Black expertly weaves Eitan Beth-Halachmy’s experience and expertise into an engaging and articulate explanation of the philosophy of Cowboy Dressage; defines the expectations of the rider; and describes what a participant needs in terms of equipment, as well as how the horse should be prepared. Specific descriptions of the Cowboy Dressage tests are provided, with additional tools for those interested in competition, including rules, divisions, and how to execute and judge tests. Paperback, 224pp., #ZF919, $29.95

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HorseandRider.com December 2016

S T O R E

In his October 2016 Tack Talk installment, Al Dunning stressed purpose and proper use of the German martingale. I’d add that you must know your horse. My 13-year-old mare can still be reactive, high-headed, and claustrophobic. A trainer once recommended that I try a German martingale. After just one or two steps with the martingale, my mare exploded. I no longer use any type of martingale on my mare and am using a different trainer and a different training approach that’s helping her figure things out.

CAROL COLLEEN, Oregon

Guys: Helmet-Up “Why I Ride Safe” (August 2016) showed what I expected...all female riders, except one young male.

It’s males who fight wearing helmets. I

Your Stories

My Most Amazing 24 Hours From Wisconsin to North Carolina to show a horse—and back again nearly the same day.

Could she possibly do it?

By Nyssa Sheridan

I

t was four in the morning. I was anxious and couldn’t sleep. Had I packed everything I needed? What if I miss my flight? What if I don’t do well? What if I randomly slip and fall in the ring?

I was to travel from Wisconsin to Raleigh, North Carolina, to show my friend’s Morab stallion in the 2015 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals.

The logistics were daunting.

I’d recently started a job as a medical laboratory technician. But because I’d been injured four weeks prior while showing in a yearling halter class, I’d spent a week with my arm in a sling, resting my sprained shoulder while I tried to learn my new job one-handed.

Then, just days after I was freed from the sling, my friend Wendy Konichek sent me an email that rendered me almost speechless.

“How would you like to show Thunder at the Nationals?”

‘Would I Ever!’

Montego’s Thunder, her dark bay Arabian/Morgan, was one of the first stallions I’d ever fallen in love with, after watching him in a liberty presentation at an equine expo 10 years before. Now 20 years old, he was still lovely and enthusiastic. I said yes, of course. Then reality set in. I had an injured shoulder and only a few accrued hours of time off from work. I’d have to fly to Raleigh, show Thunder, and return within a day.

Work flew by the morning of my 10 HorseandRider.com December 2016

Wisconsin reader Nyssa Sheridan with Morab sport horse stallion Montego’s Thunder.

flight. Nearly sprinting, I clocked out at the end of the day and bolted to my car for the drive to the airport. A detour had me arriving barely in time, looking so pathetic that security didn’t even bother to slow me down.

It was almost 10 p.m. when I landed in Raleigh. Exhausted, I struggled through the empty airport, head down. Someone touched my shoulder. It was my husband! He’d caught an earlier flight to cheer me on. What a wonderful surprise!

The next morning came early. Again I was anxious. It was the biggest event I’d ever competed in, and I felt a crushing obligation to do justice to my friend’s unwavering faith in me. I watched other horses being shown in

sport horse in hand. It was simple, really. Stand the horse up for inspection at the apex of the triangle, then lead him at a walk, then trot, around the triangle so judges could see the quality of the gait, elasticity of movement, and manners.

How Could I Leave?

When our time came, Thunder strutted like a colt. The two judges glanced at me while scrutinizing Thunder’s conformation. I tried to hide my worried expression. Then, as Thunder and I walked the small triangle, he pranced and jigged. I sighed. He stuck his tongue out and shook his head. I tried not to shake mine.

By E.K. Walker Photography, courtesy of Nyssa Sheridan

Whole Horse Q&A

What Causes Hostile Behavior?

A mare turned suddenly aggressive toward humans may need systematic retraining.

Q

A dominant mare I’ve owned for four years recently charged and tried to bite the neck of a person retrieving another horse from their shared field. She’s now in a small pen near the gate to the field, but still she wants to bite people bringing other horses in. I’ve worked with her in the smaller pen; she did well until the other mares moved away, then became aggressive toward me. She’s good under saddle, so what’s now making her dangerous?

AMANDA REERS, Pennsylvania

A

A thorough veterinary exam is always warranted in cases of a horse’s sudden behavior change.

12

HorseandRider.com December 2016

Various medical conditions, including ovarian tumors, can cause a mare to become aggressive.

If there’s no physical cause, your mare may’ve made an association between the appearance of people coming to the pasture and something unpleasant or fearful happening to her. Horses aren’t naturally aggressive toward humans; this is a learned behavior triggered by negative experiences, including inappropriate handling/training. While your mare may be good under saddle, behavior on the ground and under saddle don’t automatically correlate with each other.

It appears your mare feels vulnerable and scared when horses converge around

the pasture gate—that is, when somebody comes to get them. She’s learned that if she shows aggression, the person retreats and she won’t be placed into what she perceives as a threatening situation.

First, move her away from where the horses are brought in from the pasture so she doesn’t exhibit the behavior.

Then begin systematic groundwork using positive reinforcement techniques to help build a more trusting and positive association with proximity to humans.

Begin by training her to touch her nose to a target stick using clicker training (see box). This is easy to teach and an excellent way to boost a horse’s enthusiasm for working with you.

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YourHorse YourLife WE’D LOVE TO OWN

Photo by Photo Nichole byChirico Mallory Beinborn

The Immortal Details: 2005 AQHA stallion by Invitation Only and out of Zippo By Moonlight, by Zippo Pine Bar. Barn name: T.I. Owned and shown by: Leslie Lange of Greeley, Colorado.

True all-arounder: T.I. holds AQHA superiors in Western pleasure, Western riding, trail, and ranch riding, and he’s been the honor-roll Western riding champion. He also has points in barrels, poles, and roping events. “I’ve toyed with the idea of showing him in green hunter under saddle and having him shown in the heeling,” Lange says about T.I.’s versatility.

Back to their roots: “I first started showing in the ranch riding because it looked like fun. I grew up on a ranch; it brought me back to where I started,” Lange shares.

“But the more we competed in it, the more I realized how great T.I. was at it.” Since then, the team has gone on to win the All American Quarter Horse Congress in ranch riding and the NSBA World Show in the ranch riding and ranch trail.

Ranch obstacles: “I tracked steers with him to prepare for the 2015 AQHA World Show’s senior ranch riding, and he was great with them,” Lange says about the new obstacle. Then, at the 2016 NSBA World, they tried ranch trail, which included loading into and unloading from an old stock trailer. “Several horses refused to load in the trailer. It was similar to a trailer we use at the breeding farm, so T.I. had no problem going into or out of it.”

Great teacher: His kind personality and willingness to do anything make him a barn favorite to ride. If Lange has an amateur rider learning how to change leads or learning the feel of a lead change, T.I. is her go-to horse. …Nichole Chirico

HorseandRider.com Watch a video of T.I. and Leslie Lange showing in the senior Western riding.

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 15

YourHorse YourLife

TALK

Never Been Bucked Off, But Been on a Bucking Horse 21%

Never Been on a Bucking Horse 2%

Yes, I’ve Been Bucked Off 77% Arabian reiners had their own competition within Las Vegas’ popular High Roller Reining Classic in September.

GALLOP POLL

Been on a Bucking Horse?

The National Arabian Reining Association made its first official appearance at the 2016 High Roller Reining Classic September 9-17 at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. NARHA, an incentive program that has recently taken the reins from the Arabian Reining Breeders Classic, awarded $9,500 in prize money to Arabians and Half-Arabians competing in open and non-pro reining, as well checks ranging from $500 to $1,000 to Arabian youth riders in team and individual competition. Find full results of the Arabian competition and the entire show, which draws top reining horses and riders from around the world, at highrollerreiningclassic.com.

Spread the Word!

The lowdown: The Unwanted Horse Coalition’s newly revitalized Ambassador Program uses volunteers from the horse industry to present information about unwanted horses nationwide.

How it works: Any group interested in learning how to reduce the number of unwanted horses—or what it means to “own responsibly”—can request a speaker from their area to deliver a five, 10-, or 20-minute presentation supplemented with literature and materials.

Get involved: To request a speaker (or volunteer to be one), call the Unwanted Horse Coalition at (202) 296-4031.

Quirky Stocking-Stuffers Looking for an unusual—but practical— gift for the trail rider on your holiday list? Consider the real-world offerings of Two Horse Enterprises, which include items ranging from a $1 blanket pin and $3 pocket-size folding hoof pick (at right) to a horseman’s knife ($7), a folding canvas water pail ($20), reflective leg wraps ($25/pair), and Guard Alaska bear repellent ($32.50).

Find these and other unusual stockingstuffers at twohorseenterprises.com (click on “Items”).

$165K IN SCHOLARSHIP PRIZES

9PERCENT 16 HorseandRider.com December 2016

Uptick in entries at the 2016 American Junior Paint Horse Association Youth World Championship Show held in Fort Worth, Texas, in June. The rise over the prior year was due in part to significant increases in the walk-trot and novice youth divisions (apha.com/ywcs).

“Arabians Shine at High Roller Reining” photo by Waltenberry, courtesy of High Roller Reining Classic

Arabians Shine at High Roller Reining

We asked if you’ve ever been bucked off a horse or ridden through a buck.

Above is a breakdown of the responses we received. (And for help with a horse that bucks at the lope, see page 66. To participate in future polls, “like” us at our Facebook page.)

HE ALTH

YourHorse YourLife

Tablets Approved Equioxx (firocoxib), a once-daily treatment to control joint pain and inflammation associated with equine osteoarthritis, is now approved by the FDA in tablet form. Available by prescription only, the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) tablets are designed to be easy for horse owners to administer. As with all NSAID use, owners should follow their veterinarian’s instructions—especially in dosing—advises Dr. Hoyt Cheramie, manager of Merial Large Animal Veterinary Services (equioxx.com).

