Horse & rider 8 17 by glsense

TIPS TO HEAL A NASTY GASH Today’s Western Horse Life

ALLDAY RIDES 23

SORENESS BUSTERS

Travel

ALBERTA’S SPECTACULAR ROCKY MOUNTAINS

YES, YOU CAN! SET A GOAL AND ACHIEVE IT

August 2017

FIX BALKY, HERD-BOUND BEHAVIOR

8 TRUTHS ABOUT GASTRIC ULCERS

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Why Won’t He Move? Recognize the root cause of your horse’s balkiness in order to fix it.

Plan. Work. Achieve. These four diverse riders achieved their equestrian goals—and you can do it, too!

Gastric Ulcers: The True Story You think you’re helping your horse, but you may be missing key facts.

No More Saddle Sore Prevent soreness in your horse on all-day rides with these expert guidelines.

Ride Off the Rail Build confidence and much more with exercises that take you away from the rail.

BY KATIE NAVARRA

BY BARB CRABBE, DVM

BY ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

BY WES WETHERELL, WITH NICHOLE CHIRICO

BY THE H&R STAFF

BY JONATHAN FIELD, WITH JENNIFER VON GELDERN

PHOTO THIS PAGE AND COVER PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN August 2017 / 9

08.17 CO N T E NTS

In Every Issue 15 From the Editor 17 Riding Outside the Circle 21 Saddle Chat 104 My Collection

10 / HorseandRider.com

HorseLife

Ride&Train

28 Travel Trail riding in the Canadian Rockies.

41 Private Lesson Stay out of your horse’s way during turns.

32 Health Keys to wound-care ease, success.

44 Winning Insights Is it you or your horse that’s the problem?

34 Solutions Make bathing your horse convenient.

46 Trail Insights Open a trail gate the safe, effective way.

36 Style Standout headgear flatters your horse.

48 Tack Talk There’s a lot to know about snaffle bits.

38 Horsekeeping Does your horse need extra electrolytes?

51 Conformation Clinic Aged AQHA geldings.

TO P P H OTO BY J E N N I F E R PAU L SON

GET THE SECRET TO MORE EFFECTIVE CUES FOR SPINS AND TURNS FOR ANY TYPE OF RIDING.

VOLUME LVI, NUMBER 8 Editor-In-Chief JENNIFER PAULSON Senior Editor JENNIFER FORSBERG MEYER Assistant Editor NICHOLE CHIRICO Trail-Content Editor RENÉ E. RILEY Contributing Editors BARB CRABBE, DVM JENNIFER VON GELDERN BOB WELCH

Art Director ADAM PURVIS Contributing Photographer MALLORY BEINBORN Editorial Inquiries (303) 253-6409 HorseandRider@aimmedia.com

Vice President/Group Publisher DAVID ANDRICK dandrick@aimmedia.com Associate Group Publisher MITCH MILLER (303) 644-3782 / mmiller@aimmedia.com Advertising Representatives DeANNA JARNAGIN

(214) 535-5557 / djarnagin@aimmedia.com TOM BRAZIL

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

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rgoldy@aimmedia.com Horse&Rider Editorial Office 5720 Flatiron Parkway Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 253-6409

CEO & President ANDREW W. CLURMAN Executive Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer MICHAEL HENRY Chief Innovation Officer JONATHAN DORN Executive Vice President of Operations PATRICIA B. FOX Vice President, Equine Group DAVID ANDRICK Vice President, Controller JOSEPH COHEN Vice President, Research KRISTY KAUS Vice President, Information Technology NELSON SAENZ AIM Board Chair EFREM ZIMBALIST III

To sell copies of Horse&Rider in your store, please contact Active Interest Media Customer Service, (800) 365-5548 We assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and/or artwork, which must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

American Horse Publications Alliance for Audited Media PRINTED IN THE USA

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Open Up MY PARENTS INSTILLED in me the

PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN

value of an open mind, whether it was for riding horses or in everyday life. They showed me that learning opportunities exist everywhere, and the most valuable advice can come from unexpected sources. In an increasingly “funneled” world, we choose our sources for everything from news to horse advice based on what we already know. This means we miss opportunities to learn from experiences outside our identiﬁed circle. THE PROBLEM WITH ‘NICHE’ As riders, we dig down into our areas of interest. We identify as trail rider, reiner, all-around, etc., with little crossover. We look to leaders in our disciplines for the advice we understand. The prevailing mindset seems to be, “Their horses look like my horses. Their tack is like mine. So they must be the best source of information.” It makes sense to gravitate toward like-minded people, and it’s easier. We ﬁll our social-media pages with information from experts we know, we read articles from people we identify with, and we attend clinics by riders we already recognize as like-minded. But does this allow us to become the best riders we can be? Or are we missing perspective that could take us a step farther in our riding? FINDING THE CROSSOVER “The best riders are open-minded riders,” says NRCHA Hall-of-Famer Don Murphy. A lifelong horseman in the truest sense of the word,

Murphy coaches all levels of riders, from youths to top pros. He’s recently helped NFR-caliber barrel racers shave time oﬀ their runs by keeping an open mind. “Always evolve,” he advises. “Look for better techniques. With an open-minded approach, you’ll ﬁnd the right way to train your horse.” Ron Ralls, another NRCHA Hallof-Famer and top horseman, has also found himself coaching riders to chase cans instead of cows. “The riders who attend my barrel-racing clinics are hungry for knowledge,” he says. And they’re looking for it outside their established silo of information.

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PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE So how do you break out of your box? It can start here, with how you read H&R. Don’t skip the drill by the world-champion trainer simply because you don’t intend to enter the show pen. Pay attention to the advice from the clinician, because she might explain a maneuver in a manner that unlocks your brain in a way your trainer hasn’t yet achieved. How are you looking for ways to broaden your horsemanship horizon? Share with me and our readers via email to the address below.

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

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RIDING OUTSIDE the CIRCLE

FamilyStyle

by Bob Welch

WE TROTTED OUT from the chuck wagon on a warm, clear morning

to gather pairs for a branding session at my dad’s ranch. Nobody’s horse bucked, and the day was sure to get hot. As the horses moved in a strung-out line through the cholla cactus, I counted the crew: 23 riders in all. A good number for the work at hand. But then I noticed some peculiarities. The day’s workers were divided roughly into three groups: eight adult men; eight riders under 13 years old; and a group of seven that included three men over the age of 60, two wives, an older daughter, and one young man riding with broken ribs after a colt bucked him off dragging calves the previous day. My first thought: As one of the middle-aged men, I was going to have to flank a lot of calves. → August 2017 / 17

RIDING OUTSIDE the CIRCLE

Now, the folks on either side of the age spectrum weren’t just there for a trail ride. These were good hands. Among the older men were National Cutting Horse Association Futurity Champion Gary Bellenfant; Tom Moorhouse, arguably the most notable ranch cowboy of his generation; and my father, who despite breaking a bone in a horse wreck every few years remains surprisingly spry. As for the kids, every one of them was handy with a rope and unafraid to jump in to try to tail-down the soggiest calf. As the work unfolded, it was routine: a seamless flow of synchronized effort. I was right, I did get to flank a lot of calves; but I also got to rope.

Building Our Future Having attended my share of brandings, I’ve seen it all: from clockwork

eﬃciency to complete chaos. What I enjoy about the way my father and brother run our family’s branding, though, is how we maintain a productive pace without marginalizing those whose skills either aren’t developed yet or are diminishing. There’s a place for everyone and a measure of grace given for everyone’s ability. I’m a perfect example. Sitting at a desk for 20 years, my roping and ﬂanking skills lag behind those of my contemporary working ranch cowboy friends. But I still get a chance. Moorhouse, recovering from several shoulder surgeries, gets to rope in a low-pressure setting for as long as he can. He still brings most of them by two feet. Bellenfant ropes as good as ever, but is no longer required to wrestle calves. He helps brand when he’s not dragging calves. The wives

rope and give vaccinations as part of the ground crew. Most pleasing to witness, though, was the third group: the kids. Many brandings ban children workers. At others, the youngsters just get in the way. At most, they ride on the gather and then either do menial tasks or are banished from the action. My brother, however, took a different approach. Having overheard the young boys boast about their toughness flanking calves, he immediately paired them up and told them they’d flank just like the men. But it didn’t end there. The older men explained technique, the younger men helped if a calf wasn’t taking the fall—then turned the job right back to the youngster. The kids took some hits, and the work wasn’t completely flawless, but they learned. Meanwhile, the youngest kids gave vaccinations

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with assistance from a parent. At some point during the four-day branding, the kids old enough to rope got that chance, usually paired with an experienced roper. Before sending my 13-year-old son in to rope, my brother took him aside, and explained to him how he wanted the job done.

Teaching Moments Too often, I think we as parents fail in that regard. We send our kids oﬀ to school, to 4-H, to the horse trainer, to sports practice and shift the responsibility of teaching them to someone else. To be sure, kids need experts to help them grow. But more than that, they need parents and family to give them loving, supportive instruction. I know I’ve been guilty of spending all day in an oﬃce, only to be too tired, frustrated, or uninterested to pass

along some bit of knowledge to my children at the end of the day. The stats show that American agriculture has been woefully inept at passing on our historically rooted profession. According to the USDA, the average age of the American rancher is somewhere around 64. Since about 1875, observers have been predicting the demise of the cowboy. But I won’t join the chorus. I believe that the upcoming generation will usher in a new passion for ranching, based largely on

having been given the chance to learn and fail at an early age in a safe setting. But the moral of the story here is that if we want to see our values, skills, or passions—ranching, competing horseback, trail riding—live on, we must take the time to teach them to our kids. The Proverbs tell us to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” It’s among my goals to do a better job following this advice so it becomes a promise we can count on.

Bob Welch has spent his career writing and thinking about horses, riders, and the West. When not sitting at his computer working through writer’s block, he and his family enjoy being horseback, working cattle, and competing in ranch horse shows and ranch rodeos.

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Plan Your Fall Vacation The 23rd Annual Heber Valley Western Music and Cowboy Poetry Gathering hvcpg.com, held October 25–29 in Heber City, Utah, will be here before you know it! Plan to attend and enjoy music from artists including Riders in the Sky and the Bellamy Brothers; a trade show offering cowboy wares; the Mountain Man Trader’s Camp; and a cowboy auction off i gf

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goal has been to drive ‘ The participation and attract new people in hopes of someday moving these exhibitors into the Level 2 and Level 3 realms.’ …AQHA Executive Vice President Craig Huffhines on eliminating qualiﬁcation for the Level 1 Championships.

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LARGE PHOTO COURTESY OF APHA/ PA I N T H O R S E J O U R N A L

Exciting New Rule for Paints

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WESTERN MUSIC & COWBOY POETRY GATHERING

Miracle Times Two

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“You need to come!” Shari Burns, stable manager of her Wilton, California, barn, had helped nearly a thousand mares give birth, but she knew this time she needed the vet— now. Elegant Emma, two weeks past term, was showing a “red bag,” layman’s term for premature separation of the placenta, a potentially lethal

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condition for the foal. Shari returned to the mare and discovered another diﬃculty—one of the foal’s legs was folded back. With maneuvering, Shari was able to reposition both legs, and the tiny ﬁlly was born, alive. Flooded with relief, Shari didn’t notice for a moment that…another foal was coming. Unexpected twins! With the vet still 45 minutes away,

Shari reached in to assist the second birth and discovered another folded-back leg. Working quickly, she repositioned it, and a slightly larger foal, a colt, arrived— also alive, against all odds. Shari calls the foals Will, “because he had the will to live,” and Grace, “because she was saved by the grace of God.” …Dianna Hubbard Stein, California

Lonesome Mollie was ﬁerce. She’d dare a cow to come past her, ears pinned and a ﬁre in her eye that gave even a determined heifer pause. Trained by my husband, Jim Willoughby, Mollie was still winning into her 20s. She went “home” this year. We’ll miss her. …CaraLea Willoughby, Texas We love hearing from you! Send a Your Story submission (up to 160 words), a letter to the editor, or your brilliant ideas to live your best horse life to HorseandRider@ aimmedia.com.

TOP PHOTO BY KT MOFFITT PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM PHOTO BY DARRELL DODDS

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August 2017

Alberta’s Hidden Gem Imagine waking up in a teepee in Alberta’s spectacular Rocky Mountains. You enjoy a hot breakfast, tack up your hardy mountain steed—with your own saddle—and head out for a spectacular trail ride in what’s known as Alberta’s hidden gem: Waterton Lakes National Park, the Canadian side of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a world UNESCO site. Sound like your idea of paradise? The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies (TRCR) will open the gates.

