Horse & rider 5 17

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: VACCINATING YOUR HORSE

WESTERN TRAINING HOW-TO ADVICE

MAY 2017

SHAPE UP TO RIDE BETTER

• Condition For Trails • Get Saddle-Fit • Take Our Six-Month ‘One Health’ Challenge

SIDEPASS LESSON ‘NOW’ EXERCISE GIVES YOU SAFETY ON COMMAND

Do Wedge Pads Work To Correct Low Heels?

Quarter Horse mare Set Fire To The Bar

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TableofContents

May 2017

On the Cover Vaccinating Your Horse Conditioning for Trails Rider Fitness ‘One Health’ Challenge Sidepass Lesson ‘Now’ Exercise for Safety Wedge Pads for Low Heels

26 44 60 52 31 42 16

44

Barn-Bored to Trail-Ready

10 From the Editor: Your health matters, too.

12 We Hear You: More senior tips.

14 Your Stories: Dance in the rain.

16 Whole Horse Q&A: Best shoeing method for a horse with low heels?

Is your horse fit and ready to hit the trail? If not, here’s how to get him into condition and prepare both of you to enjoy your outings

YOUR HORSE YOUR LIFE

this spring and summer.

19 We’d Love to Own: 2011 Quarter Horse stallion Wranglered.

20 Talk: Reining clinic at ‘Wild Card.’

22 Health: Avoid skin cancer.

24 Solutions: Flexible rein holder.

26 Horsekeeping: Vaccination Q&A. 28 Style: Horsemanship-scarf advice.

By Heather Smith Thomas

35

PRACTICE PEN 31 Private Lesson: Liz Place on sidepassing with hind feet in the ‘L.’ 35 Bob Avila’s Winning Insights: Show-horse care at home.

39 Conformation Clinic: Aged Paint/Pinto mares.

42 The Confident Rider: ‘Now’ improves your one-rein stop.

73 Problem Solvers: Be ‘light and bright’ in your showmanship pattern.

80 You Said It: Shoes, boots, barefoot…what your horse prefers.

52

Take Our ‘One Health’ Challenge

60

Fit for Your Ride Maximize your personal fitness and

You, your horse, our environment—the

watch your in-saddle performance

health of all are interconnected, and

improve. Five fitness inhibitors to break.

every action has a consequence.

By Kelly Altschwager,

By Barb Crabbe, DVM

With Alexis Bennett

On the cover: Set Fire To The Bar, a sweet-faced 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare. ‘Solo’ is owned

by Brianna Weber of Colorado.

Photo by Mallory Beinborn May 2017 HorseandRider.com 5

Volume LVI, Number 5 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 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

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Your Complete Guide to Western Dressage: 12 Lessons to Take You From the Basics to Your First Show Here’s everything you need to know about the newest horse sport, Western Dressage, a unique blend of classical dressage and the spirit of the Western horse. Top horsewoman Lynn Palm, offers step-by-step exercises to take you through your first Western Dressage test. Paperback, 88 pp., #ZP22, $24.95

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Show-Horse Maintenance Understand more about icing your horse’s legs following a hard workout after reading about caring for your show horse at home in Bob Avila’s Winning Insights on page 35.

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Rider Fitness

Upcycled Feed Sacks

Improve your riding ability by staying in shape. Learn exercises you can do at home or in the barn on page 60, then go online for more fitness advice.

Before you toss your feed sacks, read about different ways you can re-use them online. See what one reader likes to do with her feed sacks on page 24.

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

Vaccine Advances

Healthy Feet for Trails

Get updated on vaccinations in this month’s Horsekeeping, then see how advanced technologies are making vaccinations safer and more effective.

Your horse’s feet require extra attention when you’re out on the trails. Visit our Web site for tips on caring for your trail horse’s shod or barefoot hooves.

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From the Editor

Horses of the World

By Jennifer Paulson

Élise Rousseau Illustrated by Yann Le Bris Translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan

Your Health Matters, Too WE HORSE OWNERS ARE HYPER-AWARE OF OUR stock’s health. At the slightest sign of a problem, we jump to action, whether it’s as serious as a call to a vet or putting our best home remedies to work. We watch for every “off” step, lethargic head-hang, or uncustomary stance. Horse health is at the top of our list of concerns.

Conversely, we often put our own health to the side. We eat horse-show and trail-ride junk. We push through aches and pains that deserve a closer look. We ignore colds that get worse instead of better. All so we don’t miss time in the saddle.

In this “wellness issue” of H&R, wd have a lineup of articles to help with both your health and your horse’s.

Fitness = Winning • A unique large-format, field-guide approach that provides complete coverage of the world’s 570 horse breeds • 600 superb color illustrations showcasing every breed • Additional color photos and maps • Accessible text offers detailed information on each species, including measurements, distribution, origins and history, character and attributes, uses, and current status Cloth $39.95

Horses of Northern Europe

But Back to Horse Health

One finds an extremely large number of horses on the European continent. Europe alone encompasses half the breeds on the planet! And in fact, North and South American breeds descend from European horses that were imported by European colonists. As for Northern Europe, it holds some of the most ancient breeds in the world: Icelandic horses and those from the Faroe Islands, the Shetland Pony, the Exmoor, and the Fjord, among others. But it is also in that region, and more precisely in England, that one of the most influential breeds of the past three centuries emerged: the incomparable Thoroughbred, prized for its unequaled speed. The British, pioneers in research in genetic diversity and creators of renowned domestic animal breeds since the end of the eighteenth century (cows, dogs, farm animals, and so forth), also possess aesthetically spectacular breeds of horses, among them the Hackney, Shire, and Clydesdale.

In Northern Europe one finds many of the world’s most popular and sought-after breeds of horses.

Norway Iceland Icelandic

United Kingdom Iceland Finland Norway

Sweden

Denmark Ireland

United Kingdom

Miniature Toy Horse Shetland Pony Dartmoor Pony Exmoor Pony British Riding Pony (also Riding Pony) New Forest Pony Lundy Pony Eriskay Pony Fell Pony Highland Pony Dales Pony Welsh Mountain Pony, Welsh Pony, Welsh Pony of Cob Type, Welsh Cob British Appaloosa and British Spotted Pony Hackney and Hackney Pony Thoroughbred British Warmblood Cleveland Bay Suffolk Punch Clydesdale Shire English Hack (also Show Hack) Gypsy Cob Drum Horse

Northlands Horse (also Northlands Pony, or Lyngen Pony, Lyngshest) Fjord (also Vestland, West Norwegian) Døle

Denmark Faroe Islands Pony (also Faroe Islands Horse) Knabstrup Frederiksborg Danish Warmblood Jutland Danish Sport Pony Danish Oldenburg Danish Trotter

Sweden Gotland Swedish Warmblood (also Swedish Halfbred) North Swedish Horse Swedish Ardennes Swedish Riding Pony North Swedish Trotter (also Coldblooded Trotter)

Finland Finnhorse (also Finnish Universal) Finnish Warmblood

Ireland Kerry Bog Pony (also Hobby Pony, Irish Hobby) Connemara Irish Hunter Irish Cob Irish Draft

From Scotland, the Highland Pony is calm and robust.

Opposite: Young Icelandic horse, Iceland.

The breed comes in a wide variety of colors.

1.59 m–1.74 m for males; 1.55 m–1.71 m for mares.

Norway In 2012 around 125,000 horses were recorded in Norway, and a good number of them were trotters.

Norway has four indigenous breeds: the Fjord, Døle, Northlands, and Coldblooded Trotter, which has been N O R WAY

Northlands Horse Also called: Northlands Pony, or Lyngen Pony, Lyngshest Norwegian: nordlandshest, lyngshest H

1.25 m–1.45 m.

C Primarily chestnut, as well as a great variety of other coats, with the exception of bay dun and pinto.

Description: This is a compact horse. Its legs are robust, its hooves hard. Its profile is straight, and its ears are small. It has an abundant mane and forelock.

Distribution: Norway.

Origins and history: This is a very old breed, whose origins probably go back to the Vikings. Its ancestors certainly contributed to the development of the Icelandic, which it resembles. For a long time it was

received Thoroughbred blood. It is frequently used for crossing with Thoroughbreds to produce Irish Hunters, and that rather intensive use has contributed to a dangerous decline in their numbers.

Character and attributes: The Irish Draft has a calm nature. Both robust and agile, as well as energetic, it is one of the most athletic of draft horses, very capable of jumping in spite of its weight.

Uses: The Irish wanted to make this a versatile horse, which could be used both on the farm and for transportation or hunting. It is usually worked in harness but can also be used for dressage and eventing.

Current status: The Irish Draft almost became extinct due to wars, mechanization, the production of Irish Hunters, and export for slaughter. Although the breed still survives, it needs to be protected, because its numbers are low.

A horse that is often distinguished by its height to its withers

IRISH HUNTER

H

Powerful back

Long, sloping croup

31

bred in conjunction with Sweden (see Sweden p. 70).

Two breeds with very low numbers are being attentively watched by Norwegian authorities: the Northlands and the Døle. The other two are doing well. Equestrian activities have been developing in Norway in the past few years, notably through the efforts of women riders.

used as a farm horse by Norwegian farmers. The Lofoten Pony, now extinct, looked like it, and they are probably related. Some believe that the breed is the result of crossings between ancient Lofoten and Lyngen Ponies.

Character and attributes: Both calm and energetic, this horse often has a strong personality. This easyto-keep breed has good health and lives a long time, often beyond the age of thirty.

Uses: This small Norwegian horse is a very good mount for the whole family, enjoyed by children and able to carry adult riders. It is used as a saddle horse, for dressage, and in harness.

Current status: The breed almost disappeared following World War II: there were only a few horses left. The current population is small in number, with only about 200 foals born each year, but it is becoming increasingly popular in Norway.

Long, thick, often wavy mane and tail

Because I know that’s mostly why you’re here, reading H&R. This issue is chock full of helpful information to improve your horse’s health, from safe conditioning for spring and summer riding (page 44) to the latest on vaccinations (page 26) to tricks champ Bob Avila uses to care for his horses at home (page 35).