Q: How can I tell if my horse’s topline is properly developed?

Time on a hotwalker can be part of an overall conditioning program.

Conditioning Caution If your horse is mostly laid off over the winter, you’ll need a well-thought-out conditioning plan to bring him back into shape once weather permits. Workouts should start with a lot of long, slow distance work, which can include some time on a hotwalker. Don’t overdo your horse’s conditioning program, however, or he may get “on the muscle”—that is, so fit and high-spirited that he becomes difficult to ride.

Too much work can also lead to soreness—another unhappy result of a too-vigorous conditioning program. Plan now to avoid this and other get-fit errors by reviewing Dr. Barb Crabbe’s feature “Top Five Conditioning Flubs” at HorseandRider.com.

“Conditioning Caution” photo by Alana Harrison

A:

A new evaluation system may help. Nutrena’s recently introduced Topline Balance initiative aims to help veterinarians and owners understand that the condition of a horse’s topline is as important to determining overall health as is the longstanding body condition score.

Nutrena research indicates that a horse’s work regimen and genetics are not the only factors in the condition of his topline.

The proper balance of amino acids—the building blocks of protein—are necessary to make it possible for the muscles of the topline to bloom. To learn more and to rate your own horse using the company’s Topline Evaluation Tool, go to topline balance.com.

Insulin-Resistant Horse?

The lowdown: Uckele’s newly reformulated Glycocemic EQ Powder and Pellets address the needs of insulin-resistant horses. “The formula was improved to provide even more targeted support for normal insulin levels to help horse owners struggling to manage the health of their overweight, cresty-necked horses,” says Dr. Eleanor Kellon, Uckele staff veterinary specialist.

Learn more: Visit equine.uckele.com and click on “Metabolic,” or call (800) 248-0330.

BROODMARE VACCINATIONS

3

Trimesters in which the only approved equine leptospirosis vaccine can be used to protect broodmares against late-term abortions caused by leptospires (L. pomona). Original approval for Zoetis’ Lepto EQ Innovator in pregnant mares had been for the second trimester only (leptoeqinnovator.com).

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 17

YourHorse YourLife

SOLUTIONS

Wound Protection As much as we hate it, accidents happen. Be prepared by keeping wound sprays readily available in your barn’s first-aid kit. Farnam’s new PuriShield product line is designed with Purifect technology that supports the body’s naturally occurring immune response to help heal your horse’s wounds. The wound spray makes a great first-aid spray, but if you prefer to use gel the hydrogel offers the same benefits as the spray. The skin spray is a one-stop solution for any topical skin irritations, and the barrier spray is like a liquid bandage and works great for wounds that are in hard-to-bandage areas. To find out what else to keep in your first-aid kit, turn to page 19.

More info: visit farnampurishield.com.

Keep your horse’s belongings clean and in one place with this portable stall bag.

Stall Tote

Looking to store your horse’s belongings in one convenient place? The Dura-Tech Supreme stall bag ($74.99; sstack.com) by Schneiders Saddlery comes in five colors, hooks onto the front of your horse’s stall, and is made from 600-denier poly. It’s big enough to hold multiple sheets or blankets, and has two interior pockets where you can store smaller items like your polo wraps, grooming supplies, treats, or medications. Headed to a horse show? This stall bag easily transitions from your barn to the showgrounds, keeping all of your important belongings in one spot at all times.

Bath in a Bottle Keep your horse clean during colder months without giving him a full bath.

Shampoo Try a spray-on, waterless equine shampoo for days where your horse needs a bath, but it’s too cold to use water.

Stain Remover Use a green spot remover to banish any stains that might occur when your horse lays down or goes outside.

Healthy Coat Keep his coat shiny by filling a spray bottle with equine hair moisturizer to use every time you groom him.

18 HorseandRider.com December 2016

Tail Care When you can’t wash his tail, use a spray-on tail conditioner to help keep his tail soft and tangle-free.

Winter-Riding Lap Robes The problem: Catching a chill while you’re riding outdoors during winter months.

The fix: Winter riding lap robes.

Enjoy scenic trail rides during all seasons by using a fleecelined lap robe, designed to keep you warm from the waist down while you’re riding. This blanket wraps around your waist and hangs past your feet, protecting you and your equipment from harsh weather conditions. The lap robe currently comes in one size, but extensions are available upon request.

More info: $95; (360) 829-2141.

HORSEKEEPING

YourHorse YourLife

Your Best First-Aid Kit Do you have an optimal first-aid kit in your barn and trailer? Use this list to update items as need be.

W

hen an emergency happens, you must be prepared.

This list of items essential to an equine first-aid kit is adapted from The Comprehensive Guide to Equine Veterinary Medicine, by Horse&Rider’s consulting veterinarian, Dr. Barb Crabbe.

A fully stocked first-aid kit is your first line of defense in the event your horse suffers an injury or sudden illness.

Stethoscope. To take your horse’s heart rate and listen to his gut sounds (colic signs).

Watch with second hand. To measure heart and respiratory rates.

(Your smart phone can also serve this purpose.)

Thermometer. To take your horse’s rectal temperature; a digital model is handiest.

Penlight or flashlight. Helps in dim light to check the capillary refill time of your horse’s gums, or examine his eyes or a wound. (A smart phone’s flashlight app is also terrific for this purpose.)

Betadine scrub. To cleanse wounds.

Betadine solution. To flush out wounds, when diluted with water to a weak-tea color (no stronger than one part betadine to 10 parts water).

H&R file photo

What About Perscription Meds?

Depending on your horse’s activities and unique needs, your veterinarian may suggest you have on hand certain prescription medications. These could include the anti-inflammatory phenylbutazone (bute), antibiotics, or tranquilizers. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations and advice, then add to your kit accordingly.

Saline solution. To flush an injured or irritated eye. May also be used to flush or clean a wound.

Dosing syringe. To administer oral medications or to flush a wound.

Antibiotic wound ointment. To dress a wound or treat superficial abrasions.

Bandage material. To apply a wrap to a wound or swollen leg.

Include three to four sheet cottons, 6-inch brown gauze, selfadhering elastic wrap, self-adhesive tape, and several nonstick wound dressings.

Bandage scissors. For bandaging and other cutting needs.

Disposable gloves. To make messy applications and other jobs easier and more sanitary.

Nail puller. To remove a shoe.

Duct tape. For MacGyvering just about anything.

HorseandRider.com Learn about extra items to include in a first-aid kit to carry on the trail.

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 19

YourHorse YourLife

ST YLE WE LOVE: WRISTLETS A good pair of muck boots is essential when you’re working outside or in the barn on cold, wet winter days.

Make it easy when you’re at a show or on the road by keeping all of your essentials in one bag.

Winter-Approved

Cold-Weather Muck Boots For days you have to walk through snow and mud to catch your horse, stay dry with the Reign Supreme tall boot from The Original Muck Boot Company ($179.99; muckbootcompany.com).

The Reign Supreme boot is a great solution for comfort around the barn. It’s waterproof, lined with fleece, and keeps your feet warm up to 20 degrees below zero. You’ll appreciate not sliding around when you’re walking, thanks to the gripping horizontal tread. And they work great outside the barn, too. Throw these boots on while you run errands or head to the local tack shop.

The Horse Holster Looking for a stylish way to ride with your phone and store other personal belongings? The Horse Holster is designed to keep your phone safe while you’re riding and comes in six different colors. For those that enjoy a pop of color to match your favorite saddle pad, you can choose from blue, pink, purple, teal, or a pink camo. But if you prefer a more classic everyday look there’s a black option, as well. It’ll also make a great last-minute stocking-stuffer for your favorite equestrian this Christmas.

More info: $29.99; thehorseholster.com.

20 HorseandRider.com December 2016

The problem: Your winter jacket doesn’t offer protection for your mobile devices.

The solution: The Cheval weatherproof jacket from Noble Outfitters.

The feature: The internal zip-closed pocket is a perfect fit for your smart phone, keeping it dry while you ride, and it has media-cord access so you can keep listening to music or podcasts while you clean stalls.

More info: $129.95; nobleout fitters.com.

Show-Halter Style What’s the first thing a judge notices on your horse in showmanship and halter classes?

His halter fit. This Dale Chavez show halter (#1240-865-DO) is available in full, mare, 2-year-old, and yearling sizes, so you’ll find the perfect fit for your horse, no matter his head size.

The silver combined with dark-oil leather creates an attractive look that won’t go out of style.

More info: $375; dalechavezsaddles.com.

CLP Jewelry Style: Gold and Black Fringe Wristlet.

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Rod’s Western Palace Style: Wabags JJ Patchworked Clutch.

More info: $99.95; rods.com.

STS Ranchwear Style: Kacy Croc Organizer.

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Practice Pen PRIVATE LESSON

Barrel Arc and Counter-Arc Improve your horse’s position going around the first and second barrel.

By Fallon Taylor and Jenna Smeenk, With Jennifer Paulson Photos by Mallory Beinborn

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he arc and counter-arc play key roles in accurately positioning your horse around every barrel. We have an easy drill you can practice to refine your accuracy.

Here, we’ll outline the drill, plus discuss ways you can work on your rein management and riding position while practicing with or schooling your horse.

You don’t need any special equipment to execute this drill; simply outfit your horse in the bit you use to compete. Don’t forget his protective legwear to prevent lower-leg injuries, because your horse will cross his legs over many times in the perfect execution of this movement.