29 PHOTO BY JUDY FLEETHAM, TRAIL RIDERS OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

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Train to Vancouver, or jump on a cruise to Alaska. Or explore 3. Banff, 4. Lake Louise, and 5. Jasper.

house, named by Condé Nast as one of the top 20 steakhouses in the world. (Before you eat, visit the 7. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.)

eat. South of Calgary, head to 6. Longview Steak-

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includes a two-hour cruise of 8. Waterton Lakes. View majestic cliffs, unique geological formations, waterfalls, mountain peaks, and the international border. Watch for bald eagles, bear, and moose.

On the History Trail “Watertown” was formed as a national park in 1895 by local cowboy legend Kootenai Brown and borders Montana’s Glacier National Park. Together, these mountain ranges form the International Peace Parks. 30 / HorseandRider.com

PHOTOS BY JUDY FLEETHAM, COURTESY OF TRAIL RIDERS OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES; MAP COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

The TRCR (trailride vacations.com) isn’t your ordinary outfitter— it’s a nonprofit club. “We do it because we love it,” says TRCR president Stuart R. Watkins. You may choose from four-, five-, or six-day rides, and you’ll stay in a rustic but well-appointed wilderness camp. Every night, all gather for live Western entertainment, educational talks, and good conversation around a bonfire. “When you’re isolated in the backcountry, you become a community,” Watkins notes. “Lifelong friends are made.” Upcoming ride dates are August 8–12 and August 14–19, 2017, through Waterton. In 2019, the ride moves to Banff.

The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies welcomes experienced trail riders; 40 to 50 percent of the guests are horse owners who ride regularly.

When your horse suﬀers a nasty gash, call your vet for

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location

depth

size

A gash over a well-muscled part of the body (chest, croup) is less serious than one on the lower legs, where blood supplies are more limited.

If it’s penetrated through the full thickness of the skin, the wound will heal best with sutures. Small-but-deep wounds are at risk for infection.

A wound less than half an inch in length typically doesn’t need stitching; one longer than an inch will almost always heal better if sutured.

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HORSEKEEP I N G

Electrolytes

Drinking replenishes ďŹ&#x201A;uid loss from sweating, but not the electrolytes lost as part of the sweat.

38 / HorseandRider.com

Electrolyte Primer Does your horse need extra electrolytes during these hot summer months? If he’s sweating a lot, he probably does. Read on.

If you work your horse in hot weather, he loses a good deal of body fluid plus electrolytes through his sweat. Drinking water replenishes his fluids, but what about those other components of sweat? What Are Electrolytes? Electrolytes are salts and minerals that conduct electrical impulses in your horse’s body. They control fluid balance and are essential for muscle contraction, energy generation, and almost every major biochemical reaction. The main electrolytes are sodium and chloride (the components of table salt—sodium chloride). Others include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Insufficient electrolytes in the body can result in dehydration, overheating, fatigue, weakness, muscle cramping, heart trouble, and more. When to Supplement? If your horse gets plenty of high-quality forage in his diet, he’s already getting all the electrolytes he needs on a normal basis— with the exception of sodium. That’s why you need to provide him with supplemental salt at all times (see below).

But you may also need to give him an electrolyte supplement any time he’s sweating a good deal more than usual—as when exercising in hot weather, and especially in hot, humid conditions. That’s when he’ll sweat out more electrolytes than he can replenish through feed. If you’ll be hauling your horse in hot weather, he’ll be sweating a lot, so it’s also a good idea to start providing electrolytes ﬁve to seven days before the trip. Electrolyte supplements can initially draw ﬂuids out of your horse’s bloodstream and into his intestinal tract, so providing the electrolytes in advance gives his system time to adjust. Cautions & Tips If you opt to provide an electrolyte supplement, always do so in addition to providing adequate salt (because electrolyte supplements alone don’t provide enough sodium). Also, if you elect to put the electrolytes in your horse’s water (one of several options), always provide an additional, untreated water source. Finally, if your horse is subject to HYPP (hyperkalemic periodic paralysis), don’t feed electrolytes without your veterinarian’s OK, as they could exacerbate this condition’s potassium imbalance.

Electrolyte Supplements Commercial pastes or gels are delivered into the mouth via syringe. Convenient to carry, they can be used in sweaty situations without the need for water or grain. (Avoid giving them frequently on an empty stomach, though occasionally doing so is ﬁne.) Powders are fed as a top dressing on grain. Dissolvable products are added to your horse’s drinking water (provide

Worth His Salt Sodium is the main electrolyte found in the blood and other body ﬂuids. Even at rest, your horse needs at least 10 grams of sodium per day, the amount found in two level tablespoons of salt. Add work and heat/humidity, and that can jump to the equivalent of four level tablespoons or more. To ensure your horse gets adequate salt, provide him with a plain, white salt block (he should consume a ﬁve-pound block within two months). If you think he’s not getting enough, supplement with freechoice granulated salt. LARGE PHOTO BY GOCE RISTESKI/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; SMALL HORSE PHOTOS BY JENNIFER PAULSON

untreated water, as well). Avoid giving electrolytes if your horse is showing any signs of illness. For best advice on providing electrolytes to your particular horse, consult your veterinarian.

August 2017 / 39

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PRIVATE LESSON / WINNING INSIGHTS / TRAIL INSIGHTS / TACK TALK / CONFORMATION CLINIC

PRIVATE LESSON

Simplify the Turn

THERE’S A SECRET SUBTLETY WHEN it comes to turns for any type of riding. It involves you following your horse’s movement and staying out of his way. Really—it’s that simple. Your horse notices everything you do in the saddle, so you can inadvertently get in his way without even knowing it. Here I’ll explain how something as simple as turning your torso away from the turn hinders your horse’s turning ability.

August 2017 / 41

Ride&Train

PRIVATE LESSON

BY SHADD PARKINSON, WITH JENNIFER PAULSON

Simplify the Turn Use a snaffle bit, and ride two-handed to begin. You can go to the bit you regularly ride with and use one hand as you gain confidence and control. Return to the snaffle bit when you feel like your horse needs a tuneup or special attention to any of the parts of the drill. Pay attention to how your horse learns in any drill so you can tailor your methods to get the best response.

One Do you ride one direction and cue your horse to go the other? Your horse can’t start a turn correctly—or execute a set of spins—if you’re riding right and telling your horse to go left, as shown here. My body is facing away from the turn cue I’m giving him. These counter-cues confuse your horse and put his body out of position, making it nearly impossible for him to turn correctly.

Two

Shadd Parkinson, Scottsdale, Arizona, is a lifelong horseman. Growing up, he successfully competed in everything from Western pleasure to halter to cutting. He now focuses on and holds top titles in

This confusion leads to your pulling harder for the turn than would usually be necessary, your horse leaning against you instead of responding to the pull, and further problems down the line. It’s easy enough to ﬁx with a simple alteration to your body’s position, which will improve your horsemanship in the long run and lead to a better response from your horse in all activities.

reining, working cow horse, ranch riding, and cutting. Learn more at shadd

Three

parkinson.com.

Walk in a small circle, and

42 / HorseandRider.com

pay careful attention to your torso. Are you riding with your horse around the circle, with your torso facing the same direction as he’s traveling? Or are you riding away with your body, facing away from the direction of travel? By going with your horse and turning your body to follow his path, you’re fully supporting and committed to your cues, which means clarity for your horse.

Four By freeing up my core, I can follow my horse’s nose, just like his feet are supposed to do. My body works with my horse instead of against him. And I’m not in his way when we start to turn. When you free up your core, you’ll realize that it’s not all hands and feet when it comes to cueing for turns of any kind, from a simple

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER PAULSON

Use your leg and feet cues (kicking) when your horse lifts his outside leg to cross in front to add speed to your turn.

Advanced-rider tip…

directional change to a rollback to a set of spins. Think about it this way: Your bellybutton should follow your saddle horn.

Five Another way you can hinder your horse’s ability to turn is with too much leg pressure. Just as you want a soft feel with his mouth through your reins and the bit, you want a

soft feel with your feet. You likely ride with more pressure from one leg than the other, much the same as you’re right- or left-handed, which causes the horse to reverse-arc away from the turn (bend his body into the turn). You can see my horse start to bend at his ribs into the turn here. Think about not using your dominant leg at all, and you’ll likely have the right balance of pressure.

Six With my torso following my horse’s nose, enough pressure from my outside leg, and support to maintain forward motion from my inside leg, I can wind down my walking circle into a single turn or a set of spins. I’ve listened to my horse to know the correct mix of rein pull and leg pressure and at what level I should use

them, which sets me up for a solid maneuver.

Seven It all comes together for a solid turn. My body follows the turn, and my legs don’t get in my horse’s way. If my horse starts to get heavy in his turns, I can go back through these steps from the beginning to tune him up at home or at a horse show.

August 2017 / 43

Ride&Train

WINNING INSIGHTS

BY BOB AVILA, WITH JENNIFER PAULSON

PHOTOS BY MARC LAXINETA, DVM

Is It You? Or Your Horse? The responsibility for problems between a horse and rider rarely lies solely with one or the other.

It happens all the time. An amateur rider needs just one point to qualify for an exclusive show or reach a milestone. All he or she has to do is stay on pattern. Then it happens: over-spinning, trotting out of lope departures or through lead changes, anything that keeps the horse-and-rider pair from getting the score they need. It might be easy to blame the rider for being absent-minded. Or the horse for being lazy when he trots. But the truth is the responsibility lies with both of them. And if they have a trainer or coach helping them, then he takes part of the blame, too. It takes a team—whether of two or three—to reach your riding goals. You, your horse, and your coach must all work together. I’ll discuss three problems that can lead to the “blame game.” No matter which issue you identify with, you must remember that assigning blame—on yourself, your horse, or your coach—doesn’t accomplish anything.

44 / HorseandRider.com

Rider Mistake Becomes Horse Problem When you repeatedly make the same error, your horse’s body position begins to change for the worse. The team of two or three is in it together to overcome the rider’s poor planning that manifests itself in the horse getting out of position. For example, let’s say you make a literal figure 8 when circling instead of coming straight through the middle of the arena. This forces your horse to lead with the shoulder he’s leaning into—the right if you’re changing from left to right lead, or left if vice versa. Leading with that shoulder allows him to change leads in front first and drag his hind lead. Sure, you can fix the problems you create, but it takes time, patience, and skill. If you’re mindful of your job when riding, you won’t create body-position problems in your horse. In this case, when

Responsibility for “horse problems” lies with both horse and rider. Assigning blame doesn’t get you any closer to resolving the issue.

circling, if you always travel straight through the middle, your horse will stay straight and change leads in the front and back at the same time. Reinforce this straightness by continuing your straight path for two or three strides after completing the lead change.

Horse Outsmarts Rider “Outsmarting” almost always means “anticipation.”

Your horse notices your subtle clues of what you’re planning to do. If you always shift your weight or look down a certain way before a cue, he feels it. Eventually, he’ll use that miniscule “tell” as his cue. It takes two to anticipate, because the horse doesn’t learn to anticipate a maneuver unless you teach him how. I see this a lot with stopping. If you look in the exact spot you plan to stop, your horse can tell where you’re looking. He’ll anticipate your cue and

Learn more online...

Find Bob’s favorite lead-change exercise this month at HorseandRider.com.

LEFT: Anticipation in your horse begins with your “tells.” For example, keep your eyes up and ahead when running to a stop so your horse doesn’t anticipate where you’ll say “whoa.” RIGHT: Listen to your horse. Many problems can be avoided by ensuring that your horse’s talents align with his job.

be ready to stop before you are. To keep from giving this unintentional cue, look out over the arena fence, well past where you intend to stop. It also happens if you regularly get rough with your horse after a maneuver. Why would he want to run down to stop when he knows you’ll get fast—or even aggressive—with your hands? Hurting or “punishing” your horse builds many problems that are hard to ﬁx, anticipation being just one of them.

Horse and Job Don't Fit Your horse isn’t suited for every event; no horse is. If stopping isn’t your horse’s strong suit, don’t torture yourself and your horse by trying to make him a reiner. You’ll waste money with the trainer, time you could be enjoying your horse, and any talent your horse might have in another event. For example, if your horse isn’t cowy, how can he be expected to take a

cow down the fence or cut one from a herd? If he’s not fast, how can he be a barrel horse? If he lacks strength, should you try to make him a rope horse? Let your horse tell you what he wants to do, and you’ll both have a better chance at success. If his talents don’t fit your interests, it’s in both of your best interests to part ways. Sell him to someone who can enjoy doing what he’s good at, and find yourself a horse that fits the discipline where your interests lie.