Perhaps most unique, contributing veterinarian Barb Crabbe’s “Take the ‘One Health’ Challenge” brings a new look at the intersection of horse health, human wellness, and environmental consciousness to the scene (page 52). Whether you sign on for the half-year challenge or simply heed a few of her pieces of advice, be sure to let me know about your strides to embrace the One Health idea. It takes all of us to make the world a better place for our horses (and humans and other animals) to keep them in the best health possible.

Wide forehead and gentle gaze IRISH COB

IRELAND

Irish Draft C Often very light gray, or gray, bay, dark bay, chestnut, rarely black. Pinto coats are unacceptable.

Description: This is a fairly heavy, round, well-built horse. It weighs around 750 kg. It has a wide forehead and a straight or slightly convex profile. The neck is sometimes short, often rather thick; it has a broad and deep chest; prominent withers; wide, long back; long, sloping croup; massive legs and wide hooves.

The tail is low-set. The hide is soft.

Distribution: Ireland.

Origins and history: The breed dates from the eighteenth century, when the Irish crossed their mares with Spanish and Eastern horses. It also

HORSES OF NORTHERN EUROPE

Winning takes many forms in the horse world—from nabbing the blue ribbon to safely crossing a stream on a trail. No matter how you define winning, you’ll be more apt to achieve your goals if you’re a fit rider.

Take our December 2016 cover girl, barrel racer Fallon Taylor. She undertook a focused, structured fitness program to get in the best shape of her life so she can be lighter on her mount when running barrels. A lighter rider means a faster horse, which leads to quicker times. The same goes for any rider: It’s easier for your horse to do his job if you’re fit.

Additionally, those aches and pains that you push through can be minimized by a solid exercise and stretching program. (See page 60 for fitness pro Kelly Altschwager’s at-home rider-fitness program that just about anyone can try, and further information on HorseandRider.com.)

Round croup

Some Irish Cobs have wonderful mustaches, of varying sizes, that delight fans of the breed.

Very characteristic feathering that goes high up on the legs

60

HORSES OF NORTHERN EUROPE

59

You can reach Jennifer Paulson at jpaulson@aimmedia.com.

press.princeton.edu

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Photo by Mallory Beinborn

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Your Soft Spot, Too I read “My Soft Spot” (From the Editor, February 2017) and agree—I, too, have a soft spot for senior pets. I’ve had my mare JJ (Johanna’s Joy) since she was born; she’ll be 31 this May. She was born on my grandmother’s ranch in Michigan in 1986 and has been the love of my life since that day. She’s now retired, but was the best trail horse ever and even won a few ribbons here and there.

She showed signs of arthritis the last couple years, so I have her knees injected, which helps her immensely. She’s unable to chew hay because she’s lost some teeth. So twice a day I feed her a mix of sweet feed, beet-pulp shreds, senior feed, rice bran, flax seed, rice bran oil, two carrots, and one apple soaked in hot water until it’s a mash. She loves it and eats up every bit of it. She also gets half a flake of chopped alfalfa to pick at. She looks amazing and was fat and sassy this winter. It’s a lot of work, but a labor of love. She deserves every bit of it. I keep her alone in the winter (easier to feed her), and she has a 28-year-old mule friend in the summer. I dread “the day,” but am prepared for it.

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JOHANNA APPELHANS, Montana E-mail your letters to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com. Or, send them to Horse&Rider, 5720 Flatiron Pkwy., Boulder, CO 80301. To be considered for publication, your submission must include your full name and your state. Published letters are subject to editing for brevity, clarity, and accuracy.

Readers Respond We asked our Facebook fans what they do to stay in shape for riding. Here are a few responses. For a helpful saddle-fitness routine, see page 60. To join the fun on social media, “like” us on Facebook.

William Perry My wife and I both turn 70 in a few months and have been riding since we were small. Yoga is part of our secret to maintaining strength, flexibility, and balance, which enables us to ride daily.

Fitness is important for every rider, regardless of age, and is particularly critical for mature riders. Whether for daily activities, leisure sports, or a main passion (riding), getting the most out of your body means managing all aspects of your health more closely.

Glenda Willis I walk and do wall push-ups to get my arms back in shape and use windmills to work and stretch my back. I start out slow and work up. When the weather gets warm enough, I saddle up a horse and lead it down the road with me. It’s a preseason workout for both of us, I guess you could say.

Ramona Orton I run, bike, rollerblade, and do yoga. I’m 60, so yoga helps with balance, strength, and flexibility.

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FJ Thomas I definitely do! One of my favorite workouts is with kettlebells.

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Your Stories

The author poses for a quick snapshot on Maxi, her Tennessee Walking Horse mare.

Learning to Dance in the Rain Horses opened up a new world for her. Now she hopes to give back to her community.

By Leslie Ostrander

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I

’ve been living my life sitting down since I was 4 years old. I was in an automobile accident that left me paralyzed from the chest down.

That was in 1979, when federally mandated car safety seats were far off the horizon. My injury forced me to live life differently. I learned early that I had to seek out my abilities and live boldly upon them.

For years I dreamed of riding a horse. Many physical challenges stood in the way, however. My support team was my family; ultimately we gathered at a local stable. My husband modified a Western saddle for me, using parts from a retired wheelchair.

When I first sat astride a sweet Tennessee Walking Horse mare and took the reins, I discovered a new sense of freedom. The mare’s gentle, repetitive walking stride moved my body in a way that’s similar to a human’s gait. Physically, it was as close to walking as I had come as an adult. Horseback riding gave me a new visual perspective, too.

For the first time I was experiencing the world at a higher level. I was eye to eye with my husband!

After just one ride, I was hooked. After a couple of rides, I began to achieve greater flexibility and balance. Rather than simply leading me on a horse across an arena, my family and friends created an opportunity for me to experience an authentic trail ride.

I also learned the basics of caring for a horse, such as saddling and bridling, mounting and dismounting, doing things the right way. And I had to care for my tack like any other rider, too.

Photos courtesy of Leslie Ostrander

In other words, I built my relationship with horses organically, by doing real ranch work. In fact, my experience working with horses has become so engaging that my wish now is to help others like me benefit from equineassisted therapy.

Studies have shown that riding a horse has special benefits for anyone challenged with a physical, emotional, or behavioral disability. Curiously, it all goes back to those wonderful equine gaits. They enable riders to experience movement in three dimensions—up and down, forward and backward, side to side. This complicated motion stimulates a rider’s nerves, muscles, and brain activity simultaneously, with marvelous results.

Then, too, equestrian activities in and out of a therapeutic setting improve physical functionality (balance, strength, coordination), emotional functionality (focus, self-awareness, empathy), and social well-being (confidence, mobility, independence).

A veritable bonanza of benefits!

And that’s why I’m set on developing my own 501(3)c—a therapeutic riding facility right here in my community in eastern Georgia.

One of my favorite quotes is from Vivian Green: “Life’s not about waiting for the storms to pass….it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Putting people with disabilities into saddles doesn’t just allow them a new sense of freedom—it prompts them to grab life by the reins and prosper.

Leslie Ostrander lives in Fortson, Georgia, with her husband, two teenage sons, and two rescued horses. She’s also found new passion and purpose with her plans to develop an adaptive riding center in her locale; for information or to support her efforts, send an email with the subject line “Therapeutic Riding” to ostranderservicesllc@gmail.com.

Have a fun or informative story to share?

E-mail jfmeyer@aimmedia.com. 250word maximum; please include photo.

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Ideally, find a great farrier who’s able to evaluate your horse as an individual and think outside the box when needed. While my suggestions aren’t the only way to fix the problem, they would be my generic, go-to solution. Best of luck, and learn as much anatomy as you can to make yourself a better horse owner or farrier.

How Is a Hoof Like a Pillar?

In underrun or collapsed heels, the heel tubules creating the hoof grow forward instead of downward. This means they’re not in the correct position to properly support the foot. Imagine a pillar on your porch that’s set at an angle. It would have to be longer than an upright pillar to get from the roof to the ground, and the angled position would actually make it weaker and prone to collapsing.

Finally, I will float the heels (leave a gap between the shoe and the foot), which takes the damaged hoof wall completely out of weight bearing for a short time. This allows the bent horn to reorient, the coronary band to straighten, and the heels eventually to hit the ground in the proper place for that foot.

There are a couple of challenges with this solution. One is that you must have a farrier with enough skill to make and

use a heart-bar correctly. The heart-bar sometimes gets blamed for causing problems, when the issues typically are with the application, not the shoe. Another concern is that some horses don’t like frog pressure, especially those with navicular pain. If that’s your horse’s case, then this isn’t a good solution for him. Finally, there’s added weight with the heart-bar and pour-in that can be a problem for horses used in speed events, such as barrel racing.

CHRIS GREGORY, CJF, FWCF, ASF Heartland Horseshoeing School Lamar, Missouri

HorseandRider.com Important hoof-health tips for trail horses.

Send horse health and behavior questions to jfmeyer@aimmedia.com.

Include horse’s age, breed, gender.

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WE’D LOVE TO OWN

Photo by Ari Edgmon

Wranglered Details: 2011 AQHA stallion by Starlights Wrangler and out of Snow White Dun It,

by Hollywood Dun It. Barn name: Toy. Owned by: Dell and Terri Hendricks of Tioga, Texas.

Fun ride: “Toy got his name because he’s so much fun to ride, it’s like playing with a toy,” Dell says. “He’s extremely adaptable and an incredible athlete; even when he’s not fully paying attention, he’s four times better than most horses.”

Special start: Dell knew from the beginning Toy was a great horse. “I raised him, and then one of my customers bought him in the Legacy Sale,” Dell shares. “But

come his 3-year-old year, she had to sell Toy. I talked it over with my wife, Terri, and we decided he was too good of a horse to lose, so we purchased him.”

Superhorse talent: “We missed showing him in the 2014 NRHA Futurity because of an injury, and once I was riding him again he lacked the confidence to run down the pen,” Dell explains. “So I started roping on him for fun, and he took to it immediately. Rick Rosaschi (a Western performance trainer, pictured here with Toy) came over, saw me rope on him, and immediately said he was taking Toy home so we could turn him into an AQHA Superhorse contender for 2017.”