Work on this at the walk first, and then advance to the trot once you refine your and your horse’s skills. Once you’ve mastered it at a walk and a trot, you can add it to your run for more control and, hopefully, you’ll never hit a barrel again! →

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 25

Practice Pen PRIVATE LESSON

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Approach the barrel at a walk, two hands on the reins, using the same angle you would to approach it in a run.

Keep your hands and body quiet as you get closer to the barrel, and sit on your pockets. Tip your horse’s nose toward the barrel with your inside hand. The horse’s body position is in what we call a simple arc.

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Arc an entire circle around the barrel with both hands on the reins. Your horse should cross over in the front end, keeping his hips in line with his shoulders and slightly toward the 26

HorseandRider.com December 2016

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barrel. Use your legs to hold your horse’s hips in position and to encourage his front feet to cross over. Riding with both hands on the reins gives you the most control; however in a run, we always encourage keeping one hand on the horn once you get up to the barrel. Start this drill with two hands. Once you’ve got the shape and movement you desire with two hands, move to one hand like you would if you were in a run.

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In a perfect world, you’ll pilot your horse all the way up to the barrel with two hands and then go to the horn

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ride more with your legs and seat than your hands. Get your horse’s shoulders crossing over, and keep his hips relatively in line with his body, slightly toward the barrel.

Don’t let your horse swing his hind end out in any of these movements.

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Now hold the reins with one hand and place your other hand on the horn as you would in a run. Keep your eyes on the top of the barrel, and feel for your horse to cross his outside front leg over his inside front leg, toward the barrel. In addition to having better control over your horse’s body position through this drill, you’ll get lots of rein-management practice, which is essential for successful patterns. Try not to cross your hand over your horse’s neck when you go to one hand. Pull to your hip, not across your body. when your leg gets to the barrel. However, in some scenarios, you must go to the horn early. Maybe your angle looks good, you feel your horse sitting down early, or you just get nervous and forget the game plan. If you go to the horn too soon and realize your angle coming into the barrel is flat, your horse must respond to one-rein asking him to move his shoulders out. If you don’t have this move in your arsenal, your horse might begin to shoulder, hit, or even crash barrels. When you go to one hand, keep your rein in your left hand (when turning to the left), and grab the horn with a firm grip with your right hand.

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Once you’ve mastered the arc around the barrel while riding two-handed and one-handed, move onto the counter arc. Begin riding two-handed for the best control as you ace the arc. Tip your horse’s nose away from the barrel by shortening your outside rein to bend his body in a counter-arc. Your hands control the bend in your horse’s neck. Your legs and seat control where his ribcage, hips, and shoulders move. To effectively execute this movement,

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This is a tough exercise to master, but with repetition and focus, you’ll get it down and things will begin to smooth out. When your horse crosses his feet correctly, release and praise him for achieving the movement you asked for. In the beginning, reward small progress, and ask for more each and every time. No matter what, end the exercise on a good note, even if it’s just minimal progress. Too many people overestimate what they can accomplish in a day or a week, but underestimate what they can accomplish with their horse with a month or even a year of practice.

Fallon Taylor and Jenna Smeenk are professional barrel racers who provide insightful and motivational clinics as they travel the rodeo road. They’re both active on all social-media platforms and offer advice and insight to their fans on a regular basis. Visit tipsforbarrel racing.com, fallontaylor.com, or jennasmeenk.com to learn more.

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 27

Practice Pen BOB AVILA’S WINNING INSIGHTS

Spending time with your horse— both in the saddle and in the barn— helps you better understand his personality and how to get along with him in the show pen.

Get Ready to Win Winning doesn’t come easily. Use my advice to prepare yourself and your horse to win.

By Bob Avila, With Jennifer Paulson Photos by Marc Laxineta, DVM

E

veryone wants to win. You can want it all day long, but if you’re not preparing to win, wanting to win won’t do you a bit of good. When it comes to winning, nothing replaces hard work and solid preparation.

Here are five pieces of advice to help you and your horse be sure that, when you go compete, you’re ready to win.

keep him at home, you’ll need to ride more often than that to keep him physically ready to compete and win.

I see the pitfalls of irregular saddle time at my barn regularly. A customer comes to ride for two to three weeks, and they start to make real progress. They achieve a goal at a show. Then they don’t come ride for another two weeks, and it takes them even longer to get back on track. It happens to me when I miss saddle time, and I’m used to riding horses every single day. If I go on vacation for 10 days, I come back rusty. I get back in the routine more quickly because I ride so many horses every day, but it still affects me. That’s tenfold for a non-pro rider who can only get in the saddle on one horse a few times a week. Nothing replaces riding.

Another benefit that comes with riding a lot is more time with your horse—grooming, wrapping legs, saddling, unsaddling, hosing off after the session. All of that time with your horse exposes you to his personality. Use that time to get to know his quirks and how to work with them.

Ride…a Lot Non-pros who win a lot are non-pros who ride a lot. The more you ride, the better off you are. If your horse is in training, make time to go ride a few times a week. If you 28

HorseandRider.com December 2016

Seek Advice If you keep your horse in training, then you’re probably already getting lessons when you ride. It’s one of the benefits

arena to expose my horse to those distractions. I haul my horses to small shows before the big ones to experience other unforeseen elements. With a little effort on my part, I prepare my horses for everything possible.

Put Your Horse First Especially at the big shows, you’re putting your horse in living conditions that don’t fit his usual routine. The lights are on all the time in the barn, whereas at home they get to sleep in the dark. The stall footing isn’t as comfortable. You have to ride at 2 a.m., when he’s used to being ridden at 4:30 p.m. Do everything you can to keep your horse comfortable, even in less-thanoptimal conditions.

At shows, I put extra lights in my Set up spooky situations at home—such as kids playing loudly outside the arena—to horses’ stalls that I can turn off at night, expose your horse and desensitize him before you get to the show. so they have some change in lighting.

This makes the overhead barn lights seem of that boarding situation. But not everyone can afford full more like ambient lighting, so the horses can sleep more training, or they simply want to keep their horse at home. easily. I also keep my feeding schedule as close to the same as it would be at home, rather than adjusting for timeDIY riders especially need to seek outside input on their zone changes. horse, their riding, and their progress. When you ride by yourself, you might think you’re doing good. But then you get to the show and someone says, “Wow, you need some Do Try It at Home help with that!”

If you’re going to try something new—a bit, a piece of tack, Part of my longevity in the horse business is that I sura schooling technique, or a cue—try it at home first. Every round myself with talented people who work for me. If I time I’ve tried something new at a show, it comes back to have a problem, I can ask an assistant what they see, and haunt me. Earlier this year, I had my 3-year-old prepared then I can try to fix it. Or I can put him on the horse and to show one-handed. Everyone else was still showing twowatch what’s going on for myself. I always have an extra set handed, so I decided to go back to riding with two hands. of eyes to identify potential problems and train my horse to It made my horse tense and he thought he was in trouble. his best advantage.

My decision didn’t help my horse at all. I should’ve stuck to my program.

Set Up to ‘Fail’ Try everything you’ll use at the show at home first, down There’s always something unexpected at a horse show. Kids to the squeaky show saddle and the splint boots. It’ll teach playing in the stands, bad ground, banners on the fence, you a lot about your horse, prepare him for his new circumloud tractors, screeching microphones—the possible triggers stances, and put you both closer to being ready to win. for your horse to lose his mind are endless. Prepare for those spooky situations at home by setting him up to deal with the unexpected. With that experience plus knowing your horse A multiple AQHA world champion, Avila has also won three NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurities, from spending a lot of time with him, you can make it easier the NRHA Futurity, and two World’s Greatto deal with those variables at the horse show. est Horseman titles. He received the AQHA I have banners tied all over my arena fence. Yes, they’re Professional Horseman of the Year honor. His Avila Trainmy sponsors, but I know that just about every show I go to ing Stables, Inc., is in Temecula, California. Learn more will have the same types of banners. By accustoming my at bobavila.net. horses to them at home, they’re no big deal at the show. I’ll have the neighbor kids come over and play right outside my December 2016 HorseandRider.com 29

Practice Pen TACK TALK

Running Martingale Are you using your running martingale correctly?

Check your habits against my hints.

By Al Dunning, With Jennifer Paulson Photos by Charles Brooks

M

any people misunderstand the purpose of a running martingale for the Western horse. It’s not to trap or confine a horse’s head. The purpose is to use the weight of the rings and the leather fork attached to them to offer a quicker release to a horse when he responds to rein cues, as well as help the horse flex at the poll. When you release your rein pressure, the martingale weighs down the reins, getting the release signal to the horse sooner.

As with all tack, getting the most out of a martingale relies on how the setup is made, correct adjustment, and proper use. I’ll discuss those points here.

Leather Is Best I prefer a leather running martingale. I’ve used them made of all kinds of materials—nylon, cord, etc.—but leather has the body and life necessary to get the release you’re looking for. A leather martingale hangs better and holds up to use. One made from flimsy materials or even poor-quality leather floats around and doesn’t do the job.

Additionally, choose a martingale with large, heavy rein rings. They add weight, which aids in the quick release of pressure. If you use the martingale with a shanked bit, larger rings won’t get hung up on the shank and lead to problems.

This also allows me to skip using rein stops.

Adjust for Function The strap that runs between the legs and connects to the ring on the cinch is the only adjustment point on a running martingale. You can lengthen or shorten that piece according to your horse’s build. For proper adjustment, snap your martingale to the cinch, then adjust the strap so the rings are 2 to 3 inches from your horse’s throatlatch. If you adjust the martingale too short/tight, you’ll lose all feel with the horse’s mouth. The rings will pull the reins down before they reach your hands instead of your reins being a direct line from the bit to your hands.

On my setup, you’ll see a strap around my horse’s neck.

It’s not adjustable, but should fit comfortably around your horse’s neck. When your reins are loose, this piece keeps the fork from getting too low, which the horse could step on or get tangled in.