Bob Avila, Temecula, California, is an AQHA world champion, three-time NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity winner, NRHA Futurity champ, and two-time World’s Greatest Horseman. He's been named the AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year. Learn more at bobavila.net.

August 2017 / 45

Ride&Train

TRAIL INSIGHTS

BY JULIE GOODNIGHT, WITH HEIDI MELOCCO

PHOTOS BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Open a Trail Gate Learn to open and close a trail gate without dismounting for safety, eﬃciency, and control.

When you’re trail riding, the ability to open and close a trail gate without dismounting is a valuable skill. Staying mounted on your horse is safer, faster, and more eﬃcient than dismounting and leading him through. Teaching your horse to respond to your precise cues will reinforce your leadership role in your herd of two. You’ll also need this skill if you ever have an opportunity to lead a group ride. If you don’t have a trail gate nearby, practice on an arena or paddock gate, as shown here. In a pinch, make a practice gate with two upright standards and a rope looped on a hook. Here, I’ll teach you how to open, go through, and close a trail gate in a safe, methodical manner. (Note: You may open a gate with either hand; I’ll tell you how to perform this skill using your right hand to push the gate open and away from you. Always work a gate in a way that it pushes open, away from your horse.)

46 / HorseandRider.com

Gate Training 1. Shorten the reins. Shorten your reins, and then gather them in your left hand so your right hand is free to manipulate the gate. Leave just enough rein length so you can easily signal your horse without putting undue pressure on his mouth or lifting your hand too high to stay in control. 2. Get into position. Position your horse so his right side is parallel to the gate. Stop when your shoulder is even with the latch, so you won’t become unbalanced when you reach for it. Sitting in an unbalanced position on your horse torques (twists) his back. 3. Unlatch the gate. Undo the latch, and then place your hand on the gate’s top rail. (You’ll keep your hand here until you’ve closed and latched the gate. If the gate is likely to splinter, don riding gloves.) 4. Back your horse. Back your horse toward the hinges while running your

Once you shorten the reins and get into position, undo the gate’s latch, then place your hand on the top rail.

hand along the rail. Back up far enough so that your horse’s nose will clear the post when you move forward and through the gate. 5. Open the gate. Push open the gate as you cue your horse to walk forward and turn toward the opening. After he turns a step, stop and relax for a count of 10. This will teach him that the gate-opening process is slow and deliberate. Make sure he steps forward only on your command. If he takes an unauthorized step, it means he doesn’t see you as herd leader and will

eventually speed through the gate. 6. Walk him forward. Cue your horse to walk forward. Open the gate more, and walk toward the gate’s end. Continue to slide your hand along the top rail, so the gate doesn’t bump into your leg or your horse’s side. Be prepared to stop when you reach the gate’s end. 7. Make a U-turn. At the gate’s end, stop and make a sharp U-turn to the right, pivoting around the gate’s end and your right arm. 8. Walk him forward. Once you’ve completed the turn—allowing your

If you want to learn more...

Watch Julie demonstrate how to open and close a gate at HorseandRider.com this month!

LEFT: Push the gate away from you as you cue your horse to walk forward, toward the opening. RIGHT: Close the gate, and back your horse so that your hand is even with the latch, then ask him to stand still for 10 seconds or longer so he learns to wait patiently as you latch the gate.

horse’s front and hind legs to move as needed— cue him to walk forward a step or two toward the gate’s hinges. Grasp the gate’s top rail, and begin to push it closed as you move forward. 9. Close the gate. To close the gate, move your horse’s hindquarters toward the gate, completing a step or two of a turn on the forehand. To perform a turn on the forehand, maintain contact with your horse's mouth to keep him from moving forward, and then use your leg and seat aids to move his hips toward the gate.

10. Latch the gate. Back up, if necessary, so that your horse is parallel to the fence line and your hand is even with the latch. Ask him to stand still for 10 seconds or longer so he learns to wait patiently as you take your time to latch the gate.

Expert Tips • Don’t ever allow your horse to nudge open the gate with his nose—this is unacceptable, unauthorized behavior. • Practice portions of the gate-opening process,

then stop, so your horse doesn’t anticipate (and speed through) the process. For instance, begin to open the gate, and then ride away. Or, open the gate, ride through, then stop, rather than immediately closing and latching the gate. • Never close a gate then ride immediately back to the barn. Work your horse for a few minutes on the open trail, then open and close the gate several times. By doing so, your horse won’t get in a rush, thinking that gate work means it’s time to go home.

Trainer and clinician Julie Goodnight, Poncha Springs, Colorado, hosts RFD-TV's, Horse Master. Her book Goodnight’s Guide to Great Trail Riding is available at EquineNet workStore.com. Learn more about Julie's program and training methods at juliegoodnight.com.

August 2017 / 47

Ride&Train

TACK TALK

BY AL DUNNING, WITH JENNIFER PAULSON

PHOTO BY CHARLES BROOKS

Get Snaffle-Bit Smart This simple, go-to piece of tack has more going for it than you might know. Learn about proper use and diﬀerent styles of snaﬄes.

A good snaffle is worth its weight in gold (or copper or sweet iron). You can easily identify a quality snaffle by its smooth, easy pull. It’s made to slide across your horse’s mouth, without pinching. And it’s a go-to for starting young horses and training aged mounts in almost any riding program. Here I’ll share my snaffle philosophy, proper use, and four of my go-to favorite snaffles from my own tack room.

Snaffle ‘Rules’ There are a few rules to follow when using a snafﬂe, both for safety and to get the best response. Use a browband headstall. You can’t rely on a one-ear or slit-ear headstall to keep your snaffle in place. A browband headstall, with a properly adjusted throatlatch, keeps your horse’s headgear in place for proper use. As you pull on the snaffle with your reins,

48 / HorseandRider.com

DON HANSEN SNAFFLE

the browband headstall should have some give. Go for a loose adjustment. Loose doesn’t mean it should slop around in your horse’s mouth, but you don’t want it tight, either. The snaffle should just touch the corners of your horse’s mouth so that it can slide across his bars. It slides more readily when it’s not tight. Consider the connection. I prefer mouthpieces that have loop-to-loop connections, like those shown here. There are several other connections to choose from, including a three-piece connection that has a ﬂat piece of metal in between the two loops. But loop-to-loop is the most traditional and

FISHBACK SNAFFLE

DON DODGE SNAFFLE

reduces pinching. Hinge mouthpieces are also popular, but they’re not the same on both sides of the connection, reducing the bit’s balance. Skip the curb strap. These aren’t curb bits, so they don’t require a curb strap, and certainly not a curb chain. The only reason to use a curb strap on a snaffle is if you tend to pull one of the snaffle’s rings through your horse’s mouth. If you do use a curb, be sure it’s a leather one, adjusted loosely in front of your reins—never behind your reins. The curb’s only purpose with a snaffle is to keep the rings in place—there shouldn’t be any contact made with the curb to your horse’s jaw

D-RING SNAFFLE

when you pull on your reins. Use tie-on reins. I strongly encourage using reins that tie to the snaffle’s rings with leather or have another leather connection. Snaps can wear out, rust, and break, as well as hang up on other parts of equipment. They can be a safety hazard. Use a smooth pull. Horses aren’t born with light mouths. It’s trained into them. Use a smooth pull, as strong as necessary to get a response, when riding in a snaffle. Understand the snaffle’s stages. The snaffle has its origins in Europe; some English horses spend their entire careers in snaffles. In Western riding, our thinking tends to be that

Watch and learn…

we start a colt in a snaffle and use it for his early training stages to teach him to follow his nose. Then we progress to a hackamore or a curb bit. A snaffle comes back into play when we need to tune up our horses or go back to basics.

My Picks Starting from the far left in the photo, here are my MVP snaffles. Each has its own attributes and appropriate times to use. No matter what, you must always be able to go back to a simple, smooth snaffle. Don Hansen snafﬂe, made by Denny Hansen. This loosering snaffle has a hardened copper mouthpiece that horses really like. Historically, horses could chew through copper mouthpieces, but hardening the metal makes that impossible while still providing the salivary beneﬁts of copper. The fairly light rings don’t pinch the horse’s mouth. Fishback snaffle, made by Dale Tingle.

Watch an installment from Al Dunning’s #ReadyToRide video series where he explains proper use of twisted snaffles.

Heavier rings give this bit more weight than the Hanson snaffle. The fishback mouthpiece refers to its triangular shape that has a little more of an edge to it, which causes a quicker response from your horse. I like to use it on a horse that’s heavier to the pull to lighten him up. Don Dodge snaffle, made by Greg Darnell. Designed from a full-cheek snaffle, this one has almost an egg-butt connection between the mouthpiece and the rings. This flat side on the cheekpiece has a greater effect on the cheek opposite of the direct pull of the reins and keeps the ring from going into the horse’s mouth. When made correctly, this connection won’t pinch the horse’s mouth or cheek. D-ring snaffle. Named for the shape of the snaffle’s rings, this bit has a twisted mouthpiece. Neither this snaffle, nor the fishback, are legal for the show pen. Many breed associations allow junior horses to show in approved snaffles. AQHA stipulates they must

be O-ring (I call them loose-ring), eggbutt, or D-ring; the mouthpiece must be round, oval, or egg-shaped; and the mouthpiece’s bars must be a minimum of 5/16 of an inch in diameter when measured 1 inch from the cheekpiece. Like the ﬁshback, the twisted mouthpiece helps to lighten a horse to your pull. It’s not a bit you should spend an extended amount of time using; it’s for occasional use, returning to a smooth snaffle or the curb bit you regularly use.

2017 EVENT SCHEDULE August 26-27 Walkabout Tour Lake St. Louis, MO September 8-10 3-Day Fundamentals Clinic Nampa, ID September 15-17 3-Day Fundamentals Clinic Eagle, CO October 20-21 Ranch Rally Stephenville, TX November 3-5 3-Day Trail Clinic Stephenville, TX November 10-20 10-Day Intermediate Clinic

Al Dunning, Scott-

Stephenville, TX

sdale, Arizona, has produced world

December 15-17

champion horses

3-Day Fundamentals Clinic

and riders in multi-

Hurricane, UT

ple disciplines. He’s been a professional trainer for more than 40 years, and has produced books, DVDs, and an online mentoring program, Team AD International (teamadinter national.com).

For more information, clinic participation sign-up or spectator tickets, or Walkabout Tour tickets, call 888-287-7432 or visit

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Ride&Train

CONFORMATION CLINIC

Aged Quarter Horse Geldings Evaluate and place these aged Quarter Horse geldings. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s. WHEN ADDRESSING a horse’s form to function, balance is the most important criteria. He should divide into even thirds from shoulder to hip, and be level from his withers to the point of his croup. Ideally, the distance from his withers to the bottom of his heartgirth and from the bottom of his heartgirth to the ground will match for the best heart-lung capacity. A strong, sloping shoulder is crucial to smooth, reaching movement. The neck balances his body when moving, and should tie into the chest high to allow him to lift his head and better use his front end. A trim throatlatch allows the ﬂexion he’ll need to give his head to the rider. His legs should be free of swelling. In his hind legs, a plumb line starting at the point of the buttock should drop through the hock, cannon bone, and fetlock. A similar plumb line should drop through the front leg column with his knees centered on his cannon bones. Front and hind pasterns should sit at a 45- or 50-degree angle in front of the fetlock. →

JANE BAGLEY Jane Bagley operates Bagley Performance Horses with her husband, Scott, in Dimmitt, Texas, where they breed cow and ranch horses. They stand two stallions and breed horses eligible for AQHA Ranching Heritage events. Jane has a PhD in reproductive physiology and operates Rafter 9 Reproductive Services. With AQHA, APHA, NRHA, NRCHA, and NSBA judge’s cards, she judges about 10 shows per year and has officiated nationwide as well as in Europe and Australia.

C August 2017 / 51

Ride&Train

CLINIC

1st

2nd

3rd

Gelding C

Gelding A

Gelding B

This gelding exhibits the best overall balance in this group and is most proportionate when divided into thirds from front to back. He’s deeper in the heartgirth, too, with the distance from withers to the bottom of his heartgirth relatively equal to the length of his front legs. He has the longest, most sloping shoulder of these three geldings, a critical factor when judging performance horses. He has an attractive, wedgeshaped head, and his neck is twice the length on top as it is on the bottom, which helps him carry his head. His throatlatch could be trimmer and his neck could tie in higher, but he has the best neck here. He has a strong topline that is more level than the photo angle indicates. He has good length to his hip and croup. His front legs are straight and clean, with well-sloped pasterns, but his hind legs could have a bit more angle in the hocks. His hocks also appear to be a bit higher than his knees. But he does have the best volume and tone of muscle of these three geldings.