In the family: Toy’s Superhorse journey starts with his bloodlines. His dam is out of a well-known mare named Sweet And Innocent, which was owned by AQHA Hall of Famer Jack Kyle, and won the 1982 AQHA Superhorse title with his daughter Jackie. “It’s really special to me to have a horse like Toy that’s related to one of Jack Kyle’s mares.”

Team effort: Toy’s team comprises of four riders. He competes in reining with Dell, roping with Rick Rosaschi, reined cow horse and ranch riding with Luke Jones, and performance halter and roping with Larry Darnell. …Nichole Chirico May 2017 HorseandRider.com 19

YourHorse YourLife

TALK

Jordan Larson presents a free educational session this month in Las Vegas.

No, But I Work Out Occasionally 34%

No, Riding Is My Only Exercise 19%

Yes 47%

GALLOP POLL

We asked if you regularly work out in an effort to stay fit for riding. Above is a breakdown of the responses we received. For the latest in workouts for riders, see page 60. (And to participate in future polls, “like” us at our Facebook page.)

Learn from a Pro at ‘Wild Card’ Trainer Jordan Larson will present an educational session on rundowns and stops at the 2017 Wild Card Reining Challenge May 23–27 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sponsored

by Horse&Rider, Larson’s free-of-charge session takes place Friday, May 26 at 9 a.m., Pacific time, at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa’s indoor arena. (If you can’t be there in person, watch it plus a popular judging seminar broadcast live at horseshow global .com.) Now in its second year, the Wild Card event features a $65,000-added futurity for 4-year-olds that haven’t competed in reining futurities as 3-year-olds, a concept designed to benefit the long-term soundness and career longevity of performance horses (wildcardreiningchallenge.com).

Giddy-Up and Enter The contest: H&R’s Win a Wyoming Ranch Adventure, sponsored by Weaver Leather.

The prize: A two-night stay at the Douglas, Wyoming, Powderhorn Ranch, where you’ll ride your horses or ranch mounts on trails, in the arena, or working cattle under the guidance of clinician and horseman Ken McNabb.

For details: Visit HorseandRider.com/winan-adventure and submit the required essay

by June 15, 2017.

20 HorseandRider.com May 2017

A Win and a Buy In the March issue, we introduced mustang specialist and horsemanship clinician Madison Shambaugh as part of our feature on up-and-comers in the horse world. As that issue was going to press in January, Shambaugh and mare Amira won the invitational Mustang Magic event at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, capping their performance with a saddleless, bridleless freestyle routine. The Indiana horsewoman known as “Mustang Maddy” also bid on the mare at the adoption auction, taking her home for the sale-high price of $6,500.

“Learn from a Pro at ‘Wild Card’” photo by Waltenberry, courtesy of WCRC; “Giddy-Up and Enter” photo courtesy of Weaver Leather; “A Win and a Buy” photo courtesy of Madison Shambaugh

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YourHorse YourLife

HE ALTH A wide hat brim, wraparound sunglasses, and long sleeves will help shield you from the sun.

Free Hoof-Care Clinics

Guard Against Skin Cancer Protect yourself from the sun while riding by following these basic tips. Hat: Don a wide-brimmed Western one, or add a visor to your safety helmet. Shirt: Select a long-sleeve style, ideally with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50 or higher.

Suncreen: Use a broad-spectrum sun block on your face, and add a moisturizer and foundation with SPFs of 15 or higher. (Layering increases your protection.) Slather the backs of your hands, too—or wear gloves. Sunglasses: Wear full-coverage, wraparound models. (If you wear prescription eyeglasses, choose a model such as Solar Shields or Cocoons, designed to go over regular eyeglasses.)

Q: Are there other

22 HorseandRider.com May 2017

Maximum pounds of concentrate that should be fed in any one meal. If the recommended total daily intake for your horse’s feed is above this amount, divide it into two or three meals (Kentucky Equine Research).

natural methods of fly control, apart from using fly predators?

A:

Fly predators are extremely useful, as is keeping your barn, pens, and pastures clear of fresh manure. Flysheets and natural sprays, such as those containing citronella, also help. And, if barn swallows set up housekeeping in your barn, don’t chase them away. A family of these birds nesting in your rafters can virtually eliminate flies in your barn. (For more environmentally friendly tips, see “Get a Green Barn” at HorseandRider.com.)

“Guard Against Skin Cancer” photo by Nichole Chirico

AVOID HINDGUT ISSUES

No ‘weapons’: Never leave a broom, shovel, or pitchfork leaning against a fence or stall door or window where your horse can reach it. Inquisitive by nature, horses have been known to impale themselves on cleaning implements they were playing with.

(See “Tales of Terror” at Horse andRider.com for more cautions.)

The challenge: Knowing the best approach to nutrition and hoof care for your horse and his circumstances.

Here’s help: The American Farrier’s Association, in partnership with Purina Animal Nutrition, is offering free clinics to AFA members. The clinics will include hoof-care-related educational topics for farriers, veterinarians, and horse owners.

Details: For a schedule of events and to find a clinic in your area, visit amer icanfarriers.org. For information on Purina feeds that support hoof health, visit purinamills.com/horse-feed.

YourHorse YourLife

SOLUTIONS Cooling Wraps The situation: You need to ice your horse’s legs after a long competition or ride.

Solution to try: CoolAid icing and cooling leg wraps.

The details: Use these cooling leg wraps to ice your horse’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments after a long ride or horse show. They’re also handy for icing an injury. Simply wet the wraps with water and wring them out before wrapping your horse, or place the damp wraps in the freezer for an hour to achieve a cooler temperature.

More info: $94.99 a pair; coolaid.com.

Stay safe in the saddle by using a flexible holder to keep your reins from slipping over your horse’s head when you’re riding.

Flexible Rein Holder Whether you hit the trails, run barrels, or are riding around the ranch, the Booma Rein keeps your reins safely within reach at all times. Place your reins through the O-ring carabiner and attach the Booma Rein to the pommel of your saddle to keep your reins from slipping over your horse’s head in case you accidently lose grip when he tries to sneak a snack, for example.

It’s made with a bungee-like material.

Bonus: The Booma Rein is adjustable to fit any horse and rider, and works great for kids who are still learning how to keep a steady hold on their reins.

More info: $24.95; boomarein.com.

I like to turn empty feed bags into little tote bags.

They’re strong if sewn correctly, and will carry up to 40 pounds. They can be used for grocery shopping, camping trips, horse shows, and work great for organizing items in your barn. I’ve even used them to transport muddy boots because you can easily hose-out the bag. They make great gifts for fellow riders. You can find easy tutorials on how to make them on YouTube or Pinterest.

Michele Vogt, Idaho (Read “Upcycle Your Feed Sacks” at HorseandRider.com to learn more ways to re-use your empty feed bags.)

Healthier You Become the best rider you can be by keeping yourself healthy. See more tips on how to improve your riding with personal fitness in “Fit for Your Ride” starting on page 60.

Snacks During busy days or long rides keep your body fueled by packing a good source of protein, healthy carbs, and healthy fats to take with you to the barn.

24 HorseandRider.com May 2017

Hydration Drink as much water as you can. Just as your horse needs plenty of water, you need to keep yourself hydrated when riding—especially in summer months.

Stretch Stretch before and after you ride to increase flexibility and avoid soreness.

Yoga can also help your riding by improving flexibility and strength.

“Flexible Rein Holder” photo by Jennifer Paulson; “Cooling Wraps” photo by Nichole Chirico; “Re-Using Feed Sacks” photo courtesy of Michele Vogt

Re-Using Feed Sacks

YourHorse YourLife

HORSEKEEPING

Q&A: Your Horse’s Vaccinations Here’s what you need to know about vaccinations to keep your horse safe—and to avoid worry.

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or this update on vaccination issues, we directed questions to Dr. Kevin Hankins, a senior equine technical services veterinarian for Zoetis who specializes in equine vaccines and vaccination best practices.

I often buy vaccines and give them myself. Is this safe?

It can be, but how a vaccine is stored can affect its safety and efficacy. By having your veterinarian vaccinate your horse, you’re assured the vaccine has been handled and stored properly, plus your vet can recognize if the vaccine has been compromised in any way. Then, too, manufacturers will guarantee the safety and efficacy of the vaccine if a licensed veterinarian has administered it for the correct purpose, whereas vaccines administered by the horse owner may not have the same guarantees and support.

Aren’t some vaccines dangerous? I hear stories.

Vaccine manufacturers must go through rigorous safety and efficacy challenges before the USDA will license a vaccine and make it available to the horse owner. A typical safety study

OK to Ride Afterward?

Vaccination can be stressful to your horse and his immune system. Additional stress, such as from being ridden, can cause a short-term suppression of your horse’s immune system and keep it from responding as well as it should to the vaccine. This, in turn, can affect the efficacy of the vaccine. The general rule is to vaccinate your horse at least two weeks prior to traveling to give his immune system a chance to respond and to protect him from exposure to disease during this time. But, even if you’re not transporting your horse for your ride, I’d recommend you wait at least 48 hours after vaccination before riding.

Your veterinarian is your go-to source for planning and administering vaccinations. Whenever you have questions, start there.

involves hundreds of horses of various ages, sex, and breeds.

Still, not all horses respond the same to all vaccines, and occasionally a horse will have a minor reaction to a vaccine, or his immune system may not respond as well as it should. Such responses are rare, and your vet will be able to address them to make sure your horse suffers no long-term effects. Remember, stories on the Internet can be greatly exaggerated or even completely false.

Does my homebound retiree still need vaccinating?

Yes! Again, all horses should be vaccinated against the core diseases, at the very least.

We’ve had no outbreaks of communicable diseases in my area—can I skip vaccinating for those this year?

Once more, discuss this with your veterinarian to decide which vaccines are indicated for your horse and your area.

Outbreaks of communicable diseases can come and go at any time of year, and even occur multiple times during a year.