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HorseandRider.com December 2016

A running martingale has a single adjustment point: the strap that runs between the horse’s legs and snaps to the cinch. Be sure to adjust your running martingale for each horse, depending on his build and size.

Remember to check the martingale’s adjustment on each horse before you use it. The first horse you ride might have a shorter neck than the next one, requiring you to lengthen the strap for correct adjustment.

Proper Use The single most dangerous thing you can do with a running martingale is to use it with reins that snap to a bit rather than attach with leather ties. The martingale’s rings can get stuck on those metal snaps and make your horse flip over on you. Only use a martingale with reins without snaps, whether a single rein or split reins.

Once I have a young horse going in a snaffle, I add a running martingale so he can feel that quick release from my reins and for an aid if he is extremely out of position. I can also use it for aged horses, whether in the snaffle or curb bit for reiterating fundamentals.

Al Dunning, Scottsdale, Arizona, has produced world champion horses and riders in multiple disciplines.

He’s been a professional trainer for more than 40 years, and his expertise has led him to produce books, DVDs, and his own online mentoring program, Team AD International (teamadinternational.com).

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Practice Pen CONFORMATION CLINIC

Evaluate and place these breeding stock Paint geldings. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s.

Margo Ball Ball holds judge’s cards with the Paint, Quarter Horse, and Palomino breed associations and NSBA, as well as with the National Reining, National Reined Cow Horse, and World Conformation Horse Associations.

From her Ball’s Quarter Horses in Fort Collins, Colorado, Ball breeds all-around horses; trains Quarter Horses for halter, Western pleasure, and ranch riding; and shows in NRHA and AQHA reining events.

She’s trained and shown horses to multiple AQHA championships and superior event titles in halter and performance, as well as to PHBA and IBHA world championships.

She also coaches a select group of amateur competitors.

A

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want good overall balance and structural correctness.

A horse’s shoulders should be long and well-laid-back and complement well-sloped hips of equally adequate length. He should have a short, strong topline; good depth to his heartgirth; and a long, trim neck. The topline of his neck should be twice as long as the bottom line of his neck, with a high tie-in to his shoulder.

While some variation from textbook structure is okay, too much deviation from ideal causes undue stress to other body structures, resulting in poor performance and diminished longevity. Ideally a horse’s hocks should be adequately angled so that a straight line can be drawn from the point of his hips through his hocks and straight down through his cannon bones to the heels of his hind feet. His pastern angle should be similar to his shoulder angle and not be excessively long. Long or overly angular pasterns can lead to soft-tissue issues.

A gelding’s overall attractiveness is based mostly in his form to function. In terms of muscling, the main difference between a halter-only horse and a performance horse is the expression of the muscle. A riding horse will have a smoother look to his muscling. →

For a more detailed guide that’ll help you master Conformation Clinic, see “Decoding Conformation Clinic” at HorseandRider.com.

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C December 2016 HorseandRider.com 33

Practice Pen CONFORMATION CLINIC

First: Gelding B

T

his gelding is the best balanced of the three, with excellent individual components that blend smoothly. His shoulder and hip angles are symmetrical, and he has a strong topline joining them. His back is especially strong through his loins, which translates to power under saddle.

His head shows good breed characteristics‚ a chiseled look with small ears and large, soft eyes. His throat-

latch is trim and clean, and his neck is an ideal length to add to his overall balance. His neck ties into his chest a bit low, but his shoulder is so well sloped that he should have a beautiful, reaching stride. His pastern angles match his shoulder angles, which also aids a smooth stride.

His legs have substantial, clean bone, with flat knees in front and ideal angle to his hocks in his hind legs. He may be

a bit higher in his hips than at his withers, or it could be the angle of the photo.

He has smooth and adequate muscling, appropriate for his age and breed.

Second: Gelding A

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his gelding has very nice characteristics, but could be set up better.

His overall balance is good, and in fact, he has more defined withers and a more level topline than Gelding B. He, too, has a strong topline over the loins. His neck is of good length, with a clean throatlatch and that ties in higher to his chest than Gelding B’s.

His front legs are clean-boned and flatkneed, with adequately sloped pasterns.

With his hind legs placed the way they are, it’s a bit difficult to judge the angle of his hocks, but based on the offside leg, he doesn’t appear to be sickle-hocked, as his near hind leg might indicate. Despite his level topline, he’s slightly higher in his hocks than his knees.

He places behind Gelding B because his shoulders and hips have straighter, steeper angles. Also, his head lacks the refinement and breed characteristics

of the first-place horse, and his overall muscling is lighter without the same depth of muscle through the stifle as Gelding B.

through the throatlatch and shorter in the neck than Geldings B and A. His hips are nicely sloped, but the straightness of his shoulders places him behind the other two geldings.

A steep shoulder hinders a flowing stride and can be rough to ride. His high withers go with his straight shoulder and could make saddlefitting a challenge. His topline isn’t as strong over the loins as the other two geldings’. He’s similar to Gelding

A in muscling—adequate, but weaker through the stifle than Gelding B, which translates to a lack of hind-end drive. He’s in good body condition with a shiny coat.

Third: Mare A

Third: Gelding C

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his gelding has very clean legs with good bone. His knees are flat, and his hocks are angled well.

His near front pastern looks too short and upright in this position, but I think the well-sloped offside pastern is a better example of his true pastern angle.

He shows a lovely expression in his eye and a kind-looking ear position. His head is a little long and lacks the chiseled look, though, and he’s slightly thicker

To submit a photo of your horse to be evaluated in Conformation Clinic, send us a left-side profile photo of your horse (for digital photos: high-resolution, 300 dpi, in at least 3" x 5") to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com with your contact info and your horse’s breed, age, gender, and height. (We welcome all breeds!) Visit HorseandRider.com for additional instructions.

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HorseandRider.com December 2016

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BEST QUOTES Horse trainers say the darnedest things. Here are 18 of our favorite things we heard them say this year.

By the H&R Staff

LONG BEFORE WE WERE LIKING, sharing, and retweeting them on social media, horse trainers and clinicians were sharing humorous quips and inspirational quotes in lessons, at clinics, and in day-to-day conversations.

The best ones start as off-the-cuff remarks that become axioms that form their training programs and shape the way they communicate with amateur and youth riders.

Here we’ve compiled some of the best short-form advice, inspiration, and insight we heard this year. These quotes come from photo shoots we’ve produced, clinics we’ve attended, interviews we’ve conducted, and conversations we’ve had with many of the trainers and clinicians you’ve learned from in H&R in 2016. We hope they inspire you to try new things, achieve your goals, and enjoy your horse life for the rest of this year and into 2017. →

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 39

“

There’s never a time when losing patience benefits you in training a horse.”

—Casey Deary, Horse&Rider photo shoot, Weatherford, Texas

40

“When you’re green, you grow; when you’re ripe, you rot.”

“Don’t do it halfway 10 times. Do it correctly three or four times.”

—Matt Armenta, via text message

—Brad Barkemeyer, clinic in Spokane, Washington

HorseandRider.com December 2016

Photos by Jennifer Paulson

“YOU’VE GOT TO PRACTICE TO CREATE FEEL.” —Tommy Sheets, NSBA clinic in Loveland, Colorado

Photos by Nichole Chirico

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 41

“Be the handiest rider you can be in your most vulnerable position.”

—Fallon Taylor, clinic in Cheyenne, Wyoming

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HorseandRider.com December 2016

Photo by Mallory Beinborn

“You can sit in a ‘perfect’ position but still be incorrect— because you’re out of true connection with your horse.

You look the part, but you’re like a pretty statue.”

—Lynn Palm, ‘Sit Better, Ride Better!,’ January 2016 H&R

“Punishment as a training tool should be obsolete. Your horse wants peace with you, and he’ll adapt his life to achieve it.”

–Clinician and author John Lyons, March 2016 H&R

“You only have to be one percent better than what you were yesterday.”

—Suzy Jeane, NSBA clinic in Loveland, Colorado

“Youcan’ttrainahorse that’snotonyourside.”

—Don Murphy, clinic in Eaton, Colorado Lynn Palm photo by Jennifer Paulson; Suzy Jeane photos by Nichole Chirico; John Lyons photo from H&R files

December 2016 HorseandRider.com 43

‘“The way you steer your bike,” said the old man, “that’s how you ride a horse without pulling on ’im.”’

—Mark Rashid, ‘An Insight Into Softness,’ Your Stories, April 2016 H&R

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HorseandRider.com December 2016

Photo by Crissi McDonald

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—Al Dunning, #ReadyToRide video series

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“We engrain left-sidedness into our horses. To fix what’s ‘left’ in yourself and your horse, think right!”

Ride to the best of your and your horse’s ability, not someone else’s.

—Charlie Cole, via text message

“Horses are happiest when they clearly understand what you want from them.”

—Ty Brazeal, via email Al Dunning photo by Jennifer Paulson; Ty Brazeal photo by Linda Brazeal

“ENSURING THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE REMAINS A PRIORITY.” —Craig Huffhines, AQHA executive vice president, August 2016 H&R December 2016 HorseandRider.com 45

“Your responsibility as a trainer is to be black and white—to make training easy for your horse to understand.”

—Clinton Anderson, via Facebook

“I don’t think the struggle for confidence ever goes completely away, for any of us. But it’s how you handle that struggle, how you choose to approach the difficult times, that matters.”

—Erin Taormino, ‘Rise of a Cowgirl,’ May 2016 H&R 46

HorseandRider.com December 2016

“Get creative…or your horse will.”

—Craig Johnson, via Facebook

“Dothebasicsbetter thananyoneelse.”