This horse is a close second, with good condition and the appearance of a useful performance horse. His strong topline and long, powerful croup are some of his best features. His front end isn’t as proportionate when divided into thirds as Gelding C's, and because a long, sloping shoulder is critical to athletic movement, this gelding places second, with a steeper shoulder angle. His neck, shorter overall than Gelding C’s, ties in a bit lower than ideal, and lacks the desired 2:1 ratio when comparing the top of the neck to the bottom. However, his midsection is short and strong, and joins into a long, well-muscled hip that will translate into power under saddle. His forearms and gaskins show good muscle deﬁnition. His hocks could show more angulation, but his legs appear clean with good substance of bone and appropriately angled pasterns, both front and hind. In addition to his stronger topline, he’s also heavier-muscled overall and deeper through the heartgirth than Gelding B.

This is also a quality performance horse with a reﬁned head and clean throatlatch. Of the three, though, he’s the least balanced when divided into thirds. He’s the longest through the middle with the longest, weakest back and the shortest, lightest hip. His appealing head and clean throatlatch are plusses, but his neck ties in low, which limits his ﬂexibility. His shoulder is also steep, which will make his gait rougher to ride. His short hip and croup blend into the lightest-muscled gaskin of these three geldings. His hocks and hind legs are slightly camped out behind, and will trail behind him when ridden. Combined with his long back and lightly muscled hind end, his trailing hocks will make it very difficult for him to collect and round himself and drive forward. He’s the lightest-boned and lightest-muscled of these three geldings, but his legs look clean, and he should make an adequate riding horse if not the most accomplished performance horse.

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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Western apparel will always have its roots in the staples—cowboy hats, button-downs, denim, and boots. Fall Western wear shows a modern take on those traditional must-haves in form and color. Look for hats in edgy, cool hues—grays, cool taupes, even a deep-teal green called petrol (page 56). Shirts with modern cuts and traditional embroidery, paired with wild rags, give shape to the body without sacriﬁcing an Old West feel. Outerwear deftly pairs function with good looks. And denim provides the standbys and more modern straight and skinny cuts, perfect for tucking into boots to show oﬀ those fancy boot tops. Here’s a look at what’s new for Western wear this fall. →

Modern Fashion Meets Traditional Details PHOTOS BY MALLORY BEINBORN

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August 2017 / 55

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MUDDY CREEK JACKET; SHERRY CERVI BY RESISTOL SHIRT; CINCH FOR WOMEN JEANS.

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August 2017 / 61

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OLATHE BOOTS: nrsworld.com ROPER APPAREL: eroper.com SHERRY CERVI BY RESISTOL: hat-co.com SHORTY’S CABOY HATTERY: shortyshattery.com STETSON APPAREL AND BOOTS: stetsonapparel.com TWISTED X BOOTS: twistedx.com VAQUERA: vaquera-style.myshopify.com WRANGLER: wrangler.com

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SHORTY’S CABOY HATTERY HAT; WRANGLER DENIM SHIRT; KIMES RANCH JEANS; OLATHE BOOTS.

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Why Won’t He

Move

Balky horses have reasons for their behavior. Here’s how to recognize root causes and overcome the diﬀerent varieties of balkiness. BY JONATHAN FIELD, WITH JENNIFER VON GELDERN

PHOTOS BY ANGIE FIELD

IF YOU’RE LIKE MOST HORSE PEOPLE, you’ve encountered a balky horse or two. When it happens, though, do you know what’s causing the behavior and how to handle it? There are actually various causes of balkiness, each requiring a different approach. Using insight I’ve gleaned from working with countless horses at clinics, I’ll explain the different forms of balkiness I’ve identified, explore what causes the behavior, and show you how to overcome it. Physical pain can cause a reluctance to move, but once a veterinarian has ruled that out, there are three key types of balkiness—herd-bound, lack of confidence, and rider-induced. I’ll discuss each in turn.

Herd-Bound Behavior: Your horse resists leaving the barn or a herdmate. He hates moving away from things he enjoys or ﬁnds comfort in. At some point during a ride, he may plant his feet and refuse to be ridden any farther from the place or horse he’s drawn to. Even if he doesn’t completely plant his feet, he may walk slower 64 / HorseandRider.com

going away from home than he does returning home, even zigzagging to try to linger there. It may even be diﬃcult to control his speed on the way home, a danger connected to this type of balkiness. Cause: His mind and attention remain at home even though he’s being ridden physically away from home. He’s so preoccupied with staying

Willing forward movement is the foundation of all riding. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what to do when your horse balks.

August 2017 / 65

home or returning there that any ride you do get from him will be diﬃcult and potentially dangerous. Solution: Gain his respect and focus his attention on you, and therefore away from his stall, pen, or equine companion. Before even attempting to leave home with a herd-bound balky horse, do groundwork or mounted exercises, such as circles and footwork movements. These will get his attention on you and and away from his source of preoccupation. Once he’s tuned in, keep a focused, purposeful demeanor and immediately ask him to leave his comfort zone. Too much of a pause will allow his mind to wander back to his stall, feed, or stablemate. If he still resists, repeat some of the exercises and immediately ask again for him to leave the area. Be deliberate, ﬁrm, and patient, as this may take several repetitions. Success will be measured in how readily your horse moves away

from his home zone, how long he keeps his focus on you once away, and whether he can maintain his focus and an even pace on his way back. It’s natural for horses to want to return home at a slightly brisker pace than they maintained when leaving, but your horse shouldn’t ignore your cues. In the end, if you’ve adequately focused his attention, he’ll be “with you” regardless of where you are. Save some riding time for when you return to the barn or your unsaddling area, so he’s not expecting to be immediately untacked, groomed, and allowed to relax. This can be done in an arena, around the property, or even in front of the barn, as long as he knows arriving home doesn’t mean instant release from everything you did that day.

Lacking Conﬁdence Behavior: Your horse resists moving toward a scary spot in an arena (such as a ﬂag or banner) or on the trail (such

LEFT: Put a barn-bound horse to work in ways that require him to focus on your requests, then immediately mount up and ask him to move away from home. RIGHT: After a ride, work him at the barn before putting him up, so "home" doesn't only mean "rest."

as a bridge or a railroad crossing). He’s balking because he lacks confidence. He plants his feet or tries to move away from what he fears. Cause: As prey animals, horses naturally fear many things. Staying away from anything suspicious—whether it’s a sight, sound, or scent—is how they stay alive in nature. Unfortunately, this innate fear can become an overall lack of confidence under saddle that ruins rides. Overcoming it requires getting the horse to trust that your judgment will keep him safe. Solution: Whether you’re in the arena or on the trail, your approach is the same. First, find how near the

Rule Out Health Problems Balkiness in horses is commonly caused by pain. If your horse balks, explore this angle ﬁrst by testing him for soundness and having a thorough examination by a veterinarian. A few of the many potential physical causes include: • Sore back, ill-ﬁtting saddle • Sore joints • Stomach ulcer • Neurologic issues • Dental issues Once a veterinarian has ruled out pain, then proceed with handling the balkiness as a behavior issue.

66 / HorseandRider.com

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LEFT: A timid horse needs a moment to assess what's frightening him—in this case, railroad tracks. MIDDLE: Ask a fearful horse for just one step at a time over a scary obstacle, like this bridge. RIGHT: Ride a dull horse from one corner of the arena to the other.

scary thing your horse will approach willingly and confidently. Then stop him and wait a few moments, allowing him to take a look. Then ask with a light squeeze or bump of your legs until he takes a step forward, or even just “thinks” forward. When he does, release the pressure for a moment. Then ask again. Each step forward will build to more steps. The key here is patience and timing to build his trust in you so he feels confident going where you want. Too often, riders add high pressure with a flurry of kicks when the horse is thinking “backward” from the challenge. This causes a horse to resist even more, and if really pressured, he may begin to rear and run backward. Instead, be persistent and carefully time your releases of pressure with each step forward. Once successfully past the trouble spot, go back and forth by it several times to establish success and build trust for the next attempt to pass something spooky.

seemingly no reason. In this case, pilot error could be to blame. Many horses don’t go forward freely because of the way they’re ridden. If you give conﬂicting cues, time cues improperly, or attempt to micromanage your horse without giving him relief from pressure, he may simply resist moving at all. Cause: Your overuse of aids is confusing your horse and denying him any relief or comfort. Some riders simultaneously pull on the reins and pester their horse with continuous squeezing or kicking. Then, in frustration, many attempt what I call “the one-whack solution.” This is accomplished with a forceful kick of the legs and/or spank with the reins or crop to get the horse to move out. Unfortunately,

Jonathan Field, Vancouver, British

this just makes a horse suck back and resist even more—sometimes to the point of kicking out or bucking. Solution: Teaching a balky horse to move freely through transitions forward is best done with a light squeeze of the legs and a light, rhythmic tapping with a riding crop. This tapping should slightly build in pressure until the horse gets going a bit faster. Make sure to persist until forward happens. Exactly at that moment, stop the squeeze and the tapping. If your horse slows down again, then simply repeat. It’s best to travel on long, straight lines across an arena or large, open area. When you get across the arena or to the open area’s edge, stop and rest a moment, then ride straight back across. Continue like this until the horse is moving out freely and looking forward in the direction of travel. The brief rest at each end point can really get a horse looking forward and moving out. I’ve helped hundreds of horse-and-rider combinations overcome this type of balkiness in a short time using this method. But do remember—this strategy works only if you make sure not to pull on the reins at the same time as using leg aids.

Columbia, authored “Inspired by Horses,” a horsemanship program that teaches riders the skills and traits they

Go to HorseandRider.com to read

Rider Error

need to be successful with their mounts

more about balking that leads to

Behavior: Your horse is dull, lazy, and hard to get moving in the arena—and for

(jonathanﬁeld.net).

rearing.

68 / HorseandRider.com

2017 W E E K E N D S

SPECIAL EVENT

All special event weekends have optional extras, (live band, food options, etc.) but open camping still applies

September 1 – 4: Labor Day Weekend (3 night minimum) • Band on Saturday night, meals optional

October 6 – 8: Bluegrass & Brewskies Weekend (2 night minimum)

Hoosier National Forest • Horseman’s Campground

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• Bluegrass band on Saturday night • Craft beer tasting

October 11 – 15: Fall Colors Ride (4 night minimum) • Band on Saturday night, meals optional

October 26 – 29: Halloween Ride (3 night minimum) • Band on Saturday night, meals optional • Costume contests/campsite decorating

2018

April 19 – 22: Spring Fling Ride (3 night minimum)

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Open Camping Clean modern rest rooms and shower house Trail Guides and customized trail adventures available Electric & water on each campsite OVER 100 MILES OF TRAILS!! Cabins for rent • Horses for rent Covered stalls m

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PLAN. WORK. ACHIEVE. Whether you dream of seeing the country from horseback or excelling in competition, you can do it! These four riders reveal what it took to achieve their horse-related goals.