There’s not a standard vaccination protocol or “rule of thumb” in most cases, so a quick phone call to your vet or his/her vet technician will provide you with an answer to this and all vaccination questions. That way, you’re assured your horse is properly safeguarded from potential disease outbreaks, and your mind is put at ease.

HorseandRider.com Learn how technology is making vaccines even safer than ever.

26 HorseandRider.com May 2017

Photo courtesy of Zoetis Equine Technical Services

How do I know what exactly to vaccinate against?

Your vet can help you develop a comprehensive health plan for your horse that includes which vaccines are needed and how often to give them. Core vaccines (which should be used for all horses) are tetanus, rabies, West Nile virus, and both Western and Eastern equine encephalitis. Risk-based vaccines include equine influenza, equine herpesvirus 1 and 4, and strangles.

Whether or not your horse needs risk-based vaccines will depend on the incidence of the disease in your area, the age and breeding status of your horse, how he’s housed, and his exposure to other horses.

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YourHorse YourLife

ST YLE Ride safe and look good doing it in Fallon Taylor’s new FTX helmet by Troxel Helmets.

STYLE TIP: HORSEMANSHIP SCARF

Step 1: Fold scarf corner to corner, then edge to corner.

Place scarf around back of neck, and cross the two ends.

The problem: Finding a helmet that fits your performance needs.

The style: Ride safe and stylish with Fallon Taylor’s new FTX helmet by Troxel Helmets.

The features: The new FTX line is designed with serious riders in mind, whether you’re barrel racing or just hitting the trails. The new short flextip visor increases your peripheral vision while the air vents allow for maximum air flow. The dial-fit system and the adjustable, washable headliners help custom-fit your helmet perfectly to your head.

Bonus: The new FTX helmet is available in two matte styles: legend (photographed above) and inferno.

More info: $99.95; troxelhelmets.com.

All-Day Footwear

Cozy Cowl-Neck Hoodie

If you’re working out at the gym, driving, or just running around at a horse show that’s covered in concrete, the Fuse athletic shoe by Ariat will keep you moving all day. The breathable mesh makes it light and comfortable to wear outside during summer months, and the removable, contoured massage foot bed helps tired feet stay energized and ready to go. It also has a rubber outsole and groves to help support you as you work all day, and comes in eight vibrant colors.

More info: $99.95; ariat.com.

Look fashionable while staying functional and comfortable during your next workout session with a pullover hoodie like this one from Cinch Jeans ($74.99; cinchjeans .com). Even as we approach warm weather, it’s great to have a lightweight, longsleeve pullover for early-morning or evening rides. The coral stitching and cowl-neck design dress it up so you can wear it outside the barn, too.

28 HorseandRider.com May 2017

Step 3: Tie scarf tails into a square knot, and tuck ends into fold of scarf to hide them and keep a seamless look.

Stick to basics: If you’re wearing a patterned, buttondown shirt, stick to a solid, basic scarf (like black). You don’t want to have too many prints, or bright colors be a distraction in the horsemanship.

“FTX Helmet” by Mallory Beinborn; “All-Day Footwear” by Lindsey Mulvany; “Horsemanship Scarf” by Alexander Moon

FTX Helmet

Step 2: Keeping scarf flat, wrap scarf around to the back of neck. Scarf should be snug to look tidy, but comfortable, and long enough to tie.

Congratulations to Fonda Galbreath, DVM, ADM Equine Ambassador, and her horse Frosted Cookies for their recent success at the Badlands Circuit Finals.

© Peggy Gander Photography

SM

Doing what’s right for the horse.

ADMequine.com • 800-680-8254 AN.EquineHelp@adm.com

Practice Pen PRIVATE LESSON

Hind-End ‘L’ Sidepass an ‘L’ with your horse’s hind feet inside the obstacle.

By Liz Place, With Jennifer Paulson Photos by Jennifer Paulson

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idepassing an Lshaped obstacle is common in trail classes and improves your horse’s handle when working at home. For this exercise, your horse’s hind feet will be inside the obstacle, between the poles.

It’s more challenging than with your horse’s front feet inside the L. To practice this, you’ll need four 8-foot poles or garden timbers. Set them in an ‘L’ shape with about 3 feet between the poles.

If you’re up for a tougher challenge, set the poles closer together. Use a bit your horse responds to, and ride with one or two hands for practice, depending on your sidepass skills. Take your time as you work through this obstacle, using the lightest cues possible to get the desired response. It’ll keep your horse light and reduce frustration. →

May 2017 HorseandRider.com 31

Practice Pen PRIVATE LESSON

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To start a sidepass with your horse’s hind feet inside the L, line up the inside pole underneath your seat. If you get too far forward to start, your horse will likely hit the inside pole; too far back, and he’ll hit the outside pole. If the pattern kicks off with this obstacle, you should be settled at the L and ready to work when the judge acknowledges you.

If it’s later in the pattern, you’ll want to line up and begin sidepassing as fluidly as possible. This takes practice, so work on it both from a standstill and with an approach-and-go at home. For a sidepass to the right, look slightly over your right shoulder to keep an eye on his right hind foot. Then 32

HorseandRider.com May 2017

you can gauge if you need to step him slightly forward or back to stay between the poles.

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The first step is crucial in setting your horse up for success. Slightly lift your hand to inhibit your horse’s forward motion, and press with your left leg to move your horse’s legs to the right. Begin with a light cue, and add more pressure as necessary. If you jab your horse with a spur from the start, he’s likely to jump forward. Too much rein pressure can cause him to step backward. In either case, he’ll hit the poles and wind up outside the obstacle.

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the inside pole. Continue with left-leg pressure to push your horse to the right, but use your right foot to slow down his front legs. Then his hind feet can catch up, and you can set him up to lead with his right hip.

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When you reach the corner, stop your horse’s front feet in the angle, as shown here. If he’s too far forward, his hind feet will likely hit the poles. Too far back into the corner, and he’ll knock with his front feet. With his front feet in this position, he’s set up to complete a turn on the forehand to move his hind feet around the angle.

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For the turn, again lift your hand to stop your horse from stepping forward as you push his hind legs around the angle with left-leg pressure. Use your right leg in support and to block his right front from stepping backward.

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Your horse should slightly lead with his right hip as you step to the right, as shown here. Th is allows you to keep an eye on those hind feet and their placement inside the obstacle, but more importantly, it helps keep his inside shoulder elevated. Cadenced footfalls give a smooth, rhythmic appearance and allow you to predict where each foot will land within the L.

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If your horse gets out of sync and leads with his right shoulder, it’ll allow him to drop his shoulder, as shown here. He’s likely to step backward with his front feet and hit

Once you’re through the corner, go back to your cadenced sidepass, with your horse’s right hip slightly leading his progress down the pole to the finish. Be sure to sidepass all the way off the obstacle before stepping forward or moving onto the next maneuver.

Liz Place, Del Mar, California, trains Western all-around horses for open, amateur, and youth competition from Sunset Horse Ranch.

She’s a lifetime horsewoman, with AQHA world and reserve championships. Learn more at lizplace performancehorses.com.

May 2017 HorseandRider.com 33

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UC Davis (Nicola Pusterla) & Merck Animal Health. Infectious Upper Respiratory Surveillance Program. Ongoing Research 2008-present.

Townsend HGG. Onset of protection against live-virus equine influenza challenge following vaccination naive horses with a modified-live vaccine. Unpublished data.

Practice Pen BOB AVILA’S WINNING INSIGHTS

Show-Horse Care at Home Your competitive mount requires special attention at home between shows to optimize your success.

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

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competitive athlete’s success on the field or court starts with his program between games and matches. The same goes for your horse.

The program you follow (or don’t) at home dictates your horse’s ability to do his job when called on. My tips here focus on the show horse, but the truth is this can be applied to a recreational horse, one used for roping or speed events, and even your child’s lesson mount. A horse that’s well-cared-for at home does better in any job.

Weekend warriors, heed my advice to save yourself vet bills and higher maintenance costs after your horse recovers from an injury that could’ve been prevented with proper at-home care.

Fitness First Of all the elements for proper home care of a show horse, fitness is the most important. A fit young horse can withstand the pressure of preparing to compete early in his career. Your aged or senior horse will require less veterinary maintenance such as hock injections and other treatments if he’s fit and in good shape. The bottom line is that a fit horse performs better, has gas in the tank when you call on him for more, more easily bounces back from the strain of competition, and has longevity for his career in the show pen.

If you can’t ride your horse regularly but want to go hard on the weekends at

TheraPlate can provide supplemental therapy for a show horse at home, but it really comes down to three pillars: fitness, nutrition, and a sanitary barn.

shows and other events, consider putting your horse in training during your busiest riding season. The price you pay for regular riding and care could be much less than the cost of treating a serious injury and the saddle time you lose during recovery.

Fitness sounds simple, but it encompasses each of the remaining topics I’ll address that are essential to keep your mount at his physical best.

Nutrition and Feeding My feeding program takes high priority and is a main component of overall fitness. The overarching theme is consistency. When we’re at shows or traveling between them, my horses are fed at about the same time each day, regardless of time zone. Flexibility is required if a class falls during a customary meal period, but we stick to a schedule. If you eat breakfast around 7:30

each morning, you’re probably getting hungry by 7:45; by 8:00, you’re on the road to hunger-induced rage. A regular feeding schedule helps moderate those mental states in your horse, too.

The feeding schedule doesn’t mean a thing if you’re not providing quality hay and feed to fit your horse’s needs.

I work with my vet and a nutritionist from time to time, but the most important component is treating each horse individually. If a horse has a quarter crack, we increase his biotin intake to help it grow out. Individualized attention can help fend off possible problems before they become big challenges.

One extra I swear by is oil. All of our horses get it, and we almost never deal with impaction colic. As a side benefit, our horses’ coats gleam. It’s as simple as pouring corn oil you buy at the store over a daily ration or using an oil designed for horses. → May 2017 HorseandRider.com 35

Practice Pen BOB AVILA’S WINNING INSIGHTS

LEFT: I’m a big proponent of icing for recovery and rehab. Ice boots make it easy to use cold therapy at home at a low cost. RIGHT: Cuttingedge cold therapy is also available in technology like a Game Ready unit. It uses compression and cold to help soft tissues recover.