—Brad Kearns, via text message Craig Johnson photo by Abigail Boatwright; Clinton Anderson photo by Alana Harrison; Erin Taormino photo by Kelsey Hellmann

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Don’t get stuck with a muddy, messy, unhealthy living space for your horse this winter. Learn top tips for mud control from a veterinarian who’s seen it all.

By Barb Crabbe, DVM

lients often ask why I wear clogs to work. “So I can only go in mud that’s less than ankle deep,” I explain. I learned this tactic soon after I walked into a muddy paddock wearing very mud-appropriate boots to vaccinate a horse. The mud was so deep it sucked those boots right off my feet.

“No more,” I thought. “Off with the rubber boots, and on with the clogs.” Now the horses have to come to me instead.

In this article, I’ll discuss the most important mudmanagement tips I’ve learned during my years in equine practice. From facility design to maintenance strategies, I’ll tell you what to do and how to do it. If you follow my lead, you’ll be that much closer to a mud-free horse life.

TOP 10 TIPS An effective mud-control strategy begins the day you plan to develop a horse property and never ends. The following are my top 10 tips to help you manage mud.

Tip #1: Plan it out.

If you’re lucky enough to develop a property from scratch, the layout of your facility is the perfect place to start your mud-management plan. Place buildings on high ground, and situate paddocks on a slope whenever possible, with gates, loafing sheds, and feeding areas at the highest point. A two- to five-percent grade is ideal for proper drainage. Avoid any arrangement where horses are encouraged to congregate on low ground where there’s likely to be standing water.

Photo by Jim Bortvedt

Tip #2: Thoughtfully place gutters and downspouts.

When you design your buildings, be sure to include properly installed gutters and downspouts that’ll divert water to an appropriate location. An inch of rain on a 20-by50-foot roof can produce as much as 620 gallons of water per year. That’s a lot of water that contributes to the mud accumulating at the corners of your barn, arena, or loafing

sheds if it isn’t diverted away. Consider covering downspouts in sheds where horses congregate with PVC pipe or a wood frame to protect them from curious equines. And once gutters and downspouts are installed, put them on a regular maintenance plan: clean gutters annually, and replace or repair broken downspouts regularly.

Tip #3: Consider your footing.

When setting up pastures or paddocks, choose and install footing carefully under loafing sheds; in sacrifice areas (more on that in a minute); and around water troughs, feeders, gates, or any other area where horses congregate (and people have to walk).

My favorite recipe for footing to control mud involves gravel—lots of it! We installed a foot of ¾-minus, compacted it, and put 6 inches of ¼-minus on top.

The “minus” designation means the gravel includes small lines, and will compact well. The ¼-minus top layer is easier on the horses’ feet, avoiding sole bruises or abscesses that might develop from walking on the larger rocks. It’s also easy to rake and clean. While gravel might fi nd its way into the soil and disappear eventually, adding layers only makes the footing better and better over time.

Other common options include sand and wood products (“hog fuel”). In my experience, sand doesn’t hold up well and quickly disappears as it mixes in the soil. Wood products are great when first installed, but break down after several years. If you choose to put down a layer of hog fuel in high-traffic areas, be prepared to remove and replace it after two to three years. Don’t make the mistake of adding another layer or you’ll soon find yourself in chest-deep mud.

Finally, road fabric is often recommended to keep footing where it belongs by preventing it from disappearing into the existing soil. Even with careful installation (deep beneath the footing with edges well buried) my experience says that busy horses that paw and cavort in their paddocks often manage to uncover fabric, which then becomes a nightmare to remove—bringing all of the footing along for the ride. → December 2016 HorseandRider.com 49

LEFT: Road fabric is often recommended to keep footing where it belongs, but even with careful installation, moving horses manage to uncover and damage the fabric. RIGHT: Place buildings on high ground and situate paddocks on a slope to promote water drainage. Be sure not to overcrowd the space, which can lead to excess mud from horses churning up the ground.

Tip #4: Establish extra drainage.

Even with a carefully thought-out site plan and properly functioning gutters and downspouts, chances are you’ll find yourself with problem areas where water accumulates. As soon as you identify these places, do something about them before mud gets out of hand. Consider installing “water bars,” a kind of speed bump for water that redirects it toward an area with better drainage. French drains are also easy to construct simply by digging a ditch and filling it with drain rock, and will help carry water to desired drainage areas. If you install French drains in pastures or paddocks where horses live, drains will still function properly if covered with ¼-minus gravel to protect horses’ feet.

best-managed farms go as far as cleaning manure from bigger pastures. For very large pastures, cleaning areas with large accumulation, combined with intermittent dragging to spread remaining manure and encourage it to break down is an acceptable alternative.

Tip #6: Feed carefully.

Never feed horses on grass or pre-existing mud. Instead, feed in feeders placed on gravel (or whatever footing you’ve chosen). Feeding hay on the grass pasture will contribute to vegetation breakdown, and leftover hay scraps will break down in the soil, adding organic material to the mix and making mud worse.

Remember: All graveled areas should be raked and cleaned daily, which will prevent any hay scraps from breaking down and contributing to mud.

Tip #5: Keep it clean.

Tip #7: Don’t overcrowd.

Organic material makes bad mud worse. Not only is it deeper, gooier, and messier, mud with a high poop content provides a perfect environment for flies to flourish and microorganisms to accumulate (see “Mud Health Risks” on page 51). Clean your paddocks regularly—especially graveled areas and spaces with high horse traffic. The

Perhaps the most important factor for keeping pastures in good shape and paddocks mud-free is to avoid overcrowding. Horses are big, active animals—often wearing steel shoes as they cavort in the pasture, tearing up the grass and churning up the mud. They’re also extremely efficient grazers and will graze grass very short, which will con-

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tribute to vegetation breakdown. There’s no doubt about it: Less horse traffic means less mud. As a rule of thumb, each horse should have between one and two acres of pasture available for a fulltime turned-out lifestyle.

If that space isn’t available, consider setting up sacrifice areas on your farm—gravel paddocks where horses can be kept to protect grass pastures during rainy periods. If sacrifice areas aren’t an option, you might have to cut back turnout time, especially during winter months.

Tip #8: Schedule rest.

Even if you’re able to keep numbers down, it’s still important that your pastures or paddocks have periods of complete rest each year. Plan your turnout so that you always leave an empty space.

Each turnout area will usually require at least a month or two of rest each year— more if it’s very broken down or in bad shape. If it isn’t possible to rest a pasture completely, block off areas that need rejuvenation with temporary fencing to give grass a chance to regrow.

Tip #9: Manage pastures.

Healthy grass is the perfect alternative to mud; and if grass is healthy, Left photo by Barb Crabbe, DVM; Right photo by Jim Bortvedt

Mud Health Risks Mud is a pain to manage, but it can also be a significant threat to your horse’s health. The following are the “big three” of mud health risks.

PASTERN DERMATITIS (scratches, mud fever) What it is: Microorganisms (a mix of bacteria and fungi) invade the irritated skin of your horse’s lower legs, causing inflammation, swelling, and scabs. At best, pastern dermatitis can cause your horse significant discomfort and be very difficult to treat. At worst, it can lead to a systemic infection. Your horse can develop a fever and go off his feed. And chronic, painful limb swelling may result.

What to do: If your horse must be turned out in mud, the most important thing you can do is to groom his legs carefully every day and watch for red skin or scabs that can be early signs of pastern dermatitis. Treatment usually requires a combination of antimicrobials and anti-inflammatory medications.

In the early stages, this means scrubbing with an antimicrobial shampoo and treating with ointments containing antibiotics and steroids. When pastern dermatitis becomes severe, your vet may recommend systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatories in addition to the topical treatments.

THRUSH What it is: Microorganisms invade the crevasses of your horse’s feet, causing tissues to break down. You’ll recognize

it’s less likely to break down under the demands of grazing horses.

A happy pasture requires careful management. Collect a soil sample every few years and submit it for analysis. Your local feed store can probably recommend a lab to analyze the sample. Based on the results, you should determine what additives your soil requires, including fertilizer, lime, or other minerals.

Fertilizing is best done in the fall, when weeds have died back and grasses are dormant, allowing fertilizer to impact the roots. Grass with a healthy root system is more likely to flourish, and deeper roots can reach farther in the ground for water, allowing pastures to survive even during dry summer months.

The pH of your soil is equally important. If the pH is too low, the nutrients will be unavailable for absorption by the grasses. Lime helps to raise the pH of your soil, and can be added at any time of year.

Finally, occasional over-seeding

thrush by the stinky, black, tarry goo that accumulates alongside his frogs. When thrush becomes severe, it can cause your horse’s feet to become very sensitive and painful. It can even lead to chronic lameness.

What to do: Clean your horse’s feet daily using a hoof pick and stiff brush to access mud that accumulates deep in the cracks. Consider applying thrush medications several times each week as a preventative during wet winter months.

These medications are generally available over the counter at your local feed store. In a pinch, bleach will do the trick.

Keep your horse on a regular trimming or shoeing schedule to keep his feet healthy, even if he’s not in work.

FLY-BORNE DISEASE What it is: Flies love mud—especially if it’s mixed with manure on a warm spring day. And flies can cause all kinds of problems, ranging from simple skin irritation or allergic reactions to the transmission of organisms that can cause disease. The worst-case scenario? Flies can even transmit life-threatening diseases such as sleeping sickness or West Nile virus.

What to do: Beyond mud control and good horsekeeping, you can control flies with topical sprays, fly “clothing” (such as sheets and masks), or even feed-through fly supplements.

Consult with your veterinarian about vaccinations that minimize the risk of potential fly-borne diseases.

will help fortify the grass and keep it growing strong. Although it’s best to seed when pastures are resting, you can still get good results as long as the area isn’t too overcrowded. In fact, horses’ hooves can help push the seed into the soil and encourage it to grow.