ILLUSTRATION BY 4X6/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

BY KATIE NAVARRA

August 2017 / 71

We all have goals we’d like to accomplish with our horses. We dream of trail riding through remote backcountry trails, earning top honors in the show pen, or perfecting our horsemanship in the image of the cowboys of the open range. Regardless of our ambitions, planning and learning from others’ experiences can bring us one step closer to achieving our goals. We’ve asked four riders to share their aspirations and the plans they put in place to achieve them. They also detail what they learned along the way and offer tips to help you achieve your own goals. READY TO RAMBLE Riders: Kent and Charlene Krone, who hail from Dixon, Montana. Background: Both Kent and Charlene rode as kids. Following high school, they put college and careers before horses, and neither rode for nearly 20 years. In 1995, they decided it was time to get back in the saddle, so they purchased two horses for occasional weekend fishing and camping trips. “We had no idea this would eventually take over our lives,” Kent laughs. Today, they own two 11-year-old Missouri Foxtrotters, Cowboy and Nate, and a 5-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse. They travel with the horses about eight months out of the year. Individual trips may last as long as five months. They’ve traveled through wilderness areas in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the Canadian 72 / HorseandRider.com

Rockies, spending as many as 11 days in unpopulated, remote areas using backpacker techniques. “We’ll always remember crawling out of our tiny tent after a terrific storm pummeled us all night long,” Charlene reminisces. “The storm had knocked down nearby tree snags, and there were grizzlies lurking in the valley below. We climbed out of our tent bleary-eyed to a surreal scene of fog lifting from the river, with sunbeams filtering through. We put the horses out to graze and started a fire while we watched the morning evolve.” Goal: What started as an interest in taking occasional trips morphed into two larger goals. First, Kent and Charlene longed to relocate from Idaho to Montana to build the horse property of their dreams. Second, the couple wanted a living-quarters trailer to

is the foundation of all riding. Here’s what to do when your horse balks.

make lengthy trips around the country with their horses more homey. Key learning: When the Krones purchased property in Montana, they bought a bare lot and strategically designed the layout of the entire property to suit their needs. “We wanted a property we could ride our horses out from,” Kent explains. “So we designed a dry lot to keep the horses close by and to prevent them from overgrazing.” The barn includes an overhang large enough to park the trailer under to protect it from the weather. They also installed an RV dump and a water tap. They allocated enough space between the barn and the house to turn the trailer and eliminate backing. “The key is to strategically plan a property that’s horse-friendly and amenable to what you’re trying to do with it,” Charlene says. Part two of the goal—buying a living-quarters trailer—evolved from the Krones’ desire to spend months at a time riding trails. They knew every inch of the trailer’s size mattered, as many of the trailheads they travel to are small and narrow. “We chose a living-quarters trailer that wasn’t too long,” Kent says. “It’s 26 feet on the box, with a slide-out that creates additional room.” Propane tanks, powerful batteries, and a solar panel to maintain battery power make it possible to spend months away from home. Final outcome: Since buying the living-quarters trailer, the couple has pulled the trailer untold miles—they estimate it’s tens of thousands. When they’re home in Montana, they relish every inch of their property. “We look forward to continuing to explore this great country on horseback and experiencing its wonder and the beauty of nature with our equine friends,” Charlene says.

COWBOY IMAGES Rider: Kim Stone, who hails from Brunswick, Maine. Background: Kim’s ﬁrst horse was

ABOVE: Kent and Charlene Krone have arranged their lives to spend eight months of the year wilderness camping with their horses. LEFT: Kim Stone invested years becoming a bona ﬁde ranch hand; today she documents the Western lifestyle she loves through her photography.

a Shetland pony she named Ginger Snowﬂake. Just 4 years old at the time, Kim learned to ride through trial and error. In high school, she worked at a camp where she catch-rode horses no one else wanted to ride, and during college she rode whenever her studies allowed. In 2000, she once again ventured back into horse ownership and began barrel racing at weekend shows. Just two years later she purchased Indy, a young mare. “Indy had been passed around as a challenging horse with no manners, and she was strong-willed,” Kim recalls. “She’d become dangerous to herself, her handler, and anyone else within a 50-foot radius.” In the fall of 2008 a friend suggested Kim ride Indy in a Martin Black clinic. “That started me on an unforgettable journey,” she shares. “What began as a tiny snowball in my hand ended TOP PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE; BOTTOM PHOTO FROM KIM STONE COLLECTION

up a gigantic snow-boulder at the bottom of a mountain.” Kim’s current herd includes ﬁve horses: Indy, Tabasco, Tess, Cowboy, and Moxie. Goal: Kim’s initial goal was to develop a better partnership with Indy. After riding in a Martin Black clinic, she was invited to attend his month-long ranch school in Texas. There her aspirations shifted. She yearned to work as a cowboy, document a beloved lifestyle through her photography, and bring that culture back to the East Coast. Key learning: Hard work, willingness, and maintaining an open mind made her journey possible. “The harder I worked, the more they wanted to help me learn,” she says. “Eating and sleeping became secondary to being in the saddle. I’d spend 14plus hours a day riding that ﬁrst year.” She never passed up an opportunity August 2017 / 73

HEADED TO CONGRESS Rider: CharlieAnne Huﬀam, who hails from Troy, New York. Background: CharlieAnne grew up participating in 4-H and open shows with a grade Quarter Horse/Arabian-cross. At 15, she learned about the American Quarter Horse Association, dreaming of someday owning her own Quarter Horse and becoming a member. During college she took lessons at hunter/jumper facilities and worked part-time at a dressage barn, observing best practices in caring for horses. Goal: CharlieAnne set high expectations. Her goal included three key initiatives. First, buy a Quarter Horse 74 / HorseandRider.com

CharlieAnne Huffam bought a Quarter Horse, built a barn to keep him in, and is hard at work on her third goal of competing with him at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

to compete in sanctioned events. Second, build a barn to keep said horse at home. Third, compete at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the annual event held in Columbus, Ohio. Key learning: It took nearly two decades for CharlieAnne to take the first step toward accomplishing her first goal—horse ownership—and staying the course was critical. Initially, she found a horse at a local rescue, but it wasn’t a good fit for her. “Taking him back was the hardest decision, but I could afford only one horse at the time and knew we wouldn’t be a happy pair in the end,” she laments. In 2013, she finally found and purchased a good match, the registered Quarter Horse gelding My Te Slo Mr, barn name “Cooper.” Sticking to priorities was equally important during barn construction. “I read and re-read Cherry Hill’s Horsekeeping on Small Acreage,” she shares. “The biggest takeaway was identifying what features I really wanted, then not compromising—even if it meant having to wait until I could afford what was most important to me.” Patience has proven to be a virtue in all aspects of goal-seeking, especially

as it relates to showing at Congress, an ongoing aspiration. Final outcome: In 2016, CharlieAnne accumulated her first set of AQHA points, receiving an Amateur Top-10 Rookie Halter Gelding award. In 2017, “Operation Bring Cooper Home” went from dream to reality when construction of her barn started in April and finished in May. At her first 2017 show she earned reserve high-point in the rookie amateur all-around division. She continues to work toward competing at Congress.

COW HORSE DREAMS Rider: Roxanne Peters, who hails from Auburn, Washington. Background: For 25 years, Roxanne focused on breeding reining and working cow horses. Many of her foals sold to or went into training with industry veterans. During that time, she wasn’t riding or competing. In 2010, she purchased Make Mine Gray, winning the National Reined Cow Horse Association World Championship Snaﬄe Bit Futurity’s non-pro limited and non-pro limited 5K divisions with the gelding the following year. Today, she competes in working cow horse, boxing, and ranch riding events with her 10-year-old homebred

PHOTO BY BRYAN NIGRO

to work, ride, be with cowboys, or just sit in the middle of a field horseback. “I got out there every day and tried my best, and I earned more respect doing that than anything else,” she beams. If it’s something you want to try, Kim suggests going for it. “Ride with the best you can ride with, and decide how much you’re willing to sacrifice to go there,” she advises. “Invest in a minimum of a one-month ranch school if you think you want to live this lifestyle.” She cautions that it’s not as romantic as it might sound. “It’s grueling hours, grueling time in saddle, and hard on your body,” she says. “No matter if it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, or 110 degrees, the work must get done.” Although the other ranch hands teased her about toting her camera everywhere, she earned their trust and had the unique opportunity to experience aspects of ranch life that few others do. Final outcome: Kim spent five years working as a cowboy, first for Martin Black in Texas, then at the Alvord Ranch in southeastern Oregon. She receives annual invitations to return to the ranch and spends at least two weeks there each year. At her facility in Maine, she regularly hosts clinics so riders on the East Coast can learn to rope and ride like a true cow hand.

Spirit of the Painted Pony

The

Sculpture Collection

Handcrafted & hand-painted sculpture inspired by the acclaimed original art of Laurie Prindle

COMING SOON! “Spirit Warrior”

Issue One “Shaman” Sculpture measures approx. 7" tall.

Introducing Artist Laurie Prindle in her Sculptural Debut! Handcrafted. Hand-painted. Truly inspiring!

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Each finely crafted and impressively-sized sculpture—they stand approximately 7” tall—features symbols and decorations inspired by 9210 N. MARYLAND ST., NILES, IL 60714-1391 the traditional art forms of several Southwestern Native American tribes. A wealth of distinctive hand-applied accents adorn each mesmerizing YES! Please reserve the Spirit of the Painted Pony Sculpture piece including real feathers, faux leather and meticulous bead work. Collection for me as described in this announcement. SEND NO MONEY NOW Each powerful sculpture is faithful to the art of Ms. Prindle and proudly CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY & 365-DAY GUARANTEE stands on a base featuring the look of weathered granite rock with tufts of scrub brush. Signature

Not available in any store. Act now! Shipment One is “Shaman” at the attractive $59.97 issue price payable in three easy installments of just $19.99, the ﬁrst billed before shipment. Subsequent shipments—each billed separately at the same attractive issue price—will arrive about every other month. Your second shipment will be “Spirit Warrior.” You may cancel at any time and your satisfaction is assured with our best-in-the-business 365-day guarantee. You need send no money now. Just complete and mail the Reservation Application today! www.bradfordexchange.com/PaintedHorse

Mrs. Mr. Ms. Name (Please Print Clearly)

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*Plus $9.99 shipping and service. All sales subject to acceptance and product availability. Allow 4-6 weeks after initial payment for shipment.

Roxanne Peters has achieved goals of competing at the AQHA World Show and at the NRCHA’s

mare, Mity Independent (“Cricket”), by Topsail Whiz. Goal: To qualify for the AQHA World Championship Show in boxing and ranch riding, and to compete again at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, Nevada. Key learning: In the midst of chasing qualifying points, Roxanne had to rely on the understanding of a new boss. “I was on the job fewer than three weeks when I had to ask for time off for my final horse goal of 2016, competing in Reno,” she explains. She’d won there before and wanted to do it again on a second horse. Cricket, not yet seasoned for that level of competition, ended up 13th out of 48 horses. With the job change, Roxanne has had to focus her energy, time, and finances on specific goals. Instead of competing at several regional shows throughout the show season, she chooses two of the top AQHA circuit shows: the Sun Circuit in Scottsdale, 76 / HorseandRider.com

Arizona, and the Oregon Summer Classic in Central Point, Oregon. The events draw large enough classes to offer multiple points. “At the Sun Circuit, I picked up 13 points at one show to get us qualified for the 2017 AQHA World,” she says. “At shows back home in Washington, there are fewer than five competitors in each class, making it difficult to get qualified.” Larger, week-long shows may sound more expensive, but she says her show bill was actually less than it would’ve been from traveling to multiple regional shows. She also says not only did she qualify faster, she also had an opportunity to compete against and learn from more seasoned competitors. The new job and her aspirations of competing at this level have meant sacrifices. She sold her broodmares and upcoming prospects and leases part of her property to a local Thoroughbred trainer. This arrangement provides her the time and finances needed to pursue her goals.

“I had to downsize the things that were distracting me,” she notes. “Before the job change, I’d ride on weekends, but instead of focusing on my ride, I’d have to worry about getting back to breed a horse, care for those on the property, and maintain my place. With the lease arrangement, I still see mares and beautiful foals, but they’re not mine to care for and my focus is better whenever I go to ride.” Final outcome: Roxanne has already racked up enough AQHA points to earn Mity Independent’s Register of Merit and Superior awards, and she’s qualiﬁed for the 2017 AQHA World Championship Show. She’s set herself a stretch goal of garnering 50 points to earn the mare’s AQHA Superior in boxing.

Set a goal but hit a plateau? Go to HorseandRider.com to ﬁnd seven ways to get past the block.

PHOTO BY AMY MASTERS/SCATTER CREEK PHOTOGRAPHY

Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, both with her homebred mare Mity Independent, by Topsail Whiz.

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GASTRIC ULCERS: THE TRUE STORY

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HAS EVERYONE—TRAINERS, FARRIERS, FRIENDS— ‘DIAGNOSED’ YOUR HORSE WITH ULCERS? YOU SHOULD PROBABLY ASK YOUR VET FOR THE TRUTH.

By Barb Crabbe, DVM

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON

August 2017 / 79

he client walks into my office with a defeated expression. “My horse is really crabby/resistant/unhappy…” she tells me. Before she even takes a breath, I ﬁnish the sentence for her… “and your farrier/trainer/friend told you he has ulcers.” “Yes!” the client gasps, “how did you know?” Because I hear it every day. Usually followed by the advice to order some kind of powder to magically solve her horse’s behavior problems once and for all. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is probably the most misunderstood, misdiag-

nosed, and mistreated condition in equine medicine. Which is interesting, really, because it’s one of the most straightforward conditions we diagnose and treat as equine veterinarians (although that's now changing a bit—

see “The Great Divide,” page 82). In fact, we have the tools to easily make a speciﬁc diagnosis with a single test, have treatments with proven efficacy, and even have scientiﬁcally supported knowledge about steps we can take to prevent equine gastric ulcers. Here I’ll tell you the truths behind the myths about this common condition. If you think your horse has ulcers, you’ll learn what to do and how to do it…the right way.