Clean Housing A clean, well-ventilated barn prevents respiratory infections and other illnesses and injuries. I’m meticulous about my barn’s cleanliness, from air circulation to disinfecting stalls to monitoring new horses that come to my place carrying contagious problems.

We’re taking almost every horse in the barn to a 10-day show coming up, so my help will strip all the stalls and spray them with disinfectant. (It’s even easier for you to do at home with only one or two stalls to treat.) When we get to that show, all of the rented stalls will be sprayed, too, so we can ensure that we don’t bring home any illnesses or skin conditions. Contagious conditions are easily avoided by staying home or keeping infected animals out. If there’s a disease outbreak in an area you’re traveling to, stay home. If you’re taking in a new horse, check him over for anything he might bring into your barn.

Quarantine him away from your other horses to be on the safe side. If I have a 36

HorseandRider.com May 2017

horse come in with a skin condition, I ride him in his own tack, from his head to his splint boots, and he’s groomed with his own brushes until his problem has cleared. Then anything that’s touched him is disinfected or thrown away if it can’t be adequately cleaned to prevent transmission to other horses.

At-Home Maintenance In addition to the three main pillars listed, I use at-home therapies that help horses recover after vigorous work. The most accessible one is cold/ice. I rely on cold therapy more than any other supplemental treatment. That can be as simple as running a cold hose over a horse’s legs or applying ice boots or wraps. (You can read more about my thoughts on cold therapy in “Ode to Icing” on HorseandRider.com.)

There are some high-tech gadgets out there for at-home therapy, too. You can find them in some training barns and at larger horse shows. Game Ready integrates cold and compression for

post-training recovery and when healing from injuries. Vibration therapy with a device like the TheraPlate can also aid in preventive care and rehabilitation. (I even get on it to help with my back pain.) These types of implements are helpful if you have access to them, but they can’t make up for poor fitness, nutritional shortcomings, or unsanitary living conditions.

A multiple AQHA world champion, Avila has also won three NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurities, the NRHA Futurity, and two World’s Greatest Horseman titles. He received the AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year honor. His Avila Training Stables, Inc., is in Temecula, California. Learn more at bobavila.net.

A DV E R T I S E M E N T

GET READY TO WIN > Learn how to get the best performance out of your horse

Charles Des Angles and Maria Blaize of KC Stables in Kiln, Mississippi, can’t get over what’s happening with their rodeo horses lately.

Charles told us, “We have a nice mare we decided to start on a new supplement Three weeks later, she calmly walked up to compete and as she came down the alley and you would not believe. She just reached out like she never did before. I then took her

We started her back on it, and she won the Turkey Barrel Bash by two tenths. When you ask her to go, you’d better hold on.” bit nervous about the new calmness of our horse. But then we realized she was feeling better and conserving energy in a calm state. When Charles asked her to enter the alleyway, she woke up. She ran phenomenally well and recovered better than ever, with no signs of being body sore.”

EQ-Royal®, the supplement Charles and Maria use, is earning the trust of top trainers and riders of barrel racers and other rodeo athletes. After seeing their results, another champion barrel racer, Tiany Schuster, began giving EQ-Royal® to her horses and found the results amazing. She said “My horse had the best run ever. He was so relaxed and calm, his performance was outstanding and he gave me the best run of his life. I am now

using it for all my horses. They have never looked or performed better.”

to fortify the horse’s natural strength and support a healthier immune system.

Simply put, the horse feels better all over,

aren’t performing up to their potential. This all-natural supplement is demonstrating outstanding results in building blood, strengthening muscles, increasing energy and more.

But why is it important to “build blood,” and how does the EQ-Royal® formula work as a blood builder?

Just like in people, a horse’s muscles require oxygen. Red blood cells serve as a pathway for oxygen-carrying cells. A higher red blood cell count = more oxygen = more muscle energy. Elevated muscle energy helps the horse perform harder, faster and longer during endurance events.

In short, the ingredients in EQ-Royal® perform as a natural “blood-builder.”

Pharmacologists at Biomedical Research Laboratories (BRL) discovered a proprietary, horse-friendly strain of echinacea angustifolia that’s astounding researchers and trainers due to its blood-building capabilities.

With this special echinacea strain at the helm, the uniquely potent, patentpending formula in EQ-Royal® contains

Horse owners not only trust and rely on EQ-Royal® also because of its strict quality control, extensive product testing and adherence to banned substance regulations that guarantee safety. grams) of EQ-Royal® to the horse’s daily feeding routine in the barn or on the road. use, you can expect to see increased natural blood levels.

That’s why trainers are trying EQRoyal® and telling their clients about it. the low price of just $59.95 per jar, especially considering the results they’re seeing.

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#Youholdmyheart aqha.com/myheart

Practice Pen CONFORMATION CLINIC

Evaluate and place these aged Paint/Pinto mares. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s.

Cyndi Brown Cyndi Brown holds judging cards with AQHA, APHA, NSBA, NRHA, NRCHA, ASHA, ARHA, and USEF, and has judged the All American Quarter Horse Congress; APHA World Show; and AQHA Championships in Germany, Australia, and Ireland. Brown has also been training horses for more than 30 years, having specialized in all-around horses and reining horses of many breeds, and currently trains for ranch and stock horse events. She also coaches youth and amateur riders, and conducts horsemanship clinics in the United States, Australia, and Ireland.

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hen judging conformation, I look for the perfect horse for that breed type, so I need to know what’s expected for that breed in terms of balance and structural correctness. Official breed rulebooks lay out those expectations.

Balance is the most important thing, no matter the breed I judge. I’ll walk down a line of entrants and profi le them first for balance, looking for skeletal proportions. Second, I look for structural correctness, making sure their legs are straight or properly angled where needed. Then I look at muscling for tone and even distribution throughout the body. Muscling doesn’t need to be huge, but adequate for the breed and the horse’s use. Finally, I look for breed and sex characteristics, wanting mares to look feminine, stallions to look masculine, and any representative of a breed to look like that breed.

With a live class, I’d walk around the horses to evaluate them from all angles and see them move. Here, I must judge based on only one angle, and no movement. I still look for overall balance first, though, followed by structural correctness as best I can see it, muscling, and breed and sex characteristics. →

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

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Practice Pen CONFORMATION CLINIC

First: Mare C

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his mare exhibits the best overall balance of this group. If divided into thirds, her front, middle, and hind thirds are equal in substance and length.

Her back is a little low, without much prominence to her withers, but she’s shorter in her back and stronger through her loin area than the other two mares.

Though not especially feminine, her head is set on her neck at a good angle, and her throatlatch is trim. Her neck is

well shaped, being longer on top than on the bottom, and ties in high to her chest, which is desirable for flexibility.

This mare is the most structurally correct here, too. Her hip is strong and well-shaped, having a square appearance. Her front pasterns are adequate in length with angles that match her shoulder angles, which helps her travel smoothly and stay sound. She has a good set to her hocks—they’re neither

too straight nor too angled. Though she’d benefit from more muscle tone, her muscling is adequate in substance and well distributed across her body.

same length as the bottom of her neck.

Her throatlatch is quite thick, and her neck ties into her chest lower than Mare C’s.

This mare’s hip is her best feature, with plenty of depth, a nicely angled croup, good tail set, and that square shape I want to see. Her hocks may have too much angle, though she’d need to be stood up on her hind end better for me to truly assess it. She’s

back at the knee, or calf-kneed, in her front legs, which sets her up for hyperextension of the limb and risks her soundness.

third, and she has a very short croup and too-high tail set in her hind third.

Her hip has a triangle shape rather than the desirable square shape, and lacks depth of muscling down to her gaskin.

Her front legs have good, short cannon bones, but her hind cannon bones are longer, putting her hocks higher than her knees. That sets her up to travel in a downhill manner—with her short, steep shoulder; long back; and

higher hocks, she’ll have a hard time getting her front end elevated and her hind end underneath herself for driving power.

Second: Mare A

T

his mare doesn’t have the overall balance of Mare C when divided into thirds from head to tail, and though she does have good, prominent withers, she’s longer in her back and weaker through the loin. Her topline does carry over into a nice, long croup.

Her shoulder is adequately sloped, but the top of her neck ties in quite forward of her withers, giving the appearance that the top of her neck is the

Third: Mare A

Third: Mare B

T

his mare’s head ties into her neck nicely with a tidy, trim throatlatch, and she has well-muscled shoulders.

However, she has the least overall balance of these three mares. Divided into thirds, her middle section is distinctly the longest, and her tie-in at her loin is weak.

Her neck is short and ties into her chest very low, and her neck appears shorter on top than on the bottom. Her shoulder is short and steep in her front

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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Practice Pen THE CONFIDENT RIDER

‘Now’ Exercise Makes Safety a Habit Practice the one-rein stop this way to maximize its effectiveness—and your safety.

By Brandi Lyons, With J. Forsberg Meyer

Y

ou’re likely familiar with the one-rein stop, as it’s a trusted horsemanship basic taught by most clinicians.

But do you know the best way to practice it to make sure it’s truly “there” for you when you need it, in a real emergency? I’m going to explain that way to you; it involves enlisting a helper to prompt you to perform the stop on his or her command. First, though, I’ll explain why this maneuver is so important, and review its basics.

Ready? Let’s go.

Why you need this. Horses are unpredictable animals. With a well-practiced one-rein stop in place, however, you can predict how your horse will act in an emergency, because you can control it. If you’ve trained yourself to perform a one-rein stop the instant something starts to go wrong— because of a spook or disobedience or whatever—you can bring your horse back under your control almost automatically. You’ll override your instinct to pull back on both reins, which is how we otherwise respond in an emergency.

Instead, you’ll react the correct way, using one rein, without having to stop and think.

One-rein-stop basics. What is a one-rein stop? A maneuver to halt your horse’s forward movement and disengage his hind end so he stays stopped until you cue him otherwise.