If you have completely bare areas that require more renovation, use temporary fences to protect the areas while grasses grow.

Tip #10: Protect your horse’s legs.

Even with a perfectly designed facility; ideal footing; and healthy, rested, well-managed pastures, you’ll still have mud from time to time. There are a couple of different strategies you can consider to protect your horse’s legs and prevent skin infections. If you can, avoid trimming hair away from fetlocks and pasterns. Long feathers on your horse’s fetlocks provide an excellent barrier from moisture, and will prevent mud from contacting his skin.

Be sure to clean them carefully several times each week, and inspect the skin underneath to ensure that it’s still healthy. If you must trim your horse’s legs, consider a thick application of Desitin ointment over the pastern area to act as a moisture barrier and prevent bacteria or other organisms from gaining ground.

My own horse property is now a maze of gravel, French drains, and water bars. Gutters (usually) function properly, and down spouts seem to be constantly in some state of repair. One of my pastures is currently empty, and all of my pastures were cleared of manure before winter set in. Fertilizer and lime has been applied, and a couple of areas have been seeded. You wonder if I have mud? Absolutely. But not much. And none where I actually have to walk. In fact, I can even feed the pasture horses wearing white tennis shoes…and still plan to wear them on another day.

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The

‘Man of Trail’ SHARES HIS TIPS I’ve designed some of the toughest trail courses for the top shows. Now I’ll help you navigate them.

By Tim Kimura, With Nichole Chirico Photos by Nichole Chirico

TRAIL IS A DANCE that requires rhythm and connection. Every good dancer has a choreographer, and the same can be said for trail exhibitors. I may be best known as a trail-course designer, but I’m also the choreographer and dance instructor. It’s my job to teach you how to gain rhythm and use it to connect with one of my courses.

My goal is to get people to participate in trail classes. I want you to love trail and learn how to continuously improve. To do that, I construct engaging courses that challenge riders, make them think, and (sometimes) make them laugh. My approach to designing some of the world’s toughest courses carries over to the way I approach my clinics—I want to give you a new perspective on how to master this challenging event.

Here I’ll discuss six keys to conquering my courses. →

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Do this basketball-dribbling exercise to help your horse get more height over the poles and keep a steady rhythm.

FEEL THE MUSIC Music has been an important part of horse shows for a long time. Long before wireless speakers and Bluetooth audio, an organist played music that synced up to the gait of the horses showing. I like to add music to see a connection between the horse, rider, and my trail patterns.

An upbeat song can become the tempo to the pattern—it inspires you to do something. We start with a pre-test where you’ll ride through a course to evaluate what you need to work on.

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obstacles. This is when I use music to help. Focus on the music, and feel yourself relax and your anxiety settle, which naturally helps your horse settle as well. Key trail tip: Find a song that puts you at ease, and hear it in your mind when executing an obstacle that might usually cause anxiety.

Use music to other advantages, too.

For example, when you’re practicing at home, work on understanding rhythm and how to use it to your advantage throughout a course. Syncing up to the first pole in a course is important, and the music offers you something

to sync up to. Pick a song that creates good energy and allows you to get into a tempo regardless of if you’re practicing a back-through or loping over a pinwheel. If you’re not sure what type of music to play when you’re practicing, check out my favorite songs for finding trail rhythm on page 55.

CREATE A ‘TRAIL TROT’ To get over the obstacles, you need a trot that gives you height and length.

The typical Western pleasure jog is too slow and causes horses to hit their back legs on the pole. The English trot is too

Man of Trail’s Playlist Dowload these tracks (or those with similar beats) to help you sync-up with a pattern and find your rhythm.

1. Footloose—Kenny Loggins 2. Honky Tonk Woman— The Rolling Stones 3. Blurred Lines—Robin Thicke 4. Mony Mony—Billy Idol 5. All Summer Long—Kid Rock 6. Sweet Home Alabama— Lynyrd Skynyrd 7. Cupid Shuffle—Cupid 8. You Shook Me All Night Long— AC/DC 9. The Way You Made Me Feel— Michael Jackson 10. Wild, Wild West— The Escape Club

because it causes your horse to land and compress in the gap between the poles and create a spring-like jump. Key trail tip: If you need more height to get over a pole, you’re going to need a higher up-and-down motion with your arm, so that your core goes up and down more.

The trail trot is one of the hardest trots to sit because of this up-anddown motion, but you’ll get used to it. Once you get comfortable sitting it, continue to “dribble the ball” while you go over one or two trot poles. You’ll notice your horse has more reach and lift.

After you’re done “dribbling the ball,” maintain that up and down motion as you navigate trot obstacles. long and makes it hard to put a horse in the correct spot. So that means you need a completely new gait: a trail trot.

To achieve the trail trot, try this basketball-dribbling exercise. Working at a trot, hold your free arm, elbow bent, at a 90 degree angle from your body, with your palm flat, and move it up and down, like you would if you were dribbling a basketball. (See photo on page 54.) This helps your core go up and down, which also helps your horse start to get more height—and a steady rhythm—in his trot. The down is the most important part of a trail trot

BRING YOUR TARGET DOWN When you’re competing in all-around events like horsemanship and Western riding, you look up to see where you want to go. With trail you need to bring your target down, because you can’t tell the horse where to go if you aren’t looking at that spot. Use your eyes to “rate” the pole (see below).

If you look up and forward, you’ll go where your eyes focus, and in the process you’ll speed up, causing your horse to land in the wrong spot. This is the opposite of “rating the pole.”

By looking down in front of the

poles, you’re slowing your rhythm and telling your horse where you want him to place his feet. To learn how to rate, draw lines in the ground on both sides of the pole and go over it at different gaits. The first line in the dirt is your takeoff point. By looking for that takeoff line, you’re telling your horse that’s where he is supposed to land and takeoff from before he goes over the obstacle. To help you rate the pole before you even approach it, add a pre-takeoff line 3 feet from the pole at the trot and 6 feet at the lope. It’s important that you continue to look where you want to go until you clear the obstacle. I see so many people hit the last pole in a series because they stop looking.

Key trail tip: If you’re new to the trail class, it’s not necessary to have a whole trail course—or even a full set of poles—to execute. Practice going over one pole until you nail it in all directions. Then you can teach your horse to cover multiple poles in succession.

SIT BACK OVER POLES It’s natural for your body to perch forward when you go over a pole, especially if you also compete in English all-around events. When you ride English, you get comfortable in the two-point position, and it becomes a balance point for you. However, when you lean forward during trail, your horse speeds up and loses collection in his gait. And when you perch forward, you’re telling your horse’s feet to go toward the obstacle, rather than over it.

Instead, get yourself behind your horse’s motion to help his front legs over the pole. I want you to think about sitting back as you approach the pole.

Key trail tip: An easy way to remember this is to think about the phrase, “polerock-back” as you go over an obstacle.

To help put your body in the right position, take your free hand, put it on the horn, and push your body back with it. This will force your body to stay back while you go over an obstacle.

Trot over a few poles in this position.

While this exercise is done at a trot, it’s important to keep your body back for walk-, trot-, and lope-overs to help you and your horse stay balanced. The idea behind it is to keep your body from perching and help take pressure off December 2016 HorseandRider.com 55

Use your free arm as a rudder every step of your ride to help guide you over the poles.

your horse’s front legs. This will also help him stay balanced as he maneuvers over an elevated obstacle. If you get too far forward, your horse will try to catch up to you.

COUNT OUT LOUD Don’t be embarrassed. Whether you’re a trail newbie or a seasoned veteran, you’re not too good to count out loud.

Think of it as your metronome when you’re riding a trail course. You can use it to find cadence over the poles, or to help with a horse that doesn’t stand still during slow maneuvers. To keep your cadence over the whole course it’s important to keep a count until the last foot goes over the last pole. You have to keep power in the back end, and the only way to do that is to make sure you have forward motion, which is created by a steady count. If you have a horse that doesn’t like to stay still during slow obstacles like the back-through, try standing still and counting to ten.

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and gets antsy because you’re thinking too far ahead, and he’s trying to keep up. Focus on the count, and stop thinking too far ahead—if you slow your mind down, his will slow down, too. Key trail tip: Make sure you count during practice and then use that same count in the show pen to get the same steady rhythm.

USE YOUR RUDDER Do you hold your free arm down, like you’re showing Western pleasure, or hold it against your belt buckle when you do trail? Not anymore.

Even though you’re not physically holding anything with your free hand, it still holds a purpose. Use your free arm to your advantage by keeping your arm in a horsemanship position, and use that arm like you would a rudder.

If you ride with your left hand, your right arm will help you guide. When you put your right hand forward, you go left. If you put your right arm back, you’ll go to the right. And when you

place your arm back in horsemanship position, it stays neutral. Key trail tip: You can also think of your rudder as a joystick, it’s how you guide through the whole course.

Here’s an example of using your rudder on the course. The back-through can be one of the toughest parts of a trail course, so use your rudder to your advantage. Push your rudder back to make your horse’s hip go to the left, and place your rudder forward to make his hip go to the right.

Tim Kimura, Oak Point, Texas, has designed top trail courses for some of the largest horse shows in the world. When he’s not at horse shows, he’s traveling to different countries to hold clinics that educate riders of all levels on how to successfully show trail. Visit his Facebook page, Tim Kimura: Man of Trail, to purchase his trail DVDs and learn more about him.

POMONA

SACRAMENTO

Chaps by Discipline Buy your next pair of chaps with conďŹ dence using the advice from four experts, plus get ďŹ t tips from a chaps maker.