THE BAD ATTITUDE Myth #1: My horse is girthy. He pins his ears and swishes his tail every time I tack him up. These symptoms mean he must have gastric ulcers, right? Truth: Many people assume a horse has ulcers if he becomes girthy, grouchy, or difficult during training. Symptoms caused by ulcers are non-specific, meaning many different diseases can cause similar signs. If you assume your horse has ulcers and he doesn’t, not only will the treatment be ineffective, you could also overlook another, more serious problem in need of consideration. The most common symptom of ulcers is intermittent colic, especially if your horse exhibits signs of pain immediately following a meal. He’s likely to have a decrease in appetite, be fussy about his meals, and may have overall poor condition. Surprisingly, studies show that although behavior changes and poor performance may be associated with ulcers, these signs aren’t consistent in all horses.

NIGHTMARISH POOP Myth #2: If my horse has ulcers he’ll have blood in his manure. There’s a simple test that can check for blood and make a diagnosis so I can begin treatment. Truth: Gastric ulcers won’t cause blood in your horse’s manure. Hence testing for blood in your horse’s manure isn’t an accurate way to diagnose ulcers. The only way to definitively diagnose your horse with gastric ulcers is with an endoscopic examination of his stomach—called gastroscopy. For this test, your vet will pass a flexible tube outfitted with a tiny camera through your horse’s nose, down his esophagus, and into his stomach. If there are ulcers present, your vet will see them. The test for blood in your horse’s manure (commonly called a fecal occult blood test) may be useful for other things (though this test produces a high incidence of false positive results, so must be interpreted carefully). A genuine positive on this test can raise a suspicion that your horse could have right dorsal colitis, an inflammatory condition of a specific portion 80 / HorseandRider.com

of the large intestine. It can be associated with excessive use of anti-inflammatory medications such as phenylbutazone, and can cause small amounts of blood in the manure. Similar to ulcers, right dorsal colitis may cause a loss of appetite, weight loss, and intermittent colic symptoms. This makes it difficult to determine whether your horse has right dorsal colitis or gastric ulcers, based on clinical signs alone. To make things even harder, right dorsal colitis is challenging to definitively diagnose, making gastroscopy an important step for ruling out stomach ulcers if right dorsal colitis is suspected. Finally, if you decide to have your horse’s manure tested, be sure he hasn’t recently had a rectal exam, commonly performed during a colic episode, which can lead to blood in the manure for up to 24 hours.

HOT SPOTS Myth #3: My equine chiropractor told me my horse has gastric ulcers because he’s sensitive to stimulation of various “ulcer points” on his body. Truth: While it’s true that sensitivity to specific points on your horse’s body can help pinpoint the source of problems, this sensitivity is often non-specific. Even highly trained and experienced acupuncture practitioners explain that reactivity to points associated with gastric ulcers can also be associated with other problems with the gastrointestinal tract, such as colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) or enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine). Detecting sensitivity to stimulation of ulcer points can provide useful information, but it’s not an accurate way to diagnose gastric ulcers. If your horse has other signs consistent with gastric ulcers, reactivity to acupuncture points might help you decide to schedule gastroscopy to make a definitive diagnosis. It’s a matter of taking in all the information to make an informed decision of what to look for.

DIARRHEA IS KEY Myth #4: My horse always gets diarrhea when he’s stressed. I’m sure that means he has ulcers. →

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Truth: You might be surprised to learn that diarrhea is rarely, if ever, a sign of gastric ulcers. The stomach is a long way away from the end of the gastrointestinal tract, so stomach problems are unlikely to impact the consistency of your horse’s manure. If your horse has diarrhea, it’s much more likely that he has a problem with his large intestine, which is farther down the intestinal tract.

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The Great Divide: Squamous vs. Glandular You may think all ulcers are created equal, but that’s not true. In fact, your horse’s stomach is divided into to two portions: the upper, squamous portion, by the entrance of the esophagus (called the cardia); and the lower, glandular portion, where food enters the small intestine through the opening called the pylorus. While we typically think of ulcers impacting the squamous portion of the stomach, we now know ulcers in the glandular or pyloric region can have much more serious consequences for your horse. Squamous ulcers are common, relatively easy to identify, and typically respond well to medication and management changes. Glandular and pyloric ulcers can be harder to see and more difficult to treat. The distinction is important enough that these two disease processes have just recently been given different names. What we once referred to as equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is now divided into equine squamous gastric ulcer syndrome (ESGUS) and equine glandular gastric ulcer syndrome (EGGUS). This distinction makes gastroscopy even more important if you suspect your horse has ulcers—both for making an accurate diagnosis and for monitoring a response to treatment.

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A gastroscopy (examination of the stomach via a ﬂexible tube with tiny camera attached) is the only deﬁnitive way to diagnose gastric ulcers.

I’M PRETTY SURE I’M RIGHT… Myth #6: I was pretty sure my horse had ulcers, so I started him on ulcer medications and he got better. Obviously, he had them, so it makes more sense to just keep treating him than it does to spend the money on endoscopy. Truth: Have you ever heard of the placebo effect? That’s a beneficial effect, produced by a placebo drug or treatment, that can’t be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient’s belief in that treatment. Believe it or not, studies have shown that the placebo effect is alive and well when it comes to owners and their horses. That’s right. If you think your horse is being treated with a medication targeting a specific disease, there’s a good chance you’ll also think your horse is getting better—even if he hasn’t received the medication at all. This is especially likely with a condition like gastric ulcers, where signs are vague, non-specific, and include things like poor performance or bad behavior. In other words, just because you think your horse seems better when getting ulcer medications doesn’t mean he is. You could be simply throwing your money away. In addition, if your horse really does have ulcers it’s important to monitor not only the severity of his condition, but also his response to treatment. With gastroscopy, your vet can get a thorough look at your horse’s stomach to grade the severity of disease. Then, with a follow up gastroscopy after treatment, he can determine whether your horse responded well or if he needs additional treatment. Finally, if you assume your horse has ulcers and he doesn’t, it’s possible he could be suffering from a different, even more serious problem. By failing to make an accurate diagnosis you could significantly impact his long-term health.

BUYING ‘GENERIC’ Myth #7: Equine-labeled ulcer medications like GastroGard and UlcerGard are expensive. I can buy powdered omepra-

P H OTO BY N I C HO LE C HI R I CO

Myth #5: I understand the only way to accurately diagnose gastric ulcers is to use an endoscope to look into my horse’s stomach. But this is an expensive and difficult test. I don’t have the cash, and I don’t want to put my horse through such a miserable experience. Truth: In reality, gastroscopy is a simple and relatively painless procedure with little risk. To prepare for this diagnostic test, your horse will be held off food and water overnight. He’ll be lightly sedated to minimize stress, and the entire procedure typically lasts less than 15 minutes. Gastroscopy is a black-and-white test that immediately gives you an accurate, insightful diagnosis. Expensive? The cost of gastroscopy is typically less than $500. That’s a fraction of the cost of treating ulcers with an effective medication (more on that later). Not only does it make financial sense to obtain an accurate diagnosis, it helps ensure that your horse will receive proper treatment and care.

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ALFALFA IS THE CULPRIT Myth #8: My friend insists on feeding her horse alfalfa hay, even though he was diagnosed with ulcers. If she just stopped feeding such a rich diet, I know he’d get better without all of those expensive medications. Truth: Including alfalfa in the daily ration is actually recom-

Experts Weigh In Still not convinced? The European College of Equine Internal Medicine recently published a consensus statement on equine gastric ulcer syndrome in horses based on a review of all of the available scientific research. The review committee “does not support the practice of diagnosing EGUS based on ‘characteristic’ clinical signs, and recommends that EGUS be confirmed by performing gastroscopy.” They conclude that “gastroscopy is the only reliable antemortem (before death) method for definitively identifying gastric ulceration,” and state that “initiation of treatment without prior gastroscopy is discouraged.”

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How and what you feed can help treat and prevent ulcers. Continuous access to hay or pasture is best; otherwise, feed frequent small meals.

mended for horses diagnosed with ulcers, or as a means of preventing them from developing. The higher calcium content of alfalfa means it can have a buffering effect, which can help protect the stomach lining from acids. While alfalfa isn’t likely to have a negative effect, grain meals can. Continue feeding alfalfa, but discontinue or minimize grain as much as possible. It’s true that feeding strategies can be an important part of treating and preventing ulcers. Because horses are grazing animals designed to eat continuously throughout the day, their digestive system functions by secreting acids 24 hours a day. (Unlike humans, where acid secretion is stimulated only at mealtime.) Continuous access to hay or pasture is best. If that’s not possible, frequent small meals (intervals no less than six hours apart) can help. Not only will the presence of feed in the stomach help protect its delicate lining, but continuous chewing means your horse produces a steady stream of saliva, which can have a buffering effect. A recent study indicates that timing of feeding may also impact effectiveness of omeprazole treatment, and that it may be best to administer the medication first thing in the morning and wait 60 to 90 minutes before feeding hay.

DON’T MAKE A BLIND DECISION What’s the bottom line? No matter what you hear, if you think your horse has gastric ulcers, the most important thing you can do is schedule a gastroscopy to make a deﬁnitive diagnosis. Only then can you come up with an eﬀective treatment plan and monitor his healing progress to ensure his long-term health.

Find more on gastric ulcers at HorseandRider.com.

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zole from a compounding pharmacy for a fraction of the price—and it’s exactly the same medication. Truth: The most effective treatment currently available for treating ulcers is omeprazole, a medication that permanently impairs the pump that causes acid to be secreted into the stomach. Omeprazole is effective if administered just once a day, and once acid pumps are destroyed, new pumps must be made before acid production will resume. Omeprazole is destroyed by acids, and must be protected within the acidic environment of the stomach. In order for it to be effective, it must be formulated in a buffered paste or enteric-coated granule. Plain, unprotected powder (offered by a wide variety of compounding pharmacies) won’t work. At this time, the only effective omeprazole products available in the United States are GastroGard or UlcerGard. Omeprazole in buffered form will heal up to 80 percent of ulcers within 28 days of treatment. In some cases, an additional medication called sucralfate, which coats and protects the stomach lining, may be used in conjunction with omeprazole for best results. Medications that block acid receptors such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac) can be effective, but unlike omeprazole these medications are dependent on maintaining constant blood levels and must be dosed at regular eight-hour intervals. Finally, there are new treatments on the horizon, including a blend of polysaccharides that’s recently shown promise in helping to promote ulcer healing. It’s important to realize, however, that these treatments are not yet FDA-approved, nor have they withstood the test of time. If you decide to treat your horse with an alternative medication, gastroscopy before and after treatment becomes even more important in order to determine whether the treatment has been effective for your horse and the future course of action.

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P H OTO BY W I L L I A M J. ER I C KSON

No More

Saddle

Sore Learn how to prevent soreness in your horse on all-day rides with these expert guidelines. Plus: Rider-soreness prevention tips.

BY ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

R As the sun goes down on your all-day ride, will your horse experience aches and pains—or will he be ready to go the next day? To keep him trail-ready, read on for expert tips for preventing equine soreness before, during, and after your all-day ride.

iding in an arena for an hour or going on a short trail ride is a far different experience than an all-day ride. Without proper conditioning, outfitting, and handling, your horse can suffer painful consequences from extended riding time. Ranchers, serious trail riders, and endurance competitors know what it takes to minimize saddle soreness. Mary Davis is the horse manager for CS Cattle Company in Cimarron, New Mexico. With hours of saddle time working cattle on the ranch, she’s learned to spot the subtle signs of a sore-backed horse. “If your horse’s attitude has changed, what have you changed?” Davis asks. “How are you riding him? Did you get a new saddle, saddle pad, or girth?” Jeanette Mero, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and endurance rider based in Mariposa, California. She says most equine body soreness comes from lack of fitness. “Do your homework well ahead of time to have your horse fit, and spend time in the saddle prior to any kind of long ride,” Mero says. “An endurance horse, for example, won’t get terribly sore if he’s properly trained and conditioned. Muscle fatigued, yes, but not really sore.” Lari Shea of Mendocino, California, is an endurance rider with nearly four decades of experience leading weeklong riding vacations. Before you set out on an extended ride, she says, know how long your ride will be, the approximate elevation gain, and the trail terrain (such as sand or rock). Then you’ll know whether your horse is fit enough for the ride and shod or booted appropriately. → August 2017 / 87

Here, these experts will share their guidelines for preventing equine soreness before, during, and after your ride. Plus, they’ll give you tips on preventing rider soreness (page 89).