You accomplish this by drawing on one rein to bring your horse’s head around until he steps laterally underneath himself with a hind leg. For example, you draw on the left rein, leaving slack in the right rein, until he stops and disengages his hindquarters to the right. (Keep your legs away from his sides as you do this, as leg pressure means, “Go forward!”— exactly what you don’t want.)

Once your horse stops his forward movement completely and steps his hind end to the side, release the rein and let him stand quietly for three to five seconds. If he tries to walk off before you ask him to, cue for the stop again immediately, using the same rein. Repeat until he waits patiently for your go-forward cue.

Be sure to practice equally on both reins, stopping sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right.

Advance to a trot. When you’ve mastered it at a walk, move 42

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Draw on one rein to bring your horse’s head to one side (left), holding the rein pressure until he disengages his hindquarters by stepping a hind leg to the side (right). Continue to hold until he stops, stands still, and waits for your cue before moving.

up to a trot. Ask your horse to trot about 15 strides, then reach down slowly, pick up either rein, and ask him to disengage and then stop completely. Practice this for about 10 minutes each riding session, being sure to work both sides.

Now, on command. Here’s the key finishing part. When your horse is fluent performing a one-rein stop from a trot, recruit a friend to drill you on the maneuver. Ride with purpose in your arena, executing a pattern or doing anything to keep your mind focused and not thinking about your friend. Then, at intervals of his or her choosing, your friend will call out “Now!”—at which point you’ll instantly perform a one-rein stop.

The beauty of this exercise is it simulates a feeling of emergency, as your friend’s command, coming suddenly and unexpectedly out of the blue, can give you the same jolt of adrenaline that a real emergency does. So as you practice responding to the sudden call, you’re conditioning your body to react correctly in the event of a real emergency.

This not only boosts your confidence, it also enables you to build a stronger partnership with your horse.

Brandi Lyons teaches the respect-based training philosophy pioneered by her father, John Lyons, decades ago. She presents her No Limits Horsemanship through clinics, educational DVDs, and her Trainers’ Program. Learn more about the Scottsdale, Arizona, horsewoman and her offerings at lyonsnolimits.com.

Photos courtesy of Brandi Lyons’ No Limits Horsemanship

Barn-Bored to Trail-Ready Get your mount in shape for trail rides this spring and summer.

By Heather Smith Thomas

W

hat if I told you that you’ll be running a marathon tomorrow.

Over various terrain. In the heat. No matter if you consider yourself in fair shape or haven’t exercised in months, you’d probably panic. Your body isn’t ready for that kind of exertion!

The same holds true for your horse when you decide to take him on a long, challenging trail ride without preparation. Just like you, a “soft” or out-of-shape horse not only becomes tired on a long ride, but is at risk for problems and injuries such as cinch and saddle sores, strained/sore muscles, pulled joints, dehydration, heat stress, colic, and other potentially dangerous conditions. Here, I’ll offer eight essential tips for legging your horse up for the season’s trail rides so you won’t miss out on any of the fun. My hints focus on trail riding, but they hold true for bringing a performance horse into shape, too.

PREPARE FOR SUCCESS Any good get-in-shape program begins with setting your horse up for success so every variable is weighted in his favor. Deworm and vaccinate him, and check his body condition. Ideally, he should be in moderate flesh, with ribs that can be felt but not seen. Also consider his hoof care—when was the last time he was trimmed or shod? Don’t wait until 44

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the last minute to get his feet taken care of before you start a regular riding regimen, especially if it’s been a while since his last farrier appointment. That can lead to foot soreness and a sour attitude to go along with it.

FEED FOR FITNESS Once you’ve evaluated your horse’s body condition, assess his feeding program to get him to that desired flesh. If he’s thin, gradually increase his feed as you start riding. He’ll need extra calories for energy as well as building up body reserves. But don’t suddenly increase his grain ration, or you’ll risk indigestion, colic, or laminitis. Make any feed changes gradually to allow his system to adapt and so you can carefully evaluate the program.

If your horse is fat, he’ll tire easily during exercise, thanks to the extra burden of carrying all that weight around, and become overheated quicker, since fat acts as insulation and makes it harder for him to cool himself efficiently by sweating. Whether his plump state results from ample pasture or too much hay during idle months, don’t cut back his feed. He’ll burn off the extra calories and pounds as you bring him back into shape. If he’s fat from too much grain, however, do cut back his concentrate ration until he loses the fat.

In either case, you’ll eventually need to increase his feed as you ride him more, when his energy demands are greater. → Photo by William J. Erickson

BEGIN SLOWLY Start with daily short rides at the walk, gradually increasing the length and the work (some trotting and hill climbing).

If your horse has been outdoors in a pen or pasture where he’s had some exercise (especially if he’s been with other horses, self-exercising during normal activities) he won’t be quite as soft and you can progress a little faster.

The very soft horse needs ample time to gain fitness—as much as two months, in some cases. The safest route is to start slowly, monitoring his response to the work and checking recovery rates during and after a ride. Keep in mind that muscle gains strength faster than other body systems. You might be tempted to rush the conditioning process because your horse looks and feels good, but that’s not the only indicator of his fitness level. Push too hard, too soon, and your horse runs the risk of problems you can see, like cinch sores, and underlying issues, like overtaxed muscles that lead to joint injuries and body soreness.

Gradual conditioning enables your horse’s body to adapt to the workload without pushing him too far at once.

Give him some rest stops during a conditioning ride, and some days off between rides when he needs a break.

Don’t over-stress him or burn him out physically or mentally with too much work; he needs rest between rides.

WARM UP AND COOL DOWN Proper pre- and after-ride work will alleviate soreness in your horse’s body and sourness in his mind. The warm-up helps limber his muscles and tendons to prevent injury and prepares his brain for work, and the cool-down helps prevent post-ride muscle stiffness and calms his mind.

Warm up with a few minutes of brisk

Top: Start your horse’s conditioning journey on the right foot by providing proper, regular hoof care. Bottom: Riding in open country over various terrain provides excellent opportunities for building your horse’s stamina and conditioning.

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Top photo by Abigail Boatwright; Bottom photo by CLIXPHOTO.COM

Get Yourself in Shape You’ll be much easier on your horse if you’re fit and can ride in balance with him. If you get tired, you start to sag and become “dead weight” rather than moving with your horse, in tune with his every movement.

Don’t be a sack of potatoes.

A fit horse can go a lot farther with a fit rider. Read more about rider fitness in “Fit for Your Ride”, beginning on page 60.

Throughout the conditioning process, monitor your horse’s vital signs, including checking his pulse with a stethoscope or his digital artery beneath his fetlock.

walking, then jog for one minute, and drop back to the walk for a few minutes.

Alternate the walk and jog until the horse is warmed up. This circuit elevates your horse’s respiration and heart rates and increases circulation to his muscles, preparing him for more strenuous work.

Cool down with slower work. If you were trotting on the trail, walk the last mile home. Do progressively slower work, easing your horse’s body back to resting rates of function. Continue walking until he stops sweating and begins to dry. If he doesn’t cool out properly, he’ll break into a second sweat after he stops working because his core temperature is still elevated.

Moving, rather than standing still, helps get rid of excess body heat from exertion, flushes wastes from the working muscles (so there won’t be as much soreness or stiffness later), and allows his heart to return to resting rate.

Cool-out exercise also helps keep fluid from accumulating in legs and joints after exercise.

Check your horse’s heart rate before you put him away, and make sure it’s down to his resting rate. After a horse is fit, he warms up and cools down quicker and easier, but a horse that’s not yet in top condition needs more careful warmup and cool-down sessions.

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ADD FITNESS EXERCISES Riding in open country is the best way to condition a horse (and a rider).

Using natural terrain—up and down hills—keeps your horse’s mind engaged and his body working.

Begin with short daily rides. You might only go a mile or two the first day, so he won’t get tired. Soon you can work up to longer rides, giving him a day of rest in between.

It’ll take at least two weeks of riding every other day to get a good start on conditioning to improve your horse’s endurance by burning off fat and replacing it with muscle.

A word of caution: Start on easy terrain to build his fitness before you try steeper country. Keep in mind that you’re conditioning his mental attitude as well as his muscles, joints, heart, and lungs.

MONITOR PULSE AND RESPIRATION Regularly evaluate your horse’s fitness by monitoring his pulse and respiration rates before, after, and during rides. Count your horse’s breaths by watching his flank movements for 15 seconds, and then multiply by four for his respiration rate. To measure his pulse, place a stethoscope behind his

left elbow and listen for the heartbeats, or feel his pulse at the digital artery beneath the fetlock joint or the artery that runs under the jawbone on each side of his face. Again, count for 15 seconds and then multiply by four to estimate his heart rate.

An average resting heart rate is 30 to 40 beats per minute, and average resting respiration is eight to 20 breaths per minute. Fit horses will have lower rates for both. During a conditioning ride with trotting and hill climbing, your horse’s heart rate should get no higher than about 160.

After the ride, see how long it takes for his pulse and respiration rates to drop back to normal. In a fit horse, these rates start dropping as soon as he stops moving. Respiration rate should return to normal within 10 minutes or less, with pulse rate recovering soon after.

If recovery rates are good after a 10-minute rest or cool-down, the horse is handling the work and you can gradually add more speed and/or length to your rides. But always monitor his response to know whether you’re pushing him just right or too fast. If you start to get poor recovery rates or any other warning signs of fatigue, back off on the work. Give him a day or two of rest, and then start in again with work at a lower level of exertion before progressing again with the conditioning program. → Photo courtesy of Lari Shea, Ricochet Ridge Ranch

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Know the Signs of Fatigue You and your horse are a team. You need to know him well and read him intimately. He’ll give subtle hints that tell you when he’s starting to tire and needs to slow down, and as a good rider you must know how far and how fast to push your horse in a conditioning program.

Fatigue involves many body systems, and different horses react differently to over-exertion, but there are some basic signs you must be aware of.

As a horse starts to tire, he usually becomes less eager or willing, and may slow down, stop on an uphill trail, or trot less freely downhill. Some keep going—even when they shouldn’t—and you might miss signs of fatigue unless you have a good feel for your horse.