By Katie Navarra 58

HorseandRider.com December 2016

Photo by Jennifer Paulson

A

pair of chaps is an essential piece of every rider’s attire. In the show ring, chaps create a crisp, professional look and offer extra grip in the saddle. On the trail, they offer protection from brush or tree branches, and on the ranch they shield a rider’s legs from cattle’s horns. Ranch riding competitors wear chaps or chinks for all the same reasons, but these riders also strive to portray an authentic Western look traditionally seen on working ranches.

Given that chaps or chinks cover nearly half your body, contributing to a significant portion of your turnout, it’s important to choose wisely and consider the purchase a long-term investment. High-quality chaps start at a few hundred dollars. Custom-made chaps start at $500, and the price increases depending on the materials and level of customization. One pair can be quite the investment, but can last a lifetime.

We asked four experts from different disciplines to share their shopping advice to help you select your next pair of chaps or chinks, depending on what you do with your horse. →

Trail Riding Expert: Julie Goodnight, Poncha Springs, Colorado.

Purpose: “For trail riding” Goodnight explains, “chaps provide leg protection, which is more important than helping you ‘stick’ to the saddle. On the trail your knees, thighs, and lower legs can be scraped, poked, and rubbed by branches, brush, ropes, fence posts, and tree trunks. A tougher leather protects your legs from that impact and is more durable in a variety of weather conditions.”

Choose: High-quality leather and outstanding craftsmanship. “I prefer a smooth outer finish, which is plenty of friction for me. Select a pair that’s easy to put on or take off and allows for adjustability as your fit changes over time.”

Avoid: The clinician advises against baggy legs or a lot of bulk that wads up under the knee; chaps that you have to be a contortionist to buckle, snap, or zip; and full-length chaps that are too short.

Material: “Working cowboys who drag calves to the fire or bushwhack down the trail need tougher, thicker leather that’ll take a lifetime of abuse,” Goodnight warns. “I don’t do a lot of hardcore

Jordin Rodeback, Brian Henry’s customer work in my chaps, so I prefer a softer, high-quality, split leather that’s soft and pliable so it can be well-tailored to my leg. Stay away from the ultrasuede and synthetics if you’re using your chaps for daily riding or rough use.”

Fringe: “If you’re looking for function only, working chaps skip the fringe,” Goodnight says. “The decorative accent makes it harder to zip them.”

Color: “Working chaps will get scratched and stained,” she says. “Natural colors better disguise wear marks than other colors. When choosing a color, consider the climate you live in. In colder climates or seasons, dark colors are fine and can provide added warmth. In hotter regions, darker colors can lead to overheating.”

Biggest Faux Pas: Goodnight advises avoiding chaps that are too glitzy/blingy and divert from functional equipment and leather so thick and poorly tanned that it looks like cardboard.

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Shopping Advice: A good pair of chaps can last you a lifetime, so don’t be cheap. “Even though I’ve put three

pairs of zippers in them, I still have and wear my very first pair of chaps from when I was 14,” Goodnight shares. “Fit is also really important.

Avoid chaps that are too baggy are uncomfortable under the knee and those that restrict your ability to get on and off your horse.”

All-Around Expert: Brian Henry, Fruita, Colorado.

Purpose: “In all-around events, chaps create a smooth, sleek silhouette,” the all-around trainer shares. “Judges look for the rider’s body line to be straight and clean with nothing unnecessary around the waist area. Chaps contribute to creating one continuous line from the rider’s ear to her heel.”

Choose: “Chaps are like a good hat: Both are a big investment,” Henry states. “Pick a style that you like and feel confident in. You can’t fake confidence, and when you feel proud of how you look, it will show in the arena.” → Julie Goodnight photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco; All-Around photo by Don Trout

Avoid: Flashy silver in the front or back buckle areas, specifically for horsemanship. “I encourage clients to choose the smallest buckle possible for the front closure and a concho in the back,” Henry shares.

Material: “Split leather,” he asserts.

“It lasts longer, has a little more stretch, and it looks better overall.

In a quick glance, I can see the difference between split leather and ultrasuede chaps.”

Color: “In horsemanship classes, I believe the outfit needs to be one continuous color,” Henry says. “Black is timeless and slimming. If you’re going to opt for fancy, colorful tops, black will match any top. And, you can always find black boots. If you pick another, brighter color it can be difficult to find matching boots unless you have them dyed to match. Brown and other natural colors can work well, but don’t suit every color of horse. The reality is we show in a dirty, dusty environment. Darker colors conceal dirt better.”

Tanya Jenkins

Fringe: “Fringe is a nice accent, but I’m not a fan of long fringe that flaps around like motorcycle fringe,” he says.

fessional, polished look to the judges,” says the reiner with earnings in excess of $475,000.

Biggest Faux Pas: “Especially for all-around events, avoid ill-fitted chaps that are too tight or too loose.

They should fit like a comfortable pair of jeans. I don’t like smooth-leather chaps, but they’re making a comeback and some riders really like them.”

Choose: Chaps that are supple enough so that you can still “feel” the horse and allow you to move your legs with ease. “I’ve found that trying to buy chaps from a catalog just doesn’t work for me,” she shares. “I want a pair of custom-fitted chaps that are measured specifically for me.”

Shopping Advice: “Unless you’re shopping for a youth rider, chaps are usually a one-time purchase,” Henry advises.

“Buy the best quality your budget will allow so they last. If you have it in your budget to splurge, go all out.”

Reining Expert: Tanya Jenkins, Temecula, California.

Purpose: “In reining events, appropriate and well-fitted chaps convey a pro62

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Fringe: “The fringe must be cut correctly so that it hangs well when the rider is on the horse,” she advises. “I’m not too sure about the double colored fringe, only because it may take away from the overall clean look that I desire when showing my horses.”

Biggest Faux Pas: “A pair of chaps that just don’t fit well,” she says. “It takes away from the overall clean look that we all strive for.”

Avoid: Material that will stretch.

“When the leather stretches, the chaps no longer depict the polished look that judges want to see in the show pen,” Jenkins says.

Shopping Advice: Invest wisely.

“Chaps are a staple component of our show attire,” Jenkins says, “and it is well worth the investment to have a quality pair made specifically for you.”

Material: “This is largely up to the individual, but I prefer split leather,” she shares. “Split-leather chaps hold up really well and are easy to clean.”

Ranch Riding

Color: Personal preference carries the most weight. “I’m always drawn to a great pair of chocolate, black, or tan chaps for the reining pen.”

Expert: Debbie Cooper, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Purpose: “Exhibitors in ranch riding events are bringing back the traditional Photo by John O’Hara

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Fabulous Fit

Debbie Cooper Western look,” says the multi-carded judge. “Chinks are as acceptable as chaps and are also designed to keep the rider’s legs from getting scratched.

Like anything else, people are putting a fashion twist on them.”

Choose: What works for you. “Exhibitors enjoy ‘feeling western,’ so have fun with what you choose,” Cooper says.

“Both chaps and chinks have endless options of how they are secured in the front and the back. When choosing chinks, be aware that there are many options. For example, the legs can zip, snap, or use hook closures to secure them around your legs.”

Custom chaps maker Betsy Tuckey owns Horsewares Custom Chaps, based in Liberty, Kentucky, and she’s an AQHA Professional Horsewoman and judge. She knows the “fit” riders need to achieve when buying a new pair of chaps. Here are her tips.

“Fit is not universal for men and women,” Tuckey states. “For women, the waistband should rest high on her natural waist and fit smoothly across the front with no gap in the front or sides. It’s important to have the fringe edge of the chaps leg come up the back of the leg and meet at the center of the back, at the concho. It’s the most finished look, and the most flattering.

“Conversely, for the men,” she continues, “the chaps ride a bit lower, ideally at mid-waist. Two conchos, with a short belt in between that’s no more than 2 to 4 inches, creates the best look.”

For all riders, well-fitted chaps should feel snug and lay smooth all the way down the leg and be free of gaps in the rise. Tuckey says the chaps should be long enough to rest on top of the foot without excess fabric piling up when you’re in the saddle. Chinks and ranch chaps are slightly different. They shouldn’t be as long as traditional show chaps and have many more options for dressing them up.

“People come in all shapes and sizes, and good measuring is the key to purchasing a pair of chaps that fit correctly,” she advises. “Ideally, the chaps maker can take the needed measurements in person. When that’s not possible, most makers provide measurement instructions online.”

Tuckey cautions to read the instructions thoroughly. “Customers assume the chaps will be too tight and add a little to each measurement.

Resist the urge to do so as it can result in chaps that are too loose. Most chaps makers add a half inch to the upper thigh, knee, and calf. So, if you add to the size the chaps end up too loose.”

Custom chaps are expensive, but they are a very important part of the picture when you enter the arena. “Speaking not only as a chap maker, but also as a judge,” Tuckey shares, “I always notice if a rider has a good, well-shaped hat; good-fitting chaps; and a good, clean saddle pad that’s large enough for the saddle.”

Avoid: “Chaps that are too short,” Cooper warns.

Material: “Many of the chaps and chinks you’ll see at the national level look like a leather sofa, meaning the smooth side of the hide is visible,” she says. “It’s equally acceptable to have the rough side out. In ranch riding there are more natural textures, and some riders wear chaps or chinks made of actual cowhide.”

Color: “Neutral tones such as blacks, browns, and tans are most common, but choose a color that you like and that makes you feel good,” Cooper advises. “It’s unlikely you’ll see greens, golds, or bright colors you’d see in the pleasure or horsemanship classes.”

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Fringe: “The fringe tends to be longer on chinks than chaps,” Cooper states.

“Double fringe with two different colors that are twisted together is also popular. Some of the chaps and chinks I’ve seen in ranch events are more like pieces of art. It’s not uncommon to see hand-tooled designs that reflect the rider’s personality. If you love yellow roses, you can add them to the yoke. I’ve seen a rider who loves dolphins wear a pair of chaps with dolphins in the tooling.