Before Your Ride Make sure your saddle fits. Signs of poor saddle fit include back soreness and white hairs on your horse’s back or withers. Davis says a back-sore horse may wince when you run your fingers down his spine, he might refuse to stand still while saddling or mounting, or he might try to bite during tacking up. “Also look for dry spots in an otherwise-soaked area under the saddle pad,” Davis adds. Pull the front of the pad into your saddle’s gullet to enhance airflow, and keep the pad and saddle from pressing straight down on your horse’s back. Select the right rigging. In a Western saddle, pay attention to the rigging— the location of the saddle’s points of attachment. The front cinch rings can be located anywhere from full (just behind the swells) to centerfire (behind 88 / HorseandRider.com

the stirrups). Positions between these two, front-to-back, are known as 15/16, 7/8, 3/4, and 5/8 rigging. Shea recommends a saddle with 3/4 or 5/8 rigging to give your horse some elbow room. “If the cinch is too close to the horse’s armpit, it can cause sores,” she notes. Use a right-size cinch. Girth galling— open sores just behind the horse’s elbow caused by cinch-ring rubbing— can occur when the cinch or girth isn’t long enough, particularly if your horse is trending toward obesity, says Davis. “I use longer girths that fall halfway between the elbow and the saddle rigging,” Davis says. “Rarely will a horse have an issue of soreness in that area when you use a longer girth.” Davis also prefers a girth with an O-ring rather than a D-ring—she feels it’s less likely to cut into the horse’s elbow. Ensure correct cinch fit. If the cinch fits correctly, you’ll be able to slip your hand between the cinch and the point near your horse’s elbow, but not under his barrel. (Note: Running your hand under the cinch to check fit will lay

down your horse’s haircoat to help prevent girth galls.) Avoid riding with a too-tight cinch, but also make sure it isn’t too loose. “Too loose of a girth does your horse no favors, as the saddle might slip back on steep hills,” Shea says. Ensure correct breastcollar fit. Shea says an optimally fitted breastcollar tightens on your horse only when his leg comes forward. She also recommends attaching the breastcollar to the upper D-rings on the saddle, instead of the cinch. “To test fit, pull one leg forward— the breastcollar should contact that shoulder,” Shea says. “As your horse strides forward, that slight amount of contact will prevent the saddle from sliding backward.” Make sure your breastcollar is centered on your horse’s chest; if it’s off to one side, it could cut into his armpit. Add a crupper. A crupper buckles to the back of the saddle and loops under your horse’s tail to help keep your saddle in place when going down steep hills, says Shea. Before you head out, longe your horse with the crupper

PHOTO BY ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

To avoid galling your horse, use a clean girth that’s the proper length, with a proper rigging.

TOP-LEFT: While going uphill, grab your horse’s mane and slightly elevate your seat. BOTTOM-LEFT: Going downhill, don’t lean back—you’ll press the saddle into your horse’s loins, causing soreness. Instead, sit quietly at a normal angle, and allow your hips to follow your horse’s movement.

in place to make sure he’s well-accustomed to it. Center the saddle and cinch. One soreness cause, Davis says, is a cinch that’s much shorter on one side than the other, causing the between-leg D-rings to be oﬀ-center. An oﬀ-kilter saddle can also cause pain. “Your horse can get sore if your saddle isn’t traveling centered—maybe one of your stirrup leathers is longer than the other, or you pulled your sad-

dle over mounting up,” Davis says. Clean the cinch and pad. Davis recommends cleaning a saddle pad and mohair cinch at least once per year to remove debris and other irritants. You can rinse a neoprene cinch more frequently. Condition your horse. To condition your out-of-shape horse, says Mero, start riding three or four days per week, primarily walking, for at least an hour each time. Then add trotting if you desire. Within one or two months, your horse will probably be able to handle a longer ride.” “That’s the purist approach,” Mero says. “If you can get even a month of prep time before an all-day ride, your horse will do far better than if you decide to pull him out of the pasture for a ride the following weekend.” If you’ll be riding in unfamiliar terrain, Mero cautions against overdoing it. “Different terrain will produce different types of soreness,” Mero says. “For example, ride conservatively if you’re taking your mountain horse out on sand and vice versa. A flatland horse doesn’t have the muscles for hill work. If you spend all day riding that horse in the mountains, you should

FOR THE RIDER These tips will help you avoid feeling each of the miles traveled aboard your horse. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LARI SHEA

Choose a comfortable mount. Davis says the best remedy for preventing human soreness is choosing a horse that doesn’t pound the ground as he travels. Ride in ﬁtted pants. Jeans with wrinkles around the knee can rub your skin raw on a long journey, Davis advises. She recommends choosing riding pants that are more ﬁtted at the knee to reduce this problem. Stretch. Davis often stretches her legs on a fence before she mounts up. Shea goes through a 10-minute yoga routine before, during, and after a ride. Get off and walk. Shea walks her horse on some steep grades to work out kinks. This practice also gives her horse a break.

expect that he’ll probably have a lot of back, hamstring, quadriceps, and gluteal soreness.” Protect his hooves. Mero recommends applying protective boots to your barefoot horse’s hooves before a long ride. “Horses lacking hoof protection [on a long ride] can get total body soreness and won’t want to move because their feet hurt so much,” she notes. Warm up suﬃciently. Mero says a proper warm-up can help reduce muscle soreness, especially for a horse in unfamiliar terrain. “If you’re planning to trot and lope on your ride, spend enough time walking to warm up,” Mero says. “Also, cool down your horse by walking him for a bit before you reach the end of a ride.”

During Your Ride Mount with care. To save your horse’s back, use a mounting block at the barn, says Shea. She notes that 100 percent of your weight is on one side of his back as you mount, which stresses his muscles. “When on the trail, use a rock or a tree root, or turn your horse so he’s on the downhill side of the trail to give yourself some height advantage,” Shea says. Dismount correctly. When you dismount, Shea stresses that you should kick your feet out of the stirrups and semi-vault off, instead of stepping off. “Begin your dismount by rising up with equal weight in both stirrups— don’t shift your weight to the left,” Shea explains. “Kick your right foot out of the stirrup. As you swing your right leg over your horse’s back, lean your stomach on the seat of the saddle. Kick your left foot completely out of the stirrup, and, holding onto the saddle, slide off. “Don’t begin to slide off until both feet are completely out of the stirrups,” Shea cautions. “Not only is this the safest way to dismount, it’s also kind to your horse’s back.” Ride uphill correctly. Going uphill, Shea says, lean forward to position your center of gravity over your horse’s, with your seat out of the saddle on steeper hills. For support, grab your horse’s mane halfway up his August 2017 / 89

TOP: Use a mounting block or log to mount up—or simply stand uphill from your horse— to ease the strain of putting all your weight on one side of your horse. BOTTOM: “Begin your dismount by rising up with equal weight in both stirrups, and kick your right foot out of the stirrup,” advises Lari Shea. “As you swing your right leg over your horse’s back, lean your stomach on the seat of the saddle. Kick your left foot completely out of the stirrup,

neck, and wrap your calves, knees, and thighs around the girth area. “Don’t rotate at the knee and allow your lower leg to move backward because you might kick your horse in the stiﬂe,” Shea advises. Follow your horse’s movement with your hips, not your shoulders. Shoulder movement, she notes, tends to push the saddle up and over your horse’s withers. Ride downhill correctly. Going downhill, you might think you’re helping your horse by leaning back with your feet braced, but Shea says this actually contributes to soreness over your horse’s loins. “If you lean backward, you’ll push down on the cantle, which will dig it into your horse’s loins, soring his back,” Shea says. “Sit up straight, lighten your weight in the saddle, and put your 90 / HorseandRider.com

weight in your stirrups, gripping a bit with your legs, to free the weight from his hind end. He’ll then be able to step well underneath himself with his hind legs, supporting his weight and yours.” Post the trot. If you’re covering long distances at a trot, Shea says your best bet is to post. It’s more comfortable for you, and it’s easier on your horse’s back. Standing in the saddle applies pressure at the point where your stirrup leathers meet the saddle, while posting disperses your weight. Posting also encourages your horse to breathe regularly as you rise and lower back into the saddle.

“Switch your posting diagonal every 10 minutes or so,” Shea says. (The diagonal is the simultaneous movement of your horse’s diagonal front and back legs.) “Your horse’s muscles are affected by you coming down on his back and riding up. You’ll find that your horse will switch his breathing diagonal when you switch the posting diagonal.” Balance your gear. Shea recommends packing items of equal weight on both sides of your horse, and on both pommel and cantle. Attach items to the saddle’s frame off his withers and

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LARI SHEA

and, holding onto the saddle, slide off.”

Ride Off the Rail

t’s comfy on the rail. You have a clear direction, and you can almost go on autopilot. Your horse can, too. But spending the majority of your time riding on the rail will create future problems for you and your horse. The path to success—whether in the show pen or in your personal riding—doesn’t go through your comfort zone. Changing up your riding routine helps you improve as a rider and builds your horse’s stamina and strength. It can even open the door to trying new events if you build confidence away from the wall. Here I’m going to explain what problems you and your horse might experience when you stay on the wall for too long, and offer exercises you can practice to boost your confidence, and get comfortable steering and moving your horse’s body around in the middle of the arena.

Forming Bad Habits

It’s easy for you or your horse to become dependent on the rail when you’re riding. Break out of your comfort zone and ride oﬀ the rail with these exercises. BY WES WETHERELL, WITH NICHOLE CHIRICO PHOTOS BY NICHOLE CHIRICO

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You don’t have to show in a rail class to become dependent on the wall. Maybe in the past you’ve had a bad experience with a nervous horse and now lack conﬁdence in the middle of the pen. Or you’re still new to riding and don’t know what exercises to work on when you're riding by yourself. There are many reasons you’d like to stick close to the rail, but what you don’t see are the bad habits it creates for both you and your horse. And the longer you let these habits go, the harder they are to break. If you’re uncomfortable taking a hold of your horse and moving his body around, or even just steering him, it probably means you’re letting him go around on a draped rein, with no leg contact, and you’re not requiring him to drive forward with his hind end. Eventually, he’ll go into auto-pilot and start ignoring any cues from you because he’s become so accustomed to doing what he wants on the wall. Furthermore, your horse can’t physically stay ﬁt if you live on the rail, as you’re limited to straight lines. He’ll start to hollow out his body and even trope (a trot-lope combination with four beats instead of the lope’s three beats) because he’s not strong enough to carry himself. While being able to ride straight is important, your horse must be comfortable moving his body around and achieve suppleness and softness when you go to your hand and leg. →

Getting off the rail helps you improve as a rider, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a way for your horse to build stamina and strength.

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Counter-arc your horse to help supple his rib cage and shoulders. Take your horse’s head to the outside of the arc and use your outside leg to move his ribcage in.

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It doesn’t matter if you’re riding for fun or you compete, you need to be able to move your horse around and make sure he’s comfortable when you use your hand and leg cues. These exercises will help you gain control over where your horse puts his body. If you have control, you’ll be able to easily steer him anywhere in the pen, and keep his body rounded at each gait. Start in a snaffle bit, riding two-handed. (For information on snaffle bits, see Tack Talk on page 48.) The point is to ride your horse in something that won’t intimidate him, but also a bit that won’t let him get away from you while you’re working on your lateral movements. As you advance in these exercises, you can move to a curb bit, but continue to ride two-handed to get the best results. Start on a large circle at the walk. Once you’re comfortable completing the following exercises at the walk, increase the difficulty by trotting. It’s best to have the whole arena to yourself—or at least not a crowded riding area. You don’t want to overwhelm your horse by trying to steer around traffic while introducing unfamiliar exercises to your riding routine.

It takes time to stop being the passenger and become the rider; you might not even get to all of these exercises in one ride. Take your time when you start adding these drills to your riding routine. Teaching your horse how to properly use his body will take time, and he won’t become supple overnight. If you feel you’ve made progress, end your ride for the day, or work on something else; don’t mentally work your horse (or yourself) to the point of frustration. These will become your go-to warm-up tools, as they are also designed to continuously improve your horse’s strength and stamina. Counter-arc. Improve your horse’s cadence and soften his rib cage and shoulders with a counter-arc (above). Stay on your circle and at a walk or a trot, take your horse’s head to the outside, and use your outside leg to move his ribcage in. Move your inside leg away from your horse so his rib cage has somewhere to go. Remember to use both hands to hold up his shoulder as you push his ribcage. Practice counter-arcing your horse both directions, so he’s supple on both sides of his body. Key tip: It’ll take your horse a few weeks to supple up from this exercise, so don’t put too much pressure

After you’ve mastered the previous exercises, ride a straight line away from the rail. Start two-handed, but gradually go back to one hand once you’re comfortable.