Early signs of fatigue include less-perky head carriage and ear set and reluctance to continue. Your horse may try to go sideways instead of straight down a hill in an attempt to spare tired muscles. He may pass a few small, firm balls of manure instead of normal bowel movements. This early stage of fatigue usually isn’t serious if you can let him stop and rest, but it might take him an hour or more to recover enough to start back home. Dismount; unsaddle; and let him just stand, relax, graze, or drink.

Severe fatigue requires more immediate and close attention. Your horse might stand with his head down, not caring about his surroundings. If asked to move, he may be uncoordinated or stagger, not moving out freely. A male horse may drop his penis from the sheath. If your horse’s pulse stays higher than normal for more than 30 minutes after he stops, this indicates severe fatigue; he’s not recovering as he should. The higher the pulse and the longer it takes to get back to normal, the more serious the fatigue. If you learn to recognize when your horse is a little tired (before he’s actually fatigued), you can stop before you hurt him.

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USE A SWEAT TEST Your horse’s sweat can tell you if he’s getting in shape. A fit horse has thin, watery sweat that’s practically tasteless and odorless. Thick, smelly, salty sweat that lathers generally signifies an unconditioned horse. His muscles aren’t yet working efficiently; too many waste products are being produced and eliminated through the sweat, along with precious electrolytes.

Want a quick evaluation? Use the taste test. Touch your fingertip to his sweat, then taste it. If the sweat is very salty, he’s not yet in shape.

PREVENT DEHYDRATION A working horse loses fluid through sweat to cool his body and muscles, which makes adequate hydration crucial. On any ride, let your horse drink whenever he wants. The trail rider’s golden rule is to never pass up a water source. If a horse doesn’t want to

drink, he probably doesn’t need to yet or the water is dirty and he doesn’t like the taste of it. You can help his natural cooling process by putting water over his body at every water source you come to, which gives his sweating mechanisms a break.

Check your horse’s hydration status with the pinch test. When you pinch the skin out from his neck or shoulder, it should snap right back into place. If it takes a couple seconds to sink back, he’s moderately dehydrated, and if it takes 5 to 10 seconds, he’s severely dehydrated. Additionally, a dehydrated horse has a slow capillary refill time.

Press his gum with your finger (pressing the blood out of that spot), and note how long it takes for the color to return. A delayed capillary refill time further indicates dehydration.

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Learn more about your horse’s vital signs.

May 2017 HorseandRider.com 51

Take the

‘One Health’ Challenge

By Barb Crabbe, DVM Illustrations by June Brigman

MY ASSIGNMENT WAS TO WRITE A FEATURE about something called the One Health movement. “Interesting,” I thought.

“Wonder what that’s all about.” A little research revealed that the concept of One Health isn’t new. In fact, like so many of the ideas moving to the forefront of medicine these days, One Health is more of a back-to-basics, holistic approach to wellness. Simply put, it encourages cooperation among human health-care providers, veterinarians, and environmental scientists (see “One for All, All for One,” page 54).

You, your horse, our How does it work? Professionals committed to a One Health approach are collaborating in many ways. environment—the health At the forefront are those working to control the of all are interconnected, spread of zoonoses, or diseases that can be shared by and every action has a humans and animals. Six out of every 10 infectious diseases in humans are spread from animals. Moniconsequence. We dare toring disease outbreaks is another focus. Animals you to make a difference share susceptibility to environmental hazards with with our Six-Month ‘One us, and disease outbreaks in animal populations can serve as early-warning signs for human-health conHealth’ Challenge. cerns. Of course, efforts to preserve ecosystems and the environment help guarantee safe water and healthy food for all. And, finally, strengthening the human-animal bond has its part within the One Health movement, as well. Healthy pets and companion animals mean healthy people.

It’s a great concept. But it got me thinking…what does it all mean for me, or you, on a day-to-day basis? Sure, we’d all love to single-

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method of rodent control and you just might save a life if you adopt from a shelter. As an extension of this rodentcontrol activity, check and replace grain-storage containers with rodent-proof alternatives, and clean out areas in your barn where grain has spilled to nix the ongoing banquet for these disease-carrying rodents.

10. Install gravel around water troughs, gates. Reducing mud in high-traffic areas helps control both flies and mosquitos to protect your horse from disease. It also reduces groundwater contamination from manure-heavy runoff.

While you’re working on your drainage, check and clean culverts that may be blocked and causing water buildup.

11. Donate old tack. Preserve resources and help support organizations that protect horse health by donating tack, horse blankets, and other supplies you don’t use to a local rescue organization. While you’re at it, clean out your closets and donate old riding clothes. Most horse rescues will sell what they can’t use themselves, using profits to help support their efforts.

12. Volunteer at an equine rescue facility. Rescue organizations work hard to protect horse health and strengthen the human-animal bond by removing horses from abusive situations and finding foster homes and adoption placements.

Support their efforts by volunteering what time you can.

13. Collect, repurpose old horseshoes. Find an artist who uses shoes for metal sculpting, or gather shoes for scrap-

metal recycling. Feeling ambitious? Consider setting up a program to collect shoes from local barns and farriers, donating proceeds from recycling to a local horserescue group.

Weeks 14 Through 25 14. Clean, repair gutters and downspouts. Optimal drainage reduces mud, protecting your horse from disease and preventing groundwater contamination. If you have areas on your farm where stagnant water collects, dig trenches or install french drains to encourage better drainage.

15. Share a ride. Going to a horse show, trail ride, or other event? Team up with a friend to minimize polluting exhaust and other impacts of trucks and trailers on the road.

16. Set up solar panels. Consult with a solar-energy company to see whether panels could be installed on your barn roof to provide power. Is your property gated? Even if solar power isn’t practical for your whole barn, you may be able to use it to power a facility gate.

17. Set up a recycling center at your barn. Is your barn trash can overflowing? Many of the things you toss can be recycled. If you’re not sure what can be recycled where, a quick Internet search will give you great ideas. Start small by setting up bins to collect cardboard, plastic, and glass.

Resolve to make your recycle bins bigger and better-filled than your trash can. →

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Fit for Your Ride

Break free of five fitness inhibitors that keep you from being a better rider.

By Kelly Altschwager, With Alexis Bennett Photos by Nichole Chirico

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RIDING TAKES COORDINATION, BALANCE, STRENGTH, AND STAMINA; riding well asks even more of you as a rider. It requires horsemanship skill, as well as a foundation of overall fitness so you can keep up with your horse, cue and steer, and school him. If you’re not physically and mentally up to the challenge, then you hinder your horse’s growth as an athlete and your own development as a rider. This holds you back from achieving your riding-related goals.

If you want to step up your riding, or just get back to baseline after a break, taking your personal fitness seriously gets you there faster and safely. Here we identify the five most common fitness-related inhibitors that stunt riding success. You’ll learn how each affects your in-saddle effectiveness, and then how to remedy the problem with exercise. Plus we’ll provide a saddle-ready circuit to get you moving at home or at the barn—no gym membership required.

Inhibitor #1 You lack physical strength.

The Solution: Improve power and endurance.

E

ven fit riders experience post-ride soreness following a particularly long, grueling session. But routine soreness means you lack muscular strength. Another weakness indicator is that you find it difficult to maintain good posture, drive your horse forward, cue effectively, or stay balanced in the saddle. Weakness is more than a fitness problem if it affects your riding; it’s a horsemanship deficiency.

Riding strength all starts with a strong core. Your abs and lower back keep you upright, balanced, and stable.

Core strength keeps you balanced in the saddle as your horse maneuvers a powerful rollback, ascends a steep hill, or spooks suddenly. Along with muscular strength, endurance allows you to drive your horse forward for extended periods or in involved gaits, such as the extended trot or posting without stirrups.

Your glutes, hamstrings, and hips also help drive your horse forward and support your core. They’re responsible for the forward and backward movement of your leg to cues. The insides of your legs, or adductors, squeeze and grip the saddle so you can ride with cadence, rather than bounce around as you trot.

Your shoulders, upper back, and the 62

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muscles along your spine and lower back help you maintain your athletic in-saddle posture: upright, chest up, and shoulders back. Proper posture creates eye-appeal in the arena, but more importantly it keeps your weight distributed in the center of your saddle.

If your weight is too far forward, either because your shoulders are slouched or you’re upright but with an excessive forward lean, your weight distributes over your horse’s shoulders and throws off his balance. He’s unable to achieve the long stride and rear-end impulsion that you look for. A forward seat also tilts your hips down, making it difficult for you to use them to drive your horse forward for lengthened stride or increased speed. If you lean too far back because you can’t sit upright, you put yourself out of position to cue with your legs, drive with your hips, and stay balanced as your horse moves.

As you work to build muscular strength, be mindful of balance as you exercise. Your strength and flexibility should be complementary on both sides of your body, and from front to back. If one of your hips is stronger or more flexible than the other, your cues and seat will be uneven, leading to imbalances in your horse over time. If you don’t have time to go to the gym, you can improve your strength and endurance at home through timesaving, tabata-style workouts. See “Saddle-Ready Routine” on pages 64 and 66, and then visit facebook.com/west

ernworkouts for more rider-fitness tips.

Regardless of where you workout, find a routine that’s fun, challenges you, and that you can stay consistent with.

Inhibitor #2 You lack coordination and body and spatial awareness.

The Solution: Use complex exercises.

R

iding requires that you understand where your body is in relation to your horse and where your horse is in space. Your hands and feet must also act simultaneously, but separately, as you steer, maintain or change speed, and navigate obstacles inside or outside the arena. If you struggle to do this well, you give your horse mixed signals.

Most exercises incorporate the entire body, use weights or other tools, or require a combination of both. As you complete an exercise properly, you learn to be mindful of where your body is in space and where the weight is in relation to your body.

You focus to move your legs or arms independently and brace with your core to successfully execute a specific movement, and you get better at it with practice. Mastery of this skill in the gym improves coordination as you ride. Your ability to simultaneously steer with your hands, cue with

Saddle-Ready Routine Horse people are busy, and some days it’s impossible to make it to the gym.

Here’s a quick and effective full-body, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout you can complete at home.