The key is that these embellishments are discrete.”

Biggest Faux Pas: “I don’t really think there is one,” Cooper says. “In ranch

riding events, riders are choosing to preserve tradition, so you’ll see fashion trends that were originally popular in the 1950s and 1960s. That often includes accents such as buckstitching, whip stitch, conchos, and double fringe.”

Shopping Advice: Have a little fun choosing your chaps or chinks. “Riders have a lot more flexibility in ranch riding events as compared to other events, but it’s important to remember that a phenomenal outfit will not supersede a performance,” Cooper says. “At the same time, judges still expect riders to look put-together and well-groomed.”

Photo by Jeff Kirkbride

Problem 1.

Correct

Solvers

Transition Turmoil Trainer Brad Barkemeyer offers advice for retraining a horse that bucks or lurches into lope transitions.

Produced and Photographed by Jennifer Paulson

Charging or bucking into a lope is a bad habit that must be broken for your safety and riding enjoyment.

Q

Almost every time I ask my horse to pick up a lope in either direction, he bucks.

Sometimes it’s just a small lurch forward, and other times he really gets a good buck in. I’m an experienced rider, and I feel I can work through this with him. How would you handle the problem if he were your horse?

JAYCIE SWANSON, Wisconsin

A

If you’re an experienced rider, you shouldn’t have problems working through this issue with your horse. Whether he bucks into the lope or charges, the

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training solutions are similar. Before you do anything else, be sure to check with your veterinarian to rule out physical problems. Soreness can cause both of these behaviors. Also check your tack. A poorly fitting saddle could also be to blame.

I’ll offer you three ways to address your horse’s behavior so you can get back to enjoyable riding, and he can learn that bucking and rushing aren’t acceptable answers when asked to lope.

Solution #1: Part Ways?

I’ll be blunt: Bucking is a dangerous behavior. If you’re not an experienced

rider, sticking with this horse could crush your confidence and lead to injury. If you don’t have the skills and confidence to work through the problem, it might be best to part ways with this horse and find one that better suits your abilities and skill level. This could mean selling the horse to a more experienced rider or sending the horse out to a trainer who can work past the horse’s urge to buck and lurch when asked to lope.

There’s no shame in admitting when a horse is too much for your riding level. In fact, it usually ends up with both of you in better situations. You

ABOVE: Work out your horse’s issues in the round pen first for your own safety. Saddle and bridle your horse, and tie your reins to the saddle horn with as much slack as you have when riding, but not so much that he could tangle his feet in the reins. Never leave your horse unattended when tacked-up in the round pen. TOP-RIGHT: I use a lariat with a swivel snap and attach it to the bridle’s curb strap. You can also use a regular longe line. Only use this with a D or O-ring snaffle bit—never with a shanked bit. BOTTOM-RIGHT: Secure your reins to the horn to ensure that they don’t drop to the ground.

mention that you’re an experienced rider, so the rest of my advice applies to keeping the horse and riding him through his issues.

Solution #2: Groundwork Working on this in the round pen, with you on the ground, is a safe way to start. Saddle and bridle your horse, so it’s as similar to riding as possible. Use a snaffle bit for mild contact with your horse’s mouth.

Tie the reins around the horn (see photo) with slack in the reins similar to what you’d have when riding, or slightly more slack. Don’t ever tie the reins without any slack; your horse needs room to move his head and neck and feel release when he’s traveling forward and straight. But also don’t leave

so much slack that he could entangle his feet and legs. Never leave your horse unattended with the reins tied to the saddle horn.

Snap a lariat or longe line to the snaffle’s curb strap. The snap should easily rotate to allow quick changes in direction at your cue. Work through all transitions in both directions. If your horse lurches into a lope or bucks when you cue for it, change directions immediately, and ask him to lope off again. Repeat the direction change if he lunges or bucks into the lope. When he picks up a lope in the desired manner, let him lope a few strides, then gradually decelerate to a stop.

You can also work on accustoming your horse to your leg cues from the ground, if that’s what’s triggering

his response to a lope cue. Bump his sides with the stirrups, and encourage him to yield to the pressure. When you do this, be sure to stay far enough forward that you’re out of danger from being kicked or run over if he bucks or lunges forward.

Solution #3: Pull Him Around Begin by riding two-handed, sitting in an athletic riding position—your seat deep in the saddle, legs under your hips, and hands prepared to move.

This way, you’re ready to either lope off without any problem or pull your horse around if he bucks or rushes forward.

Cue for a lope from a walk or standstill. Give your horse a chance to lope off—don’t anticipate that he’ll jump forward, or chances are he will. Riding December 2016 HorseandRider.com 67

Problem 1.

Correct

Solvers

Sitting in an athletic riding position, cue your horse for a lope. If he lurches forward or bucks, pull him around to the left or right in a small circle.

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HorseandRider.com December 2016

in a fearful position, ready to hang on if he tries to leave you, makes your horse anxious. He’ll begin to associate your fearful position with his lurching and bucking.

If your horse lopes off smoothly, travel a few strides, then quietly stop him and offer praise. Repeat the cue from a standstill, walk, and trot to build your confidence and reinforce his response to your cue.

If he rushes forward or bucks, immediately pull his head to the left or right by bringing that rein hand back to your hip. Use a steady pull, not a jerk, to circle your horse down to a stop. Gather your wits, then ask again for a lope.

Repeat the request until he departs without incident. Lope a few strides, then stop and praise him.

This requires patience, persistence, and repetition, but you can overcome this behavior so you and your horse can enjoy your rides more.

Brad Barkemeyer, Scottsdale, Arizona, grew up on a ranch in Montana, which gave him an appreciation for versatile horses. He now trains open and amateur horses and coaches riders to success in AQHA, NRCHA, and NCHA competiton.

Advertiser’s Index Classifieds APPAREL/ACCESSORIES

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HORSE & RIDER VOLUME LV, NUMBER 12 (ISSN 0018-5159/USPS 523-410) COPYRIGHT 2016, CRUZ BAY PUBLISHING, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY CRUZ BAY PUBLISHING, INC., AN ACTIVE INTEREST MEDIA COMPANY. THE KNOWN OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS AT 5720 FLATIRON PARKWAY, BOULDER, CO 80301. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BOULDER, CO. AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: PLEASE SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO HORSE & RIDER, SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE DEPT., P.O. BOX 420235, PALM COAST, FL 32142-0235. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40612608, CANADIAN GST NUMBER 12345 2781 RT0001. CANADA RETURNS TO BE SENT TO BLEUCHIP INTERNATIONAL, P.O. BOX 25542, LONDON, ON N6C 6B2 CANADA. ONE YEAR (12 ISSUES) SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $24 UNITED STATES. THE CONTENTS OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF THE EXPERTS CONSULTED, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE EDITORS OR POLICY OF HORSE & RIDER MAGAZINE. UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ACCOMPANIED BY RETURN POSTAGE WILL BE HANDLED WITH CARE, BUT PUBLISHER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SAFETY. PLEASE ALLOW 3 MONTHS FOR REPLY. REPRINTS: CONTACT WRIGHTS REPRINTS TO PURCHASE QUALITY CUSTOM REPRINTS OR E-PRINTS OF ARTICLES APPEARING IN THIS PUBLICATION AT (877)652-5295 (281/419-5725 OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND CANADA)

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You Said It!

How My Horse De-Stresses Me You tell us how being with your horse soothes your nerves and buoys your spirits.

T

here’s something about the outside of my horse that’s good for the inside of me. When I brush my sweet Half-Arabian mare Belle, or put my foot in the stirrup to ride, my mind leaves the worries of this world. A great escape (and good exercise, too)!

Evelyn Quillen, Oklahoma

T

Y

es, librarians get stressed, too. And when that happens, my husband banishes me to the barn for horse therapy. Scratching my big Paint gelding’s bum (his favorite spot) as we listen to a book together makes all the worries go away.

Kristi Pierce, Illinois

N

o matter how stressful my day’s been, when I brush my gelding Noche’s face and he drops his head, I relax completely. He was abused and has had to learn to trust.

Seeing how far he’s come is wonderfully satisfying.

Lisa Wingebach, California

A

t the end of a bad day, when I put my arms around my Appaloosa gelding Willie’s neck and breathe in the sweet scent of his warm body…that melts away every bit of my stress.

Wendy Kunst, Tennessee

M

ost women understand completely when another says, “I just need a good cry.” My wonderful 21-year-old Quarter/Morgan mare is no different.

She’ll stand motionless while I wrap my arms around her neck; bury my face in her mane; and have a hard, sobbing cry.

Tina Nunez, Indiana

M

y mare keeps my mind focused on her—and off whatever may be bothering me—whenever we spend time together.

Megan D’Andrea, Ohio

J

ust hugging Dakota, my 34-year-old mare, melts my stress away and resets my biorhythms within 15 seconds.

Better than any tranquilizer out there.

Karen Luckett, California

alking to my doctor about exercise, I said I had horses to ride and feed, a barn to clean, a fence to fix fence, etc.— then mentioned that my horses also kept me from needing a psychiatrist. After a pause, he replied, “A psychiatrist would be cheaper.”

Brenda Nesbitt, Michigan

I

n our crazy-busy, overextended, stressed-out world, I find the most important thing to relieve my stress is to be present in the moment.

And because my horse is a mirror of what I’m feeling, being around him reminds me to stay in the now. Carpé Ridem!

Connie Merritt Hughes, California

Join in! In 50 or so words, tell us which person—real, historical, or fictional—you’d love to take on a trail ride. Respond by Dec. 15 to jfmeyer@aimmedia.com. Include full name, home state; put “You Said It/Trail Buddy” in the subject line.

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Illustration by Navah Rae Adams