Start by backing six steps. Keep your horse’s body straight until you want to turn the corner; you don’t want to back a circle. To turn the corner, push your horse’s hip over with your outside leg, and use your inside rein to keep his inside shoulder from diving in. Leave your inside leg close to your horse so he doesn’t lean his ribs into the 90-degree turn. You want him to stay standing up and under himself as he performs the

corner. Once you ﬁnish your corner, go back to even rein and leg pressure to keep his body straight until you ask for the next turn. This will help your horse build muscle, and lift his back and remain lifted while giving you more control over your horse’s hips and where he moves them. Key tip: Start this exercise by attempting one or two square corners. As your horse gets stronger in his back end, build up to a full square. →

THE ONE TIME TO STAY ON THE RAIL When you compete in rail events, the only time you go to the middle of the arena is at the end of the class to line up for results. Eventually, your horse will associate going to the middle as signal that his job is done, so he’ll anticipate walking to the center of the pen. Riding in the middle of the arena during your practices can improve your rail performance, because your horse isn’t in a rush to get to the middle of the arena. He starts to associate that space with work rather than a break. He might even become more relaxed when you’re in the show pen. After you’ve completed your ride for the day, have him sit on the rail for a few minutes and relax. This way he’ll start to associate the rail as a place where he can relax.

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Straight lines. After you’ve mastered the previous exercises, and you’re comfortable using your hands and legs, try to master a straight line away from the rail. Go to the middle of one end of your arena. Pick up a trot, and go straight to the other end. Guide with your hands and legs to stay on a straight line. Once you’ve mastered trotting a straight line from one end of the arena to the other, increase the diﬃculty by doing the same thing at the lope. Make sure that when you’re loping, your horse is cadenced and stays rounded up and underneath himself. Remember to keep him driving from behind; if you feel like you’ve lost cadence and you can’t get him to round back up, go back to your previous drills. Key tip: To help you stay straight, and avoid drifting to one side of the arena, keep your eyes up, and look where you want to go.

Wes Wetherell, Purcell, Oklahoma, trains Western pleasure, all-around, and young show prospects. He’s been training horses professionally for 33 years and has produced multiple world and Congress champions in several breed associations. Learn more at weswetherell quarterhorses.com.

For more suppling exercises—especially if your horse is heavy on one side—visit HorseandRider.com.

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There are approximately 170,000 unwanted horses in the United States. Through A Home for Every Horse and the over 600 rescues involved, horses are given a second chance.

Cactus was one of 59 malnourished and mistreated horses rescued from hardship and brought to Colorado in 2015. Thanks to the help of rescue workers and volunteers, Cactus and his friends all were given a second chance at a happy life. Cactus is now thriving in his new home, where not only is he a great riding horse, but a wonderful new member to their family.

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A Home For Every Horse is brought to you by the Equine Network and sponsored by: ÂŽ

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Advertiser’s Index APPAREL & ACCESSORIES Cinch Jeans.....www.cinchjeans.com ......................... 19

Straight Arrow Products, Inc. www.manentail.com ..................................................... 25

Phoenix Rising Saddle www.phoenixrisingsaddles.com.................................. 77

Mackey Custom Hats www.mackeycustomhats.com ................................... 101

HEALTH CARE

TRAINING

Muddy Creek Rain Gear www.muddycreek.net ................................................ 101

Absorbine Veterinary Liniment (W.F.Young, Inc.) www.absorbine.com ..................................................CV2

Downunder Horsemanship www.downunderhorsemanship.com .......................... 49

Olathe Boots www.olatheboots.com .................................................... 3

Adequan (Luitpold) .....www.adequan.com .............. 85

Julie Goodnight www.juliegoodnight.com ............................................. 98

Rounder Leathers www.rounderleathers.com ......................................... 101

Farnam.....www.farnamhorse.com ..................8,15,CV3 Finish Line, Inc......www.ﬁnishlinehorse.com ........... 13

TRANSPORTATION

Twisted X Boot Company www.twistedx.com ....................................................... 14

Foxden Equine.....www.FoxdenEquine.com ............. 23

Cequent Performance Products, Inc. www.cequentgroup.com .............................................. 11

ASSOCIATIONS American Quarter Horse Association www.aqha.com................................................................ 1 Bureau of Land Management www.blm.gov/whb........................................................ 83

Equithrive.....www.equithrive.com ............................ 81

Horse Health Products (Farnam) www.horsehealthproducts.com ................................... 35 Kentucky Performance Products www.KPPusa.com ......................................................... 18 Platinum Performance, Inc. www.platinumperformance.com ..............................CV4

CM Trailers.....www.cmtrailers.com ............................. 7 Featherlite Trailers.....www.fthr.com/hr ................... 20 USRider Equestrian Motor Plan www.usrider.org ........................................................... 98

SmartPak.....www.smartpak.com ................................. 2

TRAVEL

The Right Horse Initiative www.therighthorse.org ................................................ 70

SUCCEED Equine (Freedom Health, LLC) www.succeed-equine.com ............................................. 5

Outback Ranch.....www.outbackranch.net ............... 26

BARNS, STALLS & FOOTINGS

The Missing Link (W.F. Young, Inc.) www.absorbine.com ..................................................... 70

Linear Rubber Products www.rubbermats.com .................................................. 25

Zymox (PKB Animal Health) www.zymox.com ........................................................... 53

WHERE TO RIDE GUIDE Enchanged Equitreks www.enchantedequitreks.com .................................. 100

MD Barnmaster www.mdbarnmaster.com ............................................. 24

HOOF CARE

One Horse Gap Trail Ride......................................... 100

Soft-Ride, Inc......www.softrideboots.com ................. 77

Wyoming High Country Trail Rides, LLC.............. 100

Happy Trails www.kehorses.homestead.com ................................. 100

EVENTS Boyd Gaming Chute-Out www.boydgaming.com ................................................... 4

INSECT CONTROL

Custer County Cowboy Gathering www.custercountycowboygathering.com .................. 94

Cashel Company www.cashelcompany.com ............................................ 40

Heber Valley Cowboy Poetry www.hebervalleycowboypoetry.com .......................... 22

Pyranha, Inc......www.pyranhainc.com ...................... 50

Midwest Trail Ride www.midwesttrailride.com .......................................... 69 The Music Fest.....www.themusicfest.com................ 96

Bonide.....www.bonide.com ......................................... 83

Summit Chemical www.summitchemical.com .......................................... 12 PUBLICATIONS, VIDEO, WEBSITES & AUDIO

FEED

A Home For Every Horse www.AHomeForEveryHorse.com ................................ 99

ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. www.admani.com ........................................................... 6

Champ Youth.....www.champyouth.com................... 27

Big Bale Buddy.....www.bigbalebuddy.com ............ 101 Purina Mills....www.horse.purinamills.com .............. 37

Equine Network Store www.EquineNetworkStore.com ............................. 81,94 Hope In The Saddle www.HopeInTheSaddle.com........................................ 97

GIFTS, ART & COLLECTIBLES Bradford Exchange www.bradfordexhange.com ............................... 31,67,75 Hamilton Collection www.hamiltoncollection.com ....................................... 33 ShowOff Ribbon Racks.....www.merbeth.net ........ 101

REAL ESTATE United Country.....www.UCEquine.com .................. 100 TACK & EQUIPMENT Blevins Mfg. Co., Inc. .................................................. 27 Booma Rein.....www.boomarein.com ......................... 16

GROOMING Cowboy Magic.....www.cowboymagic.com .............. 23 Showsheen (W.F. Young, Inc.) www.absorbine.com ..................................................... 63

Dixie Midnight.....www.dixiemidnight.com .............. 26 Fiebing Co. Inc......www.ﬁebing.com.................... 91,95 K&B Saddlery.....www.kbsaddlery.com ................... 101

HORSE & RIDER VOLUME LVI, NUMBER 8 (ISSN 0018-5159/USPS 523-410) COPYRIGHT 2017, CRUZ BAY PUBLISHING, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY CRUZ BAY PUBLISHING, INC., AN ACTIVE INTEREST MEDIA COMPANY. THE KNOWN OFFICE OF PUBLICATION IS AT 5720 FLATIRON PARKWAY, BOULDER, CO 80301. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BOULDER, CO. AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: PLEASE SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO HORSE & RIDER, SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE DEPT., P.O. BOX 420235, PALM COAST, FL 32142-0235. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40612608, CANADIAN GST NUMBER 12345 2781 RT0001. CANADA RETURNS TO BE SENT TO BLEUCHIP INTERNATIONAL, P.O. BOX 25542, LONDON, ON N6C 6B2 CANADA. ONE YEAR (12 ISSUES) SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $24 UNITED STATES. THE CONTENTS OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF THE EXPERTS CONSULTED, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE EDITORS OR POLICY OF HORSE & RIDER MAGAZINE. UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ACCOMPANIED BY RETURN POSTAGE WILL BE HANDLED WITH CARE, BUT PUBLISHER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SAFETY. PLEASE ALLOW 3 MONTHS FOR REPLY. REPRINTS: CONTACT WRIGHTS REPRINTS TO PURCHASE QUALITY CUSTOM REPRINTS OR E-PRINTS OF ARTICLES APPEARING IN THIS PUBLICATION AT (877)652-5295 (281/419-5725 OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND CANADA) 102 / HorseandRider.com

Classifieds APPAREL/ACCESSORIES

HORSES/STALLIONS/PONIES

Free catalog! Hobby Horse has ready-to-win western show apparel, tack, saddles, and accessories. (800) 569-5885 or www.hobbyhorseinc.com.

EXPERIENCE SMOOTH TRAIL RIDING & SPEED! www.SpeedRackingHorse.org, (256) 303-0603

Mitchell’s www.one-stop-horse-shop.com for show apparel at great prices! Jewelry, hair bows, show tack, show blankets, accessories. Great customer service.

ASSOCIATIONS/REGISTRIES

TACK/SADDLES/LEATHER GOODS

REAL ESTATE/LAND Looking for horse property around Dallas - Fort Worth? Visit: www.texasliving.com. We’re an elite group of horse property specialists with Keller Williams Realty. (940) 3654687, ext.1, info@texasliving.com Southern Illinois horse properties, located adjacent to and near the beautiful Shawnee National Forest. Midwest Real Estate - Larry Woodney (618) 658-2006 and (618) 9672106, www.MidwestReaIEstate.com Tired of trailering? Properties with trails, $11,000. Jill Houston, (931) 879-7911, Riders Realty, LLC. jillhouston@hotmail.com

AERC.org/InfoRequest

SUPPLIES

TRAIL RIDES Don Vinson Monument Valley Trail Rides, Call (805) 7045778 or www.monumentvalleytrailrides.com

TRAINING

American Endurance Ride Conference

BEST PROGRAM in the industry. GUARANTEED MONEY BACK. Financing. MNHorseTrainingAcademy.com (320) 272-4199

TRAVEL/TOURS/VACATION Double Rafter Cattle Drive. 115 years of family tradition. Week-long, 50-mile trip. Compared to us City Slickers is a pony ride. See us at: www.doublerafter.com (800) 704-9268.

TACK/SADDLES/LEATHER GOODS

CLINICS/ EDUCATION/ SCHOOLS Study horse courses at home. Earn grades and Certificates. www. NewHorizonsEquine.com

EVENTS NFR and PBR Rodeo, Las Vegas. www.NFR-Rodeo.com or (888) NFR-RODEO, (888) 637-7633 and www.PBRTickets. com. A+ rated member of Better Business Bureau (BBB).

HORSE CAMPS

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The

Collector:

Collection:

Kendra Lenseigne Phoenix, Arizona

This world champion mounted shooter’s collection of chinks serves multiple purposes. “The dress code of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association requires contestants to wear

104 / HorseandRider.com

chaps or chinks as a way of preserving the American Western lifestyle,” Lenseigne explains. “As with many Western disciplines, apparel and tack in the performance arena are ﬂashy

and fun—my chinks are no exception.” Acid-wash hide, neon, crystals, even ﬁsh scales adorn Lenseigne’s 13 pairs of chinks, which she’s known to share with close friends at CMSA

events. “My favorite pair is on the left,” she shares. “They’re custom-made by Kippy’s and loaded with Swarovski crystals. They’re truly stunning when they catch light like a disco ball.”

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON

My Collection

SHARE YOUR COLLECTION! Send a high-resolution photo of your favorite Western items to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com.