Use a tack box, tractor tire, bale of hay, water tank, or any sturdy implement that can hold your bodyweight for your step-ups and dips.

Start with three rounds of the first

circuit, and then three rounds of the second circuit. Rest one minute between each round and between each circuit.

Complete as many repetitions of each exercise as you can in the allotted time.

Circuit One 60 Seconds: Toe Taps Get warmed up with one minute of toe-tapping to prepare your body for exercise.

Toe Taps

Push-Ups

Tricep Dips

30 Seconds: Push-Ups Start with your hands shoulderwidth apart and directly below your shoulders, legs straight out behind you, and toes tucked.

Lower toward the ground until your chest touches your implement, and then push back up to start. Keep a tight, activated core and flat back (no sagged hips or poked-up butt) through the movement. If you struggle to maintain proper form, complete the same series with your knees on the ground instead.

30 Seconds: Tricep Dips With your hands shoulder-width apart on a stable object behind you, and your legs extended in front of you, lower your rear toward the ground. The goal is to reach a depth that achieves 90-degree elbow bend, but only lower as far as your arms can push yourself up from.

30 Seconds: Spider Plank Start in a push-up position. Hold this position as you alternate reaching your same-side knee to your elbow. Complete the exercise on an elevated object to make the movement easier. →

Spider Plank

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Circuit Two 60 Seconds: Toe Taps Start again with toe-tapping on your implement to prepare your body for exercise.

30 Seconds: Right- and Left-Leg Step-Ups Complete on objects of various heights. Squeeze through your glutes as you step up. To maximize the benefit of the exercise, don’t place your hands on your step-leg to pull your trail-leg up.

30 Seconds: Squats Squat, start with your feet hip-width apart, and lower yourself as deeply into the squat as possible while in the correct position.

Like riding, your heels are down (in contact with the ground) and your chest is upright. →

Toe Taps

Right- and Left-Leg Step-Ups

Squats

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your feet, and stabilize with your core becomes better.

To complete a pattern at a show you must assess the size of the arena, determine where the markers are, and then plan how you’ll execute maneuvers to scale and in relation to those markers.

The same rule applies in a trail pattern, on a trail ride, or with cattle; you must be able to gauge distance accurately to be successful. Spatial awareness improves through complex exercises in the gym, and especially non-bodyweight movements that require equipment. You must be aware of where the barbell, dumbbell, or medicine ball is in relation to yourself as you move. You get comfortable with these tools as you use them, and your spatial awareness and overall athleticism improves.

Inhibitor #3 You lack stamina.

The Solution: Increase mental and physical resilience.

H

orse ownership takes mental and physical fortitude. Early mornings and late nights at shows and on trail rides make for long, tiring days. Consider the amount of time you spend in the saddle and at an event during a long show day (or weekend). If you’re entered in several classes in a day, or a class with 100 entries or multiple splits, you need stamina to maintain energy and focus to ride well, sit tall, and smile. Trail riders who enjoy long, challenging routes must be attentive and able to withstand extended periods in the saddle to keep up with the group.

A body responds to resistance no matter your age or gender. High-intensity workouts and training give your muscles the resistance needed to grow, adapt, and become stronger. You’ll be sore initially, but like your horse, as you continue to condition yourself, your endurance increases and you experience less fatigue and post-exercise discomfort. Resilience develops through consistency. Create a routine that allows you to gradually progress. If you’re starting at zero, then one additional workout day per week will make a noticeable difference in your 68

HorseandRider.com May 2017

fitness level. The goal is to not burn out before good habits develop. So, it’s better to start small, with two to three exercise days per week every week, than to workout every day for one or two weeks, and then get tired and give up.

The mental benefits of exercise also give you a competitive edge in your riding. You go to the gym because you know it’s good for you, but determination helps you finish your routine.

Exercise teaches you to push yourself even when you’re tired. This prepares you to handle an unexpected stressor at a show or to endure a long day or trip with your horse. You approach the situation confidently, knowing you have the mental stamina to push yourself through to the end.

Exercise is also a great stress reliever.

It’s an outlet to release negative emotion and pent up energy. This, coupled with a post-workout endorphin rush, alleviates tension. And, if you’re less tense, you’re free to focus on your horse as you ride, instead of worry about everything else.

Inhibitor #4 You lack flexibility and mobility.

The Solution: Prep before and recover after your ride.

S

trength and endurance increase as you exercise, but if your muscles are tight and inflexible, it inhibits your riding. Just like a horse with tight shoulders can’t move freely, muscle tightness reduces your range of motion.

If your hips are tight, it’s difficult to move your legs to cue your horse well.

Or, if your back is tight, it tires quickly and you lose the stamina needed to drive your horse forward in a gait.

To avoid this, stretch before you ride.

It alleviates stiffness and soreness, and preps your body to work. The single-leg chair stretch demonstrated on page 70 is my preferred pre-ride, hip-opening stretch. A quick bodyweight warm up also reduces pre-ride tightness and post-ride soreness. Complete three sets of five air squats before you saddle up to warm up your body, set your hips evenly, and activate your muscles. To perform a controlled squat, start with

your feet hip-width apart, and lower yourself as deeply into the squat as possible while in the correct position. Like riding, your heels are down (in contact with the ground) and your chest is upright. As soon as form breaks down—your chest caves in, your heels come up, or your back rounds—you’ve reached your squat-depth stopping point. Over time the depth of your squat improves, as will your comfort in your riding seat.

Allow yourself time to cool down and stretch after each ride or workout session. This speeds up recovery and saves you the discomfort of your muscles shortening, tightening, and then cramping.

Inhibitor #5 You lack confidence in your physical ability.

The Solution: Improve self-assuredness.

R

iding is part skill and part confidence. If you lack confidence in your carriage, in your presentation, or in your physical capability, it shows in your riding. You’ll ride timidly and will always feel out of sync with your horse. Both of which stunt your horse’s growth. You’ll be unable to school him when necessary, push him to reach his full potential, or show him to his ability.

Confidence is also about quality of life, not just performance and appearance. If you know you lack the leg strength to stay seated during a rollback or a spook, you’ll worry about these maneuvers while you ride. Exercise improves your strength and balance, which will improve your confidence. You’ll be sure that you can stay seated no matter what your horse throws at you, and you’ll be able to ride assertively.

If you’re an older rider who lacks strength and resilience, you might worry that you’ll be able to hold your bodyweight on one leg as you mount or dismount, and are even more nervous if your horse fidgets. Resistance training improves bone density and physical hardiness, which enables you to bear the physical demands to care for and ride your horse. As you age, you must be con-

Problem 1.

Correct

Solvers

Fix Showmanship Dullness Leslie Lange offers advice on how to fix dullness and achieve light contact in showmanship patterns.

Produced and Photographed by Nichole Chirico

As you trot, your horse should be going forward willingly, his neck relaxed, and your hand next to the ring of the halter without any pressure on the chain.

Q

I’ve shown in my home state for a few years, and added showmanship classes to my list in the last year. My horse has done this event with his previous owner, but I’m still a novice at it. When I walk, trot, or back, I must constantly pull forward/ backward on my horse to get him to

go. What should I be doing differently so my horse responds to my body cues instead of dragging him with the lead?

JESSICA LOWER, California

A

From what you’ve just described it sounds like your horse has become dull—or heavy on the

chain. While you come across horses that are naturally dull, dullness often comes from the handler not being in the correct spot, or not asking for a maneuver properly.

Showmanship requires light contact with your horse; whenever you depart to a walk or trot, your horse May 2017 HorseandRider.com 73

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You Said It!

What My Horse Wears on His Feet Shoes? Boots? Barefoot? You tell us what keeps your horse most comfortable.

I

grew up in the South where our horses went barefoot over the soft ground. Now I live in Colorado with a flatfooted mare, and the harsh, rocky ground demands that she wear shoes.

Anna Dominy, Colorado

M

y gaming horse wears shoes on his front feet from spring to fall. In winter he goes barefoot.

(And when I ride him, I always outfit him in his protective legwear, plus bell boots.)

Summer Vagts, Minnesota

I

’ve learned a barefoot trim suitable for riding isn’t the same thing as a pasture trim, and now I have four horses with healthy, bare feet. I wish I’d discovered all this sooner.

Betsy Anne Jansen, Kentucky

M

y two 20-plus mares have been barefoot since they came to me, and the young ones I bred have never been shod.

Natural barefoot trims keep them comfortable and healthy in the pasture, in the ring, or on the trail.

Carmel Ann Sperti, New York

A

t age 14, my Quarter Horse/warmblood cross, Bubba, was determined to need front shoes because of a lameness issue. He’s been sound since and I love the sound he makes coming down the concrete isle. “Fancy show horse coming through” has been called out a few times!

Amanda Roman, Wisconsin

M

y 22-year-old mustang mare, Classy, has never worn shoes. If I go on rocky dirt roads, we use hoof boots.

When I bought my gelding Sundown in rural Pennsylvania in 1960, there weren’t any farriers. I rode many miles on grass in the mountains and was fortunate he had good hooves. Some horses, though, do require shoes. I’ve had to shoe some of mine in the past for support.

Fran Drawdy Waite, Rhode Island

M

y gelding, a racebred Quarter Horse, wore shoes. Then he developed ouchy symptoms that hinted at navicular issues. I found a hoof-care practitioner who came highly recommended, and she’s kept Bronzer sound for several years now—barefoot.

Linda Brennen, California

T

he whole barefoot thing seems like a lot of hassle to me. It’s just easier keeping my boys (both Quarter Horses) in shoes.

Taylor Shenk, Oklahoma

T

ried barefoot, but it didn’t work with my tall, largebodied, small-footed Paint mare. Well-maintained shoes keep her sound and happy.

Daryn Bryant, Texas

I

have three horses, two trained and one in the process. All of them wear shoes all around and seem to do well that way.

Chris Davidson, Oregon

Join in! Describe, in under 50 words, the horse-oriented goal you’ve found most difficult to achieve. Respond by May 15 to jfmeyer@aimmedia.com. Include your full name and home state; put “You Said It/Tough Goal” in the subject line.

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